51 covid-19 negative patients p 1 lakh crore for nothing ... · when sukhbir badal was in - ducted...

PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUNew Delhi, July 10

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday carried out a comprehensive review of the situation in eastern La-dakh with top military brass in view of the withdrawal of troops from the friction points by China’s Peoples Liberation Army, govern-ment sources said. The de-fence minister carried out the review at a meeting with Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, Army Chief Gen MM Naravane, Navy Chief Admiral Karambir

Singh and Air Chief Mar-shal RKS Bhadauria besides several other senior military officials. Gen Naravane gave a detailed account of the implementation of the first phase of mutual disengage-

ment of troops from Galwan Valley, Gogra, Hot Springs and Finger 4 areas in Pan-gong Tso, the sources said.

They said the Army chief apprised Singh about combat readiness of the Indian Army

in the region to deal with any eventualities and presented a detailed update of situation in all the sensitive areas along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh as well as in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttara-khand and Sikkim. As the first phase of the disengagement is nearing completion, gov-

ernment sources said the two sides are set to hold a fourth round of corps commander-level dialogue by early next week to finalise modalities for de-induction of troops amassed by both sides in their rear bases along the LAC, the de-facto border between the two countries.

RNI.No. PUNENG/2018/76070 | VOLUME 2, ISSUE 310 | `3.00CHANDIGARH > SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2020

brightpunjabexpress.com

SONI LAUNCHES PNRC’S WEBSITE FOR ONLINE VERIFICATION P03

‘GAVASKAR’S CONTRIBUTION TO INDIAN CRICKET IS UNPARALLELED’ P12

HERE’S WHY TAAPSEE SAID YES TO ‘MISSION MANGAL’ P10

CHANDIGARH, JULY 10

The fugitive Uttar Pradesh gangster Vikas Dubey, who was arrested on Thursday morning from Ujjain was, according to the police, killed in an encounter early Friday morning after he re-portedly tried to run away when the vehicle he was being driven in, allegedly met with an accident.

Nobody believes the police version. Primarily because the nature of the crime of Dubey was such, particularly after eight po-licemen including a DSP were killed at his hands five days ago when they

had gone to arrest him, that it was a foregone conclusion that he would be killed in an encounter. Rather it was blatantly said that he may not be arrested and he might be straightway killed in an encounter.

Given the nature of crimes Dubey commit-ted, nobody can ever have any sympathy for him. His crimes were those of the ‘rarest of the rare’ in na-ture. Death penalty was a forgone conclusion if judicial process was car-ried out. But would a fair judicial process be possible given the terror his name evoked.

The execution of jus-tice by the UP Police has drawn widespread outrage across the country, not for

any sympathy for Dubey, but the way he was killed without any legal and ju-dicial process. This is not for the first time that such ‘encounter killing’ took place, which has come under public suspicion and scrutiny.

Last December in Telan-gana four gang-rape and murder accused who were in Hyderabad police cus-tody, were also killed in an encounter with the police. Their killing was widely celebrated across the coun-try obviously for the crime they were accused of.

Such encounters are not a reflection on the work-ing of police only, but the entire criminal justice sys-tem in the country. First the trials take a long time. Rarely are fast track courts

set up to speed up trial in heinous crimes. Otherwise the judicial process is quite long and tedious.

Crimes involving peo-ple like Dubey rarely get punished under the ex-isting judicial system. If he had not got killed in the encounter, he would have ended up in jail from

where he would rule over his “crime kingdom” and eventually he would be ac-quitted as nobody would come to the witness box to depose against him.

This happened twenty years ago when Dubey killed a senior BJP leader inside a police station. The BJP leader was holding a

position in the government equivalent to a Minister of State. But after trial, Dubey got acquitted as nobody came forward to give evidence against him. Even the policemen of the police station in front of whom the BJP leader had been killed backed out and he got acquitted.

Same thing might have happened again. Even after having killed eight police-men including one DSP and three sub inspectors of the UP Police, it would have been practically im-possible for the prosecu-tion to present witnesses against him. Given the clout he held in the world of crime, nobody would have risked his life to de-pose against him in the court. And he may well

have walked out again without getting punished had he not been killed in the encounter.

Those expressing seri-ous resentment over the way the whole case was handled and the way the criminal got killed, are quite justified. Such things must not happen in a civilized society. After all, the country is governed according to law and the constitution. All legal and judicial processes should have been followed even if it meant at the end giving “benefit of doubt” to the real culprit and he manag-ing to get acquitted and further promoted in the ‘criminal hierarchy’.

The million dollar ques-tion is whether the “due legal process” could have

been allowed to take place, given the past record where criminals and dons like Dubey publicly kill people in police stations in front of everyone and still get acquitted as nobody dares to depose against them in the witness box.

Had similar outage been exhibited when Dubey got acquitted in the murder of a BJP leader whom he killed in broad daylight inside a police station, the current situation may well not had risen.

More than the police, the onus is on the way the criminal justice sys-tem is administered and delivered in the country. And that’s the reason, the justice has been executed in a way that it has drawn varied reactions.

M.P.S. PALIManaging Editor

Justice executed?BRIGHT PUNJAB EXPRESS SPECIAL


In a first, the Supreme Court on Friday allowed the service of summons and notices, a necessity in almost all legal proceed-ings, through instant messenger like WhatsApp as well as by e-mail and fax. A bench headed by

Chief Justice S.A. Bobde observed that it has been brought to the notice of the court that it is not feasible to visit post of-fices for service of notices, summons, and pleadings. The bench also compris-ing Justices A S Bopanna and R Subhash Reddy observed that notice and summons should be

sent through e-mail on the same day along with instant message through WhatsApp and other phone messenger services. The bench clarified that all methods should be de-ployed for a valid service on the party. "Two blue ticks would convey that the receiver has seen the notice," noted the bench.

The bench declined the request of the Attorney General for spe-cifically naming WhatsApp as a mode of effectu-ating service. The top court noted that it would not be practical to

specify only WhatsApp. The apex court also

permitted RBI to extend the valid-ity of cheques in

the backdrop of lockdown to contain the coronavirus

outbreak. Senior advocate V

Giri representing RBI informed the bench that he had circulated the note regarding validity of a cheque as directions issued on the previous hearing. The bench noted that it will be in discretion of the RBI to issue orders which are suitable to alter the validity of

the period of a cheque. During an earlier hear-ing on the matter on July 7, the Attorney General contended before the top court that the Centre had some reservations in connection with the utilization of mobile ap-plications like WhatsApp and other apps for service of summons. The Centre's

top law officer informed the apex court that these apps claimed to be encrypted, and they were not trustworthy. The RBI counsel had contended before the top court that it was consid-ering clarifying the valid-ity of a cheque which has been reduced to 3 months from 6 months.

WhatsApp, email can be used for summons: SC

PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUKanpur (UP), July 10

Gangster Vikas Dubey was shot dead on Friday by police, who claim he was trying to flee after the car carrying him from Ujjain overturned on an isolated stretch of the highway on the outskirts of the city. The SUV met with the accident at Bhaunti in Kanpur dis-trict, toppling on the road which was slippery after the rains, police claimed. The car was part of a small convoy of police vehicles. Police said the gangster snatched a pistol from one of the policemen injured in the accident and was shot when he opened fire while trying to flee, an account being questioned by op-position parties. Six police-men, including two from

the Special Task Force, were hurt in the accident and the exchange of fire around 6 am, an official said. Dubey was the sixth man to die in a police en-counter after the ambush he allegedly masterminded in Kanpur’s Bikru village

past midnight on July 2, killing eight policemen who had come to arrest him. Madhya Pradesh police ar-rested Vikas Dubey outside the Mahakal temple in Uj-jain on Thursday morning. He was handed over to an Uttar Pradesh police team

late in the evening.Kanpur Range Inspec-

tor General Mohit Agarwal said Dubey fled from the car with an injured po-liceman’s pistol. He was chased and surrounded by policemen and was asked to surrender. When he started firing with an intention to kill , police opened fire in self-defence, Kanpur police said. A press release said he was immediately taken to a hospital, where he died during treatment. Ganesh Shankar Vidhyarthi Medi-cal College principal Dr R B

Kamal said he was brought dead to the hospital. Dubey sustained four bullet inju-ries, three in the chest and one in the hand, he told reporters. Two policemen also suffered wounds, one in the arm and the other in the hand. Dubey’s post-mortem will be conducted by a panel of doctors. He had tested negative for coronavirus, the doctor said.

GOVT TO DECLARE RESULTS ON BASIS OF BEST PERFORMING SUBJECTS FORMULA

PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUChandigarh, July 10

Punjab Government has decided to cancel the pend-ing examinations of various classes which were earlier announced to be conduct-ed after July 15 by Punjab School Education Board (PSEB). While divulging details, School Education Minister Vijay Inder Singla said that the state govern-ment has decided to cancel all the pending examina-tions of class XII, open school and several other categories including reap-pear and golden chance students. He added that the decision has been taken in view of the hard times erupted due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The cabinet minister in-

formed that it would not be possible for the education department to conduct the examinations in the near future due to the chal-lenges posed by the corona virus. He added as per the guidance of Chief Minis-ter Captain Amarinder Singh, now the result will be declared on the basis of best performing subjects as examinations of some subjects have already been taken by the PSEB before outbreak of corona virus. He added that it was also need of the hour to declare results to enable the stu-dents to timely choose their desired courses in higher education. “For example if any student have appeared in the examinations in only 3 subjects, the average of the marks obtained in best two performing subjects will be awarded in the sub-

jects whose examinations have not been conducted,” Vijay Inder Singla said while elaborating best per-forming subjects formula.

He added that the marks of practical sub-jects and on the job train-ing, for vocational sub-jects will also be awarded on this basis.

Police and media at the encounter site where gangster Vikas Dubey was killed when he allegedly tried to escape from the spot following an accident, near Kanpur, on Friday morning. PTI

CONGRESS, BSP DEMAND TIME-BOUND PROBE

Vikas Dubey shot dead in ‘encounter’Ex-SC judge backs police Former Supreme Court judge Justice A. K. Patnaik has said that gangster Vikas Dubey, who was killed on Fri-day morning after be-ing critically injured in an alleged shootout with STF officials, was a threat to the rule of law and the police ac-tion was justified.

Car overturnedThe Uttar Pradesh STF on Friday said the official vehicle in which gangster Vikas Dubey was being brought to Kanpur over-turned when a herd of cattle suddenly came in front of it.

Pending PSEB exams cancelledGovt challenges HC order on school fee

The Captain Amarinder Singh led Punjab Gov-ernment on Friday chal-lenged the judgment of the High Court in the matter relating to pay-ment of school fees for the lockdown period. In a Letter Patents Appeal (LPA), filed under Order 41, Rule 5, read with Sec-tion 151 of CPC, the state government has sought a stay on the operation of the single judge order and judgement of June 30 “in the interest of jus-tice and fair play.”

Rajnath reviews situation in LadakhBoeing completes delivery of 37 helicoptersIn the midst of India's tense border standoff with China, US aerospace major Boeing delivered the final five of the 22 Apache attack helicopters to the Indian Air Force around two weeks ago, and the entire fleet is now part of the assets deployed in key air bases along the Line of Actual Control, officials said on Friday.


Confirmed cases of the CO-VID-19 in India crossed the 8 lakh mark on Friday. Ac-cording to the data, out of total 8,19,599 cases, 5,14, 357 have recovered while 2, 82, 715 remain active in the country till 9.50 pm. From 2.82 per cent a month ear-lier, India's COVID-19 case

fatality rate has declined to 2.72 per cent which is low-er than that of many other countries, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday. It also noted that 30 states and Union Territories have a fa-tality rate lower than the national average. Also, there is an upward trend in the recovery rate which was re-corded at 62.42 per cent on Friday. In 18 states and UTs

the recovery rates are higher than the national average, the ministry said.

"At the national level, the case fatality rate has declined to 2.72 per cent. This is lower than the fatal-ity rates observed in many other countries in the world. The focus of COVID-19 management in the country has been to keep the fatali-ties low," it said.

India crosses 8 lakh markCOVID-19 FATALITY RATE DIPS TO 2.72 PC: GOVT

CHANDIGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 202002 PUNJAB

For ADVERTISEMENT

BOOKING and

QUERIESContact :

Mob : 9417634367, 0161-2464630

HEAD OFFICE:SCO 46 G, BRS Nagar, Ludhiana-141012

Ph. 0161-2464630 CHANDIGARH OFFICE:

SCO 118-119, (1st Floor), Sec 8-C, Madhya Marg, -160009

PHONES: 0172-5016121,4087118

KULDEEP SOODBarnala, July 10

A meeting was held with the staff members by the Chief Agriculture Officer Barnala Baldev Singh to review the schemes and activities of the Ag-riculture Department. On this occasion he said that pest surveillance of

cotton crop is going on, therefore the daily survey report must be submitted before 8 am. He directed the field staff to motivate

the paddy sowing farmers to use urea as per the land health card. He said that, the target of the sowing in the district has been

achieved and the farm-ers should be contacted after collecting the data and their farms should be prepared. A subsidy of Rs. 23,500 would be provided to the farmers planting maize instead of paddy in the district. Therefore, those farmers should be identified who would plant maize except paddy.

Tenders of developmental works worth `125 cr to be floated under PUEIP: DCNARINDER GUPTAJalandhar, July 10

In order to ensure holistic development of the dis-trict, Deputy Commis-sioner Ghanshyam Thori on Friday said that devel-opmental works worth Rs 125 crore would be started soon as the tenders are be-ing floated under second phase of Under Punjab Urban Environment Im-provement Programme (PUEIP) scheme in Ja-landhar.

He said that develop-mental works worth more than Rs 150 crore to give facelift to 961 villages

of the district in second phase the Smart Village Campaign (SVC) under ‘Mission Fateh’ would also start soon. Presiding

over a meeting to discuss progress of PUEIP and Smart Village Campaign (SVC) programs as a part of ‘Mission Fateh’ to en-

sure resurgence of state during on-going Covid-19 pandemic, the Deputy Commissioner said that under the phase-2 of the PUEIP tenders of devel-opment works worth Rs 125 crore are being floated including Rs 90 crore for Municipal Corporation and Rs 35 crore for the municipal committees.

Thori asked the Sub Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) to ensure that the works were start-ed and completed soon within stipulated time in these both schemes. He said that it was the need of hour for giving Fillip to the overall

development of the state. Thori said that these funds would give a major impe-tus to the overall develop-ment of the urban areas of the district.

He said that the main motive of the schemes was to ensure comprehensive development of the ur-ban areas of the district. Thori directed the officers to adhere to the timelines for the completion of on-going projects under the scheme. He told that there should be not be further delay in execution of these projects to ensure complete facelift of the district.

Civil defence volunteers at forefront in fight against corona in HoshiarpurDALJEET AJNOHAHoshiarpur, July 10

While the entire district administration was en-gaged in providing all the necessary facilities to the people during the COVID-19 era, Civil De-fense Volunteers were working day and night to keep an eye on the difficulties and other problems faced by the people in the field.

Become the eyes and ears of the district ad-ministration where the volunteers were convey-ing every small and big problem of the people to the administration and further action was

taken by the adminis-tration on the feedback. Deputy Commissioner Apneet Riyait said that during the lockdown the Civil Defense vol-unteers worked shoul-der to shoulder with the administration in dis-charging their respon-sibilities for which the

entire Civil Defense team is to be commended. The Deputy Commis-sioner said that during this difficult time the dis-trict administration of Hoshiarpur had trained Civil Defense volunteers to crack down on black marketing and provide proper feedback in the field. She said that under the leadership of Addi-tional Deputy Commis-sioner (Development) Harbir Singh about 100 volunteers have been de-ployed in Hoshiarpur and curfew has been imposed on these volunteers who went to the ward level to monitor the vendors sell-ing vegetables and fruits.

Northern Railway earned `178 cr freight income, despite hurdles arising from COVID-19PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUFerozepur, July 10

Despite the hurdles aris-ing from COVID-19, the Ferozepur division of the Northern Railway earned 178 crore freight income in the month of June.

Divisional Railway Man-ager Rajesh Aggarwal in-formed that Ferozepur Division continued to dis-tribute the required items through Goods and Parcel Special Trains to ensure the transportation of essential

items dur-ing a nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19. With the mutual coordi-nation of the Operations and Com-mercial Depart-ment, the Board has set new dimensions in freight operations by ensuring un-loading/loading at freight terminals despite the short-

age of 24x7 working work-ers and trucks.

Despite the challenging times, the board recorded a freight income of around Rs 178 crore during the month of June-20, which is 17 percent more than Rs 152 crore of the same pe-riod last year. In the month

of June, 17,110 quintals of essential commodities were transported to dif-ferent parts of the country through 50 parcel special trains, which resulted in revenue of approximately Rs.72 lakhs.

DRM said that the Divi-sion is committed to ensur-ing an uninterrupted supply of essential commodities throughout the country and at the same time all safety measures are being taken to prevent COVID-19 dur-ing unloading/loading.

Former Deputy CM appreciates DC Muktsar’s action against stray dogs

PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUSri Muktsar Sahib, July 10

Former Deputy Chief Minister and MP Sukh-bir Badal and Muktsar MLA Rozy Barkandi appreciating the action taken against stray dogs have issued appreciation letters to DC Sri Mukt-sar Sahib M. K. Aravind Kumar.

In his letter Member of Parliament Sukhbir Badal said that the issue of stray dogs was a mat-ter of great concern in Muktsar but the handling of matter by the district administration is highly appreciable. The MP has also offered to help the authorities if they require

any kind of funds for the stray dog eradication pro-gram in the district.

District administration has also been coordinat-ing with a Ganganagar based organisation to stop the ever rising men-ace of the stray dogs. Municipality officials of

Muktsar said that they had also been creating awareness among the masses to extend every possible help for the eradication of dogs so that a clean and peace-ful environment can be provided to the citizens.

Executive Officer Vipin Kumar said that the organ-isation, from Ganganagar, has already been given the contract of doing steriliza-tion of 500 dogs of Mukt-sar district and soon we will be able to get rid of a large number of stray dogs in coming months.

He said that the district administration is leav-ing no stone unturned to eradicate the menace of stray dogs.

Health Dept collect samples from 30 people who came in contact with SDMPUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUPhagwara, July 10

The health department, which became active after receiving a positive report from the SDM Phagwara here, on Friday took sam-ples of 30 members who came in contact with the SDM.

Confirming this, SMO Dr. Kamal Kishor said that 30 samples belonged to the people who came in contact with the SDM and the health department has taken a total of 56 samples today. He said that those who came in contact with the SDM have been in-structed to stay away from their homes till the report

is received. Similarly, the health

department today also secured the house of Lok Insaf Party leader General Nangal, who was said to have attended a meeting with the SDM a day ear-lier. Similarly, the Pat-

war Union has also taken precautionary measures to suspend public dealing in the Patwar Khana for two days.

