follow us:

saturday, april 8, 2017

Delhi City Edition

thehindu.com facebook.com/thehindu twitter.com/the_hindu

P rin ted at

.

C h e n na i

24 pages 앫 ₹10.00

.

Co im bato r e

NEARBY

BJP links Lalu kin to land scam

B en g a lu ru

.

H y d er a b a d

.

Ma du ra i

.

N oida

.

Vi sak ha pat na m

.

T hiru va na nt ha pu ra m

The Bihar unit of the BJP on Friday accused RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s wife Rabri Devi and his two Minister sons, Tej Pratap and Tejashwi, of being involved in a multi-crore land scam. The allegations come just days after the BJP alleged that soil from land owned by Tej Pratap’s family was sold to a zoo. 쑺 PAGE 5

NATION

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Kashmir conlict takes toll on women’s health SRINAGAR

Around 11.3% of the adult population in the Valley sufers from mental illness because of the ongoing conlict, with higher prevalence among women, according to a survey. This is signiicantly higher than the national average of 7.3%. 쑺 PAGE 2

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Mid-air collision averted at Delhi airport NEW DELHI

A mid-air collision was averted after an Air India light came too close to an IndiGo aircraft at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Friday DELHI METRO

쑺 PAGE 1

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

DELHI METRO 쑺 4 PAGES

.

Ko c hi

.

V i j ayawada

.

Ma n g a luru

.

T i ru c hi r a pa ll i

.

Kol kata

.

Hu b b a ll i

.

M oh a li

.

A ll a ha b a d

.

M a la ppu r a m

.

Mu m ba i

SC seeks response on plea for reining in cow vigilantes

Two killed in terror attack in Stockholm

U.S. joins Syrian war, bombs base

Truck crashed into upscale store

Varghese K. George

PIL petition wants them declared ‘extortionists’ and an end to their atrocities

Associated Press

Oppn. seeks apology from Naqvi

Legal Correspondent

PATNA

NORTH

.

New Delhi

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Central government and six States to respond on a public interest litigation (PIL) plea to declare cow vigilantes “extortionists” and put an end to their atrocities against Dalits and minority communities. A Bench led by Justice Dipak Misra issued notices to Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh and asked them, along with the Centre, to file their written responses to the PIL petition for initiating criminal action against the vigilante groups. The court scheduled the next hearing on May 3.

Alwar incident cited Counsel for the petitioner, entrepreneur and activist Tehseen S. Poonawalla, referred to the recent incident in Alwar, Rajasthan, where a man was lynched by a mob claiming to be cow protectors. Solicitor-General Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Centre, said responses would be filed in time. The petition was filed shortly after investigating officials found there was no evidence of cow slaughter by Mohammed Akhlaq, who was beaten and lynched in 2015 on the suspicion of stor-

Special Correspondent New Delhi

ing beef in his house at Dadri in Uttar Pradesh. The filing of the plea coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s denouncement of these vigilantes as anti-social elements in the garb of ‘gau rakshaks’ for spreading violence against the downtrodden and destroying the delicate social fabric. “The Dalits who were attacked at Una or at East Godavari were only doing their traditional profession of skinning the already dead cow to provide leather to tanneries... the menace caused by the so-called cow protection groups is spreading fast to every nook and corner of the country and is creating disharmony among various communities and castes,” the plea filed

through advocate Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi contended. It submitted that cow vigilante groups should be punished under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code as well as under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The petition pointed to how some State governments even provided cow vigilantes with identity cards. It highlighted the Gujarat Animal Prevention Act, 1956 which deemed that all who acted to protect cows were public servants and no legal action shall be instituted against them. RAJASTHAN EXPLAINS ACTIONS; KHAN DIED OF INJURIES ON CHEST, ABDOMEN 쑺 PAGE 8

Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha on Friday sought to corner Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, accusing him of denying in the House the lynching of a dairy farmer by alleged cow vigilantes in Alwar last week. The members demanded that Mr. Naqvi apologise and Home Minister Rajnath Singh immediately make a statement in the House. Sharad Yadav of the Janata Dal (United) expressed concern that two Ministers had made contradictory statements in two Houses of Parliament. Saying that Mr. Singh would make a statement in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, Mr. Naqvi said he had responded to Congress leader Madhusudan Mistry saying there were incidents in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and U.P., apart from Rajasthan, which was not true. CONTINUED ON 쑺 PAGE 8

Stockholm

A hijacked beer truck crashed into an upscale department store in central Stockholm on Friday, killing at least two people, according to Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven, who called the crash a terror attack. Live television footage showed smoke coming out of the upscale Ahlens department store on the city’s pedestrian street Drottninggatan, the store the truck smashed into about 3 p.m. People in the downtown area fled in panic. Authorities evacuated the city’s nearby Central Station, which links regional trains with the Swedish capital’s subway system. All trains to and from the main station were halted and two large shopping malls in the capital were shut down. “Sweden has been attacked,” Mr. Lofven said in a nationally televised press conference. “This indicates that it is an act of terror.” Broadcaster SVT said at least five people were killed in the attack while Swedish radio reported three dead, but police could not immediately confirm either report. The country’s intelligence agency said a large number of people were wounded in the crash. “We stood inside a shoe store and heard something

The street was cordoned of after the attack in Stockholm. REUTERS *

... and then people started to scream,” witness Jan Granroth told the Aftonbladet daily. “I looked out of the store and saw a big truck.”

No one arrested There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack and police at a later news conference said no one had been arrested so far, contradicting earlier Swedish media reports that one person was in custody. “We have no contact with the person or persons who drove the truck,” Sweden’s top police chief, Dan Eliasson, told reporters. “Right now, we have no one arrested,” said Jan Evensson of the Stockholm police, who urged people not to drive into central Stockholm. Police released a grainy picture of a suspect. Swedish beer maker Spendrups said one of its trucks had been hijacked earlier in the day.

Washington

The U.S. on Thursday targeted a Syrian airbase controlled by the country’s beleaguered President Bashar al-Assad, making a dramatic turnaround in American policy. Former President Barack Obama had turned back from military intervention against the Assad regime in 2013 and President Donald Trump has been opposed to U.S. involvement in the Syrian civil war. A chemical attack on the rebel town of Khan Sheikhoun that killed 80 people earlier in the week changed his mind, Mr. Trump said. “Tonight, I ordered a targeted military strike on the airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched. It is in…[the] vital national security interest of the United States,” the President said, moments after 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from warships in the Mediterranean hit the Shayrat airbase. “Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack. No child of God should ever suffer such horror,” Mr. Trump said of the chemical attack. The strike has turned critics such as Senator John McCain into admirers of Mr. Trump. TRUMP TAKES GREATEST RISK 쑺 PAGE 10

Air India lifts ban on Sena MP Gaikwad

Hasina to raise water sharing with Modi

MP had sent apology letter to Minister

India not hopeful of progress on issue

Special Correspondent New Delhi

National carrier Air India on Friday lifted a 15-day flying ban on Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad following a request from Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju. Private airlines are expected to follow suit. “Mr. Gaikwad has tendered an apology to the Civil Aviation Minister. Accordingly, we got a directive from the Ministry to withdraw the ban. Air India is governed by the Civil Aviation Ministry and if he has expressed regret to the Minister, it means he has expressed regret to Air India and its staff,” an Air India spokesperson said. The development comes a day after Mr. Gaikwad wrote to Mr. Raju expressing “regret” over the flight incident on March 23 in which

Another MP delays light

Haroon Habib Suhasini Haidar DHAKA/NEW DELHI

Trinamool MP Dola Sen allegedly delayed Air India’s Delhi-Kolkata flight by 40 minutes after an argument over seating. The MP booked front row seats on makemytrip.com and paid extra, said Air India. But she could only be booked on emergency exit seats, which also had similar leg room. 쑺 Delhi Metro paGE 1 DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

he had allegedly beaten up an Air India staffer which led to airlines imposing a ban on his travel. A Civil Aviation Ministry letter to Air India chairman and managing director Ashwani Lohani, approved by Mr. Raju, asked that the ban be lifted. CONTINUED ON 쑺 PAGE 8

REPORT ON PAGE 5

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

Communal tension hit for a six in Udupi Village holds cricket event with teams that have players from diferent communities

Tarun causes stir with racist remark Special Correspondent

Ganesh Prabhu Udupi

When Syed Hussain, 35, returned to his native village of Hejmady after working in Dubai for 16 years, he was distraught to see how it had changed. The coastal districts of Udupi and Dakshina Kannada had started to make headlines for communal tension and clashes. But what hadn’t changed was the passion for cricket. Mr. Hussain could see that the sport’s appeal cut across religious divides. It sparked an idea in his mind: why not use it to build bridges between communities, starting with his village on CM YK

Harmony wins: Stars Kodi won the Hejmady Premier League Souharda Trophy this year. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT *

the southern tip of Udupi district? Mr. Hussain decided to launch the Hejmady Premier League (HPL), in which the winning team would be awarded the Souharda Trophy (harmony trophy).

Each of the participating teams had to comply with one condition: it could have only seven members from one community, and the remaining players have to be from other communities. The first HPL was held on

April 1 and 2. Eight teams from Hejmady and surrounding villages participated. The teams had fancy names: Stars Kodi, Kings Kodi, South Sultans, Northern Royals, Bypass Bullets, Kannangar Masters, Bastipadpu Blasters and Avaral Attackers. All came with their own jerseys and flags. While Kannangar Masters had seven Muslims and four Hindus, Bastipadpu Blasters had seven Hindus and four Muslims. “This is the first time such a tournament has been held,” said Sandesh Shetty, vice-captain of Kannangar Masters.

Narendra Modi receives Sheikh Hasina at IGI Airport in New Delhi on Friday. PTI *

contrast to the Indian government’s stand so far that there is little hope for forward movement on the Teesta agreement. Ms. Hasina was greeted at the airport on Friday by Mr. Modi. She will be staying as a guest of President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan. In a tweet, Mr Modi said he and PM Hasina were “determined to take the relationship between our nations to a new level.” CONTINUED ON 쑺 PAGE 8

L-G cancels AAP oice allotment Shunglu panel had said proper procedure was not followed sides other irregularities, that the party had not followed proper protocol in acquiring the party office.

Soumya Pillai Jatin Anand

New Delhi

New Delhi

BJP leader Tarun Vijay’s statement to a television channel that Indians could not be racists as they lived with “black” South Indians, sparked off a storm on the social media on Friday, with Mr. Vijay coming in for severe criticism. “If we were racist, why would we have the entire south, which is you know... completely Tamil, you know Kerala, you know Karnataka and Andhra. Why do we live with them? We have blacks, black people all around us,” Mr. Vijay had said. Mr. Vijay was forced to apologise.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal on Friday cancelled the allotment of a bungalow on Rouse Avenue for use as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) office. Confirming the cancellation of the allotment, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said the L-G and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were targeting them before the municipal elections. “We want to tell the BJP that they should not take political rivalry so seriously that they stoop to such levels,” Mr. Singh said. “Why such vengeance and discrimination against us? What have we done to

CONTINUED ON 쑺 PAGE 8

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will raise the contentious water sharing issues during talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, said Bangladesh Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmud Ali. Dhaka sees the honouring of 1971 Army heroes, the “Sommanona ceremony,” as a highlight of her visit, Mr. Ali added. “We will be raising all water-related issues including sharing of common rivers,” Mr. Ali told The Hindu in written replies, indicating that the Teesta water sharing agreement, held up due to objections from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is still on the table as far as Bangladesh is concerned. Mr. Ali’s remarks were in

Anil Baijal

deserve this? In a city where we came to power with 67 out of 70 assembly seats, where we are running the government, we cannot even have a party office?” he asked. The L-G’s office refused to comment. The Shunglu Committee report had mentioned, be-

Revoke allotment According to party sources, a Public Works Department (PWD) order said it had been directed to revoke the allotment of bungalow No. 206, Rouse Avenue and take further action “as per rules.” “Since land is a ‘reserved’ subject, this decision should be deemed null and void. The elected government doesn’t have any power to deal with the subject of land, let alone allot it,” the Shunglu report said in reference to the allotment of the bungalow. SEE ALSO 쑺 DELHI METRO PAGE 2 M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

2 NORTH

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Kashmir conlict takes toll on women Prevalence of mental health disorder higher among females as compared to males, says a study 12.3%, had witnessed conflictinduced traumatic events in their families. “A significantly higher proportion of about 24.3% had developed a mental health disorder among them,” the study said. The findings about higher prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in persons with trauma exposure are in accordance with research from other conflict-ridden areas.

Peerzada Ashiq Srinagar

Around 11.3% of the adult population in the Valley suffers from mental illness because of the ongoing conflict, with higher prevalence among women, according to a survey. This is significantly higher than the national average of 7.3%. “Prevalence of mental health disorder was more in females at 12.9% than males at 8.4%,” said the study released in Srinagar on Friday. The report, ‘A Communitybased Prevalence Study of Mental Health Issues in Kashmir’, was carried out by the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), Kashmir, in collaboration with ActionAid Association and Directorate General for HumanitDELHI

Timings

Saturday, April 08

RISE 06:03 SET 18:43 RISE 16:11 SET 04:20 Sunday, April 09

RISE 06:02 SET 18:43 RISE 17:07 SET 04:58 Monday, April 10

RISE 06:01 SET 18:44 RISE 18:01 SET 05:34

The study surveyed 4,000 people across two districts of Kashmir. FILE PHOTO *

arian Aid and Civil Protection (ECHO). The study surveyed 4,000

people across two districts of Kashmir. A total of 494 respondents,

Three school students die in accident Press Trust of India

Class gradient The prevalence of mental health disorder also had a clear class gradient. It was higher among the poor than those who are better off. “Thirteen per cent of those who reported to have no land holdings at all suffered from

Suicidal tendencies The study has also indicated that among the mentally-ill patients, 9% had active suicidal tendencies.

Haryana destroying judicial system: SC

T20 match for TB awareness

Slaps cost of ₹5 lakh in a time-barred case

Special Correspondent DHARAMSALA

Hoshiarpur

Four persons, including three students, were killed and 13 injured after a schoolbus collided with a jeep near Singhpur village, around 75 km from here on Friday, the police said. The incident occurred around 8.30 a.m. when the bus carrying 20 students was on its way to the Cambridge International School in Dasuya, they said. The jeep, laden with potatoes, coming from the opposite direction collided with the bus, killing three students and the bus driver on the spot, the police said. Of the 13 inured, four were referred to Shivam Hospital in Hoshiarpur and 9 were admitted to the Civil Hospital, a government spokesperson said. The deceased were identified as Surbhi, her brother Anirudh, Tanish Sharma, all residents of Talwara town, and bus driver Ranjit Singh, a resident of Dehpur,the police said.

some mental illness, while 11.5% of respondents who had one to eight kanals of land (1 acre) had mental illness. In contrast a significantly lower proportion of 9.1% of those who had more than eight kanals of land had any mental illness. This was corroborated by findings across ration-cardtype categories with significantly higher presence of mental health disorders among AAY ration card holders (16.3%) than BPL (10.8%) and APL ration card holders (10.2%),” the report pointed out.

Press Trust of India New Delhi

The Supreme Court on Friday slapped a cost of ₹5 lakh on the Haryana government for filing an appeal against a High Court order after more than five years saying it is “destroying” the judicial system by “blatant misuse” of the process. “You (Haryana government) are destroying the judicial system. The question you are raising is already being interpreted by this court. How many times shall we interpret for you? You are challenging the order of High Court after five years and eight months in a case which is time-barred,” a Bench headed by Chief Justice J. S. Khehar said. The Bench also comprising justices D. Y. Chandrachud and S. K. Kaul said: “It is an appropriate case where State government wants to destroy the judicial system. It is high time that now we impose cost of ₹5 lakh on each of your petitions for filing such peti-

tions.” The Bench was annoyed that the State government after approaching six different forums has now come to Supreme Court with a case which is time-barred and after over five years.

Counsel pulled up The court also pulled up counsel appearing for the State Government for not advising to appeal in Supreme Court. “You have been approaching six different judicial forums which did not have jurisdiction to try these cases and now you are before Supreme Court. Why did you not advise your client that this cannot be done,” the court asked. The apex court was hearing a case related to labour issues in an appeal filed by Haryana State Cooperative Labour and Construction Federation Ltd. The Bench while dismissing the appeal said: “This is blatant misuse of judicial process by government functionaries”.

Members of Parliament will play a Mumbai Heroes selection in a friendly T20 cricket match at the HPCA cricket stadium here on Saturday to lend their support to make India TB-free by 2025. A vision document and roadmap for a TB-free India by 2025 will be drawn under the guidance of three-time Lok Sabha MP and former BCCI president Anurag Thakur.

PM’s message Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a message, emphasised on greater awareness of the subject. “Its gladdening to see stakeholders from all walks of life converge for the TB Free Summit and deliberate on a vision for a TB-free India. The organisation of the ‘TB-Free India’ Cricket match between MPs cutting across party lines and personalities associated with the film world is also a good way to create more awareness.”

UP govt bans strike in transport corporation Press Trust of India Lucknow

The Uttar Pradesh government on Friday banned strike in all services of the UP State Road Transport Corporation under the stringent Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA). “The government has

banned strike in all services under the UPSRTC for a period of six months in public interest,” principal secretary of the department Aradhana Shukla said. ESMA gives police the powers to arrest without a warrant, anybody violating the Act’s provisions.

0 DISCLAIMER: Readers are requested to verify and 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.

Published by N. Ram at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of KASTURI & SONS LTD., Chennai-600002. Editor: Mukund Padmanabhan (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act). Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 RNI No. TNENG/2012/49940 ISSN 0971 - 751X Vol. 7 No. 84 ●

CM YK

●

●

●

M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU

EAST 3

NOIDA/DELHI

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

All is not well with Odisha Congress Lack of discipline, inighting have contributed towards decline in its vote share since the 2009 LS polls

Press Trust of India

Prafulla Das BHUBANESWAR

Though the Congress has now been out of power for over 17 years in Odisha, the party leaders in the State seem to have learnt little from their mistakes. They are busy fighting each other despite the party being pushed to the third position by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the recent panchayat elections. Prasad Harichandan

Leader resigns Knowing full well that lack of discipline and infighting within the party have contributed towards the gradual decline in its vote share since the 2009 general elections, the leaders have seldom worked together to strengthen the party organisation in the State, according to political analysts.

Ranoj Pegu shifts from Left to right

*

The resignation of former Nabarangpur Lok Sabha MP Pradeep Majhi from the post of vice-president of the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee on Thursday has made it clear that all is not well with the party. Mr. Majhi, who continues to hold the post of chairman of the Scheduled Tribe Cell

Pradeep Majhi

*

of OPCC, said he has stepped down as vice-president owning moral responsibility for the party’s poor performance in the panchayat polls.

A divided house The party performed poorly in the panchayat elections in February as it was a divided

house. The party, which won 128 Zilla Parishad seats in the State in the 2012 rural polls, bagged only 60 seats this time round. According to political analysts, the Congress performed badly in the rural polls not only because of the weak leadership of OPCC president Prasad Harichandan, but also because many senior leaders, who have been demanding Mr. Harichandan’s ouster for long, felt the party’s poor show would pave the way for his ouster.

Caught off guard The party, which was caught off guard when the BJP managed to dislodge it as the main opposition, is yet to display any sense of urgency despite the BJP turning its

focus on Odisha in the postpoll period.

Wrong signal In fact, a move by the party legislators to ensure Mr. Harichandan’s removal from the PCC president's post a few months before the panchayat elections had created a sharp division between the OPCC and the Congress Legislature Party, thereby sending a wrong signal to its cadres. As for the role of the Congress high command in ensuring discipline and choosing the right leader as PCC chief, a senior party leader said: “Our high command has been taking little interest in Odisha, although the party is still in a good position to take on ruling Biju Janata Dal by foiling the rise of the BJP.”

Guwahati

OBITUARY & REMEMBRANCE

DEATH

Once a Leftist leader, Ranoj Pegu, who had last year campaigned against Sarbananda Sonowal, is today seeking votes as the BJP candidate for the Dhemaji Assembly by-poll. Pegu, a doctor by profession, dabbled in politics and in 1990 founded the United Reservation Movement Council of Assam, considered to be affiliated to the CPI(ML). Pegu then floated the Ganashakti Party. Quitting the president’s post of Ganashakti, 55year-old Pegu, also chief executive member of Mising Autonomous Council, joined the BJP which fielded him for the Dhemaji by-poll slated for April 9.

‘Won’t allow armed rallies in Bengal’ Staff Reporter Kolkata

At a time when the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS)-backed rightwing organisations are taking out armed rallies in Bengal to mark a week-long Ram Navami programme, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has warned that she will not tolerate “illegal” armed rallies. Her comments came a day after the police lodged a case under the Arms Act against BJP’s State president Dilip Ghosh for participating in a rally carrying swords. Ms Banerjee was addressing a government programme in Asansol in Bardhaman district on Friday where she announced the formation of the new district of Paschim Bardhaman.

SITUATIONS VACANT

EDUCATIONAL

GENERAL

Divisive politics She accused the BJP of indulging in divisive politics. “Religion and politics are not one and the same...If one carries arms in procession without permission it will not be allowed,” she said. Ms. Banerjee said she does not have any objection to religious festivals, but warned of action against any attempt to disrupt communal harmony. “I will not tolerate any riots in Bengal,” she said.

LEGAL NOTICE

TENDERS

CM YK

M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

4 SOUTH

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Condition of Jishnu’s sister worsens

IN BRIEF

She is on hunger strike in Kozhikode

VISAKHAPATNAM

Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M. Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the National Children’s Film Festival at VUDA Children’s Arena in Visakhapatnam on Friday. The three-day event is being organised by the Children’s Film Society of India in association with the Andhra Pradesh government.

16 held in connection with student’s murder ALAPPUZHA

The Kerala police have arrested 16 persons in connection with the murder of Ananthu Ashokan, a PlusTwo student, at Cherthala. Seven of the arrested were juveniles and schoolmates of the deceased. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Congress observed a hartal in Alappuzha on Friday in protest against the murder.

Telangana woman held for selling baby boy HYDERABAD

A woman in her early 20s, who allegedly sold her threemonth-old baby boy for ₹10,000 a week ago, was arrested by the Tukaramgate police on Friday. Along with the infant’s mother, Kavitha, the woman who purchased the baby, and another woman who ‘brokered’ the deal, were also arrested.

Court grants police custody of TV scribes THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

A magistrate court here on Friday allowed the Crime Branch to take two Mangalam TV journalists into custody for further interrogation. The duo was arrested on Tuesday on the charge of airing an audio sex tape targeting former Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran.

Kozhikode

The health condition of Avishna, sister of Jishnu Prannoy, who is on an indefinite hunger strike at her home in Valayam, Kozhikode district, has worsened. The Class 10 student told the media that she would not end her protest until the police arrested the accused in the case pertaining to her brother’s death. She has not taken solid food for the past three days, since her parents left for Thiruvananthapuram. A police team led by Nadapuram Dy.SP suggested that Avishna call off her hunger strike. The police would otherwise have to arrest her and shift her to a hospital.

‘Waiting for mother’ However, the 15-year-old told the police that she

Police claim over 50 people of Telangana village watched the barbaric act, take 12 into custody R. Avadhani

dipet and, from there, to the Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad where they died. Police Commissioner V. Siva Kumar and ACP G. Narasimha Reddy visited the spot. The police have set up a picket in the colony to prevent any untoward incident. They have taken 12 persons into custody and are on the lookout for more people involved in the incident.

DUBBAKA

Special Correspondent

Venkaiah inaugurates children’s ilm fest

Couple burnt for ‘practising sorcery’

Avishna at her home in Valayam, Kozhikode. *

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

would end her fast only after her mother returned from Thiruvananthapuram. Her mother, Mahija Ashokan, who was injured in police action while attempting a sit-in before the police headquarters on Wednesday, is also on a hunger strike at a government hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. She is demanding action against the accused and the police personnel involved in Wednesday’s action.

