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Govt rejects over 1.2 million deaths in India due to pollution

May 5, 2019

The Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Harsh Vardhan has rejected the recent global reports claiming over one million deaths in India due to air pollution. He said that such studies are only aimed at causing panic.

In an interview to PTI, the BJP leader said that his government is working hard to tackle the problem of pollution and has been supporting the AAP-led Delhi government in this direction. “We are doing our best to handle air pollution. The number of (achhe din) good days is consistently going up and bad days coming down,” he said.

“Regarding the high-profile data of millions of deaths, I do not agree with that because pollution can cause premature illness and other things. Pollution does affect health but to create such a panicky situation and say millions of people are dying, I do not agree with that,” Vardhan said.

A report by environment NGO Greenpeace recently stated that Delhi topped the list of most polluted cities in the world. The US-based Health Effects Institute report revealed that around 1.2 million people were killed in India in 2017 due to air pollution.

The Union minister highlighted the initiatives taken by the Centre and said aggressive campaigns have been organised in the national capital to handle pollution.

“You must be already aware of our National Clean Air Program (NCAP) which we started pro-actively and aggressively to improve air quality in 102 cities, where we found that consistently for five years, the PM 10 levels were beyond the desirable levels. PM is particulate matter, and 10 is diameter measurement.

The Union Minister is contesting the Lok Sabha polls from Chandni Chowk constituency in the national capital.

Double standards exposed: Jawan vs Modi, battle ends before it started

Rajesh Choudhary

May 3, 2019

When dismissed BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav had announced to fight elections against Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat last month, the gossiping began in the country that now hollow nationalism would be exposed. However, the fight between Jawan vs ended before it actually started. The opposition leaders have lashed out at PM Modi for this. It is being said that the rejection of his nomination papers is like a murder in womb.

District election officer of Varanasi, Surendra Singh said that Tej Bahadur is disqualified because he was dismissed by BSF in 2017. It is remarkable that a government employee dismissed from services within the last five years needs to produce a certificate from the Election Commission of India to certify that dismissal was not due to disloyalty to the country or corruption. He had not furnished this certificate while filing his nomination papers. Tej Bahadur Yadav had triggered controversy by uploading video in which he alleged poor quality food was being served to jawans. Former Border Security Force personal Tej Bahadur had filed nomination as an independent, but was later named by the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance as a candidate from the seat where the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking re-election.

Maharashtra AAP president Brigadier Sudhir Sawant said, “Tej Bahadur Yadav has rightfully pointed out the corruption prevailing in the army. Many army personnel have contested election but they were not asked to submit any certificate! Why was Tej Bahadur asked to submit certificate? Every Indian citizen has a right to contest election unless criminal charges have been proved against him/her. No criminal charges have been proved against Tej Bahadur. He was going to give a tough fight to PM Modi; hence, his nomination has been rejected.”

Earlier, the Samajwadi Party had announced Shalini Yadav as the Mahagathbandhan candidate from Varanasi. She also filed her nomination on Monday. Shalini Yadav was the Samajwadi Party’s first choice to contest the Varanasi seat against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She made a comeback in the poll race after the election officer rejected the nomination papers of Tej Bahadur Yadav.

Rashtriya Lok Dal MP Begum Tabassum Hasan said, “The Election Commission is working at the behest of the Modi government. It was a right step taken by a jawan to contest election but his nomination has been rejected. If Tej Bahadur had contested election, he could have defeated Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

On the other hand, Tej Bahadur Yadav said that his nomination has been rejected wrongly and he would go to the Supreme Court. The Samajwadi Party, which fielded him, said that the BJP should have faced a soldier, since they are seeking votes in the name of nationalism. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that when they are asking for votes in the name of nationalism, they should have faced a soldier. The people who dismissed him from his job because he complained about food, how can they be called real patriots?

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal also alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi got former Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav’s nomination cancelled as he was afraid to contest against him from the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat. “There will be fewer occasions in history when the jawans of a country are compelled to challenge their PM, but this is the first time in history that a PM has been so afraid of a jawan that instead of competing with him, he got his nomination cancelled on technical grounds. “Modi ji, you are very weak and the country’s jawan won,” Arvind Kejriwal tweeted.

