CMYK THURSDAY www.thestatesman.com 06 JANUARY 2022 FIND US ONLINE Scan this with your smartphone twitter.com/TheStatesmanLtd facebook.com/thestatesman1875 Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR NORTH KOREA FIRES BALLISTIC MISSILE CHARITY’S VICTORY P6 Mainly clear sky with Mist /Fog in the morning. Temperature likely to be in the range of 24-13 degrees Celsius. RAINFALL: Nil RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max.99% TEMPERATURE Max: 24.4 °C(-1) SUN RISES 06:17 hrs MOON RISES 08:40 hrs Moon quarter on P9 The Prime Minister was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes Min. 38% Channi refutes ‘security breach’ allegations, says will conduct inquiry Min: 12.6 °C(-1) SUN SETS 17:06 hrs MOON SETS 19:56 hrs 09 January STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi expressed regret that Prime Minister Narendra Modi could not make his scheduled visit for an event in Ferozepur district on Wednesday. Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh today, Punjab CM said, "I express regret that PM Modi had to return during his visit to Ferozepur district today. We respect our Prime Minister." Channi gave clarifications over PM's return journey from Punjab and said, "I had to receive the PM at Bathinda today but those who had to accompany me tested COVID positive. Hence, I did not go to receive the PM today as I was in close contact with some who tested positive." Further, the chief minister refuted the allegations of a security lapse during PM Modi's visit. “We had asked them (PMO) to discontinue the visit due to bad weather conditions and protests. We had no information of his (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) sudden route change. There was no security lapse during the PM visit,” Channi added. He said that the state government will conduct an inquiry if there were any security lapses during PM Modi's visit today. "If there were any security lapses during PM Modi's visit today, then we will conduct an inquiry. There was no danger to the Prime Minister,” he stated. Channi said, “The farmers have been agitating peacefully for the last one year. I am not going to lathicharge farmers. We spoke to farmers the entire last night after which they ended their agitation. Today, suddenly some agitators gathered in Ferozepur district.” rity to secure any movement by road, which were clearly not deployed. After this security lapse, it was decided to head back to Bathinda Airport, the PMO stated. Meanwhile, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is taking cognisance of this serious CHANDIGARH, 5 JANUARY THUMBNAILS PM Narendra Modi's cavalcade that was stuck on a flyover on Wednesday. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 5 JANUARY n what the Prime Minister Office here on Wednesday charged a ‘major lapse’ in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security, the road leading to National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala in Punjab was found blocked by the Prime Minister’s convoy upon reaching a flyover where he was stuck for 15-20 minutes. A PMO note giving details of the development said, on Wednesday morning the Prime Minister Modi had landed at Bathinda from where he was to go to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala by helicopter. Due to rain and poor visibility, the Prime Minister waited for about 20 minutes for the weather to clear out.” “When the weather did not improve, it was decided that he (PM Modi) would visit the National Marytrs Memorial via road, I Kashmiri people walk on the snow-covered road as the upper reaches of Jammu and Kashmir receives fresh snowfall, in Budgam district, on Wednesday. MOHAMMAD AMIN WAR 3 JeM terrorists killed in Pulwama encounter : Three terrorists of terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed including one Pakistani national were killed in an encounter that broke out in the Chandgam area of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, informed Inspector General of Police Kashmir. Incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including two M-4 carbines and one AK series rifle had been recovered in the encounter, added the IGP. Freedom fighter K Ayyappan Pillai passes away at 107: Veteran freedom fighter and BJP leader , K Ayyappan Pillai passed away at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday morning. He was 107. Ayyappan Pillai was a doyen of Travancore politics starting from the early thirties and for several decades later. Pillai participated in the Quit India Movement after meeting Mahatma Gandhi. He joined the BJP in the 1970s and had served as its state vice-president. which would take more than two hours. He proceeded to travel by road after necessary confirmation of necessary security arrangements by the DGP Punjab Police,” according to the PMO. “Around 30 kms away from the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, when the Prime Minister’s convoy reached a flyover, it was found that the road was blocked by some protestors,” the PMO note said, adding, “The Prime Minister was stuck on a flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of the Prime Minister.” The Prime Minister’s schedule and travel plan was communicated well in advance to the Punjab government. As per procedure, they have to make necessary arrangements for logistics, security as well as keep a contingency plan ready. Also in view of the contingency plan the Punjab government has to deploy additional secu- India reports 58,097 fresh cases, Omicron tally 2,135 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 5 JANUARY India logged a single-day rise of 58,097 Covid cases and 534 deaths in a span of 24 hours even as Omicron tally climbed to 2,135, said the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Wednesday.On Tuesday, India had reported 37,379 Covid cases. With the addition of new deaths, the toll has reached 4,82,551. The active caseload has jumped at 2,14,004 which constitutes 0.61 per cent of the country's total positive cases. Meanwhile, the Omicron infection tally has climbed to 2,135 across the nation. However, out of the total Omicron P4 Major lapse in Modi's security in Punjab:PMO WEATHER 3,50,18,358 2,14,004 58,097 15,389 4,82,551 UNION HEALTH MINISTRY FIGURES AS OF 8.00 A.M. WEDNESDAY 05 JANUARY 2022 positive cases, 828 have been discharged from hospitals. Indian Council of Medical Research Director