The electric pole in BC Colony with black soot, and beedi leaves at the house of Kadavergu Sudarshan (56) and Rajeswari (52) bear mute testimony to the barbaric burning of the couple in Dubbaka in Siddipet district on Thursday evening. The couple were burnt by relatives and neighbours for allegedly practising sorcery. More than 50 people reportedly watched the horrific act but no one helped .

In trauma: Renuka and Sridhar, children of Sudarshan and Rajeswari, could do little to save their parents. MOHD ARIF *

Tied to a pole Some stood very close to the electric pole to which the couple were tied and set on fire. The police got information about the couple being beaten up by a mob around 6 p.m. They reached the spot within 10 minutes but it was too late as the mob had poured kerosene and set the couple on fire by then.

EC squads on cash hunt in R.K. Nagar have bizarre encounters Search hits hurdle as woman threatens to strip before camera

Even when the police tried to douse the flames, no one came forward to help. “We tried our best, but it was beyond our control,” constable J. Chandram told The Hindu. “The residents of the colony, who were watching the dastardly act went inside [their] houses and closed the

Highway liquor ban: Kerala seeks time State asks for 3-month extension, says attempts to ind new locations not easy Legal Correspondent NEW DELHI

R.Sivaraman Chennai

The Election Commission’s flying squad, police personnel and revenue officials combing Dr. Radhakrishnan Nagar Assembly constituency in north Chennai, where a by-election is scheduled on April 12, have had some bizarre encounters in their efforts to curb distribution of money. When members of a flying squad along with police and armed paramilitary personnel rushed to a house in Seniamman Koil Street in Tondiarpet two days ago close to midnight hoping to seize cash, they were not

prepared to deal with the embarrassment that followed. As the team, accompanied by videographers of the Election Commission descended on the house, a woman cadre of ruling AIADMK (Amma) there abused the officials and demanded that the videographer stop filming. As the videographer continued to shoot the commotion, the woman began to strip, challenging the team to “search” her and showering them with the choicest of abuses. This forced the videographer and the squad to suspend the search. In another incident, when

EDUCATIONAL

a flying squad on Thursday morning stopped a vehicle in which the AIADMK (Amma) MLA from Sirkazhi, P.V. Bharathi was travelling with two of his supporters, the legislator picked up a quarrel with them. The team noticed one of his associates carrying wads of currencies and asked him to count it. But the man simply threw the currency at an official and shouted “You count it yourselves”. When paramilitary force personnel attempted to frisk the MLA, on suspicion that he was carrying cash, Mr. Bharathi got into an argument and left the place in a huff.

door the moment we reached the spot,” he said. The constable added that the police personnel used doormats outside the houses to douse the flames. The couple were taken to a local hospital in auto-rickshaws, where they were given first aid. Later, they were shifted to the district hospital at Sid-

Police had information Renuka and Sridhar, daughter and son of Sudarshan and Rajeswari, were on the tenterhooks since morning on Thursday. There had been repeated attacks on their parents. Around 8 a.m., they went to the police station to lodge a complaint that there was a threat to their parents’ lives. About half-a-dozen persons were called to the police station and counselled. Sudarshan’s brother K. Mallesham

assured the police that the issue would be sorted out amicably. Following this, the police allowed them to return to the village. The couple got ready to leave the village before evening. They even started packing, the locals said. When they were ready to lock their home, a mob led by Mallesham and Srinivas, another brother of his, reportedly dragged the couple to the nearest electric pole, tied them to it and set them on fire. Renuka and Sridhar, accompanied by an elderly woman, were the only three persons who tried to save them. The children looked on helplessly as their parents were burnt alive. Byri Naresh, an activist of the Atheist Society of India, said the police could have given protection to the couple till they left the village.

Kerala on Friday sought a three-month extension to implement the Supreme Court ban on sale of liquor within 500 metres of national and State highways. The ban has been in place across many States since April 1, 2017. The court had imposed the nationwide ban in a judgment on December 15, 2016 against the sale of liquor along highways as a drastic measure to curb drunken driving, which has claimed many lives on roads. On March 31, 2017, the court further clarified that the ban extended not just to retail liquor outlets along the

EDUCATIONAL

highways but also “larger establishments,” including beer and wine parlours, bars, and hotels which sell liquor. In its application, Kerala submitted that over 1,000 establishments hit by the ban stayed locked since April 1 but there was no space in the thickly urbanised State to shift the businesses.

‘Huge furore’ It said attempts to find new locations for the establishments concerned had become a cause for public furore. Residents and local neighbourhoods had no intention to host the liquor establishments, which had been left in a quandary.

EDUCATIONAL

Kerala said the State had narrow stretches of highways traversing the length and breadth of it. At least three national highways passed through the State where even the smallest towns had a minimum population of not less than 30,000. This meant that the State could not enjoy even the slight relief given by the court of reducing no-liquor zones along highways from 500 metres to 220 metres as in Himachal Pradesh. The State said heavily populated landscapes sandwiched the highways and there was no room to drag the liquor businesses away from them. It submitted that some liquor licences had

EDUCATIONAL

been renewed on the basis of the legal opinion rendered by Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi that the ban was confined to retail liquor outlets and not larger establishments. The March 31 clarification order ran completely counter to the legal opinion. A petition filed by former Kerala Assembly Speaker V.M. Sudheeran, represented by advocate Kaleeswaram Raj, had alleged that a Cabinet decision was taken to extend the liquor licences on the basis of the A-G’s opinion. Besides, it said, partial prohibition was already in place in the State and only five-star hotels served liquor.

SITUATIONS VACANT

GENERAL

EDUCATIONAL

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

PUBLIC NOTICES

TENDERS

CM YK

M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU

NATION 5

NOIDA/DELHI

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

IN BRIEF

Marathi ilm Kasaav bags national award Akshay Kumar is best male actor, Surabhi best female actor; Rajesh Mapuskar is best director Press Trust of India New Delhi

Samajwadi out, Mukhyamantri in LUCKNOW

CM Yogi Adityanath has directed removal of the word ‘Samajwadi’ from development schemes running in UP, saying ‘Mukhyamatri’ should be used in its place. “All the schemes in which the term Samajwadi is used should be presented before the Cabinet,” he said. PTI

Trio’s bid to buy heads of cows sparks tension KOLKATA

Three persons who tried to buy heads of cows were detained by residents of Rajnagar town in Birbhum district on Wednesday. The residents suspected that they wanted to trigger “communal tension” on the occasion of Ram Navami. The police denied it, saying they only wanted the “cow heads to practise black magic.”

Akshay Kumar was named the best actor for his portrayal of a patriotic naval officer in Rustom at the 64th National Film Awards, where Marathi movie Kasaav led the regional cinema’s dominance, bagging the best feature film. The awards, which were spread out among Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Marathi languages, saw Bollywood movies like Pink, Neerja and Dangal score in key categories. Rustom, a court room drama directed by Tinu Suresh Desai, is loosely based on the 1959 Nanavati murder case. The 11-member jury, headed by Akshay Kumar’s frequent collaborator, filmmaker Priyadarshan, named Surabhi C.M. as the best actress for her role in Malayalam film Minnaminungu — The Firefly. “I never expected this award. I expected only a jury

The winner is...: Jury panel head Priyadarshan, right, with Raju Mishra, head of the jury for non-feature ilms, announcing the awards in New Delhi on Friday. R.V. MOORTHY *

mention. I am extremely happy and stunned,” Ms. Surabhi, who is away in Muscat, said.

Depression gets focus Kasaav, adjudged this year’s best feature film, directed by Sunil Sukhtankar and Sumitra Bhave, revolves around the issue of depression and environment conservation.

“Kasaav got the best film award which is a great thing but another point of happiness is that the film deals with the theme of depression. The award definitely gives a boost to Marathi cinema. It is a proud moment,” Mr. Sukthankar said. Akshay Kumar took to Twitter to express his gratitude over his surprise win.

“Thank you is a very small word right now but I don’t know how else to express how I am feeling right now... Rustom was a very special role to play. Being able to wear the uniform of Indian Navy itself is a huge honour, even if it’s just for a role,” the Bollywood star said in a video message to his fans. Neerja, directed by Ram Madhvani, was named the best Hindi film. It is based on the 1986 hijacking incident during which flight attendant Neerja Bhanot was killed by terrorists while saving passengers. Amitabh Bachchan-starrer Pink, a female-centric court room drama, won the award for the best film on social issues. Producer Shoojit Sircar dedicated the award to his team and Mr. Bachchan.

Honour for Dangal girl Kashmiri actress Zaira Wasim was chosen the best supporting actress for her

role in the Aamir Khan-starrer Dangal, while Nagesh Kukunoor’s Dhanak was named the best children’s film. Ajay Devgn’s Shivaay won for the best special effects. Besides Kasaav, Rajesh Mapuskar won the best director award for his film Ventilator. The movie, produced by actress Priyanka Chopra and her mother Madhu, also won awards for best editing and the best final mixed track. Malayalam film Maheshinte Prathikaram won the best original screenplay award and the best dialogues went to Telugu movie Peli Chuplu. Special Jury award went to Mohanlal for his notable work in films like Pulimurugan, Janatha Garage and Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol. The Nargis Dutt award for the best feature film on national integration went to Assamese film Dikchow Banat Palaax.

Bill proposes jail for attack on journalists Maharashtra acts to protect media Staff Reporter Mumbai

A Bill making violent attacks on mediapersons a non-bailable offence with a provision of imprisonment and a ₹50,000 fine was passed by both Houses in Maharashtra on Friday, the last day of the State Legislature’s budget session. The Maharashtra Media Persons and Media Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property) Act, 2017, defines a mediaperson as someone whose principal vocation is that of a journalist and who is employed either on regular or contract basis. However, it does not include those who are employed in a managerial or administrative capacity. It also has a provision that any offence against a mediaperson will be investigated by a police officer above the rank of Deputy

Superintendent of Police. The statement of objects and reasons of the Bill said, “On account of the rampant instances of violence and attacks against Media Persons and damage or loss to the property of Media Institutions, there is strong demand to prevent such violence against Media Persons or damage or loss to the property belonging to Media Persons or Media Institutions and check the recurrence of such incidents in the State.”

Misuse to be tackled Journalists or media organisations wilfully misusing this legislation would would be booked under the same Act. Moreover, mediapersons convicted under the Act shall not be entitled to any government benefit as a mediaperson, and will lose their accreditation.

BJP links Lalu kin to Communal tension lares up again in Bhadrak Rebel leader returns to BSP multi-crore land scam Rioters roaming the streets, set shops and godowns on ire, attack police teams Reinducted 2 years after his expulsion ‘His sons, wife involved in deal for mall’ Amarnath Tewary Patna:

The Bihar unit of the BJP on Friday alleged that Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s two sons — Tej Pratap and Tejaswi — and his wife Rabri Devi were involved in a multi-crore land scam. The allegation comes days after the BJP had charged Mr Tejaswi Prasad Yadav with conflict of interest as Forest and Environment Minister in a soil purchase contract, worth ₹90 lakh, for the Patna Zoo. Senior BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi urged Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to sack both Mr. Lalu Prasad’s sons from the cabinet and order a thorough inquiry into the land scam. Showing about 280 pages of documents related to the “dubious sale and purchase of the land”, Mr Modi further said, “I’ve all the authentic documents to prove my charges and we’ll take this scam too to the extent of the fodder scam.”

Ownership transferred Mr Modi said the land on which a shopping mall is being constructed by a company owned by an RJD MLA, was first given to Delight Marketing Company Pvt. Ltd in 2005 by Harsh and Vinay Kochar, prominent hoteliers of Patna. The

CM YK

Sushil Kumar Modi at a press conference in Patna on Friday. RANJEET KUMAR *

Kochars, alleged Mr Modi, were given two railway hotels at Ranchi and Puri to run when Mr Lalu Prasad was union railway minister. Mr. Modi alleged that, “In 2010 Lalu’s family members, his wife Rabri Devi, two sons Tej Pratap and Tejaswi Yadav, daughters Chanda Yadav and Ragini Yadav made an entry into the company as directors but on November 12, 2016, the company changed its name to LaRa Projects Pvt. Ltd and just two months back on February 14, 2017, only Rabri Devi, Tej Pratap and Tejaswi Yadav remained directors of the company.” “LaRa means Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi…Rabri Devi owns 2,402 and both Tej Pratap and Tejaswi Yadav own 800 shares each of the company today... The company, interestingly, did no business in last 15 years but added ‘construction’ in its objective in 2015,” he said.

Satyasundar Barik BHUBANESWAR

Communal tension flared up again in Bhadrak on Friday after the peace committee talks failed, prompting the authorities to clamp down indefinite curfew in the town. Rioters were seen roaming the streets in the communally sensitive town where more than 50 shops and 20 godowns were set on fire. Police teams were attacked and vehicles damaged. There were reports of some people sustaining injuries in the violence in the evening. Ten protesters were detained by the district police. Top officials including Home Secretary Asit Tripathy, Director General of Police K. B. Singh and Revenue Divisional Commis-

Protesters burning tyres to block traic at Bhadrak in Odisha on Wednesday. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT *

sioner (Central) A. B. Ota have rushed to Bhadrak to take stock of the situation. “Tense situation is prevailing in Bhadrak. We are mobilising more security personnel from neighbouring districts for deployment at troubled pockets. We hope the situation would improve soon,” Mr. Ota told

The Hindu over phone from Bhadrak. Following deterioration in the law and order situation, Commissioner of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation Gyana Ranjan Dash was asked to take charge as Bhadrak Collector with immediate effect. The post of Bhadrak Collector was lying

vacant after Prabhat Kumar Bhoi retired on March 31. An alleged offensive remark about Hindu deities in the social media had sparked communal tension in area on Thursday. Activists of the Viswa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal had come out on the streets demanding the arrest of the accused. Several roads of the town were blocked by protesters. On Friday morning, normalcy appeared to have returned as hopes were pinned on the outcome of the peace committee meeting. However, the talks failed to break the ice. The situation suddenly took a turn for the worse after words were exchanged during a bike rally on Friday. It led to ransacking of roadside shops and some shops were even set on fire.

Omar Rashid Lucknow

Former Uttar Pradesh Minister and senior Dalit leader Daddu Prasad returned to the Bahujan Samaj Party on Friday, two years after he was expelled due to differences with party supremo Mayawati. Mr. Prasad was re-inducted after Ms. Mayawati accepted his “special request,” a BSP press statement said.

Three-time MLA A three-time MLA from the Manikpur Assembly seat in Chitrakoot, Mr. Prasad was a close aide of BSP founder Kanshiram. In the previous BSP government, he was the Rural Development Minister but was denied an election ticket in the 2012 election. Amid speculation that he

might be denied again in 2017, the senior leader rebelled against Ms. Mayawati. While she expelled him from the BSP for indiscipline and anti-party activities, Mr. Prasad accused her of auctioning election tickets and deviating from the ideological path of Kanshiram.

Floated own party Mr. Prasad’s exit started a trend where other leaders and party MLAs too left the BSP in the months leading to the 2017 Assembly election. Along with Swami Prasad Maurya, another BSP rebel, Mr. Prasad tried to unite all former and present BSP leaders who were disgruntled with the working system of Ms. Mayawati.

M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

6 EDITORIAL

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Eat, pray, love: the Hindutva template Track to eiciency

C

reating a Rail Development Authority for India is among the most signiicant reforms to an infrastructure system undertaken by the government. The railways connect the country’s far corners and act as a driver of the economy. High rates of economic growth have raised the demand for travel, but this remains largely unmet. The popular aspiration is for a modern system that ofers high-quality travel with low risk of accidents, while industry wants smooth freight transfer. An independent, empowered regulator could be the paradigm shift that is needed. The proposed Authority would have to ensure that the resources of the system are optimally utilised, overcoming existing ineficiencies that arise from the fact that policy, regulatory and management functions of the railways are intertwined. As the National Transport Development Policy Committee noted in 2014, the centralisation of all functions in the Railway Board has proved detrimental to the organisation’s growth, particularly at a time when there is a need for massive investment in infrastructure for 7%-plus GDP growth. Conversely, robust economic expansion further raises the demand for railway services. To reconcile this, the regulator has to identify sectors that can support higher tarifs and also produce greater volumes of traic. Such accurate interventions are critical if the trend of declining rates of growth in railway freight revenues and volumes, which set in during 2011-12, is to be reversed. One of the big challenges before the Centre is to facilitate higher non-budgetary investment in the railways. The Bibek Debroy Committee found the private sector is discouraged from participating more efectively due to a monopolistic framework. Coming up with a system that de-risks private investment and creates a level playing ield are among the major challenges before the Rail Development Authority. In the area of passenger services, this ofers several possibilities; the railways cater to some 23 million passengers a day in a network of about 8,000 stations. The experience of consumers in cities shows that use of information technology to deliver traditional services can lead to higher levels of eiciency and lower costs, besides adding jobs. While regulation of tarifs matching the quality of travel can help raise revenues, the system should be able to move both people and freight faster in order to grow. Inducting faster, more comfortable trains on 500 km-plus intercity routes would attract new traic, and help operate cheaper passenger trains to interior areas, as part of the government’s social obligation. Technology upgrades are essential to raise carrying capacity, service frequency and speeds. Rail reform is complex and what was undertaken in Europe during the 1990s, separating infrastructure from operations, is an interesting model: sequential measures achieved sustainable results, rather than a package of changes introduced at once.

His Mugabe moment? South African President Jacob Zuma’s power grab triggers a popular resistance

S

outh African President Jacob Zuma may not have anticipated the strength of the backlash when he decided last week to dismiss his much-respected Finance Minister, Pravin Gordhan, and various other colleagues in a ministerial shule. On Friday, thousands of South Africans demonstrated peacefully across cities against Mr. Zuma’s action, which appears to have triggered concerns about government corruption and a tottering economy. Even ailing Nobel laureate Desmond Tutu made an appearance in support of the protesters, most of whom called for President Zuma to resign. Adding to the woes of the weakening South African economy, the rand fell immediately by more than 2%. Yet the prospect of Mr. Zuma stepping down appears unlikely. His cabinet clear-out is widely considered to be an attempt to control the selection of his successor in the African National Congress, which swept to power in 1994 under Nelson Mandela. Far from those glory days, the ANC today is split over the question of support for Mr. Zuma. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa described the move as “totally, totally unacceptable”, and ANC general secretary Gwede Mantashe said the ministerial shake-up made him “jittery and uncomfortable”. Although Mr. Zuma’s government has been tainted by corruption scandals, he has granted himself more room for manoeuvre by moving Malusi Gigaba from the Home Afairs Ministry to Finance, despite the latter’s limited inancial experience. More troubling than the immediate question of Mr. Zuma’s control over the presidency and the ANC, however, is the fact that he presides over what seems to be a secular decline in the quality of governance and institutional integrity in South Africa. Last year the party sufered key losses in municipal elections, and Mr. Zuma was forced, by a Constitutional Court ruling, to reimburse public monies in a dispute over millions of dollars he allegedly spent on his private home. Since its early post-apartheid years, South Africa enjoyed the beneits of a strong constitutional ethos and a vibrant civil society. Yet it may be nearing what some analysts consider its “Mugabe moment”, a reference to neighbouring Zimbabwe, where a predatory state lines the pockets of the elites. The fact that Mr. Zuma portrayed the sacking of Mr. Gordhan as promoting “transformation” has a familiar echo in the tendency of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe to use the race card and project rent-seeking moves as necessary reforms for the deprived masses. If South Africans wish to place the country on a stable path to prosperity, they need to do more than seek the ouster of Mr. Zuma, for he has already laid the foundations for his ex-wife to take the reins of power. They need a second revolution aimed at discovering the kind of leadership that puts people irst. CM YK

shiv visvanathan wo kinds of law representing two kinds of decision-making have marked the initial days of the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh. These are not critical as progressive legislation but as case studies of the way of thinking of the new regime. The irst of the decisions cuts across nature and culture and has to do with cow slaughter. The second deals with the imposition of ‘antiRomeo’ squads and cuts across issues of gender and ethnicity. Both acts raise the question on whether law and governance are progressive movements towards justice or rhetorical acts which reveal deeper paranoid fears that we need to confront.

T

Our Romeo vs Shakespeare’s First, a word about our Romeo. The Shakespearean Romeo evokes tragedy, misunderstanding, a poignancy, but the story rises to the heights of the tragedy. Our local Romeo is more a character out of Charles Lamb, a banalised nukkad rowdy. In fact, he is very reminiscent of the rowdy as created by law. The British, in fact, created two kinds of lawbreakers, at two ends of the spectrum. The irst was the thug targeted by Lord William Bentinck. The rowdy, a regular character in movies with bulging biceps, a handkerchief around his neck, was as much a victim, a local bully and gangster who lived on and of the streets. Mr. Adityanath’s Romeo is the rowdy of romance, the local eve-teaser. He has little to do with literature and less with romance.

logy of the BJP/RSS/Bajrang Dal/Shiv Sena is enforcing. It is based on hate, paranoia and suspicion and it allows for only one interpretation. Religious narratives such as the Ramayan allowed for hundreds of variants which the Adityanaths and Bajrang Dal would be the irst to ban. What one is witnessing is not an attempt to tackle the so-called lumpen elements of a city, seen by the middle class as perpetual threats to law and order. Instead of tackling the lumpen elements with a framework of rights, I am afraid what is happening is what I call the lumpenisation of the law. Earlier, relations between boy and girl, especially from diferent communities, would be tackled vigilante style. Now, vigilantism is being justiied as an act of governance. In fact, even fundamentalism becomes an act of governance or law and order. The afability and plurality of Hinduism loses out to the puritanism of Hindutva. One is watching not the emergence of an anti-Romeo but anti-human rights group. Every law must have a mirrorlike double. The idea of the double brings out the parallelism between two phenomena where inversions

A creeping paranoia What one witnesses here is a paranoia extending to daily life. It is almost as if the idea of security is one word which is extending from the frontiers of the nation state to the daily lives of the people, guarding boundaries at the national and ethnic level. In fact, security has become the new myth that the ideo-

bring out similarities. What the anti-Romeo did for gender, the cow slaughter ban does for the link between nature and culture. What Mr. Adityanath was threatening, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has already articulated in the Assembly, a vision of a shakahari state, where vegetarianism evokes truth and morality. The great dream is to demand closure of all meat shops. In a sociological sense, fundamentalism about food can be as lethal as fundamentalism about sex. It is not only the question of morality. It is also a question of diversity, and diversity requires a variety of food habits where diversity of crops, food, myth and religion sustain a pluralism of culture. Within each group, food habits can be uniform, but diversity demands diference as the soul of culture, while Mr. Adityanath demands uniformity.

In the name of the cow It is not as if the ban on cow slaughter is an ode to the cow. The cow in fact becomes a strangely ambivalent creature. In the BJP State, the cow is more a fact of culture than of nature. What we have is an urban society living of its agricultural nostalgia. In fact, violence to food is a deeper topic, of the aggressive use of hormones, cruelty to animals, the ethics of biotechnology, none of which is even addressed by Mr. Adityanath. What we are witnessing is a substitutability of violence to the Muslim and the Dalit in the name of the cow, as evident most recently from the attack in Alwar on Muslim men transporting cows. Gujarat Home Minister Pradeepsinh Jadeja might say “A single drop of cow blood falling on earth pains Hindus”. Yet, Hindutva does not mind declaring a bloodbath to enforce its vegetarian dream. In fact, there is a schizophrenic

spilt between nature and culture. Nature is conirmed as nature only if it is Hinduised. A cow is sacred, the Ganges is sacred but there is little efort to see how the religious sources of sacred can create ecological sustainability or non-violence. There is no will to extend the non-violence of the cow to wider categories of nature. Rather, a parochial idea of the sacred seeks to create other forms of violence. Worse, there is a split, where the Muslim is portrayed as a butcher in these Hindutva dreams, while the cow as animal acquires a humanity. With this inversion, the cow becomes a person while the Muslim becomes a non-person, losing his rights as a citizen. Such a militant Hindutva has little sense of Hinduism or the Constitution. Oddly, the drive to such exclusive vegetarianism seems to rest uneasily with a promise of development which claims to be for all. In fact, if the Adityanath model is threatening to generalise a Hindutva model of development, then that idea needs to be debated and challenged. It cannot be imposed on other ethnic groups. One faces the irony that the violence done on behalf of the cow and the woman in the name of non-violence creates a sense of injustice which we do not have the courage to confront. There has to be a debate between the human development approach and the Hindutva model of development. The more troubling question is whether such a debate will be allowed to proceed in an open-ended academic way or whether it gets dismissed, BJPstyle, as another sort of sedition. The number of unpatriotic Indians is multiplying everyday.

