YK MYK WEATHER TODAY MAX 27 C MIN 16 C ANY KIND OF FORCE ON MARRIAGE BETWEEN ADULTS MUST BE REINED OPINION Sky will be partly cloudy. NETANYAHU TO WELCOME FIRST FLIGHT FROM DUBAI TO TEL AVIV WORLD Morning India Rs. 3 KOLKATA FRIDAY, 27 NOV, 2020 PG-12, YEAR—7, ISSUE—190 (RNI NO: WBENG / 2014 / 56803) Lalu shifted to paying ward in RIMS CORONA M E T E R Ranchi DC seeks report on how RJD supremo got phone in jail INDIA SANJAY SAHAY TOTAL CASES: 9,269,861 TOTAL DEATH: 135,296 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 60,877,394 TOTAL DEATH: 1,430,105 AT A GLANCE CM SOREN TO PRESENT GOVT REPORT CARD ON DEC 29 RANCHI: Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday said that he would present a report card on his government's performance on December 29 when he completes one year in office. Speaking to reporters at his native village Nemra in Ramgarh district, Soren said that the report would detail the achievements of his government during the pandemic period. He stated that Jharkhand is facing several challenges during the Covid pandemic. However, the state government has taken several measures to take the state forward. The CM statement has come days after BJP leader Jayant Sinha blamed the government for mismanaging the state economy. INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO REMAIN SUSPENDED TILL DEC NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday extended the suspension of scheduled commercial international flight operations to and from India till December 31. "This restriction shall not apply to the international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA," an official said. LEGEND SPECIAL CMYK Morning India SPORTS www.sanmarglive.com Ranchi, Friday 12 27 November 2020 In the hands of God W idely rated as the greatest footballer of all time, there was no stopping Diego Maradona's aura from reaching levels of divinity wherever he went, with or without the ball on his feet. His murals, most of which show him with a halo behind or over his head or in the garb of Jesus Christ himself, adorn the streets of Buenos Aires, Argentina and Naples, Italy. It was evident when Maradona arrived in Kolkata in 2008 and 2017 to cheering crowds. He had been retired from the game for well over a decade by then and his health was making more headlines than any football related activities. None of that mattered for the more than 1,00,000 people who flocked the Salt Lake Stadium on December 6, 2008. It was also evident by the flood of tributes that came from all walks of life as news of his death spread around the world on November 25, 2020. Rarely can a sportsperson legitimately be described by as wide an array of adjectives that have been used for Maradona. His skills on the pitch made him captivating, talismanic, charismatic, and went on to establish him as a legend of the game and at the same time, his behaviour off it, and at times on it, have led to people calling him reckless, obnoxious, disgraceful, clownish, and so on. The dichotomy that came with loving Maradona was best captured by former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand after Argentina's group stage match against Nigeria in the 2018 World Cup. Maradona was in the stands and was at his absurd best, making obscene gestures and overdoing his celebrations as Lionel Messi and company got a crucial win. "That guy was my idol. He is my idol. What that man did on a football pitch -- he is the governor. He is the main man. He made me believe that football was achievable from an estate in Peckham. I have the most love for this guy, the way that he was FOOTBALL LEGEND DIEGO MARADONA PASSES AWAY AT 60 1960: Born on October 30, in Lanus, Argentina 1970: Joins Los Cebollitas youth team 1971: Scouted age 11 for the junior team of Argentinos Juniors 1976: Turns professional, makes his pro debut aged 15, joins Argentinos Juniors HERE IS A TIMELINE OF FOOTBALL LEGEND DIEGO ARMANDO MARADONA OF ARGENTINA. A WORLD CUP WINNER, HE PASSED AWAY ON WEDNESDAY, AGED 60, IN TIGRE, BUENOS AIRES. TIMELINE: 1990: Faces a paternity suit after defeat to West Germany in the World Cup final 1991: Fails a drug test, and handed a 15-month suspension after testing positive for cocaine. Leaves Italy 1992: Stages a comeback at Sevilla in Spanish League 1993: Returns to Argentina, joins Newell's Old Boys, after disagreement with Sevilla 1977: Makes his full international debut for Argentina, aged 16 1978: Becomes youngest player ever to be picked by Argentine national team 1994: Tests positive for ephedrine and is sent back home from World Cup in America 1979: Scores his first