FREE PRESS Regd. No. Indore MP/ICD 216/2021-2023 INDORE BHOPAL UJJAIN MUMBAI RNI No. 38281/83 PUNE - VOL. XXXVII NO. 244 | INDORE | THURSDAY | FEBRUARY 11, 2021 | PAGES 12 NEW DELHI News Brief DISMANTLING OF INS VIRAAT STAYED BY SC NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the dismantling of Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Viraat which was decommissioned in March 2017 on a petition filed by a Navi Mumbai-based firm which wants to convert the ship into a maritime museum and a multifunctional adventure centre. TWITTER YIELDS TO GOVT DIKTAT NEW DELHI :T witter on Wednesday said it has suspended over 500 accounts, and blocked access to several others within India as it partly acceded to a govt order to curb misinformation and inflammatory content around farmers' protests. However, T witter, in a blogpost, added it has not blocked accounts consisting of "news media entities, journalists, activists and politicians" as doing so "would violate their fundamental right to free expression" guaranteed under the country's law. HC RAPE RULING: SC TO HEAR NCW NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a plea filed by the NCW challenging the Bombay High Court verdict which said that groping a minor's breast without "skin to skin contact" cannot be termed as sexual assault, as defined under the Pocso Act. The apex court had on January 27 stayed the high court's verdict after Attorney General K K Venugopal mentioned the matter before it and said that the judgment was unprecedented and was likely to set a dangerous precedent". MAHUA MAY FACE PRIVILEGE MOVE NEW DELHI: TMC MP Mahua Moitra may face a privilege motion over her remarks in Parliament about former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, which have since been expunged. The BJP decided to move the motion after Moitra shared video clips of her controversial remarks in the LS. PP Chowdhary, a former Minister, has put in a request for privilege motion. Emphasising the need to work towards self-reliance of farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the new farm laws have been brought to ease difficulties in agriculture and called upon protesting farmers to resume talks with the government over their demands. Replying to the debate in Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks on the President's Address, the Prime Minister took digs at Congress over its opposition to the farm laws and for interrupting his speech. He also said that using "improper words against the private sector" may have got votes for a few people in the past but those times are gone. "We are working for the . country I once again urge farmers to come for talks and resolve the issues," the Prime Minister said. been have Farmers protesting on the borders of Delhi since November 26 against new farm laws. Several rounds of talks have been held with farmers over their demand for repeal of three new laws. The Prime Minister devoted a substantial part of his speech addressing the concerns regarding the EDIT NOT AIMING FOR CHANGE IN POWER AT CENTRE BUT SOLUTION TO ISSUES: TIKAIT BKU leader Rakesh Tikait on Wednesday asserted that the agitating farmers were not aiming at any change in power at the Centre but a solution to their problems as he said many of their leaders will tour different parts of the country to spread the movement. Addressing the protesting farmers at Singhu border, Tikait said that the agitation against the farm laws will stretch till the Centre addresses their issues. "We do not aim change in power (at the Centre). The govt should do its work. We want it to repeal the farm laws and ensure law on MSP," he said. Tikait said that the agitation will be long drawn and continue till government starts talks with farmer leaders. Rakesh Tikait pours water brought by U’khand farmers in drum FARMERS’ RAIL ROKO STIR ON FEBRUARY 18 The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the umbrella farmers' union, decided on Wednesday to further intensify the movement against the Centre's three new farm laws. The protesters have decided to organise a pan-India 'Rail Roko' from 12 pm to 4 pm on Feb 18. As part of the agitation, the protesting farmers have also decided to declare all road toll plazas in Rajasthan 'free' starting Feb 12. On Feb 14, a candle march and 'mashaal juloos' will be held across the country to honour the sacrifice of soldiers martyred in the Pulwama attack, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha said in a press release. The protesting farmers have also decided to show solidarity on the birth anniversary of Jat leader Sir Chhotu Ram on Feb 16. CONG WILL SCRAP FARM LAWS IF IT COMES TO POWER: PRIYANKA Attacking the Centre over the new farm laws, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday told a rally in western UP that if voted to power her party would scrap them. At a 'kisan panchayat' organised by the party in Saharanpur, the Congress general secretary accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders of "insulting" farmers who are protesting against the laws. "The three laws are demonic. If voted to power, the Congress will scrap these laws," she said. The Congress leader was presented with a pair of ploughs at the meeting. "These three laws were drafted in such a way that government `mandis' will eventually close down, the farmers will not get the MSP and there will be hoarding," she said. P-7 SUPOSHIT MADHYA PRADESH BY 2030 State to bring new nutrition policy to control IMR & MMR THIS WILL BE done through community involvement and intense monitoring OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL Facing the stigma of the highest infant mortality rate (IMR) in India and being in the top 3 states in maternal mortality rate (MMR) for the past several years, the Madhya Pradesh now has government planned to introduce a new nutrition policy — Suposhit Madhya Pradesh, 2030. The policy prepared by the women and child welfare department has decided to divide the community into four categories — children, mother, adolescent