eye THE SUNDAY EXPRESS MAGAZINE SWEPT A AY W NEWDELHI,LATECITY FEBRUARY28,2021 Indians, like the world, can’t get enough of Korean shows. A look at how fame has changed how these are made 20PAGES,`6.00 (`8 BIHAR & RAIPUR, ` 12 SRINAGAR) DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM HEALTH SECY MEETS NATIONAL HEALTH MISSION OFFICIALS Centre specifies comorbidities for vaccine eligibility, cap on charge at Rs 250 per dose Targeted vaccination tops Centre’s push in states showing a surge Around 10,600 pvt hospitals can be used by states as vaccination centres KAUNAIN SHERIFF M NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 27 THE CENTRAL Government has capped the cost of a single Covid vaccine dose at Rs 250 per person in private healthcare facilitiesforthoseabovetheageof 60, and those above the age of 45 with associated co-morbidities, who will be eligible for vaccination in the next phase starting March 1. On Saturday, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan told senior state officials of the NationalHealthMissionthatprivate hospitals functioning as Covid Vaccination Centres (CVCs) “can charge subject to a ceiling of Rs 250 per person per dose”. The states were also informed that around 10,000 private hospitals under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY and 687 private hospitals under CGHS can be used by states as CVCs. The Centre will also share georeferencemapswithGPScoordinates of allsuchfacilitiesthatwillserve as CVCs. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 KAUNAIN SHERIFF M NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 27 Covid test being done of athletes at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium, Delhi, on Saturday. Praveen Khanna THE CENTRE Saturday gave seven key pointers to seven states and the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that have reported a Covid surge, including an aggressive vaccination drive in districts reporting a higher number of cases and effective tracking of super- spreader events. The guidelines were issued during a high-level meeting chaired by Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba and attended by the chief secretaries of Maharashtra, Punjab, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Telangana and Jammu & Kashmir. The guidelines are: monitor mutant strains and clustering of CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 To cut subsidy bill, Niti paper wants lower coverage in food security law Founders of Devas pitch to power 5G in US with satellite tech HARIKISHAN SHARMA JOHNSON TA NITI AAYOG, the government think tank, has recommended reducing the rural and urban coverage under the National FoodSecurityAct,2013,to60per cent and 40 per cent, respectively, which itestimates, canresult in annual savings of up to Rs 47,229 crore. At present, the NFSA’s rural coverage is equal to 75 per cent of the rural population and urbancoverageis50percentof the urban population. Overall, the NFSA caters to 67 per cent of the total population. Accordingtosources,theNiti Aayog’s recommendations are part of a discussion paper circulated to the departments concerned. The think tank has also suggested updating the population level, which is currently based on Census 2011. Under the NFSA, each Antyodaya Anna Yojana household (approximately 2.37 crore households or 9.01crore people, as on February 1, 2021) is entitled to 35 kg of foodgrains per FOUNDERS OF Bengaluru startupDevasMultimedia,afirmembroiled in a legal battle with the Indian government over a failed 2005 satellite deal, are attempting to deploy satellite-based technology earlier associated with Devas for 5G telecom rollout in the US. Omnispace LLC, a start-up in the US, which has Devas Multimedia Founder and CEO Ramachandran Viswanathan as its President and CEO, announced this month it would put together a small constellation of satellites to power 5G from space — especially to provide connectivity to remote areaswhereterrestrialmobilenetwork does not work. “We are forging ahead in the delivery of truly mobile 5G connectivity solutions from space. Our network will leverage harmonised 2 GHz spectrum to bring the power of 5G to users and industries around the globe,” Viswanathan said in a CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 27 SUNDAY STORY PAGE 13 ONE KOO AT A TIME As new guidelines rein in social media giants, the government is also encouraging homegrown apps as alternatives, to Twitter, WhatsApp, Google Maps GOVT & POLITICS CLERIC ON STAGE, CONG, LEFT TOSTART CAMPAIGN TODAY PAGE 8 BENGALURU, FEBRUARY 27 Amendment needed The urban and rural coverage of the food security law has not been changed since its enactment in 2013. The Niti Aayog discussion paper proposes to utilise the savings generated from the reduction in the coverage of food security towards other needs such as health and education, especially in times of pandemic. This will, however, require an amendment to the National Food Security Act. month,whilethepriorityhouseholds (approximately 70.35 crore people) are entitled to 5 kg per person per month. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 The Yogi Adityanath govt organised showering of flowers from the air on devotees gathered for ‘Magh Purnima’ at the Sangam in Prayagraj on Saturday. PTI Prasad says govt for Judicial Service, with reservation for SC/ST, OBCs Flags ‘disturbing trend’ of judges being trolled over rulings SANTOSH SINGH PATNA, FEBRUARY 27 UNDERLINING “WE need to have good intake in the judiciary”, Union Minister of Law and Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad said Saturday that the government was in “discussion” with the Chief Justice of India to establish “very soon” an All India Judicial Service or Indian Judicial Service drawing the “best minds” via competitive examinations. “We also wish to give proper reservation to SC, ST, OBC so that theinclusivecharacterofthejudiciary may also come about. I am very keenly pushing it,” he said. ARUN JANARDHANAN CHENNAI, FEBRUARY 27 THE SEXUAL assault complaint lodged by an IPS officer that led to the Tamil Nadu government removingaSpecialDGPfromhis post capped a series of dramatic events across 24 hours early this week, including the complainant “rushing out of the car” in which the alleged incident took place — and later being allegedly “blocked by a team of PAGE 1 ANCHOR 150 police personnel" led by an SP while on her way to record her grievance, The Sunday Express has learnt. On February 22 afternoon, the day after the alleged incident, the complainant was able to reach Chennai and file a complaint with DGP J K Tripathy and the Home Department. Two days later, the state government removed Rajesh Das from the powerful post of Special DGP (Law and Order) and put him on CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Addressingagatheringatthe inauguration of the Centenary Building of the Patna High Court – the function was attended by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Patna High Court Chief Justice Sanjay Karol, serving and retired judges of the Supreme CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Imran welcomes ceasefire, says ready for talks on all pending issues In first remarks on thaw, Pak PM puts onus on India for any further progress SHUBHAJIT ROY NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 27 TWO DAYS after India and Pakistan announced adherence to ceasefire agreements along the Line of Control, signalling a thaw amid the chill in ties, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Saturday “welcomed” the ceasefireagreementbutsaidthe onusof creatingan“enablingenvironment” for further progress in bilateral relations rests with New Delhi. These are his first comments since the ceasefire was announced, after almost three months of back-channel talks. Khan said Pakistan remains readytomoveforwardtoresolve “all outstanding issues” with India through dialogue. In a series of tweets, the Pakistan Prime Minister said: “I welcome restoration of the ceasefire along the LOC. The onus of creating an enabling environment for further progress rests with India. India must take necessary steps to meet the long-standingdemand&rightof Imran Khan on his recent trip to Sri Lanka. Reuters the Kashmiri people to self-determination according to UNSC resolutions.” “We have always stood for peace & remain ready to move forward to resolve all outstanding issues through dialogue,” he said. While there was no official response from New Delhi to Khan’s comments, India’s remarks Thursdayon the ceasefire had been extremely temperate. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Anurag Srivastava had said “India desires normal, neighbourly relations with Pakistan. We have always CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 First step… fair bit of distance to cover, says LoC General NAVEED IQBAL KUPWARA (J&K), FEBRUARY 27 TWO DAYS after the Director Generals of Military Operations in India and Pakistan issued a statement reiterating the commitment to ceasefire along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said it is implementing the order “in letter and spirit” and expects Pakistan to do the same. Major General V M B Krishnan, General Officer Commanding, 28 Infantry Division, told The Sunday Express: “We welcome the ceasefire agreement between Major Gen Krishnan, GOC, 28 Infantry Division India and Pakistan. We hope it ushers in an era of peace, security and development in the villages closer to the Line of Control. We also hope infiltration is shut down by Pakistan from across the LoC.” He said if peace and tranquillity hold on the LoC, it will build mutual trust and confidence between the two nations. “It’s the CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Group of 23 raises the ante, Cong hits back: Go do poll campaign TN Spl