international goal, and wins the junior WC 1995: Plays final season for Boca Juniors 1996: Checks into a clinic for drug addiction 1980: Signs with Barcelona of the Spanish League 1981: Transferred to Boca Juniors for $1.96 million 1997: Announces retirement from professional soccer, aged 37, following another failed drugs test 1982: Plays his first World Cup for Argentina and scores twice. Is sent off in the game against Brazil. Same year, transferred to Barcelona FC for $9.81 million, a world record at the time 2000: Autobiography 'Yo Soy El Diego' becomes bestseller. Goes to Cuba for two years. Complains of heart problems, collapses 2008: Appointed head coach of Argentina national team; he performed this role for 18 months, until 2010 World Cup. Visits India and opens Indian Football School in Kolkata 1983: Helps Barcelona win the Spanish Cup 1984: Is transferred from Barcelona to Serie A Napoli for $13.54 million, another record 2017: Visits India again, plays in Kolkata 1986: Wins World Cup as Argentina captain. Scores two goals against England, including the infamous 'Hand of God' goal and another after dribbling past six players -- it was voted 'Goal of the Century' in a FIFA poll in 2002 2019: Becomes head coach of Argentine club Gimnasia de La Plata 2020: Leaves Olivos clinic in Buenos Aires after surgery for blood clot in brain; dies on November 25 1989: Gets married to Claudia Villafane his hand and his explanation in on a football pitch. I don't conthe immediate aftermath that he done what he did last night. The had made contact with the ball pictures that we have seen. The "a little with his head, and a little finger gesturing. But I don't conwith the hand of God", led to the done people laughing at him goal being known as "The Hand either. I just hope he's alright. The pictures that we saw weren't of God". Four minutes later, Maradona great but I hope he's going to be went on a 60-yard run with the OK," said Ferdinand in a video ball from midfield, dribbling past he tweeted later. six English players, and ended Born in a slum area in the the move with a feint that left southern outskirts of Buenos goalkeeper Peter Shilton on the Aires on October 30, 1960, ground, and scored what has Maradona made his senior debut since been called "The Goal of for Buenos Aires-based the Century". Argentinos Juniors in 1976. He The extremes of his life is went on to a play for Argentine best summarised by the fact that giants Boca Juniors in the 1981his 17-year-long international 82 season. He then shifted to career, which perhaps did more Europe where he spent two to forge an identity for Argentine tumultuous seasons with Spanish giants Barcelona. His tenure with football than anything else, ended when he was sent home the Catalan club ended with a from the 1994 World Cup after a nasty brawl that triggered crowd trouble in the 1984 Copa failed drug test. He played del Rey final against only two matches in Athletic Bilbao. the tournament. Maradona then It may have HIS SKILLS ON went to Italian been an ignoTHE PITCH MADE HIM club Napoli, minious end CAPTIVATING, TALISMANwhere he had but hardly a IC, CHARISMATIC, AND WENT arguably the surprising ON TO ESTABLISH HIM AS A most producone. Fans had LEGEND OF THE GAME AND AT long accepted tive period of THE SAME TIME, HIS BEHAVhis career. He that IOUR OFF IT, AND AT TIMES Maradona's won two Serie ON IT, HAVE LED TO PEOA titles, a Coppa devils were PLE CALLING HIM part of the packItalia and one RECKLESS. UEFA Cup in his age -- a package that was too good to seven seasons with the club, leaving as their hate. all-time highest goalscorer, a Meanwhile, Football legend record that stood until Marek Pele of Brazil led rich tributes to Hamsik overtook his tally in Argentine Diego Armando 2017. He went on to spend a sea- Maradona, a legend himself and son each at Spanish club Sevilla a World Cup winner, who passed and Argentina's Newell's Old away on Wednesday, aged 60, in Boys before ending his career at Tigre, Buenos Aires. Boca. He played at a time when "What sad news. I lost a great global broadcast deals were not friend and the world lost a legend. There is still much to be even in the sphere of relevances for most European football said, but for now, may God give strength to family members. One leagues which meant that most of the world got a glimpse of day, I hope we can play ball together in the sky," wrote Pele Maradona only when he turned out for the Albiceleste of on twitter. Argentina at the World Cup. He Argentina and Barcelona forwas immortalised in his country ward Lionel Messi said "Diego is and beyond by his performance eternal". "A very sad day for all in the 1986 World Cup, particuArgentines and football. He larly, the quarter-final against leaves us but does not leave, England in which he scored two because Diego is eternal. I keep of the most famous goals in the all the beautiful moments lived hallowed history of the tournawith him and I send my condoment. lences to all his family and The first goal was scored with friends," said Messi. 