The SMO said that the report of 60 samples of July 7 has come negative on Friday.

CAO Barnala reviews progress of agricultural schemes

LPU all set to provide special study abroad opportunitiesPUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUPhagwara, July 10

Every year, many of the Indian students aspire to go abroad in for higher studies. How-ever, this year they got their dreams on hold due to the current CORONA pandemic situation. The parents, too, are reluctant to send their wards abroad, in such a sce-nario. However, amidst this all, LPU has brought ample ‘Study Abroad Opportunities’ through its unique ‘Credit Transfer Program’, under which a willing student can make a wide choice of his/her preference for the country, uni-

versity and the program. For this, LPU connects students to its top partner universities across the globe including those of the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Switzerland and more.

Under this credit transfer opportunity, a student can study part of the program at LPU campus and complete the rest of his/her degree at an LPU’s foreign partner

university, be it from USA, UK Canada, Australia, New Zealand or any other opted for. In such cases, the part of the program is generally two years for under graduate and one year for masters. In any case, such an option mak-ing student gets the final degree from LPU’s partner foreign University. In pres-ent precautionary measures adopted world-wide, students can prefer the option of ‘credit transfer’ after two years, when situations are normal.

This will prove economically viable also as students will have to pay their fees for first two years in Indian Rupees at LPU,

in comparison to expensive dollars of a foreign university.

Additional Director of LPU’s Division of International Af-fairs, Mr Aman Mittal further informs: “This program has been widely accepted by stu-dents and their parents be-cause it removes the concerns borne out of COVID-19. More and more students are opting for this credit transfer option, as they can still realize that their dream of going abroad will certainly be a reality.” Mr Mittal adds: “An interesting aspect of credit transfer is that a student actually gets 2 years to gear up, arrange finances and mange good grades.

DMs to grant sanction for protest and rallies in Jalandhar PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUJalandhar, July 10

District Magistrate Ghanshyam Thori has authorized Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) as the compe-tent authority to grant any kind of sanction/approval for protest/rallies/procession in the areas of Jalandhar rural. It may be mentioned here that the permis-sions for the rallies/protests under the area of Municipal Corpora-tion are granted by the Commissioner of Police, Jalandhar.In the orders issued here on Friday, District Magistrate said that the district Jaland-har has a large rural area and people have to travel to headquarter for any permission to hold any rally/protest. He said that now concerned SDMs would be entitled to grant such permis-sions besides ensuring

the compliance of guide-lines issued by Depart-ment of Home and Justice, Punjab on No-vember 6, 2018, before granting permission. They would also have to maintain the record of pplications/permis-sions in a proper way for future references.He said that the orders would be in force by September 2, 2020. District Magis-trate has also ordered to all villages falling under the jurisdiction of the

district to hold Thikri Pehras (night patrol) from 8 pm to 5 am in their villages. Exercising the powers vested under Section 144, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973,

Thori directed all Nagar Councils, Nagar and village Panchayats to follow the order and asked their heads to in-form SHOs of there are as regarding the details of persons who will part of ‘Thikri Pehra’ teams.

PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUFerozepur, July 10

With the reporting of 4 new Corona positive cases in Ferozepur, the total active case figure has reached 57.

Since the outbreak of Corona, there had been145 positive cases in Ferozepur, out of which 85 patients have since recovered and gone back to their homes.

Giving this information, Dr.Jugal Kishore, Civil Surgeon said, the process of sampling is still contin-ued be-sides creating awareness about the Corona-virus like wearing masks, washing hands and social distancing.

He appealed to the citizens to follow the govern-ment and health department instructions from time to time and don’t move out without any specific purposes so that spread of coronavirus could be stopped.

4 new Corona +ve reported in Ferozepur, total case reaches 57

Blood donation camp organised PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUBarnala, July 10

Under the Mission Fateh launched by the Punjab gov-ernment and in view of the shortage of blood in the blood bank during the COVID-19 epidemic, a blood donation camp was organised by the Civil De-fense and Punjab Home Guards at Barnala Civil Hospital. The camp was inaugurated by Additional Deputy Commissioner Aditya Dechalwal. On this occasion Phoolka said “A drop of blood can save a life! Don’t waste it and donate blood.” There-fore, the importance of such endeavors increase during an epidemic such as the COVID 19 epidemic. About 50 units of blood has been donated by CDIs, wardens, volunteers and youngsters including Punjab Home Guards and Civil Defense Commandant Rachpal Singh Dhuri during the camp. Meanwhile ADC Dechalwal also inspected the blood bank set up at Barnala Civil Hospital and obtained data on the units of blood to be deposited and consumed daily.

745 Asha workers complete door-to-door screening of 2,57,600 peoplePUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUFerozepur, July 10

Under the Mission Fateh launched by the Chief Min-ister Capt. Amarinder Singh, a door to door survey campaign was launched by the Health Department for screening the people of the district in which 2,57,600 people have been screened so far.

Deputy Commissioner Ferozepur Gurpal Singh Chahal said that health survey has been started for all the people of the district and the teams of the health department were visiting all the houses and screening the people.

DC said that a large number of health workers were working to cover the entire district in this campaign. He said that 745 Asha workers and health depart-ment employees in the district have been successfully involved in this campaign.

Apart from health check-ups, people were also being sensitized to follow government guidelines such as wearing masks, washing hands frequently, maintaining social distance and downloading the Cova app to make the mission a popular movement.DC said that only with public awareness, the disease can be prevented from spreading further.

PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUPatiala, July 10

The Cabinet Minister, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot on Friday gone to Village Dodra in Samana Sub-di-vision in this district and meet the family of 29 years old Martyr Naik Rajwinder Singh and on behalf of the Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh condoled the death of Martyr Naik Rajwinder Singh with the family.

Cabinet Minister was accompanied by MLA, Shutrana, Nirmal Singh and MLA, Samana Kaka Rajinder Singh on this occasion. Here it is men-tioned that Martyr Naik

Rajwinder Singh laid down his life for the unity and in-tegrity of the country while fighting the militants in a fierce encounter at vil-lage Gauons in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir.

The minister meet Martyr Naik Rajwinder Singh’s Father Avtar

Singh and mother, Mo-hinder Kaur and other members of the family & other relatives and village people and said that we are proud of Martyr Naik Rajwinder Singh who pre-ferred to lay down his life to protect the unity and integrity of the nation.


With the commitment to create world class infrastructure in Pun-jab, Revenue Minister, Punjab Gurpreet Singh Kangar would lay the foundation stone of Beas Sub-Tehsil Com-plex in Amritsar on July 13, 2020.

Disclosing this here on Friday, Spokesper-son of the Revenue Department said that the Punjab Govern-ment had issued notification for setting up Beas Sub Tehsil on June 19, 2020. He said that Sub Tehsil Beas

has been providing services from 10 Patwar Circles to 29 villages with total area of 9898 hectares. He said that social distancing norm and other instructions of health protocol will

be adhered to during inauguration ceremony to prevent COVID-19.

Informing that the building of sub-tehsil would have state-of-the-art facilities, Spokesperson said that Radha Soami Satsang Beas Regis-tered Society, Dera Baba Jamal Singh has gave 5 acres of land to the government free of cost for sub tehsil building and entire construction cost will also borne by Radha Soami Satsang Beas Registered Society, Dera Baba Jamal Singh.

03CHANDIGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2020PUNJABLUDHIANA WEATHERMin Temp29.2°c

Max Temp36.2°c

The weather is expected to remain partly cloudy with possibility of isolated thundershowers over LUDHIANA and its adjoining areas during the next 24 hours.

Fine of ̀ 71.58 lakh imposed on 15,626 people for not wearing maskASHOK KAURAJalandhar, July 10

Tightening the noose around the people who were not wearing the masks and vio-lating the directives of Punjab Government, the Jalandhar Commissionerate Police has so far issued 15,626 challans to them, under the ‘Mission Fateh’ initiated by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh and imposed a fine of Rs 71.58 lakh on willful de-faulters.

Divulging the details, the Commissioner of Po-lice Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that the Police have so far issued 15,626 without mask challans and collected a fine worth Rs 71.58 lakh from the violators.

He said that a fine worth Rs 73,000 has been im-posed so far for 41 viola-tions of home quarantine in-structions adding that 330 persons have been fined Rs 54,600 for spit-ting in public place. The Commissioner of Police said that a total of 41,720 challans have been issued so far to the traffic violators

and 2,076 vehicles have been impounded.

The CP told that fine worth Rs 1.08 lakh has been imposed on over-loaded 58 four wheelers, Rs 17000 on overloaded 34 Autos and fine worth Rs 2,90,000 has been im-posed on 145 for violating social distancing norms.

Bhullar said that today,

218 traffic challans were issued by commissioner-ate police. Bhullar further revealed that today 251 persons without mask were challaned and a fine worth Rs 125500 was im-posed on them.

He said that this drive would continue in the coming days and action would be taken against the viola-tors adding that the people have to play a vanguard role for fur-ther checking the spread of COVID 19.

He said that it was the social responsibility of the residents to ensure the following the direc-tives of the government to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.


The maximum tem-peratures on Friday rose by a few notches to hover above nor-mal limits in Pun-jab, according to the Meteorological (MeT) Department here.

Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, which received light rains in the evening, recorded a maximum of 36 degrees Celsius, one notch above normal limits, the MeT Department said.

Sultry weather condi-tions also prevailed in Punjab.

Amritsar, Ludhiana

and Patiala in Punjab recorded above normal maximum tempera-tures at 39, 36.2 and 37.7 degrees Celsius, respectively.

The MeT Depart-ment has forecast rain or thundershowers for a few places in Haryana and Punjab over the next two days.


The Punjab government has banned the entry of all visitor (general pub-lic) in Punjab Civil Sec-retariat-1 and 2 in view of the growing spread of covid-19.

Disclosing this here on Friday a spokes-person of the General Administration De-partment said that the Principal Secretary General Administration has signed the order in this regard and these orders have come into

force with immediate effect. According to the spokesperson, in case of any difficulty in this regard, the Additional Secretary Administra-tion can be contacted.

According to the spokesperson, instruc-tions have also been given to hand over any urgent mail etc. to the staff posted at the re-ception counter. At the same time, all citizens and officials / employees are urged to cooperate with the government in its efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.


Punjab State Nurs-ing Registration Coun-cil (PNRC) on Friday launched website for online verification of documents, which was virtualy launched by Pun-jab Medical Education and Research Minister OP Soni.

Informing about the website Soni, Minister Medical Education & Re-search Punjab, virtually inaugurated the Online Portal for Foreign Verifi-cation for the Nurses who are willing to go abroad or already settled there. From now onwards, the applicant need not visit the office personally. This online portal at www.pnr-conline.in will facilitate online application for For-eign Verification/ Good Standing Certificate so as to enable the applicants to apply through this website. So the manual

documents shall not be required w.e.f. July 10, 2020. After online ap-plication submission, ap-plicants need not send the application/documents through post or by hand. The applicant shall be informed through SMS/Website regarding Status of their application.

Soni said that PNRC is also going to start compul-sory Speed Post of Foreign Verification Form of all the candidates individually. The Foreign Verification / Good Standing Certifi-

cate shall be sent through speed post only, so that the verification forms can be delivered in a safer, faster and more reliable way. The tracking number of Speed Post shall also be sent to the applicants through SMS / Website and it can also be tracked online by the applicants.

These facilities are be-ing introduced to bring more transparency in the system as well as conve-nience of the applicants and speedy delivery of the documents.


The Punjab Higher Education Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa has written a letter to the Union Minister of Human Resources Develop-ment, Ramesh Pokhri-yal requesting him to re-examine the entire issue regarding the re-vised guidelines issued by the Ministry of Hu-man Resource Devel-opment, Government of India and UGC. In which they have issued revised guidelines to Vice-Chancellors of all Universities and Col-leges to compulsorily conduct examinations for terminal classes/semesters of Under- Graduate and Post-Graduate courses by 30.09.2020.

Bajwa in his letter has said that considering the larger public inter-est of successfully con-

taining the COVID-19 pandemic and allow the state government to implement its decision by not making the MHRD/UGC revised guide-lines dated 06.07.2020 mandatory on the state government. He said that the MHRD/UGC guide-lines dated 06-07-2020, making conduct of final term examination mandatory, has unnerved all the stake-holders. He said that conduct-ing online examination

for such large number of students, majority of whom reside in remote rural areas without ac-cess to Computers/Lap-tops and Internet, is not possible in the state.

He also said that con-ducting physical exami-nation will involve huge logistical and operation-al challenges consider-ing the fact that social distancing and other COVID-19 protocols cannot be maintained in case of hostel accommo-dation. At many places, the college/universities buildings/hostels have been taken over by the district administration for COVID-19 manage-ment purposes such as for Temporary Medi-cal Camp, Covid Care Hospital, Quarantine Centre, etc. Since pub-lic transport is almost non-existent due to Covid-19 effect, mobil-ity of students to their college will be severely affected.

Soni launches PNRC’s website for online verification

State bans visitors’ entry to Civil Secretariat in view of COVID-19 spread

22 new COVID-19 positive cases reported in Patiala JAGDEEP CHOPRAPatiala, July 10

The spread of CO-VID-19 in Patiala dis-trict going on without a break as on Friday 22 new positive cases are reported and it took total COVID-19 patients tally to 501. While providing details about it the district COVID-19 Nodal Officer and Civil Surgeon here, Dr Harish Malhotra told that most of the cases are reported from top khana more, Jejianwali Gali, Dhamo Majra, Roop Chand Mohalla, New Basti Badungar and Prem Nagar areas. He said that with re-porting of more cases from Jejianwali Gali the area is clubbed with top Khana Mor area and converted into a containment zone area.

Dr Malhotra added that reports of 489 samples are received out of these 471 found out be negative with 18 positives. He said besides information about four other pos-itives have received from PGI, Chandi-garh as patients have belonged to Patiala district.

DALJEET AJNOHAHoshiarpur, July 10

The Minister for Industries and Commerce, Govern-ment of Punjab, Sunder Sham Arora on Friday said that the Punjab govern-ment stands by its indus-trial sector in these tough times of coronavirus spread. 2.32 lakh industrial houses in the state are working by adhering to norms of social distancing and only those have not been allowed to resume their operation,

which are located in vari-ous containment areas.

The Minister said this while addressing people during foundation stone laying ceremony for upgra-dation of the existing focal point area in the Moga city

to the tune of Rs 10 cr. He said that lending a help-ing hand to the industrial houses the Punjab govern-ment has sought waiver of upto 6 months on existing bank loans of all the indus-tries from center govern-

ment so that the industry is able to recover from losses incurred due to economic slowdown as a result of co-rona infection spread.

He said that Punjab was the first state in country to impose lockdown, which has curtailed number of coro-na cases to a larger extent. He added that 90,000 youth have returned from foreign shores to the state and now the government was gearing up to provide job and entre-preneurship opportunities to these young-sters.

State govt stands by industrial sector in these tough COVID times: Arora


The Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Charnajit Singh Channi has directed the officials of the department to complete all projects on time. The Prin-cipal Secretary Tourism & Cultural Affairs, Punjab Hussan Lal, IAS, along with Director, Tourism and Cul-tural Affairs Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar held a review meeting here on Friday with all the concerned of-

ficials to meet the deadline regarding completion of all the projects.

During the meeting the officials inspected the work of development of Medal Gallery & Coin Mu-seum be-ing developed at Mohindra Kothi,Patiala

which is being done at an approximate cost of Rs. 8.95 Crores under ADB assisted IDIPT Project, Conservation of Ranbaas, Quila Mubarak at Patiala at acost of Rs. 7.50 Crore and the work of Conser-vation of Moti Mahal at QuilaMubarak, Patiala with an estimated cost of Rs. 9.00 Crore. Princi-pal Secretary Husan Lal came to know during the meeting that the labour deployed at site by the contractors is very less.

Channi directs officials to complete all tourism projects on time

Several senior Punjab officials found COVID-19 positive; minister takes corona testPUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUChandigarh, July 10

Two IAS and 13 PCS officers as well as two other government of-ficials were confirmed positive for coronavi-rus in Punjab, officials said on Friday, as the state battles surge in infections.

Punjab Rural Devel-opment and Panchayats Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa underwent a COVID-19 test after an IAS officer, who has contracted the disease, was present in a meet-ing attended by him, the officials said. Two IAS officers and 13 Punjab Civil Services (PCS) offi-cers have tested positive for coronavirus so far, an official of the Punjab Health Department said on Friday. The contact tracing in these cases is underway, another official said.

Besides, a Senior Su-perintendent of Police and a Civil Surgeon have tested positive for the virus, officials said. An official said samples of 34 PCS officers were collected and of which 13 tested positive and 16 negative. However, the reports in five cases are still pending, he added.

An IAS officer tested positive for the virus after his wife con-firmed positive for the infection, the officials said. He on Thursday had attended a meet-ing where Bajwa was also present.

Dharmsot meets family of martyr Naik Rajwinder Singh

Kangar will lay foundation stone of Beas Sub-Tehsil Complex on July 13

Bajwa writes to HRD Ministry to re-examine revised guidelines issued by MHRD and UGC

Maximum temperature rise, hover above normal in Punjab

PUNJAB/TRICITYCHANDIGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 202004

DISCLAIMERBRIGHT PUNJAB EXPRESS does not endorse any third party products, merchandise and/or services, nor has BRIGHT PUNJAB EXPRESS taken any steps to confirm the accuracy or reliability of, any of the information contained in any third party advertisements. BRIGHT PUNJAB EXPRESS strongly encourages readers to conduct whatever investigation they feel necessary or appropriate before proceeding with any transaction with any of these advertisers.

COVID-19 POSITIVE CASESSr.No. Age Gender R/o Result Remarks

1 58 year F PGIMER Positive She has 1 family member. She is works in PGI.

2 60 year M Manimajra Positive Family members of previously positive case of Manimajra in the same house.3 30 year F

4 24 year M Khuda Lahora Positive Family members of previously positive case of Khuda Lahora in the same house.

5 76 year M Sector-21 Positive He has 4 family members.

6 34 year M Ramdarbar Positive He has 4 family members. All of them are asymptomatic.

7 64 year F Sector-55 Positive Family contact of previously positive case of Sector-55 in the same house.8 82 year F

9 1 month F.C

10 29 year F

11 18 year F Sector-41 Positive Community contact of previously positive case of Sector-55.

12 52 year F Sector-45 Positive Family member of previously positive case of Sector-45.

13 61 year M Manimajra Positive He has 7 family members. All of them are asymptomatic.

Meanwhile, five patients have been cured and discharged from hospitals.