Gen- ICC TEST RANKINGS: BUMRAH IN TOP 10 T’GANA HC GRANTS BAIL TO STATE BJP CHIEF eral Dr Balram Bhargava said that Omicron,is the predominant circulating strain in India. So far 24 states have reported Omicron infection, sources said in the Union health ministry. Meanwhile, the weekly positivity rate has climbed to 2.60 per cent amid a sudden spike of cases. Also in the same period, a total of 13,88,647 tests were conducted across the country. The daily positivity rate stands at 4.18 per cent. With the administration of over 96 lakhs vaccine doses in the last 24 hours, India's Covid inoculation coverage has reached 147.72 crore as of Wednesday. security lapse has sought a detailed report from the state government. The state government has also been asked to fix responsibility for this lapse and take strict action, the PMO note further added. Holding the Channi government responsible for the security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab, former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has demanded dismissal of the government and imposition of President's rule in the state. In a statement issued here today, the former Chief Minister said, "This government has lost all the moral and constitutional authority to continue in office as it failed in its constitutional duty to provide security to our Prime Minister". He said, by trying to deflect the issue and claim that it was a spontaneous protest by some people that blocked the Prime Minister's route, the government was trying to defend the indefensible and run away from responsibility. Union home minister Amit Shah slammed the Congress party's “thinking and functioning” and said, “repeated rejections by the people have taken them to the path of insanity”. India crosses 1 cr vaccine milestone for kids: Govt STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, -5 JANUARY Union health minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya on Wednesday lauded the spirit of the youngsters for taking record 1 crore anti-Covid vaccine shots and said “superb enthusiasm” among “Young India” for vaccination. “More than 1 crore youngsters between 15-18 years' age group have received first dose of Covid vaccines that, too, on their third day of vaccination drive. I appeal to all eligible young friends to get vaccinated at the earliest,”he added in a tweet. With the vaccination drive for adolescents entering its third day, as per the Co-WIN portal 1,06,27,277 children in the 15 to 18 years' age group have been vaccinated with the first Covid-19 vaccine dose so far. According to the government's Co-WIN portal, 1,33,64,030 children have registered so far for the first dose of vaccine. As of now, only Bharat Biotech's indigenously-made Covaxin is available for vaccinating the 15-18 years' age group. According to the Health Ministry, additional doses of Covaxin will be sent to the states and UTs for administering the vaccine to this population category.The vaccination NEW DELHI, 5 JANUARY TIME BOUND The top court is hearing writ petitions challenging 27 per cent reservation for OBC and 10 % reservation for EWS in all-India quota seats for postgraduate medical courses.  The Centre has told the top court that Rs 8 lakh income criterion for determining the EWS is much more stringent than the one for the OBC creamy layer  The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it is important to put an end to uncertainty in connection with NEET-PG admissions, as the Centre requested it to allow counselling, which is on hold currently against the backdrop of objections raised regarding income criterion of Rs 8 lakh for economically weaker sections (EWS). Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, submitted before a bench, headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, that the government would not accept any position whereby the OBC or EWS aspirants, whether pre or post the exercise is deprived of something, which is legitimately due to them. Mehta emphasised that the quota dates back to Jan- uary 2019, and it has been implemented across the country. “We are at a point where counselling is stuck. We need doctors in this difficult situation, and we, as a society, cannot go into reservation and lengthy arguments," he said. He added that like any other report, any intelligent mind can point out errors in the report, and the question would be whether the poorest of the poor is over-inclu- sive, and added they are not. He urged the court to allow the counselling to begin, and in the meantime, it could consider the objections. The bench, also comprising Justice A.S. Bopanna, asked senior advocates Arvind Datar and Shyam Divan, representing the petitioners, their views on Mehta's suggestion on commencement of counselling. "Need to put an end to this uncertainty," it noted. The petitioners' counsel Students of RC High School Angnabari show their vaccination certificates after receiving a dose of Covaxin during a vaccination drive in Ranchi on Wednesday.  ANI process for a third precautionary dose of vaccine for health workers, frontline workers and vulnerable senior citizens will begin from January 10.The precautionary vaccine dose, which is to be given to healthcare and frontline workers, and those over 60 years of age with co-morbidities from January 10, will be the same vaccine as administered previously in the first two doses, said Dr VK Paul, Member-Health, NITI Aayog. “Precautionary COVID-19 vaccine dose will be the same vaccine as has been given previously. Those who've received Covaxin will receive Covaxin, those who've received primary two doses of Covishield will receive Covishield," Dr Paul said. TIGHT VIGIL Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel at Raisina Hill amid light rainfall, in New Delhi on Wednesday.  ANI Centre issues revised isolation guidelines amid Covid surge STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 5 JANUARY In view of the Covid cases spiralling across the nation with Omicron as predominant circulating strain, the Centre on Wednesday issued revised guidelines for home isolation of mild and asymptomatic patients. The patient under home isolation will stand discharged and end isolation after at least 7 days from testing positive and they shall continue wearing masks.There is no need for re-testing after the home isolation period is over. Asymptomatic contacts of infected individuals need not undergo Covid test and monitor health in home quarantine as per the new guidelines. “Patient should at all times use triple layer medical mask. They should discard mask NEW RULES  The patient under home isolation will stand discharged and end isolation after at least 7 days from testing positive and they shall continue wearing masks.  