cmyk
THE LARGEST CIRCULATED ENGLISH DAILY IN SOUTH INDIA
WEATHER
Max: 30OC
Min: 26OC
Rainfall: 4.3 mm
ASTROGUIDE
Pilava: Aippasi 13
Tithi: Dhasami
Star: Ayilyam
Rahukalam:
9 am to 10.30 am
Yamagandam:
1.30 pm to 3 pm
Kannada actor Puneet
Rajkumar dies of heart attack
Bengaluru: Well-known Kannada
actor Puneeth Rajkumar dies
after heart attack, says hospital
sources. Rajkumar was admitted
to a private hospital
in Bengaluru after he
complained of chest
pain. The condition
of the 46-year-old,
son of matinee idol
the late Rajkumar and
Parvathamma, and
fondly called 'Appu' by his fans,
was serious at the time of admis-
sion. A popular television pre-
senter, Puneet, who began his
career as a child artiste, is also
among the highest paid actors in
the Kannada film industry.
■ MORE ON PAGE 20
Rajini recovering well SC warns makers of
after surgery: Hospital fake green crackers
DC CORRESPONDENT
CHENNAI, OCT. 29
Superstar Rajinikanth suc-
cessfully underwent a surgi-
cal procedure that removes
plaque from the carotid
artery and restore normal
blood flow to the brain in a
Chennai hospital on Friday.
The actor was admitted late
on Thursday following an
episode of giddiness. “He
was thoroughly evaluated
deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews, twitter.com/deccanchronicle, google.com/+deccanchronicle
Modi meets EC top
brass ahead of G-20
■ To call on Pope Francis today
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, OCT. 29
Ahead of an “important”
meeting with Pope Fran-
cis at the Vatican and also
the 16th G-20 Summit on
Saturday, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi on Friday
met both the European
Council and Commission
Presidents in Rome and is
meeting his Italian coun-
terpart Mario Draghi late
on Friday evening, even as
he paid floral tributes at a
bust of Mahatma Gandhi
in the Italian Capital and
greeted members of the
by an expert panel of doctors
and was advised to undergo
carotid artery revascularisa-
tion,” Kaveri Hospital’s exec-
utive director Dr Aravindan
Selvaraj said in a release.
“The procedure was per-
formed successfully and he
is recovering well. He is like-
ly to be discharged after a
few days.”
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin
wished Rajinikanth a speedy
recovery.
STATE | 5
Stalin visits Keeladi
excavation site
Indian community there.
The Prime Minister land-
ed in Rome earlier in the
day on Friday and was
received by senior Italian
government officials and
the Indian Ambassador to
Italy.
But it will be the historic
meeting between Mr Modi
and the Pope on Saturday
that will be keenly
watched by the entire
country and the Catholic
Church including millions
of Catholics in India. The
Prime Minister had earli-
er said in his departure
statement from New
PARMOD KUMAR | DC
NEW DELHI, OCT. 29
Cracking whip on manu-
facturers of banned crack-
ers including those stor-
ing and selling them cam-
ouflaged as green crack-
ers, the Supreme Court on
Friday said that any
“flouting or disobedience”
of its detections cannot be
“tolerated” and ordered
that chief secretary of
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CHENNAI I SATURDAY 30 I OCTOBER 2021
SPORT | 11
FINANCIAL CHRONICLE | 10
RBI governor Shaktikanta Das Babar shines in
Pakistan win
term extended 3 more years
Vol. 17 No. 215 Established 1938 | 20 PAGES| `3.00
Chennai, Oct. 29: Heavy rain is likely on Friday. As the low pressure moves
VERY HEAVY RAINS to continue for the next 48 hours due to west slowly in the next three days, fish-
the formation of the low-pressure area, ermen are cautioned not to venture into
PREDICTED IN TN DTS said the Regional Meteorological Center the sea.
Delhi, “During my visit to
Italy, I will also visit the
Vatican City, to call on His
Holiness Pope Francis and
meet Secretary of State,
His Eminence Cardinal
Pietro Parolin.”
In a statement on Friday,
the MEA said, “Prime
Minister Narendra Modi
and the President of the
European Council, H.E.
e
Mr. Charles Michel; and
the President of the Euro-
in
pean Commission, H.E.
Ms. Ursula von der Leyen
az
had a joint meeting on
sidelines of the 16th G20
Summit in Rome. ■ P7
ag
M
L_
state, heads of administra-
A
tion in Union territory
and police at all level will
IT
be personally liable for
any flouting of directions
issued since 2017.
IG
Pointing to the “latent
violation” of top court
directions banning the
_D
manufacture of banned
firecrackers, prima facie
confirmed by the CBI in
its report following its
N
investigation. ■ P7
R
A
e/
.m
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | SATURDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2021 | CHENNAI
pg 3

SHORT

CM MOURNS
TAKES
Koyambedu flyover to be Smoking scenes in Dhanush’s film:
HC directs TN govt to pursue action
PUNEETH’S DEATH
Chennai: Chief Minister M. K.
Stalin mourned the passing
away of Kannada actor Puneeth
opened on November 1
T. SUDHEESH I DC highly-congested Kalia- ease the traffic. The work relief to the commuters as
J.STALIN I DC
CHENNAI, OCT 29

The Madras high court

Rajkumar, who was also the son
of late legendary actor Raj
Kumar, describing the death as
a personal loss for him. ‘Both
our families share a cordial
bond for many decades,’ Stalin
said in a statement on Friday,
adding: ' Puneeth's kind act of
visiting our Gopalapuram resi-
dence to offer his family’s con-
dolences for Thalaivar
Kalaignar’s death still lingers in
my heart.’ He conveyed his con-
dolences to the family of the
actor and the people of
Karnataka, for whom it was an
irreparable loss.
IIT-M collaborates
CHENNAI, OCT 29
Ending a three-year-long
delay in the completion of
works, the 1.15-km flyover
on Jawaharlal Nehru Salai,
Koyambedu, built at a cost
of `93 crore, will be opened
to the public by Chief
Minister M.K. Stalin on
November 1.
The delay was causing
heavy traffic blocks along
the arterial roads. After the
opening, motorists heading
towards Vadapalani from
Tirumangalam, Padi and
Arumbakkam can skip the
mman Koil Junction and
Chennai Mofussil Bus
Terminus (CMBT) signal.
Similarly, the vehicles com-
ing from Padi and Tirum-
angalam have to take the U-
turn beneath the bridge to
enter Kaliamman Koil
Road to reach Koyambedu
market and Virugamb-
akkam.
The Jawaharlal Nehru
Road was handling over 2
lakh vehicles a day, causing
regular traffic snarls at
Vadapalani and Koyamb-
edu junctions. The flyover
was proposed in 2015 to
commenced in August 2017.
Highway minister E.V.
Velu recently said the proj-
ect was delayed after a
building owner who had
encroached a portion of
the service road moved a
petition. The court granted
an order in favour of the
department of highways
on September 29. Following
the order, the building is
being dismantled, he said.
Ram Raj, an insurance
consultant and a regular
commuter on the same
route, said the opening of
the flyover would be a huge
it helps to save a lot of
time. According to the offi-
cials, the four-lane, bi-
directional flyover would
allow free flow of traffic at
the Koyambedu junction
close to the CMBT and the
Koyambedu vegetable and
fruit markets. Around 70
per cent of the over one
lakh vehicles plying
between Anna Nagar and
Vadapalani would be able
to take the flyover instead
of waiting at the
Jawaharlal Nehru Salai
signal and Kaliamman Koil
Street, said the official.
has directed the state
government to proceed
with all further actions
in continuation of the
legal notice of violation
already issued by the
director of Public Health
and Preventive Medicine,
against M/s Wunderbar
Films Private Limited,
producer of a Tamil film
‘Vellaiyilla Pattathari’, in
which there were scenes
where leading actor
Dhanush was prominent-
ly smoking cigarettes
without a disclaimer of
minimum twenty sec-
onds duration, by the
concerned actor regard-
ing the ill effects of the
Distribution) Act, 2003.
The judge said,
“Respondents 2 (state
government)
(director of
and
Public
3
Health and Preventive
Medicine) are directed to
proceed with all further
actions in continuation
of the legal notice of vio-
lation already issued by
the nodal Officer, viz.,
Director of Public Health
and Preventive Medicine
and by following the pro-
cedures as contemplated
under the provisions of
the Act as well as the
rules or guidelines, with-
in six weeks”.
The judge also directed
them to ensure that the
complaints, information
provided to the compe-
tent committee were
action was kept in
abeyance in view of the
pendency of this peti-
tion. Counsel appearing
on behalf of Union of
India and Central Board
of Film Certification
(CBFC) submitted that
they had issued a letter to
the Wunderbar Films
Private Limited and in
response to the letter, the
Wunderbar admitted the
mistake and submitted a
letter of apology.
However, it was contend-
ed by the CBFC that such
allegations would not fall
under the provisions of
the Cinematograph Act.
Therefore, they cannot
initiate any direct action
under the provisions of
the Cigarettes and other
Tobacco products (Prohi-

with UK varsity use of such products, in responded swiftly and bition of Advertisement

over renewable EPS alleges misuse of power by govt
DC CORRESPONDENT
energy production
CHENNAI. OCT 29
DC CORRESPONDENT Leader of the Opposition
CHENNAI. OCT 29 in the Assembly Edappadi
K. Palaniswami accused
IIT Madras (IIT-M) Research the DMK government of
Park is collaborating with continuously misusing its
University of St. Andrews power and cited the letter
(UoSA), U.K., to achieve by the Block Development
Country’s renewable energy Officer, S. Saravanan, of
requirement goals. Funded by Kuthalam Panchayat
collector.
Palaniswami said that
the BDO had complained
of irregularities by DMK
leaders in the panchayat
union and had gone on 60
days leave stating that he
was unable to discharge
his duties in such a situa-
tion.
Calling upon the DMK
functionaries to stop
nel, Palaniswami pointed
out that Saravanan had
also mentioned a threat to
his life if he continued to
work in the same place.
He alleged that many
government officials were
forced to work in such sit-
uations under the shadow
of fear and quoted the
late J. Jayalalithaa as
saying that the DMK was
the beginning and mid-
dle of the film be dis-
played.
Justice S.M.Subrama-
niam gave the directive
while allowing a petition
filed by state convenor,
Tamil Nadu People’s
Forum for Tobacco,
which sought a direction
to the state government
to prosecute Wunderbar
Films Private Limited
under section 5 of the
Cigarettes and Other
actions were initiated
without causing any
undue delay under the
provisions of the Act.
In his order, the judge
said as far as the State of
Tamil Nadu was con-
cerned, the Government
Advocate in clear terms
contended that the com-
petent committee initiat-
ed action, issued legal
notice and therefore,
they have not committed
any lapses in the matter
and Regulation of Trade
and Commerce, Product-
ion, Supply and
Distribution) Act, the
judge added.
The judge said because
of the delay in disposing
of the petition, the cause
can never be allowed to
die and more specifically,
when the nature of pro-
ceedings involves prose-
cution under the penal
provisions of the Act and
thus, appropriate actions

e
the UK government, the project Union, to the threatening office offi- the public enemy of the Tobacco Products of initiation of action. were to be continued in

in
is aimed at sharing knowledge Mayiladuthurai district cials and police person- people. (Prohibition, Supply and The continuance of the the interest of justice.
and understanding of low-car-
bon energy systems and show- AY4 VARIANT OF

az
casing examples of low-carbon
energy in practice.
Ashok Jhunjhunwala, presi-
COVID NOT YET

ag
dent, IIT-M Research Park, said
they would work to move close REPORTED IN TN,
to 100 per cent renewable ener-
gy by wheeling in solar and SAYS HEALTH MIN

M
wind-based electricity and cre-
ating chilled water and battery DC CORRESPONDENT
storage for energy. “At the same CHENNAI. OCT 29
L_
time, we work with other IIT-M
faculty and researchers from No case of AY4 variant of the
other places on all other tech- Covid-19 has been reported in T-
A
nologies, which would make amil Nadu so far, said health m-
India green,” he said inister Ma. Subramanian here
IT

Alex Ellis, British High on Friday.

Commissioner to India, said “ Some cases of AY4 were
IG

technology, research and inno- reported in Maharashtra and

vation were at the heart of the Karnataka. Hence the health
UK-India relationship. The res- department intensified screen-
earch partnership has great ing on the border areas. So far
_D

potential to develop world class
energy systems and products as
we build back better from the
only the Delta variant has been
reported in the state. We are col-
lecting samples from the clus-
Chief Electoral Officer Satyabrata Sahoo holds a consultative meeting with
the representatives of recognised national and state political parties
regarding the revision of the special summary of voters’ list at the
N

pandemic, he added. ters to check the presence of the

variants,” said the minister. Secretariat on Friday. —DC

`1.41 crore worth Responding to the health con-

R

dition of actor Rajnikanth, the

Envoy: Australia keen to

minister said the doctors as
A

gold seized well as his family members

have confirmed that his condi-
e/

DC CORRESPONDENT tion was stable. The health

work closely with India

CHENNAI. OCT 29 department has extended all
.m

support and asked the hospital

The Chennai air customs seiz- authorities to provide all assis-
ed 3.222 kg of gold totally worth tance, he said.
`1.41 crore. Customs said that in OP ARULN I DC together as the countries share
//t

two separate incidents, Air
Intelligence Unit of Chennai air
customs seized unclaimed gold
CHENNAI, OCT. 29 common values and strategic rela-
BIRTHDAY CAKE CUT Australian consul-general for south
tions. The Australian embassy in
New Delhi and consulates in Mum-
s:

worth `1.41 crore. India Sarah Kirlew has bai, Kolkata and Chennai are keen
WITH MACHETE; said Canberra is looking forward to work with the industry in India,
tp

to working closely with New Delhi she added.

COUNTER POINT FOUR HELD and to enhance bilateral relations.
Releasing a report on
The report was prepared by the
Indo-Australian Chamber of Com-
ht

DC CORRESPONDENT ‘Recommendations to build merce (IACC) after consulting 41

CHENNAI, OCT 29
Ever since the video of Rowdy
Binu celebrating his birthday
by cutting the cake with
machette went viral, others
have started doing the same and
continue to land in trouble.
In the latest incident, four
persons were arrested by the
Shankar Nagar police in the
city for cutting cake with
machete in Tiruneermalai near
Pallavaram. Senior police offi-
cers said youth take pride in
such display and demand
respect from peers. They have
urged the youth to not indulge
in this trend and stay away from
trouble.
stronger ties between India &
Australia in technology and inno-
vation – A call to action’ in Chennai
on Friday, she said “Australia is a
nation of innovators and inventors.
We are making pioneering
advances in cyber security, artifi-
cial intelligence, quantum comput-
ing and 5G, as well as the policy
frameworks governing these”.
“India has become one of our clos-
est partners in science, technology
and innovation. We have a vision
for an open and resilient global
technology marketplace, and we
want democratic norms and ethics
to remain core to the next genera-
tion of technological advances,”
she said.
Both governments are working
industries in Australia, 41 indus-
tries in India, senior government
officials and techies.
IACC chief executive officer
Petula Thomas said “the report
would serve as a roadmap for imple-
menting the recommendations set
out for stakeholders primarily in
six key sectors - agritech, e-com-
merce & retail tech, edtech, fintech,
healthtech, R&D and Innovation.
The meeting was held both in
online and offline modes. Bhuvnesh
Kumar, joint secretary, ministry of
electronics and information tech-
nology, and Deepak Padaki, vice-
president, IACC addressed the func-
tion virtually. Suresh Raman, co-
chair, vice-president of Tata
Consultancy Services also spoke.

HC sets aside life term of CISF

jawan who killed 3 colleagues
Chennai, Oct 29 : It also made a recom-
The Madras high mendation to Union
court has set aside a Finance and Home
lower court order Ministries to sanction
awarding life term to extraordinary family
a CISF jawan for gun- pension to the fami-
ning down three of his lies of the three
colleagues and injur- deceased.
ing two others in 2014 "We find that the
at the Kalpakkam case of the appellant,
nuclear power plant Vijay Pratap Singh,
near here, after invok- falls within the excep-
ing Section 84 of the tion contained in
Indian Penal Code Section 84 of the
(IPC), which deals Indian Penal Code,
with the 'act of a per- 1860, though we hold
son of unsound mi- on facts, that he had
nd."A bench of Justice opened fire and
P N Prakash and Jus- caused the death of
tice RN Manjula set three jawans and
TAKE CARE OF YOUR HEART aside the lower court
order of 2018 and
injuries to two oth-
ers," the bench said in
directed the transfer its October 28 order.
Government Kilpauk Medical College and hospital Dean Dr R. Santhimalar along with doctors and of the appellant, Vijay Consequently, the
nursing students releases balloons to create awareness of World Stroke Day. —DC Pratap Singh to Gove- judgment and order of
rnment Mental Hos- conviction and sen-
pital in Bareilly, Uttar tence dated April 9,
Pradesh, forthwith. 2018 passed by the

Chennai builder wins Asian award The judges also

Chennai: Chennai-based Nest
Builders won the ‘credible awa-
rd’ at the AsiaOne Award
ceremony held in Dubai recent-
ly for establishing and incre-
asing credibilityin the con-
ordered an additional
`3 lakh compensation,
Additional District
and Sessions Judge,
Chengalpat "is set
struction industry. residential space solutions, besides the already aside," the judges said.
Managing Director of which required transparency paid ex-gratia of `10 Doctors who had
Nest Builders, Sanker Ganesh, and honesty across lakh each to the fami- treated the appellant,
said the award recognized the board with customers, lies of the victims and indicated he was suf-
the company’s commitment employees, vendors and `2 lakh each to the fering from
towards credibility in the investors. injured persons. Schizophrenia. —PTI
 STATE
DECCAN CHRONICLE | SATURDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2021 | CHENNAI
pg 4
B. RAVICHANDRAN I DC accused in the case, and his rel- the case, especially the mo-
Kodanad OOTY, OCT. 29

The district sessions court here,

ative Ramesh, both hailing
from Salem.
The court also granted per-
bile phone conversations,
are being gathered to collect
more evidence. Since there
case which is hearing the Koda-nad
estate bungalow break-in cum
murder case, has adjourned the
mission to the police to take
Ramesh in police custody for
five days to interrogate him.
are some difficulties in gat-
hering details from the serv-
ice providers, it is taking ti-
hearing hearing to November 26.
The court on Friday
adjourned the hearing after the
Special public prosecutor
Shajahan said the investiga-
tion has entered a crucial stage
me. However, the investiga-
tion is in full swing, he ad-
ded. Meanwhile, sources
adjourned prosecution requested for more
time to pursue further investi-
gation. The case has gained
after the arrest of Dhanapal
and Ramesh. The information
being gathered by the investi-
said that pursuit of elec-
tronic evidence is likely to
lead to some more arrests in
to Nov. 26 momentum suddenly after the
recent arrest of C. Dhanapal,
the brother of slain driver
gation teams will help them to
pursue the probe in all possible
angles to unearth the truth.
the coming days.

