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‘Cannot force it for availing welfare schemes; use in I-T, bank a/c purposes is ine’ Krishnadas Rajagopal NEW DELHI
BJP junks runours about Raje being replaced JAIPUR
Speculations about Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje being replaced after the Bharatiya JanataParty’s recent victory in Uttar Pradesh have been put to rest with senior party leaders saying there were no plans to take Ms. Raje to the Centre in the next reshule. 쑺 PAGE 2
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Countering the government push to make Aadhaar compulsory for access to social welfare schemes, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said obtaining the 12-digit Unique Identification number, which requires the holder to part with his personal bio-metric data, and using it to avail himself of government subsidy was a voluntary exercise. The court’s observations follows a series of recent government circulars making Aadhaar mandatory to access welfare schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and Employees Pension Scheme. The gov-
A man displaying an Aadhaar card in Kochi. ernment has made Aadhaar compulsory for beneficiaries, many from the poorest of the poor, despite a Constitution Bench of the court directing the government in October 2015 that a citizen cannot be compelled to have Aadhaar as a pre-condition
to access Centrally sponsored welfare schemes. In short, the court had made it clear that the government was not free to discriminate between a person who has the Aadhaar card and one who does not. However, a Bench led by
Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar on Tuesday found no fault with the government’s choice to make Aadhaar mandatory for “non-welfare” activities like opening a bank account or filing Income Tax returns or applying for a mobile connection. The recently-passed Finance Bill made Aadhaar mandatory for filing tax returns and getting a permanent account number (PAN). The court’s observations came during a mentioning for an early date for hearing pending petitions raising the issue of Aadhaar as a violation of the citizen's privacy. The court, however, did not agree for an out-of-turn hearing. CONTINUED ON 쑺 PAGE 10
Shivpal, Azam Khan snubbed over LoP LUCKNOW
Ram Govind Chaudhary of the SP is set to become the Leader of the Opposition in the UP Assembly as party chief Akhilesh Yadav nominated him on Monday, ignoring stalwarts like Azam Khan and Shivpal Yadav. NATION
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‘BS-III fuel vehicles will not become redundant’ NEW DELHI
Allaying the fears of car manufacturers, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday that the 19 crore vehicles running on Bharat Stage III (BS-III) fuel would not become redundant with the government’s upgradation upgrade to BS-IV fuel. DELHI METRO
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SC counters push for Aadhaar ‘BJP trying to sneak
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Samjhauta blast case: NIA not to go after Lashkar Agency not to follow-up request to U.S. for information Vijaita Singh New Delhi
A year after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) requested U.S. authorities for information on a Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT) link to the 2007 Samjhauta train blast, in which RSS activist Aseemanand is an accused, the agency said it was no longer pursuing the aspect. Last year, NIA DG Sharad Kumar had raised the case of LeT financier Arif Qasmani with the U.S. under the gone to the U.S. where he raised pending requests MLAT.
Aseemanand was granted bail on August 28, 2014 by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the said case and the NIA decided not to challenge his bail. He continued to be in prison as he was also an accused in the Hyderabad Mecca Masjid and Ajmer Dargah blasts in 2007. Earlier this month, he was acquitted in the Ajmer Dargah blast case and granted bail in the Mecca Masjid case last week.
A 2009 U.S. charge sheet and 2010 UN citation accused Mr. Qasmani of funding both the Samjhauta blast as well as the 2006 Mumbai train bombings. Mr Kumar had raised the issue of Mr. Qasmani under the MLAT or Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) among other pending issues. Though the U.S. named Mr. Qasmani, the NIA had filed a charge sheet in 2010 in the Samjhauta blast case against eight accused persons,including Aseemanand alias Naba Kumar Sarkar.
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Somesh Jha New Delhi
Uncertainty over whether Shiv Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad would be allowed to fly soon continued even as Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan asked the government to reach an “amicable solution” on the issue on Monday. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government is now working on making the rules to ban unruly passengers more transparent. Domestic airlines had come together last week to impose a ban on Mr. Gaikwad after he assaulted a
60-year-old Air India duty manager and refused to deboard the Pune-Delhi flight in the national capital . Shiv Sena MPs created an uproar in the Lok Sabha on Monday and demanded the lifting of the airlines’ ban on Mr. Gaikwad, claiming it was unconstitutional. However, Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju remained non-committal and said violence of any kind on an aircraft could prove disastrous. A senior Civil Aviation Ministry official said the government had no role in imposing the ban and the air-
Amphibious aid promises the diferently-abled access to the sand and surf in the famed tourist spot Access to Goa’s fabled beaches will no longer be a dream for the differentlyabled. A floating wheelchair promises to allow them to enter the water and move around on the sand. The wheelchairs, imported by UMOJA, an online travel platform for people with disabilities, will be used for the first time in India at Goa’s beach access festival, scheduled to begin later this week. Yeshwant Holkar, Chief Executive Officer of UMOJA — a Swahili word meaning inclusive — explained how the wheelchair works. A differently-abled person is CM YK
No barriers: A physically challenged person enjoys sea water on a wheelchair designed to loat. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT *
strapped and secured with a safety belt, as in a car. The chair has four fat wheels at the side that would allow a family member to pull it
across the sand. There is also a leading wheel in front. Once the chair reaches the water, four inflatable pontoons not only allow it to
Vikas Pathak Vijaita Singh New Delhi
Opposition parties in the Rajya Sabha on Monday accused the Centre of seeking to promote unchecked political funding by corporate houses and offering unbridled power to income tax officials through the Finance Bill. They also saw in it an attempt to violate citizens’ ‘privacy’ by using Aadhaar in ways for which it was not envisaged. Being a money Bill, the Lok Sabha — where the BJP has a majority — can choose to accept or reject the changes proposed by the Upper House to the Finance Bill. This, Opposition leaders claimed during a discussion on the Bill, was an attempt to push through far-reaching, non-financial changes, bypassing the Rajya Sabha.
‘Send it back to LS’ CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra demanded that the Rajya Sabha reject the Bill in its present form and send it back to the Lok Sabha. Congress leader Kapil Sibal said the Bill had sought to amend the Companies Act to facilitate huge corporate funding for the party in power. Under the original Companies Act, Mr. Sibal said, no company could contribute to a political party without being in operation for three years; there was a political funding cap of 7.5% of the net profit of the company; and the board resolu-
GST draft Bills tabled
Suicide no more a crime
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday introduced in the Lok Sabha four Bills on the Goods and Services Tax, providing for a maximum rate of 40%, an anti-profiteering authority and arrests for evading taxes. With this, the roll-out of the GST has entered the last lap. Its passage will integrate India as one market with one rate of tax.
The Mental Healthcare Bill, which decriminalises suicide and guarantees the right to better healthcare for people with mental illness, was unanimously passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The Bill mandates that a person who is attempting suicide shall be presumed to be suffering from “severe stress” and, therefore, shall not be tried or punished by law. 쑺 page 10
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tion through which the funding was to be done would reflect the name of the beneficiary political party. “It really surprises me that as someone who waxes eloquent about transparency and black money, this Government has actually done away with the cap. Any com-
pany can contribute any amount of money to any political party. But that is not all. What it has done away is the fact that the political party that the company will fund will not be known to anybody,” Mr. Sibal said. CONTINUED ON 쑺 PAGE 10
Centre to issue fresh rules on banning unruly passengers on board by airlines
Floating wheelchair opens Goa’s beaches to all Prakash Kamat
Opposition decries Finance Bill changes as bid to bypass RS
Lok Sabha uproar over airline ban on Shiv Sena MP
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PANAJI
in corporate funding’
float — giving the experience of a boat ride — but also help to keep it stable. “Tests show it’s nearly impossible for the chair to topple over because of the pontoons,” said Mr. Holkar. A special brace takes care of those who do not have control over their neck movements. In Goa, two lifeguards from UMOJA’s partners Drishti Life Savings Services will man each wheelchair. In the interest of safety, the wheelchair will be allowed only up to a distance of 10-15 metres into the sea: a point at which the lifeguard can stand in the water till his waist or chest in water. “This will gave the disabled person
a feel of what it’s like to be in the water,” said Mr. Holkar. UMOJA currently has just one such wheelchair, which people can take turns to use. Perhaps the one disadvantage of the chair is that the person sitting in it cannot manipulate it, given that they are strapped to it. The special wheelchairs are manufactured in France — from where UMOJA has imported it the Goa event — and North America. The idea is to showcase it at the Goa event so hoteliers are encouraged to buy them and offer them on hire to their guests with special needs. “There is a huge travel and hospitality potential,” said Mr. Holkar.
Ravindra Gaikwad
lines need to take a call on revoking it even as it found certain grey areas in the present rules to ban flyers. Condemning Mr. Gaikwad’s behaviour, Mr. Raju said “I never in my
wildest dreams thought that an MP will get caught in such an incident.” Stressing that there won’t be an unequal approach, he added, “An MP is also a passenger...We have to keep safety issues in mind.” Ms. Mahajan later called a meeting of Shiv Sena MPs with Mr. Raju and urged an amicable solution as she said a blanket ban on MPs was not feasible as they had to attend Parliament sessions. “MPs need to attend Parliament and they cannot travel by train always. At times, they need to travel by plane also. I feel that this issue
(blanket ban) should be resolved amicably through talks,” she said after the meeting. Following this, Mr. Raju held a meeting with Minister of State Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, civil aviation secretary R.N. Choubey and DGCA chief B.S. Bhullar. The Centre will soon issue clarifications to the rules related to banning unruly passengers and is contemplating several optionsncluding a national ‘no fly’ list, Civil Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey said after the meeting. SEE ALSO DELHI METRO 쑺 PAGE 3
Private weather forecaster sees below normal monsoon But a favourable current in Indian Ocean may ofset El Nino Special Correspondent New Delhi
Monsoon rains over India are likely to be ‘below normal,’ according to Skymet, a private weather forecasting company. Rains during June to September are likely to be 95% (with an error margin of +/-5%) of the long period average (LPA) of 887 mm with Gujarat, Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu likely to see rains below their normal quota. The chances of drought, or rains below 10% of the seasonal quota, are about
25%. Over three months, international weather models have been warning of an El Nino, characterised by warming surface waters in the equatorial Pacific during the latter part of this year. El Nino is known to dry up monsoon rains six out of 10 times. However, a favourable form of a current in the Indian Ocean, called the Indian Ocean Dipole, is widely expected to counter the effects of the El Nino during the monsoon. Greater clarity on this will emerge only after April, ac-
cording to forecasters in the India Meteorological Department. They are likely to give their estimate of the monsoon next month. According to Jatin Singh, CEO, Skymet, “Evolving El Nino may start affecting the monsoon performance July onward. Nevertheless, the presence of positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) could help in tempering the adverse impact of El Niño.” At present, the IOD is in the neutral phase but weather models are indicating that it may become positive during the second half of the monsoon. A ND-ND
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Timings
Tuesday, March 28
RISE 06:16 SET 18:37 RISE 06:27 SET 18:58 Wednesday, March 29
RISE 06:15 SET 18:37 RISE 07:10 SET 20:02 Thursday, March 30
RISE 06:14 SET 18:38 RISE 07:54 SET 21:08
BJP junks rumours about Vasundhara being replaced headquarters here on Saturday, party leaders maintained that reports about a possible change in the State leadership were the media’s creation. However, congratulatory posters put up in Jaipur after the Uttar Pradesh victory depicted Ms. Raje and Mr. Mathur with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Mohammed Iqbal
Speculations about Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje being replaced after the Bharatiya JanataParty’s recent victory in Uttar Pradesh have been put to rest with senior party leaders saying there were no plans to take Ms. Raje to the Centre in the next reshuffle. Rumours about BJP’s Uttar Pradesh in-charge Om Prakash Mathur being asked to take over in Rajasthan, which is his home State, were doing the rounds. These, however, have been termed as “baseless” not just by State president Ashok Parnami, but by Mr. Mathur himself. BJP national vice-president and in-charge for Ra-
‘Plan to boost public transport in Haryana’ FARIDABAD
A detailed plan has been prepared to strengthen the public transport system in Haryana, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Monday. - PTI
Party workers caned in Bhopal: AAP BHOPAL
The Madhya Pradesh unit of AAP on Monday said eight of its workers were injured when they were cane-charged by the police during a protest here. - PTI
He always smiles and works with a calm mind: Amarinder
Party calls reports on change in State leadership ‘media creation’ JAIPUR
IN BRIEF
Rana Kanwar Pal elected as Punjab Assembly Speaker
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje *
jasthan Avinash Rai Khanna, who was here last week to attend a series of programmes, had declared that the party would contest the 2018 State Assembly elections under Ms. Raje. During a core committee meeting at the BJP State
‘Ordinary party worker’ Mr. Mathur, meanwhile, has said that he is an “ordinary party worker” and would continue to perform the tasks assigned to him. He had received a grand welcome over the weekend when he drove from Delhi to Jaipur with party workers hailing him as the “tallest leader of Rajasthan”.
According to political observers, Ms. Raje’s second term as Chief Minister would continue to be mired by such speculations thanks to her uncomfortable equation with the BJP’s central leadership. She had faced a similar situation two years ago when the Lalit Modi controversy erupted. It is believed that the party’s central leadership received signals from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh that there was no need to change Chief Ministers in States where the party was strong. The advice was handed out at the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha meeting, which also saw the issue of Manohar Parrikar’sleadership in Goa being discussed.
Akhilesh’s Gomti project under the scanner Yogi warns that corruption will not be allowed in any of the projects in the State Press trust of India Lucknow
The Gomti river-front project of the previous Akhilesh Yadav government came under the scanner of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday, who expressed dissatisfaction over its progress. He also warned that corruption will not be allowed in any of the projects in the State. The Chief Minister con-
veyed this after undertaking an inspection of the project on the banks of the Gomti. The ‘dream’ project of Akhilesh was launched by the previous Samajwadi Party government for channelisation of the river by constructing a diaphragm wall and by landscaping and constructing intercepting drains on both the banks. Adityanath expressed unhappiness that despite the lapse of two years and an ex-
penditure of over ₹1,427 crore, the work was only 60 per cent complete, an official release said.
Additional fund Interacting with the officials and staff involved in the project, the Chief Minister said a demand of an additional amount of ₹1,500 crore was being made for the project, which was initially scheduled to be completed by May, 2017. “The aim of the
project should have been cleaning the water and blocking the drains discharging sewage into the river, but that was not done,” the Chief Minister said. He asked the officials to link the project with the Centre’s ‘Namami Gange’ project and initiate work to plug the drains discharging sewage into the river. He rued that the work was being carried out without keeping this in mind.
Photo session: Congress legislators with newly-elected Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana Kanwar Pal Singh at the State Assembly in Chandigarh on Monday. AKHILESH KUMAR *
Press Trust of India Chandigarh
Congress MLA Rana Kanwar Pal Singh was on Monday elected unopposed as Speaker of the Punjab Assembly amid a walkout by the members of main opposition Aam Aadmi Party and its ally Lok Insaaf Party. On the second day of 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha here, Leader of the House and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh proposed the name of Mr Rana, Congress MLA from Anandpur Sahib Assembly constituency, for the post of Speaker and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Brahm Mohindra seconded it. Mr Singh said Mr Rana is connected to people at grassroots level. “He always
smiles...works with a calm mind. I have full faith that you will turn out to be a successful Speaker,” the Chief Minister said. As the process to elect the Speaker started, members of the AAP and the LIP intervened, demanding a debate on the Governor’s Address. Leader of Opposition H. S. Phoolka said a discussion on Governor’s Address should be held “as per the Constitution”. He was supported by LIP MLA Simrajeet Singh Bains.
“Go by the rules” Mr Rana asked the AAP MLAs to go by the rules and give some time to the new government. Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu said the Congress was not deny-
ing a debate on the Governor’s Address, but “let the government to start its work first”. At this, the AAP and LIP members raised slogans and trooped out of the Assembly. On being elected as the Speaker, Mr Rana, the 59year-old, three-time legislator said, “As the House has reposed faith in me, I am committed to serving the House with dedication as per rules of the Assembly and seeking full cooperation of opposition benches.” Noting that MLAs are criticised often for their un-parliamentary behaviour these days, he said “gentleness will make us ornamental to the legislature.” He assured the members of upholding the sanctity of the House.
‘No relation of mine is supplying liquor to H.P.’ Supply to the State is coming directly from liquor manufacturers: Virbhadra liance with the drug lords of a neighbouring State on a large scale. He said the State Police department is badly equipped and has a lot of vacancies.
Staff Correspondent SHIMLA
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday maintained that nobody related to him is involved in supplying liquor to the State-owned Beverages Corporation. He said nobody from his family is doing any liquor business and the supply to the State is coming directly from the liquor manufacturers. The Himachal Pradesh Beverages Corporation Limited (HPBCL) is working with transparency and is making big profits, he added. The Chief Minister, while intervening in the Vidhan Sabha during the cut motion brought by the Opposition on the budgetary demands of the police and allied organisations, said the initiation of the Beverages Corporation is a revolutionary step in the State that has ended the monopoly of a few liquor houses for the procurement of supplies. All the manufacturers and suppliers of IMFL, beer, country liquor and wine are now supplying their products in the
Budget session: Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh arrives to attend the State Assembly in Shimla on Monday. PTI *
State only HPBCL.
through
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‘No drug mafia’ Mr. Singh also rubbished the charges of the Opposition that there is a drug and liquor mafia in the hill State and said the mafias are sitting in the Opposition. He also said that criminal cases have decreased in the State over the past few years and the anti-social elements are being nabbed. Before this, senior Oppos-
Austrian tourist molested
ition leader Mahendra Singh said that different types of mafias like drugs, liquor, mining and forest are active under the Virbhadra regime and the law and order situation is “totally out of control”. He said a State NSUI leader was involved in the bungling of D.O note scam in the Chief Minister’s office and no action was taken by the government. He also alleged that the drug mafia in the hill State is working in al-
Kidnapping incidents BJP chief whip and Shimla MLA Suresh Bhardwaj, meanwhile, raised the issue of increasing kidnappings and beating up of foreigners who visit the State. He alleged that there is hardly any police presence in the State and the “mischievous elements are even pasting ISIS posters”. Former Minister Rajiv Bindal also raised the issue of massive smuggling of illicit liquor from the across the State in the incumbent regime, which, he said, is being done under “open political patronage”. The Chief Minister’s son Vikram Aditya had challenged senior BJP leader Prem Kumar Dhumal to face action or prove his allegations regarding the supply of liquor to Himachal by Mr. Singh’s son-in-law , who is involved in the trade
‘Ministers in Rawat govt protecting mining maia’ Press Trust of India
Special Correspondent Jaipur
Police on Monday arrested the owner of an acupressure massage parlour in Udaipur’s Hanuman Ghat area on charges of molesting an Austrian tourist, who has been staying in the city for the last three months on a research assignment. Rajendra Sharma was arrested after his parlour was raided.
DEHRADUN
The Congress on Monday accused members of the newly sworn-in Trivendra Singh Rawat Cabinet of giving political protection to the mining mafia. “Political backing has emboldened the mining mafia to commit crimes like the murder of a forest department employee in Kosi river area near Ramnagar,” party state unit chief Kishore Upadhyay alleged.
Forest guard killed A forest guard was on Friday last mowed down by the mining mafia when he tired to stop them from lifting sand from the Kosi riverbed. The PCC chief and senior party leaders on Monday met the family members of
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat PTI *
the forest guard in Kelabanwari village near Bajpur and visited the crime scene. After inspecting the spot at Ramnagar, the Congress leader wrote to Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, alleging that some of his Cabinet colleagues were giving protection to the mining mafia which had emboldened them to carry out such crimes.
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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. 74 ●
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Weilding the lathi
CAG inds faults in Bihar govt schemes Villages not connected, drinking water not supplied
3 cops suspended for iring at Saipum village AIZAWL
Amarnath Tewary
Mizoram Home Minister R Lalzirliana on Monday said three policemen of the first battalion of the India Reserved Police (IRP) were suspended after they indulged in firing at MizoramAssam border Saipum village last night. Lalzirliana informed the State Assembly that Constable Lawrence Rochhunga and Constable Lalrinngheta, in an inebriated state fired around 20 rounds of ammunition from their Self Loading Rifles at their outpost at midnight last night. PTI
Patna
The latest report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for the year 2015-2016 laid in the State Assembly on Monday finds faults in several schemes and programmes of the Bihar government. The report was tabled by State Finance Minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui. “In the implementation of the Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (MMGSY) aimed at connecting villages having a population of 500 to 999. However, 183 villages remained unconnected despite an expenditure of ₹1,398.16 crore whereas several villagesnot meeting the MMGSY criteria got connected,” said the CAG report.
Minor girl raped, murdered in Tripura AGARTALA
A 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered at Dharmanagar in North Tripura district, the police said on Monday. One person has been arrested in the case. The Class IX student allegedly received a phone call from a known person on Saturday evening and left her house, SP Manik Das said. Her body with multiple injuries was recovered from an abandoned house on Saturday midnight. PTI
Cyclonic storm, heavy rain in Arunachal ITANAGAR
A cyclonic storm accompanied by heavy rain lashed Deomali in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh causing massive damages to several dwellings and uprooting many trees. Several roads in and around Deomali have been blocked by the uprooted trees and the local administration and police have swung into action to clear the roads. PTI
Skeletal remains found in pond in Kolkata KOLKATA
Police recovered some human skeletal remains from a deserted pond in the southern part of the city on Monday and have begun investigation. A senior Kolkata Police officer said acting on a call from a local, a police team reached the spot at Brahmapur and found the bones. “Some human bones were recovered from a deserted pond at Brahmapur under Bansdroni police station. They have been sent for probe,” the officer said. PTI
Two killed in bus, truck collision BHUSAWAL
Two persons were killed and four others were critically injured in an early morning collision between a car and a truck near Bhusawal in Jalgaon district on Monday, the police said. The deceased are identified as Sudhir Sonawane and Ganesh Fulpagare. PTI
High-handed: Protesting anganwadi workers demanding better salaries, among other things, are threatened by a policeman in Patna on Monday. PTI *
CPI(M) leader attacked by TMC MLC had accused Howrah Mayor of making ‘contradictory claims’ in budget Staff Reporter Kolkata
A Communist Party of IndiaMarxist (CPI-M) councillor has been allegedly assaulted by the councillors of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) during the Budget discussion in the Howrah Municipal Corporation (HMC) in Howrah district on Monday. The incident took place when the CPI-M councillor Ashraf Jawed accused the HMC Mayor Rathin Chakravaty of making ‘contradictory claims’ in his speech.
The Odisha government on Monday signed an agreement with the State Bank of India group to extend banking services in the unbanked areas through Self Help Groups – the first State in the country to adopt this financial exclusion model. The agreement assumes significant as 70% of the gram panchayats in the State do not have brick and mortar bank branches. The SHGs formed under the Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM) will be eligible to provide banking services.
Agreement signed An agreement was signed between the OLM and the SBI in presence of State Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and SBI (National Banking Group) Managing Director Rajnish Kumar here on Monday. “Around 70% of the GPs in Odisha do not have bank branches. Taking banking CM YK
Ashraf Jawed CPI-M councillor
The TMC leadership, however, denied the allegation.
‘I was heckled’ Speaking to journalists Mr. Jawed said that the TMC councillors started to “heckle” him when he pointed out that the Mayor made
them as the “usual antics” of Mr. Jawed.
TMC refutes claims “We only told him to confine his speech to matters related to the budget but he kept on making baseless allegations. During the argument he slipped and fell down,” said HMC chairman Arabinda Guha. He also claimed that it was the ruling party councillors who attended to Mr. Jawed after he fell down and helped him to get back to his seat.
Arunachal Pradesh Cong leader killed
Naveen orders probe into FB case
State Dy Speaker’s son arrested
Students apprise CM about the issue
Press Trust of India Itanagar
An Arunachal Pradesh Congress leader was shot dead by the son of the State Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Tumke Bagra at Aalo in West Siang district, the police said on Monday. Kenjum Kamsi, a secretary-rank leader of Arunachal PCC, was shot dead by Kajum Bagra, the son of the Deputy Speaker, in front of a hotel at Aalo last night at around 10 pm, said West Siang Superintendent of Police Mari Riba.
Probe on The incident was reportedly a fall-out of a scuffle between the two, he said adding the matter is being probed further. The accused along with the arm was arrested by
Odisha becomes irst to adopt model Staff Reporter
abused me. I was slapped and pushed to the ground by them
several claims in his speech which were not mentioned in the budget estimates. “The TMC councillors surrounded me and started to hurl abuses. I was slapped and pushed to the ground by them,” he said. He further alleged that he was assaulted because he pointed out the “financial irregularities of TMC-run board” in his speech. “I had no choice but to leave the House,” he added. The TMC, which has 64 of the 66 seats at HMC, denied the allegation and dubbed
services to people in these remote areas has always been a concern of the government. This agreement would go a long way in extending basic banking services to them,” said Mr. Padhi. “This is a historic agreement. Odisha is a pioneer State in carrying forward the financial inclusion through close cooperation between SHGs and banks,” said Mr. Kumar.
Corporate agent As per the agreement, OLM would function as corporate agent and around 3 lakh SHGs operating under OLM would be the banking correspondents. In the first phase SHGs would be engaged as BCs in around 1000 remote GPs in scheduled areas having no banking facilities. Gradually, it would be extended to 4000 non-banked GPs. Subsequently entire State would be covered under the financial inclusion programme.
incident < > The relects the true colour of the BJP Congress
Aalo police and a case registered, Riba said. The APCC has condemned the incident and said Kajum using his father’s official vehicle and committing such “heinous crime” proved the saying ‘like father like son’.
Resignation sought “The tragic incident also reflects the true colour of the BJP to which the Deputy Speaker belongs. It raises a serious question,” the party said. Condoling the death, it also demanded exemplary punishment for the accused and resignation of the Deputy Speaker.
‘Emerging Artist’ award for Odia artist
Staff Reporter BHUBANESWAR
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday ordered a crime branch inquiry into posting of obscene remarks and photographs about students of city-based Rama Devi University. A delegation of students of Rama Devi University and other women’s colleges met Mr. Patnaik and narrated embarrassment being faced by them after posting indecent remarks about many girls. In a Facebook account in the name of Aarohi Creations, photographs of over 60 students with objectionable remarks had been uploaded. After a case was registered in Saheed Nagar police station, the account was blocked.
