Daily Current Affairs: March 2021

Don’t expect more exemption on online MSP payment, Punjab told

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 30

Punjab's non-compliance with the government order on direct online payment of minimum support price (MSP) to farmers could spell trouble for rabi procurement this year with the Centre digging in heels and saying the state would not get any further exemption in the matter. The wheat procurement in Punjab starts from April 10.

Many chances given, Goyal reminds Capt

Despite multiple exemptions and sufficient time, Punjab has not implemented norms for direct digital MSP payment to farmers. — Piyush Goyal, Food Minister

Official records show Punjab is the only among 12 procuring states not making direct digital payment to farmers, as mandated by the Finance Ministry's Public Finance Management System (PFMS) order issued on May 28, 2018.

Punjab continues to pay farmers through arhtiyas under the Punjab Agriculture Produce Marketing Rules-1962, which, it says, mandates MSP payments through commission agents. Several states have even integrated their land records with the central procurement portal, something Punjab hasn't done.

Food Minister Piyush Goyal has now again written to Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh citing past exemptions the state was granted and urged urgent compliance.

On Punjab's concern that title issues may arise where land had been given on lease for tilling by absentee landlords, Goyal said Punjab should follow Haryana's software that enabled details of tenant or share-cropper to be uploaded on the portal with a disclaimer that this would not be a legal proof for claiming ownership.

The Tribune has, meanwhile, accessed an internal government note that shows that the Food Ministry is against granting any further waivers to Punjab.

The CMD of Food Corporation of India, during his recent visit to the state, even conveyed this: "The readiness of the system in Punjab is not an issue. Willingness on the part of Punjab is still questionable." The Secretary, Food, has spoken to the Punjab Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Food), making it clear that no exemption shall be granted this year. "In the event of non-implementation, the Centre would not be obliged to reimburse the cost of procurement and other incidentals," says the note. The note also says that in 2020, during verification of payments, the Centre had detected an alleged deduction of Rs 12 per quintal made by arthiyas from MSP payment at the cost of farmers.

"The GoI stand is that the entire MSP should be transferred to farmers' account and should not get parked into arthiya's account," says the note. Punjab is the top contributor to the central wheat and paddy procurement pool, which is why its compliance with online payment norms is more important, government sources said.

Arhtiyas' 'cut'

Punjab continues to pay MSP to farmers through arhtiyas
The Centre had in 2018 told all states to shift to digital mode
Arhtiyas 'deduct' Rs12/quintal from MSP, as per a report

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Imran replies to Modi; open for talks, raises ‘K’

Islamabad, March 30

Prime Minister Imran Khan has written a letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, saying creation of an "enabling environment" is imperative for a constructive and result-oriented dialogue to resolve all outstanding issues between Pakistan and India, in particular the Jamp;K issue.

Khan's letter was in reply to Prime Minister Modi's letter to him last week to extend greetings on the occasion of Pakistan Day. In his letter, Modi had said India desires cordial relations with Pakistan but an atmosphere of trust, devoid of terror and hostility, is "imperative" for it.

In his reply to Prime Minister Modi's letter, Khan thanked him and said the people of Pakistan also desire peaceful cooperative relations with all neighbours, including India.

While PM Modi talked about a terror-free environment for peace, Khan said that peace was possible only if outstanding issues like Kashmir were resolved.

Meanwhile reports from Pakistan said the government might soon take a decision on reopening trade with India. — PTI

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India may face heat of US sanctions on Myanmar

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 30

The impact of US sanctions on two Myanmar military companies may be lapping Indian shores after Australian human rights lawyers claimed that Adani Group is financially involved with one of the companies.

The US sanctioned Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) last week as it was "a vital financial lifeline" for the junta which has overthrown the elected government and killed hundreds of unarmed protesters. Though the lawyers' report claims Adani is paying about Rs 2,500 crore to MEC, the group sees it differently.

Edit: Volte-face by Manipur

The Australian Centre for International Justice (ACIJ) and the Justice for Myanmar group say the documents reveal that the amount was provided to MEC which "stands credibly accused and is being investigated at the ICC and ICJ for crimes against humanity".

The intention is to pressure Canberra into dumping its investment in Adani Ports, which also owns North Queensland operations linked to Carmichael coal mine. These Australian lawyers and activists also want sovereign wealth funds and pension funds to stop investing in Adani Group on ethical grounds.

"The Yangon project is independent with no joint venture partners. We are watching the situation carefully and will engage with relevant authorities and stakeholders to seek their advice for the way forward," said an Adani Ports spokesperson.

Manipur says no to refugees, retracts

The Manipur Government issued a circular to the DCs of districts bordering Myanmar not to open camps for refugees fleeing the neighbouring country but later withdrew it to avoid potential public anger. PTI

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Hotspot Nandigram poll din ends with massive roadshows

Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

Nandigram, March 30

If it was some other day, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee would have perhaps stopped her convoy and given a chase to BJP supporters who dared to raise party slogan "Jai Sri Ram" at her.

But on Tuesday, Mamata ignored BJP supporters first at Reyapara and then at Mohammad Bazaar in Nandigram when they raised the slogan seeing her convoy.

Tuesday, being the last day of campaigning in Nandigram, Mamata was hard-pressed for time as she had a number of programmes, including a roadshow and several meetings, lined up for the day. The BJP, Mamata's chief rival in the constituency, also left no stone unturned to make the last day of campaigning count.

The BJP campaign in Nandigram on Tuesday, where party candidate Suvendu Adhikari has thrown a tough challenge to TMC supremo Mamata, started with an elaborate roadshow by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and ended with a roadshow by actor Mithun Chakraborty.

Standing atop a caparisoned truck with Adhikari by his side, Shah waved and occasionally tossed flower petals to the crowd who thronged to see the roadshow which stared from Reyapara Boropul and went to Shiva Temple.

Later, Shah told mediapersons that the overwhelming response to the roadshow had convinced him Adhikari's victory from Nandigram.

In contrast, Banerjee's roadshow — from Bhangabera Shahid Bedi to Sonachura in Nandigram — was a simple affair. Instead of riding a vehicle, she choose to take part in the roadshow in the wheelchair.

The TMC supremo later addressed public meetings at Sonachura, Bansuli Chawk Lock Gate (Bhekutia) and Tengua More Crossing — all falling in the Nandigram constituency.

Stating that a woman had been raped within five km of where Mamata was staying in Nandigram, Shah alleged that the government headed by Mamata had failed to provide security to women. In response, Mamata cited the Hathras incident and said Shah should first worry about the women living in BJP-ruled UP.

At a meeting in Tengua More, Mamata admitted that she had called up BJP leader Pralay Paul and had asked him for help. "I was told that some local BJP leaders wanted to talk to me. That is why I had called him. I don't think I did anything wrong," she said.

Govt okays issuance of electoral bonds

New Delhi: Amid Assembly elections in four states and a union territory, the government on Tuesday approved issuance of the 16th tranche of electoral bonds which will be open for sale from April 1 to 10. PTI

'Defeat undemocratic TMC, communal BJP'

Kolkata: Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya on Tuesday urged the people of Bengal to defeat the "undemocratic" TMC and "communal" BJP in the ongoing Assembly elections. PTI

Phase 2 Assam poll Campaigning ends

Guwahati: A high-octane electoral campaign for the second phase of Assam Assembly elections, spearheaded by an array of national and state leaders, came to an end on Tuesday evening. pti

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2PFPzVS

Jaishankar for ‘double peace’, UN involvement in Afghanistan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 30

India has called upon the world community to achieve “double peace” — peace within and around Afghanistan and under a regional process to be convened by the UN.

Speaking at a regional ministerial conference called the Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process (HoA-IP) held in Tajikistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar steered clear of the debate over whether there should be an interim government in Kabul or wait for the elections.

India welcomed any move towards a genuine political settlement and a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire in Afghanistan, he said, hoping that UN stewardship would help take into account all relevant UN resolutions and improve the odds for a lasting outcome.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has announced the appointment of Jean Arnault as his personal representative to assist with the Afghan peace negotiations.

