· mayor ss bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of...

16
T he month-long Winter Session of Parliament, the last of the 16th Lok Sabha, is set to commence on December 11 with the Modi Government wanting to give a final push to the passage of the controversial triple talaq Bill pending in the Rajya Sabha and score a “win- ner” before taking on the Opposition which is working on an anti-BJP alliance across the country. The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) on Tuesday night recommended convening of the Winter Session from December 11, 2018 to January 8, 2019. The Ram temple issue is expected to echo in the Winter Session with the BJP and the Opposition launching attack against each other. The Opposition would go all out to accuse the ruling party of communalising the politics on the eve of Lok Sabha polls which are only months away. BJP Rajya Sabha member Rakesh Sinha has said he may bring a private member Bill in the Upper House demanding the construction of the temple in Ayodhya. The BJP is hoping that the Bill may force the Opposition parties to take a stand on the sensitive issue. The Bill, if brought on the table, could also be put to vote. The Winter Session will start on the day (December 11) when the counting of votes is to commence for five State Assemblies with the BJP seek- ing a repeat mandate in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The results by the evening would create a political impact on the tempo of the Winter Session with the winner sure to dominate the proceedings in next one month. Much is at stake for the BJP and the Congress and other Opposition parties in the poll outcome of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram which may set the narrative for the general elections 2019 and could provide a definite sug- gestion to the political prowess of the either side. Triple talaq, which has been made a penal offence by the Government by way of promulgating an Ordinance, would again be tested finally on the floor of the Rajya Sabha where it has been pending after being passed in the Lok Sabha where the BJP has a thumping majority. The Government would also want the Indian Medical Council Amendment Ordinance and the Companies Amendment Ordinance to be passed as Bills in this session. The Winter Session will be the “last roar” of the Modi Government on the floor of Parliament with the Opposition parties likely to put a collective effort to puncture it and set their campaign agenda against the BJP. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, whose TDP has quit BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, has been touring various Opposition parties-led States to work out a common strategy against the Modi Government in the Lok Sabha poll. The Parliament session will test whether a “grand alliance Opposition parties” would speak in one voice on the floor of Parliament or would experience disarray on the eve of final electoral battle, next year. Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Vijay Goel said the session from December 11 to January 8 would have 20 working days. This would bring down curtain on the 16th long Lok Sabha where, for the first time, the BJP had a majority on its own. “We seek support and cooperation of all parties for the smooth functioning of Parliament during the session,” said Goel. The session was delayed this year due to the Assembly elections in five States. The onus of conducting Parliament session from the Government’s side would fall on Narendra Singh Tomar and Goel following the untimely demise of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar. T he Supreme Court on Wednesday said there is no question of a debate on the pricing of the Rafale fighter deal in the court till it comes to the conclusion that the pricing information is to be brought in the public domain. The court reserved its order on pleas seeking court monitored probe in procure- ment of 36 Rafale fighter jets. The Government refused to make public details related to the pricing of the 36 Rafale fighter jets in the Supreme Court, saying “our adversaries may get an advantage” by such a disclosure. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph concluded in nearly four hours the arguments advanced by various parties which have also sought regis- tration of FIR in connection with the alleged irregularities in the deal. India had signed a Government to Government contract with France in 2016 worth over 59,000 crore to buy 36 fighter Rafale jets in the fly-away condition. The apex court also said it is dealing with the require- ments of the Indian Air Force and would like to hear from an Air Force officer and “not the official of the Defence Ministry.” Deputy Chief of Air staff Air Marshal VR Chaudhari and two other officers from Indian Air Force appeared in the Supreme Court on Wednesday to assist it on the issue of the procurement. They told the court that no new air- craft has been inducted in the Air Force since 1985. On price issue, the SC said, “The decision we need to take is whether to bring the fact on pricing in public domain or not.” The Bench, also compris- ing Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph, told Attorney General KK Venugopal that there is no question of any debate on pric- ing without making the facts public. The Bench clarified that any discussion on price will be considered if it thinks the issue should enter the pub- lic domain. Venugopal defend- ed the secrecy clause relating to the pricing of the Rafale jets, saying adversaries may get an advantage if the entire details are disclosed. Refraining to divulge details on the pricing aspect, he said he would not be able to assist the court further on the pricing issue. “I decided not to peruse it myself as in a case of any leak, my office would be held responsible,” Venugopal said. The Bench then told him there is no question of any debate on pricing without making the facts public. He also said these matters are for experts to deal with. “We have been saying that even Parliament has not been told about the complete cost of the jets,” he said. At the exchange rate of November 2016, the cost of a fighter jet was 670 crore, he said. Continued on Page 4 A brief spell of rain on Tuesday night came to the rescue of the people residing in the national Capital as Delhi’s air quality improved “remark- ably” and the National Ambient Air Quality Index recorded the level of harmful pollutants as “lowest” of this season. The contribution from stubble burning to pollution was recorded at three per cent. From severe to poor, SAFAR’s trend marked air quality rela- tively good! However, the fore- cast said air quality may dete- riorate from Thursday. The major pollutant PM 10, which has remained above 410, was recorded at 280 on Wednesday, whereas PM 2.5 was significantly less on Air Quality Index (AQI) at 127. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF &CC), the overall average Air Quality Index was recorded at 312 microgram per cubic which was 642 on the very next day of Diwali. Citing the local climate trend, SAFAR said air quality has improved considerably due to rainfall early on Tuesday; it washed away bigger particles and created space for faster dis- persion without decline in tem- perature. “AQI is back to “very poor”. A slight increase in AQI is pre- dicted in next three days and likely to remain very poor,” SAFAR said. “This is mainly due to the fact that surface winds are still low and temperature is likely to cool down. Stubble fire is unlikely to impact Delhi AQI as fire counts are significantly down and winds are also flow- ing from other direction,” SAFAR explained on Met graph. The largest contributer to PM 2.5 pollution on Wednesday was power plants followed by diesel generators. Household pollution con- tributed 15.9 per cent. Meanwhile, air quality in neighbouring States of Delhi was better. The restriction imposed by on heavy vehicles’ entry to Delhi was lifted on Wednesday. W ith monkey menace pre- vailing in the corridors of power in New Delhi, including Parliament, ahead of the Winter Session, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has come out with a circular advising people not to make direct eye contact with monkey and do not cross the path between a mother and her infant. The Parliament House Complex, along with other nearby buildings, including the North and South Blocks and the Rashtrapati Bhavan around the Central Ridge forest, faces monkey menace. There is no official data on Delhi’s monkey population. The city has thousands of Rhesus Macaque monkeys that break into houses, terrorise people and steal food. The civic bodies estimated around 30,000-40,000 monkeys in the national Capital. Many people feed monkeys on Tuesdays and Saturdays — days associated with God Hanuman. This prac- tice means that people carrying food at other times risk being bitten. Around 90 per cent of the monkeys carry tuberculosis. The circular suggests: “In case a monkey collides with your vehicles (especially two wheelers), do not stop there. Do not get scared if a monkey makes a ‘kho-kho’ noise as nor- mally it is a bluff, ignore the monkey and walk away. Be light footed while passing through monkey group i.e do not run. Do not irritate or tease the monkey, leave them alone and they will leave you alone,” the circular said. It further suggests that one should not hit a monkey. Keep hitting the ground with a big stick to make monkey leave your house and garden. Officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) are clueless about tackling the problem as despite several advertisements none of langur walas came forward to catch monkeys. A few years ago, the MCD had tried to relocate the mon- keys caught from the Lutyens zone at the Aravalli hills. But the experiment failed as the simians grew in number and fanned out in search of fruits. Locals objected to the place being used for relocation as they faced animal attacks. In July, the Delhi Assembly had formed a five-member committee to find a solution to the menace of stray dogs and monkeys in many parts of the national Capital. Earlier, the House com- mittee of the Rajya Sabha, responsible for allotment and maintenance of its MPs’ accommodation, wanted to take a different approach to tackle the problem of monkeys and stray dogs. It had sought public opinion and experts’ views to prepare a report after “studying in detail” the issue. The monkey menace is not entirely a new experience for the MPs. In 2004, when Mani Shankar Aiyar became a Minister, he refused to go to his allotted bungalow on Kamaraj Marg as the unused accom- modation had become a night shelter for monkeys. In 2007, Delhi’s deputy Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys were eating his home- grown pumpkins. In 2016, a simian entered in the reading room of the Parliament meant for MPs and journalists and roamed around for half an hour. S ri Lanka’s Parliament on Wednesday passed a no- confidence motion against Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was installed by President Maithripala Sirisena in a controversial move, a day after the Supreme Court overturned the presi- dential decree to dissolve the House and hold snap polls on January 5. Amid raucous scenes, Parliament on Wednesday met for the first time since October 26 when President Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and installed Rajapaksa in his place and sus- pended the House, plunging the island nation into an unprece- dented constitutional crisis. Speaker Karu Jayasuriya announced that a majority of the 225-member Parliament supported the no-confidence motion against Rajapaksa, the 72-year-old former strongman, who ruled the country for a decade from 2005. “According to the voice, I recognise that the Government has no majority,” Jayasuriya announced in the House as Rajapaksa supporters protested. He gave the ruling after the no-confidence motion was taken for a vote. The Speaker calculated the votes based on the voices he heard. The passing of the no- confidence motion comes as a major blow to President Sirisena and a victory to oust- ed Prime Minister Wickremesinghe. The resolu- tion was moved by Left-wing Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna party leader Anura Kumara Dissanayaka and lawmaker Vijitha Herath. The Tamil National Alliance and smaller Muslim parties supported the no-con- fidence motion. Three newly sworn Cabinet Ministers and a state Minister also crossed over to the Opposition benches in support. Rajapaksa needed the support of a minimum of 113 lawmakers in the House to prove his majority. Continued on Page 4

Upload: others

Post on 18-Apr-2020

1 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

������������������� ������� �� �������������������������������� ��������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �����������!�������"��������������������������������"����������#��������!��$

��������������������������������������% &�������������'�(������������� �)*+����������,�����������������������������-�����.+� �����������.�����(����������� ��������/��������$

������ ����� � ���������� ����������������% ���"&����/������������������� ������ ���������0+�����������������������-�������0�0.������������������������������������������������������� �������� �� ���� � �������������������� ���������������������&�������������������������������$ �!

��"#�����#�$��� �����#$%���������

&��'&�()*'�&�'1�����#�0����������!�230.�&&&0-4���/����������������������(�������������������������������������������������������!���045���������������������������������������������������������������������������"����6�������*�����7�8�����$ �+

� ������� ��� "6/�-62 &

The month-long WinterSession of Parliament, the

last of the 16th Lok Sabha, is setto commence on December 11with the Modi Governmentwanting to give a final push tothe passage of the controversialtriple talaq Bill pending in theRajya Sabha and score a “win-ner” before taking on theOpposition which is workingon an anti-BJP alliance acrossthe country. The CabinetCommittee on ParliamentaryAffairs (CCPA) on Tuesdaynight recommended conveningof the Winter Session fromDecember 11, 2018 to January8, 2019.

The Ram temple issue isexpected to echo in the WinterSession with the BJP and theOpposition launching attackagainst each other. TheOpposition would go all out toaccuse the ruling party ofcommunalising the politics onthe eve of Lok Sabha pollswhich are only months away.

BJP Rajya Sabha memberRakesh Sinha has said he maybring a private member Bill inthe Upper House demandingthe construction of the templein Ayodhya. The BJP is hopingthat the Bill may force theOpposition parties to take astand on the sensitive issue.The Bill, if brought on the table,could also be put to vote.

The Winter Session willstart on the day (December 11)when the counting of votes isto commence for five State

Assemblies with the BJP seek-ing a repeat mandate inMadhya Pradesh, Rajasthanand Chhattisgarh. The resultsby the evening would create apolitical impact on the tempoof the Winter Session with thewinner sure to dominate theproceedings in next onemonth.

Much is at stake for the BJPand the Congress and otherOpposition parties in the polloutcome of Madhya Pradesh,Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh,Telangana and Mizoram whichmay set the narrative for thegeneral elections 2019 andcould provide a definite sug-gestion to the political prowess

of the either side. Triple talaq, which has

been made a penal offence bythe Government by way ofpromulgating an Ordinance,would again be tested finally onthe floor of the Rajya Sabhawhere it has been pendingafter being passed in the LokSabha where the BJP has athumping majority.

The Government wouldalso want the Indian MedicalCouncil AmendmentOrdinance and the CompaniesAmendment Ordinance to bepassed as Bills in this session.

The Winter Session will bethe “last roar” of the ModiGovernment on the floor of

Parliament with the Oppositionparties likely to put a collectiveeffort to puncture it and settheir campaign agenda againstthe BJP.

Andhra Pradesh ChiefMinister Chandrababu Naidu,whose TDP has quit BJP-ledNational Democratic Alliance,has been touring variousOpposition parties-led States towork out a common strategyagainst the Modi Governmentin the Lok Sabha poll. TheParliament session will testwhether a “grand allianceOpposition parties” wouldspeak in one voice on the floorof Parliament or would experience disarray on the eveof final electoral battle, nextyear.

Minister of State forParliamentary Affairs VijayGoel said the session fromDecember 11 to January 8would have 20 working days.This would bring down curtainon the 16th long Lok Sabhawhere, for the first time, theBJP had a majority on its own.

“We seek support andcooperation of all parties forthe smooth functioning ofParliament during the session,”said Goel.

The session was delayedthis year due to the Assemblyelections in five States.

The onus of conductingParliament session from theGovernment’s side would fallon Narendra Singh Tomar andGoel following the untimelydemise of Parliamentary AffairsMinister Ananth Kumar.

��� "6/�-62 &

The Supreme Court onWednesday said there is no

question of a debate on thepricing of the Rafale fighterdeal in the court till it comes tothe conclusion that the pricinginformation is to be brought inthe public domain.

The court reserved itsorder on pleas seeking courtmonitored probe in procure-ment of 36 Rafale fighter jets.The Government refused tomake public details related tothe pricing of the 36 Rafalefighter jets in the SupremeCourt, saying “our adversariesmay get an advantage” by sucha disclosure.

A Bench comprising ChiefJustice Ranjan Gogoi andJustices SK Kaul and KMJoseph concluded in nearlyfour hours the argumentsadvanced by various partieswhich have also sought regis-tration of FIR in connectionwith the alleged irregularities inthe deal.

India had signed aGovernment to Governmentcontract with France in 2016worth over �59,000 crore tobuy 36 fighter Rafale jets in thefly-away condition.

The apex court also said itis dealing with the require-ments of the Indian Air Forceand would like to hear from an

Air Force officer and “not theofficial of the DefenceMinistry.”

Deputy Chief of Air staffAir Marshal VR Chaudhariand two other officers fromIndian Air Force appeared inthe Supreme Court onWednesday to assist it on theissue of the procurement. Theytold the court that no new air-craft has been inducted in theAir Force since 1985.

On price issue, the SC said,“The decision we need to takeis whether to bring the fact onpricing in public domain ornot.”

The Bench, also compris-ing Justices SK Kaul and KMJoseph, told Attorney GeneralKK Venugopal that there is noquestion of any debate on pric-ing without making the factspublic. The Bench clarifiedthat any discussion on pricewill be considered if it thinksthe issue should enter the pub-

lic domain. Venugopal defend-ed the secrecy clause relating tothe pricing of the Rafale jets,saying adversaries may get anadvantage if the entire detailsare disclosed. Refraining todivulge details on the pricingaspect, he said he would not beable to assist the court furtheron the pricing issue.

“I decided not to peruse itmyself as in a case of any leak,my office would be heldresponsible,” Venugopal said.The Bench then told him thereis no question of any debate onpricing without making thefacts public.

He also said these mattersare for experts to deal with.“We have been saying thateven Parliament has not beentold about the complete cost ofthe jets,” he said. At theexchange rate of November2016, the cost of a fighter jetwas �670 crore, he said.

Continued on Page 4

��������� "6/�-62 &

Abrief spell of rain onTuesday night came to the

rescue of the people residing inthe national Capital as Delhi’sair quality improved “remark-ably” and the National AmbientAir Quality Index recorded thelevel of harmful pollutants as“lowest” of this season.

The contribution fromstubble burning to pollutionwas recorded at three per cent.From severe to poor, SAFAR’strend marked air quality rela-tively good! However, the fore-cast said air quality may dete-riorate from Thursday.

The major pollutant PM10, which has remained above410, was recorded at 280 onWednesday, whereas PM 2.5was significantly less on AirQuality Index (AQI) at 127.

According to the CentralPollution Control Board(CPCB), Ministry ofEnvironment, Forest andClimate Change (MoEF &CC),the overall average Air QualityIndex was recorded at 312microgram per cubic whichwas 642 on the very next day

of Diwali. Citing the local climate

trend, SAFAR said air qualityhas improved considerably dueto rainfall early on Tuesday; itwashed away bigger particlesand created space for faster dis-persion without decline in tem-perature.

“AQI is back to “very poor”.A slight increase in AQI is pre-dicted in next three days andlikely to remain very poor,”SAFAR said.

“This is mainly due to thefact that surface winds are stilllow and temperature is likely tocool down. Stubble fire is

unlikely to impact Delhi AQIas fire counts are significantlydown and winds are also flow-ing from other direction,”SAFAR explained on Metgraph.

The largest contributer toPM 2.5 pollution onWednesday was power plantsfollowed by diesel generators.Household pollution con-tributed 15.9 per cent.

Meanwhile, air quality inneighbouring States of Delhiwas better.

The restriction imposedby on heavy vehicles’ entry toDelhi was lifted on Wednesday.

��� ������� "6/�-62 &

With monkey menace pre-vailing in the corridors of

power in New Delhi, includingParliament, ahead of theWinter Session, the Lok SabhaSecretariat has come out witha circular advising people notto make direct eye contactwith monkey and do not crossthe path between a mother andher infant.

The Parliament HouseComplex, along with othernearby buildings, including theNorth and South Blocks andthe Rashtrapati Bhavan aroundthe Central Ridge forest, facesmonkey menace. There is noofficial data on Delhi’s monkeypopulation.

The city has thousands ofRhesus Macaque monkeys thatbreak into houses, terrorisepeople and steal food. The

civic bodies estimated around30,000-40,000 monkeys in thenational Capital. Many peoplefeed monkeys on Tuesdays andSaturdays — days associatedwith God Hanuman. This prac-tice means that people carrying

food at other times risk beingbitten. Around 90 per cent ofthe monkeys carry tuberculosis.

The circular suggests: “Incase a monkey collides withyour vehicles (especially two

wheelers), do not stop there.Do not get scared if a monkeymakes a ‘kho-kho’ noise as nor-mally it is a bluff, ignore themonkey and walk away. Belight footed while passingthrough monkey group i.e do

not run. Do not irritate or teasethe monkey, leave them aloneand they will leave you alone,”the circular said.

It further suggests that oneshould not hit a monkey. Keephitting the ground with a bigstick to make monkey leaveyour house and garden.

Officials of the MunicipalCorporation of Delhi (MCD)are clueless about tackling theproblem as despite severaladvertisements none of langur

walas came forward to catchmonkeys.

A few years ago, the MCDhad tried to relocate the mon-keys caught from the Lutyenszone at the Aravalli hills. Butthe experiment failed as thesimians grew in number andfanned out in search of fruits.Locals objected to the placebeing used for relocation asthey faced animal attacks.

In July, the Delhi Assemblyhad formed a five-membercommittee to find a solution tothe menace of stray dogs andmonkeys in many parts of thenational Capital.

Earlier, the House com-mittee of the Rajya Sabha,responsible for allotment andmaintenance of its MPs’accommodation, wanted totake a different approach totackle the problem of monkeysand stray dogs. It had sought

public opinion and experts’views to prepare a report after“studying in detail” the issue.

The monkey menace isnot entirely a new experiencefor the MPs. In 2004, whenMani Shankar Aiyar became aMinister, he refused to go to hisallotted bungalow on KamarajMarg as the unused accom-modation had become a nightshelter for monkeys.

In 2007, Delhi’s deputyMayor SS Bajwa died of headinjuries after falling from histerrace due to attack by agroup of monkeys. In 2012,then Finance Minister PranabMukherjee once lamented thatmonkeys were eating his home-grown pumpkins.

In 2016, a simian enteredin the reading room of theParliament meant for MPs andjournalists and roamed aroundfor half an hour.

�������������������� ������������������� ��������������

������������������������������������� �������� �121.)1

Sri Lanka’s Parliament onWednesday passed a no-

confidence motion againstPrime Minister MahindaRajapaksa, who was installedby President MaithripalaSirisena in a controversialmove, a day after the SupremeCourt overturned the presi-dential decree to dissolve theHouse and hold snap polls onJanuary 5.

Amid raucous scenes,Parliament on Wednesday metfor the first time since October26 when President Sirisenasacked Prime Minister RanilWickremesinghe and installedRajapaksa in his place and sus-pended the House, plunging theisland nation into an unprece-dented constitutional crisis.

Speaker Karu Jayasuriyaannounced that a majority ofthe 225-member Parliamentsupported the no-confidencemotion against Rajapaksa, the72-year-old former strongman,who ruled the country for adecade from 2005. “Accordingto the voice, I recognise that theGovernment has no majority,”Jayasuriya announced in theHouse as Rajapaksa supportersprotested.

He gave the ruling after theno-confidence motion wastaken for a vote. The Speakercalculated the votes based onthe voices he heard.

The passing of the no-confidence motion comes as amajor blow to PresidentSirisena and a victory to oust-ed Prime MinisterWickremesinghe. The resolu-tion was moved by Left-wingJanatha Vimukthi Peramunaparty leader Anura KumaraDissanayaka and lawmakerVijitha Herath.

The Tamil NationalAlliance and smaller Muslimparties supported the no-con-fidence motion. Three newlysworn Cabinet Ministers and astate Minister also crossed overto the Opposition benches insupport. Rajapaksa needed thesupport of a minimum of 113lawmakers in the House toprove his majority.