Shiv Visvanathan is Professor at Jindal Global Law School and Director, Centre for the Study of Knowledge Systems, O.P Jindal Global University

An echo of the French past The 1970s ofer vital clues to understand Emmanuel Macron, the leading candidate in the presidential elections

emile chabal

T

he front runner in France’s presidential race is the dashing young technocrat, Emmanuel Macron. In less than a year, and without any experience as an elected politician, he has come to dominate a fractured and fractious political landscape. Such a rapid ascent has inevitably given rise to a devoted fan base. In the past few months, endless articles have been written about how Mr. Macron’s success is “unprecedented”. But history tells a slightly diferent story. Back in the early 1970s, with the shadow of Charles de Gaulle still hanging heavy over French politics, another technocrat burst on to the political scene. His name was Valéry Giscard d’Estaing.

The 1974 election Few had heard of the young upstart when he unexpectedly decided to present himself as a candidate in the 1974 presidential election. He had graduated from France’s top higher educational institutions and

served as Finance Minister under de Gaulle, but he did not have the support of a major political party and he was widely seen as too young (he was 48). He certainly lacked the credibility of the Gaullist candidate, Jacques Chaban-Delmas, or the uniied candidate of the left, François Mitterrand. But Giscard d’Estaing’s trump card was his campaign — and he used it to excellent efect. Drawing on an American model, he seduced the French with televisual pizzazz, aggressive marketing and glossy endorsements by celebrities — most notably the rock star Johnny Hallyday. News reports at the time showed enthusiastic teenagers sporting T-shirts emblazoned with his campaign slogans. The positive publicity paid dividends. He knocked out all the other centrist and right-wing candidates in the irst round and was left facing Mitterrand, one of the most experienced and ruthless French politicians of his day. But Mitterrand was uncomfortable in the media world and he struggled to persuade voters, especially during the irst ever televised debate between two presidential candidates. In the end, the outsider scored a spectacular — if slender — victory against his rival. With 50.81% of the vote, Giscard d’Estaing became the youngest French head of state since

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The U.S. retaliates The U.S.’s missile attack on a Syrian airbase is certainly an act of aggression. Even if the reason is the use of chemical weapons by Syria, which has killed scores of Syrian citizens, the U.S. is in no way concerned with the matter and cannot take international law into its hands. Any action should be in accordance with the UN charter and under the aegis of the UN Security Council. Has the U.S. acted against all countries violating human rights? How can it assume the role of international policeman, prosecutor and judge? K.R. Jayaprakash Rao, Mysuru

Dhaka to Delhi The Prime Minister of Bangladesh has highlighted the roots of IndiaBangladesh camaraderie and emphasised the necessity for regional cooperation to combat social impoverishment (“Friendship is a lowing river”, April 7). Her inspiring words impart

New Delhi

Napoleon. Carrying his message of liberal social and economic reform, he showed that it was possible to win the most important election in France without substantial party backing.

Can Macron win? The parallels between Giscard d’Estaing and Mr. Macron are obvious. Not only do their biographies and ministerial portfolios overlap almost perfectly, but they share a similar campaign style. Mr. Macron’s emphasis on youth, independence and technocratic competence is a mirror image of the 1970s and he has successfully accumulated a host of endorsements from high-proile igures. Allowing for the diference in context, their political platforms are virtually identical too. Giscard d’Estaing was marked as a liberal of the centre-right; Mr. Macron has

come from the liberal centre-left. But the core reference points are the same: market-orientated economic policies, a desire for administrative reform, and a deep attachment to the European project. All these things should give Mr. Macron cause for optimism. Giscard d’Estaing’s success in the 1970s showed that it was possible to build a liberal, centrist coalition and persuade the French to vote for it. Given that Mitterrand in 1974 was a much more formidable opponent than Marine Le Pen today, there is every chance that Mr. Macron can win this year’s election. But governing is not only about winning — and here the lessons of the past are less edifying. Giscard d’Estaing’s image as an elitist technocrat stuck to him like glue. Over time, his allies either betrayed him or deserted him, and the end of his term was mired in corruption scandals (the most famous of which was exposed by none other than the Le Canard enchaîné, the same newspaper that has skewered presidential hopeful François Fillon this year). The result of this inexorable slide was a crushing defeat in 1981, as Mitterrand and the left swept to power. The young star of 1974, who had so efectively harnessed the energy and enthusiasm of an electorate shaped by the massive social movements of 1968, ended his presid-

ency looking tired and out of place. Mr. Macron is likely to face similar diiculties. His candidacy has generated huge excitement and he has captured a genuine desire for something new in French politics. But can a gifted technocrat and former Rothschild banker satisfy a dissatisied electorate? And, when the sheen wears of, who will continue to support him in Parliament and in the streets? If the widespread discontent after the inancial crisis of 2008 is this generation’s equivalent of the protests of 1968, there is real cause for concern. After all, Mr. Macron’s friends in the French civil service have singularly failed to come up with adequate strategies to deal with France’s current economic problems. And his own rather consensual platitudes ofer no real modiication of the status quo. So, yes, history suggests that Mr. Macron’s momentum can lead him to victory. But it also suggests that disillusionment will set in fast. With a whole raft of political enemies poised to take advantage of any slipups, it will be a diicult — and dangerous — balancing act. Emile Chabal is a Chancellor’s Fellow in History at the University of Edinburgh and the author of ‘A Divided Republic: Nation, State and Citizenship in Contemporary France’

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

momentum to the growing closeness between India and Bangladesh. However, accelerated progress of the relationship is handicapped by certain intractable political issues. River water resource-sharing and security issues such as illegal migration, porous borders, counterfeit currency notes and cattle smuggling challenge its potential. None of these can be resolved unilaterally or bilaterally. The border States have to be taken on board. Strategic geopolitics is yet another aspect in which New Delhi and Dhaka have not been able to ind common ground. The ‘orbiting obsession’ of countries in South Asia along a Chinese ellipse jeopardises the balance of power in the region. The growth of investment, trade, commerce and the vision of regional prosperity that the Prime Minister has articulated will require an amicable resolution of these issues. Bibhuti Das,

REUTERS

A Rail Development Authority is more than a bold reform move, it’s a paradigm shift

In fact, the anti-Romeo act reveals that this law is selective, and secondly, it reveals more about the fears of Mr. Adityanath rather than the fears of women in the city. Second, the anti-rowdy project is a part of a wider programme. One has to see it as part of ‘ghar wapsi’ and Love Jihad. Anti-Romeo is part of the Yogi’s campaign. The anti-Muslim bias is obvious in the irst two. In the third, a secular cover tells Hindus and Muslims not to mix too freely. They will now be seen as law or order issues. The local nuisance is raised to the height of villainy and disposed of. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is pretending to soothe local fears and settle political scores. In justifying it, local leaders have said that romance should be a drawing room afair and not a spectacle on the streets. Implicit in it are two assumptions. Romance should have parental approval, and it should be restricted to the same community. There is a humourless quality to the whole afair. When Prashant Bhushan suggested that Krishna may not have been so lucky if Mr. Adityanath had lived in mythical times, the Bajrang Dal and other Hindutva groups immediately protested. It is clear that our gods have a sense of humour, of love, of fun and frolic that Mr. Adityanath and his ilk lack. One wonders why the threat of the Bajrang Dal is not seen as a threat to rights or to law and order. One senses Krishna might be having a chuckle at the antics of his so-called loyalists.

DEEPAK HARICHANDAN

There has to be a debate between the human development approach and the Hindutva model of development

Bangladesh has never truly reciprocated India’s friendly gestures. Hence, West Bengal is justiied in not letting the Teesta issue slip away. Dealing the humanitarian hand beyond a limit will have severe repercussions. The Bengal coast has a signiicant share in India’s regional trade. Myanmar’s Rohingya issue may also compel India to watch its borders more closely. Amidst all these equations, it is troubling that India is surrounded by cynical neighbours. A dispassionate look will show that Bangladesh’s responses to India’s moves on the enclaves and the Ganga water treaty are lukewarm. It is also moving towards China. Apart from ‘neighbourhood irst’, the policy of ‘India irst’ should be asserted during Sheikh Hasina’s visit.

■

Shivam Dwivedi, Lucknow

Farm loan waivers Loan waiver is not a permanent measure for the farmer’s agony and will

prove to be a drag in the long run. It is a retrograde step in the development of the entire agricultural sector. Ways should be explored to make agriculture more proitable. Issues such as desilting waterbodies, linking rivers, raising the groundwater table through rainwater harvesting, and using scientiic farming methods should all be explored to boost agriculture. Sravana Ramachandran,

MGNREGS instead of 150 days as decided by the government recently to mitigate the distress of landless farm workers in Tamil Nadu? How about weavers who have taken loans and are facing distress? At the most, the Bench could have forwarded the representation to the government or made the suggestion of constituting an expert committee to look into the distress and act quickly.

Chennai

A. Narayanan, Chennai

It is surprising how the learned judges have ventured into the ield of policy domain and iscal matters. This is all about a democratic polity. Fiscal policy is an expert domain and I am sure that courts have neither the expertise nor the constitutional mandate or provision in such matters. How about landless farm workers who may also be facing a distress situation? How about ordering 250 days of employment under

■

Flight ban The Shiv Sena’s gheraoing of Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in the Lok Sabha, its threat to not allow the operation of

lights out of Mumbai and Pune, and another threat of boycotting the next NDA meeting — some of these stances have changed since then — deserve to be condemned. Allowing Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad to ly again is bound to create fear in the minds of passenger and crew. Given his temperament and the “Shiv Sena culture”, there is no guarantee that he will not behave violently again. In his Lok Sabha speech, Mr. Gaikwad almost cast himself in a new saintly avatar with his “alternative facts”. It is appalling that Parliament has decided to overlook his appalling behaviour. G. David Milton, Maruthancode, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

more letters online: www.hindu.com/opinion/letters/

corrections & clarifications: Manish Pandey is playing for Kolkata Knight Riders and not for Rising Pune Supergiant as mentioned in the ifth paragraph of a report, “Supergiant looks to Big Ben” (Sport, April 6, 2017). It is the policy of The Hindu to correct signiicant errors as soon as possible. Please specify the edition (place of publication), date and page. The Readers’ Editor’s office can be contacted by Telephone: +91-44-28418297/28576300 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday); Fax: +91-44-28552963; E-mail:[email protected]; Mail: Readers’ Editor, The Hindu, Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860 Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002, India. All communication must carry the full postal address and telephone number. No personal visits. The Terms of Reference for the Readers’ Editor are on www.thehindu.com

M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU

GROUND ZERO 7

NOIDA/DELHI

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

New foot soldiers: “We don’t fear bullets and bombs, we are all part of Mujib’s army,” shouts a student ... And that’s when it strikes you… it is no longer 1971 but 2017. The canteen at Dhaka University, run by Madhusudan Dey’s son, who witnessed the Dhaka University massacre, remains a focal point for student protests. SUHASINI HAIDAR *

The long healing of 1971 As Bangladesh attempts to memorialise a bitter past, the government’s moves to address the growing cries for justice and reparation have deepened the fault lines at a time when it is already grappling with extremism and terror, reports Suhasini Haidar It is the morning of March 28 and there is a sea of students milling around the canteen of Dhaka University. In the hundreds, they encircle the iconic building, making their way to Madhur Canteen (Madhu’s canteen). “Pakistani Razakar, ei muhurtey Bangla chad (O collaborators of Pakistan, leave Bangladesh this minute), Pakistani pretata Pakistaney choley jao (O ghosts of Pakistan, go back),” they shout, reaching a crescendo in the yard outside the canteen. As the chants of “Direct Action” grow louder and louder, one could almost be forgiven for imagining being transported 45 years back in time, to 1971, when rivers of blood flowed through the university. On March 25 that year, at the beginning of a crackdown called “Operation Searchlight”, Pakistan Army troops had stormed this campus, killing professors and students in house after house, classroom after classroom, hostel after hostel. The brutality of the operation was immortalised by singer Joan Baez, who protested U.S. support to Pakistan at the time in ‘Song of Bangladesh’: “The soldiers came and shot them in their beds / And terror took the dorm awakening shrieks of dread / And silent frozen forms and pillows drenched in red.” Madhusudan Dey, or ‘Madhu da’ as he was known to all at Dhaka University, was picked out specifically, not just because he was a Hindu, but because his canteen was the meeting ground for the student league leaders rebelling against West Pakistan. In the 1940s the founder of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a regular here too, and legend has it that Madhu da’s book of outstanding bills included an amount against Mujib too. The soldiers killed Madhu da’s wife and son first, and then dragged him out of his home, to the Jagannath Hall playground near where we stand watching the protests, and executed him along with several students. Today the canteen, run by his son, who witnessed the Dhaka University massacre, remains a focal point for students’ protests. The entire ceiling length of the room, once a long ice-skating rink, is painted with the Bangladesh flag: a deep forest green with a single red sun in the middle of it, that one has to crane one’s neck to see properly. And in the yard outside, a bust of Madhusudan Dey stands in his memory. “Bhoy kurina guli boma, amraa shobai Mujib sena (We don’t fear bullets and bombs, we are all part of Mujib’s army),” shouts Lipi Akhter, a 19-year-old student. Lipi commandeers the girls into the canteen to discuss further protests planned over a cup of tea. And that’s when it strikes you… it is no longer 1971 but 2017. ‘Mujib’s sena’ is the army of Bangladesh, and it has been nearly half a century since the nation was liberated. The ‘direct action’ the students are demanding instead is for a crackdown against terrorist groups including the Neo-Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (Neo JMB), responsible for the recent three-day shootout in Sylhet, CM YK

and accused of carrying out last year’s Islamic State-inspired Dhaka café siege in which 22 people were killed. Some students go further in their slogans, linking the terrorists to the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, conflating all ‘anti-secular’ forces into the enemy. “We want to be safe,” says Lipi. “Our fight is against jangibadis (extremists), and every generation of Bangladeshis has had to fight them in some way or another.”

The pain of the past It is this narrative that has most driven the discourse in Bangladesh in the past few decades, as it struggles with the wounds of its post-Partition history, its liberation war, and the military rule that followed the assassination of current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s father Mujib and most of her family in 1975. Each tragic and gruesome chapter has eclipsed the nation’s ability to fully deal with the one before: West Pakistan’s brutal attempt to colonise the East with its military regime, subversion of its ruling classes and its language ended in 1971, but only after a genocide that saw 4% of Bangladesh wiped out by Pakistani troops and their paramilitary forces called the Razakars who together are held responsible for the death of three million, and the rape of more than 200,000 women in the period between March 1971 and December 1971. Bangladesh barely had the chance to savour its liberation, or celebrate its President and leader Mujib, when members of its army carried out a coup on August 15, 1975, killing every member of his family across three homes in Dhaka: Mujib, his wife, sons, including Hasina’s youngest brother Russell, who was all of 10 years old. The assassination, that Hasina escaped as she was abroad, paved the way for more assassinations and a series of military rulers who sought to wipe out the official history of the liberation war, until a parliamentary system was restored in the early 1990s. These rulers, including current opposition leader and former PM Khaleda Zia’s husband Gen. Ziaur Rahman, didn’t just erase the history, they set Bangladesh on an Islamist course, and moved the country away from its left-wing secular past, and from India, which had played a pivotal role in the liberation. “The war was the greatest moment in every Bengali’s life, but the war was being lost from memory,” describes 72year-old Ziauddin Tariq Ali, a former Muktijoddha (freedom fighter), of the school textbooks, newspaper narratives and official accounts of the time. “We fought for liberation, and now we were struggling to remind people of what we had done,” he adds. Museum of memories In 1994, Ziauddin and a few other Muktijoddhas decided to set up a museum to the cause. The Liberation War Museum in Segun Bagicha, Dhaka had humble beginnings, which coincided with Hasina’s first term in power in 1996. Ziauddin and the others then set

about collating what they could of the past, recreating through memories what had been erased from evidence. Over the years they have built up an impressive collection of documents, official letters, photographs and military transcripts piecing together Bangladesh’s war. Ziauddin says only half their funds came from the government, as ordinary people donated the rest for the museum or “Jadughor”, which will move to a massive new complex in Agargaon on April 16. Families of Muktijoddhas have donated personal diaries, weapons, blood-stained clothes and other documents they had as keepsakes of lost loved ones. Over 40,000 schoolchildren helped with a unique project: each of them interviewed parents and grandparents who had survived the war and the genocide, and wrote accounts that contributed to an oral history project. The most horrifying, yet important exhibit is that of the skulls and bones recovered from mass graves, some from right in the heart of Dhaka’s Mirpur area. The effort is not just one of remembrance, but in order to ensure future generations acknowledge the past,

says Ziauddin. To that end, the government’s Information and Communication Technology Department has gone virtually, and quite literally into the past, as no memorabilia can: with a series of video games that allow you to be a Muktijoddha killing Pakistani officers. Inaugurated by Hasina’s son Sajeeb ‘Joy’ Wazed, who is her adviser on IT, the latest in the series “Heroes of 1971: Retaliation” features Anila, a gun-toting, knife-wielding young woman who helps the other freedom fighters liberate women from a torture camp run by Pakistani troops, and blow up key bridges. Others virtually train you to be a Mukti Bahini cadre, taking you from level 1 where you ambush and kill soldiers to level 8, where you blow up key bridges and Pakistani bases. The series has seen millions of downloads in the past two years, mainly by teenagers and young Bangladeshis, and is considered one of the most popular video games in the country. “Without knowing our history, we cannot have a future,” says student Bijoy Haldar emphatically, when asked why all this harking back to a history half a century ago is necessary.

Endless cycle of revenge Clearly, remembrance is only part of the effort, as the success of the video games series indicates. Many Bangladeshis want both reparations and revenge as well. Perhaps the most contentious project in this effort, one which sears many homes across the country even today, is that of the ongoing International Crimes Tribunal, a domestic tribunal tasked to dispense justice to about 1,600 war criminals identified by an enquiry. Its verdicts have already sent six men, mostly political leaders of Jamaat and the BNP, to the gallows since 2009. In 2010, five ex-army officers were also hanged for Mujib’s assassination. The hangings have had street backing: in 2013, hundreds of thousands gathered in Dhaka’s Shahbag Square,

demanding all those convicted of war crimes be hanged. The picture was vivid, and the contrasts stark: even as students and protesters sang songs praising the Bangla ethos of plurality, of harmony and love, they took out marches holding nooses in their hands, recreating a mock-gallows on a stage next to their protests as they chanted “Phansi chai, phansi chai” (Hang them, hang them). I remember a young journalist at the Shahbag protest rejecting the idea there was any contradiction in the two streams. “No Bangladeshi family was untouched by what happened,” he said, adding, “Remember, for us, liberation was also a second Partition, in terms of the killings, and everyone knows what each of these Razakars did.” Even a suggestion that the demand to hang those accused, most of whom are well into their seventies, maybe seen as ‘bloodthirsty’, gets Ziauddin visibly agitated. “I resent the thought, and am shocked that anyone would see our search for justice for the atrocities perpetrated by Pakistan as anything but fair. That is an insult to three million Bangladeshis, and only those who haven’t lost anyone in the war can make it,” he says, angrily. From the time Ziauddin and other Muktijoddhas began the plan for the war liberation museum, Dhaka has seen more than seven other museums built, each on the foundation of this sense of injustice. The strength of those feelings ensures that very few inside Bangladesh publicly question the effectiveness of the trials, despite the fact that most of the main figures responsible for carrying out the atrocities either fled to Pakistan, or were allegedly allowed passage in the tripartite agreement of 1974, or are dead. India has stood steadfastly by Bangladesh and Prime Minister Hasina on the issue, but countries like the U.K., the U.S. and others in the Islamic world led by Pakistan have also asked about the fairness of the trial process, where evidence mostly rests on testimonials. In the trial of former BNP minister and seven-term MP Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, for example, the prosecution presented 41 witnesses, while his defence was restricted to four. When he was sentenced to death, his wife pleaded that Chowdhury, whose father was the Speaker of Pakistan’s Assembly pre-liberation, had been studying in Lahore during the war. But in its 172page verdict the tribunal rejected that, detailing charges of torture and murder of 200 people, mostly Hindu, including the killing of well-known philanthropist Nutan Chandra Sinha, whose family members testified against Chowdhury. He was executed in November 2015.

The rising radicalism There are others one meets: civil society activists, lawyers and journalists who echo the same sentiment, but will not want to be identified saying it publicly, for fear of being painted traitors to the cause. At the same time, the threat of Islamic radicalisation threatens civil society too. This has taken a vicious and vi-

olent form since 2013, when five ‘bloggers’ or writers against religious extremism have been hacked to death by machete-wielding gangs that were able to attack with impunity. As they did during Partition, and 1971, minority Hindus have borne the brunt of the violence, and in 2016 thousands were forced to flee their homes in eastern Bangladesh’s Nazirnagar after mobs set them on fire, demolishing temples and assaulting priests. “Within Bangladesh we have been embroiled in a civil war post 1975. There have also always been external influences that have fuelled this civil war,” says former Ambassador Tariq Karim. Some of it is political, no doubt. “Sheikh Hasina is convinced 200% that Khaleda Zia’s husband either knew about her father’s killing or ordered it. On her part Zia accuses Hasina of being involved in the plot to assassinate her husband General Ziaur Rahman. They are both bound by these very strong bonds of revenge and it seems hard to see any way out for them,” he adds. In the narrative of secular and pluralistic Bangladesh, there is now little difference between Mujib’s assassins, the opposition parties, Islamist extremists, terror groups and the ‘Razakars’ of the Pakistani Army — they have all been conflated together.

by educating the < > Perhaps generation after that, showing them what justice means, and teaching them that histories can’t be forgotten, we have some chance of peace. Ziauddin Tariq Ali Muktijoddha (freedom ighter)

“Terrorists, Jamaatis, all are inspired by the same kind of jangibad (extremism),” explains 18-year-old Samia, who is studying for her degree in Islamic Studies at Dhaka University. Finally, many say it is impossible to heal without a proper apology from the Pakistani government and army for the atrocities. Pakistan has, however, remained in denial of the genocide, apart from a half-acknowledgement by President Pervez Musharraf in 2002 during a visit to Dhaka, when he regretted “the excesses committed during the unfortunate period” and asked Bangladeshis to “bury the past”. I ask Ziauddin Tariq Ali what a final reconciliation will take, given that the memorial he and his fellow fighters dreamed of will be opened next week, the war crimes trials are ongoing, and an effort is now underway to declare March 25 the “International Day of Genocide” by the United Nations. “For my generation and perhaps the next generation, it is simply not possible. But perhaps by educating the generation after that, showing them what justice means, and teaching them that histories can’t be forgotten, we have some chance of peace,” he says.

The writer travelled to Dhaka as part of a media delegation hosted by the Bangladesh government M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

8 NEWS

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

FROM PAGE ONE

Opposition seeks apology from Naqvi “As for the Rajasthan incident, we do not justify any goondaism or anarchy and there should be legal action. FIRs have been lodged against six persons and action is being taken,” he added. As Opposition members rushed into the well of the House demanding an apology, Mr. Kurien said there was no need for an apology from anyone. “Yes, it is correct that yesterday, Mr. Naqvi, who perhaps was not aware of this incident, said that it did not happen,” Mr. Kurien said. “Then, I told him that he should contact the Home Minister, ascertain the facts and come back to the House. Today, after the Leader of the Opposition raised it, Mr. Naqvi said that, yes, in Rajasthan, this incident had happened, and, he also said that an FIR

has been registered and people have been arrested.” Minutes earlier, the continuing protest of Congress leaders in the House angered Mr. Kurien, who said he would not adjourn the House in the face of “intimidation”. Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad sought to know why Home Minister Rajnath Singh had not yet spoken in the Rajya Sabha on the matter. “It is unjust... every day they are undermining Rajya Sabha,” Mr. Azad said. When Mr. Naqvi responded by saying that the Home Minister was in Andaman at the moment, Mr. Azad said any of the Ministers of State for Home could have made a statement. “I am very sorry. This government should take Rajya Sabha seriously,” he said.