The “double peace” concept requires the harmonising of all interests. “India, on its part, has been supportive of all efforts being made to accelerate dialogue between Kabul and the Taliban,” said Jaishankar.

The HoA-IP’s ninth ministerial is being attended by 15 direct participants, including India, 17 observer countries and 12 supporting regional and international organisations.

It takes place before a May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops, which US President Joe Biden says is tough to meet.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi warned against double standards in counter-terrorism and wanted the complete elimination of all terror groups such as Al-Qaida, ISIS and the ETIM. Along with Iranian FM Javad Zarif, he supported the orderly withdrawal of foreign troops, so as to prevent the terrorist forces from ramping up and creating trouble.

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DGCA suggests spot fine over violations

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 30

Amid the Covid-19 surge, civil aviation regulator DGCA has asked authorities at airports across the country to enhance surveillance and explore the possibility of imposing "spot fines" on those found violating safety norms.

While issuing an advisory to the airports, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) noted that compliance with the Covid-safety protocol was "not satisfactory".

The airports could levy "spot fines" in accordance with law with the help of local police and authorities, it suggested. Such fines, it is believed, would serve as a deterrent for violation of Covid-19 protocol at the airports, said an official.

"Advisory issued to all airports... People must wear masks (covering nose and mouth) and maintain social distance. We are moving in direction of punitive action by police against passengers who don't comply," tweeted Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

The airports have already been given a set of strict standard operating procedures as part of measures to be taken to contain the spread of the virus in view of India staring at a second wave.

As per earlier guidelines, violators could be handed over to airport security if they flouted norms. Besides, airlines have also been given instructions of taking action against "unruly" passengers by placing them in the "no fly" list.

Approves 18,843 flights per week

The DGCA on Tuesday approved 18,843 flights per week from 108 airports for the summer schedule, including on 22 new routes under UDAN scheme. The flights have been approved considering airlines are permitted to operate at not more than 80 per cent of their pre-Covid capacity.

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No automatic recurring payment from tomorrow

New Delhi, March 30

Come April, there will be no automatic recurring payment for various services, including recharge and utility bill as RBI has made Additional Factor of Authentication (AFA) mandatory after March 31.

However, banks and payment gateways are seeking additional time to comply with the RBI directive on automatic recurring payment.

On December 4, RBI had directed all banks including RRBs, NBFCs, and payment gateways that the processing of recurring transactions (domestic or cross-border) using cards or Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPIs) or Unified Payments Interface (UPI) under arrangements/practices not compliant with AFA would not be continued beyond March 31, 2021.

As part of risk mitigation measure, RBI announced this step to bolster safety and security of card transactions.

Non-readiness of some of the players could impact recurring payment such as of utility bills, recharge of phone, DTH and OTT, among others, post March 31. — PTI

Risk mitigation measure

On December 4 last, RBI had directed all banks and payment gateways that the processing of recurring transactions using cards or Prepaid Payment Instruments or UPI under arrangements/practices not compliant with AFA would not be continued beyond March 31
As part of risk mitigation measure, RBI announced this step to bolster safety and security of card transactions

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Inflation exceptionally high in India: Moody’s

New Delhi, March 30

India's inflation is at "uncomfortably high" level, which is an exception among Asian economies, Moody's Analytics said on Tuesday. Higher fuel prices will keep upward pressure on retail inflation and keep the RBI from offering further rate cuts, said Moody's Analytics, a financial intelligence company.

Retail inflation rose to 5% in February, from 4.1% in January. The RBI mainly takes into account retail inflation while deciding on the monetary policy.

Core inflation (which excludes food, fuel and light) was up 5.6% in February, from 5.3% in January, Moody's Analytics said, adding India's inflation is "uncomfortably high".

In its macro roundup, Moody's Analytics said inflation is subdued in most of Asia, and expected to only gradually pick up over 2021 because of rising oil prices and economies starting to reopen. Brent crude has climbed 26% this year at around $64 per barrel. It was around $30 per barrel in March 2020, when the Covid crisis was near its peak.

"India and the Philippines are exceptions. In these economies, inflation is above comfort levels, adding to the list of challenges for policymakers," it said. — PTI

Higher fuel prices to keep up pressure

Higher fuel prices will keep upward pressure on retail inflation and keep the RBI from offering further rate cuts, said Moody's Analytics
Retail inflation rose to 5% in February, from 4.1% in January

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DGCA suggests spot fine over violations

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 30

While issuing an advisory to the airports, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) noted that compliance with the Covid-safety protocol was "not satisfactory".

The airports have already been given a set of strict standard operating procedures as part of measures to be taken to contain the spread of the virus in view of India staring at a second wave.

Approves 18,843 flights per week

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2PJx3fa

Jaishankar for ‘double peace’, UN involvement in Afghanistan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 30

India has called upon the world community to achieve “double peace” — peace within and around Afghanistan and under a regional process to be convened by the UN.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has announced the appointment of Jean Arnault as his personal representative to assist with the Afghan peace negotiations.

The HoA-IP’s ninth ministerial is being attended by 15 direct participants, including India, 17 observer countries and 12 supporting regional and international organisations.

It takes place before a May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of foreign troops, which US President Joe Biden says is tough to meet.

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/31BvmmV

Micro-containment not enough, govt wants dist-level lockdowns

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 30

As the Covid-19 surge continued with active cases touching 5,40,720 today after 56,211 new infections, the Centre on Tuesday asked the states to go in for large containment zones with strict perimeter control, effectively backing district-level lockdowns to break the chain of viral transmission.

In a letter to state chief secretaries, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan today said "unless checked now, the current Covid surge has the potential to overwhelm health systemshellip; any complacency at any level will come at a heavy cost."

Jab for 45-plus from tomorrow

From April 1, those aged 45 years and above can register for jab on www.cowin.gov.in or Aarogya Setu. Onsite registration can be done at health facilities after 3 pm.

The letter indicated a shift from micro-containment strategy to large-containment zones with Bhushan noting, "Where there are clusters of cases, simply quarantining individuals or families will not help. In that case, large containment zones with clear boundaries and stringent controls must be implemented. There should be strict perimeter control of containment zones. Endeavour should be to contain as many as possible in a containment zone for 14 days so that the chain of transmission can be broken."

This is the first time since the March lockdown was lifted that the Health Ministry has advised large containment zones and district-level lockdowns and perimeter controls.

The advice came as active cases rose to 4.47 per cent of the total and the Member, Health, NITI Aayog, saying the situation was turning from "bad to worse".

"Many districts are seeing clusters of cases due to events and crowding. Some districts that saw a high number of cases in August-November are again seeing a high growth rate of cases. Additionally many new districts that saw limited prevalence earlier are worryingly showing a surge," Bhusban's letter said.

The lack of Covid-appropriate behaviour and laxity in public health effort could lead to sudden surges, the letter said, asking chief secretaries to ensure institutional quarantine of positive people, tracing of at least 30 close contacts of those infected and review of home isolation cases.

"There has been laxity in institutional quarantine. People are being asked to home isolate without proper review. That is not acceptable," Bhushan said, adding that Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh were of particular concern and had 62 per cent of all active cases.

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Worst spike, Punjab extends curbs

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 30

With March turning out to be the worst month since September 2020, the Punjab Government today ordered extension of all Covid-19 restrictions till April 10.

The state has reported 54,614 infections and 981 deaths in this month so far. The figures are next only to those reported in September last year (around 60,000 cases and 2,000 deaths).

Latest measures

All curbs to remain in force till Apr 10
Vax drive to be launched in prisons
Number of vaccination sites to be increased

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh also directed the Health Department to increase the number of vaccination sites to target the priority categories on urgent basis.

Reviewing the Covid situation with the Chief Secretary and other officials, the CM said all restrictions would now remain in force till April 10, after which these would be reviewed again.

The CM also ordered the launch of a vaccination drive in prisons across the state. The step comes in the wake of 40 women inmates testing positive for Covid-19 in the Nabha Open Jail.