1986 World Cup quarter-final: Maradona becomes immortal I dream of being able to score another goal against the English, with the right hand this time!" said Diego Maradona and burst into laughter. It turned out to be the last interview of his life, given to French weekly French Football last month. Maradona had by then admitted numerous times that he had scored with his hand in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina's heated rivals England. He was not so ready to accept the involvement of his hand right after that match, however, saying that the goal was scored "a little with my head, and a little with the hand of God". Maradona's performance in that match immortalised him in his country's culture and in the history of world football. It also perhaps best summarises his career and life. If the first was scored through trickery and stood solely because the officials did not spot the transgres- sion, the second was a work of genius that one can only dream of scoring in any match, let alone a quarter-final match of a World Cup. Four minutes after the "Hand of God" goal, Maradona went on a 60yard run with the ball from midfield, dribbling past six English players, and ended the move with a feint that left goalkeeper Peter Shilton on the ground. He slotted the ball into the back of the net and scored what has since been called "The Goal of the Century". He completed his dash in 10 seconds and the players left in his wake apart from Shilton were Peter Beardsley, Peter Reid, Terry Butcher (twice) and Terry Fenwick. "I made the play to give it to (Jorge) Valdano, but when I got to the area they surrounded me and I had no space," said Maradona after the match. "Therefore, I had to continue the play and finish it myself." Maradona later complimented the fair play of the English team, saying, "I don't think I could have done it against any other team because they all used to knock you down; they are probably the noblest in the world." A glance at the statistics and some hard facts would show that as far as their individual careers are concerned, Lionel Messi has eclipsed his legendary former Argentina coach Diego Maradona, who passed away on Wednesday. At the international level, 33year-old Messi has 87 goals in 165 appearances, making him Argentina's all-time highest goal scorer. Maradona scored 42 in 106 recorded appearances. Messi's goalscoring record at club level is off the charts -- he has netted a total of 640 goals in more than 700 senior appearances for Barcelona. Maradona made 588 appearances for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell's Old Boys and scored 312 goals. And yet, going by most descriptions of Buenos Aires through the prism of its beloved sport of football, the endless murals and graffiti that adorn its streets show Maradona, not Messi, in different forms of divinity. The difference in the way that the two greats are perceived in their home country can perhaps be put down to two factors -- their respective records at the World Cup and their off-field transgressions. Both Messi and Maradona have felt the extreme pressures that come with captaining Argentina at the World Cup. The difference, however, lay in the fact that Maradona won the tournament at his second attempt, while for Messi, it has remained an unfulfilled quest in an otherwise illustrious career. Messi, almost symbolically, trails Maradona by two goals in the World Cup goal-scoring records -- Messi has scored six times in 19 matches while Maradona has eight goals in 21 appearances. Maradona, after all, scored what has to be the most famous brace of all time against England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup. At the 1990 World Cup, CMYK SPORTS Maradona led Argentina to the final yet again. The tournament featured a bizarre incident in which Brazil's Branco claimed that Maradona and team mate Ricardo Giusti offered him water spiked with tranquilisers during half-time of the round of 16 fixture between the two teams. The press discredited the story at the time but Branco would be proven right many years later by Maradona himself, when the latter confessed to the episode in a TV show. Maradona