Hasina to raise water sharing with Modi Ms. Hasina met with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday, which the Ministry described as a “courtesy call”. Ms. Hasina will meet with Mr Modi at Delhi’s Hyderabad House on Saturday morning for bilateral talks which will be followed by an official lunch. “We also would like to further discuss the PadmaGanges Barrage project and basin-wide management of our water resources to the benefit of our two peoples,” Mr. Ali said. Indian officials however, have little hope for movement on the Teesta issue and have focussed on about 25 other major agreements expected, including the Defence cooperation MoUs, a credit line of $500 million for defence and a development line of $5 billion as well as agreements on trade, connectivity and maritime cooperation. In particular, Chief Minister Banerjee’s decision to attend the official receptions for Ms. Hasina in Delhi on Saturday gave rise to speculation that an announcement on Teesta was imminent. However, a statement by Ms. Banerjee this week,

who has maintained that she has not been consulted by the government has dimmed those hopes. The agreement on Teesta was ready for signing in 2011, when Mr. Manmohan Singh had travelled to Dhaka, but had to be put off at the last minute when Ms. Banerjee pulled out of the visit claiming the framework agreement was against her state’s interests.

To meet ‘71 heroes On the ceremony to honour Indian soldiers who fought in the 1971 war, Mr Ali said, “Valiant members of the Indian Armed Forces fought shoulder-to- shoulder with our freedom fighters in the final stages of the Liberation War — their blood mingled with the blood of our Mukti Bahini. By honouring them during the visit of Ms Hasina, we are indeed acknowledging their supreme sacrifice in our Liberation War.” He said Ms. Hasina will meet with seven of 1,667 soldiers who will be honoured at what is expected to be a very emotional ceremony at Delhi’s Manekshaw Auditorium, named after the former Indian Army chief in 1971.

Tarun causes stir with racist remark “My words perhaps were not enough to convey this. Feel bad, really feel sorry, my apologies to those who feel I said different than what I meant,” he tweeted later. “I feel the entire statement says this — we have fought racism and we have people with different colour and culture... still never had any racism.... Never said what is being interpreted.” He added: “I have Tamil, Bengali, Telugu in my family — worked with commitment for Tamil culture, without any politics, collectively with all. I can die, but how can I ridicule my own culture, my own people and my own nation? Think be-

fore you misinterpret my badly framed sentence.” The statement, however, invited criticism from the political class. “This shocking statement speaks volumes about the bigoted mindset of the BJP! Sad, that we have come to this,” Congress communication department chief Randeep Surjewala tweeted. CPI (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat told The Hindu: “Mr. Tarun Vijay's comment reflects the core Hindutva ideology of Aryan superiority. What was in his mind came out today. He has apologised for his words, but his thoughts will remain what they are.”

Air India lifts ban on Sena MP Gaikwad The letter stated that a ‘National No Fly List’ would be established soon to “deal with unruly passengers in a more effective manner in future” by bringing in amendments to the relevant rules framed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. After the 9/11 attack in 2001, the U.S. created a ‘No Fly List’ with the help of its airlines and those who were on it were prohibited from flying to and from the country. In countries such as U.K., airlines maintain their own list of passengers who are not allowed to board the plane. Early on Friday, Air India cancelled Mr. Gaikwad’s ticket for the seventh time as it had received no direction from the Ministry to lift the travel ban till then. Air India had canCM YK

celled Mr. Gaikwad’s DelhiMumbai ticket booked for April 17 and Mumbai-Delhi ticket for April 24 immediately after it was booked at 5 a.m., an AI spokesperson said. For the first time ever, domestic airlines came together last month to impose a ban on Mr. Gaikwad after he allegedly assaulted a 60year-old Air India duty manager on March 23. The airlines had urged the Centre to create a ‘No Fly List’ for unruly passengers. “Such customers are not welcome on our carriers and we seek the support of the Government and security agencies to enforce such a ‘No Fly List’,” Federation of Indian Airlines Associate Director Ujjwal Dey had said in a statement on March 24.

Rajasthan explains its actions post-lynching State sends report to Home Ministry after Rajnath query; cites arrest of trio and formation of a special probe team Special Correspondent New Delhi

A day after the Alwar incident — where a 55-year-old dairy farmer was lynched by cow vigilantes — was raised in the Parliament, the Home Ministry had intervened and sought a report from the Rajasthan government. In its report, the State government said three persons had been arrested and a special police team had been constituted to arrest the remaining accused allegedly involved in the lynching of Pehlu Khan, a resident of Nuh in Haryana. The local police reached the spot soon after receiving the report about the incident, rescued four of Khan's colleagues and took him to a

hospital, the report to the Union Home Ministry said. The report also said that when four days later Khan succumbed to injuries, Section 302 IPC (murder) was added to the FIR. The Rajasthan government said three people have been arrested so far and a special police team has been constituted to probe the incident and find out the circumstances leading to it. The incident took place when as many as 16 people were allegedly transporting 36 bovines in six pickup vans. The deceased, Khan, and four others, including his two sons, were beaten brutally by some locals at Behror in Alwar suspecting

they were smuggling cows, police said.

Rocks Parliament The incident rocked both Houses of Parliament where the Congress attacked the BJP, saying the Constitution was being violated in the name of cow protection in the States ruled by the saffron party. Though the incident occurred on April 1, the Home Ministry sought a report only after P.J. Kurien, deputy chairman of the Rajya Sabha asked Home Minister Rajnath Singh to seek a report and make a statement in the House. Mr. Singh is expected to make a statement on the issue on Monday.

NHRC issues notices Press Trust of India New Delhi

Ruckus in House: Congress members vociferously protested in Parliament on Friday, saying the Constitution was being violated in the name of cow protection. PTI *

Khan died of injuries on chest, abdomen Ribs were broken, blood clots were found near heart, states post-mortem report

The NHRC has issued notices to the Centre and the Rajasthan government over the Alwar lynching case. Terming the incident as painful and a “serious violation” of human rights, the panel asserted that “self-proclaimed” volunteers, creating an “atmosphere of fear” in the society, are required to be dealt with strictly as per law. “The State has a responsibility to remain vigilant to prevent such activities,” it said.

No cows at U.P. cattle fair Press Trust of India

Special Correspondent JAIPUR

Dairy farmer Pehlu Khan, who was beaten up by a mob of cow vigilantes at Behror in Alwar district last week, died of serious injuries on his chest and lower abdomen, the autopsy report has revealed in its preliminary findings. The 55-year-old farmer from Nuh in Haryana sustained internal injuries on his lungs, while his ribs were broken and blood clots were found near his heart, stated the post-mortem report prepared by a four-member

team of doctors and medical jurists. “It appears prima facie that Pehlu Khan died of internal injuries and heavy bleeding. The medical team has asked for viscera analysis for submitting its final report,” Alwar superintendent of police Rahul Prakash told The Hindu on Friday. The three accused — Vipin Yadav, Ravindra Yadav and Kalu Ram Yadav — who were arrested on Wednesday on the basis of video footage of the incident, were produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Behror

on the expiry of their oneday police remand. The court sent them to judicial custody for 14 days.

Hunt on for 10 more Mr. Prakash said the police had identified 10 more accused persons in the case after establishing their presence on the spot from the video footage circulated on social media. Their names have been added to the FIR registered initially against six suspects on charge of murder and other offences. Three special teams of police officers were

searching for the accused, who had fled their homes, and were conducting raids at their suspected hideouts, said the Superintendent of Police. Civil rights groups have sought immediate intervention of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to stop the “lawlessness and free run” given to cow vigilantes allegedly with the support of many people in high places. Asking whether the law and order machinery had been handed over by the police to the cow protection vigilante groups, the People's

Flood situation eases in Kashmir Jhelum level drops in two places; PM assures Mehbooba of Centre’s support

Union for Civil Liberties said if this was not stopped, lawlessness would prevail on the streets and the State's economic foundation would be attacked.

Demands of activists In a memorandum submitted to Ms. Raje, PUCL State president Kavita Srivastava and other activists demanded immediate arrest of all attackers, suspension of Behror Station House Officer and resignation of Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria for “openly glorifying and lauding the criminals”.

Bulandshahr

The organisers of a weekly cattle fair have banned the trade of cow and its progeny at Syana town, about 30 km from here. Cattle fair organiser Maskhoor Khan said the decision was taken to prevent cows and their progenies from getting slaughtered. Mr. Khan alleged that slaughterhouses in neighbouring Sambhal and Bijnor districts purchased cows in the fair.

Cong. keen to cash in on GST

Peerzada Ashiq Srinagar

While the Jhelum river, which runs across the Valley, remained in spate for the second consecutive day on Friday, its levels started decreasing in south Kashmir and Srinagar, bringing relief to the local population. The Centre also offered help to the government in tackling the flood situation. Life in the Valley has been affected by rain over the past three days. In south Kashmir, the gauge at Sangam showed 18.70 feet at 6 p.m. compared to 22.10 feet on Thursday night. Similarly, the water level at the Ram Munshibagh gauge in Srinagar came down from 20 feet to 19.60 for the same period. However, the water levels at both gauges continue to flow above the danger mark. “People should not panic as the water level in the river and other tributaries is receding,” said Chief Engineer, Irrigation and Flood Control department, Muhammad Hanief Lone. The Srinagar-Jammu Highway continued to be closed

Manmohan wanted to take it forward Smita Gupta NEW DELHI

Water world: The Hanuman Mandir at Amira was inundated on Friday after rain lashed Srinagar for the last three days. NISSAR AHMAD *

due to the slippery condition of roads. Several areas remain inundated in Srinagar. PM Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Friday. A tweet sent from the official handle of the Prime Minister’s Office said: “The PM offered all possible support in dealing with the flood situation in

PM: focus on providing afordable healthcare PHCs to be strengthened, says Nadda Special Correspondent New Delhi

On the occasion of World Health Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his government was leaving no stone unturned in providing quality healthcare that was accessible and affordable. The Health Ministry had launched free drugs and diagnostics initiative to make healthcare affordable while undertaking a universal health screening in 100 districts for hypertension, diabetes and breast, cervical and oral cancers. Speaking to the press, J.P. Nadda, Union Health Minister, said, “We will strengthen Public Health Centres and around one lakh sub centres will be transformed into wellness centres, 2,500 have already been selected for a pilot.” The World Health Organisation is focussing on depression this year to raise awareness on World Health Day. According to WHO, sui-

cide is the leading cause of death among young people (between 20-40 age-group) in India along with adolescents (15-19 years). India recently passed the long-awaited Mental Healthcare Bill, decriminalising suicide and guaranteeing the rights to better healthcare for people with mental illness. Calling it a ‘happy coincidence’, Mr. Nadda said the passing of the Mental Healthcare Bill was so closely followed by the celebration of the World Health Day, themed on depression, that it should help in increasing awareness and reducing stigma associated with mental health. “We are witnessing a historic event in the healthcare sector of our country. Decriminalisation of suicide is another significant facet of the Bill, which will ensure proper management of severe stress as a precursor for suicide attempts,” Mr. Nadda said.

the Valley.” Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Ms. Mufti and offered support.

Soldiers’ bodies found Meanwhile, the bodies of three soldiers, who were trapped in an Army post after an avalanche in Kargil’s Batalik sector, were recovered on Friday.

Five soldiers were trapped in the post on Thursday. Later, two soldiers were rescued. The deceased have been identified as Havaldar Prabhu Kirke (43), Lance Naik Bihari Marandi (34), and Sepoy Kuldeep Lakra (22), all hailing from Jharkhand. (With PTI inputs)

The Congress’s desire to take ownership of the gamechanging Goods and Services Tax legislation (that it had introduced while in power) played out this week in Parliament. A day after Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh said he was withdrawing his amendments to the Bill on the advice of former PM Manmohan Singh, another Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, underscored on Friday, at an official briefing, all the shortcomings in the GST Bills that were cleared by the Upper House on Thursday, repeating much of what he had said in the House. Asked whether there was no contradiction between the accolades the party had given Dr. Singh on Thursday and his highlighting the loopholes in the legislation, Mr. Sibal said, “In the Finance Bill, too, we managed to get some amendments through in the Rajya Sabha,

BJP Kisan Morcha hails farm loan waiver in U.P.

but they were rejected in the Lok Sabha, and so had no impact. So what was the point in moving amendments to the GST Bills?”

No differences Stressing there were no differences in the Congress on GST, he said, “We support GST, it was our Bill, but what has been cleared is not ideal. Dr. Manmohan Singh is one of the tallest leaders in this country; he behaved in a statesman-like fashion. He wanted to take it forward.” Then, why were the amendments discussed with other Opposition parties? “There is nothing wrong in discussing amendments,” he said, adding, but in the end, on Dr. Singh’s advice, “we didn’t move them, as they would have been rejected in the Lok Sabha.” Later, Dr. Singh hailed the passage of the GST Bills and sought to play down the fact that it could not happen during his tenure, saying “let bygones be bygones”.

‘Diicult to meet BS-VI deadline’ Legal Correspondent

It disagrees with RBI chief ’s view against the decision Nistula Hebbar NEW DELHI

BJP Kisan Morcha chief Virendra Singh Mast has disagreed with Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel who termed loan waivers a moral hazard, and welcomed the U.P. government’s move to waive loans of up to ₹1 lakh for small and marginal farmers. “Banking is a commercial enterprise, led by profit motive. Mr. Patel spoke with a banker’s perspective. Governments need to take a humane approach. When farmers are committing suicide over indebtedness, then governments have to think of solutions in human terms, and humanitarian considerations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to the people of U.P. on this matter has solved the crisis of faith that was afflicting our politics,” he said.

He added that farmers had a far better record of return of loans than big corporate houses.

ant sounding boards for the loan waiver promise that found its way into the BJP’s manifesto in the State. “Other States, within the constraints of the federal structure and their own financial considerations should offer a waiver to small and marginal farmers,” he said.

Social charter “Also, if you look at the notification of nationalisation of banks back in 1969, it was said that 45% of the funds were to be kept aside for rural areas and agricultural sector, so there was always a social charter to banking systems in our country,” he said. “Waivers are of course a temporary measure and it has to be backed up by other reforms,” he said. Mr. Mast, Lok Sabha MP from Bhadohi in Uttar Pradesh, was one of the import-

Other measures The MP said that other farmfriendly measures for U.P. were on the anvil. “We have in our kisan manifesto for the party promised interestfree loans to farmers, a subsidy of up to 80-90% for farmers to keep milch animals like cows or goats,” he added. He had also written to Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ram Vilas Paswan to specifically add potatoes as a named item to the list of food items served in the midday meal scheme.

have to be < > Waivers backed up by other reforms Virendra Singh Mast BJP Kisan Morcha chief

NEW DELHI

Automobile manufacturers conveyed to the Supreme Court on Friday their difficulty in starting the process of conversion of vehicles to BS-VI emission norm from 2019 to meet the April 1, 2020 deadline. The manufacturers told a Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta that as per the report of the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA), they have to start the conversion of their vehicles into BS-VI from 2019 so that it could be sold from April 1, 2020, but said there were technological issues in it. “The BS-VI would come into effect from April 1, 2020. Effectively, we will have to start the process of conversion from 2019 which is difficult. There are issues of technology,” Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) told the court. M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU

NEWS 9

NOIDA/DELHI

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

IN BRIEF

INTERVIEW | ASHWANI KUMAR

‘There are glaring inequities in our social system’ ‘Caste, religion, money and muscle continue to determine electoral outcomes... debilitating our democracy’ Smita Gupta

EC committee inds no fault with Bhind EVM NEW DELHI

The inquiry committee of the Election Commission, which probed the allegations over a VVPAT dispensing only slips with the BJP symbol during a demonstration exercise in Bhind, has concluded that the machine was functioning accurately. However, it has fixed the responsibility for certain procedural lapses on the District Electoral Officer and the Returning Officer. As the data fed into the machine during the tests in U.P. was not removed, it led to the glitch, the panel observed.

Mukta Tomar appointed India’s envoy to Germany NEW DELHI

Mukta Dutta Tomar, a 1984batch IFS officer, has been appointed India’s next ambassador to Germany. The appointment of Tomar, who will succeed Gurjit Singh, comes ahead of PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Germany next month. The external affairs ministry on Friday said she is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Among other positions, Ms. Tomar has been Consul General of India in Chicago. PTI

Former Union Minister and Rajya Sabha member (2002-2016) Ashwani Kumar was witness to “some of the testing moments” that unfolded in this period and which “resulted in transformational changes in the political landscape of the country.” In an interview with The Hindu, he talks about his new book, ‘Hope in a challenged democracy: An Indian Narrative’, in which he reflects on the momentous events of this period, his personal experiences as a Minister and the challenges before the Congress and the nation. India is a resilient but faltering democracy, you say in your book. Is the Congress, too, responsible?

I haven’t held one or other party responsible for the aberrations of our democracy. I’ve tried to objectively analyse the fault lines of our democracy… I can establish ours is a faltering democracy with just one example. In the 1998 Lok Sabha elections, Dr. Manmohan Singh lost South Delhi; (former dacoit) Phoolan Devi won Mirzapur. Most commentators in the world, including the late Khushwant Singh, asked whether this was the best image of Indian democracy. The repeated use of caste, religion and regional sentiments in the selection of candidates, the pervading influence of money and muscle power.. continue to debilitate our democracy… Parlia-

■

ment’s work is being taken over by the courts, the courts’ credibility is increasing in comparison with the decrease in the executive’s credibility. This upsets the constitutional equilibrium. Our political discourse has “become coarse with rancour”... not conducive to an atmosphere that can produce the critical consensus needed on vital national issues. The media, supposed to be the custodian of freedom and democracy, has been hijacked by corporates. There is a question mark on the stability of institutions that have so far underpinned India’s democracy. Dr. Singh’s defeat was unfortunate, but Phoolan Devi, who represented an oppressed community, added to the Lok Sabha’s diversity for, democracy is also about the widest possible representation.

have to be factored in by anyone seeking to lead them.

And caste, religion, will remain factors in Indian politics till greater social justice and economic equality are established. ■ There are glaring inequities in our social system. I’ve spoken of the growing insensitivities in our society... of a man carrying his young son on his shoulders for want of a stretcher in a hospital, of three sisters having to pull down their roof to make the funeral pyre for their mother... But caste, religion, money and muscle continue to determine electoral outcomes... debilitating our democracy. The best representatives don’t get elected... I agree political representation is the key to democracy, but what needs to be highlighted is the kind of representation our system is throwing up.

You write: “In these challenging times.… (The) nation demands leadership that is daring and humble, caring and wise such that can summon the national will to foster national renewal.” Would you comment on the leadership of the Congress and the BJP?

equally true RTI < > It’s became one of the principal reasons for paralysis in decisionmaking I won’t comment on individuals. But, yes, the quality of democracy anywhere in the world is linked to the quality of its leadership … We’ve seen what has happened in America, in Brexit, in our own country… People discover their leader… Leadership in a democracy is about bonding, the ability to bind people to a cause, communication, empathy, espousing the popular sensitivities at a given point in time. That ability is the measure of democratic leadership everywhere. The 2014 elections here were fought on the question of a strong leadership; the Trump presidency is clear testimony to the fact that the felt sensitivities of the people

■

Army gets 292 plaints via new grievance system CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

NEW DELHI

A total of 292 complaints were registered from serving and retired personnel on the sahayak system since February 2017 after the Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat announced a new grievance redress mechanism for soldiers. “If the complainant is not satisfied with the redress provided at one level, an opportunity is also given to him to take up the matter with the higher authority,” Subhash Bhamre, MoS for Defence, informed the Lok Sabha.

Awaiting the Guru

Special guest: Young monks wait to receive Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, at the Tawang Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh on Friday. REUTERS *

Uttarakhand denotiies 64 highways

The courts are meant for trial in sexual ofence cases against children

Staff Reporter

The Supreme Court on Friday directed High Courts to initiate steps to appoint independent public prosecutors for POCSO courts meant for trial in sexual offence cases against children. Section 32 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act mandates appointment of independent public prosecutors to try the accused in child abuse cases under the special law.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar found that several States had not appointed independent public prosecutors, including Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Haryana, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Chhattisgarh, Nagaland, Kerala, Meghalaya and Union Territories of Puducherry and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. “We consider it appropriate to require the registry of this court to communicate to

registrars of the High Courts concerned the decision of this court for implementation of Section 32 of the POCSO Act for appointment of independent public prosecutors,” the Bench directed.

‘Create infrastructure’ The Bench, which was hearing a PIL petition filed by advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, also directed the High Courts concerned to create necessary infrastruc-

ture in such POCSO courts so that a “child-friendly atmosphere” could be provided to the victims under Section 33 of the Act.

One in each district Mr. Bansal submitted that the website of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights showed that only 604 special courts have been constituted by States in 675 districts. This is when the Act mandates at least one court in each district.

Ken-Betwa link hits green hurdle Advisory panel disagrees with forest land allocation, wants canal re-aligned Jacob Koshy NEW DELHI

India’s apex forest advisory body has imposed tough conditions on the Ken-Betwa river interlinking project. Given the ecological and environmental impact posed by the project, it had to pass multiple authorities for clearance. A forest advisory clearance was seen to be the last step before the project was to begin. The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), the apex environment ministry authority that clears requests for diverting forest land for projects, usually rejects or recommends a proposal, CM YK

I’ve spoken of a profoundly political and philosophical question that’s not specific to any one party. When loyalties get divided,

■

RTI was a revolutionary step forward in the process of empowering the citizen, a great achievement of the UPA government. But it’s equally true RTI became one of the principal reasons for paralysis in decision-making in the government. Officers would find several excuses not to express their views on files (out of ) a fear of being hounded later even for legitimate policy decisions. At a meeting with the Prime Minister and other Planning Commission members, when I was MoS for Planning, I said we have no right to question the silence of the officers. At that point,

■

What was the UPA’s objective in introducing Aadhaar? What do you feel about the present government’s efforts to make it mandatory? ■ The UPA, actuated by the noblest of considerations, saw Aadhaar as an instrument of targeted delivery for services and subsidies for the people deserving of them. This government has carried it forward, and that’s a good thing. My objection is with respect to privacy concerns, an objection I had even when we were in government. I was appalled when the Attorney General recently told the Supreme Court in the context of the challenge to the legality of Aadhaar that privacy was not a fundamental right. Anyone familiar with Constitution jurisprudence would see that the courts have treated privacy as fundamental to human dignity.

‘Owe no legal duty to ofer a grace period’ NEW DELHI

HCs told to appoint independent public prosecutors in POCSO courts NEW DELHI

There is little room for multiple loyalties in a political party, you write.

Krishnadas Rajagopal

MEERUT

Legal Correspondent

■ The Congress must create a strong group of leaders across the country who can serve as icons to the millions of Indians ... looking to politics as a means of public service. Leadership at all levels has to be created and cultivated. The process of rejuvenating the party must begin with an honest and loud introspection of why our processes haven’t been able to throw up as many leaders ... as required.

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, you write, led to a paralysis in decisionmaking… now this government is trying to defang RTI.

even ministers would think several times before writing their notes. …Maybe the CIC, or the courts can give some guidelines, maybe the rules can be amended without denuding the RTI of its efficacy.

Centre justiies its Dec. 31 deadline for depositing old notes

HC grants bail to 2 Dadri lynching case accused The Allahabad High Court on Thursday granted bail to two of the 18 accused, Arun and Puneet, in the Mohammad Akhlaq murder case. Akhlaq was lynched to death by other residents of the Bishahra village in Dadri in September 2015. This is the first time that bail has been given to any major accused in the case. Three minor accused were granted bail last year. Arun was first to confirm that the meat allegedly thrown by Akhlaq was ‘beef’, which led to Akhlaq’s lynching.