On the other hand, BJP MP Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said, “The opposition doesn’t have any agenda and hence, they are raising Tej Bahadur Yadav’s issue. The Election Commission has rejected Tej Bahadur’s nomination and not the Modi government. A candidate has to submit his nomination to the Election Commission. If Tej Bahadur had contested election, there was no chance that he would have defeated PM Modi.”

At the same time when Tej Bahadur’s nomination got rejected, it seems ironical that 22.54 per cent of LS poll candidates have mentioned to have criminal records. It’s no new that the political parties don’t shy away from fielding candidates with criminal charges. The number of candidates with criminal charges contesting elections in a democratic country suggests that the crime wave is to stay in the Indian politics. The number of candidates who have disclosed criminal cases against them in five phases of elections add up to 1,370 of total 6,079 contestants. It means that 22.54 per cent candidates are tainted and have criminal records.

Congress spokesperson Akhilesh Singh said, “The Modi government is controlling all institutions including the Election Commission. However no action is being taken against him.”

Vote in the name of Jawan but not for Jawan?

Vaidehi Taman

May 3, 2019

Somewhere we are living with double standards. Our PM was asking all these for votes in the name of jawans and when a real jawan challenged him in his constituency his nomination was rejected in Varanasi. Tej Bahadur Yadav, who was fielded as Mahagathbandhan candidate from Varanasi, called Modi fake chowkidar and said, “I am being blocked from fighting elections as the nakli chowkidar (fake watchman) of the country is afraid of the asli (real) chowkidar. Now the question is whether a dismissed BSF jawan or any other person for that matter dismissed from Government Service is eligible to contest in the election or not? This is how Indian electoral system has been made a laughing stock by all earlier governments; there were no basic changes based on bad experiences. Even the enhanced security deposit has not curtailed the menace of non-serious independent candidates funded by politicians, and non-registered parties.

When Sadhvi’s nomination was accepted despite issues, stating the Returning officer has no control over some Acts. Let it be Tej Bahadur, Rahul Gandhi or Pragya Singh Thakur the Election Commission of India (EC) was very much a parasite. Now in Tej Bahadur’s case it allowed two nominations knowing the fact later on that they can invalidate one. Once Jaya could not contest as all her 3 nominations in 3 places (third one filed in haste in third city) were rejected without scrutiny of contents. Tej Bahadur Singh, the sincere, dedicated and honest jawan of BSF has been dismissed with just aim, to spread the message to all jawans in the BSF that, ‘whoever tries to expose corrupt BSF officers will either be dismissed/fired or killed in fake encounters. The former Director General of BSF E.N. Ram Mohan openly gave a statement before the camera after the terror attacks at IAF base, Pathankot that corruption in the BSF is rampant especially in the higher ranks. Corruption can only be possible in the higher ranks of the BSF. The lower ranks don’t have any kind of power especially, financial powers. The higher ups of the BSF are the most corrupt. The higher up means ranks starting from the DG or the Director General and downward – IG or Inspectors Generals, DIG or Dy Inspectors General and Commandants. These five ranks are the competent or flag ranks of the BSF who are the top brass and most corrupt.

Now come to the case of soldier Tej Bahadur Yadav, he has provided impeccable evidence and proof that food is sub-standard that is provided in the jawans’ Mess. The biggest joke of the era is not even one BSF Officer (corrupt BSF Officer) was found guilty or convicted for providing sub-standard food to jawans of the BSF. But, instead this sincere and honest jawan has been dismissed on lame grounds like owning 2 mobile phone devices when the SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) say that the jawans should not own more than one mobile device in operational areas like Kashmir valley. I remember even the names of corrupt BSF officers who I have seen taking and demanding bribe or to put in clear exact words, their share out of the smuggling profits. Commandant Amarjit Singh Sodhi of 54 Battalion, Assistant Commandant M.L. Arora, Deputy Commandant Mohinder Singh, Second-in-Command Wazir Chand and the list is really unending. All of them had directly indulged in smuggling and they openly mingled with smugglers at Bangladesh borders and made millions of rupees not by demanding bribe but by taking their share of money. Everything is open and this is a straight case of being a traitor to the country and the biggest offence that anyone can commit. But, these officers are all happily retired and are now enjoying their black money and also a wonderful time pension from the Government. Does this not sound like highly ridiculous?