then played two matches at the 1994 World Cup before being sent back home for a failed drugs test, thus bringing the curtain down on his 17-year-long international career. RANCHI: In a series of setbacks to RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on Thursday, the administration shifted him from the Kelly bungalow to the paying ward in Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and a BJP leader filed a PIL in the Jharkhand High Court related to violation of the jail manual by the RJD leader. He has been shifted to the paying ward a day before his bail petition comes up for hearing in the Jharkhand High Court. On Tuesday, Lalu allegedly made a phone call to BJP's Bihar legislator Lalan Paswan that created controversy. Lalu purportedly asked the legislator to remain absent during the election of the Speaker in the Bihar Assembly on Wednesday. Former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Sushil Modi released an audio in which Lalu was heard trying to Lalu Prasad at RIMS campus in Ranchi on Thursday. persuade BJP legislator Paswan to remain absent during the Speaker's election. Lalu is serving a jail term, after being convicted in four fodder scam cases, of up to 14 years. For health reasons, he was shift- ed to a ward of the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) Ranchi for treatment. Due to coronavirus, he was shifted to a bungalow of RIMS Director. The buzz was in the air for almost two hours in the after- noon that Lalu will be shifted back to the Paying ward. Eventually, the administration transferred him to the paying ward at around 4 PM. A security ring was laid around him as he stepped out of the ambulance and walked up the paying ward. When asked about the development in Ramgarh, Chief Minister Hemant Soren refused to comment. Meanwhile, BJP leader Anuranjan Ashok, who filed the PIL, has alleged that Lalu Prasad has been given the director's bungalow and he is using mobile phone to purchase MLAs and topple the government in Bihar. The petitioner said he is having an audiotape in this regard. Ashok's lawyer Rajiv Kumar said the case should be registered against Lalu for violating the jail norms. He alleged all this is taking place in the connivance of the doctors. Notably, the PIL also contains the details of the viola- tion of the jail norms by other inmates, including the extremists and the extortionists. Meanwhile, the Ranchi district administration has sought a report from the jail superintendent of Birsa Munda Central Jail here as to how the incarcerated RJD supremo had access to a mobile phone. The Jail IG of Jharkhand, Birendra Bhushan has asked Ranchi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Chhavi Ranjan to probe the matter. Acting on the IG's order, the Ranchi DC on Thursday sought a report from the jail superintendent within 24 hours regarding violation of the jail manual. The DC wanted to know how a mobile phone reached Lalu Yadav which is a clear violation of the jail manual. The Lalu's attendant Irfan Ansari whose phone was used for calling BJP MLA Lalan Paswan is traceless after the matter came to light. AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine safe, Indian trials smooth: SII NEW DELHI: Vaccine major Serum Institute of India on Thursday said the COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University is safe and effective, and the Indian trials are progressing smoothly with strict adherence to all protocols. The comments came after AstraZeneca and Oxford University acknowledged a manufacturing error that is raising questions about preliminary results of their experimental COVID-19 vaccine. A statement describing the error came days after the company and the university described the shots as "highly effective" and made no mention of why some study participants did not receive as much vaccine in the first of two shots as expected. Asking people to be patient and not panic, the Serum Institute of India (SII) said in a statement, "The AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine is safe and effective. Even the lowest efficacy results are at 60-70%, making it a viable vaccine against the virus." That said, varied age groups with different dosage forms will result in slight variations and efficacy. "We must be patient and not panic," it added. SII is conducting clinical trials of AstraZenecaOxford''s COVID-19 vaccine candidate in India. "The Indian trials are running smoothly with strict adherence to all the necessary processes and protocols. So far, there are no concerns. However, we are going through the data that is avail- The Indian