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Wednesday, January 05, 2022
XCVIII NO. 4
 ADVERTISEMENT FOR RECRUITMENT
Notice No. 1/22
Applications are invited for the post of Chief Chemist for the Department
of Water Supply and Sanitation Phase-2, S.A.S. Nagar on deputation/
contract basis as under:
Post No. of Scale/Consolidated salary
posts
Chief 1 (Rs. 15600 - 39100 + Grade Pay as 7600) +
Chemist allowances or equivalent as per Sixth Punjab
pay commission (For deputation candidates)
Rs. 85000/- per month (Consolidated salary for
contractual candidates)
The job profile, qualification & experience required and other
conditions may be downloaded from the Department Website https://
dwss.punjab.gov.in/show_recruitment/ w.e.f. 06th January 2022.
Last date for filling up applications online is 4th February, 2022.
Note: Any other information & any corrigendum(s) will be published
on above website only.
Head
Department of Water Supply & Sanitation, Punjab,
Water Works Complex, Phase 2 S.A.S. Nagar
Phone No. 0172 - 4330342, 4330352
12097

Government of Jammu & Kashmir

DIRECTORATE OF FLORICULTURE
SRINAGAR KASHMIR
Tel: 0194-2474234, Fax: 2482032
Email:- kashflori@rediffmail.com
Subject: - Extension No. 02.
In view of no response, the last date for submission of bids
invited vide this office e-Tender Notice No. 33 of 2021 dat-
ed. 26.11.2021 for Outsourcing of Entry Ticketing System
of Mughal Garden Shalimar is hereby extended as per the
details given below:-
1. Period of downloading of 01.01.2022 from 01.00 PM
bidding document to 17.01.2022 up to 2.00 PM
2. Bid submission Start Date 03.01.2022 from 10.00 AM
3. Bid submission End date 17.01.2022 up to 2.00 PM
4. Date and time of Opening 20.01.2022 at 2.00 PM
of Tenders (Online)
Other terms and conditions shall remain same as laid down in
the aforesaid Tender Notice.
By Order
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Dated: 31.12.2021 Accounts Officer
DIPK-16081-21 (Member Secretary)
NEW DELHI/METRO
Wednesday, January 05, 2022
n VOL. XCVIII NO. 4
Army unfurls Tricolour in Galwan
Indian Army soldiers pose with the national flag to mark the start of the new year in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh.
Modi’s Manipur pitch:
India now looking East
Priyanka Deb Barman
and Sobhapati Samom
letters@hindustantimes.com
AGARTALA/IMPHAL: The Bhar-
atiya Janata Party-led govern-
ments in Manipur and Tripura
transformed the two states, put
them on the road to develop-
ment, and ended extremist vio-
lence, Prime Minister Narendra
Modi said on Tuesday, accusing
previous administrations of
neglecting the North-East.
Launching projects worth Rs
1,858 crore in Manipur, which
goes to polls in February-March
this year, PM Modi said with the
double engine government — a
reference to the BJP being in
power both at the Centre and in
the state — the Northeast will
become the driver of the coun-
try’s growth.
{ CENTRE’S STAND } TOP COURT
Asthana named Delhi top cop as
a special case, in ‘public interest’
Utkarsh Anand
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: There was a “com-
pelling need” to have someone
like Rakesh Asthana head the
police force of Delhi, taking into
account the national capital’s
“extremely challenging situa-
tions” of public order, policing
issues, and their implications on
national security, the Union gov-
IMD PREDICTS
LIGHT RAIN OVER
DELHI, HARYANA
NEW DELHI: Delhi may witness
rain on Wednesday and Satur-
day this week, the India Meteor-
ological Department said on
Tuesday. According to IMD’s
bulletin, widespread rain, iso-
lated hailstorm and low day time
temperatures are also likely over
northwest India at least for next
seven days. Scattered to moder-
ate rainfall is likely over Punjab,
Haryana and north Rajasthan
during January 4 to 6, it said. →P6
{ HATE CRIME } ARRESTS IN BENGALURU, UTTARAKHAND
Man, 21, woman, 18, arrested over web
page that ‘auctioned’ Muslim women
MUMBAI/ DEHRADUN : An
18-year-old woman and a
21-year-old engineering student,
who allegedly met on social
media due to their common
interest in Hindutva ideology
and later allegedly collaborated
to put up webpages where hun-
dreds of Muslim women were
“auctioned”, were arrested on
Tuesday.
The arrests were made by
Mumbai Police, which is prob-
PM Narendra Modi
Modi said previous govern-
ments had a set policy — Don’t
Look East — and the North-East
would come in focus only dur-
ing elections. “But we have
adopted a policy of Act East for
the Northeast, which is now
becoming the gateway for
India’s development,” he told a
public meeting in Imphal.
ernment told the Supreme Court
while justifying the appointment
of the 1984-batch IPS officer as
the Delhi Police Commissioner.
In an affidavit in response to a
clutch of petitions challenging
Asthana’s appointment on July
27, the Centre maintained that
Asthana was picked “to provide
effective policing on the recent
law and order situation which
arose in the National Capital Ter-
{ NOVAK DJOKOVIC } TENNIS PLAYER
P LUCKNOW: Investigators used
Today I’m heading Down
Under with an
exemption permission.
Let’s go 2022
After receiving medical exemption from
getting vaccinated against Covid-19
A
for the Australian Open
ing two such controversial web-
pages hosted on the code shar-
ing platform, GitHub. The first
web page was floated in July
2021 and the second surfaced,
Bulli Bai, on January 1. The web-
pages, which were named after
derogatory references to the
Muslim community, sparked
outrage because hundreds of
Muslim women — most of
whom were vocal activists or
top professionals — were listed
“Previous governments in
Delhi neglected Manipur and
the entire Northeast, conspired
to create a chasm between the
hills and the valleys. Today,
there is no fire of extremism
and violence. We have brought
in a new light of peace and
development,” the Prime Minis-
ter added.
He highlighted various pro-
jects taken up by the state gov-
ernment in Manipur and said
sportspersons from the state
made the country proud, from
the Commonwealth Games to
the Olympic Games.
“That’s why the National
Sports University is being devel-
oped in the state so that it can
bring new faces in sports activi-
ties and bring a change in the
country’s performance,” he
continued on →19
ritory of Delhi” and he was given
both inter-cadre deputation as
well as extension of service “in
public interest”. It sought that
the petitions challenging the
appointment be dismissed.
“Rakesh Asthana, IPS has
been granted extension of ser-
vice... for a period of one year ...
as a special case in public inter-
est,” the affidavit, filed through
the home ministry, said. →P8
for “auction” along with their
photographs, which were
sourced without permission
and doctored. Activists pointed
out that despite complaints, no
action was taken in the July
case, and that the pages were
meant to demean Muslim
women.
The man, Vishal Kumar Jha,
was allegedly running one of
Twitter handles that was used
to upload links to the websites,
>P13 PTI
TWO TERRORISTS
OF OUTFIT BACKED
BY LASHKAR
KILLED IN KULGAM
SRINAGAR : Two terrorists
linked to The Resistance Front
(TRF), a terror outfit backed by
Lashkar-e-Taiba, were killed in
a gunfight with security forces
in Kulgam on Tuesday, a day
after a top LeT commander was
killed in Srinagar, police said.
The TRF claimed responsibility
for multiple killings of civilians
in Jammu & Kashmir last year.
Following a tip-off, a joint team
of the police, the Indian Army
and the CRPF launched a search
operation at Okay village in the
district. The operation turned
into a gun battle in which the
two local terrorists were killed,
the police said. →P13
DELHI’S CHIEF
MINISTER, CABINET
MAY SHIFT TO NEW
ITO OFFICES BY ’25
Alok K N Mishra
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The Delhi chief min-
ister, his cabinet colleagues, and
senior bureaucrats in the Delhi
government may move into new
offices in 30-35 storey twin tow-
ers proposed be constructed by
2025 at Delhi’s ITO, not far from
the current seat of the govern-
ment at the Players’ Building in
Indraprastha Estate, according
to government documents and
officials aware of the matter. →P6
208 WITNESSES,
DOZENS OF CLIPS,
PHOTOS USED FOR
LAKHIMPUR PROBE
the testimonials of 208 witnesses
and 17 pieces of scientific and
electronic evidence to make
their case in a 5,000-page charge
sheet filed in the Lakhimpur
Kheri case, officials said Tues-
day. The SIT used 24 photo-
graphs, CCTV footage and videos
to establish the sequence of
events before filing the charge
sheet on Monday which named
the son of Union minister Ajay
Mishra ‘Teni’ as the main
accused after . →P11
said an officer from the Mumbai
cybercrime cell. Singh’s alleged
role was not clear. The woman,
Shweta Singh, lived in Uttara-
khand’s Udham Singh Nagar
district with her three siblings
and had lost her parents to Cov-
id-19. She was deeply involved
in Hindutva ideology and often
posted such content on social
media, said a senior police offi-
cer with knowledge of develop-
ments. →P10
 NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022

Number Theory
3rd wave: Why we need
an extraordinary budget
By Roshan Kishore
The third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic is here. The seven-day average of daily new cases in
India has increased every day from December 26. If the Omicron trajectory in other countries is
any indication, the caseload will increase sharply. The evidence on hand suggests that
symptoms will be milder compared to the Delta-driven second wave, and fewer people will
require hospitalisation and critical care. And it is likely fatalities will be significantly lower.
But, this is of little comfort when it comes to the economy. With more states announcing
mobility restrictions – Delhi, for instance announced a weekend curfew on January 4 within
eight days of announcing a night curfew – economic activity is bound to take a hit. Such curbs
have an important bearing on the state of the economy and , therefore, also on the forthcoming
Union budget to be presented on February 1. There is a good reason why the government
should change gears in ongoing budgetary preparations. Here are four charts to explain why.

1 The economy was getting on track before Omicron

GDP numbers for the quarter ended
September surprised analysts by exceeding
estimates by both the Reserve Bank of
India and private forecasters. GDP growth
GDP growth over pre-pandemic levels
10
GDP growth over pre-pandemic quarter (in %)

in the September quarter was 8.4%, more 5

than the central bank’s forecast of 7.9%, 8.2
and the 8.1% forecast by a Bloomberg poll 0
of economists. Projections given in the
-5
December resolution of the monetary
policy committee suggest the economy -10
will continue to grow above pre-pandemic
levels in the next few quarters. The -15 -9.2
numbers, and a clutch of high frequency -20
indicators, which were at or above
pre-pandemic levels, indicated that an -25
-24.4
Jun-20 Sep-20 Dec-20 Mar-21 Jun-21 Sep-21 Dec-21 Mar-22 Jun-22 Sep-22
economic recovery was well and truly on.
Note: Growth rate after September 2021 quarter is based on RBI projection of annual GDP growth; Source: RBI

2 This is not to say that there were no concerns about growth

While the economy reaching pre-pandemic levels is a critical threshold, it is not the ultimate goal. The latest monetary policy resolution of
RBI, published on December 8, makes a clear admission of the fact. “The domestic recovery is gaining traction, but activity is just about
catching up with pre-pandemic levels and will have to be assiduously nurtured by conducive policy settings till it takes root and becomes
self-sustaining,” the monetary policy committee of RBI said. The biggest concern is that private final consumption expenditure (PFCE) had
still not reached pre-pandemic levels in the September quarter. PFCE is the largest component of India’s GDP, and its continuing weakness
suggests the recovery is still not broad-based enough and is being driven by the rich.

Quarterly PFCE
Private Final Consumption Expenditure (~ trillion)
Jun-19 20.2
Sep-19 20.2
Dec-19 21.7
Mar-20 21.0
Jun-20 14.9
Sep-20 17.9
Dec-20 21.1
Mar-21 21.6
Jun-21 17.8
Sep-21 19.5
Source: RBI

3 Even this moderate recovery is likely to be hit in a new wave

With a rise in cases, states have started
imposing restrictions on mobility and
activities. As of January 4, 18 states have
imposed night curfews, and Delhi has
Daily cases and NIBRI
140
NIBRI 7-day average of cases
420000
imposed a weekend curfew as well. If cases 391,819 120.3
continue to rise (as they are expected to), May 9, 2021
120 360000
such restrictions could become more
prevalent and intensive. But these
restrictions entail economic disruption. This 100 300000
is best seen from a comparison of daily case 94.8
count and the Nomura India Business 80 240000
Resumption Index (NIBRI). NIBRI comprises
Google mobility indices, Apple driving
index, power demand, and the labour force 60
60.3 180000

participation rate. Mobility indices are May 23, 2021

based on a seven-day moving average. 40 120000
While the lowest NIBRI value was seen
during the first 68-day hard lockdown 20 60000
imposed on March 25, 2020, a direct relation
between a rise in cases and fall in NIBRI can 9 18,236
be seen during the second wave of the 0 0
pandemic, which peaked on May 9, 2021. Mar 15, 2020 Jan 2, 2022
Source: Nomura, HT’s Covid-19 dashboard

4 The damage to economic sentiment could be even bigger

Modern economies do not work on a
hand-to-mouth principle. Expectations
about the future and comparisons with the
past levels of well-being play a role in key
RBI’s consumer confidence survey
150
Current Situation Index (CSI) Future Expectations Index (FEI)

economic decisions. It is here that the third

wave of the pandemic may inflict the
126.7
biggest damage. As mobility restrictions 120 109.6
and squeeze on incomes disrupt businesses
again, economic sentiment may take a
beating from what are already low levels
compared to pre-pandemic values. The
90 108.6
most crucial piece of evidence in this regard
is RBI’s consumer confidence survey. An HT
62.3
60
analysis published on December 27 showed
that consumer confidence was weaker
among low-income groups. If the third
30
wave and associated mobility restrictions
driven disruptions persist, despite the Mar 15 Nov 21
adverse health effect being milder than the *CSI/FEI = 100 + Average of Net Responses of (General Economic Situation, Employment Scenario, Price Level,
Household income and Overall Spending). Data are based on web releases made since March 2015. For each survey
second wave, even the tepid recovery in round, the final figures as available in the latest web release covering the same have been considered. The CSI/ FEI
sentiment is likely to see a reversal. values for September 2017 round onwards includes data for all 13 CCS centres; Source: RBI

What does all this mean for the Union budget’s trajectory?
Even without the third wave, there is an ongoing debate on the
forthcoming budget’s ability to maintain a balance between fiscal
consolidation and the much-needed fiscal boost to growth. With the third
wave bound to disrupt economic activity and sentiment, it is important
that the balance now shifts in favour of a fiscal boost rather than achieving
a sharp reduction in the fiscal deficit. While it is true that the government
needs to keep its borrowing costs in check because a bigger deficit entails
more borrowing, which means larger interest payments, it needs to be
underlined that unless GDP growth picks up sustainably, India’s debt-GDP
ratio is not going to improve anytime soon.
Of course, things would be a lot clearer if we had information
about some key statistics such as the magnitude and timing of
the peak of the third wave, the economy’s departure from
projected growth in the ongoing March quarter, and the impact
on consumer confidence in the next few months. But this would
mean deferring the budget, which is too drastic a move. A more
appropriate strategy at this juncture would be to convert what is
a crisis (the third wave) into an opportunity (assuage hawkish
concerns about a higher fiscal deficit) to guard against further
long-term damage to the economy.
hindustantimes.com
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n VOL.XCVIII NO. 4 n PRICE ₹5.00/WITH HINDUSTAN ₹ 9.00 (₹ 7.50 IN FARIDABAD)/WITH MINT ₹ 9.50 n 24 PAGES + 6 PAGES OF HT CITY. AREA
SPECIFIC PAGES EXTRA.
In next stage of curbs, Delhi 82x jump in cases, 3x
clamps curfew on weekends rise in hospitalisation
Sweta Goswami
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: A weekend curfew
will be in place in the national
Capital and at least half of the
employees in private offices will
need to work from home, dep-
uty chief minister Manish Siso-
dia said on Tuesday after a
meeting of the Delhi Disaster
Management Authority
(DDMA) to reassess curbs
meant to reduce Covid-19 trans-
mission.
The decision to step up
restrictions came on a day when
5,481 cases (a positivity rate of
8.37%, although some experts
are now coming around to the
view that this isn’t the best met-
ric for this phase of the pan-
demic), were added on Tuesday.
But hospital occupancy does not
seem to have risen in tandem –
531 of the 9,042 available Cov-
id-19 beds were occupied,
including 308 with “mild/
asymptomatic” disease.
During the meeting, DDMA
decided against activating the
red alert curbs that form a part
of the Graded Response Action
Plan (GRAP). This level, the
highest of four, is triggered if
the test positivity rate breaches
the 5% threshold for two days. It
was 6.5% on Monday and hit
8.37% on Tuesday, and the fact
that DDMA decided against
moving to the highest level of
alert has everything to do with
the difference in this building
wave of the viral pandemic — a
sharp spike in cases, but a much
lower rate of hospitalisations
than in previous waves.
In region after region seeing a
continued on →19
New rules imposed in Delhi
DDMA has introduced more curbs in the Capital as Covid-19 cases rise again
5,481 NEW CASES
IN DELHI
Kejriwal tests positive in poll season,
in home isolation as symptoms mild
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister
Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday
announced on Twitter that he
has tested positive for Covid-19,
and that he was isolating at
home since he has mild symp-
toms. “I have tested positive for
Covid. Mild symptoms. Have iso-
lated myself at home. Those who
came in touch wid (with) me in
last few days, kindly isolate
urself (yourself) and get urself
tested,” Kejriwal tweeted.
The AAP chief has undertaken
56,821 NEW CASES
IN INDIA
several trips to poll-bound states
Uttarakhand and Punjab to cam-
paign for his party. On Monday,
he addressed AAP’s ‘Nav Pari-
vartan Yatra’ at Parade Ground
in Dehradun.
Amit Rawat, media coordina-
tor for AAP in Uttarakhand, said
after Kejriwal announced that he
tested positive, nearly 20 state
leaders who shared stage with
him or met him during or before
the rally have been isolating at
home. →P4
FRESH CURBS
WEEKEND CURFEW
10pm on Friday till
5am on Monday
WORK FROM HOME
For govt employees
50% capacity cap
For private offices
BUSES, METROS
Told to operate at full
capacity to avoid
crowding at stations
NO RESTRICTION
On goods movement
Delhi CM Kejriwal at a public
rally in Lucknow, Sunday. ANI
‘SYMPTOMATIC
POSITIVITY’ IN
MUMBAI JUST 2%
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: The posi-
tivity rate — the proportion of
samples tested that return posi-
tive for Covid-19 — for sympto-
matic cases of Covid-19 in Mum-
bai is averaging at only 2%,
against the overall city’s number
of 16%, shows government data,
highlighting how small a pro-
portion of those being detected
positive in the Omicron surge
are exhibiting symptoms. Of the
38,983 positive cases detected in
Mumbai since December 31, only
4,934 patients are symptomatic,
according to the city’s Covid bul-
letin. →P13
US RECORDS OVER
MILLION CASES IN
A DAY FOR GRIM
PANDEMIC RECORD
WASHINGTON: The United States
recorded more than one million
Covid-19 cases Monday, data
from Johns Hopkins University
showed, as the Omicron variant
spread at a blistering pace. There
were 1,080,211 new cases in the
country, a global record, with
the number of cases doubling on
the previous week. The heavily
mutated Omicron strain — the
most transmissible to date —
accounted for around 77% of
national US cases in the week
ending December 25, according
to government modelling. →P16
{ RESOURCES NOT BURDENED } SINCE END OF SECOND WAVE
Jamie Mullick and
Soumya Pillai
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The number of peo-
ple hospitalised in the national
capital on account of Covid-19
has increased by only around 3
times from the lowest point
number of hospitalisations after
the end of India’s second wave,
even as the rate of new infec-
tions in the city has increased
more than 82 times from the
post-second wave low, an analy-
sis by HT shows.
This indicates that Delhi is
seeing a very marginal rise in
patients needing medical care
despite a spike in new infections
– both in keeping with the trend
Apex court to hear
NEET-PG case today
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court
will take up petitions challeng-
ing reservation for other back-
ward classes (OBC) and econom-
ically weaker section (EWS) in
the all-India quota NEET-PG
seats on Wednesday after the
Centre persuaded the top court
to urgently list the matter citing
concerns raised by resident doc-
tors, who led an agitation to pro-
test against the delay in counsel-
ling due to the pending case in
the top court.
Appearing for the Centre,
solicitor general (SG) Tushar
Mehta on Tuesday told a bench
headed by chief justice of India
(CJI) NV Ramana that the pro-
testing resident doctors had gen-
NEW DELHI/METRO
Wednesday, January 05, 2022
Omicron effect?
While average Average daily cases Hospital beds occupied
daily cases
reported have
2000 2,077
surged more
than 80 times
from the lows
1500 82.1x 3.3x
Rise in daily Rise in hospital
witnessed since 1000 cases from occupancy
the peak of the lows from lows
second wave, 420
500
245
hospitalisations
in Delhi have 36
0
increased only 4 11 18 25 1 8 15 22 29 6 13 20 27 3
3.3 times Oct Nov Dec Jan
in regions across the world that The current number of peo-
have seen strong case surges ple in the city who need hospi-
due to the highly transmissible talisation is, in fact, much
Omicron variant. continued on →19
J’KHAND TRIBAL
YOUTH LYNCHED,
BODY SET ON FIRE
FOR ‘FELLING TREES’
uine concerns, which can only
be addressed only if the matter is
listed urgently. “These matters
RANCHI : A tribal man was
lynched and set on fire on Tues-
day by a mob on suspicion of
relate to persons belonging to
EWS. A statement was made by
us that prevent further counsel-
felling trees and stealing wood at
a village in Jharkhand’s Simdega
district, police said. The victim,
ling for PG admissions. The resi- identified as Sanju Pradhan, was
dent doctors are protesting for killed in the presence of local
this reason. Their concerns are residents in Besrabazar village
genuine,” Mehta said. under Kolebira police station
He requested that, for a lim- around 2pm on Tuesday.
ited purpose, even a bench of “We have recovered the half
two judges headed by justice burnt body... He had three cases
Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud registered against him for links
could be constituted to hear the with Maoists and had been to jail
pending petitions. The matter in connection with these cases,”
has now been listed on Wednes- said Rameshwar Bhagat,
day before a two-judge bench of in-charge of Kolebira police sta-
justices DY Chandrachud and AS tion. No arrests have been made
Bopanna. →P10 so far. →P15
02 NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022

Page One Plus

{ MY INDIA } COVID SURGE { MY INDIA } VACCINATIONS { OPINION } BORDER CONFLICT { BUSINESS } AMAZON ARBITRATION { WORLD } MEDICAL START-UP

Bengal govt eases 3.7 million children China: An abiding security Delhi HC dismisses Theranos ex-CEO
curbs on flights vaxxed on Day 2 challenge for New Delhi Future Group’s plea guilty of conspiracy

The West Bengal government on Tuesday
allowed flights from Delhi and Mumbai to land in
Kolkata on three days a week, relaxing the earlier
restrictions that only allowed incoming flights on
two days – Monday and Friday. “Incoming domestic
flights from Mumbai and Delhi will be allowed thrice
a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with
effect from January 5,” state home secretary BP
Gopalika said in a letter to the civil aviation ministry
on Tuesday. The state has already banned direct
flights from the UK till further notice amid rising
infections from the Omicron variant of the
coronavirus. With a sharp spike in Covid-19 cases in
the state, the government on Sunday imposed strict
restrictions and closed schools and colleges and
limited the workforce in offices till January 15. Local
trains in the state have been allowed to operate with
50% capacity till 10pm. HTC
There were 3.7 million children vaccinated in the
15-18 age group on Tuesday, the second day after
they became eligible for doses, the Union
government said in a statement. By 10pm on
Tuesday, a little over 8.4 million children were given
their first doses in all — translating to 11.3% of the
eligible population in this age group being covered.
In all, 8.7 million doses were administered between
8am and 8pm on Tuesday, taking the cumulative
doses delivered to 1.48 billion since the drive began
roughly a year ago. According to the Union
government’s Co-WIN dashboard, Uttar Pradesh
administered 1,309,645 doses (for all categories), the
most across the country, followed by West Bengal,
which administered 852,938 vaccine doses, and
Maharashtra, which gave out 755,620 shots. →P13
India’s abiding security challenges in 2022 and beyond will be the
3C distillate — Covid in its latest Omicron variant, the climate crisis, and
China. They will unfold with different degrees of urgency, but temporal
concurrence along all three tracks is likely to be a central feature and will
test the policy acumen of the leadership. It is China that is the more
critical concerning national sovereignty and territorial integrity, given
the Galwan setback and the impasse that has followed along the LAC.
Delhi appears to have adopted a more muted stance and this is
discernible in the annual review put out by the ministry of defence. In a
long and rambling overview that highlights self-reliance and a host of
achievements, the references to the LoC and China are anodyne. While
China has occupied almost 1,000 square miles of Indian territory in the
Ladakh region, no specifics are mentioned, writes Commodore (retd) C
Uday Bhaskar, director, Society for Policy Studies. →P14
The Delhi high court Tuesday dismissed two
pleas of the Future Group seeking a direction to the
arbitration tribunal, adjudicating Amazon’s
objections against Future Group’s deal with Reliance,
to take a decision on their application for
terminating the arbitration proceedings. “Both the
petitions are dismissed,” said Justice Amit Bansal,
who reserved the order on January 3 on the petitions
filed by Future Group. The judge said it was not for
the court to interfere with the scheduling of the
arbitration proceedings and no grounds for
interference were made out in the present petitions.
He said the tribunal has already fixed January 8 as
the date for hearing the termination application
after cutting short the scheduled four days’ hearing
of the expert witnesses. →P17
Elizabeth Holmes was convicted Monday of
duping investors into believing her startup Theranos
had developed a revolutionary medical device that
could detect a multitude of diseases and conditions
from a few drops of blood. A jury convicted Holmes,
who was CEO throughout the company’s turbulent
15-year history, on two counts of wire fraud and two
counts of conspiracy to commit fraud after seven
days of deliberation. The 37-year-old was acquitted
on four other counts of fraud and conspiracy that
alleged she deceived patients who paid for Theranos
blood tests, too. The verdict came after the eight
men and four women on the jury spent three months
sitting through a complex trial that featured reams
of evidence and 32 witnesses — including Holmes
herself. She now faces up to 20 years in prison for
each count, although legal experts say she is unlikely
to receive the maximum sentence. →P16

{ OMICRON WATCH } B.1.1.529

What speed of
spread means
Binayak Dasgupta
binayak.dasgupta@htlive.com
NEW DELHI: How fast does the
Omicron variant intrinsically
spread, and does it have a signifi-
cantly altered transmission
dynamics?
The answers to these questions,
still being worked out by scientists,
will help determine the steps and
degree of compliance required to
bend Omicron waves.
We know the variant spreads
rapidly and there are at least three
factors at play: infections now
have a shorter incubation period,
infected people have high viral
load in upper air passages early
on, and even brief exposure may
trigger infection.
These insights, gleaned from
epidemiological tracking and sci-
entific studies, suggest the virus
spreads sooner and more people
are infectious and vulnerable.
Together, they suggest Omi-
cron’s inherent transmissibility is
high. Inherent transmissibility is
denoted as the basic reproduction
number, or R-nought, or R0 — an
estimate of the number of second-
ary infections each infected person
will cause on average.
Delta’s R0 is estimated to be 5,
and that of the ancestral variant
from Wuhan was estimated to be
between 2 and 3.
Omicron’s R0, according to esti-
mates by the London School of
Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
experts, could be as high as 10.
To bring an epidemic under
control, the effective R number
must be brought down to under 1,
which means on average, infected
people do not pass it onwards.
What will it take to get
Omicron’s R to under 1?
A team of researchers led by scien-
tists from Germany’s Max Planck
Institute in a new study have esti-
mated how different measures –
vaccination, face covering, social
distancing and ventilation – can
bring down the effective R number
No Covid at political rallies?
of a Sars-CoV-2 variant, and how
many people need to follow it.
For Delta, they found that if a
region has 70% vaccination cover-
age, and if three out of 10 people
are disciplined on social distanc-
ing, using masks and ventilation, it
will be enough to contain an out-
break. In schools where children
are mostly without doses, the
effect of lower vaccination rate can
be overcome by carrying out 2-3
tests per week, they said. “If the
Omicron variant were to reach R0
= 8, it could still be contained with
the synergetic measures outlined
above,” they said in their report.
But there’s a problem if Omi-
cron has an inherent transmissi-
bility like measles, with an R0 of 12
to 18. “In these cases, higher com-
pliances and testing rates or addi-
tional measures like general con-
tact reductions would be
required,” they added.
In other words, more people
will need to mask up, maintain
distancing, be in well-ventilated
spaces and, most of all, take doses
of vaccines with high efficacy
against disease and transmission.
Two years after the pandemic,
this might seem like a natural con-
clusion. But Omicron has eroded
vaccine efficacy to staggering lev-
els, making protection from symp-
tomatic infection – and thus trans-
mission – below the standard bar
of 50% in the case of all vaccines,
without boosting.
In India, 65% of the adult popu-
lation has been fully vaccinated
and none of them are yet to receive
booster doses. And then there is
compliance in masking and social
distancing, or a stark lack thereof
in the country.
The variant is up to 70% less
likely to lead to hospitalisation.
The number is not 100%, which
means even a minute risk is a big
threat for a populous country like
India. As the researchers in Ger- Clockwise from top-left: Aam Aadmi Party supporters during a roadshow in Chandigarh on Thursday; Bharatiya
many show, it is now more crucial Janata Party (BJP) leaders greet supporters in Amethi on Monday; a packed ground seen ahead of a Samajwadi Party
than ever for the Indians to follow rally in Lucknow on Sunday; Congress supporters during a public rally at Khour village near Jammu last Sunday.
protective measures and for vac- Despite rising Covid-19 infections across the country, and a growing number of states reintroducing restrictions
cine coverage to be boosted. including weekend and night curfews, political rallies have drawn huge crowds, often violating Covid norms. HT/PTI/ANI

