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CHENNAI I SUNDAY 18 I JULY 2021

WEATHER STATE | 3 WORLD | 5 SPORT | 8

Max: 34OC India-Sri Lanka
Min: 21OC Porur lake will be saved Social media misinfo
Rainfall: Nill
from pollution: Min killing people: Biden ODI today
ASTROGUIDE
deccanchronicle.com, facebook.com/deccannews, twitter.com/deccanchronicle, google.com/+deccanchronicle Vol. 17 No.113 Established 1938 | 8 PAGES| 4.00
Pilava: Aadi 2
Tithi: Navami

New academic year for

Star: Swathi
Rahukalam:
4.30 pm to 6.00 pm
Yamagandam:
Pawar meets PM, says co-op
ministry against constitution
colleges to start in Oct.
12 noon to 1.30 pm
PRAYERS
Fajar: 4.25 am SONU SHRIVASTAVA |DC
Luhar: 12.16 pm MUMBAI, JULY 16
Asar: 3.37 pm
Maghrib: 6.38 pm New Delhi, July 17: The Nationalist Congress
Isha: 7.57 pm new academic session in
universities and colleges EPS demands white THIRD WAVE SET Party (NCP) president and
former Union agriculture
SUNSET TODAY 6.39 PM across the country will TO HIT BY END OF minister Sharad Pawar on
SUNRISE TOMORROW 5.51 AM
MOONRISE TODAY 6.43 PM
MOONSET TOMORROW 7.55 AM
begin on October 1, while
the admission process has
to be completed
September 30, according to
by paper on vaccination AUGUST: ICMR
Saturday called on Prime
Minister Narendra Modi
in connection with the
newly-formed Union coop-
new guidelines of the DC CORRESPONDENT New Delhi, July 17: erative ministry. In his
CORONA University
Commission (UGC).
Grants CHENNAI, JULY 17 Head of epidemiology and
infectious diseases at the
closed door meeting, Mr
Pawar has also given a let-

C UNT Universities and higher

education institutions have
been asked to ensure that
Leader of the opposition
in the state assembly
Edappadi K. Palaniswami
Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR)
Samiran Panda on Friday
Dr
ter to the Prime Minister
pertaining to amendments
in the Bank Regulatory NCP chief Sharad Pawar meets Prime Minister Narendra
the admission process for on Saturday demanded a warned that the third Act to limit rights of coop- Modi in New Delhi, Saturday. — PTI
CASES DEATHS undergraduate courses white paper on the vacci- wave of the Covid-19 erative banks.
begins only after the decla- nation process in the might hit the country by The meeting went on for There are also reports “Rajya Sabha MP Shri
(+38,510) (+474) ration of results by the state, calling for more August-end. about 45-50 minutes. that both the leaders dis- Sharad Pawar met PM
CBSE, ICSE and all state transparency. He also warned states There are also reports Narendra Modi.” The
3,11,02,503 4,13,597 boards. In a hard-hitting state- Former CM has that witnessed the low that both the leaders dis-
cussed the political situa-
tion of Maharashtra. The PMO also shared a photo
“It is expected that all ment on Saturday, the for- asked for details of impact of the first two cussed the political situa- NCP chief met the Prime of the two leaders’ meeting
school boards will declare mer chief minister raised the number of waves of Covid-19, cau- tion of Maharashtra. The Minister almost 20 on twitter.
covid19india.org their results for class 12 questions which included tioning that they might NCP chief met the Prime The former union minis-
months ago
STATE GOVERNMENT BULLETINS examinations by July 31. If details of the doses of vac- vaccine doses TN experience a severe third Minister almost 20 months ter flagged his concerns on
there is any delay in decla- cines the state has recei- received in the last wave if restrictions are ago. Vikas Aghadi (MVA) the ministry of coopera-
(+2,505) (+43) ration of the result of quali- ved from the Union gov-
two months. not maintained. The meeting between coalition government- tion. In his letter, Mr
fying exams, the new acad- ernment in the past two "It is important for each both senior leaders also Congress,NCP and Shiv Pawar pointed out several
emic session may begin by months and of those admi- in transparency in the state to examine pan- assumed a political signif- Sena in Maharashtra. flaws and inconsistencies
TN: 25,33,323 33,695 October 18,” the UGC said nistered, how many peo- vaccination process and demics and take a call icance as there are reports The Prime Minister’s in the Banking Regulation
in the new guidelines. ple were waiting to rece- said that it had caused regarding the Covid-19 sit- of a strain in the Maha Office (PMO) tweeted, Act. ■ P4
WORLD CONFIRMED CASES The commission has clar- ive their second dose, how confusion. People wait uation there. There are
ified that the teaching- was the vaccine supply since morning at vaccina- states where the first and
19,05,71,710
DEATHS
learning process must con-
tinue in offline, online or
blended mode.
“The institutions may
distributed among the dis-
tricts and who would get
priority at the vaccination
centres.
tion centres increasing
the risk of spread of Covid-
19 and those who needed
the second dose were
second waves of Covid-19
had a low impact. If the
restrictions are not main-
tained now then these
CJI blames ‘luxurious litigation’
40,95,502
COUNTRIES,
plan for classes, breaks,
conduct of examinations,
semester break, etc. during
Mr Palaniswami accused
the government of lacking
uncertain about the avail-
ability of it, he said. ■ P3
states may be severely
impacted by the third
wave.” — ANI
for pendency in Indian courts
219
AREAS WITH
CASES
October 1 to July 31, follow-
ing necessary protocols
and advisories issued by
commission has asked uni-
versities and higher esuca-
tional institutions to
final year or end term
exams by August 31. The
exams can be conducted in DELHI LAUNCHES
New Delhi, July 17: The
projected statistics that
pendency in Indian courts
is “luxurious litigation”,
Chief Justice of India N V
Ramana said on Saturday.
ing an example of an early
attempt at mediation as a
conflict resolution tool.
worldometers.info central and state govern- ensure the fee is fully either offline, online or in has reached 45 million He said conflicts are Mediation is deeply

European floods
ments from time to time in
view of the Covid-19 pan-
refunded in cases of cancel-
lation of admission or
blended mode. "For inter-
mediate semester students
PROSECUTION cases, which is perceived
as the inability of the
unavoidable in a society
for various reasons, includ-
embedded into the Indian
ethos and was prevalent

toll crosses 150

demic,” the guidelines said.
In view of the financial
migration of students.
It has also been made
assessment shall be based
on internal assessment and AGAINST GAMBHIR Indian judiciary to cope
with the caseload, is an
ing political, economic,
social, and religious, and
before the British adver-
sarial system in India, var-
hardships faced by parents mandatory for universities previous semester results," “overstatement| and an there is a need to develop ious forms of mediation
Berlin: The death toll from dis- during the pandemic, the and colleges to conduct it said. — PTI New Delhi, July 17: “uncharitable analysis” mechanisms for conflict were being practised as a
astrous flooding in western Delhi’s drugs control and one of the factors con- resolution and referred to method of dispute resolu-
Europe rose above 150 on department has told the tributing to judicial delays the Mahabha-rata, provid- tion, he said. — PTI
Saturday as rescue workers
toiled to clear up the devasta-
tion and prevent further dam-
UP cancels this year’s Kanwar yatra Delhi High Court that it
has launched prosecution
against Gautam Gambhir
age. Police said that more than Lucknow, July 17: The Foundation and AAP
IN MEMORIUM
90 people are now known to
have died in western Ger-
many’s Ahrweiler county, one
annual Kanwar Yatra in
Uttar Pradesh has been
cancelled this year, a
Resident in Olympic MLAs Imran Hussain and
Praveen Kumar before a
court for allegedly illegal-
of the worst-hit areas, and more
casualties are feared. — AP
senior government official
said here on Saturday.
The development came a
day after the Supreme
village tests positive ly stocking and distribut-
ing Covid drugs during
the infection’s second
wave.
Halt GAIL pipeline project in Court said it cannot allow
the Uttar Pradesh govern-
Tokyo, July 17: The first
resident of the Olympic
ing committee, confirmed
the case and said the posi-
Based on inquires made
by the investigating team,
TN’s arable lands: AIADMK ment “to hold 100 percent
physical Kanwar Yatra in
Village has tested positive
for Covid-19, Tokyo
tive test was Friday.
Organisers say for confi-
a prosecution in the court
of law was launched
Chennai: The opposition view of Covid”, stressing Olympic organisers said dentiality purposes they against Gautam Gambhir
AIADMK on Saturday demand- that sentiments, including on Saturday. can only offer a vague Foundation, its trustees
ed that the state government religious, are subservient Officials said it was not description and few and CEO on July 8 for
immediately halt the installa- to the right to life. an athlete with the the details. The person is also “contravening the provi-
tion of the inter-state KKMBP “The Kanwar Yatra has Games opening in just listed as a non-resident of sions of section 18(c) read
gaspipeline project by GAIL been cancelled by the under a week on July 23. Japan. with section 27(b)(ii) of
India in Tamil Nadu's arable Kanwar Sanghs on the Tokyo officials including Tokyo officials said the the Drugs and Cosmetics
lands in the interest of farmers appeal of the Uttar Seiko Hashimoto, the person was placed in a 14- Act, 1940”, the Delhi
and instead, implement it along Pradesh government," president of the organis- day quarantine. — PTI Drugs Control
the highways. ■ P3 additional chief secretary Department (DDCD) said
(information) Navneet to start on July 25. called off the Kanwar in a response which wasa
COUNTER POINT Sehgal said on Sunday.
The yatra was scheduled
The Uttarakhand gov-
ernment has already
Yatra citing fears expre-
ssed by experts. — PTI
in the form of a status
report. — PTI

YEDIYURAPPA IS ON WAY OUT, MEETS CENTRAL LEADERS

DC CORRESPONDENT Narendra Modi, rejected his choice and prominent Nirani and Union parlia-
WITH AGENCY INPUTS claims that he had been positions for his sons in mentary affairs minister Candlelight prayer meeting held in remembrance of Pulitzer prize winner
NEW DELHI, JULY 17 asked to quit or had the state. Prahlad Joshi. photojournalist Danish Siddiqui, who was killed in clashes with Taliban in |
offered to quit. A leading news channel, However, Mr Afghanistan, in New Delhi, Saturday — PTI
Ahead of the BJP govern- The BJP government citing sources, claimed Yediyurappa, who was in
ment completing two will complete two years in that Mr Yediyurappa the national capital since
years in Karnataka, spec- the state on July 26 and offered to resign citing ill Friday, rubbished reports
ulations are rife that the
party's central leadership
could go in for a leader-
ship change, replacing
speculations are rife that
the Chief Minister, during
his meeting with Prime
Minister Narendra Modi,
health during his meeting
with the Prime Minister.
Sources, according to the
news channel, said that
that the BJP leadership
wanted to replace him
and in fact said that he
would be back again in
Daughter of Afghan envoy
Chief Minister
Yediyurappa. However,
B.S.

Mr Yediyurappa, who met

the BJP top brass, includ-
told him that the party
leadership can replace
him but not without agree-
ing to his conditions,
the probable names for the
chief minister's post are
state home minister
Basavaraj Bommai, mines
August to meet the party
leadership to seek more
assistance from the cen-
tral government for the
state.
to Pak abducted, tortured
ing Prime Minister including a successor of minister Murugesh Islamabad, July 17: The A hospital medical report this “heinous act” and
daughter of Afghanistan’s said she suffered blows to expressed concern for
ambassador to Pakistan her head, had rope marks Afghan diplomats and
was abducted in the mid- their families in Pakistan.

Stalin sets off to Delhi today, triggers speculation dle of the Pakistani capital
of Islamabad, held for sev-
eral hours and brutally
attacked, officials in both
on her wrists and legs
and was badly beaten.
There was a suspicion
that she had several bro-
Relations between the
two countries are fraught
with suspicion and ani-
mosity. They routinely
G. BABU JAYAKUMAR could not visit during the ear- It may be recalled that in One of speculations is that countries said Saturday. ken bones and X-rays trade accusations, with
D. SEKAR | DC lier trip to the national capi- 2004 when the UPA was in its Ms Banerjee could be project- No one has been arrested were ordered, the report Afghanistan claiming
CHENNAI, JULY 17 tal, the fact that the DMK formative stages with ed as the prime ministerial in connection with said Pakistan is sending thou-
MPs would also be there on Congress president Sonia candidate of the opposition Friday’s assault on Silsila sands of jihadi militants to
The proposed visit of Chief Sunday had given grist to Gandhi taking up the lead front and it is to lay the Alikhil, 26. The Afghan her abductors held her for fight in Afghanistan and
Minister M.K. Stalin to New rumour mills to churn out role, it was then DMK presi- ground for formation of the foreign ministry issued a over five hours and that providing safe haven for
Delhi on Sunday has trig- stories on the Chief Minister dent M. Karunanidhi who united rainbow coalition that statement demanding a she was brought to the the Taliban. Pakistan in
gered a wide array of specu- having lined up other meet- played the role of a mentor, Mr Stalin is now making the quick investigation, say- hospital in Islamabad by turn accuses Kabul of har-
lations, one of them being ings with political leaders. guiding the coalition that visit to Delhi. ing she was “severely tor- police. There were no bouring the anti-Pakistani
that he is taking a lead role in That well-known political later romped home in the Officially, the meeting with tured”. details about the abduc- group Tehreek-e-Taliban
bringing in a cohesion strategist Prasanth Kishor elections. President is said to be a cour- A hospital medical tion itself or the circum- Pakistan — the Pakistani
among the disparate mix of had met Congress leaders, be doing the mobilisation, Mr Since Mr Stalin has struck tesy call, though there is a report said she suffered stances of her release. Taliban — and also the
opposition parties at the including Rahul Gandhi, in Stalin is expected to spear- a personal rapport with suggestion that he could take blows to her head, had Pakistan called the secessionist Baluchistan
national level to present a the past few days, too, has head the political process many of the national leaders up the issue relating to grant- rope marks on her wrists attack “disturbing” and Liberation Army.
viable opposition to the BJP contributed to the specula- through coordination, hav- including the Gandhis and ing of clemency to the seven and legs and was badly said security at the resi- Hamid Mir, a well-
in the 2024 Lok Sabha elec- tion that Mr Stalin would call ing emerged as a regional also West Bengal Chief Tamils, who have spent beaten. There was a suspi- dence of the Afghan known Pakistani journal-
tions. on the leaders of various par- leader of national eminence Minister Mamata Banerjee, three decades in jail follow- cion that she had several ambassador in Islamabad ist who survived a 2014
While Mr Stalin is officially ties to bring them all under a after his electoral triumph he could be doing in 2024 ing their conviction in the broken bones and X-rays has been reinforced. The shooting asked how some-
scheduled to meet President single umbrella. and his governance of the what his father did in 2004, Rajiv Gandhi assassination were ordered, the report Afghan foreign ministry thing like this could hap-
Ramnath Kovind, whom he While Mr Kishor is said to state in the last two months. many believe. case. said. The report also said said it strongly condemns pen in Islamabad. — AP
 CITY
DECCAN CHRONICLE | SUNDAY | 18 JULY 2021 | CHENNAI
pg 2

