Bhagwant Mann Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Lokmarg

Taliban Advocating For Peace: Mann Attacks Previous Punjab Govt

By LokMarg 16th November 2022

Launching a scathing attack on the previous government, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said that those patronised criminals during their regime are now raising questions about the peace and harmony of the state.

He said that it is like “Taliban” is advocating for peace.
“Under their regime the jails break incidents occurred. In order to save the daughter’s honour, the police officer was shot in the market and they stepped on them and raised slogans in favour of their boss. They patronised gangsters and now, they question the peace and harmony of the state. It is just like the Taliban take out a candle march and advocate the peace,” Chief Minister wrote in a tweet in Punjabi apparently targeting Congress.

The Chief Minister said the state government is firmly committed to maintaining a law and order situation in Punjab and any anti-social element will not be allowed to disturb the hard-earned peace and communal harmony of the state at any cost.

He said that a few unfortunate incidents occurred in the state but still law and order is intact in Punjab under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

“The crime rate is extremely low in Punjab as compared to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other states of the country but still we are taking precautionary measures like cracking down on gun culture and reviewing gun licences issued recklessly by the previous governments so that the law and order situation remains intact,” the Chief Minister said. (ANI)

Delhi Air Quality Index 342,Very Poor Category

By LokMarg 31st October 2022

The air quality of the national capital remained ‘very poor’ as the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) calculated its quality index as 342 on Monday.

The Air Quality Index for the day has been marginally lower than the recorded AQI level of 350 on Sunday.
In the area near Delhi University, the AQI has been recorded as 372 under the ‘very poor category. Meanwhile, the SAFAR recorded it ‘very poor’ at 362 in the Lodhi Road area.

Meanwhile, the Pusa area was also under the ‘very poor’ category with an AQI level of 340.

The AQI at Mathura Road, IGI Airport Terminal 3, and IIT Delhi also felt ‘very poor quality of air with the levels at 358, 336, and 322.

Notably, the Air Quality level in Delhi was in the ‘very poor category on Sunday as well.

The air quality has been deteriorating in the national capital before Diwali, but it increased further as people burnt firecrackers here and because of the stubble burning in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan in the winter, its fumes and pollutants move across cities.

Stubble burning had turned worse across Punjab, giving no hope of improvement in Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) as the capital gasps for clean air.

Increasing incidents of stubble burning in Punjab this year have become a matter of serious concern with the Union Environment Ministry pointing out that the AQI is likely to sharply deteriorate as only about 45-50 percent of sown area in the state had been harvested till October 24.

Sources in the Environment Ministry had told ANI that the contribution of stubble burning to the adverse air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region has been increasing sharply and is about 18-20 percent currently with the trend only likely to increase further.

As per the Standard Protocol developed by ISRO for Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), for the period September 15, 2022, to October 26, 2022, total paddy residue burning events reported in Punjab were 7,036 compared to 6,463 for the same period during the last year.

CAQM further stated that about 70 percent of farm fires during the current paddy harvesting season were reported only from six districts namely Amritsar, Firozpur, Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Patiala, and Tarn Taran.

These districts account for 4,899 cases against a total of 7,036 incidents in Punjab. These traditional six hotspot districts also accounted for about 65 percent of the total burning incidents during the last year for the same period. Out of a total of 7,036 reported cases, 4,315 stubble-burning incidences were reported during the last six days alone i.e., about 61 percent.

As per the Standard ISRO Protocol, for the period of September 15 – October 28 this year, a total of 10,214 paddy residue burning events have been reported in Punjab compared to 7,648 for the same period during the last year, which is a significant increase of about 33.5 percent.

Out of the total 10,214 reported cases, 7,100 stubble-burning incidents were reported in the last 7 days alone which is about 69 percent, added the official.

While in Haryana, the total number of farm fire events reported for the period September 15, 2022, to October 26, 2022, is 1,495 compared to 2,010 for the same period last year. There is about a 26 percent reduction in paddy residue burning events in Haryana so far during the current year.

Meanwhile, Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas has intensified its efforts to ensure enforcement and compliance with its directions in view of deteriorating air quality in Delhi.

The Commission has issued closure directions to 45 coal-based industrial units in Rajasthan. Further, 32 coal-based units (9 in Haryana and 23 in UP) have been closed down permanently. 48 units (8 in Haryana and 40 in UP) have temporarily suspended their operations till these units are converted to approved fuels.

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) sub-committee decided to implement Stage III of GRAP in the entire NCR in a move to prevent further deterioration of air quality.

“Under this, all construction work will be banned except for special projects like Central Vista and other projects of national need,” read the official press release from Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas.