{ MUMBAI TO GOA } INFECTION ON BOARD

How cruise liner’s New Year dream turned into a Covid nightmare
Gerard de Souza and
Pratip Acharya
letters@hindustantimes.com
PANAJI/MUMBAI: When Cordelia
Cruises’s MV Empress, a 200m-
long luxury cruise liner set sail
from Mumbai Port on December
31, it promised a perfect holiday
for its 2017 passengers, looking
forward to celebrating New Year
on the high seas.
The Empress was to follow an
itinerary where it would set sail
from Mumbai, stop at Goa,
Kochi and Lakshwadeep before
heading back. Five days after it
set off, the dream has turned to
nightmare, the voyage has been
truncated, and the ship has been
sent back to Mumbai from Goa,
after 66 people, including six
crew members tested positive
for Covid-19.
It was almost as if Murphy (of
the famous law) was scripting
the story of a cruise liner whose
name first made the headlines in
October last year following a
drug bust during a rave party
held aboard the then two-
month-old ship. Bollywood actor
Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan
Khan was arrested during the
bust, although no drugs were
found in his possession and he
was subsequently released on
bail.
The positive tests
The alarm was first sounded
when a crew member on board
the ship took ill on January 1 and
a rapid antigen Covid test was
conducted . A positive test
prompted more, finding a total
of six crew members positive.
The ship’s doctor then informed
port authorities and the crew
members were allowed to dis-
embark and made to isolate at a
local hospital at Goa’s port town
of Vasco Da Gama.
The ship waited at anchorage
as authorities scrambled to
decide the best way forward
before it was decided that the
ship be allowed to berth and all
2017 passengers and crew be
tested. By Monday afternoon,
another 60 people, all passen-
gers, tested positive.
The narrative splits at this
point.
The ship’s handlers, the JM
Baxi Group said that the deci-
sion to return to Mumbai was
taken after some passengers
refused to be admitted to a Covid
facility in Goa. Meanwhile, other
passengers asked why those
who tested negative weren’t
allowed to disembark and were
made to travel back to Mumbai,
alongside those who tested posi-
tive. “Due to a change in safety
protocols with prevailing Cov-
id-19 restrictions and in compli-
ance with government authori-
ties, we will be suspending our
sailing...,” the company said in a
statement via Twitter.
The director general of ship-
ping has now called for an
inquiry and port officials have
been asked to review Covid-19
protocols.
Controversy on board
Over the weekend, videos of
angry passengers on board the
cruise ship emerged, with appre-
hensive guests heckling crew
members on the confusion in
protocols, the need for repeated
tests, as well as the confusion
over the next steps.
The CEO of Waterways Lei-
sure Tourism Pvt Ltd, which
runs Cordelia Cruises, Jurgen
Bailom, reiterated that all proto-
cols were followed and said that
the company went “above and
beyond” in its attempt to secure
passenger safety. “Ever since our
cruise set sail in September 2021
with 1,400 guests on board, all
crew members as well as guests
have had to undertake a RT-PCR
test which is no more than 48
hours prior to boarding. The
Cruise ship Cordelia Empress, in background, in Mumbai
RT-PCR is mandatory as is being
doubly vaccinated for, both, the
crew as well as all guests on
board. In simple terms, even if
one is double vaccinated, one
has to undergo the RT-PCR test.
Such conditions are more oner-
ous than operation of domestic
flights in India yet we adhere to
the same by going above and
beyond,” Bailom said in a state-
ment. Rejecting allegations of
laxity, Bailom said the crew
member who showed mild
symptoms had done so close to
departure and was “immediately
and safely isolated”.
“It was Cordelia Cruises’
HT PHOTO
exemplary proactiveness in not
only conducting the rapid anti-
gen test but also, very responsi-
bly informing the concerned
authorities of the incident,” Bai-
lom said, adding that there was a
“lack of empathy” from authori-
ties in Goa and that the com-
pany received “haphazard
instructions” from the state
administration.
South Goa collector Ruchika
Katyal denied this, and said
authorities didn’t refuse anyone
permission to disembark, and
claimed that 13 passengers who
tested negative did indeed dis-
embark in Goa.
“When the ship informed us
about a positive case, our only
instructions were that those who
wish to disembark will have to
be tested first. It was the ship’s
own decision to have all their
passengers tested,” she said.
“We had asked the ship to give
us a list of passengers who
wished to disembark and they
gave us a list of 13 passengers
who disembarked and went
their way after testing negative.
There were no instructions that
even the negative passengers be
disallowed,” Katyal added.
She said a total of 30 positive
passengers were taken off the
ship and kept in isolation at a
local hospital.
“However, of the 30, 24
expressed their desire to be
taken back because they didn’t
want to be separated from their
families and so they were ferried
by ambulances back to the ship,”
she said.
The cruise liner
Waterways Leisure Tourism Pvt
Ltd, according to its website,
“aspires to promote and drive
the cruise culture in India
through experiences that are
stylish, luxurious and most
importantly, inherently Indian”.
The company is part of the
Dream Hotel Group promoted
by NRI hotelier Sant Chatwal.
The cruise offers on board a
casino, children’s activities, pool,
dining and entertainment
shows. The activities include
movie screenings on deck, magic
shows, live musical performan-
ces, DJ nights, and stand-up
comedy acts. Guests can either
book the two-night cruise from
Mumbai to Goa or choose from a
list of options running up to the
entire five nights.
The cruise liner, however, is
no stranger to controversy. It
was from the MV Empress that
Aryan Khan, the son of Shah
Rukh Khan, was arrested on
October 2 by the Narcotics Con-
trol Bureau under sections that
relate to the use of narcotic
drugs and psychotropic substan-
ces. In a raid on board the ship
as it was moored off the Mumbai
shore, NCB seized 13 grams of
cocaine, 5 grams of MDMA, 21
grams of marijuana and 22 pills
of ecstasy.
In a case that grew more and
more controversial by the day,
Khan, who did not have any
drugs on is person, spent 22 days
in prison, with opposition par-
ties saying that this was part of a
vendetta against the Bollywood
superstar and his son.
What happens in Mumbai
stays in Mumbai
On Tuesday evening, the
Empress returned to Mumbai’s
Ballard Pier at around 6pm after
leaving the Mormugao Port
Trust at 11.30pm on Monday.
Everyone on board was
undergoing tests at the time of
going to print. Officials said
those testing positive will be
shifted to hospitals or Covid care
centres, those testing negative
will undergo a mandatory one-
week home quarantine with a
stamp on their hand; however,
nobody will be allowed to leave
the ship till test results come out
on Wednesday.
“There are around 2,000 peo-
ple on-board including the pas-
sengers and crew members. We
started to collect the samples
from 6.30pm and the entire
process of sample collection is
likely to take six hours,” said Dr
Prajakta Amberkar, Medical
Officer of Health in the Brihan-
mumbai Municipal Corporation.
Also on board when the ship
docked were 60 positive patients
currently; the six others are Goa
residents who disembarked
before the Empress left MPT for
Mumbai.
(With inputs from Manish Pathak)
04
Govt says weekend curfew, not
lockdown, as city logs 5.4k cases
HT Correspondent
htreporters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Delhi health minis-
ter Satyendar Jain on Tuesday
said that the weekend curfew
imposed in the Capital in view of
the spike in Covid-19 cases should
not be treated as a lockdown, and
the Delhi Disaster Management
Authority (DDMA) decided
against sounding a “red alert”
under the Graded Response
Action Plan (Grap).
Delhi reported 5,481 latest
Covid infections in the last 24
hours, pushing the positivity rate
to 8.37%, the highest in since May
17 when it was 8.41%, according to
the government data. Fresh cases
have also pushed the number of
active cases in the city to 14,889,
the highest since May 27 when it
was 16,378.
The Delhi government’s daily
health bulletin said only 531 of the
9,042 dedicated Covid beds in the
city were occupied, and these
included some patients only “sus-
pected” of having contracted the
infection.
Experts have in recent days
called for the hospitalisation rate
to be used to judge the severity of
the outbreak since the variant is
likely to lead to milder disease
and curbs that are disproportion-
ate to the threat could end up
hurting more than the epidemic.
DDMA on Tuesday held a
review meeting of the ongoing
curbs under the “yellow alert” of
Grap in view of the steep growth
in number of cases and the posi-
tivity rate. The agency added
weekend curfew to the ongoing
restrictions, but allowed 100%
seating capacity in public trans-
port in view of crowding which
could have triggered faster trans-
33,000 teens get Covid jabs in city
A teenager gets a Covid jab in east Delhi’s Shakarpur on Tuesday. According to government data,
33,179 beneficiaries under the age group 15-17 years were vaccinated in Delhi.
CM tests Covid-positive: In
isolation, symptoms mild
HT Correspondent
htreporters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister
Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday
announced on Twitter that he has
tested positive for Covid-19, and
that he was isolating at home
since he has mild symptoms.
“I have tested positive for Covid.
Mild symptoms. Have isolated
myself at home. Those who came
in touch wid (with) me in last few
days, kindly isolate urself (your-
self) and get urself tested,” Kejri-
wal posted at 8.11am.
The AAP chief has undertaken
several trips to poll-bound states
Uttarakhand and Punjab to cam-
paign for his party. On Monday, he
addressed AAP’s ‘Nav Parivartan
Yatra’ at Parade Ground in Deh-
radun.
Amit Rawat, media coordinator
for AAP in Uttarakhand, said after
Kejriwal announced that he tested
positive, nearly 20 state leaders
who shared stage with him or met
him during or before the rally
have been isolating at home. “Col
Ajay Kothiyal (retd) (AAP’s chief
ministerial candidate) has got a
Additional curbs enforced as wave of cases grows
MOVEMENT OF PEOPLE
Night curfew
Weekend curfew
Cabs/autos/e-rickshaws
Metro
Inter-state buses
EDUCATIONAL CLOSED
INSTITUTIONS
LEISURE/ ENTERTAINMENT
Restaurants
Bars
Hotels/lodges
Cinema halls/theatres
Banquet halls/Auditoriums
Spas
Gyms/Yoga institutes
Entertainment parks
Sports complexes
Swimming pools
Public parks
mission of the virus.
Talking to reporters about the
latest DDMA order, Jain said, “A
weekend curfew was being
imposed in view of rising Covid
cases, and it should not be consid-
ered as a lockdown. The curfew
has been imposed as not much
activity happens in that two-day
period, and there is no need to
panic.”
Currently, a night lockdown is
in effect in Delhi between 10pm
and 5am. The weekend curfew
Covid test done, and others are
getting it too,” he said.
Sanjay Bhatt, spokesperson of
Uttarakhand AAP, said all leaders
and party cadres who came into
close contact with Kejriwal on
Monday have been asked to get
tested and isolate themselves.
Suryakant Dhasmana, vice
president of Uttarakhand Con-
gress, slammed Kejriwal for being
a part of the rally, and for not
wearing a mask. “Despite coming
from Delhi which is witnessing a
spike in Covid cases, he (Kejriwal)
didn’t wear a mask on the stage.
That was highly irresponsible of a
senior leader like him,” he said.
Between December 30 and Jan-
uary 1, Kejriwal was in Chandigarh
and Punjab. He led a “victory
march” atop a crowded truck
along with AAP’s Punjab unit
president Bhagwant Mann, state
affairs co-in-charge Raghav
Chadha, Chandigarh AAP presi-
dent Prem Garg, and party’s 14
newly elected councillors. The
road show was joined by about
5,000 party supporters.
The Delhi chief minister later
held a closed-door meeting with
10pm to 5am
Yes (from Friday 10pm- Monday 5am)
Only 2 passengers allowed
100% seating, no standing passengers
100% seating capacity, no standing
passengers
Open with 50% capacity (but closed
on weekend)
50% capacity (shut on weekend)
Open (no conferences allowed)
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED
CLOSED Shoppers at Janpath market in New
OPEN (closed on weekend) Delhi on Tuesday
will begin at 10pm on Friday and
end at 5am on Monday, according
to the DDMA order.
On December 28, the DDMA
announced closure of schools,
colleges, movie theatres and
gyms, and ordered markets and
shopping malls to operate on an
odd-even basis in view of the
gatherings expected on New
Year’s Eve.
However, despite the high
infections, the hospitalisations so
far have stayed low with more
RAJ K RAJ/HT PHOTO
the councillors. Kejriwal and
Mann also held a “peace march” in
Patiala, which was attended by a
large number of party workers
and leaders. Before the march,
Kejriwal and others laid wreaths
at the memorial of Mahatma Gan-
dhi. The Delhi CM also paid obei-
sance at Kali Devi Temple and
Gurdwara Dukhniwaran along
with workers.
Senior AAP leader Balbir Singh,
who is also the AAP candidate
from Patiala Rural, said they have
appealed to people to follow Covid
protocols but there was heavy
rush and some of them may not
have adhered to norms. “We
always ask people to maintain
social distancing and wear
masks,” he said, adding that those
who attended a party gathering on
New Year’s Eve have been asked to
get tested.
In April last year, Kejriwal’s
wife Sunita tested positive for Cov-
id-19, after which the chief minis-
ter isolated himself.
Delhi has been witnessing a
surge in Covid-19 infection on the
back of the new coronavirus vari-
ant Omicron.
My Delhi
Delhi govt offices
AMAL KS/HT PHOTO
than 20,000 beds for Covid
patients being vacant as of Tues-
day, according to the Delhi gov-
ernment’s Covid dashboard.
On Monday, Jain said Omicron
is now the dominant variant of
Covid-19 in the capital, as many as
152 samples out of 187 sent for
genome sequencing were found
to be infected with the Omicron
variant.
Oxygen monitoring
The Delhi government on Tues-
160 DOCTORS
ACROSS DELHI
TEST POSITIVE
Soumya Pillai
soumya.pillai@htlive.com
NEW DELHI: At least 160 junior
doctors across five Covid-19
hospitals in the national capital
have either tested positive for
Covid-19 or are suspected to
have been infected over the last
few days, the administration of
these hospitals confirmed on
Tuesday.
According to information
from resident doctors’ associa-
tions of various hospitals in
Delhi, over the last week, sev-
eral doctors, especially resident
doctors and interns who have
been interacting with Covid
patients, have contracted the
infection or are in isolation,
awaiting their test results.
At least 65 junior doctors
tested positive for Covid at All
India Institute of Medical Sci-
ences (AIIMS) over the last few
days and at least 49 doctors
tested positive at Safdarjung
Hospital.
Of the 49, 26 were infected
over the last 24 hours.
At Ram Manohar Lohia Hos-
pital, 15 doctors tested positive,
at Hindu Rao 20 tested positive
and at Ambedkar Hospital,
eight doctors tested positive
over the last week.
“Since junior doctors are
interacting more with the
patients, the chances of them
getting infected are also higher.
All doctors here who are show-
ing symptoms have isolated
themselves,” said Dr Amit Mal-
viya from AIIMS resident doc-
tors’ association.
Meanwhile, AIIMS issued an
order on Tuesday cancelling
the remaining winter vacation
for its faculty.
Doctors have been asked to
join duty immediately as the
number of Covid-19 cases is
seeing a surge. Delhi recorded
5481 cases on Tuesday.
Delhi’s health minister Saty-
endar Jain said that over the
last few days, 187 reports of
genome sequencing have been
released--of these, 152 people
tested positive for the Omicron
variant.
MARKETS/ BUSINESSES
Malls
Home delivery
Shops selling essential items Open
Shops selling
non-essential items
Weekly markets
Barber shops/beauty salons Open (shut on weekend)
Factories
GATHERINGS
Religious places
Weddings
Funerals
Business exhibitions
Other public gatherings
OFFICES
Private offices
day announced to install 100
telemetry devices — instruments
that tell the real-time stock in liq-
uid medical oxygen tanks —
across at least 53 government and
private hospitals in the city.
In a statement, the government
said that while reviewing the sup-
ply of oxygen and keeping in
mind the third wave of Covid-19, it
was decided that telemetry devi-
ces in liquid medical oxygen
tanks will be installed to monitor
how much oxygen is available in
Most Omicron patients asymptomatic,
fatigue, sore throat common: Doctors
Soumya Pillai
soumya.pillai@htlive.com
NEW DELHI: Most patients
infected with the Omicron vari-
ant of the coronavirus in Delhi
are showing symptoms similar
to the Delta variant but with
milder intensity, doctors said on
Tuesday. While a majority of
these patients are asymptomatic,
symptomatic patients are com-
plaining of fatigue, sore throat
and mild fever, they added.
Dr Suresh Kumar, medical
director, Lok Nayak Hospital, the
largest Covid-19 hospital in
Delhi, said that till Monday 138
Omicron patients had been
State council of ministers ignored
advice on ration scheme: LG to HC
HT Correspondent
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Lieuten-
ant Governor (LG) on Tuesday
told the Delhi high court that his
repeated advice to the Delhi gov-
ernment to address the violation
of National Food Security Act
(NFSA), as flagged by the Union
government in the implementa-
tion of the doorstep delivery of
ration scheme, have not been
considered by the state council of
ministers.
Arguing before a bench of jus-
tices Vipin Sanghi and Jasmeet
Singh, advocate DP Singh, read
out a file noting of March 20, 2018
by the LG to the state govern-
ment’s finance department, in
which he had advised them to
refer the scheme to the union gov-
ernment with full details includ-
ing all implementation issues
before a final decision is taken.
In the same noting, the LG had
also said that the proposal of the
doorstep delivery of ration
scheme is “worth considering”.
Opposing the doorstep delivery
Open (Allowed on odd-even basis,
but shut on weekend)
Allowed
Open on odd-even basis between
10am and 8pm (shut on weekend)
Only one per day per municipal zone
(to remain shut on weekend)
Open (no clarity for weekend)
Open, but no visitors allowed
Allowed with only 20 guests
Allowed with 20 attendees
CLOSED
Not allowed
50% staff allowed but only between
9am and 5pm
All offices shall stay closed except
those involved in essential and
emergency services
which hospital, so that stocks can
be replenished immediately.
“During the last wave of Cov-
id-19, it was seen that there was a
sudden shortage of oxygen in hos-
pitals across the country and
many hospitals sounded emer-
gency when they started running
out of medical oxygen. The gov-
ernment found it difficult to
decide which hospital should be
provided oxygen first and which
hospital needed it the most,” the
statement said.
admitted to the facility. Of them,
105 had already been discharged.
He also said that a majority of
them were asymptomatic, and
the others showed mild symp-
toms.
“Omicron patients are exhib-
iting mild symptoms for around
three or four days. We have
already discharged 105 patients,”
Dr Kumar said.
“Since all Omicron cases are
being institutionally isolated at
the moment, many patients
complain of fatigue and tight-
ness in the throat. In cases where
patients complain of fever, it
lasts for around two days. But it
is too early to say that these are
THE LG MADE THE
SUBMISSION IN AN
ONGOING HEARING
AGAINST THE
DOORSTEP RATION
DELIVERY SCHEME
OF STATE GOVT
of ration scheme, the LG through
his counsel said that he has not
tried to usurp any powers and
wanted to ensure that the Delhi
government shall adhere to provi-
sions of the NFSA, 2013 while
implementing the scheme even if
it comes out with a separate
scheme for ration delivery to the
citizens.
The submission was made dur-
ing the hearing on a plea by the
Delhi Sarkari Ration Dealers
Sangh, a group of FPS owners, in
which they have challenged the
doorstep ration delivery scheme,
and demanded that it should be
declared ultra vires (beyond one’s
legal power or authority).
The scheme has become a
Reserve 40% of
beds in private
hospitals: Govt
Soumya Pillai
soumya.pillai@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The Delhi govern-
ment on Tuesday directed all pri-
vate hospitals and nursing homes
in the national capital with a bed
capacity of 50 or more, to reserve
at least 40% of their total beds for
Covid-19 patients.
The order, released on Tuesday
evening, said the decision was
taken in view of the Omicron vari-
ant of the coronavirus leading a
surge in fresh infections.
“...The keepers of all private
hospitals and nursing homes hav-
ing total bed capacity of 50 beds or
more are directed to reserve at
least 40% of their total bed capac-
ity (40% of ward bed capacity and
40% of lCU bed capacity) for Covid
patients,” the order said.
Delhi has been witnessing an
uptick in Covid infections over the
last two weeks, with the number
of cases jumping to 5,481 on Tues-
day —with a positivity rate of
8.37%--from Monday’s 4,099
infections, which resulted in a
positivity rate of 6.46%. On
December 31, the positivity rate in
the city was 2.44%.
According to Delhi govern-
ment’s Covid dashboard, Delhi
has a total of 21,701 Covid beds. Of
these, 1,313 were occupied as of
Tuesday, with 20,388 still availa-
ble. Of the vacant beds, 7,945 beds
with oxygen support and 1,321
ventilator beds were available.
A senior official of the Delhi
government’s health department
said the city has entered the “com-
munity spread” stage and under
the current circumstances even
though the severity of infections
are mild, all of the Capital’s
resources will have to be made
available for patient care.
“The infections might be mild
the only symptoms of Omicron.
We will require more data to say
for sure,” said a senior doctor at
Lok Nayak Hospital.
Senior officials of Delhi gov-
ernment’s health department
said that since Omicron is the
dominant variant in the city cur-
rently, majority of the detected
cases are testing positive for this
variant. Health minister Satyen-
dar Jain on Monday said that
over the last few days, 81.28%
Covid-19 cases detected in the
national capital tested positive
for the Omicron variant.
“Until now, the symptoms of
Omicron are mild and that is
also the trend that we are seeing
flashpoint between the Bharatiya
Janata Party-led Union govern-
ment and the Aam Aadmi Party
government in Delhi, with the
former saying that the plan vio-
lates the provisions of NFSA and
will deprive migrants of foodg-
rains, and the latter pointing out
that it will root out the ration
mafia and ensure that all benefici-
aries get their ration.
Advocate Singh also read out a
noting where the LG had pointed
out that no approval has been
granted by the Centre to the
scheme and it was advised again
that the matter be kindly referred
to the union government for
approval in accordance to the
NFSA.
In response to this, Delhi chief
minister Arvind Kejriwal had said
that the scheme is not before the
LG for approval, and it has
already attained finality.
Appearing for the Delhi gov-
ernment, its counsel Gautam Nar-
ayan said that he would want to
advance some arguments to rebut
the submissions made by the L-G.
The court posted the matter for
NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
20k+ beds free
TOTAL
OCCUPIED
1,313 Occupied
VACANT
21,701
Total
8,470 7,945
20,388 Vacant
2,652 1,321
572 545 133
63
9,042 8,490 2,785 1,384
ed s eds ors
icat ds bed ICU b ilat
Ded be ygen Vent
Ox
but this variant is still highly infec-
tious and we will need to make
provisions for as many beds as we
can have to ensure that patients
requiring hospital care do not suf-
fer when the cases rise further,”
the official said.
While some health experts said
that reserving beds will help, con-
sidering the high transmission
rate of Omicron, others said it
may expose other patients to
infection.
Dr Vikas Maurya, a pulmonolo-
gist at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar
Bagh, said, “The decision is not
misdirected because Omicron
cases are highly infectious and the
way the cases are rising we will
need maximum beds. Currently,
all the ICU beds at our hospitals
are full and even patients that are
coming for non-Covid ailments
are testing Covid positive. We will
need maximum resources.”
Dr JA Jayalal, former president
of the Indian Medical Association,
said reserving beds in all private
hospitals will only lead to greater
chances of non-Covid patients
being infected with the virus.
“The focus at present should be
on home isolation and home
care,” Jayalal said.
globally. Our appeal to the public
is to not panic and get vacci-
nated. From yesterday (January
3), we started the vaccination
drive for teenagers between 15
and 17 years. Please get your chil-
dren also inoculated so that even
if you catch the infection, its
intensity is low,” said a senior
Delhi government official.
Delhi government data shows
that on Tuesday, 531 hospital
beds were occupied by patients,
of whom 14 were on ventilator
support, 168 showed moderate
symptoms and 308 were either
asymptomatic or showed mild
symptoms. This figure also
includes 41 suspected cases.
Wednesday when it would con-
tinue hearing arguments.
In an affidavit before the high
court, the Delhi government in
November said that no one will be
deprived of food grains even after
the introduction of the door to
door step ration scheme and the
fair price shops will continue to
exist.
“Beneficiaries who opt for
doorstep delivery but miss the
scheduled delivery or wish to col-
lect the packages SFAs on their
own will be able to collect it from
the circle level FPS set up by the
DCCWS. Beneficiaries who do not
opt for home delivery will be able
to collect their dry ration from the
existing FPS. Therefore, it is a
misconception that the GNCTD is
seeking to do away with FPS,” the
city government said in the docu-
ment filed on November 18.
The state government also said
that the not a single beneficiary
has questioned the mode and
manner of implementation of the
scheme, and an overwhelming
majority have opted to receive
food grains at their doorstep.
06
Twin towers proposed at ITO as Capital may see rain today,
Delhi govt’s new office address cleaner air this week: IMD
Alok K N Mishra
alok.mishra1@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The Delhi chief min-
ister, his cabinet colleagues, and
senior bureaucrats in the Delhi
government may move into new
offices in 30-35 storey twin tow-
ers proposed be constructed by
2025 at central Delhi’s ITO, not
far from the current seat of the
Delhi government at the Players’
Building in Indraprastha Estate,
according to government docu-
ments and officials aware of the
matter.
One tower is proposed to
come up at the Vikas Bhawan
plot, and the other at the MSO
and GST Building plot, on a total
53,603 square metres area at an
estimated cost of ₹1,910 crore,
the officials said. The buildings
will have dedicated stilt and
basement parking areas, includ-
ing electrical charging points for
vehicles, they added.
Apart from offices for the
chief minister and ministers, the
twin towers will have offices for
the chief secretary, additional
chief secretary, principal secre-
taries, secretaries and their sup-
port staff. The towers will be
green buildings and will have
state-of-the-art infrastructure,
auditoriums with capacity for
2,000, 1,000 and 500 people,
seminar rooms and conference
halls, libraries, crèche, commu-
nity halls, canteen, cafeteria,
food court, gym and landscap-
ing, according to the tender doc-
ument, a copy which HT has
seen.
“The Delhi government
intends to construct an iconic
twin building at ITO comprising
30 to 35 storeys on three plots of
land i.e. Vikas Bhawan-1, MSO
Building and GST Building, with
one tower in Vikas Bhawan-1
and another tower in MSO and
GST Building. The work involves
architectural planning for the
work of the new office building
at ITO. The new office building is
proposed to be constructed as
per the detail and norms of Delhi
government,” the tender docu-
ment, floated by Public Works
Department on Monday, said.
The facilities will include
Currently, the Players’ Building at Indraprastha Estate is the seat of Delhi government.
Delhi govt plans to shift office
LOCATION: ITO – replacing Vikas Bhawan-1, MSO Building and GST
Building. One tower to come up on Vikas Bhawan plot, and the other
on MSO and GST Building plot
MSO
Building
GST
Building
Building
Vikas Marg
Vikas
Bhawan 1
ITO
crossing
PROPOSED TOWERS TO HOUSE GOVT BRASS
Delhi chief minister, Five cabinet ministers,
and support staff and support staff
Deputy chief minister, Chief secretary and
and support staff staff
Wi-Fi, CCTV cameras, access
control, escalators, centralised
air conditioning, audio/video
systems for conference halls,
meeting room, common areas, a
sewage treatment plant and
facilities for rainwater harvest-
ing. The consultant has to plan
maximum utilisation of permis-
sible floor area ratio (FAR)
according to Master Plan 2021.
Currently, the chief minister,
cabinet ministers, chief secre-
tary and several top Delhi gov-
ernment officials function out of
Players’ Building, popularly
FACILITIES
Seminar room/conference
hall with each of the
AGCR
53,603
square metres
above offices
Auditoriums with a
capacity of 2,000, 1,000
and 500 people
Ring Road
Total area Landscaping
Vikas
~1910
Minar Library, crèche,
community hall, canteen,
cr cafeteria, food court,
Estimated cost gym
(according to the
tender document)
Additional chief
All development such as
roads, drains, service area,
parking, sewerage, water
supply, to be according to
secretary, principal the provisions of Master
secretaries, secretaries Plan 2021 or local bodies
building bylaws
and their support staff
known as Delhi Secretariat. The all the top officials of the Delhi
Players’ Building was planned government. Offices of the reve-
and built as a hotel to accommo- nue commissioner, labour com-
date players for the 1982 Asian missioner, GST commissioner,
Games, but it was not ready on education secretary, transport
time. commissioner, excise commis-
During Sheila Dikshit’s tenure sioner, secretary food and civil
as the chief minister, the secre- supplies, and several senior offi-
tariat of the Delhi government cers are located at different loca-
was shifted to Players’ Building tions outside the Delhi Secretar-
from Civil Lines to provide better iat.
facilities to ministers and offi- “Due to their offices being
cers. located in different areas, offi-
The existing Delhi Secretariat, cers end up wasting time in
however, does not have the travel and traffic congestion
required space to accommodate whenever they are required to
My Delhi
visit the Secretariat for meetings.
Things are more difficult for offi-
cers holding charges of multiple
departments. They are often
required to visit different and
often distant places for discharg-
ing their duties. If the offices are
located in the same building or
at least at the same location, offi-
cers will save time,” said a senior
Delhi government official, who
asked not to be named.
A former chief secretary of
Delhi, who asked not to be iden-
tified, said the integration of offi-
ces was necessary for increasing
speed and efficiency.
Currently, offices of food and
civil supplies, excise department,
minority commissioner, public
grievance commission and oth-
ers are located in Vikas Bhawan.
The office of the PWD is located
in the MSO Building and the
department of trade and taxes
functions from GST Building.
A PWD official, requesting
anonymity, said the consultant
will have to prepare architec-
tural and layout plans of the new
office building in such a way that
a minimum number of existing
structures that house various
offices of the Delhi government
is demolished. “One or two-sto-
rey temporary porta-cabins and
temporary structures will be
added to the existing buildings
in these places for accommodat-
ing offices that exist in the build-
ings being demolished,” the offi-
cial said.
The Delhi government did not
comment on the matter.
AK Jain, a former planning
commissioner at DDA, said it
was a good move to redevelop
the government offices because
many of them are in a dilapi-
dated condition.
“The new office buildings,
however, will significantly
increase traffic volume at ITO,
which is already congested. The
government should pay atten-
tion to developing a comprehen-
sive urban design scheme
according to MPD 2021. And
they should take advantage of
mixed land-use which permits
30% of the area to be used for
residential activities so that traf-
fic can be reduced,” said Jain.
HT Correspondent
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Delhi may witness
rain on Wednesday and Satur-
day this week, with faster winds
expected to blow away some pol-
lutants and improve air quality,
the India Meteorological Depart-
ment said on Tuesday.
RK Jenamani, scientist at
IMD, said peak rainfall activity is
currently forecast for two days –
Wednesday and Saturday -- with
the latter expected to record
wind speed of 30-40 km/hour.
“Delhi is expected to see two
back-to-back western disturban-
ces (areas of ‘disturbed’ or
reduced air pressure, moving
from the west to the east, carry-
ing moisture associated with
rainfall, snowfall and fog in
northern India), the first of
which is already bringing rain
and snowfall to parts of northern
India from January 3-5, while
the second will impact Delhi
from January 6-9,” he said.
“A yellow alert is currently in
place for Wednesday and Satur-
Delhi Teachers University
Bill sails through assembly
HT Correspondent
htreporters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The Delhi assembly
on Tuesday passed the Delhi
Teachers University Bill, which
seeks to set up a teachers’ train-
ing university.
The campus of the Delhi
Teachers University is coming
up at Bakkarwala in east Delhi,
and the government has said
that it will enrol 5,000 students
starting this year. The university
will offer four-year integrated
teacher education programmes
such as BA-BEd, BSc-BEd among
others.
Deputy chief minister Manish
Sisodia, who also holds the edu-
cation portfolio, introduced the
Bill in the House on Monday.
day. Both days will see light rain,
gusty winds and the maximum
temperature will therefore drop
to around 18 degrees Celsius,”
Jenamani added.
A yellow alert issued by IMD
asks the general public to “be
aware” of a weather situation
developing in the next 24 to 48
hours.
According to IMD’s weather
bulletin, widespread rain, iso-
lated hailstorm and low day time
temperatures are also likely over
northwest India at least for next
seven days.
Fairly widespread moderate
rainfall/snowfall is very likely
over western Himalayan region
during January 4 to 6. Scattered
to moderate rainfall is likely over
Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh,
north Rajasthan, west Uttar Pra-
desh and west Madhya Pradesh
during January 4 to 6, the bulle-
tin said. Isolated heavy rainfall is
very likely over Punjab on Janu-
ary 5 and isolated thunderstorm
activity accompanied with hail-
storm is likely over Punjab, Har-
yana and Rajasthan on January
During a discussion on the Bill
on Tuesday, Sisodia said that the
university will set a new bench-
mark for teachers’ training in the
country and enhance the quality
of education.
Referring to a recent
announcement by Prime Minis-
ter Narendra Modi, Sisodia said
that an upcoming sports univer-
sity in Meerut was being mod-
elled on the same lines as the
sports university in Delhi.
“It is pleasant to see that the
sports university in Meerut,
where the foundation stone has
been laid, is being developed
exactly like the sports university
of Delhi because till date neither
Gujarat nor any other Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP)-governed
state has created any such model
NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
5, it added.
Meanwhile, Delhi’s air quality
improved slightly on Tuesday,
but remained in the higher end
of the “very poor” category, with
an overall Air Quality Index
(AQI) reading of 378 recorded by
the Central Pollution Control
Board’s daily 4pm bulletin. The
Capital’s AQI reading was 387 on
Monday.
According to a forecast by the
Early Warning System, Delhi’s
air quality is expected to
improve to the “poor” category
on Thursday, remaining in the
same range for the next five
days.
Jenamani said under the
influence of the western disturb-
ance, the minimum temperature
could rise to 11 degrees Celsius by
Wednesday, however, the maxi-
mum temperature could hover
around 18 degrees Celsius.
“We will see a reversal now,
making nights warmer and days
to be harsh, with the maximum
to remain below 20 degrees Cel-
sius until Sunday,” Jenamani
added.
from where they could copy.
Therefore, the UP government
and the Prime Minister are copy-
ing the Kejriwal model,” said
Sisodia.
Leader of the Opposition in
the Delhi Assembly, Ramvir
Singh Bidhuri, meanwhile,
accused the Aam Aadmi Party
(AAP) government of not open-
ing new colleges in the city.
“The government announced a
sports university and even
appointed a vice-chancellor,
but nothing is known about it,”
said Bidhuri. He alleged that no
new college was opened by the
AAP government and an
attempt was being made to
“rob existing colleges” by giv-
ing them the “shape of a uni-
versity”.
NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
Sisodia hits out at BJP Assembly adopts
over new excise policy panel’s report on
HT Correspondent
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The excise policy of
the Delhi government has
stopped the “commission” that
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
leaders used to get, and there-
fore, they are upset since the
new scheme has stopped the
theft of ₹3,500 crore, Delhi dep-
uty chief minister Manish Siso-
dia said while responding to a
debate over the policy in the
assembly on Tuesday.
Chief whip Dilip Kumar Pan-
dey initiated a discussion on the
advantages and disadvantages of
the new excise policy. Following
an uproar in the house, BJP MLA
Vijender Gupta was marshalled
out.
Responding to the discussion,
Sisodia said that new liquor pol-
icy has stopped the theft of
₹3,500 crore in Delhi which, he
alleged, earlier used to go to BJP
leaders as commission “but now
is coming into Delhi’s treasury”.
Sisodia said that the new
excise policy has ensured equal
distribution of liquor vends
across the city. “Before the new
liquor policy was implemented
there was no liquor shop in
around 80 wards. In these pla-
ces, illegal liquor shops were
being run under the patronage
of BJP leaders in connivance
with MCD and police. Before the
new excise policy, Delhi’s reve-
nue from liquor was ₹6,000 cro-
res, but now this revenue has
increased to ₹9,500 crore.”
Leader of Opposition Ramvir
Singh Bidhuri hit out at the Delhi
government, and said that 90%
of the new liquor shops have
Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia speaks in the assembly during
the two-day winter session on Tuesday.
been opened in violation of the
Master Plan. He added that all
such stores are “illegal” and
should be closed. “The govern-
ment is promoting liquor con-
sumption. The commission of
liquor traders has been
increased from 1.5% to 12%. The
government should inform how
many liquor stores have been
opened in non-conforming
areas,” Bidhuri said, adding that
the Delhi government did not
have answers to his questions.
Sisodia said that DDA’s Mas-
ter Plan is a “disaster plan” and
restricts people from opening
shops legally. He said the Kejri-
wal government initiated several
excise reforms and was able to
bring up the excise revenue from
₹3,400 crores in 2014-15 to
₹5,200 crores in 2018.
The deputy CM said that since
it came to power, the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) government
has shut 3,977 illegal liquor
shops in Delhi. “Now the total
revenue has increased... Since
2016, not even a single shop has
ANI
been allowed to open,” said Siso-
dia.
Rename Babarpur: BJP
Meanwhile, BJP MLA Ajay
Mahawar (Ghonda constitu-
ency) on Tuesday demanded in
the Delhi assembly that Babar-
pur in North East Delhi be
renamed after former president
APJ Abdul Kalam. Another BJP
MLA Abhay Verma requested
CM Arvind Kejriwal to rename
Laxmi Nagar Metro station as
Laxmi Nagar-Shakarpur Metro
station. He said Shakarpur is a
locality in his Laxmi Nagar con-
stituency and the renaming was
necessary to respect the senti-
ments of the local residents.
Deputy CM Manish Sisodia
also presented the first batch of
supplementary demands for
grants for the Financial Year
2021-2022. The supplementary
demands were considered
demand-wise and passed by
voice-vote. The two-day session
ended on Tuesday, and the
House was adjourned sine die.
{ DELHI ASSEMBLY }
services questions
Alok K N Mishra
alok.mishra1@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The Delhi assembly
on Tuesday adopted the first
report of the Committee of Privi-
leges, which recommends that
HoDs of the Delhi government
departments be held responsible
and proceeded against if
answers to House queries are
not given. In its report tabled in
the assembly on Monday, the
committee underlined that
departments were not even giv-
ing answers to House questions
which were available under RTI
(Right to Information).
Akhilesh Pati Tripathi, chair-
man of the Committee of Privi-
leges, observed that all informa-
tion available under RTI must be
given to the House. The report
said that all instances wherein
information sought by a minis-
ter for a reply in the House is
denied constitute a serious
breach of privilege and contempt
of House. The Committee rec-
ommended that in such cases
the administrative Secretary/
Head of Department concerned
shall be personally held liable
and responsible and proceeded
against as the House deems fit
because it amounts to breach of
privilege and contempt of
House.
Saurabh Bharadwaj, a mem-
ber of the committee, moved a
motion stating that the House
agreed with the first report of
Committee Privileges presented
to the House on January 3, 2022.
The motion was put to vote and
My Delhi
adopted by voice-vote.
“The House has unanimously
decided to refer matters related
to unsatisfactory answers to
questions asked by the members
to the Privileges Committee.
Many questions were not
answered during Question Hour
in the Assembly on Tuesday,”
Bharadwaj stated.
According to the Constitution,
three key subjects -- public
order, police and land -- are
administered by the lieutenant
governor (L-G).
The committee also said: “The
Committee further recommends
that Government of NCT of Delhi
should take necessary action in
coordination with the Central
government to introduce an
amendment in the Parliament in
order to legislate or make laws
on subject matter related to Pub-
lic Order, Police, Land of the
State list under Seventh Sched-
ule of the Constitution.”
The committee, in its report,
pointed out that the members of
the House raised questions on
subject matters related to public
order, police and land, and
replies to questions on these
subject matters were being fur-
nished since the inception of the
Assembly in 1993. “However, as
a covert manner in order to cur-
tail the powers of the Delhi
assembly and privileges of the
Assembly, replies to subject mat-
ters noted above are not being
provided to the Assembly since
2018 in view of the letter (from
L-G),” the committee stated in its
report.
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OIPR - 25034/11/0021/2122
08 My Delhi
NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022

‘Compelling need’ to appoint

Asthana top cop: SC affidavit Delhiwale EXPERIENCE YOUR CITY LIKE NEVER BEFORE
Mayank
Austen Soofi

Utkarsh Anand
utkarsh.anand@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: There was a “compel-
ling need” to have someone like
Rakesh Asthana head the police
force of Delhi, taking into account
the national capital’s “extremely
challenging situations” of public
order, policing issues, and their
implications on national security,
the Union government told the
Supreme Court while justifying the
appointment of the 1984-batch IPS
officer as the Delhi Police commis-
sioner.
In an affidavit in response to a
clutch of petitions challenging Ast-
hana’s appointment on July 27, the
Centre maintained that he was
picked “to provide effective polic-
ing on the recent law and order sit-
uation which arose in the National
Capital Territory of Delhi” and that
he was given both inter-cadre dep-
utation as well as extension of ser-
vice “in public interest”.
It sought that the petitions chal-
lenging the appointment be dis-
missed. Both his transfer and ser-
vice extension have been chal-
lenged in court.
“It was felt that requisite experi-
ence of working and supervising
P comprising Arunachal Pradesh,
Considering the
complexities and
the sensitivities... it
was felt that an
officer... who had
exposure of
complexities of
governance... is
given charge.
CENTRAL GOVT IN AN
AFFIDAVIT BEFORE SC
legal infirmity in appointing him
since the Supreme Court’s 2016
order in the Prakash Singh case,
requiring a police chief of a state to
have at least six months of service
left, applies only to the director
general of police or police heads of
states but not to Union territories
such as Delhi.
“Eight police commissioners
have been appointed by the Cen-
tral Government in Delhi since
2006 prior to Asthana’s appoint-
ment by following the same proce-
Goa, Mizoram, and Union territo-
ries other than Andaman and
Nicobar, and an extension of ser-
vice.
CPIL, in its writ petition on
August 2021 before the top court,
alleged several illegalities in the
inter-cadre deputation and exten-
sion of service, and claimed the
appointment breached the condi-
tion stipulated in the Prakash
Singh case because Asthana did
not have a minimum residual ten-
ure of six months.
The other petition by CPIL
before the Supreme Court on
November 2021 is an appeal
against the Delhi high court’s
October 12 judgment affirming
Asthana’s appointment.
A bench of justices Dhananjaya
Y Chandrachud and AS Bopanna,
which on November 26 issued
notices to the Centre and Asthana
on the NGO’s petitions, will hear
the case on Wednesday. Solicitor
general Tushar Mehta appeared
for the Centre, while Asthana was
represented through senior coun-
sel Mukul Rohatgi. Advocate Pra-
shant Bhushan argued for the
CPIL.
The affidavit filed by the Centre
bers), flagged the 2006 Prakash
Singh case ruling, resulting in the
disqualification of Asthana from
being considered for the post of
CBI director. The Centre, however,
claims that this ruling is not appli-
cable in appointment of Delhi
Police Commissioner.
“Any statutory provision or any
other regime deserves to be read in
such a way that a leeway is given
to the Central Government in
appointment of Delhi Police Com-
missioner. Any straightjacket or
pedantic approach would not be in
national interest,” the home minis-
try said in the affidavit, defending
Asthana’s appointment.
On the challenge to Asthana’s
inter-state cadre deputation, the
affidavit maintained that the rules
provide for inter-cadre deputation
of all India service officers by the
central government, which
effected the deputation in public
interest after no other officer avail-
able in the AGMUT cadre was
found suitable to handle the law
and order situation in Delhi.
“Considering the complexities
and the sensitivities involved and
also considering that no officer of
appropriate seniority with bal-
anced experience was available in

The peepal you should meet

the central investigating agency/
para-military force and police
force of a large State having
diverse political and law and order
problem was lacking in the
present pool of available officers
and hence in public interest, a
dure...there has never been any
objection to the appointment of
respective commissioners in Delhi
Police,” said the affidavit, accusing
petitioner, NGO Centre for Public
Interest Litigation (CPIL) of
“selective exhibition of public
sought dismissal of the petition,
highlighting that the post of Delhi
Police Commissioner is sui generis
(unique) as Delhi is the capital of
the country and any incident hap-
pening here has far-reaching
impacts and implications not only
the AGMUT Cadre, it was felt that
an officer belonging to a large state
cadre, who had the exposure of
complexities of governance and
who had the knowledge of nuan- railway station has quite a few of them, and among
ces of broad canvas policing is
An extraordinary tree at a railway terminus them the densest is a banyan on platform No. 2.
given charge of Commissioner of That tree is a delight, not just for humans. Squirrels

decision was made by the central
government to have an officer who
had experience in all the above
fields to supervise Delhi Police
force,” stated the affidavit, filed
through the home ministry.
It added that apart from there
being enough reasons to pick Ast-
hana, there is no procedural or
interest”.
Asthana took charge as com-
missioner of Delhi Police on July
28, 2021. His appointment for one
year came just four days before his
superannuation on July 31. Before
his appointment, the Indian Police
Service officer was granted an
inter-cadre deputation to a cadre
throughout the country but
beyond the borders.
In May 2021, Chief Justice of
India NV Ramana, while partici-
pating in the high-powered com-
mittee for the selection of the CBI
director (the Prime Minister and
the leader of the opposition in the
Lok Sabha were the other mem-
{ }
Police Delhi,” it added.
The Centre further sought dis-
missal of CPIL’s petition, calling
the NGO a “busybody”. “The peti-
tioner keeps on selectively filing
petitions and such selection of
selected public interest...are
beyond comprehensions...,” added
the affidavit.
It is an old city with many katras and
PUBLIC kuchas. Each kucha has many gallis. Each
INTEREST galli has many havelis and homes. And
each home is as intricate as any old city
with its own domestic katras and kuchas.
Such is the comprehensiveness of this peepal
tree. A giant landmark standing on platform No. 1
of central Delhi’s Hazrat Nizamuddin railway sta-
tion, the peepal is without doubt the grandest sight
at the rail terminus. It is taller than Route Relay
Cabin, the three-storey concrete edifice that soars
just behind it. In fact, the building’s staircase runs
race with one another along its narrow, twisty sub-
branches. The foliage constantly swells with bird
sounds, but you can barely spot the birds in the
dark leafy jungle.
The banyan of Gurugram station is majestic. But
this peepal at Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station
has its majesty enhanced by its extraordinarily lean
if twirly grace.
Since the tree stands far beyond the limits of the
station’s tin shed, it receives direct sunshine, and at
certain times in the afternoon, it turns into a kalei-
doscope of ever-changing iridescence. Winter

Taxi driver held in ₹50 lakh robbery
HT Correspondent
htreporters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: A 27-year-old taxi
driver was arrested for allegedly
being part of a gang that robbed
₹50 lakh at gunpoint from two
employees of a private financer
in west Delhi’s Tilak Nagar on
December 27, police said on
Tuesday.
Police said that the two
employees, Lucky Mehra and
Harvinder Singh, were riding a
motorcycle with a bag contain-
ing ₹50 lakh that they had col-
lected from property dealers in
Vikaspuri at the behest of their
employer Nirmohan Singh.
They were at the Tilak Nagar
flyover, when two men on a
motorcycle waylaid them, fired
two rounds in the air, assaulted
them with their helmets, and
robbed the cash.
“Our special staff team
received information about the
suspects in the case, and
arrested one suspect, Manpreet
Saini, from Rohini’s Sector 25,”
said said deputy commissioner
of police (outer north) Brijendra
Kumar Yadav.
DCP Yadav said, Saini dis-
closed that the robbery was
committed by Subhash alias
Rahul and Pradeep alias Kake.
Bhupender Singh, who is an
employee of Nirmohan Singh’s,
tipped off the alleged robbers.
perpendicular to the tree, as if it were expressly
built to mount the tall leafy giant.
The tree starts its long journey upwards (and
sidewards) from a thick broad trunk, which bifur-
cates into a series of branches. Each of these bran-
ches have fashioned itself after the parent trunk
and bifurcates into several more branches. Every-
one of those branches, in turn, splits into sub-bran-
ches. Indeed, this tree is like the sacred Ganga — a
single stream in the Himalayas culminating into
the Bay of Bengal as a latticework of tributaries.
No doubt, there must be other rail stations in the
Delhi region with extraordinary trees. Gurugram
mornings are ideal for lounging under the sun-en-
tangled canopy.
The peepal is so huge that some of its branches
extend almost towards the rail tracks. Centuries w
ago, the Yamuna flowed along the path of these READ:
very tracks. Can this peepal be ancient enough to For more
have stood on the banks of the river that has now stories by
drifted east? This chilly evening, a train to Kuruk- Mayank
shetra is waiting to depart. After some minutes, the Austen
only human left in the vicinity is restroom attend- Soofi,
ant Mr Narender. Stationed outside the “Pay-and- scan the
Use Deluxe Toilet”, his face is turned away from the QR code
tree.