The CM asked Chief Secretary Vini Mahajan to issue directions for carrying out testing and vaccination in busy areas. He asked all DCs and Civil Surgeons to identify places where mobile Covid vaccination centres could be pressed into service.

Getting vaccination should be made easier for all eligible government employees and others, the CM said.

The Principal Secretary, Health amp; Family Welfare, said infections and deaths were rising rapidly in some of the districts, with projections presented by the CMC, Ludhiana, showing a steep rise in the number of cases and the peak around April 6. As per estimates, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala are likely to contribute more cases.

DGP Dinkar Gupta said 90,360 persons had been challaned and tested for Covid. He requested for a special vaccination drive in police lines. All districts have been ordered to increase the number of vaccination centres.

Dr KK Talwar, Adviser, Health amp; Medical Education, suggested that routine non-Covid treatment in select private hospitals might be deferred by 2-4 weeks.

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Talks soon, Depsang, Gogra on agenda

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 30

The Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs has decided to conduct the next round of military commander talks, the dates for which are yet to be worked out.

The talks will be held at the designated meeting point along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. Sources said there could be a "positive outcome". The commanders of the two sides had last met on February 20 after completing the first phase of the pullback from the LAC.

In the first phase, there was visible disengagement of Indian and Chinese troops along the banks of Pangong Tso, a 135-km glacial lake.

The next two steps — de-escalation and de-induction, which means pulling back troops and war equipment to the pre-April 2020 home bases — have not yet begun.

The WMCC comprises representatives of foreign ministries and militaries of both sides. It had last met on March 12 and decided to reach a mutually acceptable solution for complete disengagement at the earliest.

The need to go to the WMCC arose as the military commanders could not arrive at a timeline of the phased de-escalation and de-induction.

The first phase of the disengagement process commenced on February 10, as both sides started withdrawal from the banks of Pangong Tso. It is stalled at the next phase of de-escalation and de-induction.

Still at striking range

The present positions of troops are not face-to-face, but are within the striking range from where rapid redeployment is possible
The military is cautious as snowmelt will open up several mountain passes by April-end
The matters of disengagement at Depsang, Gogra or Hot Springs are slated to come up in the upcoming talks

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Imran replies to Modi; open for talks, raises ‘K’

Islamabad, March 30

In his reply to Prime Minister Modi's letter, Khan thanked him and said the people of Pakistan also desire peaceful cooperative relations with all neighbours, including India.

While PM Modi talked about a terror-free environment for peace, Khan said that peace was possible only if outstanding issues like Kashmir were resolved.

Meanwhile reports from Pakistan said the government might soon take a decision on reopening trade with India. — PTI

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India may face heat of US sanctions on Myanmar

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 30

Edit: Volte-face by Manipur

Manipur says no to refugees, retracts

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/3rzV6uf

Don’t expect more exemption on online MSP payment, Punjab told

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 30

Many chances given, Goyal reminds Capt

Despite multiple exemptions and sufficient time, Punjab has not implemented norms for direct digital MSP payment to farmers. — Piyush Goyal, Food Minister

Food Minister Piyush Goyal has now again written to Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh citing past exemptions the state was granted and urged urgent compliance.

The Tribune has, meanwhile, accessed an internal government note that shows that the Food Ministry is against granting any further waivers to Punjab.

Arhtiyas' 'cut'

Punjab continues to pay MSP to farmers through arhtiyas
The Centre had in 2018 told all states to shift to digital mode
Arhtiyas 'deduct' Rs12/quintal from MSP, as per a report

from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2Pk9GJr

Hotspot Nandigram poll din ends with massive roadshows

Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

Nandigram, March 30

If it was some other day, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee would have perhaps stopped her convoy and given a chase to BJP supporters who dared to raise party slogan "Jai Sri Ram" at her.

But on Tuesday, Mamata ignored BJP supporters first at Reyapara and then at Mohammad Bazaar in Nandigram when they raised the slogan seeing her convoy.

Later, Shah told mediapersons that the overwhelming response to the roadshow had convinced him Adhikari's victory from Nandigram.

The TMC supremo later addressed public meetings at Sonachura, Bansuli Chawk Lock Gate (Bhekutia) and Tengua More Crossing — all falling in the Nandigram constituency.

Govt okays issuance of electoral bonds

'Defeat undemocratic TMC, communal BJP'

Kolkata: Former Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya on Tuesday urged the people of Bengal to defeat the "undemocratic" TMC and "communal" BJP in the ongoing Assembly elections. PTI

Phase 2 Assam poll Campaigning ends

Guwahati: A high-octane electoral campaign for the second phase of Assam Assembly elections, spearheaded by an array of national and state leaders, came to an end on Tuesday evening. pti

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The family is growing!

https://ift.tt/3rL2ZgR via /r/aww https://ift.tt/3fFSbyb

'It wasn't right': witness to Floyd death tells court

from US News Headlines, Latest USA News, US Election 2020 news on Times of India https://ift.tt/3m58Vjg

India has rights issues, but situation improving in J&K, says US state dept

from US News Headlines, Latest USA News, US Election 2020 news on Times of India https://ift.tt/3cz2z8P

Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections | Upgrading of Nagapattinam port remains a forgotten promise

Be it these two main contenders or candidates of other mainstream parties, including Makkal Needhi Maiam, Naam Tamizhar Katchi and Amma Makkal Munnetr

source https://www.thehindu.com/elections/tamil-nadu-assembly/upgrading-of-nagapattinam-port-remains-a-forgotten-promise/article34203325.ece

U.S. condemns China’s move to further reduce Hong Kong political participation

The sweeping overhaul of Hong Kong's electoral system willdrastically curb democratic representation as authorities seekto ensure "patriots" rule the global financial hub.

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-condemns-chinas-move-to-further-reduce-hong-kong-political-participation/article34203261.ece

Guy's 20 year old cat is deaf. This how he gets his attention.

https://ift.tt/3fni9WW via /r/aww https://ift.tt/3fs6LZP

Trump talks about self in speech at couple's wedding

Former US president Donald Trump stole the spotlight at a wedding in his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida over the weekend, using a congratulatory speech to mainly talk about himself and assail his successor. "Do you miss me yet?" a tuxedo-clad Trump asked at Saturday night's function, according to video posted on celebrity gossip site TMZ.

from US News Headlines, Latest USA News, US Election 2020 news on Times of India https://ift.tt/3wb5tZa

400 homes evacuated, Rushmore closed amid South Dakota fires

from US News Headlines, Latest USA News, US Election 2020 news on Times of India https://ift.tt/3m4w4mb

TN Assembly polls | DMK candidate for Kurunjipadi, M.R.K. Panneerselvam tests positive for COVID-19

The former Minister had been campaigning extensively for the past few days

source https://www.thehindu.com/elections/tamil-nadu-assembly/tn-assembly-polls-dmk-candidate-for-kurunjipadi-mrk-panneerselvam-tests-positive-for-covid-19/article34195165.ece

10.34% of those who failed did not clear six subjects

Analysis shows most students had failed in only one subject

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/1034-of-those-who-failed-did-not-clear-six-subjects/article34195123.ece

RTCs’ recovery path looks bleak

After suffering revenue loss of over ₹4,000 crore, second wave poses further threat

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/rtcs-recovery-path-looks-bleak/article34192637.ece

CD scandal: KPCC chief D.K. Shivakumar denies allegations

‘They may have said it under pressure’

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/cd-scandal-kpcc-chief-dk-shivakumar-denies-allegations/article34195090.ece

Morning Digest: U.S. opposes Rana plea to delay extradition process; traffic in Suez Canal channel resumes after stranded ship refloated, and more

A select list of stories to read before you start your day

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/morning-digest-march-30-2021/article34192911.ece

400 homes evacuated, Rushmore closed amid South Dakota fires

No injuries have been reported.

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/400-homes-evacuated-rushmore-closed-amid-south-dakota-fires/article34195066.ece

90% U.S. adults to be eligible for vaccine by April 19, says Joe Biden

Mr. Biden said just 10 weeks after he became the President, nearly 75% of Americans over the age of 65 had received at least one vaccination shot.

