WARANGAL  TUESDAY  JANUARY 19, 2021  `7.00  PAGES 12  CITY EDITION CHINESE ECONOMY GROWS 2.3% IN 2020, BUCKS GLOBAL TREND China, the 1st to be hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and the earliest to recover too, registered 6.5% growth in the 4th quarter of 2020 SIZE OF GDP SWELLS TO $15.42 TRILLION GDP of the world’s second-largest economy grew to $15.42 trillion in 2020, according to China’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The growth, though the lowest in 45 years, is a remarkable achievement considering the country’s economy had suffered a 6.8% slump in the first quarter in 2020 after it went into lockdown following the Wuhan virus outbreak 8.2% ONLY MAJOR ECONOMY TO GROW LAST YEAR ■ ■ ■ Chinese economy staged a steady recovery on the back of radical virus containment measures and emergency relief for businesses China is the only major global economy to have grown last year China’s job market also grew at 5.6%, creating 11.86 million new urban jobs in 2020, completing 131.8% of the whole-year target PROJECTED GROWTH OF CHINA’S ECONOMY IN 2021 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 TS sees 4 cases of adverse events after vaccine rollout A health worker collapses after receiving the jab in Palakurthy EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad SURPRISE VISITOR Cricketer Hanuma Vihari, who returned home after helping India draw the third Test match against Australia, called on IT and MAUD Minister KT Rama Rao on Monday and gifted him the bat he used Tandav cast, crew forced to issue an apology EXPRESS NEW SERVICE Harish asks Centre to stop collecting cesses & surcharges @ Lucknow/Patna/New Delhi V V B A L A K R S I H N A @ Hyderabad AT least three criminal complaints were filed in various parts of the country against Saif Ali Khan starrer web series Tandav, forcing its cast and crew to issue an apology on Monday evening. While an FIR was filed in Lucknow, two complaints were lodged with the courts in New Delhi and Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district for allegedly hurting religious sentiments of Hindus and promoting discord among communities. The series, released on Jan 15 and aired on Amazon Prime, is said to be a commentary on the prevailing political situation of the country . Other than Khan, the other prominent actors are Dimple Kapadia, Gauhar Khan, Sunil Grover and Zeeshan Ayub. A statement from the cast and crew said Tandav is a work of fiction and they did not have any intention to offend any individual, caste, community race, religion or , religious beliefs or insult or outrage any institution, political party or person, living or dead. “The cast and crew of Tandav take cognizance of the concerns expressed by the people and unconditionally apologize if it has unintentionally hurt anybody’s sentiments,” said the statement. Amazon Prime refused to comment on the conCONTINUED ON P7 troversy . THE State government on Monday raised its voice against the ‘unhealthy’ tax regime of the Central government and demanded that the system of collecting ‘cesses’ and ‘surcharges’ by the Central government should be scrapped, to enable the State get more tax devolution from the Centre. Finance Minister T Harish Rao made this demand while participating from Hyderabad, along with State government advisor (Finance) GR Reddy and Principal Finance Secretary K Ramakrishna Rao, in a virtual pre-Budget meeting conducted by Union Finance Minister Nir mala Sitharaman from Delhi. The State government has been opposing the cesses and surcharges being collected by the Centre. The State is heavily losing money due to the cesses and surcharges. As per Article 270 of the Constitution of India, the cesses and surcharges would not form part of the divisible pool of taxes and the Centre need not share the same with the State governments. Thus, the States are losing huge chunk of revenues, especially when they are facing financial problems due to Covid-19. The cesses and surcharge revenue of the Central government is `3,70,218 crore in 2020-21 (Budget estimate). The cesses and surcharge revenue of the Centre was just `91,700 crore in 2012-13 and it was `1,15,800 crore in 2014-15. The cess and surcharge on petrol was `12 in April, 2017 and it was increased to `30 in May, 2020. The cess and surcharge on diesel was `6 in April, 2017 and it was increased to `27 in May , 2020. Once, these cesses and surcharges are scrapped and included in the taxes, then the States would get more funds from the Centre. During Monday’s video conference, Harish Rao pointed out that the cesses and surcharges being collected by the Centre were not being passed on to the States as part of tax devolution. “Because of this, the States are at the receiving end and losing huge revenues. The cesses and surcharges should be scrapped. Ensure that the States get higher tax devolution from the Centre,” he CONTINUED ON P4 demanded. STRAY cases of adverse events fo l l ow i n g i m m u n i s at i o n (AEFI) marked the second day of Covid-19 vaccine administration across Telangana. There were, however, four serious cases — three in Hyderabad and one in Palakurhty in Janagaon district. At Palakurthy Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Janagaon district, a health worker collapsed after receiving the Covid vaccine jab on Monday . The frontline worker, K Venkata Lakshmi, 42, works in Chennur village. She was immediately shifted to Janagaon District Government Hospital by the officials concerned. In Hyderabad, a 29-year-old old ANM worker, Naveena has been suffering from nausea and vomiting since inocula- Didi’s N’gram googly to upset Suvendu plans A leopard was sighted on the premises of Hyderabad international airport at Shamshabad in the city’s suburbs, late on Sunday night. The officials of Telangana Forest Department visited the airport on Monday morning to analyse CCTV footage in which the animal’s movement were captured. The Forest Department sources told Express that they received a complaint from the airport authorities that a leopard was spotted on Sunday night at two places -- near the cargo area and close to the runway . The CCTV footage shows the leopard moving along a boundary wall and then leaping over it. The big cat may have gone towards the adjacent locality of Rasheedguda. Speechless Siraj rises above tears and jeers BEING in hard quarantine in a foreign land while grieving the loss of a family member can be soul crushing. The easier option is to go back, to comfort as well as be comforted. Being racially