Continued on Page 4

��������������� ������������������������ ������

����������� ������������������������������������������������������ �������������������� ������������������� ������������������������������ � �������� !"#

����������� ���������$������������������ ����� ����������� ���

� ������������������������+���������������������������������� ��������������#���� �������/�������������������-�������99���*�������:��4;95

� ���'��������������������,������������������/��������������������)*+��������1���������������� �������� �������������

� �����������<��������������������������������������!�#������������������������ ���� ����1���������������� ���������������������������������������'�(�������

%�&��� ���������������'�(������������������������ ��% ���� �������������)��!���) ��������������������������������%��$������ ����*��� �� � ���)���� ������#������ � ��������+�"�������������������%��$������ ������)����������� ������������������� ��������,�����% ����������-���� ���������������������� ������������� ������������� ����� �������( ��� ������������������.*����� �!

������� ������ ��� ����������������� ���� ���� �������������� �

�!�����"������"��������������������� ���������)(',�'

�-&�*'&�'*�'.-)/�)0*��*�'-�&-0�'&

'12�.�345�)5��3)**)/'(�1�&�-*�6�-)3*'-*��*�/)3(�6'311)3)*-&)..*��5'*�,�*���3'/)*��&'31��&�37'3*

��������������� !"������������ �#����

=��-����+������ �������$��>������������$����%�����&

��'�(� )?6-6'6'���-*1813&�/&"�&"���+�?&"�2�

������������ ��������������� ���������� ���������������� ����!"���#$%���

��������� ������������������ ������

����������� ���������������������������������

@2�������� ")�84:��..0� A9B@��������� ��6,����������������

.*',��.��19:;+

!"��#$��% !&��

��*'���� +

)C-6� �'6�-D�?1''1 &"!D��'6+��'&��&1"

'�,-,'-�. �..6'��"-�

�1"!���++'1��

���������� ����������������������

����� ���$��>������������>

� �� ���<������ ��" �� �9!<$=9:>��� 9;�?

Page 2:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

����������'�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1

����������� ������ ����������������� ������������������������������������� �� �� �����!��"����#��� $����%&&'''(� �����)'&&%*'&&'*++���,,��������-�����).%/&�!��������-0$1����,�����#�%('&/'&�2��������)'&('%*3453''6*3455''����������7#����8�������$(&'�(&&!�����%�/�����92���:�;�����)����������10<!2<�=1<�;��� (�'';��)������������)���>���)��, �61�,�� �!����)��#����6�������������)��?��������8�� -�����)*��.�����!��!������#�������.�@ �<������8�� %((�'&��A���������)'+((%(/*�**/�(/*�***�(/*�**+�

���������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������� ��������������� �� ���������������������������������������������������������� ������������ ����� ��������������� ��������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �������� �!����������������"���������� ���������������������������� �������������������� ���� ��������������������������������� �����������������������������#��������������������������� ���� ����$����%����&�������������������������� ��������������� �����������������������'����������������������������������� ���������������"��������������������(�����������������������������

�� ����

����� ���� �� "6/�-62 &

Delhi Commissioner ofPolice (CP) Amulya

Patnaik launched “NIPUN”the e-Learning portal of DelhiPolice on Wednesday. Throughthis initiative, the Delhi Policeshall be using advanced tech-nology in imparting in-servicetraining to its personnel.

“The portal aims at givingonline training and informationthrough specialised coursesdesigned by experts in the field.With online resource like law,standing orders, investigationchecklists, forms for case files,latest High Court and SupremeCourt rulings being made avail-able online, it is envisioned thatthe investigating officers (IOs)will be able to take the benefit ofthis information during thecourse of their duty,” said SumanNalwa, Deputy Commissionerof Police (DCP), Training.

Patnaik applauded theefforts of ‘Training Unit’ in

using technology to reach out toa large number of police per-sonnel which is essential toupdate and keep up with thechanges in law. Further, theinfrastructure development tocater to training of a large batchof seven thousand constables ina very short span of time wasappreciated.

The CP also launched web-site for 'Training Division' ofDelhi Police which aimed atfacilitating information sharingbetween the faculty and thetrainees at the Police TrainingInstitutes of Delhi Police. Thewebsite provides the training syl-labus, study material, samplequestion papers, manuals, lawand much more.

"With more such courses,we shall be able to take 'Yoga' toour police stations for the per-sonnel at the grass root levelwhich shall not only improveproductivity but also keep themmentally and physically fit," saidthe CP.

����� ���� �� "6/�-62 &

An 18-year-old internationalathlete allegedly commit-

ted suicide by hanging himselffrom a ceiling fan in his hostelroom at Jawaharlal NehruStadium on Tuesday evening.The deceased, PalenderChaudhary, hailed from Aligarhin Uttar Pradesh and had repre-sented India in 100 and 200 Mraces at international level.

He also took part in theYouth Asia Athletic meet inBangkok in 2017 where he wonGold in relay. He also partici-pated in the World YouthChampionship last July.

As per a senior police offi-cial, they were informed about

the case at 9 pm on Tuesday bySafdarjung Hospital.

“Chaudhary was admittedto the hospital in an unconsciousstate by Coach HarkamaljeetSingh. He has been residing inJawaharlal Nehru hostel in sta-dium since November 2016 andwas undergoing training for100 and 200 meter race,” said thepolice official.

“We knew that Chaudharyhanged himself with the help ofa crepe bandage in presence ofhis sister. He was soon rushed bythe coach and other guards tothe medical centre of JawaharlalNehru Stadium. After givinghim first aid, he was taken toSafdarjung hospital for furthertreatment where doctors

declared him dead onWednesday morning," said thepolice official.

“No suicide note has beenrecovered, police said, addingthe reason behind taking suchan extreme step is being probed.Chaudhary’s father Mahesh Palhas arrived from Agra,” thesenior police official added.

Chaudhary had recentlygot enrolled in the Indian Armythrough sports quota and wasset to leave for training.

������������ ���������� �����

Though the police are prob-ing the matter following the

death of a young athlete on JLNstadium campus, SportsAuthority of India (SAI) hasordered a departmental inquiryin the incident.

“We have ordered a depart-mental inquiry as the incidenthappened in our premises. Theinquiry will be headed bySecretary SAI Swarn SinghChabra and it should be com-

pleted within a week,” saidNeelam Kapur, SAI DirectorGeneral.

Kapur said, “The enquiryofficer will speak to all concernedpeople-coaches, other athletesand his family members, espe-cially his sister who had come tovisit him that evening, to under-stand what may have led him totake this extreme step. This is avery sad turn of events and we areextending all support to the fam-ily. Arrangements are being madeto send the body to Aligarh.”

“Preliminary investigationshowed that the reason behindsuicide was monetary issue. OnTuesday morning, Palender hadan argument with his father onphone over money. His sister also

came to meet him in the eveningon Tuesday. He took the step infront of his sister after threaten-ing her. She came out screamingand our staff immediately wentthere and brought him down,”said Kapur.

However Mahesh PalChaudhary, Palender’s fathersaid that Palender neededmoney. “I had assured him thatI will give him the money butdon't know what happened tohim,” said an inconsolabaleMahesh Pal.

“Everyone on the campusincluding his roommate at JLNstadium were completely sur-prised as the entire day he trainedand showed no signs of depres-sion,” said an SAI official.

�������� "6/�-62 &

As the 38th installment ofIndia International Trade

Fair (IITF)-2018 commencedin Delhi’s Pragati Maidan onWednesday with the theme‘Rural Enterprises in India’, theofficials say that the themecommemorates the 150th birthyear of Mahatma Gandhi.

“The theme is relevant asIndia celebrated 150th birthanniversary of Mahatma Gandhithis year. This theme also jellswith PM Modi’s vision of dou-bling the income of agriculturecommunity by 2022,” said SanjayVashistha, Manager (PR), IndiaTrade Promotion Organisation.

As one enters Hall-7 ofKhadi India, a statue of MahatmaGandhi is what catches one’s eye.

Written above are the words,‘Selfie with Gandhiji’. The statueis once again the main attraction,said other official.

The theme has beendepicted in various states pavil-ions but in the main pavilion atHall-7, there is a 'theme pavil-ion', Vashistha added.

Hall-7 is totally devoted toMinistry of Micro Small andMedium Enterprises, CAPART,Ministry of Social Justice,Ministry of Minority Affairs,Khadi and Village IndustriesCommission, Department ofarea Industrial Policy &Promotion, National JuteBoards, TRIFED etc.

Apart from that, the foreignparticipants have been givenHall-9 and 10. "This year, par-ticipants from 16 countrieshave come who will be sellingstuff to people in Hall-9 and10," Vashistha added.

As per the some officials,this year, the fair has beenorganised in just 20 per cent ofthe total area due to some on-going construction work. Thisyear, the partner country isAfghanistan while the focuscountry is Nepal. Also, thefocus State this time isJharkhand.

“Due to some constructionwork, the size of the fair has beenreduced. As far as the footfall isconcerned, the initial four daysbeing business days will not seemany footfalls but people are stillshowing interest in the fair,”said a senior official. The fair willbe fully opened for public viewfrom Sunday, Vashistha said.

������ ! �E&�)�-

The Ghaziabad resident wel-fare association has sought

a penalty on multinationalContinental Carbon (India)Ltd (CCIL) for forcing residentsto inhale toxic gases such asnitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxideand particulate matter.

The chairman of GhaziabadRWA, Colonel (Rtd) TejandraPal Singh Tyagi, said that the airpollution emitted by CCIL is sointense that the window panesand even surrounding pathwayshave turned black. “The arter-ies adjoining CCIL are almostcovered with carbon particles,”he said.

He also said that approx200 labourers could be seenevery evening coming out fromthe factory with deposition ofblack carbon on their face. Wehave decided to claim damagesfrom CCIL for the inhabitantsliving areas around Vijay Nagar

and Ghaziabad. Tyagi, further, said that the

firm manufactures a fine car-bonaceous powder that is used intires, plastics, rubber, inkjet tonerand cosmetics. "Producing suchproduct creates large amounts ofnitrogen oxide and particulatematter of sulfur dioxide which ismore than thirty times thinnerthan the human hair," he said.

PM 2.5 gets accumulatedin the lungs thereby reducingthe lung capacity by 44 % tothe school going children inDelhi. Considering the situa-tion, an immediate action isneeded to save the residents,he demanded.

Additional DistrictMagistrate (City) HimanshuGautam said that the firm hasclosed its operation temporar-ily by an executive order. "Therequest for permanent closureof operation and compensationwould be decided at theGovernment level," he said.

,���������������#�����#��/���� (/$��������������)�������� ��#*� ����)��������� 0�-

������������� �����!�"�#��!$���%����"���"��

�����! ��-�� ������ �����������!�����)�����-���1�#!2�3��.*��������"�������!���� ������������� ��-��"�������� �$����� �� �������� ���&���������4�!� ����

#$%�&&'(����������� �%���

Page 3:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

����������'�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1 �� ����

�� ���������� "6/�-62 &

The much awaited 9.7 kmLajpat Nagar to Mayur

Vihar section of the PinkCorridor is going to open byDecember this year. This sec-tion will be the first in DelhiMetro to provide a direct con-nectivity between South andEast Delhi by connecting LajpatNagar to Mayur pocket-I withan interchange at Mayur Phase-I for Blue Line. Currently, thePink Line provides connectiv-ity from Majlis Park to LajpatNagar and from Trilokpuri toShiv Vihar.

This stretch is the exten-sion of the operational MaljisPark-Lajpat Nagar section.“Trial runs are in progress ona 9.7-km stretch betweenLajpat Nagar and Mayur ViharPocket-1. Further, this corri-dor will cater to a large num-ber of people living in theprominent areas such asAshram, Mayur Vihar,Nizamuddin, Vinobapuri andother areas. Further, the issuesrelated to Trilokpuri stationalso solved and the final nodis expected in a week," said aSenior Delhi Metro Rail

Corporation (DMRC) official. The Hazrat Nizamuddin

Metro station on this stretchwill connect HazratNizamuddin Railway stationas well as the Inter State BusTerminal (ISBT) at Sarai KaleKhan. Further, 63 metre Footover Bridge (FOB) has beenconstructed on the inter-change station- Mayur Vihar-I.

"Once the station becomesoperational, it will make trav-el easy for the people going toNoida. This section will be amajor boon for this part of thecity as it does not have ametro network yet. Also, this

section will become an easierroute those who loves shop-ping as this corridor will con-nect the two major shopping

hubs of the city-Lajpat Nagar,South Extension, INA andSarojini Nagar," said the offi-cial.

The section will consist offive stations at Vinoba Puri,Ashram, Hazrat Nizamuddin,Mayur Vihar-1 and MayurVihar Pocket-1. Among thefive stations, Mayur Vihar-1and Mayur Vihar Pocket-1 willbe elevated.

"The opening of this sec-tion by the end of the year willmark the completion of theMajlis Park-Shiv Vihar PinkLine at 59 kilometres. After itsopening this section willbecome the longest line ofDelhi metro network," addedthe official.

��� �������������"6/�-62 &

Challans issued to womenfor drunk driving has seen

a marginal increase accordingto Delhi Police records.Compared to nil cases offemale drivers booked fordrunken driving in the year2017, 10 females were bookedtill October 30 of the currentyear.

While data indicates thatwomen are more disciplined infollowing traffic rules, some arewondering whether police areshowing leniency when dealingwith women drivers.

According to policerecords, in Delhi, the ratiobetween female to male drivinglicence holders is 1:75 and only11 per cent of total vehicles reg-istered at the regional transportoffices are reportedly ownedand driven by women.

The huge disparity amongthe sexes in regards to owningand driving a vehicle is clear.However, even after taking thisinto account, data from January2018-June 2018 shows that18,753 men were issued chal-lans for drunk driving. For theyear 2017, 33,343 men werebooked for drunken drivingwhile no female was booked inthe same year.

Data from January 2018 tillthe month of June shows thatonly 24 women were issuedchallans for jumping trafficsignals in comparison to1,15,046 issued to men. In2017, in comparison to1,67,867 men who were bookedfor jumping signals only 44

women were booked.In cases of over speeding

71,424 men were booked tillthe month of June this year,while only 138 females wereissued challans in this regard.The data of last year shows ashocking disproportion of1,39,471 men booked in com-pared to 514 women.

Whether this data simplystates that women are better offat following traffic rules andregulations in contrast to menor that there is a disproportionin Delhi Traffic polices' han-dling of the female drivers' is upfor debate.

Special Commissioner ofPolice (Traffic) Taj Hassan stat-ed, "Generally we do see thatthere is a large differencebetween female to male drivers

who are booked for drunkendriving. Compared to femaledrivers, in Delhi, the numbers

of male drivers are vast. Of thefemale drivers, it is often seenthat only the economically

well-off are caught for drunk-en driving, which is also verymarginal number," Hassan said.

Aakash Chaudhary, a res-ident of North Delhi stated,"While it is true that in com-parison there are less femaledrivers than male drivers inDelhi. Especially at night, thereis a sparse amount of womendrivers, and often times theyare accompanied by male com-panions. However, I do believethat generally the police arecomparatively lenient towomen drivers. I have heard anacquaintance say that whenthey see police at checkpointswhen they come back after anight-out, they have in someinstances switched places withfemale passengers to stop get-ting caught."

���� "6/�-62 &

The Delhi High Court onWednesday sought

response of the Centre, theAAP Government and theDelhi Assembly Speaker's officeon Chief Secretary AnshuPrakash's plea challenging thefresh breach of privilege pro-ceedings initiated against himon complaints by two Housecommittees.

Justice Vibhu Bakhru,while issuing notice in thematter, declined to pass anyinterim orders after Delhi gov-ernment standing counselRahul Mehra said nothing waspresently happening againstthe bureaucrat and that his pleawas "premature".

Mehra said the instant peti-tion be heard on November 27with an earlier plea of thebureaucrat challenging anoth-er breach of privilege proceed-ing going on against him.

Senior advocates SiddharthLuthra and Vivek Chib, appear-ing for Prakash, on the otherhand urged the court to passinterim orders staying the twofresh proceedings against himand to direct that his presencebe not insisted upon by thePrivileges Committee.

The judge, however, didnot issue any interim direc-tions and listed the matter forhearing on November 27, sayingthat nothing has happened tillnow against the bureaucrat andif anything happens he canapproach the court.

Prakash, in his plea filedthrough advocates Asif Ahmedand Ruchira Goel, has soughtquashing of the two new breachof privilege proceedings initiat-ed against him on the com-plaints by the Question andReference Committee (QRC)and Protocol Committee of theAssembly. Luthra contendedthat some members of the twocommittees, which lodged thecomplaints against him, werealso part of the PrivilegesCommittee which is a "violationof principles of natural justice".

The senior lawyer alsoargued that MLAs who werechargesheeted in connectionwith assault of the chief secretarywere also part of the two com-mittees.

He said that breach of priv-ilege proceedings were initiatedafter filing of the charge sheetand alleged that they were biasedagainst the bureaucrat and weretrying to "harass and intimidate"him.

Opposing the allegations,Mehra submitted in court a listof the members of the commit-tees and said that none of thechargesheeted MLAs were partof the House panels.

He also said that since thetwo proceedings were initiatedon October 1 and October 11with no summons being issuedtill now, the petition was "com-pletely premature".

The chief secretary, in hisplea, has also challenged thecomplaints made against him bythe QRC and ProtocolCommittee on September 7 and

September 14, respectively.He has contended that the

breach of privilege proceedingsinitiated against him based onthe two complaints were "viola-tive of the Constitution of Indiaas well as the Rules of the Houseand therefore, illegal and uncon-stitutional".

The petition also seeksquashing of the Speaker's deci-sion to refer the two complaintsto the Privileges Committee, say-ing it too was in violation of theConstitution and Rules of theHouse.

Apart from his latest peti-tion, the chief secretary had inthe past challenged breach ofprivilege proceedings initiatedagainst him in March this yearby the Assembly panels for notappearing before them.

The earlier petition is at thefinal arguments stage and isscheduled to be heard next onNovember 27.

During the hearing on hisearlier plea, Prakash had claimedthat the entire process of sum-moning him before a privilegescommittee for questioning overcertain issues was "biased" and"premeditated".

Prakash had filed the earli-er plea in March this year afterhe was served a notice by thePrivileges Committee, on a com-plaint by QRC, for skipping ameeting on February 20.

The meeting, in which hewas asked to appear, was sched-uled a day after he was alleged-ly assaulted by two AAP MLAs-- Amanatullah Khan andPrakash Jarwal.

����� ���� �� "6/�-62 &

Most polluted areas in thenational Capital that fall

in the ‘red zone’ areas in termsof poor air quality, showedlower values of major pollutantson Wednesday. Anand Vihar,Punjbai Bagh, Mundka andother areas were marked under‘good category’ on nationalambient air quality (NAQI)index after overnight drizzlethat brought down the pollu-tants in the air

According to the availabledata, 21 areas in Delhi record-ed ‘very poor’ air quality while14 areas showed ‘poor’ air qual-ity, the Central PollutionControl Board (CPCB)said.Similar conditions are like-ly to prevail in the coming days,according to SAFAR.

At city’s busiest junctionAnand Vihar , Values of PM 10was recorded between 800microgram per cubic and 1100,however, on Wednesday, valueswere recorded at 219 and 112for both PM 10 and 2.5. Theoverall air quality index (AQI)was recorded at 312 which fallsin the “very poor” category,according to data by the CPCB.

Ghaziabad, Faridabad,

Greater Noida and Noidarecorded 'very poor' air quali-ty while Gurugram's air quali-ty was recorded in the 'poor'category, it said.

In Punjabi Bagh valueswere recorded at 180 and 101,in Bawana, the industrial area, PM 2.5 is recorded at 69,Dwarka Sec 8 204 and 70, inNajafgarh PM 2.5-50, PM 10 -

112, Aand Vihar-219/112,Mundka-289/110

On Wednesday, the PM2.5(particles in the air with adiameter of less than 2.5micrometres) level was record-ed at 202 while the PM10 (par-ticles in the air with a diameterof less than 10 micrometres)was recorded at 327 in Delhi.

����� ���� ��"6/�-62 &

Chhath Puja celebrationsconcluded on

Wednesday morning withdevotees offering prayers tothe rising sun at several ghatsin the national Capital.

A festive look adornedthe ghats where thousands ofdevotees broke their fast afteroffering arghya to the risingSun. The movement of devo-tees to various ghats disrupt-ed traffic on the stretch fromKalindi Kunj towards Noidaand other areas in the city.

Chhath is a major festivalin eastern Uttar Pradesh,Bihar and Jharkhand,although it is celebrated inother parts of the country aswell where Purvnanchalis aresettled in significant numbers.

Chhath Puja relives theage-old tradition of paying

obeisance to the Sun God.Political leaders, includingDelhi Chief Minister ArvindKejriwal, greeted devotees onWednesday and wished themhealth, success and happiness.

The Delhi Governmenthad declared a public holidayon the occasion of Chhath.Agencies of the DelhiGovernment had set up ghatsfor Chhath at around 1,000locations, officials said.

Arrangements of ghatsand facilities for worshipperswere made by different agen-cies of the Delhi Governmentas well as municipal corpo-rations. A monitoring com-mittee was constituted by theDelhi Government to lookafter preparations of Chhathincluding ghats andtents.Municipal corporationofficials said over 700 ghatswere prepared by the civicbodies.

����� ���� �� "6/�-62 &

Delhi Police on Wednesdayclaimed to have arrested

a 27-year-old man for alleged-ly killing a rival gang memberto establish his supremacy inthe Uttam Nagar area ofNational Capital.

The accused was releasedfrom jail a month ago afterhaving served a prison term ofsix years.

The accused is Kausharalias Babloo who was arrest-ed by Delhi Police on Tuesday.

According to a seniorpolice official, Kaushar shot attwo rival gang members-Azaad and Javed-after a quar-rel on November 7 night.

“Azaad, who suffered fourgunshot injuries, died duringtreatment in the hospital. OnTuesday, we have receivedinformation that Kausharwould come near VipinGarden to meet someone.

