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JAMA MASJID
REVOKES BAN ON
WOMEN’S ENTRY
BHASKAR HARI
SHARMA | DC
NEW DELHI, NOV. 24
Delhi’s Jama Masjid has
agreed to revoke its con-
troversial order banning
the entry of young women
in the mosque. The Jama
Masjid had earlier on
Thursday barred the
entry of women “who
come alone” and use it as
a place to “meet boys”.
“There is no restriction
on the entry of women,”
Jama Masjid PRO
Sabiullah Khan said.
“The restriction was for
women who come here
alone, give time to men,
do wrong things, make
videos.” He clarified that
women would be permit-
ted to come with their
husbands or family.
After Delhi lieutenant-
governor Vinai Kumar
Saxena intervened, Jama
Masjid Shahi Iman
Abdullah Bukhari agreed
to revoke the order. A
source at Raj Niwas said
Imam Bukhari agreed to
revoke the order after the
L-G had spoken to him.
Earlier, the masjid
placed signboards that:
“Entering into the
mosque for one girl or
girls alone is prohibited”.
KCR to fault BJP in House
for tightening TS’ finances
L. VENKAT
RAM REDDY | DC
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Chief Minister K. Chandra-
shekar Rao has decided to
hold a week-long Assembly
session in December to cas-
tigate the ruling BJP at the
Centre on a number of
issues, most notably the
losses incurred by the state
as a result of “unnecessary
restrictions” imposed by
the Modi government in
the current fiscal year 2022-
23, “ludicrous economic
policies” becoming a stum-
bling block to the future
and growth of the states.
According to a media
On DC alert, land grab halted
MADDY DEEKSHITH | DC
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Taking cognizance of an
alert from Deccan Chron-
icle, the Greater Hyderabad
Municipal Corporation
averted a land grab bid at
Banjara Hills Road No. 12,
by stopping ongoing works
and planning to erect a
board stating its owner-
ship of the land parcel.
K. Chandrashekar Rao
statement issued by the
Chief Minister’s Office
(CMO) on Thursday, the
Centre’s “unnecessary
sanctions” have resulted in
DC IMPACT
The land in question,
measuring 19,944.59 square
metres, had a proposed lay-
out area of 15,341.59 square
metres as per the erstwhile
Municipal Corporation of
Hyderabad’s sanction on
May 21, 1987.
As many as 41 plots were
to be demarcated, along
HYDERABAD I FRIDAY I 25 NOVEMBER 2022
a `40,000 crore loss to the
state exchequer in the cur-
rent financial year 2022-23.
The Centre, it claims, is
impeding Telangana’s
development with such
measures.
States formulates their
budget by taking into con-
sideration the budget fig-
ures which are being
released by the Centre
before every financial
year. As is customary, the
Centre announced the
FRBM limit for each state
to mobilise financial
resources.
■ Page 7: Centre reduces TS
FRBM to `39,000 cr
with open spaces for com-
mon amenities. However,
35 years on, unidentified
persons were found
encroaching the green belt
at Green Colony of Banjara
Hills and the same was
brought to Deccan
Chronicle’s attention by
concerned citizens.
■ Page 2: GHMC springs
into action
Vol. 85 No. 325 Established 1938 | 24
SC GRILLS CENTRE
OVER ‘HURRY’ TO Gujarat’s vote
APPOINT NEW EC
PARMOD KUMAR | DC will decide its
next 25 yrs: PM
NEW DELHI, NOV. 24
The Supreme Court on
Thursday grilled the
Centre over the “light-
ning speed” with which DC CORRESPONDENT
Arun Goel was appointed with agency inputs
as an election commis- NEW DELHI, NOV. 24
sioner, with Union law
minister Kiren Rijiju Prime Minister Narendra
empanelling four names Modi on Thursday said the
from DoPT’s database of upcoming Assembly elec-
bureaucrats, Prime Mini- tion in Gujarat is all about
ster Narendra Modi pick- deciding the state’s des-
ing Goel, his request for tiny for the next 25 years.
VRS being accepted by Earlier in the day, while
the Centre and all of it virtually addressing the
happening in just one beneficiaries who were
day. given appointments in the
Goa government depart-
■ Report on Page 10
ments during the “Rozgar
Mela”, Modi appealed to
BJP COMMITTED TO the youth to work towards
BRING UNIFORM
achieving the dream of a
“new India” by 2047.
Addressing a poll rally in
Palanpur town of
CIVIL CODE: SHAH Banaskantha district of
Gujarat, Modi said though
DC CORRESPONDENT many developmental
NEW DELHI, NOV. 24 works have been carried
out so far by the ruling
Union home minister BJP in Gujarat and the
Amit Shah said the BJP is Centre, time has come to
committed to bringing the take a “giant leap”.
Uniform Civil Code (UCC) “This election is not
after following all democ- about who will become an
ratic processes on it. MLA or whose govern-
ment will come. This elec-
■ Report on Page 10 tion is all about deciding
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi at a public meeting
for Gujarat Assembly elec-
tions, in Dehgam town on
— PTI
Thursday.
Gujarat’s destiny for the
next 25 years,” Modi said.
The PM said that he was
making efforts to put
Gujarat in the “league of
developed nations”.
“Time has come to take a
giant leap now. And, I need
your support to form a
strong government in
Gujarat. You don’t have to
tell me your issues
because I grew up here. I
appeal to you to make the
BJP victorious in all the
seats of Banaskantha,”
Modi said.
cmyk
PAGES | `6.00
SC COLLEGIUM
TRANSFERS 3 HC
JUDGES FROM TS
VUJJINI
VAMSHIDHAR | DC
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Amid ongoing protests
against the proposed
transfer of Justice A.
Abhishek Reddy of the
Telangana High Court to
Patna, the Supreme Court
Collegium on Thursday
passed a resolution to
transfer two more HC
judges out of Telangana.
In all, the collegium
chaired by Chief Justice
of India D.Y. Chandr-
achud, proposed to trans-
fer three Telangana High
Court judges, two Andhra
Pradesh HC judges and
two Madras HC judges to
other courts.
Justice Annireddy Abh-
ishek Reddy will be trans-
ferred to Patna High
Court, Justice Kanne-
ganti Lalitha to the
Karnataka High Court
and Justice D. Nagarjun
to the Madras High Court.
In Andhra Pradesh,
Justice Battu Devanand
will be transferred to
the Madras High Court
and Justice D. Ramesh, to
the Allahabad High
Court.
■ Page 7: Collegium gives
list to Centre
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
WEATHER
Max: 28.6OC
Min: 20.7OC
RH: 60%
Rainfall: Nil
Forecast: Cloudy sky. Misty
morning. Max/Min temp.
30/20ºC
ASTROGUIDE
Shubhakrut; Dakshinayana
Tithi: Mrigasira Shuddha Vidiya till
10.33 pm
Star: Jyeshta till 5.19 pm
Varjyam: Nil
Durmuhurtam: 8.43 am to
9.28 am; 12.25 pm to 1.10 pm
Rahukalam: 10.30 am to 12 noon
HIJRI CALENDAR
Rabi us Sani 29,1444 AH
PRAYERS
Fajar: 5.24 am
Zohar: 12.13 pm
Asar: 4.03 pm
Maghrib: 5.46 pm
Isha: 6.56 pm
SUNSET TODAY 5.39 PM
SUNRISE TOMORROW 6.26 AM
MOONRISE TODAY 7.43 PM
MOONSET TODAY 6.59 AM
COUNTER POINT
Gachibowli flyover
to be opened today
Hyderabad: The Shilpa Layout
Flyover at Gachibowli is all set
to be inaugurated by minister
K.T. Rama Rao. The flyover is
956 metres in length and 16.60
metres wide and was built
under the Strategic Road
Development Plan. It is expect-
ed to improve flow of traffic
from Shilpa Layout to ORR and
better connectivity between
Hitec City.
English taught in Hindi,
Telugu in govt schools
Many students, teachers uncomfortable using English
BANSARI TRIVEDI J. | DC
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Bilingual textbooks intro-
duced in government
schools to promote
English-medium teaching
from the current academ-
ic year are being ignored,
with even English being
taught in Hindi or Telugu
in government schools,
sources said.
Teachers claim that the
practice is necessitated
because most of the stu-
dents are either Telugu
speakers or those who
understand only Hindi,
and have come from Bihar,
Maharashtra, Uttar
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
and other western states.
Many teachers also said
that they do not prefer
teaching in English as
they are either not confi-
dent in their language
skills or not comfortable
JH-Durgam Cheruvu to
be hit by traffic diversions
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD NOV. 24
To alleviate traffic conges-
tion at the Jubilee Hills
Check Post, the
Hyderabad traffic police
will implement traffic
diversions on a trial basis
for vehicles travelling
from Jubilee Hills to
Durgam Cheruvu. Begin-
ning November 24, the
detours will be in effect
for one week. The six-lane
bi-directional Shilpa
Layout flyover from the
ORR opens to the public
on Friday, increasing traf-
fic flow towards the
Jubilee Hills Road no 45
junction.
The diversions will help
ease vehicular movement,
LANGUAGE BARRIERS there is no children-
● Teachers not focused learning but per-
formance-based learning
comfortable/confident in government schools,”
enough to teach in
said S. Sundar, a govern-
English ment school teacher in
● Govt training sessions Hyderabad.
not sufficient to make Another primary school
teachers proficient teacher blamed the indif-
ferent attitude of students
● Outstation students and their lack of interest
tend to perform better in learning English.
due to regular attend- “Local students have
ance, in contrast with their mind set that they
local students will be taught in Telugu.
So, they do not bother
speaking the language. learning English or Hind.
They said that a few However, they are also
training sessions organ- struggling in learning the
ised by the government Telugu language,” said
are not sufficient to make Sheik Khaja, a govern-
them proficient in speak- ment school teacher.
ing English and also A headmaster of a city-
teaching students the
same. “There are few
based government school,
requesting anonymity,
resources provided by the said that days before an
government to schools. inspection, teachers
Teachers are also not very assign students projects,
attentive to students as which mostly comprise
TRIAL RUN anath, Joint Commiss-
ioner (Traffic) of Hydera-
● Traffic diversions will bad City, once the flyover
be implemented on trial is open, traffic flow may
basis from November 24 increase by more than
twice, increasing the bur-
● Diversions will help den on the junction.
ease vehicular movement “The diversions would
between Jubilee Hills
Check Post and Durgam
undoubtedly cause incon-
venience to commuters as
Cheruvu well as residents on the
connecting parallel roads.
● Inauguration of Shilpa We urge people to be
Layout flyover to increase patient in order to reduce
traffic flow manifold, traffic congestion at inter-
increasing the burden on sections. Things are going
to be normal after a few
the junction, according to
days. This is an experi-
joint commissioner ment that will be evaluat-
(traffic) A.V. Ranganath ed daily, and a route map
for the long run will be
according to traffic offi- implemented based on the
cials. feedback at the end of the
According to A.V. Rang- week,” Ranganath added.
pg 2
making charts in English.
However, many students
are unable to do so and
teachers make it them-
selves.
A third primary school
teacher said that outsta-
tion students are perform-
ing better due to regular
attendance, compared to
locals. “They are Hindi
speakers but know the
Telugu language better as GHMC officials clear the encroached land before erecting a signboard staking owner-
they do not miss school. ship of the land in Banjara Hills, on Thursday. — DC
Their parents are daily
wage workers, who drop
GHMC springs into action
them at schools at 9 am
sharp. Now, they know
Hindi and Telugu. If they
decide to learn English,
they can do so with the From page 1 encroachment of the keep a close watch on the
help of bilingual text- demarcated green belt and layout and ensure that it is
books, which is hardly the Upon passing the message asked officials to erect a used either for a planta-
case with local students.
Their parents do not both-
to the GHMC, the civic
body swung into action.
notice board stating:
“This land belongs to
tion or a park.
GHMC official said that
The
er about their education GHMC’s chief city plan- GHMC” inscribed on it. such land grab attempts
and it is okay for them to ner S. Devender Reddy Thanking Deccan are on the rise and those
miss school,” the teacher instantly instructed field Chronicle, Reddy also responsible will face crim-
said. officials to stop the instructed the staff to inal cases.
KRISHNA’S FILM
TO BE SCREENED IRL to refund ticket costs,
ON SUNDAY
DC CORRESPONDENT buyers seek speedy action
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
TUSHAR KAUSHIK | DC Ticket holders, however, races to further investi-
The Guruswamy Centre HYDERABAD, NOV. 24 are still awaiting commu- gate the incident.”
in West Marredpally nication in this regard. The race was cancelled
will pay tribute to The Indian Racing League A city resident who over an array of issues —
‘Superstar’ Krishna by (IRL) on Thursday bought a `6,999 ticket said a tree branch falling on a
screening the 1965 film announced a full refund of that a similar announce- racing car during a test
Tene Manasulu starring tickets purchased for the ment was also made on the run, drivers complaining
the actor on Sunday,
November 27.
race held on November 19
and 20 in Hyderabad, as it
day of the race, but there
has been no communica-
of a wet track, poor
arrangements for specta-
The screening will
begin at 10.30 am and
was called off over a car
crash and technical fail-
tion since.
In an earlier statement,
tors and an onlooker suf-
fering a foot fracture after
there will not be any ure. on the cancellation of the a concrete slab fell on her
subtitles available. The “The Indian Racing race, the IRL had said: following a car crash on
romance film, directed League will be issuing a “There was an incident November 20.
by Adurthi Subba Rao, refund to everyone who during a practice session The organisers asked the
was the first movie star- purchased a ticket for the with one car, and as a mat- state government to
improve the track quality,
ring Krishna in a major Hyderabad race weekend ter of abundant precau-
role. The veteran actor on the 19th and 20th of tion and advice from the as well as safety features,
passed away at the age of November. All patrons stewards and FMSCI if the second round of the
79 on November 15, leav- will be notified regarding (Federation of Motor race, scheduled for
ing several fans in both the process via email or Sports Clubs of India) December 10 and 11 in the
Telugu states heartbro- text message,” the IRL along with the organisers, city on the same track, is
ken. tweeted. we have postponed the to be held.
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
pg 3

SHORT TAKES
Malla Reddy booked India Heritage Quiz to be held today
DC CORRESPONDENT ising the India Heritage am and go on till 2 pm.

for obstructing raids

HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
The Indian National Trust
for Art and Cultural
Heritage (Intach) is organ-
Quiz — Telangana State
Round 2022, on November
25, at Salar Jung Museum’s
Lecture Hall.
The event will start at 11
School teams from across
the state will get to show-
case their quizzing skills
over several challenging
rounds.

Bhadra Reddy files plaint against I-T officials for extortion

Marri Rajashekar Reddy
PINTO DEEPAK | DC
MARRI SLAMS HYDERABAD NOV. 24

RUDE BEHAVIOUR While Income-Tax

searches on properties of

OF I-T SLEUTHS labour minister Ch.

DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
TRS leader Marri Rajashekar
Reddy, who is also the son-in-
law of minister Ch. Malla Re-
ddy, on Thursday alleged that
I-T sleuths behaved in a high-
handed and rude manner with
his father, mother and daugh-
ter during raids conducted at
his residence for two days si-
nce Tuesday. He said he and
his wife were abroad and he
rushed to the city on Thursday.
Speaking to media persons,
Rajashekar Reddy said that I-T
officials had seized ` four
crore cash from his residence.
He alleged that raids were
done to exert pressure on them
to join BJP. He was categorical
that he has no financial or
business dealings with Malla
Reddy.
“I have my own colleges and
other business activities. I
have nothing to do with the
Malla Reddy group. Despite
this, they raided my residence
when I was abroad. They beh-
aved in a rude manner with my
77-year-old father and daugh-
ter. They took them in their
vehicles to my colleges and
other places at midnight. Th-
ere was no lady officer to acco-
mpany my daughter. I am not
against I-T raids. I am only ob-
jecting to the way they carried
out these raids. I will file a po-
lice complaint against I-T
officers for their excesses,” he
said.
Stating that I-T raids were
not new for him and had faced
them in 1994 and 2010, Reddy
said, “Earlier raids were done
in a proper way. But the latest
raids clearly indicate that they
were politically motivated
only to harass and torture us
mentally and physically as we
are in TRS.”
Malla Reddy, the founder
of the Malla Reddy group
of institutions, conclud-
ed on Thursday, high
drama reigned, with I-T
officials filing a case
against Malla Reddy and
his family, claiming that
attempts were made to
obstruct them from car-
rying out their duties,
and minister’s younger
son Bhadra Reddy filing
a complaint against the Labour minister Ch. Malla Reddy along with his daughter seen in a joyful mood at
I-T officials on charges of her Bowenpally residence on Thursday. — S. SURENDER REDDY
extortion.
On a day of high
drama, Bhadra Reddy
filed a complaint against
Ratnakar, deputy direc-
tor (Investigations),
Hit a hat trick in I-T
Income-Tax, Hyderabad,
in the early hours of
Thursday, alleging that
he had forcefully taken
raids, says Malla Reddy
DC CORRESPONDENT
signatures on some docu-
ments from Malla HYDERABAD NOV. 24 MALLA REDDY, KIN SERVED NOTICES;
Reddy’s elder son
Mahender Reddy while
he was in hospital receiv-
Labour minister Ch.
Malla Reddy accused In-
TO APPEAR BEFORE I-T ON MONDAY
ing treatment. On the come-Tax Department of- DC CORRESPONDENT appear before I-T offi-
basis of this complaint, a ficials and Central Res- HYDERABAD NOV. 24 cials at their office in
case was filed against erve Police (CRP) person- Aayakar Bhavan, Bashe-
Ratnakar under Section nel of harassing him and The Income-Tax depart- erbagh, on Monday.
384 of the IPC (extor- his family members, incl- ment which concluded However, there was no
tion). uding women, by con- searches on the proper- official announcement
On the other hand, ducting searches without ties owned by minister from the department on
Ratnakar, the I-T official, the presence of female Ch. Malla Reddy, his the seizure of cash, docu-
filed a complaint with personnel for 48 hours. sons, and relatives on ments and other materi-
the Bowenpally police, Malla Reddy told the Thursday, is learnt to al during the searches
alleging that Malla media after the searches have served notices on and also on the notices
Reddy and his family were completed on Thu- them. served on the minister
members obstructed rsday that his daughter They were asked to and his family.
their duties. Cases were and granddaughter were
booked against the min- only accompanied by daughters-in-law during cise in a few hours, but
ister under various sec- male officials and armed previous searches has they dragged it out for
tions of the Indian Penal male personnel when yet to be released. Except two days,” he explained.
Code. they were taken to a that nothing was discov- Malla Reddy, who
According to K. Ravi bank late at night. The la- ered,” he explained. He described the entire
Kumar, inspector of bour minister described claimed that a total of search as inhuman, said
Bowenpally, both cases the raids on him as a “hat `28 lakh was discovered he urged I-T officials to
have been registered as trick”, claiming that the in his home. get signatures on their
Zero FIRs and trans- I-T department raided “Some money was dis- documents from his you-
ferred to Dundigal Police him in 1994 and 2008 as covered in the homes of nger son Bhadra Reddy,
Station because the inci- well, but found nothing. my son-in-law and other who is also a director of
dent falls under its juris- “The gold jewellery relatives. They could the educational institu-
diction. taken from my wife and have finished the exer- tions, and they agreed.
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
IN BRIEF
DGP releases book
on investigation
Hyderabad: DGP M. Mahe-
nder Reddy on Thursday
released 'Economic Offen-
ces' - a handbook for investi-
gation, authored by GD
TSPF Umesh Sharraf.
Reddy said the book will
help investigation officers in
getting a better understand-
ing of cases and on how to
go about them. He said that
nowadays cybercrime cases
were being investigated by
the local police stations.
LIQUOR SCAM
KINGPIN’S
WORKER MOVES HC
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Delhi liquor scam kingpin
Sharat Chandra Reddy’s sta-
ffer and an employee of
Trident Chemphar, E. Cha-
ndan approached the Telan-
gana High Court complain-
ingthat Enforcement Direc-
torate (ED) officials had sub-
jected him to third degree
methods during the raids con-
ducted in his house on
September 16. He said that
they had slapped and hit his
ear repeatedly, which resulted
in a hearing loss and he was in
hospital for four days.
The division bench, compris-
ing Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan
and Justice C.V. Bhaskar
Reddy heard the case and
directed ED authorities to file
their counters on the accusa-
tions by December 12.
Chandan also challenged the
constitutional validity of
Rule-6 of Prevention of Money
Laundering Rules 2005 and
other sections. The petitioner
urged the court to declare that
the said section was in viola-
tion of his Fundamental
Rights.
CRIME BEAT
Driver gets 20 years
Youth smashes elder for rape of 4-year-old
brother to death
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD NOV. 24
A man was brutually mur-
dered by his younger brother
in Indranagar, Chandr-
yangutta on Thursday. The
accused G. Suresh, a mason,
following a heated argument
with his brother G. Anjenelu
pushed him to the ground and
smashed his head with a boul-
der in front of the victim's
daughter G. Swapna, Chand-
rayangutta police said. He also
abused Swapna and her moth-
er G. Indira. Police has regis-
tered a case of murder under
section 302 IPC and are making
effort to trace Suresh. The vic-
tim's body was shifted to OGH
for post-mortem.
TWO PROPERTY
OFFENDERS HELD
Task force sleuths of Hyde-
rabad police on Thursday
apprehended two habitual
property offenders in separate
cases and recovered stolen
property. The arrest of one
Parankusham Ashok, involved
in a series of house burglaries
led to detection of two pending
cases at Banjara Hills and
recovery of gold, silver arti-
cles, mobile phones and cash,
all worth `3.5 lakh. In another
case, auto driver S. Krishna
was arrested and 92 stolen
mobile phones were recovered
from him. He started commit-
ting offences in Kurnool and
Karnataka before moving over
to Hyderabad.
QATAR NATIONAL
GOES MISSING
Rein Bazaar police continued
their search to trace a 19-year-
old Qatar national, who went
missing from her relative's res-
idence in the Yakutpura area
in the city. Police said that
missing girl Noora Ali, 19, who
has relatives in Yakutpura,
had arrived in Hyderabad to
MBS Jewellers head, Godowns storage capacity
aides get HC relief doubled in state since 2014
Criminal case quashed for property mortgage
VUJJINI
VAMSHIDHAR | DC
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
The Telangana High
Court on Thursday qu-
ashed a criminal case
registered against MBS
Jewellers director
Sukesh Gupta, his wife
Neetu Gupta, and two
of their business asso-
ciates from Neeharika
Infrastructure Group,
for selling a property
mortgaged with a tance of increasing the stor-
finance firm.
The property, Nazri
Bagh Palace in King
Koti, was mortgaged
with SREI Equipment
Finance Limited in 2008
for part funding a
requirement of `110
crore. The CCS police
registered a case aga-
inst the accused in 2020
on a complaint from
SREI Finance Limited.
According to the
police, the accused had
mortgaged two proper-
ties, one in King Koti
and 8.8 guntas of land
at Hafeezpet of Ser-
Bad roads take a toll on commuters
Sewage overflow and dilapidated roads near NTR Stadium pose problems for motorists. It is a crucial
stretch that connects key areas of the city.
get a dental treatment during
the first week of November. On
November 14, she left the
house and had not returned.
After searching for her, her rel-
atives lodged a complaint with
police on November 16. Police
said a missing case has been
registered and a search opera-
tion is on to trace the girl.
OVER `1 CRORE WORTH
GOLD SEIZED AT RGIA
Customs officials seized 1,821
grams of gold worth over `one
crore after taking into custody
a person coming from Dubai at
RGIA here on Thursday. They
checked the baggage of Kudu
Omar Al Kesar, who had hid
gold in a cotton box. On ques-
tioning he said that he was
planning to convert raw gold
into paste. A case has been reg-
istered against Omar and
investigation is in progress.
INTERSTATE MDMA
PEDDLERS GANG ARRESTED
In a joint operation, the
Hyderabad District Probation
Excise Officers (DPEO) and
Jubilee Hills police busted an
interstate drug racket and
arrested three members of a
gang from Mumbai and seized
45 grams of MDMA from their
possession. The accused were
identified as Gulshan Khan,
Ahmed Abdul Rehman Ansari
and Mohammed Rizwan. The
three members of a Mumbai-
based MDMA peddler gang
were apprehended after a
three-kilometer chase by 14
Hyderabad District Probation
Excise Officers (DPEO) and
Jubilee Hills police. The acc-
used, Gulshan Khan, who was
on DPEO radar was spotted at
around 10.30 p.m. on Wedn-
esday night at Jubilee Hills
Road 36. While the officials
were trying to detain him, the
accused managed to flee and
run towards Raidurgam road,
where he was apprehended.
pg 4
L. VENKAT RAM REDDY | DC and demand. The state gov- Private Entreprenuer Guara-
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24 ernment started construction ntee, Agriculture Marketing
of 475 new godowns in 364 Department Godowns, private
The storage capacity of
godowns for foodgrains in
locations with a capacity of
17.35 lakh tonnes with the
sector etc which have a total
storage capacity of 73.80 lakh
CRUX OF THE CASE cheques, the accused Telangana has nearly doubled assistance of Nabard at a cost tonnes. The overall capacity
are alleged to have since the formation of state of `10.24 crore. Of this, the was just 39.01 lakh tonnes in
● NAZRI BAGH Palace emailed the finance eight years ago in 2014. In the construction works were com- 2014 at the time of formation
in King Koti was company, asking it not last eight years, the storage pleted in347 locations so far. of Telangana state. The gov-
mortgaged in 2008 with to cash in the cheques, capacity in government and With this, the storage capaci- ernment is also implementing
SREI Equipment Finance following which a fraud private sectors increased ty of godowns run by market- e-Nam (National Agriculture
Limited. case was registered. from 39 lakh tonnes to 73 lakh ing department increased Market), a pan-India electron-
After a lower court tonnes. from 7.38 lakh tonnes to 24.65 ic trading portal launched on
● THE CCS police ordered criminal According to a press release lakh tonnes. These godowns 14th April, 2016 completed
began an investigation charges, they chal- issued by the marketing are being used for storage of funded by central govern-
into the accused in 2020 ● HOWEVER, lenged the same in the department on Thursday, PDS rice, fertilisers, MSP ment, in 58 agriculture mar-
after receiving a because the accused High Court, asking for there were 750 godowns in the operations etc. kets across TS.
complaint from SREI
Finance Limited.
failed to repay the
amount, the land in
the case to be quashed.
Justice K. Surender
state with a capacity of 7.50
lakh tonnes. The state govern-
At present, the state has dif-
ferent categories of godowns
The number of Rythu
Bazaars were 30 in 2014 and
quashed the case, stat- ment recognised the impor- belonging TS Ware Housing the state government sanc-
● THE ACCUSED had Hafeezpet was ing that once the award tioned another 30 Rythu
Corporation, Civil Supplies
mortgaged two auctioned off for Rs passed through an arbi- age capacity on a war footing Corporation, Markfed, Bazars later of which 47 are
properties, one in 102.6 crore. trator to settle the case, after realising that the Central Warehousing Corpo- currently functioning while
King Koti and 8.8 ● THE FINANCE firm the lender company existign godown were not ration, Food Corporation of remaining 13 are under vari-
guntas of land in discovered that the only has the option to enough to meet future needs India, Investor Godowns, ous stages of construction.
Serilingampally's Nazri Bagh Palace file an execution peti-
tion to get the award
Hafeezpet, to meet had been sold
their financial needs. without notice.
amount, which is civil
in nature and not crim-
HUMAN RIGHTS REMEMBRANCE
ilingampally to meet crore, including over-
inal. The police said
that Gupta was a habit- BODY INSPECTS
their financial require- draft and penalty, it ual offender, as there
ment. But, as they
failed to repay the
found that the Nazri
Bagh Palace had been
were several cases
against him by the En-
HEALTH CENTRE,
amount, the land in
Hafeezpet was auc-
sold without intima-
tion. The accused then
forcement Directorate
(ED) and other agencies
FLAGS ISSUES
tioned for `102.6 crore. made a settlement thro- under the Prevention of TUSHAR KAUSHIK | DC
While the finance ugh an arbitrator and Money Laundering Act HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
company tried to issued three cheques. for alleged loan frauds
recoup another `58.9 After issuing the and revenue disputes. Chairperson of the Tela- Mr. D. AMARNATH
ngana State Human Rights S/o Late M N. Damodharan
Commission (TSHRC) Dr Slept: 25/11/2006
Justice G. Chandraiah on Amar Anna may your soul
Thursday conducted a sur-
prise insp-ection of a
rest in eternal peace
“Amar Amar Hai”
Inserted by: M. Rakesh (Brother)
Community Health Centre 9384398974
(CHC) in Shamshabad and (S/2223/D00912)
flagged issues ailing the
Centre. Justice Chandr- “I have fought the good fight, I have
aiah observed the facilities finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
- 2 Timothy 4:7
at the hospital and checked
how the rooms were being MEMORIAL SERVICE
maintained. He examined
the daily hospital records
and attendance register
maintained by the hospital
authorities. He spoke to the
patients and the duty doc-
tor Dr Gayathri, a gynae- N. PARANJYOTHI DEVADATHAM
28-03-1935 - 23-11-2022
cologist, hospital nurses (Retd. H.M., Yellareddyguda-Hyd)
and other staff. (W/o Late Mr. N.S.J. Devadatham, HPS-B, Hyd)
“The fact that you’re no longer here, will
He noticed that grass and always cause us pain, but you are forever
vegetation had overgrown in our hearts until we meet again.”
Thanksgiving Prayer Meeting on
on the hospital’s premises 25-11-2022 at 7:00 PM, C.S.I. St. John
and found the conditions The Baptist Church, Secunderabad.
unhygienic. He also ques- Followed by dinner.
INSERTED BY: Sons, Daughters-in-law,
tioned why only one doctor Grandchildren & Great-Grandchildren
was available in the hospi- 9989778181, 9848087796.
tal. Dr Gayatri said the
CHC was originally a OBITUARY
Primary Health Centre
(PHC) and had been con-
verted later into a CHC, fol-
lowing which staff had
been deputed two months
ago. She said sufficient
staff, facilities and ade-
quate budget would soon be
—S. SURENDER REDDY allocated for the Centre.
She said only one sweeper
was available for maintain-
ing the cleanliness of the
premises.
GOV.: TIME-BOUND
KISHEN NARAYAN
DOB: 11.02.1928 DOD: 24.11.2022
PLAN NEEDED FOR Inserted by: Family Members
Ph: 7416259218, 9948657111
TB-FREE STATE (S/2223/D00915)
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
● THE ACCUSED
Dusari Raju, alias
Katam, approached
a case under section
376 IPC (rape) and var-
ious sections of
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
5th Death Anniversary
Blessed are those who mourn, for they
will be comforted.
In Loving Memory of
Matthew 5:4
28th DEATH ANNIVERSARY
In Loving Memory Of
A 24-year-old driver POCSO and remanded TS Governor Dr. Tamilisai
was sentenced to 20 victim on the pretext him to judicial cus- Soundararajan called for a
years of imprisonme- of giving money while tody. concrete health plan to
nt after he was found she was playing Second investigative reduce the deaths related
guilty for sexually as- before her house. officer M. Gangadhar to many preventable dis-
saulting a four-year- filed a strong charge eases, during an interac-
old girl in Manchal, by the mother, Raju sheet. The special tion with eminent medical
under Rachakonda po- tried to assault the vic- POCSO court at LB professionals on health
lice limits on Febru- tim on the following Nagar convicted Dus- issues and initiatives at Raj
ary 3. day but she managed ari Raju and slapped Bhavan on Thursday. She Late Sri SOLETI
The accused Dusari to escape and narrated him with 20 years of said that it was important YESHWANT RAO
Raju, alias Katam, about the sexual imprisonment and im- to have a time-bound Your Memories Will Remain
approached the victim assault to her mother. posed a fine of `20,000. action plan to realise the
M.T. JOHN In Our Hearts Forever.
on the pretext of giv- A written complaint Rachakonda police goal of TB-Mukth Telang- Fondly remembered by:
Inserted by:
ing money while she sealed in an envelope commissioner ana State by the year 2024. Smt. Suvarnalatha Yeshwant Rao &
Mrs. Achamma John & Family Family Members.
was playing before her was lodged by the vic- Mahesh M, Bhagwat,
(S/2223/D00906)
house. He took her to a tim’s mother on Feb- and additional commi- (S/2223/D00909)
house in Manchal and ruary 5. ssioner of police G. IN LOVING MEMORY
committed the hei- Based on the com- Sudheer Babu, while OBITUARY 10th DEATH ANNIVERSARY
nous crime, Manchal plaint Manchal police appreciating the eff-
I have fought a good fight, I have
finished my course, I have kept the faith:
1st Death Anniversary
police said. immediately reacted orts of all officials 2 Timothy 4:7
Later, the victim and A. Raju, sub- who ensured convic-
complained to her inspector at Manchal tion of the accused, al-
mother of severe pain. police station arrested so announced rewards
Despite being warned the accused and filed to each of them.
Cops bust gang of JAMAN JYOTI KALAVATHI
W/o Late Jaman Jyothi Srihari
cattle thieves, 5 held HELEN VASANTH DOB: 28.08.1939 DOD: 25.11.2012
W/o Late B. Vasanth
TUMMALA CHITARI PANDU You will be remembered by all of us till
DOB: 08.07.1943 DOD: 25.11.2021 our life time. We pray God for your soul
DOD: 24-11-2022 Retd. District Treasury Officer (R.R. Dist.)
Funeral Service will be held at to rest in peace.
Deeply Remembered by:
Centenary Methodist Church Chapel AMMA WE LOVE YOU & MISS YOU
Road at 12:00 Noon on 25-11-2022 and Wife, Sons, Daughter, Son-in-law, Inserted by: Son - Om Prakash,
SYED OMAR Rachakonda police would gather informa- Funeral at Narayanguda Cemetery at Daughter-in-law & Grand Children. Manju, Ankita, Aditya &
FAROOQ | DC commissioner Mah- tion about the target- 1:00 pm. Ph: 9949314314, 9000300463 Family Members, Aditya Traders.
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24 esh Bhagwat, and ed area and then steal (B/2223/D00083)
after reviewing the cattle at night.
The Nacharam police CCTV footage, they The accused were BIRTHDAY REMEMBRANCE
The Righteous shall be in everlasting
arrested five people discovered cattle bei- repeat offenders who Remembrance. (Ps: 112:6)
involved in cattle the- ng transported to a typically operated at
fts and seized a Tata slaughterhouse in a night when people
Winger vehicle, eight vehicle bearing the were fast asleep, lift-
mobile phones, and registration number ing cattle tied outside
six knives from their AP 22 Y 6271. The homes and transport-
possession. crime team was able ing them in the
The case came to to locate the slaugh- Winger vehicle.
light when Mogulla terhouse in Banjara After transporting
Venkat Reddy filed a Hills by tracking the the cattle to Imran Na-
complaint on Nove- vehicle. The accused gar in Banjara Hills,
mber 15 with Nachar- were identified as Md the accused slaugh-
am police claiming Ayub alias Bada Ayub, tered them and sold
that his five cows had Md Ayub Qureshi, Md. the meat to meat sell- Late: E. CATHERINE
been stolen. Rafiq, Md Saddam ers claiming to be W/o Vincent Joseph
We miss you and we Love you, but we
The Nacharam Qureshi, and Md. mutton dealers who believe you are in better place, we carry
police formed a spe- Baba. purchased meat from your memories in our Hearts.
Inserted by: NOAH’S FAMILY
cial team under the Before committing the Jiyaguda slaugh-
direction of the crime, the accused terhouse. (S/2223/D00897)
cmyk cmyk

DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022 pg 5

 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
EVENTS
TODAY
TODAY
Govt ignored warnings, say forest officials
INTACH India Heritage Quiz -
Forest officials fault TS govt for failing to take note of potential clashes between officials and encroachers
Telangana State Round 2022 BALU PULIPAKA | DC
Date: November 25
Venue: Lecture Hall, Salar
Jung Museum
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
The Telangana state gov-
ernment, facing the ire of
the state forest department
Elecrama - Powering the officials and their families
following the brutal mur-
future of energy der of forest range officer
Date: November 25 Ch. Srinivasa Rao in
Venue: Le Meridien, Bhadradri-Kothagudem
Gachibowli district on Monday, has
been sitting on a warning
issued four years ago by
25 years of Vasundhara the forest department that
unchecked encroachments
Date: November 25 of forest land in the
Venue: Vasundhara Diamond absence of a clear policy
Roof, Jubilee Hills directive from the govern-
ment on how to deal with
the issue, will result in
Cake Mixing Ceremony conflict between the
Date: November 25 encroachers and the
Venue: Almond House, department officials.
The forest department
Kukatpally warned that the govern-
ment “would be put to face
Inauguration of Moto Vault the violent public reac-
tion/assault if any attempt
Date: November 25 is made to arrest the
Venue: Plot no. 271, Kavuri encroachment”.
Hills The department also
informed the state govern-
ment in July 2018 that for
Blenders Pride Glassware three years prior to 2018,
Fashion Tour MLAs, MPs, and ministers,
Date: November 25 including minister for
environment, forests, sci-
Venue: Boulder Hills Gold ence, and technology A.
and Country Club Indrakaran Reddy, had
stated that anyone who
UPCOMING EVENTS encroached on forest land
prior to Telangana’s for-
Haj Operations 2022 - mation would not be evict-
Felicitation ceremony ed. The “legal obligation of
Date: November 26 forest officials is not only
to stop encroachments of
Venue: Hotel Park forest land, but also to
Continental evict encroachers” and
prosecute such individuals
Dhuli Kanya Dhushala play in court under forest and
wildlife protection laws,
Date: November 27 the department informed
Venue: Rangbhoomi the government.
Spaces, Gachibowli This, and much more,
was contained in a four-
Parties asked to refrain from Podu land row: Govt,
land regularisation promises forest dept rift widens
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Officials of the Telangana
state forest department on
Wednesday put all political
parties on notice declaring
that it will no longer be
acceptable to them if any
party makes promises on
regularization of forest
e n c ro a ch m e n t s.
Representatives of differ-
ent forest officers’ associa-
tions, in a meeting with
Principal Chief
Conservator of Forests
(Head of Forest Force)
R.M. Dobriyal at Aranya
Bhavan in the city, also
made it clear that clear cut
guidelines and a road map
must be issued by the
PCCF with regard to deal-
ing with RoFR (Reco-
gnition of Forest Rights)
Act. Dobriyal in turn,
assured the representa-
tives that he will take the
associations’ concerns to
the government.
Immediately after the
meeting, he met with DGP
M. Mahendar Reddy and
requested police support
page letter written to the
former special chief secre-
tary of the government,
Environment, Forests,
Science & Technology
Department by former
PCCF (HoFF) P.K Jha on
July 18, 2018. According to
the letter, Indrakaran
Reddy instructed forest
officials during a video
Several tribals attend a gram sabha on podu land issue
in Kamepalli mandal of Khammam district on Thursday.
— DC
for forest staff in the field. the PCCF was asked to
According to a release ensure distribution of
from the forest depart- firearms to Forest Ranger
ment, the DGP assured of Officers and above ranked
police assistance in sensi- staff, evict all
tive areas, and that Gothikoyas from
instructions will be issued Telangana’s forests as they
to implement this assur- are not eligible for any for-
ance. est rights lands, and called
Earlier in the meeting at on the government to
Aranya Bhavan, attended amend the Forest Act of
by representatives of the 1967 to make all forest land
Junior Forest Officers, encroachment instances
Forest Range Officers, as non-bailable offences
State Forest Officers, and with a punishment of 7 to
IFS Officers associations, 10 years.
conference on June 22, 2018 claim. In a damning indict-
not to “harass the villagers ment of the TRS govern-
who have encroached for- ment’s approach to the
est land prior to 2014.” podu land pattas issue, the
According to the RoFR Act, letter went on to point out
only tribals, and those that “on account of public
among them who pos- statements by the Minister
sessed forest land patches of Forests that the forest
prior to December 13, 2005, department will not evict
are eligible for any rights any encroachment taken
under the podu lands place up to June 2014,”
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Clear battle lines are
emerging between the
state government and the
state forest department on
the podu land pattas issue
with the latter making it
clear that it will stick to
the Recognition of Forest
Rights Act’s cut-off date of
December 13, 2005.
Officials said the Act is
very clear, irrespective of
what the government may
claim when it comes to its
promise of providing podu
land pattas to all appli-
cants. The rift has come to
such a pass that on
Wednesday, department
officials skipped a video
meet chaired by the Chief
Secretary, who wanted to
discuss the podu pattas
issue,among other topics.
Meanwhile, it has
emerged that back in 2018
itself, the government
informed the forest depart-
ment that there was no
proposal to regularize any
forest encroachment after
December 13, 2005. In a
other elected representa-
tives created the impres-
sion that “Telangana will
regularise encroachments
up to June 2014.” In his let-
ter, Jha stated that recla-
iming encroached forest
land was a continuous pro-
cess and a legal duty assi-
gned to the department.
The government was also
memo to the principal
chief conservator of
forests on August 28, 2018,
the then special chief sec-
retary (environment and
forests) Ajay Mishra said
“the PCCF (HoFF),
Telangana State, Hyde-
rabad, is informed that
there is no such proposal
to regularize encroach-
ment after 13.12.2005 as per
RoFR Act.” Mishra was
responding to a letter from
PCCF (HoFF) P.K. Jha,
who alerted the govern-
ment on the dangers of
allowing encroachments
and promises of pattas on
July 18, 2018. There was no
further communication
from the government to
the department on this
subject since, multiple
sources in the government
and the department, told
Deccan Chronicle.
Sources said forest offi-
cials had urged the Chief
Secretary on Tuesday, and
again on Wednesday, not to
include the podu pattas
issue on the video confer-
ence agenda but there was
no response to the request.
asked to “issue a firm
statement” that any claims
by public representatives
promising pattas for podu
lands and encouraging for-
est encroachment would be
“dealt with an iron hand.”
The government was told
that “unless a firm stand is
taken and a clear state-
ment is issued, it is feared
Colleges penalised
for overcharging
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
The Telangana admission
and fee regulatory com-
mittee (TAFRC) fined 20
engineering colleges in
Hyderabad and Ranga
Reddy districts `40 lakh to
`7 crore, each, for collect-
ing fees above the amount
prescribed by the regula-
tory body. The body cited
GO 37, issued by the high-
er education department,
which fixed the tuition fee
Bajaj launches new
sporty Pulsar P150
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Bajaj Auto has launched a
newer version of Pulsar
P150 with a modern,
sporty design and re-engi-
neered it to deliver superi-
or performance and
manoeuvrability.
After the 250cc (N250
and F250) and 160cc (N160)
versions, this is Pulsar’s
third offering on the all-
new platform that was
launched in October 2021.
The new design includes
a new aerodynamic 3D
front that sports a dynam-
ic interplay of metalised,
dual colours. The single-
disc variant allows a more
upright stance, while the
twin-disc variant has a
sportier stance and comes
with a split seat. With a
new mono-shock rear sus-
pension, and an underbel-
ly exhaust positioned
near the bike’s centre of
gravity, the design
ensures better balance
and handling. Along with
these upgrades, there is a
10-kg reduction in weight
(for the twin-disc variant),
which means a 11 per cent
increase in the power-to-
weight ratio, thus enhanc-
ing the sporty creds of the
bike even further.
Pulsar P150 is powered
by a new 149.68cc engine,
which gives best-in-class
power and instantaneous
pg 6
FRO’S MURDER:
BANDI PINS
BLAME ON KCR
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Asserting that Chief
Minister K. Chandra-
shekar Rao’s inability to
address the podu land
issue resulted in the grue-
some killing of
Chandrugonda forest
range officer by Gothikoya
tribals of Chattisgarh,
state Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) president
Bandi Sanjay Kumar held
the CM responsible for the
officer’s death and dema-
nded that a case of murder
be registered against him.
Speaking to the media in
Vemulawada, Sanjay
blamed the CM for the ris-
ing tensions among tribals
on his failure to issue pat-
tas despite making an
announcement on the
Assembly floor. “KCR is to
blame for the officer’s
death. He stated on the
floor of the Assembly that
he will grant podu land
pattas and, if necessary,
will meet with officials
from each village to
address the issue.”
that large scale encroach-
ments will occur, as seen in
2008-09.” The letter
referred to this one-year
period when with expecta-
tion of a new state govern-
ment that was to come in,
will give away more forest
land in addition to what
was approved as per the
RoFR Act in 2006.
for 159 private institu-
tions for the 2022-2025
period. The action comes
after students complained
about extra fee collection.
A TAFRC official said
the fine differs from col-
lege to college, depending
on the strength of the col-
lege and the amount by
which they have over-
charged, on a per-student
basis. A fine of about `2
lakh is imposed for every
student who is over-
charged.
Bajaj’s new Pulsar P150.
throttle response.
It delivers a peak power
of 14.5 Ps @ 8500 RPM and
a maximum torque of 13.5
Nm @ 6000 RPM. Most
importantly, 90 per cent of
the torque is available
across the usable RPM
range. It also has a superi-
or gear shift and a damper
for better NVH manage-
ment.
Speaking on the occa-
sion, Rakesh Sharma,
executive director of
Bajaj Auto Ltd., said “Two
decades ago, Pulsar 150
created the genre of
sporty street motorcy-
cling. With the launch of
the all-new Pulsar P150,
we have again raised the
performance bar. The
P150s are a great addition
to the new Pulsar plat-
form, which has already
seen the launch of the
250s and the dual-channel-
ABS-fitted N160. Engin-
eering and design excel-
lence combined with an
intimate knowledge of the
customer have shaped
Pulsar P150, which is sure
to delight its vast cus-
tomer base.”Pulsar P150
is priced at `1,19,757 (ex-
showroom Delhi) and
`1,19,565 (ex-showroom
Kolkata) for twin-disc
variant and `1,16,755 (ex-
showroom New Delhi)
and `1,16,563 (ex-show-
room Kolkata) for single-
disc variant.
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
SHORT
CENTRE OKAYS
TAKES
ROAD PROJECTS
FOR TS, AP
L. VENKAT RAM REDDY | DC
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
The Centre has approved road
projects worth `573.13 crore
for Telangana and Andhra
Pradesh.
In a series of tweets on
Thursday, union minister for
road transport and highways
Nitin Gadkari informed that
widening of existing two-lane
road with paved shoulders
from Hyderabad-
Bhupalapatnam section on
NH-163 in Mulugu district has
been approved at a cost of
`136.22 crore. He said the proj-
ect stretch connects major
tourist places like
Laknavaram lake and Bogatha
waterfalls. The development of
this the stretch will improve
interstate connectivity
between Telangana and
Chhattisgarh.
The minister said Mulugu
district is a Left Wing
Extremism (LWE) affected dis-
trict and the development of
this stretch would help the
government to have control
over LWE activities.
Gadkari said rehabilitation
and upgrading to 2/4 lane with
paved shoulders on NH-167K
including the approaches of
the iconic bridge across river
Krishna in Nagarkurnool dis-
trict in Telangana and Andhra
Pradesh has been approved at
the total cost of `436.91 crore
on EPC mode.
RRR-DISPLACED
FARMERS SEEK
ALTERNATIVE PLOTS
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Land acquisition for
Hyderabad Regional Ring
Road (RRR) project is facing
stiff resistance from farmers
with those from Medak,
Siddipet and Yadadri, among
others, demanding land for
land instead of money. They
contend that the compensation
being offered by the govern-
ment was meagre compared to
the prevailing market rates.
Given the steadfast stance of
farmers, public hearings being
conducted by officials for land
acquisition are ending abrupt-
ly.
The long-pending RRR proj-
ect, which has only been con-
fined to surveys all these years
finally made a headway with
the launch of public hearings
in districts starting from
Medak.
The first public hearing per-
taining to Medak district was
held in Donthi village on
Wednesday while another pub-
lic hearing pertaining to
Siddipet district will be held in
Chief Minister
Chandrashekar Rao’s home
K.
constituency Gajwel on Friday.
The public hearing pertaining
to Yadadri district will be held
in December.
CENTRE REDUCES
TS FRBM TO
`39,000 CRORE
From page 1
The Centre announced a
FRBM limit of `54,000 crore
for Telangana state in the fis-
cal year 2022-23. Following
this, the Telangana state gov-
ernment has prepared the
budget outlay for 2022-23.
Meanwhile, the Centre sud-
denly reduced Telangana's
FRBM limit to `39,000 crore.
As a result, the `15,000 crore
that Telangana was supposed
to receive has been reduced.
Apart from this, financially
strong states are entitled to
avail 0.5% additional fund
mobilisation from the FRBM
limit. The Telangana state,
which is experiencing a robust
economic growth, was denied
a 0.5% additional loan facility
by forcing the state to imple-
ment power reforms that are
anti-agriculture and anti-
farmer, according to a CMO
press release.
The CM had made it clear to
the Centre that Telangana is
willing to bear any hardships,
but will not accept the central
government's power reforms,
which will harm Telangana
farmers and the agriculture
sector. As a result, the state
lost about `6,000 crore. It all
amounts the stoppage of
`21,000 crore (`15,000 crore
reduction in FRBM limit and
`6,000 crore through addition-
al mobilisation), which is a sig-
nificant loss for the state.
In addition, the Centre has
halted the release of `20,000
crore in non-budgetary funds
to the state. According to the
CMO release, Telangana did
not receive nearly `40,000
crore due to the central gov-
ernment’s ill-conceived poli-
cies and decisions made with
complete financial misman-
agement.
Cong. says Dharani portal
ruined the lives of farmers
Slams govt for farmer deaths, launches agitations across the state
MD NIZAMUDDIN AND
NARENDER PULLOOR | DC
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
The Congress on
Thursday launched agita-
tions across the state
against the state govern-
ment’s alleged mishan-
dling of the Dharani por-
tal and subsequent agrari-
an issues causing con-
cerns among the farming
community.
In response to the call
given by the TPCC presi-
dent A. Revanth Reddy,
Congress leaders staged
dharnas in front of man-
dal revenue offices and
raised slogans against
Chief Minister K.
Chandrashekar Rao and
the TRS government.
Demonstrations were
held in Mahbubabad,
Bhadradri-Kothagudem,
Nizamabad, Kamareddy,
Nalgonda, Peddapalli and
Karimnagar, among other
places, highlighting
“unresolved issues” —
loan waiver, crop insur-
RESTORE 26
CASTES IN TS’S
BCs LIST: BJP
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV.24
BJP OBC morcha natio-
nal president K. Laxman
urged for restoring 26
communities that were
deleted from the Backw-
ard Classes (BC) list in
the state.
Accompanied by MLC
P.V.N. Madhav, the pa-
rty’s Andhra Pradesh
delegation and caste eld-
ers, the Rajya Sabha me-
mber submitted a memo-
randum to Governor
Tamilsai Soundararajan
here on Thursday.
Laxman said that the
most backward classes
from various parts of
the undivided Andhra
Pradesh, especially from
Srikakulam and Vizia-
nagaram districts, had
settled in Hyderabad se-
veral decades back.
However, after the for-
mation of Telangana
they were removed from
the BCs list.
He said that many of
them were aborigine
tribes, denotified tribes
and landless poor.
SC COLLEGIUM
GIVES LIST TO
CENTRE
From page 1
The Supreme Court col-
legium forwarded its
resolution to the Union
government, to get an
approval from the
President of India.
Around 45 days ago,
sources had said that
Justice Lalitha
Kanneganto and Justice
Devaraju Nagarjun
would be transferred to
the Calcutta High Court.
However, the collegium
decided on other courts
for the duo on Thursday.
COURT | CHARCHA
Bizman torture claim hearing adjourned to Dec. 12
VUJJINI VAMSHIDHAR |
DC
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
The two-judge bench of
Chief Justice Ujjal Bhu-
yan and Justice C.V.
Bhasker Reddy on Thurs-
day adjourned to Dece-
mber 12 the hearing of a
writ petition seeking the
Enforcement Directorate
to examine allegations of
torture and use of
third-degree methods on
businessman K. Chander.
The petitioner, the head
of Chemphar Ltd, also
challenged Rule 6 of the
Prevention of Money Lau-
ndering Act as unconstitu-
tional.
The office of the petition-
er was affected by the
search and seizure of
property, in furtherance of
a complaint lodged by CBI
under the Prevention of
Corruption Act.
Chander alleged that on
September 16 “he was
given multiple blows and
slaps on his ear, which
Congress leader Mallu Ravi launches party’s campaign against state govt’s ‘failed
policies’ along with supporters in Hyderabad on Thursday.
ance, Raithu Bandhu, the
issue of podu lands — that
were causing hardships to
farmers.
The Congress has been
questioning the involve-
ment of private compa-
nies in handling the
Dharani portal, alleging
that the practice was put-
ting at jeopardy land own-
ership and demanding
Sight to behold
The beautified Jillelaguda Lake with walking tracks was illuminated on Thursday evening.
Use hemp for progress: Experts
RACHEL DAMMALA | DC
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Experts from various
fields hailed hemp as a
magic plant, urging its use
in an array of sectors,
from cosmetics and pet
care to medicinal uses and
making apparel.
Prashansa Shahani, the
founder of Hemis, said
this is no sudden move-
ment and that Ayurveda
got it right centuries ago.
“Unfortunately, the NDPS
(Narcotics, Drugs and
Psychotropic Substances)
Act had blurred it out of
the picture. But when
there's something so bril-
liant and shows effective
results, it is hard to keep it
down and out. The hemp
plant truly is a wonder
plant. You can make up to
60,000 products with
just one plant, not wasting
any part of it,” she
said.
Dermatologist Dr Ravali
Petitioner challenges Rule 6 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act as unconstitutional
resulted in profound hear-
ing loss in his ear” and
also affected the vision in
his right eye. He under-
went treatment at Gandhi
Hospital and his discharge
certificates state a history
of trauma to both ears. He
was also advised to under-
go surgery.
The petitioner alleged
continuous violation of
his fundamental rights.
The rules which provide
for arrest without record-
ing grounds, he said, are
not only in violation of
fundamental rights, but
also in violation of the
Prevention of Money
Laundering Act.
HC STAYS LEVY OF
`22 CR IN
ARBITRATION
A two-judge bench of the
Telangana High Court on
Thursday stayed the levy
of `22 crore on an arbitral
award over a writ petition
filed by Continental
Engineering, in an arbi-
the use of the portal be
ended.
On Monday, a Congress
delegate led by Revanth
represented the issue to
Chief Secretary Somesh
Kumar at his office in BRK
Bhavan.
The Congress also said it
would hold a dharna
across the state on
November 30 along with
Prashansa Shahani
Yalamanchili is all for
hemp being widely used in
the paper and textile
industry for its green
points, given they reduce
the carbon footprint on
the planet.
She said, “It's a renew-
able resource that
requires a fourth of the
water needed by cotton.
Hemp seeds are rich in
essential fatty acids and
high in nutritionally sig-
nificant amino acids, and
protein, while hemp oil
contains less than 10 per
cent saturated fatty acids
and zero trans fats. And
tration between the peti-
tioner and Hyderabad
Growth Corridor
Limited.
In 2019, HGCL suffered
an award of `169 crore and
approximately `115 crore
constituted the levy on
damages.
The controversy in ques-
tion in the present petition
is whether the levy of GST
on damages obtained
through an arbitration
award can be taxed.
HC RESERVES VERDICT ON
REFUSING INTAKE IN
ENGINEERING COURSES
A two-judge bench of the
Telangana High Court
reserved its verdict over a
batch of writ petitions
challenging the action of
the authorities in refusing
increased intake or the
start of new engineering
courses in emerging fields,
such as artificial intelli-
gence and data sciences. It
was argued that the inac-
tion on part of the state
— DC
the “victims” of the
Dharani portal. Further,
the party warned of lay-
ing siege to district collec-
torates on December 5
over the issue.
Speaking at the dharna
camp in Kamareddy man-
dal revenue office, TPCC
political affairs committee
convener Mohammad Ali
Shabbir alleged that the
Dr Ravali Yalamanchili
though thorough research
is needed, hemp has anti-
inflammatory, antioxidant
and anti-ageing proper-
ties, making hemp seed
oils, creams, lotions,
serums, and cleansers cru-
cial in the organic cosmet-
ic industry. Hemp is all
one would want — it is
organic, cruelty-free,
vegan, gluten-free, soy-
free, ecological and sus-
tainable.”
Varun Gupta, the
founder of Hemp
Republic, credited the
internet revolution for
pushing this “green” revo-
LEGAL STORIES
government led to chaos
and there was complete
indifference to changing
requirements in the
field.
S. Niranjan Reddy, senior
counsel, complained that
inaction resulted in a
colourable exercise of law,
pointing out that the limit-
ed role of the government
was related to Section 20 of
the Act in question.
The rejection on the
ground of financial impli-
cation was outside the
purview of the Act and the
social welfare scheme of
fee reimbursement cannot
rule the academic
TRS government was har-
assing tribals on the pre-
text of forest surveys, Har-
itha Haram programme
and over podu lands.
Shabbir Ali said that the
Congress was demanding
the cancellation of the
Dharani portal as it
“ruined the lives of thou-
sands of farmers” due to
the glitches in working. He
also attributed farmer sui-
cides to the portal misfir-
ing.
Discussing the podu land
issue in the context of a
forest official’s murder,
Ali blamed the TRS for
causing an issue. He
appealed to tribal commu-
nities not to get
provoked.
Later in the day,
Congress leaders submit-
ted a memorandum to
MROs on agricultural
issues and the Dharani
portal. Kamareddy DCC
president Kailas Srinivasa
Rao and other senior lead-
ers also participated in the
dharna.
— P. SURENDRA
Varun Gupta
lution but says there's a
long way to go.
“Several states have
legalised farming hemp
and the sale of the seed,
fibre and oil. It is just that
bureaucracy fears misuse.
Many conglomerates have
invested in CBD
(cannabidiol) research,
albeit in Germany and
other countries, because
the farming here is
restricted to being wild
and is yet to enter labs. So,
law and processing are
secondary issues, the
problem today is the lack
of acceptance.”
decision, the counsel
argued.
SAILING CHAMPION
GETS MBBS SEAT
UNDER QUOTA
A two-judge panel of the
Telangana High Court,
comprising Justice
Abhinand Kumar Shavili
and Justice Namavarapu
Rejeswar Rao, on
Thursday directed the
Sailing Federation and
KNR University of Health
Sciences to consider the
participation in sailing
competitions for
admission into
MBBS/BDS courses under
the NCC cadets reserved
quota.
Sanjotha, a 19-year-old
filed a writ plea seeking a
direction to KNR
University of Health
Sciences and National
Cadet Corps to consider
the participation in Nati-
onal Adventure & the petitioners in 1962 and
Sailing Championship,
2021.
HC gives advocate
in poachgate case
arrest immunity
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy
directed the SIT probing
the alleged poaching
attempt on TRS MLAs not
to arrest advocate Pratap
Pogulakonda, who was
issued notices under
Section 41A to appear
before for questioning on
November 25.
Pratap had filed pleas in
the court, challenging the
notices issued to him.
Vinod Kumar Deshpande,
senior counsel appearing
for Pratap, objected to the
notices because Pratap
was not an accused or
suspect, nor was he in
possession of any materi-
al relating to the case.
Further, he argued that
a previous Supreme
Court judgment in
ACB court dismisses
custody of 3 accused
NAVEEN KUMAR | DC
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
The ACB court on Thu-
rsday
Special
dismissed the
Investigation
Team (SIT) appeal for cus-
tody of the three accused
in the MLAs’ poachgate
scandal.
The Moinabad police
filed a petition in court
seeking the custody of
Ramachandra Bharathi,
Kore Nanda Kumar, and
Simhayaji Swamy, who
have been arrested and
held in judicial remand
since October 28 in con-
nection with the alleged
poaching of four TRS
MLAs. The accused who
are currently in judicial
remand will be moving
the court for bail on
Friday.
Meanwhile, the court
has yet to take cognisance
of the SIT’s memo, which
names BJP national gen-
eral secretary B.L. Sant-
hosh, Tushar Velapally,
Dr Jaggu Swamy, and
Karimanagar-based advo-
cate B. Srinivas as
accused in the case. The
SIT has also summoned
YSRC rebel MP Raghu
Ramakrishna Raju to
appear before it on
November 28 and served a
notice on Raju at his resi-
dence in Gachibowli on
Thursday.
According to reports,
the MP recently met with
Cops seek custody
of Nanda Kumar
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
The Banjara Hills police
on Thursday filed a peti-
tion before the Nampally
court seeking a five-day
custody of accused Kore
Nanda Kumar in connec-
tion with the Deccan
Kitchen cheating case.
The court has adjourned
the case to Friday.
Two cases were booked
at Banjara Hills police
station against Nanda
It was observed that the
state government came up
with a policy of reserva-
tions for NCC earlier and
given the same, the court
observed that the petition-
er must be given a seat
based on the reserved NCC
quota under GO Ms
75/2015.
COURT DISPOSES OF
CRIMINAL PETITIONS IN
LAND GRAB CASE
Justice K. Surender of the
Telangana High Court dis-
posed of a batch of crimi-
nal petitions filed to quash
trespass offences concern-
ing assigned lands in
Narsingi village of
Rajendranagar.
The petitions filed by
Manila Srisailam asked
the court to set aside the
charge of trespass against
him and the counsel for
petitioners contended that
the land was assigned to
since then, they have been
cultivating them.
pg 7
‘Arnesh Kumar vs State of
Bihar’ states that a notice
issued under Section 41A
of CrPC should mention
that “a complaint has
been made against the
party, credible informa-
tion against alleged
accused should be there
with the police and rea-
sonable suspicion of cog-
nizable offence against
noticee should be there
with the police.”
Advocate General B.S.
Prasad, opposed the con-
tentions, informing the
court that the SIT had
material, retrieved from
electronic gadgets,
against the petitioner and
that it cannot be divulged
at this stage. “There is
every possibility that the
petitioner will erase cru-
cial data from his cell
phone,” Prasad said.
●THE COURT has yet to
take cognisance of the
SIT’s memo, which names
BJP national general
secretary B.L. Santhosh,
Tushar Velapally, Dr
Jaggu Swamy, and
Karimanagar-based
advocate B. Srinivas as
accused in the case.
● THE SIT has also served
notices on advocate
Prathap Goud and Nanda
Kumar’s wife Chithral-
ekha, who are scheduled
to appear in court on
November 25.
prime accused Bharathi
and Nanda Kumar.
Meanwhile, Srinivas, who
sought a stay of proceed-
ings in the Telangana
High Court, has been su-
mmoned to appear before
the SIT on November 25.
The SIT has also served
notices on advocate
Prathap Goud and Nanda
Kumar’s wife Chithra-
lekha, who are scheduled
to appear in court on
November 25. According
to sources, notices were
also served on Dr Jaggu
Swamy’s brother Manilal
and three of his personal
assistants, Sharath, Pras-
hanth, and Vimal. Prath-
apan, the Chief Security
Officer at Amrita
Hospital, where the doc-
tor worked, has also been
served with a notice.
Kumar for alleged finan-
cial fraud by two different
persons, including a
mobile accessories busi-
nessman, Mitta Sandeep
Kumar and Syed Ayaaz, a
partner in Deccan
Kitchen, which is man-
aged by Nanda Kumar.
Police had booked cases
under sections 406 (crimi-
nal breach of trust),
420(cheating), 506 (crimi-
nal intimidation) of the
IPC and an investigation
was launched.
The respondents, who
are politically influential
persons, are trying to grab
their land and hence, filed
a series of complaints of
trespass against the peti-
tioners.
The counsel further stat-
ed that the petitioners
approached the tahsildar
for a grant of patta to their
land and that the same was
under process.
He stated that the peti-
tioners belong to under-
privileged and economi-
cally backward sections,
and that the respondents
were harassing them by
filing a series of police
complaints.
Kalyan, counsel appear-
ing for the complainant
stated that the question of
possession cannot be
decided by this court in
the present petition.
The judge, after hearing
both sides, directed the
trial court to conduct
trials of all the
pending cases on the same
date.
 EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
pg 8

Subhani

25 NOVEMBER 2022

Centre must help resolve

border flareups in N-E
T
he only positive that seems to emerge from the unfortunate inci-
dent of firing by Assam police in a disputed area along Assam’s
border with Meghalaya last Tuesday is that the chief ministers of
these states have so far refrained from feeding parochial or ethnic
furies. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his Meghalaya
counterpart Conrad Sangma have, in fact, spoken telephonically and then
addressed the media in balanced tones. The Assam leader has sought to set
up an inquiry while the Meghalaya CM has asked for a probe by the CBI
or the NIA — in effect, asking for the good offices of the Centre.
This appears to mark the difference in the approach of the two states. On
the other hand, Mr Sangma’s way has been to blame timber smugglers
and criminal elements who encroached into his state, attracting the atten-
tion of the state police in the disputed area between the West Karbi
Anglong district in Assam and the West Jaintia Hills district of
Meghalaya, leading to deaths of Meghalaya villagers and an Assam forest
guard.
In the Meghalaya villages of the area the deaths seems to have caused
some emotional outrage. Perhaps it is for this reason that the CM of the

Personal data is only ‘half LETTERS

small state had to escalate the discussion on
However, it is not what to do next to the cabinet, unlike Assam.
unlikely that if the The Assam-Meghalaya border differences go
discussion is held on back to the creation of Meghalaya as a full- ELECTION OFFICER
schedule, in the fledged state in 1972, with the latter pressing its
opposition to the provisions of the law that led
The Supreme Court is

protected’ by new data bill

current atmosphere to the carving out of Meghalaya. For that rea- absolutely right in saying
the focus may be son, political conflict is in-built into the situa- the CEC and ECs should be
confined to the tion and this leads to flare-ups from time to people of integrity and be
ritualistic rather time.
At the practical level, the two states had 12
than on points of dispute, six of which have evidently
appointed after following
The difference in the of the Constitution. Data
addressing the been worked out. Where the firing occurred Fiduciaries (authorised proper procedure (Govt’s
quality of citizen ‘yes man’ should not be
substantive earlier this week is among the remaining six in services provided by
user of personal data) must
respect of which talks are ongoing. The Centre
is likely to be concerned that the next round of talks, due later this month, Sanjeev Ahluwalia autonomous regulatory
comply. The fleshed-out
specific provisions for pro-
India’s Election
is not derailed on account of the recent incident. agencies, legislatively tection of a child’s data are Commissioner: SC, DC,
However, it is not unlikely that if the discussion is held on schedule, in also progressive and wel- Nov. 24). We all remember
the current atmosphere the focus may be confined to the ritualistic rather
empowered with come.
than on addressing the substantive. This begs the question whether quasi-judicial powers, But there are important T.N. Seshan who headed
Assam and Meghalaya can eventually sort out their differences amicably and a government misses on citizen-friendly the institution for restoring

W
through mutual accommodation, especially since Meghalaya has ques- hen is a bill
tioned the Assam Reorganisation Act itself that brought the state into only a “half
being. It would seem that the Union home ministry may be called upon to bill”? The
engage in gentle diplomacy in respect of the two states. Mr Sangma heads answer (bor-
the National People’s Party, a BJP ally, while Mr Sarma is a leading BJP rowing from
figure who has helped the saffron party expand its footprint in the coun- Chetan Bhagat’s bestseller
try’s northeast. Union home minister Amit Shah could propose a time- Half Girlfriend) — when it
bound judicial inquiry by a retired Supreme Court judge to ascertain the just tables good intentions,
facts of the recent incident while being aware that the aim was a larger like the draft Digital
one — to bring about wider reconciliation of interests. Personal Data Protection
Bill which has been put in
the public domain by the
India’s emergence from the
shadows of nuclear apar-
theid, pulling India closer to
the “Western alliance”.
This trend deepened, after
2020, to counter the rise of
President Xi Jinping’s as-
sertive China. It helps that
India has strengths in digi-
tal services and consequent-
ly global business opportu-
nities to be exploited. It also
department, steeped in
a culture of secrecy,
remains significant
advanced economies, like
the European Union, which
enforces the European
General Data Protection
Regulation (April 2016), a
best-in-class standard. A
selective approval process
provisions. Most impor-
tantly, oversight is entrust-
ed not to an autonomous
authority, as was proposed
earlier, but to a government
entity — a Data Protection
Board. The difference in the
quality of citizen services
provided by autonomous
regulatory agencies, legisla-
tively empowered with
quasi-judicial powers, with
its integrity. The Election
Commission must regain
the credibility among
people and EVMs.
T. Kailash Ditya
Hyderabad
Late T.N. Seshan made the best
efforts to reform elections by ban-
ning graffiti, loudspeakers and

Is Tharoor a problem for Cong? ministry of electronics and

information technology.
In these lean times, as the
helps that the information
technology ministry is now
helmed by a tech-savvy for-
can also incentivise big, for-
eign corporates to expand
operations in India and root
an explicit mandate to pro-
tect transparency and a
government department,
posters in public places. However,
today’s CECs dance to the tunes of
ruling party and even fix poll dates

