CMYK TUESDAY www.thestatesman.com 23 FEBRUARY 2021 FIND US ONLINE Scan this with your smartphone twitter.com/TheStatesmanLtd facebook.com/thestatesman1875 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR BORIS TO LAYOUT ROADMAP FOR LOCKDOWN IN UK IMMIGRATION OVERHAUL P6 WEATHER Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature most likely to be around 32 °C and 20 °C respectively. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 89% TEMPERATURE P10 Max: 31.5°C (1) Min: 18.0°C (-1) SUN RISES SUN SETS 06:02 hrs 17:37 hrs MOON RISES MOON SETS 13:44 hrs 02:48 hrs Full moon on 27 February THUMBNAILS Farmers protest against the three new agri laws at Singhu border, in the Capital on Monday.  SNS Sensex sinks 1,145 points: Extending its losses for the fifth straight session, equity benchmark Sensex plummeted 1,145 points on Monday, tracking heavy losses in index majors Reliance Industries, HDFC and TCS amidst negative cues from global markets. The 30-share BSE index ended 1,145.44 points or 2.25 per cent lower at 49,744.32. The broader NSE Nifty sank 306.05 points or 2.04 per cent to finish at 14,675.70. During the afternoon session, markets started to drift lower and traded in red amidst fresh concerns over the increase in Covid-19 cases. P8 Italian ambassador killed in Congo: The Italian ambassador to Congo and an Italian carabineri police officer were killed on Monday while travelling in Congo in a UN convoy, the Foreign Ministry said. In a brief statement, the Ministry said Luca Attanasio and the officer were killed in Goma, the eastern regional capital. They were travelling in a convoy of the UN stabilization mission in Congo. In January 2019, Congo experienced its first peaceful democratic transfer P10 of power since independence in 1960. Modi promises ‘real change’ in Bengal HEMANT JACOB HOOGHLY, 22 FEBRUARY rime minister Narendra Modi on Monday gave a clarion call for an “asol parivartan (real change)” in West Bengal. Addressing a public meeting at Sahaganj Dunlop ground in Bandel, he lashed out at the Trinamul Congress government, blaming it for the prevailing pathetic condition in the sectors of agriculture, industries, transportation and connectivity besides basic amenities. He said the Mamata Banerjee government has deprived common people including farmers, educated youths and the poor of the central government beneficiary schemes and projects. Modi said in the Trinamul Congress rule in Bengal, the common people have been victimised by cut money, tola baazs and syndicates. “The ruling party follows the vote bank policy. None of the central government beneficiary schemes and projects has been implemented deliberately in the state by the state government thus depriving the common people of their legal rights for improvement of the standard of living.” He added: “It is really strange that only nine lakh houses in the villages have water connections and several lakhs of houses in the villages are deprived of pure drinking water. Nearly Rs 1,700 crore was provided to the state government to reach water con- P Prime Minister Narendra Modi and others during a rally at Chinsura Dunlop Ground in Hooghly on Monday.  SOURABH ROY Abhishek’s wife replies to CBI, asks team to visit home today KOLKATA, 22 FEBRUARY Rujira Banerjee, the wife of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, on Monday responded to the CBI’s summons in the alleged coal pilferage scam and asked the central agency to send its team to her residence for examination on Tuesday, officials said. The CBI had on Sunday asked her to join the probe. A team of CBI officials had visited the resnection to every house in the villages, but the state government has only spent Rs 609 crore and the left amount has been misused.” Modi gave a call to change the Trinamul Congress government and bring idence of Abhishek Banerjee, a nephew of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, on Sunday to deliver the summons. “Though I am unaware of the reason for me being called for questioning or the subject matter of the investigation, you may visit my residence as per your convenience between 11 am and 3 pm on 23 February,” she said in SNS her letter to CBI. the BJP to power in the state for better governance and overall development. He assured the gathering that all the closed jute mills and factories will be made functional and said the central government has made the use of gunny Toolkit row: Court sends Ravi to 1-day PC SNS & PTI NEW DELHI, 22 FEBRUARY A Delhi court on Monday sent 21-year-old climate activist Disha Ravi, arrested in connection with allegedly being involved in sharing a “toolkit” on social media related to the farmers’ protest, to one-day police custody (PC) to be confronted with coaccused in the case. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Pankaj Sharma sent Ravi for custodial interrogation after police said she was required to be confronted with co-accused in the case which has transnational ramification. However Ravi, who was produced before the court on expiry of her three-day judicial remand, through her lawyer opposed the plea of the investigators, saying why P7 Modi slams TMC govt, blaming it for prevailing pathetic condition in state Min. 37% Police only got one day custody of Ravi, though it had sought five days of custodial interrogation after police said she was required to be confronted with co-accused in the case which has transnational ramification. Ravi during interrogation shifted entire burden on two co-accused -Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk~ who cannot be arrested because they are currently on transit bail should I (Ravi) be in police custody while those I have to be confronted with are on bail? Police only got one day custody of Ravi, though it had sought five days of custodial interrogation contending that during her interrogation, she shifted