Asymptomatic contacts of infected individuals need not undergo Covid test and monitor health in home quarantine as per the new guidelines.  Elderly patients aged more than 60 years with comorbid conditions will only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer. after 8 hours of use or earlier if the mask becomes wet or is visibly soiled. In the event of Caregiver entering the room, both Caregiver and patient may preferably consider using N95 mask”, said the new guidelines. The mask should be discarded after cutting them to pieces and putting in a paper bag for a minimum of 72 hours. The patient should stay in a well-ventilated room with cross ventilation and windows should be kept open to allow fresh air to come in. The patients have been advised to self monitor the blood oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter. The patient may Need an end to uncertainty: SC on Centre’s plea for NEET-PG counselling INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE P12 insisted that the rules of the game should not change. During the hearing, Divan argued that postgraduate admissions must be completely merit-based and reservation must be minimal and referred to Supreme Court judgments which hold that there should be no reservation in super-speciality courses. Datar submitted that there are two difficulties for letting the counselling. "If the counselling is done based on the report, then our plea is dismissed at the threshold. When your lordships say allow counselling, does it mean allowing admissions on Rs 8 lakh limit?" Divan added that in many courses, postgraduation is the end of the road, which means super-speciality in some departments. He added, therefore, the principle of super-speciality will apply to postgraduate courses too. The top court will continue to hear the matter on Thursday. The Centre has told the top court that Rs 8 lakh income criterion for determining the EWS is much more stringent than the one for the OBC creamy layer. The Centre has accepted the report of a three-member panel constituted to revisit the EWS criteria. The panel, in its report, said: "Firstly, the EWS's criteria relates to the financial year prior to the year of application whereas the income criterion for the creamy layer in OBC category is applicable to gross annual income for three consecutive years." The panel added, "Secondly, in case of deciding the OBC creamy layer, income from salaries, agriculture and traditional artisanal professions are excluded from the consideration whereas the Rs 8 lakh CMYK criteria for EWS includes that from all sources, including farming. So, despite being the same cut-off number, their composition is different and hence, the two cannot be equated." The panel comprised former Finance Secretary Ajay Bhushan Pandey, Prof V.K. Malhotra of ICSSR, and Principal Economic Advisor to the government, Sanjeev Sanyal. The panel was set up on November 30. The top court is hearing writ petitions challenging 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and 10 per cent reservation for EWS in all-India quota seats for postgraduate medical courses. As many as 15 per cent seats in MBBS and 50 per cent seats in MS and MD courses are filled through All India Quota from the candidates selected through the NEET. self-monitor breathing rate, respiratory rate in sitting position, breathe normally and count the number of breaths taken in 1 full minute and report promptly if any deterioration of symptom is noticed, says the new guidelines. Elderly patients aged more than 60 years with co-morbid conditions will only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer. The patients suffering from immune compromised status (HIV, Transplant recipients, Cancer therapy etc) are not recommended for home isolation and shall only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating Medical Officer, said the guidelines. For the treatment for patients with mild, asymptomatic disease in home isola- tion, the ministry has advised that patient may utilize the teleconsultation platform made available by the district, state administration. If fever is not controlled with a maximum dose of Paracetamol 650 mg four times a day, consult the treating doctor, said the new guidelines.The patients have been advised to perform warm water gargles or take steam inhalation thrice a day. The guidelines, however prohibit to rush for self-medication, blood investigation or radiological imaging like chest X ray or chest CT scan without consultation from treating Medical Officer. The concerned district administration under the overall supervision of State Health Authority shall be responsible for monitoring the patient under home isolation. Rajnath receives report on IAF chopper crash STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 5 JANUARY Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Marshal V N Chaudhari is learnt to have presented a detailed report to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the findings of the probe into the 8 December chopper crash in which Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat and 13 others were killed. The tri-service court of inquiry was headed by Air Marshal Manvendra Singh and included personnel from the IAF, Army and the Navy. The inquiry team is understood to have suggested that pilots were following a railway line while flying towards the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington when a thick cloud cover emerged. The pilot may have got disoriented due to low visibility, leading to a collision and the subsequent crash. A technical fault in the helicopter or sabotage has been ruled out. The probe team has suggested a relook at the standard operating procedures for flying VVIPs. The team examined all likely scenarios for the crash, including possible human error. The IAF chief had earlier said that VVIP protocols for flying will be reviewed once the probe has been completed. Gen Rawat, his wife and twelve other armed forces personnel were on board the Mi-series chopper when it crashed between Coimbatore and Sulur in Tamil Nadu on 8 December.