13 more corona cases take UT tally to 536Number of active cases rises to 121

THIRTEEN MORE CORONAVIRUS CASES WERE REPORTED IN THE CITY DURING THE PAST 24 HOURS. WITH THIS, THE TALLY OF INFECTED PEOPLE HAS RISEN TO 536. THE FIGURE INCLUDES AS MANY AS 121 ACTIVE CASES.

THE NEW CASES ARE FROM DIFFERENT SECTORS OF THE CITY AND UT VILLAGES.

CHANDIGARH (UT) COVID-19 STATUS UPDATTotal number of active cases 121

Total number of patients tested 9253

Total number of patients found negative 8672

Total number of patients found positive 536

Total number of samples rejected 2

Total number of COVID-19 patient cured till date 408

Total number of COVID-19 deaths till date 7

Total number of samples of Chandigarh whose result is awaited 43

Total number of samples of Chandigarh collected 10,174

PANCHKULA, JULY 10

Panchkula on Friday re-ported two new cases of coronavirus, taking the district's case tally to 135.

A 34-year-old man from Sector 25 and a 64-year-old man from Marranwala in Kalka tested positive for the deadly disease, health officials said. They were receiving treatment at Civil Hospital in Sector 6. BPE

PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUMohali, July 10

The district witnessed an-other big single-day jump of 22 coronavirus cases on Friday taking the total number to 361 besides one death and three being dis-charged from the hospital.

Civil Surgeon Dr Man-jit Singh said the persons affected with the virus include three females of the age of 42, 12 and 20 years from Sunny Enclave, Kharar, two men aged 32 and 35 from Sector 116 and Phase 4, respectively, 45-year-old woman and 22-year-old man from

Gillco Valley, three males aged 18, 38, 25 from Majat village, 18-year-old man, 19-year-man, 50-year-old man and 23-year-old woman from Jawaharpur village, 19-year-old man and 50-year-old woman from Nayagaon village, 30-year-old man, 57-year-old man from Dera Bassi, two males aged 19 and 73 from Baltana and 52-year-old man from Banur.

Mohali records 22 fresh COVID cases, tally 36152-YEAR-OLD MAN’S DEATH TAKES TOLL TO 7

P’kula reports two new coronavirus cases, tally rises to 135


R.K. Singh, Minister of State for Power (I/C), Govt. of India, inaugurated BBMB Power Houses & Sub-Sta-tions Remote Control Room at BBMB SLDC Complex, Chandigarh through the digital medium from New Delhi on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, Singh lauded the BBMB's team for achieving this techno-logical advancement which is at par with the rest of the world. This assumes greater importance keeping in view its completion by BBMB during these unprecedented pandemic times. S.N. Sahai, Secretary (Power), Govt. of India was a distinguished guest in this event who also joined from New Delhi. Sa-

hai congratulated BBMB for achieving automation of one of the oldest powerhouses in the country.

Machines of Bhakra Left Bank Power House can now be operated and monitored from the Re-mote Control Room at SLDC, Chandigarh. It would increase reliabil-

ity, improve customer satisfaction, reduce man-power, improve utiliza-tion and reduced opera-tional and maintenance expenses. It will also lead to better coordina-tion with the Northern Regional Load Despatch Centre (NRLDC)for meet-ing Grid requirements etc.

Union Minister e-inaugurates BBMB Power Houses & Sub-Stations Remote Control Room


The Horticulture Division of Panjab University on Friday organized a tree plantation at a ground in front of E1-30 to 34, Sector-14, P.U. Campus.

Prof. Raj Kumar, Vice-Chancellor initiated the drive in the presence of Prof. S.K. Tomar, Dean Student Wel-fare, Prof. Sukhbir Kaur, Dean Student Welfare (Women), Prof. Ashwani Koul, Chief of University Security, Narinder

Kumar and Lakhwinder Singh, SDEs, Prof. Yojna Rawat, Prof. Ganga Ram and some other eminent fac-ulty members. Around 100

numbers of trees of pilkhan, peepal, barghad, Neem, Kaner were planted at the occasion. The space will be developed into 'Triveni Garden'.

MOHALI, JULY 10

A 64-yr old cardiac patient, suffering from right lung can-cer got a new lease of life after a successful difficult surgery at Ivy Hospital, Mohali recently. He was having bleeding in sputum and the cancer was in-volving bronchus intermedius (windpipe of the right lung).

Led by Dr. Vijay Bansal, head of department of onco-surgery at Ivy hospital, the

surgery was performed by well-trained thoracic cancer surgery specialists who are well trained in thoracic can-cer surgeries. Giving infor-mation, Dr. Vijay said that during surgery, the right bi-lobectomy ( middle and lower lobes) were removed along with mediastinal lymph node dissection. BPE

Tree plantation drive commences at PU

CHANGE OF NAME I Neelam Rani Ohri W/o Vinod Kumar R/o HL-72, PHB Colony , Jamalpur Focal Point Ludhiana. Declare that I have Changed my name from Neelam Rani Ohri to Sanjana Ohri.

I, Pramila Gaha spouse of service no 5352563H NK Yam Bahadur Thapa RO 14GTC Subathu Solan (HP) declare that I have changed my name Pramila Gaha to Pramila Gaha Thapa. Please note.

I Manjeet Singh S/o Sh Jaspal Singh R/o H.No 176 Baguana Basti Sangrur Have Changed My Name To Manjeet Singh Mahal

I Sukhchain Singh Angroia S/o Surjeet Singh R/o Village Sarawan teh Jaitu Distt Faridkot have changed my name to Sukhchain Singh.

I Mandeep Singh Mann Son of Parampal Singh Resident of Village Bam, Sri Muktsar Sahib I have changed my name Mandeep Singh Mann to Mandeep Singh

I Mandeep Singh Son of Parampal Singh Resident of Village Bam Sri Muktsar Sahib have change my minor Son's Name JUJHAR Singh to JUJHAR Singh Mann

I Jagmeet Singh Brar Son of Kabal Singh Resident of House no. 234 Park Avenue Colony Kotkapura road Sri Muktsar Sahib have change my minor Son's Name Abhey Singh Brar to Abheypartap Singh Brar.

I Sanjay Kumar S/o Gurditta Ram R/o H.No 777,St No 10, Tripuri Town, Patiala have Changed My Name To Sanjay Mukheja

I Vanita W/o Sanjay Mukheja R/o H.No 777,St No 10, Tripuri Town, Patiala have Changed My Name To Vanita Mukheja

I SANJEEV KUMAR S/O RAM LAL R,/O BABA DEEP SINGH NAGAR GALI NO 2 SRI MUKTSAR SAHIB HAVE CHANGED MY NAME TO SANJEEV KUMAR BHATTI.

I MEENA W/O SANJEEV KUMAR BHATTI R/O BABA DEEP SINGH NAGAR GALI NO 2 SRI MUKTSAR SAHIB HAVE CHANGED MY NAME TO MEENA BHATTI.

I TEJASAV S/O SANJEEV KUMAR BHATTI R/O BABA DEEP NAGAR GALI NO 2 SRI MUKTSAR SAHIB HAVE CHANGED MY NAME TO TEJASAV BHATTI.

I, JC-175744-F Ex Sub Gurcharan Singh r/o Village Lopo (Moga) declare that I have changed my daughter's name from Sharanjit Kaur to Sharanjeet Kaur. Her adhar no. is 8724-2880-0732.

I Kuljit Kaur W/o Puran Singh R/o Sangatpura(Moga)have changed my name as Charanjit Kaur Concerened Noted

I Army No 15342157M Rank L/Nk Avtar Singh , 63 Engr. Regt C/o 56 APO R/o village MOOSA , distt Mansa , Punjab .In Army record My mother’s Name Misharpal Kaur and DOB 15-01-1962 are wrongly entered. Correct name is Misarpal Kaur & DOB 01.01.1956. Affidavit vide ID No. 10703007 dt. 09/07/2020 attested by Executive Magistrate Mansa

I, Mehak W/o Puneet Sethi R/o 69-A, Mall Enclave Maj. Gurdial Singh Road Ludhiana Changed name Mehak Sethi.

I, Pardeep Singh Supraj S/o Darshan Singh R/o VPO Ghawaddi Ludhiana Changed name Pardeep Singh.

I, Naresh Kumar S/o Prahlad Bhagat R/o H.No. 534-C, Phase-1, Urban Estate, Focal Point Ludhiana declare that Naresh Kumar and Naresh Yadav are one and same person.

I, Deen Dayal S/o Mohan Lal R/o B-14, 1186 Islam Ganj, Sangatpura Ludhiana Changed name Deen Dial .

I, Amanat Kaur and Amanat Kaur Dhaliwal W/o Gurjot Singh Sahota R/o 441, Urban Estate Phase 2 Dugri Road Ludhiana Changed name Amanat Kaur Sahota.

I,Prachi Gotra D/O Rajesh Kumar Gotra R/O H.No.105,Street No.5, Opp. Power House Colony,Friends Avenue,Majitha Road Amritsar have changed my name from Prachi Gotra to Prachi.Concerned note.

I, Navprit Kaur W/o Jaswinder Singh D/o Kashmir Singh R/o Chhajjalwaddi , Tehsil Baba Bakala , Amritsar have changed my name Navprit Kaur to Navpreet Kaur.please note .

I, Balwinder Kaur D/O Bachittar Singh R/O # 92/1 Green Park Colony Sri Muktsar Sahib In Some Documents My Name Is As Sukhwinder Kaur.but Now Know Me As Real Name Balwinder Kaur.

I, Rajwinder kaur w/o Hardeep Singh Sandhu R/o Vpo Sarawan Bodla Tehsil Malout Distt Sri Muktsar Sahib Have Changed my name to Rajwinder Kaur Sandhu.

I, Sarbjeet Singh S/o Gurjant Singh R/o of VPO Jhorar Tehsil Malout Distt Sri Muktsar Sahib Have Change My Name Sarbjeet Singh To Sarbjeet Singh Gill.

I, Swranjeet Kaur W/o Sarbjeet Singh Gill R/o VPO Jhorar Tehsil Malout distt sri muktsar sahib have change my Name Swranjeet Kaur To Swranjeet Kaur Gill.

PUBLIC NOTICE

I, Seema Rani W/o Chander Singh R/o H.NO.1096,Main Gali Bajra Colony Kailash Nagar Basti Jodhewal Ludhiana declare that my daughter Vandna and her Husband sanjay S/o Ashok Kumar are out of my control so I disinherited them from my moveable and immoveable property. I shall not be responsible if anybody dealing with them.

I, Surinder Kumar Malhotra S/o Ram Lal R/o B-13/190, Mohala Kacha Tobha Hoshiarpur declare that my son Sunil Malhotra is out of my control so I disinherited him from my moveable and immoveable property. I shall not be responsible if anybody dealing with him.

I, Darshan Singh S/o Babu Singh R/o H.No. 6, Village Nat, Ludhiana declare that my son's Paramjit Singh and his wife Hardeep Kaur are out of my control so I disown them from my moveable and immoveable properties anybody deal with them at their own risk.

I Chinder Kaur w/o Late Jasveer Singh r/o Chauhan Colony Vill. Saidkhari Tehsil Rajpura (Patiala) declare that my son Dhalwinder Singh is out of my control. I disown him from my movable/immovable property. Anybody deals with him at own his risk.

We, Girdhari Lal S/o Gurdita Lal and Sudesh Kumari W/o Girdhari Lal R/o 506/A, B-14, 9, Near Field Ganj, Prem Nagar Clock Tower Ludhiana declare that our son's Subash Kumar is out of our control so we disown him from our moveable and immoveable properties anybody deal with him at their own risk.

îËº ìñìÆð ÇÃ§Ø ê°µåð ìñò§å ÇÃ§Ø òÅÃÆ ÔîÅï±§ê°ð é¶ó¶ Ã¯ãÆ ÕÅñ¯éÆ òÅðâ é§ AG ÃðÇÔ§ç åÇÔÃÆñ òÅ Ç÷ñ·Å øÇåÔ×ó· ÃÅÇÔì ÇìÁÅé ÕðçÅ ÔÅº ÕÆ î¶ðÅ ñóÕÅ çðôé ÇÃ§Ø Ü¯ ÇÕ î¶ð¶ ÕÇÔä¶ åº̄ ìÅÔð ÔË îËº À°Ã é±§ ÁÅêäÆ Úµñ-ÁÚµñ ÜÅÇÂçÅç åº̄ ì¶çÖñ Õðç¶ ÔÅº ÇÂé·Åº éÅñ ñËä ç¶ä Õðé òÅñÅ õ°ç Ç÷§î¶òÅð Ô¯ò¶×Å Ãì§èå é¯à Õðé

îËº Ã¶òÅ ÇÃ§Ø ê°µåð å¶ÜÅ ÇÃ§Ø òÅÃÆ Çê§â îó½ñÆ õ°ðç Ç÷ñ·Å ð±êé×ð ÇìÁÅé ÕðçÅ ÔÅº ÇÕ î¶ðÅ ñóÕÅ ÁòåÅð ÇÃ§Ø î¶ð¶ ÕÇÔä¶ å¯º ìÅÔð ÔË¢ ÃÅâ¶ éÅñ ñóçÅ ÔË¢ îËº ÇÂÃ é±§ ÁÅêäÆ Úµñ ÁÚµñ ÜÅÇÂçÅç å¯º ì¶çÖñ ÕðçÅ ÔÅº¢ ÇÂÃ éÅñ ñËä ç¶ä Õðé òÅñÅ õ°ç ÷°§î¶òÅð Ô¯ò¶×Å¢

motr vhIkl sUcnwÁÅî êìÇñÕ ç¶ é¯ÇàÃ ÇòµÚ ÇñÁÅºçÅ ÜÅçÅ Ford Figo ðÇÜ. é§. PB11AU-6280 Ü¯ ÇÕzêÅñ ÇÃ§Ø Ã§è± ê°µåð Õ°§çé ÇÃ§Ø òÅÃÆ AHI, ÔÇð§çð é×ð, êÇàÁÅñÅ ç¶ éÅº ÔË¢ ÇÜé·ÅºçÅ ç¶ÔÅºå ÇîåÆ AI/AB/B@AI é±§ Ô¯ ÚµÕÅ ÔË¢ Ô°ä À°éÅºçÆ êåéÆ ×°ðêzÆå Õ½ð Ã§è± é¶ À°Õå òÇÔÕñ àðÅºÃëð Õðé ñÂÆ ê¶êð ÇÂÃ çëåð ÇòµÚ ê¶ô ÕÆå¶ Ôé¢ Ü¶Õð ÇÕÃ¶é±§ ÇÂåðÅÜ ÔË À°Ô AEÇçéÅº ç¶ Á§çð–Á§çð ÇÂåðÅÜ ê¶ô Õð¶¢ðÆÜéñ àðÅºÃê¯ðà ÁæÅðàÆ, êÇàÁÅñÅ¢

ÁÅî ÜéåÅ é±§ Ã±ÇÚå ÕÆåÅ ÜÅºçÅ ÔË ÇÕ ÇÂ§çðêÅñ ÇÃ§Ø ê°µåð ×°ðÚðé ÇÃ§Ø çÆ î½å BF.B.B@AF é±§ Ô¯ Ú°µÕÆ ÔË¢ ÇÜé·Åº ç¶ éÅî òÔÆÕñ é§ìð êÆìÆ FE ÜÆ GCCB ÔË¢ Ô°ä ÇÂÃ òÔÆÕñ çÆ îÅñÕÆ çÆ åìçÆñÆ ñÂÆ À°Ã çÆ ê°µåðÆ îéçÆê Õ½ð é¶ ÇÂÃ çøåð ÇòÖ¶ ÁêñÅÂÆ ÕÆåÅ ÔË¢ Ü¶Õð ÇÕÃ¶ é±§ éÅº àðÅºÃøð Õðé ÇòÚ ÇÂåðÅÜ Ô¯ò¶ åÅº AE ÇçéÅº ç¶ Á§çð Á§çð Ã±ÇÚå Õð¶¢ ðÆ÷éñ àðÅºÃê¯ðà ÁæÅðàÆ, ÁËÃ.Â¶.ÁËÃ. é×ð (ê§ÜÅì)

Bhupinder Singh S/o Kehar Singh R/o Ghiora, Kamalpur, Samana, Patiala B/ eko BzL PB11BS3385 B{z NoK;co eokT[D dh noih fJ;

dcso ftZu g/; ehsh j? i¯ fe Kehar Singh S/o Alla Singh R/o Ghiora, Kamalpur, Saman, Patiala d/ Bkw s/ j?. fiBQK dh w½̄s 06$09$2016 B{z j¯ rJh ;h. i/eo fe;/ B{z fJsoki

j¯t/ sK T[j 10 fdB d/ nzdo fJ;

dcso ftZu ;zgoe eo/.;?eNoh

nko aNh aJ/ agfNnkbk.

Lung cancer patient with heart condition gets a new lease of life

A.S.PRASHARChandigarh, July 10

The Governor of Punjab and Administrator of UT, Chandigarh, V.P.singh Badnore has warned that if people continue to violate health proto-col, lockdown will again be imposed especially on weekends to contain spread of coronavirus in-fection.

Presiding over the daily war room meet-ing on Friday, the Administrator expressed con-cern that many residents are not taking the threat of corona seriously and are violating the guidelines issued. He stated that people must stay indoors and come out only when abso-

lutely necessary. The resi-dents must wear masks at public places and strictly follow social distancing

norms. He asked Director

General of Po-lice to ensure

that curfew from 10:00

PM to 05:00 AM is strictly

enforced. It was also direct-

ed that all vehicles, found moving during cur-few hours will be seized by the police, unless the

driver is able to prove that it was on essential duty.

The Administrator di-rected Deputy Commis-sioner, UT, Chandigarh to enhance surprise checks in parks/places, markets etc. to penalize the persons not following social distancing or not wearing masks.

He ordered that PGIMER Director must hold a meeting immedi-ately with Director Health Services of Punjab, Hary-ana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh to dis-cuss and finalize a protocol for admission of patients coming from other states, particularly when facilities for treating such patients are locally available. The Administrator clarified that PGIMER, being a Premier Central Institute of Govern-ment of India, the patients of any state of India cannot be denied treatment.

Guv warns of reimposition of lockdown in UT

HIGHLIGHTS Expresses concern

over violation of health guidelines

Vehicles found on roads during night curfew hours to be seized

LUDHIANA CHANDIGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2020 05

PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAULudhiana, July 10

Ludhiana Civil Surgeon Dr Rajesh Bagga informed that under the ‘Mission Fateh’ of the Punjab government, the number of COVID-19 patients getting cured in dis-trict Lud-hiana is increasing with each passing day and as such there are 576 active patients in the district at present.

He said that sincere ef-forts are being made to keep people safe from COVID-19. He said that 40 new patients have tested positive in last 24 hours time.

