˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be...

16
T o ensure that its ambition to install 30,000 megawatt of offshore wind power by 2030 does not come at the cost of the marine ecology health, the Government has proposed that lease of any wind farm in the sector will be cancelled if they are found posing threat to flora and fauna beneath the sea water. This is one of the major reasons for lease cancellations proposed in the draft Offshore Wind Energy Lease Rules, 2019 issued by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). The Ministry is now seeking suggestions and opin- ion from the public about the proposed rules. The rules also propose penalty to the default- er project proponent in the form of fine and jail imprison- ment, if found violating the norms. As per the draft rules, lease of an offshore wind power project can be cancelled if it is found to be “causing environ- mental damage to both flora and fauna beneath the sea water and posing threat to human life and property while carrying out the activities under water and operation of the wind energy turbines dur- ing validity of the lease.” The draft rules also main- tains that “If, in the opinion of the Central Government, oper- ation of the wind turbines/wind turbines is causing damage to environment or damage to property, or pollution can thereby be prevented, the Central Government may order the Wind Farm to be shut down pending an enquiry under sub-rule (a), which enquiry shall be held within a reasonable period of the mak- ing of such order.” In offshore wind farms, wind turbines are elevated over the sea level with different types of foundations, depend- ing on the depth. The large- scale deployment of offshore wind farms is the part of the Government’s shift to renew- able energy. Offshore wind power projects are used to exploit the potential of wind in open seas, where wind blows stronger than on land. The rules follow the national offshore wind energy policy which was notified in October 2015, providing a basic framework for develop- ment of offshore wind energy in the country. As per the policy, offshore wind energy blocks will be allo- cated to successful bidders through global bidding. P anic gripped motorists and commuters waiting for the traffic signal to turn green at the curve of Gurjar samrat Mihir Bhoj Marg, near Akshardham, when gunshots were heard around 4.30 pm on Thursday. What followed next was action that very much resem- bled to Bollywood flicks. Two Delhi Police personnel riding a scooty who happened to be in the vicinity, managed to nab a criminal after he and five of his accomplices had robbed two Haryana-based businessmen of Rs 35 to 40 lakh and one of the criminals opened fire at them. According to police, a gang of six armed robbers were tail- ing the duo after they hired an auto near Ghazipur Murga Mandi to reach to the Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) Kashmere Gate. Before they could com- prehend, they were surround- ed by the gang members who forcibly snatched the bag con- taining cash. Seeing the com- motion, the two Delhi Police personnel, intervened. Luckily the bullet missed the mark and in the ensuing melee, cops managed to pin down on the criminals while his cohorts fled the spot with the ‘loot’. The criminals opened fire at them. According to a senior police official, the victims have been identified as Ashok Kumar, a resident of Ganaur (Haryana) and Narendra, a resident of Karnal (Haryana). They are into the business of poultry and on Thursday they came here in Ghaizpur Mandi to collect their payment, police said. O ver a month after announcing an alliance for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) announced the allocation of seats to each partner on Thursday. In a statement, SP presi- dent Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati announced that while the SP will contest on 37 seats, the BSP will fight on 38. Amethi and Rae Bareli — the pocket boroughs of the Rahul family — have been left for the Congress. The three other seats left for other parties by the BSP-SP alliance are Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar and Mathura for the RLD. On January 12, when the SP and BSP announced their alliance, both Mayawati and Akhilesh had said they would contest 38 seats each and leave four seats for other parties including two for Congress. But the SP sacrificed one seat from its quota to pacify the RLD. As per the list, the SP will contest eight Lok Sabha seats in west UP, 16 in east UP, nine in central UP and two each in Terai and Bundelkhand region. Akhilesh is likely to contest from Kannauj and Mulayam Singh Yadav from Mainpuri. The SP has been given all the five seats it had won in the 2014 parliamentary elections - Azamgarh, Kannauj, Mainpuri, Budaun and Ferozabad. In the Lok Sabha by-elections, the SP had wrested the prized Gorakhpur and Kairana seats from the BJP. Because of its sway in east- ern UP, the BSP will contest 17 seats of the region, including Ambedkar Nagar from where Mayawati is expected to contest. The BSP will contest 11 seats of western UP, eight in central UP and two in Bundelkhand region. I ndia has decided to stop the flow of its share of water to Pakistan from rivers under the Indus Water Treaty, a move seen as an immediate fallout of deadly terrorist attack that killed 40 paramilitary person- nel in south Kashmir. Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari tweeted to con- vey the decision of the Government to stop India’s share of water going to Pakistan. But the actual implemen- tation of the decision may take up to six years as dams as high as 100 metres will have to be built to stop such flow, officials said insisting its decision was in no way a violation of the Treaty and was only aimed at getting the rightful due to peo- ple of the country. Under the Indus Water Treaty signed in 1960, the waters of the western rivers — the Indus, the Jhelum, and the Chenab — was given to Pakistan and those of the east- ern rivers — the Ravi, the Beas, and the Sutlej — to India. India’s share of water from the Ravi, the Beas and the Sutlej came to 33 million acres feet (MAF). While about 95 per cent of the water was being used in the country after the construction of three main dams across the rivers, close to 5 per cent water or 1.6 MAF would flow to Pakistan. To gain access to this water, India is now building more dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. Another official said the decision was taken two months back. Water to Pakistan from the three rivers has been flow- ing for 60 years while the country needs the same to meet needs of its citizens, they said insisting stopping of its share of water from going to Pakistan is in no way a viola- tion of the Treaty. “Under the leadership of Hon’ble PM Sri @naren- dramodi ji, Our Govt. Has decided to stop our share of water which used to flow to Pakistan. We will divert water from Eastern rivers and supply it to our people in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab,” Gadkari said in a tweet. He further said, “The con- struction of dam has started at Shahpur-Kandi on the Ravi. Moreover, UJH project will store our share of water for use in J&K and the balance water will flow from 2nd Ravi-BEAS Link to provide water to other basin States.” Gadkari’s tweets have come barely a week after the gruesome Pulwama terror attack on February 14 in which as many as 40 CRFP person- nel were martyred when a terrorist rammed an explosives laden vehicle into a bus car- rying them. New Delhi believes the attack was planned and supported by elements in Pakistan. A gainst the backdrop of political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, making alliance partners for the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for next couple of months, the Opposition leaders are all set to meet on February 26 to dis- cuss the strategy and formation of a sub-committee for evolv- ing a common minimum programme (CMP). The meeting to be held at Mohali in Punjab is to be attended by top leaders like Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu among others. Detailed report on P5 T he main architect of the 2016 surgical strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan occu- pied Kashmir (POK), former Northern Army commander DS Hooda, will head a Congress task force on national security. Congress sources said party president Rahul Gandhi had met Hooda earlier and discussed the modalities of the panel to which the Lt Gen (Retd) agreed. “The Congress president has set up a ‘task force on national security’ to prepare a vision paper for the country,” party said in a state- ment. Hooda will lead the panel and prepare the paper in consulta- tion with a select group of experts. Hooda’s appoint- ment by the main Opposition party attains significance as Congress has been accusing the Modi Government of politi- cising the surgical strikes. On September 29, 2016, the Army had carried out the strikes on seven terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control (LoC) in retaliation to an attack on its base in Uri earlier that month. E xpressing annoyance over the Samajwadi Party (SP) joining hands with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav said that Akhilesh Yadav had “fin- ished” the party by deciding to contest only 50 per cent of the Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. “By contesting just 40 of the total 80 seats in the State, Akhilesh has finished half the party. Delaying the announce- ment of candidates is further weakening the prospects of the party,” Mulayam said while addressing party workers at SP State headquarters here in the presence of media persons on Thursday. This is the first time that Mulayam has come out open- ly against his son and SP chief after the party stitched an alliance with the BSP. “The fight of the SP is with the BJP. The party workers should pull up their socks to fight and win majority of the seats that the party is contest- ing,” he said while conceding that even as the SP was forging alliances, the BJP was far ahead in preparations and had already sent its observers to different constituencies. The remarks come days after SP patriarch created a stir in Parliament, saying he wished that Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns to power. The SP patriarch urged the party workers to approach him if they want a party ticket to contest the parliamentary polls and suggested that he could “change” any decision taken by Akhilesh. A day after Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh made it clear that inves- tigations in the sacrilege cases will “go far”, his predecessor and Akali patriarch Parkash Singh Badal on Thursday said that he was ready to face arrest by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing 2015 sac- rilege and related firing cases. “I have told the Punjab DGP that I am ready for arrest,” said Badal, the five-time Chief Minister, while talking with the media. “Capt Amarinder should stop this high drama enacted in the name of an inquiry into the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan incidents and instead tell me where I should come and offer myself for arrest, since this is the sole aim of the ongoing political witch- hunt,” he added. Dubbing the developments in the Kotkapura firing cases as “political drama set up by the Congress-led Punjab Government”, Badal said: “I don’t want to waste time and resources of Punjab, so I have offered myself for arrest. Since they have decided to do so, I am here in Chandigarh for it. I will be happy if my last days are spent in Amarinder’s jail.” Badal said that he stood up against political repression all his life, alleging that Capt Amarinder had earlier also booked them in false cases. “Even my wife was put behind bars. So, I am sure they are arresting us again,” he said. “Even before any inquiry was instituted or started into these incidents, Capt Amarinder, PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar and their senior party and Cabinet colleagues had been pronouncing me guilty. Everyone knows how fair a probe can be after that,” said Badal. Badal, who was unwell and had proceeded on leave from Vidhan Sabha session after informing the Speaker of his indisposition, reportedly rushed back from his village to Chandigarh on Thursday morning when he learn that the State Counsel had named him as guilty and that the Chief Minister had reiterated his “veiled threat” against him. As per reports, Badal rang up the state DGP Dinkar Gupta on his arrival in Chandigarh, and told him that he was avail- able in Chandigarh for arrest and could wait if they needed time. “Otherwise, I am avail- able for arrest whenever, wher- ever you want me,” he told the media about his conversation with the state police chief. “There is no point in tar- geting and playing havoc with and harassing the entire state administration. All this is being done only to create a political climate to justify the final goal of feeding their lust for vendet- ta and hatred for me, which can be satisfied only by putting me behind bars,” said Badal adding that the real motive behind all this truly was “to weaken the SAD and Sikh and institutions — something which they have been conspiring unsuccessful- ly to do ever since indepen- dence”. Badal said that the Chief Minister and his senior politi- cal colleagues have abandoned even the need to pretend to respect the law of the land and have been openly declaring the outcome of the probe even before the SIT completes its investigations. “It was the same thing with the Justice Ranjit Singh Commission probe in which the Chief Minister declared me guilty even before setting up the Commission. He has now gone to the extent of declaring on the floor of the Vidhan Sabha that his vendetta will reach the ‘highest level’. Everyone knows what he means by ‘the highest level’. So why waste the state’s time on hypocrisy? I offer myself for arrest so that the State’s ener- gies are not put to destructive waste any longer,” said Badal.

Upload: others

Post on 18-Apr-2020

1 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

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

��������������������� !����� � ���������������� "��'� �����������,��� ���������������(���� ��������*#��'�������#����)� ��������������-��� �������������)���������� ���������������#�)��+ ���.�������+����� ��� � ��������������)������(������.������#������/��������01�������� ��������������������������*# ���������� ����������'��2������3������ ��4�� �� ��+��5 ������ ) � �"

�������

�#� ������ ��� .���!�678

To ensure that its ambition toinstall 30,000 megawatt of

offshore wind power by 2030does not come at the cost of themarine ecology health, theGovernment has proposed thatlease of any wind farm in thesector will be cancelled if theyare found posing threat to floraand fauna beneath the seawater.

This is one of the majorreasons for lease cancellationsproposed in the draft OffshoreWind Energy Lease Rules, 2019issued by the Ministry of Newand Renewable Energy(MNRE). The Ministry is nowseeking suggestions and opin-

ion from the public about theproposed rules. The rules alsopropose penalty to the default-er project proponent in theform of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating thenorms.

As per the draft rules, leaseof an offshore wind powerproject can be cancelled if it isfound to be “causing environ-mental damage to both floraand fauna beneath the seawater and posing threat tohuman life and property whilecarrying out the activitiesunder water and operation ofthe wind energy turbines dur-ing validity of the lease.”

The draft rules also main-tains that “If, in the opinion of

the Central Government, oper-ation of the wind turbines/windturbines is causing damage toenvironment or damage toproperty, or pollution canthereby be prevented, theCentral Government mayorder the Wind Farm to be shut

down pending an enquiryunder sub-rule (a), whichenquiry shall be held within areasonable period of the mak-ing of such order.”

In offshore wind farms,wind turbines are elevated overthe sea level with different

types of foundations, depend-ing on the depth. The large-scale deployment of offshorewind farms is the part of theGovernment’s shift to renew-able energy. Offshore windpower projects are used toexploit the potential of wind inopen seas, where wind blowsstronger than on land.

The rules follow thenational offshore wind energypolicy which was notified inOctober 2015, providing abasic framework for develop-ment of offshore wind energyin the country.

As per the policy, offshorewind energy blocks will be allo-cated to successful biddersthrough global bidding.

� ����#��# �#�� .���!�678

Panic gripped motorists andcommuters waiting for the

traffic signal to turn green atthe curve of Gurjar samratMihir Bhoj Marg, nearAkshardham, when gunshotswere heard around 4.30 pm onThursday.

What followed next wasaction that very much resem-bled to Bollywood flicks.

Two Delhi Police personnelriding a scooty who happenedto be in the vicinity, managedto nab a criminal after he andfive of his accomplices hadrobbed two Haryana-basedbusinessmen of Rs 35 to 40

lakh and one of the criminalsopened fire at them.

According to police, a gangof six armed robbers were tail-ing the duo after they hired anauto near Ghazipur MurgaMandi to reach to the InterState Bus Terminus (ISBT)Kashmere Gate.

Before they could com-prehend, they were surround-ed by the gang members whoforcibly snatched the bag con-taining cash. Seeing the com-motion, the two Delhi Policepersonnel, intervened.

Luckily the bullet missedthe mark and in the ensuingmelee, cops managed to pindown on the criminals whilehis cohorts fled the spot withthe ‘loot’. The criminals openedfire at them.

According to a seniorpolice official, the victims havebeen identified as AshokKumar, a resident of Ganaur(Haryana) and Narendra, aresident of Karnal (Haryana).They are into the business ofpoultry and on Thursday theycame here in Ghaizpur Mandi to collect their payment,police said.

����� 69(�.-�

Over a month afterannouncing an alliance

for the upcoming Lok Sabhapolls, the Samajwadi Party (SP)and the Bahujan Samaj Party(BSP) announced the allocationof seats to each partner onThursday.

In a statement, SP presi-dent Akhilesh Yadav and BSPchief Mayawati announced that

while the SP will contest on 37seats, the BSP will fight on 38.Amethi and Rae Bareli — thepocket boroughs of the Rahul family — have been leftfor the Congress.

The three other seats leftfor other parties by the BSP-SP alliance are Baghpat,Muzaffarnagar and Mathurafor the RLD.

On January 12, when theSP and BSP announced their

alliance, both Mayawati andAkhilesh had said they wouldcontest 38 seats each and leavefour seats for other partiesincluding two for Congress. Butthe SP sacrificed one seat fromits quota to pacify the RLD.

As per the list, the SP willcontest eight Lok Sabha seatsin west UP, 16 in east UP, ninein central UP and two each inTerai and Bundelkhandregion.

Akhilesh is likely to contestfrom Kannauj and MulayamSingh Yadav from Mainpuri.

The SP has been given allthe five seats it had won in the2014 parliamentary elections -Azamgarh, Kannauj, Mainpuri,Budaun and Ferozabad. In theLok Sabha by-elections, theSP had wrested the prizedGorakhpur and Kairana seatsfrom the BJP.

Because of its sway in east-ern UP, the BSP will contest 17seats of the region, includingAmbedkar Nagar from where Mayawati is expected tocontest.

The BSP will contest 11seats of western UP, eight incentral UP and two inBundelkhand region.

���$� ��� .���!�678

India has decided to stop theflow of its share of water to

Pakistan from rivers under theIndus Water Treaty, a moveseen as an immediate fallout ofdeadly terrorist attack thatkilled 40 paramilitary person-nel in south Kashmir.

Water Resources MinisterNitin Gadkari tweeted to con-vey the decision of theGovernment to stop India’sshare of water going toPakistan.

But the actual implemen-tation of the decision may takeup to six years as dams as highas 100 metres will have to bebuilt to stop such flow, officialssaid insisting its decision wasin no way a violation of theTreaty and was only aimed atgetting the rightful due to peo-ple of the country.

Under the Indus WaterTreaty signed in 1960, thewaters of the western rivers —the Indus, the Jhelum, and the

Chenab — was given toPakistan and those of the east-ern rivers — the Ravi, theBeas, and the Sutlej — to India.

India’s share of water fromthe Ravi, the Beas and the Sutlejcame to 33 million acres feet(MAF). While about 95 percent of the water was beingused in the country after the

construction of three maindams across the rivers, close to5 per cent water or 1.6 MAFwould flow to Pakistan.

To gain access to this water,India is now building moredams which will be completedin six years, officials said.

Another official said thedecision was taken two months

back. Water to Pakistan fromthe three rivers has been flow-ing for 60 years while thecountry needs the same tomeet needs of its citizens, theysaid insisting stopping of itsshare of water from going toPakistan is in no way a viola-tion of the Treaty.

“Under the leadership of

Hon’ble PM Sri @naren-dramodi ji, Our Govt. Hasdecided to stop our share ofwater which used to flow toPakistan. We will divert waterfrom Eastern rivers and supplyit to our people in Jammu &Kashmir and Punjab,” Gadkarisaid in a tweet.

He further said, “The con-struction of dam has started atShahpur-Kandi on the Ravi.Moreover, UJH project willstore our share of water for usein J&K and the balance waterwill flow from 2nd Ravi-BEASLink to provide water to otherbasin States.”

Gadkari’s tweets havecome barely a week after thegruesome Pulwama terrorattack on February 14 in whichas many as 40 CRFP person-nel were martyred when aterrorist rammed an explosivesladen vehicle into a bus car-rying them. New Delhibelieves the attack wasplanned and supported byelements in Pakistan.

����� .���!�678

Against the backdrop of political parties, including the BJPand the Congress, making alliance partners for the Lok

Sabha polls scheduled for next couple of months, theOpposition leaders are all set to meet on February 26 to dis-cuss the strategy and formation of a sub-committee for evolv-ing a common minimum programme (CMP). The meeting tobe held at Mohali in Punjab is to be attended by top leaderslike Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, NCP chief Sharad Pawar,West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, TDP supremoN Chandrababu Naidu among others.

Detailed report on P5

����� .���!�678

The main architectof the 2016 surgical

strikes on terror launchpads in Pakistan occu-pied Kashmir (POK),former NorthernArmy commander DSHooda, will head aCongress task force onnational security. Congresssources said party presidentRahul Gandhi had met Hoodaearlier and discussed themodalities of the panel towhich the Lt Gen (Retd)agreed.

“The Congress presidenthas set up a ‘task force onnational security’ to prepare a

vision paper for the country,”party said in a state-ment. Hooda will leadthe panel and preparethe paper in consulta-tion with a select groupof experts.

Hooda’s appoint-ment by the mainOpposition partyattains significance as

Congress has been accusing theModi Government of politi-cising the surgical strikes. OnSeptember 29, 2016, the Armyhad carried out the strikes onseven terrorist launch pads across the Line of Control(LoC) in retaliation to an attackon its base in Uri earlier thatmonth.

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

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

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

'��#��"���#� �������!��(�����)�*���

������������������������� +��!�������������(���,����-�(�� ������../��0��0�"�������"��������$�!�

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

� -����� � �������"�'��)������ �� ����������'������������8�� �������,��������� ������)��������������������������������������������������

� 9��������8�� �������,������ �����0:;<����������� ���������� ����'�� �=�����8�� ������*����)���������(�����=��� ��'����#�� ��������� ����������� �����'�� �=�����>�'��������� ��������?����@�=����8��

� 7���'���������������:A���������������������� ������ ����8�������������� ����������������)����) ����� ������'�� ����� �����A������������������ ����#�� ��

��� ������ ����� ����������������������������� ���� � ����!�������69(�-�

Expressing annoyance overthe Samajwadi Party (SP)

joining hands with the BahujanSamaj Party (BSP), SP patriarchMulayam Singh Yadav saidthat Akhilesh Yadav had “fin-ished” the party by deciding tocontest only 50 per cent of theLok Sabha seats in UttarPradesh.

“By contesting just 40 ofthe total 80 seats in the State,Akhilesh has finished half theparty. Delaying the announce-ment of candidates is further

weakening the prospects ofthe party,” Mulayam said whileaddressing party workers at SPState headquarters here in thepresence of media persons onThursday.

This is the first time thatMulayam has come out open-ly against his son and SP chiefafter the party stitched analliance with the BSP.

“The fight of the SP is withthe BJP. The party workersshould pull up their socks tofight and win majority of theseats that the party is contest-ing,” he said while conceding

that even as the SP was forgingalliances, the BJP was far aheadin preparations and had alreadysent its observers to differentconstituencies.

The remarks come daysafter SP patriarch created a stirin Parliament, saying he wishedthat Prime Minister NarendraModi returns to power.

The SP patriarch urged theparty workers to approach himif they want a party ticket tocontest the parliamentary pollsand suggested that he could“change” any decision taken byAkhilesh.

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

$�������������� ���� ��������� �%��&��� ��"������� '�����& � (� �����

����� (7�.!8"�>7

Aday after Punjab ChiefMinister Capt Amarinder

Singh made it clear that inves-tigations in the sacrilege caseswill “go far”, his predecessorand Akali patriarch ParkashSingh Badal on Thursday saidthat he was ready to face arrestby the Special InvestigationTeam (SIT) probing 2015 sac-rilege and related firing cases.

“I have told the PunjabDGP that I am ready for arrest,”said Badal, the five-time ChiefMinister, while talking with themedia. “Capt Amarindershould stop this high dramaenacted in the name of aninquiry into the Kotkapuraand Behbal Kalan incidents andinstead tell me where I shouldcome and offer myself forarrest, since this is the sole aimof the ongoing political witch-hunt,” he added.

Dubbing the developmentsin the Kotkapura firing cases as“political drama set up by theCongress-led PunjabGovernment”, Badal said: “Idon’t want to waste time andresources of Punjab, so I haveoffered myself for arrest. Sincethey have decided to do so, Iam here in Chandigarh for it.I will be happy if my last daysare spent in Amarinder’s jail.”

Badal said that he stood upagainst political repression allhis life, alleging that CaptAmarinder had earlier alsobooked them in false cases.“Even my wife was put behindbars. So, I am sure they are

arresting us again,” he said.“Even before any inquiry

was instituted or started intothese incidents, CaptAmarinder, PPCC chief SunilJakhar and their senior partyand Cabinet colleagues hadbeen pronouncing me guilty.Everyone knows how fair aprobe can be after that,” saidBadal.

Badal, who was unwell andhad proceeded on leave fromVidhan Sabha session afterinforming the Speaker of hisindisposition, reportedlyrushed back from his village toChandigarh on Thursdaymorning when he learn that theState Counsel had named himas guilty and that the ChiefMinister had reiterated his“veiled threat” against him.

As per reports, Badal rangup the state DGP Dinkar Guptaon his arrival in Chandigarh,and told him that he was avail-able in Chandigarh for arrestand could wait if they neededtime. “Otherwise, I am avail-able for arrest whenever, wher-

ever you want me,” he told themedia about his conversationwith the state police chief.

“There is no point in tar-geting and playing havoc withand harassing the entire stateadministration. All this is beingdone only to create a politicalclimate to justify the final goalof feeding their lust for vendet-ta and hatred for me, which canbe satisfied only by putting mebehind bars,” said Badal addingthat the real motive behind allthis truly was “to weaken theSAD and Sikh and institutions— something which they havebeen conspiring unsuccessful-ly to do ever since indepen-dence”.

Badal said that the ChiefMinister and his senior politi-cal colleagues have abandonedeven the need to pretend torespect the law of the land andhave been openly declaringthe outcome of the probe evenbefore the SIT completes itsinvestigations.

“It was the same thingwith the Justice Ranjit SinghCommission probe in whichthe Chief Minister declared meguilty even before setting upthe Commission. He has nowgone to the extent of declaringon the floor of the VidhanSabha that his vendetta willreach the ‘highest level’.Everyone knows what hemeans by ‘the highest level’. Sowhy waste the state’s time onhypocrisy? I offer myself forarrest so that the State’s ener-gies are not put to destructivewaste any longer,” said Badal.

'���������������� ����� ���������)�������� ���*����

�%&'�(�)*�+�(')&�'��(��,��+-%.%��/%0'�+��/'���/%.��)1�%/��/2*�-3�/')�'����)'4%&*-%�%/+���5%���%�%/��/0�+�/'(%/+��/('�%+�'����.����-����(�)*�+�0).�%/+�)11�-�.3(��1�1)-

%--�('6�(�/0��'��(��(�'��()���%�.�)1�'���)/,)�/,&)��'�0%����'0�7�*/'

B,��!���#���� �������� ��)C������������������

������������� ���

���� !"#

>�?#-.!�!�(8?8D�6E�,-��.E�"">�??8-.��E�8.!8���8+>�.

���$��$%����/8,,8."�

>�#6E

����&"'�,6�,8(-����,�*9D�.,9?

F�<�8.�(6�(6�?7

�����) ��)C���������C

6����(�� 8)�9�01��((*� A0G���?��������������������������

����������� ��������������� ! "� �#�

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

�('%5��(��+�:;<=������������� ��������������

� ������# 6��#��������#��#��>>6�>?:@!�������:<��>

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

Page 2: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

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

������� �� �� ������ � ����� ���� ��� �� �� ���� �� ���� �������� ����� ��� ��� �� !����� ������ "#$�� %&���� ��'� �����'��$��##"#� (��� )�� #�*"$+�#,-+* �� ������� � ./� 01� �� �������� ����� ���� )�� ""� ����$ � �������� .��� ����&��� 2���� 3�����4 ����� ����� . 5 �05�2.563 ��5����##3��4�������5�����7�� ���8��)����4���9���4��/ �:.�/�� ������47�'����:�������������4��1�����%����������4)����7�����6�� 7�8�� 7�������;����'�)�8%����$��###"� �����4#��$+#��#+<<���//��������������4!$,����������)� %.�6��/7���)'�$"#�,#��0��������4#�"#$+-*=-##:+-*==##� ���&��8������4+��!���������������'�������!�> �5������&��8$""�#���(���������4#<""$",+�++,$+<

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

�����"#

$%�&$�'����6������ ������� #�� ���� #������%/+�,%-���7������(����+ ����+������6��� ������������?���>'��������������� ������������ �����������A<������� ������?���������������������������� �7�� ������������������������������?����>'����������������'������������������ ���'����)���� ,������ ����*#�"�'��)��������?������� �� ����������������������� ������ ��������� �� �,����*#����������)���'��)�������� ������������ ������� ����'�����)�������)��������;<����H<� ��� ��������� �

���#��#���� �������#������� ����� ����%/+�,%-����������)���������� � ��������������������� ���� �������?����� �������� ����������#�@���"�'��)����� ��'����)������������� ������������������������������ �#�@����������+ ����-#�?�� ������������� �� ����� �������'�������)��������+�����I0��F<0:������)������������������ � ���������������������������������� � ��������������� ���������� ������ �.������� �� ������� ����� ���'�������'��+�����I0��F<F<�������������������4����������� �J#�@���#�'����?����� J�-���%���J�������4�� �������(����+ ����(������)������?��������������+ ����-#?����������������� ����� ����A<�<<<�������� ��������������������������� �� �����

�#�� ���� ���� ���AA>���#������������� ����.�%��,���"������������������(����$H���8�������&��� ����������7)������#���� � ��� ���� )�� ��������������������'��'��'�����))�)����0A�)��� ��������������������������������� ���� � ������������������� ��� �FKH������� � ���������������������������AA��������� ���������� ���� ������ ��'��������������������������������IIF����� ���� �������������� ����������� ��������������� ������� ������������ ���� ��'����� ��'� ��'����� ������������� �7�� ��������)��������0A<���� ���� ����������������+����?�)�������������?�)����� ����

�������������� ����������# �#���%/+�,%-���7������8�?�-����� �� �������� ��������������'��������� ������������������� ��������#����)��)����� �8��������� �����������,��� ������������� ��������)����)����������� ����)����������������� ���������(>#/�>�����/�� ��������(����?��������������������������������> �0<�<<<�� ������)�� ������� ���� ������������������������> �A�<<<�������8�?�������������������> �F�A<<��� ����'����������� �����(>#/�>�����/�� �11*��� ����(>#/��������)�������)���� �'���������� �@��������������� ����������#����)��$*�))������� �)�&���/��������01

�������� � � ���������������� ���� #� ����.�%��8�'������������������� �F<0:����?�����6�'���+���(������������+������(�))�����$+(+(&��� ������� ������� ������������������������������������ �� ������������ ���� �������� ������ �������'���+(+(����?�������'��������������))���� ���������(��������������-������7#�!�'� ����)��� ������?����6�'���(���������(�))������� ������� �������������������������� ����)�#�������#���� ����-��� ��� �������������������'��� �)�� �����,D������C������������C����C'���C� ����)������� ��

�������������� � ���#�����#�������%/+�,%-���7������/�����('��?����� ����(� �)�������� !�����)����� ����� ���������)) �C)����������������������� ����� ��������)�> �0<<����> �0A<�����4���� ��� ���� ��� �� ���������������� ������������������ ���������)��������������������� ������������?�����"�'��)����������������������� �,�������������� ������������> �0A<�����4����� ����������)) �C)���> �0<<�����4��������)�����!�����)�� ������� �������'�����)��������)����������������� � ����������������� �����)�> :�<<<����> �0F�<<<

����� (7�.!8"�>7

Haryana Chief MinisterManohar Lal on Thursday

visited Rewari’s Rajgarh villageand Faridabad’s Atali village topay tribute to martyrs HariSingh and Sandeep Kumarrespectively.

Expressing condolences tothe bereaved family members,Manohar Lal assured them allsupport and cooperation of theState Government.

He said that brave soldiers ofHaryana have always madesupreme sacrifices for theirmotherland whenever requiredand we are proud of it.

The Chief Minister said thatthe bravery with which our sol-diers fought with the terrorists tosafeguard our frontiers, withthe same spirit, the whole coun-try is today saluting theircourage. The State Governmenthas stood firm by the martyr’sfamily, he added.

Notably, during an operationlaunched by Army at Pulwama-Piglina area in Srinagar, one offi-cer and three jawans of 55-RRBattalion attained martyrdomand Hari Singh was one of themwho laid down his life whilefighting with the terrorists.

Martyr Hari Singh is sur-vived by his mother Pista Devi,wife Radha Bai and 10 monthsold son Laksh.

Manohar Lal said that finan-cial assistance of Rs 50 lakh has

already been given to the mar-tyr’s family. While, Rs 17.50lakh each has been transferred inthe bank accounts of martyr’swife and son through RTGS, Rs15 lakh has been transferred inthe bank account of his mother.

He also assured that martyr’swidow would be provided agovernment job.

While talking to the familymembers of Nayak SandeepSingh, Manohar Lal said that bysacrificing his life for the secu-

rity of motherland, SandeepKumar has made not only hisvillage and district proud butalso the State and the country.