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/90-us-adults-to-be-eligible-for-vaccine-by-april-19-says-joe-biden/article34195046.ece

Just wanna float without getting wet

https://ift.tt/3rzwxhl via /r/aww https://ift.tt/3cwPpck

90% US adults to be eligible for vaccine by April 19: Biden

from US News Headlines, Latest USA News, US Election 2020 news on Times of India https://ift.tt/3dh9Kl1

Jury in George Floyd murder trial shown harrowing video of his death

Prosecutors sought to demonstrate that then-police officer Derek Chauvin had no justification for using the dangerous move for some nine minutes on Floyd, an African-American man, last May during an arrest on a minor charge. But Chauvin's attorney countered that he would prove that Floyd was on drugs, forcing officers to take tough action, and that his death was caused by the drugs and a medical condition rather than asphyxiation.

from US News Headlines, Latest USA News, US Election 2020 news on Times of India https://ift.tt/3rx2jLB

Police caution against invalid ‘Euro’ notes

Alert police if notes found, says SP

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/police-caution-against-invalid-euro-notes/article34195039.ece

‘New BBMP Act renders ward committees toothless’

The petitioners also questioned the creation of additional committees

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/new-bbmp-act-renders-ward-committees-toothless/article34192384.ece

ICU cases hit new peak in French coronavirus surge

Doctors are increasingly sounding the alarm that they may have to start turning patients away for ICU care, particularly in the Paris region.

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/icu-cases-hit-new-peak-in-french-virus-surge/article34195032.ece

I can't imagine a better healing ambiance

https://ift.tt/3cvbNTw via /r/aww https://ift.tt/3rt8aSk

A chaiwala struggles to survive

Pandemic has dealt a severe blow to small businesses, some of them are on the verge of closure

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/a-chaiwala-struggles-to-survive/article34193760.ece

Singur, Nandigram conspirators throwing muck at each other: Buddhadeb Bhattacharje

His remarks come a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused Suvendu Adhikari and Sisir Adhikari of a conspiracy to allow police to enter Nandigram on March 14, 2007

source https://www.thehindu.com/elections/west-bengal-assembly/singur-nandigram-conspirators-throwing-muck-at-each-other-buddhadeb/article34194043.ece

Prosecutor tells jury ex-Minneapolis officer's 'grinding and crushing' knee killed George Floyd

Defense lawyer says Derek Chauvin followed his police training

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/derek-chauvin-trial-for-george-floyds-death/article34194027.ece

Can’t reveal everything: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sharad Pawar ‘meeting’

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 28

Union Home Minister Amit Shah today refused to divulge anything about his purported meeting with NCP supremo Sharad Pawar amid the ongoing political crisis in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in Maharashtra.

"Everything need not be made public," Shah said responding to a query about the "meeting".

According to reports, "two NCP leaders" visited Ahmedabad for a hush-hush meeting with "some businessman" at a venue where Shah also reached.

The buzz is that Pawar and Praful Patel were the two NCP leaders who met Shah "at a farmhouse in Ahmedabad on Saturday".

While Shah declined to confirm it, he also did not deny meeting the NCP leaders.

At a time when Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government is struggling to survive, the meeting opens up space for a whole lot of speculations, possibilities, permutations and combinations, especially with the Shiv Sena now openly gunning for Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

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India, US begin naval exercise

India and the US on Sunday kicked off a two-day naval exercise in the eastern Indian Ocean Region, reflecting the growing congruence in their defence and military partnership.
The exercise came a week after US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin came to India. A spokesperson said the exercise was aimed at consolidating the synergy achieved during the Malabar exercise. PTI

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BJP expels 7 Assam leaders

Guwahati, March 28

The BJP in Assam on Sunday said it has expelled seven leaders from the primary membership of the party for six years for contesting as independent candidates in the Assembly election after being denied ticket.

"State party president Ranjeet Kumar Dass has expelled the seven persons for six years with immediate effect for contesting as independents against the party's nominated candidates," Assam BJP general secretary Rajdeep Roy said in a statement.

Earlier on March 18, the Assam BJP had expelled 15 leaders, including former deputy speaker Dilip Kumar Paul, from the party for six years for contesting as Independents. — PTI

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Rajnath: Judicial probe against ED unfortunate

Thiruvananthapuram, March 28

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the Kerala government's decision to recommend a judicial inquiry against central probe agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the gold and dollar smuggling cases, was "unfortunate" and amounts to challenging the federal structure of the Constitution.

Rajnath Singh, who is canvassing in Kerala, said the Uniform Civil Code would be implemented only after taking all communities into confidence. "We will take all communities into confidence and go forward. We are firm on that decision," he said. — PTI

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Holi gesture: Farmers tidy up Tikri

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, March 28

Protesting farmers at Tikri border on Sunday celebrated Holi, albeit in a different way. They held a cleanliness drive at the camping site spreading over 13 km, from Jakhoda turn to Tikri. The farmers also decked up the main protest site with balloons.

"We are putting up at Tikri for four months. It is our home till the three farm laws are repealed. We thus cleaned up the site and prayed that the Centre comes to its senses and agrees to our demand," said Gurbachan Singh, a farmer from Mansa.

He alleged that despite repeated requests, the local authorities failed to get garbage lifted from the site.

BKU leader Purushhotam Singh Gill said the government had claimed that the farmers would return home by Holi. "We have taken a vow not to move an inch till our demands are met," Gill said.

Terminder Singh, another farmer, said: "Till the time we are here, we will celebrate every festival with communal harmony and brotherhood. As the tradition goes, people burn negativity in 'Holika dahan'. We too burnt copies of the three farm laws today to register our protest."

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Retd judge to investigate ex-police chief’s charges against Deshmukh

Nagpur, March 28

Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh on Sunday said a retired HC judge will conduct a probe into the allegations of corruption levelled against him by former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh.

The truth would come out after a probe into the matter, Deshmukh told reporters at the Nagpur airport.

On March 20, Singh in a letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray created a flutter in political circles by claiming that Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels.

Deshmukh had then trashed the allegations against him. Under fire over handling of the bomb scare outside industrialist Mukesh Ambani's house in Mumbai, the state government on March 17 transferred Singh from the post of city police commissioner. — PTI

Anil Accidental home minister: Raut

In the Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana', MP Sanjay Raut claimed that Anil Deshmukh was made the state Home Minister accidentally. Raut said Deshmukh got the post after senior NCP leaders refused the responsibility.

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Modern agri practices need of the hour: PM Narendra Modi

Tribune News Service amp; PTI

New Delhi, March 28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday underlined the need for modernisation and innovation in the agriculture sector to boost farmers' income.

In his monthly Mann Ki Baat radio address, Modi said: "In the agriculture sector, modernisation is the need of the hour. It has been delayed and we have already lost a lot of time."

"To create new employment opportunities and to increase farmers' income, it is important to adopt new alternatives and innovations along with traditional agricultural practices," he said.

The PM's call comes at a time when hundreds of farmers have been camping at Delhi's border points since November last year, demanding repeal of the three farm laws. In the context of diversification, Modi said bee farming was being adopted by farmers in various parts of the country, giving a boost to production and export of honey, which he termed as a "sweet revolution". He cited farmers from Yamunanagar in Haryana among others who are adopting bee farming in a big way. Modi hailed the world's largest vaccination programme being carried out in India and stressed on

"dawai bhi, kadai bhi" (medicines as well as strict preventive measures).

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200 seats for sure in Bengal, claims Shah after first phase

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 28

Confident of winning both West Bengal and Assam, Home Minister Amit Shah today said the turnout in the first phase was a "shubh sanket" (positive indication) that the "BJP is winning the elections with huge numbers". The former party president added that no incidence of violence on the day of polling was another "shubh sanket" that the BJP would be "sweeping" the elections in the two states.

