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Nitish Kumar says Zelensky urges India’s GDP growth may Titans take on Royals in
Bihar govt. will begin 'maximum' sanctions have slowed down to Qualifier 1 at Eden
work on caste census on Russia in Davos talk 3.5% in Q4, says ICRA Gardens today
page 11 page 13 page 14 page 15

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NEARBY
India to join Biden’s new trade U.S. to defend
Taiwan against
India to be the leader
of green hydrogen: Puri
China: Biden
initiative for Indo­Pacific region Agence France-Presse
Reuters
Delegation led by Piyush Goyal at Davos
Kallol Bhattacherjee

T.N. logs 35 fresh

U.S. says framework will strengthen economic ties, but won’t be a free trade deal TOKYO New Delhi

U.S. President Joe Biden India will emerge as the

COVID-19 cases Suhasini Haidar said on Monday he would leader of green hydrogen,
CHENNAI New Delhi be willing to use force to Minister of Petroleum and
Five districts reported fresh
India signalled its readiness defend Taiwan against Chi­ Natural Gas Hardeep Singh
COVID­19 infections on
to be part of a new economic nese aggression. The com­ Puri said on Monday. Mr.
Monday. Chennai reported
the highest number of cases
initiative led by the U.S. for ment seemed to stretch the Puri made the remarks
at 19, followed by 10 in the region, as Prime Minister limits of the ambiguous while attending the World
Chengalpattu. Currently, 331 Narendra Modi joined U.S. U.S. policy towards the self­ Economic Forum at Davos,

e
people are undergoing President Joseph Biden, Ja­ ruled island. Switzerland, where he is
treatment, including the 35 panese Prime Minister Fu­ While Washington is re­ part of the Indian delega­ Hardeep Singh Puri

in
reported on Monday. mio Kishida and leaders of quired by law to provide tion led by Commerce and
10 countries, who participat­ Taiwan with the means to Industry Minister Piyush lighting India’s green hydro­
TAMIL NADU A PAGE 2
ed virtually, for the launch of defend itself, it has long fol­ Goyal. gen potential.

az
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
the Indo­Pacific Economic lowed a policy of “strategic “India is moving faster This year marks the 25th
CM unveils integrated Framework for Prosperity ambiguity” on whether it than any other country to­ anniversary since India be­
agri development scheme (IPEF) in Tokyo on Monday. would intervene militarily wards a green transition. We gan to appear at the World
CHENNAI
The negotiations for the to protect Taiwan in the are taking advantage of the Economic Forum at Davos.

ag
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on
IPEF, which will begin on event of a Chinese attack. current energy crisis to ac­ To mark the special mo­
Monday launched the
Kalaignarin All Village
Tuesday, are expected to Collective move: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese premier After Mr. Biden made celerate this transition,” Mr. ment, the India Lounge at
Integrated Agriculture centre around four main pil­ Fumio Kishida, participating at the IPEF launch event in Tokyo on Monday. AP * the remark at a news confe­ Puri said at a breakfast inte­ Davos has six sessions co­
lars, including trade, supply rence with Japanese Prime raction with members of the vering, digital economy,

M
Development Programme.
Under the scheme, coconut chain resiliency, clean ener­ supply chains must be based ASEAN countries considered the U.S. was “unable to deliv­ Minister Fumio Kishida in Indian diaspora. He said the energy transformation and
saplings, home farming gy and decarbonisation, and on three­pillar foundation of closer to China — Myanmar, er on the plan”, indicating Tokyo, an aide said the Pre­ current government had building unicorns. One of

L_
saplings, horticultural taxes and anti­corruption trust, transparency and ti­ Cambodia and Laos — are hurdles in the U.S. Congress, sident’s statement repre­ moved fast on vaccine pro­ the sessions will include the
saplings and sprays measures. The grouping, meliness and I am sure that not members of the IPEF, where any trade concessions sented no change in the duction, adding, “Whatever opportunity for infrastruc­
needed for farming which includes seven out of this framework will make however. are seen in an increasingly long­standing American vaccine manufacturing ca­ ture asset monetisation
would be distributed. 10 members of the Associa­ these pillars strong and lead Briefing the media, U.S. unfavourable light. stance to the island that pacity India had earlier al­ pegged at $80 billion.
TAMIL NADU A PAGE 2
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
tion of South East Asian Na­
tions (ASEAN), all four Quad
countries, and New Zealand,
to peace and prosperity in
the Indo­Pacific region,” he
added.
Commerce Secretary Gina
Raimondo said that the U.S.
would seek to attract busi­
U.S. National Security Ad­
visor Jake Sullivan also said
that the IPEF was intended A China claims as its own.
A reporter asked Mr. Bi­
den if the U.S. would de­
most got dismantled during
2004­2014 [UPA govern­
ment].”
Apart from Mr. Puri, Mr.
Goyal and Health Minister
Mansukh Mandaviya, the
IT
VCK, Left parties to hold represents about 40% of glo­ U.S. officials made it clear nesses investing in China to boost U.S. manufacturing. fend Taiwan if it were at­ The Davos event is taking delegation includes Chief
protests on May 26, 27 bal GDP. that the IPEF would not be a away towards IPEF. “I would “The Indo­Pacific Economic tacked. “Yes. That’s the place in the backdrop of the Ministers and senior Minis­
CHENNAI
“India will work together “free trade agreement”, nor say, especially as businesses Framework, or IPEF, is part commitment we made,” he Russia­Ukraine crisis, which ters of Madhya Pradesh, Ta­
IG

The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal

with [other IPEF countries] are countries expected to are beginning to increasingly of President Biden’s commit­ answered. “We agree with marks return of war to Eu­ mil Nadu, Telangana, And­
Katchi (VCK) and the Left
parties will hold protests on
to build an inclusive and flex­ discuss reducing tariffs or in­ look for alternatives to Chi­ ment to putting American fa­ a one­China policy. We’ve rope after several decades. hra Pradesh, Maharashtra
May 26 and 27 in Tamil Nadu ible Indo­Pacific Economic creasing market access. In na, the countries in the Indo­ milies and workers at the signed on to it and all the The Minister’s comments and Karnataka.
_D

against the Modi government Framework,” Mr. Modi said
over the “economic hardship at the launch of the new in­
and social disturbances itiative, that comes three
created by right­wing groups years after India walked out
of the 15­nation RCEP (Re­
that sense, the IPEF would
not seek to replace the 11­na­
tion CPTPP (Trans­Pacific
Partnership) that the U.S.
quit in 2017, or the RCEP,
Pacific Framework will be centre of our economic and intended agreements reflect the commitments Mr. Goyal met Alexander
more reliable partners for foreign policy, while streng­ made from there. But the that India has been making R. Wynaendts, chairman­
U.S. businesses.” thening our ties with allies idea that, that it (Taiwan) on the sustainable energy elect, Deutsche Bank. “Dis­
US Trade Representative and partners for the purpose can be taken by force, just front as Western economies cussed how the financial in­
(USTR) Katherine Tai also of increasing shared pros­ taken by force, is just not, are keen to reduce depen­ stitution can further com­
N

in India”. Mr. Modi is visiting

Chennai on May 26. gional Comprehensive Eco­ which China, and all of the said that the IPEF would be perity,” Mr. Sullivan said. is just not appropriate.” dence on Russian energy plement the government’s
nomic Partnership). other IPEF countries (minus different from the original supply. Prime Minister Na­ sustainable growth agenda,"
R

TAMIL NADU A PAGE 2

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD “I believe that resilient the U.S.) are a part of. Three Trans­Pacific partnership as CONTINUED ON A PAGE 10 CONTINUED ON A PAGE 10 rendra Modi has been high­ Mr. Goyal said.
A

It’s now a fashion to make Survivor in

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Under a cloud
e/

actor assault
charges against judiciary: SC case moves HC
.m

Special Correspondent
‘The stronger the judge, the worse the allegations’ Thiruvananthapuram
//t

The survivor in the 2017 ac­

Legal Correspondent policeman. This is happen­ tor sexual assault has ap­
New Delhi ing across the country. You proached the Kerala High
s:

The Supreme Court on Mon­ cannot level wanton allega­ Court seeking to restrain
day said the stronger a judge tions,” the Bench remarked. the Crime Branch from fil­
turns out to be, the worse ing its final report in a case
tp

become the allegations le­ ‘Grave concern’ related to conspiracy alleg­

velled at her or him. In a recent address, the edly hatched by actor Di­
A Vacation Bench led by Chief Justice of India had leep, one of the accused in
ht

Justice D.Y. Chandrachud flagged the increasing at­ the assault case, and others
made the oral remark while tacks on judges, both physi­ to murder the investigation
hearing an appeal by a la­ cally and on social media, an officers of the case.
wyer who acted contemptu­ “area of grave concern”. The survivor alleged
ously by obstructing the exe­ “These attacks appear to that Dileep had influenced
cution of a non­bailable dras,” said Justice be sponsored and synchro­ politicians in the ruling
warrant against him issued Chandrachud. nised. The law enforcing front and attempted to de­
by the Madras High Court. The court did not inter­ agencies, particularly the rail the probe and prema­
The Bench said it had be­ vene on behalf of the lawyer, Central agencies, need to turely wind it up. She want­
come somewhat of a “fash­ who was sentenced to two deal with such malicious at­ ed to stop Crime Branch’s
ion” to make allegations weeks’ imprisonment and tacks effectively. The govern­ action until the State Fo­
against the judiciary. debarment for a year in the ments are expected to create rensic Science Laboratory
“The stronger the judge, contempt case. “Judges are a secure environment so examined the memory
the worse the allegations. assaulted. There is no pro­ that the judges and judicial card and the police receive
This is happening in Bom­ tection for judges in the dis­ officers can function fear­ Mosquito menace: As part of preventive measures to check the spread of mosquito­borne diseases, a health worker is carrying a report on it.
bay, rampant in Uttar Pra­ trict judiciary, sometimes lessly,” Chief Justice N.V. Ra­ out fogging at a makeshift camp in the flood­affected Morigaon district of Assam on Monday. RITU RAJ KONWAR *

desh and now even [in] Ma­ not even a lathi­wielding mana had stressed. CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC FULL REPORT A PAGE 7

Varanasi court to set World may have lost 11.2 crore jobs: ILO Charge sheets filed in
order of hearing today Gender gap in India’s employment data finds mention in the ‘world of work’ report Virudhunagar rape case
Staff Reporter and thus disqualifies it. A.M. Jigeesh cerbated the already sub­ Separate one filed for juvenile accused
New Delhi The committee on Mon­ New Delhi stantial gender imbalances
A district court in Varanasi, day argued that their prayer The “world of work” is being in employment participation Special Correspondent Tribes (Prevention of Atroci­
hearing the Gyanvapi mos­ should be heard first in iso­ buffeted by multiple crises, in the country,” the official VIRUDHUNAGAR ties) Act. The victim belongs
que dispute as per the direc­ lation from the suit filed by says the ninth edition of the said. The Crime Branch­Criminal to a Scheduled Caste. The
tions of the Supreme Court, the plaintiffs while the Hin­ International Labour Organi­ Investigation Department investigating agency has
said on Monday that it du plaintiffs argued that the sation (ILO) Monitor. The re­ Global factors (CB­CID) on Monday filed charged the accused under
would decide on Tuesday two must be considered to­ port says that after signifi­ The fresh lockdowns in Chi­ voluminous charge sheets in 16 sections of the Indian Pe­
which to consider and hear gether along with the report cant gains during the last na, the conflict between Uk­ the case relating to the nal Code (IPC), the Informa­
first — either the report of of the video survey. quarter of 2021, the number raine and Russia, and the blackmail and repeated tion Technology Act and the
the commission that con­ of hours worked globally global rise in the prices of rape of a woman by seven SC and ST (Prevention of
ducted a video survey of the Mathura case dropped in the first quarter food and fuel are cited as the persons, including three ju­ Atrocities) Act.
mosque premises or the An­ In the Mathura case, a court of 2022, to 3.8% below the main reasons for the find­ veniles. Separate charge Ms. Vinothini also pro­
juman Intezamia Masjid asked Shahi Idgah mosque’s employment situation be­ ings. The ILO urged its mem­ sheets were filed against the duced around 90 docu­
Committee’s plea challeng­ management committee fore the pandemic. About ber countries to take a hu­ accused adults and the mi­ ments, video and audio clip­
ing the maintainability of and others to file objections 11.2 crore jobs might have wever, because the initial le­ Explaining the data, an mane approach to address nor boys. pings and the mobile
the suit by Hindu plaintiffs. to a plea for appointing a lost between this period, ac­ vel of hours worked by ILO official told The Hindu the situation. Financial tur­ The CB­CID Deputy Supe­ phones of the accused. The
In response to the civil court commissioner to sur­ cording to the report. women in India was very that for every 100 women at bulence, potential debt dis­ rintendent of Police, S.S. Vi­ woman was allegedly black­
suit filed by five Hindu wo­ vey the mosque and verify The gender gap in India’s low, the reduction in hours work prior to the pandemic, tress and global supply chain nothini, filed a 806­page mailed with a video clip of
men seeking permission to the temple’s signs. Civil employment scenario is worked by women in India 12.3 women would have lost disruption points at a grow­ charge sheet against the hers and subjected to re­
pray at a Hindu shrine be­ Judge Jyoti Singh invited the mentioned in the report on has only a weak influence on their job as an average ing risk of a further deterio­ four adults — Hariharan, Ma­ peated sexual assault by the
hind the western wall of the respondents’ objection by the “world of work”. The re­ the aggregate for lower­mid­ through the entire period ration in hours worked in dasamy, Praveen and Ju­ accused. The case was in­
Gyanvapi mosque premises July 1, the next date of the port said both India and low­ dle­income countries. In considered by the report. 2022, as well as a broader naith Ahmed — before Addi­ itially registered in March by
all year round, the Masjid hearing of the suit for the re­ er­middle­income countries contrast, the reduction in The official added that, in impact on global labour mar­ tional district Judge B.C. the Virudhunagar district
Committee has argued that location of the mosque from excluding India experienced hours worked by men in In­ contrast, for every 100 men, kets in the months to come, Gopinath, who holds addi­ police, who had arrested all
the Places of Worship (Spe­ near the temple. a deterioration of the gender dia has a large impact on the the equivalent figure would the report said. tional charge of the Special the accused.
cial Provisions) Act, 1991, gap in work hours in the se­ aggregates,” the report have been 7.5. “Hence, the Court for the Scheduled
specifically bars their suit CONTINUED ON A PAGE 10 cond quarter of 2020. “Ho­ mentions. pandemic seems to have exa­ CONTINUED ON A PAGE 10 Castes and Scheduled CONTINUED ON A PAGE 2
CM A CH-CHE
YK
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2 TAMIL NADU
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
CM launches integrated agri
development programme
It will be implemented in all 12,525 village panchayats across the State in 5 years
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on
Monday launched the Kalaig­
narin All Village Integrated
Agriculture Development
Programme.
The programme would be
implemented jointly by the
Agriculture Department and
the Rural Development De­
partment in all 12,525 village
panchayats across the State
in five years at a cost of ₹227
crore. As of now, over nine
lakh farming families in
1,997 village panchayats are
covered.
Under the scheme, coco­
nut saplings, home farming
saplings, horticultural sa­
plings, sprays needed for
farming and kits for vegeta­
ble garden would be distri­
buted and a 100% subsidy
would be provided to Adi
Dravidar farmers for digging
wells on dry lands, employ­
ing drip irrigation and dig­
ging farm ponds, among oth­
FROM PAGE ONE
Charge sheets filed in
Virudhunagar rape case
They were initially booked
under sections of the IPC
and under the provisions of
the Information Technology
Act and the SC/ST (POA)
Act.
However, the case was la­
ter transferred to the CB­
CID. According to sources,
the agency included a sec­
tion for gang rape and ad­
ded more sections under
both the IT Act and the SC/
ST (POA) Act.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin
had assured in the Assembly
that the case would be in­
vestigated expeditiously to
ensure that the accused
would get exemplary pun­
ishment. Based on the re­
commendation of the CB­
CID, all four adult accused
in the case were detained
under the Goondas Act in
April. The 22­year­old wo­
man, a worker at a garment
unit in Virudhunagar, had
complained that Hariharan,
with whom she had a love
affair, had videographed her
without her knowledge. He
Govt. amends rules to use granite
waste as road metal and in M-Sand
Move is aimed at generating substantial revenue
Dennis S. Jesudasan
CHENNAI
Hoping to generate substan­
tial revenue from the granite
waste lying in granite quar­
ries, the State government
has amended the Tamil Na­
du Minor Mineral Conces­
sion Rules, 1959 to allow
such waste, which cannot
be sold as a dimensional gra­
nite block, to be used as
road metal or as a raw mate­
rial in the production of ma­
nufactured sand (M­Sand)
or for any other purpose.
“Granite waste may be
sold as road metal or a raw
material for production of
manufactured sand or for
any other purpose, with the
permission of the District
Collector. The rate of seig­
‘Umagine’ technology and innovation summit in September 35 new cases of COVID­19 reported
Tamil Nadu will
host the event
annually
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI
The inaugural edition of
‘Umagine’, a three­day tech­
nology and innovation sum­
mit, would be held between
September 21 and 23 this
year.
Tamil Nadu would host
the event annually. Umagine
would showcase and streng­
CM
YK
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the launch of the Kalaignarin All Village Integrated Agriculture
Development Programme on Monday. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
er activities, an
release said.
Self-sustainable
Setting up Farmer Producer
Organisations by consolidat­
ing farmers in select villages
and providing them the ne­
cessary technical expertise
would help strengthen inte­
grated development in the
farming sector, Mr. Stalin
said. Since departments in­
and his friends had threa­
tened to upload the video
on social media and repeat­
edly sexually abused her.
The charge sheet against
the three juveniles was filed
before the Juvenile Justice
Board. While four juveniles
were initially found to be in­
volved in the case, the CB­
CID dropped him from the
case after investigation re­
vealed that he was not in­
volved in the crime.
Three held in Namakkal
In another incident, the Na­
makkal district police on
Sunday arrested and re­
manded Murali, Dinesh Ku­
mar and Naveen Kumar on
charges of raping a 29­year­
old woman in Namakkal.
The police are on the loo­
kout for Valarasu, another
accused in the case.
The police said the wo­
man, a widow, had lodged a
complaint alleging that she
was raped on Thursday.
(With inputs from Salem
staff reporter)
ht
niorage fee for granite waste
shall be ₹100 per tonne,”
read a sub­rule that was in­
cluded in the Tamil Nadu
Minor Mineral Concession
Rules, 1959 recently. ‘Gra­
nite waste’ is defined as gra­
nites less than 15 cm x 10 cm
in size, which cannot be
sold as a dimensional gra­
nite block.
So far, the granite waste
generated during quarry op­
erations have been stocked
in the quarry sites and ex­
posed to various climatic
conditions, resulting in
quality degradation. In a
policy note for 2022­23, the
Industries (Mines and Min­
erals) Department had said
that there was a huge de­
mand for granite waste for
then the technology ecosys­
tem in the State, an official
release said. The summit
would bring together key
players of the technology
ecosystem, including entre­
preneurs, investors, aca­
demics and policymakers
from around the world.
Umagine would be a plat­
form for its community of
tech­driven companies to
flourish both in and out of
the State, in line with the vi­
sion of being the knowledge
capital of the world. It envis­
*
official cluding that of Rural Deve­
lopment were involved, vil­
lages would become
self­sustainable, and this
would help in “preventing
people in rural areas from
moving to urban areas”, the
Chief Minister said.
Minister for Agriculture
and Farmers’ Welfare M.R.K.
Panneerselvam had, on Au­
gust 14 last year, announced
in the Assembly that the Ka­
Ramajeyam murder: SIT puts up posters
announcing reward for accurate information
About 10,000 posters have been printed; over 1,500 pasted in Tiruchi city alone
Special Correspondent
TIRUCHI
The Madras High Court­ap­
pointed Special Investigation
Team (SIT) probing the 2012
murder of K.N. Ramajeyam,
brother of Municipal Admi­
nistration Minister K.N. Neh­
ru, has put up posters all ov­
er the city and the district,
announcing a reward of ₹50
lakh to those providing cred­
ible and accurate informa­
tion regarding those in­
volved in the killing.
The posters containing
the message in Tamil and a
photograph of Ramajeyam
were pasted at various loca­
tions a few days ago, in an ef­
fort to get a hold of tangible
clues to enable the SIT to
achieve a breakthrough in
.m
the case.
The poster said: “Promi­
nent industrialist of Tiruchi
K.N. Ramajeyam was abduct­
//t
ed by unidentified persons
on March 29, 2012 and mur­
dered. A reward of ₹50 lakh
s:
will be given to those provid­
ing accurate information
about the accused. Informa­
tp
the production of M­Sand
and road metals and for oth­
er purposes.
“Granite wastes may be
disposed for M­Sand pro­
duction and other various
usages after due amend­
ment in the existing rules by
fixing the seigniorage fee on
tonnage basis, thereby the
government will get sub­
stantial revenue from the
above sources,” it had said.
The State government was
also taking steps to put up
granite­bearing government
lands for auction to revive
the granite industry, it said.
A total of 27 black granite
and 83 multi­coloured gra­
nite quarries on 336.46.6 ha
are being operated in Tamil
Nadu.
ages a vibrant ecosystem that
would make Tamil Nadu a
destination of choice for
both global and young tech
companies and help build
the technologies of the fu­
ture. The summit would
bring together experts to
guide and inspire its com­
munity of tech­driven com­
panies on building a scalable
business model and expose
them to a global community
of investors and customers,
the release said.
It would focus on emerg­
laignarin All Village Integrat­
ed Agriculture Development
Programme would be
launched in the State, aimed
at fulfilling farmers’ needs
and increasing their income
during the next five years.
Mr. Panneerselvam, Chief
Secretary V. Irai Anbu and
senior officials were present
during the inauguration of
the scheme at the Secretariat
in Chennai.
_D
N
A poster pasted at the Tiruchi Central Bus Stand, announcing
a ₹50 lakh reward for those providing accurate information
R
about the accused in the Ramajeyam murder case. M. SRINATH
tion regarding those provid­
A
ing correct clues would be
kept confidential.”
e/
The posters put up by the
SIT, Crime Branch CID, Tiru­
chi, also mention the mobile
number 77083­22289 and
email address sitcbcid­
tri@gmail.com to contact
the investigating team. Pol­
ice sources said the posters
had also been pasted in oth­
er districts to get vital clues
to arrest the accused. About
10,000 posters had been
printed, of which more than
VCK, Left parties to stage protests against Centre
The 2­day agitation is over ‘economic hardship and social disturbances created by right­wing groups’
Staff Reporter
Chennai
The VCK and the Left parties
will hold protests on May 26
and 27 in Tamil Nadu
against “Prime Minister Na­
rendra Modi’s Central go­
vernment over economic
hardship and social distur­
bances created by right­
wing groups in India”. Mr.
Modi is scheduled to visit
Chennai on May 26 on an of­
ficial engagement.
At the end of the two­day
agitation, a meeting will be
organised in Chennai on
May 27, in which VCK leader
Thol. Thirumavalavan and
the leaders of the Left par­
ties will take part.
Addressing the media on
Monday, Mr. Thirumavala­
van said, “The Left parties
have begun a nation­wide
ing technologies, including
ClimateTech, Healthtech,
Edtech, Agritech, Web 3.0
and Deep Tech, Smart Infras­
tructure, Smart and Green
Manufacturing, Biotech,
Platforms and Gig Economy,
Creative Industry and Social
Entrepreneurship, it added.
Neeraj Mittal, Principal
Secretary, Department of In­
formation Technology and
Digital Services, said the
event would be on a par with
CES, one of the most influen­
tial tech events in the world,
T.N. yet to borrow from market,
amid change in guidelines
State indicated that it would borrow ₹23,500 cr. in first quarter
Sanjay Vijayakumar
CHENNAI
Tamil Nadu is yet to borrow
from the market in the 2023
fiscal. The State government
had indicated that it would
borrow ₹23,500 crore in the
first quarter (April­June)
2022­23, as per details re­
leased by the Reserve Bank
of India.
Experts said this may be
due to a change in the guide­
lines related to permission
for market borrowing in
FY2023, granted by the
Centre to the States. The
States, including Tamil Na­
du, borrow from the market
through the auction of
bonds known as State Deve­
lopment Loans (SDL).
According to Aditi Nayar,
Chief Economist, ICRA Ltd.,
the change in guidelines in­
clude disclosure by the
States of the off­budget bor­
rowings undertaken by
them in recent years (since
2020­21) and over­utilisation
against the borrowing limit.
A ed their statements.
IT
IG
*
1,500 had been pasted in Ti­
ruchi city alone. The sources
said special teams of the SIT,
headed by Superintendent
of Police S. Jeyakumar, were
vigorously pursuing the
case, examining it from va­
rious angles. Mr. Jeyakumar
had been camping in Tiruchi
in connection with the case,
which was being directly
monitored by the Director
General of Police, CB­CID,
Mohammed Shakeel Ak­
htar. The SIT had examined
several persons and record­
CPI State secretary R. Mutharasan, CPI(M) State secretary K.
Balakrishnan and VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan addressing
the media in Chennai on Monday. B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
campaign and protest
against Mr. Modi’s anti­peo­
ple economic policies and
the uncontrolled rise in the
prices of essentials, such as
petrol, diesel and cooking
fuel. The VCK will join the
all­India movement created
which takes place in Las Ve­
gas.
Mr. Mittal also said the
Umagine community was
reaching out to captains of
global companies on the si­
delines of the World Eco­
nomic Forum’s annual meet­
ing, at the Umagine Lounge
in Davos. Founders of eight
tech­driven companies from
Chennai, including Kandee
Factory, Mage, Twixor and
Aquaconnect, are in Davos
to represent the Tamil Nadu
tech ecosystem.
<
> Itseveral
appears that
States are
yet to receive the
sanction for raising
funds at least till
mid-May 2022
Aditi Nayar
Chief Economist, ICRA Ltd.
As per the Department of
Expenditure, Union Minis­
try of Finance, off­budget
borrowings are borrowings
by State public sector com­
panies and Special Purpose
Vehicles, among others, and
where the principal and/or
interest are to be serviced
out of the State budgets. The
Centre will adjust such bor­
rowings from this year’s bor­
rowing ceiling, Ms. Nayar ad­
ded. It has allowed States to
borrow 3.5% of their Gross
in
State Domestic Product
(GSDP) in 2022­23. An addi­
tional borrowing of 0.5% of
az
GSDP is allowed subject to
fulfilment of power sector
reforms, and further based
on their contributions to the
ag
M
L_
Mr. Akhtar visited Tiruchi
in mid­April and held a de­
tailed meeting with the SIT
personnel to ascertain the
progress made in the case,
besides inspecting the spot
at Thiruvalarcholai, close to
the banks of the Cauvery,
where the body of Rama­
jeyam was found. The sourc­
es said Mr. Akhtar held an
hour­long meeting with the
SIT personnel in Chennai on
Monday in connection with
the case. He is said to have gi­
ven some advice to the
teams.
The case, initially probed
by Tiruchi City Police, was
transferred to the CB­CID,
which could not achieve a
breakthrough till 2017, when
it was transferred to the CBI
on an application filed by Ra­
majeyam’s wife Latha. Ho­
wever, the CBI too could not
make any headway in the
case, forcing the family
members of Ramajeyam to
make another application,
seeking the constitution of
an SIT.
*
by the Left. The [overall]
campaign, which will take
place at union, taluk and vil­
lage levels, will last a week,
from May 25 to 31.”
Mr. Thirumavalavan said
the parties would distribute
pamphlets in villages. “The
331 people undergoing treatment; 13 districts free of infection
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI
Five districts reported
fresh COVID­19 infections
on Monday.
Chennai reported the
highest number of new in­
fections, at 19, followed by
Chengalpattu (10).
Currently, 331 people are
undergoing treatment, in­
cluding the 35 fresh cases
that were reported on Mon­
day.
National Pension System for
government employees.
Based on these adjustments,
including the carry­forward
of unutilised borrowing
from previous years, the
ceiling may be enhanced up­
ward or downward for each
State, Ms. Nayar said.
“It appears that several
States are yet to receive the
sanction for raising funds at
least till mid­May 2022. It is
possible that many of the
States, which have not
raised SDL borrowings in
FY2023 till date, are either
yet to submit the required
information to the Govern­
ment of India, and/or are
awaiting the sanction of the
borrowing permission,” she
e
said. According to sources in
the government, Tamil Nadu
has limited off­budget bor­
rowings. They added that
the debt of State power and
transport utilities was most­
ly serviced through cash
they had generated on their
own.
Include milk in breakfast
scheme: dairy farmers
‘UHT milk or
powder can be
given to children’
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI
Dairy farmers have urged
the State government to in­
clude milk in the breakfast
scheme announced during
the recent Assembly ses­
sion. They have suggested
that either milk that is heat­
ed to ultra high tempera­
tures (UHT), which has a
shelf life of 120 days, or milk
powder could be provided
to children.
“Chief Minister M.K. Sta­
lin had announced that the
government would provide
breakfast to children study­
ing in government schools,
which is a welcome move. If
milk is added to their diet, it
will help improve their cal­
cium level and also that of
other vitamins and miner­
als,” said M.G. Rajendran,
general secretary of the Ta­
mil Nadu Milk Producers’
Welfare Association. The as­
sociation recently submit­
ted a representation in this
regard to officials.
leaders of four parties ­ CPI,
CPI(M), CPI(M­L), VCK ­ will
participate in the Chennai
event. Mr Modi’s govern­
ment is responsible for the
economic slump and social
division due to religious and
caste polarisation. There is a
need to save the nation from
this. I urge citizens to take
part in the national cam­
paign planned by the Left
organisations and expose
Mr. Modi’s policies,” he said.
CPI(M) State secretary K.
Balakrishnan said the move­
ment started by the Left
would seek to include or­
ganisations fighting for Da­
lits’ rights and other minori­
ty parties in future.
Parallels with Sri Lanka
“It is a fact that India is star­
ing at an economic crisis [si­
So far, 34,54,925 people
have contracted the infec­
tion in the State, according
to the daily bulletin of the
Directorate of Public
Health.
Thirteen districts are
free of COVID­19 ­ they have
reported no new case and
no one is undergoing treat­
ment for COVID­19 in these
districts.
Thirty­two more patients
were discharged.
CHENNAI THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
‘Hike DA for
TWAD Board
pensioners’
special correspondent
Chennai
AIADMK coordinator O.
Panneerselvam on Monday
criticised the DMK regime
for not sanctioning a hike
in the dearness allowance
for pensioners of the Tamil
Nadu Water Supply and
Drainage Board. “Snatch­
ing away the existing con­
cessions appears to be the
mark of the Dravidian mo­
del! Regardless of the mo­
del, it is unacceptable to
withdraw the conces­
sions!” he said.
Highlighting the plight
of the pensioners, he said
DA should be hiked by 14%,
as in the case of serving
employees of the Board.
In a separate statement,
AIADMK co­coordinator
Edappadi K. Palaniswami
referred to reports of a real
estate firm having filed a
complaint against a media
group and two persons
who were active on social
media. He urged the police
to ascertain the truth about
the complaint before pro­
ceeding further.
A retired official of the Ta­
mil Nadu Cooperative Milk
Producers’ Federation,
which owns the Aavin
brand, said milk powder or
UHT milk would make sense
since it would be easier to
handle. Both options would
work out to under ₹10 per
child per day, with milk
powder being more
economical.
Dairy farmers have de­
manded that the procure­
ment price be increased as
the price of fodder has gone
up since August 2019. Fod­
der alone accounts for
₹30.31 in input cost per litre
of milk. “There are other ex­
penses like insurance, medi­
cines, vaccination and la­
bour. These work out to
₹19.84 per litre,” the official
said. The federation pays
₹27­₹32 per litre of cow’s
milk and ₹37­₹41 per litre of
buffalo’s milk depending on
the fat and solid non­fat con­
tent in the milk supplied.
A 50% subsidy on con­
centrate cattle feed would
help, said K. Suresh, a farm­
er. The federation procures
milk from about 4.2 lakh
dairy farmers in the State.
milar to that] experienced
by Sri Lanka. Just as there is
a paucity of rice in Sri Lan­
ka, wheat is not available in
north Indian States. So, we
want to create a strong resis­
tance to the Modi govern­
ment,” he said.
He added that the Centre
had increased fuel prices 18
times but reduced them on­
ly twice.
“The Tamil Nadu govern­
ment has not increased fuel
taxes since it came to power.
The petrol/diesel fuel price
rise is the result of an in­
crease in cess and excise du­
ty. I urge Mr. Annamalai (BJP
State president) to give the
₹28,000 crore due to Tamil
Nadu. We will surely tell the
DMK to reduce the fuel pric­
es as per their election pro­
mise,” he said.
No death was reported
on Monday. The toll stood
at 38,025.
Over 45,000 vaccinated
A total of 45,895 people
were vaccinated on Mon­
day.
So far, 10,81,96,688 peo­
ple have received the vac­
cines, health officials said.
As on date, 10,69,604 pe­
ople have received the pre­
cautionary dose.
A CH-CHE
THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
CHENNAI

