RNI NO.

: DELENG/2005/15351
MILLENNIUMPOST.IN REGD. NO.: DL(S)-01/3420/2018-20

PUBLISHED FROM DELHI | KOLKATA VOL.17, ISSUE 64 | Saturday, 5 March, 2022 | New Delhi | Pages 14 | Rs 3.00
No Half Truths

City: Pg 3 Nation: Pg 5 Film: Pg 13

Want kids to dream of becoming Akhilesh: UP polls to save ‘I don’t believe in
teachers: Sisodia opens DTU Constitution and democracy planning my career’

RUSSIANS TAKE UKRAINE NUCLEAR PLANT; NO RADIATION AFTER FIRE
Putin urges not to escalate tension
as forces ramp up use of air power
The remains of the local house of culture following a night air raid in the village of Bushiv, 40 kilometres
west of Kyiv, Ukraine, on Friday
KYIV/MOSCOW: President
Vladimir Putin urged Russia’s
neighbours on Friday not to
escalate tensions.
“There are no bad intentions
towards our neighbours. And
I would also advise them not
to escalate the situation, not to
introduce any restrictions. We
fulfil all our obligations and will
continue to fulfil them,” Putin
said in televised remarks.
“We do not see any need
here to aggravate or worsen our
relations. And all our actions,
if they arise, they always arise
exclusively in response to some
Highlights
»»UN says 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine
»»NATO rejects no-fly zone over Ukraine
»»US establishes direct line with Russia
»»Putin’s forces have ramped up their use of air power, and
made significant gains on the ground in the south
unfriendly actions, actions
against the Russian Federation,”
he added.
Meanwhile, Russian troops
Friday seized the biggest nuclear
power plant in Europe after a
middle-of-the-night attack that
AP/PTI
set it on fire and briefly raised
worldwide fears of a catastro-
phe in the most chilling turn in
Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine
yet. Firefighters put out the
blaze, and no radiation was
released, UN and Ukrainian
India abstains
from UNHRC vote
GENEVA/ UNITED
NATIONS: India on Fri-
day abstained in the UN
Human Rights Coun-
cil on a vote to urgently
establish an independent
international commission
of inquiry to investigate
alleged human rights vio-
lations and related crimes
following Russia’s military
operation in Ukraine.
The 47-member
Council voted on a draft
resolution on the ‘Situa-
tion of human rights in
Ukraine stemming from
the Russian aggression.’
 Continued on P4
officials said, as Russian forces
pressed on with their week-old
offensive on multiple fronts and
the number of refugees fleeing
the country topped 1.2 million.
While the vast Russian
armored column threaten-
ing Kyiv appeared stalled out-
side the capital, Putin’s forces
have ramped up their use of air
power, launching hundreds of
missiles and artillery attacks on
cities and other sites, and made
significant gains on the ground
in the south in an apparent bid
to cut off Ukraine’s access to the
sea.  Continued on P4
Students stranded in
shelling-battered Sumy call
for immediate evacuation
NEW DELHI: As shells
rain down from above and
armed men roam the streets
in Sumy, the northeastern
Ukrainian border town,
amid the ongoing Russian
invasion, a bunch of Indian
students stranded there took
to social media to plead for
evacuation.
Staring at fast-deplet-
ing food and water supplies,
they are posting updates
every few hours and
urging the govern-
ment to rescue them
immediately before
the situation worsens and
they are “reduced to bodies”.
One of them, Mahek
Shaikh, shared an eight-sec-
ond video clip on Thursday
of what appeared to be a blast
in the town.
“Complete city blackout,
no electricity and water sup-
ply and multiple bomb blasts
nearby. Slow network,” she
wrote in the post.
Another medical stu-
dent, Radhika Sangwan,
said 700-800 students are
stranded in Sumy, and there
was no confirmed news on
their evacuation.
“I am a student in Sumy,
Ukraine. YES WE EXIST!!!
There are 700-800 students
in Sumy. It’s the 7th day of
attack and there is no con-
firmed news on our evacua-
tion. Stress, fear and anxiety
are getting to us. Hope is
lost. Please help,” Sangwan
tweeted on Thursday.
According to sev-
eral reports, trains and
buses have stopped
plying in Sumy, roads,
and bridges out of the
city were destroyed and
fighting was underway on
the streets.
All routes blocked and
no help from the embassy in
sight, the students are wor-
ried about their well-being.
Holed up in a bunker,
three visibly-distressed med-
ical students shared a video
on social media in which
they pleaded for evacuation,
saying they are running out
of food and the security situ-
ation is worsening.
 Continued on P4
India seeks localised
ceasefire to evacuate
its nationals
Student takes four bullets but survives
MPOST BUREAU
NEW DELHI: India on Fri-
day sought a localised cease-
fire between Russian and
Ukrainian troops in eastern
Ukraine to facilitate evacua-
tion of Indian citizens trapped
in conflict zones, and insisted
it is yet to see the decision by
the warring sides to create safe
corridors for the exit of civil-
ians materialise.
Around 20,000 Indian
nationals have so far crossed
the borders of war-torn
Ukraine to safety, the Minis-
try of External Affairs (MEA)
said, as reports emerged about
a Delhi student getting shot
multiple times but miracu-
lously surviving the assault.
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, meanwhile, chaired yet
another meeting to review the
unfolding situation in Ukraine
amid the ongoing exercise
to evacuate Indian nationals,
mostly students, from the coun-
try battling a Russian invasion.
External Affairs Minister S
Takeaways
»»Around 20,000 Indians
have so far crossed the
borders to safety
»»PM Narendra Modi chaired
yet another meeting
»»Around 300 Indians are
stranded in Kharkiv and
700 in Sumy
»»Over 10,300 Indians brought
back in 48 flights so far
»»15 flights landed in India
during the last 24 hours,
bringing back more than
3,000 people
»»16 more are scheduled
over the next 24 hours
being taken out from there in
five buses.
He told a media briefing
that India is primarily focus-
ing on evacuating its nationals
from conflict zones in eastern
Ukraine including Kharkiv and
Sumy, and that the total num-

Mamata questions delays in bringing back students from Ukraine

OUR CORRESPONDENT
KOLKATA: Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee yet again on Friday ques-
tioned the Centre about its delay to
bring back Indian students stuck in
war-hit Ukraine. Banerjee also urged
the Centre to arrange adequate flights
to expedite the process.
“I am very much worried about the
lives of the Indian students held up in
Ukraine. Life is very precious. Why is
it taking so much time to bring them
back? Why was not things done ear-
lier?” Banerjee wrote on Twitter.
“I urge the Central Government
that adequate number of flights be
arranged immediately and all the stu-
dents brought back as soon as possible,”
she further wrote.
Her appeal comes a day after she
targeted Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on India’s efforts to evacuate Indi-
ans stuck in Ukraine.
“The Prime Minister was aware of
such developments three months back.
But still, no initiative to bring the stu-
dents back was taken. This is fault and
negligence and ‘negligence’ of this type
is a crime. We cannot play the game
with students’ lives. It takes a couple of
phone calls to do all this. How much
time would it take from political rallies?
Students’ lives are more important than
politics,” Banerjee had said.
Addressing a rally organised by the
Samajwadi Party in Varanasi on Thurs-
day, Banerjee further alleged that the
Central government is asking Indians
to come back on their own. She said:
“If you (Modi) have such good relations
with Putin Ji (Russian president), then
you must have known about the attack
three months in advance.
 Continued on P4
Jaishankar, Union minister Piy-
ush Goyal, and National Secu-
rity Adviser Ajit Doval were
among those who attended the
meeting.
Arindam Bagchi, the
spokesperson for the MEA,
said around 300 Indians are
stranded in Kharkiv and 700
in Sumy, where fierce fighting
is on. Some Indian nationals
out of the over 900 in Piso-
chyn, a Kharkiv suburb, were
ber of Indians still stuck in the
battle-scarred nation is roughly
in the range of 2,000 to 3,000.
When asked about Russian
President Vladimir Putin’s
comments on Thursday that
some Indians are being held
hostage by the Ukrainian
forces, the MEA spokesperson
once again rejected the claim,
insisting India had no such
information or report.
 Continued on P4

Quick News 56 killed, nearly 200 injured India logs

BLAST AT ILLEGAL FIRECRACKER
FACTORY KILLS 14 IN BIHAR
PATNA/BHAGALPUR: Fourteen people were
killed and another 10 seriously injured in a major
blast that rocked a crowded locality in Bihar’s
Bhagalpur district, pulling down a number of
structures, the state police chief said on Friday.
 Continued on P4
AMAN LEKHI RESIGNS AS
ADDITIONAL SOLICITOR GENERAL
NEW DELHI: Senior advocate Aman Lekhi
on Friday resigned from the post of Additional
Solicitor General of India. In a two-line letter
addressed to the Union Minister for Law and Jus-
tice Kiren Rijiju, Lekhi said that he is tendering
his resignation from the post of Additional Solici-
tor General at the Supreme Court with immediate
effect.  Continued on P4
DIES OF A SUSPECTED HEART ATTACK IN THAILAND
in blast at Shia mosque in Pak
PESHAWAR: A suicide bomber
blew himself up inside a crowded
Shia mosque during the Friday con-
gregation here in northwest Paki-
stan, killing at least 56 people and
wounding nearly 200 others, in one
of the deadliest attacks in the restive
province, bordering Afghanistan.
The blast occurred at an Imam-
bargah located near the Qissa
Khwani Bazaar area of Peshawar
when the worshippers were offer-
ing Friday prayers.
No group immediately claimed
responsibility for the blast in Pesha-
war, the provincial capital of Khy-
ber-Pakhtunkhwa which borders
Afghanistan. However, the Islamic
State and sectarian militant groups
have claimed responsibility for the
6,396 Covid
cases, 201
fresh fatalities
deadly attacks targeting Shias in
the past.
Mohammad Asim, a spokes-
person for Lady Reading Hospital
(LRH), confirmed that at least 56
people were killed while 194 were
injured in the blast.
An eyewitness identified a per-
son as dressed in black as the sui-
cide bomber, saying he entered the
mosque, shot and killed the secu-
rity guard first and then fired five
to six bullets. OUR CORRESPONDENT
“After that, he quickly entered
the [mosque’s] main hall and blew NEW DELHI: With 6,396
himself up in front of the pulpit. Fol- people testing positive for
lowing this, there were bodies and Coronavirus infection in a day,
injured people lying everywhere,” India’s total tally of COVID-
the eyewitness told Geo News. 19 cases rose to 4,29,51,556,
 Continued on P4 while the active cases dipped to
69,897, according to the Union
Health Ministry data updated
on Friday.
The death toll climbed to

Spin wizard Shane

5,14,589 with 201 fresh fatali-
ties, the data updated at 8 am
stated.
The daily COVID-19 cases

Warne passes away

have remained less than one
lakh for 26 consecutive days.
The active cases com-
prise 0.16 per cent of the total
infections, while the national
MELBOURNE: Former Austra- be revived,” the statement reported COVID-19 recovery rate has
lia spinner Shane Warne, who by various media outlets here said. further improved to 98.64 per
redefined the art of spin bowling “The family requests privacy at cent, the ministry said.
to become one of the greatest in this time and will provide further A reduction of 7,255 cases
international cricket, has died of a details in due course.” has been recorded in the active
suspected heart attack in Thailand An iconic name in international COVID-19 caseload in a span
on Friday. cricket, Warne, since making his of 24 hours.
He was 52 and is survived by two debut in 1992, played 145 Tests for The daily positivity rate was
daughters and a son. Australia, picking up recorded as 0.69 per cent and
Warne’s man- 708 wickets with his the weekly positivity rate as
agement released a (1969-2022) leg-spin. In his 194 0.90 per cent, according to the
brief statement to ODI appearances, ministry.
the Australian media, saying that Warne snared 293 scalps. The number of people who
he passed away in Koh Samui, Thai- He immortalised himself with have recuperated from the
land and the reason could be a sus- the ‘ball of the century’ in 1993 disease surged to 4,23,67,070
pected heart attack. Koh Samui is when as a 24-year-old, he deceived while the case fatality rate was
popular among tourists and is the Mike Gatting at Old Trafford with recorded as 1.20 per cent.
second-largest island in Thailand. a delivery that landed on the leg The cumulative doses
“Shane was found unrespon- stump and, as the Englishman tried administered in the country
sive in his villa and despite the best to defend, turned viciously to clip so far under the nationwide
efforts of medical staff, he could not his off bail.  Continued on P4 COVID-19 vaccination drive
have exceeded 178.29 crore.
2 mp City millenniumpost
SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022 | NEW DELHI

TO CLEAR PENDENCY OF UAPA CASES

Special Judge slaps Rs 10K cost on CBI for
3 new courts set up not responding to query in bank fraud case
to expedite hearings ABHINAY LAKSHMAN

NEW DELHI: A Special Judge

OUR CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High
Court has resolved to withdraw
all other cases being heard by
the two special designated
National Investigation Agency
(NIA) courts and assign them
to three newly created courts of
additional sessions judge (ASJ)
in view of the long pendency of
these cases in the Capital.
In an affidavit filed on a
petition by a UAPA accused
seeking a day-to-day hearing in
his case pending before a spe-
cial NIA court, the high court
administration has said that
it’s Administrative and Gen-
eral Supervision Committee
has resolved that the with-
drawn cases from ASJ-02 and
ASJ-03, which are the desig-
nated courts in New Delhi Dis-
trict, shall be assigned to the
new ASJ courts by the con-
cerned Principal District and
Sessions Judge.
Considering that the pen-
dency in the courts in New
Delhi District including the
court of ASJ-02 and ASJ 03
is high because of non-avail-
ability of courtrooms for cre-
ation of additional courts in
the Patiala House Court Com-
plex, it is resolved that the 5
courts of MM (NI Act) in the
said District be shifted to the
Rouse Avenue Court Com-
plex, to enable the creation of
more ASJ courts, the affidavit
informed.
The affidavit stated that to
accommodate the newly estab-
lished ASJ courts, five metro-
politan courts would be shifted
to Rouse Avenue Court Com-
plex and the same has been
approved by the Full Court
and that the matter regarding
the posting of judicial officers
in the newly created courts of
ASJ-05, ASJ-06 and ASJ-07 is
already under process.
The Court of ASJ-02 shall
continue to deal with fresh/
pending cases filed in it being
a Special Court under Section
22 of the National Investigation
Agency Act, 2008... It shall con-
tinue to deal with all the pend-
ing cases under the Unlawful
Activities Prevention Act
(UAPA) as well as fresh such
cases to be filed before it as per
the existing practice, said the
resolution mentioned in the
affidavit filed by the joint reg-
istrar of the high court.
Similarly, the court of ASJ-
03 shall continue to deal with
fresh/pending cases filed in it
being a Special Court for the
trial of Scheduled Offences
investigated by the NIA as well
as cases under Maharashtra
Control of Organized Crime
Act, 1999, it added.
The affidavit further
informed that the Principal
District and Sessions Judge,
who is also a designated court,
shall also transfer the pend-
ing cases under the NIA Act to
the court of ASJ-03 to facilitate
their expeditious disposal.
All other cases pending
before the said two courts of
ASJ-02 and ASJ-03 be imme-
diately withdrawn and be
assigned to the newly created
ASJ courts by the Principal Dis-
trict and Sessions Judge, New
Delhi while ensuring equitable
distribution, it added.
It also said that one of the
new ASJ courts would be addi-
tionally designated as the Spe-
cial Court under the SC/ST Act
and the SEBI Act as well as des-
ignated court try sessions to
cases investigated by Special
Cell, Delhi Police.
In December last year, the
high court had said that it was
paramount that cases under
the UAPA are tried expedi-
tiously and it was for the high
court authorities to consider
the issue and make appro-
priate recommendations for
establishing exclusive courts for
their trial.
In September, the high
court administration had stated
that as on July 31, a total of 37
NIA cases were pending before
the two designated courts in
the Patiala House Court com-
plex here i.e. a sessions judge
and the district & sessions
judge, in which over 140 peo-
ple had been arrested and over
3,800 witnesses had been cited.
(PC Act) in Delhi’s Rouse Ave-
nue court here has now imposed
a cost of Rs 10,000 on the Cen-
tral Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) for failing to explain to
it why the agency had filed a
chargesheet in a bank fraud
case, where no public ser-
vant had been indicted and
no charges under the PC Act
were filed.
Special Judge Pulastya Pram-
achala on Thursday ordered the
central agency to deposit the
cost to the Delhi Legal Services
Authority, directing that the
order be placed before the con-
Man held for killing live-in partner, Can’t fully re-open
says also killed her husband in 2018 Nizamuddin Markaz:
Centre to Delhi HC
PIYUSH OHRIE
GURUGRAM: The Gurugram
police arrested a man in connec-
tion with murder of his live-in
partner. The victim, Kamala,
woman was found murdered at
her house in Kanhai Colony in
Gurugram on March 1. She was
strangled to death, police said.
Following this incident, the
accused, Surender, was on the
run. On Thursday night, the
Gurugram police was able to
arrest Surender from Sushant
Lok.
Surender is a contractual
labourer, who was arrested
near Gold Souk Mall. Accord-
ing to the police, Surender said
that on Tuesday evening, he
had had a fight with Kamla
over managing the finances of
cerned Joint Director of the CBI
so that its orders are followed
from hereon.
The case pertained to a bank
fraud involving Alpine Realtech
Pvt Ltd, accused of defrauding
the Punjab and Sind Bank in
Ashram Chowk here of over
Rs 64 crore. According to the
complaint filed by the bank, the
company and its directors had
falsely gained the trust of the
bank to secure the credit line
and then diverted the same to
other accounts and defaulted
on the repayments.
The CBI had filed a
chargesheet against 23 enti-
ties in the case, none of them
bank officials — and all of them
the room where they used to
live as tenants. He strangled
Kamala to death before fleeing
the spot.
As per police, Surender
confessed to not only killing
Kamala but also her husband
in 2018 in Mundela Kalan in
South-West Delhi.
On the complaint of Kama-
la’s son, Mahesh, the Gurugram
charged under relevant sections
of the IPC. The agency had also
noted that prima facie involve-
ment of bank officials had been
found and that they are keep-
ing the case open for further
investigation.
While looking at the
chargesheet, the Special Judge
had noted in a January 22 order,
“It is well apparent that none of
the public servants have been
charge sheeted at present, nor
any accused is charge sheeted
for offence punishable under
P.C. Act. CBI shall explain, how
this court is expected to take
cognizance of IPC offences only,
without there being any offence
under P.C. Act? How does this
police registered a case. “Suren-
der was unhappy with Kamala
as he was repeatedly taunted for
not managing enough finances
for the household. He, therefore,
murdered Kamala. We will be
coordinating with the Delhi
Police with regard to Surender’s
previous crime of murdering
Kamala’s husband,” Inspector
Preet Pal ACP (Crime) said.
court get jurisdiction to sum-
mon and try above mentioned
accused persons?”
In this order, the court had
of CBI including IO is actually
disappointing and contemptu-
ous,” adding that the agency
cannot ignore the court’s direc-
directed the Investigating Offi- tions of their “own sweet will
cer of the case to file a writ- and comfort” so that they can
ten response by February 26, file a response whenever they
answering the legal query raised please.
by it. “This appears to be a delib-
In the latest order of Thurs- erate inaction on the part of
day, the court noted that the IO and other concerned offi-
IO had still not answered its cials of CBI, which cannot be
queries and justified it by say- appreciated by this court,” the
ing that the CBI was awaiting judge said, further noting that
a response from concerned irrespective of pending sanc-
sanctioning authority on their tion under Section 17A of the
request sought under Section PC Act, the IO and the agency
17A of PC Act. was “duty bound to respond to
The court said, “This the queries raised by this court
approach of concerned officials based on present situation”.
Adds that a few may offer
Shab-e-Barat, Ramzan prayers
OUR CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI: The Centre
Friday opposed before the
Delhi High Court fully re-
opening the Nizamuddin
Markaz, where the Tablighi
Jamaat congregation was
held in March 2020 amid
COVID19 pandemic and has
remained shut since then,
FILE PHOTO
stating that a few people may
be allowed to offer prayers
on the upcoming religious the penal code in connec-
occasions. tion with the Tablighi Jamaat
Government counsel event held at the Nizamud-

Two arrested for stealing money by hacking into Gmail accounts
NARESH BISWANI
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police
busted a module of cybercrimi-
nals, who defrauded through
compromising Gmail accounts
through session hijacking by
arresting two M.Com students.
The accused were trained online
by a pan India gang on how to
compromise Gmail accounts.
The accused have been iden-
tified as Anurag Kumar Singh
and Vikas Kumar Maddheshiya,
both pursuing their M.Com in
Prayagraj.
Police said that the accused
used to make transactions dur-
ing the night as most of the peo-
ple generally keep their mobile
phones on silent mode during
that time. Hence, OTP mes-
sages would go unnoticed and
fraudsters would make multiple
transactions.
Police informed that on
Friday a case was registered
based on a complaint received
on the NCRP portal, which said
that a man was defrauded of
REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO
Rs 89,100.
Deepak Sehrawat, a resident
of Singhu, in his complaint, said
while he was sleeping when he
received an OTP from his SBI
card on his registered mobile
number and the transaction
took place without even sharing
the OTP. Following his com-
plaint, an FIR was registered
and investigation was taken up.”
The investigating team
sought information from Flip-
kart which provided two email
accounts that were used by the
fraudsters to purchase Google
gift cards. SBI Credit Card
officials provided data of the
transactions carried out by the
fraudsters.
From both the links, a com-
mon IP address was identified.
Cyber-tracking conducted after
information was received from
Flipkart helped the police trace
the accused persons to the ADA
Colony in Prayagraj. A raid
was conducted at the specified
location from where both the
accused were arrested.
Rajat Nair told Justice Manoj
Kumar Ohri, who was hear-
ing a plea by the Delhi Waqf
Board to open the mosque
in view of Shab-e-Barat and
Ramzan in March and April,
that the mosque is a case
property and the petitioner
board has no locus to seek
its re-opening.
Nair said that on earlier
occasions, a concession was
given to allow a few peo-
ple to offer prayers subject
to conditions and there was
no objection with respect to
such arrangement this time
as well.
din Markaz and the subse-
quent stay of foreigners there
during the COVID-19 lock-
down last year.
In its application filed
through advocate Waqeeh
Shafiq, the petitioner has
said that last year dur-
ing these two occasions —
Shab-e-Barat and Ramzan,
the high court had permit-
ted prayers in the mosque.
It has said the current
strain of COVID-19, Omi-
cron, was not as severe and
fatal as the Delta variant
and as the conditions have
improved, physical hearings

City Briefs Ankit Gujjar death: CBI gets more time to file report
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High
Court on Friday granted time
GIRL ASSAULTED OUTSIDE SCHOOL to file a further status report to
the CBI in the case concern-
AFTER ARGUMENT WITH FRIEND ing the death of inmate Ankit
NEW DELHI: A 16-year-old girl was assaulted by her Gujjar in Tihar jail last year fol-
female friend outside Gitanjali School in Sant Nagar lowing the agency’s submission
area of ​​New Delhi, whose video went viral. Later, the that the investigation in the case
police filed a complaint. Police received a complaint was ongoing. CBI counsel told
on March 2 from the family members of the girl where Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri that
they had written that the video of their daughter get- the agency needed more time
to complete the investigation
ting beaten up has gone viral on social media. The in the case.
schoolgirl had an argument with one of her friends Qua murder, the investiga-
after which a fight broke out outside the school, police tion is finished. Qua extortion,
said. Delhi Police has registered a case in this matter. the investigation is going on. We
will probably arrest the accused
also. And then file a status report,
CBI counsel said.
In its status report filed in
the case, the CBI informed that
its investigation focused on the
alleged murder of Gujjar, negli-
gence in providing him medical
attention, the non-entry of PCR
personnel inside the jail, shut-
ting down of CCTV cameras,
and extortion by jail officials.
The agency said that it has
been established that Gujjar had
died in the intervening night of
August 03/04, 2021 due to the
blunt force injuries caused by
sticks/lathi/baton/rods and state-
ments of four eyewitnesses have
been recorded. It stated that in
the ongoing investigation, no
CCTV footage related to the
places of occurrence could be
recovered. Investigation of the
case is being carried out most
expeditiously and earnest efforts
are being made to conclude the
case, the status report said.
The court adjourned the
hearing in the matter till May
6 and said that the authorities
shall continue to provide pro-
tection to the wife of Gujjar’s
co-accused who had moved the
court earlier alleging harassment
at the hands of jail officials.
In its earlier status report, the
investigating agency had stated
that it had been established that
several UPI payments were made
from the account of the brother
of the deceased and one witness
had disclosed that in March
last year, one of the jail staff
received cash delivered by him
on behalf of the deceased and the
investigation on that front was
underway.  MPOST
The counsel appear-
ing for the petitioner said
that the mosque, which
is under the lock of Delhi
Police, should be opened
as the Delhi Disaster Man-
agement Authority has now
lifted all restrictions that
were imposed on account of
the pandemic.
The judge listed the case
for hearing next week and
asked the petitioner to bring
the DDMA order on record.
Several FIRs were regis-
tered under the Epidemic
Diseases Act, the Disaster
Management Act, Foreigners
Act and various provisions of
of all courts have resumed,
schools, clubs, bars and mar-
kets have also reopened,
therefore, there is no impedi-
ment to direct reopening of
this waqf property.
The application was filed
in the Board’s petition which
has sought the reopening of
the premises and contended
that even after unlock-1
guidelines permitted reli-
gious places outside contain-
ment zones to be opened,
the Markaz — comprising
the Masjid Bangle Wali,
Madarsa Kashif-ul-uloom
and attached hostel — con-
tinues to be locked up.

