2020/10/12  · & kashmir and uttarakhand, as part of india’s rapid enhancement of its military...

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A s the eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation with China continues at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan remains hot, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday threw open 44 bridges, most- ly in border areas, including Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Uttarakhand, as part of India’s rapid enhancement of its military and infrastructure capabili- ties to counter any challenge from the two adversaries. This comes at a time when scientists have also been con- ducting successive missile tests for operational readiness in the last few weeks.Dedicating the strategically important bridges in seven States, including eight permanent bridges in Ladakh, to the nation virtually, Rajnath Singh minced no words in say- ing that after Pakistan, China is also creating a dispute at the border with India as if it was part of a “mission”. India is not only facing the situations along the frontiers resolutely, but it is also bring- ing in major development, including in border areas. “You are well aware of the con- ditions created along our northern and eastern borders. First it was Pakistan, and now also by China, as if a border dispute is being created under a mission. We have a border of about 7,000 km with these countries where tension con- tinues,” the Minister said. As regards the bridges, a majority of them is expected to significantly improve move- ment of troops in areas along the border with China in Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh sectors, officials said.Rajnath said in the challenging times of Covid-19 and despite the bor- der tensions and disputes caused by Pakistan and China, the country was not only res- olutely facing them but also bringing about historical changes in all sectors of devel- opment. The Defence Minister also laid the foundation stone for Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. This 450 metre-long tunnel would ensure all-weather connectiv- ity across Nechiphu pass. The bridges included 10 in J&K, eight in Ladakh, two in Himachal, four each in Punjab and Sikkim and eight each in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. In his address, Singh com- plimented the BRO for their achievements in improving infrastructure in border areas and said that dedication of 44 bridges in one go in itself was a record.He said the annual budget of the BRO that varied from 3,300 crore to 4,600 crore in years between 2008 and 2016, saw a substantial rise and is pegged at over 11,000 crore in 2020-21. “There was no reduction of this budget despite Covid-19,” he said. Underlining the signifi- cance of these projects, Rajnath said construction of the bridges will benefit both the civilian population as well as the military in the areas. “Our armed forces per- sonnel are deployed in large numbers in areas where trans- port is not available through- out the year,” he said, noting improvement in border infra- structure will significantly help armed forces. I ndia is generating 150 tonnes or 1.50 lakh kilograms of Covid-19 biomedical waste daily. And Maharashtra — the worst-affected State — is con- tributing the maximum to it with 30 tonnes or 30,000 kg every day. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), in the last four months, India generated over 18,000 tonnes of Covid-19 bio-medical waste, calling for urgent remedial steps to treat the menace. “Since June, all States and Union Territories have gener- ated 18,006 tonnes of Covid- 19-related biomedical waste which is being collected, treat- ed and disposed of by 198 common biomedical waste treatment facilities (CBWTFs),” said the country’s top pollution regulator body. Covid-19 biomedical waste includes PPE kits, masks, shoe covers, gloves, human tissues, body fluids like dressings, plas- ter casts, cotton swabs, bed- dings contaminated with blood or body fluid, blood bags, nee- dles and syringes. As per data, Maharashtra generated 3,587 tonnes of Covid-19 waste in four months since June, followed by Tamil Nadu (1,737 tonnes), Gujarat (1,638 tonnes), Kerala (1,516 tonnes), Uttar Pradesh (1,432 tonnes), Delhi (1,400 tonnes), Karnataka (1,380 tonnes) and West Bengal (1,000 tonnes). Around 5,490 tonnes of such waste was generated in September, with Gujarat con- tributing the maximum 622 tonnes, followed by Tamil Nadu (543 tonnes), Maharashtra (524 tonnes), Uttar Pradesh (507 tonnes) and Kerala (494 tonnes). Delhi generated 382 tonnes of Covid- 19 bio-medical waste in September, according to the CPCB data. As per CPCB guidelines, used PPEs like face shields, goggles, hazmat suits, plastic coverall, used masks, head cover, shoe cover etc generat- ed from Covid-19 isolation wards at healthcare facilities shall be segregated and sent to common facilities for dispos- al as per Bio-medical Waste Management Rules, 2016 (BMWM Rules). However, used PPEs like masks and gloves generated in common households, com- mercial establishments, insti- tutions, etc are required to store separately for a minimum 72 hours for disposal along with solid waste after cutting or shredding. The apex pollution body had in May developed the “Covid-19 BWM” mobile application to monitor coron- avirus-related biomedical waste and to compile the data through electronic manifest system. T he Prime Minister will for the first time in his seven- year-rule virtually address the Bengali population on October 22, the Maha Sashthi Day (sixth day of the pujas), the State BJP leadership said. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji will deliver a virtual address on the auspicious occa- sion of Durga Puja,” senior leader and party’s observer for the State Kailash Vijayvargiya said on Monday. Modi is like- ly to address the people of the State on October 22, he said. Home Minister Amit Shah too will reach out to the Bengali population, the senior leader said. “We do not have the dates as yet but we are trying to bring Amit Shah ji in Bengal before Durga Puja,” Vijayvargiya said, adding the Home Minister would visit North Bengal dur- ing this period. Detailed Report on P5 T he Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the Centre on a batch of petitions challenging the con- stitutional validity of the newly enacted three contentious farm laws. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde issued notice to the Central Government and sought its reply within four weeks. The three laws — Farmers’ (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020 — took effect from September 27. The bench, also compris- ing Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, was hear- ing pleas filed by Rashtriya Janta Dal lawmaker from Rajya Sabha, Manoj Jha; Congress Lok Sabha MP from Kerala. I ndia and China on Monday failed to break the logjam even as they reiterated their resolve to hold a sustained dialogue to defuse tension at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh and refrain from sending more troops to the border. Both the sides also agreed to hold another round of mili- tary-level talks as soon as pos- sible for disengagement and de- escalation. The two sides reaffirmed these commitments during the seventh round of Corps Commander-level talks in Chushul on the Indian side of the LAC in Ladakh. China insisted that India withdraw its troops from the south bank of Pangong Tso (lake) before it pulls back its troops. India was firm that China has to take the lead in disengaging and only then it will gradually start the with- drawal process from the con- frontation sites. Elaborating upon the talks, sources said here later India wanted China to show its intent in bringing down temperature at the volatile border. This firm message was conveyed by the Indian dele- gation led by 14 Corps chief Lt General Harinder Singh. The other officials included Lt General PK Menon who will replace Singh as the 14 Corps chief after Singh moves as the Indian Military Academy (IMA) chief next week. The Chinese delegation was led by Major General Liu Lin. Both the delegations included Foreign Ministry offi- cials thereby indicating keen- ness by both the countries to find a solution at the earliest. Naveen Srivastava represented the Indian Foreign Ministry in Monday’s talks, officials said. Reviewing the current sit- uation at the 1,700-km long LAC in Ladakh, both the com- manders expressed satisfac- tion over relative calm prevail- ing at the border since September 10. T he Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday announced its candidates for the forthcoming bye-elections to the Baleswar Sadar and Tirtol Assembly constituencies.The party nom- inated Swarup Kumar Das for Baleswar Sadar and Bijaya Shankar Das for Tirtol. Bijaya Shankar Das is the son of late MLA Bishnu Das, whose death has necessitated the Tirtol by-poll. Swarup Das is a former Baleswar Municipality Councillor while his elder brother Arup Kumar Das was the municipality’s Chairman for two terms. Notably, the BJP had on Sunday announced its candi- dates Manas Kumar Dutta and Raj Kishore Behera for the by- polls in Baleswar Sadar and Tirtol, respectively. Out of the State’s three major parties, only the Congress is yet to choose its candidates. The bye-elections are scheduled on November 3. In another development, ahead of the by-polls, Ramakanta Bhoi, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2014 and 2019 elections from Tirtol on BJP ticket, on Monday joined the BJD at the party office here. He joined the BJD in the presence of senior party lead- ers, including MLA Debi Prasad Mishra, MP Rajashree Mallick and Tirtol by-poll in- charge Debasish Samantray.Bhoi had resigned from the BJP on October 6 say- ing, “I am being ignored by the BJP State leadership.”Meanwhile, on Monday, BJP Tirtol candidate Rajkishore Behera filed his nomination papers at the Jagatsinghpur Additional Collector’s office. Behera, who recently quit the Congress and joined the BJP, had unsuccessfully con- tested the 2009 and 2014 Assembly elections from Tirtol on Congress ticket. A nother 18 Covid-19 patients succumbed to the disease in nine districts of the State on Monday, pushing the total toll to 1,040.While Cuttack district registered four deaths, three each died in Baleswar and Khordha and two each in Jajpur and Sundargarh and one each in Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur and Puri dis- tricts.The casualties in Cuttack were a 55-year-old man, a 68- year-old man, a 53 year-old man and a 66-year-old man. The deceased in Baleswar were a 55-year-old woman, a 60- year-old man, a 64- year-old man.The deaths in Khordha were a 65-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman (both of Bhubaneswar) and a 40-year old woman. The fatalities in Jajpur were an 85-year-old man and a 28- year-old woman. The deaths in Sundargarh were of a 65-year- old man and a 39-year-old man.The other deceased were a 60-year-old man of Jagatsinghpur, an 80-year-old man of Mayurbhanj, a 55- year-old man of Nabarangpur and a 53-year-old woman of Puri. Meanwhile, the total num- ber of positive cases rose to 2,54,662 with 2,423 new cases recorded from all 30 districts and the State pool on the day. Of the new case 1,417 were detected from quarantine and 1,006 were local contacts. Khordha district recorded the highest 359 cases followed by Angul 229, Sundargarh 195, Mayurbhanj 128, Cuttack 118, Bargarh 99, Jajpur 97, Balangir 93, Jagatsinghpur 84, Kendrapada and Puri 73 each, Keonjhar 70, Bhadrak 67, Dhenkanal and Jharsuguda 66 each, Nuapada 63, Sambalpur 60, Kalahandi 57, Subarnapur 53, Malkangiri 48, Ganjam 37, Nayagarh 40, Baleswar 42, Kandhamal 35, Nabarangpur 28, Koraput 24, Deogarh 17 and Rayagada and Boudh 10 each and Gajapati seven. Besides, 75 positive cases were detected from the State pool. With 41,096 Covid tests done during the period, the cumulative tests rose to 37,96,767. However, another 2,577 patients recovered on the day, taking the total recov- eries to 2, 30,192 in the State. W ith 271 new Covid-19 pos- itive cases getting detected on Monday, the total cases in Bhubaneswar rose to 24,735, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) said. Of the new cases, 203 were local contacts and 68 quarantine cases. The local contacts includ- ed 10 cases from Rasulgarh, nine each from Baramunda and IRC Village, eight from Nayapalli, seven from Patrapada, six each from Mancheswar, Old Town, Sundarpada, Khandagiri and Patia, five from Chakeisiani and four each from VSS Nagar, Niladri Vihar, Laxmisagar, Budheswari Colony and Bomikhal,The quarantine cases included eight from VSS Nagar, four from Chandrasekharpur, four from Patia, four from Gouri Nagar and three from IRC Village.Meanwhile, two more persons succumbed to the disease on the day, pushing the city’s total toll to 119.Bhubaneswar also regis- tered 313 recoveries on the day, taking the total recoveries to 22,210.Meanwhile, Cuttack city registered 74 new cases on the day, taking the total to 13,542. Out of the new cases, 39 were local contacts and 19 home quarantine and 16 insti- tutional quarantine cases. T wo more crematoriums would be constructed in the State capital city in a month, informed Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Prem Chandra Chaudhary on Monday. While on crematoriums would come up at Patia, another would be set up at Khandagiri. Currently, the city has its only crematorium at Satya Nagar, where over 25 dead bodies are cremated daily. Locals allege they have been living in an unhealthy condition as persons dying of Covid are also cremated at Satya Nagar. They staged a demonstration before the BMC office and said there is now an increase in the num- ber of dead bodies brought to Satya Nagar due to the pan- demic.

