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Monday, December 05, 2022
XCVIII NO. 288
NEW DELHI/METRO
Monday, December 05, 2022
n VOL. XCVIII NO. 288
PM to brief leaders on
G20 at all-party meet
Saubhadra Chatterji
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Nar-
endra Modi will chair a meeting
with heads of all major parties
on Monday to evolve a political
consensus on India’s goals dur-
ing its first presidency of the
G20, according to people aware
of the matter.
The meeting will also get a
detailed briefing on the presi-
dency goals for the leaders
across party lines before seek-
ing their suggestions. Unlike
other all-party meetings, only
the chiefs of political parties
have been invited for the brief-
ing at the Rashtrapati Bhavan
Cultural Centre on Monday at
5pm, the people quoted above
said.
An official, who asked not to
be named, indicated that India’s
G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant will
brief the leaders on the prepara-
tions and the objectives of this
unique opportunity before the
PM speaks about the overall
goals.
Apart from discussions on
key subjects that would be
decided over the course of time,
the Narendra Modi government
will showcase the Indian model
for development and potential
solution of issues, push the
country’s position as a contribu-
tor to the shaping of the agenda
while aiming for a global lead-
PENTAGON WARNS India celebrates maritime efforts
CHINA: WILL KEEP
WAR-FIGHTING
EDGE IN REGION
WASHINGTON: Secretary of
Defense Lloyd Austin said the US
is building a more lethal force
posture in the Indo-Pacific as
part of efforts to make sure
China doesn’t dominate the
region the way it intends to.
China is “the only country with
both the will and, increasingly,
the power to reshape its region
and the international order to
suit its authoritarian preferen-
ces”, Austin said on Saturday.
“So, let me be clear — we’re not
going to let that happen.” He said
the US would “sustain and
sharpen our war-fighting advan-
tages” and bolster its force “to
build a more lethal, mobile and
distributed force posture”. →P11
HOSPITALISED ICON
PELE SAYS HE IS
‘STRONG, WITH
A LOT OF HOPE’
SAO PAULO: Soccer legend Pele
is in stable condition at a hospi-
tal in Brazil as he receives
treatment for a respiratory
infection, according to a state-
ment issued Saturday from the
hospital. “I want to keep every-
one calm and positive,” Pele
said in a statement.
“I’m strong, with a lot
of hope.” He was
moved to palliative
care as he was “no
longer responding
to chemotherapy”
to treat colon
cancer. →P14
{ DEFENDING CHAMPIONS AT PLAY }
Giroud’s record goal, stunning Mbappe brace
against Poland send France into quarter-finals
Dhiman Sarkar
letters@hindustantimes.com
DOHA: This may be the World
Cup where Lionel Messi breaks
his duck, one from where Cristi-
ano Ronaldo ‘Siuuus’ into Saudi
Arabia and Neymar Jr helps Bra-
zil do what they do best. But
about this there is no doubt:
there is a new showman in town.
And he is bossing this edition.
Step forward, Kylian Mbappe.
He was firing on all cylinders
yet again, while the ever-reliable
Olivier Giroud netted a goal that
sent him into historybooks as
the leading scorer for his nation,
as defending champions France
cruised into the quarter-finals
with a 3-1 victory against Poland.
With two goals on Sunday,
Mbappe now has two more than
everyone in the race for the
Pushing for political consensus
PM Modi will chair a meeting with heads of parties today
WHO IS INVITED? WHY IS IT BEING HELD?
The chiefs of all major
political parties have been
invited for the briefing
WHERE AND WHEN?
Rashtrapati Bhavan
Cultural Centre on
Monday at 5pm
ership role and to emerge as the
voice of the Global South in its
first G20 presidency.
The G20 meeting in Delhi
next year will also be the largest
such gathering as New Delhi
will demonstrate the country’s
successes such as the public
digital infrastructure, the coun-
try as the pharmacy of the
world and robust financial
inclusion model to influence the
world in lifestyle for environ-
ment, climate financing, energy
transition and women-led
development — areas in which
Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudhari,
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar and Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen BS Raju pay
homage at the National War Memorial on the occasion of Navy Day in New Delhi on Sunday.
Iran disbands morality
police that sparked stir
TEHRAN: Iran has scrapped its
morality police after more than
two months of protests triggered
by the arrest of Mahsa Amini for
allegedly violating the country’s
strict female dress code, local
media said Sunday.
Women-led protests, labelled
“riots” by the authorities, have
swept Iran since the 22-year-old
Iranian of Kurdish origin died in
custody on September 16, three
days after her arrest by the
morality police in Tehran. Dem-
onstrators burnt their manda-
tory head scarves and shouted
anti-government slogans.
“Morality police have nothing
to do with the judiciary and have
been abolished,” Attorney Gen-
France’s Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud celebrate a goal.
Golden Boot.
France march on to the quar-
ter-finals and are on course to
become the first team to defend
the title since Brazil 60 years ago.
The idea behind the meeting is to
evolve a political consensus. Party
leaders will get a detailed briefing
on India’s G20 presidency goals.
The party heads will also be asked
for their suggestions, people
aware of the matter said
The G20 logo illuminates
the Sujata Stupa in Bodh
Gaya on Sunday. PTI
India has developed a robust
structure in the last seven years.
On December 1, when India
officially took over the presi-
dency, Modi mentioned how it
was coming at a time of “crisis
and chaos in the world”.
“The symbol of the lotus in
the G20 logo is a representation
of hope in these times. No mat-
ter how adverse the circumstan-
ces, the lotus still blooms. Even
if the world is in a deep crisis,
we can still progress and make
the world a better place,” he
continued on →11
SINCE THE 1979
ISLAMIC
REVOLUTION,
THERE HAS BEEN
MONITORING OF
THE STRICT DRESS
CODE FOR BOTH
MEN AND WOMEN
eral Mohammad Jafar Montaz-
eri was quoted as saying by the
ISNA news agency.
His comment came at a reli-
gious conference where he
responded to a participant who
asked “why the morality police
were being shut down”, the
AFP
“This team has been united
from the beginning and obvi-
ously a result like this one con-
firms that,” France coach Didier
Deschamps said. →P13
‘YOUR SUPPORT
WILL BE SOURCE
OF STRENGTH’:
MODI TO BIDEN
NEW DELHI: Two days after US
President Joe Biden said he
would back “my friend Prime
Minister Modi” during the G20
presidency, the Indian PM
thanked him for the remarks
and said it was important that
everyone worked together.
“Thank you, POTUS. Your
valued support will be a source
of strength for India’s G-20
Presidency. It is important we
all work together to build a bet-
ter planet,” Modi posted in
response to Biden’s tweet from
Friday. HTC
TRUST MY FRIEND
MODI TO BRING
US ALL TOGETHER,
SAYS FRENCH PREZ
LONDON: French President
Emmanuel Macron on Sunday
expressed confidence in India
taking over the presidency of the
G20, saying that he has trust that
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
would bring everyone together
to build a peaceful and a sustain-
able world. India assumed the
G20 Presidency on Thursday.
Tweeting a picture of himself
and PM Modi, Macron endorsed
the theme of “One Earth, One
Family, One Future” that India
has chosen to work on during its
presidency. →P8
ANI
report said.
Since the 1979 Islamic Revolu-
tion that overthrew Iran’s
US-backed monarchy, there has
been some kind of official moni-
toring of the strict dress code for
both men and women.
But under hardline president
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the
morality police was established
to “spread the culture of mod-
esty and hijab”. The units were
set up by Iran’s Supreme Council
of the Cultural Revolution.
They began their patrols in
2006 to enforce the dress code
which also requires women to
wear long clothes and forbids
shorts, ripped jeans and other
clothes deemed immodest. →P11
Messi fires again
to take Argentina
into the last eight
DOHA : Lionel Messi
scored his first goal in a
World Cup knockout
round as Argentina beat
off an Australian fight-
back to win 2-1 and reach
the quarter-finals.
The Argentina captain
marked his 1,000th
appearance with his
789th goal to open the
scoring in the first half.
Julian Alvarez made it
two near the hour mark
to set up a last-eight
clash next Friday with
the Netherlands. →P14
 NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022

Problematics
Which game is smarter,
poker or teen patti?
Kabir Firaque
he Hollywood caper The Sting (1973) includes a memorable depiction of a

T poker game, in which a lot of cheating is going on. Cinema must, however,
wait until we are done with the first puzzle of the day.
This too is about poker, and the rules of the game now may help you warm
up for The Sting later.

In a poker game,
every player is
dealt a hand of
five cards, and the
strongest hand
still in play wins.
So which combina-
tion is stronger
than the other? In
poker’s ranking
system, the
strongest possible
hand is a straight
flush, in which all
five cards are of
the same suit,
with their ranks
in sequence.
If two players hold a straight flush, the one with the higher top card wins. The above example of
A-K-Q-J-10 is the strongest possible, also called a royal flush. It beats all other straight flush
combinations, such as 9-8-7-6-5 of one suit. Again, 9-8-7-6-5 is better than 6-5-4-3-2. And so on.
Next in the hierarchy is “four of a kind”, which needs no explanation.
Four 10s (the fifth
card can be
anything) is a
stronger hand than
four 9s, for example,
while four aces is
even better. But
each of these
combinations would
rank lower than a
straight flush,
irrespective of
whether the cards in
the straight flush
were low or high.
In India, there’s a card game similar to poker in some ways, yet different. Teen patti involves three cards
per hand, compared to poker’s five. Also, while teen patti does not allow players to change any of the
cards they have been dealt, poker gives them the option to discard cards and draw fresh ones.
In teen patti, the strongest combination is taken as the “trio” or “trail”. It means the player has three
cards of the same rank, such as A-A-A or 7-7-7. The second-best combination is the straight flush (three
cards in sequence, same suit).

#Puzzle 15.1
In poker, the straight flush’s top rank implies that it has a lower probability of appearing than four of a
kind, which is ranked lower. On the other hand, in teen patti, the trio (three of a kind) ranks higher than a
straight flush, which implies that the trio has a lower probability of appearing than a straight flush.
Is the ranking system flawed in one of the games, or both?

#Puzzle 15.2
In five-card draw poker, any player can, if they wish, discard one, two or
three cards from their original five, and draw the top one, two or three
cards (as the case may be) from the remainder of the deck.
In the sequence from The Sting, the cards have been secretly set up by the
cheat Doyle Lonnegan (Robert Shaw) so that each player gets a hand he has
predetermined. Henry Gondorff (Paul Newman) has been dealt three 3s and
two other cards, while Lonnegan has two 9s and three other cards.
Hoping to improve his hand to four 3s, Henry discards a certain number of
cards and draws the same number of cards from the top of the remaining 42
cards. Lonnegan, then, discards a certain number of cards and draws as many.
Henry ends with four 3s and a fifth card, while Lonnegan’s final hand is four
9s and a fifth card. Exactly as Lonnegan had planned. But he wouldn’t have
known beforehand whether Henry would decide to discard-and-draw one
card or two cards.
After the first 10 cards had been dealt, in what order were the top few cards in the remainder
of the deck arranged?

MAILBOX: LAST WEEK’S SOLVERS

Hello Sir,
#Puzzle 14.1 Jammerbugt First, we call Schiltz S, Quesques Q,
Jammerbugt J, and Zamosc Z.
Then, if we look at the given
120 distances,
0 5402 + 7202 = 81,000 = 9002
0

720

So, Q, S, and J form a right triangle,

90

with S at the right angle.

Also, 540 + 960 = 1500
960 Zamosc So, Q, S, and Z lie on a straight line.
Quesques 540 Schiltz
Now, J, S, and Z also form a right
1500 triangle, with S at the right angle.
So, 9602 + 7202 = 144,000 = 12002

km from Jammerbugt to Zamosc.

So, the curious birds would be flying 1,200 — Yojit Manral, Faridabad

JQ form another right

ately, have observed that the routes JZ and
Naresh Dhillon and Rina Shri, writing separ
angle at J.
below uses the
st/puzzle received until December 1, the one
Among the attempts at the anagram conte
fewest residual letters:

#Puzzle 14.2
Hi Kabir,
+ (TWA)
ARGENTINA + WALES = SENEGAL + IRAN
(TWA ) in the anag ram.
Three residual letters you read through it, but
puzzles is that they appear difficult when
The interesting thing I notice about your
seem easier when you start solving. — Amardeep Singh, Meerut

Mahesh Mundhra
on (Gurgaon), Karthik Shankar (Delhi),
Solved #Puzzle 14.1: Naresh Dhill a Exten sion) , Rajesh Haridas Asher, Nipun
abad ), Rina Shri (Noid
(Indirapuram), Yojit Manral (Farid rut), Madhuri
ajan (Bengaluru), Amardeep Singh (Mee
Bamania (Mumbai), Mudit Singhal, Natr Agar wal (Bay Area, Califo rnia), Shishir Gupta
ia (Ulhasnagar), Rahul
Patwardhan (Thane), Jaikumar Bhat
(Indore), Prabhjot Singh (Delhi)

Problematics will be back next week. Please send your replies to problematics@hindustantimes.com
hindustantimes.com NEW DELHI/METRO
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Monday, December 05, 2022

50% vote in MCD polls, Private construction

CONG TO HOLD
85TH PLENARY
SESSION IN
FEB NEXT YEAR banned in Delhi-NCR
Saubhadra Chatterji
letters@hindustantimes.com

NEW DELHI: New Congress presi-

dent Mallikarjun Kharge on Sun-
day emphasized on “accounta-
AAP, BJP trade charges Jasjeev Gandhiok
jasjeev.gandhiok@hindustantimes.com

NEW DELHI: Air pollution in

bility from top to bottom” and
sent a clear message to leaders
that they must perform or per-
ish, as the party gears up for the
next general election in 2024.
In his first meeting of the
steering committee as party
chief, Kharge set tasks for the
leadership, demanded more peo-
ple at the ground level, and said:
“Those who are unable to fulfil
the responsibility will have to
give a chance to new colleagues.”
The Congress announced that
the plenary of the All India Con-
gress Committee (AICC) will be
held in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur in
the second half of February
2023. →P7
RAJASTHAN CONG
UNITED, FOCUSED
ON BHARAT JODO
Paras Singh
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: A voter turnout of
around 50% was recorded in the
elections to the 250 municipal
wards in Delhi till 5.30pm on Sun-
day, the run up to which saw a
fierce contest with the Aam Aadmi
Party (AAP) seeking to wrest con-
trol of the city’s civic body from the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),
which has ruled the municipal cor-
poration for 15 years.
These were the first elections
since the Union government
decided to dissolve Delhi’s erst-
while municipal corporations
for the northern, southern and
eastern parts of the Capital, and
reunified them into a single
Municipal Corporation of Delhi
(MCD), whittling down the num-
ber of wards from 272 to 250 in
the process.
No major glitches in elec-
tronic voting machines (EVM)
were reported and the voting
Delhi increased significantly on
Sunday, prompting the Com-
mission for Air Quality Manage-
ment to invoke emergency
measures that include a ban on
all private construction activity.
State governments in the
national capital region may also
consider banning vehicles that
do not conform to latest emis-
sion norms, officials said.
The Air Quality Index (AQI)
in the capital was 407 on Sun-
day, according to the 4pm
national bulletin of the Central
Pollution Control Board, touch-
ing the “severe” category for the
first time in a month.
The commission in an emer-
gency meeting invoked meas-
ures under Stage III of the
Graded Response Action Plan
(Grap) with immediate effect,
which includes a ban on private
construction activity across the
A man casts his vote at a booth in Jamia Nagar on Sunday. SANCHIT KHANNA/HT PHOTO
AQI back in ‘severe’ zone
Delhi’s AQI was 407 on Sunday, touching the ‘severe’
category for the first time since November 4
AQI in Delhi
BANNED IN NCR
CAQM invoked measures 407
Dec 04
under Grap Stg III, which:
Ban all private
construction across NCR
369
Nov 29
Shut brick kilns, hot
mix plants not operating
on clean fuel
336 352
Dec 02
Shut stone crushers Nov 26
Ban mining and all
associated activities
294
Nov 25
CAR CURBS UNDER Under Grap Stage III, states can also ban
CONSIDERATION? BSIII petrol and BSIV diesel vehicles. The
decision on this has not yet been taken
national capital region, closure and its associated activities.
of all brick kilns and hot mix Under Stage III of Grap, states
plants not operating on clean also have the option to enforce a
fuels, closure of all stone crush-
ers in NCR, and a ban on mining
ban on BS III petrol and BS IV
continued on →11

Political parties allege names of Imports dip from 3 of top 10

YATRA, SAYS PILOT passed off peacefully with high
security observed at the 3,360
JAIPUR: Dismissing apprehen- critical booths in 493 locations,
sions of infighting, Congress where more than 25,000 police

supporters not in list of voters suppliers amid global impact

leader Sachin Pilot on Sunday
said the party’s state unit is “fully
united” and focussed on ensur-
ing that the Bharat Jodo Yatra is
successful.
“As far as Rahul (Gandhi) ji’s
Bharat jodo yatra is concerned,
there is complete unanimity in
the party and we are working
together to make it a success,”
Pilot said.
The statement comes days
after a rare show of unity in
which he was seen with chief
minister Ashok Gehlot, despite
an internal rift and a “traitor” jibe
directed at him by the CM. →P7
personnel, nearly 13,000 home
guards and 100 companies of
paramilitary forces were
deployed, officials said.
With these being first major
elections after 2020 Delhi riots,
every fourth booth was desig-
nated to be critical and heavy
security was seen in parts of
Northeast Delhi, Okhla-Shaheen
Bagh as well as parts of Chhatar-
pur, which recently saw a hor-
rific murder.
There were reports that
names of voters in North-East
Delhi and some other areas were
continued on →11
NEW DELHI: People at several
polling stations across Delhi had
to return without casting their
vote in the MCD elections on Sun-
day as their names were allegedly
missing from the voters’ list.
No official count of such vot-
ers was available as the state
election commission (SEC) said
that they did not receive any for-
mal complaint. However, leaders
from the BJP, the Congress and
the AAP alleged that names of
several voters were deliberately
deleted to stop them from exer-
cising their franchise.
Delhi Pradesh Congress Com-
mittee president Anil Chaudhary
was among those who failed to
cast his vote in Kondli. He blamed
the BJP for getting his name
deleted from the list. “It (BJP) did
the same by delimiting wards,
and is doing it now by removing
names from the voters’ list,”
Choudhary, a former MLA, said.
BJP MP from north-east Delhi
Manoj Tiwari also claimed that
names of at least 450 voters in
Subhash Mohalla ward in his
constituency have been deleted
from the voters’ list because they
were BJP supporters.
AAP MLA Vishesh Ravi
demanded re-poll at Karol Bagh
alleging that names of 668 voters
from SP Mukherjee Market, Faiz
Road, was not “added to the
revised electoral list”. →P4
Rajeev Jayaswal
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: India’s merchandise
imports from three out of top 10
trade partners contracted year-
on-year in October – about 10%
from China at $7.8 billion, nearly
5% with the US to $3.5 billion
and 31% from Australia at $1.3
billion – although inbound ship-
ments from Russia surged over
441% at over $3.8 billion, mainly
due to energy imports.
Experts said imports were
down from key destinations due
to two reasons — price correc-
tions of raw materials sourced
from these countries, and world-
wide demand contraction due to
global headwinds such as supply
chain disruptions because of
geopolitical reasons, high infla-
tion and rising interest rates.
Rise of import value from
Russia was because of cheaper
crude oil purchase in large quan-
tities as India needs energy at an
affordable rate to fuel its growth,
they said. India’s top 10 mer-
chandise import origins are
China ($7.8 billion), the United
Arab Emirates ($3.9 billion), the
US ($3.5 billion), Saudi Arabia
($2.7 billion), Russia ($3.8 bil-
lion), Iraq ($2.6 billion), Indone-
sia ($2.3 billion), Singapore
($1.97 billion), South Korea ($1.6
billion) and Australia ($1.3 bil-
lion), according to data for Octo-
ber 2022 overseas trade.
→FULL REPORT ON P12
02 NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022

Page One Plus

New privacy bill may
have redrafted clause
on deemed consent
Deeksha Bhardwaj
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The ministry of elec-
tronics and information technol-
ogy is discussing redrafting the
concept of deemed consent that
it has introduced in the proposed
privacy law, including a possible
plan to provide for more guard-
rails, a person aware of the mat-
ter said.
The proposed data protection
law was floated for public consul-
tation on November 18, and some
changes are already under discus-
sion as feedback pours in.
“The ministry is considering
introducing guardrails around the
clause,” an official familiar with
the matter said, asking not to be
named. “The issues of proportion-
ality and public interest will be bal-
anced in keeping with the recom-
mendations and feedback the min-
istry receives.”
The official added that the
mainstay principle of the Bill is to
ensure protecting personal data
from being misused.
The concept of deemed con-
cept in the proposed law lays
down that personal data can be
processed for a host of purposes,
including in the interest of public
interest, for credit scoring and
network security.
Activists and experts have
said the wording and principle
underpinning this concept
appeared to defeat the purpose
of a privacy law.
While privacy laws such as the
European Union’s GDPR also pro-
vide for a concept similar to
{ FORCING DEALS } IN FOOTSTEPS OF OZ, CANADA
{ MY INDIA } 8 CRITICALLY WOUNDED { SPORT } TAKE LEAD IN THREE-MATCH SERIES { WORLD } WORKING ON TIANGONG SPACE STATION
6 killed, 10 injured as truck Bangladesh beat India by 3 Chinese astronauts return
rams into bus stop in MP one wicket in first ODI after six months in space
deemed consent, referred to as in
legitimate or public interest, their
powers are not as wide as the gov-
ernment’s new Digital Data Pro-
tection Bill, 2022.
The European law includes
additional directives that require
member countries to make sure
such clauses are used while keep-
ing in view that the context they
are used in is “necessary” and
“proportional” to the objectives for
which the privacy protections are At least six people were killed and 10 others wounded, eight of Three Chinese astronauts landed back on earth on Sunday on
being reached around. them critically, when a speeding truck rammed into a group of people board the re-entry capsule of the Shenzhou-14 spacecraft, state
Union IT minister Ashwini standing at a roadside bus stop in Madhya Pradesh’s Ratlam district on Bangladesh secured a one-wicket victory over India in their first broadcaster CCTV reported, bringing to an end a six-month mission on
Vaishnaw in an interview with HT Sunday evening, police said. The incident occurred at a traffic ODI on Sunday with Mehidy Hasan holding his nerve to steer the home China’s space station. The three astronauts – commander Chen Dong
earlier this week said any wording intersection near Satrunda village on Ratlam-Lebad Road, about 30km side to the unlikely win after staring down a deficit of 51 runs with one and teammates Liu Yang and Cai Xuzhe – who had been overseeing the
changes that need to be made to from the Ratlam district headquarters, local officials said. District wicket in hand. He finished on 38 not out from 39 balls with four final, pivotal period of construction at the space station, said they were
the Bill will be considered. “I think collector Narendra Kumar Suryavanshi said six people were killed and 10 boundaries and two sixes and was helped by No. 11 batsman Mustafizur feeling well after landing in audio aired on CCTV. The capsule landed at
it is a wording issue. There are others were wounded. The condition of eight of them is critical, he Rahman, who finished unbeaten on 10 as Bangladesh reached the the Dongfeng site in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous region
many counties that call it deemed added. Superintendent of police (SP) Abhishek Tiwari told news agency winning target of 187-9 in 46 overs. It was Bangladesh’s second at 8.09pm local time, with staff from the space agency declaring the
consent, others call it legitimate PTI that the truck has been impounded. Vishal, one of the injured, told partnership of 50-plus runs for the 10th wicket but the first that entire mission, which began on June 5, a “complete success”. Staff at the
interest. It’s a question of what lan- the news agency that the speeding truck crushed at least 20 people. resulted in a victory. Mehidy’s knock included an element of luck when landing site carried out the exhausted-looking crew one by one and by
guage we are using right now. And According to eyewitnesses, people ran helter-skelter as the truck he survived on 15 after wicketkeeper KL Rahul put down an easy catch just after 9pm all three had safely exited the capsule, CCTV reported.
I think people who understand ploughed into them. A couple of mangled bodies lay scattered on the with Bangladesh still 32 runs away from victory. That drop proved costly The space station represents a significant milestone in China’s three-
this bill have said that this is well road, they said. The truck driver fled from the spot, they said. PTI for India as Bangladesh took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. →P14 decades long manned space programme, first approved in 1992. AGENCIES
within the framework and pro-
vides proper protection to citizens
data. But we can consider alterna-
tive formulations as well,” he said.
The minister added that the Rivers of lava flow in Indonesia and Hawaii
government was looking to intro-
duce the final Bill in the budget
session of Parliament next year.
The proposed privacy law is
now in its fourth iteration. The
new draft has attracted both praise
and criticism, the first for its light-
touch and technology agnostic
approach to regulating a dynamic
space, and the second for the sig-
nificant exemptions it grants to
governments and government
agencies when it comes to using Indonesia’s Mount Semeru erupted on Sunday
the data of individuals. spewing hot ash clouds a mile high and rivers of
lava down its side while sparking the
evacuation of nearly 2,000 people exactly one
year after its last major eruption killed dozens.
The burst from the highest mountain on
Indonesia’s main island of Java, around 800km

NZ to force Big Tech southeast of the capital Jakarta, prompted

authorities to raise the alert status for the
volcano to the highest level. A government

to pay for local news
WELLINGTON: Big Tech firms
such as Google and Meta will
soon be forced to pay media
houses in New Zealand a “fair
price” for any content they use
on their websites according to a
new law, local news reported.
The move will be in line with
similar decisions taken by the
government of Australia and
Canada that require global tech-
nology powerhouses to pay
local media houses for domestic
news that they display on their
websites.
New Zealand broadcasting
minister Willie Jackson told
Stuff.co.nz that the government
will introduce legislation to act
as a “backstop” when big inter-
net platforms did not voluntar-
ily strike deals with media out-
lets. It is likely that Big Tech
firms will be given three to six
months before the mandatory
mediation process kick off, he
added.
“We’ve probably lost 50% of
journalists in the last 10 years.
We’ve got to give hope to the
small players out there. I’m
proud to bring forward this leg-
islation to support them,” he
was quoted as saying by
Stuff.co.nz.
“It’s not fair that the big digi-
tal platforms like Google and
Meta get to host and share local
news for free. It costs to pro-
duce the news and it’s only fair
they pay.”
”The reality is we are talking
about $30m to $50m coming
back into the local market,”
Jackson said.
In March 2021, Australia
became the first country in the
world to enforce a law which
obligates that Google and Face-
book strike deals to compensate
media outlets for news content
they use. The plans were
fiercely opposed by Google and
Facebook, which temporarily
removed all news from its plat-
form in the country. AGENCIES
spokesperson said that the higher alert level
meant local villages were in danger. However,
no casualties or injuries were reported till
Sunday evening, officials said. AFP
Cars snake along a roadway viewing area to see
Mauna Loa’s latest eruption near Hilo, Hawaii.
The world’s largest active volcano burst into life
for the first time in nearly 40 years, spewing
lava and hot ash since November 28, 2022, in a
spectacular display of nature’s fury. Many on
the Big Island of Hawaii are bracing for major
upheaval if the lava slides across a key highway
and blocks the quickest route connecting two
sides of the island. The molten rock could make
the road impassable and force drivers to find
alternate coastal routes in the north and south.
That could add hours to commute times,
doctor’s visits, freight truck deliveries and
delay emergency services in the area. AFP

