vijayawada l monday l january 04, 2021 l `7.00 l PAGES 28 l late city EDITION sweeping war powers to xi in china’s new defence law Effective Jan 1, the decision-making powers on military policy rest with Xi Jinping-led Central Military Commission (CMC) right to mobilise military, civilian assets State Council – China’s cabinet – will have no say in defence matters as the revisions place sweeping powers into the hands of CMC to mobilise both military and civilian resources to defend its assets both in China and abroad. ‘Disruption’ and protection of ‘development interests’ added as grounds for mobilising and deploying troops and reserve forces ■ 2 years Provides legal ground to launch war ■ Including ‘development interests’ provides legal grounds for the country to launch war to defend national development interests The CMC is now formally in charge of making national defence policy and principles, while the State Council becomes a mere implementing agency to provide support to the military Time taken by the National People’s Congress to pass the law 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 Bharat Biotech’s candidate yet to finish phase 3 trial, points out Oppn; bid to ridicule scientific community, says Nadda @ New Delhi express read TDP MLC BTech Ravi arrested at Chennai Kadapa: Kadapa police arrested Telugu Desam MLC Maramreddy Ravindranath Reddy alias BTech Ravi at Chennai airport on Sunday. The TDP leader was arrested on the runway itself, while he was disembarking the flight, in connection with a case registered against him in 2018. In a video message, BTech Ravi condemned his arrest and said he was ill-treated by police.  P4 WITH THIS ISSUE THE ESSENTIAL CAMPUS DIGEST YOUR LIFE COACH 28 PAGES, INCLUDING 16 OF edex (TABLOID) Purulia 2014 7.15% 38.87% 2019 49.33% (+42.18) 34.19% (-4.68) Jhargram 2014 9.73% 54.6% 2019 44.56% (+34.83) 43.72% (-10.88) E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e Regulatory approvals to a couple of coronavirus vaccines on Sunday set off a political slugfest, with a section of the Opposition questioning the nod to Bharat Biotech’s homegrown Covaxin, since it is yet to complete phase 3 trials. While Congress leaders sought full disclosure of Covaxin’s data, BJP chief J P Nadda tore into the Opposition for coming up with “wild theories” to “ridicule” the accomplishments. The Congress remained divided, with chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hailing the scientific community, but deputy leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, Jairam Ramesh and Shashi Tharoor asking searching questions on the haste in according approval to Covaxin. The Congress troika demanded Union health minister Harsh Vardhan’s explanation on why mandatory protocols and verification of data had been done away for Covaxin. Soon enough, Vardhan reacted sharply, saying: “Disgraceful for anyone to politicize a critical issue”. Sharma, who heads the Parliamentary panel on the Ministry of Home Affairs, which had deliberated on the Covid-19 management plan, noted that the data on safety and efficacy Junglemahal vote share (LS poll)  BJP  TMC west bengal Nod to Covaxin triggers concern, political joust Positioning for powerplay Bankura 2014 20.31% 39.1% 2019 49.2% (+28.92) 36.5% (-2.6) Bishnupur 2014 14.11% 45.5% 2019 46.25% (+32.14) 40.75% (-4.75) Midnapore 2014: 14.26% 46.5% 2019: 48.62% (+34.36) 42.32% (-4.19) Electorate in Scheduled Tribes 27% Junglemahal Scheduled Castes & OBCs 35% AGP stronghold  Upper districts  Central districts A medic conducts a dry run of Covid-19 vaccination on a health worker, at the Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala on Sunday | PTI has not been reviewed in the case of Covaxin. Tharoor warned that the approval is premature, saying Covaxin’s use should be avoided as it could be dangerous. Union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Giriraj Singh took potshots at the Opposition. “Our in-house cynics M/s Jairam, Tharoor & Akhilesh are behaving true to form,” tweeted Puri. While Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and BSP head Mayawati lauded the scientific community SP chief Akhilesh , Yadav, who on Saturday said he would not take a ‘BJP vaccine’, adviced the government on Sunday to avoid a cosmetic approach. As for CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury, he called for full disclosure of data of the trial phases. Govt’s case “COVAXIN is more likely to work against newer variants like N501Y Variant (UK variant) & any other that may arise due to antigenic drift as it contains immunogens (epitopes) from other genes in addition to those from Spike protein,” says Harsh Vardhan Covixin is based on whole inactivated coronavirus; only 7 per cent persons receiving 6 microgram dose had mild symptoms Covaxin data shows it not only produces antibodies in all participants but also sensitises ‘CD4 T lymphocytes that imparts durable immune response, says Vardhan MP drafting law to make vandals pay up E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Bhopal Taking a leaf out of UP’s book, Madhya Pradesh is drafting a stringent law with a provision to auction the properties of stone-pelters to recover damages caused to public property or individuals. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s decision comes close on the heels of three incidents of clashes between two communities during the Ram temple fundraising processions taken out in Ujjain, Indore, and Mandsaur districts. “Their act not only causes damage to properties, but also poses a risk to human lives. While peaceful protests are the right of the citizens, vandals and arsonists have to be severely dealt with,” Chouhan said. When introduced, MP will become the second state after UP to have such a law. P r a n a b M on d a l & P r a s a n ta M a z u m d a r @ Kolkata/Guwahati Call them spoilers, proxies or B-teams, with Assembly elections in West Bengal and Assam just months away, two political parties have thrown their hat in the ring, one in each state, with the sole aim of damaging bigger and more established players. While the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has declared that it will contest the West Bengal elections, not for the Tinsukia assam Dibrugarh Sivasagar Kamrup Kamrup Metro spoilers threaten to muddle poll play in bengal and Assam Jorhat Nagaon Golaghat AGP in 2016 elections contested 26 seats Won 14 Seats won by AGP in Upper and Central Assam 9 first time though, newbie Asom Jatiya Parishad (AJP) has entered the fray in Assam. Most do not give them any chance and say they will be mere also-rans. But they are expected to be crucial tools in the hands of the serious contenders to play the role of a spoiler. The JMM is expected to damage the chances of the BJP, benefiting the Trinamool Congress, as both are expected to vie for the votes of tribals, among whom the BJP has made major inroads recently . The AJP could do the same to the Asom Gana Parishad, a BJP ally and this could be to the ad, vantage of the Congress. Like the AGP the new party’s leader, ship comes mainly from former activists of the All-Assam Students’ Union with regionalism Attempts to disturb peace with attacks on temples will not be tolerated: DGP E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @Vijayawada In the wake of vandalisation of Rama idol at Ramatheertham temple, Director General of Police D Gautam Sawang on Sunday directed police to step up surveillance at all places of worship and intensify patrolling to prevent attacks. Seeking people’s cooperation in preventing attacks on temples, the DGP urged them inform the police or Dial 100 about the movement of suspicious persons in their localities. “Police will be available at any time to take swift action if people inform them about the movement of suspicious persons,” the DGP said. “More than 50,000 places of worship have been mapped in the social audit. The police have installed CCTV cameras at 900 places in the State to step up vigil,” the DGP said. Stating that the Police Department is committed to protecting temples and religious properties, the DGP said the police will coordinate with other departments in taking measures to foil the evil designs of mischievous elements. In the wake of a series of attacks on temples in the State, SPs of all the districts have been asked to monitor security arrangements at all the places of worship, he said. Terming the attacks on temples unfortunate, the DGP said some mischief mongers were trying to 30 suspects questioned in vandalisation case Police questioned 30 suspects in connection with vandalisation of Rama idol at Ramatheertham temple and recorded their statements. Visakhapatnam Range DIG LKV Ranga Rao reviewed the progress of case investigation. Police and clues team examine the surroundings of the temple where the idol of Sita was allegedly vandalised, in Vijayawada on Sunday | Prasant Madugula vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the State by creating a wedge between communities. “Andhra Pradesh is a symbol of communal harmony Any attempts to disturb . peace in the State will not be tolerated. Stringent action will be taken against the perpetrators of attacks on temples, the DGP said. Meanwhile, the police questioned nearly 30 suspects in connection with the vandalisation of Rama idol at Ramatheertham in Vizianagaram district and recorded their statements. Visakhapatnam Range DIG LKV Ranga Rao held a meeting with police officials at Nellimarla police station and reviewed the progress of investigation in idol vandalisation case. The DIG directed the police teams to investigate the case from all the angles to achieve a breakthrough at the earliest. He also visited the hillock temple at Ramatheertham and spoke to the temple priests and local people to collect information pertaining to vandalisation of the idol. its ideological mooring. Political circles in both the states believe the JMM and the AJP have been propped up by the Trinamool and the Congress respectively to do what the All-India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen did to the Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar last year. In the closely contested Bihar elections, Asaduddin Owaisi’s party contested 14 seats in the Muslim-dominated areas, winning five and hurting the RJD. Why the BJP believes the JMM is a Trinamool proxy is not far to seek. In the 2016 Assembly elections, the Jharkhand party contested 23 seats, 14 of them in the tribal-dominated districts Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapore, popularly called Junglemahal.  