A trap was laid by a policeteam and he was arrested ataround 11:30 pm," a seniorpolice officer said.

A country-made pistol,along with two live rounds,was recovered from his pos-session.

����� ���� �� "6/�-62 &

Delhi Police on Wednesdayarrested five men for

allegedly robbing a constable atgunpoint in a moving auto-rickshaw on highway nearWazirabad in National Capital.

The accused have beenidentified as Shankar (23),Saddam (24), Ashawani (21),Ash Mohd (23) and KishanKumar (44).

According to a seniorpolice official, on the inter-vening night of Sunday andMonday, a Delhi Police con-stable was looted by some cul-prits at gunpoint in a movingauto-rickshaw while he wasreturning to his training cen-tre at Police Training School atWazirabad.

"The accused had droppedhim near Yamuna Vihar afterrobbing his purse, mobile, carrybag and other articles. Howeverthe constable managed to readsome figures of the number ofauto-rickshaw which helpedpolice to trace the accused,"said the senior police official.

"After registering a case,police apprehended theaccused persons near NandNagri flyover with their auto-rickshaw where they weresearching a person to commitanother robbery," the seniorpolice official said.

"One auto, one mobilephone and a bag along with awallet were recovered fromtheir possession," the seniorpolice official added.

��� ����� �������������� ��

������������������ ���������

It was a humid day in thenational Capital on

Wednesday with the mini-mum temperature settling atfour notches above normal.

“The minimum tempera-ture was recorded at 17.6degrees Celsius, four notchesabove normal, while the max-imum temperature settled at28.5 degrees Celsius, normalfor this time of the year,” aMeteorological (MeT) officialsaid. The humidity levels oscil-lated between 94 and 47 percent.

Delhiites woke up to over-

cast skies in the morning fol-lowing overnight rains in sev-eral parts of the city. However,no rainfall was recorded dur-ing the day.

The weatherman has fore-cast cloudy skies for Thursdaywith the possibility of mist inthe morning. "The maximumand minimum temperaturesare likely to settle around 27and 15 degrees Celsius," theofficial added.

The maximum and mini-mum temperatures recordedon Tuesday were 29.4 and 14.2degrees Celsius respectively.

)��** ����"����� ��� ������+����������*���

��������������������������������������$ ���� ����

56.��� �����$$��� ��)��������������������$��

������ �� ����� ���� �!���!��" ������� ��!����������#$��� ������ ��!%��������!������!����������!��&%'$#(�� �� �)� *��!���� �����!+������������#� $,%�-�� ���.� �������+���*���� ��� �������!�()����"����������/�!���!� �����(�!�! ���������������(.���������.���0(�++�!.��!�)�����!+�� �������

7��������������� �� $$����- ����$�� ������ ���

1�!������*��+����� � � �������������+�""���!�

)� *��!�"�(��� �(���+��/����*�����)��#�+�"��+��!#�!�+��/�!�.��+������

��((�����!����"������2��""�3����4��!�

�����8����)������ ������ �����������!( ��������)��� �������!��)��9������

��� ������ ����� ������������� �� ��������� !� ������ � �

��� �����$���)����������� ��������1�����9�� ����

�������� �� ����� ������)�����������

Page 4:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

! ��!��5����������'�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1

Sriharikota (AP): India onWednesday successfully putinto orbit its latest communi-cation satellite with its heavi-est rocket and the new spacemission is expected to servethe communication needs ofpeople in the remote areas ofthe country.

The textbook launch ofthe rocket GSLV-MkIII-D,which is dubbed by the ISROas the 'Bahubali' or "fat boy" ofIndian rockets, is also seen ascrucial for the space agency asit would be used for the ambi-tious Chandrayaan-2(lunarmission) and the country'splanned manned space mis-sion. The 3,423 kg satelliteGSAT-29 is also the heaviestIndian satellite to be put intoorbit.

Indian Space ResearchOrganisation(ISRO) chief KSivan said while the rocket'sfirst operational mission wasgoing to be "none other thanChandrayaan" in January 2019,"this fantastic vehicle is goingto carry humans to space inthree years from now."

ISRO has set a 'target' ofachieving the country's ambi-tious manned mission to space

by 2021, with the firstunmanned programme of'Gaganyaan' planned forDecember 2020, according toSivan.

Prime Minister NarendraModi announced in hisIndependence Day addressthis year that India willattempt to send an astronaut tospace by 2022 on board'Gaganyaan'.

The 27-hour-countdownfor the Wednesday launchbegan at 2.50pm Tuesday andthe rocket blasted off at 5.08 pmfrom the spaceport at

Sriharikota over 100 km fromChennai.

The satellite carries Kaand Ku band high throughputtransponders which will pro-vide communication servicesto remote places in the NorthEast and Jammu and Kashmir,besides aid the Centre's DigitalIndia programme, Sivan said.

ISRO scientists broke intocheers as the satellite was inject-ed into a geosynchronous orbit,16 minutes after lift-off.

Sivan said the country hadachieved a significant milestonefollowing the successful launchand the injection of the satel-lite into the intended profit was'precise.'

"I am extremely happy todeclare that our heaviestlauncher in its second missionhas lifted the heaviest satellite,GSAT 29 from Indian soil,and after a majestic travel of 16minutes, it precisely injected itinto the intended Geo TransferOrbit," he said.

Cyclone Gaja had cloudedthe launch plans but with itschanging course and con-ducive weather conditions pre-vailing, the rocket blasted offon schedule. PTI

#��:���--�������������-������������(��".5;�������������������� -)��

��� "6/�-62 &

The big four snakes —Russell's Viper, Common

Cobra, Common Krait and SawScaled Viper — are responsiblefor more than 90 per cent snakebite deaths across India. But, sur-prisingly, the Government hasno incident-related data thatcould help it frame policies anddevelop better snake anti-ven-oms to save the victims.

Taking initiative in thisdirection to collate the data at theground level, The Big4 Mapperapp has been developed thatwould register each incident ofbites by the big four snakes. Theapp which is a part of "IndianSnake Bite Initiative," a joint pro-

ject by Madras Crocodile Bank, Global Snakebite Initiative andIndiansnakes.org would helpconservationists and herpetolo-gists to map out the distributionof snakes and incidents of bitesreported in the country.

By collating incidents at theground level, the app aims tohelp researchers and policy-makers get a clearer picture ofthe situation and can potential-

ly save lives, said the brainbehind the app, Jose Louiesfrom the Wildlife Trust of India.

He elaborated, "The Big4Mapper app helps conserva-tionists and herpetologists mapout the distribution of snakesand incidents of bites reportedin the country. The app canpotentially save lives, once itreaches its critical mass and ifreceived well by the governmentmachinery." Talking about itsfunctioning, he said that thesnake rescuers have to downloadthe app and take a photo of thesnake every time they go on arescue trip. When rescuers takea photo of the snake in the placethey found it, the app automat-ically logs in the GPS coordi-

nates, time and the date.The rescuer also logs in

which species and whether thesnake was found inside thehouse, or outside or whether itwas found dead. To prevent fakeentries, photos can be taken onlythrough the app and cannot beuploaded later, said the activist.

"There is no dearth ofsnake rescuers in the country.There are at least 6,000 of themwho are officially registeredwith the forest department,"said Louies who heads thewildlife crime control unit of theWTI.

Presently, the app logs onlythe Big 4, but it will soon cover30 more species by Decemberend.

����������������"��������������

New Delhi: The BJP onWednesday announced its sec-ond list of 31 candidates for theRajasthan Assembly election,dropping 15 sitting MLAs,included three Ministers.

The BJP has so farannounced the names of 162candidates in the 200-memberAssembly.

Outgoing Ministers BabulalVerma, Rajkumar Rinwa andDhan Singh Rawat were deniedparty ticket this election.

BJP MLA Gyandev Ahuja,who hit the national headlinesat the height of the JNU con-troversy in 2016 for his remarksthat thousands of condomswere found on the universitycampus daily, was also dropped.

He represents Ramgarh inAlwar district in the currentAssembly.

Assembly election inRajasthan will be held onDecember 7.

The BJP is facing a strongchallenge from a resurgentCongress in the State with theopposition party winning anumber of bypolls in the pastcouple of years.

01���������������������2 �����������������3������ ���

Washington: President DonaldTrump on Tuesday said US'relationship with India can actas a "bulwark" for freedom,prosperity and peace as he cel-ebrated Diwali in the WhiteHouse along with eminentIndian-Americans.

It is the second consecutiveyear that President Trump hascelebrated the largest festival ofIndia and Indian Americans inthe White House.

"I am thrilled to be here forthe celebration of Diwali, theHindu Festival of Lights, and Iam honored to host this beau-tiful ceremony at the WhiteHouse. Very, very special peo-ple," Trump said.

"I'm honoured to host thisbeautiful ceremony at theWhite House. Very, very specialpeople. We're gathered today tocelebrate a very special holidayobserved by Buddhist, Sikhsand Jains throughout theUnited States and around theworld," Trump said.

"This ceremony signifiesthe triumph of light over dark-ness and good over evil. It is ajubilant occasion that bringsloved ones, neighbours, and

communities closer together,"Trump said before lighting theceremonial diya in the historicRoosevelt Room of the WhiteHouse.

He said the shining lightsremind people to "seek wis-dom, to give thanks, and toalways cherish and love theones who grace our lives.

"Our nation is blessed to behome to millions of hard-working citizens of Indian andSouth East Asian heritage toenrich our country in countlessways. Together we are oneproud American family. Do weagree with that? I think so. Ithink we do. Right? Better,believe it," he said.

"India is the world's largestdemocracy, and the relation-ship between our two countriescan act as a bulwark for free-dom, prosperity, and peace,"Trump said, amidst China flex-ing its military muscles in thestrategic Indo-Pacific region.

He said the United Stateshas deep ties with India and hewas grateful for his friendshipwith Prime Minister NarendraModi.

"Modi is my friend andnow her (Ivanka) friend andhas great respect for India andthe Indian people that I cansay," said the US President as heintroduced his daughter to theaudience, who was present in

the room."Absolutely," replied

Ivanka, who had visited Indialast year. She was the first topofficial of the Trump adminis-tration to travel to India toattend the GlobalEntrepreneurship Summit inHyderabad in November lastyear.

Trump also mentioned theongoing negotiations betweenthe US and India on a tradedeal but indicated that thetalks were moving though itwas tough.

"We're trying very hard tomake better trade deals withIndia. But, they're very goodtraders. They're very goodnegotiators. You would sayright. The best. So we're work-ing. And it's moving along," hesaid.

Along with nearly twodozen top Indian-Americanofficials of his administration,Trump invited the IndianAmbassador to the US, NavtejSingh Sarna, his wife Dr AvinaSarna, and his special assistantPratik Mathur to be presentduring the White House Diwalicelebrations. PTI

�6��������76�����89:��9����:49���4;���

2���#�����-���$����1$�����)9�� �����-�

Singapore: Prime MinisterNarendra Modi on Wednesdaytold US Vice President MikePence that all the traces and allthe leads in the global terrorattacks ultimately leads to a"single source and single place oforigin", in an apparent referenceto Pakistan.

Modi, who held talks withPence on a wide range of bilat-eral and global issues of mutu-al interests on the sidelines of theEast Asia Summit here, alsoexpressed concern over the par-ticipation of terrorists in the elec-tions in Pakistan.

Briefing the reporters afterthe meeting, Foreign SecretaryVijay Gokhale said there wassome discussion on the issue ofterrorism. Pence referred to theupcoming 10th anniversary ofthe deadly Mumbai terror attackon November 26 and hailed

cooperation between the twosides on counter terrorism,Gokhale said. Some 166 peoplewere killed in the attack carriedout by Pakistan-based 10Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists. Nineof the attackers were killed bypolice while lone survivor AjmalKasab was caught and hangedafter handed down death sen-tence by an Indian court.

Modi thanked Pence for hiswords and reminded him that inone way or another all the tracesand all the leads in the global ter-ror attacks ultimately leads to a"single source and single place oforigin", without naming anycountry or organisation. He wasapparently referring to Pakistan.A number of terrorist attacksacross the world have been car-ried out by people of Pakistaniorigin. On December 2, 2015, 14people were killed in a mass

shooting by a Pakistani originmarried couple in SanBernardino, California. APakistani-origin man was amongthree knife-wielding militantsresponsible for carrying out thebrutal terror attack in Londonthat killed seven people andinjured 49 in June 2017.

Prime Minister Modi alsoexpressed concern over theMumbai terror attack master-mind Hafiz Saeed's party con-testing the July 25 elections inPakistan. "He (Modi) did pointout that the mainstreaming ofpeople involved in the Mumbaiattacks in a political processwhich has taken place in therecent elections in Pakistanshould be a matter of seriousconcern not just to the twocountries - India and US - butto international community,"Gokhale said. PTI

��"��������������� ��� �������������,���

S i n g a p o r e :There was alight momentduring PrimeM i n i s t e rNarendra Modi's meeting withUS Vice President Mike Pencein Singapore on Wednesdaywhen he riffed on the meaningof 'Indiana' — the Americanleader's home state.

Through his translator,Modi said that when he metPence in the US in 2017 he toldhim that "Indiana" (INDIA-Ana) in Hindi, meaning "Tocome to India."

Modi then repeated hisinvitation to Pence to visitIndia.

Pence laughed apprecia-tively. "Thank you, Mr. PrimeMinister," Pence said. "I expectI will 'Indiana'." The US vicepresident is likely to visit Indiain 2019. PTI

���������������!���4,�����3��5

From Page 1The top law officer said the

Centre has given in a sealedcover the complete details of theRafale jets, the weapons to befitted on the aircraft and otherrequirements. The Centre onMonday had submitted to theapex court in a sealed cover, thepricing details of the Rafale jets.Venugopal also told the apexcourt that the court is judicial-ly not competent to decidewhat aircraft and weapons areto be bought as it is a matter forexperts.

Venugopal said earlier jetswere not intended to be loaded

with the requisite weapons sys-tem and the government hadreservations as it did not wantto violate the Inter GovernmentAgreement (IGA) and thesecrecy clause.

He also opposed advocatePrashant Bhushan who wantedto submit information on thesecrecy clause of the Rafaleagreement. “Secrecy agree-ment has to be secret and howis he producing it in court?”Venugopal asked whenBhushan raised the issue.

Bhushan, appearing onbehalf of himself and formerUnion Ministers Yashwant

Sinha and Arun Shourie,alleged that the Government ishiding behind the secrecyclause and had not disclosed theprice of the fighter jets. TheChief Justice told Bhushan,“We are giving you full hearing.Use this opportunity carefullyand cite only those things whichare necessary.”

Bhushan said the price peraircraft was 155 million Eurosand was now 270 million Euros.This shows that there was hikeof 40 per cent in its price, theadvocate said. He said the CBIwas bound to register an FIR inthis case. The lawyer allegedthat there was a conspiracywith French company Dassault,which tied up with Reliance asan offset partner. He saidReliance had no competence inexecuting the offset contract.

Bhushan said they filed thepetition after the CBI did notregister the FIR under thePrevention of Corruption Act.He also quoted former Frenchpresident François Hollandeand other Dassault officials toimpute criminal motives ingranting the offset contract toReliance.

The activist-lawyer sub-mitted that the NDAGovernment had “short cir-cuited” the acquisition processby taking the IGA route. Hesaid there is no sovereign guar-antee from the FrenchGovernment in the deal andargued that the Union LawMinistry initially flagged theissue and later gave in to the

proposal of entering into anIGA.

On the issue of lack of sov-ereign guarantee, the attorneygeneral said though there is nosovereign guarantee, but thereis a letter of comfort by Francewhich would be as good as agovernmental guarantee. Healso told the court that present-ly three countries France, Egyptand Qatar are flying Rafalefighter jets.

Bhushan said six foreigncompanies had applied andtwo firms were shortlisted dur-ing the earlier process, Bhushansaid. Later, the deal went toDassault and State-ownedHindustan Aeronautics Ltd(HAL) was part of it. Suddenly,however, a statement was issuedwhich said there will be notechnology transfer, and only 36jets would be procured, thelawyer told the court.

Bhushan submitted thatnobody knows about thealleged change in the deal doneby the Prime Minister. Even theDefence Minister was not awareabout the change, he said.

The Supreme Court ques-tioned the Government’s stancethat it had no role in the offsetclause, which is the focal pointof the opposition’s charge ofcorruption in the 59,000 crorecontract. Rafale manufacturerDassault has not yet submitteddetails of its offset partner to theGovernment, Venugopal toldthe Supreme Court. “The ven-dor will inform the offset part-ner to us. So far there is no

information on this,” saidAdditional Secretary DefenceApurva Chandra.

The court had asked thedefence ministry why the off-set guidelines were changed in2015. The opposition allegesthat the Government scrappeda deal for 126 Rafale jets nego-tiated by the previous UPAGovernment and opted for anew deal for 36 jets to helpReliance bag the offset contractwith Dassault.

When the court askedabout the change in the offsetguidelines in 2015, theAdditional Secretary of theDefence Ministry explainedthat the offset contract runsconcurrently with the maincontract.

During arguments in court,the Government said a politi-cal issue was being made out ofthe offset partner. “We havealready said the government hasno role in the selection of theoffset partner,” said the topGovernment lawyer.

Justice KM Joseph ques-tioned, “If the offset partnerruns off, what happens? Whatabout the country’s interest?What if the offset partner does-n’t do any production?” Thecourt said the Government“can’t separate” the main con-tract from the offset contract. “Itmay not be in the country’sinterest if the offset contract isexecuted later because that maylead to delay in production bythe offset partner,” the courtsaid.

From Page 1Supporters of Rajapaksa

refused to recognise the vote aslegitimate, plunging the countrydeeper into crisis, as fears growthat the political dispute couldspill into protracted instability inthe island nation. Jayasuriyalater adjourned the House until10 am on Thursday.

Speaker Jayasuriya has writ-ten to President Sirisena, askinghim to take further constitu-tional action. A copy of themotion with 122 signatures oflawmakers, who have expressedlack of confidence in PrimeMinister Rajapaksa and hisCabinet, has been sent toSirisena.

The Speaker’s office said thatthe Speaker has requested thePresident to take the next stepunder the Constitution.Speaking after the no-trust vote,ousted Prime MinisterWickremsinghe claimed thathis Government had beenrestored after extra constitu-tional action by PresidentSirisena to sack him as the pre-mier.

“We will now take steps toensure that the government inplace before October 26 willcontinue. I wish to inform allgovernment servants and policethat you should not carry outillegal orders from the purport-ed government that has failed todemonstrate the confidence ofthe people,” he said.

Wickremesinghe has

denounced Sirisena’s attempt toremove him from office andrefused to leave the officialprime minister’s residence,claiming the president does nothave the power to take suchaction. Senior leader ofWickremesinghe’s UnitedNational Party (UNP) SajithPremadasa said that theGovernment headed byRajapaksa clearly lost the floortest.

He demanded that PrimeMinister Rajapaksa must nowstep down. However, DineshGunawardena and VasudevaNanayakkara, both Rajapaksa’ssenior aides, said the Speaker’saction was illegal.

Housing Minister WimalWeerawansa said the floor testin Parliament was illegal and soRajapaksa will continue as PrimeMinister, further deepening thepolitical crisis that has paralysedthe Government for nearly threeweeks. The Parliament sessionon Wednesday comes a dayafter the Supreme Court onTuesday overturned PresidentSirisena’s controversial decisionto dissolve Parliament and halt-ed the preparations for snappolls on January 5.

In its ruling, the apex courthad said Sirisena’s dissolution ofParliament will be suspendeduntil December 7 and it will con-sider all the petitions filed on thePresident’s decision next monthbefore giving a final ruling.After the court verdict, SpeakerJayasuriya summonedParliament’s session for

Wednesday morning.Sirisena dissolved

Parliament after it became clearthat he lacked support from law-makers to install Rajapaksa asthe new Prime Minister follow-ing his sacking ofWickremesinghe as premier.

While sacking PrimeMinister Wickremesinghe,President Sirisena had also sus-pended Parliament tillNovember 16. He, however,advanced the convening of theHouse to November 14 amidinternational and domestic pres-sure against the move.

Sirisena later dissolvedParliament, almost 20 monthsbefore its term was to end, andordered snap election, plungingthe country’s into an unprece-dented political and constitu-tional crises.

Sirisena on Sunday defend-ed his move to dissolveParliament, saying it was takento prevent clashes among rivallawmakers.

Former President Rajapaksawas unexpectedly defeated byhis deputy Sirisena in the pres-idential election held in 2015with the support fromWickremesinghe’s UNP.

However, the power-sharingarrangement between Sirisenaand Wickremesinghe becameincreasingly tenuous on severalpolicy matters, especially onissues like the economy andsecurity. And subsequently,Sirisena abruptly oustedWickremesinghe and replacedhim with Rajapaksa.

��������������� ���������������������---

.�"�� ����---

Agra: Two days after a monkeysnatched a 12-day-old babyfrom his mother's lap andmauled him to death, a host ofsocial activists and environ-mentalists on Wednesdaysought exclusion of simiansfrom the list of protected speciesunder the Wild Life Act.

The activists made thedemand in a conference onmonkey menace here.

"For over a decade, we havebeen demanding permission totransfer monkeys to forest areasand setting up of a facility tosterilise them, but so far we havefailed to get the Government'spermission," said SatyamevJayate trustee Mukesh Jain,addressing the conference.

It is high time that themonkeys should be removedfrom the protected species list

under the Wild Life Act, 1972,he said.

According to the AgraMunicipal Corporation offi-cials, the number of monkeys inthe city has gone up beyond25,000. "The number of monkeybites are increasing by the dayand citizens are scared of mov-ing freely in the city. Monkeyattacks have become so frequentthat women and children are

afraid of going out," said socialactivist Shravan Kumar Singh.

The conference on monkeymenace also passed a resolution,demanding adequate compen-sation to the victims of monkeyattacks.