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    As the eyeball-to-eyeballconfrontation with Chinacontinues at the Line of ActualControl (LAC) and the Line ofControl (LoC) with Pakistanremains hot, Defence MinisterRajnath Singh on Mondaythrew open 44 bridges, most-ly in border areas, includingLadakh, Himachal Pradesh,Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu& Kashmir and Uttarakhand,as part of India’s rapidenhancement of its militaryand infrastructure capabili-

    ties to counter any challengefrom the two adversaries.

    This comes at a time whenscientists have also been con-ducting successive missile testsfor operational readiness in thelast few weeks.Dedicating thestrategically important bridgesin seven States, including eightpermanent bridges in Ladakh,to the nation virtually, RajnathSingh minced no words in say-ing that after Pakistan, Chinais also creating a dispute at theborder with India as if it waspart of a “mission”.

    India is not only facing the

    situations along the frontiersresolutely, but it is also bring-ing in major development,including in border areas.“You are well aware of the con-ditions created along ournorthern and eastern borders.First it was Pakistan, and nowalso by China, as if a borderdispute is being created undera mission. We have a border ofabout 7,000 km with thesecountries where tension con-tinues,” the Minister said.

    As regards the bridges, amajority of them is expected tosignificantly improve move-

    ment of troops in areas alongthe border with China inLadakh, Sikkim andArunachal Pradesh sectors,officials said.Rajnath said inthe challenging times ofCovid-19 and despite the bor-der tensions and disputescaused by Pakistan and China,the country was not only res-olutely facing them but alsobringing about historicalchanges in all sectors of devel-opment.

    The Defence Minister alsolaid the foundation stone forNechiphu Tunnel inArunachal Pradesh. This 450metre-long tunnel wouldensure all-weather connectiv-ity across Nechiphu pass. Thebridges included 10 in J&K,eight in Ladakh, two inHimachal, four each in Punjaband Sikkim and eight each inUttarakhand and ArunachalPradesh.

    In his address, Singh com-plimented the BRO for theirachievements in improvinginfrastructure in border areasand said that dedication of 44bridges in one go in itself wasa record.He said the annualbudget of the BRO that variedfrom �3,300 crore to �4,600crore in years between 2008and 2016, saw a substantialrise and is pegged at over�11,000 crore in 2020-21.“There was no reduction ofthis budget despite Covid-19,”he said.

    Underlining the signifi-cance of these projects,

    Rajnath said construction ofthe bridges will benefit boththe civilian population as wellas the military in the areas.

    “Our armed forces per-sonnel are deployed in largenumbers in areas where trans-port is not available through-out the year,” he said, notingimprovement in border infra-structure will significantly helparmed forces.

    ����� (67�869:-

    India is generating 150 tonnesor 1.50 lakh kilograms ofCovid-19 biomedical wastedaily. And Maharashtra — theworst-affected State — is con-tributing the maximum to itwith 30 tonnes or 30,000 kgevery day. According to theCentral Pollution ControlBoard (CPCB), in the last four

    months, India generated over18,000 tonnes of Covid-19bio-medical waste, calling forurgent remedial steps to treatthe menace.

    “Since June, all States andUnion Territories have gener-ated 18,006 tonnes of Covid-19-related biomedical wastewhich is being collected, treat-ed and disposed of by 198common biomedical waste

    treatment facilities(CBWTFs),” said the country’stop pollution regulator body.

    Covid-19 biomedical wasteincludes PPE kits, masks, shoecovers, gloves, human tissues,body fluids like dressings, plas-ter casts, cotton swabs, bed-dings contaminated with bloodor body fluid, blood bags, nee-dles and syringes.

    As per data, Maharashtra

    generated 3,587 tonnes ofCovid-19 waste in fourmonths since June, followed byTamil Nadu (1,737 tonnes),Gujarat (1,638 tonnes), Kerala(1,516 tonnes), Uttar Pradesh(1,432 tonnes), Delhi (1,400tonnes), Karnataka (1,380tonnes) and West Bengal(1,000 tonnes).