He further said that till date, a total of 41,286 samples have been taken, out of which report of 39,785 samples has been received, of 38,273 samples is negative and report of 1,501 samples is pending. He said that now, the to-tal number of patients re-

lated to Ludhiana is 1,271, while 241 patients are re-lated to other districts and states.

LUDHIANA, JULY 10

Days after Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), ADC Jagra-on, two Sub Divisional Magistrates had tested positive for coronavirus, another PCS officer, who is Additional Com-missioner of Municipal Corporation, also tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. The officer was in-charge of quar-antine centre in Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). However, the offi-cer was asymptomatic but his samples were taken as he was the primary con-tact of already positive patients. At present, the officer was shifted to an isolation ward. BPE


An Assistant Sub Inspec-tor of Police was fined for not wearing a mask on duty after his video went viral on social me-dia on Friday. After the matter came to notice of Police Commissioner, he immediately asked the SHO to impose a fine on ASI Raj Singh for not wearing a mask.

On Thursday, ASI Raj Singh and his colleague fined a man for not wear-ing mask on Hambran Road. The man also re-corded the video of the ASI who was sitting in a car and not wearing a

mask. The man argued that he is ready to pay

fine for not wearing a mask but at the same time, the ASI sitting in police vehicle should be fined for the same of-fence.

After the video went viral on social media, the ASI was also fined Rs 50 for not wearing a mask.

Police Commissioner Rakesh Agrawal said that it came to our notice that some police employees are not wearing masks while on duty. They feel that conduct of police employees should be exemplary and keeping this in view, a challan was issued to ASI Raj Singh for not wearing a mask.


Bharti Kisan Union-Lak-howal (BKU) on Friday called upon the Punjab government to reject all three anti-farmer ordi-nances and amendment in Electricity Act, brought about by the Modi govern-ment through a resolution in Punjab Assembly. In order to mobilise farmers and public support against these legislative measures, the BKU would lead a pro-test of farmers across the state by parking tractors on the roads on July 20.

Addressing a news con-ference after the state com-mittee meeting here, BKU president Ajmer Singh Lakhowal said at such dif-ficult times when centre was out to scrap the MSP (minimum support price) regime and anti-farmer legislations were being

introduced to favour the corporate houses, all po-litical parties ought to sink their differences and join the struggle of the farmers to retain the MSP system.

Earlier during discussion on the ordinances issued by centre on agricultural marketing and proposed amendment in Electricity Act, Lakhowal maintained that in a free market re-gime, farmers would be left at the mercy of big business houses and corporates. Not only this, thousands

of workers in mandis, ar-htiyas and palledars would be rendered unemployed.

Similarly, under the amended Electricity Act, free electricity supply to tubewells and subsidy would be stopped with the result that farmers and other under-privileged people would have to pay electricity bills.

The BKU also con-demned both the Centre and Punjab government for hike in petrol and diesel prices which were much higher in Punjab in comparison to neigh-bouring states of Hary-ana, Himachal Pradesh and the UT Chandigarh. “Punjab government ought to withdraw hike in VAT on petrol and diesel to cut down the prices while cen-tre must bring fuel under GST to put an end to price inequality,” the meeting resolved.


Ludhiana Improvement Trust (LIT) has filed a complaint with city police against Reliance Jio Digital Fibre Private Limited for digging of road and streets in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar colony in an illegal manner. The company has also been charged with causing damage to roads and street in the colony.

In a letter to the police, the LIT Executive Officer has said that the company had obtained permission for installation of 65 poles to hang overhead cables and other accessories. However, taking advan-tage of public holidays on Saturday and Sunday, the company had laid under-ground cables by cutting roads/streets thereby caus-ing damage to roads and infrastructure in blocks D and G of the colony which called for action as per law against the erring com-pany.

Earlier, the digging work being carried out by the company had led to a heat-ed controversy with war of words between an activist of a front organisation of BJP and the area councilor (ward no 71) belonging to Congress Rupinder Kaur Dhaliwal. While the BJP activist Vineet Pal Singh Monga had filed a com-plaint with the state gov-

ernment alleging ‘illegal digging’ by the telecom firm, the councilor had denied the charges say-ing these were false and politically motivated.

Going by the police com-plaint lodged by the LIT authorities it became evi-dent that the company had resorted to digging along the roads and street to lay underground optic fibre cable (OFC) without any authorization and for this purpose roads and streets were cut at various locations including some which had been recently carpeted. Criminal action sought by the LIT against the firm also brought to the fore another fact that the area councilor had sought to defend the telecom company for rea-sons best known to her.

The LIT officials assert-ed that the company had provided a bank guarantee of Rs 6,87,500 against an undertaking that site or sur-face of the roads/streets – if damaged during erection of poles, would be restored to their original position within 30 days of the completion of work.


College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) celebrated National Fish Farmers’ Day through an online tribute to the fish farmers.

On this occasion Dr. Harish Kumar Verma, Director Extension Edu-cation (GADVASU), Dr.

R.S. Chauhan, Dean Col-lege of Fisheries, GB pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pant-nagar (Uttrakhand) and Dr. R. A. Pawar, Profes-sor, College of Fisheries, Ratnagiri (Maharashtra) addressed the farmers to apprise them of innovative interventions for sustain-able development of aqua-culture sector and role of academia farmer linkages

in technology transfer and capacity building, followed by a fruitful in-teractive session. Dr. Hira Lal Chaudhry’s gift of In-duced breeding technol-ogy to Blue Revolution in India was acknowledged through encomium ad-dress by all the speakers.

An online poetry and poster competition on the theme Gratitudinal Trib-ute to the Fish Farmers of

the Nation was also held, depicting their contribu-tion towards food and nutritional security of the country, and entries were invited from the stu-dents of fisheries colleges of the country. Top three posters and poems were selected by a team of jury. The winning posters were displayed, while poems were recited by the win-ners during the meet.

AMARPREET SINGHLudhiana, July 10

Rejecting the rumours of weekend lockdown on Sat-urday and Sunday, Deputy Commissioner Varinder Sharma clarified that as per the directions of the Punjab government, now, the lock-down is for only Sunday. He said that the shops can remain open as usual on Saturday, but on Sundays, only shops of essential com-modities would be allowed to open. There will be no restriction on movement within the district.

The DC clarified that there is no restriction of lockdown on Saturday but on Sunday, the non-essential shops will remain

closed. However, there is no restriction on shops of es-sential commodities, liquor vends and restaurants.

According to admin-istration, shops dealing with essential commodi-ties/services shall remain open on all days till 7 pm, restaurants (for take home/home delivery only) and liquor shops will also con-tinue to be open till 8 pm on all days. However, other shops, whether standalone or in shopping malls, shall remain closed on Sundays.

Inter-district movement shall be allowed against e-pass, which will be issued only for essential work, but no pass shall be required for such travel in case of medi-cal emergency. Further, e-pass will also be required from District Administra-tion for marriage functions, and will be issued only for 50 specific persons, for industries, the already is-sued orders would remain in force and the movement of labour would continue as usual.


Punjab Agricultural Uni-versity (PAU) has inked a pact with Urban Horti-culture Solutions, Goraya, District Jalandhar, for li-censing of Rooftop Veg-etable Nutrition Garden Model using Soilless Media Technology.

Dr K S Thind, Additional

Director of Research, PAU, and Damanpreet Singh signed the Memorandum of Agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. Dr Gursahib Singh, Additional Director of Research, PAU, congratulated the propri-etors for disseminating tech-nologies developed by PAU at the field level.

Dr K G Singh, Senior Research Engineer-cum-

Head, and Dr, Angrej Singh, Assistant Agronomist, De-partment of Soil and Wa-ter Engineering, Punjab Agricultural University, informed that PAU is pio-neer in the development of rooftop/terrace vegetable nutrition garden model for urban and peri-urban popu-lation using soil-less media. The technology was devel-oped under All India Coor-dinated Research Project on Plasticulture Engineering and Technology operating In the Department of Soil and Water Engineering, PAU. The technology requires only 12.6 sq m (net area = 4.2 m x 3.0 m) and gross area of 20 sq m (5.5 m x 3.6 m); the vegetables thus produced will be sufficient for a family of 2-4 persons. He further revealed that 10 vegetables like tomato, bell pepper, cucumber, coriander, broccoli, spin-ach, pea, lettuce, fenugreek and chinni sarson are being grown using this technology and with staggered sowing/transplanting, the vegetables would be available round the year.


Local police have announced reward for providing infor-mation regarding the rob-bers who looted Rs 11.70 lakh from an employee of a gas agency in Daba area on July 5. The Police have also released the CCTV grab of the suspects and asked the people to provide information to police.

Spokesperson of Ludhiana Police said that the iden-tity of the informer will not be disclosed and he or she will be rewarded suitably. On July 5, three robbers looted Rs 11.70 lakh from an employee of a gas agency in Daba area in broad daylight. The victim was on the way to deposit cash when three accused on a motorcycle intercepted him and robbed the money. Manjit Singh owner of gas agency said that his employee Pawandeep was on the way to bank to deposit cash. On the way, three persons on motorcycle stopped Pawandeep and robbed cash from him. The victim used to deposit cash daily in the bank.


Director Public Relations Ravi Bhagat on Friday highlighted the preventative measures taken by the gov-ernment in pandemic. Ravi Bhagat was speaking during International Symposium on ‘The Impact of COVID-19 on Strategies of Marketing and Advertisement’ organised by Department of Advertising and Sales Promotion Man-agement of Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College. Ravi Bhagat was the chief guest of the day.

In his address, he high-lighted the preventive mea-sures taken by government to help the public during this pandemic. He discussed the importance and uses of COVA

Mobile app developed by the Department of Government Reforms and Public Griev-ances in consultation with the Health and Family Welfare Department to spread aware-ness by sharing various travel and preventive care adviso-ries. The app also suggests the nearest hospital and nodal officer of the district where the patient can reach in case he/she is symptomatic.

The resource person of the technical session one was Anil Ahluwalia, Bharat Petroleum, Mumbai advised everyone to reflect, rethink, renovate, respond, reassure and reen-gage in this time of pandemic that has shut all our activities. Focusing on the social sec-tor, he said, to make India a stronger country we should learn managing its human resources.

YOGESH KAPOORLudhiana, July 10

The body of Sepoy Pal-winder Singh, who was killed in a road accident at Kargil, was cremated with military honours at village Rampur near Doraha on Friday. On behalf of the Chief Minister Punjab, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu paid respect to Palwinder Singh. He was also accompanied by MLA Samrala Amrik Singh Dhillon, MLA Pay-al Lakhbir Singh Lakha, SDM Geetika Singh, his family members, villagers

and district administration officials.

Palwinder Singh basi-cally belonged to village Dhindsa near Samrala. When he was going some-where along with his of-ficer in a Maruti Gypsy on June 22, it met with an accident and fell in the riv-

er. His elder brother Jag-preet Singh informed that Palwinder was recruited into the Indian Army in 2010 and his father had also served the Indian Army for 24 years. Jag-preet Singh urged Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to come to the aid

of the family and provide job to his another younger brother who is a graduate.

Ashu, who attended the cremation on behalf of the Chief Minister, assured the family members that the Punjab government would support them in every way.

Sepoy Palwinder Singh cremated with full military honoursCABINET MINISTER BHARAT BHUSHAN ASHU PAYS RESPECT TO PALWINDER SINGH ON BEHALF OF CM

PALWINDER WAS RECRUITED INTO THE INDIAN ARMY IN 2010 AND HIS FATHER HAD ALSO SERVED THE INDIAN ARMY FOR 24 YEARS

No lockdown on Saturday, admn rejects rumours

40 new cases reported in district in last 24 hours

Another PCS officer tests +ve for COVID-19

ASI fined for not wearing mask after video goes viral

Ravi Bhagat highlights preventative measures taken by govt to help people in COVID-19 pandemic

Police announce reward for giving info of robbers who looted ̀ 11 lakh from gas agency employee

PAU inks pact for commercialising technology

BKU (Lakhowal) slams anti-farmer ordinances, amendment in Electricity Act, to old statewide protest on July 23

“Punjab govt ought to withdraw

hike in VAT on petrol and diesel to cut down the

prices while centre must bring fuel

under GST to put an end to price

inequality”

LIT files complaint with police against Reliance Group Company for illegal digging in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar colony

National Fish Farmers’ Day celebrated with tribute

EDITORIAL CHANDIGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2020 06

Ban the rallies

Shamed globally but Pak shows no guiltATEET SHARMA

Less than two weeks ago, UN experts said that they were “appalled by the enforced disappear-

ance” of activist Idris Khattak, a leading human rights defender from Pakistan who went missing last year. Professor Muhammad Sajjad Raja, chairman of Nation-al Equality Party and a leading political activist from Gilgit-Baltistan in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, on Thursday slammed the Imran Khan-led government at the 44th Regular Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. “The extra-judicial killings taking place in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan are not acceptable… The citizens stand before you today seeking intervention from the repression and the extra judicial killings of our people. Azad means free but this is a false label, which has been at-tached to our people to hide the truth in a disgusting way. In fact, any dissent towards Pakistan is mercilessly crushed through by army atrocities and the ISI,” Raja said in a strongly-worded statement On June 29, the UN human rights experts had con-

demned the widespread silenc-ing of human rights defenders “through intimidation, secret detention, torture and enforced disappearance, whether with the direct involvement of the Pakistani government, or with its complicity or complacency.”

The statement mentioned Pakistan’s long history of en-forced disappearances, many of which have targeted human rights and minority defenders critical of the government and the military, as well as persons suspected or accused of involve-ment in the opposition.

“While successive govern-ments have promised to crimi-nalize enforced disappearance, none has taken concrete steps and the practice continues with impunity,” it mentioned stress-ing that there can be no justifica-

tion for the government’s failure to end enforced disappearances and that any such violation must be investigated, prosecuted and punished.

It isn’t the human rights activ-ists alone who are being targeted by the Pakistani deep state.

A leaked internal memo issued by the Interior Ministry listing measures to stop the “rhetoric against Pakistan” and targeting journalists, particularly those living abroad, has once again highlighted the shocking agenda of the government.

The confidential memo dated June 18 accused six journalists—five Pakistanis and an Afghan citizen—alleged to be “involved in various activities in Europe and America which are seriously damaging Pakistan’s foreign interests abroad.”

The memo was addressed to the Director-General of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Is-lamabad, the Director-General of Inter-Services Public Rela-tions (ISPR), the Special As-sistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting, the Director-General of Military Intelligence, Islamabad, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It accused the journalists of “either participating in anti-Pakistan activities or producing anti-state content” for foreign media under pseudonyms. It added further: “You are request-ed to strictly follow movements and social media accounts.”

Paris-based independent NGO Reporters Without Bor-ders (RSF) expressed “shock” at the contents of the leaked memo and warned that “the Pakistani authorities will be held responsible for anything that happens to these journalists or their families.”

“Let’s not be fooled, the Paki-stani intelligence agencies could have leaked this document in an attempt to poison public opinion and intimidate the journalists it names,” said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk.

“Even if it is not an official memo, the sinister nature of the

suggestion that journalists based abroad should be ‘approached through proper channels’ is ex-tremely shocking. We will pay close attention to the safety of the reporters named in this memo and we will know who to hold responsible if any of them, or a member of their family, is sub-jected to threats or intimidation.” RSF said it has seen a disturb-ing surge in incidents targeting Pakistani journalists based abroad since the start of the year. The most serious is the mysterious death in Sweden of Sajid Hus-sain, the editor of the Balochistan Times website, whose body was found in late April, seven weeks after he went missing.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with

indianarrative.com)

The continuous rise in the coronavirus graph in Punjab is a matter of deep concern for all. It would seem that the gradual move towards unlocking initiated by the gov-ernment is being misread by the people

at large who have generally thrown caution to the wind and begun to ignore health protocol including maintenance of social distancing. This is most visible in the political rallies being held by various being political parties across the state.

The Shiromani Akali Dal led by Sukhbir Singh Badal held a state-wide protest dharna on Wednesday against fuel price hike as also to demand CBI enquiry into the alleged ration scam. In the process, all health norms were thrown to the wind. Similar scenes were witnessed at other places across the state. At Patiala, police have named 10 Akali leaders in the FIR registered under Sections 188, 283, 269, 270 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 51 of the Disaster Management Act and Prevention of Cruelty Act for organising a procession despite appeals to call off the unlawful event.

In Ludhiana, similar chaotic scenes were witnessed at the political gathering organised by former veteran Akali leader and MP Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa to launch his new political outfit. Organisers have now given the excuse that they had invited only a limited number of people at the event but the response was so overwhelming that they could not prevent larger participation. AAP too has been organising political rallies, dharnas and protests to highlight one issue or the other. It is not only the opposition parties. The ruling Congress party too has been holding political events where health norms are not observed. Health experts have warned that Punjab is likely to see near doubling of deaths due coronavirus in the next two weeks. Dr KK Talwar, advisor to the Punjab government on health, medical education and research has been quoted as having said that there was a projection of 170-175 deaths due to Covid-19 till July 9. As per the projections, the state may lose another 100-150 people in the next two weeks. According to official figures, Punjab has recorded 183 COVID fatalities till now. With 234 fresh infections on Thursday, the total number of people testing positive for novel coronavirus in Punjab has reached 7140.

Talwar has identified the casual attitude of people during the unlock period for the spike. People seem to be thinking that since the lockdown has been lifted, they can take it easy. they must realise that they are still in the midst of the pandemic. Anybody can be infected. They must take all precautions. Political parties should take the lead in this regard by eschewing the holding of physical rallies so as to avoid large gathering which can the source for the spread of infection. They can get their message across via virtual meetings. If the political parties do not show any initiative in this matter, the state government must step up in ban political rallies during the pandemic.

SPIRITUAL WORLD

Even as the financial condition of Chandigarh Administration and Municipal Corporation was already not very sound in the last couple of years, to make matters worse, 3 months of lockdown in the wake of the Covid-19

pandemic, has cost the Chandigarh administration a whopping `342 crore in tax collections. The revenue generation from goods and service tax (GST), excise and value added tax (VAT) has plummeted by 71 per cent for April and May in comparison to the same period last year. Now hit hard by the lockdown, the municipal corporation, which is already struggling with financial crunch, has cut its projected revenue for 2020-21 by 20 per cent. The lockdown was imposed in the city on March 22, with strict restrictions on the movement of people and goods. Subsequently, restrictions were eased in phases, allowing some commercial activity, but it was only under Unlock 1, which started on June 1, that business and industrial units were allowed to open.

What is worrisome indeed is that in addition to major taxes, the administration has also lost revenue from non registration of properties and other fees and charges col-lected by public-dealing offices, such as the registration and licensing authority and the estate office. All these offices were closed for more than two months. Of the three major receipts of the UT, GST registered a decline of 75 per cent for the first two months of the current financial year in comparison for the same period last year. Last year, the collections were `230.5 crore, while this year they are `57 crore. GST is collected on goods and services except fuel (petrol and diesel) and liquor. Excise collections (mainly from liquor sales) fell by 69% from ̀ 160 crore last April-May to ̀ 50 crore for the same period. The revenue from VAT fell to ̀ 28 crore this year from `87 crore last year, a decline of 68 per cent.

