Delhi, wednesday, march 2, 2016

www.thehindu.in Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 RNI No. TNENG/2012/49940 ISSN 0971 - 751X Vol. 6 No. 52 CITY EDITION 20 Pages Rs. 8.00 ●

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Printed at Chennai, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Madurai, Noida, Visakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Vijayawada, Mangaluru, Tiruchirapalli, Kolkata, Hubballi, Mohali, Allahabad, Malappuram and Mumbai

Umar, Anirban in judicial custody; two videos ‘manipulated’

Examination in undergarments sparks row; notice to Army

Iraqi forces to start military operation to retake Mosul from IS

Kohli’s 56 helps India beat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets in Asia Cup

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GOVT. FACES HEAT OVER BUDGET PROPOSAL

NDA allies seek rollback of tax on withdrawals from EPF Trade unions, including RSS affiliate BMS, oppose proposal

Shiv Sena member of the Rajya Sabha Sanjay Raut told The Hindu that the party had conveyed its views to the government. Tathagat Satpathy of the BJD, a party that has been treading the middle path in Parliament, said he was in favour of the rollback and said he would raise the issue in Parliament.

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Jaitley to move amendment PUJA MEHRA NEW DELHI: Union Finance

Minister Arun Jaitley will move an amendment to the budget proposal on the taxation of withdrawal of investments from the Employees’ Provident Fund. The criticism of the proposal forced a reconsideration, a top government official told

reporters, speaking on condition of anonymity, as the “Finance Bill is now a property of the House.” The amended proposal will make only the interest accrued on 60 per cent of the contributions made after April 1, 2016 taxable, the official said.

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Delhi police file charge sheet against Pachauri MOHAMMED IQBAL & SHUBHOMOY SIKDAR NEW DELHI: The Delhi police

filed a charge sheet in a Metropolitan Magistrate court here on Tuesday against The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) Executive Vice-Chairman R.K. Pachauri for alleged sexual harassment and outraging the modesty of a former woman colleague. Metropolitan Magistrate Shivani Chauhan at the Saket District Courts fixed the hearing on April 23 for considering the charge sheet. Mr. Pachauri, who has got anticipatory bail, has denied the allegations. The charge sheet, running into 1,400 pages, has also accused Mr. Pachauri of stalking and criminally intimidating the victim with gesture or act intended to

A Delhi court will consider the charge sheet against R.K. Pachauri on April 23.

insult her modesty. Police investigations were based on the SMSes and e-mails between the accused and the 29-year-old victim. Police sources said the charge sheet named 23 persons as prosecution witnesses, who were likely to depose in court. The witnesses include the complainant’s friends and the present and former

employees of TERI. While the victim’s complaint and subsequent statements to the police have formed the basis of the charge sheet, the investigating oicers recorded the statements of the witnesses. The complaint of the victim, a former TERI employee, was thoroughly examined. The sources said a supplementary charge sheet would be filed after the forensic reports of Mr. Pachauri’s mobile phone and laptop computer were received as they would reveal the details of SMSes and yield conclusive evidence against him. The police have rejected the claim of the accused that his mobile phone was hacked. The charge sheet has accused Mr. Pachauri of committing ofences punishable

under Sections 354 (outraging the modesty of a woman), 354-A (sexual harassment), 354-D (stalking), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code. In a status report on the investigation filed in the Delhi High Court recently, the police said an out-ofcourt settlement was offered to the complainant. A former Research Associate, through whom the ofer was allegedly made, had complained to the police about it in January this year. In her petition in the High Court, the victim sought cancellation of Mr. Pachauri’s anticipatory bail, arguing that a free and fair probe could not be carried out if the accused was allowed to move freely.

A DAY AFTER BUDGET Sensex gains 777 points, Re up 57 paise MUMBAI: A day after the Union

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NORMS REVISED RBI unlocks additional Rs. 40,000 cr. to banks

NEW DELHI: Competing privi-

lege motions were moved in Parliament on Tuesday by the ruling BJP and the Congress, along with the CPI(M), connected to the debate on the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula and sedition charges against students of the Jawaharlal Nehru University. The Congress and the Left took on HRD Minister Smriti Irani and the BJP targeted Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia. Congress MPs K.C. Venugopal and Ranjeet Ranjan and CPI(M) MP Mohammad Salim moved the privilege motion in the LS against Ms. Irani, while the BJP’s chief

BRIEFLY

Budget, the BSE Sensex logged its biggest single-day rally of 777 points in nearly seven years. The rupee rose by 57 paise. BUSINESS | PAGE 15

Congress, Left target Smriti on Rohith issue; BJP takes on Scindia SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

NISTULA HEBBAR NEW DELHI: A day after the Union Budget was presented, the ruling BJP on Tuesday faced political heat over the decision to tax a certain proportion of the savings in the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) at the time of withdrawal. Its ally, Shiv Sena, and the Biju Janata Dal demanded withdrawal of the tax. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) asked for an increase in the exemption limit. Trade unions, including the RSS-ailiated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), have also opposed the proposal. At the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting of the Lok Sabha, the Shiv Sena and the BJD demanded the rollback of the tax, which they said would hurt the salaried middle class the most.

Privilege motions disrupt business in both Houses

MUMBAI: The RBI revised norms

on capital recognition, making available an additional Rs. 40,000 crore to banks. BUSINESS | PAGE 15

쐍 whip, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya sent a notice of breach of privilege against Mr. Scindia, chief whip of the Congress in the House. While Speaker Sumitra Mahajan read out the names of all those whose notices she had received, Mr. Dattatreya was allowed to speak on his notice. All this happened as AIADMK members were at

the well, protesting the alleged involvement of the former Union Minister, P. Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram in the AircelMaxis case. Mr. Dattatreya accused Mr. Scindia of “defaming him” by saying that he had called Vemula casteist and anti-national.

쐍 ALL NOTICES UNDER STUDY, SAYS SPEAKER | PAGE 12

Katheria under fire for ‘hate’ speech

SC to study plea to close Ishrat case trial

NATIONAL BUREAU

KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL

NEW DELHI: The alleged divisive speech of Union Minister Ram Shankar Katheria at the condolence meet of a VHP worker in Agra rocked Parliament on Tuesday with both Houses of Parliament witnessing disruptions even as the police in Agra registered an FIR against three persons. “An FIR has been lodged against Prashant Chaudhary, Ashok Lavania and Kunduka Sharma at the Loha Mandi police station in Agra,” IG (Law and Order) Bhagwan Swaroop said in Lucknow. Asked whether the three belonged to the BJP or the VHP, Mr Swaroop said he did not have any information in this regard. Mr. Katheria, meanwhile, claimed he had not targeted any community in his speech. REMARK ROCKS PARLIAMENT PAGE 12

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court

on Tuesday agreed to consider a petition for closure of all criminal proceedings against Gujarat police oicers in the 2004 Ishrat Jahan encounter case on the basis of the testimony of the 26/11 Mumbai attack accused David Headley that she and her three companions were Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives on a mission to assassinate the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi. In an urgent mentioning, a Bench of Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur and Justice U.U. Lalit told advocate Manohar Lal Sharma, who filed the petition, that “it will be listed” in due course. The

The petition says facts about Ishrat Jahan were concealed from courts.

signal to hear the petition came even as the Home Ministry agreed to re-examine files to verify former Home Secretary G.K. Pillai’s claims of “political meddling.”

‘TESTIMONY PROVES THEY WERE LET MEMBERS’ | PAGE 12

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쐍 ‘FIND OUT WHO WAS BEHIND AFFIDAVIT CHANGE’ | PAGE 12

NON-PAYMENT OF DUES Resort briefly sealed MUMBAI: The Maharashtra

government sealed the Aamby Valley Resort of Sahara Group for non-payment of dues on Tuesday. But the gates were opened later as the company paid Rs. 1 crore and promised to pay up the rest by March 28. NATION | PAGE 8

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Four killed in fire incidents SHUBHOMOY SIKDAR NEW DELHI: Four persons, including a woman, were charred to death in two major fire incidents in the Capital on Tuesday evening. The first incident was reported in a factory in northwest Delhi’s Wazirpur Industrial Area around 5.16 p.m. A blast on the second floor triggered a fire. One woman succumbed to her burns later. The second fire, also caused by a blast in a chemical storage factory in north Delhi’s Gulabi Bagh, was reported a few hours later. Three persons were charred to death in the blaze.

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EMPOWER — On Page 7

Prof. Siras’ partner scared for his life, after Aligarh MOHAMMAD ALI

Sarfaraz (name changed), the rickshaw puller of Aligarh, is scared that he might be attacked. The reason is that the film Aligarh reveals his identity. The movie not only reveals his actual name but also the place where he stays with his family in Aligarh. Sarfaraz was the gay partner of Aligarh Muslim University professor Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras on whose relationship the movie has been made. The film was released last week. Despite severe opposition by local groups in Aligarh, the movie was reportedly screened in a mall. Talking to The Hindu on the phone, Sarfaraz expressed the worry, which is keeping him preoccupied since the movie came out. Though not many knew about his identity since their relationship made the headlines in 2009, after the movie came out, he claimed that the small circle which knew about him had grown bigger. “This is not some thing welcome. I have not watched the movie but those who did, told me that my actual name has been used in the movie. They MEERUT:

CM YK

“They have also disclosed the name of the place where I stay in Aligarh” have also disclosed the name of the place where I stay in Aligarh,” he tells. “In a sense, my life has been endangered because now people know my real name and the place where I stay. Of course that makes me scared for my life,” Sarfaraz said, referring to the widespread protests against the movie by Hindutva and Islamist groups in Aligarh. Sarfaraz, who comes from an extremely poor background, bemoans that the filmmakers did not take permission from him. He is a central part of Prof. Siras’ story. “It is as much my story as Prof. Siras’. And then they used my name and my identity but they did not take my permission.” Director Hansal Mehta told The Hindu that the movie gives out the disclaimer that it is based on facts which were in public domain. “If anybody has any grievance, he/she should address the production team of the film directly.” ND-ND

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THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

Fate uncertain for mega event on Yamuna floodplains

RWAs join hands to develop green colonies

With just 10 days to go, uncertainty hangs over the fate of the World Culture Festival, being organised by the Art of Living Foundation on the floodplains of the Yamuna to celebrate its 35th anniversary >> Page 4

The Capital’s RWAs are coming out to help each other in making their localities eco-friendly with collective project on three focus areas — solar power, rainwater harvesting and waste management >> Page 5

Weaving art into craft

New St. Stephen’s principal takes charge

A collaboration between an artist and a weaver has resulted in paintings turned into tapestries

pu demitted oice on Monday, the new St. Stephen’s College principal took over. John Varghese, a former professor at Hyderabad’s English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), took charge as the 13th principal of the institute. Mr. Thampu’s eight-year tenure as principal was marked by a number of controversies, the most recent of which was amending of the institution’s constitution. Addressing the students at Mr. Thampu’s farewell function, Prof. Varghese advised them to run away from the “temptation of popularity” and keep working irrespective of any controversies.

STAFF REPORTER

JAIDEEP DEO BHANJ

I

t was during a visit to Europe about 25 years ago that artist S.G. Vasudev was introduced to tapestry art. Inspired by tapestries made by Pablo Picasso, Georges Braque and other contemporary artists he saw hanging in museums, banks and other public spaces, he started looking for a weaver to collaborate with once he was back in India. His search led to a lifelong collaboration between him and weaver B. Subbarayalu, who he was introduced to by M.F. Husain. Subbarayalu, who had collaborated with Husain on a project earlier, was aware of the skill required to turn a painting into a tapestry. He agreed to collaborate with Vasudev — as long as the artist did not simplify his works just because he was painting for it to be converted into tapestry. Vasudev recalls: “After six months of working on converting a small painting of mine, I remember Subbarayalu coming to me and telling me that Hussain’s works were very simple and he did not want to do simple TAPESTRIES such work. He has said OF DELIGHT he would take his own time to comWrap and weft plete a piece, but wanted works that had details and complex colours.” The result of the unique collaboration is on display at “Painted Weaves”, an exhibition of tapestries in silk at the Art Gallery, Kamaladevi Complex, India International Centre. The works have been created using a stand loom to hold the warp and facilitate the interweaving of the weft of silk thread in selected colours that were specially dyed for the purpose, creating a pictorial harmony of form, texture and colour. The works show the comfort and respect the collaborators have for each other, as the artist

Painting competition for Classes IV to IX

John Varghese was a professor at Hyderabad’s English and Foreign Languages University

NEW DELHI: After Valson Tham-

The Supreme Council of the college, which includes members of Church of North India and Mr. Thampu, had announced Prof. Varghese’s selection for the post on February 11. Mr. Thampu had introduced his successor to the students during morning assembly a day later. Prof. Varghese was selected from among three applicants, including Karen Gabriel, a member of the English De-

partment, and Susan Varghese of St. John’s College, Agra. The newly-appointed principal is an alumnus of Chennai’s Loyola College. According to EFLU records, Prof. Varghese did his MA from St. Stephen’s and his PhD from the Central Institute of English and Foreign Languages (CIEFL). He began his teaching career at St. Stephen’s College 20 years ago before joining CIEFL’s Radio and Television Department, which was later converted into the Department of Media and Communication.

Consider selling healthy food in canteens, DoE tells schools KRITIKA SHARMA SEBASTIAN NEW DELHI: In order to create

An exhibition of tapestries made from paintings by artist S.G. Vasudev and converted into a tapestry by weaver B. Subbarayalu, titled “Painted Weaves”, is on at Art Gallery, Kamaladevi Complex, India International Centre, till March 9. — PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

His search for a weaver led to a lifelong collaboration with Subbarayalu, introduced by Husain was free to express himself in his strokes and the craftsman was ready to accept a challenge. Vasudev says his awareness of and respect for indigenous crafts and textiles, born when he was in art school, served as impetus for revisiting traditional practices with contemporary consciousness and overcoming the inevitable challenge of such a long-term collaborative experiment. He says he is often asked about the issue of ego clash.

To this, he replies that they are both aware that they are nothing without the other. Thus the question of ego does not arise, as it is only through both eforts that a tapestry can be produced. The exhibition showcases images from several of Vasudev’s series of paintings like Tree of Life, Maithuna, Humanscape, Earthscapes and Theatre of Life. Viewers can catch a glimpse of the synergy between art and craft, traditional and contemporary, man and nature, and fantasy and reality. It is unique to see how free brushstrokes can be converted into a tapestry that requires meticulous planning and attention to detail, and how an artwork can change mediums through

collaboration. Vasudev is also a founder-member of the Cholamandal Artists Village on the outskirts of Chennai. Speaking about the state of craftsmen in the country, Vasudev says the problem is that craftsmen are exploited and it is sad to see that weavers are committing suicide as they don’t have jobs. He feels it is the middlemen who are to blame for this situation and eforts need to be made to remove the middleman or else the crafts will die as the next generation will not take up traditional occupations. The show is on till March 9 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. at the Art Gallery, Kamaladevi Complex, India International Centre.

Testing time

awareness among students about unhealthy eating habits, the Delhi government has directed schools in the Capital to consider banning sale of food items that are high in fat, sugar and salt content from their canteens. The Directorate of Education (DoE) on Monday issued a circular in this regard to all private unaided and government schools. “All the heads of government and private schools are directed to sensitise the students and parents about ill-effects of food high in fat, sugar and salt through morning assembly, teacher interactive period and parent- teacher meetings,” the DoE said in the circular. “The schools may also consider banning the sale of such foods from the school canteen. Also, ensure that the cafeteria sells fresh and healthy foods that are low in fat.” The government circular also details the adverse efects of each of the constituents of food high in fat, sugar and salt, as prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Some of the suggestions by the government for sensitising the students include “maintaining a notice board for creating awareness; organising

All heads of schools have been urged to create awareness among students about unhealthy eating habits, and consider banning sale of food items that are high in fat, sugar and salt content from their canteens. — FILE PHOTO

drawing, painting, slogan writing activities and debates in a class-wise manner with special emphasis on lower classes; and dedicating morning assembly once in a month for this purpose”. “Spread the word about healthy food options like vegetable sandwiches, fruits, paneer cutlets, khandvi, poha and low-fat milkshakes with seasonal fruits, lassi and jaljeera, etc.,” the DoE circular said. The communication comes

following a Delhi High Court judgment ordering regulation of junk food consumption among school children through restrictions on sale of foods high in fat, salt and sugar — like chips, fried foods and sugar-sweetened beverages — in and around school premises. The Court had also directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India to implement its guidelines on making wholesome and nutritious food available to school children.

Three-member panel to review policy on aided schools STAFF REPORTER

Sisodia sets up committee citing “dissatisfaction” among stakeholders

NEW DELHI: The Hindu Young World in association with ThyroCare is organising a painting competition for students of Classes IV to IX. Interested students can register online at

STAFF REPORTER

www.thehindu.com/ywpainting

. The last date for registration is Sunday (March 6). For registration, students will have to get their painting certified by their principal or art teacher to prove the originality of work. Once that is done, the student may write the unique ID on top of drawing and send it to any of the 21 centres where you would like to attend the final competition. The selected students will be intimated individually through e-mail. They should come to the venue with the intimation letter at their own cost on the specified date to participate in the finals.

Class XII students studying outside an examination centre in New Delhi. The CBSE board examinations began on Tuesday. — PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

Using technology to assist diferently-abled STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: To encourage innova-

tion, awareness and reach of accessibility solutions worldwide to over one billion diferently-abled people in the world, the city is hosting Techshare India 2016. The two-day exhibition at India Habitat Centre, which aims to bring solutions to the table, will begin on Thursday. The conference plans to bring together government, corporates, educators, NGOs and the diferently-abled people so as to understand their needs and provide information on available solutions that can CM YK

include diferently-abled people to participate independently in all walks of life. The chief organiser of the event, Shilpi Kapoor, said 50 per cent of India’s 100 million diferently-abled persons are under the age of 30 and there is a huge need for assistive technology products. She hoped that many solutions will be found during the deliberations and talks. Ms. Kapoor added that the Union government’s work to promote solutions for diferently-abled persons has shown promise with the launch of the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan),

announcement of a University for diferently-abled persons at a cost of Rs.1,700 crore, and a campaign to make at least 50 per cent of all government buildings in the national Capital and State Capitals “fully accessible” for the diferentlyabled by July 2018. The technological advancements will be able to push these steps further. Techshare India 2016 will showcase accessible resource centres — libraries/universities that can be accessed by differently-abled persons, accessible banking, new products and services in accessibility and assistive technology.

NEW DELHI: Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has constituted a three-member committee to review the policy on aided schools, citing “dissatisfaction” among stakeholders, including teachers, students, parents and schools management. According to Education Department oicials, there are about 211 aided schools in the city. The committee will undertake a “fundamental re-examination” of the relevant provisions of the Delhi School Education Act and Rules (DSEAR), 1973, and submit its report within two months. An oicial said the Delhi government provided grantsin-aid of nearly Rs.390 crore to these schools. “However, even after spending such large sums of money in supporting aided

schools, most stakeholders are dissatisfied with the outcome. The managements of these schools complain of lack of autonomy, while the government feels it has no say in their management,” added the oicial. The decision is likely to escalate the ongoing tussle between the Delhi government and private schools over many issues such as auditing of schools’ accounts and scrapping of management quota. Even during the first online nursery admission draw of lots on February 15, Mr. Sisodia had expressed his “displeasure” with the some school managements for taking “arbitrary decisions and approaching the Court over scrapping of the management quota”. The schools not only receive a maintenance grant of

95 per cent of their recurring expenses from the government but also non-recurring grants for contingency, rent, equipment, library, etc., the oicial added. He said the teachers complain against “arbitrary and ad-hoc” decisions made by the management and absence of any grievance redressal mechanism. Parents are “unhappy” with the infrastructure, the quality of teachers and “poor” learning outcomes in these schools. The committee will be headed by the former Director (Elementary Education) of the Human Resource Development Ministry, Amit Kaushik; and include Special Director (Education Department) Shashi Kaushal and Education Governance Taskforce member of the Delhi Dialogue Commission, Hemanth Pothula.

CINEMA ENGLISH: GODS OF EGYPT: PVR (Plaza, Rivoli, Priya, Saket, Citywalk, Naraina, Vikaspuri, Prashant Vihar, EDM), M2K (Rohini, Pitampura), Movie Time (Raja Garden, Pitampura), DT (Saket, Shalimar Bagh, Vasant Kunj), FUN (Moti Nagar, Pitampura, Laxmi Nagar, Karkardooma), Satyam (Patel Nagar, Janakpuri, Nehru Place), BIG (Odeon, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Noida).

HINDI: ALIGARH: (New Release: Sukhesh Arora, Manoj Bajpayee, Balaji Gauri, Sumit Gulati): Delite Diamond, G3S (Rohini), Cinemax, PVR (Saket, Citywalk, Naraina, Vikaspuri, Prashant Vihar, EDM), M2K (Rohini, Pitampura), Movie Time (Raja Garden, Pitampura), DT (Saket, Shalimar Bagh, Vasant

Kunj), FUN (Moti Nagar, Pitampura, Laxmi Nagar, Karkardooma), Satyam (Patel Nagar, Janakpuri, Nehru Place), BIG (Odeon, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Noida), Wave (Raja Garden, Noida, Kaushambi), SRS Cinemas, Star X (Vaishali), Spice (Noida), Movie Palace, Movie Magic, Movie World and Silvercity (Ghaziabad), Inox and Silvercity (Faridabad). BOLLYWOOD DIARIES: (New Release: Raima Sen, Salim Diwan, Ashish Vidyarthi): G3S (Rohini), Cinemax, PVR (Plaza, Rivoli, Saket, Citywalk, Naraina, Vikaspuri, Prashant Vihar, EDM), M2K (Rohini, Pitampura), Movie Time (Raja Garden, Pitampura), DT (Saket, Shalimar Bagh, Vasant Kunj), FUN (Moti Nagar, Pitampura, Laxmi Nagar, Karkardooma), Satyam (Patel Nagar, Janakpuri, Nehru Place), BIG (Odeon, Vaishali, Kaushambi,

Noida), Wave (Raja Garden, Noida, Kaushambi), Galaxie, Star X (Vaishali), Spice (Noida), Movie Palace, Movie Magic, Chaudhary (Ghaziabad), Movie World and Silvercity (Ghaziabad), Inox and Silvercity (Faridabad). LOVE SHAGUN: (New Release: Anuj Sachdeva, Nidhi Subbaiah, Vikram Kochhar): Liberty, G3S (Rohini), Cinemax, PVR (Plaza, Rivoli, Priya, Saket, Citywalk, Naraina, Vikaspuri, Prashant Vihar, EDM, Mahagun), M2K (Rohini, Pitampura), FUN (Moti Nagar, Pitampura, Laxmi Nagar, Karkardooma), Movie Time (Raja Garden, Pitampura), DT (Saket, Shalimar Bagh, Vasant Kunj), Satyam (Patel Nagar, Janakpuri, Nehru Place), BIG (Odeon, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Noida), SRS Cinemas, Star X (Vaishali), Chaudhary (Ghaziabad), Movie World and Silvercity (Ghaziabad),

Silvercity (Faridabad). TERA BIN LADEN: (New Release: Manish Paul, Pradhuman Singh, Sikandar Kher, Piyush Mishra): Regal, Amba, Vishal, Golcha, G3S (Rohini), PVR (Saket, Citywalk, Naraina, Vikaspuri, Prashant Vihar, EDM), M2K (Rohini, Pitampura), Movie Time (Raja Garden, Pitampura), DT (Saket, Shalimar Bagh, Vasant Kunj), FUN (Moti Nagar, Pitampura, Laxmi Nagar, Karkardooma), Satyam (Patel Nagar, Janakpuri, Nehru Place), BIG (Odeon, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Noida), Wave (Raja Garden, Noida, Kaushambi), Spice (Noida), SRS Cinemas, Galaxie, Star X (Vaishali), JAM Shipra, SRS Cinemas, Chaudhary (Ghaziabad), Movie World and Silvercity (Ghaziabad), Inox and Silvercity (Faridabad). GODS OF EGYPT: (New Release – Hindi): Delite, Abhishek Cineplex.

NEERJA: (Sonam Kapoor, Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Ravjiani): Golcha, Amba, Regal, Milan G3S (Rohini), Cinemax, PVR (Plaza, Saket, Citywalk, Naraina, Vikaspuri, Prashant Vihar, EDM, Mahagun), M2K (Rohini, Pitampura), Movie Time (Raja Garden, Pitampura), DT (Saket, Shalimar Bagh), FUN (Moti Nagar, Pitampura, Laxmi Nagar, Karkardooma), Satyam (Patel Nagar, Janakpuri, Nehru Place), BIG (Odeon, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Noida), Spice (Noida), Galaxie, Star X (Vaishali), Movie Palace, Movie Magic, Movie World and Silver City (Ghaziabad).

(BOOKING ENQUIRIES: PVR 51513391; Spice Gold 012043890000; Satyam Cinemas 25797385; Delite 23272903; Wave 51832222) ND-ND

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THE HINDU

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

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Two JNU students remanded in judicial custody

Two of seven videos manipulated: report

Anirban and Umar were produced before a Metropolitan Magistrate in a makeshift courtroom set up inside a police station

STAFF REPORTER

MOHAMMED IQBAL

JNU students march today

A

Delhi court on Tuesday remanded JNU students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, facing sedition charges in connection with a controversial event organised on the university campus, in judicial custody for 14 days. Both the students were produced before a Metropolitan Magistrate in a makeshift court room set up inside a police station in South Delhi on the expiry of their additional one-day police custody. Police had obtained their custody with the contention that they were required for probe in order to unearth the “larger conspiracy”. The investigation in the case has since been transferred to the Special Cell of Delhi Police. IN The public SOLIDARITY prosecutor told the court on Tuesday that the JNU row accused students were not required for questioning any longer and they could be sent to jail in judicial custody. Umar and Anirban, who were in police remand since they surrendered on February 24, were interrogated in the presence of JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar, who was arrested earlier, to get the details of the February 9 event organised against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. PTI: The police have claimed that around 22 people present at the JNU event, including some outsiders, have been identified after the joint interrogation of Khalid, Anirban and Kanhaiya, arrested in the same case. Earlier, the HC had ordered that “confidentiality” be maintained during the remand proceedings of Umar and Anirban, besides Kanhaiya, while directing the police to ensure no one “sufers even a scratch” and there is no ruckus this time.

STAFF REPORTER

FOR A CAUSE: Activists of the Campus Front of India demand the release of Kanhaiya Kumar, a Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union leader accused of sedition, in New Delhi on Tuesday. —PHOTO: REUTERS

No evidence to suggest external hand: police SHUBHOMOY SIKDAR NEW DELHI: Sources in the Delhi

Police Special Cell probing the sedition case against Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students have said that so far there is little evidence to suggest that there was an “external hand” in the organisation of the controversial event on the campus on February 9. To probe whether the realm of the event, during which allegedly antiIndia slogans were raised, extended to the role of external elements hatching the conspiracy and providing financial and logistical aid was the mandate given to the antiterror Unit when it took over the probe from the South District police,

which registered the case. It is also why the Cell did not seek an extension of the custody of two accused Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya despite getting just one day to interrogate the duo. The two were sent to judicial custody on Tuesday, merely a day after the probe was formally taken over by the cell. “We are aware that the maximum possible custody was 14 days but we would seek the custody at a more appropriate time when we can confront them with more evidence,” said a police source. Another reason for not seeking an extension of the custody now is the scanning of the extensive case diary running into over 2000 pages has not been carried out by the Cell. The Cell has

set up a team to analyse the case diary handed over to them by the South District police. Another senior police officer said that they were also waiting to see whether JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar is granted a bail by the Delhi High Court and would plan their next move accordingly as like in the past, they too might need the custody of all three arrested accused at one given time. While announcing the transfer of the case, former Delhi Police Commissioner B.S. Bassi had said that he had directed his officers to transfer the case to the Special Cell as the matter needs focused investigation.

NEW DELHI: Continuing their agitation against the arrest of JNU Students’ Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and two others in a sedition case, students will march to Parliament on Wednesday demanding the release of their fellow students. The march will start from Mandi House area at 2 p.m. “We are going to hold a solidarity march to Parliament on Wednesday to protest the stifling of dissent in JNU, Hyderabad University and elsewhere through sedition charges,” said JNUSU vice-president Shehla Rashid Shora. “We want to take up our issues with the PMO, MHRD and the Home Minister. We will also be approaching the NHRC and the Minority Commission to register our concerns at the functioning of the Delhi Police and the continuing threats of physical violence against Kanhaiya, Umar and Anirban,” she added. The students have been agitating ever since Kanhaiya was arrested in a sedition case. The students are also demanding the resignation of HRD Minister Smriti Irani alleging that she “misused powers” and “peddled lies” regarding the JNU row and Hyderabad University where a Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula was found hanging in a hostel room.