    Around 5,490 tonnes ofsuch waste was generated inSeptember, with Gujarat con-tributing the maximum 622tonnes, followed by TamilNadu (543 tonnes),Maharashtra (524 tonnes),Uttar Pradesh (507 tonnes) andKerala (494 tonnes). Delhigenerated 382 tonnes of Covid-19 bio-medical waste inSeptember, according to theCPCB data.

    As per CPCB guidelines,used PPEs like face shields,goggles, hazmat suits, plastic

    coverall, used masks, headcover, shoe cover etc generat-ed from Covid-19 isolationwards at healthcare facilitiesshall be segregated and sent tocommon facilities for dispos-al as per Bio-medical WasteManagement Rules, 2016(BMWM Rules).

    However, used PPEs likemasks and gloves generated incommon households, com-mercial establishments, insti-tutions, etc are required tostore separately for a minimum72 hours for disposal alongwith solid waste after cutting orshredding.

    The apex pollution bodyhad in May developed the“Covid-19 BWM” mobileapplication to monitor coron-avirus-related biomedicalwaste and to compile the datathrough electronic manifestsystem.

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    The Prime Minister will forthe first time in his seven-year-rule virtually address theBengali population on October22, the Maha Sashthi Day(sixth day of the pujas), theState BJP leadership said.

    “Prime Minister NarendraModi ji will deliver a virtualaddress on the auspicious occa-sion of Durga Puja,” seniorleader and party’s observer forthe State Kailash Vijayvargiyasaid on Monday. Modi is like-ly to address the people of theState on October 22, he said.

    Home Minister Amit Shahtoo will reach out to the Bengalipopulation, the senior leadersaid. “We do not have the datesas yet but we are trying to bringAmit Shah ji in Bengal beforeDurga Puja,” Vijayvargiya said,adding the Home Ministerwould visit North Bengal dur-ing this period.

    Detailed Report on P5

    �����(67�869:-

    The Supreme Court onMonday sought responsefrom the Centre on a batch ofpetitions challenging the con-stitutional validity of the newlyenacted three contentious farmlaws. A bench headed by ChiefJustice SA Bobde issued noticeto the Central Governmentand sought its reply within fourweeks. The three laws —Farmers’ (Empowerment andProtection) Agreement of PriceAssurance and Farm ServicesAct, 2020; Farmers’ ProduceTrade and Commerce(Promotion and Facilitation)Act, 2020 and The EssentialCommodities (Amendment)Act 2020 — took effect fromSeptember 27.

    The bench, also compris-ing Justices AS Bopanna and VRamasubramanian, was hear-ing pleas filed by RashtriyaJanta Dal lawmaker from RajyaSabha, Manoj Jha; CongressLok Sabha MP from Kerala.

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    India and China on Mondayfailed to break the logjameven as they reiterated theirresolve to hold a sustaineddialogue to defuse tension atthe Line of Actual Control(LAC) in Eastern Ladakh andrefrain from sending moretroops to the border.

    Both the sides also agreed tohold another round of mili-

    tary-level talks as soon as pos-sible for disengagement and de-escalation.

    The two sides reaffirmedthese commitments during the

    seventh round of CorpsCommander-level talks inChushul on the Indian side ofthe LAC in Ladakh.

    China insisted that Indiawithdraw its troops from thesouth bank of Pangong Tso(lake) before it pulls back itstroops. India was firm thatChina has to take the lead indisengaging and only then itwill gradually start the with-drawal process from the con-frontation sites.

    Elaborating upon the talks,sources said here later Indiawanted China to show its intentin bringing down temperatureat the volatile border.

    This firm message wasconveyed by the Indian dele-gation led by 14 Corps chief LtGeneral Harinder Singh. The

    other officials included LtGeneral PK Menon who willreplace Singh as the 14 Corpschief after Singh moves as theIndian Military Academy(IMA) chief next week. TheChinese delegation was led byMajor General Liu Lin.

    Both the delegationsincluded Foreign Ministry offi-cials thereby indicating keen-ness by both the countries tofind a solution at the earliest.Naveen Srivastava representedthe Indian Foreign Ministry inMonday’s talks, officials said.

    Reviewing the current sit-uation at the 1,700-km longLAC in Ladakh, both the com-manders expressed satisfac-tion over relative calm prevail-ing at the border sinceSeptember 10.

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    Hundreds of MGNREGAworkers led by AIKKStook out a rally starting fromGopinathpur to HinjilicutBlock office and staged a peace-ful demonstration before theoffice in support of their 10-point charter of demands, saidAIKKS leader Shankar Sahu.

    Later, the workers submit-ted a memorandum to the dis-trict Collector and ChiefMinister through BDOPrasanna Kumar Patra, sourcessaid. The aggrieved workersalleged that, in Chief MinisterNaveen Patnaik’s constituency,NREGA workers are not paidminimum wages.

    Secretary of Odisha StateCommittee of KrantikariKrushak Sabha and trade unionleader Shankar Sahu allegedthat the minimum wage had

    been reduced to as low as Rs207, while the Governmentfixed wages for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workersare higher. It is shameful thatMGNREGA workers of CM'sown constituency (HinjiliBlock) are being paid meagerwages, at times even less thanRs 200.

    The protestors demandedhigher wages for all workers toRs 25,000 per month or Rs 855

    per day; provision of lock-down income support, rationcards, housing, Identity Cardsfrom Odisha Building andOther Construction WorkersWelfare Board and revival of allagri based industries etc.

    Among others, AIKKSleaders P Parvati, Laxmi Nayak,Sanjukta Nayak, SubashNayak,Nibasini Dakua, Buli Behera, PJogendra, Narayan Barad andN Krushnamurty were pre-

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    Researchers at Indian Institute ofTechnology (IIT), Madras, havedeveloped an environment-friendly anti-bacterial food wrapping material that isalso fit for consumption.

    According to the team, which hasalso filed a patent for the wrapper, itsproduct can tackle two major problems-- prevent packaged food contaminationby bacteria and reduce the plastic wastegenerated in the environment when dis-posing the wrappers.

    “We have developed a biodegradablewrapping material with in-built anti-bac-terial activity to prevent bacterial growthin stored food. It degrades at variousenvironmental conditions with the rateof degradation varying from 4 to 98 percent in 21 days, thus playing a major rolein plastic waste reduction,” said MukeshDoble, Professor, Department ofBiotechnology.

    The films developed by researcherswere made with polymeric blends con-taining starch, polyvinyl alcohol, cyclicbeta glycans (CBG). The compositionwas optimised to achieve the best filmwith a smooth texture, flexibility, uni-form thickness and good clarity.

    “Our anti-bacterial coated polymerwrapper was used for wrapping paneer,meat and chicken and its performancewas tested. Samples were placed in 4

    degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsiusfor 10 days and tested for the effect ofthe coating on reducing the bacterialgrowth with respect to the uncoatedwrapper,” said Puja Kumari, researchscholar at IIT Madras.

    “Our study found that 99.999 percent reduction in bacterial colonies wasobserved in food samples wrapped withour anti-bacterial wrap and stored at 30degrees Celsius for 10 days when com-pared with a plain wrapper. This studyalso suggests that our anti-microbialwrapper can, to some extent overcome,the reduced availability of cold storageunits,” she added.

    Packaging is projected to grow intoa US$72.6 billion industry in India by2020 from about US$31 billion in 2015,with a proportionate rise in waste vol-umes. According to a report by WorldEconomic Forum, if no immediate stepsare taken, oceans may have more plas-tic than fish (in terms of weight) by 2050.

    ����� (67�869:-

    Reinforcing the need for goodpractices such as regular handwashing and cleaning surfaces, astudy has found that novel coron-avirus responsible for Covid-19may survive for up to 28 days oncommon surfaces, including ban-knotes, glass — such as that foundon smartphone screens — and stain-less steel. The laboratory study byAustralia’s national science agenciesis published in the Virology Journal.