"It is the duty of theGovernment to protect its citi-zens. If it cannot do that, itshould pay compensation thevictim or his family," it said. PTI

��� ���� �)���� ��� ���� ��-�������-��������'�������-��������-��6���:7;6��7�7<�=9���8�

Mumbai: Eight months afterthousands of farmers marchedto Mumbai, another massiveprotest of farmers has beenplanned in the country's finan-cial Capital next week.

Lok Sangharsh Morcha, anorganisation representing farm-ers and labourers, announced onWednesday that an indefinite sit-in will be staged at Azad Maidanin south Mumbai fromNovember 22. It will be led bywater conservation activistRajendra Singh and Swaraj Indialeader Yogendra Yadav, it said.

In March this year, thou-sands of farmers had walked allthe way from Nashik in northMaharashtra to Mumbai. PTI

$�����������/�����#��� ��������������

Page 5:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

! ��!��>����������'�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1

� ������� ��� "6/�-62 &

As the political fever riseswith the Assembly polls for

five States underway and theCongress vowing to "imple-ment ban" on Governmentemployees from participatingin the activities of RashtriyaSwayemsevak Sangh (RSS), theRSS affiliate Bhartiya MazdoorSangh (BMS) has written toPrime Minister Narendra Modito remove the ban provisionfrom the Government servicerules.

The ban on Governmentofficials taking RSS member-ship and joining its activitieswas there but some States likeGujarat, Goa, Madhya Pradeshhave them in service rules."After Keshubahi PatelGovernment took over inGujarat in 2000, the provisionwas removed from the Servicerules but in Madhya Pradeshit is continuing", said RSS func-tionaries.

Congress manifesto forthe November 28 Madhya

Pradesh polls in the Statepromises to ban 'Shakhas' ofthe RSS in Governmentpremises and stopGovernment employees fromattending RSS 'Shakhas' .Congress General SecretaryDigvijay Singh has said thatthe rule existed even under theJan Sangh and BJPGovernments in the State inthe past, including the regimesof V K Sklecha, Kailash Joshi,Sunderlal Patwa, Uma Bhartiand Babulal Guar and that theCongress was "only pledgingto continue it."

RSS leaders maintain thatit was already in the service rulebut it was never implementedin letter and spirit. "Congress isfor the first time promising toimplement if it comes to power

in Madhya Pradesh", they said.They remind that even duringJawahar Lal Nehru's time, sev-eral Congress members in theparty's Central WorkingCommittee were also membersof the RSS.

The BMS has sought PrimeMinister Narendra Modi tohave the service rule removedso as to lift the ban on theCentral Government employeesfrom working with the RSS.

The RSS outfit hasappealed to the Prime Ministerto intervene in the matter per-sonally and direct the con-cerned Ministry to issue nec-essary amendments permit-ting the Government employ-ees to participate in nation-building activities.

The Secretary-General of

Government EmployeesNational Confederation, affil-iated to the BMS, in a letter tothe Prime Minister on October20, pointed out that in accor-dance with provisions of DP &AR OM No. 15014/3/(S)/80-Estt. (B), dated 28.10.1980,there is a ban on participatingin the activities of RSS by theCentral GovernmentEmployees.

"Through an order datedNovember 30, 1966, (by theMinistry of Home Affairs), thethen Congress Governmenthas imposed the ban onswayamsevaks, who work invarious departments under theUnion Government.Unfortunately, the order hasbeen evoked time and again bythe successive Governments",the letter said.

Pointing out that any per-son going against the ruleinvites "imprisonment for aterm which may extend toseven years or fine or withboth", the BMS maintainedthat many Governmentemployees interested in theRSS activities hold back onaccount of the fear of discipli-nary action and "are not able tolend their hand in a genuinecause of Nation Building."

1;������--�?;9�9�1�6������9�9�9��

0�����/�������������������������� ��������������������������������.�����+�����

��� "6/�-62 &�

The National InvestigationAgency (NIA) on

Wednesday filed a chargesheetagainst banned terror groupDukhtaran-E-Millat's chiefAasiya Andrabi and her asso-ciates, Sofi Fehmeeda andNaheeda Nasreen, before adesignated court here forallegedly waging war againstthe country.

Andrabi and her associatesSofi Fehmeeda and NaheedaNasreen were actively run-ning a terrorist organisationDukhtaran-E-Millat which isproscribed under the FirstSchedule to the UnlawfulActivities (Prevention) Act,1967. DEM as a terroristorganisation is engaged inAnti-India activities and hasbeen inciting the general pop-ulace of Kashmir for an armedrebellion against theGovernment of India with aidand assistance of terroristorganisations based inPakistan, the NIA said.

"The three accused per-sons were using various mediaplatforms like Twitter,Facebook, YouTube, TVChannels including those inPakistan to spread insurrec-

tionary imputations and hate-ful messages and speechesagainst India. DEM throughAasiya Andrabi and others,openly advocates secession ofJammu & Kashmir from theUnion of India and its mergerwith Pakistan through violentmeans," the NIA said in astatement.

A case was registered bythe NIA on April 27 this yearunder various Indian PenalCode Sections relating to crim-inal conspiracy, waging waragainst the nation and underprovisions of the anti-terror lawUnlawful Activities(Prevention) Act, 1967.

The trio was arrested byNIA on July 6 in connectionwith the case and is sincelodged in the Tihar Jail here.

"Investigation has estab-lished that Aasiya Andrabi isheading Dukhtaran-E-Millatas its Chief and has used socialmedia and other platforms toabet waging of war againstGovernment of India. She isspreading seditious and insur-rectionary imputations againstGovernment of India. She ispromoting ill-will and enmitybetween different communitiesin India on ground of religion.Investigation has also estab-

lished that she has close con-tacts with designated GlobalTerrorist Hafeez MohammadSaeed who is head of Jamaat-Ud-Dawah (JuD) and Lashkar-E-Toiba (LeT), internationallydesignated terrorist organisa-tions that are based inPakistan," the NIA furthersaid.

Andrabi has used publicplatforms to incite youth ofKashmir to rise in armed insur-rection against theGovernment of India with anobject of achieving cessation ofKashmir from India and itsmerger with Pakistan, theagency said in its chargesheet.

The agency said investi-gation has also established thatSofi Fehmeeda, as PersonalSecretary to Chief of DEM andalso Press Secretary ofDukhtaran-E-Millat, andNaheeda Nasreen as its GeneralSecretary have been instru-mental in the use of socialmedia and other platforms forabetment of waging war againstthe Indian Government besidesspreading seditious and insur-rectionary imputations againstit, and are promoting ill-willand enmity between differentcommunities in India ongrounds of religion.

�#��-���������������$�� ���������������������#���� ��� "6/�-62 &

Twitter has suspended twofake accounts being run in

the name of the ElectionCommission (EC). The accountused the EC logo as well as theTwitter handle@ElectionComm. Anotheraccount used @DalitFederationas its handle. The two accountshave been suspended after theEC asked Twitter to take "deci-sive action.

The Election Commission'sspokesperson confirmed thatthe Commission does not haveits own verified Twitter handle.The fake accounts had a hugefollowing with one of themhaving 4,751 followers. The ECfeared that they could misleadpublic ahead of Assembly pollsin five States and coming up LokSabha elections next year. "TheEC does not have any presenceon Twitter, though it does oper-ate a Facebook handle," said anofficial of EC on the conditionof anonymity.

The media division of theEC asked Twitter to take decisiveaction against them. Althoughthere were no tweets from theseaccounts, they had a large fol-lowing. The Commission hasavoided opening an account onTwitter as it does not have themanpower, a dedicated team ofprofessionals or media budget tohandle requests and grievancesthat are likely to flood it once itregisters its presence on Twitter,"an official said. However, EC hasauthorised the State chief elec-toral officers to create a Twitteraccount of their own.

EC had earlier held talkswith Twitter and other socialmedia companies like Googleand Facebook to help it trackfake news and monitor pollexpenditure on social mediaadvertising and publicity.Google, Facebook and Twitteron Monday promised to domore to fight news in India,while refusing to provide anydefinite timeline for bringingtougher actions that could elim-inate the menace of fake newsfrom their platform.

��� "6/�-62 &

Soon database of country'salmost all health establish-

ments, including clinics, nurs-ing homes, hospitals and diag-nostic labs whether in private orGovernment sectors, will beavailable online with interactivemaps.

Aiming to improve healthoutcomes and create healthdatabase, the Union HealthMinistry has rolled out theNational Health Resource

Repository (NHRR) whereinmassive exercise to map allpublic and private healthcareestablishments at the districtlevel is being undertaken in thecountry. This is the first everhealthcare establishment cen-sus, using paperless technolo-gy.

A senior Health Ministryofficial said that a web-basedand geo-mapping enabled sin-gle platform of all the healthresources both Governmentand private is being developed.

It will comprise of the data onhealth infrastructure, humanresource and the availability andtype of medical facilities.

The importance of healthmapping lies in the productionof interactive and publishedmaps that would link the geog-raphy of communities withother dimensions such as avail-ability and accessibility of healthservices, or disease preventionand control services particularlyin rural areas, added an officialfrom the WHO.

(%�����������+������6�������������������

)����������� �/�+���+�%�� %���� ��%���������� ������ ��� "6/�-62 &

Liberalised Visa regimeimplemented for the past

two years witnessed sharpincrease of visit of foreigners toIndia. As per the statistics in2017 and 2018, more than 35lakh foreigners visited India,including tourists, businesspurposes. Before launching ofe-Visa and instant visa, in2015, as per the statistics,around 4.5 lakh foreigners vis-ited India. As many as 26 air-ports and five sea ports, theBureau of Immigration (BoI)

has implemented e-Visa sys-tem.

"The Electronic Visa Facilitynow covers practically all thecountries of the world. Foreignnationals of 166 countries cannow enjoy this facility at 26 air-ports and 05 seaports. The for-eigner does not have to interactwith any Indian official till hisarrival at the immigrationcounter. The Bureau ofImmigration (BoI) generallydecides within 24-48 hourswhether or not to grant an e-visato a foreigner. The popularity ofe-visa is sky rocketing. The

number of foreigners who visit-ed India on e-visa has gone upfrom 4.47 lakhs in 2015 to 17.00lakhs in 2017. The figure for 2018is 18.78 lakhs upto 30th October,2018," said Home Ministry in astatement on Wednesday, detail-ing the sharp increase of visitors.

Currently e-Visa is per-mitted in five categories liketourist, business, medical, con-ference and medical attendant."The local FRRO has beenempowered now to extendduration of electronic visasbeyond 60 days upto 90 days.

Moreover, these e-visas can

now be availed three times inone year against twice in a yearearlier. For foreigners who arealready in India and who requireany consular/visa services likeextension of visa, conversion ofvisa, exit permission or any ofthe total 27 visa-related services,an online e-FRRO facility hasnow been launched throughoutthe country. The foreigners donot have to physically visit theoffices of FRROs/FROs. Theycan apply as well as receive con-sular/visa services online aftermaking online payment," saidHome Ministry.

:����<=*�� �����������������#�������������� ���.����

��� "6/�-62 &

In a move to encourage coop-erative start-ups and business

ventures in agriculture andallied sectors, the Ministry ofAgriculture on Wednesdaylaunched a new scheme thataims to provide cheaper loansto start-ups in the cooperativesector and those having inno-vative projects costing up to �3crore.

The scheme is called 'YuvaSahakar CooperativeEnterprise Support andInnovation Scheme' will beimplemented by the NationalCooperative Development

Corporation (NCDC). A cor-pus fund of �1,000 crore hasbeen created to this purpose.The scheme would be liberal tocooperatives in the north east-ern region, those registeredand operating in 'aspirationaldistricts' identified by think-tank Niti Aayog as well ascooperatives which have 100per cent women and SC/STmembers. The heavily incen-tivised scheme has componentof subsidy as well as interestsubvention and cooperativeregistered even one years agowill be eligible.

Launching the scheme,Union Agriculture Minister

Radha Mohan Singh said thatthe new scheme aims toencourage newly formed coop-eratives to take advantage ofinnovative ventures, especiallyby societies having new andinnovative ideas. "Cooperativesoperating for at least for oneyear and having a positive networth are eligible to avail cred-it under the scheme for newand innovative project ideas",Singh said.

The project cost should notexceed �3 crore and there willbe two years moratorium onpayment of principal amount,he said, adding that the periodof moratorium may vary

depending on type of projectand ability to generate revenue.NCDC lending so far has beento cooperatives working infishery, sugar, textiles, food-grains, crops, fruits, vegetables,cold storage, water conserva-tion, dairy, poultry, handlooms,coir and seri culture so far.There are eight lakh registeredsocieties in the country.

As an incentive, theMinister said the credit will beprovided at two per cent lessthan the applicable interestrate on term loan for the pro-ject activities. The interest rateincentive would be applicableonly for timely repayers.

( �������-���-�������-����� ��- ��������������.���

Page 6:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

����������'�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1 ! ��!��@

�������������� *�..F

Security was beefed up allalong Jammu-Pathankot

National Highway, dotted withvital Army installations, afterfour suspected 'miscreants'hijacked a passenger taxi, hiredfrom Jammu railway station,near Madhopur in Punjab, lateTuesday night.

The incident came to lightin the wee hours ofWednesday after driver of thepassenger Taxi, Raj Kumar,raised an alarm soon after hemanaged to escape after abrief scuff le with the miscreants.

The miscreants hadthreatened to kill him anddump his dead body in thenearby canal.

After the a larm wasraised, Punjab and J&Kpolice, alerted security checkpoints on possible escaperoutes to track down the hijackers and prevent possible terror strike in theclose vicinity of Pathankot

air base.Jammu Railway Station

Taxi Operator's Union, Vice-President, Rajvender Singhtold reporters in Jammu, "a

group of four people hadbooked a Taxi from Jammurailway station for dropping atPathankot late Tuesdayevening".

��7�69�����6;:

T h i r u v a n a n t h a p u r a m :Woman activist Trupti Desaion Wednesday waded intothe Sabarimala issue whenshe asked for complete policeprotection during her visit tothe temple starting Friday.But temple activist RahulEashwar promised to fighther tooth-and-nail to preventher entry.

Desai wrote to KeralaChief Minister PinarayiVijayan to order police pro-tection for her group whenthey visit Sabarimala onNovember 17 when the templewill open for the two-monthlong pilgrimage.

The temple town has wit-nessed protests by Hindugroups and temple tantri andoff icials ever since theSupreme Court verdict onSeptember 28, allowed womenof all ages to pray at LordAyyappa temple that hithertobanned girls and women agedbetween 10 and 50.

Desai wrote to Vijayan onWednesday that she alongwith six other women wouldbe arriving in Kerala onFriday for a visit at the tem-ple on Saturday. She soughtpolice protection right fromthe time she lands in Keralatill they leave the State, saying"we will visit the temple what-ever be the resistance".

While Eashwar said heand his officials along withLord Ayyappa's true devoteeswould ensure that none wereable to break the tradition ofthe temple.

"We will lie down beforethe women who come tobreak the temple's tradition."

The temple will open onFriday evening for theMandala Mahotsavam andshe has asked to be escortedright from the airport to theirrooms in Kottayam, wherethey would rest for the day.

The police must then pro-vide protection when theyhead for the hilltop temple onSaturday.

Speaking to a MalayalamTV channel, Desai said shehas written to the ChiefMinister, Kerala Police chiefLoknath Behra and also PrimeMinister Narendra Modi.

"I have written but have notdone any online booking forthe darshan. The SupremeCourt order is now very clearand hence we will be there andwe will visit the temple what-ever be the resistance," said Desai.

The temple will be openfor 66 days till January 20,with a small break in between.Promising an even biggerresistance, Sabarimala Tantrifamily's Rahul Eashwar alongwith activists and devoteestold the media here, that Desai would know thepower of the faith of Ayyappadevotees when she and hergroup reaches the temple town.

Eashwar was put in jail inOctober during the firstmonth's protest after the topcourt's ruling came into existence. "Come, what may,we will ensure that our protestwill be in the true Gandhianway and none will be able tobreak the tradit ion of the temple.

"We will lie down beforethe women who come tobreak the temple traditionand if they have to move for-ward, they will have to walkon our bodies and once thathappens, the police will haveto arrest such people," said Eashwar. IANS

(�� ������������� �����$������%��#��7�%����

+'1.&�&"!��"�636"�)&!!6''6�&���"�6����)�'&.�2���"�'&�?�.&2DC��'� F26�� /�'��21"!�/&� ���&3&�����"-�-631�66��12-�� 6�.6-&�� 6'6��� ��-6��&�/1F2-�8"1/�� 6+1/6'�1?�� 6�?�&� �1?�DD�++��-631�66��/ 6"� 6��"-� 6'�!'1F+

'6�� 6��� 6��6.+26��1/"

���� "6/�-62 &�

Union Culture MinisterMahesh Sharma called for

a "holistic approach" to beadopted on the Sabarimalatemple issue on Wednesday sothat the sentiments of the peo-ple were not hurt, observingthat the Centre would inter-vene in the matter at the "righttime" if required.

The Supreme Court onTuesday agreed to review its ver-dict allowing the entry of womenof all ages into the hilltop shrinein Kerala, which had sparkedviolent protests in the southernState, but refused to grant a stay.

Asked if an ordinance wasrequired to deal with the situ-ation, Sharma said the KeralaGovernment had to decide onthe matter, adding that theCentre would intervene at theright time if required.

"The State Governmenthas to take a call on that (ordi-nance) and the CentralGovernment, if required, willdefinitely intervene at the right

time," he told reporters here.Asked if the contention

that the entry of menstruatingwomen would make the tem-ple impure, Sharma said, "Well,I am a doctor, I will not makeany comment because the mat-ter is sub-judice, but we have totake a holistic call on it."

The two-month-longMandala Makaravillakku pil-grimage season that commenceson November 17 attracts mil-lions of devotees from all overthe country to Sabarimala.

On September 28, a five-judge constitution bench of theapex court, headed by thenChief Justice Dipak Misra, in a4:1 verdict, had lifted the cen-turies-old ban on girls andwomen in the 10-50 age groupfrom entering the shrine, sayingit amounted to gender discrim-ination. The review petitionsagainst the verdict were takenup "in-chamber" by a bench ofChief Justice Ranjan Gogoiand justices RF Nariman, AMKhanwilkar, DY Chandrachudand Indu Malhotra.

8 �����-����� �-�������)�������������������������������2�� �����

��#�+��"�!���+�!!�*����A����+� ��+���*� � ����� � ��!.����(

��+� ���=���1�/��!(�! ��+� �+��+���!� ���( ��.++�!�� � � �����! ��*���+��! ��/�!�� � ������ � �(���"���A����+

��-���������������������-�������&�-)�������������0�����,����

Page 7:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

����������'�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1 ! ��!��'

���������� !F/� ��&�

Assam’s Leader of theOpposition, Debabrata

Saikia, slammed Chief MinisterSarbananda Sonowal-ledGovernment in the State forfailing to protect the State’sinterest and address the grow-ing insecurity in the State.

Saikia’s statement came daysafter a top brass of the Assampolice admitted that the resent-ment against the Citizenship(Amendment) Bill, 2016 has ledyoung people in some districtsto join the anti-talk faction ofUnited Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA).

“This is nothing short ofa conf irmation of theSarbananda Sonowal-ledGovernment’s failure to pro-tect Assam’s interests and itstendency to betray people,”Saikia said in a statementissued on Wednesday.

Director General (SpecialBranch) of Assam Police and theSuperintendent of Police,Tinsukia and other senior offi-cials of the police administrationhave recently stated that theresentment against the Bill

across the State has been fuellinga fresh spurt in young people ofthe Brahmaputra Valley joiningthe ULFA faction led by its com-mander in chief Paresh Baruah.

“The ULFA’s popularityhad gradually waned duringthe decade-and-a-half whenthe Congress was in power inthe State. But the NarendraModi-led CentralGovernment’s decision totable the controversial Billand the Sarbananda Sonowal-led State Government’s failureto mount a strong oppositionto the proposed legislation areinducing a section of youngboys and girls to take uparms against the State,” Saikia said.

He said that dwindlingemployment opportunitiesand stagnation of develop-ment activit ies l ike theMGNREGA are also creatingfrustration and resentmentamong many youth, who aregravitat ing towards the ULFA faction.

����� ������� 8128���

Afurious Bengal ChiefMinister Mamata Banerjee

on Wednesday came down heav-ily on the Central Governmentfor “intentionally delaying” theprocess of renaming West Bengalto “Bangla” as proposed andpassed by the State Assembly inSeptember last year.

“I had personally requestedthe Union Government andHome Minister Rajnath Singh tohasten up the matter of renam-ing Bengal into Bangla after theresolution was passed in theState Assembly. But nothinghas been done in this regard.The Centre is ignoring the opin-ion of the majority populationbecause some people who are ina microscopic minority (StateBJP leader) want them to do so.This is amounts to defying thefederal nature of theConstitution,” she said.

“They (the BJPGovernment) are changingthe names of other places butthey are delaying the renam-ing of Bengal when the peopleof the State want it to be doneas was proved by the unani-mous support this cause

received in the StateAssembly,” the Chief Ministersaid wondering “if the name ofBombay, Bangalore, Orissaand Pondicherry changed intoMumbai, Bengaluru, Odishaand Puducherry, then whyWest Bengal cannot bechanged into Bangla.”

The proposal of renamingthe State had been in the airsince the nineties but it wasfinally passed in August 2016when West Bengal wasrenamed into Bengal, Bangal,Bangla in English, Hindi andBengali. The proposal wasturned down by the Centrewhich then asked the State toconsider a new name.

It was then that theAssembly voted in favour ofsingle name Bangla inSeptember . last year.

“They (BJP) are of theopinion that Bangladesh isalso called Bangla so it is notthe proper alternative for WestBengal, but these people fail torealize that there is one Punjabeach in Pakistan and Indiawithout doing any harm toany sentiments,” Mamata said.

Warning the presentGovernment which was “cross-

ing its limits in many ways,”Banerjee reminded “theConstitution has divided thepowers of the State and theCentre and so no one shouldthink itself superior to the other.