{ CHHATTISGARH } TRAINING FOR A ROLE ON THE FRONTLINES

The nine ‘Bastar Fighters’ blazing a trail for transgender people

Ritesh Mishra
letters@hindustantimes.com
MANA (RAIPUR): It is 4am, and
the police training centre at Mana
on the outskirts of Raipur, is
beginning to stir. Inside a dimly lit
dormitory with clothes hanging
on off-white walls, 24-year-old
Seema Pradhan is sitting on the
edge of one of the 21 beds lined up
in a row. The sheets are neat, the
pillow uncreased, the blanket
folded in a neat square at the foot
of the bed; Pradhan has been
awake for half an hour. In one of
their hands, is a black shoe, the
other a tube of polish, and as they
shine the shoe, they glance at the
clock every few seconds. Minutes
later, they slip into a perfectly
ironed police uniform, comb their
hair into a braid, take a deep
breath, and step out onto the field
of the 45-acre campus.
The training schedule is rigor-
ous, because the future will not be
easy, a constant battle between life
and death. Pradhan is training to
be a member of the “Bastar Fight-
ers”, a special force of the Chhat-
tisgarh Police announced by chief
minister Bhupesh Baghel in 2020,
which exclusively recruits local
youth from Bastar — those famil-
iar with the region’s culture, lan-
guage and demography — to bat-
tle Maoism in south Chhattisgarh.
But that is not the only reason
they are extraordinary. Pradhan is
part of the first ever batch of nine
transgender people who are train-
ing for a combat role in Chhattis-
garh’s fight against left wing
extremism (LWE).
“Every day when I look at
myself in the mirror wearing a
police uniform, I feel proud of
myself. I always believed I would
rise above what the world thought
I would be, and when I look at that
uniform staring back at me, I
know I have achieved what I
always wanted,” Pradhan says.
‘Bastar Fighters’
According to data gathered by the
Union ministry of home affairs,
8,527 people have been killed in
LWE incidents across India
between 2004 and 2021. Chhattis-
garh — the state most affected by
LWE in India — has deployed a
plethora of agencies over the past
two decades in its bloody fight
against the banned CPI (Maoist).
There was once the controver-
sial Salwa Judum (meaning “puri-
fication hunt” in Gondi), a militia
that was mobilised by the state
government consisting of local
tribal youth, that was banned by
the Supreme Court in 2011. There
is the state police, and the District
Reserve Group (DRG), and the
Central Reserve Police Force
(CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border
Police (ITBP) and Border Security
Force (BSF). Each have had their
own failings.
The central paramilitary forces
draw on personnel from outside
Chhattisgarh, and therefore lan-
guage, demography and morale
have always been a challenge.
DRG was supposed to bridge this
gap, but has come under accusa-
tions of employing far too many
surrendered Maoists to be a
streamlined force.
Enter the Bastar Fighters.
In 2020, the Chhattisgarh gov-
ernment decided to raise a special
unit, and announced a district-
wise recruitment drive with the
aim to bridge the gap between
locals and the police force. “The
force will comprise of local youth,
who are well acquainted with the
terrain, language and the demog-
raphy. Taking forward the govern-
ment’s policy of inclusive develop-
ment in Bastar, this recruitment
has the potential to disrupt the
status quo and will take the fight
to the Naxal’s court. Not only this,
these fighters will aid the govern-
ment in implementing schemes
and development of infrastruc-
ture,” CM Baghel said in 2022.
Police officials said that they
received a total of 53,336 applica-
tions from the seven districts of
Bastar division, of which 37,498
were men, 15,822 were women
and 16 were transgenders. Nine of
the 16 transgender applicants
were recruited on August 15, 2022,
eight of whom are from Kanker,
and one from Bastar.
The nine, however, are not the
first transgender people to be
recruited by the Chhattisgarh
Police — for the first time, another
13 were recruited as constables in
2021 after the Chhattisgarh Con-
stable Recruitment Examination
2019-2020. But the difference is
that they are the first ones to be
training for a role that will put
them on the frontlines.
At the training centre
The dormitory Seema lives in,
exclusively houses the 20 trans-
gender people undergoing train-
ing at the Police Training Centre
right now — the nine Bastar Fight-
ers and the 13 constables. The
training for the specialised force
began on September 17, while
training for the constables has
been underway since June 21.
On the dot at 5am, a trainer
The nine transgender ‘Bastar Fighters’.
begins an attendance count, and
everyone on the field is divided
into small groups for physical
exercise. From 6am to 9am, and
3.30pm to 5.30pm, there are stren-
uous drills in the early winter sun
that includes weapons handling
and firing. Between 9.30am and
1.30pm, the recruits attend classes
indoors, where they receive lec-
tures in law and order, criminol-
ogy, social behaviour, policing and
other subjects.
But their identity isn’t com-
pletely their own; not yet at least.
When they joined, they were
asked to “declare themselves” as
men or women. The question, offi-
cials said, was for logistics. Men
and women train separately, and
with just nine recruits, another set
of classes just for them were
deemed unfeasible. Every one of
the nine ticked the box labelled
“female”, joining the 150 women
trainees at the centre for their
classes and drills.
“All the transgender people
recruited in the special force have
HT PHOTO
declared themselves as female,
hence they attend classes with the
women recruits. This is why only
women are allowed to enter their
hostel. The male recruits are not
allowed access to their living
areas,” said Jitendra Chandra, the
reserve police inspector of Mana
Training Centre.
At 1.30pm, 24-year-old Riya
Mandavi heads back to the dormi-
tory for lunch after a criminology
class. They enter a big hall which
serves as the hostel, quickly
freshen up, and wash their face.
Mandavi says that when they first
arrived at the centre in September,
they were proud, but worried. Dis-
crimination had always been a
part of our lives, and I expected
the experience at the training to
be no different, Mandavi explains.
“But it has been. We live in a
large dormitory which is our hos-
tel. We were concerned about the
facilities that would be provided to
us, but there are five bathrooms
and toilets that are cleaned every
day, and there is furniture for our
daily use. This is more considera-
tion than most of us have seen in
our lives,” Mandavi says.
Officials at the training centre
say that in order to create a “con-
ducive environment”, several sen-
sitisation programmes were held
in the past year. “The day Chhat-
tisgarh Police started recruiting
transgender people in the force,
we began organising sensitisation
programmes for our staff and
even for the other recruits. This
has helped us a great deal; and
thus far, more than 10 such pro-
grammes have been held inside
the camp,” says Nidhi Nag, deputy
superintendent of police, posted at
the centre.
The integration
Well intentioned they may be, but
sensitisation programmes are
often no substitute for lived real-
ity. When the transgender recruits
first stepped into Rita Chaturvedi’s
criminology class, she admits she
felt a tinge of nervousness. “But
that very first day, I realised they
were incredibly integrative and
studious,” Chaturvedi says.
Chaturvedi has been a trainer
at the centre for the past decade,
but she says she has rarely seen
students with a greater zeal to
learn than her nine new students.
“They grasp concepts quickly,
they ask questions, and their curi-
osity inspires me. They make it a
point to mingle with everyone,
and are incredible students,” she
said. “Perhaps it just means more
to them to be here.”
It wasn’t just the teachers that
overcame their initial hesitation.
When Sonia Janghel, a 23-year-
old transgender recruit from
Kanker, first arrived at the train-
ing centre, they felt a sense of
familiar hesitation from the
women around her. But the uni-
form they wore together broke
those walls down eventually. “On
the first day, there were women
who were hesitant to be around
me. But I think it took all of two
days. They began asking questions
and many myths in their minds
cleared up. We had long conversa-
tions and we are now like family,”
Janghel says.
For all of her adolescent life for
instance, Tripti Kurre, a female
recruit of the Bastar Fighters from
Rajnandgaon, said she had been
told to stay away from the third
gender. “We grew up being told
that they would be more aggres-
sive, and would act differently. But
the more time I spend with my
friends here, the more I know my
presumptions were incorrect.”
Next to her, Madhuri Singh
nods her head. “Before they came
here, most of them were street
performers, forced to roam
around in towns and cities. What
they have faced in their lives is
unimaginable, and I only have a
sense of respect for them now.
They are the toughest of us all,”
Singh says.
A road map to the future
Experts say that efforts such as
these, and the enforcement of the
laws in place were key to ending
long-standing discrimination. Sec-
tion 9 of the Transgender Persons
(Protection of Rights) Act, 2019,
states that no establishment shall
discriminate against any trans-
gender person in any matter relat-
ing to employment including,
recruitment, promotion and other
related issues. “This obligates gov-
ernment and private establish-
ments to facilitate separate
resources for them. This act is also
in accordance with the 2014 judg-
ment of Navtej Singh Johar vs
Union of India wherein the
Supreme Court recognised trans-
gender as the third gender,” said
Abhinav K Shukla, professor of
law, Hidayatullah National Law
University.
Third gender activists said that
normalising aspects like recruit-
ment in the police force would act
as a multiplier, and encourage
healthy practices. Vidhya Rajpoot,
president of Chhattisgarh Mitwa
Sankalp Samiti, member of the
Third Gender Welfare Board, and
one of the most prominent trans-
gender activists in Chhattisgarh
said, “The right to gender equality
is enshrined in our fundamental
rights and Chhattisgarh has pre-
sented an exemplary example to
the country. This is a huge success
for us, and there are now so many
others in our community that are
waiting for the next round of
recruitment. We can see change
before our eyes.”
Rajpoot still makes trips to the
Mana Police Training Centre for
sensitisation programmes, and
occassionally checks in on the
new recruits. But there is rarely
any time to have a conversation.
For from 4am in the morning, to
late in the evening, Seema and her
cohort Bastar Fighters train and
study to operate in the most dan-
gerous forests of India, blazing a
trail for those behind them.
“There is hardly ever time to
stop and chat. They have their
futures ahead of them, and that is
the most wonderful thing in the
world,” Rajpoot said.
NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022
Worst Dec air spell only after
mercury dips further: Experts
Jasjeev Gandhiok
jasjeev.gandhiok@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Though Delhi’s pol-
lution levels worsened into the
“severe” zone for the first time in
a month on Sunday, experts said
the worst of the city’s December
phase of bad air is still to come,
and will kick in after a further dip
in temperatures towards the lat-
ter half of the month.
The Capital on Sunday logged
an AQI of 407, the worst since
447 on November 4.
An AQI between 301 and 400 is
classified as “very poor”, and one
above 400 is “severe”. The AQI
readings max out at 500.
Experts said that Delhi usually
sees two broad spells of hazard-
ous air quality: The worst is
between October and November,
driven largely by smoke from
farm fires in upwind Punjab and
Haryana; the next is in the second
half of December and early Janu-
ary, thanks to falling tempera-
tures, calm winds and a low mix-
ing height, all of which combine
to keep pollutants trapped close
to the surface. The latter spiral is
largely on account of Delhi’s own
pollutants, such as dust, vehicu-
lar emissions, open waste burn-
ing and industrial emissions.
Experts said that the deteriora-
Cyclists for dedicated Woman killed after kin’s
lane, better road safety quarrel with neighbour
NEW DELHI: Hundreds of cyclists
from across Delhi-NCR assembled
at Teen Murti Marg in central
Delhi on Sunday morning to pay
homage to Subhendu Banerjee,
50, who died last week after his
cycle was hit by a luxury vehicle.
The group of cyclists
demanded better road safety and
called for dedicated cycle lanes
and improved infrastructure.
A volunteer from Raahgiri
Foundation, an NGO that works
toward safer roads and mobility,
said last week’s incident proves
My Delhi
Another air disaster for Delhi
Good 0-50
Poor 201-300
424
Nov 01
260
Nov 17
tion in AQI over the past few days
shows how fast the air quality
can turn if weather conditions
are unfavourable.
Anumita Roychowdhury,
executive director of research
and advocacy at the Centre for
Science and Environment (CSE),
said forecasting models used by
the Commission for Air Quality
Management (CAQM), were una-
ble to forecast the “severe” air
day. “This shows the weather
can turn adverse quite quickly at
this time of the year, and that
wind speeds can drop suddenly,
leading to local emissions gradu-
that Delhi-NCR has a dire need for
safe infrastructure for cyclists.
“For every leisure cyclist in the
city, there are hundreds of every-
day cyclists who share the roads
with cars to commute,” he said, on
condition of anonymity.
Banerjee’s wife Kanika, who
was also present, said, “There are
a number of questions that
deserve answers, and not only do
police need to do due diligence,
but we also want safe infrastruc-
ture so no other cyclist meets the
same fate.” HTC
Satisfactory 51-100
Very Poor 300-400
Moderate 101-200
Severe 401-500
346
Nov 11
ally accumulating,” she said.
“Till the end of December and
early January, temperatures are
fairly low and this brings down
the mixing height, which leads to
local emissions getting trapped
near the surface. Fog makes it dif-
ficult for pollutants to be
washed,” Roychowdhury said.
In weather science the “mixing
height” is an invisible layer
within which particulate matter
gets trapped. The lower it is, the
worse the air quality will be.
A study by the Delhi Pollution
Control Committee (DPCC) last
year found that between 2016 and
NEW DELHI: A 53-year-old woman
was murdered in outer Delhi late
on Saturday, police officers aware
of the incident said, adding that
four have been held for the crime.
The victim, identified as Ram-
wati, was allegedly beaten to
death her neighbours in Bawana
JJ Colony following an altercation
triggered by a fight between her
eight-year-old grandson and
another 12-year-old boy.
“We registered a case of mur-
der and arrested all the persons
named by the victim’s family
03
407
Dec 04
213
Nov 24
2020, the Capital averaged a
PM2.5 concentration of 285
micrograms per cubic metre
between November 1-15, the high-
est all year. The second highest
average PM2.5 concentration
was from December 16 to 31, at
218 micrograms per cubic metre.
The Indian 24-hour safe stan-
dard for PM2.5 is 60 micrograms
per cubic metre.
Last year, November logged 11
‘severe’ air days, and December
had 7 (six of which were in the
second half of the month). In
2020, November had nine severe
air days and December had four.
members in the case,” said deputy
commissioner of police (outer-
north) Devesh Kumar Mahla.
In a separate case, Narendra
Kumar, 40, was stabbed to death
in east Delhi’s Jagatpuri on Satur-
day, allegedly by a man identified
as Shivam. “Our preliminary
probe has revealed Kumar was in
a relationship with Shivam’s
mother. What triggered Shivam to
kill Kumar will be known only
when we arrest him,” said deputy
commissioner of police (Shah-
dara) R Sathiyasundaram. HTC
04 NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022

Spotlight mcd elections

Forget wiping landfills, basics absent,
NO UNTOWARD VOTERS SPEAK
INCIDENTS AS CITY
VOTED, SAY POLICE P
Sweepers are very

say voters around 3 trash mountains

Paras Singh, Karn Pratap
Singh and Risha Chitlangia
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Every morning, as
Bhupender Kumar (48) leaves
his home for work, a vast struc-
ture blocks out the sunlight and
casts a long shadow over vast
parts of his village. But this is no
ordinary formation --Kumar
lives in Tehkhand village, at the
edge of the Okhla landfill, one of
Delhi’s three so-called garbage
“mountains” that amass a collec-
tive 11,000 tonnes of waste daily.
In a bitterly-contested cam-
paign for Sunday’s municipal
elections, the three landfill sites
came into sharp focus as parties
traded barbs, insults and allega-
tions, but for people living in the
shadows of these garbage
“mountains”, this issue is a
highly saturated factor that has
been accepted as a fait accompli,
and residents said they voted to
improve other development
issues or among personal prefer-
ences.
Speaking about the Okhla
landfill, Kumar said, “All parties
have promised to clear the land-
fill in the past as well. Let us see
if the issue remains alive even
after the elections.” He added
that with rampant unplanned
development, encroachment on
roads, garbage on the streets and
an overflowing sewage network
were far more pressing issues
for him and his neighbours.
Located on the edge of the
Bhalswa landfill site in north
Delhi, the Shradhanand Colony
has been represented by several
senior municipal functionaries,
including the former deputy
standing committee chairman in
the erstwhile North MCD, but a
solution to the landfill site and
the massive fires it witnesses
every year remain a distant pipe
dream.
Navneet Singh, a homemaker
who lives in Bhalswa, said,
“There is a foul smell in the
entire area due to the landfill,
but we have got used to it. More
than the smell, what bothers us
is the medical problems we face
in this area. Most people have
breathing difficulties and skin
problems, but this is not the only
issue in this election, as people
know that this problem can’t be
Residents of Ghazipur pose in front of the area’s waste mountain
after casting their votes on Sunday.
solved in just one or two years.”
Suman Yadav, 30, who runs a
grocery store near the Bhalswa
landfill, said for years, every time
an election candidate has passed
through the area, they have
promised to clear the site, but
nothing has happened so far.
“We don’t have any hope that
this will ever be cleared. What
we want is better services such
as streetlights, roads and drain-
PTI
age,” she said.
Mohammad Tayyab, a physio-
therapist in the area, said the
landfill is an important factor
but they have other concerns.
“During the monsoons, the
entire colony gets flooded. We
want the party which comes to
power to first fix basic prob-
lems,” he said.
At the eastern edge of the city,
the Ghazipur landfill site -- the
largest in the city -- has acted as
a launching pad for various pro-
tests and election campaigns
over the last two months. Voters
in the surrounding neighbour-
hoods, however, were not very
hopeful of a solution anytime
soon.
“I shifted to Gharoli Extension
around 30 years ago. At that
time, the landfill site was tiny
compared to today. During every
election, politicians promise us
that they will get rid of this
mountain but nothing has been
done so far. We are now used to
this foul smell,” said Samsuddin
(54), who lives in nearby Mulla
Colony and runs a footwear
shop.
Malti Devi (44), a resident of
Rajbir Colony, said a city the size
of Delhi has no alternate but to
dump its garbage either at the
three existing landfill sites, or to
create a new one and see it grow
into another “mountain” in a few
years.
“It is better that politicians not
make promises that they can’t
fulfil. They should instead give
us assurances on other issues,
like roads, drainage system,
schools and employment. Unfor-
tunately, nobody wants the
important issues to be
addressed,” she said, adding that
she has voted for “development”.
Garbage management and
ways to process Delhi’s waste is
a subject close to the heart of the
residents of south-east Delhi’s
Sukhdev Vihar, who have been
fighting tooth-and-nail for the
last decade to get the nearby
waste-to-energy plant removed.
Upendra Bharadwaj, president
of the Sukhdev Vihar Pocket B
RWA, said, “We have been ask-
ing for the waste-to-energy plant
to be moved, while the landfill
needs to be flattened as well.”
VC Kapoor, a chartered
accountant in Sukhdev Vihar,
said he was contemplating cast-
ing NOTA (none of the above),
but eventually decided to use his
vote to bring about a change.
“This waste-to-energy plant is a
problem that has been impact-
ing locals for over a decade now.
It is impacting the health of the
people and the MCD has done lit-
tle. We are hopeful by casting
our votes, some change comes,”
he said.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police
on Sunday said that the city’s
erratic, which
civic elections went off without means that the
a hitch and that no untoward
incidents were reported any-
colony’s streets are
where in the city. very dusty all
According to Delhi Police
officers, nearly 55,000 Delhi through the year.
police personnel, 20,000 home DEEP SANDHU, 60,
guards and 108 companies of Voted in Janakpuri
Central Armed Police Forces
and SAP have been deployed
for Sunday’s voting. “As many
as 56 drones were used for aer- We don’t have any
ial surveillance in and around hope that the
areas declared super-sensitive
by the state election commis- landfill here will
sion,” said a senior police offi- be cleared. All we
cer, asking not to be named.
The officer cited above also want is better
said that all the electronic vot-
ing machines (EVM) were
streetlights, roads
safely escorted and stored at 42 and drainage.
counting centres, under the
supervision of senior police SUMAN YADAV, 30,
personnel. Voted in Bhalswa
“All the counting centres are
equipped with mobile teams,
adequate security personnel, I noticed that the
tear gas, water cannons, jail candidates did not
vans and ambulances. Besides,
the crime branch, special dwell on the issue
branch and special cell have
been assigned to keep a close
of CAA-NRC. The
watch on movements in and residents and
around the counting centres,”
added the officer.
candidates chose
Votes in the civic polls will to sidestep it.
be counted on December 7.HTC
NIDA FATIMA, 27
Voted in Shaheen Bagh

Across stations, Capital votes in long-awaited civic polls We are not

considered a

many voters say priority... All we

get is promises.

names not in list

TULSI KUMAR, 42
Voted in Paschim Vihar

HT Correspondent NO OFFICIAL People are not

htreporters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: People at several
polling stations across Delhi had to
return without casting their vote
in the MCD elections on Sunday as
their names were allegedly miss-
ing from the voters’ list.
No official count of such voters
was available as the state election
commission (SEC) said that they
did not receive any formal com-
plaint. However, leaders from both
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),
the Congress and the Aam Aadmi
Party (AAP) also alleged that
names of several voters were
deliberately deleted to stop them
from exercising their franchise.
Delhi Pradesh Congress Com-
mittee president Anil Chaudhary
was among those who failed to
cast his vote in Kondli. He blamed
the BJP for getting his name
deleted from the list. “It (BJP) did
the same by delimiting wards, and
is doing it now by removing names
from the voters’ list. My name is
neither in the voter list nor in the
deleted list. My wife has voted. I
have voted in the Lok Sabha elec-
tions and I voted in the 2020 Delhi
assembly elections,” Choudhary, a
former MLA, said.
Later, a Congress delegation
lodged a complaint with the state
election commission, alleging that
the names from the voters list
were removed deliberately to
influence the election results.
A SEC official who asked not to
be named said, “SEC has merely
adopted the electoral roll prepared
by the Election Commission of
India (ECI) for conduct of elections
to MCD, and as such SEC has no
jurisdiction to make any additions
or deletions therein.”
The official added that Congress
delegation was advised to take up
the matter with the chief electoral
officer (CEO) of Delhi, and that
their complaint has been for-
warded to CEO’s office.
The BJP MP from North-East
Delhi Manoj Tiwari also claimed
that the names of at least 450 vot-
ers in Subhash Mohalla ward in
his constituency have been deleted
{ KATEWARA VILLAGE } ‘NO DEVELOPMENT, NO VOTE’
COUNT OF SUCH
VOTERS WAS
AVAILABLE AS THE
STATE POLL PANEL
SAID THAT THEY
‘DID NOT RECEIVE
ANY FORMAL
COMPLAINT’
from the voters’ list “because they
were BJP supporters”. Tiwari also
demanded a re-election in the
ward, alleging “a conspiracy by the
Delhi government.”
Neither the Delhi government
nor the AAP commented on the
matter.
AAP MLA Vishesh Ravi
demanded a fresh poll at Karol
Bagh (ward No. 82) alleging that
names of 668 voters from SP Muk-
herjee Market, Faiz Road, was not
“added to the revised electoral list”.
“Strict action should be taken
against the officials responsible for
this,” said Ravi in a statement.
SEC did not respond to Ravi’s
allegations.
Pardeep Gupta, who lives in
east Delhi’s Ganesh Nagar, said
that three members of his family
could not cast their vote. “The
names of three members of my
family have been deleted even
though we have not moved out of
our address in south Ganesh
Nagar,” said Gupta who went to
the Ambedkar College in Shakar-
pur to cast his vote.
At the polling station set up in
the C-block MCD school in
Defence Colony, Puran Singh, 71,
said that he checked his name at
many stations but it could not be
found. Singh, a daily wage labou-
rer, said he lives near Sewa Nagar
Basti, near Arya Samaj Mandir.
An official in the CEO office said
that they have not received any
complaints regarding deletion of
names. “Once the CEO office
receives complaints, we will for-
ward it to the district election offi-
cial concerned and get an inquiry
conducted,” the official said.
(Clockwise from above) Just over 50% of Delhi’s 14.5 million voters exercised their franchise in the civic elections on Sunday, which were delayed by several months
after the Centre decided to unify the municipal bodies in April this year; Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his family cast their votes. SANCHIT KHANNA/HT PHOTOS & PTI
Potholes, dark spots on streets: Women Discord aplenty in
say safety, sanitation key civic concerns affluent areas, but
Sadia Akhtar and
Jasjeev Gandhiok
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Patchy street light-
ing, the poor upkeep of roads,
sanitation, and inaccessible
footpaths were among the key
issues that women voters in var-
ious parts of the city took into
cognisance while voting in the
Municipal Corporation of Delhi
(MCD) polls on Sunday, as they
called on councillors elected on
December 7 to work towards
addressing these concerns.
Aditi Dalmia, a resident of
Civil Lines, said that there are a
number of dark stretches near
her house, where streetlights
did not function on a regular
booths still vacant
basis. “There are two key issues
that should be addressed by the
next representative. Streetlights
should be in working condition.
When we talk about road
upkeep, it’s also important to
pay attention to garbage dis-
posal and the use of plastic.
Roads are littered with plastic
all the time,” she said.
Deep Sandhu, a 60-year-old
from Janakpuri’s C3 block, said
she cast her vote to demand
cleaner streets and better effi-
ciency from the civic body.
“Sweepers are very erratic,
which means that streets are
dusty throughout the year.
Leaves and any garbage thrown
on these roads is also never
cleaned,” she said.
Jasmine Kaur, 19, a first-time
voter, said her vote took into
account two key issues — sani-
tation and air pollution. “It is
clear that the MCD plays a role
ensuring cleanliness, but I feel
that is not being done ade-
quately. Delhi also needs to
focus on a solution to air pollu-
tion,” the Tilak Nagar resident
said.
Lakshmi Bisht Roy, who lives
in Timarpur, said incidents of
crimes against women have
shot up in the area, adding that
she voted with the hope that the
next elected representative
works toward improving safety.
“Streetlights also don’t work all
the time and safety needs to be
spruced up. Garbage often lies
unattended for weeks. This
needs to change,” she said.
Sunita Shukla, 23, also from
Timarpur said footpaths near
her house often had obstruc-
tions, making it difficult for her
to navigate them as she is vision
impaired, with the first-time
voter adding that civic ameni-
ties did not take into account
the challenges faced by women,
especially differently abled
women.
Padma, a homemaker who
lives in Rajinder Nagar, said
sanitation is a major concern.
“It is about time the civic body
puts a proper system in place.
Another issue is that the colony
road has not been repaired for
years,” she said.
distracted by other
issues. We need
better roads,
reliable water
supply, clean drains
and streets that
are free of garbage.
VARSHA, 20,
Voted in Chhattarpur Pahadi
We are managing
our own waste
through a private
firm. If the civic
body went from
door to door, it
wouldn’t be needed.
SM MANCHANDA, 80,
Voted in Rajouri Garden
Paras Singh and
Jasjeev Gandhiok P
letters@hindustantimes.com People do not seem
NEW DELHI: A critical shortage of
parking, burgeoning encroach-
to be bothered
ments and poor sanitation — vot- about voting.
ers in Delhi’s high-income neigh-
bourhoods on Sunday said they
Polling numbers
were desperate for improved civic in slum clusters
services in their areas.
However, most polling booths
are much better
in these localities were vacant for RAJEN GHALAY,
much of the day, as the Capital a 65-year-old voter in Vasant Kunj
stepped out to vote in the Munici-
pal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
elections, with officials saying higher than the 43.3% in 2007.
that the eventual turnouts in However, every year, voting
these parts will likely be lower numbers in Delhi’s affluent neigh-
than the city’s overall average, as bourhoods fail to keep up with the
they historically are. city’s overall figure. For instance,
In south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj D in 2017, Vasant Kunj saw a turn-

0% turnout in NW Delhi village as voters boycott poll
Risha Chitlangia
risha.chitlangia@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: “No development,
no vote,” said residents of north-
west Delhi’s Katewara village,
located on the Delhi-Haryana
border, as they boycotted the
municipal polls on Sunday.
The three polling stations in
the village, which has around
3,150 voters and is part of the
Nangal Thakran municipal
ward, wore a deserted look
throughout the day. When con-
tacted, a state election commis-
sion official confirmed that no
resident voted at the three poll-
ing booths in the village.
Sitting outside one of the poll-
ing stations, village elders said
that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
government in Delhi and the
Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled
civic body neglected the village.
JP Sharma, 70, said, “We have
decided to boycott the elections
as there has been no develop-
ment for several years. The
roads are in a pathetic condition
and despite repeated requests to
the MLA (Jai Bhagwan, AAP) no
work has been done. Last Sun-
day, we held a meeting of resi-
dents where it was decided to
boycott the elections.”
Sharma said that in end-Octo-
ber, Jai Bhagwan, the MLA from
Bawana, inaugurated the project
to repair the roads. “But as the
elections were announced, the
work also stopped. All the three
primary entry points to the villa-
ges are in a bad condition. There
is no hospital nearby. There is no
doctor at the government’s
Mohalla Clinic or at the dispen-
sary, the school building is in a
bad condition. Why should we
vote when the government
doesn’t care about our prob-
lems,” said Sharma.
Ramesh Chandra Khatri,
another resident, said that the
crematorium in the village didn’t
have any facilities.
“Recently, there was a death
in the village. But we couldn’t
perform the cremation as it was
raining. The cremation site is not
even covered properly. We had
to cremate the body the next day
in the area meant for seating,”
said Khatri.
When contacted, Jai Bhagwan
said, “I recently got the work
started for construction of the
main road at a cost of ₹4.5 crore.
We tried to get the work started
big scheme to lay sewer lines
there. There is no point if we
construct the roads now and
then dig them to lay sewer line.”
Manjeet Chikara, another res-
ident, said, “We have written 80
letters to everyone from the
MLA to the deputy chief minis-
ter to the chief minister and the
lieutenant governor. But no one
has addressed our concerns.”
When asked why they didn’t
opt for NOTA (none of the above
option on EVMs), Vasu Khatri
(21), a college student who would
have voted for the first time,
A state election official confirmed that no resident voted at the said, “I was excited about voting.
three polling booths in the village. ANI But the situation in the village is
such that we don’t want to vote
immediately after NGT’s ban on restrictions. Now, we have got for any party. There has been no
construction work was lifted. We projects sanctioned. The work development in the village. This
couldn’t do much work as two on roads in the villages couldn’t (boycotting the polls) is as good
years were lost due to Covid start as we are coming up with a as NOTA.”
Block, the polling station in a gov-
ernment senior secondary school
saw around a dozen people wait-
ing in the queue.
Rajen Ghalay, a 65-year-old
voter, rued the routinely low turn-
outs in his ward.
“See, people do not seem to be
bothered. Voting numbers in
slum clusters are much better,”
he said.
Another voter, Subhash Mehra
(59), a businessman who owns
properties in Vasant Kunj and
Mehrauli, said municipal services
in the latter left a lot to be desired.
“No development is happening
on the ground. The difference in
aspirations also reflects in the
voter turnout difference,” he said.
Preliminary data from the
Delhi state election commission
showed that the Capital 50%
clocked a turnout of 50% in the
civic polls on Sunday, a dip from
53.5% in the 2017 municipal elec-
tions and 53.3% in 2012, but still
out of 45.18%. It was 39.43% in
2012 and 25% in 2007.
In south Delhi’s Greater Kai-
lash-1, a polling station in the
Kaultilya government senior sec-
ondary school had a moderately
healthy footfall around 2.15pm.
RK Gupta, an elector at the
booth, said, “The idea of involving
resident welfare associations
seems a good one,” he said, refer-
ring to a poll pitch by the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP), which has
promised to give residents’
groups “mini-councillor” status.
In west Delhi, Jitender Pal
Singh (70), a resident of Punjabi
Bagh West, said he was voting for
change and better accountability
from political parties.
“High-income neighbourhoods
can sometimes be taken for
granted and there is a need for
better involvement of the local
councillor. We are arranging to
have our own waste lifted because
MCD can be erratic,” he said.
NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022 05
Spotlight mcd elections
Sanitation replaces CAA stir in Civic apathy adds to
woes in riot-hit areas
poll priorities at Shaheen Bagh Alok K N Mishra
alok.mishra1@hindustantimes.com

