DHARMAPURI  SUNDAY  JANUARY 31, 2021  `8.00  PAGES 24  CITY EDITION COVID IMPACT: NO RANJI FOR FIRST TIME IN 87 YEARS BCCI not to conduct board’s flagship domestic product for the first time since inception. Two-month bio-bubble ‘not feasible’ LIST A, U-19 AND WOMEN’S EVENTS ON LACK OF CLARITY OVER COMPENSATION The board’s secretary, Jay Shah, in a letter to state units, revealed that they would conduct the senior women’s 50-overs meet simultaneously with the men’s 50-overs meet. The BCCI will end the season with the U-19 event. “This has been decided after having received your feedback on the domestic season 2020-21,” Shah wrote in the letter. This is bad news for scores of match officials, including umpires and scorers. Most of them will end up working for fewer days. Not yet known if BCCI will up with a compensation package for them ■ It is expected that the players who will miss out from Ranji revenue will be compensated. This decision was taken at the AGM ■ Shah power BCCI SECRETARY ELECTED AS CHIEF OF THE ASIAN CRICKET COUNCIL 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 BJP makes its alliance with AIADMK official EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Madurai BKU’s Rakesh Tikait addresses a rally at Ghazipur; and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tribute to Gandhiji at Rajghat | PTI Bapu’s anniversary and Tikait tonic 1 2 3 4 5 Day-long fast by protesting farmers on Gandhiji’s death anniversary peaceful. They observed it as Sadbhavana Diwas (Harmony Day) after Republic Day violence Singhu border turns fortress with several layers of barricades and increased presence of security personnel after violence erupted between ‘locals’ and farmers on Friday Agitation gains further momentum as BKU national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait’s emotional appeal draws more farmers to Ghazipur protest site from UP, Uttarakhand Internet services temporarily suspended at the Singhu, Ghazipur, and Tikri borders. Net connectivity already suspended in 14 districts in Haryana Delhi Police scanning over 1,700 video clips and CCTV footage sourced from the public on the tractor rally violence on Republic Day to identify the culprits Offer to freeze farm laws for 18 months stands: PM Oppn for probe into outside elements infiltrating farmers’ agitation EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi WITH the Opposition parties gearing up to corner the government on the controversial farm laws in the ongoing Parliament session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the door to accept the Centre’s proposal to stay the laws for 18 months is still open. Speaking at an all-party meeting, the PM said the government’s stand was the same as it was on January 22, when the proposal to keep the laws in abeyance was made during the talks with the protesting farmers’ unions. “During the all-party meeting PM Narendra Modi assured that the government was approaching the farmers’ issue with an open mind. The PM said the agriculture minister’s proposal still stands,” parlia- mentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said. Modi stressed that the government had an open mind and was ready for a detailed discussion on the issue, adding the farmers could always approach the government as agriculture minister Narendra Tomar was just a phone call. In the meeting, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Trinamool Congress’s Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut and Akali Dal member Balwinder Singh Bhunder also spoke at length on the farmers’ agitation. Azad reportedly said that the Congress had warned the Centre about the agitation and now the government has to deal with the consequences. Most Opposition leaders were of the view that the government needs to discuss the laws again in both Houses of Parliament and also seek to address the misgivings of the agitating farmers. They also reportedly asked the government not to see them as enemies. The Opposition condemned the violence during the tractor rally on January 26 but also demanded an investigation into how “outside elements” had infiltrated the farmers’ movement. The farmers made simil a r a l l e g at i o n s, bl a m i n g Punjabi actor-activist Deep Sidhu for instigating the mob and planting a Sikh religious flag at Red Fort. Joshi said the budget session would take up 38 items — 33 bills and five financial items. Though it would be mainly devoted to business relating to the budget and a discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s address, essential legislative and other business would P7 also be taken up. AMU student PETN explosive used; Iran banished from angle, Al Qaeda under lens Aligarh city EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Lucknow AN Aligarh Muslim University student leader has been banished from the city for six months as he participated in the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests on the campus more than a year ago. The district administration issued externment orders against Arif Khan Tyagi, claiming he was a threat to peace in the city . AMU spokesman Professor Shafay Kidwai said Additional District Magistrate Rakesh Kumar Maalpani issued the order to the final-year postgraduate student last week under the UP Control of Goondas Act. Arif received it two days ago. The anti-CAA protest on the AMU campus in December 2019 and January 2020 had turned violent, injuring over 70 people, including students and police personnel. More than six cases were registered against Arif in that connection. However, Arif appeared unfazed. He said all citizens have a right to peaceful protest. “The externment order was yet another attempt to muzzle freedom of expression,” he said. He intends to seek judicial relief. EVIDENCE of pentaerythritol tetranitrate, or PETN, a high grade explosive chemical mostly used by the Al Qaeda group, was found during probe on a low intensity blast outside the Israel embassy here on Friday . Sources said the handling of the chemicals is not easy and the blast has to be the handiwork of a group that is experienced in using them. The probe agencies feel local agents of the group could have carried out the attack. While the police have not ruled out any possibility, in- cluding the role of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, they are also investigating the Iranian angle. An envelope with a letter addressed to the Israel ambassador to India was found, which refers to Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani and nuclear scientist Dr Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, both of whom were slain last year. The letter was found 12 yards away from