Kanagaraj who was the prime The electronic evidence in

e
in
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 STATE
DECCAN CHRONICLE | SATURDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2021 | CHENNAI
pg 5

Chief Minister Stalin visits Mullaiperiyar again

IN BRIEF

City Union Bank Ltd

to collect direct &
indirect taxes
Keeladi excavation site takes political contours
DC CORRESPONDENT

Kumbakonam: City Union

Bank (CUB) has been
authorised by the Reserve
Bank of India for collection of
direct and indirect taxes on
behalf of the Central Board of
Direct Taxes (CBDT) & Central
Board of Indirect Taxes and
Customs (CBIC). Following
the approval received, and the
completion of the
integration process with CBDT
& CBIC, customers of the bank
can remit their direct &
indirect taxes (GST, Customs
Duty and other Indirect taxes)
through Bank’s multiple
channels. Dr. N.Kamakodi,
Managing Director & CEO of
the bank, said “It has been
the long standing
requirement of our customers
that they should be able to
pay their direct and indirect
taxes through our bank and
we are delighted that our
bank will be in a position
to offer these
services to our esteemed
customers.” He further
thanked the Central
Government, RBI, CBDT &
CBIC, as the approval will
offer a level playing field
among the all Agency Banks,
according to a press release.
G. BABU JAYAKUMAR
& D.SEKAR I DC
CHENNAI, OCT 29
Chief Minister M. K. Stalin
kickstarted his two-day
visit to Sivagangai,
Madurai and Ramanathap-
uram districts on Friday by
inspecting the eight new
excavation sites at Keeladi
in Sivaganga district,
where archeologists have
already dug out a plethora
of antique artefacts, throw-
ing light on an ancient
Tamil civilization that had
thrived on the banks of
River Vaigai in the Sangam
era.
Besides visiting the exhi-
bition of the 11,740 rare
artefacts of great antiquity,
dug up since 2015 when the
Archeological Survey of
India did the first round of
excavation, the Chief
Minister also inspected the
progress of the work on the
construction of a world-
class museum, being set up
at a cost of Rs 12.21 crore at
Konthagai village to show-
case the entire range of
findings in Keeladi to the
world.
He also watched a presen-
Chief Minister M.K.Stalin at Keeladi excavation site in
Sivagangai district on Friday. —DC
antiquity of Tamil civiliza- Tamil people’s practices
tion and language. The like maritime trade, water
excavated artefacts like management, iron smelt-
the brick work, pottery, ing, pearl diving and so on,
stones and gold jewelry the release said.
point to the Keeladi Another `15 crore had
civilization to be as ancient been allocated for setting
as the Indus Valley civiliza- up a museum at Tirunelveli
tion, an official press to exhibit the artifact
release said. unearthed in the archeolog-
The government, led by ical excavations held in the
Stalin, had already past at places like
announced a slew of Adichanallur, Sivakalai
schemes aimed at establish- and Korkai.
ing the cultural antiquity of After his tour of Keeladi,
Tamil people and language Stalin inspected the ongo-
like the sanctioning of `5 ing work on the over
crore for deep sea archeo- bridges at the Madurai-
park at the banks of River
Vaigai and the site where
the Kalignar library is to
come up.
On Saturday, the Chief
Minister would pay hom-
age to Pasumpon
Muthuramalinga Thevar,
on the late leader’s 144th
birth anniversary and 59th
Guru Pooja day, by garland-
ing his statue at
Goripalayam in Madurai
and then pay floral tributes
to the statues of
Marudupandiyar brothers,
one of the first kings to
oppose the British.
Later, Stalin would pay
homage at the Thevar
memorial at his village of
Pasumpon in Ramanathap-
uram district as the first
VIP visitor on the day that
would subsequently see
leaders of many political
parties and cultural and
social organizations lining
up to pay their respects to
the leader, who declared
that nationalism and spiri-
tuality were like his two
eyes.
After the trip to
Pasumpon, the Chief
Minister would return to
Chennai by boarding a
CHENNAI, OCT 29
The Mullaiperiyar dam,
located in Idukki district
of Kerala and operated by
Tamil Nadu, has once
again turned into a politi-
cal issue with AIADMK
coordinator O. Panneerse-
lvam urging Chief Minis-
ter M. K. Stalin to uphold
the right of the state and
defeat Kerala’s campaign
on the dam being alleged-
ly weak to hold water to
the level stipulated by the
Supreme Court.
On his part, water reso-
urces minister Duraim-
urugan made it clear on
Friday that the rainfall si-
tuation in the catchment
areas and water level in
the dam were being moni-
tored to ensure that the le-
vel did not rise above the
Supreme Court stipulated
142 and the rule curve of
the Central Water Commi-
ssion was maintained.
Duraimurugan clarified
that water was drawn thr-
ough the tunnel to Vaigai
dam continuously and
has also decided to release
water by opening two spi-
llway gates after giving
Mullaiperiyar dam opened
Idukki, Oct 29: The shut-
ters of the Mullaiperiyar
dam in Kerala, operated
by Tamil Nadu, were
raised on Friday morning
as the water level in the
reservoir crossed 138 ft,
Kerala government offi-
cials said here. Tamil
Nadu government offi-
cials raised by 0.30 metres
the spillway shutters 3
and 4 of the 126-year old
dam at around 7.30 AM,
they said.
According to them,
view to keeping the water
level as per the rule curve.
He said the dam was
being operated by the
water resources depart-
ment following stand pro-
cedures and that the dam
was safe.
Panneerselvam pointed
out that a campaign had
been launched about the
safety of the dam that was
a source of water for the
districts of Theni, Madur-
ai, Dindigul, Sivagangai
and Ramanathapuram.
He decried the false prop-
aganda against the dam
538.16 cusecs of water has
been flowing out of these
two shutters of the dam
since morning.
The water level at
Mullaiperiyar dam stood
at 138.80 ft at 9 am, Kerala
government officials said
here. Besides officials fro-
m the two states, Kerala
Revenue Minister
K.Rajan and Water Reso-
urces Minister Roshy
Augustine were present
during the opening of the
dam shutters. — PTI
in a seismic zone and that
50 lakh people living
around the dam were liv-
ing in perpetual fear and
urged the Chief Minister
to put up a strong argu-
ment by engaging
efficient lawyers in the
Supreme Court to defend
the State. Panneerselvam
also asked the Chief Mini-
ster to ensure that the cor-
dial relationship with the
neighbouring State of
Kerala was maintained
even as he took steps to
uphold the rights of the
farmers using the water

e
tation at the excavation logical excavation to gather Thondi ring road junction scheduled flight from advance warning to auth- stating that it had turned from Mullaiperiyar for

in
site, which highlighted the evidence of the ancient and Kurivikaran road, the Madurai airport. orities in Kerala with a weak, that it was located irrigation.

az
Posters against Sasikala and family in Chennai

ag
G BABU JAYAKUMAR nathapuram district. ● It is learnt that the head honchos of the AIADMK, hospital for a health check up
& D SEKAR I DC Supporters of Sasikala O.Panneerselvam and Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who were and Panneerselvam is said to

CHENNAI, OCT 29
Posters openly expressing
opposition to V.K.Sasikala and
her family members joining
the AIADMK appeared on
walls all over Chennai on
Friday even as the ousted gen-
turned up to greet her as she
went out to pay homage to the
Muthuramalinga Thevar, a
day ahead of his Jayanthi cel-
ebrations, as part of her tour
of the districts to mobilize the
AIADMK cadre who are back-
ing her with a view to putting
M
scheduled to visit the memorial at Pasumpon at the time have excused himself from
allotted to the party between 11 and 11.15 am on Saturday, going to Pasumpon citing
might not personally do the honours but depute
L_
obsequial rituals for his wife
second rung leaders. who passed away two months
ago.
of the leaders themselves have AIADMK, O Panneerselvam Their avoiding the visit to
A
been opposing her admission. and Edappadi K Palaniswami, Muthuramalinga Thevar’s
Leaders from northern and who were scheduled to visit memorial on the day when the
IT

eral secretary of the party pressure of the leaders to re- western Tamil Nadu are most- the memorial at Pasumpon at entire region would be
went around in the old cam- admit her in the party. ly firm in not letting Sasikala the time allotted to the party charged with fraternal fervor
IG

paign van of former Chief However, the emergence of back into the party fold, while between 11 and 11.15 am on could also prevent them get-
Minister J Jayalalithaa, pay- the posters is seen as a counter many from the southern dis- Saturday, might not personally ting influenced by local senti-
ing floral tributes to to Sasikala’s mobilization of tricts are either ambivalent or do the honours but depute sec- ments that might weigh in
Pasumpon Muthuramalinga support as the message is to not averse to bringing her ond rung leaders. favour of Sasikala’s readmis-
_D

Thevar at his statue in tell the leaders of the party back. Palaniswami, who came to sion, given the fact that the V.K.Sasikala paying floral tributes to Muthuramalinga Thevar a day ahead
Madurai and memorial at not to give in to the desire of a Meanwhile, it is learnt that Chennai on Wednesday from region has a multitude of of his Jayanthi celebrations at his memorial at Pasumpon in
Pasumpon in Rama- section of party workers. Most the head honchos of the Salem, is said to have visited a AIADMK supporters. Ramanathapuram district on Friday. —S.P.Loganathan
N
R
A
e/
.m
//t
s:
tp
ht
 EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | SATURDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2021 | CHENNAI
pg 6

Subhani

30 OCTOBER 2021

Glasgow COP: Time to act

decisively, save the planet
S
aving the world from climate change caused by global warming will be the
central theme at COP26, a meeting of more than 120 countries in Glasgow,
Scotland, from Sunday. Disrupted by the pandemic last year, this year’s
summit will see renewed vigour about setting voluntary targets to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions that have been instrumental in runaway warming of
our planet.
The net zero agenda will be paraded at the 13-day meeting but without the pres-
ence of the leader of one of the world’s biggest polluters China, with its estimated
28 per cent share of current global emissions. Xi Jinping, who had built a reputa-
tion of being an eco-warrior, will be a conspicuous absentee as he is likely to be
preoccupied with domestic issues facing him and his party’s standing committee
in its early November meetings.
India, with its historically low emissions since 1850, which are pegged at about
4.5 per cent, is the third largest emitter currently after the US and China. It would
like to be a voice of reason in pointing out that artificial deadlines for net zero car-
bon dioxide emissions are not quite warranted. The question is, will this summit
pave the way for genuine action in the battle against
The balancing act global warming or will it be heavy on rhetoric and
LETTERS
towards eradication go big on publicly declared net zero ambitions?
Net zero would mean higher tax bills and a drop in
of hunger and living standards for the West and hardships for the
poverty and developing world that cannot afford to go so green as
creation of jobs to affect their economic progress and impede devel-
while aiming for opment, which is seen as the only way out of hunger
Why the Congress Party is PEGASUS PROBE PANEL
The verdict of the learned

like the latest Bond movie

judges of the Supreme
sustainable devel- and poverty for billions of the world’s near eight bil-
lion citizens. Court in the Pegasus case is
opment is tough to The greatest fear about these momentous climate indeed a landmark judg-

e
achieve, and exag- summits is not a lack of universal consensus on the ment. This has come as a
gerated net zero need to save planet earth from warming but about

in
Pyaar-vyaar happens! boost to the law-abiding
ambitions can only how best to go about doing it. Action by the devel-
oped world on its pledge of transferring $100 billion
The Congress Party Please! We want ruth- and democratic-minded citi-
come in the way annually from 2020 to developing countries, besides needs a Q.

az
less and mean — who’s zens of the nation who, of
transfer of knowhow, is as crucial. Remember, the this wimp hugging a
It is likely that China, which commissioned 38GW of new coal power in 2020 and BJP has success- child and shedding sen- late, are witnessing the
is initiating 74GW more, would be aiming to find its own way to a post-fossil econ- timental tears? We want degradation of democratic

ag
fully harvested Bond bedding gorgeous
Shobhaa’s Take
omy and not be pushed around by the West as it has also added impressive green norms and the desecration
power capacity. India too has built up an imposing record in terms of renewable many Qs and is ladies in exotic locales,
energy generation capacity of 100 GW and encouragement of electric mobility. ready for the enjoying martinis in of the secular fabric of the

M
The balancing act towards eradication of hunger and poverty and creation of Digital War in 2024 cool bars, killing hazaar nation. When the

G
jobs while aiming for sustainable development is tough to achieve, and exaggerat- et this, guys,
ed net zero ambitions can only come in the way even if the need for an energy tran- there’s a Errrr, yes, same dude!
sition is wholeheartedly accepted. The latest report of the inter-governmental dinosaur in
panel on climate change has lent a greater sense of urgency to the Glashow sum- the room. No,
mit but it is moot how much more the historical polluters can push developing make that
economies into complying with global emission goals. two. Both once had the
No one denies the science behind the need to limit by 2030 average global warm- “licence to kill”, but
same dude, right?” — an election that baddies without getting Government has not been
L_ a crease on his bespoke
When I finished gob- will be fought by tux. Who is this other
transparent and was not
bling up the stale and algorithms... man pining for his lady willing to disclose whether
overpriced popcorn out- love? We no like! This is the Pegasus spyware was
A
side the theatre (Covid the lesson Sonia needs purchased by them or not,
protocol strikes again), gent 007 — hello, gender to think about as she
even in-camera to the
IT

ing to 1.5 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels. For the world, to unite in find- today it’s time to surren- and unenthusiastically inclusivity! (And hello, attempts to play nice.
ing a balanced path, with the same spirit as in the Paris Agreement, would be der the licence and qui- made my way to the Priyanka!). The bad guy Honey, nice doesn’t Supreme Court, expecting
ideal. A world in need of climate leadership would once again be looking up to the etly retire — as the leatherette recliner wears a mask… (Rami work! Not in politics. the government to extend
IG

major polluters in US, China, India and the EU to ensure that all commitments are spent and exhausted (more suited to a mas- Malek, who chews up Just as the whole Bond
backed by action. Daniel Craig demon- sage parlour), I could the movie) and talks in a mystique is khallas, so unstinted cooperation to
strated in his last outing only see Rajiv Gandhi slow, deliberate manner is the Congress myth. the probe committee set up
_D

playing Bond… James
Treat drug users as victims Bond! I opened my post-
pandemic movie
innings at a friendly
N
on the screen, though it like a Robert Vadra on The new era is here! by the Apex Court sounds
was the craggy Craig
going dutifully through
the motions and
anti-anxiety pills. M is
too bored to even bother
with who’s blowing up
Nobody cares for nostal-
gia and loyalty. Bond
getting gooey as he says
utopian. The outcome of the
investigation by the probe

T
he recommendation of the Union ministry of social justice and empower- neighbourhood multi- mouthing the same, old, which country — a goodbye to Sourpuss committee is already writ-
ment to decriminalise possession of small quantities of drugs for personal plex with schoolgirlish tired dialogues. The hopelessly cast Ralph and Little Miss Blue ten in the wall for anyone to
R

consumption assumes significance in the wake of the unconvincing conduct enthusiasm. I am not a entire effort was Fiennes attempts Eyes made me want to
of agencies that deal with drug menace. The arrest and incarceration for about 25 Craig fan, but have an depressingly thakela … authority but fails. puke. Get over it, man. read.
A

days of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan’s son Aryan Khan and the serious allega- OCD situation with all if not downright marela. Bring back Judi Dench Isn’t it enough you Tharcius S. Fernando,
tions of abuse of the law raised against the regional head of the Narcotics Control Bond movies — gotta Why were the Bond at once! Let’s think gen- saved the world yet Chennai
e/

Bureau in Mumbai only add weight to the suggestion. watch! No matter how
Drug consumption affects the young most, and hence must be dealt with strong- faltu. Like the latest one
ly. But what could be the most effective way it can be done? There are many titled No Time To Die.
.m
makers flogging a dead erously, and try not to again? Just shut up and
beast, I wondered, as visualise Ralph in die, for God’s sake. See!
Craig wearily headed off starched handwoven Today’s janata is like
STORE WITH SAFETY

nations, as well as some states in the United States, which have legalised herbs like Arrey... jeeney do, yaar! to some remote island to sarees, speaking this only. When an era is
marijuana. As it stands today, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances But the very pricey tick- save the world yet again! English-Italian. Q (Ben over, it is over! Khatam! This refers to the proposal of the
Act, 1985, gives addicts immunity from prosecution if they volunteer for treatment et was worth the ticket I think Sonia Gandhi Whishaw) is the darling The finale of the movie Centre to sell 5 kg LPG cylinders at
//t

and rehabilitation. The ministry, which reviewed the Narcotics Act, is of the opin- money after all — the should arrange for a spe- of the script, as he goofi- heralds a new age of dig- ration shops ostensibly to improve
ion that those held with small quantities of drugs must be given compulsory luxurious leatherette cial screening of No ly tracks a lethal vial of ital everything. Q is the the viability of the shops. While such
treatment at government centres instead of a jail term. The key suggestion is that seats reclined all the Time To Die for key some vile substance and geek who actually saves a move will ensure easy availability
s:

the State must treat drug users and addicts as victims, and not as criminals. way back — just in case members of her party — behaves like an overen- the world, sitting safely of the cylinders, it must, however, be
Studies say most persons apprehended under the law have been charged with the the audience of five felt I mean a few people thusiastic schoolboy at a thousands of miles away stated that it is not that easy to imple-
possession of “small” quantities of the banned drug. In the cruise drug case in like a quick snooze besides Priyanka and Science Expo (he’s a and fiddling with the ment the proposal. It is fraught with
tp

which eight people persons were detained, the NCB had found 13 grams of cocaine, between the action Rahul, who in her mind cutie, just like our data. danger. LPG cylinders cannot be
five grams of MD, 21 grams of charas and 22 pills of MDMA. On his part, Aryan scenes. During the inter- are the party. She could Rahul Baba). Oh, I for- The Congress Party stored like food grains. Considering
invite Amarinder Singh got the luscious ladies — needs a Q. Remember,
ht

Khan has repeatedly contended before courts that no drug was found in his mission, in a glittering
possession. ladies’ loo, I ran into a
The government must bust the network that deals with drugs instead of hunting bright and beautiful mil-
down youngsters who are the end users. Occasional fireworks involving celebri- lennial who giggled and
ties are not the way to achieve it. confessed that this was
her virgin Bond film.
DECCAN CHRONICLE What? Yup. She hadn’t
watched a single 007
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR blockbuster, nor heard
Editor Printer & Publisher of Daniel Craig.
R. MOHAN
Resident Editor Hmmmmm… It immedi-
DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: ately got my wicked
Chennai: SP 3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai 600032. Phones: (044) 22254747, mind working. Did the
22254748
Coimbatore: 77 Vivekananda Road, Ramnagar, Coimbatore 641009. Phone: (0422) 2231255, 2231256
Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad 500 003. Phone: (040) 27803930-4. Fax: (040)
name Sean Connery
ring a bell? She stared at
27805256. her own image in the
Bengaluru: 5th Floor, BMTC Commercial Complex, 80 Ft. Road, Koramangala, Bangalore-560095. Ph: large mirrors above the
08043460500; Fax: 080-22960551/52/55 wash basins, wrinkled
Visakhapatnam: Survey No. 1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony,
her nose and pouted,
Visakhapatnam - 530 017. Phones: (0891) 2552333/2552334, Fax (0891) 2755285
Vijayawada: No. C 3 & 4, Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.). Phones: (0866) “Who?”. That’s when I
2555284/ 2555287, Fax (0866) 2555234 threw in my yorker (like
Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry 533125. Phones: (0883) 2417208, 2417618
Anantapur: Thapovan Colony, Bangalore Bye-Pass Road, Anantapur 515004. Phones: (08554) 276903,
the one Shahid Afridi
bowled during the dra-
Fax: 08554-276904
matic India-Pakistan
Nellore: Survey No. 527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemudugunta Panchayat, Nellore.
Phone: (0861) 2348581/ 82, Telefax (0861) 2348580 T20 match in Dubai):
Karimnagar: Survey No. 1341, Vavilalapally Colony, Jagityala Road, Karimnagar 505 001. “Have you heard of
Phone: (0878 ) 2228908; Telefax (0878) 2220433
Kochi: No. 3-B, 3rd Floor, DD TRADE TOWER, Kaloor-Kadavanthara Road, Ernakulam, Rajiv Gandhi?” She
Ph: 0484-4039408 answered brightly,
Kozhikode: No 6/1002 E, First Floor City Mall, Opp. YMCA Kannur Road, Kozhikode - 673 001 “Come on ya, of
Fax : 0495 4019018 course… I watched that
Thiruvananthapuram: St Joseph Press Thycaud post, Cotton Hills, Thiruvananthapuram-14, Ph: 0471-
2735105/6/7, Fax: 0471-4016112 Gram: CHRONICLE Postal registration no: No. H/SD-348/2006-08ss movie, na? With my
grandparents and all …
as a special guest, and the one in Cuba (Ana de
watch the movie closely Armas) is deadly, the
for messages and clues. other one (Lea Sedoux)
This is how a franchise is a sourpuss who con-
self-destructs, folks. And stantly weeps. Kamya
what is the Congress Punjabi can choose
Party if not a franchise which one suits her tal-
without any takers? ents more.
There are far too many There are several iron-
parallels in the dud ic references to age and
Bond film for Madam ageing throughout the
Gandhi not to see the script, which underline
obvious. Bond has been
demoted and replaced
the most important take-
away of Bond’s position-
by a woman as supera- ing — relevance. Bond
looks dated and caricat-
ural as he goes through
the motions robotically,
When Bond with not a muscle mov-
chooses the love of ing on his expression-
a woman over duty less face. The other mus-
cles are mercifully not
to his country, and on display, given that
prefers fatherhood the man is in retirement
to random seduc- and allowed a belly sag.
tions, you definitely Maaf karo, Bond going
know it is all over... soft! Satyanaash! Shown
brushing his teeth like
It’s so for the the rest of us? It’s worse
Congress Party as — Bond gets mushy, too.
well. And weeps for a woman!
the explosive nature of LPG, safety
the BJP has successfully norms need to be strictly observed. A
harvested many Qs and fool-proof system needs to be created
is ready for the Digital at fair price shops to ensure safety
War in 2024 — an elec- and security. Since most of the fair
tion that will be fought price shops function with limited
by algorithms and not space and do not have enough room
ideology. Bio weapons, to keep food grains, it will be a tall
the film stated, are the order to create separate space to
new missiles. Bond’s store LPG cylinders.
rather limp sign-off
V.S. Jayaraman, Chennai
holds a lesson for all.
When Bond chooses the
love of a woman over
duty to his country, and SO SWEET OF CM
prefers fatherhood to TN CM M.K. Stalin, after having
random seductions, you come to know once it was pointed out
definitely know it is all by TN BJP President Annamalai,
over. The baton needs to
had the tender for procurement of
be passed. It’s so for the sweets put out by minister Raja
Congress Party as well. Kannappan for distribution to trans-
Get out of the dinosaur port employees, stopped. By putting
syndrome — there’s still a precondition that only firms with
time! The familiar fran- Rs 100 crore turnover could bid, the
chise needs new CM ensured that state-owned Aavin
investors, boss. It’s alone could participate. By the
that or extinction. Any prompt action taken by CM to help
takers? Aavin bag the order needs to be
appreciated. Sweet of our CM to take
Instagram handle: utmost precautions and avoid
@ShobhaaDe; Twitter: wastage of taxpayers’ money.
@DeShobhaa T. Radhika, Chennai