NEW DELHI: The forensic probe

of a set of video clippings of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) event ordered by the Delhi government has found that the two videos were “manipulated” where voices of persons not present in the clips were added. Out of the seven videos sent by the Delhi government to the Hyderabadbased Truth Labs, two have been found to be tampered with while the rest were authentic, sources said. “In the manipulated clips, videos have been edited and voices have been added. The main report, with a supplementary, has been submitted to the Delhi government,” an oicial said. The Arvind Kejriwal ledgovernment had on February 13 ordered a magisterial

The AAP govt had ordered magisterial inquiry into raising of anti-national slogans at JNU inquiry into the alleged raising of anti-national slogans on the Jawaharlal Nehru University’s campus on February 9. Earlier, a video showing raising of anti-India slogans allegedly by outsiders at the event had given a fresh twist to the case. In the video, the youths, whose faces were covered, could be seen raising slogans against India. Several videos of the event have surfaced since the controversy broke out leading to the arrest of JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar on charges of sedition, triggering widespread protests.

‘Pamphlet authentic’ KRITIKA SHARMA SEBASTIAN NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration has claimed that the Mahishasur event pamphlets that HRD Minister Smriti Irani read out from in Parliament were “authentic”. The organisers of the event, which was held in the year 2014, however, have been maintaining that the pamphlets were “fake”. Ms. Irani while giving clarification about her ministry’s stringent action on ‘Anti-National’ forces, had last week read out a pamphlet in Parliament. The student-organisers of the event later denied having issued alleging that the minister quoted from “half-

cooked facts”. “We were asked by the HRD Ministry to authenticate the documents including the pamphlets from the event. “Upon checking we found out that the pamphlets were actually authentic. We have a security department in the university that maintains details about all the events held in the campus for the last 10 years. “There were records for the 2014 Mahishasur event as well,” said JNU Registrar Bhupinder Zutshi. “When the event took place in October 2014, a complaint was also registered in Vasant Kunj police station and the university enquiry committee was also instituted,” he said.

DELHI TODAY Exhibition: Paintings by Mukul Tiwari at Lalit Kala Akademi, 11 am-7 pm Photography: “Flower Men” - photography by Adil Ali at IHC, 11 am-7 pm Exhibition: “Fractured World, Fractured Lives” - paintings and poems by Neena Nehru at IHC, 11 am-7 pm Talk: “Pakistan: Recent Developments” by Dr. T.C.A. Raghavan, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan at Conference Room 1, IIC, 6:30 pm Music: Timeless melodies from Hindi cinema; piano recital by Gauri Kappal at IHC, 7 pm Music: Homage to celebrities of Ghazal Gayki: Pran Nevile speaks on the “Lure of Ghazal Gayuki” followed by vintage melodies by Rashmi Agarwal at C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium, IIC, 6:30 pm Talk: Symposium on “Global Space Is-

sues and Indian Perspective” Keynote address by Dr. G. Madhavan Nair, former Chairman, ISRO at Seminar Rooms 1 to 3, Main Building, IIC, 10 am-5:30 pm Discussion: PUDR, Janhastakshep and PUCL (Delhi) organises public meeting to discuss controversy relating to arrest of three JNU students on sedition charges and recent violence in Patiala House Courts. Panellists: Justice Rajindar Sachar (Retd.), Justice A.P. Shah (Retd.), Pankaj Bisht, (Editor Samyaantar) and Prof. Nivedita Menon (JNU) at Gandhi Peace Foundation, 5:15 pm Screening: “Kaaka Muttai (The Crow’s Egg)” Tamil film screening at IHC, 7 pm (Mail your listings for this column at [email protected])

Disclaimer: Readers are requested to verify & make appropriate enquiries to satisfy themselves about the veracity of an advertisement before responding to any published in this newspaper. Kasturi & Sons Limited, the Publisher & Owner of this newspaper, does not vouch for the authenticity of any advertisement or advertiser or for any of the advertiser’s products and/or services. In no event can the Owner, Publisher, Printer, Editor, Director/s, Employees of this newspaper/company be held responsible/liable in any manner whatsoever for any claims and/or damages for advertisements in this newspaper.

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CM YK

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Uncertainty hangs over mega event on Yamuna floodplains Experts and officials split on environmental affect of the World Culture Festival being organised by the Art of Living Foundation to mark its 35th anniversary DAMINI NATH

ith just 10 days to go, uncertainty hangs over a giant cultural festival being organised on the floodplains of the Yamuna as experts are divided on whether the event will damage the topography of the area. The World Culture Festival, being organised by the Art of Living Foundation to celebrate its 35th anniversary, will be held between March 11 and 13 on the floodplains near Mayur Vihar in East Delhi. Organisers are expecting 3.5 million people to attend over three days, and are building what they call the world’s largest stage, which will be spread over seven acres, for artistes to perform. The site stretches over 1,000 acres, flanked by the busy Delhi-Noida Direct Toll Bridge on one side, and the river on GREEN the other. IMPACT The foundation is aiming for a “mega Big show celebration of diversity”. But, there’s just one problem. Construction on the floodplains is not allowed, and an environmentalist has moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to stop the event from taking place. While the Tribunal hears the petition filed by Manoj Misra, the convenor of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyaan, government oicials, conservationists and lawyers are divided over the legality of the entire programme. Vinod Jain, who is called Delhi’s “water man” for his eforts to promote conservation, said there was no doubt that such a massive event would damage the floodplains. “They have already altered the topography of the area. The Master Plan-2021 doesn’t allow any construction in the floodplains, which have already shrunk from 97 square kilometres to 65 sq. km due to illegal

W

Over 3.5 million people will attend the three-day event, which will have the world’s largest stage — spread over an area of seven acres

Councillors to adopt schools STAFF REPORTER

Preparations in full swing on Tuesday for the World Culture Festival, which will be held between March 11 and 13. The stage and the seating for the audience will cover nearly 1,000 acres. PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

They (Art Of Living) have already altered the topography of the area (floodplains) Vinod Jain, conservationist construction,” said Mr. Jain. He added that the floodplains were designated for setting up reservoirs and bio-diversity parks. Delhi could have saved 200 million gallons per day if it had made reservoirs in the floodplains, said Mr. Jain. The Art of Living, however, denies that the activities are illegal. Akshama Nath, the lawyer representing the foundation in the NGT, said all necessary permissions from relevant departments were attained before work started in mid-December, 2015. “The allegation against us is that we have caused permanent damage by dumping debris at the site. But, that is not at all the case,” said Ms. Nath.

She said the Art of Living had found construction debris spread over 25 acres of the site when it started work. “We started removing the debris at our own cost after the Delhi Development Authority allowed us to do so,” she said. She denied that any cement or sand had been used to make the massive stands and stage. “We have kept a safe distance from the riverbed, as ordered by the NGT. The Art of Living has worked to revive dying rivers. It’s our mission that the Yamuna lives,” said Ms. Nath. Ministers and oicials in the Delhi government have supported the event, with even PM Narendra Modi expected to attend. An Environment Department oicial said the event should be allowed to continue as long as the site is returned to its previous condition after the festival. Delhi Tourism and Culture Minister Kapil Mishra said the event would not damage the river as the construction was temporary. He said he welcomed the festival that would bring visitors from across the world to Delhi.

NGT to hold daily hearing on fest from today BINDU SHAJAN PERAPPADAN NEW DELHI: Maintaining that it will be holding day-to-day hearing from Wednesday, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on a plea against an event being organised on the Yamuna flood plains by the Art of Living foundation, headed by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, for violating environmental laws. The matter, which came up before the Tribunal on Tuesday, was postponed for a day on technical grounds. Environmental activist Manoj Misra has moved the NGT against the event. Speaking about the postponed date he explained that the Tribunal asked them if they had moved an application against the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) allowing the event “which we hadn’t”. “The postponement happened on a technical issue.

NEW DELHI: The National Hu-

man Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of reports that the Centre has recently removed a custom duty waiver and also imposed excise duty on certain life saving drugs, making them costlier for the patients. The National Human Rights Commission has observed that any action that CM YK

prior reference to the NGT order. In any case we are addressing the technical issue about this challenge before the Tribunal on Wednesday,” he said. The Art of Living is organis-

Traders demand relief for kin of dead vendor

Jewellers plan 3-day strike to oppose excise duty on gold, diamond ornaments

Sixty-year-old street vendor died of heart attack during an NDMC drive to check permissions

SWETA GOSWAMI

DAMINI NATH

NEW DELHI: Jewellery shops will be shut in the Capital on Wednesday as jewellers across the country are going on a three-day strike to voice their resentment against the imposition of excise duty on gold and diamond jewellery. The strike is being taken quite seriously by jewellers in Delhi as scores of them have decided to come out in support by keeping the “shutters down” of their outlets. Speaking to The Hindu, Krishan Lal Alreja, Regional Manager (North) of All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation said, “The government has to do away with the 1 per cent excise duty imposed on us. Most of the jewellery sellers are not registered, what are they supposed to do? We won’t relent.” Besides the excise, the jewellers are also upset over the Centre making a PAN card mandatory for any purchase by a customer of Rs.2 lakh and above. “The government has overlooked a major point in this. The highest demand for gold jewellery is among those residing in towns and villages, especially those who own land. These people often do not have PAN card and moreover, most customers are not comfortable in sharing documents while purchasing jewellery,” he added.

NEW DELHI: Traders of Sarojini Nagar market on Tuesday held a candlelight vigil for a street vendor who died of a heart attack on February 27 after oicials of the New Delhi Municipal Council’s Enforcement Department carried out a drive to check permissions. Vinay Kumar Pandey, 60, had been selling clothes from his stall for at least 25 years, said Ashok Randhawa, the president of the Sarojini Nagar Market Association. He was admitted to hospital last week, when the NDMC drive was carried out. Enforcement inspectors were carrying out a random

The strike could curb gold imports and put pressure on global prices. PHOTO: REUTERS

They are also opposing order on need of PAN card for purchases of Rs. 2 lakh or above The strike could curb gold imports by the world’s second biggest consumer and put pressure on global prices. Earlier in 2005 and 2012, the government had introduced the excise duty on gems and jewellery industry. It was rolled back within a few days of inception. “I don’t think it is a great start to Start-up India and Stand-up India campaigns because levying excise duty in an industry which is almost 80 per cent unorganised doesn’t make any sense. I request Arun Jaitley to reconsider it and do something in favour of the

industry,” said Chitwn D. Malhotra, Director of Dillano Luxurious Jewels Limited. According to Pritesh Goyal, Director and Designer, SLG Jewellers Private Limited, the traders are finding it diicult to cope with the “burden of formalities”. “Customers who do not have PAN cards will then have to fill forms, which every jewellery store must keep. A copy of the Aadhaar card will also have to be taken from them. How is this ease of doing business? It is a lacklustre move and in spite of providing fiscal incentives, the sector is burdened with excise duty,” he said. “In 2012, the industry had registered a nationwide 23day protest by way of a Bandh, wherein the present ruling party had given their support,” added Mr. Goyal.

NHRC notice over excise duty on life-saving drugs MOHAMMED IQBAL

DDA being a party to the earlier judgment of January 13, 2015, which doesn’t allow such events to be held at the venue could not have given any permission to the event without

Jewellery shops to be shut today

NEW DELHI: One school in each

ward of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) will be adopted by the local councillor, who will be tasked with developing it as a model in order to raise standards of education. SDMC Mayor Subhash Arya said on Tuesday that one school in each of the 104 wards will be identified by the area councillor so that it can be upgraded. The SDMC, which runs 587 schools, has been hit by falling enrolment numbers over the past few years. In 2014, oicials said there were around 3.2 lakh students studying in the SDMC’s primary schools. This year, the number of students has fallen to 2.98 lakh, according to a senior oicial. “The aim is to enhance the quality of education in schools, beginning with the model schools. We will be coming up with guidelines on which schools will be selected. We will be starting with schools that need ost improvement,” said an Education Department oicial. Yashpal Arya, the chairperson of the SDMC Education Committee, said there was a need to improve municipal schools, particularly their administration and sanitation. Meanwhile, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation also started upgrading school infrastructure on Tuesday, with 1,400 new desks and 17 water purification systems being donated by Nikon.

Environmental activist Manoj Misra has moved the NGT against the event for violating green laws. PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

ing a world cultural festival between March 11 and 13 that is expected to be attended by 35 lakh people from 155 countries, a statement released by the foundation said. Meanwhile, facing allegations of damage to environment during preparations for its event on the Yamuna flood plains, the Art of Living maintained that it has followed all guidelines and directions of authorities and the National Green Tribunal. “The Art of Living (AOL) has a huge regard for the environment. We have never violated nor do we have any intention to violate any laws of the country,” a statement by AOL spokesperson said. The group added that they have followed all the guidelines, recommendations, directions of the honourable court and the authorities extending us the permission to hold the World Culture Festival.

Panel says that any action that raises cost of medicine affects people's right to health care pushed up the cost of medicines was bound to adversely afect people's right to health care, especially at a time when the healthcare system in the country as a whole was

plagued with various ills. The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the Secretaries of the Union Ministry of Finance and Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, calling for their reports in the matter within four weeks. According to the reports, the medicines on which excise duty will now be imposed include the ones used for treating kidney stones, che-

motherapy and radiotherapy, life-threatening heart rhythm disorders, Parkinson's disease, bone disease, infections, leukemia, allergies, arthritis and lupus. In total, the government has withdrawn concession on custom duty of 76 key drugs, claiming that it was necessary “in public interest”. Forty-seven of these medicines are part of the National List of Essential Medicines.

Traders of Sarojini Nagar hold a candlelight vigil on Tuesday. PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

check of documents when they took the papers from Pandey’s stall. According to traders, his health took a turn for the worse when his wife told him about the documents being seized and he passed away that evening. “He left behind three chil-

dren – all under the age of 18. We will be writing to the NDMC to allow them to work at that spot. They should not be harassed,” said Mr. Randhawa. A senior NDMC oicial said the death was deemed natural, and that the drive had been videographed. The vendor’s family claimed they were protected as the High Court had given them relief from eviction till the NDMC relocated them. They also claimed that the shock of the documents being seized led to his death. However, the High Court order includes other conditions, which Pandey, and others like him, had not fulfilled, said the oicial.

“By our estimates there are 230 illegal street vendors in Sarojini Nagar. We started the drive to check the vendors’ permissions to see the extent of the problem. The vendors were chosen at random,” said the oicial. Though the NDMC denies any wrongdoing, two inspectors involved in the drive were transferred on Monday. The oicial said it was because there had been complaints against them. Meanwhile, the NDMC has been cracking down on illegal vendors in Connaught Place. Oicials said there is an organised mafia, which may include inspectors, that is trying to prevent the removal.

NGT notice to 13 cement firms on pollution

Cashback ofer from discoms a big hit

DJB approves water bill waiver

BINDU SHAJAN PERAPPADAN

Over 2.5 lakh consumers have availed of the scheme

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal on Tuesday issued notices to as many as 13 cement companies on a petition alleging that they were violating its orders and environmental norms as well as the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, by causing air pollution. Petitioner Neena Pradeep has also accused the cement companies of overloading their trucks with cement and clinkers in order to save toll tax. The Union government, Delhi government, Delhi Pollution Control Committee, Central Pollution Control Board and the Ministry of Transport, appearing on advance notice, sought time to file reply to the petition. During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel, Abhishek Vikram, highlighted the violation by Shree Cement and JK Cement in particular. The latter two had allegedly overloaded trucks by 200 to 250 per cent.

STAFF REPORTER

NEW DELHI: Delhiites who had outstanding water bills till November 2015 will get relief soon, with the Delhi Jal Board on Tuesday waiving the pending amount. In a move that will cost the DJB Rs.2,900 crore, the Board decided to pass the proposal for giving waivers to domestic consumers. The late payment surcharge will be waived of completely for all domestic consumers. For residents of E, F, G and H category colonies, the entire bill (principal amount and surcharge) will be waived of. They will not have to visit their local DJB revenue oice and their bills will be automatically be waived as long at their water meters are functioning. In D category colonies, 75 per cent of the principal amount will be waived; in C category, 50 per cent of the principal will be waived; and for A and B categories, there will be a 25 per cent waiver. The Board also decided to simplify the rainwater harvesting rules, making it easier for residents to get the structures in place.

NEW DELHI: The cashback scheme on electricity bills ofered by Delhi’s distribution companies is a big hit among customers. In just a month since the ofer was launched, as many as 2.5 lakh consumers have lapped up the scheme under which the consumers could earn up to Rs. 200 on timely payment of electricity bills. According to discoms BRPL (BSES Rajdhani Power Limited) and BYPL (BSES Yamuna Power Limited),the total value of the cash back has touched about Rs. 5 crore. Among the beneficiaries, 1.83 lakh households are from BRPL and over 66,000 from BYPL. Reliance owned BSES entered into a pact with mobile commerce platform Paytm in launching the two-month scheme in February. “Consumers will get Rs 200 cash back if they pay their electricity bills 7 days before the due date mentioned on the bill and Rs 150

In just one month, the total value of the cashback has touched about Rs. 5 crore on all other dates before the due date. They will also get a chance to participate in a 'bumper lucky draw' to be held in April and win gifts such as bikes, LED TVs, washing machines and refrigerators,” said a BSES spokesperson. People of both the discoms can make their payment through various options including Debit Card, Credit Card, Net Banking and Paytm Wallet, he added. The scheme will be valid through February and March

STAFF REPORTER

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RWAs step forward for eco-friendly colonies Project has three focus areas — solar power, rainwater harvesting and waste management SWETA GOSWAMI NEW DELHI: A host of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in the Capital are coming out to help each other in making their localities eco-friendly. The collective project being undertaken has three focus areas -- solar power, rainwater harvesting and waste management. According to Atul Goyal, the convenor of the United RWAs Joint Action (URJA) Front, about 95 per cent of the existing rainwater harvesting chambers in Delhi is lying defunct. In a bid to conserve the old water harvesting units, URJA Front, which is an umbrella body of about 850 RWAs in the city, has chalked out a pilot project to revive 50 of them. While restoration of one such harvesting unit has been completed in Defence Colony, some other areas where work is yet to be completed include Vasant Kunj, Gargi College, Chittaranjan Park and so on. “Rainwater harvesting chambers in Delhi are dying due to the absolute neglect of the municipal corporations and the Delhi government. Instead on creating new chambers and later rendering tem defunct, we have decided to help smaller RWAs in maintaining the existing ones,” said Mr. Goyal. Maintenance of a regular

Sunanda case: police request for special team

CBI probe

|5 Rare sight

STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: The Delhi government has recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in the distribution of Letters of Intent (LoI) for new auto-rickshaws at north Delhi’s Burari Transport Authority. The government had suspended three Transport department oicials for alleged involvement in the case after a probe by the Vigilance Department posited that there were irregularities in the distribution of LoIs for as many as 10,000 new auto-rickshaws. “We have written to the CBI to probe the alleged irregularities for further investigation after having taken action against some oicials concerned,” said a senior government oicial, adding the government was in favour of “uncovering a larger racket if it was in existence”.

Cattle egrets, a cosmopolitan species of heron found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones, spotted at the Vijay Chowk lawns on Tuesday. —PHOTO: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY

Boy kills elder sister over property dispute SHUBHOMOY SIKDAR

rainwater harvesting unit would cost the residents of a locality anywhere between Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 10,000 annually, depending on the size. Four RWAs from areas like Shahdara, Nizamuddin West, Saket and Jor Bagh have come forward to tap solar power to run their oices. “On Saturday, we installed a 1 kV solar power system at the rooftop of our office. It won’t be enough to run an air conditioner, but will support lights, fans and a cooler, which is enough. It is a gridconnected system. So, we shall earn if we give surplus power

back to the grid,” said Rajesh Aggarwal of the Shahdara RWA. The move, he added, is to create awareness among residents and encourage them to go green. Some other RWAs in Greater Kailash and Alaknanda are also seeking permission from municipal corporations to utilise parks in their locality for digging compost pits. “We hope to create an efective waste management system, which would not only include trash like leaves but also kitchen waste. But to dig pits in these parks we have to take ap-

proval from the municipal corporation, for which talks are on,” said Ashutosh Dikshit, chief executive oicer, URJA Front. When asked why most of the projects are focused in South Delhi areas, Mr. Goyal said, “Most of these establishments are actually based more in South Delhi than in East and North Delhi and this is because the RWAs in East and North Delhi are not well funded.” A number of RWAs have also roped in private companies to fund these projects as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity.

NEW DELHI: A 25-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by her younger brother over property dispute, at their house in Shahbad Dairy, Outer Delhi, on Tuesday morning. The accused, Umesh, has been arrested and has purportedly confessed to having committed the crime, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer) Vikramjit Singh. The victim, Vandana, and the rest of her family – parents and two brothers, including Umesh (19) – had

The incident was reported around 9.30 a.m, Tuesday, when the parents were not at home been living in the same house, but separately on two diferent floors for the past one year. The incident was reported around 9.30 a.m. on Tuesday when the parents of the girl were not present in the house. Mr. Singh said the siblings had another round of argument after which an enraged Umesh slit Vandana’s

throat with a knife. “He, however, was not aware that their third sibling Harit was at home and had spotted the crime. Harit made a call to the police control room. We sent a team to the residence and arrested the accused there. Vandana’s body was sent for a post mortem soon after,” said Mr. Singh. During interrogation, Umesh allegedly told the police that his sister used to misbehave with their parents and had created an atmosphere of tension in the house. The situation worsened when Vandana decided

to live on the ground floor and did not allow other family members to stay with her. She even set up her own kitchen. The police denied claims made by some neighbours that Vandana had plans to marry someone against the will of the family on Tuesday itself. Till Tuesday night, the police had not found anything to suggest that Vandana had some imminent wedding plan. Umesh is enrolled in a B.A. Course through correspondence while his sister was in a private job, said the police.

DEATH ANNIVERSARIES DEATH

STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: In a letter sent to the Director General of health services, the Delhi Police have requested for the formation of a special team to guide them on the final conclusion on the medical reports issued by the AIIMS on the death of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s wife Sunanda Pushkar. Sources said the letter was written by Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Prem Nath seeking the final opinion on the reports given by the AIIMS forensic department on the death of Ms. Pushkar. Sources added that the AIIMS report, which included the doctors’ own observation of the viscera report, had a few points on which the investigators needed further clarity. Sunanda was found dead in a south Delhi's hotel room on January 17, 2014. A case of murder was registered in January last year on the basis of autopsy report and circumstantial evidence.

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More e-waste by 2017 ASHOK KUMAR GURGAON: In the midst of a focus

on Swachh Bharat sanitation programme, Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) are likely to generate about 1,07,000 metric tonnes (MT) of e-waste per annum by 2017 from the current level of 68,000 metric tonnes per annum, reveals a study conducted by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM). The factors attributed are poor sensitisation, low organised recycling, cross-border flow of waste equipment, limited awareness about disposal, and lack of coordination between authorities leading to non-involvement of municipalities in e-waste management. Releasing the paper, D.S. Rawat, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM, said that Delhi -NCR was turning into the world’s e-waste dumping yard, with the Capital alone getting 85 per cent of the waste generated in the developed world. Delhi generates approximately 10,000 metric tonnes of waste every day, highlights the study. The paper further reveals that the US accounts for the highest share of India’s e-waste imports, followed by China and the EU. While the US has a share of around 42 per cent, China has of around 30 per cent and Europe, 18 per cent. The rest is from countries like Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, etc, adds the ASSOCHAM paper. CM YK

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EDUCATIONAL

4 killed in two fires 3 men, one woman charred to death; 6 injured vir Hospital. Six workers survived the accident and were declared out of NEW DELHI: Four persons, including a danger, but Prabha Devi succumbed woman, were charred to death in two to her injuries,” said Deputy Director major fire incidents in the Capital on of Delhi Fire Services (DFS), Atul Tuesday evening. Six others were also Garg. The second fire, also because of a injured in one of the two fires. The first incident was reported blast in a chemical storage factory in from a factory in Northwest Delhi’s North Delhi’s Gulabi Bagh area, was Wazirpur Industrial Area around 5.16 reported a few hours later. Three perp.m. A blast happened on the second sons — Dhruv (26), Shamsher (35) floor and soon the fire spread to all and an unidentified man — got trapped in the fire. parts of the building. “We received a call about the secAround 8-10 workers were present in the building at the time of the blast. ond fire around 8 p.m. Four fire tenWhile some managed to rush out, sev- ders were pressed into service and the en of them, two women and five men fire was controlled by 9.20 p.m. As the got stuck and sufered severe burn chemical was highly inflammable, it injuries. was diicult for the fire-fighters to en“Our men ran inside the building ter the building. Three workers were and rescued the seven workers who charred to death in the accident,” said were then rushed to Bhagwan Maha- Mr. Garg. SHUBHOMOY SIKDAR

EDUCATIONAL

PWD seeks Rs.800 crore to enhance safety measures JATIN ANAND NEW DELHI: In a step aimed at enhancing

women’s safety in the Capital, the Public Works Department (PWD) has sought close to Rs. 800 crore as the core component of its share in the annual budget which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is deliberating on. At a review meeting here on Tuesday, the Department said that it would require Rs. 600 crore for the installation of CCTVs across Delhi and an additional Rs. 150 crore for the provision of street lights and structures in its jurisdiction as part of the AAP government’s second budget scheduled to be announced later this month. According to a senior government oicial, the PWD conveyed both its requests to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia at the conclusion of a protracted, city-wide survey which resulted in the identification of as many as 40,000 blind spots in the Capital. “The estimated cost of Rs. 600 crore is the aggregated fund which, the Department says it would require to install centrally monitored CCTV cameras across the city,” said a senior government oicial. “While the final call on whether or not the entire amount will be disbursed to the Department in one go or in phases is yet to be taken, the gov-

EDUCATIONAL

The Public Works Department requires Rs. 600 crore for installation of CCTVs across Delhi . — FILE PHOTO

ernment is of the view that the installation of CCTV cameras, irrespective of their number, needs to begin at the earliest,” the oicial added. The AAP had, in its 70-point manifesto in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections, promised to install a network of close to 15 lakh centrally monitored CCTV cameras with the stated objective of making public places safer for women. More than a year after being in power, however, the government has been able to install CCTV cameras aboard an estimated 200 Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses only. The reason for this delay, according to government sources, is a combination of factors such as lack of adequate funds and ‘qualified’ vendors.

SITUATIONS VACANT

EDUCATIONAL

GENERAL

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PERSONAL CHANGE OF NAME I,Sanjay Choudhry S/o Surendr Nath R/o F−323 Madi pur New Delhi−63 have changed my minor daughter’s name Rajni to Divyansh for all purposes

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THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

FOR JOB LISTINGS & ARTICLES, VISIT www.thehindu.com/jobs

Avoiding the winner’s curse In business or any other negotiation, one has to avoid a victory that takes away more than it gives he phrase “winner’s curse” may seem oxymoronic. Isn’t it a blessing to win? Often, however, a negotiator overbids for an item due to competitive pressure or other non-value-related factors, and the joy of victory turns almost instantaneously to buyer’s remorse. Here’s an illustration of a winner’s-curse negotiation scenario drawn from a famous negotiation example in real life: Imagine that, at the beginning of a class, a professor produces a jar full of coins and announces that he is auctioning it of. Students can write down a bid, he explains, and the highest bidder will win the contents of the jar in exchange for his or her bid. After everyone has written down their bids, Bob turns out to be the high bidder, at $45. “Congratulations, Bob! You’ve just won all the coins in the jar,” the professor says. “How do you feel?” “Lousy,” Bob says, before even hearing how much money the jar contains. This simple game is a classic illustration of the winner’s-curse phenomenon in competitive bidding. Lacking an advance understanding of this phenomenon, the party who wins an auction of a commodity of uncertain value with a fair number of bidders typically pays more than the asset is actually worth. The winner’s curse is a common and dangerous trap in negotiation for two main reasons.