(ICDS) and the National Rural drinking water programme in Bihar. “The Social Welfare Department neither identified malnourished /severely nourished children of the State, nor set any target to reduce prevalence of underweight children, anaemia in case of pregnant women /lactating mothers, IMR and MMR during scheme implementation,” said the report. Quality services provided to the beneficiaries were seriously compromised as basic amenities such as toilet, drinking water, kitchen, utensils in Anganwadi Centres were missing, it added. “Altogether 72% of the functional AWCs did not have their own building in Bihar,” said the report. The National Rural Drink-
Prem Kumar
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ing Water Programme too could not yield intended results. “As a result, 4.67 lakh arsenic, 16.51 lakh fluoride and 79.06 lakh iron affected population remained deprived of safe drinking water despite an expenditure of ₹609 crore,” pointed out the report. The CAG report also said that there have been gross anomalies in implementation of mid-day meal scheme and the school education infrastructure. The Opposition BJP leaders took on the government over the faults. “We’ve been saying that no development work is going in the State under this grand alliance government..now the CAG report has vindicated our stand,” said Leader of the Opposition Prem Kumar.
Shops down shutters in Aizawl
Two persons detained: police
Aizawl
Syed Sajjad Ali
Bihar Police would contact their Tripura counterpart for assistance in investigation after they seized huge quantity of ganja (cannabis) in Begusarai district. This was first major detection of the drug from Tripura in north India as its destination till now had always been Bangladesh.
Coming from Tripura A team of Special Task Force (STF) from Patna and local police personnel seized the drug from a truck at Bachhwara in Bihar on Sunday. The truck had left Naveen Patnaik
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Over 11.5 quintal ganja seized Agartala
SBI to give banking services through SHGs BHUBANESWAR
councillors < > TMC surrounded me,
Quality not ensured Besides, the quality controls were not ensured and 25% of Action Taken Reports of Mobile Quality Monitoring Units were pending as on March 2016, said the report. It added that “though maintenance works were due in respect of roads constructed till 2014-15, the same was not carried out in 78% of roads”. Similarly, the CAG report also pointed out poor functioning of the Integrated Child Development Services
Nitish Kumar
Agartala some days back and was raided on specific intelligence inputs. The truck driver, a resident of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, and his assistant were detained. “During interrogation they have disclosed name of some people who are residents of Nagaland and Tripura,” Bachhwara police station SHO Sumit Kumar told The Hindu over the phone on Monday. The seized ganja, weighing 11.5 quintal, will fetch at least ₹2 crore in black market, the officer said. “We will approach Tripura police for support in the probe,” he added.
Press Trust of India
Many shops and business establishments here downed their shutters in protest against opening of a mega store at Bawngkawn area. The MiMA had asked all shops in Aizawl to remain shut to protest the opening of Vishal Mega Mart at Bawngkawn area. While most of the shops in the ‘Dawrpui’ shopping area were closed only a few shops were closed in other areas in the city and it was business as usual in most other localities. The MiMA said big business houses belonging to non-tribals would result in economic issues
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Following the Crime Branch probe order, a Special Investing Team, consisting of eight officials, has been constituted. The case will be investigated by two inspector-ranked officers including one woman inspector. Besides, the investigating officers, the SIT has one inspector, one sub-inspector and four assistant sub-inspectors as members.
OBITUARY & REMEMBRANCE DEATH ANNIVERSARIES
Press Trust of India
DEATH SMT. PADMA (aged 86) wife of late Sri. R. Srinivasaraghavan ( LIC) passed away peacefully on 27/3/17 at Hyderabad. S. Sridharan 040− 23734550
New Delhi
Odisha-based installation artist Sitaram Swain has been chosen as the Glenfiddich’s Emerging Artist of the Year 2017. The sixth recipient of the honour, Mr Swain will represent India at the Glenfiddich Artists in Residence (AiR) programme where he will spend three months at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Scotland with seven artists from around the world. It is Mr Swain’s out of the box concepts and his way with domestic objects to exemplify social issues through his art, that make him stand out. The artist believes that there is a sublime quality of social relevance in day to day objects. “I am very excited to be selected for Glenfiddich’s AiR programme. This will be an opportunity for me to widen and explore my creative boundaries outside of my traditional work space,” Mr Swain said.
IN MEMORIAM
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Pune athlete eyes Ironman Triathlon Speaking to The Hindu, Chaitanya Velhal talks about his training and the challenges he overcame Shoumojit Banerjee Pune
Twenty-nine-year-old Chaitanya Velhal is an exemplary achiever in the field of endurance sports. His strategy? “plan like a scientist, train like a beast, race like a champion.” Presently, his sight is fixed on the Ironman Triathlon, which would be held in South Africa on April 2. “Endurance is my strength,” he tells The Hindu, as he prepares to leave for South Africa. “It is a case of planning your work and working your plan.” Raised in a middle-class Indian milieu, where the stress on excelling in academics is overwhelming, Chaitanya managed to navigate the stormy waters of convention to pursue his passions. His achievements include winning national endurance events like ‘Enduro’ in 2013 and the ‘Enduro Mountain Triathlon’ in 2014. He clocked the
participated in the ‘Deccan Cliffhanger’ [a 643-km annual ultra-cycling race from Pune to Goa] next and won it,” Chaitanya says. He is presently the co-founder and head coach at the MultiFit Academy of Triathlon and Endurance Sports (MATES). He credits Samir Kapoor, the managing director of Multifit (health chain), for not only encouraging him to take a shot at the ‘Ironman’ contest, but also providing him financial help.
Zurich Ironman in July last year in 13 hours and three minutes. This is impressive because the Ironman Triathlon typically consists of a 2.4-mile (3.86 km) swim, a 112-mile (180.25 km) bicycle ride and a 26.22-mile (42.20 km) marathon run, all of which is to be completed in a single day.
Different ball game Training for the triathlon is different than that for ordinary marathons or trekking. Chaitanya says the unique topography of Pune, with its Sahyadri Hills and aquatic bodies, provides the perfect environment for triathlon training. “Around 80% of my training is done outdoors,” he says. “Generally, I swim in the pool on weekdays. On other occasions, I visit the major dams near Pune, like Khadakwasla, Panshet or Mulshi, for a swim. I cycle on the hills and also in the gym. But running is almost always outdoors. The watchwords for the triathlon are strength and flexibility, so I balance my routine outdoors and indoors with a view to achieve both.” The cycling segment of the triathlon has it’s own set of challenges. “No matter how much you train, the vastness of the distance tends to play havoc with your mind. One has to struggle to keep one’s cool; to prevent the scenery and the terrain to demotivate you.” Chaitanya says he followed a rigorous schedule, with a month’s training planned in advance. “I was training twice a day for three days, and thrice a day for remaining days of the week. An early
Clear aim: Chaitanya Velhal says Pune’s unique topography is perfect for triathlon training. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT *
on my return. Back there, it was the cheapest mode of transportation [that could be used] to explore a fascinating country,” He reminisces. He also says that the course he studied aided him immensely in training the body for optimal performance in sports, which provided him an edge over his fellow competitors.
morning cycling session followed immediately by running. Then some rest time, and swimming in the afternoon followed by strength training and conditioning at my gym.”
Early promise Chaitanya excelled in swimming at the age of 10, while he was still a student at the city’s P. Jog high school. Later, at university, he mastered kabaddi and also became a deft football player. When he was 14, he finished first in a five-km minimarathon. “That was the moment I really tasted the sweet smell of success. I later discovered that if I pushed myself hard enough, I could master [any] sport,” Chaitanya says. He considers cycling as his strongest suit. “I picked up cycling while pursuing a master’s [degree] in microbiology from Australia, and it stuck with me
Turning point Within a year of his return from Australia, he won his first major local race, the ‘Enduro’. This proved as a turning point for Chaitanya, who, after gaining confidence from his win, resigned as an assistant professor and research scientist at the Agriculture College of Pune in 2012 (a decision which startled his family and friends). “I had to brush aside the conventional responses of disappointment and objections from my dear ones. I
EDUCATIONAL
Not easy “It is extremely difficult, especially if one is from a middle-class family, to secure the financial backup to step into the arena for the triathlon. There are not many sponsors for athletes and I had to set a national record before sponsors started noticing me.” Chaitanya hasn’t looked back since then. He won Pune and Bangalore bicycle championships in the consecutive years. An even more impressive achievement followed when he became the fastest Indian to qualify for the Race Across America (RAAM) — a 5,000-km transcontinental race, which spans from the west coast to the east coast of the U.S. But one particular incident which gives him immense personal satisfaction is when he trained a group of girls in football at Pune’s Garware College. Chaitanya, just like in underdog sports films The Longest Yard and Chak de! India, coached the ragtag group who went on to the semi-finals of a local league in their second year. So, what keeps his enthusiasm to trump the daunting Ironman Triathlon going? “One has to fall in love with the process of the triathlon, only then can one visualise scaling its challenges,” says Chaitanya.
EDUCATIONAL
Doctors call of strike in Ahmedabad Their demand of protection to doctors has been accepted Mahesh Langa Ahmedabad
More than 500 resident doctors at civil hospital in Ahmedabad ended their strike after the authorities accepted their demand to provide protection to the doctors on duty. On Sunday, the doctors had gone on strike after a lady doctor was assaulted by relatives and family members of one 64 year old man who died during treatment in the hospital. “After Lataprasad, who was admitted in the civil for brain hemorrhage, died in the hospital, his family and relatives started abusing a team of doctors who were attending him. A lady doctor was assaulted and she suffered bruises in the neck,” said a body of resident doctors while announcing strike. However, on Monday after a several meetings between the junior doctors and authorities, the doctors announce to end their strike and return to work as the authorities have accepted their demands including deployment of armed policemen in
Stronger together: Doctors protesting at the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad on Sunday. PTI *
ICU ward and also in each floor of the hospital. According to sources, in view of increasing attacks on medical staff and doctors by relatives and family members of patients, the government has decided to deploy State Reserved Police (SRP) personnel in the hospital premises and armed policemen at ICU ward, trauma ward and other areas of the sprawling hospital campus spread in over 100 acre and caters to more than six lakh people annually.
The strike by junior doctors at Ahmedabad civil hospital, largest public hospital in Asia, comes on the heels of a similar incident in Maharashtra where more than 4,500 junior doctors had gone on strike to protest a series of assaults by relatives of patients in government run hospitals. The doctors’ body in Maharashtra ended their strike only after Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis intervened and assured better security at hospitals in the state.
‘Need 3 months to relocate casinos’ Prakash Kamat PANAJI
The Goa Cabinet on Monday sought three months time to decide an alternative site for off-shore casinos in Mandovi river. Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar told The Hindu that the State government had decided to explore alternative sites for relocation of the casinos but was restricted by the election code of conduct of the February 4 Assembly polls.
“Now, the government will identify alternative sites in three months,” Mr. Parrikar said, adding that an extension of three more months has been kept aside, because “if the government needs 15-20 days more beyond three months, it need not rush to the Cabinet.” The casinos can operate in Mandovi river till the end of this month. Under pressure from women’s groups and civil society groups,
EDUCATIONAL
Former CM Laxmikat Parsekar-led State government had been trying to find alternative location for the casinos, but attempts could not materialise as “people in the proposed areas opposed casinos”. As many as five casinos are operating in the river presently. Recently, an old license was renewed by the government after the operator paid huge revenue arrears to the State exchequer.
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IN BRIEF
Karnataka government to probe death caused by ‘illegal’ abortion
Notice to ex-Minister for giving woman ₹100
Focus back on rampant prenatal sex determination tests in the State
Violation of poll code, says Karnataka election oicer
the State, 193 were run by the government. According to his written reply, three cases — two in Bengaluru and one in Vijayapura — had been reported in the past three years. A probe was under way. From 2002 to February 2017, as many as 76 cases had been registered against scanning centres in Karnataka and, of these, 37 were pending disposal.
Special Correspondent Bengaluru
TTD restricts privileged darshan on weekends TIRUMALA
The TTD has resolved to strictly restrict the VIP darshan privilege to only those dignitaries who come under the protocol category during the weekends. The decision will be in force for 10 weeks from April 7. No recommendation letters will be accepted on weekends.
Four of a family found dead in Kerala THRISSUR
Four members of a family were found dead at Kadangode, near Erumappetty, in the district on Monday. The dead were identified as Suresh, 37, his wife Dhanya, 34, their daughters Vaiga, 8, and Vaishakhi, 6. Vaiga’s twin sister Vaishnavi, 8, was rescued. “Suresh consumed sleeping pills and gave them to others before forcing them to jump into the well. Vaishnavi managed to escape as she vomited the pills,” police said.
The death of a 25-year-old woman in Koratagere of Tumakuru district, following complications after an illegal abortion, has again brought into focus rampant sex determination in rural and urban areas of Karnataka. It came up for an extended discussion in the legislature session. Radhamani, mother of three girl children and wife of a photo-frame worker, died on Friday night at Vani Vilas Hospital in Bengaluru where she was admitted after she developed complications following the abortion. In the Legislative Council on Monday, Health Minister K.R. Ramesh Kumar said a detailed investigation would be carried out and action initiated against the guilty.
BENGALURU
Students of the Institute of Social and Economic Change (ISEC) voiced their protest on Monday against a search of the women’s hostel on their Nagarabhavi campus by the police on Sunday evening. Acting on a complaint, allegedly by a hostel inmate, police personnel searched all the rooms for a male student. They were accompanied by the warden. It turned out that the man was a scholar’s guardian, who was taking care of her as she was unwell.
Replying to JD(S) member T.A. Saravana, who referred to reports that sex determination could have forced the woman to terminate her pregnancy, the Minister said initial reports pointed out that the act was done following the advice of a doctor. He clarified that of the 4,398 scanning centres in
Saseendran case: Kerala to order judicial probe He quit on Sunday after a TV expose
Unhappy, says Minister The cases had been registered under the Pre-Conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 for scanning conducted to determine the gender of the unborn child. Mr. Ramesh Kumar said committees had been formed at district and taluk levels to monitor the diagnostic centres, but he was
Special Correspondent Mysuru
Former Minister V. Srinivas Prasad, who is seeking reelection to the Legislative Assembly from Nanjangud, has come under the poll panel’s scanner for giving a woman ₹100. The BJP candidate allegedly handed over the note to Puttathayamma at Devarasanahalli in Nanjangud on Sunday. Referring to a photograph of Mr. Prasad handing over the currency to the woman in a section of the media, the Election Officer said the BJP candidate had violated the Model Code of Conduct.
Second instance In the notice issued on Monday, the officer asked Mr. Prasad to respond in writing within 24 hours why action as per law should not
Special Correspondent
The Kerala government has decided to institute a judicial probe into the circumstances leading to the resignation of Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media here on Monday that the Cabinet meeting later this week would decide on the details of the judicial probe.
‘On moral grounds’ Mr. Saseendran, he said, had stepped down on moral grounds. “He did not want to continue in the Minister’s post while the probe was
Bar bribery case: Kerala govt. submits petition
on.” Asked whether the investigation would be entrusted to a sitting judge, Mr. Vijayan said it was not likely, based on past experience in getting the service of serving judges. The Cabinet would also decide on the terms of reference. Asked whether Mr. Saseendran was a victim of a conspiracy, Mr. Vijayan said the investigation would reveal everything. Mr. Saseendran submitted his resignation on Sunday after a news channel telecast an audio clip alleging a lewd telephonic conversation between him and a woman.
Special Correspondent
The Kerala government on Monday informed the Kerala High Court that the Special Public Prosecutor appointed to conduct the bar licence bribery case registered against former Finance Minister K.M. Mani could not appear in the High Court. The submission was made when the petition filed by Mr. Mani challenging Thiruvananthapuram Vigilance Court order allowing the Vigilance and AntiCorruption Bureau (VACB) to conduct further investigation into the allegation of the bar bribery case came up for hearing. The government further submitted that the appointment was meant only for trial court and the special prosecutor was not expected to appear before the
court at this stage. In a statement, the Home Department said K.P. Satheesan, lawyer, was appointed as Special Public Prosecutor after obtaining the opinion of the Director General of Prosecution. It was stated by the DGP that the appointment was for conducting the trial before the Vigilance court. Besides, the Law Department had also opined that Special Prosecutors could not plead before the High Court. They could only conduct the prosecution before the court concerned, after the filing of the final report in the case. At this stage, when the case was being investigated, only Advocate General or other officers appointed under the Kerala Government Law Officers Rules could appear and make submissions before the High Court.
A two-feet white plastic tube with a switch, a red LED and a piece of metal at the top — this is the innovation of Mastan Khan. It detects electric leaks and live wires. “On an average, one person dies in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh every day due to electric shock. This device can save hundreds of lives,” says Mr. Khan and touches the instrument, setting off a buzz. “If it is a 11kv line, the electricity can be detected six feet from the source. Many accidents happen because of miscommunication on the status of the electric
Fresh ideas: Students admiring a pedal power equipment in Hyderabad on Monday. NAGARA GOPAL *
line. This can prevent them,” Mr. Khan says about the device which costs ₹400. Mr. Khan’s innovation is among the dozens of others on display at the Rural In-
novators and Startup Conclave hosted by the National Institute of Rural Development (NIRD). A few stalls away is the simple solution of Kilaru
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Beating the heat
Design centre Another innovation looks like an air-cooler from the previous century, but it is a ‘water maker,’ an AC and a refrigerator rolled into one, patented by the students of Lords Institute of Engineer-
ing and Technology. “It can generate 40 litres of water per day, keep the room cool and work as a refrigerator,” say the students. Other innovators showcased their creations, many of them to do with agriculture. One innovator displayed a corn-sheller. “We are creating a design centre that will boost innovation. We want to hand hold the innovators and lead them to the next level by bringing in domain experts, investors and partner with NIRD,” informed Priya Balijepalli of Autodesk, which is teaming up with NIRD to create a rural innovation hub.
CAG: revenue surplus overstated in budget Special Correspondent HYDERABAD
Brief respite: A farmer takes cover under a make-shift tent at Gajalakonda, near Donakonda in Prakasam district, while drying chillies on Monday. KOMMURI SRINIVAS *
TU-142M has been the mainstay of maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare operations of the Navy maritime reconnaissance and airborne anti-submarine warfare for the Indian Navy with its enhanced endurance, speed, long range weapons and sensors. Over these years, the aircraft has undergone several modifications with retro fitments to keep in tune with evolving technology and changing requirements of the Indian Navy. It performed well during the recently conducted naval exercise – TROPEX – this month.
Staff Reporter Vellore
CM YK
taining permission. The two notices to Mr. Prasad come a day after the Election Officer served a notice to Congress candidate Kalale Keshavamurthy for holding a poll rally on Saturday without obtaining permission.
‘Telangana understated iscal deicit’
Navy bids farewell to long range maritime patrol aircraft
Time for goodbye: A 1988 ile picture of TU142M long range maritime patrol aircraft which was inducted into the Indian Navy at Dabolim in Goa.
of all major exercises and operations including Operation “Cactus” in Maldives, Operation Vijay in 1998, Operation Parakram n 2002 and anti-piracy
be taken against him for violating the poll code of conduct. Mr. Prasad had been served another notice by the Election Officer for holding a meeting on the school premises at Badanavalu village on Sunday without ob-
Nageshwar Rao. Map all the overhead electric wires and put it on the Google map. “This can save a lot of time and energy for our staff. If all cities and villages adopt this, we can understand how our system functions, and help other utilities plan their grid,” says Mr. Rao, who works for the electricity department in Khammam.
Serish Nanisetti
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After close to three decades and 30,000 hours of accident-free flying to play a crucial role during major Naval operations, TU-142M long range maritime patrol aircraft will be de-inducted on Wednesday at INS Rajali naval air station in Arakkonam. Inducted into the Indian Navy at Dabolim Goa from the erstwhile USSR in 1988, the TU-142M Long Range Maritime Patrol aircraft shifted base and made INS Rajali its permanent home in 1992. It has been the mainstay of long range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare operations of the Indian Navy, according to a press release. The aircraft had been part
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Live wire detector, corn-sheller and AC-cum-refrigerator among creations on display at Hyderabad
Responds to plea challenging VACB KOCHI
In trouble: BJP candidate V. Srinivas Prasad handing over currency to a woman. SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Rural innovators put their best foot forward Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
Police search women’s hostel; draw flak
K.R. Ramesh Kumar
unhappy with their functioning. Experts working in the field said the Koratagere case was just the tip of the iceberg. “This appears to be a case of sex selective abortion. There is no doubt that sex determination is rampant both in rural and urban Karnataka. This is possible only because of the nexus between the scanning centres and political leaders,” said Sabu George, a campaigner against sex selective abortions. K. Vimala of the Janawadi Mahila Sangathan said although the Health Department claimed that the PC and PNDT district and State advisory committees (whose role is crucial in implementing the Act) had been formed, nothing was being done to check the illegal practice.
operations from 2011 to till date. With its four powerful engines, contra-rotating, slender fuselage and swept wings, TU-142M aircraft is
the fastest turboprop aircraft in the world. In fact, it has been difficult to intercept by fighters, the release stated. The aircraft has transformed the aspects of
Winning laurels Winning laurels was nothing new for the squadron. The squadron was awarded Unit Citation by the Chief of Naval Staff in 2002 for its “outstanding professionalism and momentous contribution” to
the navy, and was adjudged the Best Frontline Squadron on numerous occasions over the years. On March 29, Admiral Sunil Lanba, Chief of the Naval Staff, will formally de-induct the aircraft. To commemorate its service for the last 29 years, a TU static display aircraft would be inaugurated at INS Rajali. Its role will be taken on by the newly inducted Boeing P-8I aircraft. Commander Yogender Mair, the last commanding officer of the squadron with TU-142M, would handover the reins to Commander V. Ranganthan, who will be the first squadron commanding officer with the P-8I. The day marks another milestone as INS Rajali celebrates its silver jubilee, the release stated.
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has said that Telangana government has overstated the revenue surplus and understated fiscal deficit of the State for the year ended March 31, 2016. In its report on the State finances tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Monday, the CAG said the revenue surplus of ₹238 crore projected by the State was overstated because of misclassification of grants-in-aid (₹151 crore) under capital heads and crediting off-budget borrowings (₹3,719 crore) to revenue receipts. Fiscal deficit which stood at 3.23 per cent of the GSDP was understated by ₹3,719 crore due to crediting offbudget borrowings to revenue receipts. “It would have the effect
of increasing the ratio of fiscal deficit to GSDP from 3.23 per cent to 3.87%,” the CAG said adding the total outstanding liabilities constituted 21.37% of the GSDP which was within the ceiling of 21.55 % prescribed by the 14th Finance Commission.
Unspent balances In all, 52.5% of the revenue receipts of ₹76,134 crore during the year came from the State’s own tax revenue and 19% from the non-tax revenue collections with the rest coming from the State’s share of central taxes (16.2%) and central grants (12.3%). “Government issued orders to remit the unspent balances in PD accounts to revenue receipts in violation of accounting provisions inflating revenue receipts to the extent of ₹4,218 crore,” the CAG said.
‘Act against man who claims to be Jaya’s son’ Documents are fake, Madras HC told Staff Reporter CHENNAI
The Crime Branch police on Monday informed the Madras High Court that the documents produced by J. Krishnamoorthy claiming to be the biological son of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and late actor Shoban Babu is forged. Recording the submission, Justice R. Mahadevan directed the police to “secure the petitioner and take action against him in accordance with law.” The petitioner, Krishnamoorthy, claimed that he was born to Jayalalithaa and Shoban Babu on February 15, 1985 in Bengaluru. But later due to a difference of opinion his parents got separated and he was subsequently given up for
adoption to a couple in Erode. To substantiate his claim, he submitted a deed of adoption allegedly witnessed by former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran. Further, he claimed that he faced a threat to his life from AIADMK general secretary V.K. Sasikala and her relatives and sought the court to direct the police authorities to provide him security. On March 17, when the petition was taken up to decide its maintainability, Justice Mahadevan directed the police to verify the authenticity of the documents and warned the petitioner that he would direct the police to arrest the him if the documents turned out to be fake. A ND-ND
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IN BRIEF
Renowned playwright Arun Sarma dies
BJP wants to split Biju Janata Dal: MP Tweets from Satpathy warns of AIADMK-style action
GUWAHATI
Nistula Hebbar
Renowned playwright and and Sahitya Akademi Award winner Arun Sarma died on Monday at a private hospital in the national Capital after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife and two children. Born in 1931 in Dibrugarh district, Sarma has written more than 50 plays and books in his career. He also won a number of awards, including Padma Shri, Sahitya Academi and Assam Valley Literary. PTI
New Delhi
Police inspector killed in road accident KANPUR
A police inspector was killed after the motorcycle he was riding was hit by a speeding truck, police said here on Monday. Manoj Kumar Shukla (38), a resident of Allahabad, was posted at the SSP Office here. on Sunday night, he was returning from Panki when his motorcycle was hit by a speeding truck.PTI
Pak intruder shot dead along border in Punjab AMRITSAR
A suspected Pakistani intruder was shot dead by the BSF along the International Border in Punjab on Monday. The area has been cordoned off and a search has been launched to retrieve the body and look for other possible suspects in the area, official said. PTI
Strike hits normal life in Sambalpur SAMBALPUR
Normal life was affected in this western Odisha town in a dawn-to-dusk strike by BJP on Monday against transfer of faculty members of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Burla to other medical colleges. PTI
CM YK
Two days after the BJP decided to hold its national executive meet in Bhubhaneswar, the political cauldron in Odisha was given a definitive stir by Biju Janata Dal’s (BJD) chief whip in the Lok Sabha Tathagata Satpathy, who, in a series of tweets accused the BJP of trying to split his party; “They want AIADMK type split,” he said. These tweets created a stir in political circles and focussed attention on the fact that the BJP is now the contender in the State, rather than the long time rival of the BJD — the Congress.
‘Early elections’ “BJP hard at work to divide @bjd_odisha in Parliament, maybe even in Assembly. They want AIADMK type split,” Mr Satpathy tweeted. “They (BJP) want to take away @bjd_odisha party name and symbol. Rumours afloat that one MP will swing this deal for the. Ha!” he added. “If split happens, no matter how small, BJP will try for early elections in Odisha, with Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Will EC (Election Commission) play along?” he said. “BJP national convention scheduled on April 15-16 in Odisha, PM to attend. Intention to put pressure to make State government defunct,” he added. Mr Satpathy refused to comment beyond what he had tweeted. But when asked about the name of the rebel BJD MP he had referred to, he said, “I didn’t name nobody; I only wanted to flush out the critter.” In the midst of this tweet storm, BJP national secretary Suresh Pujari rubbished the allegations. “The BJP builds its own organisation,
Tathagata Satpathy and does not foster splits in other parties,” he said.
