tirupati l thursday l january 28, 2021 l `7.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION VISA Biden nixes Trump bid to kill spouse work permits Joe Biden administration has withdrawn Trump’s proposal to refuse work authorisation to spouses of H1-B holders Obama era decision restored Until 2015, H4 visa holders (spouses of H1-B workers) could not legally hold paid employment in the US. Former US President Barack Obama changed the regulation. However, the Trump administration proposed to reverse Obama’s decision, saying it is economically significant and is in line with the Buy American and Hire American executive order ■ 1,25,000 Indians among biggest beneficiaries ■ The decision to rescind Trump proposal came on the day Biden signed an executive order calling for racial equity in the country Indian and Chinese workers account for the majority share of H1B visas and H4 visas. Indians filed 74% of all H1B petitions in 2019 while the number was 11.8% for the Chinese No. of H4 visas issued by the u.s. in 2019 calendar year 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 Police go after farmer leaders Claim they instigated mobs, which triggered the violence; add their names to the FIRs; unions call off Parliament march slated for Feb 1 F i g u r i ng i t o u t E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e police personnel injured @ New Delhi Traffic Travails Diversion of vehicular traffic through a narrow way following collapse of slabs of Garuda Varadhi, leads to heavy congestion at Korlagunta Junction in Tirupati on Wednesday | Madhav K row over rolls Govt returns SEC censure orders, backs two officials E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @Vijayawada A day after State Election Commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar censured two IAS officials holding them responsible for the panchayat elections being held based on 2019 electoral rolls instead of 2021, the State government sent back the orders to the SEC. The government is of the view that the SEC does not have powers to censure the IAS officers and can only recommend for their transfer or removal from election duties. The government is also communicating the same to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) about its stand on the censure of the two officials by the SEC, said Advisor to Government (Public Affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy . While returning the order, the government made it clear that the SEC cannot censure the officials without seeking their clarification and such a move is against the service rules. The SEC on Tuesday SEC calls on Governor Ramesh Kumar said Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan took the initiative and invited him to the Raj Bhavan for discussing the issues related to the smooth conduct of panchayat elections ‘No issues with officials’ I have no issues with the officials and I am confident of conducting the panchayat polls in a free and fair manner with the support of the government machinery, the SEC said. Show restraint as MCC is in force, says SEC Expressing satisfaction over the arrangements for the conduct of polls, SEC N Ramesh Kumar said that all he made a point was that at least from today, all should consider that the MCC is in force and restrain from attacking the SEC individually. censured Panchayat Raj Principal Secretary Gopal Krishna Dwivedi and PR Commissioner M Girija Shankar for their failure to publish the final 2021 electoral rolls. Responding to the issue, Ramesh Kumar on Wednesday said that he did not seek transfer or punishment of the two officials, but only cen- sured them. He maintained that he is not going in a vindictive manner against any official and added that it was Girija Shankar himself who conducted the video conference with District Collectors and SPs on panchayat election arrangements. Lashing out at Ramesh Kumar at a press conference later in the day, Sajjala took exception to the language used by the SEC in the censure orders. He alleged that the SEC was trying to terrorise and demoralise the officials, but the State shall protect them in case of any unwarranted censure. “The proceedings issued by Ramesh Kumar against Gopal Krishna Dwivedi and Girija Shankar were not in good taste and he was only trying to blame others for his acts,’’ he said and added that the SEC has no powers to issue proceedings against the IAS officials using objectionable language. He can at the most keep them away from election duties, but using remarks that may affect their career is not in good taste. P4 Abide by Law of Land: SEC E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @Vijayawada Objecting to the criticism against the State Election Commission and himself by those in the government, SEC N Ramesh Kumar has appealed to them to maintain restraint to uphold the dignity of the commission. Stating that the Supreme Court made crucial comments while