    The research, undertaken at theAustralian Centre for DiseasePreparedness (ACDP), found thatSARS-CoV-2 survived longer atlower temperatures and on non-porous or smooth surfaces such asglass, stainless steel and vinyl, com-pared to porous complex surfacessuch as cotton.

    The researchers at CSIRO,Australia’s national science agency,also found that the novel coron-avirus survived longer on paper ban-knotes than plastic banknotes.

    “Establishing how long the virusreally remains viable on surfacesenables us to more accurately pre-dict and mitigate its spread, and doa better job of protecting our peo-ple,” said CSIRO Chief ExecutiveLarry Marshall.

    “At 20 degrees Celsius, which isabout room temperature, we foundthat the virus was extremely robust,surviving for 28 days on smooth sur-faces such as glass found on mobilephone screens and plastic banknotes,”Debbie Eagles, Deputy Director ofACDP added.

    For context, similar experi-ments for Influenza A have foundthat it survived on surfaces for 17days, which highlights just howresilient SARS-CoV-2 is, theresearchers said.

    The study involved drying thevirus in an artificial mucus on dif-ferent surfaces, at concentrationssimilar to those reported in samplesfrom infected patients and then re-isolating the virus over a month.

    Further experiments were car-

    ried out at 30 and 40 degreesCelsius, with survival times decreas-ing as the temperature increased.The study was also carried out in thedark, to remove the effect of UVlight as research has demonstrateddirect sunlight can rapidly inactivatethe virus.

    “While the precise role of sur-face transmission, the degree of sur-face contact and the amount of virusrequired for infection is yet to bedetermined, establishing how longthis virus remains viable on surfacesis critical for developing risk miti-gation strategies in high contactareas,” Eagles said.

    According to Professor TrevorDrew, Director of ACDP, manyviruses remained viable on surfacesoutside their host.

    ����� (67�869:-

    Stepping up their attack on theUttar Pradesh Governmentover the Hathras case, Congressleaders Rahul Gandhi andPriyanka Gandhi Vadra onMonday accused it of beinginsensitive and unethical, andsaid authorities are indulging invictim-blaming instead ofputting criminals in jail. TheCongress also launched a socialmedia campaign, urging people,especially women, to speak upfor the Hathras victim.

    “The Government’s atti-tude in the Hathras incident isinhuman and unethical. Theyare engaged in protecting thecriminals rather than helpingthe victim’s family,” RahulGandhi said. “Let us take onestep towards change, let us raiseour voice against the injusticebeing done to women all overthe country,” he said in a tweetin Hindi, using the hashtag

    “SpeakUpForWomenSafety”. A19-year-old Dalit woman fromHathras district was allegedlyraped and attacked by fourmen, and she later succumbedto injuries at a Delhi hospital.

    The former Congress pres-ident said a few days ago,before he could reach Hathras,he was stopped by authorities.“I fail to understand, why wasI stopped and not allowed tomeet with the Hathras victim’sfamily,” he said.

    Rahul alleged that themoment he reached the victim’shouse and talked to her fami-

    ly, the government startedattacking the family. “It is notthe government’s job to helpand protect the perpetrators ofthe crime but send them to jailand help the victim get justice.The Uttar Pradesh govern-ment is not doing its job andthat is why I am being stopped,”he said in a nearly two-minutevideo attached with his tweet.The video clip alsoshows footage ofhis visit toHathras andhow he wasstopped.

    “I want totell theGovernment tostart doing its job ofsending the criminals to jailand protect the victims. This isnot the story of just onewoman, this is the story oflakhs of women in India. Lakhsof women are looking up to theGovernment, which is not

    doing its work,” he said.Priyanka said crimes against

    women are rising and instead of

    listening to the truth and thevoice of the victim women, alle-gations are levelled against them

    and they are defamed. “This isthe most shameful and coward-ly act,” she said.

    ����� (67�869:-

    More than 52,000 voters, who are either senior cit-izens above 80 years of age orare people with disabilities, haveopted for postal ballot in the firstphase of Bihar elections to beheld on October 28.

    According to the ElectionCommission (EC), BoothLevel Officers (BLO) in 71constituencies spread across16 districts of the state had approached over four lakhvoters of the two categories.

    The remaining electors have preferred to visit thepolling booth to cast vote.

    Those who have opted for the facility would be pro-vided postal ballots on a pre-informed date by the con-cerned returning officers with proper security andvideography arrangements to ensure secrecy, safety, andtransparency in the process. Bypolls are to be held onNovember 3 and November 7. BLOs will visit homes ofapproximately 12 lakh such electors in Bihar in the nexttwo phases of elections to help them exercise the postalballot option.

    An official explained that this postal ballot facilityis different from the one extended to service voters.

    ����� (67�869:-

    The DRDO on Monday launched the indige-nously designed and manufactured Nirbhaysubsonic cruise missile, with a range of 700 to 1,000km, but aborted the trial after it developed a tech-nical snag on Monday off Balasore integrated testrange, Odisha at about 10.30 am.

    Scientists are now analyzing the snag beforeconducting the next test shortly, sources said here.

    The DRDO has already carried out severalsuccessful trials of the ‘Nirbhay’ missile sinceOctober 2014. Some of these missiles along withBrahmos supersonic cruise missile and Akashare now deployed at some crucial sites close tothe LAC since the stand-offs with China beganin mid May.

    Powered by a solid rocket motor boosterdeveloped by the Advanced Systems Laboratory(ASL), the Nirbhay missile has an operationalrange of 1,000 km, officials said.

    In the last few weeks, India has test-fired anumber of missiles including a new version ofthe surface-to-surface supersonic cruise missileBrahMos and anti-radiation missile Rudram-1.India also carried out successful test-firing of alaser-guided anti-tank missile and nuclear-capable hypersonic missile ‘Shaurya’.

    The successful test firing of Rudram-1 isseen as a major milestone as it is India’s firstindigenously developed anti-radiation weapon.

    New Delhi: TheSupreme Court onMonday sought theCentre’s reply on aPIL seeking equalprotection in law totransgender peopleon the grounds thatthere was no penal provision which pro-tects them from offences of sexualassault. A Bench headed by ChiefJustice SA Bobde said it was a “goodcase” which needed hearing.

    The Bench, also comprising JusticesAS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian,asked senior advocate Vikas Singh,representing petitioner lawyer ReepakKansal, to file details of cases where thecourt had passed orders in the absenceof laws to deal with issues.

    In a hearing conducted via videoconferencing, the bench referred to theframing of the Vishaka guidelines todeal with sexual harassment of womenat work places and the decriminalisationof consensual gay sex by the apex courtin the absence of laws. Singh said hewould be filing such details as asked bythe court. PTI

    ����� (67�869:-�

    The BJP on Monday con-demned former ChiefMinister and NationalConference head FarooqAbdullah and called his state-ment that he hoped Article 370will be restored in Jammu &Kashmir with China’s help, as“seditious”.

    “On September 24, FarooqAbdullah said that if you go toJammu and Kashmir and askpeople if they are Indians, thenpeople will say that we are notIndians. In the same state-ment, he also said it would begood if we could join China,”BJP National spokespersonSambit Patra said in a Press conference here describ-ing Abdullah as a “repeatoffender”.

    He said Abdullah’s state-ment is a reflection of hismindset. “In a way, FarooqAbdullah justifies China’s

    expansionist mindset in hisinterview. At the same time,another traitor comments thatif we get a chance in future, wewill bring Article 370 backwith China.”

    “Questioning the sover-eignty of the country, ques-tioning the independence ofthe country. Does it suit anMP? Aren’t these anti-nation-al things? The same FarooqAbdullah had asked whetherPoK belongs to India’s fatherthat it will take PoK, as ifPakistan had worn bangles,”Patra said adding, “The kind of

    softness Abdullah has shownfor Pakistan and China raisesa lot of questions.”