F
ifty years ago when India was gearing
up to wage the Liberation War that
would deliver linguistic freedom to
hundreds of thousands of Bengalis liv-
ing in the then East Pakistan, no one would
quiet rise of Islamic fundamentalism in the
Indian subcontinent, which has borne the
brunt of terrorism time and again in the past.
Extremist outfits like the Jamaat ul
Mujahideen Bangladesh and its dark shadow
clamour for justice to the Hindus of
Bangladesh. The external affairs ministry, in
fact, responded to the situation by just send-
ing out a stern message of concern to
Bangladesh at the diplomatic level.
This year-long event is due to conclude on
December 16 this year, when the top political
representatives from Bangladesh are also
expected to participate. Any critical reaction
by the Prime Minister on a specific and unto-

Jasim have imagined that the land of Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman would one day be polarised
Mohammad by communal flames, that too within decades,
to witness one of the most heinous attacks on
the religious freedom of Bengali Hindus dur-
ing the peak of their main festival, the Durga
Puja.
The violent attacks on the Durga Puja cele-
have made deep inroads into the rural areas
of the country to make it a hard-line Islamic
state.
This unprecedented development triggered
repercussions in India like a wildfire for obvi-
ous reasons. The ruling BJP, which brags
about championing the cause of Hindutva,
lost no opportunity in portraying how vulner-
This is perhaps a rare occasion in the past
seven years of BJP rule when the party and its
government did not appear to be on the same
page, at least in public. While many in the
party and beyond keep on guessing the rea-
sons for this, bilateral relations, others feel,
have emerged as the main obligation for the
sake of the country’s long-term interests. To
ward issue across the border would have cer-
tainly worsened the mood in the run-up to the
grand culmination of the celebration in the
national capital. Had he broken his silence, it
might also have become a point of discord in
the long run diplomatically between the two
nations, especially after Sheikh Hasina has
harshly condemned the communal violence

How Modi stayed brations as well as on Iskcon temples across

Bangladesh recently bear the ominous warn-
ing that the country has undergone a obscu-
rantist change as much water has flown in the
able Hindus have become outside the coun-
try, while making the loudest possible outcry
globally. It also pointed fingers at the silence
of several other Opposition political leaders,
the BJP and the RSS, the nation has always
come first and on top above all in the agenda.
There is no doubt that Prime Minister Modi
and Mr Shah are the products of the same ide-
herself, and launched stringent action against
the offenders.
For Prime Minister Modi and for India,
Bangladesh is not merely just another neigh-

statesmanlike river Padma. (The Ganga, after flowing into

Bangladesh, is known as the Padma.) That the
minority population such as Hindus would
including Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of
West Bengal, who is known to politically
champion the cause of Muslims and is also
ology. What they choose to do is, therefore,
bound by the government they run.
The pivot of their stand lies in “Azaadi Ka
bouring country. It is a land which he has vis-
ited himself and which has an old connection
politically, economically and culturally with

despite attacks on not be safe under the rule of the Awami

League, led by Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina, cannot be a concern only for India,
which is the biggest home for the Hindus in
known as a good friend of Sheikh Hasina.
However, the top leaders of the BJP, includ-
ing the members of the Union Cabinet, have
not been at all vocal on the issue. This is
Amrut Mahotsav”, a year-long celebration
that has been underway across the country to
mark its military victory over Pakistan fifty
years ago that led to the birth of Bangladesh
India, above anything. That is why when
Hindus came under attack there, the Prime
Minister also averted a diplomatic crisis like
a statesman by dealing with the situation at

Hindus in Bangla the world.

It also throws light on how the rapid radi-
calisation of Muslims, as had been advocated
reflected in the muteness of its main faces in
the government. Starting from Prime
Minister Narendra Modi to Union home min-
on December 16, 1971. It may be noted that Mr
Modi himself launched the celebrations in
2020 to uphold and consolidate India’s deep
the governmental instead of at the party level.

