· trict collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency...

16
E xtremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Fani over the Bay of Bengal is expected to hit the Odisha coast between 8 am and 10 am on Friday. The storm is likely to make a landfall in Puri town, said the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) The landfall would start between 8 am to 10 am and continue up to 12 noon, said Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi . The storm till late Thursday was about 320 km south-southwest off Puri and 170 km east-southeast off Vishakhapatnam and it was moving at a speed of 17 km per hour. It is very likely to move north-northeast and cross Odisha between Gopalpur and Chandbali, around Puri during forenoon with maximum sus- tained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph. It will then weaken gradually and enter into West Bengal as a Severe Cyclonic Storm with the wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph. It is very likely to move fur- ther north-northeastwards and emerge into Bangladesh on the evening of May 4 as a Cyclonic storm with wind speed of 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph. Though the wind speed may gust up to 205km/hour during landfall, the maximum wind speed in cities like Bhubaneswar, Brahmapur and Cuttack could be around 100- 115 km/hr in the next 12 hours (means starting from around Thursday midnight ). Post landfall and when Fani will be moving over the coastal districts of Jagatsinghpur and Baleswar, before entering West Bengal, the wind speed in parts of Cuttack and Jajpur districts will see equally squally winds reaching up to 100 km per hour. The impact of the storm will remain for nearly 12 hours after landfall, when it will be moving north coastal districts en route to West Bengal. High level of sea water ingress into human habita- tions is feared along the coast of Gopalpur to Chandbali as tidal storm surge is predicted at 1.5 metre over the astronomi- cal tide, which means the storm surge prior, during and after the land fall along the Odisha coast will be around 6.5 feet. Fearing high sea ingress, the State Government has set a target to evacuate over 7.5 lakh people from the coastal dis- tricts to safer places. Till 7 pm on Thursday, more than 4.5 lakh people have been evacuated from vul- nerable places, said SRC offi- cials. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday evening reviewed the preparedness to combat the storm. Patnaik appealed to the people not to panic and remain indoors for safety on Friday. E xtremely severe cyclonic storm Fani over Bay of Bengal, which is likely to cross Odisha coast around Puri dur- ing May 3 afternoon will result in squally wind in the State. As per the India Meteorological Department, the wind speed at the place of landfall will be 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph. Squally wind speed reach- ing 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to prevail along the Odisha coast and become gale wind speed reach- ing 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from May 2 night, informed the IMD . It is very likely to become 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph along and off south Odisha; and 90 -100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph along and off remaining districts of coastal Odisha by May 3 forenoon for subse- quent 12 hours and decrease thereafter, the IMD added. Gale wind with speed 130- 140 kmph gusting to 150 kmph is also likely over the districts of Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and gale wind speed reaching 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph is also likely over the districts of Gajapati, Khurda (including Bhubaneswar city), Cuttack (including Cuttack city), Jajpur, Bhadrak, Baleswar and 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph over the districts of Nayagarh, Angul, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal and strong gusty surface wind speed 30-40 kmph over the rest districts of Odisha by May 3 evening for subsequent 12 hours and significant decrease thereafter. Storm surge of about 1.5 meter height above astronom- ical tide is very likely to inun- date low lying areas of Ganjam, Khordha, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts at the time of landfall. C hief Minister Naveen Patnaik has stressed on ensuring ‘zero casualty’ in the aftermath of cyclone Fani and asked officers to remain on high alert to tackle the dis- aster. Conducting a review meeting at the State Secretariat on Wednesday to take stock of the preparedness to meet the eventuality, Patnaik instruct- ed all concerned authorities to evacuate people living in the low-lying areas to safe places before the cyclone makes landfall. “I appeal to everyone that children, women, old and disabled persons be evacuat- ed first. All precautions have been taken to face the cyclone. We are fully prepared to tackle the cyclone Fani,” Naveen told reporters soon after the meeting. “As many as 8 lakh peo- ple living in the vulnerable areas will be evacuated to cyclone shelters,” Naveen added. The CM also held dis- cussions with collectors of dis- trict Collectors via videocon- ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ODRAF teams in the districts. He directed the officers to undertake restoration works soon after the cyclone weak- ens. Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethi informed that free kitchens would start at cyclone shelters from Thursday to provide food to the evacuated people. The Government has assigned 11 IAS officers and 11 IPS officers to supervise the relief, rehabilitation and restoration work in the districts that are likely to be affected by the cyclone. Earlier in the day, collec- tors in the all coastal and adjoining districts of Gajapati, Nayagarh, Khordha, Cuttack, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj have been advised to identify all vul- nerable people living in kutcha houses or living near the coast or in low lying areas. The Government has cancelled leaves and holidays of all the officials in the Energy Department as part of preparedness in view of the possible damages in power supply and distribution dur- ing the cyclone. All kinds of leaves of doc- tors and health staff have been cancelled up to May 15. The Health Department ordered that all those who are on leave must report back to respective headquarters by Wednesday evening. P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed the preparedness ahead of the Cyclone ‘Fani’ in New Delhi and instructed Central Government officials to maintain close coordination with officials of likely to be affected States, including Odisha, to ensure preventive measures. Modi also asked the con- cerned officers to take effec- tive steps for relief and rescue operations, as required, informed an official state- ment. The meeting was attend- ed by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha, the PM’s Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra and Additional Principal Secretary Pramod Kumar Mishra, Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and senior officers from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Prime Minister’s Office. Officers briefed the Prime Minister on the likely path of the cyclone, and the ongoing precautionary and preparato- ry measures being undertak- en which include deployment of NDRF teams and Armed forces, supply of drinking water and steps to restore power and telecom services. I n the keenly-contested Lok Sabha polls in Rajasthan, Alwar and neighbouring Dausa parliamentary constituencies figure prominently among the few seats where the Congress is banking on old Turks. The BJP had won all the 25 seats in 2014 LS polls. The Congress is riding high on old-timer of Alwar Bhanwar Jitendra Singh who has been trying hard to con- vince the electorates about fail- ures of BJP Governments in providing jobs and the popu- larity of “Gehlot Sarkar”. On the other hand, the BJP is banking on religious polar- isation by fielding a spiritual leader Mahant Balak Nath. Balak Nath is a disciple of Mahant Chand Nath, who won on BJP ticket in 2014 against Jitendra Singh in Alwar. Karan Singh Yadav of the Congress won the Alwar by-election last year against BJP’s Jaswant Singh Yadav. The Congress won Alwar Lok Sabha bye election by a margin of over 1.97 lakh votes and Ajmer by 84,000 votes in the January 2018 Lok Sabha by- polls necessitated by the deaths of the respective Lok Sabha MPs in the these two con- stituencies. The by- polls turned out to be a litmus test for Vasundhara Raje Government in Rajasthan where people vented their anger by coining slogan “Vasundhara Teri Khair Nahi’ Modi Se Ab Bhay nahin”. While none of the candi- dates in Alwar during cam- paigning are talking about divi- sion of Alwar, people are hope- ful that their long pending demand of bifurcation of the district in two parts may be realised. “We have a long pending demand. We hope that the industrial towns under this district should be separated for a holistic development of all the areas,” said Rao Bhim of village Dhawla. Others on the spot concurred with him. “We have voted for the Congress and will do once again because the bypolls in the two seats and the Assembly elections were clearly a signal against misrule of Vasundhra Raje,” said Manav from Dausa who has to travel to neighboring Alwar for his studies. The stakes for the Congress is also high on the ‘Rajesh Pilot’s political “Karm Bhoomi” Dausa where two women contestants — former Union Minister Jaskaur Meena (BJP) and Savita Meena (Congress) are locked in a straight fight. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been talk- ing about bravery of Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthman for his role in shoot- ing down a Pakistan fighter jet, Sachin still wields considerable influences here. Harish Chandra Meena won the Dausa seat in 2014 polls on a BJP ticket and switched to the Congress last year. T he Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Election Commission to take a call on a plea seeking to advance the voting timing to 5 am for the remaining phases of the Lok Sabha election due to heat waves and Ramzan. The petition was filed by advocates Mohammed Nizamuddin Pasha and Asad Hayat, who mentioned it for urgent hearing before a Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and also consisting of Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna. The Bench asked the counsel appearing for the Election Commission to take a decision on the issue. The petitioners said they had given a representation to the Election Commission on Monday in this regard, but the EC has not responded to it. “The petitioners pray for a direction to the Election Commission to extend the polling hours during the fifth, sixth and seventh phases of the ongoing general election, 2019 on May 6, May 12 and May 19, respectively, by 2-2.5 hours so as to commence at 4:30/5 AM (instead of the notified time of 7am) on account of the unprece- dented heat waves prevailing in several parts of the country and the onset of the holy month of Ramzan,” the plea said. O nce again girls have out- shone the boys in the Central Board of Secondary Examination (CBSE) Class XII results with 88.70 pass per- centage. The pass percentage for boys stands at 79.40 per cent. Transgenders have a pass percentage of 83.3 per cent, a senior board official said on Thursday while announcing the results. Hansika Shukla, a student of Delhi Public School, Meereut Road, Ghaziabad, and Karishma Arora from Muzzaffarnagar are joint all- India toppers scoring 499 marks out of 500. The second position has also been shared by three girl students Gaurangi Chawla from Rishikesh, Aishwarya, Rae Bareli, and Bhavya from Jind Haryana. All three secured 498 marks. Eighteen students, who scored 497 out 500, secured third position. Of these, two students Mehak Talwar and Veeraj Jindal are from Delhi. Schools in Delhi have shown improvement in the results with an increase of two per cent with 91.87 in com- parison with last year’s pass percentage i.e, 89.0 per cent. Differently-abled candi- dates performed well in the exam with a pass prcentage of 86.69 per cent. According the CBSE, there is a 0.39 percent- age increase in the All India pass percentage this year. The overall pass percentage this year is 83. 40 while it was 83.01 per cent last year. The pass percentage in Government schools is 87.17 per cent lowest as compared to the Government-aided and the private schools 96.06 per cent. Further region wise Trivandrum and Chennai secured the top two positions region wise with 98.20 per cent and 92.80 percentage over- all. Delhi secured the third position with a pass percentage of 91.87. Among the candidates with special need, Lavannya Balakrishnan from the Heritage School, Gurugram topped with a score of 489 out 500 marks.

Upload: others

Post on 16-May-2020

1 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

����� ���������

Extremely Severe CyclonicStorm Fani over the Bay of

Bengal is expected to hit theOdisha coast between 8 am and10 am on Friday.

The storm is likely to makea landfall in Puri town, said theIndian MetrologicalDepartment (IMD)

The landfall would startbetween 8 am to 10 am andcontinue up to 12 noon, saidSpecial Relief CommissionerBishnupada Sethi .

The storm till lateThursday was about 320 kmsouth-southwest off Puri and170 km east-southeast offVishakhapatnam and it wasmoving at a speed of 17 km perhour.

It is very likely to movenorth-northeast and crossOdisha between Gopalpur andChandbali, around Puri duringforenoon with maximum sus-tained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200kmph. It will then weakengradually and enter into WestBengal as a Severe CyclonicStorm with the wind speed of90-100 kmph gusting to 115kmph.

It is very likely to move fur-ther north-northeastwards andemerge into Bangladesh onthe evening of May 4 as aCyclonic storm with windspeed of 60-70 kmph gusting to80 kmph.

Though the wind speedmay gust up to 205km/hourduring landfall, the maximumwind speed in cities likeBhubaneswar, Brahmapur andCuttack could be around 100-115 km/hr in the next 12 hours(means starting from aroundThursday midnight ).

Post landfall and when

Fani will be moving over thecoastal districts ofJagatsinghpur and Baleswar,before entering West Bengal,the wind speed in parts ofCuttack and Jajpur districtswill see equally squally windsreaching up to 100 km perhour.

The impact of the stormwill remain for nearly 12 hoursafter landfall, when it will be moving northcoastal districts en route toWest Bengal.

High level of sea wateringress into human habita-tions is feared along the coastof Gopalpur to Chandbali astidal storm surge is predicted at1.5 metre over the astronomi-cal tide, which means the storm surge prior, duringand after the land fall along theOdisha coast will be around 6.5feet.

Fearing high sea ingress,the State Government has set atarget to evacuate over 7.5 lakhpeople from the coastal dis-tricts to safer places.

Till 7 pm on Thursday,more than 4.5 lakh peoplehave been evacuated from vul-nerable places, said SRC offi-cials.

Chief Minister Naveen

Patnaik on Thursday evening reviewedthe preparedness to combat thestorm.

Patnaik appealed to thepeople not to panic and remain

indoors for safety on Friday.

����� ���������

Extremely severe cyclonicstorm Fani over Bay of

Bengal, which is likely to crossOdisha coast around Puri dur-ing May 3 afternoon will resultin squally wind in the State.

As per the IndiaMeteorological Department,the wind speed at the place oflandfall will be 170-180 kmph gusting to 200kmph.

Squally wind speed reach-ing 40-50 kmph gusting to 60kmph is very likely to prevailalong the Odisha coast andbecome gale wind speed reach-ing 60-70 kmph gusting to 85kmph from May 2 night,informed the IMD .

It is very likely to become170-180 kmph gusting to 200kmph along and off south

Odisha; and 90-100 kmph gusting to 115kmph along and off remainingdistricts of coastal Odisha byMay 3 forenoon for subse-quent 12 hours and decrease thereafter, the IMDadded.

Gale wind with speed 130-140 kmph gusting to 150 kmphis also likely over the districtsof Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur,

Kendrapara and gale windspeed reaching 90-100 kmphgusting to 115 kmph is alsolikely over the districts ofGajapati, Khurda (includingBhubaneswar city), Cuttack(including Cuttack city), Jajpur,Bhadrak, Baleswar and 60-70kmph gusting to 80 kmph overthe districts of Nayagarh,Angul, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj,Dhenkanal and strong gustysurface wind speed 30-40kmph over the rest districts ofOdisha by May 3 evening forsubsequent 12 hours and significant decreasethereafter.

Storm surge of about 1.5meter height above astronom-ical tide is very likely to inun-date low lying areas of Ganjam,Khordha, Puri andJagatsinghpur districts at thetime of landfall.

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

����� ���������

Chief Minister NaveenPatnaik has stressed on

ensuring ‘zero casualty’ inthe aftermath of cyclone Faniand asked officers to remainon high alert to tackle the dis-aster.

Conducting a reviewmeeting at the StateSecretariat on Wednesday totake stock of the preparednessto meet the eventuality, Patnaik instruct-ed all concerned authorities toevacuate people living in thelow-lying areas to safe placesbefore the cyclone makeslandfall.

“I appeal to everyone thatchildren, women, old anddisabled persons be evacuat-ed first. All precautions havebeen taken to face the cyclone.We are fully prepared to tackle the cyclone Fani,”Naveen told reporters soonafter the meeting.

“As many as 8 lakh peo-ple living in the vulnerableareas will be evacuated tocyclone shelters,” Naveenadded.

The CM also held dis-cussions with collectors of dis-

trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them toremain alert to meet anyemergency situation.

Besides, the CM revieweddeployment of NDRF andODRAF teams in the districts.He directed the officers toundertake restoration workssoon after the cyclone weak-ens.

Special ReliefCommissioner (SRC)Bishnupada Sethi informedthat free kitchens would startat cyclone shelters fromThursday to provide food tothe evacuated people.

The Government hasassigned 11 IAS officers and11 IPS officers to supervisethe relief, rehabilitationand restoration work in thedistricts that are likely to be affected by the cyclone.

Earlier in the day, collec-tors in the all coastal andadjoining districts of Gajapati,Nayagarh, Khordha, Cuttack,Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Keonjharand Mayurbhanj have beenadvised to identify all vul-nerable people living in kutcha houses or living near the coast or in low lyingareas.

The Government hascancelled leaves and holidaysof all the officials in theEnergy Department as part ofpreparedness in view of thepossible damages in powersupply and distribution dur-ing the cyclone.

All kinds of leaves of doc-tors and health staff havebeen cancelled up to May 15.The Health Departmentordered that all those who areon leave must report back torespective headquarters byWednesday evening.

�������������� �������������

����� ���������

Prime Minister NarendraModi on Thursday

reviewed the preparednessahead of the Cyclone ‘Fani’ inNew Delhi and instructedCentral Government officialsto maintain close coordinationwith officials of likely to beaffected States, includingOdisha, to ensure preventivemeasures.

Modi also asked the con-cerned officers to take effec-tive steps for relief and rescueoperations, as required,informed an official state-ment.

The meeting was attend-ed by Cabinet Secretary PKSinha, the PM’s PrincipalSecretary Nripendra Mishraand Additional PrincipalSecretary Pramod KumarMishra, Home Secretary Rajiv

Gauba and senior officersfrom the India MeteorologicalDepartment (IMD), NationalDisaster Response Force(NDRF), National Disaster ManagementAuthority (NDMA) and thePrime Minister’s Office.

Officers briefed the PrimeMinister on the likely path ofthe cyclone, and the ongoingprecautionary and preparato-ry measures being undertak-en which include deploymentof NDRF teams and Armed forces, supply ofdrinking water and steps to restore power and telecomservices.

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

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

�&�������*������������&����#��������(����/.,� *�����0�����������''��������#+1,� *�����0�����������''2���� �� ����*���#������*�!��3������� ��#��'�+1� * �������

�&����* �"���'���������*�������*����'����������+.�������'�������#'���-��������������(�*�!��3�������"�������#�����"���������������������3��

�$���'������������!���������� ���&����#����!����3���!����#���� �� ���#��������"�*(����������*

&���4�!���*�����������3��#�++�5��

�''�"������#�++�5���''�"��������� ��!���

���������'-����(������������#��������������� �������#�����"������������� �������(���''�"��#(������"�"����

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

������������� ������������������ ���������������� ��� ������ ��!�"���

�� �"��� ��#����$��%&�"�%�'���� �����"%

(���"���"�

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

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

'����������$�������������������� ���

�� �($�)���

���� ��������$����"�������������������������� � �������������

���������� �������67����

In the keenly-contested LokSabha polls in Rajasthan,

Alwar and neighbouring Dausaparliamentary constituenciesfigure prominently among thefew seats where the Congress isbanking on old Turks.

The BJP had won all the 25seats in 2014 LS polls.

The Congress is ridinghigh on old-timer of AlwarBhanwar Jitendra Singh whohas been trying hard to con-vince the electorates about fail-ures of BJP Governments inproviding jobs and the popu-larity of “Gehlot Sarkar”.

On the other hand, the BJPis banking on religious polar-isation by fielding a spiritualleader Mahant Balak Nath.

Balak Nath is a disciple ofMahant Chand Nath, who wonon BJP ticket in 2014 againstJitendra Singh in Alwar. KaranSingh Yadav of the Congresswon the Alwar by-election lastyear against BJP’s JaswantSingh Yadav.

The Congress won Alwar

Lok Sabha bye election by amargin of over 1.97 lakh votesand Ajmer by 84,000 votes inthe January 2018 Lok Sabha by-polls necessitated by the deathsof the respective Lok SabhaMPs in the these two con-stituencies.

The by- polls turned out tobe a litmus test for VasundharaRaje Government in Rajasthanwhere people vented theiranger by coining slogan“Vasundhara Teri Khair Nahi’Modi Se Ab Bhay nahin”.

While none of the candi-dates in Alwar during cam-paigning are talking about divi-sion of Alwar, people are hope-ful that their long pendingdemand of bifurcation of thedistrict in two parts may berealised.

“We have a long pendingdemand. We hope that theindustrial towns under thisdistrict should be separated fora holistic development of all theareas,” said Rao Bhim of villageDhawla. Others on the spot

concurred with him. “We have voted for the

Congress and will do onceagain because the bypolls in thetwo seats and the Assemblyelections were clearly a signalagainst misrule of VasundhraRaje,” said Manav from Dausawho has to travel to neighboring Alwar for hisstudies.

The stakes for theCongress is also high on the‘Rajesh Pilot’s political “KarmBhoomi” Dausa where twowomen contestants — formerUnion Minister Jaskaur Meena(BJP) and Savita Meena(Congress) are locked in astraight fight.

While Prime MinisterNarendra Modi has been talk-ing about bravery of WingCommander AbhinandanVarthman for his role in shoot-ing down a Pakistan fighter jet,Sachin still wields considerableinfluences here.

Harish Chandra Meenawon the Dausa seat in 2014polls on a BJP ticket andswitched to the Congress lastyear.

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

��� � ���7���5

The Supreme Court onThursday directed the

Election Commission to take acall on a plea seeking to advancethe voting timing to 5 am for theremaining phases of the LokSabha election due to heat wavesand Ramzan.

The petition was filed byadvocates MohammedNizamuddin Pasha and AsadHayat, who mentioned it forurgent hearing before a Benchheaded by Chief Justice RanjanGogoi and also consisting ofJustices Deepak Gupta andSanjiv Khanna. The Benchasked the counsel appearing forthe Election Commission totake a decision on the issue.

The petitioners said theyhad given a representation to theElection Commission onMonday in this regard, but theEC has not responded to it.

“The petitioners pray for adirection to the ElectionCommission to extend thepolling hours during the fifth,sixth and seventh phases of theongoing general election, 2019on May 6, May 12 and May 19,respectively, by 2-2.5 hours so asto commence at 4:30/5 AM(instead of the notified time of7am) on account of the unprece-dented heat waves prevailing inseveral parts of the country andthe onset of the holy month ofRamzan,” the plea said.

#���������*#��������������������������������+�� ������,�-��

���������������� ���7���5

Once again girls have out-shone the boys in the

Central Board of SecondaryExamination (CBSE) Class XIIresults with 88.70 pass per-centage. The pass percentagefor boys stands at 79.40 percent. Transgenders have a passpercentage of 83.3 per cent, asenior board official said onThursday while announcingthe results.

Hansika Shukla, a studentof Delhi Public School,Meereut Road, Ghaziabad, andKarishma Arora fromMuzzaffarnagar are joint all-India toppers scoring 499marks out of 500.

The second position hasalso been shared by three girlstudents Gaurangi Chawlafrom Rishikesh, Aishwarya,Rae Bareli, and Bhavya fromJind Haryana. All threesecured 498 marks.

Eighteen students, whoscored 497 out 500, securedthird position. Of these, twostudents Mehak Talwar andVeeraj Jindal are from Delhi.

Schools in Delhi have

shown improvement in theresults with an increase of twoper cent with 91.87 in com-parison with last year’s passpercentage i.e, 89.0 per cent.

Differently-abled candi-

dates performed well in theexam with a pass prcentage of86.69 per cent. According theCBSE, there is a 0.39 percent-age increase in the All Indiapass percentage this year. Theoverall pass percentage thisyear is 83. 40 while it was 83.01per cent last year.

The pass percentage inGovernment schools is 87.17per cent lowest as compared tothe Government-aided and theprivate schools 96.06 per cent.

Further region wiseTrivandrum and Chennaisecured the top two positionsregion wise with 98.20 percent and 92.80 percentage over-all. Delhi secured the thirdposition with a pass percentageof 91.87.

Among the candidates withspecial need, LavannyaBalakrishnan from the HeritageSchool, Gurugram topped with a score of 489 out500 marks.

��"� �������%��"�� �����" � �"������)� ����*�� �+,,�"� ���

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

�� ���+�����#�� �������� ������� ���&!'�������,- ��.��#�����"����� ������������ �����������"��������� ���������� �� ����������������$�� �� �+ ������ /��0���$�����1 �� ����

8&��7����������� '�"�(�� �"�*6#���� ������������������.

������������� ���

��/,01��)

9���$&5&:-�$�75�5�5&:;�<=����$����2�7>����$���?�5�7<���5�

/&232/3������$&52������5�

4&/,%��+��$��<������&

�52��<<��/0,�5��$�����5�

�����3��*�"�*6#���� ������6

$��� �����+������� ++)@�������"���3���A�����'�� ��"�(��

��(�����#�=��*��7���5����$B�< ��<��������������

��$�5��5�� $���754���7���7�� �:7����7�25C�:�7�

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

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

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

Page 2:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

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

����������� ������ ������������������� ������������������������� !��������"�� ���#�$!%���&�'��(� !)$&% �&!&�*+(� !)$&% �,%%��$-��(������������./-�����-�������������0/��� ���������1�������������))2%)�������$0�3���$4�������#�5��������6�����"�� ���#�$!%�����6�����(����������7�������6�����(��������7�57�/�����8756�9:&��!:&&)!%�057�;7�<0796��7������6��(�������7����������(���=���(��- �20�-�� ������("�/����2�������������(��>�����4����8�����(��� �"�����9�� "�#�� "�������3����/���#4����$�����&������(���$)����)%%���--��������8�����(*$,�������� ��8540�9��-"����/�$&��,���;��������(��&�$)?!@?��2)?!@@������A��#8�����()��*���������������/�������*�B �7������A��#&& �� �'���������(�%&&$&,) )),�&,) )))�&,) ))%�

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

��� � ���������

Union Minister Petroleumand Natural Gas

Dharmendra Pradhan hasasked the officials of the oilfirms for maintaining uninter-rupted supply of essential petro-leum products like LPG,kerosene, diesel, petrol andCNG during emergency situa-tion due to landfall of Fani.

This storm is likely tospread into all the coastal andadjoining districts namelyGajapati, Ganjam, Puri,Khordha, Nayagarh, Cuttack,Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada,Bhadrak, Baleswar, Jajpur,Mayurbhanj and Dhenkanalwith heavy to very heavy rain-fall and gusty winds, which may

lead to cyclone and flood inmany parts of the State.

To deal with the situationand any calamity arising there-of, Subhajit Ghosh, CGM,IndianOil and State LevelCoordinator Odisha, called anurgent meeting here where inofficers of oil industry were pre-sent.

During the meeting it wasdiscussed for maintaining unin-terrupted supply of essentialpetroleum products like LPG,kerosene, diesel, petrol andCNG, etc.

It was decided that supplyline of all essential fuels will bemonitored by concerned oilindustry officers, whichincludes its smooth positioningat all the likely affected areas in

the State.Officers from the oil com-

panies have been advised toremain alert and take pre-emp-tive measures to ensure avail-ability of the essential fuelsand its positioning so that therewon’t be any shortages experi-enced by the people of the State.

A control cell comprisingrepresentatives of oil companieshas been formed for round -the-clock monitoring of the supplysituation in various districts,including information on anyincidents in the districts /calamity at petroleum installa-tions, retail outlets, SKO agen-cies and LPG distributionpoints. The control cell willwork till the situation becomesnormal.

��� � ���������

Panic buying of essentialcommodities began in

the State on Thursdayahead of the cyclone Fani,which is likely to hit onFriday.

People were seen mak-ing beelines at grocerystores to buy commoditiesand foods.

Scenes were similar atvegetable markets, takingadvantage of which manyvendors hiked the prices by a significant mar-gin.

On the other hand,Special ReliefCommissioner BishnupadaSethi through a letter urgedthe Food Supplies and Consumer WelfareDepartment to take proactive measures to

check hoarding of food and essential com-modities.

��� � ���������

In view of Extremely SevereCyclonic Storm ‘Fani’ inch-

ing closer towards the Odishacoast, all flight services fromthe Biju Patnaik InternationalAirport on Friday have beencancelled.

All flights after the depar-ture of last flight at 22:20 hourshave been cancelled as well.

However, all IndiGo flightsscheduled for departure onThursday are operating. A totalof 24 IndiGo flights have beencancelled.

The airline has waived offcancellation and reschedulingcharges between May 2 and

May 5. Moreover, passengerstravelling to and fromBhubaneswar and Kolkata canopt for change in routes in lightof the impending storm.

The Vistara Airline haswaived off flight change andcancellation fees forBhubaneswar and Kolkatabound flights between the samedates, in light of the expectedcyclone.

Passengers will not have topay the required charges forflight change or cancellation iftheir travel itinerary falls on anyof the said dates. However, dif-ference on the base fare will beapplicable on changing thedate of travel.

����� ���������

The State Government hasdeclared holiday for all

educational institutions in theState from Thursday in view ofcyclone ‘Fani’, informed SpecialRelief CommissionerBishnupada Sethi.

Through a notice issued toall universities and collegesunder the administrative con-trol of the Higher EducationDepartment, the Governmenthas declared holiday with thepostponement of the exami-nations scheduled to be held onMay 2, 3 and 4.

The Government has can-celled the examination sched-uled for May 2, 3 and 4 in

Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri,Khordha, Nayagarh, Cuttack,Jajpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapada,Jagatsinghpur, Baleswar, andMayurbhanj districts, saidSethi.

The Biju Patnaik Universityof Technology (BPUT) haspostponed its examinationsscheduled for May 2, 3 and 4.The examinations scheduledfor May 2 will now be held onMay 25. Similarly, the exami-nations scheduled for May 2and 4 will be held on May 27and 28, respectively, accordingto information.

Similarly, all the examina-tions under Utkal Universityscheduled to be held on May 2,3 and 4 have been postponed.

$��%��� �������

As if by divine coincidence,the Super Cyclone of 1999

caused unthinkable disaster inOdisha and eventually dis-lodged the Congress regimemainly headed by JB Patnaikand temporarily by a confusedGiridhar Gamang emergentlydeployed by the party highcommand.

The new BJD was given arousing welcome with NaveenPatnaik as boss. Some frontlineBJD founders had imaginedNaveen would only be a pup-pet dancing to their tunes.The Naveen-headed party hada landslide victory; and soon it

was known that Naveen is nonovice or greenhorn in mattersof human affairs.

He had his vision clearlyspelt out and the teammateswere told clearly how to goabout implementing projectsand schemes based on his ideaswithout protesting even once.The cool, firm steel in Naveenemerged slowly. Rightly then,he inducted late Pyari MohanMohapatra as the principaladvisor and history was creat-ed across tenures until Pyari fellout dramatically in 2012. PostPyari too, Naveen continued toflourish even better thanbefore. Around this time, astrange phenomenon ‘NaveenMystique’ was coined by polit-ical analysts keenly watchingthe Odisha politics. Naveentook reins when everything wasin bad shape due to theCongress misrule and lastly thedevastation due to the SuperCyclone. Immeasurable sup-port in cash, kind and labourpoured in from around theworld.

The Naveen Government

did its best to ensure maximumamount of material goods andother support services reachedthe distressed without visiblepilferage. Unfortunatelythough, a huge number ofNGOs, perpetually languishingwithout money or support eversince inception, cropped up tobe chosen as helping outfits. Amajority of these social workagencies headed by rabidlygreedy founders made such hayas the sun kept shining. A fewNGO heads slavishly keptbrushing shoulders with thepowerful administrators andcut a niche for themselves toearn false glory which they cap-italised later to remain in pub-lic good book. The post-cyclone reconstruction effortslasted nearly a decade andeveryone involved made for-tunes without being noticed.The audit system was pur-posefully kept off as the workwas mostly on firefightingmode.

Between the Super Cycloneand now, three severe cycloneshave blown over Odisha. But

the preparedness the Naveenadministration is consideredenviable even by the US disas-ter management experts.Phailin, Hudhud and the latestTitli have all come and gone.The Odisha disaster outfit,which had not even knownhow to clear roads and recov-er dead bodies, is now rated thebest in the world.

Cyclones in the IndianOcean region did not have aname until the most SuperCyclone in 1999. Soon, theprocess of naming cyclonesbegan in 2000 and the SuperCyclone was retrospectivelynamed ‘Paradip Cyclone' forrecords.

The naming involves sev-eral countries in the region andis done under the aegis of theWorld MeteorologicalOrganisation. A formula wasagreed upon in 2004 by eightcountries in the region --Bangladesh, India, Maldives,Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Sri

Lanka and Thailand. All con-tributed a set of names whichare assigned sequentially when-ever a cyclonic storm develops.

The name ‘Nilam' was con-tributed by Pakistan, whileanother was called ‘Murjan' byOman. Likewise, ‘Mahasen'came from Sri Lanka and‘Phailin' from Thailand. Thenames from India added to thedatabase include ‘Agni’, ‘Akash’,‘Bijli’, and ‘Jal'. In store are‘Leher’, ‘Megh’, ‘Sagar’ and‘Vayu' while Pakistan gave‘Nilofar’, ‘Titli’ and ‘Bulbul'.

Unlike in the past, it is somuch the easier and less con-fusing to say ‘Cyclone Phailin’than remember the storm'snumber along with its longi-tude and latitude. Most impor-tantly, it gets a lot easier alsowhen you have more than onestorm to track.

Nearly two decades later in2019, a severe tropical storm isapproaching the Odisha coast.They have named it ‘Fani' as

suggested by Bangladesh. ‘Fani'means the hood of a big cobra.

‘Fani' will come and go andthe best disaster managers ofthe planet will take utmost careto ensure minimum damage iscaused to life and property.Interestingly, divine foretellerssay all natural disasters haveproven Naveen to be a goodsaviour Chief Minister, kind ifa messiah! The 1999 disasterdislodged the Congressregimes. But Naveen is expect-ed to come back to poweragainst small odds, though toprove his administrative met-tle even better.

Hudhud happened in 2014with a devastating landfall nearVisakhapatnam. The Odishadisaster management mastersrushed there and did such amost magnificent job thatNaveen got a ‘superhero tag'.The Odisha outfit had notonly reached the affected pock-ets earlier than their Andhracounterparts but also renderedservices so fast and so effi-ciently as the local expertswould not ever be able to con-

ceive. Andhra Pradesh hadearlier stood by Odisha duringthe Super Cyclone. Naveenreturned the favour multifold.Now as the State authorities arebracing up to face ‘Fani', theresidents are not so badly pan-icked because they know theNaveen administration wouldlook after them and keep themsafe.

Naveen and team knowjust too well that Modi cannotbe dismissed this time aroundmore because of the Congresspresident ridicules the PrimeMinister in a manner that is notsocially acceptable or tenable inany court of law. Modi sup-porters are doing great anti-Congress propaganda in goodtime. Sonia has not spoken aword about such terrible thingseven once.

Priyanka has lost much ofglamour because of being wifeof controversial Vadra. Thus,Modi is for sure. And hopeful-ly, he will mellow down a lotfrom his laughable ‘loudmouthmadness'. He calls self a ‘chai-wallah', yet sports one million

rupee clothes, designer watch-es and spectacles.

It is predicted that Modiwill fall short of the comfort-able number; will be forced toseek support from neutralregional outfits like the BJD bystriking mutually helpful deals.Mamata Banerjee will contin-ue with tirades until law grabsher to silence.

Mamata has every right tooppose any party or politicalperson, but she has no right toprotect bureaucratic func-tionaries of any stature whenenforcement agencies are look-ing for the mouth some evi-dence of complicity in unlaw-ful ventures.

Despite a widespreadimpression of an undercur-rent support for the saffronparty in Odisha, the BJD willwin to retain power. The grass-roots penetration of the BJD isso deep and the masses are sopro-Naveen that defeat seemshighly improbable for him.

(The writer is a core mem-ber of TransparencyInternational, Odisha)

�� ���� ���������������

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

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

������"������� ���� ������-*�� � �����"���� �����������"����

����� �#"��.&,/�����"��� ���������

0����� �������� ���"��������� ���������������� �

����� ���������

The overall polling percentage ofthe Lok Sabha and Assembly

elections held in the State has beenrecorded at 73.08 per cent, informedState Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)Surendra Kumar on Wednesday.