Homage
GOVERNMENT OF N.C.T. OF DELHI
INDIRA GANDHI HOSPITAL
We are here for you OFFICE OF THE MEDICAL DIRECTOR
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Indira Gandhi Hospital
DIP/Shabdarth/0553/21-22 Dwarka, New Delhi

Unforgettable

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NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022 09

DELHI JAL BOARD, GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI

DELHI JAL BOARD DELHI SARKAR OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (E&M)-II
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (T)/A.C.E.(M)-4 WAZIRABAD WATER WORKS, TIMARPUR, DELHI-110054
TENDER NOTICE No. CMM/SMM/2022/ dated Email: djbeeemii@gmail.com
LUCKNOW ROAD, TIMARPUR, DELHI-110054
MARKFED invites e-Tender in the prescribed for Outsourcing of Packaged Drinking PRESS NIT No. 32 (2021-22)
Short NIT No. 59 (Item No. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) (2021-22) E.E.(T)/A.C.E.(M)-4
Water (with added minerals) under brand name SOHNA.
S. Name of Work Estimated Date of release Earnest Tender Fee Last date/time of receipt of tender NIT Name of Work Tender Rate Earnest Date of release of Last date/Time receipt of
The last date for submission of online e-Tender is 17.01.2022 till 05.00 pm, which No. Cost (Rs.) of tender in Money (Non- through e-procurement solution No. Money (Rs.) Tender in e-procurement Tender through
will be opened on 18.01.2022 at 11.30 am at Markfed House, Plot No. 4, Sector e-procurement refundable) solution e-procurement solution
35-B, Chandigarh. The cost of tender form and earnest money shall be deposited solution 32.1 Supply, Installation, Testing and Percentage Rs. Tender ID: 2022_ 24 Jan 2022 upto
through online mode only. For participating in e-tendering process, the tenderer must 1 Providing & Fixing new water connections in AC-02 39,10,235/- 78,300/- 500/- Technical bid will be received
Burari Constituency under ACE(M)-04. 11.01.2022, 3.00 PM & opening
Commissioning of 70 Nos. Tube wells Rate 20,43,500/- DJB_214035_1 03.15 PM
be registered with e-Tendering portal https://eproc.punjab.gov.in. In case of any I.D. 2021_DJB_214068_1 of Financial Bid after completion of along with Automation, O & M for 2 Yrs. Publish
difficulty, please contact on 0172-2970263 and 0172-2970284. The detailed terms and technical bid & confirmation of EMD at Coronation and Wazirabad WTP for Date 04 Jan 2022
conditions can also be seen on Markfed’s website www.markfedpunjab.com. from Bank. augmentation water supply. 10.00 AM onward
2 Replacement of old rusted and damaged water Con- 48,51,717/- 97,100/- 500/- Technical bid will be received 32.2 Supply, Installation, Testing and Percentage Rs. Tender ID: 2022_ 24 Jan 2022 upto
Corrigendum/Addendum if any will be posted on e-Portal and Markfed’s website only. nection in Timarpur ward under ACE(M)-04. 11.01.2022, 3.00 PM & opening
I.D. 2021_DJB_214068_2 of Financial Bid after completion of
Commissioning of 50 Nos. Tube wells along Rate 13,00,000/- DJB_214035_2 03.15 PM
12120 Managing Director technical bid & confirmation of EMD with Automation, O & M for 2 Yrs. at Bhagirathi Publish
from Bank. WTP for augmentation water supply. Date 04 Jan 2022
3 Improvement of water supply by replacement of old 41,31,346/- 82,700/- 500/- Technical bid will be received 10.00 AM onward
DELHI MILK SCHEME deteriorated 8 inch Dia AC Water line into 8 inch Dia 11.01.2022, 3.00 PM & opening NIT along with all Terms and Conditions is available on DJB website https://govtprocurement.delhi.gov.in
E-TENDER NOTICE NO. 8-170/2021-Distt. DI Water line in D-Block Jahangirpuri, Mukundpur of Financial Bid after completion of
Ward No. 11(N) Burari Constituency AC-02 under technical bid & confirmation of EMD ISSUED BY P.R.O. (WATER) “STOP CORONA; Wear Mask, Follow Physical
E-mail: rakesh411963@gmail.com ACE (M)-4 from Bank. Advt. No. J.S.V. 943 (2021-22) Distancing, Maintain Hand Hygiene” Executive Engineer (E&M)-II
Phone No. 011-25877204 to 210, Ext. 252/524 I.D. 2021_DJB_214068_4 04.01.2022
4 Removal water contamination and improvement of 28,57,185/- 01 P.M. onward 57,200/- 500/- Technical bid will be received
For and behalf of the President of India, General Manager, Delhi Milk Scheme, water supply by replacement of old deteriorated 4 11.01.2022, 3.00 PM & opening
West Patel Nagar, New Delhi-110008 invites e-Tender for appointment of inch dia CI Pipe line in various streets of EE-Block of Financial Bid after completion of
distributors for sale and distribution of milk & milk products packed/marketed by from 2101 TO 2140, 2180 to 2141, 2250 to 2216, technical bid & confirmation of EMD
DMS using insulated vehicles for transportations of milk & milk products from 2321 to 2285, 2400 to 2360 Jahangirpuri, Muku- from Bank.
ndpur Ward No. 11(N) Burari Constituency AC-03
DMS plant to the allocated zones of Delhi. E-Tender forms containing detailed under ACE(M)-4
terms & conditions can be downloaded from Central Public Procurement I.D. 2021_DJB_214068_6
Portal website i.e. http://eprocure.gov.in/eprocure/app from 05.01.2022 to 5 Trapping of drain No. 3 at G.T.K. road near Gurman- 46,38,581/- 92,800/- 500/- Technical bid will be received
25.01.2022 upto 2.30 P.M. Pre-bid conference will be held on 15.01.2022 di under ACE(M)-4 11.01.2022, 3.00 PM & opening
I.D. 2021_DJB_214068_7 of Financial Bid after completion of
at 2.30 P.M. in DMS, West Patel Nagar, New Delhi. Participating bidders are technical bid & confirmation of EMD
required to send their written queries in advance of the pre-bid conference. from Bank.
Online Tender documents must be accompanied with the scan copy of EMD 6 Trapping of drain No. 1 to 2 at G.T. Road falling 49,37,773/- 98,800/- 500/- Technical bid will be received
as prescribed in Tender documents in favour of General Manager, Delhi Milk in Najafgarh drain near Gurmandi & Shakti Nagar 11.01.2022, 3.00 PM & opening
in AC-18, Model Town Constituency under A.C.E. of Financial Bid after completion of
Scheme payable at Delhi. Original DD/Pay Order/Bankers Cheque of EMD is to be (M)-4 technical bid & confirmation of EMD
submitted to this office well before opening of Tender. Dully filled in ‘e’-Tender/ I.D. 2021_DJB_214068_8 from Bank.
online offers shall be accepted up to 2.30 PM on 25.01.2022 and will be opened Further details in this regard can be seen at https://govtprocurement.delhi.gov.in
on 27.01.2022 at 2.30 PM. Manual Tender shall not be accepted. You may also ISSUED BY P.R.O. (WATER) “STOP CORONA: *Wear Mask, Follow Physical (S.K. SINGH)
visit DAHD website i.e. www.dahd.nic.in. Advt. No. J.S.V. 944 (2021-22) Distancing, Maintain Hand Hygiene” EXECUTIVE ENGINEER-T(M)-4
(CHINMOYJIT SEN)
GENERAL MANAGER

Office of the Executive Engineer,

Public Works (West) Division,
Sangli
Outward No. AB/Tender/ 6462 /2021 Phone No. 0233-2375898, Fax -0233-2373233
Date :- 29.12.2021 E-mail:- westsangli.ee@mahapwd.gov.in
E - TENDER NOTICE NO. - 52 for 2021.
Executive Engineer, P.W. (West) Division, Sangli, on behalf of Public Works Department,
Govt. of Maharashtra, invites offers on e-tender platform. The complete Bidding Documents
including tender drawings, if any, shall be available for download at e-Tendering portal of the
Government of Maharashtra https://mahatenders.gov.in The Executive Engineer, P.W. (West)
Division, Sangli reserves right to accept or reject any offer. Conditional offers will not be
accepted.
Sr. Name of Work Estimated
No. Cost
(Rs. Lakh)
1 Construction of High Level Major bridge on Shirgaon Walva 2718.95
Ahirwadi Gotkhindi Bhadkambe Bahadurwadi Kanegaon MDR-117
at km 0/250 near village Shirgaon on Krishna river Tal-Walva Dist-Sangli
Period of download of Tenders From :- 5.1.2022 to 31.1.2022
Pre-Bid Meeting 24.1.2022 Time 12.00 hrs. Chief Engineer. P.W. Region, Pune
Opening of tenders Date :- 1.2.2022 Superintending Engineer P.W. Circle,
Time :- 15:00 Kolhapur.
All information relating to above tender is available on following websites.
1. http://mahapwd.gov.in and http://mahatenders.gov.in
(If there is any change in above notice, same will informed on above website)
2. On notice board of Executive Engineer, P.W. (West) Division, Sangli.
Sd/-
(Surendrakumar Raghunath Katkar)
Executive Engineer,
Public Works (West) Division,
DGIPR/2021-2022/ROC 3474 Sangli.
10 NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022

My India
{ ’AUCTIONING‘ MUSLIM WOMEN } { EWS QUOTA IN MEDICAL SEATS }
CCTV CAMERAS
IN SPAS VIOLATE
18-yr-old woman PEOPLE’S RIGHT TO
‘BODILY’ PRIVACY,
SAYS MADRAS HC
SC to hear NEET-PG case today
Abraham Thomas admissions. The resident doctors
are protesting for this reason.
reservation would exceed the
50% benchmark set by the top

among 2 arrested
Manish K Pathak
and Kalyan Das
letters@hindustantimes.com
MUMBAI/DEHRADUN : An
18-year-old woman and a
21-year-old engineering stu-
dent, who allegedly met on
social media due to their com-
mon interest in Hindutva ideol-
ogy and later allegedly collabo-
rated to put up webpages
where hundreds of Muslim
women were “auctioned”, were
arrested on Tuesday.
The arrests were made by
Mumbai Police, which is prob-
ing two such controversial
webpages hosted on the code
sharing platform, GitHub. The
first web page was floated in
July 2021 and the second, Bulli
Bai, surfaced on January 1. The
webpages, which were named
after derogatory references to
the Muslim community,
sparked outrage because hun-
dreds of Muslim women --
most of whom were vocal activ-
ists or top professionals -- were
listed for “auction” along with
their photographs, which were
sourced without permission
and doctored.
Activists pointed out that
despite complaints, no action
was taken in the July case, and
that the pages were meant to
demean Muslim women.
The man, Vishal Kumar Jha,
was allegedly running one of
Twitter handles that was used
to upload links to the websites,
said an officer from the Mum-
bai cybercrime cell. Singh’s
alleged role was not clear.
The woman, Shweta Singh,
lived in Uttarakhand’s Udham
Singh Nagar district with her
three siblings and had lost her
father to Covid-19 in May last
year and her mother to cancer
in 2011. She was deeply
Timeline of GitHub case
2021 2022
July 4 ‘Sulli January 1 ‘Bulli Bai’ appears on social media, with
Deals’ appears pictures of most of the women targeted earlier
on social media
January 2 Mumbai Police file FIR against
handles. Photos
unknown persons
of prominent
Muslim women January 3 Second-year engineering student
misused from Bengaluru, Vishal Kumar Jha, detained for
questioning
July 8 Police
file FIR against January 4 Jha questioned for over 20 hours and
unknown formally arrested; Uttarakhand woman arrested
persons by Mumbai Police team
involved in Hindutva ideology
and often posted such content
on social media, said a senior
Uttarakhand police officer
with knowledge of develop-
ments.
“They both came in contact
on the microblogging platform
while commenting on a right
wing post. Following that, they
became friends and shared
their contact numbers. They
then started speaking to each
other and chatting on What-
sApp sharing their common
ideology,” said the senior
Uttarakhand police officer
quoted above, requesting ano-
nymity.
“She had no regrets for what
she did,” he added.
Jha was held in Bengaluru
for questioning on Monday and
brought to Mumbai in the
evening, said joint commis-
sioner of police (crime), Milind
Bharambe.”He was questioned
and several facts were verified.
and after his role was found
involved in the crime, he was
arrested,” he added.
Kumar was remanded to
cyber police custody till Janu-
ary 10, the officer said.
“There seems to be a much
bigger network behind such
coordinate crimes and I am
confident that Mumbai Police
will soon unearth the entire
nexus that is enabling such
hate crimes against women in
our country,” said Maharashtra
minister Satej Patil.
A Mumbai Police team
arrested Singh from Rudrapur
city in Uttarakhand’s Udham
Singh Nagar district.
A second Uttarakhand police
officer said the woman hailed
from an economically weak
background, had lost both her
parents and was living with
three siblings. “She had passed
class 12 examinations but was
yet to take admission in the col-
lege for higher studies,” said
the officer, requesting anonym-
ity.
During her questioning, she
told the police that she took the
help of an acquaintance in
Nepal and added that this man
-- who she allegedly identified
as Giyou -- had uploaded the
women’s photos, said the sec-
ond police officer.
The woman was produced
before a local court for transit
remand, the officer added. The
court granted the transit
remand of the woman to Mum-
bai police.
(With inputs from HTC, Delhi)
Divya Chandrababu
letters@hindustantimes.com
CHENNAI: The installation of
CCTV cameras in spas violates
the right to “bodily” privacy of a
person, the Madras high court
observed on Tuesday.
“The installation of CCTV
equipment inside premises such
as a spa would unquestionably
infract upon a person’s bodily
autonomy. These are inviolable
spaces where the prying eye of
the state simply cannot be
allowed to enter,” justice GR
Swaminathan said on Tuesday.
The Madurai bench also said
that an order passed by another
judge of the court in 2020 was in
violation of the Supreme Court’s
order defining right to privacy
as a fundamental right.
The HC judge cited that the
Supreme Court has held that the
right to privacy, guaranteed in
Article 21, takes several different
forms and includes a right to
bodily autonomy, a right to
informational privacy and a
right to a privacy of choice.
The observation came while
hearing a petition filed by
Payel Biswas, who runs a spa
‘Queen Ayurvedic Cross Spa
Centre’, in Tamil Nadu’s Trichy
district.
During the hearing, the gov-
ernment counsel informed the
court about a 2020 order by jus-
tice SM Subramaniam, directing
installation of CCTV cameras in
all spas, massage and therapy
centres, across the state to pre-
vent illegal activities.
Justice Swaminathan said the
order ran contrary to a Supreme
Court verdict on privacy.
THE HC OBSERVED
THAT RIGHT TO
PRIVACY INCLUDES
RIGHT TO BODILY
AUTONOMY AND
INFORMATIONAL
PRIVACY
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Petitions challeng-
ing reservations in the national
quota of seats in postgraduate
medical courses will be heard in
the Supreme Court on Wednes-
day after the Centre urged it to
urgently list the matter.
A two-judge bench of justices
DY Chandrachud and AS
Bopanna will hear the petitions
challenging reservation for other
backward classes (OBCs) and
economically weaker sections
(EWS) in the all-India quota
NEET-PG seats on Wednesday.
Resident doctors who have
qualified for postgraduate
courses have been protesting
the delay in counselling because
the matter of reservations is
pending in court.
Appearing for the Union gov-
ernment, solicitor general (SG)
Tushar Mehta on Tuesday told a
bench headed by Chief Justice of
4 girls injured after stampede-like
situation in Cong’s Bareilly event
HT Correspondent
lkoreportertsdesk@htlive.com
LUCKNOW: Four girls were
injured in a near-stampede dur-
ing a run organised by the Con-
gress party in Uttar Pradesh’s
Bareilly district on Tuesday,
police said. The injured were
sent to a nearby hospital. They
have been discharged after treat-
ment, district officials said.
The event was organised by
the district unit of the Congress
under its Ladki Hoon, Lad Sakti
Hoon (I am a girl and I can fight)
poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh.
Soon after the incident, videos
of the event were circulated on
social media. In one of the videos,
some girls running at the front
can be seen tripping and falling,
forcing those behind to stop sud-
denly. This almost resulted in a
stampede and some were
Doctors protest delay in NEET-
PG counselling, in Delhi. ANI
India NV Ramana that the pro-
testing resident doctors had gen-
uine concerns, which can only
be addressed only if the matter is
listed urgently.
“These matters relate to per-
sons belonging to EWS. A state-
ment was made by us that pre-
vent further counselling for PG
Officials help girls who fell down during a run in Bareilly.
injured. Most participants were
neither wearing masks nor fol-
lowing Covid protocols. HT could
not independently verify the
authenticity of the videos.
No complaint has been lodged
in the matter, the police said.
Congress leader and former
Their concerns are genuine,”
Mehta said.
He requested that, for a lim-
ited purpose, even a bench of
two judges headed by justice
Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud
could be constituted to hear the
pending petitions. On Monday,
Mehta made a similar request
before justice Chandrachud,
seeking an early listing for Tues-
day instead of the prefixed date
of January 6. Justice Chandra-
chud assured him at the time
that he would take this up with
the chief justice.
The matter pending before
the court has been filed by resi-
dent doctors who have chal-
lenged a July 29, 2021 notifica-
tion by the Centre introducing
27% OBC quota and 10% EWS
quota in the NEET all-India
quota seats. The petitions ques-
tioned the basis for applying the
EWS quota, and said that such
PTI
Bareilly mayor Supriya Aron said:
“When a stampede can happen in
Vaishno Devi, these are just girls. It
is human nature. But I want to
apologise.” Uttar Pradesh Bharat-
iya Janata Party leader Geeta
Shakya slammed the Congress for
its “irresponsible” statements.
court in its earlier decisions
since there is also 22.5% reserva-
tion for Scheduled Caste and
Scheduled Tribes.
In October, the top court
raised doubts on whether EWS
beneficiaries can be uniformly
clubbed together as persons
belonging to households with
annual earnings below ₹8 lakh
without considering the rural-
urban divide, purchasing power
in different regions, and other
factors that vary across states. To
quell these doubts, the Centre
formed a three-member com-
mittee to revisit the criteria for
identifying EWS in November,
and put the counselling process
of Neet-PG seats on hold.
The committee, which revis-
ited the January 17, 2019 order
passed by the Centre prescribing
criteria to identify EWS, con-
cluded that the ₹8 lakh limit is
not “over-inclusive”.
DESHMUKH MOVES
SPECIAL COURT FOR
DEFAULT BAIL IN
LAUNDERING CASE
MUMBAI: Former Maharashtra
home minister Anil Deshmukh
approached a special court in
Mumbai on Tuesday, seeking
default bail in connection with a
money-laundering case registered
against him by the Enforcement
Directorate.
Deshmukh was arrested by ED
on November 2, 2021 and is cur-
rently in judicial custody. In his
plea, Deshmukh said the special
court had not taken cognisance
of the prosecution complaint
(charge sheet) filed by ED before
remanding him in further judi-
cial custody.
Deshmukh pointed out that he
has been in custody for 60 days
and since the court has not yet
taken cognisance of the charge
sheet, he should be granted default
bail under the provisions of Sec-
tion 167 of the CrPC. PTI

OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER(C) DR-X Government of Odisha "e" Procurement Notice C-1790
DELHI JAL BOARD, GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI Bid Identification No.64/2021-22
JAGRITI SPS, KARKARDOOMA CROSSING, DELHI-92
PHONE: 011-22374543, Email: eecdrxdjb@gmail.com 1. Name of the work 1 No. of works of Ranapur ULB
N.I.T. NO. 01 (2021-22) 2. Estimated cost 200.76 lakh
S. Name Of work Amount Put to Date of Published on Last date and 3 Period of completion 11 (Eleven) Months
No. Tender e-procurement portal Time of Tender
(Rs.) 4. Date & Time of availability of bid From 11.00 AM. of 06.01.2022 to 5.00 PM of 27.01.2022
1 Providing and laying house service sewer connections 19,19,74,874/- 03.01.2022 24.01.2022 document in the portal
from nearest DJB manhole to individual houses in group of up to 5. Last date / time for receipt of bids 5.00 PM of 27.01.2022
colonies in part of Karawal Nagar and part of Mustafabad 3.00 PM in the portal
constituencies in Delhi.
6. Name and address of the Officer Superintending Engineer, P.H. Division, Bhubaneswar
Tender ID : 2022_DJB_214027_1
inviting Bid
Further details in this regard can be seen at https://govtprocurement.delhi.gov.in/
ISSUED BY P.R.O. (WATER) Further details can be seen from e-procurement portal in the Website (http://tendersorissa.gov.in)
“STOP CORONA; Wear Mask, Follow Physical
Advt. No. J.S.V. 947(2021-22) EXECUTIVE ENGINEER(C)DR-X GOVT. OF ODISHA A-809
Distancing, Maintain Hand Hygiene” Superintending Engineer OFFICE OF THE ADDITIONAL CHIEF ENGINEER
P.H. Division, Bhubaneswar CENTRAL IRRIGATION CIRCLE, BHUBANESWAR
OIPR - 13021/11/0033/2122 `e' Procurement Notice No.ACECIC- 10 / 2021-22
1. Name of the work : Extension of Jadupur minor of Dahuka Irrigation Project
with construction of canal crossing on Nayagarh-Khandapada road.
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, RWS&S DIVISION, BALASORE O-1630 2. Amount put to Tender Rs. 3,04, 82,308.00
Tel: 06782-262249, Fax: 262931, 3. Bid Document cost Rs. 10,000/- (Online)
email: eerwss_bls@nic.in, eerwssbls@gmail.com. 4. E.M.D. Bid Security Declaration to be furnished as per
Annexure-III of section -6 of technical Bid Document
NATIONAL COMPETITIVE BIDDING THROUGH e-Tendering
5. Class of Contractor "A" & "Spl." Class
Identification No. 51 Dt. 01-01-2022 6. Period of Completion 12 calendar months
The Executive Engineer, RWS&S Division, Balasore on behalf of the Governor of Odisha invites bids from bidders of 7. Other details are as follows.
eligible class registered with the Odisha State Government and bidders of equivalent Grade / Class registered with Procurement Bid Identification Availability of Tender
Central Government / MES / Railways for the works detailed in the table below to be eventually drawn up in P1 Date of Opening of
Officer No. On- line for bidding
contract with design and execution of the following Piped Water Supply Projects. Technical Bid (Cover-I)
From To
1. Nos. of Work :
37 Nos RPWS schemes in Balasore district (Clubbed-up).
Additional Chief Engineer, ACECIC-NGR 05 of Dt. 07.01.2022 Dt. 27.01.2022 Dt.28.01.2022
2. Estimated cost :
Rs. 103.70 lakhs to Rs. 456.46 lakhs
3. Period of completion :
330 days Central Irrigation Circle, 2021-22 at 11.00 hr
at 10.0 hrs at 17.00hs
4. Availability of bid document in Portal :
Dt. 11.01.2022 at 16.00 hours to 25.01.2022 up to 17.00 hours Bhubaneswar
through online. 7. e-mail Id secic_dowr@yahoo.com
5. Seeking of Clarification : Dt. 11.01.2022 at 10.00 hours to Dt. 20.01.2022 up to 15.00 hours Further detail conditions can be seen from the Govt. website www.tendersodisha.gov.in
6. Date of opening of Bid : Dt. 27.01.2022 at 11.00 hours in the O/O EE, RWSS Division, Balasore.
7. Name and address of the Officer Inviting Tender :Executive Engineer, RWS&S Division, Balasore Approved
Additional Chief Engineer
Bid Cost & Bid Security will be receipt through electronic payment by NEFT / RTGS. Central Irrigation Circle, Bhubaneswar
Further details can be seen from the e-Procurement Portal: http://tendersodisha.gov.in OIPR - 32160/11/0013/2122
Executive Engineer,
RWS&S Division, Balasore
OIPR - 25013/11/0019/2122
NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022 My India 11
{ LAKHIMPUR KHERI CASE } 5,000-PAGE CHARGE SHEET FILED

SIT used 24 photos,

videos to build case
HT Correspondent
S Jaishankar

letters@htlive.com EAM REVIEWS

LUCKNOW: Investigators have
used testimonials of 208 wit-
nesses, 17 items of scientific and
electronic evidence, and 24 pho-
tographs and videos to build
their case in a 5,000-page
charge sheet filed in the Lakh-
impur Kheri case, officials said
on Tuesday.
The special investigation
team probing the October 3 vio-
lence filed charges against 14
people on Monday, naming the
son of junior home minister
Ajay Mishra Teni as the main
accused, and citing witness
statements to confirm his pres-
ence at the spot during the inci-
dent.
The team used 24 photo-
graphs, CCTV footage and vid-
eos shot by independent wit-
nesses to establish the sequence
of events when four farmers
and a journalist were allegedly
mowed down by the minister’s
son, Ashish Mishra, and others
during a farm protest, a SIT offi-
cial said.
Three more people were
killed in subsequent clashes.
The SIT called it a “well-planned
conspiracy”.
The violence sparked nation-
wide condemnation and ener-
gised opposition parties to
demand the minister’s resigna-
tion months before high-stakes
polls in the crucial state. Several
opposition parties disrupted
proceedings in the winter ses-
sion of Parliament to demand
Ajay Mishra’s removal.
There were 17 pieces of evi-
dence, including ballistic
reports of three firearms and
forensic reports of the bullet
shells and charred vehicles
People look at a car which was destroyed in violence at Tikonia
area of Lakhimpur Kheri on October 4 last year.
recovered from the site, the offi-
cial said.
Reports on the phone call
details and cellphone locations
of Ashish Mishra have been
included as evidence.
“In addition, the SIT included
the statements of 208 eyewit-
nesses and witnesses to prove
the presence of Ashish Mishra
and others at the spot. The
statements of over 90 witnesses
were recorded before the judi-
cial magistrate so that they
could not retract from their ver-
sion later,” the official said,
requesting anonymity.
The initial complaint into the
case only named Ashish Mishra
and unknown people. Subse-
quent investigation by the SIT
identified 12 other accused. In
the charge sheet, the SIT added
a 14th accused – Virendra
PTI
Shukla, a relative of the minister
who is yet to be named in the
charge sheet.
The 13 accused were charged
under sections 147(rioting), 148
(rioting armed with deadly
weapons), 149 (unlawful assem-
bly ), 307(attempt to murder),
326 (voluntarily causing griev-
ous hurt), 302 (murder) and
120B (criminal conspiracy),
427(mischief causing damage),
34 (acts done with common
intention) of the Indian Penal
Code (IPC), and Section 177 (wil-
fully disobeying directions) and
B177 of the Motor Vehicle Act,
said prosecution officer SP
Yadav.
The victims’ kin and some
opposition parties have alleged
that the government was pro-
tecting Ajay Mishra by not nam-
ing him in the charge sheet.
BILATERAL TIES
WITH US, RUSSIA
AHEAD OF TALKS
HT Correspondent
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: External affairs min-
ister S Jaishankar has reviewed
bilateral relations with his
American and Russian counter-
parts this week ahead of planned
interactions with both countries
in a wide range of areas. Jais-
hankar tweeted on Tuesday that
he had a broad-ranging conver-
sation on Monday night with US
secretary of state Antony
Blinken that covered “current
bilateral issues, Indo-Pacific and
pressing global matters”.
The conversation came ahead
of a planned 2+2 meeting of the
Indian and US defence and for- OFFICE OF THE ADDITIONAL CHIEF ENGINEER (P) 4
eign ministers. The meeting was DELHI JAL BOARD, GOVT. OF N.C.T. OF DELHI
initially slotted for last Novem- ROOM NO. 29, B-BUILDING, JHANDEWALAN, NEW DELHI-110005
ber but was put off for a variety Phone: 09650094325, E-mail Id:- djbwaterbody@gmail.com
of reasons. The dialogue will
help guide cooperation in sev-
PRESS NIT No. 18 (2021-22)
eral key areas, including the Sl. Name of Work Estimated Earnest Tender Date of Release of Last Date/Time of
Indo-Pacific and collaboration No. Contract Value Money Fee tender in E-Procurement receipt of tender
(ECV)/Amount (EMD) Solution & Tender ID No. E-Procurement
on defence research and manu-
put to tender Solution
facturing.
1. Boring and Installation of 150 Nos. bore wells R R 44.20 R 03.1.2022 24.01.2022
Jaishankar said in another at Nilothi and Najafgarh area etc. for the 34,16,74,645/- Lakh 1500/- 2021_DJB_214040_1 At 3.00 PM
tweet that he had spoken to Rus- augmentation of water supply under ACE P4.
sian foreign minister Sergey Lav- Further details in this regard can be seen at https://govtprocurement.delhi.gov.in
rov on Tuesday evening and dis- ISSUED BY P.R.O. (WATER) “STOP CORONA: WEAR FACE MASK, FOLLOW
cussed the follow-up to the Advt. No. J.S.V. 945 (2021-22) PHYSICAL DISTANCING, MAINTAIN HAND HYGIENE” A.C.E.(P)-4
annual summit and 2+2 meeting,
which were both held in New
Government of Jammu & Kashmir
Delhi on December 6. “Agreed to
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER
remain in regular touch,” he
SEWERAGE & DRAINAGE DIVISION No.: Ist
added. A statement issued by the
SULIMAN COMPLEX DALGATE SRINAGAR
Russian embassy said Lavrov
and Jaishankar discussed “prac- Notice Inviting e-Tendering
Gist of Fresh Short Term e-NIT No.: 31 of 2021-22
tical issues of bilateral coopera-
For and on behalf of Lt. Governor of Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, Executive Engineer S&D
tion”. Division Ist UEED Srinagar invites online e-bids in 2 cover system from Registered Electro-Mechanical
Contractors or SSI Unit Holders for the following work.
S. Name of work Cost of Cost of Time of Class of

A
l Digital database may help
No. work
(Rs. In
T/doc.
(In
lacs) rupees)
operation &
maintenance
contract

Kerala reinstates 1 2 3 4 5 6
1. Providing, Installation, Testing & 25.46 1500/- 1 Month Registered
IAS officer accused
in smuggling case
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
overhaul cooperatives soon Commissioning of Electro Mechanical
Equipments at IPS # 05 Jogi Lanker under
Sewerage Scheme “Sewerage Network of
Sore Spots in Khanyar
Firms/
Agencies

The Kerala government district cooperative banks, and

on Tuesday revoked the
suspension of senior
IAS officer M
Sivasankar, former
principal secretary of
chief minister Pinarayi
Vijayan, who was an
accused in money-
laundering case related
to the sensational gold
smuggling case through
the consulate of the
United Arab Emirates
in the state capital.
Earlier chief secretary V
P Joy recommended the
reinstatement of the
official and the
government accepted
his advice. His posting
will be decided later, a
communique from the
CM office said.
Ex-MLA escapes
Maoist attack;
2 cops killed
RANCHI: Former BJP
MLA from Manohar-
pur, Gurucharan
Nayak, on Tuesday
narrowly escaped a
Maoist attack in
Jharkhand’s West
Singhbhum district but
the extremists slit the
throats of his two
bodyguards and
snatched three AK-47
rifles before escaping
from the spot, a senior
officer said. Chakradh-
arpur Sub-divisional
Police Officer Dilip
Khalkho said that the
attack by members of
the banned CPI
(Maoist) outfit took
place in Jheelruwa
Zia Haq
Zia.haq@htlive.com
NEW DELHI: India will soon have
a digital database of cooperatives
being worked on by the new
ministry of cooperation, which
will help overhaul a sector the
government hopes will propel
the economy’s size to $5 trillion,
a senior official aware of devel-
opments said.
The move is aimed to help
reposition cooperatives as busi-
ness entities with an online pres-
ence. A national database is also
necessary to formulate an
upcoming new policy for coop-
eratives, the official added,
requesting anonymity.
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi shuffled his cabinet in July,
carving out a new ministry of
cooperation, which was earlier a
department under the agricul-
ture ministry. Home minister
Amit Shah heads the ministry.
The ministry will focus on
building cooperative societies as
the pivot of a whole gamut of
economic activities, from finan-
cial services to production of fin-
ished goods.
Cooperatives are essentially
collectives of small producers
who pool their resources to
achieve scale and collective bar-
gaining power in markets. While
there are some iconic coopera-
tive businesses in the country,
{ HOLKARS’ PROPERTY CASE }
SC fines petitioner for
allegations against HC
THE MINISTRY OF
COOPERATION
WILL FOCUS ON
BUILDING CO-OP
SOCIETIES AS THE
PIVOT OF A WHOLE
GAMUT OF
ECONOMIC
ACTIVITIES
such as dairy giant Amul, sea-
soned flatbread-maker Lijjat
Papad and fertiliser major IFFCO
(Indian Farmers Fertiliser Coop-
erative), the sector in many areas
is hobbled by inefficiencies and
opaque patronage systems.
Financial cooperatives, a key
segment within cooperatives,
play a key role in lending and
saving operations. State coopera-
tive banks, according to Nab-
ard’s annual report of 2019-20,
had a total paid-up capital of
₹6,104 crore and deposits of
₹1,35,393 crore.
Primary agricultural credit
societies (PACS) will be a key
thrust area of the digitisation
push, officials said. PACS are vil-
lage or district-level last-mile
institutions that deliver agricul-
tural credit to millions of farm-
ers. A national software plat-
form, which will be available in
local languages, will link PACS,
the National Bank for Agricul-
ture and Rural Development
(NABARD), potentially creating
an integrated financial grid. The
digital database is aimed at
boosting their reach and trans-
parency.
India’s cooperative sector is
the world’s largest, and covers
almost 98% of the countryside,
with over 900,000 societies with
a membership of about 290 mil-
lion people, according to data
from the National Cooperative
Union of India.
The government is also likely
to bring statutory changes in the
cooperatives sector. Addressing
a cooperatives’ meet in January
last year, Shah said the govern-
ment will bring changes to laws
governing the sector to
“smoothen processes in areas
such as multisector coopera-
tives”. The minister added this
would a “big step in our march
towards development”.
The cooperatives sector policy
was last revised by the Atal
Bihari Vajpayee government in
2002. “Now, the current govern-
ment is looking to update the
policy in step with newer eco-
nomic realities,” the official cited
in the first instance said.
Cooperatives are governed by
two main laws, the Cooperative
Societies Act, 2012, and the Mul-
ti-state Cooperatives Act, 2002.
ANGRY AT TEACHER
FOR SLAPPING HIS
DAUGHTER, JAWAN
OPENS FIRE IN RAJ
IMPORTANT DATES:
1 Date of publishing 31.12.2021
2 Period of downloading of bidding documents 31.12.2021 to 14.01.2022 up-to 4.00 PM
3 Bid submission Start Date 31.12.2021 from 4.00 PM
4 Bid submission End Date 14.01.2022 up-to 4.00 PM
5 Date & time of opening of bids (online) 15.01.2022 at 11.00 AM or any other convenient
date
Tender Receiving Authority:
Executive Engineer S&D Division Ist
Sulaiman Complex Dalgate Srinagar
Sd/-
No.: SDDI/CC/2679-91 Executive Engineer
Dated: 31.12.2021 S&D Division Ist
DIPK-16065-21 Srinagar
DELHI JAL BOARD, GOVT. OF N.C.T. OF DELHI
OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (RPC)
VARUNALAYA PHASE-I, JHANDEWALAN, KAROL BAGH, NEW DELHI-110005
Telephone No.: 011-23514654, Email: eerpc2019@gmail.com
NIT No.-02 EE (RPC)/2021-22
On behalf of DJB, EE (RPC) invites online item rate tenders for the following work through e-tendering.
S. Name of work Pre bid Downloading of Submission
No. Meeting tender documents of tender
date documents
1. Providing Comprehensive consultancy services 13.01.2022 25.01.2022 25.01.2022
for re-development of land at Jal Vihar similar to at at
projects undertaken by Govt. of India in Delhi 3.00 P.M. 3.10 P.M.
The complete tender document including EMD and Tender fee are available at Govt. website https://
govtprocurement.delhi.gov.in. In future any corrigendum/clarification/extension of date will be available
on above link.
ISSUED BY P.R.O. (WATER) STOP CORONA - (i) Wear Mask, (ii) Wash your (NARESH KUMAR)
Advt. No. J.S.V. 949(2021-22) Hand, (iii) Maintain Social Distance EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (RPC)
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village in Goilkera
police station area after
a football match in
which Nayak was the
chief guest.
CM gives ₹78L for
Missionaries of
Charity in Odisha
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha
chief minister Naveen
Patnaik Tuesday
sanctioned ₹78.76 lakh
from the Chief
Minister’s Relief Fund to
support 13 institutions
run by Missionaries of
Charity (MoC) in the
state, a statement by the
Chief Minister’s Office
said. “Based on the
requests of collectors,
the Chief Minister has
sanctioned assistance
for 13 institutions run by
MoC spread over 8
districts. More than 900
inmates in various
leprosy homes and
orphanages in the state
will be benefited by this
decision,” the CMO said.
Utkarsh Anand
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI : “Enough is
enough,” the Supreme Court
remarked on Tuesday, as it
fined a petitioner ₹25 lakh for
raising “contemptuous allega-
tions” against the Uttarakhand
high court in a case pertaining
to the sale and transfer of prop-
erties by a trust of the erstwhile
royal family of Holkars.
“You cannot slap and then
say sorry...this practice must
stop now,” observed a bench of
justices AM Khanwilkar and CT
Ravikumar, as it came down
heavily on Vijay Singh Pal, who
claimed to be a whistleblower of
the alleged scam in sale and
transfer of properties by the
Indore-based trust that man-
aged properties in several
states.
Pal had moved an application
before the Supreme Court, level-
ling a spate of allegations
against the judges of the high
court, besides accusing officials
of the Uttarakhand government
as well as solicitor general Tus-
har Mehta of not acting fairly in
a matter relating to the case.
Mehta appeared for the Madhya
Pradesh government in the
case.
“Averments made in the
application are unacceptable.
The applicant has the audacity
to make allegations against the
entire Uttarakhand high court
and officials of the state govern-
ment. In our view, an applicant
who wants itself impleaded in a
case that involves complex
issues must show some
restraint and must eschew on
making unfounded allegations,
as has been made in this appli-
cation,” stated the court order.
“We deprecate the casual
manner in which this applica-
tion has been drafted,” the order
said. “We outrightly reject this
application while imposing an
exemplary cost of ₹25 lakh.”
Pal must deposit the penalty
with the court’s registry within
four weeks, failing which the
amount shall be recovered from
his assets as arrears of land rev-
enue, the court clarified. The
district collector of Haridwar
has been directed by the court
to comply with the order of
recovery from Pal after four
weeks.
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Singh, but hit his wife instead.
12 NEW DELHI
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MEET THE
NEW HEART Thursday, April
08, 2021
n 6 PAGE S. f @ H TC I T Y t
@ H T CI T Y i @ H TC I T Y y
/ USE R /H T .
ENTER TAINMENT
& PROMOTIONAL

P
I want to
surprise
myself and my
audience. I’ve
never slotted
myself into any
category. I’ve
F EATURES

OF YOUR CITY
movies chosen very
Kriti Sanon wishes
to theatres different roles.
would get back Tuesday, April
RITUPARNA Actor

‘HOPE
THINGS
ARE
City Delhi
Anthony
Hopkins
PHOTO:
ALEXANDRE
MENEGHINI/AP
SENGUPTA,
13, 2021

HAPPY
BAISAKHI TO
n 8 PAG ES .
f @HT CI TY t @HTCIT Y
i @HTCITY y /USE R /HT.
ENTERT AINMENT
& PROMOTIONAL
FEATURE S

NORMAL
ALL OUR
READERS
STOP PRESS
ILLUSTRATION:
SHUTTERSTOCK

SOON,
Frances
McDormand

FILMS G
WAITIN ASE’
PHOTO: JOE
SCARNICI/AFP

ed
Priyanka
Chopra Jonas
and Nick Jonas
City Delhi
Guru Randhawa

I’m need
BAFTA’
PHOTO: ALBERTO

George

TO RELE
PEZZALI/AP

Maybe s emotional
Clooney and Julia

bai now:
Ticket
Roberts’ movie,
release in
To Paradise, willSeptember. tributes to Irrfan
in Mum upta IN MY VILLA
Daler

US theatres next
anda
Mehndi

couple
Seng
Rishi
Rishabh Suri
They play a divorced
Kapoor GE
Rituparn
trying to stop their
rishabh.suri@htlive.com
and shooting

S
hooting, travelling, all about
Sanon’s life is
again — Kriti such as
repeating
daughter from
host of biggies and
that. With a

D
Bhediya Chowdhury
irector Chloe Titas
Bachchan Pandey, Zhao’s Nomadland s. com
kitty, she is of
their mistake. has emerged @hin dus tantime
feel
Ganpath in herwas also recently mind now. I
as the big titas .chowd hury
Guru Randhawa

The all-new HT city aims at bringing the best

this year’s BAFTA winner at a more open
And it churned out

I
course excited. 2021, bagging Film Awards want to keep
she will join
Prabhas
including Bestfour major trophies, of content being
announced that that the kind today is revolu-
in Adipurush.
and Saif Ali Khan in Covid cases and
Actress award Film. Even the Bestin the Hindi film industry
Rituparna Sengupta.
The is missing the
was won by
joy
feels
Despite the rise
Frances McDormand, its actor, tionary,” says actor is all set
to
of celebrating
Juhi Chakraborty
reimposed, self walked while Zhao Award-winning with Bansuri:

Pulkit Samrat
her-
several restrictions of theatres, The Father
away with Best National
Director. Hindi film industry
virus on a daily
awaiting the
juhi.chakrab
return to the safe and follow basis, be
including shutting
orty @htli ve.com
won the Best
with it, she is