Veterans spar Observers surmise that the tweets pointed to BJD MP Baijayant “Jay” Panda, Mr Satpathy’s parliamentary colleague, who in fact did respond to the latter’ tweets. Speaking to The Hindu, he said, “I was responding to a direct question by Krishan
Pratap Singh on twitter over Mr Satpathy’s comments, that too in a lighter vein. What Mr Satpathy has said today (of MLAs revolting) is the talk of the town in Delhi and Bhubhaneswar for the last two weeks. My point is that it was odd that it came from Mr Satpathy, who has the experience of being suspended from the party in the past,” he said. The statement has created ripples in the State’s politics, where the BJD has had an uninterrupted reign of 17 years under Naveen Patnaik. A creditable performance by the BJP in the recent local body polls even prompted Mr. Patnaik to call for introspection on how its erstwhile ally could do so well. Sources in Odisha confirmed that some BJD MLAs were cosying up to the BJP.
Opposition leaders locking to us: BJP Special Correspondent Bhubaneswar
In order to keep the momentum going after its success in the recent panchayat elections in Odisha, the BJP says it has been inducting leaders and workers of other parties on a regular basis. The BJP has claimed that nearly 50 workers and leaders from the Congress and the Biju Janata Dal(BJD) joined the party in the presence of Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday. The induction process has allegedly been given a boost in the wake of the BJP’s decision to hold its two-day national execut-
ive meet in Bhubaneswar from April 15. The party had planned several public meetings across the State in April to induct leaders and workers form other parties, but the meetings were scrapped after it was decided that the national executive meet would be held in Bhubaneswar. The national executive meet will be held at Janata Maidan and will culminate in a massive public meeting. The venue will have makeshift offices for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 13 Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled States.
Shut liquor shops, demand Bhim women Villagers of Rojda panchayat voted for closure ol iquor shops in a referendum Mohammed Iqbal JAIPUR
Taking a cue from the successful referendum in favour of closure of liquor shops at Rojda village near Jaipur, women in half-a-dozen villages in the Bhim block of Rajsamand district have launched an agitation demanding complete prohibition in the region. Villagers of the Rojda panchayat samiti voted overwhelmingly for shutting down liquor shops in a referendum held on March 19 under a provision in the Rajasthan Excise Act, 1950, which has been rarely put to use. A clause introduced through an amendment to the Excise Act provides that a liquor shop can be closed and a ban on liquor sale imposed if 51% of all registered voters – not just those present and voting – in the panchayat samiti or municipal ward opt for its closure. Before the poll is held, at least 20% of the voters must seek a referendum in a letter to the District
Women protesting against a liquor shop in Jalsu village of Jaipur district. ROHIT JAIN PARAS *
Collector. The village panchayats of Thaneta, Mandawar, Thikrawas and Barar sent the proposals for holding referendum to Rajsamand Collector and District Excise Officer earlier this month after holding gram sabhas and obtaining signatures of voters. The administration's response is still awaited. About 1,000 women from six villages staged a massive demonstration outside the
Bhim Sub-Divisional Magistrate's office over the weekend and demanded that a date of voting before March 31 be announced and all illegal liquor shops be closed immediately along with strict action against their owners.
Children also affected “The illegal sale of liquor has ruined an umpteen number of rural families. Women and children are the worst
sufferers...Even the children who are sent to fetch liquor from shops have become addicts,” said Lakshmi Devi, a participant in the dharna. Social activist Narayan Singh, a member of Mazdoor Kishan Shakti Sangathan, said while the villagers' plea against illegal liquor stores takes several months to reach the State Capital, the government's communication travels within seconds. “Is this the digital India being promoted by the new government?” he asked. Gandhian leader and Nashamukt Bharat Andolan's State convenor Sawai Singh also reached Bhim to extend support to women's agitation. “Isn't is strange that the government, which is unable to supply clean drinking water in villages, has allowed liquor shops to thrive?” he said. The protesters announced that an indefinite dharna at the Bhim block headquarters would be started from March 30 if the referendum was not fixed by that date.
₹16,000 cr vote-on-account tabled in Uttarakhand House
Cong wants Chouhan removed
Lokayukta Bill also placed in the Assembly
Press Trust of India
Staff Reporter Dehradun
To meet the financial requirements of the State for four months, starting from April 1, a vote-on-account of ₹16,048.74 crore was tabled in the Uttarakhand Assembly on Monday. Since the Bharatiya Janata Party government was formed only recently, Finance Minister Prakash Pant said the budget would be tabled before July 31. To reiterate its commitment towards “zero tolerance to corruption”, the Trivendra Rawat govern-
ment on Monday tabled the Uttarakhand Lokayukta Bill and the Transfer Bill (for Uttarakhand government employees). Both the Bills were brought under the leadership of former Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader B.C. Khanduri before 2012 and had later become Acts. However, the Congress government under former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna chose not to enforce the Acts.
Stormy session The State Assembly session remained stormy on
Monday, three days after a forest worker was allegedly killed in Ramnagar while he was chasing the sand mafia. Pahalwan Singh, a beat watcher in the Forest Department, was crushed to death while chasing a tractor-trolley carrying illegally mined sand from the Kosi river in the Jwala forest area of Ramnagpar. The State government said that it would show “no tolerance towards illegal sand mining” which is proliferating in the State and would take appropriate action towards curbing it.
Bhopal
Leader of the Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Assembly, Ajay Singh, on Monday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to remove Shivraj Singh Chouhan as Chief Minister in the wake of the CAG observations about the Vyapam scam. A report of the CAG, released recently, rapped the State government over the Vyapam scam. The scam pertains to alleged irregularities in job recruitments and admissions by the State professional Examination Board, known by its Hindi name Vyapam.
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THE HINDU
NATION 7
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IN BRIEF
‘Most missing girls had love afairs’ Activists dispute Bihar police version; suspect organised crime and lure of marriage had grown up and were capable of raising an alarm if they were forcibly taken away. “It shows that they may have disappeared for personal reasons.” However, several activists and academics working to prevent human trafficking told The Hindu that “organised crime” could also be a factor behind the problem.
Amarnath Tewary Patna
21 killed in 3 separate road mishaps in Manipur IMPHAL
Twenty-one people were killed and over 40 injured in three road accidents in Manipur on Monday. The State government has announced an ex- gratia of ₹2 lakh to each to the families of the deceased and ₹50,000 to the injured. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh condoled the deaths.
Rajasthan woman burnt alive over tree felling JODHPUR
A 20-year-old young woman was burnt alive here on Sunday after she allegedly protested over cutting of trees at Pipda city. As per reports, the incident took place with a girl named Lalita who had protested over the cutting of trees planted in her farm. ANI
Over 3,000 girls went missing from Bihar in 2016, and in over half the cases — 1,587 to be exact — “love affairs” are said to be the reason. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, 3,037 girls went missing from different parts of Bihar, which occupies the eleventh position among States in crimes committed against women. According to the police, 168 children have gone missing in the past year from just four districts in the border areas. Katihar district alone reported 81 missing cases of children — 30 boys and 51 girls — followed by Kishanganj with 32, Purnia (29) and Araria (26). A non-government organisation report said 2,674 missing cases of children were registered in Bihar from January 2013 to January 2014. On Monday in the State Assembly, senior BJP leader
Hand in hand: Women legislators in a show of strength outside the Bihar Assembly . FILE PHOTO *
Nand Kishore Yadav asked the government how 656 children had gone missing from Patna alone last year. He wanted to know what steps the government had taken to tackle this. Of those who went missing “443 were later found”, Minister in-charge of Home department, Bijendra Prasad Yadav, informed the As-
sembly. The Minister assured the Assembly that all necessary action was being taken. “A nodal officer has been deputed in all police stations to act swiftly as soon as information about a missing child is received ... a special campaign will also be launched soon.” In many cases, Mr. Yadav added, the missing children
A new frontier for active TB diagnosis Blood test diagnoses active TB cases with ‘high sensitivity and speciicity’ R. Prasad Chennai
In a marked departure from the current methods for active TB diagnosis that are based on the presence of live bacteria in sputum samples, a rapid blood test that relies on two proteins for diagnosis and quantification of the severity of active TB has shown promise. The blood test accurately detects minute levels of two biomarkers — CFP-10 and ESAT-6 — that TB bacteria release only during active infections. In a pilot study, the new blood test was able to diagnose active TB cases with “high sensitivity and specificity”. It was able to
diagnose active TB even in people co-infected with HIV. It was able to diagnose both pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB cases with high sensitivity — over 91% in the case of culture-positive pulmonary TB (PTB) and above 92% extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB), and 82% in culture-negative PTB and 75% in EPTB in HIV-positive patients. In the case of HIV coinfected cases, the sensitivity was 87.5% for PTB and 85.7% for EPTB cases. Obtaining sputum samples is not always easy and is particularly difficult in the case of little children. Biopsy samples are needed in the case of EPTB cases.
Even Gene Xpert, introduced a few years ago to improve sensitivity and specificity, relies on sputum samples, and as per a 2014 WHO update, Xpert has “very low quality evidence” for EPTB diagnosis. As per the results of the study (“Quantification of circulating Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen peptides allows rapid diagnosis of active disease and treatment monitoring”) published on Monday (March 28) in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the two peptides that are actively secreted by virulent Mycobacterium help in early diagnosis of act-
ive TB. For the first time, quantitative results can be obtained that will help knowing the severity of active TB and in monitoring treatment outcomes. Unlike Xpert, it cannot detect rifampicin resistance. It takes about four hours for the NanoDisk-MS assay to accurately detect the presence of the two peptides in the blood. The blood sample is first microwave irradiated for about 20 minutes, and the target peptides are enriched using a nanoparticle enrichment platform and a high-throughput mass spectroscopy for detection of Mycobacterium-specific biomarkers.
Lured by traffickers “Bihar is a poor State and the border districts are among the poorest of all… children, mostly girls, go missing from these districts, lured by promises of marriages by those involved in human trafficking,” Shilpi Singh, who runs the nonprofit organisation, ‘Bhoomika Vihar’ at Katihar, told The Hindu. She also disagreed with the police’s theory of “love affair.” “If most of the girls elope due to love affairs, they should come back after marriage or their whereabouts will be known. But that hardly happens.”
Court acquits man of rape charges, says relationship was consensual ‘Woman was aware of what was happening between them’ Staff Reporter New Delhi
A Delhi court has acquitted an engineer of the charge of raping a dental surgeon after befriending her and promising to marry her, holding that the “physical relationship was consensual.” Acquitting the accused, Firman Khalid, Additional Sessions Judge Sanjiv Jain said: “Facts and circumstances rather show that their physical relations were consensual and the consent given by the prosecutrix was not under a misconception of fact.
‘Conscious decision’ “The prosecutrix was mature enough to fully understand what was happening between the two. “There is nothing in her evidence to demonstrate that she was incapable of understanding the nature
and implications of the acts to which she consented. Her consent for physical relationship was an act of conscious decision.”
Promise of marriage According to the complaint lodged with Jamia Nagar police station in 2001, the alleged victim was working as a dentist at the Central government hospital at Jamia Milia Islamia. She stayed in the residential apartments of the university campus. She came in contact with Farman Khalid in December 2010. He swore that he would marry her and urged her to establish physical contact with him, she said. She agreed after his persistent efforts and false promises, and established physical relations with him several times, the victim alleged. “The prosecutrix was
very much interested in the accused and knew that their marriage was not certain because of opposition by his mother. Still both the accused and the prosecutrix went for physical relationship. “The prosecutrix became pregnant, which she terminated on the advice that it would be too early to arrange a court marriage and that his family would never agree.
‘No suggestion of fraud’ “Without insisting on marriage, she again agreed to physical relationship and became pregnant though she fully knew that the second abortion would worsen her health. “During their relationship, they exchanged messages and had chats which do not suggest any fraud prior to sexual intercourse,’’ the judge said acquitting the accused.
Supreme Court for policy to curb farmer suicides
BSF S-I commits suicide
Centre should address the “serious issue,” says Bench
Special Correspondent
Legal Correspondent NEW DELHI
The Supreme Court on Monday said the Centre should address the “serious issue” of farmers taking their own lives and implement a comprehensive policy to be adopted by the State governments for preventing the tragedy. “Farmers committing suicides is a serious issue. You [Centre] should bring the proposed policy dealing with all the real issues which force the farmers to take extreme step. We are with
you,” a Bench led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar told the Centre. Additional Solicitor General P.S. Narasimha said the government was coming up with a comprehensive policy to address the problems of the farmers.
No need for middlemen He said now the government was directly procuring food grains from the farmers at the minimum support price and they did not need to take the help of middlemen or market. Mr. Narasimha said the
policy would address crop loss or crop failure and a compensation for farmers.
‘More Insurance cover’ “Insurance cover has been increased for the farmers. Earlier, it was for those who took agriculture loan but now it has been extended to all the farmers,” he said. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for NGO Citizens Resource and Action and Initiative, said that over 3,000 farmers had committed suicide in the last few years.
Kolkata
An Assistant Sub Inspector of the Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly committed suicide at Sachhidananda border outpost in Cooch Behar district of West Bengal. The BSF has ordered a departmental inquiry into the death of its personnel, Surendra Sharma, a resident of Bhojpur in Bihar. According to reports, the BSF personnel allegedly shot himself with his weapon late on Sunday. Senior BSF officials said Sharma had come from a vacation only a few days ago.
BJP leader beaten up by Bajrang Dal activists Found to be associated with an illegal meat packaging unit Staff reporter Meerut
Amid the BJP government’s crackdown on illegal slaughter houses, the Meerut unit of the BJP found itself in an embarrassing situation on Sunday night when one of its leaders, Rahul Thakur, was beaten up by Bajrang Dal workers. The Hindutva group workers assaulted Thakur and his associates when they found he was associated with an illegal meat packaging unit in Jaibheem Nagar locality in Meerut.
FIR filed Police filed an FIR after seizing more than 40 quintals of red meat stored in big freezers in the packaging unit.
The meat samples were sent for examination. Bajrang Dal activist said the meat packaging unit was being run under the garb of a cricket bat manufacturing unit. Balraj Doonger, the city unit head of the outfit, told The Hindu that they received a tip-off from local residents.
Two held “There were a lot of animal bones, skin and meat inside what looked like an illegal meat packaging unit in Jaibheem Nagar,” said U.N. Mishra, circle officer, Sadar rural. “The place was stinking. We are in the process of filing an FIR.” “When we raided the unit, we managed to catch hold of two persons,” said
Mr. Doonger. “Later, when Thakur arrived, he pretended he did not know anything. But when we checked his phone, we found that he had talked several times to the two accused in the half hour before we raided the unit. He then started accusing the police of running the illegal establishment.” Mr. Thakur, who was beaten up badly by the Hindutva outfit workers, was admitted to a local hospital. Karunesh Nandan Garg, president of BJP's city unit, confirmed that Mr. Thakur was a BJP leader, but said action would be initiated against him after probing his alleged association with the illegal meat packaging unit.
Stayzilla founder Vasupal seeks bail Earlier, a special CCB court rejected his plea for bail Sureshkumar CHENNAI
Three days after a Special Court for Central Crime Branch (CCB) Cases in Chennai rejected his bail plea, Yogendra Vasupal, co-founder of online home stay aggregator Stayzilla, has approached the principal sessions court seeking to enlarge him on bail. On March 14, the CCB arrested Mr. Vasupal on a com-
CM YK
plaint from C.S. Aditya of Jigsaw Advertising and Solutions Private Limited for offences under Sections 406 (Punishment for criminal breach of trust), 420 (Cheating), 506 (i) (Criminal Intimidation) of the IPC. According to the complainant, Stayzilla had failed to make payments for advertising services rendered by him since February 2016 and has defrauded him of ₹1.69 crore.
Special Metropolitan Magistrate M.M. Kabir on March 23 dismissed Mr. Vasupal’s bail application noting that prima facie charges against the petitioner cannot be ruled out. “There is no proof that the petitioner had made attempts to pay the alleged dues. Moreover, since the CCB has sought the custody of the accused, the court is not inclined to allow the application,” the judge said.
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8 EDITORIAL
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Giving short shrift to children’s rights In the last three years, important entitlements for children have been undermined by the Centre
Powered by a pause he recent notiication of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, making Aadhaar compulsory for midday meals in government schools, has attracted the criticism it deserves. This notiication serves no clear purpose other than to force children to get enrolled under Aadhaar. The government, unfortunately, managed to create the impression that the notiication had been retracted, when nothing of the sort has happened. This is just the latest in a series of attacks on child-related rights during the last three years. A few examples, not exhaustive, are as follows.
T
No maternity entitlements First, the Central government has violated women’s right to maternity entitlements under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013 for more than three years. Under the Act, every pregnant woman is entitled to maternity beneits of ₹6,000, unless she is already covered by maternity schemes in the formal sector. The Economic Survey 2015-16, in a welcome chapter on “Mother and child”, made a strong case for maternal and early-life health programmes, including maternity beneits, noting that they “ofer very high returns on investment”. Yet, the Union Budget that followed, for 2016-17, did not make any provision for maternity entitlements beyond the pilot scheme (for 53 districts only) initiated by the previous government. This was all the more startling as the Central government had assured the Supreme Court in writing, on October 30, 2015, that this scheme — Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana — would be extended to all districts in 2016-17. On December 31, 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proudly
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he legitimacy of the election process is a key component of any democracy. When Bahujan Samaj Party leader Mayawati and Aam Aadmi Party convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the manipulation of electronic voting machines helped the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh and the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine in Punjab, they were casting doubts about the legitimacy of the results. While the BSP, through its leader’s statements and submissions to the Election Commission, was vague in its complaints, the AAP leader was more speciic, suggesting that 20-25% of his party’s votes were “transferred” to the Akali Dal due to the EVMs. Complaints about the security of EVMs have been raised over a decade in courts, and the EC has repeatedly demonstrated how the security of the machines cannot be compromised. Indian EVMs, unlike online voting machines that were discontinued in some western countries, are standalone, independent electronic units. They record and lock votes only after being trigger-enabled by presiding oicers through a control unit. The EC has sought to assure sceptics that the security of the machine is enabled through both technological and procedural means. The wiring-in of software in a one-time programmable chip disallows external manipulation, time stamping of every key pressed allows for monitoring, production testing is done for quality control, and so on. Checks of EVMs along with representatives of political parties, randomised allocation and sealing make the machines tamper-proof before and after votes are cast. The EC has also sought to increase the use of a voter veriiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) that helps in corroborating the results from the machine, and expects its full implementation by the 2019 Lok Sabha election. The data tallied from VVPAT-enabled EVMs in U.P. in around 20 constituencies in the recent Assembly election corroborated the election results. Prima facie, there is nothing to suggest that EVMs have been subject to manipulation. In fact, the use of EVMs has enhanced electoral democracy in tangible ways. Before electronic voting became universal in State and parliamentary elections in 2004, paper ballot-based polling had seen a high incidence of inadvertent invalid voting. A statistical study published in The Hindu last year showed that in about 14% of the 35,937 Assembly seats where elections were held between 1961 and 2003, invalid votes were greater than the margin between the winner and the runner-up. In more than 300 constituencies, invalid votes were as high as the votes polled for an efective candidate. The use of EVMs has cancelled out the effect of invalid votes, making the process robust besides keeping it simple and efective. EVMs are here to stay and there is no need to be distracted by politicians who criticise them to explain away their defeat. CM YK
was hit by Budget cuts in 2015-16. The initial Budget cut was about 50%. This was so mind-boggling that the government’s own Minister for Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi, criticised the cuts in public, mentioning inter alia that they had made wage payments a “month-to-month suspense”. The cuts were partly reversed later on, but, meanwhile, they had done much damage and sent a disastrous signal down the line. State governments were not amused. For instance, in a letter sent to the Central government on July 15, 2016, the Government of Odisha complained that salary payments to anganwadi workers were held up by Budget cuts, while planned schemes for pre-school education and medicine kits “could not be taken up”. Third, the midday meal scheme is also being starved. Like ICDS, the midday meal scheme received shock treatment in the 2015-16 Budget, with an initial Budget cut of 36%. The allocation for midday meals in this year’s Budget, ₹10,000 crore, is still 25% lower in money terms than the corresponding allocation four years ago (in real terms, the decline would be even larger). The Budget cuts, of course, must be seen in light of the fact that the share of States in the
No money, no eggs Second, the Central government is giving short shrift to the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), a critical programme that was making good progress until it
Further blows Fourth, plans are afoot to scrap the Janani Suraksha Yojana ( JSY), a scheme of conditional cash transfers aimed at promoting institutional deliveries. Recent data clearly show a surge in institutional deliveries in the last 10 years or so (e.g. from 39% in 2005-6 to 79% in 2015-16 according to National Family Health Surveys), and it would be surprising if this had little to do with JSY. Incidentally, the decline of maternal mortality has also accelerated in recent years. Yet the Central government is now planning to phase out JSY. In a presentation made at Vigyan Bhavan on February 22, 2017, the Secretary, Women and Child Development, explained that JSY would be “subsumed” under the maternity beneit scheme from next year, as the latter provides a “higher amount for institutional delivery”. In other words, maternity beneits will be made conditional on institutional delivery, in violation of the NFSA, and further, this linkage will be taken as an excuse to discontinue JSY, even though maternity entitlements and JSY serve distinct
purposes. Last but not least, Aadhaar is now being made compulsory for all these schemes — midday meals, ICDS (yes), maternity beneits, JSY, you name it. This is being done in the name of curbing corruption, but no credible evidence has been given that identity fraud is a serious problem in these schemes, or that Aadhaar is the best possible solution. Rather, this seems to be part of the blind drive to make Aadhaar ubiquitous and universal, regardless of the possible damage. The imposition of Aadhaar on midday meals and related schemes exposes, once again, the claim that Aadhaar is a voluntary facility. It also shows that the Centre has no respect for Supreme Court orders, and that the Supreme Court, for some reason, does not mind. These examples suice, I hope, to illustrate the Central government’s harsh treatment of children. Somehow, their well-being is not seen as an important part of the “sabka saath, sabka vikas” project. When I asked a senior oicial of the Finance Ministry, some time ago, why the 2015-16 Budget cuts had fallen so heavily on children, he said that this pattern had not come to his attention. The cuts, he added, were made in a hurry and the details had not been “thought through”. I mention this anecdote because it illustrates how easily children can fall of the policy radar. It is not that anyone is hostile to them, just that they have no voice. The silver lining is that there is still some action for children at the State level. For instance, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and Telangana have introduced maternity entitlement schemes with their own resources, without waiting for the Central government. However, the indiference towards children at the Centre may percolate to State governments sooner or later. That would be a tragic loss, not just for Indian children but also for the entire nation.
Jean Drèze is Visiting Professor at the Department of Economics, Ranchi University
Turning the clock back With several bilateral investment treaties lapsing on March 31, FDI inlows could take a hit
Trust the EVMs Machine-manipulation charges levelled by some political parties have no real basis
announced that pregnant women nationwide would soon be getting maternity beneits of ₹6,000. He projected this as a “new scheme” (sic), without any reference to the NFSA, perhaps hoping that the victims of demonetisation would appreciate the gesture. With the Prime Minister inally endorsing maternity entitlements, things started moving after that, but not much: the allocation of ₹2,700 crore in the 2017-18 Union Budget is barely enough to cover a fourth of all births, even with the proposed 60:40 ratio for Centre:State funding. Word has it that the Central government may restrict the beneits to one child per woman, against the law. Further, there is still no sign of the said scheme. Quite likely, the government will take its own time to roll it out, and spend even less this year than the measly allocation of ₹2,700 crore. So much for maternity entitlements under the NFSA being “a promising opportunity to improve nutrition during pregnancy”, as the Economic Survey 2015-16 aptly put it.
prabhash ranjan
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ome April 1, the Narendra Modi government would have taken India back to the pre-1991 inward-looking economic era as far as India’s approach to bilateral investment treaties (BITs) is concerned. Till the early 1990s, India didn’t sign BITs because foreign investment was not considered signiicant in a statist India. The absence of BITs meant foreign investors couldn’t use international arbitration to hold India accountable under international law for any detrimental regulatory overreach. So, when the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act that came into force in 1974 required a foreign company to convert foreign equities into minority holdings of 40%, many helpless foreign companies like Coca-Cola, IBM, Kodak and Mobil either quit India or applied to the government to do so. In 1991, India lifted its self-imposed economic exile by starting the process of experimenting with the market and wooing foreign in-
vestors. As part of this image makeover, India started signing BITs from the early 1990s. The signing spree continued unabated till 2010 with India inking BITs with 83 countries. However, rattled by many BIT claims brought by foreign investors from 2011 onwards, last year, India unilaterally issued BIT termination notices to 58-member countries. Reportedly, these BITs would lapse on March 31 after the expiry of the mandatory one-year notice period. Although the terminated BITs will continue to be relevant for existing foreign investment in India and Indian investment in these countries for the next 10-15 years due to survival clauses, any new investment, either from these 58 countries to India or vice versa, shall not enjoy BIT protection as was the case before 1991.
BITs and foreign investment Some argue that foreign investment inlows to India are not dependent on BITs. Two studies question this wisdom. The irst, done by Rashmi Banga, examines the impact of BITs on FDI inlows in 15 Asian developing countries including India from 1980-81 to 1999-2000. The study shows that BITs signed by these 15 countries with developed countries had a stronger and signiicant impact on FDI inlows in these 15 countries. However, BITs signed by these
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The whipping boy Earlier, it was poor Chief Election Commissioner who was the target of attack for parties that lost an election. Who can forget how former CEC J.M. Lyndoh was once targetted and accused of helping a prominent political leader for postponing the Gujarat election? Now, it is the turn of the voiceless Electronic Voting Machine (“Poor vote-getters blame the tools”, March 27). It was the BJP which endorsed the book, Democracy At Risk! Can We Trust Our Electronic Voting Machines?, written by G.V.L. Narasimha Rao, with a foreword by L.K. Advani. The book claims that “the distrust among political leaders of all hues in voting machines is so high that most losers are wondering if
phasised by Canada’s Trade Minister during his recent visit to India. The Minister said that absence of an India-Canada BIT is restricting the scope and volume of investments that Canadian pension funds can make in India. It is nobody’s case that BITs alone determines FDI inlows, but they do play a critical role in mitigating regulatory risks and thus encouraging investors to invest — critical for India, which has a dubious distinction of not being a friendly place to do business in.
