YK MYK CHINESE GIANT TIKTOK TO SHUT DOWN INDIA BUSINESS BUSINESS Rs. 5 RANCHI THURSDAY, 28 JAN, 2021 PG-12, YEAR—10, ISSUE—263 (RNI NO: JHAENG / 2012 / 44137) WEATHER TODAY MAX 24 C MIN 10 C Sky will be clear. AT A GLANCE PRIME MINISTER TO ADDRESS NCC RALLY TODAY NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) at Cariappa Ground in Delhi on Thursday. CORONA METER INDIA TOTAL CASES: 1,06,60,281 TOTAL DEATH: 153,751 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 100,963,259 TOTAL DEATH: 2,170,420 ‘FASTER RECOVERY FROM COVID RESTRICTIONS TO BOOST INDIA'S GROWTH TO 11%’ NEW YORK: India is coming back much faster than expected from the Covid-19 restrictions leading to a hike in projections for its economic growth rate to 11.5 per cent for the next fiscal year, Gita Gopinath, the International Monetary Fund's research head said on Tuesday. That rate of the growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) would make India the fastestgrowing major economy in 2021-22. Gopinath said the upgrade in India's GDP growth forecast is "because activity and mobility particularly came back much faster than expected in India. We have not seen another wave. In fact, we've seen a very strong decline in cases, which is again a bit different from other parts of the world". Speaking at a news conference for the release of the World Economic Outlook Update in Washington, Gopinath cautioned that "there is still some distance to go" for India although indicators "point to somewhat faster-paced recovery". VIRAT, ROHIT MAINTAIN TOP 2 SPOTS IN ICC ODI RANKINGS SPORTS Morning India TRACTOR TERROR RALLY JAN 26: FARMERS CLASH WITH POLICE, SWARM RED FORT, HOIST PENNANT NEW DELHI: Protesting farmers on Tuesday swarmed the Red Fort in New Delhi during a 'tractor rally' here on the Republic Day even as police tried to prevent them from driving towards central Delhi. The farmers barged into the 17th century monument, climbed up its ramparts and waved farmer union flags and banners and even hoisted a pennant. A few youths climbed up the flagpole on the ramparts of the 17th century landmark and put up a saffron pennant with a religious symbol. Later, a few of them even climbed up further and fixed a farmer union flag near the spot where a bigger Tricolour was aflutter. The Delhi Police has named Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson Rakesh Tikait beside other farmer leaders in the FIR over the violence that broke out in various parts of the national capital during the farmers' tractor rally on Tuesday. The FIR charges them with breach of No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued regarding the rally. The Delhi Police has registered 22 FIRs till now in various districts over the violent protest by agitating farmers on January 26, under sections of rioting, damage to public DAY AFTER: TWO FARMERS POLICE ACTION: FIR AGAINST UNION WITHDRAW FROM RAKESH TIKAIT, OTHER PROTEST FARMERS LEADERS property and assault on public servant with deadly weapons. UNIONS POSTPONE FEB 1 MARCH TO PARLIAMENT NEW DELHI: A day after violence in Delhi during their tractor march, the farmer unions protesting against farm laws have postponed their proposed march to parliament on February 1. The decision was announced at a joint press conference by members of Samyukt Kisan Morcha at Singhu border. The farmer unions also said their agitation against three farm laws will continue. BKU leader Balbir S Rajewal said at the press conference that the proposed march had been postponed due to incidents in the national capital on Tuesday. "On Martyrs' Day, we'll hold public rallies across India. We will also keep a one-day fast. Our March to the Parliament on February 1 stands postponed for now due to this," he said. RASHTRIYA KISAN MAZDOOR SANGATHAN WITHDRAWS FROM FARMERS' PROTEST Protestors put flags atop a dome after breaching the route during the tractor rally at Red Fort in New Delhi on Tuesday. ANI CM promises 75 pc quota in pvt jobs SANJAY SAHAY RANCHI: Governor Droupadi Murmu and Chief Minister Hemant Soren unfurled the national flag in Ranchi and Dumka respectively on the occasion of 72nd Republic Day on Tuesday. Speaking after unfurling the national flag at police line in Dumka, the CM stated that 75 percent of the posts in the private jobs would be reserved for the local people in the state. He said that the local policy would be determined according to the thinking of the people. The CM announced that he was committed to fulfilling every promise made to the people, adding it is his responsibility to meet the aspiration of the masses. He stated the government aims to build a powerful state where there is social justice, adding his top priority was to preserve Jharkhand's unique identity. The CM said the RDay function was also an occasion for taking resolution for ensuring social, economic, and political justice for the people. Soren also paid tribute to leaders of the nation, including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Dr Rajendra Prasad, Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. He said that the previous year was difficult due to the Covid pandemic. He said, " Our government is fighting the pandemic on all front and trying to restore