NEW DELHI: Neighbourhoods in

Sadia Akhtar
sadia.akhtar@htlive.com
NEW DELHI: Voters turned up in
large numbers at Shaheen Bagh,
the epicentre of the protests
against the Citizenship Amend-
ment Act (CAA), on Sunday. Most
residents in the locality that falls in
the Abul Fazal Enclave ward said
that they had voted with the hope
that the elected representatives
will address the deteriorating sani-
tation in the area.
At least two key stretches in the
area have become garbage dump-
ing sites over the years. Residents
said that they had given priority to
pressing concerns such as sanita-
tion and road conditions while
casting their votes in the
MCD elections.
Nida Fatima, a physiotherapist,
said poor garbage management
and inadequate sanitation were
major concerns that had been
neglected by the former council-
lor. Fatima said basic civic ameni-
ties in the area were in shambles.
“There is no cleanliness. Gar-
bage mounds on the roads are a
perennial sight. The streets are in a
poor state since agencies dig up
streets but never return to repair
them. The construction and demo-
lition waste lines up the streets for
but at the same time, we would
expect that whoever is elected
stands by the neighbourhood in
times of crisis,” said Fatima.
Kaunain, another Shaheen
Bagh resident, said that the streets
in the area need urgent attention
with piles of garbage lining them.
The 27-year-old research scholar
at Delhi University who goes by a
single name said that he had cast
his vote after taking into account
the candidate’s stance on the poor
sanitation situation.
“MCD polls are an opportunity
for us to elect representatives who
will fix local issues. The former
councillor did not work properly,
so this time I have decided to vote
for someone who I feel will be able
to address the sanitation and
cleanliness issues,” said Kaunain,
who voted at a polling centre
Voters stand in a queue to cast their vote at a polling booth in Shaheen Bagh. SANCHIT KHANNA/HT located near a huge garbage
dump.
months. Parking is another major lives this time. In the 2020 assem- Bagh. She said while the protest Nazia, another resident, also
issue with people leaving their bly elections, Shaheen Bagh served led to the area hitting international said that the most pressing issue
vehicles on the streets that leads to as the nucleus of the anti-CAA/ headlines, both residents and can- was sanitation. “There is no clean-
traffic bottlenecks,” said Fatima. NRC protests, as Muslim women didates were focused on local con- liness in the area. Sanitation
Her concerns were echoed by sat on vigil for months in peaceful cerns this time. “I noticed that the should be the topmost priority of
many in the neighbourhood who protest against the CAA and the candidates did not dwell on the the next councillor. There is a lot
said that the ever-increasing num- proposed National Register of Citi- CAA-NRC issue. It was not a part of of stench due to the garbage
ber of garbage mounds was a zens. the election conversation, with dumps and one often sees people
major sore point. Most residents Fatima, 27, was among the both residents and candidates around us falling sick due to infec-
said they were focusing on civic scores of women who participated choosing to sidestep it. The area tions and other diseases,” said
concerns affecting their day-to-day in the sit-in protest at Shaheen needs spruced up civic amenities Nazia, who goes by her first name.
north-east Delhi are largely unau-
thorised colonies, and in the past,
voters by and large used to vote for
issues like sanitation and develop-
ment. However, riots in February
2020 led to the death of 53 people
in the area, and residents said the
violence from those events has
affected how they voted in Sun-
day’s municipal corporation elec-
tions.
The civic body elections are the
first polls held in Delhi since the
riots in 2020, and residents from
the violence hotspots of Chand
Bagh, Gokalpuri, Shiv Vihar, Jafra-
bad and nearby areas said the
scars from the disturbance more
than two years ago are still fresh.
Mohammad Naziruddin, 55,
stepped out of a polling booth at
the Karawal Nagar main road near
Chand Bagh with a melancholic
look on his face. “The place where
you are standing right now was a
battlefield in February 2020 as
rioters went on a rampage,” he
said.
In Shiv Vihar, a resident, on
condition of anonymity, said, “Peo-
ple will remember the riots for
decades. It is not something we
can easily forget.”
These areas witnessed brisk
polling, with several polling
booths reporting long queues of
How Delhi voted (in %)
60
50
45
40
30
30
20
18
9
10
0
10.30am 12 noon 2pm 4pm
TURNOUT IN PAST ELECTIONS (IN %)
2007
2012
2017
voters. A police officer deployed at
a polling booth in Dayalpur said:
“The crowd was low when the
polling began at 8am, but as the
day progressed people came out in
larger number.”
Many of the violence hotspots
are typically neglected by the
authorities, and communal fault
lines in these areas run deep.
However, residents said since
their futures are linked to the
place, and because they cannot
change their neighbours, they
have voted for peace and brother-
hood. “We have a family to run
and a life to live. The incident is a
thing of the past, and we are
attempting to move on,” said Ist-
kar Salmani, whose saloon was
50.47
5.30pm
43.24
53.39
53.55
torched during the riots.
In nearby colonies of east Delhi,
which were close to the riots but
remained immune from the vio-
lence, many residents said they
were not satisfied with sanitation
services. “Traffic congestion,
waterlogging during rains and
poor maintenance of parks are
some of the things we want to be
addressed,” said Karuna Jha, a res-
ident of Vivek Vihar.
In Shakarpur, Pradeep Gupta
said locals turned out in large
numbers to vote. “The trifurcation
of the MCD in 2012 led to east Delhi
getting neglected, but now that the
MCD has been unified, we hope
this part of the Capital will get bet-
ter attention,” he said.

REGULARISATION,
AMENITIES TOP Jahangirpuri voters recall Rural areas rue poor growth rate
ISSUES FLAGGED
BY RESIDENTS OF violence, demolition drive HT Correspondent
htreporters@hindustantimes.com
came out in good numbers to
exercise their franchise in the
rural pockets.
from the lanes where garbage
trucks could enter. “People are
paying ₹100 a month just to get
civic body has been sending noti-
ces to commercial properties in
villages. Bhupinder Bazad, a resi-
UNAUTHORISED Risha Chitlangia dents said local issues such as able Hindu population, residents NEW DELHI: Polling stations in Bad roads, lack of public waste lifted,” he said. dent of Hiranki village, said,
poor sanitation and the state of said the elections would boil rural areas witnessed longer transport, medical facilities, In southwest Delhi’s Dhansa “The main issue for villages is
COLONIES IN CITY risha.chitlangia@htlive.com
roads were among their key con- down to the AAP or the BJP. queues compared to their urban schools and provisions for fur- village, residents said poor con- development and slow imple-
NEW DELHI: Nearly eight months cerns, but the impact of the com- Ganesh Kumar Gupta, a resi- counterparts on Sunday as Delhi ther development of residential nectivity with rest of the city was mentation of new policies such
HT Correspondent after communal clashes rocked munal clashes and subsequent dent of B block, said his juice voted in the MCD elections. areas were some of the top con- the main issue for them. Pradeep as land pooling and green devel-
north-west Delhi’s Jahangirpuri, encroachment removal drive shop was demolished by the cor- Though official data on the cerns flagged by the residents in Dagar, a local resident, said, opment area, as a majority of the
htreporters@hindustantimes.com
the area’s residents came out in will be visible in the election out- poration. “My shop was allotted ward-wise turnout was not avail- these areas. “The Metro has reached Najaf- villages have been urbanised.”
NEW DELHI: “We are not consid- large numbers on Sunday to vote come of the three municipal by the DDA, but municipal offi- able till late Sunday evening, Dinesh Kumar, 35, a resident garh, but the station is 15 kms In the past three years, around
ered a priority...All we get is prom- in the municipal elections. wards of Bhalswa, Adarsh Nagar cers didn’t listen to me and polling officials, political leaders of Madipur village in west Delhi, from our village.” 110 rural villages have been
ises,” said Tulsi Kumar, 42, a resi- Clashes broke out in three and Azadpur which were demolished it,” he said. and local residents said people said waste was only being lifted In the past few months, the urbanised in Delhi.
dent of the Meera Bagh Jhuggi blocks of Jahangirpuri on April affected by the events in April. According to Gupta, most
Jhopri (slum) cluster in west 16, with the Hindu and Muslim In Jahangirpuri’s C-block, vendors affected by the anti-en-
Delhi’s Pashchim Vihar, echoing communities blaming each which has a sizable Muslim pop- croachment drive are back.
concerns raised by residents of other for the provocation that ulation and falls under the Bhal- “They are back, as many had a
unauthorised colonies in Delhi on led to the confrontation. Subse- swa ward, residents said the valid vending licence from the
Sunday during polling for the quently, an anti-encroachment polls were a straight contest corporation,” he said, adding
MCD elections. drive was conducted by the BJP- between the Congress and AAP. that he reopened his juice shop
Kumar said the garbage dumps led North Delhi Municipal Cor- Akibul Ansari, who works as a in November.
in their area keep growing and poration (north MCD) on April plumber, said, “People will vote Ashok Kumar, another resi-
alleged he had seen garbage vans 20. The demolition drive was for a party which they feel will dent, said, “There is a permanent
dumping waste from nearby local- stopped the same day on orders support them and stand by them police booth in the area now.
ities at the JJ cluster. of the Supreme Court, and during difficult times, rather While the situation is normal at
Sanitation, open drains and Jahangirpuri has remained by than vote on issues such as sani- present and people don’t talk
rampant mosquito breeding were and large peaceful since then. tation, or the condition of roads.” about the clash, it is there in the
some of the major concerns Voting for the MCD elections However, across the road, in back of everyone’s mind. People
flagged by voters from unautho- on Sunday, Jahangirpuri resi- Blocks G and B, which have a siz- will never forget it.”
rised colonies and JJ clusters who
voted on Sunday.
Balbir Aswal, who also lives in
the Meera Bagh JJ cluster, said
waste has not been lifted in their
area for over a decade. “It keeps
accumulating and people either
lift it themselves or it is burnt. Peo-
ple are tired of living this way and
want a change,” he said.
To be sure, government funds
cannot be spent on the develop-
ment of unauthorised colonies,
but local agencies do provide some
basic amenities such as sanitation
in these pockets.
Avtar Singh, 65, a resident of
Indra Enclave near Chhattarpur,
said he was voting in the hope for
getting his neighbourhood
cleaned. Kamlesh, 65 a differently
abled voter from this unautho-
rized cluster said that she does not
get pension on time. “My pension
is the biggest issue for me. I also
want better roads to help me com-
mute without seeking help from
others,” said Kamlesh who uses a
tricycle to move around.
Prem Gaur, who runs a car
accessories store in Dayalpur in
north-east Delhi, said the central
government had announced that it
has regularised unauthoried colo-
nies in Delhi, but the ground real-
ity is different. “Banks still do not
provide loans on properties in
unauthorised colonies and these
properties cannot be registered,”
said Gaur, whose family has been
living in Dayalpur area for three
decades now.
The Centre regularised 1,731
unauthorised colonies in Delhi
under the PM-UDAY scheme, giv-
ing ownership rights to the resi-
dents of these areas. While the
central government began the
process to grant rights, the Delhi
Development Authority (DDA),
the nodal agency for the imple-
mentation of this scheme, had to
stop the process in at least 80
unauthorised colonies that fall in
the ‘O-zone’, where construction
activity is banned, according to the
Master Plan of Delhi-2021.
Amarnath Mishra, a social
worker, said unauthorised colo-
nies have been neglected by both
the Delhi government and the BJP-
ruled MCD. “Even on polling day,
they did not clean the garbage,” he
said pointing to a dump near a
polling booth in Khajuri Khas.
06 My Delhi
NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022

Water, not crime, plays on

Delhiwale Mayank
Austen Soofi

Chhattarpur voters’ minds crime can take place anywhere,

EXPERIENCE YOUR CITY LIKE NEVER BEFORE

Paras Singh
paras@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Barely a few metres
away from Gali number 1 in South
Delhi’s Chhattarpur Pahadi, where
Shraddha Walkar was murdered
in May, the polling station located
in the Acharya Tulsi Sarvoday Bal
Vidyalaya witnessed a heavy pres-
ence of both the voters as well as
security personnel.
During a spot visit, HT saw
more than 50 police personnel,
some equipped with tear gas
shells, deployed at the school gate,
and deputy commissioner of
police (South) Chandan Chow-
dhary inspecting the premises --
unusual for a polling booth that is
not marked sensitive. The DCP
said the police deployment had
nothing to do with the murder
case.
Walkar was allegedly murdered
by her boyfriend, Aaftab Poonaw-
Security at the polling booth in Chhattarpur Pahari.
ala, at the couple’s rented flat on
May 18. Poonawala later allegedly
chopped her body into at least 35
pieces and dumped them at differ-
ent places in and around Delhi
over a period of two months.
However, most people waiting
to cast their vote in serpentine
queues said the crime was a non-
VIPIN KUMAR/HT
issue. Many counted garbage col-
lection and poor water supply as
the issues would dictate their pref-
erence of the candidate.
Deepak Kumar, 27, a local resi-
dent said, “Our main concerns are
poor water supply, drains not
being cleared and garbage dumps
surrounding our locality. Such a
but it cannot come to define a
locality,” he said.
Roshan Begum, 48, said the
neighbourhood faces acute water
crisis. “Borewells don’t work and
we are forced to spend a lot of time
to arrange water here. We will vote
for the person who will solve our
daily problems,” she said.
Varsha, 20, said people were
“voting for change”. “People are
not getting distracted with other
issues. We need better roads, relia-
ble water supply, clean drains and
garbage-free lanes. Rest is all
noise,” she added.
Neeraj Paswan, 19, a first-time
voter, said the MCD’s main job is to
clear the garbage, but the civic
body has failed on that front.
“Check any lane. There are gar-
bage dumps. Stray cattle are roam-
ing around. I have decided to cast
my vote for someone who will
help clean my colony,” he said.

{ SHANTI BALA } AGED 106 { MAJOR (RETD) INDERJEET SINGH } AGED 100

MCD polls my first in ‘Vote for anyone, but

city, says oldest voter vital to use franchise’
Sanjeev K Jha
sanjeev.jha@hindustantimes.com

NEW DELHI: For Shanti Bala

HT Correspondent
letters@hindustantimes.com

NEW DELHI: For most of his life,

Stream of subconsciousness
Baidya, 106, Sunday’s munici- Major (retd) Inderjeet Singh it come up there? Whoever kept it there must have
pal corporation elections held has stepped out to vote on elec- Notes on a city drain walked along the pipe like a trapeze artist. On
something special -- this was tion day, while encouraging his another evening, a woman was seen taking a
the first time she was voting as neighbours to also exercise The water has turned pure gold. The shower under that spray, while delicately perched
a resident of Delhi.
“I have never missed casting
my vote in any election in West
Bengal. But Sunday’s polling
Shanti Bala Baidya with her
daughter Kamla.
their franchise. Sunday was no
exception as the 100-year-old
former armyman visited the
Municipal Corporation of Delhi
Major (retd) Inderjeet Singh

the most enthusiastic member

was the first time I voted in
Delhi,” she whispered in a mix-
ture of Bangla and Hindi.
Three years ago, Baidya
moved to the Capital from the
sleepy hamlet of Falta in West
Bengal’s South 24 Parganas dis-
trict to live with her daughter,
who runs a makeshift betel and
cigarette shop in the Bara
Hindu Rao area in north Delhi.
Kamla Baidya, her 55-year-
old daughter, said, “I am her
youngest child. As my brothers
and sisters were not ready to
take care of her, I brought her
to Delhi, and because she
wanted to vote, we approached
election department officials in
Gulabi Bagh, who agreed to
make her a bona fide voter of
this area. The local police also
helped me to take my mother
to the polling booth in a rick-
shaw.”
Sagar Singh Kalsi, deputy
commissioner of police (North
Delhi), said Shanti represents
the beauty of democratic India.
“Her daughter or police might
have helped her in taking to the
polling station, but the most
important thing was her zeal.
Today is her day as she is the
icon of democratic Delhi for
one and all,” he said.
(MCD)-run Pratibha Vidyalaya
in Defence Colony C-Block to
cast his vote in the civic body
elections.
“I have always made it a
point to take part in the festival
of democracy, and municipal
elections are very important.
You can vote for anyone, but it
is important to exercise this
hard-earned right,” Singh said,
as members of his family
brought him to the polling sta-
tion on a wheelchair.
Singh’s daughter Dr CK Bak-
shi, a physician with the New
Delhi Municipal Council
(NDMC), said her father was
{ PUBLIC
INTEREST
of the family when it comes to
voting, and insists that the
entire family goes to the polling
station together. “It is a ritual
we follow in every election. He
decided the timing and the
plan, and we take part in the
polling process together,” she
said.
Dr GS Bakshi, another family
member, said more people
should turn up to vote as
municipal elections directly
impact our quality of life.
“Major Singh has just reached
the age of 100 years and is still
going strong. Everyone should
share this enthusiasm,” he said.
} departing sun is generously lending all its
farewell glow to the stream. Occasionally,
the self-contained placidity of the water is
disturbed by the fleeting shadows of pass-
ing birds. The scenery looks divine (see photo).
But photos lie. The stream is a nallah, a drain,
and has a strong stink. On watching it from the foot-
path of a bridge on Mathura Road, its waters look
muddy in the plain noon light, but every evening the
sunset’s roseate shade transforms this same dirty
water into a thing ethereal — visually only, obvi-
ously. The twilight hour is the time to explore the
drain that goes under the Barapullah flyover in cen-
tral Delhi. As it turns out, there is more to the drain
than its smelliness and twilight-time spectacle.
Take the cylindrical water pipe running across
the stream, parallel to the bridge. There seems to be
a hole in the pipe midway, and some of the water is
spraying out from that point like a shower jet. An
earthen pot is precariously perched on the pipe,
beside the leak point. Is it somebody’s pot? How did
on the pipe. And one morning, some months ago, a
child was sitting on the mid-point of the long pipe,
lost in thoughts. It had appeared that the little one
might fall any moment intro the water. Before one
could have done something, the child casually got
up and walked along the length of the pipe as natu-
rally as if he had been walking on a street.
A streak of pure white is splayed out on the
drain’s garbage-filled bank. Enquiries reveal that it
is a dhobi’s laundry, hung out to dry.
And then, in the evenings, there are other wond-
ers. If instead of looking down at the drain, you look
up, the interstice between the two flyover tracks —
through which the sky peeks out — looks like a
w
READ:
For more
golden stream suspended in the air. stories by
As the evening deepens, the water’s golden col- Mayank
our turns into an even deeper gold. And then it Austen
turns pink, and then the sun goes away, and soon Soofi,
the light of the sky disappears from the sky, and the scan the
water can no longer be seen. But can still be QR code
smelled.