Citing the feedback received from party workers on the ground, he said the BJP would win 26 of the 30 seats in West Bengal and 37 of the 47 seats in Assam —- the elections to which were held in the first phase on Saturday.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Shah claimed that the BJP was on course to achieve its target of winning over 200 seats in the 294-member West Bengal Assembly and improving its alliance tally of 86 seats in the 126-member Assam Assembly. He asserted that people had voted for the "positive" agenda espoused by the party.

He also appealed to the people of Nandigram —- the seat from which Bengal CM and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee is contesting polls —- to vote for change and a better future.

Shah also rejected Mamata's charge that PM Narendra Modi's visit to a temple of the Matua community — which is in sizeable number in the state — during his trip to Bangladesh violated the poll code.

He said the visit had nothing to do with the elections and was aimed at fostering deeper ties between the two countries.

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Daily deaths over 300 for first time this year, 62K new cases

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 28

India's daily Covid-19 cases surged to 62,714 while the daily death count breached the 300-mark, the highest this year. The steady rise in active cases continued with the load reaching 4,86,310 after 18 days of consistent surge.

The active cases now make up 4.06 per cent of the total infections. The recovery rate dropped to 94.58 per cent as total infections in the country reached 1,19,71,624 and the toll touched 1,61,552 after 312 daily deaths.

In Punjab, record 69 deaths in 24 hrs

Punjab reported record 69 deaths in the past 24 hours, the highest during the second spike in a single day. The govt said jabs would now be administered at all health and wellness centres, homoeopathy and ayurvedic dispensaries

Health Ministry data show daily deaths were the highest today since December 25, 2020, when 336 persons had died in 24 hours.

Even as Covid vaccinations crossed the 6-crore mark on Sunday to settle at 6,02,69,782, the Centre again sent out reminders to high-burden Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which reported 81.46 per cent of new cases today.

Maharashtra reported the highest number of fresh cases at 35,726, followed by Chhattisgarh (3,162), Karnataka (2,886) and Punjab (2,805).

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has asked 12 high-burden states (Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Jammu amp; Kashmir, Karnataka, Punjab and Bihar) to increase testing exponentially with RT PCR accounting for 70 per cent of total tests; trace, test and isolate average 30 close contacts in the first 72 hours; energise public-private partnership; ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour and muted celebrations of Holi, Shab-e-baraat and Easter; optimally use vaccines.

"While 90 per cent people in these 46 districts are aware that masks were important, 44 per cent are actually wearing masks. In the absence of any restriction, one infected person can spread Covid to 406 individuals in 30 days. This can be reduced to just 15 persons by decreasing physical exposure to 50 per cent and to 2.5 persons by decreasing it to 75 per cent," the Health Ministry told the states.

Five directives to high-burden states

Increase testing exponentially with RT-PCR accounting for 70% of total tests
Trace, test and isolate average 30 close contacts of every Covid patient in the first 72 hours
Ensure Covid-appropriate behaviour and optimal use of vaccines
Muted celebrations of Holi, Shab-e-Barat and Easter
Energise public-private partnership

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Fire in UP hospital, over 140 patients rescued, no casualty

Kanpur, March 28

Over 140 patients were rescued after a fire broke out at the state-run LPS Institute of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Swaroop Nagar here on Sunday morning, the Uttar Pradesh Government said.

According to hospital officials, two high-risk patients died in the morning, but the deaths were "not caused by the fire".

"Around 7.30 am, smoke was seen billowing out of a storeroom on the ground floor. The fire was subsequently doused and the patients were shifted to another building. All patients are safe," Dr Vinay Krishna, Director of the hospital, said.

About the deaths of the two patients, Krishna said, "Tek Chand died around 6.30 am, even before the fire broke out. Rasoolan Bi died later. The bodies have been sent for postmortem. Prima facie, the high-risk patients had normal deaths and the fatalities were not caused by the fire. The postmortem will reveal the exact cause of the deaths."

Smoke filled the centrally air-conditioned building, he asserted. Krishna said the cause of the fire was "probably a short-circuit".

"We used the fire extinguishers kept on the floor to douse the flames. Two fire-tenders were also pressed into service," he said. The fire broke out near the intensive care unit (ICU) on the ground floor of the hospital.

"The fire broke out in a storeroom. Over 140 patients were evacuated," Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi said.

Kanpur's Additional Commissioner of Police Akash Kulhari said a couple of fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames.

According to Swaroop Nagar Station House Officer (SHO) Ashwani Pandey, about 175 patients were evacuated from the ICU and other neighbouring wards and shifted to other wards.

"A short-circuit is suspected to have led to the fire, but the exact reason will be ascertained only after an investigation," the SHO said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed that the evacuated patients be provided immediate care. — PTI

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Congress moves Election Commission for FIRs against BJP top guns over poll prediction

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 28

The TMC and Congress on Sunday hit back at the BJP for making poll predictions in violation of the election laws, with the latter petitioning the Election Commission for FIRs against the BJP top brass.

Hours after Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the BJP would win 26 of the 30 seats in Bengal and 37 of the 47 in Assam, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took a swipe at the BJP asking, "Why did Shah not claim all 30 seats? Has he left four for the CPM and the Congress?"

While Mamata said counting of votes would take place on May 2, the Congress in a memorandum to the Election Commission cited the front page newspaper advertisement by the BJP in Assam, claiming victory in the first phase of polls held yesterday and demanded FIRs against BJP chief JP Nadda, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and state unit president of the BJP Ranjeet Dass for violating the EC orders, Model Code of Conduct and the Representation of People's Act-1951.

"In a pre-planned conspiracy and to defraud the voters of Assam, Sonowal, Nadda, Dass and other BJP members willfully and knowingly issued advertisements camouflaged as political predictions as headlines on the front page of various newspapers throughout Assam. We urge the EC to take action as may be necessary and required in law, including direction for registration of offences against Sonowal, Nadda and Dass for the blatant violation of Model Code of Conduct and the RPA 1951," Congress leaders Randeep Surjewala, Mukul Wasnik and Ajay Maken said to the EC.

The Congress alleged that the BJP sensing its inevitable defeat "had resorted to desperate illegal and unconstitutional methods to influence the voters across the state". Surjewala later alleged that the BJP's attempt was to influence the minds of voters.

In Bengal, Banerjee said high voter turnout was a sign that the people had voted for the TMC.

Trinamool Congress leader in Rajya Sabha Derek O'Brien tweeted after Shah's press conference, saying mind games won't work, Mo-Sha (PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah).

"Try your seat prediction stunts at the Gujarat Gymkhana. This is Bengal. #KhelaHobe," Brien said.

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In Nandigram after injury, Mamata rips into Adhikari

Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

Nandigram, March 28

Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee on Sunday said she had unknowingly showered affection on a snake, who backstabbed her.

Banerjee said this while addressing a gathering at Nandigram on Sunday. Banerjee, who is contesting from Nandigram, returned to the constituency on Sunday after having visited the place last on March 10 when she had left for Kolkata abruptly after sustaining an injury on her left feet.

On Sunday, Mamata announced that she would be staying in Nandigram in a hired accommodation till the day of polling on April 1.

Notably, crowd presence in the ground, given the fact that it was Mamata's first engagement with public on her return to Nandigram, was not up to the mark.

Organisers, however, explained the empty patches in Nandigram's Reyapara Siva Temple ground saying, "Didi will be addressing another meeting in the constituency shortly after this one and many of her supporters will be listening to her in the other meeting at Birulia Bazaar."

Mamata said the event being held at the Siva Temple Ground was not a political meeting. It was "Basanta Utsav" (Spring Festival) celebration, being held on the occasion of "Dol Yatra". According to Bengali Hindu tradition, Lord Krishna and Radha played with colours on that day.

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Woman is about to take doggo home!