abused is dispiriting. It can leave one feeling worthless. Leading the bowling attack in just the third Test can be equally daunting, in a different way . It’s fair to say Mohammed Siraj aced that latest challenge, becoming just the fifth Indian bowler to grab a five-for at The Gabba. Even though India may not chase down 328 (if weather relents) on the final day to win the series, Siraj held his end of the bargain on the fourth day of the final Test against Australia. And how. His latest act in what has been an emotional series left the Hyderabadi speechless. He visibly struggled to hold back the tears while returning with the match ball. The tears, though, also told a wider story of his struggles. His father died days after India landed in Sydney in November. The son of an autorickshaw driver, the 26-year-old driver hadn’t even bowled with a proper cricket ball till seveneight years. He spent his time playing tennis ball cricket, admitting that concepts like seam LEOPARD SPOTTED AT HYDERABAD AIRPORT UPPING her game in the upcoming West Bengal elections, Trinamool Congress supremo and chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said she would contest from Nandigram against her once trusted lieutenant Suvendu Adhikari, who joined the BJP last month. It was Nandigram, the epicentre of farmers’ movement, that propelled her to power 10 years ago. “It is my lucky place. I will contest from here,” she said while addressing a rally in Nandigram, adding that she would also contest from Bhowanipore. Banerjee’s is a political move to challeng e the Adhikari family members, who claim to be the king makers in the district with 16 seats. FIVE-STAR India chase 328 on Day 5 India were set a challenging target to chase on the final day of Brisbane Test. If India manage to draw against hosts, they will retain the BorderGavaskar trophy | P11 13 wkts No of wickets for Siraj in this series, the highest by an Indian VACCINATORS USE MANUAL LIST AS COWIN APP HANGS I P5 GUEST FROM THE WILD EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Hyderabad Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will visit Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) on Tuesday. He will leave Hyderabad in the morning for Medigadda where water level touched 100-ft mark. After a gap of five months, the lifting of water from Godavari resumed. and swing were alien to him. But, thanks to a common trait running through this Indian team — ability to fight and create your own destiny — he has fought his way through the system. Through tennis ball tournaments. Through Ranji Trophy Through India A tours. . Through the IPL. Through a tragedy Through racial abuse. . At the Gabba, he went to fight for his father’s dreams and his dreams. He emerged with a smile on his face and happy tears down his eyes. “My dad had wished that his son would play and the entire world would watch him,” he said after the day’s play “I hope he could have . been there to watch this day Be. cause of his blessings I have got a five-wicket haul. I am speechless. I got strength after talking to mom and my focus was on realising my dad’s dreams.” tion on Saturday the first day , of vaccine rollout, according to doctors at Area Hospital, Golconda. “She came to Area Hospital, Golconda as it was close to her E N S @ Kolkata KCR TO VISIT KLIS TODAY S W A R O O P S W A M I N AT H A N @ Chennai Health worker K Venkata Lakshmi collapsed after receiving the Covid-19 vaccine in Palakurthy PHC on Monday residence. The AEFI team here quickly administered medicines to treat her vomiting sensation and sent her to Gandhi Hospital for better treatment,” said Dr Fathima Kauser, Medical Officer incharge of vaccinations in Golconda Area Hospital. At Gandhi Hospital, Superintendent Dr M Raja Rao informed that she was admitted to the Acute Medical Centre (AMC) on the 7th floor at 2 pm. “Doctors on special duty from the AEFI committee have examined her. Her temperature is normal. Her pulse, BP and oxygen saturation are normal as well. She is stable. We will conduct all necessary investigations and monitor her,” said a statement from Gandhi HosCONTINUED ON P5 pital. Sighting of the leopard has come as a surprise to the Forest Department. It may be mentioned here that a leopard, which moving in and around Shamshabad forest range, was captured near Water and Land Management Training and Research Institute campus in Rajendranagar last October. It was later released into the Amrabad Tiger Reserve. While wild boars and other small mammals have been spotted earlier on the airport premises and its surroundings, it was probably the first time that a leopard was sighted at the airport. However, neither the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Shamshabad nor the Telangana Forest Department released any official statement on the matter. CONTINUED ON P3 Court finds media trial in Sushant case contemptuous EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Mumbai THE Bombay High Court on Monday held the media trial by Republic TV and Times Now against Mumbai Police in the case pertaining to the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput was prima facie contemptuous. “Criticism of city police by TV media was unfair, in view of the material placed on record. The city police was at the very basic stage of probe,” the court said. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice G S Kulkarni observed that the media ought to avoid discussions and debates relating to criminal investigations and said they should confine themselves to informative reports in such matters in public interest. During the hearing of the matter over last six months, the high court had expressed concerns over media trial. It asked the media not to cross boundaries, and indicated that it will lay down guidelines. The court said trial by media interferes with the criminal investigation and runs counter to the code framed under the Cable TV Act. It directed that the Press Council of India’s guidelines on crime reporting be made applicable to electronic media as well till the electronic media formulates its own norms. The bench said the media should observe restraint in discussions about ongoing investigations so as not to prejudice the rights of the accused and witness. It said publishing an alleged confession by an accused as if it is admissible evidence without letting the public know about its inadmissibility should be avoided. Calling for sensitivity in suicide reportage, the b e n ch a dv i s e d against character assassination of the victim.