First india ahmedabad edition-24 september 2020

EC denies asking CBDT for IT
notice to Pawar on poll affidavits
New Delhi: The Elec-
tion Commission on
Wednesday said it has
not given any direction
to the Central Board of
Direct Taxes (CBDT) to
issue a notice to NCP
chief Sharad Pawar
over his poll affidavits.
The EC’s statement
came a day after Pawar
said that the Income
Tax department has
served him a notice in
connection with his poll
affidavits submitted to
the poll panel.
Talking to reporters
in Mumbai on Tuesday,
Pawar said the Income
Tax department has
sought his “clarifica-
tion and explanation”
on some poll affidavits
furnished by him.
The poll panel, refer-
ring to media reports,
in a statement said, “...
It is stated that the Elec-
tion Commission of In-
dia has not issued any
such direction to CBDT
to issue a notice to Shri
Pawar.” —PTI
Reliance Retail sells 1.28% equity
stake for `5,550 cr to KKR
Mumbai: Reliance In-
dustries Limited and
Reliance Retail Ven-
tures Limited an-
nounced on Wednesday
that global investment
firm KKR will invest
`5,550 crore into Reli-
anceRetail,asubsidiary
of Reliance Industries.
This investment values
Reliance Retail at a pre-
money equity value of
`4.21 lakh crore. KKR’s
investment will trans-
late into a 1.28% equity
stake in RRVL on a fully
diluted basis.
This is the second
deal by Reliance Retail
in two weeks. Earlier
this month, private eq-
uity giant Silver Lake
Partners had said that
it will invest `7,500
crore in Reliance Retail
for a 1.75% stake.
This marks the sec-
ond investment by KKR
in a subsidiary of Reli-
ance Industries, follow-
ing a `11,367 crore in-
vestment in Jio Plat-
forms announced earli-
er this year. Founded in
1976, Turn to P6
Lok Sabha &
Rajya Sabha
adjourned
sine die
New Delhi: The Mon-
soon Session of Parlia-
ment, 2020 came to an
end as it was cut short
by seven days amid con-
cerns of the spread of
coronavirus among
lawmakers.
Lok Sabha was ad-
journed sine die on
Wednesday evening,
bringing the Monsoon
Sessionof Parliamentto
an end eight days ahead
of schedule.WhileRajya
Sabha was adjourned
sinedieintheafternoon.
Speaker Om Birla ad-
journed the House sine
die after the passage of
the Major Port Authori-
ties Bill. PM Narendra
Modi was present when
theHousewasadjourned.
Meanwhile, Opposi-
tion parties have re-
quested President Ram
Nath Kovind not to give
his assent to the conten-
tious farm bills,
Turn to P6
New Delhi: Union Min-
ister of State for Rail-
ways Suresh Angadi
passed away due to Cov-
id-19 infection on
Wednesday, two weeks
after being diagnosed
with COVID-19, AIIMS
top official said. He was
the first Union Minister
and the fourth MP to die
due to COVID-19.
On 11 September, the
65-year-old minister had
confirmedhisdiagnosis.
Angadibreathedhislast
inAIIMSDelhi.Heisthe
first Union minister
from Narendra Modi’s
Cabinet and the second
parliament member
from Karnataka to have
succumbed to Covid-19
from Karnataka.
President Ram Nath
Kovind, PM Narendra
Modi, Home Minister
Amit Shah and a host of
Angadi’s colleagues
took to Twitter to offer
condolences. Condoling
his death, Turn to P6
MoS Suresh Angadi first min of
Modi Cabinet to die of Corona
NARENDRA MODI
@NARENDRAMODI
Shri Suresh Angadi was an
exceptional Karyakarta, who worked
hard to make the Party strong in
Karnataka. He was a dedicated MP and
effective Minister, admired across the
spectrum. His demise is saddening.
My thoughts are with his family and
friends in this sad hour. Om Shanti.
AMIT SHAH
@AMITSHAH
Deeply pained to learn about
the passing away of MoS Railways
and senior BJP leader from Karnataka,
Shri Suresh Angadi ji. He will always
be remembered for his selfless service
to the nation and party. My deepest
condolences are with his family. Om
Shanti Shanti Shanti
PM Modi tweeted a pic with Suresh Angadi while condoling his death.
Govt mismanagement leads to need for more nCoV beds in pvt hosps
Gargi Raval
Ahmedabad: The gov-
ernment and the local
body both seem keen
to reassure the public
that the pandemic is
under control. Howev-
er, the Ahmedabad
Municipal Corpora-
tion has just put a de-
notified designated
COVID-19 hospital--the
200-bed SMS Hospital-
-back onto the list of
designated facilities.
Those familiar with
the development at-
tribute the need for ad-
ditional beds in private
hospitals to the gov-
ernment’smismanage-
ment of resources.
Corporation officers
say that as many 350 in-
tern doctors and medi-
cal students from AMC-
run colleges have been
roped in to serve at the
walk-in COVID test fa-
cilities set up across the
city, on Dhanvanti
Raths, and for 104 emer-
gency services. This
has led to a staff short-
age in government-run
hospitals and an in-
creased need for beds in
private hospitals.
For instance, the
AMC-run SVP (Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel)
Hospital has stopped
admitting patients and
instead refers them to
other hospitals.
Amit Shah leader of
BJP in the civic body
said that the SVP hospi-
tal is referring patients
to other hospitals.
“A majority of SVP
staff have been roped
in for duties such as
testing, other medical
Raths, and 104 emer-
gency services. So not
all patients are being
admitted to the hospi-
tal. Instead, they are
being referred to pri-
vate hospitals. And as
the need arose, the
200-bed SMS Hospital
has been added again
after being de-listed
just a few weeks ago,”
Shah told First India.
“Sample collection
can easily be managed
by paramedical staff.
There is no need for
doctors to be sent for
these things. It is a
waste of resources,” an
officer said. He asked
that he not be named
since he is not author-
ized to speak to the
press on the issue.
Unlike the civic
bodies in Vadodara
and Surat, the AMC
does not share details
about bed occupancy
or sample testing.
However, even with-
out direct data from
the AMC, it is becom-
ing more and more
obvious that the num-
ber of COVID-19 cas-
es in the city Turn to P6There are about 90 walk-in testing centres in the Ahmedabad, like this one in the city’s Bhadra area.
Docs are being assigned duties than can be handled
by paramedical staff, leading to a labour crunch
—PHOTOBYHANIFSINDHI
27°C - 37°C www.firstindia.co.in | www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia | instagram.com/thefirstindia
AHMEDABAD l THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020 l Pages 12 l 3.00 RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208 l Vol 1 l Issue No. 299
PM REVIEWS COVID-19 SITUATION
WITH CMS, REPRESENTATIVES OF 7
STATES WITH HIGH CASE LOAD P6
‘MODI GOVT DESTROYED WEB
OF RELATIONSHIPS WITH
OTHER COUNTRIES’
OUR EDITIONS: JAIPUR & AHMEDABAD
P5
New Delhi: The Narcot-
ics Control Bureau
(NCB) on Wednesday is-
sued summons to actors
DeepikaPadukone,Sara
Ali Khan, Shradhha Ka-
poor and Rakul Preet
Singh in a drug case re-
lated to the death of Su-
shant Singh Rajput.
While Padukone has
been asked summoned
on September 25, Shrad-
dha Kapoor and Sara
Ali Khan have been
asked to appear on Sep-
tember 26. NCBofficials
visited Shraddha Ka-
poor’shouseonWednes-
day evening to serve the
summons.
EarlieronWednesday,
the agency recorded the
statement of film pro-
ducer Madhu Mantena
in connection with the
case. Mantena was the
co-producer of 2016 Bol-
lywood film ‘Udta Pun-
jab’ which dealt with the
issue of drug menace.
His name allegedly
cropped up during the
questioning of late ac-
tor Sushant Singh Ra-
jput’s talent manager
Jaya Saha, who was
quizzed by the probe
agency for last two days,
NCB officials said.
The NCB had on
Tuesday summoned
Padukone’s manager
Karishma Prakash and
KWAN talent manage-
ment agency’s CEO
Dhurv Chitgopekar, but
the former could not ap-
pear before the agency
due to ill-health.
The NCB is probing
the drug link in Ra-
jput’s death.
Padukone and the
three other actors were
named by Rhea
Chakraborty while she
was being interrogated
between September 6
and September 8 before
being arrested, accord-
ing to NCB.
DRUG BUST! NCB SUMMONS DEEPIKA,
SARA ALI, SHRADHHA, RAKUL PREET
Padukone summoned on Sept 25, Shraddha and Sara Ali Khan to appear on Sept 26
FIR AGAINST ANURAG
AFTER ACTRESS
ALLEGES RAPE
Mumbai: Mumbai Police have registered an
FIR against filmmaker Anurag Kashyap after
actress Payal Ghosh accused him of raping
her in 2013, an official said on Wednesday.
Kashyap has dismissed the allegations as
“baseless”. The First Information Report
(FIR) was registered at Versova police station
late Tuesday night after the actress along with
her lawyer Nitin Satpute approached the po-
lice, the official said. The FIR was registered
under Indian Penal Code Sections 376 (I)
(rape), 354 (assault or criminal force Turn to P6
Deepika Padukone Sara Ali Khan Shradhha Kapoor Rakul Preet
TURBULENT TIMES IN MAYA NAGRI
WASTED RESOURCES

NEWSAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
02www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: The Gu-
jarat State Primary
Teachers’ Association
(GSPTA) and the Guja-
rat Rajya Talati Maha-
mandal, have written
to the State Election
Commission and de-
manded that the up-
coming state nagarpa-
likas, panchayats and
civic body elections be
postponed for three to
four months.
Six municipal corpo-
rations, 55 nagarpa-
likas, 31 district pan-
chayats and 123 taluka
panchayats are all set to
choose new representa-
tives in November this
year. But, in their letter,
the GSPTA expressed
concern over the ongo-
ing COVID-19 pandemic
and warned about the
potential spread of in-
fection, if polls go ahead
as planned. Association
president Digvijaysinh
Jadeja stated, “The up-
coming election will
elect 8,402 people repre-
sentatives in around
6,419 constituencies
across the state. For the
election process to run
smoothly without a
hitch, manpower of
over 1,50,000 people will
be required. But, owing
to the current rate of in-
fection, over 25% of the
teaching staff has to be
kept reserved for COV-
ID-19 related activities.”
Jadeja further stat-
ed that so far the state
had not been able to
curtail the spread of
the virus, and con-
ducting elections in
the midst of a pan-
demic was just invit-
ing trouble. “The
Commission should
not forget that the
COVID-19 pandemic
has taken the lives of
many teachers, health
workers, police per-
sonnel and other war-
riors. It will be impos-
sible for us to execute
election work while
adhering to all Un-
lock 4.0 guidelines. I
don’t think that any-
one should have any
objection to postpon-
ing these polls for an-
other three four
months,” he said.
According to the Gu-
jarat Rajya Talati Maha-
mandal, post Unlock 4.0,
the numbers of COV-
ID-19 cases have been
increasing on a daily
basis, which has result-
ed in many deaths.
There are several coro-
na warriors who have
succumbed to the virus
while discharging their
duties. Therefore, the
polls should not be held
now but delayed till
March or April 2021.
Mahamandal presi-
dent Shadevsinh Chu-
dasama said, “In order
to conduct taluka and
district panchayat
polls, people will have
to be deputed to rural
areas, where the nCoV
situation is still under
control. But, if these
elections are held as
scheduled, there is a
possibility that COV-
ID-19 numbers may
spike in rural areas
too, thereby making
the situation too diffi-
cult to handle.”
First India Bureau
Ahmedabad: The
world might be in pan-
ic mode due to the
novel coronavirus, but
this has not curbed
the enthusiasm of ei-
ther the Bharatiya Ja-
nata Party or the Con-
gress in their prepara-
tions in the run-up to
the upcoming elec-
tions in the state.
With Gujarat set to
witness local body elec-
tions as well as by-elec-
tionsfortheeightvacant
seatsintheStateAssem-
bly before the end of the
year, the Congress is
lookingtomakeitsmark
with relatively younger,
educated candidates.
Highly placed
sources within the
party said it plans to
make a big dent
against the BJP by
fielding younger and
fresher faces in the
elections. Candidates
above the age of 60
will not be given tick-
ets to contest the elec-
tions, they said, add-
ing that those with at
least a graduate de-
gree will be preferred.
In addition, the party
has decided not to
field candidates who
are frequently absent
from party functions.
“This time, the party
is moving ahead with a
new strategy. The state
and central party lead-
ership have already
concluded several
rounds of meetings. We
are focusing more on
educated candidates
and relatively younger
faces. We are also for-
mulating a strategy so
that we don’t have to
field the same candi-
dates again and again,”
said a person familiar
with the development.
According to the
Representation of the
People Act, five of the
eight vacant seats in
the Gujarat Legisla-
tive Assembly, namely,
Lemdi, Gadha, Abad-
sa, Dang, and Dhari,
should have got new
r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s
(MLAs) before Sep-
tember 15--six months
since the seats fell va-
cant. However, elec-
tions were not possi-
ble during this period
due to the novel coro-
navirus pandemic.
Ahead of elections, Congress is
looking for educated, fresh faces
Headquarters of the Congress party in Ahmedabad.
Teachers & talatis against
elections amid nCoV spike
Teachers attending training programme for elections. —FILE PHOTO
Haresh Jhala
Gandhinagar: On
September 02, the
state government an-
nounced that it would
complete its survey to
assess crop damage
caused by excessive
rains in 15 days, and
that farmers would
be compensated based
on this survey. On
Monday, it announced
a relief package of
Rs3,700 crore. Now, in
its third announce-
ment on the topic in
less that three weeks,
it has said that farm-
ers in 123 talukas can
apply for compensa-
tion without need of
a survey.
Addressing the press
after a cabinet meeting,
agriculture minister
RC Faldu said that field-
wise surveys are not
required in 123 talukas
across 20 districts since
they have been declared
as affected areas based
on random testing. As a
result farmers in these
areas do no have to wait
for surveyors but can
file online forms seek-
ing compensation from
October 01.
The state govern-
ment will also “keep
an open mind” fol-
lowing complaints of
crop damage in other
areas, and will con-
sider paying compen-
sation if crop dam-
age has been more
than 33%, Faldu said,
adding that surveys
will be conducted in
these areas.
The state had an-
nounced that it would
pay Rs13,500 per hectare
for crop damage in irri-
gatedareasandRs10,000
per hectare in non-irri-
gated areas, with a limit
of two hectares, this
kharif season.
Faldu clarified that
only 30-40% cultivated
areas have been af-
fected by heavy rains,
and that good yields
are expected in the re-
maining 60-70% areas.
“The state is commit-
ted to procuring agri-
culture products at
MSP through differ-
ent agencies,” he said.
Given that the minis-
ter addressed criticism
from the Congress par-
ty on the issue of crop-
damage surveys, it ap-
pears that the Opposi-
tion’s reaction has com-
pelled the state’s deci-
sion to initiate random
surveys and pay com-
pensation, rather than
survey each field.
NO CROP SURVEY REQUIRED
FOR 123 TALUKAS, STATE NOW SAYS
GOVT HAS CHANGED ITS STAND ON THE ISSUE TWICE IN THE PAST 20 DAYS
GUJARAT ASSEMBLY PASSES GOONDA BILL WITH MAJORITY
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: The
State Legislative As-
sembly passed the
Gujarat Goonda and
Anti-Social Activi-
ties (Prevention) bill
with majority on
Wednesday, despite
facing opposition
from Congress,
which raised con-
cern over misuse of
certain provisions in
the amendment of
the Act.
Addressing the
House during discus-
sion on the bill, Chief
Minister Vijay Rupani
said, “The objective of
the bill is to make our
society more secure
and also to ensure there
are stringent laws in
place to deal with anti-
social elements or
gangs. This Act will
cover moneylenders,
who harass borrowers
and often drive them to
take extreme steps. The
bill will protect this
section of the society
and also mete out jus-
tice with an iron fist to
moneylenders.”
Taking a dig at the
state government’s
decision to come up
with a new Act, Lead-
er of Opposition
Paresh Dhanani stat-
ed, “There are several
laws already in place
to deal with anti-so-
cial elements, but the
state government
does not have the will
or power to enforce
them. This new law is
just for show as are
the others.”
He added, “The bill
has been introduced in
the House with mali-
cious intent to give the
illusion that the state
government has intro-
duced a new law to
curb crime.”
In agreement with
Dhanani, Deputy Lead-
er of Opposition
Shailesh Parmar said,
“BJP’s power in the
state was born 25 years
ago. Now, if it has
grown up to become a
goon as an adult, it is
only natural that the
government is trying to
rein itself in by intro-
ducing new laws.”
While tabling the
bill, Minister of State
for Home and Parlia-
mentary Affairs
Pradipsinh Jadeja
said, “Our intention
is to make the state
safer for the citizens
and put the fear of
the law in goons and
other anti-social ele-
ments. It is up to the
Opposition to decide
whether to stand
with the government
in passing the bill
and enacting a new
law or support anti-
social individuals.”
Another bill that
sailed through the
House on Wednesday
was the Ambaji Area
Development and Pil-
grimage Tourism Au-
thority Act. Aimed at
organized develop-
ment of religious sites
such as the Ambaji
Temple in Banaskan-
tha district, the Act
will allow the constitu-
tion of a body to regu-
late developmental
work at religious sites
in the state. Deputy
Chief Minister Nitin
Patel said that apart
from a chairman and
vice-chairman, nine
other members will be
appointed as members
of the authority.
l The House also sanctioned the
Ambaji Area Development &
Pilgrimage Tourism Authority Act
l Ask for post-
ponement of polls
until March or
April next year
Gujarat Legislative Assembly. —FILE PHOTO
NEW LAW

GUJARATAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
A study by national organization Pratigya Campaign stated
that 243 cases were filed in 14 high courts across India
Gargi Raval
Ahmedabad: The Gu-
jarat High Court ac-
counted for 7% of the
total pregnancy termi-
nation cases received
by high courts across
the country, according
to a new legal report
released by national
organization for wom-
en’s rights ‘Pratigya
Campaign’. The re-
port ‘Assessing the Ju-
diciary’s Role in Ac-
cess to Safe Abortion-
II’ analysed cases of
women seeking per-
mission for termina-
tion of pregnancy
from high courts in
India between May
2019 and August 2020.
A total of 243 cases
were filed in 14 high
courts with one appeal
before the Supreme
Court during this peri-
od. In 84% cases, the
courts granted permis-
sion for termination of
pregnancies while 16%
were denied.
Gujarat High Court
accounted for 16 cases
in 15 months. Across
the nation, 74% of the
total cases were filed
post the 20-week gesta-
tion period, 23% of the
total cases were filed
within the 20-week ges-
tation period and
should not have gone to
the courts at all.
Out of 74% cases
(filed after the 20 weeks
cut-off period), 29%
cases were related to
rape/sexual abuse, 42%
related to foetal anoma-
lies; and out of 23%
cases (filed even before
20 weeks were complet-
ed) 18% cases were re-
lated to sexual abuse/
rape and 6% were due to
foetal anomalies.
Commenting on the
legal aspect in India
and the study’s find-
ings, Anubha Rastogi,
Pratigya Campaign Ad-
visory Group Member
and author of the re-
port said, “The increas-
ing number of cases
only indicate to the fact
that access to safe and
legal abortion services
in this country still
leaves a lot to be de-
sired. It is imperative
that any change in law
takes note of these in-
creasing trends and
moves towards a rights-
based, inclusive, and ac-
cessible legislation on
abortion. Any new law/
amendment cannot be
based on third-party au-
thorization like the
medical boards and has
to be respectful of a de-
cision that involves the
registered service pro-
vider and the person
carrying the baby.”
HC saw 16 abortion
cases in 15 months
Local group to publish Dalit
poetry anthology on pandemic
Gotri Hospital nodal
officer +ve for nCov
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: De-
spite being relative-
ly better off than
cities like
Ahmedabad, Surat,
Rajkot and Jamna-
gar in terms of Sars-
CoV-2 infections, Va-
dodara on Wednes-
day reported 124
new cases. Dr Shital
Mistry, the nodal of-
ficer of GMERS
Gotri Hospital, and
four women council-
lors are among the
city’s latest COV-
ID-19 patients.
Also in Vadodara,
the Waghodia branch
of the State Bank of
India will remain
closed for the next five
days after the branch
manager tested posi-
tive for the novel coro-
navirus.
In the past 24 hours,
the state has tested
61,907 samples, 1,372
of which came back
positive. There are
now 16,470 active cas-
es in the state, with 86
patients on ventilator
support. Four of the
15 deaths reported in
the past 24 hours oc-
curred in Surat.
Ahmedabad and Va-
dodara reported
three deaths each,
Bhavnagar and Ra-
jkot had two deaths
each and one death
occurred in Morbi.
Surat had the high-
est number of cases
with 294; of these, 183
were from the city
and 111 from rural
areas.
Cases also emerged
in Ahmedabad (185),
Rajkot (141), Jamna-
gar (94), Banaskantha
(51), Mehsana (45),
Gandhinagar (38), Ju-
nagadh (38), Bhavna-
gar (37), Kutch (27),
Panchmahal (27), and
Amreli (27).
So far, about 39 poli-
ticians in Gujarat
have been infected
with Sars-CoV-2. Of
these, only nine chose
to get treated in gov-
ernment hospitals.
Eleven leaders were
home quarantined be-
cause they were ei-
ther asymptomatic or
had mild symptoms
while the other 21
took treatment in pri-
vate hospitals.
‘Tantric’ arrested for raping minor girl
2.30 lakh
cusecs water
released from
Narmada dam
Gargi Raval
Ahmedabad: A group
of poetry enthusiasts
from city-based Lok-
vacha Publications
have called for entries
for a collection of
‘lockdown poems’.
The poems will be
published by the pub-
lication house and the
theme ascertained for
the poetry book is
‘Atrocities and strug-
gles faced by people
during the COVID-19
pandemic’. The
group--which in-
cludes Jayesh Solan-
ki, Maulik Shrimali,
Kisumu Dabhi, Me-
hul Chavda and Apur-
va Amin--also stated
that the work of Dalit
writers and poets will
be the special focus of
the book.
With more than 150
poems written on the
different struggles and
atrocities faced by Dal-
its during the pandem-
ic, the group plans to
makeitthefocalsubject
of the collection. “The
pandemic has affected
people socially, cultur-
ally,economically,phys-
ically as well as men-
tally. It has compelled
themtoputpentopaper
and express their
thoughts in writing,”
said the group.
They also highlight-
ed the purpose of the
poetry feature collec-
tion. “This book of po-
etry will prove helpful
for future researchers
since it will be part of
the documentation of
this period in time. Our
aimistopromotecollec-
tivism among all writ-
ers and activists,” stat-
ed the group.
Talkingabouttheini-
tiative, Solanki said, “A
creative person can get
inspired from any-
where and everywhere.
Theycannevergowith-
out writing for long and
arealwayscreatingnew
literature.Thepandem-
ic forced people to stay
indoors and presented
people with the oppor-
tunity to write.”
“There are many
writers/poetswhohave
written about different
topicsandoursisaplat-
form where all such
work will be read and
shared,” he added.
Thegroupwillaccept
entriesuntilSeptember
30 via, email, SMS, or
hard copy.
First India Bureau
Ahmedabad: Nikol
Police has arrested
a so-called “tantric
baba” for raping a
minor girl on Mon-
day night under the
guise of freeing her
fiancé from the “in-
fluence of ghosts”.
According to the po-
lice complaint, the
girl had approached
Raig Rawal, resident
of Janu village, to
help her fiancé who
had been complaining
about disturbed sleep
and nightmares since
she thought he was
being plagued by
ghosts. Rawal offered
a solution by holding
“tantric rituals” at
the river bank.
The girl, her fiancé
and both their fami-
lies accompanied
Rawal to the bank of
the Sabarmati, where
he performed his ritu-
als and then said he
needed to conduct the
rituals on the girl as
well. He then took her
some distance away,
pushed her into some
bushes and raped her.
The victim also said
Rawal then threat-
ened her with dire
consequences if she
told anyone what had
happened.
The girl has been
sent to the Civil Hos-
pital for a medical
check-up. Rawal will
be produced before
the court for remand
and will also have to
undergo a medical
check-up.
First India Bureau
Ahmedabad: A total
of 52 villages in Va-
dodara, Narmada
and Bharuch dis-
tricts have been put
on flood alert since
2.30 lakh cusecs of
water is being re-
leased from the Sard-
ar Sarovar Dam into
the Narmada river.
The water in the
dam has already
reached 136.78m due to
the inflow of water
from the upstream. As
a result, 10 gates of the
dam are being opened.
With the outflow, the
water level at the
Golden Bridge has ris-
en by 18 feet.
The Narmada Nigam
has informed the Va-
dodara district admin-
istration that a total of
4 lakh cusecs of water
will likely be released
from the Sardar Saro-
var reservoir in the
coming days. People
living in slums along
the banks of the river
Narmada will be evacu-
ated. Before the river
rises, an exercise will
be carried out to move
the slum dwellers along
the Golden Bridge.
Only when the river
reaches 28 feet will wa-
ter enter the low-lying
areas of the city. At the
present stage, there is
nothing to worry about
in the city.
The book will also contain images by Dalit artists.
ADDED PAIN
A banner promoting COVID-19 protocol is seen at Ahmedabad’s Pragatinagar Garden.
1,372 new cases, 15
fatalities take tally to
1,27,541 cases and
death toll to 3,370
—PHOTOBYHANIFSINDHI
—FILE PHOTO