3
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CM A CH-CHE
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EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

4 CHENNAI CHENNAI THE HINDU

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

City sizzles at 40.2 degree Celsius Did not expect DMK

Timings
CHENNAI
TUESDAY, MAY. 24

govt. to evict the

RISE 05:43 SET 18:30
RISE 01:29 SET 13:35
WEDNESDAY, MAY. 25
Meenambakkam records the maximum temperature, making it the ‘hottest day’ this summer
RISE 05:43 SET 18:30
RISE 02:08
THURSDAY, MAY. 26
RISE 05:42
SET 14:24

SET 18:30
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI

Monday was the hottest day

<
> State
Some parts of the
may receive
light to moderate
poor: Medha Patkar
of the season in Chennai as
RISE 02:46 SET 15:13
the maximum temperature
rain till May 27 due ‘Give priority to in situ development’
to convective
touched 40.2 degree Celsius
at Meenambakkam. Mercury activity
India Meteorological Department
level is set to rise particularly
in north Tamil Nadu this
week due to strong wester­ the day temperature in coas­
lies, according to India Mete­ tal stations. This had delayed
orological department. the onset of sea breeze in
The weather station at places like Chennai and Cud­
Nungambakkam recorded dalore and led to a spike in
the maximum day tempera­ temperature, said an official.
ture of 39.2 degree Celsius
this May. Cuddalore, Karur Thunderstorm likely
Paramathi and Madurai ex­ With the southwest mon­
perienced scorching weath­ soon expected to set in over
er with the maximum tem­ Kerala in a few days, many
perature touching 39 degree parts of Tamil Nadu could Medha Patkar, convener of National Alliance of People’s
Celsius. get thunderstorm, the offi­ Movements, interacting with residents of Govindasamy
Chennai recorded a maxi­ cial said. Nagar on Monday. B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
*

0 mum temperature of 40.3

degree Celsius on May 27 last Chilling out: With mercury soaring, crowds flock to the Marina beach. B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
The department has fore­
cast that there are chances of Staff Reporter to argue the case properly
DISCLAIMER: Readers are requested to *

e
verify and make appropriate enquiries to
satisfy themselves about the veracity of year. However, Cyclone Asa­ thunderstorm with light rain CHENNAI and expose the vested inter­
an advertisement before responding to
any published in this newspaper. THG ni and its remnants kept the against its normal figure of parts of the State may re­ ed the highest rainfall of 3 in some areas of the city till Social activist Medha Patkar ests of a businessman who

in
PUBLISHING PVT LTD., the Publisher &
Owner of this newspaper, does not vouch day temperature lower for 50.5 mm so far since March ceive light to moderate rain cm in the 24 hours ending Wednesday. said she did not expect that had filed the public interest
for the authenticity of any advertisement
or advertiser or for any of the advertiser’s several days this May and 1. till May 27 mainly due to con­ 8.30 a.m. on Monday. Light The city will record a max­ the DMK government in Ta­ litigation to remove the
products and/or services. In no event can
the Owner, Publisher, Printer, Editor, Dir­ even triggered the first spell IMD officials said the vective activity that follows a rain continued in some plac­ imum temperature of 38 de­ mil Nadu, headed by Chief tenements in Govindasamy

az
ector/s, Employees of this newspaper/
company be held responsible/liable in of rain this season in the city. strengthening of westerly spell of intense heat. es like Kodaikanal and Valpa­ gree Celsius and a minimum Minister M.K. Stalin, would Nagar that were located on
any manner whatsoever for any claims
and/or damages for advertisements in Chennai district has re­ winds would influence peak­ Cincona and Valparai in rai till Monday evening. of 29 degree Celsius for two carry out eviction of work­ the land classified as “water­
this newspaper.
ceived 28.2 mm of rainfall ing mercury level. Some Coimbatore district record­ Westerly winds determine days. ing class people like the one course poramboke land.”
that happened recently in Citing an earlier affidavit

ag
Govindasamy Nagar. by a former Principal Secre­

Relaunch of Jet Airways flights Rave party: police Honour for

Rolls Royce
Addressing the media
during a protest here to con­
demn such evictions, the
tary of Housing and Urban
Development department
stating that the business­

M
convener of the National Al­ man had filed the case to in­

to benefit Chennai airport register a case of top executive liance of People’s Move­ crease the real estate value

L_
ments (NAPM) cited the re­ of his property located be­
cent evictions that hind the tenements, she

Officials expect the traffic to increase by 15% to 20% unnatural death Staff Reporter
CHENNAI
happened in Jahangirpuri in
Delhi and said that bulldoz­
said this line of argument
was not pursued strongly.

Staff Reporter
CHENNAI Monkey Bar and Madras Bar sealed
A Rolls Royce India South
Asia president Kishore
Jayaraman has been given
ers had become a weapon to
oppress minorities and oth­
er marginalised communi­
Arguing that it was wrong
to evict people living in a
place for more than 50
IT
Chennai airport is expected Special Correspondent was conducted and viscera the award of an honorary ties in the country. years, she said that the go­
to benefit a lot from the re­ CHENNAI has been sent for further Officer of the Order of the She expressed disap­ vernment should prioritise
launch of flight services by The Thirumangalam police tests to ascertain whether British Empire (OBE) by pointment that eviction was in situ development or is­
IG

Jet Airways. Officials of the registered a case of unnatu­ he had consumed any drug. the Queen for his services happening even in Tamil suance of patta for those re­
Airports Authority of India ral death under Section 174 Meanwhile, the police in the field of international Nadu in violation of human siding in places like Govin­
(AAI) said there would be an of the Criminal Procedure said the Excise Department trade and investment with rights, which, she said, re­ dasamy Nagar.
_D

increase in aircraft move­ Code in connection with the officials sealed the premises a focus on promotion of In­ sulted in immolation by V.G. R. Geetha of Unorganised
ment and passenger traffic. death of a youth at a mall in of Monkey Bar and Madras dia­U.K. trade. Kannaiyan, a resident of Workers’ Federation and re­
Jet Airways is likely to re­ Anna Nagar. Bar in the mall for operating A board member of U.K.­ Elango Street in Govindasa­ sidents of Govindasamy Na­
launch its services in Sep­ S. Praveen, 23, of Madi­ without a valid licence. India Business Council, Mr. my Nagar. She visited his fa­ gar took part in the protest.
tember as it has obtained the pakkam, an employee of a Jayaraman has played a key mily on Monday. Ms. Patkar took part in
N

clearance of the Directorate­ A few of the slots allotted in the past to Jet Airways remain software firm, came with his Case booked role in promoting bilateral On the government’s another event in the city or­
General of Civil Aviation. The vacant and the airlines could get them back, say officials at friends to a bar on the Prohibition and Enforce­ ties and set up an ecosys­ claim that it was merely ganised to protest against
R

airline is in the process of re­ the Chennai airport. FILE PHOTO *

fourth floor of the mall on ment Wing of Police (PeW) tem for improving manu­ obeying the orders of the the labour codes being in­
cruiting staff. Saturday evening. He col­ booked a case against the facturing in India facilitat­ Supreme Court, she alleged troduced by the Union go­
least 15­20%,” an official said. decide the number of slots lapsed on the dance floor persons who were in­charge ed by U.K. technology. that the government failed vernment.
A

No intimation yet and inform the airport,” while dancing with his of the place on Saturday.
“Usually, at least a week be­ Slots vacant another official said. friends late in the night. He The police said that at the
e/

fore the operations begin,

airlines send the schedule of
flights to the airport. We ha­
Officials said after Jet Air­
ways stopped its operations
in 2019, its slots at Chennai
Officials expect the airline
to operate from Chennai to
other major metro cities first
was rushed to a nearby priv­
ate hospital and later to the
Rajiv Gandhi Government
“Great Indian Gathering”, a
party where liquor was
served, had participants
2.9 kg gold, foreign currency seized
.m

ven’t received it as yet for airport remained unused for and later expand its services. General Hospital (RGGGH) even aged below 21. Staff Reporter Nisar Mandala, a passenger to leave for Dubai, were
Chennai airport from Jet Air­ sometime. Chennai airport is reco­ where he was declared The participants were CHENNAI from Dubai, and found him stopped and were found to
ways. We are hoping to re­ Later, other airlines were vering from the slump in dead. charged ₹2,000 per head Chennai Air Customs has carrying 1.4 kg of gold worth have hidden foreign curren­
ceive it soon. When the air­ given those slots. traffic during the pandemic. A senior police officer for entry and the event was seized 2.9 kg of gold worth ₹64.98 lakh in two plastic cy totalling ₹10.7 lakh in
//t

line restarts its operations, “But a few of those slots At present, there are close said preliminary investiga­ anchored by Mandra Gora, a ₹1.3 crore and foreign cur­ pouches and in his shoes. their rectum. Six passen­
we expect the number of are still with the airport and to 330­350 flights a day on an tion revealed that Praveen Mexican DJ. rency totalling ₹10.7 lakh. Kalandar Thamimul Ansa­ gers from Sharjah and Co­
flights and number of pas­ are vacant. It can have them average with the daily foot­ could have died of excess The police recovered 844 According to a press re­ ri and Mohammed Nagoor lombo were trying to smug­
s:

sengers travelling from and back. In any case, the AAI fall touching 45,000 to dose of alcohol. bottles of liquor from the lease, officials intercepted Mohideen, who were about gle 1.5 kg of gold into India.
to the airport to go up by at headquarters in Delhi will 50,000. Post­mortem procedure bars.
tp

OBITUARY
OBITUARY & REMEMBRANCE
& REMEMBRANCE
ICAR unit unveils Egmore railway station
ht

DEATH DEATH ANNIVERSARIES REMEMBRANCE

nano aquarium to be redeveloped soon RUKMANI (92) W/o Late A.

Parthasarathy attained Acharyan
Thiruvadi on 23/05/2022. Mourned
by Lochan Sarathy, Geetha & Fami-
Package has 10 ornamental shrimps ly. Cremation on May 25, 8:00 am.
It will have airport­like features, says Ashwini Vaishnaw Ph: 9840480882
Special Correspondent The bureau’s research had
CHENNAI resulted in new species be­ Special Correspondent
In an effort to improve the li­ ing identified and they have CHENNAI DEATH
velihood of marginalised been since bred in captivity. The Southern Railway is all
communities, a new initia­ The nano aquarium set to redevelop the Egmore
tive of setting up nano aqua­ comes as a package that in­ Railway Station.
rium was launched recently cludes synthetic salt, bacte­ Union Minister for Rail­
in the State. ria and feed along with 10 ways Ashwini Vaishnaw visit­
The project has been ornamental shrimps raised ed the station, one of major
made possible with the in captivity. junctions in the city, last
technical support of the In­ The table top aquarium week and reviewed the plans
dian Council for Agricultu­ can be maintained in any for the redevelopment pro­
ral Research’s National Bu­ place and the combination ject.
reau of Fish Genetic package costs ₹7,000 to B.G. Mallya, General Man­
Resources. ICAR­NBFGR has ₹10,000 based on a person’s ager (In­charge); Ganesh, Di­
been training the communi­ interest. visional Railway Manager,
ty in Agatti island in Laksh­ The bureau has entered Chennai Division; and senior
adweep on breeding marine into an agreement with VGP officials accompanied the
ornamental fish. Marine Kingdom to trade Minister. In memory of your loved ones
The concept of table top and export shrimps. State Mr. Vaishnaw discussed To dedicate a space in this section,
aquaria was mooted with Fisheries and Animal Hus­ the proposed redevelop­ Please contact:
044-28575711 / 28575714
the aim of not only encou­ bandry Minister Anitha R. ment plans and facilitation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. &
raging native community of Radhakrishnan participated of inter­modal connectivity 72990 95757
Lakshadweep to build such in the launch. The nano with Chennai Metro Rail Ltd. from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
For Placing Advertisements
aquaria for trade and earn aquarium will be sold at the After the inspection, the Mi­
Online log on to
income but also conserve Marine Kingdom’s souvenir nister said the Egmore sta­ www. thehinduads.com
the nation’s biodiversity. shop. tion, while keeping its herit­
age intact, would be
redeveloped so that its
DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
Youth held for rape amenities were in line with
international standards. It
would have airport­like fea­
Special Correspondent and raped her brandishing a tures such as a separate ar­
CHENNAI knife. He gagged her and re­ rival and departure corridor,
The All Women Police, corded the crime on his mo­ bright illumination and hass­
Adyar, have arrested a 20­ bile phone. le­free access to platforms by
year­old man for allegedly He left the house after escalators, lifts and sky­
raping a 42­year­old wo­ threatening to upload the walks.
man. clip online if she went to the
The police said when the police. First phase
victim returned home from The police arrested the Mr. Vaishnaw said Chennai kumari stations would be re­ Southern Railway had been
work on Friday, the assai­ assailant who was identified Egmore, Madurai, Katpadi, developed in the first phase, identified for
lant barged into her house as S. Vishal of Triplicane. Rameswaram and Kanniya­ and nine stations of the redevelopment.

Published by N. Ravi at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., and Printed by Babu Vijay at Plot B-6 & B-7, CMDA Industrial Complex, Maraimalai Nagar, Chengleput Taluk, Kancheepuram Dist., Pin: 603209. Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act).
Regd. TN/ARD/17/2012-2014 RNI No. 1001/1957 ISSN 0971 - 751X Vol. 145 No. 122
● ● ● ●