In May this year UT increased the VAT on petrol and diesel, and also increased excise on liquor sales to augment its revenue. Meanwhile the central government also directed a cut by 20 per cent in spending for the first quarter for the current financial year. Meanwhile the civic body is expecting to earn around `80 crore less than the budget estimates. A major shortfall of around ̀ 50 crore is expected in water collection which has been almost doubled a few months ago. Revenue from community centre bookings is also expected to down by ̀ 4 crore. It is clear now that the Chandigarh MC will not carry out any additional development, except for the works for which the money has been earmarked and allotted by the UT already. Even then, the MC might find it difficult to pay salaries to its employees, according to KK Yadav, MC commissioner.

UT’s financial crunch

DISCLAIMER: The opinions ex-pressed in the articles published in these columns are the personal opinions of the authors. The facts and opinions appearing in the articles do not reflect the views of Bright Punjab Express and Bright Punjab Express does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

Why India must be wary of China’s deception

Fifty-eight years after the mistake made

by Nehru, which is commonly known as the

‘Himalayan blunder’, did

Narendra Modi step into a

similar trap set by China? Mao Zedong had deceived Nehru under

the pretence of friendship. Did

President Xi Jinping betray

Modi in the same way?

JAYANTA GHOSAL

We have not learnt our les-sons from his-tory. Only the historians have.

It will not be entirely irrelevant to discuss, once again, China’s intrusion in 1962. At the time, Jawaharlal Nehru’s chief spy was the son of Bengal, Bhola Nath Mullik. He received the Padma Bhushan in 1964. Many have criticized this Bengali babu for his failure to warn Nehru about China’s intent. Rather, the mili-tary officials understood China’s “aggressive strategy”.

Bhola Nath had written a book where he revealed that he had mentioned to Nehru the possi-bility of Chinese aggression. But Nehru told his chief spy it was not believable that the Chinese would come from the Siachen Glacier side during the cold of November-December. Bhola Nath Mullik’s book is titled ‘My days with Nehru’. A few days ago, Srinath Raghavan of the Centre for Policy Research wrote in an article that during that time, the intelligence wing would look after both internal and external security affairs. That was because R&AW was yet to be formed. Later on, Indira Gandhi set it up. Mullik was made the first chief of R&AW.

Mullik’s spy wing handed over reports to Nehru between

April and October 1962 stating that the Chinese

were active on the bor-der and it was appar-ent that they were trying to demonstrate their strength. Many other fact-based re-ports were provided.

In these, Mullik stated that the Chinese con-

sulate had mentioned to some Communists in

Kolkata that Beijing wanted to forcibly remove some posts in Ladakh because Beijing believed those areas did not belong to India but to China. Mullik informed the Prime Minister, Defence Minister and the Home Minister about this. The Prime Minister, instead, asked the IB to gather China’s response on the alarm raised by the Indian intelligence officers.

Usually, this never happens. On the reports provided by IB, the intelligence operatives would have on their own collected the response from China. This work was supposed to be done by the

Joint Intelligence Committee. Secondly, the Intelligence Bureau, after analyzing the situation again sent a report and said, based on China’s demand from 1960, the Chinese army was in a position to cover all areas on the border where the Indian Army was not present, though not in the areas where the Indian army was deployed.

Although Mullik himself had been unsure from 1959 about China’s ‘Forward Policy’, there was the possibility of an attack -- that’s what had been stated throughout. After this, in October-November, the attack happened. Fifty-eight years after the mistake made by Nehru, which is com-monly known as the ‘Himalayan blunder’, did Narendra Modi step into a similar trap set by China? Mao Zedong had deceived Nehru under the pretence of friendship. Did President Xi Jinping betray Modi in the same way?

There is no doubt on the ques-tion of betrayal. But, unlike Mul-lik, there was no intelligence chief this time who informed the Prime Minister with a report saying there was scope of an attack by the Chinese.

Nehru had loopholes in his ‘Tibet Policy’. On November 29, 1950, Tibet had made a plea to the UN for equal stature, which is of a separate nation. Since Tibet was not a part of the UN at the time, their statement was recorded by the UN secretariat as an NGO. Hence, Tibet appealed to the In-dian government to raise the issue at the UN. But, Nehru did not wish to infuriate China. Hence, on the issue of Tibet, instead of going in for any diplomatic bargaining, India chose the path of maintain-ing peaceful understanding with China and advised Tibet to resolve its issues with China. In Beijing, India’s ambassador K.M. Panik-kar did not even acknowledge in his report that the Chinese army had intruded into Tibet. Rather, India was more keen to see that China was included in the UN.

It’s surprising that at the UN, Nehru agreed to an election in Kashmir but he was not willing to discuss Tibet with the UN’s Security Council, not even in the UN General Assembly.

On April 29, 1954, India signed the Panchsheel treaty with China. In his autobiography ‘Freedom in Exile’, the Dalai Lama had written that it appeared as if the entire world had turned their face away from the Tibet issue. He contin-ued, that the worst part was that India, Tibet’s neighbour and in the perspective of spiritualism its ‘guru’ -- as in spiritual mentor -- had accepted China’s demand over Tibet.

Ambedkar had nurtured a dif-ferent opinion regarding Nehru’s decision. He stated that if Mao had trusted the Panchsheel agree-ment, he wouldn’t have behaved with the Buddhists of his own country in the way he did. It must not be forgotten that Ambedkar himself was christened as a Bud-dhist at that time.

With the Panchsheel agree-ment, even if Nehru had tried to hush up the dispute over the borders regarding Aksai Chin and McMahon line, he never suc-ceeded. Chou En Lai had visited India many times during that period. Nehru also visited China. But nothing fruitful happened. In his book, ‘India-China Boundary Problem 1846-1947: History and Diplomacy’ venerable lawyer A.G Noorani wrote that in Mountbat-ten’s report, it was stated that the northern margin was ‘undefined’. In 1948, in the report published by Sardar Patel as the Home Min-ister, the McMahon border was defined, but Aksai Chin remained a controversial area. Mountbat-ten was in a hurry and, therefore, in 1947, during the transfer of power, this border issue remained unresolved.

In 1962, prior to the Chinese aggression, it isn’t clear what was the aggravation for Nehru-Menon to move forth with the ‘Forward

Policy’. This military manoeuvre enraged China. Many checkposts were suddenly set up on the bor-der, about which India had had no prior discussions with China. In Kuldip Nayar’s ‘Beyond the Lines’ it is said that Nehru had issued instructions for the construction of 64 checkposts.

Actually, in spite of holding discussions continuously with Chinese leaders, Indian leaders failed to understand them and, in all probability, even today they are not being able to understand them. When he went to meet Chou En Lai in the beginning of 1950, Nehru made a mention of the rectification of the map, but Chou En Lai stated that it was the map of old ‘Kuomintang’, it’s been days this has not been reviewed. But not for once he said that the map was wrong and it required to be changed. However, in his book ‘How India Sees the World: Kauti-lya to the 21st Century’, former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran wrote that Nehru had the notion that Chou en Lai had practically accepted the point on the recti-fication of the map.

What is China’s position on Kashmir? About this, in the same manner, just prior to the war in 1962, R.K Nehru also had the same misconception. He was the Secretary General of the Minis-try of External Affairs. He went to Beijing to meet Chou En Lai. R.K. Nehru questioned him about Kashmir. Was China inclined to-wards Pakistan? Jammu-Kashmir was a disputed area -- did China have to say the same thing? Reply-ing to this Chou en Lai said, Did China ever say that in Kashmir, India’s sovereignty was recog-nized?

It would have been the right thing to do had R.K Nehru re-ceived a clear statement from the Chinese by pressuring them. The Chinese speak in such a sweet manner that Indian leaders fall for it. Shyam Saran described this as “Misplaced sense of assurance”. Actually, China had never given an assurance of any sort. We thought it was an assurance.

Nehru never wanted to believe Bhola Nath Mullik’s report. Be-ing taken in by the Panchsheel philosophy, he failed to read the Chinese correctly. I hope Modi will take his lessons from history. As Confucius said: Study the past, if you would divine the future.

(Jayanta Ghosal is a senior journalist)

NATION 07

Modi Cabinet expansion likely in AugustNEW DELHI: The second term of the Narendra Modi government is likely to see its first cabinet expansion after the end of ‘Sawan’. The month of Sawan, which started on July 6, will end on August 3. Party sources said that the Council of Min-isters will be expanded in the second week of August. Sources said that the BJP believes that it is an auspi-cious time for the cabinet expansion after the end of Sawan. Prime Minister Na-rendra Modi was sworn in with 57 ministers on May 30, 2019. According to the rules, a maximum of 81 ministers can be appointed 15 per cent of the total strength of the Lok Sabha. The previous Modi government had 70 ministers. In such a situa-tion, it is believed that this time also, if the Prime Min-ister goes by the last time figure, at least 13 new min-isters can get a place in the government. IANS

Tamil Nadu Minister tests positive for COVID-19CHENNAI:Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Co-operation Sellur K Raju on Friday tested positive for corona-virus and has been admit-ted to a private hospital for treatment. DMK President M K Stalin said he had spo-ken to Raju over the phone and wished him a speedy recovery. Raju is the third Tamil Nadu Minister to be infected by coronavirus. He is also the 11th lawmaker in the state and seventh from the ruling AIADMK party to test positive for the coro-navirus infection. Earlier, six lawmakers, including Electricity Minister P Than-gamani and Higher Educa-tion Minister K P Anbala-gan tested positive for the virus. IANS

NEWSBRIEFS

DELHI/NCR

Delhi govt will work with neighbouring states to deal with air pollution problem in winters: Rai

NEW DELHI, JULY 10

The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Friday rescued twelve child labourers from a garment factory and cy-cle-motorcycle mechanic shops in Gandhi Nagar area. The children were not wearing masks and were working in unsafe and unhygienic conditions. A team headed by the pan-el’s Roop Sudesh Vimal provided them masks and sanitisers. The Commis-sion and Delhi Police have sealed the establishments and arrested the contrac-tor.

Statement of the rescued children will now be re-corded at the sub-divi-sional magistrate’s office, followed by medical tests including COVID-19 test. “Thereafter, the children will be produced before a

Child Welfare Committee for the decision thereon. This will follow the legal proceedings,” an officials said.

DCPCR Chairperson An-urag Kundu stressed on the rehabilitation for these children and said that the Commission is in the pro-cess of evolving compre-hensive long-term strategy to make Delhi child labour-free by 2023. He also urged the citizens to proactively report instances of child labour. “I am confident

that in the future more such coordinated actions will take place to irradiate the malpractice of child labour in Delhi,” Social Welfare Women and Child Devel-opment Minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said.

With the outbreak of CO-VID-19 and the ensuing lockdown, there has been a drastic impact on the in-come of families. According to a joint report by UNICEF and International Labour Organisation, loss of em-ployment and rising poverty

is likely to force more chil-dren to seek exploitative and hazardous jobs as families use every available means to earn some money and survive. IANS

An aerial view of a slum area in Turbhe, a containment zone, during an intensified lockdown by NMMC to curb the spread of coronavirus, in Navi Mumbai on Friday. PTI

CISCE declares class X, XII results; no merit list this yearNEW DELHI, JULY 10

The Council for Indian School Certificate Ex-aminations (CISCE) on Friday announced results for class X and XII exams even as it decided against bringing out a merit list this year in view of “ex-ceptional circumstances”. While the board record-ed a pass percentage of 99.34 per cent for class X exams, up by 0.8 per cent since last year, the pass percentage for the class XII exams stood at 96.84 per cent, recording a marginal increase.

The board had to cancel its pending exams in view of the spike in COVID-19 cases and the result has been calculated on the basis of an alternative as-sessment scheme decided by it. “Given the excep-

tional circumstances, this year CISCE will not be publishing a merit list for either the ICSE or ISC year 2020 examinations,” CISCE Chief Executive and Secretary Gerry Arat-hoon said. “This year has

been exceptionally diffi-cult for everyone due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the multiple national and states’ lockdowns, coupled with many oth-er related problems,” he added. PTI

‘Feel very proud of Delhiites’: Kejriwal lauds plasma donorsNEW DELHI, JULY 10

Delhi Chief Minister Ar-vind Kejriwal on Friday spoke to plasma donors and thanked them for their contribution in sav-ing the lives of coronavirus patients. The Chief Minis-ter praised them for donat-ing plasma and appealed to them to motivate more recovered patients to come forward and donate.

“When I hear stories of plasma donors, I feel very proud of my fellow Delhiites. So, I decided to call and congratulate some donors,” he tweeted, shar-ing the audio of his con-versation with the donors. The Delhi government has set up India’s first plasma bank at the ILBS Hospital, with an objective to main-tain a plasma stock from those who have already recovered from the disease.

Addressing a press briefing earlier, Kejriwal had said that as plasma has been proven as an effective solution for the recovery of moderate patients, its therapy should be provided to patients until a vaccine comes.

He said that the plas-ma bank will enable the people to obtain plasma without any hassles and had also laid out detailed eligibility criteria over who can and cannot donate plasma. IANS

NEW DELHI, JULY 10

Delhi Environment Min-ister Gopal Rai on Friday said the city government will work with neighbour-ing states and agencies concerned to prepare in advance to deal with the issue of poor air quality due to stubble burning in winters.

The minister made the remarks at the launch of a 17-day mega plantation

drive from ITO Nursery. Thirty-one lakh saplings

will be planted under the campaign “Plant Saplings, Save Environment” with the objective of increasing the national capital’s green cover and reducing pollu-tion. The plantation drive is expected to increase the city’s green cover from 325 square kilometres at pres-ent to 350 sq km by 2021, which will help reduce air pollution. The period will

be observed as “Vrikshaar-opan Pakhavaada”.

“We will work with neighbouring states and all environment-related committees to prepare in advance to deal with the issue of air pollution due to

stubble burning in winter months,” the minister said.

Stubble burning in the rice bowl of Haryana and Punjab is a major reason behind the toxic haze that shrouds the national capital in winters every year. PTI

Customs seizes cigarettes worth over `1.5 crore

Delhi child rights panel rescues twelve child labourers

Single-day record 1,608 new corona cases in Andhra

NEW DELHI, JULY 10

The customs preventive officials on Friday seized cigarettes worth over Rs 1.5 crore illegally brought through a COVID special train at the New Delhi rail-way station, officials said. They said 10 lakh cigarette sticks of ‘Special Gold Esse’ and ‘Super slim Esse Light’ brands were packed in 100 cartons.

These cartons were recovered from a goods compartment of a COV-ID-19 special train coming from Varanasi to Delhi, the officials said. Besides, around 9 lakh cigarettes of a lesser known brand and valued at around Rs 36 lakh were seized from the same train, they said. These were misdeclared and concealed in 38 big gunny bags, an official said. The total seizure is around 19 lakh cigarette sticks valued at around Rs 1.56

crore, he said. A person linked with the two con-signments has been held and is being questioned. Further investigation is in progress, the official said.

The customs preventive officials had on Tuesday seized 4.5 lakh cigarette sticks illegally brought in a COVID special train at old the Delhi railway station. The cigarettes, valued at Rs 40 lakh, were seized from the goods compartment of the train. Foreign-brand cigarettes are in demand in the country’s grey market as they are of good quality and nicely packed, the official said. PTI

AMARAVATI, JULY 10

Andhra Pradesh witnessed an all-time high of 1,608 new coronavirus cases in 24-hour cycle ended at 9 am on Friday, including 32 returnees from other states. On Thursday too, the state had reported a high of 1,555 new cases, while the previous single-day high of 1,322 cases was recorded on Monday.

Andhra Pradesh’s total corona cases breached the 25K-mark to touch 25,422 cases on Friday. Continu-ing the trend, all 13 dis-tricts in Andhra Pradesh reported fresh cases on Friday, including the highest 208 in Chittoor district and followed by

Anantapur (191), East Go-davari (169), Kurnool and West Godavari (144 cases each), Guntur (136) and Prakasam (110), among others. As many as 21,020 samples were tested com-pared with 16,882 samples a day earlier.

The recovery rate re-mains robust as 981 more patients were discharged from hospitals and CO-VID-19 treatment centres, taking the total cured per-sons to 13,194. IANS

NEW DELHI, JULY 10

A Delhi court on Friday al-lowed 62 Malaysian and 11 Saudi Arabian nationals to walk free after imposing penalties of Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000 each on them under plea bargain. They had participated in a Ta-blighi Jamaat congrega-tion at Delhi’s Nizamuddin Markaz in March.

The foreign nationals had moved a plea bargain

application after the court granted them bail earlier this week. It is a pretrial negotiation between the accused and the prosecu-

tion wherein the accused agrees to plead guilty in ex-change for certain conces-sions by the prosecution.

The court permitted them to walk free after the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SMD) of Lajpat Nagar, who was the complainant, Additional Commissioner of Police and Inspector of Nizamuddin area police station did not raise any objection to their plea.

According to advocate

Hari Haran, who repre-sented the foreigners in the case, Metropolitan Magistrate Siddharth Ma-lik let off the Malaysians on payment of Rs 7,000 each while Metropolitan Magistrate Ashish Gupta allowed 11 Saudi nationals to walk free on payment of Rs 10,000 each. On Thursday, 60 Malaysians were allowed to walk free on payment of fines of Rs 7,000 each. IANS

Culprit killed, what about those who gave patronage: Priyanka

The plantation drive is expected to increase the city’s green cover from 325 square

kilometres at present to 350 sq km by 2021, which will help reduce air pollution.

Four children among 8 killed in Arunachal landslides

AHMEDABAD, JULY 10

Police arrested 21 people for organising and taking part in a religious event and procession at a village in Gandhinagar district of Gujarat on Friday despite a ban on gatherings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said. After being alerted about the event, po-lice reached Paliyad village and stopped the procession mid-way and an offence was registered against the organ-isers later, the official said. The organisers were booked under IPC section 188 for defying the police order ban-ning all kinds of gathering in view of the coronavirus pandemic, he said. PTI

Tablighi case: Court lets 62 Malaysians, 11 Saudis walk free after penalities

LUCKNOW/NEW DELHI, JULY 10

The opposition parties on Friday slammed the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government over the encounter of dreaded gangster Vikas Dubey, while being brought back to the state from Madhya Pradesh’s Ujjain. Con-gress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took a swipe at the Yogi Adityanath government over the encounter and questioned what will hap-pen to those who gave pa-tronage in this case. “The culprit has been killed but what about crime and people who gave patron-age?” Priyanka Gandhi said in a tweet.