The writer is a professor and the chairman

by a section of the political class, including ister Amit Shah to external affairs minister bonds with Bangladesh which, apart from of the Centre for Narendra Modi Studies
the ruling dispensation, has turned Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, all have stayed being hit by radicalism, is also being avidly (CNMS), India, and also a former media
Bangladesh into a major contributor to the away from lending their voice to their party’s wooed by China for its expansionist dreams. adviser, Aligarh Muslim University
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | SATURDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2021 | CHENNAI
SHORT TAKES
Justice Bhushan is
NCLAT chairman
New Delhi: The Centre on
Friday appointed Justice
Ashok Bhushan, a former
judge of the Supreme Court
who was part of the five-
judge bench which had
decided the Ayodhya dis-
pute, as chairman of
the National Company Law
Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
Justice Bhushan will head
NCLAT for four years or till
he turns 70 years, whichever
comes earlier. Since retire-
ment of NCLAT chairman
Justice S.J. Mukhopadhyay in
March 2020, Justices Bansi
Lal Bhat and A.I.S. Cheema
served asthe officiating
chairperson. After Justice
Cheema’s retirement, Justice
M. Venugopal has been
serving as the officiating
chairperson. Justice Bhushan
had served as Chief Justice
of Kerala high court in
2015 and was elevated as a
Supreme Court judge in
2016. He retiredfrom the top
court in July this year.
Rajiv Gandhi’s
statute vandalised
Dhamtari: A statue of former
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi
was allegedly vandalised by
unidentified persons at a vil-
lage in Chhattisgarh’s
Dhamtari district, the police
said on Friday. The life-size
statue installed in Dugli vil-
lage was found damaged in
the morning, following which
Congress leaders and work-
ers reached there and
demanded stern action
against persons involved in
the act. As per preliminary
information, unidentified
persons damaged the head
of the statue of Rajiv Gandhi
on Thursday night. A case
has been registered in this
connection against unidenti-
fied persons and an investi-
gation has been launched,
an official said. Congress
MLA Lakshmi Dhruv, the
party's Dhamtari district unit
chief Sharad Lohana and
other local leaders and
workers staged a protest at
the village, around 50 km
from Dhamtari town. — PTI
Delhi House panel
asks Facebook to
depose before it
New Delhi: The Delhi
Assembly’s Peace and
Harmony committee has
asked Facebook India to
send a senior representative
to depose before it on
November 2 over the
February 2020 riots in north
east Delhi, according to an
official statement said. Since
Facebook has lakhs of users
in Delhi, summonses have
been issued in accordance
with the mandate of the
Supreme Court judgment on
July 8, 2021, the statement
said. The court has held that
the committee has the
power to direct members
and non-members to appear
before it and depose on
oath, it said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi during their meeting at
Palazzo Chigi, in Rome.
Modi meets EC top brass
ahead of G-20 summit
FROM PG 1
During the meeting, leaders
of India and EU reviewed
India-EU cooperation cover-
ing political & security rela-
tions, trade & investment
and economic cooperation as
well as the Roadmap2025
agreed at the last India-EU
Rajnath Singh warns Pakistan
against terror activities in J&K tops the list with near 20K
Action against terrorism will be taken on other side of border if needed: MoD
New Delhi, Oct. 29: India
has clearly told Pakistan
that action against terror-
ism will be taken not only
on this side of the border
but also on their side if
needed, Defence Minister
Rajnath Singh said on
Friday.
“People used to say that
if Article 370 is abolished,
then the entire Kashmir
will burn...All in all,
Jammu and Kashmir is
peaceful except for a few
incidents,” he said at an
event here.
Rajouri and Poonch in
Jammu region have wit-
nessed a rise in infiltra-
tion attempts since June
this year, resulting in the
killing of nine terrorists
in separate encounters.
The Centre had on
August 5, 2019 abolished
Article 370 of the
Constitution that granted
Separatist
Shabir Shah’s
wife gets bail
in PMLA case
New Delhi, Oct. 29: A
Delhi court on Friday
granted bail to Kashmiri
separatist leader Shabir
Shah’s wife Bilquis Shah
in a 2005 money launder-
ing case lodged against
them for alleged terror
financing to cause
unrest in Jammu and
Kashmir.
Special judge
Dharmender Rana
granted the relief to
Bilquis Shah on a bail
bond of `50,000 with two
sureties each in the like
amount, saying that
placing her under cus-
tody would not serve any
purpose.
The probe agency had
named her as an accused
in its supplementary
charge sheet filed in the
case in September 2020.
“I concur with the
defence counsel that now
placing her under cus-
tody would not serve any
purpose. Considering
her gender, nature of
allegations against the
applicant/accused, and
the fact that she was not
even arrested by the
investigating authority
during the course of the
investigation, accused
Bilquis Shah is admitted
to bail,” the judge said.
The court also directed
her to appear before the
court on every date of
hearing and she shall
not leave the country
without the permission
of the court.
The court, meanwhile,
allowed ED to examine
Shabbir Shah in jail
regarding the recently
traced out proceeds of
crime. — PTI
Summit. They also dis- MEA said, “Prime Minister
cussed climate change, Narendra Modi paid floral
Covid-19 pandemic and con- tribute at the bust of
temporary global and Mahatma Gandhi at Piazza
regional developments of Gandhi in the city of Rome.
interest to both sides. EU After paying tribute, Prime
leaders also congratulated Minister also greeted the
India for its excellent members of Indian Diaspora
progress on vaccination.” who were present there in
In another statement, the large numbers.”
Defence minister Rajnath Singh attends an event in
New Delhi on Friday.
special status to Jammu
and Kashmir.
Mr Singh said, “It is true
that our enemy forces are
fidgety. I can say with
surety that terrorists’ con-
fidence has been broken in
Kashmir Valley.”
Since October 11, the
Indian Army is conduct-
ing a massive search oper-
ation to track down hiding
terrorists in Jammu and
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi arrives to appear before a magistrate court in connec-
tion with a defamation case in Surat on Friday.
Guj dalit family attacked for
visiting temple; 20 booked
Gandhidham, Oct. 29:
Six members of a Dalit
family were allegedly
attacked by around 20
men for visiting a temple
in their village near
Gandhidham town of
Gujarat’s Kutch district,
.m
police said on Friday.
While the alleged inci-
dent took place on
//t
Tuesday (October 26) at
Ner village under
Bhachau police station,
s:
no arrests have been made
so far, deputy superinten-
tp
dent of police Kishorsinh
Zala said.
“Two FIRs were regis-
ht
tered in this regard, one by
Govind Vaghela and
another by his father
Jagabhai. The duo claimed
that around 20 persons
attacked them. We have
formed eight teams to nab
the culprits,” Zala said.
The case has been regis-
tered against a mob of 20
— AP
Suicide rate up in ’20, Maha
— PTI
Kashmir’s twin border
districts of Poonch and
Rajouri. Pakistan was not
able to gather any support
on the topic of Kashmir
even after trying a lot, the
minister said.
“Modiji has redesigned
and redefined India’s atti-
tude against terrorism.
Remember, what a soft
attitude was maintained
against terrorists during
_D
N
◗ AS PER the FIR, the
R
accused were angry that
Govind Vaghela and his
A
family had visited the
Ram temple at Ner village
e/
on October 20 to offer
prayers when a Prana
Pratishtha ritual was
underway
persons, including Kana
Ahir, Rajesh Maharaj,
Kesra Rabai, Paba Rabari
and Kana Koli, on the
charges of attempt to
murder, dacoity, robbery,
assault, and under rele-
vant sections of the
SC/ST (Prevention of
Atrocities) Act, it was
stated.
As per the FIR, the
accused were angry that
Govind Vaghela and his
family had visited the
Ram temple at Ner village
on October 20 to offer
prayers when a Prana
SC warns makers of
fake green crackers
FROM PG 1
Justice M.R. Shah head-
ing a bench also compris-
ing Justice A.S.Bopanna
said, “It prima facie
appears that the imple-
menting agencies of the
concerned states either
lack desire to implement
the directions issued by
this court or they close
their eyes for whatever
reasons.”
Emphasising that any
lapse on the part of the
state governments/state
agencies and Union
Territories shall be
viewed “very seriously”,
the court said that it is the
duty of all the states/state
agencies to ensure that
the directions issued by
the top court are strictly
complied with in “toto”.
No authority can permit
the violation of the top
court directions and allow
bursting of banned fire-
crackers under the guise
of celebration. The court
said: “Under the guise of
celebration, nobody can
be permitted to infringe
the right to health of oth-
ers, guaranteed under
Article 21 of the
Constitution, more partic-
ularly the senior citizens
and children.”
However, the court clari-
fied that there was not
total ban on use of fire-
earlier governments,” Mr
Singh told the gathering.
If there were terrorist
incidents, there was talk
of giving “safe passage” to
them, there used to be talk
of playing or not playing
matches against Pakistan,
he said.
“Now the situation has
changed. Our government
has said clearly that ter-
rorism and talks cannot
go hand in hand. For the
last few years, we have
stopped having any talks
with Pakistan,” the minis-
ter mentioned.
“Now we don't talk about
playing or not playing
(cricket) matches. Instead,
we have stated it clearly
that action against terror-
ism will be taken — on
this side of the border as
well as on the other side of
the border if needed,” he
added. — PTI
M
L_
A
IT
— PTI
IG
Pratishtha ritual was
underway. On October 26,
Vaghela was at his shop,
when he learnt that some
persons had destroyed his
standing crop by sending
cattle into his field, the
complaint stated.
When the complainant
and his uncle Ganesh
Vaghela reached the spot,
the accused attacked them
with pipes, sticks and
sharp weapons for visit-
ing the temple, the police
said.
As per the FIR, the
accused had also allegedly
stolen a mobile phone and
damaged the com-
plainant’s rickshaw.
The complainant has also
alleged that the accused
had attacked his mother
Badhiben, father Jagabhai
and two other relatives,
and the six victims were
treated at a general hospi-
tal in Bhuj. — PTI
crackers and only those
firecrackers are banned
which are injurious to
health of the citizens,
more particularly the sen-
ior citizens and children.
Having said that any
“wilful and deliberate dis-
obedience shall have to be
viewed very seriously”,
the court directed all the
states/Union Territories
to give due publicity
through electronic
media/print media/local
cable services to make the
people aware and know
the directions issued by it
in respect of manufac-
ture, use and sale of
banned firecrackers.
Earlier in the course of
the hearing on Friday,
Justice Shah said that the
top court orders are not
taken seriously by the
firecracker manufactur-
ers and their sellers. “You
go to the market, you can
get joint crackers (laries).
The joint crackers burst
on the roads while the
procession is going on.”
As senior lawyer
Dushyant Dave appearing
for some firecracker man-
ufacturers said that taint
brush should not extend
to “genuine manufactur-
ers” of firecracker,
Justice Shah retorted
back: “We are very very
serious on the conduct of
the manufacturers. There
■ 5 states account for 50.1% of total deaths
New Delhi, Oct. 29: India
recorded 153,052 suicides
— an average of 418 daily
— in 2020, according to the
latest Central government
data. The 2020 figures
were more in comparison
to 2019 when 139,123 sui-
cides were recorded in the
country, the National
Crime Records Bureau
(NCRB) stated in an annu-
al report.
Suicide rate (per lakh
population) also increased
from 10.4 in 2019 to 11.3
last year, the NCRB,
which functions under the
Union Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA) stated.
Majority of suicides,
19,909 in total, were
reported in Maharashtra
followed by 16,883 in
Tamil Nadu, 14,578 in
Madhya Pradesh, 13,103 in
West Bengal, and 12,259 in
Karnataka accounting for
13 per cent, 11 per cent, 9.5
per cent, 8.6 per cent and 8
per cent of the total sui-
cides, respectively, it
showed.
SII seeks DCGI
e
in
nod for Covid-19
az
ag
vaccine Covovax
DC CORRESPONDENT
with agency inputs
NEW DELHI, OCT.29
With 14,348 people testing
positive for coronavirus
in a day, India's total tally
of Covid-19 cases rose to
3,42,46,157, while the
active cases were record-
ed at 1,61,334. The death
toll climbed to 4,57,191
with 805 fresh fatalities,
including 708 from
Kerala.
The southern state of
Kerala has been reconcil-
ing Covid deaths in the
past few days. Of the 708
deaths in Kerala, 56 were
reported in the last few
days, 542 were those
which were not con-
firmed until June 18 last
year due to lack of ade-
quate documentation and
110 were designated as
Covid deaths after receiv-
ing appeals based on the
new guidelines of the
Centre and Supreme
Court directions.
On the vaccination
front, the Serum Institute
of India on Friday sought
permission from the
Drugs Controller General
of India (DCGI) to manu-
facture Covid-19 vaccine
Covovax for restricted
use in emergency situa-
tions at its Manjari manu-
facturing site. The compa-
ny has submitted interim
phase 2/3 clinical study
report on Indian adults,
the interim report of
is a report by the CBI
against them. We have no
reason to disbelieve it
(CBI report).”
Sensing the mood of the
court, which was irked by
the violation of top court's
various orders banning
harmful crackers and
only permitting green
crackers, Mr Dave urged
the court not to pass any
“harsh order” coming in
the way of genuine manu-
facturers.
As senior counsel Gopal
Sankaranarayanan
appearing for minor peti-
tioners Arun Gopal told
the court that he is sub-
mitting a note listing
April 11, 2019 and
November 26, 2019, orders
of the top court in the
matter, Mr Dave said that
these notes are prejudiced
against them.
By April 11, 2019 order,
the court had barred the
firecracker manufactur-
ers from using Barium
Nitrate which it was con-
tended would reduce the
pollution to the extent of
about 25 to 30 per cent.
The court had in 2018
banned the use of Barium
in the manufacture of
firecrackers.
The court had by its
October 23, 2018; order
had banned the use of
Barium salt in the manu-
facture of firecrackers.
◗ UTTAR PRADESH, the
most populous state with
16.9 per cent share of the
country’s population,
reported a comparatively
lower percentage share of
suicidal deaths, account-
ing for only 3.1 per cent of
the total suicides
These five states togeth-
er accounted for 50.1 per
cent of the total suicides
reported in the country,
while the remaining 49.9
per cent were reported
from the remaining 23
states and eight Union
Territories (UTs), the
NCRB stated.
Uttar Pradesh, the most
populous state with 16.9
per cent share of the
country’s population,
reported a comparatively
lower percentage share of
suicidal deaths, account-
ing for only 3.1 per cent of
the total suicides, it
added.
Delhi, which is the most
populous UT, reported the
CM: Assam aims
to vaccinate all
eligible by Jan 15
Guwahati: Assam chief
minister Himanta Bioswa
Sarma here on Friday
said that his government
has set the target of com-
pleting the Covid-19 vac-
cination of all its eligible
population, estimated to
be around 2.10 crore with
both the doses by
January 15 next year.
Admitting that 10 lakh
people mostly in Karbi
Anglong Hills are a
“resistant population”,
Mr Sarma told reporters
that they are set to com-
plete the vaccination of
the first dose to the entire
population above 18-years
by November 20 this year.
Novavax UK and USA-
Mexico phase-3 clinical
study and response to the
queries raised by the
DCGI office, along with
its application.
In the application to the
DCGI, Prakash Kumar
Singh, Director,
Government and
Regulatory Affairs at the
SII has reportedly said
that there were no safety
concerns arising from the
study data and Covovax is
safe and immunogenic in
the adult population.
Aryan Khan spends
another night in jail
Mumbai, Oct. 29:
Despite securing bail from
the Bombay High Court in
a drugs case, Aryan Khan,
son of superstar Shah
Rukh Khan, will spend
one more night in
Mumbai's Arthur Road
prison as documents relat-
ed to his release did reach
jail authorities in time on
Friday, while the HC
imposed 14 conditions on
him, including bond pay-
ment of Rs 1 lakh and
weekly visit to the NCB
office here.
In the evening, a special
court issued the release
memo for Aryan Khan,
granted bail by the HC on
Thursday after 25 days of
arrest in the case related
to alleged seizure of drugs
onboard a cruise ship off
the Mumbai coast earlier
this month, but his legal
could not meet the dead-
line for submission of
papers.
Shah Rukh Khan’s actor-
friend Juhi Chawla stood
as surety for his 23-year-
old son before the special
court, designated to hear
cases related to the
Narcotics Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances
Act (NDPS).
“We won’t give special
treatment for anyone. The
law is the same for all. The
deadline for receiving the
bail papers was 5.30 pm.
That has passed. He won’t
be released today,” senior
jail official said.
pg 7
highest number of sui-
cides (3,142) among UTs,
followed by Puducherry
(408), the report showed.
A total of 23,855 suicides
were reported in the 53
mega cities of the country
in 2020, the report showed,
observing that the suicide
rate in cities (14.8) was
higher as compared to all-
India suicide rate (11.3).
According to the report,
'family problems' (33.6 per
cent), “marriage-related
problems” (5 per cent) and
'illness' (18 per cent)
together accounted for
56.7 per cent of total sui-
cides in the country dur-
ing 2020, it showed.
The overall male to
female ratio of suicide
victims was 70.9 to 29.1,
the report stated.
Every year over 70,000
people take their own life
and there are many more
people who attempt sui-
cide across the globe,
according to the World
Health
(WHO).
Organisation
Local trains
to run at 50%
capacity in
West Bengal
RAJIB CHOWDHURI
KOLKATA, OCT. 29:
The Mamata Banerjee
government has allowed
the operation of local
trains, which remained
suspended in West
Bengal over the last five
months in the wake of
the Covid-19 pandemic
after a brief resumption
in services for common
people, from November
but with 50 per cent seat-
ing capacity.
It has also ordered the
reopening of education-
al institutions, which
were also shut over the
last one and a half years,
from November 16.
“Schools for Classes 9-
12, colleges and universi-
ties shall open with
effect from November 16
following the standard
operating procedure
issued by school educa-
tion and higher educa-
tion departments. Intra-
state local train move-
ment may operate with
50% of seating capacity,”
an official order said.
“Restriction relating to
the movement of people
and vehicles between 11
pm to 5 am shall continue
to be in force but shall be
relaxed for Kali Puja and
Diwali during November
25 and for Chhat Puja
during November 10-11,”
it added. All government
offices related to non-
emergency and non-
essential services will
function with 50% of
total strength.
The HC on Friday after-
noon made available its
operative order in which
it imposed 14 bail condi-
tions on Aryan Khan and
his co-accused in the case,
Arbaaz Merchant and
Munmun Dhamecha, who
were also granted bail,
stipulating their release
on a personal bond of Rs 1
lakh each with one or two
sureties of the same
amount.
In the five-page order,
signed by Justice N.W.
Sambre, the high court
said the trio will have to
surrender their passports
before the NDPS court
and shall not leave India
without taking permis-
sion from the special
court and that they will
have to attend the NCB
office each Friday
between 11 am and 2 pm to
mark their presence. The
judge will give a detailed
bail order with reasons
next week.
The HC said if the trio
violated any of the condi-
tions imposed then the
Narcotics Control Bureau
(NCB), which is probing
the cruise drugs case,
shall “straightaway apply
to the special judge/court
for cancellation of their
bail.”
“Each of the appli-
cants/accused shall exe-
cute personal bond of Rs 1
lakh with one or more
sureties in the like
amount,” the order said.
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | SATURDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2021 | CHENNAI
SHORT
Naqvi: 5.60L employed
TAKES
through ‘Hunar Haat’
Dehradun: ‘Hunar Haat’, a
handicrafts exhibition that
aims at providing market
exposure and employment
opportunities to artisans and
craftsmen from the minority
communities, has become a
credible platform to
strengthen Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s call of
‘vocal for local’, Union minis-
ter Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
said on Friday. Addressing
the inaugural ceremony of
the country's 30th Hunar
Haat Mela here, the Union
Minister for Minority Affairs
said over 5.60 lakh artisans,
craftsmen and traditional
culinary experts among oth-
ers have been provided with
employment opportunities
through the initiative.
Around 500 artisans and
craftsmen from across the
country are displaying their
indigenous products made
of wood, brass, bamboo,
glass, cloth, paper and clay
at ‘Hunar Haat’ in Dehradun.
— PTI
Long-range bomb
successfully tested
New Delhi: The DRDO and the
IAF jointly conducted a suc-
cessful flight test of a long-
range bomb (LRB) in Odisha
on Friday, the defence min-
istry said. “The LRB, after
release from the IAF fighter
aircraft, guided to a land-
based target at a long range
with accuracy within specified
limits,” the ministry said in a
statement. All the mission
objectives were successfully
met, it mentioned. “The flight
of the bomb and the perform-
ance were monitored by a
number of range sensors,
including electro optical
tracking system (EOTS),
telemetry and radar,” it noted.
The LRB has been designed
and developed by DRDO labs,
it stated. Defence minister
Rajnath Singh on Friday con-
gratulated DRDO, IAF and
other teams associated with
successful flight trial and stat-
ed that this will prove to be a
force multiplier for India’s
armed forces. — PTI
FOLK DANCES
STEAL THE SHOW
AT TRIBAL FEST
New Delhi: On the second day
of the National Tribal Dance
Festival today, folk dance com-
petitions based on the theme
traditional festivals, rituals, har-
vesting and other traditional
practices were held at 9 am.
The competitions of this cate-
gory started with Jhinjhihanna
folk dance of U’khand. This tra-
ditional dance of Tharu com-
munity is performed by
women in the month of Quar-
Bhado to commemorate the
arrival of the new crop.
Women perform Jhinjhi dance
and take the donation of flour
and rice with ‘ghada’on their
head. Jhinjhi is considered to
be a form of divine and is cus-
tomarily immersed in the river.
After this ritual, the rice and
flour so collected is used to
prepare feast for people.
Similarly, the Hanna dance is
performed by the men of
Tharu society, in which men go
to every house and take dona-
tions of flour and rice.
Uttarakhand team’s perform-
ance was a combination of
both these folk dances.
Similarly, Karma dance was
presented by the participants
of Chhattisgarh state. It is
noteworthy that Karma dance
is performed on the day of
Ekadashi in the month of
Bhaado, in the memory of
King Karam Sen, to worship
Karam Dal tree. People of the
community offer prayers and
perform karma dance through-
out the night. This folk dance
gives a message of environ-
ment conservation and love for
nature. In this category, Gusadi
Dimsa was performed by the
team of Telangana, Oraon by
Jharkhand, Gair Ghumra by
Rajasthan, Dhamali by Jammu
and Kashmir and Gaur Sing
dance was performed by the
team of Chhattisgarh.
Assam on alert amid Bangla attacks
MANOJ ANAND
GUWAHATI, OCT. 29
Assam chief minister
Himanta Biswa Sarma
here on Friday said that
state administration was
on alert and all the district
administrations have been
asked to be vigilant to
ensure that communal har-
mony is maintained and
no attack on religious
minorities take place in the
wake of ongoing violence
against Hindus in
Bangladesh. Mr Sarma told
reporters that all deputy
‘G20 acknowledges India’s leadership’ PM Modi 24-carat
Piyush Goyal says India’s voice in G-20 represents the voice of all less-developed countries
pay a minimum effective Modi, Israeli Premier Bennett to meet “enter the troika on
SRIDHAR ensure that large MNCs
KUMARASWAMI
try of operation, the Union in Glasgow on sidelines of COP26
NEW DELHI, OCT. 29 corporate tax in the coun-
India has got tremendous commerce minister said.
support from the G20
nations on its suggestion
for mutual recognition of
travel documents includ-
ing testing and vaccine
certificates, Union com-
merce and industry minis-
ter Piyush Goyal, who is
also India’s G20 Sherpa,
said in Rome, on Friday,
ahead of Saturday’s G20
Summit.
India has pushed the G20
nations to address the mis-
match between the source
of generation of profits
and the jurisdiction where
profits are taxed that will
Mamata: TMC
also stands for
temple, mosque
and church
Panaji, Oct. 29: TMC
supremo Mamata
Banerjee on Friday told
her party workers in poll-
bound Goa that the BJP
calls her “anti-Hindu”
although it has no
authority to give a “char-
acter certificate” to her,
and added that the initial
letters in her party’s
name - TMC - also stand
for temple, mosque and
church. The Bengal CM,
who arrived in Goa on
Thursday evening as part
of her three-day visit to
the BJP-ruled state, also
said her party wants to
fight elections here not to
divide votes but to make
the coastal state “strong
and self-sufficient” and
asserted that the state
will not be run from
Delhi. She said her party
doesn’t divide people on
religious lines even if
they are Hindus,
Muslims or Christians.
The TMC has
announced its decision to
contest all 40 Assembly
seats in Goa in the
upcoming polls and start-
ed inducting several local
leaders into its fold.
Banerjee’s tour is being
seen as an attempt by her
to gauge political mood
in the state ahead of the
Assembly polls slated in
early 2022.
During her maiden
interaction with the TMC
leaders in Goa, Banerjee
accused the BJP of defac-
ing her posters in the
state and said people of
India will deface the saf-
fron party.
“When I come to Goa,
they deface my posters.
You will be defaced from
India,” she said.
“You deface us (our
posters), show black
flags, refuse to grant per-
mission (to hold event)
because you know that
TMC will due but will
never compromise,” she
said while targeting the
ruling BJP in Goa. — PTI
Teacher in UP hangs kid
upside down from building
Mirzapur, Oct. 29:
The principal of a
school here dangled a
class 2 child upside
down from the first
floor of the building,
punishing him for eat-
ing ‘gol gappas’ as other
children watched in
shock, an official said
on Friday.
Following the incident,
which occurred on
Thursday, an FIR was
lodged against Principal
Manoj Vishwakarma of
the Sadbhavna
Shikshan Sansthan
Junior High School
under Ahraura police
station and he was taken
commission- communal harmony is
ers and super- maintained.”
intendents of Refusing to give any reac-
police have tion on violence in Tripura
been asked to after the alleged attack on
take extra Hindus during Durga Puja
Himanta
vigil on the in Bangladesh,Mr Sarma
Biswa Sarma said, “I will not react to
backdrop of
the violence in Bangladesh. another state. I am con-
We have directed the cerned with Assam and I
administration to ensure am happy to say that
that in the reaction to the Assam has witnessed no
torture on Hindus in such incident and we have
Bangladesh, there should alerted our district admin-
be no retaliatory violence istration to take extra
against minorities in care.”
Assam. We have taken ade- He also lauded the efforts
quate steps to ensure that of the Bangladesh govern-
He said India would
December 1, 2021, and will
play a leadership role in
the issues and concerns of
On sustainable develop- Jerusalem, Oct. 29:
ment and food security, he Israeli Prime Minister
also said India has insisted Naftali Bennett will meet
that the “policies must pro- his Indian counterpart
tect the interests of small Narendra Modi on the
and marginal farmers and sidelines of the UN
conserve local food culture, Climate Change
which will be very impor- Conference in Glasgow
tant for our food security.” next week, a senior official
The G20 is a grouping of said here on Friday.The
the world’s 20 largest Israeli Prime Minister’s
economies of which India media adviser, in a com-
is a member.
Asserting at a media oped countries and devel-
briefing in Rome, on oping nations” and
Friday, that “India’s voice “speaks for the low and
in G20 represents the middle-income countries,”
voice of all the less-devel- Mr Goyal said India would
Farmers have made up mind
to dethrone BJP: Akhiilesh
Lucknow, Oct.
Samajwadi Party (SP)
29:
President Akhilesh
Yadav tore into the BJP
on Friday over farmers’
issues, saying farmers
are the worst sufferers
under BJP government
and they have decided to
dethrone the party in the
coming 2022 elections.
“Farmers are the worst
sufferers in this govern-
ment and agriculture is
in trouble. That’s why
farmers want to wipe out Samajwadi Party presi-
the BJP. People have also dent Akhilesh Yadav
made up their minds that
being presented a mace
BJP has to be removed,”
at a programme at the
Yadav said at a press con-
party office in Lucknow
ference here.
The SP chief also wel- on Friday. — PTI
comed former Congress mittee, had quit the
MP Harendra Malik and party earlier this month.
his son, former MLA Yadav alleged the state
Pankaj Malik, along with government failed to
other leaders in the save farmers’ crops by
party. not buying paddy, and it
The former state unit forced the farmers to dis-
vice president of pose off their crops by
Congress Pankaj Malik setting them on fire.
and Harendra Malik, ?This is the country of
_D
who was a member of farmers and farmers are
Priyanka Gandhi losing their lives because
Vadra’s advisory com- they are standing in
N
■ Party likely to contest 3-tier panchayat polls in 2022: Sources
R
AAP sees greener pastures in Odisha
A
e/
AKSHAYA KUMAR ahead of the 2024
SAHOO
.m
Assembly elections. Like
BHUBANESWAR, OCT. 29 Punjab and some other
poll-bound states where
As the Bharatiya Janata it has promised to pro-
//t
Party (BJP) and vide certain units of
Congress gear up to chal- electricity free to con-
lenge the hegemony of sumers, the party has
s:
the ruling Biju Janata also pledged 200 units
Dal (BJD) in Odisha in free to Odisha power
tp
the forthcoming 2022 users.
gram panchayat elec- AAP’s Odisha in-charge
tions raising issues from Sanjay Singh, who visit-
ht
corruption to atrocities ed the state on Thursday,
on women, the Aam informed about the party
Aadmi Party (AAP) has leadership’s decision to
decided to throw its hat the state office-bearers
into the ring. and asked them to make
Sources said the party adequate preparation for
has decided to contest the polls.
the three-tier panchayat While addressing the
elections to bolster its party workers here, Mr
organisational strength Singh slammed the rul-
into custody, the police
said. A video of the inci-
dent has gone viral on
began crying and told
his parents about the
incident after reaching
social media. Police said
the school headmaster
inflicted the shocking
home, the police said.
The child’s father
Ranjit Yadav subse-
punishment on the five-
year-old child for having
‘gol gappas’ at a stall out-
quently lodged a com-
plaint with the police
following which an FIR
side the school without was lodged on Thursday
informing the teacher. night, Mirzapur DM
After the child came Praveen Kumar
back to the school, the Lakshkar. On coming to
headmaster caught hold know about this, the dis-
of him by his ankles trict basic shiksha
and dangle him upside adhikari too investigat-
down from the first ed the matter and on the
floor of the school build- basis of his report, an
ing, police said. FIR was registered
Scared by the shock- against the school head-
ing treatment, the child master, the DM said.
ment in controlling the vio-
lence and said that India
should believe in the steps
taken by them as "they are
our friendly country".
“I think whatever has
been told (by Bangladesh),
it should get wide publicity
so that any counter-senti-
ment erupted in this coun-
try (India) can be cooled
down. I am sure the
Ministry of External
Affairs will take necessary
steps to counter the false
campaign or narrative
being floated to create
unrest in India,” he said.
munication, said that
Bennett would be meeting
several world leaders,
including PM Modi.
“On Monday, November
1, 2021, Prime Minister
Bennett will address par-
ticipants in the conference
and present the Israeli
concept on dealing with
the climate crisis,” it said.
— PTI
take on G20 Presidency on
December 1, 2022, and
would be the President
and take on the chairship
of G20 for the year 2023.
queues,? he said, refer-
ring to the death of some
farmers in Lalitpur dis-
trict allegedly while
standing in the queue for
fertiliser.
He criticised the gov-
ernment also over rising
prices of petrol and
diesel and questioned the
per day hike of 35 paisa.
Yadav said even if the
BJP changes all its can-
didates for the coming
polls, it will be deposed
by the people.
“Farmers take care of
the country’s economy,
then why is there so
much injustice with
them,? the former Chief
L_
Minister wondered and
asked the government to
reveal the number of
A
centers set up for the
purchase of paddy.
IT
“Five years are going to
be completed, at least tell
IG
us whether the income of
farmers has doubled or
not,” Yadav said, refer-
ring to the ruling party’s
pre-poll promise of dou-
bling farmers’ income by
2022. — PTI
◗ SOURCES SAID the
party has decided to con-
test the three-tier pan-
chayat elections to bol-
ster its organisational
strength ahead of the
2024 Assembly elections.
ing BJD government in
the state and came down
heavily on chief minister
Naveen Patnaik over his
governance policy.
“If APP comes to power
in Odisha, the party will
provide 200 units of elec-
tricity to every family in
the state free of cost. I
don’t think it’s impossi-
ble considering the fact
that Odisha is a power-
surplus state,” Mr Singh
Surat wins award for
city with best public
transport system
New Delhi, Oct. 29: The
Union government on
Friday awarded Surat the
city with the best public
transport system and
Kochi for the most sus-
tainable transport sys-
tem. According to the
Union housing and urban
affairs ministry, Delhi
was awarded the best non-
motorised transport sys-
tem for the redevelopment
project of Shahjahanabad
Re d e v e l o p m e n t
Corporation.
The awards were given
away by Union Housing
and Urban Affairs
Minister Hardeep Singh
Puri at the Urban
Mobility India confer-
ence.
Delhi Metro has been
awarded ‘Metro Rail with
the Best Passenger
Services and
Satisfaction’.
Indore has been award-
ed ‘City with the Most
Innovative Financing
Mechanism’, the ministry
said, adding Nashik was
awarded ‘City with Best
Record of Public
Involvement in its
Transport Planning’.
Earlier in the day, Puri,
in his inaugural address,
said the urban population
in 2020 accounted for 56
per cent of the total global
population, up from 30 per
the developing countries.”
“On climate change and
environment, India has
spoken very strongly on
the need for critical
enablers for galvanising
global climate action,
which includes long-term
concessional climate
finance access to afford-
able and sustainable tech-
nology. On economic
recovery, India is ensuring
that there is no premature
withdrawal of support and
the most vulnerable sec-
tions are provided neces-
sary support,” he added.
Varun slams
UP govt for
graft in crop
procurement
New Delhi, Oct. 29:
Launching an attack on
the Uttar Pradesh gov-
ernment over the issues
of farmers, BJP MP
in
Varun Gandhi alleged on
Friday that “crippling
corruption” in procure-
az
ment centres is complete-
ly out in the open and
that they are forced to
ag
sell their grains to mid-
dlemen.
He also demanded a
legal guarantee for the
M
minimum support price
(MSP), also one of the
demands of farmer
unions protesting
against three farm laws,
saying farmers will con-
tinue to be exploited in
‘mandis’ (markets for
agricultural produce) as
long as this is not done.
Gandhi sought strin-
gent action in the matter.
He also posted a video
of him speaking appar-
ently to a government
official at a mandi in
Bareilly. — PTI
said, adding that his
party will take the issue
to the people of the state
and raise awareness
among them.
The APP sees some
greener pastures in
Odisha politics as the
Congress, which ruled
the state for over four
decades, has slumped to
the third position with
only 16 per cent vote
share in the 2019
Assembly polls.
Though the BJP did
well in the 2019 Assembly
polls, increasing its vote
share to 32.49 per cent
from 18 per cent in 2014,
it has not been able to
keep the momentum ever
since.
◗ AS MANY The awards
were given away by Union
Housing and Urban Affairs
Minister Hardeep Singh
Puri at the Urban Mobility
India conference. Delhi
Metro has been awarded
‘Metro Rail with the Best
Passenger Services and
Satisfaction’.
cent in 1950.
It is expected to increase
to 60 per cent by 2030. Of
this, almost 90 per cent is
anticipated to be in Asia
and Africa, according to
an official statement.
“This accelerated urban-
ization is the driving force
behind the need for
increased transportation
of people and goods
which is responsible for
more than 30 per cent of
the world’s energy con-
sumption,” the minister
said.
He reiterated that sus-
tainable mobility and uni-
versal access is crucial for
achieving the 2030
Agenda of Sustainable
Development Goals.
Puri said with the gov-
ernment’s focus towards
the world’s largest vacci-
nation drive, which has
now crossed the one bil-
lion mark, India has taken
a lead in this direction.
— PTI
gold, says Rajnath
New Delhi, Oct. 29: Hailing
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi as “24-carat gold”,
defence minister Rajnath
Singh on Friday said he is
perhaps the only leader after
Mahatma Gandhi with deep
understanding of Indian soci-
ety and its psychology.Singh,
a former BJP president, said
Modi’s political journey of
last two decades as head of
government should be taught
in management schools as a
case study on “effective lead-
ership and efficient gover-
nance”.
Speaking at length about
the last two decades of Modi’s
political journey, Singh said,
“A true leadership is identi-
fied by its intent and integri-
ty and in both cases, Modiji is
24-carat gold. There is not a
single stain of corruption on
him even after being the head
of a government for 20
years.”
He was speaking at the vale-
dictory session of a national
conference on ‘Delivering
Democracy: Reviewing 2
Decades of Narendra Modi as
Head of Govt’.
Bypolls to one Lok
e
Sabha, 3 Assembly
seats in MP today
Bhopal, Oct. 29: All
preparations have been
made for by-elections to
one Lok Sabha and three
Assembly seats in Madhya
Pradesh on Saturday, an
official said.As many as 48
candidates are in the fray
in four constituencies
where straight fights are
expected between the rul-
ing BJP and opposition
Congress.
Voting will begin at 7 am
and end at 6 pm, the official
said.
As many as 26,50,004 vot-
ers are eligible to exercise
franchise during the
byelections.
Of 3,944 polling centres
across four constituencies
865 are deemed as sensitive
by the administration.
Web-casting has been
arranged at 874 polling sta-
tions while CCTV cameras
have been installed at 361
centres.
Sixteen candidates each
are in the fray for by-polls
to Khandwa Lok Sabha seat
and Raigaon (SC)
Assembly constituency.
In these seats, two ballot
units would be placed in
each polling centre due to
the high number of candi-
dates.
Ten candidates are in the
fray in Prithvipur and six
in Jobat (ST) assembly con-
stituencies.
Counting of votes will
take place on November 2.
The Khandwa parliamen-
tary seat and Raigaon
assembly seat in Satna dis-
trict were held by the BJP
while Jobat in Alirajpur
and Prithvipur in Niwari
districts were with the
Congress.
In Khandwa, the BJP has
fielded former district pan-
chayat president
Gyaneshwar Patil, denying
the ticket to Harshvardhan
Chauhan, the son of sitting
MP Nand Kumar Singh
Chauhan whose demise
HC dismisses Deshmukh’s
challenge to ED summons
SONU SHRIVASTAVA
MUMBAI, OCT. 29
The Bombay High Court on
Friday rejected former
Maharashtra home minister
Anil Deshmukh’s petition
challenging the Enforcement
Directorate (ED) summons
for him to appear before the
agency.
The division bench of
Justice Nitin Jamdar and
Justice S.V. Kotwal said that
Deshmukh had failed to
make a case for quashing
such summons.
The bench observed that
the former minister’s plea
did not merit an order to the
ED and the CBI, restraining
them from taking any coer-
cive action against him.
The bench, however, said
that Mr Deshmukh, like any
other common litigant, had a
right to approach the appro-
priate court seeking relief
from arrest if he apprehend-
ed so. The court also directed
the ED to allow Mr
Deshmukh’s lawyer to
remain present within “visi-
ble distance but not audible
distance” at the central
agency’s office during
Deshmukh’s questioning.
pg 8
Rajnath Singh said Modi is
not merely a person, but an
idea, a thought.
“If we look at his political
journey of the last two
decades, we will find that
new challenges kept coming
before him. But the way he
faced those challenges
should be taught in manage-
ment schools as a case study
on effective leadership and
efficient governance,” the
defence minister said.
Mr Singh said the way
Prime Minister Modi over-
came challenges, it shows his
deep understanding of
Indian society. “He is per-
haps the only leader after
Mahatma Gandhi with deep
understanding of Indian
society and its psychology.”
Referring to the systematic
changes that the Modi gov-
ernment is trying to bring in,
Singh said the government
has changed many times in
this country, “but for the first
time efforts are being to
made change the system. You
can find loopholes in this
effort but Modiji’s intent can-
not be disbelieved.” — PTI
◗ AS MANY as 26,50,004
voters are eligible to exer-
cise franchise during the
byelections. Of 3,944 polling
centres across four con-
stituencies 865 are deemed
as sensitive by the adminis-
tration. Web-casting has
been arranged at 874
polling stations while CCTV
cameras have been
installed at 361 centres.
necessitated the bypoll.
The Congress has fielded
former MLA Rajnarayan
Singh Purni.
In Jobat, Sulochana
Rawat is the BJP’s nominee
against Congress candi-
date Mahesh Patel. The
seat fell vacant due to the
