Protesters pound the door of the police department in Kenosha in the US state of Wisconsin on Sunday; (inset) Jacob Blake | AP CHENNAI l TUESDAY l AUGUST 25, 2020 l `7.00 l PAGES 18 l LATE CITY EDITION ANOTHER POLICE SHOOTING OF BLACK MAN ROCKS U.S. Violent protests erupted in Wisconsin on Sunday night after police shot an unarmed black man in the back several times THE VICTIM IS BATTLING FOR LIFE MULTIPLE VEHICLES SET ON FIRE The police said the shooting happened when they were responding to a “domestic incident” on Sunday evening in Kenosha. A footage showed three officers pointing their guns at the man, identified as Jacob Blake, as he walked around the front of a car. He was shot when he opened the driver’s door and leaned in. He was hospitalised in a serious condition ■ ■ Protesters took out a march to the Kenosha police station, on Sunday night. There, they faced off with officers in riot gear. Multiple vehicles, including a truck, were set ablaze The incident comes three months after the police killing of African-American George Floyd triggered worldwide protests | P11 29-yr-old JACOB BLAKE WAS SHOT IN FRONT OF HIS THREE CHILDREN CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOGGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ WARANGAL ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Sonia to continue as Cong chief for now, party to find new boss Veterans who expressed dissent sidelined at CWC meet; majority sought a Gandhi at the helm R I C H A S H A R M A @ New Delhi DIVINE DIP A devotee immerses an idol of Lord Vinayaka in the sea near Marina beach in Chennai on Monday | PTI Will ensure 7.5% quota for govt school students: EPS Bhushan rules out apology; verdict on punishment today EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE CHIEF MINISTER Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday said the State government will take immediate legal measures to ensure 7.5 per cent reservation in medical seats for students who study in government schools from class 6 to 12. Addressing the 15th Graduation Day of the Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Palaniswami said educational institutions are the pillars of society and they produce students who are assets of the future. Stating that medical institutions in Tamil Nadu have pushed the healthcare sector to a point where the State can offer both affordable and good treatment, the Chief Minister said, “Tamil Nadu is a capital for medical tourism and people come to the State from across India and even neighbouring countries.”  P4 A day before the Supreme Court’s scheduled hearing on the quantum of sentence for his contemptuous tweets, activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan on Monday reiterated that he won’t apologise for his comments against judiciary . In a fresh statement filed in the apex court on Monday, Bhushan said he believes his comments against the judiciary were right. Therefore, an apology would be insincere and amount to contempt of his conscience, he said. On August 20, the Supreme Court had granted him time to reconsider his ‘defiant statement’ refusing to apologise and tender an unconditional apology . “I expressed myself in good faith, not to malign the Supreme Court or any particular Chief Justice, but to offer constructive criticism so that the court can arrest any drift away from its long-standing role as a guardian of the Constitution and custodian of peoples’ rights,” he said. Bhushan added his tweets represented this bona-fide belief. “Public expression of these beliefs was in line with my higher obligations as a citizen and a loyal officer of this court. Therefore, an apology for expression of these beliefs, conditional or unconditional, MEDICAL SEATS @ Chennai T N COV I D B AT T L E FRESH CASES TOTAL CASES DEATHS TOLL 5,967 3,85,352 97 6,614 @ New Delhi If I retract a statement before this court that I otherwise believe to be true offer an insincere apology, that in my eyes would amount to the contempt of my conscience and of an institution I hold in highest esteem Prashan Bhushan would be insincere.” He noted an apology cannot be a mere incantation and any apology has to, as the court has itself put it, be sincerely made. The activist-lawyer said he believes the SC is the last bastion of hope for the protection of fundamental rights and constitutional democracy . “Today in these troubling times, the hopes of the people of India vest in this Court to ensure the rule of law and the Constitution,” he said. The court had on August 14 held Bhushan guilty of criminal contempt for two derogatory tweets against judiciary . Bhushan faces simple imprisonment of up to six months or with a fine of up to `2,000 or both as punishment. THE much hyped dissent by senior leaders turned out to be whimper on Monday with the Congress Working Committee requesting Sonia Gandhi to continue leading the party until a new leader is elected. “The CWC makes it clear that no one will be or can be permitted to undermine or weaken the party and its leadership at this juncture,” said the CWC resolution, sending strong message to dissenters. The seven-hour CWC meeting saw the veterans who wrote to Sonia seeking “collective leadership” being cornered with a majority of the members condemning their move and some demanding action against them for indiscipline. According to sources, Rahul Gandhi was unsparing in his speech and said the move by these leaders will benefit only the BJP. Upset by the insinuation, senior party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad threatened to quit from all party posts. Congress general-secretary Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra, then, took a jibe at Azad that what he said in the meeting was contrary to the letter’s content. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, too, expressed his anguish but later clarified he “was informed by Rahul Gandhi personally that he never said what was attributed to him”. After the CWC meeting, a few veteran leaders met at Azad’s residence to discuss the future course of action. The meeting started with the party’s organisations incharge K C Venugopal reading out Sonia’s statement asking CWC “to begin deliberations to put in place a process of transition to relieve me from my duties”. This made her two confidantes former PM Manmohan Unlock 4.0 What to expect While the govt is yet to release Unlock 4.0 guidelines which will kick in from September 1, officials gave some indications Metro train Services are likely to resume Schools, colleges Unlikely to be allowed to reopen, but higher educational institutions such as universities, IITs and IIMs may be permitted to open with conditions RTI REPLY EC shared pics and addresses of Delhiites with police, says activist SPB STABLE, BUT STILL ON VENTILATOR: HOSP Singer SP Balasubrahmanyam continues to be on ventilator and ECMO support and his clinical condition is stable, said a bulletin issued by Dr Anuradha Baskaran, Asst Director-Medical Services, MGM Healthcare | P2 TALKS ON KOYAMBEDU MARKET REOPENING Traders of Koyambedu wholesale market are hopeful of reopening the market after a gap of four months as they held a meeting with Chief Minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami on Monday | P2 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi THE Election Commission of India had shared photos and addresses of voters from NorthEast Delhi with the Delhi police after the February riots, RTI activist Saket Gokhale said on Monday Citing a letter from the . Election Commission of India to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi dated March 12, Gokhale said the full voters list, along with photos, was handed over “illegally” to the Delhi Police to help identify suspects. According to Gokhale, the ECI’s letter to the Delhi CEO clearly states that “the electoral database of entire AC/District should not be shared with the Police Authorities”. Gokhale also shared the letter on Twitter, which gives the context in which the Delhi police sought the sensitive data. The police wanted the address and photographs of residents, as available in the electoral roll of the North-East Shahdara and East Delhi districts, for the purpose of matching with the photographs of culprits captured through CCTV . “ECI broke these rules & made these full voter lists available to police,” he tweeted. However, the poll panel rejected the charges. “It is hereby clarified that the Commission has not in any way deviated from the original guidelines of 2008 and clarificatory orders of 2020 in any manner,” it said. The Election Commission also noted that in case of criminal investigations by enforcement agencies, it is under their own extant rules and guidelines, which can be challenged in courts of law. “It is only when the Model Code of Conduct is enforced that the Election Commission takes note of any such event(s)/ incident(s), which have the potential of disturbing and/or disrupting the smooth conduct of electoral process,” it said. Singh and A K Antony requesting her to continue lead the party while calling the letter by his party colleagues as “unfortunate and cruel”. A majority of the CWC members lend weight behind the Gandhis and said Sonia should continue to lead the party till Rahul takes over the reins. Congress-ruled CMs, senior leader Ahmed Patel and other CWC members were unanimous that only a Gandhi can keep the party together. However, sources said Rahul is still reluctant to take the hot seat. An AICC session is likely to be called within six months to elect the next leader. Four of the letter signatories, who are part of the CWC, clarified that the letter was to bring focus on organisation restricting and settling leadership issues and never questioned Sonia’s leadership. Azad and Anand Sharma said they have not breached party discipline while Ambika Soni sought action against the dissenters as per the party constitution. In her concluding remarks, Sonia said she was hurt by the remarks in the letter but doesn’t hold any ill will against party colleagues. Full report: P9 ‘Don’t weaken leadership’ CWC said nobody will be allowed to undermine Cong leadership. “The responsibility of every