SUNDAY www.thestatesman.com 21 NOVEMBER 2021 FIND US ONLINE Scan this with your smartphone twitter.com/TheStatesmanLtd facebook.com/thestatesman1875 Pages 12 | `5 |LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR KYLE RITTENHOUSE CLEARED OVER KENOSHA KILLINGS A DILEMMA FOR THE GOVERNMENT P7 WEATHER Mainly clear sky. Shallow fog in the morning. The maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 27 and 12 degrees Celsius respectively. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max: 93% P10 P11 HC on Aryan case: No proof of conspiracy P12 Number of farmers protesting at Ghazipur border goes down Varun Gandhi requests PM to take ‘immediate’ decision on MSP Bail order says nothing objectionable was found in WhatsApp chats Min: 39% INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE TEMPERATURE Max: 26.6°C (-1) SUN RISES 06:49 hrs MOON RISES 18:48 hrs DREAM DEBUT TENNIS PLAYERS TAKE ON COMMUNIST PARTY: WHERE IS PENG SHUAI? Min: 14.5°C (0) SUN SETS 17:26 hrs MOON SETS 09:17 hrs MUMBAI, 20 NOVEMBER B THUMBNAILS Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni speaks during the IPL victory celebration held in Chennai on Saturday. ANI Joint bank account not mandatory for spouse pension: The government on Saturday clarified that a joint bank account is not mandatory for spouse pension. Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who is in charge of the Department of Pensions, said that in case the head of office is satisfied that it is not possible for the retiring government servant to open a joint account with his/her spouse for reasons beyond his/her control, the requirement may be relaxed.. ombay High Court has ruled that there was "no prima facie evidence" against Aryan Khan and co-accused Munmun Dhamecha and Arbaaz Merchant for charges pertaining to 'conspiracy' and 'common intent' in the case lodged against after the cruise ship raids. No evidence of a conspiracy between Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant, and Munmun Dhamecha to commit drug-related offences, said the Bombay High Court in an order released today. Delivering the detailed 14-page order, Justice Nitin Sambre said that considering the material brought on record by the NCB, the court has not found that prima facie, there was no positive evidence against the accused trio. It may be recalled that Khan, Dhamecha and Merchant were granted conditional bail by the high court on 28 October vide a speaking order and the detailed order was made available only today. Justice Sambre further said that the NCB claim on the common intention to commit an offence under the NDPS Act, (accused) found to be in possession of commercial quantity of drugs and hatching conspiracy is "liable to be rejected". The court said that merely because the accused trio was travelling on the cruise cannot be grounds to invoke the offence under Section 29 (criminal conspiracy) against them. “This court is required to be sensitive to the fact that there has to be presence of basic material in the form of evidence so as to substantiate the case of conspiracy against the applicants (accused)," Justice Sambre noted. He further said that no drugs were found on Khan, while the quantity recovered from Dhamecha and Merchant were 'small' under the NDPS Act. Under such circumstances, in order to invoke the offence of conspiracy against the accused, there has to be positive evidence about an agreement to do an unlawful act, or to do lawful act by unlawful means, and such agreement must precede with meeting of minds, but there is no such material in this case, said the court. Even the WhatsApp chats of Aryan Khan, or all the three accused had nothing objectionable or suggesting a conspiracy with the other accused in a meeting of minds to hatch a conspiracy and commit offences under the NDPS Act.Justice Sambre said that the probe till date suggested that the accused trio were travelling independently and there was no 'meeting of minds' on the issue, as contended by the NCB. Accordingly, since there was no offence of conspiracy, the rigours of NDPS Act Section 37 on grant of bail would not apply here, the court said, granting bail to Khan, Dhamecha and Merchant last month. A MOMENT TO CELEBRATE Centre begins asset monetisation of BSNL, MTNL: The Centre has begun the non-core asset monetisation of telcos ~ BSNL and MTNL. Accordingly, DIPAM (Department of Investment and Public Asset Management) has begun auction of BSNL and MTNL assets.The monetisation commenced with the auction of first set of six (P8) properties