T
he discomfiture of the Congress leadership towards Shashi Tharoor robustness of parliamen- mer bureaucrat, Cabinet for India in foreign capitals, steeped in a culture of secre- as per the convenience of their mas-
who contested in the party’s presidential election and made it a tary debate is getting minister Ashwini which is not a bad thing. cy, remains significant. ters. It must be done with the con-
democratic process has permeated from the national level to the squeezed by the decimated Vaishnaw, and a tech-entre- Nevertheless, fleshing out The performance of sensus of ruling and Opposition
state level with the Kerala unit keeping a distance from the third time MP Opposition benches, a low- preneur-turned-politician the criteria for assessment autonomous regulators, parties to ensure free and fair elec-
from there. The party displayed a hostile attitude to Mr Tharoor’s largely ering of the bar for the con- Rajeev Chandrasekhar as would be in the spirit of constituted since the 1990s, tions.
successful tour of the northern part of Kerala where he was received with sultative spirit seems the minister of state. transparency. At present, is admittedly varied. But on Kshirasagara Balaji Rao
enthusiasm by party workers as well as leaders of the constituents of the inevitable. To be fair The bill resonates, with the uncertainty around the transparency and access to Hyderabad
party-led United Democratic Front, including the Muslim League. though, data privacy has the sensible economic method to be adopted for information, they have all
The largest contingent of the Congress in the Lok Sabha comes from
Kerala and hence the party unit in the state has more responsibility than
been debated at length. The
legal driver behind the pro-
imperative of selective glob-
al collaboration. It aban-
notifying countries, con-
trasts starkly with the
raised the bar. Citizens do
have the right to approach WELFARE SCHEMES
others to be realistic about the ground realities. The LDF which was made tection of personal data is dons the earlier, antedilu- “good practice,” helpfully the courts, but the rule-of- The state government launched sev-
to bite the dust in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections the principle of privacy, vian focus on the localisa- transparent manner, in law ecosystem is slow mov- eral welfare schemes like Dalit
The party displayed winning only one of the 20 seats romped home which the Supreme Court tion of data. This is sure to which the section on ing. An additional legisla- Bandhu, 2 BHK houses, etc. There
a hostile attitude to in the elections to the state Assembly held two in the 2017 nine-judge bench cause disquiet within sec- “Obligations of Data tive safeguard dilutes the is resentment that only followers of
Mr Tharoor’s largely years later with 99 out of the 140 seats. And in ruling in the Puttaswamy tions of aspiring, domestic, Fiduciaries” is drafted, arbitrary use of State elected representatives enjoy the
case had elevated to a fun- big business, although pub- with supporting examples power. Not to have this
successful tour of the process, unlike in most other states, the
vote share of the BJP went down by 20 per cent; damental right, indivisible lic opposition will be from real-life situations, to facility is disappointing for
benefit of such schemes. It is the
responsibility of the government to
the northern part of it even lost the single seat it had won in the 2016 from the right to life. This muted. The government help a “Digital Nagrik” citizens and Internet free- ensure that all deserving persons
Kerala where he elections. was adopted in the Justice has done well to recognise understand how the safe- dom activists. get the benefit. The MLAs must
was received with This was a clear indication that secular for- B.N. Srikrishna Committee that India is poised to guards would actually Also worrisome is the realise that they represent all the
Report on 2018, which also become a productive part- work. Big business and the extent to which bare-bones
enthusiasm by party mations with a plan for governance get the sup- ner in friend-shored global global community deserve provisions have been left to
people.
port of the people of Kerala. It is a fact that the appended a draft Data Shaik Khader
workers as well as utterances of the KPCC president whose single Protection Bill. supply chains and a securi- the same courtesy. be fleshed out subsequent- Secunderabad
leaders of the point agenda of attacking the CPI(M)-led Left Sadly, transitioning wor- ty partner to boot. Does this mean that gov- ly, through the “rules”.
UDF constituents Democratic Front and his equivocal approach thy legal principles into law Firewalling Indian person- ernment remains in the dri- Exemptions for govern- Email your letters to
towards the right wing politics have created has proved more difficult. al data is out of place with ver’s seat? Yes, indeed. ment agencies from imple- info@deccanmail.com,
consternation among the traditional vote bank of the party and the UDF. At the heart of the problem this strategy and plays to a China’s experience illus- menting protection safe- editor@deccanmail.com.
Mr Tharoor’s steadfast assertions of his commitment to the Nehruvian is a national conundrum jingoistic Chinese play- trates that unspecified, guards should be minimal
principles of economics and secular politics would naturally be endearing around the kind of State we book, sans its economic and residual sovereign powers and the limits further
to those sections. Mr Tharoor possesses qualities that are sellable among
the aspirational middle class Keralites, too. The options before the
want to be. Historically, the
Indian State has been a con-
business heft.
That this ideological bar-
do not necessarily raise the
country risk profile. The
explained by citing real-life
examples, as done else- 50 YEARS AGO IN
Congress, hence, are obvious: either accommodate Mr Tharoor and make fusing mélange of economic rier has been crossed is to rate at which this risk is where in the bill. Citing
it a win-win situation or attempt to neutralise him in a zero sum game. progressivity with large be applauded. priced depends on the con- only generic criteria like
dollops of regressive, socio- Nevertheless, a sneaking sistency of the conventions sovereignty and integrity,
political overtones. The admiration for Chinese tac- established, going forward, security, friendly relations
track record on affirmative tics persists, like permitting on how these residual pow- with foreign states, mainte- Army chiefs' meet India
DECCAN CHRONICLE
development — women’s only selective access to ers are to be used. nance of public order or for agrees to Pak proposal
KAUSHIK MITTER K. SUDHAKAR empowerment, Dalit, tribal domestic markets. The bill To compensate for such preventing incitement to NEW DELHI, NOV. 24.
Editor Printer & Publisher and backward class benefits includes a bland provision dirigisme, albeit smacking any related cognisable Radio Pakistan reported
— is comparable with many for transfer of personal data of “cheesy” progressivity, offence, is not transparent tonight India's acceptance of
DECCAN CHRONICLE offices are located at: advanced economies. Just outside India to countries the bill doffs its cap at enough. Pakistan's proposal for a meet-
as surely, reforming the or territories notified by the women’s empowerment by Specifying tests or mini- ing of the Chiefs of Army Staff
Hyderabad: 36, Sarojini Devi Road, Secunderabad - 500 003, Ph: 040-27803930-4; Fax : 040-27805256
structures and processes of government on terms and clarifying that the pro- mum metrics, for govern- of the two countries to resolve
Vijayawada: No.C-3 & 4 Patamata, Industrial Estate, Auto Nagar, Vijayawada (A.P.), Ph: 0866-2555284.
Visakhapatnam: Survey No.1/3A Beach Road, Near Kailasagiri Ropeway, Sector-9 MVP Colony, the State still remains a conditions to be specified. nouns “she” and “her,” ment entities to qualify for the difficulties in the delin-
Visakhapatnam - 530 017 (A.P), Ph: 0891-2552333/2552334; Fax: 0891-2755285 work in progress. The assumption here is that used in the bill, refer to all exemption, under the justi- eation of the line of control in
Rajahmundry: Vemagiri, Dhawaleswaram Rd, Rajahmundry, Ph: 0883-2417618/2417208; Telefax: 0883- The bill reflects this countries “friendly” to individuals — an innova- ciable rubric of legality, Jammu and Kashmir.
2417208 conundrum. It straddles India and hopefully having tive salute to “woke” senti- necessity, materiality, and Earlier, Pakistan notified
Anantapur: Thapovan colony, Bangalore By-Pass Road, Anantapur - 515004, Ph: 08554-276903; Fax: two disparate streams of data protection laws, at ments. Another innovation, proportionality are much India that it had agreed to talks
08554-276904 national development — least as robust as India’s, albeit expensive to imple- needed changes for the bill between Army Chief of Staff
Karimnagar: H. No. 1-21-12/1, Cheralabhutkur Road, Mugudhumpur Village, Karimnagar-505186, PH. economic policy mimicking would be thus notified. ment, is the facility afforded to receive a thumbs-up, Gen. Tikka Khan of Pakistan
NO. 9121181123. to a Data Principal (an indi- beyond the plush board-
Nellore: Survey No.527/2, Burranpur Village, Venkatachalam (M), Chemmudugunta Panchayat, Nellore,
the liberal, globalising A veiled process of legisla- and Gen. Sam Manekshaw of
Ph: 0861-2348581/82; Telefax: 0861-2348580 strain, while retaining the tion by subsequent notifica- vidual owning the data) to rooms of big business. India in solving the deadlock
Chennai: SP-3 Developed Plot, Industrial Estate, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032, Ph: 044-22254747/ 48/50/51; skewed domestic balance of tion is bad practice. But it specify her preference for over the line of control in J&K.
Advt Fax: 22254765/22254766/42305325 power, favouring the State provides the government a being serviced in any one of The writer is adviser, Resumed talks could lead to the
Coimbatore: Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited, No. 2/22 Sengalipalayam Road, N.G.G.O Colony Post, versus citizens. In 2007, the bargaining chip to negoti- the eight languages speci- Observer Research withdrawal of troops.
Kurudampalayam village - 641 022 United States curated ate reciprocity with fied in the Eighth Schedule Foundation

I
can claim with a fair degree of confidence that
I won’t be wasting my time on any of the FIFA
World Cup football matches in Qatar. The boy-
cott isn’t related to the venue — it stems from
a broader lack of interest in “the beautiful game”.
I’ve long struggled to understand why a bunch of
men kicking a round object around a playing field
Mahir Ali should inspire such passion and even fanaticism.
Local pride in sporting accomplishments is one
thing, but English, Spanish and Italian clubs
(among others) now boast devotees thousands of
miles away.
entrenched in law, is common pretty much across
the Muslim world; and institutionalised misogyny
is not exclusively a Gulf phenomenon, although
most other practitioners don’t formally descend to
the level of legislated “guardianship” whereby
women are practically considered male property.
At the same time, it would be absurd not to
acknowledge that much of the wrath directed at
Qatar rests on multiple layers of hypocrisy. From
certain points of view, there are absolutely no
problems with Qatar and its al-Thani potentates
as suppliers of natural gas, procurers of Western
Sarkozy.
It is also impossible to ignore the fact that it has
been 12 years since the World Cup was awarded to
a tiny nation with little in the way of footballing
history and even less sports infrastructure.
Almost all of the stadiums hosting the fixtures
have been built from scratch since then. Qatar has
reportedly spent $200 billion on hosting the
tournament.
It’s predecessor host for 2018 was also
announced in 2010 — and Russia was presumably
grateful that much of the subsequent attention
hardly out of the question. A much more problem-
atic individual than any of the Qatari emirs will
likely be Saudi king by then.
In the case of Saudi journalist Jamal
Khashoggi’s murder and slicing-up by official
Saudi agents, Crown Prince Mohammed bin
Salman has predictably been singled out for sov-
ereign immunity by the US. Qatar can justifiably
be accused of other human rights
violations, but has never attempted anything so
egregious.
Qatar was once essentially a Saudi proxy. It

Targeting Qatar: When English team members arriving in Doha

were mobbed by Indian fans, much of the British
press corps initially assumed the cheer squad had
been sponsored by the Qatari authorities. But the
Don’t ignore the enthusiasm turned out to be genuine in this case.
Qatar faced a flurry of free kicks, mostly from
Western institutions, in the run-up to Sunday’s
military hardware, or huge property investors.
Qatar is estimated to be the tenth largest land-
lord in Britain. Its properties extend from iconic
London hotels such as Claridge’s, Connaughts and
the InterContinental Park Lane to landmark
stores such as Harrods, and much more besides —
including part-ownership of that skyline blight
was focused on Qatar. The Russian attitude
towards sexual orientation more or less mirrors
that of the Gulf states, but it didn’t figure much in
eventually moved on, aimed for an independent
foreign policy, and sought to establish itself as a
Middle Eastern mediator, with some success. It
headlines. Certain other Eastern European states, also hosts a crucial US military base, which
Nato and EU members, are equally hostile to
homosexuality, as are
elements of the Republican right wing
substantial
helped to avert a Saudi-Emirati invasion in 2017,
when it was cast out of the Gulf brotherhood.
Things have changed since last year; MBS wit-