While Nabarangpur Lok Sabhaseat recorded the highest voterturnout with 78.89 per centBhubaneswar Lok Sabha con-stituency registered the lowest at59.60 per cent.

Among the Assembly seats,Kotpad recorded the highest pollingwith 86.83 per cent whileBhubaneswar (Central) constituen-cy registered the lowest at 43.04 per

cent.The voter turnout was 73.76 per

cent in the first phase, 72.56 per centin the second phase, 71.62 per centin the third phase and 74.50 per centin the fourth phase.

Notably, Lok Sabha andAssembly elections were held simul-taneously in the State in four phas-es on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. Worthmentioning, election to the PatkuraAssembly constituency, which wasearlier scheduled to be held onApril 29, was countermanded fol-lowing the death of BJD candidateBed Prakash Agarwalla and resched-uled for May 19, the date for seventhand final phase of elections in thecountry.

!����� �������� ���������������2345��'61��� �����23"�����"�4� ���%���� �����..-�*���"���/ ��)�

����� ���������

Pradesh Congress Committee presidentNiranjan Patnaik on Thursday sug-

gested that the State Government spendadvanced Central assistance of Rs 340.87crore for rescue and relief operations tobe needed before and after the disastersto be arisen out of Cyclone Fani, which islikely to hit the Odisha coast on May 3afternoon.

Patnaik made this demand making anallegation that the BJD Government tookRs 700 crore out of the State disaster fundand distributed the money among farm-ers under the KALIA scheme before gen-eral elections to grab votes.

Stating that a cyclonic storm does nothit Odisha in the month of May, Patnaikwanted to know from which source theState Government would have broughtmoney to mitigate 'Fani'.

He slammed the Chief Minister forrequesting the Chief ElectionCommissioner to postpone the election toPatkura Assembly seat at a time when theCyclone Fani is all set to hit the State.

"The Chief Minister should havestayed in the State and made strategies tocombat the upcoming cyclone 'Fani'. Butinstead, he went to Delhi to satiate hispolitical ambition," ridiculed Patnaik.

����� ���������

The State Fire Service, withits strong 2,000 personnel

and a good number of officers,is all set to face Cyclone 'Fani',which is likely to hit the Odishacoast on Friday afternoon.

While leave applicationsof all Fire Service personnelhave been cancelled, employeesfrom the districts, which areunlikely to be affected by thecyclonic storm, have beencalled to serve the vulnerabledistricts.

In addition, Civil Defencepersonnel have also beenattached to fire stations for ren-dering assistance. Senior FireSevice officers have been sentto each district to superviseoperations, informed an officialrelease.

It informed that equip-ments have been kept in readi-ness to take up road clearingwork. Power cutters,

Aska lights, combi-toolsetc have been kept in perfectworking condition. Vehicleswith sufficient fuel are also inreadiness in all f ire stations.

In order to meet likelyflood including inundation oflow lying and urban areas,powerboats, under water BAsets, lifebuoys etc. have beenkept ready for rescue ofmarooned people.

A 24-hour control room isfunctioning at Fire headquar-ters to monitor the rescueoperations.

-7��������� ���� �� ����������� ��4��!� ���������5�����6������������"��� �

7�����*���"�������#�"�� � ��"�����������3�����0����������������� ������������������� ���� �� �������

����� ���������

The evaluation of annualPlus IIexaminations answer

sheets will be suspended forextremely severe cyclonicstorm Fani.

The evaluation of the exampapers will be closed in the dis-tricts likely to be affected by thecyclone on May 3, informedCouncil of Higher SecondaryEducation (CHSE) DeputyExamination ControllerPrasant Das.

Further decision will betaken after reviewing thecyclone situation, he added.

However, evaluation of theanswer sheets will continue inother districts, he informed.

����� ���������

With the prediction of extremelysevere cyclone Fani which is

likely to make landfall not far from theBalukhand sanctuary in Puri coast,environmentalists are worried for theendangered blackbucks.

As Fani’s speed during the landfallis likely to be 200 kmph, it is likely todamage the entire sanctuary, apprehendwildlife experts.

Over 300 blackbucks and spotteddeer are spotted in the Balukhand sanc-tuary. In fact, the region is famous forthe occurrence of a large number ofblackbucks and spotted deer. The sanc-tuary is along sea coast between Puriand Konark and extends from BankiMuhan near Puri to Keluni Muhannear Daluakani.

Looking at the imminent danger,forest officials have tried to help theendangered species by generatingawareness among the local people togive them shelter in their homes dur-ing the cyclone.

Senior Forest officials have gener-ated a Standard Operating Procedure

(SOP) for the purpose, said sources.ACS Forests and Environment SureshChandra Mohapatra has also moved toPuri for supervising the evacuation aswell as rescue and relief operations.

The sanctuary is filled with lushgreen vegetation, cashew and casuari-na plantations and mangrove forest. It'sundisturbed sandy beaches offer highpotentialities for developing as a major

eco-tourism. It is home to herds of her-bivores(spotted deer),monkeys, junglecats, hyenas, monitor lizards, andsnakes etc.

The Olive Ridley sea turtles areseen nesting in the beach.

The Balukhand-Konark WildlifeSanctuary is traversed by the rivers andrivulets such as Nuanai, Kusabhadra,Kadua and Prachi.

����� ���������

The IIT Bhubaneswar hasgrabbed 131st position in the

Times Higher Education (THE)Asia University Rankings, one of thepopular global performance tablesthat rates research-intensive uni-versities in teaching, research,knowledge transfer and interna-tional outlook.

The IIT Bhubaneswar hasranked 131 out of 417 institutes rep-resenting 27 countries, informed anofficial release.

It further informed that the IIThere has been ranked 13th out of 49Indian institutions and 1st inOdisha. The Institute has beenranked at 3rd position in researchcitations in India.

“It is very satisfying to note

THE rank the institute at third posi-tion on research citation in thecountry.

Citation can be considered asan acid test for research quality andpersonally I would like the instituteto further scale-up new heights. Weare committed to making IITBhubaneswar a top-notch researchhub locally, nationally and interna-tionally,” said institute DirectorProf RV Raja Kumar.

�����))������������� ���� ��

�����.�����..�����������������/���'

&���� ����"����"������������������� ��� ���,,8�..���� �����"������8��� �1���"�0���"��������������������������������������������

Page 3:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

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

����� ��5

In view of the Extremely Severe CyclonicStorm Fani likely to make a landfall in the

district, the administration on Thursdayevacuated tourists from the holy town ona war-footing.

Initially, five buses from the OdishaState Road Transport Corporation(OSRTC) were arranged for the tourists fortheir safe return from thepilgrim town to Howrah in West Bengal

ahead of the anticipated landfall of thestorm.

More buses were likely to be engagedin service of the tourists for transportation from Puri to Howrah if thenumber of passengers increases, sourcessaid.

A special train with reserved and

unreserved accommodation also ran fromPuri carrying the tourists to Kolkata. Twomore special trains were also added in viewof the return of the travellers from the placedue to the cyclone.

BHUBANESWAR: In view of theimpending cyclonic storm Fani, the EastCoast Railway (ECoR) on Thursdaydecided to run special trains to evacu-ate tourists and visitors.

The first train was scheduled fromPuri to Shalimar at 12 noon on the day.The second and third trains left Puri at3 pm and 6 pm, respectively and head-ed towards Howrah.

All the trains will have stoppages atKhurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack,Jajpur, Keonjhar Road, Bhadrak,Baleswar and Kharagpur. They willhave reserved as well as unreservedaccommodation with general, sleeper,3A and 2A coaches. PNS

����� ��5

Puri where extremelysevere cyclonic storm

‘Fani’ is likely to make itslandfall on Friday, wit-nessed rains at variousplaces in the town onThursday.

While the skyremained overcast, rainaccompanied with strongwind started occurring atsome places in the pilgrimtown triggering panicamong tourists as well asthe localities.

The intensity of thewind is so high that thePatitapabana Bana (holyflag) atop the Shreemandir here snapped off. However, servitors later fixed another flag

atop Nilachakra(metal wheel) ofthe centuries-old temple soonafter.

Me a nw h i l e ,the district admin-istration has start-ed evacuating peo-ple from seasideareas to saferplaces.

Besides, theadministration hasmade specialOSRTC busarrangements fortourists for theirsafe return from the pilgrim

town.

BHUBANESWAR: The Nalcohas taken several precautionarymeasures in view of the threatposed by Fani.

The company’s CorporateOffice in Bhubaneswar, Smelter& Power Complex in Angul,Mines & Refinery Complex atDamanjodi, Koraput and PortFacilities in Visakhapatnamhave put in place the StandardOperating Practices (SOP) –Disaster Management ActionPlan.

Nalco CMD Dr TapanKumar Chand reviewed thearrangements in a meeting atthe Corporate Office attendedby officials of plants, refinery,smelter, port facilities, outsta-

tion offices on videoconfer-encing. Specific attention isbeing given for the safety of ashpond at S&P Complex and redmud pond at M&R Complex,Damanjodi.

Dr. Chand said, “In addi-tion, Nalco is keeping readydisaster management team tohelp disaster management teamwith equipment to help the dis-trict administration.”Employees, local villagers inand around the plant andmines have been sensitised.Cable belt conveyor frommines to refinery will be stopped in case ofheavy wind, based on moni-toring input. PNS

'� /��������������������� ����������(������������ ���

���(����3�3�#�������!�"��'��������������'��

����� ���������'��*����������������'�������*(���'� �����3������"������-

����"������#

�"��������%�"�������&�"��)�#�"�������������������������������

���� ����������� ���� ���� ������

����� �������

President of theGandhinagar Senior Citizens’Forum and social worker ProfKC Panda has demanded thatthe private firms be notassigned sanitation and powersupply maintenance work bythe Brahmapur MunicipalCorporation (BeMC).

Most of the private agen-cies to which the sanitation andelectrical maintenance workof the city has been given areopenly cheating the denizensand looting crores of rupees

from the public exchequer withno one made accountable. Hedemanded stringent actionagainst the firm as well as theBeMC administration for pay-ing deaf ears to tax payers’demand, Panda alleged.

The condition of roadsand drains of Gandhinagar arepacked with solid wastes, soils,garbage to which the BeMC haslent a deaf ear. The debris andconstruction materials arebeing dumped on the drains aswell as on the public road cov-ering 50 per cent of the spacewhich surprisingly goes unno-

ticed by the BeMC.The contractors pay atten-

tion to the main roads just foran eye wash and to appease theBeMC authorities, where as theinterior lanes/streets of theGandhinagar goes unattended.Even some denizens have usedpublic road openly as cowshed in Gandhinagar causinginconvenience to the public.Several representations, tele-phone calls, complaints to theBeMC remain unheededapparently owing to their nexuswith the contractors, chargedPanda.

In spite of the mediareports and repeated com-plaints, neither the BeMCCommissioner nor the HealthOfficer has ever visited the siteto address the public griev-ances. Some local public, most-

ly senior citizens, apprehendingthreat perceptions do not darefile complaints before theBeMC knowing well that theirdemand will remain unheeded.The local public taking advan-tage of vacant/open plots dumpgarbageand other waste mate-rials on such open plots pol-luting the entire environmentand helping to breed mosqui-toes in the area.

Similarly, the day to dayelectrical maintenance workof the area has been utterlypoor since the work has beengiven to a Delhi-based privatefirm Neev Energy. The elec-trical section of the BeMCwhich was functioning moreeffectively has totally becomedefunct.

Notably, a group of seniorcitizens led by Prof Panda sub-

mitted a complaint to BeMCon1April 12 with a request torectify two street-light points ofGandhinagar 3rd LaneExtension (West) which aredefunct since last three weeks.When this correspondent asked NeevEnergy Odisha head Somyaover telephone in order toascertain the reason for delayin making the street lightsfunctional, he replied that theState Urban Development Department haswithheld around Rs 1.5 crorefor which we are not able tocarry out our work promptlyand assured to resolve the issuein a day.

According to informationavailable, the State UDDepartment represented byBeMC entered in to an agree-

ment with the Neev Energysince January 2018for day today electrical maintenancework initially for 7,000 lightpoints which was subsequent-ly increased to 12,000 lightpoints. Due to some contro-versy and lack of specificity onthe mode of work procedure,the UD Department hasreportedly withheld the pay-ment to the firm for which thefirm is not able to carry out thework, sources said.

Likewise, every day seniorcitizens go with a complaint tomake their light points func-tional but there is no one toaddress their grievances. Thesenior citizens of the area havedemanded that, the BeMCadministration be madeaccountable for such mainte-nance lapses.

����'��/��������-�

April 22 is observed as theWorld Earth Day and the

International Biodiversity Day.Similarly April 17 is observedas the World Heritage Day. Theaims and objectives of these cel-ebrations are sustainable main-tenance of the earth.

The diversities of plantsand animals are only possibleif the mother soil is sustainably

maintained. The soil profiles ofvarious natures are seen indifferent soil conditions, whichdepend on crop compositions.In tropical, subtropical zones,variable soil profiles are seen.Right form micro organisms tomammals and reptiles, alldepend on soil profile andvegetation supported by suchsoil profiles.

The biological or the eco-logical properties of a countryare the living heritages. If wetake the case of Odisha, thereare several ecological systemsdepending on local factors andgeneral climate of the land.Such ecological systems areproudly classified from man-agement point of views. Theyare Badarama, Baisipali,B a l u k h a n d - K o n a r k ,Bhitarkanika, Chandaka-Damapada, Hadagarh,Debrigarh, Gahirmath,Karlapat, Khalasumi, Kotagarh,Kuldhia, Lakhari, Nalavan,Nandankanan, Satkoshia,Similipal and Sunabeda, etc.The total protected areas ofsanctuaries and national parks

come to 6,677.50 sqkm inOdisha. We can say these arethe heritage

If we take the cases ofBhitarkanika, Nalavan ofChilika and Gahirmatha, theseare all estuarine ecological sys-tems, which are rookeries notonly of Olive Ridley sea turtles,but also of several birds, reptilesand mammals. These estuar-ies should be managed to thebest manner possible.

There are other estuariesalong the seacoast of Bay ofBengal, stretching over nearly500 km in the State. All theseareas are to be protected andmanaged scientifically to boosttourism. The environmentalpollution along the sea-coastand within the estuaries is themajor causes of depletion ofheritage sites. Take the case ofPuri, Konark, Astaranga andRushikulya estuaries. the localpeople, especially the young-sters of the localities, are join-ing hands for protection of

rookeries with the forest offi-cials of the localities. This is agood sign of involvement oflocal youths for scientific man-agement of rookeries.

The local fishing, special-ly the mechanized and nylonnet fishing in the sea duringbreeding period of Olive Ridleyturtles, causes a lot of damagesto the animals. Such practicesshould be stopped by the StateGovernment and fishermenshould be given compensa-tion during the ban period.

The whole sea coast of Bayof Bengal should be pollutionfree and the guide lines ofCoastal Regulation Zoneshould be strictly followed tomaintain the sanctity of theseacoast. If we take the case ofPuri-Konark coast, there is nocontrol of the administration tokeep the coast pollution freeand restrict unauthorised con-structions.

The main threat to envi-ronment is the wide uses of

chemical fertilizers and pesti-cides in the agricultural fields,which ultimately come to eco-logical systems in various waysand in various forms and pol-lute the ecosystem of land ani-mals, birds, aquatic birds, rep-tiles and avi faunas sufferingmuch for their sustainable liv-ings. The fish population in therivers and lakes including otherwetlands is not safe. Air, waterand land are now very muchvulnerable to pollutions due toindustrialization and faultyagricultural practices. Thehuman population is ever ris-ing and space for human beingsis getting short. The greed ofman spoils the law of natureand the biological process.Now the fire season has start-ed and all the protected areasand forest areas are vulnerableto fire damages. So, the inten-sive management of our forestwealth including protection ofall kinds of protected areas isneeded. The breeding periodof many animals andbirdsstarts during summer andthe wildfire not just destroys

the forests but also the animalsand birds.

As we know, the Satkoshiawildlife sanctuary-cum-pro-posed tiger reserve is a capitalof several mammals and car-nivores including reptiles. Theriver Mahanadi is the guidingfactors of the ecosystems.Recently, a wild tusker of thetiger reserve of Satkoshia cameto Talcher town and as infor-mation goes it trampled andkilled three persons out ofanger. The writer served manyyears in these tracts in the State.This is the first time wild ele-phants appeared in the urbanpatches of coal town of Talcher.

This is the time, when theforest fire occurs frequently.The wild animals stray fromforest areas and invade in tohuman habitations where man-animal conflict starts. Man isprime cause of such conflicts.Without protection of ecolog-ical systems, the protection ofmother earth is not possible.

(The writer is a former for-est officer and an environ-mentalist,Mob: 993746064)

5��<#����-��!�����"������*���A���

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

.9��"� ���������%������"����������������� ��� ������ ������ �!"��������������������

����� �������

The State-level committeeon solid waste manage-

ment reviewed solid wastemanagement being undertak-en by the MKCG MedicalCollege Hospital and theBerhampur MunicipalCorporation (BeMC) here onTuesday. Committee ChairmanJustice PK Mohanty reviewedthe waste management underthe direction of National GreenTribunal (NGT).

The team visited Surgery,ENT, Anesthesia, SNCU andPaediatrics Departments of theMKCG College Hospital andreviewed the waste disposalsystem. They too visited the biowaste management plant insidethe hospital premises.

A power point presentationon waste management wasmade on behalf of the medical

college before the team. The team also reviewed the

door to door waste collectionsystem, segregation of waste,management of constructionand demolition materials, plas-tic, faecal sludge and septagebeing adopted by the BeMC.

Others members presentincluded Forest andEnvironment ACS SureshMohapatra, Housing andUrban Development SecretaryG Mathi Vatanan, HealthSecretary Pramod KumarMeherda, Public HealthDirector Haraprasad Pattnaikand Deputy Director DrPramila Rout, Ganjam districtCollector Bijaya AmritKulange, BeMC CommissionerChakrabarty Singh Rathore,MKCG Medical College DeanProf Radhamadhab Tripathyand Superintendent ProfCharana Panda.

�� �!!'%�'��� ��� �� #��#��� ��������$��������

$� �'��������� ��4��

There is panic among thepeople at Angul as two

persons have died and threeothers are affected in swine fluin the district.

The affected persons areundergoing treatment by aspecial team of doctors.

Angul , a pollution hotspotof the country, is reeling undercontinuous health threat due topoor health management. Thishas led to outbreak of variouscontagious and vector bornediseases.

The most common way fora human to catch swine flu isthrough contact with a pig. Thepigs are moving regularly at theseveral waste dumps at theroadside and near water bod-ies of Angul urban area, asthere is no dumping yard of themunicipality to dispose ofwaste.

The administration in gen-eral and the local self bodies inparticular have miserably failedto improve the sanitation ofvarious urban areas and indus-trial areas including Angulmunicipal area. An NGT orderfor waste disposal in Angulmunicipality has been violatedby both the administrationand municipality authorities.

As per the order of theNGT, the administration hasfailed to provide a suitableland for huge waste disposal ofAngul civic body. Severe pol-lution along with failure ofhealth administration have ledto collapse of health service inAngul.

Many are astonished aboutthe outbreak of swine flu atAngul in summer season. ButDr Anil K Prasad, former pro-fessor of virology at Patel ChestInstitute and chairman of theInfluenza Foundation of Indiatold, " With growing popula-tion, rapid urbanisation andmass transport, viruses travelacross hemispheres within afew hours. Infection is nolonger seasonal and people areat risk 365 days a year". DrPrasad even recommend annu-al flu vaccination for people atrisk all through the year.

Similarly, around 70 peoplehave died of dengue in Angulin last 10 years. It has exposedthe failure of the health admin-istration. Angul has no medicalcollege. The Jana JivanSurakshya Committee and theCitizens Action Forum arecontinuously demanding estab-lishment of a medical college atAngul, given the enormity ofthe situation.

&����� �"��� �/������ ���������#� �����#��� ���� �#������ �������� �� ��������� ���

����� ���7�B

Police on Thursday arrestedtwo persons for their

alleged involvement in theliquor tragedy in the districtthat struck late on Mondaynight.

The arrestees were identi-fied as Dinabandhu Barik andPadmanava Barik of Daulatpurvillage.

Acting on the complaintlodged by one Subrat KumarNayak, the Tihidi police hadregistered a case (181/19) andapprehended the duo during araid.

While the duo was for-warded to the court, furtherinvestigation into the matter isunderway, sources said.

Notably, eight persons diedand over 40 were taken illafter allegedly consuming toxicliquor at a post-poll feast inNuasahi near Pirhata under theTihidi police station in thedistrict. As many as 40 personsare still undergoing treatmentat the District HeadquartersHospital (DHH) and SCBMedical College Hospital inCuttack.

& �������8� ���� �5�-�������

����� ��4��

Ameeting was held at theCollectorate here on

Tuesday under the chairman-ship of Collector IndramaniTripathy regarding paddy pro-curement for Rabi season in thedistrict.

It was decided that thegeneral paddy would be pur-chased at Rs 1,750 per quintaland grade A paddy at Rs 1,790per quintal. The collectionwould begin from May 8.

The farmers will get theirpayment as decided by theGovernment. All paymentstowards cost of paddy shall bemade through Direct FundTransfer by OSCB,Bhubaneswar in P-PAS modulefor entire paddy procurement.

During the paddy pro-curement season, the farmeridentity card will play animportant role. More than50,852 identity cards have beendistributed in the district to thefarmers. More than 117 paddypurchase centers will be openedin the district during Rabi sea-son.

During paddy collectionperiod, officials who willneglect duties and disobey therules and regulations of theadministration will be pun-ished, said Collector Tripathy.

Among others, ADMTapiram Majhi, Sub CollectorPadampur Tanmaya Darwan,Sub Collector Bargarh BijayaKumar Nanda, PD DRDAKrutibash Rout, millers andfarmers were present.

���� ��&��$��

Around 130 female and malesafei workers, both per-

manent and contractual, wereforced to do sanitation work onthe International Labour Day.

The supervisor in theattendance section said themunicipal workers are not eli-gible to get leave on the day.

On behalf of of the labour-ers , when Bhuban Gochhayatand Babuli Naik approached

the authority for leave as a paidholiday, the supervisor ofTalcher Municipality did notapprove of it and told themstraightaway that the leave isonly applicable for miners andfactory labourers, but not forthem.

After getting informationfrom some labourers, this cor-respondent asked AssistantDistrict Labour Officer,Talcher,RashmitaNaik regard-ing the issue. She confirmedthat any labourers, includingmunicipal workers, should not

be forced to work on theLabour Day. She added that ifthey have been forced to ren-der service on the day, theywould be entitled to doublewages.

"I will take necessaryaction after getting a writtencomplaint from the aggrievedlabourers," she assured.

In the meantime, thelabourers have given a writtencomplaint to the DLO and acopy of that letter to theExecutive Officer, TalcherMunicipality seeking justice.

.�"��"�-�)����� �����������#"���:� ��

8����"���"��" �#�"��������"�����4�)��"�;� �������'���#������7�<

����� �������

Panic gripped the residents ofPendurabadi village under

the Digapahandi Forest Rangein Ganjam district after a 10-feet-long King Cobra wasfound in a house in the local-ity on Thursday.

After spotting the reptile inthe morning, the family mem-bers immediately called up theSnake Helpline. On receivinginformation, a team of theSnake Helpline reached the spot and rescuedthe cobra.

The snake was laterreleased into the ChangudideiReserve Forest.

The King Cobra mighthave entered the house in

search of food on Wednesdaynight, said a forest official.

7����� "������������� �� �������*��0��

����������������������������������

Page 4:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

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

����� ���������

In view of the impendingcyclonic storm Fani, the

authorities of the UtkalUniversity here on Thursdayasked the students to vacatetheir hostels.

The hostel inmates weredirected to leave their respec-tive rooms by 10 am onThursday.

����� ���������

The students of DAV PublicSchool, Pokhariput, are

overjoyed for their achieve-ments in the recently pub-lished CBSE XII AISSCE-2019.

Out of 194 students whoappeared the AISSCE exami-nation in the science stream, 54students got above 90 per cent.The school average stands at83.01 per cent.

Likewise, the school aver-age in commerce stream is80.59 per cent.

The position holders inscience stream are ApurbaParida (96 percent) in firstposition, Amogh Pati andSmruti Mohanty (95.8 per cent)in second position, Ishan Subhankar Pradhan (95.6per cent) in third position.

In Commerce 1st AdarshKumar Dora (97.4 per cent),

2nd Ankit Sahu (95.6 percent), 3rd Pancy PialeeBaliarsingh and Nirlipta Rath(93.8 percent).

The School ManagingCommittee and the Principal applauded thestudents, teachers, and the par-

ents for their collective effortsfor this outstanding perfor-mance.

����� B��5��

Ramesh Babu V, who hastaken over as Group

General Manager, NTPCTalcher Kaniha, has been ele-vated to the post of ChiefGeneral Manager, TalcherKaniha on April 30.

Prior to joining at TalcherKaniha, Ramesh Babu was theGeneral Manager(OS),NTPCWestern RegionH e a d q u a r t e r s , R a i p u r(Chattisgarh) and prior to thathe has served as Head of

Project at NSPCL-DurgapurStation (A Joint venture com-pany of NTPC Limited andSAIL),West Bengal.

Babu joined NTPC in 1987as 12th Batch Executive Traineeafter graduating from REC,Srinagar in MechanicalEngineering discipline.

He has also completedMTech in ThermalEngineering from IIT Delhiwhile service in NTPC.

He started his career at theBadarpur Thermal PowerStation, Delhi.

ROURKELA: A skeleton anda skull of a male person wererecovered from an abandonedroom in a closed factorypremises here on Wednesday.

A scientific team alongwithpolice officials conducted nec-essary examination duringrecovery of skeleton and skullwhich were sent to Sambalpuron Thursday for testing.

According to sources, oneSmita Patel lodged an FIR atthe Raghunathpalli police sta-tion on Tuesday evening men-tioning that their factory name-ly Pipe Products, situated at

Industrial Estate, Rourkela,was not functioning since 2008

and the concerned rooms offactory were given on rent butafter December, 2017, the fac-tory was totally closed. Torestart the factory, they appliedfor electric connection, whichhad been disconnected.

However, during cleaningof bushes inside factory premis-es on Monday afternoon, oneskeleton and a skull of a per-son were noticed in one aban-doned room having head andother body parts separated.One rope was hanging from thebeam of the roof and she sus-pected that someone commit-ted suicide by hanging afterentering the premises.

Acting on the FIR, a teamof police of Raghunathpallipolice stationled by IIC BKBihari along with a scientific

team led by RFSL AssistantDirector SK Nanda went to theclosed factory on Wednesdaymorning.

During investigation insidethe abandoned room, theynoticed besides the skeleton, ajean pant and shirt lying on thefloor in the room. The skeletonand the skull were recovered inthe presence of ExecutiveMagistrate BBNaik and DSPJyotirmayeeBhukta and otherpolice officials. A blanket, a pil-low and bed-sheet were alsorecovered from the room.

Police suspect the deceasedmight have entered the premis-es seeing the factory closed andmight have stayed in that roomand later might have commit-ted suicide more than sixmonths back. PNS

����� ���������

Students of the DAV Public School,Chandrasekharpur have one again

excelled in the Class XII CBSE examina-tions, results of which were published onThursday, with highest school average and100 per cent pass success.

In Science, out of 365 appeared, 192students scored more than 90 per cent and50 students more than 95 per cent wherethe school average is the highest at 87.24.A total of 360 students scored more than60 per cent marks.

Meera Upasana, Ankita Sareen andSwastika Samanta scored 98 per cent, 97.8per cent and 97.4 per cent respectively.Many students secured full marks 100 inMathematicss, Biology, Physical Educationand Economics.

In Commerce, out of 50 appeared, 15students secured more than 90 per centand four students more than 95 per

cent.The school average in Commerce is80.31. Mayank Agrawal with 96.6 per cent,Ananyarupa Tripathy with 96 per cent andSaraj Jaiswal with 95.8 per cent capturedfirst 3 positions in the school.

Likewise inHumanities, all 18students securedmore than 60 percent marks. Theschool average is86.18 inH u m a n i t i e s .Seven studentsscored more than90 per cent andtwo students morethan 95 per cent.

Pragya PrachiPandey with 95.2per cent,Rajashree Mishrawith 95 per cent

and Sweta Panda with 94.6 bagged the first3 positions of the school.

In Geography and Physical Education,the subject average crossed record-break-ing 90 per cent.

����� ���������

Defender Birendra Lakra isthe lone hockey player

from Odisha found the place inIndian Men’s Hockey Teamfor upcoming Australia tourbeginning on May 10 in Perth.

Chief Minister NaveenPatnaik congratulated him onhis selection in the 18-memberIndian hockey squad for theinternational hockey clash.

Hockey India on Tuesdayannounced the 18-memberIndia team for Australia event.The Indian team under newlyappointed the Chief CoachGraham Reid, will beCaptained by Manpreet Singh

and Vice-Captained bySurender Kumar.

Speaking about the impor-

tance of the tour ahead of theFIH Men’s Hockey Series FinalBhubaneswar Odisha 2019,

Chief Coach Graham Reidsaid, “This tour will provide mewith a great chance to get toknow this group of players. Itcomprises a well-balanced mix,including some younger play-ers, a debutant and a playercoming back from long-terminjury.

To be able to play fourmatches against a world classopposition including a matchagainst club Western AustraliaThundersticks; will be a greatopportunity to test our playersunder pressure. It provides theideal preparation for FIH Men’sHockey Series FinalBhubaneswar Odisha 2019 inJune.”

��� � ���75�

The district administration of Jagatsinghpurorganised several coordination meetings

among the Government officials for shifting thepeople from the low-lying areas in and aroundParadip on Thursday in view of cyclone Fani.

PPT closed its operation and shipment sinceWednesday night. PPL, IFFCO, Oil Refinery,

ESSAR Steel besides several industries declaredleaves for their employees and workers. However,the leaves of hundres of State Governmentemployees wanting to leave Paradip for Fani werecancelled.

Cyclone shelters were opened for affectedpeoples with all temporary arrangements andfree food supply in many schools, besides in tnheParadip College.

����� ���������

The Bhubaneswar MunicipalCorporation (BMC) has

arranged to operate 130 tem-porary cyclone shelters acrossthe city from Thursday inorder to provide safer alterna-tive for citizens living insidekutchha and semi permanentstructures in the wake of verysevere cyclonic storm Fani.

The BMC will provide freekitchen at the cyclone sheltersalong with adequate lighting,safe drinking water, habitablerooms, power backup withstandby generator, clean toilets,care for people with specialneed. The sanitation teams tooversee toilets and cleanlinessin each cyclone shelter, medicalkit, and support by ASHA stafffor smooth functioning of thesecyclone shelters.

A meeting was held in thisconnection chaired by Vice-Chairman, BhubaneswarDevelopment Authority (BDA)Balwant Singh. BMCCommissioner Samarth Vermaand senior officials of State andcity agencies also attended and

discussed in details the rolesand responsibilities of the sec-tor officers, shelter heads, wardofficers and community organ-isers in order to smooth man-age the cyclone shelters.

The civic body has donethe arrangements for more

than 50,000 peoples' evacuationby Thursdaynight and also free kitchen forthe equal number.

Meanwhile, the emergencyclearance and de-silting ofmajor 10 drainage channelsand major drains across the city

were conducted by theEngineering and Drainage divi-sions.

Sand bags were also invulnerable points near SaliaSahi to prevent possible waterlogging situation.

As the city has identified

nearly 40 vulnerable and low-lying pockets across the city, aplan has been made to pre-position pump sets in coordi-nation with Odisha FireServices. Already 19 pump setspre-positioned in vulnerablepoints.

�������������������� �������!""� $�9��!�������� �� ����� ������������<� ������ ��� ������ �"���

%������& � �����������'��& ��*��+����+��������"��������

�����.������

.�"���"�����,������:��3 �1���� �����(�&������ ���������� ��� ��

&�"��� ���+��#�7��� ���*�

����=�1������"�����&�"����9������"����� ����� ����#����� ���� ������ �����

.:*����� ������ ������ ����" �������

��������.��� $���754��

What’s in the name!Everything, when Sunny

Deol is contesting the elections.Taking an electoral plunge,

the actor-turned-politicianSunny Deol has filed his nom-ination papers to contest as theSAD-BJP combine candidatefrom Gurdaspur Lok Sabhaseat by the name of ‘Ajay SinghDharmendra Deol’.

But, the saffron party want-ed “Sunny Deol” on the EVMs(electronic voting machines) asthe people know him by hisscreen name, and most of thepeople are not aware of his realname.

For the same, the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) has urgedthe poll panel to mention itscandidate’s name as “SunnyDeol” instead of his real name.

Playing a minor role inPunjab politics with just onemember in the Lok Sabha,and three in Vidhan Sabha, theBJP is eyeing to grab a biggerand better share by riding highon the Bollywood action heroSunny Deol’s star power in theMay 19 Lok Sabha elections inthe state.

However, Sunny’s decisionto file his nomination by hisreal name has now put the saf-fron brigade in a quandary.“People know him as SunnyDeol. They don’t know who isAjay Singh. When peoplewould come to vote for Sunny,they may get confused of not

finding it there. That is why wehave requested the electioncommission to write SunnyDeol instead of his real name,”a senior BJP leader told ThePioneer.

Even as the poll panel has,this time, decided to carry thepictures of the candidates alongwith their names and electionsymbols on the EVMs, the saf-fron party is not very confidentthat all the voters would recog-nise Sunny Deol.

“There are many people inrural areas, especially the aged,

which may not identify him inthe picture. Moreover, the pic-ture would be black and white,and may not come proper inthe print.’

And what is more! SunnyDeol is campaigning in theconstituency by donning a tur-ban, and his picture is withoutit...so there are manyissues...We would urge theCommission to consider ourrequest,” added the leader.

Notably, Sunny Deol hasbeen enrolled as voter by thename of Ajay Singh

Dharmendra Deol and thatwas why he submitted hispapers in the same name.

What is troubling the BJPmore is that Sunny’s real namehas not been mentioned in thepublicity material, and only hisscreen name, “Sunny Deol”, isbeing publicised.

BJP, which was eyeing totake the advantage of SunnyDeol’s stardom, is now fearingthat it may go against it. Sunnyis facing Congress’ state presi-dent and sitting MP Sunil

Jakhar in his first electoralfight.

%��������.�%���'��As per the Election

Commission rules, the EVMwould carry the same name bywhich the candidate is regis-tered as the voter, and by whichhe or she has filed the nomi-nation papers.

Sunny has been registeredin the voter list as Ajay SinghDharmendra Deol, and he hasfiled the papers by the samename.

:������"���0���!��� �$ ���������$� �� ��!�����$� �� ��'9�;

Page 5:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

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

����������%�������/������7���5

Sidestepping the issue of theUnited Nations Sanctions

Committee not mentioningPulwama incident in the proposalfor listing Jaish-e-Mohammad(JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a“global terrorist” on Wednesday,India on Thursday asserted the inci-dent in which 40 CRPF personnelwere killed in a suicide attack didplay a role in the listing. Stating thishere, the External Affairs Ministryalso said India did not offer any-thing to China and said New Delhidoes not negotiate on matters ofnational security.