delivering ver- dict on conduct of panchayat polls, he said the directions of the SC are Law of the Land and everyone should abide by them. “Those acting against the directions of the SC should be considered as violating the spirit of the Constitution and all such objectionable acts will be kept before judiciary if needed. The SEC , will not hesitate to take affirmative steps at appropriP4 ate time,’’ he asserted. A day after Delhi convulsed as mobs resorted to violence amid the farmers’ tractor rally, the police on Wednesday launched a crackdown, adding names of several farmer union leaders to the 25 first information reports (FIRs) filed in connection with the riots. Delhi Police Commissioner S N Srivasatava squarely blamed leaders like Satnam Singh Pannu, Darshan Pal Singh and others for giving provocative speeches at Mukarba Chowk to instigate the mob. Others like Bhuta Singh and Bhurj Gill at the Tikri border and Rakesh Singh Tikait at Ghazipur instigated the people, which led to the violence, he charged. “No one will be spared and strict action will be taken against everyone involved, who incited the violence,” he said. As of now, the police have arrested 19 accused and detained 59 persons who were allegedly involved in the vandalism and clashed with the security personnel. The police are scanning CCTV footage and using the facial recognition tool to identify more culprits. As many as 394 police personnel were injured and many of them are in serious condition in the ICU. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the umbrella body of agitating farmer unions, on Wednesday announced its decision to postpone the proposed march to express read Sasikala out of jail, hosp stay will continue Bengaluru/Chennai: “I will see you all soon,” was the message from VK Sasikala to the people of TN on Wednesday, delivered hours after being released from judicial custody following a fouryear sentence in prison after being convicted in the DA case. Congress demands Amit Shah’s sacking New Delhi: The Congress sought the immediate removal of Amit Shah for Tuesday’s violence during farmers tractors rally against agri laws, saying that it was a “colossal” intelligence failure for which the Union home minister is directly responsible. APSERMC inspects Jr colleges in Tirupati Tirupati: Andhra Pradesh School Education Regulatory and Monitoring Commission teams on Wednesday carried out surprise inspection of private junior colleges in Tirupati and found several irregularities in their functioning. What started as a small initiative by three young jawans in a small town of Palasa has now become a mission to cater to the hungry . Around three years ago, three jawans posted at different parts of the country landed at Palasa railway station to visit their homes. The sight of beggars and homeless sitting on both sides of the foot over bridge at the railway station seeking alms and food prompted the trio to come up with the initiative. SVSS members distribute food to beggars and destitutes in Palasa | express FIRs filed so far l Charges slapped include rioting, criminal conspiracy, robbery, attempt to murder and others under relevant IPC sections Vandalised ticket counters on the premises of the historic Red Fort bear testimony to Tuesday’s mob fury during the kisan tractor parade | Parveen Negi Parliament on February 1, the budget day and observe fast on the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on January 30 as atonement. Bhartaiya Kisan Union Punjab (Rajewal) president Balbir Singh Rajewal said, “the morcha regrets the Red Fort incident and accept moral responsibility for it.’’ Rajewal and Swaraj Abhiyan president Yogendra Yadav alleged that Punjabi actor-singer Deep Sidhu and the Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee were behind the mob violence and added that they would expose the ‘conspiracy’ of the government. In a related development, the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (RKMS) announced its withdrawal of support to the farmers’ agitation. “We cannot continue to join forces with people who have a different direction,” said VM Singh, its national president, in Ghazipur. l Leaders named in FIRs include Rakesh Tikait, Yogendra Yadav, Darshan Pal and Gurnam Singh Chaduni No FIR against Deep Sidhu, BJP silent on his party link H a r p r ee t B a j w a @ Chandigarh In his quest for his 15 seconds of fame, he was seen on social media instigating mobs to hoist a religious flag at the Red Fort on Tuesday. However, Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu stands today as the most reviled person, disowned by the farmer leaders, his own state and politicians across the spectrum. Some opposition parties accused the government of planting him to discredit the farmers’ agitation, while the BJP has sought to stay silent on the allegations. Curiously his name did not figure any of the FIRs filed so far , though many farmer leaders have been named in over 25 FIRs. Confirming that Sidhu has not been booked, DCP North Delhi, , Anto Alphonse said, “We are investigating the matter and the process is going on. We will share the details once done.” The Samyukta Kisan Morcha alleged ‘anti-social elements’ like Sidhu attempted to torpedo their peaceful agitation as part of a conspiracy hatched by the government. Pointing to his past links with the BJP farmer leaders alleged he misguided , some protesters. “Sidhu is an RSS man. Police let him go after P9 he hoisted flag,” said farmer leader Darshan Pal.  