Homage

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NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022
Stage set for final phase of voting Kharge calls for ‘top to
in high-stakes Gujarat poll battle bottom’ accountability
Elections ’22
Gujarat
HT Correspondent
letters@hindustantimes.com
AHMEDABAD: Voting for 93 out of
182 assembly seats in Gujarat will
be held on December 5, when 833
candidates will be contesting
across 14 districts of central Guj-
arat, including Ahmedabad, Vado-
dara and Gandhinagar, for the sec-
ond and final phase of the elec-
tions. Polling for 89 seats took
place on December 1. The results
will be declared on December 8.
In 2017, the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) won 48 out of 89 seats
in the first phase of polling and
bagged 51 in the second phase, tak-
ing its total tally to 99 out of 182
seats. The Congress won 38 in the
first phase and 39 in the second
phase of elections in 2017.
The first phase of voting on
December 1 recorded 63.31% turn-
out. The Election Commission of
India on Saturday issued a special
appeal to voters ahead of the next
phase on Monday, urging them to
reverse the “urban apathy”.
A total of 25 million voters are
eligible to exercise their franchise
in the second phase, including 12.9
million men and 12.2 million
women. There are 5.96 million
first-time voters in the age group
of 18 to 19 years, according to the
Election Commission. The poll
body has set up 14,975 polling sta-
tions for which 113,000 election
officers have been deployed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
who has held more than 35 rallies
in the state since the election dates
were announced on November 3,
took out two back-to-back road
shows in Ahmedabad on Decem-
ber 1 and 2, including one 50km
roadshow that covered 14 of 16
constituencies in Ahmedabad,
and one in Gandhinagar.
Union ministers Amit Shah,
Rajnath Singh, Gajendra Singh
Shekhawat, Smriti Irani and BJP
president JP Nadda also cam-
RIGHT-WING GROUP
TAKES OUT MARCH
IN MANDYA AMID
HEAVY SECURITY
Coovercolly Indresh
letters@hindustantimes.com
MYSURU: Thousands of workers
from various pro-Hindu outfits
participated in the Hanuma San-
keerthana yatra in Sriranga-
patna town of Mandya district in
Karnataka on Sunday demand-
ing that the Jamia Masjid in the
town be handed over to them as
it was “built over a temple”.
Right-wing pro-Hindu outfits
allege that the mosque was built
on the present site by 18th Cen-
tury ruler Tipu Sultan after par-
tially razing a Hanuman temple
that was standing there. So far,
the government has not
responded to memorandums
submitted by Hindu outfits in
connection with the matter so far.
Sunday’ rally came amid a
heavy police presence in the town.
More than 1,200 policemen were
deployed to maintain the peace,
under Mandya district superin-
tendent of police N Yetish.
The mosque management
has earlier maintained that the
allegation would be contested in
the courts.
MINOR AMONG 5
HELD FOR KILLING
RAJ GANGSTER
Sachin Saini
letters@hindustantimes.com
JAIPUR: The Rajasthan police
have detained five people, includ-
ing a minor, in connection with
Saturday’s murder of gangster
Raju Theht in Sikar, a senior offi-
cer said on Sunday, adding that
two suspects were injured during
the gunfight to apprehend them.
Theht was shot dead on Satur-
day outside his house. A farmer,
Tarachand Kadwasara, was also
killed in the attack after he was
caught in the crossfire. A police
officer said the attackers fled the
scene using his car.
Additional director general of
police (crime), Ravi Prakash, on
Sunday identified the adult sus-
pects as Sikar residents Manish
Jat (25) and Vikram Gurjar (28);
Haryana’s Satish Kumawat (40),
Jatin Meghwal (24).
Decoding 2nd phase of voting
93
Constituencies
where voting
will take place
883
Candidates
in fray
KEY CANDIDATES
Alpesh
Thakor (BJP):
A prominent
OBC leader, he
quit the Congress in 2019
and joined the BJP. He is
contesting from the
Gandhinagar South seat.
Madhu
Shrivastav
(IND): The
six-term MLA
is contesting as an
Independent after the
BJP fielded Ashwin Patel
from his Waghodia seat.
paigned for the ruling party in the
second phase.
Modi arrived in Ahmedabad on
Sunday to exercise his franchise
and took blessings from his
mother in Gandhinagar. He will
cast his vote at a polling station in
the Ranip locality of Sabarmati
constituency of Ahmedabad city
on Monday, the BJP said in a state-
ment. On Sunday,
Union home minister Amit
‘Have nowhere to go’:
Muslim voters in Guj
rue a lack of options
Smriti Kak Ramachandran
letters@hindustantimes.com
ANAND/AHMEDABAD: Elections
do not hold out the promise of
change for Ishaq Vhora, who sells
fruit on the busy Bhalej Road in
Gujarat’s Anand. His cart is next
to a garbage pit, but buyers seem
unconcerned by the ambience, or
the lack of it. He is polite to a fault
and shows no impatience when
customers fumble for change or
digital payments take too long.
“I have nowhere to go... just
need to make enough money
everyday to pay the rent and
school fees,” he says.
His two kids are studying in a
private school, where the annual
fee is ₹8,000. He also has to pay
₹4,500 every month for rent. Elec-
tion season means little to him, he
says, although he’s been watching
speeches on the phone. The poll
promises of free electricity and
education made by the Aam
Aadmi Party (AAP) have caught
his attention. “I heard about the
promise to make education free.
It sounds encouraging,” Vhora
says. But, “by now we know better
than to believe election prom-
ises”.
“In our village Tarapur, people
mostly vote for the Congress. Now
people are a little upset because
these days MLAs also switch sides
without qualms,” he says.
Across the road from his cart
are several posters of independ-
ent candidates, who he dismissed
as spoilers. “The fight is between
the Congress and the BJP, the rest
are vote cutters. This new party
(AAP) and the Owaisi party
(AIMIM) are all helping the BJP,”
he says.
Limited options
The AAP and the AIMIM, which
seem like options for Muslims in
Gujarat, are not necessarily
viewed so by the community. In
Ahmedabad’s Juhapura, a pre-
dominantly Muslim locality, the
reactions to questions about poli-
tics, elections and representation
of the community in polity evoke
responses that are cautious, but
betray anger and disappointment.
A homemaker, who didn’t
25,158,730
14,975 DEC 8 Polling
stations
set up
Bhupendra
Patel (BJP):
Incumbent
CM, he
replaced Vijay Rupani in during the 2017 stir. He
2021. Made first foray won Vadgam seat as an
in assembly in 2017, Independent and later
representing Ghatlodia. joined the Congress.
Sagar Rabari
(AAP):
Rabari is a
farmers’ rights
activist and has been
fielded as an AAP
minister, Patel is a
three-time MLA and
candidate from the
Becharaji constituency.
is contesting from the
Visnagar seat.
Shah will cast his vote at a munici-
pal sub-zonal office in Naranpura
locality of Ahmedabad city.
Prominent candidates in the
second phase include chief minis-
ter Bhupendra Patel at Ghatlodia,
Patidar leader Hardik Patel at
Viramgam, OBC leader Alpesh
Thakor at Gandhinagar South,
former minister Shankar Chaud-
hary at aTharad and Jignesh Mev-
ani at Vadgam. Patel, Thakor and
MEMBERS OF THE
COMMUNITY
SAY POLITICAL
PARTIES ARE
GROWING COLD
TOWARDS THEM
want to be identified, said: “Is it
possible for me to move out of
Juhapura? Which builder will sell
or which owner will rent out their
houses? We live here because we
cannot live anywhere else...”
In the same locality, a group of
young men claim other parties
are also growing cold towards the
community that accounts for
about 10% of the state’s popula-
tion and is present in significant
numbers in about 40 of the 182
seats.
“They come asking for votes,
but they have definitely begun to
field fewer Muslim candidates...”
While the BJP has not fielded a
Muslim candidate for the assem-
bly polls since 1998, the Congress
has given tickets to six Muslim
candidates, and the AAP to three.
The AIMIM has the highest num-
ber of Muslim candidates at 11. A
senior BJP leader, however, said
the prime consideration is “win-
nability” for the party.
Tried and tested
Though the BJP claims that it got
support from Muslim voters in
2017 after Parliament passed a law
to ban Triple Talaq and is hoping
for an encore based on the imple-
mentation of welfare schemes and
the targeted intervention towards
the Pasmanda, or the underprivi-
leged sections, there is indication
that the Congress will get most of
the Muslim vote. “When you have
little expectations, it is best to go
with the tried and tested,” says the
homemaker.
“The community believes that
even if the BJP sits it out, it will still
win the polls. They are not very
hopeful of the opposition, so elec-
tions are seen as a ritual...,” said
Afroz Alam, head of the political
science department at the Mau-
lana Azad National Urdu Univer-
sity, Hyderabad.
My India
How these seats voted in 2017
Seats marked here are where key contests
are taking place today
Electors
for
Phase 2
Tharad
Unjha
Becharaji
Viramgam
Result Gandhinagar (S)
Ghatlodia
Maninagar
Phase 1
Verdict 5 years ago
BJP 93 INC
51 seats 39
IND 3
Jignesh Hardik
Mevani (Cong): Patel (BJP):
He gained The face of
prominence Patidar quota
stir, the contest for the
Viramgam seat will be
his first electoral foray
after joining the BJP.
Rushikesh Geniben
Patel (BJP): Thakor (Cong):
Incumbent Thakor scored
health
a surprise
electoral victory in 2017
after she won Vaav
seat. She is contesting
from Tharad this time.
Chaudhary are contesting as BJP
candidates, while Mevani is con-
testing on a Congress ticket.
The ruling BJP is also facing a
challenge from rebel candidates
in some places in the second
phase. The party’s seven-time
MLA from Waghodia, Madhu
Shrivastav, is contesting as an
independent after being denied a
ticket. Former BJP MLAs Dinu
Solanki, Dhavalsinh Zala and
PM seeks mother’s blessings
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets his mother at her
residence in Gandhinagar on Sunday, on the eve of the
second phase of the Gujarat assembly elections.
{ 58TH RAISING DAY }
Maha twin sisters get
BSF working to thwart threat of married to same man
infiltration, drone use: MoS Rai
HT Correspondent
letters@hindustantimes.com
AMRITSAR: The Border Security
Force (BSF) is working relent-
lessly to thwart the increasing
challenges of infiltration, smug-
gling of narcotics and arms and
the activity of drones, Union
minister of state for home affairs
Nityanand Rai said on Sunday as
the force celebrated its 58th
Raising Day parade.
“Your (BSF) presence along
the borders ensures that there is
peace in the country and you
have kept the front safe for the
last 57 years. The government
will leave no stone unturned to
provide best smart surveillance
gadgets like anti drone guns and
radars,” Rai said at an event held
at the campus of the Guru Nanak
Dev University in Amritsar,
roughly 30 km from the India-
Pakistan International Border.
The MoS asserted that the
government will leave “no stone
unturned” in providing the BSF
with the best technological
{ CONG STEERING COMMITTEE MEET }
Saubhadra Chatterji
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: New Congress presi-
dent Mallikarjun Kharge on Sun-
day emphasised on “accounta-
bility from top to bottom”— a
Vadgam key demand of the G23 rebels—
BJP
INC and sent a clear message to lead-
Others ers that they must perform or
perish, as the party gears up for
the next general election in 2024,
a statement released by the Con-
gress said.
The party also praised Rahul
Gandhi’s “tapasya” in the Bharat
Godhra Jodo Yatra and discussed how to
Chhota Udepur benefit from the momentum the
Phase 1 foot march has generated.
In his first meeting of the steer-
ing committee as party chief,
Kharge set tasks for the senior
leadership, demanded more
young people at the ground level.
Party Seats Vote Seat “While there are very responsi-
contested share share ble people in the party who are
doing their duty, some comrades
BJP 93 48.8 54.8
have assumed that the lack of
INC 90 41.2 41.9
IND 5.4 3.2 responsibility will be ignored.
This is neither right nor accepta-
ble. Those who are unable to ful-
fil the responsibility, they will
have to give a chance to new col-
leagues,” the statement quoted
Shankar Kharge as saying.
Chaudhary The Congress announced that
(BJP): A key the plenary of the All India Con-
OBC leader gress Committee (AICC) will be
and chairperson of the held in Chhattisgarh’s Raipur in
Banas Dairy, Chaudhary second half of February 2023.
has been fielded from Kharge, who took charge as the
the Tharad constituency. new party chief on October 26,
insisted on a number of tasks for
Mukesh
Patel (BJP):
Ex-deputy CM
Nitin Patel’s
protégé, he has been
given the ticket from
Pilot: Raj Cong united,
the Mahesana assembly
constituency focused on ensuring
Bharat Jodo’s success
TEXT: AMIT COWPER
Harshad Vasava are running as
independents from Padra, Bayad Sachin Saini
and Nandod seats, respectively.
letters@hindustantimes.com
The BJP and the Aam Aadmi
Party are contesting in all 93 seats JAIPUR: As the Rahul Gandhi-
in the second phase. The Congress led Bharat Jodo Yatra entered
is contesting in 90 seats and its ally Rajasthan, senior Congress
Nationalist Congress Party has leader and former deputy chief
fielded candidates in two seats. minister Sachin Pilot on Sunday
The Bharatiya Tribal Party has urged everyone to join the “his-
fielded 12 candidates and the toric” march. Ahead of the yatra
Bahujan Samaj Party 44. entering the state, chief minister
Ashok Gehlot and Pilot pre-
sented a united face, despite
their differences and an ongoing
tug of war for the CM’s post.
Pilot and Gehlot have been bit-
ter rivals for years but things came
to a head in 2020 when the former
rebelled against CM Gehlot’s lead-
ership. On November 24, Gehlot
told NDTV that Pilot is a “gaddar”
who cannot be made the CM. Hit-
ting back, Pilot said the remarks
were unbecoming of a senior
leader. Days later, the Congress
said certain words used by the CM
were “unexpected” but differences
between the two leaders will be
resolved. Rahul Gandhi also called
them both “assets”.
Dismissing apprehensions that
the infighting may affect the
yatra’s Rajasthan leg, Pilot on Sun-
day told news agency PTI that the
party’s state unit is “fully united”.
“As far as Rahul ji’s yatra is con-
cerned, there is complete unanim-
ity in the party and we are working
together to make it a success.”
Lauding Rahul Gandhi, Pilot
said in Jhalawar: “The issue on
which Rahul Gandhi has taken out
yatra is being accepted by the peo-
ple enthusiastically. The support
PTI of the people for the yatra is
tunnels that are used by terror-
ists to infiltrate into the country.
“DG BSF assured that every
Seema Prahari will strive to pro-
tect the sovereignty of the nation’s
borders even to the peril of their
lives while also referring to BSF’s
achievements, new initiatives and
preparations to deal with future
challenges arising out of the
dynamic geopolitical neighbour-
hood,” BSF spokesperson said.
Earlier this week, Singh said
A BSF jawan during the 58th in Delhi that the government has
Raising Day function in sanctioned ₹30 crore to procure
Amritsar. SAMEER SEHGAL /HT surveillance cameras, drones
and other monitoring gadgets
equipment and infrastructure to and that soon 5,500 security
deal with the drone threats and cameras will be installed in the
other activities at the border. front areas, both at borders with
Earlier, speaking at the event, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
BSF director general Pankaj The BSF was raised on Decem-
Kumar Singh said the force has ber 1, 1965 and it is primarily
shot down a total of 17 drones tasked to guard international bor-
along the India-Pakistan front ders with Pakistan and Bangla-
(16 along Punjab and one along desh. It has 193 operational battal-
Jammu border) this year even as ions spread across the two borders
it is taking the help of DRDO and and some other field formations
other scientific research organi- deployed to render other internal
sations to detect underground security duties in the hinterland.
Mallikarjun Kharge
senior functionaries and said the
general secretaries and in-charges
of the party should “first ensure
their own responsibility and the
responsibility of the organisation”.
The steering committee has
replaced the regular Congress
working committee meeting till
the AICC plenary.
“You should think with your
discretion whether the general
secretaries and officials in charge
of the provinces visit the provinces
under their responsibility for at
least 10 days in a month? Have you
visited every district, blocks and
met local party leaders and under-
stood the local problems?”
He also asked if the state orga-
nisations are fighting for the peo-
ple according to the ground real-
ity, and how many new people
have been accommodated at the
ground level. “How many units
are there where the district and
block have not been changed for
five years? How many times agi-
tations have taken place on the
orders of AICC on local problems,
Sachin Pilot
increasing manifold.”
On Saturday, Pilot posted a
video on Twitter, urging people to
join the yatra. “Entire Rajasthan is
participating in Rahul ji’s Bharat
Jodo Yatra. Are you coming?”
The 3,570km cross-country
march, which entered Rajasthan
on Sunday from Madhya Pra-
desh, began on September 7 from
Kanyakumari, and has already
covered parts of Tamil Nadu, Ker-
ala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana and Maharashtra.
A grand welcome was given to
Gandhi in the Congress-ruled
state’s Jhalawar. Gandhi, along
with Gehlot, Pilot and state unit
chief Govind Singh Dotasra held
hands and danced with folk artists
on the stage. The yatra will be in
Rajasthan till December 21.
Gandhi said the yatra is teach-
ing him things that cannot be
learnt “while travelling in an aero-
plane, a helicopter or any vehicle”.
Taking a jibe at Gandhi’s yatra,
BJP state president Satish Poonia
posted a video on Twitter, asking:
“Remember your 2018 speech, in
which you had promised complete
loan waiver to the farmers of
Rajasthan in 10 days, today it has
been 1447 days...”
Nadeem Inamdar
letters@hindustantimes.com
PUNE: Twin sisters from Mum-
bai have married the same man
because they “couldn’t bear part-
ing ways after marriage”, police
said on Sunday. The marriage
was reportedly solemnised in
Solapur district’s Malshiras teh-
sil on Friday.
However, soon after videos
from the wedding went viral, a
local resident, Rahul Bharat,
approached the police as he found
the alliance “objectionable”.
Taking note of the incident,
Solapur police booked Atul
Uttam Autade. “A non-cognisa-
ble offences case under IPC sec-
tion 494 (marrying again during
lifetime of husband or wife) has
been registered against Atul
Uttam Autade,” said SP Solapur
Shirish Sardeshpande.
The two sisters, who are IT
professionals, reportedly decided
to marry the same man as they
couldn’t bear parting ways after
marriage. Their family members
consented to their demand, said
officials.
07
regional problems and challenges
facing the country at block, dis-
trict and state level? Are the
advance organisations, party
departments and their units rais-
ing the voice of those sections for
which they have been formed?”
Kharge’s opening remarks sig-
nalled upcoming changes, as
envisaged in the party’s Udaipur
declaration, particularly on ensur-
ing more accountability and pro-
moting new leaders. The resolu-
tion hailed the Bharat Jodo Yatra
and praised “the leadership of
former President Shri Rahul Gan-
dhi, whose tapasya, unfailing
determination, and love for India
and her people have been critical
to the success of the Yatra”.
In the meeting, nearly 50% of
the leaders spoke about how to
take the benefits of the Bharat
Jodo Yatra and the state-level yat-
ras forward. Some leaders pro-
posed an east-to-west yatra.
Former Congress president
Sonia Gandhi rejected a proposal
of HK Patil for a museum of Bha-
rat Jodo Yatra and told the steering
committee virtually that such
museums might only gather dust.
“It would be better to have a digital
collection of the Bharat Jodo
Yatra,” she said.
Later in the day, general sec-
retaries KC Venugopal and
Jairam Ramesh told reporters
that the party would organise a
two-month “massive ‘Hath Se
Hath Jodo Abhiyan’ from Janu-
ary 26”, as a follow-up to the
Bharat Jodo Yatra.
PREVENT MAHA
MINISTERS’ ENTRY
IN STATE: K’TAKA
INTEL REPORT AMID
BORDER DISPUTE
Hirekop Rajan Samuel
letters@hindustantimes.com
BELAGAVI: Allowing Maharash-
tra ministers Chandrakant Patil
and Shambhuraj Desai’s entry
into Belagavi district amid the
ongoing Karnataka-Maharash-
tra border dispute could trigger
riots and violence, state intelli-
gence department has warned
the police department in a report
submitted on Saturday.
The Karnataka-Maharashtra
border issue dates back to the
1960s after the states were reorga-
nised on linguistic lines. Maha-
rashtra laid claim to Belagavi,
which was part of the erstwhile
Bombay Presidency as it has a siz-
able Marathi-speaking population.
It also laid claim to 80 Marathi-
speaking villages that are cur-
rently part of Karnataka.
The Maharashtra government
later appointed Patil and Desai as
coordinating ministers for the bor-
der issue. They are scheduled to
meet pro-Maharashtra groups in
Belagavi district on December 6.
The ministers’ visit, however,
triggered protests by pro-Kan-
nada organisations, who staged a
roadblock on the highway in Bela-
gavi on Friday and shouted slo-
gans against Maharashtra.
The report also warned of pro-
tests and riots in Belagavi even if
Maharashtra says its ministers
would not meet pro-Maharashtra
groups and just attend scheduled
programmes.
Patil, however, has insisted that
he would attend the function in
Belagavi “at any cost”.
Rinky and Pinky Padgaonkar
married Atul Uttam Autade.
“We have preliminary infor-
mation that both the sisters are
close and wanted to stay
together. Further investigation is
underway,” Sardeshpande said.
Nana Galande, owner of the
hotel where the wedding took
place, said: “Both families
approached us to organise the
wedding. I spoke to both the brides
and the bridegroom and they gave
their mutual consent...”
Prominent lawyer Harshad
Nimbalkar said: “Whether the
marriage is legal or not has to be
checked as per the Marriage Act.
The objection to this kind of mar-
riage has to come from the first
wife. We need to first find out
whether all the marriage-related
rituals took place or not.”
08 My India
NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022

G20 Sherpas meet to shape Boost fever and rash surveillance:

Emmanuel Macron
TRUST MY FRIEND
MODI TO BRING US
TOGETHER, SAYS
MACRON ON INDIA’S
G20 PRESIDENCY
Press Trust of India
letters@hindustantimes.com
LONDON: French President
Emmanuel Macron on Sunday
expressed confidence in India
taking over the presidency of the
G20 grouping, saying he trusted
that his “friend” Prime Minister
Narendra Modi would bring
everyone together to “build a
peaceful and a sustainable
world”.
India formally assumed the
G20 Presidency on December 1.
Sharing a picture of himself
and Prime Minister Modi in a
tweet, Macron endorsed the
theme of “One Earth, One Fam-
ily, One Future” that India has
chosen to work on during its
presidency of the G20.
“One Earth. One Family. One
Future. India has taken over the
presidency of #G20India! I trust
my friend @NarendraModi to
bring us together in order to
build peace and a more sustaina-
ble world,” Macron tweeted.
Prime Minister Modi thanked
Macron for his wishes later in
the day. “Thank you, my dear
friend @EmmanuelMacron ! I
look forward to consulting you
closely during India’s G20 Presi-
dency, as we work to focus the
world’s attention on the issues
that affect humanity as a whole,”
he wrote.
On Thursday, PM Modi had
said India will work to further
promote oneness, inspired by
the theme of “One Earth, One
Family, One Future” and listed
terror, climate change, pan-
demic as the greatest challenges
that can be best fought together.
Last week, US president Joe
Biden had described India as a
strong partner of the US and said
that he was looking forward to
supporting PM Modi during
India’s G20 presidency.
The G20 is an intergovern-
mental forum of the world’s
major economies.
agenda of India’s presidency
Rezaul H Laskar
letters@hindustantimes.com
UDAIPUR: Top officials of the
world’s 20 largest economies
will begin two days of delibera-
tions in Udaipur on Monday to
shape the agenda for India’s G20
presidency, with the focus on
ensuring inclusive growth amid
a global economic slowdown
and divisions created by the
Ukraine crisis.
The G20 Sherpas or personal
representatives of the heads of
state and government and top
officials of multilateral institu-
tions such as the United Nations
and World Bank began gathering
in Udaipur on Sunday for over-
arching deliberations on the
course to be taken by the G20 in
the coming year.
India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh
Kant highlighted the challenges
facing the world community – a
massive geo-political crisis in
Europe, the breakdown of global
supply chains, 70 countries
affected by global debt, and the
pressing issue of climate action
and climate finance.
These were compounded by
issues such as literacy, health,
vast segments of populations
6th Vande Bharat to be
inaugurated on Dec 11
HT Correspondent
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Nar-
endra Modi will inaugurate the
sixth semi-high speed Vande
Bharat train in the country — to
be operated on the Bilaspur
(Chattisgarh)-Nagpur (Maha-
rashtra) route — on December 11,
an Indian Railways official said
on Sunday.
According to the official, the
train will run six days a week
and will complete one leg of the
journey in about five-and-a-half
hours. “The Bilaspur- Nagpur
Vande Bharat train will be inau-
gurated on Sunday (December
11) by PM Narendra Modi in Nag-
pur,” the official said.
“This train will leave Bilaspur
at around 6.45am and reach
Jal Sanjhi artwork on display at a meeting of G20 Sherpas in
Udaipur on Sunday.
falling below the poverty line
due to the Covid-19 pandemic,
inflation and slowdown of global
growth, he said in his opening
remarks at a panel discussion
organised by the UN on acceler-
ating the implementation of the
Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) that was attended by the
G20 Sherpas.
“At this moment of crisis,
India is taking over the presi-
dency of the G20. Our belief is
that every crisis is a huge oppor-
tunity and leadership is about
Nagpur at around 12.15pm. Simi-
larly, the train will leave Nagpur
at 2pm to reach Bilaspur at
7.35pm. Currently, superfast
trains take around seven hours
to reach Nagpur, however, this
train will cover the distance in
around five-and-a-half hours,”
said the official.
According to a second official
familiar with the matter, the
train will be operated by the
Southeast Central Railways and
will have scheduled stops at Rai-
pur, Durg and Gondia.
The official also said that
another Vande Bharat train is
likely to be launched between
Secunderabad and Vijayawada
in 2023. “This will be the first
indigenously-built semi high-
speed rail in South Central Rail-
way...” the official added. HTC
PTI
finding path-breaking solutions
in the midst of crisis,” Kant said.
In this context, Kant high-
lighted India’s G20 theme of
“One Earth One Family One
Future” and said, “We may have
different political views, we may
have different economic models,
but ultimately, we are part of one
universe. It’s necessary to break
geographic boundaries to bring
peace and harmony in the
world.”
People familiar with the mat-
ter said the Indian side will make
CM, his deputy test e-way
Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and his deputy
Devendra Fadnavis inspect the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi
Mahamarg Expressway in Nagpur on Sunday, a day ahead of
its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
a presentation to the G20 mem-
bers on the country’s priorities
for its presidency and on 12
working groups.
The International Monetary
Fund (IMF) will make a presen-
tation on the global growth sce-
nario and Department of Eco-
nomic Affairs (DEA) secretary
Ajay Seth will brief the delegates
on India’s economic growth and
its views on global economic
issues. The G20 Sherpas and rep-
resentatives of multilateral bod-
ies and nine guest countries will
participate in five separate ses-
sions, the people said.
While participating in the dis-
cussion organised by the UN on
the theme “Transforming Lives
at the Midpoint of the 2030
Agenda: Accelerating Achieve-
ment of the Sustainable Develop-
ment Goals”, Sanjeev Sanyal,
member of the Economic Advi-
sory Council to the Prime Minis-
ter, said the management of the
global commons, including envi-
ronment and climate, energy
supplies, payment systems and
supply chains, “cannot be weap-
onised in any way”. It is up to the
G20 leadership to find ways to
maintain continuity of these
global commons, he said.
PTI
Govt to states as measles surges
Rhythma Kaul
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: As cases of measles
are rising in certain parts of the
country, the central government
has directed affected states to
strengthen fever and rash sur-
veillance, according to people
familiar with the matter.
Maharashtra and Kerala have
so far reported at least 914 cases
of the viral disease. There have
been 18 deaths in Maharashtra
alone. “The Union health minis-
try has been asking states to
heighten surveillance so that
cases are not missed, and also
detected early. This will help
save lives,” an official aware of
the matter said, requesting ano-
nymity.
Measles is a highly infectious
viral disease, with a basic repro-
duction number of 12-18 by most
estimates, which means one
infected person can pass it on to
12 to 18 others, and each of those
to a similar number further.
The disease normally sees a
surge between November and
March, which is why states have
Woman gang-raped,
tortured in Mumbai
Manish K Pathak
letters@hindustantimes.com
MUMBAI: Three people were
booked for allegedly gang-raping
and assaulting a 42-year-old
woman in Mumbai, a senior
police officer privy to the investi-
gation said on Sunday.
Deputy commissioner of
police, Manoj Patil said the
crime was allegedly committed
on the morning of November 30.
The FIR against the accused was
registered on December 2.
According to Patil, the survi-
vor said she was asleep on
November 30 morning in her
house when a knock on the door
woke her up. Finding nobody at
the door, the woman was closing
it when the three accused alleg-
edly barged in. According to the
complaint, the accused gang-
raped her, burnt her with ciga-
rette butts and also injured her
using a knife before fleeing.
The survivor was admitted to
Health workers conduct an
awareness drive against
measles in Mumbai. PTI FILE
been directed to remain vigilant
during this period.
Even in healthy children,
measles can cause serious illness
and can require hospitalisation.
It can be particularly dangerous
for children who are unvacci-
nated, and are moderately or
severely malnourished. Around
1-3 of every 1,000 children who
are infected die from respiratory
or neurological complications.
In a detailed advisory issued
last month, the Centre asked
states to undertake a headcount
survey of all children aged 6
months to 5 years in the vulnera-
ble outbreak areas to facilitate
THE WOMAN WAS
ALLEGEDLY BURNT
WITH CIGARETTE
BUTTS AND ALSO
INJURED USING A
KNIFE, SAID POLICE
a hospital for two days and later
discharged, said a police officer
familiar with the matter.
DCP Patil said that based on
her complaint, an FIR was regis-
tered under IPC sections 376
(rape), 376 (d) (gang rape), 377
(unnatural offences), 452
(house-trespass after prepara-
tion for hurt, assault or wrongful
restraint), 354 (assault or crimi-
nal force to woman with intent
to outrage her modesty), among
other relevant provisions.
“As of now, we have not
arrested anyone. We have con-
tacted the doctor to get a medical
report,” said the officer.
full vaccination coverage in an
accelerated manner. The institu-
tionalised mechanism of a dis-
trict task force on immunization
under the chairmanship of the
district collector must be acti-
vated to review the measles situ-
ation on a daily and weekly
basis, it said.
Roughly 2.5 million infants,
who were supposed to be inocu-
lated with the first dose of mea-
sles vaccine, did not receive the
shots last year, a number that
explains why the country is
recording a surge in the viral dis-
ease that is highly contagious
and can lead to fatalities.
At 2.5 million, India accounts
for the second highest numbers
of missed doses in infants in
2021, with Nigeria recording the
most at 3.1 million doses, accord-
ing to a recent estimate by the
World Health Organization
(WHO) and the US CDC.
“People must take all the vac-
cines that are due as per the
national schedule or it could
have serious consequences,” said
Dr Anupam Sibal, group medical
director, Apollo Hospitals.
RECEPTIONIST
MURDER: COPS
TO SEEK NOD FOR
NARCO ANALYSIS
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand
Police are planning to approach
a local court in Pauri Garhwal’s
Kotdwar to conduct a narco-
analysis test, for lie detection, on
one of the accused in the murder
of a 19-year-old receptionist,
whose body was found in a canal
in Rishikesh in September.
Ankita Bhandari’s body was
recovered from the Chilla canal
in Rishikesh on September 24,
nearly a week after she was
reported missing. Pulkit Arya,
the son of expelled BJP leader
Vinod Arya, was among three
accused in the case.
On Sunday, ADGP (law and
order), V Murugesan, said: “We
will conduct the narco test of the
accused. We will file an applica-
tion in court soon.”
To be sure, confessions
derived using these tests are not
evidence, however, any proof
gathered using the confession is
admissible in court. HTC

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I, SAVITRI Devi W/o Sh. Chokhe
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Property Papers (DDA No Objection
MADHYA PRADESH RURAL ROAD
Certificate for Water & Electricity)
in respect of my Flat No. 77C,
2nd Floor LIG DDA Flats, Motia Khan,
Paharganj, New Delhi-110055. Finder
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
(An Agency of Panchayat & Rural Development
may contact at my above address
or on my Mobile No. 9971988380 Department, Govt. of Madhya Pradesh)
5th Floor, Block-II, Paryawas Bhawan, Bhopal, (M.P.)–462011
No./17022/FA/WB/CMGSY/2022 Bhopal, Dated : 03.12.2022
MY NAME is Mohammad Mohsin son IFB No. WB–45/1033
of Mr. Abdul Hameed resident of
Bazar, Pahari Darvaza Nagina, Online item rate bids are invited on e-procurement portal
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CHIEF GENERAL
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PO – Dho, Teh – Bhoranj, Distt –
Hamirpur, H.P. 177025 have changed
my name from Surjit Kaur to Gudo
Devi for all future purposes vide
affidavit dt. 23-08-2022 before
Notary Public, H.P.

I, AMIT S/o Shri Chandra Pal R/o

House No. 290, Gali No. 3, Near
Moolchand Chauhan Public School,
Village-Chhalera, Sector-44, Noida
Gautam Buddh Nagar, UP have
change my name from Amit to Amit
Kumar for all future purposes.

I, GEETAM Singh S/o Late Soran Singh,

R/o Village-Indajasanpur, Post-
Kadarganj, District-Kasganj, U.P.
declare that my wife's name has
been wrongly entered as Smt.
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The correct and actual name of my
wife is Smt. Veera Devi, hence it may
be entered accordingly in my all
documents and service record.

I, KAPIL S/O Sh. Pritam Singh R/O

406/A, Street No-1, Than Singh Nagar,
Anand Parbat, New Delhi 110005
have changed my name from Kapil
to Kapil Kumar in my passport no-
L 5196086 for all future purposes.
CHANGE OF NAME

I, RAMESH Chand S/o Late Mr. Than
Singh R/o IIIrd C/73C Nehru Nagar
Ghaziabad U.P.-201001 I, have
change my name from Ramesh
Chand Choudhary to Ramesh Chand
for all future purpose
I AISHWARYA Ramesh D/o Ramesh
Jayaraman R/o 784, Pocket 5, Mayur
Vihar, Phase 1, Delhi 110091 have
changed my name from Aishwarya
and Aishwarya R to Aishwarya
Ramesh for all future purposes.
NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022
{ GREENPIECE }
A FAILURE TO STOP
THE CHEMICALS
COMES FULL CIRCLE
Bharati Chaturvedi
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: On December 3,
India mourned the Bhopal Gas
Tragedy on its 38th year. Official
statistics say 5,000 people died.
Lakhs of victims have suffered
and are still suffering intense
injury and pain. Children were
born with unbelievable defects,
as if the gods had mixed up spe-
cies and planets. The victims
haven’t received any worthwhile
compensation. Shaken up by the
event, several countries
strengthened their laws. Now, a
lifetime later, we see they failed.
In fact, the world seems to
have come full circle in its fail-
ure. If lives were lost then, lives
are hard to create now, thanks,
once more, to chemicals. The
well-known research of Dr.
Shanna Swan in 2017, says by
2045, most people will rely on
assisted reproduction, for envi-
ronmental toxins, such as addi-
tives like phthalates from plas-
tics, are disrupting the human
endocrine system and are reduc-
ing fertility. In men, the sperm
count has dramatically reduced
over the last 40 years.
Such science shows global
toxic control regimes are weak.
Minimizing chemical damage is
important, but preventing expo-
sure via strict regulation and its
implementation is even more
important. A timed phase out of
endocrine disruptors and heavy
metals (like lead) is a first step.
Persistent organic pollutants
(like several pesticides) were to
be phased out under the Stock-
holm Convention, but it’s no stel-
lar performance. Indians blame
the population for many ills. But
can we accept population reduc-
tion by poisoning ourselves?
While victims must get robust
compensation based on their
asks, we must prevent other
slow-motion Bhopals. What can
be more de-humanizing than
being unable to reproduce?
The author is the founder and
director of the Chintan Environmen-
tal Research and Action Group
PREVENTING THE
EXPOSURE OF
CHEMICAL USING
STRICT RULES
IS IMPORTANT
‘Navy has steadfastly protected
the nation’: Modi leads tributes
Agencies
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Nar-
endra Modi on Sunday extended
greetings on the occasion of Navy
Day and said that the force has
“steadfastly” protected the nation.
“Best wishes on Navy Day to all
navy personnel and their families.
We in India are proud of our rich
maritime history. The Indian Navy
has steadfastly protected our
nation and has distinguished itself
with its humanitarian spirit dur-
ing challenging times,” PM Modi
tweeted. December 4 is celebrated
as Navy Day, every year, to
acknowledge Indian Navy’s role
and commemorate its achieve-
ments in ‘Operation Trident’ dur-
ing the 1971 Indo-Pak War.
The Navy showcased its combat
Oppn to seek changes
to the Competition Bill
Saubhadra Chatterji
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: Opposition parlia-
mentarians will seek key changes
to The Competition (Amendment)
Bill, 2022, in the winter session of
Parliament, senior leaders familiar
with the matter said on Wednes-
day.
The Bill, which aims to make
changes in the Competition Com-
mission of India (CCI)’s role in
mergers and acquisitions, among
a raft of other reforms, was intro-
duced in the Lok Sabha during the
monsoon session in August. The
changes are likely to target one of
the key proposals in the Bill, which
plans to make CCI’s approval man-
datory for all merger and acquisi-
tions valued at over ₹2,000 crore.
Two senior Opposition leaders
said they will demand “more clar-
ity on how the deal value, the key
to CCI’s intervention, would be
determined. The bill should also
have a provision for periodic revi-
sion of the deal value as price rise
or market favourable conditions
can rapidly change the value.” The
session is scheduled to begin on
December 7 and go on till Decem-
ber 29.
A third Opposition MP said a
proposal in the Bill to cut down the
time given to CCI for assessing
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APPOINTMENT OF GURUS UNDER GURU SHISHYA PARAMPARA 2022-23
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eligibility, prescribed format of application, etc. and they must sent their duly filled in application only
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CBC 17212/12/0001/2223
NAVY DAY IS
MARKED TO
ACKNOWLEDGE
THE ROLE OF NAVY
IN ‘OPERATION
TRIDENT’ DURING
THE 1971 WAR
prowess in an event to mark the
Navy Day at Visakhapatnam in
Andhra Pradesh on Sunday.
President Droupadi Murmu
was the chief guest at the event.
“The gallant men and women
of the Indian Navy are serving a
greater cause with utmost dedica-
tion, and I am extremely proud of
each one of you,” said Murmu in a
tweet. Congress national president
Mallikarjun Kharge also took to
whether the deal would lead to
cartelisation or a monopoly
should be rejected. “The CCI cur-
rently gets 210 days to pass an
order. The bill proposes to reduce
it to 150 days. This is not needed,”
said the senior leader, asking not
to be named.
The Bill is currently being
reviewed by the parliamentary
standing committee on finance,
led by former Union Minister Jay-
ant Sinha. It also proposes to
widen the scope of anti-competi-
tive agreements to include a wider
range of entities.
A report by NGO PRS Legisla-
tive on the Bill states: “Currently,
enterprises or persons engaged in
similar businesses can be held to
be a part of anti-competitive agree-
ments. The Bill expands this to
also include enterprises or persons
who are not engaged in similar
businesses.”
“While we support the overall
direction of the Bill, some key
changes and more clarifications
are required,” said a member of
the Congress, arguing that the
main law and not the subordinate
legislations must give a clear view
of how the value of a transaction
would be determined.
“This is especially important for
digital companies,” the Congress
MP said.
Director, Rashtriya Ayurveda Vidyapeeth
My India 09
City
‘MERI
KAUNSI
FILM OTT
MANA
KAR RAHE
Twitter to share his wishes for the HAIN?’
day. “Our sincere gratitude and
salutations to the guardians of our
seas — the Indian Navy on #Indi- CHECK OUT
anNavyDay ” he tweeted. TODAY’S
Defence minister Rajnath Singh EDITION
tweeted: “Greetings to all @Indian-
Navy personnel on #NavyDay. The
Indian Navy is at the forefront of
keeping our country safe by ensur-
ing impeccable maritime security.
The nation is proud of Indian
Navy’s valour, courage, commit-
ment and professionalism.”
Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Admi-
ral R Hari Kumar also paid trib-
utes to the bravehearts of India for
the supreme sacrifice. “ We pay
homage to supreme sacrifices of
our Bravehearts & gratitude to our
veterans,”spokesperson Indian
Navy tweeted while quoting the
navy chief admiral.
BJP SEEKS NIA
PROBE INTO BLAST
AT TMC LEADER’S
HOUSE IN BENGAL
KOLKATA: The West Bengal unit
of the Bharatiya Janata Party on
Sunday urged Union home min-
ister Amit Shah to ask the
National Investigation Agency
to probe the blast at Bhupatin-
agar in East Midnapore district
in which a local Trinamool Con-
gress leader and two others
were killed on December 2.
Suvendu Adhikari, leader of THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH
the opposition in the West Ben- AND FAMILY WELFARE
gal legislative assembly, wrote a Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
letter to Shah, saying bombs
were stockpiled at the home of New Delhi-110 067
TMC polling booth unit presi- No. B.12028/4/2022-Admn.II (CHI)
dent Rajkumar Manna. Vacancy Notice
Manna, 52, his brother Deb-
The National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIHFW) is an
kumar Manna, 35, and their
Autonomous/Apex Technical Institute funded by the Ministry of Health
neighbour and TMC worker Bis-
and Family Welfare for promoting Health and Family Welfare Programmes
wajit Gayen, 41, were killed in
in the country through Education & Training, Research & Evaluation,
the blast. The incident hap-
specialized services, consultancy and advisory service. This Institute has
pened hours before TMC
been appointed by MOHFW, GOI as a Nodal Agency for Coordination of all
national general secretary
the Activities in the country under the Centre of Health Informatics (CHI) for
Abhishek Banerjee on Saturday
National Health Portal (NHP).
addressed a rally at East Mid-
napore’s Contai town. “We have It is proposed to engage the following positions on contract basis under
registered a case and an investi- Centre of Health Informatics (CHI) project. The duration of the appointment
gation has started,” a senior East will be initially for a period of one year. The detail of the positions are given
below:
Midnapore police official said.
Meanwhile, TMC spokesper- S. Designation No. of Proposed Maximum
son Jay Prakash Majumdar said: No. Position monthly with taxes
“The police and forensic experts (Rs.)
are conducting their probes. 1. Finance/Accounts Assistant 1 40,000 — 70,000
Action will be taken if anyone is 2. Administrative Assistant 2 40,000 — 70,000
found guilty.” HTC 3. Store Assistant 1 40,000 — 70,000
4. Cyber security Expert 1 90,000 — 140,000
5. Cloud Computing Expert 1 90,000 — 140,000
6. Data Analytics Expert 1 90,000 — 140,000
7. AI and ML Expert 1 90,000 — 140,000 Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public
8. Project Manager 1 90,000 — 140,000
Administration, Punjab
9. Software Developers 2 90,000 — 140,000 Institutional Area, Sector 26, Chandigarh-160019, India
10. DevOps Developer 2 90,000 — 140,000
Phone: +91-172-2793588-91 | Fax: +91-172-2793588-91 Extn: 400
11. Database Administrator 2 90,000 — 140,000
Email: helpdesk.mgsipa@punjab.gov.in
12. Mobile Application Developer 1 90,000 — 140,000
Web: www.mgsipa.punjab.gov.in
13. Solution Architect 1 90,000 — 140,000
• The last date for receiving of application is 23.12.2022 upto 5.00 p.m. CONTRACTUAL APPOINTMENTS
• The detailed terms and conditions for the engagement is given at MGSIPA invites applications for the following contractual positions under
Annexure ‘A’ of the vacancy notification on the Website of Institute: www. the NDMA, MHA, Govt. of India sponsored AAPDA Mitra Scheme:
nihfw.org and Website of MoHFW: www.mohfw.gov.in
Sr. Name of the position Number of Consolidated monthly
• Hindi version of this advisement is also available on Institute’s website. No. positions remuneration
CBC 17153/12/0011/2223 Director (Additional Charge) 1. Consultant 6 Rs. 50,000/-
2. Office Assistant 1 Rs. 30,412/-
3. Data Entry Operator 6 Rs. 26,902/-
4. Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) 6 Rs. 19,000/-
Last date and time: 27.12.2022, 4.30 pm
For detail terms of reference, please log onto www.mgsipa.punjab.gov.in
Note: Any corrigendum(s) to this appointment notice shall be published on
the above website only.
Sd/-
19117 Director General