While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters during the meeting, the Commission noted that due to unfavorable meteorological conditions with slower wind speed and sudden spike in farm fire incidents, it is considered necessary to implement Stage III of GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR. (ANI)

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AAP Govt in Punjab is High on Showbiz, Low on Performance

By LokMarg 22nd October 2022

Mandeep Singh, an Advocate in Punjab High Court, says Bhagwant Mann Govt has lost much of its sheen after six months in office

The Aam Aadmi Party won Punjab assembly elections with a brute majority but it was the result of negative voting. Fed up with the alternate rule of Congress and Akali Dal, people of Punjab saw hope in the AAP as a new entrant. However, in just three months the credibility of AAP came to a ridiculous jolt when they lost the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-elections. This was a huge setback to AAP because Sangrur was considered as the party’s bastion. The seat was considered Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s is home turf.

I personally feel that the six-month old ruling party in Punjab indulges more in tom-tomming and show-off and has little to do with any change at the grassroots. Whatever they have done till date is cosmetic in nature. They are addressing the symptoms, not the cause.

AAP had promised to implement the Delhi Model in Punjab. What they do not know is that Punjab is a very complex state and nothing can be replicated here. Punjab is much larger than Delhi too and it has distinct issues that people take very sentimentally. For example, Arvind Kejriwal has compared Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain with Bhagat Singh. Now this may have repercussions here as people are not happy with the comparison.

CM Mann keeps photos of Dr. Ambedkar and Bhagat Singh in his office but he does not follow their thoughts. This is only for public posturing and a sort of defence. Otherwise he has completely surrendered to Arvind Kejriwal.

ALSO READ: ‘Punjab Will Not Forgive AAP if it Failed to Deliver’

Already the youth have started protesting against the AAP government as they did in previous governments. The CM’s house is gheraoed by protestors on various issues almost daily. The government has lost its credibility in just six months. But I don’t think there is any problem to Bhagwant Mann personally as long as he plays to Delhi’s tune.

One major threat to Punjab in my opinion is the emergence of communal fault lines. AAP is already playing on the communal divisions like Sikh versus Hindu, Dalit Sikh versus Jatt Sikh, Dalit vs Christians. Remember Kejriwal’s statement ahead of elections in Punjab that “Hindus and traders in Punjab are worried. They have fears about internal security”. Now we have more than 40 per cent Hindu population and 33 per cent Dalits too. If some sort of communal polarisation takes place in future, it would certainly benefit the BJP.

Although they have kept a few pre-election promises like free power up to 300 units, there is a catch to it. I discovered the other day that I have not been getting power bills since April. When I enquired about it I was handed over a bill that showed far less units than my household usually consume. When I mentioned this to power officials, there was no response. So I presume they are generating random bills. I am worried if I will get a huge bill in near future.

Since AAP has fulfilled a few promises so people are largely of the opinion to give them more time; basically wait and watch. Punjab electorate is politically aware. It neither voted by heart for AAP not is disheartened by its betrayals. It is keeping a close eye on political developments.

As told to Abhishek Srivastava

Punjab Govt To Regularise Another 28,000 Contractual Employees

By LokMarg 11th October 2022

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that the state government will soon complete the process of regularising the remaining 28,000 contractual employees in the state, said the Punjab government in a press release.

While addressing the newly recruited of PWD and PSPCL staff at the Municipal Bhawan, the Punjab CM said, “The entire process is being carried out legally for safeguarding the interests of these employees and soon they will get the good news.”
The Chief Minister said that the state government is committed to regularising the services of these employees. He said that services 8736 employees have already been regularised and the process of regularising that of others is in pipeline.

CM Mann said this would be completed very soon to secure the future of the remaining employees.

The CM further said that the previous government had made various appointments to ‘Group C’ and ‘Group D’ level posts on a contract and temporary basis. He said that some of such employees have now been put in a period of more than 10 years and had given their prime years of life in service to the state, the release stated.

Bhagwant Mann said that his government had realized it well that now at this stage, to relieve these employees or to replace them in this capacity in service with another set of people will be unjustified and improper, due to which this decision has been taken.

The Chief Minister said that his government is totally against the contractual system of employment as it is highly exploitative. He said that these employees have to work at very meagre rates due to which they have to suffer a lot.

Bhagwant Mann said that this has pushed the future of youth towards darkness adding that the need of the hour is to channel the unbounded energy of youth in a positive direction.

The Chief Minister further said that his government will soon complete the process of recruiting 2100 Assistant Lineman in the PSPCL. He said that this will provide employment opportunities to youth on one hand and ensure the best power services to people on the other.