The assertion about Pulwamacame after Pakistan claimed that itagreed to Azhar’s listing after all“political references”, includingattempts to link him to the Pulwamaattack, were removed from the pro-posal to designate him a global ter-rorist. Islamabad has repeatedlybrushed aside any proof India citedthat links Pakistan-based terrorgroups with attacks in India.

“The designation is not basedon the basis of a specific incident,but on the basis of evidence whichwe have shared with members of theUN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee,linking Azhar to several acts

of terrorism,” ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said here ata media briefing.

He said the notification broad-ly covers all terrorist acts. “Elementsare being introduced by Pakistan todivert attention from this hugediplomatic setback,” Kumar said.Besides the Pulwama suicide attack

of February 14, Azhar had beeninvolved in many terror strikes inIndia -- including on ParliamentHouse, Pathankot Air Force baseand the Army camps in Jammu andKashmir.

Asked whether India offeredsomething to China for Azhar’s list-ing, he asserted that India does notnegotiate on matters related tonational security. “Our objectivewas to ensure designation ofMasood Azhar as global terrorist,”he said. The Pulwama terror attackplayed a role in Azhar’s designation,the spokesperson said, adding thatChina’s support to Azhar’s listingwill contribute to better Sino-Indiaties.

In a huge diplomatic victory forIndia, the UN Sanctions Committeeon Wednesday designated Azhar asglobal terrorist after China lifted itshold on a proposal to ban him.France, the UK and the US hadmoved a fresh proposal to declareAzhar as global terrorist by the UNin the wake of the February 14

Pulwama terror attack. TheJeM had claimed responsibility forthe attack.

However, China put a technicalhold on the proposal, blocking it fora fourth time to designate Azhar aglobal terrorist. India had termedthe Chinese move as “disappoint-ing.” On Wednesday, Chinalifted its hold from the proposal.

A United Nations SecurityCouncil(UNSC)designation willsubject Azhar to an assets freeze,travel ban and an arms embargo. Anassets freeze under the sanctionscommittee requires that all statesfreeze without delay the funds and

other financial assets or economicresources of designated individualsand entities.

In 2009, India first moved aproposal by itself to designateAzhar a global terrorist. In 2016again, India moved the proposalwith the P3 -- the United States, theUnited Kingdom and France -- inthe UN’s 1267 Sanctions Committeeto ban Azhar, also the mastermindof the attack on the Pathankot air-base in January 2016. In 2017, theP3 nations moved a similar pro-posal again.

However, on all occasionsChina, a veto-wielding permanentmember of the UNSC, blockedIndia’s proposal from being adopt-ed by the Sanctions Committee.

France welcomed the UN deci-sion and said it “signals the suc-cessful realisation” of its efforts. “Formany years, French diplomacy hasbeen relentlessly pleading for sanc-tioning Azhar, “head of the terror-ist group responsible, notably, forthe Pulwama attack,” said a state-ment issued by the Foreign Affairsof France.

US Secretary of State MikePompeo said in a tweet messageCongrats to our team @USUN fortheir work in negotiating JEM’sMasood Azhar’s #UN designationas a terrorist. This long-awaitedaction is a victory for Americandiplomacy and the internationalcommunity against terrorism, andan important step towards peace inSouth Asia. On Wednesday, the UShad said blacklisting of the JeMchief demonstrates internationalcommitment to rooting out terror-ism in Pakistan.

����� ���7���5

Terming United Nationsdesignating Jaish-e-

Mohammed (JeM) ChiefMasood Azhar as a global ter-rorist and making China sup-port the issue as a matter ofpride for India, the BJP onThursday said that theOpposition was not appreciat-ing the achievement as it isapprehensive of paying a polit-ical price for it.

BJP said Pakistan terrorist’ssanctioning by the UN was a bigvictory for Indian diplomacyand credited BJP governmentand Prime Minister NarendraModi’s “tireless efforts” at vari-ous bilateral and multi-lateral fora for this success.

The UN SanctionsCommittee Wednesday desig-nated the Pakistan-based JeMChief a global terrorist afterChina lifted its technical objec-tion on a proposal to ban him.

Addressing a press confer-ence here senior BJP leader andUnion Finance Minister ArunJaitley decried Congress forsaying “what is the big deal”and accused it of foregoing oldtraditions of speaking in one-voice on international issues.He said the grand old party isgradually turning into a “ fringeorganisaton” whose leadersdon’t feel shy of joining “tukde-tukde gang”. He wonderedwhether past Congress PrimeMinisters including RajivGandhi would have practicedthe politics of the incumbent

leaders. Without naming Congress

General Secretary PriyankaVadra Gandhi , the BJP leadersaid her comments reduce theparty to a “ vote-katua party”.In one of the election rallies,Priyanaka said Congress can-didates would ensure that theydamage BJP nominees.

Answering a question onCongress leaders refurbishingtheir Hindu image, Jaitley saidthey were “Choonavi Hindu”(Hindus who surface duringelections).

On India’s success on mak-ing China come round toIndian position on Azhar issue,he said change attitude was

impacted by recent develop-ments including Pulwama ter-ror attack in Kashmir andexpose of Pakistan post-BalakotIAF strike where he said Azhar’scamp was destroyed.

Jaitley said India has beenthe target of Azhar’s outfit andefforts to declare him a globalterrorist started in 2009, 2016and 2017. It is combine inter-national pressure and Indiandiplomacy that together suc-ceeded in cornering him thistime round, he said.

In a swipe, the BJP leadersaid Congress-led-UPA regimewith “ unknown surgicalstrike” suspects Balakot airstrike under Modi-govern-

ment. On making Nationalismas election issue, Jaitley said BJPstands on the theme ofNationalism, Prime Minister’sleadership and Government’sperformance. He said BJP hassought to contrast CongressNationalism which among oth-ers wants to remove seditionlaw and dilute army’s powers interror infested Jammu andKashmir.

Defence Minister NirmalaSitharaman, who also addressedthe conference attributed thesuccess of sanctioning of JeMchief to the leadership of PrimeMinister. “ It is the untiringefforts of Prime Minister thatisolated Pakistan”, she said.

����������%�������/������7���5

Nearly half of all glaciers atWorld Heritage sites may

vanish by 2100, if greenhousegas emission is not cut downsignificantly, a new study hassaid.

Touted as the first-everglobal study of UNESCOWorld Heritage glaciers, theresearch published recently inthe American GeophysicalUnion (AGU’s) journal Earth’sFuture said that glaciers at 21of the 46 World Heritage siteswill be iceless by 2100.

“Losing these iconic glac-iers would be a tragedy andhave major consequences forthe availability of waterresources, sea level rise andweather patterns,” Peter Shadie,Director of the InternationalUnion for Conservation(ICUN) of Nature’s WorldHeritage Program, said in astatement here.

“This unprecedenteddecline could also jeopardizethe listing of the sites in ques-tion on the World Heritage list.

States must reinforce theircommitments to combat cli-mate change and step up effortsto preserve these glaciers forfuture generations,” he added.

Researchers from AGUand ICUN combined data froma global glacier inventory, areview of existing literature

and computer modeling toanalyze the current state of theglaciers. They also looked athow the glaciers have evolvedand analyzed how the glacierswill tolerate a warming climatein the coming decades.

Even if emissions are sig-nificantly reduced, the

researchers concluded that eightof the 46 World Heritage siteswill become ice-free by 2100.

In fact, earth’s glaciers havealready lost nine trillion met-ric tons of ice in the 55 yearsbetween 1961 and 2016. Aninternational team of scientistsused satellite and direct field

observations to conclude thatEarth’s glaciers have meltedsuch a profound sum of ice inthe last half-century. The reportwas published in the journalNature.

The study which hasappeared in ‘Earth’s Future’,total ice volume in 2017 at allWorld Heritage sites is expect-ed to drop between 33 to 60percent by 2100, dependentupon the “emission scenario.”

The World Heritage sitesexpected to be impacted inNorth America includeWaterton Glacier InternationalPeace Park, in Alberta, Canada;seven parks that make up theCanadian Rocky MountainParks in Alberta and BritishColumbia, Canada; andOlympic National Park, in thestate of Washington. All ofthese sites can expect to losemore than 70 percent of theircurrent glacier ice by 2100,even if carbon emissions are“drastically lowered.”

“To preserve these iconicglaciers found in WorldHeritage sites, we urgentlyneed to see significant cuts in

greenhouse gas emissions. Thisis the only way of avoidinglong-lasting and irreversibleglacier decline and the relatedmajor natural, social, econom-ic and migratory cascadingconsequences,” lead authorJean-Baptiste Bosson, scien-tific advisor for the IUCN’sWorld Heritage program, saidin the statement.

“The study on glacierdecline further emphasizes theneed for individual and col-lective actions to achieve themitigation and adaptation aspi-rations of the Paris Agreementon climate change,” he added.

Climate change hasprompted the World Heritageorganization to double thenumber of sites threatened byclimate change since 2014.

We find that 19,039 glaci-ers have their whole or partialarea within natural WorldHeritage sites. This corre-sponds to 9 per cent of all glac-iers on earth. Between oneand several thousand glaciers,whose sizes range from 0.01 to106 km2, have been invento-ried in 46 sites.

<�� �����������������������=�������� �$�����������������������!� �������������������������� �����������& ������=���������� ���8��������������$�� �� ��+ ������ /��=���$)�/)�1��)6�''/

����� ���7���5

Enforcement Directorate(ED) has filed a chargehseet

against terror preacher ZakirNaik and others in Preventionof Money Laundering Act(PMLA) Special Court forlaundering money to the tuneof Rs 193 crore. This is the sec-ond chargesheet against Naikand others. The agency hassought punishment to theaccused and confiscation ofattached properties to the tuneof Rs. 50.46 crores for involve-ment in money laundering.

The attached propertiesbelonging to Naik, includinginvestment in mutual funds,Islamic International School inChennai,10 residential flats,three godowns, two buildingsand land in Pune and Mumbaiand 10 bank accounts worth Rs50.46 crores.

Proceeds of Crime totallingRs. 193.06 crores have beenquantified in the case. Otherthan these attachments, inves-tigation in respect of invest-ments of Zakir Naik in Dubaito ascertain to identify theproperties outside the countryis under progress, the ED saidin a statement.

ED has initiated investiga-tion based on the FIR regis-tered by NIA against Naik andhis associates for his involve-ment in unlawful activitiesthrough his provocative utter-ances, thus promoting enmityand hatred between differentreligious groups in India. TheNIA has filed a Final

Report/Charge sheet beforethe court of Special Judge,NIA, Mumbai on October 26,2017.

Investigation under thePMLA revealed that IRFreceived during the periodfrom the year 2003-04 to 2016-17 an amount to the tune of Rs.64.86 crore mostly from vari-o u sdubious/suspicious/unknownsources. Majority of the fundswere utilised for organisingthe so called Peace confer-ences. “It was during thesepeace conferences thatprovocative speeches weremade and religious conver-sion to Islam were propagated.The IRF received donations inresponse to the appeals madeby Zakir Naik during thecourse of his controversialspeeches and thus these dona-tions were proceeds of crimeemanating from criminal activ-

ity. Money trail led to identifi-cation of one school building inChennai valued at Rs 6.2 Crore,mutual funds of Rs 9.41 Croreand ground floor of a buildingin Mumbai and these wereprovisionally attached,” the EDsaid..

Investigations also revealedthat funds to the tune of Rs49.20 crore were received dur-ing the period from the year2012 to 2016 from Zakir Naik’saccounts maintained in UAE tohis personal accounts in India.

Source of his income inUnited Arab Emirates is notknown. He transferred thesefunds to India and purchasedproperties in Mumbai andPune by layering of funds in thename of his close relatives, theagency added.

Investigation has alsorevealed that Zakir Naik wasalso involved in suspiciousunaccounted cash transactions.

����--���**!'����%�&�&& ����

�������������������������# �������$����������%&�

����������%�������/��� ���7���5

The Congress on Thursday hit out atthe Modi Government for singularly

claiming credit for the designation ofMasood Azhar as a global terrorist by theUN and asked it to give a reply toPakistan’s claim that Kashmir andPulwama were de-linked in the JeMchief ’s listing.

Condemning Pakistan’s claims that itagreed to Azhar’s listing after all “politi-cal references”, including attempts tolink him to the Pulwama attack, wereremoved from the proposal, the Congresssaid it was a serious matter and a replymust be given to “Pakistan’s mischief ”.

In 2009, India first moved a propos-al by itself to designate Azhar a global ter-rorist. In 2016 again, India moved the pro-posal with the P3 -- the United States, theUnited Kingdom and France -- in theUN’s 1267 Sanctions Committee to banAzhar, also the mastermind of the attackon the Pathankot air base in January 2016.

In 2017, the P3 nations moved a sim-ilar proposal again. However, on all occa-sions China, a veto-wielding permanentmember of the UN Security Council,blocked India’s proposal from beingadopted by the Sanctions Committee.

Former Union Minister PChidambaram said Congress is happy thatthe process of designating JeM chiefMasood Azhar as a global terrorist con-cluded successfully. He also asked why

Pakistani premier Imran Khan wantsNarendra Modi to continue as India’sprime minister.

Reacting to the development,Chidambaram said Azhar was released in1999 by a BJP government after the hijackof an Indian Airlines aircraft. “AfterMasood Azhar masterminded theMumbai terror attack in 2008, the processto name him as a global terrorist was start-ed by a Congress/UPA government in

2009. We are happy that the process hasconcluded successfully in 2019. But whydoes the Prime Minister of Pakistanwant Mr Modi to continue as PrimeMinister of India?,” the former home min-ister said in a series of tweets.

Congress spokesperson Rajeev Shuklahit out at the remarks made by Unionminister Arun Jaitley and NirmalaSitharaman at a joint press conference,saying such designations were the resultof a continuous process and just one gov-ernment should not take credit for it.

It was the Congress that had got Saeedand Zakiur Rahman Lakhvi as well asother terrorists designated as global ter-rorists, Shukla said. “I also condemnPakistan government’s claim that it is theirdiplomatic victory. They are saying thatwe have got Pulwama and Kashmir de-linked from it (the listing) and then thisdeclaration has been made,” he said.

Shukla said that the governmentshould give a reply to “this mischief(claim)” of Pakistan that they have de-linked Kashmir and the Pulwama incidentwhile banning Azhar. “This is a seriousmatter. For us, Pulwama is very impor-tant as Azhar had a direct role and he hadaccepted it. Then it would mean that theearlier incidents and the 26/11 (Mumbaiterror attacks) was the basis for banninghim for which we had submitted all doc-uments. So, the government’s ministersshould do a press conference on this also,”he said.

*������ ��������*���"�%� � .'&���!�� ������"� ���������"����

�)������ �� ���*�&������� ������� ��������

����������%�������/��� ���7���5

Congress on Thursday came out with a list of sixanti-terror surgical strikes carried out during

UPA rule, asserting that it never tried to take polit-ical advantage from military operations. TheCongress released the list at a press conference afterBJP leader Arun Jaitley took a jibe at the Oppositionparty, saying its surgical strikes were “invisible andunknown”.

The UPA government carried out six surgicalstrikes — Bhattal sector in Poonch (June 19, 2008);Sharda sector, across Neelam River Valley, in Kel(August 30-September 1, 2011); Sawan Patra check-post (January 6, 2013); Nazapir sector (July 27-28,2013); Neelam Valley (August 6, 2013); and one onDecember 23, 2013, Congress spokesperson RajeevShukla said.

He also listed two surgical strikes carried outunder the previous BJP-led NDA government ofAtal Bihari Vajpayee. These were Nadala Enclave,across the Neelam River (January 21, 2000) andBaroh sector in Poonch (September 18, 2003),Shukla said.

Attacking the Congress, Jaitley said theManmohan Singh government did not act againstterrorists after the Mumbai terror attack in 2008even as security forces were ready to target them.The UPA government in fact released 25 terroristsas a “goodwill gesture” and one of them was laterinvolved in the Pathankot terror attack, he alleged.

“When the former Prime Minister and (a for-mer) Army chief say earlier also surgical strikes havetaken place and the finance minister says they wereinvisible strikes then he is raising questions not juston Vajpaee ji and Manmohan Singh ji, but is alsocasting aspersions on the Army and the remarksmade by the army chiefs at that time,” Congressspokesperson Ragini Nayak said.

Shukla, in his remarks, said that bothManmohan Singh and Vajpayee never talkedabout the strikes. The convention is not to talk aboutmilitary operations, but this government has bro-ken all traditions, he said. Shukla also said theCongress never tried to take political advantagefrom military operations.

����� ���7���5

The Election Commission(EC) on Thursday removed

the returning officer of theTripura West seat, wherepolling was held on the firstphase on the Lok Sabha elec-tions on April 11.

Sources in the EC said thatthe Commission has removedthe returning officer of theTripura West seat SandeepMahatme. Tripura East’s return-ing officer, Vikas Singh, hasbeen appointed in his place.

Alleging large-scale rig-ging, booth capturing, intimi-dation and attacks on votersand polling agents by the rul-ing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)members and their goons, theopposition Communist Partyof India-Marxist (CPI-M) andthe Congress had beendemanding re-polling in theconstituency.

They had also beendemanding Mahatme’s removal.

The EC order issued bySecretary Arvind Anand, andavailable with , relievedMahatme, the DistrictMagistrate of West Tripura,from election-related duties. Italso asked Vikas Singh, theDistrict Magistrate of Dhalai, tojoin his new posting byThursday.

According to the official,Tripura’s Chief Electoral OfficerSriram Taranikanti has beenasked to send a panel of namesby Thursday to be appointedthe new District Magistrate ofDhalai.

While polling was held inTripura West on April 11, vot-ing in the Tripura East seat,slated for the second phase ofApril 18, was deferred to thethird (April 23) by the pollpanel, citing the “non-con-ducive security situation”.

&����)�� �"���!� "���"������##���"��#8"���"��>� �� ���

"������ �����������������'� ����������������������� �$��()**��+���

$��3��������*���C�-�����������A����3�"������ ����������#������

)������������ ����"������ ������������<��� ������ �

.�����"��������+���������/��01$23�������#����(���4 �������"�����#�����2�!�#����#��

�#���������#+����5�������/��������

����������������+�������

6�7������7����% (�������������������"��������#�������������� ���"���#��� �������� �"������/����5��#���%�

���"�����������+���

$<�4�����<B�����<���C��2���B����5&�<�&��&�&��

���B����7���:���5<��5�5�&������C�5&��:

��7��5�����5&��������&���C<5�&�����$<�=���$�-

��:5�4���$�7��54��&5<������&������&�<=���$<�&5��<���<$������7�C��&�<��4<2�����&���<��7�<&�&�B��$�75&�=<�5&

Page 6:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

�������������������� ����� !�"#$% 3

Bhatpara/New Town (WB): TrinamoolCongress supremo and West BengalChief Minister Mamata Banerjee onThursday invoked the Sepoy Mutiny of1857 to draw a parallel with the effortsby her party to dislodge the NarendraModi Government in the ongoing par-liamentary polls.

"Sepoy Mutiny was the first uprisingagainst the British in India. Now thebiggest threat and problem in the coun-try is Narendra Modi," she said at a rallyin support of TMC MP Dinesh Trivedi,who is pitted against BJP's Arjun Singh.

The Sepoy Mutiny was a violent andbloody uprising against British rule inIndia in 1857.

"Sepoy Mutiny started fromBarrackpore. You keep this in mind andvote," she told the gathering at Bhatpara,which is under the Barrackpore parlia-mentary constituency.

Raising the slogan "Modi Hatao,Desh Bachao", she sought the support ofthe people for TMC in both Lok Sabhaand assembly by-election at Bhatpara.

The by-election was necessitated asSingh, who was the Bhatpara TMC MLAhad quit the party and switched to BJP

just before the Lok Sabha elections.Slamming the Modi government,

she said democracy is at stake and BJPis involved in riots. "This cannot happenhere (Bengal)".

"We have seen national leaders likeGandhiji, Netaji Ambedkar and MaulanaAbul Kalam Azad. But we have neverseen a leader like Modi. His very appear-ance is like Gabbar Singh".

Gabbar Singh is a fictional character,the antagonist of the 1975 Bollywood film'Sholay'.

"What we want is a democratic gov-ernment - a government for the people.We don't want Modi", she said.

Referring to the comment by Modithat 40 MLAs of TMC in Bengal are intouch with him, she said it is unbecom-

ing of a prime minister to make such astatement during elections.

"I ask him to name one of suchMLA," she challenged adding "TMC isnow a full-grown tree and it is not easyto destabilise it. We do not fear any sortof threats".

The TMC supremo alleged that BJPis spending huge sums of money to influ-ence the vote. "He (Modi) is travellingwith big boxes," she said referring to therecent alleged incident in which a blackbox was reportedly offloaded from theprime minister's helicopter during hisvisit to Chitradurg in Karnataka for pollcampaign.

Banerjee alleged that Modi had neverlooked at West Bengal and is now com-ing to the state begging for votes.

"Narendra Modi is shameless. He saysthat nothing has been done in the stateand is now seeking votes to do somethingfor Bengal.

"Just come and see the developmentwhich has taken place in Rajarhat-NewTown area. If he compares the traffic sys-tem with this area and Delhi, he will besurprised to see the roads and lightingthat has been done", she said. PTI

*���"� ��������"��#�"�#�"��" ����� ��� =�-���������7:���3 ��� ��" �����"�����!�3Jaipur: Congress presidentRahul Gandhi on Thursdaysaid his party's Governmentwill not work for a handful oftop businessmen, calling themPrime Minister NarendraModi's “masters”.

We will not run theGovernment for 15 peoplebecause they are not our 'malik'(masters),” he told a publicmeeting at Chomu in Jaipurdistrict.

“These are NarendraModi's “master”, he said, nam-ing industrialist Anil Ambaniand fugitive businessmanMehul Choksi.

“Polling in most States isover and the result is clear. PMNarendra Modi is going tolose the elections and theCongress Government of thefarmers and the youth is aboutto come in,” he said.

“You are our masters andwe will do what you will order,”he told the gathering.

He accused Modi of nottalking about the BharatiyaJanata Party's earlier pollpromises.

He claimed the Prime

Minister had promised �15lakh in everyone's bankaccount and two crore newjobs.

Mentioning the Rafale air-craft deal, Gandhi said he hadchallenged Modi to a debate oncorruption. But he is silent on.

The Congress leader alsoclaimed that the prime minis-ter had failed to answer hisquestions in Parliament.

He said the Nyay scheme,which promises income sup-port to the poorest in thecountry if the Congress comesto power, will boost the coun-try's economy.

Gandhi said he will notclaim it will create two croreemployment opportunities, butadded that “factories willrestart, lakhs of youth will getjobs”.

Modi has handcuffed theyouth, we want to set yourhands free,” he said.

If young people want tostart a business no permissionswill be required from any gov-ernment office for three years,he said.

Taking a swipe at the primeminister, Gandhi said whenModi gives a speech there is ateleprompter in front of him

warning him not to speakabout the youth or the farmers.

Referring to what he hasclaimed are existing vacancies,Gandhi said as soon theCongress comes to power theyouth will get 22 lakh govern-ment jobs.

Amid the shouting of the'Chowkidar chor hai' slogan,Gandhi said that the watch-man's “biggest theft” was theRs. 30,000 crore which he“stole” from the Indian AirForce and gave to industrialistAnil Ambani.

The reference was to theCongress claim that theReliance Group has unfairlybagged a contract worth thisamount from French companyDassault in related deals afterthe Modi government signedthe Rafale contract.

The allegation has beendenied by the government andthe Ambani Group.

He claimed the “secondtheft” by Modi was writing offloans taken by “15 people”, butnot those by the farmers andsmall and medium business-men. PTI

Gorakhpur (UP): UnionMinister Anupriya Patel, whoseApna Dal (Sonelal) is a con-stituent of the BJP-led NDA, onThursday took a dig at the SP-BSP alliance terming it like "oiland water" which was "forgedout of fear".

She claimed that the recenttrend has made it clear thatNarendra Modi will return asprime minister.

Addressing an electionmeeting in Shohratgarh area ofSiddhartnagar district, she said,"All matches are not made inheaven, some are made out offear of Modi."

"The live example is the SP-

BSP alliance which is just liketrying to mix water and oil. Thealliance is made due to selfishreasons. Elephant (BSP sym-bol) has taken seat on bicycle(Samajwadi party symbol)... Itis bound to be broken," Patelsaid.

On the UN SecurityCouncil designating MasoodAzhar as a global terrorist, shesaid, "It is a huge moral victo-ry of the Government. Chinahas been saving Azhar for thelast five years but ultimatelybowed due to a determinedgovernment and also the trueface of Pakistan has beenrevealed to all." PTI

&�.&���������#�"���������#�#��"��#:���=�/���"� ��&���� Kaushambi (UP): Samajwadi

Party president Akhilesh Yadavon Thursday attacked PrimeMinister Narendra Modi, say-ing the "chaiwala" has betrayedpeople by going back on hispromises.

He also hit out at the "thoko(violent) policy" of the UttarPradesh Government led byChief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Addressing an electionmeeting for SP-BSP alliancecandidates from Kaushambiand Pratapgarh here, the SPchief said, "The 'chaiwala' (teaseller) has gone back on thepromises... They have beenexposed... Chaiwala has thistime come as 'chowkidar'(watchman)." Modi has oftenreferred to himself as a 'chai-wala' and 'chowkidar'.

In a dig at the YogiAdityanath Government, Yadavsaid those pursuing 'thoko pol-icy' were insulting the policeforce of the state.

He had earlier alleged thatpolice officers of the state werefollowing the 'thoko neeti'(encounter policy) of the chiefminister to avoid getting trans-ferred.

Talking about the alliancebetween Samajwadi Party andBahujan Samaj Party (BSP),the former Chief Minister saidthere is a wave in favour of thealliance.

"Public is the real king in ademocracy. There is a wave infavour of the alliance," he said.

"BJP supporters want todrag us down by hook orcrook... We want that all castesget proper representation, onlythen social right and honourcan be established," Yadavasserted.

The SP leader urged thepeople to vote for the SP-BSPalliance as he said this single actcan "teach a lesson" to thewrongdoers.

"By pressing button for thealliance candidates, the 'chowki-dar' and 'thokidars' will beremoved," he said.

Yadav added that thealliance was fighting for farm-ers, youths, Dalits, backwardsand minorities. PTI

� ������>�"��������� ����"�� ����"���� ���� �����5��� ����

Lucknow: Hitting out at boththe BJP and the Congress, BSPchief Mayawati on Thursdayaccused the two national par-ties of having a tacit under-standing in the ongoing LokSabha polls and unitedly work-ing against the SP-BSP-RLDalliance in Uttar Pradesh.

Congressmen think it isnot a problem if the candidatesof the ruling Bharatiya JanataParty (BJP) win the electoralbattle, but the nominees of theSP-BSP-RLD alliance shouldnot win the polls, the formerUttar Pradesh chief ministeralleged.

"Like the BJP, the Congresshas started saying absurd thingsabout the SP-BSP alliance. It is

clear that both (Congress, BJP)have a tacit understanding andare contesting against ouralliance unitedly," Mayawatisaid, while appealing to the vot-ers not to waste their votes bysupporting the Congress.

Addressing a poll rally inBarabanki on Wednesday,Congress president RahulGandhi had alleged that thecontrol of Mayawati andSamajwadi Party (SP) chiefAkhilesh Yadav was in thehands of Prime MinisterNarendra Modi.

"In the last five years, didthe SP or the BSP take onPrime Minister Narendra Modidirectly? Did you hear anystatement from Mayawati or

(SP patriarch) Mulayam SinghYadav? See, I am not scared ofModi. I do not care. If someoneis scared, it is Narendra Modi.But the control of Mayawatiand Akhilesh is in the hands ofModi," he had said.

Attacking the prime min-ister, Mayawati said, "He hasmade some comments on theBSP, taking the name of BhimRao Ambedkar. I want to tellhim that Baba Saheb's namemight be for vote politics andself-interest for them, but he isthe soul of the BSP. The BSPdoes not practice the politics of'Ramnaam japna, janta kothagna' (taking the name ofRam and duping people) likethe BJP." PTI

*���%�.'&��!�����������" �������=�:� �

Srinagar: Over 5.22 lakh peoplefrom Pulwama and Shopiandistricts of Jammu & Kashmirare eligible to cast their votes inthe final leg of polling for theAnantnag Lok Sabha seat onMay 6 that will bring down thecurtains on the general electionsin the State.

"Over 5.22 lakh electors aregoing to exercise their franchisein the twin districts spread oversix Assembly segments com-prising Tral, Pampore, Pulwama,Rajpora, Wachi and Shopian. Asmany as 695 polling stationshave been established acrossthe districts for smooth conductof the elections," an officialspokesman said Thursday.

The polling in four dis-tricts of Anantnag Lok Sabhaconstituency is being held overthree legs. While Anantnag dis-trict voted on April 23, Kulgam

went to polls on April 29.The voter turnout in the two

districts has so far been dismalas only 13.61 per cent people casttheir votes in Anantnag districtand 10.3 per cent turnout wasrecorded in Kulgam district.

As Shopian and Pulwamadistricts have been worst hit bythe violence in the aftermath ofthe killing of HizbulMujahideen commanderBurhan Wani during anencounter in July 2016, thepolitical observers foresee thetrend of low voter turnout con-tinuing on May 6 as well.

Security arrangements havebeen put in place to ensuresmooth conduct of elections, apolice official said.

He said dozens of suspectsand known trouble-mongershave been taken into preventivecustody in the wake of several

stone-pelting incidents report-ed during the polling in Kulgamdistrict on April 29.

PDP president and formerchief minister Mehbooba Muftiis among the 18 candidatesfrom the Anantag Lok Sabh seat.

The other notable candi-dates are state president ofCongress G A Mir, former highcourt judge Hasnain Masoodi(National Conference) and for-mer MLC Sofi Yousuf (BJP).

With the Ladakh LokSabha seat is also going to pollson the same day, the voting forgeneral elections in Jammuand Kashmir will conclude onMay 6.

Jammu and Baramulla LokSabha seats went to polls in thefirst phase of elections on April11, followed by Udhampur andSrinagar constituencies in thesecond phase on April 18. PTI

Bengaluru: A total of 25 candi-dates are in the fray for the May19 byelections to two Assemblyconstituencies in Karnataka,election officials said onThursday.

Among 25 contesting can-didates, 17 are from Chincholiand 8 from Kundgol assemblysegments.

Both the constituencies havetwo women each as candidates.

Thursday was the last datefor withdrawal of nominations.

The bypoll to Chincholihas been necessitated by the res-ignation of sitting memberUmesh Jadhav who quit theCongress and joined the BJP tocontest the recent Lok Sabhapolls from Gulbarga.

Kundgol seat fell vacant fol-lowing the death of Minister CS Shivalli.

The main contest in thisbypoll will be between the nom-inees of Congress, which heldthe seats, and the BJP.

The BJP has fielded S IChikkanagowdar and AvinashJadhav from Kundgol andChincholi Assembly seatsrespectively. PTI

(,��������������������-���)./���0��$�����

Gorakhpur: Bhojpuri film starRavi Kishan, the BJP candidatefrom Uttar Pradesh'sGorakhpur parliamentary con-stituency, has said that con-testing the 2014 general elec-tion on a Congress ticket wasa mistake and that the saffronparty is his last destination.

In an interview to PTI,Kishan said actor-turned-politicians like N T Rama Raoand Vinod Khanna inspire himand he wants to project himselfas a serious politician just likethem.

"I want to become a seriouspolitician like N T Rama Raoand Vinod Khanna who werefrom the film industry butjoined politics and workedwith utmost seriousness,"Kishan said.

"If I was not serious aboutpolitics, I would not have leftbehind my successful career tobecome a politician," added theactor who joined the BharatiyaJanata Party (BJP) in February2017.

"Prime Minister NarendraModi and Uttar Pradesh ChiefMinister Yogi Aditynatah havegiven me their blessingsbecause they understand myseriousness," he said further.

On joining the Congressahead of the 2014 Lok Sabhapolls, the actor said, "It was amistake. When I lost the elec-tion, no one in the party highcommand got in touch withme. I was dejected."

The actor had contestedfrom his home constituency ofJaunpur in Uttar Pradesh on aCongress ticket but securedonly 42,759 votes or 4.25 percent of the total votes.

Kishan admitted that itwas Modi's passion which con-vinced him to join the BJP.

"In 2014, I heard Modi jispeak about toilets. For the firsttime, I saw a prime ministerwith such an outlook. I wasimpressed. When Yogi ji askedme to contest polls, I was readyto serve the people ofGorakhpur," he said. PTI

' �� ��!�����+��,�$-�����������.�'����/�����

Mumbai: The NCP is consid-ering taking the MaharashtraNavnirman Sena (MNS)onboard for the MaharashtraAssembly elections, sources inthe Sharad Pawar-led partyhave said.

Assembly polls are due inthe state later this year.

The Raj Thackeray-ledparty was not part of the ̀ grandalliance' stitched by theCongress and NCP with small-er parties for the ongoing LokSabha polls.

The NCP was keen onalliance with the MNS, but theCongress reportedly had reser-vations, fearing a backlash inthe Hindi heartland due to theMNS' anti-North Indian stand.

The MNS is not contest-ing the ongoing Lok Sabhapolls. Thackeray, however,addressed several rallies in thestate during the first fourphases, attacking PrimeMinister Narendra Modi andappealing people not to vote

for the BJP."The Congress was con-

cerned about aligning with theMNS during general electionsdue to latter's anti-NorthIndian posturing. But thatshould not be a concern in thestate polls," an NCP leadersaid.

The possibility of the NCPallotting MNS some seats fromits quota (as part of alliancewith the Congress) could notbe ruled out, he said.

The MNS, he said, caninfluence voters in around 30Assembly segments.

"The MNS put up a goodshow in the 2009 polls. Thatindicated the strength it had incertain Assembly segments inMumbai, Thane, Pune andNashik," the source said.

The MNS won 13 seats inthe 2009 Assembly polls and isbelieved to have eaten into theShiv Sena and BJP's vote share,helping the Congress-NCPcombine to retain power. PTI

)��� �� ��?!#�������� ������@����� ��!�� ��!���� ���

�!�"�������!���" ����'?(9 &������%��������� �"���

��������������� C�����

National Conference leaderand former BJP MLA

Gagan Bhagat who had alleged-ly thrashed an elected womanSarpanch in broad day light in RSPura area last week was finallyarrested by the J&K police onThursday. He was picked up bythe police from the court premis-es in Jammu where he hadmoved an application to earn ananticipatory bail.

Gagan Bhagat had report-edly thrashed Seema Devi, anelected Sarpanch from villageJindher Melu in Miran Sahib, onSaturday after a verbal brawl overthe issue of taking credit forinstallation of a power trans-former in the area. Gagan want-ed to inaugurate the powertransformed claiming he hadprovided funds for the samefrom his Constituency develop-

ment fund while womansarpanch stood her groundclaiming she pursued the caseand got it approved for the areafrom the Power developmentdepartment on her own. Abusingher in full public view Gagan hadattacked her along with her sup-porters and even questionedher credentials,ignoring the factthat she was an elected publicrepresentative and dischargingher duties of addressing gener-al grievances of common peopleof her area. Police had registeredcounter FIR's in the case butacted against the former MLA onThursday after a state level bodyof elected sarpanches and panch-es also staged protest demon-strations against him andappealed to the state governor totake action as per rule of lawagainst the former MLA forthrashing and abusing an elect-ed representative.