DGP accused of assault: Officer fled car; 150 cops tried to stop her MANOJ C G & ARUN SHARMA NEW DELHI, JAMMU, FEB 27 Celebrated editor MARTY BARON, who retires from The Washington Post on Sunday, speaks to The Indian Express PAGE 18 KICK-STARTING an exercise to show their strength and garner support, a group of senior leaders who have been demanding sweeping reforms in the Congress Saturday reiterated their call for change at a joint public event in Jammu — their first such outing. The Congress responded by saying it would be better if the leaders campaigned in the Assembly election-bound states instead to strengthen the party’s hands. Senior leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad,AnandSharma,KapilSibal, BhupinderSinghHooda,Manish Tewari, Raj Babbar and Vivek Tankha attended the Jammu event, organised by the Gandhi Global Family, an organisation headed by Azad. Sharma and Sibal said the The Congress dissenters at a meeting in Jammu on Saturday. They said it was the first of several such planned events. PTI Congresswasgettingweakened, with Sibal questioning why the Congress had not seen it fit to utilise the experience of a leader like Azad, letting him retire from the Rajya Sabha. The leader of opposition in the Upper House, Azad’s term ended recently. Azad, who returned to home CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 An illegal bird fight, a dead owner, and rooster on trial SREENIVAS JANYALA HYDERABAD, FEBRUARY 27 CIVIL SERVICES POWER FLOWER PAGES 16, 17 THERE IS a cock in this story, a whole lot of bull, and plenty of people running around like headless chicken. But the saga of a 1.5-foot-tall fiery rooster, from Gollapali in Jagtiyal district of Telangana, is far from over. The bird — “estimated to be two or three years old” — stands accused of causing its owner’s death by accidentally slashing him in the groin. Bird fights are illegalinTelangana,andtheroosternowfindsitself notjustwithoutanownerandavocation,but also in police custody and facing a possible court hearing. The incident happened on February 22, during a bird fight being held on thesly neara templeinGollapalli.For T Sathaiah,a 45-year-old small-time poultry ownerwellknownintheareafor training roosters for such fights, it was a normal day at work. He arrivedwiththerooster,thatwas ready to shed blood with a 3inch knife strapped to one of its legs. However, as he was putting it down to take on the other rooster,thebirdstruggled tofree itself, and in the process, cut Sathaiah in the groin. Gollapalli Police Station Sub- Inspector K Jeevan said Sathaiah’s injury was grievous. “He had lost a lot of blood by the time he was taken to hospital, where he was declared dead.” Jeevan believes it as anopenand-shut case, with the knife and rooster seized, and their photos taken to be doubly sure. “We kept the bird at the police station for a day but later shifted it to a poultry farm, where it is beingtakencareof.Photosof the rooster will be submitted to court. If the court orders, we will produce the bird,” Jeevan said. Sathaiah’s wife Vasantha, 38, who rolls beedis for a living, has told police he often participated The rooster in custody, soon after it was held. Express inbirdfights.Of theirtwodaughters,the16-year-oldhasaspeech impairment, while the younger one, 14, is in school. The family lives in a one-room tin shed. Sathaiah would earn Rs1,500 toRs2,000perbirdfight. Police said the rooster that left him injured had cost him Rs 10,000. That day, the bird had won five fights, starting 9.30 am. Eyewitnesses said that high on this, Sathaiah had had a lot to drink, leading to him not being able to control the bird and the incident around 4.30 pm. An official said the poultry farm owner to whom the rooster has been handed over has been instructed to take care of it. “Thesebirdsrequirespecialcare. We will check on the bird once in a while,” said Circle Inspector (Dharmapuri)RameshwaraRao, adding that such roosters are raised on a diet that includes cashew nuts and semi-cooked prawnsandmightdieif nothandled properly. While bird fights are banned in Telangana, it is an open secret that these are held clandestinely across the state, with bets on them running into lakhs. In fact, during theSankrantifestival this January, two other roosters, alongwith10people,hadended up in the lock-up of Mudigonda Police Station in Khammam districtafterpolicehadraidedatent where bird fights were being organised. The birds had spent three days in lock-up till police produced the accused in court. The birds were later released. Sankranti is when both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh puttheirbestbirdsforward,with fights held in tents and sheds set up amidst fields or mango groves, to avoid police. An official said, “Only those who raise roostersforfightsandtheenthusiasts who bet on the fights knowof thelocations.Birdfights startaheadof Sankrantiandcontinue for several weeks.”