Sandeep Kumar who gotinjured during an encounterwith the terrorists was admittedin the Army base hospital wherehe succumbed to the injuries onFebruary 19.

Expressing condolences toNainpal Singh, father of martyrSandeep Kumar and other fam-ily members, Manohar Lal said

an ex-gratia amount of Rs 50lakh has been deposited by theState Government into theirbank accounts. Apart from this,one family member of the mar-tyr would be provided a gov-ernment job on compassionateground soon, the Chief Ministersaid.

He further said that on thedemand of villagers, theGovernment School of villageAtali would be named aftermartyr Sandeep Kumar.

(���)*������*��*�*������*������

����� � ����

Union Minister for HumanResource Development

Prakash Javadekar and ChiefMinister Jai Ram Thakur onThursday laid the foundationstone of Central University ofHimachal Pradesh at Dehra inKangra district.

Speaking on the occasion,Prakash Javadekar said thatthe forest clearance for con-struction of this Universitywas also accorded when he wasthe Union Forest andEnvironment Minister.

He said that this Universitywould open new vistas ofdevelopment in the areabesides providing quality high-er education to the youth of thearea.

The Union Governmentwould provide all possible helpto ensure that the Universitycampus would completed soon,he said.

The Union Minister alsosaid that the Centre has sanc-tioned several nation institu-tions in the state.

“IIIT has been sanctionedfor Una and IIT for Mandi.Cluster University has alsobeen sanctioned for Mandidistrict. In addition to this, sev-eral Central Schools have beensanctioned for the state,” headded.

Speaking on the occasion,the Chief Minister Jai RamThakur said that the CentralUniversity will have two cam-puses at two different locations.

He said that the first cam-pus would be at Jadrangal nearDharamshala, which would

spread in an area of 750hectare. The second campuswould be established at Dehrain an area of 287 hectare.

Thakur said that the StateGovernment soon after assum-ing office in the state deposit-ed Rs 6 crore under CAMP Actfor forest clearance, so that theconstruction of this campuscould start at the earliest by

diverting forest land for nonforest purpose.

About Rs 1300 crore wouldbe spent on construction ofboth these campuses and thesame would be completed innext three years. Both thesecampus would spread in anarea of about 1000 hectaremaking it one of the biggestUniversity of the region, hesaid.

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

����� (7�.!8"�>7

Manoj Yadava, IPS Officerof 1988 batch, assumed

the charge of Director Generalof Police, Haryana at StatePolice Headquarters inPanchkula on Thursday.

Before taking charge asDGP, Manoj Yadava tookGuard of Honour. The seniorpolice officers congratulatedYadava after he assumed thecharge of the office from offi-ciating DGP, KP Singh.

Newly appointed DGP,while interacting with media-persons said that maintaininglaw and order, effective pre-vention and detection of crime,better investigation, providingsafe and secure environment towomen and also to weakersections of the society will beamong his top priorities.

He mentioned that gener-al parliamentary elections areround the corner, thus he wouldalso ensure to make all neces-sary possible arrangements toensure free, fair and peacefulelections in the state.

Describing Haryana Policeas one of the best police force,Yadava said that it is an honourfor him to serve as DGP of

Haryana and recalled the timewhen he has begun his careerin Haryana Police. There havebeen a lot of initiatives that havebeen undertaken by HaryanaPolice in the past, which areextremely laudable. We willfurther try our best with thehelp of citizens to strengthenthem besides initiating newones, he stated.

In reply to a question, theDGP said that Haryana is myhome and he has neverremained untouched with thestate. “While being on deputa-tion at Centre, I have been intouch with senior functionar-ies of state police force”, headded.

When asked about thepolice arrangements in thelight of recent terrorist incidentin Pulwama, he said that ter-rorism does not limit to anyborder or jurisdiction. We arefully geared up and emphasiswould be given on capacitybuilding in police force. STFhad already been set up head-ed by an IGP level officer.Proposal for setting up Anti-Terrorism Squad and QuickResponse Teams is under activeconsideration of the StateGovernment, he said.

1 (�'�#��*��&���23�"�������$�����0� ��

Page 3: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

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

������������� (7�.!8"�>7

The issue of “excess” powerbills to the Scheduled Caste

and Backward Classes washeard loud and clear in thePunjab Vidhan Sabha onThursday with the CongressGovernment declaring toreview the same.

The state Power MinisterGurpreet Singh Kangar,responding to the issue raisedby the Aam Aadmi Party MLAand the Leader of OppositionHarpal Singh Cheema regard-ing high power rates in Punjab,declared that the StateGovernment would review theprevious “excess” power bills.

“I have just talked to theFinance Minister. And we havedecided that all such previousbills, which have been chargedin excess from the SC, BC cat-egory consumers, would bereviewed,” said Kangar.

Blaming the previous SAD-BJP government for the “pend-ing” power bills, Kangar saidthat the erstwhile government

promised these people ahead2017 elections that all theirpower bills would be waived offif they come to power for thethird time, which was the mainreason behind the pending andexcess bills.

The Congress-led StateGovernment had imposed anupper annual limit of 3,000units for electricity consump-tion by the SC/BC and BPLfamilies, enabling domesticconsumers in these categoriesto avail only 200 units permonth free of cost. Facingsevere criticism, theGovernment, only recently,removed the cap.

Raising the issues, Cheemaurged the Government to can-cel all the power purchaseagreements with the privatecompanies signed by the pre-vious government.

Intervening, CongressMLA and the former PowerMinister Rana Gurjit Singhsought the probe into thesepacts. “They (AAP) have raisedthe right issue. When I was the

Power Minister, I got it calcu-lated that the State would bearthe burden of Rs 62,500 crorein the next 25 years on accountof power purchase agreementsto these companies,” he said.

Power Minister Kangaradmitted to have paid Rs 446crore in the last 10 years with-out any power been producedby these companies, which isunder scanner.

Alleging that it was thegovernment officers who werenot letting to get it probed, Ranasaid that it should be inquiredand the government projects becompared with the private onesand the excess money wouldcome back to the state.

AAP MLA Aman Aroraasked if Capt Amarinder Singhcould terminate the water shar-ing agreements during his pre-vious tenure in 2004, “whycannot he do it in power agree-ments with the private players?”

Kangar also rubbishedAAP MLAs claims that powerwas costlier in Punjab as com-pared to Delhi, saying that

Punjab charges Rs 25 to Rs 70kilowatt per connection asagainst Rs 125 to Rs 250 KW inDelhi.

“The supply of power toindustry, domestic consumersand agriculture is cheaper inPunjab than in Delhi,” he said.

Earlier, SAD-BJP MLAsstaged a walkout condemningthe Government “for takingback partial free power facilityamounting Rs 1000 croreextended to the SC, BC powerconsumers” by the previousSAD-BJP government.

Wearing black robes with“excess” power bills and bannerspasted on it, SAD-BJP MLAsalleged that the Governmenthas withdrawn 200 units beingsupplied ‘free of cost’ to the BCconsumers.

“The government has put acondition on 200 units permonth being supplied free toSC consumers stating that ifmore than 3,000 units are con-sumed by an SC consumer inone year, he will have to pay thefull bill without availing 200

units per month facility. Andthese consumers are being pre-sented inflated bills of as muchas Rs two lakh,” said Majithiawhile demanding that the entireamount denied to SC and BCconsumers be refunded tothem.

���7��# �������6����� �#�� ���6 �� ����� #����� ��������

Punjab legislatures blamedthe encroachments eating intogreen cover for the stay cattlemenace, with the StateGovernment maintaining thatit was ready to form an all-party panel to resolve theissue of stray cattle causingdeadly accidents on the roads.

The state AnimalHusbandry, Fisheries andDairy Development MinisterBalbir Singh Sidhu, whileresponding to the issue raisedby AAP MLA Aman Arora,admitted that stray animals inrural and urban areas is a seri-ous problem, and the pro-posed all-party committee willhave to include legal expertsand veterinary genetic expertsbesides stakeholders as itinvolves important legal andbreed hierarchy issues.

“Our country has centrallaws governing cattle apartfrom the laws administered bythe State. Thus, a coordinatedeffort will be needed to find

the solution,” he said.Sidhu said that cattle

pounds have been setup ineach district after identifyinga minimum of 25 acres of pan-chayati land to keep approxi-mately 2,000 stray animalsper cattle pound (gaushalas),which are being managed byDistrict Animal WelfareSocieties constituted underthe chairmanship of con-cerned DeputyCommissioners.

At present, 10,593 cattle isbeing managed, and an interimamount of Rs 10 lakh has beenreleased to gaushalas or cattleponds of each district from cat-tle fairs fund of RuralDevelopment and PanchayatDepartment.

Sidhu also informed theHouse that Rs 9.30 crore hadbeen collected by the LocalGovernment Department ascow cess during 2015-18, whichis being directly given togaushalas by urban local orga-nizations as per their demand.

Listing steps, Sidhu saidthat his Department wouldinstall semen sorting technol-ogy soon assuring 90 percentbirth of female calves only;implementing laws to ensureonly good quality cattle feed;tagging animals with unique ID,RFID (Radio Frequency InputDevice) which would help intracking the animals’ owners.

Earlier, Arora stressed on

the need for focusing more onrearing of indigenous breedthan to American breed. “Thegovernment should go for con-ducting DNA test on both thebreeds of bovines as the rootcause of stray cattle is theAmerican breed only,” he saidadding that no less than 150deaths out of total road acci-dents were attributable to straycattle, besides damaging cropsworth Rs 200 crore.

Lok Insaaf Party MLASimarjeet Bains stressed onfixing the jurisdiction of allgaushalas, removing encroach-ments from the gau charan(grazing) lands, besides ropingin NGOs to check the menace.

Intervening, LocalGovernment Minister NavjotSingh Sidhu said that there wasa large amount of gau charanland, which cannot be sold, isunder encroachment. “If thesecharan or gau charan lands befreed, this issue of stray cattlecan be resolved,” he added.

�#�#� ��� �#8���������� #������ ��� � ��� � �#�������#�B��#���� �

Claiming of acting againstunscrupulous travel agents byregistering 2140 cases undervarious Acts since March 2017,the Congress Governmentwould soon set up aCorporation to provide skill

training to the state’s youth tomatch foreign job require-ments.

The state ParliamentaryAffairs Minister BrahmMohindra, replying on behalfof the Chief Minister CaptAmarinder Singh to a callattention notice moved byAAP MLA Kanwar Sandhu,said that out of 2140 cases,1107 had been filed undersection 420 of the Indian PenalCode, 528 under The PunjabTravel Professionals RegulationAct 2014 and another 505under the Emigration Act,1983.

He said that the PunjabPrevention of HumanSmuggling Act, 2012, and thePunjab Travel ProfessionalsRegulation Act, 2014, had beenenacted by the Government,for which the rules had alreadybeen framed.

“Directives and advisoryhas already been issued to allthe top civil and police officialsto crackdown on illegal travelagents through a series ofmeasures to ensure strict com-pliance with the laws and leg-islations governing the licens-ing and operations of travelagents including conductingeducational seminars and pub-licity campaigns by PunjabPolice, setting up ‘181’ helplinefor assistance of needy youthlaid astray by illegal elements,among others.

���+��,�������������--��������������������������

������������� (7�.!8"�>7

After a Congress legislature threatenedto protest against his own government

for its failure to act against speeding “killer”buses, the Punjab Government onThursday announced to rein in the busessteering clear of law.

Besides, the state Transport MinisterAruna Chaudhary also announced toconduct refreshing courses for all the dri-vers, and conductors of the buses runningon state’s roads.

“We already have a law to act againstthe drivers of the buses involved in acci-dents, we just need to fine-tune it and makeit more effective,” said Chaudhary duringthe ongoing budget session of the VidhanSabha.

The Minister’s announcement cameafter the Congress’ Gidderbaha MLARaja Amarinder Singh Warring, while rais-ing the issue of people being killed in roadaccidents involving private buses in thestate, threatened to protest against the State

Government if it did not act againstthem.

“Even if we have to protest against myown government, we will...We will notallow people to be crushed on the roadsand compromise their lives,” said Warring,while urging the state Transport Ministerto make sure that the law is implementedand strong action be taken against the pri-vate bus operators causing “frequent acci-dents” on state’s roads leading to largenumber of deaths and going scott free.

Pointing that the buses of a particu-lar company were involved in five big acci-dents causing 11 deaths in the recent past,Warring asked why no action was takenagainst them.

“There were talks about training thedrivers, conductors which never held.There were no rules. Can’t we cancel theirpermits, cant we stop their buses, cant weregister cases against them for killing peo-ple...we need to make sure that law isimplemented and strong action be takenagainst them,” demanded Warring while

urging the Minister not to shrug off thematter.

“The Cabinet is all-powerful and it canmake any law,” said Warring demandingthat a law be enacted to act against theerring bus operators. “The law should havea provision to close down such bus com-panies,” he said.

He pointed that before issuing licens-es their credentials or physical fitness is notchecked. “If this continues, the trustwhich people had shown in us will notstay,” he warned.

Aam Aadmi Party MLA and theLeader of Opposition in Vidhan SabhaHarpal Singh Cheema sought an amend-ment in the existing law to punish the care-less and erring drivers.

“Section 304 (of Indian Penal Coderegarding culpable homicide not amount-ing to murder) needs to be changed, byenhancing imprisonment to at least 10years from the current two years so thatsuch incidents and cases of drunken dri-ving be checked effectively,” he said.

+,��������� ���-��&�!��* ���� ������ �� �������.���" ������ ����� ���&� ��������� ��/������, ������ � ����0������ �������������������������� ��������/����������� �����������1 �����������������&2*3���� ��������������������������"������� "�����(� �����

'������ �������������� ����������������

����� (7�.!8"�>7

The ruling BJP andOpposition Congress on

Thursday took potshots at theIndian National Lok Dal over itssplit and demanded voting todecide whether the INLD MLAAbhay Chautala should contin-ue as the Leader of Oppositionin the House.

INLD, which is Haryana’smain opposition party has 17MLAs and four of them havejoined the Jannayak Janta Partyformed after the split.

The issue cropped up dur-ing the Zero Hour during thesecond day of budget sessionwhen the Health Minister AnilVij, in a sarcastic tone, asked theINLD MLAs “We have heardthat your party has split”.

Vij then asked the SpeakerKanwar Pal Gujjar whether hehad any formal informationabout the INLD’s split.

When Vij continued seekinganswers on INLD’s split, partylegislator Naina Chautala admit-ted that the party has split and anew party has been formed.

Following this, the HealthMinister while addressing theChair said, “Sir, she (Naina) hasaccepted on the floor of theHouse that INLD has split.Therefore, separate sittingarrangement should be made forthem.”

The Speaker, however said,“They have not given anythingin writing yet and we will lookinto the matter.”

Soon after, the Congresslegislators too joined the issueand demanded that votingshould be held to decide whetherINLD’s Abhay Chautala cancontinue as the Leader of oppo-sition.

Abhay Chautala was notpresent inside the House whenthe BJP and Congress legislatorswere taking potshots at theINLD split.

Former Chief MinisterBhupinder Singh Hooda said,“When one member (Naina) issaying on the floor of the Housethat they have formed a separateparty (JJP), then how Leader ofopposition can continue to enjoythe status.”

Congress MLA RaghubirSingh Kadiyan said that votingshould be held to decide whetherthe rebel INLD MLAs still holdconfidence in the Leader ofopposition.

The Speaker then assuredthe House to look into the mat-ter.

In the 90-member StateAssembly, while the ruling BJPhas 48 MLAs after the recent Jindbypoll win, both Congress andINLD have 17 members each,one each member belongs to theSAD and BSP, five are indepen-dents while one seat fell vacantafter demise of INLD's JaswinderSingh Sandhu recently.

Notably, the JJP came intoexistence in last December fol-lowing a vertical split in theINLD, after a bitter power strug-gle between Ajay Chautala andAbhay Chautala, the grandsonsof Devi Lal, who had foundedthe party.

JJP was floated by AjayChautala and his sons-HisarMP Dushyant and INSO chiefDigvijay after the trio wereexpelled from the INLD.

��� � ��� �� ��8 9�#���� ��������8�� #��������8�#�#�������

Lashing out at the HaryanaGovernment, Leader of opposi-tion and INLD’s senior leaderAbhay Chautala on Thursdayalleged that the StateGovernment has done nothingduring its tenure and even theGovernor Satyadeo Narain Aryafinished his address in less than10 minutes and left the House onthe first day of budget session.

Chautala, while speakingduring the discussion onGovernor’s address said, “TheGovernor only read first fiveparas and then the last parawhich is about BJP’s victories inrecent Jind bypoll and civicbody polls in Haryana.”

Reacting sharply to the men-tion of victories in elections inthe Governor’s address, Chautalasaid, “Is it Governor’s speech orBJP’s speech? Is Governor some-one’s Pracharak or praising BJPbecause of being given a consti-tutional office?”

The House has been insult-ed with the mention of electionvictories in Governor’s speech,”he further alleged.

Responding to him, ChiefMinister Manohar Lal clarifiedthat the Governor’s speech hasnot mentioned BJP’s victory butstated that the result are clearvindication of government’s poli-cies.

�8 �#��������#����������6�����������

The Congress legislators onThursday alleged that the BJP ledHaryana Government is runningaway from discussion on burn-ing issues in the State Assembly,which is why the budget session’sduration had been curtailed.

During the zero hour of theState Assembly, Congress MLAKaran Singh Dalal said that theChief Minister Manohar Lalhad earlier cited examples ofother states which have longerduration of Assembly sessionand had claimed that the presentBJP dispensation in Haryana toohad started a similar practice.

“However this time, thebudget session which was to endon March 5 according to the ten-tative schedule fixed earlier, willnow end on February 27. Thegovernment is running awayfrom discussion on these issues,which is why the duration of thesession has been curtailed,” he

alleged.Responding to the allega-

tions, Parliamentary AffairsMinister, Ram Bilas Sharma saidin the BAC meeting held here onWednesday, Congress LegislatureParty leader Kiran Chowdharywas present and she had raisedno objection when the schedule

was fixed.Sharma said, “There is no

question of running away fromdiscussion on various issues.We are here to answer each andevery point that is raised. Eachand every MLA will be givenadequate time to raise issues.”

(������,����������������������*��������������-���*��L��.�������������+6�����)�*��� �)���� ��)������ ���+�������,��� ���������������7�� ���������� ������ ������)���������������)�������� � ���������*#���� �����

L��9��?�����+ �����������?����������������������� ����7������� �)��������� �������������� �������������������� �� ����"�'����5 ������

L���*#���� ������#����?���������������������?�����"�'��)����������� ���� ������������������#������������))�� ������������(����+ ����+������6����� ��������������������� �,������������(+5 ���������� ���� ��8.6!5 �.� ��)���)���� ����?������������������+������6�������������������������#� ���� ������������������7�� �������������

L���*#����(���� ���� ����� ���������������������� �����(�����+ ����-#�!��������� �������(���� �+6� ������������� ����������*���4������������F<0; �,� ��������������������)����������!���������(���� 5�"��������������������� �������?����"�'��)���������������������'����)�������� ����

L��-����� ��� �����*#������(���� ��������������� ����������������7�������(���� 5>�������?���������� ����������'��)�����������������������6���?��������� ����?����� �)�������� �����������7����������������������������� �-��� �����D@��������@�����(���� 5���������������*�������������'������ ���'�����

L��>����������+6��>������?���?��@�����5 ���������*����������#����)����������� �+ ���>�)���� �?���)��������������)���(����+ ������������?���7��������������� �������� ������)�'��������7������ �����)������������������ �������

$(��$)*+�

����� (7�.!8"�>7

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal onThursday said that the State

Government has received the report of thecommittee constituted to explore the pos-sibilities of launching the ‘Kisan PensionYojana’ and the report is being studied now.

“The Finance Department would beconsulted to find out the additional finan-cial burden on this account,” he said whiletalking to the mediapersons after the sec-ond day of the ongoing budget session ofHaryana Vidhan Sabha here.

He said that Prime Minister NarendraModi will release the first instalment of'Kisan Samman Nidhi' scheme, onFebruary 24 to the farmers' accounts asannounced in interim Union Budget.

In response to a question, the ChiefMinister said that about 10 lakh farmersof Haryana are expected to benefitted withthis scheme of the Central Government.As per the scheme, the farmers having upto five acres of land will be benefited. The

Central Government has asked all statesto provide details and data of the farmersand Haryana will be the first state in thecountry to provide this data, Manohar Lalsaid.

Replying to a question regardingAIIMS, the Chief Minister said that theAIIMS given to the Haryana will be madeat Manethi in district Rewari. Apart fromthis, AIIMS in Badhsa of district Jhajjar isa part of AIIMS in Delhi, he said.

On being asked about his meeting withBJP national president Amit Shah and UttarPradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath,the Chief Minister said that it was a rou-tine meeting.

He said that elections to the HaryanaVidhan Sabha will not be held alongwiththe upcoming Lok Sabha Elections. Thedecision to finalize the name candidates forLok Sabha Elections is under the consid-eration of Central Parliamentary Board, headded.

Gurugram MLA questions the Govtover investments

MLA from Gurugram, UmeshAggarwal on Thursday questioned his owngovernment over the issue of setting up ofnew industries in Haryana. During thequestion hour, the Gurugram MLA left theManohar Lal Khattar Government embar-rassed when he questioned the Industriesand Commerce Minister Vipul Goel overthe statistics related to investment tabledin the House.

Aggarwal said, “During HappeningHaryana in 2016, more than 600 MoUswere signed while Rs 6 lakh crore invest-ment was claimed to expected from this.But as per the data given by the govern-ment, only Rs 500 crore investment is madein Haryana, he said urging the StateGovernment to put in more efforts to givea boost to IT sector.

He also questioned that government’sdata which claimed that a total of 58342enterprises have been set up in the statefrom October 2014 to January 2019 and395199 persons got employment.

Earlier, BJP MLAs Mool Chand

Sharma and Umesh Aggarwal expresseddisappointment over the issue of cleanli-ness in Ballabgarh and Gurugram whilerequesting the Haryana Urban LocalBodies Minister Kavita Jain to look into theissue.

"::;���� ��#���� �#�����#���������� �����>@:;

As many as 5118 people had died in2018 due to road accidents in Haryana. TheState Government, in a written replyinformed the State Assembly that 429deaths have been recorded till January 2019due to roads accidents. In 2018, 446 peo-ple had died in road accidents inGurugram, 432 in Sonepat, 352 in Karnal,284 in Yamunanagar, 277 in Rewari, 267in Jhajjar, 258 in Kurukshetra.

<9:;���� ����������#���� �#������ ����#

A total of 6,18,565 unemployed youthwere registered with employmentexchanges in the state on the Departmental

portal, the State Government informed ina written reply. The number of applicantscurrently receiving unemploymentallowance in Haryana is 85152, it wasinformed. A maximum of 57685 unem-ployed youth were registered in Bhiwanifollowed by 53553 in Jind, 49700 in Hisar,46382 in Karnal and 41376 inYamunanagar.

:>C>���� ��#��# ������� �����#����>?:C

As per the medical certification ofcause of death (MCCD) data, 883 and 1272deaths due to cancer and 694 and 753deaths due to heart attack occurred in thecalendar year 2016 and 2017 respectivelyin the state, the State Government informedwhile adding that the data for the year 2018will be available after mid 2019.

>>��������� �������������� �

Haryana Health Minister Anil Vijsaid that the country’s 22nd AIIMS would

be constructed in Manethi, Rewari at thecost of Rs 1100 crore. For this, all formal-ities would be completed soon, he said.Responding to a question of Congress leg-islators on whether the National CancerInstitute would be shifted from Badhsa, Vijclarified that the National Cancer Institute(NCI) constructed at Badhsa in Jhajjar, isthe country’s first biggest hospital whichwould work as extension institution ofAIIMS. The NCI has been constructed onabout 300 acres at the cost of about Rs 2035crore.

���7���� ������ � � ������#������ �#

Responding to question related togiving Gohana a status of district, HaryanaRevenue and Disaster ManagementMinister, Capt. Abhimanyu said that inorder to create new districts, new tehsilsand sub-tehsils in the state, a cabinet sub-committee under the chairmanship ofDevelopment and Panchayat Minister, OPDhankar has been constituted.

#�������)����������)�������� �� ���)� ��������)�� ��7��� ��)� �������

Page 4: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

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

����� (7�.!8"�>7

Covering 1.17 lakh domes-tic consumers, the Punjab

State Power CorporationLimited (PSPCL) on Thursdayissued detailed guidelines inpursuance with the StateCabinet decision to extend thebenefit of monthly 200 freepower units to SC, Non-SC,BPL and BC families whoseannual consumption exceeded3000 units.

“The decision would bringback into the scheme’s coverover 1.17 lakh domestic con-sumers who had been takenout of its ambit with the intro-duction of the upper limit,” saida spokesperson of the ChiefMinister’s Office adding thatthe move will put an addition-al burden of Rs 163 crores onthe state exchequer.

Pertinently, the Cabinethad taken the decision toremove the upper annual limitof 3000 units for electricityconsumption by SC, BC andBPL families, during its meet-ing on January 31 this year.

The move will benefit atotal of over 17.76 lakh fami-lies comprising SC Domestic,Non-SC BPL Domestic andBackward (BC) Domestic con-

sumers with sanctioned loadup to one kilowatt. The subsidywould cost the state exchequera total of Rs. 1253 Crores perannum.

It may be pointed out thatas per tariff order of PunjabState Electricity RegulatoryCommission on October 23,2017, this facility of concessionwas withdrawn with effectfrom November 1, 2017, fromthose SC, non SC, BPL and BCconsumers.

According to the circularissued, those SC, non-SC BPL,BC families eligible consumershaving domestic category sanc-tioned load upto one KWwould continue to avail elec-tricity concession of 200monthly free units withoutany condition even if the annu-al consumption exceeds 3000units.

However, income tax payeeSC, non SC BPL and BC con-sumers would not be allowedthis concession.

For availing this conces-sion, the eligible beneficiarywould have to submit each yeara self declaration at concernedAE/AEE/DS sub-division officeof PSPCL that he or she wasnot an income tax payee, thespokesperson added.

����� (7�.!8"�>7

Punjab Government’sSpecial Investigating Team,

investigating 2015 sacrilegeand related firing cases, hasissued summons to the thenDirector General of Police(DGP) Sumedh Singh Sainifor questioning on February25.

SIT has asked Saini, nowretired, to appear on February25 in the Punjab Police head-quarter at Chandigarh.

Probing Bargari sacrilegeand subsequent police firingsat Behbal Kalan, SIT has, twodays back, arrested IGParamraj Singh Umranangal.Earlier last month, the SIT hadarrested Moga’s former SSP

Charanjit Sharma.Both are accused of order-

ing firing at a peaceful mobthat had gathered to protestagainst the sacrilege incidentsat Kotkapura.

Earlier, the SIT had alsoquestioned Bollywood actorAkshay Kumar for allegedlyarranging a meeting betweenDera Sacha Sauda chief and

Punjab’s then deputy ChiefMinister and SAD presidentSukhbir Badal. Besides, theformer Chief Minister ParkashSingh Badal and Sukhbir havealso been questioned by theSIT in the matter.

Two Sikh youths werekilled and many were injuredin the police firing on thepeaceful protesters in 2015.

���&$��)�������

��&��**����./���+��!0�

4� ��� ������5��������� ����66�� �������������� � ������������0����2�0�*�!�*0�������� �����

New Delhi: Delhi LieutenantGovernor Anil Baijal here onThursday asked the police totake steps to check movementof illicit cash and liquor.

"The LG directed DelhiPolice to take stern steps tocheck movement of illicit cashand liquor," the Raj Niwas saidin a statement.

During a meeting held to

review the preparedness ofDelhi Police for upcoming gen-eral elections, Baijal said theassessment of force require-ment should be meticulouslydone, and MHA and otherconcerned agencies be suitablyinformed well in advance.

Baijal also said the DelhiPolice should focus on efficient

control room management foreffective and timely redressal ofcomplaints, regarding viola-tion of the model code of con-duct during the election.

He said coordination withneighbouring states and dis-tricts be ensured for free, fairand smooth election process.

"Delhi Police also informedthat with the announcement ofthe election dates, it will inten-sify action against defacementof property, misuse of vehiclesand loudspeakers, seizure ofillicit cash/items meant forbribing voters/other electoralmalpractices," the Raj Niwassaid. IANS

)����&�*'����+%&"$����&$�''�"!���(&��"�&+�

��(%�+�0))-+�/%'�)/��'��/��,�5)*-�/,

('%'�(�%/+�+�('-�0'(�5��/(*-�+�1)-�1-��6�1%�-%/+�(.))'�����0'�)/

&-)0�((

������ �7-#�6

The Madhya Pradesh Policehas raised a fund of Rs 7.5

crore to provide financial aidto the families of martyrs killedin a suicide attack in Pulwamaof Jammu and Kashmir lastweek.

Director General of PoliceV.K. Singh handed over thecheque to Chief MinisterKamal Nath on Thursday, saidan official statement here.

The amount also includescontribution from the salariesof all police officials in thestate. On February 14, 40Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF) were killed in a terrorsuicide attack when a explo-sives-laden SUV rammed theconvoy of CRPF buses inPulwama district.

+#�#������ � �> �H A������#����)�)����� J��

������ (7�.!8"�>7

The Punjab government hascracked down in a big way

on unscrupulous travel agentsand registered 2,140 casesunder various Acts since itcame to power in March 2017,a Minister told the PunjabAssembly on Thursday.

State Parliamentary AffairsMinister Brahm Mohindra saidthat 1,107 cases had been filedunder Section 420 of the IndianPenal Code (IPC), 528 underPunjab Travel ProfessionalsRegulation Act 2014 andanother 505 under theEmigration Act, 1983.

On the recent case of fourKapurthala youth who werefraudulently sent to Armeniaby a group of travel agents,Mohindra told the House thatthree accused agents hadalready been arrested under thePunjab Prevention of HumanSmuggling Act 2012, and saidthe remaining would be appre-hended soon.

A Lookout Circular (LOC)had been issued and raids werebeing conducted, he added.

All the victims hadreturned from Armenia andsafely reached their homes onFebruary 9, said the Minister.

Mohindra said that thePunjab government wouldsoon set up a corporation toprovide skill training to youthto match foreign job require-ments, the terms of referencefor which were being finalised.

Acting on the ChiefMinister's directive, the stategovernment had already issueda directive and advisory to allthe top civil and police officialsto crack down on illegal trav-el agents to ensure strict com-pliance with the laws and leg-islations governing the licens-ing and operations of travelagents, the Minister added.

���4.��������������� ���!�����������$�2��

�0'�/,�)/�'�������1��/�('�-D(�+�-�0'�E�6�'��('%'���)E'��%+�%�-�%+3�((*�+�%�+�-�0'�E��%/+%+E�()-3�')�%���'���')&0�E���%/+�&)��0��)11�0�%�(')�0-%04�+)�/�)/�����,%�'-%E���%,�/'(�')��/(*-�('-�0'�0).&��%/0����'�

'����%�(�%/+��,�(�%'�)/(�,)E�-/�/,'�����0�/(�/,�%/+)&�-%'�)/(�)1�'-%E���%,�/'(

Page 5: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

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

����� .���!�678

President Ram Nath Kovindon Thursday promulgated

four ordinances, including theMuslim Women (Protectionof Rights on Marriage) SecondOrdinance, 2019. After thePresident’s nod, the ordinancewill come into force for thethird time in less than a year.The ordinance makes the prac-tice of instant Triple Talaq apenal offence.