Read
Luke Coutinho’s
latest column on
healthy lifestyle
Access a plethora of stories from
the world of lifestyle, culture and THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH
entertainment on HT Brunch. AND FAMILY WELFARE
Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka, New Delhi-110067
NIHFW/WS/37 - 7/2022
NOTICE FOR INVITING TENDER
Tender is invited on behalf of Director, NIHFW for the
“Functionalization, Operation & Maintenance of Newly
Constructed International Hostel and Operation &
Maintenance of Existing old Hostel at the NIHFW”. The
pre-bid meeting for the same will be held on 12.12.2022
at 11.00 AM and the last date & time of receipt of Bid is
23.12.2022, 3.00 PM. For more details, including Hindi
version the Institute’s website www.nihfw.org & https://
Scan the QR code. eprocure.gov.in may be visited.
G CBC 17153/12/0012/2223 Director (Additional Charge)
10
Opinion
{ OUR TAKE }
E STA B L I S H E D I N 1 9 24
What unrest and anger
In Kabul, India
in China’s cities reveal
A radically networked
takes a soft step society has been created
to protest the zero-Covid
A toehold has been established. But as threats policy. But the path to
of instability rise, India must be cautious, alert peace appears complex,
with a smooth exit from
W
hen Kabul fell to the rampaging Taliban the State’s coercive Covid
force last year, India faced a difficult
choice. It could not be seen as lending policy highly unlikely
C
legitimacy to the autocratic and oppressive ities across China have
witnessed protests over
regime and there was little option other than to the past week, as people
evacuate its officials to safeguard them from almost have demonstrated their
guaranteed attacks. Still, in the aftermath of an anger and frustration with
the persistence and costs
earthquake in Afghanistan earlier this year, India of the zero-Covid policy. What trig-
quietly moved to establish a small diplomatic presence gered the protests was an apartment
in the restive country while continuing to help its fire in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinji-
ang Uyghur Autonomous Region,
citizens with humanitarian efforts. A report in this which led to the death of 10 people.
newspaper on Sunday indicated that this cautious Reports of the Covid-19 lockdown in
strategy might be yielding dividends and allowing India the city hampering rescue efforts
ignited widespread anger on social
to gain a toehold in what remains a restive and volatile, media. Soon, this anger, fuelled fur-
but strategically important, country. As the report ther by official denials and online cen-
indicated, India’s presence in Afghanistan remains a sorship, spilled onto the streets of
major cities in the country. In Shang-
sensitive issue, with a majority of the “technical team” hai, hundreds gathered along Wulu-
deployed in Kabul being security personnel sent in to muqi Road, named after Urumqi,
guard middle-ranking diplomats who are largely demanded the lifting of lockdowns
and basic human rights, and carried
focused on ways to help the Afghan people grappling blank pieces of paper to protest the
with humanitarian and economic crises. Nonetheless, lack of freedom of expression. Similar
the Indian presence on the ground would be helping protests have since been seen in cities
such as Wuhan, Chengdu, Beijing, and
policymakers keep a close watch on the evolving Nanjing, among others. In some
political and security dynamics. instances, protesters have gone
This comes at an increasingly turbulent time, beyond simply demanding an end to
lockdowns and mass testing to call for
especially after the resurgent Tehreek-e-Taliban freedom, respect for universal values,
Pakistan called off a fragile six-month-old ceasefire in
Pakistan and threatened a wave of attacks across the
country. The militant outfit — emboldened by the grip
of the Afghan Taliban, which had brokered the truce, { STRAIGHTFORWARD }
on Kabul — is capable of fomenting instability in Shashi Shekhar
Pakistan’s tribal districts along the border.
Moreover, the diplomatic and humanitarian
presence helps India foster old goodwill, interpersonal
warmth and cultural ties that it shares with the people A long way still for India
to be the best democracy
of Afghanistan, and ensures that India is not ceding
ground for hostile powers to gain leverage. There
continue to be considerable risks — including security
threats, notwithstanding Talibani assurances of strict veryone and anyone who has even the
action against anti-India attacks — and problems of
E remotest interest in politics is anx-
iously waiting for December 8. The
rampant human rights violations, misogyny and direction of Indian politics for the
gender violence, uneven political control and a fluid next two crucial years will be decided on that
security situation. India returned to Kabul only after a day, when votes for the assemblies in Gujarat
and Himachal Pradesh will be counted.
comprehensive assessment of security threats because Any election must include victory and
having a presence on Afghan soil allows Delhi to better defeat, but voting in a democracy goes
track developments. It has done well to explore a
cautious path forward, but must remain alert.
beyond these outcomes. It serves as a report
card for political parties and governments.
Unfortunately, this is not happening. We are
living in an era in which healthy political ide-
A costly compromise
als are being tainted election after election.
Once again, verbal abuse has successfully
obscured the most important issues. The two
on coal in the West
state elections presented an opportunity for
real political discourse on the economy and
rising prices. The primary sources of “sor-
row” in both these states are unemployment,
oing back on pledges to shut all coal plants in the inflation and the plight of the poor as a result
G country, France moved last week to fire two of
the oldest coal-powered electricity plants in
order to tide over surging demand that is only expected
of poor governance.
According to a survey conducted by
C-Voter in mid-November, Gujarat’s biggest
problem is joblessness. About 38% of respon-
to rise during a long and bitter winter. Hammered by dents said so. Only 4% said inflation was the
biggest problem. Gujarat is nevertheless one
global energy uncertainties due to the conflict between of the states with the lowest unemployment
Russia and Ukraine and Moscow’s erratic supply of rates in the nation, according to the Centre
natural gas to Europe, France cited “exceptional” and for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). On
October 22, the unemployment rate here was
“unforeseeable” circumstances to justify its decision, 1.7%, compared with the national average of
and avoid the threat of rationing electricity and rolling 8%.
power cuts. Some other nations in Europe, facing the Similarly, according to a recent poll con-
ducted by four educational institutions in
spectre of similar power outages, may follow suit. Himachal, joblessness was the most pressing
This is an understandable, if somewhat unfortunate, issue for 39.1% of the respondents, while
compromise. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has inflation was so for 35.2%. Unemployment
should have been a deciding factor in both
wrought hardships on the world, roiled global energy states, but such concerns are not even a cry
markets and exposed the fragility of supply chains. in the wilderness. Indian democracy has
With no end in sight, nations are moving to secure the grown with its contradictions.
On the one hand, there is unemployment
interests of their citizens. Yet, there is no escaping the and the ensuing chaos, while, on the other,
fact that this move is detrimental to France’s climate
goals and a disappointing signal for the continent’s
climate commitments, though the overall impact of
this move is likely to be temporary. There are three key
learnings from this. One, Great Power conflict and
geopolitical dynamics will continue to shape the
response to the climate crisis — no matter what is being
said at multilateral summits — because it will
determine access to finance, technology and the pace of
transition towards renewables. Two, coal and other
fossil fuel sources will continue to hold sway in large
parts of the world for some years to come. And three,
local demand and domestic compulsions will carry
greater weight for governments than international
commitments in deciding climate policies. This is a
lesson for developed countries, which often try to take
the high ground on climate summits and coerce poorer
nations to phase out fossil fuels quickly — if historical
polluters can prioritise the welfare of their citizens, Those who entered politics preaching
then the same space should be allowed to countries alternative politics and eradicating
corruption had to adopt populist measures,
looking to pull millions out of poverty and needing the and, as a result, election after election,
carbon space to ensure a life of dignity to all. actual issues are pushed further behind HT
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NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022
and for Xi Jinping to step down. unpredictability and disruption that
To be fair, these are not the first set the policy engenders are damaging
of protests regarding China’s Covid-19 economic growth, hurting local busi-
policies over the past three years. nesses, and weakening foreign inves-
What’s important to note, however, is tor sentiment. On the other hand, con-
the scale and the commonalities in taining Covid-related deaths is a leg-
the modes of protesting across differ- acy issue for Xi and is key to the
ent cities. This implies the incipient party’s legitimacy. The propaganda Perhaps the protests will inject greater urgency to move away from zero-
development of a radically networked apparatus and Xi himself have spent Covid. How to achieve this and satisfy the demands of the angry, urban
society (RNS). An RNS comprises the past three years portraying the elite while minimising the public health costs is the policy challenge AFP
hyper-connected individuals linked fight against Covid and low infection
by both real and imagined identities and death rates as examples of the 11, a day after the new Politburo of living with the virus. In other
and motivated by a common cause. superiority of the Chinese party-State Standing Committee discussed the words, after taking a step forward, the
Such movements tend to be charac- system as opposed to a liberal democ- zero-Covid policy, the State council system appeared to retreat.
terised by rapid scalability, diffused racy. In addition, Beijing has projec- announced 20 optimisation meas- If there is a positive for Beijing in all
leadership, shared languages and ted itself as a global champion in the ures. These included easing quaran- of this, it is that perhaps that the pro-
expressions and amorphous decision- fight against the pandemic through its tine durations, a call for limited test- tests will inject greater urgency to
making structures, thereby present- vaccine diplomacy. ing, and a demand that local govern- move away from zero-Covid. How to
ing unique challenges to the hierarch- Despite this, China’s domestic vac- ments do not adopt a one-size-fits-all achieve this and satisfy the demands
ical apparatuses of the state. cination campaign has approach or incremental restrictions. of the angry, urban elite while mini-
Despite this, it is too early left much to be desired. Instead, local governments were mising the public health costs for the
to assume that the protests While around 90% of the told to focus on timely and precise elderly is the policy challenge before
present a major or systemic country’s population has interventions to protect lives as their the leadership.
challenge to the Communist received a full course of primary objective through early In managing this, the Chinese State
Party’s rule in the country. vaccination, only 86% of detection, reporting, quarantine, and appears to be deploying a mix of coer-
The party-State has spent Manoj people over 60 have been treatment while also minimising the cive and accommodative approaches.
years and billions in fully vaccinated, with 68% impact of the policy on the economy The former ranges from intimidation
strengthening its surveil- Kewalramani receiving boosters. The and reducing friction in terms of daily of protesters to limiting the flow of
lance, policing and mass numbers fall to 65.7% for living. Squaring this circle is no easy information that can fuel anger and
control capabilities. One fully vaccinated and only feat, resulting in local officials priori- mobilise people. The latter revolves
should be cautious in reading too 40% for boosters, when it comes to tising containment over other aspects. around public messaging related to
much into its flat-footed response. people over 80. Essentially, what this That, from their perspective, is the the virus and vaccination and opera-
There are significant coercive tools at means is that as the government loo- politically safer route. This became tional tweaks to how the zero-Covid
the party-State’s disposal, and there is sens controls, infections and, poten- apparent in the days following the policy is implemented. Whether this
some experience in dealing with RNS tially, deaths, particularly among the release of the 20 measures. As the can be sustained amid a spike in cases
protests, such as the 2019-20 pro-de- elderly, will rise. This will invariably number of infections began to rise, and, potentially, deaths among vul-
mocracy movement in Hong Kong. place a burden on the limited medical local governments tended to revert to nerable populations is worth watch-
That said, the Chinese leadership resources in the country, and could the old playbook. Even the messaging ing. For the moment, a smooth and
today finds itself caught between a potentially lead to greater instability. from the central authorities has reit- orderly exit from zero-Covid appears
rock and a hard place. On the one This is a wicked problem. Over the erated that the optimisation measures unlikely.
hand, the zero-Covid policy is increas- past few weeks, the Chinese central do not imply an easing of the zero-
ingly unsustainable. The protests leadership has signalled greater Covid policy. These, a commentary in Manoj Kewalramani is fellow, China
have shown that popular support for intent with regard to easing Covid the People’s Daily argued recently, do Studies, The Takshashila Institution
the policy is rapidly eroding. The control requirements. On November not amount to “lying flat”, ie, a policy The views expressed are personal
{ EMMANUEL MACRON } PRESIDENT OF FRANCE
P
One Earth. One Family. One
Future. India has taken over the
presidency of G20! I trust my
friend Narendra Modi to bring us
our legislators are frequently drawn from the together in order to build peace
upper crust. According to the Association for
and a more sustainable world.
A
Democratic Reforms, 456 of the 1,621 candi-
dates, or around 28%, in the Gujarat assem-
bly elections, are crorepatis. Jayanti Patel of
the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tops the list.
The BJP has fielded 154 crorepatis, the Con-
gress 142, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)
68. The average net worth of candidates in
the Gujarat elections is ₹2.56 crore. A dozen
of the crorepati candidates have stated
incomes ranging from nil to ₹10,000. It’s
The AIIMS attack shows
unlikely that even one of them will be able to
enter the legislative assembly.
Now let’s talk about the second paradox.
India has the biggest population of young
the importance of a robust
people. More than 70% of Indians are under
35. India also has the highest number of
graduates in the world. But 1,124, or more
cybersecurity framework
than half, of the candidates vying to repre-
sent the average Gujarati citizen, have only t the turn of the decade, the prevail- impact of a difficult meeting that a Cabinet
completed the 12th grade.
Over a hundred of them have revealed
themselves to be either illiterate or barely lit-
erate. Only 449 applicants have a Bachelor’s
A ing narrative was “data is the new minister had with a nation-State delegation
oil” — a landscape where data, which and then correlate their mental and physical
was seen as an infinite resource, health by timeline analysis and figure out the
could be extracted cheaply due to falling pri- best possible strategy that puts them under
degree. Coming to age, more than half are ces of storage and computing, potentially pressure before similar meetings in the
between the ages of 40 and 80. Two are older transforming entire sectors and even uplifting future.
than 80. That is, the representation of young people from poverty. Therefore, the govern- Full-read access is just one of the risk vec-
professionals and the poor will be dispropor- ment was expected to remove all impedi- tors. Given that the attackers gained control
tionate to the population, whoever forms the ments to “data flows”. But these notions failed not just on the hospital network, but also on
government. to take into account basic economics. If a the backup systems, there is simply no guar-
We often remain quiet by accusing our resource is infinite, its price continues to fall antee that health records were not tampered
leaders of deceiving the people. Why is it that and there is no point in trying to protect it with even in the secondary backup systems.
our country, which has the highest popula- from stealing, as the cost to protect it For example, it is much easier to
tion of young people and graduates, is so eas- will always exceed the value of the alter the dosage of a blood-thinning
ily swayed by anyone? If we do not want this resource. The narrative created an drug to induce severe side effects,
conflict to become permanent in Indian poli- industry where many paid lip ser- which could create a domino effect
tics, voters must step forward. vice to data protection, but did not on trade negotiation and barely any-
It’s not that it hasn’t been attempted. But put in the serious money to do it. one would understand that it was
those who entered politics preaching alterna- There was, however, one class of not a care-provider error, but the
Anand V
tive politics and eradicating corruption actors who worked tirelessly to burst long-tail effect of a cyber attack.
through politics had to adopt populist meas- this bubble of data protection — ran- Let there be no doubt that the
ures as well. As a result, election after elec- somware operators. They clearly AIIMS breach was not an isolated
tion, actual issues are pushed further behind. understood that the value of data is depend- event, but a progression of a long sequence of
The Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh elec- ent upon the access to it, and created access similar incidents that occurred in the past
tions are no exception. controls, using (sometimes) state-of-the-art and were ignored. For instance, the 2017 Hita-
This is why elections are becoming pomp- encryption technologies. Further, they also chi data breach became a trailer for the 2019
ous “events” rather than democratic festivals. became a market maker in discovering the attack on the Kudankulam nuclear reactor,
Did anyone expect the election for the cost of implementing real data protection. which was then followed by the detection of
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to Given this background, let us examine the cobalt strike malware. The lack of response
make national television headlines? This All India Institute of Medical Sciences AIIMS) may have signalled to hostile agents that they
time, the manner in which the BJP and the hospital ransomware attack in depth. The would suffer little consequences for such acts.
AAP have deployed all their might, energy, hospital — India’s largest health facility, There were no efforts to create a national
and resources demonstrates the shifting par- where doctors attend to 35,000 patients a day, cyber security doctrine or even a workable
adigm of Indian politics. Every election is including senior members of the government policy. Instead, existing institutions were
now like prepping for the next battle. — not only lost access to the main servers, but engaged in turf wars over budgetary alloca-
But except for Himachal, the Congress is also the backups; even after 10 days, access tions. This must be urgently reversed, and
not seen contesting in Gujarat and the MCD. has not been fully restored. While there were findings from the AIIMS breach investigation
The same pattern may be seen in the by-elec- initial reports of a demand ₹200 crore as ran- used to craft a robust and transparent cyber-
tions in Uttar Pradesh. Why? Is this a strat- som, this was strenuously denied by Delhi security policy.
egy or has the Congress given up? This will Police. If a ransom payout is not the end goal, The magnitude of the cybersecurity debt
also be revealed on December 7 and 8. The then what could be the aim of the operators? incurred by the State has grown so much in
results of the MCD elections are to come on Given the nature of data and who it belongs the last decade that the prevalent reality today
December 7. to, this is not hard to surmise. By virtue of its is: Data is the new ransom. Suspending some
Whatever may be the outcome of this elec- size and importance, AIIMS is sitting on a low-level analysts is not even putting a band-
tion, the conflict will continue till the system trove of sensitive and targeted health data, aid on a gaping wound. It is spraying holy
dominates the people. Without doubt, the and any compromise can have major national water and chanting “law, terrorism, foreign
world’s largest democracy still has a long security implications. Any hostile foreign power” on a breach tsunami and hoping it
way to go before becoming the best democ- intelligence agency can always find creative will stop on its own.
racy. uses for health data records of cabinet minis-
ters, high-level bureaucrats and the head of Anand V is co-founder of Deepstrat,
Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan State. a think tank and strategic consultancy
The views expressed are personal For instance, it is easy to surmise the The views expressed are personal
NewDelhi-110001
Delhi-110001and
andprinted atatHT
printed HTMedia
MediaLtd.
Ltd.Presses
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PlotNo.-8,
No.-8,Udyog
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Nagar.(UP).
(UP).Pin-201306,
Pin-201306.
EDITOR: KUNAL PRADHAN
NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022
Iran scraps morality police amid protests
The anti-hijab
protests in Iran
The death of
Mahsa Amini
has sparked the
biggest
protests in the
Islamic republic
in years. Here’s
what you need
to know
{ INDO-PACIFIC } LLOYD AUSTIN SAYS
Lethal force posture will
keep China in check: US
Agencies
letters@hindustantimes.com
WASHINGTON: Secretary of
Defence Lloyd Austin said the
US is building a more lethal
force posture in the Indo-Pacific
as part of efforts to make sure
China doesn’t dominate the
region the way it intends to.
China is “the only country
with both the will and, increas-
ingly, the power to reshape its
region and the international
order to suit its authoritarian
preferences,” Austin told the
Reagan National Defence
Forum on Saturday. “So let me
be clear - we’re not going to let
that happen.”
Austin said the US would
“sustain and sharpen our war-
fighting advantages” and bolster
its force presence “to build a
more lethal, mobile and distrib-
uted force posture”.
He cited the B21 stealth
The B-21 Raider, a new high-tech stealth bomber developed for
the US Air Force, is seen in Palmdale, California.
MCD POLLS
missing from the voters’ lists.
Election officials said that
50.47% polling was reported by
5.30pm when the voting time
ended. However, the figure is likely
to rise as many people who
reported before 5.30pm and were
queued up at the polling booths
were casting their votes.
“Voting for 250 wards of MCD
elections 2022 was conducted on
December 4 and tentative voting
percentage at 5.30pm was around
50.47%. Polling continued at some
polling stations after 5.30pm
where the voters had queued up
inside the gates of polling premises
before the scheduled time for close
of polls at 5.30pm. The exact figure
will be announced on Monday
after reconciling reports from all
sector officers,” an official from the
state election commission said
requesting anonymity.
Delhi witnessed a voter turnout
of 53.55% in 2017 MCD elections,
53.39% in 2012 and 43.24% in the
2007 civic polls. In contrast, the
voting turnouts have been much
higher in the assembly and parlia-
mentary elections with city regis-
tering 62.59% turnout in 2020 and
67.13% in 2015 in state elections,
and 67.4% in 2019 and 66.40% in
2014 in Lok Sabha elections. The
14.5 million voters who were eligi-
ble to cast their votes have contin-
ued with this trend of a relative
apathy towards the civic polls in
the Capital.
According to election commis-
sion data, a total of 1,349 candi-
Sept 13: Amini is visiting
Tehran with her family
when she is detained by
the Gasht-e Ershad
(Guidance Patrol), the
unit that enforces dress
rules for women. She is
rushed to hospital.
Police say she suffered a
‘heart problem’
Sept 16: After three
days in coma, Amini
is declared dead
December 4: The morality police responsible for detaining Mahsa Amini is shut down
bomber, unveiled on Friday, as
a key element of its deterrence
strategy, and said the US is
charting the best way forward
for Australia to get a nuclear-
powered submarine as soon as
possible - a deal announced
early in the Biden administra-
tion.
The speech amounts to a new
warning shot to President Xi
Jinping even as the US looks to
establish what it calls guardrails
and keep tension with China
from spiraling out of control.
In its latest report on China’s
military strength, released late
last month, the US government
said China is still intent on gain-
ing the capability to invade by
2027 and become the world’s
most powerful military by 2049.
As it looks to counter that
push, Austin outlined other
measures, saying the Pentagon
had sharpened its focus on the
Indo-Pacific as the primary the-
REUTERS
dates were in the fray. Polling was
held from 8am to 5.30pm at 13,638
polling stations, and the votes will
be counted on December 7.
The official said that all EVMs
will be collected and brought to 42
strong rooms set up across the city
under high security. “950 counting
parties have been trained to
undertake the counting exercise
on Wednesday,” the official added.
For Delhi’s residents, no agency
holds more influence on their lives
than MCD, which registers births,
deaths and marriages, clears gar-
bage, oversees primary education,
provides health care services,
maintains colony roads and runs
crematoriums.
With an annual budget of
₹15,200 crore and around 150,000
employees, MCD is usually the first
port of call for Delhi’s residents,
and a crucial determinant of how
India’s arguably most-important
Union territory functions.
The campaign revolved around
six key issues, including sanitation;
particularly flattening garbage
dumps that have come to mark the
city’s skyline for the past few years;
roads and waterlogging; parking;
air pollution; and revitalising pub-
lic spaces.
Bhupender Kumar, a 48-year-
old resident of Tehkhand near the
Okhla landfill said, “Everyone
wants cleanliness but there is a
lack of hope regarding its practi-
cality. Everyone has promised to
clear the mound in the past as
well. Let us see if the issue remains
alive even after the elections.”
Sept 17: Amini is buried in
her hometown of Saqez
Sept 23: Thousands take
part in pro-hijab counter-
in Kurdistan province of
northwest Iran. Police
demonstrations in
Tehran and other cities,
use tear gas after some in response to a call from
residents demonstrate. the authorities
Demonstrations break
out at several Sept 22: Iran blocks access
universities in Tehran to Instagram and
WhatsApp, the two
Sept 20: First deaths are platforms most widely
reported as three people used in Iran. It imposes
die during protests in drastic restrictions on
Kurdistan province internet access
atre of operations, including by
pushing to be able to mobilise
troops more quickly and invest-
ing in military construction and
logistics.
“These next few years will set
the terms of our competition
with the People’s Republic of
China. They will shape the
future of security in Europe,”
Austin said. “And they will
determine whether our children
and grandchildren inherit an
open world of rules and rights -
or whether they face embold-
ened autocrats who seek to
dominate by force and fear.”
Still, between the two nuclear
power threats, China remains
the greater risk, Austin said.
To meet that rise, “we’re
aligning our budget as never
before to the China challenge”,
Austin said. “In our imperfect
world, deterrence does come
through strength.”
The bomber is part of a major
nuclear triad overhaul under-
way that the Congressional Bud-
get Office has estimated will
cost $1.2 trillion through 2046.
It includes the Raider serving
as the backbone of the future air
leg of the triad, but it also
requires modernising the
nation’s silo-launched nuclear
intercontinental ballistic mis-
siles and its nuclear submarine
fleet.
The defence department has
the largest discretionary budget
of all the federal agencies, and it
may receive up to $847 billion
in the 2023 budget if Congress
passes the current funding bill
before this legislative session
ends.
The polls are crucial for the
AAP and its leader Arvind Kejri-
wal as they seek expansion of the
party ahead of 2024 general elec-
tions in the country.
A victory in the MCD polls will
not only cement AAP’s place in
Delhi but will fuel its aspiration to
emerge as a serious contender to
the BJP and Prime Minister Nar-
endra Modi on the national politi-
cal landscape.
The BJP, which deployed its top
leaders, including national presi-
dent JP Nadda, 19 Union ministers
including Rajnath Singh, Nitin
Gadkari and Piyush Goyal and
chief ministers of six states in the
campaign, is seeking reelection.
While it controlled all three
municipal bodies in the Capital for
the last 15 years, the party received
a drubbing in the 2020 Delhi
Assembly polls, winning just eight
of the 70 seats.
Earlier in the day, Kejriwal
urged people to exercise their fran-
chise for an honest establishment
in the civic body.
“People should vote for the
party that is honest and works.
(Vote) for those who focus on the
cleanliness of the city and not
those who keep creating hurdles,”
Kejriwal told reporters after he
cast his vote.
Delhi BJP president Adesh
Gupta appeared confident of the
party’s victory. “In this election, the
Bharatiya Janata Party is coming
back to serve the people of Delhi
for the fourth time with a clear
majority. BJP is an organisation-
World
Oct 3: Supreme leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
accuses the US and Israel
of fomenting the unrest
Oct 15: A fire at Tehran's
Evin prison, where those
detained during the
demonstrations are
being held, kills eight
Nov 13: A court hands
down the first death
sentence to a protester
‘Putin not sincere about talks now’
Reuters
letters@hindustantimes.com
KYIV/WASHINGTON: Russian
President Vladimir Putin is not
sincere about peace talks with
Ukraine at this time, a top US
diplomat said on Saturday after
meeting President Volodymyr
Zelensky and other senior
Ukrainian officials in Kyiv.
US under secretary for politi-
cal affairs Victoria Nuland
visited Ukraine to show support
at a time when Russia is trying
to destroy the country’s energy
infrastructure.
“Diplomacy is obviously
everyone’s objective but you
have to have a willing partner,”
she told reporters. “And it’s very
clear, whether it’s the energy
attacks, whether it’s the rhetoric
out of the Kremlin and the gen-
China: Fears of Covid-19 surge as curbs eased
Sutirtho Patranobis
spatranobis@htlive.com
BEIJING: China’s abrupt U-turn
to ease stringent Covid curbs
continued on Sunday as it
relaxed more restrictions in cit-
ies including in Shanghai amid
fears of a surge in infections as
negative test requirements are
slackened for accessing public
transport and spaces across the
country.
China reported 31,824 new
Covid-19 infections and two new
deaths on Sunday for the day
before, the national health com-
mission (NHC) said in its daily
bulletin.
Shanghai, which went
through its worst Covid out-
break and a hard lockdown ear-
lier this year, will no longer
{ }
based party and our workers first
campaigned with full dedication
and encouraged people to go door
to door to vote today. Till noon,
there was talk of low polling in
Delhi, but after noon our workers
went to every house and there was
a relative increase in polling per-
centage,” he said. “People have
voted against the scams and false
publicity of Kejriwal government.”
The Congress, which ruled
Delhi for 15 years but has faded
away since its loss in 2013, is seek-
ing to regain lost turf. It was during
Congress rule with Sheila Dikshit
as chief minister that the erstwhile
MCD, established in 1958, was tri-
furcated in 2012.
In the last civic elections held in
2017, the BJP won 181 of the 270
wards. Polling was cancelled on
two seats due to death of candi-
dates. The AAP won 48 wards and
the Congress 27.
On Sunday, voters at several
booths were left disappointed after
their names were missing from
the voters’ list.
Anil Kumar, the Delhi Congress
president, was among the people
who could not vote. Kumar said
his vote has been shifted but no
explanation was provided. “I have
also received large number of
complaints from other voters
whose name was found missing,”
he said. Both the Congress and the
BJP filed complaints with the state
election commission over the
missing names.
Among the people who could
not find their names in the voter
Protesters have called
for a three-day strike
as they continue to
maintain pressure
on authorities over
Mahsa Amini’s death
Agencies
letters@hindustantimes.com
TEHRAN: Iran has scrapped its
morality police after more than
two months of protests trig-
gered by the arrest of Mahsa
Amini for allegedly violating the
country’s strict dress code for
women, local media said on
Sunday.
“Morality police have nothing
to do with the judiciary” and
have been abolished, attorney
general Mohammad Jafar Mon-
tazeri was quoted as saying by
the ISNA news agency.
His comment came at a reli-
gious conference where he
responded to a participant who
asked “why the morality police
were being shut down”, the
report said.
The morality police - known
formally as the Gasht-e Ershad
A house burns after a Russian attack in Kherson, Ukraine.
eral attitude, that Putin is not
sincere or ready for that.”
US President Joe Biden said
on Thursday he was prepared to
speak to Putin if the Russian
leader was interested in ending
the war. But the idea died
quickly when the Kremlin said
the West must recognise Mos-
cow’s declared annexation of
require passengers to hold a
negative nucleic acid test result
to take public transportation
including buses and subways
from Monday. “The same rule is
also applied to the entries of
public outdoor spaces such as
parks,” the local government
announced, according to the
China Daily newspaper.
Shanghai joins other popu-
lous cities like Beijing,
Guangzhou, Chongqing and
Tianjin in easing ‘zero-
Covid’-related restrictions, a
week after citizens came out to
the streets, protesting against
the strategy in a rare show of
widespread public discontent.
The local government of
Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang
in China’s remote northwest,
announced on Sunday that mar-
list at the Defence Colony polling
station was 71-year-old Puran
Singh. “We live near Sewa Nagar
Basti near Arya Samaj Mandir. I
have visited all the polling centres
in the area but I am being turned
away at all sites. No one can find
my name in the list. It has been
intentionally removed,” Singh,
who is a daily wage labourer, said.
AAP MLA Vishesh Ravi said
that names of 668 voters from SP
Mukherjee Market, Faiz Road,
were missing. “We have
demanded re-election in this
booth and strict action for this
mess up,” he said.
The state election commission,
however, said that the chief elect-
oral officer who is the representa-
tive of election commission is
entrusted with preparation of
electoral rolls. “State election com-
mission only adopts the electoral
rolls of ECI on as is where is basis,”
the commission said.
Sixty drones were also deployed
to maintain law and order in criti-
cal and sensitive booths of the
national capital.
Apart from a few stray inci-
dents of violations of the model
code of conduct and a couple of
other scattered incidents of imper-
sonation, the polling remained
peaceful throughout the day and
no untoward incident was
reported from anywhere, the
SEC said. “Around 230 calls were
received in the Central Control
room of Delhi Police on election
related issues. Police also seized
about 846 litres of liquor on poll-
or “Guidance Patrol” - were
established under hardline
president Mahmoud Ahmadine-
jad, to “spread the culture of
modesty and hijab”, the head
covering for women.
The units began patrols in
2006. The announcement of
their abolition came a day after
Montazeri said that “both par-
liament and the judiciary are
working (on the issue)” of
whether the law requiring
women to cover their heads
needs to be changed.
President Ebrahim Raisi said
in televised comments on Satur-
day that Iran’s republican and
Islamic foundations were con-
stitutionally entrenched “but
there are methods of imple-
menting the constitution that
can be flexible”.
Biggest protests since
1979 Islamic Revolution
Protesters in Iran called on Sun-
day a three-day strike this week
as they seek to maintain pres-
sure on authorities over the
death in custody of Amini, with
protests planned on the day
President Raisi is due to address
students in Tehran.
Raisi is expected to visit Teh-
AP
four Ukrainian regions.
US says reduced tempo
in fighting to continue
US intelligence expects the
reduced tempo in fighting in
Ukraine to continue in the next
several months and sees no evi-
dence of a reduced Ukrainian
will to resist, despite attacks on
People visit a reopened open
air shopping mall in Beijing,
China on Sunday. AP
kets, restaurants and malls in
the city will reopen from Mon-
day, marking the end of nearly
100 days of lockdown.
It was in Urumqi that pro-
tests against the ‘zero-Covid’
policy first erupted after 10 peo-
ing day. Three FIRs were regis-
tered and three people were
arrested. Police also registered 10
cases under preventive action,” the
commission officials stated.
Praveen Shankar Kapoor,
spokesperson of the Delhi BJP
alleged that many people were
receiving automated calls with
appeals to vote for the AAP in a
violation of the poll code.
PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION
diesel vehicles plying on the
roads, which was enforced the
last time Delhi’s air went into
the “severe” category. Such a
decision has not yet been taken,
said an official of Delhi’s trans-
port department. “Since it is an
option for the states, we will
decide on whether such vehicles
need to be banned or not, based
on the forecasts and the prevail-
ing AQI. No meeting on this has
been called yet,” the official
said, asking not to be named.
Delhi’s AQI was in the
“severe” category last on
November 4. Sunday’s deterio-
ration was the fourth time the
Delhi air pollution became
“severe” this winter. The previ-
ous three occasions were on
November 1 (424), November 3
(450) and November 4 (450).
The AQI on Saturday was 370,
or “very poor”.
The pollution watchdog clas-
sifies an AQI between 0-50 as
“good”, between 51 and 100 as
“satisfactory”, between 101 and
200 as “moderate”, between 201
ran University on Wednesday,
celebrated in Iran as Student
Day. To coincide with Student
Day, protesters are calling for
strikes by merchants and a rally
towards Tehran’s Azadi (Free-
dom) Square, according to indi-
vidual posts shared on Twitter
by accounts unverified by Reu-
ters.
They have also called for
three days of boycotting any
economic activity starting on
Monday.
Similar calls for strike action
and mass mobilisation have in
past weeks resulted in an esca-
lation in the unrest which has
swept the country - some of the
biggest anti-government pro-
tests since Iran’s 1979 Islamic
Revolution
The activist HRANA news
agency said 470 protesters had
been killed as of Saturday,
including 64 minors. It said
18,210 demonstrators were
arrested and 61 members of the
security forces were killed.
Last month, the United
Nations said it would investi-
gate Iran for human rights vio-
lations and called on the Islamic
Republic to immediately end its
targeting of demonstrators.
its power grid and other critical
winter infrastructure, the
Director of National Intelligence
said on Saturday.
“We’re seeing a kind of a
reduced tempo already of the
conflict ... and we expect that’s
likely to be what we see in the
coming months,” Avril Haines
told the annual Reagan National
Defence Forum in California.
Meanwhile, Russia is work-
ing on the possibility of banning
oil supplies subject to a West-
ern-imposed price cap, Russian
deputy prime minister Alexan-
der Novak said on Sunday.
“We are working on mecha-
nisms to prohibit the use of a
price cap instrument, regardless
of what level is set, because
such interference could further
destabilise the market,” the dep-
uty prime minister said.
ple died in a fire in a Covid-re-
stricted high-rise building on
November 26.
The Chinese government has
termed the rollback “optimisa-
tion” of Covid-19 prevention and
control measures as the country
gradually shifts from the ‘zero-
Covid’ strategy, which had
upended lives and impacted the
economy, to a more flexible
approach.
The sudden changes have
fuelled confusion among the
people about the new rules with
many wondering whether
nucleic acid tests or mandatory
checking of health kits - a digital
kit on mobile phones - had been
totally done away with.
The Beijing government had
to issue a statement on Saturday
evening to quash rumours,
and 300 as “poor”, between 301
and 400 as “very poor” and over
400 as “severe”.
The deterioration had largely
occurred due to calm conditions
arising from a western disturb-
ance, with wind speed expected
to pick up once again from
Monday, a CAQM official said.
“The AQI should gradually
improve and fall back to the
‘very poor’ category. However,
this is a precautionary measure
and further decisions and meet-
ings can be held if the AQI
improves in order to remove
Stage III once again,” the official
said, asking not to be named.
While Stage III bans con-
struction and demolition activi-
ties, it exempts projects related
to rail services and operations,
metro projects, airport projects,
projects related to national
security or defence, projects of
national importance and health
care facilities.
Linear projects such as high-
ways, roads, flyovers, over
bridges, power transmission,
and pipeline laying are also
allowed in addition to sanita-
tion projects.
For private construction,
non-polluting and non-dust-
generating activities such as
plumbing, interior decoration,
electrical work and carpentry
are permitted.
CAQM had lifted measures
under its most stringent cate-
gory, Stage IV, on November 6,
three days after invoking those
11
A
l
Flash flood kills 9
at church meet
in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG: At
least nine people have
died while eight others
are still missing in
South Africa after they
were swept away by a
flash flood along the
Jukskei river in Johan-
nesburg, rescue offic-
ials said on Sunday. The
dead and missing were
all part of a congr-
egation conducting
religious rituals along
the river on Saturday,
according to officials. AP
Israel strikes Gaza
after rocket fired
from enclave
GAZA CITY: The Israeli
air force said it had
carried out overnight
airstrikes against sites
of Hamas in the Gaza
Strip after a rocket
was fired from the
Palestinian enclave
towards Israeli
territory. AFP
2,500 dead seals
found on Russia’s
Caspian coast
MOSCOW: About 2,500
seals have been found
dead on the Caspian Sea
coast in Russia, officials
said. The authorities in
the Russian province of
Dagestan said that it’s
still unclear what
caused the animals’
deaths. AP
Paris reopens
airport terminal
before Olympics
PARIS: Paris reopened
its most iconic airport
terminal as France
prepares to welcome
millions of visitors for
the 2024 summer
Olympics. Aeroports de
Paris, which operates
Charles de Gaulle
airport, spent $263mn
on works that lasted
more than two years
and created an
additional 36,000 sq m
of space. BLOOMBERG
which claimed all curbs were
being scrapped.
“Cases and deaths will even-
tually surge and I don’t think
there’s anything that could have
been done to entirely prevent
that all together. But still, I think
there was a policy failure,”
Katherine Mason, Associate
Professor Anthropology, Brown
University, said.
“The big mistake, in my view,
is that the government missed
its opportunity to capitalise on
all the time they bought to make
necessary preparations for an
inevitable surge when Covid
finally became impossible to
contain,” Mason said, adding: “I
don’t think it’s too late to do
that, but they’ve (Chinese gov-
ernment) made it unnecessarily
harder for themselves.”
measures, owing to an improve-
ment in AQI. It then lifted Stage
III measures on November 14,
after the AQI improved to
“poor”. Delhi has been enjoying
a relatively cleaner spell of air
since then.
PM TO BRIEF...
said.
All leaders invited for the
meeting are expected to turn
up, the official quoted above
said. A senior political leader
said: “We want to offer our ideas
to the government but the gov-
ernment’s track record says that
it has never accepted our sug-
gestions.”
Parliamentary affairs minis-
ter Pralhad Joshi has invited
various party leaders for the
meeting.
According to functionaries
involved in the G20 efforts,
India wants to emerge as the
voice of the Global South and
the presidency would be an
opportunity to showcase areas
where the government has
launched wide-scale efforts.
There would be at least four
areas where New Delhi will
show its success story to influ-
ence other nations.
“Lifestyle for environment,
climate finance, energy transi-
tion and women-led develop-
ment (a priority area of PM
Modi) would be the issues we
would highlight,” another offi-
cial said, asking not to be
named.
12
Global food woes spur largest
ever grain storage programme
Centre may merge
schemes under
various ministries
to develop scheme
Utpal Bhaskar &
Ravi Dutta Mishra
utpal.bhaskar@livemint.com
NEW DELHI: India is working on
developing the “world’s largest
grain storage” programme by
merging various schemes of the
Union ministries of agriculture
and farmers welfare; consumer
affairs, food and public distribu-
tion; and food processing, two
people aware of the develop-
ment said.
The proposal, which has been
circulated among the Union
ministries and departments for
consultations, comes amid rising
global food prices in the wake of
disruptions caused by the war in
Europe and the covid-19 pan-
demic.
Nations are increasingly wor-
ried about their food security
after Russia’s invasion of
Ukraine disrupted the world’s
foodgrain supply, sending prices
to record levels.
The two nations are among
the world’s top grain exporters,
especially wheat and barley.
While India was less affected by
Govt works to nudge Centre likely to set aside ₹3,500 crore for toys PLI scheme
industry off fossil
fuel to green energy
Rituraj Baruah
rituraj.baruah@livemint.com
NEW DELHI: The government is
working on a long-term strategy
to make Indian industry eco-
friendly, electrifying industries
that use gas and fossil fuels and
moving others to harness green
hydrogen, two people with
knowledge of the plans said.
The plans have been devised
keeping in mind India’s ambi-
tious net zero commitments.
So far, the Centre’s focus has
largely been on electrification of
mobility by encouraging wider
adoption of electric vehicles. It
now wants to move away from
the use of petroleum products
to electricity across sectors,
with the playbook being drawn
up under the leadership of the
power ministry.
The two people cited above
said that as per the plan, in sec-
tors where electricity cannot be
used, green hydrogen will be
encouraged. “A large section of
industries still use petroleum
products. The strategy aims at
using electrification of overall
sectors other than transporta-
tion, in which EVs are rapidly
taking over. The plan is that
wherever electricity may not be
used, green hydrogen will come
into the play,” said one of the
two officials mentioned above.
The plan is to use green
energy to achieve net zero car-
bon emission by 2070. Queries
sent to the ministry of power
remained unanswered at press
time.
Switching to electricity in
industrial companies that use
diesel and other fossil fuels is
thought to have several benefits,
Kirit Parikh panel suggests premium for new gas
Press Trust of India
letters@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: The Kirit Parikh
Committee, which recom-
mended a floor and ceiling
price for natural gas produced
from legacy fields of state-
owned producers to moderate
input price for CNG and fertil-
izer, has favoured paying
ONGC and OIL a premium of
20% over such price for any
new gas production they add
from old fields.
The panel, which submitted
its report to the oil ministry last
week, has recommended
benchmarking price of natural
gas produced from ONGC and
OIL’s legacy or old fields, called
APM gas, at 10% of the cost of
crude oil imported into India,
according to a copy of the
report seen by PTI.
This rate would however be
subject to a ceiling or cap price
of $6.5 per million British ther-
mal unit, until a full deregula-
tion of prices is implemented in
India’s centrally held cereal stocks, which supply subsidized grains to nearly 800 million people,
slipped to a five-year low this year, Food Corporation of India (FCI) data showed.
the disruption in grain supplies,
prices of edible oil and many
other foods shot up sharply
because of disruptions in pro-
duction and shipping.
Though India has the world’s
highest arable land, the country
suffers from low agricultural
productivity. The country can
play a larger role in global food
markets by raising the produc-
tivity of Indian farms.
Adequate grain supplies have,
however, allowed India to pro-
vide subsidized food to the poor
following the pandemic despite
the Ukraine war.
India extended the Pradhan
The Centre plans to use green
energy to achieve net zero
carbon emission by 2070 AFP
including lower maintenance
costs. A report by McKinsey &
Co. said that in the case of
industrial boilers, for instance,
the investment cost of the elec-
trical equipment is lower. And,
if zero-carbon electricity or
renewable power is consumed,
the greenhouse-gas (GHG)
emissions of the industrial site
would be significantly lower.
The energy-intensive indus-
trial sector is largely made up of
iron and steel, cement, paper,
textile, fertilizers and chemi-
cals, sponge iron, bricks and a
diverse array of MSMEs.
According to data from the
ministry of statistics and pro-
gramme implementation,
among the energy-intensive
industries, iron and steel have
the highest consumption of
electricity at 24%, followed by
chemical and petrochemical
(17%), non-metallic minerals
(9%) and other industries (48%).
However, the penetration of
electrification is high among
MSMEs. Around 76% of the
energy demand in MSMEs is
met through electricity, fol-
lowed by oil (11%), and coal (6%).
As per the panel, the rate of natural gas would be subject to a
ceiling or cap price of $6.5 per million British thermal unit. REUTERS
2027. There would also be a
floor of $4 with a view to cover-
ing for the cost of production
and at the same time keeping
the cost for fertilizer, power
and CNG, which use gas as
input raw material, at manage-
able levels.
Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna
Yojana to provide free foodgrain
to the poor by an additional
three months till 31 December,
taking the scheme’s total
expenditure to ₹3.91 trillion.
Queries emailed to a spokes-
person of the Union ministry of
cooperation on 30 November
and spokespeople for the minis-
tries of agriculture and farmers
welfare; consumer affairs, food
and public distribution; food
processing on 29 November
remained unanswered till press
time.
India’s centrally held cereal
stocks, which supply subsidized
Ravi Dutta Mishra
ravi.dutta@livemint.com
NEW DELHI: The Union govern-
ment is planning a ₹35,000
crore production-linked incen-
tive (PLI) scheme for toys that
comply with Bureau of Indian
Standards (BIS) norms, an offi-
cial said.
The idea is to cut imports of
unsafe toys from China and
build domestic manufacturing
capabilities.
SBI to amp up early warning
system to detect stress, fraud
Shayan Ghosh
shayan.g@livemint.com
MUMBAI: State Bank of India
(SBI), the country’s largest len-
der, is looking to upgrade its
early warning system to pre-
empt loan defaults, fund diver-
sions and frauds by tapping
external data like rating revi-
sions, stark share price move-
ments and even media reports,
showed documents reviewed by
Mint.
The bank believes that, while
diverting funds through related
parties, trusts, and foreign sub-
sidiaries is among the chief
causes of asset quality challen-
ges and frauds, lenders get con-
clusive information only after a
forensic audit. It wants a data
service provider to figure out
ways to flag fraudulent transac-
tions and potential defaults
even before detailed audits
show a public tender document.
The data provider, SBI said,
has to provide alerts on
breaches of a set of 199 early
warning signals from external
The basket of crude oil India
imports averaged about $83 per
barrel in December. Going by
recommendation of the com-
mittee, the price for APM gas,
which makes up for 60% of all
gas produced in the country,
should be $8.3 per mmBtu (10%
Business
MINT
grains to nearly 800 million peo-
ple, slipped to a five-year low this
year, Food Corporation of India
(FCI) data showed.
FCI, a statutory body under
the ministry of consumer affairs,
food and public distribution, is
responsible for the storage of
grains to help meet the require-
ments of the public distribution
system and other welfare
schemes undertaken by the gov-
ernment of India, such as the PM
Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana.
The storage capacity for cen-
tral pool stocks in the past five
years varied from 75 million ton-
nes (mt) to 85 mt, according to
This comes after a govern-
ment survey in 2019 found that
only 33% of a massive influx of
toys from China were safe. Fol-
lowing this, several steps were
taken, including issuing a qual-
ity control order and imposing
higher customs duty on toys to
prevent unsafe toys from enter-
ing the country.
“PLI for toys is at an
advanced stage of discussion,
and all kinds of BIS-compliant
toys will be considered. A simi-
In 2021-22, State Bank of India
reported 4,192 frauds worth
₹7,101 crore. REUTERS
sources. These include alerts on
changes in ratings or outlook;
share prices hitting a 52-week-
low during any particular week;
promoter holding falling below
26%; decline in the number of
employees on a monthly basis
as per data from the Employees’
Provident Fund Organization
(EPFO); negative news of raids
by income tax, sales tax, central
excise duty officials and imposi-
tion of penalties by government
agencies.
of imported oil price). But Oil
and Natural Gas Corporation
(ONGC) and Oil India Ltd (OIL)
will be paid only $6.5 in case
the recommendation for ceiling
and cap price of the committee
is accepted by the Cabinet
headed by Prime Minister Nar-
endra Modi.
APM gas is currently priced
at $8.57 per mmBtu using a for-
mula that uses weighted aver-
age rates in gas-surplus nations
such as the US, Canada and
Russia.
For gas produced from fields
in difficult geology such as
deep sea or in high-tempera-
ture, high-pressure (HTHP)
zones, the panel was for contin-
uing with the existing formula
without any floor. Such fields
are currently paid a ceiling
price of $12.46 per mmBtu
using a formula that is different
from APM.
Reliance Industries Ltd and
its partner BP Plc of UK are the
biggest producer of gas from
difficult fields.
Powered by
FCI.
“We have been lagging behind
in terms of stored grains and
storage capacity. So now, the
government is trying to ramp up.
The most important thing in the
storage plan will be to see if it’s
going to modern storage or if the
old system will be followed,
where each man carries a sack
and builds a storage pyramid. A
mechanized system is far more
transparent and much more
modern. We don’t even have 2
million tonnes of storage in silos.
The storage plan has been in the
works for a long time, and it’s
only now the government is try-
ing to implement it,” said Ashok
Gulati, agricultural economist
and former chairman of the
Commission for Agricultural
Costs and Prices.
To meet any contingency situ-
ation such as drought, a strategic
reserve of 2 mt of rice and 3 mt
of wheat is maintained at the
national level at different FCI
godowns, out of the foodgrain
procured at the minimum sup-
port price, the ministry had said
in a written reply to a parliamen-
tary question in September 2020.
While India has made gains
over the past decade, it is still
ranked 68th in a food security
index of 113 nations published by
the Economist Impact and Cor-
teva Inc.
lar scheme is considered for the
bicycles, leather and footwear
industry. A number of indus-
tries are seeking PLI schemes,
but the government’s selection
process is focused on sectors
where domestic manufacturing
capacity is currently low,
imports high, and where there
is potential to enhance exports,”
the official cited above said on
condition of anonymity.
Data released by the com-
merce ministry also shows the
In 2021-22, SBI reported 4,192
frauds worth ₹7,101 crore, set-
ting aside an equal sum of
money as provisions against it.
In 2020-21, it reported 5,724
frauds of ₹10,086 crore, its FY22
annual report showed. “(The)
bank possesses data like Central
Repository of Information on
Large Credits (Crilc) and credit
information company (CIC),
which cannot be shared with
the service providers in terms of
current regulatory guidelines.
How can the bank leverage this
data to strengthen the early
warning signal system in collab-
oration with the service pro-
vider?,” asked SBI in one of the
documents cited above.
The Crilc database is used by
banks and other financial insti-
tutions to share, among them-
selves and with RBI, the classifi-
cation status of borrowers. Con-
cerned over the rising incidence
of large borrowers attempting
to defraud banks, RBI, in 2015,
released a framework for the
prevention and early detection
of such cases.
The committee recom-
mended fully de-regulating
APM gas price by 1 January,
2027, “if the gas price volatility
on the international market
has moderated”. For difficult
fields, the full pricing and mar-
keting freedom should be given
by 1 January 2026.
“To incentivise additional
production from a new well or
well intervention in the nomi-
nation blocks, the committee
recommends a premium of
20% over and above the APM
prices for ONGC/OIL,” the
report said.
“The government may con-
sider giving marketing freedom
for this additional production
from new wells or well inter-
vention in the APM fields.”
The modalities for this may
be finalized by upstream regu-
lator Directorate General of
Hydrocarbons (DGH) and
approved by the ministry of
petroleum and natural gas
within a period of three
months, it said.
Imports dip from three
out of top 10 suppliers
Rajeev Jayaswal
rajeev.jayaswal@htlive.com
NEW DELHI: India’s merchandise
imports from three out of top 10
trade partners contracted year-
on-year in October – about 10%
from China at $7.8 billion, nearly
5% with the US to $3.5 billion
and 31% from Australia at $1.3
billion – although inbound ship-
ments from Russia surged over
441% at over $3.8 billion, mainly
due to energy imports.
Experts said imports were
down from key destinations are
due to two reasons -- price cor-
rections of raw materials
sourced from these countries,
and worldwide demand contrac-
tion due to global headwinds
such as supply chain disruptions
because of geopolitical reasons,
high inflation and rising interest
rates.
Rise of import value from
Russia was because of cheaper
crude oil purchase in large quan-
tities as India needs energy at an
affordable rate to fuel its growth,
they said. India’s top 10 mer-
chandise import origins are
China ($7.8 billion), the United
Arab Emirates ($3.9 billion), the
US ($3.5 billion), Saudi Arabia
($2.7 billion), Russia ($3.8 bil-
lion), Iraq ($2.6 billion), Indone-
sia ($2.3 billion), Singapore
($1.97 billion), South Korea ($1.6
billion) and Australia ($1.3 bil-
lion), according to official data
for October 2022 overseas trade.
“Slowdown in imports from
value of toys imported by India
fell from $371 million in FY19 to
$110 million in FY22, a decline of
over 70%.
Since 2020, the Centre has
rolled out PLI schemes totalling
about ₹2 trillion for as many as
14 sectors, including white
goods, pharma, textiles, food
products, solar PV modules,
advanced chemistry cells and
speciality steel. The objective of
the scheme is to make domestic
manufacturing globally compet-
{ THE CROSSWORDS }
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
1 They are totally enthralled (8)
5 It appears we have the responsibility (4)
9 One or two up for approval (5)
10 Monks and nuns may dwell this way (7)
11 It pushes up the water rate as well in
redevelopment (8,4)
13 To attract a number break a rule (6)
14 Time may be the main issue (6)
17 Where to find data on unmarried people of
one rank? (2,6,4)
20 About one thousand different paint drums
(7)
21 One transaction that can’t be better (5)
22 Buck up at the back! (4)
23 Really look on exams as trials of ability (8)
DOWN
1 Snack an angler looks forward to? (4)
2 A gear in a new Renault (7)
3 Nothing on earth could be so described (12)
4 To draw out English capital is OK in law (6)
6 Count old money (5)
7 Deciding to make no further moves? (8)
8 It will mean taking new courses (6,2,4)
12 It reduces the risk of accidents on flight (8)
15 Joins as senior on board (7)
16 Colourless type out on bail (6)
18 Dance begins swinging as McCartney’s
band appears (5)
19 Misfortunes we keep well away from (4)
YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS (16407)
CRYPTIC
QUICK
{ WEATHER }
TEMPERATURE HIGH LOW
MONDAY TUESDAY
Mist Mist
28°c I 08°c 26°c I 07°c
NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022
2022 and 1.9% in 2023. So, slow-
ing economic growth rates have
impacted demand and lower pri-
ces in commodity prices, he said.
“Also, India’s growth rate is
decelerating from 8.8% in
2021-22 to less than 7% in
2022-23, as per various projec-
tions,” Dalmia said. “So, this has
also impacted the demand tra-
jectory for the international
commodities and other
imports.”
India, one of the fastest grow-
Shipments from Russia surged ing economies, grew 13.5% in the
by more than 441% to over first quarter of 2022-23, but
$3.8 billion in October. BLOOMBERG growth in the second quarter
was 6.3%. Reacting to the latest
the US, Australia and China is GDP numbers on November 30,
attributed to the deceleration in chief economic advsior V Anan-
economic growth rates in these tha Nageswaran said the Indian
economies, along with major economy is on track to achieve a
price corrections in the interna- 6.8-7% growth in 2022-23 finan-
tional commodity prices. As we cial year.
import majorly in the industrial Experts, however, say the
raw materials from Australia, decline in imports may continue
the US and China, so price cor- with slowing down of major
rections in these items are economies. “The current reces-
impacting the year-on-year sionary situation is seeing a dip
growth in imports,” said Saket in volumes worldwide both in
Dalmia, president of PHD Cham- inbound and outbound trades,”
ber of Commerce and Industry said Munish Sabharwal, manag-
(PHDCCI). ing director, transaction and pre-
The GDP growth rate in the investment advisory, market
US is decelerating from 5.6% in research and greenfield at Nex-
2021 to an expected 1.6% in 2022 digm, a consultancy firm.
and 0.9% in 2023. The GDP On rising imports from Rus-
growth rate in China is deceler- sia, experts said it was prudent
ating from 8% in 2021 to a projec- to purchase cheaper Russian
ted 3.2% in 2022 and 4.4% in crude oil instead of relying on
2023. In Australia, GDP growth producers’ cartel OPEC+, which
rate is decelerating from 4.9% in is resorting to supply cuts to
2021 to an anticipated 3.7% in keep oil prices high.
itive and create global champi-
ons in manufacturing.
then, we implemented the qual-
ity control order (QCO) on 1 Jan-
“In 2019, we saw a whole lot uary 2021,” the official added.
of toys made by Chinese firms In July, BIS published 10
coming in. They were all low- Indian standards on safety
quality toys that could harm aspects of toys related to physi-
kids. In the market surveillance cal safety, safety against chemi-
that was done, we found that cals, flammability and electrical
out of 150 samples that we gath- safety, aiming to prevent the use
ered, 33% were found to be safe. of unsafe and toxic materials in
Import policy was changed. the manufacturing of toys.
Only BIS-compliant toys were Queries sent to the commerce
allowed. Plus, custom duty was and industry ministry remained
raised from 20% to 60%. And unanswered till press time.
PUZZLE 16408 © Gemini Crosswords 2018 All rights reserved
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS DOWN
1 Ruin (8) 1 A responsibility (4)
5 Beat with a whip (4) 2 Foolish (7)
9 Name of a book (5) 3 Suffer effects of poverty (4,3,5)
10 Offence (7) 4 French national gallery (6)
11 Depart in haste (4,1,7) 6 Permission (5)
13 To nurture (6) 7 Salutation (8)
14 Fighting instrument (6) 8 Unruly (12)
17 A boost (4,2,3,3) 12 Seaward (8)
20 Visual (7) 15 Hot and dry (7)
21 Additional (5) 16 Taken by theft (6)
22 Catch sight of (4) 18 Readily available (2,3)
23 Partial (3-5) 19 Brought up (4)
DIFFICUL
DIFFICUL
DIFFICUL
{ SUDOKU } DIFFICULTY LEVEL
Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and
each of the 9X9 squares contains all the digits from 1 to 9.
ALMANAC TEMPERATURE IN
Today is 5th FOUR METROS
December 2022 Delhi
l 10 Jumada Al Awwal, 1444
l Margashirsha, Shukla 26°c I 08°c
Paksha, 13
l Samvat 2079
Mumbai
WEDNESDAY Sunset: Monday 33°c I 22°c
Mist at 05:23 p.m.
Sunrise: Tuesday Kolkata
at 06:59 a.m. 28°c I 17°c
Moonrise: Monday
at 03:28 p.m. Chennai
Moonset: Tuesday 31°c I 24°c
25°c I 07°c at 05:08 a.m.
NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022 13
Sport fifa world cup QATAR
November 20 to December 18

