FRIDAY www.thestatesman.com 08 JANUARY 2021 FIND US ONLINE Scan this with your smartphone twitter.com/TheStatesmanLtd facebook.com/thestatesman1875 Pages 12 |` 5|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘CENTRE WANTS TO PRIVATISE FARM SECTOR WITH NEW AGRI LAWS’ PAK COURT ISSUES ARREST WARRANT FOR AZHAR P5 P9 WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Dense fog in the morning. Very light rain towards evening. The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 19 and 12 degrees Celsius respectively. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max: 100% Min: 65% TEMPERATURE Max: 19.9°C (+1) SUN RISES 07:15 hrs MOON RISES 03:03 hrs Min:14.4°C (+7) SUN SETS 17:41 hrs MOON SETS 13:28 hrs THUMBNAILS PM Narendra Modi flags off the world’s first Double Stack Long Haul 1.5 km-long Container Train hauled by electric traction from New (P4) Ateli to New Kishangarh. PIB Ganguly discharged from hospital: BCCI president and former India captain Sourav Ganguly returned home on Thursday after spending five days in hospital, where he underwent an angioplasty to clear a blocked coronary artery. The 48-year-old cricket icon has been declared stable and clinically fit by doctors, but he will have to undergo another angioplasty, likely after two weeks. “I am absolutely fine... hopefully I will be P4 able to fly soon,” Ganguly said. Nirav Modi's sister, brother-in-law turn approver: i l Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi's sister and brother-in-law have “turned approvers” in the $2 billion PNB fraud case against him and they will help the Enforcement Directorate confiscate assets worth `579 crore, the agency said on Thursday. Nirav Modi, who is presently lodged in a London jail, his uncle Mehul Choksi and others are being probed by the Enforcement Directorate in the Punjab National Bank P5 money laundering case since 2018. NEW DELHI, 7 JANUARY The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre whether the farmers protesting against the new farm laws at Delhi borders are protected against the spread of Covid-19 and said that the guidelines to contain the virus should be followed. The apex court was hearing a plea seeking various reliefs including CBI probe into the matter related to assembly of people at Anand Vihar Bus Terminal and the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizammudin Markaz in the national capital after the nationwide lockdown was announced last year to contain the pandemic. You must tell us what is happening. The same problem is going to arise in farmers’ agitation. I do not know P9 P12 Trump backers storm US Capitol; 4 dead World reacts with horror; Washington placed under curfew; global leaders united in condemning unprecedented violence PRESS TRUST OF INDIA Joint session of US Congress certifies Biden’s electoral win WASHINGTON, 7 JANUARY I n an unprecedented assault on democracy in America, thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol and clashed with police, resulting in at least four deaths and interrupting a constitutional process to affirm President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the election. The police, outnumbered by the maskless protesters, had a tough time in managing the mob, as hundreds of protesters breached security and entered the Capitol building onWednesday, where members of the Congress were going through the process of counting and certifying the Electoral College votes. Both the House and Senate and the entire Capitol were placed under a lockdown. Vice President Mike Pence and lawmakers were evacuated to safe locations. Four people died on Wednesday, including one woman who was shot by a police officer, amidst protests and rioting on Capitol Hill that resulted in dozens of demonstrators being arrested, police said. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Contee called the rioting by pro-Trump demonstrators “shameful” during a news conference alongside Mayor Muriel Bowser. One woman was shot and killed by Capitol Police during the rioting. Police said three other people, a woman and two men died after apparently suffering “separate medical emergencies” near the Capitol grounds. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA WASHINGTON, 7 JANUARY Senator Tim Scott stops to look at damage in the early morning hours of Thursday after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday Supporters of US President Trump gather near the U.S. Capitol building in Washington late Wednesday. IANS Trump finally concedes, pledges orderly transfer of power: Outgoing US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there will be an “orderly” transfer of power to Joe Biden on 20 January. Trump’s remarks came minutes after a Joint Session of the US Congress formally certified the Electoral College victory of Biden as the next US President and Kamala Harris as the Vice President in the 3 November election. “Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on 20 January,” Trump said in a statement.s The protesters dispersed following the enforcement of curfew in the national capital. Mayor Bowser announced the curfew to prevent the situation from escalating. Officials said the Capitol was secured, putting an end to nearly four-hour violent occupation by Trump supporters. Heavily armed police personnel were deployed to disperse the crowd. In a letter to colleagues, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said leaders of Congress have decided to resume the joint session tonight once the Capitol is “cleared for use.” ‘Are protesting farmers protected from Covid?’ SNS & PTI HOW NEW ZEALAND NOSEDIVED BEFORE SOARING JAPAN DECLARES COVID-EMERGENCY The apex court was hearing a plea seeking various reliefs including CBI probe into the matter related to assembly of people at Anand Vihar Bus Terminal and Tablighi Jamaat congregation in the Capital after the nationwide lockdown announced last year to contain the pandemic if farmers are protected from Covid. So, the same problem is going to arise. It is not that everything is over, said Chief Justice S A Bobde, who was heading the bench which also comprised Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian. The top court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, whether protesting farmers are protected from Covid-19. Mehta replied, Certainly not. Mehta said that he will file a report within two weeks on what has been done and what needs to be done. The plea, filed by advocate Supriya Pandita, has alleged that Delhi police had failed to control the gathering of people at Anand Vihar Bus Terminal last year during the lockdown. Advocate Om Prakash Parihar, appearing for the petitioner, Thursday told the bench that the police has not said anything about the whereabouts of Nizamuddin Markaz chief Maulana Saad. The bench told Parihar, Why are you interested in one person?We are on the issue of Covid. Why do you want controversy? We are interested that Covid guidelines should be followed. The apex court said it is trying to ensure that Covid-19 does not spread and the guidelines are followed. Issue notice. In the meantime, respondents shall file their reply affidavit, if any, the bench said in its order. The Centre had on 5 June last year told the top court that probe into assembly of people at Anand Vihar Bus Terminal in east Delhi during nationwide lockdown and the Tablighi Jamaat event is being conducted on a day-today basis by Delhi Police and there was no need for CBI investigation. The Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier given the details of steps taken by Delhi Police in the probe. Modi shocked over violence at Capitol Hill: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed shock at the storming of the Capitol Hill in Washington by supporters of President Donald Trump. Terming the protests “unlawful”, he said he was “distressed” to see the news and hoped that the transfer of power from President Trump to President-elect Joe Biden would be peaceful. As reports of riots and violence in the US capital trickled in, Modi took to Twitter to say, “Distressed to see news about rioting and violence in Washington DC. Orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue.” He further added, “The democratic process cannot be allowed to SNS be subverted through unlawful protests.” Trump, who earlier encouraged his supporters to head to the Capitol, urged them to abide by the law and go back home after the violent clash. President-elect Biden said he was shocked and sad to see the US has “come to such a dark moment”. “At this hour, our democracy is under unprecedented assault. Unlike anything we’ve seen in modern times. An assault on the citadel of liberty, the Capitol itself. An assault on the people’s representatives and the Capitol Hill police, sworn to protect them. And the public servants who work at the heart of our Republic...,” A Joint Session of the US Congress on Thursday formally certified the Electoral College victory of Joe Biden as the next US President and Kamala Harris as the Vice President in the 3 November election. The formal certification by the Joint Session came in the wee hours of Thursday. The Joint Session resumed its meeting late Wednesday night after it was disrupted by hundreds of supporters of incumbent President Trump who violently stormed the Capitol Hill. Biden, 78, and Harris, 56, are scheduled to be sworn in as the President and Vice President of the country on 20 January. The inauguration is going to be a low-key affair given the Covid-19 pandemic. Biden said in an address to the nation. Multiple news outlets earlier showed protesters walking with ease inside the Capitol and hundreds of them occupying the inaugural stage. A large number of them were seen climbing the wall. Video taken at the US Capitol showed some rioters breaking the glass of a window and then climbing through the shattered pane. “We’re actually looking at video right now of these anarchists... these people who were involved in this insurrection. They broke the glass in the US Capitol and NEW DELHI, 7 JANUARY Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said that the Covid-19 vaccines ‘Covishield’ and ‘Covaxin’ are on the verge of being available in the country. Second nationwide dry run is to be held in 736 districts across 33 States/UTs tomorrow. Interacting with Health ministers of States/UTs to review preparedness and seek their personal leadership in glitch-free dry run of 8 January, Dr Harsh Vardhan urged all State health ministers to personally keep tab on disinformation regarding the approved vaccines: “Miscreants might derail the whole exercise, set the clock back by years,” he said. “Let us ensure effective National Immunisation Day on 17 January to sustain India’s Polio-Free status, he said. The Health Minister, while addressing a Press conference, said, “Covid-19 vaccines Covishield and Covaxin are on the verge of being available in the country. Our efforts are to ensure seamless last-mile delivery of the vaccine.” The Union Health minister said this after his meeting with the health ministers of all states & UTs. He further informed that the feedback on the dry run of the Covid19 vaccine in 4 states was reviewed. “We have made improvements based on the feedback. Tomorrow (8 January), a dry run will be