entire burden on two co-accused -Nikita Jacob and Shantanu Muluk - who cannot be arrested because they are currently on transit bail. They need to be confronted with Ravi.Nikita was served with a notice to join the probe but she did not join the interrogation. It is a case which has transnational ramifications, with involvement of those who has expressed their disaffection for this country, prosecution told the court. The probe agency told the court that they may arrest Nikita and Shantanu as well in future if there is a requirement. There was involvement of all three accused persons. We have to confront all three. We only have seven days more to seek custodial interrogation, the prosecution told the court referring to the provisions of the law under which the case has been lodged that mandates custodial interrogation only upto 15 days post his/her arrest. Ravi’s counsel opposed the police plea saying that other two accused are on bail and why should I be in police custody for the purpose of confrontation? Defence counsel also questioned as to why police did not summon the coaccused persons earlier. The defence counsel also informed the court that a sessions court, a superior court than that of a magistrate's, has reserved order on Ravi's bail plea for Tuesday. bags mandatory for the packing of wheat, sugar and other grains and cereals. “The potato and paddy growers have been cheated and looted in the state by the middlemen. The BJP will provide freedom to the farmers to sell their products where they can get more profit. It will provide good governance free of corruption and create job opportunities for a large number of youths in the state so that they need not have to move to other states to seek jobs.” Modi added that the BJP government has laid much stress on modern infrastructure development in railways, roadways, airways and waterways. “Fast connectivity can bring a rapid change in the economy of a country,” he said. On Monday he also declared metro services from Noapara to Dakhineswar open. HEAT ON HEALTH MIN OVER BACKING CORONIL LAUNCH NEW DELHI, 22 FEBRUARY Yoga guru Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved had on 19 February said that the Coronil tablet had received certification from the Ayush Ministry as a medicine supporting Covid-19 treatment as per the World Health Organisation’s certification scheme, The World Health Organisation clarified that it has not reviewed or certified the effectiveness of any traditional medicine for the treatment of Covid-19. The Indian Medical Association on Monday expressed shock over the “blatant lie of WHO certification” for Patanjali’s Coronil tablet, which the company claims is an evidence-based medicine to fight Covid-19, and demanded an explanation from Union Health minister Harsh Vardhan in whose presence the medicine was launched. This comes in the wake of global health body, World Health Organisation, clarifying that it has not reviewed or certified the effectiveness of any traditional medicine for the treatment of Covid-19. Yoga guru Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved had on 19 February said that the Coronil tablet had Being Health Minister of the country, how justified is it to release such falsely fabricated unscientific product to the people of India...can you clarify the time frame, time line for the so-called clinical trial of this said antiCorona product? The country needs an explanation from the minister INDIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION received certification from the Ayush Ministry as a medicine supporting Covid-19 treatment as per the World Health Organization’s certification scheme. However, Patanjali’s managing director Acharya Balkr- ishna later made a statement about the certification saying, “We want to clarify to avoid confusion that our WHO GMP compliant COPP certificate to Coronil is issued by DCGI, Government of India. It is clear that WHO do not approve or dis- approve any drugs. WHO works for building a better, healthier future for people all over the world (sic).” In a statement issued on Monday, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said, “Being Health Minister of the country, how justified is it to release such falsely fabricated unscientific product to the people of India...can you clarify the time frame, time line for the so-called clinical trial of this said anti-Corona product? The country needs an explanation from the minister. “The Indian Medical Association will also write to National Medical Commission for seeking suo moto explanation for his blatant disrespect to the code of conduct of Medical Council of India, the IMA said. P12 Active cases surge to 1,50,055 SNS & PTI NEW DELHI, 22 FEBRUARY The total tally of Covid-19 cases surpassed1.10 crore with 14,199 new infections being reported in a day, while active cases registered an increase for the fifth consecutive day, according to the Union Health Ministry data on Monday. The total coronavirus cases have increased to 1,10,05,850, while the death toll increased to 1,56,385 with 83 daily new fatalities, the data updated at 8 a.m. showed. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,06,99,410 which translates to a national Covid-19 recovery rate of 97.22 per cent and the case fatality rate stands at 1.42 per cent. Active coronavirus infections in the country increased to 1,50,055 . Amit Shah reviews Covid vaccine drive: Union Home minister Amit Shah on Monday reviewed the progress of Covid-19 vaccination drive to check the public health response as the second dose is now being administered to healthcare and frontline workers across the country and preparations are in final stage for rollout of the third phase of the world's biggest inoculation exercise. The meeting came as when India’s cumulative vaccination coverage has crossed 1.14 crore recipients. The vaccination drive was started on January 16 for healthcare workers and frontline workers estimated to be around 3 crore. Puducherry Cong govt falls after CM quits ahead of vote STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE PUDUCHERRY, 22 FEB The Congress government in Puducherry fell on Monday after chief minister V Narayanasamy resigned ahead of the confidence vote in the Assembly with the coalition Ministry reduced to a minority due to a spate of resignations of party MLAs and a DMK legislator recently. Narayanasamy met Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and submitted the resignation of his four-member cabinet, ahead of the Assembly elections due in AprilMay. With the exit of the Congress government here, Punjab, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh are the only three states in the country ruled by the party on its own. Holding that Speaker V P Sivakolundhu did not put to vote the motion moved by him for a confidence vote, the Congress veteran said the former’s ruling that it stood defeated was “incorrect and invalid.” Legal experts would be consulted on the matter, he said while dubbing the turn of events, surrounding the issue of voting rights of nominated members, BJP in this case, as a “murder of democracy.” DMK chief M K Stalin, whose party is an ally of the Congress here, also slammed the opposition for the fall of the government and hailed Narayanasamy for “upholding democracy.” See Page 4 1,10,05,850 1,50,055 14,199 9,695 1,56,385 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. MONDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2021 Varavara Rao gets 6-month bail on medical grounds MUMBAI, 22 FEBRUARY The Bombay High Court on Monday granted interim bail for six months on medical grounds to ailing poet and activist Varavara Rao, an accused in the Elgar ParishadMaoist links case. The court said it could not be a “mute spectator” and permit 82-year-old Rao's health condition to deteriorate in custody. A bench of Justices S S Shinde and Manish Pitale said there existed no doubt that given his current medical condition, Rao would face “acceleration and intensification of ailments” if he continued to remain in custody. It noted that medical facilities at the Taloja prison’s hospital in Navi Mumbai were inadequate. More on P5 Maharashtra MP found dead in Mumbai hotel BACK ON TRACK MUMBAI, 22 FEBRUARY Train service between Baramulla in North Kashmir to Banihal in Jammu’s Ramban resume after nearly 11 months after suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic in Kashmir valley in Srinagar on Monday.  SNS IMA ‘shocked’ over Patanjali’s claim on Coronil PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ‘BATSMEN MUST COPE WITH ALL WICKETS’ A TIME TO CHERISH AZAD’S IDEALS “Indian Medical Association is shocked to note the blatant lie of WHO certification...,” it said. The announcement regarding the Ayush certification for Coronil and release of a research paper calling it the “first evidence-based medicine for Covid-19 by Patanjali” was done at an event here attended by Vardhan. In a statement, Patanjali had said: “Coronil has received the Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) from the Ayush section of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation as per the WHO certification scheme.” However, WHO South-East Asia tweeted : “@WHO has not reviewed or certified the effectiveness of any traditional medicine for the treatment #Covid-19.” CMYK Mohan Delkar, seven-term Lok Sabha member from Dadra and Nagar Haveli, was found dead in a Mumbai hotel on Monday, police said. The body of Delkar (58), Independent MP from the Union Territory, was found at the sea-facing hotel in south Mumbai’s Marine Drive area. The police said a suicide note written in Gujarati was also found along with the body. The cause of death will be known after autopsy, he added. An accidental death report is being registered based on preliminary information, the official said. An advocate for tribal rights, Mohan Sanjibhai Delkar began his career as a trade union leader in Silvassa. Delkar is survived by wife, a son and a daughter. PTI National Herald case: HC seeks Gandhis’ reply on Swamy plea PRESS TRUST OF INDIA NEW DELHI, 22 FEBRUARY The Delhi High Court on Monday sought responses of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, her son Rahul and others accused in the National Herald case, on a plea by BJP MP Subramanian Swamy seeking to lead evidence before the trial court. Justice Suresh Kait, while issuing notice to the Gandhis, AICC general secretary Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda andYoung India (YI), sought their stand on Swamy’s plea by 12 April and stayed the proceedings in the case till then. Advocate Satya Sabharwal, appearing for the BJP MP , Justice Suresh Kait, while issuing notice to Sonia, Rahul, AICC gen secy Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and Young India (YI), sought their stand on Swamy’s plea, seeking to lead evidence before the trial court and advocate Tarannum Cheema, appearing for the Gandhis and others, confirmed that the high court has issued notice in the matter and stayed the trial court proceedings till 12 April. Swamy has moved the high court aggrieved by a trial court order of 11 February declining, for now, his plea to lead evidence to prosecute the Gandhis and the other accused in the case. The trial court had said that Swamy’s application under section 244 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) to lead evidence would be considered after his examination in the case was over. Swamy has sought summoning of certain witnesses, including the secretary general (registry officer) of the Supreme Court, a deputy land and development officer, and a deputy commissioner of Income Tax, and also directions to them to prove certain documents which are part of the case.