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ILLUSTRATION: K.B. JAWAHARR

First, your gains depend on the other side’s acceptance. When we bid on something, our gains depend on acceptance by the other party. This acceptance is most likely to occur under conditions undesirable to the bidder and favourable to the seller. Across many types of negotiation, whether business negotiations or international negotiations, most people fail to make this connection. Groucho Marx demonstrated his grasp of the winner’s curse when he said that he didn’t want to belong to any club that would have him as a member. Second, the winner’s curse comes about because the other side knows more than you do. After falling victim to the winner’s curse in negotiations, you’re likely to notice that the other party – who almost always is the seller – was much better informed than you were about the terms of the deal. When you’re bidding on a

commodity you know little about, your uncertainty is heightened. When you’re presenting this bid to an informed opponent, your expected return from the transaction will decrease dramatically. The average negotiator will accept your ofer only when the actual thing being bargained over is worth less than your estimate. In negotiation research that earned him the Nobel Prize in Economics, Professor George Akerlof of the University of California at Berkeley showed that the selective acceptance of ofers can lead not only to bad outcomes for buyers, but also to market distortions. The used-car market offers a graphic illustration of the consequences of widespread fear of the winner’s curse in bargaining scenarios. Most of us understand that the average used car on the market is hardly “average” in quality. If it were, the owner would have hung on-

Medical transcriptionists from India sought after to it or perhaps sold it to a relative or a friend. The bigger the lemon, the more likely it is to enter the marketplace. Intuiting this fact, most people approach used cars with caution. They bid low and get ready to walk away. In this fashion, the average quality and price of a used car becomes distorted, as does the used car market as a whole. Auctions pervade our world, from mergers-andacquisitions deals and procurement auctions to eBay. To avoid becoming the next victim of the winner’s curse, follow these three guidelines: First analyse whether the asset has a common-value element. A common-value asset, such as a jar of coins, has equal value to all bidders. If this is the case, bid with caution. Second, assess your capabilities and compare them with those of the other bidders. Finally, before placing each bid, pause to consider how you would feel if you won the auction. Too many winners of auctions end up feeling cursed by their victories. Bob was correct in feeling lousy: The jar he won contained about $20 in coins. Remember, in your next competitive-bidding negotiation scenario, that winning isn’t always the most optimal, or most valuecreating, option on the negotiation table. Evaluate your BATNA — best alternative to a negotiated agreement — in a competitive-bidding negotiation the same way you would in a regular bargaining scenario. If your best alternative to winning the auction is to not win the auction, tailor your bidding accordingly to head of the “need to succeed” at all costs. © 2016 Harvard University Distributed by The New York Times Syndicate

Photo used for representational purpose only. Lalitha Ranjani lexible timings and place of work and good remuneration are among factors that have made medical transcription a stable career option for thousands of Indians in recent times. Medical transcription services from India are sought after by players in many other countries. According to Suresh Nair, Head-India Operations of Nuance India, the prime reason is that Indians possess a good knowledge of languages and are quick learners of dialects and accents. This aids in eicient interpretation. Another reason is that medical transcription in India is more economical and cost-efective that in most other countries. These in turn have contributed towards the boom of medical transcription firms in India. Medical transcription is the process of converting voice-recorded reports like discharge summary, detailed

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medical reports and operative reports, dictated by health care professionals, into textual format with and without the assistance of eScription technology. These textual reports later become oicial medical records that would be used by various hospital departments and organisations. “Government guidelines mandate hospitals globally to maintain these reports for future references. Insurance companies require medical records including these physician notes for processing insurance claims,” says Suresh. The educational requirement of a Medical Language Specialist (MLS), also known as Medical Transcriptionist (MT), varies from one employer to the other. “Although no formal education degree is required for anyone to be a medical language specialist, many complete certificate programmes that are supported by vocational schools and industry associations

like Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AHDI), American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and Medical Transcription Industry Alliance (MTIA). There are also online schools that provide medical transcription training to ensure medical language specialists stay up-to-date with regulatory requirements in the healthcare industry. An experienced Medical Language Specialist could draw a monthly salary anywhere between Rs. 25,000 and 30,000 apart from incentives,” adds Suresh. A medical transcriptionist, whose work can either be office-based and home-based, receives and reviews pre-recorded audio files from doctors, and also reassesses the transcribed documents for accuracy. Accuracy plays a key role in medical transcription, which has been in existence since early 20th century, as even a minor error can have a

serious consequence. “The industry which began in India in 1996, reached a major milestone in 20042005. Today, around 300 training institutes and companies like Nuance Communications and M*Modal ofer medical transcription services in India. A recent report indicated that the medical transcription industry in India is poised to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4+% and reach US$ 1 billion by 2020,” remarks Suresh. A spurt in demand for well-trained medical transcription professionals has led to an increase in the number of institutes ofering courses on medical transcription. Nuance which operates in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Coimbatore and Mumbai, as part of its all-India growth initiative, would be hiring about 3,000 Medical Language Specialists (MLSs) over the next two years.

TCS recognised as ‘Global Top Employer’ 1,072 companies worldwide were assessed across nine core HR areas by Top Employers Institute ata Consultancy Services (TCS) has been recognised as a ‘Global Top Employer’ by the Top Employers Institute. In its assessment of 1,072 companies worldwide, the Top Employers Institute rated TCS as an exceptional performer across nine core HR areas including talent strategy, workforce planning, on-

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boarding, learning and development, performance management and leadership development, among others. This certification is only awarded to the best employers around the world — organisations that demonstrate the highest standards of employee oferings, the institute said. Others on the list include CJSC Technip, DHL,

Dimension data, Saint Gobain, JT International, Mobinil, Mobistar, Orange and Valeo. “Each of these organisations demonstrated a forward-thinking human resources environment that is continuously working to optimise its employee conditions and leading the way in the development of its people,” the institute said.

Ajoy Mukherjee, executive vice—president and global head of human resources, TCS, said, “This is a significant achievement for our organisation and we will look forward to building on this success and delivering an even better experience for both our employees and our customers around the world”. PTI

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NATION Sahara’s township briefly shut Charlie, Moideen bag Kerala film awards

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THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

over non-payment of dues Aamby Valley resort was opened only after the group paid Rs. 1 cr, promised to pay the rest soon SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT MUMBAI: Sahara Group found itself in another problem with the Maharashtra government deciding to seal the Aamby Valley Resort for nonpayment of dues amounting to Rs. 4.3 crore on Tuesday. The sealed gates, however, were opened later in the day as the company paid Rs. 1 crore and promised to pay up the rest of the sum by March 28 in three instalments, oicials said. Maharashtra Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse said the action was taken under

Eight Maoists killed in Bastar encounter P. SRIDHAR KHAMMAM: In a major setback to the CPI (Maoists), eight cadres of the outlawed outfit, including five women, were killed in an “encounter” with the police in the Tettepadu forest area close to the Telangana-Chhattisgarh border in the south Bastar region early on Tuesday. Gottimukkala Ramesh alias Lachalu, Awami Jung editorial board member, a native of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh, Yousubee alias Bhagya, wife of Lachalu, divisional committee member, a native of Machanapalli in Medak district and Raju, gunman of Lachalu, of Chhattisgarh, were among those killed, police sources said. It was initially believed that CPI (Maoist) Venkatapuram Area Committee Secretary Lachanna was among the slain Maoists after the police recovered an AK 47, usually carried by some key Maoist cadres, at the incident site. However, sources said Lachanna escaped from the encounter site.

the directive given by the Taluka Tahsildar of Mulshi in Lonavala, after a cheque furnished by the group bounced. The amount of Rs. 4.3 crore was due as non-agriculture tax to the revenue department, he said. “The Tahsildar has the authority to take these actions under the powers vested with him and does not need to take any directives from the government,” said Mr. Khadse. Senior oicials of the revenue department said portions of the Sahara Group’s flagship project on the outskirts of the Lonavala hill station were

The resort was served repeated reminders. — PHOTO: RAJ THAKER

sealed in the morning on Tuesday. A team from the local Tahsildar oice locked up the main gates and the ad-

ministrative quarters of the resort, keeping the rear entrance open for giving access to staf and clients. The dues were pending for the past two years, a notice for the same was served to the group warning of legal action. Oicials said repeated reminders to the group did not get any results. Finally, a legal notice was served giving them a deadline of March 31, said an oicial. According to the group’s website, the resort is spread over 10,600 acres of hilly terrain, and is ‘India’s best planned city and trendsetter in urban planning’.

Beneficiary once, benefactor now RAJULAPUDI SRINIVAS VIJAYAWADA: Loneliness and poverty did not deter the perseverance of Anand who became a bank oicer against all odds. An inmate of an NGO home, Lingam Anand is a Probationary Officer (PO) in Andhra Bank. Mr. Anand’s aspiration was to get a secure job and give a secure life to someone like him. Says Mr. Anand, who has completed B. Tech in Electronics and Computer Engineering (ECE): “According to the Nava Jeevan Bala Bhavan (NJBB), police brought me to this home when I was five. I do not know anything about my parents or where my native place is.” The engineering graduate appeared for the Andhra Bank PO examination (conducted by the bank management) in September last and got selected for the job. He attended an interview a few days ago and was posted in Manipal. He has applied for the PO post through the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), passed the written test and interview, and is awaiting posting. For Mr. Anand, it was re-

Learning Space Director G. Venkateswara Rao (left) congratulating L. Anand, who was selected as probationary officer in Andhra Bank, in Vijayawada. — PHOTO: V. RAJU

Bank officer Anand, resident of a home run by an NGO, has adopted a Class 2 student birth at Nava Jeevan Bala Bhavan. “I thank the home’s management for providing life and education to thousands like me. Home executive director Fr. S. Balashowry encouraged me to complete engineering and prepare for bank tests.”

Learning Space Educational Services Private Limited, a coaching centre, ofered free coaching to Mr. Anand. An appeal Mr. Anand wasted no time in adopting a homeless child to do his bit for society. “Immediately after getting a job, I adopted a Class 2 student who joined a home like me. I have not forgetten those who gave me a respectable life. I request humanitarians to adopt such children,” the young oicer said.

I can’t sleep early, says Oommen Chandy SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The cover art of ‘Kunjunju Kadhakal’ authored by Mr. Chandy's long-time press secretary P.T. Chacko.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Why does Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy forego his sleep on most days and work into late hours? If anyone thought the Chief Minister did so entirely out of his commitment to his calling, here is what he has to say: “I must reveal that I have a selfish motive for working so late. I can’t sleep early. I can sleep only if I tire myself.” The Chief Minister went candid about his sleeping habits at the release of the book Kunjunju Kadhakal, lighter vignettes from Mr. Chandy’s life authored by his long-time press secretary P.T. Chacko here on Tuesday. “I

cannot sleep early. So I keep on working and the last item on my daily routine is signing files. There is someone sitting by my side to keep aside the papers I sign. The instruction that I give the person is to alert me the moment I write the wrong date, for that means I am about to fall asleep,” Mr. Chandy said leaving the select audience at the function rolling in the aisles, shortly after veteran actor Madhu released the book by handing over a copy to former Additional Chief Secretary D. Babu Paul. Author, orator and Janata Dal (S) State president M.P. Veerendrakumar, chairing the function, too had an interesting story on Mr. Chan-

dy’s sleep cycles. “Once when Oommen Chandy boarded a flight, the air hostess failed to recognise him and told him to be seated in one of the back rows. Only a little later did she come to know about his true identity and was quite worried. But there was little she could do, for the Chief Minister was already fast asleep,” he said spreading laughter in the audience. The Russian translation of the book was also released at the function, which was attended by Ratheesh C. Nair, honorary consul, Russian Federation. M.V. Shreyams Kumar, MLA, welcomed the gathering.

STAFF REPORTER THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In continuation of the recent trend of mainstream Malayalam cinema hogging much of the limelight in the Kerala Film Awards, Martin Prakkatt’s Charlie came out on top, sweeping eight of the awards. R.S. Vimal’s Ennu Ninte Moideen was right behind with seven awards in its kitty. Ozhivu Divasathe Kali, directed by Sanalkumar Sasidharan, a searing critique of casteism and patriarchy conveyed through a tense drinking game among a group of friends, was selected as the best feature film of 2015 in the awards announced here on Tuesday. Manoj Kana’s Amoeba, based on the travails of endosulfan victims in Kasaragod district, won the award for the second best film. The awards won by Charlie include best director for Martin Prakkat, best actor for Dulqer Salmaan, best female actor for Parvathy (also for her contrasting performance in Ennu Ninte Moideen), best screenplay for R. Unni and Martin Prakkatt, best cinematography for Jomon T. John (also for Ennu Ninte Moideen

and Nee-na), best sound mixing for M.R. Rajakrishnan, best art direction for M.R. Rajakrishnan and best colourist for J.D. and Kiran. Ennu Ninte Moideen directed by R.S. Vimal won the award for the best popular film. For the same film, Ramesh Narayanan won the best music award for the song Saaradaambaram (also for Pashyathi dishi from Edavappathy). His daughter Madhushree Narayanan won the best female singer award for the song Pashyathi dishi. Sreebala K. Menon was selected as the best debut direc-

tor for Love 24X7. Jayasurya won a special jury award for his performances in Lukka Chuppi and Su Su Sudhi Valmikam. Joy Mathew won a special mention of the Jury for Mohavalayam. Joju George won special mention for performances in Oru Second Class Yathra and Lukka Chuppi. Dostoyevsky adaptation Muhammed Razi won the best adapted screenplay for Velutha Rathrikal, based on Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s White Nights. Harikumar won the best story award for Kattum

Mazhayum. Prem Prakash was selected as the best character actor for his role in Nirnayakam. P.V. Anjali won the best character actress award for Ben. P. Jayachandran was selected as the best male singer for three songs — Njanoru Malayali (Jilebi), Malarvaakakombathe (Ennum Eppozhum) and Saaradaambaram (Ennu Ninte Moideen). Rafeeq Ahammed won the best lyricist award for Kaathirunnu (Ennu Ninte Moideen). Bijibal won the best background music award for Pathemari and Nee-na. Sreya Jayadeep won a special mention for her song Enno njanente muttathorattath from Amar Akbar Antony. Gourav G. Menon and Janaki Menon won the best child actor awards for Ben and Malgudi Days respectively. Malettam directed by Thomas Devasia was selected as the best children’s film. Manoj won the award for the best editor for Ivide. Sandeep Kurisseri and Jijimon Joseph won the best live sound award for Ozhivudivasathe Kali. Ranganath Ravi won the best sound design award for Ennu Ninte Moideen.

Controversial JD(U) MLA to act in film

CCTVs in bars are for dancers’ security, Maharashtra tells SC

AMARNATH TEWARY

LEGAL CORRESPONDENT

PATNA: The controversial ruling Janata Dal (United) MLA, Narendra Kumar Neeraj alias Gopal Mandal, who recently courted controversy for declaring that he would “slash the tongues of those who will try to intimidate his party workers,” will act in a film titled “Netaji Ki Love Story.” At a function at Bhawanipur in Naugachhia of Bhagalpur, Mr. Gopal Mandal said he would act in a film “Netaji Ki Love Story” (Love story of a Politician). The film will be produced and directed by Kunal Singh. The film is said to be based on love stories of several politicians. The film to be made with Rs. 1 crore investment would also be in the local Angika dialect and several other languages too “so that most of the people should enjoy it,” said the MLA from Gopalpur. “The production of the film will start soon … the name of the film may be changed a bit but the theme will remain the same,” said Mr. Kunal Singh.

NEW DELHI: Facing flak from the

Supreme Court over its decision to have CCTV surveillance at dance bars, the Maharashtra government said the cameras would help maintain the dignity of the dancers and provide them with a sense of security. “They are from the poor strata of society. Most of the girls or artists have entered the profession not out of choice but compulsion. “The State being concerned with the dignity and exploitation of such poor uneducated/less educated bar girls, installing the CCTV cameras and the live feed of the same to the police control room

The government said that dancers, aged between 18 and 30 years, were vulnerable will help maintain the dignity of such girls and prevent their exploitation,” the State government told the Supreme Court in an aidavit filed on Tuesday. The State explained that its insistence on having CCTV cameras installed was on the basis of the feedback given by restaurateurs and bar owners on how electronic surveillance helped to reduce crime on the premises. It referred to studies by

NGOs such as Prayas, Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini and Research Centre for Women’s Studies, SNDT University, Mumbai, and Forum Against Oppression of Women, to show that dancers, who are aged between 18 and 30 years, were vulnerable. CCTV cameras and the live feed sent to the police control room would serve the purposes of transparency and better policing, the State said. Noting that a restaurant was a public place as per the provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951, the aidavit said, “There is no question of encroachment upon the privacy of any individual/customer visiting the restaurant/ permit room.”

Hopes on habitat revive as vultures feed at ‘restaurant’ S. HARPAL SINGH ADILABAD: For vulture conservationists, there is no sight more beautiful than the highly decimated-in-number scavenger birds feeding on a carcass ofered at a “vulture restaurant”. A group of dedicated forest oicials and personnel, involved in reviving the picturesque vulture habitat in Adilabad district, are an exhilarated lot as their painstaking efort for over a year in making the majestic birds feed in their “restaurant” has yielded results. The 100 m high and 250 m wide habitat of the long billed vulture (Gyps indicus), the picturesque Pala Rapu clif in Murliguda beat of Bejjur forest range in Kagaznagar division, at present has 24 adults and 6 chicks living in 2 roosting points and 10 nests, though there are over 40 of them, all abandoned. Five of the 10 have been occupied only after the conservation eforts helped the number of the scavenger birds go up from 10 to 30 in a span of two years. “We do not know when, but the nests were certainly abandoned because of short-

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Bejjur vultures feeding on carcasses at the Pala Rapu habitat in Adilabad district. — PHOTO: S. HARPAL SINGH

age of food. A survey conducted in 10 surrounding villages revealed that cattle carcasses were not available since long, as farmers sell away their cattle,” recalled Bejjur Forest Range Oicer M. Ram Mohan, who leads the conservation efort. “Supplying food to the vultures became our first priority as the habitat did not lack in the other two parameters for survival of the birds — availability of water and of higher perching places. We established a vulture restau-

rant on top of the clif and on the Peddavagu stream bed to attract the scavengers to the habitat,” Mr. Ram Mohan added. “Though we had placed a carcass near the stream about six months ago, it was for the first time that the birds fed on it on February 20 and 21,”says wildlife biologist and field researcher M. Ravikanth. “We missed photographing the first day’s action involving seven vultures but made sure we carried a camera the next day.” ND-ND

THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

CPI(M) backs India-Pakistan Dharamsala match

THANE MURDERS

Hasnain’s motive is anybody’s guess

KANWAR YOGENDRA

‘His act could have been a ritual or he might have had a psychiatric condition’

SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh

GAUTAM S MENGLE

Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has openly come out in support of the India-Pakistan T20 international match slated to be held at Dharamsala on March 19, expressing surprise at the “parochial” approach of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and his party who have opposed the event in order to “not hurt the feelings of families of martyrs” from the hill State. “The relations with the neighbouring country should not be worsened by such behaviour of the State leaders. We are not in a state of war with Pakistan,” said CPI(M) leader Tikender Panwar, who has filed a writ petition against the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) for “undemocratic functioning.” The party also called for full security from the State agencies for players and support staf. Highlighting the “fraternal relations” with Pakistan, the Left party leaders said cricket ground was “not a battleground”, stressing that people of the two countries were not against one another. “For a handful of people who spread venom, eforts to establish good relations should not be abandoned,” a CPI (M) leader said. The party also warned the BJP and the Board of Cricket for Control in India Secretary Anurag Thakur against propagating anti-Pakistan sentiments in the country, saying the BJP and Congress leaders of Kangra district were “doing more harm than good” by stoking nationalistic feelings among the families of martyrs.

MUMBAI: The Thane police in-

vestigating the mass murder committed by Kasarwadawali resident Hasnain Warekar, who killed himself, are trying to find out whether he was influenced by a self-styled godman into believing that he had been afected by an evil spirit and asked to perform a macabre ritual to ‘cleanse the bloodline’. The theory is based on not only the gruesome nature of the crime but also on certain beliefs that are prevalent in the village, said oicials. In the early hours of Sunday, Warekar killed 14 members of his family, including his parents, wife, daughter, sisters and their children, before hanging himself. Only one of his sisters, Subiya, survived the murderous assault, and is currently being treated for the slit on her throat and severe trauma. The Thane police are looking into several possibilities with respect to the motive, and one of them is that Warekar was asked to conduct a “cleansing” ritual to rid him and his family of an evil spirit. “The residents of Kasarwadawali village are originally from Konkan, and a lot of their beliefs overlap with those of other communities. In some communities, it is believed that spirits reside on certain trees and anyone passing under them is likely to be possessed. During our inquiries in the village over the last couple of days, it has become apparent that the Kasarwadawali locals, too, believe in this,” said an of-

The entire neighbourhood in Kasarwadawali wears a deserted look days after the horrific mass murders. — PHOTO: KISTU FERNANDES

ficer who is part of the investigating team. When The Hindu visited the village and interacted with the residents, some of them spoke about the concept of jinns or spirits. One of the villagers, who did not wish to be named, said, “Pata nahi itna shaant ladka aisa kyon karega. Jinn ne pakad liya hoga usko (Wonder

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT MUMBAI: Although reports of

chemical and forensic analysis of the viscera of the Thane mass murders are yet to arrive, the position of the bodies and blood splatter patterns at the scene of the crime have led police oicials to believe that the victims were definitely sedated and not killed while

NEW DELHI: Having failed to get a response

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why such a calm person would do something like this. It’s as if a spirit caught hold of him).” Other villagers said that according to local legend, jinns are either pak (pure) or napak (evil). “There are some people who indulge in aghori practices, which include necrophilia, cannibalism, black magic and occult. We are making eforts

to find out whether Warekar came into contact with such a person or group. We are retracing his footsteps to find out which places he visited and who he was in regular contact with. The idea is to find out if the influence of any such occult practitioner, combined with the age-old belief shared by Wadavali natives, led to the crime. Our inquiries are under way in this regard,” said another oicer. Meanwhile, the police are also talking to experts to find out if any psychiatric condition can stay dormant for years and suddenly manifest itself in such an intense manner. “The problem with confirming whether or not Warekar was sufering from a psychological condition is the only ones who could confirm or deny this for sure are all dead. Any picture we try to build about his mental health would be based on secondary sources and educated guesses by experts,” the oicer said.

‘Victims were most certainly drugged’

Persuading actors, the Delhi Govt. way from four Bollywood actors, the Delhi government has now approached the wives of artistes to encourage their husbands not to endorse pan masala products as they contain areca nuts, a potential cancer causing agent. Additional Director (Health), of the Delhi government, S.K. Arora has written to Kajol, wife of actor Ajay Devgn; Gauri Khan, wife of Shah Rukh Khan; Malaika Arora Khan, wife of Arbaaz Khan; and Suneeta Ahuja, wife of actor Govinda; asking them to persuade their husbands not to endorse pan masala products in the larger public interest. “A humble appeal to you for encouraging Mr Shah Rukh Khan not to participate in advertisements of pan masala in the larger public health interest. Earlier, a letter was written to Mr Khan requesting him not to participate in such advertisements. Nonetheless, I have not received any response till date nor has he plugged doing such advertisements”, Mr. Arora said in his letter to Ms. Gauri. He said that even if these pan masalas do not contain tobacco or nicotine, they surely contain areca nuts (supari) and there was scientific evidence to prove that supari caused cancer. “A similar letter was sent to Ms Sunny Leone and I am delighted to inform that I have received an airmative response with the assurance not to indulge in such promotion in future. Moreover, she is consulting the companies for the terms and conditions of the present contract to stop advertising pan masalas”, Mr. Arora said.

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they were naturally asleep. Oicials who visited the Warekar residence, where accused Hasnain Warekar allegedly killed his entire family before killing himself, told The Hindu that the victims appeared to have dozed of while talking among themselves, and didn’t look as if they had retired for the day. Blood splatter patterns on the

Delhi government also urged the actors and their wives to join its anti-tobacco campaign to save the lives of lakhs of people who die from oral cancer every year. In January, the Health Department had written to six actors — Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda, Saif Ali Khan, Arbaaz Khan, Ajay Devgan and Sunny Leone — urging them not endorse pan masala products. Mr. Arora had said that they (actors) were role model for youngsters and should not participate in pan masala or similar advertisements as these attracted the vulnerable population, especially children and women and were directly and indirectly responsible for the increasing trend of tobacco use. Ms. Leone’s husband, Daniel Weber, had called up to say that she would not sign any contract for such advertisements in future. According to experts, areca nut, the main ingredient in pan masala, is in the league of cafeine, tobacco and alcohol when it comes to addictive properties and also leads to a high number of cases of submucous fibrosis, which can easily turn cancerous. — PTI

IMPHAL: Manipuri rights ac-

tivist Irom Sharmila, who has been acquitted by a court of the charge of attempt to commit suicide, resumed her indefinite fast at the historic Sahid Minar here on Tuesday. She has been on a fast for the past 15 years demanding the repeal of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the State. Sahid Minar Ms. Sharmila, who was released from judicial custody by the chief judicial magistrate of Imphal West on Monday, came out of the special ward of the Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital here and headed for Sahid Minar with a large number of her supporters. To continue protest She told the media that she would continue her non-violent protest. Violent means, she said, were not the proper way to go about to solve the problems in the State. Ms. Sharmila refused to undergo a health check-up when a medical team of the JNIMS approached her at the venue of her fast, the police said. Support The activist, popularly known as the ‘Iron Lady,’ is currently being guarded by a large number of police personnel and hospital staf. Her protest has the support of several social activists. Ms. Sharmila launched her fast in 2002 demanding the repeal of the Act which she calls “draconian.” — PTI

Central forces arrive in Bengal Bhatkal tense as K B Tuesday that 100 companies Muslim groups of central forces are expectKOLKOTA: Though the Election ed to arrive in the State. protest against MP Commission of India has yet “By today about 100 comOLKATA

N. DINESH NAYAK

The government has approached the wives of artistes to encourage their husbands not to endorse pan masala products.

walls also indicate the same, said sources. The police believe that had they retired for the day, eight members of a family would not have been sleeping in a single room when there was enough space. Further, oicials said, blood splatter on the walls was not more than a foot in height, and was spread in various directions.

Irom Sharmila resumes fast

HUBBALLI: Bhatkal town was tense after several Muslim organisations condemned the inflammatory statement made BJP MP Anantkumar Hegde and demanded action against him. In a memorandum submitted to Uttara Kannada SP C. Vamsi Krishna, Majlise-Islah Wa Tanzeem, Bhatkal, general secretary, Altaf Kharuri said Mr. Hegde’s statement was malicious. It was aimed at creating a law and order problem, he said and urged the police to thoroughly investigate the matter. At a press conference in Bhatkal on Tuesday, Mr. Kharuri condemned Mr. Hegde’s statements against Islam and accused him of trying to target Muslims to safeguard his political base. Mr. Hegde’s dream of “eradicating Islam from this world” would never be realised. He said he would initiate all possible action against Mr. Hegde within the framework of law, and appealed to the Muslim community not to pay heed to such statements.

UREAU

to announce the schedule for Assembly elections in West Bengal, a large number of central armed police forces have arrived in the State. Senior oicials posted at oice of Chief Electoral Oicer, West Bengal said on

panies of central forces are expected to arrive. It may be that not all 100 companies may have arrived today. We are getting reports from the districts…. they are involved in area domination,” Dibyendu Sarkar, Additional Chief Electoral Oicer said.

‘Casual workers too covered by ESI’ KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL NEW DELHI: In a decision giving a wide interpretation to the term ‘employee’, the Supreme Court on Tuesday held that welfare schemes for social security and health insurance assured under the Employees State Insurance Act were available even to casual workers. The judgment by a Bench of Justices Gopala Gowda and Arun Mishra decided the status of race workers employed on the race tracks of one of the country’s oldest and most prestigious horse racing clubs — Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd — in Mumbai. The club, established two centuries ago, runs the iconic Mahalaxmi race course and the Pune race course. The judgment, authored by Justice Mishra for the Bench, dismissed the club’s contention that its temporary staf engaged on race days for issue of tickets would not come under the definition of the term ‘employee’ under Section 2(9) of the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948. “Casual labour engaged on race track is not to be covered under the ESI Act,” the club argued.

‘Sporadic work’ It described the employees’ work as sporadic. Disagreeing with this, the apex court observed that the 1948 Act was a welfare legislation with a “very wide” and inclusive definition for the term “employee.” “A person who is employed for wages in the factory or establishment on any work of, or incidental or preliminary

SC Bench dismisses race club’s contention on definition of the term ‘employee’ to or connected with the work is covered. The definition brings various types of employees within its ken. The Act is a welfare legislation and is required to be interpreted so as to ensure extension of benefits to the employees and not to deprive them of the same which are available under the Act,” the Supreme Court held. Further, Justice Mishra corrected the club’s description of its race track employees. The judgment said the nature of their work was far from sporadic. In fact, the apex court observed that the club’s employees’ work for the day of racing is a “perennial activity” which makes them entitled for the benefit of the Act. This judgment is a sequel to an earlier verdict on the Royal Western India Turf Club Ltd on July 31, 2014 by the Supreme Court. In that, the apex court had held that the turf club would fall within the meaning of the word ‘shop’ as mentioned in the notification issued under the ESI Act. The court held the club liable to pay the ESI contribution in the next three months as per notification dated September 18, 1978 along with interest at such rate as provided in the Act and the rules. It further dismissed the applications of the club with costs of Rs. 2 lakh payable to the ESI Corporation.