G Vol 1 G Issue No. 299 G RNI NO. GUJENG/2019/16208. Printed and published by Anita Hada Sangwan on behalf of First Express Publishers. Printed at Bhaskar Printing Planet Survey No.148P, Changodar-Bavla Highway, Tal. Sanand, Dist. Ahmedabad.
Published at D/302 3rd Floor Plot No. 35 Titanium Square, Scheme No. 2, Thaltej Taluka, Ghatlodiya, Ahmedabad. Editor-In-Chief: Jagdeesh Chandra. Editor: Anita Hada Sangwan responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act
PERSPECTIVEAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
n May 2019, a
landmark re-
port by the In-
tergovernmen-
tal Science-Poli-
cy Platform on Biodiversi-
ty and Ecosystem Services
painted a bleak picture of
ourplanet’shealth.Around
one million animal and
plant species – more than
ever before in human his-
tory – are now threatened
with extinction, many
within decades. Pollution
is proliferating, land deg-
radation is accelerating,
and we are nowhere near
on track to achieve global
goals for protecting biodi-
versity and achieving sus-
tainability.
But, even as media tout-
ed the report’s dire warn-
ings, they largely missed
another of its key findings:
lands and waters that are
owned, managed, and used
by indigenous peoples and
local communities are
much healthier than those
that aren’t. A growing body
of research supports the
clear implication that in-
digenous peoples have a
vital role to play in address-
ing the biodiversity crisis.
Only recently have inter-
national discussions about
environmental issues be-
gun to acknowledge the
role of indigenous commu-
nities. Over the last year,
delegates of the 196 parties
to the Convention on Bio-
logical Diversity (CBD)
participated in countless
workshops aimed at pro-
ducing a new international
agreement setting com-
mon goals and targets for
reversing biodiversity de-
cline, using ecosystems
sustainably, and ensuring
that the benefits they con-
fer are shared equally. And
in their most recent discus-
sions of the initial draft of
the post-2020 framework,
the parties recognized the
importance of including
indigenous peoples in the
process. This was an ap-
parent nod to the United
Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peo-
ples, which promotes our
full and effective participa-
tion in all matters that con-
cern us.
Indigenous peoples’ con-
nection to our lands, wa-
ters, air, and other natural
resources is deeply embed-
ded in our cultures and tra-
ditions. We hold ceremo-
nies to show our gratitude
and respect for the natural
gifts on which our survival
depends. This instills in us
a deep understanding of –
and commitment to – our
duties and responsibilities
as nature’s stewards and
guardians. We know that
we need nature as much as
it needs us.
I believe that the world’s
failure to embrace such a
holistic perspective lies at
the root of the imbalances
that are propelling our
planet’s destruction. We
cannot continue to make
the same mistakes. And
that means following
through and building on
the commitments con-
tained in the Declaration
on the Rights of Indige-
nous Peoples to protect our
rights and engage us fully
in discussions of issues af-
fecting us.
Canada offers a promis-
ing example. Last Novem-
ber, the government of
British Columbia enacted
legislation to implement
the UN declaration, en-
shrining our rights to our
lands and waters, our re-
sources, and our self-deter-
mination. It is now re-
quired in the province to
move toward consent-
based decision-making and
further collaborate with
indigenous peoples on any
legislative or policy chang-
es that affect our rights.
The federal government is
set to replicate this legisla-
tion at the national level at
the end of this year.
More countries should
follow this example, en-
shrining in legal frame-
works the rights of indig-
enous peoples to govern
our own territories and
practice our knowledge.
This means recognizing
our governments and laws,
which are essential to en-
sure that our knowledge is
transmitted through gen-
erations for the benefit of
biodiversity..
SOURCE: PROJECT SYNDICATE
A healthy earth needs indigenous peoples
I
The way of a fool is right
in his own eyes, but a wise
man listens to advice.
—Proverbs 12:15
Spiritual
SPEAK
Top
TWEET
Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal
Modi Govt permits the use of ISO
tank containers for transportation
of Oxygen. Using these containers,
Petroleum & Explosives Safety
Organisation will ensure fast
transportation, safe & seamless
supply of oxygen across the
country to combat COVID.
Mallikarjun Kharge @kharge
For all the tall claims on the
meteoric rise in India’s image
abroad after PM @narendramodi
took over is only perception
management. In reality our
foreign policies have failed
completely & are almost isolated
on world stage.
hat is new in
the world?
N o t h i n g .
What is old in
the world?
Nothing. Everything has al-
ways been and will always
be.” – Shirdi Sai Baba
Sai Baba of Shirdi, also
known as Shirdi Sai Baba,
was an Indian spiritual mas-
ter who was regarded by his
devotees as a saint, fakir, and
satguru, according to their
individual proclivities and
beliefs. He was revered by
both his Hindu and Muslim
devotees and during, as well
as after, his life it remained
uncertain if he was a Hindu
or a Muslim. This, however,
was of no consequence to
Sai Baba. He stressed the im-
portance of surrender to the
true Satguru or Murshid,
who, having trod the path to
divine consciousness, will
lead the disciple through the
jungle of spiritual training.
Sai Baba is worshipped by
people around the world. He
had no love for perishable
things and his sole concern
was realization of the self.
He taught a moral code of
love, forgiveness, helping
others, charity, content-
ment, inner peace, and devo-
tion to God and guru.
He gave no distinction
basedonreligionorcaste.Sai
Baba’s teaching combined
elements of Hinduism and
Islam: he gave the Hindu
name Dwarakamayi to the
mosque in which he lived,
practiced Muslim rituals,
taught using words and fig-
ures that drew from both tra-
ditions, and was buried in
Shirdi.
One of his well-known epi-
grams, “Sabka Malik Ek”
(“One God governs all”), is
associated with Hinduism,
Islam, and Sufism. He also
said, “Trust in me and your
prayershallbeanswered”.He
alwaysuttered,“AllahMalik”
(“God is King”).
TEACHINGS
OF SAI BABA
If you are wealthy, be hum-
ble. Plants bend when they
bear fruit.
Spend money in charity;
be generous and munificent
but not extravagant.
Whatever creature comes
to you, human or otherwise,
treat it with consideration.
See the divine in the hu-
man being.
There is a wall of separa-
tion between oneself and
others and between you and
me. Destroy this wall!
I get angry with none.
Will a mother get angry
with her children?
Willtheoceansendbackthe
waters to the several rivers?
What is our duty?
To behave properly. That
is enough.
God is not so far away. He
is not in the heavens above,
nor in hell below. He is al-
ways near you.
If youcannotendureabuse
from another, just say a sim-
ple word or two, or else leave.
I stay by the side of who-
ever repeats my name.
Do not be obsessed by ego-
tism, imagining that you are
the cause of action: every-
thing is due to God.
Do not fight with anyone,
nor retaliate, nor slander
anyone.
All gods are one. There is
no difference between a Hin-
du and a Muslim.
Mosque and temple are
the same.
When you see with your
inner eye. Then you realize
that you are God and not dif-
ferent from Him.
To God be the praise.
I am only the slave of God.
Choose friends who will
stick to you till the end,
through thick and thin
– Shirdi Sai Baba
SOURCE: HTTPS://WWW.RAMDASS.
ORG/WONDERFUL-LIFE-TEACHINGS-
SHIRDI-SAI-BABA/
THE WONDERFUL LIFE AND
TEACHINGS OF SHIRDI SAI BABA
“
‘W Who was Shirdi Sai Baba? Baba lived all his adult life in
Shirdi, a small village in India. To the unknowing, He
seemed a simple beggar, dressed in torn clothes, having no
need for any material item. Claiming neither the Hindu
nor Muslim religion nor any religion. He lived in an
abandoned Mosque with no roof and every day took his
food from a few people, making his rounds with his begging
bowl, door to door. What really was happening; He was
burning the karmas of everyone who came to Him, in the
dhuni (Divine Fire) Baba kept burning at all times. Healing
and giving guidance on every level. Hundreds of thousands
of miracles are attributed to Him in His life and they have
multiplied now after His Mahasamadhi. Baba left His
physical form in 1918, but his Divine Energy and Intention
and Power is always available and at work in the world.
BREAKING THE GLASS
CEILING IN NAVY, IAF
emember, Gunjan, the Kargil Girl, the
film that portrayed Indian Air Force in
poor light for misogyny, accusing it of
gender bias and harassment of women?
The IAF, which has 10 women fighter pi-
lots and 18 women navigators, took umbrage to its
gross negative portrayal and the film ran into con-
troversy. Not even a month has elapsed when the
IAF is proving the film wrong by selecting a woman
fighter pilot to fly the air force’s newest acquisition,
the Rafale. Flight Lieutenant Shivangi Singh, who
has flown MiG21 Bison alongside Wing Command-
er Abhinandan Varthman, is set to become the first
woman pilot to fly the potent Rafale. Commis-
sioned in 2017, Flt. Lt. Shivangi Singh hails from
Varanasi. She is undergoing conversion training
before joining the Golden Arrow squadron.
Just a few days back two women---Sub-Lieutenant
KumudiniTyagiandSub-LieutenantRitiSinghwere
inductedashelicoptercrewfordeploymentonfront-
line warships. This was an historic decision for the
Indian Navy. The two officers will be part of teams
managing combat and tactical operations of naval
helicopters. Before these two young officers the In-
dian Navy did not deploy women officers on war-
ships but deployed them in logistics and medical
teams. They are the “first airborne combatants who
wouldbeoperatingfromwarships”,theIndianNavy
said. The two officers will break the proverbial glass
ceiling once they reach the position of commanding
officersof frontlinewarships. Astheclichégoes,sky
isthelimitforthosewhoaspirewithdetermination.
For all three officers September 21 will be an un-
forgettable date.
R
IN-DEPTH
DEEPIKA, SARA TO FACE
NCB AS PROBE WIDENS
hat started as a case of suspected suicide
has widened into a full-fledged investiga-
tiontounearthawiderdrugnexusinBol-
lywood. Based on the statement of Rhea
Chakraborty, who continues to languish
in jail, the Narcotics Control Bureau has issued
summons to Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, and
designer Simone Khambatta. Deepika Padukone
and Shraddha Kapoor have also been summoned by
thebureau.Thequestioningof JayaSaha,thetalent
managerof SushantSinghRajput,continuedforthe
third day on Wednesday. Summons was issued to
Deepika on the basis of some 2017 WhatsApp con-
versationsbetweenhermanagerKarishmaPrakash
and someone named “D”. Nineteen persons are al-
ready in NCB’s custody in this connection.
Where is the NCB investigation headed? Is it in-
tended to unearth the entire nexus and reach every
drug peddler, the source these peddlers get their
supplies from, or is it meant to bring down some
stars from their pedestals? With the kind of media
hype the case is getting, the latter seems more plau-
sible. Peddling, one presumes, is a bigger offence
than consuming drugs which none of the artistes
summoned appear to be doing. The NCB has so far
not produced any transaction evidence in the case
of any of these. Media leaks, it is feared, will only
alert the big while reputations will be besmirched.
This is not the first time that Bollywood stars are
in the news for using narcotic substances. Fardeen
Khanwasarrestedin2001forpossessingcocaine.He
wasgrantedimmunityfromprosecutionbyaspecial
court in 2012. Sanjay Dutt also underwent rehab.
W