The Congress, you write, is “facing an unprecedented challenge to its relevance in the scheme of national politics,” and that as “a party of the freedom movement that has been living off the reflected glory of its heroes, (it) must now find many more icons.”

questions are raised about loyalties. But the more important point is that reciprocity in loyalties... between a leader and a worker is a function of the power equation: you cannot will the leader to be as loyal to you as you are to the leader, because the leader is in a position of domination.

sometimes with conditions, for the diversion of forest land. As minutes of the March 30 meeting — made public on Friday — show, in the case of the Ken-Betwa project, the FAC has refrained from explicitly giving its opinion either way and only seconded an earlier sub-committee’s report that had cleared the project subject to strict caveats.

‘Not unprecedented’ “This is unusual for the FAC but not unprecedented,” a person privy to the forest clearance process told The Hindu. the FAC’s recommendations are passed on to

the environment minister, who can abide by them or reject them. The ₹18,000 crore river interlinking project requires 4,141 hectares of forest in the heart of the Panna Tiger reserve, and some more besides, to build a dam and a 230-km canal to transfer water to several drought-afflicted villages in Bundelkhand. As compensation for the pristine tiger habitat that would be inundated by the project, the Water Ministry had agreed to acquire about 8,000 hectares of forest land from the Madhya Pradesh government and revive them as forest.

But the FAC said this land was not good enough as it was fragmented, and, to meaningfully revive a forest that is part of tiger habitat, the land acquired ought to be contiguous. This would require, according to the FAC, “revenue lands/nonforest lands by way of purchase or otherwise by the project proponents and the government”. While a State can relatively allocate forest land for Central projects, transferring private or revenue land is harder, time-consuming and costly. The FAC has also asked for the project’s main canal to be re-aligned.

Dehradun

To circumvent the recent Supreme Court order banning sale of liquor within 500 metres of State and National Highways across the country, Uttarakhand government, on Friday, denotified its State highways and declared them as district roads. Uttarakhand has 64 State highways and according to a Cabinet decision, all State highways have been denotified by the Cabinet and have been declared as district roads. The State has 503 liquor shops, over 400 of which were affected by the Supreme Court order. The decision comes as a respite for over 150 liquor shops directly affected by the Supreme Court Order. According to Excise Department data, the excise revenue for 2016-17 was around ₹1,700-1,800 crore.

Not for total ban Looking at the financial situation of the State, which is largely dependent on the revenue from mining, liquor and tourism, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, in a statement, had hinted that his government was unwilling to impose total liquor ban. However, his government would work on a long term plan to “regulate” liquor trade and consumption, he had said.

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Friday that it owed no legal duty to citizens to extend a “grace period” for deposit of their demonetised ₹500 and ₹1,000 bank notes after December 31, 2016. The affidavit filed by the Union Ministry of Finance said the decision not to extend the period for deposit of demonetised notes was taken consciously after an overall review of the rampant “malpractices and irregularities” detected between November 9 and December 30, 2016 when the public was allowed to exchange or deposit their old money for the new currency. The government said the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance 2016 – which made possession of demonetised notes beyond December 31, 2016 an offence — was a “major economic step.” The government said the ordinance had nullified any assurances given by the RBI notification of November 8, 2016 to give a grace period. The ordinance has been replaced by an Act of Parliament. The affidavit said that between November 9, 2016 and January 1, 2017 more than 1,100 raids and surveys were conducted by the Income Tax department in various parts of the country. Of these raids, more than 400 cases were referred to the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI for further action in accordance with law.

₹141.13 cr. in new notes seized by I-T dept., ED crore by the CBI and ₹38 lakh by the DRI, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said The Income Tax during Question Hour. department, the “All new Indian currency Enforcement Directorate notes of ₹2,000 and ₹500 and other agencies have denominations seized ₹141.13 crore seized by the ED are worth new deposited in SBI or currency notes of any nationalised ₹2,000 and ₹500 bank so that they in different parts of come back in the country, the circulation,” he Lok Sabha was Arun Jaitley said. Mr. Jaitley informed on Friday. said all government Of this amount, ₹110 agencies had requisite crore was seized by the I-T officials for actions against Department, ₹4.54 crore black money hoarders. seized by the ED, ₹26.21

Press Trust of India New Delhi

The undisclosed income detected from these raids was more than ₹5,400 crore, the government submitted.

5,100 notices The same period saw the government issue 5,100 notices for verification of “high-value suspicious cash deposits” made in bank accounts. Preliminary probes following the raids in the first three weeks of demonetisation revealed irregularities ranging from unusual spurt in cash sales immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s live TV announcement on November 8 last year to cash advances against “future sales.” The government said initiatives like the Income Tax department’s ‘Operation Clean Money’, have identified 18 lakh persons with

suspicious tax profiles. Shadowy deposits made in the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana were detected. “More than 3.78 lakh out of 18 lakh high-risk cases have been taken up for assessment and investigation,” the affidavit said. It attempts to show the extent to which black money has pervaded society. The affidavit said searches undertaken by the Income Tax department between April 1, 2014 and February 28, 2017 in more than 2,027 groups revealed black money to the tune of ₹36,051 crore and seizure of undisclosed assets worth ₹2,890 crore. Again, 15,000 surveys for the same period resulted in the detection of undisclosed income of more than ₹30,000 crore.

‘₹1.37 lakh crore tax evasion’ CBDT claims phenomenal success in ighting black money Special Correspondent NEW DELHI

Law enforcement agencies have detected ₹1.37 lakh crore worth of tax evasion, launched criminal prosecution in 2,814 cases, and have arrested 3,893 people in the last three years, according to a statement by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). “Concerted and coordinated actions of law enforcement agencies under the Department of Revenue have achieved phenomenal success in fighting the menace of black money during the last three years,” the CBDT statement said. “The period has witnessed unprecedented enforcement actions in

direct and indirect taxes.” According to the CBDT, it has conducted 23,064 searches or surveys, of which 17,525 were conducted on account of income tax, 2,509 for customs, 1,913 for central excise, and 1,120 for service tax.

Intensified action “Simultaneously, criminal prosecutions were launched in 2,814 cases (Income Tax 1966, Customs 526, Central Excise - 293, Service Tax 29) and 3,893 persons were placed under arrest (Customs - 3,782, Central Excise 47, Service Tax - 64),” the CBDT said. The Enforcement Directorate also intensified its anti-

money laundering actions, registering 519 cases, conducting 396 searches, making arrests in 79 cases, and attaching properties worth ₹14,933 crore.

Benami transactions Over 245 benami transactions were identified under the benami prohibition law and properties worth ₹55 crore have been provisionally attached across 124 cases. “Relevant laws and rules have been streamlined and tightened, plugging the loopholes and strengthening the penal provisions. Effective steps were taken to track and curb cash transactions through various means,” the statement added. M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

10 WORLD

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

ELSEWHERE

Trump takes greatest risk of his young presidency Upends his own foreign policy doctrine of avoiding messy conlicts in distant lands by ordering missile strike against the Syrian regime Mark Landler Palm Beach

U.S. Senate approves Gorsuch’s appointment The Republican-led Senate on Friday gave U.S. President Donald Trump his biggest triumph yet by conirming his Supreme Court nominee, Justice Neil Gorsuch, over stout Democratic opposition and restoring a conservative majority on the highest U.S. judicial body. The Senate voted 54-45 to approve Justice Gorsuch. REUTERS

Capriles banned from running for office CARACAS

Leading Venezuela Opposition leader Henrique Capriles announced on Friday that he has been banned from running for office for 15 years. Mr. Capriles is the most recognizable of the leaders behind the protest movement that has been roiling the country this week. He is the governor of Miranda State. AP

Pakistani man stabbed to death in Australia MELBOURNE

A Pakistani man was stabbed to death allegedly by two teenagers in a “horrific” crime spree in New South Wales, Australia. Zasheen Akbar, 29, a service station attendant, was found with stab wounds by a fellow employee. Authorities are investigating if the teenagers were radicalised by the IS. PTI

Barrow’s party wins majority in Gambia BANJUL

The party of Gambia’s new President Adama Barrow won a majority of seats in Parliament after two decades of domination by the party of former leader Yahya Jammeh, the Independent Electoral Commission announced on Friday. President Barrow’s United Democratic Party won 31 seats out of 53. AP

The images were heartbreaking: children gasping and choking for breath, their mouths foaming. A griefstricken father, cradling the lifeless bodies of his two children, swaddled in white blankets. But they were also familiar, a harrowing flashback to 2013, when the Syrian government unleashed the last major poison gas attack on its own people. This time, though, a new U.S. President was seeing the pictures and absorbing the horror. President Donald Trump has always taken pride in his readiness to act on instinct, whether in real estate or reality television. On Thursday, an emotional Mr. Trump took the greatest risk of his young presidency, ordering a retaliatory missile strike on Syria for its latest chemical weapons attack. In a dizzying 48 hours, he upended a foreign policy doctrine based on putting America first and avoiding messy conflicts in distant lands.

Emotional act Mr. Trump’s advisers framed his decision in the dry language of international norms and strategic deterrence. In truth, it was an emotional act by a man suddenly aware that the world’s problems were now his — and that turning away, to him, was not an option. “I will tell you,” he said to reporters in the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday, “that attack on children yesterday had a big impact on me — big impact. That was a horrible, horrible thing. And I’ve been watching it and seeing it, and it doesn’t get any worse than that.” Appearing again the next evening at his Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump said that President Bashar Assad of Syria had “choked out the life of innocent men, women

and children. It was a slow and brutal death for so many. Even beautiful babies were cruelly murdered in this very barbaric attack. No child of God should ever suffer such horror.” It was difficult to reconcile the anguished president with the snarky critic of U.S. engagement who advised President Barack Obama, from the comfort of private life, not to strike Syria after a horrific chemical weapons attack in the suburbs of Damascus three years ago. “President Obama, do not attack Syria,” Mr. Trump said on Twitter in September 2013. “There is no upside and tremendous downside. Save your ‘powder’ for another (and more important) day!” As a candidate, Mr. Trump said that forcing Mr. Assad out of power was not as urgent a priority for the United States as vanquishing the Islamic State. Mr. Trump’s action, only 77 days into his term, hardly settles the question of when he might intervene in future crises. He has not articulated criteria for humanitarian interventions and, even if he did, it is not clear that he would stick to his standards any more than Mr. Obama did. The President’s advisers were clearly uncomfortable with the suggestion that Mr. Trump was acting impulsively. “I do not view it as an emotional reaction at all,” said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. The President’s aides described a deliberative process with meetings of the National Security Council, military options presented by the Pentagon and a classified briefing. What is clear, however, is that he reacted viscerally to the images of the death of innocent children in Syria. And that reaction propelled him into a sequence of actions that will change the course of his presidency. NYT

‘Syria was warned of strike threat’ Agence France-Presse Damascus

Syria’s armed forces were warned about the threat of American military action hours before the U.S. strike on the Shayrat airbase on Friday, a military source said. “We learned of the American threat and the expected military bombardment on Syrian territory,” the source told AFP. “We took precautions in more than one military point, including in the Shayrat airbase. We moved a number of airplanes towards other areas,” the official said, adding they were forewarned “hours” before the strike.

U.S. action lagrant violation of international law: Kremlin Agence France-Presse Beirut

Damascus and its ally Moscow furiously condemned the American air strike on a Syrian airbase Friday that marked the first direct U.S. assault on President Bashar alAssad’s government. Mr. Assad’s office called the strike “foolish and irresponsible”. Syrian state news agency SANA said nine civilians, including four children, were killed in villages near the base. “What America did is nothing but foolish and irresponsible behaviour, which only reveals its short-sightedness and political and military blindness to reality,” Mr. Assad’s office added. Moscow announced a

North Korea dominates Trump, Xi meet

series of retaliatory steps, including plans to strengthen Syrian air defences. At a Security Council emergency session, Russia branded the air strikes a “flagrant violation of international law and an act of aggression” against Syria. Russia’s Defence Ministry notified the Pentagon it would close down at 2100 GMT the communications line used to avoid accidental clashes in Syria, Interfax new agency said, citing the Ministry spokesman. But senior U.S. military officials told Pentagon reporters that Russia has not suspended the military communications channel. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev charged

that the U.S. strikes were one step away from clashing with Russia's military, while the country’s deputy UN envoy, Vladimir Safronkov, condemned the strikes as “illegitimate” and said the consequences for regional and international stability could be extremely serious.

‘Bogus allegations' Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, another staunch Assad ally, tweeted that the strike was based on “bogus CW [chemical weapons] allegations” and would aid jihadists like the Islamic State group. Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah, which has intervened in Syria on behalf of Mr.

Assad, condemned what it said was a “vicious” attack on Syria's sovereignty. “This foolish move by the Trump administration will be a major, dangerous source of tension in the region and will further complicate the situation around the world.” UN envoy Staffan de Mistura announced the UN-backed ceasefire taskforce on Syria that is co-chaired by Moscow and Washington would meet later on Friday at Russia's request. The strike targeted radars, aircraft, air defence systems and other logistical components at the base south of Homs in central Syria. In a statement read on state television, the Syria Army confirmed the

strike and said it had caused extensive damage. Russia’s military, however, said the strike had an “extremely low| military impact, with fewer than half of the 59 missiles reaching the airbase. The missiles destroyed six planes under repair and several buildings, including a storage depot and radio station, it said. Opposition and rebel fighters, who have for years urged more direct U.S. military action in support of their uprising, hailed the strike and called for more. The National Coalition, the main opposition grouping, called on Washington to take further steps to "neutralise" the regime’s air power. (With Reuters, AP inputs)

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

Terror in Stockholm

U.S. President says the two countries have made tremendous progress in ties Varghese K. George Washignton

The U.S and China made tremendous progress in bilateral ties during meetings with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, President Donald Trump said. “We have made tremendous progress in our relationship with China,” Mr. Trump said on Friday morning, appearing with Mr. Xi after a round of discussions in Florida. “I think truly progress has been made,” and an “outstanding” relationship had developed between him and Mr. Xi, said Mr. Trump. The President said he expected additional progress in the future. “Lots of very potentially bad problems will be going away.” Bilateral trade and the threat from North Korea’s nuclear ambitions dominated the talks on the first day of their first summit that was overshadowed by the American military action in Syria on Thursday night. The leaders were scheduled to meet again for lunch

Building ties: Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, with their wives, Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan, in Florida on Thursday. AP *

on Friday. “We’ve had a long discussion already, and so far I have gotten nothing, absolutely nothing. But we have developed a friendship — I can see that — and I think long term we are going to have a very, very great relationship and I look very much forward to it,” Mr. Trump said in a lighthearted comment before the dinner on Thursday. “This meeting,” Mr. Xi

said, “was very unique... it has an especially important meaning for the future development of China-U.S. relations... President Trump has made excellent preparations and warmly welcomed us... we have had lengthy and deep communication.”

Push for fair trade Ahead of the talks, U.S Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the Trump administration would push for fair

trade with China, and the interests of American workers were paramount for the President. The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Mr. Xi urged that the two sides should promote the “healthy development of bilateral trade and investment” and advance talks on a bilateral investment agreement. “We have a thousand reasons to get China-U.S. relations right, and not one reason to spoil the ChinaU.S. relationship,” Mr. Xi told Mr. Trump. “In the past 40 years, the United States and China have developed deep ties, and this administration is committed to ensuring these ties endure for the next 40 years. We do desire to establish policies that maintain a constructive, cooperative, and results-oriented trajectory.,” Mr. Tillerson said. The Secretary of State said the U.S was hopeful that China would “find ways to exercise influence over North Korea’s actions”.

Uncertain times: Emergency services at the scene in central Stockholm where a truck crashed into a department store on Friday. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said everything indicated it was a terrorist attack. AFP *

Maldives Opposition leader held

Bannon and Kushner battle it out for Trump’s heart and mind

Associated Press

The New York Times

Colombo

Washington

The police in the Maldives have arrested an Opposition party leader on a charge of plotting to overthrow the government, a move the joint Opposition condemned on Friday as intensifying a crackdown on political opponents. Jumhooree Party leader and lawmaker Qasim Ibrahim had signed an agreement with others last month to try to restore democracy in the archipelago nation, and the joint opposition said his arrest was aimed at obstructing the work of the alliance, which it said has threatened the power of President Yameen Abdul Gayoom. Mr. Qasim was arrested Thursday evening. CM YK

Thick with tension, the conversation this week between Stephen K. Bannon, the chief White House strategist, and Jared Kushner, the President’s son-in-law and senior adviser, had deteriorated to the point of breakdown. Finally, Mr. Bannon identified why they could not compromise, according to someone with knowledge of the conversation. “Here’s the reason there’s no middle ground,” Mr. Bannon growled. “You’re a Democrat.” The schism within Mr. Trump’s perpetually fractious White House has grown in recent weeks, fuelled by personality, ideology and ambition. At its core are Mr. Bannon, the edgy, nationalist

As he did throughout his career, the U.S. President encourages competition among his advisers for inluence and ideas within his circle “Democrats,” an appellation used to describe even Republicans who want to soften Mr. Trump’s rough edges and broaden his narrow popular appeal after months of historically low poll numbers.

bomb-thrower suddenly in the seat of power, and Mr. Kushner, the polished, boyish-looking scion of New Jersey and New York real estate. Even as Mr. Kushner’s portfolio of responsibilities has been expanding, Mr. Bannon’s in recent days has shrunk with the loss of a national security post.

Larger struggle The escalating feud, though, goes beyond mere West Wing melodrama, the sort of who’s-up-and-who’s-down scorekeeping that typically consumes Washington. Instead, it reflects a larger struggle to guide the direction of the Trump presidency, played out in disagreements over the policies Trump should pursue, the people he should hire and

Power struggle: Steve Bannon, left, and Jared Kushner in the White House. Tensions between the two have grown in recent weeks, fuelled by personality, ideology and ambition. NYT *

the image he should put forward to the American people. On one side are Mr. Bannon’s guerrilla warriors, eager to close the nation’s

borders, dismantle decades of regulations, empower police departments and take on the establishment of both parties in Washington. On the other are Mr. Kushner’s

A free-for-all In the middle is Mr. Trump himself, seemingly torn between the two factions, tilting one way or the other depending on the day, or even the hour, while he seeks to recapture momentum after a series of defeats in Congress and the courts. As he did throughout his career in business and entertainment, Mr. Trump plays advisers off one another, encouraging a sort of free-forall competition for influence and ideas within his circle, so long as everyone demon-

strates loyalty to him. At different moments, Mr. Trump has given conflicting impressions of his preferences. He has privately scorned the coverage of Mr. Kushner’s recent high-profile trip to Iraq, according to two people who spoke with him, and questioned the need for his son-in-law’s newly created office to overhaul the government. At other points, he has been dismissive of Mr. Bannon, curtly telling him he is not needed at this meeting or that. While alliances have been fluid in this White House, Mr. Kushner is joined by more centrist-minded advisers, including not only his wife, Ivanka Trump, who now has her own West Wing office, but also Gary Cohn, the pres-

ident’s national economics adviser, and Dina Powell, a deputy national security adviser, both veterans of Goldman Sachs. Mr. Bannon’s closest ally is Stephen Miller, the president’s senior adviser for policy and the author of orders to temporarily ban visitors from certain predominantly Muslim countries. And although they were once at odds, Mr. Bannon has also maintained an alliance of convenience lately with Reince Priebus, the chief of staff closely associated with the Republican Party establishment. Mr. Kushner and the others are said to be especially concerned about the geyser of bad headlines that have marked the President’s first few months in office. M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU

BUSINESS 11

NOIDA/DELHI

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

market watch 07-04-2017

% CHANGE

Sensex dddddddddddddddddddddd 29,707 ddddddddddddd -0.74 US Dollar dddddddddddddddddddd 64.28 ddddddddddddddd0.37 Gold ddddddddddddddddddddddddddd 29,300 ddddddddddddddd0.08 Brent oil ddddddddddddddddddddd 54.99 ddddddddddddddd0.35

Subrahmanyan named Larsen & Toubro CEO

Ola readies for extensive rollout of EVs Cab-hailing irm to invest in charging stations for pilot, working with automakers on electric vehicles

He will take charge on July 1, 2017

Uber is carpet bombing us, says Ola’s Aggarwal

NIFTY 50 PRICE CHANGE

ACC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1468.10. . . . . . -21.65 Adani Ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347.15. . . . . . . . -9.50 Ambuja Cements. . . .. . . . . . 242.45. . . . . . . . -0.90 Asian Paints. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1082.95. . . . . . . . -3.95 Aurobindo Pharma . . . . . . 658.05. . . . . . -12.40 Axis Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 504.20. . . . . . . . -4.50 Bajaj Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2830.45. . . . . . . 24.15 Bank of Baroda . . . . . .. . . . . . 168.65. . . . . . . . -6.25 Bharti Airtel . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 344.70. . . . . . . . . 2.90 Bosch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22826.80. . . . . . -70.95 BPCL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 675.35. . . . . . . 29.15 Cipla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 590.00. . . . . . . . -0.30 Coal India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283.90. . . . . . . . -2.50 Dr Reddys Lab . . . . . . . .. . . . 2661.35. . . . . . -56.75 Eicher Motors. . . . . . . . .. 25806.85. . . . . 210.55 GAIL (India). . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 386.65. . . . . . . . . 0.00 Grasim Ind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1057.10. . . . . . -12.00 HCL Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 849.30. . . . . . . . -4.20 HDFC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1484.75. . . . . . . . . 2.15 HDFC Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1438.85. . . . . . . . . 0.35 Hero MotoCorp . . . . . .. . . . 3215.30. . . . . . . . . 9.00 Hindalco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193.50. . . . . . . . -0.45 Hind Unilever . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 924.50. . . . . . -10.15 Indiabulls HFL . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 955.85. . . . . . -21.15 ICICI Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277.35. . . . . . . . -3.50 IndusInd Bank . . . . . . . .. . . . 1412.20. . . . . . . . -9.45 Bharti Infratel . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 347.60. . . . . . . . . 8.45 Infosys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 981.55. . . . . . -18.05 Indian OilCorp . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 397.35. . . . . . . 11.60 ITC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272.65. . . . . . . . -1.45 Kotak Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 873.10. . . . . . -21.25 L&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1685.50. . . . . . . . . 2.30 Lupin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1410.05. . . . . . -38.35 M&M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1275.55. . . . . . -13.35 Maurti Suzuki . . . . . . . . .. . . . 6259.35. . . . . . -32.30 NTPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168.25. . . . . . . . . 0.55 ONGC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186.40. . . . . . . . -1.15 PowerGrid Corp . . . . .. . . . . . 195.00. . . . . . . . -2.20 Reliance Ind . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1406.60. . . . . . -31.90 State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289.45. . . . . . . . -3.40 Sun Pharma . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 665.95. . . . . . -20.95 Tata Motors . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 468.30. . . . . . . . -4.90 Tata Motors DVR. . . .. . . . . . 284.35. . . . . . . . -2.10 Tata Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87.50. . . . . . . . . 0.20 Tata Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 493.20. . . . . . . . -8.45 TCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2429.05. . . . . . . 29.00 Tech Mahindra . . . . . . .. . . . . . 443.20. . . . . . . . -3.70 UltraTech Cement . .. . . . 4081.00. . . . . . -30.15 Wipro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 511.90. . . . . . . . -2.80 YES Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1556.55. . . . . . . . -8.20 Zee Entertainment . . . . . . 547.60. . . . . . . . -5.80

EXCHANGE RATES Indicative direct rates in rupees a unit except yen at 4 p.m. on April 07 CURRENCY

TT BUY

Special Correspondent MUMBAI

The Board of Directors of Larsen & Toubro (L&T) on Friday elevated S.N. Subrahmanyan as chief executive officer and managing director from the position of deputy managing director and president of the company and appointed Anil Manibhai Naik as non-executive chairman with effect from October 1, 2017, for a period of three years.