=A75�� ������?����������� ������������ ����������� �

Amethi/Rae Bareli (UP): Truenationalism means love of thepeople and for the country butthe BJP mirrors neither love norrespect in anything it does, saysCongress general secretaryPriyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Stepping up her attack onthe saffron party and PrimeMinister Narendra Modi forfailing to address real issues,Priyanka Gandhi said there willbe consequences if the voice ofthe people is drowned by thevoice of one leader.

In an exclusive interview toPTI, the Congress leader alsosaid there is growing "publicanger and pain" for which thepeople of India will give a mes-sage to Modi on May 23 whenthe votes for the Lok Sabha pollswill be counted.

"I believe true nationalismis love of the people and love forthe country, which meansrespect and I do not see respectfor the people in anything theyare doing," Priyanka Gandhisaid in an interview during hercampaign through the con-stituencies represented by hermother and brother.

While Sonia Gandhi is theMP from Rae Bareli, RahulGandhi represents Amethi inthe Lok Sabha.

"Nationalism means solvingthe problems of the people ofthe country. The greatest patri-otism of any politician, of anygovernment, would be to be ableto hear the people when theyspeak, would be to be democ-ratic, to be able to strengthen theinstitutions that strengthen thepublic voice, not weaken it,"Priyanka Gandhi said.

The BJP has been buildingits campaign narrative aroundthe issue of nationalism andnational security and the partyhas been referring to the Balakotair strikes and the Modi gov-ernment's policy in tacklingterror.

Priyanka Gandhi, who hasbeen vigorously campaigning inRae Bareli and Ameth, said theModi government's policieshave led to large scale publicanger and pain among people.

"I think the people willgive the message to him (PM)because I think whereever I go,I see a lot of public anger, pub-

lic pain, which has not beenaddressed," the Congress gen-eral secretary in-charge of east-ern Uttar Pradesh said.

"Any leader whether it ishim (Modi) or anyone else, ifpublic pain is not addressed, ifthe voice of the people isdrowned by the voice of oneleader or by the kind of ideol-ogy they have, they will have tosuffer the consequences. So Ithink the people are very clear,"she said.

She said the ongoing LokSabha elections are very crucialas the Congress is fighting toprotect the idea of India and thecontest is between ideologies.

"It is an election in whichwe are fighting for the India thatwe all love, for democracy, andfor all those values of democ-racy that we hold dear becauseinstitutions are being destroyedby this government," she said.

Asked whether she isdejected about not contestingthe Lok Sabha polls fromVaranasi against Modi, PriyankaGandhi said she "feared noone" and went by the directionof the party. PTI

��� ��������������������� ���� ���#�� �>����������������� ����&=��� ��5���������

��������0���1����-������� ������-�����������

: ������ ��& �������=�������������������������� ��������� ��=��� @�@� ���������������� ���� ������� ����"��� �+ ������� ��

Page 7:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

�������������������� ����� !�"#$% 8

����/��..�������$�����5

Sleuths of NationalInvestigation Agency

launched a manhunt acrossTamil Nadu since Thursdaymorning reportedly in searchof persons from Sri Lanka hid-ing in the State. Sources in theNIA told reporters that thesearch is to find out personsassociated with the EasterSunday bombings in Colomboin which more than 250 per-sons lost their lives and 500were left maimed and injured.

But a release issued byNIA headquarters later in theday said sleuths from theagency carried out searches at20 locations at Kumbakonam,Thanjavur, Tiruchirappalli andKaraikal in connection withinvestigation of the murder ofRamalingam, a 41year-oldactivist of the PMK inThanjavur district which isbeing probed by the NIA.

“During searches, a num-ber of digital devices including16 mobile phones, 21 SIMcards, 3 Laptops, 9 Har d Discs,7 Memory cards, 118CDs/DVDs, 1 Tab, 7 Diaries,,2 PFI Banners, 1 DVR havebeen seized. Besides 1 Sword,1 Sharp edged knife and Cash

of Rs 2 Lakhs were recov-ered from 3 different hous-es and about 100Incriminating documents havealso been seized,” said the NIArelease.

Thanjavur Police hadarrested ten persons believedto be accused in the case. “Sixother accused are still abscond-ing. The accused persons areactive members/office bearersof PFI,” the NIA release dis-closed further.

Chennai Police onWednesday had arrested a per-son of Sri Lankan origin fromMannady, a city suburbdescribed as a haven forextremists and criminals on therun. The arrested person, whotold the police that he was intouch with activists of theNational Thowheed Jama-athof Sri Lanka, the organisationbelieved to have carried out thebombings in ColomboChurches, took the cops to anapartment at Poonamalleefrom where they picked up 33year old Roshan, a Sri Lankancitizen.

When reports last came,officials belonging to the NIA,IB and the Tamil Nadu Policewere questioning those whomthey have taken into custody.Sources in Chennai Police said

that Roshan has been staying inChennai without valid docu-ments and they expect to col-lect some vital informationfrom him while questioning.

Ramalingam , who ques-tioned a group of Islamicactivists engaged in proselytis-ing the villagers of Thripuvannear Kumbhakonam was mur-dered in a gruesome manner bypersons suspected to be themembers of the PFI. His handand leg were chopped off forquestioning the clerics andRamalingam died on the wayto the hospital.

Though the Tamil Nadupolice had arrested 11 personsin connection with the mur-der, no progress could be madein the investigation whichresulted in the State adminis-tration entrusting the probewith the NIA.

S Gurumurthy, columnistand editor of Thuglaq maga-zine came out on Thursdaywith a revelation that the TamilNadu Thowheed Jama ath hasconnections with the NationalThowheed Jamaath and SriLankan Thowheed Jama at.According to Gurumurthy,Tamil Nadu ThowheedJamaath and Sri La ThowheedJamaath has relations datingback to a decade.

2"������� ������ ��������������2���

�&� �'��!9��������:�� !���%�&

Thiruvananthapuram: Amida raging debate on prohibitingburqa in the country ongrounds of national security, aMuslim educational group inKerala has banned its studentsfrom covering their faces withany attire on the campuses ofits institutions.

The Kozhikode-basedMuslim Education Society(MES), a progressive groupwhich runs several education-al institutions, including pro-fessional colleges, issued a cir-cular urging its students not toattend classes wearing any face-covering attire.

While the dress code men-tioned in a circular triggeredopposition from orthodoxMuslim organisations andscholars, the MES maintained

that covering women's faceswas a new trend and had notbeen in practice in the com-munity in the state earlier.

In the April 17 circular,MES Institutions president P KFazal Gafoor said the directiveshould be implemented fromthe 2019-20 academic yearwithout triggering any contro-versy.

"Without creating any con-troversy, the institutions mustmake sure to implement from2019-20 academic year that stu-dents do not come to the classwearing any attire coveringtheir face," it said.

Any 'inappropriate' trendin the campuses should bediscouraged. "Any attire, whichis unacceptable in the publicsociety, cannot be allowed,even if it is in the name ofmodernity or religious ritual,"Gafoor said.

The circular, addressed tothe secretaries and the princi-pals of the MES institutions,also asked them to include thedress code directive as a newrule in the college calendar forthe new academic year.

Facing demands for with-

drawing the move, GafoorThursday made it clear that theMES would go ahead with itsdecision to ban face-coveringattire on its campuses.

"Covering the face ofwomen is a new trend..99 percent women are not coveringtheir face..There had been nosuch practice in the Kerala soci-ety or in the Muslim commu-nity here...," he told mediapersons.

Gafoor said the MES wasnot ready to implement thedress codes being imposed inthe name of "religious funda-mentalism".

"We have freedom to bansuch attires on our campuses.There is no need to consultwith religious outfits for that,"the MES president said.

Criticising the MES,Samashtha, an orthodox outfitof Muslim scholars, said thecircular was "un-Isalamic" andit should be withdrawn.

"As per the Islamic rules,the body parts of womenshould not be shown out. TheMES has no right to issue a cir-cular banning the attire cover-ing the face of women. Islamicrules should be followed,"Umar Faize, a Samastha schol-ar, said.

The Shiv Sena had onWednesday welcomed the SriLankan Government's deci-sion to ban burqa and masks ongrounds of national security inthe wake of the Easter Sundayterror attacks and asked theNarendra Modi-led regime tofollow suit. PTI

�����-�������� �����5

Aday after they killed 15 C-60 commandos in a land-

mine blast, Maoists operatingin the forests of Gadchiroli dis-trict in eastern Maharashtra,bordering Chhattisgarh, onceagain made their presence felton Thursday by putting upbanners and posters warningthe Maharashtra Government,private contractors and firmsagainst building roads andbridges in the region.

On a day whenMaharashtra Chief MinisterDevendra Fadnavis and UnionMinister of State for HomeAffairs Hansraj Ahir paidhomage to martyred C-60commandos of the Gadchirolipolice, members of bannedCPI (Maoist) through its localDivisional VigilanceCommittees (DVC) put upposters and banners in villagesthus warning the StateGovernment, private contrac-tors and firms to desist fromtaking up vital infrastructureprojects in the area.

The posters and banners –prepared in red and whitecoloured sheets and clothes -- said that water, land, forestsand mines belonged to all thepeople and by building roadsand bridges, these were beingto be handed over to a fewindustrialists for their profi-teering.

The banners also accusedtop industrialists and theiragents of indulging in the‘chamchagiri’ of “(PrimeMinister Narendra Modi) andFadnavis” to get such projectsfor their ‘vikas’.

The shocking landmineblast had come nearly tenhours after the Maoists set onfire at least 36 private vehiclesand two site offices of a roadengaged construction andrepair work along the Purada-Malewada-Yerkhade stretchof along the Maharashtra-

Chhattisgarh national highwaynumber 136.

Meanwhile, talking tomedia persons after paying tothe homage to the 15 com-mandos killed in Wednesday’slandmine blast, Chief MinisterFadnavis said: “Yesterday’sincident in which 15 securitypersonnel and one driver werekilled is a serious incident.Maharashtra Director Generalof Police is conducting adetailed inquiry to see if therewere lapses that led to theblast. But let me assure youthis supreme sacrifice of ourbrave jawans will not go invain! We will fight this men-ace with more vigour andstrength!”

Earlier, Union Ministerof State for Home Hansraj

Ahir and State DGP SubodhKumar Jaiswal visited the spotwhere Maoists blew up a secu-rity vehicle using anImprovised Explosive Device(IED) at Jamburkheda, sixki lometres away fromKurkheda town, killing 15 C-90 commandos.

The C-60 commandos ofthe Gadchiroli police wereheading in a vehicle for naxalcombing operations, whenthey found several fallen treesblocking the road leading to anisolated stretch of the road ina forest area. When the secu-rity personnel alighted to clearthe road, landmines planted byMaoists blew up, leaving 16personnel dead. Those killedcomprised 15 commandoesand one driver.

(�"����:� ����)�� �)�� �)�"6����������

Mumbai: Opposing the inter-im protection from arrestgranted to activist GautamNavlakha by the Bombay HighCourt, the Maharashtra gov-ernment on Thursday invokedthe Naxal attack in Gadchiroli,saying he is accused of being amember of "such a group".

A division bench of justicesRanjit More and BharatiDangre was hearing a petitionfiled by Navlakha seeking toquash the case registeredagainst him by the Pune policein the Elgar Parishad-Maoistlinks case.

The police have accusedNavlakha and four other civil

liberties activists of havingconnections with Naxals.

The court had, in October2018, granted Navlakha aninterim protection fromarrest.

Demanding that this pro-tection be revoked, additionalpublic prosecutor ArunaKamat Pai referred to the IEDblast carried out by Naxals inGadchiroli district onWednesday.

"Naxals have carried out anattack in Gadchiroli in which15 policemen lost theirlives...Applicant is accused ofbeing a member of such agroup," she said. PTI

Mumbai: CondemningWednesday’s landmine blastthat left 15 commandos of theGadchiroli police dead, theNational Human RightsCommission (NHRC) onThursday called for efforts tostop such attacks against secu-rity personnel “which are agrave violation of humanrights”.

“The country’s strongdemocratic values and institu-tions provide enough space topeople with divergent views tofunction through non-violent

means and to endear them-selves to the mainstream ofsocial, cultural and political life.Any struggle renders itselfmeaningless, the moment itturns violent, leading to graveviolation of human rights,” astatement issued by the NHRCsaid.

“The supreme sacrificemade by all those martyred inthis dastardly and cowardlyattack would not go in vain andthe aggrieved families shouldbe suitably compensated,” theNHRC statement added. PNS

21-*�������� ���������#�������������" �����

�� ���������* �#�� ���� ��� � � �������� �������� ��

�������2����0 �'-� ��3��������3��� ���������0

Guwahati: A total of 92 mis-takes have cropped up in theanswer keys of 21 of the 22 sub-jects of the Assam CivilServices examination, forcingthe Assam Public ServiceCommission (APSC) to declarethe results twice.

Because of this anomaly,the APSC said on Thursday, ithas blacklisted 22 experts whowere responsible for settingup of question papers andpreparation of answer keys inthe Combined Competitive(Preliminary) Examination2018.

The examination was heldon December 30 last year. Thefirst list of the qualified can-didates was announced onMarch 13, while the secondone was issued on April 30,APSC Chairman Dipak KrSarma told a press conferencehere.

He said 3,361 candidateswho had cleared the prelimi-nary examination on the basisof wrong answer keys havebeen retained to appear for themains though some of themhave secured lower marks inthe re-evaluation.

Sarma said 408 more can-didates were allowed to writethe mains examination in thesecond list after the re- evalu-ation.

APSC Principal Controllerof Examinations Pubali Gohainsaid out of the 22 subjects thathad candidates, 21 had mis-takes in their answer keys sub-mitted by the subject expertswho were teachers from reput-ed colleges and universities.

Political Science had themaximum of 14 wrong keys,followed by 11 in History, ninein Sociology, eight inMechanical Engineering andseven in Geology.

Education and ElectricalEngineering had six mistakeseach, five in Physics and threeeach in General Studies,Agriculture, Anthropology andAnimal Husbandry &Veterinary Science, she said.

Gohain said CivilEngineering, Commerce,Mathematics, Philosophy andZoology had two mistakeseach, while Law, Geography,Electronics and Botany had onewrong answer each in the solu-tion keys. PTI

Ahmedabad: A special CBIcourt here on Thursday dis-charged former police officersDG Vanzara and NK Amin inthe Ishrat Jahan alleged fakeencounter case.

Vanzara and Amin hadfiled discharge applications inthe court after the Gujaratgovernment refused to grantsanctions to the CBI to prose-cute the two former policeofficers.

Special CBI court judge J KPandya said that since the gov-ernment has not sanctionedtheir prosecution, their dis-charge pleas are allowed andproceedings against them willbe dropped in the case.

Under section 197 of theCode of Criminal Procedure,the Government's sanction isnecessary for the prosecution ofa public servant for an act doneas part of the official duty.

Ishrat, a 19-year-old womanfrom Mumbra near Mumbai,Javed Shaikh alias Pranesh Pillai,Amjadali Akbarali Rana and Zeeshan Johar were killedby Gujarat police in an allegedfake encounter on the outskirtsof Ahmedabad on June 15,2004. PTI

"� ���&� ��������4%"�������� �������#��'������

Agartala: The EC on Thursdayremoved West Tripura DistrictMagistrate Sandeep NamdeoMahatme who is also theReturning Officer of WestTripura Lok Sabha seat, whereOpposition parties are demand-ing re-poll in many boothsalleging large-scale rigging bythe BJP during voting there onApril 11. Mahatme was replacedby East Tripura RO and DistrictMagistrate of Dhalai, VikashSingh.

EC secretary Arvind Anandwrote to state Chief ElectoralOfficer Sriram Taranikanti thatMahatme was "relieved andshall not be given any electionrelated posting".

The Election Commissionalso asked the Tripura govern-ment to send to it names of apanel of officials for posting asdistrict magistrate, who wouldbe District Election Officer ofDhalai district. Opposition par-ties including the CPI (M) andthe Congress have demandedremoval of Mahatme claimingthat his role was not impartialduring the polling in the con-stituency on April 11. After theallegation of rigging in WestTripura, the EC had postponedvoting in the East Tripura, theother Lok Sabha seat in theState, to the third phase on April23 from April 18, saying the pre-vailing law-and-order situationthere is not conducive for hold-ing free and fair poll. PTI

'����� ����$�� �:���+������� �� �����6���� ���� ������������������ ��

@A��� ���� ������ ��"�� ��#�A�� �)$��� ���/ �����!��� �"!��� ��B��

Panaji: Goa Assembly's actingSpeaker Michael Lobo onThursday said he would preferto be the Chief Minister ifgiven a chance by his party BJPinstead of becoming a full-timeSpeaker.

His comments came aheadof election for the Speaker's postin the upcoming monsoon ses-sion of the Assembly.

The post of Speaker fellvacant after incumbent PramodSawant was elected the ChiefMinister following the demise ofManohar Parrikar on March 17.

Lobo was elected the deputyspeaker in March 2017 after theBJP-led government came topower in the state. He has beenofficiating as the acting Speakerafter Sawant took over as the

chief minister. "As actingSpeaker, I have got an opportu-nity to be the Speaker of theHouse and I don't want to con-tinue to hold this post.

"I have told my party (BJP)that I am not in the race for thepost of Speaker," Lobo saidwhile talking to reporters in hischamber.

"The Speaker means youhave to be very neutral. You can-not take up issues of generalpublic. You can only call gov-ernment officers and get workdone from them.

"You cannot raise issues inthe assembly, you cannot raiseissues outside the assembly," saidthe BJP legislator known forissue-based attack on his owngovernment.

Lobo said the Speaker is aneutral position and whensomeone assumes that office hehas to be impartial.

He said a senior member ofthe House should take up thatposition and then revealed hischief ministerial ambition.

"I wanted to become theCM. The party has not done it.I am still waiting that they willdo it," Lobo said.

The MLA said he does notwant to become the Speakereven if the BJP forces him totake up the constitutional post.

"If the party forces me tobecome the CM, I will beready, but if the party forces tobecome the Speaker I wont. Iam happy as deputy speaker,"he added. PTI

* �������"��>��������!��������� ����? " ���������� �

����)�����+����� ��� �������B+��C������������������������� ��� ��������� �� �� �����������������������/ ��� �7 ����@! � �? ��!�" ���������7 ����� ��+ ������� �+)

Page 8:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

Last week, I read an excellent arti-cle in the New York Times by SYQuraishi, who was India’s ChiefElection Commissioner between2010 and 2012. In this article,

Quraishi shared a number of fascinatingnibbles about the Election Commission ofIndia (ECI). A particularly interestingfact highlighted by him was the sheer sizeof the Indian election and the poll panel’smassive responsibility to ensure that eachvote counts. He illustrated a lovely exam-ple of this task by narrating how ElectionCommissioners set up a polling booth inthe Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat forthe only living voter in the area: A Hindupriest.

The Indian election is remarkable. Asthe Constitutional watchdog of the votingprocess, the EC plays an important role toensure free and fair polls. It is fullyempowered to take any action for uphold-ing the legitimacy of a democratic process.While each election is crucial, the ongo-ing edition requires the electoral body todemand more from itself. No other elec-tion was filled with as much misinforma-tion, as much hatred, and as clear a blatantabdication of any form of responsible con-duct than the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Thisis especially evident from the rulingBharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) conduct andtransgressions in the ongoing elections.However, the EC has unfortunately beendisappointingly silent through this mosttrying period.

One way through which the electoralbody tries to ensure free and fair polls isby issuing guidelines for Model Code ofConduct, which come into force the day theelection schedule is announced. This codeis not a law. Instead, it is in the form of amoral code and the electoral body expectsthe politicians to adhere to the terms setby it. Crucially, it believes that leaders willhave the integrity to adhere to such a code.Unfortunately, over the past few weeks, themoral authority of the EC and the ModelCode of Conduct has been brazenly under-mined by the Prime Minister, who hasshown reckless disregard.

Take, for example, the directives of theElection Commission. On March 19, theelectoral body issued a general advisorysaying that “political parties/candidates areadvised that their campaigners/candidatesshould desist, as part of their campaigning,from indulging in any political propagan-da involving activities of the defenceforces.”

The order was aimed at curbingactions by political parties who claim votesin the name of the military because afterall, India’s armed forces are not owned byany political party. Therefore, one expectsthat any decent political party will not askfor votes in the name of its martyrs.However, in this election, we have cam-paigners like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister

Yogi Adityanath, who termedthe Army as “Modiji ki Sena.”

The Prime Minister, too,during an election speech onApril 9 said: “I wish to ask myfirst-time voters, can you ded-icate your first vote to thebrave martyrs of Pulwama”?Did Prime Minister Modi notget the memo or was heabsolutely unafraid of anyrepercussions? Since it is evi-dent that the Prime Ministerwill not voluntarily subjecthimself to any authority, letalone a moral one, it is incum-bent on the enforcers of theModel Code of Conduct tocome down hard against suchbrazen violation of diktats ofthe institution.

However, the EC has beenfound terribly wanting. Whileit heard numerous complaintsand representations againstvarious leaders, till last week, ittook no action against the var-ious representations byOpposition parties against thecomments and conduct ofPrime Minister Modi. Thisforced the Congress toapproach the Supreme Court inthe hope that such an actionwould provide some explana-tion as to why numerous bla-tant violations by the PrimeMinister were not examinedand acted upon by the EC.

Ironically, the Commissionwas prompt in dealing withcomplaints against other can-didates, but failed to display thesame promptness in dealingwith objections raised againstthe Prime Minister and BJPchief Amit Shah. Since then, wehave seen Prime Minister Modinot being cautioned for sever-al parts of his speech againstCongress chief Rahul Gandhi,who is contesting fromWayanad, and the April 9speech where the PrimeMinister explicitly asked thevoters to dedicate their vote toPulwama martyrs. If this isn’t“political propaganda involvingactivities of the defence forces,”I am not sure what is.

Even after an inexhaustibledelay, when it did choose toprobe these charges and act, theEC cleared the Prime Ministeron two counts. Even when hisremarks were not that veiledand quite specific.

Other than this, there havebeen several instances like “nopending complaint againstPrime Minister Modi” appear-ing on the poll panel’s portal,despite the fact that severalcomplaints have been lodged.The official defence is thatthere has to be a prima facieviolation of the Model Code ofConduct. That means the vio-

lation should be obvious on theface of it. A look at some of thecomments on social mediaand by wide sections of thepolitical establishment willshow that this basic standardhas been met.

Similarly, the fact that theEC suspended an IAS officer,who searched Modi’s chopper,and that this action of the elec-toral body was stayed by theCentral AdministrativeTribunal does not reflect wellon it either.

Mahatma Gandhi hadonce said, “Moral authority isnever retained by any attemptto hold on to it. It comes with-out seeking and is retainedwithout effort.” The Indianelections are a magnificent tes-timony to our commitment todemocracy. However, it needsa strong moral authority toensure that it remains so.Unfortunately, going by eventsof the past few weeks, the ECwill need to put immense effortto regain its moral authorityand fulfil the role it was meantto. And its office-bearers will atsome point have to think aboutthe sacredness of their jobsover political expediency.

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

)�������$������������� ������������*���+��������,���������������$���(-����!�������������� ����

���������������������������.���������������� ������������������������������������ ������������ ���$������������������/���������������� !���������������������������������� ��$������� ������������������������������!������������������������������������������(��������������������������������������(

� ����������������������������$���������������������������������������������������������0�������������������������������������������������#��������1���������������������������������������������2������������&��������������������������� "����(��������������!��������������������������������������(�����2#������&������� �������������������������������� �����������������������

#�����������!������������������������������������������������������������/��$����&����������������������3�������������45�����$������������������������3�����������������������������#��������1��������������������6����-����&����������� �#� ����� ���� ��������������������������������� ��������������(�������������������������������#������� �������� ���������3 �(7������������������������������������������5���/������������������������������8�������������������������93�������������-�������������������������������������� 23�����&������4 ��#����� ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������#����������� �5������������������������������������������������������������(���������������������������0�����-����/���������������������������� ���������������� ����������������������3����������������������������(����������������������������3��������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3�������

#������������������ �������6 ������������:����((7�������8:79����7������;����������(

�� ��������� 1�� ������ 3������� ���� ������������������������������������� ���� ���� �� <������� �������������� �� ������ ������ ��� �������"���� ���� � ��� ���� ���� ��� ���������=������������������������� �������������������������������� �����������3�����$��������������3�&�����������3������������� ����������������� ����������/������5���

����6 ���������������������$�������(�������������������������� ��������������������������������(���������������������������0�����������������������������3�&�������������������3����������������/��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������"�����(������������3�������$��������1����� �������������������������������������$�����������������������������������������������������������������<������������������������ ��������������������������������������$�������&�������������������������<�������.������������������������������������������� �� ������7�������������������������������������������������������;���������������3������������>��-������������������� ������(�������������=:$&������������������������������������������������� �3��������������������=�������������������������������$������������������������� ��� ����������������������������������������������������������� ��������3������������������������������7��������������������� �����������������������������������������&�����������6-(�����������������������������������������������������!��������������������������������������������������� ��"������"����3����

%�����/����������������������������������3���������������������������������������� �=�����������������������������;����������-����� /������&�?@AB��C���-��������/������������������������%���������������������-���($�������������������������������� $������D�:������������������ ����/�����������������$���������� ����������$��������������(������ ����������(��������=�����!���3��������8=!39������������3-������� ��������(������ �=�������6-������������������-����� /��������(�����������/���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$��������<�������=���������3���������6-�����������/����&����������������1��������������#���1���81�#19���������������������������������������� ���$������������������� �����#�6-(3����(/����"�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������%���3����&��������������=!3�/������������ ��������������������������������0�������������E��������6 ������3�����1�����-����� )��� %����������=������������������/����1�����7������0���F����������������:7&��������������$������������������3������1��������������(������6 ������������������ ��������������$���������������������������&������+1����� �������1������������ ������������� ����������������������;���������������������������������������� ������$����������������1����� �,�������

0���������������;������������������������$�������4F��������������������������;�������������������������(����=�������������:���������>��������������� ����������������������������������������� ���������� �= ������� ���������������������������-���������������$�������&�� ���(�����������������������"��������

�# ��������'��������2����������C2�� �����������'�� ����#������)�����""�"� �%���� �������������������#�"�,����������� � ����������������"��

&��������� ����� ������-� ��3 �����"����#"������"� ���#�����"��%����������*���D�8� �� ����������������

����������������

Sir — This refers to the editor-ial, “In TinTin’s footsteps” (May2). Even if there is solid evidencethat the footprints spotted by theIndian Army were indeed of theelusive Yeti, let us, for nature’ssake, not disturb a pristine envi-ronment. We must learn not toendanger species who have beenliving and surviving in the lap ofnature. Some things are best leftalone.

M Pradyu Thalikavu

���������������

Sir — The listing of MasoodAzhar as a global terrorist by theUN Security Council isundoubtedly a huge diplomaticwin for India in its long-stand-ing fight against terrorism.Azhar was the blue-eyed boy ofPakistan’s Inter-Ser vicesIntelligence and is also respon-sible for multiple terror attacksin India, including the Pulwamaterror attack in which 40 Indiansoldiers were killed in February.

At a time when almost allnations across the world have

been a victim of terrorism, theUN’s decision demonstrates theinternational community’s will toroot out a scourge and bringpeace, security and stability in theSouth Asian region. It now makessense for India to focus onstrengthening Sino-Indian trade.

Ramesh G JethwaniBengaluru

����������������

Sir — The UN’s listing ofMasood Azhar, the chief ofPakistan-based terrorist organ-isation, Jaish-e-Mohammad(JeM), as a global terrorist is asymbolic move but is a small stepforward towards India’s fight

against terrorism. It is noteworthy that

Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) andits chief, Hafiz Saeed, too, werelisted under the UN 1267 reso-lution. But as things stand today,such a move has done little tostop terror organisations fromoperating. In fact, the grey-list-ing of Pakistan by the Financial

Action Task Force (FATF), hadnot only drained al l terror-financing options forIslamabad, but had also forcedit to take action, albeit a cosmetic one.

India must side by sideexplore other options like takingpre-emptive action against ter-rorists, like the recent Balakotairstrikes. It must also put diplo-matic pressure on Pakistan totake action against terrorists.

SrinivasChennai

���������������

Sir — It is strange that theBharatiya Janata Party is resort-ing to every trick to retainpower. After having accusedthe Congress of working infavour of Pakistan, it has nowresurrected the issue of Congresspresident Rahul Gandhi’s “citi-zenship.” Why is the HomeMinistry flogging a dead horse?Is the ruling dispensation run-ning out of better issues?

AbhishekVia web

� � � 5 + � 6 " � 7 � � � 1 1 " 2

�������� ;

������!������ ��

0-12 :�9&'

&������"�����$�**�����������(������#����"�������'��������� ��3��"������3���������������!�������������#���$�#���'�$��#�"���5���������'�"�#������������� ��'���3�����3�*��������������

���*�����������#�#�D��"�*����������"���������������5�#����4��#�������������#������������&�����"������(�����"�* �������(�������������3����������#����� ����������'����� ���������3�*��

��01�0��0�1����2����0E���*��������3�

5��� �����"���3������3��� '������#� �� ����'������5;#��!�����#���� �� ����"����'��*��7��*��(��-���#�#����'���������3�����������

�3��0E��F �**�����

� ! � � % � � �

� � � ' � ! � � � � � % � ! '

�������������������������������

&������'������������#�������-�G5��&��&��;��'������ �H�I���.J��&����� ����#���3����3��'�*����������'��� �������':���-���*����"���"�������-�(������A �#���������*��'����

5�#������*�-����������"�*��#�!�������'��*������A����0��!�����"��������������������������������:���-����������� ������������(�*���(�������*��-�����#�#������������0"�!���#��� ����'�������*��������&�����*����3��#������G#��"�!0�����'�*����������'��� �������'�*����"���(�����:���H������'0'�"�������#��!���"���"���3��!�#��"��'�������"���*�#��A�����"���

5����������������3������7�����* ����'��*�(����-����������#����#�'��"���(����!�#����(���������'�:������!�������#�������(���������'�"���������(0� �"�����'�(��" ���#�(����(����������#�#�������*��"�*���������"��"��������������� ��*���0�� ��'��� ������������'�:�����������"������&����"�0����'�"�"�**�����������������G�*������� �"��������H�����#�������-����5�#�����"�������-�(����!�������������*�3����������(��������*��"���#�(�� �3*�� ���'�������*��������������������� ��3����'������������!������"�-�������*�������#����'�"���������'���#�"����'���G �� �3����3���������� ��0!�������#�(�� �#�(���"���"��H�&�������������"�����'�"�(����'�*��#�#��*����:������������0�A�������"�� ���K����3�"��

����*�������� ����������"��������������� � �������#(����#�3�������� "��� �� �����#�*�������������&���������������3������� ��#�#��(����'���#��""� ��������*�;�� ������"���*��&��������������������������� ����(�����������:��������"����������������3� ��� ����#��"�� �����E�����*��0�� ���*���#�E�*�����!����"���A����#��������*�������������������< ��0*��#�#����� �����!����������� ���"�*���������!�����3���#����3�*���������

-���4��������2����������

5<�5$���:-�&�����$&5<�

$<��5��5<�����<��&�5�7���5�4�5&�$<����5�&�

�4�5��&�<&��$��757�&�����&

=�5��7�&<75����:�&��

�����<��&�����5�7���5�4�5&�$<����5�&��4�5��&�&��

�5����5�5�&���7��C��$�5�=

��5&�����

!������ ��������"���� 5�����0���5��2��0671����3�1�

4������� ����$�� �������C�-�����$��3��������������#������3��(���#�����3��(����������0����������"���5����"����������(����I$��3����-��C�J��!������"�����#������#��3�

$���3���8E��������

5�D���������3��#���������*�*(�����������3���������*�����3��������#��'"�������� �����������*�*(����(�#��(��������#�"��������

����30���09:-�2�0���E��������4�������

###3������� �3��'�"�(�� �"�*6#���� ��������L 8&��7�������������L �����3��*�"�*6#���� ������6

�������������������� ����� !�"#$%

Page 9:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

:����!��"��� ����

/��-�����%�..�%���������%��������/������������������-��%��������/���������������.�-��.'.�-��%��-��&�%��%�..�/�������$ �;�������������

</��-�����-�����.���/�����'����'����-�����������

���������$�.��������������/��-������������.���%���/������������'%����������.���������%����������������%�'����'���������-��=/����<���/��������.����'����

�1456�!�� �'�1456�

:���� �B���"��" ��!��)�����"������"����� ��" �)����"���������� �������������D�8� � ��������"���� ������� �����"� �"������ ���������"�#������������"��"�

�������� 1* � ' � � ! � � 9 �

7 ��� �,������� � ������ �

�'0845 :�&�%��-&�

5�"�(����������(���������������� �(����������3����''����3����#��&�����##�!�������������0� ����#

����*������(���'���������#����"������*

.���������������������������������������������������(�����3���������������������������������������������3�������� ���������������������������(

������G��������������������������� ����������(������������������������������������G��������������������������������(����������������������������������������3�������� ����������?�HHH����(������������ ������������� ?IH��������������� ������������������������������� ��������� �������������/���"���� �JH��������������(������(���� ����� ������� �� ���� ���� ����� ��������� �#�������&���������������3������� ����������������������&������(�����������(����� ������������������� �� ��� ������ ��� ��� ����������� ��������� ���������������#�������������������������������������(������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������=����������(���������������� ���������������������������������������������� ���������"�����"���� �

�������������� 3������������������������� �������� ���G���������������7�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������BH�������3����&����(�������������������������������������������������(���������������#��(3 ������������������� ����(���������(������������������������ �������������3����&������������������������������������������������(� ��� ��������������������������������������(���������������������-��������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������������������������

������������������� 7�� �����������������(��������������������������������� �� ������������������������ ���� ���������������������(�� �3�&����� ���������������������������������������� �������������� �������������������������� ����������� �.���������������������������������(����������������������������������������������(������#�������������������������������������(�������������������������������������������(�����������������#������ �������������������(��������� ���� ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �-������������� ������������������������(�����������(������������������������������������������������

������������� E����������������������������������������������������������������������������������5����������������������������������������������������������������������������3��� ������� ������ ���� ���������� ����� �� ������ ����������������������������������������������������� �������� #����� ���� ��(���������� �������� ���������"���������������������������������������������������������������� ���������� �����������(� �����5�����������������������������������(��������������������������������������������3�����(�������� ������������������� �������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������

������������������� 5������������� ���������������(������ G���������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������(���������������3��������������(��������������������������������������� ������������� ��� �������(�����������������������������������������(� �������������������������� ����������������=�����������������������������-������������������������(����������������������������������������������(��������������������������������

������������ -����(�������������������� ���������(�����������������������������������������������������(� ��������������������������������������������������#��������������������������� �����(����2������������&��������������������������������6����� �����������������������-�������������������������������������3���������������������������������(�����������������������������������(������������������������� ����������������������������

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

In his controversial book, Pakistan’sISI: Covert Action and InternalOperations, Owen L Sirrs writes

that Pakistan’s first elected PrimeMinister, ZA Bhutto, wanted a pres-idential system to replace the parlia-mentary one that had elected him.Economist and author Shahid JavedBurki, in his 1980 book, Pakistanunder Bhutto, 1971-1977, also men-tions that Bhutto desired a presiden-tial form of democracy.