    The BJP spokesperson sawAbdullah and former Congresspresident Rahul Gandhi as “co-brothers” toeing the same line

    Attacking Rahul for ques-tioning India’s surgical strikesand air strikes on Pakistan,Patra said now Farooq Abdullahhas become a hero in China.

    He said Raul’s commentson J&K following abrogation ofArticle 370 were quoted byPakistan premier Imran Khan.

    “Only Farooq Abdullahsays this is not so, if you go intohistory and listen to the recentstatements of Rahul Gandhi,you will find that these are twosides of the same coin.”

    “This is the same RahulGandhi who said a week agothat the prime minister is acoward, the prime minister ishidden, scared,” the BJPspokesperson said.

    ����� (67�869:-B":6((�-

    Yesteryears’ actress KhushbuSundar, for whom fansbuilt a temple and an idli was named after her, ditchedthe Congress and joined theBJP on Monday.

    “The nation has to moveforward and we need some-body like our Prime MinisterNarendra Modi to take thecountry in the right direction.I am completely at service tothe BJP and I promise to do mybest and to the responsibilitiesthat will be given to me,” saidKhushbu after she was issuedprimary membership by CTRavi, national secretary of theBJP, at the party headquartersin Delhi. She later met BJPpresident JP Nadda.

    Earlier, she dispatched herletter of resignation from theCongress to party chief Sonia

    Gandhi saying: “Few elementsseated at a higher level withinthe party, people who have noconnectivity with the groundreality or public recognition aredictating terms and people likeme who wanted to work for theparty sincerely are beingpushed and suppressed.”

    Khushbu, known to behand-picked by formerCongress president RahulGandhi joins the list of otherparty spokespersons like TomVadakkan and PriyankaChaturvedi who quit to join theBJP and the Shiv Sena respec-tively. Another spokespersonSanjay Jha was suspended fromthe party recently.

    “I will work like any otherparty workers,” said the actresswho also worked in Hindifilms like Sunil Dutt-director-ial ‘Dard ka Rishta’ wherein sheplayed the role of his daughter.

    She was the nationalspokesperson of the Congresssince joining the party in 2014.During 2010 to 2014 she was inthe DMK as the blue-eyed girlof the then party supremo M

    Karunanidhi. “It will not have any impact

    on Tamil Nadu politics,”Dinesh Gundu Rao, theCongress’s in-charge for TamilNadu, said.

    Narayanan Thirupathi, BJPspokesman, said Khushbu’sjoining the party would makeit more acceptable to the peo-ple of the State because of herpopularity and acceptability.

    But Sam Rajappa, veterancommentator and columnist,said Khushbu joining the BJPwould not make any impact inTamil Nadu politics.

    The BJP in Tamil Nadu isfacing an identity crisis andKhushbu’s entry would notadd much fragrance or flavourto the party, according to RRangaraj, author and scribe.

    He pointed out that theAIADMK with which the BJPhas an alliance kept the latteraway from recent assembly by-elections in Tamil Nadu as theformer believes that the defeat in38 out of the 39 seats in the LokSabha election was due to ananti-BJP wave in Tamil Nadu.

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    New Delhi: The SupremeCourt on Monday said it willhear after four weeks a plea ofjournalists’ organisation againstthe arrest of a scribe by UPPolice in Mathura while he wason way to Hathras, home to aDalit woman who died afterbeing allegedly gangraped byfour upper-caste men.

    A Bench headed by ChiefJustice SA Bobde asked thepetitioner to amend the peti-tion and observed that theyshould approach the AllahabadHigh Court for the relief.

    The Kerala Union of

    Working Journalists (KUWJ)had filed a habeas corpus peti-tion in the top court against thearrest of the journalist,Sidhique Kappan.

    Senior advocate Kapil Sibal,appearing for the petitioner,told the bench, also comprisingJustices AS Bopanna and VRamasubramanian, thatUnlawful Activities(Prevention) Act charges havebeen added in the case and nocourt in the State will give hisclient any relief.

    “UAPA has been invoked.No court will not give me bail

    and the case will go on foryears. This is a Habeas corpuspetition but we can file a freshpetition under Article 32 of theConstitution which came beentertained by this court,”Sibal said after the apex courtmentioned that the petitionersshould approach the Allahabadhigh court for relief.

    The apex court, however,said that habeas corpus peti-tion can be only filed by fam-ily members. Sibal then soughttime to amend the petitionafter which the matter wasadjourned. PTI

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    Every single security person-nel including jawans of theIndian Army, who laid downtheir lives in the line of duty thisyear, went down only aftereliminating at least three ter-rorists in different anti terroristoperations across Kashmir val-ley.

    Director General of Jammu& Kashmir Police DilbaghSingh on Monday said, “a totalnumber of 180 terrorists, 20more than the previous yeartally of 160 have been neu-tralised till date in 75 success-ful operations while 55 securi-ty personnel including 15 armymen have sacrificed their livesin action”.

    He said a total number of 19jawans of Jammu and Kashmirpolice, 21 CRPF personnel and15 Indian Army soldiers havemade the supreme sacrifice sofar.

    On Monday, the joint teamof security forces gunned downtwo more Lashkar-e-Tayyeba(LeT) terrorists, including a

    top Pakistani commanderinvolved in targeted killing ofsecurity forces in the recentweeks. A total number of 18 ter-rorists have been gunned downin eight encounters in andaround Srinagar only.

    In the last five days thesecurity forces have flushed out10 terrorists in four differentoperations in the Sugan area ofShopian, Kulgam, Pulwama andSrinagar, he added while pattingthe back of the security per-sonnel for conducting success-ful operations without sufferingany collateral damage.

    Addressing a press confer-ence in Srinagar on Monday,Director General of PoliceDilbagh Singh said, “ a totalnumber of 10 terrorists havebeen neutralised in four differ-ent operations in the last fivedays in Kashmir valley”. Hesaid, the top LeT Commandergunned down in Rambagh areaof Srinagar on Monday hasbeen identified as Saifullah (aPakistani National) while hislocal associate has been identi-fied as Irshad Ahmed Dar @

    Abu Usama resident ofPulwama. Referring to totalarrests made so far DGP said,“180 terrorists and their asso-ciates/Over ground workershave been arrested while a totalnumber of 26 terrorists havejoined the mainstream afterlaying down their arms beforethe security forces.

    As per police records, theLeT Commander Saifullah infil-trated earlier this year and sincethe last two months had shift-ed his base from north to southKashmir. He was involved inplanning & executing severalmajor terror attacks on securi-ty forces which includes killingof a CRPF officer at Chadoora

    on 24/09/2020 and 02 CRPFpersonnel at Kandizal area ofPampore on 05/10/2020. He wasalso part of the group involvedin killing of two police person-nel at Nowgam Srinagar on14/08/2020. Besides, he wasalso involved in firing on con-voy on 21/09/2020 in Nowgamarea.

    New Delhi : CPI MP Binoy Viswam onMonday filed a writ petition in SupremeCourt challenging the constitutionalvalidity of the newly enacted three agri-culture laws. Urging the apex court tostrike down the laws as unconstitution-al, the MP in his petition alleged that thelegislations violate the federal structureof India's constitutional framework.

    “The challenge proceeds on two lev-els: At the first level, the petitionerclaims that the passage of two of the farm-ers' Bills in the Rajya Sabha by a voice votedeprived it of chance to properly delib-erate and vote on the statutes prior to its

    passing,” the Left leader said in a state-ment. According to Viswam, “this vio-lates Articles 100 and 107 of theConstitution of India, depriving theUpper House of proper consideration ofthe bill passed”. On the second level,Viswam challenges the statutes on vari-ous grounds as being in violation ofArticles 14, 19, and 21 of the Constitution.

    “The petitioner also charges parlia-ment to have no legislative competenceto enact the legislations as being in vio-lation of the division of subjects underSchedule VII of the Constitution,” thestatement said. PNS

    New Delhi: The Information TechnologyMinistry’s digital arm Common ServicesCenters (CSC) has partnered with IITBombay through its Spoken Tutorial initia-tive to provide various IT courses for youthin rural India to enhance their job readinessin IT and related sectors.