CIVIL DEFENCE VOLUNTEER HELD IN

Pleas challenging min OVER 39,000 VEHICLES WERE TOWED AWAY IN LAST 3 MONTHS

Delhi Traffic Police introduces

CAR ROBBERY CASE
NEW DELHI: A 29-year-old civil defence volunteer
was arrested along with his associate in a car robbery age criteria to apply
for DJ post: HC defers new system for towed vehicles
case in southwest Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area, police said
on Friday. The accused were identified as Sachin and
Mausam alias Manoj (27), both residents of Rangpuri,
they said. Mausam works as an event organiser, while
Sachin is a Delhi Civil Defence volunteer and also
works as an event organizer, police said. The two were
DHJS exam by 4 weeks NEW DELHI: More than 39,000
arrested on Wednesday on the basis of a tip-off, they vehicles were towed away by the Information is
OUR CORRESPONDENT Delhi Traffic Police in the last
said. The car was recovered from their possession,
While the last date three months since it introduced
shared with owners
Deputy Commissioner of Police (southwest) Gaurav NEW DELHI: The Delhi High a new system of sharing infor- of towed vehicles
Sharma said. Court Friday deferred by four
of filling online mation about pit locations with
weeks the Delhi Higher Judi- application form vehicle owners via SMS, police
via SMS on their
DELHI POLICE IMPART SELF-DEFENCE cial Service (DHJS) Examina- was March 12, the said on Friday. registered mobile
TRAINING TO GIRLS, WOMEN tion-2022, which was to be held
on March 20, while hearing a Preliminary Exam
With effect from Decem-
ber 1, 2021, Delhi Traffic Police
numbers about
NEW DELHI: Celebrating the upcoming International
batch of pleas challenging the was scheduled for officials said, a new system has the status of their
Women’s Day, the Northwest district police of Delhi
initiated programmes of imparting self-defence
minimum age criteria of 35 years
March 20
started wherein information is vehicles and pit
fixed for applying for the post shared with owners of towed
training to young girls and women of the area. The of the district judge. vehicles via SMS on their reg- REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO locations
Parivartan teams of the district police visited schools, A bench of Justices Manmo- practicing advocates and aspi- istered mobile numbers about
colleges and institutions to empower young girls and han and S K Jain issued notice rants of the exam, challenged the status of their vehicles and a missing complaint or lodge a Out of the total vehicles
women. On February 28, the team visited Sarvodaya to the administrative side of the February 8 notification by pit locations. complaint about vehicle theft, towed away, there were 18,987 Police, Traffic (Modernisation), S
the Delhi High Court, through the Department of Law and Jus- According to the data, 39,155 said Suman Nalwa, Delhi Police two-wheelers, 13,730 private K Singh said, “Most of the own-
Kanya Vidyalaya of Jahangirpuri, NDMC School of its Registrar, and Delhi gov- tice by which the minimum vehicles were towed away by the Public Relations Officer. cars, 4,175 three-wheelers, and ers of towed vehicles earlier used
Shakurpur, Nigam Pratibha Vidyalaya of Pitampura, ernment’s Department of Law age limit for appearing in the Delhi Traffic Police from Decem- “In this new system, our traf- 1,279 commercial cars and vans, to file lost reports. Now, with this
and on March 3, it also visited the government school and Justice and asked them to DHJS exam from the Bar has ber 1,2021 to February 28, 2022. fic department sends a message the data showed. new system, they immediately
of A-Block Jahangirpuri and imparted self-defence respond to the petitions. been introduced by amending Soon, the Delhi Traffic Police immediately to the registered The analysis of the data get a notice and can take their
training. “Around 800 female students enthusiastically While the last date of fill- the earlier recruitment Rules. will also start sending SMS alerts mobile number of the towed showed that 838 large goods vehicle from Traffic circles.” “We
participated in the programme. The aim of organising ing online application form was The fixation of the lower age about the chowks where the vehicle owner informing that vehicle (LGV), 69 Heavy Trans- are also in the process of sending
March 12, the Preliminary Exam limit is violative of the right to towed vehicles are taken first his/her vehicle is at this par- port Vehicle (HTV), 42 Medium current locations. Right now, we
such programmes is to make them feel confident and was scheduled for March 20. equality enshrined under before being deposited at the ticular pit in Delhi so that they goods vehicle (MGV), 13 buses are sending only pit locations.
motivate them to be smart enough to know when they The court listed the matter Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the pits. can pay their challans and get and six other category vehicles There are 21 pits all around Delhi
need help,” DCP Usha Rangnani said. for further hearing on April 7. Constitution, the petitioners Earlier, when vehicles were their vehicles back without any were also towed away. where vehicles are parked,” he
The petitioners, who are contended. towed away, people would file difficulty,”she said. Deputy Commissioner of said.  PTI

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millenniumpost
NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022
‘AIM TO INSPIRE TODAY’S STUDENTS TO BE TOMORROW’S TEACHERS’ Govt honours
Delhi gets teachers’ varsity
AAISHA SABIR
NEW DELHI: “We aim to
inspire today’s students to
become tomorrow’s teachers,”
Deputy Chief Minister Man-
ish Sisodia said on Friday as he
inaugurated the first-of-its-kind
Delhi Teacher University cam-
pus here in Mukherjee Nagar,
adding that it would prepare
well-trained and highly quali-
fied teachers, who will be cru-
cial “nation-builders”.
“It gives me great pleasure to
inaugurate the ‘Delhi Teachers
University’... it will offer a new
age, integrated teacher educa-
tion programme after Class 12.
It will also emphasize on funda-
mental and applied research in
education by collaborating with
national and international orga-
nizations,” he added.
Sisodia, who is also Delhi’s
Education Minister inaugu-
rated the newly-built campus
on Outram Lane, underlining
the importance of developing
excellent teachers especially
given that they touch “all 360
degree aspects of our life”.
“That’s why it was easier to
establish IITs, IIMs, AIIMS but
we couldn’t establish a top level
teachers’ university till date,”
he said.
He expressed the hope that
the university will emerge as a
brand and set new standards
for the education of teachers
in the world.
“These days it is common in
Indian families that if a child is
good at mathematics, then par-
ents encourage them to prepare
for IIT, if a child is better in his-
tory then they will be asked to
prepare for UPSC. But children
are never encouraged to become
teachers,” Sisodia said.
The university will offer pro-
grammes such as BA-BEd and
BSc-BEd and focus on funda-
mental and applied research in
education.
High quality pre-service and
in-service programme, new age
BEd, MEd, PhD, and certificate
programme, focus on funda-
mental and applied research in
the field of education, national
and international collabora-
tion for exchange of new ideas
and best practices and part-
nerships with schools to pro-
vide hands-on-experience, are
among the features of the teach-
ers university.
“It will also be ensured that
trainees spend 30 to 50 pc of
their time in schools and get
hands-on learning experi-
ence from the very first month
of their course. Along with
this, a unique cell will also
be set up in Delhi Teachers Uni-
versity which will visit schools
of Delhi and motivate students
to opt for teaching profession,”
he added.
The Delhi Assembly in Janu-
ary passed a bill for setting up
a world-class teachers’ training
university.
New block at ITI
Meanwhile, Dy CM Sisodia
also inaugurated a new aca-
demic block at the Jahangir-
puri ITI with a state-of-the-art
infrastructure, a cosmetology
lab and a modern plumbing lab,
Sisodia said that in the cur-
rent environment in developing
countries, developing world-
class technical educational
institutes should be a top pri-
ority. “Talented students com-
ing out of training institutes like
ITI will write a new chapter in
the future. Our country will
become developed only when
every youth of the country is
skilled,” he said.
17 lecturers
OUR CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI: The Delhi gov-
ernment on Friday honoured
17 lecturers for their outstand-
ing work in colleges and state
universities funded by it.
Hailing their efforts, Dep-
uty Chief Minister Manish
Sisodia said teachers and lec-
turers are the biggest contribu-
tors to nation-building.
Our teachers impact mil-
lions of lives with their work.
Our teachers prepare the foun-
dation of the country, our chil-
dren, for the future. The faculty
members of our colleges have
been instrumental in build-
ing a knowledge-based soci-
ety in Delhi, so it is our duty
to honour them. Our vision
is to change the country
through education and our
teachers are contributing in this
direction by leading the move-
ment, he said.
The Award for College Lec-
turers’ scheme was launched
by the AAP dispensation in
2019 to acknowledge the con-
tribution of lecturers. They are
selected on the basis of stu-
dent feedback, improvement
in results, research work, extra-
curricular activities and other
areas of academics. To assess
these aspects, an evaluation
committee is formed at the col-
lege and university levels.
According to the guidelines
for the award, there is a provi-
sion to award one lecturer each
from the 28 colleges under the
government-funded university
and two lecturers each from
the three state universities. The
award comprises Rs 1 lakh and
a citation.
They keep passing the buck,
we keep suffering, say DBCs
SATVIKA MAHAJAN
NEW DELHI: As civic polls
approach, DBC workers con-
tinue to suffer while the Aam
Aadmi Party and the BJP lead
a contentious fight to see who
champions their causes first.
DBC workers across the three
MCDs; North, South and East
have been on an indefinite strike
since February 21 outside the
Civic Centre, demanding regu-
larisation of their posts, increase
in salaries and better benefits.
The three civic bodies
employ approximately 3,500
DBC workers who are responsi-
ble for keeping the rise of vector-
borne diseases in control in the
capital. Despite this, there are
no permanent posts for these
workers that are subjected to
harsh conditions, old fogging
machines and extensive physi-
cal labour.
As per MCD officials, they
started hiring DBC workers on
a semi-permanent basis 26 years
ago as the capital was witnessing
a surge in vector-borne diseases
after receiving orders from the
Delhi Government and no offi-
cial posts were created for these
workers. Since then, DBC work-
ers have not seen any change in
their conditions.
Rajesh Dhiran, 50, who has
served in the MCD as a DBC
worker for 26 years now, said
they receive no benefits or secu-
rity from the civic body or the
Delhi government. “We toil
hard every day, lugging heavy
machinery but the MCD has
never given us any benefits, in
fact, they often delay our sala-
City mp 3
ries and ignore our demands.”
He added that in the last
two years, DBC workers have
not been provided masks
and they have lost many col-
leagues, whose families have not
received any compensation to
date. Another worker who was
part of the strike, working for
15 years, said, “We have been
sitting outside the civic cen-
tre for almost two weeks now,
we see the Mayors, Chairmans
and other leaders’ cars pass by
us everyday but no BJP lead-
ers have visited to discuss our
demands. AAP leaders come to
see our condition, to showcase
support but do not help in any
other ways”
While leaders from the
South MCD have claimed that
they have been sending files for
regularisation of these work-
ers to the Delhi government
and have received no response,
Aam Aadmi Party leaders in
the MCDs have said there is no
proof that the MCD has sent
these files.
MCD officials claimed the
latest files were sent to the Delhi
government in January.
South MCD Standing Com-
mittee Chairman Col BK Oberoi
said that currently, there is no
official nomenclature for DBC
workers in the books and that
the Delhi government needs to
clear the way for this.
With polls coming up,
AAP’s MCD leaders have con-
sistently brought this issue up
in House and Standing Com-
mittee Sessions - asking for a
record of representations sent
to the Delhi government but
have always been shut down
without a response.
And amid this tussle
between the MCDs and the
Delhi government, the East
MCD has now threatened DBC
workers of withholding salaries
until they get back to work.
President of Anti Malaria
Ekta Karmchari Union Deva-
nand Sharma said, “We have dis-
cussed the matter with all three
MCDs multiple times as well as
the Delhi government but there
has been no change, they (AAP
and BJP) have made our cause a
football game wherein the keep
passing the blame on each other
but only we end up suffering.”

City Briefs 75 to 80% saplings planted in Delhi

STRONG ROOMS, COUNTING CENTRES b/w 2016 & 2019 survived: Minister
IDENTIFIED: OFFICIALS ON MCD POLLS
NEW DELHI: Preparations are underway on war foot- OUR CORRESPONDENT cent in Phase 2. Rai said Delhi of 10 lakh in 2017-18.
ranks first in the country in “We planted 19 lakh and 28
ing for the upcoming civic elections in Delhi, with poll NEW DELHI: Seventy-five per terms of per capita forest cover, lakh saplings against the target
authorities having identified strong rooms and count- cent to 80 per cent of the sap- ahead of Hyderabad, Bengaluru, of 10 lakh each in 2018-19 and
ing centres, and returning officers undergoing training lings planted in Delhi between Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad 2019-20.”
ahead of the exercise, officials said on Friday. The 2016 and 2019 have survived, and Kolkata. He said Delhi’s So far in the financial year
municipal elections are slated to be held in April, Environment Minister Gopal green cover has increased from 2021-22, Delhi has planted 32
however, the dates are yet to be announced. Rai said on Friday citing a report 20 per cent of its geographical lakh saplings and shrubs, which
from the Forest Research Insti- area in 2013 to 23.06 per cent is more than the target (31 lakh)
WORK TO DECONGEST 29 MAJOR TRAFFIC
Govt starts laying sewer
tute (FRI). in 2021. set by the Centre.
The government will also ask ‘Delhi ranks 1st in the The National Forest Pol- “In Delhi, not just the state
CORRIDORS IN DELHI COMPLETED: L-G the Dehradun-based institute country in terms of per icy aims at bringing a mini- government but all other agen-

networks in Shahbad &

to conduct an audit of planta- mum one-third of India’s total cies like DDA, MCD, Railways
NEW DELHI: The work to decongest 29 out of the 77
tions undertaken in the last two capita forest cover’ geographical area under green and DMRC, have collectively
major traffic corridors in Delhi has been completed, years, he said. cover. The green cover should worked towards making Delhi

Singhu group of colonies

Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal said on Friday. Baijal “We had asked the FRI to taken between 2016 and 2019. be at least 66 per cent of the total greener,” Rai said.
reviewed the progress with senior officials from Delhi conduct an audit of sapling plan- The survival rate stood at area in hilly regions and 20 per The government has also
Traffic Police, civic bodies and Public Works Depart- tation undertaken from 2016 to 80.21 per cent in the North divi- cent in the plains. decided to conduct soil testing
ment. He emphasised the need for timely completion 2019. We received the report in sion. In the West division, 78.5 Rai said Delhi has exceeded before annual plantation exer-
of work to decongest the remaining traffic corridors.
The decongestion will reduce idling of vehicles and
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Highlights January. According to it, 75-80
per cent of the saplings have
per cent of the saplings survived
in the Alipur range and 75.68
the target.
“We have been successful
cises to increase the sapling sur-
vival rate, he said.
NEW DELHI: Delhi Water »»Currently, the sewage survived,” Rai said at a press per cent in the Najafgarh range. in meeting our goal. In 2016- Officials said the city gov-
thus air pollution and ensure efficient traffic mobility. Minister Satyendar Jain on Fri- conference. In the South division, the 17, we set a goal of planting 10 ernment is also seeking to
from these areas is being
day laid the foundation stone of Around 62 lakh saplings survival rate was 72 per cent in lakh saplings, but we ended up conduct an audit of tree trans-
BJP LAUNCHES ‘REFERENDUM’ ACROSS sewer networks in Shahbad and
discharged directly or
were planted in Delhi during Mehrauli, 76 per cent in Asola planting 24 lakh. We planted 19 plantation exercises undertaken
indirectly into the Yamuna
CITY AGAINST GOVT’S NEW EXCISE POLICY Singhu group of colonies which
will help reduce the pollution river, which is one of the
the plantation drives under- Bhatti Phase I and 81.33 per lakh saplings against the target in the capital so far.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi BJP on Friday launched its ‘ref-
erendum’ to collect opinion of 10 lakh city residents on
load in the Yamuna river.
“Currently, the sewage from
reasons contributing to
pollution in the river: Jain
OPENING TODAY No-confidence
the Kejriwal government’s new excise policy. The party
is collecting public feedback at 1,120 places in each of
these areas is being discharged
directly or indirectly into the »»‘Through these motion against
interventions, we aim to
chair of Waqf
the 280 civic wards by placing specially crafted boxes, Yamuna river, which is one of
the reasons contributing to pol- connect all the colonies
said Delhi BJP media head Navin Kumar. “There could lution in the river. of Delhi to the sewer
not be a bigger issue in Delhi, as this excise policy will
affect the health and future of Delhiites in a negative
“Through these interven-
tions, we aim to connect all the
network, which will enable Board in Delhi
treatment of all the
manner,” Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta said while colonies of Delhi to the sewer
network, which will enable
wastewater in STPs. This NEW DELHI: Four of the seven
launching the ‘referendum’ at Connaught Place. “This is will, in turn, lead to
not a referendum, but the BJP’s anger arising from the treatment of all the wastewater Delhi Waqf Board members on
in STPs. This will, in turn, lead a cleaner Yamuna’ Friday submitted a notice of
fact that the new policy ended their alliance with the to a cleaner Yamuna,” Jain said. no-confidence motion against
liquor mafia,” the AAP said, adding that they should The sewer line to be laid in at Rohini and Rithala, Jain said. chairman Amanatullah Khan
instead ask the people if they would prefer their “collu- 16 unauthorised colonies and Similarly, a 10-kilometer to the Lieutenant Governor’s
sion” with the liquor mafia continue. three resettlement colonies sewer network will be laid in office, levelling allegations
under Shahbad GOC will be 80 the Singhu group of colonies of corruption, illegal recruit-
DELHI GOVT EXTENDS LIQUOR LICENSES kilometers long and will benefit consisting of two unauthorised ment and high-handedness
around 2.92 lakh people living colonies and one resettlement against him.
UNDER NEW POLICY FOR TWO MONTHS in and around these areas. colony. Nearly 15,000 people A dedicated skywalk for providing seamless connectivity between New Delhi railway station and the The four members asked Lt
NEW DELHI: The Delhi government’s excise depart- The sewage from these areas residing in Singhu, Lal Dora, Metro station near it will be thrown open to public on Saturday. The 242-metre long facility will also Governor Anil Baijal to con-
ment has extended the licenses of liquor wholesalers will be directed to the existing Singhu Extension villages will help in streamlining the traffic flow on the Ajmeri Gate side of the railway station vene a Board meeting within
and establishments such as bars and restaurants under sewage treatment plants (STPs) benefit from this initiative. 18 days to decide the no-confi-
dence motion. Khan, AAP MLA
a new policy for two months, in view of disruption
caused by the third Covid wave and subsequent lock- BREATH ANALYSER TESTS BACK IN GURUGRAM from Okhla, termed the allega-

Ggm’s Golf Course Road: Overspeeding, rash driving

tions against him false . Those
down. In two separate orders, the department stated accusing me of being dishonest
that the licensees under different categories can pay are themselves corrupt. I have
evidence against them, he said.

continue to pose risk for pedestrians and 2-wheelers

a pro rata fee for the extended period.
PIYUSH OHRIE
GURUGRAM: With its plush
office complexes, tony resi-
dential neighbourhoods, large
shopping complexes and a
world class golf course, Golf
Course Road for long has been
used as a metaphor for denot-
ing prosperity of Gurugram.
The Haryana government
along with nation’s top devel-
opers have not shied away in
Dr Gulshan Kumar Dhamija, Associate Professor, University School investing thousands of crores
of Basis & Applied Sciences was conferred with Best Teacher Award for development of this 10-kilo-
by Delhi government for his outstanding contribution in the field metre stretch which is a signal
of higher education.The award was given by the Deputy CM Manish free route.
Sisodia at a function organised at Delhi Secretriat on Friday The flip side on Golf Course
Road however remains that
it continues to be one of the
unsafe stretches for commuters
especially for pedestrians and
the two wheelers. Thursday’s
incident where four persons
lost their lives after two bikes
in which they were travelling
was hit by a reckless driver is
not the first and perhaps may
be the last incident either
on Golf Course Road. In an
official estimate by Gurugram
Police in the last three years
there have been more than 30
persons who have lost their
lives on Golf Course Road.
A major factor for the large
number of accidents on this
stretch has been attributed to
over speeding and reckless driv-
ing by a substantial number of
drivers. The road is used by a
large number of bikers or driv-
ers riding luxury cars for under-
taking stunts or to undertake
races at night.
As there are a lot of cuts
and turns along Golf Course
Road, often several vehicles
that try to come towards Golf
Course Road get hit by speed-
ing vehicles.
Four workers of a restau-
rant in DLF phase-1 were
killed when a speeding car
rammed into their bikes on the
Golf Course road here in the
early hours of Thursday.
The incident took place
when the four men were
returning home after work. The
driver of the car, who was alleg-
edly drunk, has been nabbed
and an FIR has been regis-
tered against the driver at DLF
phase-1 police station
Lack of enough facilities
for pedestrians is also result-
ing in lack of safety for citizens
at Golf Course Road. Hun-
dreds of citizens on a daily
basis risk their life in crossing
roads as there is no foot over
bridge that has come up at the
10-kilometre stretch. The pub-
lic authorities in the past have
urged citizens to use Gurugram
Rapid Metro Station to cross
from one side to another. Sev-
eral citizens continue to adopt
a careless approach and do not
use these stations to cross. To
make Golf Course Road less
accident prone, Gurugram
authorities have taken certain
measures in order to make driv-
ers reduce their driving speed
at key points.
Meanwhile, following the
loss of nine lives in two acci-
dents due to rash and drunken
driving here recently, police
in Gurugram have decided
to re-launch the weekly anti-
drunken driving campaign
from Friday night.
Former Congress MP and
a member of the Delhi Waqf
Board Parvez Hashmi said that
the notice was signed by four
members, including two nomi-
nated by the AAP government
itself. There were a lot of com-
plaints regarding the function-
ing of the Waqf Board under
Khan. Besides corruption and
irregularities, there are other
issues such as pending sala-
ries of Imams of mosques that
come under the Waqf Board’s
jurisdiction and rent collection,
Hashmi said.
Besides Hashmi, the notice
for the no-confidence motion
was signed by Chaudhary Sha-
reef Ahmad, Razia Sultana and
Naeem Fatima Kazmi. No reac-
tion was immediately available
from them.  AGENCIES
4 mp Nation millenniumpost
SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022 | NEW DELHI