done in 33 states & Union Territo- Gujarat schools to reopen for X, XII students: With daily Covid-19 cases hovering below 700, the Gujarat government has decided to reopen the schools for Standards X and XII from next Monday, 11 January. All schools and colleges in Gujarat have remained closed since March when lockdown was announced in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. The decision to reopen the schools were taken at the State Cabinet meeting on Wednesday in view of the forthcoming Board examinations for Standards X and XII students, Education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama said. The schools reopening would have to strictly follow Covid-19 guidelines stipulated by the Education and Health SNS Departments from time to time, he added. ries,'' Harsh Vardhan said. The Minister further stated that some priority groups have been decided for vaccination as advised by the experts’ group formed by PM Narendra Modi. Government sources said that the transportation of the Covid-19 vaccine will begin by today or tomorrow. The Centre has allowed passenger aircraft to transport vaccines. Pune will be the central hub from where vaccine distribution will take place. 41 destinations across the country have been finalised for delivery of vaccines, the govt sources said. now they are climbing through the window,” a CNN correspondent described the footage. “The violence and destruction Must Stop and it Must Stop Now. Anyone involved must respect Law Enforcement officers and immediately leave the building,” Pence tweeted. This is possibly for the first time in the recent history that such a large number of people have breached into the Capitol and disrupted the constitutional provisions. Twitter and FB suspend T r u m p a c c o u n t s ~ P10 Covid impact: Economy likely to contract 7.7 pc in 2020-21 UNFAZED According to the first estimates of national income released by National Statistical Office, there was contraction in almost all sectors with the exception of agriculture NEW DELHI, 7 JANUARY Ahead of talks with the Central government, thousands of farmers on Thursday took out tractor-march from protest sites of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders against the three agriculture laws amidst heavy police deployment. According to the protesting farm unions, (SEE P5) this is just a ‘rehearsal’ for their proposed 26 January tractor parade. DEEPAK Covishield, Covaxin to be available soon: Harsh Vardhan STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Presidential elections were held on 3 November. Biden and Harris won a record number of popular votes, more than 80 million and earned as many as 306 Electoral College votes. Trump, a Republican who has been making unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud, has lost several dozen court cases. On the eve of the meeting of the Joint Session of the Congress, Trump pressurised his Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the results, which he refused. The Senate voted 936 to reject the objection to Arizona’s election results, while the House of Representatives rejected it by 303-121 votes. The Senate voted 92-7 to reject the objection to Pennsylvania’s results, while the House also rejected the objection by 282-138. Recoveries cross 1-crore mark STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 7 JANUARY India’s Covid-19 caseload rose to 1,03,95,278 with 20,346 new infections being reported in a day, while the number of recoveries surpassed one crore, according to data updated by the Union Health Ministry on Thursday. The death toll increased to 1,50,336 as 222 people succumbed to the disease in a span of 24 hours, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,00,16,859, pushing the national recovery rate to 96.36 per cent, while the Covid-19 case fatality rate stood at 1.45 per cent. The number of active Covid-19 cases remained below three lakh for the 17th consecutive day. Delhi sees 486 cases, 19 deaths: Delhi today reported 486 positive cases of coronavirus infection, which took its caseload to 6,28,838, according to the Delhi government's latest health bulletin. The city recorded 19 fresh Covid-related deaths, which pushed its coronavirus toll to 10,644, the health bulletin (SEE P2) said. 1,03,95,278 2,28,083 20,346 19,587 1,50,336 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. THURSDAY 07 JANUARY 2021 Indian economy is estimated to contract 7.7 per cent in 2020-21 compared to 4.2 per cent growth in the previous fiscal, mainly on account of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As per the first advanced estimates of the national income released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) on Thursday, there was contraction in almost all sectors with the exception of agriculture. “Real GDP or GDP at Constant Prices (2011-12) in the year 2020-21 is likely to attain a level of Rs 134.40 lakh crore, as against the Provisional Estimate of GDP for 2019-20 of Rs 145.66 lakh crore... The growth in real GDP during 2020-21 is estimated at -7.7 per cent as compared to the growth rate of 4.2 per cent last year,” it said. In the current fiscal, manufacturing sector is likely to see a contraction 9.4 per cent whereas growth was almost flat at 0.03 per cent last year. The NSO estimates significant contraction in mining and quarrying, and trade, hotels, transport, communication and broadcasting. Agriculture sector is likely to see a growth of 3.4 per cent in 2020-21 and will be lower than 4 per cent growth recorded in 2019-20. The economy contracted 23.9 per cent in the first quarter and 7.5 per cent in the PTI second quarter.