“Even the State ChiefMinisters were called PrimeMinister in the British periodbut after the Independencethe States got Chief Ministersand the Centre got a PrimeMinister considering the dif-ferent roles they played,” shesaid adding there was no rea-son to think that the State orthe Centre were superior toeach other.

Instead of upholding thevalues enshrined in theConstitution the Centre wasdisregarding India’s federalstructure she alleged. “It is nota few leaders in Delhi whorun this country. In fact Indiais run by the federal States.”

Reacting to Banerjee’scharges Bengal BJP presidentDilip Ghosh however said that“instead of renaming the Statethe Government should con-centrate on development andrestoring democracy in the State.”

�������/�0��/��&�������������������������

* !����)��������� � ����� ����������� �� ��-�������9����������

N a g a p a t t i n a m ( T N ) :Puducherry Chief Minister VNarayanasamy on Wednesdayheld a review meeting with offi-cials of various departments atThirunallar in Karaikal districtand took stock of the prepared-ness as cyclone Gaja is likely tohit the coastal district on Thursday.

Agriculture Minister RKamalakannan, KaraikalDistrict Collector R Kesavan,Senior SP Rahul Alwal andheads of PWD, Health,Electricity, Fisheries, Fire andRescue Services departmentsattended the meeting.

The Chief Minister direct-ed the district authorities tokeep stock of relief materials.Urging officials to ensure sup-ply of protected drinking waterto all areas, Narayanasamy saidif needed he would camp inKaraikal to coordinate theactivities. Three teams of theNational Disaster ResponseForce (NDRF) have arrivedhere to provide emergencyassistance. Meanwhile,Nagapattinam district collectorC Sureshkumar told reportersthat the district administrationhas made all necessary arrange-ments to meet any eventuality.

Twenty two cyclone shel-ters have been kept in readiness

to accommodate people, hesaid adding that a 24 hour-

control room was functioningat the Collectorate. PTI

! ������ ������������������� ��(�&�

Page 8:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

Reinhold Niebuhr, a famousAmerican academician oncesaid, “Man’s capacity for justicemakes democracy possible, butman’s inclination to injustice

makes democracy necessary.” This is agreat quote for two reason: First, becauseit talks about our humanity and how itcraves for justice and equality, which arethe foundations of any democracy, and sec-ond, because it reminds us of our morebase tendencies that can only be kept incheck through a democratic system ofGovernment. For a democracy to thrive,there are a few pillars that are at play simul-taneously and constantly. These pillarsinclude the judiciary, the executive, the leg-islature and the Press. Contrary to whatthis Government would like to assume, amodern democratic society cannot bemerely whittled down to the legislature,which makes the laws of the country andare the elected to power. But it alsorequires the judiciary, the Press, and thebureaucracy to play their important roles.I think someone forgot to tell that to thecurrent Government in power.

While there has been an uneasy con-sistency with which the Government hastargeted these other pillars of democra-cy, the first real shot was fired by theFinance Minister, who while speakingabout the Supreme Court’s decision tostrike down the National JudicialAppointments Commission (NJAC) saidthat Indian democracy cannot be atyranny of the unelected and comment-ed how if the elected are undermined,democracy itself would be in danger. I amafraid that Arun Jaitley has missed thepoint here because a democracy is not theblind and blank mandate of only theelected but instead, in order to functionwell, it requires a fine balance betweenthe elected and the unelected.

In this week’s column, I will examinehow the current Government has tried tominimise the influence of these unelect-ed pillars like the judiciary, the bureaucra-cy and the Press and demonstrated a tyran-nical approach to governance.

For a democracy to prevent its descentto anarchy, it is imperative for citizens tohave respect for the rule of law. The pri-mary role of the judiciary is to interpretthe law of the land and to state the law asit is. The Supreme Court, as the final inter-preter of law in our country, recently ruledthat no woman can be restricted fromentering the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.The Supreme Court came to its decisionbased on the principles of equality thathave been laid down in our Constitution.Since the judgement was borne out of areligiously charged issue, it is the respon-sibility of the party in power to ensure thatthe situation on the ground is not furtherinflamed resulting in greater violence.

Instead, the Bharatiya JanataParty (BJP), in clear abdicationof its responsibilities stokedtensions further. Commentsfrom the BJP president reflecta clear disregard for the judi-ciary, which is an essential pil-lar of a successful democracyand only serves to underminean important part of the State.

The BJP has been brazenin its attempts to exercise con-trol over the bureaucracy aswell. The bizarre episode withthe CBI director beingreplaced in the wee hours ofthe morning and the CBI raid-ing its own officers, was justthe latest indicator of howthis Government has sought tomaintain a stranglehold oninstruments of the state andhas lost control of these insti-tutions. While the electeddrafts the laws of the country,this Government will do wellto recognise that the actualimplementation of the laws ofour country is through thebureaucracy.

The bureaucracy has aduty to implement the lawsdrafted by the legislature with-out any interference. However,there is clear disregard of thistenet by the Government andwas further evidenced by thechanges that were proposedwith respect to the appoint-ment of civil servants to theirrespective services.

The most recent exampleof an attack on the institutionsand how the Government actslike a spoilt child if things are

not going its way, is the currentstand-off between the ReserveBank of India and theGovernment. The widemingrift between the Reserve Bankof India (RBI) and theGovernment concerns ademand for funds from theRBI that have been collectedover decades. The Governmentwould set a dangerous prece-dence by invoking Section 7 ofthe RBI Act that would allowthe Government to dictatefinancial policy. This is becausethrough the past four and ahalf years, this Governmenthas shown how inept it is athanding the economy. Fromdemonetisation to the imple-mentation of Goods andServices Tax (GST), our coun-try has had to suffer a greatdeal because of Modinomics.Also, with fuel prices higherthan ever and the rupee lowerthan ever, questioning thefinancial prudence of the RBIby forcing the Central Bankinto submission, is anotherway to substitute the expertiseof the unelected with the arro-gance of the elected. Indiamust avoid such this scenario.

An independent Press isthe primary medium to speakthe truth to powers that maybebut this pillar has been bad-gered by this Government intosomething unrecognisable. Ihave written in this newspaperbefore, while discussing free-dom of Press, that there is anenvironment of fear and trep-idation in the entire country-

where we are unable to raisequestions about theGovernment without attackson our patriotism. Of theseattacks, perhaps the resigna-tion of Punya Prasun Bajpaifrom ABP News, a few monthsago under circumstances thatare frighteningly Orwellian,was perhaps the most discon-certing. These attacks cou-pled with the approach of thisGovernment to shroud itself insecrecy and a Prime Ministerwho refuses to take unscript-ed and uncomfortable ques-tions indicate that theGovernment does not believethat in order for a country tobe stronger going forward, itmust be able to question itsGovernment.

An examination of theexamples I have detailed aboveshows how this Government hastried to diminish checks on anyreckless exercise of its power bywhatever means necessary. It isobvious that the Governmentviews any such checks as tyran-nical while in reality, it is mere-ly democracy at work thatrequires the unelected, too, toplay an important role. Theelected, however, have chosen toadopt a hammer and tongsapproach to governance andignore this basic tenet. Theproblem, with such an approach,is that if you have a hammer inyour hand, everything lookslike a nail — even good sense.

(The writer is JharkhandPCC president, former MP andIPS officer. Views are personal)

)����������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������(

�������������������������������(������������������������������(��������������������� �����������������������������������������������������������������*����+�������������,���-������(�����������������������������(�������������������)��� ������������������������&���������#���������������������������� ���������������������������������-����

�����������������������������������������.����������������(��������,����*������������������ )�����������������������/���*�������������������������������� ��������������������(����������������������0��� �������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������)�������� ����������1����$�������.���������������������(����������������*������������������������������������������������������+�����������������/�������������������������������������������������������� ����� ����������������#2����������������������3*#���*�������������1����.����������������������������������������������������.���,���-�������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ����� ��&�������������������� �� ������������

,����������������������������������������������������������������������������������1������� ���������� ����������������������������������������� ���������������������������������.���,���-��������������������������������������������������������������������������#��������������������������� ����������������������������������������������

/�������������������������(��(�������������������� � �������������� �+������*$,�����#������

���������� ����������� ����������4��������� ���&������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������� ������#������&������ ��� ����� �� � 5�������� ������$���*������6����� 78 ������������������� ��/����&������$���*�������9$�����������,����%��������(����������������� ���&��������������� �� �����:;� �����(

�������������������������������������������� ���&����� � ��������(���������������������������������������������������������(��������������������������������<8������� /��������������������������

,����&���������"��������������������������������������� ��������������������=)�������� ������������������������������� ���������>��������������������� ������������������������������ +�������������������������������� �����������������(���(���������������� ������������������������������������������(���������������������� �������� ������������������������������������������������ ���������?��������������� ������� �������������(�������������0���������������������(���������4�������>������������������������������������������2��� *�����������(������������ ����,�����$������������ ��������� ������������������ ����������������������������(�����������(�����������(���(�����������(��������������(��������1���������������������������������������� ���� �����������������������������������������������(������������/�������������������� ������� ���&������������ ���(�������������� ��������������(����������������� ��:@771������+������������������������(����(����������������������������������?��������������������)���������������������������������������������������������������������������A����+����������������������������������������$���*������������������� (�������B���������������������������������#�������:@C<�������������� ������������������������������$*��������������������������(�����������������������+��������+������������������������������������������������ ������ ���+��������� �������������/��������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������� �����������������

?������������� ��������������������)���������������������(� ������������/�������� ������������������������ ������������������������:@;D����������� ���������� (����������������������������������������������������� ���������� ������������������������ �������������������������������1�������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������(��������(�����������/��������������������� ����������������� ����������������������������������������� ������������������ �����������/����������E���������&�������������������(����������������������� ����������� �.���������������������������������������������������/���������������������������(����������������������������������������)������������ ������ �����������������������������������������������������������(���������������������������������������� �#�������������������������������������F������&�GH������������������������������������������������������������������+�����������.�������������������������������������������������"���������������/����������I��������������������������������������E�������&� ��1������������������������������������� ����������������������(�����/��� ������������������������ ����#������������������(������������������&��

-�#��8���/���'%������%������%������������ ���������%������������ ��-�0��!������������� ������������������������ ������

(����3��/��1%��+���!��������������������� +�������.���������%������!� �%�+�� �����%��!� �����������

�����������

Sir — The demise of T NSrinivasan, a distinguished Indianeconomist marks the end of ajourney. He was in some ways amulti-talented personality. Apartfrom Economics as his majorinterest, he was efficient inMathematics as well asHumanities. Srinivasan was astrong votary of free trade andmultilaterism.

He was a rather unassumingperson and spent his life teachingin the United States till the veryend. Srinivasan devoted his entirelife in pursuit of knowledge andteaching.

Devendra Khurana Bhopal

���������

Sir— The Congress and theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) inthe Kerala State fighting againstallowing young women to enterSabarimala has become moreaggressive in the light of theSupreme Court agreeing to hearthe review pleas on January 22.

It seems that they have for-gotten all about gender discrim-

ination in the Sabarimala issueand they are still working handin glove with the traditionalistsof the temple though clear-cutSupreme Court verdict in favourof young women was pro-nounced.

What is their stand in termsof the verdict? Their stand is aflagrant violation of the verdictof the apex court. But whileexpressing their stand, they

make it as complicated and com-plex as ever leaving the peoplemuddle-headed.

They also make a mountainout of molehill on the issue to theadvantage of their respectivepolitical parties.

People cannot see the truthas long as they are not educatedby these parties.

TK NandananKochi

������������

Sir — This refers to the report“Voters defy Naxals in theirbastion” (November 13). Over 70per cent voter turnout in the firstphase of Assembly polls inChhattisgarh is a befitting snubto the Maoists by the people ofNaxal heartland.

Maoists believe in violence

and claim to be fighting for therights of the people. However,they tried to deprive the peopleof exercising their primary rightof ballot for electing aGovernment.

They called for boycott ofpolls, reportedly threatened tochop off hands of those on whohad polling ink on their fingersand set off improvised explosivedevices.

Defying poll boycott call ofthe Maoists and ignoring thethreats, people came out on thestreet in record numbers andthronged the polling booths. In4,336 polling booths of 18 con-stituencies, across eight Naxal-hit districts, 31.80 lakh votersexercised their voting right toelect their representatives fromamongst 190 contestants.

Which political party winsthe election is immaterial.Democracy has already comeout a winner. The ElectionCommission, security forces andabove all, the voters, deserveaccolades for the success of thedemocratic process.

MC JoshiLucknow

� 3 � 6 � � * , ( � � � 3 � � , ' -

������� ��������$�-)��� '��**�&.*)5�)3��&@4/'��8-)/

&&&'(�"�)�"����!'��*�������$��>��������������G =��-����+��������G ����� ���$��>������������>

����!��!����������'�(������) ��*�+����,-.�/0,1

�B

��������������������%

�+ � =���6

?������#����� ������������������������ ������������������������#���������H��������#�������������������������������������������������������������������,��������������

&���(������� ����������������&�#������� �������������������������������#��������&������������#�������������$�

�&�/���3�.*�&I"��������.���

/���������� �#�������������������������������������&����$�)����������#���� ����������������������������� �J

��&�.�1�3*I-�����������

/��������������������#��#�� ������������� ���������������� ���������C��������������������������������� ��������$�

�-*)&ID����!�����

���������������#�������������*��������"���������������������������� ������ �������$�

�)34&�..��'1�&I������!�����

� ; � � 8 7 9 � �

� � � � � 6 � � ; � �� 4 � � � 8 9 � ; 6

����������������������������

��������K��������������K���������������������������������$�+�������������������� ������<��������� ���� ������ � ��������� �������$

��� ������� ������,�����������������#���#��������������� ��������#��������������������������������������$����F"6��1���������#�� �����/����+��������-��������#��������������������"�#����������4;;4$�&�������#���������������������������������������������� ��� ������������������������������� ��������������$�&������������������������� ��������� ����������������������� �����������0���������������� ��� �<���� ��������$�+����������#���������������������������������������������������������������$����

&������������ ��� ���C�� ���� ������� �� ����������� ���������� ������� ������ � ��� ���� ������������������������&���������������������#������&������������� �����������������&����������� $�

���������������������������������������(�� ��������������������������������������������� ���������0������� �$��������������������������������������������� ���� ����� ���� ��������#�� ���� ���#�������$��� �������������������������������������������������� ��� ��� ���0�������������� ���� ��������������� ������������������������������$

�'3'5'*����'*�����

�1"�'�'D��1/ ���� &�

!136'".6"�/1F2-�2&86��1

���F.6���.1-6'"

-6.1�'��&��1�&6�D���""1��)6.6'62D�/ &��26-

-1/"��1�� 626!&�2��F'6�

/ &� �.�86��� 62�/��1?�� 6

�1F"�'D$�&���2�1'6LF&'6��� 6*F-&�&�'D��� 6+'6�����"-�� 6

)F'6�F�'��D��1+2�D�� 6&'

&.+1'��"��'126�

Page 9:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

There is certainly something seri-ously going wrong with our freshwater bodies, not only in India

but also across the world. Is it globalwarming, or climate change, or failingrains? Or a combination of all these?The scientific and the environmentalexperts are getting hard pressed to findthe exact reason and hopefully thesolution for the same. In the mean-while, the once flourishing rivers inparts of the world are rapidly turninginto dry river beds comprising of noth-ing but sand and quickly falling preyto land sharks and real estate mafia.

In India, the 1990s saw a flurryof hydel projects being approved andbuilt of various capacities; these pro-jects successfully dammed the riversemanating from the Himalayas at var-

ious points, leading to electricitygeneration no doubt, but eventuallycausing the rivers downstream toquickly dry up and adversely affect-ed millions of people and agriculture,which was dependent on the natur-al flow of the river.

Is this a India-specific phenome-na? Apparently not. It would be of inter-est to note that of all places, Europe is,as we speak, flummoxed by drying upof their rivers. Water levels in WesternEurope and Germany’s most importantriver, the Rhine, is at record low levelscurrently. More shockingly the waterlevels in this river is fast approachingzero at several spots. This occurrenceis due to a recent drought, which isbeing blamed on climate change.Needless to say that the developmenthas affected freight supplies, as the riveris one of the most important transportroutes in the region.

German media reports quotedGermany’s Federal Waterways andShipping Administration as saying thatabout half of Germany’s river ferrieshad stopped running, and river cruiseships were having to transport their

passengers by bus for parts of theirjourney. The reports also noted thatthousands of fish in the Swiss sectionof the river had died because of the heatand low oxygen levels. The mostimportant effect of this has been onsupplies of freight. Roughly 80 per centof the 223 million tonnes of cargo istransported by ship in Germany eachyear travels the Rhine, which links thecountry’s industrial heartland toBelgium, the Netherlands and theNorth Sea.

As a consequence of the river dry-ing up, petrol stations in the region thatrely on tankers to deliver fuel fromrefineries in the Netherlands have runout of supplies. A number of inlandports are now idle, and millions oftonnes of goods are being transport-ed by rail or road. Media reports havespeculated that drying of the Rhinecould may be due to climate change.The river’s flow relies not just on annu-al rainfall, but also on long-termwater reserves in the Alps. Meltingsnow and glaciers, as well as LakeConstance, the source of the Rhine,feed the upper parts of the river. These

reserves are substantially lower todaydue to climate change. And in morebad news, other major rivers on thecontinent, such as the Danube and theElbe are also drying up in parts.

Similar to the Rhine, the Gangesis an important river of India and isexceedingly suffering the same fate.The Ganges serves as the source ofdrinking water for almost 500 millionpeople. It flows all the way from3,000m above sea level in theHimalayan Mountains to the Bay ofBengal, and is one of the most reveredand sacred water bodies. Despite this,it is also under increasing threat fromclimate change, industrial pollutionand unhygienic rituals and waste dis-posal engendered by its legend. In fact,it was ranked as the fifth most pollut-ed river worldwide.

The Ganges already sustains near-ly half a billion people and accordingto the International Water ResourceManagement Institute (IWRMI), thedemand for fresh drinking water willonly increase. It projects the demandwill rise roughly by one-third in thecoming 15 years, meaning that the

Indians will rely on the river more thanever. However, a recent study survey-ing 925 rivers worldwide found that cli-mate change posed a serious threat tomany of the world’s running watersources. Due to its geographical loca-tion, the Ganges was found to be par-ticularly at risk, along with Africa’sNiger River and the Chinese YellowRiver.

Climate change is poised to affectthe Ganges in another, more direct way.Water pollution in Asia has long beena subject of concern, and the Gangesis one of the harder hit bodies of waterfrom the effects of the industrialboom in the continent. A report fromthe World Bank estimates that around20 per cent of the contaminants in theriver come from industrial emissions,and roughly one billion gallons ofuntreated sewage enters its waterwayson a daily basis. Clearly, the situationis a concerning one. Add to this, thedeeply religious significance of the riverdoes little to help cleanup efforts. TheObserver Research Foundation (ORF),a non-profit NGO from New Delhi,conducted a survey of 500 people and

interviewed 150 more to find out howattitudes to the river affected its clean-liness.

A large number of respondents tothe survey felt that the religious valueof the Ganga was non-negotiable.The respondents to the survey evensuggested that the scale of traditionalrituals such as corpse immersions inthe Ganga were so low that they didnot really upset the ecological balanceor biodiversity of the river and thatimmersion of dead bodies in the riverhad in no way been found to hinderwater management initiatives in theGanga. The mythological idea of theGanga is sadly more valued than theriver itself.

If this trajectory of destructioncontinues, our pious and sacred riverswill be staring at becoming dryriverbeds of tomorrow. Only zero tol-erance policies pertaining to pollutionand climate change can retrieve ourrivers from doom. But do the author-ities have the will to see this through?Only time will tell.

(The writer is an environmentaljournalist)

���������������%�������

����������'�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1

���� ������"��<���������� �������� ���� ���������������������� ������� ���

����?=<===���� ��������A���� �8B����� �� �� ��

�����������

� ������������ ������" ��� ���������� ����� ����� �� ����� <�� �� ���� ��������� �� ����#��������8B����������� ����� ����������

� ����;����6� ���

On November 3, Army Chief,General Bipin Rawat, while delivering a lecture at a seminarorganised by the Centre for Landand Warfare Studies (CLAWS),

emphatically mentioned that although at pre-sent Punjab is peaceful, but because of foreign linkages, attempts are being made “to revive insurgency in the state.” He also stated that “wehave to be very careful” and we hould take earlyaction, before it is too late. He emphasised thatinternal security is India’s leading problem butit cannot be resolved easily because of foreignassistance to insurgent groups. He also mentioned that foreign powers are trying to revi-talise insurgency in Assam. He rightly asserted that only military cannot curb insur-gency and all Government agencies, civiladministration and police should work incohesion to restore peace.

The Union Government has also informedPunjab Government that the Inter ServicesIntelligence (ISI) is trying hard to reanimateinsurgency in Punjab through Sikhs settledabroad, especially in Canada, Europe, theUnited States, and Australia. On August 12,2018, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a pro-Khalistanorganisation, promoted the ‘London Declarationon Referendum 2020 for Sikhs’. The so-calledreferendum, which was organised with thefinancial and logistical support of the ISI,demanded an independent Khalistan.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a resident of theUnited States is an important functionary of theSFJ. The organisers collected details, includingpassport copies, college documents, pho-tographs, mobile numbers, email and WhatsAppaddresses of Sikhs from Punjab in the name ofsponsoring them, to attend the referendum. Inthis way they have collected details of large num-ber of young Sikhs who were interested inattending the pro-Khalistan referendum. Thesedetails can be misused by the ISI as well as bypro-Khalistan elements in future. As the ISI isready to finance the referendums, the SFJdeclared that it will organise referendums inother countries as well.

The SFJ is planning to finance the visit of10,000 Sikh pilgrims to Pakistan to celebrate550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. The ISIwould utilise the visit to distribute anti-India andpro- Khalistan literature and might try toinstigate Khalistan sentiments to a large num-ber of Sikhs visiting Pakistan. The Gurdwarascontrolled by pro-Khalistan elements in Canada,the US and the UK have prohibited the entryof Indian diplomats, Indian Members ofParliament, et al. The Indian Governmenturged the Governments of these countries to liftthe ban but they refused to help.