death of sitting Congress
legislator Kalawati Bhuria.
Rawat, a former MLA,
joined the BJP recently
after quitting Congress.
She had won from Jobat on
Congress’ ticket in 1998
and 2008.
In Raigaon (SC) seat, the
BJP has fielded Pratima
Bagri, the daughter-in-law
of MLA Jugal Kishore
Bagri whose death necessi-
tated the bypoll. Pratima
Bagri will face Congress’
Kalpana Verma.
Verma had been defeated
by Jugal Kishore Bagri in
the 2018.
In Prithvipur, the BJP
has fielded former
Samajwadi Party leader
Shishupal Singh against
Congress’ Nitendra
Rathore, the son of former
minister Brajendra Singh
Rathore whose death
necessitated the bypoll.
Additional chief secre-
tary Rajesh Rajora said 58
companies of special
armed forces -- including 50
from other states -- have
been deployed for ensuring
fair and peaceful polls.
A total of 55 flying squads
and 64 static surveillance
teams have been pressed
The ED’s complaint is
based on the case registered
by CBI against Mr
Deshmukh. The CBI had reg-
istered an FIR against Mr
Deshmukh after it found
prima facie case against Mr
Deshmukh in its prelimi-
nary enquiry. The prelimi-
nary enquiry was initiated
on the direction of Bombay
High Court during hearing
of petitions seeking a probe
against Mr Deshmukh based
on the corruption charges
levelled against him by for-
mer Mumbai
Commissioner Param Bir
Police
Singh. Mr Singh in his letter
to Maharashtra chief minis-
ter Uddhav Thackeray had
alleged that Mr Deshmukh
asked dismissed police offi-
cer Sachin Waze to collect
`100 crore bribe every month
from bars, hotels and restau-
rants in Mumbai.
However, Mr Singh is miss-
ing from his known residen-
tial addresses and believed to
have escaped out of India
and a court in Thane earlier
this week issued a non-bail-
able warrant against Mr
Singh in connection with an
alleged extortion case regis-
tered against him.
 WORLD
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | SATURDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2021
TAKES
SHORT
BERLIN PRESSES UK,
FRANCE TO RESOLVE
FISHING ROW
Berlin: The German govern-
ment on Friday called on
Britain and France to work to
resolve an increasingly bitter
row over fishing rights in the
wake of Brexit.
A foreign ministry spokes-
woman in Berlin told reporters
that Germany was following
the dispute closely and backed
European Commission efforts
to “clarify specific issues relat-
ed to this case”.
“From our point of view,
what's important now is for
both sides to return to the
negotiations of the past weeks
and months,” she said.
TAIWAN BUILDING
FIRE TRACED TO
INCENSE BURNER
Taipei: A Taiwanese woman
who failed to extinguish
incense before leaving her
apartment has been pinpointed
as the source of a recent apart-
ment block fire that killed 46
people, authorities said Friday.
A massive fire gutted the
building in the southern city of
Kaohsiung on October 15 in
Taiwan’s deadliest blaze in
decades.
The inferno broke out in a
dilapidated 13-storey mixed-
use building, raging through
multiple floors before firefight-
ers finally got it under control
hours later.
PROTESTERS PLAN
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
IN SUDAN
Khartoum: Furious Sudanese
anti-coup protesters vowed to
press ahead Friday with a cam-
paign of civil disobedience, fol-
lowing deadly clashes with
security forces during demon-
strations against a widely con-
demned military takeover.
At least eight people have
been killed and 170 wounded in
protests since the army’s
power grab earlier this week,
including one demonstrator
who died in violence overnight
Thursday when security forces
fired tear gas and live and rub-
ber-tipped bullets, according to
medics.
As the country braces for
major demonstrations planned
for Saturday, UN Secretary-
General Antonio Guterres
urged the military “to show
restraint and not to create any
more victims”, saying people
“must be allowed to demon-
strate peacefully”.
HK SEIZES $154 MN
IN LUXURY GOODS
HEADED TO CHINA
Hong Kong: Hong Kong cus-
toms announced a record
seizure on Friday of luxury
goods that were headed to
mainland China on a river
barge in the latest operation to
target an explosion of cross-
border smuggling.
The haul included an array of
highly sought-after items such
as luxury watches, handbags,
cosmetics and fins from endan-
gered marine species.
Officials said the goods were
worth about HK$1.2 billion
($154 million), by far the
largest seizure made by the
city's customs agents.
The operation took place on
October 14 when customs dis-
covered what they said was a
suspicious vessel that claimed
to be transporting plastic pel-
lets.
PHILIPPINE ARMY
KILLS WANTED
MILITANT LEADER
Cotabato, Philippines: Phil-
ippine forces on Friday killed
one of the country’s most-
wanted Muslim militant lead-
ers and his wife who were
aligned with the Islamic State
group and were blamed for
deadly bombings, killings and
extortion in the south for more
than a decade, the military
said.
Army and police forces raid-
ed a hideout of the militant
group Daulah Islamiya in a
remote area of Talayan town in
Maguindanao province and
killed its leader, Salahuddin
Hassan, and his wife in a 30-
minute gunbattle before dawn.
More than two dozen other
gunmen managed to escape,
regional military commander
Maj. Gen. Juvymax Uy said.
Assault rifles, ammunition
and rebel documents were
seized by troops at the scene of
the battle, Uy said. Hassan and
his group were allegedly
involved in a number of bomb-
ings aimed at extorting money
from businesses and transport
companies. One of the most
prominent attacks was the 2016
bombing of a night market that
left 15 people dead and scores
wounded in Davao city,
President Rodrigo Duterte’s
hometown, the military said.
China proposes peak pollution by 2030
China hopes new plan could build momentum ahead of the upcoming CoP26 talks
Paris, Oct. 29: China sub-
mitted a renewed emis-
sions cutting plan that
promised to peak carbon
pollution before 2030 but
which experts said
stopped short of the radi-
cal decarbonisation
required of the world’s
largest polluter.
Beijing’s new submis-
sion to the United Nations,
just days before the CoP26
climate summit, con-
firmed its goal to achieve
carbon neutrality before
2060 and slash its emis-
sions intensity — the
amount of emissions per
unit of economic output —
by more than 65 percent.
Analysts said these
amounted to
improvements on China’s
minor
existing plan and were far
from sufficient from the
country responsible for
more than a quarter of all
carbon pollution.
As part of the 2015 Paris
Agreement, all countries
agreed to slash emissions
in order to limit tempera-
ture rises to “well below”
two degrees Celsius and to
strive for a safer 1.5-C
warming cap.
Under the accord’s
“ratchet” mechanism, sig-
natories agreed to submit
new and more ambitious
emissions cutting plans —
known as Nationally
Determined Contri-
butions, or NDCs — every
five years.
Last year, President Xi
Jinping indicated that
China would achieve car-
bon neutrality around 2060
and peak emissions
around 2030. But China
had been a major NDC
holdout, missing several
submission deadlines dur-
ing the year-long delay of
CoP26 due to the
Coronavirus pandemic.
It was hoped its new plan
could build momentum
ahead of the summit in
Glasgow, which begins on
RANSOMWARE NET
DISRUPTED AFTER
TWO-YEAR PROBE
The Hague, Oct. 29:
International investiga-
tors said on Friday they
had disrupted a network
of cyber-criminals
behind ransomware
attacks on companies in
dozens of countries.
The EU’s police agency
Europol said 12 suspects
had been targeted in
raids in Ukraine and
Switzerland this week,
following a two-year
investigation.
The network would
steal into the IT systems
of companies through
phishing emails and
other methods before
locking documents and
demanding a ransom for
the decryption key.
“These cyber actors are
known for specifically
targeting large corpora-
tions, effectively bring-
ing their business to a
standstill,” Europol said,
listing 1,800 victims
across 71 countries.
The police agency said
the network “represented
a dangerous combination
of aggressive disruption
and high-stake targets”
and that they had gone
after “critical infras-
tructure”, without giving
further details. — AFP
SUU KYI’S AIDE
JAILED FOR 20 YRS
FOR TREASON
Yangon, Oct. 29: Mya-
nmar’s military senten-
ced a close aide of oust-
ed civilian leader Aung
San Suu Kyi to 20 years
in prison on Friday, his
lawyer said, the first
high-ranking member of
her party to be jailed by
a junta court.
The country has been
in turmoil since a Febr-
uary 1 coup ousted Suu
Kyi’s National League
for Democracy (NLD)
government, accusing it
of fraud in 2020 polls it
won in a landslide.
Myanmar has since
been in chaos, with huge
democracy protests and
a crackdown on dissent
that has killed more than
1,200 people, according to
reports. Former member
of parliament and NLD
speaker Win Htein was
handed 20 years in jail
for treason by a special
court in the capital
Naypyidaw, lawyer My-
int Thwin said. — AFP
CoP26
GLASGOW
OCT. 31-NOV. 12, ’21
Sunday with world leaders
seeking to map out a path
to avoid climate disaster.
British Prime Minister
Boris Johnson on Friday
urged China's President Xi
Jinping and other world
leaders to take “concrete
action” on climate change
as they spoke by phone
ahead of the upcoming
CoP26 talks.
The pair discussed “a
range of issues, including
action to address the cli-
mate crisis ahead of
COP26, global trade and
economic cooperation, and
security and human
rights”, according to a
press release.
As world leaders flock to
Rome for the G20 summit,
US President Joe Biden
met Pope Francis on
Friday at the start of a trip
aimed at reasserting US
international credentials.
Shortly before leaving
Washington, the president
unveiled an “historic”
blueprint for remaking
America’s economy, but it
remains to be seen if he
can persuade lawmakers
to back it.
After weeks of internal
party feuding, and with
his personal
slumping, Biden
ratings
had
hoped to arrive at twin
summits in Europe this
week — the G20 and UN
climate talks in Glasgow
— with the deal in hand.
The 78-year-old sees him-
self as the spokesman for
democracy in the face of
authoritarian regimes,
notably China — although
Xi Jinping, like Russia’s
Vladimir Putin, is not
attending the G20 in per-
son.
— AFP
Ensure Af is not Chinese told to postpone
safe haven for weddings, shorten funerals
ultras: India, US UK drops all nations
.m
//t
Washington, Oct. 29:
India and the US have
called on the Taliban to
s:
ensure that Afghanistan
is not used as a safe haven
tp
for terrorists, as officials
from the two countries
concluded their joint dia-
ht
logue on counter-terror-
ism to expand their coop-
eration to combat the
scourge.
The Indian and the US
sides also called for con-
certed action against all
terror groups, including
those proscribed by the
UN Security Council such
as al-Qaida, ISIS, Lashkar-
e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-
Mohammad (JeM), a joint
statement issued after the
meeting here said.
Reaffirming counter-ter-
rorism cooperation as an
important pillar under
the US-India Comprehen-
sive Global Strategic
Partnership, both sides
pledged to further expand
cooperation on law
enforcement, information
sharing, exchange of best
practices and strategic
convergence on counter-
terrorism challenges, it
said.
During the two-day
meeting here on October
26 and 27, the US reiterat-
ed its commitment to
stand together with the
people and the govern-
ISLAMIC | RULES
Setting girl’s marriage age not un-Islamic: Court
Islamabad, Oct. 29:
Pakistan’s top Islamic
court has ruled that set-
ting the minimum age
limit for a girls’ marriage
was not against the teach-
ings of Islam as it dis-
missed a petition which
challenged some sections
of the Child Marriage
Restraint Act.
The verdict may settle a
controversy over the child
marriage fuelled by the
insistence of radical
Muslims that Islam has
not allowed to fix age for
marriage.
A three-judge bench of
the Federal Shariat Court
(FSC), headed by Chief
Justice Mohammad Noor
Climate activists gather at a demonstration demanding that ‘big finance’ defunds fossil fuels, outside the head-
quarters of Standard Chartered bank in London on Friday ahead of the CoP26 UN Climate Change Conference to be
held in Glasgow, Scotland from October 31.
Pope calls for ‘urgent’ climate response
London, Oct. 29: Pope
Francis on Friday said in
a message released ahead
of the CoP26 summit that
leaders must respond
“urgently” to the climate
crisis.
“The political decision
makers who will meet at
CoP26 in Glasgow, are
urgently summoned to
provide effective respons-
es to the present ecological
crisis,” the Pope said in a
_D
message played on BBC
N
R
A
e/
● TALIBAN SEIZED
power in Afghanistan on
August 15, two weeks
before the US’ complete
troop withdrawal on
August 31 after a costly
two-decade war.
ment of India in the fight
against terrorism.
They called on the
Taliban to ensure that
Afghanistan is not used
as a safe haven for terror-
ists. The Taliban seized
power in Afghanistan on
August 15, two weeks
before the US’ complete
troop withdrawal on
August 31 after a costly
two-decade war.
According to the joint
US-India statement, the
two countries strongly
condemned any use of
terrorist proxies and
cross-border terrorism in
all its forms, and called
for the perpetrators of
the 26/11 Mumbai attack
to be brought to justice.
The 2008 Mumbai attack
was one of the most hor-
rific terrorist attacks in
India in which 166 people,
including six Americans,
were killed and over 300
injured as 10 heavily-
armed terrorists from
Pakistan created mayhem
in the country’s financial
capital. — PTI
Judgment explains need for education is equally important for everyone
Meskanzai, on Thursday
heard the petition chal-
lenging some sections of
the Child Marriage
Restraint Act (CMRA)
1929.
Dawn newspaper report-
ed that the FSC dismissed
the petition and categori-
cally declared that setting
any minimum age limit
for girls’ marriage by an
Islamic state was not
against Islam.
After examining the peti-
tion, we are of the consid-
erate view that the peti-
tion is misconceived,
hence, it is dismissed in
limine, ruled the judge-
ment authored by Justice
Dr Syed Mohammad
M
radio, translated from
Italian. L_
He added that this would
“offer concrete hope to
future generations”.
He concluded by stress-
A
ing that every individual
can play a part in “chang-
IT
ing our collective response
to the unprecedented
threat of climate change
IG
and the degradation of
our common home”.
The Pope earlier this
month joined nearly 40
Beijing, Oct. 29: Beijing
officials on Friday told
residents to postpone wed-
dings and keep funeral
ceremonies short, as dis-
ease controls across
China were tightened just
months before the Winter
Olympics kicks off in the
capital.
The world’s most popu-
lous nation has reduced
infection numbers to a
trickle since its initial epi-
demic last spring thanks
to a zero-tolerance app-
roach of border closures,
targeted lockdowns and
long quarantine periods.
But China is now grap-
pling with flare-ups in a
dozen regions linked to
tourists, spurring officials
to order millions to stay
home, restrict
provincial travel and
ramp up testing. Case
inter-
numbers remain far lower
than in most countries,
with 48 new domestic
infections on Friday
bringing the tally to fewer
than 250 in the past week.
But authorities are not
taking any chances, with
tens of thousands of peo-
ple in Beijing — which
will host the Winter
Olympics in February --
under lockdown after a
handful of cases were
detected. Residents should
“postpone weddings, keep
funerals brief, deputy
chief of the city’s disease
control centre
Xinghuo said.
Pang
— AFP
● FOR A HEALTHY
marriage, it says, not
only physical health and
economic stability are
necessary factors but
mental health and intel-
lectual development are
also equally important,
which are achievable
through education.
Anwer.
In the 10-page verdict,
the FSC held that the sec-
tions in which the mini-
mum age limit was pre-
scribed by the act for both
girls and boys for mar-
riage was not un-Islamic.
e
in
az
ag
religious leaders in an
appeal to government
leaders at COP26 for
“urgent, radical and
responsible action” to
drastically curb green-
house gas.
The 84-year-old Pope is
not going to the crunch
talks aimed at fighting the
climate emergency. The
Vatican is sending a dele-
gation led by secretary of
state, Cardinal Pietro
Parolin.
from Covid ‘red list’
London, Oct. 29: Britain
said it was removing the
last seven countries on its
travel “red list”, meaning
travellers vaccinated
against the Coronavirus
will no longer have to
quarantine in a govern-
ment-approved hotel after
arriving in the UK.
The countries are
Colombia, the Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Haiti,
Panama, Peru and
Russia marks another
daily record in deaths
Moscow, Oct. 29: Russia
on Friday recorded anoth-
er record of daily
Coronavirus deaths as
authorities hoped to stem
contagion by
keeping most people off
work.
The government’s
Coronavirus task force
reported 1,163 deaths in 24
hours, the largest daily
number since the pan-
demic began.
The latest deaths
brought the total toll to
The section 4 of the
CMRA prescribes punish-
ment for marrying a child
to a simple imprisonment
which may extend to six
months and a fine of 50,000
Pakistani Rupees.
Whereas Section 5 and 6
explain the punishment
for solemnising nikah of a
child and permitting
or promoting child mar-
riage.
The judgment explains
that the importance of
education is self-explana-
tory and the need for edu-
cation is equally impor-
tant for everybody, irre-
spective of gender.
That is why Islam has
made the acquisition of
— AFP
Francis is set to meet
several world leaders as
they attend a G20 summit
in Rome before heading to
COP26.
The Pope will hold audi-
ences with US President
Joe Biden, who is a prac-
tising Catholic, and South
Korean President Moon
Jae-in on Friday. The next
day he is due to meet
Indian President
Narendra Modi for the
first time. — AFP
Venezuela. Once the
change takes effect at 4
am (0400GMT) on Monday,
fully vaccinated travellers
will no longer have to stay
in a quarantine hotel for
11 nights at a cost of more
than 2,000 pounds ($3,000).
Transport Secretary
Grant Shapps said the red
category would remain
“as a precautionary meas-
ure” in case it was needed
later. — AP
2,36,220, by far the highest
in Europe.
To contain the spread of
infection, Russian
President Vladimir Putin
has ordered a nonworking
period from Oct. 30 to
Nov. 7, when most state
organisations and private
businesses are to suspend
operations.
He encouraged Russia's
worst-hit regions to start
sooner, and some ordered
most residents off work
earlier this week. — AP
education mandatory for
every Muslim as men-
tioned in a Hadith stating
Acquisition of knowledge
is mandatory upon every
Muslim’, the verdict says.
For a healthy marriage,
it says, not only physical
health and economic sta-
bility are necessary fac-
tors but mental health and
intellectual development
are also equally impor-
tant, which are achievable
through education.
Education is fundamen-
tal for women empower-
ment as it is the key for
development of an indi-
vidual and consequently
for the future generation
of any nation, it says.
pg 9
U.S. OIL FIRMS FACE
TOUGH QUESTIONS
FROM DEMOCRATS
New York, Oct. 29: US oil
industry executives faced
tough questions from con-
gressional Democrats
oover statements on cli-
mate science and whether
their actions on green ener-
gy live up to their market-
ing campaigns.
Big Oil critics in the
House of Representatives
likened the hearing with
CEOs of ExxonMobil,
Chevron and other oil
giants to a famous 1994 con-
gressional hearing in
which tobacco executives
testified under oath that
nicotine was not addictive.
But Democrats were
unable to secure any
expressions of regret by oil
executives in a free-flowing
session titled, “Fueling the
Climate Crisis: Exposing
Big Oil's Disinformation
Campaign to Prevent
Climate Action.” Leading
oil companies are on the
record as acknowledging
the science of climate
change, supporting the
Paris Climate Agreement
and policies to set carbon
pricing. But critics accused
the industry of “green-
washing,” saying actions
have not matched public
relations efforts.
“Some of us actually have
to live the future that you
are all setting on fire for
us,” said Representative Al-
exandria Ocasio-Cortez, a
New York Democrat. Me-
anwhile, congressional Re-
publicans defending the in-
dustry came out swinging
against President Joe Bi-
den’s energy policies which
they say have led to higher
gasoline prices, including a
move to shut down the
Keystone Pipeline.
— AFP
Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus
GHEBREYESUS
SOLE CANDIDATE
FOR W.H.O. CHIEF
Geneva, 29. Oct: World
Health Organisation
chief Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus is the sole
candidate for the WHO
leadership when his cur-
rent term expires, the
WHO announced on
Friday.
The 56-year-old
Ethiopian former health
and foreign minister has
been at the forefront of
the fight against the
Covid-19 pandemic as
the head of the WHO.
Elected to the WHO
leadership in 2017, his
mandate runs out in
August next year.
Tedros secured the
backing of 28 countries,
including France,
Germany, Indonesia, the
Netherlands and Spain,
the WHO said.
The deadline for nomi-
nations passed on
September 23. Countries
submitted a sealed enve-
lope to the Geneva-based
WHO, which did not
open
October 1.
them before
— AFP
One of the purposes of
marriage in Islam is pro-
tection and promotion of
genealogy and generation
of a person, the verdict
observes, adding that this
concept comes under the
topic of Hifz-un-Nasal,
which is one of the goals
of Shariat according to the
concept of Maqasid-us-
Shariah as narrated by
Ibrahim Bin Musa Bin
Mohammad Shatbi.
There are many Islamic
countries wherein mini-
mum age for marriage for
male and female is fixed,
like in Jordan, Malaysia,
Egypt and Tunisia, etc, the
verdict points out, accord-
ing to the report. — PTI
 SATURDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2021 | CHENNAI
quick
BITES
INDICATORS % The
Sensex 59,306.93 -1.13
Nifty 50 17,671.70 -1.04
S&P 500* 4,591.78 -0.10
Dollar (`) 74.87 0.08
Pound Sterling (`) 103.27 -0.20
Euro (`) 87.28 -0.48
Gold (10gm)* (`) 46,887▼271 0.57
Brent crude ($/bbl)* 84.32 0.00
IN 10-Yr bond yield 6.388 0.00
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 1.601 0.032
* As of 8:30 PM IST
Bandhan Bank
reports net loss
of `3,008 cr in Q2
Bandhan Bank reported a huge
loss of Rs 3,008.60 crore for the
September quarter— against a
net profit of Rs 920 crore in the
year-ago quarter— as the surge
in bad loans led to a rise in pro-
visioning. Total income rose 6
per cent to Rs 2,427 crore from
Rs 2,289.9 crore. Provisions
(other than taxes) rose multi-
fold to Rs 5,577.9 crore from Rs
379.6 crore a year ago. Gross
NPAs spiked to 10.8 per cent
against 1.2 per cent a year ago.
Bhushan to head
NCLAT, Sudhakar
to be NCLT Prez
Ashok Bhushan R. Sudhakar
The government has appointed
Justice Ashok Bhushan, a for-
mer judge of the Supreme
Court, as chairperson of the
National Company Law
Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT). It
has also appointed Justice
Ramalingam Sudhakar,
former chief justice of the
Manipur High Court, as presi-
dent of the NCLT. Both the tri-
bunals are getting permanent
heads after more than one-
and-a-half years.
Sail Q2 net profit
jumps 10-fold
to `4,338 crore
The Steel Authority of India Ltd
reported an over 10-fold jump
in its consolidated net profit at
Rs 4,338.75 crore for the sec-
ond quarter against Rs 436.52
crore posted in the year-ago
quarter. (SAIL) said in a regula-
tory filing. The PSU said its
total consolidated income also
increased to Rs 27,007.02 crore
from Rs 17,097.57 crore year-
on-year. Expenses during the
quarter were at Rs 21,289 crore
against Rs 16,733.63 crore.
Vedanta net
jumps multifold
to `4,615 crore
Vedanta Ltd reported a multi-
fold jump in consolidated net
profit to Rs 4,615 crore for the
September quarter against Rs
838 crore in the year-ago peri-
od, the firm said in a BSE filing.
Consolidated income increased
to Rs 31,074 crore from Rs
21,758 crore. Vedanta Ltd has
significant operations in oil and
gas, zinc, lead, silver, copper,
iron ore, steel, and aluminium
and power across India, South
Africa, Namibia, and Australia.
Printed & Published by
K Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan
Chronicle Holdings Limited. Printed &
Published at Deccan Chronicle Presses
situated at SP-3 Developed Plot,
Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai.
Editor: Kaushik Mitter, RNI Reg. No.
TNENG/2008/25473 Air surcharge Re 1.
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in
whole or in part without written per-
mission of The Editor, Financial
Chronicle ® is prohibited.
■ RBI governor’s term extended till December 2024 GOVT OKAYS 8.5%
Das gets 3 more years
FC BANKING BUREAU
MUMBAI, OCT. 29
government
extended the term of
has
Reserve Bank of India gov-
ernor Shaktikanta Das by
another three years up to
December 2024.
The decision to reappoint
Das was taken by the
Appointments Committee
of the Cabinet headed by
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi.
“The Appointments
Committee of the Cabinet
has approved the reap-
pointment of Shaktikanta
Das as Reserve Bank of
India Governor for a peri-
od of three years beyond
10.12.2021 or until further
orders, whichever is earli-
er," said the official state-
ment on Thursday.
Das was initially appoint-
ed the RBI's 25th governor
JIOPHONE NEXT
PRICED AT `6,499
New Delhi, Oct. 29:
Jiophone Next will be
available from Diwali for
Rs 6,499 per unit for cus-
tomers buying the smart-
phone without a financ-
ing option, Jio and Google
said in a joint statement on
Friday. Jio is also giving a
finance option for the
smartphone, where users
can pay Rs 1,999 upfront
and the rest in monthly
instalments spread across
18 -24 months.
"This is the first time
that a phone in the entry-
level category is getting a
financing option. This
makes the entry price
extremely affordable and
almost equal to a feature
phone price," the joint
statement said. — PTI
Prices of pulses come down
SANGEETHA G
CHENNAI, OCT. 29
Despite rise in demand,
prices of pulses have cor-
rected in the recent weeks
and are expected to remain
stable as the imports have
eased the supply situation.
“The prices of pulses
have reduced by 8 to 10 per
cent from the August levels
and remained stable dur-
ing this festive season.
Prices for tur have dropped
by Rs 6 to Rs 7 per kg while
urad and masoor prices
have dropped by Rs 5 to Rs
6 per kg. Even with chana,
the trade expected some
shortages but that did not
happen and prices for
chana remained
around or a little higher
than the minimum support
just
price," said Bimal Kothari,
vice-chairman, India
Pulses & Grains
Association.
The prices of pulses had
Index of eight core industries
Base: 2011-12=100
62.6
60
40 0.6 12.6
20 -0.5 -1.1 0.4 1.3 -3.3
0 started making money on
-20 2020 2021
Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep
Source: Ministry of Commerce & Industry
India gets 28% of After Facebook name change, FAANG
VC edtech funding may become MAANG or MAMATA
SANGEETHA G
CHENNAI, OCT. 29
India is the third largest
recipient of venture capi-
tal in the ed-tech space
with a 23 per cent share of
the global funding for the
past four years. In 2021,
the share has gone up fur-
ther to 28 per cent.
After China and the US,
India received the largest
funding in the edtech
space in the past four
years and had a cumula-
tive share of 23 per cent.
China had a 31 per cent
share and the US, 27 per
cent. However, in the first
half of 2021, India’s share
has gone up to 28.5 per
cent. Of the $13.3 billion
on December 11, 2018, for a
period of three years with
his current term scheduled
to end on December 10,
2021. Das was the first non-
economist in 28 years to
head the Reserve Bank.
His tenure faced several
challenges, be it navigating
the unprecedneted Covid-
19 pandemic or rescuing
scam-hit lenders such as
IL&FS, DHFL, PMC Bank,
Yes Bank and Laxmi Vilas
RBI eases current account restrictions
FALAKNAAZ SYED
MUMBAI, OCT. 29
Borrowers with bank
exposures of less than Rs
5 crore can henceforth
open current account,
cash credit and overdraft
facilities without any
restriction.
However, borrowers
with banking system
exposure of over Rs 5
crore would be allowed to
maintain current
accounts with only one
bank with which they
have cash credit/over-
draft facility.
The Reserve Bank of
India (RBI) on Friday
eased the stringent curbs
on opening of corporate
HORTICULTURE OUTOUT AT A RECORD
.m
New Delhi, Oct. 29: The
government on Friday
//t
said the country's horti-
culture production has
hit a new record of 331.05
s:
million tonnes in the crop
year 2020-21 (July-June).
tp
Horticulture production
had stood at 320.47 mt in
the previous crop year.
ht
Releasing the third esti-
mate of horticulture pro-
duction, agriculture min-
rose around 15 per cent in
June-July compared to the
year ago period. While the
demand was higher on a
year-on-year basis, lower
production and import bot-
tlenecks have been sup-
porting the price rise.
According to Kothari, the
policy interventions allow-
ing import of key pulses
Monthly growth
rates in per cent
4.4
16.4 9.4 9.9 11.5
KBK Infographics
funding that came to the
sector, Indian startups
accounted for $3.8 billion,
says a report by Mumbai-
based BLinc Invest.
The half-yearly funding
is already closer to the
annual funding of last
year. In 2020, the sector
attracted a total global
funding $13.9 billion,
which grew from $5.1 bil-
lion in 2019 and $6.6 bil-
lion in 2018.
In India too, edtech
funding has grown 10
times from $245 million
in 2016 to $2.3 billion in
2020. The online educa-
tion market too has
grown five-fold from $735
million to an estimated
$3.5 billion in these years.
Shaktikanta Das
Bank. The RBI under his
leadership played a critical
role in steering the econo-
my during the pandemic
by announcing more than
100 measures to maintain
financial stability and
push growth. He used both
conventional and uncon-
ventional measures.
The Monetary Policy
Committee (MPC) headed
by him brought down the
benchmark repo rate to a
current accounts that
were introduced last year
after taking feedback
from Indian Banks’
Association and other
stakeholders.
“For borrowers, where
the exposure of the bank-
ing system is less than Rs
5 crore, there is no
restriction on opening of
current accounts or on
provision of CC/OD
facility by banks, subject
to obtaining an undertak-
ing from such borrowers
that they shall inform the
bank(s), as and when the
credit facilities availed
by them from the bank-
ing system reaches Rs 5
_D
crore or more,” the RBI
said in a notification.
N
R
A
e/
ister Narendra Singh
Tomar said, horticulture
production in 2020-21
shows an increase of 10.6
mt (3.3 per cent) over the
2019-20 crop year.
Fruit production has
risen to 103 mt from 102.1
mt while vegetables pro-
duction of rose to 197.2
mt from 188.3 mt. Onion
production has slightly
gone up to 26.8 mt. — PTI
under Open General
Licence till December 31
have yielded positive
results on the price front.
The government had
allowed free import of tur,
pigeon peas, urad and
moong till October 31 and
had further extended it to
December 31, considering
the supply shortage.
GAIL NET DOUBLES
New Delhi, Oct. 29: Gail
(India) Ltd’s net profit
more than doubled in the
September quarter after it
gas marketing again. Its
Q2 net profit of Rs 2,862.95
crore was 131 per cent
above the Rs 1,239.67 crore
it posted a year ago. —PTI
MEDHA SINGH &
AMBAR WARRICK
OCT. 29
MAANG? MANGA? Or
MAMATA?
Facebook's rebranding
to Meta Platforms has
launched a search for a
new name for the high-fly-
ing FAANG group that
also includes Apple,
Amazon.com, Netflix and
Alphabet.
Facebook on Thursday
announced it is now
called Meta Platforms as
the social media company
shifts to building the
ambitious "metaverse", a
shared virtual environ-
ment. The name change
comes after a damaging
record low of 4 per cent last
year in May, and since then
it has maintained an
accommodative stance to
support the economy. The
government's largest ever
borrowing of Rs 12.60 lakh
crore was also conducted
smoothly.
Das was the first RBI gov-
ernor to get extension after
the BJP-led government
came to power in 2014.
Raghuram Rajan was
denied an extension in 2016
while Urjit Patel quit
before completion of his
three-year term. In his ear-
lier stint as economic
affairs secretary from 2015
to 2017, Das worked closely
with the RBI and oversaw
demonetisation in late
2016. After his retirement,
he was named India's G-20
sherpa and was made a
member of the 15th
Finance Commission.
For borrowers with
banking system exposure
of more than Rs 5 crore,
the central bank stated
that such a borrower can
maintain current accou-
nts with only one lender
with which it has cash
credit/overdraft facility,
L_
provided the bank has at
least 10 per cent of the
borrower’s exposure of
the banking system.
A
Other banks are
allowed to open only col-
IT
lection accounts subject
to the condition that
IG
funds deposited in such
accounts will be remitted
within two days to the
bank maintaining the
current accounts for the
borrower.
MARKET DOWN
5% FROM
ALL-TIME HIGHS
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
MUMBAI, OCT. 29
Amidst weak global cues
and heavy selling by for-
eign portfolio investors
Sensex and Nifty fell by
over one per cent on
Friday after a big selloff
on Thursday.
The Sensex closed 1.13
per cent or 677.77 points
down at 59306.93.
The Nifty-50 closed at
17671.65 down by 185.60
points or 1.04 per cent.
On a weekly basis the
market closed in the red
for the second successive
week with the Sensex
down by 1.97 per cent and
Nifty-50 down by 2.27 per
cent.
The indices have correct-
ed almost 5 per cent from
their all-time highs and
should now see some sta-
bility going forward, said
an equity analyst.
The heavy selling by for-
eign investors continued
on Friday with net selling
of Rs 5,142.63 crore, the
biggest single day with-
drawal this month, as per
the provisional data.
The domestic institu-
tions saved the day by
turning net buyers by Rs
4,342.51 crore.
Global markets showed a
mixed trend.
whistleblower report and
criticism from lawmakers
and regulators over its
market power.
The most popular sug-
gestion on Twitter for the
tech-related heavyweight
group was MAANG—
where FAANG's "F" is
replaced with "M". Some
users also rearranged the
letters to MANGA, refer-
ring to Japanese comic
books.
The elite FAANG stocks
have a combined market
capitalisation of about
$7.416 trillion so far this
year, up from about $5.8
trillion last year.
Several Twitter users
also proposed to reshuffle
the group to add
RATE ON EPF,
INTEREST TO BE
CREDITED SOON
New Delhi, Oct. 29:
The government has
app-roved the recom-
mended 8.5 per cent
rate of interest on
employees' provident
fund for the 2020-21 fis-
cal, a source said.
Coming ahead of
Diwali, this is a piece of
good news for the more
than five crore sub-
scribers of the Em-
ployees Provident Fund
Organisation (EPFO).
The 8.5 per cent rate
of interest on provi-
dent fund deposits for
the last financial year
was decided by the
EPFO's apex decision
making body, the
Central Board of
Trustees (CBT) headed
by labour minister in
March this year.
A source said, "the
rate of interest on EPF
for 2020-21 has been rat-
ified by the Ministry of
Finance and now it
e
would be credited into
in
the accounts of over
five crore subscribers."
In March last year, the
az
EPFO had lowered
interest rate on PF
deposits to a seven-year
ag
low of 8.5 per cent for
2019-20, from 8.65 per
cent in 2018-19.
The EPF (Employees
M
Provident Fund) inter-
est rate provided for
2019-20 was the lowest
since 2012-13, when also
it was brought down to
8.5 per cent.
The EPFO had provid-
ed 8.65 per cent interest
rate to its subscribers
in 2016-17 and 8.55 per
cent in 2017-18. The rate
was slightly higher at
8.8 per cent in 2015-16.
It had given 8.75 per
cent rate of interest in
2013-14 as well. — PTI
Market analysts to
qualify for H-1B visa
Washington, Oct. 29: In
a major victory for
employers, a US court
has approved a settle-
ment under which an
American immigration
agency has agreed to
recognise market
research analyst as a spe-
ciality occupation for the
purpose of determining
the applications of H-1B
visas, most sought-after
by Indian IT profession-
als.
The H-1B visa is a non-
immigrant visa that
allows US companies to
employ foreign workers
in speciality occupations
that require theoretical
or technical expertise.
Technology companies
depend on this to hire
tens of thousands of
employees each year
from countries like India
and China.
The settlement app-
roved by the federal dis-
trict court in the
Northern District of
California would now let
companies request that
the USCIS reopen and re-
adjudicate their denied
H-1B petitions.
Based on its prior inter-
pretation of the
Occupational Outlook
Handbook, a Department
Microsoft Corp—which is
competing with Apple for
the most valuable US-list-
ed company--as well as
Tesla Inc, which joined
the elite trillion-dollar
market value club just
this week.
With the reshuffle, some
users came up with
MAMATA—that would
drop Netflix, which has
IRCTC share swings
to RailMin flip-flop
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
with agency inputs
MUMBAI, OCT. 29
IRCTC shares fell close to
30 per cent on news that it
has to share the income
generated from conven-
ience fees for bookings
made on its website on a
50:50 basis with the gov-
ernment.
On Thursday the gov-
ernment announced rein-
troduction of revenue-
sharing effective from
November, but this was
not taken well by minori-
ty shareholders.
"The stock tanked
around 30 per cent intra-
day to hit a low of Rs 639
from its peak of Rs 983.
Post this knee jerk reac-
tion, the government was
forced to withdraw its
decision and the stock
recovered to Rs 852," said
a broker.
"This incident reveals
the risks that investing in
DR REDDY’S Q2 NET PROFIT
JUMPS 30% TO `992 CRORE
FC BUREAU
NEW DELHI, OCT. 29
Hyderabad-based Dr
Reddy's Labora-tories on
Friday reported a 30 per
cent jump in its consolidat-
ed net profit to Rs 992 crore
for the September 2021
quarter, on the back of
strong sales in all markets.
The drug major had posted
a net profit of Rs 762.3
crore for the second quar-
ter of FY21.
In a regulatory filing, Dr
Reddy's Lab said its consol-
idated revenue during
July-September 2021 stood
at Rs 5,763.2 crore. It was
Rs 4,896.7 crore in the year-
of Labour's Bureau of
Labour Statistics publi-
cation profiling hun-
dreds of occupations in
the US job market, the US
Citizenship and
Immigration Services
(USCIS) determined that
market research analysts
did not qualify as a "spe-
cialty occupation".
Leslie K Dellon, senior
attorney (business immi-
gration) at the American
Immigration Council,
said that this settlement
is an important victory
that will benefit hun-
dreds of American busi-
nesses and the market
research analysts they
sought to employ.
"The settlement gives
US businesses another
chance to have their H-1B
market research analyst
petitions approved, this
time under new guidance
worked out by the parties
to the lawsuit. Each H-1B
petition reopened and
approved will represent
another opportunity for
US employers and the
workers they sponsored
to advance their business
objectives," she said.
The class action lawsuit
was filed by the Ameri-
can Immigration Coun-
cil and four others.— PTI
the smallest market cap
compared with the rest of
the group at $299 billion,
and use an "A" for
Alphabet, whose search
engine Google gave the
FAANGs their "G".
MAMATA—consisting
of Microsoft, Apple, Meta,
Amazon, Tesla and
Alphabet—have a com-
bined market cap of
about $10 trillion. They
make up a quarter of the
S&P 500's weight, com-
pared with the legacy
FAANG group's nearly 20
per cent.
Shares of Meta
Platforms rose 2 per cent
in early trading and will
get a new ticker, MVRS,
on Dec. 1. — Reuters
pg 10
public sector enterprises
carry," said Shriram
Subramanian, MD at cor-
porate governance advi-
sory InGovern Research
Services.
"All government min-
istries should realise not
to rock the applecart as
valuations of most PSEs
are already very
depressed and the disin-
vestment programs, like
the LIC IPO, could get
impacted," he added.
The government used to
get a share of conven-
ience fee prior to demon-
etisation in November
2016. However, to promote
digital economy, the con-
venience fee itself was
removed.
The convenience fee
was reintroduced by the
government in Sept-
ember 2019 just before
the company’s IPO, how-
ever, this time the gov-
ernment did not insist on
any fee sharing.
ago period, it added.
"I am pleased with the
improvement in the finan-
cial performance across
our businesses. While we
continue to strengthen our
core businesses of gener-
ics and APls (active phar-
maceutical ingredients),
we are also making invest-
ments in our long-term
growth drivers and deeper
innovation capabilities,"
the firm’s co-chairman and
managing director G. V.
Prasad said.
The company's focus
remains on meeting unmet
patient needs around the
world in keeping with its
purpose, he added.
DELHI HC REJECTS
FUTURE GROUP
PLEA FOR STAY
SANGEETHA G
CHENNAI, OCT. 29
The Delhi High Court on
Friday declined Future
Group's plea to stay the
order by the Singapore
International Arbitration
Centre, refusing to inter-
fere with the Emergency
Award (EA) that
restrained the group from
going ahead with the Rs
24,731-crore merger deal
with Reliance Retail.
The court observed that
in view of the pendency of
related appeals before the
Supreme court, it would
need a "clearance" from it
to proceed with the fresh
appeals.
"How can you expect an
interim order to be passed
by this court? The
Supreme Court order says
proceedings stayed... Let
us get clearance from the
Supreme Court that this is
the position now (that) this
subsequent order was
passed," the court said.
The apex court in August
had upheld the validity of
EA's award in India.
The Delhi High Court
further observed that the
order passed by another
judge of the high court
earlier this year, which
had upheld the EA, was yet
to be set aside.
ICICIDIRECT STARTS
INSTANT PAYOUT ON
MF REDEMPTIONS
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
MUMBAI, OCT. 29
ICICIdirect, an online plat-
form owned by ICICI
Securities, for investments
in equity shares, mutual
funds and other financial
products, announced
instant payout on mutual
funds, wherein customers
will get immediate payout
on their mutual fund units
redemption orders,
against two-four working
days in the normal cycle.
Instant payouts for MFs
can be availed of by resi-
dent individuals holding
equity, debt, and liquid
schemes in demat units.
With e-ATM for MFs,
ICICIdirect customers get
payout within 30 minutes
of redemption, it said.
 GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | SATURDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2021
pg 11