Raising similar ques-tions, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh tweeted in Hindi, “What

was suspected has hap-pened. Now, it will not be known which political leaders, police and other government officials was Vikas Dubey in contact with. In the last 3-4 days, two aides of Vikas Dubey have also died in encoun-ters, but why is the pattern of the three encounters same?

“It is necessary to find out why Vikas Dubey chose Ujjain Mahakal temple in Madhya Pradesh

for surrender? Who is the most influential person of Madhya Pradesh he trusted to escape the en-counter of Uttar Pradesh Police?” said Singh in his tweet. Former Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Ya-dav also took to twitter and wrote, “Actually, his car has not overturned, but the government has been saved from turning over the secret.”

His remarks came soon after Dubey died on Friday morning after being criti-cally injured in an alleged shootout with the STF of-ficials on Friday morning near Kanpur. The gangster was shot when he report-edly tried to flee, following a road accident in which the vehicle he was travel-ling in overturned near Kanpur. IANS

21 held for holding religious event despite ban on gatherings

ITANAGAR, JULY 10

At least eight people, in-cluding four children, from two families were buried alive and three injured in two separate landslides in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday. Officials said that the two landslides trig-gered by incessant rain during the past few days, occurred in Papum Pare district and at Modirijo in between Itanagar and Na-harlagun. Officials said that the first landslide occurred at Tigdo village in Papum Pare district at around 2.30 a.m. on Friday when the victims were asleep, kill-ing four people, including an eight-month-old baby and a 17-year-old boy, on the spot. The Papum Pare district administration and police, assisted by locals, retrieved the four bodies from the debris.

In the second landslide four more people including two children were killed when their house was bur-ied by a huge mudslide at Modirijo in between Itana-gar and Naharlagun. Disas-ter management personnel helped by local people have recovered three bodies so far while a rescue opera-tion to retrieve the fourth body was still on. Three children were also injured in the second landslide. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed deep shock and sorrow over the loss of lives in the landslides and an-nounced an ex-gratia of Rs four lakhs for the next of kin of the deceased. IANS

The children were not wearing masks and were working in unsafe and unhygienic conditions. A team headed by the panel’s Roop Sudesh Vimal provided them masks and sanitisers.

The Commission and Delhi Police have sealed the establishments and arrested the contractor.

KEY POINTS10 lakh cigarette sticks of ‘Special Gold Esse’ and

‘Super slim Esse Light’ brands were

packed in 100 cartons.

While the board recorded a pass percentage of 99.34 per cent for class X exams, up by 0.8

per cent since last year, the pass percentage for the class XII exams stood at 96.84 per

cent, recording a marginal increase.

As many as 21,020 samples were tested

compared with 16,882 samples a

day earlier.

CHANDIGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2020

CHANDIGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 202008 HARYANA / HIMACHAL / J&K

Members of the Tibetan community during a protest against China over the killing of 20 Indian Army soldiers in a violent face-off at Ladakhs Galwan Valley, in Manali on Friday. PTI

Final year UG exams in HP to be held in August1SHIMLA: The Him-achal Pradesh Cabinet on Friday decided to conduct next month the final year or sixth-semester examinations for BA, BSc and BCom courses which were postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The decision was taken by the state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Bhardwaj said the universities have been asked to hold the exams in accordance with the latest guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Bhardwaj said the examination for the final year or sixth semester of BA, BSc and BCom would most probably be held after August 16 and those for postgraduate courses would be held in September. The minister said that the decision for the examination for the first and second year of BA, BSC and BCom would be taken later on. Bhardwaj said that admission for classes 11 and 12 and first year of BA, BSc and BCom would start from July 13 to 25. BPE

NGT seeks report on dumping of solid municipal waste in J&K’s Wullar LakeSRINAGAR: The Na-tional Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the authorities in Jammu and Kashmir to file an action taken report on alleged dumping of solid municipal waste in the Wullar Lake. Hearing an petition filed by social activist Raja Muzaf-far Bhat, the NGT on Wednesday directed the collector of Baramulla district and the Pollu-tion Control Board of Jammu and Kashmir to file a factual report and an action taken report by the next date of hearing on October 15. “In view of the allega-tion and photographs annexed, we find it necessary to require a factual and action taken report from the member secretary of state Wet-land Authority, Collector of Baramulla, and the state Pollution Control Board before the next date,” the tribunal said in a two-page order. PTI

Jammu Film Festival postponed due to corona pandemicJAMMU: The second edition of Jammu Film Festival, schedule to be held in September, has been postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak, festival organisers an-nounced on Friday. Fes-tival directors Rakesh Roshan Bhat and Rohit Bhat said the team has not locked any new dates for the movie gala. Although Jammu Film Festival was the most awaited entertainment event of Jammu in 2020 owing to the huge suc-cess of its first edition in 2019, the core team has decided to post-pone the event keeping in view the COVID situation Rohit said. Rakesh added that the organising committee will announce the new schedule as soon as the policy guidelines allow such events in future. PTI

Haryana records dip of 20.46 pc in crime against women during first half of 2020RAJENDRA KHATRYChandigarh, July 10

The stepped-up and round-the-clock vigil by Haryana Police personnel has seen a sharp drop of 20.46 per cent in incidents of crime against women during the first six months of 2020 in comparison to the cor-responding period of 2019. The rape cases show a re-duction of 18.18 per cent, while the kidnapping/ab-duction cases fell by 27.41 per cent.

In the first half of the year between January and June, there has also been a high solving rate in crime against women. Around 99 per cent cases of rape, 85.33 per cent of kidnapping and 96.63 per cent cases of molestation were successfully worked out. Disclosing this here on Friday, Director General

of Police (DGP), Hary-ana Manoj Yadava said that Haryana has seen a sharpest decline in crime against women with a to-tal of 4893 cases pertain-ing to rape, molestation, kidnapping, eve-teasing etc. registered between January and June 2020, compared to 6152 cases in corresponding period of

year 2019. The DGP said that though, overall crime saw a significant decline over the past six months, cases of rape in first half of 2020, saw a decrease by 18.18 per cent in compari-sion to the previous year.

In total, 657 rape cases were reported between January and June 2020 as compared to 803, last

year. Cases registered un-der POCSO Act also fell from 850 to 756, a dip of 11.05 per cent. During the same period, the cases of kidnapping/abduction of women have also wit-nessed a sharpest fall of 27.41 per cent. The total number of such cases dropped to 1152 in 2020 from 1587 reported in the same period in previous year.

Similarly, the cases of molestation of wom-en dropped by 7.99 per cent as 1128 cases were reported in the first half of 2020 in comparison to 1226 in corresponding period of 2019. The cases of cruelty to women under section 498A of Indian Pe-nal Code also went down by 552 cases, from 2140 to 1588 during the same period, a fall of 25.79 per cent.


Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari will give a gift of about Rs 12 thousand crore road projects to the state on July 14. These include the Mahendragarh-Pehwa (Kurukshetra) green field highway and the Rewari-Narnaul route of Rewari-Jaisalmer Highway No. 11 of strategic importance. Apart from this, the foun-dation stone of Rewari, Ateli and Narnaul bypass will also be laid.

The 14 km long outer

pass has been pending for the last six years. Re-wari-Pataudi-Gurugram 42 km national highway and Rewari to Ateli NH-11 will also be included in the project. NH-11 is strate-gically important from a tourism point of view. Most of these projects are con-nected to South Haryana.

Work is going on on some of these projects, but the foundation stone had not been laid.

The proposed 24 km long bypass in Narnaul will cost Rs 9,000 crore for the construction of the Green Field Highway at National Highway No 152 near Pe-howa via Mahendragarh, Bhiwani, Rohtak, Jind, Kaithal, Karnal and Ku-

rukshetra districts. From this route, it will be easy to reach Chandigarh directly via Ambala. It will be con-structed in six phases.

Similarly Rs 2,300 crore will be spent on Rewari-Narnaul highway includ-ing Ateli-Narnaul bypass. The proposed 14 km long Rewari Outer bypass from Narnaul Road to National Highway No-352 (Rewari-Rohtak Highway) will cost 800 crores. The 46 km long stretch of Rewari-Pataudi-Gurugram will cost 1500 crores. On this day, Gad-kari will also lay the foun-dation stone for this.

NEWSBRIEFS


The Haryana government is all set to launch e-Sachiv-alaya system which can be used to seek appoint-ment for meeting minis-ters and officers virtually, an official statement said. Chief Secretary Keshni Anand Arora informed the system will allow a government function-ary to schedule virtual meetings with the public through a video link, it said.

Arora presided over a meeting Friday with all Administrative Secretar-ies to review implementa-tion of the e-Sachivalaya system and data upda-tion on Human Resource Management System

(HRMS) and Litigation Management System (LMS). The e-Sachiv-alaya initiative aims to bring government and its functionaries at one digital place for better functioning, coordination and ensuring effective-ness in citizen interface, especially in times of CO-VID-19 pandemic, this

was shared in the video conferencing meeting. The training of employ-ees for operationalising the e-Sachivalaya system would be conducted soon and the required infra-structure and personnel would also be arranged, the CS said, according to the official statement. She said the HRMS is a digital platform having a compilation of all data pertaining to service and conduct of employees in government departments, Boards, Corporations, So-cieties and Universities.

The LMS is another digital platform which provides to the public one-stop access to gov-ernment departments for litigation and arbitration cases.

Khattar govt to soon launch e-Sachivalaya

Gadkari to lay foundation of `12,000 cr worth roads in Haryana on July 14

BJP demands security for political workers facing threats in J&K

LeT militant arrested in Bandipora

PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUShimla, July 10

Himachal Pradesh Gov-ernor Bandaru Dattatraya said that Rotary has an im-portant contribution in the field of social services and the way Rotary was playing its pivotal role in corona pandemic was laudable. The Governor was speak-ing on the occasion of 37th installation ceremony of Rotary Club of Hyderabad Midtown through video conferencing from Raj Bhavan, Shima on Friday.He said that Rotary was not just a club to join for people rather an invitation to endless opportunities having a presence in 222 countries with 1.2 million people across the globe. He added that there are 535 districts in the world and 22 districts in India with more than two lakh Rotar-ians of dedicated leaders, bringing a vast change to the society.

JAMMU, JULY 10

The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP on Friday demanded security for po-litical workers of different parties who are facing threats, asserting that they are upholding democracy in the union territory. It said sarpanches and heads of local bodies should also be provided the security cover as Pakistan wants to destroy the democratic process in J and K.

“It is very important to provide security to all the active political workers of all the political parties -- be it the NC, the PDP, the Congress or the the BJP who have threat percep-tion, BJP’s J and K unit president Ravinder Raina said here.

Those who participate in the democratic process make the democracy and

law of the land stronger,” he added. Raina was speak-ing to reporters on the side-lines of a function at the party headquarters here.

The BJP leader paid tributes to party leader Wasim Bari who was killed by militants in Ban-dipora district along with his brother and father on Wednesday. These killings took place on the direc-tions of Pakistan. Paki-stan has killed innocent people in Kashmir. It is responsible for the killing of over one lakh people in Jammu and Kashmir in the last 30-35 years,” he said. PTI

The cases of molestation of women dropped by 7.99 per cent as 1128 cases were reported

in the first half of 2020 in comparison to 1226 in corresponding period of 2019.

State government constructs 10K houses for poorSUSHIL KUMAR SHARMAShimla, July 10

The state government has constructed 10 thousand houses during the last two and a half years under vari-ous housing schemes in the state. This was stated by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur while interacting with the beneficiaries of housing schemes through video conferencing from Shimla Friday.

The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh was the only state in the coun-try which had been provid-ing an amount of Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50,000 to each beneficiary for construct-ing the house. He said that initially this amount was Rs 1 lakh and Rs 30,000,

which was enhanced by the present government during the previous finan-cial year for all the rural housing schemes. He said that during the current fi-nancial year an increase of Rs 20,000 has been made under the Pradhan Man-tri Awas Yojna (Urban) Scheme also.

Thakur said that the gov-ernment has set a target to construct 10 thousand new houses under various housing schemes in rural and urban areas of the state to facilitate the needy and

poor people. He said that this target was almost double as compared to the beneficiaries covered under these schemes during the last financial year. He said that not only this, the gov-ernment was also allowing the beneficiaries to avail 95 days under MNREGA to construct their houses under these schemes.

The Chief Minister said that earlier under Mukhya Mantri Awas Yojna only BPL families of General category were provided financial assistance for construction of house but now the present govern-ment during the year 2018-19 has decided to provide financial assistance to BPL families of all the catego-ries.

Pak shells border areas in Rajouri, Army personnel killed

JAMMU, JULY 10

A 36-year old Army per-sonnel was killed in a ceasefire violation by the Pakistan Army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, of-ficials said. Pakistani troops opened fire and shelled for-ward posts along the LoC in Nowshera sector in the early hours.

Havildar Sambur Gu-rung was injured in the

firing and rushed to a hos-pital where he succumbed to injuries. Indian troops guarding the borderline retaliated, resulting in exchanges, they said. A defence spokesman said, “Havildar Sambur Gurung was a brave, highly moti-vated and a sincere soldier. The nation will always re-

main indebted to him for his supreme sacrifice and devotion to duty”. This is the third day that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire. Pakistani troops heavily shelled forward areas and villages in several sectors of Poonch district during the last two days, leaving two women dead. PTI

Pakistani troops opened fire and shelled forward posts along the LoC in Nowshera sector in the early hours.

This is the third day that Pakistan has violated the ceasefire. Pakistani troops heavily shelled forward areas and villages in several sectors of Poonch district during the last two days, leaving two women dead.

Havildar Sambur Gurung was injured in the firing and rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to injuries. Indian troops guarding the borderline retaliated, resulting in exchanges.

HIGHLIGHTS

PUNJAB EXPRESS BUREAUShimla, July 10

The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Friday decided to engage 7,852 part-time multi-task workers in gov-ernment schools who will be paid an honorarium. The Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, gave the nod to the draft policy for engaging 7,852 unemployed youths, an of-ficial statement said.

They will be paid an honorarium of Rs 31.25 per hour for six hours per day for 10 months in a year. The Cabinet at its meeting here decided to enhance the honorarium of part-time water carriers

engaged in the Elementary and Higher Education De-partments from Rs 2,400

to Rs 2,700 per month. The Cabinet decided to provide the Loktantra Pra-hari Samman Rashi of Rs 8,000 per month to those who have undergone 1-15 days of incarceration and Rs 12,000 per month to those who have undergone 15 days or above incarcera-tion during the Emergency.

The amount will be given as a token of respect for standing for democracy and fundamental rights. It also gave consent to establish a training acad-emy in Sarkaghat area in Mandi district to train those who are willing to join the defence and paramilitary forces. To promote horticul-ture, the Cabinet decided to open a division in the state capital. All the existing sub-divisions of horticulture would be brought under the administrative control of the new division.

This new division would ensure roadside plantation and slope stability activities through bio-engineering technology. To promote ease-of-doing business, the Cabinet approved the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Him-achal Pradesh (Amend-ment) Rules of 2019.

Himachal to employ 7,852 part-time workers in schools

They will be paid an honorarium of Rs 31.25 per hour for

six hours per day for 10 months in a year.

The training of employees for operationalising the e-Sachivalaya system would be conducted soon and the required infrastructure and personnel would also be arranged.

HIGHLIGHT

SRINAGAR, JULY 10

Security forces arrested a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) mili-tant from Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir and recovered ammunition from his possession, police said on Friday. Based on a specific input regarding movement of militants towards Hajin town, a joint naka was es-tablished in Hakbara area of Hajin town by security forces on Thursday evening, a police official said.

He said during checking, a militant identified as Rafiq Ahmad Rather alias Haji, a resident of Chandergeir, was apprehended while trying to hurl a grenade on the naka party. PTI

Dattatraya lauds Rotary Hyderabad

The 14 km long outer pass has been pending for the last

six years.

WORLD CHANDIGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2020 09

Bangladesh’s shortest-ever budget session proroguedDHAKA: The budget and eighth session of Bangla-desh’s incumbent 11th Parliament was prorogued after only nine working days, becoming the short-est in the country’s recent history, due to the CO-VID-19 pandemic.The session was prorogued at around 1.30 p.m. on Thursday while Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaud-hury, who was presiding over the sitting, read out the prorogation order of the President, reports The Daily Star newspa-per.Among the total nine sittings, only two days were allotted for holding discussions on the budget for 2020-21 fiscal.On the other hand, discussions on the supplementary budget for 2019-20 fiscal were held only for a day. IANS

UK quarantine rules end for dozens of destinationsLONDON: Travellers arriv-ing in the UK from dozens of countries will no longer have to self-isolate for two weeks starting from Friday onwards.The rules were being relaxed for arriv-als from 75 countries and British overseas territo-ries, reports the BBC.From Friday morning, people arriving in the UK from France, Italy, Belgium, Germany and dozens of other countries will no longer have to spend 14 days in quarantine.But people who arrived from those countries at an ear-lier point in the last two weeks will still be expected to complete their period of isolation, the govern-ment said.On Friday, the UK government changed its advice for Serbia, no longer allowing travellers to return without quaran-tining.But Scotland, which from Friday has also made face coverings mandatory in shops, has said it will continue to quarantine passengers from countries with a higher prevalence of COVID-19 than its own. IANS

Notre Dame spire will be restored to original designPARIS: The spire of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, which was destroyed in a fire last April, will be restored according to the original Gothic design, the Elysee Palace announced on Friday.In a statement, the Palace said that French President Emmanuel Macron announced the decision, putting an end to speculation that the spire would be rebuilt in a modern style, the BBC reported.Macron had pre-viously hinted he was in favour of a “contemporary gesture”.But the Elysee said that the process of design-ing a modern spire, with an international competi-tion for architects, could have caused unnecessary delays.“The President trusts the experts and ap-proved the main outlines of the project presented by the chief architect which plans to reconstruct the spire identically,” it added in the statement.The an-nouncement followed a meeting of France’s nation-al heritage and architecture commission (CNPA).When the 13th century roof of the Paris cathedral caught fire during restoration works in April 2019, it sparked a vast outpour-ing of emotion, as well as donations from across the world. IANS

NEWSBRIEFS US sanctions senior Chinese officials over repression of minorities in restive XinjiangWASHINGTON, JULY 10

The US has imposed sanc-tions and visa restrictions on three senior Chinese officials, including the re-gional boss of the ruling communist party, for al-leged human rights abuses targeting Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, and members of other minority groups in the restive Muslim-majority Xinjiang province.China is accused of mass deten-tions, religious persecution and forced sterilisation of Uyghurs and others in the resource-rich northwestern province.

Authorities there are thought to have detained about a million people in re-education camps in re-cent years for “vocational training” to counter radi-calism and separatism in Xinjiang.The three senior officials named by US Secre-tary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement were: Chen Quanguo, the communist

party secretary of the Xin-jiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and a member of the powerful Politburo; Zhu Hailun, party secretary of the Xinjiang political and legal committee; and Wang Mingshan, party secretary of the Xinjiang public se-curity bureau.