To Receive Free Newspaper
PDF Daily
Whatsapp:
http://bit.ly/whatsappahm
Telegram:
https://t.me/firstindiaahmedabad
Click the above link☝ & subscribe us on your
preferred platform.

INDIAAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
‘CONTRIBUTIONS KEEP POURING
IN FOR RAM TEMPLE IN AYODHYA’
Ayodhya: While the
construction of the Ram
Janmabhoomi Temple
in Ayodhya continues,
the contributions have
kept on pouring in from
across the world, the
latest being a USD 1,500
contribution made by
an NRI. Prakash Gupta,
office-in-charge, Shri
Ram Janmabhoomi Tirtha
Kshetra told reporters
here that till date crores
of rupees have been re-
ceived from devotees for
the temple construction.
“Crores of rupees have
been received for temple
construction till date.
Recently an NRI has sent
a cheque of USD 1,500 as
his contribution,” Gupta
said. They send back a
receipt & prasad to those
who send via post.
NAVJOT SIDHU JOINS FARMER
PROTEST IN AMRITSAR
Amritsar: Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on
Wednesday joined the party’s protest in Amritsar
in support of farmers who were demonstrating
the passage of agricultural reform bills in the par-
liament. Visuals from the demonstration showed
Sindhu atop a vehicle with posters in support of
the farmers. Similar protests have broken out
across the country in parts of the country includ-
ing Haryana and Odisha. Congress leaders Rahul
Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have slammed the
Modi government over these bills.
SENSEX ENDS 66 PTS LOWER; BHARTI
AIRTEL CRASHES 8 PC
Mumbai: Extending its
losses for the fifth straight
session, equity bench-
mark Sensex ended 66
points lower on Wednes-
day, tracking weakness in
Bharti Airtel, TCS and Ba-
jaj Finance despite largely
positive cues from global
markets. After open-
ing on a positive note,
the 30-share BSE index
pared all intra-day gains
to settle 65.66 points
or 0.17 per cent down
at 37,668.42. Similarly,
the NSE Nifty fell 21.80
points or 0.20 per cent
to close at 11,131.85.
Bharti Airtel was the top
laggard in the Sensex
pack, tanking around 8
per cent, followed by Tata
Steel, IndusInd Bank,
NTPC, PowerGrid, ONGC
and TCS.
PARL PASSES 3 KEY LABOUR REFORM BILLS
New Delhi: Parliament
approved three key la-
bour reform bills that
will remove impedi-
ments for winding up of
companies and allow
firing of staff without
government permis-
sion in firms with up to
300 workers. Amid boy-
cott by opposition par-
ties including Congress
and Left over suspen-
sion of eight MPs, RS
passed by voice vote the
three remaining labour
codes on industrial re-
lations, social security
and occupational safety.
The three codes were
passed by Lok Sabha on
Tuesday and these will
now be sent to the Pres-
ident for his assent. Re-
plying to the debate on
the three labour re-
forms bills, Labour
Minister Santosh Gang-
war said,”The purpose
of labour reforms is to
provide a transparent
system to suit the
changed business envi-
ronment.” He said these
bills would safeguard
the interest of workers.
—PTI
Replying to the debate on the three labour reforms bills, Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar said, “The purpose
of labour reforms is to provide a transparent system to suit the changed business environment”
PARLIAMENT’S MONSOON SESSION
NADDA HAILS PASSAGE OF
KEY BILLS IN RAJYA SABHA
New Delhi: BJP president JP Nadda on
Wednesday hailed the passage of the Jammu
and Kashmir Official
Languages Bill as “his-
toric”, and said this is
an important step for
developing the regional
languages of the union
territory. “These codes
aims to reform India’’s
archaic labour laws
& expand their ambit
to provide healthy and safe working environ-
ment for 50 crore workers. The government is
very sensitive to migrant labourers. First time
several provisions have been made for their
welfare in this code,” he tweeted.JAVADEKAR SLAMS OPPN FOR STAYING
ABSENT WHILE BILLS WERE DISCUSSED
New Delhi: When discussions on three Bills
namely, Occupational Safety, Health and
Working Conditions Code, 2020, the Indus-
trial Relations Code, 2020 and the Code of
Social Security, 2020, were underway in
the Upper House, Union Minister Prakash
Javadekar said, “73 years after independ-
ence, labourers are getting the right they
had been waiting for. The Bills guarantee
wage, social & health security. When a Bill
that assures wage security, social security
& health security to 50 crore labourers has
been brought, the Opposition is absent be-
cause they are distanced from the public.”
J&K OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
BILL, 2020 PASSED
New Delhi: The Jammu&Kashmir Official
Languages Bill 2020 was passed by a voice
vote in the Rajya Sabha. The Bill gives official
language status to Kashmiri, Dogri, Hindi,
English, and Urdu in the Union Territory.“The
Bill fulfills the decades long wishes of the
people of the region. It is a big step which
will give official language status to Kashmiri,
Dogri, Hindi, English, and Urdu,” said Min-
ister of State (MoS) Home Affairs G Kishan
Reddy said speaking during the discussions.
Parliamentarians in Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament in New Delhi on Wednesday.
New Delhi: Living in a
neighbourhood with no
friends is dangerous,
Congress leader Rahul
Gandhi said on Wednes-
day and alleged that
Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi had destroyed
the “web of relation-
ships” that the Con-
gress had built with
countries over decades.
Attacking the gov-
ernment on Twitter,
Gandhi also tagged a
report in The Econo-
mist titled ”As Bangla-
desh’s relations with
India weaken, ties with
China strengthen”.
“Mr Modi has de-
stroyed the web of rela-
tionships that the Con-
gress built and nur-
tured over several dec-
ades,” Gandhi alleged.
“Living in a neigh-
bourhood with no
friends is dangerous,”
he further added.
Congress has been
critical of Modi govern-
ment’s foreign policy,
alleging that ties with
neighbours have been
weakened. —PTI
The agreed rate
or contract rate
shall not be less
than minimum support
price of the proceeding
year....where there is no
minimum support price,
and no agreed rate, the
amount of security shall
be calculated at the rate
of 15 per cent of the pre-
vailing market rate of
agreement,” said Hooda
while quoting the rules.
—Bhupinder Singh Hooda,
Former Haryana CM
ENVIRONMENT MINISTRY’S PLEA
ON EIA ADJOURNED TILL OCT 23
New Delhi: The Delhi High court adjourned till
October 23, a petition filed by Ministry of Environ-
ment against the court’s June 30 order where the
Centre was directed to publish the draft Environ-
mental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification in
languages mentioned in VIII Schedule of Consti-
tution of India. A division bench of CJ DN Patel
& Prateek Jalan adjourned the matter after the
Centre sought time to file a rejoinder in the plea.
The court has earlier sought a response on the
review plea from petitioner Vikrant Tongad.
‘Modi govt destroyed
web of relationships
with other countries’
Oppn parties
march in
Parl, protest
Farm Bills
CBDT issues
over`1.11L cr
refund to 32L
taxpayers
New Delhi: Opposition
parties on Wednesday
took out a march inside
the Parliament premis-
es in protest against the
Centre’s Farm Bills.
MPs of the Opposi-
tion parties, including
Congress’ Ghulam Nabi
Azad, TMC’s Derek
O’Brien, and Samajwa-
di Party’s Jaya Bach-
chan among others held
placards with slogans
‘Save Farmers’ as well
as ‘Save Farmers, Save
Workers, Save Democ-
racy’ as they first staged
a protest before the Gan-
dhi statue in the Parlia-
ment premises and later
took out a march.
Several Opposition
parties have protested
the passage of the
Farm Bills in Parlia-
ment and have boycott-
ed the proceedings of
both Houses. —ANI
New Delhi: The Cen-
tral Board of Direct
Taxes (CBDT) has is-
sued refunds of over
1,11,372 crore to more
than 32.07 lakh taxpay-
ers between April 1 to
September 22, 2020, said
the Income Tax (I-T) De-
partment in a statement
on Wednesday.
The I-T refunds of
31,856 crore were is-
sued in 30.29 lakh tax-
payers and corporate
tax refunds of Rs79,517
crore have been issued
to over 1.76 lakh taxpay-
ers, the statement said.
In wake of COVID-19
pandemic, CBDT earli-
er extended the due
date for filing of Income
Tax Returns for FY
2018-19 (AY 2019-20)
from July 31 to Septem-
ber 30, 2020.
The CBDT earlier
said the income tax au-
thorities can share in-
formation with sched-
uled commercial banks,
a move that would ease
the lenders’ hassle of
deciding TDS deducti-
bility on various pay-
ments to their custom-
ers. —Agencies
RAHUL GANDHI
@RAHULGANDHI
Mr Modi has destroyed
the web of relationships
that the Congress built
and nurtured over several
decades.
Living in a neighbourhood
with no friends is
dangerous.
IN THE COURTYARD
Mumbai: Dheeraj
Wadhawan of DHFL
group and East Coast
LLC allegedly trans-
ferred four commer-
cial properties in
Dubai, to late gangster
Iqbal Mirchi’s son Asif
Iqbal Memon without
any monetary consid-
eration, ED investiga-
tion revealed.
According to an ED
official, Dheeraj and
East Coast LLC (DEC)
transferred four com-
mercial properties of
an area totalling over
3000 sq ft in Marsa,
Dubai, to Memon with-
out any monetary con-
sideration in 2015.
“The company also
sold 10 commercial
properties at Dubai’s
Business Bay financial
district to Memon for
4.5 million Emirati
Dirham (about Rs 9
crore), a discount of
over 57% on the pre-
vailing market price,”
the official said.—ANI
Mirchi’s son got 4 properties in
Dubai by DHFL’s Wadhwans
Plea in SC seeks removal of Maha
govt, imposition of Prez’s rule
New Delhi: A petition
has been filed in the SC
seeking directions to
remove CM Uddhav
Thackery-led govern-
ment from power in
Maharashtra and im-
pose President’s rule
in the state. The plea
said the state machin-
ery is being “misused”
by political parties in
power not only to
shield criminals but
also to encourage crim-
inal activity being reg-
ularly indulged into by
cadre. It said that the
affairs of the state are
not being carried out
as per legal require-
ments and in an honest
and sincere manner
for the welfare of the
citizens. The petition
was filed by Delhi resi-
dents. —ANI
‘Is Netflix permitted to
violate an individual’s
fundamental rights?’
New Delhi: Busi-
nessman and dia-
mantaire Mehul
Choksi, who is an ac-
cused in the PNB
scam, during the
hearing on an appeal
against Netflix’s doc-
umentary titled “Bad
Boy Billionaires” on
Wednesday asked the
Delhi High Court
whether the stream-
ing service is permit-
ted to violate an indi-
vidual’s fundamental
rights.
Advocate Vijay Ag-
garwal, appearing for
Choksi, also asked
whether Netflix’s
claim to remain un-
regulated and being
beyond the jurisdic-
tion of writ courts in
India is legal.
A division bench
of Chief Justice DN
Patel and Justice Pra-
teek Jalan, hearing
Choksi’s petition
against a single-judge
bench order dismiss-
ing his plea seeking
pre-screening of the
documentary, slated
the matter for further
hearing on Thursday.
Appearing for
Choksi, advocates
Aggarwal, Mudit
Jain and Ashul Agar-
wal argued that it is a
travesty of justice
that a person had ap-
proached the writ
court for protection
of his fundamental
rights to a fair inves-
tigation, which is a
facet under Article 21
of the Constitution
of India; however, he
was relegated to avail
his remedies before
the civil court. —ANI
ED INVESTIGATION MEHUL CHOKSI ASKS DELHI HC

INDIAAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
51 IAS OFFICERS EMPANELLED AS
ADDITIONAL SECRETARY
Altogether 51 IAS officers belonging to 1989,
1990,1991 ,1992 and 1993 batch have been
empanelled to the rank of Additional Secretary in
the Government of India.
JUSTICE SANJAY YADAV NAMED
ACTING CJ OF MADHYA PRADESH
HC Justice Sanjay Yadav has been appointed as the
acting Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High
Court. He will assume charge with effect from Sep-
tember 30, after incumbent Ajay Kumar Mittal retires.
A notification in this regard was issued on Tuesday.
PANKAJ JOSHI EMPANELLED AS
ADDITIONAL SECRETARY IN GOI
Pankaj Joshi has been empanelled for holding
Additional Secretary and Additional Secretary
equivalent posts in Government of India. He is a
1989 batch IAS officer of Gujarat cadre.
RAJAT KUMAR MISHRA EMPANELLED
AS ADDITIONAL SECRETARY IN GOI
Rajat Kumar Mishra has been empanelled for
holding Additional Secretary and Additional Secre-
tary equivalent posts in Government of India. He
is a 1992 batch IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre.
IQBAL SINGH CHAHAL EMPANELLED
FOR ADDITIONAL SECRETARY
EQUIVALENT POSTS IN GOI
Iqbal Singh Chahal has been empanelled for
holding Additional Secretary equivalent posts
in Government of India. He is a 1989 batch IAS
officer of Maharashtra cadre.
SUDHANSH PANT EMPANELLED FOR
ADDITIONAL SECRETARY
Sudhansh Pant has been empanelled for holding
Additional Secretary equivalent posts in Govern-
ment of India. He is a 1991 batch IAS officer of
Rajasthan cadre.
HUKUM SINGH MEENA EMPANELLED
Hukum Singh Meena has been empanelled for
holding Additional Secretary equivalent posts
in Government of India. He is a 1992 batch IAS
officer of Bihar cadre.
ASHISH SRIVASTAVA EMPANELLED
Ashish Srivastava has been empanelled for holding
Additional Secretary equivalent posts in Government
of India. He is a 1992 batch IAS officer of MP cadre.
PANKAJ AGRAWAL EMPANELLED AS
ADDITIONAL SECRETARY IN GOI
Pankaj Agrawal has been empanelled for holding
Additional Secretary and Additional Secretary
equivalent posts in Government of India. He is a
1992 batch IAS officer of MP cadre.
AMARDEEP SINGH BHATIA EMPANELLED
AS ADDITIONAL SECRETARY IN GOI
Amardeep Singh Bhatia has been empanelled for
holding Additional Secretary and Additional Secre-
tary equivalent posts in Government of India. He
is a 1993 batch IAS officer of Nagaland cadre.
ALOK EMPANELLED AS ADDITIONAL
SECRETARY IN GOI
Alok has been empanelled for holding Additional
Secretary and Additional Secretary equivalent
posts in Government of India. He is a 1993 batch
IAS officer of Rajasthan cadre.
SINGHAL IS ACTING DGP BIHAR
Sanjiv Kumar Singhal, DG, Civil Defence and
Fire Services, has been given the additional
charge of DGP of Bihar till further orders. He is
1988 batch IPS officer.
POWERGallery
By arrangement with: http://
whispersinthecorridors.com
Govt mismanagement...
is increasing--and that
the government is still
struggling to control
the spread of the virus.
AMC sources told
First India that more
than 300 beds--in pri-
vate hospitals--have
been added in just the
past week.
A doctor at one of
the roughly 90 walk-in
testing centres said,
“We are sent to differ-
ent areas every day.
Some pockets have a
higher rate of infec-
tion than others. In
some areas, we don’t
see a single case, while
at other areas, we get
seven to 10 positive
cases in a day.”
Dinesh Sharma, lead-
er of the opposition in
the AMC, said, “The
BJP-run AMC has
failed to control the
spread of the virus. So
they are doing what
they do best: hiding and
managing data to suit
their convenience.”
Reliance sells...
KKR has $222 billion in
assets under manage-
ment as of June 30,
2020.
Reliance Retail
claims that the compa-
ny sees around 640 mil-
lion footfalls across its
nearly 12,000 stores na-
tionwide.
“I am pleased to wel-
come KKR as an inves-
tor in Reliance Retail
Ventures as we contin-
ue our onward march
to growing and trans-
forming the Indian Re-
tail ecosystem for the
benefit of all Indians.
KKR has a proven
track record of being a
valuable partner to in-
dustry-leading fran-
chises and has been
committed to India for
many years. We look
forward to working
with KKR’s global plat-
form, industry knowl-
edge and operational
expertise across our
digital services and re-
tail businesses,” said
Mukesh Ambani,
Chairman and Manag-
ing Director of Reli-
ance Industries.
Morgan Stanley acted
as financial advisor to
Reliance Retail and De-
loitte Touche Tohmatsu
India LLP acted as fi-
nancial advisor to KKR
for this deal. —Agencies
MoS Suresh...
Karnataka BJP MP Ra-
jeev Chandrashekhar
tweeted, “Tragic terri-
ble sad news of Karna-
taka BJP leader and
minister Suresh Anga-
di passing away.”
Congress leader Ghu-
lam Nabi Azad offered
condolences on the min-
ister’s death.
“Deeply saddened to
hear about the un-
timely demise of Sh
Suresh Angadi, MoS
Railways who suc-
cumbed to COVID.
Heartfelt condolences
to his family. I pray to
Almighty that his soul
rests in peace,” he
posted on Twitter. An-
gadi was a LS MP from
Belagavi constituency
in Karnataka became
seriously ill and was
hospitalised a week
ago. He is survived by
his wife and two
daughters. —ANI
Lok Sabha...
and conveyed to him
that their passage in
Rajya Sabha was “un-
constitutional”, Ghu-
lam Nabi Azad said on
Wednesday. The gov-
ernment should have
consulted all parties,
farmer leaders before
bringing the farm bills,
Azad said after meet-
ing the President. “The
Constitution was un-
dermined ...We have
given a representation
to President that the
farm bills have been
passed unconstitution-
ally and he should re-
turn these bills,” Azad
said. The Farmer’s
Produce Trade and
Commerce (Promotion
and Facilitation) Bill,
2020, the Farmers (Em-
powerment and Protec-
tion) Agreement of
Price Assurance and
Farm Services Bill,
2020 and the Essential
Commodities (Amend-
ment) Bill, 2020, have
been passed by both
Houses and await pres-
idential assent. —ANI
FIR against...
to woman with intent to
outrage her modesty,),
341 (wrongful restraint)
and 342 (wrongful con-
finement), the official
said, adding that fur-
ther investigation is un-
derway.
Kashyap will be
called for questioning
in connection with the
alleged seven-year-old
incident, he said.
In her police com-
plaint, the actress al-
leged that Kashyap
raped her at a place on
Yari Road in Versova in
2013. The actress and
her lawyer earlier ap-
proached Oshiwara po-
lice station here on
Monday, but they were
asked to go to the Vers-
ova police station as
the alleged incident
took place under its
area of jurisdiction,
the official said.
They had approached
the Oshiwara police as
Kashyap’s office is lo-
cated in that area. —PTI
FROM PG 1
New Delhi: New recov-
eries in the country
have exceeded the new
COVID-19 cases for the
fifth consecutive day,
said Union Health Min-
istry on Wednesday.
As per the data of
the Ministry, on Sep-
tember 19, India re-
corded 93,337 new
COVID-19 cases and
95,880 recoveries, on
September 20, the
country reported
92,605 new cases and
September 21, the
number of new cases
stood at 86,961 with
September 22, the na-
tion recorded 75,083
new case and highest
single-day recoveries
of 1,01, 468 and on Sep-
tember 23, the number
of reported new cases
was 83,347 and recov-
eries stood at 89,746.
“A total of 89,746 re-
coveries have been reg-
istered in the last 24
hours in the country,
whereas the number of
new confirmed cases
stands at 83,347,”
MoHFW said in a re-
lease.
“With this, the total
number of recoveries
are 45,87,613. The re-
covery rate is 81.25 per
cent today. A total of 17
states/UTs have more
new recoveries than
new cases,” it added.
India has the highest
recovered cases in the
world. It contributes
19.5 per cent to the
global recoveries, the
ministry said. With a
spike of 83,347 new
cases and 1,085 deaths
in the last 24 hours, In-
dia's COVID-19 count
stood at 56,46,011 on
Wednesday.
According to the
Health Ministry, this
includes 9,68,377 active
cases and 45,87,614
cured and discharged
or migrated patients.
NEW RECOVERIES EXCEED FRESH
CASES FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE DAY‘A total of 89,746 recoveries have been registered in the last 24 hours’, MoHFW said in a release
A health worker wearing a PPE kit collects a sample for COVID-19 Rapid Antigen test, at Kursoo Rajbagh
in Srinagar. —PHOTO BY PTI
PM reviews COVID-19 situation with CMs
New Delhi: Prime Min-
ister Narendra Modi on
Wednesdayreviewedthe
COVID-19 pandemic sit-
uation with chief minis-
tersandotherrepresent-
atives of seven high-
case-load states through
video conference.
The virtual meeting,
also attended by health
ministers of these
states, began in the
evening. These states
are Maharashtra,
Andhra Pradesh, Kar-
nataka, Uttar Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu, Delhi and
Punjab, officials said,
noting that more than
63 per of the active cas-
es in the country are
concentrated in these
seven states. They also
account for 65.5 per cent
of the total confirmed
cases and 77 per cent of
the total deaths, a state-
ment had said earlier.
Along with the other
five states, Punjab and
Delhi have reported an
increase in the number
of cases being reported
recently, they said, add-
ing that Maharashtra,
Punjab and Delhi are
also reporting high
mortality with more
than two per cent case
fatality rate (CFR).
Other than Punjab and
Uttar Pradesh, the case
positivity rate of these
states has also been ob-
served to be above the
national average of
8.52 per cent.
The Centre, as per the
statement, has been
leadingthefightagainst
COVID-19 in effective
collaboration and close
coordination with the
state and union territo-
ry governments.
Mumbai: The hearing
on the bail plea of Bol-
lywood actor Rhea
Chakraborty and her
brother Showik will be
held tomorrow as the
Bombay HC declared
holiday on Wednesday,
her lawyer said.
The HC declared a
holiday for the court due
to the heavy rain in the
State capital and added
that all hearings slated
fortodaywillbetakenup
tomorrow. “The Chief
Justice has declared a
holiday today for the
Bombay High Court and
today's board will be tak-
en up tomorrow,” Rhea's
lawyerSatishManeshin-
de told reporters.
Rhea and her brother
had on Tuesday moved
bail applications in the
Bombay High Court in
connection with a drug
case related to the death
of actor Sushant Singh
Rajput.Aspecialcourtin
Mumbai had on Septem-
ber 11 rejected the bail
pleaof Rhea,herbrother,
and others observing
that if she is released on
bail she may alert other
accused persons and
they may destroy evi-
dence in the matter.
The special NDPS
court had also rejected
the bail plea of alleged
drugpeddlerAbdulBasit
Parihar, Zaid Vilatra, Ra-
jput's personal staff,
Dipesh Uttam Sawant
and Rhea's associate
Samuel Marshal Miran-
da, who were also arrest-
edbytheNCBinthecase.
Rhea, Showik’s bail
pleas to be heard by
Bombay HC todayNew Delhi: Since 2015,
Prime Minister Naren-
dra Modi has visited 58
countries and Rs 517.82
crores have been spent
on them in total, accord-
ing to the Ministry of
External Affairs
(MEA). The informa-
tion was provided in a
reply given by Minister
of State (MoS), MEA, V
Muraleedharan, to the
query posed by MP Fau-
zia Khan.
The reply stated that
thePrimeMinister'svis-
its abroad have “en-
hanced understanding
of India's perspectives
on bilateral, regional
and global issues by oth-
er countries, and have
strengthened our rela-
tions with them across a
wide range of sectors
including trade and in-
vestment, technology,
maritime, space, de-
fence collaboration and
people to people contact.
Rs 517 cr spent
on PM Modi’s
visit to 58
countries: MEA
Mumbai: Five teams of
the NDRF are on stand-
by in view of heavy
rains that have lashed
Mumbai, Thane and
Palghar districts and
caused water-logging in
many areas, Maharash-
tra Relief and Rehabili-
tation Minister Vijay
Wadettiwar said on
Wednesday.
Mumbai and neigh-
bouring areas received
intense spells of rain
since Tuesday night,
leaving many parts of
the metropolis in waist
deep water and disrupt-
ing rail and road traf-
fic. Wadettiwar said in
a statement that heavy
rains caused flood-like
situation in many plac-
es, adding that Disaster
Management depart-
ment is keeping a close
watch on the situation.
He appealed to peo-
ple to stay indoors in
view of flooding in
many areas in Mumbai
and other places.
“Since last night,
Mumbai, Thane and
Palghar districts have
been witnessing very
heavy rains, due to
which there is flood-like
situation in many plac-
es,” the minister said.
Mumbai received one of
the highest showers in
the last 24 hours of this
monsoon season and
more rainfall is likely in
the city and suburbs on
Wednesday, as per IMD.
Five teams of NDRF on
standby: Maha minister
People wade through a waterlogged street at Parel area, after heavy monsoon rain, in Mumbai.
TTT
INCREASED RISK FOR KIDNEY DAMAGE