ND-ND

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EDITORIAL

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

Emptying the idea of India wednesday, march 2, 2016

The health net should cover all he announcement in the Union Budget of an insurance scheme against catastrophic health expenditure for the weaker sections should become part of a calibrated plan to provide universal health coverage. When it comes to public health expenditure, India brings up the rear among even many developing countries. Budget 2016-17 takes the incremental step of introducing some insurance protection against high out-of-pocket expenditure that pushes families into poverty. In this context, the plan to provide access to dialysis for kidney failure at district hospitals through a dedicated national programme is an intervention that is overdue. Some States, such as Tamil Nadu, have insurance to pay for hospitalisation through a government-backed plan. As a scaledup national programme, there is much to learn from the experience of countries such as Thailand and Japan. What stands out about them, as evident from a study conducted by the World Bank and the Japanese government, is the use of general revenues to augment payroll taxes in Thailand, and the firm capping of care costs through standardised benefits and standardised payments. Both aspects — viable funding to universalise access and tightly regulated costs to guard against profiteering — combined with a guarantee of quality care are important to India, where the health sector has grown amorphously in the absence of strong regulatory oversight. These learnings are critical to also avoid the moral hazard of unethical institutions gaining access to the Rs.1 lakh government-funded health insurance through unnecessary hospitalisation. A nominal increase in the annual health budget, pegged at 9.5 per cent over 2015-16, and a growing role for profitoriented care systems and private insurance can only retard India’s progress towards universal health coverage (UHC). There is evidence that a significant number of young Indians aged 23 to 35 are not buying health insurance since they find it expensive. This trend skews the risk pool towards older citizens who are more likely to seek care, leading to the familiar cycle of higher premiums and more claims. The answer clearly lies in moving towards UHC under a time-bound programme that covers everyone, using a combination of subscriber payments and tax funds, and strong controls over cost of care. There is a challenge also to scale up dialysis access. Besides equipping district hospitals with the necessary machines, training of medical professionals to closely monitor patients availing the service is vital. The national roster of nephrologists is only about 1,100 strong, while the incidence of renal failure is of the order of 2.2 lakh patients a year, as pointed out in the Budget speech. Creating the human resources needed has to be accorded top priority. The dialysis programme, laudable as it is, underscores the importance of preventing endstage renal disease, and regular monitoring of kidney health at the population level. On the broader agenda, political parties and social movements can no longer ignore the imperative of providing quality health care to all.

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The current strategy of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is to mount relentless rhetorical attacks on the “anti” in anti-national while leaving the “nation” in national carefully empty. It SATISH DESHPANDE was showcased in Parliament by Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani in her enactment of what a popular film song once referred to as “emosanal atyachar”. But when she said, “I am not certifying your idea of MARY E. JOHN India but do not demean mine”, Ms. Irani was being unduly modest because she was actually doing much more than “not certifying” the idea of India — she was evacuating it. Juxtaposed against the silent emptiness of this idea was the eloquent fullness of her righteous rage against those who would demean it. This clever tactic captured the moral high ground by framing the motion to be debated as “insults to the nation cannot be tolerated”, thus trapping opponents in defensive positions on the swampy terrain of insults by denying them a foothold on any firm conception of the nation. But the ploy worked only as long as the idea of India was left undefined. She was under fire the moment she tried to label Mahishasura worship as anti-national, because this defined the nation as exclusively limited to Durga worshippers, a specific definition that was immediately challenged. Emotion over reason Despite being an intangible idea, the nation is quite real because it is a shared idea. Symbols of nationhood are important for this sharing to be reliably reproduced, which is why we have familiar aids to memory like maps, flags, or the figure of Mother India. National symbols are extremely powerful because they connect to compressed reservoirs of intense emotion. That is why publicly invoking these symbols has to be an act of responsible citizenship and not self-serving demagoguery, but the difference can be hard to tell. The problem with emotive symbols is that though they can mul-

The BJP strategy in the ‘national vs. anti-national’ debate is a cynical ploy to maximise the emotive impact of symbols while refusing reasoned argument. It is fixated on a real or imagined ‘anti’ without allowing the accused the space to speak of their conception of the nation tiply the force of arguments, they cannot replace the arguments themselves. All persuasion harnesses symbols but principled persuasion must also provide arguments that can be rationally debated. The BJP strategy is a cynical ploy to maximise the emotive impact of symbols while refusing reasoned argument. It is cynical in its unfair fixation on a real or imagined “anti” without allowing the accused the space to speak of the conception of nation that informs the allegedly “anti-national” act. The shameless resort to a partisan use of state power to terrorise, silence and break opponents makes

dimensions of the nation have diverged, thus undermining the sovereignty of the idea itself. In India, these processes began to take efect from the 1980s, long before the dominance of the BJP. Weapon of mass distraction Against this background, Narendra Modi’s election campaign emphasised inclusive development — sabka saath, sabka vikas — with Hindutva as a side show. Unfortunately, until now the Modi regime has been unable to deliver on virtually all of its promises on the economic front — it remains to be seen

Campuses like those of the University of Hyderabad or Jawaharlal Nehru University are seen as particularly dangerous because they are spaces where Dalits are not only assertive but are making common cause with other marginalised groups including Muslims. this cynicism dangerous. How else can one explain why lawyers who repeatedly indulged in violent assaults on court premises, or journalists who wantonly incited violence based on fake evidence are not in jail — but Kanhaiya Kumar, Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya are? To be fair, during the past two decades the nation idea has been under siege globally, and not only in India. When it first came into its own in the nineteenth century, the nation seemed to define a common boundary for cultural belonging, economic interdependence, and political accountability. In the era of globalisation, the cultural, economic and political

whether the 2016 Budget will efect a welcome change of direction. The sudden deepening of inequalities has fuelled frustrations among the very groups that were its most enthusiastic supporters, such as Patidars, Jats or the urban middle classes. Historically, regimes unable to provide bread have had to stage circuses of one kind or another to retain their credibility. These have taken the form of highly publicised programmes and campaigns with little or no real content, like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Because of these economic setbacks, the cultural front has had to bear a heavier burden. There has been a

CARTOONSCAPE

Looking beyond economic quick-fixes n an all-too-familiar replay, finance ministers and central bank governors of the Group of 20 countries meeting in Shanghai drove home the complexities of formulating a collective response to the persisting global slowdown in growth, even as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reiterated its call for coordinated action at the multilateral level to contain risks to the real economies from market turbulence. The Fund’s prescription ahead of the gathering, as in the recent past, lays particular stress on fiscal stimulus measures to boost demand, as against over-reliance on monetary policies. But the reaction from national capitals was along expected lines. U.S. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew pressed hard a long-standing concern of Washington that China ought to increase domestic consumption and Germany adopt fiscal stimulus. His counterpart in Berlin, Wolfgang Schaeuble, was equally categorical as he ruled out his country’s support for a fiscal stimulus and instead continued to insist on structural reforms as the remedy. Mr. Lew even suggested, ahead of the Shanghai meet, that it may be a case of financial markets misreading the situation on the state of the real economy. Despite the strong divergence of perceptions that have long underpinned the group’s overall approach, their promise in Shanghai to refrain from a competitive devaluation of currencies to promote exports could go some way to soothe investor sentiment. Such an assurance is significant in the light of the 4 per cent depreciation in the value of the renminbi last year that set of turmoil in global stock markets and a flight of capital from the country. Currency volatilities could continue to pose concerns as emerging economies experienced a slowdown in 2015 — most notably Brazil, and China, which earlier this decade overtook the U.S. as the world’s largest trading nation. The economic recession in Brazil, the worst in over a century, and the combined efects of the collapse of Chinese imports into Latin America, could well have had a significant impact on world trade, which contracted to its lowest since the global financial crisis, according to the World Trade Monitor of the Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis. Yet, there is good evidence of the G-20’s capacity for concerted action. In 2014, it pledged to take steps to raise the group’s gross domestic product by an additional 2 per cent by 2018. The measures implemented so far would cause an increase of just 0.8 per cent by that deadline. The current situation should lend greater urgency not merely to achieve the goal, but to extend the measures into other areas that have been identified for common action. The political engagement from the G-20 in the wake of the 2008 global meltdown was immense. That resulted in the fiscal stimulus, the stabilisation of the banking sector and the injection of capital into international financial institutions. The rich and emerging economies should summon the resolve and the will to promote a more equitable international order.

I

CM YK

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Budget’s fine print It is clear why the middle class, industry and business are unhappy (“A pro-poor push in hard times”, March 1). The emphasis is clearly on the farm sector, improving road infrastructure and keeping taxes unchanged. The rich will face hard times. That rural BPL families will get subsidised LPG is welcome. D.B.N. Murthy, Bengaluru

To say that the farmer is an important constituent of our society should make him/her proud. After a long time, the government has understood that rather than importing pulses, it can buy them from farmers at an MSP to be worked out. It has spoken of doubling a farmer’s income. But how will this be assessed and paid? Diferent farmers have diferent levels of income. I feel that farmers’ distress has not been correctly read by those who advocate steps for their emancipation. The real move that would lift this sector would lie in making farmers entrepreneurs. Raghavan, Chennai

Though the middle class does not have much reason to celebrate, they can try to draw joyful satisfaction from the fact that a little austerity in their lifestyle can make it pleasant for those who live on the margins of our highly discriminating socioeconomic paradigm. It is acknowledged that the magnificent edifice of our market-based economy rests on the strength of farmers and the agricultural sector. After a long hiatus, here is a Budget that has come with a fresh whif of socialist sentiment. It also has the potential to disarm the Opposition which has left no stone unturned to manufacture a credible and sustainable intellectual critique against the government. Sajjan Singh, Jaipur

Increased allocations under the

marked escalation in communal tensions, with various “fringe” outfits and individuals taking on a central role. The characteristic form of these events is a claimed insult to Hindu sentiment or “Indian culture”. Why do these campaigns invariably take a negative form, from the attempts to convert Valentine’s Day into Parents’ Day or Christmas into Good Governance Day, through the beef ban, right up to the Ayodhya Ram Mandir campaign? Is it really impossible to become a good Hindu today without opposing someone or something else? The changing campus It is in this context that we need to place the quiet revolution in higher education that has taken place over the past two decades. Today, in most non-technical institutions of higher learning women equal or exceed male students in numbers. After the 93rd constitutional amendment extended reservations, the caste (and class) composition of elite universities has been transformed. While Muslims remain under-represented, most others have gained access, making our universities the only public spaces in contemporary India where almost all groups (barring the poorest) can meet and mingle in a relatively egalitarian setting. This newly democratised site is proving to be a massive source of anxiety and resentment for the current regime. Campuses like those of the University of Hyderabad or Jawaharlal Nehru University are seen as particularly dangerous because they are spaces where Dalits are not only assertive but are making common cause with other marginalised groups including Muslims. Hence the vicious campaign against radical students and campuses, and the relentless repetition of the charge of being “anti-national”. The bitter irony here is that while the accused have been describing the India — and, as with Rohith Vemula, the world — that they stand for in passionate detail, the accusers have ofered only the thinnest and emptiest of descriptions. Nothing illustrates this better than the bizarre proposal to hoist gigantic national flags in universities. Even more telling is the plan to showcase tanks and artillery on campuses in the hope that they will exude patriotism and provide immunity against the dreaded disease of critical thinking. Whether it is sent intentionally or subconsciously, the message is sinister. The university and the army are at opposite ends of the state apparatus, one representing the nation’s desire to nurture critical perspectives and innovative thinking that will strengthen its ability to respond to change, the other representing the might of the state to be deployed after all hope of peaceful resolution is lost. By invoking the arm of the state that is the last resort of brute force in defence of the nation, is the government implying that it thinks of universities as enemy territory that must be conquered by force? Critiquing old meanings of the nation, striving to give it new meanings, and engaging in intense debate with fellow citizens about the merits of alternative visions is the very stuf of democratic politics. But obsessively attacking something as anti-national while blocking all attempts to specify the meaning of the nation is “playing politics”, which is precisely what Ms. Irani was doing, even as she accused her opponents of doing it. (Satish Deshpande teaches sociology at Delhi University. E-mail: [email protected]; Mary E. John is with the Centre for Women’s Development Studies, Delhi. Views expressed here are personal.)

Letters emailed to [email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, the proposal for 100 per cent rural electrification and an enhanced agricultural credit target will boost productivity in the primary sector. Easy access to generic drugs, a new health coverage scheme and a national dialysis service programme are necessary policy actions that will entitle citizens to a more dignified life. The proposal for setting up a higher education financing agency, increased allocations for skill development and a digital repository for school leaving certificates and diplomas are prerequisites for the success of Skill India and Digital India. While a few changes to existing income tax slabs would have delighted the taxpayers, the Budget, nevertheless, seems balanced. Shreyans Jain, New Delhi

The proposal to tax 60 per cent of one’s provident fund at the time of withdrawal has dealt a body blow to lakhs in the salaried sector. One thought that the issue was settled once and for all in 2007-08. Taxing PF accumulations, which is ‘sweat money’ for a rainy day, amounts to taking us for a ride. One hopes that the Left parties will fight to right the wrong inflicted on many of us. A.V. Narayanan, Tiruchi

Life is going to be even harder for the middle class (“A googly that could stump the salaried class”, March 1). A couple of days ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the Budget would be his “examination”. He hasn’t even secured pass marks. Sincere taxpayers have been stifled. The worst cut of all is the heavy tax on provident fund withdrawals. The assurance that farmers would earn double their income by 2022 is a joke especially when they are unable to get even a fair price for their produce and there is no eicient water management. The inability to unearth black money is a

reminder of the government’s tall talk. It is also sad that there is no plan to boost the use of nonconventional energy sources. Kallal M.L. Raghavan, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu

Employees of public sector units and State governments will get a pari passu increase in income in due course. Perhaps Mr. Jaitley has taken it for granted that they will not mind paying a bit extra as tax. There are millions, especially senior citizens, without a stable income but with money trickling in because of prudent decisions to deposit some earnings in banks. With inflation and plans to reduce the rate of interest, things could get worse. One hopes that the Minister will intervene on this issue. K.R. Unnithan, Chennai

In a country where many have a hand-to-mouth existence, and with limited revenue resources where demands for funding in crucial sectors far outstrip what we can aford, we cannot have pretensions of using the Budget as an instrument to set trends for development, growth and investment. It is inevitable that no segment of society or sector of services will be satisfied. Under the circumstances, the Finance Minister has done the wise thing of not trying to spread resources too thin, and instead focus on the priority areas. One hopes that support to the agriculture sector will be used to promote agro-based industries including marketing assistance, credit, warehousing and cold storage facilities. The boost to MGNREGA is essential and the Congress’s jibes at the BJP on this score are in bad taste. A.N. Lakshmanan, Bengaluru

This is a watershed Budget. Without hurting any section of society, Mr. Jaitley’s well-thoughtout proposals are bound to stimulate industrial growth, boost

exports and open up additional opportunities for employment. Nevertheless, after considering revenue and fiscal deficits and its possible impact on the behaviour of prices, Budget 2016 is bound to be inflationary. As pointed out by Sir Frederick Leith-Ross, “Inflation is like sin; every government denounces it and every government practices it.” K. Gopakumar Menon, Thrissur

That the allocation for defence is the lowest since 1962 is noteworthy. The cess on diesel and high-end model cars is welcome. What is illadvised is taxing EPF. It remains to be seen whether the allocations prove to be “pro-village”, “propoor”, “pro-farmer”, as described by Mr. Modi, since only 15 paise out of every rupee disbursed by the Centre reaches the target beneficiaries, to paraphrase former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. R. Prabhu Raj, Bengaluru

The RE at 10 It is heartening to know that the chair of the Readers’ Editor of The Hindu has completed a full decade (“Holding the newspaper to account” and “Responsive editorial team makes self-regulation work”, both Feb.29). It is an experiment that has proven to be successful. One hopes that the daily will continue to be a mirror to opinion that reflects our unity and diversity. K. Rajendran, Chennai

Since the introduction of the “RE’s column”, I have been reading the writings of the ombudsmen, K. Narayanan, S. Viswanathan and A.S. Panneerselvan, without fail. I am an avid reader of the daily since PUC (1975-76). The “Corrections and Clarifications” column fulfils the need of readers which no one can deny. One must also mention how Mr. Narayanan boldly dealt with issues and problems in his columns, which helped break the

ice. I hope that The Hindu (Tamil) also appoints an RE which should set an example for other language newspapers. B. Jambulingam, Thanjavur

It was interesting to read about The Hindu’s experiment. It is clear that there needs to be thought about the impact of social media and having an ombudsman in today’s digital age of journalism. I think we need to have one too for television. Navodita, New Delhi

The “self-boasting” article was not supported by facts. Irrespective of whoever was holding the oice, the Readers’ Editor has acted more as a post-print proofreader acting on mistakes pointed out by readers. There have been many occasions when the RE has failed to acknowledge mistakes even when pointed out by knowledgeable readers. I have faced this situation. Questions criticising news coverage and the editorial tilt towards a particular ideology were never answered directly despite writers writing reams on the right to freedom of expression in sections of the daily. A “bufer” may help the Editor duck some inconvenient questions posed by readers but it certainly does not boost the credibility of the newspaper. Duggaraju Srinivasa Rao, Vijayawada

At inflection point? The incidents of protests at Jawaharlal Nehru University, the University of Hyderabad or by Jats may be seen as a threat to those in power (“Is India at an inflection point?” Feb.29). But if viewed objectively, they reflect the will of people to fight and make their voices heard. Besides, they are a reminder that a lot needs to be done on the part of governments to achieve the goal of an egalitarian society. Karan Choudhary, Pathankot, Punjab ND-ND

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

HOMELAND

The brave new world of retail violence JOSY JOSEPH

It may be a sheer coincidence that actor Sanjay Dutt, convicted for possessing an AK-56 rifle in 1993, was released from jail on the same day last week when a European Union-commissioned study said a large number of improvised explosives of the Islamic State (IS) contained many Indian components. However, there is an underlying commonality behind the two developments — of the actor obtaining an AK-56 for self-defence and the IS finding Indian detonators, detonating cord, and safety fuses in 2015-16 along the Syria-Iraq stretch. Both the incidents help understand the flourishing of the underground arms bazaar across continents in the intervening period. The AK-56 that was supplied to Mr. Dutt by underworld operative Abu Salem in all probability originated in the arms pipeline that the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), with active Saudi assistance, opened for the Afghan mujahideen in the 1980s via Pakistan. And the weapon, and with the RDX and other items for the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, were all procured because of, or supplied by, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). Without state assistance, getting RDX or other military-quality explosives was impossible then. The rifles and pistols that were flowing into the Afghan battlefield were being pilfered, but not in large quantities. A firearms free-for-all Over the next three decades, as the Cold War’s uneasy truce gave way to anarchy and chaos, armed rebellions began to scout the global markets for weapons and explosives. Nations continued to shop for weapons mostly for deterrence and display, but armed groups bought them for actual use, and thus quicker consumption. The insurgents found many states that were directly or indirectly willing to cooperate. For example, India’s north-eastern rebels found Chinese middlemen who arranged weapons for them. It is anybody’s guess if Chinese weapons would have flowed into the Northeast without the state’s knowledge. When the Kashmir insurgency raged, hundreds of Kashmiris were transported to the border from where they crossed over to a welcoming Pakistan, which also supplied them with sophisticated weapons such as Kalashnikovs. Of course, Pakistan was already overflowing with weapons, from pistols to Stinger missiles that the Americans were sending for the Afghan war against the Soviet Union. It was from the underground arms bazaar of Kashmir that criminals of northern India first got their AK rifles. Pakistan’s The Express Tribune in 2012 reported that the country has an estimated 20 million illegal arms in circulation — including rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns. Today Kalashnikovs are locally produced, though the quality may not be as good as the original. The report said the Darra Adam Khel region can produce up to 100 AK rifles in a day for less than $150 a piece. The average price of an AK rifle procured legally could be over $600.

The arms bazaar has become significantly accessible. For critical components, the global markets can be scouted without arousing suspicion

Democratisation of violence Along with the growth of the small arms bazaar, the ‘democratisation’ of other explosives also happened. Up until the late 1990s, if RDX was found in a bomb, it had to come from the ISI, because only states had the capability to produce military-grade explosives and in India it was Pakistani agencies that were supplying them. However, by the time Lt. Col. P.S. Purohit procured 60 kg of RDX from Kashmir for bomb blasts across India nearly a decade ago, including the Samjhauta Express, there was no indication that he got it straight from an ISI agent or an Indian agency. The Indian Army said no RDX from its stock was missing. Meaning, there was a lot of RDX floating around in the underground arms bazaar that Purohit and his co-conspirators could procure. Things have got worse since then, especially since the rediscovery that chemicals available in your neighbourhood market could be used to create deadly explosives. When gunpowder was replaced as the primary blasting explosive by dynamite, TNT and so on in the post-World War II period, it was thought to be a progression. But gunpowder and combinations of ammonium nitrate and hydrogen peroxide have all been used again as explosives in recent years. This means that you could procure almost everything you need for an improvised explosive device (IED) in your local market — explosives, trigger, timer, and so on. Once chemicals are easily available and terrorists don’t have to strain to get RDX out of a government facility, what you need mostly are other components that are available in the oicial markets. The study by Conflict Armament Research showed that products from at least seven Indian companies figured in explosives used by the IS terrorists; most of the detonators, detonating cord, and safety fuses were manufactured by Indian companies and exported legally but finally ending up in IS hands. The study found that 51 companies from 20 countries produced, sold or received the more than 700 components used by the IS to build IEDs. It is a telling report about the way the global illegal arms bazaars interact with the oicial trade between countries, and flourish. Many have argued, including Steven Pinker in his book The Better Angels of Our Nature, that we are living in the most peaceful era in the existence of human species, that wars are declining and the overall level of violence has also dramatically come down. However, with the recent proliferation of explosives and violence, we could well be entering an era of retail violence, where the means to unleash violence is available to anyone at a throwaway price — be it a gunwielding student in the U.S., or a radical in India with some fertilizer and other chemicals in his possession. The state is increasingly helpless against this kind of violence. [email protected]

FROM THE ARCHIVES (dated March 2, 1966)

Indo-Pak ministerial talks begin

Soviet Venus probe’s success

Indian and Pakistani Government teams were locked in a debate on procedure to-night [March 1, Islamabad] after five hours of inconclusive talks on carrying out the Tashkent declaration. The Pakistani Foreign Minister, Mr. Bhutto told reporters after two brief meetings with his Indian counterpart Sardar Swaran Singh, “We are making some headway, but there are diiculties”. This is the first Ministerial meeting since the Tashkent declaration of last January. A 25-man delegation, including the Commerce Minister, Mr. Manubhai Shah and Transport Minister, Mr. Sanjiva Reddy, met a similar Pakistani side for 50-minutes of plenary talks shortly after flying from New Delhi this morning. The Ministers met in private this afternoon but broke up after a few minutes to hold separate discussions.

The unmanned Soviet satellite Venus 3 to-day [March 1] became the first man-made object to land on the earth’s cloud-drapped sister planet. It apparently crashed on Venus. Tass said Venus 3 “reached the surface of the planet Venus” at 09-56 Moscow time (12-26 hrs. I.S.T.). Tass said Venus 3 reached the planet after correcting its course on December 26. The news agency said radio communication was maintained throughout the flight but broke of as Venus 3 approached the planet. This indicted the probe had crashed on Venus and its communications system had been destroyed. Venus is 175 million miles from the earth. The cloudshrouded planet comes closer to earth on its orbit than another planet. It is outshone only by the sun and moon. Tass said the space station actually landed on the planet.

CM YK

PERSPECTIVE

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‘Nationalism does not allow the Hindu in India to claim primacy’ Historian Romila Thapar on academic freedom, nationalism, sedition, and free speech A widely respected public intellectual, Romila Thapar has groomed generations of students in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), and earlier in Delhi University. Frank in her views, she insists that in the given climate where people’s nationalism is questioned merely on the basis of a slogan or two, as in the case of JNU, the primary identity of every “citizen of India, over and above all other identities of religion, caste, language, race and suchlike,” is that of an Indian. “Nationalism,” she points out, “does not allow the Hindu in India or the Muslim in Pakistan to claim primacy and privilege as a citizen on the basis of being members of a religious majority community.” In favour of repealing the sedition law, she took a few questions from Ziya Us Salam. Excerpts:

remind you of the Emergency? There seems to be a growing attempt to dismantle institutions where creativity in thought is encouraged. In most cases, new appointments to positions of authority have been made of people who were chosen because they are not associated with the kinds of ideas that explore new avenues of thought and work, or that encourage the questioning of existing ideas, and because they are likely to carry out instructions from the ministries. So far at least, this has been the pattern. In one case, an enterprising Director of the National Museum who actually allowed some qualitatively diferent kinds of exhibitions to be held was fairly quickly moved to the Ministry of Sports! Attempts to silence free speech are, of course, always characteristic of governments that lack confidence and are uncomfortable with an independent citizenry.

INTERVIEW When those pursuing higher studies or various forms of creative freedom live in fear, is there any hope for the common man?

Sedition is being thrown around with reckless ease and disdain at students or at anybody who is critical of the government. Are we in danger of the state riding roughshod over all individual freedom? Sedition is an extremely serious matter and cannot be bandied about or treated casually as we have started doing in recent times. Those who have the right to accuse a citizen of sedition should be first taught what it actually means and implies, since many people are unaware of its implications or when it is appropriate. Countries change their borders within a century, as indeed the borders of British India changed in the twentieth century with the establishing of three separate nations. Nationalisms are now said to be of various kinds. Governments therefore have to be meticulous in its understanding and sensitive to its meaning before accusing a citizen of sedition. It cannot be used casually in lieu of abuse. In colonial times, sedition related to statements made to incite violence against the colonial state. Today, the colonial state does not exist. It has been replaced by three independent states, so the context of seditious remarks has to that extent become more complex. The law regarding sedition has to be repealed.

In the light of the JNU experience, the government probably does not seem to be

Romila Thapar. — FILE PHOTO: T. SINGARAVELOU

Attempts to silence free speech are always characteristic of governments that lack confidence and are uncomfortable with an independent citizenry well disposed towards freedom of expression, and is happy to see nationalism being bandied about as the monopoly of a chosen few. How disconcerting is this for you as an Indian citizen and a vocal intellectual? Most people are generally satisfied with leading conventional lives that do not require unconventional views and activities. Intellectuals and academics, however, are not only given to making enquiries in the furthering of knowledge, but this is their

expected function. In doing so, they have to be confident that they will be allowed to think in ways that may deviate from the conventional, provided of course their thought and actions are not socially harmful. And what might be socially harmful is always a matter that has to be teased apart and debated. Intellectuals are expected to explore ideas and to do so preferably without fear. But if they have to live in fear, then that fear seeps into the lives of the people amongst whom they live. A society whose ambience is sufused with fear ceases to nurture creativity and its life is reduced to a routine banality.

On a slightly wider canvas, it seems all abodes of free speech are in danger. The Film and Television Institute of India, Hyderabad Central University, Aligarh Muslim University, JNU… there seems to be no end to right-wing parties and their various affiliates hurling accusations to mar the fair name of an institution. Does it

Nationalism is not just limited to flying flags on oicial buildings and singing the glories of the nation symbolised as a mother. Nationalism was a deep commitment to the identity of a people, most of whom came together to expel the colonial power. There were some who preferred to give their allegiance to the Islamic state and to the Hindu Rashtra. Nationalism encapsulated and should continue to encapsulate the identity of a people living in a territory claiming equal rights of citizenship. These rights exclude discrimination on any ground, and include a concern for the well-being of all such people, and where the primacy of the citizen is the chief concern of the state. The primary identity is that of being a citizen of India, over and above all other identities of religion, caste, language, race or suchlike. Nationalism does not allow the Hindu in India or the Muslim in Pakistan to claim primacy and privilege as a citizen on the basis of being members of a religious majority community. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Dalits and Adivasis are all equal citizens. All citizens have the right to debate and discuss their duties towards the state and also the obligations of the state to ensure that the claims to human rights of all citizens are met by the state to an equal degree. [email protected]

Britain embattled over Europe Prime Minister David Cameron has called a referendum to approve his renegotiation of EU membership, only to discover that some of his closest allies will be campaigning against him ANDREW WHITEHEAD

Britain’s governing Conservative Party has for decades been divided over Europe — and it has unsightly scars to prove it. But the civil war that is now breaking out in the party could make past rows seem almost puny. Prime Minister David Cameron has called a referendum on June 23 to redeem his pledge to give the country a vote on whether it wants to be ‘in’ or ‘out’ of the 28-member European Union (EU). He says the revised terms negotiated in a whirlwind round of diplomacy mean that the U.K. should remain within the EU, and that the country’s prestige, prosperity and security depend on that. To Mr. Cameron’s dismay, ranged against him are six members of his own Cabinet, more than a third of his party’s MPs and, some surveys suggest, a clear majority of his own party activists. Among the ‘leave’ rebels is Justice Secretary Michael Gove, one of the Prime Minister’s oldest friends and hitherto closest allies. To make matters worse for the government, the country’s most charismatic political figure, Boris Johnson, the Conservative Mayor of London, has announced amid much drama that he will be campaigning for Britain to leave the EU. The Sun newspaper trumpeted the headline “The Blond Bombshell” — Mr. Johnson is known for his unruly mop of blond hair; it’s a bombshell which could dislodge Mr. Cameron from Downing Street, and Britain from arguably the most successful supranational union of modern times.