CM A CH-CHE
YK
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THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
CHENNAI
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Police book 3,926 cases in a
day for helmet rule violation
Drive conducted to enforce guidelines among both riders and pillion riders
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI
The Chennai traffic police on
Monday launched a special
drive to crack down on peo­
ple riding two­wheelers
without helmets and booked
3,926 cases in a single day.
From Monday morning,
traffic police personnel
stopped two­wheeler riders
at road junctions and strictly
enforced the helmet rule.
Additional Commissioner of
Police, Traffic, Kapilkumar
C. Saratkar inspected the en­
forcement drive in Vepery.
‘Reducing accidents’
Mr. Saratkar said the police
were taking various mea­
sures to enforce the traffic
rules in the city to reduce ac­
cidents and to ensure safety
of road users. “On analysing
road accidents in the city, we
found that more lives are lost
in accidents involving two­
wheelers. Taking this into ac­
count, we have launched the
special drive,” he said, and
Taiwanese film festival inaugurated
Event will be on till May 25 at Alliance Française of Madras
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI
“We should facilitate and
promote mutual under­
standing between India and
Taiwan through film festivals
and more activities through
this year,” said Ben Wang,
Director­General, Taipei
Economic and Cultural
Centre (TECC), Chennai.
He was speaking at the in­
auguration of the Taiwanese
film festival 2022 organised
by the Indo Cine Apprecia­
tion Foundation and the
TECC, Chennai, at the Al­
liance Française of Madras
on Monday. The festival will
CM
YK
Ensuring safety: According to the Motor Vehicles Act, both
the rider and the pillion rider should wear helmets. R. RAGU
added that, “We had issued
an advisory a week before
the drive began, asking that
all two­wheeler riders wear
helmets compulsorily. Wear­
ing a helmet is mandatory
for all two­wheeler riders. It
applies not only to drivers
but also to pillion riders as
per the Motor Vehicles Act
and a Government Order is­
sued in 2007.”
“We gave them one week
and now could see a lot of
improvement in the com­
pliance level. Over 70% of
be held till 25 at the Alliance
Francaise of Madras.
“Five acclaimed films will
be showcased as a part of
the festival. Movies are im­
portant entertainment as
they often help broaden ho­
rizons and improve know­
ledge. I hope you get to see
the social and cultural facets
of Taiwan and the vibrant
democracy that it is,” Mr.
Wang said. B. Ramakrish­
nan, Vice­President, ICAF,
said that Taiwanese films
had always been a part of in­
ternational festivals organ­
ised by the Foundation, in­
cluding the Chennai
tp
ht
* a helmet, there was no need
two­wheeler riders are wear­
ing helmets in the city, but
there is slackness among pil­
lion riders. We started a spe­
cial drive from Monday and
will continue with it,” Mr. Sa­
ratkar said. Until Monday
evening, the police booked
3,926 cases against motorists
for failing to wear helmets.
Of these, 1,903 cases were
booked against riders and
the remaining 2,023 against
pillion riders. All motorists
are requested to obey the
traffic rules and extend their
International Film Festival.
Missing Johnny, directed
by Xi Huang, was screened
as the opening film.
Judith Ravin, U.S. Consul­
General, Chennai; Thomas
Strieder, Consul­ General
(Interim), German Consu­
late, Chennai; Dmitryi A.
Shcherbinin, Consul, Consu­
late­General of the Russian
Federation; Gennadii Roga­
lev, Director of Russian
House, Chennai; and J. Ran­
ganath, Honorary Consul for
Myanmar in Chennai; film
director Rathindran Prasad
and actor Ramya Pandian
were present.
.m
//t
s:
full cooperation for this
drive. People should not as­
sume that the special drive
will only be conducted for
one or two days. “It is not
our intention to merely book
thousands of cases. Our aim
is to ensure 100% com­
pliance of the helmet rule,”
the Additional Commission­
er said.
He said when a motorist
was stopped for not wearing
to argue. Violators could pay
the fine, go to the next stop
and buy a helmet. “We will
use proportionate force
against those who do not
cooperate with the person­
nel on duty,” Mr. Saratkar
said. He added that the book­
ing of cases would lead to
suspension or cancellation
of driving licences in case of
repeated offences. An analy­
sis of two­wheeler accident
cases from January 1 to May
15 showed that 98 people
lost their lives and 841 peo­
ple sustained injuries.
Anbumani
lauds ASHA
workers
Staff Reporter
CHENNAI
PMK youth wing leader An­
bumani Ramadoss on
Tuesday lauded the Accre­
dited Social Health Activist
(ASHA) workers for being
recognised and awarded as
Global Health Leaders by
_D
the World Health Organiza­
tion. He said he was proud
that he was the one who
created and defined the
role of ASHA during his te­
N
nure as the Union Health
Minister. He added that the
R
workers proved crucial in
the fight against COVID­19.
A
e/
CHENNAI 5
Police turn friends of slum children
They engage with them through educational, sports or entertainment activities
R. Sivaraman
CHENNAI
Now, police personnel don
the role of guardian angels
for children from modest
economic backgrounds, es­
pecially from the slums, by
taking them on picnics, out­
ings and Metro Rail rides be­
sides serving up a feast of
sorts.
The idea is to engage chil­
dren in such a way that they
avoid getting involved with
anti­social elements.
Outreach initiative
An initiative of Commission­
er of Police Shankar Jiwal, Educational excursion: Children, accompanied by police officers, on a Coast Guard ship in
more than 4,700 children Chennai. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
*
are now members of the ov­
er 130 Boys and Girls’ clubs thoroughly enjoyed. Anoth­ feel happy and confident police are like teachers,” the
in the city and Joint Commis­ er group of children was ta­ and not influenced by the police officer said.
sioner of Police, West, S. Ra­ ken to museums and one bad habits they would en­ Police personnel keep
jeswari has been appointed more group to a movie and counter in their place of resi­ these children busy the
e
nodal officer to monitor the ride on Metro Rail. dence.” whole week either by con­
activities of these clubs. Ms. Rajeswari said: “We “These children think the ducting educational, sports
in
Recently, the children feel elated when we see the police usually kick and beat or entertainment activities.
were taken on board a ship happiness of the children as them up, since we raid the The police personnel said
after obtaining permission they are enjoying the out­ areas they live in. They had the clubs were helpful in de­
az
from the Regional Comman­ ings. an aversion towards us. Now, tecting certain crimes like
der, Coast Guard. Most of these children are we can see their mindset child abuse and usury.
The children were briefed from underprivileged back­ change. Instead, they feel Many social welfare or­
on the functions and fea­ grounds and slums. Our idea that the police are part of so­ ganisations had come for­
ag
tures of ships, which they is to ensure that they should ciety. Now, they feel that the ward to support these clubs.
M
L_
A
IT
IG
A CH-CHE
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6 TAMIL NADU
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CIBA scientists decode whole
genome of grey mullet fish
They achieved high­quality genome assembly containing 27,269 protein­coding genes
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI
The scientists of the Indian
Council for Agricultural Re­
search’s (ICAR) Central Insti­
tute of Brackishwater Aqua­
culture have succeeded in
sequencing the whole ge­
nome of the grey mullet,
Mugil cephalus.
Known as Madavai in Ta­
mil, the flathead grey mullet
is distributed worldwide
and mostly inhabits the
coastal sea waters and
estuaries.
“The fast­growing herbi­
vorous fish has high demand
as food fish, their egg (mul­
let roe) are traditional deli­
cacies in many countries
and are of great economic
value to the global fisheries
and aquaculture sector,”
HR&CE department preparing
master plan for five temples
Special Correspondent
Coimbatore
Hindu Religious and Charita­
ble Endowments Minister
P.K. Sekarbabu said here on
Monday that his department
was in the process of prepar­
ing master plans for five tem­
ples, including the ones at
Marudhamalai in Coimba­
tore, Tiruttani and Rames­
waram to improve
infrastructure.
The Minister told repor­
ters that the department was
planning to construct a mul­
ti­level car parking facility
and install an elevator at the
Subramaniaswamy Temple
at Marudhamalai.
As for the Patteeswarar
Temple at Perur in Coimba­
tore, the department was
taking steps for a consecra­
tion as the last one was held
in 2010.
CM
YK
Known as Madavai in Tamil, the flathead grey mullet is
distributed worldwide and mostly inhabits the coastal sea
waters and estuaries. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
*
said Principal Scientist M.S.
Shekhar, who headed the re­
search team.
What paved the way for
the decoding of the genome
was induced breeding trials
and captive seed production
of the grey mullet by anoth­
P.K. Sekarbabu
Along with the Perur
Temple, the department
would take up maintenace
work in its sub temples as
well, he said.
‘Golden period’
He said the present DMK
rule would be a golden pe­
riod in temple administra­
tion as an unprecedented
number of schemes for tem­
tp
ht
er team of researchers led
by M. Kailasam, another
Principal Scientist. “It
changed everything. Till
then we were completely de­
pendent on wild resources,”
explained K.P. Jithendran,
Director of the CIBA.
ple development and devo­
tees’ welfare were being ta­
ken up.
“The government has in­
creased from ₹1 lakh to ₹2
lakh the grant given to
12,959 temples for one­time
pujas and increased the
number of such temples by
another 2,000, has given a
monthly aid of ₹1,000 each
to 10,150 priests, rid temple
lands worth ₹2,500 crore of
encroachments and collect­
ed ₹180 crore as rent arrears
in the last three months,” he
said.
The Chief Minister had
sanctioned ₹100 crore. Last
year, the government took
up temple maintenance and
consecration work at ₹662
crore. This year it proposed
to take up the work in 1,500
temples at ₹1,000 crore, Mr.
Sekarbabu said.
.m
//t
s:
Subsequently, the scien­
tists headed by Mr. Shekhar
achieved a very high­quality
genome assembly contain­
ing 27,269 protein­coding
genes. The other members
of the team are Vinaya Ku­
mar Katneni, Ashok Kumar
Jangam, J. Raymond Jani An­
gel and Krishna Sukumaran
“The whole­genome as­
sembly would provide the
baseline information need­
ed to implement genetic im­
provement programmes for
this commercially important
fish species in the future. We
will soon launch a selective
breeding programme. We
can improve the commer­
cially valuable traits includ­
ing increase in size and dis­
ease resistance,” Mr.
Shekhar said.
Forest Dept. inspects height of power lines in Gudalur
Steps taken after
the death of an
elephant due to
electrocution
Rohan Premkumar
UDHAGAMANDALAM
Following the death of a 35­
year­old female elephant
due to electrocution by an
overhead power line in Gu­
dalur a few days ago, the
Forest Department is con­
ducting inspections to en­
sure that cables are at a safe
height from the ground to
prevent such incidents.
_D
According to District For­
est Officer (Gudalur divi­
sion), Kommu Omkaram,
regular patrolling was use­
ful in minimising the
N
chance of electricity lines
sagging. “However, they
R
need to be done regularly as
the division witnesses hea­
vy winds, which leads to the
A
e/
CHENNAI THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
Hindu outfits protest in Chidambaram
demanding arrest of YouTuber
He made derogatory references to Hindu deities, the protesters allege
Special Correspondent
Puducherry
Various Hindu outfits on
Monday staged a protest in
Chidambaram seeking ac­
tion against the person run­
ning a YouTube channel ‘U2
Brutus’ for making deroga­
tory references to Lord Nat­
araja and Thillai Kali Am­
man Koil.
The protest, led by Siva
Damodaran Swamigal, pre­
sident of the Sivanadiar
Coordination Committee,
sought immediate arrest of
the person behind the You­
Tube channel.
‘No action’ People staging a protest in Chidambaram on Monday. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
They said several com­
plaints have been filed channel. No action had places, Mr. Damodaran said. the person, he added.
e
against ‘Minor’ Vijay for been initiated against him The agitation would be in­ President of the Indu
making derogatory remarks though police complaints tensified in the coming days Makkal Katchi Arjun Sam­
in
against Lord Siva in the have been filed at several if the police failed to arrest path also participated.
az
ag
Tangedco officials said
while these cables ensured
less power loss and were ea­
sy to maintain, they were
M
far more expensive to install
than regular power cables.
L_
Forest officials working in
the division said in most
areas, power cables were
between 14­16 feet in height,
A making them easily accessi­
ble for elephants.
“There is a National
IT
Green Tribunal order di­
recting the Tangedco to use
aerial bunch cables that are
IG
used in Muthanga Wildlife
Sanctuary and Bandipur
Tiger Reserve. We will conti­
nue to push for the existing
lines to be replaced with
The Forest Department is conducting inspections to ensure that cables are at a safe height these cables,” added Mr.
from the ground to prevent electrocution of elephants. Omkaram.
The death of the elephant
lines invariably hanging nent solution to the pro­ and Distribution Corpora­ a few days ago was the fifth
closer to the ground every blem of accidental electro­ tion (Tangedco) was to re­ such incident recorded in
few weeks,” said Mr. Omka­ cution of wildlife from place the existing power Gudalur division and the
ram. power lines maintained by lines with ‘aerial bunch ca­ Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in
The DFO said a perma­ the Tamil Nadu Generation bles’ that were safer. recent years.
PERSONAL
CHANGE OF NAME
I, R.SARASWATHY, W/o Late. N.
Rajaraman Ex.Army Service no
1322815 Rank SPR, aged about 72
years, residing at Door No.3, plot
No.88, Kamakodi Nagar Main Road,
Valasaravakkam, Chennai−600087,
Tamilnadu. I hereby declare that
My Name & Date of birth wrongly
mentioned as R.SARASWATHI & 23/08/
1949, in my husband’s army service
records and Corrected Name & Date
of Birth is R.SARASWATHY & 04/01/
1950. − R.SARASWATHY
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A CH-CHE
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THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
CHENNAI
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IN BRIEF
Kerala HC grants interim
bail to P.C. George
KOCHI
The Kerala High Court on
Monday granted interim bail
till Thursday to Kerala
Janapaksham chairman and
former MLA P.C. George in a
case registered in connection
with the alleged
inflammatory remarks made
by him at Vennala in Kochi.
Congress picks Yadav,
Jabbar for MLC polls
BENGALURU
The Karnataka Congress on
Monday picked M. Nagaraju
Yadav, KPCC spokesperson,
and K. Abdul Jabbar, former
MLC, as its candidates for the
biennial elections to the
Legislative Council.
Texts edited suitably, nothing
dropped: Karnataka Minister
Revised textbook reflects facts and real history, says Nagesh
Special Correspondent
Bengaluru
Strongly defending the revi­
sion of textbooks that has
stirred a huge controversy,
Primary and Secondary
Education Minister B.C. Na­
gesh insisted that the go­
vernment had not dropped
content related to freedom
fighter Bhagat Singh, social
reformer Narayana Guru, ra­
tionalist Periyar Ramaswa­
my or 18th century Mysuru
king Tipu Sultan.
Addressing a press confe­
rence, he said the commit­
tee had only expanded on
these ideas by including
more historically important
figures such as Chandrashe­
kar Azad, Rajguru, Sukhdev
Singh, and others and edit­
ing some content.
Produce air
ticket: HC tells
Vijay Babu
Special Correspondent
KOCHI
The Kerala High Court on
Monday directed actor­
producer Vijay Babu, an
accused in a rape case filed
by an actor, to produce the
ticket for travelling back to
the country. The court ad­
ded that it would consider
his anticipatory bail once
he produced the ticket.
Justice Gopinath P.
made the remarks when
the anticipatory bail peti­
tion filed by the actor came
up for hearing. The peti­
tioner was abroad when
the investigation was
launched, his counsel sub­
mitted. In fact, the police
had taken steps to im­
pound his passport. There­
fore, he was unable to
come here.
The court then said,
“Let him come here and
make himself available to
the jurisdiction of the
court.”
A model in community weather monitoring
Advance site­specific information is useful in planning agricultural activities in Kerala’s Wayanad
E.M. Manoj
KALPETTA
The community weather
monitoring system in Kera­
la’s Wayanad, an initiative of
the Hume Centre for Ecology
and Wildlife Biology in asso­
ciation with the Advanced
Centre for Atmospheric Ra­
dar Research, Cochin Un­
iversity of Science and Tech­
nology, and the District
Disaster Management Auth­
ority, has set a model in lo­
calised weather forecast, es­
pecially for the farming
community.
“We have been using daily
weather forecast for plan­
ning agricultural activities,”
says K.V. Divakaran, a farmer
at Anoth, near Pozhuthana.
“At a time when climate
change is posing serious
threats to the farm commun­
CM
YK
Dileep influenced politicians: survivor
Kerala actor assault case takes a new turn; victim alleges attempts to sabotage further probe
Special Correspondent
Thiruvananthapuram
The 2017 Kerala actor sexual
assault case took a new turn
on Monday with the survivor
approaching the High Court
seeking to restrain the Crime
Branch from filing its final re­
port in a related case. In her
writ petition, the victim has
alleged that Dileep had un­
lawfully influenced politi­
cians in the ruling front and
attempted to derail further
probe in the case relating to
the conspiracy hatched by
the actor to murder the in­
vestigation officers involved
in the assault case.
Dileep’s lawyers had inter­
fered with the administra­
tion of justice by tampering
with the evidence in the case
and illegally influenced wit­
nesses. Attempts by the pol­
Explaining the manner in
which texts had been edited,
the Minister said: “We edited
some lines in the lesson of
Periyar, which would hurt
Hindu sentiments. We have
also edited paragraphs that
glorified Tipu Sultan and
told the other side of the sto­
ry as well. Narayana Guru’s
chapter is only shifted from
one class to another.”
“We are going to intro­
duce facts and real history to
students without glorifying
anybody,” he said, adding
that he was ready for a dia­
logue on the issue.
The Minister defended
the inclusion of the lesson
based on the speech of Rash­
triya Swayamsevak Sangh
(RSS) founder Keshav Bali­
ram Hedgewar and said:
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Catching them young
ht
Traffic lessons: The Hyderabad police launching the Road Safety Summer Camp for school students at a Traffic Training Institute
in the city on Monday. G. RAMAKRISHNA
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Green trends: The initiative aims at building local resilience to
the adverse impacts of climate change on farming. FILE PHOTO
ity, advance site­specific in­
formation is useful for plan­
ning agricultural activities
such as ploughing, nursery
raising, fertilizer application,
and harvesting,” says Mr. Di­
vakaran. The information
SOUTH 7
Weather Watch
Rainfall, temperature & air quality in select metros yesterday
vestigation in the conspiracy The tampering of the me­ er wanted to illegally help
case would not impact them. mory card may help the ac­ the culprits. The trial court
The political and administra­ cused to take undue advan­ judge’s conduct, if condoned
tive higher­ups had an agen­ tage. Being the victim, the or tolerated, would be a dis­
da that no investigation was petitioner had the funda­ grace to the judicial system,
carried out into the illegal ac­ mental right to get a fair trial she said.
cess, tampering and trans­ and justice as envisaged un­ The survivor pleaded for a
mission of the contents of der Article 21 of the Constitu­ directive to the sessions
the memory card kept in the tion. The petitioner also had court to forward the memo­
custody of the trial court. a fundamental right to know ry card to the State Forensic
The government, which had who had illegally accessed Science Laboratory, Thiruva­
supported the cause of the the memory card, tampered nanthapuram, for
petitioner, has now back­ or transmitted the same as it examination.
Dileep tracked, she said. was a violation of her funda­ She also sought a directive
She alleged that the act of mental right to privacy. It to the State Police Chief to
ice to investigate the role of the presiding officer of the was the duty of the court to conduct an investigation un­
Dileep’s lawyers had not Additional Special Sessions ascertain how the the memo­ der the supervision of the
Temperature Data: IMD, Pollution Data: CPCB, Map: INSAT/IMD (Taken at 18.00 Hrs)
been successful as the senior Court was highly suspicious. ry card was tampered with, High Court into the change
Forecast for Tuesday: Heavy rainfall likely at isolated places over
counsel and his associates Though the investigation of­ while it was in the safe custo­ of the hash value of the mi­
Odisha. Thunderstorm accompanied with lightning/gusty winds/
had substantial clout with ficers had filed a petition for dy of the court, and who cro SD card seized by the in­ hail likely at isolated places over Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal
the ruling party. sending the memory card to were the culprits. vestigation officer on Febru­ Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattis­
It was learnt that some as­ the forensic laboratory, no The conduct of the presid­ ary 20, 2017 and take garh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal, Kerala,
surances were secured by steps had been taken by the ing officer in obstructing the stringent action against the Mahe, Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands
those lawyers from political court to send it to the investigation in this matter persons responsible for ille­ city rain max min city rain max min
authorities that further in­ laboratory. clearly showed that the offic­ gally accessing the card. Agartala.............. 33....34.1....23.1 Kozhikode.................... 4....31.5....24.4
Ahmedabad ........... —....41.2....28.8 Kurnool ....................... —....37.5....25.7
e
Aizawl................... 8....27.0....19.3 Lucknow...................... —....35.8....25.6
Allahabad.............. —....40.3....26.7 Madurai ....................... —....39.1....27.0
in
Kerala HC allows third party
Bengaluru ............. —....30.3....21.0 Mangaluru ................. 10....31.3....23.6
Bhopal .................. —....40.0....28.0 Mumbai ....................... —....34.6....29.0
Bhubaneswar......... —....35.6....23.9 Mysuru ........................ —....32.0....21.2
Chandigarh ...... 12.2....39.0....20.3 New Delhi ................. 12....31.5....17.2
az
Chennai ................ —....40.1....28.5 Patna .......................... —....36.4....24.0
intervention in ivory case Coimbatore ........... —....33.4....22.4
Dehradun ............ 25....29.4....16.9
Gangtok ................ —....22.4....14.0
Goa....................... 2....33.2....26.5
Port Blair..................... 1....28.9....24.6
Puducherry .................. —....38.2....26.7
Pune............................ —....36.2....25.3
Raipur ......................... —....41.4....27.6
ag
Guwahati ............ 11....33.2....23.2 Ranchi ......................... —....35.6....21.6
Hubballi ................ —....32.0....23.0 Shillong..................... 11....23.5....15.8
It cannot be said that public interest is not involved: judge Hyderabad ............ —....37.8....25.6 Shimla....................... 25....26.9....11.4
Imphal .................. —....29.4....20.4 Srinagar....................... 1....22.8....12.6
Jaipur ................... —....33.8....29.8 Thiruvananthapuram......... 4....31.5....24.4
“Hedgewar was a great na­ Special Correspondent the trial court that the peti­
M
Kochi .................... 7....29.0....25.0 Tiruchi......................... —....37.6....26.5
tionalist. He entered the KOCHI tioners had no locus standi Kohima ................. —....23.4....15.6 Vijayawada .................. —....42.2....29.0
Kolkata ................. —....35.4....25.6 Visakhapatnam ............. —....35.0....28.2
freedom movement as a Two public interest litigants to be heard in the petition
(Rainfall data in mm; temperature in Celsius)
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member of the Congress and who had approached a trial seeking the withdrawal of
Pollutants in the air you are breathing Yesterday
left after the failure of the court seeking to oppose the prosecution was incorrect.
CITIES SO2 NO2 CO PM2.5 PM10 CODE
Khilafat movement. To withdrawal of prosecution In her order, Justice Mary Jo­ Ahmedabad..... ..6 .12 94 ..186 .130 ....*
uphold the pride of the against actor Mohanlal in seph held that the petition­ Bengaluru ....... ..7 .17 53 ..105 ...98 ....* In observation made at 4.00
p.m., Bathinda, Punjab
A
country, he formed RSS in the illegal ivory possession ers were members of society Chennai .......... 12 .28 49 ....55 ...48 ....* recorded an overall air
Delhi .............. ..8 .31 39 ..198 .175 ....* quality index (AQI) score of
1925.” case have the right to inter­ who had the right to see that Hyderabad ...... 17 .21 .— ....52 .115 ....* 287 indicating an unhealthy
He said the previous text­ vene in the case, ordered the the prosecution launched Kolkata ........... 24 .18 20 ..126 .113 ....* level of pollution. In
IT
Lucknow ......... ..5 .72 25 ..122 .144 ....* contrast, Madikeri, Karnataka
book revision committee, Kerala High Court on for an offence affecting so­ recorded a healthy AQI score
Mumbai .......... ..4 ..— .8 ....15 .185 ....* of 16
which was headed by Bara­ Monday. ciety is withdrawn based on Pune............... ..— .22 53 ....75 ...69 ....*
gur Ramachandrappa, had The single judge of the a valid reason. Visakhapatnam 17 .51 .8 ....89 .133 ....*
IG
also dropped many lessons, High Court also set aside the Mohanlal The offence involved in Air Quality Code: * Poor * Moderate * Good (Readings indicate average AQI)
but it had never become order of the Judicial First the case was one relating to SO2: Sulphur Dioxide. Short-term exposure can harm the respiratory system,
making breathing difficult. It can affect visibility by reacting with other air
controversial. Poems by Ku­ Class Magistrate Court­3, Pe­ before the magistrate court wildlife. Therefore, it cannot particles to form haze and stain culturally important objects such as statues
_D
vempu and Kayyara Kinhan­ rumbavoor, which had ear­ to withdraw the criminal be said that public interest and monuments.
na Rai were dropped and so lier dismissed the interven­ proceedings against the ac­ was not involved , the judge NO2: Nitrogen Dioxide. Aggravates respiratory illness, causes haze to form by
reacting with other air particles, causes acid rain, pollutes coastal waters.
were lessons on Gandhi and tion petitions filed by A.A. tor by stating that continu­ noted. CO: Carbon monoxide. High concentration in air reduces oxygen supply to
Ambedkar, he argued. The Poulose of Ernakulam and ing the case would be a The Forest department critical organs like the heart and brain. At very high levels, it can cause
so­called intellectuals are James Mathew of waste of the court’s time and had booked a case against dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and even death.
N
PM2.5 & PM10: Particulate matter pollution can cause irritation of the eyes,
creating a controversy and Pathanamthitta. a futile exercise. Mohanlal in 2012 for the ille­ nose and throat, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, reduced
caste politics around text­ The assistant public pro­ However, the High Court gal possession of two pairs lung function, irregular heartbeat, asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature
R
books,” the Minister alleged. secutor had filed a petition held that the reasoning of of tusks. death in people with heart or lung disease
A
YSRCP MLC held on charges
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of murdering his driver
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He had allegedly dumped the body in his car, fled the spot
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Staff Reporter and atrocity against the Dalit the nature, exact cause of
KAKINADA youth. The MLC had been death and the modus ope-
s:
The Kakinada police on admitted to GGH­Kakinada randi of the MLC in the case.
Monday arrested YSRCP for medical examination. According to Mr. Babu,
MLC Ananta Satya Udaya The case was registered as the sections in the case had
tp
Bhaskar for his alleged invol­ per the SCs and the STs (Pre­ been altered from ‘suspi­
vement in the murder of 26­ vention of Atrocities) Act, cious death’ to murder, and
year­old Dalit youth, Veedhi 1989. atrocity charges had been
Subramanyam, on May 19 The arrest was made framed against the MLC.
here. Subramanyam was Mr. based on the inquest report The controversy erupted
Uday Bhaskar’s driver, who containing the statements of in the early hours of May 20
had recently quit the job. the victim’s family and the soon after Mr. Udaya Bhas­
Kakinada SP M. Raveen­ post­mortem report, which kar allegedly dumped the
dranath Babu said the police was submitted by the GGH­ body of the youth in his car
arrested the MLC on Mon­ Kakinada doctors. However, in front of the latter’s resi­
day on charges of murder the police are yet to reveal dence and fled.
Dowry death:
Kerala man
found guilty
*
Staff Reporter
KOLLAM
A court in Kerala on Mon­
day found Kiran Kumar, ac­
cused in his wife Vismaya’s
dowry death case, guilty.
The quantum of sentence
will be pronounced on
Tuesday.
Vismaya, a 24­year­old
BAMS student, was found
collective. The farmers, who the support of 250 farmers, dead in June 2021. As per
are following the organic says Mr. Vishnudas. The dis­ the 500­page chargesheet,
way of cultivation, can plan trict was divided into 25 sq she was forced to take the
their agricultural operations km grids and rain gauges extreme step due to persis­
in advance, he says. were installed in the grids tent dowry harassment.
“The initiative aims to with the help of farmers. The Kollam Additional
build local resilience to the The farmers share daily Sessions Court found Ku­
adverse impacts of climate data from their locations at 8 mar guilty under Sections
change by equipping people a.m. through WhatsApp with 304 (B) (dowry death), 498
with site­specific weather the Hume centre, which in (A) (matrimonial cruelty
monitoring capabilities for turn pass it on to the DDMA. for dowry), and 306 (abet­
addressing climate issues in “Now, the daily rainfall da­ ment to suicide) of the In­
Wayanad,” says C.K. Vishnu­ ta from 120 locations along dian Penal Code along with
das, director, Hume centre. with specific rainfall forecast Sections 3 and 4 of Dowry
The system was launched help to closely monitor the Prohibition Act. The court
four years ago mapping the threshold level for possible cancelled the bail granted
* major landslips and flood lo­ landslips and flood in the re­ to him.
cations in the district after a gion,” says Mr. Vishnudas. Digital evidence, includ­
not only saves time but also comprehensive study. The research and deve­ ing over 120 audio clips,
money, he adds. “The fore­ As the study found that ex­ lopment initiative of the past from their phones, was
cast has benefited nearly 100 treme rainfall was the trigger three years have now been presented in the court. It
traditional farmers under for the landslips, a citizen placed on social media included clips in which Vis­
the Thirunelly agri producer science programme was in­ where daily weather infor­ maya tells her father about
company last season,” says itiated to understand the pat­ mation is shared with the pu­ the harassment at her hus­
Rajesh Krishnan, CEO of the tern of rainfall intensity with blic, he says. band’s home.
A CH-CHE
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8 EDITORIAL CHENNAI THE HINDU

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
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A far more dangerous moment now than in 1992

The opening up of Gyanvapi is not about history; it is about reclamation and is central to a larger supremacist project
conflicts bring into “sharp focus party which led it. Currently, to dia)”. The year 1950, with Indian
since 1947, a sickness which free see it as mere instrumentalism composite nationalism at the

GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
All hands on deck India has not been able to shake
off”. If the idea of the 1991 Act was
would be missing the significance
of what 2022 is about. With two
centre, was a far­sighted attempt
at drawing a line under a million
After Centre’s duty cut, States must do to insulate the Republic from the successive electoral majorities, mutinies, especially after 1947.
implications of Babri, allowing the this is not about distracting the vo­ India’s Constitution offered eve­
the same with their taxes Seema Chishti Varanasi issue gain momentum ter from the state of the economy ryone emancipation. Ideological

T
he Union government’s decision on Saturday to suggests exacerbating the “sick­ or noise to garner support for elec­ predecessors of the present re­
cut the excise duty on petrol and diesel by ₹8 and ness”. The intention was to draw a tions. This is part of a core ideolog­ gime made no bones about not

E
₹6, respectively, is a belated acknowledgement xactly 30 years after the de­
molition of the Babri Masjid
that April’s multi­year highs in inflation were spurred in
in Ayodhya, the Gyanvapi
significant measure by high fuel prices. Coming more mosque dispute offers less déjà vu
than six months after its last duty reduction — on Dee­ and more striking contrasts in the
pavali eve — the latest cut is a welcome step to ease the two scenarios. Like architecture
burgeoning cost burden on producers and consumers. distinguishes clearly between rub­
With the price of the Indian basket of crude oil having ble and ruin, we must look clearly
risen by more than 33% since November, and with a at the differences between the
bulk of the surge coming in the wake of the Ukraine war Ayodhya matter then and the dis­
pute over Varanasi’s Gyanvapi
in February, state­run oil marketing companies had
mosque in 2022 now. The diffe­
raised retail fuel prices sharply over a 16­day period rences are stark.
starting March 22. Largely as a result of the higher fuel
prices and quickening food costs, inflation based on the There is an Act now
Consumer Price Index accelerated to a 95­month high The first dissimilarity is the Places
of 7.8% last month, while wholesale price gains soared of Worship (Special Provisions)
line under 1947 and bring quietus ical belief of the ruling dispensa­ sharing those values and believed
after the Ayodhya dispute. Thirty ginable today. tion. Ideally, it would want courts in India as a nation­for­Hindus on­
years on, despite witnessing the Another difference from 1992 is to just award it to majoritarian ly, in the mirror image of what
ruptures that Babri led to, if Gyan­ that economic liberalisation had mobs, minus a mass movement or Muslim separatists managed to se­
vapi is allowed to fester, it would yet to play itself out then. It was an mobilisation. For the ruling re­ cure with Pakistan. Eight years af­
signal that India is re­opening is­ ‘old India’ if fans of liberalisation gime, this path is not seen as a cri­ ter 2014, it has been hard for the
sues that the Constitution had set­ are to be believed. There was a sis but as part of a desired end. So Government to claim brownie
tled. That can only signal more view that altered economics it is unlikely that the government points globally for being ‘excep­
upheaval. would help destroy India’s regres­ in office will feel compelled to tell tional’, as bad news of events on
sive social mores. This was touted off mobs and people who are rais­ the ground have been hard to keep
An institutional collapse as the big change — post the Berlin ing issues, long thought settled. hidden. As ‘exceptionalism’ gets
What also distinguishes the pre­ Wall and post the Soviet Union — The opening up of Gyanvapi is sucked out and India unspools in­
sent moment from Ayodhya is the that general economic uplift not about history. Indian history is to being known as another South
state of India’s institutions. What would deal a death blow to old too complex to be reduced to a Asian ethnic supremacist venture,
separates democracy from a mo­ identity issues and liberate its peo­ two­dimensional Hindu versus it can only shrink the India story,
bocracy is the presence of modern ple. But 30 years on, the promise Muslim framing. For thousands of and certainly not help it achieve
institutions. It is only through of quick economic progress has years, India has been witness to a ‘greatness’.

e
to a multi­decade high of 15.1%. S&P Global’s April PMI Act, 1991 which did not exist when their independent functioning not been able to fell identity polit­ spectrum of stories of both coexis­
the political movement for Ayod­ that the promise of the Constitu­ ics. Considerable academic re­ tence and conflict; Shaivites facing A road versus alley
surveys showed that both services and manufacturing

in
hya caught steam. Also, Ayodhya tion is honoured. The job of inde­ search would nudge us in the op­ off with Vaishnavites, Brahmins It is possible that because we now
companies had in fact flagged the surging input costs as was out of its ambit. The Supreme pendent institutions in a democra­ posite direction. A hardened and making a case against Shramans, have the benefit of hindsight from
a potential dampener of demand. A desperate RBI de­ Court verdict in 2019 went on to cy is to keep asking questions of narrower understanding of identi­ Buddhists and Jains versus eve­ 1992, we choose differently. But

cided to stop waiting for Government intervention to underline the importance of the
cool the supply­side factors fanning inflation and opted 1991 Act in 10 pages (pages 116­125)
instead to raise interest rates earlier this month. and how it “protects and secures
the fundamental values of the
az
the executive and ensure that it ty politics has gripped the world. ryone else and disputes across ma­ that would mean for the ruling
acts in accordance with the Consti­ Today, well after liberalisation has ny more lines. Events here were party and followers, to jettison
tution it has sworn by. But India resulted in more economic in­ not very different from how me­ Golwalkar’s objective for non­Hin­
has seen a dramatic decline in in­ equality and record levels of con­ dieval Christianity and Islam dus; “claiming nothing, deserving

ag
The extent of concern about the inaction on the part
Constitution”. Agreeing with the stitutional independence. This de­ centration of wealth and crony­ played out. The Gyanvapi dispute no privileges, far less any prefe­
of the Government was reflected at the Monetary Policy
rationale of the law, the five­judge cline underlies India’s sharp de­ ism, India finds itself asking is about reclamation and is central rential treatment, not even citi­
Committee’s two­day meeting earlier this month where Bench said; “The Places of Wor­ mocratic backslide. India is fraught questions with ferocity. to the larger supremacist project. zen’s rights” (Golwalkar, We, or
a member observed: “Government supply­side action ship Act imposes a non­derogable classified as an ‘electoral autocra­ The economic crisis facing India This cannot be divorced from fre­ Our Nationhood Defined, 1939:

M
can also reduce future rate rises, output sacrifice and obligation towards enforcing our cy’ (V­Dem Institute), ‘partly free’ today, apart from steep and wi­ netic name­changing, the anti­ page 62). Mahatma Gandhi’s assas­
borrowing costs. Both central and State taxes are bu­ commitment to secularism under (Freedom House), scores ‘at the le­ dening inequalities, also has grim conversion and cattle laws, lynch­ sin, Godse’s hate and violence,

oyant... giving them space to cut taxes on fuels.” Now the Indian Constitution.”
that the Centre has acted to ease some of the inflation­ In not framing the matter in the
letter and spirit of its own order
ary pressure emanating from the high excise duty com­
just three years ago, and instead,
ponent in fuel prices, the onus is on the States to sink
their political differences over the Government’s past
approach to taxing fuels and help reduce the burden on
trying to ‘balance’, the law and its
interpreters are enabling a signifi­
cant and worrying change in In­
the common man by paring their respective State taxes dia. It is not a Babri moment, as
as well. With the war in Europe showing no immediate Babri was to be an exception with
signs of easing, the economic fallout, particularly on the law applicable to all other such
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vel of 1975’ when a formal Emer­ unemployment figures to reckon ings, changes in official history, must be loudly denounced again
gency was in place (International with. None of the expectations amped up hate on mass media and by those who have political power.
IDEA) and it is now among the 30 that the 1990s held for India — other bids to scrub out Muslims The path of the Taliban in Afghan­
worst countries of 180, as far as whether imagined or real — are and distort India’s rich past. istan, Sunni Muslim nationalism in
freedom of the press goes (RSF).
The World Values Survey and the
Pew Research Center tell us that it A
now in the air. Gyanvapi being
fanned now would do so in a world
where the hopes of economic lib­
Well before Islam found its way
to Kodungallur (Kerala) or came
across the Hindukush, India was a
Pakistan, Sinhalese supremacism
or Myanmar’s journey must serve
as a warning and not a manual for
IT
is in India that support for civil eralisation as a panacea are be­ place with complex inter­com­ India. Gyanvapi, which means the
rights as a feature of democracy hind it and the fortuitous global munity ties between various sects ‘fount of knowledge’ or wisdom,
and even democracy has fallen the conditions of the early 1990s are and people who called it home. It offers a choice now. We could pull
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matters. If this goes on, it will open most, since 2015. In such times, if not there. is an established historical fact back and take a long sip. Thirty
global energy and food costs, remains highly uncertain
a Pandora’s box. Similar and multi­ Gyanvapi was to be a start of so­ that multiple migrations made In­ years after Babri Masjid, we know
and continues to point to the rising risks of faster infla­ ple cases are bound to begin mething else, then there would Ideological, not just political dia. As Firaq Gorakhpuri (also the dark alley the other option
tion coupled with slower growth. In such a volatile sce­
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mushrooming; the plea to remove
nario, fiscal measures that help cool price pressures Mathura’s Shahi Idgah and dig
and leave an extra rupee or two in the consumer’s pock­ around the Qutub Minar have
et can only aid to undergird vital consumption demand reached the courts. As Sarvepalli
Gopal writes in the introduction to
not even be counter­pressures There was a strong political incen­ known as Prof. Raghupati Sahay) leads to. It may be far too narrow a
from institutions like 30 years ago. tive behind the mass movement said: “Sar zamin­e­Hind par aq­ path for India to quickly reverse
The Justice J.S. Verma report, and the Rath yatra that propelled wam­e­aalam ke, Firaq, Kafile aate out of.
(when he was National Human the Ayodhya issue onto centres­ rahe aur Hindustan banta gaya
Rights Commission chairman) tage in the late 1980s. It yielded (Many caravans came into these Seema Chishti is a journalist based in
N

in the economy. Ultimately, all States must realise that

the best way to safeguard their revenue interests would Anatomy of a Confrontation, such about violence in 2002 is unima­ durable benefits to the political parts and went onto constitute In­ Delhi

be to ensure that the growth momentum in the econo­

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my as a whole remains well supported. This is a mo­

ment that calls for all hands on deck. The sooner policy­ A Harvard branch in India, prospects and challenges
A

makers at the different levels of government, and of all

political hues, realise this and act in concert, the better. It will be worthwhile for policymakers to look at the experience of other countries for positive and negative lessons
e/

model in the present Indian aca­ branch campuses as well. to attract. What is most important
Grand slam demic context as there are many International branch campuses, is to prevent profit­seekers from
.m

regulatory hurdles that still exist in if allowed, could function as a entering the Indian market and to
ATP and WTA did the right thing by stripping the country with regard to interna­ structurally different variant of In­ encourage foreign institutions
tional academic partnerships, dia’s private university sector. The with innovative educational ideas
Wimbledon of ranking points which includes the operation of in­ establishment of foreign universi­ and a long­term commitment. Ma­
//t

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oves by the ATP and WTA — governing bodies Philip G. Altbach & ternational branch campuses. ty branch campuses would en­ ny host countries have provided
GETTY IMAGES

of men’s and women’s tennis tours — to strip Eldho Mathews Currently, India does not allow courage competition mainly bet­ significant incentives, including
Wimbledon of its primary currency, the all­im­ the entry and the operation of fo­ ween existing private universities building facilities and providing
s:

portant ranking points, for the 2022 edition represent reign university branch campuses. and foreign branch institutions, necessary infrastructure. Foreign