ROUND OF 16
Brazil’s likely line-up Korea’s likely line-up
1 Alisson Becker
2 Danilo
4 Marquinhos
21
5
8
Rodrygo
Casemiro
Fred
world
ranking 1 BRAZIL VS SOUTH KOREA
VENUE: Stadium 974
28 world
ranking
1 Kim Seung-gyu
3 Kim Jin-su
19 Kim Young-gwon
5
25
7
Jeong Woo-yeong
Jung Woo-young
Son Heung-min
3 Thiago Silva 20 Vinicius Junior TIME: 12:30AM (IST) 4 Kim Min-jae 9 Cho Gue-sung
14 Eder Militao
14 15
9 Richarlison 15 Kim Moon-hwan 11 Hwang Hee-chan
11 Raphinha 1 1 18 Lee Kang-in
8 3 25 4 SON
VINICIUS HEUNG-MIN
JUNIOR 11 4 11 19 After producing a last-gasp
Although he has not scored in 5 5
miracle to beat Portugal and
Qatar yet — he had one ruled qualify, Son believes his team is
out for offside against 9 2 9 3
Switzerland — he has produced
Brazil 21 Korea 18 ready to upset Brazil. The captain
Formation Formation himself has had a quiet World
his best two performances in a Cup except for the assist to
Brazil shirt. He will pose a 4-3-3 20 4-3-3 7 set up the winner vs
consistent threat Portugal
against Korea
Head-to-Head
Total
Matches 7 Brazil
won 6 Korea
won 1
LUKA MODRIC
He is 37, but still an artist and an world
CROATIA VS JAPAN world
KAORU MITOMA
The 25-year-old Brighton midfielder,
architect, the source of Croatia’s ranking VENUE: Al Janoub Stadium | TIME: 8:30PM (IST) ranking who came on as a sub and changed
midfield creativity. There was a Japan’s course in the World Cup with a
glimpse of his fighting prowess as he
dug in as much as anybody to push
Belgium out of the World Cup
12 Total
Head-to-Head Matches 3 Croatia
won 1 Japan
won 1 Drawn 1 24
cut back from the byline against Spain,
showed the true Samurai Blue spirit to
never give up