Congress worker and leader is to fight the pernicious assault on India’s democracy, pluralism and diversity by the Modi govt,” it said VETERANS FEEL THERE’S NO ROOM FOR DISSENT IN CONG EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi T he Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Monday witnessed many heated moments as party veterans who sent a joint letter to interim chief Sonia Gandhi came under attack. Former party president Rahul Gandhi led the charge while a majority of members loyal to the Nehru-Gandhi family followed up with verbal assault, questioning the motive of the dissenters. In its resolution, the CWC also warned them not to raise inner-party issues through media. This, according to many senior Congress leaders, only shows that there is no space in the party for raising serious internal matters. Senior leader Ghulam Cinema halls Not likely to reopen as it is not commercially viable to operate cinema halls following social distancing norms Bars May be permitted to sell liquor over the counter for takeaway Containment zones Will continue to be put under full lockdown restrictions States will have final call Final decision will be taken by states on whether to allow Centre’s relaxations depending on the coronavirus situation in their region Nabi Azad sought to explain that the purpose of the letter was not to question the leadership of the Gandhis but only to flag some issues in the functioning of the party . This, along with organisational restructuring of the party merits immediate , attention, he added. It is not for the first time that senior party leaders are raising their voice against the leadership. However, the party’s history shows dissenters have never been able to win back the trust of the Gandhi family According to . insiders, this is the most important thing to survive in the party and to get important posts. “Ample examples in the past show that any dissent in the party challenging Gandhi’s supremacy has Stay alert against ‘divisive forces’ in TN, says Nadda EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Chennai MOUNTING a direct attack on the DMK on Monday, BJP national president J P Nadda alleged that “divisive forces” are being given shelter in Tamil Nadu. Addressing the party’s State executive meeting through video conference, Nadda warned the State govern- Online class: HC seeks reply from State on kids’ ordeal H A R I S H M U R A L I @ Chennai AMID reports of tribal children in the State struggling to access online lessons due to poor network connectivity the , Madras High Court on Monday directed the State government to file a detailed report on the steps taken by it to address the inequality in education system, especially after the introduction of online classes. TNIE in its edition dated August 24 (Monday) had reported the ordeal of tribal children in the foothills of Pachamalai in Tiruchy who trek to a hilltop every day to access network so t h at t h e y c a n d ow n l o a d lessons. A division bench comprising MM Sundresh and R Hemala- been unwelcoming and dissenters have been sidelined. The treatment meted out to two non-Gandhi Congress presidents – PV Narasimha Rao and Sitaram Kesri – before Sonia took over the reins of the party in 1998 is well known,” said a party leader. Kesri was unceremoniously dethroned and locked in a room at the AICC headquarters as Sonia took over as party chief. Rao was sidelined completely. The Congress’ top leadership did not allow even his dead body to be kept at the party headquarters in Delhi for people to pay their last respects. Similarly, many others like Rajesh Pilot, Jitendra Prasada, Sharad Pawar and P A Sangma were either sidelined or left the party . tha also sought to know how the State government is ensuring that schools are conducting the online classes in “true spirit”. One of the petitioners mentioned a study by the NCERT which stated that 27 per cent of Central school students were facing difficulties in attending online classes. Referring to this, the judges said, “Availability of gadgets to all school-going children is one issue and connectivity is another issue which needs to be addressed.” On the issues faced by tribal children, Additional Advocate General Narmada Sampath sought more time to get instructions from the State. The HC has asked the State to file a reply on Thursday . ment and political parties to stay “alert” so that these “divisive forces” do not gain foothold in the State. “We have to give a befitting reply to such forces that are working against the interest of the nation,” he said. Meanwhile, in a shar p retort, DMK chief Stalin said that the BJP was “unnecessarily teasing” his party . P4 EXPRESS READ 1 killed, 51 trapped as building collapses at Raigad, Maharashtra Mumbai: One man was killed and 51 others are reportedly trapped under the debris of a five-storeyed residential building that collapsed in Maharashtra on Monday, police said. The building in Kajalpura in Raigad district, which was about 10 years old, collapsed at around 7 pm. There were around 45 flats in the building, an official said.