Bhagwant Mann unequivocally said that the state government is laying a major thrust on filling all the vacant posts in several departments.

The Chief Minister said that ever since he assumed the charge of the office on March 16th, a major thrust has been laid on providing jobs to the youth. He said that till now 18543 youth had been given government jobs in the state.

Bhagwant Mann said that this month 2500 cops are being recruited in the Police department too, adding that his government is committed to eradicating the menace of unemployment from the state.

Congratulating the newly recruited youth, the Chief Minister said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction for him that instead of moving abroad these youth have preferred to serve their motherland. He said that now these youth have become integral parts of the government adding that now should serve the people with missionary zeal.

Bhagwant Mann expressed hope that the new recruits will use their pen to help the needy and underprivileged sections of society.

The Chief Minister further said that the industrial tycoons are giving affirmative responses to the investment-friendly policies of the state government. He said that Tata group is already making the biggest investment in the state near Ludhiana, after Jamshedpur.

He added that the globally acclaimed Verbio group has set up its massive Bio-CNG plant at Sangrur with a capacity of 33-ton consumption of paddy straw which will be dedicated to people on October 18.

Bhagwant Mann said that more such Agro processing units are being set up to supplement the income of the farmers.

The Chief Minister said that the state will get recognition at the international level as the G-20 summit is being held at the holy city of Amritsar in March 2023. He said that the state is fortunate to have got the opportunity to host this mega event in which deliberations will be held on Education by the leading countries from across the world.

Bhagwant Mann said that elaborate arrangements have to be put in place for making this global event a huge success.

In his address, Power and PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO also congratulated the new recruits and urged them to discharge their duty with utmost professional commitment and sincerity, the release further stated.

On the occasion, Principal Secretary PWD Anurag Verma, Principal Secretary Power Tejvir Singh, Chairman cum MD PSPCL Baldev Singh Sran, and others were also present. (ANI)

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Moose Wala Murder: Woman Who Helped Accused Deepak Tinu Escape, Held

By LokMarg 10th October 2022

In a major breakthrough, Punjab Police on Sunday arrested a woman accomplice of Deepak Tinu, an accused in the singer Sidhu Moose Wala murder case from Mumbai airport.

Acting on intelligence input, Punjab Police nabbed the woman while she was on her way to the Maldives.
Police said efforts to nab Tinu are underway.

According to Punjab Police, the woman had helped Deepak in escaping the custody of the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) from Mansa.

Deepak Tinu is an aide of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and is one of the main accused in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala. Tinu escaped from police custody in Mansa district last week.

Tinu managed to ditch Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) officials when he was being brought from Kapurthala Jail to Mansa on remand in a private vehicle Saturday night, police said.

“Tinu was being brought to Mansa’s CIA staff office from Kapurthala Jail when he escaped from custody. The accused had to be probed in connection with the Moose Wala murder case,” Mansa police said.

Moose Wala, 28, was shot dead on May 29 by unidentified assailants in Mansa, a day after the state government curtailed his security cover. The Punjabi singer was shot at point-blank range and was declared brought dead on arrival at the Mansa civil hospital.

The killers fired over 30 rounds at Moosewala, who was found slumped in the driver’s seat by locals.

The investigation suggested Lawrence Bishnoi was the mastermind of the daylight killing. His close aide Goldy Brar, who is said to be based in Canada, is also under investigation in this case. Police have issued a Red Corner Notice against Brar through Interpol.

Moose Wala had fought an election from Mansa in the last assembly election on a Congress ticket but was defeated by AAP’s Vijay Singla. (ANI)

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Punjab AIG Arrested By Vigilance Bureau

By LokMarg 6th October 2022

Ashish Kapoor, an Assistant Inspector General of Punjab Police was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau Punjab on Thursday in connection with allegations of unaccounted wealth.

The vigilance team had raided the officer’s house a few days back. The team had seized his phone, laptop, pen drive, and many other documents from his house.
The officer was finally arrested from his residence today. Further investigation is on in the case. (ANI)

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Bhagwant Grieves Over Murders Of Indian-Origin Family In US

By LokMarg 6th October 2022

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed condolences over the death of an Indian-origin family, who were found dead in California, a few days after they were abducted at gunpoint earlier this week in the US state.

In a Twitter post on Thursday, Mann also made an appeal to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to conduct a high-level inquiry into the death of the family who had origins in the state of Punjab.
“There was news of kidnapping and murder of four Indians in California, in which an 8-month-old girl has also been murdered. Very sad to hear this news. I share my grief with the families of the victims… and also appeal to the Union Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar to conduct a high-level inquiry into the matter,” CM Mann tweeted.