belonging to the telcos. NEW DELHI, 20 NOVEMBER Bharatiya Kisan Union spokesperson Rakesh Tikait along with supporters at the Ghazipur border on Saturday. SNS ASIAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEW DELHI, 20 NOVEMBER The number of farmers protesting at Delhi's Ghazipur border has gone down as fewer farmers were seen at the protest site on Saturday, a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the repeal of the three farm laws. However, the farmers are still protesting, demanding a law on Minimum Support Price (MSP). Besides MSP the farmers , are also demanding a resolution for the livelihood of the families of the 700 farmers who died while protesting against the three farm laws. “We welcome the decision taken by Modi Ji yesterday, but farmers are still not satisfied. Our fight for the last 70 years had been about farmers getting fair prices for their crops, for a guaranteed MSP on their crops. This is a big issue over which the honourable prime minister did not speak. Farmers crops are robbed. We are sitting here for the last 1 year and the farmers are still forced to sell the paddy for Rs 1000-1200," Pawan Khatana, Meerut Mandal President, Bhartiya Kisan Union, UP said. “Do we have to again hold a protest on MSP? Do we again have to come to borders? So, now that we are here, the Prime Minister had to take one more step ahead and make a law on MSP in the favour of farmers. We will thank him and move towards our home. He must form a committee so that such protests don't take place now and then. All farmers and people from Samyukt Kisan Morcha will have a dialogue with the committee," he added. 24 dead, 17 missing in flood-hit Andhra STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE RAVAGED Bharatiya Janata Party leader Varun Gandhi on Saturday welcomed the Centre's decision to repeal the three farm laws and has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to "immediately" take a decision on the farmers' demand for a law on minimum support price (MSP) and their other demands. “I welcome the announcement of withdrawing three agricultural laws," he said in a Tweet today. “I have sent a letter to the respected Prime Minister in this regard,” he added. ANI “Since 2014, Prime Minister has promised many things, how many of it has been fulfiled? He has sold the country to Adani, Ambani. Farmers are doing panchayat across the country. Farmers need to do their work too. We need to serve our kids too,” said Sanjay Chaudhury, Kisaan Union, Gharwal manual Adhiyaksh. Sidhu terms Imran Khan ‘elder brother’, faces BJP’s ire HYDERABAD, 20 NOVEMBER Covid restricts relaxed for Eden match: In view of the 3rd T-20 International cricket match between India and New Zealand at Eden Gardens, Covid restrictions relating to movement of people and vehicles between 11 pm to 5 am shall be relaxed for two hours from 11 pm on 21 November to 1 am on 22 November for spectators, players, match officials, organisers and other persons associated with the match. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose depicted on the grand eastern facade of Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH) during the launch of a projection mapping show to mark VMH centenary year in 2021, in Kolkata on Saturday. ANI All Rajasthan mins resign ‘51 lakh vaccinated in last 24 hours’ ahead of cabinet reshuffle ASIAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEW DELHI , 20 NOVEMBER INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE JAIPUR, 20 NOVEMBER All ministers of the Ashok Gehlot-led cabinet in Rajasthan have been made to resign on Saturday evening by the Congress high command ahead of a major cabinet reshuffle on Sunday. A decision to this effect was taken in a meeting chaired by chief minister Ashok Gehlot. Meanwhile, the party MLAs have been asked to be present at the PCC office in Jaipur on Sunday at 2 p.m. The oath taking ceremony is likely to take place at 4 p.m. at the Raj Bhavan. Rajasthan governor Kalraj Mishra will be returning to Jaipur on Saturday evening after attending a pro- The oath taking ceremony is likely to take place at 4 p.m. at the Raj Bhavan. gramme in Uttar Pradesh. Ajay Maken, the state incharge of Rajasthan Congress will discuss the names of the prospective ministerial candidates with Gehlot. Half a dozen supporters of Sachin Pilot are likely to be included in the cabinet and he himself could be given a larger role in the party outside of Rajasthan. Mr Gehlot will also include some of the former BSP MLAs who merged with the Congress in