Chen is the highest-rank-ing Chinese official ever to be hit by US sanctions. He is said to be the architect of China’s harsh policies against minorities, and was

previously in charge in Ti-bet.Former security official in Xinjiang, Huo Liujun has also been named in the list.

As a result of the US move, they and their im-mediate family members are ineligible for entry into America. It is now a crime in the US to conduct fi-nancial transactions with all of them, and they will have their US-based assets frozen.“The United States is taking action today against the horrific and systematic

abuses in Xinjiang and calls on all nations who share our concerns about the CCP’s attacks on human rights and fundamental freedoms to join us in condemning this behaviour, Pompeo said.

In a separate statement, Treasury Secretary Ste-ven Mnuchin said the US is committed to using the full breadth of its finan-cial powers to hold human rights abusers accountable in Xinjiang and across the world.“The United States will not stand idly by as the CCP carries out human rights abuses targeting Uy-ghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, and

members of other minority groups in Xinjiang, to in-clude forced labour, arbi-trary mass detention, and forced population control, and attempts to erase their culture and Muslim faith,” Pompeo said.Before ramp-ing up the CCP’s campaign of repression in Xinjiang, Chen oversaw extensive abuses in Tibetan areas, using many of the same horrific practices and poli-cies CCP officials currently employ in Xinjiang, the top American diplomat said.

In recent years, China has faced severe criticism from western countries over persistent reports of mass detention of Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinji-ang.Tensions between the US and China are already high over the coronavirus pandemic and China’s de-cision to introduce a con-troversial national security law in Hong Kong that has faced significant criticism from the West. PTI

WHO experts to visit China as part of COVID-19 investigationBEIJING, JULY 10

Two World Health Organisation experts will spend the next two days in the Chinese capital to lay the groundwork for a larger mission to in-vestigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.One animal health expert and one epidemiologist during their visit will work to fix the scope and terms of reference for the future mission aimed at learning how the virus jumped from animals to humans, the statement from the United Nations

body said.Scientists believe the

virus may have origi-nated in bats, then was transmitted through another mammal such such as a civet cat or an armadillo-like pangolin before being passed on to people at a fresh food

market in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year.In an effort to block future outbreaks, China has cracked down on the trade in wildlife and closed some wet markets, while enforcing strict containment measures that appear to have virtually stopped new local infections.The WHO mission is politically sensitive, with the U.S. the organisation’s top funder moving to cut ties with it over allegations it mishandled the outbreak and is biased toward China. PTI

NZ extends border exception for mosque attack sentencingWELLINGTON, JULY 10

Overseas-based victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings will get special border passes to fly into New Zealand along with financial help to witness the gunman’s sentenc-ing next month, the gov-ernment announced on Friday.“We want to sup-port our valued Muslim brothers and sisters who

were directly affected by this tragic event and un-derstand that some who are now offshore do want to attend the sentencing,” The New Zealand Herald quoted Immigration Min-ister Iain Lees-Galloway as saying.

“We have quickly es-tablished a process to al-low victims and a family member or support person to come to New Zealand

using new humanitarian grounds. This is within our intent for the use of this provision,” he said.The government also an-nounced a one-off exten-sion to the Victim Assis-tance Scheme, which will financially support more victims of the mosque at-tacks to travel to attend the sentencing, has also been announced this af-ternoon.The extension en-

ables all victims who were in the mosques at the time of the attacks to be eligible to receive contributions to-wards travel-related costs, rather than just being re-stricted to those who suf-fered gunshot injuries, and the families of the dead.

“This one-off exception recognises the unprec-edented nature of the attacks and the trauma on all victims who were present. Sentencing is an important part of our justice process,” said the Ministry of Justice’s chief operating officer Carl Crafar. IANS

Perpetrators of heinous terror attacks continue to enjoy ‘state hospitality’ in Pak: India at UN

UNITED NATIONS, JULY 10

India has slammed Paki-stan for not acting on the concrete evidences shared by it on several terrorist at-tacks, including the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts and the 2008 Mumbai terror attack and pointed out that the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, though pro-scribed by the UN, continue to enjoy “state hospitality” in the country.

Mahaveer Singhvi, head of the Indian delegation, made the comments at a webinar on Thursday during the ongoing vir-tual Counter-Terrorism Week.This is an occasion for reiterating our collec-tive resolve to protect and uphold human rights. It is unfortunate that Pakistan, a

sponsor of cross border ter-rorism, and the globally ac-knowledged fountain head and pernicious cradle of ter-rorism, has once again used this forum for propagat-ing its discredited narrative and making mischievous and scurrilous allegations against India, Singhvi said.

While the whole world, including India, has un-dertaken proactive steps to promote human rights and build resilience against terrorism, Pakistan has main-streamed terror-ism as statecraft, Singhvi added.“It continues to pro-vide military, financial and logistWical support to cross border terrorism but has denied the victims of ter-rorism their fundamental right to justice by not acting on the concrete evidences

shared by India on several terrorist attacks, including 1993 Mumbai Serial Blasts and 2008 Mumbai Terror Attack. The perpetrators of these heinous crimes have been proscribed by the UNSC 1267 commit-tee but continue to enjoy state hospitality in Pakistan, Singhvi, Joint Secretary for Counter-Terrorism in the Ministry of External Af-fairs, said.

Singhvi also said Paki-stan’s attempt to masquer-ade as a promoter of human rights and egalitarianism is farcical considering its re-cord of systemic persecution of its minorities, including Christians, Ahmadiyyas, Sikhs, Hindus, Shias, Pash-tuns, Hazaras, Sindhis, and Balochis. through draconi-an blasphemy laws, forced conversions and marriages and extrajudicial killings.Pakistan consistently rakes up the issue of Jammu and Kashmir and other internal matters of India at various UN fora. Earlier this week also, India had strongly hit out at Pakistan for rais-ing India’s domestic poli-cies and internal affairs at the counter-terrorism forum. PTI

British singer and World War II icon Vera Lynns funeral cortege is led through the village of Ditchling, southern England on Friday. PTI

US is committed to using its financial

powers to hold hu-man rights abusers accountable, says

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin

Pompeo says ‘very hopeful’ to continue US-N.Korea dialogueWASHINGTON, JULY 10

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the United States is “very hopeful” to continue dialogue with North Korea at various lev-els, though the latter has signalled its unwillingness to do so.

“We’re very hopeful that we can continue to have this conversation, whether that’s at levels beneath the sum-mit, or if it’s appropriate and there is a useful activity to take place, to have senior leaders get back together as well,” Pompeo said on Thursday during a press briefing when asked wheth-er another US-North Korea summit is possible before the US presidential elec-tion in November, Xinhua reported.“As for who and how and timing, I just don’t want to talk about that to-day,” he added.US President Donald Trump suggested

earlier this week that he is open to another summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.“I understand they want to meet and we would certainly do that,” Trump said in an interview with Gray Television’s Greta Van Susteren. “I would do it if I thought it was going to be helpful,” added Trump.

US Deputy Secretary of State and special envoy for North Korea Stephen Bie-gun also noted that Wash-ington is ready for talks with Pyongyang.“When Chairman Kim appoints a counterpart to me who is prepared and empowered

to negotiate on these issues, they will find us ready at that very moment,” Bie-gun said on Wednesday in Seoul.“I believe this is very much possible. Presi-dent Trump has given us his full support to continue this effort,” he noted.South Korean President Moon Jae-in said last week that his country would make all-out efforts to let North Korea and the US hold talks before the US presidential election.

Pyongyang, however, has expressed its unwillingness for more talks with Wash-ington. Kwon Jong Gun, director general of the De-partment of US Affairs of North Korea’s Foreign Min-istry, said on Tuesday that North Korea was unwilling to talk face to face with the United States, urging South Korea to stay away from meddling in Pyongyang’s affairs. IANS

“I believe this is very much possible.

President Trump has given us his full support to continue

this effort”

Another summit with US unnecessary: Kim Jong-un’s sisterMEXICO CITY, JULY 10

US President Donald Trump’s softened stance towards Mexico during his meeting this week with his Mexican counterpart An-dres Manuel Lopez Obra-dor was probably aimed at courting Hispanic voters, experts have said.While wel-coming the Mexican presi-dent to the White House on Wednesday, Trump said the US “is home to 36 million incredible Mexican American citizens”, adding that they “uplift our com-munities, and strengthen our churches and enrich every feature of national life”, reports Xinhua news agency.

Trump’s latest remarks contrasted with his earlier message. He once called Mexicans “rapists” who brought crimes to the US, and has repeatedly criti-

cized Mexican migrants and asylum seekers at the countries’ border since he took office.“Trump doesn’t do anything that doesn’t benefit him politically.

He knows that in the up-coming elections, the vote of the Hispanic community is going to be important,” said Reynaldo Ortega, a research professor at the Interna-tional Studies Center of the

prestigious El Colegio de Mexico.The Hispanic vote is largely Democratic, said Ortega, adding that Trump has tried to at least retain the percentage of the Latino vote he received in 2016.

“There was a change in tone. At least he recog-nized and that is a politi-cal point in favour of Lo-pez Obrador that there are 36 million Mexicans who

pay taxes, who contribute to the US economy,” said Ortega. IANS

HIGHLIGHTS

“Trump doesn’t do anything that doesn’t benefit him politically. He knows that in the upcoming elections, the vote of the Hispanic community is going to be important”

“There was a change in tone. At least he recognized and that is a political point in favour of Lopez Obrador that there are 36 million Mexicans who pay taxes, who contribute to the US economy”

life10

Actress Taapsee Pannu feels proud to be a part of the multi-starrer film "Mission Mangal". On Friday, Taap-see took to Instagram and shared the reasons why

she said yes to the movie, which revolves around the all-women team of scientists who made India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) possible. Apart from Taapsee, "Mission Mangal" also features Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Vidya Balan, Kirti Kulhari, Nithya Menon and Shar-man Joshi.

Recalling working on it, Taapsee wrote: "One of the first few days of Mission Mangal shoot... I remember how excited we all were to work with each other. This set was no less than a happy land of people who really wanted to create something we can all be proud of. "I remember I said yes to this film for 2 major reasons , one was because I wanted to be a part of this story which is something to cherish for years to come. Secondly I wanted to be a part of this beautiful ensemble of actors I know will have energy worth celebrating every moment." IANS

Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar says she has loved being by her-self and has focussed on things that make her happy amid the pandemic. "One thing that I have learnt about myself is that I love

isolation. I have loved being by myself. I saw a lot of people complaining that they are bored at home or that they cannot go out. I am an

extrovert, I am a very social person but this quarantine has led me to realise that I do prefer my isolation over meeting people because I haven't really been in touch with people," Bhumi said.

She added: "I have kind of been catching

up on reading, not seen much television but started watching shows. I have spent a lot of time with my mom, and honestly there were days when I did nothing. Bhumi says self-love is key to happiness and she has prioritised herself in this lockdown.

"I have kind of prioritised what I feel is important in life. I have re-educated myself. But the biggest learning has been that I love being alone. And maybe I have kind of enjoyed this state because as actors you are constantly surrounded by people whether you are promoting or shooting a film." She said that her immediate entourage is also a team of quite a few people. "You are constantly over the phone, you are constantly over social media," she added. IANS

Bollywood actress Sunny Le-one spent a day at the beach with her "man" Daniel Weber and her "little nuggets" Nisha, Noah and Asher. Sunny took to Instagram and shared a string of pictures of her day

at the beach."At the beach with my man @dirrty99 and

our little nuggets!!" she captioned the image. Sunny has started working amid coronavirus and shared a picture from the sets. She recently took to Instagram, where she shared a picture from her set. The image seems to be of a song shoot. Keeping in mind the Covid guidelines, the background dancers in the frame are seen sporting bedazzled face masks. While Sunny looks stunning in a silver top and a fringe skirt. "Who says work can't be fun!!?!!" Sunny captioned the image. On the work front, Sunny will next be seen in "Veeramadevi" and "Koka Kola". IANS

Actress Shruti Haasan has been busy with many things

during lockdown. She has now shown her fans how to master the art of giv-ing oneself "the awkward hug".Posing awkwardly in a photo, she wrote: "Mastering the art of giv-ing myself the awkward hug." Since wearing a mask is need of the hour, she also posted: "WEAR A MASK and make it your own while you're at it. I've had so much fun with my little experiments can't wait to try out something else next." On the work front, her film "Yaara" will be arriving on an OTT platform soon.

The Tigmanshu Dhulia directorial is a Bollywood remake of the French film "Gang Story". The story of the film is set in North India, and is about the rise and fall of a group of four friends operating along the Indo-Nepal border. "Yaara" also features Vidyut Jammwal, Amit Sadh, Vijay Varma and Sanjay Mishra. IANS

Actress Cate Blanchett has opened up about the casting criticism around her series "Stateless", and admitted that this was not the "only way to tell this story". There are several critics who have questioned the choice to make

a show about refugees by casting white people for three of the four main characters. The

mini-series is about a flight attendant who mysteriously ends up at an immigration detention center in a desert in Australia with a passport identifying her as Ger-

man. While acknowledging the criti-cism, Blanchett encouraged people to watch "Stateless" all the way through, reports usatoday.com.

"We're in no way saying this is the only way to tell this story," Blanchett said. "I look forward to many more refu-gee stories being told on television, film

or documentary. It is very much about trying to capture a wide audience, because

often the reality is that you start talking about refugees and asylum seekers and the global displacement crisis ... and (people) turn off

because it's too huge. So we wanted to create a sense of, 'It could be

me, it could be you,' and so often, that is the white

experience. But then you get inside the

series, and there's a multi-various array of char-acters," she added. IANS

Sunnyhits the beach

with her man and ‘little nuggets’

Cate Blanchett: Look forward

to more refugee stories

Shruti and her

'awkward hug'

Bhumi Pednekar: Quarantine led me to realise I prefer isolation

Here’s why Taapsee said

yes to ‘Mission Mangal’


BUSINESS CHANDIGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2020 11

Tata Motors Group’s Q1FY21 global wholesales down 64 pc

NEW DELHI: Automo-bile major Tata Motors Group, including Jaguar Land Rover, on Friday reported a plunge of 64 per cent in global wholesales Q1FY21 on a year-on-year basis.According to the group, global wholesales of all Tata Motors’ commercial vehicles and Tata Dae-woo range in Q1 FY21 declined by 89 per cent to 11,598 units over Q1 FY20.“Global whole-sales of all passenger vehicles in Q1 FY21 were at 79,996, lower by 49 per cent com-pared with Q1 FY20,” the company said in a statement on Friday.Furthermore, global wholesales for Jaguar Land Rover stood at 65,425 vehicles.“Jaguar wholesales for the quarter were 17,971 vehicles, while Land Rover wholesales for the quarter were 47,454 vehicles,” the statement said. IANS

T-Hub partners IT Ministry to mentor hardware startups in IndiaNEW DELHI: Hyder-abad-based global start-up catalyst T-Hub on Friday announced a partner-ship with the Ministry of Electronics and In-formation Technology (MeitY) to lead Digi-tal India’s Scale Up programme for hard-ware and Internet of Things (IoT) startups across India.As many as 10-15 startups with leading-edge solutions in mobility, energy, agriculture, aero-space, manufacturing, consumer, healthtech, medtech, smart cit-ies and logistics and supply chain sectors will be shortlisted as part of the pro-gramme, T-Hub said in a statement.The call for application for the programme will commence in July. Startups will be short-listed from hundreds of applications after an extensive screen-ing process, T-Hub added. IANS

NEWSBRIEFS

PNB reports `3,688 cr borrowal fraud by DHFL

MUMBAI, JULY 10

State-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) has report-ed a borrowal fraud of Rs 3,688.58 crore in the NPA account of the now

bankrupt Dewan Housing Finance Ltd (DHFL).In a regulatory filing, the bank said that it has already made provisions amount-ing to Rs 1,246.58 crore.“A fraud of Rs 3,688.58 crore

is being reported by the bank to RBI in the ac-counts of the company (DHFL). Bank has already made provisions amount-ing to Rs 1,246.58 crore, as per prescribed pruden-

tial norms,” it said.Several other banks have already declared DHFL as a fraud account.Last November, the Reserve Bank of In-dia (RBI) superseded the Board of Directors of the company and appointed an administrator and accord-ingly, the board powers were vested in the firm’s administrator.Further, the Mumbai-bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) at Mum-bai commenced the CIRP against the company in December, following an application by the RBI.

The company report-edly has debt of around Rs 97,000 crore and has allegedly siphoned off Rs 31,000 crore from the to-tal bank loans.Its promot-ers Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in April. IANS

Yes Bank sets floor price of `12/share for FPO issueMUMBAI, JULY 10

Yes Bank’s Capital Raising Committee (CRC) of the Board of Directors on Friday set a floor price of Rs 12 per share for its upcoming further public offering (FPO).The board has fixed a cap price of Rs 13 per share, the bank said in a regulatory filing.The bank’s board in its meeting on Friday also approved “a discount of Rs 1.00 per equity share for the eligible employees of the bank bidding in employee reservation portion” and

“a minimum bid lot of 1,000 equity shares and in the multiples of 1,000 equity shares thereafter.”

The restructured pri-vate bank plans to raise up to Rs 15,000 through the upcoming FPO issue which opens on July 15 and closes on July 17.On

Thursday, Yes Bank said that it has filed a red herring prospectus for its FPO. It has reserved a portion of up to Rs 200 crore for its employees.The CRC is scheduled to meet on July 14 for the purposes of allocation of equity shares to the suc-cessful anchor investors pursuant to the offer and for determination of the anchor investor allocation price. IANS

Fuel prices remain unchanged for third consecutive dayNEW DELHI, JULY 10

Oil marketing companies kept retail prices of petrol and diesel unchanged for the third consecutive day on Friday.In Delhi, petrol is priced at Rs 80.43 a litre while diesel was a tad higher at Rs 80.78 a litre.After keeping prices of auto fuel unchanged

for previous seven days, the oil companies had

increased the price of die-sel by 25 paisa a litre in Delhi on Tuesday while keeping petrol prices un-changed.

Delhi is the only metro city where diesel is priced higher than petrol and this has been maintained since June 24, when for the time ever the trans-portation fuel price cross

that of petrol.Officials in the oil marketing com-panies said that diesel prices are seeing more volatility in the interna-tional market so the price changes in the fuel seg-ment have been higher.