‘Business as usual’ Mr. Subrahmanyan will take charge as CEO on July 1, 2017. Mr. Subrahmanyan told The Hindu: “It will be business as usual and the focus will be to ensure stability and growth. We have identified priority growth areas as our vision for 2021 and will stick to that. Defence, water and digital business are few of them.” Mr. Naik had given himself a five-year extension in 2012 to restructure the complex businesses, focus on core business, exit non-core businesses and find his successor. His current term as group executive chairman ends on September 30. Anil Singhvi, founder and chairman, I-Can Investment Advisors said: “The board should pass one line resolution that Mr. Naik should retire at God’s own will, it will be a simple resolution. They are immortals and it has be-

come difficult for some of the Indian chief executives to move on in life. Hope Mr. Subrahmanyan will be given enough room and power to operate as a professional CEO.” For seamless transition of leadership in an organisation of the scale and complexity of L&T, the Board requested Mr. Naik to provide advice and mentorship to the executive management in the capacity of non-executive chairman, according to a company statement. It said Mr. Naik had acceded to the Board’s request after working with L&T for more than 52 years. Subodh Bhargava, Chairman of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee said: “Mr. Naik has been the soul of L&T and has given his whole life to L&T. We are delighted that he has agreed to continue to help the company for the next three years.” “Mr. Subrahmanyan is a top-notch professional of outstanding ability and commitment. Across the last 10 years, and especially after he was identified as the likely successor three years ago I have been personally mentoring Mr. Subrahmanyan. I am confident that under Mr. Subrahmanyan’s high calibre leadership, the company will accelerate its growth momentum,” Mr. Naik said.

TT SELL

US Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 64.08. . . . . . . 64.40 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 68.09. . . . . . . 68.43 British Pound . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 79.59. . . . . . . 80.00 Japanese Yen (100) . .. . 57.88. . . . . . . 58.17 Chinese Yuan . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 9.29. . . . . . . . . 9.34 Swiss Franc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 63.67. . . . . . . 64.00 Singapore Dollar . . . . . . .. . 45.69. . . . . . . 45.94 Canadian Dollar . . . . . . . . .. . 47.78. . . . . . . 48.02 Malaysian Ringitt . . . . . .. . 14.44. . . . . . . 14.53 Source:Indian Bank

BULLION RATES

CHENNAI

April 07 rates in rupees with previous rates in parentheses Retail Silver (1g) . . . . . . . . . . . 45.60. . . . . (45.50) 22 ct gold (1 g) . .. . . . . . . . . . . 2,777. . . . . (2,780)

‘Internet economy to double’ Special Correspondent

Focused approach: Mr. Subrahmanyan said the focus will be on ensuring stability and growth.

Flipkart plans foray into grocery segment ‘Market size in India is $400-$600 mn.’

Yuthika Bhargava NEW DELHI

Going green: Ola will pilot a few thousand electric vehicles in several Indian cities this year, says Aggarwal. REUTERS *

Reuters NEW DELHI

Indian ride-hailing firm Ola, backed by Japan’s Softbank Group, is preparing for a large-scale rollout of electric vehicles by next year even as it runs trials on the viability of the business model, Chief Executive Bhavish Aggarwal said. Ola will pilot a few thousand electric vehicles in several Indian cities this year and, “after that we will be scaling it up in a major way,” Mr. Aggarwal said in an interview on Friday. The company will also invest in setting up charging stations in the pilot cities, he said, without saying how much Ola would invest in its electrification drive.

Sales remain slow Ola’s push comes as sales of electric vehicles in India have remained slow, despite government incentives to curb pollution. In the year ended March 2016, 22,000 electric vehicles were sold in India, whereas sales of conventionally fuelled vehicles crossed 20 million units in the same period.

India is targeting 6 million electric vehicles on the road by 2020, but high battery costs, a lack of charging stations and the limited range of the vehicles is still a deterrent. Mr. Aggarwal, however, has the backing of one of Ola’s biggest investors — Softbank. In December, Softbank Group chairman Masayoshi Son said Ola may introduce one million electric vehicles in India over the next five years, according to local media reports. “We’re able to leverage their (Softbank’s) network and scale of operations around the world,” Mr. Aggarwal said, adding that Ola was also talking to automakers globally about strategic tie-ups. In India’s $12 billion taxi market where Ola vies with ride-hailing giant Uber, the push into electric vehicles is also a way for the Indian start-up to lower the cost of car ownership, once battery costs start to come down.

Leap of faith In the next few weeks the first wave of electric vehicles

under Ola’s pilot scheme, including two-wheelers, rickshaws and cars, will roll out in the southern state of Telangana and Nagpur city in central India. The main challenge for Ola is the lack of charging stations and the limited range of vehicles given taxis travel about 150-200 km daily. Mr. Aggarwal said for the pilot Ola was using modified versions of existing models, but its goal remained to operate a vehicle for an entire day without a recharge and it is working with automakers to co-design such vehicles. For the pilot, where infrastructure is inadequate Ola will invest in setting up charging stations but for the longer term it is talking to power and fuel companies to form partnerships. Charging stations would include a battery swapping facility for some vehicles and quick recharges for others, Mr. Aggarwal said. “We’re taking a leap of faith ... The economics are still not there so we’re taking a bit of a risk,” said Mr. Aggarwal, alluding to Ola’s investment in the pilot.

Bhavish Aggarwal, cofounder of cab aggregator Ola, on Friday described the competition with Uber as a “guerrilla war” situation, with the U.S. company “carpet bombing” the local firm as it tried to defend its turf. “This is corporate war and the competition between us and Uber is very intense,” Mr. Aggarwal said. “The analogy that I give India is that this is like Vietnam war. We are the local guerrillas. We have the Americans carpet bombing us.” Speaking at TiE event, he said Ola would build relevant products and make sure that was sustainable, profitable and had a larger market share.

‘Profitable in 2 years’ The company, Mr. Aggarwal said, would become profitable in the next two years. “We will go into the nooks and corners of the country and we will find those opportunities in the niche areas and in the large area…Even now despite competition we continue to lead the market… we have significantly improved our bottom-line over the past year or so and we have a very clear path to profitability,” he said. “Within the next two years we will be profitable.” Globally, the intense competition in the ride share industry was the result of an “irrational belief ” that it was a winner-takeall business and there would be only one guy

standing in the end and that led to an irrational exuberance from the investors, Mr. Aggarwal said. “They pumped in a lot money into one company and the company throws money around into every geography it goes into. You might call this capital dumping, you might not. But the fact is money is thrown,” he said.

Uber versus Didi Referring to the competition that Uber had faced in China, the Ola CEO said, “What happened in China between Uber and Didi was like World War II…there were two people with lots of ammunition against each other and in the end one company won... In China there are only these large Internet giants and the newer companies like Didi can stand on their shoulders... And the foreign competitor is actually at a disadvantage... India is not like that.” On investor worries over return on investment made in Indian firms, he said the Indian Internet ecosystem was going through an interesting phase. “Two years ago there was a lot of exuberance. I believe there was a little extra exuberance. As entrepreneurs we obviously liked that wave...In the past two years, the system has been going through a journey of building more relevant business models, building unit economics… an investor should definitely question companies on their return, their path to profitability.… I as a company have not seen investors getting jittery unnecessarily.”

‘Luxury sector to hit $100 billion’ Special Correspondent NEW DELHI

NEW DELHI

India’s Internet economy is expected to double to $250 billion, according to a report by BCG-TiE. E-commerce and financial services are expected to account for about $40-$50 billion, followed by e-commerce products ($45-$50 billion), private and government infrastructure spending ($50$60 billion), connectivity ($45-$55 billion), devices ($30-$40 billion) and digital media and advertising ($5-$8 billion).

Special Correspondent NEW DELHI

Following the footsteps of Amazon, home-grown ecommerce major Flipkart is mulling a fresh foray into the online grocery segment. “Yes we will get into grocery... with 80% of the units which are bought are grocery items, we will eventually enter the business. Also, the size of the grocery market is $400-$600 million [so] we have to get into the business,” Flipkart CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy said.

Flipkart rolled out a ‘Nearby’ application for home delivery of fruits, vegetables, and other household products in October 2015. However, it was closed almost five months later. Amazon introduced its grocery ordering app, Amazon Now, last year. Amazon, which plans to invest about $500 million in e-retail of food products in India, had sought the permission of the government to source and sell local food products.

Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said with the market size of the luxury sector in India expected to hit $100 billion in eight years from the current $7-$8 billion, the sector will require greater attention and facilitation to ensure that it fits into the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative. The global luxury industry is worth about $2 trillion of which BRICS countries account for 30%, Ms. Sitharaman said.

Samsung tips best quarterly proit in more than 3 years as chips soar Analysts say strong memory demand is a key earnings driver manager Kim Hyun-su said. All this is happening amid management upheaval at South Korea’s biggest familyrun conglomerate, with third-generation leader Lee embroiled in a scandal that has already led to Park’s removal from office for allegedly receiving bribes. Lee was arrested in February over his alleged role in a corruption scandal. He denies any wrongdoing.

Reuters SEOUL

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. forecast on Friday its best quarterly profit in more than three years in the January-March period, beating expectations and putting it on track for record annual earnings on the back of a memory chip super-cycle. The Apple Inc. rival has rapidly recovered from last year’s costly failure of its fireprone Galaxy Note 7 device, despite a political scandal involving Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee who appeared in a Seoul court on Friday facing charges including bribing ousted president Park Geun-hye. The global memory chip leader said first-quarter operating profit was likely 9.9 trillion won ($8.8 billion), compared with an average forecast of 9.4 trillion won from a Thomson Reuters survey of 18 analysts. Revenue rose 0.4% to 50 trillion won, just ahead of analysts’ forecasts.

Semiconductor business “The semiconductor business was likely the main CM YK

Rapid recovery: Some researchers forecast the S8 may set a new irst year sales record . REUTERS *

driver for earnings,” said Heungkuk Securities analyst Lee Min-hee, adding that sales of mid-to-low tier smartphones also helped the mobile business remain profitable. Samsung shares touched a record high of 2.134 million won in late March on expectations of record annual profit in 2017, as the South Korean tech giant bounced back from the embarrassing withdrawal of its Note 7 devices due to combustible batteries. Investors and analysts expect Samsung to report its

best-ever quarterly profit in April-June, with the Galaxy S8 smartphone hitting the market on April 21 in Samsung’s first premium device launch since the Note 7’s withdrawal in October. Some researchers forecast the S8, which sports the largest screens for Samsung high-end smartphones to date, to set a new first-year sales record. “Samsung will look to recover market share they lost last year and pump up volumes even if they have to spend more to do so,” IBK Asset Management fund

Chips sizzle While Samsung will not provide detailed earnings results until the end of April, analysts tipped its chip division to earn a record 5.8 trillion won in January-March and propel the firm to its best overall operating profit since the third quarter of 2013. Favourable memory market conditions will likely persist throughout 2017 due to diminishing production gains on investments and careful capacity management among chipmakers. Samsung shares rose 14% in January-March, its strongest gain since the first quarter of 2012. M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

12 BUSINESS

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

IN BRIEF

Iran cuts down credit period for Indian reiners NEW DELHI

Iran has cut by one-third the time it gives to Indian reiners to pay for oil they buy from it and has also raised ship freight rates as a retaliatory measure to New Delhi’s decision to reduce Iranian oil imports. Iran, India’s third biggest oil supplier, used to give a 90-day credit period to reiners like Indian Oil Corp (IOC) and Mangalore Reinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL) to pay for the oil they would buy from it. PTI

Alembic gets USFDA nod for anti-depressant drug NEW DELHI

Alembic Pharmaceuticals has received approval from the U.S. health regulator for generic Fluoxetine Hydrochloride tablets used for treatment of depression and panic disorder. The approval is for the generic version of Eli Lilly and Company’s Prozac tablets in the same strengths, Alembic Pharma said in a BSE iling on Friday. Alembic Pharma has a total of 53 ANDA approvals from the U.S. health regulator. PTI

‘Investment rising in equity-linked schemes’

Work on FTA talks can start after Brexit

India witnessing a structural shift

‘We have a lot of ambition. We will continue to make trade deals, including with the EU’

Special Correspondent

Piyush Pandey

CHENNAI

Mumbai

Investment in products like equity-linked savings schemes is on the rise in India, according to a top official. “India is witnessing a structural shift in savings pattern from physical to financial asset class,” said Milind Barve, managing director, HDFC Asset Management Company. “More number of retail investors are investing in mutual funds now. Out of the total savings by Indians, around 16-17% is in physical asset class and 7-10% in financial assets. In the last 10 years the investment landscape has

Mark Garnier, United Kingdom’s Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade was in Mumbai recently as part of a delegation to boost trade and investment in India. As the U.K. begins the process of exiting the European Union, Mr. Garnier spoke about bilateral trade in the new political environment. Among the issues discussed in India were new trade agreements, visa control norms, and ease of doing business. Edited excerpts: Milind Barve changed,” said Mr. Barve. “While this trend is encouraging, investments linked to important life goals such as planning for retirement and kids education is still in its infancy,” he said after unveiling a digital platform for retirement planning.

Daimler India may turn proitable in 2018

RInfra bags ₹711 crore TN project from NHAI NEW DELHI

Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. (RInfra) on Friday announced that it has bagged a ₹711-crore project in Tamil Nadu from the the National Highways Authority of India. “RInfra has received the Letter of Acceptance (LOA) from the NHAI for the construction of Vikkaravandi to Sethiyathopu section of NH-45 C in Tamil Nadu,” the company said in a statement. PTI

CM YK

INTERVIEW | MARK GARNIER

Smooth ride: Erich Nesselhauf expects DICV to turn proitable by next year. BIJOY GHOSH *

Special Correspondent CHENNAI

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV), an Indian subsidiary of Daimler AG, may become profitable by early next year, a top official said. “This year we expect to achieve operational break even and become profitable next year,” Erich Nesselhauf, MD and CEO, Daimler

India Commercial Vehicles said. On Friday, Mr. Nesselhauf unveiled BS-IV heavy duty truck range of BharatBenz under the tagline of ‘Profit Technology.’ While its competitors have decided to increase the prices of BS-IV emission norms compliant trucks by up to 10%, DICV decided not to raise prices of its upgraded version.

In what way will U.K.’s bilateral trade with India change, now that it has begun the Brexit process? ■ There is lot of media interest on what Brexit means. We had a vigorous debate and a long conversation, and I had chosen to remain. If you strip away the debate, you will come to an agreed economic path. The shortterm effect of Brexit could be an unsteady economic period for possibly up to three years, but the longterm outlook is really positive. We believe collectively that the long-term future is important. And the effort is not half-hearted. There is no such thing as coming out of the single market, but staying back in the Customs Union. We are exiting completely and embracing the rest of the world. There aren’t many EU trade deals with large economies, including China, the United States and India. We are just about to sign a trade deal with Canada, and it took us eight years. We are a 2 trillionpound economy, and we have 65 million people. We have a lot of ambition. We will continue to make trade deals, including with the EU.

Britain has an existing relationship with the Commonwealth nations. How will you build trade with them, especially India? ■

The 57 Commonwealth na-

tions are our friends, and India is an incredibly important part. In any case, India is a dear friend. The U.K. is the largest G20 investor in India and India is the second biggest foreign investor in the U.K. Indian firms in the U.K. employ more than 1,10,000 people; a third of whom are in the automotive sector. We would like to better that relationship. Then why did you allow the bilateral treaty to lapse last week?

There are lot of these Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) with different nations within the EU. The reason it lapsed was that, as a member of EU, certain things have to done by individual countries and certain steps have to taken by the European Commission. The investor protection process is known as a Commission of Competence and is done by the EU. This commission has the job of renegotiating that investment protection with India. Going forward, we will no longer be part of that, and investment protection will be part of our trade negotiations.

■

An U.K.-India trade agreement will be in place only after you exit the EU, and that will take a couple of years, right? ■ Yes. When we were in the EU, we are bound by its rules and regulations. One such rule is that no member state

cial Dialogue with Finance Minister Jaitley was a formal meeting. I’m delighted to say that there is a genuine desire of both countries to do more trade. We both recognise the great opportunities. There is a strong, lasting relationship. The level of friendship is positive.

with India is not where it used to be. There is < > Trade a hiatus, but investors shouldn’t be worried can do its their own bilateral trade agreement with another country. After April 1, 2019, we are keen to do new trade deals. We have already instituted a Joint Working Group on trade. We look to create a foundation, and the preparatory work for free-trade talks can commence soon after we exit. I am aware that trade with India is not where it used to be. There is a hiatus, but I don’t think investors should be worried. The job of Government is to facilitate exchanges between businesses and individuals. But some of the leading U.K. firms such as Vodafone, Cairn India, and BP have had some regulatory issues in India.

We don’t get involved in individual cases; we talk between governments. We regularly speak, and there is a will to resolve them. It has to go through the due process.

■

Is doing business in India is becoming easier for U.K. investors?

India is making progress in the Ease of Doing Business

■

index. We see conversations within the Indian government in improving these ratings. We are happy to work together on this. Visas have been a problem area for Indian students and companies. PM Narendra Modi was vocal about this during the U.K. PM’s (Theresa May’s) visit to India. Will the U.K. make the visa regime easier for India?

The reality is, 60% of business visas are issued to Indians. More education visas are issued to Indians than to any other nationality. Even among tourists, Indians are at the top. We are looking for highly skilled people for businesses in the U.K. If there was any evidence that India’s proportion in visa applications was shrinking, then there could be a problem. But the truth is, close to two-thirds of all business visas are issued to Indians.

■

You met Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi. What kind of assurances did you get from him on boosting U.K.-India trade? ■

The Economic and Finan-

In Mumbai, you met leading industrialists such as Mukesh Ambani, Harsh Goenka, Anand Mahindra, Ajay Piramal, Chanda Kochar, and Adi Godrej. How upbeat are they about making investments in the U.K.? ■ There is a great deal of enthusiasm, and a positive buzz among Indian businesses entering the U.K., and vice versa.

Can the U.K. help India raise finances for ‘Make in India’ projects? ■ The City of London is the world’s biggest financial centre. As governments, we will be introducing people to each other. Indian businesses recognise the innovation and liquidity pool that London offers. We have an incredibly innovative financial services sector, so banks and issuing houses have created masala bonds. We have seen big Indian companies raise money, and this is a developing marketplace. From our point of view, we want our friends in India to come to us because we want to keep pushing this innovative financial services sector. We have a fintech conference in Mumbai and the Chancellor (of the Exchequer, as the Finance Minister of the U.K. is called) has a fintech delegation in Mumbai. We want to be on the front foot on this.

M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU

SPORT 13

NOIDA/DELHI

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

IN BRIEF

Knights ride roughshod over Lions Lynn-Gambhir onslaught sees their team overhaul a stif target of 184 with a whopping 31 balls to spare Amol Karhadkar

SCOREBOARD

RAJKOT

MSD pulls Pietersen’s leg PUNE

M.S. Dhoni is a picture of concentration on the field, but the former India captain was in a mood to have some fun with Kevin Pietersen, who was on air during the IPL match between Rising Pune Supergiant and Mumbai Indians. It was Manoj Tiwary at first slip, who was on the microphone chatting with Pietersen when the former England captain said: “Manoj just tell MS that I am a better golfer than him.” Manoj was seen duly conveying the message to Dhoni after a delivery. “Pietersen kah raha hain woh aapse accha golfer hain (he says he is a better golfer than you).” Dhoni leaned towards the microphone on Manoj and replied with a straight face: “But you are still my only Test wicket!” Pietersen was seen laughing. PTI

Dhoni reprimanded for breaching code of conduct NEW DELHI

M.S. Dhoni has been reprimanded for breaching the IPL code of conduct during the match between his team, Rising Pune Supergiant and Mumbai Indians in Pune. Exactly why he was given a reprimand by match referee Manu Nayyar has not been specified by the IPL. During the match, Dhoni had asked for a DRS referral when it was not for the taking. PTI

O’Keefe fined for ‘highly inappropriate’ comments SYDNEY

Australian Test cricketer Stephen O’Keefe has been fined A$20,000 ($15,000) for making ‘highly inappropriate’ comments while drunk during a cricket function and ordered to undergo counselling, authorities said on Friday. AFP

Warner criticises behaviour HYDERABAD

David Warner said it was very disappointing to see Steve O’Keefe making offensive comments, after apparently being drunk, at the official after-party of the NSW cricket end-of-season awards night in Sydney. “Cricket Australia doesn’t tolerate these things. It is really strict in these issues. It is very, very bad. O’Keefe should not have done that,” he said during an informal chat in the hotel lobby. “I was in a similar kind of scenario. Hopefully Keefe will get all the support to be back on the cricket field again,” Warner said.

It’s all about taking chances: Rahane PUNE

Ajinkya Rahane, who gave a bright start to Rising Pune Supergiant’s successful chase of Mumbai Indians’ big score emphasised the necessity for batsmen to “take chances” if the target is nine plus an over. “When you are chasing a target of 180-190, it’s important to maintain the momentum. I knew I was batting well and timing the ball well. I took my chances. It was also important to rotate the strike and hit a four or six in an over,’’ said Rahane.

CM YK

En route to reclaiming the top spot in the list of all-time highest run-getters’ list in the Indian Premier League, Suresh Raina marked a return to competitive cricket by anchoring the Gujarat Lions innings. Dinesh Karthik gave it the perfect finishing touch with a quickfire 47. But Chris Lynn and Gautam Gambhir surmounted the effort to set up a crushing win over Kolkata Knight Riders at the Saurashtra Cricket Association stadium. Such was Lynn and Gambhir’s onslaught that Knight Riders overhauled a stiff target of 184 with a whopping 31 balls to spare. Once the right-left combination succeeded in going after the seasoned pace duo of Praveen Kumar and Dhawal Kulkarni at the start of the chase, the rest of the bowlers — especially the spin duo of Shivil Kaushik and Shadab Jakati — offered too many freebies for an on-song pair. On the way to a fitting start to its campaign — with co-owners Shahrukh Khan and Juhi Chawla present in the gallery — Lynn and Gambhir broke a plethora of records. Not only did Lynn raise the joint second-fastest fifty for KKR, off just 19 balls, but the duo also recorded the highest partnership ever for Kolkata Knight Riders. The team's previous best association was Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey's unbroken 153 versus Dolphins in Hyderabad during the 2014 Champions League Twenty20. Besides, the PowerPlay tally of 73 was the team's highest in the IPL. With Lions dropping a couple of catches in the outfield and Lynn cutting loose towards the end, the match culminated in the highest-ever T20 chase with 10 wickets to spare.

Gujarat Lions: Jason Roy c Yusuf b Chawla 14 (12b, 3x4), Brendon McCullum lbw b Kuldeep 35 (24b, 4x4, 2x6), Suresh Raina (not out) 68 (51b, 7x4), Aaron Finch c Suryakumar b Kuldeep 15 (8b, 2x6), Dinesh Karthik c Suryakumar b Boult 47 (25b, 6x4, 2x6), Dwayne Smith (not out) 0 (0b); Extras (lb-2, w-2): 4; Total (for four wkts. in 20 overs): 183. Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Roy, 3.1 overs), 2-72 (McCullum, 8.1), 392 (Finch, 10.2), 4-179 (Karthik, 19.5). Kolkata Knight Riders bowling: Trent Boult 4-0-40-1, Piyush Chawla 4-0-33-1, Sunil Narine 4-0-33-0, Chris Woakes 3-035-0, Kuldeep Yadav 4-0-25-2, Yusuf Pathan 1-0-15-0. Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir (not out) 76 (48b, 12x4), Chris Lynn (not out) 93 (41b, 6x4, 8x6); Extras (b-4, w-11): 15; Total (for no loss in 14.5 overs): 184. Gujarat Lions bowling: Praveen Kumar 2-0-13-0, Dhawal Kulkarni 2.5-0-42-0, Manpreet Grewal 2-0-32-0, Shivil Kaushik 4-0-40-0, Dwayne Smith 1-023-0, Shadab Jakati 3-0-30-0. Toss: KKR. Man-of-the-match: Lynn. Knight Riders won by 10 wickets with 31 balls to spare.

