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Digvijay has been a bitter critic of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), the ideological guide of the BJP, and had allegedly linked it to the 2008 terror attack carried out by Pakistani ter- rorists.   The BJP also decided to field KP Yadav from Guna, a etting the stage for an epic seat held by senior Congress Sbattle in , the BJP on leader Jyotiraditya Scindia who Wednesday fielded Sadhvi is contesting from there. The , facing BJP has named Raj Bahadur %     &(  )     trial in Malegaon blast case, in Singh and Ramakant Bhargav )     +   elections, against as its nominees from Sagar and Congress heavyweight and for- Vidisha respectively.     booths set up in Mahasamund mer Chief External Affairs Minister are 2140 covering 16,32,962 Minister Digvijay Singh. had won from hhattisgarh’s three electorates— 8,10,783 males, Out on bail, Sadhvi joined Vidisha in 2014 but she is not CParliamentary constituen- 8,22,158 females and 21 from the BJP only hours before the fighting polls this time due to cies- Mahasamund, third gender. party announced her name as health reasons. Rajnandgaon and Kanker, will Rajnandgaon has 17,10,682 its candidate from Bhopal. This Born in Bhind district of go to polls on Thursday amidst electorates. Of them 8,55,739 is being seen as a clear attempt Madhya Pradesh, Sadhvi has tight security. are males, 8,54,934 females by the BJP to bring the had a long association with the A massive security and nine from third gender. plank at the centre . A post-graduate deployment has been made to Rajnandgaon has 2322 polling stage of polls in the State, in history, she worked with the ensure peaceful voting. Polling booths. where the BJP had won 27 out RSS student wing Akhil teams were airlifted to sensitive In Kanker, 2022 polling of 29 seats in 2014 LS polls. Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad areas as the Election booths have been set up to facil- “I will contest the election and , women’s Commission completed all itate the constituency’s from Bhopal and win. Former wing of the Vishwa Hindu preparations for the second 15,52,075 electors to cast votes. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Parishad. phase of polling in the state. Female voters (7,86,010) out- Chouhan is with me,” Sadhvi Arrested in the 2008 Mahasamund and numbered males (7,66,032,) in said after emerging out of the Malegaon blast case, she was Rajnandgaon are general con- the constituency, which also has BJP office at Bhopal. given a clean chit by the stituencies while Kanker is a 33 voters from third gender. In a way, the face-off National Investigation Agency reserved seat for the Schedule Polling in Rajnandgaon between Digvijay and Sadhvi (NIA), but the trial court Tribe. The three constituencies seat will be held as scheduled will also be seen as a battle refused to discharge her from have combined voters of from 7 am to 5 am except for between the hardcore Hindutva the case. 4895719. Out of which Mohla Manpur (ST) assembly represented by the likes of                          The court dropped the 2432554 are males, 2463102 segment where balloting will Sadhvi and equally dyed-in-           charges under the females and 63 others. end by 3pm. the-wool “secularism” propa- Control of Organised Crime As many as 6484 polling In Mahasamund, at gated by the likes of Digvijay. people’s court by fielding several accused, including A senior BJP leader said Hindutva” faces of the Act (MCOCA) against her, booths have been set up the Bindranawagarh (ST) Assembly At a rally in Odisha, BJP Sadhvi against Digvijay, he Swami Aseemanand, in the party decided to field Congress. and she is now being tried second phase of polling. A segment’s polling station no. 77 president on said, accusing the Congress of Samjhauta Express blast case, Sadhvi, who joined the party Also being a high-profile under the Unlawful Activities total of 36 candidates, 14 in and Aamamora polling station Wednesday described Digvijay defaming by coining Shah attacked the Congress and hours before her candidature seat as the Madhya Pradesh Prevention Act. She was grant- Rajnandgaon, 13 in 28, the polling will be held from as the “creator” of “saffron ter- terms like “Hindu terror” and said people of Bhopal will pun- was announced, against capital, it can help rally support ed bail by the Bombay High Mahasamund and 9 in Kanker 7am to 3pm. In other centers ror” phrase. The BJP has decid- “”. ish Digvijay and Congress pres- Digvijay as the latter has been for the BJP across the State and Court in 2017. are in the fray. polling will be held as scheduled. ed to take the matter to the Referring to the acquittal of ident . one of the most visible “anti- even outside, he added. Continued on Page 4 The number of polling Continued on Page 4     !"   ! action against him. “It is very   Section 126 of the Representation unfortunate that Rajasthan of the People Act “prohibits” display Chief Minister ,   ed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also he Election Commission (EC) has of any “election matter” by means of a senior Congress leader who directed the poll panel to submit its Tmade it cleared that the NaMo TV “cinematograph, television or other himself is on a constitutional ollowing the directions of the decision to the court in a sealed cover will have to comply with the 48-hour similar apparatus”, 48 hours before the post made casteist remark FSupreme Court, the Election and said it will consider the matter on ‘election silence period’ ahead of hour fixed for conclusion of poll in a against the President, who is Commission (EC) on Wednesday set up April 22. every phase of voting. “Live coverage particular constituency. the custodian of the a high-level committee to review the This phase is called the ‘silence Constitution,” BJP spokesper- biopic on Prime Minister Narendra period’ as it allows a voter to make up son GVL Narsimha Rao said. Modi and furnish its recommendation his or her mind on whom to vote with- “A very low attack by the by April 18. For its part, the BJP wrote out being influenced by political cam- Congress against the highest a letter to the EC over a biopic alleged- paigning. Section 126 is not applica- constitutional functionary in ly being made on West Bengal Chief ble on the print media.   President considering the this country,” the BJP said at a Minister Mamata Banerjee and The direction, sources said, was Gujarat assembly elections in press conference held in Delhi demanded the Commission to review issued to bring clarity on the applic- he Congress on Wednesday 2017. I was reading an article. within hours of Gehlot’s self goal. the movie before its release in a simi- ability of ‘silence period’ on NaMo TV. Tlanded in a huge contro- He (Prime Minister Narendra “Is the Congress against a lar way the biopic of Modi was On Thursday last week, the EC versy after its senior leader and Modi) was afraid that he was person who comes from a reviewed. had concluded that since NaMo TV is Rajasthan Chief Minister not going to form the govern- poor background and belongs “This is to draw your attention to The Modi biopic, starring Vivek can be done on NaMo TV but any pre- sponsored by the BJP, all recorded pro- Ashok Gehlot said Ram Nath ment in Gujarat. BJP chief to the Dalit community? the news in the media that a biopic Oberoi and directed by Omung Kumar, recorded content cannot be streamed grammes displayed on the platform Kovind was made the President Amit Shah might have given President Kovind is a highly allegedly of Mamata Banerjee will be tells the story of PM Modi’s rise to for 48 hours before the polling date should be pre-certified by media cer- of India because of caste con- him suggestion after which it accomplished individual. This released on May 3, 2019 [named power from his humble beginnings. under the ‘silence period’ stipulated in tification and monitoring committee siderations. was decided to make Ram is a condemnable statement. Baghini],” the BJP said in the letter. Acting on the complaints of political the electoral law”, the EC said. of Delhi and all political publicity con- While the BJP called the Nath Kovind the president,” We expect apology and strong According to EC, senior Deputy parties, including the Congress, the poll The EC has asked the chief elec- tents being displayed without pre-cer- comment “anti-Dalit, anti-poor Gehlot had said. action,” the BJP’s GVL Election Commissioner Umesh Sinha, panel had asserted that any biopic mate- toral officer of Delhi to ensure that its tification should be removed imme- and anti-constitutional” and “(Lal Krishna) Advani was Narasimha Rao said. Rao said Deputy Election Commissioners rial with the potential to disturb the directions are followed in each of the diately. demanded an apology and left out though he had to the remark showed “anti-Dalit” Sandeep Saxena and Chandra Bhushan level playing field should not be dis- remaining six phases of the ongoing After the Congress filed a com- strong action, Gehlot said it become the President. People mindset of the Congress. Kumar, Senior Principal Secretary KF played in areas where Model Code of Lok Sabha elections. The EC has also plaint with the poll panel about the was unfortunate that his com- of the country had expectation Seeking to damage control Wilfred , Director General Dhirendra Conduct was in force. said that all expenditure incurred on channel disturbing the level playing ments during a Press