TALKING POINTAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
HUMANS HAVE DEALT WITH PLENTY OF
CLIMATE VARIABILITY
SOURCE: THE CONVERSATION CONCEPT: DIVYA HEMNANI DESIGN: CP SHARMA
HOW MUCH CLIMATE VARIABILITY HAVE HUMANS DEALT
WITH SINCE WE EVOLVED AND SINCE WE STARTED SETTLING
(NEOLITHIC TIMES)? HOW IMPORTANT WAS MIGRATION TO
HUMAN SURVIVAL DURING THESE PERIODS?
T
he climate always fluctuates as
variation in the Sun’s heat
reaching Earth drives glacial-
interglacial cycles. Over the past
420,000 years there have been at least four
major transitions between ice ages and
relatively warmer interglacial periods.
Modern humans emigrated from Africa
to populate the rest of the globe between
120,000 and 80,000 years ago, which means
our species has had to adapt to many mas-
sive climate transitions.
WARMING AND COOLING
The Last Interglacial 129,000–116,000
years ago was a period of intense
global warming (from around 2 higher
than today to as much as 11 higher in the
Arctic), leading to a large reduction of the
Arctic, Greenland and Antarctic ice
sheets, and a 6–9m rise in sea level.
The Last Glacial Maximum from 26,500–
19,000 years ago coincided with a large
drop in atmospheric CO and a 4.3 cooling
globally. Low temperatures turned much
of the world’s water into ice and expanded
glaciers. This lowered sea level by up to
130m compared to today. This exposed con-
tinental shelves, joined land masses and
created extensive coastal plains, such as
Beringia that connected Russia to North
America, and Sahul that connected Aus-
tralia to New Guinea.
After a brief warming period, the
Northern Hemisphere returned abruptly
to near-glacial conditions around 12,900
years ago that lasted 1,300 years. Known
as the Younger Dryas, this period record-
ed climate cooling up to 15 and giant ice
sheets again advanced. The end of the
Younger Dryas was just as sudden,
marked by a rapid warming up to 10 in
few decades. The most recent period of
climate instability was the transition
from the Medieval Warm Period to the
Little Ice Age. Cold conditions between
1580 and 1880 were characterised by a
0.5–4 cooling and expanding mountain
glaciers in the European Alps, New Zea-
land, Alaska and the Andes.
Because of the cold tem-
peratures and scarcity
of food at this time, humans
needed to improve their
hunting efficiency by target-
ing large animals to maxim-
ise food return. In the South-
ern Hemisphere, modern
humans had already been
living in Australia for 30,000–
40,000 years prior to the Last
Glacial Maximum, so such
drastic cooling and drying
probably pushed human
populations to decline and
retreat into smaller refuges
nearer to reliable sources of
fresh water where game ani-
mals also gathered.
Following the Last Glacial
Maximum, modern humans
continued to spread across
North America. The warmer
and wetter climate in the
Southern Hemisphere also
helped human migration
into South America. At the
sametimetheYoungerDryas
in the Northern Hemisphere
forced populations either to
return to a nomadic lifestyle
or seek refuge in a few hospi-
table areas. After the harsh
conditions of the Younger
Dryas, the first evidence of
agriculture emerged in vari-
ous parts of the world.
The peopling of remote
Oceania between 3,500 and
730 years ago required oce-
anic journeys of thousands
of kilometres across the Pa-
cific, eventually to the tem-
perate and subantarctic wa-
ters of New Zealand. Al-
though these migrations are
not clearly related to any of
the earlier climate-change
events, the wind patterns at
the time were particularly
favourable for sailing.
ButtheLittleIceAgecould
have reduced population size
and pushed early M ori set-
tlement northward. The Lit-
tle Ice age probably hit peo-
ple in the Northern Hemi-
sphere much harder. The
cold climate caused wide-
spread crop failures, famines
and population declines.
During the last five years
alone, the Earth is already
~1.1 warmer than 150 years
ago and temperatures are
expected to be +4.5 warmer
than today by 2100. Today we
are experiencing the warm-
est climate since our species
started peopling the globe.
Climate fluctuations that
used to take millennia are
now occurring in less than
100 years, affecting fresh
water availability, food sup-
ply, health, and environ-
mental integrity.
Past climate changes set
the stage for people to dem-
onstrate immense adaptabil-
ity and resilience by devel-
oping new skills, farming
techniques, trading patterns
and political structures, but
most importantly by leaving
their old, unsustainable
ways of life behind.
THE NEED FOR FOOD
Despite our impressive
capacity to adapt to a
broad range of environ-
ments, humans have a pre-
ferred environmental en-
velope in which we thrive.
These conditions would
have been characterised
by a mix of open, savanna-
type woodlands, wetlands
and rocky habitats.
Dense, humid rain for-
ests made access to re-
sources difficult, whereas
deserts were often too dry
to provide enough food
and materials. Climate
conditions during the
Last Interglacial could
have encouraged waves of
human expansion out of
Africa when a humid and
warm climate promoted
vegetated corridors
through Eurasia.
The subsequent cooling
period connected land
masses that had previ-
ously been separated by
oceans and provided op-
portunities for human
travellers to access Sahul
from the Indonesian ar-
chipelago. The entrance
into America from Asia
via Beringia was more
difficult because humans
only reached there during
the Last Glacial Maxi-
mum when a massive ice
sheet blocked the new
land bridge.
During that time, hu-
man populations declined
and contracted to small
refuges until the climate
in eastern Beringia began
to warm again 17,000–
15,000 years ago. This
warming created newly
accessible pathways along
the Pacific Northwest
coast, followed by another
ice-free corridor that
formed 3,000 years later as
the ice sheet retreated.
WHAT CLIMATE CHANGE
MEANT FOR HUMANS