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E
ver since it was announced in 2005, the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear agreement has faced one obstacle after another. So this week’s news that its operationalisation may be further delayed owing to Westinghouse’s inancial diiculties and Japan’s procedural issues in ratifying the deal with India should come as no surprise. This sets back “work toward inalising the contractual arrangements by June 2017” for six reactors to be built in Andhra Pradesh by Toshiba-owned Westinghouse and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL). But India has little control over both circumstances, and rather than seeing them as a setback, the government and oicials should use this as an opportunity to re-examine the country’s engagement with nuclear energy for future needs. Westinghouse’s near-bankruptcy is part of a larger pattern of worldwide cost overruns and delivery delays across the nuclear energy industry. Nuclear manufacturer Areva (in partnership with Mitsubishi) has a similarly precarious position despite hopes of a bailout by the French government. Even Russian supplier Rosatom’s Kudankulam units 1 and 2, in the only foreign collaboration now operational in India, were built in double the time budgeted, while units 3 and 4 could see delays. The cost of importing reactors, relative to those based on indigenous design, is another concern. Land acquisition issues remain, along with the need for large water reservoirs for the reactors, which will only grow if the government goes ahead with its plans for 55 reactors of 63,000 MW in total by 2032. In addition, given concerns about a possible tsunami scenario along the Andhra coast, where many of these reactors are planned, the Department of Atomic Energy and NPCIL are looking for options farther inland. The promise of nuclear power has thus far outweighed all of these concerns, and India has reason to be proud of its technology and determination to look for non-fossil alternatives in its energy planning. However, with rapid progress in technology in other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, the collapse of oil prices and the expansion in gas projects as a viable and clean alternative, that promise has dimmed. These could also be more cost-efective for a developing country such as India, as the energy can be made available in smaller units, and then built up, unlike nuclear plants where nothing can be transmitted until the whole plant is complete and attains critical status. Above all, the risk surrounding nuclear safety is yet to be fully mapped, post-Fukushima. A Japanese court ruling holding both the state regulator and the operator responsible for the 2011 triple meltdown has sent sobering signals to the industry. This is the best time for India’s energy planners and government to use the breathing space provided by the delays in the Indo-U.S. civil nuclear deal and take a long, hard look at the costbeneit analysis on the nuclear power balance sheet.
jean drèze
GETTY IMAGES
Delays in the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal bring an opportunity to re-examine the energy basket
indivisible pool of taxes was raised from 32% to 42% in 2015-16. The question remains why the axe fell so heavily on children — no other schemes were hit so badly in 201516, with the possible exception of drinking water and sanitation. And then there is the issue of eggs. Many State governments are now providing eggs with midday meals in schools (and sometimes also in anganwadis). This is a real breakthrough, considering the high nutrition value of eggs. Had the Central government taken this forward as a matter of national policy, millions of children would be better nourished today. But here is an interesting pattern: most of the major States where eggs are still of the menu in schools and anganwadis are States with a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, and vice versa. The BJP States, it seems, are not willing to antagonise upper caste vegetarian lobbies. No wonder the Central government is maintaining a studied silence on this matter.
Few takers for the Model BIT 15 countries with developing countries didn’t have much impact on foreign investment inlows. Till the year 2000, out of the 14 BITs India signed, nine were with developed countries. Therefore, BITs had a signiicant impact on FDI inlows in India, which rose from $393 million in 1992-93 to $4,029 million in 200001. The second study, a very recent one by Niti Bhasin and Rinku Manocha, considers the impact of BITs on FDI inlows in India from 2001-2012. This study also demonstrates that BITs signed by India contributed to rising FDI inlows in the said period by providing protection and commitment to foreign investors. The signiicance of BITs in attracting investment was also em-
To be fair to the government, it wants to sign new BITs with all these 58 countries based on the new Model BIT adopted in 2016. However, most developed countries have not shown much interest in the Model BIT because instead of striking a balance between investment protection and state’s right to regulate, it tilts towards the latter. There are fundamental diferences between the Indian approach and the Canadian and European approach to protection of foreign investment, as relected in the investment chapter of the recently signed EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). First, the EU-Canada CETA contains a ‘most favoured nation’ (MFN) provision — a cornerstone of
non-discrimination in international economic relations — which is missing in the Indian Model BIT. Second, the Indian Model BIT, unlike the EUCanada CETA, mandatorily requires foreign investors to litigate in domestic courts for ive years before pursuing a claim under international law. Third, the EU-Canada CETA provides protection to foreign investors in situations where the state goes back on the concrete representations it made to lure an investor, which the investor relied upon while investing. The Indian Model BIT is silent on this, thus exposing foreign investors to regulatory risks. Fourth, the EU-Canada CETA talks of pursuing the establishment of a multilateral investment court to settle investment disputes. Will India support such a proposal? Due to these diferences, an India-Canada BIT or an investment treaty with EU looks diicult. Will the Modi government reconsider its BITs policy? If not, we are set to return and remain in the pre-1991 era, ironically, under the leadership of someone who was entrusted with the mandate to deepen economic reforms. Prabhash Ranjan is an Assistant Professor of Law at South Asian University. The views expressed are personal
Letters emailed to
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they had been unfairly defeated in polls. It is about time India shunned paperless voting to make its election outcomes veriiable and auditable”. It is diferent matter now that the BJP is on a winning spree and seems to have forgotten about the book. N. Nagarajan, Secunderabad
Manual scavenging The article, “An indelible blot on urban governance” (Some editions, March 26), which was also based on a dissertation, was moving as it highlighted the plight of manual scavengers. It is high time the Central and State governments gave serious consideration to the mechanisation of drainage and conservancy work. While the machinery used
in some instances for mopping is satisfactory, much needs to be done to avoid asphyxiation and skin infections. Generation after generation has been inheriting the job as a family tradition, and the time has now come to set the next generation free. Let them ind a new life and experience the joys of life. The MS Act 2013 must be implemented in its true sense and spirit. S. Jahnavi Devi, Thalli, Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu
Stressed assets The continuing erosion of asset quality should worry the managements of public sector banks especially as most of it has been brought upon banks as a result of dancing to the tunes of political outits (Editorial –
“A timely step”, March 27). In this context, banks need to radically alter the way they deal with NPAs. Farm loans should be treated like any bank loan and not as a populist venture. There should not be any waiver. The concept of a farm loan as a freebie must be stopped. In case of any natural calamities, relief should be given as a grant. Governments should not push banks into business deals. The merits of these should be decided by bank managements. K. Rajendran, Chennai
Fighting TB This is in response to the article, ‘Being page’ – “TB time bomb: the price of policy inertia”, March 26).
The title is misleading as TB is one of the oldest diseases and there is no case of it being a time bomb. The incidence of TB has started falling; so too are cases of MDR-/XDR-TB. Second, there is no policy inertia as there are enough diagnostic centres, specialised TB centres, DOTS centres, quality drugs. The real problem lies in the non-reporting of a large number of patients from private practitioners as these patients are not generally counselled well enough to avail of free drugs from public health service centres. Bedaquilline is a new drug and has still not been inalised for general treatment in India. The World Health Organization is also on board. There are
six centres where Bedaquilline is provided to about 600 selected patients who are also under constant monitoring. It is also available for “compassionate access”. The government has taken upon itself the task of elimination of TB by 2025, ive years ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target of 2030. The National Health Policy, 2017 has also mentioned the commitment of the government in defeating TB and also the 2.5% of GDP expenditure in the health sector. Arun Kumar Jha, Economic Adviser, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, New Delhi
more letters online: www.hindu.com/opinion/letters/
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THE HINDU
OPED 9
NOIDA/DELHI
TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
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My songs, my royalties
Reclaiming public spaces
The Ilaiyaraaja-S.P. Balasubrahmanyam controversy puts the spotlight on our miserable record in fostering a fair and sustainable creative ecosystem for songwriters
Eve-teasing leads to restrictions on women’s mobility
Light, it is said, is the greatest disinfectant and music the greatest healer. The controversy over the legal notice by Ilaiyaraaja to S.P. Balasubrahmanyam to claim royalties for the performance of his songs will serve a greater purpose if it can clarify the confusion on this subject in the minds of music industry professionals and the legal fraternity. Music is an essential component of our human identity. There is no culture without music. This country has been blessed with an unbroken line of musical giants — right from the Sama Veda, the Sangam and the Tamil Saiva saints to Amir Khusro and Tansen through to our own contemporaries like Hariprasad Chaurasia, M.S. Subbulakshmi, A.R. Rahman and countless others — who have woven the various traditions of this country into a musical tapestry that is a marvel to the world.
A fair deal for songwriters But, to create, one must eat. Under earlier aristocratic and monarchic systems of governments, artists received their livelihood from the patronage of the rulers. Under modern copyright law, whose fundamentals are enshrined in the Berne Convention (1886) to which India is a signatory, lyricists and composers — jointly called songwriters — earn their livelihood through a fair remuneration for any use of their works during their lifetime and 60 years after their death. In other words, royalties are the salary and pension plan of creators and the legacy to their heirs. This basic principle of copyright law was spectacularly reaffirmed in May 2012 when both Houses of Parliament, in a rare show of bipartisanship, unanimously adopted the amendments to the Copyright Act in the face of fierce opposition from film and music producers. In a letter to thank the Prime Minister for supporting creators, Bharat Ratna Pandit Ravi Shankar stated that he had retained his copyright in all the work he had done abroad but had been unable to retain a single copyright in any work he did in India because
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SATWIK GADE
“every time the record companies would flash the Copyright Act at me”. It is against this backdrop that we must examine Ilaiyaraaja’s action. The kind of stellar body of work that Ilaiyaraaja has created in the last 40 years should have placed him among the world’s Top 10 wealthiest songwriters, somewhere between Andrew Lloyd Webber ($1.2 billion) and Mick Jagger (over $300 million). So one can understand the depth of his frustration — a feeling experienced by all songwriters across the country — when he sees little royalties, if any, from the use of his works even after they become super hits. Why do Indian songwriters miss out on royalties? Can Ilaiyaraaja prohibit the public (live) performance of his songs? To answer these questions, understanding the role of performing rights organisations (PRO) in the global collection and distribution of royalties is essential.
The importance of PROs PROs were created in the mid-19th century in response to the impracticality for the owners of music to licence each and every live performance of their songs around the country and the globe. Under this arrangement, songwriters and their publishers would assign/transfer to a PRO — such as the Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS) in India — their right to authorise the public performance of their songs. In return,
the PRO would collect a fee for every musical performance in its country and distribute the money equally between the songwriters and the owner (publisher) after deducting a 15% service fee. Additionally, the PRO will enter into reciprocal agreements with similar societies around the world, doing the same work in their own territory. Essentially, such agreements say that I give you the exclusive authority to collect the royalties when the music of my members is performed in your country; reciprocally, I will collect whenever music of your members is performed in my country. And we will pay each other. Under this single-window clearance, the user obtains a licence to commercially perform any music in the world and the royalties collected by the PRO are distributed accordingly. Last year these PROs, representing four million lyricists-composers and their publishers, collected over ₹61,000 crore (€8.641 billion) in 123 countries! This global system of royalties collection and distribution is regulated by the Paris-based not-for-profit International Confederation of Authors and Composers Societies (CISAC). To become a member and benefit from this global system, a PRO must conform to CISAC’s demanding standards of efficiency, fairness and transparency called The Professional Rules. Ilaiyaraaja is a member of the Brit-
A just ecosystem for all Lastly, songs must be registered in every PRO of the world. This is the responsibility of the music publisher or, in its absence, of the PRO in the country of origin of the songwriter. We find that only 180 songs of Ilaiyaraaja are registered in the U.S., only two in France, none in Germany… so even after the organisers of S.P. Balasubrahmanyam’s concerts pay royalties to a PRO, this money cannot reach Ilaiyaraaja if his songs are not found in its database. Only an efficient and transparent IPRS can foster a fair and sustainable creative ecosystem for all players, big and small, newcomers and established songwriters, to take the musical talent of India to global heights. Achille Forler is an expert on music copyright administration and advocate of authors’ rights
Sonalde desai Walking through a rural market in Myanmar recently, I was shocked to see it dominated by women vendors and buyers. In rural Indian markets, particularly in the north, women vendors are few and shoppers are frequently accompanied by men. The India Human Development Survey (IHDS) of over 42,000 households across the country, organised by the University of Maryland and the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), shows that in 33% of the households, all the food shopping was done by men, and 22% of the women did not go to a local kirana shop alone. This is quite an omission given that the primary cooks in 98% of these households were women. Women’s reluctance to venture alone into public spaces such as kirana shops spills over into more serious areas. Over 30% of the women surveyed said they would not go to a local doctor or health centre alone. Anecdotally, many doctors said that mothers wait too long to bring a sick child to a health centre; they wait until their husbands come home.
Reporting sexual harassment This exclusion of women from public spaces is an integral part of Indian life; yet we have no way of knowing how pervasive sexual harassment is as it is missing from our daily conversations. We will probably never be able to find data that tell us how many women have faced some form of harassment. However, the IHDS statistics reveal a pattern. In 2004-05, when male respondents were asked how often women/ girls are harassed in their neighbourhoods, 14% said that this happened at least sometimes, while 20% of the women in the same households reported the prevalence of harassment in the same neighbourhoods. In 2011-12, when the same households were interviewed again, the proportion of male respondents reporting harassment increased to 21% and women to 31%. Many elements of these statistics are noteworthy. First, the question was about harassment in neighbourhoods where young women usually live close to their harassers (who are acquaintances or neighbours and not unknown perpetrators). Thus, the figure of 20-30% women reporting harassment is quite high. Second, women seem to consistently report more harassment than men in the same households/neighbourhoods. This suggests that either women don’t tell men in their families about incidents of harassment or men are unwilling to acknowledge and talk about it. Third, reported harassment in-
creased sharply between 2004-05 and 201112, by nearly 10 percentage points. It is not clear whether there is an increase in harassment or a greater willingness to talk about it. Data, however, offer us little clue on where the harassment is concentrated. Although female residents of metro cities in 2011-12 reported more harassment in their neighbourhoods (39% versus less than 30% in villages and small towns), harassment is reported in almost all areas and affects both the rich and the poor. There are few studies of actual experiences of harassment, and among studies that exist, under-reporting remains a serious challenge. However, the consequences of sexual harassment on the way families and young women view their options, places they can travel to, and spaces they can occupy have more to do with perceptions of safety than the experience of violence. Women who live in neighbourhoods where they don’t perceive the possibility of sexual harassment are 1.33 times more likely to be comfortable going to a health centre alone than those who live in neighbourhoods where harassment is pervasive.
GETTY IMAGES/ ISTOCK
Achille Forler
ish ‘PRS for Music’ and was issued an international identifier no. 619442541. Having divested himself of his performing right in favour of PRS for music, he had therefore no locus standi to issue such a legal notice. Only PRS for Music and its sister societies around the globe have the right to licence the public performance of Ilaiyaraaja’s songs. We must conclude that the celebrated composer received bad advice. But this begs the question: why would Ilaiyaraaja want to become a member of a foreign society? Because IPRS has a miserable record of service to its members. Its annual income is hardly ₹40 crore, a figure that compares poorly to similar PROs that in 2016 collected ₹225 crore in South Africa, ₹550 crore in Russia or a massive ₹1,825 crore in Brazil. Worse, in 2014 the IPRS surrendered its licence to operate as a legitimate copyright society when it came under investigation by two separate arms of the government. Thereafter its bank accounts were seized by the Enforcement Directorate. Subsequently, a CISAC audit in 2015 found that IPRS was meeting almost none of its Professional Rules; after two warnings went unheeded, last June CISAC expelled the IPRS for one year. As a result, all royalties collected for the use of Indian music will be held in suspense accounts around the world until IPRS reforms and is readmitted into the CISAC fold.
Day-to-day aggressions that women and girls face in their own neighbourhoods is not violence perpetrated by strangers; it is the aggression young men visit upon women who share their community. Craig Jeffrey, formerly with Oxford University, who has extensively studied young men in Meerut College, notes that many young men, especially those unemployed, seem to feel that they are entitled to aggressively express their masculinities through what they euphemistically call ‘eve-teasing’. Eve-teasing is not harmless as it leads to restrictions on women’s mobility and shuts them out of public spaces. Laws against eve-teasing and sexual harassment are necessary but not sufficient to address this challenge. The 2017-18 Budget committed to setting up Mahila Shakti Kendras in rural India. Can we re-emphasise the ‘shakti’ part of this mandate and strengthen these institutions? Young women must be prepared to reclaim their lives from harassment and young men must be taught to take pride in a masculinity that stands in solidarity with women. Sonalde Desai is Professor of Sociology at University of Maryland and Senior Fellow at the NCAER. Views are personal.
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The mistrust of science
FIFTY YEARS AGO MARCH 28, 1967
Serious situation on food front
Despite assurances that it is safe, the India-based Neutrino Observatory project continues to hit roadblocks
The Union Food Minister, Mr. Jagjivan Ram said to-day [March 27, New Delhi] that a serious situation was likely to develop on the food front in the next few months. The present tentative estimate of food production, he said, was only 76 million tonnes, at least 13 million tonnes less than what it was in 196465 and only 3.7 million tonnes more than what it was in 19651966. The food crisis could be met only by the Centre and the State Governments working together with a sense of urgency, common sharing and national purpose, Mr. Jagjivan Ram told Parliament in a review of the food situation.
SHUBASHREE DESIKAN
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The National Green Tribunal on March 20 placed in abeyance the environmental clearance given to the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) which was to come up in the West Bodi Hills in Theni district in Tamil Nadu. This was in view of the objection raised by an environmentalist group regarding the distance of the project from a wildlife sanctuary. Initially slated to come up near Masinagudi, the project was moved to Theni because of objections that it was close to an elephant corridor. Ever since the INO got approval from the Ministry of Science and Technology, it has been drawing lak from activists despite repeated assurances from scientists that it is unlikely to harm the environment or affect the livelihoods of the people around the site. While environmental issues, if they do exist, must be tackled with utmost care, at the heart of these objections is also fear and mistrust of science and scientists. Doubts range from questions of safety to the questionable potential for application of neutrino physics. Are neutrinos likely to harm people when they strike them? Will the tunnels made for the observatory be used to store nuclear waste, given that the Department of Atomic Energy is funding the research? These and other questions have been addressed and answered in the negative by scientists. It is a fact that neutrinos from the sun are falling on us by the trillions every second. As for nuclear waste, storing radiating material will spoil all the chances of detecting neutrinos, which interact rarely.
Usefulness of scientiic research This brings us to the usefulness of research. Basic science faces many questions today, and the hardest relates to its usefulness. If Newton had pursued strictly utilitarian research, he may never have sat under that apple tree and discovered the laws of gravitation. This means mechanics as we know it would not have existed — no cars, artiicial satellites, or elevators. Srinivasa Ramanujan’s equations are being used to study black holes today. Did he even envisage this when he wrote them? We cannot say at the point of invention how useful a discovery will be. Yet, we can certainly imagine and speculate how useful the science may be. Former President Abdul Kalam had written in this newspaper about how neutrinos could be used to snif out signs of nuclear proliferation from a remote location. Also, with respect to dark matter — a hitherto undetected form which, along with dark energy, is believed to constitute 95% of the universe — he guessed how neutrinos could help in this search. Additionally, there is the growing ield of neutrino astronomy. Just like we have optical and radio astronomy, which reveal to us certain zones and constituents of the universe, we can literally widen our horizons with neutrino astronomy. Like radio astronomy, neutrinos can reveal exotic facets of the universe. The INO project is good old science; rather than shying away from it, we must embrace it and assert our stake in it. CM YK
ARCHIVES
A HUNDRED YEARS AGO MARCH 28, 1917
Alleged forging of note
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CONCEPTUAL
ABSTRACT
Mutually Assured Destruction/ Geopolitics Mutual assured destruction (MAD) is a doctrine of military deterrence which holds that a full-scale use of nuclear weapons by one side against another is a non-starter if the other side also possesses the capability of nuclear retaliation. In effect, any such conflict would result in the complete annihilation of both. Coined by analyst Donald Brennan in the 1960s, the doctrine held through much of the Cold War, which prevented direct face-offs, the rivalry playing out instead through smaller proxy wars around the world and a severe arms race.
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More than just words How the use of some words reveal our coping mechanisms Jacob Koshy
Studies show how the use of small words like ‘you’ and ‘I’ can reveal how communication is much more than just the sum of words exchanged. Researchers at the University of Michigan reported the results of an experiment in which they tested the contexts in which Americans use the word ‘you’. In the journal Science, Ariana Orvell, Ethan Kross and Susan A. Gelman, in their paper titled “How ‘you’ makes meaning”, note that ‘you’ is used more often than ‘I’ to cope with negative experiences or to share an insight. The researchers conducted nine experiments with 2,489 people to understand why people use ‘you’ to not only refer to specific others, but also to reflect on their own experiences. “When people use ‘you’ to make meaning from negative experiences, it allows them to ‘normalise’ the experi-
ence and reflect on it from a distance,” said Ms. Orvell, a doctoral student in the Department of Psychology and the lead author of the study, in a press statement. For example, “you win some, you lose some” would indicate that a person has failed in a situation, but using the word ‘you’ would mean that this could happen to anyone. “Or saying that ‘when you are angry, you say and do things that you will most likely regret’ might actually explain a personal situation, but the individual attempts to make it something many people relate to,” Ms. Orvell said. Researchers asked participants to write about a personal experience: 201 were asked to make meaning from a negative event, 198 were asked to relive a negative event, and 203 were simply asked to write about a neutral experience. Those in the first group used the generic ‘you’ more in their essays
(46% used the word at least once) than those in the second ‘relive’ group (10% used the word at least once) and the ‘neutral’ group (3% used the word at least once). Using the generic ‘you’ led people to view the event as more distant, the researchers found. Psychology Today (PT), a popular webzine, reports that the use of ‘you’ interests several researchers. Megan Robbins, a psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, listened in on conversations between 52 couples coping with breast cancer. She found that the frequent use of ‘I’ and ‘me’ by the care-taking spouse and of ‘you’ by the person with cancer indicated a healthier marriage. “It says a lot about the relationship during a trying time. It was an indicator that the couple thought of themselves as a team — not exclusively focusing on the patient,” she told PT.
Sir Leslie Miller and Mr. Chandrasekhara Iyer at the Chief Court yesterday [Bangalore, March 28] disposed of a criminal appeal preferred by Nanjundappa, a trader of Shimoga, against the order of the Sessions Judge of Shimoga who convicted the appellant on charges of attempting to use as genuine a forged note of Rs. 100 and of possessing a forged note under Sections 489 B and 489 C of I.P.C. and sentenced him to five years and two years rigorous imprisonment respectively, sentences to run concurrently.
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FROM PAGE ONE
SC counters push for Aadhaar
GST Bills get cold welcome Opposition says they were not listed on agenda, to be taken up tomorrow Special Correspondent
In October 2015, the government had assured the Constitution Bench that the requirement for Aadhaar would be purely of a voluntary nature for citizens to access public subsidy. The court had said this would remain so till it took a final decision on whether the Aadhaar scheme was an invasion of privacy. The then Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu, who led the Constitution Bench, had even asked Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, for UIDAI, to make a statement in open court that “you will not insist (on Aadhaar) till the matter is finally decided here or a legislation is introduced in the Parliament”. “Suppose we decide that Aadhaar is purely voluntary and any attempt to make it mandatory would be treated as contempt of court... are you ready to give an assurance or make a statement here to this effect?” the CJI had asked Mr. Rohatgi. "No person will be denied benefits under any government scheme for want of Aadhaar card,” the A-G had responded. The Constitution Bench
had extended the voluntary use of Aadhaar card to Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Scheme, all types of pensions schemes, employee provident fund and the Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yojana. With this, the Supreme Court had modified an August 11, 2015 order issued by its three-judge bench restricting Aadhaar use to only PDS and LPG (cooking gas) distribution. The government had argued that the Aadhaar card was not to be seen in the sinister light of State surveillance and censorship. Mr. Rohatgi had argued that the Aadhaar was rather a fool-proof method for government to identify the actual beneficiaries of social benefit schemes and not get duped into distributing welfare paid by taxpayers' money on fraudsters. Supporting the Centre, Gujarat government, represented by senior advocate Harish Salve had justified Aadhaar as a means for citizens to directly connect with welfare schemes without intermediaries.
‘Finance Bill sneaks in corporate funding’ Mr. Sibal went on to say: “This is the surest way to ensure that the political party in power gets all the funding that it needs.” “How have you done this through the Finance Act?” he asked. “This is a pure amendment to the Company’s Act. What has it got to do with the Money Bill? You should have brought it to the House.” Mr. Sibal also saw a move to give “unbridled power” to income tax officials. “Under Section 132 (1) of the Income Tax Act, a search and seizure can take place after the income tax authorities give an order to the effect that he has reason to believe that certain documents are
in the possession of the assessee which he is not likely to disclose or that certain bullion or other undisclosed assets are in his possession which he is not likely to disclose,” he said. “But the I-T officer under the old law had to give a reasoned order saying he has reason to believe that the assessee will not so disclose.” The Congress is set to move amendments to undo what it sees as unbridled powers to tax officers in the Bill. Mr. Sibal also accused the government of trying to make the Aadhaar number compulsary despite the SC saying it could not. (With inputs from Smita Gupta)
Samjhauta blast: NIA not to go after Lashkar The National Investigation Agency is yet to decide whether it would challenge the acquittal and bail. “We are yet to get a response from the U.S. authorities but we are unlikely to pursue it any further. It was follow-up action on pending MLAT requests,” said a senior NIA official.
The ruling BJP government had accused the then UPA government under the Congress of politicising the case and falsely coining the term “saffron terror”. Congress, in turn, has accused the BJP of going soft on terror cases where members of the RSS are named as accused.