“David Cameron has called a referendum on June 23 to redeem his pledge to give the country a vote on whether it wants to be ‘in’ or ‘out’ of the EU.” Picture shows an advertisement for the upcoming Brexit referendum. — PHOTO: AFP

least, not yet. Britain has always been an uneasy member of the EU. In the 1980s, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher railed against European interference in member states’ monetary and fiscal policy. Her government had not roll back the state at home, she insisted, to sit back as a European superstate exercised a new dominance History of the EU from Brussels. A decade or more ago, Tony Blair’s LaThe roots of the EU lie in the aftermath of the Second World War with the search bour government considered joining the for ties across European boundaries to Euro, which superseded such historic curprevent the two great continental powers, rencies as the franc, the mark, the peseta, France and Germany, from ever again tak- and the lira. In the end, Britain stayed with the pound — a deciing up arms against sion that now seems each other. Britain It is a bombshell which wise given the crises was not initially on could dislodge Britain from besetting the board, but became arguably the most Eurozone. the seventh member London also incountry in the early successful supranational sisted on keeping 1970s. union of modern times control of its borAt that stage, the EU was generally known as the Common ders, and staying out of the Schengen area Market, a free-trade zone much more than of more than 20 nations which allow passa political alliance. The EU expanded to port-free travel across their shared almost every corner of Europe, particular- frontiers. While the EU’s most enthusiastic memly after the implosion of the Moscow-led Communist bloc in eastern Europe. Half a bers pledged ‘ever closer union’, with talk billion people now live in EU member of a common foreign policy, a European states, powerful nations including Serbia army and more decision-making by maand Turkey are queuing up to join, and no jority vote rather than unanimity, British member state has ever left the EU — at politicians warned of EU waste and bu-

reaucracy. And an influx to the U.K. of hundreds of thousands of migrants in search of better-paid jobs from new member countries — notably Poland, Romania and Bulgaria — swelled misgivings about the EU. Mr. Cameron is staging a referendum to try to end his party’s feuding over Europe. He is giving the U.K. a vote in the hope that a decision to remain in Europe will close the matter. In his renegotiations, he wasn’t able to limit the free movement of EU nationals, which is seen as a fundamental principle of the Union and is nonnegotiable for many member states. But he has managed to restrict some welfare benefits for new migrants from within the EU: ‘thin gruel’ in the eyes of his critics; a good deal for Britain, according to the Prime Minister’s backers. ‘In’ versus ‘out’ The main opposition parties — Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish nationalists — all support continued membership of the EU, though with different degrees of enthusiasm. The business lobby is also largely in favour of staying in. Mr. Cameron hopes that this awkward alliance will be suicient to deliver him victory. Ranged against him, as well as much of his own party, is the right-wing U.K. Inde-

pendence Party which attracted almost four million votes in last year’s general election. And now Mr. Johnson has given the ‘leave’ camp the one thing it lacked — a flamboyant campaigner to lead the antiEU charge. Mr. Johnson argues that the EU is taking too much sovereignty away from the Westminster Parliament and diminishing Britain’s greatest achievement: its democracy. In the eyes of his critics, Mr. Johnson is advocating withdrawal from the EU not out of principle, but to position himself to replace Mr. Cameron. The Prime Minister has already said he will step down before the 2020 general election; he would probably have to go straight away if he sufers defeat in June. It is still likely that the referendum will endorse Britain’s continued place in Europe — but with one of the biggest hitters in politics now raining down blows on the EU, there is a real uncertainty about the outcome. One thing is clear — Britain faces a tempestuous few months until referendum day. (Andrew Whitehead, an honorary professor at the University of Nottingham and at Queen Mary, University of London, reported both from India and on British politics for the BBC.) ND-ND

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NDA allies seek rollback No tax would accrue for withdrawal of EPF for those with income of Rs. 15,000 and below. Trade unions plan to lodge a protest with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. “It is disappointing. The government is trying to ‘double tax’ the employees. We are not going to accept this,” BMS general secretary Virjesh Upadhyaya told The Hindu. If the decision was not reversed, the BMS would start a protest. “The gross salary of an employee is already taxed, then how can the

Finance Minister will consider all suggestions on the issue, says an official statement tax-free, he said. The oicial statement reiterated the position in the budget documents. Of the total corpus, 40 per cent withdrawn at the time of retirement will be tax exempt in the case of recognised provident fund and the NPS, it said. In the case of employees of private companies, if they place the remaining 60 per cent in annuity, out of which they can get regular pension, no tax is chargeable, it said. In other words, according to the release, the entire corpus will be tax-free, if invested in annuity. The other change, according to this release, introduced by the budget, is that when the original corpus goes in the hands of the heirs on the death

government again tax a component of it that has been kept aside as a saving. We will take up the issue with the government,” he said. Mr. Jaitley briefed the MPs of the ruling NDA on the budget. The Shiv Sena could not make it to the meeting because of miscommunication. According to those who attended the meeting, Mr. Jaitley spent considerable time, explaining the finer points of the issue. Whether the pressure from the allies and the ideological ailiates will have an efect on the government is to be seen. of the person investing in annuity, then again there will be no tax. The budget proposal does not afect three crore subscribers of the around 3.7 crore contributing members of EPFO as their investments within the statutory wage limit of Rs.15,000 a month, the release said. The proposal affects only about 60 lakh contributing members who have accepted EPF voluntarily and they are “highly-paid “employees of private sector companies, who can withdraw their savings without any tax liability, it said. “We are changing this... What we are saying is that such an employee can withdraw without tax liability provided he contributes 60 per cent in annuity product so that pension security can be created for him according to his earning level… However, if he chooses not to put any amount in annuity product, the tax would not be charged on 40 per cent,” the release said.

Headley testimony proves those killed were LeT members: petition LEGAL CORRESPONDENT

Find out who was behind aidavit change: BJP

NEW DELHI: Advocate Manohar

Lal Sharma’s petition sought the Supreme Court to initiate “suo motu perjury/contempt of court proceedings against the then Home Minister and the CBI Director for concealing true facts before the Supreme Court and the Gujarat High Court for filing a false aidavit on the facts about Ishrat Jahan.” Mr. Pillai had said an aidavit submitted in the Gujarat High Court in 2009 about the LeT links of Ishrat Jahan and her accomplices was changed at the “political level.” The then UPA government had submitted two aidavits — one that the four, who were killed in an alleged fake encounter, were terrorists, and the second saying there was no conclusive evidence — within two months in 2009. “The said facts are now undisputed/judicial facts. It is a judicial fact that all four persons, including of Muslim girl/ lady Ishrat Jahan, killed by the Gujarat police are terrorists ... There is no prosecution under the Constitution as well as any Indian law for killing a terrorist,” Mr. Sharma’s petition said.

NATIONAL BUREAU

G.K. Pillai has said an affidavit submitted to Gujarat High Court about LeT links of Ishrat was changed at the political level.

Gujarat police personnel, including the then DIG D.G. Vanzara, are facing trial in a Mumbai court for their alleged role in the encounter. Mr. Sharma’s petition said Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) does not extend to “terrorists.” It asked the Supreme Court to issue a “proper writ direction declaring that killing a terrorist is not an ofence under the Indian law.” The petition also sought the court to direct that “proper compensation be provided to the State police personnel in the interest of justice.”

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded that the Narendra Modi government launch a probe to find out who got the UPA aidavit on Ishrat Jahan changed to remove references to her “links” with the militant organisation Laskhar-e-Taiba. The party said that the probe should include not just the role of then Home Minister P. Chidambaram, but also the possible role of the Congress high command. Speaking on behalf of the party, Union IT and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad cited statements by the former Home Secretary G.K. Pillai and former Under Secretary in the Home Ministry R.V.S. Mani on TV channels that Mr. Chidambaram exerted pressure to get the Ishrat aidavit changed.

Budget lacks pro-farmer view: Pawar SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: The former Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, on Tuesday slammed the budget saying it lacked “pro-farmer” perspective. “The entire Budget was full of slogans,” said Mr. Pawar at a press briefing here. “Without increasing the minimum support price of farmer’s yield it is impossible to double their income by year 2022.” The NCP leader said the allocation of Rs. 20,900 for the agricultural sector did not resolve farmer’s concerns in times of

Sharad Pawar says the entire Budget is full of slogans.

drought since most of it would be spent on crop loans. On the budget proposals,

he said taxing 60 per cent of withdrawals from the Provident Fund and putting a ceiling on employers’ contribution would “lead to unrest.” Welcoming the government’s move of increasing the funding for the MGNREGS, he said the make-work scheme had increased the spending capacity in rural areas and instead of scaling it down the policy should be encouraged. “'Much has been talked against the MGNREGS, it is good that the government has realised its utility,” Mr. Pawar said.

Ruckus in Gujarat House over hooch trade SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat As-

sembly witnessed uproar and heated altercations between the ruling party and Opposition members on Tuesday over illegal liquor dens and Patidar reservation CM YK

issues that led to the suspension of the entire Opposition from the house for a day. During discussion on the Governor’s address, Congress MLA Kamini Rathod alleged that the government had turned a blind eye to the illegal liquor dens despite

THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

ANTI-MINORITY COMMENTS

Govt. to move amendment to EPF tax proposal An oicial release on Tuesday said Mr. Jaitley would consider all suggestions. “We have received representations today [on Tuesday] from various sections suggesting that if the amount of 60 per cent of corpus is not invested in annuity products, the tax should be levied only on accumulated returns on the corpus and not on the contributed amount,” it said. Still confusion on the intention of this proposal remained through the day despite the oicial statement, including from Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia. The confusion was caused by the speech and the Finance Bill Mr. Jaitley tabled to amend the Income Tax Act for this provision as they say separate things. While as per the Finance Minister’s budget speech, 60 per cent of the total corpus, which consists of employer’s contribution, employee’s contribution and interest on both, will be taxable on withdrawal, the Finance Bill says something else. The Bill proposes amendments to the Income Tax law that will make 60 per cent of the employee contributions part, of the accumulated balance, tax free. “While the Finance Bill seeks to tax the corpus, the government has received representations suggesting that the tax should only be on the interest accrued... Therefore, the Finance Minister has agreed to revisit the budget proposal,” Mr. Adhia told The Hindu. The new proposal under consideration is that interest accrued on 60 per cent of contributions made after April 1, 2016 will not attract any tax on withdrawal unless invested in an annuity plan, Mr. Adhia said. The contributions and interest accrued to the EPF before that and the withdrawal of principal after the cut-of date would remain

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prohibition in the State. The altercation between Ms. Rathod and Mr. Patel led to the Opposition members rushing to the well of the House. Eventually, the entire Opposition was suspended from the House for the day.

Katheria remarks rock Parliament Political parties condemn divisive agenda, demand sacking of Minister of State for HRD NATIONAL BUREAU NEW DELHI: “What has been published in one of the newspapers is false. I had not taken the name of any community. I had said that the culprits, who had murdered the VHP leader, should be given death sentence,” Union Minister Ram Shankar Katheria said. “I had also said that the Hindu community should unite for their safety. I will send a notice to the newspaper.” The context: the Minister along with BJP MP from Fatehpur Sikri Babu Lal had on Sunday attended a condolence meeting held for VHP worker Arun Mahaur, who was allegedly killed by some youths from another community in Agra. The leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, accused the BJP and the RSS of harbouring plans to divide the country. “They speak whenever elections are nearing. They talk about dividing the country and not uniting. If they continue to speak like this, there will be repercus-

Minister of State for HRD Ram Shankar Katheria addressing the media at Parliament House on Tuesday. — PHOTO: PTI

sions across the country. Today we are raising this issue because Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh are silent on this is-

sue," he said. “This has been the continuous, consistent and obnoxious behaviour by the Modi government. I am sure that no action will be

taken,” AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi said. The minister's statement that sparked the controversy was: “This conspiracy that is being hatched against the Hindu community, we have to be be alert to recognize it and strengthen ourselves. We will have to fight it because if we do not do it now, today we have lost one Arun, tomorrow it could be another Arun...the killers should also go, we have to set such an example.” While Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav has demanded that Mr. Katheria be sacked, Congress leader Anand Sharma gave an adjournment notice in the Rajya Sabha on the matter. The BJP, however, defended Mr. Katheria. Party secretary Shrikant Sharma said: “Katheria has made it clear in his statement that he has said nothing wrong. And after this clarification, there is nothing to comment on. I have seen his statement in which he has cleared everything. The real issue is the deteriorating law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.”

Minister must go: Mayawati LUCKNOW: BSP chief Mayawati on

Tuesday demanded the immediate resignation of Union Minister Ram Shankar Katheria for his alleged inflammatory remarks against Muslims at a condolence meeting for a VHP worker in Agra last week. At the meeting held on Sunday, VHP and BJP leaders allegedly made violent references to Muslims and urged Hindus to prepare for a ‘final battle’ in 2017. — Omar Rashid

VHP distances itself from Prachi NEW DELHI: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has distanced itself from the Hindutva leader Sadhvi Prachi, who has courted controversy with her statements in the wake of the killing of a VHP worker at Agra. “The VHP wants to make it clear again that Sadhvi Prachi is neither its leader, nor a spokesperson, nor an office-bearer... Her statements should not be linked to the VHP,” its international joint general secretary Surendra Jain said. — PTI

AIADMK disrupts House over Karti issue SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned on Tuesday as the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) demanded action against the son of former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Karti Chidambaram, after newspaper reports alleged his involvement in the Aircel-Maxis issue. With multiple adjournments in both Houses, hardly any business was conducted, even as the Congress, which had moved privilege motions against Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, alleged that the ruling NDA had a hand in the AIADMK’s protests since it allowed the government to avoid uncomfortable answers in Parliament. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, moved a calling attention motion regarding inflammatory speeches by Union Minister Ram Shankar Katheria and other elected representatives violating the Constitution and oath of office and said that could not be taken up because of the dis-

A media report had claimed that Karti Chidambaram invested in real estate across the world.

ruption. “A serious issue is not discussed like this. This is a deliberate attempt by the AIADMK. Otherwise, never before has the AIADMK behaved like this,” the Congress leader said. In the Upper House, an angry Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien even threatened to suspend the agitating members but to no avail. This didn’t deter the AIADMK, whose members were displaying copies of an English daily that has claimed that Mr. Karti Chidambaram had invested in real estate across the world, as per inves-

All privilege notices under study: Speaker SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: The ruling BJP and

the Congress, with CPI(M), moved competing privilege motions in Parliament on Tuesday. While Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan read out the names of all those whose notices she had received, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya was allowed to speak on his notice, against chief whip of the Congress Jyotiraditya Scindia for defaming him on the Rohith Vemula issue. Mr. Dattatreya accused Mr. Scindia of “tarnishing” his image by saying that he had called Rohith Vemula casteist and anti-national. “My mother used to sell onions. I have always worked for OBCs and Dalits. I have made sacrifices for Dalits,” Mr. Dattatreya said. He said his letter to Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani, over which he has been attacked by the Congress, made no mention of Vemula’s name. “I never made such a charge against him.”

Smriti Irani’s facts presented to Parliament all wrong, says CPI(M) MP Salim Congress members continued to protest, with K.C. Venugopal showing the rule book to the Speaker. “Don’t show me the rule book. I know,” she shot back. She said all the notices for privilege motion were under consideration. CPI(M) MP Mohammad Salim’s privilege motion against Ms. Irani says the facts that she had presented, especially on the medical attention provided to Vemula, were incorrect and the validity of the inquiry process Ms. Irani had elaborated on with regard to JNU was also questionable. In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad reminded the chair that the Congress had given notice of privilege motion against the HRD Minister and wanted to know its status.

tigations by the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax authorities during searches at his premises. Slogans like “we want justice” and “NDA sarkar take action” were raised at the well of both Houses. In the Lok Sabha, AIADMK members rushed to the well raising slogans demanding action against Mr. Karti Chidambaram. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan tried to conduct some business but her voice was drowned in the din. Parliamentary Afairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said if proper notice was given by the party, the issue could be discussed and the government was open to a debate. At one point in the Lok Sabha, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge stood up to raise some issue, apparently relating to the privilege notice against Ms. Irani over the Rohith Vemula suicide issue, but he was shouted down by the AIADMK members. Senior government managers feel that the issue will dominate proceedings for the next two days at least. “We don’t see this going away soon,” added a senior Minister.

Congress says he is a private individual SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: Mounting a defence against AIADMK’s attack in Parliament on Karti Chidambaram, son of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the Congress on Tuesday accused the BJP government of planting news to divert peoples’ attention from the unrest at Jawaharlal Nehru University and the political repercussions it’s facing after Rohith Vemula’s suicide. “A jittery Modi government is using the modus operandi of news plants to divert Parliament's attention from its now exposed anti-Dalit/anti-student policies,” said Congress party’s chief spokesperson

Randeep Surjewala. “The attempt is obviously to distract attention from HRD Minister Smriti Irani misleading Parliament and the disappointing Budget which is inflationary.” Mr. Karti came under fire from AIADMK and the BJP over a newspaper article accusing him of having disproportionate real estate investments worldwide. Mr. Surjewala said Mr. Karti is a “private individual” and should not be targeted to score political points against his father, P.Chidambaram. Mr.Surjewala also said if Karti is found guilty of any irregularity, the Union government or the AIADMK government in his home State Tamil Nadu should feel free to take action against him.

ED submits documents for extradition of Lalit Modi SONAM SAIGAL MUMBAI: Enforcement Directo-

rate (ED) oicers on Tuesday submitted documents for the extradition of former cricket administrator Lalit Modi to the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court. A highly placed source at the ED told The Hindu, “Interpol had asked for certain documents from ED to be sent to the

London court, as a requirement for Lalit Modi’s extradition. It is part of the procedure followed as per the extradition Act”. Special judge PR Bhavke had earlier issued a non-bailable warrant against Mr Modi. Confirming this, Enforcement Directorate’s Joint Director Satyabrata Kumar told The Hindu, “Certain documents were submitted before the PMLA court for attestation, and

[these] will now be sent to the Ministry of External Afairs, [who] will send it to UK”. On August 11, 2015, the Enforcement Directorate had sought an Interpol notice against Mr Modi, who is booked for cases of money-laundering under several sections of the PMLA. Despite several eforts, Interpol had not issued a Red Corner Notice against Mr Modi. This will now be possible.

J&K trapped in uncertainty: Omar PEERZADA ASHIQ SRINAGAR: National Conference working president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday that the delay in government formation had adversely afected the political atmosphere in Jammu and Kashmir. Opening an oice in his constituency Beerwah, Mr. Abdullah said: “The delay has thrown the State into an apparently indefinite period of uncertainty. The PDP’s eforts to maintain ambiguity are based on the presumption that the delay can be

marketed as a kind of moral stand that the party has suddenly found.” He said PDP president Mehbooba Mufti “herself admitted that the people did not benefit from the 10-month PDP-BJP government. One wonders who the actual beneficiary of this alliance was. With every passing day, the uncertainty keeps growing; and this will have long-term implications for peace and stability for a State torn by conflict and political turmoil.” Mr. Abdullah accused the PDP of “again forming a govern-

ment with those who were now openly advocating ‘one, last open war’ against the Muslims of the country.” “The people of the State have witnessed how the atmosphere in the State has been communally polarised since the PDPBJP alliance came into being. Sometimes, truck drivers from Kashmir are burnt alive in Udhampur, and at other times, RSS members are allowed to brandish weapons and take out marches to harass and intimidate minorities. Is this the change the PDP had promised?” he asked.

CAPF martyrs to be honoured in schools VIJAITA SINGH NEW DELHI: To instil “nationalism” in students, the NDA government has directed the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to organise “befitting functions” in schools falling in their respective jurisdictions where security personnel who died in the line of duty studied. Prime Minister Narendra Mo-

di had given the go-ahead to the proposal last year. The function will be organised on October 31 every year and will be celebrated as Martyrs Day. The day marks the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabbhai Patel, the first Home Minister of India.

A note sent by MHA to all CAPFs said: “All field formation should collect bio-data of martyrs belonging to the area of responsibility and accordingly organise befitting functions in the schools from where they have passed out, so as to give a proper regards and respect to these martyrs in front of the students on Martyrs Day i.e October 31 every year. ND-ND

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THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

Pak. team may arrive soon to probe Pathankot attack VIJAITA SINGH

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RECRUITMENT DRIVE

Exam in undergarments sparks row Patna High Court issues notice to Army, Parrikar seeks report from Gen. Dalbir Singh NATIONAL BUREAU

NEW DELHI: As the decks were

cleared for the visit of Pakistani investigators to India to probe the attack on the Pathankot airbase, India will ask the neighbouring country about the “composition of the team” and the “contents of the evidence required by them.” India has accused the Pakistan-based outfit Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) of planning and executing the attack on the airbase on the intervening night of January 1-2. A senior oicial said the decision to let the Pakistani team access the airbase, a highly sensitive defence installation, would be taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. After India gave evidence, Pakistan registered a First Information Report (FIR) a few days ago. The Counter Terrorism Division (CTD) of the Pakistani Police arrested three suspects. “The Pakistani team will come here armed with a letter rogatory (LR) issued by a court there. The LR is required to probe the case on foreign soil. Since they have

made a few arrests, we will have to provide them corroborative evidence. We will be asking them to provide us the details so that we can help in the investigation,” the oicial said. He said the team could come to India “any time soon.” “We are fully prepared to assist the Pakistani team. The decision to provide it access to the airbase will, however, be taken by the highest authority,” he added.

The three accused arrested by Pakistan have been identified as Khalid Mahmood, Irshadul Haque and Muhammad Shoaib. They had allegedly facilitated the attack. Minister of State (Home) Kiren Rijiju told the Lok Sabha on Tuesday: “A case has been registered [by Pakistan]. This is for the first time Pakistan has taken action. India had given evidence to Pakistan.”

NEW DELHI/PATNA: The image of hundreds of young men sitting cross-legged on the ground in their undergarments to take an Army recruitment examination in Muzafarpur, Bihar, has gone viral across the country. The Patna High Court on Tuesday took cognizance of the incident while Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar sought a report from the Army. The test was conducted at Chakkar Maidan in Muzafarpur for over 1,100 posts in the Army. Colonel V.S. Godara, Director of Recruitment at Muzafarpur, told mediapersons that the exercise was meant to prevent cheating in the test. “We did not insult anybody or subject anyone to cruelty... no examinee complained, so why are outsiders

PEERZADA ASHIQ SRINAGAR: Mohamad Sidiq Gujjar, an arrested fidayeen (suicide attacker) of the Jaish-eMuhammad (JeM) and resident of Galotia Kalan in Sialkot, Pakistan, had managed to procure an Aadhaar card during his three-month stay here to revive the outfit. During interrogation, he also confirmed the name of JeM Pathankot attack trainer as Ustad Kashif. Gujjar, 17, was arrested in an operation on February 24 night in Baramulla. He and three other Jaish militants crossed the Line of Control (LoC) in Kupwara district on the night of November 24 from the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to launch a fidayeen attack on the Army’s

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vestigator told The Hindu. Gujjar’s knowledge of GPS and wireless communication devices helped him survive in the jungles for over a month as he got in touch with his handlers. He managed to procure an 3/1 GR base at Tanghdar. In a Aadhaar card to “get a cover” four-hour gunfight, a major and intended “to revive the fire broke out and damaged JeM with the help of overthe camp and several vehi- ground workers, including cles. One civilian and three JeM militant Saifullah, in the Jaish militants were killed. Handwara-Kupwara belt.” During his one-year train- Five of his associates have aling at the JeM’s Syed Shah Is- ready been arrested. mail Shaheed Madrassa at Ba“We are investigating lakote, Gujjar learnt about the whether the Aadhaar card is Pathankot attack trainer Us- original or fake,” Inspectortad Kashif, whose name fig- General of Police Syed Javaid ured during the probe into the Mujtaba Gillani told The Hindu. attack on the airbase. “Gujjar confirmed the A computer operator of name of Kashif but is too Kupwara is being questioned young co-relate events,” an in- in this regard.

Authenticity of card being probed, computer operator in Kupwara being questioned

making a hue and cry over the matter,” Col. Godara asked. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed in the Patna High Court was converted into a writ petition by the court on Tuesday, and a notice was issued to the Defence Ministry to respond by April 5. Meanwhile, after the images of the incident appeared in

the media, Mr. Parrikar sought a report on the incident from Army Chief General Dalbir Singh. But, Army sources said that they were yet to receive any such directive. Commenting on the notice issued by the High Court to the Defence Ministry, advocate Deenu Kumar, who filed the PIL plea, told The Hindu,

“The court has asked the Army oicials concerned to come with their report on the issue after four weeks and the next date of hearing is April 5.” Mr. Kumar said that he had argued in the court that it was an act of inhuman behaviour by Army oicials. “It was a violation of Article 21 and 39F of the Constitution and the court too was

SC questions legal India kicks of Raisina Dialogue basis of Bar exam SUHASINI HAIDAR

LEGAL CORRESPONDENT

JeM fidayeen had got Aadhaar card

OPEN EXAM: The exercise was intended to prevent cheating, says Colonel V.S. Godara, recruitment director, Muzaffarpur. - PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

convinced by my argument and sought a notice from the Army oicials,” Mr. Kumar said. The Army oicials, who conducted the test, had asked all the 1,159 examinees to remove their pants and vests and take the examination only in their undergarments. Col. Godara said, “Earlier, students have been caught hiding their answer slips and mobile phones in their undergarments and vests, so we took all precautionary measures this time to conduct the exam in a free and fair manner”. In Bihar, incidents of cheating in examinations have caused concern in the past. Last year, images of parents climbing the walls of a multistorey building in Vaishali and passing on chits to candidates during an examination had caused widespread disquiet. (With inputs from PTI)

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned whether the conduct of the All-India Bar Examination (AIBE) is a violation of the fundamental right to practise a profession, leaving the Bar Council of India in the dock. Law graduates are required to clear the AIBE within two years of their enrolment in order to practise law. Its rules notified in 2010, the AIBE was advertised by the BCI as a positive step to improve the quality of the profession. But the Supreme Court failed to agree with the logic of the lawyers’ apex regulatory body, at one point even asking the BCI whether “you had become a law unto yourself”. “How are you holding this examination? What is its ba-

Law graduates are required to clear the AIBE within two years in order to practise sis without any statutory amendment?” a Bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice U.U. Lalit asked. “To say that one has to pass an examination for practising as an advocate will negate his or her right to profession. “He has a fundamental right to practise. Conditions can’t be put after enrolment. If, at all, it is required, the condition should be put at the enrolment stage,” the Bench said. The apex court has called for Law Commission reports on the issue of holding such an examination and posted the case for March 2.

NEW DELHI: Tensions between India and Pakistan have held back South Asian integration, said former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga, calling for greater South Asian cooperation and economic integration. Ms. Kumaratunga was amongst a high-power panel of former South Asian leaders, as well as External Afairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.H. Mahboob Ali at the first ‘Raisina Dialogue’, hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi. “India-Pakistan conflicts have prevented regional integration,” Ms Kumaratunga said in her keynote address, adding that not just India and Pakistan, but “six of eight SAARC countries (omitting Bhutan and Maldives) have spent the past decades consolidating their identities and inter-state tensions.” The conference, attended by speakers from 40 coun-

for a more positive view of China’s role in the region, saying that all countries could benefit from doing business with China. “Could we not see Chinese economic power as an opportunity rather than a threat?” Ms. Kumaratunga asked, referring obliquely to concerns in India over projects built by China in Sri Lanka, especially the Colombo port project that was stalled temporarily External Affairs Minister last year. Sushma Swaraj at the Raisina Ms. Kumaratunga was Dialogue 2016, in New Delhi joined by former Afghanistan on Monday. - PHOTO: PTI President Hamid Karzai in tries, is being seen as the gov- the pitch for a greater role for ernment’s attempt to rival Chinese investment. conferences around the Speaking at the inauguraworld that attract global play- tion, Ms. Swaraj and her Baners such as the Shangri-La gladesh counterpart Mahdialogue in Singapore, and boob Ali spoke of the the Munich Conference on importance of building road national security. While Ms. and rail connectivity through Swaraj didn’t mention India’s the “BBIN” grouping of Banrelationship with China dur- gladesh, Bhutan, India and ing her speech on Asian con- Nepal. “If we are able to nectivity, other leaders on the achieve this vision of connecpanel made a point of speak- tivity, Asia-Pacific would acing about China’s role. count for half the world’s outMs. Kumaratunga called put,” Mr. Ali said.

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U.S., Iraq plan battle for Mosul Prime Minister Abadi says Iraqi forces will start a full military operation later this month

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

Osama’s ‘last will’ expresses desire for further jihad WASHINGTON: Al-Qaeda leader

HELENE COOPER AND MATTHEW ROSENBERG WASHINGTON: Recent gains against the Islamic State (IS) in eastern Syria have helped sever critical supply lines to Iraq and set the stage for what will be the biggest fight yet against the Sunni militancy, the battle to retake Mosul, Pentagon oicials said Monday. Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staf, said at a Pentagon news conference that U.S.-backed forces had begun laying the groundwork for the fight by moving to isolate Mosul from the IS’s de facto headquarters in Raqqa, Syria. Kurdish and Arab forces retook the town of Shaddadi in eastern Syria last week, cutting of what Defense Secretary Ash Carter called the last major artery between Raqqa and Mosul. But military oicials cautioned that the fight for Mosul could last many months. In addition to the advances in eastern Syria, the Pentagon has begun using cyber-attacks on IS communications between Raqqa and Mosul, as well as attacks meant to disrupt the militant group’s ability to use social media to recruit fighters, oicials said.