But with global oil prices rising again and set to touch $42 a bar-rel, expectation is that fuel prices may again see an uptick in the coming days.Before Tuesday, fuel prices remained unchanged for seven consecutive days. IANS

‘Govt, RBI need to ensure that cash-flushed banks lend to NBFCs’

NEW DELHI, JULY 10

NBFCs have been going through a liquidity crisis over the past two years and the Covid-19 pandemic has only worsened the situation.Mahesh Thak-kar, the Director General of Finance Industry De-velopment Council (FIDC) is of the view that Centre and the RBI should in-tervene and ensure that well-capitalised banks lend towards the small and me-dium NBFCs which largely cater to MSMEs and small businesses.

FIDC is the repre-sentative body of assets and loan financing non-banking financial compa-nies (FIDC).Speaking to IANS, Thakkar said that although noting that skep-ticism towards lending to NBFCs still exists among the banks, it has, some-

what eased in the past few months since the govern-ment’s liquidity measures and sovereign guarantee schemes.“Problem is that the banks are sitting with huge funds... and where to lend is the problem,” he said.

Talking about the de-mand-supply mismatch, Thakkar said that there is a gap between “where the money is lying” and “where it is required” and “the Government of In-dia and the RBI and the banks need to see that it is fluid now”.The FIDC DG

also mentioned that get-ting loans from banks for NBFCs also depends on the relationship of the NBFC with the concerned bank and its past record.Talking on the outlook for the small and medium NBFCs with businesses of around Rs 50-100 crore, he said that growth of these businesses may suffer in the next few months.He expected that as the sources of funds open up by September-October which would help the sector. As a fallout of the current situation, he said that there may be con-solidation in the segment.

On the requirement of change in business strat-egies by these financial institutions, he said that they may have to rework their strategies, cut costs, bring in technological en-hancement, and strength-en corporate governance among others.Thakkar told IANS that demand is gradually reviving for automobiles, commercial vehicles among others and as various sectors open up including hospitality and other services demand for loans from NBFCs will grow further.He said that demand should in-crease to satisfactory levels by the festival season in November. IANS

Benchmarks wobble on weak global cues; log weekly gainsMUMBAI, JULY 10

The Sensex and Nifty closed in the red on Friday, pres-sured by heavy selling in fi-nancial and banking stocks amid negative cues from Asian peers.The 30-share BSE Sensex ended 143.36 points, or 0.39 per cent, lower at 36,594.33. The broader NSE Nifty shed 45.40 points, or 0.42 per cent, to close at 10,768.05.

According to traders, domestic benchmarks fol-lowed the negative trend in other Asian equities as concerns over a fresh spike in COVID-19 cases and its impact on economic recov-ery weighed on investor sentiment.Axis Bank was the top loser in the Sensex pack, skidding 3.14 per cent, followed by IndusInd Bank, Titan, HDFC, ICICI Bank, ONGC and HDFC Bank.On the other hand,

Reliance Industries, Sun Pharma, HUL and Bharti Airtel were amon the gain-ers, rising up to 2.95 per cent.

IT bellwether TCS rose 0.78 per cent, a day after it reported a 13.8 per cent decline in June quarter consolidated net profit at Rs 7,008 crore on revenues being impacted by the coro-navirus crisis.The company said it expects revenues to

touch pre-COVID-19 lev-els only by the January-March quarter of this fiscal.During the week, Sensex advanced 572.91 points or 1.59 per cent, while Nifty rose 160.70 points or 1.51 per cent.

“FPIs sold equities worth USD 261 million over the past five trading sessions, while DIIs sold USD 106 million worth of equities in the same period. PTI

“Problem is that the banks are sitting

with huge funds. and where to lend is

the problem”

Room for more fiscal support in India in near term given severity of economic situation: IMF

India priority country for UK Export Finance: OfficialKOLKATA, JULY 10

The UKEF, one of the world’s oldest export fi-nance agencies, has desig-nated India as its priority country and is ready to extend its assistance in ru-pee term, an official said.The UK Export Finance (UKEF) has a credit limit of GBP 4 billion for India which Indian companies can avail for their overseas projects but they should have 20 per cent of the components sourced from the UK, he said.

Rahul Tabhane, Coun-try Head India, UKEF, said that the export fi-nance agency is close to finalise a transaction with an Indian bank for the first time.“The UKEF is exploring financing op-portunities in India and also ready to provide export finance in Indian rupees,” he said.Speaking at a webinar organised by FICCI and the UK govern-ment, Tabhane said the

credit agency had been operating in India for the last one-and-half years.Many companies such as Reliance Industries, Indigo and Jet Airways had availed of its assis-tance, he said.According to him, the companies, which are willing to avail of export finance assis-tance from the agency, will be benefited from re-duced credit cost as the sovereign rating of the UK is ‘AA stable’, unlike ‘BBB minus’ of India.

He said the UKEF assistance is sector ag-nostic, but areas like re-newable energy attract a long repayment pe-riod.Ficci’s West Bengal State Council chairman Rudra Chatterjee said that raising capital has become a challenge for Indian corporate in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.“It has become imperative to access oth-er funding avenues,” he added. PTI

KOLKATA, JULY 10

A top IMF official has said that there is room for more fiscal support in India in the near term, particularly for vulner-able households and SMEs, given the severity of the country’s economic situation due to the CO-VID-19 pandemic.Vitor Gaspar, Director of the International Monetary Fund’s Fiscal Affairs De-partment, told PTI that a complete and successful implementation of the ex-isting support measures (in particular, food provi-sion to households) is of paramount importance.

Given the severity of the economic situation, in the near-term there is room for more fiscal support, particularly for vulner-able households and SMEs (Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises), he said.Over

the medium-term, India will continue to have a very limited fiscal space, and a credible and well-communicated consolida-tion plan will be urgently needed once the corona-virus pandemic subsides, Gasper said.

The economic impact of the COVID-19 in India has been substantial and

broad-based, he said, add-ing that high frequency indicators point to a sharp decline in economic ac-tivity, as reflected in the industrial production, business sentiment (in the purchasing manag-ers index), vehicle sales and trade.In the June World Economic Outlook (WEO), growth in fiscal

year 20/21 was revised down to -4.5 per cent, he said.The downward revi-sion compared with the April WEO was driven primarily by the contin-ued rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in India.This led the International Monetary Fund to make specific two adjustments.

First, the assumed length of the partial lock-down was extended some-what. Second, and more important, we made more conservative assumptions about the speed of recov-ery given that the health crisis has not yet been contained, Gasper said in response to a question.He said that the near-term growth outlook in India continues to be clouded by the global and domestic slowdown and uncertain-ties relating to the evolu-tion of the coronavirus pandemic. PTI

Printed and published by A.S. Prashar on behalf of Bright Punjab Express and printed at IE Press, C-5, Institutional Area, Sector 6, Panchkula-134108 and published at SCO 118-119 (First Floor), Sector 8-C, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh-160009. Editor-in-Chief: A.S.Prashar (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act, 1867) Owner: Dr Tejinder Pal Singh, Managing Editor-cum-Managing Director: M.P.S. Pali. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any manner, electronics or otherwise, in whole or in part, without prior permission prohibited.

Editorial and Advertising Offices: Head office: SCO 46 G, BRS Nagar, Ludhiana-141012 Phone 0161-2464630. Chandigarh Office: SCO 118-119, (First Floor), Sector 8-C, Madhya Marg, Chandigarh-160009 Phones: 0172-5016121, 4087118

DEAN SMITH“I CAN UNDERSTAND JON MOSS GETTING IT WRONG BUT I DON’T KNOW WHAT VAR ARE

LOOKING AT - IT’S A DISGRACEFUL DECISION”


MUMBAI, JULY 10

Birthday wishes poured in from the cricketing world for the iconic Sunil Gavaskar, who turned 71 on Friday.

From the great Sachin Tendulkar to Sanjay Man-jrekar to VVS Laxman, many cricketers took to Twitter to wish their cricketing hero.

Sachin Tendulkar: I got to meet my idol Gavaskar Sir for the first time in 1987. As a 13 year old, I couldn’t believe my luck that I was meeting the person I looked up to & wanted to emulate. What a day that was. Wishing you a very happy 71st birthday Sir. Have a healthy & safe year ahead.

Sanjay Manjrekar: Why did I want to be batsman & play for India?

ANSWER: Sunil Gavaskar. Happy Birthday sir!

BCCI: World Cup win-ner, First batsman to score 10,000 Test runs, Most

number of runs in debut Test series – 774, Happy Birthday to the former #TeamIndia captain and batting legend, Sunil Gavaskar!

Jay Shah, BCCI secre-tary: From being the first

Batsman to score 10,000 Test runs to India’s bat-ting mainstay in the 70’s & 80’s, his contribution to Indian cricket is unparal-leled. Wishing the legend, Shri Sunil Gavaskar ji a very

happy birthday. Praying for his good health & longevity.

Mohammad Kaif: Happy birthday, Sunny bhai. Grew up listening about his leg-endary tales of batting with-out a helmet. Now fortunate enough to know him & hear those stories from the man himself. The man is always at home in the West Indies.

Suresh Raina: Happy Birthday to the Legend! Master of Indian Cricket, From being the first per-son to score centuries and achieving many milestones. You will always be loved by all the Cricket fans, Wish you great health and prosperity.

VVS Laxman: Many more happy returns of the day to the legendary Sunil Gavas-kar. Thank you for inspiring me over the years and it has been an absolute pleasure spending time with you in the commentary box in the last few years. Wish you a great year ahead. PTI

ISLAMABAD, JULY 10

The PCB on Friday advised banned Test leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to ap-proach the England Cricket Board (ECB) if he wants to resume playing club or domestic cricket.

A desperate Kaneria, banned since 2012, want to resume cricket activities to earn his livelihood but the PCB said it can’t do much since the punishment was handed to him by the ECB.

“Article 6.8 of the ECB Anti-Corruption Code, which is applicable in this case, clearly states only the chair of the anti-corrup-tion tribunal, which has imposed a period of ineli-gibility on a player, had the discretion to permit the player to participate,” the PCB said in a press release.

“As such, you are advised to approach the ECB as per Article 6.8 of the ECB Anti-Corruption Code,” it said.

Kaneria is only the sec-ond Hindu to play Test cricket for Pakistan. He scalped 261 wickets before being banned by the ECB for life for spot-fixing in English county matches.

Kaneria after denying his involvement in spot-fixing and pleading his innocence finally admitted in late 2018 to a foreign televi-sion network he was guilty. Kaneria maintains that he suffered unimaginable and incomprehensible hard-ships, both professionally

and personally, and con-tinues to suffer with each passing day. But the PCB reminded Kaneria that since he had exhausted all his avenues to appeal against the life ban, only the ECB can now review his case.

“The life ban was im-posed by the ECB and upheld by all ICC Mem-bers as per Article 9 of the ICC/PCB Anti-Corruption Code, and the only way it could have been overturned was by way of appeal, an

avenue which has already been explored,” the PCB release said. In a similar appeal by former Test cap-tain, Salim Malk, PCB said it won’t be able to help him unless he co-operates.

Malik was banned for life for match fixing by the PCB in 2000 on the recom-mendations of the Justice (retd) Malik Qayyum in-quiry commission but his punishment was set aside by a lower court in 2008.

In a reply to Malik, the Board said that he had failed to respond to tran-scripts provided by ICC of April 2000 conversation.

“You chose not to re-spond to the contents of the transcripts of a con-versation that took place in April 2000. In the back-drop of the above, the PCB will be unable to proceed any further until such time you respond on the said matter,” the release said. PTI

PARIS, JULY 10

Bayern Munich will face Barcelona or Napoli in the quarter-finals of the Cham-pions League, if they can defend their three goal lead against Chelsea in their last 16 second leg game.

The Champions League will resume in August af-ter being halted in March due to the COVID-19 pan-

demic with a ‘Final Eight’ tournament being held in Lisbon after the remain-ing second-leg games from the last 16 ties are decided. UEFA held the draw for the one-leg quarter-finals and semi-finals at their headquarters in Nyon on Friday.

Two quarter-finals were set by the draw with Ger-many’s RB Leipzig facing

Atletico Madrid and Ital-ian club Atalanta up against Paris St Germain.

The rest of the draw de-pends on the outcome of the second-leg ties in the last 16.

Barca drew 1-1 at Napoli in the first leg and will host the Serie A side at the Nou Camp on August 7 or 8.

Bayern Munich are strong favourites to make the last eight having beaten Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their tie.

Real Madrid or Manches-ter City will face Olympique Lyonnais or Juventus.

City lead Real 2-1 heading into the return leg at the Eti-had Stadium in Manchester while Lyon defend a one goal lead when they travel to face Juve in Turin. The path to the semi-finals opens up the possibility of Pep Guardiola facing his old club Barcelona if both teams progress to the last four. AGENCIES

LONDON, JULY 10

Everton’s Brazilian for-ward Richarlison can-celled out Danny Ings’s opener for Southampton as the teams drew 1-1 at Goodison Park in the Pre-mier League on Thursday.

After an impressive start, in which Stuart Armstrong had an effort ruled out, Southampton should have grabbed the lead when they were

awarded a penalty but James Ward-Prowse, who had been impeded, blast-ed the spot-kick against the bar. The Saints did take the lead in the 31st minute, though, when a scuffed Armstrong shot fell to Ings and the for-ward did well to collect and round Jordan Pick-ford before sliding home.

Ings has now scored 19 of Southampton’s 43 goals in the league this season

as he continues to push his claims for an Eng-land call-up. The hosts drew level in the mid-table clash two minutes before the interval when Richarlison brought down a long diagonal ball from Lucas Digne and confi-dently finished.

Southampton ended the game strongest but Everton’s defence, well-marshalled by Michael Keane, kept the visitors at bay to leave Carlo An-celotti’s side in 11th spot with 45 points and the Saints a place and a point below them.

Everton are now un-beaten in 10 straight Premier League games at Goodison Park, while Southampton have earned 27 points away from home this season, the fourth most of any Premier League side. AGENCIES

LONDON, JULY 10

West Indies captain Jason Holder says both his team and England putting up a united front to show sup-port for the Black Lives Matter campaign before the start of the first Test in Southampton meant the ‘world to him’ and he feels Michael Holding’s power-ful speech on racism ‘in his veins.’

Both teams took the knee for 30 seconds in solidarity with the BLM movement before the start of play on

Wednesday.“It meant the world to

me. Just the support from everyone, everyone under-standing the moment, ev-eryone understanding the occasion. And to see both teams coming together the way they did, it sent a really strong message,” Holder told Sky Sports on Thursday.

“I happened to be on so-cial media last night, and I saw a few Aussies posting the same pic of everyone on the knee, and it just shows the cricket world is

actually unified. But I think we could come a lot closer, we could do a lot more for cricket in general.”

Holder led from the front on day two, taking a career-best 6 for 42 to put his team his in a good position as England were bowled out for 204 before the hosts replied with 57 for one.

With the rain delaying the start of play on Wednes-day, Holder’s powerful ad-dress on racism went viral on social media and moved the entire cricketing fra-ternity.

The West Indies great said racism would not stop until the entire human race is educated on the subject. He said achievements of blacks have been delib-erately omitted from the education system and the race has been dehumanised over several years.

“I must say, I saw the in-terview with Mikey (Hold-ing) yesterday, and I felt in my veins, to be honest. To me it was powerful, I think he hit the nail on the head, he was spot on,” said Holder. AGENCIES

LONDON, JULY 10

Manchester United kept up their impressive chase for a top-four spot with a comfortable 3-0 win at relegation-threatened Aston Villa in the English Premier League on Thursday.

The victory means Unit-ed, who are now unbeaten in 17 matches in all com-petitions, became the first team since the formation of the Premier League to win four consecutive matches by

a margin of three or more goals.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are fifth in the table, one point behind fourth-placed Leicester City and two adrift of Chelsea in third with four games left.

United went ahead in the 27th minute after a debat-able penalty award when referee Jon Moss ruled that Ezri Konsa had brought down Bruno Fernandes just inside the box. The Portugal international rose to convert

the spot-kick.Villa keeper Pepe Reina

was kept busy, dealing with efforts from Anthony Mar-tial and Mason Greenwood while Fernandes missed a great chance when he head-ed over when unmarked with the goal at his mercy.

There was no dispute about United’s second goal, though, just before the break, a thundering drive from Greenwood after good work from Martial. The 18-year-old has now scored

16 goals in all competitions this season and is rapidly emerging as one of the most exciting young talents seen at United for years.

“Ever since I came to the club, the youth team beat Chelsea and he scored three, I think, I watched that game on video and it’s natural for him to score goals and handle the ball,” said Solskjaer.

“Now he’s playing with better players, enjoying it, just gets on with his job,

which he should be, and just enjoying his football,” the Norwegian added.

Paul Pogba wrapped up the win against a Villa side, who looked demoralised, when Fernandes played a clever corner deep to the Frenchman outside the box and the World Cup winner placed the ball in the bottom corner past a motionless Reina for his first league goal since April last year. Martial blasted against the bar as United

threatened to run riot against Dean Smith’s side who are next to bottom on 27 points, four behind 17th-placed Watford.

“It unravelled with the first goal,” said Smith.

“I can understand Jon Moss getting it wrong but I don’t know what VAR are looking at - it’s a disgrace-ful decision. They have a screen they can go and look at it but they don’t seem to be bothered,” Smith added. AGENCIES

LONDON, JULY 10

Relegation-threatened Bournemouth had a late goal disallowed by VAR as they had to settle for a 0-0 draw at home to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League on Thursday.

Callum Wilson thought he had grabbed a crucial win in Bournemouth’s desperate battle to avoid the drop but his overhead kick was chalked off for handball after the ball hit the arm of Josh King on the way into the net. Harry Wilson was then denied a stoppage-time winner by Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris as a dreary game sprang to life. There were more than 10 minutes of stoppage time after Bournemouth’s Adam Smith was carried off on a stretcher in the second half after lengthy treatment for a head injury.

Until the late drama there was precious little excite-ment with Tottenham only displaying some belated urgency in the second half as they pinned the hosts back. They were toothless though as for the first time in 186 top-flight matches Bournemouth did not face an attempt on target. The Cherries at least ended a run of five successive defeats as they moved up a place to 18th, three points adrift of Watford who are just above the relegation zone. Victory would have lifted Jose Mourinho’s Spurs side to seventh but they are a place and a point below their north London rivals Arsenal in ninth ahead of Sunday’s home derby.

The only incident worth talking about in a dreadful first half was when visiting striker Harry Kane was denied a penalty despite appearing to be pushed in the back by King.

Tottenham sent on Son Heung-min and Tan-guy Ndombele at halftime and they offered more threat, with Erik Lamela’s glancing header flying just wide. AGENCIES

‘Gavaskar’s contribution to Indian cricket is unparalleled’

Take your appeal to ECB if you want to resume playing cricket: PCB to Kaneria

All 5 former winners in same half of Champions League draw

Everton held at home by improving Southampton

Holder hails support towards ‘Black Lives Matter’

VAR denies Bournemouth late goal in dreary draw with Spurs

United ease to another win