Running riot: Chris Lynn Lynn, promoted to open the batting, was at his belligerent best.

Lynn, promoted to open the batting, was at his raucous best. His flat hits were mind-boggling, so were his straight hits down the ground. So consistent was the duo's big-hitting that Knight

IPL-10 Riders crossed the three-figure mark in the eighth over, with the second fifty coming off just 17 balls. Kaushik bowled too short

*

AFP

for his chinamen — exactly in contradiction to his Knight Riders counterpart Kuldeep Yadav — only to see Gambhir toy with his bowling. Lynn then took on Dwayne Smith's dibbly-dobblies to force Lions repent

The Cutting edge A. Joseph Antony HYDERABAD

Benjamin Colin James Cutting’s late charge in the final of the IPL last year tilted the scales firmly in favour of eventual champion Sunrisers Hyderabad. Does he remember his knock on the night he’d never forget? “I was just telling the guys that the last 12 months have flown. Hope we continue with the momentum we finished on last year,” he told journalists on Friday. Did being adjudged Playerof-the-Match (for the

unbeaten 39 embellished with a quartet of sixes and a treble of boundaries and two for 35) on that occasion put pressure on him this time round? “Not really. I’m not putting any more pressure on myself. I played last year without thinking too much about it but just going out there and doing what I had to,” said the Brisbane-born allrounder. On the throw from the deep that felled the dangerouslooking Kedar Jadhav on Wednesday night, Cutting said, “I always had the arm and it came out perfectly. It

doesn’t always work that way.” For one who hardly played when with other franchises, he was well-prepared for the challenges that lay ahead. Was the SRH campaign, driven mostly by bowling allrounders, planned in such a way? “No it just happened that way,” he replied. The Queensland quick’s bowling slowed down after being plagued by injuries. “I hit the gym, worked on fitness and now the ball leaves the hand quicker,” he felt. The slow ball he continues to use, since Indian wickets are

abrasive and suited for it. The lanky seamer has only praise for Bhuvneshwar Kumar. “Every time he comes up with something new. He’s always staying ahead of the game. He’s a got a few things up his sleeve this year, too. He probably won’t tell you that,” the 1.92m tall tearaway reckons. On so much talent merely warming the bench, he said, “There’s so much depth but only four (foreigners) can play. Someone has to miss out. As long as we are winning, it’s fine by me.”

Daredevils take on Royal Challengers It could be another game of coping with depleted resources for RCB

Tips from a master: Daredevils captain Zaheer Khan has a word of advice for teammate Kagiso Rabada. G.P. SAMPATH KUMAR

Praveen Dubey were all on the bench, watching Henriques, Cutting and Yuvraj off. It is not unthinkable that one of those spinners will be involved in this fixture. Daredevils has not exactly been fortunate with the availability of personnel either. Quinton de Kock and J-P. Duminy — two vital cogs in the wheel — will miss the tournament, while Shreyas Iyer needs a few more days after a bout of chicken pox. Angelo Mathews is yet to be cleared of his calf niggle. However, there is no shortage of pace (in Md. Shami, Pat Cummins and Kagiso Rabada) or allround skills (Corey Anderson, Jayant Yadav, Chris Morris and Carlos Brathwaite). “We really do have backup for all positions,” said Delhi head coach Paddy Upton. RCB will be hoping such back-up proves inadequate.

with any measure of control. Watson accepted some of the blame and it is understandable that he needs time to work out his best combination. RCB perhaps faltered, though, in fielding a solitary specialist spinner in Chahal. Samuel Badree, Tabraiz Shamsi, Iqbal Abdulla, Pawan Negi and Karnataka’s

Bereaved Pant back Meanwhile, Upton spoke of the need to rally around Rishabh Pant, whose father died earlier this week. The 20-year-old wicketkeeperbatsman rejoined the team on Friday night. "It is very, very difficult particularly when a tragedy happens like this suddenly," he said.

Shreedutta Chidananda Bengaluru

It was always going to be difficult, A.B. de Villiers admitted on Thursday, for an RCB side missing a number of key players to hit the ground running. “[Between] the team that played the final last year and the team that played last night, there were five changes,” he noted. In the absence of Virat Kohli, K.L. Rahul and de Villiers himself, RCB embarked on its IPL season with a 35-run defeat in Hyderabad. As it prepares for its first home game of IPL-10, against Delhi Daredevils at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, RCB cannot wait for Kohli to return. He batted in the nets and faced throw-downs, but there was no official word on his fitness. de Villiers, nursing a back injury, did not train, and so it could be another game of coping with depleted resources for RCB. To be fair, though, Chris Gayle, Mandeep Singh, Travis Head and Kedar Jadhav all began well on the opening night, and a slightly smaller target may have easily been overhauled. The problem lay with the bowling. Shane Watson,

*

standing in for Kohli as captain, conceded his side had been sloppy in the field. The medium pace of Watson, Aniket Choudhary, S. Arvind and Stuart Binny (who only bowled one over) was collectively flogged for 142 runs in 11 overs. Only Tymal Mills and Yuzvendra Chahal bowled

their decision to prefer Smith over allrounder James Faulkner. With the target appearing closer, Gambhir's three boundaries off Manpreet Grewal helped the captain overtake Lynn for a while. But Lynn's final barrage against Kulkarni meant he remained unbeaten, just seven runs shy of a hundred. The duo's carnage meant that the Rajkotians returned home with little to remember about the Lions' batting essay earlier in the night. While Brendon McCullum started off in his trademark aggressive manner, the spin duo of Kuldeep and Piyush Chawla put the brakes on in the middle overs before Karthik and Raina flourished in the death overs.

We have to ind the right balance for each game, says Warner The bench can provide vital inputs which should help in leading the team V.V. Subrahmanyam HYDERABAD

Sunrisers Hyderabad captain David Warner said that his team had a fantastic start to the 2017 IPL season with the win over Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opener here on Wednesday. Warner said it was a very good win irrespective of who was playing or not for the RCB match as it was a still very strong side. “That wins gives great confidence to the entire team,” he said. “Especially, the way the guys batted. It was a fantastic effort. And, in bowling, Bhuvi (pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar) is a genius with his skill and execution on such a pitch in especially in death overs. We have now quite a few bowling options with the induction of leggie Rashid Khan of Afghanistan in the team,” the SRH captain said. Referring to Bangladesh left-arm pacer Mustafizur Rahman, who is away on national duty, Warner said he hoped the former would join the team for the Mumbai game (April 12 in Mumbai). “The objective would be to find the right balance for each game in any given scenario. “I think the key is the middle overs in this format when the batting side will try to accelerate the runs. But again, we have the experience of Nehra, Bhuvi and then there is Cutting, Moises and Rashid. We have plenty of options,” Warner said.

Specific role “It is important to have selfbelief and confidence to handle any situation. Each player has a specific role defined and we are pleased with the way they are responding,” the SRH captain pointed out.

David Warner. *

V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

“Yes, I did have a look at what we did right last season and what are the areas to improve to change the thought process. Accordingly, we will have our game plan for each game,” Warner said. “I am one of those who always looks to the bench for its views. For they will be seeing the action differently and can provide vital inputs which should help in leading the team,” Warner said. “Last year, we were a bit tentative in batting as there were quite a few dot balls. But, immensely pleased with the way we batted in the opener the other night against RCB,” he said. “There is no pressure on being defending champions. Yes, last year there were individuals who were chipping in each game. But, that is past. We have to stay focused and be calm for a repeat performance,” Warner said. “Yes, definitely we have to reassess our strategies if the opposition gets the better of us as we progress in this edition. We have to back some players in given situations sometimes with high risk,” he said. “The best part is that the boys keep smiling and we hope to carry on the momentum,” Warner concluded.

Smith and Maxwell up against each other Supergiant riding high after Thursday’s victory S. Dinakar Indore

It was in Ranchi earlier this season that Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell were involved in a critical partnership on day one of the third Test against India. Inspired by the mercurial Smith, Maxwell notched up a path-breaking first Test hundred. He leapt in joy and embraced Smith after reaching the three-figure mark. They were comrades-in-arms. That seems a long time ago. Now, the teams are different, the format has changed and the two Aussies find themselves heading rival IPL franchises. Smith and Maxwell will be trading cricketing blows against one another as Rising Pune Supergiant takes on Kings XI Punjab at the Holkar stadium on Saturday. Supergiant is riding high after Thursday’s victory over Mumbai Indians. A seemingly tough chase of 185 was expertly managed by Smith and his 54-ball unbeaten 84. In many senses, Saturday’s game here will be a duel between Smith and the explosive Maxwell. The intrepid Maxwell has this precious ability to manipulate field positions in this format, can essay different shots to the same ball. Mentoring the side is Virender Sehwag who blew away several attacks during his time. Maxwell has enormous respect for the man. “He always backed my brand of cricket. It was a big moment for me when I played alongside Sehwag for Delhi Daredevils,” the Kings XI captain said. Smith could reach out to leg-spinner Imran Tahir to take out Maxwell. Tahir excels in this format with his variety and control. Kings XI also has the destructive David ‘Killer’ Miller in its line-up. The belligerent

In form: Steve Smith’s outing in the irst game augurs well for Rising Pune Supergiant as it takes on King’s XI Punjab. *

VIVEK BENDRE

southpaw can take the match quickly from the opposition. This game is not short on marquee names. Supergiant’s ₹ 14.5 crore pace-bowling all-rounder Ben Stokes will be seeking to prove he’s worth all that money. Then there is Ajinkya Rahane, the delicate but decisive stroke-maker at the top of the order. The game will also feature the iconic wicketkeeperbatsman M.S. Dhoni, yet another match-winner for Supergiant, against his worthy successor in the Indian Test team, Wriddhiman Saha. Supergiant, though, is not the same force without R.

Ashwin, down with sports hernia. Chennai’s Washington Sundar has been drafted into the Supergiant team. Young, nippy left-arm seamer T. Natarajan, whose rags-to-riches story was heart-warming, could feature for Kings XI.

IPL SCHEDULE RISING PUNE SUPERGIANT V KINGS XI PUNJAB, Sony ESPN, Sony Six, Sony Max (SD & HD), 4 p.m. ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE V DELHI DAREDEVILS, Sony ESPN, Sony Six, Sony Max (SD & HD), 8 p.m. M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

14 SPORT

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

IN BRIEF

Hofman leads with seven under McGirt second on three under, Westwood third; World No. 1 Johnson pulls out Agencies

Initiative is to extend medical facilities through CGHS for sportspersons

AUGUSTA

Jemima fails dope test: report

American journeyman Charley Hoffman led the US Masters after firing a sparkling 65 in a wind-swept first round on Thursday as World No. 1 Dustin Johnson pulled out due to a back injury. The 40-year-old Hoffman made nine birdies, including four in a row from the 14th hole, to tame the fiendish Augusta National course and finish on seven under par, four shots clear of compatriot William McGirt and five ahead of England’s Lee Westwood. Three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson was among a large group of players on one under par along with English trio Justin Rose, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Andy Sullivan, and Spain’s Sergio Garcia. American Johnson, favourite to win the title after victories in his last three tournaments, hurt his back in a freak accident on Wednesday but he looked comfortable on the driving range and arrived at the first tee in the final group out. As compatriots Bubba Watson and Jimmy Walker prepared to tee off, Johnson suddenly walked back to the Augusta National clubhouse before informing organisers he was unfit to play.

PARIS

Jemima Sumgong, the first Kenyan woman to win Olympic marathon gold when she triumphed at Rio in 2016, has failed an out-ofcompetition dope test, according to reports on Friday. AFP

Malaysia to scrap F1 KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysia will scrap its Formula One race after 2017, one year earlier than planned, Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Friday, citing rising costs and falling ticket sales. AFP

Soler nets winner MADRID

Carlos Soler scored with a brilliant lob in the 86th minute for Valencia to beat Celta Vigo 3-2 in La Liga on Thursday. The results: Valencia 3 (Parejo 38, Munir 67, Soler 86) bt Celta Vigo 2 (Cabral 16, Aspas 80-pen); Eibar 3 (Correia 14, Aythami 24-og, Gonzalez 66-pen) bt Las Palmas 1 (Lemos 62). AGENCIES

Sherlock fancied MUMBAI: Trainer Pesi Shroff ’s ward Sherlock, who is in good shape, may win the Blazing Saddles Million, the feature event of Saturday’s (April 8) evening races. Rails will be place 4 metres wide from 1400m to 1200m and 8 metres wide from 1000m upto the winning post. H.R.SHANTIDAS TROPHY (2,000m), rated 53 to 79 – 4.30 p.m.: 1. Multiglory (2) Trevor 59.5, 2. Raees (3) C.S. Jodha 55.5, 3. Sabiq (4) Neeraj 54 and 4. Caesars Star (1) Parbat 53. RAEES J. ROBINSON PLATE (1,800m), Maiden, 3-y-o only – 5.00: 1. Gdansk (6) Tograllu 55, 2. Gold Bond (4) C.S.Jodha 55, 3. Lord Of The Sea (2) Neeraj 55, 4. Lucky Luciano (5) Trevor 55, 5. Lady Be Good (1) Sandesh 53.5 and 6. Moonshine (3) Bhawani 53.5. 1. LORD OF THE SEA, 2. LADY BE GOOD S.A. WAHID PLATE, DIV.II (1,400m), Cl. IV, rated 20 to 46 – 5.30: 1. Brabourne (8) Trevor 60, 2. Diwali Lights (7) S. Amit 53.5, 3. Regal Shot (9) Vishal 53.5, 4. Tomahawk (10) S.J. Sunil 53, 5. Brothersofthewind (3) Neeraj 52.5, 6. Commandperformance (4) Merchant 52.5, 7. Windfall (2) Pereira 52.5, 8. Astara (5) C.S. Jodha 51, 9. Cristo Boss (1) K. Kadam 51 and 10. Nightfall (6) N. Rawal 50. 1. BRABOURNE, 2. CRISTO BOSS, 3. DIWALI LIGHTS STYLECRACKER JUVENILE GOLD CUP (1,400m), Maiden 3y-o only – 6.00: 1. Admo (6) J. Chinoy 55, 2. Baby Face (5) N. Rawal 55, 3. Stari Grad (3) Trevor 55, 4. Strong Values (1) Sandesh 55, 5. Towering Storm (7) C.S. Jodha 55, 6. Dazzling Eyes (4) Santosh 53.5, 7. Imperial Beauty (8) Bhawani 53.5 and 8. Turning Point (2) Akshay 53.5. 1. STARI GRAD, 2. TURNING POINT, 3. ADMO BLAZING SADDLES MILLION (1,600m), Cl. III, rated 40 to 66 – 6.30: 1. Et Voila (10) Neeraj 59, 2. Vice Admiral (9) Sandesh 59, 3. Volantis (11) Dashrath 57.5, 4. Dancing Lord (7) J. Chinoy 56, 5. Merabella (4) S.J. Sunil 56, 6. Glorious

1

2

3

4

5

Eyes (2) Santosh 55, 7. Domination (1) C.S. Jodha 53.5, 8. Sherlock (3) Trevor 53, 9. Sussex Pride (5) Agarwal 52.5, 10. Flashing Honour (6) Bhawani 51.5 and 11. Zanzibaar (8) S. Amit 51.5. 1. SHERLOCK, 2. DANCING LORD, 3. VICE ADMIRAL

6

S.A. WAHID PLATE, DIV.I (1,400m), Cl. IV, rated 20 to 46 – 7.00: 1. New England (3) Trevor 61, 2. Silk Baby (1) Bhawani 59.5, 3. Backstreet Bay (6) Neeraj 57.5, 4. Bidstone Hill (9) Parbat 57, 5. Knight’s Quest (2) Dashrath 54.5, 6. Sir Desmond (7) Akshay Kumar 54.5, 7. Scion (10) A. Gaikwad 54, 8. Auroden (4) S. Amit 53.5, 9. King Of Killen (5) Sandesh 53 and 10. Noble Chieftain (8) Merchant 53. 1. NEW ENGLAND, 2. KING OF KILLEN, 3. SIR DESMOND

7

ARISTOS PLATE (1,200m), Cl. V, rated 1 to 26 – 7.30: 1. Alyaties (9) Ayyar 61, 2. Divine Angel (6) Shubham 60.5, 3. Queen Ria (3) S. Amit 60.5, 4. Samurai (4) Jaykumar 60.5, 5. Deccan King (2) Nadeem 59.5, 6. Abu Al Bukhoosh (10) S.Sunil 59, 7. Golden Orchid (7) Vishal 59, 8. Royce (1) Joseph 57.5, 9. Rich N Rare (8) Kuldeep 55 and 10. Black Jaguar (5) Raghuveer 52.5. 1. ALYATIES, 2. QUEEN RIA, 3. DECCAN KING

8

RUSTOMJI BYRAMJI TROPHY (1,200m), Cl. IV, rated 20 to 46 – 8.00: 1. Quixotic (9) Jaykumar 61, 2. Maduro (1) Akshay Kumar 60.5, 3. Fringe Benefit (3) Trevor 57.5, 4. Barringo (2) Shahrukh 57, 5. Kodiac Queen (6) Daman 56.5, 6. Captain (5) C.S. Jodha 55, 7. Travieso (13) J. Chinoy 55, 8. Way Ahead (10) Dashrath 55, 9. Irish Boss (7) Merchant 52.5, 10. She’s A Tiger (14) Santosh 52.5, 11. Trevelyan (4) Neeraj 52, 12. Highland Princess (12) K. Kadam 51.5, 13. Untitled (8) Hanumant 51 and 14. Sweep Aside (11) N. Rawal 50. 1. QUIXOTIC, 2. WAY AHEAD, 3. SHE’S A TIGER Day’s best: BRABOURNE Double: RAEES – LORD OF THE SEA Jackpot: 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8. Treble (i): 5, 6 & 7; (ii): 6, 7 & 8. Tanala: All races. Super Jackpot: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8.

AICS welcomes PM’s decision Special Correspondent NEW DELHI

Weathering the winds: Charley Hofman takes a four-shot lead into the Masters second round after high winds afected the opening round. REUTERS *

Hoffman, who has won four PGA Tour titles, played a flawless back nine to forge ahead of World No. 53 McGirt, who has only one Tour victory to his name. Former World No. 1 Westwood, joint runner-up last year, made five successive birdies late in his round to soar into contention to win a long-awaited first major. Most players found scoring difficult in the swirling winds and England’s Danny Willett made an ugly start to his title defence with a double-bogey six at the first

US MASTERS hole, but he fought back strongly to finish on one over. American Jordan Spieth, the 2015 Masters champion, safely negotiated the 12th hole where he made a quadruple-bogey in last year’s final round to scupper his chances of defending the title. Top scores: First round: 65: Charley Hoffman (USA) (34-31); 69: William McGirt (USA) (3534); 70: Lee Westwood (Eng)

Indore: a city with a rich cricket legacy

(39-31); 71: Russell Henley (USA) (35-36), Kevin Chappell (USA) (35-36), Andy Sullivan (Eng) (35-36), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng) (35-36), Phil Mickelson (USA) (35-36), Justin Rose (Eng) (34-37), Jason Dufner (USA) (35-36), Sergio Garcia (Esp) (35-36); 72: Soren Kjeldsen (Den) (3636), Thomas Pieters (Bel) (3240), Paul Casey (Eng) (36-36), Ernie Els (RSA) (39-33), Matt Kuchar (USA) (39-33), Shane Lowry (Irl) (35-37), Rory McIlroy (NIr) (39-33); 73: Scott Piercy (USA) (34-39), Fred Couples (USA) (36-37), Rickie Fowler

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC

\ NORTH INDIA ROUND-UP \

Sneha, Tarun bag titles NEW DELHI:

It gave India two of its charismatic stroke-makers Nayudu, Mushtaq Ali S. Dinakar Indore

Walk into the markets of this bustling city and you see a blaze of colours. Wading through the busy traffic can be hard, but Indore’s culinary delights make the effort worth it. Indore, which has a rich cricket legacy, is now gearing up for a dash of Twenty20 matches when IPL comes to town on Saturday. And it is appropriate too that T20 games will be played in a place that gave India two of its most dashing and charismatic strokemakers — C.K. Nayudu and Syed Mushtaq Ali.

Dominant force The manner in which Nayudu and Mushtaq Ali batted in the glory days of Holkar — a dominant force in Indian cricket till the mid-1950s — was way ahead of their time. They were aggressive, dismissed attacks ruthlessly and brought in crowds. Most of all they believed in entertainment, a word that drives the shortest format. The tall, lithe and ageless Nayudu, apart from being a canny medium-pacer, was an effortless striker of the ball. He was a game-changer. A natural leader, he also captained India in its first

ever Test match, against England at Lord’s in 1932; Nayudu was already 36 then. In his brief Test career, Nayudu made 350 runs in seven matches at 25.00 and claimed nine wickets. The majesty of his cricket travelled way beyond numbers. Astonishingly fit, Nayudu continued playing First Class cricket till he was well into his 60s, often sending the fielders on a leather hunt.

Impulsive shot-maker Interestingly, Mushtaq, an impulsive shot-maker, was first spotted by Nayudu in Indore. Mushtaq’s methods as an opener would have pleased the present-day T20 franchises. He would dance half-way down the track, literally, and could pull off unorthodox, but incredible strokes. The explosive batsman played 11 Tests — those were days when international matches were few and far between — notching up 612 runs at 32.21. Mushtaq would have been a rage in T20 cricket. Both are no longer alive, but their spirit lives on in Indore, a city with a hoary cricket past that is now a part of this era’s T20 carnival.

(USA) (34-39), Danny Willett (Eng) (38-35), Jon Rahm (Esp) (35-38), Marc Leishman (Aus) (35-38), Justin Thomas (USA) (37-36). 74: Daniel Summerhays (USA) (38-36), Brendan Steele (USA) (37-37), Larry Mize (USA) (3836), Stewart Hagestad (USA) (37-37), Kevin Kisner (USA) (3737), Brooks Koepka (USA) (3539), Jason Day (Aus) (37-37), Rod Pampling (Aus) (36-38), Pat Perez (USA) (39-35), Ryan Moore (USA) (36-38), Charl Schwartzel (RSA) (40-34), Chris Wood (Eng) (36-38), Yuta Ikeda (Jpn) (38-36), Alex Noren (Swe) (39-35).

The All India Council of Sports (AICS) welcomed Prime Minister’s decision to extend medical facilities through CGHS for sportspersons at a meeting here on Friday. Prof. Vijay Kumar Malhotra, AICS president, said he will follow up on the news item with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to ensure the extension of medical facilities to the sportspersons. The AICS appreciated Union Minister for Corporate Affairs Arun Jaitley’s decision for amending the Indian Companies Act to allow utilisation of funds under the “Corporate Social Responsibility” head for upgradation of sports infrastructure. In fact, the Corporate Affairs Ministry had clarified that private and public sector undertakings may sponsor national and international sports events and treat the expenditure as “advertisement’’ as part of their regular business expenses. It was further decided to follow up on the concept submitted for the launch of

“Pradhan Mantri Khel Vikas Yojna” which would attempt to set up a million sports clubs across the country. It was also mentioned that the Ministry for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pension had agreed to the recommendation of the AICS to amend the guidelines regarding reservation of jobs for sportspersons for a minimum 5% instead of upto 5%. All the State governments have been requested to promote sports on par with health and education. The Union Human Resource Development Ministry has been requested to keep the 5% Education cess exclusively for sports. The members also suggested that the cash awards for sports achievements should be uniform from all the State governments. It was also recommended that there should be a robust pension scheme for meritorious sportspersons so as to ensure a respectable life for them after retirement. The AICS expressed concern about India being ranked No.3 in the world in doping violations.