    The courses available as Free and OpenSoftware (FOSS) will be delivered throughCSC Academy centers at the block level acrossthe country in audio-visual mode. The audiolessons under the Spoken Tutorial are avail-able in all 22 official languages of India. Thecourse delivery is unique as the youth canstudy IT programming courses at the CSCAcademy centers. There will be trainedresources at each of the CSC Academy to sup-port the students in learning. Help Desk facil-ity will also be provided by IIT Bombay toaddress the queries of the students.

    “It has been our endeavour to providequality education to students and youth inrural areas to bridge the digital divide. Ourassociation with IIT Bombay is a significant

    step in that direction. Availability of coursesin 22 languages will increase its uptake amongthe youth in rural areas, contributing to anAtma Nirbhar Bharat. This will also supportin skilling the youth to meet the emergingtechnological challenges,” CEO CSC Dr.Dinesh Tyagi said.

    Elaborating on the partnership IITBombay Director Prof. Subhasis Chaudhurisaid with this ICT program we can bridge thedigital divide between rural and urban areas.“Language will not be a barrier for learningas this training program is available in 22 offi-cial languages of India.

    With proficiency certificate, youth fromrural areas will come up very strongly in thejob market and India will become AtmaNirbhar.” CSC Academy provides access toprofessional learning for learners of diversebackgrounds and educational needs. CSC hasplanned to set up 7,000 CSC Academy cen-tres (one in every block) across the country,out of which more than 5000 are in place. PNS

    CHENNAI/KOCHI: TheKerala Government has founda new method to bring downthe number of new patientsafflicted with Covid-19. OnMonday the State saw the num-ber of new cases diagnosedwith the pandemic getting lim-ited to 5,930 as per the pressrelease issued by theDepartment of Health. The daysaw authorities testing 38, 259samples.

    “There is some discrepan-cy in these numbers because itis not possible to bring down the

    number of new patients by halfwithin 24 hours. On Sunday, theState tested 9,347 new cases butthe number of samples testedwere 62,000,” said a seniorGovernment doctor who hasbeen cynical from the begin-ning about the figures releasedby the Government.

    Out of the 5,930 personsdiagnosed with Covid-19 onMonday, 4,767 contracted thepandemic through social con-tacts. The day also saw 195health workers getting afflictedwith Covid-19. PNS

    4��56��������7����1�����

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    The Covid-19 pandemic whichis getting propagated in largenumbers across the State has putparents and teachers in Kerala ina quandary. With the TestPositivity Rate (Number of personsper million testing positive) show-ing 15 per cent in the State and thenumber of active Covid-19patients breaching the one lakhmark, an uncertainty stares at thefuture of school students.

    Students with whom ThePioneer interacted expressed theirunhappiness over the on-lineclasses. “We miss the classroomambience and the inter personalcontacts with teachers,” said JayaKrishnan, a 9th standard studentin a reputed school in Ernakulam.He said class room sessions make

    learning an interesting experi-ence.

    “The only relief we get is thatwe need not carry heavy textbooksand notebooks to school. We alsomiss the cricket and football maid-ans which had offered us a refresh-ing feeling,” said Jaya Ram, his twinbrother.

    But C Prakash, a scientist-turned-teacher in Aluwa is facedwith a problem. “How to makethese students follow social dis-tancing norms as mandated bymedical experts? Children arechildren and they do not like eitherparents or teachers making themobey with an iron hand. Thereshould be a way out of this,” saidPrakash.

    Dr C K K Nair, former prin-cipal scientist with Atomic EnergyCommission and an authority on

    genetics engineering said the onlyoption was to keep the little stu-dents at home and teach themthrough on line. “It is not a per-manent affair. We have to ensurethe safety of their health and thisis a contagious disease. The par-ents and teachers could handle thissituation,” said Dr Nair.

    There are medical expertslike Dr C V Krishnaswamy whoare firm in their view that educa-tional institutions should remainshut throughout the period ofpandemic. “We should treat this asa natural disaster. Since the vaccineis yet to take shape and theGovernment is no mood to incor-porate the Ayurveda/Homeopathybranches in the treatment proto-col, all we can do is to wait, waitpatiently for the pandemic tosubside,” said Dr Krishnaswamy.

    �������������� �;9��'�

    With most political outfitsbeginning to play to theHindu gallery for a change,Goddess Durga seems sud-denly to have become thepoliticians' most adorable deityahead of the next year’sAssembly elections — sched-uled to take place in less thanseven months time.

    Days after Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee announced�50,000 each, for the commit-tees organising Durga Puja it isthe turn of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi to deliver a vir-tual address to the people ofBengal on Durga Pujas.

    The Prime Minister will forthe first time in his seven-year-rule virtually address theBengali population on October22, the Maha Sashthi Day(sixth day of the Pujas), theState BJP leadership said.

    “Prime Minister NarendraModi ji will deliver a virtualaddress before the people ofBengal on the auspicious occa-sion of Durga Puja,” seniorleader and party’s observer forthe State, Kailash Vijaybargiyasaid on Monday. Modi is like-ly to address the people of theState on October 22, he said.

    Not only the PrimeMinister Home Minister AmitShah too will reach out to theBengali population ahead ofthe Pujas, the senior leadersaid.

    “We do not have the datesas yet but we are trying to bring

    Amit Shah ji in Bengal beforethe Durga Pujas,” Vijaybargiyasaid adding the Home Ministerwould visit North Bengal dur-ing this period.

    The Prime Minister’s bid toaddress the Bengal electoratecomes days after Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee announced�50,000 each for the variousclubs organizing Durga Pujaapart from announcing hono-rarium for the Hindu priestsmuch in the line of her previ-ous announcement of month-ly allowances to the muezzimsand moulanas in 2013.

    Meanwhile, in a relateddevelopment the ChiefMinister on Monday attackedthe BJP comparing it with apandemic for “using all kindsof dirty tricks to infect the col-lective mind of Bengali people.”

    Banerjee who was inaugu-rating the yearly edition ofTrinamool Congress mouth-piece Jago Bangla said “the BJPis the worst pandemic… I havenot seen a bigger pandemicthan the BJP … it is worse thanthe corona virus.”

    Slamming the saffron out-fit for “setting one communityagainst the other for winning

    the elections,” Banerjee said“they are playing all kinds ofdirty games to win the electionsbut it is not easy to captureBengal without knowing itsculture. The BJP does notknow the culture of Bengalwhich is tolerant, secular andenlightened. They will neverwin the elections … the peoplehave understood their politicsand will give them a befittingreply in the comingelections.”

    Earlier the Chief Ministeron Monday came out with a“special Puja gift for the coro-na patients” reducing the feesfor corona tests to �1,500 percase.

    “The Chief Minister hasbeen pleased to reduce therate for corona test to �1,500,”State Chief Secretary AlapanBandopadhyay said. Earlier itwas �2,250. The ChiefSecretary also said that theGovernment had decided toadd about 600 more coronabeds to the ICUs across theState for treating the coronapatients adding “theGovernment has also asked thenon government ambulanceservice providers to reducetheir fare for carrying the coro-na patients.”

    Besides, during the Pujasthe Government also decidedto cancel the leaves of all thedoctors and other medical staff.This apart, a round-the-clockmonitoring centre would beopened at Nabanna the Statesecretariat, the Chief Secretarysaid.

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    Jammu: Cracking its whip,the Jammu and Kashmir Policeon Monday said it has bookedthree teachers of a religiousschool in Shopian districtunder the stringent PublicSafety Act (PSA) after it cameto the fore that some of its stu-dents and alumni were foundinvolved in terror activities.

    The religious school insouth Kashmir’s Shopian dis-trict had recently come on theradar of the investigating agen-cies after 13 of its students were

    found to have joined ranks ofdifferent terrorist groups.