Doctor taken seriously ill after Covid jab, shifted to corporate hospital in Chennai E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ Ongole A 24-year-old doctor has fallen seriously ill after being administered Covid-19 vaccine in Prakasam district. According to medical and health officials, K Dhanalakshmi of Botlagudur village in Pamur mandal, was appointed general medical officer in the Government General Hospital in Ongole as part of emergency recruitment drive in view of Covid-19. Dhanalakshmi, a dentist, was administered Covid vaccine at the GGH on January 23. A day after, she developed symptoms of fever. She went to the GGH and returned homed after getting symptomatic treatment. On Tuesday evening, she complained of serious illness and went to the GGH. She was immediately admitted to a special ward. As her health deteriorated, she was shifted to a nearby corporate hospital. She was taken to Apollo Hospital in Chennai on Wednesday morn- Three jawans set up food bank to feed the hungry “Moved by their plight, we decided to do something for beggars and homeless. We launched a service activity under the banner Swami Vivekananda Seva Samithi (SVSS). Initially, we prepared food at our villages and served it to the beggars at Palasa railway station,’’ Rapaka Kiran, one of the founder of the SVSS, told TNIE. Apart from Kiran, who is attached to Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the other two are Bunny of Assam Rifles and Dharma of BSF and they hail from Gollamakannapalli village in 25 leaders named 37 farmerin FIRs social cause G R a m e s h B a b u @ Srikakulam 394 19 people arrested, 50 detained Palasa mandal. Later, they started a food bank at Palasa through which they started collecting leftover food from function venues and hotels to feed the hungry . Inspired by the dedicated service of the trio, about 600 youths from different parts of the district joined the Samithi. Now, the poor feeding is also being implemented in Manasa, Sompeta and Haripuram. Besides collecting leftover food, the samithi used to prepare food to satiated the hunger of the beggars and destitutes by P4 mobilising funds.  Pools for all, more can watch movies 50% seating cap on cinema halls and theatres lifted, says the latest Union home ministry advisory. New standard operating procedure (SOP) to be issued by I&B ministry to lay down norms Swimming pools permitted for use of sports persons now open for all B2B exhibition halls already permitted, now all types of exhibition halls can function ing. District Collector Pola Bhaskar stated that her entire medical expenses will be borne by the government. Her condition is stated to be critical. Dr D Sreeramulu, GGH Superintendent, said, “It is yet to be confirmed whether it is an adverse effect of the vaccine or not. There are no vaccination reaction related symptoms in Further opening up of international air travel of passengers based on assessment of situation Persons above 65 years of age, persons with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 advised to take precautions while moving out her. Vaccination may not be the cause of her illness.” In the preliminary diagnosis, she was found to have developed gallbladder malfunctioning along with the urinary tract infection, which led to the renal failure, he explained. “We are still ascertaining the exact cause of her illness,’’ DM&HO Ratnavali said. Apex Court stays skewed HC judgment on groping E x p r e s s N e w s Se r v i c e @ New Delhi T he S u p r e m e C o u r t o n Wednesday stayed a Bombay High Court order acquitting a man accused of child abuse on the ground that groping a child’s breasts without skin-to-skin contact didn’t amount to sexual assault under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde issued the order after Attorney General K K Venugopal said the judgment would set a dan- gerous precedent. “It is a very disturbing conclusion,” Venugopal said. The court allowed him to file a Special Leave Petition against the January 19 verdict of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court and also issued notice to the Maharashtra gover nment and the accused. Several organisations have already moved the top court against it. The verdict by Justice Pushpa Ganediwala said that there must be skin-toskin contact with sexual intent for an act to be considered a sexual assault.