TAKES
Pathbreaking fishermen Rainy day
SHORT

HC hopes vacancies in dt
consumer forums will be
filled in 4 months
DC CORRESPONDENT
affected by Covid curbs
T. SUDHEESH I DC demanded intervention of folks were trained to use Velanganni, a member of
CHENNAI, JULY 17 CHENNAI, JULY 17 the government to keep the technology of recy- the group, said her life had
the award-winning model cling fish wastes to devel- changed drastically a year
Expressing hope that all the Despite the pandemic afloat. op value-added products ago since she joined the
vacancies in the district con- making their life miser- T. Kennit Raj, head of named Plankton Plus and company. “My family
sumer forums will be filled up able, a group of fishermen the Nambikkai Fish Horti Plus. While before I joined the project
in four months, the Madras in Pattinapakkam here Farmers Group, said their Plankton Plus is used in had solely depended on
high court has disposed of a Pu- made a mark by convert- production was reduced the aquaculture system to fishing to earn livelihood.
blic Interest Litigation, which ing fish wastes into value- by half as they could not boost and maintain the I could earn Rs15,000
sought a direction to the author- added products using reach out to clients for healthy plankton blooms, every month. The pan-
ities to fill the vacancy for the modern technology. selling their products due Horti Plus is used as an demic devastated liveli-
post of the president and the The fisherfolk associated to the lockdown restric- organic manure in horti- hood as we were trying to
members of the Tamil Nadu- with Nambikkai fish tions. ‘’For the last two culture’, he said. expand the business find-
State Consumer Dispute Redre- farmers group in years, as many as 14 fami- Under the Scheduled ing more clients with the
ssal Commission, Chennai and Pattinapakkam won the lies were working in the Caste Sub Plan Scheme of support of CIBA. But the
District Consumer Dispute Red- ‘Best Fisheries Self-Help firm. Now, only six fami- the government of India, continuing lockdown
ressal Commissions in TN. Group ’ award instituted lies are left as the produc- the group has the capacity restrictions have shat-
The first bench comprising by the National Fisheries tion came down signifi- to produce 16,345 kg of tered all dreams. We are Heavy rain lashes Chennai on Saturday. —DC
Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee Development Board cantly. We can’t sell prod- value-added products and now penniless,” she
and Justice Senthilkumar (NFDB) under the ucts outside the state attained an annual lamented.
Ramamoorthy disposed of the
PIL filed by G.Alex Benziger.
The bench said in the event the
vacancies were not filled up
Ministry of Fisheries,
Animal Husbandry and
Dairying.
The group was set up by
since most of the clients
are from outside the state.
The number of orders
came down as the lock-
turnover of Rs 1.68 mil-
lion.
“We were able to earn Rs
2 lakh. But the business
‘’The government should
come out with financial
support and protect the
award-winning model.
Person acquitted in rape case seeks
within the time indicated, it
will be open to the petitioner or
any other person to approach
half a dozen fisherfolk
including four women
with the support of the
down curbs on inter-state
transport remain in place.
The government should
took a beating by the first
wave of pandemic. Now
nobody comes forward to
The CIBA technology can
propagate across the coun-
try in cleaning the fish
redacting his name from HC order
this court afresh. ICAR-Central Institute of help us to survive,” he buy products. The income markets and also provide DC CORRESPONDENT tify the person, who was a
B r a c k i s h w a t e r said. came down to just Rs an alternative livelihood CHENNAI, JULY 17 victim in a given case.
Aquaculture (ICAR-CIBA) The self-help group was 20,000-50,000. If the situa- to many as a circular This sufficiently protects
BCTP office-bearers in 2018.
Hit by logistic issues, the
set up as part of the
‘Waste to Wealth’ initia-
tion continues, it will be
very difficult to run the
economy,” said Dr K.K.
Vijayan, immediate past
For the first time, a per-
son, who was acquitted of
the person and privacy of
the person. This right has
thank CM fisherfolk have now tive of CIBA. The fisher business,” said Mr Raj. director, CIBA. all charges in a rape case,
has approached the
not been extended to the
accused person, who ulti-
DC CORRESPONDENT Kids plant saplings to create first longest forest Madras high court and mately was acquitted
CHENNAI, JULY 17 sought for redacting his from all charges. In spite

The members and office-bear-

walkway of Tamil Nadu across OMR from Tidel Park to
Madhya Kailash along with Greater Chennai
PLUS-2 RESULTS name from the judgment
passed by the court.
of an order of acquittal,
the name of the accused
corporation’s smart city team on Saturday. —E.K.Sanjay
ers of the Bar Council of Tamil
Nadu and Puducherry met
TOMORROW Justice N. Anand
Venkatesh, before whom
person gets reflected in
the order. Therefore, for
Chief Minister M.K.Stalin on DC CORRESPONDENT the petition filed by the first time, a person,
Friday and thanked him for CHENNAI, JULY 17 Kishore (name changed) and the petitioner can no who was acquitted of all
submitting a representation to came up for hearing, said more be identified as an charges, has approached
the Prime Minister, to declare Results for plus-2 stu- since the issue has come accused in the eyes of law. this court and sought for
Tamil as official language of dents of the state board up for the first time before The petitioner was now redacting his name from
India and administrative lan- will be announced on this court, it wants to hear facing a very peculiar the judgment passed by
guage of Madras high court and Monday (July 19) along the counsel appearing on problem. Even though the this court, the judge
to establish Southern Bench of with the marks given to behalf of the authorities petitioner had been added.
Supreme Court in Tamil Nadu. them based on the for- and also the members of acquitted from all The judge said, for the
In a press release issued by mula worked out by the the Bar and understand charges, his name gets present, this court can act
P.S.Amalraj, Chairman, Bar
Council of Tamil Nadu and CREATING RECORD state government.
An official press
the various ramifications
before writing a detailed
reflected in the judgment
rendered by this court and
upon the request made by
the petitioner only plac-
Puducherry (BCTP), said,”We release said students can judgment. unfortunately, whoever ing reliance upon Article
also thanked the Chief Minister register their registra- Directing the counsel of types the name of the peti- 21 of the Constitution of
for arranging vaccination camp tion number and date of the authorities to take tioner in Google search India. After the historic
on the premises of the BCTP birth on one of the necessary instructions was able to access the judgment of the Supreme
and through out the State of following websites to and file written submis- judgment of this court. In court in Puttasamy Vs
Tamil Nadu, due to which sev- know the results. sions, the judge also the entire judgment, the Union of India, the Right
eral advocates, advocate clerks, The websites are directed the registry to petitioner was identified to Privacy has now been
court staff members and their www.tnresults.nic.in, publish this order in the as an accused even though held to be a fundamental
families are benefitted. We also
submitted a representation to
Accused wanted in dowry harassment case nabbed at airport w w w. d g e 1 . t n . n i c . i n ,
www.dge2.tn.nic.in and
advocate associations and
bar associations both in
he has been ultimately
acquitted from all
right, which was traceable
to Article 21 of the
the Chief Minister requesting DC CORRESPONDENT According to the police, In another similar case, a www.dge.tn.gov.in. the principal bench and charges. According to the Constitution. ”If the
his good self to consider our CHENNAI, JULY 17 In 2019, Sherif was booked 39-year-old man , accused of The results would also Madurai bench. “The petitioner, this causes a essence of this judgment
requirements such as enhance- for a case of dowry harass- woman harassment trying be despatched as a short members of the Bar are serious impact on his rep- is applied to the case on
ment of the amount of Welfare A 36-year-old man from ment under Section 498 IPC to flee the country, was message to the mobile requested to assist this utation in the eyes of the hand, obviously even a
Fund for advocates, extension Chennai who has been eva- and domestic violence at nabbed by the immigration number furnished in the court in this issue”, the society and, therefore, the person, who was accused
of government group health ding arrest for two years the MKB police station. officers at the Chennai examination application judge added and posted petitioner wants his name of committing an offence
insurance for the advocates, to was caught in Chennai Int- On information from Airport. form, the release said. the matter to July 28, 2021 to be redacted from the and who has been subse-
launch housing scheme for the ernational airport on Satu- Immigration officials, Sources said , Meenkshi The mark sheet could for final arguments. judgment of this court, quently acquitted from all
advocates, to grant financial aid rday. In 2019 , he was boo- Chennai police arrested Sundaram ( 39) a resident be downloaded from 11 In his interim order, the the judge added. charges will be entitled
to the advocates affected in ked for a dowry and harass- him from the airport. of Madurai , was booked by am on Thursday, July 22, judge said the petitioner The judge said it was for redacting his name
Covid-19, establishment of Law ment case. He fled India. The Immigration author- Madurai city all women by registering the num- faced criminal proceed- brought to the notice of from the order passed by
Academy in Tamil Nadu, to The man was evading ities, while verifying the police in a woman harass- ber and date of birth ings for an offence under this court that the central the court in order to pro-
construct advocates chambers arrest by hiding himself in passport of all the passen- ment case before six mon- with one of the two web- section 417 (cheating) and government was in the tect his Right to Privacy.
in the Combined Court Qatar for long and a look- gers who arrived on the ths. Since he went missing , sites, namely 376 (rape) of IPC and he process of finalising the This court finds that there
Complexand to establish dis- out circular (LOC) was flight found that a LOC was the Madurai police issued a www.dge.tn.gov.in or was convicted and sen- Data Protection Bill 2019 is a prima facie case made
pensaries in all courts through- issued by the Chennai pending against Sherif, Look Out Notice against www.dge.tn.nic.in, the tenced by the trial court and it was yet to come into out by the petitioner and
out the state of Tamil Nadu”. police against him, an offi- who was also cited as an him. release added by a judgment dated effect. This Act, when he is entitled for redacting
Amalraj said they hope that cial said. absconding accused in the Meanwhile , on Saturday It may be recalled that September 29, 2011. The brought into force, will his name from the judg-
the Chief Minister will sincere- The accused , Sherif (36) case, arrested him and pro- when he came to Chennai the government can- petitioner took this judg- effectively protect the ment passed by this court.
ly and graciously consider their of Namakkal was detained ceeded with formalities to Airport to board the Air celled the final examina- ment on appeal before this data and privacy of a per- However, since the issue
request for the benefit of the by Immigration officials on hand him over to the France Airlines flight, he tion for plus-2 students court and this court after son. Till now, the legisla- has come up for the first
entire legal fraternity all over arrival from Doha in a Chennai police. Chennai was nabbed. Airport sou- in view of the pandemic dealing with the merits of ture has enacted laws pro- time before this court,
the State of Tamil Nadu. Qatar airlines flight in the police arrested him from rces said he will be handed and came up with the the case and exhaustively tecting the identity of vic- this court wants to hear
wee hours of Saturday, the city airport , police over to the Madurai city formula to award them dealing with the law gov- tims, who were women the counsel appearing on
officials said. sources said. police. marks. erning the case, acquitted and children and their behalf of the respondents
Two snatch mobile the petitioner from all
charges in a judgment
names were not reflected
in any order passed by a
1 to 3 and also the mem-
bers of the Bar and under-
from pedestrian Ensure strictness in procurement of goods: HC dated April 30, 2014. By
virtue of this judgment,
court. Therefore, automat-
ically their names get
stand the various ramifi-
cations before writing a
DC CORRESPONDENT the petitioner has been redacted in the order and detailed judgment on this
CHENNAI, JULY 17 DC CORRESPONDENT lector to take action he submitted a representa- The bench said, “It is acquitted from all charges no one will be able to iden- issue”, the judge added.
CHENNAI, JULY 17 on his representation tion on March 3, 2021 to needless to say that the
A bike-borne duo allegedly alleging irregularities in the district collector rais- official respondents are
snatched a mobile phone from The Madras high court the procurement of ing several questions per- under an obligation to
a 23-year-old woman in has said the authorities bulbs, lights and in taining to the cost of pro- ensure that the procure-
Pallavaram on Saturday. are under an obligation to the expenditure incurred curement and the like. In ment of goods and
The victim , Soundarya of ensure that the procure- with regard to the mainte- view of the non-receipt of services for public
Pammal in Pallavaram , ment of goods and servic- nance of street lights and a reply to such representa- purposes is done strictly
worked at a private firm in es for public purposes is the like. tion, the present petition in accordance with
Chromepet and was walking done strictly in accor- The bench said the peti- was filed. P.Muthukumar, applicable rules pertain-
to her office around 9: 45 am dance with applicable tioner stated that he sub- counsel for the state ing to public procurement.
on Saturday when the duo rules pertaining to public mitted a petition under accepted notice on behalf Without going into
snatched her phone and fled. procurement. the Right to Information of the block development the merits of the petition-
According to police , two The first bench compris- Act on December 9, 2020, officer (rural panchayat), er’s representation, the
men on a bike came from ing Chief Justice Sanjib and obtained a reply to the panchayat union, district collector is
behind her and snatched her Banerjee and Justice effect that no procurement Pennagaram Dharmapuri directed to consider such
mobile phone and sped away. S e n t h i l k u m a r had been undertaken district and the representation, bearing in INSPECTION TIME
In the impact, Soundarya fell Ramamoorthy made the between the financial Dharmapuri district col- mind the relevant rules
down on She did not suffer observation while dispos- years 2017-18 and 2019-20 lector and stated that the pertaining to public
any injuries in the incident, ing of a PIL filed by and also that no expendi- district collector will con- procurement and dispose
said the police. Police have A.Karthick, which sought ture was officially sider and dispose of the of such representation Sharanya Ari, Regional Deputy Commissioner, GCC Central, along with senior police
launched a hunt for the sus- a direction to the incurred with regard to petitioner’s representa- by a reasoned order with- officers inspects shops on Ranganathan street in T Nagar on Saturday. The area is
pects and are probing. Dharmapuri district col- maintenance. Therefore, tion, the bench added. in 8 weeks”. flooded with shoppers and measures are taken to ensure they adhere to Covid
appropriate behaviour. —N. Sampath

WOMEN IN BUSES AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS lets by the DMK government Mayiladuthurai suddenly businessman mentioned in embarked as they pleased. tinguishing the two boards of them stopped going to
in the late 1960s that enabled found a surge in rural his Facebook post. Such But now, since July 12, they from a distance is not that work, lest the travel left a big
many poor people to send women visiting his company upheavals are happening all are being issued a ticket, in easy. hole in their pockets. Now
their children to high schools for jobs, he became curious. over the State with the free which instead of the fare it So now the White Board perhaps they all might
G. Babu Jayakumar and colleges in nearby towns.
Even now, it is the robust
So he made enquiries with a
group of five women and
bus travel scheme opening
new vistas for women.
will be printed ‘women.’
Those who do not collect the
buses display a sticker on the
front windscreen explaining
resume work.
With the ‘women’s ticket’
public road transport system learnt that they had travelled Even in Chennai, the num- free ticket from the conduc- that it’s free for women. It helping to make a head
Just spamming in Tamil Nadu that is cited
by academic studies as a
a long way from a remote
hamlet after changing two
ber of women commuters
has visibly gone up. Whether
tor and keep it till the end of
the journey would be fined
would help most house-
maids, one of the first cate-
count, it has been found that
between July 12 and July 15
cause for many social and buses. In the earlier times one goes by the crowds at the Rs 5, explained a housemaid gory of commuters to board alone, the percentage of
economic revolutions the they would never dare to various bus terminuses or who takes the free ride in one buses in Chennai by day- women commuters went up

H
istorically, there was a was convicted under the then State has seen over the years. make such a long journey by the bus stops, it suddenly ‘white board’ bus and a paid break. The fare that they to 60 per cent when the gov-
city bus journey in Jim Crow laws and her sub- People living in far flung vil- shelling out `56 to `60 on bus looks as though more women ride in an ‘yellow board’ to would save through the free ernment itself had only
M o n t g o m e r y, sequent appeal led to the lages could reach 'happening' fares alone. are now out on the roads, work. For those not familiar ride, even though it may anticipated 40 per cent
Alabama, that brought about Supreme Court ruling as ille- places without much of a Now they do not want to travelling to places that they with bus jargons, the white sound like peanuts for mid- patronage from the distaff
a great social reformation in gal the segregation in hassle to find work and liveli- just confine themselves to hitherto did not bother to. board is the ordinary bus in dle class women, will defi- side. So with buses turning
the United States of Montgomery buses the next hood through buses. their hamlets, taking up The trend has become more which the fare is less, free for nitely be put to good use oth- into a women’s domain, the
America. That particular year. That slice of history Going by the transforma- poorly paid agricultural perceptible this week. women and would halt at all erwise, for the benefit of the commutes would bring more
bus that the Black seam- that sparked a long and sus- tion that buses have brought work in the fields, but Though Chief Minister M K the stops en route. The yel- family. After many slums in safety to them. Trans-
stress, Rosa Parks, took that tained fight against racial to Tamil society in the past, explore opportunities for Stalin made the announce- low board bus has limited the heart of the metropolis portation experts cite afford-
fateful evening of December discrimination has been well the latest move to make bus permanent jobs in faraway ment soon after taking over stops and charges more on were cleared in the name of ability and safety as the two
1, 1955, has been painstaking- recorded and celebrated all rides free for women (and urban areas. If they could in May, the lockdown restric- the premise that it takes the beautifying Chennai and core necessities of travel,
ly restored. Visitors to the over the world. also for transgendered per- take home Rs 250 or 300, the tions took the buses off the commuter faster to her desti- those who lived there were which the new scheme offers.
Henry Ford Museum can Yes, a lot of things have sons and the disabled popula- kind of daily wages that com- roads soon. nation and does not enter- dumped in resettlement Perhaps, by engaging more
even sit on the very seat that happened on buses. It was tion) is all set to cause anoth- panies pay for unskilled jobs, Initially, it was literally a tain many passes issued by colonies in the city’s outer women conductors, the gov-
Rosa Parks refused to vacate the launching of government er revolution. When a busi- it would help the families, free ride for women. They the transport department fringes, the life of many ernment could make buses a
for a White man. Rosa Park bus services to remote ham- nessman from financially and socially, the just boarded buses and dis- even otherwise. However dis- housemaids changed. Many safe haven for women.
 STATE
DECCAN CHRONICLE | SUNDAY | 18 JULY 2021 | CHENNAI
pg 3