The Union Cabinet hadgiven its approval to re-issuethe ordinance on Tuesday. TheGovernment failed to pass theBill, known as the Triple TalaqBill, in the Rajya Sabha duringthe Budget Session ofParliament.

The Centre had first pro-mulgated the Muslim Women(Protection of Rights onMarriage) Ordinance inSeptember 2018. A Bill toreplace it was passed in the Lok Sabha in December,but remained pending in theRajya Sabha.

The Government promul-gated the ordinance again afterthe Winter Session ofParliament, but could not passthe Bill in the Rajya Sabha dur-ing the Budget Session.

The ordinance is set tolapse on June 3, when the cur-rent Government’s term endsand before the next session ofParliament.

The Triple Talaq ordinancehas faced stiff resistance fromthe Opposition parties. OnFebruary 20, SP chief AkhileshYadav had said that the ordi-nance will be used as “a weaponagainst minorities.”

The other ordinanceswhich promulgated by thePresident, are the IndianMedical Council (Amendment)Second Ordinance 2019; theCompanies (Amendment)Second Ordinance 2019 andthe Banning of UnregulatedDeposit Schemes SecondOrdinance 2019.

The Banning ofUnregulated Deposit SchemesSecond Ordinance 2019 is toprotect gullible investors from

Ponzi schemes. The Ordinancewill immediately tackle themenace of illicit deposit-takingactivities in the countrylaunched by rapacious opera-tors, which at present areexploiting regulatory gaps andlack of strict administrativemeasures to dupe poor andgullible people of their hard-earned savings.

The Indian MedicalCouncil (Amendment) SecondOrdinance, 2019 to allow theBoard of Governors (BOG) torun the scam-tainted apexbody for regulating medicaleducation.

The Companies(Amendment) SecondOrdinance 2019 It is based onthe recommendations of theCommittee to review offencesunder the Companies Act,2013, so as to fill critical gapsin the corporate governance &compliance framework asenshrined in the CompaniesAct 2013, while simultaneous-ly extending greater Ease ofDoing Business to law abidingcorporates.

The President also gave hisassent to changes in the IndianStamp Act, 1899, which willrationalise and harmonise thesystem of levying stamp dutyand help curb tax evasion. TheAmendments to the IndianStamp Act, 1899, were intro-duced as part of the FinanceAct 2019, and was approved byParliament.

The amendments proposeto create the legal and institu-tional mechanism to enableStates to collect stamp duty onsecurities market instrumentsat one place by one agency(through the Stock Exchangesor Clearing Corporationsauthorised by the stockexchange or by theDepositories), the FinanceMinistry said in a statement.

A mechanism for appro-priately sharing the stamp dutywith relevant StateGovernments based on state ofdomicile of the buying client isalso proposed, it added.

The proposed rationalisedand harmonised system isexpected to lead to zero taxevasion. The stamp duty willhave to be paid by either thebuyer or seller of a financialsecurity, as against the currentpractice of levying the duty onboth, the Ministry added.

#���� �����#�� .���!�678

Prime Minister NarendraModi is likely to launch the

direct income support scheme— Pradhan Mantri KisanSamman Nidihi-PM-Kisanscheme and distribute the firstinstalment of Rs 2,000 duringhis visit to Gorakhpur andPrayagraj on February 24.

However, doubts are beingraised over the implementationof the scheme in some non BJPStates — Andhra Pradesh andTelangana. Both the States areseeking funds from the PM-Kisan yojna and want to dis-tribute by their own to the ben-eficiary farmers.

As many as 1.22 crore smalland marginal farmers havebeen enrolled by the Ministryof Agriculture till date for thePM Kisan scheme. The ModiGovernment intends to ensurerelease of first instalment to alleligible farmers — small andmarginal — before the modelcode of conduct kicks in.

Top sources said that UPGovernment has enrolled over70 lakh small and marginal

farmers under the scheme. TheUP Government is working onwar-footing to upload details ofeligible farmers on the centraldatabase by Friday. HaryanaGovernment has registeredover 10 lakh such farmers.

“PM Modi will address thetwo-day national conclave ofthe BJP Kisan Morcha onSunday and later release themoney — Rs 2,000 per landholding — electronically tothe bank accounts of farmers,mostly from Uttar Pradesh,with the click of a button,”sources said. As per initialreports, over 1.22 crore farm-ers have been enrolled underthe scheme across the countrytill date. The Ministry isAgriculture is working to enrollover two crore farmers by thetime of launch of the scheme.As per estimate, there are 12crore small and marginal farm-ers in the country.

According to sources, non-BJP State Government wantsfund from the Centre and dis-tribute it on their own while theCentre on the other hand,want to distribute to the ben-

eficiary by their own to getmaximum political mileage inthe upcoming Lok Sabha andAssembly polls. Earlier, theOdisha Government was notkeen but now they have agreedto join the Centre’s PM-Kisanscheme.

“Odisha Chief MinisterNaveen Patnaik has urged PM

Modi to consider inclusion oflandless labourers, sharecrop-pers and vulnerable house-holds under the PM-KISAN,Assam and Jharkhand havesought explanation from theCentre over implementation ofthe scheme and West Bengaland Madhya Pradesh haveasked for more time from the

Centre to implement thescheme,” the sources said.

“The State Governmentshave to ensure that everybodywho is a farmer and owns twohectares of land as on cut-offdate subject to exclusionsshould be included. The sig-nificance of PM-KISAN is that,for the first time, an attempt hasbeen made to transfer incomedirectly to farmers withoutusing price policy (of eitherinputs or output). In most ofthe programmes in the past,including those of previousgovernments, the policy instru-ment used has always beenprice,” said the officials.

In the interim budget, theModi Government announceddirect income support of Rs6,000 per year to 12.5 croresmall and marginal farmerswith land holding up to 2hectares under the PM KisanSamman Nidhi Yojana. Sincethe scheme was launched inretrospective effect fromDecember 1, 2018, the firstinstalment of Rs 2,000 is duewithin the current fiscal yearending March 31, 2019.

����� .���!�678

Contrary to theGovernment’s claims that

leprosy is on decline in thecountry, the Indian Association of DermatologistsVenereologists & Leprologists(IADVL) during its unique 63days drive which culminatedhere on Thursday noted thatthere were high endemic pock-ets of the crippled disease andthat patients were sufferingwith serious infectious cases.

“What is worrying is that inthe last two three-years, andthat what we also noticed dur-ing our drive undertaken in 18States that we are seeingpatients with multibacillaryleprosy - the more severe form,which includes some of themost infectious cases,” said DrMukesh Girdhar, national VicePresident, IADVL.

He said such patients(multibacillary leprosy) needadvanced and regular treat-

ment for longer duration. “Yes,there is resurgence of cases,severe cases. Disability index ofthese patients is definitely high.In fact some of the patients wereceived at our camp had bac-teria droplets from their noses,making them highly infectiousto their contacts,” said DrGirdhar, highlighting the grav-ity of the situation.

“Due to lack of publicawareness there is a delay indiagnosis of leprosy,” Dr DineshKumar Devaraj, Joint SecretaryIADVL said, adding most lep-rosy cases were from Odisha,Bihar, West Bengal,Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra.

During the drive, the asso-ciation reached out to morethat 3,00,000 people withchronic cases as high as 95 percent and recurrent cases as highas 60 per cent.

One of the other diseasesthat was widely prevalent wasVitiligo. More than 10 millionIndians suffer from Vitiligo. Dr

Rohit Batra, dermatologist, SirGanga Ram Hospital andChairman, IADVL PeopleConnect Cell said that “Eventhough the prevalence of vitili-go is 1-2 per cent of the generalpopulation but we observedthat out of all the peopleapproached us during the driveit was more than 5 per cent.”

Talking about fungal infec-tion observed during the drive,Dr Girdhar, said, “There werea lot of patients suffering fromfungal infections. We sawchronic cases as high as 95 percent and recurrent cases as highas 60 per cent. Family memberswere affected up to 70 per centand more than 80 per cent ofchild cases have an affectedadult in family. Also, 50 to 70per cent have used steroidcreams for fungal infections.”

Quackery is of major con-cern in these situations whereSchedule H drugs are pre-scribed by unqualified people(quacks), said the experts.

����� .���!�678

The CBI has registered a pre-liminary enquiry against

unidentified officials of UttarPradesh Public ServiceCommission for allegedlygranting favours to close rela-tives of public servants in anexamination to select addi-tional private secretaries dur-ing Mayawati’s tenure as ChiefMinister in 2010.

The PE is based on a com-plaint from the BJP-ruledGovernment in the State whichsubsequently sent to the CBI bythe Central government in

January. It is alleged in thecomplaint that certain uniden-tified people including officialsof the UPPSC committed irreg-ularities and misconduct inthe examination for about 250posts of additional private sec-retaries in 2010, officials said.

The officials who have notbeen named in the PE extend-ed undue favours to unde-serving candidates. Some of thecandidates who were the ben-eficiaries in the examination

did not fulfill even the basicminimum eligibility, the officialsaid quoting from the com-plaint.

The complaint has allegedthat some selected candidatesare “close relatives” of publicservants then serving the UttarPradesh Government whichwas headed by Mayawati from2007-12, they said.

The officials of the UPPSCin alleged connivance with theexaminers altered marks of

the candidates to enable theirselection. The definition ofpublic servants includes elect-ed representatives who havetaken oath of office.

On a question whether the“close relatives” were of elect-ed representatives in the gov-ernment, the official did notoffer any comment saying,“These are allegations in thecomplaint from the state gov-ernment. We have registered apreliminary enquiry.”

The move of the agencybecame public on a daySamajwadi Party and BahujanSamaj Party sealed their seat-sharing agreement for LokSabha polls to forge a formi-dable opposition against theruling BJP.

The PE has no sanctionunder the Criminal ProcedureCode (CrPC) and the suspectscan refuse to even join theenquiry.

However, the agency canregister a regular case (FIR)after gathering prima faciematerial to substantiate theallegations in the PE.

����� .���!�678

The Congress on Thursdaysharpened its attacked on

Prime Minister Narendra Modiover the Pulwama terroristattack last week. While it con-tinued to target Modi for his“opened arm” engagement withthe crown Prince of SaudiArabia during the latter visit toIndia, the grand old party tookon the PM over his publicitycampaign shooting for a film inthe Corbett National Park tillthe evening of February 14despite the Pulwama attacktaking place in the afternoon.

There was no immediatereaction from the PrimeMinister’s Office and the BJPover the allegations. Congress’chief spokesperson RandeepSurjewala, addressing a Pressconference, also accused BJPpresident Amit Shah of “politi-cisation of terrorism” in hisspeech in Assam on Sunday.

The Congress said ques-tions must be asked about the“gross intelligence failure” ofthis Government and on the“priorities of a Prime Ministerwho on a sensitive time like thishas gone on a foreign tour toSouth Korea instead of tacklingterrorism”.

Citing reports from news-papers, Surjewala gave a time-line of events saying the terrorattack happened at 3:10 pm onFebruary 14 with the Congressreacting to it at 5:15 pm. “ThePrime Minister also knewabout it. Yet the PM, a personwho claims himself to be anationalist, continues to shoota film (for Discovery Channel)for self propagation in theCorbett National Park inRamnagar,” he claimed.

The Congress spokesper-son alleged that the PrimeMinister continued to “enjoyboat rides” with the cameracrew and later ensured thatthere was slogan shouting bythe BJP people in his favour.

“The Prime Minister con-tinues to have tea, samosas atseven o’clock at Governmentexpense in a PWD guesthousewhen every single Indian house-hold didn’t have food,” he said.

On one hand the countrywas picking up the “pieces of ourmartyrs”, and on the other handthe Prime Minister was involvedin his “propaganda and public-ity,” Surjewala claimed.

“Can such a conduct beexpected from the PrimeMinister of a country. ThePrime Minister should havebeen chairing the Cabinet com-mittee on security immediate-ly and should have taken

action, instead of shootingfilms,” he said.

Surjewala said theCongress had shown restrainon the direction of party pres-ident Rahul Gandhi, but it wasimportant to raise issues ofsuch conduct that “insults mar-tyrs”. “The Congress party andthe entire nation stands unitedwith our armed forces as alsoour Government in every stepthat they take in tacklingPakistan-sponsored terrorism.We are determined in thatresolve even today,” he said.

Surjewala also hit out at theconduct of BJP leaders in theaftermath of the attack. He dis-played a photograph purport-edly showing BJP MP SakshiMaharaj smiling during thefinal journey of a slain jawanand cited Union TourismMinister KJ Alphons taking a“selfie” at a soldier’s funeral.Alphons has denied taking thepicture himself saying somemiscreants circulated his pho-tograph at the CRPF jawan’sfuneral as a “selfie”.

Surjewala also saidPakistan will not succeed in itsdesigns and invoked IndiraGandhi’s strong action in 1971.He also asserted that theCongress, when in power, hasalways taken moral responsi-bility in such situations.

Congress spokespersonslammed the Prime Ministerfor receiving Saudi Arabia’sCrown Prince Mohammed binSalman at the airport and askedwhether according a grandwelcome to “those whopraised” Pakistan’s “anti-ter-ror efforts” was his way ofremembering the Pulwamaattack victims.

#���� ������� �� .���!�678�

Preliminary probe into thePulwama has revealed that

YSMS, a mobile application,was hosted on the ‘dark web’and regulation of such com-munication apps on the inter-net by the US could havehelped in containing thePakistani terror groups’ nefar-ious agenda in the region, offi-cials connected to the suicidebombing probe said.

Interestingly, the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) module thatcarried out the deadliest attackin the three decades of militan-cy in Jammu & Kashmir hadused the YSMS app for com-munication among one anoth-er before executing the suicidebombing on a CRPF convoyleading to the death of 44 CRPFpersonnel. The app does notleave any signature on theInternet and can be traced onlyif the hardwares are intercepted.

The websites of Pakistanarmy/Inter Services PublicRelations (ISPR) and its terrorproxies Lashkar-e-Tayyeba(LeT) and JeM also hosted ona common server by Americanfirm Cloudflare Inc which is acontradiction of the sanctionsand bounties put on the headsof the terror masterminds ofthese two groups by the USunder its terror listing regime.The server of the Pak-backedReferendum 2020 campaigntargeting Khalistani movementis also located in the US andhosted by the Cloudflare Inc.

In addition, American

video sharing platform YouTubehas uploaded millions of videosof the LeT and JeM terrorpreachers, including HafizSayeed, Abdul Rahman Makkiand MasooD Azhar, leading tocontinuous radicalisation of theyouth in India and the region.

Yet another American firmTwitter is also being used by thePakistan-based terror groupsfor furthering the jehadi agen-da without putting any effectivefilters. Search engine Google’sfeatures are also being exploit-ed by the terror groups foraccessing information underthe Do It Yourself (DIY) pro-grammes for knowhow on sen-sitive issues like assemblage ofIED and remotely-operatedvehicle. IEDs have been used bythe terrorists in Jammu &Kashmir. The inimical forces,including Zakir Musa, a formerJaish commander who has since

floated Ansar Ghatwatul Hind,subsequently rechristened as al-Qaeda Kashmir is seeking todevelop remotely-operatedvehicles for execution of bombblasts in the Kashmir Valley.

Counter-terrorism expertDr Rituraj Mate said, “The JeMand LeT might have outsmart-ed the US administration bygetting their websites hosted inAmerica but the USA hadinvented the Internet technol-ogy and will be bound to takeaction against such misuse oneday or the other if it is seriousin containing terrorism glob-ally, including those exportedby Pakistan.” Continuous back-ing and funding to Pakistan by the US is bound to infuse ananti-American sentimenttowards their products as is thecase with China when boycottcalls are often given againstChinese goods.

�����#�������#8�����.���!�678

Against the backdrop ofpolitical parties, including

the ruling BJP and mainOpposition Congress, makingalliance partners for the LokSabha polls scheduled in nextcouple of months, theOpposition leaders are all set tomeet on Tuesday to discuss thestrategy and formation of a sub-committee for evolving a com-mon minimum programme.

The meeting to be held atMohali in Punjab is to beattended by top leaders likeCongress chief Rahul Gandhi,NCP chief Sharad Pawar, West Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee, TDP supre-mo N Chandrababu Naiduamong others.

The decision of a publicrally in the Congress ruledPunjab is yet to be formalisedbut the meeting is crucial as aday later, the Congress willlaunch newly appointed gen-eral secretary Priyanka Gandhiin his first public rally inGujarat this month end. Thesame day the Congress hasscheduled its apex body

Congress Working Committeemeeting at Ahemdabad.

The Opposition meetingassumes significance in thewake of both the national par-ties — the BJP and the Congress — been working overtime to forge alliance andthe announcements ofParliamentary seats by the BSP-SP combine who are ready to

take on the Modi juggernaut incrucial Uttar Pradesh. Both thenational parties have announcedtheir alliances in Bihar,Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.

Moving forward on a unit-ed anti-BJP front for theupcoming Lok Sabha elections,top Opposition leaders, includ-ing Rahul Gandhi, MamataBanerjee, Delhi Chief Minister

Arvind Kejriwal, Naidu, SharadYadav, were present in themeeting of Opposition partiesat Sharad Pawar’s residence onFebruary 13.

The leaders agreed to worktogether to prepare a commonminimum programme to oust the Modi Governmentand consider forging a pre-pollalliance.

Banerjee, one of the primemovers behind the effort tocobble together an anti-BJPalliance, had organised a megarally of Opposition parties inKolkata on January 19.Banerjee has already statedthat the differences of partieswhile in States should be keptaside as the prime agenda of allthe Opposition parties is to tar-get the BJP ruled Centre in theLok Sabha polls.

���1�����������/,2�*�����&������

� �5�� ��$!�������$ �� "�������-�������3���������*� ���������������������������4�����������

2�)����������*�������5�)����3���������

6�����'�"0�����������!�������������4

����� .���!�678

Taking on the Congress forattacking Prime Minister

Narendra Modi over thePulwama attack, the BJP onThursday lashed out at theOpposition party saying itsstand exposes the claim that itwas standing with theGovernment and armed forcesin the aftermath of the terrorattack in Kashmir and that theparty sounds like echoingvoices from across the border.

Addressing a Press con-ference, Union Minister andBJP leader Ravi ShankarPrasad accused the Congressof seeking to weaken themorale of the armed forces ata time when the whole worldis “firmly standing” with India.

Prasad hit out at theCongress for its “shameful”attack on Prime MinisterNarendra Modi and said hewas in Uttarakhand on the dayof Pulwama attack as part ofan official programme relatedto tiger conservation. “Was theCongress aware of thePulwama attack? We were notaware,” the BJP leader said ina dig at the Opposition party.

He said the Congressattack on the ModiGovernment would havepleased Pakistan adding thatstyles of what Imran Khan andthe Opposition party havesaid may be different but theircontents bore striking resem-blance. He charged theCongress with demoralisingarmed forces in the countrywhore valiantly respondingto terror outfits.

Prasad said strength of theModi Government reflected inremoving security of theKashmiri separatists andeagerness of Kashmiri youthto participate in Army recruit-ment. He said India hasreceived global backingagainst Pakistan on thePulwama attack and theneighbouring country wasdiplomatically isolated.

������������������������������� ������ �)0���

0�������������������'������� ����������������������������������������#00 �%��&��� ��"������� �"#

$������*��6������,���������������������������

� ,���)�������������������+������#�@��� ���������������������������� ����(���� ������>�����"�����.(#������?������#�������� ��������(���+ ����+�)��������@����,!#� ����)��.�(����������.�����)��������

� ,������ ������������������������(���� �������#�@��� �������������)�� ���

� -��� ���)������ �)� � ��������������������������������������� �=������*#��������(���� �=������������'���)������������������� �������������������� ���'�������������������� ��������+����� ����

���,�)��.���

� +�'����������������������*#�����������������)��6��?����������� �����-��� ��������� �������� ��������)�������-��� �������� ���?������#����5 �� �������/��������0I

)�+�(0*((�('-%'�,36�1)-.%'�)/�)1�(*570)..�''���1)-��E)�E�/,�%�0)..)/�.�/�.*.�&-),-%..�

� E?+?����)����������������� ��� ����������M��������5��������������� ������))��������� �������8�������������9?��������'��������������������#�� ��������������� 5������� ���������������

� ,���*� ����+���))���� �������E?+?�����������))������)�������������������������������� �������)�������(>#/��'���

� E��,������ ����������)��� ����'��� ����6�,����*�+��������������� ��������7��%�?�������������>��)��+�������+� ��!�%�������������������� ������� ������������������8���

� ,������ ��� ������� ����������#�� ����� ��������������� �����������������@��������������������������

������'������� � ?����������"�����5 �������� ������� �����

���������������������������� ��������� ����)�������������!��8��E��� ����������))� ������������� � �'�� �� ������ �)��������8�!������)���������������'�����

,2��-���� ��)����.���������1������

*������������� ���������������� �������� ���� ���� ����5� ��� ������������� � ������ ����������� ����� ��������� 7���������0� ��686

� � �)���� �0 FF������� )�������)���������)�� ���'��������������������+ �����������������������������������#+�� � ���)�

� ,���+ ���� ������������ �����������������'���������������)�� ���������)������������������ ���)� �� ������ �)��������������0F������� )�������)���������)�� ������������

� 8��������)�������������+���"�'��)�����������������)�� ����������> �;�<<<�������������0F A������� )������)���������)�� ���������������������F�������� ����������#+� ��?�))��.���E�@��

� ,������������ /��� �0������$�(1�

Page 6: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

��#���&#%��'��%��#( '���"%�#%( ))*�)+,- �������"2

����#�� ����������(7�..�8

The AIADMK which stageda ‘coup’ on Tuesday by rop-

ing in the PMK to its fold forfacing the Lok Sabha election,came across an unexpectedroad block by Thursday asVijayakanth of the DMDKdemanded seven constituen-cies for his party to fight theelection.

Vijayakanth has reportedlytold the AIADMK representa-tive who called on him thatduring the 2014 Lok Sabhaelection, his party was allocat-ed 14 seats by the BJP while thePMK was given only sevenseats. The AIADMK had signeda deal with the PMK on Tuesdayallocating seven seats and aRajya Sabha seat for theVanniyar dominated party.

While the AIADMK hadsmooth negotiations with thePMK and the BJP, Vijayakanthis proving himself to be a toughnut. The situation turned curi-ous on Thursday as SThirunavakarassar, the formerTNCC president called on theactor-turned-politician at thelatter’s residence in Chennai.

The Congress leader whospent nearly 30 minutes with theactor and his family later told

reporters that his visit was towish Vijayakanth best of healthand a speedy recovery. “Wespoke politics also and I request-ed him to take a decision keep-ing the national interests inmind,” he said.

Sources close to the actorsaid that Vijyakanth has some“accounts to settle” with theAIADMK, which he claims wasinstrumental in decimating hisoutfit after the 2011 assemblyelection. The DMDK whichcontested the 2011 assemblyelection as an ally of theAIADMK had won 29 seats andVijayakanth was the Leader ofthe Opposition. But 14 MLAsbelonging to the DMDKswitched over to the AIADMKcamp. Vijayakanth believesthat it was at the instance ofJayalalithaa, the then chief min-ister that the MLAs ditched him.

If the AIADMK parts withseven seats to the DMDK, theruling party would be left withjust 19 seats. There are partieslike Puthiya Tamilakam, TMCand fringe parties which toohave to be accommodated in thefront, which is causing anxietyto the AIADMK leadership.

The DMK had onWednesday allocated nine seatsin Tamil Nadu and the lone seatin Puducherry to the Congress.

� � ����� �#���*�++9

Hours after formerChief Minister

Omar Abdullah ques-tioned Prime MinisterNarendra Modi’ssilence on Kashmiri studentsbeing targeted in various partsof the country J&K GovernorSatya Pal Malik on Thursdaydenied reports of attacks onstudents.

Addressing a press confer-ence in Srinagar Omar toldreporters, “All over the countrybut especially in some areas, anentire population is beingmaligned. Our students outsidethe State, with no connectionto politics, are being targetedand expelled. This is nothingbut a conspiracy. Why is theCentre silent on it” ?

Reacting to Omar’s state-ment on a TV debate GovernorSatya Pal Malik later said “Idon’t want to comment onwhat Omar said but, I can tellyou something for your infor-mation, there are approxi-mately 22000-25000 Kashmiristudents studying outside J&K,not a single student has evenbeen slapped”.

He said, “At eleven loca-tions we had appointed liaison

officers 6 months ago,these officers took careof them and main-tained co-ordinationwith the StateGovernment and keptthe students safe. Evenyesterday in Dehradun

Kashmiri students stated thatthere was no risk or danger tothem and PDP people therewere creating a false ruckus.There is an attempt to create anissue where there is no issue,just to communalise beforethe elections and I don’t wantto react to such childish man.”

During the press confer-ence Omar had also slammedCongress and said not just theruling party and the PM, buteven the opposition has beenabsolutely silent on this issue.

Referring to possibility ofdialogue between India andPakistan Omar said, “talks withPakistan cannot be held in thebackdrop of terror attacks suchas the one in Pulwama, inwhich 40 CRPF jawans werekilled. “Our PM has talkedabout a ‘muh tod jawab’ butsuch a reply is not possible in thecurrent situation as the PakistanPM has also stated that theywould not think of but retaliateif any attack is launched byIndia,” Abdullah said.

Jammu: Cracking whip against the anti-national ele-ments, the Jammu and Kashmir police has registereda case against those involved in pro-Pakistan and anti-India sloganeering outside GGM Science College inJammu on February 11.

According to police spokesman, “FIR has been reg-istered under Sections sedition (124A RPC),Punishment for wrongful restraint (341), Punishmentfor rioting (147) rioting, armed with deadly weapon(148) and endangering life or personal safety of oth-ers (336) against unidentified persons”.

As per the hue and cry notice issued by SSP JammuTejinder Singh, SP city North, Jammu has intimatedthat some unknown persons have raised anti-nation-al slogans near the college, out of which the picturesof three unidentified persons have been traced out andare wanted in the FIR.

“As such photographs of these unidentified per-sons are being published for the information of policeestablishments and public in general, having any cluerelated to whereabouts and present locations of theseaccused persons, communicate the same on the con-tacts of police,” the notice said.

Police had gathered mobile/CCTV footage fromlocal businessmen to identify these persons involvedin anti-India sloganeering.

College students had boycotted their classes forthree days after police lathicharged them inside theGGM science college premises while they wereprotesting against stranded passengers for raising anti-India and prok Pakistan slogans in Jammu. PNS

��#�� ��� ��� +9+��8

In a disturbing incident that tookplace a week after the Pulwama

terror attack, four Kashmiri stu-dents were humiliated, beaten upand forced by Yuv Sena activists toraise slogans like “Vande Mataram”,“Hindustan Zindabad” and“Bharatmata ki Jai” at Yavatmal ineastern Maharashtra.

Umar Rashid Dar (19) andUmar Nazir Ganai (20) both fromKupwara in Jammu and Kashmirand two of their other friendsfrom the same state were caughthold of near their rented homes atYavatmal late on Wednesday night,beaten up and forced to raise slo-gans hailing India, by the YuvSena activists.

The victim students are fromDayabhai Patel College of PhysicalEducation. The Yuv Sena activistsaccosted them near their rentedhomes in Waghapur Road area ofthe town and physically harassedthem as a mark of “protest” againstthe Pulwama terror strike in which40 CRPF jawans were killed. Twoof the jawans from the neighbour-ing Buldhana district were amongthose killed in the Pulwama attack.

A clip of video footage shot bythe Yuv Sena activists themselveswent viral on social media onThursday. The footage showed alocal Yuv Sena leader beating theKashmiri students and asking themquestions like to from where theywere, as to why they had come to

Yavatmal and whether were theylinked with terrorists. “What is yourname? Why have you come here?You should not come here.... Whatconnection do you with the ter-rorists there?... You relatives arekilling our jawans there. Why haveyou come here? How many stu-dents are here like you in Yavatmal”.

The replies from a student like“I have to come to study here... I amthe son of a doctor. I have not beento Kashmir for the last one and a halfyears...There are 15 to 20 Kashmiristudents in Yavatmal (the Yuv Senaleader tells the student: Tell them notto be here),” would not satisfy theYuv Sena leader who continued tobeat him and other students up.

The footage of the incident alsoshowed the Yuv Sena leader order thevictim Kashmiri students to raise slo-gans like “Hindustan Zindabad”,“Vande Mataram” and “Bharat Mataki Jai”. The victim students readilyobliged the Yuv Sena leader.

Incidentally, the incident tookplace four days after Prime MinisterNarendra Modi visited theYavatmal town to launch severaldevelopment projects. In his speech,Modi said that however the perpe-trators of Pulwama mayhem “willdefinitely be punished” and thesecurity forces had been given a“free hand” to deal with thecounter-attack they deemed fit.

Following the incident, theYuva Sena came in for sharp criti-cism from various quarters. In adamage control exercise, Yuv Sena

president Aditya Thackeray urgedhis supporters not to vent theiranger against “people from our owncountry” all in the name of “show-ing their anger against Pakistan”.

“I think the outrage wasagainst Pakistan and the need togive it a fitting reply is important…But we must ensure that this is notdirected at our own citizens in anymanner,” Aditya said.

“What has happened is notproper and highly condemnable. Ifthey are our members we would takeaction against them,” Yuva Sena sec-retary Varun Sardesaisaid.Meanwhile, the local Loharapolice station has registered a casein connection with the incident. “We are recording the statements ofthe victims and we would soon iden-tify the accused,” Yavatmal’s districtsuperintendent of police MRajkumar said.

Extending support to the vic-tim students, Dayabhai PatelCollege of Physical EducationSandeep Chawak said: “We are withthe affected students. Three of thefour victim students are studying inour college for the past three years,while the remaining one has beenhere for the past one year”.

A team of police led by DSPRajkumar visited the college, inter-acted with the students and assuredthem that there would not be anyrepeat of such incidents. “We haveincreased the security and patrollingaround homes where the Kashmiriboys stay,” Rajumar told the students.

��#�� ��� ��� +9+��8

The Pune police onThursday filed a 1,837-

page supplementarychargesheet before a Punecourt against five more persons,including human rights activistSudha Bharadwaj and fugitiveMaoist leader Ganapathy aliasChandrashekhar, in connectionwith the much-discussedElgaar Parishad-cum- Bhima-Koregaon riots case.

Three months after theyfiled the first charge sheetagainst ten accused in the samecase, the Pune police filed acomprehensive charge-sheetbefore ted before AdditionalSessions Judge Kishor Vadane.

Apart from Bhardwaj andGanapathy, the three otheraccused named in the supple-mentary chargesheet are,Telugu poet Varavara Rao,activists Vernon Gonsalves andArun Pereira.

Like in the case of the ear-lier charge-sheet, the fiveactivists have been chargedunder various relevant sec-tions of the Unlawful ActivitiesPrevention Act (UAPA), 117 (abetting commission ofoffence), 120-b ( conspiracy)

read with 34 (common inten-tion), 121, 121 (A) (Waging orattempting to wage a war, orabetting waging of war, againstthe Government of India) 124A(sedition), 153 –A (wantonlygiving provocation with intentto cause riot..) and 505-1b(statements conducing publicmischief) of Indian Penal Code(IPC)

Confirming that a supple-mentary charge-sheet had beenfiled in the local court, Pune’sJoint Commissioner of PoliceShivaji Bodkhe said onThursday, “The evidence thatwe have produced against thefive accused includes evidenceretrieved from electronicdevices seized from the arrest-ed activists. We have chargedthem with waging war againstthe nation and spreading theideology of their banned organ-isation and creating caste con-flicts, disaffection and hatred inthe society”.