confer- that he (Advani) will get the following a outrage, Gehlot said: Ojha and Delhi Chief Electoral Officer On the other hand, the biopic on programmes and advertisements on field, the EC had asked the Delhi CEO ence have been misquoted by honour which he deserved but “I have the greatest regards for Ranbir Singh will be the member of the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee NaMo TV should be identified appro- to file a report on the issue. a few media houses. Gehlot told was deprived. Though it is the President of India, and per- committee which will review the Modi “Baaghini” is being released on May 3. priately and attributed to candidates Earlier, the Ministry of reporters that ahead of the 2017 BJP’s internal issue, I am dis- sonally for Ramnathji whom I biopic. The EC has asked the produc- The EC has asked for a report from or political parties. Information and Broadcasting told the Assembly elections in Gujarat, cussing it because I read an have met in person and highly ers of the film to arrange for a screen- West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer The directions were issued to the poll panel that it was an advertising the BJP was worried about its article,” the Rajasthan chief impressed with his simplicity ing for a committee set up for the pur- over the biopic. “BJP requests the Delhi CEO as he is the nodal officer platform that did not require a license chances of forming the minister added. and humbleness,” Gehlot said in pose. Election Commission of India and its to pre-certify political content in TV from the ministry. The Delhi CEO had Government and the choice of Besides demanding an his clarification after the outrage. The Supreme Court on Monday representative in West Bengal the CEO channels and similar platforms which approved the logo of NaMo TV, which Presidential candidate was made apology from Gehlot, the BJP The Chief Minister’s Office directed the Commission to watch the to review the said biopic before release, are beamed nationally. He has also the BJP said is part of the NaMo App with votes in mind. urged the Election said it was not Gehlot’s per- full biopic on Modi and take an on similar lines that was done by the EC been provided with a committee that it owns, but did not “certify” the “People even say that Ram Commission to take cogni- sonal opinion, he was quoting informed decision on banning its pan in the case of another biopic depicting specifically for the purpose, a source content as it contained the old speech- Nath Kovind was made sance of the matter and take from an article he had read. India release by April 19. A bench head- ,” the letter read. aware of the development said. es of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. !% !  P .  /01$ -( "    )   )     % demonetisation”. New Delhi: A day before the “This statement clearly second phase of elections, he Congress on Wednesday     demonstrates that the expose    Congress faced an embarrass-   Taccused the Modi made on the scam, as reflect- ment from within as a senior Government of “protecting”   ed in the videos shown on spokesperson took to social aving asserted to contest those involved in illegal March 26, 2019 and April 9,   media to criticise the party lead- Hagainst Prime Minister exchange of money post- %  2019, is genuine and the events ership. Congress national Narendra Modi from Varanasi, demonetisation by not order-  5 seen in the video reflect the contingent of 41 battalions spokesperson Priyanka Bhim Army chief ing a probe into video tapes manner in which these A(41,000 personnel) of Chaturvedi on Wednesday Chandrashekhar Azad on released by the party even as it   exchanges took place. “The Central paramilitary forces will expressed her displeasure after Wednesday made a U turn say- put forth another set of clips involvement of government be deployed in West Bengal for her party decided to reinstate ing his outfit will support the showing people involved in     functionaries, bankers and state the conduct of the eight leaders who had allegedly SP-BSP alliance so that the the “loot” claiming proximity authorities clearly demonstrate Parliamentary polls in West “threatened” her at a press con- Dalit votes remain intact to to the powers-that-be. fresh videos purportedly show- a conspiracy to loot the trea- Bengal for the remaining 40 ference in Mathura recently. defeat the BJP. Simultaneously, the party ing how huge amount of sury in a manner never seen seats in six phases. “Deeply saddened that Chandrashekhar’s remarks also accused the Centre of tar- money was exchanged in con- before,” he alleged. The polls for two seats lumpen goons get preference in comes a few days after Bahujan geting opposition leaders by nivance with bank officials When