Water released from

OTHER STORY DMK ENACTING
SERIES OF
OFT releases

K’taka dams reaches TN

DRAMAS: EPS
remote-controlled From P1
guns to Navy,
Coast Guard
There were reports of
DC CORRESPONDENT The inflow into Cauvery discharge from Karnata- road enroute to Hogenak- the state receiving 50
DHARMAPURI, JULY 17 on the Tamil Nadu side ka was over 15,000 cusecs kal. This initiative was lakh doses a couple of
R. VALAYAPATHY | DC was measured on Saturd- a few days ago. taken to stop people from days ago but there was
TIRUCHY, JULY 17 The inflow into Hogenak- ay as 5,000 cusecs by the The remaining water entering the picnic spot no information on how
kal dam in Dharmapuri Central Water Commiss- released by Karnataka is due to the start of the it was used, Mr
Ordnance Factory, has increased following ion office at Biligundlu, expected to reach Tamil month Aadi. Palaniswami said,
Tiruchirappalli is the nodal surplus release of water the entry point for Biligundlu by Sunday. Hogenakkal has been adding that there was no
factory for indigenous produc- from the dams in Cauvery. The local police have set closed since May due to proper planning in the
tion of 12.7 mm Stabilised Karnataka. Sources said the surplus up check-posts on the Covid-19 restrictions. administration of vac-
Remote Control Gun (SRCG) cines.
system. The SRCG System is He charged the DMK
fitted with a 12.7 mm M2 NATO government with enact-
standard heavy machine gun, ing a series of dramas
designed for marine applica-
tions mounted on-board ships
and small crafts and can
Pondicherry logs less than such as calling for global
tenders, making a bid to
take over the vaccine
remotely engage small boats,
skiffs, and other small crafts
with accuracy during day and
100 new Covid-19 cases manufacturing facility
at Chengalpattu and
then announcing that
night operation. It has an
inbuilt day CCD camera, ther-
mal imager, and laser range
second time in a week the government would
source vaccines from the
open market.
finder systems for observation Puducherry, July 17: twenty-four hours with TN Health minister Ma.Subramanian and Health
and tracking the target during Puducherry recorded comorbidities. With secretary Dr.J.Radhakrishnan inspect Porur lake on
day and night operation. 94 fresh cases of Covid- this the total fatalities Saturday. —DC
The 12.7 mm SRCG system is 19 on Saturday, making rose to 1,776. The test
manufactured and supplied to
the Navy and Indian Coast
Guard through a transfer of
it the second time in a
week the union territo-
ry has seen less than
positivity rate was 1.47
percent today while
fatality and recovery Porur lake will be saved ROKA to launch drive against electronic waste
technology from Elbit 100 infections on a sin- rates were 1.48 percent T. SUDHEESH I DC waste as possible and push- biodegradable and non-
Systems, Israel in various
phases (SKD Phase, CKD
Phase, and IM Phase). OFT has
gle day.
With the addition of
new cases the overall
and 97.54
respectively.
percent,

The official said that

from pollution: Minister CHENNAI, JULY 17

Amid lockdown restric-

ing every household for
mechanised,
safe recycling
verified,
and
biodegradable waste man-
agement in their area.
It has managed to achieve
created state-of-art assembly tally touched 1,19,603. 14.19 lakh samples have DC CORRESPONDENT purposes. For the last 10 tions, the Residents of Kas- refurbishing with the sup- over 70 percent compliance
and testing facilities for Puducherry region been examined so far CHENNAI, JULY 17 years, the pollution in the turba Nagar Association port of Greater Chennai of waste segregation prac-
indigenous manufacture of alone registered 70 and it was found that lake increased as the pre- (ROKA), Adyar, has Corporation (GCC) empan- tices, implementing source
12.7 mm SRCG. cases, Karaikal 19, 12.12 lakh out of them The state government vious government did not launched a new campaign elled recycler. We request segregation of waste, door-
An OFT release said the Yanam two and Mahe were negative. will declare Porur maintain it properly. As a against electronic wastes the households to drop e- to-door collection and
Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) region three. On the vaccination lake as a source of result, the encroachment to keep the households e- waste at the Kasturba proper disposal of the seg-
Team nominated by IHQ, The new cases were front, 37,673 health care drinking water to prevent is rampant. The waste free. ROKA works Nagar Residents regated waste through
MOD(N) has conducted the identified at the end of workers and 22,947 people from polluting encroachers are filling up with the motto, ‘’The earth Association hall, opposite composting, bio-methana-
acceptance trials of the first examination of swabs front line workers have the lake further, said the lake,” he said. is all we have in common’’. to Nilgiris, 2nd main road, tion and recycling. ROKA
batch of 12.7 mm SRCG suc- of 6,395 people. been vaccinated so far health minister Ma. The catchment area of ROKA secretary Janani Kasturba Nagar, Adyar teaches residents how to
cessfully. Thus, OFT has Director of the in the Union Territory. Subramanian on the lake is spread over Venkitesh said they are between 9 am and 6 pm on segregate, going around
achieved the first milestone of Department of Health S According to the Saturday, after visiting only 50 acres while the launching a mission of col- July 24 and 25’’, she said. with garbage collectors to
manufacturing 12.7 mm SRCG Mohan Kumar said the health department, 4.46 the lake following media remaining 200 acres are lecting e-wastes from the ROKA in April 2018, with ensure that both the resi-
and is to hand over the first active cases were 1170 lakh people belonging reports on rampant pollu- filled with garbage and houses on July 24 and 25. as many as 1,000 residents, dents and the collectors are
batch of 12.7 SRCG systems to of whom 230 were in to the category of tion. water hyacinth. ‘’We are collecting as much began their foray into following the protocol.
the Indian Navy and Indian hospitals and the either senior citizens or ‘’The lake is being used “Through the public
Coast Guard. remaining 940 were in those above 45 years by people to dump bio- works department, we
C.S. Vishwakarma, DGOF & home isolation. with co morbidities medical wastes and for will send a proposal to
chairman, OFB, presided over The overall recoveries have been inoculated so washing clothes. It’s a renovate the lake. Access
the event and handed over the stood at 1,16,657. far. In all 6.31 lakh peo- drinking water source of vehicles towards the
SRCG system to K.S.C. Iyer, A 69-year-old man suc- ple have been vaccinat- spread over 252 acres. If banks of the lake will be
DGONA, IHQ, MOD(Navy), at cumbed to infection in ed in the Union it’s maintained well, we blocked to prevent people
a ceremony at OFT Tiruchy on Mahe during the last Territory. —PTI can save at least 2 or 3 from polluting the water
Saturday. tmcft water for drinking source,” he added.

3L Covishield
Halt GAIL pipeline project in TN’s arable lands: AIADMK doses arrive
Chennai, July 17 : The
opposition AIADMK on
Minister J Jayalalithaa in
2013, about 2,428 farmers and
ing gas pipelines on agricul-
tural lands via Hosur and in Tamil Nadu
Saturday demanded that the landowners from 134 villages that pits are being dug in
state government immedi- in seven districts said their agricultural lands and the DC CORRESPONDENT
ately halt the installation of livelihoods would be adverse- work is progressing in full CHENNAI, JULY 17
the inter-state KKMBP gas ly affected if GAIL installed swing," the former chief
pipeline project by GAIL gas pipelines. minister said. The State on Saturday
India in Tamil Nadu's arable The value of the lands will "I urge the Chief Minister received 3,00,000
lands in the interest of farm- sharply decline and there of Tamil Nadu to immediate- doses of Covishield
ers and instead, implement it could be a possible gas leak, ly stop the installation of gas and they will be dis-
along the highways. they had said. pipelines in the arable lands patched to all dis-
Insisting that projects are Panneerselvam recalled as projects are meant for the tricts, the officials
meant for people and not oth- state. them as having said that the people,but not otherwise, he said.
erwise, former Chief "A project is (meant) for the project would not augur well said. On Saturday after-
Minister and AIADMKs people, but not people for the for farming activities. He said late Chief Minister noon, 3 lakh doses of
coordinator O project. GAIL had then contended Jayalalithaa was of the view Covishield in 25
Panneerselvam said the Hence, the state govern- that diverting the project to that the livelihood of the peo- parcels from Pune's
present project was being ment should take immediate the national highways would ple should not be affected by Serum Institute
implemented much against action to stop this project cause traffic congestion the laws and schemes meant arrived here at
the wishes of the farmers in and ensure its implementa- until the completion of the for the people. Chennai airport on
the state. tion along the highway with- work. Meanwhile, the farmers' an Indigo Airlines
The KKMBP (Kochi- out affecting farmers' cul- Generally this approach collective which is opposed flight.
Ku t t a n a d u - M a n g a l u r u - tivable lands in Tamil Nadu," would require setting up of to the project maintained The doses were sent
Bengaluru) pipeline project Panneerselvam said in a an additional station every that it violated the resolution to the Directorate Of
is being laid from Kochi statement here. eight kms. passed by the then Medical And Rural
through Tamil Nadus Urging Chief Minister M It had also said that there Jayalalithaa government Health Services
Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, K Stalin to take into consid- would be safety and mainte- that no pipeline should be in Teynampet in
Namakkal, Salem, eration the concerns of the nance issues and that the allowed through the farm Chennai, The process-
Dharmapuri and ryots, he said Kerala will materials already purchased lands. ing of the
Krishnagiri districts, con- undertake laying of the would have to be changed in It alleged that while the shipment at the
necting with Bengaluru, to pipeline for 310 km from the tune with the design of the project was being executed Chennai airport was
carry natural gas. terminal in Kochi to pipes for the project. without affecting the completed quickly
The project, conceived a Bengaluru,covering seven "Against this background, agricultural lands in Kerala and it was handed
decade ago, has faced stiff districts in Tamil Nadu. it has been reported that the and Bengaluru, it cut over to department
opposition from the ryots in During a consultative meet- company has recently through the farm lands in officials, airport
the western region in the ing convened by late Chief resumed the project of lay- Tamil Nadu. —PTI sources said.

An experimental film
which is enjoyable in parts
Movie review VAAZHL
CAST: Pradeep Antony,
TJ Bhanu, Diva, Aahrav
ANUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN
DIRECTION: Arun

L
ike his much acclaimed Prabhu Purushothaman
debut film Aruvi,
which had an uncon- RATING: 2.75 / 5
ventional theme, Arun
Prabhu Purushothaman’s funeral, he meets a girl
second outing Vaazhl also referred to as Yatramma (TJ
takes its own unconvention- Bhanu), who is his distant
al path and tries to weave a cousin and develops an
story (!) without a formulaic instant liking. Soon, he
pattern. The teaser and trail- comes to know that she is
er created a huge hype. Does married and is the mother of
it live up to the expectations? a hyperactive child Yatra Bolivian girl Tanya (Diva However, there’s something visual spectacle and cine-
Vaazhl revolves around the (Aahrav). Circumstances Dhawan) who instills in him that has gone wrong – matographer Shelley Calist
philosophies – ‘people you force them to meet again and the idea of living life to the perhaps due to the has elevated the film top-
meet have the power to the duo along with Yatra is fullest. The rest is how the constantly shifting genres notch with his brilliant cam-
change our lives’ and ‘don’t on a road trip along the lifetime of experiences with an incoherent erawork. Pradeep Kumar’s
think about tomorrow and coastal towns of Tamil Prakash receives help him to screenplay, we don’t really quirky BGM and song bits go
live for the day’. Nadu. Little did he realize relieve from his constant develop a connection with very well with the mood of
Prakash (Pradeep Antony) that the journey would inner problems. the lead and empathize in the film and is a huge plus.
is an IT guy from a middle change his course of life alto- Arun’s choice of picking any way. Editor Raymond Derrick
class family who is bored of gether. Though it starts in up fresh faces for the lead While the first half travels Crasta’s cuts are laudable.
his 9 to 5 job. As a result, he TN, this journey takes characters has worked well. at a captivating speed, post Kudos to Arun for his
finds everything around him Prakash around the world Pradeep Antony fits the bill intermission it meanders experimental script! Vaazh
irritating – an over posses- including a tribal village in in terms of his looks as well without a solid plot. It is just is a feel-good attempt and it
sive and nagging girlfriend, Papua New Guinea and as performs well in the given random shots and scenes, has its moments. Execution
harassing boss, dominating Romania and gives him an role. Bhanu, Diva and and you tend to feel discon- is definitely lacking – enjoy-
mother, and a sister who opportunity to meet various Aahrav have also put up a nected. able in parts.
wants to elope. One day, at a people including the convincing feat. Technically, Vaazhl is a Vaazhl streams on SonyLiv.
 NATION
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | SUNDAY | 18 JULY 2021
pg 4

IN BRIEF
Trainer aircraft
Centre’s bar on Any decision by Cong. chief
memoirs must go,
skids in Sagar
Sagar: A trainer aircraft skid-
ded off the runway while
taking off at Dhana airstrip
ex-babus tell PM
acceptable, says Amarinder
in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar
district on Saturday after- Sidhu holds meetings with Punjab Pradesh Congress chief, ministers
noon but the trainee pilot DC CORRESPONDENT accrues to every govern-
who was flying solo did not NEW DELHI, JULY 17 ment servant for the serv- DC CORRESPONDENT
suffer any injuries, police
said. The aircraft, a Cessna A group of former offi-
ice put in while in the
government. It is subject
with agency inputs
NEW DELHI, JULY 17
WB GOVERNOR
172, belonged to Chimes
Aviation, a private aviation
cers of the All India and
central services, who
only to future good con-
duct and cannot be taken Amidst tension in Punjab
RUSHES TO DELHI
institute which had been have worked with the away except for convic- Congress, General DC CORRESPONDENT
banned from using the Union and state govern- tion for serious crime or Secretary Incharge Harish KOLKATA, JULY 17
airstrip, 20 km from here, ments in the course of grave misconduct. If writ- Rawat flew to Chandigarh
after one of its aircraft their careers, have ing about certain matters to meet Chief Minister West Bengal governor
crashed last year and two expressed anguish over amounts to grave miscon- Captain Amarinder Singh. Jagdeep Dhankhar flew to
people onboard were killed. the new amendments in duct, the government can The development comes New Delhi on Saturday
But the ban was lifted later. the Central Pension Rules certainly take action, as after Capt. Amarinder keeping the purpose of his
The incident took place that bar officials working per law, to deprive the for- Singh had written to sudden visit secret. What
around 3 pm on Saturday. with Intelligence Bureau mer official of his or her Congress President Mrs. has, however, fuelled spec-
Rahul Sharma, Chimes or RAW to take clearance pension," said 109 offi- Sonia Gandhi against the ulation about his agenda,
Aviation’s local administrator from the Union govern- cials in an open letter to proposed appointment of present role and future
said that the 22-year-old ment if they wish to make the Prime Minister. Mr. Navjot Singh Sidhu as was a tweet by him shortly
trainee pilot was safe. The any publication after They said the practice of the Punjab state unit chief. before leaving Kolkata.
aircraft skidded off the run- retirement. The officials retired bureaucrats writ- “Had a fruitful meeting Referring to a quote
way and reached a patch of said such an act is a move ing their memoirs or arti- with @harishrawatcmuk. Karmanye vadhikaraste
land full of shrubs, said eye- to silence people from giv- cles on different aspects Reiterated that any deci- Ma Phaleshu Kada-
witnesses. ing the correct picture of of the work done by them sion of @INCIndia chana... from Bhagavad
things that are often not during their working President will be accept- Gita, Mr Dhankhar tweet-
CAMPAIGN presented correctly by the
people in power.
years or commenting on
current affairs using
able to all. Raised certain
issues which he said he’ll
ed at around 7.30 am, “Do
your duty, but do not
AGAINST DOWRY The amendments pro-
hibit retired government
their 'domain' knowledge
is universal and is appre-
take up with @INCIndia
p r e s i d e n t , ’
worry yourself
results. Fruits of your
with

IN MARRIAGES servants who have ciated the world over.