Sirrs writes that Bhutto hadenjoyed numerous executive powerswhen he replaced Yahya Khan asPresident and Chief martial lawadministrator in December 1971.However, his Government trans-formed Pakistan into a parliamentarydemocracy in 1973 and Bhuttobecame Prime Minister. Burki suggests

that Bhutto did this because his party’smanifesto had advocated parliamen-tary democracy. Nevertheless, sincethe fate and workings of the executivein parliamentary democracy are close-ly related to the legislative assemblies,this meant that Prime Minister Bhuttohad to let go of the powers that wereat his disposal as President.

Even though his party had amajority in the National Assembly,Bhutto struggled to navigate aroundthe interests of his party’s elected leg-islators, to fully enact the kind ofreforms he wanted to. On manyoccasions, he had to compromise tokeep his own MNAs and MPAshappy, let alone dealing in this con-text with the Opposition. Being anambitious politician, he wanted towield power without the manyConstitutional checks and balances,which Assemblies are armed with,including having the power to dis-miss a Prime Minister through a “noconfidence” move.

In a presidential system, the exec-utive and the legislature are indepen-dent bodies. The Assemblies cannotdismiss a President who is directly

elected by the electorate. The Presidentcan also appoint non-elected membersas Ministers in his/her Cabinet.Former ideologue of Bhutto’s PPP,Mubashir Hasan, in his 2001 book,The Mirage of Power, more thanalludes that Bhutto was looking for abig win in the 1977 election so that hecould use his party’s majority in theAssemblies to constitutionally changePakistan’s parliamentary form ofGovernment to a presidential one.

Bhutto was confident of winninga majority. But once it was realisedthat a united Opposition alliance hadthe potential to curtail his ambitionin this respect, Government officials,handling the polling, went overboardin rigging the election on variousseats, especially in Punjab.

All four military dictators, whoruled Pakistan during various stages,preferred the presidential system. Thisis one reason why even the mentionof this system raises many eyebrows.Recently, as the establishment-backedPTI Government of Imran Khanfaces increasing criticism on its han-dling of the country’s flounderingeconomy, talk of replacing Pakistan’s

parliamentary system with a presi-dential one can be heard again fromcertain quarters. The perceptionbeing developed by such talk is thatPTI’s wafer-thin majority in theNational Assembly and lack of elect-ed ministerial talent within the partyhas left Prime Minister Khan’sreformist agenda reeling.

What has made this (coy) call fora presidential system even more sus-pect is that some are calling it an“Islamic Presidential system.” Truth is,anything in Pakistan with the prefix“Islamic” has and should draw imme-diate scepticism because it has alwaysbeen cynically used — often causingmore confusion than resolution. Ideasin this regard have been nothing morethan convoluted rhetorical drivel.

Some are suggesting that an“Islamic Presidential system” hassomething to do with Allama Iqbal’sidea of democracy. But according toLA Shirvani’s 2005 book, Writings,Speeches and Lectures of Iqbal, Iqbalbelieved that a Muslim polity shouldelect a National Assembly made up ofmembers, who were well-versed inboth Islamic as well as modern (sec-

ular) sciences, laws and philosophies.Such an Assembly would make surethat the political and economic inter-ests of the polity are advanced accord-ing to the progressive spirit of its faithand a consensus (Ijma) is reachedwhich is representative of the elec-torate. Iqbal was also in favour of ijti-had (independent reasoning). Jinnahhad interpreted this as parliamentarydemocracy, which it was. But oneshould also keep in mind that Iqbalwas a poet and philosopher par excel-lence and not a political scientist.

But what if we investigate the pres-idential system without scepticismassociated with it in Pakistan? Spanishsociologist Juan Jose Linz in his essayThe Perils of Democracy and HarvardUniversity’s Prof S Mainwaring inPresidentialism, Multipartism andDemocracy write that historically, theparliamentary system performed bet-ter and provided stable democraciesthan presidential systems. Since theexecutive and the legislature are inde-pendent from each other in the pres-idential system, Linz and Mainwaringfind the gap between the two as a flawthat can lead to a clash. Linz worries

that “the rigidity of presidential systemcan create a profound suspicion of thepersonalisation of power.” ThePresident is not accountable to the leg-islature as a Prime Minister is in aParliamentary system.

According to Mainwaring’s 1993study, “presidential systems have notfared well. Only seven of 31 (22.6 percent) presidential democracies haveendured for at least 25 consecutiveyears, compared with 25 of 44 parlia-mentary systems (56.8 per cent). Linzpoints out that smaller parties lose outin the presidential system. This canbecome an issue in multiculturalnations where groups represented bysmaller parties may find themselvesleft out from the legislative process.

However, the West Africanresearcher J Luengo’s 2006 essay,Democracy and Civil War in SriLanka demonstrates how the adop-tion of parliamentary democracy bySri Lanka (formerly Ceylon) in 1948actually sent the country into adeadly spiral of ethnic tensions andwarfare. Sri Lanka’s Sinhalese major-ity had felt that during the Britishrule, it had been subjugated by the

region’s pro-British Tamil minority.After independence, parliamentarydemocracy brought populistSinhalese nationalist parties intopower, who began to implement poli-cies which alienated the Tamils.According to Luengo, this was theseed which gave birth to the long-drawn civil war in Sri Lanka betweenthe Sinhalese and the Tamils. In 1978,the country adopted a “semi-presi-dential system” in which the PrimeMinister is a secondary figure. It’s ahybrid system like the one practisedin France. But this system can causeproblems when the directly electedPresident belongs to a party that failsto bag a majority in Parliament. Theresult can be a deadlock.

There is nothing wrong in debat-ing what democratic system shouldPakistan adopt. But this debate is pre-mature in a country where parlia-mentary democracy has not yetbeen given the kind of uninterrupt-ed run that it requires before one canseriously critique it or, moreover,advocate its replacement with apresidential democracy.

(The Dawn)

;�)���������"��������" �"�#�"� �������������� � ������������������ ���� � ��������� �������� ������� ���������� ������������������������� ����������

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

50)��% .&'&��&

�������������������� ����� !�"#$%

###3������� �3��

Prostitution is an age-old profession, theterm derived from the Latin word pros-tituta, which involves the practice of

engaging in sexual relations in exchange formoney or some other material benefit. Its prac-titioners have now mutated to the moreacceptable moniker of “sex workers”, indicat-ing a respect for their work rights and a morestructured rule of engagement. Although amajority of sex workers are women, there arealso gay, lesbian and heterosexual male ones,the last commonly known as gigolos. In fact,there is a significant emerging market for lib-erated women, who pay for sexual pleasurefrom men. Around 80 per cent of the estimat-ed 42 million sex workers worldwide arefemale. This means that the remaining 20 percent comprises male escorts. Yet they have gotleft out of the discourse on shedding taboosand are denied legitimacy by law.

A survey of websites in 61 countries hasfound that a quarter of Australia’s 516 male sexworkers are now catering to women. Meanwhile,researchers from QUT’s Crime, Justice andSocial Democracy Research Centre and theKirby Institute at the University of New SouthWales, in the United Kingdom, found out that50 per cent of the 5,487 male escorts cater towomen and couples. In 2008, a scholarlypaper revealed 300,000 male practitioners(serving either sex) were under the age of 16years. New technologies like internet andmobile phones have promoted awareness ofmale sex work. The internet has also helped insafeguarding privacy and anonymity for poten-tial male/female clients. There is no more needfor gigolos to cruise public places, running therisk of arrest or violence. Professional escorts(indoor sex workers) usually advertise in printmedia through spa services or else on maleescorting websites. However, such websites mayface legal problems. In 2015, a well-knownAmerican website, Rentboy.com, was shutdown by the United States Department ofHomeland Security and its operators werecharged for facilitating prostitution. However,recent research suggests a substantial growth inthe number of online escorts worldwide.

Although not openly acknowledged asroyal mistresses or concubines, royal historiesacross the world do have mentions of gigolos.It has been found in almost all modern andancient cultures, though its prevalence has notbeen so common and prominent as that offemale prostitution. In ancient times, male andfemale sex workers are believed to have pliedtheir trade in sacred shrines. Yet the trade ishorribly askew vis-a-vis men.

The isolation and stigma of male sexworkers has been portrayed effectively in nov-els and cinemas in the West since the 1960s.Quite often, male prostitutes have been por-trayed as tragic figures in films such asMidnight Cowboy (1969), which is about atragic gigolo and won the Oscars, too.

Still male sex workers, compared to women(who have more slotted roles), have to providevaried services under different terminologies onmutually acceptable fee-for-service arrangement.They may be referred to as dancing partners,nude models, masseurs, rent-boys, male escorts,

gigolos (implying female customers) andhustlers (more common for those solic-iting in public places), among others. Alarge number of escorts catering to menand women engage in “non-tactile” ser-vices such as romance, tenderness, mas-sage therapy and companionship, suggest-ing that sex is only part of the holistic ser-vice, where intimacy and emotional com-fort is equally important to sexual pleasure.

Professor John Scott in his surveyreport quoted Maxime Durocher, amale sex worker since 2011, as saying,“Many of our clients come to see us say-ing (sometimes in tears) that they lovetheir partner and they want to stay withthem but they are missing something thatneeds to be addressed. They can’t con-tinue living like this. They might needmore tenderness, understanding, some-body to talk to, satisfying sex, certain sex-ual acts, or simply variety, diversity, nov-elty, something new.” Durocher contin-ued, “Whatever they need, there are onlytwo solutions: Getting it or leaving theirpartner. So by satisfying their missingdesires, we provide them the opportuni-ty of not breaking up relationships. Weare most of the time the glue that keepsthem together with spouses.”

In January 2010, Ian Daly had writ-ten about a 25-year-old gigolo, ‘Markus’(his working name), who had been reg-istered as the first legal male sex workerof America. Expressing his views, Markushad said that to become successful in thistype of venture, he had to act not as a ser-vice provider but as a surrogate lover,encompassing everything that’s requiredof you, not only physically but emotion-

ally and psychologically too. That’s evenmore difficult than the woman sex work-er. “You can’t necessarily say, oh, it’s justa job.You actually have to say it’s a pas-sion. This actually isn’t about selling mybody. This is about changing socialnorms. I view myself as an artist, a per-former. It’s a craft. Whichever woman maywalk through my door, she is appreciat-ed. A surrogate lover will love thatwoman for a whole hour and she will beleaving much more empowered andmuch more confident of herself.”

In the absence of male brothels,gigolos usually operate through internetor walk down certain selective locationsof metropolitan cities, including Delhi andBengaluru. Apart from the money, theyare also offered costly gifts besides theagreed amount.

Yet they continued to be a nebulousentity in the eyes of the law, which still hasbeen worked to protect women frombeing preyed upon. There is no clarity asto the working rights of the male sexworker. There is the Suppression ofImmoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act,1956 (SITA), as the nation was a signa-tory to the United Nations InternationalConvention for the ‘Suppression of Trafficin Persons and of the Exploitation ofOthers’ of 1950. SITA was amended twicein 1978 and 1986. The 1978 amendmentenhanced punishments for certainoffences in the Act. The 1986 amendmentchanged the nomenclature of the Act as“The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act,1956” (ITPA). One of the significantchanges in the Act was that the phrase“women and girls” was replaced with “per-

son” throughout the Act. This was doneto include all persons, regardless ofwhether male or female, who were abusedsexually for commercial purposes. Section2(f) of the ITPA specifically says that theterm “prostitute” is to be construedaccordingly — which is to say that theword is to be interpreted as per the factsand circumstances of each individual case.The key is to interpret the statute with thelegislative intent in mind ie, what was theintention of the Parliament when it firstdrafted the statute. Surely, the Parliamenthad no intention that it would protect thefemale but leave aside the male. Thephrase “female prostitutes” was usedonly because in those days female pros-titution was more common. As male pros-titution has not been explicitly andexpressly mentioned in the Act, theIndian judiciary is expected to incorpo-rate the rules of natural justice, utilise thedynamic methods of statutory interpre-tation and give meaning to the word asper its best judgement.

Unless the male sex workers are pro-tected, they will continue to be vulnera-ble to sexually transmitted diseases andprone to social exclusion, loss of esteemand drug and alcoholic dependence. It is,therefore, vital that males be legally pro-tected with as much sanctions and restric-tions like female sex workers. As thephrase of “women and girls” was substi-tuted by “person” in the ITPA Act, all typesof sex workers and their clients should beprosecuted at par, failing which it will bethe violation of Article 14 of the IndianConstitution.

(The writer is a legal journalist)

90�05 :��'���%

��������<�&5&�&5<������<&�����

�M��5$5&�:���7�M�����:

���&5<��7�5�&���5&��-�&��

5�75��C�75$5�:�5��M��$&�7�&<5�$<�<�&�&��������<=

��&���C��&5$�-��&5�5��

&���7:���5$��&�<7��<=�&�&�&<:

5�&���&�&5<���7�452�

����5�4�&<�&��<7������

5&�����&C�74����&

Page 10:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

+�����0�������������������� ����� !�"#$%

� �������������

����������������� ��/�������& ���#���9��� ����������� ���������"��� �����0��? � � ����: ����B�?:C������� ���� ���� �'/#�!'/�A��'+/6�/���������� �&������������"���7 ����D�+ �� "0��������������� ����� ���������� ��������������� ��������� ���������� ���.���������� ��D�%�� ����� ������������������������������� ��� �� �������������� ����� ����������������"��������� ������D'�� ��������������� ������������� �� ����� ��������

:� � ��� ������ ����� �� ��)�$��(�<����������������/��������������� � � �������� ������@ ���#�)�����6����� �������� "������ ���� �������� � � ��@�� �����D�+ ��ED,2������ �������� ������������������������������� �� �����EE4�?�*#� �� �� ����� ����� ������D���"����������� ����*��������� �%��� ������)�����6�����/A$������D�+������ �� ��� ������ � � ���������%@��*����������������������"�������� ����� ������������ �

B?� �/C�������������#�&���� �&�������%���#�%$���&���#�&���������@�! � �-&���� #���� �� ��� � ��#��$������'6#���.�&����%��� �)��������#�����* �������������������9 ��#�� �����%����@�/�����&���� �&������#�%$���&����� ������� � ����.�&�����+%���%$���&���#�&��������

� � ����/������������� ���� ���� �/����� �� ���� ��#�7���� ���� �����9��� ������������ ����/����������#�����$�� �D�+ ������ ��� �� ��������� ��� ����������� ���� ��������� ���� � ���.������������������ ��D�+ �������������� �� ������ ���������� ���������� ������ ������ ���������������� � ��/�������������.��������������� �����

����� ���7���5

Bharat Heavy ElectricalsLimited (BHEL) has suc-

cessfully commissioned thefirst two pumping units (116MW each) of the 7x116 MWKaleshwaram Lift IrrigationScheme (LIS) Package-6 inTelangana. Significantly, thepump for each unit is designed

to lift 89.16 cumecs (cubicmetres per second) of water by105.5 metres.

Being developed by theIrrigation & CAD (I&CAD)department of the Governmentof Telangana, the greenfield liftirrigation project (formerlyknown as Pranhita Chevella) islocated in Peddapalli district ofTelangana.

% � ������ ��� ����������� ��������� ���� ��������������������������� ��� �#������ �#�)������ ��!���������)���������$���� �����B)!)$C� ����������� �������������"���������3-���� ����� �����D�+ ����������������� ����������� ����� ��$���?�����#� ������� ����������� � ������ � ������������ ��5�)�������.�������������� ����� �� ������ ��� ����� ������� �FD�+ ����������������������"���� �D�!�� ��!��� �*���#����"��#�/�������� ������ �#* �� �����0�"�A�!�D��� ���� �#��//)$#�� ������� D�+ �������������� ������ ������"���� �D�!/�%�� ��#�� ��������"���!�������#����������� ������ �

����� ���7���5

The National Company LawAppellate Tribunal

(NCLAT) on Thursday allowedthe banks to declare as non-performing assets the accountsof IL&FS and its group com-panies that have defaulted onpayments.

A bench headed byChairman Justice S JMukhopadhaya lifted theembargo on the banks todeclare the accounts of thedebt-ridden IL&FS and its 300group entities.

However, the appellate tri-bunal has also clarified thatalthough the banks woulddeclare the IL&FS accounts asNPAs but can not initiaterecovery process and debitmoney.

The bench has observedthat lenders must not withdrawsupport until a resolution isfound of the IL&FS and itsgroup companies.

Presently, InfrastructureLeasing & Financial Services(IL&FS) Group companies,with a collective debt of over�90,000 crore, are goingthrough resolution process.

The NCLAT had inFebruary prohibited banksfrom recognising any IL&FSgroup accounts as non-per-forming assets without firstseeking approval from the tri-bunal.

The RBI had moved theNCLAT, filing a plea to modi-fy the order allowing the banksto declare the defaultingaccounts of IL&FS as NPAs asper the banking regulations.

Now, all group companiesof IL&FS are being classifiedaccording to their ability tomeet payment obligations.

Those able to meet all pay-ment obligations are cate-gorised as ’green’ while com-panies able to meet only oper-ational payments and seniorsecured debt obligations arecategorised as ’amber’. Othersare categorised as ’red’.

��������2�����$�����"N�������������#�������������New Delhi: Stellar Value ChainSolutions Pvt Ltd, an Indianthird-party logistics servicescompany, on Thursdayannounced the 100% acquisitionof ‘Patel Roadways’ business,the surface transportation arm ofPatel Integrated Logistics Ltd.Innovative Logistics Services PvtLtd, a 100% subsidiary of Stellarwill acquire Patel Roadways divi-sion of PILL including Express,Less-than-truck-load (LTL) andFull-truck-load (FTL) segmentsby way of slump sale in an all cash deal. PNS

����� ���7���5

Medical Council of Indiahas approved establish-

ment of a new medical col-lege with an intake of 150MBBS students, in the nameof “Al Falah School ofMedical Science & ResearchCentre” in Faridabad(Haryana), just 22 kms dis-tance from Badarpur Delhiborder. This college is a partof Al Falah University, a pre-mium private University ofthe region.

$��.�/������������%�����������.���%����.��������-�������/����������.��-���

%��0���������������������"89�1������������2������& �����<�(��7�����"������������=������+��/��������#����� ���������>*���"�����/�� ���+��������#��#����"��� ���"������+����

����� ���7���5

Shares of Jet Airways plunged12 per cent Thursday amid

a report that bidders for thecompany so far appear unin-terested in following up ontheir expressions of interest.

Investors deserted the JetAirways’ counter since the startof trading in the morning andthe scrip closed at Rs 134.85,plunging 12.04 per cent on theBSE. During the day, it plum-meted 20.41 per cent to Rs 122-- its 52-week low.

On the National StockExchange (NSE), the scripdropped 11.70 per cent to closeat Rs 135.40.

On the traded volumefront, 35.08 lakh shares of thecompany were traded on theBSE and over three crore shareson the NSE during the day.

The company’s market val-uation went lower by Rs 209.14crore to Rs 1,531.86 crore onthe BSE.

Jet Airways ceased opera-tions on April 17 after monthsof financial difficulties andmultiple attempts at saving theoldest private sector airlinerfailed.

=��� �����������,-4#� ��,@����� ��������� �����

��� ����7���5

Ta t aMotors

on Thursdayreported a20 per centdecline intotal salesduring Aprilat 42,577units asc o m p a r e dwith 53,511units in thesame monthlast year.

The company’s passengervehicle sales in the domesticmarket declined by 26 per centto 12,694 units last month ascompared with 17,235 units inApril 2018.

“The industry has record-ed de-growth for the tenthconsecutive month. Weak con-sumer sentiments are reflectedin this demand de-growth andwe have also been impacted,”Tata Motors PresidentPassenger Vehicles BusinessUnit Mayank Pareek said.

The company said its com-mercial vehicle (CV) sales inthe domestic market stood at

29,883 units in April, down 18per cent from 36,276 units inthe same month last year.

“The industry is yet torecover from the revised axleload norms while the post-ponement of demand due togeneral elections have alsodragged down CV sales,” TataMotors President CommercialVehicles Business Unit GirishWagh said.

Total exports during Aprilstood at 1,402 units, a dip of 53per cent as compared with thesame period of last year due tolower offtake in markets likeBangladesh, Sri Lanka and theMiddle East, the company said.

6����%������� ����:;<����:,=>>���������0���

����/�.�/��/�.������������������ >*�$$�������������.��.�����������'

����� �����5

The rupee appreciated by 19paise to 69.37 against the

US dollar Thursday, registeringits third consecutive session ofgain amid easing crude oilprices and weakening of thegreenback against other majorcurrencies overseas.

Forex dealers said selling ofthe American currency byexporters and sustained foreign

fund inflows also propped upthe rupee.

At the interbank foreignexchange market, the domesticunit opened at 69.60 per dol-lar and advanced to a high of69.62 during the day.

It finally settled at 69.37,registering a rise of 19 paiseover its previous close.

The rupee had settled at69.56 against the US dollarTuesday.

��#������ �+O� ��������PO�/1

����� ���7���5

Regulator TRAI plans to asktelecom operator Bharti

Airtel to cough up additionaldetails on segmented or con-cessional offerings it made tocustomers and will insist thatinformation furnished adheresto its ’prescribed format’, asource said.

The Telecom RegulatoryAuthority of India (TRAI) hadlast month asked operators tosubmit information on con-cessional offers dished outbetween April 2018 and March2019, and while Bharti Airtelhas shared some details,Vodafone Idea sought twomore weeks to submit the same.

A TRAI official privy to thedevelopment said Bharti Airtelhas merely mentioned thenumber of segmented offersgiven in a month, but addedthat the regulator wants theinformation segregated circle-wise and co-related with theexisting plans.

Also, Bharti Airtel has fur-nished the details forDecember 2018 onwards, whileTRAI has sought details of suchconcessions over a longer peri-od, the official noted.

Meanwhile, Vodafone Idea

has sought two more weeks tosubmit the required informa-tion citing its recent mergerand the amount of informationinvolved.

Both Airtel and VodafoneIdea declined to comment to e-mail queries sent to them.

The source further saidTRAI would like to have accessto information on concessionsbeing given to subscribers byoperators, for its record.

“The operators are notputting it (segmented offerdetails) in public domain, norare they filing those offers...Sothey have to tell us, in each planhow many segmented offershave been made,” the official said.

The telecom tribunal, inDecember last year, had setaside TRAI’s rule on predato-ry pricing as also its regulationthat required telcos to report allsegmented offers.

However, the TelecomDisputes Settlement andAppellate Tribunal (TDSAT)had said that TRAI can seekdetails of any segmented offerabout which it may havereceived complaints and caneven examine whether suchoffers for existing customersare actual ly non-discriminatory.

8-/,����� ��.�"���/�"������#�"�� ������� ��#� ���������##�" ����7 ����������#�"���3

����� ��4��

The US on Thursday urged“ l i k e - m i n d e d

Governments” from theEuropean Union to be cautiousand coordinate their policies on5G network security in light ofsuspicions over the system pro-posed by Chinese giant Huawei.

“Only with the leadership oflike-minded countries we’ll beable to develop and deploy andmanage secure and reliable 5Gcommunications infrastruc-tures,” said Joshua Steinman, a

special cyber security assistant toUS President Donald Trump.

Speaking at a conference inPrague organised by the Czechgovernment, he singled outnational security as “a manda-tory criterion in evaluatingsuppliers of information andcommunication technologies,products and services.”

Steinman was echoed byJulian King, an EU commis-sioner in charge of the SecurityUnion, who spoke in a videomessage screened at the con-ference.

<!�������� ������ ���'<� ����� ��G*���� ���

Page 11:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

+�����00������������� ������ ����� !�"#$%

����� �����5

Equity benchmarks ended on anegative note after a volatile ses-sion on Thursday as investor

sentiment remained on the backfoot amid lacklustre macroeconom-ic data and mixed overseas cues.

Auto stocks skidded followingweak April sales numbers, while ITcounters tumbled as the rupeestrengthened above the 70 per dol-lar mark.

The BSE Sensex settled 50.12points, or 0.13 per cent, lower at38,981.43. During the day, the indexswung over 300 points, hitting anintra-day low of 38,882.99 and a highof 39,189.95.

In similar movement, the broad-er NSE Nifty slipped 23.40 points, or0.20 per cent, to close at 11,724.75.It also saw an intra-day movement of89.75 points.

Globally, stock markets strug-gled after the US Federal Reservedecided to keep its benchmark inter-est rate unchanged amid mixed signalsabout the direction of the Americaneconomy.

In the Sensex pack, Tata Motorswas the biggest loser, shedding 3.29per cent, followed by ICICI Bank,IndusInd Bank, Infosys, HCL Tech,Axis Bank, TCS, HUL, Asian Paints,Sun Pharma, SBI, Tata Steel andNTPC, which dropped up to 3.23 percent.

On the other hand, Yes Bank wasthe top gainer, rebounding 3.45 per

cent. PowerGrid, HDFC, HDFCBank, Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto,Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finance, KotakBank, RIL, L&T, Vedanta, ITC,ONGC and Maruti too ended in thegreen, rising up to 1.88 per cent.

“As we enter the final stages of the2019 general elections, one canexpect the volatility in the market toremain high. Q4 FY19 earnings so farhas been lacklustre, slowdown in sec-tors such as consumption and autohas hurt investor sentiments.

“Rising oil prices continue to bea threat to the domestic markets.However, due to the ongoing gener-al elections the government has keptdomestic oil prices stable and has notundertaken any steep hikes,” saidHemang Jani, Head - Advisory,Sharekhan by BNP Paribas.

Sectorally, BSE IT, teck, con-sumer durables, bankex and autoindices ended in the red, falling upto 1.84 per cent. The broader BSEMidcap and Smallcap gauges closedin line with the benchmarks, shed-ding up to 0.61 per cent.

Elsewhere in Asia, Korea’s Kospiand Hong Kong’s Hang Seng endedin the green, while other majorbourses in China and Japan wereshut. European equites started off ona mixed note.

������������� +�������The rupee, meanwhile, appreci-

ated by 19 paise to 69.37 against theUS dollar on Thursday, registering itsthird consecutive session of gain amid

easing crude oil prices and weaken-ing of the greenback against othermajor currencies overseas.

Forex dealers said selling of theAmerican currency by exporters andsustained foreign fund inflows alsopropped up the rupee.

At the interbank foreignexchange market, the domestic unitopened at 69.60 per dollar andadvanced to a high of 69.62 duringthe day. It finally settled at 69.37, reg-istering a rise of 19 paise over its pre-vious close. The rupee had settled at69.56 against the US dollar Tuesday.Currency market was shut onWednesday on account ofMaharashtra Day.

Brent crude futures, the global oilbenchmark, slipped 0.93 per cent toUSD 71.51 per barrel. Crude priceshave recovered significantly fromtheir six-month high of USD 75.60per barrel. “Oil prices fell today,pulled down by record US crude pro-duction that led to a surge iniXWnventories. Brent is set for aweekly loss, which would break itslongest string of weekly gains for ayear,” said V K Sharma, Head PCGand Capital Markets Strategy, HDFCSecurities.

The dollar index, which gaugesthe greenback’s strength against a bas-ket of six currencies, slipped 0.05 percent to 97.63. Foreign institutionalinvestors (FIIs) remained net buyersin the capital markets, putting in Rs114 crore Tuesday, according to pro-visional exchange data.

����� ���7���5

The country’s manufacturing sector perfor-mance eased to an eight-month low in April

as new business growth moderated, curbed bythe elections and a challenging economic envi-ronment, a monthly survey showed on Thursday.

The Nikkei India ManufacturingPurchasing Managers’ Index declined from 52.6in March to 51.8 in April, reflecting weakestimprovement in business conditions sinceAugust 2018. This is the 21th consecutivemonth that the manufacturing PMI remainedabove the 50-point mark. In PMI parlance, aprint above 50 means expansion, while a scorebelow that denotes contraction.

April PMI data indicated that softerincrease in new orders restricted growth of out-put, employment and business sentiment

“Although remaining inside expansionterritory, growth continued to soften and thefact that employment increased at the weakestpace for over a year suggests that producers arehardly gearing up for a rebound,” said PollyannaDe Lima, principal economist at IHS Markitand author of the report, said.

When looking at reasons provided by sur-veyed companies for the slowdown, disruptionsarising from the elections was a key theme,Lima said, adding that “firms also seem to haveadopted a wait-and-see approach on their plansuntil public policies become clearer upon theformation of a government”. On the prices front,input cost inflation eased to a 43-month lowwhile the rate of charge inflation was margin-al and below its long-run average.

“With price pressures in the manufactur-ing economy cooling and growth losingmomentum, it’s increasingly likely that the RBImay cut its official rate for a third successivetime in June,” Lima said. The next meeting ofRBI’s Monetary Policy Committee is scheduledon June 3-6.

%:1"2511�4 +25+����?#������������������ >@�

New Delhi: Tyre major MRF on Thursdayposted 14.91% decline in its standalone net prof-it at �293.83 crore for the fourth quarter of 2018-19 fiscal. The company had posted a net profitof �345.32 crore in the year-ago period. Revenuefrom operations, however, rose to �4,073.45 croreduring the fourth quarter as compared with�3,835.50 crore in the same period of 2017-18,MRF said in a regulatory filing. For the 2018-19fiscal, the company reported a net profit of�1,096.87 crore, up marginally from �1,092.28crore in 2017-18. Revenue from operations roseto �15,837 crore in 2018-19 fiscal as comparedwith �15,181.05 crore in 2017-18. The compa-ny’s board recommended a final dividend of �54per share, which along with two interim dividendsof �3 each already paid, works out to �60 per sharefor the year ended March, 31 2019.

$�������$���?#�����������"!@�Kolkata: Net profit of private sector Bandhan

Bank during the last quarter of FY18-19 increased68% at �650.87 crore as compared to �388 crorethe same period previous fiscal. Net profit for thewhole financial year 2018-19 increased 45% y-o-y at �1951.50 crore as against �1346 crore inthe similar corresponding period, the bank saidin a statement on Thursday. Net interest margin(NIM) of the bank in the current quarter stoodat 10.69% against 9.32% in the correspondingperiod of the previous year. Total advances of thebank grew 38.46% at �44,776 crore as on March31, 2019, as against �32,339 crore as on March31, 2018. Total deposits increased by 27.64% at�43,232 crore as on March 31, 2019, comparedto �33,869 crore as on March 31, 2018, the state-ment added. Gross NPAs as on March 31, 2019stood at 2.04% against 2.41% as on December 31,2018. CASA ratio of the bank at 40.75% of totaldeposits, compared to 34.32% in the corre-sponding period last year. Operating profit forthe quarter increased by 63.92% at �1,154 croreagainst �704 crore in the corresponding quarterof the previous year.

��$���������������..��"�#@New Delhi: Homegrown FMCG major

Dabur India Ltd on Thursday reported a fallof 6.46% in consolidated net profit to �371.49crore for the fourth quarter ended March 2019.The company had posted a net profit of�397.18 crore in the January-March quarter ayear ago, Dabur India said in a BSE filing. Itstotal income stood at �2,194.25 crore, a rise of4.18% as compared with �2,106.15 crore of theyear-ago quarter. Dabur’s total expense was�1,729.59 crore as against �1,603.56 crore a yearago, up 7.85%. For the entire financial year2018-19, Dabur’s profit stood at �1,446.25 croreas against �1,357.74 crore in the previous year.

����/���������?#������������� #@�����(+�/����

New Delhi: Liquor firm Radico KhaitanON Thursday reported 14.24% increase in itsstandalone net profit to �39.05 crore for thefourth quarter ended March 31. The companyhad posted a net profit of �34.18 crore duringthe January-March a year ago, Radico Khaitansaid in a regulatory filing. Its total income dur-ing the quarter under review stood at �1,981.85crore, up 18.51% against �1,672.30 crore in thecorresponding quarter previous fiscal. RadicoKhaitan’s total expenses surged 18.78% to�1,925.19 crore compared to �1,620.74 crore.For the entire 2018-19, Radico Khaitan’s prof-it stood at �188.06 crore, up 52.33%, as against�123.45 crore in the previous year. Totalincome in the last fiscal stood at �8,071.29 crore,up 28.54%, from �6,279.03 crore in 2017-18.