Iraqi security forces moving towards Mosul in February to fight against the Islamic State. — PHOTO: REUTERS

Retaking Mosul would be a “massive hit” to the IS, said Patrick Martin, an Iraq expert at the Institute for the Study of War. Such a loss would bolster claims by the U.S.-led coalition that the Sunni militancy is on the run in Iraq. It could also sharply demoralise IS fighters, raising questions about whether the group could still credibly call itself a caliphate. The Pentagon has declined

to predict when Iraqi troops will try to enter Mosul, though Gen. Dunford said on Monday that “it is not something that will happen in the deep, deep future”. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi of Iraq said two weeks ago that Iraqi forces would start a full military operation to retake the city as early as March. The long fight by Iraqi security forces to take back Ramadi from the IS, which con-

cluded in December, ofers a preview of the battle to come over Mosul. Advancing inch by inch, Iraqi forces, backed by U.S. airstrikes, took more than five months to gain control of the city centre of Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province. As diicult as that battle was, the fight for Mosul will be much harder, military oicials say. The city is five times as large as Ramadi. Military oicials also say it

is hard to imagine how the fight for Mosul can be waged without close U.S. air support, which would probably require attack helicopters, something Prime Minister Abadi, for political reasons, has yet to agree to. The efort is likely to include Kurdish peshmerga fighters, Pentagon oicials say. The U.S. military has trained some 16,000 Kurdish fighters, but their participation is likely to come with its own problems. Mr. Abadi’s government is unlikely to want the Kurdish fighters to assume the lead role in the coming fight, a role that Iraq experts say is likely to be filled by the Shia-dominated Iraqi security forces. In 2004, it took more than 13,000 highly trained troops, primarily Americans, almost two months to retake and clear Fallujah of about 3,000 insurgents in the fiercest fight of the Iraq war. Ninety-five U.S. service members died, and more than 560 were wounded. The battle for Mosul, many military experts say, could be much worse. Pentagon oicials say they are unsure how many IS militants are in the city, but they have been there for almost two years. — New York Times News Service

Osama bin Laden outlined in letters and other documents how at least $29 million of his funds and possessions should be apportioned after his death, requesting that most of it be used to continue global jihad. One of the letters — part of a cache of 113 documents taken in the 2011 U.S. special forces raid that killed bin Laden — was described by U.S. intelligence oicials as what they believed was a last will. Reuters and ABC Television were given exclusive access to the documents, which were translated from Arabic and declassified by U.S. intelligence agencies. They were part of a second tranche of documents which were seized in the operation and have been declassified since May 2015. A large number have yet to be released. One document, a hand-written note that U.S. intelligence oicials believe the Saudi militant composed in the late 1990s, laid out how he wanted to distribute about $29 million he had in Sudan. Bin Laden urged his close relatives to use the rest of the funds to support holy war. He set down specific amounts in Saudi riyals and gold that should be apportioned between his mother, a son, a daughter, an uncle, and his uncle's children and maternal aunts. — Reuters

Letters written by Osama bin Laden are among a cache of 113 documents taken in the 2011 U.S. special forces raid that killed him. Picture shows Osama and Ayman al-Zawahri in a video broadcast in 2002. — FILE PHOTO: AP

Qadri’s funeral attracts thousands of supporters RAWALPINDI: Tens of thousands of supporters chanted slogans and threw rose petals on Tuesday at an ambulance bearing the body of Mumtaz Qadri, a Pakistani Islamist executed for killing Punjab’s former Governor Salman Taseer, as schools closed and police guarded flashpoints. Crowds flooded into a park in the garrison city of Rawalpindi for funeral prayers for Qadri, chanting slogans such as “Qadri, your blood will bring revolution”. An AFP estimate put the number of

‘Sanders a stronger bet against Trump, Cruz and Rubio’ VARGHESE K. GEORGE WASHINGTON: Bernie Sanders

has been complaining, for good reasons, that the mainstream American media ignores him. The media did start acknowledging him after his campaign made an impact that could no longer be ignored. However, there is one crucial point that they continue to ignore — Mr. Sanders will beat all Republican candidates by a wider margin than Ms. Hillary Clinton. Most opinion polls have not matched up Mr. Sanders with Republican candidates. However, the result has been the same whenever they have done so. In the latest, a CNN poll released on Tuesday, Ms. Clinton is predicted to beat Donald Trump if he is the Republican nominee, but she could lose if Marco Rubio or

A supporter of Bernie Sanders in Minnesota. — PHOTO: REUTERS

Ted Cruz get the nomination. On the other hand, Mr. Sanders is predicted to beat all the three with emphatic leads. Most commentators have argued that Mr. Sanders will not be able to garner independent votes and even if he wins the nomination, Democrats will lose the general election. CNN poll match-ups pre-

UN postpones N. Korea sanctions vote to Wednesday

dict the following outcomes that challenge yet another part of the conventional wisdom. Ms. Clinton beats Mr. Trump by eight points but Mr. Sanders beats him by 12 points; Ms. Clinton trails Mr. Rubio by three points whereas Mr. Sanders beats him by eight points; and against Mr. Cruz, Ms. Clinton trails by one point while Mr. Sanders leads by 17 points. Moreover, Mr. Sanders is the most positively rated of all candidates in the fray. In yet another sign of his continuing rise, Mr. Sanders’ campaign raked in $36 million in February compared to $54.8 million raised in the previous six months. Mr. Sanders is unlikely to do well in Super Tuesday States, but will come out of it with enough money and enthusiasm to fight another day.

Colombo’s demining plan ‘ambitious’ securing a grant of $6,03,143 for a mine action project in Mannar district of the Northern Province and landmine survey in the Northern and Eastern provinces. Since 2003, the Japanese government provided $28 million for demining in the North and the East. According to data available on the website of the Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka, the extent of mines was 5,000 square km at the end of the civil war in May 2009. Now, it is about 63 sq km, says K.J. Jayaweera, spokesperson of the SLA. To a query, the Japanese envoy said his country had supported demining projects in Cambodia and Afghanistan.

COLOMBO: The goal set by the Sri Lanka government to make the country free of mine impact by 2020 is “very ambitious” but is essential, Ananda Chandrasiri, Director/Programme Manager of the Delvon Assistance for Social Harmony, an NGO working in the area of demining, said on Tuesday. Answering a question by The Hindu, Mr. Chandrasiri, formerly a Brigardier in the Sri Lanka Army, said the government was pursuing the matter with “utmost eforts and interest”. Terming the track record of Sri Lanka in demining a “very good story”, he said the prob-

lem would be in raising funds. Yet the government is “trying its best” in this regard. Earlier, there were nine organisations engaged in demining whereas only four bodies including the SLA are currently involved, he added. Mr. Chandrasiri signed an agreement with Kenichi Suganuma, Ambassador of Japan, for undertaking a demining project in the Northern and North-Central provinces with the grant of $6,34,860 from the Japanese government. Bethan Davies, Regional Programme Oicer, South and Southeast Asia of the Mines Advisory Group, also entered into a similar pact with the Japanese envoy for

‘Mystery’ body from India flown to the U.K.

HRW slams ‘virginity tests’ in Afghanistan

T. RAMAKRISHNAN

KABUL: Human Rights Watch LONDON: The body of a mystery man — mistaken to be that of a 54-year old Indian-origin hotelier allegedly murdered during a visit to India in May last year — has been flown to the U.K.. Indian authorities had sent the body — which was on Tuesday handed over to the U.K. social services — in the belief that it was that of Ranjit Singh Power, allegedly murdered during a visit to Punjab 10 months ago. Oicials thought the corpse, one of the five pulled from a river in Punjab, was that of the missing hotelier but dental records and DNA testing proved the body was not his. The body cannot be repatriated India. A funeral will be conducted by social services though the DNA will be retained for further inquiries. A post-mortem examination estimated that the dead man’s age was more than 50, though it was unable to ascertain the cause of death. — PTI

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(HRW) has slammed “virginity exams” conducted on Afghan women and girls accused of so-called moral crimes, saying the invasive tests by government doctors were tantamount to sexual assault. Women face growing levels of violence and harassment in Afghanistan, more than 14 years after Taliban regime was toppled from power by a U.S.led invasion. Of 53 women and girls as young as 13 accused of pre-marital sex — punishable by up to 15 years in jail — 48 were subjected to virginity exams, Afghanistan’s Independent Human Rights Commission found in a recent study. Nearly half of them were examined more than once, often in the presence of multiple people, according to the study which was highlighted in a new HRW report on Monday. “These so-called virginity exams are not just demeaning — they constitute sexual as-

sault and are often used as evidence against women in court for the ‘crime’ of zina, or sex outside of marriage,” said HRW researcher Heather Barr. “The continued use of degrading and unscientific virginity exams by the Afghan government is part of a broader pattern of abuses in which women and girls are jailed on spurious ‘moral crimes’ accusations, often in situations where they are fleeing forced marriage or domestic violence.” Virginity testing is a widely discredited practice in several conservative Islamic nations. In 2014 the World Health Organization (WHO) issued guidelines that the test had “no scientific validity”. “The Afghan government should end arrests [for ‘moral crimes’] entirely and reform the law that permits them. Banning all ‘virginity exams’ could be an important first step toward reform,” Ms. Barr said. — AFP

people at up to 100,000. Main junctions and sensitive buildings in Rawalpindi and Islamabad were guarded by thousands of police and paramilitary Rangers. Security forces kept a careful distance from the crowd at Liaqat Bagh park, and some of the supporters dispersed after the prayers. But hundreds continued to march behind the flower-strewn ambulance as it inched its way through a sea of supporters towards the burial site. — AFP

Myanmar vote: hopes fade for Suu Kyi NAYPYIDAW: Myanmar’s Parliament will bring forward a vote for the next President to March 10, it was announced on Tuesday, leaving little time for Aung San Suu Kyi to strike a deal to let her take the top oice. The country’s democracy figurehead is currently banned from becoming Pres-

ident under the junta-era Constitution. Ms. Suu Kyi has held several rounds of closed-door talks with the powerful military since her National League for Democracy (NLD) party won crushing victory at elections in November. Observers say the talks were likely aimed at

testing the military’s appetite for a constitutional change to allow Ms. Suu Kyi to the top job, a post many of Myanmar’s people see as her destiny. But news that the presidential vote has been brought forward by one week suggests negotiations have failed to reach a deal to clear

Calais ‘jungle’ camp razed

her path to power. “We are going to hold the meetings... for MPs to be able to elect the President and Vice-Presidents on March 10, Thursday, a week earlier than was previously announced,” Win Khaing Than, Speaker of Myanmar’s combined houses of Parliament, told lawmakers on Tuesday. — AFP

18 dead in Oman head-on collision

CALAIS (FRANCE): French author-

ities razed parts of the “Jungle” migrant camp for a second day Tuesday while thousands of refugees were blocked in Greece as Europe strained to contain the flood of desperate people at its borders. An overnight downpour left stranded refugees shivering in the mud on the Greek border with Macedonia as the UN said over 131,000 migrants had entered Europe via the Mediterranean in 2016 so far. This is more than in the first five months of 2015, when Europe’s biggest wave of refugees since World War II plunged the continent into a crisis many fear threatens the very core of the European project. In the northern French port city of Calais, tensions were high as workers continued dismantling the southern half of the “Jungle” camp, which has become a magnet for refugees hoping to reach Britain. Clashes erupted on Mon-

MUSCAT: A head-on collision

involving a truck and a bus killed 18 people and injured 16 people of various nationalities in western Oman on Tuesday, police said. The bus was carrying passengers from Salalah in

Migrants in Calais demonstrate against the dismantling of the camp. — PHOTO: AFP

day between riot police and protesting migrants who do not want to be moved to better accommodation, as they claim it will take them farther from their goal of reaching Britain. French workers broke down the makeshift shelters by hand, as bulldozers stood by, after a court appeal by charities to stop the destruction was rejected last week. While the “Jungle” has be-

come a cause celebre for activists, the crisis there pales in comparison to the situation boiling over in Greece where more than 7,000 people are stranded. Hundreds of refugees on Monday tried to break through a border fence into Macedonia, but their eforts to move deeper into Europe remained blocked as nations set tight limits on migrant entries. — AFP

UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council delayed until Wednesday a vote on a new raft of sanctions on North Korea to punish the reclusive regime after its fourth nuclear test and rocket launch. With backing from China, the council is expected to adopt a U.S.-drafted resolution that takes aim at North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs by cutting of sources of hard currency and access to technology. The council had initially planned to vote on Tuesday, but the meeting was delayed at Russia's request. Russia’s UN mission declined to provide reasons for the delay, but spokesman Alexei Zaytsev said “we confirm that the vote will take place tomorrow” at 10:00 am (1500 GMT). The United States has described the package of measures as the toughest sanctions yet to hit North Korea, but the impact will depend largely on China, Pyongyang’s sole ally and main benefactor. North Korea carried out its fourth nuclear test on January 6, which was followed by the launch on February 7 of a satellite-bearing rocket that the world viewed as a disguised ballistic missile test. Both tests are banned under a series of UN resolutions that condemn North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs as a threat to world peace and security. The latest draft would require countries to take the unprecedented step of inspecting all cargo to and from North Korea, impose new trade restrictions and bar vessels suspected of carrying illegal goods for North Korea from ports. — AFP

southwestern Oman to Dubai, the Times of Oman reported, citing the Gulf Transport Company which operates the service. The dead included six Omanis, four Saudis, two Pakistanis and a Yemeni, police said, adding that the injured included 11 Omanis, two Saudis, a Chinese and a Pakistani. The nationality of a man in the intensive care remained unknown. — AFP

‘Voters chose right and proper path’ TEHRAN: Iranian voters chose

“the right and proper path for the country”, moderate President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday after final election results showed his allies had made significant gains. In Friday’s the parliamentary election, hardliners who vocally opposed Mr. Rouhani’s diplomacy with the West and his moves to open Iran up to foreign investment, were soundly beaten by reformists.

Conservatives also lost seats. “The owners of this country are the people... they determine the direction of this country,” he said. — AFP ND-ND

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BUSINESS

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

Do we need to encourage, say, Mukesh Ambani who gets Rs. 2 crore salary per month to also get a tax exemption benefit? HASMUKH ADHIA, Revenue Secretary

SENSEX 01-03-16 23,779 29-02-16 23,002

777 POINTS

GOLD 01-03-16 29-02-16

29,400 29,405

EPF tax: govt. in damage control mode People unnecessarily misuse the EPF route for tax avoidance, says Revenue Secretary Adhia VIKAS DHOOT AND TCA SHARAD RAGHAVAN

T

ax benefits on the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) are not meant for those who earn Rs. 2 crore a month, Revenue Secretary Hasmukh Adhia told The Hindu, mounting a strong defense of the Budget proposal to tax 60 per cent of EPF savings at the time of withdrawal on retirement. The Finance Minister will now take a fresh call on the issue, the government said in a statement on Tuesday. Faced with a strong and immediate backlash from the salaried class, political parties and trade unions, the Prime Minister’s Office stepped in to take stock of the issue as well as the intent behind the proposal early in the day, holding a fairly long parley with Finance Minister Arun TAXING Jaitley and top finance ministry TIMES oicials. government By noon on Tuesday, the revenue secretary had clarified in an interview to All India Radio that the tax would only be applicable on interest income paid on EPF savings and if an employee chose to buy an annuity with 60 per cent of his EPF account balance at retirement, it would be tax-free. This position, however, changed further three hours later, with the finance ministry issuing a clarification stating that the idea to tax interest income was only based on some representations received today by the government and will be considered by the FM before passage of the Finance Bill, along with other suggestions on the proposal. “We have also received representations asking for not having any monetary limit on the employer contribution under EPF, because such a limit is not there in NPS (National Pension Scheme). The Finance Minister would be considering all these suggestions and taking a view on it in due

The Finance Minister will now take a fresh call on the issue, the government says course,” the ministry said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Adhia, who met The Hindu shortly afterward, defended both the tax proposal on EPF savings and the related announcement to cap tax-free employer contributions into EPF at Rs. 1.5 lakh a year. Similar employer contributions into the NPS are allowed up to 10 per cent of salary without any limit. “The rationale is that Rs.1.5 lakh is a big sum. If Rs.1.5 lakh is 12 per cent (of salary), how much is 100 per cent… about Rs.15 lakh income. Do we need to encourage, say, Mukesh Ambani who gets Rs. 2 crore salary per month to also get a tax exemption benefit?” Adhia said, adding that even bank deposits should be tax-free in that case. “People unnecessarily misuse

the EPF route for tax avoidance,” Adhia said, highlighting that out of the 3.70 crore active EPF accounts, around 3 crore belong to those who earn less than Rs.15,000 a month, the statutory limit for compulsory EPF contributions at the rate of 24 per cent of salary. “When NPS (created in 2004) was not there, EPF was given the exempt-exempt-exempt (EEE) tax status mainly for the 3 crore people, not the 70 lakh high-income people who were allowed to join EPF on a voluntary basis,” the revenue secretary said, pointing out that even people contributing Rs. 12 lakh a month into their EPF accounts ‘got complete tax exemption.’ An investment instrument with EEE status means that all contributions, the return on them and the withdrawal of the accumulated corpus are tax-free. The NPS so far has an EET regime that taxes only withdrawals on retirement. While Mr. Jaitley, in his Budget speech, had introduced the EPF tax provision as a sop for the NPS, to create a level playing field be-

Dattatreya may push for rollback of tax on EPF SOMESH JHA NEW DELHI: Labour Minister

Bandaru Dattatreya may demand a rollback of a proposal to tax partial Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) savings at the time of withdrawal, government sources said. Even as the Finance Ministry issued a detailed clarification about the proposed change on Tuesday, a government oicial said the labour minister in the next few days will push Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to withdraw the plan in totality. It is learnt that Mr. Dattatreya has also sought a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after central trade unions and workers across the country

protested the government’s announcement made in the Union Budget. Mr. Jaitley had announced that 60 per cent of the EPF savings will be taxable at the time of withdrawal. On Tuesday, Labour Ministry oicials took up the matter with the Finance Ministry and apprised them of the impact of the move, a government oicial said. “This will be a huge dent on the savings of young professionals. The amount that will be contributed towards EPF today will be withdrawn after two decades and this will translate into huge tax burden,” the oicial said. “The Finance Ministry is trying hard to bring National

Mobile phones made in India almost double

RBI unlocks Rs.40,000 cr additional capital for banks

YUTHIKA BHARGAVA

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI: Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said the number of mobile phones made in India in the current financial year doubled year-on-year to 11 crore. “In 2014-15, the mobile units manufactured in the country was 5.4 crore, which has more than doubled to 11 crore in 2015-16,” the Minister said. The Union Budget 2016 on Monday proposed two per cent special additional duty on components like printed circuit boards (PCBs) and peripherals such as batteries and chargers, which is likely to make phones and tablets made in India costlier. Mr. Prasad said the government had received plans to make electronic products worth Rs.1,20,294 crore till date, of these, the Rs.18,000 crore worth of proposals have been approved.

MUMBAI: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) revised norms on capital recognition, making available an additional Rs.40,000 crore to Indian banks. The move comes at a time when public sector banks are facing pressure on their profitability due to a sharp rise in non-performing assets, which is eroding their capital base. The announcement is a big relief for, mainly, public sector banks, after finance minister Arun Jaitley on Monday announced in his budget speech a capital infusion of Rs. 25,000 crore for the fiscal year starting in April. The minister did not make any increases to the capital infusion amount that was decided in August 2015. Many public sector banks reported huge losses for the quarter ended December 2015after the RBI

asked lenders to identify several accounts as non-performing. Banks are expected to post weak earnings in the current quarter too. “The RBI has made some amendments to the treatment of certain balance sheet items for the purposes of determining banks’ regulatory capital,” the central bank said in a press release on Tuesday. “The review was carried out with a view to further aligning the definition of regulatory capital with the internationally adopted Basel III capital

‘Start-up funding at a crossroads’ SANJAY VIJAYAKUMAR MUMBAI: T. Rowe Price, a mutual fund that invests in startups, said it is seeing a ‘bifurcation in the funding environment’ with those delivering on their business promises being able to maintain valuations. Others, who do not, are seeing valuations fall and may find it challenging to raise further capital. T. Rowe Price is an active investor in Silicon Valley start-ups and has also invested in Indian ecommerce major Flipkart. Last week, Morgan Stanley’s mutual fund had marked down the value of its holding in Flipkart by 27 per cent, which translates into a $4 billion fall in valuation to $11 billion for India's mostvalued Internet firm. The fund had also cut the value of its equity holdings in filesharing company Dropbox and data analysis company Palantir Technologies. This had raised concerns about the ability of start-ups to raise funds in India, amid questions over sustainability of valuations, in the absence

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tween them, there was no mention of the condition that those who invest 60 per cent of their EPF corpus in annuities will be exempted from the tax. The revenue secretary also said comparisons with government employees, whose retirement savings are parked in the general provident fund (GPF) and would remain tax-free, weren’t fair. “In the case of GPF, only the employee is contributing, there is no employer contribution. That’s why private employees get 24 per cent of salaries as tax-free contributions to EPF, while in the case of GPF it is only 8.33 per cent that we have to contribute,” Mr. Adhia said. He said the move was meant to encourage old age pensions that are not an obvious choice with senior citizens because of the belief that their children would look after them in their later years. “The government is only indirectly encouraging people to go for annuity and get a monthly pension. Who will take care of their pension requirement if there is a contingency? ” he asked.

Those who do not deliver are seeing valuations fall and may find it challenging of profits. In contrast, T. Rowe Price which invested in Flipkart has maintained the value of its investments at the same level as of December, 2015, according to its disclosures. “We do not comment on the valuation of specific portfolio holding,” Edward Giltenan, spokesperson of T. Rowe Price said in an email response on the specific query about Flipkart. “Some company valuations have expanded in recent years as the market has been favourable. And more investors have taken to investing in private companies. What we are observing now is that the market appears to be bifurcating,” he added. Giltenan said that private companies that are executing well on their plans are seeing their valuations hold or even continue to rise, and they remain able to access

capital . “However, companies that are struggling to grow their businesses are seeing their valuations fall and may experience challenges with future capital raises.” The spokesperson said that there is high degree of risk in early-stage companies, whether they are private or public, adding that the comment is not specific to India. He also said that private companies make up a small portion of any one of the firm's investment strategies and seeks to invest in companies that have an innovative product or service and have the potential to be category leaders with durable growth.

Bullion Rates March 01 rates in rupees with previous rates in brackets

Chennai Bar Silver (1 kg) 36,640 (36,605) Retail (1 g) 39.2 (39.2) 24 ct gold (10 g) 29,760 (29,840) 22 ct gold (1 g) 2,758 (2,765) Delhi Silver 36,800 (36,500) Standard gold 29,400 (29,405) Sovereign 23,000 (23,000)

Pension System and EPF on same pedestal not realising both of them are not comparable. Also, why force employees to place their EPF corpus in annuity instead of allowing them to withdraw in full?” another oicial said. The move came as a surprise to many in the labour ministry who claimed that there was no consultation on this proposal with both the Labour Ministry and the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) in the pre-Budget meetings. At present, EPFO has 3.7 crore active members, out of which three crore people contribute compulsorily, according to the Finance Ministry.

5 ₨/10gm

RUPEE 01-03-16 67.85 29-02-16 68.42

0.57 ₨/$

BRENT OIL 01-03-16 36.29 29-02-16 36.26

0.03 $/bbl

Stocks surge, rupee gains as rate cut hopes brighten ASHISH RUKHAIYAR & MANOJIT SAHA MUMBAI: The Sensex surged

over 750 points while the rupee gained 57 paisa on Tuesday, a day after the government announced that it would stick to its fiscal deficit target thereby raising hopes that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will soon cut the key policy rate or the repo rate. “Wait for the announcement, whenever it comes,” said S. S. Mundra of RBI Deputy Governor when asked on Tuesday morning, at the sidelines of an event, whether there is room for rate cut after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley sticks to fiscal deficit target. The statement boosted sentiment that the interest cut is round the corner to revive growth. After cutting interest rates by 125 bps to 6.75 per cent between January and September in 2015, the central bank paused in the next two policy reviews and said spending control, would create room for further monetary accommodation. Market participants are looking, out of policy rate cut of at least 25 bps rate cut. The next policy review is scheduled in the first week of April. The Sensex gained 777.35 points or 3.38 per cent to close at 23,779.35 on Tuesday. This is the highest single-day gain in percentage terms since September 19, 2013, when the index gained 3.43 per cent. The broader Nifty of the National Stock Exchange ended the day at 7,222.30, up 235.25 points or 3.37 per cent. “Global markets are looking good and India was looking oversold. The budget was not really bad as fiscal deficit has been maintained and spending on roads and railways will only boost the economy. A rate cut by RBI is widely expected in the market now,” says Sudip Bandyopad-

hyay, Managing Director and CEO of Destimoney Securities Pvt. Ltd. On BSE, more than 2,000 stocks gained ground against only 601 stocks that ended in the red. Further, 268 stocks hit their respective upper circuits. Another positive for the market has been the slowdown in the pace of selling by foreign investors with February witnessing net selling of Rs.5,521 crore. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold shares worth Rs.11,126 crore in January. Among the Sensex stocks, ITC gained 9.91 per cent, followed by ICICI Bank and Maruti with both gaining between 7-8 per cent each. Stocks such as Tata Motors, Axis Bank, TCS, Tata Steel, Infosys and L&T all gained over 3 per cent each. Saravana Kumar, Chief Investment Oicer, LIC Nomura Mutual Fund, says that decent monsoon and timely rate cuts by the RBI could propel both economy and markets towards higher levels in the coming days. The rupee gained 0.8 per cent on Tuesday — the biggest gain since September 18, data complied by Bloomberg

showed. The rupee on Tuesday closed at 67.85 a dollar as compared to Monday’s closing of 68.42. In the last two trading sessions, the rupee has cut back its losses incurred in 2016 as it gained 1.12 per cent against the dollar. Still, in 2016, it has weakened by 2.6 per cent against the dollar.

Exchange Rates Indicative direct rates in rupees a unit except yen at 4 p.m on March 01

Currencies U.S. Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Jap Yen (100 Units) Chinese Yuan Swiss Franc Singapore Dollar Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swedish Kroner Danish Kroner New Zealand Dollar Hongkong Dollar Malaysian Ringitt Kuwaiti Dinar UAE Dirham Bahraini Dinar Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal Omani Riyal

TT TT Buying Selling 67.66 67.98 73.53 73.89 94.57 95.02 59.80 60.09 10.31 10.40 67.68 68.01 48.31 48.54 48.38 48.63 50.05 50.30 7.86 7.90 9.86 9.91 44.67 44.88 8.70 8.74 16.23 16.40 224.77 226.58 18.41 18.51 178.18 181.66 18.62 18.66 18.07 18.12 175.12 177.21

Source: Indian Bank

standards.” The revisions introduced include recognition of revaluation reserves arising from change in the carrying amount of a bank’s property consequent upon its revaluation as common equity tier—I capital instead of the earlier tier 2 capital, the central bank said, adding that these would continue to be reckoned at a discount of 55 per cent. The move will unlock Rs 35,000 crore capital for public sector banks and Rs 5,000 crore for private sector banks, industry sources said. RBI said banks can recognise foreign currency reserves arising due to translation of financial statements of foreign operations to the reporting currency as common equity tier-I (CET1) capital. Deferred tax assets arising due to timing diferences may be recognised as CET1 capital up to 10 per cent of a bank’s CET1 capital, it added.

