YK MYK TIME TO DO AWAY WITH PROVISIONS OF PRESENT SEDITION LAW IN INDIA OPINION Rs. 3 KOLKATA SUNDAY, 28 FEB, 2021 PG-12, YEAR—7, ISSUE—283 (RNI NO: WBENG / 2014 / 56803) WEATHER TODAY MAX 36 C MIN 23 C Sky will be partly cloudy. AT A GLANCE POLICE, ARMY FOIL MAOISTS TERROR PLOT, DEACTIVATE IEDS GAYA: A joint operation launched by the Bihar police and the Army averted a major terror attack planned by the Maoists near the Chakrabandha police station area in Naxalaffected Gaya district in Bihar. The security forces recovered and disabled 83 IEDs planted on the road. A police official on Saturday said an operation was carried out by the security forces against the Maoists on Friday in the border areas of Aurangabad and Gaya districts. As many as 83 landmines planted by the Maoists in the Chakrabandha forest across 150 metres were recovered which were later disabled. PUNE ODIS TO BE PLAYED WITHOUT SPECTATORS PUNE: The three-match ODI series between India and England in Pune will be played without spectators due to a spike in COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra, the state cricket association said on Saturday. The three matches are slated to be played at the MCA Stadium in Gahunje on the outskirts of the city on March 23, 26 and 28. "Keeping the seriousness of the current spike in COVID cases in Maharashtra, after inputs from the Hon'ble Chief Minister, it was decided that permission will be granted for these matches without spectators," the Maharashtra Cricket Association said in a media release. CORONA METER INDIA TOTAL CASES: 1,10,79,999 TOTAL DEATH: 156,976 WORLD TOTAL CASES: 113,671,973 TOTAL DEATH: 2,521,573 INDIAN WOMEN'S ODI, T20I TEAMS FOR SERIES VS SA NAMED SPORTS Morning India Use less plastic to make toys: PM tells industries Abhishek predicts BJP rout in Midnapore NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to the toy industries in the country to use less plastic to manufacture toys. Speaking after inaugurating the India Toy Fair 2021, the Prime Minister stressed on the need to use raw materials while making toys so that these can be recycled. "Today, I would also like to appeal to the toy manufacturers of the country to make toys that are better for both ecology and psychology. Can we try to use less plastic in toys? Use things that can recycle," Modi said. He said "our toys reflect reuse and recycling that has been a part of the Indian lifestyle". The Prime Minister said most Indian toys are built out of natural and eco-friendly material, and KOLKATA: “Assembly polls in Midnapore will be held in two parts and in two phases. Even then Suvendu Adhikari and his men are not going to gain anything. East and West Midnapore will see TMC’s victory in all seats”. This is what TMC youth wing president and the MP of Diamond Harbour Abhishek Banerjee claimed after the road show in Ghatal. He also warned that even if elections for 31 seats are held in 31 phases BJP will lose in all of the seats. Abhishek Banerjee participated in a grand road show in Ghatal on Saturday from Nimtolla More to Vivekananda More covering a distance of more than four kilometres. Tumultuous crowds welcomed him all along the route. Due to tremendous crowd, the road show went ahead at a snail’s pace. Overwhelmed by the presence of crowd Abhishek Banerjee said, “I took part in several rallies, road shows and programmes for the party. But today’s road show is the best in my political career. Alluding to Suvendu Adhikari’s claim, Abhishek Banerjee added that those who said that TMC will be blown away by 35-0 will spend sleepless nights. TMC youth wing president also took a dig at the schedule of the Assembly polls in Midnapore. Incidentally, Midnapore will be divided into two parts and the elections will be held in two phases. Abhishek Banerjee said, ‘All of you can see that how polls are going to be conducted in Midnapore. East Midnapore and West Midnapore were each divided into two parts. The only reason for this is to give undue advantage to a particular political party. I want to say that there are 16 seats in East Midnapore and West Midnapore has 15 seats which totals to 31 seats. Let the polls be held in 31 phases. Even then BJP will lose in all the seats. You are thinking that they will conduct the polls with the help of Central forces and outsiders? The polls will be conducted by the people, by the loyalists of Mamata Banerjee, Kanyasrees and Yubasrees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing at the inauguration of the India Toy Fair 2021, through video conferencing,, in New Delhi on Saturday. ANI the colours used in them are natural and safe. "Through such efforts, we aim to add momentum to the efforts of toy industry to grow further," Modi added. Noting that toys play a significant part in the development of a child's mind and also help improve psychomotor and cognitive skills in the children, the Prime Minister said the new national education policy incorporates play-based and activitybased education on a large scale. "This is such an education system in which children should be given logical and creative thinking through riddles and games, special attention is given to it." In his "Mann Ki Baat" address in August last year, the Prime Minister had said that toys not only augment activity, but also give flight to aspirations. Noting the importance of toys in the holistic development of a child, the Prime Minister has earlier also emphasized boosting toy manufacturing in India. The four-day fair, from February 27 to March 2, aims to bring together all stakeholders including buyers, sellers, students, teachers, and designers on a virtual platform to create sustainable linkages and encourage dialogue for the overall development of the industry. MORE ON PG 5 NITI Aayog proposes vax price between Rs 300-500 NEW DELHI: The NITI Aayog has promulgated a price range of Rs 300-500 for two Covid vaccines that would be available for the priority