H
Sanon says she
would prefer
for all her films.
theat- award for Anthony
gory in which
Actor
Hopkins, a cate-The Flute. Along of other films,
one of them Baisakhi with e wanted to
cele-
ment protocol,” govern-
adds the
Indian actor release of a couple Shabana Azmi. singer known

n
brate Baisakhi
rical releases want the Gourav was
“Obviously, as
an actor you in The White
also nominated Aadarsh
with veteran actor Bengali film
indus- family in Punjab; big way this in a such as Lahore, for songs

the lockdow
beyond just the great
OTT Tiger. The film for his role name in the for with his family
year Gabru and Patola. High Rated
film to reach duced by Priyanka was A prominent in Bollywood in
audience. Of
course, they
are
everyone is hooked
on was also in Chopra Jonas, pro- she is best remembered
try,
who
at the ceremonyrole in Main, Meri Patni
Aur Woh (2005). Daler Mehndi Gurdaspur,
singer Guru
Punjab, but He may not
be able to
platforms, and
as one of its
attendance
and meatier will Randhawa have the celebration

made him value

great presenters, her in the OTT space to understands wanted, but he
to it and the
platforms have want it
as an actor you don’t
husband, singer along with
Nick Jonas. With the boom she believes
now is the timein be at the Vaishno pandemic, little
that given the
can be fond memories
Randhawa has

in entertainment and lifestyle straight to your

Father also
content. But won the adapted The roles for women, projects. “Back done. ing the festival of celebrat-
the ones who roles in Hindi
to reach even
these platforms,”
says
play BAFTA.
The most emotional
screen-
explore varied
the day, I was
too busy. So,
I decided to concen-
films in
Devi shrine “Since the pandemic
started, most
“Baisakhi is as a child.
celebrated as
really go on whose film Mimi,
in evening saw moment of I was also doing of
been celebratingus have
harvest festival, a

I’M NOT MISSIN

Bangla films. to when

work more
the
the 30-year-old, a surrogate mother,
tributes being
paid to latetrate on I would want farmers cut
and Kerala. But
Indian actors festivals at their crops.
Irrfan and Rishi now. A lot home. Considering And on this
which she plays for a release.
who passed
away in April Kapoor, Bangladesh on my Hindi film career rent situation, the cur-
ind Singh laid
day Guru Gob-
film was made. this year too
is also waiting time since the
BAFTA’s memoriam 2020, in concentrate content is being I’ll mostly spend the founda-
now,” she says. tion of the Panth

G
segment, along-
It’s been some Ask what’s with actors of unconventional
needed in Mumbai
at home and Baisakhi
kids, we’d enjoy Khalsa. As
has been shot. Sean Connery
Maybe, I am she always wants visit
announced and Sanon says wick Boseman. and Chad- wara, if possible,” the gurd-

BIG BAISAKHI
superstar says to surprise myself time with family spending
that front, and he says,
happening on last The Bengali
The latter’s and go to
work on the film Ma Rainey’s new: “I want
adding, “Unfortunately, the gurdwara
wrapped up to reach the
Bottom was Black to do something myself into in Delhi and I’m to do seva.
she recently
as a film needs costume design
named a winner
in the I’ve never slotted very differ- will definitely We’d also go
to
scene. “Mimi it’s a and make-up and my audience. chosen miss being in the village. It’s the mela in
based on surrogacy, categories. Riz and hair category. I’ve the village a festival

CELEBRATIONS
during this
masses. It is and made in
a very enter- Boseman, had Ahmed, who along with any particular roles for myself.” “For every day, I’m
time. But like that brings
a lot of happi-
unique subject that will Actor as well, been nominated for Best and challenging
(Above)
ent Rishi an option for Sengupta? going to ness.”
It is something laugh, and OTT to reach a global
remember God
taining manner. his film Sounddidn’t bag the award, but So, isand
Kapoor and thank Since Baisakhi
make you cry,

doorstep and fingertips.

it’s a good opportunity direct-to- Him for fulfilling vest festival, is a har-
touch your heart, BAFTAs in the of Metal bagged two
PHOTO: TEJAS (right)
It should actors, Irrfan are demanding wishes.” my the singer has
food for thought. editing and
audience. Audiences too are releas- a special message
leave you with more people who are gories.
NERURKAR
sound cate- PHOTOS: TWITTER/
for them.
now. Producers The 29-year-old “May God bless

THIS YEAR:
as they’re
be watched by where OTT isn’t watched,” digital releases urges the farmers
BAFTA
on digital platforms
stale if not
everyone to
be as we eat because
protocols and safe, follow
HTC
rooted in areas ing their films of them.
films might turn are turning not indulge May this year
worried their
P
dates until in grand Baisakhi bring growth
she says. raining release OTT platforms she signs off. and prosperity,”
reach released on time.
want a film to
it was tions involving celebra- he says,
fact, when the pandemic all,”
profitable for
In huge gath- adding, “May

As an actor you OTT audience.... reach

Waheguru
out to be quite

MEHNDI
erings. “Covid
recently in Bollywood, many film
again and forced“We are
has impacted bless everyone
everything, and prosperity. with growth
reared its head the not just this
postponed again.
beyond just go on tival. We need fes- Happy Bai-
releases to be The times sakhi to everyone.
who don’t really
to fight this
for Mimi to release.a film like that
and happy!” Stay safe
very excited
we are in, it’s
important for are normal even the ones “Hit aur flop
mein
I hope things hit and flop. deke
to get a release. so many films waiting
are
to
these platforms. kuch nahi rakha
hai. Agar hit
mein
marking the
time of har-
soon. There does too, soon, par lockdown ukhad vest of winter
Sugandha Rawal betterment,
hoping Mimi bhi main ghar hi crops. “I and the will
toh main kya
feel all festivals
release. I am know Actor to help
together for others. Apne
mid 2021. I don’t KRITI SANON, sugand ha.r awa
baitha hoon, parties in future,” sense of hope give us a liye to har aadmi
sometime around observes, before

M
l@hindustantimes.com
It should adds. he and courage. karta hai, lekin
are deciding. raha hun,” Samrat his definition of eeting friends sakhi motivates Bai- ke liye khada doosron ki madad
what the producers Sanon. ily to celebrateand fam-
This year, the us, and humko
going on to explain
honsla deti hai hona chahiye.
says brate the festival singer will cele- are things etched
get what it deserves,” — that’s who you are jeene ka, no These
the essence at the Vaishno matter in my mind,
about Devi shrine — a farmer, with memories
happiness. the day, it is of Baisakhi. with his family. farmer. We or a non-
“At the end of and not attaching
However, singer
Mehndi isn’t
lucky that I’ll
be at the holy “I feel the support
all live and yearn Mehndi, knownof langar,” recalls
you being happy, ki yeh missing it this Daler Mata Vaishno cave of of the for Bolo Ta Ra Ra, for hits such
as
power,” explains supreme

to curb Covid
to a condition He asserts that year. Devi. I have
formance at a Dardi Rab Rab,Tunak Tunak Tun,
that happiness khush ho jaunga, ya the need of the social distancing is the pilgrimage per- Growing up, the 53-year-old. Ho Jayegi Balle
Sugandha Rawal hour, with the first day of Navratri, on the Balle, and Na
hoga toh main jaunga. parents participatehe watched Na Na Na Na
main udas ho a good
ond wave of sec- his

Night curfew
Covid-19 on Baisakhi,” which starts He feels the Re.
nahi hua toh in kirtans at
ndustantimes.com
sugandha.rawal@hi
if you have “Being cautioushere. The festival
he says. gurdwaras for
brate Baisakhi best place to cele-
of 2021, You are blessed today will is especially the festival has Baisakhi. For him, is at home. “I
ince the beginning up every morn-

plans
ensure we get tant for farmers, impor- (if we follow
Scan the code has been shoot- family, you wake being grateful always been about all the protocolsthink
ulkit Samrat people you know ger of hope and as it is a harbin- for everything. properly) 2021-end

surge hits wedding

to read more be
for his projects, ing, and all the actor, prosperity while what he plans It’s tak Covid
well,” says the
ing nonstop on doing this ki beemari ko
about how or Agra. The as well. “It’s bhool jayenge naam
Mumbai, Delhi found a new are alive and for the third
all about hope, year says the singer, log,”
couples and love, who recently
r says work
has who is prepping Fukrey franchise.
out with his came
emic. ment of the
Plagiarism row: single, Ragda.
YADAV/HT wedding
PHOTO: ARVIND

Why Isabelle Kaif

television
vendors are rat made his

feel insignificantIt made me

pop-
trying to find Virani in the
t as Lakshya
a way out in Saas Bhi Kabhi
show, Kyunki on to STOP PRESS
the crisis
is now used to .
ow
Ba u Thi, in
2006. He went (2012),
as Bittoo Boss
do films such Bangistan (2015),
Fukrey (2013), powerless, says and PHOTO: VIRAL
BHAYANI

and Fukrey
being compared Sanam Re (2016),
Returns (2017). soon be seen as a Sudhanshu
Next, he will guy from Delhi”
in

to sister Katrina ,
“happy go lucky
the film, Suswagatam
deed. “There
Khushaama-
are other diverse
he adds.
roles

he considers in the pipeline,”

n fact, now, from the concept
of

ago’
Rishabh Suri
o be detached play on me too
more. About much any-

a decade
expectations,
P Covid took off
ris habh.suri@htlive.com

seems like
that pressure some of

S
he’s the sister from my
The date is so
first film, as
wood’s biggestof one of Bolly-

birthday
the circum-
stars, Katrina stances are
yet she auditioned so
It has allowed different. I might
near and venues
Kaif,
Scan the code film. Isabelle for her first me to just next birthday,
Kaif recently enjoy the moment chats. Hopefully, even then, I’ll ensure
to
‘My 30th
for his wedding acting debut made her
say they need as it and
job in Poland to read more with Time To unfolds,” says have a party certif-
venue in Suraj- “I had auditioned Dance. the their Covid vaccine
and booked a
Awaasthi
be on Saqib for a few films,Kavitaactor. everyone gets actor.
check availability
and this one
Sanchita Kalra changes will came through. the Rangbaaz
icates,” quips from
e.com
kund, Haryana, no chance of Saleem’s dancer as a
kid, and dancing,
The best piece
I was a kavita.awaasthi@htliv of and came to Mumbai
Saleem, who
for day timings. birthday plans advice Isabelle
tough. “There’s is a big part of course, has birthdayshis spe-
loves
ago, admits he
has
sanchita.kalra@htlive.com
to tie the even switching ever Saleem

S
of Bollywood. aqib
ouples planning are in a postponing or for me. So I It’s a passion received was big parties on Delhi 10 years boy who

C
It will be diffi- thought it would given throws
often be my second a typical Delhi
AKHIL NARANG, knot this month to day functions. lenging and be chal- to her by this
“But her will changed. “I was fights and rode my car
the impo- who will attend fun,” she tells cial day.
elder sister.
spoiled by Covid-19,”
Sudhanshu
bind following cult for guests The 30-year-old, us. “[She
row loved to get into Sugandha I came to Saria and (far
Businessman
curfew from all the way from up the shoot who just
for her second wrapped birthday
advised] in a
turns 33 today
and music. But since Rawal his 2015 film left) posters
Actor Deepika
P
to just been of the upcoming
sition of night 8pm the wedding NOTE TO focus on my who
the actor, that he with blaring Delhi boy has web show and
he says.

S
Suswagatam brash ome
in Delhi and Delhi or Noida,” months of
film, says
little heartbroken Mumbai, the I’ve (left)
10pm to 5am READERS: Some
but Khushaamadeed, work, time
everyday. money to hire Padukone on
P he is a
keep back I was
NG
AKHIL NAR

to stem that Bollywood my learning told by my

Planners feel
I am a bit irritated
admits admits
replaced by one
has been a big friends. country that be it my them, but you
to 7am in Mumbai, down the
of the coverage ence in her influ- be able to meet
head down.
are strength,
toNational I exist, when want to. You
simply want don’t tweeted a statement
Monday

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won’t
efforts have gone gone from strength
cities. on growing up what parties the At I got
Covid-19 in both the Anyone who he says. balise other’s to canni-
also looking at I don’t
that appears ing led to acting. years. “Danc- Film
to Aanchal forgotten seems a person,”
as alater, Award. Two apologising
We’ve received “I have has weeks
or work. That’s the incident.
have decided drain. Mumbai-based our pages is I watched Hindi been birthday party to take any acting ability people oneatof all? “My okay,” he asserts. not “The uncanny for
announced she
While some Wedding Soul,
growing up, in 30th
My the film on hisin mind
the most
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date again, others paid for by the and I’ve had films like. my industry
Bagaria, of The industry I don’t want
queries from 33, is marriage On April 9,
postpone the
alternate solu- who had three-day
affairs concerned larger picture. choosing a favourite.
(2007). Lagaan
a hard time
I love Jab We decade
gives
ago.
lar advice,” But
simi-
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nothing
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everyday.
pretends
do matters andques- as if
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a mere coincidence... has resigned
says, “Now it’s any as
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ways to avoid
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are weighing Met rahe the anguish, claiming For this we apologise...
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actor,
risks. adding, that the makers
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rues
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“The moment a
it wrapped up sponsored
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thereyummy on what platforms,”
touted as one. the statement our
or are when of his movie.
content does the inevitable so many make some home he concludes.
he found “ridiculously dently, both of MAMI Mumbai
celebration at
we received son with her will Inci-
one event with shall appear in compari- types of films obvious”
fully sometime,” projects tackle However, Saria, read.
to was announced, the Punjabi, honge. sister? Is she
will to do.a
I want have quiet calls and
similarities ject of same-sex the
relationships. sub-
they’re trying
currently
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pressure of feeling the between the
call from the day, but it Wedding Filmer,
any part of HT
aur birthday know it. People
expectations
already? “I do an action
with the new or a
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upcoming web
His Storyy, backed show,
is wondering
if the makers Saria
recuperating
unconvinced
from Covid-19, Film Festival
function to the founder, The without it being have been doing period film. Katrina lifted some scenes also is
owing to her work
keep gatherings
by the statement.
says Sau- things like this declared as such Actor years, and I’ve it for the beginning, just
It’s and his 2015 by Ekta Kapoor,
from his film, wishes the platform He
might be difficult,” says, “When SAQIB SALEEM, got used to it. Kaif film Loev. which explores
who is getting teach us to value It doesn’t
everything left there’s “I’m not looking the issue of edged the authors “acknowl-
intimate. rabh Aswal, 25.
happen, they
A wedding
to our valued
to do.”
PHOTO: VIRAL
money from to recover sexual rape.
“Those actors homo- and claimed of the poster” commitments.
what we have. be a big party.” them, or sue bly were shown
readers. proba- that “...this was
married on AprilPateria, who Padukone had
BHAYANI
just want them them. I a reference image decision, not a
, Creative to to pose. So, everybody an accident”.
doesn’t have to know that

and subscribe to
SHIVAN GUPTA For Abhishek off from his
NOTE TO READERS:
sponsored content Some of the coverage
nice and not
okay,” says a it’s not they were plagiarising,” knew that over, Saria wants More-
people to be
Farms
director, Amaara took two months does or shall that appears
appear in any on our pages
pointed Saria.
ture are we “What kind
disap-
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director, who says the
won the National
accountable
for
like I’m adding their actions. “I feel
held replaced
part of HT without is paid for by
it being declaredthe concerned brands. in where you
marketing meeting can have
Film Award
for best non-feature next time someone to the chain.
The
Scan the code
filmmaker Kiran
and take some-a
as such to our No direction in to read more
Googles it, this
valued readers. body else’s idea?
You have the film, Knock
March this year,
Knock Knock. for his
will come up.
become harder
And eventually,
on why Rao to become
it will Sudhanshu
Soon after his
post, ALTBalaji them to pretendand harder for
as if it’s not a
Saria was the chairperson
thing,” he concludes. anguished by
the incident of the festival
in 2019.

Hindustan Times now HTcity htcity www.hindustantimes.com

NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
‘Symptomatic positivity’ of
Covid-19 just 2% in Mumbai
Of the 38,983 Covid
infections detected
in Mumbai since
December 31, only
4,934 patients
are symptomatic
Jamie Mullick and
Dhaval Kulkarni
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: The posi-
tivity rate – the proportion of
samples tested that return posi-
tive for Covid-19 – for sympto-
matic cases of Covid-19 in Mum-
bai is averaging at only 2%,
against the overall city’s number
of 16%, shows government data,
highlighting how small a pro-
portion of those being detected
positive in the Omicron surge
are exhibiting symptoms.
Of the 38,983 positive cases
detected in Mumbai since
December 31, only 4,934 patients
are symptomatic, according to
the daily Covid bulletin released
by the Brahmanical Municipal
Corporation (BMC). This means
that nearly nine out of 10 persons
who tested positive for Covid-19
in Mumbai in the past five days
have not shown any symptoms.
In terms of positivity rate – a
crucial metric that shows the
spread of Covid-19 in a region –
data shows that while positivity
rate is rising in Mumbai, it is
only not so for symptomatic
cases (see trend lines in chart).
This suggests that based on cur-
rent data made available, while
there is a rising spread in the
community of the virus, those
who are exhibiting symptoms
are not contributing to the
spread for now.
A very high proportion of Cov-
id-19 patients not showing any
symptoms also means that an
overwhelming majority of cases
do not require medical attention
Expert panel approves Dr Reddy’s to launch molnupiravir
intranasal vaccine trial capsule at ₹35 for Covid treatment
Rhythma Kaul
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: An expert panel of
the central drugs standard con-
trol organisation (CDSCO) on
Tuesday recommended the start
of phase 3 clinical trials of Bha-
rat Biotech’s intranasal Covid-19
vaccine, officials aware of devel-
opments told HT.
The CDSCO’s subject expert
committee (SEC) made the rec-
ommendation to start phase 3
clinical trials for the vaccine as a
booster shot.
“It also recommended that
Covaxin Intranasal be permitted
to go in for phase 3 clinical trial,”
said a senior central government
official aware of the matter, on
condition of anonymity.
NAVY GETS TWO
MORE POSEIDON
8I WARFARE JETS
Press Trust of India
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The Indian Navy
has inducted two more Poseidon
8I maritime reconnaissance and
anti-submarine warfare aircraft,
in a boost to its surveillance
capabilities in the Indian Ocean
in the face of China’s increasing
forays into the region.
The two aircraft, manufac-
tured by US aerospace major
Boeing, arrived in India on
December 30, officials said on
Tuesday.
“The Indian Navy’s Boeing
P-8I aircraft commenced opera-
tions from INS Hansa, Goa with
two aircraft arriving on Decem-
ber 30. The aircraft were
inducted after fitment of indige-
nous equipment and flight
acceptance trials,” Indian Navy
spokesperson Commander Vivek
Madhwal said.
The Indian Navy had acquired
the first batch of eight P-8I air-
craft in 2013. The aircraft are sta-
tioned at INS Rajali, Arakkonam,
Tamil Nadu.
“The second batch of four
additional aircraft will be based
at INA Squadron 316, to be com-
missioned at INS Hansa,” Madh-
wal said. The existing fleet of
P-8Is is extensively deployed to
keep track of the movement of
Chinese ships and submarines in
the Indian Ocean region.
The P-8I, based on the Boeing
next-generation 737 commercial
airplane, is a variant of the P-8A
Poseidon used by the US Navy. A
fleet of P-8Is was also deployed
to carry out surveillance on the
movement of Chinese troops in
eastern Ladakh in 2020.
A health worker collects samples in Mumbai.
Mumbai: Positivity rate
Positivity rate of symptomatic cases is not yet rising in the city
Positivity rate Positivity rate of symptomatic cases
25%
20%
15% 11.9% 13.2%
10%
5% 3.0% 1.3%
0%
Dec 31 Jan 1
(and thus need crucial medical
resources like oxygen and life-
saving drugs). In the longer run,
this is also likely to translate to
fewer hospitalisation as well as
deaths.
Starting December 31, BMC
has introduced a breakup of
asymptomatic cases in the daily
Covid-19 bulletin for Mumbai – a
dataset that has become particu-
larly important with the surge of
cases of the Omicron variant,
which predominantly presents
asymptomatic and mild infec-
The intranasal vaccine,
BBV154, is a novel adenovirus
vectored vaccine for the viral
infection, and the company
applied to the national drugs
regulator to also use it as a
booster shot for those who have
been vaccinated with either
Covaxin or Covishield.
“Our experience in viral vacci-
nes, manufacturing capabilities,
and distribution continues to be
our strong suit in ensuring safe,
efficacious, and affordable vacci-
nes. It is prudent for Bharat Bio-
tech to be involved in diverse but
tenable projects to provide a
much-needed vaccine against
Covid-19 that reaches all citizens
of the world,” said Krishna Ella,
chairman and MD, Bharat Bio-
tech, earlier.
Photos show army
unfurled Tricolour in
Galwan on New Year
Rezaul H Laskar
rezaul.laskar@htlive.com
NEW DELHI: Images of Indian
soldiers celebrating new year
with the national flag at Galwan
Valley in Ladakh were released
by the security establishment on
Tuesday, a riposte to China play-
ing up the hoisting of its flag by
troops in the same region amid a
dragging standoff.
The images of the Indian sol-
diers were released three days
after China’s state-run media
extensively reported on new year
celebrations by Chinese troops
in Galwan Valley, the scene of a
brutal clash between troops of
the two nations in June 2020
that left 20 Indian soldiers and at
least four Chinese troops dead.
Law minister Kiren Rijiju,
who belongs to the border state
of Arunachal Pradesh claimed
by China, tweeted three photos
of “brave Indian Army soldiers”
in Galwan Valley on new year.
He also posted a brief video of
himself spending time with
troops of the Assam Regiment
and Arunachal Scouts near
Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh.
The latest images from the
Indian side were apparently
meant to reflect the army’s con-
tinued presence in Galwan Val-
ley following questions raised by
opposition parties about propa-
ganda by China’s state-run
media. Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi had asked the Prime
Minister to “break the silence”
over Chinese “incursions” at Gal-
wan Valley.
ANSHUMAN POYREKAR/HT
Trendline
21.9%
17.0%
16.4%
1.9% 1.6% 2.4%
Jan 2 Jan 3 Jan 4
tions. So far, BMC is among the
only local authority in the coun-
try that is regularly releasing
data that allows for the calcula-
tion of such statistics.
On Tuesday, there were 10,860
new Covid-19 cases in Mumbai,
according to the bulletin. Of
these, 9,665 did not present with
symptoms, while 1,195 were
symptomatic. Of the 8,082 new
cases detected in the city on
Monday, 7,273 were asympto-
matic. Similarly, of the 8,063,
6,347 and 5,631 cases on the
Agencies
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Dr Reddy’s Labora-
tories on Tuesday said it will
launch Molflu (Molnupiravir) at
Rs 35 per capsule to treat Cov-
id-19 in the country.
Molflu will be priced at Rs 35
per capsule, a spokesperson of
the Hyderabad-based drug
maker said in a statement.
With 10 capsules per strip,
the total course of 40 capsules
over 5 days would cost Rs 1,400,
making it among the most
affordable treatment option
available to patients, it added.
“Molflu is expected to be
available from early next week
in pharmacies throughout the
THE INDIAN SIDE
HAD EARLIER
RELEASED PHOTOS
OF TROOPS OF THE
TWO COUNTRIES
EXCHANGING
GREETINGS ON
NEW YEAR
One of the images showed
some 30 Indian soldiers standing
near the tricolour. Another
showed the group with the flag
and another tricolour flying atop
what appeared to be an observa-
tion post.
The Indian side had earlier
released photos of troops of the
two countries exchanging
sweets and greetings on new
year at 10 points along the Line
of Actual Control (LAC), includ-
ing in Ladakh and Sikkim.
The videos shared by China’s
state media had not been filmed
at either the site of the 2020 skir-
mish or the two-kilometre buffer
zone created at Galwan Valley
after the clash, people familiar
with developments earlier said.
India-China relations are at an
all-time low due to the standoff
in Ladakh along the LAC, which
began in May 2020.
The last round of military
talks in October ended with the
Indian Army saying its “con-
structive suggestions” were not
agreed to by the Chinese side,
which is yet to respond on the
holding of next round of talks
between army commanders.
three preceding days (January 2,
January 1 and December 31),
7,176, 5,712, 4,223 patients were
asymptomatic, respectively.
In total, Maharashtra
reported 18,466 new cases of
Covid-19 on Tuesday – the most
cases detected in a single day
since May 30, 2021. This pushes
the seven-day average of daily
cases in the state to a 203-day
high of 9,858. Less than a month
ago, the seven-day average in the
state was at 617, which means it
has risen close to 1,500% in
under 30 days, data shows.
The state also detected 75
cases of the highly transmissible
Omicron variant on Tuesday. So
far, Maharashtra has detected a
total of 653 patients with Omi-
cron – the highest in the country.
Of these, 259 have recovered,
and thus been discharged, as per
state data.
“It seems that the Omicron
strain is responsible as is evident
from the rapid rise in number of
cases. This seems to be an Omi-
cron driven surge… but the
severity of the infection is mild,
so the number of cases is not
accompanied by a correspond-
ing rise in hospitalisations,” said
Dr Pradeep Awate, the state’s
surveillance officer.
“But vulnerable people are at
risk. This includes those suffer-
ing from diabetes, hyper-tension,
cancer or are immunosup-
pressed due to medical treat-
ment. We should develop a strat-
egy of the focussed protection of
the vulnerable population,” said
Awate.
Just around 10% of the state’s
66,308 active cases have been
hospitalised. The state has
around 275,000 dedicated Covid
beds, which can be increased,
according to the government. Of
these, 3.5%-4% are currently
occupied. Similarly, of the
98,000 oxygen beds, only 2.12%
are occupied, as per government
statistics.
country with particular focus
on states with high caseload of
Covid-19,” the spokesperson
noted.
Last year, Dr Reddy’s entered
into a non-exclusive voluntary
licensing agreement with Merck
Sharpe Dohme (MSD) to manu-
facture and supply Molnupira-
vir to India and over 100 low
and middle-income countries
(LMICs).
In a first-of-its-kind collabo-
ration in the Indian pharmaceu-
tical industry, a Dr Reddy’s-led
consortium of pharma compa-
nies collaborated to jointly
sponsor, supervise and monitor
the Phase III clinical trial of
Molnupiravir in India, and pre-
sented its findings to the Subject
Expert Committee.
{ HIMANTA BISWA SARMA } ASSAM CM
P involved in any of these killings.
We are hopeful of
resolving the disputes
with Meghalaya and
Arunachal Pradesh
by this year.
A
{ MAIDEN MANNED SPACE MISSION }
Arabian Sea primary choice for crew landing
Press Trust of India
letters@hindustantimes.com
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As
the Indian Space Research
Organisation (Isro) is going at
full throttle for Gaganyaan, the
country’s maiden manned space
mission scheduled for launch in
2023, interesting details of the
Crew Module (CM), including
the landing choices, Crew
Escape system, and survival
packets for each crew member,
have emerged.
The CM would be splashing
down near the Indian coast in
2023 after the week-long mis-
sion, and the Arabian Sea,
which is comparatively calmer,
is the primary choice, but Bay of
Bengal is also being considered
as a backup option, writes Dr
Unnikrishnan Nair S, Director,
Human Space Flight Centre
(HSFC), Isro, Bengaluru, in an
article.
The article ‘Indian Human
My India
NIGHT CURFEWS
IN PUNJAB, BIHAR;
MORE CURBS AS
INFECTIONS RISE
HTC and agencies
letters@hindustantimes.com
CHANDIGARH/ PATNA: Amid ris-
ing Covid-19 cases, the govern-
ments of Punjab and Bihar intro-
duced night curfews and more
restrictions.
The night curfew in Punjab
will be in effect from 10pm to
5am each day till January 15,
according to a government state-
ment.
A similar statement was
issued by the Bihar government
imposing a night curfew from
10pm till 5 am till January 21.
The ongoing Samaj Sudhar
Yatra of chief minister Nitish
Kumar and weekly Janata Dar-
bar have also been cancelled. On
Monday, 11 people tested positive
at the CM’s Janata Darbar.
The Punjab government has
also issued orders for all bars,
cinemas halls, malls, restau-
rants, spas, AC buses to operate
at 50% capacity.
Amritsar deputy commis-
sioner Gurpreet Singh Khaira
said: “Bars, cinemas halls, malls,
restaurants, spas, AC buses will
operate at 50 percent capacity
subject to staff being fully vacci-
nated. Swimming pools and
gyms remain closed. Only fully
vaccinated staff will be able to
attend government and private
offices.”
The Bihar government, which
had already announced closure
of schools up to classes 8, has
decided to continue classes for
students of classes 9-12 with 50%
attendance. The government has
also ordered the closure of
coaching institutes but they can
be operated conduct classes
online.
Last week, Dr Reddy’s
received emergency-use autho-
risation from the Drugs Con-
troller General of India (DCGI)
to manufacture and market oral
antiviral drug Molnupiravir
capsules 200 mg for the treat-
ment of adult patients with Cov-
id-19 who have high risk of pro-
gression of the disease includ-
ing hospitalisation or death.
Molflu will be manufactured
at a USFDA-approved facility,
and the drug maker has made
adequate capacity preparations
to ensure that it is able to help
patients in need, it said.
A total of 13 companies in
India will make molnupiravir,
health minister Mansukh Man-
daviya had told reporters last
week.
The crew module would be splashing down near the Indian coast
in 2023 after the week-long mission.
Space Mission’ appears in the
Manorama Yearbook 2022.
The HSFC was set up by the
ISRO in Bengaluru in 2019 for
sustained and affordable
human space flight activities
and Gaganyaan is the first
project. The test flight to vali-
date the performance of Crew
COVID TRACKER
35,014,701
TOTAL COVID CASES
56,821 NEW CASES ON
TUESDAY
3.7 million children
inoculated on Day 2
Soumya Pillai
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: About 3.7 million
children were vaccinated in the
15-18 age group on Tuesday, the
second day after they became
eligible for doses, the Union
government said in a statement.
By 10pm on Tuesday, a little
over 8.4 million children were
given their first doses in all —
translating to 11.3% of the eligi-
ble population in this age group
being covered.
In all, 3.7 million doses were
administered between 8am and
8pm on Tuesday, taking the
cumulative doses delivered to
1.48 billion since the drive
began roughly a year ago.
According to the Union gov-
ernment’s CoWIN dashboard,
Uttar Pradesh administered
1,309,645 doses (for all catego-
ries), the most across the coun-
try, followed by West Bengal,
which administered 852,938
vaccine doses, and Maharash-
tra, which gave out 755,620
shots.
In UP, out of the total doses
administered, 275,097 were
given to teenagers. In West Ben-
gal, between 8am and 10pm,
Security personnel at the encounter site.
LeT-backed outfit’s
terrorists killed in
Kulgam encounter
HT Correspondent
letters@hindustantimes.com
SRINAGAR: Two terrorists linked
to The Resistance Front (TRF), a
terror outfit backed by Lashkar-
e-Taiba (LeT), were killed in a
gunfight with security forces in
Kulgam on Tuesday, a day after a
top LeT commander was killed
in Srinagar, police said.
The police said the two terror-
ists were involved in several ter-
ror crimes. The TRF claimed
responsibility for multiple kill-
ings of civilians in Jammu &
Kashmir last year. The police did
not say whether the two terror-
ists killed on Tuesday were
Following a tip-off, a joint
team of security forces launched
a search operation at Okay vil-
lage in Kulgam district on Tues-
day. The operation turned into a
gun battle in which the two local
terrorists associated with TRF
were killed, the police said.
“The two terrorists, who were
killed in the encounter, were
linked to Lashkar/TRF and were
involved in multiple terror crime
related activities,” said Vijay
Kumar, inspector general of
Escape System and the first
uncrewed mission of Gagan-
yaan have been scheduled at the
beginning of the second half of
2022.
The Gaganyaan Orbital Mod-
ule (OM) has two parts — the
Crew module (CM) and the Ser-
vice module (SM) — and weighs
1,476,253,454
TOTAL DOSES ADMINISTERED
9,077,608 ON TUESDAY
A girl gets vaccinated against
Covid, at a centre in Ranchi. ANI
174,013 doses were adminis-
tered to the 15-18 years category,
while in Maharashtra, 247,467
children were given their first
doses.
“The vaccination exercise as
a tool to protect the most vul-
nerable population groups in
the country from Covid-19 con-
tinues to be regularly reviewed
and monitored at the highest
level... The daily vaccination
tally is expected to increase with
the compilation of the final
reports for the day by late
tonight,” the statement by the
ANI
police in Kashmir.
The terrorists were identified
as Amir Ahmad Wani of Alam-
gunj in Shopian, and Sameer
Ahmad Khan of Tiken in Pul-
wama. “As per records, Amir
Ahmad was a categorised terror-
ist and had links with terror out-
fit LeT. Sameer Ahmad joined
the terror fold recently,” a police
spokesperson said. Arms and
ammunition, including an
AK-47 assault rifle and a pistol,
were recovered from their pos-
session.
On Monday, two terrorists,
including LeT commander
Saleem Parray from Hajin in
Bandipore district, were shot
dead in separate gunfights. The
other terrorist killed was identi-
fied as Hafiz, alias Hamza.
The developments come after
six terrorists affiliated with
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM),
including two Pakistani nation-
als, were killed in two separate
encounters in Anantnag and
Kulgam districts last week.
The Centre told Parliament in
November last year that 40 civil-
ians were killed and 72 injured
in J&K in terror-related inci-
dents.
about 8,000 kg. While in orbit,
the OM will be orbiting the
Earth with a velocity of about
7,800 m/s. The CM, a double
walled system and the habitat of
astronauts, who would be part
of the manned mission, has an
ablative Thermal Protection
System (TPS) to protect it dur-
ing the intense aerodynamic
heating, points out Dr Nair.
The orbital module will be
launched by the Human Rated
Launch Vehicle (HRLV), which
is a modified version of GSLV
MK-III vehicle.
The CM has a cluster of small
thrusters that will be fired in
controlled manner to change
the attitude of the module dur-
ing the re-entry and atmos-
pheric phases of flight.
After landing, the coordinates of
CM will be passed on to the
recovery team waiting in ships.
The CM also has survival pack-
ets for each crew that can sup-
port them for nearly two days.
13
241,800,238
People who have got one dose
617,226,608
People who have got both doses
Union health ministry said.
In the national capital, on the
second day of the vaccination
drive, 33,179 children were vac-
cinated, which was more than
Monday’s 20,998.
Data shared by Delhi govern-
ment showed that most teenag-
ers were inoculated in northeast
Delhi, with 6,237 first doses
being given on Tuesday alone.
Southwest district administered
4,402 doses, central Delhi
administered 2,028 doses, east
Delhi 2,907, New Delhi 2,653
and north Delhi inoculated
1,886 children.
A senior official of Delhi gov-
ernment’s health department
said that Delhi has made
arrangements to vaccinate
300,000 children every day.
“We are hoping that the daily
vaccination count among chil-
dren will increase further in the
coming days. Most of our cen-
tres have been exclusively
reserved for children in the
15-18 years age category. In cen-
tres where vaccination for gen-
eral public is on, we have made
provisions for a separate entry
and exit for this age group, so
that it is convenient for them,”
the official said.
PANEL TO BRIEF
RAJNATH ON CDS
CHOPPER PROBE
Press Trust of India
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The IAF is likely to
apprise Defence Minister Raj-
nath Singh in the next couple of
days about the findings of the
tri-services probe into the
December 8 chopper crash in
which Chief of Defence Staff
Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others
were killed, people familiar
with the development said on
Tuesday.
The probe team has already
completed its investigation into
the crash and the report has
almost been finalised, they
said.
Top officials of the Indian
Air Force, including the head of
the Court of Inquiry Air Mar-
shal Manavendra Singh, are set
to make a presentation before
the defence minister about the
outcome of the probe.
It is learnt that the probe
team led by Air Marshal Man-
avendra Singh examined all
likely scenarios for the crash
including possible human
error or whether it was a case
of disorientation by the crew
when the helicopter was pre-
paring for landing.
People aware of the matter
suggested that the crash was
not a result of any technical
error in the Mi-17V5 helicopter
of the Indian Air Force.
However, there is no official
confirmation on it.
YOGI HITS BACK AT
AKHILESH OVER
VICTORY ‘DREAM’
Hemendra Chaturvedi
and S Raju
letters@htlive.com
AGRA/MEERUT: Uttar Pradesh
chief minister Yogi Adityanath
on Tuesday launched a veiled
attack on Samajwadi Party pres-
ident Akhilesh Yadav, accusing
him of not doing anything for
Mathura and held the previous
SP government responsible for
the June 2016 incident in which
29 people led by Ram Vriksh
Yadav were killed during an
eviction drive.
Adityanath’s comment came
a day after Akhilesh Yadav
claimed that Lord Krishna
comes to his dreams every night
to tell him that he would form
the government in the upcom-
ing assembly polls.
Taking a snipe at Akhilesh,
Adityanath said in Mathura:
“While I am inaugurating the
power project here, some peo-
ple are dreaming in Lucknow.
Lord Krishna would be coming
in their dreams, and tell them to
shed tears over their failures...”
Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav
hit out at the UP government
saying they misused govern-
ment funds for issuing political
advertisements through the
information department.
With PTI inputs
14 NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022

Opinion

{ OUR TAKE }
E STA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 24
China: An abiding
The need for a challenge for India
timely census As the LAC challenge
heightens, India must
mixed, with propaganda visuals of perhaps keeping the window open for
Indian and Chinese soldiers exchang- dialogue. The comprehensive para-
ing sweets providing one strand, while graph notes: “The unilateral and pro-
social media was abuzz with video vocative actions by the Chinese to

It’s a source of statistical information essential evolve a resolute and clips of People’s Liberation Army change the status quo by force, in
(PLA) troops unfurling the Chinese more than one area on the LAC, has
for a modern State. The long delay is worrying effective holding strategy flag in the contested Galwan Valley been responded in adequate measure.
to prevent further and vowing to defend every inch of the To resolve the issue, the militaries of India’s military capability has been enhanced tactically to deal with the LAC
motherland. Beijing has made the con- the two countries have been engaged challenge, but this is more a case of ‘reorganisation and realignment’ of
salami-slicing by PLA solidation of contested territoriality its in dialogue at various levels. After sus- assets — as opposed to addition to inventory or firepower capability

I
t is worrying that India has not even started the ANI
primary objective and the new year tained joint efforts, disengagement
process for the conduct of the 2021 decadal

