AFP vijayawada l monday l november 16, 2020 l `7.00 l PAGES 28 l late city EDITION hamilton equals f1 legend schumacher’s world mark Briton enters league of all-time greats across sports with seventh World Championship win in Turkish Grand Prix childhood dream comes true Lewis Hamilton, who had earlier this year overtaken Michael Schumacher’s world record of most individual races won, had claimed his first world title in 2008. “We dreamed of this when I was young. I remember watching Michael win those World Championships... Seven is unimaginable,” said the Mercedes driver. The 35-year-old has won 10 of 14 races this season ■ 4 incredible journey of milestone man ■ Hamilton also holds the world records for most wins (94), most pole positions (97) and most podium finishes (163) Hamilton came home over half-a-minute clear of Racing Point’s Sergio Perez and sealed the World Championship with three races still to be held in a season cut short by the Covid-19 pandemic This is hamilton’s fourth consecutive world title win 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 RCEP is a deal! Decoding political killings 30% 210 cr fifteen signatories of RCEP People covered by the deal Common rules,  lower tariffs The RCEP is a trade pact first proposed in 2012 and includes China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Australia, and 10 ASEAN economies—Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia The agreement is expected to lower or eliminate a range of tariffs within 20 years of it taking effect It will also lead to the creation of common rules of origin. This will help companies save cost and time by allowing them to export a product anywhere within the bloc without meeting separate requirements for each country Indian pull out Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan (R) holds up the RCEP agreement as Premier Li Keqiang (L) applauds | afp The RCEP signatory states will commence negotiations with India at any time after the signing of RCEP agreement once India submits a request in writing Ministers’ Declaration on India’s participation in RCEP Door still open for New Delhi Win for China India can join the RCEP anytime in future after submitting a formal request India pulled out of the RCEP talks last year over concerns that tariffs reductions will lead to dumping of Chinese goods in the domestic market. It would also worsen India’s trade deficit According to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, India has trade deficits with 11 of the 15 RCEP signatories While RCEP would open up India’s market to Chinese goods, India got no assurances that its companies would get meaningful access to Chinese markets India can participate in RCEP meetings as an observer Being China’s brainchild, RCEP is seen as its tool to draft the rules of trade in the region What next India can also take part in economic cooperation activities undertaken by the signatory states, on terms and conditions to be jointly decided by RCEP All signatories need to ratify the deal within two years for it to come into force The Bharatiya Janata Party’s sustained push to make inroads ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections next year and the Trinamool Congress’s fierce efforts to thwart the attempts are turning south Bengal into killing fields. Last Wednesday Prime Min, ister Narendra Modi had alluded to it, saying those who had failed to challenge the BJP democratically have resorted to murdering its workers to achieve their goals. “Maut ka khel (killing game) cannot get you votes,” he said without naming the TMC. Police data studied by this newspaper showed that of the 47 political killings involving BJP and TMC workers since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, 38 happened in south Bengal. Twelve of the political killings took place in the last six months. A majority of those who were killed, 28, were BJP supporters, while 18 were TMC workers and one was a Socialist Unity Centre of India activist. The reason why south Bengal has turned into a bloody political battlefield is because this is where the BJP sees it can m a ke i n ro a d s i n t o T M C territory . In the political landscape of West Bengal, there are 85 minority-dominated seats. Here the TMC has built an almost impregnable base through its Muslim-friendly policies. The BJP in any case doesn’t enjoy the community’s trust. Then there are 55 seats, mostly in north Bengal, which have a substantial number of Hindu refugees from Bangladesh. In these seats the BJP has wide support. This was underlined in the parliamentary elections last year, when it won seven of the eight Lok Sabha seats. Bitter fight for south Bengal turf Vote share in North Bengal 2019 2016 Share in global GDP of the P r o n