THURSDAY Southern states the most innovative, says Niti Aayog 21 JANUARY, 2021 Niti Aayog’s India Innovation Index 2020 ranks Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Kerala the best in innovation epaper.morningstandard.in KARNATAKA RETAINS TOP SLOT IN RANKINGS Karnataka retained its No 1 position from 2019, when the rankings were first published. Maharashtra comes second followed by Tamil Nadu. Telangana has stayed in the 4th place while Kerala replaced Haryana for the 5th slot facebook.com/TheMorningStandard twitter.com/TheMornStandard ENCOUNTER CLEAN CHIT TO KANPUR COPS Magisterial and judicial probes find no violation of rules, say officials A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 8 NEW DELHI JOE Biden, 78, took oath as the 46th President of the US on Wednesday around 10:20 pm IST, ending four years of Donald Trump’s rule that was mired in controversies. Minutes before Biden was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice John Roberts, Indian-origin Kamala Harris, 56, was sworn in as the first woman Vice President of the US. The ceremony was held at the West Front of the Capitol, under the watch of 25,000 National Guards. “This is America’s Day This . is democracy’s day. A day of history and hope,” Biden said in his inaugural speech. “I will be president for all Americans. White supremacy, domestic terrorism we will defeat. I want every American to join me in this cause,” he added. “Ready to serve,” Kamala Harris tweeted from her official Twitter account soon after the inauguration. Outgoing Vice President Mike Pence attended the ceremony so did former presidents , ULTIMATE STRIKE Guj to rename dragon fruit as ‘Kamalam’ EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ Mumbai WHILE the Centre is presumably dealing with the Chinese aggression on the border head on, Gujarat is trying to teach China a lesson in its own humble way . The Vijay Rupani-led BJP government plans to rename dragon fruit, which is largely grown in Kutch, Navsari and some other parts of Saurashtra, to ‘Kamalam’. On Thursday, Rupani said the state government has applied for a patent to change the nomenclature of dragon fruit. “The name dragon fruit is not proper, and due to its name one thinks of China. So we have given it the name Kamalam.” Interestingly, the word ‘Kamalam’ stands for the Lotus, which is the party symbol of the ruling BJP . The decision, however, has not gone down well with everybody. NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase alleged the name was changed for political reasons. “Tomorrow BJP will not hesitate to change the country’s name,” he added. However, Rupani rubbished the allegation saying there is nothing political about it. “Farmers say it looks like lotus and that is the reason we named it Kamalam,” he said. The fruit is known for its nutritional value and it also helps in increasing the hemoglobin. Rupani said it is the most expensive fruit available in the market at this time. PAGES 12 Farmer unions to internally discuss offer before the next round of talks on Friday EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi/Chandigarh Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th president of the US by Chief Justice John Roberts as his wife Jill Biden holds the Bible at the Capitol, Washington on Wednesday | AP 46TH PRESIDENT OF A DISUNITED STATES EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE J8.00 Govt proposes to put farm laws on hold for two years to break the ice HANDS FULL ON DAY ONE Biden is expected to sign 17 executive actions on Day One. They include: Freezing dozens of last-minute Trump administration regulations Sending an immigration bill to Congress that will offer citizenship for millions of undocumented immigrants Enforcing nationwide mask and social-distancing norms Creating a Covid-19 response team that reports directly to the President Terminating ban on arrivals from certain Muslim countries Halting construction of border wall Rejoining the Paris climate accord Extending relief on student loans DELHI NO 1 AMONG UNION TERRITORIES The index considers human capital, investments, business & legal environment, new businesses and patent registrations. Among hill states, Himachal Pradesh topped and among Union territories Delhi was the most innovative, followed by Chandigarh Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton. As expected, Trump gave it a miss as he left the White House on the Marine One presidential helicopter along with wife Melania, hours before the inauguration. Around 1,000 people attended the swearing-in, including No Biden in Don’s farewell message Trump did not mention Biden’s name in his farewell video message. “This week we inaugurate a new administration and pray for its success in keeping America safe and prosperous,” Trump said. “We extend our best wishes. And we also want them to have luck. A very important word,” he added Supreme Court justices and members of Congress. The numbers were limited due to the pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to cong ratulate Biden. “My warmest congratulations to @ JoeBiden on his assumption of office as President