On November 15 last year,the Pune police had filed thefirst chargesheet before a spe-cial court in Pune against 10persons in the Bhima-Koregaon riots case, accusingthem among other things ofconspiring to kill Prime

Minister Narendra Modi andoverthrow the democraticallyelected government in thecountry.

In their chargesheet filedbefore a Special UnlawfulActivities (Prevention) Act(UAPA) Court in Pune tenweeks after the same courtextended a 90-day deadlinefor filing the charge-sheet byanother 90 days, the Punepolice had named Sudhir P.Dhawale, Rona J Wilson,Surendra P Gadling, ShomaSen, Mahesh S. Raut as amongthe 10 persons. They had beenarrested from various parts ofthe country on June 6.

The five other accusednamed in their charge-sheet asthe absconding accused by thePune police were M aliasMilind Teltumbde fromYavatmal, Prakash alias Navin

Alias Ritupan Goswami fromAssam, Manglu, Dipu andKishan Prashant Bose, allowing allegiance to the bannedCPI (Maoists). The charge-sheet stated that these fiveaccused had gone “under-ground” in various parts of thecountry.

The ten accused named inthe first charge-sheet in theBhima-Koregaon case havebeen charged under the samesections as is the case with thefive accused, includingBhardwaj, against whom thesupplementary charge-sheetwas filed on Thursday.

The charge-sheet had stat-ed that the five arrested activists--Dhawale, Wilson, Gadling,Shoma Sen and S. Raut –werelinked to the CPI (Maoists)which carried out subversiveactivities through under-

ground means. Human andcivil rights organisations likeIndian Association of People’sLawyers (IAPL), AnuradhaGhandi Memorial Committee(AGMC), Kabir Kala Manch,all of which set up legally,were supporting the outlawedCPI (Maoists)

According to the charge-sheet, accused number twoRona J Wilson had colludedwith Shoma Sena andPrashanto Bose, secretary ofthe outlawed CPI (Maoist)’sEastern Regional Bureau, alongwith other undergroundactivists hatched a conspiracyto kill the Prime Minister ofIndia.

Like in the case of the pre-vious ten accused, the currentfive have been charged with“waging a war” against thenation.

Five Maoist-linked activistsHuman Rights activists RonaWilson Jacob, SurendraGadling, Sudhir Dhawale, ProfShoma Sen and Mahesh Rautwere arrested by the Punepolice on June 6, in connectionwith the Elgaar Parishad andsubsequent Bhima-Koregaoncaste riots.

Subsequently on June 8, the

investigators had claimed thatthey had recovered from thelaptop of Wilson an allegedlyincriminating letter, whichuncovered an alleged plot bythe Maoists to carry out “RajivGandhi-type” assassination ofPrime Minister NarendraModi.

On August 28, the Punepolice arrested five moreactivists Varavara Rao, VernonGonsalves and Arun Pereira,Sudha Bharadwaj and GautamNavlakha for their associationwith the Elgaar Parishad heldin Pune a day ahead of theJanuary 1, 2018 Bhima-Koregaon riots and theiralleged links with the Maoists.

It may be recalled that onJanuary 1, one RahulPhatangale (28), a Dalit, waskilled and another 40-odd vehi-cles and some other propertywere damaged after some mis-creants attacked Dalits cele-brating the January 1, 1818 vic-tory of British troops overPeshwa Bajirao II’s army atBhima-Koregaon in Pune dis-trict of western Maharashtra.Following the incident,Maharashtra had witnessedlarge-scale Dalit protests whichturned violent at some places.

�����*�����������������������������*$���334&�)�4%5���)��&����&$�*�(������ &�&.��� ������������

�����������������#�&�.

�����#�������#8�����.���!�678

The Union Home Ministrywill carry out a pan-India

survey to assess public percep-tion on citizen-centric policeservices like women safety andreporting of crimes, officialssaid Thursday. The survey willcommence next month andcover a representative sample of1.2 lakh households spreadover 173 districts across thecountry, based on the NationalSample Survey framework.

All the states and the UnionTerritories would be included inthis survey and it will be com-pleted in nine months, a HomeMinistry official said.

The survey is aimed tounderstand public perceptionabout police, gauge the level ofnon-reporting of crimes orincidents to police, the positionon ground relating to crimereporting and recording, time-liness and quality of policeresponse and action and expe-rience about women and chil-dren’s safety.

The outcome of the surveyis expected to bring out usefulsuggestions for stakeholdersin formulating and imple-menting appropriate policyresponses and changes in thefunctioning of police at the cut-ting edge and for improvingcrime prevention and investi-gation, transformation in com-munity policing.

It is also expected toimprove the access to the jus-tice and increased or appro-priate resource allocation forpolice in a systematic manner,the official said.

From time-to-time, sever-al initiatives have been taken bythe central government, aimedat facilitating and supplement-ing the efforts of state govern-ments and the UnionTerritories in providing citizen-centric police services.

A globally accepted way toassess the impact or outcomesof such endeavours is througha holistic analysis of servicesrendered to the public, throughpublic perception surveys con-ducted by professional andindependent agencies.

Such surveys are globallytested tools for improving ser-vice delivery in policing andenhancing public satisfaction.

With the above aim and tofurther strengthen the goodgovernance practices in theworking of police, the HomeMinistry has commissionedthe Bureau of Police Researchand Development to conductthis pan-India survey called the‘All India Citizens Survey ofPolice Services, another officialsaid.

The survey will be con-ducted through the NationalCouncil of Applied EconomicResearch in New Delhi.

The states and the UTshave been requested to extendfull cooperation to the conductof the survey, and to adopt thisgood practice and prepare theirpolice for undertaking suchsurveys on their own in thefuture, the official said.

�4�+5����6��������3���* +7��������������� ��'������ � ���%������������� ��'��

5�7�������� �����������89���*�������������)���

3����� ��� ��������������� ����� 2��� �����������

9������������#�� �.������3����� � �����0��� ���� �������� ����/����������"������� �"#

����/ �������� � �!���� 7��+1������� ����!

��/���� ��� ��! ������� ������ � �, ������������ ���������5

$����������� ����

$��)$��������������� ���������������� �� ����

�,�������!�����8�9����)���,���0�� ��� ��� ��// � ����! ������

� ,,� ! ������/��� 5� ���� 0+ � � �,� ��1��������&��0

�/��������1 �����)������ ������� ��� � ���

Page 7: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

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

��#�� ��� ��� +9+��8

An improvised explosivedevice (IED) was recov-

ered from a State Transport busin Maharashtra’s Raigad districtlate on Wednesday night.

The ST bus was on its wayfrom Karjat to Apta village nearPanvel town when the driverfound a suspected materialkept in a bag on board the bus,at around 11 pm.

The circumspect ST busdriver quickly acted and askedthe passengers to disembark thebus. He also immediately alert-ed the police about the finding.

A team of Bomb Detectionand Disposal Squad from thenearby Alibaug rushed to the spotshort afterwards. The team foundthat the material looking a devicekept in a bag was indeed an IED.“The team took nearly five hours

to defuse the IED by removingthe wires and detonator in it. Thepolice sanitised the ST bus in theearly hours of today,” a seniorpolice officer said.

Raigad’s district superin-tendent of police Anil Paraskarsaid that device had been sentfor forensic examination. "Wehave a reason to believe thedevice might have been keptto create a panic and terroramong people,” Paraskar said.

After the incident, thecoastal Raigad district wasplaced under a high alert. TheState-run Maharashtra StateRoad Transport Corporation(MSRTC) ordered beefing upof security across its depots, busstands and buses in the state.

Maharashtra’s Transportminister Diwakar Raoteordered a check of all the busesin its fleet. "This is serious andthe matter is being investigat-ed," he said.

Meanwhile, initial investi-gations have revealed the IEDdevice was of relatively of a lowintensity explosive.

�����#������� ��� �-6��,�

Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee on

Thursday expressed her strongresolve to espouse and defendIndia’s unity and urged thepeople to respect each others’languages in tandem with tak-ing “pride in your mothertongue.”

Banerjee who was speakingat the inauguration of theInternational Mother LanguageDay said she wanted a trulyunited India which was pow-erful and where the peoplewere mutually respectful eachothers’ cultures.

In an apparent reference tothe post-Pulwama hystericswhere the people of Kashmirwere subjected to victimisationall over the country Banerjeesaid the entire communityshould not be judged by the actof one person.

“I cannot expect victimi-sation of (Kashmiri) people forone instance,” she said adding“there is no reason to judge allthe Kashmiris by the act of oneperson.”

A suicide attacker fromKashmir had last week rammedinto a CRPF convoy with anIED-loaded vehicle killing 44jawans inviting world-wide

condemnation againstPakistan-sponsored terrorism

in India.Banerjee who earlier

expressed on the Twitter her“best wishes to all onInternational Mother LanguageDay” asking the people to“respect all languages but takepride in your mother tongue”told a gathering at DeshapriyaPark in South Kolkata that shewanted a united India whichwas strong and powerful bydint of its unity.

“We all want to sleep withunity, walk with unity, talk withunity …we want a united India,a powerful India,” Banerjeesaid.

Meanwhile, rulingTrinamool Congress sourcessaid the Bengal Chief Ministerwould next week attend theanti-BJP opposition meetscheduled to be held at Mohaliin Punjab.

The meeting is likely to beheld on February 26. A seniorTMC leader said “the ChiefMinister will take part in theall-party meeting at Mohali asshe has been a prime mover foran opposition unity to throwthe BJP out of power.”

Banerjee had earlierattended a similar meeting atNCP chief Sharad Pawar’s res-idence in Delhi where she metmost opposition leaders includ-ing Congress president RahulGandhi.

�����#������� ��� �-6��,�

In a rare judgment a Birbhumcourt on Thursday sentenced

former Vice Chancellor,Registrar and a professor of theprestigious Visva BharatiUniversity to five years’ rigor-ous imprisonment after theywere found guilty of forgery bythe same court.

Additional Chief JudicialMagistrate Arvind Mishra onThursday sentenced ex VCand mathematician DilipKumar Sinha, Registrar DilipKumar Mukherjee and MutkiDeb a former professor to 5years’ RI after they were foundguilty under various sections ofForgery Act, and Sections 467,468, 471, 475 and 120B (crim-inal conspiracy) of the IndianPenal Code.

A prosecution lawyer saidthat Deb had forged her testi-monials and joined theUniversity as a lecturer inmathematics despite being anundergraduate. Photostatcopies of her forged marksheets and certificates wereallegedly stamped and attestedby Dr Sinha who functioned asthe VC of the said centralUniversity from 1995 to 2001.

Visva Bharati was foundedby Poet Laureate RabindranathTagore and is considered acentre of excellence throughoutthe world.

It was alleged that Sinhahad impersonated as one

Rashbehari Ghosh a professorin the University of Calcutta.As a result Deb’s forged testi-monials established her as aB.Sc, M.Sc and M.Phil passouts from CU, JadavpurUniversity and Visva BharatiUniversity respectively. TheRegistrar was found guilty forneglecting his duty by cross-checking the testimonials.

A case was registered afterDeb applied for enrolment inPh.D course in 2002. When shewas asked to produce her orig-inal certificates she withdrew herapplication saying they had beenstolen and even placed a policediary in favour of her claims.

After the authorities con-ducted a probe all the threewere found guilty and an FIRwas registered with the BolpurPolice Station.

Meanwhile, the advocate ofthe convicts said his clientwould prefer an appeal in thehigher courts even as the triowas taken into jail custody.

!������������3������������

,����1 ��20�����������1 � �2*����� 9� ��� ��& � �� ���+!-���'�� �����& � �������������+'-�� ����������������������03������� �* ������"������� �"#

1 � ������ ��� ������� ������������ ���������� ����������������������������8����� � ��������#�� ��68:������������ ����� �*����������"������� �"#

+7�� ����� �"� ���*�����$����&�0� ��0� �� / ������ � ����� ��� ,���0������0�/ /���� � ������ � �

����� .���!�678

Assam Rifles personnel havebeen empowered by the

Central Government to arrestanyone and search a placewithout warrant in northeast-ern States of Assam, ArunachalPradesh, Manipur, Nagalandand Mizoram.

According to a HomeMinistry notification, "an offi-cer of the rank correspondingto that of the lowest rank ofmembers of the Assam Rifles"has been given these powersunder the Code of CriminalProcedure.

Assam Rifles personnelwill exercise these powers anddischarge their duties "undersub-section(1) of section 41,sections 47, 48, 49, 51, 53, 54,149, 150, 151 and 152 of the

CrPC within the local limits ofthe area comprised within theborder districts of Assam,Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur,Nagaland and Mizoram", thenotification said.

Section 41 of the CrPCstates that any police officermay, without an order from amagistrate and without a war-rant, arrest any person. Section47 gives powers for search ofplace entered by person soughtto be arrested.

Section 48 says a police offi-cer may, for the purpose ofarresting without warrant anyperson whom he is authorisedto arrest, pursue such personinto any place in India.According to Section 49, theperson arrested shall not be sub-jected to more restraint than isnecessary to prevent his escape.

0�7��*������-���*�������������3�����������������

;���*�����0� ��� � ���������*������������������� ���������*��������� ����� ������������������ ����#������� ����������!�������&�� �.��������"������� �"#

<521 � �*����� 120�'�� ��������� �2����'#����������

��� �*����� ��. ���������������������������� �%��� ������� ������������������������ � �� ��������� �%��� ���"������� �"#

�������":

Page 8: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

February 14, 2019, will henceforthbe remembered as a day marred bythe horrific images of a cowardlyact of terror where more than 40Central Reserve Police Force

(CRPF) soldiers were killed in Pulwama.The suicide bomber, Adil Ahmad Dar, whohas been identified as the culprit of this das-tardly act, detonated close to 60 kilos ofexplosives near a convoy of CRPF soldiers.The Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) has claimedresponsibility for this act of terror and it hasbeen widely reported that the JeM has beensupported and enabled by the Governmentof Pakistan. There is no denying the fact thatthis was a day of mourning for India but itis crucial that this incident also becomes aninflection point where India provides abefitting reply to its enemies and emergesstronger than before.

India then stands at the crossroads.While every Indian, I am sure, agrees thatsuch acts of terror must not go unpunishedand should be avenged, the question for usas Indians is: What constitutes a befittingreply? Is it a reply that is ill-thought out,reactionary and detrimental to India’sinterests and values in the long-term or isit one where we emerge stronger and showthe enemies of our country that while itsenemies will try creating a divide throughcowardly acts of terror, our country willcontinue to stand unafraid and unmoved.We must refuse to give up those values,which distinguish us from failed states thathave long ago given up the ideals of a pros-perous and democratic society.

I am just as angry and livid at the attackas any patriot but at a time like this, it isimportant to remember the words ofAristotle, who had said, “Anybody canbecome angry — that is easy, but to be angrywith the right person and to the right degreeand at the right time and for the right pur-pose and in the right way — that is not with-in everybody’s power and is not easy.” In thisweek’s column, I will attempt to show howIndia can show its enemies that not only isthe country capable of taking hard decisionsand demonstrate that these acts of terror willnot be taken lying down but also that it willemerge stronger because of them.

Establish a Commission after such actsof terror: In the aftermath of 9/11, the USinstituted the 9/11 Commission, which wasan independent, bipartisan body consistingof not only Republicans and Democrats butalso staff members, who were experts in var-ious fields. The Commission was chargedwith preparing a complete report of the cir-cumstances surrounding the terrorist attackon the World Trade Centre and thePentagon on September 11, 2001. The reportexamined the preparedness of the US andalso provided recommendations to guardagainst such future attacks. It is imperativethat with acts of terror such as the recent onein Pulwama, India responds similarly. Aspart of the 9/11 Commission report, the

body examined the chronologyof events on September 11,2001, right from early 1999,when the hijackers prepared forthe attack while living inGermany till the point when theplanes had been hijacked by theterrorists. At each point in thechronology of events, theCommission submitted expertsuggestions on how to plug eachand every lapse that led to the9/11 attacks. It is imperative thatIndia draws a similar approachby constituting a commission ofexperts, which examines thechronology of events that ulti-mately led to the February 14attack and debate this report inParliament. Ultimately, thisreport should be made publicsince such a step will help heappublic pressure and preventsuch lapses in the future.

Strength from within first,then without: Terrorism’s short-term objective is to inflict painand sorrow through violence,and while horrific, its long-termaim of creating an environmentthat thrives on hate and suspi-cion in the country is muchmore frightening and harmful.This terrorist attack seeks toachieve the same goal. We, asIndians, must not succumb.

While understandably,there is a lot of anger in ourcountry over these attacks,some of the reactions to it are

questionable and are, in fact,aiding our enemies. The firsttype of reaction is one thatdemands an all-out war againstanother nuclear power.Unsurprisingly, a number ofthese calls are from individuals,who have the luxury to opinewithout the threat of conse-quence. The more rational voic-es on the subject are typicallyfrom soldiers and members ofthe armed forces, who under-stand the cost of war and, per-haps, more significantly, thecost of rashness in a battlefield.

For example, if India doesexecute its response withoutadequate preparedness and at aninopportune time, it will run thehuge risk of losing more bravesoldiers, not because of an act ofterror but due to brashness.Such an outcome is unacceptable.While desire for revenge is nor-mal, it cannot be at the cost ofreckless disregard for an Indianlife. That outcome, in my opin-ion, is unacceptable. While thereare always casualties in war, it isdifficult to justify such casualtiesif they are a result of aggression.

The other type of reactionwe have seen is the targeting ofKashmiris across India. This, too,is a response that cannot be jus-tified and must be condemned.First, from a humane perspec-tive, we must recognise that theminute we take out our anger on

an entire community due to ourpain over terrorist attacks, welose humanity, something thatdistinguishes us from the cow-ardly terrorists, who attack Indiaand what it stands for.

All of us, including all polit-ical parties, must come outclearly and unequivocallyagainst this behaviour. We mustrecognise that such a reaction iswhat the forces, that seek todivide India, actually hope toachieve. Creating divides with-in the country so that we turnon each other makes any futureacts of terror easier for our ene-mies. We must not allow theenemies of the country inflictthat sort of irreparable damage.

An examination of acts ofterror throughout the worldshows that rarely if ever are actsof terror random acts of vio-lence. Instead, they are thor-oughly planned and ruthlesslyexecuted. Therefore, in order tobe truly effective, our responsemust also demonstrate our abil-ity to be patient and cause max-imum damage at the mostappropriate time. While it maybe easy to give in to our morebasic demands for immediaterevenge, I think we can demandbetter from ourselves andemerge stronger as a result of it.

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

)��������������#���� ��������������&� � ����� ���(���� �� ������� �� * *� ��������� ��� +

,����������� �� ��� ����� ��� �������������������������������� ������� ���� �������� ��� �������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$������� ������-���./���� �� ��0��1����� ���������������������������������������������������������#�����

�������������������������������������������*� �������������������������������$��%��������������������������������������������,���������������� ���������������1� ����������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������2��+,����+,�����������������������������������������������3*$��������(��������4������������������������������������������������������������������������ ��������������������������������(���������������������������#���� �������������#� ���(������������������������������������������������������ �4������ ����������������������� �������������������� ��������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ��������

0�&����������2��+,�����������������5/6.����������������(��������3*$���������������� �������+��������������3���������������������������������������������������� ���������3*$���������������������������� ���$+,�7�����&����������*� ���������&����������������������������������������������������2��+,����4���+������8�������$����������������� ���������-�����������������#���� ���������������������������������� ����������� &����������� 59�����3�������������*� ���������&����1��������##:����������� �� ���� �����������������2��+,&�������������������������� �������������(������&����������� �������������������������������������(����������������������������� ���������������#���� ������������������������&�������:������$���������������������������� �� ��4���� ������������ ��1�������������3�����������������������������������������������#���� ����7���������$+,����������������������������� �������������������2��+,(����������3������� ���������������������������������� �����������������3*$�������� �������������������������������������������� �#�������� ����+,�����+,1��������������������������������������������&�������������������������������4�������)��������+,�������������5/6.������5%���������������������������������������������������������������� ������!������+,�����-������"���������5%�������+,�����4�������������������������5//;���������������..������+������������,����<���������������������������������#���� ��������������������(��������������(�������

)������������������������������$���+������ ������+��� �����4����$������1�����������+������

���(1�����=+�1>�������������������������������������&����������������������������������+��������������(���2�����+�1���� ������������� ����������������������������� ����1�������������������������$���������(� �� �������$���������������������������$����������3����������������(�����2������� ��� ������+����������

����+�1�����������?<�������������������������������*�����#��������4�������$���+������������������������������������ ������������,�����������������������������

#����������������������������������������������������������(� ���������������������������������#������������1�������������$�������������������� ����������������$�����������������(��2������������1�����������������$�������������� ������������(�����6;@9���6;A6���������������������������������������(��������$���������� ��������1���������������������������1������� �������-��������7�������0����������������������� ����������� ��������������1������� �����������B<�� C��D��������%��������������1��������-��������������������������$������������-�����������������������������&���� ���������$����������(������������������� ������1���������������������(1�������� ���(�������������6;A;���������+��������,��&�����������������#��� �$����������������1����������&����������������1���2����1����+�1�� �����$�����������������������E5/������������������������������ ���������$��������

#������������������� 2���������������������������(���� ���������$��������7�������2����&����+�������������������������������������������+�1�����1���������������������(� ����&��������������������������������������������+������������� �������������������+�1����������� 3������ ��� ����$���+��������2������������������2������� �������(��������������������������������������� ���2����������(�� ������������1����������������#��������������������������������������1���������������������������2���������������(������� ������������ ��������� ���������� �+�1����������������F1����������&�� �� ������� ����������� ���������������������2�����������������������������������������7�������1���������������������������������������������������2����������������������������(�������������������2����&������(������� �����������+�1����������������������������������������*����,��������������� ���������������������1������������������� �����3�����������������������1�������������� �<����� �� �������� ���� ����+�1�� ����������� ����������������������������2������������� �������������

�����������������+�"��8�������#��0���$"��9 �����0����������(�������

�$����8������ ����������!������0�� �!������0��

&��$���0������!��0���:�(�!�!��0�����"6� $����"0����0��������#�!!����������-�"��� "���

������������� ���

Sir — On the one hand, India hasrelentlessly been demanding thatJaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief,Maulana Masood Azhar, bebanned and has been exertingpressure on the UN to declarehim as global terrorist. On theother, China, one of the perma-nent member nations in the UN,has constantly been foiling India’sbid to name him.

Ironically, another perma-nent member country, France,has been moving a proposal toban Azhar. Saudi ForeignMinister, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, joined the chorus anddemanded his proscription.Meanwhile, Russia, too, has saidthat it isn’t averse to banningAzhar. Clearly, China standsexposed on its self-appeasingapproach. It is also a fact that theJeM claimed responsibility for thePulwama attack. Beijing needs toknow that terrorism in one partof the world slowly and steadilyspearheads to every nook andcorner. It cannot be an exceptionto terror.

KV Seetharamaiah Hassan

������������������

Sir — This refers to the article,“Getting a grip of Kashmir’sproblem” (February 20) byKalyani Shankar. I subscribe tothe writer’s view that radicalisa-tion and alienation of the youthin the Valley is on the rise.Failure to provide them with

jobs has made matters worse.Sadly, despite severe castigationfrom social, political and religiousquarters, terrorist attacks contin-ue unabated.

The writer is spot on in sug-gesting that while teaching therecalcitrant neighbour, Pakistan,a lesson is a must, the Kashmirproblem, too, needs to beaddressed pragmatically. A pro-

longed scenario of indecisionand precariousness hanging overthe youth’s future is at the root oftheir disappointment and frustra-tion. Ironically, they are exploit-ed by vested interests, too.

That a popular and democra-tic Government is trying to ropein prominent leaders from allpolitical parties will help the sit-uation return to normalcy. This

is worth giving a try. Azhar A Khan

Rampur��������

Sir — This refers to the article,“Getting a grip of Kashmir’sproblem” (February 20) byKalyani Shankar. All those, whotry to divide India by killing inno-cent lives must be punished inaccordance with the law of theland. Those, who do the same byassaulting innocent Kashmiri stu-dents and shopkeepers, too, mustbe punished accordingly.

In this hour of darkness, ourcountry needs to be united. Weneed to show it to the world thatKashmir is an integral part of Indiaand Kashmiris are our brothersand sisters. Similarly, the interna-tional community must cametogether and pledge to root out themenace called terrorism. The 45CRPF soldiers, who were killed inthe Pulwama, represent the unityin diversity of our great country.Indeed, Pulwama martyrs teach uswhat India is all about.

Sujit DeKolkata

� - � : � � � & ( � - � � � � $

***,��&� -&"$���,+".�������� ��)C�����������N B,��!���#������N �����) ��)C���������C

�,������ "�

9����������� ��!(

���� 3���&

/���8��5 ��� �� ���������#����)����������������������������������'������)� �� ������������������������������� ��)��)�)���)�����������)� ��������������)�

,����$�((8&�������������������� ����� ������)�����������������#�� ���?����6��������� ���������J���������������������8#6

�)-.�-��%4�('%/�(4�&&�-=?���������

� 4 � % ( � $ + �

� � + + � & � + 4 � ++ * � � � ( $ + 4 &

��������� �����������������

,������������ �����������,�)��.��� �,������)��� ��������������������������������������*����#�����$�*#&������������8������!��'���+�����

��%����)�$�8�!+�&�����������������(���� 5� ���� ����������)�����������!��'���+��������%����)$!+�&�)�� ����������������������������������� �����)���������� ������������ ���������,,D�!������5 �))��+������+��������%����)�$�++�&��� ���� �����#?�-#?������8�!+����)� ������� �� �8����)��7�� �5 �+������.�����+���)������ ������� ������������'����������� ��������

8������8�!+���*#���)������ ����������� ������������������������������� �,����*#���� ����8�!+�������������������� �������������� �����)��� �� ���!��'�����������8�!+�� �� ���� ���� ����� �� ����������������������� �����@� �������#������������������7���'����������� ��� �����������*# .��������������*#��8�!+��������� ������������'����������M������������'���� 5�-���������������

����!+��(���� �������� �)������)�������� ������������ � )��� ��� �'������ ���� ��� ��������� � ,���������� ������+���"�'��)�������#?�"�'��)����������)����� ��)��� � ���������������������?���� �/����������)���������������"�'��)���������(������������������$����������������&�� ������������������������ �� ���

���%E�+����')/����������

8/�8.!8��!-�?�O�(9,��8,?

>�?#-.?��8,7-9,��!�P9�,�

#>�#�>�!.�??�.!��,��.

8.-##->,9.��,8+��8,��866�>9.�,7�

79"��>8?��-/6-?8."�+->�

�>�D��?-6!8�>?�.-,���(�9?��-/��.�(,�-/�,�>>->��9,!9��,-�>�?7.�?? ?9(7��.�-9,(-+�

8?�9.�((�#,��6�

���������������������)��''�-(')&�)/��-F,.%��90).�

$�������&�*�$���

� ������ ���'����)��� ��������������� ��������������� ����� ?��������(����� ���������������'����)��

8�0���-�(�+�/'=D������.���

���� ��� ��������������Q�-���������������)���������� �8��$?#&��� ������ ���������������������� ���� ���

�%.%G�%+���%-'3�E�'�-%/=+�����)�?���E���'

8�� �� ���������������)� ����������������������������������������������� ���������� ����� ��������������@� ���� �����

���0���1�=�����"������

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

Page 9: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

;� "��#��0�$���������

��� ����� #�������#����6������������� �����#�������9���� �#�������#��������� �#��� ��#�������� ��H��� �8����#���#�����9

I���#������ �����������#��#����#�����

��� ���� �#����� #�������6� ����� ��� �8���������������#���� ���6� �����#�������������� ������� ���#������ ���� ��9I���������� �##�8��� ����#��#����

�����4�%+�&�����

After Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s entry intoactive politics, our grand old party, theCongress, looks energised, motivated

and has the momentum on its side to face the2019 Lok Sabha election. Of course, it has beenhelped in no small measure by the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP), which now looks jaded, car-ries the disadvantage of anti-incumbency andis seemingly devoid of the same energy andenthusiasm that marked the party’s campaignthroughout 2013 till the 2014 general election.Despite being on a roll — to an extent asCongress supporters would like to believe —after last year’s victories in the Assembly elec-tions to Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan andChhattisgarh, this would be the first battle inrecent years where the grand old party, whichby default is the main challenger to the BJP, isyet to come out with a positive poll narrative orsound implementable promises. It needs apitch, now.

Rather than projecting any positive agendafor the creation of jobs, to boost the country’seconomy or putting forth any dynamic agendawhich it might have for foreign policy vis-à-visour neighbouring countries, all it is dependentthis time around is on the “failure” of the Modiregime to fulfill promises it made in 2014. Asof now, Rafale seems to be the single mostimportant agenda for the Opposition, even asthe ruling party is spiritedly defending itself andhas been denying any wrong doing. Attack,attack and attack…seems to be the Congress’mantra as it enters the last phase before the elec-tions are formally announced by the ElectionCommission of India. But Rafale doesn’t havethe ability to wash with the electorate as an emo-tional issue. Can the Modi Government’salleged failure, therefore, become the trump cardfor the Congress? If the party’s think-tankbelieves it can take the electoral plunge withoutany positive agenda, or without any perfor-mance-oriented narrative, it is, perhaps, goingthrough a delusional phase. There will be nearunanimity among non-BJP parties and also alarge section of the academia and economiststhat demonetisation was a blunder and that theimplementation of the Goods and Services Tax(GST) could have been done in a better way, andperhaps, in a phased manner. There can be noargument on this front. But can this failure ofthe ruling party become the main weapon of theCongress fightback?

At present, all that the Congress has offeredinclude loan-waivers to farmers in States likeMadhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan,where the party won last year, triggering spec-ulation that it would do well in the general elec-tions too. But can loan-waiver alone be thepanacea of all the ills that plague the farmingcommunity? No farmer, agriculturist or expertdealing with the farm economy and farm cri-sis thinks so. At best, it is a pill which can onlyremove the symptom but can never fight thecause of the disease.

So, what can the Congress offer to the farm-ers of the country? Farm distress is, perhaps, thesingle most reason to make the ModiGovernment unpopular among the rural vote-base. Low farm prices have ensured that the

farmers’ returns from investments in crop, seeds,fertilisers and land are reduced and have, in fact,come down significantly in recent years. But willthe Congress implement the recommendationsof the Swaminathan Commission report, whichadvocates a new mechanism for fixing MinimumSupport Price for their crops? We have not heardmuch from the party on this front except somevague promises.

In fact, even in Punjab, where the party hasbeen in power for almost two years now, andwhich is plagued by farm distress and farmers’suicides for long, we are yet to hear much exceptthat provisions for cosmetic loan-waivers havebeen made. Farmers continue to be stressed inthe State even though the Congress under CaptAmarinder Singh took over the reins of poweralmost two years ago.

If you do not have anything concrete on thefarm front, that’s fine, you can take a call later.But what are your plans about job creation andgiving impetus to the economy? There is nodenying that demonetisation, which was fol-lowed by GST in quick succession, affected jobgrowth. In fact, the combine triggered massivejob losses. Has the Congress come up with a planto infuse new life to the economy and createjobs? The answer obviously would be a big no.