�������������?#��������������-��������%�:��.������()�#)�/����

New Delhi: CK Birka group firm OrientPaper on Thursday reported over two-fold jumpin its standalone net profit to �32.42 crore forthe fourth quarter ended March 31. The com-pany had posted a net profit of �15.78 crore dur-ing the January-March a year ago, Orient Papersaid in a regulatory filing. PTI

,����3 ��#�� ����"��"��� ��� ����/�"����������������"����� = &:,�

-�0�����������������������������'���$�������

Script Open High Low LTPYESBANK 163.30 178.05 160.00 173.80JETAIRWAYS 140.00 142.80 122.00 134.85RPOWER 6.08 6.15 4.94 5.37RELCAPITAL 133.20 144.50 128.00 136.90RELIANCE 1394.00 1413.75 1382.00 1405.10ICICIBANK 404.60 405.15 393.50 394.60SPICEJET 128.60 131.40 126.75 127.75DHFL 134.40 142.00 130.30 134.00BANDHANBNK 595.95 635.00 593.15 622.60INFY* 748.60 748.90 728.20 729.85RELINFRA 108.20 115.20 106.45 110.25IBULHSGFIN 694.75 708.00 672.30 678.75MARUTI 6595.05 6713.00 6538.15 6668.35PCJEWELLER 116.80 119.55 112.45 113.75DABUR 400.00 400.00 377.00 382.45SBIN 308.00 311.35 305.60 307.45TATAMOTORS 212.90 212.90 205.95 207.15ASHOKLEY 87.20 91.75 85.80 89.65BIOCON 594.95 594.95 556.00 560.90HEG 1620.00 1771.95 1575.00 1732.55KOTAKBANK 1394.00 1421.75 1383.85 1407.70

IBREALEST 113.50 117.60 112.40 116.00TATASTEEL 556.00 560.35 549.30 554.85BRITANNIA 2911.00 2952.20 2773.80 2785.50SUZLON 6.85 6.90 6.66 6.77HDFCBANK 2321.00 2358.75 2320.00 2353.95ITC 302.00 306.25 299.00 304.65BOMDYEING 113.00 123.00 112.65 120.10TVSMOTOR 455.00 488.00 452.15 479.40GRAPHITE 380.00 407.55 375.25 398.55EVEREADY 105.20 118.90 105.20 107.95SBILIFE 640.00 656.85 640.00 650.55AXISBANK 766.90 767.80 748.40 752.65HDFCLIFE 405.00 418.00 403.80 417.00AJANTPHARM 970.00 1088.30 970.00 1075.35ESCORTS 715.20 715.20 677.05 680.50MOTHERSUMI 146.00 146.00 139.20 140.30JINDALSTEL 177.60 181.30 175.30 180.50STRTECH 189.95 193.70 185.60 189.30HEROMOTOCO 2520.00 2568.75 2495.00 2551.60PNB 84.60 87.75 83.95 86.20TCS 2260.00 2260.00 2209.45 2214.40IBVENTURES 293.95 311.50 283.00 305.00WIPRO 299.00 299.25 293.00 293.55PERSISTENT* 633.85 634.65 612.70 628.45HINDPETRO 293.00 293.00 280.50 281.85INDHOTEL 158.00 161.00 152.00 152.75IDEA 15.50 16.55 15.15 16.25VEDL 168.00 169.10 164.45 168.30TECHM 834.70 846.00 830.00 834.55JSWSTEEL 309.40 313.40 303.50 306.85BANKBARODA 117.40 118.05 115.00 115.95BHARTIARTL 321.90 329.40 321.90 324.70LT 1352.50 1376.45 1342.10 1358.95SUNPHARMA 459.85 462.00 450.20 451.45INDIGO 1512.00 1546.30 1496.40 1541.00DMART 1291.00 1308.00 1260.25 1265.25JPASSOCIAT 5.40 5.50 5.30 5.33ADANIPOWER 44.95 45.85 43.50 44.40DLF 171.70 175.55 169.85 171.95M&M 646.85 660.25 635.55 644.50INDUSINDBK 1610.00 1616.95 1555.00 1562.60AMBUJACEM 220.50 225.80 218.05 221.10BHEL 71.10 71.60 69.30 69.65HDFC 1992.00 2028.25 1990.00 2017.30PNBHOUSING 717.20 726.20 679.00 684.40L&TFH 131.95 133.95 129.40 130.85RAYMOND 776.25 776.25 735.60 738.30AUROPHARMA 820.00 829.90 790.00 797.80M&MFIN 398.00 406.00 392.50 395.40IOC 158.50 160.45 156.15 157.50BAJFINANCE 3099.60 3146.90 3060.00 3129.15IDFCFIRSTB 49.60 50.90 49.05 50.45TATAPOWER 68.15 68.20 66.35 66.70ULTRACEMCO 4630.00 4635.70 4578.75 4623.40TATAELXSI 929.00 930.35 889.95 896.10DCMSHRIRAM 471.00 484.80 453.55 465.00GRUH 317.00 332.35 309.00 324.70CANFINHOME 315.00 345.60 313.90 342.65CONCOR 500.00 520.90 494.35 513.50APOLLOHOSP 1244.00 1244.00 1156.00 1189.00ZEEL 431.55 434.90 417.10 418.45RAIN 114.00 121.00 112.05 118.30EDELWEISS 150.00 150.00 139.50 140.65ONGC 169.75 171.70 168.30 169.55KANSAINER 434.10 443.50 409.80 417.80RADICO 354.45 364.70 352.60 353.00JUBLFOOD 1328.00 1364.30 1315.10 1347.15INFIBEAM 41.75 43.80 41.75 42.45

BANKINDIA 88.35 91.35 87.15 89.15INFRATEL 263.75 272.20 263.75 270.55HINDALCO 203.65 207.60 201.50 204.85SRF 2567.85 2614.00 2535.65 2579.00GREAVESCOT 147.95 153.00 145.35 148.40PEL 2350.00 2419.15 2289.35 2375.85NCC 99.25 101.50 97.30 97.55SAIL 56.25 56.70 55.40 56.20ACC 1630.00 1642.00 1607.45 1613.10JUSTDIAL 578.00 590.70 573.00 586.55IRB 121.50 123.50 119.75 121.80HINDUNILVR 1754.00 1762.30 1722.60 1728.05INTELLECT 229.00 234.00 224.70 230.30TATAMTRDVR 102.60 102.60 98.55 99.10ICICIGI 1099.80 1115.00 1088.00 1110.00RNAM 198.00 202.90 191.00 196.60ABCAPITAL 98.00 100.90 96.55 99.80PIDILITIND 1238.95 1252.50 1224.30 1228.85CUMMINSIND 730.00 730.00 698.00 705.00JAICORPLTD 116.00 116.80 112.80 114.05DRREDDY 2935.00 2965.20 2909.05 2922.00CANBK 264.00 266.50 258.30 262.00GAIL 356.80 356.80 346.30 347.60PVR 1747.50 1812.00 1747.50 1806.00GODREJPROP 835.00 849.45 816.65 819.00UNIONBANK 83.95 86.10 82.60 84.50FORCEMOT 1680.00 1680.00 1616.00 1626.15MPHASIS 968.00 987.05 963.00 978.50LUPIN 868.80 882.15 868.05 874.80PHILIPCARB 157.00 159.20 153.00 153.10ASIANPAINT 1471.90 1471.90 1433.00 1444.50COALINDIA 252.00 254.50 250.70 251.85CGPOWER 37.95 37.95 36.45 36.60RBLBANK 679.00 684.60 663.05 664.45PFC 116.00 116.00 113.75 113.75NBCC 58.50 59.50 57.60 59.05BEL 87.00 89.20 86.25 88.15BEML 873.75 887.05 857.80 873.40FEDERALBNK 94.00 95.50 92.00 94.20POWERGRID 187.00 190.70 186.40 189.80TITAN 1158.00 1158.15 1136.00 1142.50BPCL 378.95 382.55 375.85 377.65ADANIGREEN 40.00 43.90 39.30 41.70ADANIPORTS 390.00 396.25 390.00 394.30JISLJALEQS 55.30 55.35 52.25 52.80NAVKARCORP 34.80 34.80 33.25 33.90ICICIPRULI 365.50 376.80 365.50 373.20MCX 862.00 876.00 848.00 854.70BAJAJ-AUTO 3008.70 3039.00 2965.80 3037.05INDIACEM 107.70 108.35 105.40 106.15MEGH 66.50 68.25 65.55 66.60NATIONALUM 51.90 52.35 51.25 51.65CEATLTD 1069.90 1069.90 1027.50 1054.95VINATIORGA 1784.00 1890.00 1784.00 1863.20OIL 182.00 184.35 178.00 181.80EXIDEIND 215.00 215.00 210.30 212.55AVANTI 367.75 372.50 342.00 369.00APOLLOTYRE 206.50 206.60 201.30 202.70HAVELLS 777.50 779.90 765.00 770.00WOCKPHARMA 408.25 414.50 405.05 406.55SYNDIBANK 37.60 38.30 36.90 37.00VENKYS 1989.45 2043.00 1857.00 1983.70GNFC 315.00 319.40 311.80 313.70GSFC 99.00 99.00 95.25 96.65DBL 540.35 540.35 494.45 502.90DIVISLAB 1737.00 1769.00 1709.05 1714.05EICHERMOT 19997.00 20610.60 19855.45 20535.20HINDZINC 277.80 277.80 270.10 271.10HCLTECH 1172.50 1179.80 1155.75 1159.90BATAINDIA 1455.00 1477.00 1450.00 1467.30MAHABANK 18.20 18.20 16.70 16.85LICHSGFIN 494.00 500.70 486.00 489.35IGL 313.00 317.80 308.00 309.35MANPASAND 109.15 111.30 99.00 107.05DISHTV 35.00 37.05 35.00 35.85DELTACORP 244.40 245.50 238.40 239.75MRF 52925.00 53771.00 51850.00 52599.95GRASIM 908.00 908.00 890.50 899.45LTTS 1749.75 1770.30 1738.75 1762.85ZENSARTECH 249.90 252.80 241.45 248.80CASTROLIND 152.80 153.85 149.00 149.85IFCI 10.44 10.44 9.90 10.02CENTURYTEX 898.20 934.40 898.20 931.00SUNTECK 465.15 469.50 455.50 457.95HEXAWARE 348.00 351.75 341.50 342.70CIPLA 561.10 568.70 557.00 564.85CADILAHC 325.00 325.00 313.35 315.20IDBI 39.45 40.60 38.95 40.05MINDTREE 984.85 986.35 977.25 980.00QUESS 695.00 705.70 689.95 692.95IBULISL 290.00 308.00 287.25 297.80NMDC 100.50 101.70 100.30 100.65NTPC 133.80 133.90 132.20 133.35RECLTD 148.35 148.35 143.10 144.40BAJAJFINSV 7525.00 7625.50 7506.00 7575.00INDIANB 250.15 258.50 249.35 253.45ALBK 47.20 48.05 46.20 47.45CHOLAFIN 1380.00 1380.00 1331.05 1337.20HFCL 22.30 22.65 22.10 22.45SUNTV 581.00 581.00 556.70 560.40JKTYRE 88.90 88.90 80.95 85.20WESTLIFE 397.85 409.45 397.85 398.00BALKRISIND 913.00 921.00 887.65 895.30STAR 481.20 487.25 477.45 482.30ORIENTCEM 107.90 110.05 104.90 107.90COLPAL 1215.00 1223.55 1180.00 1184.00SHANKARA 518.00 534.00 517.00 527.20J&KBANK 61.00 62.15 60.35 60.75DCBBANK 213.00 215.35 211.55 213.80

UJJIVAN 321.00 330.30 316.00 322.45SIEMENS 1171.95 1187.10 1148.00 1153.60VIPIND 470.00 475.75 458.00 460.60BHARATFORG 471.30 476.65 462.00 463.00JMFINANCIL 90.00 91.50 87.45 88.35SPARC 168.85 171.00 165.60 167.95CYIENT 593.00 603.00 586.45 594.00LAKSHVILAS 73.55 76.50 72.15 73.50VOLTAS 600.00 610.25 598.65 600.55MANAPPURAM 117.55 119.80 116.70 116.90LTI 1725.00 1735.00 1714.45 1725.55ABB 1474.00 1519.90 1464.00 1473.90TATAGLOBAL 209.25 210.00 205.00 205.30GODREJCP 653.20 660.95 648.45 652.50TORNTPHARM 1772.15 1800.00 1747.90 1765.75FSL 50.70 50.85 49.60 49.90NATCOPHARM* 549.00 553.95 527.20 533.60NIITTECH 1282.00 1296.75 1273.35 1277.00OMAXE 208.90 208.90 207.60 208.00SOUTHBANK 15.65 16.10 15.50 15.85MGL 956.65 974.15 954.00 957.00MOTILALOFS 715.00 748.00 710.50 732.00TRENT 356.60 368.40 346.90 366.40ECLERX 1153.00 1153.00 1145.00 1148.50KTKBANK 126.00 128.30 125.30 126.35ORIENTBANK 95.00 98.85 95.00 96.85BBTC 1241.30 1271.30 1231.00 1242.45SUVEN 266.00 266.80 261.25 263.95GMRINFRA 16.60 16.95 16.55 16.70BHARATFIN 1020.00 1020.00 975.00 981.20RCF 56.95 57.10 55.95 56.95IDFC 40.05 40.50 38.90 39.15JUBILANT 673.30 673.30 651.50 655.00UBL 1454.90 1454.90 1397.00 1411.90IPCALAB 966.15 983.50 960.45 973.70SRTRANSFIN 1109.90 1109.90 1088.00 1095.10RAMCOCEM 775.40 784.05 770.05 778.10GLENMARK 637.95 639.35 622.00 624.45MUTHOOTFIN 594.00 603.60 574.10 590.20NESTLEIND 10900.00 10900.00 10550.00 10577.05NOCIL 134.00 135.00 130.10 130.90CUB 201.00 202.80 194.00 199.00MINDAIND 375.00 375.00 339.40 341.15BLISSGVS 169.40 171.30 165.55 166.95FLFL 487.00 494.00 478.50 486.00ISEC 218.05 221.40 215.20 216.10NHPC 23.75 23.75 23.05 23.15SHARDACROP 361.55 420.00 358.10 400.25HSCL 109.20 111.85 108.25 109.25TRIDENT 65.55 66.65 64.90 66.30PETRONET 240.00 241.00 237.30 238.45CHENNPETRO 252.80 258.00 247.00 253.50UPL 969.00 972.00 955.95 963.70TV18BRDCST 31.50 31.80 31.00 31.10AUBANK 644.00 646.10 632.40 636.10HINDCOPPER 46.00 47.30 45.15 46.35VGUARD 216.30 220.20 216.30 218.50JSWENERGY 69.85 71.00 69.50 70.50ASHOKA 123.90 123.90 120.25 120.25ABFRL 212.20 214.50 208.00 209.45COCHINSHIP 378.50 390.00 378.00 378.75BAJAJHLDNG 3180.00 3250.80 3084.20 3219.00EQUITAS 128.60 131.35 128.00 128.50NAVINFLUOR 675.00 699.00 672.00 677.35ITI 90.15 91.60 89.50 90.00SWANENERGY 109.00 109.00 106.00 107.20PAGEIND 22900.00 22902.75 22450.05 22549.80MFSL 386.05 424.55 386.05 420.55RAJESHEXPO 671.80 679.45 669.50 675.65TORNTPOWER 249.05 258.00 249.05 258.00KAJARIACER 600.00 615.35 593.50 606.20MERCK 3710.00 3738.00 3676.25 3686.00DEEPAKFERT 135.50 135.50 131.50 133.30PARAGMILK 264.00 264.00 236.50 237.40ANDHRABANK 24.65 25.30 24.45 25.20NAUKRI 1959.00 1975.40 1932.15 1967.90SOBHA 475.95 487.90 472.45 481.80TATACHEM 571.15 584.80 570.50 575.85MARICO 362.00 362.60 354.10 354.95AMARAJABAT 661.00 666.35 655.00 659.00KEC 286.00 296.70 285.40 291.60AARTIIND 1659.95 1659.95 1583.00 1590.55RALLIS 147.00 148.50 145.00 147.00WABAG 284.10 287.85 275.00 276.35TATACOFFEE 90.10 90.10 87.50 87.50ADVENZYMES 187.05 192.75 187.05 190.50ENGINERSIN 112.20 113.15 111.00 111.15ADANITRANS 216.85 219.70 211.05 216.90FINCABLES 440.20 440.40 428.00 429.00GUJALKALI 490.00 495.90 481.65 493.00OFSS 3524.25 3524.25 3430.00 3438.50BERGEPAINT 320.20 324.00 310.75 315.30GUJGAS 159.45 161.85 156.25 159.65COROMANDEL 429.40 440.00 426.85 432.95GODREJIND 517.20 517.20 499.50 502.70OBEROIRLTY 513.95 518.00 505.60 514.35FCONSUMER 42.70 42.90 42.45 42.55JINDALSAW 81.65 82.40 80.80 81.25BALMLAWRIE 171.50 176.00 169.60 170.00GODFRYPHLP 1132.90 1132.90 1064.90 1073.00VBL 885.90 897.60 879.10 880.50JAMNAAUTO 54.90 55.40 53.30 54.30LINDEINDIA 480.70 493.70 475.50 480.60ENDURANCE 1172.05 1190.00 1151.10 1152.85GPPL 88.30 89.15 86.00 86.65MRPL 71.85 72.30 70.10 71.05TIINDIA 391.50 394.95 368.20 371.40ALLCARGO 108.85 108.85 103.85 106.00CROMPTON 237.65 237.65 230.95 233.30

GICRE 245.00 245.00 235.60 241.30REDINGTON 102.90 102.90 97.10 97.65BLUESTARCO 697.65 697.65 677.05 681.00KEI 402.45 414.00 401.10 413.40FDC 171.00 176.00 168.75 174.30LAURUSLABS 389.95 406.90 383.05 403.45SYNGENE 615.00 616.00 606.00 608.80INOXLEISUR 311.00 315.35 308.00 310.40MMTC 26.10 26.30 25.65 25.75GRANULES 112.10 114.10 110.60 111.00PFIZER 3132.00 3170.00 3104.25 3149.85CENTURYPLY 174.95 174.95 164.80 165.85JYOTHYLAB 180.00 182.00 178.60 181.90GODREJAGRO 517.00 521.00 510.00 519.20SUNDRMFAST 545.00 551.00 540.00 541.65GESHIP 291.50 294.80 286.60 286.65HUDCO 42.00 42.00 41.10 41.60JBCHEPHARM 342.00 351.10 342.00 342.00SCI 34.50 34.50 33.85 34.00CENTRALBK 31.60 31.95 30.90 31.15GSPL 200.00 200.00 195.25 197.00EMAMILTD 385.00 387.80 382.00 385.00THOMASCOOK 246.85 253.95 242.10 249.80WELCORP 134.50 134.80 131.10 131.85RELAXO 915.00 915.00 880.30 893.95JKLAKSHMI 369.40 373.00 360.00 368.00TATACOMM 562.00 572.00 559.85 565.00TEJASNET 190.00 192.65 188.10 189.00GDL 133.45 135.05 128.35 132.00REPCOHOME 429.00 429.00 414.70 418.20RCOM 1.79 1.79 1.79 1.79HEIDELBERG 183.00 183.00 179.25 180.95KIOCL 135.00 139.90 133.50 134.25TATAMETALI 622.00 623.95 610.50 616.00PRSMJOHNSN 93.70 94.80 91.40 91.40JKCEMENT 890.00 910.35 887.70 903.90SHOPERSTOP 447.00 473.00 446.00 467.30CHAMBLFERT 155.00 158.50 152.00 154.95JSLHISAR 86.95 87.80 86.00 86.40CARBORUNIV 359.65 359.65 351.85 356.00SOLARINDS 1061.00 1097.00 1061.00 1079.45KSCL 446.00 455.00 438.60 453.25LALPATHLAB 1048.05 1074.95 1048.05 1055.10MOIL 152.10 153.30 151.45 152.05BAJAJELEC 559.50 567.85 557.75 563.00FRETAIL 423.90 425.90 415.55 420.60BAYERCROP 4112.75 4145.00 4069.80 4130.00TAKE 144.55 149.40 144.55 145.60SREINFRA 25.50 25.50 24.60 25.00SUPPETRO 205.65 207.80 201.90 201.90GUJFLUORO 1034.00 1059.00 1030.00 1041.60LEMONTREE 79.30 79.30 74.30 74.30FORTIS 137.95 138.00 137.00 137.50DCAL 221.30 223.10 217.70 218.95UCOBANK 18.00 18.50 17.60 17.90GHCL 252.50 256.00 250.20 251.90

DEEPAKNI 263.20 268.90 263.00 266.95PTC 69.00 69.85 68.05 68.95BDL 278.00 281.40 275.00 275.00UFLEX 229.10 229.30 220.50 224.50GICHSGFIN 257.00 261.00 255.00 256.55PRESTIGE 261.50 262.80 257.10 257.20MAHINDCIE 223.70 230.10 222.25 223.90NIACL 180.80 183.00 175.95 182.10HAL 669.00 670.00 651.60 661.95HSIL 268.25 269.10 264.50 264.60CAPPL 363.00 368.55 350.00 354.00ASTRAZEN 2335.30 2341.00 2286.00 2295.05TEAMLEASE 2942.00 3000.00 2891.00 2990.00WHIRLPOOL 1392.00 1399.90 1387.80 1399.90THYROCARE 488.10 493.40 470.55 484.10ABBOTINDIA 7404.80 7475.00 7385.60 7445.00IOB 14.10 14.22 13.86 13.92SUPREMEIND 1135.00 1140.00 1110.00 1113.00BAJAJCON 328.00 328.00 324.00 327.40LAXMIMACH 5710.00 5848.95 5680.75 5743.40SHK 150.05 150.05 146.80 147.95KPRMILL 604.60 611.00 594.75 600.90ESSELPRO 136.85 137.00 128.00 134.50WELSPUNIND 52.95 53.30 52.70 53.10THERMAX 972.00 990.00 963.95 987.95MAGMA 124.10 127.25 123.85 125.10GSKCONS 7228.50 7233.95 7135.90 7158.00KRBL 329.10 335.05 326.35 328.55CRISIL 1455.00 1455.00 1418.00 1425.00

APLAPOLLO 1582.00 1582.00 1533.70 1540.50COFFEEDAY 265.50 265.50 259.20 262.85ALKEM 1719.50 1723.55 1707.50 1714.45TNPL 190.05 194.65 187.50 194.00CORPBANK 27.40 27.80 27.00 27.05APLLTD 551.35 553.15 540.00 545.90JAGRAN 112.00 113.60 111.20 112.70DBCORP 189.00 189.00 178.00 186.50GLAXO 1299.00 1299.00 1275.00 1286.55FORBESCO 2269.00 2365.00 2225.00 2337.60BIRLACORPN 500.15 507.55 499.00 502.15INDOSTAR 393.00 396.30 389.10 390.50BOSCHLTD 17971.00 18000.00 17606.40 17979.40CENTRUM 30.00 30.90 29.40 30.00NLCINDIA 65.05 65.60 64.50 65.00GMDCLTD 73.95 75.00 73.75 75.00FINOLEXIND 463.00 468.50 456.15 466.60SJVN 23.75 24.15 23.75 24.15ISGEC 552.35 559.90 550.55 551.05LUXIND 1300.15 1347.15 1300.10 1330.00KALPATPOWR 463.00 482.00 458.80 474.10PNCINFRA 149.35 152.85 148.00 152.20GAYAPROJ 161.00 170.90 156.00 168.00HIMATSEIDE 214.00 219.90 213.00 216.00SANOFI 5635.35 5660.55 5565.00 5565.00PIIND 1037.70 1047.95 1027.00 1031.15NBVENTURES 102.30 103.05 100.20 100.35SHILPAMED 394.50 394.50 376.20 380.00MINDACORP 128.35 128.55 124.30 124.70EIHOTEL 187.00 191.30 187.00 189.90JCHAC 1754.00 1888.00 1754.00 1870.00GEPIL 912.95 912.95 885.75 898.00SONATSOFTW 330.50 333.90 330.10 332.05ITDC 258.00 259.95 251.05 254.00IEX 158.05 160.80 158.00 158.50SYMPHONY 1365.00 1382.35 1352.60 1352.60SUDARSCHEM 334.65 339.25 333.95 333.95IFBIND 900.00 900.00 862.00 862.00MONSANTO 2590.00 2590.00 2457.00 2457.00UNITEDBNK 10.95 11.10 10.95 10.97GULFOILLUB 860.00 860.15 832.25 832.25SCHNEIDER 99.45 100.00 97.50 98.00PGHH 10300.00 10300.00 10150.00 10228.00TIMKEN 560.00 567.00 552.10 565.00VTL 1121.00 1135.00 1117.00 1132.80ITDCEM 124.80 124.80 118.50 118.55NESCO 498.00 501.15 493.50 496.95KNRCON 245.35 245.35 232.30 232.303MINDIA 23050.05 23570.30 23020.05 23169.00SOMANYCERA 425.40 439.55 418.85 428.55ASTERDM 146.65 146.65 144.10 145.50GET&D 256.05 260.00 250.25 251.05VMART 2810.00 2810.00 2743.00 2796.35TATAINVEST 850.30 862.30 848.00 856.50WABCOINDIA 6244.95 6245.00 6203.00 6203.00SUNCLAYLTD 2780.05 2875.00 2700.00 2807.00MAHLIFE 375.60 384.00 375.00 382.10EIDPARRY 198.50 198.50 193.00 194.40NETWORK18 34.00 34.00 32.80 32.90INOXWIND 66.60 66.60 63.25 63.80SUPRAJIT 232.00 232.00 227.05 228.50CCL 269.95 269.95 258.60 259.90BASF 1364.60 1380.00 1348.35 1367.00JSL 36.30 37.35 36.00 37.05CARERATING 970.00 989.10 970.00 979.15MAHLOG 535.00 536.20 523.30 524.75HATSUN 719.70 728.95 709.70 711.10HERITGFOOD 545.00 545.00 501.45 501.45AEGISLOG 195.00 196.40 193.10 195.00ASTRAL 1235.85 1235.85 1205.00 1215.90SHRIRAMCIT 1650.00 1650.00 1612.00 1625.00NILKAMAL 1311.50 1338.45 1310.00 1318.55PHOENIXLTD 600.20 614.95 591.20 614.95SIS 800.05 832.00 800.05 832.00MAXINDIA 70.20 70.95 70.00 70.20BLUEDART 3173.00 3290.00 3173.00 3191.00CHOLAHLDNG 510.70 518.00 500.00 510.75GALAXYSURF 1026.00 1030.60 1010.05 1030.00TVSSRICHAK 2170.00 2185.00 2159.00 2165.00ATUL 3449.55 3470.55 3430.00 3430.00AKZOINDIA 1830.00 1830.00 1700.00 1700.00SHREECEM 19616.00 19985.35 19616.00 19800.05SADBHAV 237.45 237.90 235.00 235.00TTKPRESTIG 8161.35 8238.75 8101.00 8101.00SKFINDIA 1981.35 1981.35 1956.95 1971.50GREENPLY 165.05 167.25 162.30 163.05NH 202.00 215.90 200.10 201.10TIMETECHNO 91.00 91.90 90.25 90.30RATNAMANI 898.00 898.00 887.00 890.00MAHSCOOTER 3690.00 3728.70 3690.00 3704.45GRINDWELL 609.95 609.95 595.60 607.00STARCEMENT 105.00 109.40 105.00 107.00GILLETTE 7552.00 7559.00 7497.45 7559.00MHRIL 235.00 241.35 234.20 234.25AIAENG 1790.00 1793.35 1770.00 1770.00TVTODAY 303.10 304.65 300.00 300.00SCHAEFFLER 5495.00 5495.00 5300.00 5350.00ELGIEQUIP 265.00 270.00 262.00 270.00ZYDUSWELL 1300.00 1310.00 1283.70 1300.25NAVNETEDUL 112.45 112.45 109.10 109.10ERIS 624.00 634.80 624.00 629.00HONAUT 23800.00 23950.00 23800.00 23895.00TRITURBINE 104.25 109.95 103.90 105.00LAOPALA 202.50 206.50 202.50 206.50CERA 2804.00 2812.85 2757.15 2769.60APARINDS 668.85 684.55 660.00 673.00DHANUKA 372.25 382.45 372.25 382.45SFL 1360.00 1360.00 1310.05 1349.05ASAHIINDIA 236.30 238.50 236.30 238.50

�������

SCRIP OPEN HIgh LOW LTP CHANGENIFTY 50 11725.55 11789.30 11699.55 11724.75 -23.40INFRATEL 262.55 272.40 262.55 272.00 9.45YESBANK 162.00 178.00 160.00 174.00 6.00POWERGRID 187.05 190.80 186.45 190.20 3.80HEROMOTOCO 2510.00 2569.40 2492.50 2555.00 43.15HDFCBANK 2323.50 2359.65 2317.50 2356.00 38.55BHARTIARTL 322.90 329.40 321.60 325.60 5.30BAJAJ-AUTO 2989.00 3040.00 2958.70 3028.00 43.90KOTAKBANK 1394.00 1421.75 1382.50 1404.00 17.45HDFC 1995.00 2027.90 1989.25 2018.00 22.95EICHERMOT 19990.00 20630.00 19860.00 20571.00 202.70BAJAJFINSV 7522.00 7625.00 7500.85 7595.00 74.55ITC 301.10 306.50 300.60 304.15 2.80VEDL 165.90 169.20 164.20 168.30 1.45BAJFINANCE 3095.00 3148.95 3060.00 3122.70 26.75LT 1349.45 1376.50 1342.00 1359.00 10.45RELIANCE 1392.00 1413.90 1382.10 1403.10 10.30ADANIPORTS 392.80 397.00 390.15 395.30 2.50CIPLA 563.00 569.70 556.70 568.00 3.00ONGC 169.30 172.00 168.40 169.50 0.30COALINDIA 251.60 254.90 250.45 252.50 0.35MARUTI 6550.00 6709.95 6525.00 6670.00 3.60TECHM 834.90 846.50 829.10 836.00 -0.10M&M 646.00 660.70 635.20 645.05 -0.25ULTRACEMCO 4615.00 4634.00 4574.10 4614.00 -2.80BPCL 380.10 382.90 376.00 379.30 -0.55HINDALCO 204.25 207.65 201.60 205.70 -0.35IOC 159.00 160.30 156.20 157.65 -0.40UPL 967.00 973.00 955.05 966.00 -3.15JSWSTEEL 309.05 314.00 303.50 307.15 -1.20GRASIM 900.00 907.15 891.35 897.00 -4.20TATASTEEL 554.10 561.65 549.45 554.35 -2.85SBIN 308.05 311.40 305.65 307.90 -2.05NTPC 133.30 133.90 132.10 133.00 -1.05DRREDDY 2925.00 2964.00 2905.00 2906.65 -27.10SUNPHARMA 456.95 461.70 450.50 452.50 -5.15ASIANPAINT 1465.00 1472.90 1430.10 1441.90 -21.25TITAN 1159.00 1160.00 1135.60 1141.00 -17.55WIPRO 298.55 298.85 292.65 293.85 -4.70HCLTECH 1170.00 1180.50 1156.50 1160.95 -22.40AXISBANK 765.40 767.80 748.05 751.95 -14.90HINDUNILVR 1756.50 1762.50 1720.25 1723.00 -34.70TCS 2255.00 2259.40 2211.10 2214.70 -45.65GAIL 353.10 354.85 346.25 346.50 -9.45INFY 747.00 748.40 729.50 730.80 -20.55IBULHSGFIN 689.05 708.00 675.00 676.00 -19.45ICICIBANK 403.70 405.00 394.40 394.75 -12.75INDUSINDBK 1601.15 1617.60 1551.50 1555.50 -51.00TATAMOTORS 211.00 212.65 206.50 206.90 -7.40ZEEL 433.65 435.30 416.65 417.15 -15.45BRITANNIA 2927.00 2959.95 2772.00 2780.00 -116.05

�������

�����������

SCRIP OPEN HIgh LOW LTP CHANGENIFTY NEXT 50 27750.40 27897.20 27617.60 27659.10 -141.15IDEA 15.35 16.55 15.15 16.20 0.75BAJAJHLDNG 3085.95 3221.50 3080.10 3219.95 133.95BANDHANBNK 594.00 636.30 593.00 625.25 25.80CONCOR 498.00 520.90 494.00 514.20 21.00ASHOKLEY 87.10 91.80 85.80 89.70 2.75HDFCLIFE 405.45 418.00 405.10 417.10 12.55SBILIFE 639.95 658.00 639.95 650.00 10.15INDIGO 1512.95 1549.00 1496.50 1540.70 23.70ICICIPRULI 369.00 377.40 365.70 375.00 5.70ICICIGI 1093.00 1115.80 1081.15 1104.90 11.55SAIL 56.00 56.70 55.35 56.20 0.40SHREECEM 19750.00 20000.85 19577.60 19911.00 121.50LUPIN 870.00 884.00 867.00 877.00 4.95NMDC 100.15 101.80 99.95 100.95 0.50PEL 2360.00 2375.00 2285.00 2373.00 11.00NIACL 180.00 181.70 179.00 181.00 0.85PGHH 10205.10 10340.00 10152.75 10240.00 36.35GICRE 239.20 244.95 236.25 241.00 0.80AMBUJACEM 219.50 225.95 218.05 221.20 0.70HDFCAMC 1695.05 1718.90 1667.15 1700.00 4.95UBL 1419.70 1422.95 1395.70 1420.20 1.25BOSCHLTD 17925.00 18035.95 17665.30 18027.00 8.05GODREJCP 654.55 662.00 646.75 651.00 -0.80ABB 1485.00 1519.90 1461.35 1476.10 -3.20PIDILITIND 1229.00 1255.00 1225.20 1230.00 -4.55L&TFH 131.00 133.95 129.20 130.60 -0.50DLF 171.05 175.60 169.70 172.10 -0.65HAVELLS 778.80 778.85 765.00 770.00 -4.65BANKBARODA 116.00 117.95 114.85 115.95 -0.70PETRONET 241.15 241.20 237.30 239.40 -1.75MRF 52605.00 53690.00 51586.30 52395.00 -510.00MARICO 360.20 363.00 353.85 354.95 -4.45NHPC 23.30 23.40 23.00 23.05 -0.30ACC 1628.00 1644.15 1606.20 1610.25 -21.80BHEL 70.95 71.65 69.35 69.60 -1.20SRTRANSFIN 1094.00 1109.90 1088.35 1091.20 -19.75SIEMENS 1163.20 1188.05 1146.00 1149.90 -22.85HINDZINC 276.00 277.60 270.00 271.25 -5.60DIVISLAB 1741.40 1771.45 1707.10 1710.10 -36.75DMART 1289.00 1310.00 1261.00 1268.00 -27.50COLPAL 1209.00 1223.95 1180.00 1181.80 -26.35OFSS 3525.00 3540.00 3430.10 3440.00 -79.80PAGEIND 22870.00 22994.50 22300.00 22426.25 -665.60MCDOWELL-N 558.90 561.00 542.15 543.15 -17.95HINDPETRO 291.75 292.90 280.15 281.60 -9.65AUROPHARMA 815.50 830.00 789.20 791.30 -27.75CADILAHC 323.85 324.30 313.20 313.75 -11.70DABUR 398.10 399.70 376.90 382.80 -15.30MOTHERSUMI 145.40 145.40 139.20 140.00 -6.50BIOCON 593.90 593.90 554.00 555.00 -38.50

Page 12:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

�������������������� ����� !�"#$%

'! ��� '! ����'���������'��..���=������/�������'�27�2A ����*��;����*�����#��������#��#���A�#�������������!����3���"��������&����#�����������#��3�.1��*��������� �"�����'�(���3�� �������(���-����'�����!���*���������* ������3������������"������3�'�3����3�

�$������'������������/���������..'A��������B9�A C� ���������*��������������K���(�������''���#����*���������B���������#���B�*�C��3���G��"��#���������H������(�#������������#� ��*���"�����(����������������������"�'���-��#��������#����&����#���

�������'����.�$'������-����-����������A������������A &����������#���&����#��������'�3����3G��������*H��������� ������������(��-��������������(�" �#��"�����!�������*�������������3*���3������������0��"�3����#3�!���*�������&�� �����&������-��#�������������3� ����#����#����(��-���3��#�B����'����'������#������(���������������*��*�����������(����� ��

��!���

<���"�0

����� ��5&�7���&5<��

With the blacklisting ofJeM chief Masood Azhar,

the “sanctity and credibility” ofthe UN Security Council’ssanctions committee have beenpreserved, according toIndonesia’s envoy to the UNand Chair of the committeeDian Triansyah Djani.

The Indonesian PermanentRepresentative, who assumedthe Presidency of the 15-nationUN Security Council for themonth of May, thanked allmember states of the 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committeeafter the designation ofPakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Azharas a global terrorist.

“I just would like to under-line... It’s not only the functionof the Chair, but all membersof the Committee that havebeen working very hard (on theissue of listing Azhar). Butwhat is more important is notthe role of the Chair but what

is more important is that wehave been able to preserve thesanctity and credibility of theCommittee and we have beenable to have the listing,” Djanisaid during a press briefing atthe UN headquarters onWednesday.

Djani was responding to aquestion on the blacklisting ofAzhar and his role in the suc-cessful outcome at the com-mittee, of which he is theChair.

“We Indonesians are veryhumble. I’m just doing myfunction as the Chair trying tofacilitate, to bring all partiestogether, in line with the guide-lines,” he said.

India’s PermanentRepresentative to the UNAmbassador Syed Akbaruddinspecifically thanked Djani in a video statement issuedsoon after Azhar’s designa-tion.