of the United States. I look forward to working with him to strengthen India-US strategic partnership,” Modi tweeted Indicating that the ties with India will be on the ascendant, Biden’s pick for secretary of defence Lloyd Austin told the Senate during his confirmation hearing: “I would further operationalise India’s Major Defence Partner status and continue to build upon existing strong defence cooperation.” The US is expected to continue its tough stance on China with Biden’s Secretary of State nominee Antony Blinken terming an assertive Beijing a major national security threat to Washington. Meanwhile, China sanctioned 28 officials of the Trump administration, including former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, for “violating China’s sovereignty”. On Tuesday, Pompeo had accused China of genocide against Uighur MusP9 lims of Xinjiang. THE tenth round of talks with the protesting far mers on Wednesday opened a window of opportunity to break the deadlock on the contentious farm laws with the Centre proposing to constitute a new committee as also keeping the laws on hold for two years or more and the farmers agreeing to consider them. The two sides will meet again on Friday, when the farmers are expected to spell out their stand on the suggestions after holding consultations among themselves on Thursday . The fact that the government came out with new proposals and the farmers agreed to examine them are being seen as signs of accommodation from both sides. Until Wednesday, the government’s consistent stand was that it was ready to amend the laws while the farmers remained firm in their repeal-or-nothing demand. Sources said the Centre, during the meeting, urged the farmers to consider its proposal for an hour separately. The two sides broke off into different rooms following which the farmer unions agreed to consider the offer. However, they insisted that their demand of repealing the laws still stands. Krantikari Kisan Union president Darshan Pal said, “Just because we have decided to discuss this new proposal of the government and decided to hold a string of meetings tomorrow between ourselves does not mean that we have backtracked from our demand of a repeal of the three laws.” The opportunity to end the impasse comes days ahead of the crucial budget session of Parliament beginning on January 29. With the Opposition gathering ammunition to attack the government on the farm laws, the Centre appears to keen to resolve the stand-off before the session. According to sources, Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar told the farmers that the Centre was even ready to file an affidavit in the Su- OUT-OF-THE-BOX IDEAS Three contentious new farm sector laws to be put on ice for two years or more To seek repeal of the laws, farmers are free to go to the SC For anything short of repeal, a new committee comprising members from both sides can be formed to thrash out the differences, clause by clause Issue of legal sanctity to MSP can also be discussed Union minister Tomar briefing the media after the meeting | PARVEEN NEGI Govt to file fresh affidavit in SC on extending the duration of putting the laws in abeyance preme Court on putting off the laws for an extended period to dispel any doubts in their minds. He also stressed that a consensus should be reached between the two sides before the meeting ends as it was the occasion of Guru Gobind Singh’s Parkash Parv. “There is some positive response from the government and a new offer was on the table. The unions accepted it and a final decision will be taken by the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha,” Hannan Mollah of the All India Kisan Sabha said. On the Centre’s demand to call off the tractor rally farmer , unions refused to do so till an agreement is arrived at on repealing the farm laws. The Centre, according to sources, asked the farmers to approach the Supreme Court if it wanted a repeal. NIA probe and arrests of persons supporting the protests were also discussed. Farmer leaders said that the Centre assured that people associated with the movement will not be harassed and intimP9 idated by the agency . For violation in Parliament project, CPWD may have to plant more trees PLEAS AGAINST AADHAAR VERDICT REJECTED 4:1 EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed by 4:1 petitions seeking review of its verdict upholding the validity of the Aadhaar law. “In our opinion, no case for review of judgment and order dated 26.09.2018 is made out,” a five-judge Bench headed by Justice A M Khanwilkar said. “We hasten to add that change in the law or subsequent decision/judgment of a coordinate or larger Bench by itself cannot be regarded as a ground for review,” the court noted. However, Justice D Y Chandrachud allowed the petitions. He cited the fact that another Constitution bench while hearing a case relating to the validity of Fi- nance Act, 2017 (Rojer Mathew v South Indian Bank Ltd) had held that the Aadhaar judgment did not correctly lay down the law regarding what constitutes a ‘Money Bill’ under Article 110 of the Constitution. “If these review petitions are to be dismissed and the