    Students from Kulgam,Pulwama and Anantnag dis-tricts of South Kashmir areenrolled in the school.

    Addressing a press confer-ence in Srinagar on Monday,Inspector General of Police,Kashmir range Vijay Kumartold reporters, the said schoolis affiliated with the bannedJamaat-e-Islami (JeI) outfit.

    He also identified thename of the school as Siraj-

    uloom Imam Sahib. “It is notthat this school has not beenunder observation. We havealready booked three teachersof the school namely AbdulAhad Bhat, Rouf Bhat andMohammad Yusuf Wani underthe PSA”.

    He said about half a dozenother teachers of the schoolwere under surveillance.

    (Conduct of) five to sixteachers of the school areunder surveillance (underSection 107 CrPC).

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    In the case of village Boolgarhi in Hathras dis-trict, police registered six cases in differentpolice stations. There is also a preparation forquestioning of nominated leaders and organi-zation heads in the cases registered in Chandpa,Sasni and other police stations. Earlier, Congressleader Shyouraj Jeevan has been questioned. SPVineet Jaiswal said that the people named willbe questioned by giving notice. Notices will besent to everyone soon.

    Case filed against 500 workers includingChief Chandrasheekhar

    A case was filed against Congress leaderShyouraj Jeevan at Chandpa Kotwali for mak-ing inflammatory statements about theBoolgadhi case. Police was called for question-ing after giving them notice.

    He was released conditionally after threehours of questioning. Hundreds of SP-RLDactivists have also been booked in ChandpaKotwali. Police are marking them based on videofootage. Meanwhile, in Sasni, a case has beenfiled against 500 activists including Bhima ArmyChief Chandrashekhar. The police is preparinga questioning by sending a notice toChandrasekhar.

    Aligarh: Aligarh MuslimUniversity students went out ona march on Sunday evening forthe release of four suspectsarrested by Mathura police.They protested against theUnlawful Activities PreventionAct (UAPA) and raised slogansagainst Modi and Yogi. Studentsalso handed over a memoran-dum addressing the President toACM II regarding the arrest ofthese four youths, including ajournalist by Hathras police.During this time police and theproctorial team were present.

    AMU Students andCoordination Committeetogether held Protest Marchfrom Duck Point to Bab-e-Syed.Student leader Sharjeel Usmaniand other leaders released inAMU ruckus led the march.With posters of four youths inhand, the students came fromDuck Point to Bab-e-Syed rais-ing anti-government slogans.

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    There is a worldwide demand for lockhardware as well as brass idols, stat-ues and other brass household decora-tions, temple and church bells andEuropean figures in the developedcountries. Due to corona crisis, thisbusiness has fallen to 70%. Restrictionsin temples on Shri Krishna Janmashtamifaded away from the shine of this brassstatue business. Now from 15 days, theidol makers have started getting orderswhich have risen from 25% to 30%.Navratri starts from 17th October.

    There is a demand for brass idols in var-ious forms of Goddess Durga inNavratri. Orders for Deepawali havestarted coming from abroad. Demandfor Lakshmi Ganesh's brass sculptureshas also increased. Most consignmentsare shipped by courier for urgent deliv-ery.

    The work of brass idol was affect-ed since 22 March due to the closedmarkets in other states of the countrywith restriction of Covid-19 and theproduction was halted in all the facto-ries due to lockdown. Brass idol trad-ing season starts from June.

    Aligarh: A 16-year-old girl who went to the toi-let in Muhiakheda village went missing.

    The family kept searching all night and wentto the police station and gave missing infor-mation. Police filed a case and started search-ing. Police found a water jug and some objec-tionable things at the spot in the field. SSP alsovisited the village and sought information. Fourpolice teams are engaged in search operation butdid not get any clue till late night.

    The teenager went to the forest from theback door of the house to defecate without tellingthe family at night. When family members wokeup, they did not find her. At first, they thoughtthat she must have gone for defecation but whenshe did not come back, they started searchingand went to the police station and lodged a com-plaint against the unknown, accused him of lur-ing the daughter. During the search, a teenag-er's water jug was found lying in a millet field,a towel and other objectionable objects werefound nearby. Inspector Gangiri ParmendraKumar, CO Barla Karamveer Singh, SP VillageShubham Patel reached there. Surveillance,dog squads, and forensic teams arrived and col-lected evidence. SSP Muniraj, who arrived in theafternoon, said that the family has denied anykind of enmity. PNS

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    Amaravati: Expressing dis-pleasure over the investigationby the Andhra Pradesh CrimeInvestigation Department(CID), the Andhra PradeshHigh Court on Monday direct-ed the CBI to probe the allegedderogatory comments madeby a few YSR Congress leadersagainst the judiciary.

    A bench comprisingJustices Rakesh Kumar and JUma Devi, directed the CBI toregister an FIR in the case andsubmit its report within eightweeks.The court expressed dis-pleasure over the manner inwhich the state CID had con-ducted the investigation in thecase. The court also directed thestate government to cooperatewith the CBI.

    A few YSR Congress lead-ers allegedly posted derogato-ry remarks against the judicia-ry on social media platformsfollowing a few verdicts thatwent against the interest of theAndhra Pradesh state govern-

    ment.On the directions of theHigh Court, the AndhraPradesh HC Registrar Generallodged a complaint with theCID.

    The state police wing hasreportedly booked nine peoplein the case, so far.The courttook serious note of the com-ments made by AP AssemblySpeaker Tammineni Sitaram,Deputy Chief MinisterNarayana Swamy, MPs VVijayasai Reddy, NandigamSuresh, former MLA A KrishnaMohan and other leadersbelonging to the ruling YSRCparty and questioned the CIDwhy cases were not registeredagainst them.

    “Their (YSRC leaders’)comments are perilous todemocracy and amount to anattack on the judiciary. If someordinary person makes anycomment against the govern-ment, cases are promptly reg-istered against suchpersons. PTI

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    Patna: Seven men in Bihar's Buxar district gangraped a womanand killed her 5-year-old son, an official said on Monday. Oneperson has been arrested.

    The incident was reported near Chaigain village on Saturday.A man hunt is underway to nab the others, police said.

    The victim had visited a bank in the village to deposit money.While returning home, she was intercepted by the accused andtaken to a nearby forest area, where they took turns raping her.

    Their brutality did not end there. The accused then stran-gulated the mother and son (who had accompanied her) usingropes and threw them in to a canal. The men thought them tobe dead. However, passersby rescued them and took them to Sadarhospital where doctors declared the child brought dead. Thewoman survived. “The medical examination of the victim is com-plete and report is awaited. We have arrested one of the accusednamed Munni Ram and raids are on to nab others,” said KK Singh,SDPO of Dumraon range. IANS

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  • The new farm laws mightnot be as disruptive astheir critics want us tobelieve. They are appar-ently as logical andtimely reforms as interventions likeState procurement and notifying ofMinimum Support Price (MSP)had been in the mid-1960s. Theruling and Opposition parties areengaged in a wholly avoidablefracas, both refusing to view thingsin totality. The Opposition isindulging in loathing and fear-mongering, reminiscent of thetimes when economic liberalisa-tion was introduced in 1991.Paradoxically, it was the Congress’Government then. The party nowis behaving differently when in theOpposition.

    The Government’s cavalier atti-tude to the Opposition parties’stance is equally uncharitable.Motives have been imputed to theirdecision. They are accused of hav-ing a vested interest in theAgricultural Produce MarketCommittee (APMC)-run mandis,besides being friendly towards themiddlemen who call the shots inthose market yards. Ironically, onthe National Agriculture Marketportal (eNAM), started by thepresent Government in 2016, therewere no less than 83, 958 commis-sion agents registered as on August31. Why is the Government pro-moting middlemen here?