group at private facilities in the third phase of vaccination set to begin from March 1, sources privy to the development told IANS, adding that the Bharat Biotech's Covaxin would cost a bit higher. However, the union health ministry would take a final call on the proposition. The proposed price has been floated after a five-hour long meeting held between the Dr VK Paul, member (health), NITI Aayog and officials from Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech on Friday evening, which was concluded around 11 p.m., sources added. "This would be the price end-user would pay for a dose. It includes the service charge the private facilities can take from the beneficiaries," a top official said. IANS had reported earlier that private facilities will be able to collect a "service charge" of up to Rs 100 from the beneficiaries to meet the operational expenses they will be incurring during the vaccination drive against Covid-19. This will be in addition to the cost of the vaccines. As per reports, the government has been procuring HIGHLIGHTS As per reports, the government has been procuring SII's Covishield for around Rs 210 per dose while the cost of Covaxin is around Rs 290 for a shot. The third phase of vaccination will begin from March 1 and will cover 27 crore people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years of age with comorbidities at 10,000 government and over 20,000 private vaccination centres. SII's Covishield for around Rs 210 per dose while the cost of Covaxin is around Rs 290 for a shot. The third phase of vaccination will begin from March 1 and will cover 27 crore people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years of age with comorbidities at 10,000 government and over 20,000 private vaccination centres. The government has decided that the people will be vaccinated free of cost at the government hospitals, while those taking the shots at private hospitals will have to pay. COVID-19 VACCINE PRICE AT PRIVATE FACILITIES CAPPED AT RS 250 PER DOSE NEW DELHI: The price of the coronavirus vaccine at private facilities in the country has been capped at Rs 250 per dose which includes Rs 100 as service charge, according to central government sources. From March 1, India is going to start the vaccination of people above 60 years. PG 5 Sants carrying a flag to put on ahead of the Haridwar Maha Kumbh, in Haridwar on Saturday. CONG ‘GETTINGWEAKER’ G-23 leaders meet to ‘strengthen grand old party’ JAMMU: Senior Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Anand Sharma on Saturday stated that the G-23 or the group of 23 dissenting leaders are seeing the Congress party "getting weaker" and are raising their voice for the betterment of the party. "The truth is that we see Congress party getting weak. That is why we have gathered here. We had gathered together earlier too and we have to strengthen the party together," Sibal said at the 'Shanti Sammelan' event here. Anand Sharma who addressed the 'Shanti Sammelan' said that "Congress has weakened in the last decade." "Our voice is for the betterment of the party. It should be strengthened everywhere once again. The new generation should connect (to party). We have seen good days of Congress. We do not want to see it weakening as we become older," he said. Sibal and Sharma along with former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Raj Babbar and Vivek Tankha are among other Congress leaders who were present at the event organised by former Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Nabi Azad. Azad is the senior-most member among the 23 leaders, who had expressed dissent with the functioning of the Congress party and had written a letter to Sonia Gandhi in August last year. The 'Shanti Sammelan' event has been organised days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "North-South" remark, which has led to a controversy over the past few days. The event is being held at a time when Rahul Gandhi. Mamata, Sonowal, Pinarayi still favoured as CM NEW DELHI: Three incumbents -- Mamata Banerjee, Sarbananda Sonowal and Pinarayi Vijayan -- enjoy strong approval ratings as their respective states go to THE FOUR-DAY FAIR, FROM FEBRUARY 27 TO MARCH 2, AIMS TO BRING TOGETHER ALL STAKEHOLDERS INCLUDING BUYERS, SELLERS, STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND DESIGNERS ON A VIRTUAL PLATFORM TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE LINKAGES AND ENCOURAGE DIALOGUE FOR THE OVERALL DEVELOPMENT OF THE INDUSTRY. the polls. Of the five states going to the polls, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami is much behind M K Stalin of the DMK as CM choice while N Rangaswamy is leading the race in Puducherry. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata is much ahead of the pack with more than half or 54.5 per cent respondents in the IANS C Voter opinion poll wave 2 saying she is the most suitable candidate for CM. Dilip Ghosh, state BJP President comes second with 24.6 per cent of the vote. Similarly, Assam CM Sonowal is very popular with 43.3 per cent casting their vote in his favour followed by Gaurav Gogoi of the Congress with 26.4 per cent. Gaurav is the son of former Assam CM Tarun Gogoi who passed away recently. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan is headed for another win as 38.5 per cent respondents favoured him as CM followed by Oommen Chandy of the Congress with 27 per cent. In Tamil Nadu, M K Stalin of the DMK who has had a long wait to become Chief Minister is the favoured candidate with 39.4 per cent while Chief Minister E Palaniswami may be on his way out with 32.1 per cent giving him the nod. The star studded list in Tamil Nadu includes Sasikala, Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth. N Rangaswamy backed by the BJP and AIADMK is set to become Puducherry CM with 45.8 per cent favouring him with ousted Congress CM V Narayanasami getting approval of only 38.2 per cent.