larger bench reference in Rojer Mathew were to disag ree with the analysis of the majority opinion in Aadhaar judgment, it would have serious consequences .... As such, the present batch of review petitions should be kept pending until the larger bench decides the questions,” he held. “I regret my inability to agree with the decision of the majority in dismissing the present batch of review petitions,” he wrote. The statue of Mahatma Gandhi inside Parliament complex is being relocated for the prestigious project | PTI S I D D H A N TA M I S H R A @ New Delhi THE Central Public Works Department may have to plant extra trees beyond compensatory afforestation as a penalty for violating the Delhi government’s green policy while undertaking the new Parliament building project. If the permission is sanctioned by the environment and forest minister, it would be perhaps the first such case under the tree transplantation policy . Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia heads the forest department in Delhi. As per the policy unveiled in October last year, at least 80% of trees that stand in potential project sites have to be trans- planted while construction agencies should ensure that 80% of the trees survive after being relocated. The CPWD was given permission in October to remove 404 trees from the site of the new Parliament building and transplant them in eight pockets in the Central Vista area. But, officials said, the forest department found that the CPWD had not followed one of the main rules of tree transplantation — relocating the trees at the designated spot. “Permission was given for transplanting trees at a specific location. We have found that the CPWD violated the condition. Although tree transplantation happened, but it was not at the location for which permission was granted,” said a senior forest official. The CPWD will now have to plant more trees than the earlier agreed upon number for the new Parliament building project. “The file in this regard was forwarded to the minister of forest and environment for final approval to impose the penalty which we have proposed for the violation by the CPWD in the project,” the official said. The forest department had sent a show-cause notice seeking explanation from the central agency as to why trees removed for the Parliament project was not relocated in the Central Vista area. It is that time of the year when IPL franchises release players ahead of auction for the next season. As many as 57 players were not retained Day after suffering defeat to India, some of Australian cricketers were let go. Among those who are back in the auction pool include Steve Smith (RR), Glenn Maxwell (KXIP), Aaron Finch (RCB), Alex Carey (DC), Billy Stanlake (SRH), Nathan Coulter Nile, James Pattinson (MI) and Chris Green (KKR) STEVE SMITH Man arrested for ‘love jihad’ in MP Bhopal: The second case under the anti ‘love jihad’ act was registered on the complaint of a 24-year-old engineering student in Bhopal on Wednesday. The accused, a mechanic, was been arrested. He has been booked for charges including rape, stalking and criminal intimidation Interim court relief for Tandav team IPL AUCTION: IN AND OUT AUSSIES FEEL THE HEAT EXPRESS READ CSK RETAIN RAINA The three-time champs who are looking to rebuild released Kedar Jadhav, Piyush Chawla and Murali Vijay among others. However, CSK have decided to keep Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo and Imran Tahir for one more season SAMSON IS NEW RR CAPTAIN With Rajasthan releasing Smith back into the auction pool, Sanju Samson has been named their new captain. He is the first player from Kerala to captain an IPL side BIHAR MUSLIM FACE IN NITISH GOVT Shahnawaz Hussain’s return to Bihar’s caste-ridden politics is being ensured through the Legislative Council route PAGE 8 TESTING STATUS 32,957 RTPCR/CBNAAT/ TrueNat tests conducted 30,204 Rapid antigen test 1,00,59,193 Total tests done so far 5,29,431 Tests per million DELHI COVID WATCH Mumbai: The Bombay HC on Wednesday granted a transit pre-arrest bail to four members of Tandav web series against whom a case was lodged in Lucknow for allegedly hurting sentiments. Justice P D Naik granted the relief to enable them to approach a Lucknow court. New cameras at Atal Tunnel Shimla: Police in Himachal Pradesh Police have installed number plate reader in Rohtang’s Atal Tunnel following nuisance by some tourists. Ten tourists from Delhi were arrested on December 24 after they stopped cars inside the tunnel, leading to a massive traffic jam. STATUS OF CASES Today Cumulative RECOVERED 405 6,20,128 DEATH 10 10,774 ACTIVE CASES -2,147 TOTAL +VE CASES 228 6,33,049 PATIENT MANAGEMENT Total beds Occupied Vacant HOSPITAL 9,200 968 8,232 CARE CENTRE 7,392 29 7228* HEALTH CENTRE 307 6 301 916 HOME ISOLATION *135 beds of CCC are occupied by persons under quarantine including travellers who came by Vande Bharat Mission and Bubble flights 2,168 TOTAL NO. OF CONTAINMENT ZONES AS ON DATE 1,600 TOTAL NO. OF CALLS DISPATCHED TO AMBULANCES S O U R C E : D E L H I H E A LT H B U L L E T I N | JA N UA RY 2 0 2 0 2 1
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