visakhapatnam l monday l november 23, 2020 l `7.00 l PAGES 28 l late city EDITION judge throws out trump suit on Pennsylvania loss A Pennsylvania judge on Saturday dismissed Trump campaign’s lawsuit seeking to invalidate millions of mail-in votes state can now certify biden as winner Helpful verdict, claims Trump team Judge Matthew Brann ruled that the Trump campaign “presented strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations unsupported by evidence”. Donald Trump had claimed some Pennsylvania counties contacted and let voters to fix mistakes in their mail ballot declarations. The path is now clear for the state to certify Joe Biden as the winner ■ ■ Trump’s legal team cast the ruling in a positive light, saying it helps their strategy to get the case expeditiously to the US Supreme Court, where a majority of judges are conservative The case will now go to the 3rd circuit of the US Court of Appeals, which, the Trump campaign hopes, will pass a quick verdict | P9 81,000 votes is biden’s lead over trump in Pennsylvania 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 Experts see building of a second Covid wave in India s u m i s u k a n ya d u t ta @ New Delhi After reaching the trough of just 28,609 fresh Covid-19 cases on November 16 — the lowest in four months — India has seen between 38,000 and 46,000 new cases daily in the last four days, raising concerns that the country is staring at a second wave of the deadly infection. The daily infection count reached its peak of 96,860 on September 16. Ever since, there had been a steady decline. But, in recent days, states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Delhi have seen a sharp rise in daily new cases, pushing the national tally up. “We are definitely seeing early signs of a second wave at the national level,” health economist Rijo M John said. The mortality rate, too, is rising in several states, including Kerala, Odisha, Bihar, Assam, Jharkhand, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, John pointed out. Experts warned that the states that did well in containing the first wave U.S. may start vaccination by dec 11 The US is planing to start coronavirus vaccinations by December 11, a top official said. Two US firms Pfizer and Moderna have reported their vaccine candidates to be over 90% effective in final round trials | P9 BJP show tied to muslim MLas S a n a S h a k i l @ New Delhi Barring a few exceptions, the fact that fewer Muslim MLAs were elected in the recent Bihar Assembly elections falls into a pattern witnessed in recent years. Wherever and whenever the Bharatiya Janata Party and its alliance partners have performed strongly, coming to power in most cases, the number of elected Muslim representatives has gone down, like in Bihar where it dropped from 24 to 19. Conversely, where non-BJP parties have done well, Muslim representation in the elected houses has generally increased, an analysis by this newspaper found. Take, for instance, the Karnataka elections in 2018 and Uttar Pradesh in 2017. In both states, the BJP did well and the number of Muslim MLAs dived. The steepest fall was in UP where the BJP stormed to power with a crushing threefourths mandate. In the outgoing Assembly where the Samajwadi Party was in power, the state had 68 Muslim MLAs; that figure dropped to 24. Percentage wise, it dipped from 17% of the total strength of the Assem- Cow cabinet mulls cess to raise funds E x p r e ss N e ws Se r v i c e @ Bhopal The first of its kind gau (cow) cabinet meeting on Sunday convened by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan explored the possibility of levying a cess to raise funds for the welfare of cows in Madhya Pradesh. “There was a time when every individual offered the first roti of the meal to a cow and the last roti to dogs, but now it doesn’t happen. Maybe we’ll make the people contribute financially but it will , be ensured that they aren’t pained by it,” Chouhan said. The gau cabinet, which met virtually also decided to set up over 2,000 cowsheds in the state for the protection of the cows. “We won’t let any cow remain shelterless. We’ve targeted 2,000 gaushalas to be managed by gover nment along with self-help groups,” Continued on: P8 he said.  WITH THIS ISSUE THE ESSENTIAL CAMPUS DIGEST 28 PAGES, INCLUDING 16 OF edex (TABLOID) YOUR LIFE COACH bly to 6%. In Karnataka, the number of Muslim MLAs fell from 11 to seven. Contrast them with the elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in late 2018, Odisha in mid-2019, Maharashtra and Jharkhand in late 2019, and Delhi in February this year. In all these states, the Congress and regional parties upended the BJP and the Muslim MLA count grew, even if marginally in some cases. The biggest increase was in Rajasthan — from two to eight — where the Congress wrested power from the BJP. In Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress ended 15 years of continuous BJP rule, Muslim MLA numbers went up from nil to one and one to two, respectively . Maharashtra and Jharkhand are also interesting, as the BJP lost power, and the number of Muslim MLAs increased. Exceptions to the trend were Gujarat, Assam and Tripura, where Muslim representation went up though they are ruled by the BJP On the flip side, the . Muslim MLA count dropped in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Punjab, where the BJP has negligible electoral presence.  