“I’d like to thank thePermanent Representative ofIndonesia who was instru-

mental in ensuring that theprocess went smoothly and inaccordance with our agreedunderstanding,” Akbaruddinsaid.

At around 9 AM New Yorktime (6:30 PM IST),Akbaruddin was informed byhis Indonesian counterpart,who had just assumed thePresidency of the Council forMay and Chair of the SanctionsCommittee, that no objectionwas raised by any country forthe listing of Azhar, meaningChina had lifted its holdimposed on the proposal onMarch 13.

Talking to PTI after theAzhar listing, Akbaruddindrew an analogy with cricketerMS Dhoni’s style and approachof playing and said he toobelieves in working patientlytowards the goal in mind, notgetting perturbed by the hur-dles and knowing that even inthe last lap, things can take aturn for the better so oneshould not give up early.

;1�������'�����$���������:214����������:214���#�"���������&�:��� ����!*�?�9 ����*�9&�!!%�&6�&'

����� ���5�4&<�

Pakistan Prime MinisterImran Khan is saying the

“right things”, but his militaryleadership too needs to take the“right decisions”, the Trumpadministration has said, hoursafter the UN Security Councildesignated JeM chief MasoodAzhar as a global terrorist.

Nearly 18 months afterPresident Donald Trumpordered cutting off security aidto Pakistan, a senior USadministration official toldreporters that the US is tryingto change Pakistan’s policy ofsupporting terrorist groups.

Noting the US’ recognitionof the ISI’s links with its home-frown terrorist groups, the

official said the US does notwant to get involved in thecountry’s internal politics andexpects the Pakistan military

to correct the situation.“We support the civilian

government. We support thenascent democratic systemthere. We support the fact thatPrime Minister Khan says rightthings and appears to be try-ing to make some changeswithin Pakistan. But only timewill tell if he is successful indoing that,” he said.

The senior official saidPakistan’s military leadershiptoo needs to take “right deci-sions and right steps”.

“So far, we do see supportfrom the military to the direc-tion that prime minister Khan

seems to be going in,” he said.The Trump administra-

tion credited Khan for his“helpful statements” on crack-ing down on terror outfits andsome initial steps being taken.

“We do appreciate thatPakistan is saying the rightthing, has taken the initialstep that we’re looking for, butwe reserve judgment becausewe have seen backpacking inthe past,” the official said.

The official said the USwants to “reserve judgment” tillit sees if the steps they are tak-ing are actually irreversible.

Observing that only timewill tell about Pakistan’s futurecourse of action, the US offi-cial said Khan as of now hasmade the right statement.

&��� ����������" ������� ������"�������� ��� =�C

����� ���4B<B

Thailand’s Queen Suthida,the former deputy head of

the royal bodyguard, made herfirst official public appearanceon Thursday at the side ofRama X, just days before hiscoronation.

The palace announced lateWednesday that King MahaVajiralongkorn had married his long-time con-sort, Suthida Vajiralongkorn naAyudhya, and made her hisQueen.

On Thursday she was seenkneeling alongside the king as

they paid their respects to stat-ues of previous Chakri dynastymonarchs in Bangkok’s historicquarter.

Harsh lese-majeste lawsmean unguarded discussionabout the monarchy insideThailand is virtually impossi-ble, and the kingdom’s nor-mally bubbly social media wassubdued in reaction to thenews of the nuptials.

She is widely reported tohave been a Thai Airways flightattendant before joining theking’s retinue, but little bio-graphical information has beenreleased by the palace.

���$��������<����'�� ��������1�� ������0�����$��

+ ���������7������ ��9�0���� ��� ���H�����!� �������� ������� �����������&�0�������" �����������������/ ���������� ����� ����� � ��'8��������!���� �7����� ���� ��� ������&���� �� ��+ ������ ��

����� 5�������7

The “breakthrough” in des-ignating Masood Azhar

as a global terrorist came dur-ing Pakistan Prime MinisterImran Khan’s recent visit toChina where the two sidesagreed to withdraw theiropposition to the latest moveto blacklist the JeM chief, amedia report said hereThursday.

The UN’s sanctions com-mittee announced Wednesdaythe designation of Pakistan-based Azhar, leaderof the Jaish-e-Mohammed(JeM), over its ties to Al-Qaeda.

%��0� �� ����# �����������0������"�����4 ���������+���

����� $��$���I2���?����J

Awoman was shot dead andmore than two dozen peo-

ple were injured during MayDay clashes between Oppositionsupporters and Venezuela’sarmed forces in Caracas onWednesday, with oppositionleader Juan Guaido attemptingto rally demonstrators againstPresident Nicolas Maduro.

Jurubith Rausseo, 27, diedat a clinic after being hit by a“bullet in the head during (a)demonstration,” the non-gov-ernmental VenezuelanObservatory of Social Conflictsaid on Twitter.

It condemned her “mur-der,” after health services ear-lier reported at least 27 peopleinjured in Wednesday’s clash-es, including one person witha gunshot wound.

Tensions in Venezuela havesoared since Guaido, whoheads the National Assembly

legislature, invoked the consti-tution to declare himself actingpresident on January 23, claim-ing Maduro’s re-election lastyear was illegitimate.

London: WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange onThursday began his legal fightagainst being extradited to theUS from the UK to face chargesof allegedly leaking AmericanGovernment secrets.

The 47-year-old, whoappeared by video link atWestminster Magistrates’Court a day after he was sen-tenced to 50 weeks in jail forbreaching bail conditions, toldJudge he did not consent tobeing extradited to the US.

“I do not wish to surrendermyself for extradition for doingjournalism that has won manyawards and protected manypeople,” he said. The hearingmarked the start of a long-drawn extradition process, withthe next case management list-ing scheduled for May 30.

The UK court will decidewhether to extradite Assange tothe US in response to allega-tions that he conspired withformer US intelligence analystChelsea Manning to down-load classified databases. PTI

����� $<�<��<

The bodies of 10 terroristskilled during a fierce gun

battle with security forces in SriLanka’s Eastern province lastweek were buried without anyreligious rites on Thursdayafternoon, police said.

However, the bodies of sixchildren killed in the same raidwere buried as per the religiousrites.

“Ten bodies were buriedwithout conducting any reli-gious activities on a requestmade by Muslim religious lead-ers,” police spokesman RuwanGunasekera said. They wereburied following investigationsand post-mortem, he said.

All Ceylon JamiyyathuulUlama or council of Muslimtheologians had demanded“maximum punishment” forthe perpetrators of the suicideattacks on churches and luxu-ry hotels in the country that leftat least 250 dead.

Paris: The French Governmenton Thursday accused radicalsof storming a famed Paris hos-pital during a fiery May Day, inan incident that risks furtherraising tensions betweenauthorities and a nationwideprotest movement.

Doctors at the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital — whereDiana, Princess of Wales diedin 1997 after a car crash in Paris— also said protesters hadforced their way into the hos-pital, caused damage and eventried to enter an intensive careunit.

But supporters of the “yel-low vest” movement, whoseprotests have shaken the gov-ernment of PresidentEmmanuel Macron over thepast half year -- insisted thedemonstrators were merelyseeking refuge from tear gasfired by police.

The incident came duringa hugely tense May Day whichsaw Paris police clash withhardline protesters. AFP

���� �������%��E�� ��"���������� F���E�������� �

��������$�������������� ���������:1��=�������

�����""�"� � )�"����������"������� �"��� ���"��4����

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

���� �<�7<�

Britain’s former DefenceSecretary has ferociously

denied allegations that heleaked details from privategovernment discussions aboutChinese telecommunicationscompany Huawei.

Gavin Williamson wasfired late Wednesday by PrimeMinister Theresa May, whosaid she had seen “compellingevidence” that he was behindmedia reports that the govern-ment had agreed to let Huaweiparticipate in some aspects ofBritain’s new 5G wireless com-munications network.

Williamson hit back, tellingSky News that the investigationhad been a “witch hunt” andclaiming he was the victim ofa “kangaroo court.” Oppositionparties called for a criminalinvestigation.

Cabinet Office MinisterDavid Lidington said onThursday that the Governmentdidn’t plan to refer the matterto police.

�B;��'���#�7�'��"���"��'��������#����������������

Caracas: Venezuelan PresidentNicolas Maduro on Thursdaycalled on the armed forces tooppose “any coup plotter” aftera failed military uprising byforces supporting Oppositionleader Juan Guaido.

“Yes, we are in combat,keep morale high in this fightto disarm any traitor, any coupplotter,” Maduro said at a tele-vised event with the militaryhigh command in which heappeared. AFP

-�����= ������#����������������� �;��������������

Page 13:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

There is this airaround actor JimSarbh whichwhispers — busy,intense, intelligent

and somewhat intimidat-ing. I have been watchinghim for a while as he sitsin the front row of anevent inspired by theMet Gala — FashionToday, Ideas andInspiration — puttogether by YFLO(Young FICCI LadiesOrganisation), alongwith the likes of actorDiana Penty anddesigners RimzimDadu and ArpitaMehta.

He is swampedby female attention.Dressed in a blackensemble, colour-fully printed withwhite cranes andpink flowers andeven in the sea ofwomen dressed tothe nines, Jim is hardto miss. And whenyou talk to him, it isalmost impossiblenot to notice thoselarge, expressive andintense eyes curtainedby thick, long eye-

lashes. He gets up fre-quently as women just hover

around him, wanting selfies orwishing to talk to him. He isrevelling in the adulation. Later,as we are taking the lift to headto Oko on the 28th floor of TheLalit for his lunch, he does men-tion that he actually does not mindit when it comes to women for areason, “The men are more aggres-sive and they push around.”

The interview, when it doeshappen, is spliced into two parts, thefirst being squeezed in between oneinterview and the session which heattends and the second just after hehas ordered lunch — a Thai greencurry with vegetables. He would havepreferred tofu, but as the serverinforms him that its taste would belost, he decides to go with what is list-ed on the menu.

As I sit down for the first round,Jim is singing a song in a low, bass

voice. I wait for him to stop andthen interrupt. It is not sur-

prising, since if you go tohis Instagram feed, eachof his posts is accompa-

nied by a song, not many ofwhich can be classified as pop-

ular culture whether it is Habib Koité’s Sindjen djen or Hot hot heat by Bandages.

During the interview, Jim is not easy topin down. For every question that you ask,you should be ready for a counter question.Even when he answers, there are binaries. Sowhen I ask him about the complexity of hislatest outing as Adil Khanna, in the much-acclaimed Made in Heaven, he immediate-ly pipes up to ask, “Is it?” and when I reply,“You won’t say so,” he does agree but adds arider, “They are all complex characters, atleast the main ones.” Again when I ask himabout his reference points, he wants to knowwhat that means. He says, “I was just think-ing about the way it was written. It was inter-esting because while reading I could under-stand or thought I could understand ormaybe I could understand what I thoughtwas the most interesting journey for the guyto go through. He is truly in love with bothand he does not know what to do. Of coursethere is the stuff that you can immediatelydraw on because it’s in the script — he’s usedto getting what he wants. He’s the only sonin a rich family who lives in a giant bunga-low in Delhi and that already gives youenough to work with.”

While executing the character, he says helearnt his lines and then tried different thingsand ways in which he could say them.“Sometimes the way to tell somebody ‘I loveyou’ is not to hold their hand or kiss thembut just to say, ‘Listen, everything will be fine,’”ending the sentence loudly. He furtherexplains his behaviour, “He carries the bag-gage of being Tara’s boss, so he keeps float-ing through the world thinking that it’s stillgoing on in a weird way and maybe it worksalso, who knows? If the season progresses, Iwould personally like him to realise that thiswoman is his equal in more ways than hecould have thought of before.” Throughout,his voice is rising and falling, the tenor andtone changing in a manner as if he is in frontof an audience on a stage in the theatre.

However, it is the digital format that Jimhas been acing of late. After Made inHeaven, he will be seen in Teen Aur Adha.So does he feel that it is fuelling creativity?“I think all formats reward it, why only dig-ital? I can just say that my attempts at cre-ativity have been fairly well-rewarded,” he saysdrawling every word slowly and pausing in-between each while framing the sentence.

Jim has just ordered and while he is talk-ing, he notices someone at the table busy tex-ting her boss. He demands complete atten-tion by recording and sending a message onWhatsapp saying, “Jim wants her completeattention. And client is king,” as the entiretable guffaws at his chutzpah.

But going back to Teen Aur Adha, he saysthat he had read the short script for his sec-tion, just before he did Neerja. “I am tired ofhearing that I play negative characters. If thisreleased before Neerja, who knows whatwould have happened?” he asks.

This film wonders what would happenif the walls of a house had consciousness and

then follows the trajectory of three differentstories in the same room over the course ofthree long takes. “The first one is of a boygoing to school and coming back to see hisgrandfather. The second one is a man walk-ing through the same house where he meetsa sex worker and the conversation betweenthem. And the third one is about an olderman who leaves to play badminton, realisesthat he has forgotten his racquet at home andreturns to pick it only to see his wife danc-ing. And he didn’t know she danced or likedto as she would do it only at the time thathe played badminton. And the last is of thehouse being renovated. I don’t want to giveaway too much,” he pauses and adds, “I’vealready given everything away.” Jim stars inthe second part of the film, which can havedifferent interpretations, including thatthere are three different people or three par-allel universes existing at the same time oreven that they are the same person at differ-ent stages of his life.

Besides, Teen Aur Adha, he will be seenin Massage which is a part of a web seriescalled Flip on Eros Now. “I wish more peo-ple see me in these films as it is a very dif-ferent never-seen-before me. When peoplesee you in only one particular avatar theybelieve that is all you can do. I don’t feel lim-ited like that as an actor and I wish more peo-ple believed it with me,” he says.

Jim bites into the crackers that have beenplaced before him and goes on to elaborateupon the way entertainment is changing. Hesays, “Digital media is changing entertain-ment and naturally so. Theatre changed withthe advent of cinema. Black and whitechanged with sync sound and colour.Consequently all forms of media should gothrough a natural evolution which is a greatthing. With digital platforms, we can exper-iment with different forms of story telling.”He gives the example of ‘cold open’ (a scenepreceding the opening titles), which is “awonderful new thing that has come into visu-al story-telling because of series. It can be any-thing that does not have a direct impact onthe story that is to unfold but gives you asense of the world or tells you something thatwill happen in the future.” And there aremore things that the medium offers. “Writerscan focus on the script. I am very interest-ed to see innovative story-telling. You alreadyhave your own adventure film, Black Mirror:Bandersnatch, where you can choose yourown adventure just like the Goosebumps

comics that we read as kids,” he says, puttinganother cracker in his mouth. When hebegins to speak, he realises his words are war-bled and apologises for talking while hismouth is full.

In the meantime, the server places a sakebefore him which he sips, loves and asks meto taste. When I refrain, he informs, “It issuper sweet but really tasty.”

However, he does feel that cinema offersan unmatched experience. “While sitting ina roomful of strangers, one can have a col-lective emotion. Nothing beats that,” he saysand goes on to point out, “Everyone struc-tures everything as a competition. Digital ver-sus cinema or whatever. I don’t see it as that.They are all strains of story-telling and if oneis magnificent in its particular medium whyshouldn’t it be celebrated?”

However, when I point out to the recentcontroversy where people objected to Roma,a Netflix film being nominated at theOscars, he says, “It is similar to people say-ing that digital films aren’t real films as theyaren’t shot on a reel. Whenever some changehappens, there are people on its side andthose who want to stick by purity. But weshould move with the times.” Then goes onto add a rider, “Maybe when I am 60 and peo-ple are replacing actors with computers thatcan digitally show exactly how the actorshould look and the performance should beI might say, ‘this is not right, we need to havethe human connection. Human beings arebetter than machine,’” he says as his voicetakes on the tonality which befits an olderman.

Jim, who has been a part of theatre formuch longer than films, had earlier said thathe saw the live medium more as his friend.But his views have changed. “After I didSmoke, Padmavat and Sanju and Made inHeaven, I was so relaxed as all the basics hadbeen imbibed. I was no longer worried abouteye lines, hidden marks and close-ups,” saysthe actor.

Though he did direct in theatre, hebelieves that he would eventually tread thesame path in films but right now was not thetime.

Like anyone who has dabbled in both themediums, he is well aware of the differencesas well as the meeting grounds. “In a film ifyou open up your mind to the possibility, youare still performing to the millions of audi-ence sitting inside the camera.Simultaneously, when you are performing onstage, you should forget the audience and betrue to the moment. And it is said that youshould also do the same for a film. Havingsaid that, in a film when you know in yourbones that something will work and you stilltry it even if the director disagrees, you hopethat s/he will retain it in the film. In a play,I can just go ahead and do that. Of course,if it works then the director will say, ‘I direct-ed him to do that,’” he says with a knowingsmile as he turns his complete attention tohis meal.

� 5������0�7�����

�������������������� ����� !�"#$%

�"�����'���������������#�$����������� ����(�" ���������������#�'��*� �����#���"��#(���*���B����� ��������'����*"��;������������������������A��F���0������3�������

�����*��������-�G���*����#5���!����3�����"��*��������3����������3���������� #�'���������##�������� ���������'�#���!����3�3��#��� ���#�5;*��A���*����"��'�#����'� ���;���"�� �������"����"������������#���"���"�������������#������������A"� ����������������#��"�������#��������������'��������� �������������*���##�-�G5;*��� ����A"��0�#����"����(�������������*��3���� �����3������ ��������"������������� ������������������*�����������*��������� �����������"����5�"��;��������������������'��*�H�

�"�������/'�����. ����A"���#���(�� �����'���"�����������������

'����#������������-���#��������������#��������#���*����"�����G5D*����#��������#���"�����'���� �"����������7�� ��D��'����N�����������#����

(���������(�����������������������&�� ���-H�2�" �����#�&������-�&�� �������#-�G&����������!����'��� �� ������������#���������5��"�������"���"����'����#���������*�����3��'��������#���#�2�" ���������'����*����*���#����3���������������#�(�"�*��������3��#�'����#���������!����*�"�������"���!��������5��� ����#� �������3��#��D��"���3��(����������������*��(�"�������������(����#����������3��#�'����#��� ����*�H

�*���"������3��0�"������ �������.���C-��*���"���(���(������������A�#��3��K-�5�#����"���(����������B��0�0� ��#�?�*(��=���������$���!�"�*����3�����������!����������5�#�����3����#���������������0� �"����#��2��G5���!�� ����������(���'���#'��*�*����3����� ��"��"��'���3����#�(����!�������������*�#����#�'0'����"�����*����'��(��� ����"�������#�*��#0'������&������������*��������!����(���3������2���� ��*����3���#��'�"�������5�(����!��������!��������#!������������3����"�**���3����#�'����(�����������!���0*����� ������������3������"�0"��0����3���#����!��3��3��(���"�**�0����-H��� �K����#�

@-#�������������/�<��#��(���"5��������+����������(��<��#��#������#����+���+����+��������������"����������2�������/��(��������#����������#�������#�(��������(� ��A�������/�<#���#���� ������5��#����#����������"�� ������<��#� ����������/#�2.�9&�#�����<������� ��/�"�<�+������A�������#�����"���" �����5�<#��#������#������"�������������(����"���5���"��#�����������������<���<��#�+�2��B�����&���:#��

���������0$

&� �#+������"�# +��(��7��/���

B�������5&�

+ ����� � ��������

Singer Joe Jonas and Game Of Thrones starSophie Turner exchanged wedding vows at an

impromptu ceremony. Fans first caught wind of the long-time cou-

ple's nuptials when American DJ-record produc-er Diplo began posting live footage from the cer-emony.

In several moments posted on Diplo'sInstagram stories, Turner can be seen walkingdown the aisle in a white bridal ensemble and veil.It appeared as if an Elvis Presley impersonatorofficiated the ceremony as country music duo Dan+ Shay performed their hit song Speechless.

Joe reunited with brothers Nick Jonas andKevin Jonas for a performance of their latest sin-gle Sucker. Turner was joined by her sisters-in-law Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Danielle Jonas inthe Sin City.

The couple announced their engagement inOctober 2017 after more than a year together.

I)��!

?��5����#���/���+�����"����C�/��

During Maruti-Suzuki’sannual results pressbriefing, the compa-

ny’s Chairman R C Bhargavastarted dropping subtle hints.First he said that the compa-ny would stop production ofthe diesel-variant of theSuzuki Super-Carry lightcommercial vehicle. Okay,then Bhargava, who has neverbeen one to mince words,said that making a smalldiesel engine compliant withBharat Stage 6 (BS6) emis-sions regulations would makea small diesel engine costover �2 lakh more than asmall petrol. Then the bomb-shell, it isn’t just commercialdiesel vehicles that Maruti-Suzuki would stop selling onApril 1, 2020, it would be alldiesel vehicles. Now, this didnot just shock the twenty of usjournalists assembled in theroom, this announcementspooked investors too asMaruti’s share price sudden-ly plummeted. Diesel car salesaccount for a quarter of allMaruti vehicle sales (23 percent to be precise) — certainproducts like the VitaraBrezza and S-Cross are onlysold with diesel engines cur-rently. There is talk thatMaruti will install the K15petrol engine in several mod-els such as the two men-tioned previously, all withthe ‘Smart Hybrid’ system, butcan that really be the reason?

Cynically, one possibilityis that Maruti is withdrawingfrom the diesel car marketbecause it has no products tosell. While Maruti-Suzuki hadcontinued with the old Fiat1.3 DDiS engine for over adecade, it was getting long inthe tooth and all Maruti small

cars were severely underpow-ered compared to the compe-tition. The engine producedbetween 74-88 horsepowerdepending on the cars it wasfitted on, between 10-30horsepower less than thecompetition. Maruti did iron-ically start offering up a new1.5-litre diesel engine, calledthe DDiS 225 after its torqueoutput, and this one has apower output of 98 horsepow-er. This new diesel engine hasbeen fitted on the Ciaz andErtiga already and is likely tobe fitted on the S-Cross andVitara Brezza as well. But it isnot BS6 compatible and whileMaruti-Suzuki has tried tomake it BS6 compliant for alower cost, it has not succeed-ed according to some in theknow.

Is Maruti-Suzuki, there-fore, doing some market

research to figure out whetherthe public at large are willingto pay a two lakh rupee pre-mium? Or do its decision-makers feel that at this premi-um, diesel cars will becomeunaffordable for the public atlarge and other than somecommercial (taxi) and high-mileage applications, the aver-age buyer will steer awayfrom diesels from just a purecost point of view? After all,diesel car sales peaked whenthe price difference betweendiesel and petrol was almost�20 a litre, and now from over54 per cent of the market,diesels account for just 23 percent of the market.

Several buyers, particular-ly in the national capitalregion where the SupremeCourt has banned diesels overten years old from operating,have switched whole-hearted-

ly to petrol, so much so thateven for luxury car marqueslike Mercedes-Benz andBMW, petrol car sales havequadrupled in the past year insome markets like Delhi. Weare not even going into theirperformance portfolio. This iswhy all luxury brands are nowlaunching petrol variants of alltheir major vehicles.

There is also the mathswhen it comes to usage. Atwo-lakh rupee capital premi-um works at current fuelprices and assuming the factthat a diesel vehicle on aver-age delivers 20 per cent moremileage per litre in intra-urban conditions — I’m usinga Hyundai Creta as a baselinehere, since I’m currently dri-ving a Diesel SX Manualvariant, which in BS4 speccosts �13.6 lakh ex-show-room Delhi. A similar petrol

costs �12.26 lakh, a differenceof �1.3 lakh. The diesel deliv-ers around 13.5-14 km perlitre (on average, urban traf-fic and air-con on); the petrolgives just around 11 km perlitre. The math now, on aver-age of 10,000 km driven peryear at current fuel prices of�66.7 per litre of diesel and�73.1 for petrol (in Delhi)with me just doing simpledivision and multiplication,gives me saving of �19,000annually give or take a bit. Soover six years you shouldbreak even. But now whenyou consider that in Delhiafter ten years your diesel caris a heap of scrap metal anda petrol car still has five yearsof legitimate life, the mathgets very different. And ontop of that, if a BS6 car costsa lakh more, something mostmanufacturers agree on, themaths change dramaticallyfor such low-mileage applica-tions.

So when the price differ-ential is over two lakhs andthe accelerated depreciationof a diesel vehicle are factoredin, you need to be drivingaround 25,000 plus km ayear at current fuel prices foryour diesel purchase to makesense over a five year period.And frankly, Maruti-Suzukihas a point here, very fewpeople will do that. And if theten-year diesel scrappage rulespreads nationwide, evenfewer.

This is not about altruis-tic reasons or pollution andmileage. This is about oper-ating economics, plain andsimple. Diesels are not goingto be cheap anymore andthus no one will really wantto buy them.

��������"������;�����3����"��*� ����!�� ����#��������#�(��������"��3������������������ ��������'�����#������"����(��� ����+-�.,.,Q

?�9�?&90����-4%��0'$9 ���&�����04%4 �0660' ����� ����? �,��������������� ��� ���������,������"����� ���� �������� �� ����������������� ������������

9�<��&5����&����:�&<&�����<���<7:�95��<2�:<�;�5���<&�&<��<�7&��5����7�<�B5��&������&�C��&�&<���:-9�5�&��-��2�:&�5�45������=5��;

?��5�9����7�������������/�

Page 14:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

�� ��33�#�$�������#� ��������B�����0�����##���"�"������"��#��3������ �"����#��*� �

���#�����������5�#����� �"�#� ��������# ��"� ����&���#�������� ���������������������R� �� ���(�-����������������������������������#�����#�*�������1�A�+.� *����+�*��0�3�A��+-�,,� ������A�������A�&���������2��A��� ��33�#�$�������#-�4���3��*�

���������&'�(�0)

6906 ���0%1'�%����'������● 2�# �>�P,�*��● �*���������N����>.,*��● ����� ���F��"�>/,*��● $���(�����F��"�>/,*��● ��������#�����*�A>�+�*��

������● ��A��!�������3���#��� ���������#��� �� ������"��● 4�������������*��#���#����� ������

� �����5��� ���! ����� !��� ���<�6�� ���� �&��

����*����D�

6904���62@���+94+/�564//0%����'������● $��" ������3��>�.�,�3*● &����3��3��>�1�3*● ��*������'>�/�● ��*���3����>���3*● $�"�����*�� � ��#��>+/,�3*● �'���#����>�+,,�*�● �#�"����� ����>�+.�3*● �������(�����>�.,3*● ���������!���I'���#J>�/3*● ���������*>�.��3*● :������(�����>�+��3*● $����*�����>�+�3*

������● =������'����-�*�����������"��" ����=�������-�*�A����&����3��3�����*���3�������'-�(��������#���#�"���� ����������(��������� ��������*�A������!������"��" ��� ��"�����#� �� ������������'��3�������'���������������������● �������������"��" ���3�����C������ ����������� ����(��*� ��3����� ����

�3�����������#�"����� ����-(��������#�&����3��3����*���3��������'��&� �����"��" ��������'�����'��#3�-*������������3������#� �����(�" ����������'��3������'���������������������*����● &� ������"��" ��������#�3����������������#��������� �� �����"�� �#��● ����'��� ������(��������"�-��� ����(���-��## ������(�����-�"�"����*�� � ��#�����#�+6�������"� ��'����������A��������������������*������● ����������"�� �#"��" �������� ������(��������"�����������#����#3������������������������*-'���#�(�������#���*������*������

� �����5�� ���/���� �/�����$�� �������&��D

$��6'116���10+9�)����0'��A469%0�@���05)��)4-15��7@0*�%����'���������3��27��8����0A�● �����I ����#J>�+● ���������I���J>�S● �������'>�+● ����>�/�"� ��● ��������3��>�+6.�"� ��● ����������>��● ����������!���3��>�+����"��● ����>�+��� ● $����*������" >�+● $��!��>���0����27A

● �� ��>�+��(� ● �����>+��(� ● ��*���F��"�>�+��(� ● B����������>� S��� ● ���" � � ��>� S���

● ��*����*�����#>�S��� /�0�1���D��2��A● ��3��>�+����"��● ������>��0P● ���"���'���*����������������A

● ���3�������!��>�+����"��● 4����"�����>�.,�3*● �A����!��3������!�����>�+��*��

������● &� ����������������" ��-��##����������3��#������*�������#���#������ ��"���3� �������#�● ���"���� ��"�*���� � ������(����� � ����!��������� ���#�*� ����������� ���������"�* ���������(*��3�#�������������● ���!�����'�����������������**���*�� �● �������"����#������#� �� ������������'��3����������������������������!�����● ���"��� ����� ������#����������#��� ���������"����● &�����������3�������������#������3�● ����*(�����������#��""��#��3�������������-� ���3����"�������!��������� ���#3������������"���*�����������● 7��KK���������*�����3�#������3��!�������� �

� �����5�!����" �!��������#��.�������� ������� �����$�� ����� ���D

&���+O++�������������&���5* ������(���3�����

����������;��'�!��������������������������'�#���"��(���"��"���*����#����(����&�* ������"���#�������-�����"���*����#��3��"����#�"�� ���'��A���"�'��!����������������� ��'�"����*�#������**����*��(������0�3�A��������3�'��*����, ������A�������A�&��������+���2��A�+O++����������-&���5* �����-�C�� ������#�

+ 5 4 " � 5 1

$�7�����"�*��� ����������'�����0��*�#�������������������������������������������!�#�����

������� �"��������������0�"����#�� ��"���"�������&��������������� �"����� 0��� ���#�#�������� ����������D��"��" ������� -�B��3������-����#�����&���;��#��*���'����!��-���#�B��3;�����#��3�"��� �!�3���(�������1�A�+.� *����+.��*��0�3�A��/.�� �����A�����2��A�$�7-���"����+�-�4���3��*�

���������3�����''���������7�*��*�-������������ -�$�(�����(-��''���������(�

#�*��*��������!�����"��*(��-�!�3���(��#�* ���3������3��3�������(�������#����� ���"����#� � �"����#�* ���3������ ��������'����������'���!�3�������0'����#���*�������3�����"��" ���"�������������" �����������3����#� -� �����������'��*����#�"�������#�*����*�������1�A�+.� *����+.��*�0�3�A �.-+,,� ������A�������A�&�������

���F�(4����-

���������� �"����O,���**��#��� ��*����''����3�'������**��"��������� �!���������"���"���#�-����������������������-��"���"���(�����*��3�����-�#��$����*�F������#�*����*���������A�&�������/+���1�A�++��*����+,� *���2��A���F�(�4����-�$�����3������"��

�������������������� ����� !�"#$%

5�#���4���������������4��#���5��- ��������9"���������������'���0"������*���;�'��*�� ���������#���������&������"����"��#�����!�"�� ��3���������-�'������0*�#����*����#���#�����������"��������*�������#��������0"�����#'����'��3��-��������(��������������#�'���������������������������-�������������%�"�&��������������*��3�����������1�A�+. *����/� *��0�3�A��PPP� �����A�������A�&��������+����2��A�������4��#���5��-��� ���

/��/����� �

$��6'116���%11694�

%����'������● � ���"�>�+�(���● ����� ��>�+�"� ● ��������>�S�

● ������>�+�● �����>�.��(� ● 2���������#>�+� ��"�● :�3����>�+�"�

������● ����#��!�������3���#���!��"�����#������� ���"���#�(�����������3�������

� �����5�+ ��� �� ���0��#�������#�*������&��#�! �����@?����@

'� ��% ��D�

Now that the viral crazesurrounding theInstant Pot has quiet-

ed down a bit, let’s look atwhether it really is an appli-ance you should add to yourkitchen or whether the classicslow cooker is just fine.

INSTANT POTSInstant Pot is the most popu-lar brand name for a fairlynew breed of programmable,electric, multi-function cook-ers. There are a number madeby other manufacturers too.Instant Pots are pressurecookers, slow cookers, ricecookers, yogurt makers,steamers and warmers, all inone. They also can brownfoods, so you can sear orsauté in them.

This last feature is one ofthe many reasons of its hugelikeability. When makingsomething like pulled pork orbraised chicken, it is pre-ferred to sear the meat first,before cooking it. This givesthe final product more tex-ture, with a nicely caramelisedoutside and a super-tenderinterior. With a regular slowcooker, you must do this stepin a pan on the stove beforetransferring it to the slowcooker, which is an extra stepand an extra thing to wash.

The main draw of the potis the pressure-cooking func-tion. The cooking tempera-ture of an Instant Pot in the“instant,” or pressure-cooker,setting ranges between 239degrees F and 244 degrees F.Many meals can be cooked inless than 60 minutes, includ-ing things that might surpriseyou if you’ve never had a pres-sure cooker. Pot roast in anhour? Yes.

The Instant Pot has insu-lated housing, which makes itenergy efficient. You have toseal the pressure valve, andthen it locks itself during thepressure-cooking process,which results in no cookingsmells. The pot raises, moni-tors and adjusts the pressureautomatically, and when thecooking time is finished thevalve is released to bring thepressure back down (somerecipes say you should releasethe pressure valve manually,while others allow for theInstant Pot to do this automat-ically and slowly). The foodshould be allowed to sit in theInstant Pot until the releasetime is over — most recipeswill be clear on that, and the

pot itself unlocks when it’stime to remove the food.

You can certainly use theslow-cooker function on anInstant Pot, but many slow-cooker fans don’t think it’s asgood as a designated slow cook-er. Because the pot seals itself sowell, even when it’s not on thepressure-cook mode there is lessliquid able to evaporate thanwith a traditional slow cooker.This may result in some liquidleft at the end, and less reduc-tion and thickening of sauce asthe food cooks.

Most Instant Pots havesmart, built-in programs like“rice” or “bean/chili” so you canmake certain foods with thepress of a button. But overall, it’sless intuitive than a slow cook-er, so you should find recipeswith explicit pot instructions.Once you get the hang of it, thenyou can experiment more.

For steaming, or for otherrecipes where you don’t wantthe food submerged in liquid,there is a rack insert to keepthe food suspended above asmall amount of water orother liquid. This means youcan make foods in yourInstant Pot that you would notusually make in a slow cook-er, such as a lasagna in a pan.There are pans designed justfor using in the Instant Pot onthe market, and also some sil-icone slings and other insertsdesigned for cooking specif-ic foods, such as eggs, and lift-ing foods from the machine.

THE SLOW COOKERAs the name suggests, theslow cooker cooks foods lowand slow, with a temperaturerange of about 175 degrees Fto 200 degrees F. There areusually only two settings —low and high; the high settingusually has a minimum cook-ing time of four hours and amaximum of six, with the low

offering a choice betweeneight and 10 hours.

Most recipes specifywhich setting and amount oftime to use, but some like aroast or pork shoulder, can beflexible, so you may choose asetting and time based on howmuch time you have (forexample, if you are cookingsomething in the afternoonfor dinner, or overnight whileyou sleep).

The slow cooker is moreintuitive for most cooks thanthe Instant Pot. Fewer func-tions (one) mean fewer but-tons, and it’s harder to messanything up.

Slow cookers are availablein sizes up to 10 quarts, whileInstant Pots top out at 8 quarts,so if big-batch cooking is yourthing, that’s a consideration.

WHAT THEY BOTH DOBoth machines are good forfoods with lots of moistureand long cooking times, suchas soups, chillies, stews andbraises. With both, the cook-ing time can usually be preset,and foods can be kept warmafter cooking is finished.