and adult — and make a comprehensive strategic action plan and targets for each category to deal with the problem. Under Suposhit Children, the target is to reduce all forms of malnutrition in ‘under-5 children’ and to bring down the IMR from the existing 56 to 25 per 1,000 live births by 2030. To bring down the MMR from the existing 173 to less than 70, the Suposhit Mother category will be carved out and separate plans will be implemented for them. The Suposhit Adolescent category has been formed to deal with problem of anaemia prevalent among Madhya in children Pradesh. Through this category, the plan is to bring down the anaemia rate from the present 53.2% to 26.6% by 2025. A separate category of adults, Suposhit Adults, has also been carved out to take care of such problems as un. der-nutrition and obesity To ensure the success of the nutrition programme, has department the stressed the need for establishing nutrition governance and decision-making at the grassroots level through community inCommunity volvement. monitoring and social audit will be encouraged so that the programme is implemented at all levels. Special emphasis has been given on safeguarding nutrition interests of children from vulnerable groups, including migrant workers, SC/STs, landless labourers and so forth. CONTD. ON P8 cessful not to strive to reform is unacceptable. He said farmers will improve their situation but "they need reforms and guidance to new markets to become self-reliant." CONTD. ON P8 Iqbal Singh held for Red Fort violence NEW DELHI A man wanted in connection with the violence at the Red Fort on Republic Day was arrested by Delhi Police from Punjab, officials said on Wednesday. Iqbal Singh, carrying a reward of Rs 50,000 on his arrest, was nabbed from Hoshiarpur in Punjab on Tuesday night by the northern range of Delhi Cell, Special Police's Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav said. On Monday, the Special Cell had arrested actor-activist Deep Sidhu, a "prominent player" behind the violence at the Red Fort. The Delhi police had announced cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information that can lead to the arrest of actor Sidhu, Jugraj Singh, Gurjot Singh and Gurjant Singh who hoisted flags at the Red Fort or were involved in the act. A cash reward of Rs 50,000 each was also announced for Buta Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Jajbir Singh and Iqbal Singh for allegedly instigating protesters. Of them, Sidhu, Iqbal Singh and Sukhdev Singh have been arrested. A rat has 'killed' a teenage girl in her kitchen in Azad Nagar! Sounds bizarre and unbelievable? But this is exactly what her family members have told the police citing the large numbers of rats that infest their home. Azad Nagar police station in-charge Manish Dabar said the family's claim of 'rat act' behind the girl's death would be ascertained in a probe. However, he ruled out any foul play in the incident. On Tuesday evening, Zoya, 15, a Class X student, was alone at home. Experiencing hunger pangs, she decided to heat some food on a kerosene stove. Little did it she know that it would be her last act. While she was busy heating her meal, the 'culprit' later identified as a rat by the girl's family - got into the act on a shelf right above the stove. The rodent ran across the shelf and jumped onto a can containing one litre of kerosene. The can fell off the shelf, loosening its cap in the process. Sunrise : 07.01 Sunset : 06.20 THOUGHT FOR THE DAY A word is like a finger pointing at different things. Do not look at the finger; focus on the essence of the word. Focus on what the finger is pointing at! Master Choa Kok Sui China-India stand-off along LAC in Ladakh comes to end: Beijing T AARTI TIKOO SINGH New Delhi There is tell-tale evidence of slight disengagement between Indian and Chinese troops, which is aimed at clearing the contentious 'Finger 4' area on the northern bank of Pangong Lake. The exercise started on Wednesday as per a consen, sus reached between the two sides during the ninth round of military commander-level talks. There was no official word from a wary New Delhi but if the Chinese official statement is to be believed, the nine monthlong stand-off between the two Asian giants has come to an end. A spokesperson of China's Ministry of National Defence, Wu Qian, said: "As per a consensus reached in the last round of talks, the frontline units of the Chinese and Indian armed forces in Pangong Hunan and North Coast began to simultaneously and systematically organize disengagement on Feb 10." Since May last year, Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in skirmishes along the LAC near Pangong Lake in Ladakh and the Tibet Autonomous region. In one such violent clash, 20 Indian soldiers and over 40 Chinese troops were killed in the Galwan valley he Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the southern and northern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake start synchronised and organised disengagement from February 10 SENIOR COLONEL WU QIAN, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CHINESE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENCE on June 15-16. Amid the face-off, India rushed massive reinforcements to Ladakh. Though both sides disengaged in the Galwan valley in July, the stand-off continued at critical points at Pangong and PP17A. In August, Indian troops gained control of multiple strategic heights in Chushul sector along the LAC, which changed the overall equation. According to a media report (ref: India Today), the understanding is that China will move back to Finger 8 and Indian troops will pull back to the Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger 2 and 3. There will be no patrolling by either side at Finger 4. These sources added that while marginal thinning of troops has taken place, removal of tanks and weapons is yet to happen. Corona treatment to be stopped at ICU in district hospitals DECISION TAKEN due to fall in number of patients Treatment to be stopped