UKRAINE CRISIS Health Min, NMC look for

Concerned about anxiety of people: SC
17,000 Indian students have been evacuated so far from war zone in Ukraine: Centre
OUR CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI: The Supreme
Court on Friday took note of
the Centre's submission that
it has so far evacuated 17,000
stranded Indian students from
the war zone in Ukraine, say-
ing it appreciated the efforts
but was concerned about the
anxiety of people.
The top court asked the Cen-
tre to consider setting up an
online helpline for the parents
and families of stranded stu-
dents in Ukraine and to con-
vey to the high courts not to
take up the issue pertaining to
the evacuation of students to
avoid multiplicity of litigation.
A bench headed by Chief
Justice N V Ramana took note
of the submission of Attorney
General K K Venugopal that
17,000 stranded Indian students
have been evacuated and the rest
are in the process of being res-
cued by the government which
is as concerned as your Lord-
ships . We are not saying a single
word, anything about the efforts
which you are taking. We appre-
ciate that but at the same time,
we are also concerned about the
anxiety of the people, said the
bench which also comprised
justices A S Bopanna and Hima
Kohli.
At the outset, the CJI termed
as unfortunate the ongoing
war by Russia on Ukraine and
said conflicts can be resolved
through negotiations.
It is unfortunate we haven't
learnt lessons from history
where the human race has been
fighting wars and killing peo-
ple and all that. Conflicts can
be resolved through negotia-
tions... We have no say in these
issues. But, the anxiety for us is
how to save these students, the
Mishra, Principal secretary of
the Prime Minister on Thursday,
about the girl who was unable
to cross over to Romania and
was stuck on Ukraine side of
the border.
The concern was commu-
nicated to Shri P K Mishra. He
communicated that to Shri Scin-
dia (Union Minister Jyotiraditya
Scindia), the person in charge
in Romania and the telephone
number of Fatima Ahana was
also given...She is now in Roma-
nia, he said, adding I expect that
she and the persons accompa-
Ankit Raghav, an MBBS student evacuated from war-torn Ukraine, with nying her, the other college stu-
his family members at his home, in Gurugram, on Friday dents, will come back by tonight.
Attorney General, we sin-
bench said. Romania border in Ukraine, cerely thank you very much for
Venugopal, who was asked gave the good news to the bench the efforts which you made by
by the bench to use his good that the petitioner student and taking personal interest in this
office to help in evacuation of others would be reaching India matter, the CJI said.
Bengaluru resident Fathima tonight. On being asked about the
Ahana and several other med- The top most law officer number of students stranded
ical students from near the said that he had contacted P K in Ukraine, Venugopal said as
per morning news, approxi-
mately 7,000 students are left
there and 17,000 have already
been evacuated.
He also referred to a peti-
tion filed in the Rajasthan High
Court on the issue and said that
the Indian government is capa-
ble of seeing that these people
are evacuated swiftly.
Attorney General, you can
inform your counsel appearing
in state high courts that once we
are hearing and the Centre is
taking steps there is no meaning
of every high court entertaining
and issuing directions. Please,
bring it to the notice of the high
courts that we are seized of the
matter, it said.
The bench asked the Centre
to consider setting up an online
helpline for the parents and said
that it would not pass any orders
and fixed the two pleas for fur-
ther hearing on next Friday.
ways to enable students
complete their courses
NEW DELHI: The Union
Health Ministry and the
National Medical Commis-
sion are exploring the possibil-
ity of relaxing provisions of the
NMC (Foreign Medical Grad-
uate Licentiate) Regulations,
2021 or finding alternatives to
enable Ukraine-return medical
students complete their courses
in private colleges in India or
abroad. Officials from NMC,
Health Ministry, MEA and NITI
Aayog will soon hold impor-
tant meeting and the issue will
be reviewed on humanitarian
grounds and looked at sympa-
thetically, sources said.
According to the provisions
of the National Medical Com-
mission (Foreign Medical Grad-
uate Licentiate) Regulations,
2021 the entire course, training
and internship or clerkship shall
be done outside India in the
same foreign medical institution
throughout the course of study.
The provisions also state that
no part of medical training and
internship shall be done in India
or in any country other than
the one from where the pri-
mary medical qualification is
obtained. An official source said
presently there are no norms and
regulations under the National
Medical Commission Regula-
tions to accommodate medi-
cal students, who were studying
abroad and had to return to
India midway, in Indian medical
colleges in between an academic
session. "However, keeping in
view such extraordinary situa-
tions, the issue will be reviewed
on humanitarian grounds and
looked at sympathetically," the
source said.
"Discussions in the Health
Ministry and the NMC have to
begun to explore the possibility
of relaxation in the provisions
of the NMC (Foreign Medical
Graduate Licentiate) Regula-
tions, 2021 or find alternatives
to allow such students complete
their courses in private medical
colleges or enable their trans-
fer to colleges abroad," official
source said.  AGENCIES

Congress lashes out at Modi government for mishandling of students’ evacuation

NEW DELHI: Hitting out at
the government led by Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, the
Congress on Friday accused the
Centre of mishandling the evac-
uation of Indian students from
Ukraine. Referring to a video
clip of a tearful student pur-
portedly stranded in Kharkiv,
Congress spokespersons Shama
Mohamed and Gurdeep Sappal
described the Modi government
as being “obstinate and cruel”.
In the video shared by the
Congress leader, the student
is heard saying he and others
are unable to move out safely
due to presence of snipers. The
student claimed nearly 800 stu-
dents were still stranded, with-
out adequate supplies.
Questioning the Modi gov-
ernment’s move for dispatching
four ministers to countries near
Ukraine, the Congress leader
asked the government the pur-
pose of the ministers to go to
the borders of Ukraine. While
alleging that the ministers were
engaged in a public relations
exercise, she noted that “min-
isters are in the peace zone and
students are in the war zone”.
Shama Mohamed alleged
that students in Ukraine were
unable to contact the Indian
embassy. “Indian students were
stranded in Ukraine due to the
government issuing mislead-
ing and vague advisories. The
advisories issued by India are
contradictory to the warnings
issued by other countries that
instructed its citizens to leave,”
she said adding that government
make it clear about exact num-
ber of Indian students stranded
in cities of Ukraine.  MPOST

From Page 1
artillery continued northwest of Kyiv, and the
northeastern cities of Kharkiv and Okhtyrka
came under heavy strikes.
He said Ukrainian forces were still hold-
tilities by both sides....local ceasefire or whatever the rubble. They are undergoing treatment at a ards,” Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer
works to get our people out of the conflict zones,” hospital in Bhagalpur. Nick Hockley said in a statement.
he said. He said searches conducted by the dog squad “We are in a state of complete shock at his
Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Ukraine’s and forensic team has led to the recovery of a sudden passing and our thoughts are with his

Putin urges
In the atttack on the Zaporizhzhia nuclear
plant in the southeastern city of Enerhodar, the
chief of the UN’s International Atomic Energy
Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi, said a Russian
projectile hit a training center, not any of its six
reactors.
The attack evoked memories of the world’s
worst nuclear disaster, at Ukraine’s Chernobyl.
In an emotional nighttime speech, Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he feared
an explosion that would be the end for everyone.
The end for Europe. The evacuation of Europe.
But nuclear officials from Sweden to China
said no radiation spikes had been reported, as
did Grossi.
Authorities said that Russian troops had
taken control of the overall site but that the plant
staff continued to run it. Only one reactor was
operating, Grossi said in the aftermath of the
attack.
Two people were injured in the fire, Grossi
said. Ukraine’s state nuclear plant operator Ener-
hoatom said three Ukrainian soldiers were killed
and two wounded.
The crisis at Zaporizhzhia unfolded after
Grossi earlier in the week expressed grave con-
cern that the fighting could cause accidental
damage to Ukraine’s 15 nuclear reactors at four
plants around the country.
In the wake of the attack, Zelenskyy appealed
again to the West to enforce a no-fly zone over
his country. But NATO Secretary-General Jens
Stoltenberg ruled out that possibility, citing the
risk of a much wider war in Europe.
He said the only way to implement a no-fly
zone would be to send NATO planes to enforce it
by shooting down Russian planes.
We understand the desperation, but we also
believe that if we did that, we would end up with
something that could end in a full-fledged war in
Europe, Stoltenberg said.
The UN Security Council scheduled an emer-
gency meeting Friday on the nuclear plant attack.
The fire came as the Russians pressed on
with their offensive in the southern part of the
country. Severing Ukraine’s access to the Black
Sea and the Sea of Azov in the south would deal
a severe blow to Ukraine’s economy and could
worsen an already dire humanitarian situation.
A round of talks between Russia and Ukraine
yielded a tentative agreement Thursday to set up
safe corridors to evacuate citizens and deliver
food and medicine. But the necessary details still
had to be worked out.
The plant fire was the second time since the
invasion began that concerns about a potential
nuclear accident arose, following a battle at the
heavily contaminated site of the now-decommis-
sioned Chernobyl plant.
Facing worldwide indignation, Russia sought
to deflect blame. Without producing evidence,
Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov
claimed a Ukrainian sabotage group had set fire
to the building at Zaporozhizhia.
In the latest show of international opposition
to the invasion, the UN’s top human rights body
voted 32-2 to set up a panel of experts to moni-
tor human rights in Ukraine. Only Russia and
Eritrea opposed it.
The Pentagon has established a channel of
direct communication with the Russian ministry
of defense to avoid unintended conflict related to
the war in Ukraine.
A US defense official said the de-confliction
line was established March 1 for the purpose of
preventing miscalculation, military incidents,
and escalation.
Frequent shelling could be heard in the center
of the capital Kyiv Friday, although more distant
than in recent days, with loud thudding every 10
minutes resonating over the rooftops.
Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Are-
stovich said battles involving airstrikes and
ing the northern city of Chernihiv, and had pre-
vented Russian efforts to take the important
southern city of Mykolaiv. Ukrainian artillery
defended Odesa from repeated attempts by Rus-
sian ships to fire on the major Black Sea port,
Arestovic said.
The Ukrainian Navy scuttled its flagship at
the shipyard where it was undergoing repairs to
keep the frigate from being seized by the Rus-
sians, Ukraine’s defense minister said.
It is hard to imagine a more difficult deci-
sion for a courageous soldier and crew, Oleksii
Reznikov said.
Another strategic port, Mariupol on the Azov
Sea, was partially under siege, and Ukrainian
forces were pushing back efforts to surround the
city, Arestovich said.
The humanitarian situation is tense, he said,
adding that Ukrainian authorities were in talks
with Russian representatives and international
organizations to set up a humanitarian corridor
to evacuate residents and supply food.
Battles have knocked out the city’s electric-
ity, heat and water systems, as well as most phone
service, officials said.  AGENCIES
Students stranded
“There is no electricity. We are running out
of water. There was a huge explosion that is why
we ran into the bunker. Please evacuate us,” one
of them said.
In another video shared tweeted by Shaikh on
Thursday, several armed men were seen roaming
outside their hostel.
“Looking out of our room’s window, another
sighting of armed men going around our hos-
tel is what we notice. It’s unsafe to step out and
the Indian Embassy wants us to catch trains and
cross cities. Please evacuate us before the situa-
tion worsens,” she wrote.  AGENCIES
India seeks localised
As India’s efforts to rescue its citizens gath-
ered further steam, it transpired that Harjot
Singh, a student from Delhi’s Chhatarpur took
four bullets, including one on the chest, as he
attempted to flee Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
Recounting the horror of February 27, Singh,
who is currently undergoing treatment at a hos-
pital in Kyiv, said, “We were in a cab to Lviv. We
were stopped at a barricade and suddenly it was
raining bullets. I thought this is the end. I am
alive by God’s grace.”
“I don’t know what happened to the people I
was with. If they made it or not, I have no clue. I
thought I will not make it,” Singh, enrolled in a
language course at International European Uni-
versity in Kyiv, said over the phone.
Naveen S G, a fourth-year medical student in
Kharkiv, was killed in shelling on Tuesday after
he ventured out of a bomb shelter to buy food for
himself and fellow students who were running
out of supplies.
Bagchi said India has also evacuated a Ban-
gladeshi national as part of its mission to bring
back the stranded Indians.
He said India is in touch with all parties con-
cerned on the evacuation exercise and sought a
“local ceasefire” in the conflict zones to get them
out.
The MEA spokesperson said India has not
seen any forward movement after it transpired
on Thursday that Russia and Ukraine are in
agreement about the need to create humanitar-
ian corridors to help civilians safely exit the con-
flict zones.
“We have not seen anything further to that
in terms of implementation of the same on the
ground. We are closely and eagerly monitoring
that,” Bagchi said.
“If that happens, it will certainly help our pro-
cess. We have been asking for a cessation of hos-
President Volodymyr Zelensky, said after talks
between Russia and Ukraine that the two sides
had reached an understanding to establish safe
corridors for civilians.
Responding to Russian reports that Moscow
has arranged for 130 buses for evacuating Indi-
ans from eastern Ukrainian cities, Bagchi said
they were around 50-60 km away from where the
stranded students are.
“They are frankly too far away. We do not
see a safe and secure way to reach them. I would
appeal and urge the parties concerned to have a
local ceasefire at least so that the students can go
to the buses,” he said.
Bagchi said around 20,000 Indians have left
Ukraine’s borders since India issued its first travel
advisories in mid-February.
He said 15 flights landed in India as part of
the evacuation mission during the last 24 hours,
bringing back more than 3,000 people, and
added 16 more are scheduled over the next 24
hours.
Over 10,300 Indians brought back in 48
flights under evacuation mission ‘Operation
Ganga’ so far, he added.
On whether an IL-76 transport aircraft is
being put on standby for evacuation of Indians
from the Russian side, Bagchi, without giving a
specific reply said, “all are in readiness”.
“The core problem is how we get the students
from where they are to the buses which are far
away,” he said.
The government has launched “Operation
Ganga” to evacuate its citizens and sent four
Union ministers as Prime Minister Narendra
Modi’s “Special Envoys” to countries neighbour-
ing Ukraine to coordinate the exercise.
Mamata questions
Why didn’t the government do anything
then? And now the government tells Indians to
come back on their own. Many are stuck in bun-
kers without food facing a threat to life.”
Meanwhile, the West Bengal government had
set up a special 12-hour control room on Febru-
ary 25 to help students and people from the state,
who are currently stranded in Ukraine.
The state government has already given the
list of 200-odd Bengal students stranded in
Ukraine and are making arrangements for their
return at the earliest from whichever airport —
Delhi or Mumbai.
Blast at illegal
The magnitude of the destruction in the inci-
dent caused Prime Minister Narendra Modi to
sit up and take note.
The Director General of Police S K Singhal
has blamed unregulated illegal firecracker busi-
ness as being responsible for the explosion that
took place in Kajwalichak locality falling under
Tatarpur police station area.
The prime minister posted on his Twitter
handle that he spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nit-
ish Kumar over phone, expressed anguish over
the loss of lives, prayed for speedy recovery of
those who were injured and took stock of the
relief work being carried out at the site by the
administration.
A statement from the chief minister’s office
said Kumar summoned Chief Secretary Amir
Subhani and director general of police S K Sing-
hal to get a detailed feedback and gave instruc-
tions for proper treatment of the injured and
suitable action after a thorough investigation.
Later, Singhal addressed a press conference
in Patna and said that the explosion had taken
place half an hour before midnight on Thursday
and debris were cleared after a nearly 10-hour-
long effort.
The DGP also said that ten others who sur-
vived the blast and were pulled out from under
large quantity of material used in the manufac-
ture of firecrackers, though it was found that
none of the households in the area had a license.
It is the responsibility of the police station
concerned to keep a check on such illegal and
dangerous activities,” Singhal said.
Accordingly, Tatarpur station house officer
Sudhanshu Kumar has been held prima facie
guilty of laxity and placed under suspension, said
the DGP.
He said the blast had taken place inside the
house of Leelavati Devi, a widow who lived there
with other family members and was said to be
involved in the manufacture of firecrackers. All
five occupants of the house, three of whom were
women, have died.
The remaining deaths are of people living
in adjoining buildings. These include Dhiren-
dra Mandal, a neighbour of Leelavati Devi, who
is said to have been involved in unlicensed fire-
cracker business,” he said.
Mandal had lost a brother in a similar blast
that took place in 2002, a few days before Deep-
awali, which claimed altogether four lives, Sing-
hal added.  MPOST
Aman Lekhi resigns
He has not given any specific reason for his
resignation.
Lekhi was appointed to the post in March,
2018 and was re-appointed on July 1, 2020 for a
period of three years till June 30, 2023. He has
appeared in various important criminal matters
in the Supreme Court as well as in various high
courts including coal block allocation scam and
2G spectrum allocation scam.  MPOST
56 killed
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government spokes-
man Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif said that two
terrorists were involved in the suicide bombing.
Talking to the media, Peshawar SSP Opera-
tions Haroon Rasheed Khan said the explosion
was a suicide blast.
There were two attackers but only one of
them was a suicide bomber, he said.
Inspector-General of Police Moazzam Jah
Ansari the terrorist first opened fire at the wor-
shippers after entering the mosque and then
blew himself up.
Ansari said that about five to six kilogrammes
of explosives were used in the blast, which took
place in the third row of the mosque.
An emergency has been declared in the hos-
pital and doctors on leave were summoned.
Officials said the condition of some of the
injured is stated to be critical.
Prime Minister Imran Khan strongly con-
demned the blast and directed authorities to pro-
vide medical treatment to the injured. He also
sought an inquiry report from the authorities
concerned.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed
sought a report of the incident from the Chief
Secretary and IG of the province.  AGENCES
Spin wizard Shane
Warne passes away
Gatting was left in disbelief by the big leg
break, a craft that was dying before Warne
revived it with his guile.
“Shane was one of the most talented and
charismatic cricketers we have ever witnessed.
Wisden named him as one of the five cricket-
ers of the twentieth century and he was rightly
placed alongside the names of (Don) Bradman,
(Jack) Hobbs, (Garry) Sobers and Vivian Rich-
family, his many friends and the legion of fans
from all over the world who loved and admired
Warnie for his unbelievable bowling skills, his
humour, warmth and engaging personality,” he
added.
Warne was the second-highest wicket-taker
in Test history and only Sri Lanka off-spinner
Muttiah Muralitharan has more wickets than
him with 800.
In 2007, Cricket Australia and Sri Lanka
Cricket named the Test series between the two
sides the Warne Muralitharan Trophy in the
duo’s honour.
Warne, who made his Test debut against
India at the iconic Sydney Cricket Ground, was
named as one of Wisden’s Five Cricketers of the
Century for his unparalleled achievements in a
15-year career between 1992 and 2007.
In 2013, the year he retired from the game
completely, he was inducted into the ICC Hall
of Fame. His international retirement happened
much before that in 2007.
Warne helped Australia win the World Cup
in 1999 and took more wickets than any other
bowler in Ashes cricket, the tally standing at 195.
After retiring, Warne added to his legend by
doubling up as captain and coach of IPL team
Rajasthan Royals and guiding them to a remark-
able title triumph in the event’s inaugural edition.
A flamboyant personality both on and off the
field, Warne also found success as a commenta-
tor and was considered among the sharpest ana-
lysts of the game.
He was immensely popular in India and his
connection with the country went back to his
debut when Ravi Shastri became his first Test
wicket.
Warne’s vivacious persona made him a fan
favourite across the cricketing world but also
often landed him in trouble.
In 1998, he and Mark Waugh coped a fine
from Cricket Australia for accepting money from
a bookmaker for sharing information on pitch
and weather conditions.
Before the 2003 World Cup in South Africa,
he tested positive for a banned diuretic, which
he claimed, was given to him by his mother for
weight loss. He subsequently coped a suspension
for the failed dope test.
He was dismissive of the idea of coaching in
cricket and always advocated for man managers
instead.
Warne has passed away on a day when Aus-
tralian cricket is in mourning after the death of
wicket-keeping legend Rod Marsh.
He had condoled Marsh’ demise in a tweet
this morning and that post would now be among
his last public statements.
“Sad to hear the news that Rod Marsh has
passed. He was a legend of our great game & an
inspiration to so many young boys & girls. Rod
cared deeply about cricket & gave so much-espe-
cially to Australia & England players. Sending
lots & lots of love to Ros & the family. RIP mate,”
the legend had posted.  AGENCIES
India abstains
The resolution was adopted with 32 votes in
favour, two against (Russia and Eritrea) and 13
abstentions, including India, China, Pakistan,
Sudan and Venezuela.
The countries voting in favour included
France, Germany, Japan, Nepal, UAE, UK and
the US.
The resolution, which strongly condemned
Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, decides
to “urgently establish an independent interna-
tional commission of inquiry to investigate all
alleged violations and abuses of human rights
and violations of international humanitarian law,
and related crimes, in the context of the Rus-
sian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, and
to establish the facts, circumstances, and root
causes of any such violations and abuses.
AGENCIES
millenniumpost
NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022 Nation mp 5
Akhilesh: UP polls UTTAR PRADESH ENTERS LAST PHASE OF POLLING

to save Constitution PM Modi holds roadshow in Varanasi

and democracy
OUR CORRESPONDENT
MAU (UP): Samajwadi Party
president Akhilesh Yadav on
Friday said the Uttar Pradesh
assembly polls are not just to
elect the government of the
state but also to save the Con-
stitution and democracy of
India.
Addressing a rally in Mau
for candidates of the Sama-
jwadi Party (SP) and alliance
partner Suheldev Bhartiya
Samaj Party (SBSP), Yadav
said the ongoing state polls
are the biggest elections yet in
the country.
Yadav also said the BJP's
frustration of losing the polls is
visible in their actions and lan-
guage, and cited the example
of attack on SP leader Swamy
Prasad Maurya and insult
to SBSP chief Om Prakash
Rajbhar.
Has not the language and
behaviour of the people, who
have become worried now,
Samajwadi Party president
Akhilesh Yadav during an election
campaign rally in Mau  PTI
changed? You can see defeat on
their faces now. They are not
just frustrated but have started
insulting SP leaders because
they have realised the people
are not with the BJP now, he
claimed.
Yadav claimed the spirit of
the people of Mau indicates
that no rival party candidates
will win on any assembly seats
in the region.
SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE
VARANASI: As the Uttar
Pradesh Assembly elections
enter the last phase, the politi-
cal parties' plan of action is now
centred to the heart of 'Pur-
vanchal' (Eastern UP)–Vara-
nasi. The pilgrim city witnessed
a sequential political caravan
from Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi's mega roadshow to
Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh
Yadav's roadshow on Friday.
PM Modi is on a two-day
visit to his Lok Sabha constitu-
ency Varanasi and had begun
his first roadshow from the
very location, where he held
his mega rally after filing nomi-
nation papers for the 2014 Lok
Sabha election–Maldahiya area
of North Varanasi assembly
constituency.
He began the roadshow
after garlanding a statue of Sar-
dar Vallabhbhai Patel at Malda-
hiya crossing. Covering almost
3.5 km, PM Modi's mega road-
show covered Lahurabir area
of Varanasi city to Godaulia to
Kashi Vishwanath temple. PM
Modi's roadshow covered the
three Assembly segments of
Cantonment, Varanasi North
and Varanasi South. He arrived
in Varanasi after address-
ing a rally in neighbouring
Mirzapur.
The crowded street reso-
nated "Jai Shri Ram" and "Har
Har Mahadev", and showered
rose petals as the Prime Minis-
ter's cavalcade moved through
the city's narrow lanes. Modi
wore a saffron cap and a Gam-
cha around the neck. His
roadshow ended at the Kashi
Vishwanath temple, where he
offered prayers. PM Modi is
scheduled to stay at the Die-
sel Locomotive Works (DLW)
guesthouse.
On Saturday, the Prime
Minister will wind up the elec-
tion campaign with a rally in
Khajuria village under the
Rohaniya Assembly seat ahead
of the last phase of the high-
octane UP Assembly polls.
Modi has been addressing
various election programmes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets supporters during a roadshow for the seventh and last phase of UP
Assembly elections, in Varanasi district, on Friday 
across the state, will now lead
the poll blitzkrieg in his Lok
Sabha constituency for two
days on March 4 and 5.
Meanwhile, experts feel that
his visit will boost up BJP work-
ers and may help the saffron
party to retain power for the
PTI
second time.
After PM Modi's mega
roadshow, another gigantic
roadshow was held by Sama-
Experts feel that
PM’s visit will boost
up BJP workers
and may help the
saffron party to
retain power for the
second time
jwadi Party chief Akhilesh
Yadav from 8 pm to 10 pm.
While pictures of PM Modi
sipping on steaming tea at a
roadside stall went viral, Yadav
said the historic night at Kashi
would give birth to a "new
dawn of political conscious-
ness". He tweeted in Hindi:
"This historic journey of the
night of Kashi… will lead to a
new 'Subah-e-Banaras' of polit-
ical consciousness…"
On the other hand, Con-
gress leaders Rahul Gandhi
and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
also offered prayers at the Kashi
Vishwanath temple on Friday
afternoon.