The concept of leadership has
changed, at one time it meant
power and muscle but today it
means inspiration and taking people along.
—Jagdeesh Chandra, CEO & Editor, First India
AHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
08
2NDFRONT
First India Bureau
Surat: There are
countless stories of
struggle with the Cov-
id-19 but this struggle
of a 36-year-old Surat
resident with a rare
heart and lung condi-
tion lasted for 8 years.
Bhavesh Sabhadia
walked home recently
during the challeng-
ing Covid-19 times.
His struggle ended
following a curative sur-
gical procedure that
was carried out for a
rare medical condition
instead of a heart-lung
transplant as suggested
by experts earlier.
The surgery was re-
cently performed by a
team of doctors at the
Sir HN Reliance Foun-
dation Hospital when
Sabhadia was already
requiring oxygen sup-
port for the last 2
years after suffering
since 2012. He was
unable to walk or
sleep and had to be
hospitalised fre-
quently for water ac-
cumulation in his ab-
domen. He was told
that a heart and lung
transplant was his
only option.
Sabhadia approached
the advanced cardiac
surgery department of
Sir HN RFH, headed by
Dr Anvay Mulay for a
heart-lung transplant.
Finally, doctors at the
hospital diagnosed him
with chronic thrombus
pulmonary embolism
(CTPEH), a condition
wherein the patient has
high blood pressure in
thelungs’arteries.They
also found that the right
side of his heart was se-
verely damaged and the
blood pressure in the
lung vessels was four
times more than the
normal.
Dr Anvay Mulay and
his team went for a pul-
monary endarterecto-
my surgery instead of
the heart-lung trans-
plant. Though it was a
high-risk surgery, they
removed the old blood
clots from the pulmo-
nary arteries in Sab-
hadia’s lungs and re-
duced the blood pres-
sure.
“In Bhavesh’s case,
it was a level 3-4 CT-
PEH making it techni-
cally a difficult sur-
gery. It was hearten-
ing to see a terminally
ill patient, who was
waiting for a heart-
lung transplant, walk
home with his own
organs,” said an elat-
ed Dr Anvay Mulay,
Director, Cardiac Sur-
gery and Heart Trans-
plant, Sir HN RFH.
Move over Covid-19, this Surat man defeats rare lung condition
RARE SURGERY
Surat’s Bhavesh recovered from a rare lung condition after an
8-year-old battle.
First India Bureau
Surat: Six persons
were arrested in 4 sepa-
rate drug seizures in
which mephedrone
(MD) and ganja worth
Rs 1.9 crore were recov-
ered in Surat.
Mephedrone worth
Rs 1.3 crore and ganja
valued at Rs 56 lakh
were found in separate
seizures on Tuesday, Su-
rat Police Commission-
er Ajay Tomar said on
Wednesday. At least 6
persons were arrested
under the Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances Act. He said
the police seized 1011.82
gm of MD valued at
over Rs 1.01 crore from
one Mohammad Sal-
man, while 304.98 gm of
the drug worth over Rs
30 lakh in a raid at a
shopping centre in
Puna locality, in which
one Sanket Shaileshb-
hai Aslalia was nabbed.
Meanwhile, the city
crime branch team in-
tercepted a four-wheel-
er in Varachha, where-
in the driver identified
as Vinay alias Bunty
Patel, was allegedly
found in possession of
17.5 gm of MD worth Rs
1.75 lakh, Tomar said.
First India Bureau
Ahmedabad: The city
police have cracked a
prostitution racket be-
ing run from 3 flats in
Chitrakoot Apartments
in Naroda gam area.
The kingpin Ram-
naresh Yadav alias Raju
Yadav is absconding.
The police rescued 11
girls, including a
17-year-old, who was
brought to Ahmedabad
from Surat 10 days ago.
The racket came to
light after a teenager
was rescued from a
prostitution ring being
run in Surat under the
guise of spa service. Po-
lice suspect the accused
had a connection with
one Raju Yadav.
Police said Yadav
used to send women
with clients for Rs 1,000
per client. The state-
ments of the rescued
women were being re-
corded. A client Alkesh
Parekh, who was with a
woman, was also round-
ed up. Yadav had shifted
the women to the 3
houses just a fortnight
ago. Some mobile
phones, cash, LCD TV,
an auto-rickshaw and
several packets of con-
doms were recovered.
Surat police seize
drugs worth `1.9 cr
Cops bust prostitution
racket in Ahmedabad
An assembly panel, chaired by BJP MLA, says State’s health sector fails to reach the backward classes
Shishir Awasthi
Gandhinagar: Even as
the Gujarat Govern-
menthasbeendrawing
flak for its handling of
the Covid-19 crisis, a
committee of the State
Assembly chaired by a
legislator of the ruling
BJP has brought out
several deficiencies in
the state’s healthcare
infrastructure.
A scrutiny report of
the 10-member commit-
teeonwelfareof socially
and educationally back-
ward classes (SEBCs)
tabled in the Assembly
on Tuesday states that
Gujarat’s healthcare is
especially lacking in
serving the backward
classes. The committee
washeadedbyBJPMLA
R C Makwana and had
members from the Con-
gress and the BJP.
Thecommitteepoint-
ed out that the Gujarat
Government’s ambi-
tious Mukhyamantri
Amrutam(MA)scheme
for free treatment to
poor citizens “failed to
serve its purpose due to
the lack of hospitals to
treat patients with seri-
ous ailments”.
The committee asked
thegovernmenttoestab-
lish speciality hospitals
for the “welfare of
SEBCs, who are com-
pelled to spend their life
savingsonprivatehospi-
tals due to non-availabil-
ity of government-run
or government-empan-
eled cancer hospitals”.
The panel said the
people were facing is-
suesingettingMAcards
and recommended that
the government should
ensure that more cards
were printed. The com-
mittee hit out at the gov-
ernment over vacant
posts of anaesthetists in
Gandhinagar district
and city, the capital of
Gujarat.
While probing the
availability of medi-
cines, the panel found
that generic medicines
were not easily available
despitethefactthatsuch
stores were opened in
premisesof government
hospitals across the
State. “The health de-
partment’s representa-
tive admitted that doc-
tors are prescribing
branded medicines in-
steadof genericones.As
a result, generic stores
areshuttingdowndueto
lack of demand and peo-
ple are compelled to buy
expensive medicines
from private stores,” the
report stated.
The committee also
found that ambulance
vans for patients were
being used as mortuary
vans at places where
such vehicles were not
available.
—(With PTI inputs)
GUJARAT’S HEALTH INFRA: Many a
slip between the cup and the lip
A Gujarat Assembly committee has found the State’s health sector was under-serving the poor .
‘HOLLOW’ SCHEME
Amid acrimony, BJP
pushes through 4
key labour bills
First India Bureau
Gandhinagar: Even
as the Gujarat As-
sembly passed 4 Bills
providing for dilu-
tion of key labour
laws after a pro-
longed debate till
Tuesday night amid
protests by the Oppo-
sition, it also saw an
ugly spat between
Deputy Chief Minis-
ter Nitin Patel and
Congress MLA Nau-
shad Solanki.
A fracas broke out
when during the de-
bate Nitin Patel called
Solanki a “(labour)
contractor” and taunt-
ed him that he would
know better about ex-
ploitation of labour.
This provoked the Con-
gress members to walk
into the well of the
House, while Solanki
sat on a dharna seek-
ing apology from Patel
if he could not prove
that he was a contrac-
tor.
The BJP members
were riled when at
one point Solanki
hurled his mike from
Gallery 4 into the
well of the House.
Speaker Rajendra
Trivedi pulled him
up Solanki for this.
The Congress raised
slogans against “the
anti-labour govern-
ment” for watering
down the Industries
Disputes Act, 1947 and
Factories Act, 1948, in
favour of employers.
Ramadoss tells Modi to get re-
opened Tamil school in A’bad
First India Bureau
Chennai: PMK
Founder Dr S Rama-
doss on Wednesday
reminded Prime
Minister Narendra
Modi his assembly
constituency, Mani-
nagar in
Ahmedabad, when
he was the Chief
Minister of Gujarat,
and sought his inter-
vention in re-open-
ing a Tamil school in
that area that was
closed down.
Ramadoss was re-
ferring to the
Ahmedabad Tamil
Higher Secondary
School in Maninagar
which was reportedly
closed down for want
of adequate students.
In a tweet, Dr Rama-
doss said he was sad-
dened to note that the
school was closed cit-
ing reduction in stu-
dent admission. He
said the school was
located at Maninagar
from where Modi was
elected to the Gujarat
Assembly during his
tenure as the Chief
Minister.
“Mr Modi, who
has love and respect
for Tamil, should in-
tervene and take im-
mediate steps to re-
open the school”, Dr
Ramadoss said. On
many occasions,
Modi has expressed
his love for Tamil on
almost every forum,
be it in India or dur-
ing his foreign vis-
its.
He had quoted Ta-
mil poets and literary
works in his interna-
tional addresses and
also while addressing
the soldiers on the In-
do-China border. Stat-
ing this, Dr Ramadoss
also urged the Tamil
Nadu Government to
contact the Gujarat
Government and take
steps to re-open the
school.
PMK Founder Ramadoss urges PM Narendra Modi’s intervention to re-open Maninagar school.
Surat cops recover huge quantity of narcotics in separate raids. Cops bust prostitution racket. —FILE PHOTO
Using state-of-the-art technology, docs at Sir
HN Reliance Foundation Hospital cures
Surat patient with a rare lung condition
Congress MLA Naushad Solanki
COVID-19
UPDATE
GUJARAT
3,370
DEATHS
1,27,541
CONFIRMED CASES
RAJASTHAN
1,382 DEATHS 1,20,739 CASES
DELHI
WORLD
9,78,112
DEATHS
3,19,38,534
CONFIRMED CASES
INDIA
57,06,432
CONFIRMED CASES
90,684
DEATHS
MAHARASHTRA
33,886 DEATHS 12,63,799 CASES
TAMIL NADU
KARNATAKA

s the chirpy
girls, accompa-
nied by the
birthday girl
Shashikala on
the piano sing
‘Tum jiyo haz-
aron saal’, a silent Nutan,
standing apart watched by
Sunil Dutt, wanders off out-
side and switches off the
light as she sits, a million
unsaid questions in her
eyes. I watched the song and
decided to watch Bimal
Roy’s Sujata to understand
this pain.
From then till now, Sujata
remains relevant as we still
stand divided by caste in In-
dia, more than ever. A hari-
jan orphan girl, brought up
in a brahmin household- ac-
cepted and still not accept-
ed- Nutan, Sunil Dutt, Sha-
shikala, Buaji Lalita Pawar,
parentsSulochnaandTarun
Bose each one is a critical
part of the canvas which is
Sujata.
The modern film makers
can definitely learn a thing
or two about ‘saying some-
thing without saying a
word’ from Sujata, which in
it’s silence was a heart rend-
ing commentary on caste
ridden India.
Sujata has stayed with me
not just because of it’s
strong storyline and amaz-
ing acting by the main pro-
tagonist Nutan but each
character is so finely drawn
as they struggle with their
emotions and the social sys-
tem they believe in by birth.
Bimal Roy, as usual, uses
light and darkness to por-
tray a thousand emotions,
scenes from love to heart-
break.
The scene where Lalita
Pawar picks up the infant
Sujata thinking it is Rama,
the real daughter of the
brahmin family and espous-
es her virtues and then prac-
tically throws her away on
learning the truth of ‘Ach-
hoot hai’, leaves a strong
message that without fore-
knowledge, every child is
same!
The growing up years are
sensitively handled by Bi-
mal Roy and we see the child
Sujata gradually withdraw-
ing in ‘poignant silence’ as
she realises the truth of
Charu’s words, “yeh meri
beti nahi, beti jaisi hai.”
Shashikala, plays a lovely
positive role for a change
and her fondness for her
didi Sujata is natural.
Sujata drenched in the puri-
fying rain when she learns
she is ‘achoot’, the romance
of words of Adhir as he
woos Sujata, the blossoming
of Sujata like the plants she
loves, the barren tree Sujata
stands against as she turns
Adhir away – Sujata is wo-
ven with beautiful pearls
which we carry with us after
watching it.
Love conquers all in Su-
jata- love of a grandmother
for her grandson Adhir
which breaks her lifelong
beliefs, the love of Adhir for
Sujata throwing away the
chains of caste and the love
of Sujata for her foster par-
ents which finally binds
them to her in true relation.
Sunil Dutt as Adhir is the
face of Modern India, which
is educated, above the caste
system, values humanity
and character not birth- a
face which we are still
searching for... maybe?
ANITA HADA
anita.hada@firstindianews.com
This Throwback Thursday, City First brings you ‘Sujata’, more than
just a movie, it is a social statement on the times then… and now!
aron saal’, a silent Nutan,
standing apart watched by
Sunil Dutt, wanders off out-
side and switches off the
light as she sits, a million
unsaid questions in her
eyes. I watched the song and
decided to watch Bimal
Roy’s Sujata to understand
this pain.
From then till now, Sujata
remains relevant as we still
stand divided by caste in In-
dia, more than ever. A hari-
jan orphan girl, brought up
in a brahmin household- ac-
cepted and still not accept-
ed- Nutan, Sunil Dutt, Sha-
shikala, Buaji Lalita Pawar,
parentsSulochnaandTarun
Bose each one is a critical
part of the canvas which is
Sujata.
The modern film makers
can definitely learn a thing
or two about ‘saying some-
thing without saying a
word’ from Sujata, which in
This Throwback Thursday, City First brings you ‘Sujata’, more than
just a movie, it is a social statement on the times then… and now!
A
AHMEDABAD, THURSDAY
SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia
facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia 09
BETI JAISI HAI...
BETI NAHI,BETI NAHI,