at identified private hospitals from March number treating corona patients has been trimmed. Theidentifiedof private hospitals identified for private hospitals will stop treating Many NITENDRA SHARMA BHOPAL The state government has decided to stop treatment of corona patients at ICUs in district hospitals because of decline in number of patients. Only serious patients will be treated at ICUs in medical colleges, besides the government has reduced the number of beds kept in district hospitals for those afflicted with Covid.The number of corona patients is declining. Such decision has been taken to help those suffering from other ailments. Only those who are down with corona but in normal condition will be treated at district hospitals. If the condition of the patients concerned deteriorates, they will be sent to the medical colleges near their home towns. corona patients from the next month. The health department has already reduced contracts with the pvt hospitals on the ground of number of beds. There is an agreement with Aurobindo Hospital for 100 beds, with Chirayu Hospital for 400 beds and with JK Hospital for 100 beds. As the number of patients has begun to fall, the number of contracts for beds will be reduced. As the number of corona patients began to increase, arrangements for treating them were made at district hospitals. Arrangements were also made for oxygen and ICU at those hospitals. As a result of decline in the number of patients, treatment of corona cases has been stopped at ICUs in district hospitals that the doctors may focus on other ailments. Work for vaccination against the coronavirus is going on . fast. Medical and health employees are busy This is the reason why only identified hospitals will treat the corona patients. There are 14 districts in the state from where not a single corona case has been reported. CONTD. ON P8 33 test +ve in city OUR STAFF REPORTER Indore As many as 33 patients tested positive out of 1968 sample reports received on Wednes. day Rate of positive cases was recorded at 1.68% and total number of positive patients reached 57842. No death was reported. According to the CMHO bulletin, reports of total samples received till Wednesday was 802098 and 1930 of them negative. tested were Department has taken 1931 more samples for testing including 1320 for RTPCR. As many as 308 patients are getting treatment.Total 56610 patients have been discharged so far. Devotees in large number arrive at Sangam on the eve of 'Mauni Amavasya' festival during the ongoing 'Magh Mela' in Prayagraj on Wednesday Rat act: Teenage girl meets fiery death OUR STAFF REPORTER Indore 30.60c. 13.00c ‘I AM ENJOYING EVERY PART OF MY LIFE’ Pg-12 PRESIDENT BIDEN’S FOREIGN AGENDA REASSURING FOR INDIA Pg- 6 farm laws. He said for any modern so, ciety change is important and for fear of being unsuc- WEATHER www.freepressjournal.in PM URGES FARMERS RESUME TALKS TOREFORMS are necessary, farm laws provide an option: Modi AGRICULTURE ROAD TO FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE IS THROUGH CLIMATE JUSTICE: PM Pg-7 `3 Quality at Value Before Zoya could make out what was happening, she was doused in kerosene which immediately caught fire from the burning stove. The girl was up in flames within a few seconds. As she cried for help, the neighbours rushed in. They covered her in a blanket to douse the flames and rushed her to a hospital. Her family members were also informed. She battled for life at the hospital through the night, but in vain. The girl's family surmised that the girl's death had been caused by one of the many rats that had a free run of the house, including the shelf in the kitchen where the can was stored. Head constable Sukhmaniya, investigating officer, said that, in a preliminary statement, they had told the police that the kerosene-filled can was on a shelf on which the girl was heating her food. The family theorised that a rat had knocked the can off the shelf and onto the lighted stove, igniting the flames, which engulfed the girl. The can held 1 litre of kerosene, Sukhmaniya said. Police station-in-charge Dabar said the cops would record the family members' statements and investigate the case. He added that such involvement of rats in a person's death was not known to happen earlier. He added that the police would also probe whether anyone was at home at the time of the incident or not. The cops would grill the girl's friends and others, too, to verify all possible aspects of the case. However, no foul play was suspected in the case, he added, and the police believed it to be an accident. 16 Indian sailors stuck in China to return on Feb 14 NEW DELHI: Sixteen Indian sailors stuck aboard cargo ship MV Anastasia in China will reach India on Feb 14, the Union Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on . Wednesday "Great start of the day ! Our stranded seafarers of MV Anastasia are coming back to India! The crew will sign off from Japan today and will reach India on Feb 14 and soon will be reunited with their families! Appreciate the efforts of Indian Embassy in China and Team MSC," the Minister wrote in a tweet. Citing corona, Chinese authorities did not allow the ships to either dock or go for a crew change for months. Powerful undersea quake hits north of New Zealand WELLINGTON: A powerful undersea earthquake New struck north of Zealand on Wednesday evening, prompting tsunami warnings in parts of the region. Geological US The Agency said the magnitude 7.7 quake was centered at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles) southeast of the Loyalty Islands. The shaking was not expected to cause significant damage or fatal- ities on land. The US Tsunami Warning Center issued warnings of possible tsunami waves ranging from 0.3 to 1 meters (1 to 3.3 feet) for Vanuatu and Fiji. A tsunami watch was issued and then cancelled for American Samoa. The region is prone to earthquakes because it sits along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe-shaped series of seismic fault lines around the ocean.