I
the harshest rebuke to the autonomous overreach by ndia, after half a century of The NEP 2020 was a turning point but would have less impact on the universities are highly unlikely to
keeping its higher education for the entry of foreign universities universities be interested? Global­ public universities. Branch cam­ invest significant funds up front.
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the oldest Grand Slam event in declining entries from

doors closed to foreigners, is on as it recommended allowing fo­ ly, branch campuses, of which puses, if effectively managed,
Russian and Belarusian players. The ATP, on Friday, the cusp of opening itself to the reign universities ranked in the there are around 300 now, pro­ could bring much needed new More hurdles to cross
said the move was to protect the “integrity of the world. The traditional orientation “top 100” category to operate in vide a mixed picture. Many are ideas about curriculum, pedago­ A big challenge will be India’s
ht

sport”, which was built upon “merit­based tournament to swadeshi that has characterised
entry” (through rankings) and a level playing field. The much of Indian thinking, at least in
WTA concurred, basing its decision on its foundational higher education, is changing. The
principle of equal opportunity, championed by the le­ wide­ranging National Education
Policy (NEP) 2020 promises high­
gendary Billie Jean King. The International Tennis Fed­
er education reforms in many
eration (ITF) followed suit by removing points from the areas, and internationalisation is
Junior and Wheelchair competitions. As a result, the prominent among them. Among
most coveted tennis tournament in the world is set to the underlying ideas is to streng­
be reduced to an exhibition event, barring a rethink then India’s “soft power” through
from the feuding parties. A large­scale player drop­out higher education collaboration,
may not materialise, for Wimbledon holds too much al­ bringing new ideas and institu­
tions from abroad to stimulate re­
lure, both in terms of prestige and prize money. But the
form and show “best practice”,
saga is sure to upend the sport’s pecking orders. Tennis and in general to ensure that In­
rankings work over a rolling 52­week period, updated dian higher education, for the first
by adding points earned in the previous week and sub­ time, is a global player.
tracting those from the equivalent week in the previous
year. Now, World No.1 Novak Djokovic’s 2000 points for New thinking
winning the 2021 edition will be removed without any An example of the new thinking
was part of British Prime Minister
addition this year, causing severe disruptions in the up­
Boris Johnson’s April 2022 visit to
per echelons of men’s tennis. India, which featured a visit to the
More broadly, the fiasco is likely to end up leaving innovative Gujarat Biotechnology
everyone bruised. Wimbledon has rightly been penal­ University and strengthening the
ised for triggering the controversy by unfairly targeting United Kingdom­India academic
Russians and Belarusians for the actions of their politi­ collaboration. The Gujarat Bio­
cal leaders, despite the likes of World No.2 Daniil Med­ technology University is an exam­
vedev and World No.7 Andrey Rublev publicly calling ple for new models of internation­
al academic partnerships
for peace. But the pushback by the ATP, WTA and ITF
emerging in India. It was esta­
will unfortunately inflict collateral damage on scores of blished by the Department of
players, especially those in the lower rungs, otherwise Science and Technology of the Go­
eligible to earn points. While the ATP has correctly vernment of Gujarat in partner­
stressed that an acceptable solution could have been ship with the University of Edin­
found if Wimbledon had not chosen to act unilaterally burgh, which assists the Gujarat
based on “informal guidance” from the British govern­ Biotechnology University in deve­
loping strategies with regard to
ment, it is a fact that tennis’s seven governing bodies —
teaching, learning, research and
ATP, WTA, ITF and the four Majors — mostly work at innovation, and quality assurance,
cross­purposes and act in self­interest. The ATP itself among others. This is a unique
has not walked the talk, continuing to hand out a dis­
proportionately high number of ranking points to its
flagship multi­nation team competition ATP Cup des­
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
India — under somewhat unrealis­ aimed at making money for the gy, and governance to Indian high­ “well­known” bureaucracy, espe­
tic conditions. In February 2022, sponsoring university — and this is er education — they could be a cially the multiple regulators. If
Finance Minister Nirmala Sithara­ not what India wants. And some kind of educational laboratory. bureaucratic hurdles cannot be
man, in her Budget speech, an­ have proved to be unstable. A re­ drastically cut, there will be no
nounced that “world­class foreign cent example in this regard is the Practical challenges success in attracting branch cam­
universities and institutions would ending of the decade­long partner­ On the positive side, India is seen puses. In addition, a recent study
be allowed in the planned busi­ ship between Yale University and around the world as an important underlined the fact that apart
ness district in Gujarat’s GIFT Ci­ the National University of Singa­ country and an emerging higher from allowing home institutions to
ty” (or the Gujarat International pore in running the Yale­NUS Col­ education power. It is the world’s repatriate surplus funds after tax
Finance Tec­City) and they would lege in Singapore. second largest “exporter” of stu­ clearance, a new accreditation
be free from domestic regulations dents, with 4,61,792 students stu­ mechanism, flexible visa rules for
to facilitate availability of high­end Current initiatives dying abroad (according to the foreign students and faculty, finan­
human resources. There has been modest growth of UNESCO Institute for Statistics). cial incentives to offer pro­
The Minister’s statement was a various forms of partnerships bet­ And India has the world’s second grammes in priority areas should
marked departure from the NEP ween Indian and foreign institu­ largest higher education system. also be considered.
2020 recommendations that allow tions. The joint PhD programmes Foreign countries and universities Branch campuses would be
only the “top 100” category to op­ offered by the Indian Institute of will be eager to establish a “beach­ helpful in addressing skill require­
erate in India. A similar accommo­ Technology Bombay­Monash Re­ head” in India and interested in ments and providing examples of
dating stance could be observed in search Academy and the Universi­ providing opportunities for home different approaches to higher
the (written) reply given by the Mi­ ty of Queensland­Indian Institute campus students to learn about In­ education. It will be worthwhile to
nister of State for Education, Dr. of Technology Delhi Academy of dian business, society, and culture look at the experience of other
Subhas Sarkar, in the Lok Sabha in Research (UQIDAR), both with to participate in growing trade and countries for both positive and ne­
March. He noted that two foreign Australian partners, are some ex­ other relations. gative lessons. After examining na­
institutions, from France and Italy, amples. Another example is the Still, it will not be easy to attract tional experiences elsewhere,
had expressed interest in setting Melbourne­India Postgraduate foreign universities to India and clear policies can be implemented
up campuses in India. However, Academy (MIPA). It is a joint initia­ even more difficult to create the that may be attractive to foreign
the Italian institute “Istituto Ma­ tive of the Indian Institute of conditions for them to flourish. universities. Once policies are in
rangoni”, is not a university. It was Science Bangalore, the Indian In­ Many of those top universities are place, the key to success will be re­
reported that in April 2022, the stitute of Technology Madras, the already fully engaged overseas and lationships among universities —
University Grants Commission Indian Institute of Technology would likely require incentives to and not grandiose government
(UGC) formed a committee to draft Kanpur and the Indian Institute of set up in India. Further, there are schemes.
regulations to allow foreign institu­ Technology Kharagpur with the smaller but highly regarded un­
tions in the “top 500” category to University of Melbourne. MIPA iversities outside the ‘top 500’ ca­ Philip G. Altbach (altbach@bc.edu) is
establish campuses in India — rea­ provides students with an oppor­ tegory that might be more interest­ Research Professor and Distinguished
lising that more flexibility was tunity to earn a joint degree accre­ ed. Universities around the world Fellow, Center for International Higher
needed. dited both in India and Australia: that have academic specialisations Education at Boston College, United
Establishing branch campuses from the University of Melbourne focusing on India, that already States. Eldho Mathews
of top foreign universities is a good and one of the partnering Indian have research or faculty ties in the (eldho@niepa.ac.in) is Deputy Adviser,
idea as this will bring much­need­ institutions. These partnerships country, or that have Non­Resi­ Unit for International Cooperation of the
ed global experience to India. But suggest that India could offer op­ dent Indians (NRI) in senior man­ National Institute of Educational
is this practical? And will overseas portunities for international agement positions may be easier Planning and Administration, New Delhi
Letters emailed to letters@thehindu.co.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.

pite the tournament being a closed­door event. Wim­ To read more letters

bledon has, for now, stopped at expressing its disap­ A strong signal needed the judiciary is wasting time land, and not by frenzied paying a heavy price in excitement over the release online, scan the QR code

When the Places of Worship
pointment and reserved its position, with the ongoing
Act 1991 is abundantly clear
French Open providing fans with a welcome distrac­ that the status quo of
tion. But any attempt to further this powerplay by driv­ religious places of worship
ing another wedge, instead of charting out a progres­ should be maintained as it
sive path, will only splinter the sport more. existed on August 15, 1947
one fails to understand why
and energy by going into calls for repairing terms of social strife. of A.G. Perarivalan ought to
the question on whether a ‘historical wrongs’. Unless Manohar Alembath, note that the assassination Nadu has acted immaturely.
mosque was built over the motivated attempts by Kannur, Kerala of Rajiv Gandhi also Perarivalan is no hero. The
ruins of a temple or not. communal elements to drag affected many other political euphoria is
The judiciary should be the judiciary into such Consider their feelings families. Time may not heal reprehensible.
examining issues purely in disputes are nipped in the Those who are making their wounds. The political M.R. Anand,
the light of the law of the bud,the nation will be clear their rapturous establishment in Tamil Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh

CM A CH-CHE
YK
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THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
CHENNAI
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Why vaccine mandates are essential
The court’s view that the States’ vaccine mandates are disproportionate could undermine community interest
Tanishk Goyal
& Rishabh Narain Singh
The recent Supreme Court verdict
upholding the government’s current
vaccination policy deserves to be
lauded. The court, however, held
that restrictions imposed by States
and Union Territories on unvaccinat­
ed individuals cannot be said to be
proportionate as they sought to in­
vade an individual’s bodily integrity
and personal autonomy under Arti­
cle 21 of the Constitution. The court
used the test of proportionality to
scrutinise these vaccine mandates.
The proportionality test is a standard
of review that is invoked to keep a
check on the infringement of bodily
integrity and privacy of an individual
by the state.
Misinterpreting proportionality
At the outset, the proportionality test
requires any state action which pur­
ports to infringe on individual priva­
cy and autonomy to satisfy the fol­
lowing conditions. One, the state
action should be sanctioned by law;
two, the proposed action should
have a legitimate state aim; and
three, the extent of interference by
the proposed state action should be
proportionate to the need for such
interference. This essentially means
that there should not exist any other
less restrictive measure which can be
employed to achieve the same legiti­
mate state aim.
To the extent that the vaccine
mandates of the States require par­
tial or full vaccination of individuals
as a precondition for accessing pu­
blic spaces, services, or using public
transportation, they can fully with­
stand the contours of the proportion­
ality test, especially at a time when
the state interest is as compelling as
that of preventing the transmission
of COVID­19 and the number of
deaths. This has been illustrated
forthwith.
First, the competency of the States
to legislate and take effective mea­
sures on issues concerning ‘public
health’ flows from Entry 6 of the
State List of Schedule VII of the Con­
STATE OF PLAY
‘Deemed forest’ no more
The Karnataka government’s order is perceived to
be a fig leaf to legalise illegal encroachment
R. Krishna Kumar
In a May 5 order, the Karnataka go­
vernment denotified almost 67% of
‘deemed forest’ in the State and re­
duced their area from 9.94 lakh hec­
tares to 3.3 lakh ha. However, this
controversial decision is subject to
approval by the Supreme Court. The
court has to ratify the reclassification
of forests, which was done ostensibly
to help farmers with small land hold­
ings who had taken up cultivation
on parcels of land in deemed
forest areas all these years.
The government has also
justified the move by argu­
ing that the land released
from deemed forest areas
will be transferred to the
Revenue Department for in­
frastructure development.
While there is no consensus
on the precise definition of
‘deemed forest’, an expert com­
mittee constituted by the State in
2002 went by the Supreme Court’s
order in the T.N. Godavarman Thiru-
mulpad case (1996) and described
‘deemed forest’ as land with the
“characteristic of the forests irres­
pective of the ownership”. The exp­
ert committee itself was a fallout of
the court’s order in the case; it was
constituted to settle the issue over
the application of provisions under
the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980,
for different categories of land.
The expert committee said
deemed forests are thickly wooded
areas with the Revenue Department
but not handed over to the Forest De­
partment; thickly wooded areas re­
commended to be taken over by the
government and to be handed over
to the Karnataka Forest Department,
but not notified; thickly wooded land
distributed to grantees but not cultiv­
ated; and the C and D class lands
handed over to the Forest Depart­
ment including the plantations
raised in the above­mentioned areas.
Based on this, the expert commit­
tee included 9.94 lakh ha of land un­
der the deemed forest category,
while 33.2 lakh ha were declared as
notified forests as per government
records.
But in 2014, the State government
CM
YK
PTI
stitution. The Disaster Management
Act of 2005 and the Epidemic Diseas­
es Act of 1897 empower the States to
undertake effective measures to miti­
gate the harms caused during a med­
ical emergency. As such, the States’
actions have legislative backing.
Second, the legitimate aim of the
state is unequivocally illustrated by
the fact that inoculations can go a
long way in preventing serious illness
and reducing deaths in persons in­
fected with COVID­19. In this regard,
the Indian Council of Medical Re­
search said that 92% of COVID­19
deaths in India this year occurred in
unvaccinated individuals. Any vac­
cine mandate which nudges indivi­
duals to get inoculated in order to
prevent deaths or further mutations
of the virus has a legitimate state aim.
Third, the extent of interference
exercised by the state with the priva­
cy and bodily autonomy of an indivi­
dual in making vaccination an essen­
tial precondition for availing of
certain services cannot be said to be
disproportionate. While we acknow­
ledge that the third prong of the pro­
portionality test requires the court to
make a value judgment in terms of
what measures may or may not qual­
ify as disproportionate, we would be
remiss here if we lost sight of the fact
that any less restrictive measure
would have failed to achieve mass in­
oculation, which lies in the vanguard
of our battle against the pandemic.
Safeguard community interest
The imposition of vaccine mandates
to safeguard community interests of
the society is not unprecedented. In
1905, the U.S. Supreme Court in Ja-
cobson v. Massachusetts held that
the city of Cambridge in Massachu­
setts could punish citizens who re­
//t
s:
sought to question the accuracy of
the assessment and ordered a review
on the grounds that no established or
tp
scientific yardstick was used to arrive
at the figures. District­level commit­
tees were constituted and, based on a
ht
reassessment, according to the May 5
notification, 82,089.96 ha have been
dropped from the deemed forest ca­
tegory citing “totaling and conver­
sion error”; 27,604.61 ha
have been dropped on the
grounds that a few notifi­
cations issued multiple
times had resulted in du­
plication of count; and 1.35
lakh ha have been removed
from the deemed forest ca­
tegory as they were under
the ‘reserve forest’ cate­
gory. But what is intri­
guing is that 1.62 lakh
ha have been declassi­
fied as deemed forests
as they contained fewer
than 50 trees per ha. While
the criteria of “50 trees per hectare”
cited by the government has been
called arbitrary, questions have also
been raised about the efficacy of va­
rious afforestation schemes for
which crores of rupees have been
spent by the Forest Department. Be­
sides, experts have pointed out that
areas with scanty tree cover, includ­
ing grasslands and landscape with
shrub vegetation, have their own util­
ity and support biodiversity unique
to those regions.
Activists have now sought to know
the extent of land under cultivation
by farmers and their precise location
as it is the farmers’ interests that are
ostensibly being protected. The go­
vernment’s justification is perceived
to be a fig leaf to protect politicians
and powerful entities by legalising il­
legal encroachment. Revenue Minis­
ter R. Ashok said that the encroached
land will be leased to the encroach­
ers for 30 years for a fixed cost.
The government’s move is antith­
etical to the Indian government’s
commitment to restore 26 million ha
of land by 2030 and comes at a time
when Karnataka is being battered by
extreme climate events.
krishna.kr@thehindu.co.in
tar of individual interests especially
in a situation where a fear psychosis
is running through the community.
It is puzzling to note here that des­
pite acknowledging the argument on
community interest in paragraph 49
of the judgment and addressing the
need to limit individual liberty in
such cases, the Supreme Court still
went on to declare vaccine mandates
to be disproportionate until the time
infection rates remain low. This will
inevitably have a direct bearing on
India’s ability to equip itself and its
citizens for further mutations of the
virus, if any, in the times to come.
The arguments in opposition to
jected smallpox vaccinations. In vaccine mandates could have the po­
1901, a smallpox outbreak raged tential to be sustained if it had not
across the Northeast and Cambridge, been proved that vaccines are medi­
and the state responded by mandat­ cally essential to prevent severe ill­
ing that all adults obtain smallpox ness and reduce deaths among in­
vaccinations or face a $5 fine. In fected persons. Should the virus
1902, Pastor Henning Jacobson re­ mutate further, the presence of a
fused to get vaccinated and pay the class of unvaccinated persons would
fee, claiming that he and his son had have wide­ranging ramifications for
been harmed by prior immunisation. an already overburdened healthcare
Jacobson contended in the State system.
court that the legislation violated Being a signatory to the Interna­
both the Massachusetts and Federal tional Covenant on Economic, Social
Constitutions. His claims were de­ and Cultural Rights, India is bound to
nied by State courts, including the take all possible measures to progres­
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial sively realise the enjoyment of “high­
Court. Jacobson argued before the est attainable standard of physical
Supreme Court that “compulsion to and mental health” of its citizens un­
introduce disease into a healthy sys­ der Article 12 thereof. In this regard,
tem is a violation of liberty.” The Su­ it is only befitting that the state expe­
preme Court dismissed Jacobson’s dites inoculations at a time when in­
arguments and said: “A community fection rates are relatively low. This
has the right to protect itself against will not only alleviate the burden on
an epidemic of disease which threa­ the healthcare system during more
tens the safety of its members.” This difficult times, but will also ensure
ruling was soon fortified when a sep­ that the state’s healthcare policies
arate issue of vaccinations — state are proactive and not merely
laws requiring children to be vacci­
nated prior to attending public
school — came up in Zucht v. King in
reactionary.
As for bodily integrity and perso­
nal autonomy of an individual under
IT
1922. Justice Louis Brandeis and a un­ Article 21 of the Constitution, we
animous court held that Jacobson would be remiss if we did not ack­
had already established that a state nowledge the fact that such autono­
IG
may exercise its police power to pro­ my proceeds on the guarantee of life
vide for compulsory vaccination. itself. In such a scenario, it becomes
In India, Justice John Marshall Har­ essential for the state to first safe­
_D
lan’s sentiments on community inter­ guard the life and health of its citi­
est being prioritised over individual zens before individuals’ decisional
interests were echoed by the Su­ autonomies, even if that requires the
preme Court in Asha Ranjan v. State state to take aid of its constitutionally
of Bihar (2017). In that case, the recognised police powers.
N
court essentially laid down a hierar­
chy for a situation when two funda­ Tanishk Goyal and Rishabh Singh are
R
mental rights under the same um­ penultimate year students at The West Bengal
National University of Juridical Sciences,
brella are pitched against each other.
Kolkata and Faculty of Law, Allahabad
A
It observed that the community in­ University, respectively. They can be reached
terest cannot be sacrificed at the al­ at tanishk218110@nujs.edu
e/
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.m
DATA POINT
OPED 9
Meeting family planning goals
India needs to focus on improving access to family planning
services for not just adults, but also the younger population
females who are in school, out of school,
married, unmarried, and so on.
These are key considerations in planning
and designing programmes. There is a need
to break down the data by key characteris­
tics in order to reach specific groups of peo­
Sudhir Maknikar ple in order to have the greatest impact. Mo­
reover, when addressing younger
populations, holistic health awareness pro­
India’s family planning programme has im­ grammes on the right age of marriage, safe
proved access to contraceptives. This has led sexual behavior, contraception, reproduc­
to a reduction in the Total Fertility Rate from tive health, and diet diversity are para­
3.4 in 1990­92 to 2.0 in 2019­21, according to mount. It is only by working holistically on
the National Family Health Survey (NFHS). overall health goals and addressing social de­
However, there are two themes that need terminants can we ensure equitable family
further attention. First, according to NFHS­5 planning services for both adults and young
and the 2022 report by the United Nations people.
Population Fund, there is a rise in adoles­
cent childbearing in some States such as Prompting male engagement
Tripura and Meghalaya. Second, COVID­19 We have still not involved men as much as we
has had a severe impact on eco­ can in the family planning pro­
nomic resources and access to gramme. Certain gender transfor­
education, thereby influencing the mative approaches have shown pro­
choices women and the youth mising results in various places. For
e
make about their sexual and repro­ instance, The Men in Maternity
ductive health. In order to meet (MiM) study conducted in Delhi de­
in
the Sustainable Development Goal monstrated the effectiveness of
of Family Planning by 2030, India teaching young couples about con­
now needs to focus on improving access to traceptives and promoting joint decision­
az
family planning services for not just the making in choosing family planning meth­
adult population, but also the youth. ods. Several other examples of involving
men in the family planning discourse in­
Expanding the horizon clude the PRACHAR project in Bihar, the Yaa­
ag
In India, frontline health workers have con­ ri Dosti programme in Mumbai, and the
tributed significantly in implementing Mis­ GEMS project in Goa.
sion Parivar Vikas, which aims to accelerate Many of the programmes in public health
access to high­quality family planning choic­ have also started leveraging the capabilities
M
es, to successfully increase the modern Con­ of the private sector to improve service deliv­
traceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR), especial­ ery. For instance, leveraging India Post and
L_
ly among female non­users from vulnerable partnering with a third­party logistics partn­
communities. They have achieved this by de­ er through the Informed Push Model show­
livering contraceptives at homes and offer­ cases how the private sector can be effective­
ing a wider basket of alternatives such as in­ ly engaged to provide family planning
A jectable contraceptives. However, there are
still many districts in India that have low
mCPR, with a large proportion of them being
products at health facilities and make them
available when the community needs them.
The private sector can offer innovative solu­
the youth. We need to strengthen the capac­ tions in family planning, thereby improving
ity of health workers in using the Family the community’s access to services.
Planning Logistics Management Information India needs to develop an equitable mo­
System — a dedicated software to ensure the del that meets the needs of the youth and
smooth forecasting, procurement and distri­ adolescents. In several districts, more than
bution of family planning commodities one­fifth of the population in the adolescent
across all the levels of health facilities — to age group are now entering the reproductive
ensure the availability of and access to con­ age group. Thus, building capacity among
traceptives by marginalised communities. health workers, addressing intersectionality,
Family planning interventions need to be engaging men in the discourse of family
tailored around the diversity of contexts, planning, and drafting innovative solutions
health needs, and populations for whom the through effective public and private partner­
intervention is to be implemented. The ships can greatly improve access to family
youth are not a homogenous group. We need planning services and the overall health of
to answer key questions pertaining to the our younger population.
sexual reproductive health needs of adoles­
cents with varying profiles such as males and Sudhir Maknikar is Director, Family Health, PATH
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FROM THE ARCHIVES
FIFTY YEARS AGO MAY 24, 1972
RBI advances to States raised
New Delhi, May 23: The ceiling on ways and
means advances to the States from the Re­
serve Bank of India had been increased by
four times from this month to enable them
to meet their temporary difficulties, the Fi­
nance Minister, Mr. Y.B. Chavan, told the Ra­
jya Sabha to­day. He also told the House that
the Centre would hold discussions with Ra­
jasthan, Mysore, Andhra Pradesh and Assam
this month and the next on the financial pro­
blems and difficulties faced by them, partic­
ularly in the wake of stoppage of overdraft
facilities. Mr. M.K. Mohta asked whether
even with raising the limit by four times, the
economically weaker States like Rajasthan
would be able to deal with the budgetary
gaps. He wanted to know whether the Go­
vernment would make a study of the pro­
blems of the weaker States. The Finance Mi­
nister said the idea of overdrafts was to meet
any temporary imbalance in the flow of re­
ceipts and expenditure. But later there was
an increasing tendency on the part of the
State Governments to draw on this facility
which became some sort of deficit financ­
ing. Mr. Chavan said: This sort of deficit fi­
nancing to the tune of Rs. 600 crores which
has become the States’ main source of meet­
ing their budgetary expenditure will com­
pletely ruin the economy of the country.”
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO MAY 24, 1922
Ramzan in jails
Simla, May 23: A Communique states: It
does not appear to be known generally that
Mahomedan prisoners in the Punjab jails en­
joy facilities for keeping their fast of Ram­
zan, provided that their physical condition
permits of their doing so. While keeping the
fast they are permitted to receive the whole
of their daily rations at the evening meal and
are allowed to keep the whole or any portion
thereof in their wards, cells or other com­
partments for consumption on the following
morning. The dal given with the daily ration
is varied. As far as possible prisoners who
have been placed in the special class by the
convicting Courts received a superior scale
of diet. An ample supply of water is kept in
gharas in their cells or wards for use at night.
Prisoners are not required to do any work
between 12 noon and 2 p.m. during the sum­
mer months. All prisoners are allowed to
perform their devotions during the midday
rest and while locked up at night. There is
thus no difficulty in the way of saying the ta­
ra with prayers at night.
A CH-CHE
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FROM PAGE ONE
India to join Biden’s
new trade initiative
Details of the framework on
the four pillars are still to be
fleshed out, and govern­
ment officials said India will
keenly watch the progress in
negotiations on the IPEF.
One of the IPEF’s roles in
the Indo­Pacific, said docu­
ments and a fact sheet re­
leased after the launch, will
be to set and follow stan­
dards for the digital econo­
my and cross­border data
flows and data localisation,
areas where India has had
some strong differences
with the U.S. and allies, es­
pecially after it tabled a data
protection Bill that makes
data localisation
mandatory.
The framework also seeks
to counter inflation through
more resilient supply
chains, promoting more
commitments from every
U.S. to defend Taiwan
against China: Biden
Mr. Biden added it was his
expectation that such an
event would not happen or
be attempted.
The White House later
said Mr. Biden was not di­
verging from the official
“One China” policy, which
includes the commitment to
“provide Taiwan with the
military means to defend
itself”.
“Our policy has not
changed,” the official said.
Mr. Biden’s comments
were met with defiance in
Beijing, with Foreign Minis­
try spokesman Wang Wen­
bin telling reporters, “Tai­
wan is an inalienable part of
Gyanvapi pleas: court
to set order of hearing
The Hindu plaintiffs in the
Krishna Janmabhoomi­Sha­
hi Masjid Idgah dispute filed
an application in a Mathura
court seeking to perform
Hindu “purification” rituals
inside the mosque premis­
es, claiming that the sanc-
tum sanctorum of the Kesh­
av Dev temple was
purportedly located inside
the mosque.
“The petitioner, Dinesh
Chandra Sharma, wants to
revive the sanctity of sanc-
tum sanctorum inside the
Shahi Masjid Idgah by puri­
fying the divine place with
holy water of the Ganga and
Yamuna,” his lawyer Deepak
Sharma said. Mr. Dinesh
Sharma is the national trea­
World may have lost
11.2 crore jobs, says ILO
The report added that a
“great and growing diver­
gence between richer and
poorer economies” conti­
nues to characterise the re­
covery. “While high­income
countries experienced a re­
covery in hours worked,
low­ and lower­middle­in­
come economies suffered
setbacks in the first quarter
of the year with a 3.6 and 5.7
per cent gap respectively
when compared to the pre­
crisis benchmark,” the re­
port said.
Commenting on the re­
port, trade unions urged the
Centre to address the issue
of unemployment. “Women
employment in India has
come down, particularly in
sectors such as healthcare
as a result of the COVID­19
pandemic. The ILO report
suggests that the purchasing
capacity of the workers
should be improved. ILO
has been proposing decent
jobs and decent wages. We
do not have decent employ­
ment here in India. Most pe­
ople are on contract without
any social security. If there
are no decent wages, pur­
chasing power will also
come down. The Code on
Wages was passed in 2019
but is not yet implemented.
The Wage Committee in
CM
YK
member country on clean
energy and decarbonisa­
tion, and commitments on a
“fair economy” though ef­
fective tax regimes that tack­
le money laundering and
bribery and corruption, the
documents said.
“With today’s launch,
partner countries will begin
discussions focusing on
strengthening economic
cooperation and achieving
shared goals,” the Ministry
of External Affairs’ state­
ment said, underlining the
fact that the IPEF’s contours
are still to be formally
agreed upon. The IPEF plan
follows a U.S. plan for a
“Blue Dot Network” to certi­
fy infrastructure projects
against a set of criteria and
standards, that was
launched by the U.S., Japan
and Australia in 2019.
China’s territory”.
“The Taiwan issue is a
purely internal affair for
China,” he said. “On issues
touching on China’s core in­
terests of sovereignty and
territorial integrity, China
has no room for compro­
mise or concession.”
Mr. Biden made a similar
comment in October, saying
“Yes, we have a commit­
ment to do that” when
asked if the U.S. would come
to the defence of Taiwan. At
that time, a White House
spokesperson said Mr. Bi­
den was not announcing
any change in United States
policy.
surer of the Akhil Bharat
Hindu Mahasabha.
In the Gyanvapi case,
while the court­appointed
commission submitted its
report, it is yet to be made
public. Despite this, videos
alleged to be part of the sur­
vey were leaked, which
prompted the Hindu plain­
tiffs to claim the discovery of
a Shivling even as the Mus­
lim side said the structure in
question was part of a foun­
tp
tain.
The issue reached the Su­
preme Court last week,
ht
when the civil judge initially
hearing the matter directed
that the place where the dis­
puted structure was found,
be sealed.
1948 asked the government
to implement minimum
wage, living wage and de­
cent wage. We have not im­
plemented even minimum
wage yet under pressure
from industrialists,” Bharati­
ya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS)
general secretary Binoy Ku­
mar Sinha said.
All India Trade Union
Congress general secretary
Amarjeet Kaur said the ILO’s
projections have underesti­
mated the real picture in In­
dia.
“According to our calcula­
tion, 30%­60% of workers —
five crore people — who lost
jobs during the lockdown
have not joined any work.
One­third of MSMEs (micro,
small and medium enter­
prises) can never be revived
according to a survey by the
associations of MSMEs.
Hawkers and vendors are
facing problems due to high
prices of fruits and vegeta­
bles. The Centre had accept­
ed that 50% of the women
workforce returned back to
cities after the first lock­
down. Overall women parti­
cipation has also gone
down. We need more jobs.
The governments have to do
a lot. They must ensure that
there are no retrench­
ments,” Ms. Kaur said.
18 pistols, 30 magazines seized
from 2 militant groups in Valley
Two arrested; police suspect that weapons were meant for targeted killings
Special Correspondent
Srinagar
Eighteen pistols, suspected
to be amassed for targeted
killings, were recovered
from two militant modules
in the Kashmir Valley on
Monday, the J&K police said.
According to police offi­
cials, 15 pistols, 30 maga­
zines, 300 rounds and one
silencer were recovered
from the Chanapora area
here.
“Two local ‘hybrid mili­
tants’ of the Lashkar­e­Tai­
ba’s The Resistance Front
were arrested (in Srinagar).
Incriminating materials,
arms and ammunition have
been recovered. An investi­
gation is going on. It is a big
success for the police,” In­
spector­General of Police Vi­
jay Kumar said.
The police suspect that
the pistols were to be used
for targeted killings. Target­
ed killings have been on the
rise in the Valley for the past
two years, with members of
the minorities, policemen
Lawyer seeks to be party in Gyanvapi case
Legal Correspondent
New Delhi
Advocate Ashwini Upad­
hyay, who has challenged
the Places of Worship Act of
1991, has moved the Su­
preme Court seeking to be
made a party in the Gyanva­
pi case while arguing that a
temple’s “religious charac­
ter” does not change merely
because it was demolished
once upon a time.
Demolition of a temple’s
roof, walls, pillars, founda­
tion and even subsequent of­
ferings of Namaz does not
change the character of a
2 F-18 Super
Hornet jets
land in Goa
.m
special correspondent
New Delhi
Two Boeing F/A­18 Super
//t
Hornets fighter jets landed
in Goa on Monday for trials
on the Indian Navy’s Shore
s:
Based Test Facility (SBTF)
to demonstrate their com­
patibility and suitability to
operate from Indian air­
craft carriers. The demon­
stration is expected to con­
tinue up to the first week of
June, according to in­
formed sources.
India’s first indigenous
aircraft carrier Vikrant,
which is in advanced stages
of sea trials, is scheduled to
be commissioned in Au­
gust. These are part of de­
monstrations by the manu­
facturers to showcase the
compatibility of their air­
craft to fly from Indian Na­
vy’s aircraft carriers, offi­
cials stated.
Both the Rafale­M and F/
A­18 are originally designed
to operate from carriers
with a catapult launch me­
chanism.
Webinar on Mechanical
engineering on May 28
Jointly presented by Dayananda Sagar
Special Correspondent
Chennai
A Webinar on ‘Mechanical
Engineering in Digital Era’
jointly presented by Daya­
nanda Sagar and The Hindu
Education Plus will be held
as a part of the Career Coun­
selling series on May 28 at
11.30 a.m.
M.R. Haseebuddin, Asso­
ciate Professor, Mechanical
Engineering, Dayananda Sa­
gar College of Engineering;
Anand Badiger, Assistant
Professor, Mechanical Engi­
neering, Dayananda Sagar
College of Engineering and
Dinakaran, Head, Depart­
ment of Mechatronics, Hin­
dustan Institute of Tech and
Science will speak as a part
of the webinar. Their discus­
Deadly cache: Arms recovered by the police from the
Chanapora area in Srinagar on Monday. @KASHMIRPOLICE *
and workers of the BJP 32 pistol rounds were reco­
among those being targeted. vered from the arrested
Two members of the minori­ militants.
ty community were killed “Interrogation of the
this year. three suspects revealed a
deeper conspiracy involving
3 held for murder an older sleeper cell of the
The police said they arrested LeT, which was also respon­
three militants for their role sible for a grenade attack on
in the targeted killing of a the Palhalan highway (in
sarpanch, Manzoor Ahmad
Bangroo, on April 15 this
year in north Kashmir’s Ba­
north Kashmir) last year.
This particular module
had been tasked with identi­
ramulla district. Three Chi­ fying and attacking elected
nese pistols, three pistol ma­ representatives and other ci­
gazines, two grenades and vilians and soft targets for
land where once a temple deity and devotees are never
stood, Mr. Upadhyay argued. lost, howsoever long illegal
“After the Pran Pratishtha
of idol, ‘A Temple is Always a
Temple’ until the idol is shift­
encroachment continues on
such property.
The right to restore reli­
IT
ed to another temple with gious property is “unfet­
the rituals of Visarjan,” Mr. tered”, he argued referring
Upadhyay argued in his ap­ to the restraints under the
IG
plication. 1991 Act. He said there is a
He said a mosque con­ “continuing wrong” and the
structed on temple land can­ injury must be “cured” by
_D
not be a mosque, not only judicial remedy.
for the reason that such con­ He argued that the reli­
struction is against Islamic gious character of a mosque
law, but also on grounds that and a temple are “totally dif­
the property once vested in ferent.
N
the deity continues to be dei­
ty’s property and right of
“Mosque is simply a place
of prayer and that is why, in
R
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A
Capital storm
e/
Surprise hit: Heavy rain and wind wreaked havoc in Delhi on Monday, though bringing respite from the heat. Trees were
uprooted in many localities and traffic was thrown out of gear. Offices asked staff to work from home. SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Traders with advance log-in
facility at NSE under CBI lens
Agency seizes vast amount of data during recent searches
Special Correspondent
New Delhi
Several trading members
who had co­location and
“advance” log­in facility to
access the National Stock Ex­
change (NSE) data feed have
come under the scanner of
the Central Bureau of Inves­
tigation (CBI), which had
conducted searches at more
sion will be moderated by than 10 locations last week.
Anukripa Elango, Educator. It is learnt that during the
To register for the webi­ searches, the agency has
nar, visit : seized voluminous data per­
https:// taining to the transactions
bit.ly/3 during the check period. It
Nw8Rpq or had earlier collected the re­
scan the lated documents from the
QR Code Securities and Exchange
given. Board of India (SEBI), which
CHENNAI THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
Govt. eases pension
rules for relatives of
missing employees
which pistols and ammuni­ Family will immediately get benefits
tion had been provided to
three hybrid terrorists,” the Special Correspondent The official said that since
police said. They were iden­ New Delhi J&K is a UT now, the Lieute­
tified as Noor Mohammad The government has eased nant­Governor will have to
Yatoo, Mohd Rafiq Parray pension rules for the fami­ notify the pension rules im­
and Ashiq Hussain Parray, lies of missing Central go­ plemented by the Centre. A
residents of Goshbugh, Pat­ vernment employees. The statement said that accord­
tan and Baramulla, respec­ family members would im­ ing to the earlier rule, the
tively. mediately get the pension next of the kin of an em­
“The three terrorists di­ benefits after a government ployee would not receive
vulged the plot, which was employee has gone missing the family pension, if he
directed by Lashkar­e­Taiba and not wait to get declared went missing and it would
(LeT) terrorists Yusuf Kantru dead in government records not be paid till the missing
and Hilal Sheikh (both killed or complete the employee was declared
in the Malwah operation in seven­year­period. dead in accordance with the
April 2022) and executed by The Department of Per­ law or till seven years had
recently infiltrated terrorists sonnel and Training (DOPT) passed.
Gulzar Ganaie (killed in an has notified the new pen­ “As per new the Official
encounter at Bandipora in sion rules. A senior govern­ Memorandum, in all cases
Kashmir division) and Umar ment official said that the where a Government ser­
e
Lone of Wussan, who is still decision has been taken vant covered by NPS [Na­
active and at large,” the pol­ amid reluctance by Central tional Pension Scheme]
in
ice said. government officials to go goes missing during service,
“The successful appre­ on deputation to Jammu the benefits of family pen­
hension of the three terro­ and Kashmir, which became sion will be immediately
az
rists and the recovery of the
arms and ammunition has
solved another sensational
a Union Territory in 2019.
A statement issued by the
DOPT on Monday said, “In a
paid to the family of the mis­
sing government servant
and in case he reappears
case in Baramulla and foiled major relief, particularly for and resumes service, the
ag
major terror plots planned government employees amount paid as family pen­
in future,” the police said. serving in militancy­affected sion during the intervening
areas such as Jammu and time of his missing period
Kashmir, Northeast as well can be accordingly deduct­
M
as Naxal­prone pockets”,
Union Minister of State Ji­
ed from his salary,” the
statement added.
L_
tendra Singh has an­ The changes will also ap­
nounced that the govern­ ply to those covered under
the Gulf countries (birth­ ment has relaxed family the Old Pension rules.The
place of Islam), it is demol­ pension rules for missing Minister said that this is go­
A ished/shifted even for mak­
ing road, school, hospital
and public office... The 1991
Central
employees.
government
The move is aimed as an
ing to provide huge relief
particularly in those regions
where instances of govern­
Act cannot be applied on outreach initiative to Kash­ ment employees going mis­
mosque,” the application ar­ miri Pandits employed un­ sing are reported more fre­
gued. der the Prime Minister’s em­ quently. The Minister said
The 1991 Act, he claimed, ployment package in J&K. that “cases of abduction of
was enacted in the garb of The community has been the Central government em­
‘public order’, which is a protesting for their safety ployees working in violence­
State subject [Schedule­7, since Rahul Bhat, a revenue prone areas have come to
List­II, Entry­1] and ‘places of official employed under the the fore and therefore to in­
pilgrimages within India’ is PM package in 2010 was still confidence and to pro­
also State subject [Sche­ killed by terrorists in a tar­ tect them and their family
dule­7, List­II, Entry­7]. The geted attack while he was at interests, the changes in the
Centre could not have enact­
ed the 1991 Act.
work on May 12 in Budgam’s
Chadoora.
pension rules were brought
about.”
IN BRIEF
J&K L-G meets
protesting Pandits
SRINAGAR
J&K Lieutenant­Governor
Manoj Sinha on Monday
evening visited the
protesting Pandits for the
first time since a Pandit
employee was killed on May
12 at the Sheikhpora transit
camp in Budgam. He pledged
to go after militants and their
ecosystem in Kashmir. “Those
who kill people with guns are
not our only targets, but all
those who are running this
ecosystem. We will not stay
calm until this ecosystem is
put to an end,” Mr. Sinha said.
Sheikh Abdullah’s image
removed from medals
SRINAGAR
The J&K administration on
Monday decided to replace
the embossed image of the
first PM of erstwhile State
from the police medals with
the national emblem. “It is
* hereby ordered that Sheikh
Mohammad Abdullah
embossed on one side of the
medal shall be replaced with
‘The National Emblem of
Government of India’ and the
other side inscribed with the
J&K State Emblem shall be
inscribed as ‘J&K Police Medal
for Gallantry’ and ‘J&K Police
Medal for Meritorious
Service’,” says an order from
Principal Secretary, Home
Department, R.K. Goyal.
has been dealing with the cial Services Private Limited
co­location cases. and Mr. Shah despite the fact Make Jangalmahal a
State: Bengal BJP MP
In May 2018, the agency that the company used to
KOLKATA
registered a case alleging supply algorithmic trading
A day after MP Arjun Singh
that Delhi­based broker firm software to the brokers in broke ties with the BJP and
OPG Securities, owned by the NSE. returned to the Trinamool
Sanjay Gupta, and some oth­ Last month, the CBI filed Congress, another party MP
ers used an algorithmic soft­ a chargesheet against the Saumitra Khan on Monday
ware during 2010­14. The ac­ former NSE managing direc­ embarrassed the party by
cused also took advantage of tor, Chitra Ramkrishna, and seeking statehood for West
the then co­location facility its former group operating Bengal’s Jangalmahal region.
to gain faster data access officer, Anand Subramanian. The forested patch of Purulia,
through the exchange’s se­ While Mr. Subramanian was Bankura, Paschim Medinipur
condary server. arrested in February, the and Jhargram, located in the
The software had been agency subsequently arrest­ southwestern part of the
developed by accused Ajay ed Ms. Ramkrishna after sev­ State, is referred to as the
Narottam Shah based on the eral rounds of questioning. Jangalmahal region. The
exchange’s trade data col­ The Income­Tax Depart­ Bishnupur MP has raked up
lected in 2005­06 for some ment also searched their the issue when the BJP is
research work. The data was premises in Chennai and grappling with defections
and electoral setbacks.
shared with Infotech Finan­ Mumbai.
A CH-CHE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
CHENNAI
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Eight ex-MLAs
join Congress
in Haryana
Special Correspondent
CHANDIGARH
As many as eight former le­
gislators joined the Con­
gress party in Haryana on
May 23, ahead of the muni­
cipal body elections in the
State slated for June 19.
These leaders joined the
party in the presence of
the leader of Opposition in
the Haryana Assembly
Bhupinder Singh Hooda
and the newly appointed
Haryana Congress Presi­
dent Chaudhary
Udaybhan.
Several senior leaders,
including Rajya Sabha MP
Deepender Singh Hoo­
da,were present on the oc­
casion. The former MLAs
who joined the Congress
are Sharda Rathore, Ram
Niwas Ghodela, Naresh Sel­
wal, Parminder Singh
Dhul, Jile Ram Sharma, Ra­
kesh Kamboj, Rajkumar
Valmiki and Subhash
Chaudhary.
Centre reconstitutes
Inter-State Council
Amit Shah to be chief of committee
Press Trust of India
New Delhi
The Inter­State Council,
which works to promote
and support cooperative
federalism in the country,
has been reconstituted with
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi as Chairman and Chief
Ministers of all States and
six Union Ministers as
members.
Ten Union Ministers will
be the permanent invitees
to the Inter­State Council,
according to an official
notification.
The government has also
reconstituted the standing
committee of the Inter­State
Council with Union Home
Minister Amit Shah as Chair­
man. The Union Ministers
who were made members of
the council are: Rajnath
Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala
Sitharaman, Narendra Singh
Tomar, Virendra Kumar,
Hardeep Singh Puri, Nitin
Gadkari, S. Jaishankar, Ar­
jun Munda, Piyush Goyal,
Dhamendra Pradhan, Pral­
Sarat Pattanayak named
Odisha Congress chief
Special Correspondent
New Delhi
The Congress leadership is
holding meetings to appoint
a new State unit chief in Ut­
tar Pradesh even as it an­
nounced a new chief for Od­
isha on Monday.
Accepting the resignation
of the incumbent Odisha
Pradesh Congress Commit­
tee (PCC) chief, a statement
from party general secre­
tary K.C. Venugopal read:
“Congress president has ap­
pointed Sarat Pattanayak as
the president of the Odisha
Pradesh Congress Commit­
tee with immediate effect.”
Mr. Pattanayak’s appoint­
ment comes as part of the
revamp plans for the State
unit ahead of the June 2024
Assembly election.
Sense of urgency
With a deadline of June 1 for
every State unit to hold two­
day shivir (camps) to pre­
Defamation
suit against
Sanjay Raut
Special Correspondent
Mumbai
Medha Somaiya, BJP’s lead­
er Kirit Somaiya’s wife, has
filed a ₹100 crore defama­
tion suit in the Bombay
High Court against Shiv Se­
na leader Sanjay Raut.
Mr. Raut had alleged in
Sena’s mouthpiece Saam-
na that the couple is in­
volved in a scam by misus­
ing funds collected
through Ms. Somaiya’s
NGO to build toilets in Mira
Bhayandar area.
CM
YK
PM meets Japanese industry leaders
Uniqlo invited to join India’s journey in becoming a tech-enabled manufacturing hub for textiles
Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI
Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on Monday met with a
number of top representa­
tives of the Japanese corpo­
rate sector.
Kick­starting his outreach
to the Japanese government
and society, Mr. Modi said Ja­
pan and India are natural
partners and that India is a
chosen destination of Japa­
nese people for spheres as
diverse as faith and adven­
ture sports.
On the sidelines of Mr. Mo­
di’s ongoing visit to Tokyo,
the Government of India and
the Government of the Unit­
ed States signed an Invest­
ment Incentive Agreement
(IIA).
Admirable strides
“I have had the opportunity
of regularly interacting with
the Japanese people since
my days as Gujarat CM. Ja­
pan’s developmental strides
Amit Shah
had Joshi, Ashwini Vaish­
naw, Gajendra Singh Shek­
hawat, Kiren Rijiju and
Bhupender Yadav.
The Chief Ministers of
Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bi­
har, Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Odisha, Punjab and Uttar
Pradesh are also members
of the standing committee
of the Inter­State Council.
It will have continuous
consultations and process
matters for consideration of
the council, process all mat­
ters pertaining to centre­
state relations before they
are taken up in the council.
tp
pare a follow­up action plan
ht
of the Udaipur conclave,
there is a sense of urgency
to complete the process in
States where such appoint­
ments are pending.
The Hindi heartland
States of Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar are among the States
awaiting a revamp.
All India Congress Com­
mittee (AICC) general secre­
tary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
met with senior leaders to
take feedback on who could
be the party’s new chief in
U.P. after its disastrous per­
formance in the recently
concluded Assembly elec­
tions. Senior leaders Rajesh
Mishra, Rashid Ali and Pra­
mod Tiwari are said to be
among the leaders who met
Ms. Vadra. Soon after losing
the Assembly elections in
U.P., Uttarakhand, Punjab,
Manipur and Goa, party
chief had asked all the PCC
chiefs to put in their papers.
Deepening ties: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with top executives and CEOs of Japanese
companies in Tokyo. He is in Japan on a two-day visit to attend a summit of Quad leaders.
have always been admirable.
Japan is partnering India in
key sectors including infras­
tructure, technology, inno­
vation, start­ups and more,”
Mr. Modi said in a message
following meetings with
leading Japanese industrial
figures. The Prime Minister
met Nobuhiro Endo, chair­
Nitish renews call for caste census
Anxious BJP watches from sidelines, as the CM attempts to chart a fresh course
Sobhana K. Nair
Amarnath Tewary
NEW DELHI/PATNA
In yet another move that
puts the BJP in Bihar on the
defensive, Chief Minister Nit­
ish Kumar on Monday said
that his government would
start work on a caste­based
census in the State and as a
first step, called for an all­
party meeting on May 27.
Last October, in a submis­
sion to the Supreme Court,
the Narendra Modi govern­
ment at the Centre ruled out
the possibility of holding a
nation­wide caste census.
“We will call an all­party
meeting to know their views
on caste­based census and
have spoken to some parties
to conduct the meeting on
May 27, but are still waiting
for some of them to respond.
The proposal of an all­party
meeting will go to the State
Cabinet and then we will
start work on conducting a
.m
caste­based census,” Mr. Ku­
mar said in Patna.
When Deputy Chief Minis­
ter Tarkishore Prasad, who
//t
s:
man of NEC Corporation; re­
tail giant Uniqlo’s Tadashi Ya­
nai; and Masayoshi Son,
founder of Softbank. Discus­
sions between the Indian
leader and the Japanese bu­
siness leaders covered in­
vestment plans, technology
transfer, and start­ups. Mr.
Modi also met with Osamu
Nitish Kumar
was accompanying Mr. Ku­
_D
mar, was asked whether the
BJP supported the idea, Mr.
Prasad gave a non­committal
reply. “We [BJP] will discuss
it and consider various as­
N
pects (of it),” Mr. Prasad said.
A senior BJP leader said
R
the government’s submis­
sion in the Supreme Court
does not prohibit the State
A
governments from carrying
out the exercise. And in Bi­
e/
har, he said, the party has
very little room for ma­
noeuvre if it does not go
along with Mr. Kumar’s deci­
sion. It will stand isolated
and will be branded as an an­
ti­backward party in the
*
PTI
Suzuki of Suzuki Motors.
“The Prime Minister invit­
ed Uniqlo’s enhanced parti­
cipation in India’s journey to
becoming a manufacturing
hub for textiles, particularly
the use of technologies in
textile manufacturing. The
Prime Minister also invited
Uniqlo to take part in the PM­
State, which could be electo­
rally fatal.
Mr. Kumar has been try­
ing to claw his way back to
the top since the November
2020 setback in the Bihar As­
sembly poll when the JD(U)
with 43 seats was reduced to
IT
a junior partner to the BJP,
which got 73 seats. The BJP,
which is banking on a un­
IG
ified Hindu vote, continues
to be uneasy with Mr. Ku­
mar’s reassertion on caste
census, which could frag­
ment its vote bank.
Delayed reaction
Mr. Kumar is also now seen
as taking it out on Union
Steel Minister R.C.P. Singh
for his proximity to the BJP.
Party insiders claim that Mr.
Singh, without nod from the
Bihar Chief Minister, had
agreed to settle for one Cabi­
net berth in July 2021 instead
of four that the party had de­
manded after the 2019 Lok
Sabha election. At that time,
Mr. Kumar did not speak
about it and in the delayed
reaction, he is now with­
NEWS 11
Row over Akal Takht
chief priest’s call
MITRA scheme aimed at
further strengthening the
He asks Sikhs to keep modern arms
textiles sector,” the Ministry Vikas Vasudeva
of External Affairs said. CHANDIGARH <
> We are living in a
civilised society ...
Giani Harpreet Singh, chief
Weapons don’t
Interaction with Indians priest of the Akal Takht, the
Mr. Modi interacted with In­ highest Sikh temporal seat, have any place in a
dian community members in on Monday said that every congenial and
Tokyo and spoke of early In­ Sikh should make efforts to harmonious
dian travellers to Japan such keep “a modern weapon be­ society
as Swami Vivekananda and cause circumstances are Bhagwant Singh Mann
Punjab Chief Minister
Rabindranath Tagore. such”, stoking controversy
“Prime Minister under­ and inviting sharp criticism
lined the deep cultural ties from political parties. have any place in a conge­
that exist between India and In a video message on Gu­ nial and harmonious socie­
Japan,” an official press re­ ruship Day of Guru Hargo­ ty,” Mr. Mann said.
lease said. The IIA between bind Sahib, the sixth Sikh The Chief Minister said it
India and the U.S. was signed Guru, the chief priest said, was the need of the hour to
by Vinay Kwatra, Foreign Se­ “...Sri Guru Hargobind Sa­ ensure that the hard­earned
cretary, and Scott Nathan, hib preached that every peace of the State was main­
Chief Executive Officer, U.S. Sikh should become strong tained at every cost. “Alrea­
International Development by reading Gurbani and at dy forces inimical to peace
Finance Corporation (DFC). the same time, should also and harmony are trying to
The agreement is a legal be armed and learn the art disturb peace, adding to
requirement for the DFC to of horse riding and using that weapons in every hou­
e
continue providing invest­ weapons. His preaching is sehold can further pose se­
ment support in India in crit­ still relevant today. It’s ne­ rious challenges to the
in
ical areas like COVID­19 mea­ cessary even today, espe­ State’s peaceful atmosph­
sures and healthcare cially for the Sikh boys and ere,” he said.
financing. girls to follow the orders of
az
Guru Hargobind Singh and ‘List reasons’
learn the art of using wea­ Punjab Congress president
pons, be it gatkabaji [a style Amarinder Singh Raja War­
of fighting with wooden ring asked Giani Harpreet
ag
sticks], talwarbazi [fenc­ Singh to tell the reasons for
ing], shooting. Besides, ev­
ery Sikh should make an ef­
the Sikhs to possess licensed
modern weapons, and
fort to keep a licensed termed it a “matter of se­
M
‘modern weapon’ legally­ rious concern”.
holding the announcement ...because the time and cir­ The PCC president said
L_
of a JD(U) candidate for the cumstances are such...” since the Jathedar Sahab
Rajya Sabha election due in Punjab Chief Minister held an important and sen­
June. If Mr. Singh fails to re­ Bhagwant Singh Mann said sitive position in the Sikh
turn to the Upper House, he that Mr. Singh should community, whatever he
A will have to resign from the
Cabinet, which would mark
the JD(U)’s formal exit from
spread a message of peace,
harmony and brotherhood
in society rather than asking
said was always taken se­
riously
community.
by the Sikh
government at the Centre. Sikhs to keep weapons. BJP State president Ash­
Both the decisions are in­ “We are living in a civil­ wani Sharma said the state­
terconnected in Mr. Kumar’s ised society where the coun­ ment by Giani Harpreet
bid to chart a fresh course try is governed through the Singh could send a wrong
for himself possibly away rule of law. Weapons don’t message to the people.
from the BJP­led NDA.
Sources in the JD(U) said
that the entire top leader­
ship of the party has been in­
structed to remain in Patna
Gujarat BJP to launch
for the next three days.
membership drive soon
“There could be some major
political decision taken by
top party leadership or some SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ed to run a drive from June
AHMEDABAD
political upheaval in the next 11 to 13 during which the
72 hours in the State. We’re Ahead of the State Assembly party workers would reach
just keeping our fingers polls slated to be held later out to the electorate about
crossed,” a JD(U) MLA said this year, Gujarat BJP will various development works
requesting anonymity. launch a special drive to and welfare schemes.
Efforts by Mr. Kumar over reach out to voters in all Also, a membership and
the past few weeks to bridge 51,000 booths across the 182 fund collection drive would
the distance between him­ Assembly seats. also be launched from June 1
self and the RJD have also gi­ In a State executive com­ to enrol new members and
ven the BJP anxious mo­ mittee meeting, the top collect funds to fight the As­
ments. brass of the party has decid­ sembly elections.
A CH-CHE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
12 NEWS
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Minister brings
up WHO death
estimates
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI
Union Health Minister
Mansukh Mandaviya said
at the World Health As­
sembly in Geneva at the
headquarters of the World
Health Organization
(WHO) on Monday that In­
dia was “dismayed and
concerned” over the
WHO’s recent exercise on
all­cause excess mortality.
India’s main grouse was
the WHO ignored the data
that was officially collated
by the Centre.
On May 5, the WHO said
that there were likely 4.7
million deaths, directly or
indirectly attributable to
COVID­19 in India in 2020
and 2021. These are the
highest, by far, for any
country.
In his address, Mr. Man­
daviya said that Central
Council of Health and Fa­
mily Welfare, a representa­
tive body of Health Minis­
ters from all States, had
passed a unanimous reso­
lution asking him to convey
their “collective disap­
pointment and concern”
with WHO’s approach in
this regard.
While India has officially
contested the WHO’s ex­
cess deaths estimates, this
is the first time that it has
raised this matter at an in­
ternational podium.
CPWD to allow
quota for disabled
4% junior engineers posts reserved
Damini Nath
NEW DELHI
The Central Public Works
Department (CPWD) has re­
cently started the process to
identify 4% of posts of junior
engineer (civil and electri­
cal) to be reserved for per­
sons with disabilities (PwD)
as mandated by the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities
Act, 2016.
The Central construction
agency on May 20 wrote to
its regional offices to identi­
fy 4% of the posts and places
where persons with bench­
mark disabilities, who are
those with more than 40%
of a specified disability, can
be posted. The CPWD asked
the regional centres to also
make “appropriate reasona­
ble accommodation” for
PwD, as the RPwD Act says.
The Act, which came into
effect on April 19, 2017, pro­
vided for reservation in jobs
and promotions as well as
the setting up of an expert
committee to identify the
posts for PwD.
Acting on that, the Social
Justice and Empowerment
Ministry’s Department of
Empowerment of PwD
(DEPwD) had on January 4,
2021 notified a list of posts in
government Ministries and
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
(set by Karaoke)
■ ACROSS
1 Restores sugar substance on counter without support (6)
5 Reserved yacht finally occupies place in the beach (3,5)
9 Identical fairy lands in a mess perhaps (8)
10 Current units confused native people (6)
11 Strangely cats and canine sleep in shows (10)
12 I hear he repairs pier (4)
13 Unopened gun for consumer (5)
CM
YK
ASHA workers earn
WHO’s global plaudits
They demand minimum wages from the Centre
Jagriti Chandra
NEW DELHI
The country’s frontline
health workers or ASHAs
(accredited social health ac­
tivists) were one of the six re­
cipients of the WHO’s Global
Health Leaders Award 2022
that recognises leadership,
contribution to the advance
of global health and commit­
ment to regional health
issues.
India’s 10­lakh strong
health workers were given
the honour for their “crucial
role in linking the communi­
ty with the health system, to
ensure that those living in
rural poverty can access
primary health care servic­
es, as shown throughout the
COVID­19 pandemic,” the
WHO’s press statement said.
An official of the Indian
mission in Geneva collected
the award.
During the pandemic, the
workers were tasked with
spreading awareness of CO­
VID­19 and safety protocols,
identifying and tracking CO­
VID­19 positive cases as well
as carrying out vaccination
drive often without any per­
sonal safety gear. These ac­
tivities were over and above
providing maternal care, im­
munisation for children and
departments that are applic­
able for different bench­
mark disabilities.
According to the CPWD’s
May 20 office memoran­
dum, the expert committee
held a meeting on April 29
to consider the proposal to
exempt various posts in dif­
ferent Ministries and de­
partments, including the
CPWD, from the reservation
requirement.
“After due consideration,
the Committee was of the
view that the PwD need to
have requisite technical
qualification i.e. diploma/
degree in engineering or the
post in the first place and
subsequently he or she has
to compete in the selection
process for being consi­
dered for the post,” the
tp
CPWD memo stated.
The committee did not
agree with the CPWD’s pro­
ht
posal for exemption and ad­
vised it to follow the
DEPWD’s notification for re­
cruitment to the posts of
technical officer —that is JE
(civil and electrical), the me­
mo said.
The regional centres —
Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai
and Chandigarh — were
asked to compile their lists
of posts by June 15.
+ 13564
CHENNAI THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
Mamata rules out tax cut on fuel
West Bengal CM says that with excise duty cut, State losing money on fuel sales
Special Correspondent
Kolkata MVA fooling
West Bengal Chief Minister
people over
Mamata Banerjee on Mon­
day ruled out any reduction
in State taxes on fuel as a fol­ fuel price: BJP
low­up to the Union govern­
ment’s decision to reduce ex­ Staff Reporter
cise duty on petrol by ₹8 a MUMBAI
litre and diesel by ₹6 from A day after Maharashtra go­
Sunday. vernment announced the
The Chief Minister ex­ slashing of value added tax
plained that owing to the (VAT) on fuel after the Cen­
Centre’s excise duty cut, the ter’s excise duty cut, the
State would incur a loss of Early move: The West Bengal government reduced the price Opposition Bharatiya Jana­
₹1.80 on a litre of petrol and of petrol and diesel by ₹1 a litre in February 2021. PTI *
ta Party (BJP) on Monday
COVID warriors: ASHA workers help in identifying and ₹1.03 on a litre of diesel. said that the State was mis­
tracking COVID­19 patients. SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA
*
Ms. Banerjee said that in “We are not getting the government was giving di­ leading the people and tak­
February 2021, the State go­ funds the Centre owes us. rections to investigation ing credit for the natural
community healthcare. crificed their lives succumb­ vernment had reduced the The Opposition­ruled States agencies, she demanded au­ consequence and effects of
Those honoured include ing to COVID­19 and the Go­ price of petrol and diesel by are being deprived... We are tonomy for them. the Centre’s decision.
eight volunteer polio work­ vernment of India doesn’t ₹1 a litre and because of the being maligned politically. “Central agencies should “This is not any kind of
ers who were shot dead by even have statistics on them. cumulative effect, the State Tughlaqi (totalitarian) rule is work with autonomy with­ relief by MVA government
armed gunmen in Afghanis­ Their families are yet to re­ was losing ₹2.80 a litre on going on,” she said, referring out any political interference as announced from the of­
tan in February 2022, as well ceive ₹50 lakh as compensa­ petrol and ₹2.03 on diesel. to the BJP government at and only get salary from the ficial Twitter handle but a
e
as Ludmila Sofia Oliveira Va­ tion for death due to CO­ According to the Chief Minis­ Centre. Centre and nothing else,” natural reduction, based
rela, a youth sports advocate VID­19 for frontline ter, the State exchequer is ex­ she added. on the reduction in Central
in
from Cabo Verde. workers.” pected to lose ₹1,141 crore a Autonomy to agencies Ms. Banerjee raised the is­ government taxes. There is
Reacting to the award for They demanded payment year because of these The Chief Minister alleged sue of the recent raids by the no additional relief on pe­
ASHAs, Prime Minister Na­ of minimum wages, social reductions. that Union government was Central Bureau of Investiga­ trol and diesel prices by go­
az
rendra Modi said, “Their de­ security benefits and pen­ The Chief Minister also using Central agencies to in­ tion (CBI) at the residence of vernment of Maharashtra,
dication and determination sion. They get a monthly compared the West Bengal’s terfere in the affairs of the Rashtriya Janata Dal presi­ but a natural consequence
is admirable.” honorarium of ₹2,000 a “loss” to the rate cuts by States and bulldozing the dent and former Bihar Chief and effect of the Centre’s
Health Minister Mansukh month from the Centre. Dur­ Maharashtra, Kerala and Ra­ federal structure of the Minister Lalu Prasad. decision,” said Leader of
ag
Mandaviya said he was ing COVID­19, the Centre of­ jasthan. About a month ago, country. “They [the government at the Opposition Devendra
“proud” of them. fered an additional ₹1,000. Ms. Banerjee had claimed Speaking to presspersons the Centre] are trying to for­ Fadnavis.
The All India Co­ordina­ Congress leader Rahul that the Centre owed the at the State Secretariat, Ms. cibly evict all the political Mr. Fadnavis said that
tion Committee of ASHA Gandhi echoed these de­ West Bengal government Banerjee alleged that the leaders. The raids at Lalu the BJP demands that the
M
workers and facilitators affi­ mands, saying a visionary in­ ₹97,000 crore. BJP’s rule at the Centre was Prasad’s residence occurred MVA should immediately
liated with Centre of Indian itiative of the UPA govern­ She alleged that the “worse than that of Adolf because elections are ap­ take a decision on reducing
L_
Trade Unions responded to ment introduced ASHAs Centre was depriving the Hitler, Joseph Stalin or Beni­ proaching in Bihar. It is to fuel prices and give relief to
the PM’s message and said, under the National Rural non­BJP­ruled States of to Mussolini”. weaken the Opposition,” she citizens, without fooling
“Scores of ASHA workers sa­ Health Mission in 2005. funds. Claiming that the Union said. the people any more.
A new billionaire every 30 A It’s a race to harass
IT
hours during the pandemic Muslims: Mehbooba
IG
‘BJP doing what British did before’
A million people could face extreme poverty in 2022: Oxfam
_D
Special Correspondent
SRINAGAR
Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI
Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP) president Mehbooba
N
The COVID­19 pandemic Mufti on Monday said it
Vinai Kumar created a new billionaire ev­ seemed there was a race
R
ery 30 hours, and it is ex­ among the Chief Ministers
is Delhi L-G pected that a million people in the country on who could
could be pushed into ex­ harass the Muslims more.
A
Special Correspondent
treme poverty at the same “A competition is on for
New Delhi
rate in 2022, according to a which model — whether the
e/
Vinai Kumar Saxena will be new Oxfam brief released on Gujarat­like model, U.P. mo­
the new Lieutenant­Gover­ Monday. del, Assam model, M.P. mo­ Mehbooba Mufti
nor (L­G) of Delhi as Presi­ The brief titled “Profiting The wealth of billionaires in the world has risen more in the del — needs to be imple­
.m
dent Ram Nath Kovind ac­ from Pain” is published for first 24 months of COVID­19 than in 23 years combined. AFP *
mented in the country. She questioned the si­
cepted the resignation of the World Economic Forum Chief Ministers are compet­ lence of Prime Minister Na­
Anil Baijal, a Rashtrapati 2022 for its annual meeting they are now smarter or Pfizer are making $1,000 pro­ ing with each other on who rendra Modi. “The Prime
Bhavan communique said for a five­day event at Davos. working harder. Workers are fit every second just from can harass Muslims more. Minister is watching silently.
//t
on Monday. The brief shows that 573 working harder, for less pay their monopoly control of the The Assam CM has gone a His party thinks it means
Mr. Baijal resigned last people became new billio­ and in worse conditions. COVID­19 vaccine. step further [in the politics what it is doing is right,” she
week, citing personal naires during the pandemic, The super­rich have rigged Gender inequalities have of polarisation],” Ms. Mufti added.
s:
reasons. at the rate of one every 30 the system with impunity also deepened as women said at a press conference in Meanwhile, Ms. Mufti ac­
Mr. Saxena, who headed hours. Oxfam expects that for decades and they are were disproportionately Srinagar. cused the Lieutenant­Gover­
the Khadi and Village In­ 263 million more people will now reaping the benefits. pushed out of employment. nor’s administration of dis­
dustries Commission, has crash into extreme poverty They have seized a shocking In 2021, there were 13 million ‘Why is PM silent?’ engaging local employees
worked in several capaci­ this year, at a rate of a mil­ amount of the world’s fewer women in employment The former Jammu and from the government servic­
ties, including setting up lion people every 33 hours. wealth as a result of privati­ compared with 2019, while Kashmir Chief Minister said es. “The real designs behind
an NGO in Gujarat that op­ The wealth of billionaires sation and monopolies, gut­ men’s employment recovered the Muslims were being pro­ the revocation of (provi­
posed Medha Patkar’s Nar­ in the world has also risen ting regulation and workers’ to 2019 levels. The gender pay voked to react. “The issues sions) of Article 370 are now
mada Bachao Andolan. more in the first 24 months rights while stashing their gap too is forecast to take 136 of temples and mosques are coming to the fore. They are
Extending a warm wel­ of COVID­19 than in 23 years cash in tax havens —all with years to close up from 100 being raised so that these disengaging employees to
come to Mr. Saxena, Delhi combined. The total wealth the complicity of govern­ years before the pandemic. people get a chance to exe­ ensure outsiders apply for
Chief Minister Arvind Kejri­ of the world’s billionaires is ments,” said Gabriela Buch­ Oxfam recommends sever­ cute another episode like these jobs. Many of these
wal tweeted: “For the bet­ now equivalent to 13.9% of er, executive director of Ox­ al tax measures to stop dee­ that in Gujarat or U.P., and employees have been work­
terment of Delhi, he will the global GDP. This is a fam International. pening income disparities, in­ start a bloodshed. The Brit­ ing with the government de­
get full cooperation from three­fold increase from The pandemic has creat­ cluding a one­off solidarity ish pitted Hindus against partments for decades now.
the Delhi Cabinet.” Mr. Kej­ 4.4% in 2000. ed 40 new pharma billio­ taxes on billionaires’ pan­ Muslims, unfortunately the They were due to get regu­
riwal also praised the out­ “Billionaires’ fortunes naires. Pharmaceutical cor­ demic windfalls and perma­ BJP is doing the same now,” larised in July this year,” Ms.
going L­G. have not increased because porations like Moderna and nent wealth taxes. Ms. Mufti said. Mufti alleged.
Display keystrokes of genius.
SCAN TO PLAY SUDOKU FAITH
Type your answers in our online grids.
@ https://qrgo.page.link/jjpTn His inscrutable ways
14 Country occupied by senator’s sycophants (6) The Bhagavata Purana brings to light the inscrutable power
17 Exclude battered 10 from constitution’s fabric (6) of the Supreme Lord through the narration of the war bet­
19 Conservative core group accepts communist set of beliefs (5) ween Dhruva and the yakshas. Soon after Dhruva ascended
the throne and began his righteous rule, his brother Uttama
22 Swindler conceals primary records to falsify (4)
was killed by a Yaksha during a hunting expedition. Dhruva
24 A stern yoga workout — nowhere to be found (4,6)
wished to avenge his death. So he waged a war on the Yaksh­
25 Expert in promotion of riot trouble (6) as that caused much destruction. They retaliated with a
26 Deserters enjoy medium level protections (8) magical battle that was too terrifying and Dhruva aimed the
27 Perhaps Bride’s superiors angrily left union initially (8) Narayana astra to nullify this attack, said Sri B. Sundarku­
28 Primarily some amount left after recovering your regular payment mar in a discourse.
(6) The enemy was now ruthlessly attacked and then
Swayambhuva Manu appeared before Dhruva and asked
■ DOWN him to desist from anger and destruction caused by war. He
2 Old vacant property finally disposed without tax (6) praised Dhruva for his good qualities and righteous conduct
3 Methodical to resolve 99 x 15 (9) and pointed out that it is not the way of the devotees of Vish­
4 The main line worker employed to plug leakage (7) nu to engage in such slaughter of many innocent people, just
5 Burglar left gold in shop, surprisingly real! (7)
to avenge the killing of his brother. The Lord is the antarat­
ma in all beings and the entire universe functions by His
6 36­9? annoyingly dry (7)
Sankalpa. Time or Kala, Prakriti and the Gunas are under
7 Dirty criminal leaves fish (5) Solution to puzzle 13563 Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku His control. By the power of His Yoga Maya when these get
8 Revolutionary immersed in out­dated objective (8) agitated, srishti, stiti and samhara take place. But the Lord
15 Deficiency of autum! (9) transcends all these. He remains the unmoved Mover of this
16 Helper takes animal to rodeo perhaps (2­6) universe and all else in it. He is thus the cause or agent of all
18 Close­knit garment (7)
the happenings but He is not the agent. He is the one who
brings about the end of jivatmas who are caught in the cycle
19 Blackguards have campaigned about unfounded stories (7)
of birth but He is not the killer. He is the ultimate cause of
20 Dutch scholar’s important date to review problems (7) creation and destruction including all the destructive forc­
21 One giving spiritual guidance over orthodox religion es. He uses others as agents of destruction while He remains
fundamentally (6) endless and unchanging. So Uttama was killed by the Lord
23 Japan’s erstwhile capital Kentucky too? Maybe (5) in the form of Time and not the yaksha. Dhruva then gave up
his anger and made peace with Kubera.
A CH-CHE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
CHENNAI