the spot. CCTV footage has revealed a cab suspiciously moving near the area and dropping off two persons. The special cell has contacted the cab driver and inquired about the two suspects. ENDING all speculation, BJP national president, JP Nadda, on Saturday for mally announced his party’s alliance with the AIADMK for the upcoming Assembly elections. The development assumes significance as it’s the first time that the saffron party has made its stance clear on the alliance. “Both parties (AIADMK and BJP) will face the polls together,” said the BJP president while addressing a public meeting in Madurai during his one-day visit. In November last, in the presence of Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, the AIADMK leadership announced that the party’s alliance with the BJP would continue for the upcoming elections. The delay in BJP responding to the AIADMK’s statement, and the new dimen- IN a rare move, the Supreme Court Collegium is understood have withdrawn its consent to make Justice Pushpa V Ganediwala of the Bombay High Court a permanent judge following her controversial verdicts in POCSO cases. On January 20, a three-judge collegium headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde had recommended to the law ministry to appoint Jus- lithaa, to the State, after being released from the Bengaluru Prison. She had been lodged for the last four years after being convicted in the disproportionate assets case. Speaking at the rally Nadda , also pointed out that mega projects such as Chennai Metro, AIIMS medical colleges, and several Smart City projects have been granted to Tamil Nadu by the BJP-ruled Centre. “It was Modi who gave the impetus for Tamil Nadu’s growth and development,” he said. Earlier in the day, he held a meeting with the core commitP4 tee of the party . MLA NOMINATION ROW As govt weakens, Pondy CM plans to move court D E B J A N I D U T TA @ Puducherry A day after the Union Home Ministry appointed senior BJP leader T Vikraman as a nominated member of the Puducherry Assembly — reducing the ruling Congress’ strength in the House to a wafer-thin majority — Chief Minister V Narayanasamy has threatened to move court to get the decision cancelled. Following Vikraman’s appointment, the strength of the Opposition has gone up to 14 in the 33-member House. The government has the support of just 16 MLAs (Cong: 12, DMK:3, Independent:1). Three seats fell vacant after A Namassivayam and E Theepainthan joined the BJP and N Dhanavelu was disqualified. , Norms allow the Centre to nominate three members to the Assembly While it . traditionally appointed only members recommended by the ruling party in the UT, in 2017, that custom was broken and three BJP functionaries were nominated, inflating the Opposition’s strength. Speaking on Saturday Narayanasamy , alleged that Vikraman’s appointment was made by misusing powers. “At this juncture, his appointment is not valid as per rules,” he said. Speculation is rife that a few more MLAs may quit the ruling party Health . Minister Malladi Krishna Rao is understood to have surrendered his official vehicles. With the AIADMK demanding the Congress to prove its majority, and the DMK indicating that it’s not interested in continuing its alliance with the Congress, the new developments have struck panic in the ruling party’s camp. EXPRESS READ Gandhi statue vandalised in US Washington: Unknown miscreants have vandalised a Mahatma Gandhi statue in a park in the US state of California, evoking a strong response from India which sought a thorough investigation and appropriate action against those responsible for the despicable act. The 6-ft tall, 294 kg bronze statue of Gandhi appeared to have been sawed off at the ankles and half its face was missing, local media reported | P9 WITH THIS ISSUE BEST FOOT FORWARD PLUS 12 PAGES Collegium nixes nod to make Nagpur judge permanent E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ New Delhi sion of a ‘Rajinikanth factor’, had resulted in rumours about troubles in the alliance. Local political analysts also speculated the possibility of a multicornered fight in the State as opposed to the traditional duel b e t w e e n t h e D r av i d i a n majors. Earlier this month, BJP’s State in-charge had made it clear that the AIADMK would decide the chief ministerial candidate of the alliance. On Saturday, Nadda’s statement clarified the BJP stance, well ahead of the return of VK Sasikala, the one-time confidante of former CM J Jayala- tice Ganediwala, currently an additional judge of the Bombay HC, a permanent judge. According to sources, a note was sent to the Ministry withdrawing the Collegium recommendation. Officials said the issue was raised by two senior SC judges who hail from the Bombay HC. Justice Ganediwala recently acquitted a man accused of groping a 12-year-old girl’s breast because he did not make skin-to-skin contact. Days earlier, the judge ruled that holding the hands of a five-year-old girl and unzipping the trousers do not amount to sexual assault under the POCSO Act. The skin-to-skin order was stayed by the top court on January 27, ruling that the judgment would set a dangerous precedent. Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam inaugurating the temple for former Chief Minsters MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa in Thirumangalam near Madurai on Saturday God & public with us, says AIADMK; inaugurates temple for MGR, Jaya ‘WE WILL WIN YET AGAIN’ While Palaniswami vowed to form the ‘Amma government’ again by winning the upcoming State Assembly elections, Panneerselvam said that the AIADMK, as an organisation, believes in the power of people and god, both of which are in favour of the ruling government EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Madurai THE AIADMK is an organisation that believes in the power of people and gods, which are in favour of the ruling government, while the DMK is just resorting to gimmicks for votes, said the ruling party leadership on Saturday as it inaugurated a temple for former leaders MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa in Thirumangalam, Madurai. The temple has been built by Revenue Minister RB Udhaya- kumar on a 12-acre plot, and features seven-foot tall statues of the leaders. Recalling the contributions made by both the former AIADMK chiefs, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said, “They sacrificed their entire life for the welfare of the people.” Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said the DMK cannot dream about forming a government. “Just by taking ‘vel’ in your hand, you cannot take power,” he said. “Nobody can rule TN by entering P4 through short-cuts.”