Security forces also unearthed a depravedplan of the ISI under which young persons ofPakistani origin and citizens of Western coun-tries were cultivated and trained in Punjabi andSikh traditions. Later on, they were sent toPunjab and marry Sikh girls and convert theminto pro-Khalistan entities. Hence, the ISI isusing not only young women to honey-trap butalso using young men to allure Sikh women.However, the ulterior motive lies the revival of

insurgency in Punjab. The interrogation reports of Sikh

terrorists, including Jagtar Singh Chiefof Khalistan Tiger Force, clearly indicate that the ISI is fomenting trouble in Punjab and spread concoct-ed reports in Pakistani media. Thesereports are picked up by international media, which are sym-pathetic to the intelligence agency.

As the ISI was funding lavishly,pro- Khalistan elements have createdseveral terrorist outfits namelyKhalistan Commando Force (KCF),Bhindranwala Tigers Force ofKhalistan (BTFK), KhalistanLiberation Force (KLF), BabbarKhalsa International (BKI),International Sikh Youth Federation(ISYF), Khalistan Zindabad Force(KZF), Khalistan Liberation Army, AllIndia Sikh Students Federation(AISSF), Khalistan Armed Force akaDashmesh Regiment, Shaheed KhalsaForce, Khalistan Guerilla Force,Khalistan Security Force, et al.

However, these forces lack masssupport and, hence, sometimes theyput few pro-Khalistan posters orcarry out terrorist activities. In 2015,three Sikh terrorists killed a superin-tendent of police, three home guardsand three civilians in Dina Nagarpolice station (Gurdaspur), and ShivSena and Rashtriya SwayamsevakSangh (RSS) leaders were also assas-sinated. Analysts claim that theseincidents happen when the ISI refus-es to release funds unless their agentscarry out some terrorist activities.

The ISI has given shelter to a fewSikh leaders, including KCF chiefParamjit Singh Panjwar, BKI chief

Wadhawa Singh Babbar, ISYF chiefLakhbir Singh Rode and KZF chiefRanjit Singh Neeta in Pakistan. Theseleaders propagate Khalistani ideolo-gies to the Sikhs residing abroad. TheISI also uses them to spread anti-Indiaand pro-Khalistan views to IndianSikh jathas (group of pilgrims) when-ever they visit Pakistan.

At present due to close family rela-tionship between Sikhs and Hindus,Sikhs understand that Khalistan is notpracticable. However, the ISI persis-tently sends its agents to Punjab inorder to instigate Sikhs.

The ISI has also smuggled drugsin Punjab and at present youth havebecome drug-addicts. The ISI usesthem as support agents to spreadhatred towards Hindus. As there is noideological basis for Khalistan, the ISIcirculates news about perceived atroc-ities and statements of anti-establish-ment political leaders who denounceIndian system with ulterior motives.

Analysts also claim that the econ-omy of Pakistan is ruined and it is inon verge of loan default. PrimeMinister Imran Khan returned emptyhanded from China. The InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF) has put strin-gent conditions to grant loan and,hence, the Pakistan Government israising the Khalistan issue to sidetrackthe attention of poor and illiteratemasses.

India must safeguard its interests.The analysts claim that not only ISIbut several intelligence agencies sup-port various terrorist outfits. Hence,Indian security forces must analyse thereason why European countries,Canada and the US never help Indian

security agencies against Khalistanielements.

Pro-Khalistan Sikhs should beblacklisted and they should not beallowed to enter India. At present, theKhalistan movement is dormant inIndia but it is not dead and it canrevive with foreign assistance. A vastmajority of Sikhs are aware of the futil-ity of the movement but a few disen-chanted members of the communitymay be tempted to play with fire fortheir selfish interests.

Sikhs settled abroad may alsorender ideological and financial assis-tance to the perceived discriminationand atrocities. Hence, Central as wellas State Government should try to sortout simmering issues, including pun-ishment to the executioners of 1984anti-Sikh riots, Sutlej-Yamuna LinkCanal issue, among others. The sep-aratists’ allegation that Hindus wantto submerge Sikh religion must becountered.

In view of the above, Indian pol-icy planners must be careful andchalk out a comprehensive plan underwhich the genuine problems of Punjabwill be redressed. On the other hand,anti-national elements must be dealtwith stringently and those who raisepro-Khalistan slogans should be putbehind bars. The Government and thenationalist elements should also for-mulate a plan to counter the misinfor-mation campaign launched byKhalistan supporters in India as wellas abroad.

(The writer is a member of UnitedServices Institute of India and Institutefor Defence Studies and Analysis.Views expressed are personal)

)�����+����������������!

/�+��&�&�����������������+�+���������������2������3���� �� �������������� �!�%������ �����%����!%�����������34%� ����� ������%�� ����������%�������

&'#(�)�*����#�* '+��,�#%+%���,�*� %'%'-����,�##.�%�'� '��+#%/ ���+$ '-��+ '�*��*%�0���.*�*%0�*��1*�/����/��2.������$�� .�$�*%�%���$ 0���$��3%##���������$%���$*�.-$4�&'#(��%/��3%##���##

���+'6�6"���� 6�8 �2&���".136.6"��&�-1'.�"��&"

&"-&��)F��&��&�"1��-6�-��"-�&�

��"�'63&36/&� �?1'6&!"���&���"�6$��3����.�*1'&�D1?��&8 ���'6�/�'6��)1F�

� 6�?F�&2&�D�1?� 6�8 �2&���"

.136.6"��)F����?6/

-&�6"� �"�6-.6.)6'��1?

� 6��1..F"&�D.�D�)6��6.+�6-

�1�+2�D�/&� ?&'6�?1'�� 6&'

�62?&� &"�6'6���

.����.��/������5����������������6������������������������� �����::�:@:J�#�������(���������1�������K�����!�����F����������������

��:@:DH�/��� F����:@:7H�����9����,����F����:@:DH����������%���� ��������()����� ���#��� ��������������������������������/����������������������������

������������������������������������ ��������� ������� �����������������������������������������(�����;8���������������������<8����������F���������������H���������������������������@�D�������������� ��(�����������������������#�������������������������(�� (����������� �������������� �������������������������������������������������� ��9����,�����������������������������#�"���������=.�������������(��������������G.������/����&��������G

/�������5����������6#�-����� ���������������:@:@������$����$��+�������������������#��� ��2���������������� �������������������������������������(���������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������� ����������������9���������� ������"�����������/����������� ��������������������������� ��9����,����&������������ ��� (���������������������������������.������.��������� ����������������������������������������� ���$��$��I����������������������#�-����� �����&����(������������������������������������������������(�������������������#��������������������"���������(�������������������� ����������������������� �����(�������������"���� :7�1�������������������������������(����������� ���������������������������� (������������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������� ����/����������������A���������:@LC���4���������������+������:@LD�.�������(��������������������������������>����������������+��������:@L8������,������+����.������:@LC��:@L@�

#�-���&��������������������������� �������.����.��//���������������������������������������������77�������������������<:��<7�������M�����������������������(���������M������� �����������.����.��//�����������������������������������������)����������� ���������4�����#����������������������������������,����9�������������������������������"�����/������(������������������������� ��9,�����,����9������������ �������+���.�������������������������������(���.����.������������ �������������� ������(����������������(�����������������������������������������������������������$���.����(.��//����������������������>����2������������������������/�������$��������/�������+�����/������������������������������(��������������"��������������������������/�����������1������!��������.����.��/������/��������������������������1�������������������#������� �������������(���������������������:;���������������������������������:L���������������������*����A������A�����?���������>��� �I���/���������� 1��������(�������� �������������*����������

/������������������������������������� ��������� ������ ����� ��� ���� �������� ���������� ������� �� ���������������� ��D;�:JD����������D8�888�������#���/�������������2�������+����������������������������������������� ��1��������� ���������������������������5���������������������������������� 6��5������������� �6#�����������*�������K�I������>�������>����,������>����-����������,�����%�����,���� ���>�����������!����1����,�����+�������,�����%�����,�������>�����#�����/������������������������K���������������!� ��K� ���+��������������������!� �����K����-�������������� ��/����-��!� �)�����,����*�����,�+�.����������A,+,��!� ���.�������������������������������������������������%������������������������������������������������������!� ������ :@ ���������������4�� <<�:@:@�������������������������(��������������������:8%�����������:;�� ��)�������������� ������ ��������������K� ���+�������� ���5����������������� ������������������������������� ��������61���������������������"���� ����������/����&������������������������������������������������� �������1����������/�����������������.���*������������������������������%����������������������� ����1������������������������������������������

����� ���� ��������������� ��������� ���������������������

!����� �&- 9 6 � � � ; � � � �

�"#�$"�#��(�!��"�� ,"�

-����.�� =�6��=�6

/ �� �696�?

������������&������������������/�����/���&������������������������������������������������������������

+/ ��6��

-;6�91��<�

�������2��������������������������������� �������,������������������#���������������������������������#��#��������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������#����������� ������������������#������������������ ��� ������������$����� ���� ������ ��� ���

������ ������������

&&&'(�"�)�"����!'��*

Page 10:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

(�!���,���������� '�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1

���� �&"!�+1'6

Prime Minister NarendraModi on Wednesday called

for an early conclusion of themulti-nation RegionalComprehensive EconomicPartnership (RCEP) agree-ment that should be modern,comprehensive, balanced andmutually beneficial to the peo-ple of all countries.

He also called on fellowRCEP leaders to give mandateto trade ministers and nego-tiators to take the economicgrouping forward, saidSudhanshu Pandey, addition-al secretary, the commerceministry, during a media brief-ing here.

The RCEP, involving 10ASEAN members (Brunei,Cambodia, Indonesia,Malaysia, Myanmar,Singapore, Thailand, thePhilippines, Laos and

Vietnam) as well as China,Japan, Australia, India, NewZealand and South Korea,would cover about half theworld’s population and a thirdof its GDP.

The RCEP has concludedseven chapters of the total 16.

Prime Minister Modinoted that significant progresshas been made in marketaccess of negotiation for goodsand called on similar efforts onservices sectors.

“We need to make similarefforts to make progress in ser-vices negotiations as they con-stitute more than 50 per centof the GDP of most of theRCEP countries. In future,services are going to be play-ing a very important role,” hesaid at the RCEP meeting.

He also stressed that anysuch multi-lateral agreementwhich has diverse circum-stances and developmentalrequirements should be mod-ern, comprehensive, balanced

and mutually beneficial onlythen people of all countrieswill be benefited by such anagreement.

Responding to questions,Pandey said the PrimeMinister has very clearlyexhibited his support to theRCEP agreement and urgedall leaders to give requiredmandate for “early conclu-sion” which means India isstrongly committed to theRCEP.

Since the developmentalcircumstances of each countryis different, therefore he urgedthat any multilateral agree-ment finalised should be mod-ern, comprehensive, balancedand mutually beneficial.

At the summit, the leadersof the 16 negotiating countriesreviewed the progress that hasbeen made in the negotiationsof the RCEP.

The negotiations amongthe countries in the bloc havebeen ongoing since 2012.

�������������������������������������6�:��!��+� �(#����(����""�� �� �(#�����������!���/���!��� � ��!�.������

���� "6/�-62 &

The Government andReserve Bank seem to be

veering around to reach anagreeable solution particu-lary with respect of relax-at ion of the PromptCorrective Action (PCA)framework and easing oflending norms for the MSMEsector ahead of the RBI boardmeeting on November 19,sources said.

If not in this board meet-ing, sources said, the issue ofrelaxation of PCA frameworkwhich the finance ministryhas been pitching for would bereached in the next few weeks.

As a result of relaxation,some banks may come out ofthe PCA framework by the endof the current fiscal.

Of the 21 State-ownedbanks, 11 are under the PCAframework. These areAllahabad Bank, United Bankof India, Corporation Bank,IDBI Bank, UCO Bank, Bankof India, Central Bank of India,Indian Overseas Bank, OrientalBank of Commerce, DenaBank and Bank ofMaharashtra.

The PCA framework kicksin when banks breach any ofthe three key regulatory triggerpoints namely capital to riskweighted assets ratio, Net non-performing assets (NPA) andreturn on assets (RoA).

The RBI is also likely toagree to easing of lendingnorms for the MSME sectorincluding strict rating criteriato improve credit flow to thissector, sources said.

Besides, the central bank isexpected to consider specialdispensation for micro, smalland medium enterprises(MSME) sector and non-bank-

ing financial companies(NBFCs) which have been fac-ing liquidity issues.

The Government feels thatthe MSME sector whichemploys about 12 crore peopleplays a critical role in the econ-omy, and the sector hit bydemonetisation and imple-mentation of Goods andServices Tax (GST) needs sup-port.

However, the central bankhas been averse to Governmentdemand for special dispensa-tions for MSME and NBFCsectors as it consider themvulnerable.

Last week, FinanceMinister Arun Jaitley said thereis a need to minimise NPAs inorder to maintain the strengthof the banking system andenable it to help the economygrow.

It is only a strong bankingsystem that will be able toimprove credit in those sectorswhich really need credit, theFinance Minister had said,adding, “The MSME sectorneeds credit, several other play-ers in the market need credit.NBFCs today need creditbecause a large part of lendingis done by them.”

There are reports of grow-ing tensions between the RBIand the government, with theFinance Ministry initiating dis-cussion under the never-used-before Section 7 of the RBI Actwhich empowers the govern-ment to issue directions to theRBI Governor.

RBI Deputy GovernorViral Acharya had in a speechlast month talked about theindependence of the centralbank, arguing that any com-promise could be “potential-ly catastrophic” for the econ-omy.

')&��!�#������� ������������ �������������������

��� "6/�-62 &

Indian Hotels CompanyLimited (IHCL) announced

its Quarter 2, FY 18-19 resultsrecording a PAT growth of�53 crore with 82% operatingEBITDA growth and 14% salesgrowth for the Quarter.

The company has wit-nessed a good growth momen-tum. The company has alsoadded an addition of 15 newhotels, an inventory of 1825rooms and a 90 percent growthin pipeline over the last oneyear.

�-�0!���!( ���#!�&$��%�1��!�!�"�23�%���4 ���� "6/�-62 &

Low-cost carrier SpiecejetLtd on Wednesday report-

ed a standalone net loss of�389.37 crore in the secondquarter ended September 30,impacted by high fuel costs andrupee depreciation.

The company posted a netprofit of �105.27 crore in thesame quarter last fiscal, Spicejetsaid in a regulatory filing. Netincome from operations duringthe quarter under review stoodat �1,848.28 crore. It was at�1,794.57 crore in thecorre-sponding period of the previousfiscal.

����(���L4�������������A:5$AM���������� ���������������� �'����

���� � �"-&!�'

With farmers “stopping”repayment of crop loans

because of debt waiver of up to�2 lakh, non-performing assetsunder agriculture loans haverisen to nearly �9,000 crore inPunjab, bankers said.

“Due to debt waiver forsmall and marginal farmers upto �2 lakh, farmers in the stateof Punjab have stopped makingrepayment of their crop loansand the recovery scenario isbeing adversely affected,” accord-ing to the State Level BankersCommittee report which wasreleased on Wednesday.

Notably, under the schemerelief, up to �2 lakh would beprovided to marginal and smallfarmers who have crop loansfrom cooperative institutions,public sector banks and othercommercial banks as on March31, 2017.

A bank official said sever-al farmers were reluctant inrepaying their crop loans andit has become one of the rea-sons in the rise in NPA levelunder farm sector. Asper SLBC report, the NPAunder agriculture sector was tothe tune of �8,952 crore as onSeptember 30, 2018 as against�633 crore in correspondingperiod of last year.

The NPA amount of �8,952crore was 11.20 per cent of out-standing agriculture advancesas against 7.19 per cent in cor-responding period of last year.

The NPA level as percent-age of total advances also rosefrom 2.60 per cent inSeptember 2017 to 3.47 per centin 2018. The total outstandingagriculture advances in Punjabwere to the tune of �79,963crore as on September 30, 2018,as against �88,122 crore in cor-responding period of last year.

5��, 67�(���� ��(�!%�!*���� !" �$��4/�!

���� &��"�!�'

The Arunachal Pradesh gov-ernment Wednesday

signed MoUs with 17 privateinvestors for projects worth�1,200 crore during the fifthedition of North EastConnectivity Scheme atTawang, an official release said.

The MoUs with privateinvestors across sectors liketourism and hospitality, oiland gas, retail, power, equip-ment manufacturing and sportshas potential to create over8000 gainful employmentopportunities in the state, itsaid.

The Polo Towers Group, apioneering hospitality grouphas identified 11 investableprojects in Arunachal worth Rs419 crore and will generate1850 employment opportuni-ties.

Jungle Travels India Pvt Ltdexchanged MoU to invest in 20rooms Jungle Lodge in or nearPakke Tiger Reserve andWildlife Sanctuary in EastKameng district with invest-

ment of �10 crore and gener-ate employment for 60 people.

Sterlite Power signed MoUto invest in detailed study ofpower system for Arunachaland take upgrade and updateproject on annuity basis, itsaid.

They are also interested insupply and installation ofOPWG network on entiretransmission system.

The project shall garnerinvestment of �325 crore.

Alinz Portable PetrolPump Pvt Ltd exchanged MoUto setup portable petrol pumpsin Arunachal and in Northeast,which will be executed in PPPwith an investment of �500crore providing employment to5000 people, the release said.

Archit Electricals Pvt Ltdintends to setup a unit of man-ufacturing and repairing ofelectrical items like oil cool andair cool transformers of varioustype with investment of Rs 10crore and employing about100 people.

Mobisoft Technologyexchanged MoU intending tosetup IT hub with investmentof �10 crore.

Headkicks exchangedMoU intending to organizefootball themed festivals withinvestment of �0.25 crore.

Hindustan Aeronatics Ltdexchanged MoU intending todeploy HAL-Dornier-228Commuter Aircraft and ALHDhruv helicopter for interand intra state air connectiv-ity in Arunachal, the releaseadded.

�����%� ������,�5!�%��+������������2����!��%��6�788�������� ��/���B�����!"���(����(�! ����� �!� ����!� ���� �

Page 11:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

����������'�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1 ,,

I, Umesh Pasricha S/o KrishanKumar R/o A-75, RadheypuriExt.II, Delhi-51, declare thatmy daughter has changed hername from Divyanshi toDivyanshi Pasricha.Henceforth, she shall be knownas Divyanshi Pasricha for allfuture purposes.

PD(8221)A

◆ ◆CHANGE OF NAME

Page 12:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

*���+�,�����������'�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1

Dhaka: Bangladesh onWednesday was preparing togo ahead with the plannedrepatriation of hundreds ofthousands of Rohingyarefugees who last year fled aviolent military crackdown inMyanmar, despite concernsover their safety.

The plans to send Rohingyarefugees back to Myanmargathered momentum, withreports of Bangladesh armedforces gathering in the Cox’sBazar camps and allegationsthat refugees were assaulted bythe authorities for refusing tocooperate, according to a reportin the Guardian.

The first phase of theRohingya’s return to Myanmarwill begin on Thursday, accord-ing to an agreement signedbetween the two countries onNovember 23, 2017.

“We have seen their con-cerns, but so far the decisionhas not been changed,” RefugeeRelief and RepatriationCommissioner Abul Kalamtold Efe news.

The two governmentsagreed to repatriate 2,251 ofsome 723,000 Rohingyarefugees living in camps inCox’s Bazaar of Bangladesh.

The Army, police and para-military troops moved into sev-eral of the camps in Bangladesh,where over 7,00,000 Rohingyahave been living after fleeing acampaign of violence, describedas genocide by a UN fact-find-ing mission.

According to the Guardian,there have been reports ofBangladesh camp officialsassaulting Rohingya refugeeswho refused to cooperate, in asign that the repatriations maynot be voluntary, despite mul-tiple assurances by Bangladeshthat it would not force anyRohingya to go back.

Meanwhile, UN HighCommissioner for Human Rights MichelleBachelet on Tuesday urgedBangladesh to halt the plan,warning that the repatriationwould violate international lawand put the lives of the refugeesat serious risk.

Rohingya leaders echoedthose concerns, saying it was too soon to start therepatriation.

“This repatriation is notgoing to be sustainable,” AbdurRahim, a leader of ArakanRohingya Society for Peace andHuman Rights, said. IANS

Peshawar/Islamabad: A toppolice officer of Pakistan’sPeshawar city has been founddead in Afghanistan, 18 daysafter he was abducted to thewar-torn country by unidenti-fied militants, authorities saidon Wednesday.

Superintendent of Police(Peshawar) Tahir Khan Dawarleft his residence in Islamabadfor an evening walk on October27 but did not return home.

His mobile phone’s last

location was traced somewherein Jhelum city of Punjabprovince.

After being contacted, hesaid that he was fine and therewas no threat to his life.

The Islamabad police hadconstituted various teams totrace him. Peshawar city policein a statement said that the offi-cer had been on a short leaveto Islamabad to meet his fam-ily. His abductors released apicture of him along with a let-

ter of the Tehrik-e-TalibanPakistan’s Khurasani groupclaiming responsibility for thekidnapping and the killing.Information Minister ofKhyber Pakhtunkhwa ShaukatYusafzai said that Dawar wasruthlessly killed by the abduc-tors in Afghanistan. He was incaptivity for 18 days.

The Afghan ForeignMinistry has confirmed therecovery of a body with the ser-vice card of Dawar. PTI

London: The UK is “signifi-cantly closer” to delivering onthe result of the Brexit vote,Theresa May has told MPs.

The PM was speakingbefore a crunch cabinet meet-ing where she is seeking hersenior ministers’ backing forthe UK and EU’s draft agree-ment. She told the Commons itwould give the UK control ofborders, laws and money - andalso protect business and jobs.But Jeremy Corbyn said the UKwould be stuck in an “indefinitehalf-way house without anyreal say” over the rules.