Obama weakened Army: Cheney Special Correspondent NEW DELHI
Former U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney on Monday said the world today faced the most complicated security situation since the Second World War and globalisation might have to take a back seat as the Donald Trump administration would focus on political and national security compulsions. Referring to rising nuclear proliferation risks from countries like Iran and North Korea, with the latter having doubled its uranium enrichment capability, Mr. Cheney said one of his big concerns was that there would be a major terror attack not just using airliners
and bombs, but weapons of mass destruction as there was a threat of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terror groups. Mr. Cheney, who served from 2001 to 2009 with former U.S. President George Bush, slammed the eight years of Democrat president Barack Obama’s administration for having weakened the military with budget cuts. “If you look at the recent testimony of the Joint Chiefs and the Secretary of Defence last week in front of a Senate Committee, it’s very clear that the consequences of eight years of the Obama administration have been devastating for the U.S. military,” said Mr. Cheney.
NEW DELHI
The four Bills to operationalise the rolling out of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) were introduced by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Lok Sabha on Monday amid Opposition protests that the Bills were not listed on the day’s agenda beforehand. This objection followed the Treasury to the Business Advisory meet of the Lok Sabha, with the final decision that the Bills — the Central Goods and Service Tax Bill 2017, Integrated Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017, Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017, and the Goods and Services Tax Bill (Compensation to States) 2017 — will be taken up on Wednesday for consideration and passing.
Govt. keen A senior Opposition MP who attended the meeting told The Hindu that the government had been keen on tak-
New Delhi
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Monday told the Supreme Court that the court had no jurisdiction to hear petition challenging the practices of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy. The Board said the validCM YK
ity of Mohammedan Law, founded essentially on the Koran and sources based on it, could not be tested on the particular provisions of the Constitution. The Muslim body called for judicial restraint as the issues in the petitions before the court fell within the legislative domain.
ing up the Bills for clearance on Tuesday. “This is however, not acceptable. These are four complicated Bills with far-reaching implications for State finances.
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FILE PHOTO: PTI
Therefore we managed to defer it to Wednesday,” he said. The government proposes to launch the GST from July 1. It is estimated that rolling
Smita Gupta New Delhi
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will address a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary party on Tuesday morning. This will be the first occasion when a section of the party leadership will have a face-to-face interaction with him in a formal setting after the results of the five State elections came in on March 11. Party MPs said that since Mr. Gandhi’s style is to seek comments after his speech, many of them were likely to urge him not to waste any more time but to get cracking on devising a new party narrative, formulating a strategy and naming a team for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections immediately.
Leadership change The CPP met last on March 9, two days before the results came in. On that occasion too, though the outcome of the polls was still
Rahul Gandhi not known, party MPs had told him that it was time he formally took over as president and got working on a plan for the next two years. The results only underscore the need for urgency on the part of the leadership to devise a way forward, party sources said. “We may have done very badly in Uttar Pradesh, but we won Punjab, and were the single largest party in Manipur and in Goa,” said a party MP. “This means the situation is still retrievable. But it won’t be for much longer.”
Action only against illegal units: Centre Press Trust of India
Mental Healthcare Bill unanimously passed in Lok Sabha Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda said. While suicides due to insanity declined from 7% in 2010 to 5.4% in 2014, data from the National Crime Records Bureau say nearly 7,000 people killed themselves because of mental disorders in 2014.
Special Correspondent New Delhi
The Mental Healthcare Bill, which decriminalises suicide and guarantees the right to better healthcare for people with mental illness, was unanimously passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The Bill mandates that a person attempting suicide shall be presumed to be suffering from “severe stress” and, therefore, shall not be tried or punished by law. Further, the new Bill mandates that persons with suicidal tendencies be provided help and rehabilitated.
Five-hour debate The Bill was passed after a disruption-free five-hour debate, placing mental health patients at the centre of the legislation. “It was heartening to see parliamentarians discuss for five hours how to improve this Bill. We are, potentially, opening a completely new chapter in mental healthcare in India. Patients rights have been put at the heart of the legislation and the Bill approaches it
J.P. Nadda
from a rights-based perspective,” said Dr Soumitra Pathare, mental health expert who was a member of the drafting committee for the Bill. This is the first mental health law to take a “rightsbased” approach to mental illness by consolidating and safeguarding the rights of fundamental human rights of the patients. “The Bill empowers the patients for mental healthcare. It gives them the right so that they are not denied [treatment] or discriminated against. The focus is on community mental healthcare ... it is a rights-based Bill,”
Advance directives The Mental Healthcare Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha with 134 official amendments last August. A unique feature of the Bill is that it allows adults to make an advance directive on how they wish to be treated in case they got mental illness in the future. Such a person can chose a nominative representative who would take care of him or her, the Minister said. The Bill also promises free treatment for such persons if they are homeless or fall below the poverty line, even if they do not possess a BPL card. The Bill clearly defines mental illness adding that the earlier definition, under Mental Helath Act 1987 was vague.
Says licensed units will remain open Press Trust of India Lucknow
Clearing confusion over its action against slaughterhouses in the State, the Uttar Pradesh government said on Monday it was acting only against illegal abattoirs. “We are acting only against illegal abattoirs. Licensed slaughterhouses are requested to stick to the norms,” Health Minister Siddhartha Nath Singh told presspersons here. “The licensed slaughterhouses should comply with the norms mentioned in the licence and need not fear,” he said. “No orders have been issued to take any action against any shop selling chicken, fish or eggs. They need not fear.”
Balanced action He directed the officials that they should not act in overenthusiasm nor they should overstep their jurisdiction. Citing an instance, Mr. Singh said, “One of the norms mentioned in the licence is installation of CCTV
Siddharth Nath Singh
cameras on the premises of the slaughterhouse. If this norm is not complied with, then instead of ordering the closure of the slaughterhouse, a notice may be issued to its owner, and he be instructed to take necessary remedial steps within a specific timeframe.” Noting that the National Green Tribunal had insisted on closure of illegal slaughterhouses, he said, “The NGT had in 2015 observed that illegal slaughterhouses are a concern for the environment, while insisting on their closure.”
PM urged to act against racist attacks
Australia to probe racist attack
Press Trust of India
Kallol Bhattacherjee
New Delhi
NEW DELHI
The issue of alleged racial attack on an Indian-origin taxi driver from Kerala in Australia was on Monday raised in the Lok Sabha by the Congress which sought the Prime Minister’s intervention in ensuring the safety of the Indian population there. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said the safety of overseas Indians was a matter of priority for the government and it will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring their safety. Congress MP K.C. Venugopal saidsuch racist attacks were on the rise.
Australia has regretted the racist assault on an Indian driver that took place over the weekend. Following the attack, which is the second incident of racial attack against Indians in a week, Australia has begun an official investigation. “We regret the attack on taxi driver of Indian-origin in Hobart which occurred over the weekend. We understand he suffered minor injuries and has been discharged from Royal Hobart Hospital. We place great importance on the safety and security of everyone who resides in Australia, including our Indian community,”
Regrets assault on Indian driver which is the second such incident in the country agers who hurled racist insults at him while hitting him. Mr. Joy is the second person to face racist attack in Australia within a week. Tomy Kalathoor Mathew, an Indian-origin Catholic priest was stabbed and injured in Melbourne last week in another apparent hate crime.
Li Max Joy said a statement issued by the spokesperson of the High Commission of Australia in India. The attack on the 33-year old Li Max Joy, hailing from Kottayam in Kerala, was carried out by a group of teen-
Similar to U.S. attacks The attacks follow similar incidents in the U.S. where a number of Indians have been targeted in recent weeks. The attack in Hobart is however not the first in Australia as racist attacks on Indians have taken place in the past also. Between 2010 and 2013 a number of at-
tacks on Indian students took place in Australia.
Tasmania police inquires The government of Australia has, however, promised to look into the racial dimension of the latest attack. “The matter is current and under investigation by Tasmania Police. Tasmania Police takes all assaults seriously. We understand that whether the assault was raciallybased will be a component of the investigative facts,” the spokesperson said. The attack has also drawn attention in view of the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to India which is likely to take place in the first half of April.
Naidu launches Online Film Certiication System “The initiative is on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of digital India” Special Correspondent
Legal Correspondent
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the Lok Sabha.
‘Watershed moment’ “The introduction of the GST Bill in the Lok Sabha today marks a watershed moment in the tax reform landscape of the country,” M.S. Mani, Senior Director at Deloitte Haskins Sells said. “This marks the successful culmination of a series of steps taken by the government since August 2016 and it now appears certain that India is headed for a GST rollout from July 2017.” “With the introduction of the GST Bills in Parliament, it is now expected that the GST Rules and the GST Rates for both goods and services would be announced soon, enabling business to be prepared for the imminent go-live date of July 2017,” Mr Mani added.
First meet after Assembly poll results
Suicide no more a crime, Illegal abattoirs patients to get cover targeted: govt.
NEW DELHI
‘Triple talaq not in Apex court purview’
out of the GST can add up to 2% to India’s economic growth. The fifth GST law — the State GST Bill — needs to be cleared by the Legislative Assemblies of all States and Union Territories with legislature.
Rahul to address Congress MPs today
Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Monday launched the Online Film Certification System of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). He said the initiative was on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ease-of-doing business and digital India, making the entire process transparent and efficient. Under the new system, for short films, promos or trailers of less than 10 minutes, the producer can submit
their creations online. For films longer than 10 minutes, the applicant will have to show the film at the examining theatre, but will not be required to visit CBFC offices, except for collecting certificates. The applicants will be informed through text message or e-mail about the status of their applications and any action needed. It will also eliminate any possibility of corruption. The implementation of QR code on the certificates will eliminate chances of fraudulent certificates. A new CBFC
website has also been developed to facilitate easy access to the services. “The complete automation of the Film Certification Process will enable good governance. The objective is to eliminate the need for human interface to the extent possible. The new online certification system will be an important step in making the CBFC office paperless and will enable effective monitoring and real-time progress tracking for both the CBFC officials and the applicants (producers),” he said. Mr. Naidu said more such
online initiatives would be introduced in the Ministry as part of the roadmap for transparent governance in the media and entertainment sectors.
Single window clearance The Minister said the Film Facilitation Office, established by the Ministry in November 2015, provided single-window clearance to facilitate film shootings by foreign filmmakers in India. “A total of 41 shooting permissions were given for foreign films/projects in 2016, which was about 33% in-
crease compared to 2015. The Ministry has also simplified the annual renewal process for existing TV channels, wherein permitted broadcasters can continue their operations by paying annual fee up to 60 days before the due date, for continuation for a further period of one year. Since January, the payment can be made online through the Bharatkosh portal,” he said. On issues related to film certification, he said the recommendations of Shyam Benegal and Mudgal panel were under consideration.
New Delhi
The Uttar Pradesh government has cracked down only on illegal slaughterhouses, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told the Lok Sabha on Monday. She also cited global factors as the reason behind the drop in the export of buffalo meat last fiscal. “What is being done in Uttar Pradesh is on illegal slaughterhouses. We don’t want anything illegal. The Chief Minister has also said that the action is only against illegal slaughterhouses,” she said during Question Hour replying to a supplementary asked by AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi. The Minister said the drop of 8.87% in buffalo meat export in 2015-16 in comparison to 2014-15 was due to various factors. Ms. Sitharaman said China was not giving access to its markets to various Indian goods, including buffalo meat. At this, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan remarked “don’t slaughter only buffalo”, provoking laughter in the House.
Shivpal, Azam denied LoP post Press Trust of India LUCKNOW
Eight-time MLA Ram Govind Chaudhary of the Samajwadi Party is set to become the Leader of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly as party chief Akhilesh Yadav nominated him on Monday, ignoring stalwarts like Azam Khan and Shivpal Yadav. “Akhilesh has nominated Chaudhary as the Leader of the SP Legislature Party and he will also be the Leader of the Opposition,” SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said here. Mr. Chaudhary, 70, is considered close to Mr. Akhilesh and had served as Basic Education, Child Development and Nutrition Minister in the erstwhile SP government. The name of Mr. Azam Khan, Parliamentary Affairs Minister in the Akhilesh government, was also doing the rounds for the post. During the Mayawati government when the SP was the main Opposition party, Mr. Shivpal Yadav was the Leader of the Opposition. Since he fell out with his nephew and SP president Akhilesh, it was unlikely that Shivpal would be nominated for the post. Mr. Chaudhary, who was active in student union politics, was first elected to the U.P. Legislature in 1977 from Chillhar. He now represents Bansdih constituency in Ballia district. A ND-ND
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THE HINDU
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IN BRIEF
Find alternatives to pellet guns: SC Bench reminds govt. that it is a ‘welfare state’ meant to protect all without causing harm to none about the use of pellet guns without “proper application of mind” came while hearing a petition filed by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court Bar Association.
Legal Correspondent NEW DELHI
No restrictions at BHU, says Javadekar NEW DELHI
There is “no ban on anything” in Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Union Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar told the Lok Sabha as the issue of alleged restrictions was raised in the House on Monday. A member of the House said girl students of the Central university were facing restrictions and discrimination. PTI
Congress gets more time for organisational polls NEW DELHI
The Election Commission has extended the June 30 deadline set for the Congress to hold organisational polls to December 31.“There will, however, be no further extension beyond December 2017,” the panel told the Congress. “The Election Commission has allowed our plea for extension of six months in holding organisational elections,” AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said. PTI
R.K.Singh warns against raising anti-India slogans ARA
Former Union Home Secretary and BJP MP R.K. Singh has warned that anybody raising anti-India slogans will be thrashed. “We are not people who remain silent after seeing somebody raise slogans like ‘Bharat tere tukde hoge’ [India will disintegrate]... we are nationalists...” Mr. Singh told reporters here on Sunday. He did not, however, name the university [Jawaharlal Nehru University] where protesters had raised the slogan at an event last year. PTI
Warrants against Mamta Kulkarni, ‘drug lord’ THANE
The district court here on Monday issued non-bailable warrants against the alleged international drug-lord Vicky Goswami and his partner and yesteryear’s Bollywood actor Mamta Kulkarni in an ephedrine haul case. Both are believed to be outside India. District Judge H. M. Patwardhan issued the warrants today. PTI
Reminding the government that it is a ‘welfare state’ meant to protect all without causing harm to none, the Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to come up with alternatives to pellet guns used by security forces against agitators and stonepelting mobs on the streets of Jammu and Kashmir. “You are a welfare state. It is your duty to ensure the safety of the people as well as the security forces. Your purpose of being there is not to harm or injure individuals,” a Bench led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar addressed Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi. Mr. Rohatgi responded that security forces are faceto-face with violent mobs, sometimes used as a human shield by militants who open fire at them. The agitators even throw petrol bombs at the forces. In short, Mr. Rohatgi said security personnel battle for their own lives and use these guns, at the minimum, as a means of self-defence, and at the most, to bring law and order back on the streets.
Hit hard: A ile photo of a youth being treated for pellet injuries at a hospital in Srinagar. “We appreciate that... there are lots of pressure. However, what can be adopted should not cause harm to individuals,” Chief Justice Khehar replied. The court expressed its concern about how minors, students and innocent bypassers of the Valley become
collateral damage, sometimes scarred permanently for life, in the battle for the streets between forces and the mobs. For their sake and that of their parents and loved ones, the court asked the government to consider other alternatives to quell the mobs.
Lawyers to skip work in protest against new Bill
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AFP
The Bench posted the hearing for April 10. In December 2016, the Supreme Court sought a similar assurance from the Jammu and Kashmir government to avoid the “indiscriminate” use of pellet guns on protesters in the restive State. The court’s reservations
‘Many jawans injured’ The Attorney-General, who was countering the contention of the J&K Bar Association counsel over the death and injuries of protesters besides spectators watching the incidents from their houses, said a total of 1,775 CRPF personnel were injured of whom 79 were grievously injured in the protests held between July 8 and August 11, 2016. The High Court had on September 22 rejected the plea for a ban on pellet guns on the ground that the Centre had already constituted a Committee of Experts through its memorandum of July 26, 2016 for exploring alternatives to pellet guns. The High Court had also declined to accept the plea to prosecute the officers who ordered pellet guns to be used and those who shot the agitators. (With PTI inputs)
J&K Muslims are a minority: Centre SC asks Centre, State to solve question Legal Correspondent NEW DELHI
The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government to resolve the question of whether or not Muslims can be considered a minority community in the State and if they can access benefits given to that category of citizens. A Bench, led by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar, termed the issue “very, very important”, and asked both governments to file a proposal in four weeks. Appearing for the Centre, Additional Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta said the community, which made up over 60 per cent of the population in the State, should be considered a minority.
Comparison to Sikhs He said Sikhs were considered a majority in Punjab, though they were a minority community nationally. Gopal Subramaniam, counsel representing Jammu and Kashmir, agreed to sit
India, Nepal renew fuel pact Both sides also pledged to build a new pipeline for petroleum products Special Correspondent
‘Attempt to take away the autonomy of Bar councils’ Special Correspondent NEW DELHI
Lawyers in district and High Courts across the country will abstain from work on March 31 in protest against what the Bar Council of India (BCI) has termed an attempt to take away the autonomy of bar councils and associations through The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2017, proposed by the Law Commission. The Bill has been sent to the Union Law Ministry for consideration. “The Commission proposes to turn the Bar Council into a rehabilitation centre for retired judges of High Courts and the Supreme Court,” said BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, listing the proposed committees to be headed by former or sitting Judges. A BCI-led delegation will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun
SC disallows abortion of 27-week foetus Doctors said baby may be born alive
BCI chief Manan Kumar Mishra (second left) and other council members at a press meet in New Delhi. SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY *
Jaitley and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on the issue. In the Supreme Court, the lawyers will wear white ribbons around their arms as a mark of protest.
Grievance redressal The Bill provides for a special public grievance redress committee of the BCI comprising a former Supreme Court judge or Chief Justice of any High Court as its chairman, two retired judges of different High
Courts as its members, one senior advocate and one member of the BCI. “The National Legal Services Authority is under your control. It has totally failed and is a complete misuse of public money. Now you are interfering in the affairs of the Bar,” Mr. Mishra said, alleging that the proposed Bill was aimed at shutting the mouth of advocates; the legal profession had been proposed to be regulated by non-lawyers.
together with the Centre and discuss the issue. Earlier, the court had issued notice to the Centre, the State government and the National Commission for Minorities on a plea filed by a Jammu-based lawyer, Ankur Sharma against the minority status of Muslims in the State. Mr. Sharma said the National Commission for Minorities Act was not applicable in the State because of a caveat put by Article 370 of the Constitution. Te State government was violating Articles 29 (protection of interests of minorities) and 30 (right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions).
NEW DELHI
India on Monday signed an agreement to renew supply of petroleum to Nepal for a period of five years. The renewed agreement, which was overseen by the Petroleum Ministers of both countries, was signed even as both sides pledged to build a new pipeline for LPG. The agreement between Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. (IOCL) and the Nepal Oil Company (NOC) was overseen by Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan and his Nepali counterpart, Deepak Bohara. Indian Oil has been supplying petroleum and petro-
Reinforcing ties: An MoU on fuel supply being exchanged in the presence of Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Nepal’s Minister Deepak Bohara in New Delhi on Monday. PTI *
leum products to Nepal since 1974. Both countries are also working to build a pipeline for petroleum products between Motihari
and Amlekhgunj. “Mr. Pradhan assured India’s continued support to Nepal in meeting its complete hydrocarbon requirement. The
Minister discussed various issues of mutual interest with Mr. Deepak Bohara, including the status of the Motihari-Amlekhgunj petroleum product pipeline. He highlighted that the pipeline once completed will further ensure continuous and uninterrupted supply of products to Nepal. Both Ministers also discussed construction of a similar pipeline for supply of LPG between India and Nepal,” said a press release.
Blockade on border The renewal agreement has pledged to continue supplies, though petroleum supply to Nepal was severely hit during 2015-16 due to the blockade on the border.
Pak. victim’s kin pardons Indians Press Trust of India Dubai/ Islamabad
Press Trust of India New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Monday denied permission to a woman to abort her 27week-old foetus showing signs of severe physical abnormalities. A Bench of Justices S A Bobdey and L Nageshwara Rao referred to the report of the medical board, which had examined the woman, and said that as per the opinion of the doctors, the baby may be “born alive” if the mother is allowed to abort at this stage.
‘Mother’s health fine’ The court also observed that as per the doctors’ opinion, the physical condition of the woman is normal and there is no risk to her health. “As
regard to the foetus, the report states that, if the pregnancy is terminated in the 27th week, there is a possibility that the baby may be born alive,” the Bench observed. “We don’t consider it appropriate to direct the petitioner (woman) to terminate the foetus,” the court said. Solicitor-General Ranjit Kumar told the Bench that as per the report of the medical board of the Mumbaibased K E M Hospital, the foetus has severe physical abnormalities but the doctors have not advised termination as she is in her 27th week of pregnancy. The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act prohibits termination of pregnancy after 20 weeks.
Tension at Tundurru Special Correspondent TUNDURRU (WEST GODAVARI)
Over 60 agitators belonging to the CPI (M) were arrested on Monday on the charge of violating prohibitory orders under Section 144 and Section 30 which were clamped in the area of Tundurru Aqua Mega Food Park. Police were deployed in large numbers in the area following the statement issued by CPI(M) on Sunday that they would lay siege to the Aqua Food Park on Monday. The police took 60 agitators, including women, into custody and shifted them to the CM YK
Narsapur police station. Mild tension prevailed when the agitators refused to get into the vans arranged by the police. It may be recalled that the park has been proposed in 70 acres falling under Bhimavaram and Narsapur mandals as an assortment of 30 fish and prawn processing units. The Godavari Mega Aqua Food Park Limited (GMAFPL), which secured permission for the food park, has set apart ₹120 crore for building infrastructure at the project site.
Ten Indians in the UAE may escape death for murdering a Pakistani man in 2015 after the victim’s family accepted blood money of 200,000 dirhams to pardon the convicts, media reports say. Mohammad Riaz, father of victim Mohammad Farhan, appeared in the Al Ain appeals court on March 22, and gave a letter of consent for pardon, a senior Indian Embassy official told Gulf News on Sunday.
All hail from Punjab The Pakistani was allegedly killed during a brawl over bootlegging in Al Ain in December 2015. Eleven men from Punjab were convicted, but one was spared the death sentence. “It was unfortunate that I lost my son. I appeal to the young generation not to indulge in such fights. I have forgiven these 10 individuals. In fact, Allah has saved their lives. Lives of at least 10 people, including wife and children, hinge [financially] on one person [who comes to work in the UAE],” Mr. Riaz said. Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust, an Indian charity organisation, deposited the blood money in the court. The case has been adjourned to April 12, said Dinesh Kumar, counsellor, Community Affairs at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. “The court may commute the death sentence,” Mr. Kumar said. A ND-ND
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‘India disproportionately beneits from H-1B scheme’ Congressman Darrell Issa calls for increase in the minimum salary for eligibility
Trump congratulates Modi for U.P. win
Varghese K. George
Rouhani signals greater cooperation with Russia DUBAI
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that Tehran welcomed Russian investment in its gas and oil ields, signalling major developments in energy cooperation between the two countries. “There is a huge potential for Russian investment in Iran’s energy sector,” Mr. Rouhani told reporters at Mehrabad airport in Tehran before departing for Moscow. Reuters
Maldives MPs evicted after protests MALE
Security forces physically ejected protesting MPs from the Maldives Parliament Monday in chaotic scenes during a failed opposition attempt to impeach the Speaker and destabilise President Abdulla Yameen ahead of elections next year. This came a day after exiled opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed announced a unity pact with the President’s half-brother and former strongman Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. AFP
Turks in Germany vote in referendum BERLIN
Turks living in Germany began casting their ballots on Monday in a referendum which proposes changing Turkey’s Constitution to increase President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s powers. Dozens of people lined up outside the Turkish consulate in Berlin to vote as a handful of supporters of Turkey’s main pro-Kurdish opposition party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), held up protest signs. Reuters
Washington
Indian companies and workers are disproportionately gaining from the current method of allocation of H-1B visas and this is a distortion of the programme, said a U.S lawmaker at the forefront of an ongoing campaign against alleged abuse of the visa programme. The current system of selecting H-1B visa recipients is neither fair nor efficient, and it must be replaced, said Congressman Darrell Issa, who has recently introduced a Bill that proposes to raise the minimum salary of H-1B employees to $1,00,000 per year from the current level of $60,000. Speaking at an event organised by the Atlantic Council on Monday, the California Republican was not sure if his Bill will be passed by the legislature, but said: “The President supports the Bill and we will have strong support in the Senate.”
Reform talk: Congressman Darrell Issa speaks during a town hall meeting in Oceanside, California, earlier in March. AP
A distortion “We can’t have 75% of a programme going to Indianowned, Indian-operated companies and Indian employees and not say that this is a distortion. At the end of these reforms, will this programme still disproportionately favour countries that are willing to let go of their high-skilled workers and come here? Yes. Will it be as extreme as it is now? No,” the lawmaker said. The Congressman had proposed to expand the number of visas in a Bill in 2013, but he said that proposal is not desirable now. “We were then saying that we are pushing to get the best and the brightest to the country. We had a lot of
good people going away even after graduating from U.S. universities, including the medical doctors,” he said adding that due to the abuse of the programme, American people have lost confidence in it. Mr. Issa said once there are enough people being recruited under higher salaries proposed in the Bill, the proposal to expand the programme could be considered. “By raising the salary to a level more in-line with the average American salary for these positions, it would help cut down on abuse and ensure these positions remain available for companies who truly need them,” he said.
Special correspondent Washington
*
“The demand for H1-B is oversubscribed by several times every year. But the current levels of salary are way too low a price for a way too valuable product. Who gets that valuable resource should be based on a fairer mechanism,” he said, adding that the selection must move to a bidding system.
Bidding system The current Bill does not propose that but in the future Mr. Issa would be working towards legislation that mandates bidding. “It can be done at multiple stages. A company that is willing to pay, say $2,00,000 will get the first lot of visas, and then it could come cheaper to the next lot,” he said.