a b M o n d a l @ Kolkata TMC 43% Assembly BJP 15% TMC 35% BJP 51% Vote share in South Bengal 2019 2016 The world’s biggest free trade deal is finally here. Fifteen countries on Sunday signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), with China expected to be the Big Daddy. A look Seats won in 2016 Assembly elections TMC 44% BJP 35% Seats dominated by communities Minorities : 85 SC & Hindu refugees : 55 Tribals : 25 That apart, there are 25 seats where tribals have a large presence. They mainly are in the Jungle Mahal region, where the BJP has managed to create Darjeeling North Dinajpur Lok Sabha elections Malda Cooch Behar South Bengal South Dinajpur Murshidabad Nadia East Burdwan West Burdwan Hooghly Purulia North 24 Parganas Bankura Jhargram Howrah West Midnapore Kolkata East Midnapore South 24 Parganas a base. So, with the electoral leanings in 165 (85+55+25) seats of the total 294 clear, a fierce fight has broken out between the BJP and the TMC for the re- maining 129 seats. As all of them are located in south Bengal, the region has turned into a hotbed of violence.  Continued on P7 Youngsters pool in money, construct house for fisherman in Srikakulam R a m e s h B a b u G @ Srikakulam Tekkala Nagaraju, a 55-yearold fisherman who lost his livelihood under the impact of Covid-19, was in for more trouble after the heavy rains six months ago severely damaged his house. His repeated requests to the authorities for a new house under a government scheme fell on deaf ears, and he was forced to live under a tree, come rain or shine. Nagaraju, of Devunaltada village in Srikakulam district’s Vajrapukotturu mandal, has been living alone since his wife died and children migrated. With no house either, his life turned miserable until the lo- cal youngsters noticed his plight. They decided to build him a low-cost house with an asbestos roof, and pooled in `30,000 for this. “Nagaraju approached the officials seeking shelter in the village several times. Vexed with their poor response, he approached some youngsters in the village. When the issue was brought to our notice, we immediately decided to build a structure for him to live in,” said Chinta Murali, who helped construct the house. Nagaraju’s children left him in the village and migrated outside the State, Murali said, add- ing that there was no one to look after the fisherman. “Thanks to these youngsters, I am now able to sleep under a roof,” said Nagaraju. They even gave the fisherman essential supplies for the next two months. “I lost my source of income due to the lockdown, but these supplies will help me survive till the situation improves,” Nagaraju said. “We have been involved in social service in the villages of Vajrapukotturu mandal. We earlier pooled in `10,000 to construct a house for a victim of the heavy rains, Saini Damayanti, of Saninivanipeta,” Murali told TNIE. Nitish to begin seventh term as Bihar CM today R a j e s h K u m a r T h a k u r @ Patna A day after being unanimously elected leader of the Bihar NDA, JD(U) president Nitish Kumar will on Monday be sworn-in as the state’s chief minister for his seventh term. The swearing-in ceremony will begin at 4.30 pm. Earlier on Sunday, Nitish staked his claim to form the new government after handing the letter of support of 126 lawmakers to Governor Phagu Chauhan. The NDA meeting was held in the presence of BJP’s central observer and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Addressing the media later, Nitish said: “I did not want to be the CM, but only after the request and instructions of the leaders of the BJP I accepted the post,” he said. , Within the BJP Katihar MLA Tar Kishor Prasad was elected , its legislature party leader, which suggested he could be made the deputy chief minister. Perhaps to acknowledge the role of women as silent voters in the NDA victory the BJP elected Bet, tiah MLA Renu Devi as deputy leader of the legislature party . Team Nitish could have 15 representatives from the BJP, 12 JD(U) and two each from the Hindustani Awam Morcha and the P8 Vikassheel Insaan Party  . North Bengal Jalpaiguri elections TMC 45% BJP 7% Alipurduar Dash of colour Workers prepare bangles for the Karthika Masam festivities at the Kanaka Durga temple in Vijayawada on Sunday I Express Policemen stand outside Fusion Foods restaurant, which was vacated by VMRDA in Visakhapatnam. The restaurant was run by TDP leader Harsha Vardhan I Express VMRDA vacates TDP leader’s restaurant notice for auction of the shops. Since the norms were not followed in the allotment, the The Visakhapatnam Metropol- VMRDA issued a notice and itan Region Development Au- got it vacated on Sunday mornthority (VMRDA) on Sunday ing, official sources said. Incidentally, Harsha Vardcracked the