Unseeded Sneha Rajwar bounced back after losing the first game to outwit fourth seed Khushi Gupta 18-21, 21-8, 21-14 in the under-17 girls’ final of the PNB Metlife junior championship at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium on Friday. It was a big relief for Sneha Rajwar who, as the top seed, had lost the under-15 semifinals in straight games to the eventual champion Khushi Thakkar. The under-17 boys’ title was bagged by Tarun Gakhad who beat Dhruv Rawat 21-13, 21-19. He had endured an intense semifinal against Pushaan Leo Paul. The Chief Distribution Officer of PNB Metlife, Hemant Khera, presented

the prizes. The circuit will move to Chandigarh, with the next event starting on April 10. The results: Boys: Under-17 (final): Tarun Gakhad bt Dhruv Rawat 21-13, 21-19; Semifinals: Dhruv Rawat bt Himanshu Dabas 21-8, 21-16; Tarun Gakhad bt Pushaan Leo Paul 21-14, 23-25, 21-12.

Under-15 (final): Shubham Patel bt Raman Kumar 18-21, 21-8, 21-10; Semifinals: Shubham Patel bt Nandis Poddar 21-8, 21-11; Raman Kumar bt Akash 21-11, 21-15.

Under-13 (final): Dev Maheshwari bt Chirag Khatri 15-21, 21-12, 21-14; Semifinals: Chirag Khatri bt Telaprolu Teja Venkatesh 21-10, 17-21, 21-8; Dev Maheshwari bt Manraj Singh 21-11, 21-23, 21-15.

Under-11 (final): Neer Nehwal bt Devant Tomar 21-7, 21-15; Semifnals: Neer Nehwal bt Chirag Choudhary 21-19,

21-9; Devang Tomar bt Vansh Dev 21-16, 21-11. Under-9 (final): Aksh Singh bt Manjeet Chaudhary 21-5, 14-21, 21-19; Semifinals: Manjeet Chaudhary bt Arjun 21-9, 21-10; Aksh Singh bt Ayush Kumar 21-16, 19-21, 21-11. Girls: Under-17 (final): Sneha Rajwar bt Khushi Gupta 18-21, 21-8, 21-14; Semifinals: Sneha Rajwar bt Likhita Srivastava 21-15,2 1-16; Khushi Gupta bt Anupama Upadhyaya 21-18,2 1-17. Under-15 (final): Khushi Thakkar bt Aashi Rawat 21-19, 17-21, 21-15; Semifinals: Khushi Thakkar bt Sneha Rajwar 21-16, 21-19; Aashi Rawat bt Anupama Upadhyaya 21-15, 21-12. Under-13 (final): Sakshi Phogat bt Muskaan Sangwan 21-14, 21-13; Semifinals: Muskaan Sangwan bt Stuti Agrawal 21-10, 22-20; Sakshi Phogat bt Khushboo Sao 21-10, 21-8. Under-11 (final): Unnati Hooda bt Anwesha Gowda 21-10,

India team for Asian TT

21-17; Semifinals: Unnati Hooda bt Anmol Kharb 23-21, 19-21, 15-10; Anwesha Gowda bt Vanshika Thakur 21-16, 21-7. Under-9 (final): Shruti Chouhan bt BR Madhumita Ramamoorthy 21-8, 21-13; Semifinals: BR Madhumita Ramamoorthy bt Ashe Singh 25-23, 21-17; Shruti Chouhan bt Ananya Bhardwaj 21-7, 21-9.

Dalal dazzles Jatin Dalal, who smashed a 28-ball 57 and took two wickets, helped Rohtak Road Gymkhana beat Mount CC and enter the prequarterfinals of the 27th Om Nath Sood memorial cricket tournament. Pranav Rajvanshi top-scored for MCC with 72. The scores: MCC 173 for nine in 40 overs (Pranav Rajvanshi 72 n.o) lost to RRG 176 for six in 33 overs (Jatin Dalal 57, Luv Mahajan 47n.o., Ajay Kookna three for 21).

Kavya wins Sports Bureau

Special Correspondent VIJAYAWADA

A 10-member India team, led by National champions A. Sharath Kamal and Madhurika Patkar, will participate in the Asian championships to be held at Wuxi (China), from April 9, according to release from the Table Tennis Federation of India on Friday. The other members include Soumyajit Ghosh, G. Sathiyan, Harmeet Desai, Sanil Shetty, Manika Batra,

Suthirtha Mukherjee, Pooja Sahasrabuddhe and Mouma Das. The team will be accompanied by foreign expert Massimo Costantini, coach Arup Basak and physiotherapist Kishore Dey.

Sparring partner For the first time in recent years, the Sports Ministry has sanctioned a sparring partner in defensive player Lalrin Puia, who will stay the entire duration of the cham-

pionships between April 9 and 16.

Two to join later Except for Sharath Kamal and Ghosh, all other players participated in the Thailand Open before arriving at Shanghai on April 4 for a short camp, according to Massimo. “The players are in good shape and bolstered by the arrival of Sharath and Ghosh,” said Massimo before leaving for Wuxi.

CHANDIGARH

Kavya Sawhney won the girls’ under-18 title in the AITA Championship series junior tennis tournament outplaying Harleen Kaur 6-2, 6-0 in the final at the CLTA Stadium on Friday. The results (finals): Boy: Under-14: Ajay Singh bt Sarabjot Singh 6-3, 7-6(1). Girls: Under-18: Kavya Sawhney bt Harleen Kaur 6-2, 6-0. Under-14: Nimrat Atwal bt Kuhoo Atray 6-0, 6-3.

DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

THE HINDU CROSSWORD 11976 1

2

3

4

7

5

6

8

9

10

11

12

(set by XChequer)

11 Notices for the audience to leave (5)

3 Basis of summer, spring and fall (5)

12 Work in plaster of Paris inally irm, covering removed from the back (6)

4 Ford deleted in alternate sequences in ilm (5-3)

14 Tiny car creating ripples? Sure thing (6,9)

5 Perhaps roti, and oven primarily described (8)

17 Crow gobbler-cat? (3-3)

6 Type of stone pan (5)

FAITH

SUDOKU

The Mahavira’s message

13 14

15

16

18 Run crossing large snake (5) 17

18

20

19

21

22

22 Virtuous if born during mass (6)

23

24

25

23 Very big changes in direction between lower and higher breeze (4,4) 24 Scroll having pictures of scholar with robe (8)

■ ACROSS 7 Wicked line after fun is abandoned (6) 8 Model partner following protocol (8) 9 Slowly go near barking dog, occasionally quiet pet (4,2,2) 10 Peaceful day for new political body (6)

CM YK

25 Correspondence acceptable for a chaste environment (6) ■ DOWN

8 Term for God who heals right away (4,3,4,2) 13 Change tune, after a time, had to weaken (9) 15 Bold appeal, taking new pride in revolution (8)

Solution to puzzle 11975 16 Review features faulty point in initiative (8) 19 Mollify agitated maids overcoming resistance (6)

1 The Reverend's wee might appears via media (6,3)

20 Lawyer in play now (5)

2 Blooming rose to court female, favourite in advances (6)

21 Play after school to make out (5)

A P R O L R O G G Y L E N A V E I N O M

RMA D A P O E C OM P R O S O O N S T E R C H T E MN A S T I C E T A D S S E T E G D E R S I O N L L E C A N D E S C N E S O D E R N E

A L A C E S P N T H E S I S R R G A R I S MA Y T A M I N S K F S A S I D E U A S U P E R B P A L E R A I D N S N D G I N G

Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku

April 9 (Sunday) marks the 2,615th birth anniversary of Lord Mahavira, the twenty fourth and the last Thirthankar. The day is known as Mahavir Janm Kalyanak. For the Jain community, this is a day of celebration as he is the one who taught people to live. No birth can be more important than his. Bhagwan imparted some of the most important values that make lives simple, happy and worthwhile. These are non-violence, truthfulness and good character, aparigraha or non-greediness, and charity. With non-violence, he taught humankind to not hurt any living being. He insisted that one should never lie and should walk the path of truth, avoiding fights and contradictions. He wanted humans to keep only what they need and give away the rest in charity. All of these values help in living life in peace and with immense happiness. Lord Mahavira also broke the barriers of caste, creed and religion, and gender. He said everyone is equal. He laid importance on purvajanam and punarjanam, to make it clear that your deeds today shape not only your future but also your next birth. If one does good karams (deeds), he or she will achieve salvation. Lord Mahavira’s birthday is celebrated with much energy. Gatherings are organised, chanting of prayers is done and processions are taken out. Feeding the poor, as well as birds and animals, is the highest form of charity that should be carried out on this day. Another important aspect that one can adopt on this day is “forgiveness”. Lord Mahavira has said that kshama is a practice everyone should adopt. Walking on the Bhagwan’s path can bring immense satisfaction in life, and Mahavir Jayanti is a reminder of that fact for everyone. Naypadmasagarji Maharaj M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU

SPORT 15

NOIDA/DELHI

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

TV PICKS I-League: TEN 2, 4.30 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Davis Cup: India vs Uzbekistan, DD Sports, 6 p.m.

World Group: Neo Sports, 7.30 p.m.

U.S. Masters: live streaming on www.masters.com, 5.30 p.m. NBA: Sony Six & Sony Six HD, 6 a.m. (Sunday)

Prajnesh makes a winning debut, India goes up 2-0 Ramkumar beats Ismailov in a scrappy opening rubber

Crabbe scripts Trail Blazers’ win PORTLAND

Allen Crabbe came off the bench to score 25 points and pace Portland Trail Blazers to a 105-98 victory over Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA on Thursday. Other results: Hawks 123 bt Celtics 116; Wizards 106 bt Knicks 103; Bulls 102 bt 76ers 90; Magic 115 bt Nets 107; Pacers 104 bt Bucks 89. AGENCIES

Ajay Jayaram bows out KUCHING (MALAYSIA)

Ace shuttler Ajay Jayaram’s giant-killing run came to an end at the Malaysia Open Super Series after he lost 21-18, 21-14 in the quarterfinals to Korea’s Son Wan Ho here on Friday. This was Jayaram’s fourth successive loss to Wan Ho. The two had last squared off in 2013 China Open. The opening game was contested on even keel but at 18-18, Wan Ho broke away to clinch the early advantage. Wan Ho was more dominant in the second game and did not have much trouble in sealing the issue in his favour. PTI

India boxed Uzbekistan into a position on Friday from where any team will struggle to recover in a Davis Cup match. Ramkumar Ramanathan and Prajnesh Gunneswaran realised India’s designs of leaving Uzbekistan battered and bruised in the Asia-Oceania Group-I tie at the KSLTA Stadium. Ramkumar defeated Temur Ismailov 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5 in a nervy error-ridden match, and then Prajnesh, on his Davis Cup debut, put on quite a show to beat the Uzbek No. 1 Sanjar Fayziev 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. That both Ismailov and Fayziev had to take medical time-outs would worry the Uzbekistan captain Petr Lebed. While the former was bothered by a thigh strain — which he stressed was not serious — the latter, who suffers from arrhythmia, struggled with breathlessness. It remains to be seen if Fayziev will be fit for the doubles on Saturday. Ramkumar played a far from perfect match. He hit 14 double-faults in all, including seven in just two service games in the second set. His first-serve percentage was a lowly 54, and he converted just six of 14 break-points. It helped that Ismailov matched each of those numbers except the double-fault count. In as early as in his second service game, Ismailov missed five first serves. He double-faulted on breakpoint to hand Ramkumar the early break. That brought out a degree of tentativeness in the Uzbek which lasted for large swathes of the match. Perhaps wary of the high-boun-

Struggled for rhythm against tiring Ismailov: Ramkumar Ashwin Achal Bengaluru

N. Sudarshan BENGALURU

IN BRIEF

Fayziev battled with arrhythmia

Hitting the ground running: Newcomer Prajnesh Gunneswaran seemed to grow in conidence as his match against the Uzbek No. 1 Sanjar Fayziev progressed, and switched gears towards the end to cruise home. PHOTO: V. SREENIVASA MURTHY *

cing surface, he seemed happy to just keep the ball in play than going for the extravagant winner. After Ramkumar raced ahead by breaking again, Ismailov changed tack. He tried hitting cross-court into the corners, giving the ball ample time to drag itself in. Two such plays had Ramkumar at 15-30. The pattern repeated itself on Ramkumar’s following service game too, but Ismailov squandered both chances, and the set went the Indian’s way. Midway through the second set, when Ramkumar broke for 4-3, Ismailov’s task seemed nigh impossible. Then began a string of double-faults from Ramkumar. He delivered three of them on consecutive points to allow his opponent to pull level. Then, at 5-6, he threw in four more to hand Ismailov

the set. At 2-2 in the third, the Uzbek seemed to feel some discomfort on his thigh. Ramkumar reeled off the next four games to lead two sets to one. Ismailov’s movement improved in the fourth set and the match stayed true to its capricious character. Serving at 6-5, the 22-yearold Indian erred with three more double-faults, two of them on match-points, before winning. The second rubber made up for all the missing quality. The first set was neck-andneck until Prajnesh nosed ahead. Fayziev came into his own in the second, playing an expansive attacking game. He approached the net a lot more, denying Prajnesh the time to work his points, and that won him the set. But from 3-1 up in the third, Fayziev lost five con-

secutive games to give up the set. Running short of breath, he could barely move and, at times, seemed so disoriented that he could not even collect the ball-kids’ throws. That he did not throw in the towel was admirable indeed. He recovered his bearings partially in the fourth set. But Prajnesh had switched gears. He served with aplomb, and though he does not yet possess the ability to execute point-ending shots from all areas of the court, he was unafraid to try. One such attempt was a superb down-the-line backhand return in the penultimate game. It was fitting that he finished with a huge ace. The results: India 2 leads Uzbekistan 0 [Ramkumar Ramanathan bt Temur Ismailov 6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 7-5; Prajnesh Gunneswaran bt Sanjar Fayziev 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4].

At one stage, during the second singles rubber of India’s Davis Cup match against Uzbekistan, Sanjar Fayziev clutched his chest and looked uncomfortable. The Uzbek revealed that he suffers from arrhythmia. “I suffer from heart arrhythmia. It is a pre-existing condition. Today, I had difficulty breathing and felt some pain in my chest. The condition does not bother me too often during matches. This is probably the second or third time that this is happening. I love tennis, so I fight through this bad thing and play despite the pain. But now, I think I will have to pay more attention to this condition,” a thoroughly dejected Fayziev said. India’s non-playing captain Mahesh Bhupathi was all praise for Gunneswaran. “Two months ago, when I was appointed non-playing captain, I called Prajnesh and told him that I wanted him to play the singles rubber on the first day of this tie. Today, he has made me really proud. It was high-

Winning ugly: On his struggles with his serve, Ramkumar said: “I can’t really explain it. But, yes, I need to work on it.” *

V. SREENIVASA MURTHY

quality stuff. He has a big game, with two big weapons — a big serve, and a big forehand. It is not everyday that you find an Indian player with two weapons,” Bhupathi said. A pleased Gunneswaran said, “Ahead of the match, I was nervous. I tried to approach it like a regular match, and it seemed to work. “When the match began, the nerves went away and I settled in quickly. I was surprised. I served well, and my forehand worked.” On his encounter replete with errors, Ramkumar said: “It is not easy to play against someone who is tired, moving slowly, and asking for the

towel after almost every point. It breaks your rhythm. When you serve well, you want to serve for the next point quickly. “My teammates told me to hang in there, fight for every point, and wait for my chance. Towards the end, I was able to raise my game and finish it off.” Ramkumar praised his teammates — Leander Paes included — for motivating him. Paes, who had said he would not be around for the entire tie, was at the venue on Friday, soaking in the adulation from the crowd. Ismailov, meanwhile, downplayed injury concerns, saying he would be fit to play the reverse singles.

Australia wins both singles Serbia, France also dominate opening day’s play Agence France-Presse

Nick Kyrgios and Jordan Thompson gave host Australia a 2-0 lead after the first day of their Davis Cup quarterfinal against the United States here on Friday.

In other quarterfinal matches, Novak Djokovic and Viktor Troicki put Serbia 2-0 up against visiting Spain at Belgrade while host France also won both opening singles rubbers against Great Britain.

Thompson stunned World No. 15 Jack Sock in four sets in the opening rubber before Kyrgios saw off the big-serving John Isner in three tight sets.

The results: Quarterfinals: At Brisbane: Australia 2 leads USA 0 [Jordan Thompson bt Jack Sock 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4; Nick Kyrgios bt John Isner 7-5, 7-6(5), 7-6(5)].

Brisbane

At Rouen: France 2 leads Great Britain 0 [Lucas Pouille bt Kyle Edmund 7-5, 7-6(6), 6-3; Jeremy Chardy bt Daniel Evans 6-2, 6-3, 6-3]. At Belgrade: Serbia 2 leads Spain 0 [Novak Djokovic bt Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-3, 6-4, 6-2; Viktor Troicki bt Pablo Carreno-Busta 6-3, 6-4, 6-3]. At Charleroi: Belgium 1 leads Italy 0 [Steve Darcis bt Paolo Lorenzi 6-7(3), 6-1, 6-1, 7-6(4)].

Karman loses HERAKLION

(GREECE):

Sixth seed Nastja Kolar of Slovenia beat Karman Kaur Thandi 6-2, 6-3 in the quarterfinals of the $15,000 ITF women’s tennis tournament here on Friday. The results: Quarterfinals: $15,000 ITF women, Heraklion, Greece: Nastja Kolar (Slo) bt Karman Kaur

Thandi 6-2, 6-3. Doubles: Michaela Boev (Bel) & Anna Ukolova (Rus) w/o Angelique Svinos (Aus) & Karman Kaur Thandi. $15,000 ITF women, Hammamet, Tunisia: Andreea Amala Rosca & Gabriela Nicole Tatarus (Rou) bt Jelena Simic (Bih) & Snehadevi Reddy 6-3, 5-7, [10-8]. SPORTS BUREAU

Mane out for the season LONDON: Liverpool’s

hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were rocked on Friday with manager Jurgen Klopp saying forward Sadio Mane will be out for the season to have knee surgery.

CM YK

The 24-year-old Senegal international suffered the injury in a challenge with Everton’s Leighton Baines in last weekend’s Merseyside derby and had his knee in a brace all week. AFP

M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

16 WEEKEND SPORT

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

CM CM YK YK

M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU

NOIDA/DELHI

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

WEEKEND SPORT 17

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

CM YK

M ND-ND

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

18 LIFE

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 2017

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Google adds ‘fact check’ to global search results Washington

Google is adding a factchecking tag to search results globally, its latest initiative to help curb the spread of misinformation and “fake news,” the company said on Friday. The new tags, to be used in all languages for users worldwide, will use thirdparty fact-checkers to indicate whether news items are true, false or somewhere in-between. “For the first time, when you conduct a search on Google that returns an authoritative result containing fact checks for one or more public claims, you will see that information clearly on the search results page,” Google said in a blog post. “The snippet will display information on the claim, who made the claim, and the fact check of that particular claim.” The information won’t be available for every search result, and there may be conflicting conclusions in

Google is working with fact-checking agencies.

*

AFP

some cases, Google said in the blog post, from researcher Cong Yu and Justin Kosslyn of Google’s sister company Jigsaw.

Thinking through “These fact checks are not Google’s and are presented so people can make more informed judgments,” it said. “Even though differing conclusions may be presented, we think it’s still helpful for people to understand the

Agence-France Presse

MTV dumps gender-speciic categories for awards Associated Press New York

MTV has scrapped genderspecific categories for its upcoming movie and TV

awards. In place of the ‘Best Actress’ and ‘Best Actor’ categories, this year’s awards will honour a non-gendered ‘Best Actor’ in a movie and

‘Best Actor’ in a television show. The move follows the Grammy Awards’ decision in 2011 to dump gender distinc-

tions between male and female singers and collaborations. Actor Adam DeVine will host the ceremony in Los Angeles on May 7.

San Francisco

The service is to help users make informed judgements Agence-France Presse

Youtube sets 10,000-view mark for ads

degree of consensus around a particular claim and have clear information on which sources agree.” Google has worked with 115 fact-checking groups worldwide for the initiative, which began last year. The move came a day after Facebook added a new tool in news feeds to help users determine whether shared stories are real or bogus. Fake news became a serious issue in last year’s U.S. election campaign, when clearly fraudulent stories circulated on social media, potentially swaying some voters. Concerns have been raised since then about hoaxes and misinformation affecting elections in Europe this year, with investigations showing how “click farms” generate revenue from online advertising using madeup news stories. The moves by both firms aim to change the way news is ranked, diminishing the importance of how often a particular story is shared or clicked on.

YouTube has stopped placing ads on channels with fewer than 10,000 views in a move aimed at preventing people from making money off offensive or pirated videos. The move came with YouTube striving to derail an ad boycott started by companies worried their brands might be paired with hateful videos at the service, which is part of California-based Google. “This new threshold gives us enough information to determine the validity of a channel,” product management vice-president Ariel Bardin said in a blog post. “It also allows us to confirm if a channel is following our community guidelines and advertiser policies.” YouTube also plans to soon add a review process for new “creators.” , according to Mr. Bardin. After a channel passes the 10,000-view mark, the videos will be reviewed to determine if they are in keeping with YouTube policies.

Turning cow dung into tableware An Italian farm-cum-museum shows how there is nothing such as waste Agence-France Presse Castelbosco

Italy’s “Shit Museum” has the whiff of success about it: here in Castelbosco, farmers are transforming sloppy cowpats into plates you can eat off. Once upon a time there was a large farm about a hundred kilometres south of Milan. The farmer had not only hundreds of cows, but veritable mountains of excrement — stinking slops he thought he could do something with. “The idea came from the need to take advantage of animal dung in an ecological way,” Gianantonio Locatelli, 61, a farmer, said. Over his various farms, 3,500 cattle produce 55 tonnes of milk a day to make Grana Padano, a hard cheese comparable to Parmigiano Reggiano. They also generate 150 tonnes of waste.

Coming up roses: Mugs and tiles made of “Merdacotta”

Rather than wallow in it, Mr. Locatelli came up with an ingenious way to make use of the pungent matter. The excrement is collected into stool digesters, immense vats where bacteria transform everything organic into methane. The methane is then burned to produce electricity. The daily faeces output produces three Megawatts an hour,

*

AFP

enough to turn on the lights of a village of 3,000 to 4,000 inhabitants.

Baked material The water used to cool the engines heats to 100 degrees Celsius, which is then used to warm the farm, stables and digesters. But the most sophisticated stool success is the line of tableware created out of the left-over faeces,

dubbed “merdacotta” — literally “baked shit”, a play on the clay-based earthenware Terracotta. The recipe? Cow dung mixed with Tuscan clay and rounded off with “a little secret touch” — a formula Locatelli fiercely protects. The museum, founded on one of the farms in 2005, has bricks, hexagonal and rectangular tiles, flowerpots, plates or jars, among other artworks. Designed with the architect Luca Cipelletti, it aims to capture the philosophy of an art-loving farmer who studied agriculture in Canada and rubbed shoulders with Andy Warhol in New York before becoming an amateur collector of conceptual works. The Merdacotta collection won a prize at Milan’s design fair last year, justifying his bet to “turn shit into something graceful,” he says.

Study inds ‘night owl’ gene variant Press Trust of India Washington

Researchers at Rockefeller University in the U.S. have discovered that a variant of the gene CRY1 slows the internal biological clock — called the circadian clock — that normally dictates when you feel sleepy each night and when you are ready to wake. People who self-categorise as night owls are often diagnosed with delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD). Subjects were asked to spend two weeks in a laboratory apartment that was isolated from all cues to the time of day, eating and sleeping whenever they were inclined. Researchers also collected skin cells from each person. Most people will follow a roughly 24 hour sleepwake cycle when put in such a free-run environment. However, a DSPD subject that caught the researcher’s interest not only stayed up late, but had a cycle that was about 30 minutes longer. When the researchers examined the DNA from the DSPD patient, one variant stood out; a mutation in CRY1. In a healthy circadian clock, a handful of genes turn on and off over a 24 hour cycle. The protein made by CRY1 is normally responsible for suppressing some of these genes during certain parts of the cycle. Researchers discovered that the mutation made the CRY1 protein more active than usual, keeping other clock genes switched off for a longer period of time. CM YK

M ND-ND