Navalny sentenced to 15 days
U.S President Donald Trump congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his party’s victory in Uttar Pradesh, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said on Monday. A readout on the conversation would be available later, said Mr. Spicer. This is the third telephone conversation between the two leaders since Mr. Trump’s victory on November 8, 2016. Mr. Modi had congratulated Mr. Trump after this victory in November and again after his inauguration on January 20. Both leaders have invited each other to visit their countries. Asked whether the restrictions that he proposes could negatively impact the U.S. economy, the lawmaker said: “The impact on economy can only be positive... Raising the salary floor only raises the quality of the worker that comes into the country through this programme,” he said. The lawmaker said the current cap of 65,000 is an arbitrary number that needs to be removed. “We need to change the system from having an arbitrary number to a number that reflects the actual demand in a given year,” he said, adding that some years when the demand is higher it could be raised and when there is recession, the numbers could be reduced.
Gotabaya Rajapaksa denies war crimes allegations Ex-Defence Secretary also hints at an entry into politics Meera Srinivasan Colombo
Denying the corruption and war-crime allegations against him, Sri Lanka’s former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Monday hinted at a possible entry into active politics in future. “I have not decided yet,” he told foreign correspondents here, without ruling out the option. A few of his supporters have been floating the idea of his presidential candidacy in 2020. “If I can do something for the country, I will do that. I have that capability and I have proved it — whether during the war or in urban development. I did what nobody had done,” said the brother of ex-President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who led the armed forces against the LTTE. He was willing to work with a leader whose policies were agreeable, he said. The former Defence Secretary on Monday disagreed with the UN figures of one lakh civilian deaths during
Former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa
the war as “there is no clarity on the actual number of casualties”. And amid mounting protests by families of disappeared persons in the Tamil-majority north, many of whom accuse the military of abducting their relatives, he said that going back and “harping on” it would not help bring communities together.
Multiple charges A controversial figure, Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa currently faces corruption charges of “causing a $75 million loss” to the country. In
Senate panel to question Kushner on Russia links Reuters Washington
The Senate Intelligence Committee is seeking to interview President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, as part of its investigation into ties between Trump associates and Russian officials, a congressional official said on Monday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed a New York Times report that the panel wants
to question Mr. Kushner. The official said the committee will make an announcement later in the day. Mr. Kushner, an adviser to Mr. Trump during his presidential campaign and in the White House, would be the closest person to the President to be questioned in the congressional investigations into Russia’s role in the 2016 election. The panel wants to ask Mr. Kushner about two meetings arranged with Rus-
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A Maori welcome
The Kremlin critic inspired nationwide anti-corruption protests on Sunday Agence France-Presse Moscow
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was sentenced to 15 days behind bars and fined on Monday after staging the biggest anticorruption protests in years, an act branded a “provocation” by the Kremlin. The United States and the European Union (EU) have voiced deep concern after Mr. Navalny and more than 1,000 others were detained in the Moscow protest on Sunday, with the State Department describing the arrests as as an “affront to democracy”.
Report against Medvedev A Moscow district court ordered Mr. Navalny to serve 15 days in jail after having found him guilty of disobeying police orders. He was fined 20,000 rubles ($350) for having organised an un-
Political prisoner: Police oicers detaining Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny during an anti-corruption rally in central Moscow. AFP *
sanctioned protest. Mr. Navalny, 40, who has announced plans to run for President next year, called Sunday’s protests after publishing a report accusing Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of controlling a property empire through a shadowy network of non-profit organisations. About 7,000
U.S., allies, boycott disarmament talks ‘Time not right to outlaw n-weapons’ Somini Sengupta Rick Gladstone United Nations
Saying the time was not right to outlaw nuclear arms, the United States led a group of dozens of UN members on Monday that boycotted talks at the global organisation for a treaty that would ban the weapons. “There is nothing I want more for my family than a world with no nuclear weapons,” Ambassador Nikki R. Haley of the United States told reporters outside the General Assembly as the talks were getting under way. “But we have to be realistic. Is there anyone who thinks that North Korea would ban nuclear weapons?” Ms. Haley and other Ambassadors standing with her, including envoys from Albania, Britain, France and South Korea, declined to take questions. The talks, supported by CM YK
more than 120 countries, were first announced in October and are led by Austria, Brazil, Ireland, Mexico, South Africa and Sweden. Disarmament groups strongly support the effort. The United States and most other nuclear powers, including Russia, oppose the talks.
Reduction in arsenals Ms. Haley and Ambassador Matthew Rycroft of Britain emphasised their countries had vastly reduced the size of their nuclear arsenals since the height of the Cold War. Mr. Rycroft said his country was not participating in the talks “because we do not believe that those negotiations will lead to effective progress on global nuclear disarmament”. Ms. Haley questioned whether countries favouring a weapons ban understood the nature of global threats. NYT
to 8,000 people demonstrated in Moscow on Sunday, according to police figures, making it one of the biggest unauthorised rallies in President Vladimir Putin’s 17 years in power. The Kremlin called the protest “a provocation and a lie”, and claimed minors had been promised “financial re-
wards" to participate. Demonstrations were held not just in Moscow and Russia’s second city Saint Petersburg but also in a number of provincial cities where protests are rarely seen. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russians’ “civic stance” would be respected if expressed legally but, without mentioning Mr. Navalny by name, suggested “some people will continue using [politically] active people... to their own ends, calling them to illegal and unauthorised actions”. Mr. Navalny was arrested as he was walking to the Moscow protest and another 1,030 people were detained, according OVD-Info, a website that monitors detentions of activists. The vast majority were fined and released overnight, while about 120 remained in custody on Monday, OVD-Info said.
The family of U.S. tourist Kurt Cochran who was killed in last week’s assault on the British Parliament said on Monday he would not have borne any ill feelings towards the attacker. Cochran (54) and his wife, Melissa, were in Europe to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary when they were mowed down on Westminster Bridge by a car driven by British man, Khalid Masood, who went on to fatally stab an unarmed policeman at the parliament building. The couple from Utah had been due to return to the United States the day after the attack took place last Wednesday. Melissa remains in hospital where she is recovering from a cut to the head, a broken rib and badly injured leg. “We know that Kurt wouldn’t bear ill feelings towards anyone and we can
Kiwi style: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, on a state visit to New Zealand, receives a ‘hongi’, a traditional Maori greeting in which people press their noses together, on Monday from senior professor Piri Sciascia at Government House in Wellington. REUTERS *
Facebook has removed about 85% blasphemous material at the request of Pakistan, the government informed a top court on Monday. Interior Secretary Arif Khan, in a report to the Islamabad High Court, said that Facebook has taken Pakistan’s request positively and is blocking blasphemous content. He further informed the court that the Federal Investigation Agency has arrested three suspects for their alleged involvement in publishing blasphemous material on social media. Chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Ismael Shah said a team of 25 professionals were active against such content and 40 such pages had been blocked so far.
2 girls barred from lying for wearing leggings Airlines says they were ‘pass riders’
draw strength as a family from that,” Clint Payne, Cochran’s brother-in-law, told a news conference at police headquarters, just yards from where the attack took place.
Focussing on the positive “His whole life was an example of focussing on the positive. Not pretending that negative things don’t exist but not living our life in the negative — that’s what we choose to do.” Cochran was one of four people killed in the assault, Britain’s deadliest attack since the 2005 London underground bombings, and his family said they had since been overwhelmed by the “love of so many people” in London and around the world. Celebrating their anniversary, the couple had left the U.S. for the first time to visit Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and parts of
FB removed blasphemous content: Pak. Islamabad
Family of London attack victim Kurt Cochran draws strength from his attitude London
sian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak at Trump Tower in New York in December, as well as a meeting with the head of Russia’s state-owned development bank, NYT reported, citing unidentified administration and congressional officials. The bank, Vnesheconombank, was among the Russian banks sanctioned by the Barack Obama administration in 2014 after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimea in that year.
Press Trust of India
‘He wouldn’t have had any ill feelings’ Reuters
the past his name was also linked to Bodu Bala Sena, a group of hard-line Buddhist monks accused of hate speech and inciting violence against minority Muslims. Recently, Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID) told a magistrate court here about “topsecret death squads”, reportedly linked to the defence establishment under former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, but Mr. Gotabaya Rajapaksa said there were no such units. Claiming that “a lot of things happened without my knowledge,” he added that he was working more at the “policy and strategy level and not on things at the tactical level”. Observing that he had never been a politician, unlike his family members who had been in politics since 1935, he said: “But Donald Trump has come from [business]. We have to see.” Asked if he considered the U.S. President a model, he said: “Yes, I am looking at him and studying him.”
Agence France-Presse Washington
In grief: Family members of Melissa Cochran, who was injured in the attack. Melissa’s husband Kurt Cochran was killed. AP *
Britain before visiting London. The couple, who had a recording studio business, were visiting Melissa Cochran’s parents, who are missionaries in London for the Salt Lake City-based Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), also known as the Mormon church.
Thankful for support “They loved it here and Kurt repeatedly said that he felt like he was at home so thank you for that, thank you for
being such good people,” Melissa’s father Dimmon Payne said. Shantell Payne, Melissa’s sister and one of 13 family members to attend the news conference, said it was “awful, horrible and gut wrenching” that the attack had been carried out in the name of religion, but that the family would focus on the positives of Cochran’s life. “Were thankful in a sense that everyone can know what an amazing person he really was,” she said.
United Airlines has run into a social media storm after it barred two teenage girls from boarding a flight in Denver because they were wearing leggings. Another girl who was also wearing leggings was allowed to board the flight from Denver International Airport to Minneapolis after she changed, a witness said. A United spokesman Jonathan Guerin told The New York Times that the two girls barred from flying “made an adjustment” to their clothing and were waiting for the next flight to Minneapolis. He did not know whether they made it aboard. The incident was reported on Twitter by Shannon Watts — founder of gun reform group Moms Demand Action — who was a passenger at the airport waiting to board another flight to Mexico. With that,
the charges began to fly across the Twittersphere, with outraged travellers and celebrities weighing in with accusations of sexism and corporate ham-handedness. United Airlines defended the gate agent’s decision in a series of tweets. It insisted the girls were flying on passes that require them to keep to a dress code in return for free or discounted travel. “[L]ikemost companies, we have a dress code that we ask employees and pass riders to follow. The passengers this morning were United pass riders and not in compliance with our dress code for company benefit travel... To our regular customers, your leggings are welcome,” it said. That only drew attention to what many saw as a double standard. Some wondered what business United had in deciding for others what was appropriate casual wear. A ND-ND
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market watch 27-03-2017
% CHANGE
Sensex dddddddddddddddddddddd 29,237 ddddddddddddd -0.63 US Dollar dddddddddddddddddddd 65.04 ddddddddddddddd0.57 Gold ddddddddddddddddddddddddddd 29,430 ddddddddddddddd0.34 Brent oil ddddddddddddddddddddd 50.62 ddddddddddddddd0.09
Nod for 101 cold chain projects Nissan refreshes Terrano Leveraging ₹3,100 crore investment will boost food processing sector gineering and Technology) study, Ms.Badal said the total wastage of fruits and vegetables was pegged at ₹92,000 crore on the basis of the wholesale prices of 2014. The Minister said 4.7 million tonnes of agri and horticulture produce with a value of up to ₹12,000 crore will be processed in these projects and help reduce wastage by 13%.
Special Correspondent New Delhi
NIFTY 50 PRICE CHANGE
ACC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1396.80. . . . . . . . . 0.35 Adani Ports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 319.30. . . . . . . . -3.95 Ambuja Cements. . . .. . . . . . 227.60. . . . . . . . -2.30 Asian Paints. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1042.90. . . . . . -21.35 Aurobindo Pharma . . . . . . 670.10. . . . . . -18.70 Axis Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 487.15. . . . . . . . -2.20 Bajaj Auto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2808.40. . . . . . -34.60 Bank of Baroda . . . . . .. . . . . . 172.30. . . . . . . . . 3.25 Bharti Airtel . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 338.70. . . . . . . . -1.80 BHEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168.00. . . . . . . . . 0.95 Bosch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22814.65. . . -158.25 BPCL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 643.15. . . . . . . . -6.55 Cipla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 592.10. . . . . . . . -1.85 Coal India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291.50. . . . . . . . -6.35 Dr Reddys Lab . . . . . . . .. . . . 2631.95. . . . . . . . . 3.60 Eicher Motors. . . . . . . . .. 24163.65. . . -186.50 GAIL (India). . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 375.70. . . . . . . . -5.60 Grasim Ind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1062.40. . . . . . . . . 4.10 HCL Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 852.15. . . . . . -20.90 HDFC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1474.70. . . . . . . 12.10 HDFC Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1409.85. . . . . . -14.50 Hero MotoCorp . . . . . .. . . . 3343.20. . . . . . -32.05 Hindalco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188.70. . . . . . . . -6.20 Hind Unilever . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 898.80. . . . . . . . -1.40 ICICI Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273.15. . . . . . . . -1.60 Idea Cellular . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . 87.60. . . . . . . . -3.30 IndusInd Bank . . . . . . . .. . . . 1402.10. . . . . . . 12.55 Bharti Infratel . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 312.55. . . . . . . . . 2.15 Infosys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1028.85. . . . . . . . -2.55 ITC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281.60. . . . . . . . . 0.60 Kotak Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 871.15. . . . . . . . -8.20 L&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1543.90. . . . . . . . -7.30 Lupin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1457.75. . . . . . -30.05 M&M . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1265.75. . . . . . -10.05 Maurti Suzuki . . . . . . . . .. . . . 5985.80. . . . . . -18.85 NTPC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163.35. . . . . . . . -1.25 ONGC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188.90. . . . . . . . -3.00 PowerGrid Corp . . . . .. . . . . . 194.85. . . . . . . . . 1.10 Reliance Ind . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1251.10. . . . . . -35.65 State Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279.45. . . . . . . . . 2.95 Sun Pharma . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 691.20. . . . . . -12.70 Tata Motors . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 464.75. . . . . . . . -5.65 Tata Motors DVR. . . .. . . . . . 278.75. . . . . . . . -2.10 Tata Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87.30. . . . . . . . . 0.75 Tata Steel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 476.50. . . . . . -16.70 TCS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2412.05. . . . . . -15.15 Tech Mahindra . . . . . . .. . . . . . 468.80. . . . . . . . -5.35 UltraTech Cement . .. . . . 3951.25. . . . . . -22.70 Wipro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 504.00. . . . . . . . -9.25 YES Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1527.95. . . . . . . . -1.10 Zee Entertainment . . . . . . 516.50. . . . . . . . -1.95
EXCHANGE RATES Indicative direct rates in rupees a unit except yen at 4 p.m. on March 27 CURRENCY
TT BUY
TT SELL
US Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 64.84. . . . . . . 65.16 Euro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 70.47. . . . . . . 70.84 British Pound . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 81.64. . . . . . . 82.05 Japanese Yen (100) . .. . 58.81. . . . . . . 59.11 Chinese Yuan . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 9.43. . . . . . . . . 9.48 Swiss Franc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 65.84. . . . . . . 66.17 Singapore Dollar . . . . . . .. . 46.56. . . . . . . 46.79 Canadian Dollar . . . . . . . . .. . 48.60. . . . . . . 48.85 Malaysian Ringitt . . . . . .. . 14.69. . . . . . . 14.78 Source:Indian Bank
BULLION RATES
CHENNAI
March 27 rates in rupees with previous rates in parentheses Retail Silver (1g) . . . . . . . . . . . 44.90. . . . . (44.20) 22 ct gold (1 g) . .. . . . . . . . . . . 2,786. . . . . (2,773)
Trump setback roils markets Reuters NEW YORK
Stocks, the dollar and U.S. long-dated Treasury yields slipped on Monday as investors fretted that U.S. President Donald Trump’s defeat over healthcare reform foreshadowed difficulties delivering other campaign promises, in particular fiscal stimulus. Mr. Trump’s failure to rally enough support from his own Republican Party – which controls both houses of U.S. Congress – to repeal and replace Obamacare spurred a rush to safe-haven assets such as gold, the Japanese yen and the Swiss franc. MSCI’s all-country world equity index was down 0.16 as the fall in risk appetite dominated Asian and European stock markets. The index was dragged down further after a lower open on Wall Street when main U.S. stock indexes hit their lowest levels in six weeks.
MRF touches ₹60,000 intraday K.T. Jagannathan Chennai
The share price of MRF Ltd. breached the ₹60,000-level intraday on the NSE on Monday for the first time. The share with a face value of ₹10 opened at ₹59,499 and touched an alltime high of ₹60,145.00 intraday before closing at ₹59,888.50. According to a filing, promoters’ holdings in the company was 27.52% as at end December 2016. The balance is held by the public. According to a report by PhillipCapital, an institutional equity research firm, there “is immense scope for a re-rating” of the tyre sector. Set up as a rubber balloon factory with ₹14,000 in the ’40s, MRF has gone on to become a behemoth producing a range of tyres. CM YK
The Centre has sanctioned 101 new integrated cold chain projects that will leverage a total investment of ₹3,100 crore for creation of modern infrastructure for the food processing sector, the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (FPI) said on Monday. The projects, which will be developed by companies including Balmer Lawrie, Sterling Agro and Haldiram Snacks, are aimed at doubling farmers’ income, reducing wastage in the agri-supply chain and creating huge employment opportunities. In May 2015, the Ministry announced the sanctioning of 30 cold chain projects. It also said 50 more similar projects would be announced soon. The total expected grantin-aid to be released to these projects is ₹838 crore. The balance funds would come from the private sector, said FPI Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The 101 new projects –
Priced from ₹9.99 lakh, the SUV comes with cruise control
Unlocking potential: The projects are aimed at doubling farmers’ income and creating huge job opportunities. which are for fruits and vegetables (53 projects), dairy (33), fish, meat, marine, poultry, ready-to-eat/readyto-cook sectors – will create additional capacity of 2.76 lakh MT of cold storage/controlled atmosphere/frozen storage. Maharashtra cornered the maximum number (21) of the projects followed by Uttar Pradesh (14), Gujarat (12), Andhra Pradesh (eight) and
Punjab and Madhya Pradesh (six each). The scheme of cold chain and value addition infrastructure provides financial assistance of up to ₹10 crore for entrepreneurs. Ms. Badal said about 2.6 lakh farmers would benefit from these projects adding they will also provide employment to 60,000 people. Citing a CIPHET (Central Institute of Post-Harvest En-
Cold chain grid India is one of the largest food producers in the world and the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables yet only 2.2% of our fruits and vegetables are processed, according to a statement from the government. Existing cold storages are concentrated in a few States and roughly 80% to 90% are used for potatoes, the statement said. The FPI Ministry is building National Cold Chain Grid in the country so that all food producing hubs are connected to cold storage and processing industries, it added.
Souped up: Nissan’s latest Terrano has 22 new features including a one-touch lane change indicator and 7.0 touchscreen navigation system. PTI *
Special Correspondent NEW DELHI
Nissan India on Monday unveiled the latest version of its compact sports utility vehicle Terrano priced between ₹9.99 lakh and ₹13.6 lakh (ex-showroom
Delhi). “The New Nissan Terrano embodies our commitment to keep focused on what consumers want and value,” said Guillaume Sicard, president, Nissan India Operations. “The New Terrano keeps
its bold road presence, in line with Nissan’s global SUV heritage while offering a more refined interior space and smart features.” New features include cruise control and one-touch lane change indicator.
‘Digital platform to help railways save ₹60,000 crore’
RIL shares sink 2.76% on SEBI order
Working to bring petroleum under GST, says Pradhan
Entire operations can be monitored on a single platform
special Correspondent
Cites beneits that would accrue to States upon inclusion
Special Correspondent NEW DELHI
Indian Railways will invest about ₹12,000 crore in developing a common digital platform for integrating information from all its departments leading to savings of about ₹60,000 crore, said Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister. “In the last Rail Budget, I had announced an Enterprise Resource Planning system that will be an IT-based platform for system-wide integration and planning,” Mr. Prabhu said during a conference involving leading software companies, to draw the roadmap for the software. “We then took the advice of [former] Tata Consultancy Services CEO N. Chandrasekaran [now Tata Sons Chairman] and other eminent personalities in framing the terms of references. Now, we will start working on the common platform,” Mr. Prabhu said. The Minister said
Suresh Prabhu
₹10,000–₹12,000 crore of investments will be required for the enterprise-wide digital platform called IR-One ICT that will lead to benefits worth ₹50,000–₹60,000 crore to the Indian Railways in the long run. “It might take at least twothree years to complete the first phase. With the common platform, the monitoring of the entire Indian Railways operations can be done on a single platform,” he said “Several passenger complaints can be solved. We may also get to know the va-
cancies in a train and the number of people travelling. Maintenance issues can be handled remotely. There will be asset utilisation, revenue seepage will reduce and ultimately customers will benefit,” the Minister said. During the conference, the Minister said passenger complaints were the best pieces of information available to the Railways free-ofcost which can be used as a management tool to take informed decisions. ‘One ICT’ will cover all the aspects of the Indian Railways, including cost analysis, attendance, accounting, asset management, medical management and land management. “Better capacity and asset utilisation would help the railways run more trains, carry more freight, provide better and reliable services to passengers, increase its revenues and make its operations more safe,” according to a statement from the Railway Ministry.
Mumbai
The shares of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries (RIL) slumped 2.76% on the BSE after market regulator SEBI found the firm guilty of insider trading and banned it from trading in the derivatives market for a year. RIL lost more than ₹11,600 crore in market capitalisation on Monday. The firm’s shares closed at ₹1,250.75 in a weak Mumbai market. The company’s market cap fell to ₹4.06 lakh crore, still India’s most valuable firm after Tata Consultancy Services. SEBI also asked RIL to pay ₹447 crore along with interest at 12% since November 29, 2007, within 45 days. The order came after market hours on Friday. “We are consulting our legal advisors. We propose to prefer an appeal and challenge the order in Securities Appellate Tribunal. We remain confident of fully justifying the veracity of the transactions,” RIL had said in response.
15,000 barrels of oil per day and 2 million metric standard cubic metres per day (mmscmd) over their economic life. The estimated total revenue from this would be about ₹46,600 crore of which the Centre’s royalty would be ₹5,000 crore and the states’ royalties ₹2,100 crore.
Special Correspondent NEW DELHI
Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday said his Ministry was working towards bringing petroleum under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as it would benefit the states. “This (the inclusion of petroleum in GST) will benefit the states also,” Mr. Pradhan said during an event to mark the signing of the contracts awarded to the successful bidders during the first round of bidding for the discovered small oil and gas fields. The Minister said he expected oil prices to remain in the $55–$60 range in the near term. “When oil was at $40 a barrel, then the economic viability of the discovered small fields was looked at. Now it is around $50 and the expectation is for it to remain in the $55-60 range in the near term,” he said. The DSF bid round was unveiled in May 2016. The bid witnessed as many as 134
Dharmendra Pradhan e-bids for 34 contract areas with 47 companies participating, either singly or in a consortium. Of these, bids were awarded for 31 contract areas to 22 companies. “The whole process was completed in record time,” said K.D. Tripathy, Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. “We are hopeful of rich production from the fields, which will be a step towards meeting India’s ever-growing energy needs.” According to the Ministry, the cumulative peak production from the awarded fields is expected to be about
Online portal The Minister also inaugurated a two-way online portal by the Directorate General of Hydrocarbons developed to facilitate contract management and the redressal of queries. “The portal will do away with the need for knocking on the doors of government officials to find out the progress of various projects,” Mr.Pradhan said. “That is the commitment of the portal.” Of the 22 companies awarded the contracts, 17 were from domestic private sector, four public sector companies and one foreign private company.
Indian irms girding for Brexit see light The setting of the date for triggering talks and negotiation plans have lent clarity Vidya Ram LONDON
Ever since the referendum on leaving the European Union, the 800-odd Indian companies with operations in the U.K. — which for some serves as their European base — have been preparing for Britain’s exit from the EU. However, lack of clarity on details and the timing had left many in an uncertain situation — unsure of what “leaving” would entail for the industry they operate and the workforce they employ. Over the past few months, and since the start of the year in particular, the picture of the road ahead has begun to get clearer: Britain has confirmed its intention to leave the single market and the customs union, and end freedom of movement within the EU. It is also set on avoiding a long running transitional programme. Following Parliament’s approval for the authorizing legislation earlier this month, Brexit is set to be triggered on March 29, the government has announced, with a meeting of the heads of the remaining 27 member states set for a month later. Britain will have two years to negotiate a new deal with the EU — a period which could be extended on agreement with the European Council. Britain has also indicated its eagerness to strengthen trading ties with India, including through a potential free trade agreement, discussions on which could commence after Britain leaves the EU. For some companies it has
Long road: Many industries await details on how the EU intends to approach the Brexit talks. AFP *
been business as usual said Ajit Mishra, co-head of the India group at London-based firm, Penningtons Manches LLP. “We have some clients who are making acquisitions and for them the U.K. is the market and that is not going to change: there will be difficulties once Brexit is triggered but their focus is the U.K. Some are increasing their investment in the U.K., but have also increased investments in Germany and Eastern European countries,” Mr. Mishra said. “There is still a long way to go before we see the true shape of the deal but one of the main things we are seeing clients do is reviewing their talent and workforce plan, particularly those that are dependent on EU workers,” said Anuj Chande, London-based head of the South Asia group at consultancy Grant Thornton. Firms in the food, drinks, healthcare and hospitality sectors would be among those most impacted, he added. “We are already seeing some EU workers go-
ing back.” Mr. Chande added that this was proving difficult for a number of companies that were looking at the potential of higher costs and the kinds of efficiencies they could achieve, in terms of cutting the size of the workforce, shift systems and so on. “There are others that are heavily reliant on the regulatory structures of Europe and they are obviously very concerned about the shape of the passporting rights that will exist for them, so many are putting investment plans on hold, for example — the opening of new branches and so on, until we see the shape of things.” Other sectors had been impacted by rising prices — triggered by the weakening of the pound against most major currencies including the U.S. dollar and the euro, and the rupee. “We have a few businesses in food manufacturing where it been a challenge passing the cost on but we’ve had others who have been able to pass it on,”
Mr. Chande said. The IT industry was also being impacted by the nature of regulations, while those in the automotive and auto parts sectors would be looking for clarity on the impact it would have on their trading arrangements and suppliers, Mr. Chande said. “It is quite a difficult situation: I think people still feel it’s uncertain times and difficult to take a position or action without knowing the full landscape…we have been hearing a one-sided view on what the U.K. wants but we have no idea what the EU wants.” He cited the pharmaceutical sector as another example of one that would be impacted — with the European Medicines Agency in all likelihood set to leave its headquarters in the U.K. following Brexit. “They are not going as far as dismantling but for future expansion they may be looking for alternatives.”