Continued on P8 Idol of Sita ‘vandalised’ in Vijayawada E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada The idol of Goddess Sita in a temple on the premises of Pandit Nehru Bus Station (PNBS) in the city was allegedly vandalised on Sunday A . priest found the clay idol broken in the morning and informed the matter to APSRTC officials, who lodged a complaint with the Krishna Lanka police. However, the temple door remained locked. A case under sections 448, 427, 295 and 153 (a) of the IPC was registered. Commissioner of Police Bathini Srinivasulu said a special team is examining the video footage of CCTV cameras in the area to identify the accused. “We are yet to identify the miscreants. A special team is investigating the case from all angles. All SHOs in Vijayawada Police Commissionerate have been asked to conduct meetings with temple committees to step up surveillance,” the CP said. Tension prevailed at the PNBS when a large number of TDP, BJP and VHP activists staged a protest against vandalisation of the idol and demanded stringent action against the culprits. polavaram action plan 17.8K displaced families to be rehabilitated by May ttd resumes booking of marriage halls Five lakh devotees had Vaikunta Dwara Darshan E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Tirumala THE Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which for the first time in the known history of Srivari temple kept open Uttara Dwaram also called Vaikunta Dwaram for 10 days, provided darshan to more than five lakh devotees, strictly adhering to Covid-19 guidelines. The TTD Trust Board, which met in November last, decided to open Vaikunta Dwaram for 10 days starting Vaikunta Ekadasi (December 25) to provide hassle-free darshan for devotees on the auspicious days. Till 2019, Uttara Dwaram used to be opened only for two days on Vaikunta Ekadasi and Dwadasi. The TTD performed Koil Alwar Thirumanjanam, ahead of Vaikunta Ekadasi, on December 22. Vaikunta Dwaram of Sri Venkateswara temple was opened for devotees on December 25. The TTD issued 20,000 online tickets and 10,000 offline tickets for locals of Tirupati and Chittoor district a day besides 1,000 , P5 SRIVANI tickets offline.  Tirumala: After a long gap of 10 months, the TTD on Sunday resumed the booking of Kalyana Mandapams maintained by it across the country for weddings and other religious activities. Majority of Kalyana Mandapams are located in Telugu States. As many as 300 Kalyana Mandapams are under active maintenance of the TTD. However, 45 mandapams are under renovation, including Srinivasam and Sri Padmavathi Kalyana Mandapam in Tirupati. E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Vijayawada The State government has prepared an action plan to complete the rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) of 17,860 project displaced families (PDFs) of +41.15 metre contour of Polavaram Irrigation Project by May. Around 11,500 houses in 47 R&R colonies have reached the final stage, according to officials. Making a detailed comparison of the works done in five years, between 2014 and 2019, of the TDP regime and those done in the last 19 months under the YSRC government, the State government, on Sunday, said a plan has been chalked out to complete both R&R and civil works simultaneously . Even though 1,05,601 PDFs are to be rehabilitated (for +45.72 metre contour, full reservoir level), the previous government was able to rehabilitate only 3,110 PDFs. “In the five years, only 1,846 houses were completed in 15 R&R colonies. There is a severe shortage of infrastructure in these colonies... Old (top) and new layouts of R&R colonies for Polavaram project oustees | express construction of 11,500 houses in 47 R&R colonies is almost complete now and the government is taking steps to rehabilitate 17,860 PDFs by May,” a report released by the government stated. The 1,110.4 metre long spillway has 53 blocks and only some of them were concreted up to +34 me- tre height between 2014 and May 2019, the report said. “In the last 19 months, all the spillway pillars reached +54 metres as against the level of +55 metres. The spillway works and slab concrete will be completed by next month. The ‘unplanned’ construction of cofferdam delayed the works related to spill channel and it was submerged with floodwater and silt in 2019. Major designs were not approved as well... Works have gained momentum and will be completed by April,” it said. Construction of cofferdam is essential as it facilitates the construction of earth-cum-rock fill dam. The TDP government was able to complete 1,200 metre length of upstream cofferdam to a height of +28 to +33 metres as against the scope of 2,340 metre length and +42.5 metre height. The lower cofferdam works were done for 950 metre length as against 1,612 metre length and 30.5 metre height. “With planning, the works will be completed by June,” the report P5 read.  Construction of 11,500 houses in 47 colonies almost complete Even though 1,05,601 PDFs are to be rehabilitated (for +45.72 metre contour, full reservoir level), the previous government was able to rehabilitate only 3,110 PDFs. “In the five years, only 1,846 houses were completed in 15 rehabilitation colonies. There is also a severe shortage of infrastructure in these colonies... construction of 11,500 houses in 47 R&R colonies is almost complete now and the government is taking steps to rehabilitate 17,860 PDFs by May,” the report released by the government stated.