In 2014, when Prime Minister NarendraModi was bidding for power at the Centre, he,too, attacked the Congress left, right and cen-tre, using every possible imagery to pin downthe party and expose its inner contradictions.This was similar to what the Congress is doingright now. At that time, Modi found tractionamong voters with three crucial words — Modi,Modi, Modi — that echoed in almost all pub-lic meetings in the Hindi heartland throughoutthe campaign period. But at the same time, whiletomtomming his personal charisma, he had alsocome out with slogans of creating two crore jobsevery year and gifting 15 lakh in every bankaccount from the black money which was sup-posedly parked in foreign accounts. Of course,

the promise of achhe din acted as the catalystthat instilled hope among a large section of thepopulation, cutting across caste and religiouslines.

Five years down the line, all of these large-ly remain a promise and the slogans raised thenhave been given a decent burial. Even the“Gujarat model of development”, which was sup-posed to be implemented at the national level,remains forgotten and no one hears anythingabout it anymore. What Modi and his party aredoing this time around is what they did in 2014— virulently attack the Congress. Dynasty andalleged acts of omission and commission are thetop subjects on which the grand old party canbe attacked. There is no attempt to even sell arescue plan for stressed Indians.

So, there you are: Both the main contendersare calling each other names, they want the peo-ple to believe that the other is corrupt and aretrying to attract the voters’ eyeballs with theircolourful vocabulary, which they are usingagainst each other. What catapulted the BJPunder Modi in 2014 was complete disillusion-ment with 10 years of UPA regime, charges ofbig ticket corruption, perception of a remote-controlled Prime Minister and loss of hopeamong the electorate for the future. Modibrought in a wave of fresh air, positive change,political machismo and above all, hope for achhedin with some specific policy measures.

In the absence of a positive narrativeamong both contenders for power — BJP andCongress — electioneering so far has beenreduced to charges and counter charges, attackand defence. Of course, real electioneering is yetto pick up and will be seen only after the nationgets over the Pulwama tragedy. But people arestill wondering if elections this time round wouldbe fought on negative agenda, making both sideslook opportunist than committed visionarieswho will see us through.

(The writer is Senior Editor, The Pioneer,Chandigarh)

<0�$�0����� �!��!��������� ������#�����0���#�(���0���:����"��0��%��� ����� ������!(������,������0���0� =�;�!!��0�(��$!!��$���� ������� ����0�� �0������"�� ������� ��0��� �����>

�������� ";' $ & � + � 4 � � � %

/�&%&$0�!"��-"��'�&$��&0��&�

)/���� (<�&

.����������� � ���������� �� ������� ������������'� �E������������������ �����

� ��)���������� ��''�������� �������

����1� �*�3��

0���� ��� ����������������������������������(�����������������=�����������!��������4��������������G����������*�� ���>�2���������������(

��������������� ������%����������������(��������������������������������$����������������������������������������������������� ���������#���&������������� ������������7�� �������������������������������2������� �������8������4���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������2�&����������&������������������������2��� ����������������������

#����A;��������������������� ������ ���������#��������������������+��������3���������������������������������������������������������������������$�������=<������������������������ �����(������5/����������6;H/�������������������� �����(�������>3��������������5/69� ����������������(����������������F�������&�������������� ���(������������� ���������������������<����������7��������������������������������������������3������ ��� ����� ����� ��� ����� ������ 65 ����� ��#��������� 2�����������&���������������I2���������6..�������6H/�������������������+���������

3��������������� ��������������(������������������������������ ������������������������������ ��������������������� ���������������������� �������������������=����� ��������������������������>�<����&����������������������������2������������(������3���<��������������������2������1���=21>����������������������(������������� �<�������������(������������������������������������������� �������F3���(%�(1���&�<���������������������4���������������������������������=���������>�������������� ���������������� ������������������������������������� ���� �����=F*���������1����&>������������������������� �

3�������������������������� ��������������(������=��� �����$�������>����������������������������������������������������������������F�����&�����������������������������������������������$�������������������������� ����������������������������������������������� �����������������������3���������� ����������������������������(�� ������������������������ =�� ���������������������������>�<�������������:��$��������������������������������������������������E659�������������������������������������������

�J11����������5/6/����������������������(����E./���B�����������D����J1�������������������&���������������������������������3������������������������������������������������� �2���������������������� �������������������?����������������������������������������������#�������������������� ����������&����� �������������3���������������� ����� �������������������������������� &���������)������� ���� ���K+��������3�������A5����������������A5K��������� ��������������������L9��������������������������6H�#������� ������ ��������������� ��������������� ����������������������������������������������������� 5/ �������3����������������� ��������������� ���������������������� ����������������

��������������������������������������� �������������������� ��������������������6/������� ������������������� ��M���������������������� ������������������������������� ��������������� ���������������������������������������#�����������������������������������������������������������������(����3��������6/������������������������=������������>������������5H�����������������������=��������(���>�<������������&�������"���������� ���������(�������������������������� �����&������������������������������#����������������������������������������������� �����&��������������2�6;@/�������"�����������������������J1� ����������������������� �������� 5/9/���������������J1�������������&�������������������������������������������������.//������������ ���������� ������� ���������#���=5H�������>�2������������ ��F���������&�������������&�������� �������

�� ���������������������������������

When many of the guests lefther wedding receptionbecause of the terrible

smell emanating from unhygienicconditions prevailing in her villagein Maharashtra, Madhuri Sawantwas determined to change things.It took 14 years of single-mindeddetermination to overcome a rigidmindset and conditioning butSawant ensured that her village wasamong the 12 vil lages fromMaharashtra to win the first NirmalGram Puraskar, an award institut-ed by the Union Government inOctober, 2003, to promote ruralsanitation. Sawant’s village beat443 contenders from 10 States towin the award given to panchayats

or local self-governments, that haveensured that all households haveaccess to toilets; are free of opendefecation; and have separate toiletsfor boys and girls in schools andanganwadi centres.

Although Sawant started hercampaign much before she becamethe village’s first woman pradhan,holding an office made it easier forher to push for sanitation anddevelopmental work. It was herability to catalyse change that cat-apulted her village to the top.

Sawant is not the only onewho has been bringing change.There are innumerable examples ofhow the leadership of women inpanchayats is transforming Indiaand have been underlining whythere is an urgent need for anincrease in women’s participation inthe political system. Their presence in the village not onlyinspires other women but increas-es aspirations among families withdaughters.

When women are seen takingup responsibilities of village lead-ers, which are traditionally appro-

priated by men, others are motivat-ed to try and follow in their foot-steps. Research has shown thatperceptions of women as leadersimprove when they are seen andheard at village meetings.

Studies have proven thatwomen’s representation in localGovernments can make a tangibledifference. For example, the num-ber of drinking water projects inareas with women-led panchayatswas 62 per cent higher than in thosethat were led by men. Further,women legislators enhance eco-nomic performance in their con-stituencies by about 1.8 percentagepoints per year more than male leg-islators. Women legislators aremore effective at completing roadprojects and, hence, creating infra-structure for growth, according toa recent study by the UnitedNations University.

Additionally, by improving edu-cational outcomes for girls, thesewomen leaders lay the foundationfor increasing their participation inthe labour force and, thereby, clos-ing the gap of male-to-female work-

ing population in India.Even at the national level,

women’s leadership in the politicaldecision-making processes champi-ons issues of development, genderjustice, elimination of gender-basedviolence, gender-equality laws,healthcare and safety of women,irrespective of party affiliation.Despite their low numbers, (womenconstitute 12.2 per cent of the MPsin the 16th Lok Sabha and 11.5 percent in the Rajya Sabha), womenhave shown equal, if not greater,understanding of their role inParliament.

While women MPs on an aver-age asked 234 questions in the LokSabha, compared to 236 questionsby men MPs, female MPs on aver-age participated in more debates(56) than their male counterparts(55), according to data collected byPRS Legislative Research for the16th Lok Sabha (June 1, 2014, toJuly 31, 2018).

Incidentally, female voterturnout was higher than maleturnout in 16 States and UnionTerritories out of 35 in the last gen-

eral elections in 2014. Can this betranslated into greater participationof women as candidates? Yes, saysa recent survey by Shakti, a non par-tisan inclusive platform of womenacross the country.

On being asked whether theywanted more women MPs in LokSabha in 2019 elections, Shaktireceived an affirmative answer from10 lakh registered voters across therural, urban, women, men andyouth spectrum. Their Shakti-NetaApp survey recorded 82.2 per cent‘YES’ across 24 States.

But first, political parties haveto give women a chance to contestthe elections. Only 8.8 per cent tick-ets were given to women candidatesby the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)and 12.9 per cent by the Congressin the 2014 general election. Will itbe different this time around? Willwomen be able to overcome prevail-ing cultural attitudes regardinggender roles, lack of finances andthe threat of violence?

That it is possible for women totriumph over these obstacles hasbeen shown by Jayanti, a young

woman from the backward Sahariyatribe in the Lalitpur district of UttarPradesh. Jayanti’s journey from adaily-wage labourer to a pradhansymbolises the growing politicalempowerment and coming of age ofmany marginalised women.

In the feudal and backwardBundelkhand region of the State,these women are now more willingto participate actively in the elec-toral process. Jayanti stood herground despite threats and coercionto withdraw from the elections.

Even the announcement thatshe had lost by four votes did notbreak her spirit. She exercised herright to a recount and was vindicat-ed when she was declared the win-ner by a thin margin of six votes.Since then she has resolved prob-lems related to the mid-day mealsold age pension cards and roads.

The power to give women achance still rests with the men. Nowis the moment to prove that com-mitments for women-led develop-ment don’t remain mere rhetoric.

(The writer is a senior journalist)

*������!�����!������� ���#�������������� ����������������������� ������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������

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

�/���� ��=��(�&

'4&� $)% � �<�

(���� ����� �����������?������������ ��������� ���'������E�)�������������)��������*�)������ ���� �,��7�� ��-'�� ���(�))����5 �'� ��������������)�������������,��)��� ����� � �����������������������'���������������������)�������)������ ��� �������������������� ��'������������ ������������������(���� ���������� ������� ������������� ������� ��������������������������

8!���-/���+8!!6���?,�.9(6��>�!��6

8.�,7����?�.(�-/���#-?8,8D�

.�>>�,8D��+-."��-,7

(-.,�.!�>?�/->#-��>�=��*#

�.!�(-.">�??�=�6�(,8-.��>8."?-�/�>�7�?����.

>�!9(�!�,-(7�>"�?��.!

(-9.,�>(7�>"�? �-/

(-9>?���>��6�6�(,8-.��>8."

8?�E�,�,-�#8(��9#�.!��866����?��.-.6E��/,�>�,7�

.�,8-.�"�,?-D�>�,7�#96��+�,>�"�!E

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

***,��&� -&"$���,+".

Page 10: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

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

� ��� ������� �

� ��� .���!�678

The host of reforms under-taken by the Government

has transformed India intothe fastest-growing majoreconomy along with themacroeconomic stability notwitnessed in the past, accord-ing to a note prepared by theNiti Aayog.

The country’s growth, thenote added, has decisivelyincreased over the last fiveyears and is much higher thanthe average growth among theemerging and developingeconomies.

“India’s economic perfor-mance dipped considerablyduring 2010-13.

“Over the last five years(2014-18), the India economyhas recovered and now is goingthrough one of its best-everphases of economic growthcombined with the microeco-

nomic stability,” the note said.Narendra Modi became

the prime minister in May2014 after the Bharatiya JanataParty-led National DemocraticAlliance won the general elec-tions.

The next general electionsare due in April-May.

According to the note, in2018-19, against India’s likelygrowth of 7.2 per cent, theworld GDP growth would be3.7 per cent and median ofseven emerging marketeconomies (Brazil, China,Indonesia, Philippines, Russia,South Africa and Turkey) is 3.5per cent.

The closest to India is

China, which is estimated togrow at 6.6 per cent in 2018-19,the note said.

“The uptick in economicgrowth has come from variouseconomic reforms undertakenby the Government such asimprovement in ease of doingbusiness, opening up to for-eign direct investments, thepush for infrastructure devel-opment and a stable and deci-sive policy environment,” itadded.

India’s growth in the cur-rent fiscal year is estimated tobe 7.2 per cent with the growthin preceding three years being8 per cent, 8.2 per cent and 7.2per cent.

������%�� ����*������������������� ����� � ����������������2�� ��������������=����0������2����� �*����� ������������7�����������������������#�� ��*���7������ �� ��

$������ ����>>��,������ ����������$� �����*�����0���������������� ��������������0��������$�� ��4������?"����8�@������� ���������������������������������%�� ����"������� �;��������� ���?*��������� ����������� ������� ����������������������� �� �������� ������� ���?*�����������A���������� ���������������8�B66�� �������������������������

%/�0���� ���������������9��������� ��+�$9-� ��%�� �� ! �� ��0������� ����#�� �! ���+%!0#!- ���������������"��� �� �0����� ?%!0#! ��� �� ����5��� ���� �� �� �� � ��� �������� ����������� ����"��������������������� �� ��C����������������� ��C������������������

����� .���!�678

Bharat Heavy ElectricalsLimited (BHEL) has suc-

cessfully commissioned a 250MW coal-based thermal powerplant (TPP) in Bihar.

The unit has been com-missioned at the greenfield4x250 MW Nabinagar ThermalPower Project, being set up byBharatiya Rail Bijlee CompanyLimited (BRBCL), a joint ven-ture of NTPC Limited and theIndian Railways.

This is the third 250 MWunit commissioned by BHEL atNabinagar TPP, located atNabinagar in Aurangabad dis-trict of Bihar. The first twounits are already under com-mercial operation and thefourth unit is in an advancedstage of execution.

The orders for Steam

Generator (SG) and TurbineGenerator (TG) packages forsetting up of four units of 250MW coal based thermal plantwere placed on BHEL. Thecompany’s scope of workencompassed design, engi-neering, manufacture, supply,erection and commissioning ofSteam Turbines, Generatorsand Boilers, along with associ-ated Auxiliaries and Electricals,besides state-of-the-artControls & Instrumentation(C&I) and ElectrostaticPrecipitators (ESPs).

The key equipment for theproject has been manufacturedby BHEL at its Haridwar,Trichy, Ranipet, Hyderabadand Bengaluru works, while theconstruction of the plant hasbeen undertaken by the com-pany’s Power Sector — EasternRegion.

$����0�7������*�*��������������������*�$����?����8����� �/ �� �����/���� ����� ���!�� ����� �:@#, ��/ ��

� ����.��!�678

Shares of publicsector banks

(PSBs) jumped upto 19 per cent onThursday after theFinance Ministryannounced infu-sion of �48,239crore in 12 suchlenders in this fis-cal to help them maintain reg-ulatory capital requirementsand finance growth plans.

Corporation Bank zoomed19.02 per cent at close of trade,UCO Bank 8.75 per cent,United Bank 7.19 per cent,Indian Overseas Bank 6.78 percent, Central Bank of India 5.50per cent on BSE.

Shares of Allahabad Bankjumped 5.34 per cent, AndhraBank 5.22 per cent, Bank ofMaharashtra 3.96 per cent,Syndicate Bank 3.59 per cent,Punjab National Bank 2.95 percent, Union Bank of India 2.80per cent and Bank of India 1.83per cent.

“Market extended gains asinvestors sentiment has beenboosted owing to recapitalisa-tion of PSU banks,” said VinodNair, Head of Research, GeojitFinancial Services.

With this funding, the totalamount of capital infusionwould increase to �1,00,958

crore of the planned recapital-isation of �1.06 lakh crore forPSBs for the current fiscal,according to Financial ServicesSecretary Rajiv Kumar.

Corporation Bank is thebiggest beneficiary of thisround of capital infusion with�9,086 crore of funding, fol-lowed by Allahabad Bank with�6,896 crore.

Further, �4,638 crore and�205 crore will be provided toBank of India and Bank ofMaharashtra, respectively.

Punjab National Bankwill get �5,908 crore, UnionBank of India �4,112 crore,Andhra Bank �3,256 croreand Syndicate Bank �1,603crore.

Under prompt correctiveaction (PCA), the Governmentwill pump in �12,535 crore infour other banks — CentralBank of India, United Bank,UCO Bank and IndianOverseas Bank.

�$�!�������� ����,�5����$������?@����$�"����$������!��

� ��� +9+��8

The rupee skidded by 11paise to close at 71.24

against the US dollar onThursday as rising oil pricesand a strengthening green-back weighed on the marketsentiment.

At the Interbank ForeignExchange (forex) market, thedomestic unit opened strongat 71.06 and rose to 70.91.However, it could not holdon to the gains and fell to alow of 71.29 before finallyending at 71.24 — a fall of 13paise.

The rupee had closed at71.11 against the US dollarWednesday.

Foreign institutionalinvestors (FIIs), who had beenheavy sellers over the past fewsessions, net bought equitiesworth �55 crore Thursdaywhile domestic institutionalinvestors bought shares to thetune of �202 crore, provision-al data showed.

Global markets were mixedfollowing the release of FederalReserve minutes which showedthat the US central bank wouldbe patient on interest ratehikes.

The dollar index, whichgauges the greenback’s strengthagainst a basket of six curren-cies, rose 0.13 per cent to96.57.

�������8@�� ����>8?�D��� ���E�������� ���

�7�6���)) � �FA<�+�����)������������������� � ��� +9+��8

Crisis-hit Jet Airways onThursday convened a

meeting of its shareholderswhere various proposals,including conversion of loansinto shares, were discussed.

The cash-strapped fullservice airline is looking forfunds and restructuring ofdebt.

Jet Airways founder pro-moter and Chairman NareshGoyal did not attend theextraordinary general meet-ing, which was chaired byWhole-Time DirectorGaurang Shetty.

During the meeting,which lasted for around 40minutes, Deputy ChiefExecutive Off icer AmitAgarwal told shareholdersthat the airline has been talk-ing to various investors for

capital infusion.Jet Airways has been con-

sistently working on cost-reduction initiatives and is alsolooking to rationalise its fleet toimprove cost efficiency.

The outcome of the meet-ing could not be ascertainedimmediately.

According to the noticethat was sent out to share-holders, one of the proposalswas for seeking approval forconversion loan into shares orconvertible instruments orother securities.

Another proposal was tonegotiate and finalise theterms and conditions withthe lenders for raising furtherloans from time to time aswell as provide the lenderswith a right to convert suchloans into shares, or convert-ible instruments or othersecurities.

� ��� .���!�678

Shares of Jet Airways(India) Ltd rose nearly 1

per cent on Thursday aheadof an extraordinary gener-al meeting of the membersof the company later in theday.

The company’s sharesgained 0.82 per cent to closeat �234.85 on the BSE.During the day, it rose by1.69 per cent to �236.90.

At the National StockExchange (NSE), sharesclimbed 0.77 per cent toclose at �235 apiece.

On the traded volumefront, 3.46 lakh shareswere traded on the BSEand over 36 lakh shares onthe NSE.

*�������� ����� � ���������� 5�)����:���9� #�(���0� ���������� !(��@�0��"����7*&

����� .���!�678

Leif Johansson, Chairman ofthe Board, AstraZeneca Plc

during his three day visit toIndia, announced expansion ofthe company’s strategic collab-orations to address the risingburden of Non-CommunicableDiseases(NCDs) in India.

At the India-SwedenUnnati healthcare 2.0 day, thecompany and its partners,Business Sweden, TheNational Association ofSoftware and Ser vicesCompanies (NASSCOM),Atal Innovation Mission-NitiAayog and AGNIi, announcedthe finalists of the UnnatiHealthcare InnovationChallenge.

9�� �A�����!�$��0����� �������� ��� �0���#��0'9��%�&

����#��������@ ���� ������������#�#� ��8�#������J���� �������� ��8���������� ����� .���!�678

Indian Chamber of Commerceorganized the 9th edition of

India corporate governance andsustainability vision summitand awards on 21st February2019 at New Delhi. The sum-mit and the awards over theyears have provided the rightplatform to organizations foreffectively showcasing their cor-porate governance and sustain-ability practices.

The dignitaries who gracedthe occasion were Anil Swarup,Former Secretary, Department

of School Education & Literacy,Ministry of Human ResourceDevelopment, Government ofIndia, Bhaskar Chatterjee,Former Secretary, Departmentof Heavy Industries & PublicEnterprises, Government ofIndia & Senior Director, IndianInstitute of Learning &Management, Saunak Saha,Associate Partner, Ernst &Young and Anil Razdan,Chairman-ICC NationalExpert Committee on Energy& Former Secretary,Department of Power,Government of India.

� ��� +9+��8

Junior Commerce andIndustry Minister CR

Chaudhary has set an ambitious$50 billion target for bilateraltrade between India and Russiaover the next seven years.

As of end-2018, tradebetween the two countriesstood at $30 billion.

“Our two-way trade havealready crossed the $30- billionmark, which we had set for2025. We, therefore, proposethat we enhance this to $50 bil-lion by 2025,” Chaudhary saidat the Indo-Russian forumorganised by the industry lobbyCII here Thursday.

He also said both the coun-tries are confident of achievingthe target.

The Minister said by 2030,the country is expected tobecome the third largest econ-omy in the world with a hugemiddleclass. But to reach thatposition, we need more andbetter infrastructure, access toenergy, more goods and ser-vices and a modern agriculturesector, he added.

“Russia is well placed tomeet our needs in these areasas well as others, he said,adding beside businesses, thereis a need for collaborationbetween the two countries onthe education sector as well.

(�)+� �� �RA<����������������������������>� �����F<FA

Page 11: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

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

� ��� .���!�678

Anil Ambani-led RelianceCapital (RCap) on

Thursday said it has invitedNippon Life Insurance toacquire its entire 42.88 per centstake in Reliance Nippon LifeAsset Management (RNAM).

Japan’s Nippon LifeInsurance already holds 42.88per cent stake in RNAM.

“Reliance Capital has invit-ed its partner, Nippon LifeInsurance, to make an offer toacquire up to 42.88 per centstake held by Reliance Capitalin Reliance Nippon Life AssetManagement,” Reliance Capitalsaid in a regulatory filing.

The company said it would

make further announcementsat the appropriate time.

As per BSE data, as onDecember 31, 2018, RelianceCapital held 42.9 per cent stakein Reliance Nippon Life AssetManagement.

Sources said the transac-tion could help clear around 40per cent of Reliance Capital’soutstanding debt worth�18,000 crore.

The transaction price islikely to be at a significant pre-mium to the current marketprice, as it would also involvecontrol premium, they added.

The proposed share salewould also trigger the require-ment of open offer to be madefor 26 per cent stake in the

company. According to thesources, once the transactiongoes through, the companywould become the largestwholly foreign-owned mutualfund in India.

Anil Ambani-led RelianceGroup companies have beentrying to monetise some oftheir assets and bring down thedebt significantly.

The Supreme Court onWednesday held RComChairman Anil Ambani andtwo others guilty of contemptof court for violating its orderby not paying dues of �550crore to Ericsson, and saidthey faced a three-month jailterm if �453 crore was not paidto Ericsson in four weeks.

� ��� +9+��8

Equity indices closed high-er for the second straightsession on Thursday, led

by metal, pharma and bankingstocks amid widespread buyingby foreign and domestic insti-tutional investors.

Global markets were mixedfollowing release of FederalReserve minutes which showedthat the US central bank wouldbe patient on interest ratehikes.

After a choppy start, the30-share BSE Sensex settled142.09 points, or 0.40% high-er at 35,898.35. The broaderNSE Nifty gained 54.40 points,or 0.5%, to 10,789.85.

Tata Motors was the biggestgainer in the Sensex pack, ral-lying 2.94%. It was followed byVedanta, Bajaj Finance, SunPharma, ONGC, ICICI Bank,Bajaj Auto, Tata Steel, RIL,HDFC duo, L&T and SBI, ris-ing up to 2.78%.

On the other hand, YesBank, Coal India, Infosys,IndusInd Bank, Kotak Bank,Axis Bank, ITC and TCSslipped up to 1.33%.

Shares of public sectorbanks (PSBs) jumped up to19% after the government onWednesday announced fundinfusion of �48,239 crore in 12such lenders.

Corporation Bank zoomed

19.02%, UCO Bank 8.75%,United Bank 7.19%, CentralBank of India 5.50%, AllahabadBank 5.34%, Andhra Bankjumped 5.22%, Bank ofMaharashtra 3.96%, SyndicateBank 3.59%, and PunjabNational Bank ended 2.95%higher.

Sectorally, the BSE metalindex, consumer durables,healthcare, finance and bankexrose up to 1.14%, while IT andteck indices ended with losses.

Broader indices outper-formed the benchmark. TheBSE Midcap index climbed0.88% while the small-capgauge rose 1.07%.

“Market extended gains asinvestor sentiment has beenboosted owing to recapitalisa-tion of PSU banks and Fed’s

affirmation of slow pace in ratehikes.

“Accumulation is seen onheavyweights after recent fallwhile mid and small cap out-performed. Undercurrent inthe market is yet to stabilise dueto caution on global trade andgrowth while falling interestrates and reforms by govern-ment will give impetus to con-sumption-led stocks,” saidVinod Nair, head of research,Geojit Financial Services.

Foreign institutionalinvestors (FIIs), who had beenheavy sellers over the past fewsessions, net bought equitiesworth �713.47 crore onWednesday while domesticinstitutional investors boughtshares to the tune of �113.27crore, provisional data showed.

Elsewhere in Asia, HongKong’s Hang Seng rose 0.41%and Japan’s Nikkei ended 0.15%higher; while ShanghaiComposite Index shed 0.34%and Korea’s Kospi slipped0.04%.

In the Eurozone,Frankfurt’s DAX was up 0.28%,Paris CAC 40 fell 0.06% andLondon’s FTSE was down0.63% in early deals.

The benchmark Brentcrude futures fell 0.12% toUSD 67 per barrel.

Meanwhile, the rupeedepreciated marginally to 71.14against the US dollar intra-day.

New Delhi (PTI): iRobotCorp, which offers premiumrobotic cleaners globally, is look-ing to strengthen its distributionnetwork as part of expandingpresence in India, according toan official. “We have witnessedstrong double-digit growth inthe Indian market. This is com-ing from both metros as well assmaller cities,” Puresight Systemsdirector and chief operatingofficer Pulak Satish Kumar said.Puresight is the exclusive dis-tributor of Nasdaq-listediRobot’s products in India.Kumar said the products, pricedbetween �19,900 and �89,900were available through fran-chise outlets, Croma and onlineretailer Amazon.

� ��� .���!�678

India’s overall automobilesales are likely to remain

tepid in the first half of 2019-20, but the upcoming imple-mentation of BS-VI emissionnorms will drive the demand inthe second half of the year,according to India Ratings andResearch (Ind-Ra).

As per the ratings agency,the passenger vehicle (PV) seg-ment, which has clocked a 4per cent growth in the tenmonths of the ongoing fiscal, is

expected to grow “moderately”next fiscal.

The commercial vehicle(CV) segment, which hasgrown 23 per cent in the tenmonths of 2018-19, is expect-ed to see high single-digit tolow double-digit growth in2019-20, Ind-Ra said in a state-ment.

Two-wheelers are alsopoised for steady growth in thenext fiscal, it said. The segmenthas grown by 8 per cent so farin the ongoing fiscal.

Buying preponement on

the expected price rise in 2020-21 due to the implementationof BS-VI norms, improvementin consumer sentiments alongwith new model and variantlaunches will be among the keygrowth drivers for the PV seg-ment.

For the CV segment, itsaid, continued uptick in indus-trial activity, road and infra-structure development, andthe likelihood of liquidity ofNBFCs will fuel demand.

The rise in rural incomeand growing middle class pop-

ulation with increasing dispos-able income will be the keygrowth drivers for two-wheel-er segement, along with a youngpopulation showing preferencefor premium products.

While maintaining a stableoutlook for automobile sector,the ratings agency said BS-VIimplementation from April 1,2020 will make vehicles costlieracross all segments.

“As per industry estimates,the cost of petrol variant PVsand two-wheelers couldincrease 10-15 per cent and

that of diesel variant by 20-25per cent,” it said.

Due to this, Ind-Ra expectsdemand to pick pace in secondhalf of 2019-20, although it islikely to remain tepid in thefirst half, it said.

The agency further saidcredit ratings of most of thelarge players in its sample are setto be unaffected in 2019-20despite capex plans in view ofthe ongoing regulatory changes,development of an electric vehi-cle platform and continuednew product launches

)�� ����.���������;��6��� �3*������� ������

��� �/ �� ������ �!�� �

���� ������������� � ����/� ������������������ �������8��8�� ����������� � ����� ������� ���!������� ��! ��8������� ��!, � ����/��� !,����5� �����/�

������������ ���� ���������������5�� ����)#��2'�

������7����$����� �������������������� ��������*�����*���2<

"������ ���������������������8D?B:F��� �

New Delhi (PTI): IT firmTech Mahindra on Thursdayannounced a �1,956-crore buy-back of its shares at �950 apiece,a 14.59 per cent premium overcurrent trading price. The sharebuyback proposal has beenapproved by the company’sboard. The firm is proposing tobuy back up to 2.05 crore(2,05,85,000) equity shares at aprice of �950 per equity share foran aggregate amount notexceeding �1,956 crore, TechMahindra said in a regulatoryfiling.

March 6, 2019, is the recorddate for the purpose of ascer-taining the eligibility of share-holders to participate in the buy-back, it added.