‘Budget could help achieve 4% growth in agriculture sector’ NATIONAL BUREAU NEW DELHI: Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Tuesday said the Union Budget would put the agricultural sector towards path of progress and would help in addressing agriculture distress and achieve 4 per cent growth. “Budgetary provision of Rs.35,984 crore for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Ministry – 2016-2017 manifests that NDA government is committed to villages, the poor and farmers,” Mr. Singh said, addressing a press conference here. “Governments positive steps coupled with a good monsoon could help agriculture sector grow at 4 per cent in the next fiscal year,” he added. He said the government aims to double the income of farmers in the next five years. “We also intend to multiply yield per unit, a better return of the products related to farmers,” he said. ND-ND

16 |

BUSINESS

China to lay of 5-6 million workers The overall figure is likely to rise as closures spread to other industries hina aims to lay of 5-6 million state workers over the next two to three years as part of eforts to curb industrial overcapacity and pollution, two reliable sources said, Beijing’s boldest retrenchment programme in almost two decades. China’s leadership, obsessed with maintaining stability and making sure redundancies do not lead to unrest, will spend nearly 150 billion yuan ($23 billion) to cover layofs in just the coal and steel sectors in the next 2-3 years. The overall figure is likely to rise as closures spread to other industries and even more funding will be required to handle the debt left behind by “zombie” state firms. The term refers to companies that have shut down some of SOCIAL their operations but IMPACT keep staf on their rolls since local govjobs ernments are worried about the social and economic impact of bankruptcies and unemployment. Shutting down “zombie firms” has been identified as one of the government’s priorities this year, with China’s Premier Li Keqiang promising in December that they would soon “go under the knife”.. The government plans to lay of five million workers in industries sufering from a supply glut, one source with ties to the leadership said. A second source with leadership ties put the number of layofs at six million. Both sources re-

C

A shuttered factory is seen in an industrial estate in the Pearl River Delta industrial hub of Dongguan, China. China aims to cut capacity gluts in as many as seven sectors, including cement, glassmaking and shipbuilding.— PHOTO: REUTERS

quested anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to media about the politically sensitive subject for fear of sparking social unrest. The ministry of industry did not immediately respond when asked for comment on the reports. The hugely ineicient state sector employed around 37 million people in 2013 and accounts for about 40 per cent of the country’s industrial output and nearly half of its bank lending. It is China’s most significant nationwide retrenchment since the restructuring of state-owned enterprises from 1998 to 2003 led to around 28 million redundancies and cost the central government about 73.1 billion yuan ($11.2 billion) in resettlement funds. On Monday, Yin Weimin, the Minister for Human Resources and social security, said China ex-

The Govt. has earmarked 100 bn yuan in central government funds to deal with the layoffs pects to lay of 1.8 million workers in the coal and steel industries, but he did not give a timeframe. China aims to cut capacity gluts in as many as seven sectors, including cement, glassmaking and shipbuilding, but the oversupplied solar power industry is likely to be spared any large-scale restructuring because it still has growth potential, the first source said. The government has already drawn up plans to cut as much as 150 million tonnes of crude steel capacity and 500 million tonnes of surplus coal production in the next three to five years.

It has earmarked 100 billion yuan in central government funds to deal directly with the layofs from steel and coal over the next two years, Vice-Industry Minister Feng Fei said last week. The Ministry of Finance said in January it would also collect 46 billion yuan from surcharges on coal-fired power over the coming three years in order to resettle workers. In addition, an assortment of local government matching funds will also be made available. However, the funds currently being ofered will do little to resolve the problems of debts held by zombie firms, which could overwhelm local banks if they are not handled correctly. “They have proposed this dedicated fund only to pay the workers, but there is no money for the bad debts, and if the bad debts are too big the banks will have problems and there will be panic,” said Xu Zhongbo, head of Beijing Metal Consulting, who advises Chinese steel mills. Factories shut down would have to repay bank loans to avoid saddling state banks with a mountain of non-performing loans, the sources said. “Triangular debt”, or money owed by firms to other enterprises, would also have to be resolved, they added. Although China has promised to help local banks transfer the bad debts of zombie steel mills to asset management firms, local governments are not expected to gain access to the worker lay-of funds until the zombie firms have actually been shut down and debt issues settled. — Reuters

Our aim is to electrify every home, says Goyal YUTHIKA BHARGAVA AND PUJA MEHRA NEW DELHI: The Rajiv Gandhi Rural Electrification Scheme (RGRES) that existed when the Modi-government came to power provided power to villages that were easy to access and hence there was a need for Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Rural Electrification Scheme, Power Minister Piy-

CM YK

ush Goyal said on Tuesday. “There was certainly a scheme by that name… what that scheme had provided that all the simpler villages which were easier to access were taken up first and these 18,452 villages which are in dense forests and at the top of mountains remained un-electrified,” Mr. Goyal said. Under the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Rural Electrification

“I don’t want any child in this country to have to study under the streetlight.” Scheme, the government aims to electrify every Indian home a year before next general election. Mr. Goyal added: “The scheme (RGRES) took

electricity to the village, maybe to the panchayat oice or to the sarpanch’s home. Ten per cent of the homes got electrified in many cases and they declared that this village is electrified and that’s it. Our work is done.” However, Modi-government’s task is to ensure every home gets the benefit of power, he said, adding, “My own father studied under the streetlight and I don’t

want any other child in this country to have to study under the streetlight. That is Prime Minister Modi’s vision and we will deliver on it.” Asked about the measures for middle class in the Budget 2016, Mr. Goyal said the government has addressed larger eco-system issues and among other things have simplified the tax structure “very significantly”.

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

Farmers’ e-market platform could be a game changer

Car sales remain subdued in February

INDRANI DUTTA KOLKATA: The government’s decision to create a common emarket platform for farmers will remove inter-state barriers in moving farm produce and could be a game changer, according to analysts. It has two important prerequisites —an amendment of the state Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee Act (APMC) and physical logistic support which is crucial to enable the farmer to move his crop. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced on Monday that a Unified Agricultural Marketing e-platform will be dedicated to the nation on April 14. The amendments to the APMC Act is a prerequisite to joining this platform and Mr. Jaitley said that 12 states have already amended this Act. It empowers state governments to notify the commodities, and designate markets and market areas where the regulated wholesale trade takes place. Ambarish Dasgupta, president of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry and partner & head management consulting, KPMG, said this would benefit farmers only if states back them with the logistic support necessary to move the goods that they have sold on the unified platform. Rajiv Singh, secretary general of International Chamber of Commerce said that if implemented well the initiative could benefit farmers and consumers alike by ensuring fair prices. Krish Iyer, President & CEO Walmart India, was upbeat about these proposals, describing them as “bold and forward looking.” This, alongwith the proposal on opening up the agri-marketing sector to foreign capital for marketing food products produced and manufactured in India, would while creating vast employment opportunities, Mr. Iyer said. Kumar Kandaswami, Partner, Deloitte India said this was a “big game changer.”

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: Car sales in the

country remained subdued during February 2016, with production and movement impacted by due to the Jat quota stir in Haryana and customers adopting wait-andwatch approach ahead of the Union Budget. Market leader Maruti Suzuki India, which saw a production loss of over 10,000 units due to Jat agitation, said its domestic sales increased marginally to 1,08,115 units as against 1,07,892 in February last year. “During the month, the reservation agitation had disrupted component supplies, causing a temporary suspension of production by the company,” according to a company statement. Honda sales decline Honda Cars saw a massive decline of 23 per cent in sales in the country at 13,020 units, against 16,902 units sold in the year ago period. Hyundai Motor India’s sales however rose nine per cent to 40,716 units, driven by its Creta, Elite i20 and Grand models. “The growth has been achieved in spite of logistical challenges for transportation of vehicles to North India and loss of many business days of dealership operations across Haryana,” company’s Sr. Vice President Sales

and Marketing Hyundai Motor India Ltd said. Abdul Majeed, Partner at Price Waterhouse said, “Generally customers follow wait and watch approach while purchasing vehicles especially in the first quarter of the year. This is clearly reflected in February 2016 vehicle sales.” “The gloom in the rural economy continues to impact sales of two wheelers and small car sales segment. However, the urban areas have shown better sales with the launch of small cars and compact SUV. Sales of bigger vehicles are impacted due to ban on diesel vehicles in the NCR region till 31 March 2016. The unrest in Haryana also added to the woes of auto makers.” Home-grown utility vehicle major Mahindra & Mahindra saw a growth of 18.41 per cent in domestic sales to 41,348 units, while Tata Motors saw sales of its passenger vehicles dip by 20 per cent to 10,962 units. Renault zooms Renault India's sales zoomed over two-fold to 8,834 units in February on the back of its small car Kwid. Toyota Kirloskar Motor said its domestic sales during the month under review stood at 10,312 units, down 12.62 per cent. Ford India to posted a decline of 8 per cent in domestic sales at 5,483 units.

ND-ND

SPORT

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

| 17

Telecast schedule

Don’t rush him

Final assignment

Holzdeppe to miss world indoors

Asia Cup : STAR Sports 1, 3 & HD 1 & HD 3, 7 p.m. ProKabaddi League : STAR Sports 2 & HD 2, 쑺

We have to wait and see with Marcus, he has only played two matches. It is about consistency. He has to show it in the third and the fourth and the fifth games — Louis van Gaal on Marcus Rashford’s astonishing start

Former pace great Craig McDermott on Tuesday chose not to renew his contract as assistant coach of the Australian cricket team and will finish his role following the World Twenty20

Germany’s 2013 pole vault world champion Raphael Holzdeppe is out of this month’s World indoor championships with an ankle injury, it was announced on Tuesday.

7.50 p.m. & 9 p.m.

쑺

쑺

India saunters into the final after third straight win CRICKET / Kohli leads the charge in the company of a vintage, belligerent Yuvraj; Nehra and Bumrah lay the foundation with good opening spell AMITABHA DAS SHARMA

consistent batsman Chandimal — who scored 50 and 37 in the previous two matches — so early in the innings. Taking a cue from his senior colleague, Bumrah picked up Shehan Jayasuriya with a delivery that induced an edge with both pace and movement.

DHAKA: The felicity of strokemaking that once described Yuraj Singh’s persona bloomed again in the presence of a motley gathering at the Sher-eBangla National Cricket Stadium here, as India cantered to a five-wicket win against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup T20 league match on Tuesday. The 34-year-old left-hander pounced on the opportunity presented by a faltering top order and produced the trademark flourish that took the sting out of the Sri Lankan bowling attack, setting up India's third successive win of the tournament for a place in the final. Scoring a masterful 35 of 18 deliveries, Yuvraj’s run riot tilted the match in favour of India, which at one point looked uncertain after it lost three wickets for 70 runs while chasing a target of 139.

Fighting for survival At 15 for two, Sri Lanka was fighting for survival. Hardik Pandya removed Dilshan (18) with his first delivery to leave the islanders in deep trouble at 31 for three. The agony continued in the Sri Lankan camp when stand-in skipper Angelo Mathews (18) made the mistake of going defensive after bludgeoning Pandya for two successive boundaries on the front foot (57 for four). At this point Chamara Kapugedera (30) and Milinda Siriwardana (22) forged a 43-run partnership for the fifth wicket to salvage the situation for Sri Lanka.

Providing the impetus His belligerence, which produced three giant sixes and as many boundaries, provided the impetus in the 51-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Virat Kohli and set India on the path to victory. Kohli’s well-crafted unbeaten 56 (47b, 7x4) somewhat

paled in comparison to Yuvraj’s performance though it was the former who ferried India past the winning mark and was later adjudged the man-of-the-match. Opening failure Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, who came back together to open the Indian innings after the former had to skip the previous match with

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa left-

arm spinner Aaron Phangiso has been suspended from bowling in domestic cricket by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after an independent assessment found his bowling action to be illegal. The 32-year-old underwent assessment in Pretoria, where all of his deliveries exceeded the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the regulations. Cricket South Africa (CSA) further confirmed that Phangiso would not be selected for the first two home T20Is against Australia, starting on Friday. He, however, will remain in the squad to work alongside South Africa’s spin bowling coach Claude Henderson and CSA’s high performance manager Vinnie Barnes in an efort remould his action. — ANI

Napoli held MILAN: Second-place Napoli was

held to a 1-1 draw at Fiorentina in Serie A on Monday, allowing Juventus to open up a threepoint lead with 11 rounds remaining. It was Napoli’s third straight match without a win in the league. Fiorentina dropped to fourth, level on points with third-place Roma. The results: Fiorentina 1 (Alonso 6) drew with Napoli 1 (Higuain 7); Lazio 0 lost to Sassuolo 2 (Berardi 41pen, Defrel 67). — Agencies

Haokip brace sinks East Bengal VASCO: Thongkhosiem Haokip

struck twice to guide Salgaocar to a comfortable 3-1 win over East Bengal in the Hero ILeague here on Monday. Salgaocar, which led 2-1 at the break, scored through Haokip (fourth, 90+2) and Cavin Mbarga (36th) to register its first win at home. East Bengal reduced the margin through Ranti Martins in the 25th minute. At Margao, Sporting Clube de Goa rallied to hold Mohun Bagan to a 1-1 draw at the Nehru Stadium. Bagan remained at the top with 22 points while Sporting gained a point to be at fourth with 13 points. The results: Salgaocar 3 (Haokip 4, 90+2, Mbarga 36) bt East Bengal 1 (Martins 25). At Margao: Sporting Clube de Goa 1 (Fernandes 28) drew with Mohun Bagan (Gaikwad-og 37). — PTI CM YK

Ashwin finally picked up Siriwardana to end Sri Lankan hopes of a big score (100 for five). Thisara Perera (17) and Nuwan Kulasekara (13) played some good shots in the end to get Sri Lanka to a fighting total.

SCOREBOARD

GOTCHA! India's M.S. Dhoni is quick as a flash as he breaks the stumps to catch a stumbling Thisara Perera short of his crease. — PHOTO: AFP

Phangiso banned from bowling

They hit a few boundaries and a six as India’s spinners — Ravindra Jadeja and R. Ashwin — operated from the two ends.

injury, could not ofer much and were back in the dugout by the fourth over with only 16 runs on the board. Suresh Raina (25) was a shade better and took the Indian fight ahead before perishing to a mistimed shot that ended in the hands of Nuwan Kulasekera at deep mid-of. Yuvraj joined Kohli to ofer the spectacular innings that provided joy to the spectators

and put India on way to its eighth win in nine T20 matches in the last two months. Earlier, Sri Lanka recovered from an early collapse trig-

ASIA CUP gered by some efective pace bowling by the Indians to score 138 for nine. The pace battery of Ashish Nehra and Jasprit Bumrah

Pakistan set to face strong challenge from Bangladesh MIRPUR: Having registered re-

sounding back-to-back victories, host Bangladesh is expected to put up a tough fight against Pakistan despite the absence of its main strike bowler Mustafizur Rahaman in an Asia Cup round-robin league encounter, here on Wednesday. It will be a must-win game for both teams aiming to make it to the final of the continental championship ahead of the ICC World T20. Especially for Bangladesh, which despite its recent exploits in the ODI circuit, is still not taken very seriously in the shortest format. For Mashrafe Mortaza and his men, it will be an opportunity to prove their critics wrong and also gain the much needed confidence required before boarding the flight to India for the global event. The injury to Mustafizur is something that will be a cause for concern. Mustafizur’s variations would have troubled the Pakistan batting line-up, which has looked shaky despite its sevenwicket win over the United Arab Emirates the other day. The presence of the left-arm seamer in the death overs would have increased pressure on the Pakistanis, who have not been at their best in their two matches so far. But the good news for Bangladesh is the return of senior opener Tamim Iqbal, who is back after the birth of his first child. Tamim would like to give the home team a cracking start — something the side has lacked in all three matches so far. On the other hand, Pakistan’s batting has been woeful. In the first game against India it was shot out for a meagre 83 while the UAE also gave it a scare, blowing away the top order for only 17 runs. Even Pakistan coach Waqar Younis conceded that he did not know what stopped the openers Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Hafeez from playing fearless cricket. However, Waqar praised the attitude of veteran cricketer Shoaib Malik, who played a responsible innings of 63 against UAE. “I mean things have been messy (about Shoaib) in the past but now he is a team-man. “Also having played in leagues all over the world, he has gained a lot of experience

bowled according to script and justified the faith that captain M.S. Dhoni had placed in them by choosing to field. Well-oiled machine Functioning like a well-oiled machine, Nehra found the right length and movement — both in the air and of the surface — to smother the attacking intent of the openers Dinesh Chandimal and the hero of many a bat-

tle Tillakaratne Dilshan. Clearly frustrated, Chandimal made a mistake in Nehra’s second over — India’s third — as he went for an ambitious heave over the mid-wicket and ended up ofering an inside edge to Dhoni behind the stumps. Sri Lanka’s start sputtered in the face of Nehra’s eiciency and the team barely managed to regroup after losing its most

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal c Dhoni b Nehra 4 (11b, 1x4), Tillakaratne Dilshan c Ashwin b Pandya 18 (16b, 2x4), Shehan Jayasuriya c Dhoni b Bumrah 3 (5b), Chamara Kapugedera c Pandya b Bumrah 30 (32b, 3x4), Angelo Mathews b Pandya 18 (19b, 3x4), Milinda Siriwardana c Raina b Ashwin 22 (17b, 1x4, 1x6), Dasun Shanaka run out 1 (4b), Thisara Perera st Dhoni b Ashwin 17 (6b, 2x4, 1x6), Nuwan Kulasekara run out 13 (9b, 2x4), Dushmantha Chameera (not out) 2 (2b); Extras (lb-5, w-4, nb-1): 10; Total (for nine wkts. in 20 overs): 138. Fall of wickets: 1-6 (Chandimal), 2-15 (Jayasuriya), 3-31 (Dilshan), 457 (Mathews), 5-100 (Siriwardana), 6-104 (Shanaka), 7-105 (Kapugedera), 8-125 (Perera), 9-138 (Kulasekara). India bowling: Nehra 4-0-23-1, Bumrah 4-0-27-2, Pandya 4-0-26-2, Yuvraj 1-0-3-0, Jadeja 2-0-19-0, Ash-

NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has backed tainted compatriots Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt, saying they should be given a second chance after serving stints in jail for spot-fixing. The players, along with former teammate Mohammad Amir, were jailed in Britain after being found guilty of spotfixing at the 2010 Lord’s Test against England. Although Amir has returned to the national team in style, Asif and Butt remain sidelined and have not been included in Pakistan's squad for the T20 World Cup starting this month. “Once a person completes his sentence, he has the right to live and play and the right to do everything else,” Inzamam said in an interview in New Delhi. “So I believe the other players should also get a chance to make a return,” said Inzamam, who played with the pair in the later stages of his career.

AMOL KARHADKAR MUMBAI: Bengal Warriors sur-

is expected to give the home team a cracking start. — PHOTO: MORNE DE KLERK/GETTY IMAGES

Today’s match 앫 Bangladesh vs Pakistan

in this format. This particular format actually suits him,” he said. The best part about Pakistan is its bowling, which is now led by rehabilitated pacer Mohammad Amir, who has been splendid in both the matches. If Amir looked fearsome against India with pace and swing, he showed admirable control against UAE bowling 21 dot balls in his figures of 4-1-6-2. But Amir would certainly require help from senior bowlers like Mohammad Sami, who has been wayward so far. Mohammad Irfan has extracted a lot of bounce with his height but has not looked pene-

trative enough. It will also be interesting to find out whether the Pakistan team management persists with left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz or brings back experienced campaigner Wahab Riaz. The teams: Bangladesh: Mashrafe Mortaza (Capt.), Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahman, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib al Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyadh, Nurul Hasan (wk), Taskin Ahmed, Al Amin Hossain, Imrul Kayes, Abu Hider, Arafat Sunny and Nasir Hossain. Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (Capt.), Mohammad Hafeez, Sharjeel Khan, Khurram Manzoor, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Nawaz, Anwar Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed and Imad Wasim. — PTI

India won by five wickets with four balls to spare.

Inzamam backs Asif, Butt

Inzamam. — FILE PHOTO The swashbuckling batsman, who took over as coach of Afghanistan last year, was briefly in Delhi as part of his minnow’s preparations for the World Cup. Inzamam, who played 120 Tests and 388 One-Day Internationals during his illustrious career, praised Amir for his

sensational spell of bowling against India in the ongoing T20 Asia Cup in Dhaka. “The sheer fact that a person can have so much talent, that even after a long hiatus he can bowl with the same vigour and precision is amazing,” he said. “The way he bowled against India it didn't look as if he was making a comeback after five long years. It was a treat to watch.” The 23-year-old took three quick wickets for Pakistan in last week’s match before India eventually pummelled its bitter rival by five wickets. Amir’s five-year ban from the sport was lifted last April by the International Cricket Council, while Asif and Butt became eligible last September for national and international matches. But the Pakistan Cricket Board has said the pair will have to work harder to impress before returning to international cricket. — AFP

Warriors tame Bulls to book semis spot

ADDING TEETH: Tamim Iqbal returns to the Bangladesh squad and

win 4-0-26-2, Raina 1-0-9-0. India: Shikhar Dhawan c Chandimal b Kulasekara 1 (3b), Rohit Sharma c Kapugedera b Kulasekara 15 (14b, 3x4), Virat Kohli (not out) 56 (47b, 7x4), Suresh Raina c Kulasekara b Shanaka 25 (26b, 2x4), Yuvraj Singh c Kulasekara b Perera 35 (18b, 3x4, 3x6), Hardik Pandya b Herath 2 (4b), M.S. Dhoni (not out) 7 (4b, 1x6); Extras (w-1): 1; Total (for five wkts. in 19.2 overs): 142. Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Dhawan), 2-16 (Rohit), 3-70 (Raina), 4-121 (Yuvraj), 5-125 (Pandya). Sri Lanka bowling: Mathews 3-016-0, Kulasekara 3-0-21-2, Perera 40-32-1, Chameera 4-0-27-0, Herath 3.2-0-26-1, Shanaka 1-0-7-1, Siriwardana 1-0-13-0. Toss: India. Man-of-the-match: Kohli.

mounted a brave efort by Bengaluru Bulls to register a thrilling four-point victory and seal a place in the ProKabaddi League knockouts for the first time in the tournament’s history. Thanks to a sterling efort by its captain and star defender Nilesh Shinde and the sensational raiders Jang Kun Lee and Mahesh Goud, the Kolkata franchise outdid its Bengaluru counterpart 26-22 at the National Sports Club of India’s indoor stadium here on Tuesday night.

put them ahead with a bonuspoint raid. That raid shifted the momentum in the Warriors’ favour and Shinde continued to gulp the Bulls’ raiders. The 35-year-old was all over the Bulls’ raiders — at times surging towards them side on or fooling them with a leg lift deep within the court — to leave his hometown crowd spellbound. The combo of Korean Lee and Goud didn’t let their captain down, upping the ante in the last five minutes, when it mattered most. Goud’s success-

ful raid in the penultimate phase sealed the fate of the match as it gave Warriors an unassailable four-point lead. Later U Mumba extended its unbeaten streak to nine games, making short work of Telugu Titans. The 16-point victory also completed the semifinal lineup, with U Mumba, Patna Pirates, Bengal Warriors and Puneri Paltan making the cut. The results: Bengal Warriors 26 bt Bengaluru Bulls 22; U Mumba 38 bt Telugu Titans 22.

PROKABADDI LEAGUE One couldn’t help but feel for Bengaluru’s Deepak Dahiya who ran out of support, especially in the closing minutes of the game. When the Warriors, who only required to avoid losing the game, led 13-11 at the break, it seemed as if they were sailing into the semifinals. However, the Bulls staged a stupendous charge, racing to a 16-13 lead after the first five minutes of the latter half. However, Shinde’s stupendous tackles first brought the Warriors back into the game before Lee

ALL'S FAIR IN... A Bengal Warriors defender attempts to escape the clutches of a Bengaluru Bulls defender. — Photo: PTI

Gopi fourth NEW DELHI: Thonakal Gopi fin-

ished fourth in the men’s 12 kilometre run in the 13th Asian Cross Country Championship in Manama, Bahrain, on Sunday. He clocked 33 minutes 43.63 seconds. The results: Men (12 km): 1. Albert Rop (BH) 32:35.22; 2. Isaac Korir (BH) 32:58.73; 3. Yimen Aweke Ayalew (BH) 33:06.27; 4. Thonakal Gopi 33:43.63; 9. Man Singh 35:40.20; 11. Ankit Malik 35:46.95. Team: 1. Bahrain 6 pts.; 2. Japan 30; 3. Iran 33. Junior men (8.4 km): 1. Ali Abdi (BH) 26:17.55; 2. Derara Desalegn (BH) 26:19.02; 3. Ibrahim Abdi (BH) 27:10.09; 8. Kisan Narshi Tadvi 28:54.87; 10. Ansar Inmam Dargiwale 29:29.48; 11. Anil Kumar Yadav 29:43.58. Team: 1. Bahrain 6; 2. Japan 15; 3. Iran 49. Women (8.4 km): 1. Eunice Chumba (BH) 29:35.38; 2. Ruth Chebet (BH) 29:481.24; 3. Mimi Belete (BH) 29:45.90; 7. Sanjivani B. Jadhav 30:48.88; 10. Swati H. Gadhave 31:31.15; 17. Manisha D. Salunkhe 33:52.71. Team: 1. Bahrain 6; 2. China 32. Junior women (6 km): 1. Dalila Abdulkadir Gosa (Brn) 21:54.37; 2. Desi Mokonin (Brn) 22:00.43; 3. Yuka Mukai (Jpn) 22:06.29; 11. Arati Dattatray 24:59.02; 12. Nandini Gupta 25:18.09; 16. Sudha Pal 27:46.93. Team: 1. Bahrain 8, 2. Japan 13; 3. Jordan 50. ND-ND

18 |

SPORT

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

We can win it: Ambrose BCCI files reply in Supreme Court on Lodha report MELBOURNE: With some of the world’s most destructive Twenty20 players in its ranks, West Indies bowling coach Curtly Ambrose feels the team can clinch the upcoming World T20 title in India if it fires in unison. The West Indies, which won the tournament in 2012, has a host of dynamic players who regularly shine in the world’s domestic T20 competitions and Ambrose said they must combine to lift the World T20 starting on March 8.

Curtly Ambrose. — PHOTO: MICHAEL DODGE/ GETTY IMAGES

“Look at the team that we have — half of the team are in demand across the world for diferent T20 leagues. So you may find one guy here, maybe two in this league and two in another league, but we have all at once so we have a great chance of winning this T20 tournament — just look at our squad,” Ambrose said. “Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, captain Darren Sammy and all the senior players have to lead from the front.” — PTI

VIJAY LOKAPALLY AND KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL

앫 Sources say that the BCCI

NEW DELHI: The Board of Control

for Cricket in India (BCCI) filed a detailed counter-aidavit in the Supreme Court on Tuesday conveying its practical diiculties in complying with the recommendations of the apex court-appointed Justice R.M. Lodha Committee. The Supreme Court hearing in the case is scheduled on March 3.

has opposed almost every recommendation of the Lodha panel 앫 SC hearing scheduled for March 3

Sources said that the BCCI has opposed almost every recommendation of the Lodha panel, notably the ‘one person, one post’ rule, age limit and tenure cap, bar on ministers or

government servants holding positions in the BCCI, ‘one State, one vote’, among others. The Lodha Committee had recommended an age limit of 70 for BCCI oice-bearers and suggested that theyhold oice for three years with three maximum terms, and with a coolingof period between each term. Sources said that the Board has also objected to the Lodha Committee’s suggestion to include two representatives from the franchisees in the Indian

Premier League governing council. On February 4, a Bench of Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur and F.M.I. Kalifulla had described the Justice Lodha panel report on overhaul of BCCI as “straight-forward, rational and understandable”. Fall in line The Bench had sternly advised the cricket body to “fall in line” with the recommendations and save itself further trouble. “Your members have

been wielding power for long... The match is over. There will be no second innings here,” the Chief Justice had made the court’s resolve amply clear. The BCCI had responded that it did respect the recommendations, but required time to first extensively deliberate with its 30-odd members. The Board had even then submitted that the implementation of the report’s sweeping reforms in full would give rise to “all sorts of complications”.

VARIETY THE HINDU CROSSWORD 11639 1

2

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Anon 6

7

8 9

10

11

12

13

16

14

15

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18

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21 22

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Across

1 Every year, recall boxes at source (6) 4 Retreat built at a marsh (6) 9 Return dumplings after removing ton of slush (4) 10 Reckless faculty member to sue after losing it (10) 11 European country, according CM YK

to report, has mollusc (6) 12 Peacekeepers, never daunted at first, can be rattled (8) 13 Ran back for foodstuff in story (9) 15 Slip away to the left of the recess (5) 16 In retrospect, charts with

suspicious headers are junk e-mails (5) 18 Mysterious man escapes from military, becomes bureaucrat (9) 22 Writer with umbrella leaves annexe, has shadow (8) 23 Unstable? Remove a rickety edge to make usable (6) 25 At sea, ruined gong is sinking (5,5) 26 Portrait of one criminal (4) 27 Fragments of rotting head found in huts (6) 28 It is a mistake to change sides (6) Down F 1 Confused men in this I continent, have memory G S loss (7) 2 Canine werewolf characters O are more novel (5) B S 3 Snake to stop on tar (7) E 5 I slowly start returning what S S was given by mum (6) I 6 Looking backwards, imagine O N worker (9)

7 Criticises, say, within boundaries of Madras (7) 8 Procedure made by ponderous maid (5,8) 14 Bootlegger on an unusual dispatch (9) 17 Outrageously talented biddy captured by Brits (7) 19 Move backwards into waterways, we hear (7) 20 Brutally behead mule on tour, eliminate (4,3) 21 Sailor irrational, illogical (6) 24 Accept a tender for sourcing engines (5)

Solution to puzzle 11638 R E V U E R A G R V E E O N

E T Y R R A E N T R S A

T I L N N C A U O RM

OW A I L L D A R H O O T A I T E D A I N M I E A L

N

S G L A L A N

E

P U N J A B F I

L F I S T E E N U S P

L M A R E S A T R L I

R I N T D R A I V E O N E M I C H E S T A M N I E S T L B L E A T A RM S A A N T E R

FAITH

SU | DO | KU

Seeking liberation The Supreme One manifests in five forms — para, vyuha, antaryami, vibhava and archa. The para form is the form of the Lord in Srivaikuntam, His holy abode. From Para Vasudeva emanate four vyuha forms. Antaryami refers to the Lord who resides in every one of us. Vibhava is a reference to His avataras as Rama, Krishna etc. Archa is the idol form as seen in temples. In Ramanuja’s school of thought, great emphasis is placed on archa form of worship, said Gomatam Madhavachariar in a discourse. There is a reason for this. Think of every soul seeking liberation as a thirsty man. Para Vasudeva cannot be witnessed by those on this earth. So that form is like water that is inaccessible to a thirsty man. The vyuha form is like Akasha Ganga, which comes down to earth as rain. But rains are seasonal. How then can we depend on rainwater to quench our thirst? A jiva that wants liberation cannot see the vyuha form, just as the thirsty man cannot wait like a cataka bird for the rain to fall and quench his thirst. Antaryami is like Patala Ganga. In other words it is like underground water. We do not know where water can be found under the ground. Often we end up digging in many places before we find water. When we are thirsty, can we keep digging wells? Vibhava forms are like water in rivers. Rivers sometimes go dry. In the same manner, vibhava avataras last for a certain period of time and we can see these forms only if we live in the time of the avataras. But the archa form is like water that is available even in the peak of summer. That is why archa form of worship is important.