Speaking at PM’sQuestions, the Labour leadersaid May was putting a “falsechoice” before Parliamentbetween her “botched deal andno deal”. Agencies

Singapore: Myanmar’s leaderAung San Suu Kyi has rebuffedcriticism over her government’streatment of its ethnicRohingya Muslims.

US Vice-President MikePence told Suu Kyi onWednesday that the violence,which led more than 7,00,000of the country’s Rohingyaminority to flee for Bangladeshsince August 2017, was “with-out excuse.”

Pence also said Myanmar’sarrests and convictions of two

Reuters journalists was “deeplytroubling” to millions ofAmericans.

Pence and Suu Kyi met onthe sidelines of the annualsummit of the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations inSingapore. Pence said the meet-ing was at Suu Kyi’s request.

Suu Kyi said only Myanmarwas in a position to explainwhat happened and how it sawthings, just as Americans couldbest understand what is hap-pening there. AP

�6;��9�1�6;��9�11�;7��08��#������

������#��/���� ���������

����������������8�#������/�����#��/���4%��#�����7���8

��.�43�7�-'3*�6-�).�&*)1���2�&�34�&�C�*<.'6.�'6

#������������������������������--����!�� ���������������$�� ���8����

���%�!���������������������%�����6$����������������������%������

Jerusalem: Israeli DefenceMinister Avigdor Liebermanresigned on Wednesday andcalled for early elections, accus-ing Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu of “capitulating toterror” and surrendering beforethe Islamist group Hamas overa Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Over 460 rockets and mor-tar shells were fired at southernIsrael in 25 hours on Mondayand Tuesday, according to theIsraeli army. The Iron Domemissile defence system inter-cepted over 100 of them. Mostof the rest landed in openfields, but dozens landed insideIsraeli cities and towns, killingone person, injuring dozensmore, and causing significantproperty damage.

In response, the Israeli mil-itary targeted approximately 160sites in the Gaza Strip connect-ed to Hamas and PalestinianIslamic Jihad terror groups,including four facilities that thearmy designated as “key strate-gic assets”. As news of a cease-fire between the Israeli govern-ment and Hamas — which con-trols the Gaza Strip —broke,Liberman’s office put out a state-ment saying any claim that hehad backed ending Israel’s offen-sive was “fake news”. PTI

�� �������� ����� ������������)31)3%������ �����&�����0��� ���������������F8������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������������������������#�#���������� �������� �������������������$

� ��������� ���������������� �����D�34�)��(�� �������#����������������������������/�������������������������������������� ������������������������������������ ������� ������������#��H���������#���$��'����� �������F��6�������������<�����������������)��(�� �������+.4$N���������������������������������������� �����AMB���� ���������������������������K�H����������#�����������������������������������������K��������������������������#������$�

� ��� ��� �" �E9������� ����'3�&'3-�.-)�?���������/�������������������������� �#�� ��������#���������������������#���O9��������������������������������$���������#���4;����������������#��������������������������������������������?������$

F���������� ������� �������� �� �)31)3��������#������,�������������� ���,�������������#��������� ��������.�����/���������������������� ����� �������������6�������������� ������!������������$�-�������������H����� ���,�����#�������������������� �� ���#������������������� ���,��������������������������������&������������ ��2������������F8$

� � � ��� � ��� ��� ������� �� ��� )&(������ ��������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������#����������������������� ����������$

Page 13:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

����������'�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1

��������� ����A���G������������������������������� ������������������,�����������������3���������������������������������������#���<��������������������������������������)��������$��+�������#�������������������������������������$�������&��� ������� ��&������������������������������&��#�<�������� �����������)��������$����������������������� ������������C������������������������$�/������&� �#��������������������� �#���������������0�����&�����������$�&�C��(��������&���� ����� �������� �����������)������������&�����C���#�������������� �����������������$&����������������������������������������������������������������� �����$

C:� �� ���*���!$ �! �����/��/�!��!+�(�����!��� �����

����(�!��� .� ����D����� !��+�"��� �������"!+�)�� � ��!���*�(�!%:���/�

�!��+�)���*�(�!�������"��(� ����(��!+��/��*���/��+�!���!��+�)�� ���!� ���������%EF<(��1� (

��� �������� ������������������������������������������ �������������������������������� �������������� � ����&�������-������?�����P&-?Q����0�����������������������$��������#�����/��������������������������������� �#�� ������������ ����������������� �0�� $� ���#������������������� ��������#����������(�����

���&-?C����������������� 0������ �&�����0+���������������$��-���+��������������0������������������ OB;���������������������������������������0������������0���������������0��������+��������������� �������������������$�.��������������

����������������������������F�+������������������������� ����������������$

?�������������������< ���������������� �������������� �� ��� P4;;MQ����� ����� �����P4;9AQ�����������0���������������������&��������,0�������������������������������'�-�034��0*�'8 �������������������������������������� �����������������������������������$����������������������������� ����������������0�����/������������������������'�����$�&������������������������������(��������������������� �������������������� �����$�&�����������������������������������$�&�����������������������������(��0�����������������������)����$

9��!�+�!���A�� �!�������*��+

�������!�������� �!�!�

/�/� ��,�

Children’s Day may well be celebrat-ed every year on November 14 to

commemorate Prime Minister JawaharLal Nehru’s birth anniversary andincrease awareness of rights, care andeducation of children. But a survey thisyear shows that we may have well fall-en short when it comes to parenting andschooling them about a subject that issensitive and the knowledge of whichwould prepare them to face a world ofpredatory exploitation, that of sex.

A study was conducted across var-ious demographics to understand dig-ital media and its behavioural impacton children recorded some interestinginsights. It was found that six out of 10parents do not talk about sex educationwith their children. A mere one-thirdof parents with older kids (15-17 years)claimed to be talking to their kids aboutsex education, according to a researchby a market research and analysiscompany, Velocity MR. Only one-thirdof the kids’ parents say are exposed tosex education at school.

Seven in every 10 kids across agegroups play online games with friendsaround the world and nine in 10 par-ents of kids in the age group 6-10 yearsunanimously agree that the pop-upsexpose their child/children to unwant-ed content. Approximately, one inevery two children spends two-threehours daily on the internet. Six in every10 parents agree that online games havea negative impact on their child’sbehaviour.

But there are more number of par-ents who believe that the internethelps in education of the child. As manyas nine in every 10 parents believe that.“With the growing presence and usageof digital media, our younger genera-tion has been adopting digital mediaexponentially. Even though socialmedia may not be a safe place for kids,there is peer pressure for children tohave an online identity,” said JasalShah, managing director of the compa-ny. “It’s shocking to see that most par-ents do not talk about sex educationwith their children. In India, accordingto our data, 53 per cent of childrenbetween the ages of five and 12 havebeen subjected to some form of sexu-al abuse. There are numerous miscon-ceptions surrounding sex education inIndia,” he added.

Gone are the days when childrenloved to indulge in outdoor activities.The influence of technology in the fieldof gaming continues to grow at a rapidpace. As computer and video games

have increased exponentially in pop-ularity over time, they have also causeddrastic behavioural changes among thecurrent generation of children. Arecent online game called Blue Whalewhich was causing suicide amongchildren is an example of the adverseeffects of online gaming. All theseshows that parents must play an activerole in monitoring their childrenonline activity.

With access to the internet throughmultiple points, children are learningto use the internet at a younger age.Close to 55 per cent parents say, theirkids started using the internet betweensix and10 years of age and three in every

five kids having access to an internet-based TV. But not all parents see theaccess to be detrimental. Eight of 10parents of children aged six to 10 yearsare positive about TV viewing.

Mobile phones have become theprimary interface to access the internetand with that comes access to unwant-ed content that can not be always mon-itored. Even though three fourth of theparents say that they have never caughttheir kids watching unwanted content,two third of them use measures torestrict their internet access.

Parents of young kids (six-10 years)tend to monitor their usage of the inter-net the most; followed by 11-14 years(nine in every 10) and 15-17 year (eightin every 10).

Access to social media has alsobecome prolific with more than eightin every 10 kids having access and usingit for maximum of about 3 hours daily.Eight in every 10 parents discuss theusage and dangers of social media withtheir kids and nine in every 10 of theparents with minor kids with access tosocial media monitor their social mediausage.

The research was conducted on asample size of 2,268 covering prominentIndian metros including Mumbai,Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad,Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Pune.

After months of speculation,a royal tenor and well-guarded info corridors and

spaces, Bollywood actors RanveerSingh and Deepika Padukonemade vows to each other at adream-like wedding in Italy’s LakeComo with a traditional Konkaniceremony. This will be followed bya Sindhi ceremony on November15.

The wedding took place at theVilla Del Belbianello with only inti-mate friends and family around.Both Ranveer and Deepika choseSabyasachi white and goldKanjeevaram creations, she a sari,he possibly a kurta or sherwani.Both will go for colour at theSindhi rituals, Deepika in brightred and gold to be precise.

Shrouded in privacy, it was astorytellers’ day of how the couplewere truly magical. As per insiderreports, the couple have done awaywith the idea of gifts andtrousseaus, asking their guests todonate it to Deepika’s NGO, theLive, Love, Laugh Foundation.Ranveer Singh reportedly wentdown on his knees to ask forDeepika’s hand on the day ofmehendi, during which they worecolour-coordinated clothes. Healso made an emotional speechprofessing his love for Deepikawhich made her all teary-eyed.Ranveer then hugged Deepikaand the couple exchanged ringssoon after. The ring ceremony wasattended by 40 guests, and this wasfollowed by a sit-down dinner.There was also Bollywood musicto which the guests grooved to atthe party which followed. Ranveerapparently performed to his songTu Ne Maari Entry... from the filmGunday. Guests surprised themwith a mash-up of instrumentalsof songs from the duo’s films.Ranveer even reportedly strung uptheir private pictures as a videostory.

The mandap was done up inwhite while the massive villa was

decorated by more than 10 floristsfrom another section of Italy. Thewedding ceremony ended onWednesday afternoon and wasfollowed by a lunch that wouldinclude Indian cuisine. The couplespared no expense and had report-edly flown in Swiss chefs for theirwedding cake and desserts.

The villa was wrapped up intight security to stop paparazzi andthe guests were also told about ano-picture policy. So there were nodrones, the local boatmen were allpaid to not ply other tourists andriver patrol was in full swing, thewaterway being the preferredmode of transport. Guests werealso given identity bands. Inviteshad QR codes which had to bescanned to enter.

Right after the news of theirwedding was announced, theirWikipedia bios were updated toshow spouse names.

According to reports, thesangeet and mehendi rituals, whichtook place before the engagement,were held on CastaDiva Resort andVilla d’Este, which are close to thewedding venue. The mehendi cer-emony was followed by a dinnerwith the family.

At the sangeet ceremony, it wasreported that Ranveer entered tohis Gunday song, Tune MaariEntriyaan. Singers Harshdeep Kaurand Shubha Mudgal performed atthe mehendi event. The A-list cou-ple will have two receptions, onein Bengaluru on November 21 andanother in Mumbai on November28. Bollywood congratulated thecouple with Nimrat Kaur tweet-ing, “Huge congratulations@deepikapadukone and@RanveerOfficial !! Here’s to theblissful ever after of every step youwalk together...” while Karan Johartweeted “Such a stunning gor-geous and beautiful couple!!!!Nazar utar lo! @deepikapadukoneand @RanveerOfficial !! Badhai ho!!! Love you both!!! Here’s to a life-time of love and joy!”

#��������� ������������� �����-�������������-����� �%���) )+����$��.$ ���(������� ����� � ������(�������������� ��*�� �� ��%����������

� �)������( �� ������������(�����������9��)��-���+��������� �����������������-��������������-����9��������� �%���) )�!�)�������!���.����� ��5><;+�

Be it swallowing a 40-centimetre swordthrough peristalsis, taking rabbits out

of a hat, spreading cards on the table andhypnotising the audience to pick the onethat the mastermind had already chosen orprobably cutting a man into two pieces ina rectangular box and joining him back toperfect shape... In a magician’s world mir-acles are nothing but illusions.

Illusionist Alexander Magu makes a pitstop in India for the second time to stunaudience and share stories of what drovehim in the first place to play with the humanmind. He narrates his story of how as a 17-year-old boy growing up in St Petersburg,he went crazy over a trick his friend onceperformed and decided to never returnfrom this winding path of wizardry.

“It isn’t a profession very highly pre-ferred or chosen. It’s all about ideas, imag-ination and a story-telling capacity to holdthe audience,” he told us. The initial yearswere a struggle for Magu whose parentswere reluctant about his career choice. Hadit not been for magic, he would “have beenworking in the Russian Railways.”

So is it only about playing pranks thatcould amuse people? “No,” he says. “It takesa lot of training and practice to gain exper-tise in an act. And it is not magic, it is justa play of psychology and mind-counsellingtechniques.”

Today, Magu loves his job that not onlylets him explore the world but also “lets meexplore the human mind and its numerouspossibilities. The beauty of the human mindis that no matter how fearless it might con-dition itself to be, it is as fearful, unbeliev-able yet believable. It’s amazing how certainthings can amaze the mind.” He hugelyderives inspiration from the mastermindsDerren Brown, David Blaine and “ofcourse, David Copperfield.”

For Magu, the art is self-taught and asmuch about being a seeker. He believes thathe is a self-made artist. He says, “I learntfrom the internet, books, looking at the

other famous illusionists, TV and films. Iam all by myself. I have never taken any spe-cific education for this art. With time, I havedeveloped my own techniques.”

Magu even does subtle social messag-ing. While performing in one of his actspreviously, he played with a cigarette anda white scarf, making it disappear and re-appear at unexpected places like nostrilsand wrist. In the end, the cigarette was mag-ically lit and on his lips. The message wasto make cigarettes disappear from people’slives forever. However, this moral shift tooka sentimental turn when he said that realmagic was all about love, friendship andfamily.

There was a time when magiciansoffered the audience a sneak peek into theirorchestrated and choreographed acts justto keep the spectacle element alive. This wasthe reason why shows like Criss AngelMindfreak, Master of Illusions, DougHenning’s The Magic Show, Breaking theMagician’s Code: Magic’s Biggest SecretsFinally Revealed became major TV hits.Magu, however, believes that the popular-ity of magic shows and pranks has still notlessened and “neither it will. It is a very spe-cial kind of act that has a lot of future. Youcan reinvent and push the limit to infini-ty.”

His tricks include mind-reading,telekinesis, levitation and gravitationalillusions. While all these are merely “illu-sions” and not “magic,” he explains how anillusionist is different from a magician. “Anillusionist might leave your eyes wide openand make your jaw drop but a magician canmake miracles happen. That’s magic,” sayshe. From goosebumps, mind-reading,comic magic to a complete theatricalexperience, Magu’s show will play “scarypranks” and “play with your memory,” mak-ing the impossible seem possible.

(The show will be performed fromNovember 15 to 25, 7 pm to 9 pm, at

Upstage, Roseate House, Aerocity.)

�������! �%%"�"��

�����)��!���) �����������������������*�)�� � 9������������%��$������

�������� �

���+6''6+1'����� 6�1F+26� �36-1"6��/�D

/&� �� 6�&-6�1?�!&?����"-�'1F��6�F����8&"!�� 6&'!F6�����1

-1"��6�&���1-66+&8����"!1

� 6�.�"-�+/���-1"6�F+�&"�/ &�6/ &26�� 6.���&36�3&22�/���-6�1'��6-)D�.1'6�� �"9;�?21'&���?'1.��"1� 6'�6��&1"�1?�&��2D

-��8) ���!"$) �!��( ��$�! 6"�$"*�$��$��"��&�(("�#�$0�,���*�'5)��. ����

;�6�-96�����6

��)�������!���/��)��(�� ��

���(����! ��"�� ����� ����! ��!� "������+��!��"� ������! ���!�� ��!

!+�*� �� � �(������� ��!*! �+��! �! � �!!� �)�

�*���(�!� ���+

���'�������������������26R�"-6'�.�!F������������&�������������� � �8 .&���2

����������������������� ��������

�������������� �����������

,�������������������

�� ��+� ��!!� ��!���!+1�������0�������������������������������P9N09M������Q������������������� ����������������$�)���6�. 3&3�

Page 14:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

����������'�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1 ����,5�

���������������������.���������� ���?����#�����������������������"�#������49����A;$���.������������������������������� �����#����������� ���������#������#�������������������������������������������������������� ��������������� ������,���#� ��H������#������������#����������������������������

� What does the IABCA awardmean to you and the university atlarge?

This award celebrates theAustralia-India relationship and thecontribution made by people towardsstrengthening the bond between thetwo countries. For me, this award isimportant because it celebratesDeakin’s 25 years in India, which hasbeen amazing from both personal andprofessional perspective. It is alsoimportant to celebrate the peoplebehind the success. Be it the team atthe India office or the leadership of theuniversity, it is the passion in peoplethat has dictated our fruitful journey.

� What made Deakin Universitychoose India for its first internation-al office?

The second Prime Minister ofAustralia, Alfred Deakin, on whom theuniversity is named, had a vision thatthe Australia-India relationship isgoing to be very important for the twocountries. Concurring with the same,Deakin, being a young and innovativeuniversity decided to embark on thejourney and establish its presence inIndia not just to look at studentrecruitment but to also work withIndia, in India, for India. The wholeidea was to engage, contribute and toexchange excellence in knowledgebetween the two countries.

� With you at the helm of the oper-ations, how has the 25-year long jour-ney been so far?

To think of the journey so far, wehave to first think of India 25 yearsago. The globalisation of the Indianeconomy and the education sector inparticular was a big change. DeakinUniversity was the first of its kind toset up an office abroad and I remem-ber, at that time there was no under-standing of the how and why. Thus, we

had to first create that understating inthe market and then look at partner-ships with the Indian universities. Thiswhole process has been very interest-ing. We hardly understood globalisa-tion ourselves; leave alone know itsimplementation in terms of curricu-lum, degree, decisions on infrastruc-ture requirements and more impor-tantly the impact on the student com-munity. However, we have come a longway, where today, Deakin’s South Asiaoffice and its activities are often show-cased as a ‘case study’ of successfulmodel of engagement. We are indeedproud to be featured as a successfulcase study in the ‘India EconomicStrategy to 2035’ by the Australiangovernment. A document that chartsout Australia’s vision for economicpartnerships in India for next 20years.

� Please elaborate on some of thepartnerships in India

Over the past two decades, Deakinhas established strong strategic part-nerships with premier institutions inIndia, both with industry and acade-mia. The university provides strategicinputs in teaching and learning pro-grams besides offering various optionsfor studies through semester abroadprograms, research, internships,mobility and in-country capacitybuilding programs. We have partneredwith institutions in India such as AllIndia Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS), IIT Madras, National SkillsDevelopment Council (NSDC), CII,ISB, Centurion University, CEPTUniversity, NID, VIT University, IITs,IISC, Symbiosis InternationalUniversity, University of Mumbai,Hyderabad University and AmityUniversity. Our strategic collaborationsto engage in areas of health science,biotechnology and sports includethose with The Energy and Resources

Institute (TERI), Indian PremierLeague team—Rajasthan Royals, MaxHealthcare, NIMHANS and MadrasDiabetes Research Foundation(MDRF). We also run various Student Mobility Programs in

collaboration with some of these part-ners under which, each year, about 200Deakin students travel to engage in several activities.� What are some of Deakin’s initia-tives to encourage research in Indiaand Australia?

We work closely with premier aca-demic institutions, government bod-ies, key industry bodies to engage incutting-edge research in communitybased topics in the areas of science,material, manufacturing, manage-ment, social sciences and CSR. TheDeakin India Research Initiative(DIRI) is at the helm of our commit-ment to build a robust knowledgecohort. Currently, DIRI involves over80 projects over 20 organisationsacross India. The establishment ofresearch centres of excellences like theTERI Deakin NanobiotechnologyCentre, the TOBY Playpad Laboratoryand the Centre of Excellence inAdvanced Materials with IIT Madras,have been some of the key milestones.

� Does the university offer scholar-ships to Indian students to study atDeakin? Are there any specific stu-dent engagement activities?

In a first of its kind initiative,Deakin has established a scholarshipprogram—‘Changing Lives’, withNDTV, which offers 100 per centscholarship on tuition fee. For researchprograms, the Indian governmentoffers ‘Endeavour Scholarships’ wherethe government would spend on stu-dents to spend time at Deakin. For theundergraduate and postgraduate stu-dents, Deakin offers meritorious schol-arships ranging from 10-25 per centand four 100 per cent scholarships forthe best in various fields. We heavilysubsidise the education for Indian andSouth Asian students to encouragethem to experience world-class facil-ities at Deakin University.