I
ndia’s abiding security challen-
census until now. This exercise has never been ges in 2022 and beyond will be
delayed since India conducted its first full census the 3C distillate — Covid-19 in its
latest Omicron variant, the cli-
in 1881. The ability to collect critical statistical mate crisis, and China. They will
information on a regular basis is an essential unfold with different degrees of
characteristic of a modern State. For a government urgency, but temporal concurrence
along all three tracks is likely to be a
that prides itself on its organisational capabilities, central feature and will test the policy
and for an administration that has successfully acumen of the national leadership.
overseen the conduct of several state elections amid The Covid-19 pandemic and the cli-
mate crisis are complex issues trig-
the pandemic, this is certainly a failure. gered by the accretion of ecological
What is even more worrying is that there is no distortions and have a direct bearing
clarity on when this exercise will be conducted. “Due on human security. These two chal-
lenges go well beyond the domestic
to the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the Census framework and are being addressed in
2021 and related field activities have been a larger global context — alas, ineffec-
postponed”, the government told the Lok Sabha on tually, as evidenced in the Covid-19
vaccine nationalism on display, and at
December 7, 2021. While a new wave of the Glasgow, in relation to the climate
pandemic seems set to break now, the fact is that for deliberations.
six months, commercial, social, even political However, it is China that is the
more critical concerning national sov-
activity has returned to normal. HT reported on ereignty and territorial integrity, given
January 4 that the Registrar General of India and the Galwan setback of mid-2020 and
Census Commissioner has written to the states the impasse that has followed along
the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
extending the deadline for making changes to Against this backdrop, more recent
administrative boundaries — these cannot change events merit mention and review. The
when the census exercise is underway — till the end new year buzz around China was
statements in relation to Taiwan, was carried out at many locations. to any significant addition to inven- of $114.26 billion, disaggregated as
Tibet, and now, LAC with India, reflect Force levels in areas where disengage- tory or firepower capability. imports from China $87.9 billion, and
this inflexible resolve. The construc- ment has yet to take place have been This, in turn, is predicated on the Indian exports $26.36 billion. Having
tion of a bridge across the Pangong adequately enhanced. Threat assess- allocation of funds and the Covid-19 opted to stay out of major trade blocks,
lake by PLA is illustrative of Chinese ment and internal deliberations have shadow has led to belt-tightening in India has little manoeuvre room by
intent. resulted in reorganisation and realign- most sectors and the defence budget way of minimising China, and this is a
Delhi, on the other hand, appears to ment of forces in keeping with the remains depressed. This pattern is contradictory determinant in evolving
have adopted a more muted Army’s mandate of ensuring unlikely to change in the next two a viable strategy to deal with Beijing.
stance and this is discernible territorial integrity and to years — presuming that the global Tangible hard power makes diplo-
in the annual year-end cater for the major augmen- Covid/Omicron spread will slowly fall macy that much more effective, as the
review put out by the minis- tation of PLA forces and mili- below the emergency median. The May 1998 nuclear tests demonstrated.
try of defence (MoD). In a tary infrastructure. Troops policy dilemma for India will be to India will have to make a more candid
long and rambling overview continue to deal with Chinese evolve a resolute and effective holding review of its military capabilities in
that highlights self-reliance
C Uday troops in a firm, resolute and strategy along LAC to prevent further relation to China. Revisiting the Khan-
and a host of other achieve- peaceful manner while salami-slicing by PLA, and more duri report on India’s military inven-
ments, including the open- Bhaskar ensuring the sanctity of recent signals from China point to tory tabled in Parliament in Narendra
ing of new sainik schools India’s claims.” heightened discord. Modi 1.0, and bringing it up to speed
and the move towards inte- The national challenge for The brazen advisory to Indian legis- for 2022, is a task that defence minis-
grated military commands, the refer- India is to “ensure territorial integrity” lators by the local Chinese embassy ter Rajnath Singh ought to undertake
ences to the Line of Control (LoC) and in the face of Chinese belligerence and regarding Tibet, the unilateral chang- with dispatch, and apprise the nation
China are anodyne. While China has intransigence, and this is where the ing of names of places in Arunachal about its military muscle and the
occupied almost 1,000 square miles of reality check is cause for disquiet. The Pradesh, and the growing Chinese extent of Chinese transgression along
Indian territory in the Ladakh region, comprehensive national power gap footprint both in the Indian land LAC in the run-up to India at 75.
no specifics are mentioned. between China and India has periphery and the Indian Ocean PS: It is intriguing that an official
While asserting that “the Indian increased in Beijing’s favour and this region (IOR) testify to this discordant Indian “source” referred to the Pang-
Army has been primarily focussed on trend is unlikely to change in the short bilateral template for 2022. ong bridge as being in China’s “terri-
maintaining its operational prepared- term. India’s military capability has The policy dilemma is further tan- tory” (as reported in The Hindu).
ness in line with India’s desire to been enhanced tactically to deal with gled by the reality that despite LAC
ensure stability & dominance along the LAC challenge, but this is more a tension, trade with China is robust and Commodore (retired) C Uday Bhaskar is
the Line of Actual Control (LAC)”, the case of “reorganisation and realign- growing — with the total trade for the director, Society for Policy Studies
MoD summary is restrained yet firm, ment” of existing assets — as opposed last 11 months touching a record high The views expressed are personal

of June. This comes on the back of an extension of

the original deadline from December 31, 2020 to
December 31, 2021. The availability of census
statistics will be delayed even more. ART, surrogacy bills: The { BERNIE SANDERS } UNITED STATES SENATOR
As if the pandemic were not enough, the census
exercise, as and when it starts is also likely to face lapses and the limitations P
political headwinds thanks to apprehensions of the Some people ask, “Well, Bernie, how
census being clubbed with a National Register of he Assisted Reproductive Technology to property or inheritance disputes. There is can we afford to act on climate
Citizens (NRC) and demands for incorporating a
caste census in it. Lest some people dismiss the
importance of conducting a timely census by saying
T (Regulation) Bill (ART Bill) and the no considered weighing of the rights of the
Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill were commissioning couple or donor to privacy
passed by Parliament in December against the right of the child to know about
2021, 12 years after the Indian Council of their parentage. The department of health
change?” The real question is: how
can we afford NOT to act while
that there are other ways of finding out the total Medical Research first published a draft bill research responded to this issue before the
on this issue. Such a long process is to be committee by stating that this would be gov-
climate change causes so much
population of the country through means such as expected when the subject is as fraught with erned by regulations. The Act ultimately destruction and
number of Aadhaar registrations, it needs to be

A
moral complexity as this is. appears to state that this information is to be
reiterated that the census is not just about a However, the final law does not wholly kept confidential, except in medical emer- suffering?
reflect this complexity, leave alone address it gencies or through court orders, but still
headcount. It is the only source for a lot of statistical satisfactorily. Both laws follow the template does not directly address the child’s right to
information, including things such as the rural- of Indian command-and-control regulation know.
urban composition, languages spoken, educational — the prohibition of certain activities with- Similarly, while the Act sets age limits for
out prior permission, inspections, multiple men (21-55) and women (21-50) to access
status and the number of full-time and part-time
Placing biodiversity at
tiers of expert and official-heavy authorities, ART services, the government may frame
workers in India. The delay in conducting the and a laundry list of criminal offences and rules to set additional criteria for eligibility.
exercise doesn’t just undermine India’s statistical penalties. It is unclear what these criteria might
Apart from the fact that this regulatory encompass. Could this mean that persons

the centre of economic

knowledge base, but the credibility of the Indian model hasn’t been successful in other health- with disabilities could be prevented from
State itself. related contexts (the Drugs and Cosmetics accessing ART services? Could background
Act, 1940, and the Clinical Establishments checks be conducted on those desiring to
Act, 2010), these two laws only become parents in this way? Ques-

At LAC, counter
allow married men and women and
single women access to ART servi-
ces. This is a narrow, discrimina-
tory way of understanding who
tions like these should be at the
heart of any law on ART. These are
questions about identity and choice,
and above all, the contours of the
decision-making
China’s belligerence might wish to be a parent. right to parent. These should find he Biodiversity Act (BDA) of 2002 was ABS — part of the Indian BDA — is one of

hatever bonhomie was generated by images

These laws could have been a
unique opportunity to officially rec-
ognise that families come in all
shapes and sizes, but Parliament
Dhvani
Mehta
expression in the law, not be dele-
gated to the executive arm of gov-
ernment. Instead, the Act contains
technical provisions that ought to
T a product of India signing the Conven- the few mechanisms that can generate funds
tion on Biodiversity (CBD). Many for conservation. ABS ideally allows these
industrial and a few research entities funds to be channelised to the area from
have been facing problems related to compli- which bioresource was utilised. ABS also has

W of Indian and Chinese troops exchanging

sweets and greetings along the Line of
Actual Control (LAC) on the New Year was swiftly
appears to have been reluctant to

ring to pass the buck to the Supreme Court. from donors.

The parliamentary standing committee
have been left to the rules, such as
perform the function intended of it, prefer- the number of oocytes that may be retrieved

Both laws also miss the mark in their

ance issues of the access and benefit sharing mechanisms to involve the custodians of tra-
(ABS) aspect of the Act. ditional knowledge if their knowledge was
This is reflected in legal disputes related to used for commercial gain. This system in
BDA in courts, ranging from lower courts, India is not perfect and warrants a thorough
dispelled by triumphalist videos released by Chinese report on the ART Bill, while deciding to desire to protect children born out of ART. national green tribunals, and the Supreme overhaul, as the amendments seem ad-hoc.
exclude same-sex and live-in couples from The Surrogacy Act prohibits surrogacy that Court. Certain amendments to BDA were At COP15, India announced that it set aside
media of People’s Liberation Army soldiers hoisting ART services, notes that the court has only will produce children for sale or exploitation. introduced in the winter session of Parlia- 17.41% of its geographical area to reach its bio-
their national flag at what they claimed was Galwan decriminalised such relationships, but not It is patently absurd for the law to prohibit an ment. The aim of these amendments seems to diversity conservation targets. India also sup-
Valley, the scene of a brutal clash in 2020, and accorded them additional rights. These laws act for this purpose — since it is obvious that be to streamline compliance issues. ports the 30x30 movement — which
could have conferred this additional right to forcing children into prostitution is a crimi- However, by introducing blanket aims to conserve 30% of the earth’s
satellite imagery of a new bridge being built on the parent, but instead, are a huge setback for nal offence. The ART Act prohibits abandon- exemptions to only one group of total area by 2030, for which India
Chinese side to link both banks of the strategic non-traditional families, who will have to ing and disowning children and punishes industry, the Act may drift away will need funds to achieve its targets.
Pangong Lake and cut the time for troops and look to the courts again. this with imprisonment up to eight years. from its true spirit — of the conser- Perhaps what is required on a
There are other fundamental ethical ques- More than a criminal offence that is unlikely vation of biodiversity. A thorough national scale is a radical relook of
equipment to be moved between key locations. The tions that the ART Act fails to answer appro- to deter these morally fraught acts, we need overhaul of the part of the Act that biodiversity on the economics of
Ruturaj
message from one of the videos, which showed priately. For instance, it does not address safety nets that are able to take care of such deals with compliance is required. It India. And then recalculate the mon-
whether children born using ART services children. The law need not have the answer must be accomplished by addressing Gowaikar etary value of endemic biodiversity
Chinese troops standing near Mandarin characters
have the right to access information about to every kind of social problem. the issues that are leading to a myr- and integrate this into an overhauled
painted on a rock that read, “Never yield an inch of gamete donors. Although the standing com- Instead, a law on an ethically knotty issue iad of litigation against the Act. Biodiversity Act. A leaf out of the
land”, is clear. China is in no mood to meet India mittee report on the ART Bill, 2020, appears such as this could have had more imagina- A comparative study of the state-level rules 600-page Dasgupta review on The Economics
even halfway to help resolve the standoff in the to acknowledge the right of such children to tion, both in its regulatory standard-setting and regulations might also yield useful point- of Biodiversity can be useful. This review was
know the identity of donors, it is more con- style, and in protecting the rights and inter- ers to improve the biodiversity Act. But what commissioned by the treasury department of
Ladakh sector of LAC that has now dragged on for cerned that such disclosure should not lead ests of those involved. The laws create an is truly required is to radically rethink the the United Kingdom (UK) employing the
close to two years. administrative architecture of appropriate BDA by placing biodiversity at the core of all expertise of an independent economist.
Irrespective of where the videos may have been authorities, state and national boards, simi- economic decision-making. Though restricted to the UK’s bioresources, it
lar to those under the Transplantation of Incidentally, the amendments in question provides a framework to place bioresources
shot, China appears determined to cling on to Human Organs and Tissues Act, 1994, many were introduced two months after the 15th at the centre of financial decision-making.
whatever gains it has made through its attempts to of which are not functional, more than two Conference of the Parties (CoP15) of CBD, and The review also suggests including the con-
alter the status quo on LAC in blatant violation of decades after enactment. It isn’t clear why a month after COP26 of the United Nations cept of “Natural Capital” into GDP calcula-
these are expected to be more effective under Framework on Convention on Climate tions to highlight the contribution of ecosys-
several agreements signed with the Indian side. the ART Act. The authorities are large and Change (UNFCCC). Both these parties of con- tem services in a country’s economy.
China’s calls to separate the situation on LAC from unwieldy (each State Surrogacy Board com- ferences were follow-up meetings of CBD and True monetary value can’t be attributed to
other aspects of the bilateral relationship need to be prises 20 persons) and every ART clinic is UNFCCC. Both were finalised at the Earth the biodiversity of a country, as the services
expected to establish a grievance cell, when Summit at Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The aim of provided by healthy ecosystems influence
called out for what they are — a bluff to ensure an independent ombudsman might have the Earth Summit was to help nations develop complex global phenomena such as regulat-
India’s efforts to reach disengagement and end the been the way to go. in a sustainable manner while ensuring that ing climate patterns, mitigating the effects of
standoff get nowhere. The arbitrary restriction of reproductive the climate crisis is eventually reversed. Sub- soil erosion, and natural calamities. But such
autonomy by these laws will no doubt be sequently, the important role of conserving calculations can highlight the importance of
The Indian side has ramped up efforts to bolster challenged in court, but there must also be a biodiversity was recognised. biodiversity in all aspects of a nation’s econ-
infrastructure on its side of LAC — as reflected by the much wider public conversation around the However, UNFCCC became the more glam- omy and promote policy decisions accord-
recent opening of 27 roads and bridges in strategic rules and regulations to be framed under it orous of the treaties due to the involvement of ingly. Such calculations might serve to gener-
so that we can decide, as a society, how we financing mechanisms from the initial meet- ate tradable instruments of finance, on the
areas — but much more must be done to ensure want the law to govern our most intimate ings, and the inclusion of the global business lines of carbon credits to fund efforts related
India is on a sound footing to take on any choices. community in the discourse surrounding the to the conservation of biodiversity.
misadventure by the Chinese government, whose The laws could have had more imagination, climate crisis. The CBD couldn’t achieve this.
both in their regulatory standard-setting Dhvani Mehta is co-founder and lead, As a result, UNFCCC has a better track record Ruturaj Gowaikar is a research
actions across the Indo-Pacific are becoming style, and in protecting the rights and health, Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy when it comes to global compliance, while analyst, Takshashila Institution
increasingly belligerent. interests of all those involved HT The views expressed are personal CBD’s record is poor. The views expressed are personal