10
HOLLYWOODAHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020www.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia
FACEOFTHEDAY
MALHAAR RATHOD, Actress
YOUR
DAYHoroscope by
Saurabbh Sachdeva
LEO
JULY 24 - AUGUST 23
You eat unhealthy every
once in a while but now
even that needs to stop for
health safety. You
appreciate people when they listen to
you but sometime you are not that
good a listener yourself. You are
going to help a friend in love related
matters.
LIBRA
SEPT 24 - OCTOBER 22
You must all time guard
what food you are having
to avoid any problems
relating to heart. If you are
getting affection from someone than
make sure to return it as well. Don’t
worry about what right you didn’t do
in studies, concentrate on what
better you can do now.
ARIES
MAR 21 - APR 20
You are going to pass in all
exams with flying colour.
You will take some time off
as you have finished your
work in advance. You are trying very
hard to get positive signals from your
love interest. Its advisable to be in
less spending mode today because
you won’t know where to stop.
SAGITTARIUS
NOV 23 - DEC 22
Muscle ache is possible due
to desk bound jobs. You
may find it annoying to take
permission for every little
thing that you do. You miss the old life
but the right way is to always look
forward. Budding romance has a scope
of beautiful future so take things
seriously.
GEMINI
MAY 21 - JUNE 21
You need to sort out your
family issues as soon as
possible to avoid a long
silence. Things will get
easy for you on romance front as
your partner has agreed to work
things out your way for sometime.
You don’t really care about what you
wear as your goal is much bigger.
AQUARIUS
JAN 21 - FEB 19
Your family will fully support
you as far as your
relationship is concerned
but your partner’s parents
need little more convincing. You have a
clear vision and nothing can stop you.
You may miss out on attending events
just to be safe and avoid chances of
contamination.
TAURUS
APR 21 - MAY 20
You like to communicate
things on point and don’t
appreciate people beating
around the bushes. You
can become the talk of the town
because of your recent success in
business. You always have someone
or the other rescuing you from
financial damages.
CAPRICORN
DEC 23 - JAN 20
This is an excellent time to
start afresh and take a leap
of faith. you have a jealous
side and sometimes its
clearly evident. You lack patience and
that why you get disappointed easily.
Not always things will go as per your
desire and one should be ready for
the unexpected.
VIRGO
AUG 24 - SEP 23
You have deep desires that
you haven’t discussed with
anyone and soon you will
find someone to confine in.
On academic front, be very honest
about your preparations withy your
friends to keep your friendship intact.
Getting loan isn’t a problem but
paying could be.
CANCER
JUNE 22 - JULY 23
Avoid yelling on your
parents today and rather
explain your point politely
to them. On romance front
you have to be very careful about
your anger issues as no one will
tolerate non sense. Do not forget to
bargains as much possible when
buying raw material for business.
PISCES
FEB20 - MARCH 20
Make deals only if you see
long term prospects, do
not go for short terms
gains as your stars indicate
otherwise. Some of you will do
nothing today and enjoy sitting at
home all by yourself. Take initiative
first in relationship, don’t indulge
yourself in ego games.
SCORPIO
OCT 23 - NOVEMBER 22
Listen to your conscious-
ness every once in a while
it will always protect you
from going astray. Working
for long hours could be possible,
don’t forget to stretch. You don’t like
people telling you what to do and you
don’t do that to anyone as well. Don’t
loose your strength.
The Fresh
Prince was Born
ill Smith is an Ameri-
can Actor, Rapper, and
Philanthropist. He
has been regarded as
the most bankable
star by Forbes. Smith
is the only Actor in
the world to have 8 consecutive
movies grossing over $100 Mil-
lion in the domestic box office,
and 11 movies back to back
that grossed over $150 million
internationally.
After he met Jeff Townes at
age 16, the duo launched a
highly successful rap career
as DJ Jazzy Jeff & ‘The Fresh
Prince was born’. The pair’s
first single, Girls Ain’t Nothing
But Trouble was a hit in 1986.
Their 1987 debut album, Rock
the House, hit the Billboard
Top 200 and made Smith a mil-
lionaire before the age of 18.
Smith began his crossover
into acting through television.
Drawing on his experiences
with fledgling stardom, NBC
signed Smith to headline a sit-
com about a street-smart kid,
The Fresh Prince of Bel-
Air was a huge success that ran
for six seasons.
Smith’s first steps into super-
stardom came with his next
film, Bad Boys (1995). Smith
then took on the epic sci-fi
flick Independence Day (1996),
a role that confirmed him as a
major player in Hollywood and
the go-to guy for summer block-
busters. Smith fought aliens
again in his next blockbuster,
the comic sci-fi action film, Men
in Black (1997).
The string of hits came to an
end in 1999 with Wild Wild
West but the 2001 biopic Ali,
based on boxing legend Mu-
hammad Ali, gave Smith the
opportunity to regain his big-
screen swagger and Smith’s
performance was strong
enough to garner him his first
Academy Award nomination.
Smith’s smooth-talking
charmer persona was put to
use in the 2005 romantic com-
edy Hitch, was a massive suc-
cess, and it was followed in
2006 by another critical and
financial hit, The Pursuit of
Happyness (2006). Starring
alongside his real-life
son Jaden. He received Acad-
emy Award and Golden
Globe Award nominations
for Best Actor. In 2008, he
played a vigilante super-
hero in Hancock.
‘The only thing that
has kept me around is my
effort’ One of his under-
lining principles that
he’s lived by has helped
him find massive success.
GURMAN SINGH
cityfirst@firstindia.co.in
W

K
u b b r a
S a i t
m a d e
h e a d -
lines after she
raised concern over
the Y-plus security
provided to Kangana
Ranaut by the Central
Government when she
flew down to Mumbai. Now,
Kubbra Sait has decided to
take a break from Twitter.
Recently, the Sacred Game
actress has informed her
fans that she has unin-
stalled Twitter and is going
on social media detox. Kub-
bra has mentioned in her
tweet that she is taking a
‘sanity break’ from Twitter
and will return after an un-
specified period of time.
Her tweet read as,
‘’Oh dahlin’ Twit-
ter... I am taking a
hiatus from you. I
am ecstatic to an-
nounce that I’ll
be on a jet plane,
and it’s time for
me to uninstall
you for a bit. See
you post my
sanity break...
well however
long it takes.’’
—Agency
D
rew Barrymore
feels a bit clos-
er with Paris
Hilton after
watching her You-
Tube documentary,
where Paris revealed
the past abuse she
went through during her
boarding school years as a
teenager. The actress hosted
Paris on her new talk show,
where the socially distanced
two opened up about their
past experiences of being
placed in solitary confine-
ment at the forcible hands of
people in power. “I’ve been
where you’ve been and
watching your documentary,
I don’t know how many in-
terviews and conversations
I’m going to have on this
show where I am watching a
mirror image of everything
I’ve been through as well and
so I want to talk to you and
have you know that I’ve had
the people come and take me
away,” Drew stated while
talking with Paris. —Agency
ETCwww.firstindia.co.in I www.firstindia.co.in/epaper/ I twitter.com/thefirstindia I facebook.com/thefirstindia I instagram.com/thefirstindia AHMEDABAD | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2020
11
Birthday wishes
A
s the day began, Kajol, who is cur-
rently in Singapore with daughter
Nysa, sent out sweet birthday wishes
for her mother and senior star Tanu-
ja. To wish her mom on her birthday, Kajol
dug out the sweetest photo with her and ex-
plained how she is lucky that her mother
chose her as a daughter. Kajol took to Insta-
gram to share a throwback photo in which she
is seen clad in a yellow saree while her mom
As they both leaned on each other and posed,
they looked lovely. Kajol wrote, “When I’m
with you I’m standing with an army “ . Happy
birthday to the one person who showed me all
the avatars of a woman. Warrior, wife, moth-
er, sister, woman, human and spirit! Happy
birthday momma. Love you so much. Am
eternally grateful that u chose me for a daugh-
ter.... always and forever.#foreveryourbaby.”
—Agency
Urge fans to Vote
AK in top 100
K
risten Stewart has stayed away from
Instagram. The actress took over her
girlfriend Dylan Meyer’s account on
the social media platform where she
shared a selfie sporting a tee with the word
“VOTE” printed on it. The Charlie’s Angels
star penned a long caption to go along with
the photo where she expressed her beliefs and
urges people to register for voting on Nation-
al Voter Registration Day. She confessed she
wouldn’t have done this but the cause de-
served it. “For anyone that might need to let
out a little aggression today,” she began her
Instagram post. “I never do this but for any-
one who has not registered to vote please take
this opportunity to feel HEARD. And not
hopeless. I am voting because I WANT to be-
lieve in our country,” she added.
—Agency
A
ctor Ayushmann Khurrana is on
cloud nine as he managed to become
the only actor in the Time’s 100 Most
Influential People of 2020. Not just
this, Deepika Padukone paid a tribute to him
with a note of praise for him and his hard
work. As soon as the list was revealed, every-
one started wishing Ayushmann and his wife
Tahira Kashyap took to social media to ex-
press pride in her husband’s achievement.
Tahira, who has always backed Ayushmann
and his endeavors, was filled with pride in his
big achievement. Taking to Instagram, Ta-
hira wrote, “Proud of You,” with a heart
emoticon. In the most adorable way, Tahira
expressed herself and lauded her husband
for his hard work over the years. —Agency
ans of Alia Bhatt have
been waiting to see
the actress back on
screen. Amid the on-
going pandemic, the
shoots were stalled as
a lockdown was an-
nounced and hence, Alia’s
shooting of Gangubai Kathi-
awadi also was affected as the
sets also had to be taken down
before the monsoons hit. The
actress may soon resume work
amid the ongoing pandemic on
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s direc-
torial. Before the lockdown
had begun, Alia was shooting
for the film in Mumbai.
Now, as per a report in Mid-
Day, Alia may return to the
sets of Gangubai Kathiawadi
in October and may resume
work with only the solo scenes
at first. As per the report, the
solo scenes require a limited
crew and hence, the filmmaker
may shoot them first with Alia
and may reserve the more elab-
orate ones for later. The report
of the national daily also had
a source informing them that
currently, the set of the film is
being put in place and sani-
tised so that the shoot could
begin October with Alia. How-
ever, no set dates were zeroes
upon as per the report.
—Agency
F
Gangubai
resumes
KUBBRA’S
CONCERN
PLANNEDOUT
DIVORCE
R
eality TV star
Kim Kar-
dashian is re-
p o r t e d l y
thinking about di-
vorcing Kanye West
in light of his latest
episode. A source
close to the couple
told Page Six that
West’s bipolar disor-
der and his anti-abor-
tion stance have tak-
en a toll on their
crumbling marriage.
“Kim has the whole
divorce planned out,”
our insider shared,
“but she’s waiting for
him to get through
his latest episode.”
Over the past few
months, West, 43, has
been extremely vocal
about being pro-life,
telling a rally crowd
that he and Kar-
dashian, 39, nearly
aborted their oldest
child, daughter
North West.
“I almost killed my
daughter,” he said
during the July
event. “No more Plan
B, Plan A.” Not long
after, Kardashian de-
fended the Jesus Is
King rapper and
opened up about his
mental health strug-
gles. A separate
source later told Page
Six that she wouldn’t
divorce West because
it wasn’t “a good
look” at the time.
—Agency
K
ate Winslet
and global
icon Priyan-
ka Chopra-
Jonas are both
lending their voic-
es to an HBO Max
series based on the
popular meditation
app Calm according to a re-
cent report by The Holly-
wood Reporter. The show,
A World of Calm, is set to
premiere October 1 on
the WarnerMedia
streaming platform.
Winslet and Chopra-Jo-
nas will join the likes of
Mahershala Ali, Idris
Elba,OscarIsaac,Harry
Styles and Nicole Kid-
man in narrating epi-
sodes, which build on the
“Sleep Stories” in the
Calm app.
—Agency
GETTING CLOSE
PC TEAMS
up with Kate
Alia Bhatt
Kajol and Tanuja
Kristen Stewart
Ayushmann Khurrana
Drew Barrymore
Kubbra Sait
Priyanka Chopra Jonas
Kanye West and Kim Kardashian

First india ahmedabad edition-24 september 2020

First india ahmedabad edition-24 september 2020

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (19)

Similar to First india ahmedabad edition-24 september 2020

Similar to First india ahmedabad edition-24 september 2020 (20)

More from FIRST INDIA

More from FIRST INDIA (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

First india ahmedabad edition-24 september 2020