>��������� ��� ����������� �����8��

Script Open High Low LTPRCOM 5.90 6.54 5.72 6.33SUZLON 3.69 4.61 3.62 4.43RELCAPITAL 144.00 163.75 140.70 161.20IBULHSGFIN 651.00 688.70 645.00 683.10TECHM 814.50 840.10 809.70 820.40RELINFRA 118.00 125.90 116.00 124.40DHFL 131.00 141.70 131.00 137.10YESBANK 219.00 219.10 214.20 215.00RELIANCE 1236.00 1256.70 1230.20 1246.45KSCL 413.00 423.75 404.25 416.65TATASTEEL 492.60 501.95 490.60 497.90ICICIBANK 346.00 354.70 346.00 350.40PNB 75.60 76.75 72.70 73.20JPASSOCIAT 5.15 6.08 5.15 5.92JINDALSTEL 149.90 156.45 147.80 155.35VEDL 161.70 165.60 160.45 164.60TATAMOTORS 166.00 170.60 165.20 169.70NATIONALUM 49.70 50.15 47.75 48.40TCS 1924.00 1939.80 1898.65 1912.25MARUTI 6860.00 6878.00 6718.30 6796.80LT 1282.00 1288.80 1265.15 1282.25TEJASNET 155.00 178.00 151.25 161.20SUNPHARMA 425.00 431.95 423.00 429.75DISHTV 35.15 37.35 34.75 37.00ALBK 48.40 48.40 45.10 46.35SBIN 269.95 270.90 267.00 267.55CGPOWER 30.25 31.95 29.70 31.20RNAM 155.55 187.05 151.25 187.05IBVENTURES 265.80 306.45 265.60 297.80AXISBANK 702.00 706.70 695.35 696.90ONGC 145.50 148.30 144.35 147.00L&TFH 125.00 127.80 123.75 127.20GRAPHITE 418.00 427.35 410.40 418.75JETAIRWAYS 234.60 236.90 231.85 234.85RPOWER 10.85 11.35 10.50 11.20M&M 639.00 639.00 625.00 633.35ASIANPAINT 1398.55 1407.75 1392.00 1397.75BANKINDIA 85.50 86.00 82.90 83.30ASHOKLEY 81.90 81.90 80.25 81.10JUSTDIAL 475.75 538.00 475.75 513.80EMAMILTD 392.95 410.00 386.25 395.85IOC 129.00 131.60 128.15 131.15DRREDDY 2530.10 2599.80 2520.00 2585.50HEG 2135.00 2176.00 2118.15 2131.85INFY 739.00 739.15 727.95 733.35CORPBANK 29.00 30.60 28.60 30.35HCLTECH 1056.00 1061.00 1042.90 1053.50PFC 109.20 111.90 107.85 110.20UNIONBANK 73.00 73.25 70.80 71.50BIOCON 620.00 624.60 618.15 621.65ZEEL 445.05 454.70 441.05 446.55BAJFINANCE 2621.80 2660.00 2595.00 2653.05ITC 276.00 277.00 274.10 274.90BOMDYEING 108.05 114.20 107.20 111.45STRTECH 238.55 248.00 236.50 246.00MARICO 334.00 338.80 332.25 336.55HINDUNILVR 1740.00 1756.55 1738.05 1753.60FORCEMOT 1344.45 1409.00 1334.65 1389.40IBREALEST 72.60 75.10 72.35 74.40CANFINHOME 253.10 275.95 251.80 270.60ADANIPOWER 40.00 40.90 38.85 39.55MANAPPURAM 109.90 114.95 108.05 113.80AARTIIND 1310.00 1431.45 1310.00 1381.05BANKBARODA 104.60 105.00 102.60 103.00JUBLFOOD 1293.05 1326.90 1292.00 1316.90IDBI 43.70 45.60 42.35 45.00SPICEJET 77.00 77.40 75.60 76.10GRUH 242.05 250.00 241.85 248.15JSWSTEEL 277.00 278.95 273.70 277.05BANDHANBNK 477.45 494.90 477.45 488.00RADICO 372.00 373.70 349.65 368.95BLISSGVS 151.30 170.40 149.85 169.05EXIDEIND 207.05 215.70 206.55 214.05HDFCBANK 2107.00 2119.00 2094.20 2115.15WOCKPHARMA 395.40 404.50 392.05 397.95STAR 410.35 424.45 408.25 418.85HEROMOTOCO 2630.00 2655.00 2585.10 2643.70AMBUJACEM 214.00 214.00 202.65 210.00HINDPETRO 219.50 224.00 218.00 222.60M&MFIN 385.15 397.30 379.35 394.70DLF 164.00 166.80 162.00 165.70COALINDIA 215.60 216.00 213.25 213.70TATAGLOBAL 187.60 194.75 187.60 189.95FSL 40.45 41.30 39.25 40.55SUNTV 568.00 591.95 563.30 587.00SAIL 47.90 49.15 47.30 48.95PCJEWELLER 67.55 68.40 67.45 67.85IRB 117.65 125.05 116.10 122.90IDEA 30.70 31.20 30.25 31.00WIPRO 370.00 376.50 370.00 374.50LICHSGFIN 454.10 465.95 448.95 463.95INDUSINDBK 1483.95 1493.50 1453.30 1471.55DBL 448.95 456.70 437.00 439.95BRITANNIA 2943.00 3018.00 2936.95 3004.25PHILIPCARB 152.00 153.50 146.40 149.00ESCORTS 658.90 664.50 654.00 655.85GNFC 248.00 256.15 246.70 251.65AUROPHARMA 722.50 732.00 720.80 730.55BPCL 329.50 337.50 326.40 335.00TVSMOTOR 467.00 468.75 456.15 464.25TATAELXSI 890.00 914.00 890.00 901.65TATACOMM 519.00 526.90 511.00 523.55HINDALCO 193.90 195.60 192.30 194.30TATACHEM 574.00 574.00 565.00 566.65KOTAKBANK 1292.00 1297.40 1282.80 1288.90RECLTD 127.60 130.10 126.60 128.25BATAINDIA 1270.00 1288.25 1266.40 1284.70INFIBEAM 37.90 37.90 36.60 36.75

DMART 1446.90 1474.00 1446.10 1458.05MUTHOOTFIN 518.90 539.40 518.90 535.85PAGEIND 20650.00 21395.00 20648.00 21286.10REPCOHOME 317.55 333.20 314.50 326.30LUPIN 760.00 773.00 755.15 770.05JAICORPLTD 90.30 93.65 89.80 93.10INTELLECT 163.20 171.40 163.20 169.10ADANIPORTS 352.90 359.00 351.35 355.70GRASIM 731.70 751.20 725.45 746.60HDFC 1875.00 1894.65 1865.20 1891.60ICICIPRULI 304.00 318.35 301.50 315.00MINDAIND 329.80 329.80 312.65 316.55OIL 172.50 173.80 171.35 172.35NAUKRI 1712.00 1732.05 1666.20 1693.85UJJIVAN 273.45 284.15 272.35 283.15DEEPAKFERT 127.75 131.80 124.00 130.75INDIGO 1123.90 1133.00 1109.90 1113.85IDFCFIRSTB 45.00 45.35 44.70 44.85BHARTIARTL 307.00 311.00 302.95 310.20GAIL 331.00 336.30 324.50 331.75FEDERALBNK 80.90 80.90 79.20 79.75SPARC 161.45 166.55 160.15 164.75PEL 2220.80 2255.00 2197.45 2240.15CANBK 225.00 225.25 220.50 221.65SUNTECK 343.00 351.75 341.00 344.80APOLLOHOSP 1133.05 1157.00 1126.00 1152.80UCOBANK 19.00 19.50 18.25 18.65MRPL 63.25 64.50 63.25 63.85EQUITAS 112.00 115.40 111.65 114.75BAJAJFINSV 5928.00 6247.40 5928.00 6177.35MOTILALOFS 593.10 624.85 593.00 619.75NIITTECH 1290.00 1327.70 1287.30 1290.80BEL 76.00 77.80 76.00 77.45MFSL 396.40 411.30 395.00 407.30HAL 629.80 690.00 629.80 667.45

ICICIGI 901.80 928.00 901.80 924.40WELCORP 100.00 108.40 100.00 106.80SIEMENS 966.45 988.00 945.65 985.55ASHOKA 113.00 124.00 109.60 121.15INFRATEL 317.30 317.30 306.50 313.20AJANTPHARM 976.50 1004.25 973.25 989.95POWERGRID 182.00 182.90 180.90 181.75TITAN 1035.70 1045.00 1032.00 1042.40APOLLOTYRE 210.05 211.40 207.10 208.75BAJAJELEC 438.05 465.00 438.00 458.65BEML 776.00 790.50 775.05 786.30EDELWEISS 149.20 152.20 146.35 151.30ORIENTBANK 83.00 83.95 81.75 82.75VIPIND 441.00 441.00 426.10 431.95SUVEN 222.35 237.00 220.00 234.25INDIANB 224.00 224.95 218.60 220.45BAJAJ-AUTO 2743.65 2820.00 2743.65 2809.65CENTURYTEX 740.00 773.35 740.00 765.85RAIN 95.10 97.00 92.50 95.90GODREJAGRO 479.95 482.85 478.50 479.35MPHASIS 1038.25 1041.15 1015.20 1018.80CHENNPETRO 206.30 217.95 206.30 216.80NCC 83.75 85.40 83.55 84.70NESTLEIND 10500.00 10657.55 10431.00 10597.20DIVISLAB 1558.45 1561.00 1540.80 1549.90TATAMTRDVR 86.80 88.50 85.70 88.00MINDTREE 906.10 907.45 888.25 898.00ANDHRABANK 25.30 26.05 25.00 25.20MOTHERSUMI 135.50 136.50 134.10 135.75HAVELLS 698.50 703.00 691.50 697.95NBCC 51.25 51.90 50.80 51.60SYNDIBANK 34.00 34.00 32.65 33.20OMAXE 210.60 210.60 207.95 208.20NTPC 137.90 138.50 135.55 136.60PETRONET 213.65 216.05 213.65 215.30INDIACEM 86.00 86.40 84.55 85.90PERSISTENT* 632.80 639.00 618.70 629.75IGL 286.20 286.20 277.00 283.90HFCL 21.25 22.35 21.20 21.75RAJESHEXPO 570.00 575.10 559.00 564.15ABFRL 221.50 221.90 216.90 220.40JISLJALEQS 55.95 57.60 55.35 57.20BHARATFORG 478.80 482.80 470.05 479.75GMRINFRA 15.70 16.25 15.55 16.10GODREJCP 674.10 675.75 661.00 665.55RBLBANK 555.95 561.90 550.25 558.45ENGINERSIN 107.80 107.80 105.50 106.95VOLTAS 529.75 536.25 526.50 533.15HDFCLIFE 348.50 357.00 346.15 355.70ULTRACEMCO 3610.00 3648.00 3570.00 3631.10LTTS 1468.05 1496.70 1465.95 1489.35CENTRALBK 31.90 33.00 31.25 31.75INDHOTEL 140.40 145.00 139.65 143.10ITI 96.45 96.45 93.55 94.00JAMNAAUTO 51.00 52.40 50.95 52.25

CIPLA 543.00 547.75 541.00 543.10SHANKARA 456.35 456.35 443.00 444.25TAKE 98.00 100.50 97.75 99.00PNBHOUSING 877.00 920.70 868.05 916.90AVANTI 324.00 333.20 323.55 330.15TATAPOWER 67.50 68.10 66.90 67.40CONCOR 491.30 491.30 479.60 482.30UPL 824.40 832.60 818.00 827.15MAHINDCIE 219.80 228.50 215.00 223.30GSFC 92.00 92.00 90.05 90.95QUESS 668.90 690.00 660.90 679.20TATAINVEST 826.00 838.00 826.00 834.35RAYMOND 686.25 702.20 686.00 697.90ABCAPITAL 82.00 82.95 81.55 81.80SREINFRA 26.70 27.95 25.55 27.45RCF 52.00 53.15 51.05 52.60DABUR 423.10 428.40 423.10 426.65MANPASAND 76.45 76.90 72.55 74.10JINDALSAW 80.25 81.50 78.80 80.55IOB 13.60 13.61 13.10 13.23BALKRISIND 832.00 840.15 820.85 836.35NOCIL 121.00 124.50 120.40 123.45SHK 139.35 162.75 136.65 156.40DELTACORP 229.60 232.80 229.50 230.10GLENMARK 590.00 592.40 581.50 586.90BHEL 62.75 63.00 62.35 62.85NHPC 23.55 23.90 23.35 23.65NATCOPHARM* 578.00 585.00 573.75 576.05CADILAHC 314.05 314.05 310.65 313.25VENKYS 2095.00 2095.00 2065.00 2073.90CEATLTD 1069.05 1079.80 1027.00 1061.00ABB 1260.00 1270.00 1240.15 1249.70CUMMINSIND 681.70 699.90 674.65 692.95IFCI 12.20 12.49 12.07 12.42VBL 788.00 812.00 782.00 806.30MAHABANK 13.00 13.70 12.73 12.85JUBILANT 754.20 757.85 745.00 751.25SOBHA 446.45 455.40 443.50 445.30IEX 163.60 163.80 158.00 159.15AMARAJABAT 724.00 741.05 714.40 736.95RAMCOCEM 620.05 650.00 618.55 642.30BAJAJHLDNG 3158.65 3214.95 3125.00 3140.30HSCL 98.45 101.00 98.15 99.80FCONSUMER 45.50 46.30 44.60 46.15PTC 81.00 82.00 79.00 79.60EICHERMOT 20540.00 20599.20 20260.15 20469.85ACC 1380.20 1397.00 1380.20 1390.10HEXAWARE 355.70 357.20 352.00 353.10PFIZER 2892.10 2965.00 2857.00 2929.30SOUTHBANK 13.21 13.34 13.07 13.27JSLHISAR 78.80 80.05 78.45 78.60NMDC 94.50 95.60 94.00 95.30CROMPTON 205.65 211.00 196.80 208.65MEGH 50.60 50.65 49.75 50.20KEC 237.30 240.80 236.10 238.55UBL 1367.00 1377.50 1353.00 1359.40SUPREMEIND 1025.00 1060.00 1015.45 1052.60UFLEX 187.45 198.95 187.40 196.70TV18BRDCST 32.50 33.50 32.20 33.35DCMSHRIRAM 370.00 372.75 353.95 359.30SRF 2204.00 2235.00 2192.00 2201.15JMFINANCIL 75.60 77.45 75.05 76.75AEGISLOG 193.00 196.00 186.10 193.95GSPL 150.95 155.60 149.15 152.80GICHSGFIN 229.95 238.25 228.00 235.60GRANULES 90.30 92.85 90.00 91.30MGL 868.10 885.00 864.95 878.10TORNTPOWER 239.50 239.50 233.75 234.30CHOLAFIN 1190.00 1197.20 1166.40 1170.15KTKBANK 113.70 115.50 113.20 114.90SCHAEFFLER 5317.00 5443.65 5166.15 5285.60WELSPUNIND 48.05 54.40 47.95 52.60VGUARD 187.55 191.40 187.35 189.90DENABANK 11.20 11.48 11.20 11.26MCX 668.45 676.90 666.00 672.85EIHOTEL 187.30 188.10 184.00 185.05GMDCLTD 75.40 77.00 74.05 74.65HUDCO 38.20 39.40 38.20 39.00SRTRANSFIN 1049.50 1067.00 1049.50 1053.75JKTYRE 86.00 88.95 85.70 85.95GHCL 214.95 226.00 212.40 223.85COLPAL 1240.80 1248.90 1236.45 1239.35PIIND 889.35 928.00 889.35 908.80LTI 1736.00 1747.20 1719.95 1727.70BASF 1210.10 1297.75 1210.10 1279.05FINCABLES 375.00 378.25 370.00 371.65SUNDRMFAST 505.40 513.05 505.40 511.05PIDILITIND 1075.00 1083.35 1068.00 1075.35MOIL 143.95 143.95 140.20 140.60HINDZINC 254.60 256.70 253.70 255.35GODREJIND 484.05 486.10 472.55 475.25RELAXO 687.00 755.00 687.00 727.15IBULISL 233.65 243.45 222.00 243.45DCBBANK 173.20 176.05 173.10 174.60EIDPARRY 185.05 186.40 184.00 185.05IDFC 36.20 36.30 35.50 36.15WABCOINDIA 5869.30 5994.55 5850.00 5948.65SCI 35.70 36.40 35.30 35.40KEI 324.95 327.00 318.75 322.75CASTROLIND 150.00 153.50 150.00 151.50INOXLEISUR 277.00 283.65 272.15 273.60HINDCOPPER 44.70 45.40 44.20 44.70OBEROIRLTY 481.55 488.80 478.30 485.80WHIRLPOOL 1348.45 1409.00 1348.45 1374.10GUJALKALI 436.50 445.00 434.60 440.65IPCALAB 800.00 808.95 793.85 800.90BBTC 1229.10 1236.95 1207.65 1213.60ZENSARTECH 208.00 215.00 206.00 207.25SYNGENE 594.75 595.45 575.00 586.00

KANSAINER 436.50 444.00 432.55 434.10ISEC 198.75 200.00 197.15 198.35ADANITRANS 216.10 218.25 207.55 212.10SBILIFE 569.95 569.95 556.70 559.20GUJFLUORO 860.00 865.00 838.80 850.85FORTIS 135.70 137.80 135.15 135.55DCAL 186.00 188.25 183.50 184.90SONATSOFTW 343.85 351.15 337.00 339.10GODFRYPHLP 870.65 899.45 870.65 894.80TATACOFFEE 83.00 84.70 81.75 83.15GICRE 220.00 224.80 218.00 224.30KALPATPOWR 334.35 349.65 334.35 346.80MMTC 25.95 26.40 25.80 26.05ALKEM 1838.20 1838.20 1799.00 1805.50LUXIND 1104.00 1126.50 1083.20 1088.70JKLAKSHMI 308.70 314.90 306.35 311.65MERCK 2945.85 2970.50 2900.05 2923.00GESHIP 276.00 285.40 276.00 281.50BHARATFIN 931.95 933.45 912.00 921.20GREAVESCOT 120.05 120.05 117.55 118.30SWANENERGY 96.85 97.50 95.85 97.20ASTRAZEN 1776.05 1873.70 1773.10 1854.30LINDEINDIA 433.00 435.00 427.15 429.30APLLTD 529.60 535.35 516.30 519.95PVR 1473.45 1493.00 1469.65 1479.65KAJARIACER 521.25 526.50 519.00 521.60HSIL 224.00 226.40 219.00 220.40JYOTHYLAB 179.60 185.00 178.25 180.30AUBANK 565.95 590.65 562.55 576.70VIJAYABANK 40.30 41.50 40.30 41.25LEMONTREE 73.85 75.40 73.80 74.65GUJGAS 118.00 119.90 117.95 118.15PRESTIGE 209.00 210.45 207.10 208.05THERMAX 960.25 967.55 947.00 954.50TATAMETALI 588.50 592.55 581.00 584.40WABAG 278.75 279.00 273.30 275.45ITDCEM 103.85 106.50 100.30 101.60OFSS 3465.60 3495.65 3452.00 3462.00JSL 31.45 31.70 31.25 31.40JBCHEPHARM 321.60 325.45 312.40 318.65NAVKARCORP 39.50 40.45 39.25 40.00TRIDENT 60.55 61.65 60.55 61.10CHAMBLFERT 159.05 161.40 157.00 157.65APLAPOLLO 1107.55 1145.85 1107.55 1138.45MHRIL 194.30 195.00 190.00 193.25THYROCARE 524.70 589.20 520.85 568.60REDINGTON 87.50 87.50 81.95 82.25TEAMLEASE 3110.95 3129.00 3071.30 3089.00KRBL 311.95 323.50 311.95 317.45ADANIGREEN 31.00 31.40 30.70 30.90ATUL 3398.00 3430.00 3357.45 3370.55ASTRAL 1091.70 1099.25 1068.15 1074.80PARAGMILK 205.00 207.05 200.25 206.25BLUESTARCO 590.35 613.75 583.70 603.85BERGEPAINT 294.00 297.40 293.00 295.10SHREECEM 15830.00 16222.35 15830.00 16150.35COROMANDEL 446.05 448.00 439.00 446.70VINATIORGA 1610.50 1614.90 1580.60 1588.80SUDARSCHEM 310.00 330.00 310.00 317.80JSWENERGY 66.05 66.40 65.20 65.50NLCINDIA 65.55 66.30 63.35 64.30VMART 2533.10 2605.00 2533.10 2585.30NAVINFLUOR 592.05 601.50 583.80 597.65ADVENZYMES 158.10 158.10 155.30 155.65SADBHAV 179.60 179.60 172.15 173.45WESTLIFE 357.00 357.00 350.70 354.80BAJAJCON 351.00 351.00 346.00 348.70MRF 55108.00 55495.00 54600.05 54728.70CYIENT* 601.05 606.50 599.15 603.15CENTURYPLY 161.10 162.95 159.00 160.25TVSSRICHAK 2240.00 2285.00 2203.95 2218.10BOSCHLTD 18465.00 18465.00 17950.00 18032.65HEIDELBERG 153.55 154.80 149.50 150.60MINDACORP 127.95 127.95 124.15 124.85GSKCONS 7263.90 7298.00 7231.80 7262.25CENTRUM 32.10 33.35 31.90 33.05CCL 267.45 278.00 265.05 274.25COCHINSHIP 340.75 341.70 336.90 337.75NBVENTURES 101.60 104.50 101.30 101.75GRINDWELL 518.40 527.00 515.30 520.35AKZOINDIA 1699.00 1720.00 1666.00 1705.10BDL 249.45 253.90 245.00 251.15CERA 2197.30 2218.25 2160.00 2188.10LALPATHLAB 1033.00 1045.00 1022.95 1035.90MAGMA 89.65 91.60 86.50 89.65GLAXO 1330.45 1335.00 1316.00 1329.80CAPPL 330.05 344.00 330.05 341.25COFFEEDAY 277.60 279.00 274.50 277.05TORNTPHARM 1763.65 1773.60 1763.00 1767.95FDC 152.70 152.70 148.30 149.85CUB 177.30 179.80 175.70 178.70J&KBANK 39.90 39.95 39.20 39.40TNPL 191.35 191.55 187.25 189.30GODREJPROP 714.65 720.70 711.55 719.70PNCINFRA 131.80 133.10 129.30 130.05ENDURANCE 1270.05 1290.35 1262.70 1269.65ABBOTINDIA 7273.75 7292.00 7182.05 7243.703MINDIA 22050.00 22820.75 22050.00 22719.70NILKAMAL 1238.05 1262.70 1238.05 1257.00PRSMJOHNSN 69.65 70.55 69.50 70.40ALLCARGO 100.95 101.00 99.00 99.60BIRLACORPN 458.00 461.50 450.10 454.20FORBESCO 1825.55 1975.00 1825.55 1933.55NH 201.75 202.90 196.90 199.90TIMKEN 527.05 559.45 527.00 553.90CARERATING 932.20 982.80 932.20 959.10INDOSTAR 324.30 345.65 317.70 339.55FINOLEXIND 447.60 457.90 440.00 454.10NETWORK18 33.50 34.00 33.45 33.90

LAXMIMACH 5410.60 5491.00 5390.60 5482.20GPPL 79.00 79.85 78.25 78.55ISGEC 4801.05 4897.95 4772.15 4797.45GET&D 275.00 290.40 274.00 289.40GALAXYSURF 1040.55 1040.55 1004.35 1033.00GDL 99.75 103.90 99.20 103.40SOLARINDS 965.95 965.95 923.60 938.75BALMLAWRIE 170.20 171.65 167.60 169.00NIACL 173.95 180.00 169.00 175.75LAKSHVILAS 56.60 57.15 55.55 56.60SOMANYCERA 307.00 320.95 307.00 319.85VTL 950.10 979.85 950.10 965.00AIAENG 1611.50 1644.80 1603.70 1619.95LAURUSLABS 332.25 339.65 330.40 334.20KPRMILL 529.20 536.05 529.20 530.05TTKPRESTIG 7924.80 7924.80 7800.00 7830.35THOMASCOOK 209.90 214.50 208.30 212.75FRETAIL 432.45 434.00 429.00 430.05RALLIS 153.75 153.85 151.75 152.75SYMPHONY 1177.70 1178.65 1155.00 1158.75MONSANTO 2582.05 2640.05 2551.05 2589.15FLFL 424.20 428.95 422.50 426.95SJVN 24.80 25.05 24.60 24.70DBCORP 177.55 180.70 177.55 180.00GILLETTE 6524.95 6554.00 6419.40 6494.10CRISIL 1566.35 1570.00 1550.55 1556.10ZYDUSWELL 1235.50 1265.00 1225.05 1237.75EVEREADY 200.90 201.60 198.35 199.50GREENPLY 129.00 130.75 128.50 129.20ESSELPRO 108.85 110.65 108.10 109.20IFBIND 770.00 786.10 757.00 765.05GAYAPROJ 148.85 151.75 147.30 151.00SUPPETRO 204.45 210.00 204.45 210.00PHOENIXLTD 593.30 599.00 581.55 590.80JKCEMENT 716.00 716.10 702.05 710.80TIINDIA 357.55 357.55 350.05 354.75DEEPAKNI 219.10 219.65 215.40 217.15NESCO 428.00 431.65 427.00 429.45ERIS 620.00 620.00 608.05 614.25SCHNEIDER 85.95 87.05 84.30 86.20LAOPALA 199.00 199.95 191.55 195.75SANOFI 6000.00 6042.00 5979.90 6014.55KNRCON 204.05 204.05 199.00 200.20SKFINDIA 1980.00 1980.00 1948.05 1963.45ASTERDM 152.00 153.30 152.00 152.25INOXWIND 62.50 63.60 62.35 63.50ECLERX 984.00 994.05 980.00 981.15BAYERCROP 4293.30 4295.00 4226.90 4273.95MAHLOG 437.70 445.00 432.75 438.60TIMETECHNO 87.15 87.20 86.45 86.90SUPRAJIT 196.25 199.90 192.75 198.95BLUEDART 2992.40 3000.00 2985.15 2989.80ITDC 251.35 258.30 251.35 256.45TRENT 330.45 332.00 326.85 329.95STARCEMENT 96.50 99.10 95.40 96.50TIFHL 445.80 445.80 435.20 439.00PGHH 9920.40 10203.00 9920.00 10056.55SIS 778.95 778.95 760.35 768.40MAXINDIA 77.50 78.50 77.30 78.20CARBORUNIV 346.00 346.85 343.80 345.25APARINDS 620.00 631.10 617.00 625.70TVTODAY 316.60 319.85 315.00 319.45SHILPAMED 353.00 353.00 349.50 353.00NAVNETEDUL 102.55 103.50 102.05 102.80DHANUKA 395.00 399.95 394.00 399.45ORIENTCEM 67.00 69.45 67.00 68.55ELGIEQUIP 243.00 248.95 242.00 247.10SHARDACROP 343.00 348.00 338.20 345.50MAHLIFE 374.70 375.50 371.75 373.85HIMATSEIDE 168.50 168.50 165.40 167.00ASAHIINDIA 250.50 256.15 250.50 254.45JAGRAN 94.00 94.35 93.00 93.95RATNAMANI 843.55 860.75 842.00 855.10SUNCLAYLTD 2330.00 2354.00 2319.00 2345.40TRITURBINE 100.95 101.15 100.15 100.35KIOCL 126.30 128.05 125.60 127.15SFL 1310.00 1310.40 1280.00 1310.00JCHAC 1692.00 1732.65 1680.30 1706.35GEPIL 749.95 756.55 743.25 747.80HERITGFOOD 444.50 447.15 444.00 446.00SHRIRAMCIT 1597.00 1597.00 1550.00 1553.50HONAUT 21427.65 21572.00 21376.00 21552.80SHOPERSTOP 488.70 489.50 486.35 488.20GULFOILLUB 880.00 880.00 880.00 880.00

�������

SCRIP OPEN HIgh LOW LTP CHANGENIFTY 50 10744.10 10808.85 10721.50 10789.85 54.40IBULHSGFIN 650.00 689.00 644.45 685.95 40.75BAJAJFINSV 6040.00 6220.00 5982.00 6191.05 192.60TATAMOTORS 165.60 170.60 165.10 170.00 5.20DRREDDY 2550.00 2606.00 2519.85 2604.05 78.90VEDL 161.70 165.60 160.30 164.40 4.15GRASIM 726.30 751.65 725.05 747.85 17.15BPCL 328.00 337.65 326.25 337.00 6.90SUNPHARMA 425.20 432.00 422.70 430.35 8.00ICICIBANK 346.80 354.95 346.25 351.50 6.30BAJAJ-AUTO 2770.00 2829.90 2751.70 2825.00 50.30BAJFINANCE 2610.00 2660.00 2593.05 2652.55 46.40ONGC 145.00 148.60 144.20 146.60 2.55ULTRACEMCO 3583.00 3654.00 3560.00 3631.25 57.90IOC 129.00 131.45 128.30 131.25 1.95TATASTEEL 492.55 502.90 490.35 497.85 6.70HINDPETRO 219.00 224.00 217.90 223.90 2.95JSWSTEEL 276.00 279.00 273.40 277.30 3.25HINDUNILVR 1737.00 1758.00 1736.35 1753.80 20.30TECHM 814.00 840.00 809.10 821.65 9.25HEROMOTOCO 2632.00 2657.00 2581.50 2653.45 29.70HDFC 1871.00 1894.70 1865.10 1890.45 19.95RELIANCE 1236.00 1257.80 1229.35 1247.30 12.95TITAN 1039.90 1045.00 1031.25 1043.50 10.75CIPLA 542.85 547.90 540.50 546.00 4.90HINDALCO 193.90 195.50 192.25 194.30 1.30GAIL 332.00 336.60 324.05 331.55 1.85WIPRO 372.80 376.80 370.80 374.05 1.85LT 1282.00 1291.50 1265.10 1281.00 4.45HDFCBANK 2101.70 2119.95 2093.60 2115.70 7.35BHARTIARTL 305.90 311.00 303.00 310.05 1.05ZEEL 444.00 454.90 440.00 446.25 1.20UPL 825.00 832.70 818.00 824.00 1.25SBIN 270.30 271.00 267.30 268.00 0.30ADANIPORTS 352.10 359.25 350.80 355.05 0.30M&M 633.55 635.95 625.00 634.00 0.45ASIANPAINT 1399.00 1407.85 1390.30 1397.00 0.10KOTAKBANK 1291.90 1297.60 1283.50 1288.45 -1.30TCS 1914.75 1940.00 1897.05 1912.00 -2.75ITC 275.90 276.75 274.20 275.05 -0.80POWERGRID 182.70 183.00 180.85 181.20 -0.60HCLTECH 1060.00 1061.50 1042.60 1053.90 -4.05EICHERMOT 20450.00 20634.70 20250.00 20447.95 -80.60MARUTI 6868.95 6879.65 6715.00 6818.05 -31.85AXISBANK 700.50 706.50 695.10 697.00 -3.35INDUSINDBK 1479.45 1494.40 1455.00 1472.80 -8.00COALINDIA 215.05 215.70 213.20 213.80 -1.15NTPC 137.80 138.50 135.50 136.40 -0.80INFY 738.00 738.00 727.10 734.00 -6.70YESBANK 218.85 218.85 214.00 215.50 -2.35INFRATEL 317.60 318.00 306.30 312.25 -5.95

�������

�����������

SCRIP OPEN HIgh LOW LTP CHANGENIFTY NEXT 50 25724.95 25944.70 25674.45 25896.95 219.65ICICIPRULI 303.00 317.90 301.10 316.80 13.90NIACL 172.70 180.00 170.00 178.65 7.20SUNTV 565.00 592.00 562.10 588.10 20.85HDFCLIFE 347.40 357.70 346.25 357.65 11.35BRITANNIA 2943.95 3018.00 2935.00 3011.05 88.75LICHSGFIN 455.70 465.00 448.10 463.85 11.95PGHH 9940.05 10250.00 9916.60 10250.00 261.40L&TFH 124.20 127.75 123.80 127.40 3.20SAIL 47.50 49.20 47.30 49.05 1.15BANDHANBNK 479.00 494.90 478.05 488.50 11.25SHREECEM 15632.00 16240.60 15632.00 16047.00 340.80PEL 2192.00 2255.00 2191.10 2243.90 46.45SIEMENS 967.00 991.00 944.50 986.10 19.50DLF 163.00 166.90 162.10 166.25 3.25GICRE 221.80 226.00 218.00 223.65 4.35ICICIGI 910.00 930.00 905.55 922.05 16.05PETRONET 214.35 216.00 213.75 215.50 3.65MCDOWELL-N 530.00 538.65 518.65 536.40 8.30NMDC 94.00 95.55 94.00 95.20 1.35AMBUJACEM 206.90 210.50 205.50 209.55 2.75MARICO 334.90 338.70 331.10 337.00 3.95IDEA 30.55 31.20 30.25 30.95 0.35MOTHERSUMI 135.00 136.20 134.05 135.80 1.35AUROPHARMA 723.00 732.90 720.20 730.00 7.20LUPIN 760.55 772.00 755.00 770.20 7.55HINDZINC 255.60 257.05 253.65 256.30 2.40OIL 172.00 174.25 169.20 173.00 1.25ACC 1392.00 1398.00 1382.00 1391.65 9.15DABUR 426.00 428.75 423.10 427.40 2.70SRTRANSFIN 1055.40 1068.00 1049.30 1057.00 6.00BHEL 63.00 63.10 62.35 63.10 0.35ABCAPITAL 82.00 83.00 81.65 82.00 0.35BIOCON 620.20 624.90 617.40 621.00 1.60ASHOKLEY 81.50 81.65 80.20 81.15 0.20HAVELLS 698.50 702.95 691.10 696.70 1.55NHPC 23.75 24.00 23.45 23.65 0.05BANKBARODA 104.50 104.55 102.50 103.05 0.10BEL 77.20 77.95 76.05 77.50 0.00PIDILITIND 1075.10 1083.00 1066.15 1074.50 -0.45MRF 54829.00 55250.00 54505.00 54740.05 -53.15CADILAHC 314.95 315.00 310.70 312.50 -0.70SBILIFE 562.00 565.70 560.00 560.00 -1.60COLPAL 1250.00 1250.95 1236.65 1240.00 -5.15OFSS 3491.90 3500.00 3449.30 3459.00 -25.15ABB 1259.00 1268.00 1239.00 1240.00 -10.50DMART 1445.00 1475.05 1444.00 1459.00 -13.95BOSCHLTD 18270.00 18294.50 17930.30 17956.80 -218.85GODREJCP 675.85 676.70 659.75 664.00 -12.35CONCOR 491.90 492.45 479.60 482.85 -9.05INDIGO 1119.80 1134.30 1107.05 1113.00 -27.00

Page 12: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

��#���&#%��'��%��#( '���"%�#%( ))*�)+,- 8�����>#

+&4++$%)+&4++$%))�4���

��#������������# ��#��8�����# � �����������,-%+�� ,��� �)�� �������������?����5 �#�)�+ ��������������� ��'�������������������������#�)��+ ���5 ���������������2� ������'��3������������������ ���������%�����)������

#������#������ ��� �����#������#� �#��%(��/,')/� #�� ����!����,��)���� � ���������������)����)���������������9?��.�'�)����F<01����@������8 ��)��?�����$8?&����������������������������������������� �����������������������)���������� ����������)����

����#������� �#��������#�� ������� ��,��-(������������������@���� ���� ������������'���������������� �������� ����������)�)��� ������������) ���� ����,��� ��� ,���>� ��)���?�����?9�F1���������������������������)���������������'������,������������FA<����)���� $0AA�)�� &� ������ ���������� ������) ���� ����� ����)��

::������������� #��� ����������� ������G�/,����)��������� �������)�������� ��������00����������������������������������)����� ��� ��������(������������������ ���,��� ��� �,��� � �������II����������)���)���"������� ����������������� ������������������� ����)����������� ��������������*5�����������������*������'��

� ��� 8?6�+���!