Hearing in
Lalu’s petition
deferred
RANCHI: The hearing in the
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's
petition at the Jharkhand High
Court challenging his convic-
tion and sentence by a special
CBI court in a fodder scam case
has been deferred for one week.
The court has directed his
counsel Devarshi Mandal to
remove defects in the petition
and said it will hear the case
again on March 11.
The ailing leader has also
pleaded to the court seeking
the suspension of his sentence
in the case and that he requires
better medical facilities to moni-
tor his health.  AGENCIES
‘Public hearing system should be
strengthened up to Panchayat level’
JAIPUR: Chief Minister Ashok
Gehlot said that responsive,
transparent and account-
able governance are the basic
mantra of the State Govern-
ment. The officers abiding
by this spirit of the Govern-
ment should ensure immedi-
ate redressal of problems of
the general public at the ini-
tial level.
He directed to strengthen
the system of public hearing
from the district level to gram
panchayat level for effective
redressal of public grievances.
Gehlot was reviewing the
public grievance redressal
through video conference from
his official residence on Fri-
day. He intensively reviewed
the redressal of grievances
received through Sampark
portal, Helpline 181, Public
Hearing at Chief Minister’s
residence and other medi-
ums. Good governance can be
gauged if the important works
of people are done on time and
their problems are redressed
early and with quality so that
the life of the common man
becomes easy.
The Chief Minister said
that intensive monitoring of
redressal of problems should
be ensured. He said that there
should be no laxity of any kind
of valid works and resolving the
problems of the general public.
Besides this, disciplinary action
should be initiated against
those officers and personnel
who have been negligent in
resolving the problems. The
Chief Minister also directed
for effective redressal of com-
plaints related to law and order
and crimes so as to ensure that
the complainant gets justice.
Minister of State for Public
Grievances and Redressal Dr
Subhash Garg said that there
is a need to make online the
record of the decisions and
actions taken on the com-
plaints received.  MPOST
Manipur polls: Cong leaders meet EC over
fund release to banned militant groups
NEW DELHI: Alleging that
militant outfits are intimidat-
ing voters and influencing
the ongoing assembly polls
in Manipur, Congress lead-
ers on Friday urged the Elec-
tion Commission to maintain
a level-playing field and ensure
a free and fair poll.
A Congress delegation met
the commission ahead of the
second phase polling on Sat-
urday and raised the issue of
the BJP-led state government
releasing funds to militant
groups under the suspension
of operation agreement despite
the model code of conduct for
the assembly polls being in
force. The party said that these
issues have “far-reaching con-
sequences” for the conduct of
free and fair elections.
The delegation of AICC
senior observer for Mani-
pur Jairam Ramesh and party
leader Salman Khurshid met
the Chief Election Com-
missioner and two election
commissioners.
“The Congress apprised
them of “the BJP’s ‘goonda-
gardi’ tactics that have made
a mockery of the Phase-1 polls
in Manipur. We urged them to
intervene to ensure free and
fair polls in Phase-2 tomorrow,”
Ramesh said after the meeting.
‘These issues have
far-reaching
consequences for
the conduct of free
and fair elections’
The Congress raised the
issue of release of funds –Rs
15.70 crore on February 1 and
Rs 92.65 lakh on March 1 –to
banned militant groups by the
state government, according
to a memorandum submitted
by it.
The Grand Old party also
flagged a statement issued by
the president of the banned
Kuki National Organisa-
tion asking electors to vote
for the BJP and threatening
them with dire consequences.
The Congress further alleged
intimidation and threats from
underground outfits to people
attending its meetings and poll-
related violence and criminal
intimidation witnessed by its
leaders and workers during the
campaign.
Despite their concern, six
people accused of poll vio-
lence which led to a murder
were released on bail in the
first week of March in Heirok,
Ramesh said.  MPOST

Key Highlights:
Inauguration of
Coronation Pillar-
• Commissioning of WWTP at a
3180 lakh litres capacity cost of approx. Rs 515.08 crore

Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) will treat the wastewater

generated from its command
at Coronation Pillar area before out falling in the
river Yamuna.
and
• Approx. 23,00,000 people will be
Laying of 71.51 kms Sewer line benefitted.
in Sangam Vihar & Deoli Constituencies Sangam Vihar & Deoli
Constituencies-
on Saturday, 5th March, 2022 • Laying of 300 mm to 500 mm
Internal & Peripheral sewer line
Chief Guest: in 20 colonies of Sangam Vihar

Satyendar Jain & Deoli Constituencies at a total

cost of approx. Rs. 42.36 crore.
Water Minister and Chairman, Delhi Jal Board
• Approx. 90,000 people will be
benefitted.
DIP/Shabdarth/D/0227/21-22

Urban Development Department, Government of NCT of Delhi

6 mp Nation millenniumpost
SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022 | NEW DELHI

‘Petitioners not entitled to claim `1,523 cr okayed for weapons,

scorecard of class X students’
The matter came up for hearing on Friday before a bench
OUR CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI: The CBSE has
told the Supreme Court that
a detailed scorecard of the
entire class cannot be pro-
vided to some class 10 pass-
out students who have alleged
that an Odisha-based school
denied it as it had to "con-
ceal its malpractices" in
awarding marks.
In an affidavit filed in
the apex court, the Central
Board of Secondary Educa-
tion (CBSE) said that a three-
member enquiry committee
had concluded in its August
last year inquiry report that the
school had prepared the result
of class 10 students as per the
tabulation policy.
The matter came up for
hearing on Friday before a
bench of Justices A M Khan-
wilkar and C T Ravikumar,
which posted it for hearing
after two weeks.
The plea, filed by 24 stu-
dents who have passed out
class 10 from the school in
Odisha, has sought a direc-
tion to the CBSE to review
and declare their result afresh
based on the board's evalua-
tion policy of May 1, 2021, after
collecting the correct record
from the school.
The petition, filed through
advocate Ravi Prakash, has
urged the top court to direct
an inquiry against the school
"for illegally demanding money
and putting undue pressure to
take admission in class 11 in
the same school to get good
scores in class 10".
In an affidavit, filed by the
controller of examinations, the
CBSE has said that the petition-
ers are not entitled to claim the
attendance sheet of the entire
class 10 for each examination
and each subject.
I, therefore, submit that
the petitioners are entitled to
know their internal assessment
marks, the highest average in
the preceding three years and
the marks assigned by the result
committee to them, from their
school but that does not mean
that they can claim the atten-
dance sheet, report of result
committee and detailed score-
card of all the students of class
X of their school, the control-
ler of examinations has said in
the affidavit.
It further said that the peti-
tioners had written a letter to
the CBSE in August last year
claiming that the school had
reduced their marks in class
10 and poor-performing stu-
dents were awarded very
good marks.
The affidavit said when the
issue was published as a news
item in a local newspaper in
August 2021, the Odisha State
Commission for Protection of
Child Rights (OSCPCR) had
taken suo motu cognizance and
directed the board to conduct
an inquiry into the matter.
It said an enquiry commit-
tee, consisting of three mem-
bers, was constituted to enquire
and submit a report.
The inquiry report dated
August 11, 2021, did not sup-
port the said contention of
the petitioners, and the copy
of the inquiry report was also
forwarded to the chairperson,
OSCPCR , it said.
It was concluded in the
inquiry report that by going
through all the activities of
result committee in respect of
class X 2021 of aforesaid school,
the committee was of the opin-
ion that the school prepared
the result of class X students as
per the tabulation policy, class-
X 2021 and subsequent FAQs
issued by the CBSE, it said.
The affidavit said the peti-
tioners have sought a direction
in their plea to provide a ratio-
nale document, attendance
sheet of each examination
and each subject conducted
by the school, report of result
committee, and detailed
scorecard of all class 10 stu-
dents which had to be pre-
pared by the school in terms
of the evaluation policy of
May 1, 2021.
upgrading IT infra of CAPFs
OUR CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI: The government
has approved Rs 1,523 crore
for procuring state-of-the-art
weapons and improving the
IT infrastructure of the Central
Armed Police Forces (CAPFs),
including the CRPF and BSF, in
the next five years.
The implementation of the
'Modernisation Plan-IV for the
CAPFs' will improve the over-
all operational efficiency and
preparedness of the forces and
positively impact the internal
security scenario in the country,
a Union Home ministry state-
ment said. With a total finan-
cial outlay of Rs 1,523 crore, the
modernisation is to be imple-
mented by the MHA under
the guidance of Home Minis-
ter Amit Shah from February 1,
2022 to March 31, 2026, it said.
The scheme will equip the
CAPFs with modern state-of-
the-art weapons and equip-
ment as per their operational
requirement, keeping in view
their deployment pattern in dif-
With a total
financial outlay of
Rs 1,523 cr, the
modernisation is to
be implemented
by the MHA under
the guidance of
Home Minister from
February 1, 2022
to March 31, 2026
ferent theatres, it said, adding
that upgraded IT solutions will
also be provided.
This would bolster the gov-
ernment's ability to address
the challenges faced along the
International Border, Line of
Control (LoC), Line of Actual
Control (LAC) as well as in dif-
ferent theatres, such as areas
affected by Left Wing Extrem-
ism, Jammu and Kashmir,
Ladakh and insurgency affected
northeastern states, the state-
ment said.
The CAPFs are include the
CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB,
NSG and Assam Rifles.
The Central Reserve
Police Force (CRPF) is mostly
deployed for internal security
duties and the fighting mili-
tancy in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Border Security Force
(BSF) guards India's border
with Pakistan and Bangladesh,
besides also often handling
internal security assignments.
The Central Industrial
Security Force (CISF) protects
vital installations like nuclear
projects, airports and metro
networks. The Indo-Tibetan
Border Police (ITBP) protects
the Sino-Indian border. The
Shashastra Seema Bal (SSB)
guards India's borders with
Nepal and Bhutan while the
National Security Guard (NSG)
is country's elite commando
force to tackle any emergency
security situation.
The Assam Rifles is deployed
along the India-Myanmar bor-
der and for anti-insurgency
duties in the northeast.

PHONE TAPPING CASE
HC grants interim protection to Maha chief secretary,
IPS officer Shukla till March 25 Pune police get notice
OUR CORRESPONDENT in the present FIR registered
against her last week by the
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Bund Garden police station in
Court on Friday restrained the Pune.
Pune police from taking any The bench also noted in
coercive action against IPS offi- its order that the said FIR had
cer Rashmi Shukla till March been registered against Shukla
25 in connection with the FIR after a considerable delay.
registered against her recently It took note of Shuk-
in an alleged phone tapping la's counsel and senior advo-
case. A bench of Justices S S cate Mahesh Jethmalani that
Shinde and Nitin Borkar said though the alleged incident of
that Shukla deserved to be illegal phone tapping had taken
granted protection from arrest place over three years ago, the
in the case until further orders, Pune police's FIR was regis-
since prima facie it appeared tered against Shukla only on
that she had been "singled out" February 25 this year.
Uproar in Haryana Assembly as
Jethmalani further said
that while several other offi-
cers of the Maharashtra police
had been involved in obtaining
the sanction for putting certain
phone numbers under surveil-
lance, the FIR had been regis-
tered only against Shukla.
The Maharashtra govern-
ment's counsel Y P Yagnik,
however, opposed Shukla's
request for interim protection
from arrest. He further sought
some time to file a reply to her
plea saying that a copy of the
petition had been served to
him only on Thursday.
SEPTIC TANK DEATHS
PUNE: The National Human
Right Commission (NHRC)
has issued a notice to the chief
secretary of Maharashtra and
Pune police seeking in con-
nection with the deaths of four
persons inside a septic tank
here.
Four persons, including
three workers, died inside
a septic tank of a residen-
tial building at Loni Kalbhor
near Pune city on Wednesday
morning.
As per a release, the NHRC
has taken suo moto cognisance
of media reports about the inci-
dent and has issued notices,
returnable within four weeks,
to the chief secretary of Maha-
rashtra and Pune police com-
missioner to submit reports on
the status of the case.
"The report should include
the details of compensation
paid or if not, show cause why
it should not be recommended
to be paid to the next of kin of
the four victims," the NHRC
release stated. The commission
has also asked for the details
of the case registered, if any,
against those who engaged the
victims for sewage cleaning
without providing adequate
safety equipment, it said. MPOST
Chh’garh: Four
killed as truck
falls off flyover
in Durg
DURG: Four persons were
killed after the truck they were
travelling in fell off a flyover in
Chhattisgarh's Durg district in
the wee hours of Friday, police
said. The accident occurred
around 12.30 am on the fly-
over near Green Chowk under
Mohan Nagar police station
limits here, an official said.
The truck was so
severely damaged
that the police had
to use a gas cutter
Lakhimpur case: Plea for
cancellation of Mishra’s
bail to be heard on Mar 11
OUR CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI: The Supreme
Court on Friday agreed to hear
on March 11 a plea challenging
the grant of bail by the Alla-
habad High Court to Ashish
Mishra, son of Union minis-
ter Ajay Mishra, in connection
with the Lakhimpur Kheri
violence that left eight people,
including four farmers, dead.
A bench headed by Chief
Justice N V Ramana took note
of the submissions of lawyer
Prashant Bhushan that the
other accused in the case are
moving courts for grant of bail
citing the relief granted to Ash-
meaningful and effective assis-
tance by the state to the court
in the matter .
Recently, another plea
seeking cancellation of bail of
accused Ashish Mishra was
filed by advocates Shiv Kumar
Tripathi and CS Panda on
whose letter the apex court had
taken the suo motu cognizance
of the incident. On October
3, last year, eight people were
killed in Lakhimpur Kheri dur-
ing violence that erupted when
farmers were protesting against
Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief
Minister Keshav Prasad Mau-
rya's visit to the area.
Four farmers were moved

3 CRPF personnel to cut open the ish Mishra and asked him to down by the SUV. A driver and
intimate the high court that the two BJP workers were then
vehicle to extricate
killed, one injured in govt tables anti-conversion Bill
top court is hearing the plea for allegedly lynched by angry
the driver's body cancellation of bail. farmers. A journalist also died
I can list on March 11 only. in the violence that triggered
from the vehicle Other judges have to be avail- outrage among opposition

UP highway crash CHANDIGARH: The Hary-

OUR CORRESPONDENT
BASTI (UP): Three CRPF
personnel were killed and one
was seriously injured in a road
accident here, when they were
on their way to join duties at
polling booths ahead of the
last phase of the Uttar Pradesh
assembly elections, police said
on Friday.
The accident took place on
Thursday night on the National
Highway-28 near Khajhaula
police outpost, they said.
The CRPF personnel were
travelling in an SUV to join
duties at polling stations on
March 7, when the seventh
phase of the election will be
held .
Three jawans of Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF)
Charlie 112 battalion died on
the spot when a truck hit the
SUV. Those who died in the
accident were identified Hiralal
(51), Jaiprakash (44) and Dhar-
mendra Ram (43), police said.
Another jawan was seri-
ously injured and has been
referred to the Gorakhpur
Medical College Hospital,
police said.
The police have taken the
truck into custody.
On Friday, homage was
paid to the mortal remains
of the three jawans at Police
Lines Basti. Inspector General
of Police, Basti Zone, Rajesh
Modak also paid floral trib-
utes to the deceased CRPF per-
sonnel. The bodies were later
handed over to the relatives of
the jawans.
ana government on Friday
introduced a Bill in the state
Assembly against religious con-
version through force, undue
influence or allurement, trig-
gering vociferous opposition
from the Congress.
Speaker Gian Chand Gupta
suspended Congress MLA
Raghuvir Singh Kadian for the
remaining sittings of the Bud-
get session for tearing a copy
of the Bill while other Con-
gress members staged a walk-
out against his suspension.
According to the Haryana
Prevention of Unlawful Con-
version of Religion Bill, 2022,
the onus of proof lies with the
accused. If conversion is done
by allurement, use of force,
fraudulent means or coercion,
then there is a provision for
imprisonment of one to five
years and a fine of not less than
Rs 1 lakh.
CM Manohar Lal Khattar in
Haryana Assembly  MPOST
Similar Bills in the recent
past have been passed in the
BJP-ruled state, including
Himachal Pradesh and Uttar
Pradesh. After the Bill was
tabled, Congress MLA Kadian
alleged that it reflects the inten-
tion of “divisive policies” and
demanded that it be sent to a
select committee.
Haryana Home Minister
Anil Vij, who introduced the
Bill in the House, targeted the
Congress over the country’s
Partition on the basis of religion
and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
When treasury and opposi-
tion benches sparred over the
Bill, Chief Minister Manohar
Lal Khattar said there was no
mention of any religion in it.
Reading out the Bill, Khat-
tar said no person shall con-
vert or attempt to convert
either directly or otherwise, any
other person from one religion
to another by misrepresenta-
tion, use of force, threat, undue
influence, coercion, allurement
or by fraudulent means, includ-
ing the use of digital mode or by
marriage or for marriage.
He said there is a provision
in the Bill that if a person is
willing to go for conversion, he
or she can apply for it by sub-
mitting an application to the
district magistrate. MPOST
The truck, which was head-
ing towards Dhamdha town
from Durg, dashed through the
railings of the flyover and fell,
he said. Truck driver, Mahesh
Warle, a native of neighbour-
ing Balod district, Tausif Khan
(26), Sahil Khan (23) and
Mohammad Aman (26), who
hailed from Durg, were killed
on the spot, the official said.
Some passersby alerted the
police, following which the
bodies were sent for post-mor-
tem, he said.
"The truck was so severely
damaged that the police had
to use a gas cutter to cut open
the vehicle to extricate the
driver's body from the vehi-
cle," the official said. According
to eyewitnesses, the accident
occurred due to the alleged
negligence of the driver, he
said, adding that a probe
is underway. AGENCIES
able, the CJI said. A single-
judge bench of the high court,
on February 10, had granted
bail to Mishra who had spent
four months in custody.
Bhushan submitted that
the high court while granting
the bail, did not follow the law
laid down and did not consider
aspects like tampering with
evidence and fleeing from jus-
tice. The problem is that other
accused are also moving," he
added. He sought a direction to
the high court that for the time
being, the bail plea of other
accused be not considered.
File a memo before the high
court that we are hearing on
March 11, the bench said.
Three family members of
farmers, who were killed in the
violence, have sought a stay on
the February 10 bail order of
the high court, saying the ver-
dict was unsustainable in the
eyes of law as there has been no
parties and farmer groups agi-
tating over the Centre's now-
repealed agri laws.
On November 17 last year,
the top court had appointed
Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain, for-
mer judge of the Punjab and
Haryana High Court, to moni-
tor the probe by Uttar Pradesh
SIT. The plea for cancellation of
Mishra's bail has been filed by
farmers, Jagjeet Singh, Pawan
Kashyap, and Sukhwinder
Singh, through lawyer Prashant
Bhushan.
The lack of any discussion
in the High Court's order as
regards the settled principles
for grant of bail is on account
of lack of any substantive sub-
missions to this effect by the
State as the accused wields
substantial influence over
the state government as his
father is a Union Minister
from the same political party
that rules the State.

Govt to open
nursing colleges
in 6 districts
soon, says Vij
CHANDIGARH: Haryana
Medical Education Minister
Anil Vij said that the State Gov-
ernment is going to open Nurs-
ing Colleges in 6 districts, which
will be inaugurated by the Chief
Minister soon. Vij was replying
to a question raised during the
ongoing session of the Haryana
Vidhan Sabha here on Friday.
Vij said that the State Gov-
ernment has formulated a new
nursing policy under which a
Nursing College should have a
100-bedded Hospital or a nurs-
ing college should be accredited
with an NABH certified Hos-
pital located within a radius
of 10-kms and that Hospital
should be 100-bedded. Vij said
that the provision of biomet-
ric attendance should also be
made for the children study-
ing in Nursing College. Apart
from this, Vij said that the coun-
try and the state need quality
paramedical staff i.e. nursing
staff. He said that earlier nurs-
ing colleges used to function
from one room and the nurses
and students studying in these
colleges didn’t even know the
basics of nursing, thus, a new
policy has been brought in. MPOST
In HP, 30K jobs, social security pension
for all above 60 yrs in `51,365 cr Budget
This is 5th Budget of CM during his term after 2017 and by end of year he will face polls
OUR CORRESPONDENT
SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh Chief Min-
ister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday presented
Rs 51,365 crore tax –free budget for year
2022-23 in the state assembly promising
30,000 new jobs, reducing minimum age
for grant of social security pensions to 60
years, and enhancing wages for several
categories of low paid employees includ-
ing daily wagers, ASHA workers, mid-day
meal workers and Anganwadi workers.
This is the fifth budget of the Chief
Minister during his term after 2017 and
by the end of the year he will face elections.
Thus, it appears the Chief Minister has
tried to appease all sections, especially
poor, socially deprived categories, farm-
ers and low paid government employees
and outsource employees.
He announced 10 new schemes in the
budget, few of these to improve the condi-
tion of the women and infants, apart from
improving standards of education.
The Chief Minister declared that
despite the state economy having taken a
big blow due to Covid situation and growth
was also affected, he had tried to address
all the sections, particularly poor sections,
women, employees, farmers and several
under privileged sections.
Yet, he admitted that the state's debt
burden has already increased to Rs 62,300
CM has tried to appease all sections, especially
poor, socially deprived categories, farmers
and low paid government employees and
outsource employees  MPOST
cr and being a state with a low income base,
the dependency remained in the central
grants, share of taxes, GST and also rev-
enue collections.
The biggest liability of the government
as per budget will remain salaries, pen-
sions, interest and loan repayment, what
is left for development works is a mere Rs
29 in every Rs 100.
The Chief Minister announced an
increase in MLA Area Development Fund
from Rs 1.80 crore to Rs 2 crore and MLA
Discretionary Grant from Rs 10 lakh to
Rs 12 lakh.
This was hailed by MLAs on both sides
of the benches.
Thakur while announcing 10 new
schemes in the budget made an unprec-
edented increase of almost three times in
spending in the social security cover as Rs
1,300 crore will be spent on providing pen-
sion to 7.50 lakh persons.
The age limit for old age, widow and
destitute women monthly pension has
been reduced to 60 years and an enhance-
ment made from Rs 700 to Rs 1,000, pen-
sion for those above 70 years hiked from
Rs 1,100 to Rs 1,500 and pension for lep-
ers and transgender up from Rs 700 to Rs
850 per month
This will impose a financial liability of
Rs 1,300 crore.
The Chief Minister also announced
that the HIMCARE scheme for the benefit
of the poor patients will continue as it has
benefited more than Rs 2.20 lakh people.
In the budget, the Chief Minister also
announced to effectively deal with stray
cattle menace and enact a law to provide
for stricter punishments to those who
abandon their cattle. He said more than
20,000 stray cows have been provided shel-
ter in gausadans and gaushalas ,apart from
Cow sanctuaries in the state.
He said the government will levy Rs
2 per bottle of liquor and money realised
will be spent on setting-up gausadans and
cow sanctuaries. The grant for private
gausadans from Rs 500 to 700 per month
per cow.
‘Need to develop favourable ‘Draw of lots to
ecosystem for divyangjans’ provide equal
Strategy should be to make divyangs realise their full potential  MPOST
NEW DELHI: Stressing on
the need to develop a favour-
able ecosystem for divyangjan
among government functionar-
ies, Union Minister for Social
Justice & Empowerment Viren-
dra Kumar said that our strategy
should be to make the divyangs
realise their full potential and
help them live a life of dignity,
freedom and satisfaction. The
better ambience in favour of
divyangjan among government
officials and the general pub-
lic would help in achieving the
goals of effective integration and
sustainable inclusive develop-
ment, the minister said while
inaugurating the two-day sen-
sitisation workshop at Tent City
in Kevadia, Gujarat. The work-
shop is aimed at creating aware-
ness about different initiatives
and schemes of the government
for the empowerment and inclu-
sion of persons with disabilities.
On the occasion, the min-
ister said that a community-
based inclusive development
programme has been developed
by the government in collabo-
ration with the University of
Melbourne, Australia to create
a pool of frontline rehabilitation
professionals at the grassroots
level. Representatives of around
25 states/UTs participated in the
workshop. During the work-
shop, various implementation
issues related to the empower-
ment of divyangjan were delib-
erated. Present on the occasion,
PwD Secretary Anjali Bhawra
emphasised the need for aware-
ness of the schemes and pro-
gramme of the Department of
Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities to bring them into
the mainstream and to make an
inclusive society. MPOST
opportunity
to members
during zero hr’
MPOST BUREAU
CHANDIGARH: Initiating
a new practice of conducting
legislative business on the lines
similar to Lok Sabha, Haryana
Vidhan Sabha Speaker Gian
Chand Gupta gave an equal
opportunity to the members
to speak in House during Zero
Hour by conducting a draw of
lots.
On the third day of the
ongoing budget session in the
Vidhan Sabha, 13 MLAs had
put slips with their names in
the box, out of which 10 slips
were taken out and they were
given an opportunity to speak
for 5 minutes each.
The MLAs shared some
pivotal public welfare
issues alongwith the issues
related to their Assembly
Constituency.
The Chief Minister, who is
also the Leader of the House
will include these issues in
his reply to the Governor's
Address.
millenniumpost
NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022 Editorial 7
EDITORIAL Spare the civilians
Titans in the race While conflicts between nations may be inevitable, deliberate violation of