SHORT TAKES
Sarah 1st woman
coach of men side
Abu Dhabi: Former England
wicket-keeper batter Sarah
Taylor has become the first
woman coach in men’s profes-
sional franchise cricket after
she was named assistant coach
of Team Abu Dhabi for the Abu
Dhabi T10 league beginning
November 19. Widely regarded
as one of the best ever wicket-
keepers, Taylor became the first
woman specialist coach at a
men’s county side with Sussex
in the United Kingdom.
She now builds on that by again
treading a new path with Team
Abu Dhabi, and Taylor hopes
that her involvement with the
T10 league will inspire women
all over the world.
After making her debut in
2006, the 32-year-old Taylor
played in 10 Tests, 126 ODIs and
90 T20Is before announcing her
international retirement in 2019.
She returned to professional
cricket this summer to feature
in The Hundred and the 2021
Women’s Twenty20 Cup in the
U.K.
She is hoping that other women
follow his path and emulate her.
— PTI
Abhay applies for
fielding coach job
ALI IN WONDERLAND
FRENCH | OPEN
Sindhu sails into
Asif’s dream knock scripts Pak’s third win in row
Dubai, Oct. 29: Skipper
Babar Azam hit a com-
Pakistan captain
SCORECARD
semis, Sen sinks
posed 51 while Asif Ali hit
Babar Azam plays a Afghanistan: Hazratullah
Paris, Oct. 29: India’s dou- ● P. V. Sindhu,
four sixes in the penulti- ble Olympic medallist P V
mate over as Pakistan shot en route to his Zazai c Haris Rauf b Imad
Sindhu continued her seeded third,
half-century during Wasim 0, Mohammad scripted a
completed a hat-trick of Shahzad c Babar Azam b impressive run at the
victories in the T20 World their Twenty20 French Open badminton convincing 21-14,
World Cup match Shaheen Afridi 8,
Cup with a five-wicket win Rahmanullah Gurbaz c tournament by sailing into 21-14 win over
over Afghanistan in a against Afghanistan the women’s singles semifi-
Babar Azam b Hasan Ali eighth seed Busanan
Super 12 Group 2 match, in Dubai on Friday. 10, Asghar Afghan c and b nals with a straight-game
here on Friday. — AP Haris Rauf 10, Karim Janat win over Thailand’s Ongbamrungphan in
Skipper Mohammad c Fakhar Zaman b Imad Busanan Ongbamrung- 38 minutes to extend
Nabi and Gulbadin Naib’s Wasim 15, Najibullah phan here on Friday. her dominating
unbeaten knocks in a Zadran c Rizwan b Shadab Sindhu, seeded third, head-to-head record
splendid rearguard action Khan 22, Mohammad Nabi scripted a convincing 21-14,
had steered Afghanistan to (not out) 35, Gulbadin 21-14 win over eighth seed- against the Thai to
a competitive 147 for six Naib (not out) 35. Extras ed in 38 minutes to extend 14-1.
after they were gasping at (lb-3, w-6, nb-3) 12. Total her dominating head-to-
76 for six. (for 6 wkts, in 20 overs) head record against the continued in the same vein
Pakistan overhauled the 147. Thai to 14-1. after the interval, jumping
target in 19 overs, a victo- FoW: 7-1, 13-2, 33-3, 39-4, The 26-year-old from to 18-7 to eventually pocket
ry which consolidated 64-5, 76-6. Hyderabad had beaten the opening game comfort-
their top spot in the points Bowler: Shaheen Afridi 4- Busanan at Denmark Open ably.
table and enhanced their 0-22-1, Imad Wasim 4-0- also, last week. The second game turned
semifinal chances with 25-2, Haris Rauf 4-0-37-1, Sindhu, the reigning out to be a close battle with
minnows Scotland and Hasan Ali 4-1-38-1, Shadab world champion, defeated Sindhu and Busanan
Namibia up next for them. Khan 4-0-22-1. Denmark’s Line engaging in a fierce battle.
His side needing 24 runs Christophersen, ranked However, Sindhu broke off
from the last two overs, Pakistan: Mohammad 24th in the world 21-19, 21-9 at 8-8 to grab a two-point
Asif Ali (25 off 7 balls) fin- Rizwan c Naveen b Mujeeb on late on Thursday night advantage at the interval.
ished the job in 19th over, 8, Babar Azam b Rashid to enter the quarterfinals Sindhu once again
51, Fakhar Zaman lbw b stepped up after the break
hitting four sixes off of the tournament.
Karim Jannat.
Pakistan lost
Nabi 30, Mohammad
Hafeez c Naib b Rashid 10,
The world number seven
Indian will now cross
to climb to 16-10 and 20-12.
Busanan saved two match
Shoaib Malik c Shahzad b
Mohammad Rizwan (8) to swords with Japan’s world points before Sindhu