"Only those who have
@capt_amarinder,” the actions are not for your
worked in any intelli- official tweeted. Punjab Congress General Secretary in-charge Harish Rawat meets Chief Minister enjoyment. Even while
Kozhikode, July 17: gence or security related been involved in security On returning to Delhi Capt. Amrinder Singh for a crucial meeting in Chandigarh. - PTI working, give up the pride
Demonstrating their share of organisation to take the related matters, internal after meeting the Punjab of doership. Do not be
commitment in creating clearance of the head of or external, can speak Chief Minister, the AICC Jat Sikhs cannot be lead- High Court in April more than half an hour, attached to inaction.”
awareness against dowry in the organisation if they with authority and credi- General Secretary ing the party and the state quashed a probe into the Mr. Sidhu said he is his There was, however, no
marriages, police personnel in wish to make any publica- bility. Other domain expressed happiness that unit chief needs to be from 2015 Kotkapura firing elder brother and a guid- announcement or even an
the city on Saturday took a tion if such publication experts, scholars and “several matters that were the Hindu community. case. Sidhu had ques- ing force. Jakhar also said indication from Mr
mass oath against the social relates to the domain of even interested members being discussed outside” Also, Capt. Amarinder tioned the alleged “delib- Sidhu is a capable man. Dhankhar about his tour
evil, which had led to a series the organisation, includ- of the public look forward have turned to be worth- Singh is not happy with erate delay” in ensuring He also called on three this time in contrast to the
of deaths in Kerala. ing any reference or infor- to such words of wisdom less after talking to the the tirade of Mr. Sidhu on justice and had accused Cabinet ministers includ- previous occasions.
The city police commission- mation about any person- based on personal experi- Chief Minister. social media against the Amarinder of evading ing Sukhjinder Later it was learnt that
er A V George read out the nel and his designation, ence. It helps current “Captain saab has state government. He says responsibility in the 2015 Randhawa, Gurpreet the governor boarded a
oath at a function held at the and expertise or knowl- practitioners to perform repeated his stand that he this demoralises the cadre. sacrilege case. Kangar, and Balbir Sidhu New Delhi-bound flight at
Calicut beach. edge gained by virtue of better. It is true of India, will accept and respect According to sources, Meanwhile Mr. Sidhu at their respective resi- 10.20 am. In the afternoon,
“The oath-taking was part of working in that organisa- as of any other country, whatever decision the Amarinder Singh is learnt went on a charm offensive dences. union culture secretary
creating awareness among tion; sensitive informa- that the government ver- Congress President takes to have told Rawat that he in Chandigarh. He met the He also met about a Raghav-endra Singh visit-
people against dowry menace. tion, the disclosure of sion of events, either cur- in the matter of the will not meet Sidhu till he incumbent state unit chief dozen MLAs also in ed Mr Dhankhar.
All parents should record all which would prejudicial- rent or past, is seen as the Punjab Congress chief ’s publicly regrets or apolo- Sunil Jakhar and several Chandigarh. This is seen The governor’s sudden
communication with respect ly affect the sovereignty point of view of the party position,” Mr. Rawat gises for his tweets against MLAs earlier in the day as Sidhu’s effort to take move came after chief
to the marriage of their ward and integrity of India, the in power and is not, nec- tweeted in Hindi, thank- him. Rawat did not give amid speculation over his everybody along in the minister Mamata Bane-
in some gadget so that it can security, strategic, scien- essarily, reflective of the ing the Chief Minister for away details of the meet- appointment as the next party. rjee met him on July 14
be used as an evidence in the tific or economic inter- whole truth. It is because this. ing either. head of the party's state Sources say the revamp and the NHRC’s report on
event of any unfortunate inci- ests of the state, or rela- of this that the views and Insiders claim that Sidhu has been critical unit. in the Punjab Congress the Trinamul Congress
dents”, the commissioner sug- tion with a foreign state memoirs of past practi- Captain Amarinder Singh of Amarinder Singh after After the meeting with can take place anytime government’s alleged role
gested. or which would lead to tioners, unencumbered had pointed out that two the Punjab and Haryana Mr. Jakhar, which lasted now in the post-poll violence.
Besides around 100 police incitement of an offence. by the constraints of
officials participating in the "We are unable to under- office, have value," they
oath taking function, person- stand why there is a need said.
nel at police stations also took
the pledge against demanding
and giving dowry.
Kerala had witnessed a
for such an amendment to
the Central Pension
Rules, when there already
exists an Official Secrets
The officials said the
recent amendment to the
Pension Rules attempts to
impose a silence that will
YOUTH KILLED
IN BSF FIRING All gaps in borders will be ODISHA TO OPEN
SCHOOLS FOR
series of dowry related deaths
recently, following which state
Governor Arif Mohammed
Khan, had undertakena dawn-
Act 1923 and the state can,
under it, prosecute offi-
cials and former officials
who reveal information
seriously affect scholar-
ship and be a permanent
impediment to an under-
standing of the impera-
IN BENGAL
RAJIB CHOWDHURI | DC
plugged before ’22: Shah CLASSES 10 & 12
AKSHAYA KUMAR
to-dusk fast to create aware- prejudicial to the State. tives of India's security KOLKATA, JULY 17 New Delhi, Jul 17: Union only after Narendra Modi headed the 1965 raised SAHOO | DC
ness against the social evil. Pension is a right that concerns. Home Minister Amit Shah became prime minister force for nine years. He BHUBANESWAR, JULY 17
In view of increasing com- A youth died in firing by on Saturday asserted that that the country got an died in 2003.
plaints of dowry harassment the Border Security unfenced gaps along independent security The Union home minis- In view of inconven-
reported in the state, the
Kerala
amended
government
its
has
Dowry
Prohibition Rules to appoint
MP seeks probe Force (BSF) after one of
its jawans was attacked
by smugglers at the
India-Bangladesh bor-
India’s over 7,500-km-long
land border will be sealed
before 2022, thus covering
areas that lead to infiltra-
strategy.
Shah was delivering the
annual ‘Rustamji memori-
al lecture’ instituted by
ter also gave away gal-
lantry medals to the serv-
ing personnel and to the
family members of those
ience faced by students
in rural areas for online
classes due to poor net-
work, the Odisha gov-
'dowry prohibition officers' in
all 14 districts as part of tak-
ing stringent
against the menace.
measures into ‘nationality’ der in Nadia of West
Bengal early Saturday.
The deceased, Ashiq
Halsana (18), is from
tion and smuggling of
arms and narcotics.
He also asserted that
India’s security policy
the Border Security Force
(BSF) in the memory of
its first director general
(DG) K F Rustamji.
who were killed in the line
of duty from the country’s
largest frontier force.
“I assure that there will
ernment on Saturday
announced to reopen
schools for Class 10 and
12 students from July 26.
The post of dowry prohibi-
tion officers, which had
already existed on a regional
basis in three districts-
Thiruvananthapuram,
of MoS Home
New Delhi, Jul 17: Rajya (TMC) and later the BJP
Bhatgachhi village in
Chapra.
At around 3.15 am, the
BSF 82nd battalion
troops found two groups
was either “influenced or
was overlapping” with the
foreign policy and it was
An officer of the 1938
batch of the British-era
Imperial Police, Rustamji
no gap in our fencing
before 2022 (2022 se
pehle),” he said. - PTI
“The schools, both gov-
ernment and private,
will reopen from July 26
for Class 10 and 12 stu-
dents for offline class-
Ernakulam and Kozhikode, Sabha member and and was elected as an MP of smugglers, one from es,” said state school and
has now been expanded to all
districts.
Assam Pradesh Congress
Committee President
Ripun Bora on Saturday
from Cooch Behar, Bora
claimed.
According to the news
Indian side while anoth-
er from the Bangladesh
side, gathering at the
Doc wins poll, to succeed mass education secre-
tary Satyabrata Sahoo.
The classes will be held
PAWAR SAYS urged Prime Minister channels, Bora claimed, border. They, around 8-10 from 10.00 AM upto 1.30

CO-OP MINISTRY
AGAINST STATUTE
Narendra Modi to conduct
an inquiry into allega-
tions that newly appoint-
ed Union Min-ister Nisith
Pramanik showed his
address as Cooch Behar in
election
manipulation”.
papers “by
in number, were trying
to smuggle a large num-
ber of rare species of
birds and banned drugs.
Kokje as VHP president PM without recess hour.
However, the district
collectors will take a
final call on reopening of
Pramanik is a The channels also high- The BSF troops chal- DC CORRESPONDENT ● THE NEW VHP PRESI- medical science. schools after reviewing
From P1 Bangladeshi national. lighted the “jubilant sce- lenged them. One group NEW DELHI, JULY 17 DENT hails from Bihar “Our board of trustees the Covid situation in
However, sources close nario”, including a state- of smugglers, however, and was the vice today unanimously elect- their concerned dis-
ration, regulation and wind- to Pramanik strongly ment of “his elder broth- attacked a BSF jawan A Padma Shri awardee president of the saffron ed Padma Shri Ravindra tricts.
ing up of co-operative soci- refuted the allegations, er” and some villagers of while the other group and an orthopaedic sur- outfit so far. Narain Singh as our presi- The state government
eties were preserved as a ‘State saying the minister was his native village in cut the fence. geon, Dr. R.N. Singh has dent....Kokje ji is now 82 is also planning to
subjects’ under Entry 32 of born, brought up and edu- Bangladesh expressing The BSF jawan, in self- succeeded Vishnu years old. He wanted to be reopen the schools for
List II of the VII schedule of cated in India. their satisfaction on defence, fired one round Sadashiv Kokje as the the outfit’s governing relieved of his responsi- Class 9 and 11 students
Constitution of India. In his letter, which was Pramanik being appoint- in air. But the smug- Vishwa Hindu Parishad's council and board of bilities as the VHP presi- from August 16 and
Referring to Supreme Court also posted on his Twitter ed as union minister of glers, undeterred, con- president. trustees in Faridabad on dent. The election has September 15, respec-
judgments in his letter, the vet- handle, Bora claimed that state for home. tinued their attack. The Justice (retd) Kokje, 82, Saturday. been conducted as per his tively. “We are planning
eran politician said that any the reports in news chan- “If it is so, this is a very BSF jawan then fired had been serving as the The new VHP president wishes and our constitu- to reopen the schools for
attempt of interference by the nels namely Barak Bangla serious matter for the another round leaving VHP president since his hails from Bihar and was tion,” VHP's joint general Class 9 and 11. The class-
Union will be a breach of the and Republic TV Tripura country, that a foreign Ashiq injured. While election to the top post in the vice president of the secretary Surendra Jain es for Class 11 students
Constitution. and digital media, India national is appointed as a some fled, others carried April 2018. saffron outfit so far. He said at a press conference. will be held from
In a series of tweets, Mr Today and Business union minister. away Ashiq but left him The polls for the presi- had received Padma Shri, Milind Parande has September 15 after com-
Pawar also said, “Through a Standard, showed that “Therefore, I urge upon on the way. He was found dent and general secre- the fourth highest civilian been renominated as the pletion of admission
letter, I have drawn the kind Pramanik a Bangladeshi you to conduct an inquiry dead in the morning. tary of the VHP were held honour in 2010 for his con- general secretary of the into Plus II courses,” he
attention of our Hon’ble PM national. about the actual birth- amid a two-day meeting of tributions to the field of outfit. further informed.
towards issues and conflicts in Quoting the reports, the place and nationality of
the wake of certain develop- MP claimed that the Nisith Pramanik in a DELHI AIRPORT
ments in the co-operative
banking sector. Although the
union minister's birth-
place was Harinathpur
most transparent way and
clarify the whole issue as SET TO REOPEN BIG | ISSUE 1,897 persons arrested for trafficking of drugs
objects and reasons for amend- under Palasbari police it creates confusion across
ing the Act can be lauded, I
wish to point out certain
inconsistencies and the result-
ing legal inefficacy of norma-
station in Gaibandha dis-
trict of Bangladesh and he
reportedly came to West
Bengal for computer stud-
the country,” Bora wrote.
Sources close
Pramanik said the minis-
ter is a “patriotic Indian”
to T2 ON THURSDAY
New Delhi, July 17:
To save Assam, CM destroys
`170cr drugs, warns peddlers
tive provisions of the Act that ies. who was born, brought up Delhi International
are in conflict most specifical- After getting a computer and educated in India and Airport Limited (DIAL),
ly with the 97th Constitutional degree, he first joined the asserted that the allega- a GMR Group led con-
Amendment, State Co-opera- Trinamool Congress tions were baseless. sortium, on Saturday
tive Societies Acts and with announced that the
the Co-operative Principles.” flight operations at
In another tweet, he said, “I
reiterated in the letter that the
aims and objectives of the
Flouting norms Terminal 2 will recom-
mence with effect from
Thursday, July 22 at 0001
MANOJ ANAND | DC
GUWAHATI, JULY 17
● THE CHIEF MINISTER
regretted that the state
narrated the drug menace
which was threatening to
destroy a generation in
intensified after the new
government took office in
May this year. In 2016, 10
Amended Act are well-inten- hours. The terminal is In what is called an was on its way to becom- Punjab, Mr Sarma said kg of heroin was recov-
tioned, and many provisions all set to provide a safe attempt to save Assam ing like Punjab, where that in the past two ered, 5 kg in 2017, 7 kg in
are necessary. Erring Board and healthy environ- from becoming ‘Udta thousands had fallen vic- months, 1,021 cases have 2018, 23 kg in 2019 and 27
and Management must defi- ment to passengers, fly- Punjab’, Assam chief min- tim to the trade of illicit been registered and 1,897 kg in 2020.
nitely be acted upon strictly ing out of Indira Gandhi ister Himanta Biswa drugs. persons arrested for “This shows that avail-
and the depositors’ interests International Airport Sarma here on Saturday involvement in trafficking ability of drugs is increas-
should be protected, but at the (IGIA). started a drug disposal other parts of the north- of illegal drugs. During ing since police are able to
same time it should be The resumption of drive by destroying seized east and areas bordering a the same period, over 27 seize only around 10-20
ensured that while doing so, operations at T2 will be drugs worth `170 crore neighbouring country to kg of heroin, 12,823 kg percent of the total illicit
the Co-operative Principles with approximately 200 ceremonially at Golaghat, other parts of India, the marijuana, 41 kg opium, commodity in circulation.
laid down in the Constitution air traffic movements Diphu and Hojai and situation has changed in 78,000 bottles of cough We are standing like a
are not sacrificed at the altar (100 departures and 100 warned that Assam is no recent years with the use syrup, over 1.3 million rock behind the Assam
of over-zealous regulation.” arrivals) per day and longer a safer place for of the contraband increas- psychotropic tablets called police led by DGP Bhaskar
It is pertinent to note that In increase progressively drug peddlers. ing in the state. Yaba, 3 kg morphine, 3 kg Jyoti Mahanta and special
November 2019, when a presi- up to 280 expected by end Asserting that Assam He regretted that the crystal methampheta- DGP G P Singh,” the chief
dential rule was imposed in of August. police has been given free- state was on its way to mine, 33 kg poppy straw minister said.
Maharashtra, Mr Pawar had People, flout social distancing norms as they wait to The terminal will dom to go all out against becoming like Punjab, and `1.80 crore in cash Mr Sarma said, “We are
met Mr Modi on pretext of receive a dose of Covid vaccine at a government dis- resume operations with this menace, Mr Sarma where thousands had fall- were seized. committed to create a
farmers’ issues and both the pensary in Jaipur on Saturday. India on Saturday IndiGo’s 2000-2999 series said that though Assam en victim to the trade of Though police had been drug free Assam and leav-
leaders had also had a discus- recorded 38,949 fresh cases and 542 fatalities. - PTI flights and entire opera- was earlier a transit route illicit drugs. Referring to acting against drug traf- ing no stone unturned to
sion on Maharashtra. tions of GoAir. for drugs originating from how the film Udta Punjab ficking in the past, it eliminate the menace.”
 WORLD
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | SUNDAY | 18 JULY 2021
pg 5