The Punjab CM’s request came shortly after Merced county police informed that the Indian-origin family, including an eight-month-old baby girl, were found dead in an orchard in California.

The bodies of four members of the family, who originally hail from Punjab in India were discovered lying close to each other by a farm worker in a remote orchard in Merced county, Sheriff Vern Warnke said on Wednesday.

“Tonight our worse fears have been confirmed,” the Sheriff said addressing a press conference. “We found four people from the kidnapping. They are in fact deceased,” Sheriff Vern Warnke said.

“The family (of the victims) have been notified. We have made arrangements through other contacts to try and get them,” he said. The police will process the scene of crime to determine the motive for the killings, he said.

The Sheriff described it as a “horribly senseless” act and said that the police did not know the “motivation yet.” “We have a whole family wiped out and for what? We don’t know yet,” he said.

36-year-old Jasdeep Singh, 27-year-old Jasleen Kaur, their eight-month-old child Aroohi Dheri, along with 39-year-old Amandeep Singh were abducted, police said.

The news of the missing family was reported on Monday after local authorities found the missing victims’ truck on fire in a rural area outside the Merced County.

A surveillance video that was released by the Twitter handle of the Merced County Sheriff’s office showed the suspect leading Jasdeep Singh who was carrying baby Aroohi in his arms into a truck and driving away. (ANI)

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Punjab Police SIT To Probe Escape of Moosewala Murder Accused

By LokMarg 4th October 2022

Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday constituted a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the escape of gangster Deepak Tinu from police custody in Mansa and to ensure an effective and speedy investigation.

The SIT comprises Inspector General of Police (IGP) Patiala range MS Chhina as Chairperson, while, three members include AIG Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Opinderjit Singh, SSP Mansa Gaurav Toora and DSP AGTF Bikramjeet Singh Brar. Station House Officer (SHO) Police Station City-1 Mansa shall offer complete assistance to the SIT, while, the SIT can also co-opt any other officer from Bathinda and Patiala Ranges for assistance.

DGP Gaurav Yadav apprised that investigations into this case are going on at full pace and several Police teams are on a manhunt to nab the escapee.

Adopting a proactive approach, Punjab Police immediately suspended and apprehended the errant Mansa CIA Incharge Pritpal Singh, and First Information Report (FIR) was registered against him for dereliction of duty. The accused cop was also dismissed from the service under article 311.

The DGP said, “The SIT will conduct a day-to-day investigation into this case and all persons against whom evidence comes on record will be arrested and a police report against them will be submitted in the concerned court of trial.”

Meanwhile, the SIT has been directed to conclude the investigation in an expeditious manner. (ANI)

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Akalis, Cong Finished In Punjab, People Fed Up With AAP: Capt

By LokMarg 1st October 2022

Exuding confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will come to power in Punjab, former Chief Minister and BJP leader Captain Amarinder Singh say that Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Congress are finished in Punjab and the people of the state are fed up with Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in six months.

Last month, Singh had joined the BJP and merged his party Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) with BJP.
Speaking to ANI, “I am very happy ever since I joined BJP and I feel that now BJP will rule all over India and in coming times in Punjab also because there is neither a leader in Congress nor leadership.”

Talking about the situation of the Congress party, the former Punjab CM said that it is very difficult for the grand old party to come out of the present condition in which they are in, because the Gandhi family wants “yes man”, even in the party presidential elections.

Amarinder Singh had floated the PLC last year after quitting Congress following his unceremonious exit as chief minister.

In September last year, Amarinder Singh had resigned from Congress ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections.

He stitched an alliance with the BJP that already had made SAD (Sanyukt) as its ally.

Former Chief Minister further said that BJP will form govt both in Punjab and the Center.

“Akali Dal and Congress are finished in Punjab and people are fed up with Aam Aadmi Party, so now BJP will rule in Punjab and together we will bring BJP power in Punjab and at the Centre,” said Singh.

It is pertinent to mention that Amarinder Singh failed to win polls from his home turf of Patiala Urban in Assembly polls. His party also failed to win even a single seat in the state assembly polls.

In six months of the government of Bhagwant Mann, he said that the APP government in Punjab has failed in all ways.

“I have been in politics for more than 50 years but I have not yet seen a government like this which has brought its confidence motion within six months. This shows that nothing good is going on within the government and this government has failed in all ways,” he added.

Further slamming the AAP government over the law and order situation, the former CM said, “Law and order are the responsibility of the state government. The government needs to crack down on the issue of Khalistan. Khalistan slogans weren’t raised during my tenure as I took strict steps. According to the Constitution, the state government has the right to keep its province safe. They are not doing anything.”