WORLD 13
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Zelensky seeks more sanctions on Russia Iran warns it will ‘avenge’

At Davos, he calls for an oil embargo, blocking all banks and cutting off trade with Moscow
Associated Press
killing of Guards colonel
“This war is really a turn­
Davos
ing point of history, and it Biggest strike since the 2020 murder of nuclear scientist
Ukrainian President Volody­ will reshape our political and
myr Zelensky called for our economic landscape in Agence France-Presse
“maximum” sanctions the coming years,” said the Tehran
against Russia during a vir­ event's founder, Klaus Iran will avenge the killing of
tual speech on Monday to Schwab. Mr. Zelensky, who a Revolutionary Guards co­
corporate executives, go­ received a standing ovation lonel who was shot dead in
vernment officials and other after his remarks, reiterated Tehran, President Ebrahim
elites on the first day of the that Russia was blocking crit­ Raisi warned on Monday.
World Economic Forum ical food supplies, such as Assailants on motorcycles
gathering in Davos. wheat and sunflower oil, on Sunday hit Colonel Say­
He said sanctions need to from leaving its ports. yad Khodai with five bullets
go further to stop Russia’s ag­ Ukraine, along with Rus­ as he sat in his car outside
gression, including an oil sia, is a major exporter of his home.
embargo, blocking all of its wheat, barley and sunflower Iran blamed “elements
banks and cutting off trade oil, and the interruption of linked to the global arro­ High­profile death: Family members of Colonel Sayad Khodai
with Russia completely. He those supplies is threatening gance” — the Islamic repu­ after he was shot in his car in Tehran on Sunday. REUTERS *

said that it's a precedent that Rallying support: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivering remarks at the Congress food insecurity in countries blic’s term for its arch ene­
would work for decades to centre during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on Monday. AFP * in Africa, West Asia and parts my the United States and travelled to Oman where he behalf of Iran in Syria or
come. of Asia that rely on those af­ U.S. allies including Israel. was to meet Sultan Haitham Iraq. Iran maintains signifi­
“This is what sanctions month. “The amount of political support and sanc­ cause of the COVID­19 pan­ fordable supplies. It was the most high­pro­ bin Tariq. cant political influence in
should be: They should be work is enormous: we have tions against Russia, “the re­ demic, which also delayed The head of the UN’s file killing inside Iran since A memorial service for both countries and has
maximum, so that Russia more than half a trillion of sult would be tens of thou­ this year’s meeting from its World Food Program said in the November 2020 murder Khodai was scheduled in backed President Bashar al­
and every other potential ag­ dollars in losses, tens of sands of lives saved." usual winter slot. a panel that “the failure to of top nuclear scientist Moh­ Tehran at 5:00 p.m. local Assad’s regime in Syria’s

e
gressor that wants to wage a thousands of facilities were For the attendees, there's open the ports is a declara­ sen Fakhrizadeh. time (1800 IMT) on Monday. grinding civil war.
brutal war against its neigh­ destroyed. We need to re­ Key focus much to tackle amid soaring tion of war on global food Mr. Raisi said: “I insist on The funeral will take place at Khodai’s killing came as

in
bour would clearly know the build entire cities and indus­ Mr. Zelensky’s speech is a food and fuel prices, Russia’s systems.” He told The Asso- the serious pursuit (of the 8:00 a.m. (0900 IMT) on negotiations between Iran
immediate consequences of tries,” Mr. Zelensky said, key focus on Monday at Da­ war in Ukraine, climate ciated Press that the region’s killers) by security officials, Tuesday in Imam Hossein and world powers to restore
their actions,” Mr. Zelensky coming days after the Group vos, the village in the Swiss change, inequality and per­ farmers “grow enough food and I have no doubt that the Square in central Tehran. a frayed 2015 nuclear deal

az
said through a translator. of Seven leading economies Alps that has been trans­ sistent health crises. But it’s to feed 400 million people.” blood of this great martyr have stalled since March.
He also pushed for the agreed to provide $19.8 bil­ formed into a glitzy venue hard to predict if the high­ If such supplies remain off will be avenged. ‘Defender of sanctuary’ One of the main sticking
complete withdrawal of fo­ lion in economic aid. for the four­day confab os­ minded discussions will the market, the world could “There is no doubt that The ideological arm of Iran’s points is Tehran’s demand to
reign companies from Russia He said that if Ukraine had tensibly dedicated to making yield substantial announce­ face a food availability pro­ the hand of global arrogance military, the Guards de­ remove the Guards from a

ag
to prevent supporting its war “received 100% of our needs the world a better place. The ments that make headway blem in the next 10 to 12 can be seen in this crime,” scribed Khodai as a “defen­ U.S. terrorism list — a re­
and said Ukraine needs at at once, back in February” in event is resuming in person on the world’s most pressing months,” WFP Executive Di­ Mr. Raisi added, echoing the der of the sanctuary”, a term quest rejected by
least $5 billion in funding per terms of weapons, funding, after a two­year hiatus be­ challenges. rector David Beasley said. Guards’ assertion, before he used for those who work on Washington.

M
Russian gets life term in Ukraine’s first war crimes trial
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At the forefront
Soldier had pleaded guilty to killing a Ukrainian civilian; veteran diplomat resigns, criticising war
Associated Press
KYIV
A Russian soldier who plead­
ed guilty to killing a Ukrai­
nian civilian was sentenced
L_
flattened whole swaths of
cities. A Since then, a stiff Ukrai­
nian resistance has bogged
21, pleaded guilty last week
to shooting a 62­year­old
tion” and mass casualties
that Russian troops encoun­
IT
Russian troops down, man in the head in a village tered when they invaded Uk­
Ashamed of war thwarting their attempt to in the northeastern Sumy re­ raine. He said he would
In a rare public expression of take the capital, and the two gion in the early days of the appeal.
IG

to life in prison on Monday in opposition to the war from sides are now fighting village war. Speaking to reporters be­
the first war crimes trial the ranks of the Russian by village in the eastern Don­ Shishimarin apologised to fore the sentencing, Kremlin
since Moscow invaded three elite, a veteran diplomat re­ bas region. the man’s widow in court. spokesman Dmitry Peskov
_D

months ago, unleashing a
brutal conflict that has led to
accusations of atrocities, left
thousands dead, driven mil­
lions from their homes and
N
R
signed and sent a letter to fo­
reign colleagues in which he
said he had never been so
ashamed as on the day Mos­
cow invaded.
As the war rages on, judi­
cial authorities worked to
hold one low­level soldier to
account in a speedy trial.
Sgt. Vadim Shishimarin,
Shishimarin’s defence at­
torney, Victor Ovsyanikov,
argued that his client had
been unprepared for the
“violent military confronta­
said that Moscow was con­
cerned about the Russian
soldier’s fate but was unable
to defend his interests “on
the ground.”

Nine media
workers held
A

in Ethiopia
e/

Price of pandemic: Kim Jong­Un carrying the coffin of Marshal of the Korean People's Army
Hyon Chol Hae in Pyongyang on Sunday. He reportedly mentored the North Korean leader to
take over from his father Kim Jong Il. AFP *
Agence France-Presse
.m

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Nairobi

At least nine media work­

14 bodies wash Ahead of Quad, Albanese ers in Ethiopia’s northern
Amhara region have been
//t

up on coast arrested by local authori­

of Myanmar sworn in as Australia PM ties, their employers said

on Monday, as rights acti­
s:

vists warned of a sweep of

He will represent country at summit unlawful detentions.
Agence France-Presse Two outlets — the Nisir
tp

Yangon Associated Press before the pair flew to To­ International Broadcasting
The bodies of 14 persons CANBERRA kyo for a security summit Corporation and Ashara,
have been found washed Australia’s new Prime Minis­ with Joe Biden, Japanese both covering Ethiopian af­
ht

up on a beach in Myanmar, ter Anthony Albanese was Prime Minister Fumio Kishi­ fairs on their YouTube
police said on Monday, sworn in on Monday and da and Prime Minister Na­ channels — said their stu­
with a local rescue group flew to Tokyo for a summit rendra Modi. dios in Amhara were raid­
saying some were Rohin­ with U.S. President Joe Bi­ Deputy Prime Minister ed and staff taken away.
gya attempting to reach den while vote counting Richard Marles was also Authorities in Amhara
Malaysia. continued to determine sworn in and will act as said over 4,000 people sus­
“Fourteen dead bodies whether he will control a Prime Minister while Mr. Al­ pected of crimes had been
were found, and 35 people majority in a Parliament banese is in Japan. arrested in an ongoing en­
including the boat owners that is demanding tougher forcement operation.
were rescued alive,” a pol­ action on climate change. On Sunday, the Ethio­
ice spokesperson said. Mr. Albanese and Malay­ pian Human Rights Com­
Survivors said 61 people sian­born Penny Wong, Aus­ ICQC mission (EHRC) expressed
2022-24
had been on board the ves­ tralia’s first Foreign Minister concern about a spate of
sel, a rescue group mem­ to be born overseas, were arrests that had netted
ber told AFP, leaving 12 still sworn into office by Gover­ “journalists and social
missing. nor­General David Hurley activists”.

UN official
in China to
assess Xinjiang
Associated Press
BEIJING

Allegations of human
rights abuses in northwest­
ern China’s Xinjiang region
will dominate a visit by the
United Nations’ top rights
official that began on Mon­
day.
Michelle Bachelet’s trip
is the first to China by a UN
high commissioner for hu­
man rights since 2005, and
rights groups warn it threa­
tens to whitewash abuses
by the ruling Communist
Party in Xinjiang.
China locked up an esti­
mated million or more
members of Uighur, Ka­
zakh and other Muslim mi­
norities in what critics de­
scribe as a campaign to
obliterate their distinct cul­
tural identities. China de­
scribes it as a successful
campaign to restore order
and ethnic cohesion.
CM A CH-CHE
YK
 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

14 BUSINESS CHENNAI THE HINDU

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

market watch
23-05-2022
Sensex dddddddddddddddddddddd 54,289 ddddddddddddd -0.07
US Dollar dddddddddddddddddddd 77.55 ddddddddddddddd0.10
Gold ddddddddddddddddddddddddddd 50,926 ddddddddddddddd0.63
% CHANGE
GDP likely grew only 3.5% in Q4: ICRA Heatwaves could worsen
inflation pressures, affect
Brent oil dddddddddddddddddd 113.23 ddddddddddddddddddd -.- ‘Commodity price spikes, lower wheat yields amid heatwave, Omicron hit contact­driven sectors‘
growth, says Moody’s
<
> We
NIFTY 50 Special Correspondent are while industry had grown
PRICE CHANGE New Delhi 0.2%, and agriculture by
Adani Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 753.55. . . . . . -14.00
apprehensive that
Apollo Hosp . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 3716.95. . . . . . . 48.95 India’s GDP growth may agriculture and 2.6%. The Omicron effect ‘Rule changes can only temper prices’
Asian Paints. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 3174.20. . . . . . . 64.25 have slowed to 3.5% in the industry will post a could halve the growth rate
Axis Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 675.35. . . . . . . . . 2.25
Bajaj Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 3786.15. . . . . . . . -1.65
fourth quarter of 2021­22, sub-1% GVA growth for contact­intensive trade, Special Correspondent
Bajaj Finserv. . . . . . . . . . .. 12572.90. . . . . . . 11.20 from 5.4% in the October to hotels, transport, communi­ NEW DELHI
Aditi Nayar
Bajaj Finance . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 5794.00. . . . . . . 24.40 December 2021 quarter, rat­ Chief Economist, ICRA cation and services sectors Moody’s Investors Service
Bharti Airtel . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 685.85. . . . . . . . -2.05
BPCL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 332.10. . . . . . . . -0.70
ing agency ICRA has project­ to about 3% in Q4 from 6.1% said on Monday that the
Britannia Ind . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 3487.05. . . . . . . 36.80 ed. The economy’s Gross Va­ pervasive pressure on mar­ in Q3, the agency reckoned. prolonged heatwaves seen
Cipla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 970.05. . . . . . . . -8.35 lue Added (GVA) is expected gins from higher commodity ICRA expected India’s re­ in India this summer were
Coal India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 184.30. . . . . . . . -1.65
Divis Lab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 3897.90. . . -406.90
to rise even slower at 2.7% prices,” said Aditi Nayar, tail inflation to average 6.5% credit negative as they
Dr Reddys Lab . . . . . . . .. . . . 4274.95. . . . . . . 25.85 between January and March chief economist at ICRA. in 2022­23 and said the re­ would exacerbate inflation
Eicher Motors. . . . . . . . .. . . . 2741.30. . . . . . . 33.50 2022, compared with 4.7% in “Moreover, the heat wave cent cuts in petroleum taxes, pressures and challenges to
Grasim Ind . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1457.40. . . . . . -30.95
HCL Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1018.30. . . . . . -10.55 the previous quarter. has adversely affected wheat which have been backed by growth. The agency added
HDFC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 2175.95. . . . . . -25.65 The rating firm attributed output in March 2022. We reduction in State levies on that the ban on wheat ex­
HDFC Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1304.00. . . . . . -16.95 the downturn in growth mo­ are apprehensive that both petrol and diesel by Maha­ ports would hurt growth
HDFC Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 551.15. . . . . . . . . 6.45
Hero MotoCorp . . . . . .. . . . 2624.70. . . . . . . 34.55 mentum to the impact of agriculture and industry will rashtra and Kerala, could and reflected a missed op­ minence of cereals and food
Hindalco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 413.15. . . . . . -15.95 higher commodity prices on Feeling the drag: The NSO had projected 8.9% GDP growth post a sub­1% GVA growth, bolster sentiment and create portunity to capture the glo­ more generally in India’s
Hind Unilever . . . . . . . . .. . . . 2379.80. . . . . . . 53.85 margins, dip in wheat yields for FY22, assuming a 4.8% growth rate for Q4. REUTERS
* whereas services growth will some cushion for stretched bal market. consumption, elevated food
ICICI Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 711.05. . . . . . . . . 1.50
IndusInd Bank . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 902.40. . . . . . . . . 5.90 and the hiccups in the recov­ print at around 5.4% for the household budgets. Noting that New Delhi ex­ prices could add to social
Infosys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1468.40. . . . . . . 13.25 ery of contact­intensive ser­ come estimates for 2021­22 fourth quarter. quarter,” she added. Moreover, Ms. Nayar said, perienced its fifth heatwave risks if they persist,” it em­
ITC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 274.50. . . . . . . . -5.50 vices owing to the third CO­ on May 31. In its last esti­ “The last quarter (Q4) of “the downshift in the infla­ since March on May 15, Moo­ phasised.
JSW Steel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 547.55. . . . . . -83.55
Kotak Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1854.30. . . . . . . 25.15 VID­19 wave, as well as the mates, the NSO had project­ 2021­22 was challenging, Tripped momentum tion trajectory for the re­ dy’s pointed out that such While the ban on wheat
L&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1644.15. . . . . . . 34.05 high base from last year. ed a gross domestic product with the Omicron­fuelled This indicates a sharp se­ mainder of this year has waves usually occurred in exports — prompted by a
M&M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 941.90. . . . . . . 38.10
The National Statistical Of­ (GDP) growth of 8.9% for the third wave of COVID­19 ar­ quential dip — services had pared the likelihood of May and June. “The pro­ 5.4% downward revision in
Maruti Suzuki . . . . . . . . .. . . . 7897.45. . . . . 310.85

e
Nestle India Ltd. . . . .. 16994.30. . . . . 132.30 fice (NSO) is scheduled to re­ last financial year, assuming resting momentum in con­ recorded GVA growth of sharply front­loaded mone­ longed high temperatures, production estimates for
NTPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 150.15. . . . . . . . . 0.55 lease updated national in­ a 4.8% growth rate for the tact­intensive services, and a 8.2% in the previous quarter, tary tightening”. which are affecting much of the year — would partially

in
ONGC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 155.10. . . . . . . . -6.80
PowerGrid Corp . . . . .. . . . . . 224.60. . . . . . . . -4.45
the northwest of the coun­ offset inflationary pres­
Reliance Ind . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 2606.90. . . . . . -17.55 try, will curb wheat produc­ sures, it would also hurt ex­

Export duty hike will hurt, China COVID­19 curbs could hit tion and could lead to ex­ ports and subsequently
SBI Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1076.50. . . . . . . . . 5.15

az
State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 460.90. . . . . . . . -1.50
Shree Cement . . . . . . . .. 21941.70. . . . . . -59.50
tended power outages, growth, said Moody’s,
Sun Pharma . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 922.05. . . . . . . . . 6.40 exacerbating already high which has rated India Baa3
Tata Consumer
Products Ltd. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 729.70. . . . . . . . -9.90 say mining, steel groups Indian manufacturing: Crisil
inflation and hurting
growth, a credit negative,”
— reflecting the lowest in­
vestment grade — with a sta­

ag
Tata Motors . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 421.45. . . . . . . . . 3.45
Tata Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1022.95. . . -147.65 the global rating firm said in ble outlook.
TCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 3321.75. . . . . . . 28.75
Tech Mahindra . . . . . . .. . . . 1142.90. . . . . . . 12.00
‘May dampen investment in steel’ a comment on India’s sove­ “The ban comes at a time
Titan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 2151.30. . . . . . . 14.25
reign rating. when India — the world’s se­
Reuters Supplies of key import items have slowed, says agency cond­largest wheat produc­

M
UltraTech Cement . .. . . . 5916.30. . . -212.35
UPL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 791.25. . . . . . -17.00 NEW DELHI ‘Coal stocks decline’ er — could have been capita­
Wipro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 466.00. . . . . . . . . 6.40
The increase in export taxes Special Correspondent Expressing concern about lising on the global output

L_
EXCHANGE RATES on iron ore announced by NEW DELHI India’s coal stocks, which gap from wheat following
Indicative direct rates in rupees a unit the government would lead The tough restrictions im­ had declined 23% to just 7.8 the Russia­Ukraine military
except yen at 4 p.m. on May 23
CURRENCY TT BUY TT SELL
to large surpluses at home, posed by China to curb CO­ days’ worth by mid­May, conflict. Global wheat pric­
US Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 77.32. . . . . . . 77.64
and mainly hit producers of VID­19 transmission could Moody’s warned of pro­ es have jumped 47% since
Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 82.51. . . . . . . 82.85
British Pound . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 97.20. . . . . . . 97.61
Japanese Yen (100) . .. . 60.69. . . . . . . 60.94
low­grade ores that depend
on overseas markets, a min­
ing industry body said.
hurt India’s domestic manu­
facturers as supplies of key
import items such as plastic, A longed power outages in in­
dustrial and agricultural
production if this persisted,
the conflict began in late Fe­
bruary,” it pointed out.
“Over the longer term, In­
IT
Chinese Yuan . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 11.63. . . . . . . 11.68
Swiss Franc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 79.99. . . . . . . 80.37 The Centre had an­ of the Federation of Indian chemicals and mechanical leading to significant cuts to dia’s highly negative credit
Singapore Dollar . . . . . . .. . 56.26. . . . . . . 56.51 nounced that export tariffs Mineral Industries said. equipment have slowed output and weighing further exposure to physical climate
Canadian Dollar . . . . . . . . .. . 60.41. . . . . . . 60.69
on new iron ores and con­ India also raised export down, rating agency Crisil on India’s economic growth risks — which contributes to
IG

Malaysian Ringitt . . . . . .. . 17.60. . . . . . . 17.70

Australian Dollar . . . . . . .. . 54.97. . . . . . . 55.21 centrates would be raised to
Source:Indian Bank 50% from 30%, and duties
on pellets would be in­
tax by 15% on eight steel in­
termediates and scrapped
import duty on coking coal,
said on Monday.
India’s import depen­
dence on China has reversed
Supply­chain disruptions in China will likely persist through – ‘particularly if the heat­ the country’s highly nega­
the rest of year AFP *
waves continue beyond tive environmental risk is­
June’. suer profile score and credit
_D

creased to 45% from zero. It
IN BRIEF also removed import tariffs
for coking coal and coke.
“This is self­defeating, ac­
tually, because there will be
shortages of which have
been driving up steel prices.
“The latest policy will
dampen fresh investments,”
Dilip Oommen, president of
gains made prior to the pan­
demic, with its trade deficit
rising drastically to $73 bil­
lion in 2021­22, the firm no­
ted. India’s goods exports to
N
2020­21), while imports
surged to $94.2 billion from
$65.3 billion the year earlier,
making the country India’s
biggest import partner.
sist through the rest of the
year… In such a scenario,
further slowdown in imports
from China could potentially
affect manufacturing activi­
Inflation, it noted, will
only be partially alleviated
by measures such as the
central bank’s policy rate
hikes, cap on power prices
impact score — means its
economic growth will likely
become more volatile as it
faces increasing, and more
extreme, incidences of cli­

a lot of stockpiling,” R.K. the Indian Steel Association, China were $21.2 billion “Supply­chain disrup­ ty domestically,” Crisil said in exchanges, and the wheat mate­related shocks,” the
Sharma, secretary­general told Reuters. (stagnant compared with tions in China will likely per­ in the report. export ban. “Given the pro­ note concluded.
R

FDI equity IHCL eyes being free of India, U.K. Ramco Cements Q4 net
A

Akasa releases
inflows fell 1% data­safety first look of
e/

HP seizes counterfeit in FY22: DPIIT debt, raises margin target paper released dips 42% on fuel prices its aircraft
.m

products worth ₹40 cr.