trials are running smoothly with strict adherence to all the necessary processes and protocols. So far, there are no concerns. However, we are going through the data that is available and will make further statement, if needed SERUM INSTITUTE OF INDIA, PUNE able and will make further statement, if needed," SII said. Earlier this week, AstraZeneca said an interim analysis of clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in the UK and Brazil showed that it was 70 per cent effective on average, becoming the third drugmaker to announce promising results to contain the deadly virus. The company had also said that the vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, showed 90 per cent efficacy in one dosing regimen when the vaccine was given as a half dose, followed by a full dose at least a month later, while another dosing regimen showed 62 per cent efficacy when given as two full doses at least one month apart. "The combined analysis from both dosing regimens resulted in an average efficacy of 70 per cent," it had said. MORE ON PG 5 Life during a Nationwide strike called by the various central trade union against different policies of NDA government in kolkata at Howrah on Thursday. Prabir Bhattacharya Army to get drones from Israel, America for surveillance along LAC NEW DELHI: In a major boost to its capabilities, the Indian Army is soon going to get Israeli Heron and American mini drones for upgrading its surveillance capabilities in Eastern Ladakh and other areas along the China border. "The deals for the acquisition of the Heron surveillance drones is in the final stages and is expected to be inked in December. The Herons are going to be deployed in the Ladakh sector and they will be more advanced than the existing fleet in the Indian armed forces," government sources told ANI. The acquisition of these drones is being done under the emergency financial powers granted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to the defence forces under which they can buy equipment and systems worth Rs 500 crores to upgrade their warfighting capabilities, amid ongoing border conflict with China, they added. According to sources, the other small or mini drones are being acquired from the US that will be provided at the Battalion level to the troops on ground and the handoperated drones would be used to attain awareness about a specific location or area in their respective areas of responsibility. The Indian defence forces have been taking these initiatives to acquire weapon systems which can help them in the ongoing conflict with China. The last time such a facility was given to the defence forces was in 2019 right after the Balakot air strikes against terrorist camps in Pakistan. Using the same facility, the Indian Navy has leased two Predator drones which have been taken from American firm General Atomics. Stan Swamy’s wait for straw and sipper gets longer MUMBAI: Stan Swamy, the 83-year-old tribal rights activist arrested for his alleged involvement in the Elgar Parishad case, will have to wait a few more days for a straw and a sipper cup he needs as a Parkinson's patient. Responding to Swamy's request for these items before a special court here on Thursday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said it did not take the straw and sipper from Swamy during his arrest, as claimed by the activist. PARKINSON'S DISFollowing the EASE IS A DEBILIcentral agency's TATING DISORDER response, the OF THE CENTRAL special court NERVOUS SYSTEM rejected THAT CAN CAUSE Swamy's appliINVOLUNTARY cation. Swamy TREMORS, OR then moved a MUSCULAR fresh application SPASMS, WHICH seeking permisMAKES CARRYING sion to use a OUT EVEN ROUstraw and a sipTINE ACTIONS per and winter LIKE DRINKING clothes inside DIFFICULT. the jail. The court sought a reply from the jail authorities and adjourned the matter till December 4. The NIA which arrested Swamy from his residence in Ranchi on October 8, had earlier this month sought 20 days' time to respond to his request for the straw and sipper. "I cannot hold a glass as my hands are unsteady due to Parkinson's," Swamy, who is at Taloja Central Jail hospital, had said in his initial application before the court. Parkinson's disease is a debilitating disorder of the central nervous system that can cause involuntary tremors, or muscular spasms, which makes carrying out even routine actions like drinking difficult. Some patients may face problems while swallowing or chewing. INDIAN ECONOMY EXHIBITED STRONGER THAN EXPECTED: RBI MUMBAI: The Indian economy has exhibited stronger than expected pick up in the momentum of the