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Editor: KUNAL PRADHAN

NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
{ JHARKHAND } NO ARRESTS MADE
Tribal man lynched, body set
on fire over illegal tree-felling
HT Correspondent
htjharkhand@hindustantimes.com
RANCHI : A tribal man was
lynched and set on fire on Tues-
day by a mob on suspicion of
felling trees and stealing wood
at a village in Jharkhand’s Sim-
dega district, police said.
The victim was in his thirties
and was identified as Sanju
Pradhan. He was killed in the
presence of local residents in
Besrabazar village under Kole-
bira police station around 2pm
on Tuesday.
“As per the initial probe,
around 500 villagers were
present when the incident
occurred. We have recovered
the half-burnt body of Sanju
Pradhan, who had criminal
antecedents. He had three
cases registered against him for
links with Maoists and had
5-MEMBER PANEL
PROBING BHIWANI
MINE LANDSLIDE
Press Trust of India
letters@hindustantimes.com
BHIWANI (HARYANA): A five-
member fact-finding committee
is probing the Dadam mining
site accident in which five people
died and two were injured fol-
lowing a landslide, an official
said on Tuesday.
The committee is headed by
Bhiwani additional deputy com-
missioner Rahul Narwal, subdivi-
sional magistrate Manish Phogat
said. “It will conduct an in-depth
probe and go into details whether
all safety and other norms were
being adhered to,” he said. The
debris clearing operations are
nearing completion.
Officials earlier said that the
rescue operations were kept up
to clear the debris and to rule out
the possibility of any other per-
son being trapped there.
However, by Tuesday evening
no other person was found
trapped, they said. After visiting
the accident site a few days ago,
ruling BJP MP Dharambir Singh
alleged violation of several laid
down norms for mining at four
sites in the Dadam mining zone.
THE INCIDENT LED
TO TENSION IN
THE VILLAGE
AND ADDITIONAL
POLICE HAVE
BEEN DEPLOYED
been to jail in connection with
these cases,” said Rameshwar
Bhagat, in charge of Kolebira
police station. No arrests have
been made so far. There was
tension in the village and addi-
tional police have been
deployed in the area, police
said.
“In the initial probe, we have
information that a section of
his fellow villagers had com-
plained against him to the for-
est department for illegally cut-
ting trees,” Bhagat said. “They
{ CHHATTISGARH }
Centre permits mining
in Hasdeo Arand area
Jayashree Nandi
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Despite protests by
local residents, the environment
ministry has permitted further
coal mining in 1,136 hectares of
land in Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo
Arand, one of the last remaining
old growth forests in country.
The forest advisory commit-
tee of the ministry on December
23 approved a proposal to
extend mining in the Parsa East
and Kente Basan (PEKB) block
owned by Rajasthan’s power
distribution utility, as coal
reserves in the first allotment of
762 hectares were exhausted
earlier than estimated.
Hasdeo Arand is one of the
largest contiguous stretches of
dense forests in central India. It
spans 170,000 hectares and has 22
coal blocks underneath it. In
October last year, HT reported
that protests by locals broke out
in the region after the ministry
gave clearance for Stage-II mining
in the Parsa coal block.
On March 15, 2012, the ministry
were angry that no action was
taken against Pradhan.”
Simdega district administra-
tion must take appropriate
action against those involved in
the lynching incident, Jhark-
hand chief minister Hemant
Soren said.
This is the second incident of
lynching in the state barely a
fortnight after the Jharkhand
legislative assembly passed the
Prevention of Mob Violence
and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021,
which aims at providing “effec-
tive protection” of constitu-
tional rights and the prevention
of mob violence across the
state.
On Saturday, villagers in
Gumla district brutally beat up
two tribal brothers, alleging
that their mother practised
witchcraft. One of the brothers
lost his eyesight due to injuries.
FAC ON DECEMBER
23 APPROVED A
PROPOSAL TO
EXTEND MINING
IN PEKB BLOCK
had granted clearance for mining
in around 1,898 hectares of the
region in two phases. Mining in
Phase-I was restricted to 768 hec-
tares over a span of 15 years. This
means that the Stage-I mining
was to be carried out till 2027.
“We have stated all the rea-
sons why approval has been
given for phase II mining in a
larger forest area,” a member of
the advisory committee said on
the condition of anonymity.
“The risks have been considered
and studied.”
The mine is owned by Rajast-
han Rajya Vidyut Utpadan
Nigam Limited while coal mine
developer-cum-operator opera-
tions have been awarded to
Adani Enterprises. Adani Enter-
prises did not respond to HT’s
queries.
My India 15
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Zone-14, Bhopal Municipal Corporation, BHEL, Govindpura,
Bhopal - 462023 (M.P.), Phone : 0755-2477770
lakh to be deposited by the peti- Email : tenderqueries@smartbhopal.city / www.smartcitybhopal.org
tioner before the Registry of this Bhopal, Date : 28.12.2021
court within six weeks where Bhopal Smart City Development Corporation Limited I e AûS ÀFZ
after the said amount shall be
transferred to Supreme Court
Bar Association Advocates’ Wel-
d³F¸³FFadI °F I F¹FÊ WZ °Fb MPBSCDCL/TENDER NO-226 AFG³F»FFB³F d³Fd½FQFEa AF¸FadÂF°F
I e ªFF°Fe W` :-
Cost of Earnest Date and Purchase
fare Fund.” S. Tender Name and detail Bidding Money Time of of
Hearing the matter on Tues- no Document Deposit/ Pri-Bid Tender
day, a bench of justices AM (non Bid Meeting End Date
refundable) Security
Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar
1 2 3 4 5 6
said: “As the original order was
1 Request for Proposal Rs. Rs. 10.01.2022 24.01.2022
passed by a bench of three judge for Selection of 25,000/- 22,00,000/- up to up to
combination, post this applica- Concessionaire for (Twenty (Twenty 12:30 hrs. 17:30 hrs.
tion for consideration of prayer Development, Operations Five Two Lakhs
(c) before a three-judge bench.” and Maintenance of Sadar Thousand Rupees
Senior advocate Rajeev Dha- Manzil for Multipurpose Rupees only)
van appeared for petitioner, and Adaptive Reuse on PPP only)
(MPBSCDCL/TENDER NO- 226)
said, “We are not (arguing) on
amount as the same has already RFP QÀ°FF½FZªF E½Fa d³Fd½FQF ÀFa¶Fad²F°F d½FÀ°FÈ°F ªFF³FI FSe www.mptenders.gov.in
been deposited with court. We ´FS QZ£Fe ªFF ÀFI °Fe W`Ô Ü ¸Fb£¹F Ad·F¹Fa°FF
are (arguing) on amount being ·Fû´FF»F À¸FFMÊ dÀFMe OZ ½F»F´F¸FZÔM I FG´FûÊSm VF³F d»Fd¸FMZ O
treated as donation and not pen-
alty as it concerns of reputation
of people involved with this
movement. It is a small favour
but has implication on large
number of persons.”
On January 19, 2021, top court
sought the assistance of the
attorney general, who appeared
during the hearing on Tuesday
and supported the application.
“What they want is the entire
amount of ₹25 lakh be treated as
donation. I personally have no
objection to the amount being
treated as donation.”
City
IAMAVERY
COMPETITIVE
PERSON:
DHANUSH
CHECK
OUT
TODAY’S
EDITION
Advertisement for Recruitment
Notice No. 2/22
Online applications are invited from eligible candidates for Water Quality
Laboratory infrastructure of Department of Water Supply and Sanitation for
the following posts on purely contract basis initially for a period of one year
(extendable upon the performance of the candidate & requirement of the
Department):
Sr. Respective Circle Offices Laboratory Posts
No. Senior Chemist
Chemist
Consolidated Pay per month/per post 56000/- 48000/-
1 S.E. WSS Circle, Amritsar Regional Water Testing 1 1
Lab, Amritsar
2 S. E. WSS Circle, Faridkot Regional Water Testing 1 1
Lab, Moga
3 S.E. WSS Circle, Regional Water Testing 1 1
Hoshiarpur Lab, Hoshiarpur
4 S.E. WSS Circle, Regional Water Testing 0 1
Chandigarh Lab, SAS Nagar
5 S.E. WSS Circle, Sangrur Regional Water Testing 1 0
Lab, Sangrur
Total 4 4
Interested candidates will have to apply for each post separately wherein they
can give order of preference of maximum two locations which can not be altered
afterwards. The selected candidates will be given final posting on the basis of
given preference and merit. A Screening Test for each post may be held for short
listing 5 times the advertised posts. The shortlisted candidates will be required
to appear in an interview at respective circle head quarters. These posts are non
transferable except in rare cases due to administrative reasons.
The job profile, qualification, experience, other conditions and prescribed
application form may be downloaded from the Department Website www.
pbdwss.gov.in. w.e.f. 06.01.2022. Last date for filling up applications online
https://dwss.punjab.gov.in/show_recruitment/ is 04.02.2022 upto 5.00 pm.
Only online application submitted on department’s website will be accepted. No
hard copy or email shall be entertained in this respect.
Note: Date of screening test, any other information & any corrigendum(s) shall
be published on above website only.
Head
Department of Water Supply & Sanitation, Punjab
Water Works Complex, Phase 2, S.A.S.Nagar
Phone No. 0172-4330342, 4330352
12098
16
US records 1 million Covid cases in a day
It has so far recorded
at least 56 million
confirmed infections
of Sars-CoV-2, or one
for every six people
in the country
Agencies
letters@hindustantimes.com
WASHINGTON/BEIJING: The
United States recorded more
than one million Covid-19 cases
on Monday, according to data
from Johns Hopkins University,
as the Omicron variant spread at
a blistering pace.
There were 1,080,211 new
cases in the country, a global
record, with the number of cases
doubling on the previous week.
It comes a day after top US pan-
demic adviser Anthony Fauci
said the country was experienc-
ing “almost a vertical increase”
in Covid-19 cases, adding the
peak may be only weeks away.
Rates of death and hospitali-
sation in the US have been far
lower in recent weeks than dur-
ing previous Covid surges. With
9,382 deaths over the past seven
days, the nation’s death toll has
fallen by 10%, week-on-week.
In the last seven days, the
country has recorded 3.4 million
cases at an average of 486,000
per day with a peak on January
3, according to data from Johns
Hopkins University.
The US record during previ-
ous waves was 258,000 cases per
day, for the week of January 5 to
11, 2021. Officials have struggled
to find a balance that will protect
public health without gravely
damaging the economy or slam-
ming key services like policing
and air travel.
Omicron estimated to be
95.4% of variants in US
The Omicron variant was esti-
mated to be 95.4% of the corona-
virus strains circulating in the
United States as of January 1, the
US Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) said on
Tuesday.
{ ARIEL HENRY } HAITI PRIME MINISTER
P families over
An attempt has been
made against me
personally... My life
has been put in the
crosshairs.
Claiming gunmen attempted to
assassinate him during national
A
independence day celebrations
on Saturday
{ 1981 BOMB ATTACKS }
‘Mossad may have
hit firms aiding Pak
nuclear programme’
Rezaul H Laskar
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI : Israel’s intelligence
agency Mossad may have been
behind a string of bomb attacks
in Germany and Switzerland in
1981 targeting companies and
individuals that were allegedly
linked to Pakistan’s then clan-
destine nuclear programme,
according to a media report.
The report by Neue Zürcher
Zeitung, a Swiss German-lan-
guage newspaper, said
“unknown perpetrators” carried
out bomb attacks that targeted
companies or individuals
between February and Novem-
ber 1981. All three attacks only
damaged property and there
were no human casualties.
The attacks were accompa-
nied by several phone calls in
which strangers, speaking in
English or broken German,
threatened other companies that
were suspected of providing
technology or equipment for
Pakistan’s nuclear programme,
said the report published on Sat-
urday. Sometimes, the caller
would order the threats to be
taped, the report added.
“The suspicion that the
Mossad might be behind the
attacks and threats soon arose.
For Israel, the prospect that Pak-
istan, for the first time, could
become an Islamic state with an
atomic bomb posed an existen-
tial threat,” the report said.
Swiss historian Adrian Hänni
Passengers in a queue for security check at Denver International Airport. The new variant has wreaked havoc on travel in the US.
The variant has swiftly spread
across the country since its
detection on December 1, replac-
ing Delta as the dominant strain
and sparking a new wave of
infections.
The CDC said the variant
accounted for an estimated 77%
of cases in the week ended
December 25, up from the 58.6%
projection it had disclosed last
week. The Delta variant
accounts for 4.6% of all US cases
as of January 1, the data showed.
New variant in France
The World Health Organization
said a coronavirus variant found
in France hasn’t become much
of a threat since it was first iden-
tified in November. sThe variant
“has been on our radar,” Abdi
was quoted by the daily as saying
that Mossad was likely involved
in the bomb attacks on German
and Swiss companies. Though
there was no “smoking gun” to
link Mossad to the bombings, the
attacks “bore a secret service sig-
nature”, he said.
The bombings in Germany
and Switzerland were also simi-
lar to a series of bomb attacks
that Mossad carried out in west-
ern Europe over the previous
two years in connection with the
Iraqi nuclear programme, Hänni
said. The Organization for the
Non-Proliferation of Nuclear
Weapons in South Asia, a hith-
erto unheard of group, claimed
responsibility for the blasts in
Germany and Switzerland. It
was never heard of again, the
report said.
The first blast occurred at the
home of a top employee of the
Swiss company Cora Engineer-
ing in Chur on February 20, 1981,
the second targeted a factory of
the Wälischmiller company at
Markdorf in Germany on May 18,
1981 and third went off at the
office of engineer Heinz Mebus
at Erlangen in Germany on
November 6, 1981. Only Mebus’
dog was killed in the third attack.
w
READ THE FULL
STORY: ‘Several
companies were threatened’
Mahamud, a WHO incident
manager on Covid, said at a
press briefing in Geneva on
Tuesday. “That virus had a lot of
chances to pick up.”
The variant was identified in
12 people in the southern Alps
around the same time that omi-
cron was discovered in South
Africa last year. The latter muta-
tion has since travelled the globe
and kindled record levels of con-
tagion, unlike the French one
that researchers at the IHU Med-
iterranee Infection - helmed by
scientist Didier Raoult - dubbed
IHU.
The first patient identified
with the variant was vaccinated
and had just returned from Cam-
eroon, IHU researchers wrote in
a paper published on the medR-
China is not expanding Nato calls special
nuclear arsenal: Official meeting with Russia
Agencies
letters@hindustantimes.com
BEIJING: A senior Chinese arms
control official denied on Tues-
day that his government is rap-
idly expanding its nuclear arse-
nal, though he said it is taking
steps to modernise its nuclear
forces.
Fu Cong, the director general
of the foreign ministry’s arms
control department, said that
China is working to ensure its
nuclear deterrent meets the min-
imum level necessary for
national defence.
“On the assertions made by
US officials that China is expand-
ing dramatically its nuclear
capabilities, first, let me say that
this is untrue,” he said.
The news conference was
held a day after China, the US,
Russia, Great Britain and France
issued a joint statement on pre-
venting nuclear war or an arms
race. The US defence depart-
ment said in a report in Novem-
ber that China is expanding its
nuclear force faster than previ-
ously predicted and could have
more than 1,000 warheads by
2030. The US has 3,750 nuclear
weapons.
“China will continue to mod-
ernise its nuclear arsenal for reli-
{ BLOOD-TESTING STARTUP } FALL FROM GRACE
Former Theranos CEO guilty of fraud and conspiracy
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes (centre) arrives to attend her
fraud trial at a court in San Jose, California, US.
World
xiv server in late December
where they first drew attention
to the atypical mutations.
It’s “too early to speculate on
virological, epidemiological or
clinical features of this IHU vari-
ant based on these 12 cases,” they
wrote in the article, which hasn’t
been peer reviewed.
China locks down city of
1.2mn after 3 virus cases
More than one million people in
a city in central China were
being confined to their homes on
Tuesday after three asympto-
matic coronavirus cases were
recorded in the country’s latest
mass lockdown.
Beijing has pursued a “zero
Covid” approach with tight bor-
der restrictions and targeted
ability and safety issues,” Fu
Cong said.
But he said Beijing would
“continue to modernise its
nuclear arsenal for reliability
and safety issues”.
China also said Russia and the
United States - by far the world’s
largest nuclear powers - should
make the first move on disarma-
ment. “The US and Russia still
possess 90% of the nuclear war-
heads on Earth,” he said, adding,
“They must reduce their nuclear
arsenal in an irreversible and
legally binding manner.”
Tesla criticised for new
showroom in Xinjiang
Tesla’s announcement that it has
opened a showroom in Xinjiang
has attracted criticism from US
rights and trade groups on Tues-
day. Xinjiang has become a sig-
nificant point of conflict between
Western governments and China
in recent years, as UN experts
and rights groups estimate more
than a million people, mainly
Uighurs and members of other
Muslim minorities, have been
detained in camps there.
China has rejected accusa-
tions of forced labour or any
other abuses there, saying that
the camps provide vocational
training and that companies
REUTERS
lockdowns since the virus first
emerged. But the strategy has
come under pressure with a
series of recent local outbreaks
and with just a month to go until
the Winter Olympics.
Yuzhou, a city with a popula-
tion of around 1.17 million people
in Henan province, announced
that from Monday night all citi-
zens were required to stay home
to control the spread of the virus.
Authorities in the northern
Chinese city of Xian say they can
provide food, health care and
other necessities for the 13 mil-
lion residents under a now
almost two-week-old lockdown.
But in social media posts and
over the telephone, some citi-
zens describe difficulties obtain-
ing supplies and frustration with
should respect its policies there.
The US electric car maker
announced the showroom’s
opening in Xinjiang’s regional
capital, Urumqi, on its official
Weibo account last Friday. “On
the last day of 2021 we meet in
Xinjiang,” it said in the post.
On Tuesday, the Council on
American-Islamic Relations, the
largest US Muslim advocacy
organisation, criticised the
move, saying that Tesla was
“supporting genocide”.
Tiananmen: HK activist
gets 15 months in prison
A Hong Kong court sentenced a
36-year-old barrister to 15
months in prison on Tuesday for
inciting an unauthorised assem-
bly to commemorate those who
died in China’s 1989 crackdown
on pro-democracy protesters in
and around Beijing’s Tiananmen
Square.
Activist Chow Hang-tung, of
the since-closed Hong Kong Alli-
ance in Support of Patriotic
Democratic Movements in
China, was arrested the day
before the June 4 anniversary of
the crackdown last year.
Police have banned Hong
Kong’s annual Tiananmen vigils
for the last two years, citing cor-
onavirus restrictions.
Associated Press
letters@hindustantimes.com
SAN JOSE: In a case that exposed
Silicon Valley’s culture of hubris
and hype, Elizabeth Holmes was
convicted Monday of duping
investors into believing her
startup Theranos had developed
a revolutionary medical device
that could detect a multitude of
diseases and conditions from a
few drops of blood.
A jury convicted Holmes, who
was CEO throughout the com-
pany’s turbulent 15-year history,
on two counts of wire fraud and
two counts of conspiracy to com-
mit fraud after seven days of
deliberation.
The 37-year-old was acquitted
on four other counts of fraud
and conspiracy that alleged she
deceived patients who paid for
Theranos blood tests, too.
AP
the economic impact on the
giant city.
UK sees record 200k cases
The UK government on Tuesday
reported a record of more than
200,000 coronavirus cases in the
last 24 hours as Omicron surges
through the country.
It said it had logged 218,724
infections - the highest daily
total since the pandemic began.
UK Prime Minister Boris
Johnson sees no need for further
restrictions to curb the spread of
Omicron his spokesman Max
Blain said on ahead of a press
conference on Tuesday.
The government continues to
monitor the data and is prepared
to respond if the situation
changes, he said.
{ JANUARY 12 } SEEKING DIALOGUE
amid Ukraine crisis
Reuters
letters@hindustantimes.com
BRUSSELS: Nato secretary-gen-
eral Jens Stoltenberg has sched-
uled a special meeting of allied
ambassadors and top Russian
officials for next week as both
sides seek dialogue to prevent
open conflict over Ukraine, a
Nato official said on Tuesday.
Alarmed by Russia’s military
build-up along Ukraine’s border,
the Western military alliance has
been seeking a meeting of the
Nato-Russia Council for months
but the forum seemed in jeop-
ardy after an espionage dispute
in October.
The meeting of the council, a
format used for dialogue since
2002, will take place in Brussels
on January 12 after US and Rus-
sian officials hold security talks
on January 10 in Geneva.
The European Union’s top
diplomat, Josep Borrell, flew to
Ukraine on Tuesday for a two-
day trip to show support for
Kyiv, which aspires to join the
bloc and Nato. In preparation for
next week’s diplomacy, Nato for-
eign ministers will hold a video
The verdict came after the
eight men and four women on
the jury spent three months sit-
ting through a complex trial that
featured reams of evidence and
32 witnesses — including
Holmes herself. She now faces
up to 20 years in prison for each
count, although legal experts say
she is unlikely to receive the
maximum sentence.
The jury deadlocked on three
remaining charges, which a fed-
eral judge anticipates dismissing
as part of a mistrial ruling that
could come as early as next
week.
The split verdicts are “a mixed
bag for the prosecution, but it’s a
loss for Elizabeth Holmes
because she is going away to
prison for at least a few years,”
said David Ring, a lawyer who
has followed the case closely.
Federal prosecutors depicted
Study shows fivefold
antibody rise with
4th shot: Israel’s PM
Agencies
letters@hindustantimes.com
RAMAT GAN, ISRAEL: Prime Min-
ister Naftali Bennett said on
Tuesday that an Israeli study
indicated fourth coronavirus
vaccinations were “safe” and
increased antibodies “fivefold”,
as the country expands its inocu-
lation campaign amid rising
infections.
Speaking during a visit to
Sheba hospital near Tel Aviv,
which administered fourth vac-
cines to 154 of its staff a week
earlier as part of a study, the
Israeli premier said that the
extra shot “works”.
“A week into the fourth dose,
we know with a high level of cer-
tainty that the fourth dose is
safe,” he said alongside professor
Galia Rahav, head of Sheba’s
infectious disease unit and
leader of the study.
“A week after the administra-
tion of the fourth dose, we see a
fivefold increase in the number
of antibodies in the vaccinated
person,” Bennett added.
“This most likely means sig-
nificant increase in the protec-
tion against infection and
against severe hospitalisation
and symptoms,” he said, noting
the facility was due to publish its
findings soon.
Sweden’s king, queen
test positive for Covid
The royal couple, King Carl XVI
Gustaf, 75, and Queen Silvia, 78,
tested postive for Covid on Mon-
day evening, the Swedish Royal
Court said on Tuesday. Both vac-
cinated with three jabs, they had
“mild symptoms” and were “feel-
ing well under the circumstan-
ces”, the court said, adding that
they were isolating at home.
Separately, Mauritanian Pres-
Jens Stoltenberg REUTERS
conference on Friday, chaired by
Stoltenberg, the alliance said.
Moscow wants guarantees
that Nato will halt its eastward
expansion and end military
cooperation with Ukraine and
Georgia, which have territorial
disputes with Russia.
Moscow also denies US asser-
tions that it is planning an inva-
sion of Ukraine and accuses Kyiv
of building up its own forces in
the east of the country.
“Any dialogue with Russia
would have to proceed on the
basis of reciprocity, address
Nato’s concerns about Russia’s
actions... and take place in con-
sultation with Nato’s European
partners,” the Nato official said
of the January 12 meeting.
Holmes as a charlatan obsessed
with fame and fortune. In seven
days on the witness stand, she
cast herself as a visionary trail-
blazer in male-dominated Sili-
con Valley who was emotionally
and sexually abused by her
former lover and business part-
ner, Sunny Balwani.
The trial also laid bare the pit-
falls of a swaggering strategy
used by many Silicon Valley
entrepreneurs — conveying a
boundless optimism regardless
of whether it’s warranted,
known as “fake it ‘til you make
it.” That ethos helped hatch
groundbreaking companies such
as Google, Netflix, Facebook, and
Apple — co-founded by one of
Holmes’ heroes, Steve Jobs.
Holmes was to remain free on
bond while awaiting sentencing,
which will be determined by the
judge.
NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
gives a thumbs up signal after
receiving his Covid-19 vaccine
booster shot at a pharmacy in
Ottawa on Tuesday. AP
ident Mohamed Ould Ghazouani
has tested positive for Covid,
according to the state news
agency, which noted that the
65-year-old’s symptoms were
“mild”.
Murder fugitive caught
after going maskless
Polish police on Tuesday said
they arrested a man long sought
for murder after he was stopped
for not wearing a mask at a store
in breach of Covid rules.
“Police from the neighbour-
hood of Bielany detained the
man because he didn’t have a
mask,” Elwira Kozlowska, a
Warsaw police spokeswoman,
told AFP. The 45-year-old had
been on the run from the law for
two decades following a murder
conviction.
He was jailed and faces a
25-year sentence for the killing,
whose details Kozlowska refused
to divulge.
A
l
‘Iran should pay
plane downing’
DUBAI: A court in
Canada has ruled that
Iran should pay about
$84 million in punitive
damages to families of
six people with
Canadian citizenship or
residency who were
killed in the Iranian
military’s downing of a
Ukrainian passenger
plane in 2020. The
military’s shootdown of
Ukraine International
Airlines Flight PS752
with two surface-to-air
missiles killed all 176
people on board. It was
unclear how the
families would collect
damages from Iran. AP
Lanka gives $1bn
relief, anger grows
over food costs
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka
unveiled a $1 billion
relief package as
President Gotabaya
Rajapaksa’s government
seeks to temper growing
public anger over the
surging prices of
essential food and
medical items in a
country that’s running
out of foreign exchange
to pay for imports. The
government will raise
civil servants salaries
and pensions, remove
some taxes on food and
medicine and provide
cash for its poorest
citizens. BLOOMBERG
US diplomat who
headed mission in
India to lead USIBC
WASHINGTON: Atul
Keshap, a former US
diplomat who headed
the US embassy in New
Delhi as chargé
d’affaires, was on
Tuesday named the
president of the US-
India Business Council,
a trade body that
focuses on the bilateral
relations between the
two countries. Keshap is
a career diplomat who
spent more than 28
years in US foreign
service and held many
positions, including the
ambassador to Sri
Lanka. YASHWANT RAJ
NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
Delhi HC dismisses Future Group plea
The court said any
interference would
violate the autonomy
of the tribunal
Richa Banka
richa.banka@livemint.com
MUMBAI: In a setback to the
Kishore Biyani’s Future Group,
the Delhi high court on Tuesday
dismissed its plea to suspend
the arbitration proceedings at
the Singapore International
Arbitration Tribunal in connec-
tion with its deal with US retail
firm Amazon.
Future Group had cited a
December 17 order of the Com-
petition Commission of India
(CCI) keeping in abeyance the
approval granted for its 2019
deal with Amazon. However, in
2020, Future Group decided to
sell its retail assets to Reliance
Retail. Amazon initiated arbi-
tration proceedings against the
sale.
Future argued in court that
after the antitrust regulator’s
order, its application for termi-
nation of arbitration proceed-
ings with Amazon should be
Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier announced
strategic divestment in two firms and financial institutions.
State-run insurer
may be privatized
ahead of lenders
Subhash Narayan
subhash.narayan@livemint.com
NEW DELHI: Faced with favour-
able investor interest, the gov-
ernment may push privatisation
of the insurance company first,
ahead of the public sector
banks, in the first half of next
financial year.
People aware of the develop-
ment said that between four to
five private players have shown
interest in participating in stra-
tegic sale of public sector insur-
ance and some have also met
with officials of department of
financial services over past few
months giving confidence to the
government to launch privatisa-
tion of public sector insurer
first. The people quoted above
said that the group of ministers
(GoM) on disinvestment may
finalise the name of public sec-
tor insurer for privatisation
before the end of current fiscal
so that the process could start in
the first quarter of FY23 and
completed in the first half of
next year.
Questions mailed on the
development to department of
financial services (the adminis-
trative department for public
sector insurers) and ministry of
finance remained unanswered
till the time of going to press.
Privatisation of insurance
companies would also be easier
to process for the government
as the General Insurance Busi-
Shopping on social media platforms Distributors mount
seen hitting $1.2 trillion by 2025 pressure on Colgate
Bloomberg
feedback@livemint.com
WASHINGTON: Shopping on
social networks such as Face-
book, TikTok and WeChat is
going to grow three times faster
than sales from traditional
channels over the next three
years, according to a study
released by Accenture.
Social commerce, defined as
transactions that take place
entirely within the context of a
social-media platform, will
reach $1.2 trillion by 2025, up
from $492 billion in 2021, the
consulting company said in the
report.
The trend is being driven pri-
marily by Gen Z and Millennial
consumers, who are expected to
account for 62% of the spend-
Future group entities – Future Retail, and Future Future Coupons – and its promoters seeking to halt
the arbitration proceedings at SIAC’s Delhi-seated tribunal.
decided before the start of the
final hearing in the main arbi-
tration case.
Declining the relief, the court
said it cannot dictate a duly con-
stituted tribunal on the manner
in which it will carry out pro-
ceedings. Any interference
would violate the autonomy of
the tribunal, justice Amit Bansal
MINT
ness Nationalisation Act, has
already been amended by Par-
liament to enable transfer of
ownership companies. privati-
sation. The amendment allows
the government to dilute its
stake in a general insurance
company to below 51%.
The situation is unlike priva-
tisation of public sector banks,
where amendment to Banking
Regulation Act is yet to be intro-
duced and passed by Parlia-
ment. Though the amendment
was lined up for introduction in
the recently concluded winter
session of Parliament, it failed
to get introduced as session
ended prematurely.
The persons who shared
information, said that about
three to four large private insur-
ers and couple of new insurance
companies have met officials
and have held preliminary dis-
cussions on public sector insur-
ance company’s privatisation.
Based on this, the government
will soon come with exact time-
line and clarity on disinvest-
ment. FM Nirmala Sitharaman
in her Budget 2021 speech had
announced strategic divestment
in two public sector companies
and financial institutions,
including 2 PSU banks and one
insurance company.
Though the name of insur-
ance company for privatisation
had not yet been finalised, gov-
ernment NITI Aayog has recom-
mended privatisation of United
India Insurance Company.
ing.
The most popular products
sold via social networks include
clothing, consumer electronics
and home decor.
Beauty and personal care is
also seeing growth, with online
influencers playing a significant
role.
The trend offers good news
for mom-and-pop shops: More
than half of so-called social buy-
ers surveyed said they are likely
to support small businesses
over larger retailers and would
likely buy from them again. This
may allow new brands to build
loyalty and gain traction.
Accenture also found that
around 3.5 billion people used
social media in 2021, spending
on average two and a half hours
engaged with it per day. The
said.
On Monday, the court had
reserved its order on the peti-
tions filed by Future group enti-
ties – Future Retail, and Future
Future Coupons – and its pro-
moters seeking to halt the arbi-
tration proceedings at SIAC’s
Delhi-seated tribunal.
In a 21-page judgment, justice
Sops on housing likely to be extended
Rituraj Baruah
rituraj.baruah@livemint.com
NEW DELHI: The government is
likely to extend incentives for
purchases of affordable homes,
those priced up to ₹45 lakh, by a
year as it falls short of its goal to
provide “housing for all’.
Finance minister Nirmala
Sitharaman is likely to extend
the additional interest deduc-
tion of ₹1.5 lakh on affordable
housing loans till March 2023,
two people privy to the develop-
ment said seeking anonymity.
This additional deduction
benefit over and above the ₹2
lakh that was first announced in
July 2019 has since been
extended twice, with the latest
extension available till March
31. However, only first-time
homebuyers can avail of the
incentive.
Affordable housing remains a
Privatisation of BPCL may
be pushed to next fiscal yr
Kalpana Pathak
kalpana.p@livemint.com
MUMBAI: The privatization of
state-run Bharat Petroleum
Corp. Ltd (BPCL) may be pushed
to the next fiscal as the sale
process has not progressed at
the desired pace, two officials
aware of the development said.
“The financial bids have not
yet been called, and we have
just three months left. Given
BPCL’s borrowings, it will need
approval from lenders (long-
term agreements have a clause
that requires lenders’ approval
for promoter changes), which
would take a few months,” said
one of the two officials, who is
tracking the sale. Both the offi-
cials declined to be named.
The government’s plan to
raise a record ₹1.75 lakh crore
from disinvestment proceeds
this year now entirely hinges on
the success of the initial public
offering of India’s largest
insurer, Life Insurance Corp. of
India. Still, the target is likely to
be elusive as the Centre planned
to raise ₹60,000 crore, or more
than a third of its overall disin-
vestment target, from the BPCL
market for social commerce is
far less saturated in the United
States (U.S.) and the United
Kingdom (U.K.) than in China,
where 80% of social media users
make social-commerce pur-
chases, according to Accenture.
China is expected to remain
the most advanced market for
social commerce in size and
maturity, Accenture said, with
the highest growth being posted
in developing markets such as
India and Brazil.
The study is based on an
online study of 10,053 social-
media users in China, India,
Brazil, the U.S. and the U.K. con-
ducted from August 12 to Sep-
tember 3.
It also carried out in-depth
interviews in those markets ear-
lier during 2021.
Business
BLOOMBERG
Bansal said that there was noth-
ing to suggest the tribunal has
denied equal opportunity to the
parties, or that it has not been
accommodating towards
requests of the petitioners.
Amazon and Future have
been locked in a bitter legal tus-
sle after the US e-commerce
firm dragged Future Group to
The government is likely to extend the additional interest
deduction of ₹1.5 lakh on affordable housing loans till 2023.
major focus of the government,
and steps to boost the housing
and construction industry are
likely to feature in the budget
for the year starting April 1, the
people cited above said. The
budget is scheduled to be pre-
sented in Parliament on 1 Febru-
ary. The people cited above said
the tax holiday on affordable
SO FAR, VEDANTA,
APOLLO GLOBAL
AND THINK GAS
HAVE EXPRESSED
INTEREST IN
BUYING 52.98%
STAKE IN BPCL
privatization alone.
The government gave bidders
access to BPCL’s data on April 10
last year. So far, billionaire Anil
Agarwal’s Vedanta group, pri-
vate equity firm Apollo Global
and I Squared Capital’s Think
Gas arm have expressed inter-
est in buying the government’s
52.98% stake.
The government initially tar-
geted to call financial bids by
August 2021 and get the sale and
purchase agreement signed by
September to complete the deal
by March 2022. But Covid-19
altered the investment climate
for energy firms, which were
already facing challenges such
as high write-offs due to volatile
energy prices, reduced produc-
tion, and capital expenditure.
As a result, the government
was forced to extend the dead-
Suneera Tandon
suneera.t@livemint.com
NEW DELHI: Small distributors
across India on Tuesday sus-
pended their campaign against
Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL)
over complaints that packaged
consumer goods makers were
favouring large and internet-
based wholesalers but pledged
to take action against rival Col-
gate-Palmolive (India) Ltd.
Members of the All India
Consumer Products Distribu-
tors Federation (AICPDF) met
with top executives of HUL and
extracted a promise to protect
interest of small distributors.
AICPDF said Colgate-Palmol-
ive (India) Ltd had, however,
failed to address and acknowl-
edge issues faced by traditional
Powered by
arbitration at SIAC in October,
arguing that the latter had vio-
lated their contract by entering
into the deal with rival Reliance.
Amazon approached Indian
courts as well.
On October 21, the Singapore
tribunal rejected the plea of
Future Retail to lift the interim
stay granted by its emergency
arbitrator on October 25, 2020,
observing that “the award was
correctly granted”.
The appeal by the company
was filed at the international
arbitration tribunal against the
October 25 order, which had
barred Future Retail from tak-
ing any step to dispose of or
encumber its assets or issuing
any securities to secure any
funding from a restricted party.
Subsequently, a three-mem-
ber tribunal was constituted to
decide the issues arising from
the deal.
On August 6, in a major vic-
tory for Amazon, the Supreme
Court ruled that Future Group
was bound by an emergency
award that restrains it from a
$3.4 billion sale of retail assets
to Reliance.
The court said that all the
parties in the present arbitra-
HT
housing projects is also likely to
be extended by a year.
Queries sent to the ministries
of finance and housing and
urban affairs remained unan-
swered till press time.
Last budget, Sitharaman
announced the extension of the
tax holiday till March-end.
Rajan Bandelkar, president of
line for preliminary expressions
of interest for BPCL as many as
four times.
“Bidders need the financial
muscle to bid for BPCL. Some
bidders are looking for financial
partners to form a consortium
to finance the deal. Till a year
ago, global energy majors were
holding discussions for the
BPCL stake sale, but covid-19
has put a spanner in the works,”
said a banker who works on
energy deals, seeking anonym-
ity. BPCL’s winning bidder will
get access to a 25.77% market
share in India’s fuel retailing
segment, along with 15.3% of
India’s refining capacity. BPCL
operates with a capacity of 38.3
metric tonnes per annum.
As part of the privatization,
BPCL sold its 61.65% stake in
Numaligarh Refinery Ltd for
₹9,875 crore to a consortium of
Oil India Ltd and Engineers
India Ltd (49%) and the remain-
ing 13.65% to the Assam govern-
ment in March. The company
also acquired a 36.6% stake
from its partner OQ, the
national oil company of Oman,
in Bharat Oman Refinery Ltd for
₹2,400 crore in March.
distributors. The body said they
would keep a “close eye” on the
situation for next three months.
Late last month, distributors
in Maharashtra pledged to stop
selling select products of HUL,
citing concerns over the com-
pany’s inability to engage in a
dialogue with distributors. The
federation had raised concerns
over issues faced by distributors
who claimed FMCG firms were
offering better prices and mar-
gins to business-to-business
companies such as JioMart,
Walmart, etc. These, in turn,
were offering goods to retailers
at better prices, they claimed.
The federation threatened to
take action against Colgate-Pal-
molive. The company said it is
working closely with distributor
networks to address the issues.
tion proceedings are big corpo-
rations and have a battery of
lawyers representing them
before multiple fora.
“Even if some of the lawyers
have tested positive for Cov-
id-19, it can be duly expected
that the parties and their law
firms would endeavour to make
alternate arrangements. An
adjournment at the last minute
cannot be sought in respect of
an international commercial
arbitration of this magnitude,
involving arbitrators, counsels
and experts from different juris-
dictions,” the court said.
Future Retail recently missed
the last date for payment of
₹3,494.56 crore to banks and
others lenders as its assets sale
deal was hampered due to its
ongoing legal dispute with
e-commerce giant Amazon.
Future Retail had said due to
ongoing litigations with Ama-
zon.com NV Investment Hold-
ings LLC, the company was not
able to complete the planned
monetisation of the specified
business on due date.“The com-
pany would be co-operating for
completing the monetisation of
the specified business in next 30
days,” the company had said.
the National Real Estate Devel-
opment Council, said affordable
property prices and record-low
interest rates had prompted
homebuyers to purchase their
dream homes. The extension in
interest deduction would help
boost demand further, he
added. Along with tax benefits,
companies and industry experts
have also sought a change in the
definition of affordable housing
to extend the benefits of addi-
tional deductions to more
homebuyers.
Anuj Puri, chairman of prop-
erty services company Anarock
Group, said: “The government
must seriously reconsider revis-
ing the pricing of homes within
the affordable housing budget
city-wise. While the size of units
as per its definition (60 sq. m
area) is fairly appropriate, pri-
ces of units (up to ₹45 lakh) are
not viable across most cities.”
{ THE CROSSWORDS }
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
6
10
1
11
12
A magazine for ladies? (6,4)
Prize fruit (4)
Queer ending that is strange (5)
Directors of the railway (9)
Figure of importance to American
defence (8)
13 Stroke backfires (5)
15 Formally dressed Italians lacking a change
17
(2,5)
Hidden - but not from a gunman? (7)
19 Drives along short throughways (7)
21
22
Alas, butter turns to wine (7)
He’s paid to say nothing (5)
24
27
Her rank prohibits one’s admission (8)
A shield cut in chosen form (9)
28 Hastily make and hoist a flag (3,2)
29 When bulbs come to life? (4)
30 Night watchmen (10)
DOWN
1 Lord of high standing and narrow
outlook (4)
2 Secret row broadcast? What sauce! (9)
3 Build straight up (5)
4 Makes someone take notice? (7)
5 Vital change in cargo (7)
7 Break a rule about many an animal (5)
8 They fancy they’re resourceful (3,2,5)
9 An event Jews won’t forget or ignore (8)
14 Desserts I’d served up in a grievous
condition (10)
16 Scent in a new form, for example (8)
18 Aptitude one acquires by frequently being
in the way? (4,5)
20 Topic dependent on another (7)
21 Itinerant craftsman (7)
23 Travels in France (5)
25 Mean to a girl (5)
26 A sound piece of work (4)
YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS (16121)
CRYPTIC
QUICK
{ WEATHER }
TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
Thunderstorm Generally cloudy
with rain sky with light rain
or drizzle
18°c I 11°c 18°c I 10°c
17
RBI may delay
rate hike on
Omicron fears
Gopika Gopakumar
gopika.g@livemint.com
MUMBAI: India’s central bank
may defer policy normalization
plans to until the next fiscal to
avert a potential hit on the econ-
omy as the spread of the Omi-
cron variant of coronavirus has
already lead some states to
reimpose strict restrictions,
according to experts.
Several economists, who had
earlier forecast the Reserve
Bank of India (RBI) to increase
the reverse repo rate, or the rate
at which RBI borrows from
commercial banks, in its Febru-
ary policy, are revising their pol-
icy expectations, alongside
growth forecasts. With states imposing strict
“With the recent surge in cov- curbs on movement, economy
id-19 cases and growing restric- is likely to be impacted. AFP
tions heightening uncertainty, it
is increasingly unlikely that the southern India. While most of
MPC and RBI will embark on the available indicators have
policy normalization next seen a rebound in December,
month, unless inflation pro- the growth momentum trails
vides an acutely negative sur- the levels seen in October.
prise, the likelihood of which is “We formalize our FY22 GDP
subdued,” said Aditi Nayar,
chief economist at Icra.
With states such as Maha-
rashtra, Rajasthan, West Bengal
growth estimate at 9.6% (vs. 10%
with mild downside risks ear-
lier). For FY23, we are estimat-
ing a growth of 7.5% driven by a
and New Delhi imposing night combination of continued roll-
curfews and strict curbs on over in pent-up demand along
movement, economic activity is with an uneven pick up in pri-
likely to be impacted this quar- vate capex in select sectors in
ter. These states have already H2,” said QuantEco Research in
seen their daily confirmed coro- a note. Abheek Barua, chief
navirus cases jump nearly economist at HDFC Bank, said
threefold over the last week, sig- the increase in coronavirus
nalling the start of a third wave cases could impact this fiscal
of the pandemic in the country. year’s economic growth by 40
Additionally, the recent core basis points. “We have projected
sector output data, reflecting growth at 9.4% in FY22. While it
the output of eight core indus- is too early to estimate the
tries, also indicated slowing dampening effects of Omicron
momentum in the economy. In related containment, it is quite
November, core sector output likely to pull the Q4 FY22
expanded at 3.1%, sharply growth rate down. A tentative
slower than the previous
month’s 8.4%, as most sectors
slowed, and cement and crude
oil production contracted.
first estimate for FY22 that fac-
tors the Omicron impact would
be 9%,” he said.
RBI Governor Shaktikanta
Similarly, many high-fre-
quency indicators displayed flat
growth in November from the
Das had in the fiscal stability
report in December cautioned
that the Indian economy faces
year earlier, with supply disrup- headwinds from global develop-
tions caused by heavy rainfall in ments and Omicron.
PUZZLE 16122
© Gemini Crosswords 2018 All rights reserved
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS DOWN
1 By a considerable margin (3,3,4) 1 Renown (4)
6 A long time (4) 2 Long involved procedure (9)
10 Magnate (5) 3 An artificial fibre (5)
11 Agreeable (9) 4 Severely self-denying (7)
12 Chief support (8) 5 Vexed (7)
13 Choose by vote (5) 7 Cunning (5)
15 Unimaginative (7) 8 Worry about minutiae (5,5)
17 Predicament (7) 9 Wake-up bugle call (8)
19 Later than scheduled (7) 14 Extremely funny (10)
21 President of legislature (7) 16 Relating to hearing (8)
22 Oven-cooked meat (5) 18 Be understandable (4,5)
24 Surly (8) 20 Shut out (7)
27 Timely (9) 21 Compress (7)
28 Excessive enthusiasm (5) 23 Copious (5)
29 Staunch (4) 25 State of uncertainty (5)
30 Well disposed (10) 26 Bygone (4)
DIFFICUL
DIFFICUL
DIFFICUL
DIFFICUL
{ SUDOKU } DIFFICULTY LEVEL
Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and
each of the 9X9 squares contains all the digits from 1 to 9.
ALMANAC TEMPERATURE IN
Today is FOUR METROS
5th January 2022
l 01 Jumada Al-Akhirah, 1443
Delhi
l Pausha, Shukla 18°c I 11°c
Paksha, 03
l Samvat 2078
Mumbai
FRIDAY Sunset: Wednesday 32°c I 22°c
Generally cloudy at 05:38 p.m.
sky with light rain Sunrise: Thursday Kolkata
or drizzle at 07:14 a.m. 24°c I 14°c
Moonrise: Thursday
at 10:19 a.m. Chennai
Moonset: Thursday 29°c I 21°c
20°c I 11°c at 09:38 p.m.
18
buzz
Director General VS Pathania, PTM,
TM Chief of Indian Coast Guard
DG VS Pathania,
PTM, TM took charge
as 24th Chief of In-
dian Coast Guard.
The Flag Officer is
an alumni of Defence
Services Staff College, Welling-
ton & National Defence College,
New Delhi. He is also a qualified
helicopter pilot and holds Master’s
Degree in Defence and Strategic
Studies from University of Madras.
Chandra Prakash Goyal took over as
DG, Forests & Special Secretary
Chandra Prakash
Goyal, 1986 batch of-
ficer of UP Cadre of
Indian Forest Service
has been appointed as
Director General of
Forests & Special Secretary in the
MoEFCC. He is alumni of Lucknow
University, FRI and University of
Edinburgh and has experience of al-
most 20 years in the field of forestry.
He has served as Joint Secretary in
Govt of India for six years.
TRIFED signs MoU with RMP-Nation
First Policy Research Centre
As a part of its mission to improve
the livelihoods of the tribals and
work towards tribal empowerment,
TRIFED, has been carrying out sev-
eral programmes and initiatives. It
recently entered into an agreement
with Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini-
Nation First Policy Research Centre
(RMP-NFPRC) on December 29,
2021. This MoU is for a collabora-
tive effort in leveraging knowledge,
expertise and institutional strengths.
Tata Power-DDL’s consumer convicted
for power theft
Special Judge, Electricity Court, Tis
Hazari, has convicted Geeta Devi,
resident of Aruna Nagar, Majnu Ka
Tila with 3 months of imprisonment
post finding her guilty for indulg-
ing in power theft for domestic us-
age. The thief was convicted under
Section 135 of The Electricity Act
2003. Civil liability of Rs 90,532
was approved by court for electrici-
ty theft that Tata Power-DDL would
recover from convicted consumer.
NBCC bags Great Place to Work
Recognition
NBCC yet again wins the coveted
status of Great Place to Work.
This is the 3rd consecutive year
when it has received this distin-
guished status. This significant
achievement is a direct outcome
of consistent efforts put in b y
NBCC’s HRM Team & Manage-
ment. Even during the global pan-
demic, HRM Team successfully
managed to provide healthy and
safe working environment to their
employees and contract workers.
CHANGE OF NAME
IT IS for general information that I,
Sunita W/o Naresh Kumar, R/o
H.No. 439, Sector-31, Faridabad,
Haryana- 121003, Declare that the
name has been wrongly written as
Sunita Rani in documents. The
actual name is Sunita respectively
which may be amended accordingly.
I, DINESH Kumar S/o Lal Chand
Ranga R/o D-148, Sector-61, Noida-
201301, UP have changed my name
from Dinesh Kumar to Dinesh Kumar
Ranga for all future purposes.
I JUGAL Kishor S/o Lt. Sh. Ram
Phool Singh R/o 941, Sec-9,
Vasundhra, Gzb. Have changed my
name to Jugal Kishore for all future
purposes.
I, LAXMI Aswal D/o Mahesh
Chandra Singh, R/o. RZ G-56, Gali
No. 5, Vishwas Park, Uttam Nagar,
D. K. Mohan Garden, New Delhi -
110059, declare that my name
Laxmi Aswal has been written
correctly in my Aadhar card but in
family detail of Army Service Book
it is mentioned as Km Luxmi Aswal.
I ensure you that both the name
is belong to the same person.
I, IRFAN Ahamad S/O Sultan
Ahamad R/O Dedore, Rae Bareli,
Uttar Pradesh - 229001 have
changed my daughter's name from
Seerat Bano to Seerat for future.
I, GAURAV Kumar Mondal S/o Sh.
Mahadev Mondal R/o H.No. 3623/
1057C, Gali No.20, Sanjay Colony,
Sector-23, Faridabad, Haryana have
changed my name from Gaurav
Kumar to Gaurav Kumar Mondal for
all future purposes.
I ANUJ Kumar Mangal S/o Ravindra
Kumar Mangal, R/o KJ-1, Kavi
Nagar, Ghaziabad, declare that Anuj
Kumar, Anuj Mangal and Anuj
Kumar Mangal are one & same
person. Hereafter I will use my
name as Anuj Kumar Mangal for all
purposes.
I, ROHIT Kumar Rai S/o Sh. Subedar
Rai R/o Gram kulkula post sondhari
nizamabad azamgarh Uttar pra-
desh-276206. I have changed the
name of my minor Daugher Amrita
Rai to Anshika Rai DOB 18/04/2015
for all purposes.
I SHAHSI Devi (in Son’s Army
document) Mother of Army No-
15697017Y Rank NK Name- Arvind
Kumar W/o Sunder Lal, R/o H.No.-
279, Durga Vihar, Ph-2, Najafgarh,
Dindarpur, South West Delhi, Delhi-
43, want to change name & DOB
from Shahsi Devi to Shashi Suman
& 01 July 1960 to 01 Jan 1964
respectively as per Aadhar Card for
all future purpose.
I, ROHIT Kumar Rai S/o Sh. Subedar
Rai R/o Gram kulkula post sondhari
nizamabad azamgarh Uttar pradesh
276206. I have changed the name
of my minor Daugher Aunshka Rai
to Amrita Rai DOB 03/08/2013
for all purposes.
corporate buzz NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 05, 2022
NHPC Corporate Office Team wins NHPC RK Singh dedicates Automatic CMD,NBCChonouredat NDMCimplementesnew
IndianEngineeringCongress IdentityAccessManagement
Inter-Regional Cricket Tournament Generation Control to Nation
NHPC Limited, India’s premier
hydropower company conducted
the two day NHPC Inter-Region-
al Cricket Tournament-cum-Se-
lection Trials from December 29
to 30, 2021 at Faridabad.
The final match was played
between teams from NHPC Cor- In 36th Indian Engineering Con- NDMC has implemented Single-
porate Office and NHPC Region gress organised by The Institution Sign-On (SSO)/Identity Access
Banikhet at Vijay Yadav Resi- of Engineers (India) in New Delhi Management to improve user ex-
dential Cricket Academy, Bho- PK Gupta, CMD, NBCC (India) perience and enhance security to
pani, Faridabad on December Minister of Power and New & govt’s ambitious target of 500 GW Ltd delivered prestigious, 34th Dr citizens/employees/pensioners &
30, 2021. Renewable Energy, RK Singh, non-fossil fuel-based generation Ajudhia Nath Khosla Memorial others when accessing applications
The NHPC Corporate Office 4 wickets in 20 overs and bowl- Harish Rana was adjudged dedicated Automatic Generation capacity by 2030. The AGC is be- Lecture on topic, Infrastructure through internet & intranet. SSO is
ing out NHPC Region Banikhet Man of Match for his score of 84 Control (AGC) to the nation which ing operated by POSOCO through Sector Consultancy-Challenges one digital identity to be used for
team won the final match by 84
for 87 runs in 16 overs. runs in 67 balls. will facilitate the target of achieving National Load Despatch Centre. and Solutions.’ all online services applications.
runs after scoring 171 for loss of
CBSE invites applications SRC organises 3 rd
Tata Power-DDL receives NSPCLpays2 interim nd
NHPC organises cultural POWERGRIDcelebratesOne ‘Bijli Utsav’ organised by
for scholarship schemes Environment Summit Global CSR Award dividendtoNTPCforFY21-22 programme on New Year Nation-OneGridanniversary REC in Varanasi
CBSE invites online applications The 3rd Sustainable Environ- Tata Power Delhi Distribution NTPC SAIL Power Company
from eligible students who have ment and Energy Summit 2021 won two prominent awards, Ltd, a JV Company of NTPC Ltd
passed Class X Examination 2021 was successfully organised by Platinum Award under the ‘Best & SAIL (50:50) paid 2nd interim
from CBSE affiliated Schools & the Social Responsibility Coun- Country Award for Overall CSR dividend of Rs 45 crores (net
Single Girl Child Scholarship X cil (SRC) at Le Méridien, Jan- Performance’ category and Silver of TDS) for FY21-22 towards
2020 (Renewal 2021) for follow- path, New Delhi. Arun Khurana, Award for ‘Best Community Pro- NTPC Ltd’s 50% share. Debasish
ing Scholarship Schemes, On- Founder & Director, SRC wel- gramme’ categories at the pres- Chattopadhyay, CEO, NSPCL
line applications of CBSE Merit comed the eminent dignitaries tigious 13th Global CSR Awards. presented the cheque to Gur-
Scholarship Scheme for Single by presenting mementos and had The awards were announced dur- deep Singh, CMD, NTPC. AK NHPC Ltd organised cultural pro- As a part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit As part of ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Ma-
Girl Child who passed Class X in his dignified presence throughout ing a virtual award ceremony. Gautam, Director (Finance); DK gramme under ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ POWERGRID, NR-I hotsav’ REC Ltd, organised a Bi-
2021 & studying in Class XI and the program. The inauguration Company’s CSR Initiatives are Patel, Chairman NSPCL & Direc- Mahotsav’ to welcome New Year commemorated its landmark jli Utsav at Karsada sub-station in
renewal of online applications of of the 3rd Environment Summit run under the mother brand Saathi tor (HR), NTPC; Ramesh Babu 2022 on January 3 at NHPC Of- achievement of completion of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. PP Singh,
CBSE Merit Scholarship Scheme 2021 was auspiciously done by (a companion) in order to effec- V, Director (Operations), NTPC; fice Complex, Faridabad. On One Nation-One Grid-One Fre- Director (Technical), PuVVNL
for Single Girl Child Scholarship the Chief Guest Mama Natung, tively reach out to over 1 mil- Alka Saigal, Director (NSPCL) this occasion, AK Singh, CMD, quency and celebrated with full Varanasi along with NK Maurya,
X Pass awarded in 2020 (Renewal Minister of Environment, Forest lion underprivileged people, also & GM (Internal Audit), NTPC; NHPC addressed all employees & enthusiasm & happiness on De- Sr CPM, REC & DK Gupta, Sr
2021). Last date for submission of and Climate Change Department, company’s consumers, residing in Nandini Sarkar, NK Gupta, CFO, their family members through live cember 31, 2021 at is vivid sub- GM, REC inaugurated the event
online applications is January 17. Govt of Arunachal Pradesh. 220+ JJ clusters in North Delhi. NSPCL and others were present. webcasting and Facebook Live. stations. in the presence of other officials.
 SPMCIL paid Final Dividend of Rs 240.41 crore to Govt of India for  Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Union Minister of Heavy Industries  BHEL Day 2022 was celebrated at company’s Corporate Office in New  NBCC Ltd, signed a MoU with Management Development Institute, Mur-
FY20-21. The dividend cheque was presented by Tripti P Ghosh, CMD, presented the Industry Excellence Award-2021 to Rajni Kant Agrawal, Delhi where Dr Nalin Shinghal, CMD, BHEL; Functional Directors on shidabad on December 24, 2021 for construction of MDI Murshidabad
SPMCIL along with Ajay Agarwal, Director (Finance), SPMCIL to Union CMD, WAPCOS, in presence of Pankaj Kapoor, Director (Finance) and Board of BHEL, and senior officials of NCR-based divisions participated campus in next 5 years. Prof (Dr) Atmanand, Director, MDI & AK Pathak,
Minister of Finance, Government of India Nirmala Sitharaman. Anupam Mishra, Director (Comml. & HRD), WAPCOS. with great enthusiasm. The CMD also addressed employees virtually. GM (Engg), NBCC, senior faculty and staff were present at the ceremony.
 RITES Ltd has been conferred IEI Industry Excellence Award 2021 by  Power Finance Corporation has been conferred with prestigious IEI  R Lakshmanan, CEO, RECPDCL & TSC Bosh, Jt CEO, RECPDCL hand over  NTECL, a JV Company of NTPC Limited & TANGEDCO (50:50) paid 2nd in-
the Institution of Engineers (India) in ESC category. The award was Industry Excellence Award 2021. Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey, Minister project specific SPV formed for construction of Transmission Project viz, terim dividend of Rs 135,09,30,543 (net of TDS) for FY21-22 towards NT-
presented by Minister of Heavy Industries, Government of India, Dr of Heavy Industries presented the award to R Rahman, Executive Transmission system for evacuation of power from RE projects in Osmana- PC’s Ltd 50% share. Ramesh Babu V, Chairman, NTECL & Director (Op-
Mahendra Nath Pandey during the 36th Indian Engineering Congress. Director (PR & CSR) & PK Sinha, Executive Director (Projects) at PFC. bad to Bigyan Parija from IndiGrid 1 Ltd & Aditya Kislay from IndiGrid 2 Ltd. erations), NTPC presented the cheque to Gurdeep Singh, C&MD, NTPC.
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NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
Keegan, Temba
answer call to
fill batting void
Sanjjeev K Samyal
sanjjeev.samyal@htlive.com
MUMBAI: Batting was always
expected to be a concern for the
South Africa team in this series.
When compared to the last time
they played India at home in
2018, they were missing the
most prolific core of their side—
stalwarts AB de Villiers, Hashim
Amla and Faf du Plessis had
retired.
Those fears were proved
right in the first Test when SA
failed to get 200 in either
innings. To be sure, these are
tough conditions to bat in. The
pitch for the second Test at The
Wanderers has offered as much
assistance to fast bowlers as the
Centurion turf in the opening
game last week. And Quinton de
Kock’s retirement after the first
Test defeat has added to the
challenge.
After India struggled to get to
202 after electing to bat, runs
were at a premium on the sec-
ond day of the second Test as
well. Yet, the SA batters showed
that they had a steely side. Sen-
ior pro Temba Bavuma proved
his value again with a counter-
attacking 51, but the hosts dis-
covered an unlikely hero in Kee-
gan Petersen to take a 27-run
first innings lead.
With SA starting the day at
35/1, India’s early focus was on
Dean Elgar.
After the Mohammed Shami-
Jasprit Bumrah first spell,
because of his record against
left-handed batters, stand-in
skipper KL Rahul even got the
half-fit Mohammed Siraj to
bowl in tandem with off-spinner
R Ashwin, almost ignoring the
presence of Petersen at the
other end.
For them, the South Africa
captain’s wicket was the key.
Petersen played some pretty
shots, but he had not shown any
staying power. He chose this
innings to give notice.
Petersen’s maiden 50
Playing only his fourth Test, the
SA No 3 notched his maiden
Test half-century to set the
foundation for his team’s chase.
As stylish players go, it was
not just the runs but also the
stroke play of the 29-year-old
batter that caught the eye.
In search of an early wicket to
start the day, both Shami and
Bumrah produced searing
spells to Elgar and Petersen.
The beauty of Petersen’s innings
lay in the fact that even though
the Indian pacers were on top of
their game, he looked unhur-
ried during his knock of 62.
Even though he got just 15 and
17 in the two innings of the first
Test, he had left an impression
with his poise at the crease.
Nimble footed, he gets well
behind the ball and has the gift
of timing. All of that came into
relief with nine glorious bound-
aries all around the turf.
The three boundaries in four
balls off Shami, who was clearly
in a menacing mood, stood out.
With the first he reached his
half-century, opening the bat
face on the front foot to turn it
past backward point; the second
was flicked imperiously
through midwicket and the
third was a breathtaking cover
drive. The raucous applause
from the home dressing room
balcony said it all.
Following in the footsteps of
Bavuma, the first specialist
black batsman to be selected in
the Proteas’ Test team, South
Africa cricket has invested
heavily in Petersen. He has
grinded it out in first-class
cricket with 104 games to his
name, scoring 6,346 runs, with
16 hundreds. The two batters,
however, were left to rue not
building on their partnership.
In what Sunil Gavaskar
described as “half-century syn-
drome” in commentary, both
fell to loose strokes after reach-
ing their 50.
As stroke players go, both are
also flashy. Petersen had got a
reprieve when on 12 before he
let his guard down to finally fall
for 62 while going for a drive to
a full, swinging ball outside off-
stump. Gavaskar’s school of
cricket called for it to be left
alone.
Reaching 50 got Bavuma
Bavuma also paid the price for
taking it easy after reaching
fifty. South Africa’s vice-captain
got to his mark with a streaky
four to third man area. The next
ball, he walked down the pitch
to Shardul Thakur, trying to
work it away to the leg side and
flicked a catch to the wicket-
keeper.
Bavuma had walked into bat
with his team under pressure at
101/3, and played smart, coun-
ter-attacking cricket. He had
reached his 50 off just 59 balls
with six fours and a six. At 177/5,
he had the chance to take con-
trol of the game, only to throw it
away.
The two batsmen surely
would be hurting not to have
cashed in. But they will also
have the satisfaction that their
effort came in an environment
where batsmen are being tested
every delivery.
Shardul in seventh heaven
India seamer bags
7/61 to restrict SA’s
first innings lead
before Pujara, under
pressure to hold his
spot, counter-attacks
Proteas bowlers on
Day 2 of the 2nd Test
Somshuvra Laha
somshuvra.laha@htlive.com
KOLKATA: After two days of hard-
fought cricket, the second Test in
Johannesburg is still very much
in the balance. India are ahead by
58 runs, but look at it from
another angle and they are also
probably one small collapse away
from frittering away the advan-
tage gained in a manic session
where runs came at 4.25 per over.
Orchestrating this fight back
are Cheteshwar Pujara, batting on
35 laced with seven fours and a
strike rate of—hold your
breath—83.33 and Ajinkya
Rahane, shoring up the other end
with a scratchy but resilient 11.
India need more from them, not
only for the sake of their careers
but also to test South Africa on an
increasingly unpredictable Wan-
derers pitch. Early wickets could
mean farewell to the senior bats-
men, but evidently they are not
going down without a fight.
That India decided against
sending a nightwatchman after
the dismissals of KL Rahul and
Mayank Agarwal is an indication
that Pujara and Rahane aren’t
asking for any favours. But what
is already setting this innings
apart is Pujara’s riveting
no-holds-barred attack. Short
delivery testing his midriff?
Pujara swivelled to keep the pull
down for a four through fine-leg.
A more pronounced bouncer
next time was countered with a
fierce hook that got a top-edge but
Pujara got the boundary he
wanted. Full and straight and
Pujara was majestically driving
the ball past mid-on. Cue Keshav
Maharaj’s left-arm spin and
Pujara made him pay with two
contrasting boundaries even
though it was the last over of the
day. This is far removed from the
Pujara we have seen in the last
decade. If India are sincerely hop-
ing this new avatar of Pujara
doesn’t change minds overnight,
South Africa will also be praying
their fast bowlers limit India to a
manageable lead, something in
the horizon of 150 or 200. That
will at least be job half-done
because so well-sharpened is
India’s bowling right now though
that no target is easily achievable.
South Africa got a taste of that
on Tuesday, sliding from 88/1 to
229 all out, thanks to Shardul
Sport
Shardul Thakur celebrates after dismissing South Africa's Temba Bavuma during Day 2 of the second Test at The Wanderers.
SCORECARD
India, 1st innings 202 6-177, 7-179, 8-217, 9-228
SA, 1st innings Bowling: Bumrah 21-5-49-1,
(overnight 35/1) Shami 21-5-52-2, Siraj 9.5-2-24-0,
D Elgar c Pant b Thakur 28 Thakur 17.5-3-61-7, Ashwin 10-1-
K Petersen c Agarwal 35-0.
b Thakur 62
H Dussen c Pant b Thakur 1 India 2nd innings
T Bavuma c Pant b Thakur 51 Rahul c Markram b Jansen 8 S Thakur
K Verreynne lbw Thakur 21 M Agarwal lbw Olivier 23
M Jansen c Ashwin b Thakur 21 C Pujara batting 35
K Rabada c Siraj b Shami 0 A Rahane batting 11
K Maharaj b Bumrah 21 Extras (b 2, lb 4, nb 2) 8 broken and South Africa were
D Olivier not out 1 Total (2 wkts, 20 ovs) 85
L Ngidi c Pant b Thakur 0 FoW: 1-24, 2-44
Extras (b4, lb4, nb3, w5) 16 Bowling: Rabada 6-1-26-0,
Total (79.4 ovs) 229 Olivier 4-0-22-1, Ngidi 3-1-5-0,
FoW: 2-88, 3-101, 4-102, 5-162, Jansen 6-2-18-1, Maharaj 1-0-8-0.
Thakur’s maiden five-wicket haul. but Bumrah and Shami were test-
Thakur returned 7/61, joint-best ing South Africa batters the entire
bowling figures (with England’s morning, either cutting through
Matthew Hoggard on the 2004-05 their defence from wide of the
tour) at the Wanderers since crease or trying to square them
South Africa’s re-admission in up with the delivery that shaped
1992. Thakur’s mix of seam and away. But the breakthrough
pace was probably just what was wasn’t coming. Dean Elgar was so
needed on the spicy pitch to con- obsessive about protecting his
found batters. It was as if South stumps that he took 32 balls to
Africa didn’t see it coming from score his first run in the morning.
the man nicknamed Beefy (Ian But with Keegan Petersen finding
Botham’s nickname) by his team the gaps, South Africa weren’t
mates. halted in their tracks. With lunch
In full tilt, a fast bowling attack not far away, Rahul brought on
fronted by Jasprit Bumrah, Thakur, who had bowled just five
Mohammed Shami and Moham- overs (even fewer than Ravichan-
med Siraj can often eclipse other dran Ashwin) in the second
bowlers. But there are days when innings at Centurion.
they are not as effective, the ball He quickly found his length.
will not draw an edge or not carry The ball that got Elgar was similar
to the slip if it does. to his dismissal in the first innings
Coming off a hamstring pull, at Centurion—a back of a length
Siraj had shortened his run-up delivery angled away and took a
AFP
Best bowling overseas by Indians
Player Figures Opposition Ground Year
E Prasanna 8/76 v New Zealand Auckland 1976
Kapil Dev 8/85 v Pakistan Lahore 1983
Kapil Dev 8/106 v Australia Adelaide 1985
A Kumble 8/141 v Australia Sydney 2004
I Pathan 7/59 v Zimbabwe Harare 2005
7/61 v South Africa Jo’burg 2022
faint edge. The partnership was Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne used
to revive South Africa with a
88/2. Next to go was Petersen, 60-run partnership coincided
who had just compiled a brilliant with Rahul bringing back Shami
half-century with a boundary off and Bumrah, and Ashwin as
Shami that possibly led him to change. But Thakur was back at it
believe that he could attack more. again, trapping Verreynne with a
Thakur teased him with a wide, length ball that came in sharply.
full delivery nowhere as quick as Next over, seeing Bavuma walk
Shami. Petersen chased it, result- across his stumps, Thakur short-
ing in an edge that Agarwal ened his length and forced him to
caught at second slip. South recalibrate his pull into a glance
Africa were 101/3. that Pant caught brilliantly lung-
South Africa may have some ing to his left. That wicket should
grouse over losing the next wicket have put an end to South Africa’s
at 102 on the stroke of lunch when resistance, but Jansen and Maha-
Rassie van der Dussen was caught raj added 38 runs for the eighth
behind off Thakur after inside- wicket to take the hosts past
edging the ball on to his thigh India’s first-innings total.
pad. Pant successfully claimed his It was a baffling passage of play
catch and inconclusive TV angles where India’s fast bowling
didn’t change it. Later in the day, seemed a little off the boil. Jansen
India faced a similar situation and Maharaj used the long handle
when Aiden Markram claimed a well to hit boundaries as Bumrah
low catch of Rahul in the slip cor- fluffed his lines before knocking
don off Marco Jansen. back Maharaj’s off-stump. Jansen
Elgar and South Africa team tried to keep up the tempo by hit-
manager Khomotso Masubelele ting Bumrah for two fours in the
reportedly met the match officials next over but Thakur again came
during lunch to discuss van der to the fore, removing him and
Dussen’s dismissal, but the deci- Lungisani Ngidi in the space of
sion couldn’t have been reversed. four balls, just before the second
Most of the time that Temba new ball was due.
19
DODGY CATCHES
TO DISMISS KL
AND DUSSEN STIR
DEBATE, ADD TO
2ND TEST DRAMA
HT Correspondent
sportsdesk@hindustantimes.com
MUMBAI: With little to sepa-
rate India and South Africa on
the first two days, the second
Test is proving to be that kind
of a game where every small
advantage will count.
The inconclusive catches off
South Africa’s Rassie van der
Dussen and India’s KL Rahul
hence were big talking points
on Tuesday.
During the SA innings, wick-
et-keeper Rishabh Pant’s catch
diving forward to dismiss van
der Dussen off Shardul Thakur
at the stroke of lunch was a
massive moment in the game
as it reduced the total to 102/4.
Looking to defend, van der
Dussen got an inside edge and
the ball flicked his thigh and
sailed over his stumps for Pant
to grab the catch. Unlike the
routine for close calls, umpire
Marais Erasmus didn’t refer to
the TV umpire and raised his
finger. The batter also walked
off with everyone’s focus on the
lunch break. It was only on see-
ing the replays that a TV com-
mentator raised doubts that the
ball had not carried.
No conclusive evidence
According to reports, SA cap-
tain Dean Elgar and South
Africa team manager Khom-
otso Masubelele met the match
officials during the lunch inter-
val over the disputed catch. The
officials, however, decided that
it wasn’t conclusive enough.
The protocol on such catches
requires conclusive evidence
for an on-field decision to be
overturned. Law 2.12, on any
reversal of an umpiring deci-
sion, states: “An umpire may
alter any decision provided that
such alteration is made
promptly. This apart, an
umpire’s decision, once made,
is final.” The law does not pro-
vide clarification over the dura-
tion of time that is considered
“prompt”.
During the India innings, TV
umpire Adrian Holdstock was
called upon to make a touch
decision on whether Adrian
Markram in the slip cordon
had cleanly taken Rahul’s catch
off Marco Jansen. The soft sig-
nal was out and the catch was
ruled clean. It was a big
moment in the game as India
lost the in-form batter on the
team score of 24.