It happens only in India. But, the sincere, honest and dedicated jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav got dismissed and the only reason behind this is to spread a message to everyone in the BSF and all other services/forces that anyone who tries to expose corrupt BSF officers will be dealt in the same way as Tej Bahadur. Looking at his credible efforts, the EC should come out with the answer in keeping with the Representation of Peoples Act; inter alia, other legal aspects. Earlier, Tej Bahadur Yadav alleged that the BJP was creating “roadblocks” in his nomination process to “prevent” him from contesting elections against Modi as they fear Modi will lose the election.

If there were any issues with the nominations, why wasn’t he informed earlier? Yadav’s counsel said that they would approach the Supreme Court over the rejection of his client’s nomination. Yadav was asked by the authorities to submit NOC (No-Objection Certificate) from the BSF as to on what grounds he was dismissed from the service. Predictors believe that the rejection of Tej Bahadur Yadav’s nomination will further consolidate Yadavs in favour of Mahagathbandhan as it is being perceived as an act of humiliation, unleashed to hurt their caste pride. Yadavs who form nearly 10% of the total population of the state will decisively vote against BJP, said an analyst. It is being viewed that the rejection of Tej Bahadur’s nomination will have a repercussion among younger Yadav voters who were drawn towards Modi and the BJP.

(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)

U.N. decision in line with our position

C K Subramaniam

May 3, 2019

Another feather in the cap of Prime Minister Narendra Modi but for whose tireless diplomatic efforts ably assisted by his team in the Indian government this would not have been possible. This news may not bring happiness to the Congress, not because Masood Azhar was designated as a global terrorist but because it has come in the midst of the general election when Congress is battling for its survival. India should be watchful of China which had to change its mind after stonewalling the efforts of the UNSC to brand Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

Now Hafiz Saeed’s turn to be designated a terrorist. The Pakistani Army trains these so-called terrorists in Abbottabad. That is where it hid Al Qaeda leaders who attacked America. The Navy Seals will be coming for Hafiz Saeed shortly. In the Mumbai attack 10 years ago, many American and Israeli citizens were also killed.

This is real-politic at work. All those in India who support a policy of acquiescing to China should note that even Chinese imperialism can be pushed back by sustained pressure and support from other quarters of the world. India should continue pushing hard against attempts by Pakistan and China to use terrorism for advancing state policy.

Great news, something the Indian government has been striving for relentlessly. The onus is on Pakistan to send him for trial at the ICC. The UN should push heavily for this. Let India remain complacent by this move. What should have been done years ago, has come just now. One doesn’t know what this scoundrel has done in all the time he and his protectors have done to carry on with his/their nefarious activities.

This is a big diplomatic win for PM Modi and BJP. They should win more than 400 seats now in these elections. If Congress could blame the Prime Minister for not getting Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist now it should give him the credit when he is designated as one. PM Modi is the best Prime Minister ever in India as he maintains good foreign relationship and goes a long way in bringing out the best.

This is a huge victory for India and PM Modi’s relentless pursuit against terrorism! I am sure every Indian will salute the efforts taken to achieve this goal.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Govt releases over Rs 1,000 cr for states affected by Cyclone Fani

Web Team

May 3, 2019

As informed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the central government has released Rs 1,000 crore in advance for the states affected by Cyclone Fani.

An extremely severe cyclonic storm hit Odisha on Friday morning; Prime Minister Modi while addressing an election rally for the fifth phase of the election said that his government is with the people in the times of crisis. He also said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the Indian Coast Guard, the Navy, and the Army were engaged in the relief works.