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AISA demands free vaccine at the earliest

The All India Students’ Association (AISA) on Sunday demanded that government provide free vaccinations at the earliest to students, teachers and staf

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/aisa-demands-free-vaccine-at-the-earliest/article34187047.ece

Inmates tune into new talents with ‘Jail Radio’

Some prisoners become radio jockeys at the in-house radio station, others play instruments

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/inmates-tune-into-new-talents-with-jail-radio/article34187045.ece

Gangster who escaped custody killed in shoot-out with police

Raid conducted at 1.45 a.m. to avoid crowd, say officers

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/gangster-who-escaped-custody-killed-in-shoot-out-with-police/article34187043.ece

Three hurt as section of elevated road on Dwarka E-way collapses

20-25 labourers left site 10 minutes before the accident; NHAI forms committee

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/three-hurt-as-section-of-elevated-road-on-dwarka-e-way-collapses/article34187041.ece

‘Happiness Curriculum helped students during lockdown’

Sisodia says well-being needs to be made a mainstream subject in education

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/happiness-curriculum-helped-students-during-lockdown/article34187039.ece

City sees highest single-day COVID-19 cases in 3 months

CM not to attend Holi programmes

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/city-sees-highest-single-day-covid-19-cases-in-3-months/article34187037.ece

CBI books Delhi-based firm, its directors

Case involves defrauding a bank of over ₹50 crore

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cbi-books-delhi-based-firm-its-directors/article34185016.ece

Police, govt. have pledged the pride of Karnataka, says Siddaramaiah

He takes exception to the woman in the CD not being traced ‘even after 20 days’

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/police-govt-have-pledged-the-pride-of-karnataka-says-siddaramaiah/article34185069.ece

Two dead, three held in Virginia shootings

Overnight shootings near the Atlantic oceanfront in Virginia Beach left two people dead and eight wounded in a scene described by authorities on Satur

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/two-dead-three-held-in-virginia-shootings/article34184944.ece

Myanmar forces fire on funeral; crackdown continues

Myanmar security forces opened fire on Sunday on a crowd attending the funeral of student who was killed on the bloodiest day yet of a crackdown on p

source https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/myanmar-forces-fire-on-funeral-crackdown-continues/article34186954.ece

Slowing down to heal after the year of the pandemic

I'M going to cheat a little this week and borrow some words from my 17-year-old daughter to start this column. I found this paragraph in an essay she has written as a requirement for a course she is applying for.

"I wrote about my grandmother, shortly after she had died, and I was not yet a teenager. Those words have kept her alive for me, storing small memories that I would not have been able to hold on to otherwise. It made me realise how powerful writing can be. How it holds precious things safely. When you can write something with vulnerability and truth, people resonate with it, and feel validated by it."

Every now and then, as we struggle to disentangle from complicated situations, something simple crosses our path and offers us a glimmer of hope. At a time when nothing seems to console, my daughter's words reminded me how much it is the small details that will finally save us, not the big, bold solutions we seek and never seem to be able to redeem.

One year ago, as the Covid-19 pandemic spread throughout the world and our governments reacted in panic, often being irrational and cruel in their response, our world changed too suddenly and drastically. As people, we are still reeling from the shock.

Our home and family spaces have been reorganised, unsettling us with new, confusing roles. Our workplaces have mutated into minefields where we struggle to maintain the fine balance between security and autonomy. Social and administrative structures designed to protect us seem to have turned against us. The uncertainty is manifold. Our livelihood, education, health and the safety of those who we care for — all of it has been at risk for a year. Our delusions that the pandemic will pass have been shattered by our own collective mismanagement. The world as we knew it may never be the same again.

Most of us have done everything we were required to keep functioning, but how many of us were able to make a place for grief? We are being called upon to meet the needs of others when our own have been neglected for too long, making us feel exhausted. Did we realise when we were at the end of our tether that we needed to slow down to heal? Many of us have never even considered giving ourselves this agency.

As we enter the second year after the beginning of the harsh lockdown, we need to pause and pat ourselves on our back for surviving. Resilience needs to be rewarded, not taken for granted. It wears out unless it is nurtured. We have kept our dependents safe, both physically and emotionally. Our efforts are admirable, but the process is tiresome. We need rest before we can be strong again.

At home we need to address the fault lines that are weighing us down. We may be afraid of speaking up because we are afraid of rocking the boat but allowing microaggressions to go unchecked means we are heading for a breakdown anyway. There is no point trying to keep up the faccedil;ade of normalcy when our realities are frayed. We owe it to our own mental health.

Just as I was concluding this column, our youngest daughter sent me a text message from her older sister's phone along with a photo.

"Hello Mamma this is Naseem and I wanted to tell you that I put flowers on Rahat's grave today."

Rahat is the name of our pet cat who died a month ago. When the grief first hit us, I wondered how our children would recover from the pain. Nothing I said seemed to console them. Every day without Rahat exhausted us.

We did not hurry ourselves towards recovery. We spoke of our love for him. We allowed each other to break down. Many of us have suffered unimaginable, intangible loss in the year that has gone by. We need to name it before we can let it go. Self-awareness will rescue us.

The nurturance that my daughter found in a school essay on her grandmother can be found by each one of us in our own personalised way. For her sister, it is tending to a beloved cat's grave. We all have the fire of creativity within us that will eventually make us cross every threshold of loss. We need to agree to acknowledge and honour it first.

Natasha Badhwar is a film-maker and author.

natasha.badhwar@gmail.com

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Scotland highs

Our 11-week Police Command Course in the UK drew to a close in late October 1988 just as autumn was fading away and wintry conditions were anigh. Each of us had plans to make the best use of the 14-day leave granted by the Government of India. For me, it was decidedly Scotland, having heard about the pristine beauty of its diverse landscapes during our brief official visit to Edinburgh. For my wife, the priority was a coach tour through 10 countries of Europe in as many days. The compromise that was struck allowed less than three days for Scotland.

And so, early next morning, we headed out in a hired Ford Fiesta. In about 90 minutes, we came upon the eastern end of Hadrian's Wall in 'Geordie country', a defensive fortification built by Roman emperor Hadrian around 120 AD to protect Britannia from the 'barbarians' of Caledonia. After a short drive, we got to Berwick-upon-Tweed, the last town in England before crossing over into Scotland, with which is associated the apocryphal story that its Mayor had concluded a peace treaty with a Soviet official in the 1960s. Proponents of this version contend that, alongside Great Britain and Ireland, this town of 8,000-odd was named as a distinct territory by Queen Victoria when she declared the Crimean War against Russia in mid-19th century. Skirting Edinburgh's cobbled streets, I crossed the Firth of Forth (the guttural Scottish pronunciation of which is quite incomprehensible) in the hope of making a pilgrimage to The Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews, the Mecca of golf, having by then played the game for three decades and more. But that was not to be. Having exhibited forbearance in allowing me to explore several sights on the way, my wife ordained that we go instead to Caithness Glass, which, she had gathered, was a 'must visit' for its artistic glassware. High prices of none too striking artefacts put paid to her plans to acquire a souvenir.

Availing of a diversion in central Scotland, we headed towards Pitlochry, a small Victorian town which became a favoured tourist resort after the British royalty acquired Balmoral Castle in the nearby highlands 150 years ago. Edradour Distillery, the smallest licensed one in Scotland with just a couple of employees and thus limited production, and the 300-metre-long salmon ladder, allowing fish to skirt a hydro-electric project, were the key points of interest. The adjacent village, Blair Atholl, situated on flat ground amidst the Grampian Highlands, is the traditional home of the Dukes of Atholl, the chieftains of the Murray clan. Though detached for the most part from their impressive castle, the Dukes have continued to patronise the Atholl Highlanders, the only private army permitted in the UK. First raised as a regular British army regiment, it was disbanded within 15 years in the late 18th century following a mutiny. Fifty years later, the then Duke of Atholl raised it as a bodyguard element, which was presented colours by the Queen for protecting her during a visit to Blair Castle. At the time of our visit, this cadre had 80-odd troops.