e
Naveen 19, Asif Ali (not
Mujeeb Ur Rahman early out) 25, Shadab Khan (not number 15 Sayaka sealed the contest.

in
New Delhi: Former first-class in their chase but Azam out) 0. Extras (lb-2, nb-1, Takahashi in the last four On Thursday night,
cricketer Abhay Sharma, who and Fakhar Zaman (30) w-2) 5. Total (for 5 wkts, on Saturday. men’s doubles pair of
has worked extensively with kept the innings under in 19 overs) 148. However, young Lakshya Satwiksairaj Rankireddy

az
India A, India U-19 and the control with their 63-run FoW: 1-12, 2-75, 3-97, 4- Sen’s fine run ended in the and Chirag Shetty, seeded
national women’s team, on stand. 122, 5-124. men’s singles quarterfinal fifth, beat M. R. Arjun and
Friday applied for the national Mujeeb was exceptional Bowling: Mujeeb Ur after he lost 17-21, 15-21 to Dhruv Kapila 15-21, 21-10,

men’s team fielding coach’s job.
Sharma has emerged as one of
the strong contenders for the
fielding coach role with incum-
ag
upfront for Afghanistan as Rahman 4-0-14-1,
he conceded only 14 runs Mohammad Nabi 4-0-36-
in his four-over spell but 1, Naveen-ul-Haq 3-0-22-1,
Pakistan batters scored Karim Janat 4-0-48-0,
Korea’s Heo Kwanghee in 21-19 in an all-Indian clash
43 minutes. to reach the quarterfinals.
The 20-year-old from The duo will meet fourth
Almora had notched up a seeded Malaysian pair of

bent R. Sridhar leaving at the
end of the T20 World Cup
along with the majority of the
support staff, including head
coach Ravi Shastri.
“Abhay’s (Sharma) application
has come today,” a BCCI source
said.
M
runs off other bowlers. Rashid Khan 4-0-26-2. comfortable straight game Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi
World’s top leg-spinner win over Singapore’s Loh Yik next.
Rashid Khan carried
L_ Kean Yew to grab a place in Men’s singles player
Afghanistan’s hopes but the last eight. Sourabh Verma, however,
by the time he came to
bowl Pakistan had put 72
WARNER DOES A It was a clinical display
by Sindhu in the quarterfi-
bowed out of the competi-
tion after losing 12-21, 9-21
A
runs on board in 10 overs.
RONALDO’S COLA nals as she zoomed to a 5-1 to Japan’s Kenta
His magic was on work

West Indies virtually lead initially before mov- Nishimoto in the second
IT

though as he got rid of ing to 11-6 at the break. She round. — PTI
The application deadline ends
on November 3. Mohammad Hafeez (10) to BOTTLE STUNT!
IG

The 52-year-old has worked complete a century of

knock out Bangladesh

extensively alongside former wickets in T20 Dubai, Oct. 29: Star
India A and U-19 coach Rahul Internationals. Australian opener David
Dravid, who has applied for the He gave away only 26 Warner did a Cristiano
_D

head coach position. Another
India A coach Paras Mhambrey
has applied for the bowling
runs in his four overs with Ronaldo during the ongo-
most of the Pakistan bat- ing T20 World Cup here as
ters playing him with cau- Sharjah, Oct. 29: he removed Coca Cola
SCORECARD
N

coach position. tion. Defending champions bottles placed in front of

Sharma, who has played 89 Shoaib Malik (19) though West Indies kept alive him during a press con-
first-class games representing launched Rashid for a their slender hopes of West Indies: Chris Gayle b Mahedi Hasan 4, Evin Lewis c ference for a brief while.
R

Mushfiqur Rahim b Mustafizur 6, Roston Chase b Shoriful

Delhi, Railways and Rajasthan, massive six in his last over making the semifinals Islam 39, Shimron Hetmyer c Soumya Sarkar b Mahedi Hasan
Just before the start of
was also the fielding coach of in which Azam was while virtually knocking the press conference after
A

9, Kieron Pollard (not out) 14, Andre Russell run out (Taskin
the Indian team which travelled dropped by Naveen ul haq. Bangladesh out of the Ahmed) 0, Nicholas Pooran c Naim b Shoriful Islam 40, he guided Australia to a
to Zimbabwe in 2016. — PTI However, the Pakistan T20 World Cup with a Dwayne Bravo c Soumya Sarkar b Mustafizur 1, Jason Holder seven-wicket win over Sri
e/

skipper was bowled off a narrow three-run win (not out) 15. Extras (b-1, lb-6, w-7) 14. Total (For 7 wkts, in 20 Lanka here on Thursday,
googly in the last ball. here on Friday. Asked to overs) 142. Warner grabbed the two
Jaitley retains FoW: 1-12, 2-18, 3-32, 4-62 , 5-119 , 6-119, 7-123.
.m

Malik ended up caught
behind when he flashed
DDCA presidency hard on a widish ball from
Naveen, giving an easy
set a target for the third soft drink bottles lying in
Bowling: Mahedi Hasan 4-0-27-2, Taskin Ahmed 4-0-17-0,
consecutive time in the front of him and said
Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-43-2, Shoriful Islam 4-0-20-2, Shakib
tournament, West Indies
posted 142 for seven with
Al Hasan 4-0-28-0.
Bangladesh: Mohammad Naim b Holder 17, Shakib Al Hasan c
with a smile, “Can I
remove these? Though I
//t

New Delhi: Rohan Jaitley catch to Mohammad Nicholas Pooran’s 40 off Holder b Russell 9, Liton Das c Holder b DJ Bravo 44, Soumya have to put it there.
defeated senior advocate Vikas Shahzad. Asif was at the 22 balls being the high- Sarkar c Gayle b Akeal Hosein 17, Mushfiqur Rahim b Rampaul “If it’s good enough for
Singh by a massive margin to crease and he did not dis- light of their innings. 8, Mahmudullah (not out) 31, Afif Hossain (not out) 2. Extras Cristiano, it’s good
s:

be re-elected as president of appoint his side. The wicketkeeper bat- (b-2, lb- 1, w-8) 11. Total (for 5 wkts, in 20 overs) 139. enough for me. That’s
the Delhi and Districts Cricket Earlier, Pakistan’s ter hit four sixes and one FoW: 1-21, 2-29, 3-60, 4-90, 5-130. right,” he added while
Bowling: Ravi Rampaul 4-0-25-1, Jason Holder 4-0-22-1,
tp

Association (DDCA) while for-
mer state Chief Minister late
Sahib Singh Verma’s youngest
expansive attack dominat- four. Roston Chase (39),
ed the proceedings but making his T20 interna-
Nabi (35) and Naib (35) tional debut, was the
ht
Andre Russell 4-0-29-1, Akeal Hosein 4-0-24-1, Dwayne Bravo
putting the two bottles
4-0-36-1. back.
Ronaldo’s act of remov-

son and first-class player
Siddharth Verma claimed the
secretary’s post. Siddharth
defeated the corruption-tainted
Vinod Tihara for the position.
The counting concluded well
after Thursday midnight.
Gautam Gambhir’s maternal
uncle Pawan Ghulati will be the
new treasurer of DDCA.
Former BCCI acting president
C.K. Khanna’s wife Shashi
seized the momentum
with their big-hearted
effort under pressure and
prevented it from becom-
ing a one-sided contest.
— PTI
English await first major
other chief contributor
with the bat.
In reply, Bangladesh
could manage 139 for five
in 20 overs as all West
indies bowlers picked
one wicket each. With no
points from three match-
es, Bangladesh are out of
the tournament, while
West Indies can still
sneak into the semifi-
nals, provided they win
their remaining matches
and other results go in
their favour. — PTI
ALL EYES ON DE KOCK AS
ing the soft drink during a
European Champi-
onships press conference
reportedly cost the global
beverage giant a whop-
ping $4 billion. — PTI
Sanjeet (left) in action during his 92kg match against
Russia’s Andrei Tsotskii at the AIBA Men’s Boxing
Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, on Friday.

PROTEAS TAKE ON LANKA

Khanna retained her vice-presi-
dent’s post.
For the president’s post, Jaitley
got 1,658 votes while Singh
could only get 662. It was the
second time that Singh encoun-
tered a humiliating defeat for
the president’s post. Last time,
Singh had lost to senior journal-
ist Rajat Sharma.
However, the biggest upset was
Verma, who fought as an inde-
pendent candidate and
upstaged the notorious Tihara
by 618 votes. — PTI
Mixed fortune
for chess players
Riga, Latvia: Indian players
experienced mixed fortunes in
the second round of the FIDE
Grand Swiss chess tournament
here with two each in the men’s
and women’s sections register-
ing victories. The experienced
Grandmaster K. Sasikiran beat
challenge against Aussies
Dubai, Oct. 29: Title
favourites England are
expected to be tested for
the first time in the ongo-
ing T20 World Cup when
they face arch-rivals
Australia in a battle for
supremacy in the Super
12 Group 1 here on
Saturday. Both teams go
into the high pressure
game unbeaten. While
England started their
campaign as favourites
for the trophy, Australia
have emerged as a strong
contender with their per-
formance in the first two
games.
Australia’s batting was
not very convincing in
the low-scoring match
against South Africa but
belligerent half-century.
Live on TV
The southpaw is
expecting the game
South Africa vs Sri Lanka against England to be a
from 3.30 pm; England vs tough one.
Australia from 7.30 pm on England, on other
Star Sports 1, HD.
hand, are coming into
the game with big wins
they were clinical in the over West Indies and
chase against Sri Lanka Bangladesh. They hardly
Thursday night. The broke a sweat in those
biggest positive out of games but Australia are
the Sri Lanka game was likely to pose a much
captain Aaron Finch and
David Warner getting
tougher challenge.
Off spinner Moeen Ali
back amongst the runs at
the top of the order.
has been impressive and
already has four wickets
Warner especially was to his name.
criticised for his form In the pace department,
since being sidelined by Tymal Mills has been the
Sunrisers Hyderabad in standout bowler and has
the IPL and he answered been brilliant in the
all his doubters with a death overs. — PTI
Sharjah, Oct. 29: Star
batter Quinton de Kock’s
expected return after
agreeing to take the knee
will bolster South Africa
when they take on an
inconsistent Sri Lanka in
their Super 12 game at the
T20 World Cup here on
Saturday. De Kock’s pull-
out for refusing to be a
part of the anti-racism
gesture in the game
against West Indies
kicked up a storm which
subsided with a lengthy
statement from him on
Thursday in which he
made himself available,
saying he is fine taking a
knee if it “educates oth-
ers”.
The off-field drama sur-
rounding the wicketkeep-
er-batter, who is a key
member of the side, did
not distract the side as it
beat the Caribbeans by
eight wickets.
Sri Lanka will have to
quickly put the seven-
wicket hammering by
Australia behind them
and need to start afresh.
For the Islanders,
Charith Asalanka’s form
has been a positive.
Wicket-keeper Kusal
Perera, who got a start
against Australia, would
need to make it big
against South Africa.
However, the constant
failure of opener Pathum
Nissanka and Avishka
Fernando, would be a
cause of concern for the
team management.— PTI
Sanjeet, Akash
reach Last 16
Belgrade, Oct. 29: Asian
champion Sanjeet (92kg)
defeated Russia’s Andrei
Stotskii in a thoroughly
entertaining contest to
enter the pre-quarterfi-
nals, while Akash Kumar
(54kg) got a walkover into
that stage on a good day for
Indians at the AIBA Men’s
World Boxing
Championships here on
Friday. Akash advanced
after his German opponent
Omar Salah Ibrahim fell ill
and gave him a walkover
here on Friday. He will face
Puerto Rico’s Pagan Caleb
Tirado in the last-16 stage.
WORLD | BOXING
his guard completely to
taunt Stotskii on more
than one occasion.
The two exchanged blows
but also smiled frequently
at each other, fighting at a
languid but engaging pace.
Late last night, Akash
Sangwan (67kg) recorded a
confident 4-1 victory
against German pugilist
Daniel Krotter to also enter
the pre-quarterfinals. The
21-year-old will square off
against Cuban boxer Kevin
Brown.