SHORTTAKES Afghanistan burns, foreign forces nearly gone

Kabul, Taliban
ASSAD TAKES
OATH OF OFFICE
FOR 4TH TERM

meet in Qatar
Damasus, July 17: President
Bashar al-Assad took the oath
of office for a fourth term in
war-ravaged Syria Saturday,
after taking 95 percent of the
vote in a controversial election Doha, July 17: Represen-
dismissed abroad.
Assad was sworn in on the
constitution and the Koran in
the presence of more than 600
tatives of the Afghan gov-
ernment and the Taliban
met in Doha for talks on
Saturday, AFP correspon-
Pak allows people
guests, including ministers,
businessmen, academics and
journalists, organisers said.
The elections “have proven
dents said, as violence
rages in the country with
foreign forces almost
entirely withdrawn.
to cross border
the strength of popular legiti- The two sides have been Chaman, July 17: Pakis- to Afghanistan to celebr-
macy that the people have con- meeting on and off for tan on Saturday partially ate Eid al-Adha with their
ferred to the state,” 55-year-old months in the Qatari capi- reopened its southern cr- families, purely on huma-
Assad said, in his inauguration tal, but the talks have lost ossing with Afghanistan, nitarian grounds,” a bor-
speech. momentum as the insur- shut off since the Taliban der official, who did not
gents have made battle- seized control of the strat- want to be named, said.
BELARUS OPPN field gains.
Several high-ranking
egic border town on the
other side.
People would be allowed
to cross until the evening,
LEADER TO MEET officials, including former
Afghan former chief exec-
Thousands of Afghans
were left stranded in the
with the possibility the
border would open again
WH OFFICIALS utive Abdullah Abdullah,
gathered in a luxury hotel
Pakistani town of Cham-
an after militants captur-
tomorrow, he added.
Muhammad Tayyab, a
Pilgrims holding umrellas to protect themselves from the heat, arrive at the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest shrine in the
holy city of Meccca, at the start of the Haj season, on Saturday. Saudi Arabia hosts another downsized Haj, with
Washington, July 17: Exiled on Saturday after morn- ed Spin Boldak from Ka- local paramilitary offi-
Belarusian opposition leader ing prayers. They were bul’s forces on Wednesday, cial, said the decision was only residents fully vaccinated permitted and overseas Muslim pilgrims barred for a second year. — AFP
Svetlana Tikhanovskaya will joined by negotiators from part of a rapid offensive taken because of “relative
meet with White House officia- the Taliban’s political offi- which has left the govern- calm on the other side”,
ls during her US visit next
week, an administration offi-
cial said Friday.
Mass anti-government demo-
ce in Doha. Former presi-
dent Hamid Karzai had
also been due to travel to
Doha but remained in Ka-
ment facing crisis.
“We have opened the Ch-
aman border... allowing
crowds of up to 4,000 Afg-
but said the crossing wo-
uld remain closed to tra-
de. An AFP photographer
said the gates were rush-
Some European arrivals in France
nstrations broke out in Belarus
in August 2020 after President
Alexander Lukashenko, who
has ruled Belarus with an iron
bul, according to a source.
“The high level delega-
tion is here to talk to both
sides, guide them and sup-
hans, including women
and children to cross over
ed by families as soon as
they opened. — AFP
need to show 24-hour -ve virus test
grip for nearly three decades, port the (government) US, AFGHANISTAN, PAK, UZBEKISTAN Paris, July 17: France
claimed a sixth term in power.
Tikhanovskaya, until then a
stay-at-home mom, ran in place
negotiating team in terms
of speeding up the talks
and have progress,” said
TO FORM QUAD FOR CONNECTIVITY
said Saturday it would re-
quire people not fully vac-
cinated and arriving from
Social media misinfo SYDNEY TIGHTENS
LOCKDOWN
of her detained husband and
claimed to have easily won but
allegations of fraud mushroo-
Najia Anwari, the spokes-
woman for the Afghan
government negotiating
Washington, July 17:
The US, Afghanistan, Pak-
istan and Uzbekistan have
are mutually reinforci-
ng,” the State Department
said on Friday.
some European countries
to show a negative Covid
test taken within the pre-
killing people: Biden Sydney, July 17: Austral-
ian authorities ordered
med and Lukashenko declared team in Doha. agreed in principle to est- Recognising the historic vious 24 hours. Washington, July 17: Pr- ● FACEBOOK REJECTED more businesses to close
himself the winner. “We expect that it (will) ablish a new quadrilateral opportunity to open flour- Arrivals from the United esident Joe Biden said criticism by US Preside- Saturday along with a
speed the talks and... in a diplomatic platform focu- ishing interregional trade Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Friday that social media slew of new restrictions
nt Joe Biden that social
FATF-RELATED short time, both sides will
reach a result and we will
sed on enhancing regional
connectivity, the Biden
routes, the parties intend
to cooperate to expand
Cyprus, Greece and the
Netherlands will be subj-
misinformation about Co-
vid-19 and vaccinations is media misinformation is
in the country’s largest
city as a weeks-long lock-
BILL PASSED BY witness a durable and dig-
nified peace in Afgha-
administration has said.
“The parties consider
trade, build transit links,
and strengthen business-
ect to the new rule, which
comes into effect at mid-
“killing people” and the
White House said Faceb-
killing people, saying its
efforts to get facts out
down failed to quash an
outbreak of Covid-19.
PAK PARLIAMENT nistan,” she said.
The Taliban have capi-
long-term peace and sta-
bility in Afghanistan crit-
to-business ties. “The par-
ties agreed to meet in the
night Saturday into Sund-
ay, Prime Minister Jean
ook needs to clean up its
act. “They’re killing peo-
are actually saving lives.
“We will not be distract-
Any retail deemed not
“critical” would be forced
Islamabad, July 17: Pakista- talised on the last stages ical to regional connectiv- coming months to deter- Castex said in a statement. ple. The only pandemic we to close across Sydney and
n’s parliament has passed a bill of the withdrawal of US ity and agree that peace mine the modalities of To date, people arriving have is among the unvac-
ed by accusations which its surroundings while
for providing legal assistance and other foreign troops and regional connectivity this cooperation.” — PTI from the United Kingdom cinated. And they’re kill- aren’t supported by the those in hard-hit suburbs
in international criminal mat- are required to show a ing people,” Biden told facts,” Facebook said. would be placed under
ters as part of efforts to fulfil negative test taken within reporters at the White stricter stay-at-home orde-
the conditions set by the global
financial watchdog FATF. The
Mutual Legal Assistance (Cri-
minal Matters) Amendment
Afghan envoy kin kidnapped the past 48 hours.
Arrivals from Spain, Po-
rtugal, Cyprus, the Neth-
erlands and Greece have
House, as he left for a we-
ekend at the presidential
retreat in Camp David.
The White House is tur-
nesses around the country
is almost exclusively hit-
ting people who remain
rs from midnight on Satu-
rday. — AFP

Bill was passed by the upper

house amidst protest by the Op-
Kabul, July 17: The dau-
ghter of Afghanistan’s
tion in Islamabad.
“After being released
ing the “disturbing incide-
nt” and security had been
had to show tests taken
within 72 hours.
ning up the pressure on
social media companies to
unvaccinated. “There is a
clear message that is com-
UK HEALTH SECY
position. Pakistan was placed
on the grey list by the Paris-ba-
ambassador to Pakistan
was briefly kidnapped and
from the kidnappers’ cap-
tivity, Ms Alikhil is under
tightened for the ambassa-
dor and his family, it said.
But Castex said that peo-
ple who are fully vaccinat-
weed out what officials
say is widely spread mis-
ing through: This is beco-
ming a pandemic of the
TESTS POSITIVE
sed Financial Action Task mistreated by unknown medical care at the hospi- Neighbours Pakistan ed with a jab recognised information on Coronavi- unvaccinated,” Centers London, July 17: UK
Force (FATF) in June, 2018 and assailants, the Afghan go- tal,” the statement added, and Afghanistan have by the European Medici- rus vaccinations. for Disease Control and Health Secretary Sajid Ja-
was given a plan of action to vernment said on Saturd- urging an investigation long had frosty ties. Kabul nes Agency — Pfizer/Bio- According to US health Prevention director Roch- vid on Saturday said he
complete it by October, 2019. ay. Silsila Alikhil was on and protection for Afghan accuses Pakistan of allow- NTech, Moderna, AstraZe- officials, a current spike elle Walensky said. has tested positive for Co-
Since then the country contin- her way home when she diplomats. Pakistan’s For- ing safe havens for Talib- neca or Johnson & Johns- in Covid-19 deaths and ill- — AFP ronavirus and is self-iso-
ues to be in that list due to its was seized for several ho- eign Ministry said in a an insurgents, while Isla- on — will not be required lating at home with mild
failure to comply with the man- urs and “severely tortur- statement that the Afghan mabad accuses Kabul of to show a test. symptoms.
dates. An increase in transnat- ed”, the Afghan foreign embassy had informed it allowing militants to use The statement said the days previously, and 28 will be added to France’s In a tweet, the senior
ional organised crime has ministry said in a statem- Alikhil was assaulted wh- their territory to carry exemption was in place days after their Johnson & so-called red list. Cabinet minister wrote:
made it necessary for the inter- ent, without giving more ile riding in a rented vehi- out attacks in Pakistan. because “vaccines are Johnson jab, Castex said. Travel from red-list “This morning I tested
national community and Paki- details of Friday’s abduc- cle. Police were investigat- — Reuters effective against the virus, France will now also acc- countries is only allowed positive for Covid. I’m
stan to improve the effective- and in particular its vari- ept vaccination by Covish- on pressing grounds and waiting for my PCR result,
ness of legal instruments. ant Delta”. ield, a copy of the Astra- even then vaccinated trav- but thankfully I have had
France will consider peo- Zeneca vaccine made by ellers must self-isolate for my jabs and symptoms are
BIDEN TO HOST ple fully vaccinated one
week after they received
the Serum Institute of
India, for its health pass.
seven days.The new meas-
ures come as several
mild. Please make sure
you come forward for your
AL-KHADEMI ON they second dose of Pfizer-
/BioNTech, Moderna and
The government also
said that Tunisia, Mozam-
European nations battle
rising caseloads.
vaccine if you haven’t
already.”
JULY 26 AstraZeneca, instead of 14 bique, Cuba and Indonesia — AFP — PTI

Washington, July 17: Presid-

ent Joe Biden will welcome
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa
al-Kadhemi to the White House
this month, his office said
Friday. The July 26 meeting
will “highlight the strategic
China sends probe team to Pak
partnership between the Unit-
ed States and Iraq,” the White
House said in a statement.
Kadhemi and US envoy Brett
McGurk discussed the with-
over bus explosion
drawal of troops from Iraq Beijing, July 17: China security minister Zhao Chinese nationals
Thursday in Baghdad. on Saturday said it has Kezhi said in a statement and projects.
Some 3,500 foreign troops are sent investigators to Paki- after a phone call with his Islamabad is
still on Iraqi territory, includ- stan to probe an explosion Pakistani counterpart. Beijing’s closest
ing 2,500 Americans, who have This aerial photograph taken above the Maas river shows the extend of the flood on a bus that killed 12 peo- Beijing has “sent techni- regional ally, but the
been posted to help fight the waters near the evacuated town of Arcen, the Netherlands on Saturday. — AFP ple, including nine Chine- cal experts in criminal security of Chinese
Islamic State group since 2014. se nationals, calling the investigation to Pakistan workers in Pakistan
In Washington, Kadhemi is blast a “terrorist attack”. to assist in the investiga- has long been of con-
expected to push for a concrete
timetable of American troop
withdrawal. Iraq, long an are-
Europe flood death toll tops The bus was carrying
around 40 Chinese engin-
eers, surveyors and mech-
tion”, he added.
He called on Islamabad
to strengthen security for
cern.
Large numbers of
them are based in the

150, costly rebuilding ahead

na for bitter rivalry between anical staff to a Chinese nationals in the country to supervise
the US and Iran despite their hydropower dam con- country. On Wednesday and build construc-
shared enmity towards IS, has struction site in the China urged Pakistan to tion projects. — AFP
seen growing numbers of rock- northwestern Khyber “severe-
et and drone attacks. Berlin, July 17: Rescue western Germany’s Ahr- raging rivers this week Pakhtunkhwa province ly pun-
workers laboured to clear weiler county, one of the and caused the disastrous on Wednesday. i s h ”
MOISE FUNERAL up damage laid bare by
receding water Saturday
worst-hit areas, and more
casualties are feared.
flooding that swept away
cars, destroyed homes and
The other three people
killed in the explosion
t h o s e
responsi-
JULY 23, EX-PREZ as the death toll from dis-
astrous flooding in Weste-
Another 43 people were
confirmed dead in neighb-
trapped residents. By Sat-
urday, floodwaters were
were Pakistanis, while
around 28 were injured.
ble
the bus
for

RETURNS HOME rn Europe rose above 150

and thoughts turned to
ouring North Rhine-Wes-
tphalia state.
receding across the affect-
ed regions, revealing the
Islamabad previously bl-
amed the blast on a mech-
explo-
sion and
Port-Au-Prince, July 17: The the lengthy job of rebuild- Belgium’s national cris- extent of the damage. “A anical failure that led to a called on
funeral for Haiti’s slain presid- ing communities devastat- is center put the country’s lot of people have lost eve- gas leak, but China has authori-
ent Jovenel Moise will take ed in minutes. confirmed death toll at 24 rything they spent their li- called it a bombing. ties to
place on July 23, officials said Police said that more and said it expects the nu- ves building up,” German “China and Pakistan will “earnest-
Friday, as the troubled nation’s than 90 people are now mber to rise. Days of hea- President Frank-Walter work together to find out ly pro-
first democratically elected le- known to have died in vy rain turned streets into Steinmeier said. — AP the truth,” Chinese public t e c t ”
ader Jean-Bertrand Aristide
arrived home after receiving
medical care in Cuba.
The state funeral services
will take place in Cap-Haitien,
a historic city in the north of
Japan envoy called over Moon
‘masturbating’ comment
Haiti, which has slid dangerou-
sly toward disorder since Moi-
se was gunned down in his
home in the early hours of July
7. Moise’s widow Martine Mo-
ise, who was seriously injured Seoul, July 17: South ister Yoshihide Suga, des- The comments come as ly inappropriate” words,
in the attack and is being treat- Korea summoned the Jap- cribing the South Korean the two countries have though he did not confirm
ed in the United States, is anese ambassador on Sat- leader as “masturbating reportedly been in talks exactly what was said.
expected to return home for urday over “undiplomat- with himself ”. over staging a top-level “While it is true that
her husband’s funeral. ic” remarks about Preside- The diplomat, who was encounter during the Ga- such terms were used dur-
“The first lady, injured duri- nt Moon Jae-in and the not identified, added in the mes to improve ties that ing the conversation it
ng the assassination of the pre- possibility of a summit same interview with So- have plunged to their was not directed at
sident and hospitalised in Mi- during the upcoming Tok- uth Korean cable network worst level in years over President Moon,”
ami, will return to the country yo Olympics, according to JTBC that Moon was in a historical disputes. Ambassador Koichi
to participate in the funeral of Seoul’s foreign ministry. “tug of war only with him- Following JTBC’s Aiboshi said in a state-
her assassinated husband,” A senior Japanese diplo- self ” since Japan has “no report, the Japanese ment. “I have sternly war-
interim Prime Minister Claude mat had reportedly ridicu- space to pay attention to ambassador said it was ned Deputy Chief Soma,”
Joseph said at a press confer- led Moon’s desire to meet Seoul-Tokyo relations” at his deputy Hirohisa Soma he added.
ence. with Japanese Prime Min- the moment. who had spoken the “high- — AFP
 EDIT
DECCAN CHRONICLE | SUNDAY | 18 JULY 2021 | CHENNAI
pg 6

Subhani LETTERS
20-20 IN TENNIS
W i m b l e d o n Te n n i s
18 JULY 2021 is the hallmark of
all the Grand Slam
titles and by win-
ning his 20th
Sanjeev Ahluwalia G r a n d S l a m t r o p h y,
D j o kov i c i s now
Off the beaten track l evel wi t h Ro g er
Federer and Rafael
Nadal in the list of

Don’t overregulate most singles wins

in men’s tennis his-
t o r y. W i t h p a n d e m -
ic strikes, we could
the retail market not witness
Wimbledon match-
e s l a s t ye a r. B u t

H
ow should government balance the interests of retail sellers whilst pro-
tecting the interests of consumers? Even handed legislation and trans- with Nadal with-
parent, market-based rules to kindle higher investment and growth, bet- drawing from
ter employment opportunities and higher tax collection from trade
would be the long-winded answer.
Wimbledon citing
Sadly, legislation, in democracies, is strongly influenced by political economy injury reasons and
which dilutes technical good sense. Legislators choose to benefit a set of citizens Roger Federer fail-
versus others. Political economy is upfront in defining the rules for e-commerce ing to reach the
— the bright new kid in retail markets — which accounts for around seven per
cent of the estimated retail turnover of `65 trillion (2020) but is expected to grow semi-final stage
at 2X the average growth rate in retail. t h i s ye a r, t h e w a y

No free lunch in diplomacy:

Political economy loomed large when FDI in retail was being liberalised in 2011- was clear for
2013 during the waning days of the Manmohan Singh led UPA2 government.
Despite bitter opposition from the BJP, the Communists, West Bengal and Tamil Novak D j o kov i c .
Nadu, the government liberalised the FDI regime allowing conditional foreign There is no other
competition in retail. This trend continued under the Narendra Modi government p l a ye r w h o c a n
till 2019, benefiting consumers through choice and lower prices, workers via new p rov i d e s ub st ant i al
urban jobs and empowering small suppliers, who, by association with e-com-
merce platforms, became part of the formal sector.
Today 100 per cent FDI is permitted through the automatic route for “single
brand” retailers (like IKEA) who also sell online, albeit with riders, like compul-
sory local purchase or incremental exports equal to 30
per cent of domestic sales.
India’s lesson in Afghanistan the Russians into the son to the Taliban including
fight to the star
performer on the
tennis circuit. A
one-sided final was
The interests of existing, big, domestic, chain retail- Afghan trap.” incarceration of its leader- ex p e c t e d , h o w e v e r,
ers or future promoters are protected. FDI beyond 51
per cent, in bricks and mortar multi-brand retail is Manish Tewari Brzezinski then goes on to
lay out the rationale of the
ship in de-facto concentra-
tion camps like Guan-
Matteo Berrettini
g ave a to ug h f i g ht
banned, thereby positioning existing large domestic United States military aid tanamo Bay, the United
retailers as convenient partners for buy-outs. One and Saudi financing States got into a negotiation in the first two
through Pakistan of the with the Taliban again. sets only to fizzle
State of the Union
hundred per cent automatic FDI in multi-brand e-com-
merce marketplaces is allowed but hobbled by the Mujahedeen in Afghan- For, hard politic dictated
platform being banned from owning any inventory or istan. He waxed eloquent just that since the entire
out in the fourth
having any commercial interest in the sellers regis- stating “What is most imp- nation building efforts of set to surrender