Pakistan Prime MinisterImran Khan on Thursday

authorised the military to“respond decisively and com-prehensively to any aggressionor misadventure” by India,amidst heightened tensionsbetween the two sides follow-ing the Pulwama terror attackthat killed 40 CRPF soldiers.

Days after the terror strikeby Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group inJammu and Kashmir’sPulwama district, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi saidsecurity forces have been givenfree hand to avenge the das-tardly act.

Prime Minister Khan, whochaired a key meeting of theNational Security Council hereon Thursday, said the Pakistangovernment was “determinedto demonstrate” that it is capa-ble of protecting its people.

He authorised the armedforces of Pakistan to “responddecisively and comprehensive-ly to any aggression or misad-venture by India,” said a state-ment issued after the meeting.

“This is a new Pakistan andwe are determined to demon-strate to our people that theState is capable of protectingthem,” Khan was quoted as say-ing by the Radio Pakistan.

The country’s top civilian

and military leadership saidthat “Pakistan is not involvedin any way, means or form inPulwama incident and it wasconceived, planned and exe-cuted indigenously”, accordingto the statement.

It said Pakistan has sin-cerely offered investigation ofthe “incident” and dialogue onthe issue of terrorism amongother disputed issues withIndia.

“We expect India to posi-tively respond to these offers,”it said, adding that based on theinvestigation or any tangibleevidence provided, Pakistanshall take action against anyonefound using its soil.

The NSC urged the globalcommunity to play its part inresolving the Kashmir issue.

In a video message onTuesday, Khan assured Indiathat he would act against theperpetrators of the Pulwamaterror attack if New Delhi

shares “actionable intelligence”,but warned against any“revenge” retaliatory action.

India rubbished Khan’scomments, saying disclaimingPakistan’s link with terroristattacks is an oft-repeatedexcuse by the “nerve centre” ofterrorism.

In a statement, theMinistry of External Affairs inNew Delhi on Tuesday saidIndia was not surprised thatKhan refused to acknowledgethe attack on India’s securityforces in Pulwama as an act ofterrorism, adding his offer toinvestigate the attack if pro-vided proof is a “lame excuse”.

Ahead of the NSC meetingon Thursday, Prime MinisterKhan and Army chief GenQamar Javed Bajwa held aone-on-one meeting duringwhich they discussed region’ssecurity situation.

The meeting was attendedby Army chief General Bajwa,services chiefs, heads of intel-ligence agencies, security offi-cials and federal and state min-isters for finance, defence, for-eign affairs and interior.

Khan also directed boththe interior ministry and thesecurity institutions to immediately accelerate actionson ground to ensure that militancy and extremism are routed from the society andthe country.

�������������7������������������������

����� +-?(-�

Russian investigators for-mally charged US investor

Michael Calvey with fraud onThursday following his con-troversial arrest, his lawyersaid.

Investigators presented him

with the indictment on thecharge of large-scale fraud aspart of an organised group,which can carry up to ten yearsin prison.

“He has refused to admithis guilt or give any testimony”before consulting with hisdefense, lawyer DmitryKletochkin told Russian newsagencies.

Calvey is the founder of themulti-billion-dollar BaringVostok investment fund. He isone of six people arrested in aprobe into the alleged embez-zlement of 2.5 billion rubles(USD 37.7 million) from theRussian Vostochniy Bank.

Calvey has said in courtthat the charges against him arebeing used as an instrument ina shareholder dispute, insistingthat he has done nothingwrong.

Several high-profile figureshave spoken on behalf ofCalvey, with Russia’s businessombudsman Boris Titov sayingthe case was a typical corporatedispute and calling his arrestillegal. But Kremlin spokesmanDmitry Peskov on Thursdaysaid: “We have no doubt that truth will prevail as aresult of the investigation.Nobody but the court can pronounce Michael Calveyinnocent.”

��3$�+�%����+4��$�$+�&<

,78?�8?���.��#��8?,�.��.!����>��!�,�>+8.�!,-�!�+-.?,>�,�,-�-9>�#�-#6�

,7�,�,7��?,�,��8?(�#��6��-/

#>-,�(,8."�,7�+

� ��� !7���

Afast-moving fire sweptthrough adjoining apart-

ment buildings and chemicalwarehouses in a historic part ofthe Bangladesh capital Dhaka,killing at least 70 people andinjuring several others, the lat-est such deadly blaze in thecountry.

Officials said the fire brokeout at night a chemical ware-house on the ground floor of afour-storey building namedHazi Wahed Mansion behind amosque in Old Dhaka’s con-gested Chawkbazar area onWednesday night and theflames then quickly spreadthrough four other buildingsnearby, including a communi-ty centre where a wedding

party was on.“The salvage campaign is

ending here,” mayor of DhakaSouth Sayeed Khokon said.

Fire officials said that the

blaze has claimed at least 70lives so far.

Earlier, fire service controlroom spokesman KamrulAhsan said that the death toll

was 81. However, it was laterrevised downward to at least 70.

Dhaka Metropolitan Policeofficials said the fire spreadrapidly due to the multiplechemical godowns that weresituated in the area.

State-run Dhaka MedicalCollege Hospital’s directorBrigadier General AKMNasiruddin, however, fearedthat the toll may rise as sever-al people were being treated atthe facility with critical burninjuries.

Khokon called off the res-cue operation around 12:10 PMafter nearly 14 hours of efforts.Two-hundred fire-fightersfrom 37 units doused the blaze,making their way to the scenethrough narrow lanes with fireengines.

>6� ��������� �� ��������������� ���� ����� �*7����

!��������� ��� �������������������� �� �������������� �� �&�����*�����������"������� ��

�$�������"����B��������� ��� � �$")���#(�

� ��� ?�-96

Mahatma Gandhi’s lifestylewas a crucial lesson for

the world facing the dauntingchallenge of global warmingand climate change as he livedsuch a life that he did not leaveany carbon footprint, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi saidThursday.

Unveiling a bust ofMahatma Gandhi at the pres-tigious Yonsei University herealong with South KoreanPresident Moon Jae-in andformer UN Secretary-GeneralBan Ki-moon, Modi said in the20th Century, MahatmaGandhi was “perhaps themankind’s biggest gift”.

“In the last centurythrough his personality,through his life and values,Mahatma Gandhi showed uswhat the future will be. In facthe used to say my life is my les-son,” said the prime minister,who arrived here on Thursdayon two-day visit.

“Mahatma Gandhi used tosay the God and nature havegiven everything to fulfil ahuman being’s need but not thegreed. The natural resourcesare not enough if we want tosatisfy our greed. He used tosay our life should be needbased and not greed based,”Modi said.

He said that terrorism andclimate change are two biggest

challenges mankind is facingand Mahatma Gandhi’s teach-ings and values can help theworld address both the press-ing issues.

“During MahatmaGandhi’s lifetime there was nodiscussion about climatechange and environment, butthe statesman led such a lifethat he did not leave any car-bon footprint. He showed whatliving in harmony with natureis. He showed that it is impor-tant to leave a clean and greenplanet for the future genera-tions.” Gandhi used to say wedon’t have the right to takeaway the natural resources thatbelong to the future genera-tions.

������4���� 7�� �������� ������� ���������������� ������������������)���

����� ��?78.",-.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosion Wednesday called

upon lawmakers to back a res-olution to halt the nationalemergency declared by USPresident Donald Trump tofund a wall on the southernborder with Mexico.

Trump announced theemergency in order to bypassCongress, which approved onlya quarter of the $5.6 billion hewanted for the wall in a spend-ing bill.

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

Page 13: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

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

����� �#�8����� ����� �� �������������������������������������������)����� 5������� � ����������� ��>�'��������� ����������������������������������� ����������'���� �������� � �� �����������))������������������������������������������'�� � ������ �� �������� �)� ����� ��� ���������������������������������)������ �,�������������� �� ����2,�� �����)�)�� �����'����� ��������)������������������������'����)�������=���������5 �������� )����)��� �8���� �������������8���'�������'�������� �� ����������������������������� �8��)����)��������@� ����)��������������������)����� �8�5 ��������������#����)����������� ��� ������������������@��� 3�

������������#������������ ������������������� � ������#%'%/� %'%�������������)����)���������������� 28���'�������

����'�����)�)�� ��� ����)���������8�� �)����>���,��� �8������ ������������������������������)� �������8�������)�����������������������3

��)�� �� �2?������-)���?�������D'����������)���������������8�))���������������������� ,������)� �4���������������-)��� �������������@�� �����'���������� ����)���������������'���������3���������

A6���/���� ������� �B��� ����C� �/�� ����! ����������� ������D+ � ��� �� ���� ��8���� �8�� �8���! ����� �,���@�� ���$��� ������ !�� �����?���� !���� ������D�+ ,��, ������������8� ����� �� �����������������!�/��� ���� ��� � !�E�����������?F&�9 ��&����

����/����>�

&�� ��� �,�!������?�/���� �

When Honda Cars India launched thefirst Civic here a decade and a half

ago, it heralded a revolution. The car,which was the eighth-generation of theJapanese carmaker’s popular sedan (andhatchback in European countries), was asales success. But Honda was not able tocontinue the Civic’s successful run in Indiafor too long for a multitude of reasons.However, one has to admit that a majorreason why sales of the Civic tailed off wasIndia’s growing love affair with oil-burn-ers, that is diesel cars. Honda globally didnot have a smaller diesel motor that theycould bring to India back then and thatplayed a role in the company ceding thesegment to its rivals, first the ChevroletCruze and then further on the ToyotaCorolla Altis and Skoda Octavia.

But now the Honda Civic is back andafter skipping one global gener-ation, Honda cars India hasbrought in the tenth-genera-tion. This time, they haveensured that it has a dieselengine alongside a zippypetrol motor. So let us dealwith the headline numbersfirst. The 1.6 litre tur-bocharged diesel engine,which shares duty on theother recently introducedHonda, the CR-V, produces adecent 120 horsepower. Thecompany claims that thanksto their “Earth Dreams” tech-nology, the Civic i-DTECreturns an astounding 26 kmper litre under Indian testconditions. The Civic alsocomes with a 1.8 litre i-VTECpetrol that produces a fairlydecent 140 horsepower.Disappointingly for Civicfans, Honda has not broughteither of the powerful enginesthat do service on this particu-lar sedan in the United States, which area 158 horsepower 2.0 i-VTEC and the veryimpressive 200 horsepower turbocharged1.5 litre engine. Of course, India is a fuel-economy obsessed market but Honda hasbucked the trend in the past with cars likethe Honda Accord V6, which all car nutsin India who drove, including myself,remember as a rocket, a thirsty rocket, buta rocket nonetheless. Even today, good sec-ond-hand examples of this car, like theoriginal Honda City VTEC, which wasanother amazing car, command top dol-lar.

But can the new Honda Civic becomea future classic like its illustrious prede-cessors? Well, it does certainly knock thedoor on the looks front. Yes, the snout ofthe car is a bit incongruous. In fact, thechrome slab across the front grille, whichis apparently a Honda signature, doesmake the car look quite weird. Becausefrom the side and particularly from therear, it looks fabulous. In fact, the rearthree-quarter look of this vehicle is amongthe prettiest I have seen on a car in India.This car looks as attractive as a supermod-el sashaying down the ramp with some toi-let paper stuck to her heel. Still very, verypretty but you know, something is off.

What I did find interesting is thatdespite the looks, particularly the coupe-shaped sloping roofline which makes youassume that the car would be very tightinside, it really is not. I will not say it isthe most spacious car in its segment butit does not feel cramped. After all, the Civicsedan is designed for the American mar-ket, where people are not quite small orshort. Headroom in the front is not badat all, and I am 5’11.” In the rear, even withthe front seats pushed back, space is morethan sufficient for myself and while threeadults on the rear bench is a squeeze onany car, it will not feel so bad on the Civic.The only issue is possibly the fact that inorder to get the space in the front and rear,the seats ride rather low and although theIndian Civic is 10 mm higherthan the outgoing model,ingress and egress is a bitclumsy thef i r s t

few times until you get the hang of it.But you never buy a car for its looks

alone, you do care about the performancetoo. So how is the new Civic? Well, first adisclaimer, this is a first drive, not adetailed test drive where I drive and expe-rience a vehicle over a few days during mycommute. We drove the car around thehighways near Bengaluru airport and upthe twisty roads on Nandi Hills. Initially,I had the i-DTEC which comes with a six-speed manual transmission. Now, I havea strong opinion about six-speed manualtransmissions in India because I stillbelieve it is one gear too many on any car.That said, on the highway you can easilyput the car into sixth and just cruise at 80-100 km per hour, the diesel purringalong. What does not purr along are thetyres? Because of the need to derive high-

er fuel economy, the i-DTECcomes with low rolling resis-tance tyres and those arenoticeably noisy. You candrown that out by pumpingthe volume on the smartinfotainment system, whichis similar to those on othernew Hondas, and comes withsupport for Apple CarPlayand Android Auto, standardacross variants.

Now, on the twisty sec-tions you really do need tomash the gears to keep themotor in its narrow power-band. While the car does takethe corners very steadilyindeed, you do feel that itcould do a bit more. Maybewith grippier tyres it could.Then again, even with enthu-siastic driving, the CivicDiesel returned almost 15 kmper litre. This is clearly a cardesigned to be an economical

long-distance hauler, but a boyracer.

So on to the iVTEC, first things first,there is no manual version on this Civic.Nope. Nada. Nyet. What you get is Honda’svery nice Continuously VariableTransmission (CVT) with a TorqueConverter and seven forward speeds asstandard, as well as a paddle-shift systemwhen you want to have fun. Now, Honda’sCVTs are very smooth — I loved the CVTon the diesel Amaze for example — but theyare not designed again for very enthusias-tic driving. On regular day-to-day drivingon the highway and in the city, gear shiftsare brilliant and kick-down power whenyou need to get a move on gets deliveredpromptly. But you do start to sense someshift-lag when you start using the paddlesa lot. Possibly I am saying this because dual-clutch gearboxes and their millisecondshifts have spoiled me. While this CVT isnot what I would call lazy, it again feelstuned more to regular urban commuting.

And you know what? Urban commut-ing is what most buyers of the Civic will do,and once you begin to live with it, you canwork your way around the CVT transmis-sion and figure it out. As such both theiDTEC and iVTEC Civics are very well suit-ed for that role and look fantastic as well.

The problem Honda India faces hasactually less to do with the Civic and moreto do with the segment, because the seg-ment is moribund. India’s love affair withthe Sports Utility Vehicle continues, any-body buying a car in the �15-18 lakh rangeis looking lustfully at the Hyundai Creta.The Civic, which one expects to match theCorolla Altis for price, meaning it wouldbe around the �18-24 lakh segment, willhave people look at the Hyundai Tucson,or have people who want space just look atthe Toyota Innova. There is no doubt thenew Honda Civic is a good car and an excel-lent looking one at that, but I’m not sure itcan make the Indian buyer start looking atsedans again.

�9?7�.�+8,>�Actor Anil Kapoor Kapoor isconversing with the chef andasks him to send some meethi

chutney to accompany the really deli-cious Delhi samosas. Eating fried, oilysnacks is quite contrary to the idea ofthe actor’s diet, who seems to havedrunk from the fountain of eternalyouth, but he lets us in on his mantra.“The body is like a bank balance. Itneeds a certain number of calories torun. If you’ve burnt more calories andeaten less, then you have the bank bal-ance which can be withdrawn when itis needed. Today is one such day whenit is okay to indulge myself,” says theactor, who, except the fine lines andcreases here and there, looks not a dayolder to when he had made his debutin 1979.

Dressed in all black, he is promot-ing his new film Total Dhamaal, wherehe reunites with Madhuri Dixit, hispopular co-star of the 90s. “It has beena long career. I have been quite lucky.And there is the bonus of being able towork with beautiful girls like Madhuri,”he guffaws.

As to what kept him invested in theadventure comedy film, he tells us,“First of all, I laughed reading the script.That did it for me. This is an ensem-ble cast and the biggest advantage is thatthe entire film is not on your shoulder,which reduces the pressure. As a result,we enjoyed acting in the film more anddid better. This is also apparent in thetrailer and people are liking it,” he says.And the subject of mature romanceworked well for him and Madhuri.“When you are younger, you can takethe pressure because you are fresh, thesongs are great and as a pair you are alsolooking good together. We are notRanveer Singh and Alia Bhatt. Weshould stay in our auqat.”

Of course, he points out that thereare other factors that prove to beclinchers. “The script, director, co-stars,producers, distributors and the moneymake me decide,” says the 62-year-old.But whichever genre he is working in,preparation is essential. “In today’stime when the stakes are so high,every detail including performance,dialect design, art and clothes haveto be prepared in advance. If you areprepared, your work will be faster,easier and better.”

Having worked in comedy fran-chises quite a bit, Kapoor believes thatthe foremost role is played by the writ-ers. “Only a few people can work onpunches and understand them in amanner that it works pan-India, withpeople from villages to those in thecities, students, children, intellectuals.The dialogues should make everyoneor at least 70 per cent of the populationlaugh. These days there is a surfeit ofcomedy for various categories ofaudience, be it TV, YouTube andeven stand- up acts. So in a film,you need to add scale and adven-ture. We have got in an animal farmlike scenario in Total Dhamaal,which is not possible in a TVshow, for instance, to make surethat people feel that they’ve gottheir money’s worth,” he says.

Kapoor feels there are asmany styles of comedy as thereare directors, writers and actors.“Chameli ki Shaadi was situation-al. Indra Kumar does a combina-tion of situational, gags and phys-ical comedy. Similarly,Priyadarshan is different and sois Rohit Shetty or the old guardlike Basu Chatterjee andHrishisda. Directors need to have asense of humour inherently and thatmakes a difference. Their thinking,the way of writing and the editingcan make a comedy work or fallflat. The physical comedy thatJim Carey does was fantastic. Theway Ben Stiller works is different.

Steve Martin, Mehmood, KishoreKumar traverse similar territory. Amitjiis more poker and physical whileGovinda and Johnny Lever have theirown streetsmart way of executing it.Coming to the writers, the kind of com-edy that was penned by Kader Khanwas distinct.”

Kapoor is categorical that if thewriting is flat, then even a CharlieChaplin or Laurel Hardy cannot makea script work. “Gags have to be well-written and thought out. When thewriting is good, it is easier for theactors,” he says and goes on to give theexample of American show ModernFamily as brilliantly written.

We rely on his experience to talkabout the progression of content in cin-ema and inevitably talk revolves aroundEk Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga. “Theaudience is evolving. The educated, sen-sible youth of the country are exposedthrough the internet and are engagingwith sensible content.” And he loves thenext generation. While most actors donot like carrying work back home orvice versa even when they have spous-es or parents from the industry, Kapoorhas no qualms admitting that shootingwith his daughterSonam was a blast.“During the shoot-ing of Ek Ladki KoDekha Toh AisaLaga, we werepreparing for mar-riage and inbetween shots wediscussed everythingrelated to it,” hesays of thef i l m

which she suggested to him. Even ear-lier, while choosing his internationalouting Slumdog Millionaire, it was hisson Harshvardhan, who pushed him.As for his much-acclaimed TV series24, he went with his wife Sunita’s gutfeel. “When we started 24 about sevento eight years ago, I had troubleexplaining to people that there can bea season and a daily soap is not neces-sary. I had to convince the producersthat we could pitch it well for TV andif the casting was good with main-stream actors like me, then peoplewould accept quality content on IndianTV. I wanted a certain amount ofmoney because I knew I couldn’t makeit in a lesser amount,” he recalls as hekeeps his fingers crossed for a third sea-son of the show.

The fast-paced show won a lot offan following. “Some people even saidit should be slowed down because it wasso edge-of-the-seat,” he says. But thereare other problems too while shootingin the series format as opposed to afilm. “There are 24 episodes which rep-resent an hour in one day. While thefilms are for two hours, the content thatwe needed for each episode is 40 min-utes which adds up to 20 hours for theentire season. That means 10 films ina year! It was strenuous and a rollercoaster ride. Sometimes we evenworked for 18 hours.”

Besides the content, another waythat Kapoor has seen the industrychange is the way it treats women. Hebelieves that #Metoo has changed thework environment. However, hebelieves, “I was fortunate to work infilms where there was a healthy atmos-

phere. Whether it was my Telugudebut as Bapu in Vamsa

Vruksham (1980) or withMS Sathyu with whom Iwas a part of KahanKahan Se Guzar Gaye,our assistants and new-comers were women. InParinda, Renu Salujawas the editor and shecontrolled everything.Much later in Ayesha,Rhea was the pro-ducer and she was21. On the sets ofVeere di Wedding, Ihad to look for a boyas there were 50 girls.In this film, the pho-

tographer is a Japanesegirl. We are consciously

creating an atmosphere.”

What’s better than a tattoo?One in a foreign language,

of course. If trend meters are to bebelieved, then tattooing phrases,quotes, words in a foreign lan-guage has caught the fancy ofcelebrities. Hollywood celebritieshave often gone with Indian lan-guages — Jessica Alba’s wrist isinked with “Padma and BrittanySnow’s right ankle says “Abhay.”Angelina Jolie has a verse in Paliemblazoned on her left shoulder.Closer home, our very ownSushmita Sen has a tattoo in Latinwhich reads Aut Viam inveniamaut faciam which translates as “Ishall either find a way or make myown.”

A tattoo definitely looks moreattractive in another languageform and can be a great conver-sation starter. It also adds a hintof mystery, according to VikasMalani, founder of BodyCanvasTattoos. But sometimes the resultsare not so desirable as was seen

with the Victoria tattoo on DavidBeckham’s arm which was speltincorrectly or Gillian Anderson’sunknown Hindi word. Recently,pop singer Ariana Grandeplanned to get the title of her lat-est hit single, 7 Rings, tattooed onher palm in Japanese, but aftersharing a photo of the new ink onInstagram she got trolled andlearned that it was misspelled andmeant, ‘7 bbq grill’ instead.When she attempted to get itfixed, it turned out to be an evenbigger faux pas, as the tattoo nowmeans ‘7 bbq fingers’.

“If celebrities can wake up tothe nightmares of a tattoo gonewrong, what are mere mortalslike us? The countless instancesof tattoos gone wrong with dis-astrous errors and weird transla-tions happen because people failto do their homework,” saysMalani.

His words of advice? “Nevertrust the Internet /Google. Trytranslating two languages thatyou know with its help and youknow it can have errors — bigones. So, if you don’t write/speakthe language that your tattoo is

written in, find a qualified trans-lator or native speaker to trans-late it for you. Then verify/crosscheck with one more personwho knows that language too.We know the difference betweenyou’re and your but someonewho doesn’t know English mightjust end up getting a tattoo witha wrong meaning altogether.”

Malani feels that websites

may give us the words but themeaning can go out of context.The word “free” can denote free-dom or something that has nocost. In English, we use the sameword for both meanings, but inanother language, it may be twodifferent words. So do a thoroughresearch beforehand to avoidany blunders and make your tat-too rock.

�������.86���#-->������������� ������������������������� �?�8+8 ?�,,�> ������������� ������������ �����

�2��2���3�1� ����

,�������������������7����('�� ������������������'�'���������������������� �������� ����������� ����������� ������� ��������'�� �('������8��Q

-��7�������

��������� ���� �������������������������$�,��#�!���$��������������������0��,�������������� ���� ��� �"��� �"����� �$�� ��$!���

-.�.�D�>��9E?��(�>�/->�8,?

6--�?��6-.��#�>/->+�.(�

+�,,�>?�,-- �-.,7��78"7��E�E-9

(�.���?86E�#9,,7��(8D8(�8.,-

?8O,7��.!�*9?,(>98?���,�K<�0<<

�+�#�>�7-9> ,78?�8?�(6��>6E���(�>�!�?8".�!

,-�����.�(-.-+8(�6

6-."�!8?,�.(�7�96�>

�����)������.���

Page 14: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

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

,������#��@���� � ����������������� ��������� �!������/� �'�� �,����� �'��� ��������������������������������������� ������

����)� ����� ��)����)��� �#�� ���� �)����������� ������������ ����)�?����#���������8�������� �������(������������?������������/��������.���S����� ��%'���+�����F�$0F��)����: I<�)&����I�$0F��)����0��)&�8�/*���P��������P�����+����+������

"'����������� ����)����'� ������� ��������

������� ������������ � ��������� ����6���������� ������������)��������������������@�������������� ����� �� ��������������� ����������������������������)� ��������������� ���� ������ ��� ��-�0�� �FK<����� ���� ����� � �.���0<�)����0<��)��%'���,��/��������FK

1���/������������������� � ��������● "����(���� ��A�● E������������������ ���F<�)�● "�������� ���F<��)�● >������ ��)��0<��)�● "������� ��)��0<��)�● *����� ��0<��)�● (��������� ��0<��)�● -�������0<��)�

● ��������������0<��)�● ��������������������0<��)�● "��)�������$�� �&��I<��)�● #�������������)�������)���● -����������

�� �● (����������������

������ �����)����������

● �������������������������� ● !���������� ● #������������������� ��)������������� )������� ������������ ��)������������������ ��)������������������� ● ?���������������������'� ����������������� ��)�����

#���������������������� �������������� ● !������ ����������������

�� ���������������������������������)�

● !���������������)������� �����������������

��������)�� ����������� ● +������������������������)���������� �������� ���� �?��'��������������� ������ ������ ���� 0�������)0���% � ������������� �G�

*��

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

����� �,��������������"�������������������� ���)� �"����������� ������������������������� ����������������) �,��������� ��������������������)����������������� �������� � �.���0F��)����0F��)�-�0����F1A���� ����� �����1<<�)�8�/*���?(-�I:��0 ��/������?������F:�"������)

������)�����2� � ��������● ,��5 �7��)����D������1A�)�● "���������@�����:<�)�

�� �● #����,��5 �7��)����D������������� ��'��

��������������������@��� ● "�� ��������������������������� �)���

��� 0�������)" ��7�/������1����

�����������������1������������ � ��������● >�� ��������������F1<��)● ?����� ������� ���● �������������� ������� ��● -�'������1<�)��● �'�������A<<��)● (���)�������� ��;<��)● ���)�)���F<��)● ��������������A● +���� ���F<��)● ��� �)����'����0<��)

�)-�.%-�/%'�)/● 6�)��@�����F<�)�● ?������I<�)�● �������F<�)�● ?� �)�� ������ ����0<��)● ?���� ������0<��)● �� ���� ����F<��)

�)-��E)0%+)�.%-�/%'�)/���'�(&�03�.%3)//%�(�● ������ �+���� ��$��������� �&��;<��)● *���� �������� ����0<��)

● �)-��%-/�(����)�)����� ��F<�)

�����������������A�

�� �● �� ����������������������

?�� �����)����� ��������������������������� ��������)�� �'������������ ��������'�����������0A�F<�)��� ����01<�������(�� � �������������������� (��������������� )������

● #���������'��������������� )������� ● ?��������)����������� ��������������������������������� �+���������� ��� ���� ���)�����)���������)���������� �� �+������� �)�'���������� ����������������������� �� ● ,��)��������)�������)������������������������ ���������������������'������������� ��������� �������A�)��� ● ,�����������)����������������������������������������� ��������������������������'����� �

0�������)0���1� ��� *����� ���"��&������*���� ��

,���������������������������5 ����� ���!����5 �,�'��������� ��

��� ��)���������������������� ��������������'� ��� �������������� ��� ����������4��� �����#�@������������� ������)����'����� ��������������������������������� ����������!����������� )���������� ��%'��+�����0A����FA� �.���; I<��)����00 1A�)�8�/*�� !����5 �,�'��

���� ���� �

� : � � � : �

Researchers are castingtheir eye over the grow-

ing benefits of dark chocolateon health to see if it can trans-late into improved athleticperformance as well.

A research carried byDeakin University inAustralia listed health bene-fits of consuming dark choco-late, especially for athletes.

Dark chocolate containslarge amounts of cocoa,which is the seed portion ofthe its tree. This is rich in agroup of compounds calledflavanols. Originally discov-ered because of their potentantioxidant activity, thesehave been found to containmany health benefits. Whilecocoa is rich in flavanols,fruits, vegetables, red wineand tea all also contain signif-icant amounts of this latestnatural wonder.

Not just an antioxidant,flavanols can improve bloodflow, reduce oxygen cost,improve insulin sensitivityand improve immune

responsiveness. They helpachieve this throughincreased bioavailability andbioactivity of nitric oxide.The potential benefits fromflavanols on nitric oxide pro-duction tick many of theboxes that athletes are look-ing for in improving perfor-mance.

Most of the research ondark chocolate has looked atcardiovascular health in peo-ple with pre-existing medicalconditions, with only a lim-ited focus put on exercise per-formance in a more healthypopulation.