Traversing an ascending course through lush environs capped occasionally by trees laden with wilting golden autumn leaves, we got to the then 90-year-old Dalwhinnie Distillery, the second highest in Scotland. Drawing upon a clear spring for water and peat from the nearby bog, the distillery, located in this windswept coldest village of the UK, produces single malt whisky which sits easy on the palate. Over the next 10 miles, the highway bisected expansive fields of heather, with purple stems bearing small but numerous pink flowers, dominated in parts by the taller, thorny gorse-bearing yellow buds; quite a sight it was with alpenglow produced by the setting sun. A stop was mandated for collection of heather, known widely as a good luck charm ranking only next to clover. Only a few sprigs are now traceable amidst the treasured possessions in our household.

Soon came the decision point ndash; whether to fire on for another 50-odd miles to Inverness on Scotland's Northern Coast or to submit to my wife's call for a quick halt to the journey; we had already covered 350 miles in a long day in an under-powered car. There was actually little choice, but I inveigled her into another 40-mile drive suggesting we could find a Bamp;B in the shadow of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles at 4,400 feet. My plea that this way we cut short our return journey met with grudging acceptance. We got to Spean Bridge, a village of 250-odd people, and found a delightful Bamp;B run by an aged McCluskey couple. Warm and welcoming, having never seen any Indian and a woman in salwar-kameez to boot, they suppressed their curiosity and offered us a choice between two well-appointed bedrooms with exquisite wallpaper and interminable views of Ben Nevis. Having ascertained our choices for breakfast and our early departure plans, Mrs McCluskey trundled off to gather the requisite victuals and her husband showed us to the drawing room and how to operate the TV and made himself scarce, leaving the entire house to us. We saw them early next morning emerge from their outhouse and while the lady took care of breakfast, the gentleman proceeded to clean our frozen windscreen with a kettle of hot water. After a hearty breakfast, we left these digs with a well-founded impression about the generous hospitality of Highlanders in Scotland.

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Political slugfest over PM Modi’s ‘Satyagraha for Bangladesh’ remark

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 27

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Friday remarks that he did "Satyagraha" for the freedom of Bangladesh triggered a political slugfest back home with the Congress countering the claim and the BJP posting a citation Bangladesh awarded to late Atal Bihari Vajpayee for "organising a satyagraha to demand the liberation of Bangladesh".

Congress veteran Jairam Ramesh was the first to question PM's remark after historian Srinath Raghavan tweeted, "The claim that anyone did satyagraha for the freedom of Bangladesh and were arrested is too ridiculous to require refutation."

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also countered satyagraha remark in a tweet.

The BJP hit back with the party's IT cell chief Amit Malviya saying on Twitter, "Was Prime Minister Modi part of a satyagraha organised by the Jana Sangha for the recognition of Bangladesh? Yes, he was. A citation awarded by Bangladesh to Vajpayee ji speaks of the rally. PM Modi, in a book authored in 1978, also wrote about going to Tihar during Bangladesh satyagraha"

The citation Malviya shared is titled, "Bangladesh Liberation War Honour for Atal Bihari Vajpayee". It reads, "Former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee played an active role in support of the Liberation War of Bangladesh. As President of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh and a Member of the Lok Sabha, he took various steps towards that endhellip;To press the demand for Indian Government's expedited support to Bangladesh's Liberation War, Jana Sangh held a Gana Satyagraha during August 1-11and their volunteers organised a huge rally in front of the Indian Parliament House on August 12, 1971. Vajpayee took a firm stand at national and international levels for the cause of Bangladesh and its striving people."

As the Twitter back and forth ensued, Srinath Raghavan said the Jana Sangh agitation after the Indo-Soviet treaty in August 1971 was for the recognition of the Bangladesh provisional government and "not a satyagraha for the freedom of Bangladesh". He also said the Bangladesh provincial government was set up in April 1971 with the support of India but not recognised as it didn't control the territory in Bangladesh.

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BJP’s ally vowed to give jobs to surrendered ultras: Kharge

Guwahati, March 27

The BJP-led alliance in Assam has already sensed defeat in the election and in a desperate bid, its constituent the United People's Party Liberal (UPPL), has promised that surrendered cadres of militant bodies will be provided with jobs in the Army and paramilitary forces, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge claimed on Saturday.

The saffron party has not named incumbent Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal as its CM face since the BJP is scared of being asked about promises its government did not fulfil in five years, claimed Kharge, the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

The ruling BJP has not announced its chief ministerial candidate before the poll. "The UPPL promised that jobs in the Army and paramilitary forces will be provided to surrendered cadres of militant organisations. Since when can a state party promise jobs in the defence forces? It is a desperate attempt to misguide people for votes. Why is the BJP silent on this?" Kharge said at a press conference here. — PTI

RSS dividing people on religious lines: Rahul

Kottayam: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday offered prayers at a temple of Lord Ayyappa and a Muslim shrine dedicated to Vavarswami at Erumeli, an important centre connected to Sabarimala pilgrimage, as he slammed the BJP-RSS and LDF while campaigning in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts. The Congress leader hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the RSS, accusing them of dividing people on the lines of religion. PTI

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Lt Gen Pinto passes away at 97

Chandigarh, March 27

Lt Gen Walter Anthony Gustavo Pinto, who had played a key role in the Indian victory in the Battle of Basantar, one of the most crucial operations in the Punjab-Jammu sector during the 1971 War, passed away at the age of 97.

As a Major General he had commanded the 54 Infantry Division during the war that had moved from its peace time location in Secunderabad to Punjab. Tasked for offensive operations in the Shakargarh bulge, the division crossed the border on December 6 and captured key areas.

Played key role in Battle of Basantar

Lt Gen Walter Anthony Gustavo Pinto had played a key role in the Indian victory in the Battle of Basantar, one of the most crucial operations in the Punjab-Jammu sector during the 1971 war

Troops from the division were conferred as many as 196 gallantry medals, including two Param Vir Chakra and nine Maha Vir Chakra, while Maj Gen Pinto was awarded the Param Vishisht Seva Medal. — TNS

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Prez to undergo bypass surgery

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind, who was admitted to AIIMS in New Delhi on Saturday, will undergo a bypass procedure on March 30. The President was shifted to AIIMS from Army Research and Referral Hospital. — TNS

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Rajasthan bypoll: Cong releases candidates’ list

Jaipur, March 27

The Congress has fielded former minister Master Bhanwarlal Meghwal's son from the Sujangarh Assembly seat which fell vacant after his death last year and is among the three constituency's going to bypolls next month in Rajasthan.

Manoj Meghwal will be contesting the byelection from Sujangarh against BJP leader and former minister Khemaram Meghwal. Bhanwarlal Meghwal, who was the state social justice and empowerment minister, died of brain stroke in November.

For the Sahara constituency, the Congress, the ruling party in Rajasthan, has fielded Gayatri Devi against BJP candidate and former MLA Ratanlal Jat. This seat fell vacant after her husband Kailash Trivedi died in October after being infected by Covid-19. Tansukh Bohara will be contesting the bypoll as Congress' candidate from Rajsamand, which fell vacant after Kiran Maheshwari died due to Covid. — PTI

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ED attaches assets of ex-IAS couple

New Delhi, March 27

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today issued a provisional attachment order under the PMLA to seize immovable assets worth Rs 1.49 crore of ex-IAS couple of Madhya Pradesh cadre in a case related to alleged amassing disproportionate assets of over Rs 41 crore. The ED officials said the attachment order had been issued with respect to a total of 32 assets like agricultural land, plots and land. — TNS

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’13 riots: Case against BJP leaders withdrawn

Muzaffarnagar: A local court on Friday allowed withdrawal of a case of inciting violence against 12 BJP leaders in connection with the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots case. The state counsel said the state had decided not to proceed with the prosecution of the BJP leaders. — PTI

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India, Bangladesh sign 5 MoUs

New Delhi, March 27

India and Bangladesh today signed five MoUs during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Dhaka that saw a mix of diplomatic and political activity. After spending a large part of the day visiting three rural and remote locations, PM Modi was received at "Tiger's Gate" at the Prime Minister's Office late afternoon by his counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

After inking five MoUs, the two leaders jointly laid the foundation stone for power evacuation from Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant being built with Russian help. The Indian involvement will be a $1 billion credit line. The two sides resolved to set up cooperation in space and artificial intelligence (AI). They inaugurated the Bangladesh leg of the Bapu-Bangabandhu Digital Museum, a passenger train on the Chilahati-Haldibari rail route and three border haats and took stock of the progress in diverse areas that included preserving the legacy and spirit of '71, commerce and connectivity, defence and security, societal applications of nuclear energy and AI.