A mind game and a puzzle that you solve with reasoning and logic. Fill in the grid with digits in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box accommodates the digits 1 to 9, without repeating any. The solution to yesterday’s puzzle is at left. ND-ND

SPORT

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

Pochettino dismisses Spurs’ ‘favourites’ tag LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur

Tamil Nadu has it easy against Assam FOOTBALL / Praveendran’s late brace and a first-half penalty sets up a 3-0 win for the southern team

manager Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday laughed of Leicester City counterpart Claudio Ranieri’s claim that his team are the favourites for the Premier League title. Ranieri said on Monday that it is Spurs, without a league title since 1961, which should be considered favourite to take the title, but Pochettino believes the Italian was being mischievous. “Mind games? No, it was a joke. I laughed a little bit,” the Argentine told a press conference ahead of his side’s trip to London rival West Ham United on Wednesday. “In football it is good to play a little bit like this too. Our objective at the end of last season was clear: to reduce the gap with the teams at the top.” He added: “For me Leicester are at the top and they have the pressure too, like all the teams below. We don’t feel that.” “Only for us it is important to keep our level, our fitness, our mentality and we’ll see what happens. It’s too soon to speak about the end of the season.” — AFP

M.R. PRAVEEN CHANDRAN

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: Vishnu Vardhan

INFLECTION POINT: After Assam had enjoyed most of the possession, Soosairaj (left) was brought down near the touch-line on one of Tamil Nadu's counterattacks, and Kali Alaudeen converted the resultant penalty to put his team a goal up. — PHOTO: S. SUDARSHAN

CRICKET

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: After years of grooming up-and-coming talent at Rajasthan Royals, Rahul Dravid has shifted base to Delhi with Delhi Daredevils naming him mentor of the side for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League on Tuesday. Announcing the franchise’s technical and support staf, Daredevils chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi hoped that those in charge would help in the development of the younger players in the side. The India legend will be accompanied by South Africa’s Paddy Upton as the new head coach and former Mumbai opener Zubin Bharucha as the technical director of the side — both also part of the Rajasthan side before it was suspended from the IPL.

The team began its training, to be on till Friday, for the 2016 season at the TERI ground in Gurgaon on Monday. “We are privileged to have Dravid joining Delhi Daredevils as a mentor. “He brings calm and experience to the dressing room and with a young looking Daredevils squad he will make an immediate impact,” Grandhi said. The rest of the staf in the Daredevils set-up has been retained, including former India cricketers T.A. Sekar, Pravin Amre, Sridharan Sriram and physios Paul Close and Vaibhav Daga. “I am excited by the challenge of taking Delhi Daredevils to the next level. I have been impressed by the ambition and energy demonstrated by the team. “I intend to do everything possible to help build a team that the

second last time out, should make amends in the A. Campbell Cup, the feature event of the races to be held here on Wednesday. Rails will be placed 5 metres away from its original point from 1400m upto the winning post.

1 GREAT GUNS PLATE (1,200m), Cl. V, rated 01 to 26, 2-45 pm: 1. Top Wizard (5) Dashrath 59, 2. Laksh (1) S.Amit 58.5, 3. Rajasthan Royalty (9) R.S.Deora 58.5, 4. Running Wild (8) Daman 58, 5. Charging Empress (7) R.Vaibhav 56, 6. Cicitalia (6) Trevor 55.5, 7. Devoted (10) K.Kadam 55.5, 8. Speed Magic (3) Prasad 55.5, 9. Oscillation (4) Kuldeep 55 and 10. Wonder Story (2) Altaf Sayyed 52. 1. Cicitalia, 2. Top Wizard, 3. Running Wild 2 HACHIKO PLATE (1,400m), Cl. II, rated 60 to 86, 3-15: 1. Himalayan Queen (2) Sandesh 60, 2. Set To Fly (3) R.S.Deora 55, 3. Wentworth (5) Santosh 55, 4. Midnight Dancer (4) Kuldeep 53.5 and 5. Kandinsky (1) P.S.Chouhan 49.5. 1. Himalayan Queen, 2. Kandinsky

Rahul Dravid.

앫 Maharashtra v Railways 앫 Services v J&K, 4 p.m.

3 A.GEDDIS PLATE (1,800m), Cl. III, rated 40 to 66, 3-45: 1. B Fifty

Two (2) Sandesh 59, 2. Fearless Nadia (7) Trevor 55.5, 3. Spades (3) N.Rawal 55.5, 4. Glorious Opinion (1) Santosh 54.5, 5. Sabiq (4) Dashrath 52.5, 6. Grande Vitesse (6) P.S.Chouhan 49.5 and 7. Ventura (5) G.Amit 49. 1. Fearless Nadia, 2. B Fifty Two 4 DR. A.H.SAYED PLATE (1,400m), Cl. IV, rated 20 to 46, 4-15: 1. Gaabrrio (7) H.G.Rathod 61, 2. Monza (2) Parbat 61, 3. Magic In The Air (8) Dashrath 57.5, 4. Spontaneous Eddie (4) Pereira 56.5, 5. Asahi (5) Sandesh 56, 6. Mzuri (1) J.Chinoy 54.5, 7. Whitesox (6) R. Vaibhav 53.5, 8. There She Goes (9) Altaf Sayyed 52.5 and 9. Arsenal (3) P.S.Chouhan 50. 1. Asahi, 2. Arsenal, 3. Magic In The Air

5 PRINCE JEHAN PLATE (1,000m), Cl. IV, rated 20 to 46, 4-45: 1. Rider On The Storm (7) Dashrath 61.5, 2. Seacrets (9) P.S.Chouhan 59, 3. Song Of Africa (2) Parbat 58, 4. Pretty Hot (4) G.Amit 57.5, 5. Chase The Ace (5) Trevor 56.5, 6. Targetmaster (6) Hanumant 53.5, 7. Critical Strike (1) Joseph 53, 8. Demarche (3) Bhawani 52.5 and 9. Dusk N Dawn (8) Kuldeep 49.5. 1. Chase The Ace, 2. Seacrets, 3. Rider On The Storm

6 A. CAMPBELL CUP (1,400m), Maiden, 3-y-o only, 5-15: 1. Ettihaad (8) Akshay 55, 2. Ladislaus (3) Trevor 55, 3. Mastermarksman (4) K.Kadam 55, 4. Smart N Noble (7) Sandesh 55, 5. Smart Vision (9) Bhawani 55, 6. Star Scholar (1) Zervan 55, 7. Book Thief (2) P.S.Chouhan 53.5, 8. Never Say Never (5) Dashrath 53.5 and 9. Synchronicity (6) C.S.Jodha 53.5. 1. Ladislaus, 2. Smart N Noble, 3. Never Say Never 7 BEJAN BHARUCHA PLATE (1,400m), Cl. V, rated 01 to 26, 5-45: 1. Seven Seas (4) Vishal 61.5, 2. Coley (7) Dashrath 61, 3. Dazzle N Daze (5) S.Amit 60.5, 4. Light Of Arabia (8) Zeeshan 60.5, 5. Magic Vision (11) C.S.Jodha 60.5, 6. Sir Song (9) Daman 58.5, 7. War Princess (3) R.S.Deora 56.5, 8. Nigella (10) T.S.Jodha 56, 9. Super Icon (1) Kuldeep 56, 10. Super Bolt (12) Trevor 54.5, 11. Royal Eclair (6) Santosh 52.5 and 12. Starlwart (2) K.Kadam 52.5. 1. Super Bolt, 2. Light Of Arabia, 3. Coley Day’s best: Ladislaus Double: Himalayan Queen – Chase The Ace Jackpot: 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7. Treble: 5, 6 & 7. Tanala: All races. Super Jackpot: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7.

(PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan has revealed that Bangladesh has agreed to play in his country, but he didn’t disclose the schedule of the matches. The 81-year-old said the Bangladesh cricket team was willing to play in Pakistan, with matches expected to be played in Karachi and Lahore, the Express Tribune reported. Earlier, the PCB was forced to host all its home series in the United Arab Emirates, including the recently-concluded Pakistan Super League, a lucrative Twenty20 tournament. — ANI

Seats blocked for specially-abled cricket fans SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: Specially-abled crick-

et fans are in for special treatment at the Ferozeshah Kotla when they come to watch the World T20 matches. Kotla will host ten matches, including four in the men’s competition. According to an oicial from the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA), 150 seats have been marked for these special fans in Hill B block. “We want to set a precedent and ensure the venue welcomes fans from all over. Specially-abled fans will be provided these seats at Rs. 100 per ticket. We will give them tickets at the same rate for all the matches, including the semifinal (on March 30),” the oicial added. The matches are scheduled to begin from March 15 when New Zealand meets Sri Lanka in the women’s competition. In another welcome move, 3000 seats will be ofered for free to women spectators in the women’s matches. “We are giving away 2000 tickets to school students from the local administration and 1000 tickets to students from women’s colleges,” the oicial informed. Thanks to Justice (Retd.) Mukul Mudgal, a similar arrangement was in place during the India-South Africa Test at Kotla last December when 8500 school children were given free entry. To curb extravagant expenses on hospitality, the organisers have decided not to ofer hospitality in the complimentary corporate boxes. “Food will be served only in the areas stipulated by the International Cricket Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India. Elsewhere, we shall ofer food boxes at reasonable rates,” said the DDCA oicial. Meanwhile, former women’s cricket oicial Anuradha Dutt and India captain Anjum Chopra have been drafted in the special supervisory committee formed for overseeing the women’s matches.

fans can be proud of,” Dravid said.

Indian men lose GENERAL

KUALA LUMPUR: Indian men’s

Zakir Husain College triumphs NEW DELHI: Zakir Husain Delhi College-White won the Zakir Husain memorial football tournament defeating Shaheed Bhagat Singh College (Evening) 4-0 in the final here on Monday. It was Bhagat Singh College’s first appearance in the final and

much was expected from the side which had gained the reputation of being a tough combination. But it cracked under the pressure. A long shot by defender Ajay Kumar opened the scoring in the 12th minute. Bhagat Singh

College was rattled by Ajay again 18 minutes later. On resumption, the host completed the ally through striker Pranjal Dass (60th minute) and Yogesh Kumar (69). Shergill stars for Jindal Panther Simran Shergill scored four goals in guiding Jindal Panther to a 5-1/2 goals to 2 victory over 61st Cavalry in the Amity Polo Cup eight-goal polo tournament at the Jaipur Polo ground on Tuesday. The tournament, to be played on a league basis featuring six teams, with the top two scheduled to meet in the final, was inaugurated by the vicechairperson of Amity Humanity Foundation, Ms. Pooja Chauhan. The results: League: Jindal Pan-

ther 5-1/2 (Simran Shergill 4, Miguel Saravia, handicap 1/2) bt 61st Cavalry 2 (Ravi Rathore 2).

‘India has the resources but needs exposure’ PRINCIPAL CORRESPONDENT BENGALURU: America owes its sta-

CM YK

Playing today

Dravid is Daredevils mentor, Ladislaus may make amends Upton named head coach MUMBAI: Ladislaus, who finished

Bangladesh ready to tour Pakistan: PCB chief KARACHI: Pakistan Cricket Board

palmed away by the goalkeeper for a corner. An impressive build-up by Tamil Nadu resulted in the first goal as Soosairaj, who entered the Assam box, was brought down by Manesaar Mushahary near the touchline. Captain Kali Alaudeen sent the goalkeeper the wrong way from the spot for the opening goal in the 33rd minute. Tamil Nadu played more of a percentage game in the second half as Assam threw everything into attack. In the 60th minute, a free-kick by Assam’s Nabin Rabha from just outside the box created enough confusion in the TN defence and arrived to an unmarked Brahma but his header was saved by an alert Arun Pradeep. However, the introduction of Praveendran saw the momentum shift in Tamil Nadu’s favour. His pace gave the counterattacks more teeth, and, in the 81st minute, the striker connected a Soosairaj centre to score. Four minutes later, another counterattack from Tamil Nadu saw Praveendran score his second goal. At the SEC Railway stadium, Goa overcame Bengal 3-1 in a match between two former champions to start its campaign on a winning note. The results: Tamil Nadu 3 (Kali Alaudeen 33-pen, Praveendran 81, 85) bt Assam 0. Goa 3 (Milagres Gonsalves 54, Beevan D’melo 66, Agnelo Colaco 69) bt Bengal 1 (Naro Hari Shrestha 93).

RACING

SWIMMING

tus as a powerhouse in world swimming to the importance given to sports in the colleges in the country, believes Dufy Dillon, a veteran coach and the International Director of the American Swimming Coaches Association. Dillon, who is in the city at the invitation of the Karnataka Swimming Association to conduct a Level 3 coaches’ course, feels India too may benefit much from such an approach. “You can swim and go to school in India but at the univer-

Substitute Praveendran’s brace in the space of four minutes completed Tamil Nadu’s fine 3-0 win over Assam in a Pool B match of the Santosh Trophy football championship at the University stadium here on Tuesday. The hardworking Praveendran, who came on as substitute for Raegan in the 67th minute, grabbed his chances to score two quick goals when Assam desperately pressed hard for the equaliser after it had fallen behind when Kali Alaudeen converted a penalty in the first half. While not exactly dominating, Tamil Nadu was efective, converting the chances that came its way, much to the delight of coach Robin Charles Raja. Tamil Nadu relied more on counterattacks and defended well while Assam, which played an open game, paid the price for poor defending. Despite having more of the ball, Assam struggled to create a noteworthy chance in its period of dominance early in the first half. The Tamil Nadu backline resisted stoutly to weather the storm. It was against the run of play that Tamil Nadu had the first crack at the goal; Edwin Sydney induced a stif save from Assam goalkeeper Shishuram in the 15th minute. It set the template for the rest of the match, with Tamil Nadu retreating to defend and catching Assam of guard with faster counterattacks. Pradeep had a close look at the Assam goal in the 23rd minute after Soosairaj had done the hard work on the left flank and sneaked in a pass hoodwinking his marker. But Pradeep’s shot was

NAGPUR:

ONGC, GAIL enter final (ONGC) overcame Divij Sharan (IOC) 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3) in the 35th PSPB inter-unit tennis tournament at the DLTA Complex here on Tuesday. Former national champion Vishnu fired 21 aces to tame Divij. Earlier, Yuki Bhambri, the country’s No.1 player did not break into a sweat in outclassing SAF Games champion Ramkumar Ramanathan, who had made the quarterfinals of Chennai Open ATP Tour event this season and helped ONGC defeat IOC 2-0 in the semifinals. In the other semifinal, Saketh Myneni and Vijay Sundar Prashanth proved too strong for Chandra Sekhar Mohanty and Anshuman Dutta as Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) beat Oil India Limited (OIL) 2-0. In the women’s league, fourtime national champion Prerna Bhambri looked to have found her game against the country’s No.1 player Ankita Raina, but lost her confidence after winning the first set. Ankita, who had outplayed Prerna for the SAF Games singles gold in Guwahati, recovered quickly to win 5-7, 6-1, 6-0. However, on the adjacent court, Karman Kaur Thandi, who had appeared for her school board examination in the morning, was quite rusty and lost to the former Asian junior champion Snehadevi Reddy, despite taking a 3-2 lead in the decider. Snehadevi won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. In the doubles, that was played late under the floodlights, Ankita Raina and Dhruthi Venugopal combined well to clinch it for ONGC with a 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) victory over Prerna and Snehadevi, after the organisers clarified that it would be best of three sets, and no super tie-breaks after two sets. In the last league match of the three-team women’s team competition, ONGC will play Indian Oil Corporation on Wednesday. GAIL had beaten Indian Oil in the first match of the league. The results: Team championship: Men (semifinals): GAIL bt OIL 2-0 [Saketh Myneni bt Chandra Sekhar Mohanty 6-2, 6-2; Vijay Sundar Prashanth bt Anshuman Dutta 6-1, 6-1]; ONGC bt IOC 2-0 [Yuki Bhambri bt Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-2, 6-1; Vishnu Vardhan bt Divij Sharan 3-6, 76(5), 7-6(3)]. Women (league): ONGC bt GAIL [Ankita Raina bt Prerna Bhambri 5-7, 6-1, 6-0; Karman Kaur Thandi lost to Snehadevi Reddy 3-6, 6-4, 4-6; Ankita Raina & Dhruthi Venugopal bt Prerna Bhambri & Snehadevi Reddy 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(3)].

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Duffy Dillon. sity level your professors or administrators probably don’t care if you swim,” he said here on Tuesday. “One of the big reasons for

America’s success is that you are actually rewarded with a scholarship for pursuing your sport during your time in college. You can put the time into your sport without being penalised academically. That’s the key.” As a former NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) swimming champion, Dillon could speak from his experience of the support enjoyed by athletes. “Going back, 30 years ago, at any given time, as a scholarship athlete, if I needed a personal tutor, one would be provided to me at no cost,” he said. “I didn't have to go to them;

they came to me. And that happens at every major public and private university.” Dillon was in India last year in June, when he visited Pune for the sub-junior and junior National championships. “I can't speak for the quality of coaches but what I saw was good swimming. And if I saw good swimming, then I saw good coaches,” said Dillon. “The number one thing (for India) is to nurture participation. “The one thing India has that nobody else does, apart from the Chinese, is population. You have the talent resources — they have to get exposed to swimming.”

team went down 0-3 to Nigeria in its group-F third-round match, but the women’s side made amends by entering the fourth round with a 3-0 win over Portugal in the team event of the World Table Tennis Championships, here on Tuesday. The results: Team: Third round: Men: Nigeria bt India 3-0 (Aruna Quadri bt Soumyajit Ghosh 11-5, 11-4, 11-3; Segun Toriola bt Achanta Sharath Kamal 13-15, 6-11, 13-11, 5-11; Bode Abiodun bt Anthony Amalraj 13-11, 8-11, 9-11, 8-11). Women: India bt Portugal (Manika Batra bt Leila Oliverira 11-5, 7-11, 11-8, 911, 11-9; Mouma Das beat Catia Martins 11-5, 11-9, 11-6; K. Shamini bt Patricia Maciel 11-1, 11-4, 11-9). — PTI

MP batsmen join the party MUMBAI: Rajat Patidar and Shub-

ham Sharma rescued the Madhya Pradesh under-23 side from choppy waters on the third day of the Col C.K. Nayudu Trophy final against Mumbai in Indore on Tuesday. Replying to Mumbai’s mammoth 577, the host was reduced to 16 for two in eight overs at the Holkar Stadium. But Patidar and Sharma arrested the slide with some gritty batting. At stumps on the penultimate day of the summit clash, Madhya Pradesh was at 199 for two, with Patidar batting on 80 (251b, 8x4, 1x6) and Sharma undefeated on 95 (203b, 12x4, 1x6). The host trails Mumbai by 378 runs. Earlier Mumbai, which resumed at 548 for eight, saw Eknath Kerkar complete a welldeserved century (102 n.o., 205b, 13x4). The scores: Mumbai 577 in 188.5 overs (Jay Bista 217, Armaan Jaffer 60, Akash Parkar 75, Eknath Kerkar 102 n.o.; Venkatesh Iyer three for 118) vs Madhya Pradesh 199 for two in 79 overs (Rajat Patidar 80 batting, Shubham Sharma 95 batting). ND-ND

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LIFE

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 2016

NASA working on quieter supersonic jets

Google self-driving car hits bus

Sonali Bendre to celebrate success of book

NASA has started work towards developing quieter supersonic commercial jets that do not produce the disruptive boom and provide accessible, affordable passenger flight at record speeds.

A self-driving car being tested by Google struck a public bus on a Silicon Valley street, a minor accident that appears to be the first time one of the company’s vehicles caused a crash during testing.

On Thursday, Sonali Bendre is set to celebrate the success of her book, The Modern Gurukul — My Experiments with Parenting, in which she shared her personal experiences of raising her son.

ALL DECKED UP

Ray’s neighbourhood gets a makeover Posters of his films on display on the street where he lived SHIV SAHAY SINGH KOLKATA: Bishop Lefroy Road, the street that houses the residence of renowned film-maker Satyajit Ray in south Kolkata, has undergone a makeover and now reflects a slice of the maestro’s art. The 224-metre stretch, where the film-maker spent most of the creative years of his life, has been decorated with posters of his celebrated films like Pather Panchali, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne, Sonar Kella and Nayak. It was inaugurated by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. Though the house on 1/1 Bishop Lefroy Road, where the Ray family still resides, has already been declared The 224-metre stretch, where Ray spent most of his creative grade-1 heritage building by years, has been decorated with posters of his celebrated films the city’s civic body, the ma- such as Pather Panchali and Nayak. — PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT keover has seen sodium vapour lamps being replaced the Kolkata Municipal Corpo- froy Road, welcomed the iniwith antique streetlights and ration to rename Lee Road af- tiative. pavements lined with paver ter Satyajit Ray in his honour,” “This is not a bad gesture to the Chief Minister said. She re-establish the myth. We blocks. There are plans to install suggested that the road be have seen a number of such sculpture on the street and called Satyajit Ray Dharani. examples in Europe where the State government has al- [Land of Ray]. there is an attempt to rebuild a “My father spent about 22 place where a star or artist ready contacted artist Jogen Chowdhury in this regard. years of his life at this house lived,” said Madhuja MukherMs. Banerjee urged the civic from 1972-1992,” Sandip Ray, jee, Professor of Film Studies body to name Lee Road, the filmmaker and son of the at Jadavpur University, referroad connecting Bishop Le- maestro, told The Hindu. Mr. ring to examples like Sherlock froy Road in the name of Sa- Ray, who lives in the same Holmes and French imprestyajit Ray. “I would request house overlooking Bishop Le- sionist painter Claude Monet.

STAR TREK

Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit on U.K. coins LONDON: Peter Rabbit on Monday became the first character from children’s literature to appear on British coinage with author Beatrix Potter’s creation featuring on 50pence pieces commemorating her birth. A set of four fully-coloured coins will be released this year for the author’s 150th birthday, with the first to carry an image of Peter Rabbit, her most recognisable creation. The series will continue later in the year with three other characters from the much-loved Potter books. “The coins will be availa-

Genes linked to stroke risk identified

A set of four coins will be released this year for the author’s 150th birthday ble in silver proof featuring a distinctive colour-printed design, bringing Peter and his famous blue jacket to life in vivid detail,” said the Royal Mint. Plain-metal versions of the 50p pieces will appear in general circulation later this year. The illustrations were recreated by Royal Mint coin designer Emma Noble.

“It is amazing to be given the opportunity to work with such famous and treasured literary characters,” said Noble. “They are lovely images and the characters are very well known,” she added. The author, who was played by Rene Zellweger in 2006 film Miss Potter, is best known for The Tale of Peter Rabbit, which has sold 45 million copies. Potter was born in London in 1866 to wealthy parents, and developed a love of flora and fauna during her childhood, when she was homeschooled by a governess.— AFP

A sight to behold

NEW YORK: In what is believed to be the largest study of its kind, an international team of researchers has identified new genes that predispose people to ischemic stroke, the cause of approximately 85 per cent of all strokes. A comprehensive review of the human genome also helped the researchers identify a new gene that may become a drug target for doctors seeking to prevent this potentially deadly and often debilitating condition. “We have started to alter the mortality from stroke, which is great and exciting,” said one of the researchers Bradford Worrall from University of Virginia in the U.S. — IANS

Author Jerry Pinto wins Campbell literature prize

Sand gazelles are seen at the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary in Umm Al-Zamool, some 290 km south of Abu Dhabi near the border with Oman and Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. The sanctuary, which is the reserve for many different animals, stretches over an estimated area of 8,900 square km. It currently hosts nearly 155 Arabian Oryx, which were reintroduced into its natural habitat in the UAE in a five-year conservation plan launched by the country's late ruler, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, after it was feared it would be extinct. — PHOTO: AFP

Amit Shah unveils poster of Sarbjit

A

ctor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, BJP president Amit Shah and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday launched the first official poster of Sarbjit here. Directed by Omung Kumar, the movie is based on Indian convict Sarabjit Singh, who died following an assault by fellow prisoners at a Pakistani jail. The event at the residence of the BJP president was also attended by the producers of the film, Vashu Bhagnani, Bhushan Kumar and Sandeep Singh, along with actors Richa Chadda and “Mary Kom” star Darshan Kumar. Aishwarya is playing Sarabjit’s sister Dalbir Kaur while Randeep Hooda will be seen in the titular role. Mr. Shah, who was impressed by the selection of the subject, wished the team good luck. “I would like to congratulate the makers for choosing this subject. This a story of an Indian who spent his whole life in anonymity and the struggle his sister went through to bring him back to his country. I wish the team good luck.” — PTI

Preity gets married to beau in LA

W

ith veteran actor Kabir Bedi congratulating Preity Zinta on her marriage, social media was abuzz with reports that the Bollywood actor has already said “I do” to her American beau Gene Goodenough in a hush-hush ceremony in Los Angeles. The virtual world had a flood of speculations that the Kal Ho Naa Ho star had exchanged wedding vows with Goodenough on Monday night. There is also news that Preity’s close friends — fashion designer and stylist Surily Goel and Sussanne Khan — were part of the secret ceremony. — IANS

Salman says he is a fan of SRK

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ollywood superstar Salman Khan says he is a fan of his friend and contemporary Shah Rukh Khan. The 50-year-old actor made the revelation on Twitter while sharing the trailer of SRK’s much-awaited film Fan. “@beingsalmankhan being a fan of @iamsrk,” Salman wrote. This is not the first time the Bajrangi Bhaijaan star has promoted Shah Rukh’s film. Before the release of “Diwale,” Salman posted a series of promtional tweets and Dubsmash videos. Returning the favour, the “Chennai Express” actor also made videos on “Prem Ratan Dhan Payo” title track. — PTI CM YK

Mr. Pinto is the author of six books, including a biography of the Bollywood actor of yesteryear Helen and a novel, Em and the Big Hoom, for which he won The Hindu Literary Prize in 2012. — FILE PHOTO: R. RAGU JOHN WILLIAMS

T

he Windham-Campbell Prizes on Tuesday announced its annual list of nine winners. Each of the recipients receives $1,50,000 for accomplishments in the worlds of literature and theatre. This year’s winners in fiction were Tessa Hadley, C.E. Morgan and Jerry Pinto. Ms. Hadley, a British writer whose stories regularly appear in The New Yorker, is the author of several novels and story collections. Her most recent novel is The Past. C.E. Morgan’s debut novel, All the Living, was published in 2009. Her second, The Sport of Kings, will be published in May. Mr. Pinto is the author of six books, including a biography of the Bollywood actor Helen and a novel, Em and the Big Hoom. Winners in non-fiction This year’s prizes in nonfiction went to Hilton Als, Stanley Crouch and Helen Garner. Als is a staf writer and theatre critic at The New Yorker, and the author of White Girls (2013) and The Women (1996). Mr. Crouch is a novelist, cultural critic and biographer whose most recent book is Kansas City Lightning, the first part of a planned two-volume biography of the jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker. Ms. Garner has written both fiction and non-fiction. Her most recent book is This House of Grief, a true-crime story about a father accused

Nine writers and playwrights to get the award administered by Yale University of deliberately drowning his three young sons. The winners in drama were Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Hannah Moscovitch and Abbie Spallen. JacobsJenkins’ play An Octoroon (2014) was a rif on a 19thcentury play about illicit interracial love. In The Times, Ben Brantley called it a “coruscating comedy of unresolved history,” and predicted that it “may turn out to be this decade’s most eloquent theatrical statement on race in America today.” Ms. Moscovitch’s plays include East of Berlin (2007), Little One (2013) and What a Young Wife Ought to Know (2015). Ms. Spallen’s plays, which deal with themes of Irish life and politics, include Pumpgirl (2006) and Strandline (2009). Prestigious awards The awards, administered by the Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library at Yale University, were first issued in 2013. The endowment for the prizes comes from the estate of the writer Donald Windham, who died in 2010, and his partner, Sandy M. Campbell. Mr. Campbell, who died in 1988, was the publisher of the first editions of many of Mr. Windham’s books.— New York Times News Service ND-ND