E
ight cricket teams are set to set the stage on fire in human rights against civilians is not just avoidable but also criminal

I
New Zealand as the 12th edition of the women’s
World Cup is off to a flying start. Signs are clear n the backdrop of cata-
from the opener match itself where the underdog strophic devastation and
West Indies team defeated the hosts in a thrilling finish. untold human suffer-
Indeed, an exciting month lies ahead for cricket lovers. First ing caused by WW-II,
held in 1973 — even before the men’s cricket World Cup — KDP RAO the Universal Declaration of
ICC Women’s World Cup is yet to break many barriers. Until Human Rights in 1946 marked
now, the trinity of Australia, England and New Zealand have the beginning of a new world
maintained absolute dominance through their remarkable order, promising the freedom
gameplay in the tournament. This dominance is waiting to of life and liberty to all people
be broken as the women’s cricket World Cup has traversed a under the aegis of the United
journey of nearly five decades and untitled teams are knock- Nations. The Geneva Con-
ing hard on the door to make their presence felt. India had vention, Conventions on the
nearly grabbed the title against the host England in the last Rights of Women and Chil-
edition held in 2017. It almost threw Indian cricket fans dren and various other proto-
into shock and players into tears as India lost seven wickets cols reinforced the sentiment
when it just needed to score the last 40 runs. English pacer that nations are mandated
Anya Shrubsole had pulled the victory from Indian titans to protect human rights. But
through a wonderful spell of four overs, clinching five wick- unfortunately, the reality is far
ets in addition to the one taken earlier. Obviously, the shock- different from ideas, as mil-
ing defeat took India some time to recover but the team is lions of people across nations,
up again with a new zeal under the leadership of seasoned mostly those in third-world
Mithali Raj. Leaving the title aside for a moment, the prowess countries, are denied basic
of the Indian women’s cricket team remains unquestionable, rights to life and liberty in one
globally. Where Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami — who form or the other. While coun-
are probably playing their last World Cup — are in the race try-specific socioeconomic
of being the topmost run scorer and top most wicket taker conditions are systemic obsta-
respectively, young bloods like Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti cles against the realisation of
Mandhana among others have already set new standards of human rights, in many cases,
cricket in India. Previously, India had also lost its maiden the main culprits have been
final in 2005 against Australia in South Africa. This time Actors in war wars and armed conflicts, for
around the team is certainly willing to pour in all its energy these indiscriminately and
to win a tributary title for the grace and face of Indian wom- deliberately instantly deprive people of
en’s cricket — both Goswami and Mithali. Then again, it is inflict pain their rights, and cause irrep-
not just about India. Other teams too are dying to make their arable losses to life and lib-
presence felt. Another Asian team, Bangladesh has made on civilians erty. By the end of September
it to their maiden World Cup journey. The performance of by attacking 2021, an estimated number
the new entrant will be a delight to watch. The third Asian of 3,87,072 civilians in Iraq,
team is Pakistan that has featured in five World Cups thus and forcibly Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and
far and has finished fifth for its best in 2009. The remaining displacing them Pakistan have died due to post-
two teams are West Indies and South Africa. While South 9/11 military operations. Pres-
Africa has never made it to the finals, West Indies lost their through use of ently, the Russian invasion on
lone chance, conceding to Australia its sixth title in 2013 heavy-handed Ukraine has caused thousands
World Cup, hosted by India. That was indeed a forgettable of civilian casualties. Millions
World Cup for India as well, which couldn’t qualify beyond military or of civilians, including the vul-
the group stage. As sport is becoming increasingly competi- political tactics nerable and the old, are forced
tive these days, cricket fans expect cutting edge contests and to seek shelter in underground
players also give more than their best. More sharp contests in order to stations.
are expected in this edition of the Women’s World Cup. Aus- defeat Waiving of certain human
tralia has won six of the 11 World Cups concluded thus far, rights is a personal choice
another four is won by England and the remaining one by
the enemy for people working in armed
New Zealand. While a similar trend was observed in men’s forces, engaged in armed con-
cricket also, teams like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India and South flict or working with extrem-
Africa have always been formidable competitors. As things ist organisations, and as such,
stand today, the Indian men’s team is among the most formi- a plea against denial of human
dable teams in the world and is counted among top favou- rights is untenable. But the case
rites in any ICC tournament. The same spectacle needs to of civilians is stronger. Subject-
be replicated in women’s cricket as well. Afterall, sports are ing people who are not par-
all about positive competitiveness. While the gameplay and ticipants in a war to violence,
talent of players is at the core of enhancing competitiveness, displacement, estrangement
and hence popularity, of the women’s World Cup, greater with families etc. is an out-
institutional support could work wonders. Without going right infringement of universal
much further, we have a textbook example of how a strong rights to life and liberty. Dur-
BCCI supplemented cricketing gems in Indian men’s cricket ing an armed conflict, citizens,
to take the team to the pinnacle of the sport. The fact that the students from foreign coun-
women’s World Cup is slightly older than the men’s World tries, migrant workers, tour-
Cup should have made it a phenomenon. However, it is com- ists and a whole lot of other
paratively less talked about than the men’s World Cup. It is foreigners get stranded in
not just about bringing in parity but also about giving specta- inhospitable locations, discon-
tors a complete package of fun and excitement. Reassuringly, nected from communications,
cricketing boards even in Asian and African countries are denied food, shelter or protec-
now focusing on promoting women’s cricket — almost in an tion. This is exactly the story
organic fashion. As for the 2022 women’s World Cup, a lot of of Ukraine today. Hundreds
fun and excitement is to unfold over the coming month. May
High casualties among Ukrainian civilians and large-scale displacement are only reflective of a disturbing trend
of Indians, mostly students, are
stranded and even suffering
discrimination while crossing
the borders. An Indian student
died due to shelling, as he was
standing in que to buy food,
heart rending indeed. It’s a
shame that even in 21st century
when civilisation blossomed
to its finer expressions in all
fields of human excellence,
unarmed civilians, including
women and children, continue
to be the victims of aggression
and war — a thing unheard of
even in the blood-stained vio-
lent Roman history or in dark
ages marked by brutal use of
force by despots. Battles were
mainly fought in open fields
away from human habitations
by the kings and their armies
and, in most cases, only the
enemy soldiers were either
killed or enslaved — sparing
civilians, women and children.
An abominable fact is that
these days, actors in war delib-
erately inflict pain on civil-
ians by attacking and forcibly
displacing them through use
of heavy-handed military or
political tactics in order to
defeat the enemy; they even
determine where and how
humanitarian aid by the UN
agencies and other organ-
isations reaches the victims.
According to the World Eco-
nomic Forum, 65.6 million
people were globally displaced
by the end of 2016 due to wars
and conflicts — highest num-
ber since WWII — and 11.8
million people were internally
displaced in 2017, double the
figure of 6.9 million in 2016.
A hard-hitting fact is that 74
million people are subjected to
acute hunger in 18 conflict-rid-
den countries. Wars and crises
are said to be pushing people
to starvation, destroying lives
and livelihoods. Today, over 22
million people — two thirds of
the population of Yemen — are
in need of humanitarian assis-
tance while some 8.4 million
are facing famine. This is due
to a strategic design aimed at
defeating the opponent mili-
tia by draining out resources,
damaging infrastructure and
victimising civilians. It is
reported that in Sudan, all war-
ring groups equally attacked
civilians and, by pillage,
deprived them of their means
of survival. Even the govern-
ment is said to have denied aid
to some civilian populations
under rebel control as a tactic
to conclude peace.
Civilian populations con-
tinue to suffer across the world,
as hostilities between nations
never seem to end any more
than the perpetual ‘cold war’
does. The world powers, evi-
dently, are faced with a clash
of interest in spite of their
avowed commitment to pro-
tecting the rights of civilians
in conflict zones, for they are
involved, in one way or the
other, in almost all armed con-
flicts across the globe. The UN,
frankly, with no teeth, can at
best only galvanise relief oper-
ations after much damage has
been already done. None seem
to be seriously working to avert
conflicts and save people from
sufferings before the eventual-
ity takes toll.
Protection of civilians is a
priority not only in principle
but also in practice, and all
nations need to work in uni-
son to that end. It’s a moral as
well as a legal obligation, as all
nations agreed to comply with
two international laws — the
‘International Human Rights
Law’ (on the legitimacy of the
use of force) and the ‘Interna-
tional Humanitarian Law’ (on
how force may be used). The
former protects the human
rights enunciated in UDHR
and guaranteed by law through
various treaties whereas the
latter is a set of rules to limit
the effects of armed conflict.
Striking a balance between
humanity and military neces-
sity, International Humanitar-
ian Law provides for protection
of a number of civil, political,
economic, social and cultural
rights. States have both posi-
tive and negative obligations;
the former refers to acts to pro-
tect civilians and the latter to
refrain from such acts lead-
ing to denial of human rights.
Besides, the UN resolution
771 binds parties in conflict
to comply with the obligations
under International Humani-
tarian Law — particularly the
Geneva Convention (1949).
Persons who commit breach
of law are supposed to be indi-
vidually held responsible. But
the tragedy is that the appli-
cation of both the laws has
always been denied since the
end of World War-II. Korean
war (1950-53), Vietnam con-
flict (1965-72), Iran-Iraq War
(1980-88) and the Gulf Crisis
(1990-91) are some examples.
In spite of various international
agreements, conventions and
protocols, neither the perpe-
trators are brought to books
nor the losses suffered by civil-
ians are ever made good for.
It is impossible to visual-
ise a world without hostilities
and wars but it is possible to
make sure that civilian popu-
lations enjoy their basic rights
and freedoms even in the worst
crises. To quote Buddha, “no
matter how hard the past has
been, you can always make
a new beginning”. Renewed
and concerted efforts are
necessary to ensure compli-
ance with the existing inter-
national laws. Arrangements
for advance warnings, timely
evacuation, provision of food
and shelter, safety for women
and children can help prevent
large-scale human suffering.
The protocols for protection
of innocent people must be
adhered to by all. The UN, in
spite of its limitations, is a sci-
entifically evolved best inter-
national forum that champions
the cause of peace and human
rights. The world powers have
a duty to strengthen it by their
exemplary international con-
duct. However strong and
powerful a nation may feel, it
must not make the mistake of
ignoring the fact that in today’s
global economic order, war or
no war, all nations will have
to sail or sink together; and
denial of human rights any-
where destabilises economies
everywhere in the long run.
The writer is a former
Addl. Chief Secretary
of Chhattisgarh. Views
expressed are personal

The missing female touch

the best of talents deliver their best in the tournament.

DearEditor
IN NATIONAL INTEREST
This is in reference to the editorial “Calculative
It may be the best time for women entrepreneurs in India and
stance?”. Undoubtedly, India’s recent responses reflected
pragmatic pursuit of national interest. The Russian while rewards are rich several challenges persist

I
equipment, especially missile and nuclear technologies,
form the bedrock of India’s defence while the economic f there’s one hopeful trend entrepreneur (or even a male
partnership with the West, particularly the US, and that’s leading up to this one) decides to handhold a
its support against an increasingly belligerent China, year’s Women’s Day, it’s few others, it will create a tidal
are key to India’s future. Given this geopolitical reality, the rise of women entre- wave of women entrepreneurs.
SHUTAPA PAUL preneurs. I have spent much of And not all businesses need to
the Western sanctions against Russia have presented a the last month speaking about be VC-level unicorns; there is
tough choice before India whose abstention from United women entrepreneurship, much merit in small, profit-
Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution may have regaling college students about able businesses that can scale
angered the Western bloc. However, India’s decision my own journey, while partic- up later or continue as it is.
must be seen as a balanced approach to explore the ipating in incisive discussions More women investors would
space for a diplomatic resolution of this crisis. The with peers, which left me reju- also mean investing into cred-
abstention is a clear indication that India does not want venated and inspired. There ible and deserving women-
a second Cold War and explains why we prioritise the is a lot of action in the space led businesses. More women
use of diplomacy to defuse the crisis. India has rightly of women entrepreneurship. at the top could create greater
India’s growth Governments, both Centre employment of women in the
called for restraint, respect for national aspirations of all
countries and also about self-determination of people. story is missing and states, now have various workforce once the veil of
schemes to extend support to unconscious bias is bypassed.
In fact, India conveyed to Moscow in clear terms that the female female-led enterprises. The As I said in one of my
it needs to step back. Both at the UNSC and during touch and investing world too has taken speaking events, I’d love a
the Modi-Putin phone call, India underlined the need cognisance of the urgent need world where we didn’t need
to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity whether it’s to bridge the gender divide in to have special women entre-
of nations and immediate cessation of violence and increased the start-up world leading to preneur panels; where being
hostilities. It is also there that the current geopolitical more women-focussed pro- a woman entrepreneur was a
participation grammes that mentor and normal occurrence and not
muddle is largely because Russia and the West view
each other with a mutual disbelief. By abstaining from of women in invest in women entrepre- viewed with awe. But till we
neurs. India’s growth story is normalise this phenome-
the UNSC resolution condemning the Russian invasion the labour missing the female touch and non, if we must wax eloquent
of Ukraine, India has retained the option of reaching force or a fillip whether it’s increased partici- about the need, challenges,
Female-led businesses in India are slated to grow up to 90 per cent in the next five years
out to relevant sides in an effort to bridge the gap and pation of women in the labour and joys of women entrepre-
find the middle path. It must be pointed out that among to women-led force or a fillip to women-led revealed that newly launched within the family was better. to a sense of achievement and neurship, then sign me up!
the five permanent members of the Security Council — businesses, businesses, the time has come impetuses are working on the Entrepreneurship also imbued self-worth as well. But women We are on the cusp of long-
China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US — Russia the time has to fill that lacuna. ground to increase women-led 73 per cent of them with confi- need more encouragement and awaited change where we need
has been a steady supporter of India’s security concerns, As a bootstrapped entre- businesses. Most significantly, dence while a majority enjoyed the guidance must come from more women at the top in all
particularly with regard to Jammu & Kashmir. Rather come to fill preneur myself, I could not the survey highlighted the financial independence. But it’s public and private players. spheres of life; they must stand
than toeing the US line to hit out at Russia, India has that lacuna miss the chance to write about change in women’s lives as they not all picture perfect. Only Supportive families are pri- and lead shoulder-to-shoulder
that crucial factor, which can embraced entrepreneurship. 1 per cent of the surveyed marily responsible for nudg- with men. Too many men in
been advocating constructive diplomacy to resolve the
strengthen the economic tide Around 80 per cent women women availed of any govern- ing women into starting their powerful positions have led
imbroglio. in our country. Just like we surveyed across 13 states and ment scheme and only 11 per own business. Banks and other to all kinds of imbalances in
— KHOKAN DAS, KOLKATA via email need our MSMEs to pros- hailing from semi-urban and cent were even aware of them. lending institutions need also this world, and as we stare at
per, we also need our women rural backgrounds reported Being in business has not to step in to make it easier for the possibility of an all-out war
millenniumpost.in entrepreneurs to play a pivotal betterment of socio-economic only upskilled women but also women seeking business loans. playing out in our lifetimes, it’s
role. As per a recent report, and cultural standing after acted as a social catalyst for NGOs and self-help groups time that women step up even
Log on to write letters to the editor or send them to female-led businesses in India they started a business. 81 per many, causing actual women can also help encourage the more than before.
letter2editor.mp@gmail.com. You can also send your comments to The Editor, are slated to grow up to 90 per cent believed that their social empowerment that is notice- trend of women entrepreneurs. The writer is an author and
Millennium Post, Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 cent in the next five years. The status had improved while 82 able at the grassroots. There And there is no replacement media entrepreneur. Views
Edelgive Foundation Report per cent felt their positioning is no denying that it has led for mentorship; if one woman expressed are personal
8 mp World millenniumpost
SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022 | NEW DELHI

UKRAINE INVASION

Biden admin sanctions Kremlin

spokesman, 50 Russian oligarchs
WASHINGTON DC: The
White House has imposed
new sanctions on 50 Russian
oligarchs, including Kremlin
press secretary Dmitry Peskovt,
and their families in the lat-
est attempt to target President
Vladimir Putin for ordering the
invasion of Ukraine.
President Joe Biden said
the sanctions will target those
who line their pockets with the
Russian people's money as the
Ukrainian people seek shelter
from airstrikes.
The new penalties will cut
members of the Russian elite,
their families and close asso-
ciates, from the US financial
system.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, center right, speaks with
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell 
Today, I'm announcing that
we're adding dozens of names to
the list, including one of Russia's
wealthiest billionaires. I'm ban-
PTI
ning travel to America by more
than 50 Russian oligarchs, their
families, and their close associ-
ates, Biden told reporters at the
top of his Cabinet meeting at
the White House on Thursday.
The US, he said, contin-
ues to impose very severe eco-
nomic sanctions on Russian
President Vladimir Putin and all
those folks around him, chok-
ing off access to technology as
well as cutting off access to the
global financial system. Secre-
tary of State Antony Blinken,
in a statement announced the
names of some of the wealthi-
est Russian elites close to Putin
who has been subject to the lat-
est sanctions. They are Alisher
Usmanov, Boris Arkady, and
Igor Rotenberg, and their fam-
ily members and entities con-
nected to them.  AGENCIES

COURT NOTICE
(U/o 5 Rule 20 CPC) Kremlin
tightens grip
IN THE COURT OF Ms.
Harleen Kaur
Civil Judge (Junior Division)
Rewari
PRAVEEN MAHENDIRATTA
SON OF SH. HARI
on Ukraine
MAHENDHRATTA R/O
C-56,OLD DLF, Colony,
Sector-14 GURUGRAM
war coverage
TEHSIL AND Distt
GURUGRAM MOSCOW: The Russian par-
Vs liament has passed a bill intro-
General Public ducing sentences of up to 15
CS/46/2022 years in prison for intention-
CNR No. ally spreading fake information
HRRE02-000063-2022
Next Date 07.04.2022 about military action. Russian
That a decree of declaration state news agencies reported
tothe effect that plaintiff Friday the passing of the bill
is absoulte owner - in in the third and final reading.
-possession of the suit Land/ The development came amid
property fully described in
papa no 03 of the plaint and a crackdown by Russian author-
sown with red color in the site ities on independent media and
plan attached herewith, and criticism of last week's invasion
plaintiff is also entitled to of Ukraine.  AGENCIES
get his name recorded in the
revenue record as absolute
owner-in-possession of the
above -said land /property
be declaring the civil death
of smt. Meenakshi (wife) and
children archit and kartik
(sons) and appropritate
decree, may kindly be passed
in the matter in favour of
plaintiff
PUBLICATION ISSUED TO:
General Public,
Rewari (Haryana)
In above titled case, the
defendant(s)/respondent(s)
could not be served. It is
ordered that defendant(s)/
respondent(s) should
appear in person or through
counsel on 07-04-2022 at
10:00.a.m.For details logon
to https://highcourtchd.
gov.in/?trs = district
Notice&district=Rewari 
Sd/-(Harleen Kaur)
Civil Judge (Junior Division)
date 25.02.2022
Rewari

HIMACHAL PRADESH
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
INVITATION FOR BIDS(IFB)
The Executive Engineer H.P.P.W.D., Theog Division on behalf of Governor of H.P. invites the item rate basis, in electronic tendering system from
the eligible class of contractors registered with H.P.P.W.D., for the works as detailed in the table:-
Sr.N. Name of work Estimated Starting date for Earnest Money Time Cost of Deadline for
Cost downloading bid allowed From submission of
bid
1 Repair and maintenance of Jubber Kanchi to 6,17,520 21/03/2021 12,500 Two months 350 30/03/202217:00
House of Sh. Manoj ( SH:- P/L WBM G-I in km. 17:00 Hrs. Hrs
0/0 to 1/0)
2 Repair and maintenance of Punder to Chatog road 5,66,060 21/03/2021 11,500 Two months 350 30/03/202217:00
km. 0/0 to 1/0 ( SH:- P/L WBM G-I km. 0/0 to 1/0) 17:00 Hrs Hrs