hypocrisy behind opening ceremony. Remarkably, the BBC decided

to devote its coverage to probing questions about
labour and LGBTQIA-plus rights in the Gulf emi-
rate, relegating the inaugural spectacle to a
West’s criticisms streaming service.
There are essentially two things to be said about
the criticism that Qatar has faced. Much of it is
valid: labour conditions are a travesty throughout
the Arabian peninsula; homophobia, sometimes
known as the Shard. Any number of British politi-
cians and members of the royal family, including
the new king, are beholden to Qatari largesse.
It’s not just Qatar, of course. If anything, the
UAE and Saudi Arabia are even more adept at
buying access to the highest echelons of Western
power. The 2010 deal to seal the host of the 2022
World Cup may effectively have been finalised at
Elysée Palace under the auspices of Nicolas
in the US.
Beyond that, though, how is it okay to blithely
welcome Qatari investments and sell Doha the lat-
est weaponry, yet to denounce it as an outlier
nessed Qatar becoming the first host nation to lose
an opening match. Mind you, previous hosts have
included Mussolini-ruled Italy (and Argentina
under one of Latin America’s most brutal military
when it stages a football tournament?
‘Sports--washing’ isn’t by any means a Qatari
invention — the Saudis are particularly adept at
juntas. Qatar isn’t so much an outlier as a symp-
tom of the capitalist corruption that pervades the
post-colonial Western order.
it, not least in the golf zone. They will also host a
Winter Oly-mpics, and a future FIFA World Cup is By arrangement with Dawn
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
IN BRIEF
Delhi: Dog attacks
student, owner held
Gurugram: A college student
suffered injuries on her mouth
and hand as a German
Shepherd attacked her here,
police said on Thursday.
Complainant said she was dis-
tributing invitation cards for a
friend’s wedding in her locality
in Narsinghpur village when the
dog, owned by one of her
neighbours, came running out
of the house and bit her — once
on the mouth and thrice on her
left hand. Complainant, said her
mother rescued her and rushed
her to hospital, and after dis-
charge, she filed a police com-
plaint against the dog owner.
“The dog owner did not even
come out of the house for help.
It was my mother who came
running and rescued me,” she
said in her complaint. She said
the dog had earlier bitten her
father, too. Officials at Sector 37
police station here said owner
of the dog was booked under
Section 289 (negligent conduct
with respect to animal) of the
Indian Penal Code on Wed-
nesday. “We are investigating
the matter. The student is out of
danger. An FIR has been regis-
tered and action will be taken
according to law,” police said.
UDDHAV WARNS
BANDH IF GOV.
NOT RECALLED
DC CORRESPONDENT
MUMBAI, NOV. 24
Calling Governor Bhagat
Singh Koshyari as ‘a parcel
sent via Amazon,’ Shiv Sena
chief Uddhav Thackeray has
threatened to hold a blast on November 19,
‘Maharashtra Bandh’ if the
former was not recalled by the
Centre at the earliest. NCP
chief Sharad Pawar also said
that Koshyari has “crossed all
limits”.
“This Governor is a parcel
sent via Amazon to
Maharashtra by the central
government. If he is not
recalled within three-four
days, a statewide protest or
bandh will be organised,”
Thackeray said on Thursday.
“I appeal to all political par-
ties to come together for the
same. Everyone who loves the
state must come together to
teach a lesson to traitors of
Maharashtra and show them
what happens if someone ins-
ults us. We appeal even those
in the BJP, who love
Maharashtra, to join us,” he
added.
Koshyari had said last week
during an event in
Aurangabad that Chhatrapati
Shivaji Maharaj was an icon of
“old era”.
His statement kicked up a
political storm in
Maharashtra with Opposition
parties slamming the
Governor for ‘insulting the
Maratha king.’ Even the lead-
ers from Eknath Shinde-led
Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena and
the BJP also slammed the
Governor for his remarks.
Lashing out at the Governor,
Thackeray said, “We would
request the central govern-
ment to take away the sample
that you have sent here. If
required put him in old age
home, we don’t need him in the
state.”
The central government
decides who will be the
Governor. But people who
won’t be even allowed in old
age homes are made
Governors now, Thackeray
said.
2nd stealth-guided missile
destroyer delivered to Navy
PAWAN BALI | DC
NEW DELHI, NOV. 24
Mormugao, second indige-
nous guided missile
destroyer under project
P15B, was handed over to
the Indian Navy on
Thursday to add to coun-
try’s maritime prowess.
The warship built by
Mazagon Dock
Shipbuilders Limited
(MDL), will now be soon
commissioned into the
navy.
The first war ship under
P15B, ‘INS Visakhapatnam’
has already been commis-
sioned into the Indian Navy
in November last year.
The ship is equipped to
fight under Nuclear,
Biological and Chemical
(NBC) warfare conditions.
The ship is armed with
BrahMos surface-to-surface
missiles, Medium Range
Surface-to-Air Missiles,
Indigenous Torpedo Tube
Launchers, Anti-
Submarine Indigenous
Rocket Launchers and
76mm Super Rapid Gun
Mount.
FIFA ‘fever’
Children play football inside a mosquito net covered playground, created to spread awareness against dengue
and other mosquito-borne diseases during ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022, in Kolkata on Thursday.
M’luru blast: Islamic
outfit claims onus
Little-known IRC says target was a temple; cops verifying claims
Bengaluru, Nov. 24: A the fruits of your oppres-
little-known outfit sion soon.’ We have you
Islamic Resistance in our sights and it is just
Council (IRC) has report- a matter of what and not
edly claimed responsibil- if we will get to you,” it
ity for the Mangaluru said.
Alok Kumar said the
saying one of its police are verifying the
“Mujahid brother genuineness of the
Mohammed Shariq' organisation.
attempted to attack a “We the Islamic
Hindutva Temple in Resistance Council (IRC)
Kadri.” would like to convey the
The outfit also warned message: One of our
Additional Director Mujahid brother
General of Police (Law Mohammed Shariq
and Order) Alok Kumar. attempted to attack the
“As for those rejoicing Hindutva Temple in
at the arrest of the broth- Kadri (in Dakshina
er, especially the likes of Kannada district), a bas-
Alok Kumar, we say tion of the Saffron ter-
‘Your joy will be short- rorists in Mangaluru,”
lived and you shall reap read the message, which
Threat to scribes: Cops
raids 7 locations in J&K
YUSUF JAMEEL | DC who lives abroad and
SRINAGAR, NOV. 24 Ishfaq Reshi.
The police said the
The Jammu and searches were carried
Kashmir police’s spe- out while acting on the
cial teams on Thursday “vital leads” obtained
detained a few persons during the November 19
for “examination” dur- raids. These raids were
ing raids on seven more carried out at a dozen
locations across the locations across the Va-
Valley in connection lley including the ho-
with the ongoing inves- mes of, at least, half a
tigation into the recent dozen journalists, a
online threat to 21 lawyer and alleged mili-
media persons. tants and separatist
Among those whose activists two of whom
houses and offices were have been declared fugi-
thoroughly searched tives by police after
during these raids incl- their fleeing out of the
ude owner and editor of country.
English daily Kashmir The police sources
reader Haji Hayat said that those whose
Mohammad Bhat, the houses were searched
newspaper’s former edi- earlier are being sum-
tor Showkat A. Motta, moned every day for
lawyer Khaksar Nadeeb “examination” to
Adnan, freelance jour- Srinagar’s Sherghari
nalist Saqib Mugloo police station where a
and two others Asif Dar case under the relevant
Navy officials pose on the deck of Y 12705 (Mormugao),
the second ship of Project 15B stealth guided missile
destroyers being built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders
Limited (MDL), in Mormugao. — PTI
The contract for four The keel of Mormugao
ships of Project 15B was was laid in June 2015 and
signed on 28 January 2011. the ship was launched on
This Project is a follow-on September 2016. The design
of the Kolkata class (Proj- has largely maintained the
ect 15A) destroyers comm- hull form, propulsion
issioned in the last decade. machinery, many platform
The four ships of the equipment and major
Project are christened after weapons and sensors as the
major cities from all four Kolkata class to benefit
corners of the country: Vis- from series production.
akhapatnam, Mormugao, The ship is 163 metres
Imphal and Surat. The long and 17 metres wide,
overall indigenous content displaces 7,400 tonnes when
of the project is around fully loaded and has a max-
75 per cent. imum speed of 30 knots.
has gone viral in social
media.
“Although this opera-
tion didn’t meet its objec-
tives, we still consider it
a success from a trade-
craft and tactics point of
view as the brother in
spite of being wanted
and being pursued by the
state and central intelli-
gence agencies, was not
only able to successfully
evade them but even pre-
pared and mounted an
attack,” it said.
For the ‘premature
explosion’ which led to
Shariq’s arrest, the outfit
said such possibilities
exist with ‘all military
and subversive opera-
tions.’
provisions of the Unla-
wful Activities (Preven-
tion) Act, 1967 and the
Indian Penal Code was
registered against “ter-
ror handlers, active ter-
rorists and terrorist as-
sociates of proscribed
terror outfit Lashkar-e-
Taiba and its offshoot
The Resistance Front
for online publication
and dissemination of
direct threat letters to
journalists and report-
ers based in Kashmir”
earlier this month. In
the threatening blog
posts, these media per-
sons were accused of
working for the securi-
ty agencies.
The police in a state-
ment on Thursday said,
“Some of the above me-
ntioned suspects (who-
se premises were sear-
ched during the day)
have been detained.”
pg 9
AAP LEADER
WITHDRAWS
PLEA ON VIDEOS
DC CORRESPONDENT
with agency inputs
NEW DELHI, NOV. 24
Jailed Delhi minister
Satyendar Jain on
Thursday withdrew the
application filed in a
Delhi court which had
sought directions to
restrain media to air
any CCTV clip of him
from the Tihar jail cell.
The Aam Aadmi
Party leader said he
will move the Delhi
High Court instead.On
Wednesday, Jain’s
counsel Rahul Mehra
while filing the petition
had submitted that
despite a hearing in the
matter, another footage
was leaked Tuesday
morning.
“They have taken a
particular day and par-
ticular time and shown
— PTI some major thing is
going on in jail. Please
test everything. We are
not running away.
Today one release,
tomorrow another
release”, Mehra had
argued in court.
Meanwhile, Jain told
a Delhi court that
“we’re not a country
where we are told how
to follow a religion”.
Jain made the submis-
sion during the hearing
of his application, in
which he has alleged
On the attack, the IRC that the Tihar jail
said they are forced into administration had
this war and the path of stopped giving him the
resistance by the fascists food allowed “as per
and “We are only law” during his reli-
responding to the worst gious fast.
forms of state terror- He was arrested in a
ism.” money laundering case
“We are only retaliating by the Enforcement
because an open war has Directorate (ED) based
been declared upon us, on a CBI FIR lodged
because mob lynching against him in 2017
has become a norm, bec- under the Prevention of
ause oppressive laws and Corruption Act.
legislations are passed to “At least right now
suppress us and interfere we’re not a country
in our religion, because where we are told how
our innocents are lan- to follow a religion.
guishing in prisons, State is nobody to tell
because public spaces how to follow. My reli-
today reverberate with gion is my religion,”
call of our genocide,” the Jain’s counsel Rahul
outfit added. — PTI Mehra told the court.
JALLIKATTU IN TN, BULLOCK CART RACE
IN MAHA AGAINST PCA ACT, SC TOLD
PARMOD KUMAR | DC
NEW DELHI, NOV. 24
The Animal Welfare Boa-
ha Bose, Justice Hrishike-
sh Roy and Justice C.T.
Ravikumar hearing a 2018
reference whether the
rd of India on Thursday Jallikattu, bull race and
told the Supreme Court th- bullock cart race descr-
at Tamil Nadu law permit- ibed as traditional sports
ting bull-taming sports of rooted in culture of two st-
Jallikattu and Maharasht- ates is protected by the Ar-
ra law permitting bull ticle 29 (1) of the
race and bullock cart race Constitution.
is in the teeth of Central Appealing for the Board,
law — the Prevention of senior advocate Sidharth
Cruelty to Animals (PCA Luthra told SC that amen-
Act). dment to the laws of two
The board said this to a states rooted in the entry
five-judge constitution be- 17 of concurrent is not for
nch comprising Justice prevention of cruelty to
K.M. Joseph, Justice Ajay animals but a “perpetuat-
Rastogi, Justice Anirudd- ion” of cruelty to animals.
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
SHORT
INT’L BASKETBALL
TAKES
PLAYER ENDS LIFE
BY SUICIDE IN MP
DC CORRESPONDENT
BHOPAL, NOV. 24
International basketball play-
er Prathana Salve allegedly
died by suicide in Betul of
Madhya Pradesh, police said
on Thursday.
Prathana, 17, who represent-
ed India in the FIBA Asian
Under-16 Basketball
Championship held at Oman
in Jordan on June 24-30 this
year, allegedly jumped from
the Kosmi dam late on
Wednesday evening, police
suspected.
Her body was recovered from
the reservoir near the dam on
Thursday morning, investigat-
ing officer Avdesh Sharma
said.
Police suspected that
Prathana might have taken the
extreme step after being
unable to reconcile to the trag-
ic death of her brother in a fire
mishap in Indore seven
months ago.
However, the cause of
her death could be ascert-
ained after the probe, Sharma
said.
According to the police,
Prathana left her home on
Wednesday evening on the pre-
text of practicing.
MEHRAULI CASE:
POLICE RECOVER
FIVE KNIFES
BHASKAR HARI
SHARMA | DC
NEW DELHI, NOV. 24
The officers probing Shraddha
Walkar murder case, during
their visit to Aftab Amin
Poonewalla’s rented house in
Chattarpur, have recovered
five sharp-edge knives. The
Delhi police teams had visited
and conducted searches at the
house in South Delhi’s
Chattarpur area where Aftab
used to live with his live-in
partner, Shraddha Walkar.
“Five knives have been
recovered during the searches
on Wednesday but it is not
clear if they were used to dis-
member the victim. The
knives have been sent to the
FSL for examination,” said
sources.
Meanwhile, a polygraph test
of Aftab is going on at FSL
Rohini. “The polygraph test of
accused Aftab Amin in the
Mehrauli case under Sections
365, 302, and 201 of the IPC has
begun,” said special commis-
sioner Sagar Preet Hooda.
Official sources said that a
pre-medical session to gain
some preliminary informa-
tion, which will be later used
to develop diagnostic ques-
tions, as well as a scientific
session was conducted on
Aftab at the FSL office on
Tuesday evening.
The sources said that a poly-
graph and a narco test is
imperative in the murder case
as Aftab, during the interroga-
tion, has been deceptive in
nature and tried to mislead the
interrogators.
PAK DRONE DROPS
EXPLOSIVES, CASH
IN JAMMU AREA
DC CORRESPONDENT
SRINAGAR, NOV. 24
The Jammu and Kashmir
police on Thursday recovered
a consignment of improvised
explosives devices, pistols and
cash of `5 lakh soon after it
was airdropped by a Pakistani
drone in frontier Samba dis-
trict.
Samba’s SSP Abhishek
Mahajan told reporters that
local people informed the
police about the dropping of
the consignment in a field
near a place called Chhani
Manhasan situated between
the townships of Ramgarh and
Vijaypur of the district and
about five-six kilometres away
from the International Border
(IB) at around 6.15 am.
“On receiving this informa-
tion, a police team rushed to
the area and soon a bomb dis-
posal squad was also called
which recovered two unassem-
bled IEDs with detonators, two
Chinese pistols with four mag-
azines and 60 rounds and
`5 lakh of 500 denomination,”
the officer said, adding that
the consignment had been
placed in a wooden box with a
steel base.
The SSP said, “We have
taken up the investigation. But
on the face of it, the consign-
ment was airdropped by a
drone coming from across the
border. It surely was meant for
terrorists who could have used
the IEDs and pistols to cause
bloodshed, but their evil
designs have been foiled and
we are grateful to the people of
the area for reporting the mat-
ter to the police on time.” He
added that the locals and the
police team will be rewarded.
SC questions ‘lightning speed’
appointment of Goel as EC
Reserves judgment on pleas seeking panel for transparent selection of EC
PARMOD KUMAR | DC
NEW DELHI, NOV. 24
The Supreme Court on
Thursday grilled the
Centre over the “lightning
speed” with which Arun
Goel was appointed as an
election commissioner,
with Union law minister
Kiren Rijiju empanelling
four names from DoPT’s
database of bureaucrats,
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi picking Goel, his
request for VRS being
accepted by the govern-
ment and all this happen-
ing just in one day.
Reserving judgment on a
number of pleas seeking
to put in place a body for a
fair and transparent selec-
tion of election commis-
sioners, a five-judge Const-
itution Bench comprising
Justices K.M. Joseph, Ajay
Rastogi, Aniruddha Bose,
Hrishikesh Roy and C.T.
Ravikumar said: “What
was that prevailed upon
the government to initiate
the process in a manner
that everything has to be
done within a shortest
possible time and super-
fast?” The Court’s concern
over the incredible speed
with which Goel’s appoint-
ment as election commis-
sioner had moved found
expression with the bench
observing: “Same day
process, same day clear-
MP: Priyanka joins Rahul’s yatra
RABINDRA NATH
CHOUDHURY | DC
BHOPAL, NOV. 24
AICC general secretary
Priyanka Gandhi for the
first time on Thursday
joined Rahul’s Bharat
Jodo Yatra at Borgaon in
Khandwa district in
Madhya Pradesh.
She along with her hus-
band Robert Vadra and
son Raihan took part in
the yatra on the second
day of its MP leg. Senior
Congress leader Sachin
Pilot also joined Gandhi’s
yatra when it resumed
from Borgaon at around 6
am.
Later, addressing a road-
side meeting in Khandwa,
the birthplace of tribal
freedom fighter Tantia
Mama, Gandhi said that
the adivasis were the orig-
inal inhabitants of India.
He said that Tantia
Mama was not only a
great leader but also an
ideology and a mindset.
His ideology has attracted
him to come to the place.
He exhorted the tribals
to fight for their rights on
jal, jungle and zameen
(water, forest and land).
He slammed BJP for
describing tribals as ‘van-
vasi’ and called upon the
party to apologise to the
adivasis for calling them
‘vanvasi’.
INDIA UPSET AT
‘UNNECESSARY’
REFERENCE TO
MODI BY U.S.
New Delhi, Nov. 24:
India is upset at a refer-
ence to Prime Minister
Narendra Modi by a US
State Department offi-
cial while defending the
immunity it had extend-
ed to Saudi Arabia’s
crown prince Mohamm-
ed bin Salman, who is
facing allegations of
killing journalist Jamal
Khashoggi.
“Frankly, I fail to und-
erstand how the com-
ment on Prime Minister
Modi was either rele-
vant, necessary or con-
textual,” External Affai-
rs Ministry spokesper-
son Arindam Bagchi
said responding to ques-
tions about a US official
referring to Modi while
explaining the reasons
for granting immunity
to the Saudi ruler.
“Our two countries
enjoy a very special rela-
tionship which is grow-
ing from strength to
strength and we look for-
ward to working with
the US to further deepen
it,” he said, referring to
the bilateral ties betw-
een India and the US.
Bagchi also said repo-
rts about the Modi’s visit
to the US in December
were incorrect. — PTI
WHY THE HURRY?
● SC QUESTIONS the “haste”,
says Arun Goel’s file travelled at
“lightning speed” within depart-
ments in 24-hours.
● THE COURT asks how the
Union law minister shortlisted a
panel of four names that was rec-
ommended to the Prime Minister
for appointment as election com-
missioner when none of them
would have completed the stipu-
lated six-year tenure in office.
ance, same day applica-
tion, same day acceptance,
and same day appoint-
ment. Attorney-General,
file has not travelled 24
hours as if lightning speed
is there. What kind of
evaluation is there?”
The Court said this, not-
ing that the position was
lying vacant since May 15
this year and the slot was
filled up even as the
Constitution Bench was
seized of the matter relat-
ing to the selection/appo-
intment of the chief elec-
tion commissioner and the
election commissioners.
“According to your first
page, this vacancy has
been since May 15. What
was it that weighed on the
government that every-
thing must be done super-
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with his sister and the party’s general secretary
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and her husband Robert Vadra during the Bharat Jodo Yatra
in Khandwa of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday.
Gehlot: Pilot is a ‘gaddar’
ASHHAR KHAN | DC
NEW DELHI, NOV. 24
The knives are out in the
Rajasthan Congress with
Chief Minister Ashok
Gehlot calling his chal-
lenger Sachin Pilot a gad-
dar, or traitor. Infighting
between Gehlot and Pilot
over the post of chief min-
ister has been going on for
a long time now. This
issue has triggered two
Akhilesh likely to contest ’24
LS elections from Kannauj
Kannauj (UP), Nov. 24:
Samajwadi Party presi-
dent Akhilesh Yadav on
Thursday indicated that
he may contest the 2024
parliamentary elections
from Kannauj, which had
elected him as an MP for
the first time.
“It is our job to con-
test...What will I do sitting
idle? I will contest from
where I had contested the
first election,” he told
reporters here when
LEGAL | PAPERS
UAE bars people with single name on passport
New Delhi, Nov. 24:
Individuals having only
single name as surname or
given name in their pass-
ports will not be allowed to
enter the United Arab
Emirates (UAE) with new
guidelines coming into
force.
“Any passport holder
with a single name (word)
either in surname or given
name will not be accepted
by UAE immigration and
the passenger will be
considered as
Inadmissible Deportee
(INAD),” according to a
was “quid pro quo”. Just-
ice Rastogi immediately
retorted: “We are not say-
What kind of evalua- ing that at all. We are on
tion is this? Although, the procedure of appoint-
we are not questioning the ment.”
merits of Arun Goel’s cre- The Attorney-General’s
dentials but the process. statement that Goel was
the only senior bureaucrat
— Supreme Court Bench on who upon appointment as
Goel’s appointment as EC election commissioner
will serve the poll panel
for five years was contest-
● ATTORNEY General R. Venkataramani vehe- ed both by advocate
mently urged the bench not to make observa- Prashant Bhushan and
tions without looking into the entire issue of senior advocate Gopal
the appointment process. Sankaranarayanan.
Bhushan referred to the
list given to the Court by
fast in November,” Justice duties and will have a additional solicitor-gener-
Rastogi asked the attor- longer tenure of five years al Balbir Singh, saying
ney-general. in the poll panel. He said that there were several
Goel took voluntary that there was no disquiet- bureaucrats of the senior-
retirement on November ing feature in the appoint- ity of Goel who could have
18 and was appointed elec- ment of Goel as EC. filled the slot with a tenure
tion commissioner on “On November 18… We of five and a half years —
November 19 and took find the file (relating to longer than that of Goel.
charge on November 21. Arun Goel’s appointment) Sankaranarayanan said
The bench repeatedly moved the same day. Then that all the top bureau-
questioned Attorney-Gen- the Prime Minister says crats in the states matched
eral R. Venkataramani on considering experience, Goel’s credentials and
the criteria that law minis- sustainability, I recomme- were not even considered.
ter Kiren Rijiju adopted nd the name. It was done On the Attorney-General
for preparing a panel of in a day,” Justice Joseph telling the Court that one
four names from the data-
base of bureaucrats main-
said in a poser pointed to
the attorney-general.
of the criteria that weig-
hed in favour of Goel was
tained by the department
of personnel and training
Finding that the court
did not appear persuaded
he would serve the poll pa-
nel for a longer duration,
(DoPT). The Court appea- by his replies to the crite- Bhushan told the Court
red not satisfied with the ria that was followed by that in past years many
response of the attorney- the law minister in prepar- election commissioners
general that Goel was a ing a panel of four names, were appointed who had a
senior bureaucrat with the attorney-general asked tenure of two to four
exposure to poll-related if the court felt that there years.
PARAMILITARY
TO BE DEPLOYED
AT MEGHALAYA,
ASSAM BORDER
MANOJ ANAND | DC
GUWAHATI, NOV. 24
With the Central govern-
ment deciding to deploy
neutral paramilitary
forces along the disputed
territory to defuse the
tension, the situation
along
Meghalaya
the Assam-
border,
where six people were
killed in police firing on
Tuesday, remained tense
but peaceful on
Thursday.
The vehicular move-
ment between the two
— PTI states was restricted as
there were reports of
arson and stone-pelting
on vehicles with Assam
registration numbers.
Though Meghalaya
police escorted some of
political crises in four experienced political lead- the vehicles carrying
years of the Congress gov- er. Whatever differences essentials and perish-
ernment in the state. he has expressed with his able supplies, the securi-
Gehlot’s sharpest attack, younger colleague Sachin ty forces did not allow
however, has now come in Pilot will be resolved in a the movement of private
an interview to a news manner that strengthens vehicles even on
channel. the Congress. Right now it Thursday.
In a damage-control bid, is the duty of each and On Thursday, Megh-
Congress communicatio- every Congressman and alaya Chief Minister
ns chief Jairam Ramesh
has said that the Rajasth-
Congresswoman to make
the already hugely succes-
Conrad Sangma led a
Cabinet delegation to
an situation will be reso-
lved soon. He said: “Ashok
ful Bharat Jodo Yatra even
more impactful in the
New Delhi to meet
Union home minister
Gehlot is a senior and North Indian states.” Amit Shah and discuss
the tense border situa-
tion between Assam and
the hill state following
clashes in Mukroh vil-
lage. He also asked for a
probe by the CBI or NIA
into the violence.
Sangma and his
Cabinet have also decid-
ed to approach the
asked if he will contest
from Kannauj in 2024.
leader and Kannauj MP
Subrat Pathak said, “He is
National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC),
The former Uttar welcome to contest from seeking justice for the
Pradesh chief minister, here (Kannauj). But he people of the state.
however, said the party won’t win. In the 2024 The meeting with the
would take a decision at polls, BJP will win all 80 Union home minister
the right time. seats in UP.” comes a day after the
Akhilesh Yadav was “SP has a challenge to Assam Cabinet also
here to attend a private fight for its existence after decided that it will hand
function organised by the demise of ‘Netaji’ over the probe into the
party leader Sunil Kumar (Mulayam Singh Yadav) violence to the CBI and
Gupta alias Munna and (Akhilesh) Yadav’s asked the state police to
Bhaiya. statement can be seen in show restraint while
Reacting to Akhilesh this context. dealing with civilian dis-
Yadav’s statement, BJP — PTI turbances.
With new guidelines coming into force, such people will be inadmissible
According to the circu-
Any passport holder with a single name (word)
either in surname or given name will not be
lar, dated November 21,
such passengers will not
accepted by UAE immigration and the passenger will
be considered as INAD, according to a circular issued
be issued a visa and in
case, the visa was issued
by Air India and Air India Express. previously, then he or she
will be considered as
PASSENGERS with single name will not be Inadmissible Deportee by
issued a visa and in case, the visa was the immigration authori-
issued previously, then he or she will be ties.
considered as Inadmissible Deportee by The guidelines have
come into force.
the immigration authorities. The United Arab
Emirates is a constitution-
circular issued by Air Arab Emirates (UAE) al federation of seven emi-
India and Air India guidelines. rates, including Dubai.
Express, mentioning INAD refers to Abu Dhabi city is the capi-
about the latest United Inadmissible Deportee. tal of the UAE. — PTI
167 candidates in
fray for Guj. polls
face criminal cases
Ahmedabad, Nov. 24: As
many as 167 candidates,
of the total 788 contesting
89 seats in the first phase
of Gujarat Assembly elec-
tion, are facing criminal
cases, with the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) top-
ping the list with 32 such
nominees, followed by the
Congress and the
Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP), a report by the
Association for
Democratic Reforms
(ADR) said on Thursday.
Of the 167 candidates
with criminal cases, 100
are facing serious
charges like murder or
rape, it said. With this, 21
per cent of the total can-
didates have criminal
cases against them, while
13 per cent are facing seri-
ous charges.
The AAP, which is con-
testing 88 seats out of the
total 89, tops the list
among major political
parties in the fray with 36
per cent of its candidates
having criminal cases. 30
per cent of its candidates
are facing serious cases,
such as murder, rape,
assault, kidnapping,
among others, the ADR
said in its report. The
number of candidates
having criminal cases
fielded by the AAP is 32.
Interestingly, the AAP
has been campaigning on
the plank of providing a
clean and corruption-free
Union home minister Amit Shah with Assam Chief
Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during 400th birth
anniversary celebrations of Ahom Commander Lachit
Borphukan, in New Delhi on Thursday.
BJP committed to
bring UCC under
due law, says Shah
DC CORRESPONDENT
with agency inputs
NEW DELHI, NOV. 24
Union home minister
Amit Shah on Thursday
said that the BJP is com-
mitted to bringing the
Uniform Civil Code (UCC)
in the country, but only
after following all demo-
cratic processes and dis-
cussions on it.
Addressing an event in
the national capital, Shah
expressed confidence in
the BJP’s victory in the
Himachal Pradesh and
Gujarat Assembly elec-
tions, as well as the Delhi
municipal elections. The
home minister credited
Narendra Modi for free-
ing the country’s politics
from the naasur (canker)
of casteism, dynasty and
appeasement.
“Modi ji has made the
country’s politics free
from casteism, dynasty
and appeasement and
started the politics of per-
formance. Whoever per-
forms will govern the
country. Whoever puts in
the most effort will gov-
ern the country. Those
who are pro-country will
govern it. Nobody would
rule on the basis of the
place of one’s birth or the
caste he or she belongs to
or how much appease-
ment somebody does,” he
said, emphasising that
QATAR CLEARS ROW OVER INVITATION
TO FUGITIVE ZAKIR NAIK FOR FIFA
DC CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, NOV. 24
Qatar has conveyed to
India that it (the Gulf
nation) had not extended
any invitation to fugitive
preacher Zakir Naik to
attend the ongoing FIFA
Soccer World Cup, New
Delhi said on Thursday,
adding it had raised the
matter with Qatar.
pg 10
government in the state.
The Arvind Kejriwal-led
party is followed by the
Congress, which has field-
ed 35 per cent of its candi-
dates with criminal cases.
20 per cent of such candi-
dates are facing serious
cases. The grand old
party is contesting all 89
seats in the first phase
and the number of candi-
dates with criminal cases
fielded by it is 31, the
report said.
The ruling BJP, which is
also contesting all seats in
the first phase of the elec-
tion, has fielded 14 candi-
dates with criminal
records. Percentage wise,
such candidates account
for 16 per cent of its total
number and 12 per cent
are facing serious
charges, the ADR said in
its report.
The Bharatiya Tribal
Party (BTP), which is con-
testing 14 seats in the first
phase, has four candi-
dates (29 per cent) with
declared criminal cases.
A total seven per cent of
its candidates have seri-
ous criminal cases this
time.
In the 2017 Assembly
elections, 15 per cent of
candidates contesting in
the first phase had crimi-
nal cases against them,
the report said, adding th-
at eight per cent of the ca-
ndidates then had serious
criminal cases. — PTI
— PTI
the country’s people have
accepted this policy of
the Modi government.
Talking about the UCC,
Shah asserted that it has
been a promise of the BJP
since its days as the
Bhartiya Jan Sangh.
“Not only the BJP, but
the Constituent Assembly
had also advised the
Parliament and states
that the UCC should come
in the country at an
opportune time,” he said.
Shah said that in any
secular country, laws
should not be made on the
basis of religion. “If a
nation and its states are
secular, how can laws be
based on religion? For
every believer, there sho-
uld be one law passed by
the Parliament or the sta-
te Assemblies,” he said.
The home minister said
that the commitment of
the Constituent Assembly
was forgotten over a peri-
od of time. “Except the
BJP, no other party is in
favour of the UCC. They
don’t even speak on it. If
they don’t have courage,
they won’t oppose it. But
they won’t say okay you
implement it, we are with
you. We are part of a de-
mocracy. In a democracy,
healthy debate is a
necessity. There is a need
for open and healthy
debate on the issue,” he
said. — PTI
This came after social
media posts had created a
storm by claiming that
Naik was invited by the
Gulf nation. It may be
noted that Vice President
Jagdeep Dhankhar had
also recently visited Qatar
as India’s representative
at the opening ceremony
of the FIFA World Cup
currently being hosted by
the tiny Gulf nation.
 WORLD
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
pg 11

SHORT

PIO TEENAGER
TAKES
STABBED TO
DEATH IN CANADA
Toronto, Nov. 24: An 18-year-
old Indian-origin teenager has
been stabbed to death at a high
school parking lot by another
teenager in Canada’s British
Columbia province, police said.
The victim was identified as
Mehakpreet Sethi, who was
stabbed at the Tamanawis Se-
condary School’s parking lot in
Surrey on Tuesday by a 17-year-
old following a fight between
the two, the Vancouver Sun
NIRAV FILES PLEA
Ex-top spy Lt. Gen. Munir
is new Army chief of Pak
PM ends speculation on powerful post in coup-prone nation
Islamabad, Nov. 24:
Pakistan’s former spy
master and senior-most
KNOW WHO’S ASIM MUNIR
Lt General Asim Munir
was named as the new
Army chief by Prime
Minister Shehbaz Sharif
on Thursday, ending spec-
ulation over the most
powerful position in the
coup-prone nation, where
the military wields con-
siderable power in mat-
● MUNIR WAS chief of Pakistan’s two most influential intelligence agencies,
the Inter-Services Intelligence and the Military Intelligence.
● HE WAS prematurely removed
as chief of the ISI on the request
of then Prime Minister Imran
Khan. However, no reason was
given for his removal.
● HE IS currently serving as the
tion he held for two years,
before being moved to the
GHQ as Quartermaster
General.
Lt-Gen Mirza, who hails
from the Sindh Regiment,
● HE WILL be has had an impressive ca-
Pakistan’s 17th army reer in the army, particul-
chief since it arly in senior leadership
declared independe- positions during the past
seven years. He came to
nce from Britain in
1947. That compares
prominence as director-
general military opera-
Teachers strike for
salary hike in UK
London, Nov. 24: Most
schools in Scotland were
closed Thursday as thou-
sands of teachers walked off
the job, joining scores of
postal workers and univer-
sity lecturers in industrial
action to demand better pay
and working conditions to
cope with the country’s
cost-of-living crisis.
The teachers’ strike in
Scotland, which shuttered
every school on the Scottish
mainland, was the first such
one in the region in 40
years. Union members want
a 10 per cent pay rise, but
Scottish authorities say
they couldn’t afford that.
Elsewhere across the UK,
picket lines were set up out-
side postal offices and uni-
versities in one of the
biggest coordinated walk-
outs this year. In universi-
ties, some 70,000 academic
staff were striking on
Thursday and again on
November 30 in the biggest
action of its kind in higher
education. The action will
affect an estimated 2.5 mil-
lion students. — AP