Rajasthan, giving it a comfortable majority in the 200-member house. India administered 51,59,931 vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, the Union Health Ministry informed on Saturday. With this, the cumulative vaccination coverage in the country has exceeded 115.79 crore. "As many as 1,15,79,69,274 vaccine doses of vaccines have been administrated as per provisional reports till 7 am today. This has been achieved through 1,19,13,371 sessions," the statement issued by the Union Health Ministry said. Of the total, 1,03,82,038 health care workers received the first dose and 93,89,728 second vaccine doses; 1,83,75,620 front line workers were administered the first dose and 1,62,86,345 vaccine doses given as the second dose to front Indore declared cleanest city for 5th time STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BHOPAL, 20 NOVEMBER Indore has bagged the prestigious award for the cleanest city in India for a record fifth time in a row while Chhattisgarh retained the first position in the state category. President Ramnath Kovind conferred the award to the city and its people at a glittering function of the ‘Swachch Sarvekshan Awards 2021’ at New Delhi (photo) today. Union housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Puri announced the Central government's annual cleanliness awards in which Madhya Pradesh received 35 awards in various categories. MP urban administration minister Bhupendra Singh, Indore Lok Sabha ACHIEVEMENT Ahmedabad was conferred with Swachh Survekshan Awards for being the country's cleanest cantonment. Chhattisgarh retained the first position in the state category. Varanasi has been adjudged the ‘cleanest Ganga town’ member from BJP Shankar Lalwani, Indore Municipal Corporation Commissioner Partibha Pal and Indore Col- lector Manish Singh collected Indore city’s award from the President. Neighbouring Ujjain city of Mahakal was among the top 10 cleanest cities in the country. Indore district also received the second place in the district ranking. In the category of ‘Fastest Mover’, Hoshangabad (Madhya Pradesh) emerged as the‘Fastest Mover City’ (in the ‘more than 1 lakh population’ category). Karnataka and Mizoram became the ‘Fastest Mover States’ in the big (more than 100 ULBs) and small (less than 100 ULBs) state category respectively.According to the Union Ministry, the latest nationwide cleanliness survey covered 4,320 cities in 28 days, and more than 4.2 crore people gave their feedback for the survey. line workers. According to the health ministry, 44,03,91,026 vaccine doses were administered as the first dose and 18,67,51,559 vaccine doses were given as the second dose in the age group 18-44 years. Also, in the age group of 4559 years, 18,01,84,542 people have received the first dose and 10,97,56,295 have received the second dose whereas 11,28,73,841 vaccine doses were administered as first dose and 7,35,78,280 vaccine doses given as the second dose to the people over 60 years. Meanwhile, India reported 10,302 new and 267 deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Saturday. Delhi cases: The national capital Delhi on Saturday reported 32 fresh cases of Covid-19, pushing the tally to 14,40,637, 3,44,99,925 1,24,868 10,302 11,787 4,65,349 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. SATURDAY 20 NOVEMBER 2021 according to the latest bulletin issued by the Delhi health (SEE P2) department. NEW DELHI, 20 NOVEMBER With devastating floods wreaking havoc in the four Rayalaseema districts of Andhra Pradesh leaving at least 24 people dead and many more missing, chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday made an aerial survey of the flood hit areas of Kadapa, Nellore and Chittoor districts with officials and ministers to take stock of the situation (photo). Out of 24 dead 13 belong to Kadapa, seven were from Anantpur, and four from Chittoor districts while 17 people were reported missing officially. According to the state government 1316 villages have been affected across 172 mandals. Nearly 23,994 people were affected and more than 20,000 are in relief camps. There has been huge damage in terms of crops, livestock and infrastructure and the state has released Rs 7 crore for the four districts. Back-to-back heavy rains triggered by a series of depression in the Bay of Bengal led to the overflowing of several water projects across the four dis- Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday stirred controversy after he ostensibly referred to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan as his “elder brother.” In a video shared by BJP leader Amit Malviya, Sidhu is seen being welcomed by a Pakistan official on behalf of Imran Khan. “He (Imran Khan) is my elder brother," Sidhu is heard as saying. Amit Malviya attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over Sidhu's remarks. “Rahul Gandhi's favourite Sidhu calls Pakistan Prime Minister his "bada bhai". Last time he had hugged Gen Bajwa, Pakistan Army's Chief, heaped praises. Is it any surprise that the Gandhi siblings chose a Pakistan loving Sidhu over veteran Amarinder Singh?" Malviya said. Congress MP Manish Tewari expressed his strong reservations over Sidhu's remarks and said Imran Khan is "cat's paw of Pakistani deep state ISI-Military combine". Punjab minister Pargat Singh came out in support of Sidhu and said that if Prime Minister visits Pakistan, then he called "Desh Premi" but Sidhu is being called "Desh drohi ANI (anti-national)." The AP govt said 1316 villages have been affected across 172 mandals. Helicopters airdropped ready-to-eat food and water bottles in marooned villages and Annamaya project areas tricts of the Rayalaseema region causing flash-floods in Chittoor, Kadapa, Anantapur and Nellore districts during the last 72 hours. Around 18 people who were offering prayers at a Shiva temple at Gundluru village were also washed away. Three APSRTC buses were caught in the massive flash floods at Cheyuru and a conductor and two passengers were washed away while 35 people were rescued. The Tirupati temple remained closed to pilgrims as the two Ghat roads were completely covered with debris. In Kadri town of Anantapur six people including two children were killed when an under construction house collapsed. Air pollution going to be a big disaster for health: Experts ASIAN NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEW DELHI , 20 NOVEMBER As the national capital witnesses no significant improvement in the air quality, the people of Delhi and adjoining areas are complaining of severe health issues. The quantity of dust particles suspended in the air is higher than the World Health Organization's safety guidelines; most hospitals in Delhi-NCR are reporting patients from all age groups with lung-related issues. According to experts, people with no past history of respiratory troubles are also developing lung-related problems due to air pollution. Dr Rajesh Kumar Gupta, Additional Director of Pul- HOVERING THREAT Experts say people with no past The quantity of dust particles suspended in the air is history of respiratory troubles are higher than the WHO safe- also developing lung-related problems due to air pollution ty guidelines We are breathing toxic air every day. Everyone from every age group is suffering, be it children or elderly, or young people with normal lung DR RAJESH KUMAR GUPTA ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR OF functions or those with PULMONOLOGY AND CRITICAL CARE diseased lungs AT FORTIS, NOIDA monology and Critical Care at Fortis, Noida said, “We are breathing toxic air every day. Everyone from every age group is suffering, be it children or elderly, or young people with normal lung functions or those with diseased lungs, be it from Covid or other lung diseases like asthma, COPD or others. We cannot categorise them into two. People with normal lungs or those with lung defects, pollution is affecting both populations badly.” “Those with normal lungs are able to take it on a little better, but those with compromised lungs, get sicker. If your lungs, which are the main breathing machine, are affected, then they can experience any pollution-related infection, pneumonia, asthma, even routine nasal congestion, headache, cough, breathlessness, which everyone staying in the NCR is feeling,” he added. Gupta also said that the blackish sputum that almost everyone is experiencing on nasal discharge these days "is the kind of smoke we are breathing" and has a "very very deleterious effect on the lungs of everyone", especially those who have abnormal or diseased lungs. Dr Ashish Khattar, a Senior Consultant (Internal Medicine) atVenkteshwar Hospital said that pollution is further compromising the lung function of those who are already suffering from bronchitis, asthma or post-Covid illness and is leading to respiratory ailments and distress. "This is the reason why people who already have compromised lungs are experiencing difficulty in breathing. They are citing distress, breathlessness, shortness of breath, tiredness, weakness, headache and all these symptoms,” he said.