“Lakhs of families are affected by a cyclone in the coastal areas of Odisha, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and the Centre is in touch with the state governments. I got the latest update from officers some time ago and also held a detailed review meeting yesterday. More than Rs 1,000 crore have been released in advance,” Modi told the rally in Rajasthan’s Hindaun town, located in Karauli district.

“I want to assure the people of the cyclone-affected states that the entire country and the Centre are standing by the affected families and the state governments,” Modi said.

What category of slavery you belong to?

Afternoon Voice

May 3, 2019

Seeing the cultural and political situation of India, the examples of two people come to my mind right now which put the question in front you and ask ‘what category of slavery you belong to?’ At the same time, both these examples also point to the fact that those who consider themselves as the representatives of the society, do they really represent the society or just pretend to be so.

The first example of Malcolm X, who was an American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a popular figure during the civil rights movement in America said there were two types of slaves when slavery was there in America. On one hand, there was outsider group of slaves who were living in the field. They had to work 15 to 16 hours every day in the heat or cold. These slaves had no clothes, no shelter, no food and they would die of heat in summer, of cold in winter and by hunger they were always dying on a regular basis.

On the other hand, there was second group of slaves who were working inside the house. They had shelter to save themselves from heat and cold, they had used-clothes of their owner to wear, remaining food to eat. Both of these people were slaves, but if these two are compared then the slaves who were working inside the house were living somewhere a better life than the slaves working outside.

Whenever there was a fire inside the house, the outsider slaves would come running to the slaves who were working inside the house and told them to run away from there. But the slaves who were working inside the house would catch and tied to outsider slaves and told them to stop the fire of house and then start doing their work as usual.

In short, the slaves working inside the house never helped any of the slaves working outside and why should they help them or run away with them when they were already living a comfortable life?

The second example is of P. Sainath is an Indian journalist who is specialized in social and economic inequality, rural affairs, poverty and consequences of globalization in India said that there was a time when there was starvation, poverty, famine, unemployment, oppression and problem in every nook and corner of Rome. Farmers and common people were dying but there was no one to see their plight and remove the crisis.

After some time, Nero – one of the cruel kings of Rome realized that the problem of Rome has now increased from the poor and farmer to the working class. People have started looking into the problems and discussion was going on between people. However, to distract the focus of people from crisis, Nero organised a very big party which is considered as the biggest party in the history of Rome. In this party, he invited all the businessmen, traders, money lenders, royals, and middle class to elite class to have a good time and enjoy the wine, whiskey and night full of music and dance.

On one side, the entire Rome was burning, people were dying and on the other side these people were enjoying and celebrating the party which went on for many days. After some days, the firewood was finished and the night became dark as no firewood was left to fire and create light for the night. Everyone present there thought for a moment that how would they bright the area and enjoy the party in the dark.

After thinking for a while Nero and his men brought the social and political activists (who were fighting for the right of farmers and common citizen) banded them on pillars and blazed. Fire got created from their body, area became lit and they again started celebrating party.

Through this historical facts, P. Sainath asks a very good question that if we leave Nero for a moment that who Nero was, why was he is doing all this, then the question arises are, who were the guests of Nero, what were those people doing in that party when their country Rome was burning, when their people were starving and dying of hunger and thirst, why were they there in that party and what were they doing there?

How can you party when your country is burning, when your people are dying, how can you sit down comfortably, how can you leave the country and its people and talk about mango and guava, how can you become so senseless and emotionless, how can you become the guest of Nero, how can you celebrate with him, and if you are doing this destruction, this poverty, this pain and suffering of your countrymen then who are you?

You decide yourself that ‘what category of slavery you belong to and so does Akshay Kumar’? As far as Narendra Modi is concerned, he always likes to be treated like a king.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of AFTERNOON VOICE and AFTERNOON VOICE does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

Letters to the Editor: May 03, 2019

Web Team

May 3, 2019

Take back land given on lease for Ramlila

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) gave on lease a prime corner plot in Daryaganj (New Delhi) to Shri Ramlila Committee (Registered) exclusively for housing chariots taken out for 11 days in Navratra for the day-night daily procession. However, Ramlila-management, instead of developing a proper cemented structure for safe housing of chariots, has put up some galvanised iron-sheets that too only on some portion of the allotted land. A major portion of the leased land is being misused by Ramlila-management by inhabiting a family for residential and commercial use by also opening a shop in name of security.