Looking for certainty “The whole thing boils down to the certainty in the exercise, that is what firms are looking for,” said Dinesh Patnaik, deputy high commissioner in London, who welcomed the clarity that had come from Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech earlier this year, the white paper on Britain’s negotiation plans and the setting of the date for triggering talks. Companies “are waiting for Article 50 to be invoked, then I think preparations will start in seriousness,” Mr. Mishra said. “They will wait and watch and act accordingly.” A ND-ND
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THE HINDU
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IN BRIEF
INTERVIEW | LEI JUN
India will cross $2 bn. this year Artiicial intelligence will be the next wave of transformation, says Xiaomi’s Lei
Grundfos Pumps to set up Ahmedabad assembly plant Unit to serve key western market, help cut logistics costs
thomas k. thomas mumbai
Panasonic unveils mobiles with Arbo NEW DELHI
Panasonic on Monday rolled out two new handsets that come with Arbo, the virtual assistant developed in-house. While the Eluga Ray Max is priced at ₹11,499 for the 32 GB version and ₹12,499 for the 64 GB version, the Eluga Ray X will be available for ₹8,999. Both devices will be sold exclusively on e-commerce platform Flipkart.
‘Most equity MFs underperformed in 2016’ MUMBAI
In terms of investors returns most equity-focused mutual funds in the country have underperformed their respective benchmark S&P BSE indices, for the year ended December 2016, said a report. The analysis is part of S&P Dow Jones Indices’ scorecard SPIVA that tracks the performance of actively managed Indian MFs against their benchmarks over the one-year, 3-year, 5-year and 10-year periods. PTI
FSSAI, Coca Cola to train street food vendors NEW DELHI
Did you expect India to grow so fast? ■ Over the long term, we really believe that the Xiaomi model is very powerful. Yes, the speed of growth is way beyond our expectation. In China, we have become number one, and then we became number three in the world in just two and a half year’s of our launch. Even today, we can’t believe how that happened as the competition has been fierce in this market. But the same story is unfolding in India. Two years after we launched here, we have become number two.
In 2016, you had said that Xiaomi will become the number one player in India in 3-5 years. Could you reach the target faster?
We have still two more years ( Laughs). It depends on the India team. There is a lot of pressure on them. India’s success has proven that our model can be successful even outside China. ■
Food Safety and Standard Authority of India and Coca Cola India on Monday signed an MoU to train 50,000 street food vendors as part of FSSAI’s ‘Clean Street Food’ initiative in the next three years. Coca-Cola would be responsible for the execution through its trainer network, while FSSAI would ensure relevance of training content, a company statement said.
CM YK
N. Ravi Kumar
When Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi entered the highly competitive Indian market, not many gave the firm a chance. While the higher end of the market was dominated by Samsung, there were a bunch of Indian brands such as Micromax and Lava which had caught the imagination of consumers at the lower and mid segments of the market. Two years later in 2017, Xiaomi has crossed billion-dollar revenues here, catapulting itself to the number two slot. In an interview with The Hindu, Xiaomi’s co- founder, chairman & CEO, Lei Jun, talks about India becoming the largest market for the company outside of China, his next big bets and the possibility of entering the financial services market. Excerpts:
Now that the China market itself is slowing down for you, has the importance of other markets such as India grown? ■
First we need to under-
stand why there was a slowdown in China. In China, we already have majority of the market share of the online sales. But online is only 20% of the overall smartphone market in China. So, we had to rethink what we have to do in offline. After one year of experimentation, we have found the right solution. We call it the new retail or Internet plus. We can use the same cost model as in ecommerce to do offline. We can price products the same, for online and offline. In China today, we have again picked up momentum. We will try the same model in India this year. Services is a key element of your strategy. Do you see any interesting services in India which could be part of Xiaomi? ■ Globally we have invested in 165 companies. We have seamlessly integrated those services into our software. We build services on our own and also work with others. The key message is ‘how do we deliver the best to users?’ We will use the same strategy here in India. If there is a start-up in India which does good work then we will work together.
Would you invest in Indian start-ups?
CHENNAI
we seek better < > As market share here, we need to work with start-ups Of course. We are looking for more market share here, so need to work with highquality start-ups. As the mobile Internet progresses, there will be a need for better smartphones. ■
What are your next big bets when it comes to mobile tech? ■ The next wave of transformation will be in the area of artificial intelligence (AI). We have deployed a lot of engineering resources in AI. Give us some time, once we launch some products in this area, we will elaborate more. But AI will have a major impact.
You have financial services in China. Will Xiaomi move into this space in India? ■ We are exploring the possibility of providing financial services in India. But this sector is highly regulated. It requires different licences. If we could obtain such li-
cences then we are more than happy to be part of the financial services innovation in India. You have set up local manufacturing here. Can India match China in manufacturing? What can the Government here do more? ■ If the Government focuses on it, then I believe India can be at a very good level, one day. It would be great if the Indian Government can come up with more policies that would attract global players. Maybe the Indian Government can take best practices from other countries where manufacturing is happening and perfect that over time. The basic prerequisite is that the cost of manufacturing in India cannot be worse than other countries.
You have crossed the billion-dollar revenue mark in India. When do you cross $2 billion?
We will surpass two billion this year. Our India team has promised us 100% growth every year. The possibility of crossing two billion is 99%.
■
Grundfos Pumps India is setting up an assembly plant in Ahmedabad to get closer to customers in Gujarat and Maharashtra, the two big markets in the western region, cut down on logistics cost and gain by reducing inventories. For the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Danish major, it will be the third plant, set to begin operations on June 1. “We want to do more in the West... want to replicate what we have been doing in Chennai,” MD N.K. Ranganath said here on Monday. Coming up on leased land, the investment into the upcoming plant, primarily on equipment and machinery, will be about ₹12 crore. Interacting with presspersons ahead of their visit to
N.K. Ranganath
Grundfos headquarters in Denmark, he said the Ahmedabad plant would supply 12,000-14,000 pumps a year. On the logistics front, he said, at present stainless steel castings sourced from Gujarat were brought to Chennai, where they get converted into products before being sent to the western region markets. With the plant, there could be a reduction of four
days of inventory and 2-3 days’ lead time. Gujarat and Maharashtra accounted for a chunk of the market in region. The plant would also benefit from the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. Together, the western and northern regions contributed to about 40% of the company’s revenue — or about ₹475 crore in calender 2016. The turnover in the current year is expected to be more than ₹500 crore. Apart from its main plant in Chennai, across 5.5. acres, Grundfos India has a facility at an SEZ in Kalpakkam. It had earlier announced plans to set up a plant in Sriperumbudur, near Chennai, and had procured 15 acres. “We will hold on to the land,” Mr. Ranganath replied when asked on the status of the project.
Motherson completes Finnish deal
RoofandFloor names Narayanan to board
Special Correspondent
Chennai
Special Correspondent NEW DELHI
Motherson Sumi Systems on Monday said it had completed its acquisition of Finland-based global auto component major PKC Group Plc for about €571 million (more than ₹4,040 crore). The purchase would help the group expand its footprint significantly in the American and European commercial vehicles market segment, the company said in a statement. This is the 16th acquisition by Motherson Sumi Systems since 2002.
RoofandFloor.com, the online real estate marketplace of The Hindu Group, has appointed vice-chairman and former CEO of Cognizant Technology Solutions, Lakshmi Narayanan as an independent director. Mr. Narayanan brings in more than 25 years of global IT and executive experience to RoofandFloor, RoofandFloor said in a statement, adding that it aims to build India’s best home buyercentric real estate Internet platform. Kasturi & Sons Ltd. CEO, Rajiv Lochan, and its directors K. Balaji and K.
Lakshmi Narayanan Venugopal are the other board members. RoofandFloor melds KSL’s “traditional newspaper real estate advertisements and promotions with digital technology” to help home buyers, Mr. Narayanan said in the statement.
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THE HINDU
SPORT 15
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IN BRIEF
Indian pace-spin combo delates Australia The 96-run association between Jadeja and Saha sets the stage
Hosts need 87 more to clinch match and series
■
DHARAMSHALA
Ravindra Jadeja became the third player to perform the rare double of scoring a minimum of 500 runs and claiming 50 wickets in a season. His numbers are an impressive 556 runs (ave. 42.76) and 71 wickets (ave. 22.83). Kapil Dev (1979-80) was the first player to achieve this before Mitchell Johnson emulated him in 2008-09. Incidentally, Jadeja completed the career double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in the ongoing Test. He now has 1051 runs and 142 wickets to his credit.
When lasting becomes an issue DHARAMSHALA
Australia failed to face 150 overs, losing all 20 wickets in a Test match against India, for the fourth time on Monday. The three earlier instances were: Melbourne 1977-78, Mumbai 2004-05 and Perth 2007-08. Overall, there have been 47 such occasions in Tests against India. PTI
Warner’s cup of woes complete
DHARAMSHALA
The Indian bowlers shared the spoils and ensured that the host has a modest target to achieve on the fourth day of the fourth Test and clinch the series at the HPCA stadium here. Monday, the third day, saw India gain a first innings lead of just 32 before the exploits of Umesh Yadav, R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja left the Australian batsmen embarrassed — they were bundled out for 137 in their second essay. At close of play, openers K.L. Rahul and M. Vijay had negotiated six overs to whittle away 19 of the 106 needed for victory. A disappointing turnout saw India dominate even as Australia failed to come to terms with the splendid pace and spin combination that the host employed after adding 84 to the overnight score. Ravindra Jadeja and Wriddhiman Saha countered the Australians stoutly to add 96 for the seventh wicket. The Jadeja-Saha association was compelling and took away the advantage that Australia had forged on the second evening through offspinner Nathan Lyon’s fourwicket strike (he had extracted turn and bounce, but that only added to the confidence of the Indian attack later on). It was a remarkably well-constructed knock from Jadeja that put India in a position of strength on a pitch which increasingly demanded the best from the batsmen.
DHARAMSHALA
David Warner has had an ordinary series, aggregating only 193 (ave. 24.12) — the least number of runs scored by him in a four-Test series. The only other time he made less than 200 runs in a four-Test series was 195 (ave. 24.37), also against India, in 2012-13. PTI
The best approach The contest was as intense as in the previous three Tests. Jadeja adopted the best approach, clouting the balls that fell within his range, his four sixes picked clean and hard. His half century tilted the balance India’s way because run-making was bound
■ Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Warner’s misery ended after he offered Saha a catch and Australia once again suffered from a poor start. Umesh Yadav, inspired by Warner’s wicket, hurt Australia again with Matt Renshaw’s scalp, the batsman fending a well-directed short ball. But it was Steve Smith’s wicket — interspersed between Warner and Renshaw coming to grief against Umesh — that sent a wave of celebration in the Indian ranks. There was no trace of pressure in Smith’s approach as he picked on Bhuvneshwar to establish quick supremacy. He carted the medium pacer for two boundaries but Smith’s focus on getting past the psychological hurdle of the first innings lead, even if meagre, invited trouble when he dragged the ball onto the stumps from an intended pull. It was time to celebrate for the Indians, and understandable too, since Smith, with 499 runs in the series, was the batsman to snare.
Vijay Lokapally
Jadeja’s season doubly special
Visitors’ middle-order succumbs to the demands of tackling turn and bounce
■
Raw pace: Umesh Yadav’s burst cracked the game open for India
to become an arduous exercise on the two-paced surface. The famed Australian
spirit to counter challenges was on test. The stage was set for David Warner to sign off the series on a bright note
‘This shoulder is now on automode’
*
V.V. KRISHNAN
but the stocky left-hander was abysmally clueless at the crease. Dropped by Karun Nair at third slip off
Astonishing collapse Given Australia’s shaky record against spinners, it was a welcome opening for the Indians. The pacers had accounted for the three batsmen who mattered and now the spinners got into the act as Australia lost the last seven wickets for 106 runs in an astonishing collapse triggered by Peter Handscomb falling to a nasty one from off-spinner Ashwin. The batsman was stunned by the bounce and the superb reflex catch by Ajinkya Rahane at slip. It was a crucial wicket because it created insurmountable pressure on the Australian batsmen who failed to
fourth TEST, DAY 3, HPCA STADIUM, DHARAMSHALA AUSTRALIA — 1ST INNINGS INDIA — 1ST INNINGS
Uthra Ganesan
From being trolled as ‘Sir Jadeja’ to actually lording over the game in its longest format with both bat and ball, Ravindra Jadeja has come a long way. Scoring 63 in the first session in the decisive Test to give India the lead and then picking up three wickets as the Australian batting collapsed, Jadeja admitted that the 32-run lead made all the difference. “It depends a lot on the conditions. Sometimes when the pitch is uneven and provides a lot of bounce and movement or there is swing and seam off the cracks, even 20-30 runs are too much. Also, there is no fear of being on the backfoot when we bowl in the second innings. The bowlers are without pressure. Bindaas daal sakta hai,” he said. Inarguably, the ‘Most Valuable Player for India’ this series, Jadeja’s form through the season has been incredible. The Saurashtra batsman repeatedly asked about his sixth half-century and crucial partnership with Wriddhiman Saha. And he
Writing on the wall? Steve Smith’s reaction, after getting bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, symbolises the hopelessness of the visiting team. V.V. KRISHNAN *
kept saying it was “nothing special”. “At that time, runs were important; there wasn’t much batting after me and Saha; so we talked about getting close to 300 together before thinking of going for the big shots. It was a bit tough in the beginning. We often talk of such conditions but today I was actually facing the real challenge of Test cricket,” he shrugged. Asked about his bowling, Jadeja said, “this shoulder is now on automode,
NCA meeting deferred Amol Karhadkar MUMBAI
The National Cricket Academy (NCA) Board meeting, convened by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) joint-secretary Amitabh Choudhary in Bengaluru on Tuesday, has been deferred. The decision was taken after a meeting between the CoA and the three eligible BCCI officebearers on Monday. The Hindu understands that during the 90-minute meeting, the CoA members Vikram Limaye and Diana Edulji told Choudhary, BCCI treasurer Anirudh Chaudhry and acting-president C.K. Khanna that since the three meetings had been convened without the CoA’s clearance, they had to be deferred. CM YK
The NCA Board members have been informed about the postponement of the meeting. Although quite a few members of the NCA Board confirmed to The Hindu on anonymity that “the meeting has been postponed indefinitely,” none of them admitted that it was due to the CoA diktat. The IPL Governing Council meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, and the SGM, to be held on April 9, are also likely to be put off. It is, however, understood that the CoA has convened the IPL GC in New Delhi on Thursday. The CoA had already scheduled a meeting with all the 10 staging associations of IPL 2017 on Thursday. That will now be followed by the GC meeting.
everything happens by itself. But it feels good that I am doing well in Tests,” he added. Told about the ‘MVP’ tag, Jadeja was modest. “It feels very good if people consider me a responsible member of the team. Every player works hard to contribute whenever required — whether with batting, bowling or fielding,” he said.
Downcast Hick Graeme Hick was downcast as he walked into the media room at the end of third
day’s play. “I think our side has been guilty throughout the series. You know when you come here that there is a danger of losing wickets in clumps. I wouldn’t be critical of guys who, in a way, get out cheaply. I think if I look back over this game and one or two others in the series, I will say we missed our opportunities,” he admitted, while also conceding that the game was all but over. “There is pin-drop silence in the Australian dressing room. It’s been a very disappointing day. The boys are pretty down but they will give it a good crack in the morning,” he said. While admitting that the Australians did not bat well, Hick also credited the Indian bowlers for their performance. “I think the skipper’s dismissal was a bit unfortunate, but I think Umesh Yadav bowled really well. It was tough up front, Jadeja bowling into the rough, Ashwin bowled really well. As I said, we didn’t just put the pegs in the ground and swallow up the pressure. The momentum just kept going with India,” he said.
Aparajith leads from the front
RUNS
BALLS
4s
6s
K.L. Rahul c Warner b Cummins dddddddddd ddd 60 ddddd 124 dddddddd 9 dddddddd 1 M. Vijay c Wade b Hazlewood dddddddddddd ddd 11 dddddd 36 dddddddd 2 ddddddddd Cheteshwar Pujara c Handscomb b Lyon d ddd 57 ddddd 151 dddddddd 6 dddddddddd Ajinkya Rahane c Smith b Lyon dddddddddd ddd 46 ddddd 104 dddddddd 7 dddddddd 1 Karun Nair c Wade b Lyon ddddddddddddddd ddddd5 dddddd 16 dddddddd 1 dddddddddd R. Ashwin lbw b Lyon dddddddddddddddddddd ddd 30 dddddd 49 dddddddd 4 dddddddddd Wriddhiman Saha c Smith b Cummins ddd ddd 31 ddddd 102 dddddddd 2 dddddddddd Ravindra Jadeja b Cummins ddddddddddddd ddd 63 dddddd 95 dddddddd 4 dddddddd 4 Bhuvneshwar Kumar c Smith b O’Keefe ddddd0 dddddddd 7 dddddddddd dddddddddd Kuldeep Yadav c Hazlewood b Lyon dddddd ddddd7 dddddd 17 dddddddd 1 dddddddddd Umesh Yadav (not out) dddddddddddddddddd ddddd2 dddddddd 8 dddddddddd dddddddddd Extras (b-4, lb-11, w-5) dddddddddddddddddd ddd 20 dddddddddd dddddddddd dddddddddd Total (in 118.1 overs) dddddddddddddddddddd dd 332 Fall of wickets: 1-21 (Vijay, 10.2 overs), 2-108 (Rahul, 40.2), 3-157 (Pujara, 60.6), 4-167 (Karun, 64.4), 5-216 (Rahane, 78.6), 6-221 (Ashwin, 82.1), 7-317 (Jadeja, 112.1), 8-318 (Bhuvneshwar, 113.5), 9-318 (Saha, 114.1). AUSTRALIA BOWLING: Hazlewood 25-8-51-1, Cummins 30-8-94-3, Lyon 34.1-5-92-5, O’Keefe 27-4-75-1, Maxwell 2-0-5-0. AUSTRALIA — 2nd INNINGS
RUNS
BALLS
4s
6s
Matt Renshaw c Saha b Umesh dddddddddd ddddd8 dddddd 33 dddddddd 2 ddddddddd David Warner c Saha b Umesh ddddddddddd ddddd6 dddddddd 5 dddddddd 1 ddddddddd Steve Smith b Bhuvneshwardddddddddddddd ddd 17 dddddd 15 dddddddd 3 dddddddddd Peter Handscomb c Rahane b Ashwin dddd ddd 18 dddddd 46 dddddddd 3 dddddddddd Glenn Maxwell lbw b Ashwin dddddddddddd ddd 45 dddddd 60 dddddddd 6 dddddddd 1 Shaun Marsh c Pujara b Jadeja ddddddddddd ddddd1 dddddddd 6 dddddddd 0 dddddddddd Matthew Wade (not out) ddddddddddddddddddd 25 dddddd 90 dddddddd 2 dddddddd 1 Pat Cummins c Rahane b Jadeja ddddddddd ddd 12 dddddd 49 dddddddd 1 ddddddddd Steve O’Keefe c Pujara b Jadeja ddddddddd ddddd0 dddddddd 4 dddddddddd dddddddddd Nathan Lyon c Vijay b Umesh dddddddddddd ddddd0 dddddddd 6 ddddddddd dddddddddd Josh Hazlewood lbw b Ashwin ddddddddddd ddddd0 dddddddd 9 dddddddddd dddddddddd Extras (b-4, lb-1) dddddddddddddddddddddddd ddddd5 dddddddddd dddddddddd dddddddddd Total (in 53.5 overs) ddddddddddddddddddddd dd 137 Fall of wickets: 1-10 (Warner, 3.1 overs), 2-31 (Smith, 8.3), 3-31 (Renshaw, 9.2), 4-87 (Handscomb, 24.3), 5-92 (Marsh, 25.3), 6-106 (Maxwell, 32.3), 7-121 (Cummins, 47.4), 8-121 (O’Keefe, 49.2), 9-122 (Lyon, 50.3). INDIA BOWLING: Bhuvneshwar 7-1-27-1, Umesh 10-3-29-3, Kuldeep 5-0-23-0, Jadeja 18-7-24-3, Ashwin 13.5-4-29-3. INDIA — 2nd INNINGS
RUNS
BALLS
4s
6s
K.L. Rahul (batting) dddddddddddddddddddddd ddd 13 dddddd 18 dddddddd 3 dddddddddd M. Vijay (batting) dddddddddddddddddddddddd ddddd6 dddddd 18 ddddddddd ddddddddd Total (for no loss in 6 overs) ddddddddddddd ddd 19 AUSTRALIA BOWLING: Cummins 3-1-14-0, Hazlewood 2-0-5-0, O’Keefe 1-1-0-0.
read the bowlers on a deteriorating pitch. Reeling under self-doubt, Australia’s middle order succumbed to the demands of tackling the turn and bounce. Barring Mathew Wade, undefeated on 25, none from the Australian camp had the skills to take
Smith’s ‘reaction’ to Vijay’s ‘claim’
The 32-run lead made all the diference, according to Jadeja DHARAMSHALA
300
on the bowlers and Glenn Maxwell getting out without offering a shot only confirmed that they were unable to pick the line. Ashwin and Jadeja thrived by attacking the stumps and put their team on a winning course, unless, Australia pulls off a miracle.
When the Ball Tracker went oline Uthra Ganesan DHARAMSHALA
Out or not? M. Vijay thought he had caught Josh Hazlewood cleanly, but replays suggested otherwise. V.V. KRISHNAN *
Vijay Lokapally DHARAMSHALA
The Australians were at it again. Incensed at M. Vijay claiming a catch off Josh Hazlewood at second slip, Steve Smith — the replays showed the ball being grassed — appeared to mouth a cuss word followed by ‘cheat’. The Australian captain was only letting out his frustration at Vijay’s ‘claim’. His act of looking to the dressing room for a DRS referral may have been a ‘brain fade’ as he claimed in Bengaluru, but what about his reaction from the dressing room on Monday when the third umpire Chris Gaffaney ruled the catch illegal?
The Indians had taken off for the dressing room, with Vijay sprinting to be ready to open the second innings, when Gaffaney’s decision came. It was then that the cameras panned on the Australian skipper. Speaking about the incident, Australia’s batting coach and former England batsman Graeme Hick said: “I haven’t seen that part [Smith’s reaction] of it, but I was watching it on our own little pads and the ball definitely touched the ground. I have not seen anything or heard anything of it, so until I do I am not going to comment on it.” When persisted, Hick observed: “Having fielded in the
slips, sometimes you’re not 100 per cent sure. He would’ve felt that go into his fingers and thought it was a clean catch. If anything, once the batsman or whoever maybe has gone for the review, yeah fair enough, maybe the fielder should wait. “At times, this series has been a little bit heated, but I think this game has been played in very good spirit,” Hick added. There was also a pleasant moment when Glenn Maxwell, in a wonderful gesture, walked up to check if Cheteshwar Pujara was fine after being hit by a shot at short-leg. They smiled and returned to the game, a stark contrast to what was to happen later in the day.
The India-Australia Test series has moved from one skirmish to another, both on and off the field. On Monday, that honour went to technology. For 10 overs, the Ball Tracker stopped working, negating any possibility of Australia seeking a review for close leg-before calls. The system went offline in the 94th over — the second of day three — owing to a power failure. The on-field umpires informed the teams about it. The system came back online only in the 104th over, just before the drinks break with India’s score 285 for six. In the 102nd over, the Aussies appealed for lbw, but Ravindra Jadeja was ruled not out by umpire Marais Erasmus who felt that the ball was missing the leg-stump. But, Australia couldn’t make use of the DRS because of the technical glitch. It’s another matter that the snickometer, which was working, clearly showed the ball hitting the bat before the pad!
Williamson equals New Zealand record
Sports Bureau CHITTAGONG
REUTERS
Skipper B. Aparajith’s ton (100, 91b, 6x4, 3x6) and half-centuries from Shivam Chaudhary (56, 68b, 7x4) and G. Hanuma Vihari (58, 58b, 6x4) set up India’s 35run win over Sri Lanka in a group-A match of the Asian Emerging (under-23) Teams Cup tournament here on Monday. After India had made 288 for nine in its 50 overs, Sri Lanka was bowled out for 253 in 48.2 overs, with seamers Aswin Crist and Kanishk Seth scalping three each.
HAMILTON
The scores: India 288 for nine in 50 overs (Shivam Chaudhary 56, B. Aparajith 100, Hanuma Vihari 58) bt Sri Lanka 253 in 48.2 overs (Shehan Jayasuriya 64, Charith Asalanka 68, Aswin Crist three for 55, Kanishk Seth three for 53).
Captain Kane Williamson equalled the New Zealand record for Test centuries as his side reached 321 for four at the close of day three of the third Test against South Africa in Hamilton on Monday. The 26-year-old joined former captain Martin Crowe on 17 Test centuries when he hit a full toss from Dean Elgar to the fence for his 10th boundary. Williamson had moved to 148 at stumps with Mitchell Santner on 13, the home side holding a seven run lead over South Africa’s first innings of 314. Williamson also surpassed 5,000 Test runs, the fastest New Zealander to do so, in his 110th innings. Just five other of his countrymen have reached the mark.
The skipper shared in a 190-run partnership with opener Jeet Raval, who passed 50 for the fifth time and proved the perfect foil to the New Zealand skipper during a knock of 88.
SCOREBOARD South Africa — 1st innings: 314. New Zealand —1st innings: T. Latham c de Kock b Morkel 50, J. Raval c de Kock b Morkel 88, K. Williamson (batting) 148, N. Broom lbw b Rabada 12, H. Nicholls c de Kock b Rabada 0, M. Santner (batting) 13; Extras: (lb-3, nb-7) 10; Total (for four wkts. in 104 overs): 321. Fall of wickets: 1-83, 2-273, 3-293, 4-293. South Africa bowling: Philander 256-59-0, Morkel 24-5-74-2, Rabada 21-1-83-2, Maharaj 29-2-71-0, Duminy 4-0-18-0, Elgar 1-0-13-0. A ND-ND
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16 SPORT
NOIDA/DELHI
THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
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Nadal wins landmark match Conway all Nishikori stretched; Raonic pulls out; Kerber stays on course praise for Indians’ itness
IN BRIEF
Reuters
Bhubaneswar to host two big events Special correspondent Vijayawada
MIAMI
Dustin Johnson bags WGC Match Play crown
Rafael Nadal celebrated his 1,000th tour level match with a come-from-behind 0-6, 6-2, 6-3 victory over German veteran Philipp Kohlschreiber to reach the fourth round of the Miami Open on Sunday. Kei Nishikori also took three sets to outlast Spain’s Fernando Verdasco 7-6(2), 6-7 (5), 6-1. Milos Raonic withdrew before his match, blaming a persistent hamstring injury. Meanwhile in the women’s section, Angelique Kerber advanced to the fourth round but eighth seed Madison Keys was sent packing.