asked about the IT were held in the first phase on as 19,400 personnel are the party over those who have Samaj Party chief Maywati Pradesh’s Mhow using agencies like the Income and some others close to the and ED raids, Sibal claimed April 11. For three seats, it will deployed for the conduct of free given their sweat and blood,” termed him a BJP agent and on April 14, he had said Tax department and people in power. that BJP is “flooded” with be held on Thursday in the sec- and fair polls. Chaturvedi said while retweet- accused him of dividing Dalit that the Bhim Army and not Enforcement Directorate. It He, however, did not money and yet authorities are ond phase. The significant The idea behind significant ing the Uttar Pradesh Congress votes. Mayawati was the “real well- said the people of India will authenticate the videos and targeting the Opposition deployment comes in the back- deployment of Central forces is Committee letter suspending The Dalit group’s founder wisher” of Dalits. give a befitting reply to the BJP there was no immediate com- which is facing a cash drop of reports of violence in 85 to 90 per cent of of the action against the accused. also said the Bhim Army will Chandrashekhar said that in these elections. ment available from the BJP or “drought”. “We all know that if the past elections, officials said, polling booths in the State are The leaders, who reportedly support the SP-BSP alliance if if the SP-BSP alliance fielded Senior party leader Kapil the government. The party any party is flooded with adding the number of the covered by the paramilitary made a ruckus out of the press it fields Satish Chandra Mishra, Mishra from Varanasi, they Sibal asked why the “chowki- released similar videos on money, it is the BJP. The oppo- forces is the maximum to have forces to check any incident of briefing, were reinstated by Mayawati’s general secretary will also be able to get some dar” (the watchman) was March 26 and April 9. sition is going through a been deployed in the State. voter intimidation, booth Congress General Secretary and Brahmin face of the BSP, upper caste votes. “asleep” when all this hap- Sibal alleged that in the drought period. And who is The State has a total of 42 attack or looting of EVMs as incharge of Western UP from the Varanasi seat. He had earlier attacked pened. He alleged the absence April 9 “expose”, the party had being targeted, those who are Parliamentary constituencies was witnessed the panchayat Jyotiraditya Scindia on the Earlier, the Bhim Army Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh of any investigation into the indicated the alleged involve- suffering from drought and and elections are being held in polls held in the State last year grounds of apology tendered. chief had accused Mishra of Yadav “for giving promotion to videos given as “proof” indi- ment of one Rahul Ratharekar, those who are flooded are not a staggered manner in seven and the Assembly polls in “Having faced brickbats misleading Mayawati and con- officers who inflicted atrocities cated that “those involved in a field assistant, and sought to being targeted. That’s the beau- phases. 2016. and abuse across board for the spiring against the Dalit group. on dalits”. this loot are being protected”. prove his identity through his ty of Indian democracy and Elections to two con- In view of the past trends, party but yet those who threat- “I have decided not to con- “His (Akhilesh) father says Prime Minister often refers to identity card, which was seen this government,” Sibal said. stituencies was held in phase a number of polling booths ened me within the party get- test from Varanasi because I do in Parliament that he wants himself as “chowkidar” (the in the videos released that day. Election officials had one on April 11 with 8,400 have been declared sensitive ting away with not even a rap not want that my decision Modi to become prime minis- watchman) emphasising his He claimed that soon after Tuesday held searches at the paramilitary men on the from the standpoint of possi- on their knuckles is unfortu- should strengthen the BJP or ter again. They are agents of the tough stand on corruption. the videos were released on residence of DMK leader ground for conduct of the polls ble violence and suspicion of nate,” she said. Modi in anyway. We all want to BJP, not me. They call me an “It now appears that the April 9, the Cabinet Secretariat Kanimozhi in Tuticorin in in Coochbehar and Alipurduar, distribution of poll induce- The UPCC letter, men- defeat the BJP,” he said. agent for questioning them. decision to demonetise may issued a statement claiming south Tamil Nadu from where while three seats will go to polls ments, officials said. tioned Chaturvedi’s complaint