Sharmada, Zeel to meet in summit clash

Uzbekistan’s Shamsuddin
Vakhidov, while teen prodigy R.
Praggnanandhaa pulled off a
marathon 55-move win over
compatriot B. Adhiban in men’s
section round two late on
Thursday. Both Sasikiran and
Praggnanandhaa have 1.5
points after two rounds while
three players, including the tal-
ented Alireza Firouzja of
France, are on top with two full
points.
However, GM P. Harikrishna, the
highest ranked player among
the 10 Indians in the fray, was
beaten by Russia’s Aleksey
Dreev in round two after start-
ing the tournament with a loss
to Vladislav Kovalev.
Talented 17-year old Nihal Sarin
managed to hold world number
two Fabiano Caruana to a draw
on the top board despite facing
trouble. — PTI
New Delhi, Oct. 29:
Qualifier Sharmada Balu
knocked out second seed
Vaidehi Chaudhari to set
up the women’s singles
title clash against Zeel
Desai, while Nikki
Poonacha earned a shot at
his second men’s singles
title at the Fenesta Open
National tennis champi-
onship, here on Friday.
Sharmada got past
Vaidehi 6-4, 6-3 in the
semifinals, while top seed
Zeel did not face much
challenge from Samhitha
Sai Chamarthi and won
her last-four match 6-2, 6-2.
“My opponent was no
pushover but my game
was in place. I am happy
to pull off this win and
give it my best shot in the
final on Saturday,” said
Sharmada.
Zeel said she had to plan
well for her semifinal.
“Today I was playing a
senior opponent so I had
to play a much more
mature game. She was
more experienced than
me, so I played mature and
I was patient on the court.
I went through it and am
looking forward to the
final,” said Zeel.
In the men’s singles, the
2019 champion Poonacha
Zeel Desai
edged out Paras Dahiya 6-
1, 5-7, 7-5 to set up the final
against Digvijay Pratap
Singh, who outslugged
third seed Nitin Kumar
Sinha 6-1, 5-7, 7-5. “It was
again a long grind today
like yesterday’s match. I
won the first set easy but
then I struggled to finish
it in the second. But I
managed to keep my calm
and finally managed to get
the win,” said Digvijay.
In the women’s doubles
final, Sharmada and
Sravya Shivani
Chilakalapudi beat
Vaidehi and Mihika Yadav
6-2, 6-3.
In the mens doubles
final, Prajwal S.D. Dev and
Poonacha beat Chandril
Sood and Lakshit Sood 6-2,
7-6(3).
“His opponent did not
show up for the weigh-in
this morning as he was
sick. Something like what
happened to us in Varinder
THE RESULTS Singh’s case. In that case,
■ Men’s singles semifinal: Nikki we suffered, today we
K. Poonacha (seed 1) bt Paras gained,” India High
Dahiya (seed 4) 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-1; Performance Director
Digvijay Pratap Singh bt Nitin Santiago Nieva said.
Kumar Sinha (seed 3) 6-1, 5-7, 7- Varinder had to pull out
5 of his 60kg category bout
■ Women’s singles semifinal: due to high fever but he
Zeel Desai (seed 1) bt Samhitha tested negative for Covid-
Sai Chamarthi (seed 4) 6-2, 6-2; 19.
Sharmada Balu bt Vaidehi Sanjeet put up quite a
Chaudhari (seed 2) 6-4, 6-3.
show in the 4-1 win over
■ Women’s doubles final:
Sharmada Balu-Sravya Shivani
Stotskii, who was not a
Chilakalapudi (seed 3) bt pushover by any measure.
Vaidehi Chaudhari-Mihika Yadav The Indian, however, was
6-2, 6-3. the more attacking of the
■ Men’s doubles final: Prajwal S. two, at least in the first two
D. Dev-Nikki K. Poonacha rounds. Sanjeet displayed
(seed1) bt Chandril Sood- some flamboyance to go
Lakshit Sood 6-2, 7-6 (3). with his skills, dropping
In a late Thursday night
bout, Nishant Dev (71kg)
will square off against
Mauritian Merven Clair,
also looking to secure a
pre-quarterfinal berth.
On Saturday, five-time
Asian medallist Shiva
Thapa (63.5kg) will be in
action alongside three
other Indians. Thapa will
fight Sierra Leone’s John
Brown in the round of 32.
Sumit (75kg) will take on
Tajikistan’s Abdumalik
Boltaev, while Sachin
(80kg) will open against
American Robby Gonzales.
Both these bouts are also
round of 32 contests.
Govind Sahani (48kg) will
compete in the pre-quarter-
finals against Georgia’s
Sakhil Alakhverdovi.
— PTI
 GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | SATURDAY | 30 OCTOBER 2021 | CHENNAI
pg 12

SHORT TAKES WTT | CONTENDER TUNIS

Tiafoe upsets
Tsitsipas in Vienna Sathiyan & Desai
Vienna: American qualifier
Frances Tiafoe rallied to
beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6,
6-3, 6-4 at the Erste Bank
cruise into final
Open for his second win in Tunis (Tunisia), Oct. ● The Indian duo will
four months over the top- 29: Indian table tennis take on Emmanual
seeded Greek. Tiafoe upset players G. Sathiyan and
Tsitsipas in straight sets in Harmeet Desai reached Lebesson and
the opening round at the men’s doubles final of Alexandre Cassin of
Wimbledon in June, but the WTT Contender France in the final.
failed to win a set when the Anupama Ramachandran Tunis after beating
pair met again at the Tokyo Nandor Ecseki and Adam ● Later in the day,
Olympics the following Szudi 3-2 here on Friday. Sathiyan will take on
month. However, the Sathiyan and Harmeet Dang Qiu of Germany
American proved his triumph registered a spectacular in the men’s singles
at the All England Club was come from behind victory,
no fluke, as he battled back getting the better of the quarterfinals.
from 3-0 down in the final Hungarian pair 8-11 12-14
set to win six of the next 11-9 11-8 11-9 in the semi- Jia Nan Yuan in a close
seven games. Thursday’s win finals clash. fought semifinal.
was Tiafoe’s first in seven The Indian duo will take Sathiyan and Manika
matches against a top-three on Emmanual Lebesson cruised to a two game
player, as Tsitsipas reached and Alexandre Cassin of lead but lost momentum
his career-high No. 3 ranking France in the final. conceding the match 11-7
in August. The result denied In the mixed doubles 11-9 6-11 9-11 9-11.
Tsitsipas a tour-leading 15th event, Sathiyan paired Later in the day,
quarterfinal of the season. with top-ranked Indian Sathiyan will take on
In his fourth quarterfinal of paddler Manika Batra. Dang Qiu of Germany in
the year, Tiafoe will take on The Indian duo lost 2-3 the men’s singles quarter-
Diego Schwartzman. to the French combine of finals.
Second-seeded Alexander Emmanual Lebesson and — PTI

Cue Sera, Sera

Zverev defeated Alex De
Minaur 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 for the
German’s 300th career win.
— AP

Gangjee is joint

e
sixth in Japan Tour

in
Tokyo: Indian golfer Rahil
Gangjee, who needed to

az
play well in the last few
events to keep his card, fol-
lowed his first round 64 with Gen Next girls make a mark in green baize sport

ag
a 72 to be 6-under and T-6
at the ISPS Handa Gatsun to NEHA SURANA | DC country at the world
tobase tournament here. The CHENNAI, OCT. 29 snooker championship to
leader after two rounds was be held in Doha next year.

M
Yuta Uetake of Japan with The cue sport is no longer “I believe finishing in
65-68, while Scott Vincent a male bastion, at least in the top four is a big
(66-68) and Tomoya Ikemura Tamil Nadu. Case in point achievement. However,
L_
(68-66) are tied second. is Tamil Nadu Billiards I’m keeping my fingers
Playing in his fourth year on and Snooker Association crossed as the number of
Japan Tour, Gangjee made a head, Soumini Srinivas, a players to represent a
A
great start on the first day at former national-level play- country could be cut down
Miho GC with eight birdies er who has made a seam- to two because of the
IT

and a bogey to score 64 and less transition to adminis- Covid-19 restrictions,”

led the field. “I owe all of trator. And it’s no surprise added Anupama, a soft- Harmeet Desai (left) and G. Sathiyan are on a roll in
the WTT Contender Tunis tournament.
IG

this to Shaun. Thanks to that the participation of spoken bespectacled girl.

Shaun, it worked as a women has grown consid- Saleem firmly believes
magic,” he said. Gangjee has erably in the last few that Anupama is the
years. The just-concluded future of Indian snooker.

Will not rest on

been having problems with
_D

his putting this season, and state championship had as “She is a wonderful talent.
that has put him in 81st many as 60 female partici- I am sure she will become
place on the Money List. He pants from across Tamil the world champion one J. Mariam Agnish Snenthra Babu R.T. Mohitha
N

changed his putter two Nadu. day,” said Saleem.

weeks ago at Bridgestone
Open, but it didn’t solve the
Former state champion
and renowned coach S.A.
For Madurai
Mohitha, the cue sport
girl

laurels: Bhagat
R

problem and he missed the Saleem says the cue sport helped get a scholarship to
cut. He went to JOYX Golf has spread its wings study aeronautical engi-
A

Club for past two weeks beyond the cozy rooms of neering at KCG College of New Delhi, Oct. 29:
since he wasn’t attending social clubs in Chennai to Technology. Hailing from World number one para
e/

any tournaments, but that attract girls from rural a family of hockey play- shuttler Pramod Bhagat
didn’t help either. — PTI areas. ers, Mohitha dabbled with says he won’t rest on his
.m

“Earlier, there were a
handful of ladies from
Aditi T-17, Tvesa Chennai who competed in
state and national level
T-20 at Dubai
table tennis before falling past laurels and continue
in love with snooker. to strive hard for more
“The minute I held a cue
in my hand, I realised it
success on international
circuit after being recom-
//t

events. Now, it’s totally dif- was the sport for me. mended for the presti-
ferent. With the state gov- Playing snooker gave me a gious Major Dhyan
Dubai: Indian golfers Aditi ernment encouraging different thrill when I Chand Khel Ratna award.
s:

Ashok and Tvesa Malik shot women to take up different started losing interest in The 33-year-old Bhagat
71 each to be placed com- sports, parents are also TT,” said the 18-year-old was one of the 11 athletes
tp

fortably inside the cutline showing interest in send- who finished runner-up in who were nominated for Pramod Bhagat
after two days at the Dubai ing their girls,” said the state sub-junior event the country’s highest
Moonlight Classic here. Aditi Saleem. recently. sporting honour by the rels.”
ht

(69-71) and Tvesa (70-71) For a sport that has been
are T-17 and T-20 respective- looking for a flagbearer in
ly, while Diksha Dagar (72- Tamil Nadu ever since for-
71) is T-27. Both Aditi and mer world No.2 Vidya
Tvesa had four birdies Pillai’s move to
against three bogeys, while Bengaluru, the emergence
Diksha had three birdies and of a young brigade in
two bogeys. Maria Fassi (63- Anupama Ramachandran,
71) and Jessica Karlsson (66- Snenthra Babu, R.T.
68) sit tied at the top of the Mohitha and J. Mariam
leaderboard on 10-under- Agnish has come as a
par. Fassi held the overnight breath of fresh air.
lead after equalling the tour- After winning the U-16
nament course record of 63 World Open in 2017,
in round one and although Anupama, under Saleem’s
day two was tougher, the 23- guidance, has made rapid
year-old held onto her posi- strides at the senior
tion. She rolled in one birdie national circuit. The 19-
on the front nine, before year-old, who finished in
making two birdies and two the top four of the nation-
bogeys on the back nine for al-level qualifying event, is
a round of 1-under 71. The in the fray to represent the
17-year-old Snenthra,
who won a grand double at
the state championship,
was introduced to the cue
sport by her father P.
Babu, an industrialist
from Coimbatore.
“She played tennis when
she was in Class I, but we
didn’t have proper facili-
ties and coaches at that
time. So I took her to my
club where my friends and
I play snooker,” said Babu.
As she kept harping on
about her first tryst with
green baize sport, Babu
decided to send her to a
professional coach. “My
father then met former
players Prem Prakash and
Naveen. I have been train-
selection committee after Bhagat is one of the best
his gold-medal winning para shuttlers in the
Winners of the Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu state billiards and snooker championship pose feat in SL3 singles catego- country with 45 interna-
with guests at Saleem Snooker Academy in Chennai. ry at Tokyo Paralympics. tional medals to his
“This is like an icing on name, including four
ing under Prem sir for bil- marker at Coonoor Club. Saleem expects the compe- the cake especially after world championship gold
liards at the PSPB The 20-year-old has been tition standard to improve winning the first gold medals and a gold and a
Academy and Naveen sir playing cue sports since considerably in the com- medal in Paralympics for bronze in 2018 Asian Para
for snooker at my home,” the age of 13 and has ing years. Indian Badminton. This Games.
added Snenthra, a Class 11 already competed in three “They also need profes- award will only motivate Bhagat, who has recent-
student of SSVM. world championships, sional guidance. It’s more me to work and strive ly resumed training to
Snenthra represented twice in Russia and once of a mind game now. The harder and keep pushing prepare for the Uganda
India in the under-16 in Belgium. sport is already gender myself,” said Bhagat, who Para badminton
World Snooker “I think my interest in neutral. In some foreign was awarded the Arjuna International Open
Championship in Russia snooker came genetically. countries, for example Award in 2019. beginning at Kampala
in 2019. Now, she is eyeing Winning the world cham- England, women are out- “I feel my career has from November 15, hoped
a good show at the nation- pionship is my ultimate playing men. I’m sure, just started and I have a to compete in more events
als in December. goal,” said Mariam, a final India will soon have a long way to go and I am this year after Covid-19
For Coonoor girl year B.Com student in huge set of girls represent- not complacent and not disrupted the interna-
Mariam, her father Providence College for ing various age-group ready to rest on my lau- tional schedule. — PTI
Agnish is the role model. Women, Coonoor. world championships,”
Agnish is a coach and As the tide is turning, said Saleem.

Tough draw for

Mexican golfer has come
into the event on the back of

Sledging led to sandpaper gate: Chappell

a fifth place finish at the
ShopRite LPGA Classic.
Tied alongside Fassi is
Sweden’s Karlsson who
backed up a first round of 6-
under 66 with a second
round of 4-under 68. — PTI
Melbourne, Oct. 29:
Former Australia skipper
Greg Chappell says World
Test Champions New
State ranking Zealand have shown that a
team doesn’t need to
tenpin bowling resort to sledging to
achieve success in inter-
Chennai: The second state national cricket.
ranking tenpin bowling tour- “New Zealand, now the
nament for men organised by reigning world champions
Tamil Nadu Tenpin Bowling of Test cricket, have
Association is underway at proven beyond any doubt
LetsBowl, Thoraipakkam. A that it just isn’t something
total of 32 bowlers are partici- you need in your armoury
pating in this tournament. All to succeed,” Chappell
participants will bowl one wrote in his book ‘Not
block of six games in all the Out’, the extracts of which
rounds. Bowlers will be select- were published in
ed to represent the state in Age.com.
the upcoming national cham- “In many ways, the type
pionships. A cash prize of of cricket played by Kane
`25,000 will be awarded to Williamson’s team —
the winner, while the runner- sound batting with proac-
up will receive `15,000. tive running between the
wickets, sharp fielding
Regd. No. TNENG/2010/35692 and precision bowling
with a combination of
Printed & Published by K. Sudhakar on speed, bounce, swing and
behalf of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited seam — is the kind
and Printed at Deccan Chronicle Presses Australia made their own
situated at SP 3, Developed Plot,
Industrial Estate, over many generations
Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. before sledging emerged
RNI Registration No: TN ENG/2005/14987
Ph Nos: 22254747, 22254748, 22254750, as a tactical weapon.”
22254751 Chappell’s words were in
Editor: KAUSHIK MITTER context of the sledging
culture which became a
India in AFC ’22
big issue in Australian
cricket, something which
blew up after the 2018 ball-
tampering scandal.
“While this sort of thing
was occasionally seen
under Allan Border and
Mark Taylor, in Steve’s
time it became acceptable
to stand there
and harangue an opposi-
tion player as a common-
place tactic,” Chappell
wrote.
“Over succeeding gener-
ations it went from a
necessity to something
like a badge of honour to
be able to get up the oppo-
sition’s nose faster than
they could get up ours.”
Chappell said this sledg-
ing culture led to the infa-
mous sandpaper gate in
Cape Town, which saw the
suspension of three
Australian players —
Steve Smith, David
Warner and Cameron
Bancroft.
“There was a period
leading up to Cape Town
where quite a few of us
had the same feeling.
“We couldn’t tell you
what the problem or the
blow-up was going to be,
but we knew that some-
thing ominous was around
the corner.”
Chappell emphathised
with Australian batter
Steve Smith, who was
banned for a year by crick-
et Australia for his role in
New Zealand,
now the reigning
world champions
of Test cricket,
have proven
beyond any
doubt that it just
isn’t something
you need in your
armoury to
succeed.
— GREG
CHAPPELL,
former
Australia
skipper
the ball-tampering scan-
dal.
“I had a huge degree of
empathy for Steve. Just as
he had his meltdown in
South Africa, I had mine
at the MCG in 1981. I didn’t
see it coming, and I don’t
know if anyone sees it
coming. I didn’t realise
until that day just how
strung out I was. And I
don’t think anyone around
me knew it,” he wrote.
— PTI
New Delhi, Oct. 29: The
Indian women’s football
team are not unduly per-
turbed after they were
drawn with China,
Chinese Taipei and Iran
in next year’s AFC Asian
Cup at home as they have
beaten two sides in the
group recently.
India are the third-
ranked side in the four-
team Group A at 57th spot
in FIFA chart after the
draws were held in Kuala Ashalata Devi
Lumpur on Thursday.
China are the highest and we did get them in
ranked team at 17th while our group right at the
Chinese Taipei (40th) and start,” team captain
Iran (72nd) are the other Ashalata Devi said.
sides. But India have beat- “Not only are they (Iran)
en Chinese Taipei 1-0 in a very good side, but just
an international friendly the determination of all
match in Bahrain earlier the women in their team
this month. The team to go out there and play
have also beaten Iran by football against all the
the same margin during odds is something that
the Gold Cup in still gives me goose-
Bhubaneswar in 2019. bumps.”
“Every one of us had The women’s Asian
our own predictions showpiece will be held
(while watching the draw from January 20 to
live). I had also predicted February 6 in two venues
Iran, because I have so in Mumbai and one in
much respect for them, Pune. — PTI