3 C/O Play ground at Senior Secondary School 12,48,846 21/03/2021 25,000 Two 350 30/03/202217:00
building at Sarog Tehsil Theog Distt. Shimla H.P 17:00 Hrs months Hrs
(SH:- C/O ground & changing room)
4 R/R damages on Kargoli Nallah to Deha road 9,60,5987 21/03/2021 19,300 One 350 30/03/202217:00
(SH:- C/O R/wall at RD 0/195 to 0/207.50 & 17:00 Hrs. months Hrs
0/300 to 0/321)
The bidders are advised to note other details of tenders from the department website www.hptenders.govt.in
Executive Engineer
No 7346/2021-2022 Theog Division B&R
H.P.P.W.D.,Theog
Tel.01782238376
Email: ee-the-hp@nic.in
millenniumpost
NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022
UK minister Priti Patel launches
Ukraine family visa scheme
The visas will be offered free of charge and allow permission to remain in
the UK for three years to Ukrainian family members of UK-based nationals
LONDON: Home Secretary
Priti Patel on Friday formally
launched the Ukraine fam-
ily scheme visas, announced
earlier by the government,
to allow British citizens and
those settled in the UK to bring
over their Ukrainian relatives
impacted by the conflict with
Russia.
The Indian-origin minister
travelled to Medyka in east-
ern Poland on the border with
Ukraine to witness the situa-
tion on the ground and extend
the visas to those fleeing the
war zone into neighbouring
countries.
The family scheme visas
will be offered free of charge
and allow permission to remain
in the UK for three years to
Ukrainian family members of
UK-based nationals and those
with permanent residency.
"It's heart-breaking to have
met families, women and chil-
dren forced from their home-
land because of the monstrous
Russian invasion," Patel said
after her visit to a reception
centre for Ukrainian refugees
in Medyka, accompanied by
Polish Deputy Interior Minis-
ter Bartosz Grodecki.
"Our expanded Ukraine
Family Scheme is now fully
open and to see the first peo-
ple who will apply was wonder-
ful. While we want people to be
able to return to their homes at
the end of this diabolical inva-
sion, giving thousands of peo-
ple a route to the UK is the right
thing to do, she said.
The whole of the UK is
united in our condemnation
of Russia's barbaric and cold-
blooded actions and the gov-
ernment is doing everything
possible to make certain our
humanitarian support is in
Ukraine's best interests, she
added.
UK Home Office staff
have also travelled to Poland
to provide advice to refugees,
including processing visas and
ensuring a rapid visa service
to help with the flow of peo-
ple coming over the Ukrainian
border.
The Home Office said a
new pop-up Visa Application
Centre in Rzeszow, Poland,
has also been opened and the
combined total number of visa
appointments in the region
will increase to 6,000 from
next week.
"The British government
will do everything it can to
support the Ukrainian people
at this critical moment as they
fight for freedom, Patel said,
ahead of her visit to Poland.
"I have developed the
Ukraine family scheme fol-
lowing discussions with the
Ukrainian government and
neighbouring countries and
I am proud to have launched
it within a matter of days,
enabling Ukrainians with fam-
ily in the United Kingdom to be
welcomed safely, quickly and
free of charge, she said.
"The United Kingdom
stands to shoulder with Ukrai-
nians, providing humanitarian
practical support," she added.
The visa, which was initially
intended for immediate family,
has been expanded to include
parents, grandparents and sib-
lings. A separate sponsorship
scheme will also allow individ-
uals and organisations to bring
Ukrainians to the UK.
British Prime Minister
Boris Johnson has said the
UK could take in 200,000 or
more Ukrainians under these
initiatives.
The Opposition Labour
Party has called for further
emergency protection visas
for Ukrainians fleeing the Rus-
sian attacks as a simple and safe
route to sanctuary right now .
The United Nations (UN)
estimates that more than a mil-
lion people have fled Ukraine
since Russian President Vlad-
imir Putin ordered the attack
last week.
"Many relatives of UK resi-
dents still do not qualify under
the family visa, the community
sponsorship programme will
take time to set up, and there
is still no provision for people
in Britain to help Ukrainian
friends," the Labour Party said.
On Thursday, the Liberal
Democrats suggested the gov-
ernment should seize proper-
ties owned by oligarchs close to
world mp 9
President Putin and use them
to house Ukrainian refugees.
When asked about the pro-
posal on LBC Radio on Fri-
day, Deputy Prime Minister
Dominic Raab replied: "Yes, DELHI JAL BOARD GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI
absolutely. We are looking at OFFICE OF THE ADDL. CHIEF ENGINEER (M)-11 EXECUTIVE ENIGNEER (TENDER)M-11
everything in the round, it is a ROOM NO.110, JAL SADAN, SHIV MANDIR MARG, LAJPAT NAGAR, NEW DELHI-24
EMAIL : aeetdjm11@gmail.com PH-011-29810956
team effort across government."
Meanwhile, the UK govern- STOP CORONA-WEAR MASK, FOLLOW PHYSICAL DISTANCING, MAINTAIN HAND HYGIENE
ment announced another set Pres NIT No- 76 (2021-22)
of full asset freeze and travel
ban on two of Russia's leading
oligarchs with significant UK
interests and close links to the
Kremlin.
The Foreign, Common-
wealth and Development
Office (FCDO) said on Thurs-
day night that oligarchs Alisher
Usmanov and Igor Shuvalov
worth a combined USD 19 bil-
lion have been sanctioned with Further details in this regard can be seen at https://govtprocurement.delhi.gov.in
immediate effect. ISSUED BY P.R.O. (WATER) Sd/- SK Garg
"Our message to Putin and Advt. No. J.S.V./2021-22/1209 EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (T) M-11
his allies has been clear from
day one invading Ukraine
would have serious and crip- DELHI JAL BOARD GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI
pling economic consequences, OFFICE OF THE ADDL. CHIEF ENGINEER (M)-5 EXECUTIVE ENGINEER(M)-5
said UK Foreign Secretary Liz ROOM NO. 312, VARUNALAYA PHASE-I JHANDEWALAN, DELHI-110005
Truss. STOP CORONA-WEAR MASK, FOLLOW PHYSICAL DISTANCING, MAINTAIN HAND HYGIENE
"Sanctioning Usmanov and PREES NIT No. 58 (2021-22) M-5
Shuvalov sends a clear mes-
sage that we will hit oligarchs
and individuals closely associ-
ated with the Putin regime and
his barbarous war. We won't
stop here. Our aim is to crip-
ple the Russian economy and
starve Putin's war machine,
she said.
The minister also plans to
establish a so-called Oligarch
Taskforce of ministers and offi-
cials from across UK govern-
ment departments as an expert
group to coordinate sanctions,
helping build cases against the Further details in this regard can be seen at https://govtprocurement.delhi.gov.in
list of oligarchs it has identified ISSUED BY P.R.O. (WATER) Sd/-
as targets.  AGENCIES Advt. No. J.S.V./2021-22/1205 Executive Engineer(T)M-5

UN says 1.2 million people have fled Ukraine

GENEVA: The U.N. refugee
agency reported Friday that
more than 1.2 million peo-
ple have left Ukraine since the
fighting began.
More than 165,000 people
left the country on Thursday
down slightly from Wednes-
day's count and well under
the nearly 200,000 on Tues-
day, which amounted to the
peak one-day outflow of people
from Ukraine since the conflict
began, according to the United
Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees.
Its data portal on Ukraine
showed that the major-
ity about 650,000 had gone
to neighboring Poland, and
roughly 145,000 had fled to
Hungary.
Another 103,000 were in
Moldova and more than 90,000
in Slovakia.
UNHCR spokesperson
Shabia Mantoo said we know
that the majority are women,
children and the elderly, but she
was unable to provide a more
specific breakdown by age or
gender.  AGENCIES