T
tered on the e-marketplace. No such constraints apply he United States of came in the First Gulf War ortant to the history of the the past two decades had not the game, set,
to domestically owned e-marketplaces. America and the of 1990 when a US-led coali- world? The Taliban or the come to fruition in terms of match and the
The ban on inventory held e-commerce for foreign Soviet Union were tion liberated Kuwait in a collapse of the Soviet emp- a stable alternative that
owners is anti-consumer and anti-worker. It retards undoubtedly the shock and awe operation ire? Some stirred-up Mos- could stay afloat without championship to
foreign competition, incremental investments and super-victors of that scattered the forces of lems or the liberation of sustained US support and D j o kov i c . The S erb
employment. It generates a perverse incentive for for- The ban on World War Two. The Saddam Hussein like Central Europe and the end long term commitment s t a r p l a ye d t o a
eign owned e-marketplaces to game the system by inventory held Communist Party of China ninepins. Ironically, it is the of the Cold War?” which no nation including
plan and did not
acquiring difficult to unravel, indirect “commercial e-commerce for (CCP) was a default winner. US that had supported and Mark the words, “some the US is capable of making
interest” in registered sellers via layered shell compa- foreign owners The two principal European resourced Iraq between 1980 stirred up Muslims”. indefinitely. worry much though
ny structures, widely used for evading tax internation-
is anti-consumer Powers, namely Britain and and 1989, both materially The Americans, therefore, In return for assurances he lost the first set
ally. Such porous regulatory provisions are generally France, lost their pole posi- and militarily, in its war had only one objective in from the Taliban that US ( 6 -7 ) t i e b r e a k e r
ineffective - serving only to keep recognised brands out and anti-worker tion in global affairs with Iran. The second mili- Afghanistan from 1980 to interests would not be tar-
but attracting "shady" foreign business partners. because of the loss of their tary involvement of the US 1989 — to give the Soviets geted from Afghani soil they but recouped his
Regulatory “demons” continue to proliferate. The most recent proposed amend- colonial possessions. in Iraq in 2003 again did not their Vietnam. They suc- were more than willing to energy to win the
ments to the E-Commerce Rules 2020 — which were briefly available in end-June Between 1945 and now the end well. ceeded when the Soviets hand Afghanistan back to n ex t t h r e e s e t s 6 -
2021, for just 15 days, on the consumer affairs ministry’s website — propose some US has grown from strength It de-facto ended up widen- withdrew over the Amu the mullahs. For the United
inadvisable changes. Consider the provision imposing a fallback liability on the to strength. The Soviet ing Iran’s influence across Dariya in 1989. The subse- States, how does it matter, 4, 6-4, 6-3 to
e-marketplace for the misdeeds of a registered seller, not limited to what is con- Union disappeared on the region forming a Shia quent collapse of the Soviet as the Taliban is only an a n n ex t h e t i t l e .
tractually agreed between the two. Applied to the physical world the owner of a December 26, 1991. The US Crescent that includes Union was a collateral extreme version of the C.K. Mani Ramani,
mall would become liable for the deeds of anyone renting space inside the mall. emerged as the global Lebanon, Syria, Bahrain, bonus. They really did not many mullahs they deal Tiruchy
Second, requiring sellers on an e-marketplace to declare the originating country hyper-power in the early Iraq, Iran, Azerbaijan, care what they left in their with the wider Middle East?
of the goods is unexceptional. But surely, the e-marketplace should not be liable 1990s. China back then was Yemen, and even western wake for their purpose had Were the Taliban to
for misdeclarations by the seller.
Third, directing that the e-marketplace promote Indian substitutes for foreign
still far behind to even
attempt to play catch-up.
Afghanistan.
The US involvement in
been served.
Can the US be faulted for
renege on its commitment
the US could always come
FELICITATE COACHES
goods listed on its website, ironically, requires the e-marketplace to play a more However the track record Afghanistan commenced in its approach in the early back again. For all their Behi nd ev er y successf ul ath-
active role — bordering on discrimination across a class of sellers —which they of the US after the Second the dying moments of the 1990s qua Afghanistan? No, protestations, the lete there is a dedicated
are expressly forbidden to do. World War in military Jimmy Carter Adminis- it cannot, because each Pakistanis would be again coach and a support team.
More importantly, these tweaks, presumably for protecting the interests of interventions around the tration in December 1979. It nation operates in its own willing to be the cat’s paw. Coaches are still training
domestic e-retailers, are unlikely to further “Atmanirbhar Bharat”. In commerce, world has been chequered was green-flagged by his enlightened self-interest. For the gravy train that onl y b ecause of thei r p assi on
international competitiveness is the only pathway to self-confidence. Admittedly, to say the least. Its first big National Security Advisor The US national interest comes along with these for sport, despite financial
such “additional clerical burdens” are unlikely to turn foreign investors away military involvement after Zbigniew Brzezinski. He ended the day the Soviets interventions is just too fin- limitations. PM Narendra
from the great Indian e-commerce marketplace. But the argument for “nascent the Second World War was disclosed in an interview withdrew. The Afghans ger-licking for the Pakistani Mod i shoul d menti on coach-
industry” protection must be considered alongside our long history of breeding in Korea from 1950 to 1953. It that “The day that the then had nothing to crib elites to resist. In the mean- es i n Mann Ki Baat. Ar j un’s
uncompetitive business entities and hurting consumer and working-class inter- ended in a stalemate. The Soviets officially crossed about for the US was not time, the Afghans would success was because of
est eventually. only high point for the US the border, I wrote to directly involved in have to grin and bear it if d r onachar y a and S r i Kr i shna
Despite the brouhaha around e-commerce, mostly by investors looking for exag- being the ignominious of President Carter, We now Afghanistan then. they cannot find their own tr ai ni ng hi s b od y mi nd and
gerated returns, more than 90 per cent of Indian retail remains unorganised and sacking General Douglas have the opportunity of giv- The period from 1989 to equilibrium. That currently sp i r i t.
physical in structure. Compare this with a formalisation share of 20 per cent in MacArthur on April 11, ing to the USSR its Vietnam 2001 unleashed such tecton- seems highly unlikely T.S. Karthik,
China, 40 per cent in Thailand, 55 per cent in Malaysia and 85 per cent in the US. 1951, by President Harry war. Indeed, for almost 10 ic forces in Afghanistan that Therein lies the lesson for Chennai
India has between seven and 11 retail shops per 1,000 population, most with less Truman. A decorated war years, Moscow had to carry they came back to bite the India that wants to hang its
than 500 square feet of covered area (ICRIER 2007). Consolidation and formalisa- hero and the Supreme on a war unsupportable by United States as never coat on the American Quad
tion are inevitable for productivity gains. Much will depend on the rate and dis-
tributional structure of future economic growth. Disposable incomes must in-
Allied Commander in
Japan, MacArthur wanted
the government, a conflict
that brought about the
before. 9/11 necessitated the
return of the US to
peg to counter China. There
is no free lunch in life. The
CHANCE ENCOUNTER
crease, especially in the bottom three quintiles, to generate demand for diversi- to widen the Korean conflict demoralisation and finally Afghanistan. From then Americans have their own DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran
fied retail markets. Presently, 70 per cent of retail demand is for groceries alone. and attack China. the breakup of the Soviet onwards till now, the objec- interests qua China. Those has said that he was sur-
Providing incentives like the upward revision (June 2020) in the revenue and The United States’ second empire”. His words indeed tive of the US was to denude interests do not necessarily p r i sed to f i nd hi s f l i ght f r om
investment criteria for qualifying for MSME benefits, is a good example of bene- big military involvement proved to be prophetic. The the capability of any non- or converge with India’s. The Del hi to C hennai on T uesd ay
fiting 23 million trade related MSMEs. Innovative facilities for formalising retail was in Vietnam. It com- Afghan misadventure did semi-state activities to hit American trajectory of leav- being operated by Rajiv
can enhance shared growth and decent employment. One third of the jobs in for- menced on February 28, bring the end of the Soviet the US again. ing allies in the lurch except Pr atap Rud y , BJ P MP, of ten
malised retail are for diploma holders or higher. Formalisation also enhances tax 1961, and ended on May 7, Union and its East Having assessed they had if they are from the Anglo- w or ks as an honor ar y p i l ot
collections from trade and provides a better shopping experience for customers. 1975, in an unmitigated mil- European satellite states. succeeded in doing that and Saxon bouquet over the past to fulfil his licence obliga-
Sufficient competition and higher productivity can also lower prices — if the gov- itary humiliation. The icon- However, the American after delivering a harsh les- seven decades is pretty well ti ons. Mar an came to know
ernment dials down political economy and geopolitical concerns in economic pol- ic photograph of this morti- involvement in documented. It perhaps the truth only after Rudy
icy formulation. fication being of the last Afghanistan had com- may be instructive for ap p ear ed b ef or e hi m i n the
Around 60 million households derive sustenance as owners or workers in retail, helicopter out of Saigon menced even prior to the The American Indian strategic elites to captain’s uniform. Had the
including 40 million in 14 million licensed retailers, 10 million urban street ven- landing on the deck of USS Soviet invasion. As trajectory of drink deeply from these DMK top b r ass know n b ef or e-
dors and another eight million small village shops, catering to our six lakh vil- Okinawa on April 30, 1975. Zbigniew Brzezinski fur- leaving allies in wells of knowledge. hand that a BJ P MP w oul d b e
lages. This is nearly one fourth of the total households and close to the number of After 1975 till 1990, the US ther opined, “It was July 3, the lurch except if op er ati ng the f l i ght, Mar an
farming households, which figure strongly in government's political economy cal- was engaged in a number of 1979, that President Carter they are from the The author is a lawyer, would have probably been
culations. proxy wars around the signed the first directive for Member of Parliament and asked to r etur n to C hennai
Thinking constructively about contextual business strategy for rapid formali- secret aid to the opponents
Anglo-Saxon former Union information
world as a part of the larger b y another f l i ght, gi v en the
sation of retailers at the bottom of the pile, could significantly enhance political Cold War paradigm but of the pro-Soviet regime in bouquet over the and broadcasting minister. cur r ent l ev el of the ani mosi -
capital, far more than safeguarding cushy business turfs for the big boys of retail. shied way from direct mili- Kabul. That secret opera- past seven decades The views expressed are per- ty b etw een the tw o p ar ti es.
tary involvement. The high tion was an excellent idea. is pretty well sonal. Twitter handle P.G. Menon,
The writer is adviser, Observer Research Foundation point of its military prowess It had the effect of drawing documented @manishtewari. Chennai

W
hen Sir Richard Branson Shepard, in the coming days, while wealthy for some time to come, it’s hard shores. Let’s not forget that that compa- billionaire’s tan or whiteness of this
blasted off into space last Elon Musk, whose SpaceX corporation not to admire Branson’s pioneering ny that built the spacecraft — The smile, he is a British icon and brand.
Sunday, July 11, he broke — is working on plans to get to Mars, may spirit. In business newspeak has creat- Spaceship Company — is one-third His victory is also a victory for Team
or rather established — sev- well have higher ambitions altogether. ed a new market segment. And having owned by the Virgin Group (it’s GB. It’s been a very long time since
eral important records. While he wasn’t Musk, according to reports, was in New proven that his baby, VSS Unity, works described as a sister company to Britain, once the third space power
Alec the first billionaire to go into space —
the extra-terrestrial ten-digit honours
Mexico to watch Branson’s successful
bid.
— by putting himself in the hot seat, Sir
Richard has made space tourism a fact
Virgin). Moreover, there were two
Brits, including an ex-RAF test pilot,
after the former Soviet Union and the
United States, had something to shout
Marsh belong to Hungarian-born Microsoft
Office software magnate Charles
After reaching 53.4 miles above to the
earth to the top of the Mesosphere in the
of life, not science fiction.
“Welcome to the dawn of a new space
Dave Mackay, at the controls, with Sir
Richard in the VSS Unity when it bolted
about regarding space. Yes, Brits are
very good at satellites, and they do
Simonyi, who went up to space on a outer atmosphere (high enough to earn age,” Branson said. “To all you kids out of the blue at the weekend. If you rovers too.
Russian rocket in 2007 — Branson was your astronaut’s wings from the United down there, I was once a child with a consider that it took 60 years of space- But Branson has given Britain its first
the first man (billionaire or not) to go to States government but not quite as high dream looking up to the stars. Now I’m flight for us to get seven UK-born men real first in space. The Russians had the
space in a rocket that he had funded as the International Aeronautical an adult in a spaceship. To the next gen- or women into space (Tim Peake was first satellite, first dog and first man in
and built himself. For what it’s worth, Federation’s definition of space at the eration of dreamers — if we can do this, number seven in 2015, according to the space. The Americans eventually got
he’s also the first knight of the realm to Karman line at 62 miles up) weightless just imagine what you can do.” British Interplanetary Society), then their own back by getting the first man

Branson is the go into space, which has a certain

anachronistic cachet, like a time-travel-
ling Roman senator.
Sir Richard has boldly gone where no
airline boss or record label owner has
gone before.
The flight may have launched into the
heavens above New Mexico, from a
spaceport in the Jornada del Muerto
minting three more British-born astro-
nauts in one day is quite an achieve-
ment. Unlike the football, Britain’s
on the moon in 1969. Well, now Britain
has beaten the world to space tourism.
And it matters because pretty soon,

Thomas Cook In achieving his ambition, which

began with the foundation of Virgin
Galactic in 2004, Sir Richard has also
pipped at least one vastly richer
IT’S A BRITISH ACHIEVEMENT
But much more than this, he is doing
for space what Thomas Cook did for
desert, in a spaceship built there by a
company that is listed in New York.
And the venture may have been spear-
headed by a Briton who lives in Necker
space ambitions are coming home.
It’s become fashionable in certain
quarters to be sniffy about billionaires.
Look at the political and public push-
like all tourism, where the rich go, the
rest of us will follow. As a result of last
weekend’s achievement, the extra-ter-
restrial world got a lot closer to the

of space travel American to the post. Amazon’s Jeff

Bezos — worth in the order of $212 bil-
lion — is expected to blast off into the
travel 180 years ago. Cook — a former
cabinet maker — famously brought
European travel to the masses, creating
Island in the British Virgin Islands, a
long way from Blighty and the taxman.
But even so, this is very much a British
back Branson received when he asked
for a loan to help Virgin Atlantic out
when the airline market imploded
average man or woman than ever
before. And that’s down to Sir Richard
Branson.
never-never aboard his Blue Origin the first ever package holidays to the achievement. because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
rocket New Shepard, named in honour continent from the 1850s. While space is And not only because the septuage- But the truth is, regardless of Sir By arrangement with
the first American in space Alan likely to remain the preserve of the very narian Branson comes from British Richard’s tax status or the depth of his the Spectator
KAUSHIK MITTER Editor, R. MOHAN Resident Editor
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pg 7

Congruity, not clash, of civilisations

INDIAN TOP 10
BESTSELLERS A melange of
NON-FICTION
insights that
1
is at root of Sen’s academic vision
HOME IN THE WORLD
Amartya Sen
Allen Lane, `899
elate, sadden
2 GEOPOLITICS:
INDIA AND ASIAN

PAST, PRESENT
THE tional institution in
Santiniketan. The poet laure-
niketan was strongly commit-
ted to non-violence, he joined
ed to the major metropolis.
Reformers from Ram Mohun
ate chose his name, that the National Cadet Corps. Roy in the nineteenth century
Shiv Shankar Menon
Penguin, `699 Ashis Ray means “immortal” in This, though, ended in failure to post-Independence intellec- Ranjona Banerji
Sanskrit, but more literally after the argumentative Indi- tuals had made it a centre of
“unearthly”, an interpreta- an got the better of him in the cultural transformation. “By
3 CHINA
NEHRU, TIBET AND

A.S. Bhasin review

tion the inheritor prefers.
Sen’s primary education
face of a Subedar Major. More
importantly, he recalls: “My
the middle of the twentieth
century,” he observes, “this review
began at St. Gregory’s School advocacy of impatience, intellectual ferment in
Penguin, `699 in Dhaka, where the boys which, rightly or wrongly, Calcutta had given the city a
would outshine students from became a central theme in my reputation that was hard to “Neem’s serrated leaves

A
nearby Indian Coffee House, everywhere else. But the writings, was, I suppose, match.”
4 INDIA’S POWER ELITE
Sanjaya Baru
Penguin, `699
rguably, Amartya
Sen is pre-eminent
among the galaxy
where students retired for
“engaging discussions and
Gregorian spirit didn’t suit
him. He came 33rd in a class
already beginning to take
shape in those early days.”
Arriving at Cambridge, he
was asked by his landlady
outside my study
wear season’s toxicity
on their exposed skin”
of world-ranking debates”. The book dwells in of 37. With Japan knocking Sen remembers the Winston wary of having a non-white

E
India economists. culture, history and society on British India’s doors, he Churchill-inflicted Bengal lodger: “Will your colour motions recollected in tranquillity
5 HOSTILITY: A
DIPLOMAT’S DIARY ON
PAKISTAN INDIA
He has now published his
memoir. Some parts of it may
and limitedly in political
thought. However, his launch
was moved to the sanctuary of
Santiniketan, which didn’t
famine of 1943, which killed
two to three million people
come off in the bath — I mean
in a really hot bath?” He reas-
and the world is too much with us
— these are the themes that run
merely engage an Indian, into academics, he discloses, interest Japanese bombers as and which he believes would sured her that his colour was through Sudeep Sen’s poems in
RELATIONS “agreeably hardy and
even only a Bengali. Others, was founded on his vision of the Calcutta docks actually not have happened had there Anthropocene. You feel in his words, the
Abdul Basit like his experiences at world civilisations as an did. Yet he would return to been a free press, as opposed durable”. An intended two- searing heat of India like in “Amaltas”,
HarperCollins, `799 Cambridge, will engross a inclusive conglomerate Dhaka for his holidays until to a subservient British year stay at Trinity College “drips ochre at 48 C, drenched in yolky
wider audience. Overall, it rather than the more recent the move away to West Bengal media, to expose the laxity. for a BA degree escalated into heat.” Or “Heat outside is like filigreed
6 SACH KAHUN TOH
Neena Gupta
Penguin, `599
whets one’s appetite without
satisfying it, for it is an unfin-
shrill propagation of them
being hostile to and incompat-
for the family when the guil-
lotine of Partition struck.
Also, the shock of the bloody
descent to Partition as his
a decade-long stint embracing
a PhD and Staff Fellowship.
sand on my skin — swift, sharp, pointed,
deceptive, furnace hot” in “Heat Sand”.
ished effort, which leaves ible with each other. Classes in a “school without family were united on the Thirty-five years later he was This collection is not just about poetic
unattended his later rise to He found distinguished walls” was “fun”; but academ- “total falsity” of the Muslim to return as Master — the descriptions of weather, however.
first non-white head of a
7 GEOGRAPHY
THE POWER OF