On Mayawati’s criticism Yes, I am an agent of B R have helped criminals to mon- that “Rahul Ratharekar had she is contesting. Congress on Thursday in the second About 2.7 lakh Central about “undignified behaviour” of him, he said, “Our own peo- Ambedkar... If my own people etise by looting the treasury been a Constable level employ- chief spokesperson Randeep phase. The state will have paramilitary forces are being by eight leaders at press con- ple are calling us agents of the were not in my way, I would and the poor,” Sibal claimed. ee of the Cabinet Secretariat but Surjewala alleged that moti- seven-phased polls with the mobilized for the conduct of ference regarding Rafale deal. BJP, but I still want her to have shown you (Akhilesh) Those who have collaborated was dismissed in June, 2017 vated I-T raids is the only tool elections ending on May 19. Lok Sabha polls that began on In the letter, the eight leaders become prime minister.” that if we can vote you to with corruption cannot pretend (after 5 years of service) on sus- left with Prime Minister For polls in three seats of April 11 and will end on May were told not to do anything in At an event to mark BR power, we can pull you down to be clean, he told a press con- picion of his role in exchange Narendra Modi, and said the Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling and 19. The counting of votes is the near future that will tarnish Ambedkar Jayanti in Madhya too,” he had said. ference, where he played the of old currency notes, post- people can see through this. Raiganj on Thursday, as many scheduled for May 23. the party’s image. *+# +*           * # #    

  petitioner/CBI herein espe-   The ban came into force from - #+# cially in light of the fact that Tuesday morning. ormer Kolkata Police February 3, 2019, a Sunday, was wo tweets by Uttar Pradesh “If the Congress, the SP and FCommissioner Rajeev the last day in office of the TChief Minister Yogi the BSP have faith in Ali, then   the Navy, was “unprecedented” Kumar alleged in the Supreme interim CBI Director, is writ Adityanath with communal we too have faith in Bajrang in its scale and size. Navy offi- Court that he was targeted by large on account of the conflict overtures have been taken Bali,” Adityanath had said at the ll the stakeholders in mar- cials said here on Wednesday CBI in the Saradha Chit fund of interest, in the instant mat- down by Twitter following a rally, attracting the ire of the EC. Aitime security including the debriefing on the exercise case due to “mala fide intent” ter,” Kumar said in his 89-page directive from the Election He had also been making the Indian Navy and several was held on Tuesday during and “conflict of interest” of for- affidavit. Commission. The tweets post- the “green virus” remark at other agencies conducted a which significant results mer interim CBI director M It said that after the ed on April 5 had referred to the election rallies across Uttar brainstorming exercise over achieved in the course of the Nageshwara Rao as his family demonetisation, on receipt of Indian Union Muslim League Pradesh. the outcome of the ‘Sea Vigil’ two-day drill were deliberated members were under the scan- information, the West Bengal (IUML) as a “green virus”. Social networking plat- exercise — the first-of-its-kind upon. ner post-demonetisation. Police initiated investigation The IUML had moved the forms Twitter, WhatsApp and multi-agency drill covering the The debriefing was chaired Kumar alleged that post into some shell companies that commission against the tweets Facebook had removed more entire 7,516 km-long Indian by Deputy Chief of the Naval demonetisation in November prima facie appeared to be and had urged it to block than 500 posts, advertisements, coastline and Exclusive Staff Vice Admiral Murlidhar 2016, investigation was initiat- actively involved in a scam, Adityanath’s twitter account. accounts and other objection- Economic Zone(EEZ). Sadashiv Pawar, and was ed into some shell companies wherein these companies were “The tweets have been able content found to be vio- The debriefing was held attended by top functionaries that prima facie were involved receiving huge sums of removed from the timeline of lating the model code of con- on Tuesday after the Sea Vigil of the Navy, Indian Coast in receiving huge deposits and deposits. the Twitter account of the UP duct (MCC), following direc- drill was conducted on Guard and concerned union a FIR was registered. “Taking due cognizance, a CM,” an official said. tions from the EC, between January 22 and 23 in which 13 ministries, agencies and rep- During the probe of shell FIR was registered in this A message in place of the April 10 and 11. coastal States and Union resentatives of the