OVER WAR-HIT UKRAINE BBC temporarily suspends

NATO rules out
policing no-fly zone
NATO ministers take part in a group photo at an extraordinary NATO
foreign ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Friday  PTI
BRUSSELS: NATO countries
refused on Friday to police a
no-fly zone over Ukraine, warn-
ing that such a move could pro-
voke widespread war in Europe
with nuclear power Russia, the
organisation's top civilian offi-
cial said.
Speaking after chairing a
meeting with U.S. Secretary of
State Antony Blinken and his
counterparts, NATO Secre-
tary-General Jens Stoltenberg
acknowledged the suffering of
the Ukrainian people, as Russia
ramps up its use of heavy fire-
power, shelling cities and other
sites, forcing more than a mil-
lion people out of the country.
What is taking place now in
Ukraine is horrific. It's painful
and we see human suffering,
we see destruction at a scale
we haven't seen in Europe since
the Second World War, he said.
But, he added: We are not
going to move into Ukraine,
neither on the ground, nor in
the Ukrainian airspace.
Under a collective security
guarantee binding NATO's 30
member countries Article 5 of
its founding treaty all allies must
come to the defense of an ally if
it finds itself under attack. Any
shooting down of a NATO war-
plane by Russia could trigger
that clause.
The only way to implement
a no-fly zone is to send NATO
fighter planes into Ukrainian
airspace, and then impose that
no-fly zone by shooting down
Russian planes, Stoltenberg said.
He said allies believe that if we
did that, we would end up with
something that could end in a
full-fledged war in Europe.
Ukrainian President Volody-
myr Zelenskyy has appealed for
the West to enforce a no-fly zone
over his country, most recently
after a fire overnight at one of
Ukraine's nuclear plants, the
largest in Europe.
But, Stoltenberg said, we are
not part of this conflict, and we
have a responsibility to ensure
that it does not escalate and
spread beyond Ukraine, because
that would be even more dev-
astating and more dangerous.
NATO members and offi-
cials are alarmed at Russian
President Vladimir Putin's
threat to use nuclear weapons
should one of their number get
involved in his war on Ukraine.
NATO has no weapons itself,
but the United States, Britain
and France are nuclear powers,
like Russia.
NATO has mobilised thou-
sands of troops backed by
aircraft, tanks and heavy equip-
ment and deployed them to
countries on its eastern flank
near Ukraine and Russia, such
as Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania,
Poland and Romania, which are
nervous about Putin's intentions
for their future.  AGENCIES
journalists' work in Russia
LONDON: The BBC said on
Friday that it had no choice
but to temporarily suspend
its journalists' work in Russia
after the Kremlin brought in a
new law that could mean a jail
term of up to 15 years for any-
one spreading "fake" informa-
tion about the country's armed
forces.
BBC Director-General
Tim Davie said the legislation
"appears to criminalise the
process of independent jour-
nalism" and that safety of the
British Broadcasting Corpora-
tion staff is "paramount".
It said that its news ser-
vice in Russian will continue
to operate from outside Russia.
The move follows a new law
passed in the Russian Duma,
the Lower House of its Parlia-
ment, on Friday, which warns
of imprisonment if so-called
fake news leads to serious
consequences.
"It leaves us no other option
than to temporarily suspend
the work of all BBC News jour-
nalists and their support staff
within the Russian Federation
while we assess the full implica-
tions of this unwelcome devel-
opment, said Tim Davie.
He added: Our BBC News
service in Russian will continue
to operate from outside Russia.
The safety of our staff is para-
mount and we are not prepared
to expose them to the risk of
criminal prosecution simply
for doing their jobs. I'd like to
pay tribute to all of them, for
their bravery, determination
and professionalism.
"We remain committed
to making accurate, inde-
pendent information avail-
able to audiences around the
world, including the millions
of Russians who use our news
services. Our journalists in
Ukraine and around the world
will continue to report on the
invasion of Ukraine."
The new law is designed
to give Russia powers to sup-
press information that it deems
as "fake" about its invasion of
Ukraine, which the Krem-
lin calls a special military
operation.
Russia's Upper House of
Parliament approved the law
on Friday, and it could take
effect in the coming days after
President Vladimir Putin signs
it off.
Access to BBC websites
had already been restricted in
Russia. News outlets Deutsche
Welle, Meduza and Radio Lib-
erty also had their services lim-
ited, Russia's state-owned news
agency RIA said.  AGENCIES
DAVP 34106/12/0020/2122
10 mp
‘PV retail sales dip 8% in India’s services sector activities
expand modestly in February: PMI
Feb amid chip shortage’
The passenger vehicle (PV) sales dropped to 2,38,096
units last month from 2,58,337 units in February 2021
OUR CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI: Domestic
passenger vehicle retail sales
declined eight per cent in Feb-
ruary as the companies contin-
ued to suffer production loss
due to chip shortage, automo-
bile dealers’ body FADA said
on Friday.
The passenger vehicle (PV)
sales dropped to 2,38,096 units
last month, down 7.84 per cent
from 2,58,337 units in Febru-
ary 2021.
“Even though the passenger
vehicle (PV) segment saw some
launches and slight respite in
supply due to better produc-
tion, it was not enough to meet
customer demand. Vehicle
waiting period thus remains
similar to what it was in the
past few months,” FADA Presi-
dent Vinkesh Gulati stated.
The industry body warned
that the Russia-Ukraine con-
flict could further impact the
production of semiconductors.
“Russia is one of the largest
producers of rare-earth metals,
especially Palladium, which is
an essential metal for semicon-
ductors. Ukraine, on the other
hand, is one of the biggest pro-
ducer and exporter of neon gas,
NDB puts on hold all new transactions in Russia
BEIJING: The New Devel-
opment Bank (NDB) of the
BRICS bloc has put all new
transactions in Russia on hold
citing the “unfolding uncer-
tainties and restrictions”,
amidst the Ukraine crisis.
The NDB’s move came a
day after the Asian Infrastruc-
ture Investment Bank (AIIB)
put on hold all its projects in
Russia and its ally Belarus.
The New Development
Bank (NDB) applies sound
banking principles in all its
operations, as stated in its
Articles of Agreement, a
statement by the bank posted
on its website on Thursday
said.
In light of unfolding uncer-
tainties and restrictions, NDB
has put new transactions in
Russia on hold , it said.
NDB will continue to
conduct business in full con-
formity with the highest
Rouble near
record lows in
volatile trade
MOSCOW: The rouble traded
near record lows against the dol-
lar and euro in volatile Moscow
trade on Friday, after Russia’s
credit rating was cut deeper into
junk by S&P and talks over the
war in Ukraine failed to reach
a breakthrough.
S&P cut Russia’s rating less
than a week after dropping it
from investment grade, as inter-
national sanctions ramped up
the chances of a default.
There were signs of tentative
progress in talks between Rus-
sia and Ukraine on Thursday,
with the countries agreeing on
the need for humanitarian cor-
ridors to help civilians escape
Russia’s invasion, but no major
resolution, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile news that Rus-
sia had seized a large Ukrainian
nuclear power plant put inves-
tors on edge.  AGENCIES
GOVERNMENTOFWESTBENGAL
Principal-CMSDH
Invites application for
the post of
01 Data analyst & 01
Senior Programme
Coordinator
Please visit
www.wbhealth.gov.in
www.cmsdh.edu.in
for details
Sd/-
Principal-CMSDH
ICA- N99 (3)/2022
Size: 4cm (W) x 5 cm (H)
Business
‘Russia is one of the largest producers
of rare-earth metals, especially
Palladium, which is an essential metal for
semiconductors, while Ukraine is one of the
biggest producer & exporter of neon gas
used in manufacturing of semiconductors’
which is used in the manufac-
turing of semiconductors.
“Due to the ongoing war,
we once again fear the shortage
in semiconductors which will
create additional supply side
issues for PVs,” the Federation
of Automobile Dealers Asso-
ciations (FADA) noted.
Two-wheeler sales last
month declined 10.67 per cent
compliance standards as an
international institution , it
said.
The NDB was established
by Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa (BRICS) to
mobilise resources for infra-
structure and sustainable
development projects in
BRICS and other emerging
economies and developing
countries.
On Thursday, the China-
based AIIB put on hold all its
projects in Russia and its ally
Belarus.
The bank’s decision was
regarded as noteworthy con-
sidering that Russia is its third-
largest shareholder. India is
the second-largest shareholder
after China.
Former RBI Governor
Urjit Patel is the Vice Presi-
dent for Investment Opera-
tions of Beijing headquartered
in AIIB. The bank is headed by
Jet Airways appoints
Sanjiv Kapoor as CEO
MUMBAI: Grounded car-
rier Jet Airways on Friday
announced the appointment
of Sanjiv Kapoor as the Chief
Executive Officer.
His appointment to the post
comes days after the airline
brought in former Sri Lankan
Airlines CEO Vipula Gunatileka
as the chief financial officer.
Kapoor, who is currently
the president of Oberoi Hotels
and Resorts, has been associated
with budget carriers SpiceJet
and GoAir as well as with full-
service carrier Vistara in various
capacities in the past.
He will join Jet Airways on
April 4, the airline said. Jet Air-
ways, which has not flown since
April 17, 2019, is in the pro-
cess of re-launching operations
Monetary policy is an art of managing expectations: Das
Conduct of monetary policy has undergone notable changes in India & across world, RBI Governor said
NEW DELHI: Reserve Bank
Governor Shaktikanta Das on
Friday said “monetary policy
is an art of managing expecta-
tions” as he emphasised the need
for an effective communication
strategy amid concerns over ris-
ing inflation fuelled by geopo-
litical developments.
The conduct of monetary
policy has undergone notable
changes in India and across the
world as economies and mar-
kets evolved and policymakers
gained greater insights into how
economic agents interact in a
complex economic system, he
said while delivering a lecture
to 9,83,358 units, compared
with 11,00,754 units in Febru-
ary 2021.
Gulati said rural distress
coupled with a price rise has
led to a drop in the sales in the
segment.
“The two-wheeler seg-
ment is showing no signs of
recovery as Bharat continues
to play spoil-sport. With the
former Chinese Vice Minister
for Finance, Jin Liqun.
“Our Bank is actively
monitoring the situation and
assessing its impact on AIIB’s
operations and our members’
economies” as the Ukraine
war unfolded, a press release
posted on the bank’s website
said.
“We, the Management, will
do our utmost to safeguard
the financial integrity of AIIB,
against the backdrop of the
evolving economic and finan-
cial situation,” it said.
“Under these circum-
stances, and in the best inter-
ests of the Bank, Management
has decided that all activities
relating to Russia and Belarus
are on hold and under review,”
the release said.
The bank has financed
several projects in Russia and
Belarus.
Explaining its decision
under its new promoters Jalan-
Kalrock Consortium.
“Sanjiv (Kapoor) is a sea-
soned aviation professional
who has the right blend and
demeanour to stitch a team
together,” said Murari Lal Jalan,
lead partner of the Jalan-Kal-
rock Consortium and proposed
non-executive chairman of Jet
Airways.  MPOST
at the National Defence Col-
lege here.
“As monetary policy is an
art of managing expectations,
central banks have to make
continual efforts to shape and
anchor market expectations, not
just through pronouncements
and actions but also through
a constant refinement of their
communication strategies to
ensure the desired societal out-
comes,” he said. The communi-
cation works both ways — while
too much communication can
confuse the market, too little
may keep it guessing about the
central bank’s policy intent, he
OUR CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI: Services sec-
tor activities in India picked
up marginally in February on
the back of better demand con-
ditions and the retreat of the
coronavirus pandemic but the
cost of acquisition continu- rate of expansion was the sec-
ously going north, the inquiry ond-slowest since last July and
level remained weak. As corpo- subdued by historical standards,
rates and educational institu- according to a monthly survey.
tions continued operating from Reflecting a moderate rate
home, urban demand also took of expansion, the seasonally
a hit,” he stated. adjusted IHS Markit India Ser-
Tractor sales stood at 50,304 vices Business Activity Index
units last month, down 18.87 rose to 51.8 in February from
per cent from 62,004 units in 51.5 in January.
February 2021. “The upturn was attributed
Commercial vehicle sales, by panellists to greater book-
however, witnessed a growth ings, better demand conditions
of 7.41 per cent last month at and the retreat of the pandemic.
63,797 units, as against 59,395 That said, the latest increase was
units in the year-ago month. subdued by historical standards,
The total sales across cat- with some companies indicating
egories last month declined by that growth was dampened by
9.21 per cent to 13,74,516 units competitive pressures, COVID-
from 15,13,894 units in Febru- 19 and higher prices,” the survey
ary 2021. released on Friday said.
FADA said that with crude A Purchasing Managers’
breaching the $110 mark, the Index (PMI) reading of more
government will not be able to than 50 indicates expansion
hold prices of petroleum prod- while the level below 50 reflects
ucts for long and that would contraction.
have a negative impact on two- “New business and services
wheeler sales. activity expanded only mod-
“Until the Russia-Ukraine estly, and at the second-slowest
conflict doesn’t come to an end, rates since last July. Looking
FADA changes its outlook from at the anecdotal evidence sup-
‘neutral’ to ‘negative’,” it added. plied by survey participants,
FADA said it has collected
data from 1,391 out of 1,600
RTOs (road transport offices) Markets sink for 3rd day as Ukraine
war drags, Sensex falls 769 points
across the country.
Rupee slumps 23 paise to close at 76.17 against US dollar
to put the projects in Russia
on hold, the AIIB said it is a MUMBAI: The Sensex and
multilateral organisation cre- Nifty lurched lower for the third
ated by an international treaty, day running on Friday, in lock-
and adherence to international step with global equities, as risk-
law lies at the very core of our off sentiment prevailed amid
institution”. Russia stepping up its military
“AIIB Management offensive against Ukraine.
believes that multilateralism A depreciating rupee, ele-
provides the best framework vated oil prices and heavy sell-
for countries to cooperate in ing by foreign investors also
dealing with common chal- contributed to the decline, trad-
lenges and supporting devel- ers said.
opment,” it said. The 30-share BSE Sensex
“As the war in Ukraine opened weak and slumped over
unfolds, AIIB extends its 1,200 points to the day’s low
thoughts and sympathy to of 53,887.72, before recouping
everyone affected. Our hearts some losses to close at 54,333.81,
go out to all who are suffer- down by 768.87 points or 1.40
ing,” it said. per cent.
“AIIB stands ready to Similarly, the broader NSE
extend financing flexibly Nifty slumped 252.70 points or
and quickly and support 1.53 per cent to end at 16,245.35.
members who have been Titan, Maruti Suzuki, Asian
adversely impacted by the Paints, Mahindra & Mahin-
war, directly or indirectly,” the dra, Hindustan Unilever, Bajaj
release said.  PTI Finance and Axis Bank were
the biggest drags on the Sensex,
CORPORATE KALEIDOSCOPE
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL), a ‘Maharatna’
Company under Ministry of Power, Government of India, signed an
MoU with Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram on Friday for providing
financial assistance for installation and operationalisation of
480 smart class rooms in 240 government schools across 12
districts of Haryana. The agreement was signed by V K Singh,
Director (Personnel), PGCIL and Nishant Kumar Yadav, Deputy
Commissioner, Gurugram in the presence of senior officials from
PGCIL and Haryana State CSR Trust.MPOST
(RBI) has actively used com-
munication through a variety
of tools -- the MPC resolutions
and minutes, exhaustive post-
policy statements together with
a statement on developmental
and regulatory measures, press
conferences, speeches and other
publications, especially the bian-
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das nual Monetary Policy Report
(MPR) — to anchor expecta-
added. The central bank also tions, Das said.
recognise that communication The governor informed that
needs to be backed by commen- price stability under the statute
surate actions to build credibil- has been defined numerically by
ity and instil wider confidence a target of 4 per cent for headline
in policies. Consumer Price Index (CPI)
The Reserve Bank of India with a tolerance band of +/- 2
“There was also an uptick in business
confidence, but firms continued to shed
jobs. Meanwhile, input costs increased at a
softer rate as did output prices”, it noted
inflationary pressures, input
shortages and the local elections
dampened growth,” Pollyanna
De Lima, Economics Associate
Director at IHS Markit, said.
Following the escalation of
the pandemic and an associ-
ated slowdown in growth dur-
ing January, the service sector
moved up a gear in February as
COVID-19 cases declined and
NSE NIFTY
Intra-day on March 4, 2022
-252.70
(-1.53%)
Previous
High: close:
Open:
16,456.00 16,498.05
16,339.45
Close:
16,245.35
Low: 16,133.80
9am 10 11 12 1pm 2 3 4 9am 10
tumbling up to 5.05 per cent.
In contrast, Dr Reddy’s Lab-
oratories, ITC, Tech Mahin-
dra, UltraTech Cement, Sun
Pharma and Wipro were among
the gainers, spurting as much as
2.95 per cent.
All BSE sectoral indices fin-
ished lower, with auto, metal,
Ukraine war: Steel prices jump to
`5,000/tonne as supply chains hit
NEW DELHI: Domestic steel
makers have hiked the prices
of hot-rolled coil (HRC) and
TMT bars by up to Rs 5,000 per
tonne as supply chain is being
impacted amid ongoing Rus-
sia-Ukraine conflict.
According to industry
sources, the prices have been
increased in the past few days
and are expected to go up fur-
ther in the coming weeks with
the crisis deepening between
the two countries.
After the price revision, a
tonne of HRC will cost around
Rs 66,000, while the buyers
will get TMT bars for about Rs
65,000 per tonne, the sources
said on Friday.
“The war is impacting
the supply chain at the inter-
per cent around it. The flexibil-
ity in the FIT (flexible-inflation
targeting) regime comes from
provisions to accommodate or
see-through transitory supply-
side shocks to inflation.
Failure to meet the mone-
tary policy objective is defined
in terms of average headline
CPI inflation remaining lower
or higher than the 2 to 6 per cent
band for three consecutive quar-
ters, rather than any instance
where inflation exceeds/falls
below the target. This helps
monetary policy to avoid undue
volatility in rate-setting behav-
iour that may adversely impact
SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022 | NEW DELHI
restrictions were lifted, it said.
Even though new business
and output rose at quicker rates,
those were below their respec-
tive long-run averages. “There
was also an uptick in business
confidence, but firms continued
to shed jobs. Meanwhile, input
costs increased at a softer rate
as did output prices”, it noted.
De Lima noted that growth
BSE SENSEX
Intra-day on March 4, 2022
-768.87
(-1.40%)
Previous
High: close:
55,013.27 55,102.68
Open:
54,653.59
Close
54,333.81
Low: 53,887.72
11 12 1pm 2 3 4 the foreign currency assets
KBK Infographics
consumer discretionary goods
and services, consumer dura-
bles and realty taking the big-
gest hit, tanking as much as 3.40
per cent.
The rupee slumped 23 paise
to close at 76.17 against the US
dollar on Friday.  PTI
national level leading to an
increase in input cost. Cok-
ing coal is trading at $500 per
tonne,” an industry executive
said adding that it is a rise of
about 20 per cent compared to
the rates a few weeks ago.
India meets 85 per cent of
its coking coal, a key steel mak-
ing raw material, requirement
from imports. While Australia
remains the main buying des-
tination, part of requirement is
met from countries like South
Africa, Canada and the US.
When asked about the
impact of the conflict on
domestic sectors including
steel, Tata Steel CEO and MD T
V Narendran said, “Both Rus-
sia and Ukraine are manufac-
turers and exporters of steel in
growth,” he said.
“The clearly defined infla-
tion target and the band, the set-
ting up of the MPC, the explicit
accountability mechanisms for
defining failure in meeting the
target, the detailed resolution
and the quick release of individ-
ual assessments in the minutes
have strengthened transparency
and credibility of monetary pol-
icy formulation in India,” Das
said. Retail inflation breached
RBI’s upper tolerance level at
6.01 per cent in January, com-
pared to 5.66 per cent in Decem-
ber 2021.
The rise was mainly on
millenniumpost
in the service sector failed to
rebound as meaningfully as
many would have hoped, given
that COVID-19 cases receded
considerably from January’s new
wave and restrictions were lifted.
“New business and services
activity expanded only mod-
estly, and at the second-slowest
rates since last July. Looking at
the anecdotal evidence supplied
by survey participants, inflation-
ary pressures, input shortages
and the local elections damp-
ened growth,” De Lima said.
Further, De Lima noted that
business optimism among ser-
vices firms remained muted
relative to its trend, despite
improving from January, owing
to pandemic-related uncertainty
and inflationary pressures.
“Although easing from Jan-
uary’s decade high, the rate of
input cost inflation remained
sharp in February. That said,
fewer firms passed on additional
cost burdens to clients amid
subdued demand conditions.
Output prices rose only slightly,
and at the slowest pace in five
months,” De Lima added.
The monthly survey on the
country’s manufacturing PMI,
released on Wednesday, showed
that manufacturing sector activ-
ities expanded in February as
output and new orders grew at
accelerated rates, supported by
favourable demand conditions.
Forex reserves
fall by $1.425 bn
to $631.527 bn
MUMBAI: India’s forex
reserves declined by $1.425
billion to $631.527 billion for
the week ended in February
25 due to a dip in currency
assets, according to the Reserve
Bank of India data released
on Friday.
The overall reserves had
increased by $2.762 billion to
$632.952 billion in the previ-
ous reporting week.
During the reporting week,
the foreign currency assets
(FCA) declined by $2.228 bil-
lion to $564.832 billion.
Expressed in dollar terms,
include the effect of apprecia-
tion or depreciation of non-
US units like the euro, pound
and yen held in the foreign
exchange reserves.
The value of the gold
reserves continued its north-
ward journey and increased by
$958 million to $42.467 billion
in the reporting week, the data
showed.  PTI
addition to being suppliers of
raw materials including cok-
ing coal and natural gas. The
unfolding Russia-Ukraine cri-
sis will impact supply-demand
dynamics, input costs and the
overall global economy.”
Narendran, who is also a
member of the global indus-
try body the World Steel
Association, further said,
“We are continuously moni-
toring the evolving situation
and have contingency plans in
place to ensure our custom-
ers and stakeholders remain
unaffected.”
HRC and TMT bars used in
consumer-friendly industries
such as auto, appliances and
construction, and real estate,
among others.  PTI
account of high food inflation,
which jumped to a 14-month
high of 5.43 per cent along with
an unfavourable base.
Referring to the current
global conditions, Das said it
was posing complex challenges
for central bank communication
after about two years of living
through the pandemic.
A number of economies,
including the major ones, are
facing multi-decadal high infla-
tion due to supply disruptions,
tighter labour markets, fragil-
ity of the just in time inventory
management and geopolitical
disturbances, he said. PTI
millenniumpost
NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022
`12 hike in fuel prices needed
for retailers to break-even
International crude oil prices shot above $120 a barrel for the first time
in nine years on Thursday before retreating a little to $111 on Friday
OUR CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI: Petrol and die-
sel prices, which have been on a
freeze for the past four months
in view of assembly elections in
states like Uttar Pradesh, need
to be increased by over Rs 12
per litre by March 16 for fuel
retailers to break even.
International crude oil
prices shot above $120 a barrel
for the first time in nine years
on Thursday before retreating
a little to $111 on Friday, but
the gulf between cost and retail
rates has only widened.
With international oil prices
- on which domestic fuel retails
are directly benchmarked -
spiking in the last two months,
state-owned fuel retailers “need
a massive price hike of Rs 12.1
per litre on or before March 16,
2022, just to breakeven and a
price hike of Rs 15.1 is required”
after including margins for oil
firms, ICICI Securities said in
a report.
The basket of crude oil India
buys rose to $117.39 per barrel
on March 3, the highest since
Exporter
arrested for
claiming fake
ITC of `15.26 cr
MUMBAI: An exporter was
arrested by officials from the
Central GST Commissionerate
at suburban Thane for allegedly
claiming fake input tax credit
(ITC) of Rs 15.26 crore, as per
an official statement on Friday.
The exporter is a director of
Borivali-based Corvette Trade-
link and had claimed the ITC
based on bogus invoices of Rs
85 crore issued by fake entities,
the statement said.
An investigation was initi-
ated based on inputs received
from Delhi Customs, which was
further developed by officers of
Thane Commissionerate, it said.
The firm was engaged in
export of footwear and had
availed GST ITC fraudulently
on the basis of bogus invoices
issued by non-existent entities
from Delhi.
The company had used
this fake ITC for payment of
IGST for exports through ICD
Tughlakabad, Delhi and had
subsequently claimed IGST
refund from customs on the fake
ITC so used, the statement said.
The director of the company
was arrested on Thursday, it said
without revealing the person’s
identity. The director has been
remanded to judicial custody of
14 days by a local court.
This case is part of an anti-
evasion drive launched by
CGST, Mumbai Zone against
the tax evaders and fraudsters,
the statement said. CGST Thane
Commissionerate alone has
detected tax evasion of Rs 1,238
crore, recovered Rs 20 crore and
arrested seven people in the last
six months.
The CGST department is
using data-mining, data anal-
ysis and network analysis tools
to identify potential tax evaders
and fraudsters, it said, adding
that the drive will be intensi-
fied in coming days.  PTI
GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
ICA-T4048(3) / 2022
2012, according to information
from the Petroleum Planning
and Analysis Cell (PPAC) of
the oil ministry. This compares
to an average of $81.5 per bar-
rel price of the Indian basket of
crude oil at the time of freezing
of petrol and diesel prices in
early November last year.
“With state elections getting
over next week, we expect daily
fuel price hikes to restart across
both gasoline and diesel,” JP
Morgan said in a report.
The seventh and final phase
of polling for the Uttar Pradesh
legislative assembly is on March
‘Sugar exports estimated to rise by 15% this year’
India is the world’s second-largest sugar producer after Brazil
NEW DELHI: India’s sugar
exports are estimated to
increase 15.38 per cent year-
on-year to 7.5 million tonnes
(MT) in the current marketing
year 2021-22, on likely rise in
demand for the Indian sweet-
ener amid the possibility of a
global deficit, industry body
ISMA said on Friday.
The country has physically
exported 4.2 MT of sugar till
February of the current mar-
keting year, against the export
contracts already undertaken
for shipment of six million
tonne, it said.
Sugar marketing year runs
from October to September.
India is the world’s second-
largest sugar producer after
Brazil.
According to the Indian
Sugar Mills Association
(ISMA), “India will export 7.5
million tonne sugar in the cur-
rent season, as against six mil-
lion tonne estimated earlier.”
Higher exports from India
are possible as the International
Sugar Organisation (ISO) in its
report has indicated a global
deficit of around 1.93 MT
for the marketing year 2021-
22 (October-September) and
interest of exporters to buy
more Indian sugar, it said.
Indian exporters are likely
to ship another 1.2-1.3 MT in
March, taking the total physi-
cal exports to 5.4-5.5 MT by
GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
WEST BENGAL HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE
N. I. T No.113 of A.G.M (Engg.)-III of 2021-22
Sealed Tender is invited for the works having experienced in
from any Govt. Organization. Last date of receiving applica-
tion- 17.03.2022 upto 2.00 P.M. All other information and details
may be obtained from the office of the A.G.M (Engg.)-III, WB
HIDCO at HIDCO BHABAN, 35-1111 MAR, New Town, Kolkata.
Sd- Addl. General Manager(Eng-III),
GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
WEST BENGAL HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE
N. I. T No.- 67 of A. G. M. (E)-II of 2021-2022
WB HIDCO invites online item rate open tender in two bid system for “Up-gradation
and Strengthening of Northern Side Main Carriageway of Street No.-3333 (Hatisala
bound lane) by providing Bituminous layer stretch from Siris Bagan to Intersection
of Street No.-852 and 3333 in Action Area-IIIA, IIIB and IIIC, New Town, Kolkata”
for resourceful bonafide Govt. Contactors and eligible outsiders in the manner as
described in the detailed tender notice available on http://wbtenders.gov.in on
and from 05.03.2022 at 11.00 A. M.
Corrigendum / Addendum, if any to this e-tender would appear only on above
Website and not be published.
7 and the counting of votes is
slated for March 10.
“Auto fuel net marketing
margin is minus Rs 4.92 per
litre on March 3, 2022, and Rs
1.61 in Q4 FY22-to-date,” ICICI
Securities said. “However, net
margin is likely to plummet to
minus Rs 10.1 per litre on March
16 and minus Rs 12.6 on April
1 at latest international auto
fuel prices.” The brokerage said,
“steep price hikes are required
as the strength in gross refin-
ing margins does not suffice for
sharp quarter-on-quarter fall in
net auto fuel marketing margin”.
then, it added.
Sharing the latest sugar
production figures, ISMA said
total production has reached
25.28 million tonne during the
October-February period of
the ongoing 2021-22 market-
ing year, up by 7.68 per cent
from 23.48 million tonne of
sugar in the year-ago period.
Sugar production in
Uttar Pradesh, the country’s
top sugar-producing state,
remained lower at 6.86 mil-
lion tonnes during the Octo-
ber-February period of this
marketing year, as against 7.42
million tonnes in the year-ago
period.
However, sugar produc-
tion in Maharashtra, the
country’s second-largest pro-
ducing state, rose to 9.71 mil-
lion tonnes from 8.48 million
tonnes; while that in Kar-
nataka, the country’s third-
largest producing state, rose
to 5.08 million tonnes from
4.08 million tonnes in the said
period.
Sugar production reached
WB HIDCO
Addl. General Manager (Engg.) - II
WB HIDCO
Oil prices have been on the
boil ever since Russia put its
forces on the Ukraine border
last month. They spiked after it
invaded the central Asian nation
on fears that oil and gas supplies
from energy giant Russia could
be disrupted, either by the con-
flict in Ukraine or retaliatory
western sanctions.
Russia makes up for a third
of Europe’s natural gas and
about 10 per cent of global oil
production. About a third of
Russian gas supplies to Europe
usually travel through pipelines
crossing Ukraine.
But for India, Russian
supplies account for a very
small percentage. While India
imported 43,400 barrels per day
of oil from Russia in 2021 (about
1 per cent of overall its imports),
coal imports from Russia at 1.8
million tonnes in 2021 made
up for 1.3 per cent of all coal
imports. India also buys 2.5 mil-
lion tonnes of LNG a year from
Gazprom of Russia.
While supplies at the
moment seem to be of little
worry for India, it is the prices
7,93,000 tonnes in Gujarat and
4,53,000 tonnes in Tamil Nadu
till February of the ongoing
marketing year. The remain-
GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
ICA-T4028(2) / 2022
KMDA TENDER NOTICE
e-NIT No: 10/SE/C-I/R&B/KMDA of
2021-2022 Sl. No.05 (2nd Call)
Online bids is invited by
Superintending Engineer, R&B Sector,
Circle-I, KMDA, Unnayan Bhavan, 5th
Floor, Block-A, Salt Lake City, Kolkata-
700091, from bona fide, eligible,
reliable, resourceful firms
experienced contractors, for the work,
Name of Work, Estimated
Earnest Money deposit, Completion
period, 5. Painting of Pier, Pier Cap,
Crash barrier etc. of MAA Flyover
(restricted areas)., Rs.1,31,27,102/-,
Rs.2,62,542/-, 15 days, Last date and
Time for Online Bid Submission:
26.03.2022 upto 12:00 hrs., for details
contact the above office or visit both
websites.
www.kmdaonline.org
www.wbtenders.gov.in
(KMDA-847)
ICA-T4076(3) / 2022
Business
that are a cause of concern.
Domestic fuel prices - which
are directly linked to interna-
tional oil prices as India imports
85 per cent of its oil needs - have
not been revised for a record 120
days in a row.
Rates are supposed to be
revised on a daily basis but state-
owned fuel retailers IOC, BPCL
and HPCL froze rates on sooner
did electioneering to elect a new
government in Uttar Pradesh,
Punjab and three other states
started.
Petrol costs Rs 95.41 a litre
in Delhi and diesel is priced
at Rs 86.67. This price is after
accounting for the excise duty
cut and a reduction in the VAT
rate by the state government.
Before these tax reductions,
petrol price had touched an all-
time high of Rs 110.04 a litre
and diesel came for Rs 98.42.
These rates corresponded to
Brent soaring to a peak of $86.40
per barrel on October 26, 2021.
Brent was $82.74 on November
5, 2021, before it started to fall
and touched $68.87 a barrel in
December.
ing states collectively pro-
duced 2.37 million tonnes in
the said period, ISMA said in
a statement.  PTI
the ICA-T4086(4) / 2022
and
Cost,
ICA-T4066(2) / 2022
ICA-T4081(3) / 2022
mp 11
Govt to take call in best interest
LIC IPO
of investors, says DIPAM Secy
OUR CORRESPONDENT “That is always been our
desire, but now with this crisis
NEW DELHI: The government which has come up, it is also a
will take a call on the IPO of the very dynamic situation. We are
country’s largest insurer LIC in
the “best interest of the inves-
closely watching (the situation)
and since you know you are
tors”, a senior official said on Fri- dealing with the market all the
day as it is closely watching the time, so we have to be watchful
market amid volatility caused by and make our strategy accord-
the Russia-Ukraine war. ingly,” Pandey stressed.
DIPAM Secretary Tuhin He also said the govern-
Kanta Pandey said that while pated events which have taken ment is guided by professional
the government’s desire is to over right now. We are closely advisors and whatever decision
come out with the Initial Public watching the market and cer- is taken, it will be in the best
Offer (IPO) of the state-owned tainly whatever the government interest of the investors and the
life insurer in the current fiscal, will do, we will do in the best stakeholders.
it is a “dynamic situation”. interest of the investors and also “LIC is not really any strate-
Through the IPO of Life the IPO,” Pandey, Secretary of gic investment but yes it is a very
Insurance Corporation (LIC), Department of Investment important event, as LIC being a
the government aims to garner and Public Asset Management very old organisation to wider
over Rs 60,000 crore in the cur- (DIPAM), said. public ownership. This is also
rent fiscal to meet its revised dis- Speaking at the seventh one of the important objectives
investment target of Rs 78,000 National Conference on Eco- of the government. We have
crore. nomics of Competition Law, brought in several listings in the
However, in the wake of 2022, he also said the govern- recent past like Railtel, IRCTC,
the market volatility due to the ment’s desire to come up with among others,” Pandey said.
Ukraine-Russia war, there might the IPO of the state-owned He also said that it is because
be a rethink on the timing of the insurer this fiscal year itself. of the LIC IPO proposal that one
LIC share sale. The financial year is ending crore new demat accounts have
“There are certain unantici- on March 31. been opened.
ArcelorMittal halts production
at Kryvyi Rih facility in Ukraine
NEW DELHI: Steel giant tions in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine one-third of its normal pro-
ArcelorMittal has stopped pro-
duction at its Kryvyi Rih facil-
(has been taken) in order to
ensure the safety and security
duction levels), the company
said in the statement issued
ity amid the ongoing conflict of our people and assets.” on Thursday.
between Ukraine and Russia. The company has been The steelmaker further
In a statement, ArcelorMit-
tal, which is owned by Indian-
evaluating the situation on a
daily basis and production had
said it is deeply concerned
about the situation in Ukraine
origin industrialist Lakshmi
N Mittal, said “the decision
previously been reduced with
the plant operating at a techni-
and the threat to its employ-
ees and the entire Ukrainian
to idle its steelmaking opera- cal minimum (approximately population.  PTI
KMDA TENDER NOTICE
e-NIT No. 12/SE/C-I/R&B/KMDA of
Online Bids
2021-22
are invited by The
Superintending Engineer, R&B Sector,
Circle-I, KMDA, Unnayan Bhavan, Salt
Lake City, Block-A, 5th floor, Kolkata-
700091, from bona fide, eligible,
reliable, resourceful firms
experienced contractors, for the work,
and
Sl. No., Name of Work, Estimated
Amount, Earnest Money, Completion
period, (1) Construction of five
numbers of culverts with approach
road at the southern side of Milan Mela
premises from the service road on item
rate contract basis with two years of
maintenance and Defect Liability
Period, Rs.1,70,46,810/-, Rs.3,40,936/-,
30 days, (2) Construction of one culvert
at the northern side with approach
road of the Milan Mela premises on
item rate contract basis with two years
maintenance and Defect Liability
Period., Rs.37,56,842/-, Rs.75,137/-, 30
days, Last date & time for Online Bid
Submission: 12.03.2022 upto 12:00
hrs., for details contact the above office
or visit both websites.
www.kmdaonline.org
(KMDA-851)
www.wbtender.gov.in
ICA-T4075(3) / 2022 ICA-T4053(3) / 2022
ICA-T4020(3) / 2022
ICA-T4070(3) / 2022
ICA-T4009(3) / 2022 ICA-T4068(2) / 2022
ICA-T4063(3) / 2022
GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
ICA-T4061(2) / 2022
GOVERNMENT OF WEST BENGAL
ABRIDGED
NOTICE INVITING e-TENDER NO:
ICA-T4057(3) / 2022 WBNKDA/01/ T.A TO C.E/NKDA of 2021-22
e-Tender has been invited on 02/03/2022 for the following
work: Repairing of Bituminous Road including profile correction
at Street no. 943, 945 & 898 in AA-III-G under NKDA
Estimated Amount: Rs. 21,25,281.00
Last date & time of submission of technical and
financial bid (On-line): 04/04/2022 up to 3:00P.M.
Details available on Website: https://wbtenders.gov.in& www.
nkd amar.org and the office notice board of NKDA
Executive Engineer and T.A.To C.E./NKDA
ICA-T4044(3) / 2022
12 mp Sport millenniumpost
SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022 | NEW DELHI

Ind vs SL: Pant makes statement Jamshedpur inch closer to League

Shield with win over Odisha
in Kohli's landmark 100th Test BAMBOLIM: Jamshedpur FC
took a major step towards secur-

The 5000 odd spectators saw one of the most flamboyant batters in
ing the Indian Super League
(ISL) Winner's Shield after a

recent history make a mockery of an average Sri Lankan attack

MOHALI: Indian cricket's
rapidly-rising box-office draw
Rishabh Pant owned the cen-
tre-stage in Virat Kohli's land-
mark 100th Test, hammering Sri
Lankan bowlers into submission
with an enthralling 96 as the
hosts reached a commanding
357 for 6 on the opening day
of the first Test here.
The 5000 odd spectators,
who had come to watch Kohli
perform on a grand stage, saw
one of the most flamboyant
batters in recent history make
a mockery of an average Sri
Lankan attack. He was especially
brutal when it came to going
after left-arm spinner Lasith
Embuldeniya (28-2-107-2), who
was taken for 22 in one over.
The deathly silence after
Kohli's shock exit for a well-
made 45 was there for barely a
second and half. Because at that
point entered the stockily built
24-year-old from India's engi-
neering city of Rourkee and that
was followed by a deafening roar
which showed his popularity.
On Kohli's day, he had com-
pletely over-shadowed the leg-
end. And those who came for
Kohli, decided to stay back and
India's Virat Kohli plays a shot on the 1st day of the first cricket test match between India and Sri Lanka, at
IS Bindra PCA Stadium, Mohali, Friday 
savour Pant's mayhem as he
started with a signature lofted
six off Embuldeniya over mid-
wicket fence.
Embuldeniya, who must
have felt emboldened when he
got one to turn a shade away and
tickle Kohli's off-stump, didn't
know what hit him.
In just over one and half ses-
sion, Pant nearly reached his
fourth hundred in Test cricket
before veteran Suranga Lakmal
(1/63), in his last international
series, breached his defence.
There were nine fours and
four sixes in his 97-ball knock
and one couldn't but feel for the
young man who looked com-
pletely devastated after another
near-miss, the fifth time that he
has gotten out in the 90s.
The walk back to the pavil-
ion took an eternity as it seemed
PTI
that one would need someone
to drag him out.
But coach Rahul Dravid and
skipper Rohit Sharma's decision
to send him at number five to
bring in the left-hander's advan-
tage against a left-arm spinner,
had paid the rich dividends they
were hoping for.
Embuldeniya didn't actu-
ally bowl as badly as his figures
might suggest and was pitching
the ball up, putting his body
into the deliveries and getting
them to spin away from the right
handers. Pant being a southpaw
obviously diminished his advan-
tage to an extent and then his
decision to stand at least a cou-
ple of yards outside the crease
made the difference.
He turned a lot of good
length deliveries into over-
pitched ones and Embuldeniya,
along with other spinners like
Charith Asalanka and Dhanan-
jaya de Silva (1/47), also suffered.
The one-handed sixes,
which he can now hit on pub-
lic demand, were in full display
for the motley crowd.
The Indian team's former
strength and conditioning
coach Shankar Basu, during
an interview with PTI dur-
ing the 2019 World Cup, had
claimed that when it came to
raw physical power, Mahendra
Singh Dhoni ranked No.1 but
Pant was a close second. To hit
a five and half ounce cricket ball
into the second tier of a cricket
stadium nearly 90 yards away
requires brute strength and Pant
showed that he possesses that in
abundance.  AGENCIES
dominant 5-1 victory over Odi-
sha FC here on Friday.
Daniel Chima Chukwu
(23rd, 26th) scored a first-half
brace to take his season's tally
to nine goals before Paul Ram-
fangzauva (45+1) pulled one
back for the Kalinga Warriors.
However, goals from Rit-
wik Das (54th), Jordan Murray
(71st) and Ishan Pandita (87th)
ensured a sixth consecutive win
for Owen Coyle's men.
With one match remaining
between them and ATK Mohun
Bagan, the Men of Steel have to
avoid defeat to become winners
of the league stage.
Odisha FC were dealt a
major blow early in the game
after losing Aridai Cabrera to
injury.
On the other end, Greg
Stewart yet again played a major
role in the first goal of the match
as his free-kick hit the crossbar
and fell to Chima Chukwu. The
striker made no mistake in scor- lead thanks to the strike from through ball, and rifled his shot
ing with the rebound. Paul, who made amends for his into the bottom right corner.
Odisha managed to make earlier error. Jordan Murray then got his
things worse for themselves The second half saw more name on the scoresheet after
shortly after when Paul Ram- zeal from Odisha FC as they coming on from the bench. To
fangzauva made a grim error tried to find the equaliser. make matters worse for Odisha,
in his own final third. Stealing However, it was the Men Jonathas was shown a second
the ball away from the mid- of Steel who found the back yellow card for unsportsman-
fielder, Chukwu added a second of the net through Ritwik Das. like behaviour, which saw him
for his team. The Kalinga War- The winger combined brilliantly leave the field, reducing the team
riors managed to halve JFC's with Stewart, latched on to a to 10 men.  AGENCIES