Tim Marshal
international stardom.
Sen spent three years of his
childhood in Mandalay,
Cambridge economists less
concerned about issues like
inequality, poverty and
ically “not particularly exact-
ing”. After much debate, for
the social climate in Santi-
League’s two-nation theory.
Tagore’s evocative song
“Amar Sonar Bangla” (My
Cambridge college — during
which period he was con-
Underlying each line, unstated but ever
present, is the reminder of what we of this
Anthropocene era, have done to this planet
Simon & Schuster, `699 Burma (where his father exploitation. Referring to Golden Bengal) was scripted ferred the Nobel Prize in we live on with so many other life forms,
Ashutosh ventured as a visit- Joan Robinson’s thinking — to successfully resist Viceroy Economics. but usually forget about.
ing professor in chemistry at which has become quite popu- Lord George Curzon’s 1905 Sen feels he is equally at It’s there in “Concrete Graves”: “arro-
8 SEPARATION
REMNANTS OF A

Aanchal Malhotra
the agricultural college). His
earliest memories emanate
lar in India — that a country
can turn to healthcare and
division of Bengal into east
and west. The irony is post-
home at the Cambridges in
England and Massachusetts
gance, avarice, real estate seduction”. The
words trip lyrical but that is deceptive. Sen
from there, and he says, “I education once it has become 1971 the rendition became the and his ancestral habitat in uses his voice to bring home every atrocity
HarperCollins, `599 could not have been happier.” rich, he argues, “This national anthem of just a por- Santiniketan. His status as a we have wrought on this planet, on our-
He found it to be “a very approach is, I think, one of tion of a presidency that transnationally applauded selves and our lives.
9 Juggernaut,
INDIA VERSUS CHINA
Kanti Bajpai
`599
agreeable place, with eye-
catching buildings, beautiful
gardens, intriguing streets,
the more profound errors in
developmental thinking,
since the need for good health
stretched to Assam. Sen
admits, “A Bengali identity
has always been important
economist probably echoes a
song Tagore had composed
about himself: “The sky is full
Inevitably, we reach the pandemic. His
“Love in the
Time of Corona”
the old royal palace and its and good education is at its for me,” and suggests this is, of the sun and the stars/ The has already been
as Tagore declared at an universe is full of life/ Among
10 RUMOURS OF SPRING
Farah Bashir
HarperCollins, `499
moat”. And he remembers his
“breathtakingly
Burmese nanny.
lovely”
peak when a country is poor.”
Thus, his plunge into welfare
economics.
Oxford lecture in the early
1930s, a derivation of “a con-
all these I have found a place/
And in wonder and amaze-
widely
lished but it
bears
pub-

re-
His formative years, though, His maternal grandfather HOME IN THE WORLD: fluence of three cultures, ment I sing.” reading:
were his decade at school in Kshiti Mohan Sen was an A MEMOIR Hindu, Mohammedan and “Cretins spray
Rabindranath Tagore’s eminent scholar and author British”. Ashis Ray is a London- bleach on unpro-
“Abode of Peace”, or of a classic work entitled By AMARTYA SEN When he moved to Calcutta based broadcaster on the BBC, tected poor, clap,
Santiniketan, in rural West Hinduism. He was also Allen Lane, `899, to read economics with math- a former editor-at-large of bang plates,
Bengal, and at Presidency Tagore’s lieutenant in curat- pp. 480 ematics at Presidency CNN, and the longest serving ring bells, blow
College, Calcutta, with the ing Visvabharati as an educa- College, he was quite attract- Indian foreign correspondent conches, light
fires
to rid the
voodoo —
karuna’s karma,
infected. ANTHROPOCENE:

THE HUMOUR AND ROMANCE OF BEING IN KARUTHUPUZHA

Mood-swings in CLIMATE CHANGE,
sanitised quar-
antine — self-iso- CONTAGION,
lation, imposed CONSOLATION
edly compared his work with RK doubt, and making for independently the author choose to tell more stories — uncontained By SUDEEP SEN
Narayan’s books set in the latter’s enjoyable bits. But this treatment, if from this town. virus, viral.
Pippa Rann Books
Vangmayi Malgudi. For a current audience deliberate, borders on caricaturing
though, Karuthupuzha, especially as in rather than celebrating and exploring
Nanu is the one character through
whose presence the story’s heart
When shall we
sing our dream’s and Media, UK,
`599, pp. 173
Parakala Bhattathiri’s latest novel, is probably a the possible depth of characters that
zestier place to visit. Bhattathiri has so lovingly journeyed
emerges; it is his introduction that
reverses a waning interest; and more
epiphanies?”
When indeed.
Bhattathiri does after all have a cheeki- with through this book. importantly, it is his nine-page mono- Like all
review er pen. He calls out everything — from
righteous religious lead-
This also does disservice to
Bhattathiri’s lovely,
logue that establishes Bhattathiri as a
writer willing to engage with not just
anthologies, this is one to be savoured. This
book is also a collection of vignettes of
ers and elderly ladies who light-hearted flair of the external manifestations of the thoughts, even photographs. The poems
FICTION spread rumours for want analysing human human mind, but also its inner, bizarre vary in style though not in tone. Or perhaps

O
n the face of it, Manu of anything more engag- behaviour (“These eld- world that we often silence with ‘reason’. that is incorrect. Rather, you get used to a

1 AT NIGHT ALL BLOOD

IS BLACK
David Dipo
Bhattathiri’s The Oracle of
Karuthupuzha has all the ele-
ments to make it the perfect
ing to do, to pontificating
old men who are quick to
change tack with their
ers even blessed the
two lovers unasked,
feeling light-headed in
And he does it effortlessly.
Sample this from Nanu: “No creator
has ever come down and guaranteed
certain consistency in range and construc-
tion and then suddenly, the short bursts of
thought are replaced by longer more philo-
Pushkin Press, `399 book of fiction to ‘escape’ into during a opinions and their own bigness.”) that the sun will always rise. No papers sophical prose-like constructions. From ee
pandemic. observations. and his mastery in have been signed, no seals stamped. cummings to Robert Lowell.
Karuthupuzha, a quaint Malayalam- But quaint atmospher- describing minutiae Tomorrow, at the usual time, if the sun Or you might come across photographs of
2 SOOLEY
John Grisham
Hachette, `699
speaking town full of idiosyncratic char-
acters, is after all a tremendous effort at
ics, eccentric people, and
vivid vignettes can only
(“…three boxers—one
of which had lost its
chooses not to rise, then that becomes
our new reality. At first we will be sur-
clouds!
“Skyscapes” as he calls them, “ink spill
world-building that Bhattathiri has go so far. It isn’t until the elastic, so its opening prised to the point of distraction, but bleeds dark — newsprint blotting out our
undertaken now over three books. This book’s halfway mark that looked like the mouth soon we will adapt.” wheezing breath”.
3 THE PRESIDENT’S
DAUGHTER
Bill Clinton & James
is his second novel — his first, The Town
That Laughed followed a collection
a direction towards a plot
emerges.
The plot is buried and
of a person who had
died laughing.”). Given
this, Karuthupuzha
It may be an imperfect analogy, but
while The Oracle of Karuthupuzha is an
escape from reality, it shines in such
Through the surprises and the theme,
Anthropocene is a keeper. You dip into it,
find a thought that opens your mind, an
titled Savitri’s Special Room and Other THE ORACLE OF
Patterson Stories, both set in this same fictional deferred in favour of could be a fertile bits, reminding us of fiction’s actual suc- emotion that has you yearning or a phrase
Century, `699 town untouched by any markers of descriptions of numerous KARUTHUPUZHA ground for funny yet cess — to be a bridge and balm on our that you keep going back to. Some ideas you
time. smaller characters and By MANU searing social com- way back to real life. may have heard before, but perhaps they
Bhattathiri has undoubtedly mastered pages of possibilities that mentary, as well as an need repetition? The writer in his study
4 TURN A BLIND EYE
Jeffrey Archer
Pan Macmilan, `450
his specific small-town-India aesthetic.
Critics and blurbs have already repeat-
didn’t come to anything.
All done deliciously, no
BHATTATHIRI
Aleph, `699, pp. 312 off-kilter refuge for
years to come, should
Vangmayi Parakala is a culture
writer based in New Delhi
with the neem tree outside is a recurring
motif, reminding us of our own contain-
ment both literally during the pandemic
and of the limitations we place on
5 THE DANGERS OF
SMOKING IN BED
Mariana Enriquez
ourselves.
Poetry you might say is an acquired taste.
But it is one worth acquiring.
Granta, `599
FAST FACT The writer is a senior journalist who writes
English poet and composer Ivor Gurney fought in the First World War. He suffered from manic on media affairs, politics and social trends.
6 WHEREABOUTS
Jhumpa Lahiri
Penguin, `499
depression and spent his last 15 years in psychiatric hospitals, dying at 47. Undervalued in life,
his masterly authorship, unsettling aesthetic, and diverse and prolific talent are only now
She tweets at @ranjona.

being uncovered. Severn and Somme and War’s Embers are his two published works.
7 THE LAST QUEEN
Chitra Banerjee
Divakaruni
HarperCollins, `599

8 A GAMBLING MAN
David Baldacci
Pan Macmillan, `699
Muslims are ‘geographical Hindus’ Leni Riefenstahl is missing
the Assembly elections there. with, including natural disasters
The book is divided into 32 like the Covid pandemic. ture their beauty on camera. refusing to shake his hand when
9 Tahmina
THE STARTUP WIFE
Mohammed chapters. In the initial chapters, For dialogue to succeed There is a memorable chapter he won the gold. What Meier dis-
Anam
the writer explains how Hindus between Muslims and RSS-ori- A.N. Wilson which lifts the lid on her intimacy covers 70 years later is much more
Penguin Hamish
Hamilton, `599
Anas and Muslims nurse ill-conceived ented Hindus, it is imperative, with her most famous subject, in surprising, though she does not
notions about one another. He according to the writer, for both which he speaks of his reading a have confirmation of her hunch
review also explains how the RSS-BJP sides to admit that there exist chapter of Schopenhauer every until she has made the journey to
10 PROJECT HAIL MARY combine came into being and misgivings. He chides Muslims evening before turning in; but, south Wales and found two of the

L
Andy Weir what philosophy leads to its core for letting their view of the RSS eni Riefenstahl was a film- despite its title, this is not really participants in the story, now
Del Rey, `699 ideology. He writes, “The RSS be dominated by stereotypes. But maker of genius whose the theme of the book. The story nonagenarians.

A
t a time when the acri- ideology derives its strength “the hate and hostility factor name is everlastingly asso- concerns the 1936 Olympics, and It is a fast-paced, brilliantly con-
mony between the from the philosophy of Hindutva should be treated as more of an ciated with her film about three young English people structed thriller, in which the
Bahrisons, New Delhi Muslims of India and and the idea of Hindu Asmita... inspiration for dialogue rather the German chancellor, Triumph caught up in its story. fates of the three young British
the ruling BJP, and its They consider Bharat as a Divya than hindrance”. of the Will, which won the gold Kim Newlands is an English ath- protagonists hang in the balance
ideological guardian, the RSS, Bhoomi where Hindus have the However, the book fails to make medal at the 1937 Paris World lete who hopes, unrealistically, to at the end of every chapter. The
has only been subdued by the first right to live. They call every it clear as to how both sides can Exhibition. It is an unforgettable win a gold medal for the long period detail is as sharply
pandemic after a long spell of soul born on this part of the make a start in this direction. piece of cinema, with the lonely jump. Since he is competing focussed as one of Riefenstahl’s
anti-CAA protests, Dr Khwaja planet, Hindu.” The author Will it be the Muslims who start hero descending, like one of the against Jesse Owens, it is a faint own films, whether we witness the
Iftikhar Ahmed, a Jamia Nagar- wants Indian Muslims to wake joining the RSS’s Muslim immortals, from the clouds. As he hope. His companions in Berlin BUF rally in Kensington Olympia,
based Muslim intellectual, has up to this reality and accept the Rashtriya Manch? Should enters the podium at Nuremberg, are his girlfriend Connie, an the so-called Battle of Cable Street
come up with the doctrine of fact that they are geographically Muslims start voting for the BJP we only see the back of his head upper-class girl of fascist inclina- or the Berlin Games themselves.
bridging the gap between the Hindus and thus very much a as they do for the Congress and as he wows the tens of thousands. tion, and Alun Pryce, a commu- What is lacking is the story
Hindu Right and the Muslims. part of this land with every right other parties? Or should the RSS In Nigel Farndale’s riveting novel, nist who has infiltrated the promised by the title. Neither the
His book, The Meeting of Minds: to practise their own faith. and BJP first appoint Muslim Riefenstahl remarks to one of the British Union of Fascists. dictator nor his muse play much
A Bridging Initiative, was The writer wants the RSS-BJP office-bearers and political can- athletes at the 1936 Olympics that The story unfolds via the 21st- of a role in the novel, which one
released by none other than RSS to approach Muslims. “The didates, starting from the upcom- the only thing which she really century researches of Sigrun reader at least found a bit of a let
chief Mohan Bhagwat on July 4. Supreme Court verdict on the ing polls? cares about is film. This seems Meier, a young female reporter for down.
It was the first time in 95 years of Ayodhya dispute is a turning These are questions left indeed to have been the case. the left-wing magazine Der
RSS’s history that a sarsang- point in our relationship. The unanswered. Farndale’s story does not con- Spiegel, whose obsession with By arrangement with
hachalak presided over a func- Muslim community considers cern Triumph of the Will. Nor Riefenstahl is limitless. At the the Spectator
tion that marked the effort of a this judgment as its moral victo- does it do more than allude to beginning of the book, she
Muslim citizen. ry and for our sister community, THE MEETING OF MINDS: A Riefenstahl’s prodigiously long descends on Riefenstahl’s
The release of the book can be a material one. Both the commu- BRIDGING INITIATIVE career, neither to her passion, Bavarian house and steals some THE DICTATOR’S MUSE
seen as the RSS’s outreach to nities… gracefully accepted this between the ages of 75 and 95, for old reels of film which contain
Muslims, especially in states like verdict,” he writes. Dialogue is By KHWAJA IFTIKHAR AHMED scuba diving, nor to her gerontic some surprises. One mystery she By NIGEL FARNDALE
Uttar Pradesh where they are in the way forward. Besides, there Manak, `1,000, pp. 451 affection for Masai warriors and hopes to resolve is the legend of Doubleday, £16.99,
significant numbers, ahead of are other challenges to cope her truly awesome ability to cap- Hitler snubbing Jesse Owens by pp. 321
 GAMES
DECCAN CHRONICLE | CHENNAI | SUNDAY | 18 JULY 2021
pg 8