Continued on: P9 may see a higher caseload this time around if they let the guard down. “In those states, since seroprevalence and infectioninduced immunity are low, people venturing out would mean high daily cases,” said public health expert Oommen C Kurian. “India will have multiple peaks before vaccines arrive and a second wave by end-November or early-December is highly like- ly,” he added. Understandably the spurt in , cases has forced state governments to re-impose some of the curbs that were dialed back. Haryana and Manipur, for instance, have shut schools again while many districts in Rajasthan and Gujarat are witnessing more restrictions. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray warned the second wave “looks like a tsunami” and urged people not to lower their guards so as to avoid another lockdown.  P7 How they stack up  Percentage in population  % of Muslim MLAs at present  Number of Muslim MLAs  Number of MLAs in the last Assembly Jammu & Kashmir 68.31% 68.9% 60 60 Himachal Pradesh 2.18% 00 0 Punjab 1.93% 0.85% 1 2 Haryana 7.03% 3.33% 3 3 Delhi 12.78% 7.14% 5 4 Uttarakhand 13.95% 2.85% 2 2 Uttar Pradesh 19.3% 5.9% 24 68 Arunachal Pradesh 1.9% 0 0 0 Assam Bihar 34.22% 23% 16.9% 7.81% 29 28 19 24 Meghalaya 4.39% Sikkim 1.6% 0 1.66% 1 1 0 0 Nagaland 2.4% 0 0 0 Rajasthan 9.1% 4% 8 2 Gujarat 9.6% 1.64% 3 2 Madhya Pradesh 6.57% 0.86% 2 1 Maharashtra 11.54% 3.47% 10 9 Goa 8.33% 0 0 0 Manipur 8.40% 5% 3 3 West Bengal 27.01% 18% 59 59 Tripura 8.60% 3.33% 2 1 Jharkhand 14.5% 4.87% 4 2 Mizoram 1.3% 0 0 0 Odisha 7.08% 0.68% 1 0 Chhattisgarh 2.02% 1.1% 1 0 Telangana 12.7% 6.72% 8 8 Puducherry 4.97% 3% 1 1 Kerala 26.56% 22.85% 32 36 Nine states where the number of Muslim legislators has remained the same as compared to the last Assembly elections are Haryana, Telangana, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Puducherry and J&K Six states where the Muslim MLA count dropped as compared to the last Assembly elections are Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Kerala and Punjab Six states that do not have a single Muslim MLA are Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland, Goa and Himachal Pradesh Andhra Pradesh 9% 1.71% 3 4 Karnataka 12.9% 3.12% 7 11 Ten states where the number of Muslim legislators went up as compared to the last Assembly elections are Delhi, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam and Tripura Tamil Nadu 5.86% 2.13% 5 5 BJP chief’s ABC Plan for 120-day tour from Dec 5 Party-ruled states have been categorised as A, while those by the Oppn are on the B list workers in the course of his state visits, which will commence from Uttarakhand. BeTo get a head start for the 2024 sides the ABC states, Nadda Lok Sabha elections, the BJP will also travel to the states has put in place an ‘ABC Plan’ where Assembly elections will that will see party be held next year. chief J P Nadda emThe BJP has said bark on a 120-day tour Nadda’s travel plans of states from Decemwill follow all Covid-19 ber 5 to gear up the orguidelines, with arganisation for the big rangements being electoral challenge. made for checking Nadda will head out temperatures, masks to the A, B and C cateand santisation. gories of states, with “The plan of action Strategy in the first two compris- Oppn-ruled for the travel of the ing party and opposiBJP chief across the states tion ruled states, recountry includes In Oppositionspectively The smaller . building a positive imruled states, states have been placed age in the party-ruled Nadda will in the C basket. states, team spirit, strategise to BJP national generstrategy for the 2024 build campaigns al secretary Arun Lok Sabha elections, against the Singh on Sunday told besides stress on clarreporters that the 120- ruling parties by ity of the party ideoltaking up day long tour would be ogy said Singh. ,” various ssues utilised for building Given the imporforcefully dialogue, strategies tance of social media, and team spirit in the Nadda will hold meetcadre. “The BJP chief will be ings with digital volunteers spending three days each in during his state visits. Another large states and two days each important feature will be meetin the smaller states,” he said. ings allies in the states. “The BJP national general