F�������������������� ��"� �����������-������3���+���������P!�����Q���������610�����������-������F��#�������������������������������������������������#���������������������������������&��������955S$���������������������������+���������������������� �������#���������������������������� �&������������������������������ ������������&��������������)������������������������P&�)��Q����������������������������K)��������2������������D����4;9:�������$&����������#�������������� �� ����������������F��#���������(����������&������������������������������� �������&����0���������������������������������������$�6�������,�������������������#���%

)����!�%�%���������,�����

,-�,3!�39�(�3�,3��,�6�,"��'-�6�9�3(,'-

BUILDINGPARTNERSHIPS ANDENGAGING WITH THE

GOVERNMENT,INDUSTRY AND

ACADEMIA IN INDIA HASPUT DEAKIN UNIVERSITY,

AUSTRALIA IN THESPOTLIGHT AS APLATFORM FOR

KNOWLEDGE-BUILDINGAND EXCELLENCE IN

EDUCATION

� � � � � � � ( � 7 6 9 � - �

� �� ��������� �" ������������/���������������#�������-�������������������� �.�1,�����!�����1,� ���+��#���2�������������������#�������������������������������������������������������,� ��$�&����������������������1RD!6"�&$+$�������������������&����������#�����?-�������������������������#�������� ����������������������� ������&��������������������������������������� �N$5����������94;;����������$�.�1,���������������������������������������������������������������� ������9;;09N;�������������������������������#����������������� ���������������� ��������������������������������������-���>"�'��������������������������"��.���$������������������ �� �������.�1,����������������������������,����� ������������ �������������������������$�&������#��������������������#�����������A55�������$

������ ���� ���������� ������H$���"2�&2�������������������������������������<���������������������������������������A;�����������������#���������������������������A�M44$9:�������� �������S�SN5$;5��������������������� ����������������#���������$�?�����������������������������������������BSM$AN������������������BS4$5M��������������� ������� ������ ����� ����$������ �����������������������55$S9�2����������������9;9$4B�2�����#���������������� ��������������9N$:4�2������ ������B$4B�2������������������� ����������������#���������$����������������������<�����������:�99B$5:.F����� ������:�B9M$MB�.F������������������ �����������������$

������������� �������#� ��������� �����������������������������&�����P��&Q���������������������������K&�����.�������)��������?����C�� ������������������������������&������&�������P�&&Q����������������������.�����������?���� ���������������'�������������F��������.����������F��������.�������?�����������������������������������&��������PF.?��&Q������������������������������������#���������������'��������������.�������������&����� �����������������-���$���&�������������������������#�������������������������*!.����-������������ ���������!.������8������������������#���$

����A���������� �������� �����" ���.����������.�������������� ���������������&�����P..��Q����������������������������������������������������������������A;$����������������#�����#������������������������94�N99��������� �������5�5B5����������� �������������� �������������������� ������� ��� ��������4B���������#������������������������������D1D������$����..�����������������������������S9$B4����������� �������������������������45$MB���������� ���������������������������� ������� ���������������S;��������$�

����� ������ ������A:����������������&����&�������������������?����������� �������������F����.��������������������������������6�#����������?��������������������� ���-��.�������������+�� ����.��������"���-�����������������������.��������������������������������&�����������'�����������������������8����!������� )������!�#�����������*�����������(�������������� ��C����������&������'������������ ��������� 6�.������8���������H����6�������������������� ���C���������6����������"������������'�����+����������������0��0���� �� ������������&�+1��2���!�������������,����#������������&�+1��-������8����$

*��(�������$����:��������� ����� � �*��-�����)���� �����$������������ � ����� � � ����������-�� ��������� ��-����������� ���� ���� ������*���� �� ��� �����! �-� ��� ���$���<5+�"��� ������������� ������������� ������$����$� ����� ������������������!�����"�-��-�����������������+

��������� ��� �� � ��������"�&�0����������#�����������P ����Q���������������,�������������������6��������������-�#���������������� �+�� ����P6-�+Q�����45��������������)�� �����$������� ��������������������#����������������������������������������� �#��������������������<������������������������������������� �����,�����������������������������������������������������������������#�������������������������������������������� ������������,���������������� ����(��������������������,��������������������������� ������������� ��� ����������$

������������ �A9���� �������� ��������C���������K��������C������������0����������������������������������������������������������������� �� ��������������������������I���+��������� �������������������������������������� ����0+��������� �����!����$�������������������������*����4;95���������������� ����C������������������������C����������������� ���$��������0����������������������AA;���� �����������������������������������������#�����������.��������������������� ���������������������������������������$���������������������������4;����������������������.��� ���������$

����� ��������� ��� � �� ����� ����� �� ����������� ���&������������ ��+���������'����#���2������P&�+'2Q������ �������������������������������� P.�FQ��������-���������������-����"��������1����������P�-"1�Q�����,������������������������������ �-"1��������������&�+'2C������� ��������������� ������������+��������8��������$�F��������.�F���-"1�����,��������������������������������������+����$���.�F������� ����������������������������� �������������������� �����-"1��������������������-�������������61�����.-����&�+'2�� +����(����������������������������-����&�������������+��������6,����������������������P�-&+6�Q$

��������������"9;#9:���:�������������&����C����������������������� �����#������#��#�� ���������������������#����������I8������I��� ��� �����������������"�#������9B09:��������&������!�����������������������P&!"��Q����"���-���$��������0�����#������� ����������&!"����������������������"�#�����������������������#������������� ���������������� ���&����C��������������������������������#����������������������F8��!������+�������'���������&���$�������������������#�������������� ������������� ���������������������&���?�������������� ��������.�������������������� �������������8�����'�(�(�$

An unexplored tourism par-adise—Manipur, has a lot

to offer to every tourist to thestate. This year, the state is backwith its grandest festival—Manipur Sangai Festival—tocelebrate the rich culture, her-itage and culture of this pristineland.

An annual affair, theManipur Sangai Festival is cel-ebrated from November 21 to30. The festival takes its namefrom the state’s unique, shyand gentle brow-antlered,Sangai deer or the dancingdeer. The Sangai deer is foundonly in Manipur’s floatingKeibul Lamjao National Park atthe Loktak Lake. The festival hasgreat profundity in showcasingits rich art and cultural heritageand celebrating the various eth-nic diversities in Manipur.

The chairman of theTourism Corporation ofManipur Limited, Dr SapamRanjan, informed that the fes-tival will be inaugurated atImphal on November 21. Twoother districts of the state—Bishnupur and Senapati, willalso play host to the festival andhave a line-up of events rangingfrom half-marathons, watersports and trekking along withother adventure activities. Hewas speaking at the curtain-rais-er of the festival which wasrecently organised at the SelectCityWalk mall at Saket in NewDelhi.

The member of parliamentand Padma Bhushan awardeeMary Kom, the former boxingworld champion and Arjunaawardee Sarita Laishram, alongwith the former Indian footballteam captain P Kenedy Singh,marked their presence at theevent to promote the festival inthe capital. Officials fromManipur Tourism along with its

stakeholders shared updates onthe preparations for the largesttourism festival of the state.

“Taking the festival as anopportunity, we are here toconnect with our potentialstakeholders in the capital cityof the country. We wish to invitethem to come to our state andenjoy our cultural extravagan-za. Manipur holds great many

surprises for every visitor. Theprofound natural beauty of thestate and the unique attractionsthat we have, like the floatingnational park of Keibul Lamjaoand Sangai are found nowhereelse in the world,” said Ranjan.

A variety of dance forms ofover 34 recognised tribes ofManipur will be the specialattraction of this mega tourismevent. The main venue of thefestival at Hapta Kangjeibung,Imphal, entertains visitors withits mesmerising performancesof renowned artists from allover the world every evening.The famous Rass Leela dance ofManipur is a must watchamongst the variety of perfor-mances by folk dance artists.

“Manipur receives the max-imum number of visitors dur-ing this time of the year when

we celebrate our biggest tourismfestival. The curtain raiser forthis festival is organised inDelhi to create awarenessamongst potential visitors aboutthe state’s offerings as a touristdestination. Manipur is largelyunexplored and offers hugeopportunities for adventure,culture and rural tourism afi-cionados,” said the tourismdirector of the state governmentW Ibohal Singh.

The director further added,“Our state presents huge oppor-tunities for adventure tourismand we are exploring opportu-nities to associate with domes-tic and international adven-ture tourism associations. It isthe right time for us to informtravellers in the region that ourside is ready to welcome themto the Manipur Sangai Festival.The state is considered one ofthe safest state for women trav-ellers. It has a women’s onlymarket where many business-women run their small veg-etable stalls till late at night.”

Started in 2010, the festivalhas grown by leaps and boundsover the years and has becomea platform to boost touristinflow. The domestic touristinflow during 2010-11 wasrecorded at 116,652 whichincreased to164,483 in 2017-18.Similarly, there has been a man-ifold increase in foreign touristfigures to the state from 431 in2010-11 to 3,787 in 2017-18.

Page 15:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

����������'�(������) '���*�+����,-.�/0,1 ���� �,>

���� 21"-1"

Roger Federer staved off eliminationfrom the ATP Finals as the six-timechampion eased to a 6-2, 6-3 win over

Dominic Thiem on Tuesday.After losing his opening match at

London's O2 Arena against Kei Nishikori,Federer would have crashed out if he hadbeen beaten by Thiem.

Only once before has Federer failed toqualify from his group for the knockoutrounds in his 15 previous appearances at theprestigious season-ending event.

That lone flop came 10 years ago whenthe Finals were held in Shanghai andFederer is still in with a chance of avoidingthat ignominious fate thanks to his com-fortable 66-minute dismissal of Thiem.

Bidding for a record seventh ATPFinals crown and a first in the tournamentsince 2011 — which would be the 100th sin-gles title of his glittering career — worldnumber three Federer must beat SouthAfrica's Kevin Anderson in his last groupmatch to make the semi-finals.

"It feels good. I am very happy that Ishowed a reaction after the last match,"Federer said.

"Against Kei, instead of seeing thingspositively, I thought negatively. It was dis-appointing but it happens.

"Today I was more positive and happyon the court. I love playing in London andI had to remind myself what a privilege itis. I hope I showed it."

Since winning his 20th Grand Slam titleat the Australian Open in January, Federer

has been stuck in a prolonged slump by hissky-high standards.

A quarter-final exit at Wimbledon,blowing a two-set lead against Anderson,was followed by a stunning US Open last 16defeat to Australian journeyman John

Millman.The 37-

y e a r - o l d ' sdefeat in his

opening Finals match against Nishikori onSunday marked the first time Federer hadlost in straight sets in 46 group stage match-es.

He responded to that setback by can-celling his practice session on Monday,sparking fears he was seriously hampered

by a hand injury that has troubled him sincethe grass-court season in June and July.

Having cut a grumpy figure during hiserror-strewn loss to Nishikori, Federer's spir-its were lifted by this solid show, aided by

Thiem's 34 unforced errors.After missing a break

point in the opening game,Federer started to find hisrhythm and he landed thefirst break for a 2-1 leadwhen the world numbereight sent a forehand long.

Another break followedin the seventh game as

Thiem netted a tame volley as Federer wonthe first set with ease.

While it wasn't vintage Federer, he wasdoing enough to take advantage of Thiem'ssloppy display as the French Open finalistdouble-faulted to gift a break in the open-ing game of the second set.

That was all the encouragement Federerneeded as he cruised to the finish line.

G" � "����� ���Novak Djokovic moved closer to a place

in the semi-finals of the ATP Finals as theworld number one dispatched AlexanderZverev 6-4, 6-1 on Wednesday.

Djokovic is chasing a sixth ATP Finalstitle and his first in the prestigious season-

ending event at London's O2 Arena since2015.

In his 11th appearance at the Finals, theSerb will be guaranteed to reach the last fourfor the eighth time if John Isner beats MarinCilic or if Cilic defeats Isner in three sets lateron Wednesday.

Djokovic, who beat Isner in his open-ing group-stage match, has enjoyed aremarkable renaissance in the second halfof 2018 and lifting the trophy on the banksof the River Thames would be the perfectway to finish his year.

Djokovic faces Cilic in his last groupmatch on Friday, while Zverev, who defeat-ed Cilic to kick off his Finals campaign, takeson Isner.

The 31-year-old was assailed by claimshe had lost his hunger for success and waspast his best after injury and personal issuesthreatened to derail his career in 2017.

But Djokovic has banished his demonsin spectacular style, winning the Wimbledonand US Open titles, returning to world num-ber one and becoming the first player to winall nine Masters 1,000 tournaments.

"I found it more difficult than in the firstmatch against John Isner. I played well mid-way through the second set and started toswing through the ball," said Djokovic, whohas suffered only two defeats in the Finalssince 2012.

���� 81/211"�

Olympic Silver medallist P VSindhu and Sameer

Verma notched up con-trasting wins onWednesday to progress tothe second round of the

H o n gKong OpenWorld TourSuper 500tournament,

here.Sindhu, seeded third, con-

tinued her consistent run as sherecovered from a mid-game

slump to surpass Thailand'sNitchaon Jindapol 21-15 13-21

21-17 in the opening roundwhich lasted a little over an

hour.It was Sindhu's fourth

win over the Thai player.Sindhu, who won

three major Silver medalsthis season — CommonwealthGames, World Championshipand Asian Games — will take onKorea's Sung Ji Hyun next.

The 23-year-old fromHyderabad has a superior 8-5head-to-head record against theKorean.

In the men's singles, Sameer,who clinched the Swiss Open andHyderabad Open this year, sawoff another Thai SuppanyuAvihingsanon 21-17 21-14 to setup a clash with China's Olympicchampion Chen Long.

However, former SingaporeOpen champion B Sai Praneethwas stunned by KhositPhetpradab of Thailand in a 62-minute opener.

Praneeth had a 3-0 recordagainst Khosit ahead of the matchbut it didn't matter as he wentdown fighting 21-16, 11-21, 15-21 to bow out of the tournament.

��� �� ��� G������ ��I;#$Dhaka: )�� ������ ������� E�������� ��� MB04/�����������������������������������������$E��������������������ABM���������������#�#�����������������������������������������#�����������4;99������ ��� ����� ���� ��� ����������� ��� ��� ��� SSA����$� )�� ������ �������� .��������� ����������������������#�� �E������������������������� �������������������� ����������������������������� �����44S0B$�.������������������������������� ��� ��� ����������������� ������������������������������9;9������������������������ ������������ ��� ����� ��� ����� ��� ��#�� ����������� ������������������� ����������$�

�������������� ��" ������Kandy: ���� 2����C�� ��������� ������� ����� �� 0����� 6� ����� ������� ��� ��� ������ ���� ��� ����������������/����������������*���)������������������������������������ �$�)������C��BA������������BS������������������������������6� �������4:N��������� ������ ���������������� ��� ���:50S� ��� ��� ������ � +���������� �������� ���$�������� ����� ������ � ��� 6� ����� ����� ��������� ������A;;�������T�����#�T����#�����$6� ����� �������� *��� 2��� ���� ����� �����6� ����C�� ���������� ��������� � ������� 8��������#��������94��#��������2������������������������������4B�������������������$

" �������������$=Guyana: 6���� � �� ����0������� ������#�������� ���#��������&�����������#����� ����� ������ ��������� ���� ���� ����� &������� ������� ����� !����� )����� ��� ��� &���/����C�/������4;���������������$� &�������������������#�� ���#���� ����������������������������������� � � ������ ��0��#���� +�������� ���� ����� �$��������� �����������8����������������������������������������H�� ��������� ������"��E�������������+��#���������������#���������&��������������&������$�&������������������������#����������������������������+�������$

���������� ��� �����Kolkata: �� ��,������� �� ����������������������������.���������������#�����������&+2�����8������� 8�� �� '������ ��� ��� ����#��� ����� ���<���� ���� ��� 4;95� �������$�1��� ��� ��� �������������������4;9:������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ��� $�T&� �������,������� ������������ �������������������8������������� �&C#�����������������������������$��������������&C�������������������T�������������������$�����,������������������C�������������������������$�

������ ����� � ������������New Delhi: ����� �� ������� ���������� ����-�����/��������������������������&����C���������#��D���� ����������� ��� F"&�6?$� &�� ��� ����� ��� �D���������������� ������������������ �������������� ����������������� ����� ���������������������$� ��� ����� ���� �������� ��� #����� ����������������� ��������������#����������������������������� ���������������� �����������������#��������$�T&������#��������������������������������F"&�6?�D��������������$�&�������#���������� ��� ����� ��� ����� ������ ���� ���� ����� �����������#�����������������������������#��T� �������$ ��������

�9�1���

���� .F.)�&

Chief national badmintoncoach Pullela Gopichand

termed the year gone by as a"tough" one, but expressedsatisfaction that the target todo well in major events wasachieved.

"Overall it's been a toughyear for us. We hardly had anytime for preparation. Overallwe had the CommonwealthGames, the Asian Games andWorld Championships- thebig events," Gopichand toldreporters on Wednesday.

"And whatever time wehad was not enough to reallywork end-to-end on the mis-take. But having said that westill have (Kidambi) Srikanthranked high, (P V) Sindhuranked high.

"We have had medals atthe major events, whether it'sthe Asian Games, CWG orWorld Championships. So Iam happy with the perfor-mances (of the shuttlers) andlooking forward to the com-ing year," the chief nationalcoach explained.

Srikanth is currently

ranked ninth among men inthe world, while Rio OlympicsSilver medalist Sindhu isranked second among thewomen.

"In this year, we had themajor events- CommonwealthGames, Asian Games andWorld Championships- andwe have been successful (inthose) and that was our targetfor this year. And I'm happythat at the end of the year they(players) are able to maintaintheir rankings," added

Gopichand.Another top shuttler Saina

Nehwal won the CWG Goldin April defeating compatriotSindhu in the final.

The Indian team alsoclinched the Gold medal inthe team championship atCWG held in Gold Coast,Australia.

Gopichand also stressedthat extra effort was needed tobe done in all the areas.

"Every area needs work. Ifyou look at the way Sriknath

has played, he has lost to acouple of them (players) quitefrequently, whether it is(Kento) Momoto (Japan) orChou Tien Chen (ChineseTaipei). There have been a fewlosses there which have beenconsistent, but if you have towin the big ones, you have tobeat them and you have toprepare for them, he said.

"And unfortunately wehad back-to-back (tourna-ments), we had a week afterthe Asian Games, came backafter two tournaments. Wehad another week now, so thisis not enough time for thepreparation and I would liketo see a little longer stint," theformer All England championsaid.

Asked whether it wasimportant for top shuttlers topick and choose events,Gopichand replied, "This yearwas a tough one, with theCommonwealth and AsianGames. It was tough to pick.And also players in the top 15have to play a mandatorynumber of event. So thatmakes it even more tough. It'seasier said than done."

���� "6/�-62 &�

Celebrated boxer M C Mary Kom willaim for a historic sixth Gold at the

AIBA Women' World Championships,the build up of which has been marredby a row over lone Kosovan boxer's par-ticipation and poor quality air in thenational capital.

The 10th edition of the champi-onships, set to be the biggest ever withmore than 300 participants from 72 coun-tries, is being held in the backdrop of box-ing's uncertain Olympic future in theaftermath of controversial Uzbek busi-nessman Gafur Rakhimov's election asPresident.

Commensurate with its status as glob-al power in women's boxing with the thirdmost number of medals in the history ofthe event, India is hosting the champi-onships for the second time after 2006when thec o u n t r ytopped thetable with

eight medals (4 Gold, 1 Silver, 3 Bronze).The 10-member Indian team, which

is a mix of seasoned and young boxers,is unlikely to repeat the 2006 feat but isexpecting at least three medals, includinga Gold.

The 35-year-old Mary Kom, who isIndia's biggest hope, is tied with KatieTaylor on five Gold medals and one morewill make her the most successful womanboxer in history since the Irish pugilist hasturned a Pro.

The 'Magnificent Mary', who willfight in the 48 kg, will also look to winher second Gold in front of the homecrowd.

She has enjoyed a stellar year so far,claiming Gold medals at theCommonwealth Games, the inauguralIndia Open and the InternationalTournament in Poland.

However, the 2012 Olympics Bronzemedallist is aware that the road to Goldwill not be easy.

"There are boxers who are still play-ing in my category since 2001. I knowthem very well. The new boxers aretougher and smarter, they are faster. I willuse my experience. The past boxers aremore or less the same, I know them,"

Mary Kom said.Another veteran who will be seeking

her second Gold at the championships willbe Mary Kom's Manipur statemate LSarita Devi who will feature in 60kg. Shehas five Asian titles besides winning Goldin 2006 here.

The other eight in the team are PinkyJangra (51 Kg), Manisha Maun (54 Kg),Sonia (57 Kg), Simranjit Kaur (64 Kg),Lovlina Borgohain (69 Kg), SaweetyBoora (75 Kg), Bhagyabati Kachari (81Kg) and Seema Poonia (+81 Kg).

The 10-day championships, whichrun till November 24, will feature a hostof Olympic and World Championshipmedallists.

��(�!�!8 ��(�! ��0"8�%!�*�9�:�*����'-:�6��-�;�6��-���

��*��6 5�;"�#��0"8�%!�*�9::�*����(3���6�6�(� �;� ���

�"�(��8 �+-)��0"8�%!�*<9�:�*����(3����'�(��+�;�+���

$6�6�6��$,-���$'��<�-'=3>�*,-����,0������������'� �������������������������������#�U�-(���#���������������������������� �E#���#�

� ����?������������������ ����������� ����-�"���@�A����B � ��)��& ) ��-�����-�� ����������� C������ ������

�����$�����)��������-�� �� ���

����������������!� ������� ������� ( ��������� �������! ( ��-���� ��

������ �������������� ���#%� ����9���� ��

/����� ������!�%��������������%������%�����.�=����� ��->��0��

����������7�#�"�����*������5#� ���/��������

� �� ���� 8���#����,���-��(���������C����������������� ��������&)�/�����/�����)�,�� ���������������#����������#�������������������������� ����������������������������/��������$������������������ �����#����������#�����������������������������&���������������� �����8���#����������������������B;� ���� ���$���������.��.����8�������2��������-�#���������� ���#���&��������,�������� ��������������������#����������������������,��������������������������������� �����������#������� ����� ��������$�����������.����8���PS:� Q�����������-�#��PB;� Q�� ����� �������������������������+�����'����PN9� Q��������PNM� Q����2�#�������)�� �����PB5� Q���������)����PMN� Q�����������+������PV:9� Q$.������PNS� Q�����8�����)� ������P:9� Q�����������������-����E����������&�����"�����������"�#������9B�����9:�������#���$�����������������������C��R������D�� ��������� ��������������������� ������������V:9� $.����8���������������� ���������������,��/������������������������������������������$�����������������������������������������������������*�HH����)�������������� �����8��������#�$�� �

��� <������ �9�������

�'&6�.&�-)&1'*�)&�1��'/5�)3.��5��1'� �'&J"�30� �'*�4)&6!��� 4;;4�������� SN� !��� 4;;N�+������� SB� !��� 4;;B�"���-�� SB� !��� 4;;:�"�� ������� SB� !��� 4;9;�)��� ����� S:� ���#�� 4;;9�������� S:�

Page 16:  · Mayor SS Bajwa died of head injuries after falling from his terrace due to attack by a group of monkeys. In 2012, then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee once lamented that monkeys

,@����������� ��� ���� � ���� �� �����������������