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, at a special briefing, defended the PM offering prayers at the Matua community's spiritual centre as well as at Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple. The Matua community's votes are crucial in 30 West Bengal Assembly constituencies. The BJP is aligned with one branch of the community's spiritual founder.

The PM expressed his desire to visit Matua community's Thakurbari, Kali Temple and Rabindranath Tagore's residence. Due to paucity of time, he could visit only two places. "When dignitaries travel outside, they visit different places. Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid travelled to Garo Hills in Meghalaya. Let us not see this in a narrow context,'' Shringla observed. At Matua Thakurbari, PM Modi announced a middle school for girls and upgrading of a primary school. He visited the mausoleum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman too. — TNS

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Birds found dead in Pong, another influenza scare

Rajiv Mahajan
Nurpur, March 27

After about a month and a half, dead migratory birds were again spotted at the Pong Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary in Kangra, triggering an avian flu resurgence scare.

The wildlife authorities closed the sanctuary for visitors this afternoon and sent samples to the Regional Diseases Diagnostic Laboratory in Jalandhar for influenza testing.

Chief Wildlife Warden Archana Sharma said 14 bar-headed geese were found dead on Thursday, eight on Friday and five on Saturday. She said the field staff had disposed of the birds as per protocol. According to information, the birds were found dead in Nagrota Surian beat of the sanctuary. After their winter visit to the wetland, the exotic migratory birds had started their return journey to their breeding native grounds in Tibet, China, Nepal and Magnolia. The return-migration phase lasts till mid-April. Rahul M Rahane, Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife), Hamirpur, said the dead birds could be those halting briefly at the Pong sanctuary during return-migration from Harike (Punjab) and Bharatpur (Rajasthan) wetlands, which could be infected with avian influenza.

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Amid clashes, 82% polling in WB; 77% in Assam

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 27

The high-stakes Assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam got off to a stormy start on Saturday with reports of violence from several places in Bengal and the overall first-phase voting turnout settling at a high of 82 per cent and 76.89 per cent in the two states.

Amid allegations and counter-allegations by the ruling TMC and rival BJP, Bengal saw polling in 30 constituencies, 26 of which were won by the Trinamool and three by the Left-Congress alliance in 2016.

In Assam, the stakes were higher for the incumbent BJP that had wrested 35 of the 47 segments where polling was conducted.

The first phase saw Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "Bengal campaign" from Bangladesh and the BJP hitting back by releasing a purported Mamata audio where she is allegedly heard telling a local leader to return to the Trinamool and help her win the Nandigram seat. The TMC and the BJP led counter-delegations to the Election Commission in Kolkata, accusing one another of malpractices and violence.

TMC's Sudip Bandopadhyay petitioned the EC against alleged "voter turnout discrepancies and permission to have outsiders as polling agents in booths".

The BJP's Bengal election in-charge Kailash Vijayvargiya, on the other hand, complained to the EC against the alleged "poll violence perpetrated by the TMC on saffron workers". The BJP said four of its workers had been killed in the past four days. "We are used to getting assaulted here," Vijayvargiya said even as the brother of BJP's Nandigram candidate Suvendu Adhikari alleged that TMC goons had vandalised his vehicle in Contai.

A majority of the first-phase seats in Bengal are in the erstwhile Naxal hotbed of Jangalmahal where 730 companies of central forces stood guard at 10,288 booths across 7,061 locations. The 30 seats are spread across Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur districts.

Though the EC said the elections in Bengal were largely peaceful with 82 per cent voting till 5 pm (highest of over 82 per cent in East Medinipur), minor skirmishes were reported from various locations, including Kanthi Dakshin in Purba Medinipur where some voters levelled EVM malfunction allegations and Majna where some people alleged that votes were getting cast in favour of a certain party.

The TMC took to Twitter to allege EVM tampering but BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh rebutted the charges saying the Trinamool, "staring at a loss, was crying over EVMs." The EVMs were replaced at some places. The CM, in her rally at West Midnapore, also made EVM manipulation charges.

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It’s advantage BJP in Phase-I of West Bengal elections

Sandeep Dikshit
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 27

PM Narendra Modi's stopover in Bangladesh at a temple besides the birthplace of Matua community's spiritual guru will have a marginal impact on the 30 constituencies in West Bengal that went to the polls today. Mamata Banerjee can consider herself in the race for a third term if she manages to win even half of the 30 seats at stake.

Comparisons with the 2016 elections will be misleading. The ground shifted in most of these constituencies, first in the 2018 panchayat elections followed by the defection of the Adhikari family to the BJP.

That the dice is loaded against the TMC can be judged from the fact that elections are broadly taking place in five parliamentary constituencies, four of which are held by the BJP (Midnapore, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia)while Sisir Adhikari, who won Kainth on the TMC ticket, has crossed over to the BJP.

A broad brush picture would show that the BJP led in at least 20 of the 30 seats during the 2019 elections. Also, the TMC had won all seven seats in Kainth. But the power balance shifted after Adhikari crossed over to the BJP. All these constituencies were once Left bastions. These fell to the TMC after tribals and Scheduled Castes began aspiring for material development.

The battle in this election is between material advancement promised by the BJP against TMC's incremental social welfare. Issues such as Hindu-Muslim and outsider versus tourist find no resonance here. This is because Muslims are below 10 per cent of the population and the SC\T population is so high that TMC's outsider versus tourist battle cry finds little resonance.

If Mamata has held rallies in all 30 seats, Mithun Chakraborty's roadshows were a huge hit. Campaigning by Union Minister Arjun Munda was countered by Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren pitching for TMC candidates. BJP's widely respected Jyotirmay Singh Mahato had won the Purulia Lok Sabha seat in 2019, leading in six of the seven Assembly seats. The BJP won Bankura and led handsomely in all the seven seats.

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US invites Modi, Xi to virtual climate summit

New Delhi, March 27

US President Joe Biden has invited 40 world leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for a virtual summit on climate on April 22-23. The summit will be live streamed for public viewing.

Other prominent invitees are Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping. This marks the reversal of Donald Trump's approach of putting pressure on the two countries.

Warns retaliation on digital tax

A day after holding talks with Commerce Minister Piyush Goel, US trade representative Katherine Tai has proposed higher tariff on imports from six countries, including India.

Biden is seeking to revive a US-convened forum of world's major economies on climate that Trump neglected. At least 17 countries of the forum are responsible for nearly 80 per cent of global emissions and global GDP.

Two-day meeting from April 22

US President Joe Biden is seeking to revive a forum of world's major economies on climate that Trump neglected

At least 17 countries of the forum are responsible for nearly 80 per cent of global emissions and global GDP

The summit will underscore the urgency and economic benefits of stronger climate action. "It will be a key milestone on road to the UN Climate Change Conference to be held this November in Glasgow," the White House said in a statement. —TNS

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No rigid yardstick on dying declaration: Supreme Court

New Delhi, March 27

The Supreme Court has said there can be "no rigid standard or yardstick" for acceptance or rejection of dying declaration, which alone can form the basis for conviction if it has been made voluntarily and inspires confidence.

The apex court observed that if there were contradictions that create doubts about the truthfulness of the dying declaration then the benefit of doubt should be given to the accused. A Bench of Justices Navin Sinha and Krishna Murari said this in its verdict while dismissing an appeal challenging the August 2011 judgment of the Delhi High Court upholding a trial court order acquitting two persons accused of subjecting a woman to cruelty and murdering her. "A dying declaration is admissible as evidence under Section 32 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. It alone can also form the basis for conviction if it has been made voluntarily and inspires confidence," the SC said in its March 25 verdict. "If there are contradictions about its truthfulness, the benefit of doubt shall have to be given to the accused," it said. — PTI

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