secretary BJP will endeavour during the Tarun Chug will coordinate meetings to strategise on winNadda’s travel plans. ning those Lok Sabha seats the Singh said the BJP chief will party could not in 2019,” said connect with booth level party Singh. E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ New Delhi Shah Discusses strategy with BJP & RSS leaders The Home Minister left Chennai on Sunday, after meetings with the core committee of the state BJP unit and RSS leaders Motorists suffer as Prakasam RTOs not issuing licences, RCs when travelling to other districts or States. S Srinivas, a second-year B Adding to their worries is Tech student, got a new two- the recent increase in penalwheeler from his uncle on his ties for failing to produce docbirthday in May He registered uments such as RC, DL, Pollu. the vehicle and got a learner’s tion Under Control (PUC) licence from the transport certificate and vehicle department. Later, he apinsurance. plied for and passed the Official sources said test to obtain a permaabout 40,000 new vehinent driver’s licence cles were brought by (DL). However, he has people in the district not yet received the veafter the lockdown. hicle registration cerThe owners complettificate (RC) and the ed the registration High fines DL, and has already process, and about to pay too been penalised by the 20,000 of them are The recent a u t h o r i t i e s t h re e awaiting DLs. Those increase in times for not being who don’t have RCs penalties for able to produce the and DLs are being failing to documents. fined by the police. produce This is not an isoThe RTOs at Chirala, documents — lated incident, as Darsi and Kandukur such as RC and thousands of new vehave not been issuing hicle owners and DL DL — has added RCs. to the troubles applicants in PraWhen asked about of new vehicle kasam district face this, Deputy Transowners the same problem. port Commissioner Since the lockdown (DTC) Dr B Krishnavewas lifted, nearly 40,000 new ni said, “Printing of RC cards vehicles were bought in the and DLs was halted due to the district. But the owners have lockdown and subsequent isnot yet received RCs, as the sues. The problem will be redistrict transport department solved soon. Though we have a said there is a shortage of RC shortage of cards, we sent a cards. Due to this, owners of few RC cards to vehicle owners the vehicles face problems by post.” Probe continues CBI questions advocate over online posts E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada IV N P P r a s a d B a b u @ Ongole Fun and frolic Visitors enjoy their Sunday evening at the Rushikonda Beach in Visakhapatnam | G Satyanarayana Fake GST input tax credit racket busted E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Visakhapatnam Sleuths of the Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI), Visakhapatnam Zone busted a major fake input tax credit racket in the gold bullion market here on Sunday . Various non-operating firms with fictitious addresses were identified in and around Guntur and searches were carried out at various locations in Andhra Pradesh, DGGI joint director Mayank Sharma said, in a statement issued here. He added that searches revealed that the accused behind the creation of fake firms passed on fake credit of about `8 crore to various bullion trading firms in AP. The kingpin, a 25-year-old from Guntur, was arrested after sustained efforts to trace him, Sharma said. The DGGI, Vizag Zone also attached gold and silver worth `1.58 crore. Further investigation is on. In November, seven cases were registered involving 32 dummy and non-existent GST registrations, Sharma said. The detections revealed fake transactions to the tune of `400 crore entailing duty evasion of about `28 crore. Two people were arrested in these cases, he said. As part of its investigation into social media posts against the Judiciary, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has questioned advocate VV Lakshminarayana, based on whose letter the AP High Court ordered for a CBI probe into the alleged derogatory posts. A team of CBI officials, who arrived in Vijayawada from Visakhapatnam, reportedly questioned Lakshminarayana for more than one-and-a-half hours on the source of the social media posts. “The CBI officials also sought to know the antecedents of the case and the genuineness of the posts,” Lakshminarayana said. He added that he urged the CBI officials to probe the role of some ruling party leaders, including MPs and MLCs, who not just put up social media posts but also made similar remarks on television. Following the directions of the High Court, the CBI had filed an FIR against more than 16 people, allegedly supporters of the ruling YSRC Party , under various sections of the IPC and IT Act, for posting derogatory social media messages against the Judiciary .