BENGALURU
Press Trust of India
It seeks 300­hotel portfolio by FY26 Special Correspondent
Board declares ₹3 per share dividend
Special Correspondent
HP India has seized ₹40 crore New Delhi Bengaluru
Special Correspondent from traditional businesses, Special Correspondent NEW DELHI
worth 4,98,000 counterfeit Mumbai CHENNAI
Foreign Direct Investment IHCL said. The company al­ To promote data protectio­ Rakesh Jhunjhunwala­
//t

products between July 2020

and September 2021 under (FDI) equity inflows into In­ Indian Hotels Company Ltd. so said it would build a port­ n while enabling free flow The Ramco Cements Ltd. backed Akasa Air on Mon­
its Anti­Counterfeiting and dia contracted marginally, (IHCL), India’s largest hospi­ folio of 300 hotels by that of data in the U.K.­India has posted a 42% drop in day released the the first
by 1%, to $58.77 billion in tality company and a part of time, compared with the corridor, Nasscom, U.K. In­ standalone net profit for the look of its aircraft, with
s:

Fraud (ACF) Programme in

the country. In the past year, FY22, according to official the Tata Group, said it was 235 it currently has. Of the dia Business Council and fourth quarter ended March purple and orange­co­
HP’s ACF team in APAC data. Inflows had stood at aiming to become debt­free the 300, a third would carry TechUK have released a to ₹124 crore following a loured brand logo.
seized 2.5 million counterfeit ₹59.63 billion during FY21, and to raise EBITDA mar­ the Taj brand, 125 would joint position paper on sharp increase in fuel prices fuel prices peaked during Akasa will take the deliv­
tp

products, the company said. data from the Department gins by 800 basis points come under Ginger and 75 Monday. and weak cement prices. FY22, power and fuel costs ery of its Boeing 737 MAX
for Promotion of Industry (bps) to 33% by FY26, ‘after would be come under Seleq­ The paper features re­ Revenue from operations per tonne of cement rose to aircraft in India by mid­
Chola, CarWale sign pact and Internal Trade (DPIIT) having successfully crossed tions and Vivanta brands. commendations for both grew 4.5% to ₹1,698 crore. ₹1,257 from ₹797. As the firm June, after which it will be
ht

for used­car financing

showed. the earlier target of 25%’. These form part of Ah­ governments to consider Cement sales contracted by had chosen the lower tax able to carry out proving
CHENNAI
However, total foreign Earnings before interest, vaan [A call to action] 2025, as part of the ongoing In­ 1% to 31.92 lakh tonnes. rate option for FY22, it was flights for the DGCA to get
CarTrade Tech’s CarWale
abSure has entered into a
direct investment into In­ tax, depreciation and amor­ which the company un­ dia­U.K. Free Trade Agree­ Diesel prices on average entitled to write back the ex­ an air­operator’s certificate
strategic partnership with dia rose by 2% to the ‘high­ tisation (EBITDA) show the veiled on Monday. Under ment negotiations, as per a climbed by 20%, pet coke by cess deferred tax provision for starting commercial
Cholamandalam Investment est ever’ $83.57 billion in financial performance of a the plan, IHCL said it would Nasscom statement. 89% and prices of imported of ₹306 crore. Hence, the flights.
and Finance Co. Ltd. (Chola) 2021­22. Total FDI inflows company before accounting ‘re­engineer’ its margins, The paper would inform coal from Indonesia by net profit was higher by that Meanwhile, Jet Airways,
to offer financing for used include equity inflows, and financial deductions. ‘reimagine’ its brandscape the governments on their 138%, the company said in a amount for that year. which got the AOC last
cars. Under the agreement, reinvested earnings and For the targeted margin, and restructure its portfolio. efforts to reform domestic stock exchange filing. The company proposed week and aims to re­start
Chola will be the preferred other capital. 35% EBITDA contribution Puneet Chhatwal, manag­ regimes on personal data Stating that the industry to expand the capacity of its operations by September
financier for customers In FY22, Singapore will come from new busi­ ing director and CEO, said protection and cross­bor­ was not able to pass the en­ dry­mix products, it said. this year after a gap of
purchasing used vehicles topped the list with $15.87 nesses and management IHCL had a ‘strong’ pipeline der data transfer, Nasscom tire cost to the customers, The board declared a di­ three years, announced
from CarWale abSure dealers. billion in investments. fees. The rest would come of 60 hotels. added. the company added that as vidend of ₹3 per share. key senior appointments.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

SPORT
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Thomas makes incredible rally Abhijeet

shares lead
CoA’s guidelines to come into effect from October 1
New selection/ranking criteria for domestic and international tournaments
Wins playoff against Zalatoris; Pereira implodes on final hole
Sports Bureau CoA said: “the existing selec­ considered for lower age­ 40% has been given for dom­
TABLE TENNIS
PGA C’SHIP tion criteria and process are group players. “It (domestic estic and international

Agence France-Presse
Tulsa (USA)
A bhijeet Gupta out­
played Raunak Sadh­
wani in 40 moves to stretch
K. Keerthivasan
Chennai
manifestly inadequate in im­
plementing the vision and
administrative goals of TTFI
performances) should be
particularly prioritised in
younger age­groups where
performances.
Foror selection to the In­
dian team (men & women), a
Justin Thomas matched the his all­win sequence and The Committee of Adminis­ or in ensuring that the In­ players are still evolving and player should have played
greatest last­day comeback shared the lead with Azer­ trators (CoA) running the af­ dian table tennis players play most often on the dom­ the National championships
in PGA Championship histo­ baijan's Misratdin Iskanda­ fairs of the Table Tennis Fed­ have the assurance of a tran­ estic circuit.” and two ranking events. For
ry on Sunday, roaring back rov after three rounds of eration of India (TTFI) has sparent and consistent selec­ other age­groups, the Na­
from seven strokes down to the $60,000 Sharjah Mas­ released a new document on tion framework.” International exposure tionals and four ranking
capture his second Major ters chess on Monday. the TTFI website that covers The CoA had released a International appearances, events, including the Khelo
title. Important results (third a wide gamut of issues in­ new criteria proposal on the CoA said, may be main­ India Games, is the criterion.
The 29­year­old Ameri­ round): Raunak Sadhwani (2) cluding the ‘Conflict of Inter­ April 6 seeking suggestions tained to provide exposure
lost to Abhijeet Gupta (3); est’ and inconsistencies in
can defeated compatriot from all stakeholders — rather than to seek ranking Discretionary powers
Aryan Chopra (2) drew with selection of players for ma­
Will Zalatoris by one stroke Wow moment! Thomas celebrates his winning putt with players, parents, coaches points for age­group It also highlighted the need
Nijat Abasov (Aze, 2); Ara­ jor international
in a tension­packed three­ caddie Jim Mackay. AFP
*
vindh Chithambaram (2) drew and State associations. paddlers. for chief coaches to be Spe­
hole aggregate playoff after tournaments. After receiving the feed­ For u­11, 13 & 15, there is cial Invitees at all Selection
with Pavel Ponkratov (FIDE,
a heartbreaking 72nd­hole Thomas, who also won settled for 68 to finish eighth. 2); Mohammad Muradli (Aze, back, it has come up with the no percentile for interna­ Committee meetings. The
collapse by Chile’s Mito the 2017 PGA title, fired a The scores: 2.5) bt B. Adhiban (1.5). On or after criteria which it says is “in­ tional performances. But, CoA also insisted that selec­
Pereira. three­under 67 in Sunday’s 275: Justin Thomas (USA) 67, S.L. Narayanan (2) bt Me­ Among them is the new se­ clusive and fair”. 80% has been given for dom­ tors should explain the rea­
Pereira led all day only to final round and Zalatoris, 67, 74, 67, Will Zalatoris (USA) ruert Kamalidenova (Kaz, 1.5); lection/ranking criteria for The CoA summarily re­ estic performances and 20% sons for exercising their
hit his final tee shot into wa­ last year’s Masters runner­ 66, 65, 73, 71; 276: Cameron Denis Kadric (B&H) lost to Ar­ domestic and international jected the current system for selectors’ discretion each powers and the same should
up, shot 71 to finish dea­ Young (USA) 71, 67, 67, 71, Mito jun Erigaisi (2); D. Gukesh (2) tournaments that will come
ter and launch a double­bo­ that gives 50% and 30% in u­11 to u­15. be documented and
dlocked on five­under 275. Pereira (Chi) 68, 64, 69, 75. bt Aydin Suleymanli (Aze, 1);
gey disaster at the 18th hole. into force on October 1, 2022 weightage for domestic and In the u­17, 19 categories, disclosed.
277: Chris Kirk (USA) 68, 70, Sankalp Gupta (1.5) drew with
Not since John Mahaffey’s Four­time Major winner “or immediately after the international rankings and more weightage is given for The CoA also listed sever­
71, 68, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng) Jules Moussard (Fra, 1.5); Su­
seven­shot rally at Oakmont Rory McIlroy, who began 71, 70, 69,67, Matthew Fitzpa­
first ranking tournament, 20% for selectors’ domestic performance – 60 al cases of inconsistency by
rya Shekhar Ganguly (2) bt
in 1978 had anyone made nine behind, made four bir­ trick (Eng) 68, 69, 67, 73; 278: Oliver Dimakiling (Phi, 1); Adi­ whichever is earlier.” discretion. & 50% respectively. Howev­ the TTFI when it came to se­
such a fightback to win the dies on the first five holes Rory McIlroy (NIR) 65 ,71, 74, tya Mittal (0.5) lost to Mert Explaining its strong The CoA said domestic er, for seniors (men & wo­ lecting the National team for
PGA Championship. but never sank another and 68. Erdogdu (Tur, 1.5). stand on several issues, the performances should be men), equal weightage of international tournaments.
CM A CH-CHE
YK
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THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
CHENNAI
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
High­flying Titans, rejuvenated Royals eye direct route to final
The former would follow the success formula that has worked so far while the latter would like to pay tribute to its 2008 title-winning skipper and mentor Warne
Positive vibes: Hardik’s pro­active captaincy has helped Titans
evolve into a formidable unit. SPORTZPICS/IPL
*
Breakout stars bring vibrancy Pooja fashions Supernovas’ win over Trailblazers
S. Dinakar
Chennai
They are the new kids on the
block. The breakout stars of
IPL 2022, bringing with them
freshness and vibrancy.
Umran Malik made a brief
appearance at the fag end of
IPL 2021 but it is in the ongo­
ing edition that the fast bow­
ler from Jammu & Kashmir
has catapulted to another
level.
He has hustled the bat­
ters, taking them out of their
comfort zone with vicious lif­
ters, and tormented them
with precision, full length
and swing at blistering pace.
The bat was often late on the
furiously travelling ball.
Umran’s delivery, clocked
at 157 kmph remains the
quickest ball in this IPL and
his five for 25 for Sunrisers
Hyderabad against Gujarat
Titans in a high­scoring
humdinger showcased sear­
ing pace and wicked move­
ment. So far, he has 21
scalps.
The emergence of Mohsin
Khan as a young, potent left­
arm quick for Lucknow Sup­
er Giants was bad news for
the batters. The 23­year­old
Uttar Pradesh seamer has
speed; his quickest delivery
was clocked at 151 kmph.
And along with pace, he
brings in the left­armer’s an­
gles, nipping it back into the
Anand shares
second spot
Sports Bureau
V iswanathan Anand
fought valiantly and
signed off with two succes­
sive victories for a share of
the second spot behind lo­
cal favourite Jan­Krzysztof
Duda in the Grand Chess
Tour Superbet rapid and
blitz tournament in War­
saw, Poland, on Monday.
Anand, winner of the ra­
pid segment and overall
leader after a day of blitz,
finished with 23.5 points,
same as Levon Aronian,
and half a point behind the
champion. The final day
defeats to Duda and Aro­
nian hurt Anand’s chances
in spite of his strong finish.
Beginning the final day
with a 1.5­point lead,
Anand lost to Duda and An­
ton Korobov, drew with Da­
vid Gavrilescu, defeated Ki­
rill Shevchenko, lost to
Aronian, drew with Wesley
So and Caruana Fabiano,
beat Richard Rapport and
Radoslaw Wojtaszek.
Having entered the field
as a wildcard, Anand ap­
peared a strong contender
to the overall title. He
scored over Aronian in the
rapid format and Duda in
the first blitz game. His oth­
er prominent victims in­
cluded So (twice) and
Rapport.
CM
YK
Umran... catching the eye.
* SPORTZPICS/IPL
right­hander.
Mohsin impressed with
his control. He revealed the
temperament to bowl in
tough situations, and his
stunning changes of pace,
without losing accuracy,
flummoxed batters.
In high­pressure death ov­
ers, Mohsin thrived. K.L. Ra­
hul used Mohsin and the
more experienced Avesh
Khan cleverly, creating a riv­
alry that benefited both.
tp
Mohsin has 13 wickets in
eight games but his economy
rate is a jaw­dropping 5.93.
ht
Chennai Super Kings had
a forgettable season but left­
arm seamer Mukesh Choud­
hary [16 wickets] made an
Parry dethrones Krejcikova; Nadal cruises past Thompson
Anisimova stuns Osaka again; Swiatek extends unbeaten run to 29; Kontaveit knocked out; Alcaraz too good for Londero
IPL 2022
Y. B. Sarangi
KOLKATA
As the Indian Premier League
bandwagon returns to Kolka­
ta after three years for this
edition’s first two playoff
matches, the cricket­loving
fans will hope that the rain fo­
recast does not come true.
The Qualifier 1 — between
the top­ranked new entrant
Gujarat Titans and the se­
cond­placed Rajasthan Royals
which won the inaugural title
in 2008 — at the Eden Gar­
dens here on Tuesday is ex­
pected to be a keenly­contest­
ed one as the winner of the
match will earn a direct pas­
sage to the final.
Little significance
The fact that Titans beat
Royals in their only duel five
weeks ago will have little sig­
nificance as it happened well
before the sides hit the reset
button. Ashish Nehra’s crick­
eting acumen and Hardik
Pandya’s pro­active captaincy
has built Titans as a formida­
ble unit. Its key members
have played their roles well.
While Shubman Gill and
Wriddhiman Saha have ac­
impression with his lively
pace, good carry and two­
way movement.
The young Wanindu Hasa­
ranga was a show stopper for
Royal Challengers Bangalore
with 24 scalps in the league
phase. Brave of heart and
unafraid to throw the ball
up, Hasaranga got his leg­
spinners to turn and bounce
while his googlies and top­
spinners stung.
The batting was dominat­
ed by those who have been
around for some time but
Mumbai Indians’ Tilak Var­
ma caught the eye.
The 19­year­old left­han­
der has a solidity that is hard
to ignore and he, soaking in
the pressure, made crucial
and attractive runs in the
middle­order, going past the
350­mark for the season.
.m
Crucially, he plays the ball
late, can find the gaps and
reads situations capably.
Among others grabbing
//t
attention was man mountain
Tim David, who covered
ground as if gobbling up tiny
s:
toffees for huge sixes, twin­
kle­footed Baby AB, Dewald
Brevis, who took his first few
steps in a man’s world, and
young strokemaker Abhish­
ek Sharma, who finally
found consistency to back
his ability.
The new kids on the block
— they are here to stay.
cumulated crucial runs at the
top, Hardik, who is the team’s
highest scorer with 413 runs,
and David Miller have contri­
buted handsomely.
Spinner Rashid Khan and
pacer Mohammed Shami
have taken 18 wickets apiece.
Her four-for derails the chase after Dottin, Harleen and Harmanpreet shine with the bat
_D
N
R
Stellar show: Pooja, second from left, had the Trailblazers batters in knots.
A
T20 CHALLENGE
e/
P.K. Ajith Kumar
PUNE
On a Monday night, caressed
by a gentle wind at the MCA
Stadium here, the Women’s
T20 Challenge made its
much­awaited return after a
year’s interval. The opening
match proved something of a
mismatch, however, as de­
fending champion Trailblaz­
ers was humbled by Super­
novas by 49 runs.
Chasing Supernovas’ 163,
the highest total in the tour­
nament’s history, Trailblaz­
ers batters struggled after a
promising first­wicket stand
of 39 in five overs between
skipper Smriti Mandhana
ROLAND-GARROS
Reuters
PARIS
Barbora Krejcikova’s French
Open title defence ended in
the opening round on Mon­
day as local hope Diane Par­
ry was roared to a 1­6, 6­2, 6­3
victory against the second­
seeded Czech.
Rafael Nadal began his
pursuit of a record­extending
14th French Open title with a
6­2, 6­2, 6­2 victory over Aus­
tralian World No. 82 Jordan
Thompson.
Fifth seed Nadal improved
his Roland Garros record to
106 wins and just three losses
since his 2005 title­winning
debut.
“I’m very happy with the
victory today. I’m happy to
get through in three sets,”
said Nadal, seeded outside
the top four in Paris for just
the second time in his career.
“It’s a first round, a positive
match for me. Straight sets
but with significant room for
improvement.”
The Spaniard will play Co­
rentin Moutet in round two
after the French wildcard de­
feated 2015 champion Stan
Wawrinka in four sets.
Krejcikova arrived at Ro­
land Garros without any
competitive matches under
her belt since February due
Coached by Kumar Sangak­
kara, Royals have picked the
right personnel and have
used them well to reach the
playoffs after four years.
Top run­getter Jos Buttler
(629) and top wicket­taker
Yuzvendra Chahal (26) have
A
IT
IG
(34, 23b, 4x4) and Hayley
Matthews (18, 14b, 2x4, 1x6).
Trailblazers collapsed spec­
tacularly — from 63 for one to
73 for seven — against a disci­
plined bowling attack
backed by fine fielding.
The West Indian was first
to go. She made room to hit
Pooja Vastrakar over the off­
side, only to nick to the
’keeper. The impressive
seamer then removed Smri­
ti, who fell to a superb, tum­
bling catch at mid­on by Pri­
ya Punia.
In the same over, Priya
came up with another fine
catch to send Sophia Dun­
kley back. Pooja’s splendid
spell would read four for 12
from four overs.
Diane’s day out: Parry, facing a top­10 player for the first time
in her career, turned the tables on Krejcikova. GETTY IMAGES
to an elbow injury. But she
breezed through the opening
set against the 97th­ranked
Parry, who was facing a
top­10 opponent for the first
time in her career, before her
rustiness showed. And the
19­year­old Parry cashed in
on it.
Four­time Grand Slam
champion Naomi Osaka fell
at the first hurdle, losing 5­7,
4­6 to American Amanda
Anisimova. Twice Wimble­
don champion Petra Kvitova
rallied from 2­5 to take the
first set against Hungarian
Anna Bondar in the tie­
breaker before cruising
<
> Captaincy has been a
big part of our
success. Hardik has
absolutely been involved
Vikram Solanki
Director, Titans
shouldered the bulk of the
responsibility. Captain Sanju
Samson and Devdutt Padikkal
have chipped in when need­
ed. Trent Boult, Prasidh
in
Krishna and R. Ashwin have
strengthened the bowling
department.
az
While Royals would like to
pay tribute to its former cap­
tain and mentor Shane Warne
by winning back the trophy,
ag
Titans would love to ensure a
memorable finish by taking
the champion’s tag.
M
L_
*
SPORTZPICS/IPL
Earlier, batting first after
winning the toss, openers
Deandra Dottin (32, 17b, 5x4,
1x6) and Priya (22, 20b, 2x4,
1x6) gave a great start for Su­
pernovas; 50 was up on the
board in the fifth over.
The intent was clear when
Priya stepped out and lofted
Renuka Singh’s last ball of
the first over for a six. The
medium­pacer went for
more in her second over, as
Dottin smashed three fours.
The West Indian, in fact,
was looking in ominous
touch when a direct hit from
Sharmin Akhter had her run­
out, going for a second run.
She was followed in the dug­
out a couple of overs later by
Priya, who was bowled, try­
*
through the second.
World No. 1 Iga Swiatek
put on a commanding dis­
play against Ukrainian quali­
fier Lesia Tsurenko, winning
6­2, 6­0 and extending her
unbeaten streak to 29 match­
es. Fifth­seeded Anett Konta­
veit was knocked out, the
fourth top­10 player to fall
before the end of the second
day. Kontaveit lost 6­7(5), 5­7
to Australia’s Ajla
Tomljanovic.
On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz
steamrolled Argentine lucky
loser Juan Ignacio Londero
6­4, 6­2, 6­0 to kick off his
campaign in style.
e
Aiming high: Samson will be determined to raise his game in
the playoffs phase. SPORTZPICS/IPL
*
SCOREBOARD
SUPERNOVAS
Priya Punia b Matthews 22
(20b, 2x4, 1x6), Deandra Dottin
run out 32 (17b, 5x4, 1x6), Har­
leen Deol lbw b Khatun 35 (19b,
5x4), Harmanpreet Kaur run out
37 (29b, 4x4), Sune Luus c Re­
nuka b Rajeshwari 10 (11b, 1x4),
Alana King c Smriti b Khatun 5
(4b, 1x4), Pooja Vastrakar c
Richa b Poonam 14 (12b, 1x4),
Sophie Ecclestone lbw b Mat­
thews 5 (3b, 1x4), Taniya Bhatia
(not out) 1 (1b), Meghna Singh
run out 2 (2b), V. Chandu lbw b
Matthews 0 (2b); Total (in 20
overs): 163.
FALL OF WICKETS
1­50 (Dottin, 4.6 overs), 2­63
(Priya, 7.1), 3­100 (Harleen,
11.2), 4­121 (Luus, 14.3), 5­128
(King, 15.3), 6­155 (Pooja 18.4),
7­160 (Harmanpreet, 18.6), 8­
160 (Ecclestone, 19.1), 9­163
(Meghna, 19.4).
TRAILBLAZERS BOWLING
Renuka 2­0­22­0, Rajeshwari 4­
0­34­1, Arundhati 2­0­19­0,
Matthews 4­0­29­3, Poonam
4­0­29­1, Khatun 4­0­30­2.
TRAILBLAZERS
Smriti Mandhana c Priya b Pooja
34 (23b, 4x4), Hayley Matthews
ing to pull Matthews.
The third wicket­stand
between Harleen Deol (35,
19b, 5x4) and skipper Har­
manpreet Kaur (37, 29b, 4x4)
took the score to 100 in the
IMPORTANT RESULTS
Men:
First round
5­Nadal (Esp) bt
Thompson (Aus) 6­2, 6­2, 6­2;
29­Evans (GBR) bt Cerundolo
(Arg) 7­6(3), 6­4, 6­4; 22­
Basilashvili (Geo) bt Cressy
(USA) 3­6, 2­6, 7­6(8), 6­4,
6­4; Krajinovic (Srb) bt 17­
Opelka (USA) 7­6(5), 6­2, 6­3;
Moutet (Fra) bt Wawrinka (Sui)
2­6, 6­3, 7­6(2), 6­3; 13­Fritz
(USA) bt Rodriguez (Arg) 7­6
(2), 3­6, 6­3, 4­6, 6­4; 10­Nor­
rie (GBR) bt Guinard (Fra) 7­5,
6­2, 6­0; 20­Cilic (Cro) bt Bal­
azs (Hun) 6­0, 6­1, 6­2; Baez
(Arg) bt Lajovic (Srb) 6­3, 3­6,
6­4, 6­3.
Women: 1­Swiatek (Pol) bt
Tsurenko (Ukr) 6­2, 6­0;
Kovinic (Mne) bt 25­Sam­
sonova 2­6, 6­2, 6­1; 32­
Kvitova (Cze) bt Bondar (Hun)
7­6(0), 6­1; Andreescu (Can) bt
Bonaventure (Bel) 3­6, 7­5,
6­0; 27­Anisimova (USA) bt
Osaka (Jpn) 7­5, 6­4; 15­Azar­
enka bt Bogdan (Rou) 6­7(7),
7­6(1), 6­2; Parry (Fra) bt 2­
Krejcikova (Cze) 1­6, 6­2, 6­3;
Tomljanovic (Aus) bt 5­Konta­
veit (Est) 7­6(5), 7­5; 12­Radu­
canu (GBR) bt Noskova (Cze) 6­
7(4), 7­5, 6­1.
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
Fallen seeds
B Men: 17­Opelka
B Women: 2­Krejcikova,
5­Kontaveit, 25­Samsonova
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
SPORT 15
c Taniya b Pooja 18 (14b, 2x4,
1x6), Jemimah Rodrigues c Har­
leen b Meghna 24 (21b, 4x4),
Sophia Dunkley c Priya b Pooja 1
(2b), Sharmin Akhter b King 0
(4b), Richa Ghosh c Dottin b Ec­
clestone 2 (8b), Arundhati
Reddy st. Taniya b Ecclestone 0
(1b), Salma Khatun c Ecclestone
b Pooja 0 (7b), Poonam Yadav c
Harleen b King 7 (12b), Renuka
Singh (not out) 14 (18b, 2x4),
Rajeshwari Gayakwad (not out)
7 (10b, 1x4); Extras (lb­4, w­3):
7; Total (for nine wkts. in 20
overs): 114.
FALL OF WICKETS
1­39 (Matthews, 4.6), 2­63
(Smriti, 7.2), 3­65 (Dunkley,
7.5), 4­67 (Akhter, 8.4), 5­72
(Richa, 10.2), 6­72 (Arundhati,
10.3), 7­73 (Khatun, 11.5), 8­86
(Jemimah, 13.5), 9­94 (Poo­
nam, 16.2).
SUPERNOVAS BOWLING
Chandu 3­0­26­0, Meghna 3­0­
16­1, Ecclestone 4­0­19­1,
Pooja 4­0­12­4, King 4­0­30­2,
Dottin 2­0­7­0.
Toss: Supernovas.
Player­of­the­match: Pooja.
Supernovas won by 49 runs.
12th over. Then, Harleen was
trapped lbw by Salma Kha­
tun. The total, however,
proved more than enough.
Today’s match: Supernovas vs
Velocity, 3.30 p.m.
Praggs stuns
Yi, takes lead
Praggnanandhaa.
*
FILE PHOTO
Sports Bureau
C ontinuing his superla­
tive form, R. Praggna­
nandhaa stunned China’s
Wei Yi in 90 moves with
black pieces to take a 1­0
lead in the best of four­
game quarterfinals of the
Chessable Masters online
rapid chess tournament on
Monday.
The Indian, fourth in the
race to the quarterfinals on
Sunday, succeeded in
breaking the defence of the
Chinese Grandmaster after
a protracted battle involv­
ing the queens.
Praggnanandhaa’s extra
pawn was always going to
prove decisive and it did.
Other quarterfinals: Anish Gi­
ri (Ned) leads Aryan Tari (Nor)
1­0; Ding Liren (Chn) leads
Shakhariyar Mamedyarov (Aze)
1­0; Magnus Carlsen (Nor)
leads David Anton (Esp) 1­0.
A CH-CHE
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16 SPORT
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LIVE TELECAST
NBA: Sports 18, Voot Select,
Vh1, MTV & Jio TV, 6 a.m.
Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka:
2nd Test, day 2, FanCode,
9.30 a.m.
Roland Garros 2022: Sony
Ten 2 & 3 (SD & HD) & Sony
LIV, 1.30 p.m. onwards
Women’s T20 Challenge:
Star Sports 1 & 2 (SD & HD) &
Hotstar, 3.30 p.m.
AFC Cup 2022: Star Sports 3
& Hotstar, 4.30 p.m. & 8.30
p.m.
IPL 2022: Star Sports 1 (SD &
HD) & Hotstar, 7.30 p.m.
IN BRIEF
Warriors a win away
from making NBA Finals
DALLAS
Stephen Curry and Andrew
Wiggins starred as Golden
State Warriors moved closer
to the NBA Finals on Sunday
with a 109­100 victory over
Dallas Mavericks. The
Warriors have taken a
commanding 3­0 lead in the
best­of­seven Western
Conference finals series. AFP
Liton and Mushfiqur
slam centuries
DHAKA
Mushfiqur Rahim and Liton
Das hit centuries and shared a
record stand to turn the tide
for Bangladesh in the second
Test against Sri Lanka here on
Monday after a disastrous
start.
The scores: Bangladesh 277/5
in 8 overs (Mushfiqur Rahim
115 batting, Liton Das 135
batting) vs Sri Lanka. AFP
Barcelona finishes
with a whimper
MADRID
Barcelona finished 13 points
behind La Liga champion Real
Madrid after ending its
turbulent season with a
whimper on Sunday by losing
2­0 at home to Villarreal.
The results: Elche 3 (Olaza 37,
Perez 84, 90+2) bt Getafe 1
(Unal 33); Alaves 0 lost to
Cadiz 1 (Lozano 76); Granada
0 drew with Espanyol 0;
Osasuna 0 lost to Real
Mallorca 2 (Rodriguez Diaz
47, Grenier 83).
Sevilla 1 (Mir 68) bt Athletic
Bilbao 0; Real Sociedad 1
(Guridi 90+3) lost to Atletico
Madrid 2 (De Paul 50, Correa
68); Barcelona 0 lost to
Villarreal 2 (Pedraza 41,
Moises 55).
CM
YK
Pakistan holds India
Karthi scores first international goal
ASIA CUP HOCKEY
Press Trust of India
Jakarta
Defending champion India
conceded a late goal to allow
Pakistan walk away with a 1­1
draw in their opening Pool A
match of the Asia Cup men’s
hockey tournament here on
Monday.
India took the lead in the
ninth minute through S. Kar­
thi before Abdul Rana broke
the heart of the Indians by
equalising in the 59th from a
penalty corner.
Pakistan had the first
scoring chance in the third
minute through a penalty
corner, but it failed to stop
the ball properly and India
survived.
Seconds later, it was In­
dia’s turn to secure a penal­
ty corner but Neelam Sanjip
Xess’ effort was saved by Pa­
kistan goalie Akmal
Hussain.
The Indians continued to
put pressure and secured
two more penalty corners in
the first quarter, the second
Levin — the ‘one court wonder’ from Tirunelveli
Asian under­14 champion has already caught Djokovic’s attention
TENNIS
Kamesh Srinivasan
NEW DELHI
Levin Safoor Mydeen is a
name that has not been
heard much in junior tennis
circles in the country. Yet,
the 13­year­old student of
Pushpalata Vidya Mandir in
Tirunelveli, won the Asian
under­14 title at the Modern
School, Barakhamba Road,
in the Capital, without drop­
ping a set.
World No. 1 Novak Djokov­
ic knew about the boy, even
before the pandemic, as an
under­12 champion of the
Mubadala Championship in
Abu Dhabi in 2019.
tp
ht
Heartbreak: India dominated possession, but a late goal
allowed Pakistan to pull off a draw. TWITTER/HOCKEY INDIA
of which was converted by
Karthi, who scored his first
international goal after get­
ting a deflection off the stick
of defender Muhammad
Levin Safoor Mydeen.
*
KAMESH SRINIVASAN
Levin, on vacation with
his family in Abu Dhabi, did
elicit a comment from Djo­
kovic: “I want to see you
playing at Wimbledon, 10
.m
//t
s:
Karnataka in
last eight
JR. HOCKEY
Sports Bureau
K arnataka entered the
quarterfinals of the
12th Hockey India National
junior men’s champion­
ship, with a 5­0 win over
Uttarakhand in a Group­H
match, in Kovilpatti on
Monday.
The results: Group G: HUTN
11 (B. Sathish 4, Murugesh,
Naveen Raja Kumar, K. Muth­
ukumar, Y. Anand, Sri Hari
Raam, Anantharaj, J. Chan­
dranath) bt Goans 0; Jhark­
hand 6 (Love Light Kujur, Ka­
mal Chik Baraik, Prem
Kerketta, Aseem Aind, Reetik
Roshan Lakra, Abhishek Gu­
ria) bt Chhattisgarh 2 (Vishnu
Yadav, Gurman Sahu).
H: Karnataka 5 (Kiran Kumar,
G. Vishwas 3, M. A. Gowtham)
bt Uttarakhand 0; Delhi 13
(Nand Kishor 4, Nitin 4, Sahil
Kumar 2, Yogember Rawat,
Mohammad Shadab, Naveen
Bidhuri) bt Gujarat 1 (Priyansh
*
Dighe Hemant).
Earlier results: Group C: Da­
Abdullah. dra & Nagar Haveli and Da­
Other results: Pool A: Japan bt man & Diu 4 (Amit Yadav,
Indonesia 9­0. Prikshit Panchal, Abdul Qadir,
Pool B: Malaysia bt Oman 7­0; Jaymasih Tuti) bt Rajasthan
Korea bt Bangladesh 6­1. 0.
years from now”. This was “The boy is talented and
after an interaction and hit­ committed. In about a week
ting session with the World at the start, he was able to hit
No. 1, which was part of the
reward for winning six
matches for the title.
a 100­shot forehand rally. He
is a quick learner. If he builds
more muscle mass, he will
IT
He also got to meet Rafael be able to bring more power
Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas and to his game.
Maria Sharapova, among “Our target is to make him
IG
others. “Djokovic gave Levin strong physically, technically
his racquet and played with and mentally by the time he
him for about 15 minutes,” is 18. We are ready to avoid
_D
said Levin’s father Safoor early results to ensure that
Mydeen. he stays injury­free,” said
Levin has been training Manimaran. “We are seeking
on one court of the Sports three more clay courts to ca­
Development Authority of ter to the many different le­
N
Tamil Nadu (SDAT) at the An­ vels of players. We are in
na Stadium in Tirunelveli, touch with the District Col­
R
with coach Kumaramanima­ lector who has assured
ran for the last six years. help,” said Manimaran.
A
e/
CHENNAI
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
THE HINDU
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\ AROUND THE CITY \
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
Jyothi betters
Inspired spell by
Nandha Gopal own national
J. Nandha Gopal scalped
mark
six­wickets including a
hat­trick to set up an easy
nine­wicket win for Special
Venugopal Club against
Chrompet CC in the KDCA J. Nandagopal (6/30,
Correspondent
KOCHI
second division league Venugopal Club), K. Nirajan A few days after breaking
match held recently. (5/37, Tellus CC). the 20­year­old women’s
The scores: Chrompet CC 119 100m hurdles national
in 24.4 overs (D. Jaya Surya 50 State championships. record in Cyprus, Jyothi
n.o., J. Nandha Gopal 6/30, L. Website: www. Yarraji bettered it at the
Mani Barath CC 3/22) lost to Easypaychess.com. Loughborough
Venugopal Club 120/1 in 16 Contact: N. Seetharaman, international athletics
overs (A. Sahaya Seva Ritesh 89460 79063. meet in Britain, on
55 n.o., N. Christopher Sunday. The 22­year­old
Jebaseelan 51 n.o.). Reagan stars in from Andhra Pradesh
Tellus CC 215/7 in 30 overs (S. AGORC’s win clocked 13.11s to win the
Pranav 61, Aasish Raj 56) bt A brace from Reagan gold ahead of Britain’s
Bharath CC 113 in 25.5 overs helped AGORC beat Income Jessica Hunter (13.26).
(B. Keeethadharshan 32, K. Tax 3­0 in the Chennai Jyothi had clocked 13.23
Niranjan 5/37). Football Association senior to win the Limassol
division match played on international in Cyprus
Chess championship Monday. earlier this month.
The 26th Tiruvallur District The results: Hindustan Eagles Meanwhile, Tamil
selection chess FC 1 (Senthamil 85) drew with Nadu’s Jeswin Aldrin
championship for the Indian Bank 1 (A. Gilbert 40); who won the Federation
under­7, 9, 17, 19 categories Income Tax RC 0 lost to Cup gold with a
e
(boys and girls) will be AGORC 3 (Reagan 42, 69, wind­assisted 8.37m
conducted on May 29 at Jackson Dhasa 77). (personal best 8.26m),
in
Mangalam Vidhyashram won the men’s long
Secondary School, Victory ENGAGEMENTS jump silver with 7.82m at
Avenue, Thirumullaivoyal. Cricket: Friends cricket the Castiglione
az
The top two from each age academy U-12 (N M Greens- B international meet in
category will represent the & Sumangali-C ground), 8 Italy.
district in the Tamil Nadu a.m.
ag
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BAI’s cash prize to Thomas Cup-winning contingent
M
L_
A
Recognition: The Indian squad with Badminton Association of India officials.
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A CH-CHE