coastal companies, role of one firm regard, being Bowbazar...Dated tweets reads, “This Tweet from “Facebook - 468 posts were Territories along with all mar- states. Agela Mercantiles Pvt Ltd came January 27, 2017. That, during @myogiadityanath has been reported and removed. The itime agencies participated to “He complimented the under the scanner for collect- the investigation into the said withheld in India in response posts included violations of check the efficacy of maritime strong inter-agency coordina- ing money from public unau- case, role of one company, to a legal demand.” MCC and voter misinforma- security and surveillance in tion and interoperability thorisedly, he said, alleging namely Agela Mercantiles Pvt The development comes tion. One post from Karnataka, the seas. achieved during the exercise that during further investiga- Ltd (AMPL) came under the after the EC Monday imposed two posts from Assam and the Nearly 150 ships, 40 air- and reiterated the need for tion of the case names of wife scanner in connection with a 72-hour campaigning ban on remaining from Telangana. 32 craft and a number of other flexibility and agility to deal and daughter of Rao have come various dubious transactions the chief minister for making ads active in Telangana were strategic assets of the Navy and with security challenges,” Navy to light and the matter is being and also for collecting money communal remarks at a recent removed,” the EC had said on Coast Guard were part of the Spokesperson Captain DK further probed. deposits from the public unau-     & ! !         &  election meeting in Meerut. April 11. exercise which, according to Sharma said here. “The mala fide intent of the thorisedly,” it said.   3!+    &    RAIPUR | THURSDAY | APRIL 18, 2019 03 Technical snag grounds ‘EVM is shockproof’ Baghel asks Centre to clear CM’s CEO gave the clarification after a chopper section of news channels and social AMBIKAPUR: Chief Minister Bhupesh media, quoting Baghel was forced to politicians, are travel by road to claiming that while outstanding MNREGA funds Surguja region on Wednesday to address pressing buttons in STAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR 1050.77 crore for labour Welfare Radhamohan Singh, 45.37 lakh farmers who had election rallies as his the EVM, the electors hhattisgarh Chief Minister payout and remaining Rs the CM urged him to do neces- opted for the crop insur- chopper suffered a tech- might receive 931.38 crore for material nical snag. CBhupesh Baghel on sary amendment in crop insur- ance, only 13.41 farmers were electric shock Wednesday dashed a letter to procurements. ance policy so that more and paid the claim amount in the The CM was in “We have received more farmers of the state are adverse crop condition for past Surajpur district head- Union Minister for Rural STAFF REPORTER n channels and social media, Development Narendra Singh only 21.50% (Rs 543.21 benefitted from it. As against three years, he claimed. quarters for a cam- crore) of the pending paigning. After com- RAIPUR quoting politicians, are Tomar seeking immediate claiming that while press- funds of Rs 2525.36 crore. pleting his speech at a hhattisgarh Chief release of fund for the smooth BJP takes potshot at CM for seeking Central help ing buttons in the EVM, Kindly release the out- public meeting when he Electoral Officer running of C the electors might receive standing funds for the six- RAIPUR: The BJP on Wednesday took a potshot at Chief reached to the chopper Subrat Sahoo clarified that National Rural Employment electric shock. Guarantee Yojana (MNREGA). month period and the Minister for dashing letters to Prime Minister for his onward journey the Electronic Voting It is reported that The development comes a pending payment of Narendra Modi and other Union ministers seeking central to Devnagar, the pilot Machines are totally bat- day after Baghel accused the financial year 2018-19,” assistance in the midst of elections. State BJP spokesperson informed him that tery (DC) run machine Excise minister Kawasi BJP government at the Centre the CM said. Sanjay Shrivastava said knowing that no policy related decision some technical snag and is not connected to Lakhma in a public meet- of neglecting the scheme, He said the fund was could be taken now after the election model conduct came into had occurred in the any power supply (AC), ing in Bastar division had introduced by the previous urgently needed for the effect, the CM continued to write to the Central government chopper and they could ruling out any possibility claimed that only one par- Congress-led UPA govern- successful implementa- because he knew the present Modi-led government would not proceed. of receiving electric shock ticular button