Because of poor-most maintenance of the temporary tin-shades, one of the two main chariots with silver carvings and chairs has totally vanished, while the other main chariot in very bad shape requires a total overhaul.

DDA should cancel the lease in case Ramlila-management does not remove encroachment of residence and shop of a person on behest of Ramlila-management and ensures building a proper concrete structure for proper housing of chariots for which such a super-costly plot was given to Shri Ramlila Committee (Registered).

Madhu Agrawal

Impose one-time toll-tax at time of purchasing new vehicles

New highways and expressways are being regularly developed in different parts of the country. However, multiple numbers of toll-plazas at all these expressways and highways cause unnecessary hindrance in otherwise smooth fast traffic. Many unauthorised toll-plazas have also been set up in connivance with local politicians and police for unauthorisedly looting unaware public. There are reports that even authorised toll-plazas have to pay regularly to corrupt ones in the system.

Best is to replace toll-system by charging one-time toll-tax on purchase of new vehicles like system exists for charging one-time road-tax on purchase of new vehicles. All concerned including vehicle-users and transport-authorities welcomed system of a one-time payment of road-tax avoiding the cumbersome procedure of paying and collecting road-tax.

Amount collected through one-time toll-tax on purchase of new vehicles can then be utilised for developing and maintaining highways without necessitating toll-plazas as big hurdles causing queues at toll-plazas. One-time toll-tax can be fixed according to the ex-showroom price of new vehicles so that people having costly cars may have to contribute more than those purchasing economy cars. People paying extra clubbed with the cost of the new vehicle will never mind because of the facility of toll-free movement in the future.

Subhash Chandra Agrawal

Extend Tejas Express to Madgaon

The train No. 22119 / 22120 Mumbai CSMT – Karmali – Mumbai CSMT Tejas Express i.e. an air-conditioned semi-high speed train was introduced recently by Konkan Railway. As the train operates for five days a week, the service is very beneficial to many tourists heading to Goa from Mumbai and reaching the destination within a span of seven hours.

The train runs between Mumbai CSMT and Karmali near Madgaon in Goa. The Konkan Railway authorities should now consider extending this train up to Madgaon, as presently it causes an inconvenience to many passengers to reach Madgaon from Karmali. Though a facility for direct rail line connectivity to Madgaon already exists it is very ironical to note as to why Tejas Express terminates only at Karmali instead of Madgaon which is a major junction.

Many passengers who are mostly tourists intending to visit Goa through Madgaon are put a great inconvenience owing to this factor and causes further inconvenience, especially during peak holiday season during summer and year-end.

Hence, it is hereby requested to the concerned Konkan Railway authorities to consider the extension of 22119/22120 Mumbai CSMT – Karmali – Mumbai CSMT Tejas Express up to Madgaon Junction. The positive move will certainly benefit many passengers who also include tourists visiting Goa from Mumbai to alight directly at Madgaon itself.

Varun SD

Intelligence failure

The IED blast in Gadchiroli which resulted in the death of 16 Jawans was a result of intelligence failure. Naxals are active in the area and our intelligence should have been aware of the movement of anti-social activities more so during election times when the whole area should have been put on high alert. The lives of our jawans have become very cheap as people are more bothered about protecting politicians and bureaucrats than the Men In Uniform. Our jawans die an unsung death and after the initial media hype, the whole thing is forgotten until another blast takes place in the near future.

Border protection is critical but our govt must also be alert on internal security within the country and also the safety of our jawans who gets martyred due to poor intelligence and negligence. The Home Ministry should not take these events lightly and the failure of security, as well as intelligence, should be investigated at the topmost levels!