CHENNAI
TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022
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Text & Context
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
THE GIST
B Bitcoin, one of the most
dominant cryptocurrency, is
down more than 50% from
an all­time high price of
$68,000, which it achieved
last November. The prices
of almost all
cryptocurrencies have seen
a similar steep downward
movement over the last
month.
B The inflation which has
come about due to the war
in Ukraine and the
subsequent disruptions to
the global supply chain is
one of the main reasons for
this downward trend.
B The Bitcoin value also got
impacted by the fate of a
stablecoin called
TerraUSD. On May 23,
TerraUSD was trading below
seven cents and had tried
selling its Bitcoin reserves
to keep its cryptocurrency
peg intact. That, among
other things, could have
played a part in the Bitcoin
value slide.
EXPLAINER
The devastation in Dima Hasao and its after­effects
How important is the railway line, which straddles the tertiary mountain range between the Brahmaputra and Barak River basins, for trade and travel?
Rahul Karmakar
The story so far: Disaster struck Dima
Hasao, central Assam’s hill district, in
mid­May after incessant heavy rainfall.
The 170 km railway line connecting
Lumding in the Brahmaputra Valley’s
Hojai district and Badarpur in the Barak
Valley’s Karimganj district was severely
affected. The Assam government and
Railway Ministry’s assessments said the
district suffered a loss of more than
₹1,000 crore, but ecologists say the
damage could be irreversibly higher.
How severe has the rain been in
Assam?
Assam is used to floods, sometimes even
four times a year, resultant landslides and
erosion. But the pre­monsoon showers
this year have been particularly severe on
Dima Hasao, one of three hill districts in
the State. Landslips have claimed four
lives and damaged roads. The impact has
been most severe on the arterial railway,
which was breached at 58 locations
leaving the track hanging in several
places. The New Haflong station catering
to district headquarters Haflong bore the
brunt of nature’s fury when a passenger
train, whose passengers were evacuated
in time, was almost buried in mud. The
disruption of train services, unlikely to be
CM
YK
I
follow us:
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Sluggish growth Trade pact Fall in steel prices Loss due to duty cuts Fuel aid to Sri Lanka
In percentage, the The number of countries that In percentage, by In ₹ crore, the loss to In metric
3.5 projected economic
growth in the fourth
quarter of 2021­22,
according to Icra ratings.
Growth may have slowed on the back
of higher commodity prices on
margins, the decline in wheat yields,
12 have joined the U.S. in the
Indo­Pacific trade pact. The
White House said that this will
help the U.S. work more
closely with Asian economies on issues
including supply chains, digital trade,
clean energy, and anti­corruption
10-15 which steel prices
are expected to fall
due to duty­related
measures taken by
the government, according to industry
body Engineering Export Promotion
Council (EEPC). “The government’s
500 the Chhatisgarh
exchequer following the
reduction in excise duty
on petrol and diesel by
the Centre according to Chief Minister
Bhupesh Baghel. “The revenue
collection through VAT (which is levied
40,000 tonnes, the
petrol
delivered by
India to
debt­ridden Sri Lanka as it grapples
with its worst economic crisis. India
extended an additional $500 million
and on higher base, the agency said. efforts. The signatories joining the U.S. decision to remove import duty on raw on ad valorem basis) will also dip credit line to Sri Lanka last month to
Icra’s Chief Economist Aditi Nayar said in the Indo­Pacific Economic materials for steel would lower the automatically. State officials have help the country import fuel as it has
Q4 was a challenging quarter, with the Framework are Australia, Brunei, India, cost for the domestic steel industry informed me that we will suffer a loss been struggling to pay for imports
Omicron­fuelled third wave of Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, ...(and) increase/imposition of export of around ₹500 crore (annually),” the after its foreign exchange reserves
COVID­19 arresting the momentum in Malaysia, New Zealand, the duty on iron ores and a host of steel CM said. Baghel said that he has been plummeted sharply in recent times,
contact­intensive services and Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and intermediaries would increase the demanding the BJP­led Centre to causing a devaluation of its currency
pervasive pressure on margins from Vietnam. Along with the U.S., they domestic availability of key industry withdraw the cess it started imposing and spiralling inflation. This was India’s
higher commodity prices. PTI represent 40% of the world GDP. PTI inputs,” EEPC India Chairman said. PTI on petrol and diesel since last year. PTI fourth consignment of fuel. PTI
COMPILED BY THE HINDU DATA TEAM
e
EXPLAINER
in
The cryptocurrency price fall
az
ag
Is inflation the only reason why cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin had such a steep downward movement?
Sriram Srinivasan disruptions to the global supply chain have
resulted in record­high inflation throughout
M
The story so far: Bitcoin, the most the world. Inflation in the U.K., for instance,
dominant cryptocurrency around, is down is at its highest levels in 40 years. To tackle
L_
more than 50% from an all­time high price of such conditions, many central banks have
$68,000, which it achieved just last gone in for interest rate hikes. Early this
November. It has, in fact, lost a fourth of its month, the U.S. Federal Reserve increased
value in the last 30 days. Bitcoin isn’t alone. its benchmark interest rate by half a
The prices of almost all cryptocurrencies
have seen a similar steep downward
movement over the last month. Volatile
percentage point, the biggest hike in 22
years.
“These aren’t normal times,” said the A
IT
price movements aren’t new to the 2022 Midyear Economic Outlook report of
cryptocurrency world but this time the Morgan Stanley. “Persistent inflation, supply
plunge seems to have revealed new insights chain constraints, the continuing pandemic
IG
and vulnerabilities of the market. and war in Ukraine signal a significant
slowdown in global GDP growth this year but
Is the Bitcoin price fluctuation a new not a worldwide recession.”
_D
phenomenon? Cryptocurrencies, which are perceived
It isn’t. Its history is filled with many amongst the riskier investments, are
instances of big price falls and big price rises weighed down in such an environment
within a short period of time. Last year, after where investors want safety more than
hitting a new peak of over $63,000 in April, anything else. Cryptocurrencies,
N
its value more than halved by June. China’s interestingly, were promoted as those that
crackdown on cryptocurrency mining could weather these storms. A recent article
R
operations was seen as the main reason for in The New York Times said, “Bitcoin was
this fall. The April price it reached was itself conceived more than a decade ago as ‘digital
A
a massive eight to nine times of its year­ago gold,’ a long­term store of value that would
value. So steep was the climb. The new peak resist broader economic trends and provide
in November followed. a hedge against inflation. But Bitcoin’s
e/
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC crashing price over the last month shows
that vision is a long way from reality.
Cryptocurrencies, which are Instead, traders are increasingly treating the
.m
perceived amongst the riskier cryptocurrency like just another speculative
investments, are weighed down in tech investment.” It has in recent times
such an environment where investors behaved more in the lines of the technology ‘sister’ token called Luna at a discounted regulating stablecoins. CNBC quoted a U.K.
want safety more than anything else stocks at Nasdaq and less like gold, which is price in exchange. The TerraUSD, for which government spokesperson as saying that
//t
seen as a store of value. But a vulnerability in Luna was exchanged, then goes out of “The government has been clear that certain
Over the years, speculators have flooded the cryptocurrency ecosystem also played its circulation. The supply falls, and the peg to stablecoins are not suitable for payment
in to take advantage of such volatility. It part in the recent price crash. $1 is achieved again. That’s how it works in purposes as they share characteristics with
s:
should be noted that the downside risks theory. What happened in reality is that the unbacked cryptoassets.” The U.K., the report
come swift and steep. At the same time, this What vulnerability was revealed peg was lost, and the investors began to pull said, is planning to “bring stablecoins within
inherent volatility effectively rules it out as a during this crash? out, and both the stablecoins had a free fall. the scope of electronic payments
tp
medium of exchange which is something The Bitcoin value also got impacted by On May 23, TerraUSD was trading below regulation.”
that researchers have repeatedly pointed what’s essentially a sub­story in the entire seven cents (it was 99 cents on May 9, a day U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen was
out. All these and the fact that episode — the fate of a stablecoin called before the fall began). Luna was trading at quoted as saying in a Congressional hearing,
ht
cryptocurrencies are designed to bypass the TerraUSD. Stablecoins are a type of $0.0002044, very close to zero. The Luna “I wouldn’t characterise it at this scale as a
official monetary mechanism of any country cryptocurrency that seek to hold their value Foundation Guard, which backs the Terra real threat to financial stability but they’re
make most governments wary of them. steady, even if the Bitcoins of the world have ecosystem, had tried selling its Bitcoin growing very rapidly.”
a rocky journey. This, they do by pegging to reserves to keep its cryptocurrency peg While the crypto market seems to have
What’s new about this phase of the a currency such as the dollar. TerraUSD’s intact. That, among other things, could also stabilised after the big fall early this month,
cryptocurrency price fall? idea was to maintain a value of $1. have played a part in the Bitcoin value slide. the future course of the prices is anybody’s
The context is, of course, new. This big The way it maintains its peg is through an guess. The global inflation risk has still not
sell­off phase has come about at a time when algorithmic solution, wherein if it drops How are governments reacting to this? gone away, nor is the Federal Reserve
the war in Ukraine and the subsequent below $1, a trader is encouraged to receive a Governments are reacting by talking about monetary tightening over.
THE GIST
1899. The end result was an engineering factors have contributed to the situation comprising southern Assam’s Barak
marvel 221 km long over several bridges Dima Hasao is in today. Roads in the Valley, parts of Manipur, Mizoram and
and through 37 tunnels, laid along the district, specifically the four­lane Tripura. This region has an alternative,
safer sections of the hills. A project to Saurashtra­Silchar (largest Barak Valley less disaster­prone highway through
convert the metre gauge track to broad town) East­West Corridor, have been Meghalaya linking the country beyond
gauge was undertaken in 1996 but the realigned or deviated from the old ones and may not thus be impacted by any B Disaster has struck Dima
work was completed only by March 2015 that were planned around rivers and damage to the four­lane highway through Hasao after incessant heavy
because of geotechnical constraints and largely weathered the conditions. Locals Dima Hasao, once it is completed. But the rainfall which severely
affected the 170 km railway
extremist groups. The broad­gauge track said the arterial roads build over the past Lumding­Badarpur railway line has been line connecting Lumding in
was realigned to be straighter, but a 20 years often cave in and get washed the lifeline for this region since goods the Brahmaputra Valley’s
2009­10 audit report revealed that the away by floods or blocked by landslides. trains started operating in March 2015. Hojai district and Badarpur in
project had been undertaken without Shortened cycles of jhum or shifting Moreover, this track is vital for India’s the Barak Valley’s Karimganj
proper planning and visualisation of the cultivation on the hill slopes and Look East policy that envisages shipping district.
soil strata behaviour. unregulated mining have accentuated the goods to and from Bangladesh’s
Train carriages are seen toppled, following a Citing an engineering and geology “man­made disaster”, as former MLA Chittagong port via Tripura’s border B Dima Hasao is the
landslide at Dima Hasao on May 16. AFP expert, the report gave the example of *
from the district Samarjit Haflongbar points at Akhaura and Sabroom, the last geographical link to a vast
the disaster­prone Tunnel 10 on the wrote in a letter to Assam Chief Minister railway station near the Feni River that region comprising southern
restored soon, has cut off the flood­hit realigned track that was pegged 8 meters Himanta Biswa Sarma. “…massive serves as the India­Bangladesh border. Assam’s Barak Valley, parts
Barak Valley, parts of Manipur, Mizoram below the bed of a nearby stream. extraction of river stone, illegal mining of The Dima Hasao line also links the of Manipur, Mizoram and
and Tripura. Retired railway officials admitted that coal and smuggling of forest timber… has ambitious 111 km Jiribam­Imphal railway Tripura. Moreover, the
railway track is vital for
faulty experiments and the “greed” of a led to the disaster. These activities have project in Manipur being built on similar,
shipping goods to and from
Why is the railway in focus few not only made the track vulnerable to increased water current besides landslide­prone terrain. There are plans Bangladesh’s Chittagong port
post­disaster? the forces of nature but also escalated the weakening either side of riverbanks such to extend the Jiribam­Imphal line, which via Tripura’s border points.
Dima Hasao straddles the Barail, a cost of the project from ₹1,677 crore to as Jatinga, Mahur, Langting and other will have India’s tallest railway bridge and
tertiary mountain range between the ₹5,500 crore. The Commissioner of rivers along with other streams and the longest railway tunnel, to Myanmar
B A project to convert the
Brahmaputra and Barak River basins. The Railway Safety had in July 2015 observed tributaries,” he wrote, holding the chief and beyond. Such plans seem distant
metre gauge track to broad
district is on the Dauki fault (the that the track was unsafe for passengers of the autonomous district council with Tripura and Mizoram indicating gauge, completed in 2015,
prone­to­earthquakes geological after nine derailments and the sinking of responsible. they cannot always rely on the rail came under scrutiny through
fractures between two blocks of rocks) the track in 14 sections four months after connectivity through Dima Hasao. The a 2009­10 audit report
straddling Bangladesh and parts of the the route was opened for goods trains. How vital are the rail and highway two States have approached the Ministry which revealed that the
northeast. British engineers were said to through Dima Hasao? of External Affairs for bringing fuels and project had been undertaken
have factored in the fragility of the hills to Is only the railway at fault? Meghalaya aside, Dima Hasao is the essentials through Bangladesh, preferably without proper planning.
build the railway line over 16 years by There is a general consensus that other geographical link to a vast region on a long­term basis.
S CH-CHE
tuesday, may 24, 2022

& Context
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EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Text | II

e
in
az
ag
M
FROM THE ARCHIVES

L_
ABSTRACT Know your
English
Engineering tomatoes to A
IT
“Good morning, sir.”
“Good morning.”
IG

produce vitamin D
“Sir, how do you use ‘used to’ sir?”
“You use ‘used to’ when you want to ex­
press something that happened repeatedly in
_D

the past.
I used to see a lot of movies.
When I was young. I used to travel a lot.
I used to walk about five miles a day till my
Scientists have used a novel way to modify tomato plants to have fruits rich in a precursor to vitamin D sixtieth year.
N

He doesn’t teach here now, but he used to.

D. Provitamin D3 has the chemical name consumed of the lot. The researchers showed that It can also refer to a past state.

THE GIST
Shubashree Desikan
R

7­dehydrocholesterol, or 7­DHC for short. Humans in their modified plants, the suppression of the There used to be a big garden in this area.
Li, J., Scarano, A., Gonzalez, N.M. et al. can synthesise Vitamin D from 7­DHC when they activity of a particular gene, “led to substantial There used to be an elementary school
Biofortified tomatoes provide a new route to are exposed to ultraviolet B (UVB) light. Vitamin D increases of 7­DHC levels in leaves and green where you have a hotel now.
A

vitamin D sufficiency. Nat. Plants (2022). is needed for a process known as calcium fruit,” and, according to the paper, while levels of Please remember that ‘I am used to’ means
B According to estimates https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477­022­01154­6 homeostasis which is the maintenance of constant 7­DHC were lower in ripe fruits of the mutant, ‘I am accustomed to’.
e/

made in 2020 nearly 690 concentration of calcium ions in the body. This is they remained high enough that if converted to I am used to walking.
million people, who make Reading the pages of the World Sustainable needed for, among other things, bone Vitamin D3 by shining UVB light, the amount in I am used to being abused by him.
up close to 8.9% of the Development Goals 2 (SDG2) — Eradicating development and strength, and its deficiency is a one tomato would be equivalent to that in two She is used to listening to flattery.
.m

world’s population, are

Hunger — is depressing to say the least. According cause of conditions such as rickets and eggs or 28 grams of tuna, both of which are I was used to taking tea at night. I have gi­
hungry. One of the main
reasons for this hunger is to the estimates made in 2020, nearly 690 million osteoporosis. recommended sources of vitamin D. In addition, ven it up now.
micronutrient malnutrition. people, who make up close to 8.9% of the world’s CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC
the researchers report that the mutants showed a I hope you understand the difference.”
population, are hungry. This number has reduction in their leaves of a substance called “Yes, sir.”
//t

increased by 60 million in the preceding five The recommended intake of vitamin D is alpha­tomatine, and they comment that this may “Where is your sister? You said you would
B A paper in Nature Plants
years. The index which was initially decreasing 15 microgram per day for children and 20 even be beneficial because of alpha­tomatine’s bring her.”
by Jie Li et al tries to
has started to rise since 2015. This does not microgram per day for elders. This can be reported toxicant or antinutritional activity. “Sir, her colleague asked her to engage her
s:

address vitamin D deficiency

by genetically modifying portend well for the SDG2 which has as its target given through supplements or a careful Surprisingly, the cholesterol levels in both fruit class. So she had to stay back.”
tomato plants so that the zero hunger by 2030, and the guess is, if this exposure to sunlight and leaves of the mutants was higher that of the “Oh, she is taking her colleague’s class. To
fruit contains a significant trend continues, that the world will have 840 wild­type. This was despite having blocked the keep someone ‘engaged’ means to ‘keep him
tp

amount of provitamin D3 million people affected by hunger by 2030. Other diseases that are associated with vitamin conversion of 7­DHC to cholesterol. or her occupied’. But I think your sister was
which is a precursor from D deficiency are cancer, Parkinson’s disease and expected to ‘take’ your colleague’s class. She
which humans can make The ‘invisible’ hunger dementia. Vitamin D3 is present in fish and dairy Need for deeper understanding was expected to teach and not just keep the
ht

vitamin D.
There are various ramifications to hunger, and an products. Vegetarian diets are particularly Prof P. V. Shivaprasad, whose group in National class out of mischief! For some reason, the
important part of it is micronutrient malnutrition. deficient in Vitamin D. Centre of Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, studies word ‘engage’ is very popular with our teach­
B Vitamin D is needed for a This is a term used for diseases caused by the effect of small RNA biogenesis in ers. It is a serious reflection on them if they
process known as calcium deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the diet. Mutant tomatoes establishment of epigenetics (epigenetics is the merely ‘engage’ their classes. But they don’t
homeostasis which is the
This is particularly a problem in developing The recommended intake of vitamin D is 15 study of how your behaviors and environment engage their classes. They take their classes
maintenance of constant
concentration of calcium
countries and the number of those suffering from microgram per day for children and 20 can cause changes in the way your genes work), and take them seriously, I am sure.”
ions in the body. this so­called invisible hunger is huge. Some microgram per day for elders. This can be given and who is not involved in this work comments “Sir, I have always used ‘engage’ in such
methods of combating this are to provide through supplements or a careful exposure to that while the study throws open a welcome new contexts. Is it all right to say ‘I’II engage a
micronutrient supplements in the form of tablets sunlight, but there are various caveats for the angle to increase vitamin D intake, it needs better taxi’?”
or capsules and to fortify food products such as latter. It is in this context that the work of J. Li et al understanding. Alpha­tomatine is believed to have “It is not wrong. However ‘hire’ is more
flour or salt by enhancing micronutrients in them. is significant. The authors of the paper, published a role in the plant’s resistance to viral, fungal, usual than ‘engage’.
There is also the route of genetically modifying in Nature Plants, tweaked a recently discovered insect and herbivoral attacks. Thereby it is Let’s hire a taxi. Some use the word ‘take’.
plants to produce biofortified leaves and fruit pathway in tomato plants to produce cholesterol important in safeguarding the plant and its Let’s take a taxi. We seem to love this word
which can be consumed to alleviate micronutrient and a substance called steroidal glycoalkaloid self­preservation, and the reduction of ‘engage’. We are engaged to it! The word ‘en­
hunger. (SGA for short) using the CRISPR­Cas9 gene alpha­tomatine in the mutants may not gaged’ is used in the following contexts.
In this line, a paper in Nature Plants by Jie Li et editing tool. This inhibits the conversion of 7­DHC necessarily be a good thing. The unexplained I don’t think we can get that taxi; it is
al tries to address vitamin D deficiency by to cholesterol and instead the former accumulates levels of cholesterol are also surprising and need engaged.
genetically modifying tomato (Solanum in the leaves, green and ripe fruits. to be explained. So, while this experiment is an The line is engaged, I can’t speak to her
lycopersicum) plants so that the fruit contains a Usually, in untreated tomato plants, 7­DHC is important one and promises to be fruitful in now. I’II have to wait for some time.”
significant amount of provitamin D3 which is a present in leaves and to a lower extent in green replenishing vegetarian diets with vitamin D, it “Sir, what’s the difference between ‘the
precursor from which humans can make vitamin fruit, but not in ripe fruit — which is the most needs further scrutiny and a deeper look. session begins next Monday’ and ‘the session
will begin next Monday’?”
“Both refer to a future event. The sentence
CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC with ‘begins’ is much more definite than the
sentence with ‘will begin’. ‘Will begin’ is less
THE DAILY QUIZ definite and less categorical than ‘begins’.”
“What’s the difference between ‘vanish’
On May 24, 203 years ago, one of the longest-serving monarchs was born. A quiz on the life of Queen Victoria and ‘disappear’ sir?”
“Things disappear either gradually or sud­
denly.
F In which State capital is this majestic Victoria Public Hall
1 Alexandrina Victoria was
brought up under a rule by
which she shared a room with
5 He was Queen Victoria's
first Prime Minister and
she trusted him greatly as a
located? FILE PHOTO *
I left my book on the table. Where has it
disappeared?
What disappears may also appear. What
her mother and was never close friend. The capital of
allowed any time alone. What the Australian State of Please send in your answers to the dailyquiz@thehindu.co.in vanishes may not appear again.
was the system, devised by Victoria is named after the ‘Do you believe in ghosts? asked A of B. ‘No’
one John Conroy, called? premier. Who? Questions (abridged) and Answers to the previous day’s daily said B and vanished.
quiz: 1. The oldest male player to win a Grand Slam. Ans: Ken The fairy granted her the boon and
2 Victoria holds the record
for being the youngest
British monarch at the start
6 How are Edward Oxford,
John Francis, John
William Bean, and Robert
Rosewall in 1972
2. The oldest cricketer to score a test century. Ans: Jack Hobbs
vanished.
The word is also used figuratively.
of their reign. In which year Pate connected to the life of 3. The footballer who holds the record for being the oldest to After the accident, the driver vanished
did she ascend the throne? the queen? score a goal in the FIFA World Cup. Ans: Roger Milla, Cameroon from the scene.
4. The oldest chess player to win a national championship. Ans: Well, it’s getting late for you. Goodbye.”
3 She married her cousin
Albert and they had lots
of children. How many sons
7 What wedding apparel
became a status symbol
following Victoria and
Viktor Korchnoi
5. The oldest player to win a Grand Slam tournament. Ans:
“Thank you, sir. Goobye.”

and daughters were born to Albert's nuptials? Martina Navratilova

the couple? Visual: The basketball player who holds the record of playing the

4 In which year did she

officially become the
8 Queen Victoria blamed
her eldest son and heir
for her husband Albert’s
most NBA games and was the oldest to win a championship as
well. Ans: Robert Parish For feedback and suggestions for
Empress of India? death. Name the future king. Text & Context, please write to
Early Birds: Ashish Nair| V. Gayatri Deepthi| Abid. R .Baba| Femi letters@thehindu.co.in with the
Grace| K.N. Viswanathan| Ronnie Chatterjee subject ‘Text & Context’
Compiled by: V.V. Ramanan

CM S CH-CHE
YK