AUSTIN
World No.1 Dustin Johnson defeated Spain’s Jon Rahm 1 up to win the World Golf Championships Match Play crown here on Sunday. America’s Johnson became the first player to win each of the four prestigious WGC events. He also joined Tiger Woods as the only players to win back-to-back WGC titles. He’s the first player since Rory McIlroy in 2014 to win three consecutive US PGA Tour starts. AFP
India blanks Jordan
The results: Men: Third round: Rafael Nadal bt Philipp Kohlschreiber 0-6, 6-2, 6-3; Nicolas Mahut bt Guido Pella 6-4, 6-3; Jack Sock bt Jiri Vesely 6-3, 7-6 (0); Jared Donaldson w/o Milos Raonic; Fabio Fognini bt Jeremy Chardy 3-6, 6-4, 6-4; Donald Young bt Benoit Paire 7-6(2), 6-4; Federico Delbonis bt JanLennard Struff 7-6(5), 6-1; Kei
BANGKOK
India beat Jordan 3-0 in the Asia Oceania World (girls) junior under-14 tennis tournament in Bangkok on Monday. India next plays the Philippines on Tuesday. The results (league): India bt Jordan 3-0 [Gargi Pawar bt Jana Alkhatib 6-2, 6-2; Sarah Dev bt Randa Aloudsi 6-1, 6-2; Sarah Dev & Sandeepti Singh Rao bt Janna Alkhatib & Haya Joudeh 6-4, 6-4].
Conway feels image of a physically inferior Asian team shattered Shreedutta Chidananda BENGALURU
Scott Conway has only been in India a fortnight but he likes what he sees. The Australian, who earlier this month was appointed as Scientific Advisor to the senior men’s hockey team, is impressed — and perhaps mildly surprised — with the superior fitness levels of his players. Consider, he says, the midfielder Sumit, who was part of the junior side that won the World Cup. “We ran a yo-yo test and he got 22.3 (more than anyone else) and that’s a truly elite score. “Then we did some strengthening tests: back squats, where you go as low as you can and lift as heavy as you can. There were five or six players who lifted 1.7 times their body weight. If any player is lifting 1.4 or 1.5 times his body weight, he’s already strong enough; his limitation is not strength. “A number of boys are getting to that range where
Millennium man: Rafael Nadal on Sunday joined a small group of 11 players to have played at least 1,000 Tour matches. AFP *
Nishikori bt Fernando Verdasco 7-6(2), 6-7(7), 6-1. Women: Third round: Angelique Kerber bt Shelby Rogers 6-4, 7-5; Risa Ozaki bt Julia Go-
erges 7-6(5), 6-3; Johanna Konta bt Pauline Parmentier 6-4, 6-0; Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-2; Venus Williams bt Patricia Tig
6-3, 6-0; Samantha Stosur bt Shuai Peng 4-6, 6-3, 7-5; Lara Arruabarrena bt Madison Keys 7-5, 7-5; Simona Halep bt Anett Kontaveit 6-3, 6-0.
Anju in grim ight for Athens medal
SPORTS BUREAU
Thompson and Johnson too believe they have a case for ascension
Mary Kom eyes comeback at Asian meet NEW DELHI
Stan Rayan
Five-time World champion and London Olympics bronze-medallist woman boxer M.C. Mary Kom is eyeing a comeback to the ring at this year’s Asian championship in Vietnam before deciding her future course of action. Mary Kom, who has not competed since last year’s World Championships, ruled out retirement for the time being but has decided to set shortterm goals. PTI
KOCHI
Anju Bobby George has just started what could be a long battle for the 2004 Olympics long jump silver medal and, joining her are Australian Bronwyn Thompson and Britain’s Jade Johnson who are fighting for elevation to medal positions too. Thompson, Anju and Johnson finished fourth, fifth and sixth in the long jump at the Athens Games behind Tatyana Lebedeva,
Irina Meleshina (nee Simagina) and Tatyana Kotova. The Russian trio failed dope tests in subsequent years and, earlier this year, Lebedeva — who went on to become a Senator in Russia — was stripped of the long jump and triple jump silver medals she won at the 2008 Olympics after she tested positive for the steroid turinabol in a reanalysis of her Beijing sample. The three Russians had not tested positive in 2004,
and with the 10-year timelimit for preserving samples long past, their samples have also been destroyed. But that has not put off Anju and the other two. “We definitely feel we will get back that Olympic medal some day. And this is, perhaps, the first time three countries are coming together for a cause like this — three women from different countries standing together,” Anju told The Hindu on Monday evening.
Kolkata to host Under-17 WC inal Navi Mumbai and Guwahati get to stage semiinals ing here. This is not just a World Cup, but this is the development of football for millions of kids in India.”
Amitabha Das Sharma Kolkata
The governing body of world football — FIFA — chose to acknowledge the iconic status of both the city and its stadium in awarding the final of the prestigious Under-17 World Cup to Kolkata. “Football Takes Over” is the official slogan of the tournament. The giant Salt Lake Stadium (Vivekananda YBK), which has undergone a remarkable transformation, will be hosting the final on October 28. The announcement was made here at the end of a six-day trip of the FIFA delegation led by its head of tournaments, Jaime Yarza. Guwahati (Indira Gandhi Stadium) and Navi Mumbai (D.Y. Patil Stadium) will be hosting the two semifinals. Goa ( JN Stadium), Kochi ( JN Stadium), Kolkata and Guwahati will host the four quarterfinals. Delhi ( JN Stadium) will not be conducting any matches beyond the pre-
quarterfinals or the Roundof-16 stage due to alarming pollution levels after Diwali. The tournament will get under way on October 6 with Delhi and Navi Mumbai hosting a match each on the opening day. All the six cities will be hosting six group league matches while Delhi and Goa share four out of the eight matches of the prequarterfinals.
The remaining four centres get one match each during this stage. The final distribution of the 24 qualifying teams in groups will be done during the official draw ceremony, which will happen on July 7 in Mumbai. Holding out hope for a big turnaround in the development of football in the country, Yarza said: “We believe there is a revolution happen-
Matching the benchmark Analysing the logic applied in selecting the six venues, Yarza said Kolkata matched the “benchmark” in getting the Salt Lake Stadium fulfil the “high international standards.” For Guwahati, Yarza recalled the North-Eastern States contribution to Indian football. “They have the passion for football as 60 % of the India Under-17 team are from the North East,” he said. Yarza said the D.Y. Patil Stadium has fulfilled most of the requirements while the three Jawaharlal Nehru Stadiums in Goa, Kerala and Delhi brought up “concerns” of different dimensions. Kochi has been given time till May 15 to comply with the specifications. “There might be Plan B applied in the future but right now we are counting on Kochi,” Yarza said.
Her husband Bobby George, Anju’s coach during her best years, said: “There are a lot of inside stories; we are waiting for these to come out.” “People who had been holding back information may come out to make the system and the sport clean and transparent.” “We are willing to go all out, even if it means taking the IOC to court. We want to die fighting, we don’t want to give up in between.”
physical fitness and strength is not a major limitation. But we can always get better. So we will keep working on fitness, strength, agility, speed etc.” The hackneyed image of the physically inferior Asian team has, in India’s case at least, been shattered, Conway feels. “There’s definitely a big culture in western countries — Europe, Australia, NZ — where fitness is a part of life. Within Asia...[that may not be the case]. But we did some testing here last week and some of the numbers are truly elite. Definitely in India, we don’t have that problem [of poor fitness]. Look at teams like Korea...they’re physically fit and tough.” Conway had been working as a sports scientist with the Australian rowing team for three years when Terry Walsh offered him a role with the Malaysian Hockey Confederation, where the former India coach was Technical Director.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) and the Odisha government, on Monday, officially confirmed that the World League final 2017 (men) and 2018 World Cup (men) will be held in Bhubaneswar. The World League Final will be held from December 1 to 10. The World Cup will take place in late November/early December in 2018 and will see 15 teams joining host India.
Goel felicitates athletes Special Correspondent NEW DELHI
The Union Sports Minister Vijay Goel on Monday felicitated special athletes, who helped India finish fifth with 37 gold, 10 silver and 26 bronze medals in the World Winter Games in Austria. The Sports Minister commended the performance of the special athletes and said that with devotion and determination, a person could achieve anything in life.
Praise for special athletes Special Correspondent NEW DELHI
Three of the country’s best sportswomen — five-time World Champion and Olympic medallist Mary Kom (boxing), former World No.1 and Olympic medallist Saina Nehwal (badminton) and former world record holder and World Cup Final gold medallist Heena Sidhu (shooting) — got together on behalf of Herbalife to felicitate the Indian contingent that won 73 medals, 37 of them gold, in the Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria. “Keep fighting hard. You know about my journey. You must have watched my movie. It was hard for a woman to be in boxing. It was my will and effort that got me the recognition. We are not special. You are special. We love you,” said Mary Kom on Monday. The Founder of the Special Olympics Bharat, Air Marshal Denzil Keelor said that the special athletes needed four things — acceptance, respect, respect for their abilities and not disabilities and a share of God’s gifts that we enjoy. “But for Special Olympics, the special children have nothing. According to the WHO study, three per cent of the population suffers from some form of intellectual disability. Most are distressed and neglected,” said Keelor. “Your journey is more difficult. Your are giving us so much in terms of inspiration, motivation and pride with your achievements. You are
Man Singh, Bajwa miss skeet inal Sports Bureau Acapulco
Angad Vir Singh Bajwa shot 118 and missed the skeet final in the shoot off along with former Asian champion Man Singh in the shotgun World Cup which concluded in Acapulco, Mexico, on Sunday. In a six-way shoot-off for the last spot in the final, Angad was beaten 12-11 by Wan Artao of China. Man Singh had bowed out earlier by missing the second bird. Angad shot a series of 24, 24, 23, 24 and 23 while Man Singh shot 22, 24, 24, 24, 24. Marco Sablone of Italy topped the qualification with 122 and went on to clinch the gold with a 55-53 victory over Frank Thompson of the US. The results: Men’s skeet: 1. Marco Sablone (Ita) 55 (122); 2. Frank Thompson (US) 53 (119); 3. Paul Adams (Aus) 43 (120); 7. Angad Vir Singh Bajwa 118(11); 11. Man Singh 118(1); 42. Amrinder Singh Cheema 109.
Star-studded: Mary Kom, Heena Sidhu, Saina Nehwal and actress Poonam Dhillon snapped during the function to honour Special Olympics World Winter Games medallists. PTI *
complete,” said pistol ace Heena. Saina conceded that 73 medals were beyond the imagination of the regular athletes and said that it was an honour to share the joy of their achievements. She spoke from the heart like Mary Kom and Heena, winning warm rounds of applause from the strong gathering. “We are all the same. Everyone wants to be the best. When we are injured, we become special. As sportspersons we are very special. For the population we have, which is second only to China in the world, the number of people playing
sports is very small. Things are very different now with all the support from government etc., than what it was 10 to 15 years ago. We do need doctors and engineers, but sportspersons are also important. My father is a scientist, but he tells me that I am known by the people and nobody knows him,” said Saina. Ajay Khanna, the Country Head of Herbalife, said his organisation was happy to be associated with Special Olympics Bharat. He said Shaymal Vallabhjee would help in improving the fitness of the Special Athletes and make them stronger for future.
DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
THE HINDU CROSSWORD 11966 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10
15 Compulsions to modify this into payments (8)
13
14
15
16 17
18
19
20
21
22 23
13 Leaves money in the US (7) 14 Vehicle carrying student, a girl (5)
11
12
(set by Arden)
FAITH
SUDOKU
Pravahana’s questions
2 Once a state put pressure on another (7) 3 Found an IT company to remonstrate (9) 5 Daily draw mostly uses exotic dish (9,5)
18 Sounds increased, bit terrible (8)
6 Bit of verse relaxes everybody (5)
20 Remember taking interest in lower (5)
7 Harry's said to have commented on woman's formal dress (7)
23 Pure wine bottles are OK (7) 24
25
25 Accepted rule over condition of dress (7) 26
27
26 Hotter, after second page, colder (5) 28
29
27 Watchful with Bevatrons working (9) ■ ACROSS 1 Fleece talk, spam and scam exposed (6) 4 One therefore supports electric plant (8) 10 Mostly noisy, Asia in chaotic state (9) 11 Once a WI player makes runs, he comes back in (5) 12 After port wine, I follow my interest (7)
CM YK
28 Moved from one place to another by plane, downgraded (8)
8 Feel threatened by a good player holding on (3,3) 9 Wrap food — hog away and work close to home in South Africa (4,2,4,4) 16 Leon and Doris struggle to move forward (7,2) 17 Sabre rattling — I'm racist (8) 19 Back wearing hoop, going down river (7)
29 Rinsed out being all the more supercilious (6)
21 Story teller surfaces in 'fat cat' (7)
■ DOWN
22 It's rum making a statement of fact (6)
1 Herb — the last of basil goes in special concoction (8)
24 Standard American support for opera (5)
Solution to puzzle 11965 P R E S S U R E H E I F E R
A U OMA N C O D A U T E N R P T O S P T X P O U N A D A N D Y D N A F R E C U V A S I V R N
W C E L E L O L O N G R E E E D A D S P T MO R A O A N Z Y K D E O N Y G
J P A T H E M E B E A C S F L A I E N L I T U T T O R I I E P O L A P L E T I M N E
Solution to yesterday’s Sudoku A R T H U R P E A G R E E N
Chandogya Upanishad tells the story of Svetaketu, son of sage Gautama. Svetaketu went to the court of Pravahana, who asked him if he had finished studying under his father. Svetaketu said that he had. Pravahana then asked him some questions to test his knowledge, said M.K. Srinivasan in a discourse. The first question was: “Where do people go when they die?” Pravahana then asked if the dead returned to earth; the third question was about the point at which the path of gods and the path of pitrus separate; the fourth question was why the other world did not get overcrowded with all the souls that had left the earth. The last question was how water was connected with the birth of man. Svetaketu did not know the answers to Pravahana’s questions. He went back to his father sage Gautama, who said that he had not taught Svetaketu all these things because he himself was unaware of them. Gautama then went to meet Pravahana, who offered to give him many gifts. But Gautama said that what he wanted was to be enlightened on the subjects Pravahana had spoken of to Svetaketu. Pravahana told Gautama that he would have to be prepared for a long period of study to understand what he (Pravahana) was going to teach him. Pravahana said that Panchagni Vidya, would answer all the questions that he (Pravahana) had put to Svetaketu. Pravahana said that so far it had been taught only to Kshatriyas and not to Brahmins. It was a closely guarded secret of Kshatriyas. But Pravahana said that since he had promised to grant Gautama a boon, he would honour his word. Pravahana then taught Gautama Panchagni Vidya — that is knowledge of the five fires, which would answer all the questions he (Pravahana) had put to Svetaketu. A ND-ND
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THE HINDU
SPORT 17
NOIDA/DELHI
TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
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England, Germany on course
TN storms into inal
Shadab bamboozles West Indies
Karthik, Jagadeesan set up 73-run win over India Blue
BRIDGETOWN
AGENCIES
V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM
PARIS
VISAKHAPATNAM
Germany kept its perfect record with a 4-1 victory over Azerbaijan, while England eased past Lithuania 2-0 in the 2018 football World Cup qualifiers.
Tamil Nadu moved one step closer to another title-triumph this season as it entered the final of the Paytm Prof. D.B. Deodhar Trophy limited-overs cricket tournament with a 73-run win over India Blue at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Stadium here on Monday. Chasing 304 to win, India Blue was in the hunt for a while thanks primarily to the brilliance of opener Mandeep Singh (97, 114b, 6x4, 3x6) and a breezy knock by Krunal Pandya (36, 42b, 3x4 2x6). At one stage India Blue was comfortably placed at 210 for four in 40 overs. But, for the recentlycrowned Vijay Hazare Trophy champion, the bowling attack was equal to the task. Left-arm spinners Rahil Shah and Sai Kishore picked up three wickets apiece, relying on accuracy and variations. For the Blue outfit, Mandeep, who hit pacer Vijay Shankar for a six and two fours in the third over of the innings to make his intentions clear, was an exception and was the last man out, holing out in the deep attempting to reach the threefigure mark. Earlier, a splendid 159-run stand off 169 balls for the third wicket between N. Jagadeesan (71, 82b, 4x4, 2x6) and Dinesh Karthik (93, 98b, 6x4, 1x6) helped Tamil Nadu wriggle out of a spot of bother at 51 for two in the ninth over. Later, a cameo by B. Indrajith (36, 28b, 4x4) propped up the total. Jagadeesan and Karthik showed the desired temperament and beautiful stroke selection on yet another batting pitch which offered no help to the bowlers. Shardul Thakur, who took
European zone results: Group C: Azerbaijan 1 (Nazarov 31) lost to Germany 4 (Schurrle 19, 81, Muller 36, Gomez 45); San Marino 0 lost to Czech Republic 6 (Barak 17, 24, Darida 19, 77-pen, Gebre Selassie 25, Krmencik 43). Group E: Armenia 2 (Mkhitaryan 73, Ozbiliz 75) bt Kazakhstan 0; Montenegro 1 (Mugosa 63) lost to Poland 2 (Lewandowski 40, Piszczek 82). Group F: England 2 (Defoe 22, Vardy 66) bt Lithuania 0.
Kings stun Clippers LOS ANGELES: One day after
clinching an NBA post-season berth, Los Angeles Clippers looked anything but play-off ready in a 9897 loss to the Sacramento Kings in the NBA. Other results: Trail Blazers 97 bt Lakers 81; Warriors 106 bt Grizzlies 94; Pelicans 115 bt Nuggets 90; Pacers 107 bt 76ers 94. Celtics 112 bt Heat 108; Bulls 109 bt Bucks 94; Rockets 137 bt Thunder 125; Hornets 120 bt Suns 106; Nets 107 bt Hawks 92. AGENCIES
TV PICKS India vs Australia: 4th Test, STAR Sports 1, 3 & HD 1, 3, 9.30 a.m.
Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh: 2nd ODI, TEN 3 & TEN 1 HD, 2.30 p.m.
International
friendly:
Sony Six & Sony Six HD, 12.30 a.m. (Wednesday) WC Qualifiers: Sony ESPN & Sony ESPN HD, 1.30 a.m. (Wednesday) NBA: Sony Six & Sony Six HD, 5.30 a.m. (Wednesday)
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internationals.
Reuters
Shoaib Malik made a composed unbeaten 38 (3x4, 1x6) to lead Pakistan to a sixwicket victory over West Indies in Barbados on Sunday in the first of four Twenty20
SCOREBOARD
Match award on his international debut. Only an unbeaten 34 from captain Carlos Brathwaite lifted the host to a very modest 111 for eight. The second match is in Trinidad on Thursday.
WEST INDIES VS PAKISTAN, 1ST T20I
West Indies: E. Lewis run out 10, C. Walton lbw b Shadab 18, M. Samuels lbw b Imad 7, L. Simmons b Shadab 1, K. Pollard c Imad b Wahab 14, S. Narine c Imad b Shadab 1, R. Powell lbw b Hasan Ali 5, C. Brathwaite (not out) 34, J. Holder c Hafeez b Tanvir 14; Extras (lb-3, w-3, nb-1) 7; Total (for eight wkts. in 20 overs): 111. Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-35, 3-37,
Purple patch: Dinesh Karthik continued his dream run with the bat with a classy 93 K.R. DEEPAK
West Indies, put in to bat, struggled throughout their innings as 18-year-old Pakistan leg-spinner Shadab Khan took three wickets for seven runs off his four overs to land the Man of the
4-38, 5-42, 6-49, 7-74, 8-111. Pakistan bowling: Imad 3-012-1, Hafeez 1-0-8-0, Tanvir 40-21-1, Hasan 4-0-25-1, Shadab 4-0-7-3, Wahab 4-0-35-1. Pakistan: K. Akmal c Lewis b Badree 22, A. Shehzad c Walton b Holder 13, B. Azam c Powell b Holder 29, M. Hafeez c & b Brathwaite 5, S. Malik (not out) 38, S. Ahmed (not out) 4; Extras (w-3, nb-1) 4; Total (for
four wkts. in 17.1 overs): 115. Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-40, 349, 4-95. West Indies bowling: Badree 40-24-1, Holder 3.1-0-27-2, S. Narine 4-0-22-0, C. Brathwaite 3-0-18-1, Williams 2-0-14-0, Pollard 1-0-10-0. Toss: Pakistan Pakistan won by six wickets; leads four match series 1-0).
Harikrishna held Press Trust of India Shenzhen
India’s Grandmaster P. Harikrishna had to dig deep into his defensive skills to pull off a draw against Yangyi Yu of China in the Shenzhen Longgang Chess Grandmaster tournament here on Monday. Playing white, the World No. 14 found himself in a fragile rook versus rook-bishop endgame. But he played out every move precisely to not allow Yu to convert his advantage into a victory. Harikrishna has two-anda-half points after five rounds and is fourth on the table. PTI
Prospect of Sindhu-Saina quarterinal clash
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DEODHAR TROPHY three wickets in trying conditions, was the pick of the bowlers. Karthik continued his dream run with the bat with yet another classy knock interspersed with his trademark drives and pull strokes off both pace and spin. The 21-year-old Jagadeesan missed another chance to notch up a big score, looking good before stepping out only to be beaten in flight and stumped by Rishabh Pant off Krunal Pandya in the 37th over. Soon, Karthik hooked one from pacer Shardul straight to the fielder in the deep to miss out on what would have been an impressive century. Tamil Nadu will play India Red in Wednesday’s final. The scores: Tamil Nadu: Kaushik Gandhi c Pant b Shardul 34, G. Sridhar Raju c Kaul b Shardul 15, N. Jagadeesan st. Pant b Krunal 71, Dinesh Karthik c Mandeep b Shardul 93, Vijay Shankar b Harbhajan 23, B. Indrajith (not out) 36, M. Mohammad b S.
Kaul 8, M. Ashwin (not out) 12. Extras: (w-7, b-2, lb-2) 11; Total: (for six wkts. in 50 overs) 303. Fall of wickets: 1-47, 2-51, 3210, 4-233, 5-253, 6-271. India Blue bowling: Shardul Thakur 10-0-49-3, Siddarth Kaul 10-0-65-1, Krunal Pandya 10-0-65-1, Shahbaz Nadeem 10-0-51-0, Harbhajan Singh 80-57-1, Mandeep Singh 2-0-12-0. India Blue: Mayank Agarwal c Raju b Mohammad 12, Mandeep Singh c Mohammad b Sai Kishore 97, Ambati Rayudu c&b Sai Kishore 21, Krunal Pandya c Rahil b M. Ashwin 36, Manoj Tiwari run out 14, Rishabh Pant b W. Sundar 6, Deepak Hooda c Vijay b Sai Kishore 26, Harbhajan Singh c Indrajith b Rahil 0, Shardul Thakur c&b Rahil 0, Shahbaz Nadeem b Rahil 13, Siddarth Kaul (not out) 2; Extras: (w-2, lb-1) 3; Total: (in 44.4 overs) 230. Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-66, 3138, 4-167, 5-179, 6-214, 7-214, 8-214, 9-228. Tamil Nadu bowling: Vijay Shankar 5-2-29-0, M. Mohammad 5-0-41-0, Rahil Shah 10-0-37-3, Sai Kishore 8.4-039-3, Washington Sundar 10-040-1, M. Ashwin 6-0-43-1. Toss: Tamil Nadu.
Jorgensen’s withdrawal robs Indian Open men’s ield of its sheen Rakesh Rao New Delhi
Within days of World No. 1 Lee Chong Wei deciding to stay away from Indian Open super series, World No. 2 Jan O Jorgensen withdrew from the competition, thereby robbing the championship of its sheen in the men’s singles. On the eve of the biggest annual international badminton event held in the country, when the draw was firmed up following the manager’s meeting here on Monday, World No. 4 Viktor Axelson was the highest ranked player in the 32player field. Lee Chong Wei, a threetime winner, apart from clinching the 2010 Commonwealth Games gold at the Siri Fort Complex here, won the All England title earlier this month. He, along with his arch-rival China’s Lin Dan indicated they needed rest to prepare for the Malaysian Open starting on April 4. Also in the field are,
Primed for a ight: Saina Nehwal speaks as BAI president Akhilesh Das Gupta, Rio Olympics silver medallist P.V. Sindhu and World No. 4 Carolina Marin of Spain look on during a press conference. PTI *
Korea’s Son Wan Ho, China’s Tian Houwei and Hong Kong’s Ng Ka Long Angus, ranked No. 5th, eighth and 10th in the world. Mercifully, the ladies’ singles field has saved the event. Though World No. 1 Chinese Taipei’s Tai Tzu Ying has stayed away, World and Olympic champion Carolina Marin heads the lead. Despite being ranked fourth in the world, Marin enjoys top billing ahead of
World No 2 Sung Ji Hyun. P. V. Sindhu, the third seed, faces the prospect of meeting Saina Nehwal, ranked eighth, in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Saina said, “the good thing is, there is no expectation. When I started, there was less expectation and now also there is less pressure, which is good.” After needing a knee-surgery, post-Rio Olympics, Saina has been battling hard
to regain the fitness of old. Promising her best, Saina said, “Delhi has always been special to me. I won the Commonwealth Games gold here and then won the Indian Open in 2015 and became the world No. 1. So everything has been special for me. It is great to play in front of home crowd.” Sindhu, without looking at any specific player said, “Competition will be tough and I am looking ahead to an exciting week.” Marin, troubled by a lower-back injury and struggling to reproduce the form that saw her clinch the World, Olympic and All England titles, said, “I need to take care of my body,” pointing to the back injury that forced her to concede the final of the German Open. “In Germany, my back injury relapsed. It was very difficult for me to concede after reaching the final. I have never retired from any match in my life. I always like to fight, even if I have injuries.”
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NOIDA/DELHI
THE HINDU
TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2017
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