Tales from track Bach

1ST COVID CASE | IN VILLAGE
SHORT TAKES
Azam leads Pak to
win over England
urges Japan
Nottingham: Babar Azam led
from the front as Pakistan beat
England by 31 runs in the first
Twenty20 international at Trent
to support Games
Tamil Nadu athletes’ inspiring journey to Tokyo
Bridge on Friday despite a blis- NEHA SURANA I DC Tokyo, July 17: IOC chief ● Bach said just 15
tering hundred from Liam CHENNAI, JULY 17 KNOW YOUR SPORT Thomas Bach urged the people had tested
Livingstone. Pakistan captain Japanese people to get
Azam made 85 and shared an The Olympic qualification ATHLETICS behind the Tokyo positive out of
15,000 arrivals in
opening stand of 150 with of the ‘Fab Five’ — HISTORY Olympics on Saturday as
Mohammad Rizwan in a nation- Revathi Veeramani, the first coronavirus case July, citing it as
al record T20 total of 232-6. Subha Venkatesan, ● Throughout recorded hit the Games Village, proof that the strict
But Livingstone gave the hosts Dhanalakshmi Sekhar, sports history, athletics prompting fresh jitters
has always been at the anti-coronavirus
hope with a 42-ball century, Arokia Rajiv and about the health risks
England’s quickest in a T20I Naganathan Pandi — forefront. The first event posed by the giant event.
measures, including
contested in the ancient daily tests for
and the fifth fastest of all-time, brought cheers to Tamil Olympic Games was the Bach, who has faced scat-
hitting six fours and nine sixes Nadu athletics at a critical “stadium” race, a sprint tered protests since arriv- athletes, are
on his way to three figures. “It juncture. The sport had of about 192 metres. ing in Japan, appealed to working.
was an incredible knock,” said grabbed headlines for the Winners in this event the public to throw their
England white-ball captain Eoin wrong reasons following have been recorded from support behind the ath- fans.
Morgan of Livingstone’s the arrest of coach P. as far back as 776 BC. letes despite fears of a It also coincided with the
innings. “The biggest compli- Nagarajan for an array of EVENTS spike in cases as thousands first case in the Olympic
ment I could pay him is our sexual abuse complaints. of international visitors Village, concerning an
changing room has watched The fact that all the five ● Athletics comprise 25 arrive. unnamed person who is
some incredible knocks from Tokyo-bound TN athletes track events in total, 12 The International now in isolation.
(Jason) Roy or (Jos) Buttler or emerged from nondescript each for men and women Olympic Committee presi- However, Bach said just
(Moeen) Ali and that knock was villages underlined the and one mixed. dent said he was “very well 15 people had tested posi-
as good as any of them. He was significance of their MATTER OF SECONDS aware of the scepticism” tive out of 15,000 arrivals
incredible.” — AFP achievements. All of them ● Athletes must not only surrounding the postponed in July, citing it as proof
Brief scores: Pakistan 232/6 come from humble back- battle to break their own 2020 Games, which have that the strict anti-coron-
(Mohammad Rizwan 63, Babar grounds, they battled personal records but the attracted low opinion-poll avirus measures, including
Azam 85; Tom Curran 2/47) bt poverty, faced personal worlds racing elite at the ratings for months. daily tests for athletes, are
England 201 (Liam Livingstone tragedy and crossed quite Olympics where even a “I appeal to the Japanese working.
103; Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/30, a few hurdles before mak- fraction of a second can people to welcome these He also held the door
Shadab Khan 3/52). ing it big. They may not be the difference athletes here for the com- open to a possible return of
have bright chances of between gold and silver. petition of their life,” Bach fans if conditions improve,
winning an Olympic TRIVIA said, insisting the Tokyo citing a communique
Lewis powers WI medal, but their against-
the-odds journey to Tokyo
● In track events, an
athlete is deemed to
Olympics were safe, calling
them the “most restrictive
issued after talks between
the IOC, International
past Australia will surely inspire the
future generation.
have finished when
which part of their body
sports event... in the entire
world”.
Paralympic Committee,
Tokyo 2020, Japanese gov-
Saint Lucia: Opening batsman REVATHI VEERAMANI has reached the finish “I would like once more ernment and Tokyo
Evin Lewis was at his rampag- line? to ask and to invite the authority.
ing best with an innings of 79 in 23-year-old from Their trunk. Regardless Japanese people, humbly, “We will keep monitoring
setting the West Indies on their Madurai of whether their head, to welcome and support the anti-Covid develop-
way to a 16-run victory over (Mixed 4x400m Relay) hands or feet reach the the athletes from around ments. And if the circum-
Australia in the final T20 line first, the athlete has the world,” he added. stances should change,
International of their five-match Revathi emerged on top in not finished until their Bach’s plea comes just six then we do have another
series at the Daren Sammy the trials conducted by the (from left) Revathi Veeramani, Arokia Rajiv, Subha Venkatesan, Naganathan Pandi trunk does so. days before the opening immediate five parties
Stadium in St Lucia on Friday. Athletics Federation of and Dhanalakshmi Sekhar. ceremony for the Games, meeting to address this
Lewis’ punishing innings off just India (AFI) to pick the which will take place in with the relevant anti
34 balls, highlighted by nine mixed relay team in the been competing in athletic mixed relay team. She lost medal winner from the biosecure “bubble” condi- Covid-19 measures,” said
sixes and four fours, lifted the absence of India’s pre- events since her school her father when she was 2014 Asian Games tions and largely without Bach. — AP
home team to 199 for eight and mier 4x400m runner M.R. days. It was Subha’s 15 and her mother is the (Incheon), Arokia was
earned him the “Man of the Poovamma. Revathi who grandfather, who worked sole breadwinner of the conferred with the Arjuna
Match” as the Caribbean team was competing after a in Tamil Nadu police, who family. award.
also took the series by a con- four-month break owing motivated her. She made AROKIA RAJIV NAGANATHAN PANDI
vincing 4-1 margin. Pacers to a knee injury clocked waves in the Asian junior
Sheldon Cottrell and Andre 53.55s. Hailing from circuit by winning 30-year-old from 25-year-old from
Russell then claimed three Sakkimangalam, Revathi medals, but Subha’s Tiruchy Ramanathapuram
wickets apiece while none of had lost both her parents biggest breakthrough (Men’s 4x400m Relay) (Men’s 4x400m Relay)
the tourists’ top-order batsmen at a young age and has came at the 2016 World U20
were able to sustain the effort been brought up by her Championships when she It will be his second Naganathan joined
deep into the innings and they maternal grandmother, K. won a gold. Subha fin- Olympic experience hav- Greater Chennai Police
were restricted to 183 for nine Arammal. She used to ished second behind ing competed in the 2016 force as an Armed Reserve
in reply despite being well on
course halfway through the
train barefoot
Arammal couldn’t afford
as Revathi in the trials con-
ducted by AFI.
5 DAYS TO GO Rio Games. The memories
of Rio are still haunting
constable through sports
quota after graduating
chase. — AFP to buy her shoes. Her Arokia as the Indian team from PMT College,
Brief scores: West Indies 199/8 coach, K. Kannan, has DHANALAKSHMI SEKHAR Dutee Chand and shat- was disqualified for the Madurai. With his father,
(Evin Lewis 79, Nicholas Pooran played a key role in tered PT Usha’s baton-exchange violation. an agriculture labourer,
31; Andrew Tye 3/37) bt Revathi’s journey. She is 22-year-old from Tiruchy Federation Cup record to A Junior Commissioned struggling to feed the fam-
Australia 183/9 (Aaron Finch currently working as a (Reserve in mixed emerge the fastest woman Officer (JCO) in the ily with meagre earnings,
34; Sheldon Cottrell 3/28, ticket collector in 4x400m Relay) athlete of the Federation Indian Army, Arokia hails Naganathan had to do a
Andre Russell 3/43). Southern Railways. Cup, she turned quite a from Vazhudaiyur village part-time job in construc-
SUBHA VENKATESAN Born to a farmer’s family few heads. near Tiruchy. He dropped tion. He won a silver at the
in Trichy, Dhanalakshmi Dhanalakshmi’s inclusion out of college to join the Federation Cup earlier PV Sindhu’s nephew Aaryan made a poster to wish the
Oly-bound Lahiri 21-year-old from Tiruchy
(Mixed 4x400m Relay)
played kho-kho before she
shifted her focus to track
for Tokyo came on the
basis of finishing third
army. His father Y.
Soundararajan, a college
this year. In the absence of
a professional coach, his
world badminton champion who left for the Tokyo
Olympics on Saturday. — Twitter
moves to tied 10th Daughter of a construc-
and field.
When she outran the
with a timing of 54.27 sec-
onds in the trials. She is a
bus driver, had competed
in district and state-level
batchmate, Prabhakaran,
guided Naganathan dur-
Nicholasville (Kentucky): Indian
golfer Anirban Lahiri’s plan to
seal his PGA Tour card for 2022
tion worker, Subha has national record holder reserve athlete in the athletic events. A bronze ing his initial days.
Coach happy with
HOCKEY STALWART
OFF TO TOKYO PV’s improved skills
got a big boost as he shot a 5-
under 67 to move to T-10 at the Oly titbits
Barbasol Championship here.
Lahiri, who had a late double
bogey in the first round, made
SREEJESH WANTS S. Korea removes New Delhi, July 17: A weak compared to her
amends with a 28-foot birdie
on the last in the second round.
TO MAKE IT COUNT Sports minister gives warm send off to athletes anti-Japan banners weak defence was the rea-
son behind P V Sindhu’s
attack. So I have been
focussing on her defence
The 34-year-old Lahiri, with a New Delhi, July 17: Tokyo: South Korea slip in performance early training before the
two-day total of 9-under 135, Competing in his third New Delhi, July 17: have removed anti- in the year and the Covid- Olympics,” Park, who was
moved to T-10 at the halfway straight and possibly last Sports Minister Anurag Japan banners at their induced break has helped the national coach with the
stage. Lahiri is four shots Olympics, Indian hockey Thakur on Saturday gave accommodation in the her address the flaw and Korean team from 2013 to
behind leader JT Poston, who team’s seasoned goal- a formal send-off to Village because they also work on her motion 2018, said.
shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 keeper P.R. Sreejesh says India’s first batch of the violated International skills ahead of the Tokyo “When Olympic was post-
to take the second-round lead he has “made a lot of sac- Tokyo Olympic-bound Olympic Committee Olympics, said India’s for- poned, I thought it was an
at 13-under 131 at the rain- rifices” and wants to athletes from eight disci- guidelines, their presi- eign coach Park Tae-sang. opportunity to work on her
soaked tournament that was make them count at all plines at the Indira dent Thomas Bach said The 42-year-old, who was motion skills, and net
delayed twice because of rain costs in Tokyo. Gandhi International on Saturday. The ban- roped in for India’s men’s training. All top players
and lightning. Lahiri played In the upcoming Airport here. ners spelt out the slogan singles players in 2019, has like Akane Yamaguchi, Tai
solidly, finding 10 fairways and Olympics starting from Thakur was accompa- in Korean: “I still have been training Sindhu fol- Tzu Ying all know that
15 greens in regulation, and had July 23, eight-time cham- nied by Minister of State support from 50 million lowing the departure of fel- Sindhu has got a strong
six birdies against a lone bogey. pions India will look to for Sports, Nisith Korean people.” low Korean coach Kim Ji attack, so they wait for her
“I’ve been playing really solid. I break their over four- Pramanik, Sports Hyun after the Basel World powerful smash. So we
think yesterday and today, both decade-long podium jinx Authority of India Championship two years have tried to work on her
days, played really good. It was at the Games. Director General Sandip NZ say ‘huge focus’ ago. defence which has been
a bit unfortunate to have a “We have a very good Pradhan and Indian Indian shooters pose after arriving in Tokyo on “Sindhu’s defence is her weakness.” — PTI
rough end yesterday, but I feel
like all my departments are
history in hockey and
when I look back into my
Olympic Association
(IOA) officials, including
Saturday. — Twitter on trans trailblazer
where they need to be,” said own career, I know I do President Narinder minton, table tennis, Mirabai Chanu, reached New Zealand’s team
Lahiri — PTI have a lot of FIH medals, Batra and Secretary hockey, judo, gymnastics, Tokyo on Friday from said they were helping TNPL | SEASON-5
I have medals almost in General Rajeev Mehta. swimming and her training base in St weightlifter Laurel

Max sprints to
British GP pole
every tournament but not
one in World Cup or
Olympics.
“It can be my last
A contingent of 88
members,
includes 54 athletes
which

besides support staff and

weightlifting.
Hockey, consisting of
both the men’s and
women’s teams, is the
Louis, USA.
Chanu was accompa-
nied by national coach
Vijay Sharma and assis-
Hubbard cope with the
“huge focus” as she pre-
pares to become the first
transgender Olympic
New captains and
Silverstone (UK): World cham-
pion Lewis Hamilton edged out
title rival Max Verstappen in
Olympic Games so, for
me, it’s about what more I
can achieve as an athlete,
what I can get from this
IOA
departed
representatives,
for
Japanese capital on
the

Saturday night to partici-

largest among all disci-
plines. The hockey teams
were accorded a warm
reception on entering the
tant coach Sandip
Kumar, while another
assistant coach Pramod
Sharma left from the
athlete. Hubbard, who
was born male but tran-
sitioned to female in her
30s, has sparked debate
coaches spice it up
British Grand Prix qualifying on Olympics? That can only pate in the Covid-hit IGI terminal, with air- national capital along with her selection, DC CORRESPONDENT with in the absence of
Friday to take top spot on the be a medal. That’s a Tokyo Games, which will port staff clapping on with the first batch. which came after she CHENNAI, JULY 17 their inspirational captain
grid for the sport’s first ever dream and that is helping begin in a week’s time on both sides as they walked The boxers have left met the qualification Ravichandran Ashwin,
sprint race. Hamilton clocked me to sacrifice every- July 23. through. from Italy while the criteria for transgender There is an air of fresh- who is out on national duty
1min 26.134sec in his Mercedes thing,” Sreejesh said. The eight disciplines India’s lone shooters reached Tokyo competitors. ness in the Tamil Nadu in England.
to beat Red Bull’s Verstappen, — PTI comprised archery, bad- weightlifter in fray, on Saturday. — PTI Premier League. New sea- Nellai Royal Kings, Kovai
the championship leader, with son, new captains and Kings, Madurai Panthers
Valtteri Bottas in the second coaches, new combination and Salem Spartans have
Mercedes third fastest. A crowd
of around 90,000 was on hand
to witness the first Friday night
qualifying session in F1.
Saturday’s inaugural sprint
India’s white-ball newbies ready to sting
Colombo, July 17: A Dasun Shanaka is their Padikkal or Ruturaj Mumbai Indians man
of players in each squad
and of course new chal-
lenges. Since the Big Draft,
this is the first time all
teams will be taking the
assembled quality squads
and each one of them is a
contender for the title.
Trichy Warriors and
Tiruppur Tamizhans have
qualifying race, the first of
three this season, will be over
bunch of fresh faces will
be desperate for a fair T20
10th captain in four years
and barring a classy bats-
Live on TV Gaikwad for No 3 slot?
Will Suryakumar Yadav’s
Ishan Kishan, who can
really pack a punch?
field to test their potential.
When the curtains go up
a mountain to climb as
they haven't had a good run
100km and will decide the World Cup audition when man like Dhananjaya de India vs Sri Lanka 360 degree hitting ability These are questions that on the fifth season at the earlier but the latter looks
starting positions for Sunday’s India’s different-looking Silva and a steady pacer in from 3 pm on SONY be used or Manish Pandey needs to be answered by MA Chidambaram equipped to upset a few
main event. “We have been yet formidable white-ball Dishmantha Chameera, TEN 1 & SONY SIX get a final chance to show the team management Stadium here on Monday, apple carts this season.
missing this for a whole year,” squad face an under-fire this team lacks quality to some consistency? during the next 11 days in there will be a sense of Barring Kaushik Gandhi
said Hamilton, addressing the Sri Lanka in the six-match challenge the might of Will Krishnappa Colombo. relief among the cricket (Chepauk Super Gillies)
fans. — AFP limited overs contest, Indian team led by England. Gowtham’s off-spin and While Virat Kohli’s men fans of Tamil Nadu, who and Baba Aparajith (Nellai
beginning with the first Shikhar Dhawan. Expect Prithvi Shaw, big hits be preferred over are keen to set their dis- have been waiting a long Royal Kings) all other
Regd. No. TNENG/2010/35692 ODI here on Sunday. The suspension of Kusal Vijay Hazare Trophy’s top Krunal Pandya’s left-arm mal Test record in time for the tournament to teams have new captains in
Winning any interna- Mendis and Niroshan scorer to open alongside darts along with cheeky England straight, the get started. charge. Even the coaches
Printed & Published by K. Sudhakar on tional series will be para- Dickwella due to bio-bub- Dhawan, while seniors batting skills? How is team led by Dhawan and There is a lot at stake for are new with CSG’s
behalf of Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited mount but one can expect ble breach in UK along Hardik Pandya and Rahul Chahar placed coached by Dravid — the all the teams. For defend- Hemang Badani being the
and Printed at Deccan Chronicle Presses a few combinations being with injury to former Bhuvneshwar Kumar are against Yuzvendra man responsible for creat- ing champions Chepauk only old hand.
situated at SP 3, Developed Plot,
Industrial Estate, tried out during a series skipper Kusal Perera puts expected to find automatic Chahal, who hasn’t been ing the pool, will never Super Gillies, they have a The ‘fear of the
Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. which got delayed due to Sri Lanka in a tight spot. slots in the playing XI. in best of forms of late? accept that this is a “sec- reputation to defend; for unknown’, thus, will be
RNI Registration No: TN ENG/2005/14987
Ph Nos: 22254747, 22254748, 22254750, Covid-19 scare in the Sri If they can manage to win However there are multi- And who will don the big ond string” outfit taking last season finalists uppermost on every team
22254751 Lankan camp. The series one game, that will be an ple contender for other gloves? Is it Rahul on islanders, who are Dindigul Dragons, they think-tank’s minds when
Editor: KAUSHIK MITTER comprises three ODIs and achievement in itself after slots. Dravid’s protege Sanju going through their lowest have to prove that they can they line up against each
as many T20s. a disastrous tour of Will it be Devdutt Samson or the mercurial ebb. — PTI still be a force to reckon other.