TO APPEAL HIS ters of security and for-

EXTRADITION
London, Nov. 24: Nirav Modi,
wanted in India to stand trial
on fraud and money launderi-
ng charges, has filed an applic-
ation in the High Court in Lo-
ndon seeking permission to
appeal against his extradition
order in the UK Supreme Cou-
rt. The 51-year-old diamond
merchant had lost an appeal on
mental health grounds earlier
this month, when a two-judge
High Court bench ruled that
his risk of suicide is not such
that it would be either unjust
or oppressive to extradite him
to India to face charges in the
estimated $2 billion PNB loan
scam case.
PALESTINIAN
ULTRAS RETURN
ISRAELI’S BODY
Jerusalem, Nov. 24: The body
of an Israeli teenager that was
taken by Palestinian militants
from a West Bank hospital was
returned to his family on Thu-
rsday, the Israeli military said.
Relatives of Tiran Fero, 17,
said Palestinian militants in
the occupied West Bank city of
Jenin entered the hospital wh-
ere Fero was seeking treatment
after a car crash. They discon-
nected him from hospital
equipment while still alive,
according to his father, and
removed him from the hospital.
The Israeli military said Fero
was already dead when he was
snatched and circumstances of
the death was being probed.
eign policy.
Lt Gen Munir has
served as chief of two
most powerful intelli-
gence agencies — the
Inter-Services Intel-
ligence (ISI) and the Mili-
tary Intelligence (MI) —
but his stint as the spy
chief at the ISI was the
shortest ever as he was
replaced by Lt Gen Faiz
Hamid within eight
months on the insistence
of then-Prime Minister
Imran Khan in 2019.
He would replace Gen
Qamar Javed Bajwa, who
retires on November 29
after two consecutive thr-
ee-year terms. Gen
Bajwa, 61, was appointed
as the Army chief in 2016
for a three-year term. He
was given a three-year
extension by the Khan
government in 2019.
Information minister
Marriyum Aurangzeb an-
nounced on Twitter that
Prime Minister Sharif
has named Lt Gen Munir
as the new Army chief. Lt
Gen Sahir Shamshad Mi-
rza had been picked as
the Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Committee (CJCSC).
“The summary about
(appointments) has been
sent to the President,”
Marriyum Aurangzeb
tweeted. Both officers
have also been promoted
to four-star generals.
The CJCSC is the high-
est authority in the hier-
archy of the armed forces
but the key powers,
including mobilisation of
army’s quartermaster general. with about 30
Prime Minis-
tions (DGMO) during the
last two years of Gen
● HE IS the most senior ranking
general after outgoing army chief
ters during
the same
Raheel Sharif, the COAS
from 2013-16. In that role,
General Qamar Javed Bajwa. period. he was part of Gen
Sharif ’s core team at
GHQ, which supervised
IMF says Pakistan flood recovery plan Pakistan used like ‘hired gun’ by US the military operation
is key to continued financial support in war against terror: Imran Khan against the Tehreek-i-
● PAKISTAN’S TIMELY finalisation of a ● FORMER PREMIER Imran Khan has Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
and other militants in
recovery plan from devastating floods lamented that the US has been using North Waziristan.
is essential to support discussions and Pakistan like a “hired gun” in the Further, he was closely
continued financial support from multi- war against terror and US-Pak ties involved in the Quadrilat-
lateral and bilateral partners, the are “very undignified” as compared eral Coordination Group
International Monetary Fund said. to “civilised relationship” with India. (QCG) that brokered
intra-Afghan talks
Pak rejects Indian general’s remarks on presence of launch pads, ultras in PoK involving Pakistan,
China, Afghanistan and
THE PAKISTAN Army on Thursday rejected what it called “unwarranted state- the United States.
ment” of a high-ranking Indian Army officer about the presence of launching He was a member of the
pads and terrorists in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The “unwarranted stateme- Sartaj Aziz-led panel on
nt” is “an apt manifestation” of the Indian army’s delusional mindset, the Inter- reforms for Gilgit-Baltist-
Services Public Relations — the media wing of the Army — said. an. After promotion to
the three-star rank, he
was appointed chief of
troops, appointments and
transfers lie with the
Imran Khan, who blames
the Army for playing a
Gen will end
November 27. But with
on general staff, making him
the second-most powerful
COAS which makes the
person holding the post
role in his ouster in April
this year through a no-
his appointment
COAS, he would get a
as person in the Army after
the COAS. In that role, he
the most powerful in the confidence vote. Khan’s three-year extension in was closely engaged in
military. close aide and former the service. crucial decision-making
The powerful Army, wh- information minister He was commissioned related to national securi-
ich has ruled Pakistan for Fawad Chaudhry said on into the Frontier Force ty and foreign affairs. He
more than half of its 75- Wednesday that “until we Regiment and has been a also joined former fore-
plus years of existence, see the conduct of the close aide of the incum- ign minister Shah Mehm-
has hitherto wielded con- new Army chief, we cann- bent COAS ever since he ood Qureshi in strategic
siderable power in mat- ot say anything about it, commanded troops in the talks with Chinese for-
ters of security and for- but the role of the army Force Command eign minister Wang Yi in
eign policy. The Pakistan in politics in the last six Northern Areas as a 2021. In October 2021, he
Tehreek-e-Insaf party months is controversial, brigadier under Gen was posted as Corps Co-
earlier quoted Imran this role will need to be Bajwa, who was then the mmander Rawalpindi to
Khan as saying that changed.” Commander X Corps. enable him to acquire op-
“when the summary Lt Gen Munir is the sen- Munir was later erational experience and
comes, I and the ior-most general. Althou- appointed chief of become eligible for the
President of Pakistan gh he was promoted to Military Intelligence in top posts. Defence minis-
will act according to the the rank of two-star gen- early 2017, and in October ter Khawaja Asif said
constitution and laws.” eral in September 2018, next year was made the after the appointments
The appointment he took charge two ISI chief. He was then that the “advice” had
coincides with a dispute months later. As a result, posted as Gujranwala been forwarded to Pres-
between the military and his four-year tenure as Lt Corps commander, a posi- ident Arif Alvi. — AP

UN urges Iran to halt violence COVID-HIT

Geneva, Nov. 24: The UN
rights chief urged Iran
Thursday to immediately
halt violence against pro-
testers, as countries debat-
ed whether to launch an
investigation into Tehran’s
deadly crackdown.
Volker Turk opened an
emergency session of the
UN Human Rights Council,
where countries were
called to discuss Iran’s
“deteriorating human rig-
hts situation” and deter-
mine if a high-level inter-
national investigation is
warranted.
Turk revealed on Thurs-
day he had offered to visit
Iran during Tehran’s dead-
ly crackdown on mass pr-
otests gripping the country
— but has received no reply.
The meeting, requested by
Germany and Iceland with
the backing of more than 50
countries, follows two
months of protests in Iran
sparked by the death of 22-
year-old Mahsa Amini,
after she was arrested for
an alleged breach of the
country’s strict dress rules
for women based on Islamic
sharia law.
“I call on the authorities
immediately to stop using
violence and harassment
against peaceful protest-
ers,” said Turk, the United
Nations’ high commissio-
ner for human rights.
“The unnecessary and
disproportionate use of fo-
rce must come to an end,”
he said, warning that Iran
was in “a full-fledged hu-
man rights crisis.” “Acco-
untability is a key ingredi-
ent of the pursuit of justice
for human rights viola-
tions,” he said, urging the
body to vote in favour of an
investigation.
Iranian authorities have
grown increasingly heavy-
handed in their response,
as the demonstrations have
spread across the country
and swelled into a broad
movement against the
theocracy that has ruled
Iran since 1979.
Turk said more than 300
people had been killed
since Amini's death.
Norway-based group Iran
Human Rights has put the
toll above 400. — AFP
Members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,
friends and family attend the funeral of Colonel Davoud
Jafari, in Tehran, on Thursday.
IRANIAN-BRITON HELD FOR TIPPING
MEDIA OVER MAHSA AMINI PROTESTS
Paris, Nov. 24: A British-
Iranian dual national has
been arrested for tipping
off foreign media, includ-
ing the BBC, about protests
sparked by the death of
Mahsa Amini.
The BBC, which broadca-
sts in Persian as part of its
World Service, has rep-
— AFP
eatedly complained of thre-
ats and intimidation aga-
inst its journalists and
their families at home and
abroad which it has blamed
on Iran.
Iran, which does not acc-
ept joint citizenship, has
accused Britain of fanning
the protests. — AFP
CHINA CURBS
6.6M MORE
Beijing, Nov. 24: China
is expanding lockdowns,
including in a central
city where factory work-
ers clashed this week
with police, as its num-
ber of Covid-19 cases hit
a daily record.
People in eight dis-
tricts of Zhengzhou with
a total of 6.6 million res-
idents were told to stay
home for five days begin-
ning on Thursday, exc-
ept to buy food or get
medical treatment.
During clashes on Tue-
sday and Wednesday, Zh-
engzhou police beat wor-
kers protesting over a
pay dispute at the big-
gest factory for Apple’s
iPhone. The company
that assembles Apple
Inc.’s iPhones apologis-
ed on Thursday for what
it said was a technical
error that led to protests
by employees over wag-
es offered to attract
them to a factory under
restrictions. — AP

HK emigres crave
taste of milk tea
Hong Kong, Nov. 24: In London,
Wong Wai-yi misses the taste of
home. A year ago, the 31-year-old
musician was in Hong Kong, earn-
ing a good living composing for
TV and movies and teaching pia-
no. Today, she makes about half as
much in London working part-
time as a server alongside her
musical pursuits.
She chose the job in part because
staff meals allow her to save
money on food. It’s a difficult
adjustment. And Wong, who left
Hong Kong with her boyfriend in
January, has turned to a beloved
hometown staple to keep her gro-
unded: Milk tea. She brings the be-
verage to parties with Hong Kong
friends and gives bottles to co-
workers as gifts.
“It’s like reminding myself I am
a Hong Konger. It will be fine as
long as we are willing to endure
the hardships and work hard,”
said Wong, who left as part of an
exodus that began after Beijing
passed a law in 2020 that curtailed
civil liberties.
As tens of thousands leave Hong
Kong for new lives abroad, many
are craving a flavour from
childhood that’s become a symbol
of the city’s culture: The sweet,
heavy tea with evaporated milk
that’s served both hot and cold at
diner-like restaurants called cha
chaan tengs. Workshops are pop-
ping up to teach professionals to
brew tea like short-order cooks,
and milk tea businesses are
expanding beyond Chinatowns in
Britain.
In Hong Kong, milk tea is an
unassuming beverage, something
you use to wash down sweet
French toast off a plastic plate.
It’s so beloved that members of
Hong Kong’s protest movement
have called themselves part of a
“Milk Tea Alliance” with activists
from Taiwan, Thailand, and
Myanmar, who drink similar bev-
erages. Following a law that
silenced or jailed most political
opposition, over 1,33,000 residents
have secured a special visa that
allows them to live and work in
the UK and apply for British citi-
zenship after six years. — AP
cmyk cmyk

DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022 pg 12

 WORLD
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
Kyiv flips to survival mode
Kyiv, Nov. 24: Residents of
Ukraine’s bombed but
undaunted capital clutched
empty bottles in search of
water and crowded into
cafés for power and war-
mth on Thursday, switch-
ing defiantly into survival
mode after new Russian
missile strikes a day earli-
er plunged the city and
much of the country into
the dark.
Meanwhile, Poland’s go-
vernment says an anti-mi-
ssile system which Ger-
many offered to send to
Poland should instead go
to Ukraine, a proposal that
is a likely non-starter for
Berlin because it would
ratchet up Nato inv-
olvement in Ukraine.
Some Kyiv residents
resorted to collecting rain-
water from drainpipes, as
repair teams laboured to
reconnect supplies.
Friends and family mem-
bers exchanged messages
pg 13
Anwar named
to find out who had elec-
tricity and water back.
of comfort on Thursday.
Oleksiy Rashchupkin, a 39-
Malaysia PM
Some had one but not the year-old investment Kuala Lumpur, on agreed to supp-
other. The previous day's banker, awoke to find that Nov. 24: Malaysi- ort a unity govern-
aerial onslaught on water had been reconnect- a’s king on Thur- ment under
Ukraine's power grid left ed to his third-floor flat but sday named refor- Anwar.
many with neither. power had not. His freezer mist opposition Such a tie-up
Cafés in Kyiv that by thawed in the blackout, leader Anwar was once unthink-
some small miracle had leaving a puddle on his Ibrahim as the able in Malaysian
both quickly became oases floor. — AP country’s Prime politics, long dom-
Minister, ending inated by rivalry
days of uncertain- between the two
ty after divisive parties. Other in-
general elections fluential groups in
produced a hung Borneo island
Parliament. have said they will
Sultan Abdullah follow the king’s
Sultan Ahmad decision.
Shah said Anwar, “His Royal
75, will be sworn Highness reminds
in as the nation’s all parties that the
10th leader at 5 pm winners do not
(0900 GMT) at the win all and the los-
palace. Anwar’s ers do not lose
Alliance of Hope everything,” a
led Saturday’s palace statement
election with 82 se- read.
ats, short of the The monarch
112 needed for a urged Anwar and
majority. his new governm-
An unexpected ent to be humble,
surge of ethnic and said all oppos-
Malay support pr- ing parties should
opelled Former reconcile to ensu-
Prime Minister re a stable govern-
Muhyiddin Yass- ment and end Mal-
in’s right-leaning aysia’s political
National Alliance turmoil, which
to win 73 seats, has led to three
with its ally Pan- Prime Ministers
Malaysian Islamic since 2018 polls.
Party emerging as The palace state-
the biggest single ment said the king
party with 49 sea- was satisfied An-
ts. The stalemate war is the candid-
was resolved after ate who may have
the long-ruling majority support
bloc led by the but didn’t give det-
United Malays Na- ails of the new go-
tional Organisati- vernment. — AP
 HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
quick
Fed minutes lift
BITES market spirits
INDICATORS % Ashok' hotel at Rs 7,409
Sensex 62272.68 1.24
Nifty 50
S&P 500*
18484.10 1.19
4,027.26 0.59
Dollar (`) 81.70 0.01
Pound Sterling (`) 96.71 0.75
Euro (`) 83.91 1.05
Gold (10gm)* (`) 53,039▲323 0.60
Brent crude ($/bbl)* 85.08 -0.39
IN 10-Yr bond yield 7.255 -0.036
US 10-Yr T-bill yield* 3.689 0.01
* As of 8:30 PM IST
Tata Consumer
in discussions
for buying Bisleri
Industrialist Ramesh Chauhan
said he is scouting for a buyer
for his packaged water busi-
ness Bisleri International and is
in talks with several players,
including Tata Consumer
Products Ltd (TCPL.) In a regu-
latory filing the Tata Group firm
also said it is in discussion with
Bisleri International. However,
Chauhan denied a report that a
Rs 7,000 crore deal has been
finalised with TCPL. “We are
still discussing," he said.
Rooftop solar
installations
fall 29% in Q2
Rooftop solar capacity installa-
tions in India fell 29 per cent to
320 MW in July-September
2022, according to Mercom
Research India. The country
added 448 MW rooftop solar
capacity in the same quarter a
year ago. During January-
September, the installations at
1,165 MW were also down 11 per
cent compared to 1,310 MW in
the corresponding nine-month
period of the last year, Mercom
said in its quarterly update.
Rupee gains 23p
to close at 81.70
against dollar
The rupee appreciated by 23
paise to close at 81.70 against
the US dollar as a weak green-
back in the overseas market
and a rally in domestic equities
boosted investor sentiment.
Forex traders said the dollar
fell in international trade post
the weak US data and dovish
Fed minutes. Volatility for the
dollar could remain low this
week as the US markets are
shut on account of the
Thanksgiving day holiday.
Coal stock at
thermal plants
may reach 45 mt
The government said it is plan-
ning to augment coal stock at
thermal power plants to 45
million tonnes by March-end.
The coal ministry said it further
plans to increase the stock of
fossil fuel at the pithead. "The
Ministry of Coal is planning to
build stock at domestic coal-
based plants to the tune of 30
million tonnes by the end of
November, 2022," the ministry
said, adding that it has plans to
keep building the stock.
Printed & Published by
K. Sudhakar on behalf of Deccan
Chronicle Holdings Limited, Printed at
Deccan Chronicle Press at Deccan
Chronicle Holdings Ltd. #563/9/D&9/E,
Behind Andhra Bank Pet Basheerbagh,
Kompally, Ranga Reddy Dist.
Editor: Kaushik Mitter,
RNI Reg No.APENG/2008/24282.
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in
whole or in part without written
permission of The Editor,
Financial Chronicle ® is prohibited.
Sensex, Nifty hit record closing highs
RAVI RANJAN PRASAD
MUMBAI, NOV. 24
Dovish November US Fed
minutes and a fall in crude
oil prices triggered a sharp
rally in the global equity
market. In tune with that
the Sensex rose to a new all
time high of 62412.33 and
closed at 62272.68 gaining
762.10 points or 1.24 per
cent.
It was also a day of
November month futures
and options contracts
expiry and investors
wound up their short posi-
tions on the expiry day,
triggered by US Fed min-
utes indicating a moderate
pace of rate hikes going
ahead, said analysts.
The Nifty-50 closed at its
all time closing high of
18484.10 gaining 216 points
or 1.19 per cent after mak-
ing an intra-day high of
18529.70 as there was sharp
up-move in the last hour of
trading. Nifty-50's all time
high in intra-day trade
stands at 18,605.
Market participants'
notional wealth rose by
over Rs 2.25 lakh crore as
BSE's market capitalisa-
tion rose to over Rs 283.70
lakh crore.
Global stocks gained
after Federal Reserve min-
utes released on Wednes-
day night revealed most
policymakers expect the
Fed to slow the pace of
interest rate increases,
said analysts.
Shrikant Chouhan, head
of equity research (retail),
Kotak Securities, said, "US
Fed minutes indicating a
moderate pace of rate
hikes going ahead pro-
CCI REPLACES NAA AS
ANTI-PROFITEERING
AUTHORITY ON GST
SANGEETHA G.
CHENNAI, NOV 24
The Competition Commi-
ssion of India (CCI) will
henceforth look into anti-
profiteering complaints
under the Goods and
Services Tax (GST),
replacing the National
Anti-profiteering
Authority (NAA). The gov-
ernment has issued a noti-
fication to this effect.
"The central govern-
ment, on the recommenda-
tion of the Goods and
Services Tax Council,
hereby empowers the
Competition Commission
of India ... to examine
whether input tax credit
availed by the registered
person or the reduction of
the tax rate have actually
resulted in a commensu-
rate reduction in the price
of the goods or services or
both supplied by him," the
notification said.
The NAA was set up in
November 2017 to check
unfair profiteering activi-
ties by registered suppli-
ers. The authority's core
function was to ensure
that benefits of reduction
in GST rates on goods and
services and of the input
tax credit are passed on to
consumers by way of
reduction in prices.
AIRASIA TIES UP
FOR OTT STREAMING
AKSHAYA KUMAR
SAHOO
BHUBANESWAR, NOV. 24
AirAsia India has part-
nered with Hyperlocal
Cloud platform Sugarbox,
to launch an in-flight expe-
rience hub, ‘AirFlix’,
which enables digital
access in the skies,
‘AirFlix’ provides over
6,000 hours of high-resolu-
tion content, enabling
access to 1,000-plus inter-
national and Indian
movies, short movies and
1,500-plus web series
episodes, helping passen-
gers to stream buffer-free
content from OTT apps.
With a speed of up to
1Gbps and storage capaci-
ty of 8TB, ‘AirFlix’ offers a
host of customised
options, including games,
ed-tech content, news arti-
cles, music, e-commerce,
and the like.
MOST U.S. FED OFFICIALS SEE
SLOWDOWN IN RATE HIKES SOON
HOWARD SCHNEIDER
WASHINGTON, NOV. 24
A "substantial majority"
of policymakers at the
Federal Reserve's meet-
ing early this month
agreed it would "likely
soon be appropriate" to
slow the pace of interest
rate hikes as debate
broadened over the impli-
cations of the US central
bank's rapid tightening of
monetary policy, accord-
ing to the minutes from
the session.
The readout of the
November 1-2 meeting, at
which the Fed raised its
policy rate by three-quar-
ters of a percentage
point for the fourth
straight time, showed
officials were largely sat-
isfied they could move
rates in smaller, more
deliberate steps as the
economy adjusted to
pelled benchmark indices
Sensex & Nifty to new all-
time highs. Other positive
catalysts such as the WTI
crude oil prices staying
sluggish and the falling US
Dollar Index and yields
improved the risk appetite
of investors leading to a
broad-based buying."
In the domestic market
the buying came mainly
from the foreign portfolio
investors who bought equi-
ties worth Rs 1,231.98 crore
on Thursday while the
Unemployment rate dips to 7.2% in Q2 Amazon Academy to
SANGEETHA G.
CHENNAI, NOV. 24
Unemployment rate in
urban areas declined to 7.2
per cent during July-
September 2022 from 9.8
per cent a year ago and
from 7.6 per cent in April-
June quarter, as per the
National Statistical Office
(NSO) data released on
Thursday.
The unemployment rate
among urban males aged
15 years and above dipped
to 6.6 per cent in the
September quarter com-
pared to 9.3 per cent in the
pandemic-hit year-ago
quarter and 7.1 per cent in
the June 2022 quarter.
Among urban females it
declined to 9.4 per cent in
July-September, 2022 from
11.6 per cent a year ago
and from 9.5 per cent in
April-June this year.
Labour force participa-
tion rate (LPR) in urban
Oil drops as price cap move eases supply concerns
AHMAD GHADDAR
LONDON, NOV. 24
Oil prices fell on Thursday,
hovering around two-
month lows as the level of
a proposed G7 cap on the
price of Russian oil raised
doubts about how much it
would limit supply.
QUARTERLY | GAUGE
New art index to capture value of Indian paintings
FALAKNAAZ SYED
MUMBAI, NOV. 24
The Indian Institute of
Management Ahmedabad
(IIMA) and Aura Art
Development, which spe-
cialises in art transac-
tions, have launched a
first-of-its-kind Art Index
in the country to help fin-
anciers, buyers, sellers,
high networth individu-
als, insurers and wealth
managers estimate the
market price of art work.
Christened as IIMA-
AuraArt Indian Art Index
(IAIAI), the index traces
the price appreciation
journey of Indian artists
at auctions globally.
The index has been
designed by using data-
driven methodology that
analyses auction results
more expensive credit
and concerns about
"overshooting" seemed to
increase.
"A slower pace ... would
better allow the (Federal
Open Market) Committee
to assess progress
toward its goals of maxi-
mum employment and
price stability," said the
minutes, which were
released on Wednesday.
"The uncertain lags and
magnitudes associated
with the effects of mone-
tary policy actions on
economic activity and
inflation were among the
reasons cited."
More important than
the size of coming rate
increases was an emerg-
ing focus on just how
high rates will need to
rise to lower inflation—
and the need to calibrate
that carefully in the com-
ing months. — Reuters
domestic institutions
booked profit worth Rs
235.66 crore, the provision-
al stock exchange data
showed.
The broader market
underperformed as the
BSE Mid-cap Index gained
0.52 per cent and the BSE
Small-cap, 0.42 per cent.
While almost all sectoral
indices gained barring
BSE Consumer Durables,
BSE IT (2.30 per cent) and
Oil & Gas (1.25 per cent).
topped the gainers' list.
wind up operations
areas increased to 47.9 per
cent in the September
quarter, from 46.9 per cent
a year ago and 47.5 per
cent in the previous June
quarter.
A CMIE report, mean-
while, said gender has
played a bigger role than
religion in the widening
employment and labour
participation gap among
different communities in
the past four years.
In 2017-18, India's LPR—
urban and rural—was 43.7
per cent, which fell to 39.1
per cent in the September
2022 quarter.
The LPR of Hindus at
A bigger than expected
build in US petrol invento-
ries and widening Covid-19
controls in China also
added downward pressure
on crude prices.
Brent crude futures were
down 77 cents, or 0.9 per
cent, to $84.64 a barrel at
1445 GMT, while US West
IIMA-AuraArt Indian Art Index tracks works of 25 artists
of over 9,000 artworks by
the top 25 Indian artists
across the globe that
were auctioned around 11
houses during the last 20
years—from April 1, 2001
to June 30, 2022. The total
auction value was worth
Rs 4,500 crore (about.
$0.75 billion at Rs 60 per
$) for the whole sample
period.
The index also tracks
the resale value, said
Rishiraj Sethi, director
Aura Art Development
Pvt Ltd.
Currently, India has lim-
ited experience with art
indices and most purchas-
es are still driven by a ‘gut
feeling’.
“There is no tradeable
art index in India and the
art market is highly illiq-
uid. Unlike financial
INDICATIVE VALUE
FOR ASHOK HOTEL
SET AT `7,409 CR
New Delhi, Nov. 24:
The government has
fixed an indicative value
for Delhi's iconic 'The
crore under the national
monetisation program-
me, sources said.
The Ashok and the
adjacent hotel Samrat
are among the eight
India Tourism Develop-
ment Corp assets listed
under the national mon-
etisation pipeline (NMP)
announced by finance
minister Nirmala Sitha-
raman last year.
The sources said
investor consultation
has already been under-
taken and a cabinet com-
mittee on economic
affairs note for the sale
of the sprawling 25-acre
property in the heart of
the national capital is
under consideration.
"The Ashok hotel's
monetisation will take
place through public-
private partnership
(PPP) mode and an
indicative value of the
hotel has been fixed at
Rs 7,409 crore," the
sources told PTI.
The government has
monetised assets worth
Rs 33,422 crore under the
NMP in 2022-23. —PTI
India to grow at moderately brisk rate, inflation to ease: MoF
FC BUREAU
NEW DELHI, NOV 24
Despite the global slow-
down and monetary tight-
ening, India is well-placed
to grow at a 'moderately
brisk rate' in the coming
years on the back of
macroeconomic stability, a
finance ministry report
43.9 per cent in 2017-18 fell
by 3.62 percentage points
in 2021-22. The LPR of
Muslims at 41.9 per cent
fell by 3.92 percentage
points while that of
Christians declined 4.9
percentage points from
45.2 per cent.
Further, in 2017-18
Hindus had an unemploy-
ment rate of 4.5 per cent
and Muslims 5.3 per cent.
In 2021-22, for Hindus it
rose to 7.6 per cent and for
Muslims it went up to 8.5
per cent. For Christians it
came down from 5.9 per
cent in 2017-18 to 5.4 per
cent in 2021-22.
The biggest disparity in
the labour market is the
one based on gender. LPR
among males averages
over 65 per cent but female
LPR is less than 10 per
cent. Unemployment rate
in males is less than 7 per
cent and nearly 15 per cent
among women.
Texas Intermediate (WTI)
crude futures fell 36 cents,
or 0.5 per cent, to $77.58.
Both benchmarks
plunged more than 3 per
centon Wednesday on news
the planned price cap on
Russian oil could be above
the current market level.
—Reuters
assets which are homoge-
neous in nature, real
assets such as artwork are
highly heterogenous,
which is one of the pri-
mary challenges in creat-
ing a reliable index. Even
different works of art by
the same artists are not
homogenous. Trading is
not frequent. People buy
artwork and hold it for
long. We found that the
average holding period of
Paytm’s 75% crash in a
year among world’s worst
FILIPE PACHECO &
ASHUTOSH JOSHI
NOV. 24
One 97 Communications
Ltd, the operator of
India's largest digital-
payments provider
known as Paytm, has
capped the worst first-
year share plunge among
large IPOs over the past
decade—and the pain is
worsening.
The company has seen
its stock erase 75 per cent
of its market value one
year after its $2.4 billion
offering, the largest on
record at the time in
India. The dive is the
steepest first-year slide
globally among IPOs that
raised at least the same
amount since Spain's
Bankia SA's 82 per cent
drop in 2012.
Paytm's grim
anniversary underscores
first
an erosion of confidence
in its ability to become
profitable after debuting
at a time when India's
IPO market was enam-
oured with tech startups.
The stock's losses have
deepened this week amid
concerns over the emer-
gence of a potential com-
petitor owned by India's
said on Thursday.
The latest 'Monthly
Economic Review for
October 2022' also cau-
tioned that the US mone-
tary tightening is a 'future
risk' that could lead to dip
in stock prices, weaker cur-
rencies and higher bond
yields, resulting in higher
borrowing costs for many
SANGEETHA G.
CHENNAI, NOV. 24
Amazon is winding up the
operations of its ed-tech
arm Academy in a phased
manner.
The Amazon Academy
was launched in January
2021 to help students pre-
pare for the JEE (Joint
Entrance Examination)
and National Eligibility-
cum-Entrance Test
(NEET).
The Academy’s opera-
tions will be wound up in
a phased manner from
August 2023. By then its
existing batch would have
completed its preparation
module.
However, customers will
have access to full course
material online for an
extended period of a year,
until October 2024.
According to Amazon, the
Academy will also refund
the full fee to the students
enrolled in the current
academic batch.
“At Amazon, we think
big, experiment, and
invest in new ideas to
delight customers. We
also continually evaluate
the progress and potential
of our products and serv-
ices to deliver customer
value, and we regularly
make adjustments based
artwork in India is 28
years,” said Errol
D’Souza, director, IIMA.
Artwork prices are a
combination of factors
related to artists, medium,
subject, size, etc. The
model found that an
artist’s identity, market-
ing, subject and style has a
significant impact on pric-
ing. For instance oil media
was valued double com-
pared to pastel work. On
the same lines, realistic
work is valued more than
abstract work. Similarly
subjects such as mytholo-
gy, landscape were more
popular while nudes
fetched the lowest price.
The index was launched
by Prof. Prashant Das of
IIMA and Sethi of Aura at
the BSE on Thursday.
“Consider an investor
PAYTM’S SLUMP VERSUS OTHER ONE-YEAR FLOPS
Paytm’s anniversary plunge is the worst since Spain’s Bankia in 2012
Company First-year Amount
Bankia
performance raised
-82%
Paytm -75%
DP World -74%
Bilibili -72%
New World Resources -71%
biggest conglomerate.
November's 30 per cent
slide has taken its decline
from the IPO price of Rs
2,150 to 79 per cent.
Tech stocks globally
have been sold off as
investors shun loss-mak-
ing firms amid a deterio-
rating macroeconomic
environment, JM Finan-
cial Ltd analysts led by
Sachin Dixit wrote in a
note this week. "This
feedback has been well
received by company
managements and we are
seeing all Indian internet
companies not just pri-
oritising profitability but
also communicating the
path forward explicitly,"
governments around the
world. "A rapid deteriora-
tion in global growth
prospects, high inflation,
and worsening financial
conditions have increased
fears of an impending glob-
al recession," the report
said.
It further said inflation-
ary pressures will ease in
on those assessments.
Following an assessment
we have made the decision
to discontinue Amazon
Academy. We are winding
down this programme in a
phased manner to take
care of current cus-
tomers,” Amazon
spokesperson said.
The Academy, which
started operations during
the pandemic, had also
collaborated with educa-
tion group Sri Chaitanya
to provide full syllabus
courses for JEE and
NEET aspirants.
The winding down is
part of the general slow-
down witnessed in the ed-
tech space since the
reopening of schools, col-
leges and coaching cen-
tres. Several start-ups
have shut down and many
have down-sized as the
revenues have reduced,
losses have widened and
funding has become
sparse.
who bought a Jamini Roy
oil rendering of tribal cul-
ture in 2010 and today
wants to assess the per-
cent change in its price
since then. But the recent
auctions have been domi-
nated by relatively
abstract works of Souza
and Hussain. So, the aver-
age change in price is not
just due to passage of time
but also due to changing
quality of artwork auc-
tioned. This renders the
index irrelevant to Roy’s
work. IAIAI addresses
this issue,” said Das.
The index would be pub-
lished on a quarterly
basis and would be updat-
ed twice a year. The index
will be hosted as a part of
IIMA’s Misra Centre for
Financial Markets and
Economy.
pg 14
Listing market
$4.4 bn Spain
$2.4 bn India
$50.0 bn UAE
$3.0 bn Hong Kong
$2.5 bn United Kingdom
Source: Bloomberg
they wrote.
"In every rally, the mar-
ket as a whole gets too
excited about some-
thing," said Shridatta
Bhandwal-dar, head of
equities at Canara
Robeco
Management.
Asset
"In 2006-2008, we got
too excited about con-
struction companies and
capital goods companies.
In 2013-2014, we got too
excited about midcaps. In
2017-2019 we got extreme-
ly excited about non-
banking financial compa-
nies and in 2020-2022 peo-
ple were just too excited
about technology," he
said. —Bloomberg
the coming months with
the arrival of kharif crops
and job opportunities will
rise with improvement in
business prospects.
"Easing international
commodity prices and new
kharif arrival are also set
to dampen inflationary
pressures in the coming
months," it said.
ECONOMY TO KEEP
GROWTH ABOVE
6.5% IN COMING
YEARS: CEA
Mumbai, Nov. 24: Chief
economic advisor V.
Anantha Nageswaran on
Thursday expressed hope
that the economy will
maintain the trend
growth rate of 6.5 per cent
and above for the rest of
the years in the current
decade. The economy will
close the current fiscal
logging in a growth of 6.5-
7 per cent, he said, citing
the projections of private
sector analysts, RBI and
international agencies
like OECD and the IMF.
"This appears to be rea-
sonable at this point in
time although we will get
the data on the fiscal sec-
ond quarter in a few days,
which will give more clar-
ity on these numbers. By
and large, the projections
for FY24 coming from
international agencies is
converging around 6-6.2
per cent," he said at the
SBI Banking and
Economic summit here.
For the current finan-
cial year, Citigroup has
projected an economic
growth of 6.7 per cent,
S&P Ratings has estimat-
ed 7.3 per cent expansion
and the RBI has pegged
the growth at 7 per cent.
— PTI
EXPORTERS
DEMAND FISCAL
INCENTIVES
New Delhi, Nov. 24:
Exporters on Thursday
demanded fiscal incen-
tives, tweaking in cus-
toms duties on certain
products and credit at
affordable rates in the
forthcoming Budget to
boost exports and create
jobs. In a pre-budget vir-
tual meeting with finance
minister Nirmala
Sitharaman, the
Federation of Indian
Export Organisations
(Fieo) said the deprecia-
tion of the rupee against
the dollar is affecting
exports' competitiveness
and the sector requires
more support.
It said incentives may be
provided based on twin
criteria of growth in
exports and the creation
of additional jobs. — PTI
 GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
SHORT
Pooran guides
TAKES
Deccan past Dhabi
Abu Dhabi: Nicholas Pooran
cracked a breezy unbeaten
half-century to lead Deccan
Gladiators to a 35-run win over
Team Abu Dhabi at the Abu
Dhabi T10 here.
Pooran’s 77-run knock was
studded with eight sixes and
five boundaries as Deccan
Gladiators posted an impressive
134 for 6.
Team Abu Dhabi’s batting failed
to rise to the challenges as
Deccan Gladiatrs bowlers
restricted them 99 for 6 in the
second match of the opening
day of the tournament at the
Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket
Stadium.
Opting to bat, Pooran began
aggressively hitting Naveen Ul
Haq’s back-to-back sixes. In the
second over, he slammed
Andrew Tye’s fourth, fifth and
sixth ball of the first over for
boundaries.
BRIEF SCORES
■ Deccan Gladiators 134 for 6
in 10 overs (Nicholas Pooran 77
not out, Odean Smith 23; Peter
Hatzoglou 2 /12) bt Team Abu
Dhabi 99 for 6 in 10 overs
(James Vince 37, Fabian Allen
26 not out, Tom Helm 2/11).
■ Samp Army 100 for 5 in 10
overs (Shimraon Hetmyer 38,
Karim Janat 22 not out; Benny
Howell 2/17) bt Bangla Tigers
85 for 3 in 10 overs (Hazratullah
Zazai 35, Dwaine Pretorius
3/11).
Passes for former
hockey players
Bhubaneswar: All the country’s
hockey Olympians and former
international players will be
given complimentary tickets to
watch the upcoming men’s
World Cup in Bhubaneswar and
Rourkela, Hockey India
announced on Thursday.
The 16-team men’s showpiece is
scheduled to be held from
January 13-29.
The matches will be held simul-
taneously at the Kalinga
Stadium here and the newly-
built Birsa Munda International
Stadium in Rourkela.
HI secretary general Bholanath
Singh said it would be a privi-
lege for the national federation
to invite all Indian stalwarts of
the game, including the
Olympians. “The presence of
former Indian hockey players
will certainly boost the morale
of the Indian men’s team in the
men’s World Cup. Keeping in
mind the immense contribution
of former hockey stalwarts,
Hockey India continues to
recognise their efforts and wel-
come them in Odisha to watch
the matches, inspire and cheer
all the teams,” Singh said in a
release. — PTI
Medchal district
junior athletics
Hyderabad: The Medchal
District Athletics Association is
conducting the Annual District
Athletics Meet for boys and
girls under 14 and 16 years on
Sunday at Telangana State
Sports School in Hakimpet from
8 am.
The selected athletes will rep-
resent the district at the
National Inter-District Junior
Athletics Meet to be held at
Patna from January 12 to 14,
2023.
Following are the events:
Boys and Girls U-14: Triathlon
A (60m, standing broad jump &
shot put) (Standing Throw);
Triathlon B (60m, standing
broad jump & high jump) (fos-
bury flopnot allowed); Triathlon
C (60m, standing broad jump &
600m); Kids javelin.
Boys and Girls U-16: 80m,
600m, 1600m, 80m hurdles,
high jump, long jump, shot put,
discus throw, javelin throw,
hexathlon.
Interested athletes should
report at the venue on time.
For further details, contact
Rajasekhar on phone number
9849612733.
Boston set for
Survivor Series
Boston, USA: WWE big names
Ronda Rousey, Bianca Belair
and AJ Styles are set to feature
in the big card Survivor Series
at the TD Garden in Boston,
Massachusetts, on Sunday.
In the match card announced
so far, Bianca Belair’s team is
set to take on Damage CTRL in
WarGames Match; Ronda
Rousey will square up agaisnt
Shotzi (SmackDown Women’s
Championship); AJ Styles faces
Finn Balor; The Brawling Brutes,
Drew McIntyre & Kevin Owens
clash with The Bloodline
(WarGames Match) and United
States Champion Seth “Freakin”
Rollins, Bobby Lashley and
Austin Theory will be involved
in a Triple Threat match.
The event will be live on Sony
Sports Ten 1 (English), Ten 3
(Hindi) and Ten 4 (Tamil &
Telugu) channels from 6.30 am
on Sunday.
Supreme panel chair busts HCA game
DC CORRESPONDENT
HYDERABAD, NOV. 24
Justice (Retd) Nisar
Ahmad Kakru, Chairman
of the Supreme Court
appointed Supervisory
Committee to look into
misgivings in the
Hyderabad Cricket
Association, has submitted
a damning report to the
Apex Court in which he
has listed out several
issues that dog the HCA.
In a 21-page report,
Justice Kakru also takes a
dig at the other three mem-
bers of the Supervisory
Committee for holding a
meeting without his
knowledge, taking deci-
Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics goes to the basket
against JaVale McGee of the Dallas Mavericks during
their NBA match at TD Garden in Boston,
Massachusetts, on Wednesday. Celtics won 125-112.
Manu takes first round lead
Hyderabad, Nov. 24:
Manu Gandas, a winner
of four titles this season,
continued his red-hot
form with a fiery nine-
under 63 to take the lead
on the first day of the
inaugural Vooty Masters
golf tournament in
Vikarabad on Thursday.
In the process, the
golfer from Gurugram,
currently second on the
PGTI Order of Merit,
also set the course record
at the first-ever PGTI
event being played at the
Vooty Golf County here.
Chandigarh’s Angad
Cheema and Gurugram-
based Kartik Sharma
trailed Manu by two
strokes, having carded
identical scores of seven-
under 65 for a share of
second spot.
One stroke behind the
duo were four golfers
sharing the fourth spot,
including Varun Parikh,
Om Prakash Chouhan,
Arjun Bhati and Kshitij
Naveed Kaul.
Teeing-off just before
noon at the pristine
Vooty Golf County, Manu
logged in a bogey-free
round as he sank four
birdies on the front-nine
and five on the back-nine
in a flawless display.
Manu’s awesome hit-
ting saw him set up a
number of short birdie
putts. His longest conver-
sion of the day was a 25-
footer on the sixth.
On a course where the
players are finding it
tough to negotiate the
thick rough, Manu
helped his cause by find-
ing 10 out of the 14 fair-
ways and 14 greens in
regulation.
His golden stretch came
with three consecutive
birdies from the 14th to
the 16th as he chipped in
from the bunker on the
14th, drove past the par-4
green on the 15th for an
up and down and then
made an up and down
from the bunker on the
16th.
Angad Cheema and
Kartik Sharma, both in
joint second at 65, too
shot error-free rounds.
PGTI Order of Merit
leader and five-time win-
ner this season Yuvraj
Singh Sandhu, was tied
eighth at 67. The
Chandigarh golfer mixed
an eagle and six birdies
with three bogeys.
sions and sending out
notes on behalf of the
Committee.
Justice Kakru also ruled
that Mohammed
Azharuddin ceases to be
HCA president as his term
ended on September 26 this
year, having been elected to
a three-year term on
September 27, 2019.
When questioned, Azhar
responded with a claim of
his meritorious perform-
ance. “The said meritori-
ous performance apart, his
contribution as captain of
the Indian cricket team for
a considerable number of
years cannot be ignored
but the difficulty is that he
owes his position as
—AFP
Manu Gandas tees off at the Vooty Masters golf tournament in Vikarabad on Thursday.
Golfer Amandeep gets off
to a decent start in Spain
Sotogrande (Spain), Nov.
24: Indian
Amandeep Drall made a
golfer
solid start in the opening
round of the season-end-
ing Andalucia Costa Del
Sol Open de Espana as she
was one-under through 12
holes here on Thursday.
Having qualified for the
event after a runner-up fin-
ish at the Indian Open,
Amandeep had one birdie
and 11 pars after starting
from the tenth tee.
The other two Indians,
Diksha Dagar and Vani
Kapoor were both one-over
after 14 and 13 holes
respectively.
President to a mode and
method prescribed by the
Rules and Regulations 2018
which don’t admit continu-
ation on such like reason.
It may not be impertinent
to state that even as on date
Sri Mohammed
Azharuddin has not
brought anything to the
notice of the Supervisory
Committee that could enti-
tle him to continue as
President, therefore, he is
referred hereinafter as Ex
President,” the report
reads.
Justice Kakru also point-
ed a finger at Committee
member Anjani Kumar,
IPS, DG, Anti Corruption
Bureau, Telangana with
Tatum leads Celtics to easy
victory over Mavericks
Washington, Nov. 24:
Jayson Tatum scored 37
points and grabbed 13
rebounds on Wednesday to
spark the NBA-leading
Boston Celtics to a 125-112
victory over visiting
Dallas despite 42 points
from Luka Doncic.
The Celtics, whose nine-
game win streak was
snapped Monday at
Chicago, bounced back by
dominating the Mavericks,
improving to 7-1 in Boston
and an NBA-best 14-4 over-
all.
“I think we were locked
in from the beginning.
Losing to Chicago made us
regroup and refocus,”
Tatum said.
“We just knew they were
a really talented team.
Luka is the head of the
snake. It was good to come
home and get back in the
win column,” he added.
It was Tatum’s 10th
career game with 35 points
and 10 rebounds. He made
11-of-24 from the floor and
13-of-15 from the free
throw line.
In a showdown of early
season NBA Most Valuable
Swedish stars Linn
Grant and Maja Stark
were going head to head
and will battle it out at
Alferini Golf to earn the
prestigious Race to Costa
del Sol title.
It has been an outstand-
ing year for the duo, who
only turned professional
in August last year. They
had risen to be within the
top 50 in the Rolex
Women’s World Golf
Rankings.
Grant, who clinched LET
Rookie of the Year, has
won four times in this
year.
Grant won four titles
regard to passing of a reso-
lution to accord member-
ship and voting rights in
the next HCA elections to
33 newly created districts
of Telangana, which subse-
quently hit a legal road-
block. “The letter of Sri
Anjani Kumar, IPS, DGs
bearing No.7/DG ACB-
Camp/HCA/22, dated
11.10.2022, reveals that the
Supervisory Committee
has resolved to give mem-
bership to the 33 States. I
am not a signatory to the
resolution referred to in
the letter. It has taken me
aback because Supervisory
Committee comprises of
four members, therefore,
no meeting could be called
Player candidates, league
scoring leader Doncic
countered with a game-
high point total on 17-of-28
shooting and five-of-9 from
the line. The Slovenian
guard also had nine assists
and eight rebounds.
“Everybody knows how
talented and special he is.
He can do so many things
on the court. He’s some-
body I respect and like
competing
Tatum said.
against,”
The Celtics led 70-49 at
halftime and by double fig-
ures from late in the first
quarter until Doncic
sparked a late rally to pull
Dallas within 114-105 with
3:43 remaining.
Al Horford answered
with a 3-pointer to ignite a
10-2 Boston run and Dallas
never came within 13
again.
The Sacramento Kings
saw their seven-game win
streak snapped as Trae
Young scored 35 points to
lead the host Atlanta
Hawks to a 115-106 victory.
Domantas Sabonis had 15
points, 14 rebounds and
seven assists to spark
throughout the year start-
ing with the Joburg Ladies
Open followed by the
Mithra Belgian Ladies
Open and the Volvo Car
Scandinavian Mixed, and
finally the Skafto Open.
Stark won two LET titles
in 2021 just weeks after
turning professional and
has followed it up with
three further victories this
season starting with the
Women’s NSW Open, fol-
lowed by Amundi German
Masters and ISPS Handa
World Invitational — European tour history
where she earned her
LPGA Tour card.
— PTI
to my exclusion, that too,
when the other members
have resolved by a written
resolution that the meet-
ings of the Supervisory
Committee will be chaired
by me and I will be the
Chairman. No doubt, it has
also been resolved that Sri
Anjani Kumar will be the
Deputy Chairman. It is not
a situation where I failed to
attend the meeting despite
notice and meeting was
taken by Anjani Kumar. I
have no notice of the meet-
ing. So much so, I don’t
know who had called the
meeting, when and where.
I don’t have any knowledge
about it. It is Greek to me,”
Justice Kakru wrote.
Sacramento (10-7). Clint
Capela pulled down 14
rebounds for the Hawks
(11-7).
Donovan Mitchell scored
34 points to lead the
Cleveland Cavaliers over
Portland 114-96 and stretch
their win streak to four
games.
The Cavs improved to 8-1
at home and 12-6 overall as
Darius Garland had 24
points and 12 assists while
Jarrett Allen added 24
points and 13 rebounds.
DeMar DeRozan scored
36 points and added eight
assists to lead the Chicago
Bulls over host Milwaukee
118-113, dropping the
Bucks to 12-5 despite 36
points, 11 rebounds and
seven assists from Giannis
Antetokounmpo.
T-WOLVES DEFEAT
INDIANA PACERS
Karl-Anthony Towns had
23 points, 11 rebounds and
eight assists while Rudy
Gobert contributed 21
points and 16 rebounds in
Minnesota’s 115-101 victo-
ry over Indiana Pacers.
— AFP
RASHID, VEER
BEST INDIANS AT
12TH IN DHAKA
Dhaka, Nov. 24: India’s
Rashid Khan and Veer
Ahlawat shot identical
two-under 69 to be tied
12th at the end of the
first day at the
Bangabandhu Cup Golf
Bangladesh Open at the
Kurmitola Golf Club
here on Thursday.
The Indian duo were
seven shots behind
Thailand’s Itthipat
Buranatanyarat, who
fired a six-under-par 65
to take the lead.
Among other Indians,
Khalin Joshi and Aman
Raj carded one-under 70
each to be tied 17th,
while S. Chikkarangappa
and SSP Chawrasia with
even par 71 each were
tied 28th.
Divyanshu Bajaj and
Udayan Mane with 72
each were tied 44th and
Karandeep Kochhar (73)
was tied 59th. Viraj
Madappa (74) was tied
69th, while Honey
Baisoya (77) was tied
88th. — PTI
ADAM TAKES
EARLY LEAD AT
AUSTRALIA PGA
Brisbane, Nov. 24:
Adam Scott shot a 5-
under 66 on Thursday to
take an early one-stroke
lead at the Australian
PGA championship at
Royal Queensland.
Scott was playing in the
same early-morning
group as British Open
champion Cameron
Smith, who was two
strokes behind after a 68,
and Ryan Fox, a close
runner-up to Rory
McIlroy on the European
tour’s order of merit this
season, who had a 72.
The 35-year-old Fox is
No.27 in the world after
ending 2021 at No.213. He
won two European tour
events and had four run-
ner-up finishes this year.
Nicolai Hojgaard shot
68 while his 21-year-old
identical twin Rasmus
Hojgaard had a 69. The
Belgian siblings made
last year by winning
back-to-back tourna-
ments. — AP
pg 15
David Castaneda Munoz of Sreenidi Deccan Football
Club celebrates his goal against TRAU FC in their I-
League match at the Deccan Arena in Aziznagar near
Hyderabad on Thursday.
Sreenidi FCbegin
with win at home
Hyderabad, Nov. 24: saved by home side goal-
Sreenidi Deccan FC regis- keeper Aryan Lamba.
tered a 1-0 win against Just as the half looked to
TRAU FC in their I- be ending goalless, the
League match at the hosts found the net in the
newly-inaugurated 41st minute through
Deccan Arena in Castaneda. Sreenidi
Aziznagar on Thursday. earned a free-kick 25
Playing their first match yards from goal and the
at the new home venue, Colombian placed it right
Sreenidi Deccan took the into the bottom corner to
lead in the 41st minute give Bishorjit Singh no
through David Castaneda chance.
Munoz, which ultimately The home side almost
proved to be the difference doubled their lead two
between the two teams. minutes after the restart,
It was Sreenidi’s second with Gabriel in the thick
win on the bounce after of the action once more.
their loss in the first Cutting in from the right
round. On the other hand, side, he entered the penal-
TRAU suffered their first ty area and blazed his shot
defeat of the season. narrowly over the cross-
The first half began bar.
slowly, with both sides cre-
ating chances few and far
between. Both the teams
worked hard to create
scoring opportunities, but
Sreenidi’s Asraf Ali
Mondal almost found the
net in the 58th minute but
his shot hit the upright
and Gabriel could not
the defensive lines on make good use of the
either side was compact rebound.
and solid. In the second match of
In the 10th minute, a the day in Mumbai,
rebound from a free-kick Kenkre FC and Churchill
fell to Komron Tursunov Brothers played out a 1-1
at the edge of the penalty draw at the Cooperage sta-
area, but his shot did not dium.
pose any major threat. An early goal for Kenkre
Two minutes
Sreenidi’s
later,
Rosenberg
through Azfar Noorani
(6th minute) was can-
Gabriel volleyed a first-
time effort from a cross
celled out late in the sec-
ond-half by
straight at the goalkeeper. Lalkhawpuimawia (84th)
Salam Johnson Singh as Churchill Brothers
got TRAU’s best chance of finally opened their
the half in the 19th account with one point in
minute but his shot was their third outing.
NEIL NAMED ADVISOR TO
HYDERABAD FC BOARD
Hyderabad, Nov. 24: Indian Super League’s defend-
ing champions Hyderabad Football Club announced
the appointment of Neil Cabral, former executive
director and board member of
Himalaya Wellness (Worldwide),
erstwhile The Himalaya Drug
Company, as an advisor to its
board of directors.
“I’m extremely pleased to wel-
come Neil Cabral as advisor to our
Board,” said Varun Tripuraneni,
Principal Owner of Hyderabad
FC.
“His deep knowledge and proven
leadership of over 30 years in the
industry coupled with his finan-
Neil Cabral
cial expertise will definitely enhance the diversity of
thought, perspectives, and skillsets required to guide
and oversee the next chapter of our growth. I look
forward to working with him closely as we continue
to execute our strategic objectives, drive profitability
and enhance the brand value of Hyderabad FC,” he
added.
“I am truly humbled to have been given the oppor-
tunity. Hyderabad FC is founded, nurtured, and run
like a tight ship by Varun Tripuraneni, who comes
from the Founder’s family of Spartek, which revolu-
tionised the ceramic tile industry and is a major
brand in building materials in India,” Cabral said.
CROATIANS BEAT SPANIARDS 2-0,
MOVE TO DAVIS CUP SEMIFINALS
Malaga, Nov. 24: Marin Cilic rallied to defeat Pablo
Carreno Busta in a three-hour match and send Croatia
into the Davis Cup semifinals. Cilic trailed 1-4 in the
decisive tiebreaker before coming back to clinch a 5-7, 6-
3, 7-6 (5) victory after 3 hours, 13 minutes and secure a 2-
0 win for Croatia over Spain.
Borna Coric upset Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 7-6 (4) in
the first singles match to give Croatia the lead. It was
Croatia’s first Davis Cup victory over Spain after three
previous defeats, and sets up a semifinal against
Australia. “It’s an incredible effort by the team,” Cilic
said, adding, “It’s such a great privilege and honour to
bring another point for the team Croatia and seal the
win against the always strong Spanish team.” — AP