WHICH IS RIGHT FORYOU?If you are a person with a lotof appliances that an InstantPot can replicate, such as ayogurt maker, a slow cooker,a pressure cooker and a ricemaker, then boy, will yousave a lot of storage space withthis one device. And if you area last-minute dinner maker,then the Instant Pot mightbecome an invaluable tool.But if you are someone whoplans ahead, loves slow-cooked foods, and wants towalk in the door to a housefilled with the scent of dinnerwaiting to be served up, thenstick with the slow cooker.

I��

The very first step inside theBurma Burma, DLF Mall ofIndia, Noida, reminded meof Kolkata in the sixties, atad bit more vibrant. When

you run your eyes across the green andbrown walls, with striped, woodenwindow sills, the chandeliers thatappeared to be made with bamboosticks, you seem to be turning thepages of history. The ambiencereminded one of how the British rulegave rise to mixed colonial styles ofarchitecture where local material likethe Burmese teak was used. A widehanging shelf on the right was full ofBurmese dolls and books.

While strolling through the mallin search of some soul-satisfying foodafter a tiring day at shopping, we foundout that the outlet had an ongoingThingyan Food Festival. This is Burma’sanswer to Thai Songkran, CambodianChaul Chnam Thmey, Laotian Pi Mai,and Indian Holi. The Thingyan or A-Kyo Nei marks the beginning of fes-tivities as it is the Burmese New Year.

We started with the Bamboo shootand water chestnut soup. A recipe fromthe hills of Kachin, the tender bambooshoot soup with dill leaves was moreof a fusion with Indian flavours.Bright yellow, with chopped bambooshoot pieces, the soup tasted sour anda bit too salty.

The Crunchy corn salad, the next

dish, can certainly be rated as the bestof the evening. With crisp golden cornkernels, hand-mixed with sweet andtangy tamarind dressing, the salad wasflavoured with chopped brown onions,sliced carrots, cabbage and scallions.Crispy on the upper and soft on theinside, the dish could be termed as theperfect starter.

Next up was the Quack quackpalata — a dish one could eat even ona full stomach. The dish was a Yangon(erstwhile Rangoon) tea shop-specialwhere a flaky palata was filled withminced mock duck, finely-choppedtofu, cottage cheese, garlic and ginger.It reminded one of an Indian paran-tha, though it was a bit crispier andwith heavy stuffing of disparate ingre-dients. The palata was served with amint chutney, nothing short of the typ-ical green chutneys in Indian house-holds.

We tasted the palata with the twotypes of sauces out of the four on thetable. One, tamarind chutney, whichperfectly incorporated the sour imliflavour; second, a sticky paste-likechutney, not meant for those who don’tlike it too hot as it had spicy, roastedred chillies alongwith a hint of sweet-ness of jaggery. How we wished wecould take the latter home! Well, ourwishes did come true as we flipped tothe last page of the menu that had list-ed its saleable items. One of those was

the spicy sauce as well, with a jar onlyfor �250.

The Malar noodle bowl, a dish ofthick flat noodles from the Shanregion served with vegetables and soyain a curry was up next. The noodles,wider and thicker than an inch, werea blast of flavours in our mouths asthey tasted of everything fromtamarind, garlic, tofu, brown onion,scallions and chilli.

Moving ahead from the maincourse, we ordered some coolers andsteamed buns. First was the Oh notamarind mocktail. The super-chilleddrink was undoubtedly the most sourthing we had ever tasted. As much asthe thought of the drink’s sournesswould salivate our taste buds, we couldalso feel our jaws tingle as our eyessquinted at its very first sip. Well, thenext cooler was just its opposite. Thecranberry, watermelon, rose and cher-ry mocktail gave us a chilling welcometo the Burmese land. A rose petal onthe top of the brew appeared like acherry on the top of a pineapple cake.Full marks to both the coolers, how-ever the former one, we felt, couldhave lessened its tanginess.

The steamed buns, which lookedlike round white idlis from the top,were soft as cotton balls and hadbrown onions and roasted chillies astheir filling. Softest on the outside andmushy on the inside, the buns can

make for a great snack.Well, one last thing was still left —

desserts, which too didn’t fail to makeus crave for more even on a full stom-ach. Out of the two, the first one wasthe Yay-Gei-Tho. The coconut ice-cream dessert was presented in acoconut shell and had crushedpeanuts, ice apples, nata-de-coco, fruitjellies as its toppings. As one bit intothe ice cream, one could taste bits ofcreamy peels stuck on the walls of thecoconut as well. This dessert was morethan just soul-satisfying and heart-melting. The last one for the eveningwas Rangoon Ruby, a coconut, lemon-grass panacotta and black sesameice-cream, served with yuzu curd andpoppy seed crumbles. First the mind-blowing presentation. Two plates, onewith a dried, frozen red rose wasbrought to the table and before youwould even realise, the chef crushedits petals on the cheesecake-like pana-cotta and ice-cream. Well, this one-of-its-kind dessert grew delicious witheach bite. The paapad-like waffers oneach side tasted of peanuts and as ifthey were dipped in peanut butter andjaggery syrup, balancing the dish’sabundant flavours of rose, cranberry,vanilla, caramel and cream.

Not just one, we found more rea-sons than we could count for visitingthe place for an encore.

(The festival is on till May 5.)

���;����� �������������������� �#�������� ����"�����������#��##��������"��������������"�����"������"�� ��������#��F����'���

(�������"���

6'04@69'1(79

845607�%205%0'���$����B �5&&�� ������������ �"�����0"�����#�#���"�"�����'����� �������=��#�=����!���������������-�����'��#��������'������F������������3��������#��'���*����#����#�(�*(���

Page 15:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

������0,�������������������� ����� !�"#$%

����� ��$��<��

Jurgen Klopp admitted Lionel Messi was "unstop-pable" on Wednesday after he left Liverpool need-ing a miracle to reach the Champions League final.Luis Suarez poked in against his former club

before Messi hit a late double, the second a stunningfree-kick for his 600th Barca goal, as his team tooka 3-0 lead from a pulsating semi-final first leg aheadof next week's return at Anfield.

"He's unstoppable," said Klopp afterwards."Obviously we couldn't defend the free-kick. Whata strike. He's a world-class player but I knew thatalready. It's no surprise."

Klopp could only smile after Messi's curling shotnestled in the top corner but this result was harsh onhis side.

They matched Barcelona in the first half, dom-inated them early in the second and could still haveleft with an away goal after Messi's brilliant brace, onlyfor Mohamed Salah to hit the post.

"I said to the boys I was proud of how we playedagainst a side like this," Klopp said. "If you lose awayit's not a massive problem as long as you score a goal.That's our problem tonight - it doesn't make our lifeany easier."

Messi and Suarez did what they have done all sea-son, their tallies now at 47 and 27 goals respec-tively in all competitions.

It had been a breathtaking contest befit-ting two of Europe's most exhilarating teams.The first half was electric, a reel of chances,breaks and blocks, while the second was tense,a tactical battle where Barca dared Liverpoolto over-exert.

The comeback will be eventougher for them given Barcelona,with La Liga wrapped up, will surelyrest a host of players against Celta Vigo thisweekend while Liverpool, a point behindPremier League leaders Manchester City, will have

to be at full throttle again away at Newcastle onSaturday.

"They can still make us suffer," said Barca coachErnesto Valverde. "The result is good but the tie

is open."

�/����..����-Messi was already fresh, after playing just

over half the La Liga minutes he could havedone in April, and he looked sharp early on,

weaving through the centre while forLiverpool, the sensational Sadio Maneraced down the left.

The attacks were scintillating butthe defending was good too. Andy

Robertson scrambled across to block Messi's fin-ish from six yards and moments later it was Sergi

Roberto on the slide, preventing Mane from sprint-ing clear.

Messi wanted a penalty when the ball jumped upon Joel Matip and Naby Keita went off injured in the25th minute, replaced by Jordan Henderson.

A minute later came the goal. Arturo Vidalsprayed the ball left to Philippe Coutinho, who cush-ioned back for Jordi Alba. Alba shaped to cross butinstead curved a perfectly weighted pass to the nearpost, where Suarez nipped in.

Liverpool came again. Mane scampered inbehind then flicked the ball round Sergio Busquets.He should have scored too, Henderson's cross find-ing him free from eight yards but the shot flew over.

Barca took control just as Suarez began to loseit, irked by James Milner barging Messi into the side-boards after the Argentinian had danced past

Robertson.But Liverpool were re-energised at the start of the

second half. Marc-Andre ter Stegen pushed away shotsfrom Milner and Salah, and held a Milner drive.

Then Messi intervened, striking twice in sevenminutes. His own run started the first, setting Sergifree to square to Suarez. Off balance, Suarez couldonly knee the ball against the crossbar but it cameback for Messi, who chested and finished into an opennet.

Two was tough on Liverpool but Messi was notdone. The free-kick was central, 30 yards out. Hewhipped it over the wall and into the top corner.

Barca were delirious but Liverpool almostgrabbed an away goal when a clearance on the linefell kindly for Salah, who hammered against the post.It could have been a lifeline. Liverpool are on the brink.

����� �:7��:

Australia captain Aaron Finchbelieves David Warner will enter

this year's World Cup desperate toprove himself as the disgraced bats-man prepares to rejoin his teammatesafter a ball-tampering ban.

Warner has been in red-hot formin the India Premier League aftercompleting a 12-month suspensionfor cheating, averaging 69.20 in 12innings, including a century andeight fifties.

Finch expected the fiery batsmanto also dominate on the internation-

al stage, providing a massiveboost for Australia as the

reigning champions chase asixth World Cup trophy.

"He's coming back witha huge hunger, not just toperform well for his fran-

chise, but to dominate inter-national cricket again,"

Finch told Melbourne

commercial radio on Wednesday."When you have your dream

taken away from you for 12 months,I can imagine there's somethinginside you that burns really strongly."

Finch said the ban, imposed afterWarner masterminded the"Sandpaper-gate" scandal in CapeTown last year, had given the 32-year-old a chance to refresh his game.

"He's a super player, we know howdestructive he can be," he said.

"I think having time off to spendwith his family and get away from thegame (was important)." Warner andformer Australian captain Steve Smithwill officially rejoin the Australiansquad for the first time at a trainingcamp in Brisbane on Friday.

Finch did not expect any prob-lems re-integrating them into theteam, even though the former captainand deputy will have to defer to a newleadership team. He said he wouldconsult the pair about on-field tactics.

"I'll be using them as much as I

can tactically because they've bothcaptained a lot of cricket and are verygood captains on the field," he said.

"It would be really naive of menot to lean on them." Finch alsorevealed he feared for his own spoton the team after a recent barren run,although he believed he had nowreturned to form.

"In the back of your mind you'rethinking, 'Gee, the World Cup isn't faraway, as a captain I could be left outof the squad'," he said.

"Then you start putting unreal-istic pressure on yourself to perform."Finch had an unsuccessful spell in theTest side last year, averaging 27.80 infive matches, and conceded that at 32his career in the long-form game wasover.

"My chances to play Test cricketagain have probably slipped away," hesaid.

"I'm still very grateful for theopportunity... I'm OK with thatbecause I gave it everything I could."

����� ��25������5

Former India captain SunilGavaskar foresees

Mahendra Singh Dhoni mak-ing a "massive" contribution inIndia's World Cup campaignand he feels it will not be lim-ited to the talismanic player'smuch-admired instinctivereading of the game.

Dhoni has been in superbform in the ongoing IndianPremier League and has so faramassed 358 runs from 11matches for the Chennai SuperKings. Gavaskar feels thestumper-batsman will be cru-

cial to India posting defend-able totals in the mega-eventstarting May 30 in the UnitedKingdom.

"I think it will be veryimportant because we have afabulous top-three. But in casethe top-three don't make theirusual contribution, thenDhoni's contribution downthe order, whether it's at num-ber four or five, will make a bigdifference in India posting adefendable total," Gavaskarsaid.

Gavaskar also spoke high-ly of Dhoni's wicket-keepingskills and how they aid skip-

per Virat Kohli in making fieldplacements.

"...We have seen the wick-et-keeping skills that he has.But more importantly assomebody who stands close tothe wicket, guiding the spin-ners where to bowl, guidingthe other bowlers also whereto ball and making those littlefield adjustments...," he elabo-rated.

"...(Virat) Kohli, whosebrilliant fielding makes itimperative for him to stand inthe deep, at long-off/long-onmay be, is unable to see thoselittle changes of the back-ward point fielder moving a lit-tle bit to his right or little bitto his left, similarly square-legfielder moving.

"So those are the kind ofchanges Dhoni will be able tobring about with Kohli's, of-course, full backing as well,"the scorer of 34 Test hundredsexplained.

Gavaskar also said thefact that Dhoni has already ledIndia to the 2011 World Cuptriumph would make his expe-rience all the more valuable.

"And when you havesomebody who's actuallybeen in a position wherehe's taken the stress andtaken the team to a winas he did in 2011(World Cup), that isinvaluable in yourteam.

"So Dhoni's con-tribution is going to bemassive," Gavaskarsigned off.

����� �����5�

Legendary cricketer SachinTendukar on Thursday said

the World Cup in the UnitedKingdom will offer beautifulbatting tracks but he doesn'texpect the ball to swing much inthe hot conditions that will pre-vail there.

The World Cup, which willkick-start on May 30, will see all10 participating nations face-offagainst each other.

"I am told it's going to be ahot summer. Even in theChampions Trophy the wickets

were superb when the sun wasout. In the heat the wickets getreally flat. I am sure they will givebeautiful tracks to bat on,"Tendulkar said on the sidelinesof the inauguration of the MIGClub pavilion named after him.

"I don't think there will bemuch difference in the condi-tions unless there is a heavycloud cover. If there is a cloudcover, the ball might go arounda bit. Even if that's the case Idon't see that happening for alonger duration just the firstover if at all," he added.

Several Indian players,

including captain Virat Kohli,Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul,are performing well in the ongo-ing Indian Premier League.

Asked if that will help themin the World Cup, Tendulkarsaid: "A good performance in anyformat is good news because itgives the player confidence. Ifyou are confident in any format,that's important."

"The players have time tomake some adjustments accord-ing to the conditions. All of themhave played enough cricket toknow what to do to improve," headded.

��������-��� ��������.�����$�'���Munich: =��*��� ������� ����"�� "� ����� ���'���''��(��3� ���� ���#� ����� $���*(���� ����� C�*���#��3��K������#����!������"��(������#������ �" �� *����3�*����*���TC�*��������#���"�3���������������3��� ���� '��� ��*� ��� ��� ���!�� ������-T� ������''��(��3� ��� ���� "���*�� '��� ���� 4��*��� ������(����� &0������� ��� &����#���� &��� .10����0��#$���*(���� F����#� ������� '��*� ���� ��#��#� ��.,+1-���������0����������#�������"���A �������������#��'�����������������������!������� ��������(���#��3��K� ��*�������� '��� �.� *������� �����IU�1�+*J-�(��� ����*�#'���#�����������(������'����0���*���3�������#����� ��B�!�"��������������T��������� ������#���F�������'���(���-�(������"������#�������'� ��� ��� ����� ������#� ��� ���� ��!��-� +,-� +.���� +�*��������������*�-T��������''��(��3��

�����'�������������������.��-�Doha: <��* �"� "��* ���� $������ ��*����-� �������� ���� ��3��� "������3�� �3������ ���� 5��=� 3��#�������-��������"���������),,�*���������=��#��D��7���7��*��#� ���3��� �'���� *� ��3� �� ����� �����-��3�����������#����&����#������*����-�����#��(��<��* �"�"��* ���-������##�#�������������� �����'��=��#��D��),,�*���������&����#���*�����3-� ��#���'��������� �����3������ ���� 5��=D���������3������3���������������!����'�����*������������������F�"��#(�� ���� $����� '��� ��(��������� �'� � ����� 7�����3�������� ���#� ���� ������ �'��"��� ������� ��#�����#� '��� ���� ���"�*�� �'� �#���#��D�� $��������3������������-�����K�����#-�(�'����#�"�#��3�������� ��� ���� ��� ���� *�����3� ����� � ���� ���7��*��#����3����������

�.�=���.����������������������London: $�����!������� ��3���#� (���*��� ���A�����������(���!����(���'���������3��*������'������������'����������0(�����������������������A�#�'��*���� ��3���#� �N��#�-� ��"��#��3� ���� ��!�������� +�0*��� ����� '��� ����� ����D�� ���#� $� -� �'����� ����#��� '�����3� �� ��"��#� ����� '��� ��"���������#��3��� ���� ���� ��3����� "������ ������3��*�����(����!��������������������������'�T����"��"����#T�'������(���*���������������� �����3�"��" ��-��������3�����=��#��D��3�*���3������7����*��T&�����"�����!������� ��������� ��� ���A� ������ ��!�� (���� #�''�"���� '���!������� ��!��!�#� ����� ������3��*������ $�����$��" ��� $��(-T� �� �����*���� '��*� ���� "��(� ���#� ���#���#���� T=�������3� ���� ����#������ '��*� �����3���#��N��#���������� -������!��*�����������A����A ���������"��"�������#������0���������������"��"������"������"��������

������'�������-����������C������Auckland: 5�#��D�� ��� �������� ������#� &�**���3������ ��� �����3��� 3�*��� ��� ����� ����� ����*��D����3����N������'�������!����������"�* ��������������������� "�����#����� ��� ���� ��"��#� ����#��'� �������?�����#�< ���(�#*������������*�����������&����#���������#�#������������" �#���"��#����#��3������.+0+�-�.+0+.����F����/1�*����������(�� ���� ��"�������������0��3�������#-���������������(��� �3������'�'������#�B�����&������*���'�C� ����&������� ����#� ��� .P� �������D�� *��#��� *�����3�3������ ����#� ��� +/� ��3������� �������� ��� ���� #��-��������� ��''���#� �� �����3��03�*�� +.0.+-� +.0.+����� ��� ���� ��3��#���� ���� 7��� �'� $������ ��!�������#�����7��-�����-� ��3�����#��������N������'����������� ��� ����� (�� � � �3������ �� � ���#� ������������� �� 4�����3� �'� 5�#�������� 5�#���� *��D�#��(���� �����'��������������#���*��������##���������� ���������"��#�����#-�3���3�#�����3�������!��������#��4���2����*���#�&������B���3��'���������+10.+-�+O0.+��

�*'��)'!

1"23851

�������������������"���#���3���#���"��'���0 �" 3�����'��*��P�����* ���'������"������������"�* ��������������������%�$�������������#����

��������"������#���"��'���0 �" �'��*�.������* ���'��C�!������

���!�� ������!�����������*����*��"����������$��* ��������3���������������I�����++*��"���J�������������������"�* ��������

"�*(���#�I/����/)�*��"���J�

���!�� ������''���#�������F����0���!����$��* ��������3���#�'���-�����������3�,0/���������#��#����<"��(���.,+��

G��������������������"���#�����P,,��3����'���=$���"������������"�* ��������-��A�"����+���������3�

���"������'�����3�����3��������(�"�������+������.,,��

AG���������������������.P�3��������//� �����"����3��������3�����"��(��������$��* ��������3��%���� ����������*���

�3���������*��'��*��� ����"�����"�������������"�* �������D����������I��!��������$�������������#��!4��*���"��(�J�

����������������������������"��#� ����������"����3������������#�''��������3�����"��(����������*��$��* ��������3����������I� ���-����

��#���#���!�� ���J-��'����&��*�������������.,+/0+�I�������-�����$������#�������#J�

�A<�����V��I//J������"���#��3������*���#�''������$��* ��������3���� ������������������������I/.J-���������������'����

3�������������� �����"����3��������!�� ����

�G�������W��K������"���#�����'����$��* ��������3���3�����'�����������-���������/P���������'�����"�* ��3���

FIGURATIVELY

�('��7�54(����������������&����� ��������� ���� �� ���� ���?���������������"������?����� ��3@J����,�����

T�����������(���������*�������'��������'-�(�����������"��#����'������ ���0����#������#����"���#�D�3��������'��������'-�(�����3�������3�������#��������3��#��#!����3��T

E .��2��������

T5�#��D�� �����'���"��� ����*�"��(��0������������*�*���������D�������������������3������#�������"��#��������!��(���T

E �07�2���55

T�� ��������3��#��������D�������3���3�����#�������'��*�������D�����(���� ����������������#-�(���5�����3�����#����������!���������3��������*�TE�2�0�D�����0���2

T5����� ���D�����(���� ����������������#���#���D��3��������������(����A������������������D��������!������������TE��07�����2���EB�

T����!��*�#����3�����*��"�-��!����3��#������������������ �����������������"��#����#������3����*���� ��������������������������*��"����#�����!�����3�����������#��������� �"������3��������3�T

E �0�������

T�� ���������������-(������#����������� ��� �����3����������� ����#�����������(��� X�'�����'����Y�(�������������!����� ����������"��#��3�T�

E�02��������4�0��

���+����"���D��/���/���(����#���� ++��2

���������#��#�+������ ���#��#��<��7����<���

� ���(�<#����#��� �<���� �2�����#��#����#��<��7����/��

�����������2����+�� ���#���<����/���

(�� ��� ������7����(�����

B9�� ����� ��C����������A��� ���������� �A+

� ��>������$����������$�����������"������3����0��

>*������##�"�)�����#����"��� �#�"�)�� ���=�8�������"

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

Page 16:  · trict Collectors via videocon-ference and directed them to remain alert to meet any emergency situation. Besides, the CM reviewed deployment of NDRF and ... anger by coining slogan

�������������������� ����� !�"#$%

�G

H'(5� 31 )������A��� ���D�'9EA4+/�6� ,� /������'�"�����D)+EF� 3,;�� 0)08I 40/;0-.�/-;

��"��D��(��*������(�������(�"����������#�����A �����"�#�"�* ��3����� ��7������������*�##���B ��'��&� ���'

�����A�

����■ $�����5

West Indies all rounder Dwayne Bravo onThursday said Indian Premier League

enhances players' skills and every team has somehigh profile coaches to iron out the flaws.

A big-hitter on the field, Bravo reiteratedthat the West Indies would pose a threat to allthe teams in the coming World Cup as it hada sledgehammer in Chris Gayle and the dan-gerous Andre Russell who has been in greatform this season.

A key player for Chennai Super Kings,Bravo also reaffirmed his admiration for M SDhoni's leadership and again termed him thebest captain he has played under.

"I think IPL helps domestic players. It alsohelps international players. You are beingcoached by some of the best coaches in the world.

I think that is the beauty of IPL. Players getan opportunity to improve their skills", Bravosaid during a promotional event.

Asked how much he enjoyed playing forChennai Super Kings, the all rounder said heenjoyed a lot playing for CSK.

"It is one of my favourite teams... It is mybiggest fan base overseas, it is no secret. It isalways good to wear the yellow jersey," he said.

About the West Indies' chances at the WorldCup, he said, "the chances of West Indies win-ning the cup are just as good as every otherteam's.... West Indies is just as good as any otherteam."

"Universal boss (Chris Gayle) is there.Andre Russell is there. (Shannon) Gabriel isthere. So they have very good players, all matchwinners. So look out for them."

Bravo heaped praise on Dhoni and reiter-ated that he was the best captain in the worldhe has played under.

"It is no secret. I love, I can say much aboutMSD leadership... Everyone knows. He is thebest in the world," he added.

����■ ���7���5�

Premier South Africa pacerKagiso Rabada's stiff back is

a concern for Delhi Captialstowards the business end of theIPL but his national team wouldbe more concerned with theWorld Cup just few days away.

Delhi Capitals badly missedRabada's services in the gameagainst CSK in Chennai onWednesday, when they werehanded a massive 80-run loss. Itwas the first time this seasonRabada missed a game.

"The team management ismonitoring him closely. Thefinal league game is still two daysaway (May 4) and since the teamhas already qualified for theplay-offs, there is no point risk-ing him," a team source said.

Though captain ShreyasIyer insisted that the manage-ment took a precautionary mea-sure by resting Rabada, SouthAfrica would be worried sincetheir veteran pacer Dale Steynis also injured, playing just twoIPL games this season.

"Yes we know what abilitieshe has. He's an amazing bowlerespecially in the slog overs. Forsure we missed him but he had

a stiff back, it's good he got totake rest," said Iyer after thedefeat against CSK.

Being a World Cup year,physios of all national teams aremonitoring their respective play-ers' workload in the IPL and arein constant touch with theircounterparts across the eightfranchisees.

Rabada has had back issuesin the past and last year was outfor three months with a lower-back injury and also missed theIPL. He is IPL's leading wicket-taker at the moment, havingtaken 25 wickets in 12 games atan average of 14.72.

����■ $�����5

The sheer presence of MS Dhonion the pitch creates a lot of

pressure for opposition teams andit is always difficult to fill the vet-eran stumper's boots whenever heis not around, said Chennai SuperKings' batsman Suresh Raina.

Dhoni missed two games forCSK this season — againstMumbai Indians and SunrisersHyderabad — due to fever and stiffback, and on both occasion theyended on the losing side.

Besides, Dhoni has been insuperb form with the bat this yearand hit a 22-ball unbeaten 44against Delhi Capitals to ensure acomfortable 80-run win for CSK.

Asked Raina how challengingit was to lead CSK in Dhoni'sabsence, he replied: "I think losinghim (Dhoni) as a captain is not anissue, losing him as a batsman isalways difficult for us. That's whathappened for us againstHyderabad and Mumbai Indians.

����■ �<���5�

Staring at elimination, two-time cham-pions Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings

XI Punjab will lock horns in a battle of sur-vival in Friday's Indian Premier Leaguematch, here at PCA stadium.

The two teams are languishing at thebottom half of the table and need to winon Friday to keep alive their remote Play-off chances.

Both KKR and Kings XI have 10points from 12 matches but the Kolkataoutfit is placed a rung above Punjab atsixth in the eight-teamcompetition by virtueof a better net run-rate.

Both KKR andKings XI had a decentouting in the first halfof the tournamentbefore losing the plotin the all-importantsecond phase.

After registering four wins and oneloss in the first five games, KKR sufferedsix defeats in a row that derailed their cam-paign.

Although KKR return to winningways against Mumbai Indians in their lastgame, the Dinesh Karthik-led side needto register victories in their final twogames to have an outside chance of qual-ifying for the Play-offs.

The KKR top-order — Shubman Gill(75), Chris Lynn (54) and Andre Russell(80 not out) fired in unison in their last

match against Mumbai Indians to lift theside to a mammoth 232 for two, a totalwhich the bowling unit defended to reg-ister a much-needed 34-run win.

Russell has been in ominous form forKKR this season and is the third highestscorer so far with 486 runs from 12 gamesat a staggering strike rate of 207.69.

And come on Friday, KKR would lookfor yet another superb show from the top-order to negate the team's frailties.

But if batting is their strength, KKR'sweak link is the bowling department.

Veteran campaigners like Sunil Narine(2/44) and Piyush Chawla(1/57) leaked runs againstMI and if not for the cush-ion of 230 plus score, KKRcould have lost the match.

Just like KKR, Kings XItoo had an erratic cam-paign so far and are on athree-match losing streak,going into Friday's game.

Their situation is worse than KKR asthey have a negative net run rate, whicheventually can come into the picture.

K L Rahul (520 runs off 12 games) isenjoying a good IPL and is currently sec-ond in the runs-scorers' list with anunbeaten century to his name, whileChris Gayle is fifth in the list with 448runs even though consistency is some-thing that has lacked in the West Indian'sgame.

The bowling will largely depend onskipper Ravichandran Ashwin and much-improved India pacer Mohammed Shami.

����■ �<�7<�

Jofra Archer is set to make his England debut whenEoin Morgan's men face Ireland in a one-day inter-

national in Malahide on Friday.The 24-year-old Barbados-born all-rounder was

called into a senior England squad for the first timelast month after qualifying on residency grounds.

He was not included in the tournament hosts' 15-man provisional squad for the World Cup.

But Archer can stake a claim by impressing forworld number one team England in their one-off gameagainst Ireland and upcoming series at home toPakistan before the World Cup squad is finalised onMay 23.

Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan and Surrey wick-etkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes, a replacement for theinjured Sam Billings, are also set to win their first one-day international caps on Friday.

Morgan, confirming Sussex star Archer's inclusion,told Sky Sports: "He obviously brings a lot of excite-ment, along with skill level. He's been around for thelast few years. I've played against him and he'sbowled extremely well when I've played against him.

"He was delighted (when he was told). Debuts areall about celebrating what's gone before and recognis-ing the start of a new journey and for Jofra it's obvi-ously very exciting."

Archer has impressed in the lucrative Twenty20Indian Premier League this season for the RajasthanRoyals, where his teammates included establishedEngland all-rounder Ben Stokes.

He completed a three-year qualification period inMarch after the England and Wales Cricket Boardchanged its residency rules.

Under the previous system, Archer would not havebeen eligible until 2022 after a seven-year residency.

The prospect of Archer, whose father is English,playing at the World Cup has caused concern amongseveral more established England rivals for a pace-bowling berth including Chris Woakes, David Willeyand Mark Wood, amid suggestions his inclusion coulddamage team morale.

But former England seamer Dominic Cork said hisinclusion was "an absolute must".

"I've watched him the last three weeks in Mumbai,playing for Rajasthan," added Cork.

"You've got someone who can bowl at the pace thathe can. He can bowl in that first powerplay, in the mid-dle and at the end."

"�8��� �����������>��0����'�����%��

;���9 ��"� ��������� ���������##�"����=�-����

&����� ��������5���������$��� �(�#��#�������������''�(�" �

#� /#���������#�����������������"��#����#�+���/�+�������7������� �������+��� ���(��������/'�(�"�5��� �#&������<� �"�(�<�����"��������#�����������������%�������������������E ��"5������/�E ����<���.�/�+����#���������

//'C/�����G4���� �������C�C�� ����

�-��/����■ �����5

Mumbai Indians rode open-er Quinton de Kock's

valiant knock of 69 (unbeaten)off 58 balls to post 162/5 in 20overs against SunrisersHyderabad (SRH) in their returnfixture of the Indian PremierLeague (IPL) at the WankhedeStadium, here on Thursday.

Despite getting little supportfrom the other end, de Kock kepthis cool and helped the three-time champions reach arespectable total. The opener'sknock contained six boundariesand two hits into the stands.

Opting to bat, Mumbai wereoff to a decent but cautiousstart with scoreboard reading26/0 in the initial three overs.While Rohit Sharma (24 off 18)clobbered Hyderabad bowlers,de Kock played second fiddle tothe Mumbai captain.

Khaleel Ahmed drew thefirst blood for his side and sentback a dangerous looking Rohitin the sixth over, leavingMumbai at 36/1. The Mumbaiskipper played an overambi-tious pull-shot on a delivery thatbounced a bit more and poppedup in the air only to be caughtby Mohammed Nabi at mid-on.

Incoming batsmanSuryakumar Yadav (23 off 17)and de Kock then tried to repairthe early damage, adding 54runs for the second wicket. Justwhen the home side wereapproaching the three-digitmark, Khaleel struck again tobreak the partnership. He cutshort Suryakumar's stay in themiddle, reducing Mumbai to90/2 in 11.2 overs.

Nabi spelled further troublefor Mumbai and just after theaddition of a run, he packedback Evin Lewis (1 off 6) in the13th over.

Hardik Pandya then playeda quick 10-ball 18, with the help

of a four and a six. But theMumbai all-rounder failed tospend much time in the middleas Bhuvneshwar Kumar appliedbrakes on his innings in the 16thover, with Mumbai placed at119/4.

Kieron Pollard (10 off 9) andde Kock then shared a short 32-run partneship for the fifthwicket, helping their side crossthe 150-run mark in 18.5 overs.Pollard was dismissed in the

final over by Khaleel beforeKrunal Pandya chipped in withan unbeaten 9 off three balls asMumbai reached a fighting total.

For the visitors, Khaleelbagged three wickets for 42 runsand Bhuvneshwar and Nabi gotone wicket each.

Sunrisers was playing with-out their leading run scorerDavid Warner (692 runs in 12matches) after the Australianopener left the tournament toreturn back and join nationalcamp ahead of the upcomingWorld Cup in England.

Sunrisers replaced Warnerwith New Zealand openerMartin Guptill while BasilThampi was included in place ofSandeep Sharma.

Live on Star Sports 1& 2

�6%�?)

/!"���� //+

=57�: L )>,,���

HEADTO

HEAD� )#=����

����

"When he comes to thecrease a lot of pressure is cre-ated for other teams. Whenhe is not in the team, we seethe difference."

Raina also hinted thathe might take up CSK cap-taincy as and when Dhonidecides to call it quits.

"He has done well in thelast couple of years as abatsmen as well team men-tor. So probably you maysee me more next yearwhen he is done but I needmore of his calibre. But hewill continue as long as hewants to play for Chennai,you know him andChennai," he said.

The left-hander alsopraised Dhoni's gloveworkin the light of two brilliantstumpings he had effectedon Wednesday night.

"He (Dhoni) had twobrilliant stumpings. One isShreyas (Iyer) and the other

is (Chris) Morris. It showshow compact he is.

"In the last couple ofyears when he was playingfor India also, he has doneamazing stumpings thatshows how involved he is inthe game," Raina said.

Raina said it was impor-tant to play smart cricket inChennai.

"It is important to playvery, very smart cricket inChennai. The game startsafter the sixth over here. Inthe powerplay, if you see thelast two games which wewon against Hyderabad andagainst Delhi here, you cansee that we hadn't done wellin the first three overs," hesaid.

"Watto (Shane Watson)and Faf (du Plessis) playedvery carefully against (Trent)Boult and (Chris) Morris. Itis important to have wicketsin Chennai because later

when you have hitters likeMS (Dhoni), (Ambati)Rayudu and Jadeja, you canscore extra 30-40 runs."

Raina said Delhi could-n't capitalise on a good start,adding one needs to planwell against CSK's lethalspin attack.

"They (Delhi) were verygood in the powerplay, butlater on they didn't capitaliseon their good start. InChennai, you need to planreally well against our goodspinners. You need to rotatereally well, otherwise it isgoing to be difficult with theheat," he said.

Meanwhile, DelhiCapitals captain Shreyas Iyersaid the defeat was a goodreality check for his teamahead of the play-offs.

"After the kind of startwe got (52/2 at one stage),we should have at leastreached close to the total. It

was a reality check for us.We need to assess where wewent wrong and come backstrongly," he said.

Iyer said Rishabh Pantcould have played 'smart' butadded he won't ask the left-hander to curb his style.

"He (Pant) has wonmatches for us earlier in theseason. A batsman like himcan turn the momentumwith one innings. So Iwouldn't want to curb hisstyle. I like the way he bats,"he said.

Asked about Dhoni'simpact, the Delhi captainsaid: "We can't blame ourbowlers because you had anexperienced campaigner likeDhoni in the middle. "He can change the gamefrom ball one and if hestays till the end, he can takethem to a good total. Thebowlers too feel the pressurewhen MS is in the middle."

!/% ��������)� �,K-@G

7���5&��4�&&5�4��5&&�������<&�=<��&���<&����7-�7��B<$B�B��&��5��$<<����7������7�&��&���0&5���$����5<�����$��������$&����&<&����&���<����D��B�<$B�$<�&�5��7��5M�<��7�5�����7�&<��5&��5�&<�&����&��7