Davis Cup: Yuki, Ramkumar put WORLD RACE WALKING CHAMPIONSHIPS

India 2-0 ahead against Denmark Indian women's team scripts history with maiden medal
NEW DELHI: Yuki Bhambri
returned to Davis Cup action
with a commanding win while
Ramkumar Ramanathan did
not even need his 'A game'
to emerge victorious as India
grabbed a 2-0 lead in the World
Group I Play-off tie against
Denmark, here on Friday.
Taking full advantage of
the Danish player's discomfort
on the low bounce grass court,
Ramkumar cruised to a 6-3
6-2 win over Christian Siggs-
gaard, ranked as low as 824, in
the opening singles of the tie at
Delhi Gymkhana Club.
MUSCAT: The race walking utes 22 seconds. This was the Indian wom- when he was disqualified but he Athletics U-20 Championships
trio of Bhawna Jat, Ravina and The experienced Bhawna en's team's first medal in the would not have won the gold in Nairobi six months ago, was
Munita Prajapati scripted his- Jat, a Tokyo Olympian, was 61-year history of the World even if he had crossed the fin- at 11th position at the halfway
tory by winning the country's 21st with a time of 1:43:08 and Athletics Race Walking Team ish line first as he was handed mark but he gradually pulled
maiden women's 20km team 20-year-old Munita Prajapati Championships. a 60-minute penalty after his himself up to lead the pack
medal, a bronze, at the World finished 26th in 1:45:03. The men's team had already third red card. after the 9km mark. Lying third
Athletics Race Walking Team The team medals are decided won a medal -- also a bronze -- He would certainly have behind two Chinese walkers at
Championships here on Friday. after taking into account the in 2012. Earlier in the day, Amit been in the top 10 had he the start of the final kilometer,
China and Greece won the overall performance of the com- Khatri led the field at the final not received his fourth red Khatri stepped up the pace and
gold and silver respectively. peting athletes of a country. kilometer but was disqualified card -- which resulted in his shot into the lead. However, he
Ravina produced the best "The hard work that we put after receiving his fourth red disqualification. also picked up three red cards
finish by an Indian in the wom- in at the national camp has paid card in the U-20 men's 10km The 18-year-old Khatri, who in addition to the one shown to
en's 20km event at 14th spot off," Jat said after the historic event. had won a silver in the 10000m him earlier, according to Athlet-
with a time of one hour 40 min- medal. Khatri was leading the field race walk event at the World ics Federation of India. AGENCIES
India's Yuki Bhambri plays against Mikael Torpegaard of Denmark during Ash Barty withdraws from Indian WI pull off thriller to stun
NZ by 3 runs in WC opener
their Davis Cup World Group 1 play off match, in New Delhi, Friday 

Wells, Miami tournaments

There was hardly any fight
in the match, that lasted just
59 minutes, as Christian made
it easy for the 170th-ranked
Indian with his unending
unforced errors.
Yuki, playing Davis Cup
for the first time since 2017,
doubled India's lead with a
6-4 6-4 win in the second
singles against Mikael Tor-
pegaard, who, though served
and stroked confidently to keep
the Indian camp on edge.
It was clear that India's
strategy to host Denmark on
grass courts worked well as
tackling the low bounce indeed
troubled the visitors.
Rohan Bopanna and Divij
Sharan will now strive to seal
the tie for India on Saturday
when they take court for the
doubles match against Frederik
Nielsen and Johannes Ingild-
sen. If they win, India will keep
their place in the World Group
I and the reverse singles will be
rendered inconsequential.
"In Davis Cup, it's more
about fighting than playing
well. I fought well and hard
today," Yuki said after his win.
"The match was always
on my racquet, it was always
in my control. It was a mat-
ter of stringing a few points
together," he said when asked
about scoreline changing from
4-1 to 5-4 in second set.
Skipper Rohit Rajpal
praised both his singles players.
"Yuki played at a high level.
He was match sharp. Ram-
kumar too played with confi-
dence. He was sharp in the first
set. The idea was to keep it low
and trouble them. The players
executed the strategy well. We
had planned to go up 2-0 and
we did that," he said.
Ramkumar too was pleased
with his effort.
PTI
"I served pretty well, I was
sharp. The team and fan sup-
port also made the big differ-
ence. I just had to stay with the
ball and make returns. A few
free points also did the trick,"
he said.
Despite dropping his serve
in the opening game, Tor-
pegaard did not let Yuki seize
the momentum.
Whether it was stroking
from baseline, serving, swift
movement on both flanks or
charging the net, Torpegaard
did all to prevent it from
becoming a one-sided affair
like the first singles.
He got the break back in the
fourth game and what followed
was engrossing tennis from
both the players. Yuki broke
his rival one more time -- in the
ninth game -- and saved break
chances in the 10th to eventu-
ally nose ahead.  AGENCIES
MIAMI GARDENS (US): Ash
Barty, the world's top-ranked
female tennis player, pulled out
of Indian Wells and the Miami
Open citing a need for ongo-
ing recovery after winning the
Australian Open.
Indian Wells begins next
week, and had she played it
would have been Barty's first
appearance there since 2019.
The Miami Open, where Barty
is the two-time defending cham-
pion, begins March 21.
Unfortunately, my body has
not recovered the way I'd hoped
after the Australian Open and I
have not been able to adequately
prepare for Indian Wells and
Miami, Barty said on Thursday.
I don't believe I am at the
level necessary to win these
events and as a result I have
decided to withdraw from
both tournaments. "I love these
events and am sad not to be
there competing but getting my
body right must be my focus.
Her withdrawal means that
Indian Wells will be without
both players who made the
women's final at the season's
first major. Danielle Collins,
the top-ranked American in
the women's rankings at No.
11, cited ongoing injuries in
her decision to not play there.
Miami Open tournament
director James Blake said he
hopes Barty can make a quick
return. I know this was an
extremely difficult decision for
Ashleigh and understand the
importance for players to pri-
oritize their health, Blake said.
Barty ended a 44-year
drought for Australian women
at the Australian Open when
she won the singles title at Mel-
bourne Park in late January.
It was her third Grand Slam
singles title and her first on
hardcourts after her victories
on grass at Wimbledon and on
clay at the French Open. A GENCIES
MOUNT MAUNGANUI:
Deandra Dottin complemented
Hayley Matthews' whirlwind
century with an immaculate
last over as West Indies notched
up a stunning three-run victory
over the fancied New Zealand in
the Women's ODI World Cup
opener at the Bay Oval here
on Friday.
Hayley smashed a 128-ball
119 (16x4, 1x6) but the rest of
their batters failed to convert
their starts as West Indies set
up a 260-run target after the
White Ferns skipper Sophie
Devine opted to field. In reply,
the 2000 champions rode on
Devine's chancy 108 to over-
come a shaky start but only to
choke in the final over. Needing
six runs in the final over, New
Zealand lost three wickets in
four balls to get all out for 256 in
49.5 overs with pace bowling all-
rounder Dottin returning with
splendid figures of 0.5-0-2-2.
Having survived some anxious
moments both in the form of a
run-out and a couple of missed
catches, Devine completed her
sixth ODI century but could
not take her team over the line.
Chinelle Henry took a spec-
tacular return catch to dismiss
the White Ferns captain in
the 45th over, something that
revived the Windies hopes
before the veteran allrounder
Dottin sealed the issue.
Asked to defend six runs in
the last over with New Zealand
having three wickets intact, Dot-
tin claimed two wickets in three
balls, before the 17-year-old
Fran Jonas was run out in the
fifth ball to concede the Wind-
ies a thrilling win.  AGENCIES

Cricket world can't believe Warne no more
Superstars of world cricket paid rich tributes to Warne, one of the all-time greats of the
game, who died at the age of 52 due to suspected heart attack in Thailand on Friday
NEW DELHI: The cricket fra-
ternity across the globe was shell
shocked by the sudden demise
of Australian spin legend Shane
Warne on Friday, with players,
both past and present, left "lost
for words" and "devastated" by
the tragedy.
Superstars of world cricket
paid rich tributes to Warne,
one of the all-time greats of the
game, who died at the age of 52
due to suspected heart attack in
Thailand on Friday.
"Shocked, stunned & mis-
erable Will miss you Warnie,"
Tendulkar, whose rivalry with
Warne was the stuff of legend,
said.
"There was never a dull
moment with you around, on
or off the field. Will always trea-
sure our on field duels & off field
banter. You always had a special
place for India & Indians had a
special place for you. Gone too
young!" Tendulkar added.
India captain Rohit Sharma
said he still can't fathom that the
legend is no more.
"I'm truly lost for words here,
this is extremely sad. An abso-
lute legend and champion of
our game has left us. RIP Shane
Warne .still can't believe it,"
Rohit said in a tweet.
Rohit's predecessor, Virat
Kohli, who turned out in his
milestone 100th Test against
Sri Lanka at Mohali on Friday,
described Warne as a the "great-
est to turn the cricket ball".
"Life is so fickle and unpre-
dictable. I cannot process the
passing of this great of our sport
and also a person I got to know
off the field. RIP #goat. Great-
est to turn the cricket ball," he
tweeted.
BCCI secretary Jay Shah also
paid his condolences on the
Australian great's passing away.
"Terribly shocked and sad-
dened to hear the news of leg-
endary spinner Shane Warne
passing away. My heartfelt con-
dolences to his family, friends
and fans. Om Shanti."
Former India opener Viren-
der Sehwag, who had many a
duels with Warne during his
playing days, said he "cannot
believe it."
"One of the greatest spin-
Shane Warne  PTI
ners, the man who made spin
cool, superstar Shane Warne is
no more. Life is very fragile, but
this is very difficult to fathom.
My heartfelt condolences to
his family, friends and fans all
around the world."
Former India cricketer
Suresh Raina too offered his
condolences.
"At loss of words to hear
about the demise of our cricket-
ing legend Shane Warne, he was
always magical on the field. May
peace be with you. My heartfelt
condolences to his family and
loved ones. #ShaneWarne."
World Cup-winning India
opener Gautam Gambhir
tweeted: "Very few can match
their attitude with raw talent.
#ShaneWarne made bowling
look like magic! RIP."
Not just Indians, Warne's
untimely death has shocked
world cricket.
Another legend Adam Gil-
christ, who combined with
Warne to orchestrate innu-
merable dismissals of batters
around the world for many years
in the Australian team, also paid
a heart-wrenching tribute to the
departed cricket great.
"Numb. The highlight of my
cricketing career was to keep
wicket to Warnie. Best seat in
the house to watch the maestro
at work. Have often felt a tad
selfish, that Heals (Ian Healy)
and I pretty much exclusively
are the only ones who had that
thrill and pleasure at Test level.
Rip Warnie." Australia Test cap-
tain Pat Cummins said Warne
lit up the cricket world with his
aura and showmanship.
"Hard to fathom. We all idol-
ised Warnie growing up for his
showmanship, will to win from
any position and his incredible
skill," Cummins said.
"Players all over the world
owe him so much for what he
has brought to cricket. He had
a huge affect on all he met. He
transcended cricket. RIP King."
"RIP LEGEND
#ShaneWarne," West Indies
cricketer Chris Gayle wrote on
his Twitter page.
Former and current Pakistan
cricketers too paid rich tributes
to the spin magician.
"Find it hard to believe. Such
a devastating loss for the cricket
world. He literally inspired gen-
erations with his magical leg
spin. You'll forever be missed
#ShaneWarne. My heart and
prayers goes to his family,
friends, and fans. #legend,"
Pakistan captain Babar Azam
wrote. Warne's good mate and
contemporary, Shoaib Akhtar
said it will take a long time to
heal from this terrible loss.
"It's going to take a long time
to get over this loss. Legendary
#ShaneWarne is not with us
anymore," Akhtar said. AGENCIES
Betis host Atlético amid 5-team
fight for Champions League
BARCELONA, SPAIN: For
several years, Real Betis deliv-
ered an attractive, attack-first
style of soccer that succeeded
in pulling off the occasional
big win but also left its defense
exposed to some humbling
losses.
Manuel Pellegrini has
changed that since taking over
at the start of last season. The
former Manchester City and
Real Madrid coach has forged
Betis into a complete team this
campaign, one that can score
in bunches while protecting
its area. four points adrift. scored 13 times, with Willian
The result has put the Only two of that pack will José chipping in with 10 more
Seville-based club in a tight join Madrid and Sevilla, the goals.
fight for a top-four finish in the only teams left with realistic Atlético, meanwhile, has
Spanish league — and the prize chances to win the league title, allowed more goals (34) than
of a Champions League berth. in Europe’s top club competi- 10 other league teams, some-
The attacking prowess of tion next season. thing unthinkable for Simeone,
Betis will be up against Atlé- With a deep squad featur- who over his decade in charge
tico Madrid on Sunday, a tough ing the passing and leadership has made a strong defense the
test for the surprisingly shaky of midfield pair Sergio Canales foundation of winning titles.
defense of Diego Simeone’s and Nabil Fekir, Betis has the Atlético has improved of
team. second-best attack in the Span- late. On either side of its 1-1
Betis enters the weekend in ish league. Its 48 goals are only draw with Manchester United
third place, but with Atlético behind Madrid’s 52. in the Champions League, it has
and Barcelona only one point Striker Juanmi Jiménez is kept clean sheets in consecutive
behind. Real Sociedad trails having his best season with a league victories over Osasuna
Betis by two points and Villar- team-high 16 goals in all com- and Celta Vigo by a combined
real is also in striking distance, petitions. Borja Iglesias has score of 5-0.  AGENCIES
millenniumpost
NEW DELHI | SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022 Leisure mp 13
‘I don’t believe in
planning my career’
Jaideep Ahlawat gained widespread popularity after
headlining the 2020 Prime Video series ‘Paatal Lok’

I nstead of mapping out his career,

project by project, ‘Paatal Lok’
star Jaideep Ahlawat on Thurs-
day said he waits for “good stories”
to come his way. Ukraine crisis
Indian student showers
The actor, who first shot to fame
with Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Gangs of
Wasseypur’ in 2012, gained wide-

praise on Sonu Sood

spread popularity after headlining
the 2020 Prime Video series ‘Paatal
Lok’.
Ahlawat, also known for films
like ‘Raazi’ and Netflix anthology
‘Lust Stories’, will be next seen in Sonu Sood is guiding us every moment. He
‘Bloody Brothers’.
Asked how he plans his career Ahlawat, also known worked day in and day out, said a student

following the massive success
of ‘Paatal Lok’, the actor said,
“I don’t believe in planning my
career, I don’t think ‘Where can
I go next from here?’ I just wait
for good stories. You don’t choose
scripts, often scripts choose you.”
“I believe in working with a
good team. If you work with good
co-actors, your work becomes
easy. My attempt is to be a part of
good stories and to do something
new constantly,” he added.
Ahlawat was speaking at the vir-
tual trailer launch of ‘Bloody Broth-
ers’, the upcoming dark comedy
which also features ‘Article 15’ star
Zeeshan Ayyub.
Directed by Shaad Ali and
backed by Applause Entertain-
ment in association with BBC
Studios India, the show is the
Indian adaptation of British
mystery thriller ‘Guilt’.
The series chronicles
the story of two
brothers,
for films like ‘Raazi’ and
Netflix anthology ‘Lust
Stories’, will be next
seen in ‘Bloody Brothers’
Jaggi (Ahlawat) and Daljeet (Ayyub)
whose lives spin out of control when
a tragic car accident occurs.
“What follows is a series of lies to
conceal the truth, however, as more
lies are told and more people get
involved, it becomes impossible for
the two brothers to escape the bloody
mess unharmed,” the official synopsis
of the show reads.
Ahlawat said he easily gelled with
Ayyub as he is a long-time admirer of
the ‘Tandav’ actor’s work.
“We had a mutual respect and
love for each other’s work and process
even before we began working on
this project. There was no difficulty
in building that chemistry,” he said.
Ayyub said their off-screen chem-
istry is palpable even on screen. PTI
A
Congress leader on Thurs-
day shared a video show-
ing a woman from Madhya
Pradesh who was apparently stuck
in Ukraine singing the praises of Bol-
lywood actor Sonu Sood for lending
a helping hand.
Ajay Singh, a state Congress
leader, tweeted the video in which
the woman who hails from Rewa
district of MP is heard talking about
the actor’s philanthropy.
Hello, I am Shrishti Singh. We
boarded a train. Sonu Sood’s team
has helped us hugely.... It guided us
at every moment. Look how many
students are sitting around -- all are
Indians,” the woman, who seemed
to be somewhere near Ukraine’s bor-
ders, said. “The train is packed with
Indians. Sonu Sood is guiding us
every moment. He worked day in
and day out (to help the stranded
Indian nationals),” she added.
The woman’s praise for the actor
came at a time when the Indian
Ajay Singh, a state
Congress leader,
tweeted the video
in which the woman
who hails from MP is
heard talking about the
actor’s philanthropy
government has launched “opera-
tion Ganga” to rescue the Indians
stranded in Ukraine amid the Rus-
sian invasion, and deputed four
central ministers for overseeing the
evacuation from eastern Europe.
The Congress leader in his
tweet also congratulated Sood and
his team for their work. Sood had
earlier come in for praise when he
helped scores of migrant labourers
who were trying to return to their
home states during the coronavirus-
induced lockdown in 2020. PTI

Grammy’s Global Spin

Prime Video drops the teaser of hails Armaan Malik
its upcoming title ‘Jalsa’ OUR CORRESPONDENT around the world. Armaan

A
makes history by becoming the

A
fter fueling the audi-
ence’s excitement with
its first look poster,
Prime Video recently unveiled
the gripping teaser of the
much-awaited drama thriller,
Jalsa, starring Vidya Balan and
Shefali Shah. The teaser takes
the audience into the intense
word of ‘Jalsa’ that is full of
thrill, giving us a sneak peek
into what lies ahead in this
highly engaging and captivat-
ing tale. Replete with spell-
binding performances and
a nerve-wracking storyline,
‘Jalsa’ promises to keep you at
the edge, leaving you intrigued
for more.
‘Jalsa’ will have a global
premiere on Amazon Prime
Video on 18 March in India
and across 240 countries and
territories worldwide.
Directed by Suresh Triveni,
rmaan Malik’s sin-
gle ‘You’ has hit the
‘Jalsa’ will have a Grammy’s YouTube
channel for its digital perfor-
global premiere mance series Global Spin which
on Amazon Prime celebrates global music. Mark-
ing India on the world map,
Video on 18 March the multilingual singer is
in India and across the country’s first icon to
grace the global series
240 countries and that spotlights artists
territories worldwide worldwide and cel-
ebrates creators
Jalsa is jointly produced by and their home
Bhushan Kumar & Krishan countries.
Kumar (T-Series), Vikram Initiated in 2020,
Malhotra & Shikhaa Sharma ‘Grammys Global
(Abundantia Entertainment) Spin’ is a concert series
and Suresh Triveni. The film produced by the Record-
features a stellar ensemble of ing Academy to pro-
actors like Vidya Balan, Shefali mote global music. In
Shah, Manav Kaul, Rohini Hat- a bid to promote diver-
tangadi, Iqbal Khan, Vidhatri sity the series showcases
Bandi, Shrikant Mohan Yadav, acts from
Shafeen Patel, and Surya Kasib-
hatla. MPOST
first artist from India to fea-
ture on it. The platform that
celebrates music from all over
the world now witnesses music
from India and that is a huge
and unprecedented milestone
for Indian music. The young
singer represents the county at
the forum that honours the inter-
national community of artists.
Armaan says, “It’s truly an
honour to be recognized by the
Recording Academy and fea-
tured as the first Indian artist on
the Grammys’ Global Spin series!
Music is the only thing that
transcends all borders regard-
less of any barriers, and I’m glad
I’ve gotten the opportunity to
showcase my music to a global
audience, through the most
prestigious music platform in
the world. Hope everyone enjoys
this acoustic performance of my
latest English single ‘You’.”

A ‘By observing and

collective mass meditation with live music will be held
Weekend on March 5, at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi, 5 pm on-
wards. Titled ‘Nirvan Path - Swayam ko jano!’, the 3-hour
break
looking around, you
long experiential event will see the attendance of more than
1200+ participants, following all the essential COVID guidelines.

DoubleTree is treating foodies

with its signature dishes
OUR CORRESPONDENT
D oubleTree by Hil-
ton Gurugram Baani
Square is back with
the second season of its annual
food promotion, ‘22 reasons to
be happy’. The concept focuses
on the theme 2022’ which
brings to you curated menus,
all set to tantalize your taste
buds. The wholesome ala carte
menus offer 22 selections of
biryanis, pizzas, pasta, burgers
and sandwiches at Glasshouse
– the multi-cuisine restaurant;
tempting cakes at Café O’ Lait;
the patisserie and refreshing
cocktails and mocktails at Pose
– The Fashion Bar. Each menu
has a signature offering such
as Choudhary Saab Ki Biryani,
Big Pan Pasta, Chocolate Pizza,
DoubleTree Cookie Cake,
Mobley Burger, Glasshouse
Club Sandwich and Double-
Tree Cookie Shake, which are
highly recommended!
Elaborating on this unique
concept, Jai Chugh, General
Manager said, “We are thrilled
The wholesome ala
carte menus offer
22 selections of
biryanis, pizzas,
pastas, burgers and
sandwiches
to launch the second sea-
son and we are sure that our
start understanding’
patrons would love the offer-
ings curated by our talented
Chefs. We have extended offer-
ings this year which will leave
you spoilt for choice and is defi-
nitely worth a try for anyone
craving an extensive spread
to nosh upon. The promotion
is on till December 2022 and
we look forward to host you at
DoubleTree by Hilton Guru-
gram Baani Square”.
Actor Kriti Sanon speaks on preparing to
play a director in ‘Bachchhan Paandey’
O ne of the leading actors of
Bollywood, Kriti Sanon is all
set to deliver a full-fledged
masala entertainer alongside Akshay
Kumar. She will be seen playing the
character of Myra Devekar along-
side Akshay Kumar in the film titled
‘Bachchhan Paandey’
Talking about playing a direc-
tor in the movie, Kriti shares, “As
an actor, once you have gone through
a certain number of films, you soak
in more than you think, just by
observing and looking around,
you start understanding how the
directors make their vision come
alive, their process and manner-
isms. And I have seen so many tal-
ented directors at work, it feels like
it was sort of easier for me to pick
from them.”
The Mimi star adds, “A director’s
in control of everything on the set as
he/she is the captain of the ship. So
my main pick point on Myra was that
this girl is very much in control and
she is stuck in a place where situations
As an actor, once you
have gone through
a certain number of
films, you soak in more
than you think, just by
observing and looking
around, you start
understanding how the
directors make their vision
come alive, she said
get out of control.”
The latest song from the movie
‘Meri Jaan Meri Jaan’ has left fans
raving about the sizzling chemistry
between Kriti Sanon and Akshay
Kumar.
Besides ‘Bachchhan Paandey’,
Kriti has a massive set of films lined
up including, ‘Adipurush’, ‘Shehzada’,
‘Bhediya’ and ‘Ganapath’. MPOST
14
DIP/shabdarth/d/0228/21-22
mp millenniumpost
SATURDAY, 5 MARCH, 2022 | NEW DELHI