DECCAN CHRONICLE | HYDERABAD | FRIDAY | 25 NOVEMBER 2022
Short passes
England’s Harry Kane takes
part in drills during a training
session on Thursday. — AP
Captain Kane is
fit to face USA
G areth Southgate says
England captain Harry
Kane is fit to face the United
States on Friday after his
World Cup injury scare.
Kane suffered an ankle
injury in the second half of
England’s 6-2 win against
Iran in their Group B opener
in Doha on Monday.
The Tottenham striker,
who has a long history of
ankle problems, was sent for
a scan on Wednesday, spark-
ing fears he might be set for
a spell on the sidelines.
But England goalkeeper
Jordan Pickford had eased
those concerns when he
revealed Kane took part in
training on Wednesday.
And Three Lions boss
Southgate on Thursday said
Kane would be available for
selection against the USA in
their group game. “Harry is
fine. He has worked slightly
separately from the group
but all good for Friday
night,” Southgate said.
Qatar must find
‘A Game’: Coach
Q atar coach Felix Sanchez
hopes his team can
bring their “A Game”
against Senegal as the host
nation battle to avoid setting
an unwanted World Cup
record.
Defeat on Friday would
mean the earliest-ever exit
for a host nation — South
Africa also went out at the
group stage in 2010 — but
were still alive heading into
their third match.
Reigning Asian champions
Qatar became the first hosts
to lose their opening game
after freezing in a dispirit-
ing 2-0 defeat to Ecuador.
Sanchez backed his players
to overcome their stage
fright against African cham-
pions Senegal and show
their quality.
“We hope that now we are
free from all the pressure
that we had in the opening
match,” he said on
Thursday.
“I hope we can compete
and bring our ‘A Game’ and
show that we can be more
competitive than we were
the other day.”
Live on TV
Wales vs Iran
from 3.30 pm
Qatar vs Senegal
from 6.30 pm
Netherlands vs Ecuador
from 9.30 pm
England vs USA
from 12.30 am (Saturday)
on Sports 18
INDIA EDGE FRANCE TO ENTER
SEMIS OF WORLD TEAM CHESS
Jerusalem, Nov. 24: India
defeated France in a thrilling
tie-breaker to enter the semfi-
nals of the FIDE World Team
Chess Championship here.
After the two sets of matches
were shared by the teams by
a 3-1 margin, the Indians won
the blitz tie-break 2.5-.1.5.
Nihal Sarin and S.L.
Narayanan did the star turn
with victories over Jules
Moussard and Laurent
Fressinet respectively early
on Thursday.
Vidit Gujrathi, India’s top
player, held the top French
star Maxime Vachier-
Lagrave to a draw in 45
Regd. No. HQ/SD/509/2021-23
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●FRANCE ● GERMANY ● GHANA ● IRAN ● JAPAN ● KOREA REPUBLIC ● MEXICO ● MOROCCO ● NETHERLANDS ● POLAND ● PORTUGAL
● QATAR ● SAUDI ARABIA ● SENEGAL ● SERBIA ● SPAIN ● SWITZERLAND ● TUNISIA ● UNITED STATES ● URUGUAY ● WALES
SON ECLIPSED
South Korean talisman fails to shine in Uruguay stalemate
Uruguay 0 COACH ENRIQUE
South Korea 0
Doha, Nov. 24: The
returning Son Heung-
min could not inspire
South Korea as the
Tigers of Asia started
their World Cup Group H
campaign with a 0-0 draw
against Uruguay in
Qatar on Thursday.
Uruguay captain Diego
Godin and Real Madrid
midfielder Federico
Valverde came closest to
breaking the deadlock
when hitting the wood-
work in each half, while
Hwang Ui-jo wasted
Korea’s best chance, sky-
ing a shot from 10 yards
out with only the goal-
keeper to beat.
It was a game of few
chances as neither Son
on one side nor
Uruguay’s fearsome
strikers Luis Suarez,
Darwin Nunez and
Edinson Cavani could
find a clear opening.
With matches against
Ghana and group
favourites Portugal to
come, both sides seemed
to be more intent on not
losing than pushing for
the win at the Education
City stadium in Doha.
The early part of the
match settled into a pre-
dictable pattern as Korea
made a fast start and
Uruguay sat deep, soak-
ing up the pressure with-
out giving anything
away.
In particular, the South
Americans kept Korean
danger man Son quiet.
Uruguay created the
first clear chances as two
raking crossfield balls
from centre-back Jose
Maria Gimenez picked
out runners coming in at
an angle.
Valverde clipped the
first over the bar, while
Nunez failed to make
proper contact on the
second from just eight
yards out with the goal at
his mercy.
Just past the hour
mark, Korea should have
been in front after a slick
passing move opened up
the Uruguay defence but
unmarked 10 yards out,
Hwang fired the ball high
over the bar.
Godin then went closest
to scoring when he hit
the inside of the post
with a header from
Valverde’s outswinging
corner.
Neither side could get
their game changers into
the match, with Son
clearly not fully fit, play-
ing his first match since
surgery on a broken bone
around his eye suffered
at the beginning of the
month against Marseille
in the Champions
League.
On the other side,
Suarez, Uruguay’s all-
time record goalscorer,
was a peripheral figure
and was replaced by fel-
low veteran Cavani mid-
way through the second
period.
— AFP
moves while the experienced
K. Sasikiran was beaten by
Maxime Lagarde in 55 moves
but the wins by Sarin and
Narayanan did the trick.
Earlier in the first of the
two matches, Gujrathi pulled
off a win over Lagrave and
Narayanan defeated
Fressinet. Draws for Sarin
and Sasikiran ensured a com-
prehensive 3-1 win.
France turned the tables in
second match with Lagrave
beating Gujrathi and
Fressinet getting the better of
Naryanan. The two wins and
the 3-1 helped the Frenchman
level the tie. — PTI
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Ghana during their World
Cup Group ‘H’ match in Doha on Thursday.
High 5: Ronaldo makes history
Doha, Nov. 24: Cristiano
Ronaldo became the first
man to score at five World
Cups on Thursday when he
scored the opening goal
from the penalty spot in
Portugal’s 3-2 win over
Ghana.
The 37-year-old set the
record when he smashed
home his spot-kick in the
65th minute at the 974
Stadium in Doha to send
Fernando Santos’ team to a
victory which moved them
top of Group H, two points
ahead of Uruguay and
South Korea.
Joao Felix and rising star
Rafael Leao made sure of
the win after Andre Ayew’s
leveller had briefly threat-
ened to ruin Ronaldo’s
party.
Osman Bukari netted in
the final minute for Ghana
but the tournament’s low-
est-ranked side couldn’t
India start WC auditions under Dhawan
Auckland, Nov. 24:
Copping a lot of flak for
their archaic approach in
T20Is, the Indian cricket
team are expected to turn a
new leaf in a different for-
mat as they take on New
Zealand in a three-match
ODI series, which will
mark the start of prepara-
tions for next year’s World
Cup. India had endured a
nightmare back in 2020 in
New Zealand when Virat
Kohli’s side was blanked 0-
3 in one of the most lop-
sided series where the
bowling effort was below
par.
Exactly 11 months are left
for the marquee event in
India and the series start-
ing on Friday will give the
team an initial idea about
some of the middle-order
slots and also the bowling
arsenal in India’s armoury.
With five seniors — skip-
per Rohit Sharma, the tal-
Portugal 3 time at Old Trafford.
(Ronaldo 65-pen, Felix 78,
Leao 80)
Ghana 2 fect chance to do so in the
(Ayew 73, Bukari 89)
pull off a shock and sit bot-
tom of the group.
Ronaldo overtakes Pele
and Germans Uwe Seeler
and Miroslav Klose, who
all scored in four World
Cups, after being brought
down by Mohammed
Salisu and taking the
penalty himself.
Manchester United
announced this week that
Ronaldo will leave with
immediate effect after he
criticised the club and
manager Erik ten Hag in a
TV interview, but he has
showed no signs of strain
ismanic Virat Kohli, team
management’s favourite
K.L. Rahul, pace spearhead
Jasprit Bumrah and No.1
ODI all-rounder Ravindra
Jadeja not part of this
series, the management
can only get a rough idea
in which direction the
team would move.
All these big guns will
now play a lot of of ODI
cricket, starting with the
Bangladesh series, and the
team combination will
undergo a sea change once
they all come back in due
course.
Just like the dilemmas of
T20Is, Indian coach Rahul
Dravid will have a lot on
his plate but for now, his
understudy V.V.S. Laxman
also needs to do a tight
rope walking as far as this
series is concerned.
Dhawan will be close to 38
during next year’s World
Cup and in ODIs in the last
— AP
from the bitter end to his
All the attention pre-
match was on Ronaldo and
whether he could break the
record and he had the per-
10th minute.
Mohammed Kudus gave
the ball away sloppily in
midfield and Otavio
slipped Ronaldo through,
only for the once clinical
finisher to miscontrol the
pass and clatter into
Ghana goalkeeper
Lawrence Ati-Zigi as he
tried to poke home.
And shortly afterwards
Ronaldo headed Raphael
Guerreiro’s deep cross
wide from close range, a
chance that in his prime he
would have been almost
guaranteed to score.
He did have the ball in
the net just after the half-
hour mark when it
Shikhar
Dhawan
trains in
Auckland on
Thursday.
— BCCI
two years, he has scored
nearly 1000 runs. This is
the only international for-
mat he plays. Since T20 got
more precedence, his
appearances has been pret-
BACKS SPAIN TO
STAY HUNGRY
Doha, Nov. 24: Luis
Enrique believes Spain’s
hunger will only
increase after
recorded the country’s
they
biggest ever World Cup
victory in an emphatic 7-
0 thrashing of Costa Rica
on Wednesday.
The 2010 champions
dominated their oppo-
nents, who did not man-
age a shot at goal in the
whole match, and in
their second group game
on Sunday face a desper-
ate Germany, who were
beaten 2-1 by Japan earli-
er.
Spain’s previous record
victory was a 6-1 thrash-
ing of Bulgaria at the
1998 World Cup, a match
in which Luis Enrique
scored for La Roja.
However, while the
Spain coach thinks that
too much flattery can
weaken a team’s resolve,
he is confident his side
will stay grounded and
focused.
“I have no doubt that
we will play the next
game with the same spir-
it, if not more,” Luis
Enrique told reporters.
“I have no doubts at all.
It’s true that praise weak-
ens you, but don’t worry
about this group of play-
ers, I see them every day.
“(It won’t happen)
because there will be
changes in the line-up,
because they want to
compete, to work hard.
“I doubt that would
happen, it’s never hap-
pened, this is a group of
people ready to do things
in the right way.”
The coach said he was
surprised Germany lost
their opening Group E
game, although he recog-
nised Japan’s threat.
— AFP
dropped to him in the area,
but he was harshly judged
by referee Ismail Elfath to
have pushed Alexander
Djiku before turning and
stroking home a classy fin-
ish.
Ronaldo was in fact
Portugal’s only real goal
threat against what on
paper is Group H’s weakest
team, who were backed by
an enthusiastic set of sup-
porters who put on more of
a show in the stands than
their workaday players ini-
tially did on the pitch.
Ajax midfielder Kudus
had the crowd briefly off
their feet 10 minutes after
the break when he burst
forward against an
exposed Portugal defence
and let off a powerful shot
which in the end sailed
comfortably wide of Diogo
Costa’s left-hand post.
— AFP
ty sporadic.
But to put things in per-
spective, both Kohli and
Rohit have played one third
of the ODIs that Dhawan
played as they concentrat-
pg 16
Belgium ride on
Batshuayi strike
Doha, Nov. 24: Michy
Batshuayi’s first-half goal
proved enough for a
below-par Belgium to
squeeze to a 1-0 win over a
Canada side playing their
first World Cup match for
36 years on Wednesday.
Belgium goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois saved
Alphonso Davies’ early
penalty and Batshuayi
opened the scoring
against the run of play in
the 44th minute.
John Herdman’s
Canada, roared on by
their vocal support, also
had another strong penal-
ty appeal turned down and
dominated the second half
to no avail.
Belgium were without
injured record goalscorer
Romelu Lukaku and
struggled throughout with
the pace of Canada’s for-
wards.
But the 2018 semi-final-
ists clung on to move top
of what could prove a
hotly-contested Group F
after Croatia and
Morocco’s goalless draw
earlier on Wednesday.
“Was it technically our
‘worst game’, yes, when
you measure the perform-
ance,” admitted Belgium
coach Roberto Martinez.
“Was it the ‘worst game’,
Belgium’s Michy Batshuayi celebrates after scoring
against Canada during their World Cup Group ‘F’ match
in Doha on Wednesday.
EMBOLO LIFTS SWISS TO
WIN OVER CAMEROON
Doha, Nov. 24: Breel
Embolo scored against
the country of his birth
as Switzerland defeated
Cameroon 1-0 to make a
winning start to their
World Cup campaign on
Thursday.
Embolo struck three
minutes into the second
half as Switzerland
secured a vital three
points in a group that
includes tournament
favourites Brazil and
Serbia. Cameroon have
now lost their last eight
World Cup matches
going back to 2002.
Roger Milla was pre-
sented with an award
before kick-off as the old-
est goalscorer in World
Cup history, a reminder
of past glories for
Cameroon who have won
ed more on Tests and T20Is
with World
Championship and back-
Test
to-back T20 World Cups
lined up.
In the meantime,
Shubman Gill has shown
his prowess as an ODI
opener in a dozen of games
he has played so far with
an average of 57 plus and a
strike-rate of 100 plus.
But even in this format,
Dhawan has been a cau-
tious starter in Powerplays
and then picked up pace.
Team’s philosophy will be
the main thing along with
a decision whether the
Delhi southpaw would be
persisted for next one year
with Rohit, Rahul and Gill
also there.
Coming back to the
series, there are three 50-
over games in a space of
five days and fast bowlers’
recovery period will be
paramount. — PTI
Belgium
(Batshuayi 44)
1
Canada 0
no, because we won.
“We defended well and
we needed our goalkeep-
er.”
Canada will head into
their game against
Croatia on Sunday still
full of confidence after
more than matching the
team ranked second in the
world, who next face
Morocco.
“They showed tonight
that they do belong here.
It’s been a long time since
we’ve been back,” said
Herdman, the first coach
to lead teams at women’s
and men’s World Cups.
“I’m sure they (the fans)
walked away proud and
feeling like we are a foot-
ball nation.
“I think this group stage
is wide open now after the
Croatia-Morocco result.”
The North Americans,
matching Belgium in for-
mation by playing three at
the back, made a bright
start and Jonathan
David’s low effort was
deflected wide.
— AFP
— AP
Switzerland 1
(Embolo 48)
Cameroon 0
just one game since
reaching the quarter-
finals 32 years ago.
Cameroon coach
Rigobert Song opted for
the in-form Eric Maxim
Choupo-Moting to lead
the attack in place of
usual captain Vincent
Aboubakar.
African teams had
made an encouraging
start in Qatar after all
five failed to get past the
group stage in 2018, but
Cameroon will regret not
making more of a first
half they controlled.
— PTI
SEVEN INDIAN
BOXERS CRUISE
INTO FINALS
New Delhi, Nov. 24:
Indian boxers continued
their dominance at the
youth men’s and
women’s World
Championships as seven
of them stormed into the
finals after stunning vic-
tories in La Nucia, Spain.
Youth Asian champions
Vanshaj and Vishwanath
Suresh marched into the
summit clash along with
Ashish to maintain all-
win record for India in
the men’s semifinals,
whereas Kirti (+81kg),
Bhawna Sharma (48kg),
Devika Ghorpade (52kg)
and Ravina (63kg)
advanced to the finals in
the women’s section.
Bhawna and Devika
will fight for gold on
Friday along with three
male boxers. — PTI