    The fear that APMC-run man-dis would be abolished is largelyunfounded. The eNAM platformcan today boast of connectingabout a 1,000 of them across 18States and three Union Territories(UT). However, the passage of theBills was not preceded by any kindof consensus-building. There wasno dialogue with the farmers’unions, State Governments or theOpposition parties. The laws wererushed through the Ordinanceroute on June 5. This starkly con-trasts with the spirit of federalismand the consensus model thatmarked the implementation ofthe Goods and Services Tax (GST).The matters concerned with agri-culture being under the State list inSchedule VII of the Constitutioncalled for Centre-State consensus.

    The legislative competence ofParliament to discuss a Bill on asubject placed in the State list(Schedule VII of the Constitution)was questioned by some members.However, we have precedence ofthe Seeds Act, 1966, which is a

    Central legislation. It was one ofthe key legislations enactedduring the Green Revolutionera. Still, one is reminded of howthe Atal Bihari VajpayeeGovernment approached thecontentious subject of contractfarming. This was envisaged inthe National Agriculture Policy2000. Instead of bringing aCentral law, the Government in2003 circulated a ModelAgricultural Produce Marketing(Regulation) Act to the States foradoption in 2003. The ensuingUPA-I Government continuedthe policy. Contract farming wasincluded as an option in theNational Farmers Policy (2007).By August 2007, a total of 15States had brought amendmentsin the APMC (Regulation) Actsbased on the model legislation.

    Why did the four LabourCodes, recently enacted, did notbecome a source of disputedespite the presence of contro-versial provisions? This wasbecause the Codes, meant toreduce 29 existing labour lawsinto four legislations, were vet-ted by the department-relatedStanding Committee of the LokSabha. It was chaired byBhartruhari Mahtab of BijuJanata Dal. The Governmentagreed to several suggestions ofthe committee.

    How justified is the claim thatprevious governments had keptthe farmers in chains? Such aview stems from inadequateappreciation of facts. Definitepro-farmer measures were takenby Indian National Congresssince 1937 when it formed gov-

    ernments in coalition in sevenout of 11 provinces (underGovernment of India Act 1935).These included debt relief mea-sures, tenancy reforms andlicencing and regulation ofmoney lenders and so on. Butseparation from Burma (nowMyanmar) from the IndianUnion in 1937 stressed riceavailability in India.

    India’s agricultural policysince Independence was aimedat attaining food security. Withfragmented landholdings, inad-equate electricity supply, pitiableirrigation facilities and pooracreage, production was insuf-ficient. To bridge the require-ment and availability of foodgrains, India entered into anagreement with the US undertheir Public Law 480 on August29, 1956. It allowed India toobtain wheat, rice, cotton, dairyproducts and tobacco in Indianrupees. It could not, however, bedenied that import of foodgrains, in excess of the marketrequirement, de-incentivisedthe farmer to produce more.The production increased as theimports were brought down torealistic levels around 1966.However, the completion ofthe Bhakra-Nangal Dam onBeas-Sutlej (1963) was anachievement of the JawaharlalNehru Government, whichaccelerated the advent of theGreen Revolution.

    The current regime of MSPand Government procurementis a legacy of the short-lived LalBahadur Shastri Government(June 11, 1964 to January 10,

    1966). It had its origin in thedecline in wheat production,consecutively between 1962 to1964, and decline and margin-al recovery of rice productionduring the corresponding peri-od. This compelled theGovernment to revisit its openmarket policy for wheat andmodest control on transportand sale of rice. The severity ofthe food shortage could beunderstood from the sheernumber of speeches that Shastridelivered on the subject as thePrime Minister. His SelectedSpeeches, published by thePublications Division, Ministryof I&B (1972) categorises atotal of 10 under “FoodProblems.”

    The Shastri Governmentmoved in towards a regime ofgreater regulation and controlon sale, purchase and move-ment of food grains. On January1, 1965, two new organisationswere created, which becamethe hallmark of theGovernment’s intervention inthe agricultural sector. Thesewere Food Corporation of India(FCI) and Agricultural PricesCommission (now Commissionfor Agricultural Costs andPrices). The ambit ofGovernment procurement,which was limited to a few edi-ble items in the beginning, nowextends to 23 items (in additionto sugarcane).

    The developments since theGreen Revolution (1967) haveled to the growth in acreageand food surplus situation.Time is ripe for addressing the

    neglected problem of agricul-tural marketing. In pursuit ofdoubling the farmers’ incomeby 2022 (from the level of2016), the Narendra ModiGovernment formed a com-mittee led by Ashok Dalwai,IAS. The committee produceda 14-volume eminently read-able report. Though the deci-sion to “liberalise” the farm wasnot among its direct recom-mendations, one has to realisethat significant decisions arealways political rather thanbureaucratic in nature. Thefarmers must have better alter-natives for remunerative pric-ing with legal safeguards. Eventoday, there is no legal restric-tion on farmers selling his/herproduct in the open market.What cripples the farmer, how-ever, is not merely the logisti-cal problem but also theabsence of a legal architectureto protect his/her interests.

    A single line in these Acts,like “notwithstanding anythingcontained in the aforesaid sec-tions, no trade transactionsshould take place below thenotified MSP”, would haveallayed the misgivings of thefarmers. A line in time couldhave saved the Governmentfrom putting eight CabinetMinisters on ground (notincluding the Agriculture andFarmer Welfare MinisterNarendra Singh Tomar) to con-vince agitating agriculturists.

    (The writer is an author andindependent researcher based inNew Delhi. The views expressedhere are personal)

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    ������������������Sir — The air quality index(AQI) in the capital remains“poor” as there has been a rise inthe concentration of both PM10and PM2.5 pollutants. Accordingto the System of Air Quality andWeather Forecasting AndResearch (SAFAR), PM10 pollu-tants are expected to reduce to238, a scale which falls under the“moderate” category, during thisweek while PM2.5 pollutants areexpected to reach 117, which fallsunder the “poor” category.SAFAR also estimated around448 stubble-burning fires onOctober 10. However, due to thetransport-level wind speed,which is not so calm, the highaccumulation of pollutants inDelhi is not happening. It is saidthat the impact of stubble fire islikely to reduce due to change inwind direction. This comes asgood news as high pollution lev-els coupled with the ongoingpandemic will be life-threaten-ing. The Government shouldtake strict measures to ensurethe AQI level doesn’t increase.Also, as the festive seasonapproaches, a blanket ban on firecrackers should be announced.

    Nihal Raj Noida

    ������������Sir — The Government had seta target of doubling farmers’income by the year 2022 butgiven the economic state of thecountry, this won’t be possibleany time soon. Adding to it, thethree farm Acts that were recent-ly passed by Parliament wouldlead to farmers being “reduced tofarmworkers” and big corpora-

    tions taking over “large swathesof land”. The Opposition needsto continue opposing the Actsand pressure the Centre for pro-farmer reforms that include theMinimum Support Price (MSP)guarantee. Farmers should befree from exploitation not onlyby intermediaries but also by cor-porate giants.

    Abdussalam Mumbai

    �����������������Sir — The Central Bureau ofInvestigation ( CBI ) has takenover the investigation of thegang-rape and murder case of the19-year-old Dalit woman ofHathras, Uttar Pradesh. Theagency’s move came almost eightdays after UP Chief Minister YogiAdityanath recommended a CBIprobe, amid a growing political

    storm over the death of the vic-tim and her hurried cremation bythe administration in the absenceof her family. The Opposition haseven called for the CM’s resigna-tion over the issue. The CBI hasalready registered a case againstone of the accused, earlier regis-tered at Chandpa police stationin Hathras. This will be a chancefor the Centre to separate itselffrom the UP Government thathas been grossly mishandling thecase. The CBI shouldn’t let theState manipulate the findings andbuild a strong case based on factsand make sure that the victimgets justice.

    Bhagwan ThadaniMumbai

    ���������������Sir — Angry with his wife forrefusing to source money fromher parents, a 26-year-old man inRamamurthy Nagar, Bengaluru,has allegedly burnt her privateparts. The police should takestrict action against the culpritand the victim needs to be givensecurity.

    MN QasmiKolkata

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