S.N.Kabra

Be cautious of traps

I fully agree with the statements of Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot what he expressed about the Modi government that the 2019 Lok Sabha elections are about saving democracy from dictators who are preaching nationalism as the history of the world stands for a testimony that every dictator in the world used nationalism for his benefits. PM Modi is following his footsteps by raising nationalism as the only issue. People should be cautious of this trap.

Md Azim

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

India slip to 5th spot in expanded ICC T20 team rankings

Web Team

May 3, 2019

India has dropped three places to fifth in the expanded men’s Twenty20 International team rankings while Pakistan has consolidated their top position.

The ICC on Friday unveiled an expanded T20I team rankings table with 80 teams who will now be able to gauge their progress in a format, recognised by the world body.

Pakistan, ICC T20 World Cup champions in 2009, are now on 286 points while the next four teams are within two points of each other — South Africa (262), England (261), Australia (261) and India (260).

South Africa and India have swapped positions two and five in the expanded table, whose launch coincides with the annual rankings update in which series results from 2015-16 are removed and outcomes from 2016-17 and 2017-18 are weighted at 50 per cent.

In other significant changes, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka have moved up one place each to seventh and eighth positions, respectively, with the West Indies going down to ninth position.

In what will be big news for their passionate fans, Nepal has moved from 14th to 11th position while Namibia has grabbed the 20th position.

Teams like Austria, Botswana, Luxembourg and Mozambique are among the sides figuring in the first men’s T20I ranking table that features all members meeting the criteria of having played six matches against other ICC members since May 2016.

Economic growth may have slowed in 2018-19: Finance Ministry

Web Team

May 3, 2019

The central government has said that the Indian economy appears to have slowed down in 2018-19 due to lower private consumption, tepid growth in fixed investment and muted exports.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO), which released the national account data for the third quarter, had in February revised downwards the growth estimate for 2018-19 fiscal to 7 per cent from 7.2 per cent. The 7 per cent growth is the lowest in 5 years. In its monthly economic report for March, the Finance Ministry said that monetary policy has attempted to provide a fillip to the growth impulse through cuts in repo rate and easing of bank liquidity.

According to a finance ministry, India’s economy appears to have slowed down slightly in 2018-19. The proximate factors responsible for this slowdown include declining growth of private consumption, tepid increase in fixed investment, and muted exports. The Ministry, however, said that India continues to remain the fastest growing major economy and is projected to grow faster in the coming years.

Talking of challenges, the Ministry highlighted that growth in agriculture sector needs to be reversed.

“The real effective exchange rate has appreciated in Q4 (January-March) of 2018-19 and could pose challenges to the revival of exports in the near future,” it said.

3 Killed as cyclone “Fani” hits Odisha

Web Team

May 3, 2019

Extremely severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ made landfall in Puri on Odisha coast Friday morning, triggering heavy rainfall coupled with high-velocity winds with speed of 175 kmph in vast areas. Two persons were killed in this natural calamity. PM Narendra Modi announced Rs. 1,000 crore relief package for cyclone-hit areas.

Large areas in the seaside pilgrim town of Puri and other places were submerged with water as heavy rains battered the entire coastal belt of the state. Several trees were uprooted and thatched structures destroyed at some places including Bhubaneswar.

“The cyclone entered the Odisha coast at Puri around 8 am and it took around three hours for the entire landfall process to be completed,” Director of Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, H R Biswas said. He said, “The cyclonic system, whose eye is around 28 km, is moving at around 30 kmph.”

Puri and neighbouring areas are experiencing wind with a speed of 175 kilometres per hour which may go up to 200 kmph. Under the impact of the cyclone, high velocity wind is sweeping across several coastal districts like Ganjam, Puri, Khurda and Gajapati, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said.

Nearly 11 lakh people have been evacuated from vulnerable and low-lying areas of at least 11 coastal district, he said, adding the evacuees have been accommodated in over 4,000 shelters, including 880 specially designed cyclone centres. No casualty has so far been reported from any part of the state, Sethi said adding the government is fully prepared to deal with any eventuality.

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