recovery, said Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday. "The Indian economy has exhibited stronger than expected pickup in the momentum of recovery...We need to be watchful about the sustainability of demand after the festivals and a possible re-assessment of market expectations surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine," said Das while speaking at the 4th Annual Day of Foreign Exchange Dealers' Association of India (FEDAI). The global economy has also witnessed a stronger than expected rebound in activity in Q3.” BJP ALL SET TO REVAMP PARTY LEADERSHIP IN BIHAR PATNA: After emerging as the single largest party in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the recent Bihar Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to overhaul the leadership with a new team of leaders in the state. The NDA government came to power in Bihar with a clear majority in the assembly elections as against the Opposition Grand Alliance. The new NDA government under the leadership of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar includes two Deputy Chief Ministers, Tarkishore Prasad and Renu Devi, for the first time in the state. The BJP's Sushil Kumar Modi was made the Deputy Chief Minister and worked as a close aide to CM Nitish Kumar in the previous NDA government in the state. But this time Modi has been replaced by two Deputy CMs Tarkishore Prasad, a BJP MLA from Katihar, and Renu Devi, a legislator from Bettiah. The NDA secured 125 seats in the recent Bihar Assembly elections of which the BJP won 75, JD-U 43 and four seats each were won by NDA allies -- Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) and Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP). The party is now planning to revamp the leadership by replacing the old guard with a young team of leaders. Apart from Sushil Modi, Nandkishore Yadav, who was the Road Construction Minister in the previous NDA government, and Dr Prem Kumar, Agriculture Minister, have been sidelined. There was speculation over Nandkishore Yadav being elected as Speaker of the Bihar Assembly but BJP MLA Vijay Kumar Sinha's name was floated and he was eventually elected Speaker on November 25. A BJP leader on condition of anonymity said "change is the golden rule in politics", hence the refurbishing at the helm. It is being claimed that with this reshuffle in the party leadership, the BJP will have a major say in the Nitish Kumar government which was earlier not possible when Sushil Modi was the Deputy CM. The second rung of leadership in the BJP will also emerge stronger in the state. BJP leaders claim that women voters in Bihar played a major role in the NDA coming to power. This, they say, is the reason that a woman has been given the post of Deputy CM. BJP Bihar Spokesperson Nikhil Anand said,"BJP is a democratic party. By giving chance to new faces in party leadership, our party has made it clear that any ordinary worker of the party can come up the ranks on their own. The BJP is not owned by any family and is not remote-controlled by a few people unlike several opposition parties. The party does not function as per the wishes of any one family. No one can tell who will be the next President of the BJP. From an ordinary polling booth worker to the top leaders in the party, anyone can become the President and the Prime Minister of the country." MLA LALAN PASWAN LODGES FIR AGAINST LALU PATNA: Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Pirpaiti in Bhagalpur district Lalan Paswan lodged an FIR with the vigilance department in Patna on Thursday afternoon in connection with tape-gate. Paswan claims that Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad called him from Ranchi on Tuesday evening and asked him to remain absent during the voice vote for the post of Speaker in the Bihar assembly on Wednesday. Following this he informed senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi about the development. Paswan has also put the tape of the telephonic conversation with Lalu Prasad on social media platforms. "I have lodged an FIR in the vigilance police station in Patna against Lalu Prasad under the Prevention of Corruption Act for contacting me over telephone and offering ministerial berth. It amounts to bribery and alluring a public servant. He is a convicted person in custody," Paswan said. Following the FIR, Sushil Kumar Modi has also tweeted about the development and expressed a similar view. Neeraj Kumar, former cabinet minister and spokesperson of the JD-U, has alleged that Lalu Prasad has been enjoying the hospitality of the Jharkhand government.