MODI’S MANIPUR PITCH
added.
Before addressing the public
meeting, PM Modi interacted
with the beneficiaries of various
central and state government
schemes, and inspected the wel-
come performance by tradi-
tional drummers and dancers.
He also tried his hand at playing
some traditional musical instru-
ments.
The PM’s Manipur visit was
boycotted by the proscribed
organisation Coordination
Committee (CorCom) -- an
umbrella organisation of insur-
gent groups -- called for a total
shutdown in the state from 1am
to 4 pm. As a result, Imphal city
wore a deserted look for most of
the day
In Agartala, the PM said the
central government heavily
invested in upgrading connec-
tivity infrastructures in the
Northeast, as compared to the
previous administrations. This
became possible due to double-
engine government, he added.
“There can be no alternative
to a double-engine government.
As pro-development govern-
ments are in power both at the
Centre and in the state, develop-
ment can be done at double the
speed,” he said. Modi said that
he received lots of love from the
state and will return it through
‘double vikas’ (development).
The PM said that Tripura will
emerge as a trade corridor and
trade hub for the Northeast with
better connectivity under the
HIRA (highways, inland water-
ways, road and aviation) model,
which was first announced
ahead of the Tripura assembly
polls in 2018. The BJP came to
power for the first time in 2018
in alliance with Indigenous Peo-
ple’s Front of Tripura (IPFT),
trouncing the Left parties.
“In order to change the situa-
tion, I had assured of HIRA to
the state. With this HIRA model,
connectivity of Tripura is
improving and expanding,”
Modi said at the Swami Viveka-
nanda Maidan in Agartala.
He also inaugurated the new
terminal building of the Bir Bik-
ram Manikya Bahadur airport
in Agartala , which was built at
a cost of ₹450 crore. The new
terminal building is expected to
handle 1,200 domestic and pro-
posed international passengers.
WEEKEND CURFEW
spike in cases on account of the
Omicron variant of the Sars-
CoV-2 virus, this has been the
trend.
Delhi’s health minister Saty-
endar Jain said on Monday that
81% of samples sequenced
showed that the infection was
caused by Omicron.
State-run buses and the Delhi
Metro will operate at 100% seat-
ing capacity to avoid crowding
at transport hubs such as bus
stops and Metro stations, said
the order of the DDMA, seen by
HT. The move will reverse a
50% cap that led to crowding at
stops. Passengers will, however,
not be allowed to stand in metro
trains or buses, and will need to
take the next service, and offi-
cers will need to monitor
crowding at stops and depots. It
stated that action will be taken
against concerned officials if
violation of social distancing or
mask wearing is found among
passengers.
The weekend curfew, in line
with the night curfew in force,
will begin at 10pm on Friday
and last till 5am on Monday.
Central government and judi-
cial officials, diplomats, journal-
ists and doctors will be allowed
to travel as long as they have a
valid identity card and people
coming from or going to air-
ports, railway stations or bus
terminals will be allowed to
proceed if they show a valid
ticket.
Those working in other
essential or exempted services,
such as grocery shops, internet
service providers, banks, deliv-
ery, petrol pumps and private
security staff will need to show
a valid curfew pass.
People who are travelling to
seek medical attention will need
prescription or medical docu-
ments, those travelling for
examinations will need to pro-
duce admit cards and people
attending weddings – allowed
with a cap of 20 people – will
have to show a wedding invita-
tion, the order added.
Sisodia cited the rapidly
increasing cases in the Capital
but said the Omicron variant
that is behind the surge was
leading to significantly milder
disease when compared to
other variants. “But since cases
are increasing swiftly, DDMA
has decided to take certain pre-
ventive measures to contain the
spread of infections in the city.”
DDMA has lieutenant gover-
nor Anil Baijal as its chairper-
son and chief minister Arvind
Kejriwal, who tested positive for
Covid-19 earlier on Tuesday, as
the vice-chairperson. Members
who attended the meeting told
HT that Kejriwal did not attend
the meeting via video confer-
ence.
The L-G office said in a state-
ment that Baijal directed the
government to ensure adequate
availability of ICU/oxygenated
beds, ventilators, essential med-
icines and sufficient supply of
oxygen. “It was also advised to
strengthen institutional quaran-
tine facilities, home isolation
strategy and to prioritise
genome sequencing of hospital-
ised patients. It was also
decided to work out on the basis
of empirical data, all possible
models of scenarios that could
emerge in the days to come for
further review of strategy,” the
L-G office said.
DDMA also has All India
Institute of Medical Sciences
(AIIMS, New Delhi) director
{ }
Randeep Guleria and Indian
Council of Medical Research
(ICMR) chief Balram Bhargava
as experts.
Following the DDMA meet-
ing, Delhi’s directorate general
of health services issued an
order directing all private hos-
pitals and nursing homes in the
city to reserve 40% of their total
bed capacity for Covid-19
patients.
The deputy CM added that
only essential activities will be
allowed over the weekends. “In
addition, all government
employees have been asked to
work from home or online. Pri-
vate offices will have to ask at
least 50% of their staff to work
from home,” Sisodia said.
Delhi government depart-
ments catering to essential ser-
vices such as Covid-19 manage-
ment will work, as usual but all
other Delhi government depart-
ments will work from home, the
order said.
Sisodia said overcrowding at
bus stops and Metro stations
was discussed at length at the
DDMA meeting.
“Since the highly mutated
Omicron variant spreads much
faster than the older variants,
we cannot allow transport hubs
to turn into super-spreaders.
The recent decision of the
DDMA to restrict passengers in
buses and the Metro to 50% of
the seating capacity is leading to
excessive crowding and, there-
fore, it is being revoked. Buses
and the Delhi Metro will now be
allowed to operate with full
capacity.”
On December 28, DDMA
sounded a yellow alert under
GRAP leading to restrictions
including night curfew between
10 pm and 5 am and shutting of
educational institutions, gyms,
and cinemas. Markets and malls
were allowed to operate on an
odd-even basis. Delhi then had a
positivity rate of 0.89%.
A day later, on December 29,
at another DDMA meeting, an
“amber alert” was issued for
testing, tracking, and treating
for checking the transmission of
the virus including its Omicron
variant.
GRAP spells out four levels of
restrictions based on the posi-
tivity rate. The first level, classi-
fied as a yellow alert, is acti-
vated after the positivity rate
remains above 0.5% for two
consecutive days. The highest
level is a red alert, which comes
into play when the positivity
rate breaches 5% and stays
there for two consecutive days.
“There shall be no restriction
on inter-state and intra-state
movement / transportation of
essential / non-essential goods.
No separate permission / e-pass
will be required for such move-
ments,” Tuesday’s DDMA order
stated.
Dr Rajeev Jayadevan, vice-
chairperson of the research cell
of Kerala’s unit of Indian Medi-
cal Association said: “The mes-
sage that governments want to
send through night curfews and
weekend curfews is that infec-
tions are rising. During the day
or during weekdays, if curbs are
imposed, economic activities
are impacted more. Such an
announcement should be taken
as a message to reduce outdoor
gatherings and ensuring maxi-
mum precaution and these
measures are effective.”
JUMP IN CASES
lower, and the figures given by
the Delhi government is artifi-
cially boosted by two factors –
the number of Omicron patients
who may not need immediate
medical attention (majority are
asymptomatic, as per govern-
ment officials), but were hospi-
talised for isolation; as well as
those whom the Delhi health
bulletin classifies as “suspect
patients”.
As per the January 3 health
bulletin released by the Delhi
government, out of the 9,029
hospital beds available in the
city for Covid-19 patients, only
420 were occupied. After the
peak of India’s second wave
(and Delhi’s fourth), the num-
ber of occupied beds in Delhi
dropped to a low of 128 for the
week ended November 28, 2021,
according to government data.
This means that there are
around 3.3 times as many hos-
pital beds occupied right now as
there were at the lowest point
since the second wave.
An important caveat while
looking at current hospitalisa-
tion numbers from Delhi is that
the bed occupancy number
includes “Covid-19 suspect
patients” as well as asympto-
matic Omicron cases.
Senior government officials
explained that currently several
Omicron patients are under
mandatory institutional isola-
tion because a policy for home
isolation for these patients
is yet to be formulated given
the high transmissibility rate
of infections caused by the
variant.
This implies that the number
of hospital beds occupied right
now may be inflated by these
policy decisions as a large pro-
portion of patients in hospitals
may be either asymptomatic or
mildly symptomatic (as a major
proportion of Omicron infec-
tions have been across coun-
tries), and, as such, may not
require hospitalisation at all.
According to the government
health bulletin, 168 patients
required oxygen support, and 14
were on ventilator – both a
small fraction of the availability
of the two medical resources.
Dr JA Jayalal, former presi-
dent of the Indian Medical Asso-
ciation, said that even though
trends in other countries show
milder symptoms in the Omi-
cron variant, people need to be
cautious and follow all Covid-
appropriate behaviour. “The
global trend is that among vac-
cinated people, the chances of
hospitalisation is less compared
to those who are unvaccinated.
So, we should not lower our
guards and the governments
should push for maximum vac-
cinations so that the load on the
health care system is less as the
cases peak,” he said.
On the cases front, the seven-
day average of new infections in
the city bottomed out after
India’s second wave at 25 daily
cases for the week ended Octo-
ber 21, 2021.
For the week ended January
3, this number – which denotes
a region’s case curve – stands at
2,077. This means that there are
currently 82.1 times as many
new infections as there were at
recent lows.
“Eventually, when cases rise
further, we will have to hospi-
talise only severe cases and
patients that are from the high-
risk groups. Because this vari-
ant is so infectious, home isola-
tion will require strict guide-
lines so that other members of
the family and neighbourhood
are not infected,” said a senior
Delhi government official who
did not wish to be identified.
The Delhi government is also
holding a meeting on Wednes-
day to assess the home isolation
policy for Omicron policy so
that asymptomatic and mild
cases can be isolated at home
instead of being placed in insti-
tutional isolation.
“It will not be possible to con-
tinue shifting all Omicron
patients to hospitals and care
centres because these infections
rising so rapidly, we will need to
reserve hospitalisation only for
severe cases or for high-risk
cases. Otherwise, the health
care system will collapse,” the
official quoted above said.
The hospitalisation trends
exhibited in Delhi appear to fall
much in line with what has
been witnessed by countries
seeing massive Omicron surges.
While the case curve (the sev-
en-day average of daily cases) is
currently soaring at record
highs in countries such as the
US, UK, France, Spain, and Italy,
the number of hospitalisations
seen in all these countries
remains a fraction (70% in the
US, 30% in UK, 60% in France,
40% in Spain, and 36% in Italy)
of their respective peaks in pre-
vious waves, data shows. This
has further meant that their
respective death numbers are
an even a smaller fraction — the
US is currently seeing deaths at
46% of peak levels in previous
wave, in UK it is 10% of peak, in
France, Spain, and Italy deaths
are 19%, 7% and 18% of their past
worst, data shows.
Furthermore, an overwhelm-
ing majority of people dying
even in these countries are
those suffering from the Delta
variant. The UK, which has seen
the highest such fatalities, has
seen 14 Omicron patients die. In
the US, only a single Omicron
patient has so far died.
Dr KK Talwar, former head of
the Medical Council of India,
said, “Even if the symptoms are
mild, we have to ensure that we
give out the message to exercise
utmost caution. Even though in
other countries we are seeing
that the symptoms are less seri-
ous, that cannot be a sure shot
consolation. The governments
need to ensure that the message
that they are sending out to the
public is one to take maximum
precaution and care.”
ACCORDING TO
THE GOVT’S
HEALTH BULLETIN,
168 PATIENTS
REQUIRED OXYGEN
SUPPORT, AND 14
WERE ON
VENTILATOR
20
B’desh eye historic win in NZ
After batters give the
underachievers in
Tests a 130-run lead,
paceman Ebadot bags
4/39 to leave the WTC
champions staring at
a home loss on Day 5
Agencies
sportsdesk@hindustantimes.com
MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Ebadot
Hossain bowled Bangladesh to
the brink of a famous victory
over World Test Champion New
Zealand in a fiery spell on Tues-
day on the fourth day of the first
Test. On a pitch on which Bang-
ladesh and New Zealand collec-
tively amassed 786 runs in their
first innings—with the tourists
taking a 130-run lead—Ebadot
reduced New Zealand to 147/5 at
stumps, a lead of only 17 runs.
After dismissing first innings
century-maker Devon Conway
for 13, Ebadot removed Will
Young (69), Henry Nicholls (0)
and Tom Blundell (0) in the
space of six balls to fortify the
strong position the Bangladesh
batters had created. “The first
thing to know about Ebadot as a
person is that he only came to
cricket about five years ago,”
Bangladesh’s West Indies-born
bowling coach Ottis Gibson
said. “He won a fast-bowling
competition somewhere and
two years later he was playing
international cricket.
“He’s a joy to work with
because he’s enthusiastic and
he wants to learn so much.
When his confidence is high he
can bowl spells like this.” New
Zealand was just hanging on at
stumps in the face of Ebadot’s
aggressive swing bowling. Vet-
eran Ross Taylor, in his penulti-
mate test match before retire-
ment, was 37 and allrounder
Rachin Ravindra was 6.
Never won in NZ
Bangladesh haven’t won any of
their previous 43 matches in
New Zealand across all three
formats and wasn’t expected to
test New Zealand in this match
in the absence of veteran play-
ers such as Shakib Al Hasan,
Tamim Iqbal and Mahmudul-
lah. But the tourists have stead-
ily got on top of New Zealand,
and Ebadot rammed home their
advantage on Tuesday, finishing
the day with figures of 4/39.
Bangladesh first dismissed
Wolves’s Joao Moutinho celebrates after scoring against Man United at Old Trafford on Monday.
United lose to Wolves at
home; Mbappe on song In Indian Super League, it’s bend it like Liston
Agencies
sportsdesk@hindustantimes.com
MANCHESTER: Man United suf-
fered their first defeat under
interim manager Ralf Rangnick,
falling to a 1-0 loss at home to
Wolves in the Premier League on
Monday. An 82nd minute strike
from Joao Moutinho earned
Wolves their first win at Old
Trafford since 1980 and moved
Bruno Lage’s side up to eighth
place. United, who could have
few complaints about the result
after a poor performance,
remain seventh place on 31
points—four behind Arsenal
who currently hold the fourth
Champions League spot. Wolves
created a series of chances in the
first half but it was not until
eight minutes from the end that
they got their reward when
Moutinho pounced on a headed
clearance from Phil Jones and
fired past David De Gea.
Mbappe hits hat-trick
VANNES: Kylian Mbappe scored
a hat-trick as PSG overcame
their Covid crisis and a drone-re-
lated interruption to ease into
the French Cup last 16 with a 4-0
win over fourth-division Vannes.
Despite the absence of five PSG
players including superstar
Lionel Messi and Danilo after
positive tests for Covid, Mauricio
Bangladesh Ebadot Hossain celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Will Young during Day 4 of the first Test at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui on Tuesday.
New Zealand for 328, claiming
the last five wickets for 70 runs
to leave them short of a par
score on a docile pith at the Bay
Oval. Bangladesh replied with
458, lifted by the contributions
of captain Mominul Haque (88),
Liton Das (86), Mahmudul
Hasan Joy (78) and Najmul Hos-
sain Shanto (64). Resuming on
Tuesday at 401-6, Bangladesh
added a further 57 through
Mehidy Hasan (47) and Yasir Ali
(26).
When the tourists finally
were all out, New Zealand had
been in the field for more than
176 overs—the better part of two
days—in hot conditions and
seemed wilted when their sec-
ond innings began. Latham
again was out cheaply when he
dragged a short ball from Tas-
kin Ahmed onto his stumps.
Ebadot had his first wicket
A
Lukaku apologises and ready
to clean up ‘mess,’ says Tuchel
Agencies
sportsdesk@hindustantimes.com
LONDON: Romelu Lukaku
has apologised for going pub-
lic with his unhappiness at
Chelsea and is promising to
clean up the “mess” he cre-
ated, manager Thomas
Tuchel said on Tuesday. The
Belgium striker said in an
interview with Italian broad-
caster Sky he was “not happy
with the situation” at Chelsea
and indicated he had issues
with Tuchel’s style of play.
Tuchel reacted by leaving
Lukaku, Chelsea’s record
signing, out of the 2-2 draw
Pochettino’s side were never
worried by the Brittany min-
nows. Defender Presnel Kim-
pembe headed in after 28 min-
utes. He then set up Mbappe for
the second just before the hour
mark with the French forward
completing a hat-trick in an
18-minute spell.
Torres, Pedri test +ve
BARCELONA: Barcelona players
Ferran Torres and Pedri tested
when Conway was caught at
slip by Shadman Islam, though
the Decision Review System was
needed to confirm the dis-
missal.
Throughout the day, Bangla-
desh had a love-hate relation-
ship with the DRS. Early on
Mehidy twice overturned lbw
decisions which had gone
against him. The Conway deci-
sion also went Bangladesh’s
way but they then became reck-
less and wasted reviews on
speculative appeals.
New Zealand had begun to
see some swing when they took
the third new ball Tuesday and
the Bangladesh seamers also
found swing on the fourth day,
including some reverse.
The New Zealand batsman
played with no real purpose
other than to survive to stumps
and Ebadot threw that policy
AP
with Liverpool in the English
Premier League on Sunday.
The player held talks with
Tuchel on Monday and will
return to training, putting
him in contention to play in
Wednesday’s first-leg game
against Tottenham in the
English League Cup semifi-
nals. “We have had enough
time to clear the air and
move on,” Tuchel said. “He is
very aware,” he added of
Lukaku, “of what happened
and what he created and he
feels the responsibility to
clean the mess up. Maybe we
will have a bit of smell still
from it, of course.”
positive for Covid-19, the latest
cases confirmed by the club after
an outbreak at the LaLiga side.
The Catalans beat Mallorca 1-0
in the league on Sunday in a
match where they were missing
14 players, eight of them due to
Covid-19: Sergino Dest, Philippe
Coutinho, Ez Abde, Jordi Alba,
Alex Balde, Ousmane Dembele,
Gavi and Dani Alves. Samuel
Umtiti and Clement Lenglet also
tested positive during the week.
into disarray when he removed
Young, Nicholls and Blundell in
quick succession. Young had
batted four hours for 69, his sec-
ond half century of the match,
when he chopped down on a
short ball from Ebadot which
came off the inside edge onto
his stumps. Nicholls lasted only
two balls before he was bowled
by a fast in-swinger and Blun-
dell fell lbw in the next over,
when his review was unsuccess-
ful.
Taylor was dropped by Shad-
man off Mehidy when he was 17
but survived to stumps as New
Zealand’s main hope of a defen-
sible lead on the final day.
Brief scores: New Zealand 328
and 147/5 (Young 69, Taylor 37*,
Ravindra 6*, Ebadot 4/39).
Bangladesh 458 (Mominul 88,
Litton 86, Boult 4/85).
Ranji Trophy, other
tourneys postponed
MUMBAI: BCCI on Tuesday
postponed Ranji Trophy, Col
CK Nayudu Trophy and
Senior Women’s T20 League
for the 2021-22 season in the
wake of the rising Covid-19
cases in the country. Ranji
Trophy and Col CK Nayudu
Trophy were scheduled to
begin this month while the
Senior Women’s T20 League
was scheduled to start in
February.
Bengaluru held by
East Bengal in ISL
BAMBOLIM: Bengaluru FC’s
hopes of securing playoffs
qualification suffered
another blow as they were
held to a 1-1 draw by a
resilient SC East Bengal in
Dhiman Sarkar
dhiman@htlive.com
KOLKATA: Last season, Liston
Colaco set a target of five goals
in the Indian Super League
(ISL). He fell three short. What
he couldn’t do in 19 games for
Hyderabad FC, the inverted left
winger has in eight for ATK
Mohun Bagan (ATKMB). In a
season and a half with his
former club, Colaco had four
goals and three assists from 23
games. This time, he has
already scored more than in
four prior seasons of ISL.
Exactly how 2021-22 has panned
out for the 23-year-old can be
gauged from him getting suc-
cessive player of the match
awards, the first Indian to do so
this season.
In a team that usually starts
with Roy Krishna and Manvir
Singh—the duo scored 20 of
ATKMB’s 28 goals last season—
it is Colaco who has the maxi-
mum goals. Both he and Hugo
Boumous have five, the second-
highest in the league, but going
into Wednesday’s game against
Hyderabad FC, Colaco has
played 59 minutes less (547-
606).
He is averaging a goal every
82 minutes, according to statis-
tics provided by ISL. The corre-
sponding number for Hydera-
Sport
NUMBERED
176.2
overs Bangladesh batted in their first innings, their
second longest effort (in terms of overs), behind
their 196-over stay against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2013.
2nd
2009
was the last
time a
visiting team
batted more than 176.2 overs previous effort (152 overs) was also
against the Kiwis at their against New Zealand in 2017.
home. Pakistan batted for
130
193.2 overs in Napier for
their 455 runs in the second
innings. Test in five years.
890
deliveries that Kiwi pacers bowled to dismiss Bangla-
desh is the most by a team's fast bowlers to take 10
wickets in an innings since 2000. It is also the maximum
balls bowled by a team's quicks in a Test innings since 2007.
1st
time ever that
each of Bangladesh's
top-eight batters faced
at least 50 balls in a single innings. drawing level with Australia.
A
l be approved.
the Indian Super League
here on Tuesday. The result
also extended SCEB’s
winless run to nine games.
Semboi Haokip (28th)
opened the scoring with a
diving header until Sourav
Das (OG 55th) handed the
equaliser to the opposition.
Noah 29th, Hero rider
wins Stage 3 in Dakar
RIYADH: Lone Indian rider
in fray Harith Noah of
Sherco TVS Rally Factory
team finished a creditable
29th in Stage 3 of the 44th
Dakar Rally which saw
Joaquim Rodrigues of Hero
MotoSports Team win his
maiden stage of the
gruelling off-road race. The
steady ride helped Noah
improve his overall ranking
to 31st in RallyGP class, the
ATK Mohun Bagan’s Liston Colaco has scored five goals and one
assist in eight matches so far in this edition of ISL.
bad FC is 1.08 for Bartholomew
Ogbeche, who along with Mum-
bai City FC’s Igor Angulo has the
maximum goals so far—eight.
‘Colaco golazo’ is now part of
the ISL commentary team’s lexi-
con.
The one he scored against FC
Goa, a club he left seeking game
time two January transfer win-
dows ago, came following a
hopeful stab upfield from
ATKMB left back Subhasish
Bose. In a pocket of space, Col-
AFP
time that Bangladesh
have batted 150-plus
overs outside Asia. Their
runs lead by Bangladesh
is the most New Zealand
have conceded in a home
458
is Bangladesh's fourth
400-plus total in New
Zealand since 2010,
STATS: ESPNCRICINFO
premier category in Moto
section, with an overall
timing of 12:29.46s.
Sania-Kichenok
advance in Adelaide
ADELAIDE: On an all-win day
for Indian tennis, Sania
Mirza and the pair of
Ramkumar Ramanathan
and Rohan Bopanna
emerged victorious in their
respective first round
matches in the ATP and
WTA tournaments here on
Tuesday. Sania and
Ukrainian partner Nadiia
Kichenok knocked out
second seeds Gabriella
Dabrowski and Giuliana
Olmos 1-6, 6-3, 10-8 while
Ramkumar and Bopanna
trounced American Jamie
Cerretani and Brazilian
Fernando Romboli 6-2, 6-1.
ISL
aco steered left to get to the ball,
galloped forward and sharply
cut in to wrong-foot Seriton Fer-
nandes. But he was still 25 yards
away from goal so the alarm
bells weren’t really ringing at FC
Goa.
So, Colaco opened his shoul-
ders and let fly, the ball arcing
into the night sky, swerving
towards goal and dipping in at
Dheeraj Singh’s far post, leaving
the goalkeeper gobsmacked,
central defender Ivan Gonzalez
Aus Open makes
‘exemption’ for
top draw Novak
HT Correspondent
sportsdesk@hindustantimes.com
MUMBAI: Novak Djokovic will
play the 2022 Australian Open
after all. After months of specu-
lation around his vaccination
status—he is a well-known
“anti-vaxxer”—which in turn
put in doubt his participation
for this season’s opening Grand
Slam in Melbourne, the world
No 1 confirmed in a social media
post on Tuesday that he is head-
ing Down Under with an
“exemption permission”.
With less than two weeks to
go for the start of the Australian
Open on January 17, where
being fully vaccinated is manda-
tory, the clock was ticking for
the Serb. The odds on him land-
ing in Australia to vie for a
record 21st Grand Slam title
appeared to diminish further
after he pulled out of Serbia’s
squad for the ongoing ATP Cup
in Sydney.
However, Tennis Australia
said in a statement that Djok-
ovic had applied for a medical
exemption, which was granted.
The need for an exemption
arose due to Djokovic’s vaccina-
tion status, which he has chosen
to keep private. In the early days
of the pandemic, the Serb had
caused quite a stir regarding his
views on vaccines, and last year
cited “freedom of choice” to jus-
tify his vaccine hesitancy
against “forcing me to put
something in my body”.
Djokovic’s stand complicated
matters for him after the state of
Victoria required tennis players
arriving in Melbourne for the
Grand Slam to be fully vacci-
nated, making the Australian
Open the first major sporting
event to carry a vaccine man-
date.
The only way around it was a
medical exemption, granted by
two separate independent pan-
els of medical experts. Accord-
ing to the Tennis Australia
statement, the first panel com-
prised doctors from the fields of
immunology, infectious disease
and general practice while the
second was an Independent
Medical Exemption Review
Panel appointed by the Victoria
government.
Only applications that met
the guidelines set by the Austra-
lian Technical Advisory Group
on Immunisation (ATAGI) could
“The process included the
redaction of personal informa-
tion to ensure privacy for all
applicants,” the statement
added. The entire procedure—
{ JAMIE MURRAY } TENNIS PLAYER
P
I think if it was me that
wasn’t vaccinated I
wouldn’t be getting an
exemption. But well
done to him for getting
clear to come to
Australia and
compete.
standing with hands on hips
and ATKMB coach Juan Fer-
rando holding his head in
hands.
“I hit the ball while aiming
for the goal, I did not think it
would take such a turn,” Colaco
said, speaking to ATKMB. “I
used all my strength to hit the
ball. I practice such long shots
regularly. Maybe I got its bene-
fits.”
Listing it as the best he has
scored so far, he said: “I really
wanted to score in this match.
My parents regularly watch
games at my house in Goa. They
also wanted me to score a goal
in this match. The passion to
score against the old team is dif-
ferent. I am even more satisfied
as we have won against Goa.”
Colaco, who was the first
player FC Goa paid a transfer
fee for when they signed him
from Salgaocar in 2017, dedi-
cated the goal to his mother
Nazrana, a former kabaddi
player.
He had cancelled out VP
Suhair’s early strike against
NorthEast United in the previ-
ous round. Having been the first
ISL coach who triggered a
release clause, Ferrando’s big
money shift from FC Goa
couldn’t have got off to a worse
start with ATKMB trailing after
two minutes. Colaco had a free-
NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
Novak Djokovic. AFP
right from the application to
approval stage—therefore
would remain confidential.
“The reason for granting that
exemption remains private,
between the panel and the
applicant,” Craig Tiley, the CEO
of Tennis Australia who is also
the Australian Open tourna-
ment director, said over the
weekend.
Tiley had last month revealed
that medical exemptions will be
granted only to a “very small
percentage” of players, adding
that it was Djokovic’s choice to
keep his vaccination status and
medical details private.
A few players have been
impacted by the compulsory
vaccination rule, like 2019 men’s
doubles champion Pierre-Hu-
gues Herbert, who pulled out
because he is unvaccinated, and
former singles world No 54
Natalia Vikhlyantseva whose
Sputnik V jab is not recognised
by the Australian government.
India’s Aman Dahiya, ranked
78th in the world in juniors, had
made the cut for the qualifying
event for the Australian Open
junior championships but will
not be able to fly after the
17-year-old’s request for exemp-
tion was shot down.
His coaches at the Altevol
Academy in Ahmedabad had
written a couple of emails to
Tennis Australia last month,
explaining that India had not
yet begun vaccination for teens
and last week wrote another
email requesting entry with one
dose after the government
allowed it from January 3. It
was declined.
“All this while we thought if
Djokovic isn’t getting an exemp-
tion, perhaps nobody else will.
But it does pinch a little more
now,” Dhruv Sachdev, who was
to travel with Dahiya as coach
to Australia, said.
kick that didn’t dip and a left-
footer that was saved by the
goalie before he raced in to head
home Krishna’s assist.
“Roy Krishna and Hugo Bou-
mous are giving a lot of good
passes,” he said after the 3-2
win. While that is true, Colaco
has also been clinical. ATKMB
have had 31% of their attacks
from the left as opposed to 34%
from the right but Colaco’s
share in the team’s 12 outfield
goals shows how he is owning
the area.
It started from the first game
against Kerala Blasters when
Colaco stood and curled one in.
He scored in the next game too,
against SC East Bengal, making
the most of a clanger from goal-
keeper Arindam Bhattacharja.
And he was at it against Chen-
naiyin FC, putting his team
ahead with another right-footer
after steaming in from the left.
The reportedly ₹1 crore transfer
deal from Hyderabad FC was
already paying dividends.
On a two-year deal with
ATKMB, Colaco has already
caught India head coach Igor
Stimac’s eye. His defensive skills
need a lot of work as Mumbai
City FC have showed but a mid-
fielder who can shoot with
either foot and score off headers
will always be a handy option
for club and country.
Wednesday, January 05, 2022
(From left) Delnaaz Irani, Ekta Kapoor,
John Abraham and wife Priya Runchal
have all tested Covid-19 positive
A rise in coronavirus cases in B-Town pulls the plug on
film releases and shoots, leaving the industry in stress
VID-19C
GRIPS
BOLLYWOOD,
WHAT’S AT
STAKE?
The shoot of Gehraiyaan (above) has been stalled
and release of RRR (right) has been pushed
Rishabh Suri
rishabh.suri@htlive.com
I
t’s back — the uncertainty,
coupled with financial
losses amid what is being
touted as the third wave
of Covid-19. Celebs such as
John Abraham, Ekta Kapoor,
Delnaaz Irani, Drashti Dhami,
Sumona Chakravarti and Prem
Chopra have tested positive and
film releases have been pushed,
including that of RRR and Jersey.
As expected, people from the
film industry are worried about
the movies that are currently
in various stages of production.
According to reports, a few crew
members tested positive on the
set of actor Deepika Padukone’s
Gehraiyaan, and as per rule, the
shoot had to be stalled.
Trade expert Atul Mohan says
everyone will be on the back
foot now. “This will instil fear in
actors to not go out and shoot
for at least 10-15 days. There has
been a sudden rise in cases and
the economic repercussions will
Arjun Mathur believes
his Hollywood
trajectory
is already
laid out
Titas Chowdhury
titas.chowdhury@hindustantimes.com
I
n 2020, actor Arjun Mathur
bagged an International
Emmy Awards nomination
for his performance in the
web series, Made In Heaven.
Having worked in a British
series Indian Summers in
2016, he tells us that he is
ready to work in the West.
“My aim has always been
to tell stories to a global
audience, and whatever takes
me there, I’m okay with it. I
have an inclination towards
Hollywood. I have a manager
in Los Angeles and I had an
agent in London, too,” he says,
quipping, “I want to be in a
Marvel movie!”
Talking about being on the
right path, Mathur remarks, “I
think the trajectory is already
laid out. So, if I carry on with
the path I’m on, it will take me
wherever I’ve to get.”
Over the years, the 40-year-
old actor has been seen in
many independent films,
including I Am (2010), Fireflies
(2012) and Coffee Bloom (2014).
Though there was a time
when makers struggled to
RAVI SARIN,
LINE PRODUCER
We can’t shoot anything
with just 20 people on set,
so everything has been
cancelled.
be there. Jersey got affected, and
now, the entire year’s calendar
will get disturbed. More states
are going to shut down theatres,”
he reasons. We have learnt that
the trailer launch of Gehraiyaan,
which was supposed to take
place in Alibaug, Maharashtra,
has been cancelled, too. Also, a
concert that was planned in
Mumbai for Prabhas’ Radhe
Shyam has been called off.
Producer Anand Pandit, who
has a film, Thank God, coming
up, says looking at the soaring
number of cases in Bollywood,
things seen to have gone out
of control: “Fortunately, my
production is complete. The
film’s last day of shoot was two
days ago and the rest of the work
starts in March, so we will wait
and watch. But, production is
increase the reach of their
indie projects, he believes that
OTT platforms have changed
the situation, marginally.
“I’ve watched that struggle.
I’ve seen how the makers had
to compete with big films and
struggle to get show timings,
which would be taken off
within a week. For a while,
the digital influx did make the
struggle disappear, but there’s
an all-new struggle emerging
there too,” Mathur shares.
PHOTOS: VIRAL BHAYANI, SHUTTERSTOCK AND INSTARAM
JOGINDER TUTEJA,
TRADE ANALYST
There’s no uncertainty like the
first wave. [I am sure] this
wave will subside soon and we
will be able to bounce back.
going to be severely impacted for
everyone else.”
The atmosphere on the sets
has also become fearful. Ravi
Sarin, line producer for several
films and web projects in Delhi,
says the crew members have
been sent home and all work
has stopped. “We can’t shoot
anything with just 20 people on
set, so everything has been
cancelled,” he says.
Trade analyst Joginder Tuteja
says that things will need to be
watched for at least a couple of
months. “It’s not just the film
industry; even the common man
is prepared for such ups and
downs now. There’s no
uncertainty like the first wave. [I
am sure] this wave will subside
soon and we will be able to
bounce back,” he ends.
P about the paternity test
My aim has
always been
to tell stories
to a global
audience.
ARJUN MATHUR,
Actor
n6 PAGES. f @HTCITY t @HTCITY i @HTCITY y /USER/HT. ENTERTAINMENT & PROMOTIONAL FEATURES
PHOTO: AFP
City Delhi
Rishabh Suri
e may have played over-the-top
H characters in films, but off the
screen, actor Dhanush is calm and
he likes to speak less. Talking about
his approach towards acting, he tells us, “I
am a very competitive person. Even if I am
playing video games with my children, I
compete with them without mercy. But, you
should know where to compete and what to
compete for.”
The 38-year-old’s third Hindi outing,
Atrangi Re, released recently. After
Shamitabh (2015), in which he was seen
alongside actor Amitabh Bachchan, he
shared screen space with actors Akshay
Kumar and Sara Ali Khan in the new film.
I am a ve r y Dhanush says he has no apprehensions
about sharing the screen, “I’ve always been
comfortable. Sara is hardworking and
dedicated. She gave her everything for the
character, Rinku. It was nice to see a
e
youngster, who has done just three films,
comp et it iv put everything on the line and understand
the value of the jackpot character she
had landed.”
Meanwhile, his film choices have been
great over the years. In fact, he’s won two
National Film Awards as an actor. But he
n :
surprises us when he says he didn’t even
p ers o read the script of Atrangi Re before signing
it: “It’s Aanand L Rai (filmmaker), that’s it! I
don’t need any more details. I have
immense faith in him and Himanshu
Sharma (writer), and if they insist they need
D h an u s h me for a story, I’ll know it is something
special. Himanshu had mentioned about
the plot when we were doing (Raanjhanaa;
2013) eight years ago.”
These regional stars will
explore Bollywood in 2022
As the lines between regional and
{ TOP }
5 pan-India entertainment continue to The Year
blur, we look at top five stars, who’re
expected to cross regional boundaries
Ahead
with big budget Hindi projects in 2022
NAGARJUNA
AKKINENI
South superstar
Nagarjuna
Akkineni’s son, Naga
PRABHAS Chaitanya will start
The Bahubali star will be seen a new chapter in his
on the big screen after three career with his first
years (his last outing was Bollywood project,
Saaho in 2019). From a romantic Laal Singh Chaddha.
musical, Radhe Shyam, and He will reportedly
an action-packed, Salaar, to be seen essaying
the mythological project, the role of an army
Adipurush, the actor is sure to officer in the film.
not just strengthen his position
in Bollywood, but also widen
his global reach.
NOTE TO
READERS: Some
of the coverage VIJAY DEVERAKONDA JR NTR
that appears on Telugu superstar Vijay South star Jr NTR will push
our pages is
Deverakonda, best known across his star power further with
paid for by the the country for Arjun Reddy (2017), filmmaker SS Rajamouli’s RRR. The
concerned
brands. No
is set to mark his Bollywood debut film was supposed to release on
sponsored with Liger. The movie also stars January 7, but got delayed because RASHMIKA MANDANNA
content does or
shall appear in
any part of HT
without it being
former American boxer Mike Tyson
and actor Ananya Panday. The
film will release in multiple
languages, including Hindi, Tamil,
of the rising number of Covid-19
cases across the country.
After ending 2021 with a successful
Pushpa: The Rise, Mandanna is all set to
foray into Bollywood with Goodbye and
Mission Majnu, which will cement her
declared as such
to our valued
readers.
Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada. Text: Sugandha Rawal pan-India position further.
d t h a t n o t m any
Feel sa
STOP PRESS
hamb
PHOTO:
INSTAGRAM/
h a t M a l l a k
know w
REALTRISTAN13
H i m a n i P a r ab would cry when I didn’t
receive a medal,” elaborates
is: Parab, who started learning
Mallakhamb at the age of
Vinay MR Mishra five in Mumbai’s Dadar area.
vinay.mishra@htdigital.in
At the awards ceremony,
Parab also bumped into
thlete Himani Parab javelin thrower and Indian
NBA star
A became the first Indian
to be awarded the
prestigious Arjuna Award
athlete Neeraj Chopra, who
won a gold medal at the 2020
Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
for Mallakhamb in 2021. “I was in awe of him when I
Tristan Thompson “This award is not only for met him,” says Parab,
me, but also for those people adding, “He is cute and
opened up on Instagram who have spent their lives humble. Our interaction was
playing or promoting the
sport of Mallakhamb. Being
about our respective sports.”
Parab says she has learnt
confirming he fathered model the first Arjuna Awardee a lot from Mallakhamb. “It
Maralee Nichols’ child. “You don’t from the sport, I hope this
is a stepping stone for the
taught me so many things
and one of them is to get up
deserve this,” wrote Thompson P sport,” says Parab. every time I fall and get
Looking back at her going. I use this philosophy
for his ex, TV personality Khloe Mallakhamb has journey, the 20-year-old to lead my life. I feel sad that
Kardashian with whom he taught me to get up
remembers herself as a girl
who “never gave up and kept
not many people know what
the sport is. They usually
shares a three-year-old every time I fall. trying”. “I remember myself refer to it as gymnastics. I
as a kid who just played hope the sport gets its due,
baby. HIMANI PARAB, Athlete around on the rope for fun. I all that it deserves,” she says.
02
NAKUUL : TH E SE ARE
ANX IOU S T IM E S
FOR H UM A N IT Y
Jankee Parekh reveals 11-month-
old son’s hard fight with Covid
inger Jankee Parekh, who
S is married to actor Nakuul
Mehta, used Instagram to
express her feelings while
recalling the ‘very hard days’
when their son Sufi was
hospitalised after testing
positive for Covid-19.
In the emotional note, she
revealed that their 11-month-
old son Sufi was admitted to
the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
of a hospital after he tested
positive. Her post comes two
weeks after her husband
contracted the virus.
“Sufi started developing a
fever a day after I tested
positive & it refused to come
down in spite of water sponges
and medication. We rushed
him to the hospital in the
middle of the night when his
fever crossed 104.2 & what
followed were very hard days
in the Covid ICU with my baby
boy. My fighter went through
it all,” she wrote, adding,
“Sometimes, I wonder how did
this tiny human get so much
‘There were
days when I felt
like giving up’
Vinay MR Mishra
vinay.mishra@htdigital.in
ctor Mahima Makwana may be
A new to the film industry, but
she is aware of the dos and
don’ts in showbiz. “People like
candid and unconventional. They
want unfiltered conversations,” she
says.
Makwana got a dream big screen
debut in the Salman Khan-led Antim:
The Final Truth. However, the actor
says, “The real struggle begins now.”
She explains, “It is more
difficult to be consistent. I
don’t want to let people
down. I’m scared to fade
away. So there’s
pressure. But I’m
going with the flow.”
That doesn’t mean
bagging her debut
film was an easy ride.
“If I have bagged one
film today, people
don’t know the 100
films that I’ve been
rejected for,” says the
actor, who has starred in
many TV shows.
The 22-year-old may
sound like she has figured
out, however, she
confesses she is “far
from” it. “There were
days when I felt like
giving up. But I battled
those feelings. I never
got tired of acting, but
when you work on TV,
the process can take a
toll on you,” she ends.
Nakuul Mehta
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/
NAKUULMEHTA
strength to face all of it? His
fever finally broke after 3
days”.
Posting a series of Sufi’s
pictures along with herself,
she shared, “Thank you my
superhero for inspiring us by
your resilience & that goofy
smile which makes every
storm seem so trivial in
comparison”.
The singer also urged
people not to take Omicron
lightly, for the sake of
children. “Omicron is
supposedly milder on adults,
but to all of you with babies
please do not put your guard
down. Not now. Our babies
cannot wear masks or get
vaccinated so we need to be
all the more cautious as we
are coming back home to
them. The idea of sharing
this fight has been to make
sure I can extend this
awareness, even if it’s to
just 1 more parent,” she
said.
HTC
Mahima
Makwana
time out NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
Amar hopes this Covid-19
phase will not affect
television shoots
Nakuul Mehta opens up about Juhi Chakraborty year, reveals that people are being
extra cautious.
his battle with Covid-19, and juhi.chakraborty@htlive.com
“It is a part of life now, and even
s the Omicron cases in India on set. We have to live with Covid-
how he is coping up with these
uncertain times
A continue to rise in states
including Maharashtra,
actor Amar Upadhyay feels that
19. We will still take a few more
years to come to a stage of
normalcy. I am hoping that
there is a threat looming on the TV this phase will not be as
Kavita Awaasthi not so shocking. In the last industry shoots, including his own deadly as the second
kavita.awaasthi@htlive.com
two months I’ve been ongoing daily soap. Concerned wave, and we will come
shooting for two shows in about how the current situation out of it sooner,” says
A
ctor Nakuul Mumbai and London. Some will impact the industry, the actor the Kyunkii Saas Bhi
Mehta, who things didn’t go in my favour. notes that the number of Covid-19 Kabhi bahu Thi actor.
had tested Life is such and you have to cases is rising with each passing Recently, a slew of
positive for take it in your stride,” the day. celebrities have
Covid-19 last actor says, adding that the two “It is a worry for sure. It still has tested positive for
month, admits he knew weeks of quarantine were not reached a place where we have Covid-19. And the
working would be a risk “insightful”. to stop all shoots and shut down 45-year-old asserts
in these uncertain Jankee and their son, Sufi, work. There is still no directive that everyone must
times. “I began also tested positive, and that about lockdown, and that is a good continue to keep
shooting for my TV made it doubly challenging sign as of now. Also, I feel that one their guards up and
show, and somewhere for Mehta. He shares, “Jankee good thing is that the majority of take all precautions.
Jankee (Parekh, wife) and I could deal with our own the population is now vaccinated. “I have read that the
and I knew it is a risk,” health, but Sufi had a rough So I am hoping the death rate will Omicron variant is not
says Mehta. week with high fever. He had not be so high,” shares Upadhyay. that lethal. Even booster
Since then, he has to be admitted to a hospital for Even on sets, the actor, who will shots will be given to
tested negative and a week. Thankfully, we are all be seen in Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 this people now. I am hoping
resumed work as fine. These are anxious times that things will be under
well. “I’ve been for humanity at large.” control and people will
extremely careful for
the past one year and
Mehta advises caution but
also feels that life has to go on.
P recover faster. But I also
hope that everyone who has
eight months, being “Work gives meaning to our It is a part of life now, the mildest symptoms should
a mask police on sets lives. For most of the last two immediately isolate and stay at
and avoiding years, we were operating from even on set. We have to home. We need to be more vigilant.
unnecessary social
interaction... But
home, but there came a point
where you had to step out.
live with Covid-19. Just quarantine and take
medicines and do not let it spread,”
somewhere, it One finds their own strength,” AMAR UPADHYAY, Actor the actor concludes.
(being infected) was he says.
{ DAILY HOROSCOPE }
Wednesday, January 05, 2022
Dr Prem Kumar Sharma (Astrologer and Vaastu expert) can be contacted at: Delhi: 011-47033152, 40532026 (Sat
to Mon); Panchkula: 91-172-2562832, 2572874 (Tues to Thurs); Mumbai: 09716145644 (Last week of every month)
PREMASTROLOGER PREMASTROLOGER ASKPREMASTROLOGER
ARIES LEO SAGITTARIUS
MAR 21-APR 20 JUL 23-AUG 23 NOV 23-DEC 21
A L s
On the professional front, Today, the day promises to Spend wisely to save
your workplace is likely to bring you happiness. more. At work, you may
Jankee be charged up with a Seniors may give you need to put in extra hours
Parekh with positive vibe. Matters additional responsibilities to complete your targets.
son Sufi PHOTO: related to an ancestral property are to shoulder. Sticking to a healthy New possibilities are likely to come
INSTAGRAM/ likely to work in your favour. routine is likely to strengthen your your way.
JANK_EE LOVE FOCUS: Circumstances may force core and keep you cheerful. LOVE FOCUS: You are likely to start an
you into a short separation with your LOVE FOCUS: Some surprises are exciting romance with someone you
beloved. awaiting in your love life today. know.
LUCKY NUMBER: 17 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 9 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 2 LUCKY COLOUR:
Navy Blue Magenta Peach
TAURUS VIRGO CAPRICORN
APR 21-MAY 20 AUG 24-SEP 23 DEC 22-JAN 21
T I c
Try to create a peaceful Those involved in a family A new business venture is
atmosphere to restore business or trade may likely to take off. Students
normalcy at home. make profits. You may get are likely to make their
Travelling with old friends to reconnect with old loved ones proud with
may give you a chance to reconnect friends and have a fun time together their academic achievements. Travel
Wedding bells for with them. Students are likely to
perform well in their academic field.
in their company.
LOVE FOCUS: Work towards
may prove to be therapeutic and is
likely to freshen you up.
Farhan Akhtar and LOVE FOCUS: Digging up your
partner’s past may upset them.
strengthening your relationship for it
to last longer.
LOVE FOCUS: Do not take your
relationship for granted and give
Shibani Dandekar
LUCKY NUMBER: 9 LUCKY COLOUR:
Magenta
LUCKY NUMBER: 15 LUCKY COLOUR:
Cherry
time to your beloved.
LUCKY NUMBER: 3 LUCKY COLOUR: Rose
in March? GEMINI
MAY 21-JUN 21
LIBRA
SEP 24-OCT 23
AQUARIUS
JAN 22-FEB 19
G l a
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ You are likely to earn extra Do not live in the past and Inflow of projects may
SHIBANIDANDEKAR_ income from a property. learn to let go of things. increase, keeping you on
Some of you may be You may shine if given your toes. Matters related
unable to rise to tough responsibilities to to property may need legal
challenges posed at workplace and handle. Your dedication to your loved intervention. Keep travel plans for
may lag behind your competitors.
LOVE FOCUS: Mutual understanding is
likely to bring you both closer.
ones may be appreciated.
LOVE FOCUS: Singles are likely to find
a perfect match for themselves.
another time.
LOVE FOCUS: You are likely to start a
new relationship.
LUCKY NUMBER: 15 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 6 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 18 LUCKY COLOUR:
Mustard Maroon Magenta
CANCER SCORPIO PISCES
JUN 22-JUL 22 OCT 24-NOV 22 FEB 20-MAR 20
C S P
You may have to look for Your financial front seems You may need to be
an additional source of quite promising today. On watchful of your expenses
income as getting in a the professional front, as they might disturb your
ctor-filmmaker Farhan almost finalised everything”. crisis-like situation is on your workplace may be budget. Stay away from
A Akhtar and singer-host
Shibani Dandekar, who
have been dating for a while
“Shibani and Farhan, too,
have chosen designer
Sabyasachi outfits (like
the cards for some. Pending decisions
regarding an ancestral property are
likely to bring good news.
filled with competition. A long due
travel plan with friends may still not
materialize any time sooner.
your rebellious nature to save your
relationships.
LOVE FOCUS: Romantic thoughts can
now, are reportedly planning newlyweds Katrina Kaif and LOVE FOCUS: Be mindful of your LOVE FOCUS: You may get to enjoy make you crave for someone you love
to take their relationship to the Vicky Kaushal) for their big actions to avoid strain in love life. your partner’s undivided attention. and they won’t disappoint you!
next level and get hitched. day and will keep it minimal LUCKY NUMBER: 15 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 3 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 15 LUCKY COLOUR:
According to BollywoodLife, with pastel colours,” the Crimson Saffron Ruby
they were planning a lavish insider further shared.
wedding in Mumbai, in March They have been in a
this year. Now, they have relationship for almost three
ditched the grand plan for an years, with Dandekar even { CALVIN AND HOBBES I BILL WATTERSON }
intimate ceremony, expressing her love by getting
considering the spike in Covid- Akhtar’s name tattooed on her
19 cases in India. neck. They often post lovey-
It is being reported that the dovey photos and videos on
couple has decided to get social media too.
married among friends and “There’s nothing kind of pre-
family. “Farhan and Shibani planned in the way that I
are living together, and they function with my relationship
don’t want to delay their or my personal life. I just share
wedding amid the pandemic. things with people when I feel
So, they thought to keep it an like sharing. This really works
intimate affair,” said the for me,” she has said in an
source, adding, “The couple interview to us in the past,
have booked a 5-star hotel as while talking about her
their wedding venue and have relationship.
NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
Style on the go
hutterbugs never miss a
S chance to capture celebs
on the go. From heading
home from their vacays
to keeping up with their
fitness regime, a slew of actors
were photographed in and
around Mumbai. While actors
Ananya Panday and Ishaan
Khatter spark dating
rumours as they returned
together from their NYE
Shraddha Kapoor will star
next in Luv Ranjan’s film
Direct ordering or aggregators? Here’s
how diners want to support eateries
While some feel
ordering from
eateries directly
is better to
support them,
others find third
party apps’
service valuable
Aprajita Sharad
aprajita.sharad@hindustantimes.com
mid the threat of
A Omicron variant, the
new restrictions in
Delhi-NCR, while
allowing restaurants to
remain open, have asked
them to operate at 50%
capacity yet again. Add to it,
early shutdowns and night
curfew and the food
businesses are looking at
losses after a glimmer of
hope.
Many Delhi-NCR residents
want to support their fave
eateries by ordering directly
from them, instead of via
food aggregators. Mayank
Aggarwal, a city-based
student, says, “I feel ordering
directly can help our
favourite restaurants get
better margins in these bleak
times.”
Diners are encouraging
each other by putting out
stories about the benefit of
direct ordering. Some also
believe that it will get them
their food faster. “By
ordering directly from
restaurants, you not only
help save their business, you
also get hot, fresh food. It is
unlikely that delivery boys of
Delhi-NCR speaks
P P
I starting ordering
directly from
restaurants and food
start-ups when I
found out how hard it
is for them to pay
hefty commissions on
these food aggregator
apps. In these tough
times, we ought to
help, support them.
MAYANK AGGARWAL, Student
holiday in Ranthambore,
Rajasthan, actor Kajal
Aggarwal and husband
Gautam Kitchlu looked
lovely in colour-coordinated
outfits. Meanwhile, actor
Kartik Aaryan enjoyed a
game of football. Also spotted
in the city were actors
Shraddha Kapoor and
Nikki Tamboli in comfy
outfits. HTC
Kartik Aaryan has been busy
shooting for Shehzaada, the
Telugu remake of Ala
Vaikunthapurramuloo
food aggregators, who have
to cater to several clients on a
single trip, will be able to do
the same,” says Neelakshi
Mehta, a banker from
Gurugram.
When diners choose to
order directly, it benefits
both parties, asserts Kush
Khemani, restaurateur, Al
forno! Straight Outta Italy,
Delhi and Gurugram.
Appreciating the support
from diners, he says, “When
people order food from third
party aggregators, it comes
at a hefty price for the
restaurant (in the form of
commisions). But for orders
placed directly on call or our
website, we give flat 20% off.”
Cloud kitchens are also
offering discounts to
encourage diners to order
Food aggregators
also give jobs to
many delivery boys
who come from
outside the city. And
it’s very convenient to
order from the apps
as they deliver till late
night, which eateries
can’t always offer.
DIVYANSHU TRIPATHI,
professional
lifestyle 03
#instastyle Katrina
Kaif
Tiger Shroff
PHOTOS:
INSTAGRAM
Celebs are aiming for positivity at the beginning of the new year. While
actor-sister duo Karisma Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan posted a picture
from “their healthy Monday” relishing strawberry and cream, actor Katrina
Ananya Panday and Ishaan Khatter spent Kaif shared a cosy snap from her new home. Meanwhile, actor Shilpa Shetty
New Year’s Eve in Ranthambore together Kundra wished “the bestest father-in-law in the world”, Bal Krishan Kundra
a very happy birthday as he turned 75. Actor Tiger Shroff brightened up our
Karisma Kapoor and mornings as he shared a selfie from his vacay.
Kareena Kapoor
Khan
Nikki
Tamboli
amps up the
style quotient
in a co-ord set Kajal Aggarwal’s husband Gautam Kitchlu
PHOTOS: YOGEN announced her pregnancy on social media on
SHAH New Year’s Day Shilpa Shetty Kundra and Bal Krishan Kundra
Continued from Hubhopper’s advert on the last page
hubhopper
Restaurateurs share their woes FACT OR FICTION?
1. Ayurveda claims that drinking cold water is
P P helpful for digestion.
We pay a 20-30% For our food start-up, 2. Homeopathy was developed in Germany.
commission to these we save about 10-15% 3. Bach Flower remedy was developed by a
aggregators along more with direct bacteriologist.
with the marketing orders as compared 4. All herbal medicines have chemicals.
fees which takes out to a 25% commission 5. Acupuncture needles are placed on all main
the major chunk of that food aggregators
our profits. charge us.
chakras.
KUSH KHEMANI, Restaurateur SURBHI CHUGH, Restaurateur For answers, scan the QR code or
@hubhopperofficial
PHOTOS:
directly. “We offer up to 30% SHUTTERSTOCK
discount on direct orders,” (FOR
REPRESENTATIONAL
says Akshay Kaul, the owner PURPOSE ONLY)
of a cloud kitchen, Kin Thai,
in Gurugram.
However, the convenience
of food aggregator apps can’t
be overlooked. Many still
prefer third party apps and
appreciate the jobs they
create and the convenience
of use. “Aggregators don’t
turn down orders because of
scarcity of riders. So the
convenience makes it the
right choice for busy
professionals,” says Nisha
Kukreja, a professional from
Gurugram. And Divyanshu
Tripathi, IT professional
from Delhi, adds, “Food
aggregators give jobs to
many who come from
outside the city. Plus they’re
convenient to use.”
IT
04
NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022