whip on Fusion han was questioned Foods restaurant in connection with near Gurjada Kalakshetram i n ‘Officials acted the attack on Chief Siripuram here and under pressure’ Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy at the Vigot it vacated from Though it was a zag airport on Octothe VMRDA premispublic holiday on ber 25, 2018 when he es. The premises Saturday, officials was leader of the was taken on lease from the VMRDA by served the notice on Opposition. T he that day, which prime accused in TDP leader Harsha showed they acted the rooster knife atVardhan in 2004, from when he has under pressure, TDP tack case, J SriniState president vasa Rao, was an been running the K Atchannaidu said, employee of the reshotel there. adding that YSRC As per the VMRtaurant run by HarDA notice, the ex- leaders are trying to sha Vardhan at the capture property in tension of lease givairport. Visakhapatnam Harsha Vardhan en in 2015 up to 2024 said he had been was against the VMRDA rules. Though the State running the restaurant on the government’s approval is nec- VMRDA premises for the past essary for giving an extension five years. A renewal of the beyond three years, the lease lease was given to his restauwas renewed without any such rant by the VMRDA up to 2024. approval. Allotment or exten- He alleged the officials took acsion of the lease ought to be tion against him owing to poP5 granted after issuing a public litical vendetta.  Express News Service @ Visakhapatnam e x p r e ss r e a d Soumitra Chatterjee (1935-2020) P r o a c t i v e a pp r o a c h Flutter over Trump tweet on Biden victory Always graceful, Feluda was an institution of Bengali cinema After friend’s accident, youngsters spend their Sunday filling up potholes Washington: US President Donald Trump, who is yet to concede his election defeat to Joe Biden, nearly admitted on Sunday that the Democrat won. “He won because the Election was Rigged,” Trump tweeted. His surprising use of the phrase “he won” left analysts wondering if the US president is ambiguously admitting his defeat. However, Trump quickly corrected himself with another tweet saying, “I concede NOTHING!” | P9 WITH THIS ISSUE THE ESSENTIAL CAMPUS DIGEST 28 PAGES, INCLUDING 16 OF edex (TABLOID) YOUR LIFE COACH Shilajit Mitra How does an actor play the wind? For over half a century now, cineastes have dissected the evocative opening sequence of Satyajit Ray’s Charulata (1964). We know the rhythms, the shots, the studied minutiae of provincial Bengal as revealed over one languorous afternoon with Charulata (Madhabi Mukherjee). But what about the twist, the turn, the sudden shifting around of fate? This is Soumitra Chatterjee, the wild and irrepressible Amal of Ray’s film, arriving in a Fans attend a funeral rally for iconic Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee | afp squall to stir things up. In Charulata’s life, he arrives as the unruly summer wind, ruffling floor mats and sending bits of paper in a swirl. “Hare murare...,” he announces dra- matically before dropping to touch her feet. When he gets up, the order of his queries is telling: “Are you reading the literary magazines?” he asks. And then: “Where’s my brother?” The scene of Amal’s arrival is momentous: he will soon be unclasping a flurry of muted desires in his bored and housebound sister-in-law. At the same time, there’s a droll insouciance to Soumitra’s performance that undercuts any metaphorical heavy-handedness. Such was the relaxed mastery of the Soumitra-Ray combine. Continued on P7  P h a n i n d r a Pa pa s a n i @ Vijayawada On November 1, 27-year-old Garikapati Satish was riding his two-wheeler on the potholeridden JagannadhapuramKanchikacherla road when he fell and injured himself. He had to get 15 stitches and stay away from work to recover. Moved by his plight, Satish’s friends decided to do something about the almost-unmotorable stretch of the road that also lacked proper lighting. On Sunday, eight of his friends, all below the age of 30 The youngsters pooled in money, hired an earth mover and fixed the road | Express years and residents of Ambedkar Colony in Kanchikacherla town, started repairing the road with cement. “This stretch is prone to accidents due to its poor condi- tion. At night, people are at risk of falling off their bikes as there are no street lights,” Ashok, who helped repair the road, told The New Indian Express. Recalling his experience, Satish said, “The 40-ft road doesn’t have proper lighting. When I was returning from Jujjur around 8 pm after finishing my work, I lost balance and fell after hitting a pothole due to poor visibility Satish add.” ed that he lost his livelihood as he had to stay away from work to undergo treatment for his head injury Continued on P5 .