Looking ominous and loving it Brazil’s Neymar

France overcome
early resistance from
Poland through
Giroud’s record goal
and Mbappe’s brace
to enter quarter-final
DOHA: This may be the World
Cup where Lionel Messi breaks
his duck, one from where Cris-
tiano Ronaldo ‘Siuuus’ into
Saudi Arabia and Neymar Jr
helps Brazil do what they did
when the tournament last
came to Asia. But about this
there is no doubt: there is a
new showman in town. And he
is bossing this edition. Step for-
ward, Kylian Mbappe.
The teenager in Russia,
Mbappe is now a man whose
speed can intimidate if his
array of skills does not. An
assist and two goals in France’s
3-1 win against Poland in the
Round of 16 here on Sunday
continued a World Cup where
he has already scored five.
That is two more than every-
one in the race for the Golden
Boot. His post-goal celebrations
are a camera delight and in
four games, the man who
spurned Real Madrid for his
Qatari employers has done lit-
tle wrong. So, when Mbappe
asks the crowd to back his
team, they always turn up the
volume.
France, Arsene Wenger said,
had a tough time last year.
“That made them go back to
the drawing board and they
have come here with a real
appetite. They will be really
dangerous.”
France on song
Hours after FIFA’s global foot-
ball development head had ute, the 3-1 win against Poland photo. For that jaw-dropping but Lewandowski’s free-kick was 2-0 when off four passes
spoken at a Technical Study taking France to the quarter-fi- moment, the chants of “Polska, banged into the wall and only a they found Mbappe in the Pol-
fit to face South
Korea, says Tite
Agencies
sportsdesk@hindustantimes.com
DOHA: Brazil forward Neymar is
set to play for the five-times
champions in their World Cup
last-16 match against South
Korea on Monday after recover-
ing from an ankle injury, coach
Tite said. Neymar suffered the
injury in Brazil’s opening 2-0 win
over Serbia, which ruled him out
of their 1-0 win over Switzerland
and the shock defeat by Camer-
oon, one of a series of injury
problems within the squad.
Full back Danilo was also
cleared by the medical staff for
the game against South Korea.
“Neymar will train today in the
afternoon and if he trains well he
will play,” Tite said.
Neymar has suffered many
issues with his right foot and
underwent surgery four years
ago for a fractured metatarsal.
The news of his return to the
starting lineup came after Thi-
ago Silva was asked during a
news conference if Neymar
would play and Tite took hold of
the microphone and said “yes”.
It will be warmly welcomed in
a squad beset by fitness woes
with Danilo also hurting his
ankle against Serbia and Alex
Sandro suffering a hip injury
against the Swiss.
Alex Telles and forward
Gabriel Jesus, who sustained a
knee injury against Cameroon,
were ruled out for the rest of the
tournament on Saturday. Tite
said Danilo was also fit to return
against South Korea on Monday
France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring against Poland in the Round of 16 match at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha on Sunday. AP but Sandro was out. “He still
can’t play. Still recovering.
Danilo and Neymar are back,” he
RESULT
P
If he plays, it’s
because he is in full
health and ready to
start, to play from
the beginning and
the entire game
with no limitations
TITE, Brazil coach
said.
Tite stressed that Neymar’s
return was with the full backing
of the team’s medical staff and
the player’s physical health was
the priority. “If he plays, it’s
because he is in full health and
ready to start, to play from the
beginning and the entire game
with no limitations,” Tite said.
“My preference is always to play
my best players from the start.”
With Neymar back, Tite said
there will be no changes in the
forward line from the team that
started against Serbia, with
Lucas Paqueta behind Neymar,
Vinicius Jr., Raphinha and Rich-
arlison.
The biggest question mark is
who will play left back with San-
dro and Telles ruled out. Mar-
quinhos replaced the Sevilla
defender after he sustained the
injury against Cameroon, but
right back Danilo and midfielder
Everton Ribeiro are also options.
“Alex Sandro’s replacement will
be a player that have already
played in that position in his
club. Make your research and
you will find out who he is,” Tite
said.

3-1
Group (TSG) briefing, France nals for the third time in as Polska” from behind Szczesny’s retake prevented him from ish area.
fizzed the ball from right and many World Cups since the Les goal were silenced. missing two penalties in a In his 71st successive inter-
left giving Wojciech Szczesny a Miserables campaign in South World Cup. national, Griezmann cleared a
testing time. Africa. Quick counter-attacks In the 38th minute, the corner-kick which Mbappe
Hugo Lloris had said Giroud’s moment in Aurelien Tchouameni tried to theme of France battering controlled and played to Gir- FRANCE POLAND
Szczesny was having Les Bleus history could beat Szczesny with a long-ran- Szczesny was overturned when oud in the centre. Giroud found Giroud 44’, Lewandowski
an excellent tourna- have come earlier but ger after a Griezmann corner- Poitr Zielenski found space Dembele and then ran towards Mbappé 74’, 90+9’ (P)
ment and the Poland he failed to redirect kick missed the head of Raph- inside the penalty area but the byline getting a defender to 90+1’
goalkeeper managed to Ousmane Dembele’s ael Varane by millimetres. couldn’t beat Lloris. follow. The ball played back,
keep things level till Dhiman Sarkar delivery from the right. Szczesny then cleared another But then Giroud scored, Mbappe waited, picked his cor- FRANCE POLAND
the 44th minute when, In Qatar Antonie Griezmann delivery from Tchouameni and Mbappe finding the player he ner and banged home. 54.9% Possession 45.1%
off an Mbappe assist, winning a free-kick it led to Poland, and their lode- prefers over Karim Benzema That move was from the
Olivier Giroud became almost from kick-off star Robert Lewandowski, inside the area with a neat pass. right, France’s third goal came 17 Attempts 11
France’s highest goal- set the tone for the finally having a look on the Giroud can be profligate but from the left. Marcus Thuram, 8 On target 2
scorer bettering Thi- game where once France goal. The 20th minute this time he bent and shot past whose father Lillian’s record of
erry Henry’s previous Mbappe blazed down shot though was not on target Szczesny. 142 international caps Lloris 3 Blocks 5
mark of 51 goals. One the left so fast that full but Poland showed they have Forced out of their defensive equalled on the night, found 555 Passes 471
that stood for 13 years. back Przemyslaw Frankowski the legs to rattle the world shell, Poland sent players for- Mbappe in almost the same
Mbappe completed another couldn’t grab his shirt. Top champions on the break. ward but it only meant there area from where he had scored
29 Crosses 21
good night with a 74th minute speed of 35 kmph flashed on They wouldn’t have much of was space for Mbappe to the second. Similar position, 8 Free-kicks 11
blast that made it 2-0 and the giant screens of the Al Thu- the ball so Poland needed to exploit. That is always the dan- same result. There was nothing
scored again in the 90th min- mama Stadium with Mbappe’s make the most of the set-plays ger when playing France and it that Szczesny could do.
0 Penalties 1 Neymar during Brazil’s training at the Al Arabi Stadium. REUTERS

I would love to help India develop football: Wenger

Dhiman Sarkar
dhiman@htlive.com
DOHA: “I must come to India
because I have never been
there,” said Arsene Wenger.
The question from HT was
after a session of the FIFA Tech-
nical Study group (TSG) where
Wenger and Juergen Klinsmann
spoke of the trends in the first
round after studying around
20,000 data points per match.
“Your president met me
recently and I have said I would
year because we finish here on
December 18 but maybe in the
first six months of the next
year,” he said.
“You guys play too much of
cricket,” he said with a smile
before being escorted out of the
auditorium. The 73-year-old
Frenchman who took Arsenal to
three Premier League titles also
spent a year in Asia, coaching
Nagoya Grampus Eight in the
Japanese league in 1995.
From the group stage games,
the TSG has found that teams
have come down, from 12.0 in
{ ARSENE WENGER } FIFA STUDY GROUP Russia to 10.9 here, said
Wenger.
P “Teams have got two lines
(defence and midfield) to play
close to each other and that has
Teams that also did well reduced space for players to
pull the trigger,” said Klismann.
were mentally ready and The exception? “Lionel Messi’s
had the mindset to focus goal against Mexico where he
found space from outside the
on the competition and box,” said Klinsmann.
“As a striker, I would prefer
not on political crosses from the end line as it
demonstrations makes it easier to lose your
data shared by TSG. The goals
in 90+ minutes too have come
down from 21 in 2018 to 12 here.
“Using five substitutes to pro-
tect defences better can be a
reason,” said Wenger.
And because the middle has
been better protected there have
been fewer goals from outside
the box, said Wenger. That was
the cue for Klinsmann to again
speak of teams suffering
because they lacked a No. 9.
“Germany had 67 attempts on
goal, the maximum, but have
attempts, the lowest, Argentina
had 58 while France and Brazil
had 52 each.
South American teams had
the highest number of individ-
ual take-ons, 3.6, UEFA has 2.1.
“In Europe, there is a trend to
teach players to play one-two
passes and that takes away the
ability to successfully execute
one-on-one tackles. In South
America, given its tradition of
street football, kids love taking
on players,” said Klinsmann.
Wenger said “a photo of the
fewest number of players, they
have run 116km per game; USA
topped that data chart with
123km. The number for Argen-
tina is 105km and that is
“because they play a high line,”
said Wenger. “Teams that have
more of the ball, run less.”
What has also changed is the
role of goalkeepers. From 443 in
Russia, the number of times a
goalkeeper has offered to
receive the ball has gone up to
726. The goalkeeper has been a
key element in distribution, said

love to help India develop foot-
ball,” said Wenger FIFA’s chief
of Global Football Development
here on Sunday.
The All India Football Feder-
ation (AIFF) has said that
Wenger could visit India to
advise on youth development
projects. “It will not happen this
used the wings more and
Wenger said that the team with
the best wide players have a
greater chance to win the World
Cup. “That includes full backs.
The centre has been better pro-
tected than in Russia and that
has forced players to go wide. It
is also why there have been less
A
balls played behind the
defence,” he said.
The number of goals from
crosses has gone up by 83%
from 2018, according to data
collated by TSG. Thirty per cent
of the moves have been from
the left flank and 28% from the
right. Crowding the centre also
explained why attempts on goal
marker. Players here have not
been shy of crossing the ball
early so it helps if a forward can
read the situation and make the
run,” he said.
The goals per game metric is
on 2.5, similar to what it was in
Russia where after the group
stages it was 2.54, according to
gone home because they could
not finish the chances they cre-
ated. We haven’t had a No. 9
since Miroslav Klose. The False
Nine always has an excuse that
they are not genuine scorers,”
he said.
Poland and Australia quali-
fied to the round of 16 with 20
stat” that showed how many
players teams have used
“should be taken to show their
impact on the competition.”
Brazil have used 25, Portugal
and France 24 but Croatia, who
play Japan on Monday, have
used only 16.
And despite Croatia using the
Wenger. “In our time, the No. 10
would be adored because he
would create goal-scoring
opportunities. Now, the goal-
keeper plays with a defensive
mid, who then plays to an
attacking mid and then to a for-
ward. So you can have three
playmakers,” said Klinsmann.
14
Just another Messi masterclass
For the first time in
his career, the 35-
year-old scored a goal
for Argentina in a
knockout round of
the FIFA World Cup
Ashish Magotra
ashish.magotra@hindustantimes.com
NEW DELHI: It is not often that
Lionel Messi enters uncharted
territory these days. But in his
1000th senior game, the Argen-
tina legend scored his 789th
goal; a goal that he will always
remember because it was his
first in 23 knockout games at
the World Cup.
Up to that point in the game,
Australia had been their com-
bative selves.
Not afraid to get stuck in; not
afraid of a fight. Messi was get-
ting dispossesed pretty often as
well and in the moments lead-
ing up the first goal even the
35-year-old got into a bit of a tiff
with Australia’s left-back Aziz
Behich, who then fouled Alejan-
dro Gomez.
A free kick in a dangerous
area, cue for Messi to move into
a forward position and that is
something he hadn’t done
enough of till then. He was hov-
ering in a slightly deeper posi-
tion, as he often does for Argen-
tina, and the threat gets nulli-
fied to a fair degree.
But here, the ball was already
A
l { FANFARE }
England push for
victory versus Pak
RAWALPINDI: Rampant
England pushed their
first Test in Pakistan in
17 years to an exciting
last-day finish after
setting a brave target of
343 for the home team
on Sunday. Pakistan
ended the fourth day at
80/2, needing a further
263 runs in a maximum
of 90 overs left in the
first Test of the three-
match series.
Hockey: India lose
4-5 to Australia
ADELAIDE: Skipper
Harmanpreet Singh’s
brace went in vain as
India lost 4-5 to
Australia in the final
game to hand the five-
Test hockey series 1-4 to
the world No 1 side here
on Sunday.
Miraz leads B’desh to
shock win over India
Somshuvra Laha
somshuvra.laha@htlive.com
KOLKATA: These are indeed diffi-
cult times for India. Less than a
month ago, they lost the T20
World Cup semi-final to England
by 10 wickets. On Sunday, they
scraped to a below-par total
before Bangladesh scripted an
astonishing comeback, Mehidy
Hasan Miraz and Mustafizur
Rahman adding 51 runs for the
10th wicket—the fourth highest
by any team in a successful
chase—to beat India by one
wicket at Dhaka’s Shere Bangla
National Stadium for a 1-0 lead
in the three-match series.
Bangladesh should have won
the game much earlier and with
more wickets to spare but India
bowled exceptionally well to
bounce back. Deepak Chahar got
a wicket first ball of the innings,
Mohammed Siraj removed the
dangerous Mushfiqur Rahim
and Washington Sundar dis-
lodged captain Litton Das and
the experienced Shakib Al
Hasan, who had earlier taken a
match-altering 5/36.
Reduced to 136/9 in the 40th
over, expedited by the implosion
where they lost Mahmudullah
and Rahim off consecutive balls,
Bangladesh seemed all but out of
the chase. Miraz and Rahman
had other ideas though.
Rahman presented the full
face of the bat and put a price on
his scalp as Miraz went about
knocking off the runs in a stun-
ning counterattack, hitting four
boundaries and two sixes in the
process. The pressure soon
started to tell. The bowling was
wayward, overthrows were con-
ceded but the tipping point really
came in the 43rd over when KL
Rahul dropped a skier from
Miraz despite donning the wick-
etkeeper’s gloves and having all
up and so was Messi. A
defender is on him, but he
quickly passes to Alexis Mac
Allister and moves towards the
penalty area.
The pace isn’t urgent, he isn’t
rushing in but then he suddenly
seemed to put the brakes on.
The defender eased up a bit too
but before he knew it Messi sud-
denly created some space and
moved ahead.
Nicolas Otamendi, as the
memes on the internet show,
either passed or didn’t quite
know what to do next with the
ball.
But it ended up at Messi’s feet
and Otamendi, putting his
hands up, simply got out of the
way.
When Messi gets the ball, the
stadium rises to its feet. Fans
strain their necks, get on their
toes and open their eyes. If you
are watching on tv, you proba-
bly go through a similar range
of motions. Everyone pays
attention. For magic is never far
away.
Classy finish
Messi, ball at his feet and a
crowd of defenders in front of
him, somehow got the ball
through and arrowed it into the
corner too. The precision and
the finish was pure class. It was
pure Messi.
We have seen him do this so
many times and yet it never fails
to astonish us.
Australia came back into the
game towards the end and
Shorts, tees and hijab: The sartorial choices of women at the World Cup
Dhiman Sarkar
dhiman@htlive.com
DOHA: On a ledge at Lusail Sta-
dium, Elene stood arms spread
behind her holding the Brazil
flag. The overhang provides a
peek onto the pitch making it a
sought-after point for photo-
graphs, so Elene was among
many who moved in there at
half-time when Brazil played
Cameroon on Friday. And she
was not the only one in a body-
hugging top and shorts.
Next to where Elene posed,
three women sat in abayha and
hijab fiddling with phones.
Photo taken, Elene left arms
interlocked with the man who
took her picture. The women
looked up once at her before
returning to their phones.
Was it supposed to be like
this? Noor Ahmed thinks it was.
“Qatar has been changing over
the past six-seven years,” said
Bangladesh's Mehidy Hasan Miraz in action on Sunday.
the time in the world to pouch it.
Miraz used that life to hit
three boundaries off Chahar in
the next over and bring Bangla-
desh within 14 runs of the target.
“Mustafizur and I just thought
we needed to believe,” said
Miraz after the match. “I just told
him to stay calm and play 20
balls.”
It says a lot when a bowling
side fails to get the 10th wicket
despite being dominant. More
than the bowling intent, tactics
come under the scanner at that
juncture. The fielding came up
short. And Rohit Sharma persist-
ing with fast bowlers when the
dew was setting in was a ques-
tionable tactic when Washington
Sundar—who had an economy
of 3.4—still had five overs.
This loss again boils down to
the batters’ inability to adapt as
they were consistently troubled
by Shakib’s slow bowling and
Ebadot Hossain’s bounce.
Shikhar Dhawan dragged
Miraz on to his stumps, Sharma
Sport
made it really tight but for
Argentina to go all the way, they
need Messi to turn in perform-
ances like this.
According to stats put out by
Squawka, he had the most shots
(6), most key passes (4), most
chances created (4), most big
chances created (2), the most
touches in the opposition box
(9) and one goal too.
No lack of motivation
The fact that this is most likely
his final World Cup is no doubt
motivating the 35-year-old but
the presence of his sons,
10-year-old Thiago and 7-year-
old Mateo, is giving him a huge
boost as well.
“From the very beginning,
from kick-off to the final whis-
tle, I’m thinking of my chil-
dren,” Messi said after the win.
“They’re growing older. They
understand better what’s going
on and they enjoy it more.
“The rest of the family was
with us before at other World
Cups and Copa Americas and
Thiago, the eldest of my chil-
dren, was also there. But he
wasn’t aware of what it means
to be there, when it is a win or
we go home.
“Now they are living it from
inside and for me it is some-
thing spectacular, we are
excited as all Argentinians are.”
Argentina will play Nether-
lands, who eased past the
United States of America 3-1,
next in the quarter-finals on Fri-
day night.
the journalism student who
speaks three languages and has a
minor in Turkish.
“We want to be like, say,
Dubai and letting people be
themselves is important for
that,” said Ahmed, a student at
Qatar University interning at the
Qatar National Convention Cen-
tre for the World Cup.
Lily agreed. She trained in
hotel management in Kolkata
before moving to Dubai to work.
She has been here since March
working at a serviced apartment
for visitors to the World Cup in
the locality of Al Mansoura.
“People wear what they like but
it’s been different during the
World Cup,” said Lily, who is
from Nagaland.
Over the past 17 days, women
in shorts and tees, usually of the
team they are supporting, have
been seen at stadiums, in the
metro, at Souk Waqif, the
restored market place, the fan
AP
was bowled by Shakib’s arm ball,
Virat Kohli was caught bril-
liantly at extra cover and
Shreyas Iyer fell to a miscued
pull off Hossain. Only Rahul
looked most comfortable during
his innings of 73 on a two-paced
Mirpur surface but it was
nowhere enough to challenge
Bangladesh.
Pant, Axar out
Rishabh Pant was ruled out of
the series following consultation
with the BCCI medical team,
BCCI said. Axar Patel was not
available for selection for the
first ODI. According to sources,
Axar is nursing a bruised rib
after taking a hit while batting at
the nets.
Brief scores: India 186 in 41.2
overs (KL Rahul 73, Shakib 5/36,
Ebadot 4/47); Bangladesh 187/9
in 46 overs (L Das 41, M Miraz 38*,
M Siraj 3/32, K Sen 2/37, W Sundar
2/17). Bangladesh won by one
wicket.
NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022
fifa world cup QATAR
November 20 to December 18
PELE SAYS HE
REMAINS ‘STRONG,
WITH A LOT OF
HOPE’ AMID
CANCER BATTLE
Agencies
sportsdesk@hindustantimes.com
SAO PAULO: Brazilian football
great Pele said on Saturday he
was “strong” and grateful for
the widespread support he has
been receiving after being hos-
pitalised in Sao Paulo earlier
this week as he battles colon
cancer. The 82-year-old said in
an Instagram post that he
wanted to keep “everyone calm
and positive” after a medical
report showed he remained in
stable condition while also
being treated a respiratory
infection.
“I’m strong, with a lot of hope
and I follow my treatment as
usual,” Pele said. “I have a lot of
faith in God and every message
of love I receive from you all
over the world keeps me full of
energy”.
Pele, one of the greatest foot-
ballers of all time if not the
greatest, was admitted to hospi-
tal on Tuesday to re-evaluate his
cancer treatment.
He had a tumour removed
Messi's numbers vs Australia
from his colon in September
2021 and has been receiving
hospital care on a regular basis.
In a report on Saturday, med-
1 90% 58 10 Passes in
final third
6 4 Chances
created
2 1
ical staff at the Albert Einstein
Hospital said Pele has
responded well to treatment for
Goal Pass accuracy Passes 9 Touches in
opposition box Shots 2 Shots on
target Fouls won Tackle
Stats from Squawka
a respiratory infection diag-
nosed after his hospitalization
and that his condition had not
worsened in the last 24 hours.
“He is still undergoing treat-
ment and remains in stable con-
dition,” the doctors said.
The latest medical note came
after newspaper Folha de
S.Paulo reported earlier in the
day that Pele — whose full name
is Edson Arantes do Nascimento
wear for 50% of male tourists. — had been receiving palliative
“We have a friend working care after chemotherapy
here with whom we are staying stopped having the expected
and we knew that this is a safe results.
place for tourists,” said Trevor The newspaper also said he
who is 50 and gave only his first had a general swelling and car-
name. Trevor’s family comprised diac issues when admitted to
wife and two teenaged daugh- hospital earlier this week, as
ters. Speaking after Saturday’s previously reported by ESPN
game in the round of 16 between Brasil.
Netherlands and USA, the man His manager, family mem-
from Ontario said: “We have bers and the hospital have not
seen visitors wearing all kinds of confirmed that information.
things, from the thobe and ghut- On Thursday, Pele said in an
rah (headgear worn by men in Instagram post that he was at
Qatar), to bikinis on Al Wakra the hospital for a “monthly
beach and shorts and tank tops visit”.
in West Bay.” Pele, who played for Brazil
Two Brazil fans pose in the stands; (right) Poland supporters during the game versus France. AFP At Saturday’s game, everyone and club sides Santos and New
in Trevor’s family was in shorts York Cosmos as a striker, was
park in Al Bidda and at the Cor- Dorothy Jones, who is from pants here.” Jones, who looked and tee shirts. one of the world’s best known
niche, the bay-hugging prome- Ottawa, said she read up on what to be in her 50s, was in a red tee Ahmed was in a black abayha sportsmen at his peak and is
nade. In nine days she had been would be appropriate to wear shirt and frayed jeans shorts. and hijab of the same colour. regarded as one of the best foot-
in Doha, Elene, who is from before travelling. “I knew about Her younger friend Keith too The hijab is not mandatory in ball players of all time.
Manaus, said she didn’t notice covering shoulders and wearing was in shorts and tees, which, Qatar but women and men are He won the World Cup with
being stared at for what she was dress that dropped to the knee,” going by what has been seen in expected to dress in a way so as Brazil three times, in 1958, 1962
wearing. she said. “But I see people in hot Doha, seems to be the default not to offend local sensibilities. and 1970.
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Monday, December 05, 2022 n4 PAGES. f @HTCITY t @HTCITY i @HTCITY y /USER/HT. ENTERTAINMENT & PROMOTIONAL FEATURES

Nawazuddin Siddiqui
claims he has no idea
why rumours about
Why Clinton Cerejo
his movies failing to
attract buyers on
wants background
web are circulating scores at the
‘MERI
KAUNSI
FILM OTT
MANA
City Delhi
forefront
Ashish Kumar Singh
ashish.singh@hindustantimes.com

C
linton Cerejo, who
composed the
background score for
Kartik Aaryan’s latest
OTT release, Freddy, is furious
over the lack of recognition for
those who composed the
original score for the film. He
and people don’t realise their
value. It’s high time people stop
treating songs and background
music as one entity.”
The artiste, who composes
music as well as original
scores, called out a section of
film critics for “not taking an
effort while reviewing a film as
to who composed the original
score” and wrongly

KAR
took to Instagram to point out
how people are not aware of
the difference between the
music director and the one
mentioning music composer
Pritam’s name for giving the
background music. He asserts,
“Background scoring as an art

RAHE
who composes the background
score.
The musician tells us, “My
whole point of lashing out was
form is completely different
from songs. The commoners
might not understand the
terminologies, but a film critic

HAIN?’
that it happens in every film.
This isn’t the first time it’s
happened, and it won’t be the
last. The fact is that
background scores get
marginalised in our country,
should know the technicalities
of filmmaking. All I’m saying is
every person needs to get their
due. This is the time to raise
our voices. We can’t spend our
life thinking all this is fine.”