WHEN TRAVEL NEW DELHI

JANUARY 05, 2022

WHETS YOUR TRAVEL

APPETITE en their senses,
on Wednesday
Scan here
Chefs and food aficionados share how culinary travels have helped them awak
to visit
HTTravel
shape their palates and given them enriching memories for a lifetime
Swati Chaturvedi
swati.chaturvedi@hindustantimes.com ANOOTHI VISHAL, . ◄ Sardines
Freshly
FOOD AUTHOR

T
oday, we live in a world where at the click baked
I have made many friends
of a button, one can enjoy a multitude of baklava
across Italy during my
cuisines in the comfort of their homes.
travels, who have shown
However, many still believe that in order to
me their unique way of
truly acquaint oneself with real authentic
life. I have experienced
cuisines, it is a must to travel to the very source of
Italy’s incredible regional
such fare. In recent times, people are trying to travel
food and wine. Once on a
mindfully and learn about the culture and cuisines
trip to Florence, I was
of the places they visit. Here, we bring to you the
introduced to the Santo
most memorable travel experiences of five such
Spirito piazza, which serves the
food connoisseurs.
best pizzas and negroni cocktails;
patrons are often regaled with SARAH HUSSAIN, FOOD
live music in the evenings. BLOGGER
SADAF HUSSAIN, Thereafter, on each visit to During my trip to Istanbul, I was
CHEF Florence, I always make it a point lucky enough to explore the cuisine,
One of my food expedition to go to this piazza to soak in the get to know locals and gain a
took me to a village near spirit of the city. On another unique perspective. Istanbul’s rich
Bhopal. The locals were occasion, my friends and I drove history has made it one of the most
very sweet and taught me from Verona, famous for the multicultural cities in the world. I
all there was to ‘baati’. An Valpolicella wines, to Piedmont, learnt how the country loves to
extremely popular dish in another great wine region grow pistachios in farms, bake
Madhya Pradesh, it is exactly like the road trip in baklava, and feed it to everyone.
prepared with wheat bal Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. When we think about middle
cooked well in ghee. The
ls Italians take pride in their local eastern countries, we think about
dish is well complemente pasta, cheese, olive oil, kababs and hummus pita. However,
with a bowl of dal and
d vegetables such as zucchini, and Turkey has many delicacies such as
coriander sauce (hari not just truffles, old grains such Manti (Turkish Ravioli), Kumpir
chutney). I not only learnt as spelt (a type of wheat) and the (Turkish baked potato), Menemen (a
how to roast the baati but tradition of curing meats. dish of spicy eggs), Lahmacun
how to properly fan it and (Turkish pizza) and Iskender Kebap.
dust it. I have always
preferred to live in
homestays as they give a
unique peek into the ► Machiha, a
.

culture of the hosts. delicacy of Lotha

tribe of Nagaland

SNEHA SAIK
Nagaland is a IA, CHEF
la
landscapes, pr nd of verdant
is
spectacular m tine water bodies,
ou
breathtaking ntains and
va
untouched be lleys. The
auty of tribal
and customs history
on
beauty of th ly adds to the
e state. On m
Nagaland, I ha y visi
ve learnt and ts to SHIPRA KHANNA, CHEF
improved on
m
cooking, stor y techniques of Understanding cultures, cuisines, palate and techniques
ing
vegetables by meat and of cooking during travels has been very intriguing.
sm
or fermentatio oke drying them Travelling to different regions in India has given me a
n. Machiha, a deep understanding of my country and its people. My
chutney with
dr
of Nagaland, y fish of Lotha tribe favourite food trip has been to Himachal Pradesh.
silk worms an Regional cuisine intrigues me as there are so many
meat, are de d
licacies which frog
during my vi I tr ancient recipes which have been carried over for
sit. I also wen ied
villages and t to tribal generations. I learnt various authentic recipes like
lear
different herb nt the use of Bhaturu (fermented bread), Siddu (bread made from
s
medicinal be in dishes and their wheat flour), Himachali pulao and Sepu wadi (Urad dal
nefits.
vadi in spinach gravy) on my trips to Himachal Pradesh.

#inbrief
#theburningquestion INSTAGRAM_TWINKLERKHANNA PHOTO: WASEEM ANDRABI/HT

Chill time with

What can one learn family
Winter tourist activities
in Ladakh on hold
from travelling to a Actor and author Twinkle
Khanna seems to be enjoying a Unfortunate news for
relaxing time with family time, those looking to travel to
remote location? books and some vitamin sea.
She shared a serene beach-side
photo of herself and her daughter
Ladakh. The administration
has cancelled all prominent
winter tourist activities,
Travelling, for me, is not about visiting a place, completing on a hammock! “She swats me including the popular
the standard sightseeing checklist, clicking photographs down with that tongue that Chadar Trek, over the
in the standard places, and coming back to work. Of late, I could double up as an electric concern of rising Covid-19
have been travelling to remote locations frequently. And mosquito racket and always has cases in the country.
there is a lot one can learn from visiting such places. We more questions than I have Sources say another
meet very different people, who may not have similar answers. My only respite is to popular activity that’s
expectations from life as we do. When I talk to them, I get thrust a book in her hand so that been cancelled is the snow
a different perspective. So, when you go to remote her mind is occupied and leopard sighting
locations, make sure you spend time with the locals, and her mouth is zipped up,” expedition.
have free-flowing talks with them. Khanna’s Instagram post was
If you are travelling from an urban setup to a remote captioned.
area, take out time to check out the streets of the place. Try
and explore beyond what’s most popular, or the newly-
made areas. The streets will surprise you with the hidden PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
treasures, and depending upon your keenness, you will
discover something to cherish forever.
Weekend curfew in Delhi No curbs on
For me travelling is about
“exploring” myself. It’s a medium
Amid the spread of the Omicron
variant, the Delhi Disaster
Metro stations, Delhi’s Deputy
Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has Night Mumbai trains?
of education, it’s about finding
uniqueness in the place, which is
Management Authority (DDMA)
has decided to impose a weekend
also announced that the buses
and Metro trains will run at full curfew in
often not known to others and
might not be important for the
curfew in the Capital. No non-
essential movement will be
seating capacity. Earlier, it had
been announced that the train Goa soon?
world to know. allowed during the weekend services of Delhi Metro would
curfew. To avoid any gathering operate at half of its capacity to Spike in Covid-19 cases in
Disclaimer: The views expressed here are and crowds at city’s bus stops and maintain social distancing. Goa has prompted the state
the author’s personal. PHOTO: RAJ K RAJ/HT government to impose
curbs. A night curfew will There is no proposal yet to put
Ritesh Rawal, likely be imposed soon. any restrictions on suburban train
Travel enthusiast “Appropriate measure will travel in Mumbai, according to a
be taken in sync [with] the Brihanmumbai Municipal
overall guidelines of Corporation (BMC) official. This
Government of India,” Goa’s statement came as the city saw a
Health Minister Vishwajit surge in Covid-19 cases. Suresh
Rane tweeted. The huge Kakani, additional municipal
influx of tourists for the commissioner, said that if needed,
New Year’s, officials say, has the state government will take a
pushed up the Covid-19 decision in consultation with the
positivity rate in the state. state task force on Covid-19.

HTC
NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
my city 05
#dilse
TULSI, GILOY s To Haya, Jab meri mout hogi
tum mujhe milne aaoge mere
me maaf krdo....
From Harinttillu
s My Phool, I miss you
sooo much.... Pls stay we
ll,

IN DEMAND
rishtedaro se milne aaoge or
mujhe pta nhi chlega to aaj hi
aajao na, Jab meri mout hogi Tum
mere saare gunah maaf kar doge
or mujhe pta hi nhi chlega to aaj hi
e new yea r brings
and i hop
py
s Hi Wify, I knw u r busy... par you loadzzzz of happy hap
Happy New Year toh keh hi sakti moments. Stay away from
hi ho... don’t worry ab naye saal bad people! Love you...
me sab achcha hoga. May God Your Sahiba

ONCE AGAIN:
kar do na, Jab meri mout hogi tum
mere baare me sabse achhi achhi
batein kroge or mujhe pta hi nhi
chlega to aaj hi keh do na, Or jab
meri mout hogi tumhe lagega
shower u with loads of gifts nd
blessings. Missing you here.
Please WhatsApp me. Love you
loads... Tc. Your Ullu DISCLAIMER: Dil Se is a compilation
of fun messages from our readers.

DELHI-NCR
kash iss insaan ke sath kuchh wakt
or bitaya hota to kitna achha hota
To aaj hi bita lo na, To bas aur
intezar mat kro intezar karne me
s Hi Hot Chocolate! You were,
and always are my hot choc. Don’t
ever feel lonely... I’m always with
you, and have loads of warmth to
The views expressed belong entirely
to the senders and are not to be
construed as an endorsement by
the publication. Send your
messages to

NURSERIES STOCK UP
bhot deri ho jaati h... sorry from melt our hearts! Your Mug meandmycity1@gmail.com.

#adoptapet
PHOTO: GOKUL VS/ Meet Moon, a 50-day-old
Plant sellers in the HT (FOR
REPRESENTATIONAL
Bring these furry indie girl, who was rescued
three weeks ago from a
city say they are PURPOSE ONLY)
companions to construction site. She loves
to play with slippers and
witnessing a spike your house, for a chew toys. You may miss a
sock or two, every now and
in people asking cuddly 2022 then, but Moon will make
up for the loss with
for medicinal Oreo is 30 day-old-indie mix pup,
cuddles! This ball of energy
also loves to eat chicken
plants to who is ready to brighten your
lives! Oreo, ‘the tough cookie’ is a
stew and rice, and longs for
you to play tug the whole
boost their calm and independent pupper. He
has black fur and white streaks on
day. She is vaccinated and
dewormed, and ready to go
immunity face and collar. He’s already toilet to her forever home in
trained, and is super affectionate. Delhi-NCR. To adopt her,
You will fall in love within minutes send a WhatsApp message
of meeting him! So if looking for a to: +91-9811561660.
great companion, your search
Plants such stops here with Oreo. To adopt
giloy (top
right) and tulsi P P this fur ball, contact via
WhatsApp at: +91-7838583412. Brie and Haru, the cat duo,
(below) are have shifted several homes
known to help
During the last Along with the by now. Haru is an eight-
with common Covid wave, these usual medicinal month-old affectionate
cold and flu little ginger boy and his
ILLUSTRATIONS:
plants were selling plants, people also adopted younger sister Brie,
SHUTTERSTOCK like hot cakes. So, we want to add garlic and seven months old, is just as
affectionate but equally feisty!
made sure we had ginger to their Both babies were rescued from
Siddhi Jain enough this time. gardens now. horrible situations. They are both
dewormed, fully vaccinated and
siddhi.jain@hindustantimes.com
GAURAV SUREKA, RAJ KUMAR, Owner of sterilised. Overall, they are a
elhi’s daily Covid-19 tally Owner of a nursery perfect pair, who would do well in

D
has crossed the 4,000-
mark, causing residents to
head to nurseries to buy
good ol’ medicinal plants. The aim
is to strengthen their immunity by
keeping infections such as
common cold and flu at bay. As a
result, nursery owners in Delhi-
NCR are stocking up on plants
such as holy basil (tulsi), giloy,
aloe vera, stevia, ajwain and
others that are beneficial in
fighting seasonal irritants.
‘SALES ARE UP BY 15-20%’
Gaurav Sureka, owner of Rohini-
based Balaji Nursery, shares,
“People are now confirming
with us about which plant is
tulsi, giloy and stevia. Many
don’t know ajwain ka paudha
kaisa dikhta hai, but unko pata hai
ki kaafi benefits hain. Last week,
we saw a 15-20% increase in sales
of such plants.”
IT’S THE SEASON OF KADHA
Raj Kumar, a nursery owner in
Sector 69, Gurugram, says
whenever Covid-19 peaks, people
come asking for plants that are
useful in making kadhas. He adds,
“Pehle lockdown mein log khoob
kharid kar gaye tulsi aur giloy. Iss
baar bhi enquiries ke liye phone
bajne shuru ho gaye hain. Along
with the usual, people want to add
garlic and ginger to their gardens,
so they don’t have to rely too much
on the vegetable vendors.”
a nursery
‘WE’RE STOCKED UP’
Punit Saini of Gautam Nagar-based
Saini Plant Nursery says,
“Sardiyon mein tulsi ki care na
karo toh kharab ho jaati hai. That’s
why one doesn’t find tulsi in too
many nurseries around this time.
So, I’ve stocked up on different
types of basil, including stevia
(mithi tulsi). People are walking in
to buy these plants now, to try and
prevent both common flu and
Covid-19.”
Many are also depending on
plants to breathe easy in the
polluted NCR air. “Snake plant is
also being potted a lot nowadays as
it is superb for cleaning your
room’s air,” informs Kumar.
any household where they receive
the love they need and deserve.
To adopt them, please message:
+91-8860316406.
Baloo is a six-year-old Labrador
indie mix boy, who is currently at
a shelter in Gurugram-Faridabad,
close to where he was abandoned.
He has been dewormed,
neutered, and his vaccinations
are also up-to-date. He awaits a
family that will shower him with
toys, treats and love. It’s
recommended that those keen
to adopt him, take him for a
thorough vet check-up once
out of the shelter. To connect,
WhatsApp: +91-8375091726.
Inform us if you know of a pet who needs a home, write in to htcity.pets@gmail.com

#DilliKiSardi: It’s no chill for citizens!

▲ Veiled with smog, the India Gate plays hide and seek on a cold ▲ Most mornings in Delhi are now shrouded in dense smog.
The year 2022
.SmogsenarIdiGtoRjphnacldyiNewDh,InaoMdyJur03,2. .

wintry morning, as Delhi’s AQI remains in ‘very poor’ category. Here’s one such view from a field in Geeta Colony.
PHOTO: ARVIND YADAV/HT PHOTO:AMAL KS/HT
kicked in on yet
another foggy . ◄ The city witnessed a cold wave till January 3, and commuters
braved it while travelling early morning. The visibility has been
note, as a cold low even in the afternoons, as seen here where a Metro train
makes its way on a track at Sector 137 in Noida. PHOTO: SUNIL GHOSH/HT
wave jolted the
city with a ▼ Quite a few Gurugrammers have been putting their health
.

above all, and turning up for early morning jogs at Leisure Valley Text: Naina
temperature of Park in Sector-29. PHOTO: PARVEEN KUMAR/HT Arora

around 4 degrees
Celsius. With the
chilly weather
casting its spell
on Delhi-NCR,
here’s how the
people of the city
are bearing with
it while taking to
the daily
▲ The break of dawn at Yamuna Ghat is quite a striking sight,
.
humdrum
with boatmen feeding the winged visitors PHOTO: DHRUV SETHI/HT
06
AN ACTION-PACKED
YEAR IN HOLLYWOOD
FOR MOVIE BUFFS
TOP GUN:
MAVERICK
Fans of actor Tom Cruise
and the 1986 film Top Gun
have good news for them!
Top Gun: Maverick, directed
by Joseph Kosinski, the
sequel to the high-flying
movie, is coming. The film
stars Cruise, Miles Teller,
Jennifer Connelly, Jon
Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis
Pullman, Ed Harris, and Val
Kilmer. Cruise and Kilmer
are reprising their roles
from the first film.
DOCTOR STRANGE
IN THE MULTIVERSE
OF MADNESS
Among the three Marvel
Cinematic Universe (MCU)
releases lined up for 2022 is
this highly-anticipated title.
Played by actor Benedict
Cumberbatch, the supreme
sorcerer — fresh from his
disastrous experience in
Spider-Man: No Way Home
(2021) — must fix the rapidly
decaying multiverse with
help from Elizabeth Olsen’s
Scarlet Witch and Xochitl
Gomez’s America Chavez.
They will join franchise
regulars, actors Benedict
Wong (Wong), Rachel
McAdams (Christine Palmer)
and Chiwetel Ejiofor (Mordo).
Part of Doctor Strange 2’s
huge appeal comes from Sam
Raimi in the director’s chair.
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 7
Ethan Hunt is back! Tom Cruise will be back
in action for the seventh instalment in the
spy action franchise that has so far seen
the actor do several death-defying stunts.
Christopher McQuarrie will also be back as
writer and director after serving those
roles in the last two films of the hit
franchise.
PHOTO: REUTERS
P as possible. No one wants the truth
I’m hopeful that
people get to
the truth (of the
tragedy on set)
H Baldwin marked the start of
as soon as
possible.
ALEC BALDWIN, Actor
Text: Juhi
Chakraborty
Alec Baldwin’s hope
for 2022 after Rust
shooting: Peace
and awareness
ollywood actor Alec
2022 by reflecting on his
involvement in the death of
cinematographer Halyna Hutchins,
which he called the “worst situation”
he’s ever been a part of. According to
People magazine, he posted a nearly
13-minute video to Instagram on
New Year’s Day.
In the video, he shared his hopes
for 2022 amid the ongoing fallout
showstopper NEW DELHI
WEDNESDAY
JANUARY 05, 2022
r
o re v isi
heroes t t to be a
ting
w sup e e
From ne chises, 2022 is s udget
hit fran all fans of big b at you
treat for films. Here’s wh ear!
od is y
Hollywo forward to, th
can look
SCREAM
Directors Matt
Bettinelli-Olpin and
Tyler Gillett are getting
veteran stars Neve
Campbell, Courteney THE BATMAN
Cox, and David Fans of the Caped Crusader are in luck! Filmmaker
Arquette for this film, Matt Reeves is helming this project, which is
which serves as the supposed to be an even darker take on Batman
fifth instalment of the than we have already seen. An impressive cast
Scream film series. that includes Robert Pattinson as Bruce Wayne,
Though billed as a Colin Farrell as the Penguin, Paul Dano as the
relaunch of the Riddler, Jeffrey Wright as Commissioner Gordon
franchise, the film is a and Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman has us excited.
direct sequel to 2011’s
Scream 4, and the first
in the series to not be
directed by Wes Craven,
who died in 2015. It stars
franchise newcomers
Melissa Barrera, Mason
Gooding, Jenna Ortega,
and Jack Quaid.
BLACK PANTHER:
WAKANDA FOREVER
The death of the original King T’Challa, actor BLACK ADAM
Chadwick Boseman in 2020 due to colon cancer, left Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has been attached to
the makers and fans across the world in shock. And it star in Black Adam since as early as 2014, but in
naturally led to questions about what would 2022, he will finally hit the big screen and officially
happen to the character, as he was set to become an join the DC Extended Universe as the all-powerful
important piece of the MCU’s future. And now, the anti-hero. As the nemesis to Zachary Levi‘s
second film is happening but T’Challa will not be Shazam, there’s definitely an onscreen crossover
recast. The story has instead shifted focus to his to look forward to in the future as well. Fans of
spunky sister, Shuri, played by actor Letitia Wright. It the wrestler-turned-actor feel it is high time that
remains to be seen how T’Challa’s absence will be Johnson got to play a superhero and we couldn’t
addressed in the sequel of the 2018 film. agree more!
AYURVEDA, UNANI,
JURASSIC WORLD: DOMINION
HOMEOPATHY, TCM…
Director Colin Trevorrow successfully brought the Jurassic Park franchise back to life in 2015, giving
Jurassic World as a next-generation sequel to the original movies. He returns for this sequel to
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), the sixth instalment in the Jurassic Park franchise, and the
third film in the Jurassic World trilogy. The film boasts an ensemble cast, including actors Chris Pratt,
ALL THINGS
Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Daniella Pineda, Isabella Sermon, Justice
Smith, Omar Sy, and BD Wong reprising their roles from previous films in the series.
NATURAL HAVE NO
SIDE EFFECTS.
FAD OR FACT?
DO WE TRULY UNDERSTAND
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE?
Start your own guru-cast with
from the tragic shooting on the set of people I love, pulling them closer to hubhopper
his film Rust. “I’ve had more people me, and improving relationships
who have been kind and thoughtful with people I care about but maybe I India’s largest podcasting platform
and generous of spirit than I’ve had don’t get to see much of them
people who are malignant about the anymore,” he added, revealing that
death of Halyna Hutchins,” he said. he recently took a trip to spend time
“This has been surely the worst with his 26-year-old daughter
situation I’ve ever been involved with Ireland, whom he shares with his ex, Create. Host. Distribute. for Free
and I’m very hopeful that the people actor Kim Basinger.
in charge with investigating this Baldwin is currently involved in 30+ distribution platforms
whole thing get to the truth as soon an investigation into the October
more than I do,” added the Emmy
death of Hutchins, who died on the
set of his film when a prop gun the
winning actor. actor was holding went off.
Though Baldwin admitted that
he’s not a “New Year’s resolution
person”, he did share his goals for
this year. “The one thing I do want to
consider very carefully and to really
Investigators issued a search
warrant for his phone in the latest
development in the case, People
magazine previously reported.
As local authorities continue to www.hubhopper.com
push myself is in terms of trying to
not allow the negativity in my life to
investigate, with production on the
film halted, a source told the outlet hubhopperofficial
affect me,” Baldwin explained. that he is leaning on his wife and #whatmatterstoyoumatters
“My goal in the new year is peace, kids. The source said, “Alec is still in
awareness, consciousness, shock. He is doing his best to cope.” Find and play Hubhopper’s ‘Fact or Fiction’
deepening my relationships with the ANI