normal life. I expect that the current year would bring new hopes to people." Highlighting the works done by his government, the CM stated that several schemes related to farming and animal husbandry were launched. He said farmer's loan worth Rs 50,000 was being waived under the loan waiver policy. Moreover, farmers would be provided with economic aid for crop damage due to natural disasters and accidents, adding a sum of Rs 100 crore has been earmarked for it. He said that a 100 percent grant will be given to beneficiaries under the Pashudhan Yojna. He pointed out that the state government has declared the current year as 'appointment year', adding that giving employment to youths would be his priority. He said that process for making appointments for vacant posts in various departments has begun. He said that each year 40 sportspersons winning medals at national and international events would get a direct job. He said Mukhyamantri Rojgar Srijan Yojna which provides loans upto Rs 25 lakh, has been started. For the first time since the formation of state target for mandays under MNREGA has been fixed at 10 crore, the CM said. He said that the scheme for building 80 educational centres for excellence and leading schools in 325 blocks has been approved. The government has approved 1,88,842 houses for the homeless out of which 52,500 have already started living in the buildings. No curbs on domestic travel; cinemas, swimming pools may see more footfalls NEW DELHI: Despite the declining trend in new Covid19 cases, the Central government on Wednesday extended the safety guidelines directing the states and Union Territories (UTs) to maintain surveillance and follow containment measures till February 28. However, more relaxations have been permitted. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) issued an order which will be effective from February 1, 2021 and will remain in force till February 28. "The main focus of the guidelines is to consolidate the substantial gains that have been achieved against the spread of COVID-19 which is visible in the steady decline in number of active and new cases in the country over the last four months. It is, therefore, emphasised that to fully overcome the pandemic, there is need to maintain caution and to strictly follow the prescribed containment strategy focused on surveillance, containment and strict observance of the guidelines," said the guidelines. The new guidelines say that all activities have been permitted outside the Containment Zones. Social/ religious/sports/entertainment/educational/ cultural/religious gatherings have already been permitted up to a maximum of 50 percent of the hall capacity, with a ceiling of 200 persons in closed spaces; and keeping of the size of the ground/space in view, in open spaces. Now bigger gatherings will be allowed subject to SOP of the State/UT concerned. The guidelines say that cinema halls and theatres have already been permitted up to 50 percent of seating capacity. Now they will be permitted to operate at higher seating capacity, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs. Swimming pools have already been permitted for use by sports persons. Now swimming pools will be permitted for the use of all, for which a revised SOP will be issued by the government. NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan (RKMS) on Wednesday withdrew from the farmers protest on the borders of the national capital against the Centre's farm laws. Addressing a press conference at the Ghazipur border, convener of the Sangathan, VM Singh said that they cannot carry the protest forward with people whose direction is different. The decision came a day after violence in Delhi during the tractor march carried out by farmer unions. "We can't carry forward a protest with someone whose direction is not with the issue. I wish them the best but VM Singh and Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan are withdrawing from this protest right away. This is the decision of Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan and not of the AIKSCC (All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee). This is the decision of VM Singh, Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan and all office bearers," Singh said. He alleged that Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait had not raised the issue of farmers from Uttar Pradesh in meetings with Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar. "Rakesh Tikait went for five to six meetings. Did he once raise the issues of UP farmers even once? We did not come here (Delhi borders) to defame ourselves and our country or make martyrs of ourselves. We came here to fight for a guarantee for MSP," he said. He further said that action should be taken against all those who indulged in untoward incidents on Tuesday. Earlier, while speaking to ANI, the farmer leader condemned the violence that took place yesterday in several parts of the city and alleged that decisions regarding the protests were being made behind that back of the Rashtriya Kisan Mazdoor Sangathan "We came for MSP, not hooliganism. Action must be taken against those who took different routes. Yesterday's events were shameful, he said.