Attacking Pakistan for making attempts to create unrest in Pakistan, Singh targeted Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for faltering in dispensing his duties.

“Pakistan is engaged in sending drones and efforts are being made to spread unrest in Punjab. The Chief Minister is not able to give as much time as he should. The duty of running the government here was of Bhagwant Mann but he is not doing it,” Singh said.

“This is the duty of the Punjab government, it is the duty of Bhagwant Mann as law and order is state subject,” Singh added.

On the question of making Governor by the government, Singh said he would follow what BJP will ask him to do but he will not contest elections.

“I have been in the army since the beginning, so if the BJP government of India tells me I am ready to fight, but now I will not contest elections,” he said.

He also expressed happiness over the closure of the Twitter handle of Pakistan by the Central Government and said that it should have been done earlier.

The Twitter account of the Pakistani government has been taken down in India. “Account Withheld. @GovtofPakistan’s account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand,” a message in the page read.

“I want to congratulate the Government of India for this because Pakistan is always engaged in destabilizing India and Punjab,” he said.

Responding to his wife Preneet Kaur’s question, he said, “It is her wish that from which party she contests elections, but if she asks for my opinion, then I will advise her to fight from BJP.” (ANI)

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Jyotiraditya: Will Probe Bhagwant Mann Deplaning Incident

By LokMarg 20th September 2022

After a row over Punjab chief minister Bhagwant allegedly being deplaned on a Delhi-bound flight from Germany allegedly because he was inebriated, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday said he will investigate the matter and has sought a detailed report from Lufthansa Airlines.

On Monday, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal levelled serious allegations against Mann and asked him to clarify media reports of him being deplaned from a flight from Frankurt to Delhi on Sunday as he was “too drunk to walk” leading to a 4-hour delay in the flight.
Scindia on Tuesday said that he will investigate the matter based on the requests made to him.

“This was an incident on international soil, will have to make sure to verify the details and facts. It’s up to Lufthansa airlines to provide that data,” Scindia said.

India’s aviation ministry received details about Mann’s last-minute skipping of his Lufthansa Airways flight and on the basis of the details, the ministry decided to seek a report in detail from Lufthansa.

“Based on a request which has been sent to me… I will certainly look into the matter,” Scindia told mediapersons.

The Punjab chief minister was on a visit to Germany from September 11-18 to attract investments and strategic alliances in various sectors. Notably, Mann returned from his eight-day trip from Germany on Monday.

Lufthansa Airlines had, meanwhile, on Monday issued clarification regarding the 4-hour delay of its Delhi-Frankfurt flight.

According to Lufthansa News, Frankfurt to Delhi flight departed later than its scheduled time due to a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft change. “Our flight from Frankfurt to Delhi departed later than originally planned due to a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft change,” Lufthansa News tweeted replying to a user asking about the delay in the flight.

In another tweet by a user asking whether CM Bhagwant Mann was “drunk”, Lufthansa News tweeted that it can’t provide information regarding individual passengers due to data protection reasons. “For data protection reasons we do not provide any information regarding individual passengers,” Lufthansa News said in another tweet.

SAD’s Badal said: “Disturbing media reports quoting co-passengers say Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was deplaned from a Lufthansa flight as he was too drunk to walk. And it led to a 4-hour flight delay. He missed AAP’s national convention. These reports have embarrassed and shamed Punjabis all over the globe.”

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also dismissed the Badal’s charge that Mann was deplaned from the flight because he was inebriated and said that the Opposition doesn’t have issues to talk about and the Punjab Chief Minister had health problems.

Responding to the allegations, AAP leaders Kuldeep Dhaliwal and Meet Hayer held a joint press conference and said, “Anyone can have health issues. The Opposition does not have any issues to talk about. That is why they are highlighting this issue which is meaningless and fake.

“Earlier, Badal slammed the Punjab government over their silence on the issue and sought clarifications on the incident. He also asked AAP leaders, including party chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to come clean on the issue. “Shockingly, the Punjab government is mum over these reports involving their CM Bhagwant Mann. Arvind Kejriwal needs to come clean on this issue. The government of India must step into this, as it involves Punjabi and national pride. If he was deplaned, the government of India must raise the issue with its German counterpart,” he added.

Previously on August 31, a delegation, including SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, submitted a memorandum to Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit and demanded a CBI inquiry into the state excise policy alleging a scam in the policy. “There has been a scam in Punjab Excise Policy just like it happened in Delhi. Just like the Delhi LG has ordered an inquiry into the Excise Policy case, we demand a CBI inquiry along the same lines in Punjab,” said Badal. (ANI)

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