ON YOUR BIKEPutting dark chocolate to

the exercise supplement test,nine moderately-trained maleparticipants volunteered toundertake a series of baselinetests looking at their maximaloxygen uptake (VO2max),lung gas exchange measuresand two-minute exercise biketime trial performance. Theyperformed each trial twoweeks apart under condi-tions of either consumingdaily 40 grams of dark choco-late or white chocolate (whichcontains no polyphenols)leading up to the trial.

Dark chocolate con-sumption improved time trialperformance relative to boththe baseline conditions andalso white chocolate con-sumption conditions. Thisequated to a 17 per centgreater distance coveredwhen eating dark chocolatecompared to the start of theexperiment and 13 per centmore distance covered com-pared to eating white choco-late.

There was also a signifi-cant six per cent improvementin VO2max under the darkchocolate conditions com-

pared to baseline conditions.The same six per centimprovement was also seenwhen dark chocolate waseaten compared to whitechocolate, but this didn’t reachthe level of statistical signifi-cance. There were no statisti-cal differences in blood lactate,heart rate, or blood pressurebetween the different experi-mental conditions, but darkchocolate showed a trend forimproving many of these mea-sures.

Since the taste of darkchocolate is quite distinct, itwas not possible to blind the

participants to what they wereeating. So some placebo effectcould have played a role if par-ticipants expected the darkchocolate to have a benefit.

WHAT IT ALL MEANSThis was only a very small

study, but as far as proof ofconcept goes, it certainly givesa green light to more researchin this area. When you put incontext that all that is beingused is a small amount of darkchocolate, then there appearslittle harm in athletes jumpingthe gun early and trying it forthemselves.

Delhi’s obsession for chaatsbelies description. For thecity’s denizens have loyalties

towards their favourite joints andeateries firmly in place which theycan discuss with an intensity akinonly to their obsession with poli-tics. If you think that Dilli 6 is allabout thick and juicy jalebis glis-tening with ghee or crisp fried aalochaat in a melange of chutneys,then be prepared to be pleasantlysurprised as Edesia at CrownePlaza, Okhla, can take you throughthe culinary tour of old Delhispanning through time, dynastiesand generations without you hav-ing to traverse through its congest-ed bylanes.

The place seems to have takena step back in time and the musichas set the tone. As I entered theplace, they were playing aBollywood retro song Ajeeb DastanHai Yeh and I started hummingalong.. . Kaha Shuru KahaKhatam... Hitting the nostalgiarush just right, they had a red let-ter box with postal code 110006 aswell as a decades old scooter witha DIL-006 number plate. To maketime travel complete, there was alsoa real astrologer with a greenparakeet trained to pick up thetarot-like fortune cards and also apaanwala.

The decor too has keptChandni Chowk as its main theme.The silver lights with a tint of bluespread across the ceiling gave it afeel of eating right under the star-ry sky. A series of posters of films

that have been shot in the walledcity (or sets that looked like it) likeDilli-6, Bajrangi Bhaijaan andKurbaan, was displayed, depictinga slice of life. There were thelasserving Pani puris, Tikkis and Rajbhog while the lavish buffet withalmost 80 plus dishes was servedwith signboards that remindedone of metro stations.

According to executive chefSwaminandan, Crowne Plaza, theold city shares an intimate rela-tionship with food across thedynasties such as Pandavas,Tomars, Mughals and theBritishers which ruled here.The food at Purani Dilli issumptuously garnished

with culinary secrets that have beenpassed down through generations.Also, Delhi being the food capitalof the country has the influence ofseveral cuisines such as Kayastha,Baniya and Punjabi. He said, “Thefood festival attempts to unravelthe culinary legacy of Purani Dillitravelled through ages.”

I have a notion that you are nota true Delhiite if your taste budsdon’t salivate when you smell thewhiff of hot oil from the kadhaiand tawas when your favouritestreet food such as Aloo Tikki,Golguppa, Dahi Bhalle, Aloo Puriand Chole Bhature is being pre-pared. Mine certainly did.

It was Civil Lines metro stationthat served Golguppas — the nameis enough to make you run downthe road to get your fill of thesnack. They told me if I really

want to enjoy them, I have togo to the thela and then eat

it and I

couldn't agree more so I heldthose paper bowls in my hand andgulped down an uncountable num-ber of them. They were a delight-ful offering of pale green masalawater, saunth, chutneys and soft-boiled potatoes. Apart from mithapaani and khata paani, they alsoserved with spicy hing water. Thistangy, spicy treat with the cherryon the cake of hygienic environ-ment only tempted me further.

After munching on to thestarters at the chaat thelas, I hoppedon to the Parathe Wali Gali metrostation, to experience those deepfriend, golden Parathas stuffedwith fillings as varied as Mirchi,Nimbu, Gobhi, Methi to Mooli andKhoya. Imagine lemon picklestuffed inside a paratha and onestarts to drool. Well, the NimbuParatha tasted like that in everyrespect. I tried the Mirchi one tooand if you are anything like me,always craving for a spicy breakfastwhile at the same time not wanti-ng to give up on parathas, this onewill satisfy your cravings for sure.The taste of the green chillies

encased in a crunchy friedparatha, is sheer joy for

your taste buds. Remember Kajol in

Kabhi Khushi KabhieGham always answer-ing the phone with“Bharat Halwai, Koi bhi

occasion voccasion ho,shaadi ya sagai.” Well, they

recreated the same sweet shopwith plethora of desserts tochoose right from Feroze kaHabshi Halwa, Shafiq Kheerwale, Kuremal Ki MatkaKulfi, Daulat ki Chaat,

Fatehpuri Lachcha Rabri, MoreLala Ka Kada Doodh.

������� ���

����2�� �/����%�$!"�"� ,

�0���!���������(�$ ���0!������ �� �����>�(�<79& C+C9

,������������������!���;�������� �'�������� ����������������� ����)�������� ���,�)�� ��+����� ������ ��� ����#�@��������������� ��� ��� �E9?78 ?7�>+�

Page 15: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

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

����� ��>��!-?

Contrasting centuries byJason Roy and Joe Root

paced England to a comfortablesix-wicket victory over theWest Indies with their recordone-day international run chasein a high-scoring opening gameof a five-match series inBarbados on Wednesday.

Set what looked a dauntingtarget after Chris Gayle's 24thODI hundred anchored thehome side to 360-8, Roy blazed123 off 85 balls at the top of theorder while Root cruised to acomparatively sedate 102 off 97deliveries to take help thetourists reach their target witheight balls to spare.

In achieving the highest-ever ODI run chase in theCaribbean and the third-high-est overall, England under-lined their status as the top-ranked team in this format ofthe game and will be brimful ofbatting confidence heading intothe second match at the samevenue on Friday.

Fresh from a hundred inthe lone warm-up match at theweekend, Roy was at his mostruthless against the hosts whomissed key fast bowler KemarRoach.

The 'man of the series'with 18 wickets as the WestIndies surprised England 2-1 toreclaim the Wisden Trophy inthe preceding Test duel, Roachhas been ruled out of the entireODI series due to early signs ofwhat could develop into a stressfracture of the lower back.

Roy set the pace in racingto a hundred off just 65 balls -- the fastest-ever in ODIs in theCaribbean -- and dominated anopening stand of 91 with JonnyBairstow.

He maintained the chargethrough a 114-run second-wicket partnership with Root

and by the time he fell in the27th over to leg-spinnerDevendra Bishoo, Englandwere well on course.

Root, the Test captain whofinally came good with a hun-dred in the last innings of thethree-match series in St Luciajust over a week earlier, also gotto three figures against theUniversity of the West IndiesVice-Chancellor's XI lastSunday and tapped into thatrich vein of form once more.

He put on 116 for the thirdwicket in 16 overs with EoinMorgan and although the ODIskipper departed to fast bowlerOshane Thomas with victory insight, there would be no seriousalarms for England on the wayto victory, although Root fellwith the scores level attemptingthe winning hit off West Indiescaptain Jason Holder.

Earlier, Gayle lit up theKensington Oval with anotherdisplay of power-hitting.

Playing his first ODI sincethe home series againstBangladesh last July and havingannounced that the upcomingWorld Cup will be his interna-tional farewell in the format, thebig-hitting left-hander signalledhis intentions for a lengthygrand finale with an innings of135 off 129 balls with 12 sixesand three fours.

His tally of maximumsdominated an innings in which23 sixes were struck, a newrecord for an ODI innings.

Despite conceding 34 runsoff his final two overs, leg-spin-ner Rashid played an importantrole together with Stokes in lim-iting the West Indies progressover the final 15 overs.

Stokes returned the bestfigures of three for 37, includ-ing the important wicket ofGayle in the 47th over, dragginga full-length delivery onto hisstumps.

� ��� +9+��8�

The aggressiveHarmanpreetKaur's injury-forced absence is

likely to be felt but a confident Indianwomen's cricket team will look tomake the home advantage count whenit squares off against England in a three-match ODI series starting at WankhedeStadium on Friday.

Fresh from a decent outing in NewZealand, where the team won theODIs but were blanked 0-3 in T20Internationals, the Indian team contin-ues its ICC Championships engage-ments.

The team has to hold on to its posi-tion in the top-four of the world rank-ings till 2020 to get direct qualificationfor the 2021 World Cup.

All the three matches will be playedat the Wankhede and India would befirm favourites. The Mithali Raj-led out-fit had beaten England 2-1 the last timethe visitors were here, in 2018.

Raj, whose position in the T20squad has created quite a bit of contro-versy in the past few months, is still atthe top of her game in the 50-over for-mat. The 36-year-old became the firstwoman cricketer to play 200 ODIs forIndia during the tour of New Zealanda few weeks back.

However, the hosts will miss herregular deputy and T20 captainHarmanpreet, who was ruled out of theentire series with an ankle injury. Shehas been replaced by Harleen Deol.

Although Harmanpreet was off-colour during the series against NewZealand, she remains crucial for Indiain its new-found aggression.

But ICC's woman cricketer of theyear Smriti Mandhana and the youngand sprightly Jemimah Rodrigues can

be banked upon to provide the requi-site spark. Mandhana, especially, was intop form in New Zealand and would beaiming to continue the fine run.

The team has had middle-orderissues in the past and newly-appoint-ed coach W V Raman would be keento sort those out.

The home team's bowling has anall-round look with the pace attackbeing led by redoubtable veteran JhulanGoswami and also comprising the likesof Shikha Pandey and Mansi Joshi.

With spin being a key element on

Indian wickets, the role of slow bowlersDeepti Sharma, Ekta Bisht and PoonamYadav in the middle overs would be cru-cial.

The England women, on the otherhand, are no pushovers in the 50-overformat. They have experienced cam-paigners in top-order batting, such asDanni Wyatt (746 runs in 61 matches)and 28-year-old Heather Knight.

Knight, with 2,331 runs to her cred-it in 86 ODIs, displayed good form inthe practice game against the BoardPresidents XI and would be expected to

anchor the innings for the visitors.With all-rounders like Sophie

Eccelestone, experienced pacer AnyaShrubsole and accurate medium pacerNat Sciver in the mix, England have thebowling attack to trouble the hosts.

Anya would also take confidencefrom her four-wicket haul in the warm-up game.

�B����India: Mithali Raj (Captain), JhulanGoswami, Smriti Mandhana,Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma,

Taniya Bhatia (wicket-keeper), RKalpana (wicket-keeper), MonaMeshram, Ekta Bisht, RajeshwariGayakwad, Poonam Yadav, ShikhaPandey, Mansi Joshi, Punam Raut,Harleen Deol.England: Tammy Beaumont,Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, SophiaDunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, GeorgiaElwiss, Alex Hartley, Amy Jones,Heather Knight, Laura Marsh, NatSciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor(wicketkeeper), Lauren Winfield andDanni Wyatt.

� ���+9+��8�

Indian women's ODI team skipper Mithali Raj said theteam is focussed on avoiding the qualifiers ahead of the

2021 World Cup but reckoned it will be a major challengefacing World Cup champions England in the absence ofinjured Harmanpreet Kaur.

Mithali said her team is focused on holding on to itsposition in the top-four of the world rankings till 2020 toget direct qualification for the 2021 World Cup.

"It's a very important series for us, being number threeright now in points table. Points are at stake and I definite-ly want the team to get direct entry (into the next WorldCup). It's important to get as many points as possible fromthe series," she said on the eve of the series.

India had beaten England 2-1 the last time the visitorswere here in 2018 but Mithali said facing the visitors with-out Harmanpreet will show the team's depth.

"England are a formidable side, being the World Cupchampions and they will come strongly at us. We shouldbe playing a positive brand of cricket," said Mithali.

"They've got their senior players back into the squad,and we are without one of our senior players. But this serieswill also show how we meet this challenge. It will reflect thedepth of our team."

On the absence of Harmanpreet, Mithali said the injuredplayer will be missed but her absence also provides chanceto the youngsters to come good.

"She is one of the main players in the team for a longtime, but it is also an opportunity for young players in theteam to rise up and use the opportunity to step up and per-form," said the India captain.

"Harman is not there because of injury. I should empha-sise that we, as a batting unit, should take the (added) respon-sibility and whoever gets the opportunity should play thatrole," she added.

For a direct entry into the World Cup, Mithali and com-pany need to hold on to their position in the top-four ofthe world rankings till 2020.

The equation becomes a bit more complex in the wakeof the terror attack by a Pakistan-based terror-outfit inPulwama in Kashmir and the outrage it has given rise toall over the country.

� ��� +9+��8�

Reigning World Cup cham-pions England want to cre-

ate history by defeating Indiain their own backyard for thefirst time in an ODI series, saidvisiting team captain HeatherKnight on the eve of the open-ing clash.

"Yes, we have talked aboutit. It's something we want to doas a team. We want to makehistory. When we came herelast year, it was a slightlyyounger team. We weren't ableto do that; we lost that series 2-1," said Knight.

The two teams had playeda memorable World Cup finalin 2017 when hosts England

pulled off a sensational win."We have had some amaz-

ing games; that World Cupfinal was an amazing game tobe involved in. Obviously theenormity of the occasion: to bein a WC final, to be sold out atLord's. We've played somegood games, including lastyear in Indian conditions aswell."

According to Knight, herteam's strength is its depth.

"The ODI cricket we'veplayed in the last couple ofyears, including the WorldCup in England, that's beenvery good. We have got perfor-mances from different players.We have got inexperience anda group that has been around

�$�&���' �$0��$� &���!�".�4566-.����&-�����&�"$:&���9

:7����*�����������:����������� �� ��� ������ �� �%��H�������� ���� ���0����������� ����� ������� ������� ��

/�$%�%"�.����(&'%"� �&$��$�&�5�7$&0(%

<���������������

"��������������� ��� ��������� ����6�8;�������)� ����

for a while as well."We've got quite a settled

batting line-up and everyone ofthe batters in the top six orseven are match-winners. Sohopefully a lot more players canstep up, as they have done inthe last two years," she added.

Knight agreed that Indiawill miss the injuredHarmanpreet Kaur.

"She has been a very goodplayer for them. She has beenplaying in the leagues aroundthe world. I know what sort ofplayer she is. Any team in the

world would miss her."On how to stop the in-

form Smriti Mandhana, withwhom she has played in theBBL in Australia, Knight saidthat the India opener has someweaknesses which her bowlerswould look to exploit.

Page 16: ˘ ˇ ˆ · form of fine and jail imprison-ment, if found violating the ... dams which will be completed in six years, officials said. ... ished” the party by deciding to contest

�,����>2��#���&#%��'��%��#( '���"%�#%( ))*�)+,-

����� +�!>8!

Cristiano Ronaldo's Champions Leaguemission with Juventus stalled onWednesday as Atletico Madrid

secured a deserved 2-0 victory from athrilling first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Ronaldo returned to the Spanish capi-tal, where he enjoyed unprecedented successin this tournament with Real, but it was theirrivals celebrating at the final whistle as goalsfrom Jose Gimenez and Diego Godin putAtletico within sight of the quarter-finals.

But this was a victory that Simeone's sidefully deserved. Antoine Griezmann had hitthe crossbar while VAR twice intervened,correctly, in Juve's favour, cancelling apenalty for a foul on Diego Costa and thenruling out an Alvaro Morata header justbefore Gimenez struck.

While Juventus tried to preserve thestalemate, Atletico were bold. Simeoneintroduced Morata, Thomas Lemar andAngel Correa, all around the hour-mark, andhis daring paid off. "I showed balls," Simeonesaid.

Juve are certainly not dead and buried,particularly given Costa and Thomas Parteywill both be suspended for the return inTurin after each picked up yellow cards.

But the failure to score an away goal, andtheir clear inferiority in the second half doesnot bode well for any hopes of a comeback.

"They don't give you chances," saidAllegri. "They make you play badly."

Defeat in the last 16 for either teamwould be unthinkable, for Atletico, whoknow the final will be played here, at theirown stadium, on June 1, the perfectchance to wrestle the trophy off Realin the very city they share.

#������������And for Juventus, whose wait for

Europe's premier prize has nowentered its 23rd year, when expec-tations are higher than evergiven they now boast thetournament's most pro-lific ever player.

Ronaldo, though,endured a disappoint-ing night, suffocatedfrom the outset by atypically relentlessAtletico backline.

Perhaps it wasfrustration thatmade him wavefive fingers inthe direction ofthe baitingA t l e t i c ocrowd, pre-sumably tosignify hisf i v eChampionsLeague tri-umphs.

His best contribution was an early, dri-ven free-kick from 30 yards, that had to bepushed over by Jan Oblak, and the dummy-shot before it, that exposed Costa asencroaching, for which he received his yel-low card.

Costa was his bristling self and almost

won a penalty when referee Felix Zwayerthought he was tripped by Mattia de Sciglio.But VAR showed he had not only exagger-ated the contact but also extended his runinto the area.

The rest of the half was tighter butAtletico had two golden opportunitiesearly in the second. First, Griezmannvolleyed Costa in behind but the Spaniardsidefooted wide with only WojciechSzczesny to beat.

Then, it was Griezmann's turn,this time Szczesny intervening, tippingthe Frenchman's lob onto the crossbarbefore Giorgio Chiellini stopped Costa fromreaching the rebound.

Atletico were pushing and it was Morata,on for Costa, who made the difference. Hepowered in a brilliant header only to see itchalked off for a push but he was notdeterred, and when Juve failed to clear hisknock-down at a corner, Gimenez was per-fectly placed.

Juve were rattled and their failure to rallycould cost them dear. Atletico scored againas Godin rose to head in at the near post,only to turn and find Mario Mandzukic hadcleared the ball to his feet. The angle was tightbut the net was open.

Juve might had snatched an away goallate on but Oblak pushed over FedericoBernardeschi's shot. They have it all to do.

����� ?(7�6��

Raheem Sterling sealed a dramat-ic 3-2 Champions League win for

10-man Manchester City at Schalkeon Wednesday as the English cham-pions scored twice in the last fiveminutes.

Sterling tucked away the winnerat the Veltins Arena in the 90th

minute just after substitute LeroySane fired home a stunning free-kick for the Premier League lead-ers against his former club in the

last 16, first leg.Schalke led 2-1 at half-

time as the VAR twice inter-vened to award penalties,

both converted by NabilBentaleb, cancelling out SergioAguero's opener in Gelsenkirchen.

City were in real trouble with 22minutes left when Nicolas Otamendi,who gave away the controversial firstpenalty, was sent off for a second yel-low card before Sane's moment ofbrilliance and Sterling's winner.

However, City still have somework to do in the return leg on March12 with Fernandinho, who wasbooked when conceding the secondspot-kick, and Otamendi both sus-pended.

Schalke are just above theBundesliga's relegation places andwinless in their last four leaguegames, yet they gave Premier Leagueleaders City an almighty scare.

The hosts initially struggled toget out of their half as Man City dom-inated the opening 30 minutes, untilthe game swung dramaticallySchalke's way with the two penaltydecisions.

Schalke shot themselves in thefoot for City's opening goal on 18minutes when a lazy pass from goal-keeper Ralf Faehrmann to Salif Sanewas snapped up by David Silva.

The Spaniard drew Faehrmannand selflessly served up a simple tap-in for Aguero to claim his 10th goalin his last seven City appearances.

�� ��������#������ �����However, falling behind sparked

life into Schalke.Schalke drew level after Daniel

Caligiuri fired in a speculative shotwhich clipped Otamendi's arm.

Despite City's furious protests,the spot-kick was duly awarded,which Bentaleb tucked away to thedelight of the home crowd on 38 min-

utes and they would be celebratingagain soon after.

The Germans took the leadwhen Fernandinho pushed Senegaldefender Salif Sane when a free-kickflew into the box, and VAR againintervened and another penalty wentSchalke's way.

Bentaleb stepped up to smash thespot-kick past Ederson and putSchalke ahead.

The second half was a muchmore even affair with Schalke nolonger intimidated to be playingstar-studded City.

In turn, the visitors' problemswere compounded on 68 minuteswhen Otamendi clattered Schalke'sreplacement forward GuidoBurgstaller and was dismissed.

In a bid to turn the match with13 minutes left, Leroy Sane came onfor Aguero and the Germany inter-national produced the goods againstthe club he left in 2016. Then Sterlinglatched onto goalkeeper Ederson'slong clearance as the home defencehesitated and slotted in.

�� ����������� ������������MArseille: > �� "����� ���� ?����� � , � �� � ������� �������)� ���� '�� ������ � ���� �� ��)��������� �� �'��� #����J 7������ 7�����%� ��� ������ ���� 4���������� � � +�� ����� ����� ��� �,���F<��������������� �����>�����/����������������������� ������-��� �)���� ��� ��)����������� ��� ��� �����)����� ����"����+��� ����!�)��!%�)��� �����, � �� ��������� ������ �������/�������� ����������)�� ������� ����� ���������)����HK�7�����%�;�1��;�F� ����������� �7���������������� ������ �� ���= ������9������������)����010�?����?�����' ��� ��� ���� 0I<��������� "������� �������� = � ���� �� �����

�#������������� ��#������������� �Paris: ���������� � ������)����� �������� ���-��)��� �������#�� �F<F1���������������������������� ����))����� ����,��� ��� �?������������ �������)������ �������������'��������� ���� ������ ��� ���� ������))�� ���� ���� F<F<� ,����-��)�� ����'������'��������������#�� ���������� ������ �,��� ������������������������#�� �F<F1����� ����))������������)���-��)���"����)����� �� �������� ���������� ������������� ���� ��� ������������������)��������-��)�� �T)�������T� ��� T)���� ��� ��T � T,� � � �� )�@��� ���� �������� � ����)����������� �����4���-��)���"�)� �T�� ������� ��

������D��:>>��� ����������� ������������Thiruvananthapuram: ��������� ��������0FF���� ����������������!�� ��?��������� 8��������0:� ���)� ��� ��))���� ������ ��?����������������� ������������������ ��JE����J,� ����,��� ��� �,�����)�����)�)����II<����������:F I��'�� ����������?����������J �0:H������ ������������������ ���������������������� ��)� �,���' ��� ���� ����������J ���������I1���� I� � 0A� �'�� � ��'�� �� �� ���� ����� � ��� ������ +������+����)��� �?����������������� ������ ������� ���� ������ �)�� ���������� ��� � ��� ��))����� �� � � ,�� ?����� �����J ��������������J������������>�����!��'����������8��������0: ������������������ �� ����������� � ��������������������'�� ���� ) ������� ������II<�����)��������������0II

�������#� ������ ����� ��������#� ���NEw Delhi: (���������?����,������������@������ �� ������� � ����� ���� 8!�8� /������� 6��� 8 ������ .��� !���+���������?���������� ����� �����������)�� ��������)����� �������#����)��������������� ������������ ���������������������������� ��������*����������.�����?����)���?������,��������������A�0<��� ���� �� �������������U����+�'��#� �����(���������� ���� ���� � ���� @�� �)� � ���� ����� � � /��� ����� ��� ����������� � � ���� ���������� 8!�8� /�������� ���� )���������� �� �� ���� ������ �0<<� ������ � ���� ���� ���� ���� )����� J��)�� �+��������0K�<<<����� ���������������������������������������� �= �����)�������$F<<<&�������)�������$;<<<&���)��0<��$AA<<&����A��?��������������>��$1A<<&=�������.���!���+������

��8�������� ���K�� �#��� ���#������ �:<�Seville: � �)����E������ ������� � ��������������������� ?�'���� �� ��� ��� �� F�<� ��������� �� �'��� 6�%�� ��� ������ ����������6�������� ��0; �,�����������'���)����� ��������)����0�<��� ������'�������>�)���� ����������� ���������E����� �������������/����)����������������'�������������F<�)��� ��� ������ � ������ #����� ?�����J � ���� �� � �'��� ��� ,��)� ?����� �� �?�������������������I�<����������� ���� ������ ����)��*� � �.�'� J��� �����0F�)��� �������� �4<%0#<�

��$0 :�

As the inaugural season of ProVolleyball League has start-

ed all the players have geared upthemselves to win the season.Every team is trying to give itsbest to make the season anexciting and thrilling contest. Hailing from a sports back-ground, SAQLAIN TARIQ hasbeen playing volleyball since hischildhood. Tariq currently playsfor U Mumba Volley. Tariq'sinspiration has been his fatherwho was also his coach. "I comefrom a sporting background.My father is a former Volleyballplayer, and is currently coachingVolleyball. My elder brother is aVolleyball player and he is alsocoaching. So my entire family hasbeen associated with Volleyballand therefore I developed inter-est in the game. My father hasbeen my source of inspirationfrom the beginning," he tells you.

Talking about the strategiesthat he uses during play, Tariq

said: "It takes time to develop onthe skills as instructed by acoach. My position is of a settler,and it is the settler's responsibil-ity to decide on the number ofballs a player gets in the team,which is essential to function asa team. To develop on this, onemust be mentally prepared tomoral up the team and playtogether with a cool mind. It isa very deliverable position, whereyour contribution decides onhow much you receive, and I'vebecome habitual of it," he says.CARSON CLARK who playsfor Black Hawks Hyderabad saysthat if you don't believe you canwin every match there is notpoint of playing the match."Confidence is the key. My strat-egy before playing any game isthat if at this level in volleyballyou don't believe that you canwin every match, then there is nopoint of playing. That's what Ilove so much about this sport,

that at any given time a team cangain momentum and beat ateam that might be more talent-ed or technical," he tells you.

Talking about the prepara-tions that he does before amatch Clark said: "I am thetype of player that likes to befree and relaxed before a game.I think to be at your peak per-formance, you need to thinkless and let your body react to

the situations. There is a reasonwe practice for thousands ofhours, and when the momentis most important, I let mybody take over and do what I'vedone thousands of timesbefore."

Clark feels honoured andfortunate to be a part of thenational Volleyball team.

"The national team is anincredible honour that I feel

very fortunate to be a part of.There are so many legends Ilooked up to growing up, andthe opportunity to have themas teammates and learn fromthem was an amazing time inmy volleyball career," he tellsyou adding that his successmantra is to never let your posi-tion decide who you are just befocused in your game andremain what you are.

Clark has a piece of advicefor the aspiring players. "Listen,ask questions, and be open tocritique. There's nothing betterthan a young player, who iseager to learn and is down toearth. I have more respect forhumble athletes, who just wantto get better and keep improv-ing," he says.MOHAN UKKARAPANDIANcaptain of Indian Volleyballteam says that their strategiesdepend upon their oppositionteam. "We don't follow a partic-

ular strategy but it dependsupon which team we are playingwith. We strategise according totheir strength and weaknesses,"he tells you adding that his bestmoment was when he wasselected in senior men team andhe got an opportunity to playagainst Pakistan in Pakistan.NAVEEN RAJA JACOB who isa part of Chennai Spartans saysthat the Government shouldensure more exposure for thegame in India. "There are a lotof good players in India but weare not getting the requiredexposure. We want to bringmedals for the country in theupcoming Olympics but for thatwe need Government's supportto bring this game at the fore-front," he tells you.

The inaugural season ofPVL is being telecasted on SonySix, Sony Ten 3 and Sony Liv. Sixteams are currently playing inthe league.

���8�� ���92����")��%����"��� �������������������������F�<�'������������������� ������������ ��*�'���

3���4 ���I������������������� ������� ������ �7����� ��������� ���3� ����� ��������8J� �������������;������������ ���� ����� ���;�������� ����

T��������������������� ,����� �������)�������������������������������'����

����� T=!����?)���$��������+����������&��

T/���������������J�������������� ����� ��F�<� ����� ������������������������ ���J������������� T=+� )����������$*�'��� ��� &��

>-.�6!->�,9>.�!�,-,7��?#�.8?7

(�#8,�6���7�>�7���.*-E�!

9.#>�(�!�.,�!?9((�??�8.�,78?

,-9>.�+�.,�8,7�>��6���9,

8,���?�,7�8>>8D�6?

(�6��>�,8."��,,7��/8.�6

�78?,6���?"-�6?�/>-+

*-?��"8+�.�S�.!�!8�"-

"-!8.�#9,�,6�,8(-��8,78.

?8"7,�-/�,7�P9�>,�>�/8.�6?

����� ��� ������������0 ���������

�6�����?�V��� ������������'��'������������� ��� �� �� �'����������� �����

��)����� �����+���� ����(��$���������� ���'��� � & �

�.���W �-��)����� �����'��� ��� ���������������+���� ���(����������� �� �0;0 �

���������������������� �

�+���� ����(�����'��������������� ���������� �� ��������� �'����)� ������(��)��

6�������������� ���� ������#��"������� �

?������� ���������� �� �� ������(� ����>������$K&��� ������)������������� �����

(��)�� �6����������?�����������$H& �

���$ �����!(

T�������������������� ��)��������� ����)���'� ,����� ���� ������������������

�����'�������� ����������� ���������������������� ���������������������������������(��)��

6����� T=��&��*%-+�)�%$+��(����� &

����� #�>8?

Angel Di Maria scored a sumptuousfree-kick and Kylian Mbappe was

also on target as Paris Saint-Germain con-tinued their relentless march towardsanother French title by hammeringMontpellier 5-1 on Wednesday.

With Neymar and Edinson Cavanistill absent, Layvin Kurzawa also scoredfor PSG at the Parc des Princes, while twoown goals completed the rout.

Florent Mollet had equalised at onepoint in the first half for the visitors beforethey crumbled in a rearranged fixture thathad initially been postponed in earlyDecember due to disruption caused by"yellow vest" anti-government protests inFrance.

As they warm up for the second legof their Champions League last-16 tie

against Manchester United on March 6,PSG are now a huge 15 points clear of sec-ond-placed Lille, and still have a game inhand as they race to a sixth Ligue 1 titlein seven seasons.

"It was not our best peformance, butwith our attacking quality it was adeserved victory," aid PSG coach ThomasTuchel after his side maintained their per-

fect home record in the league this sea-son.

It was also their ninth win by a mar-gin of at least four goals in the currentcampaign.

He was missing a host of players forthis game, with skipper Thiago Silva sus-pended. French international left-backKurzawa was making his first start in theleague in an injury-hit season and heopened the scoring in the 13th minutewith a header from a Daniel Alves cross.

Montpellier remain sixth, while PSGnow host mid-table Nimes on Saturdaybefore a French Cup quarter-final againstDijon and then a visit to Caen, as theirbusy schedule continues before the visitof United.

The other game in France onWednesday saw bottom side Guingampdraw 0-0 at Bordeaux.

& ��� �� �������������4 ��� ��

+9?���7�?7+8� ���� ����� �)������������)���D���������������� ����� ���� ������@���������������� �����������)��

<� :5,- ���&�� 5�$0�&-�&