Rishabh Suri PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/CLINTONCEREJO

rishabh.suri@htlive.com P
STOP PRESS
awazuddin Siddiqui Meri films ready Robert Pattinson Bride-to-be Guneet Monga: I am still
N was one of the first
Indian actors to jump
on the streaming
business when it
started to dominate in India.
His role as Ganesh Gaitonde in
nahi hui hain.
Pata nahin
kahaan se yeh
issue aaya.
and Suki
Waterhouse are
red carpet
a producer; I am producing my
wedding now
Sacred Games, which received official! The actor Sugandha Rawal
international acclaim, NAWAZUDDIN
prompted everyone to sit up SIDDIQUI, Actor and the model, sugandha.rawal@hindustantimes.com

and take notice that this
medium is here to stay. But
then, after some time, came his
statement that he wouldn’t
work on OTT platforms any
more. He felt that the web had
become a “dumping ground for
redundant shows”.
However, it has recently
come to light that as many as
eight of the actor’s films are not
finding buyers on streamers,
and the makers do not want to
go the theatrical route. When
asked about it, the 48-year-old
tells us, “Pata nahin kahaan se
yeh issue aaya! Meri kaun si
picture ko OTT mana kar raha
hai? Mujhe toh pata nahi yeh
news kahaan se aayi. Meri
films ready nahi hui hain:
Haddi is still being shot; I have
finished shooting for Afwaah;
now it is in the post-production
stage, and the work on it will
take at least a year or six to
seven months. Besides that,
dubbing work for all my films
is pending, which also includes
Jogira Sara Ra Ra. Tiku Weds
Sheru will come to a leading
OTT platform; I don’t know
when, though.”
But where are these
rumours coming from, we
wonder? Does he have any
rivals who might be involved?
“Main aisa aadmi hoon jo apna
ghar bech ke bhi film banna
lunga. They won’t get anything
by pulling me down. I am a
stubborn person. I will make
my own films,” ends the actor.
who have been t is like making five films in one go,” quips
dating for four
years, posed for
Sunny
Kapoor
I Oscar-winning producer Guneet Monga
while describing the prep for her forthcoming
wedding with entrepreneur Sunny Kapoor. The
and couple will get married in Mumbai on December
the photogs at Guneet
Monga
12, and a few functions will be held in Delhi.
“Mumbai has given me a home even though I
the Dior fall 2023 was born and brought up in Delhi. Since I am too
filmi, I said, ‘Aapko doli toh mere ghar se hi le
menswear show kar jaani padegi’. That’s how Mumbai was
in Egypt. They decided,” says the 39-year-old.
Asked if she has turned into a bridezilla,
were also Monga says that more than her, her sisters have
spotted sitting all turned into sisterzillas: “They are protective of
me. But I’m having a blast. I’m still being a
cosy in the front producer; I’m producing the whole wedding.”
Monga met Kapoor through a dating app, and
row. The duo first she says that “Sunny is the manifestation of
sparked romance NOTE TO READERS: Some of the coverage that appears
everything” she wanted in life. “There’s a picture
of Sunny and me with his parents, where we are
rumours in 2018. on our pages is paid for by the concerned brands. No
sponsored content does or shall appear in any part of HT
holding photos of my parents. That’s everything
in life,” shares Monga, who lost her parents
without it being declared as such to our valued readers.
when she was 23.
02 time out NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/RASHMEETKAUR

Singer Rashmeet A delayed Sugandha Rawal

sugandha.rawal
@hindustantimes.com
Kaur has set her honeymoon ctor Hansika
sights beyond
Bollywood, and for newlyweds A Motwani got
married to long-
time boyfriend,
businessman Sohael

trusts her Hansika and Kathuriya in a private

ceremony on December 4
at a 450-year-old palace in
roots in her Sohael Jaipur, Rajasthan. The actor
had taken a long break from
search of an Hansika Motwani
work for the wedding, and
she’ll dive right back into
and Sohael shoot mode.
original sound Kathuriya arrive “The wedding turned out
in a vintage car for exactly how Hansika had
a pre-wedding dreamed of. She made the
party; (inset) the most of the break with her
couple at their family and friends, adding a
haldi fun twist to every function.
PHOTOS: INSTAGRAM For a pre-wedding party, the
bride and the groom had a
stylish entry in a vintage
car,” a source reports.
The actor wishes to get
her work commitments out
of the way before jetting off
for her honeymoon. The
newlyweds have picked a
romantic location, and the
wait is till the end of the
year. “They’ve [planned] to
go to catch the Northern
Lights. In all likelihood,

FOLK IS
they’ll ring in the New Year
on their honeymoon, and
usher in the new beginning
with 2023,” adds the source.
The wedding was

Ashish Kumar Singh is where I come from and folk is my

MY ORIGIN’
ashish.singh@hindustantimes.com
origin.” This wasn’t what was on
her mind when she first came to
didn’t think about numbers. They
have created different sounds that
clicked with the audience. The
in the industry. “I’d love to sing
attended by her family and
close friends. As part of pre-
wedding functions, there
was a haldi ceremony on
the morning of December 4,
a mehendi and sangeet
with people who have ruled the function on December 3 and
industry for years, so why not? a Sufi night on December 2.

R
iding high on the
success of Thumkeshwari,
her hit single from
Bhediya and her new
EP Kya Kariye, singer
Rashmeet Kaur is planning to meld
soulful poetry with her folk roots
in her upcoming music.
Three of her songs are currently
trending on Instagram. Ask the
Punjab-born artiste what the trick
behind it is, and she says, “I focus
on making it connect with me. Sufi
Mumbai seven years ago as an
aspiring playback singer. “YouTube
and Instagram weren’t as big then.
I wasn’t aiming to go viral. I just
wanted my material to be real and
different,” Kaur says.
The 28-year-old’s recent single
Mor, with rapper Ikka, has struck a
chord with the audience. Citing the
work of artistes AP Dhillon and
Shubh, she stresses that finding
one’s own sound is crucial. “They
worked on their unique sound, and
point is to stay connected to my
roots, keep digging up poetry and
exploring new sounds,” she says.
The singer gives her everything
to her craft. “It is important to
spend time with yourself, but at the
same time one should collaborate
with new artistes. Mera sab karne
ka mann karta hai, lekin mai sab
nahin kar sakti,” shares Kaur.
Bollywood might have become a
bonus now, but the Nadiyon Paar
singer looks forward to more work
Having said that, it is more about
your voice now,” she asserts.
Talking of dream collaborations,
the singer expresses her love for the
American singer-songwriter John
Mayer, adding that she’d love to
join hands with rappers Divine and
Russ. “I want to perform at
Coachella and all the big music
festivals. Five years down the line, I
want to see myself doing great
things. Who knows, I might scoop
up a Grammy,” she signs off.

{ DAILY HOROSCOPE }

Monday, December 05, 2022

I don’t get frustrated by projects PREMASTROLOGER
Dr Prem Kumar Sharma (Astrologer and Vaastu expert) can be contacted at: Delhi: 011-47033152, 40532026 (Sat
to Mon); Panchkula: 91-172-2562832, 2572874 (Tues to Thurs); Mumbai: 09716145644 (Last week of every month)
PREMASTROLOGER ASKPREMASTROLOGER
not releasing: Sumeet ARIES LEO SAGITTARIUS
Rishabh Suri Sidharth Sengupta, which also stars MAR 21-APR 20 JUL 23-AUG 23 NOV 23-DEC 21
rishabh.suri@htlive.com
Ashish Vidyarthi and Paresh Rawal’s

A L s
son Aditya. Businessmen are most Things seem to be fruitful Your stars are indicating a
umeet Vyas isn’t scared of When you shoot so much and the likely to make unexpected in your professional life favourable day ahead.

S disappearing once in a while.

It’s a gamble that’s paid off well
for him. He says while he has shot for
a lot of projects in the last couple of
years, most are yet to get released.
He remains unperturbed.
“I don’t get frustrated by projects
not releasing. Two years back, when I
was doing a lot of work as an actor, I
felt I was too exposed. But sometimes,
you have to step away a little bit for
people to perceive you in different
kinds of roles,” says the 39-year-old,
who has been a part of films such as
backlog piles up, it is bound to get to
you. Doesn’t Vyas get irritated at
times? “It doesn’t bother me so much.
profits. You may earn
huge financial gains by
selling an ancestral property.
today. You will overcome
challenges and achieve
academic goals. There could be a
Lucrative opportunities
may knock at your door. It
is advised not to invest in real-estate
The producers make sure that they Avoid travelling outside your city, family discussion regarding real market today.
have put in certain amount of money if possible. estate investment. LOVE FOCUS: You may feel an urge to
and energy into a project, so they will LOVE FOCUS: Love and romance will LOVE FRONT: Be prepared to bask in spend some quality time with your
release it at a time that will benefit it play a big role in your relationship. the glow of your partner’s attention! loved one.
the most,” he maintains. LUCKY NUMBER: 5 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 17 LUCKY COLOUR: LUCKY NUMBER: 7 LUCKY COLOUR:
But out of sight could be out of Green Peach Golden
mind too, we remind the Permanent
Roommates actor, in an industry
where things change extremely fast.
“There is always that risk, and you
TAURUS VIRGO CAPRICORN
APR 21-MAY 20 AUG 24-SEP 23 DEC 22-JAN 21
have to take it in your stride. If you

Veere Di Wedding (2018) and English
Vinglish (2012).
Vyas recently shot for a special
appearance in Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar,
an upcoming web show directed by
really want to explore new characters,
you will have to take a step back and
a chance. Otherwise, you will keep
getting similar roles and burn out,”
he ends.
T I
Prep yourself up for a
Sumeet Vyas productive day ahead.
PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ This will bring fruitful
SUMEETVYAS opportunities to you on
the work front. You could feel
motivated to start working out today.
LOVE FOCUS: This is a perfect day to
rekindle your bond. Take your
partner out on a romantic date!
The day will begin on a
happy note. Day is great to
put your verbal, linguistic
abilities to work. Chances
are you will be recognised by your
seniors for your commendable work.
LOVE FRONT: You will discover the
root cause of misunderstanding and
work on it to rekindle romantic bond.
c
It seems to be a perfect
day to make calculative
decisions related to your
career and finance. You’ll
be able to maintain financial stability
and clear off debts. Family bond will
remain strong.
LOVE FRONT: Plan a vacation with
your partner to ignite the spark in

A still from
The Kashmir LUCKY NUMBER: 17 LUCKY COLOUR:
Yellow
LUCKY NUMBER: 15 LUCKY COLOUR:
Off White
your relationship.
LUCKY NUMBER: 15 LUCKY COLOUR: Red
Kantara;
Anand
Files row: 3
Gandhi
(right)
IFFI jurors GEMINI
MAY 21-JUN 21
LIBRA
SEP 24-OCT 23
AQUARIUS
JAN 22-FEB 19
back Israeli Nadav Lapid

G l
PHOTO: PTI Intuition will lead you on
filmmaker the right path. Follow your
gut, see how it takes you
Nadav Lapid to great heights on
professional grounds. Investments
may yield unexpected gains today.
LOVE FOCUS: Mutual understanding
will make your relationship grow!
LUCKY NUMBER: 6 LUCKY COLOUR:
Brown
Day seems lucky day for
Libra students; chances of
getting accepted to your
dream university are quite
high. Teamwork will prove to be
fruitful for you.
LOVE FOCUS: Make efforts to establish
intimate bond with your partner.
LUCKY NUMBER: 22 LUCKY COLOUR:
Dark Blue
a
It seems to be a productive
day for you. You may hop
from one task to another.
However, the end result
will be quite fruitful. Health needs to
be taken care of.
LOVE FOCUS: Singles may find their
perfect match today.
LUCKY NUMBER: 17 LUCKY COLOUR:
Maroon

hree fellow International ◄ A still CANCER SCORPIO PISCES

‘Kantara nothing like T
.

Film Festival of India from The JUN 22-JUL 22 OCT 24-NOV 22 FEB 20-MAR 20
(IFFI) jury members have Kashmir Files

C S P
come out in support of Nadav Stars indicate that your Maintaining a positive Stars advise you to take an
Lapid, the Israeli filmmaker dream may come true outlook would help you off from work today.

Tumbbad, celebrates who was in the eye of a storm

for his remarks on The
Kashmir Files.
today. Day seems to be
favourable for you in
terms of professional and financial
overcome workplace
challenges. Staying
optimistic should be your mantra of
Utilise this day to map out
your future goals and try
work on them. Students participating

toxic masculinity’ In a joint Twitter statement,

ilmmaker Anand Gandhi
on to face backlash from fans.
American producer Jinko
Gotoh, French film editor
growth. It is a perfect day to invest in
a land or property.
LOVE FOCUS: Best day to rekindle
Pascale Chavance and French excitement, intimacy in relationship!
filmmaker Javier Angulo LUCKY NUMBER: 3 LUCKY COLOUR:
leading a stress-free professional life.
Finances will be in the right place.
LOVE FOCUS: A perfect day to take
your love relationship to a next level.
LUCKY NUMBER: 4 LUCKY COLOUR:
in exams are most likely to excel.
Health will significantly improve.
LOVE FOCUS: You may come across
your ex-partner today.
LUCKY NUMBER: 3 LUCKY COLOUR:

F doesn’t seem impressed

with Rishab Shetty’s
Kantara and denies the rising
One of the commenters wrote,
“Your understanding of Indian
society, Masculinity and
Barturen, said, “We stand by
his (Lapid’s) statement. And to
clarify, we were not taking a
Purple Orange Magenta

suggestion that the Kannada
action-drama is similar to the
2018 period horror Tumbbad,
which he worked on as the
creative director. The plots
of both films are rooted in
folklore and have elements of
horror.
“Kantara is nothing like
Tumbbad. My idea behind
Tumbbad was to use the
horror as an allegory of toxic
masculinity and parochialism.
Kantara is a celebration of
these,” Gandhi tweeted.
His remarks sparked a row
on Twitter, and Gandhi went
Dharma is pretty parochial.
Don’t preach. That’s not
your job (sic).”
Many, however, came out in
support of the Ship of Theseus
(2012) director’s views and
commented in his favour.
“Those who will understand
the films will understand this
as well. Your work was in a
different league altogether,”
read a comment on his tweet.
“Kantara is everything wrong
with present India..
unfortunately the film is
celebrated,” read another.
ANI
political stance on the film’s
content. We were making an
artistic statement, and it
saddens us greatly to see the
festival platform being used for
politics and subsequent
personal attacks on Nadav,”
the statement read.
Sudipto Sen, the lone Indian
in the jury board, however,
maintained that Lapid’s
remarks were his personal
opinion. “I stand by that we
didn’t award The Kashmir
Files. We only awarded five
films. This decision was
unanimous. We gave an official
presentation to the NFDC and
the festival authority. After that { CALVIN AND HOBBES I BILL WATTERSON }
jury board’s work is done,”
Sen said. “Now they (the three
jury members) are not in the
country. I am. So, I would’ve
been the best person to defend
that, but they did not include
me. It means it’s not the jury
board’s decision,” he added.
Lapid had termed the film
“vulgar and propaganda” in his
speech at the award ceremony
during the closing night of the
nine-day film festival, but later
apologised to anyone he had
offended. PTI
NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022
lifestyle Entertainment & Promotional Features
03
{ SPOTTED }

Edha Pathak,
Rajni Singla
and Kimaya
Jaipuria
PHOTOS: HTCS

L-R: Samant
Chauhan, Nisha
Yadav, JJ Valaya,
Vartika Singh, Hoorvi
Valaya, Shimona
Nath, Sanjay Nigam,
Rocky S, Anisha Bahl Shah Rukh Khan has wrapped up filming for
and Aparna Bahl Bedi Dunki

A GLAM
Varun . ◄ Disha Patani recently suffered from a minor
Jaipuria and foot injury PHOTOS: YOGEN SHAH
Dr Naresh Naveen
Trehan Jindal

On the move, with

AND GALA swag and style
Akash Kapor
and Sanchi
Kapoor
AFFAIR glamorous soiree personalities including
K
eeping the style
game strong even
on the move, were
B’wood stars papped out
and about in Mumbai.
While Shah Rukh Khan

A took place in the

Capital recently
as businessmen
Varun Jaipuria and
Sanjay Nigam hosted a gala
dinner at Jaipuria Farms.
The evening was attended
by a number of well-known
industrialists Naveen
Jindal and Shashikant
Chaurasia, designer
JJ Valaya, businessmen
Balram Garg, Sandeep
returned from Mecca,
Saif Ali Khan and
Kareena Kapoor Khan
came back to the bay
from Jeddah. Also
Jain and Aman Chauhan, papped were Malaika
and cardiologist Dr Naresh Arora, Disha Patani
Trehan. HTC and Kajol.

. ◄ Malaika
Arora shut
down Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor
pregnancy Khan returned to bay from the Red
rumours Sea International Film Festival

Rajesh and ▼ Kajol will

.

Deepika be seen in
Mehra Neeraj Salaam
and Rajni Venky
Singla

Vagish Pathak and Karan Johar

Triple
celebrations
for
Thailand
Pattarat
Hongtong
PHOTOS:
RAAJESSH
KASHYAP/HT
Sanchita Kalra
sanchita.kalra@htlive.com
Rajkumar
Ranjan Singh
s the weather turned colder, the well-lit

A lawns at the Royal Thai Embassy in

Delhi provided the ideal setting for
Thailand’s National Day celebrations. It
commemorates the birthday of its former King
Bhumibol Adulyadej, which has long been
observed as Father’s Day in the country.
The guests and diplomats experienced the rich
culture of Thailand, starting with the wai, the
conventional way of greeting guests. Thai music
being played on the saw duang, a classical
instrument, kept the dignitaries entertained as they
relished a variety of traditional delicacies such as
Som Tam, Pad Thai and Khao Soi.
On the occasion, Pattarat Hongtong,

ᆅᅻᆇ ᆄ ᆁ ᅻ
ambassador of Thailand to India, also said,
“This year 2022 is very special. It’s also the 25th
anniversary of diplomatic relations between the
two countries. And it also marks the 150th
anniversary of King Chulalongkorn’s visit to India
in the year 1872.”

ᅼᅻᆃᅽᅿՌᅻᆃᆀ
In attendance at the do were the chief guest of Chang Jae-bok and Major General Vetsop Namgyel
the evening, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, minister
of state for External Affairs and Education; David
Pine, ambassador of New Zealand to India; and

David Pine
Simon Wong, high commissioner of Singapore
to India. ᅼᆌᅾᅿᅹᅿᆉᅿᆅᆄ
ᆆᅸᆉᆅᆂᅸՅᅲՅᅹᅸᆄᅻᅾᅸᆄᅿՅᅲՅᅸᆀᅸᆇᅸᆁᅾՅᆆᆇᅿᆄᆉᆈ
ᆁᆊᆉᅺᅾᅾՅᆈᅾᅸᆋᆂᆈՅᅲՅᆁᅸᆄᆉᅾᅸᆋᆅᆇᆁ

ᅮᅴ ᅮᅶ ᅹՌᅽ ᅳᅮᅷᅮᅮՅᅸᆃ
ᆖᆔ
ᅮᅵᅷᅭᅮՅᆆᆃ

ᅸᆏᆍᆑᆐᆍᆓՅᅾᆍᆒᆒᅱՅᅯᆓᆎՅᅽᆒᆔᆔᆕ




 
Simon Wong Patricia Lacina Mohamed Maliki and Hugo Javier Gobbi
04
NEW DELHI
MONDAY
DECEMBER 05, 2022

NEW DELHI
DECEMBER 05, 2022

on Monday
Scan here
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FOR ALL THE FOOD BUZZ,

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FOR A CHEESY
AND CHEERY
CHRISTMAS ortme nt of subtle yet rich flavours — soak in the
Pictur e-p erfect with an ass
P Yuletide spirit by creating the perfect cheeseboard at your next house party, this holiday season
Never crowd
your board. Ruchika Garg cheese is an absolute must. Be small-scale businesses in our most popular ones have that can be used in cheese are Aashish Singh, chef at Cafe
it starter, main course, or cheese making,” says Panwar. been baked brie with a chilli black peppercorns, red chilli Delhi Heights. Classically, one
Serve slices of ruchika.garg@hindustantimes.com
dessert, cheese rules all dishes, Sharing the story behind the guava chutney, or a black flakes, cumin seeds, caraway would use an open work blade
baguette or

C
ome December and this season. That’s why one can cheese gifting tradition, Shruti pepper and chilli baked soft seeds, carom seeds and knife for soft cheeses like brie,
cheese starts see pretty pics of cheeseboards Golchha, co-founder of Begum cheese (inspired by Priya fenugreek,” says Panwar. a chisel knife or a narrow plane
crackers in a dominating the food all over foodstagrams,” says Victoria, an artisanal cheese Krishna’s recipe in her New Shapes of the cheese also knife for semi-hard cheeses, a
separate bowl platter. Closely
associated with
Shivangi Panwar, head chef,
Baale Resort Goa.
brand in Bengaluru, says, “The
practice of gifting cheese
York Times bestselling
cookbook, Indian-ish),” says
play an important role. They
should be visually pleasing
cheese cleaver for cheddar, and
a spade knife for manchego.
or basket. Christmas in the West, With its growing popularity, originated in the UK in 1692, Golchha. Nitish Kumar Singh, with easy bite sizes, such as One should remember to
Serve cheese cheeseboards have taken over
the globe, with foodies trying
the Indian cheese market has
grown exponentially. “Though
when a cheesemonger donated
their goods to various British
executive chef at Radisson Blu
MBD Hotel, Noida suggests
triangles, thin slices, or cubes.
“Hard cheeses such as
balance the palate while
creating the cheeseboard with
at room out their various versions in paneer is still the most popular veterans. Since then, cheese adding new flavours. “We must parmesan, aged cheddar, a good mix of sweet and
both vegetarian and non- type of cheese in India, many has become a Christmas gift add some great flavours to our manchego and romano are savoury. “Never crowd your
temperature. vegetarian combinations. “For households also use processed that celebrates local artisanry charcuterie. Aged gouda, some essentials. In semi-firm board. Serve slices of baguette
AASHISH SINGH, Chef people hosting get-togethers to cheese. The cheese market in and is best enjoyed with loved manchego, stilton, cheddar are cheeses, go with gouda, or crackers in a separate basket
celebrate the Yuletide India is likely to reach ones over a bottle of wine.” good. For the modern palate, muenster, gruyere, butterkäse, or bowl. Choose plain (French
spirit, ₹211.5 billion by 2027. Common accoutrements on choose burrata, mascarpone. and cheddar jack cheese. One or sourdough) bread or neutral
Indian companies have a cheeseboard include fruits For an Indian palate, get can also opt for soft cheese, crackers. Serve cheese at room
also started making and spreads, crackers or bread, Philadelphia cream cheese.” crumbly cheese, blue cheese temperature. The right
different types of cheese olive oil, honey and pickles. One could also add Indian and even cheese dip. They can condiments need to be chosen
and people are also However, one can be as varieties of jams and chutneys be cut into sticks, triangles, to enhance the aesthetic of
motivated to open creative as they wish. “So far, for a tangy taste. “Indian spices wedges and nuggets,” says your board,” adds Singh.

Cheeseboard with feta cheese

Ingredients and fresh basil
l 4 to 5 cubes of feta cheese l Pickled green olive: Arrange a few
l 2 tbsp olive oil pieces on the platter to add a tinge that
l 3 cloves garlic will balance the creaminess of cheese
l 50gm fresh basil l Fresh strawberries: These impart
l 4 to 5 pickled green olives fruitiness to the platter and if you don’t
l 4 to 5 fresh strawberries find strawberries then you can use any
l 4 to 5 walnuts sweet and sour fruit
l 4 to 5 cheese crackers l Walnut: A few walnuts can add some
l 3 to 4 slices of pineapple crunch
l Potato chips l Cheese crackers: This works as a base
Arrangement for the cheese. You can also place chips
l Feta cheese: Cut into cubes and and other sour fruits such as pineapple.
marinate with the paste of olive oil, garlic Recipe by chef Nishant Choubey

#inbrief
#theburningquestion
₹40 crore lawsuit against food Baguette bags
What are the best brand for false advertising UNESCO
cultural
ways to preserve Florida resident, Amanda Ramirez
has filed a lawsuit of ₹40 crore
against the multinational food heritage tag
brand. She has sued the company,
pickles? based in Chicago, Illinois (USA), for
false advertisement of their
microwavable single cup of mac
The French breakfast staple,
baguette, has found a spot on
UNESCO’s List of Intangible
Winter is here, bringing along the perfect excuse to and cheese. According to the Cultural Heritage. The bread, that
devour hot paranthas with achaar every day. Thankfully, brand’s ad, the food item is has a crisp crust with a fluffy,
the season offers a bounty of fruits and vegetables such supposed to be ready in 3.5 moist interior, has been an
as carrot (gajar), gooseberry (amla), Indian plum (ber), minutes, but Ramirez said it is integral part of the French cuisine.
radish (mooli), etc., that can be made into some yummy misleading. She said the brand Calling baguettes a symbol of the
pickles. Here are some pro tips for failed to take into account, the country, France’s president
preserving homemade achaar to keep total amount of time it takes to Emmanuel Macron said it is “250
them fresh and tasty: prepare the product — from the grams of magic and perfection”.
l It is important to prep the storage moment it is opened to the In a statement, UN culture
containers of pickles before moment it is ready to eat — which agency’s chief Audrey Azoulay
beginning the process. They should takes more time than the brand said the decision recognises the
be cleaned with hot water and claims. “savoir-faire of artisanal bakers”.
allowed to dry in the sun. Make sure PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK
the container is airtight and devoid
PHOTO: FACEBOOK
of humidity. Glass, ceramic or PHOTO: FACEBOOK
earthenware are the best materials.
l Be generous with preservatives like
Gatecrasher asks if he can have A heartwarming video
oil, vinegar, etc. These ingredients
ensure that the pickles have
food; groom’s reply wins hearts posted recently by a
hosteller from Madhya
a longer shelf life. Pradesh is winning hearts
l Transfer the pickles to on the internet. In the video
the storage container clip, the student walks up to
only when the hot groom and tells him he was
oil/masala has compelled to gatecrash his
cooled down. wedding as he was hungry
l Once stored,
make sure the
Thali for 5 paise and there was no food at
the hostel. He then goes on
achaar gets A restaurant in Andra Pardesh is to ask the groom if he can
sunlight every serving a thali worth ₹420 for 5 have some food. The groom
once in a while. A royal gesture to help food banks paise. One can eat unlimited food can be seen not only giving
l If the pickles seem at this restaurant in Vidaywada, his consent to the request
to appear dry after By donating refrigerators and freezers, King Charles will help hundreds reports ANI. The restaurant but also asking the student
some time, then drizzle of food banks across the United Kingdom store more food. The goods owner, Mohit, told the agency to get some food packed for
them with some smoking will be distributed to local charities and food banks identified by that it was a marketing strategy. his roommates. His reply
hot mustard oil. London-based charity, The Felix Project. The King’s first donation will The restaurant served the first 50 won over social media
see 800 fridges and freezers delivered to the causes between now and thalis for free. And around 1,000 users, with one them
Rajesh Kumar, spring 2023. The £1m (₹10,01,48,506) fund includes a “substantial customers paid 5 paise. The thali saying, “That’s a real homie
Chef personal donation” from the King, a grant from The Prince of Wales’s comprises a range of dishes from conversation”.
Charitable Fund and donations from a range of funders, the charity said. different Indian states. HTC