was shock- ment to provide guaranteed tion of the scheme. return to the power. He said the BJP appreciated the “goodwill Baghel, however, while pressing any of the proof. He then went on to employment to rural poor. In In another letter to gesture” of the CM and assured him that prompt action would continued his button in the machine. advise voters only to press the letter, the CM demanded Union Minister for be taken to address the issues raised by Baghel through his let- whirlwind campaign by He gave the clarifica- that particular button release of Rs 1982.5 crore--- Rs Agriculture and Farmer’s ters once Modi took oath after election victory. hitting the roads. tion after a section of news while casting their vote. Congress lodges complaint of Bais seeks to quell storm over PM’s remark STAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR “There is a namdaar who bench all its sitting MPs in the do it,” he said. poll-code violation against Modi enior BJP leader and former said recently that all Modis are state to buck anti-incumbency He evaded a query on the Sunion minister Ramesh Bais thieves,” he said, adding, “those factor against them. party’s decision to deny tickets on Wednesday tried to quell the of you here who are named “The BJP is holdings its to all the 11 candidates who ‘Sahoo’, if you went to Gujarat, ground in Chhattisgarh. Raipur contested last parliamentary Claiming Modi provoked casteism, the party urges the EC to bar PM from campaigning political storm generated by you would be called ‘Modi’. So Lok Sabha seat is a fort of BJP, so elections. “There is no relevance STAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR take cognizance of Modi’s speeches "Other Backward Caste" communi- Prime Minister Narendra tell me, are you all thieves? it is sure to win here,” he said. to the question now,” he said. in Korba and Bhatapara on Tuesday, ty, in a bid to woe the community. Modi’s alleged casteist remark at Should we believe that we are all The BJP leader ruled out Highlighting achievements he Congress in Chhattisgarh on a public rally in Korba a day Wednesday lodged a complaint which they claimed provoked “There is a namdaar (in an thieves? Are you going to let this retiring from politics. of Prime Minister Narendar T earlier. of model code of violation against casteism. oblique reference to Rahul Gandhi) go without giving an apt reply to “People grumble after being Modi government, Bais said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi for “The commission must have who said recently that all Modis are Taking serious exception to those who say things like this?” denied ticket. But let me make it “Everyone wants to see his his alleged casteist remarks. the recordings of his (PM’s) speech thieves” the PM said at an election the remark, the Congress lodged Addressing the media, the clear whatever I am today is due country strong. During Modi’s A party delegation led by chair- from which it will be clear that rally in the state, adding, “those of a complaint against the PM with former MP said, “BJP is of the to the party,” he added. No one regime, respect for the country man of its legal cell Kiranmayi Modi tried to promote casteism and you here who are named ‘Sahoo’, if the Election Commission for view that politics should not be would have known me had the has increased. Terrorists earlier Nayak lodged the complaint at the hence he must be barred from elec- you went to Gujarat, you would be purported violation of model done on community line. party not given me chance to used to behead the soldiers and office of Chief Electoral Officer tioneering for 72 hours,” the delega- called ‘Modi’. So tell me, are you all code of conduct. Modi on Allegation can be raised against fight election. the then Prime Minister did Subrat Sahoo. tion demanded. thieves? Should we believe that we Tuesday at an election rally in any individual but not against “I am a small party worker nothing. But the present gov- In a memorandum submitted to The delegation said the subtext are all thieves? Are you going to let Chhattisgarh claimed Congress an entire community.” and respect the party’s decision. ernment entered into the enemy the poll panel, the delegation of Modi’s speech was an attempt to this go without giving an apt reply President Rahul Gandhi had Bais was denied party ticket I am speaking to the media territory to strike back as it had demanded of the commission to tell voters that he belonged to to those who say things like this?” labelled all Modis as thieves. this time as the BJP decided to because my party wanted me to promised.”     !"   " 34 $%     6  7 Odisha on her way to a polling station. Heartfelt condolences &'' he Maoists struck on the to the bereaved family and  " $$  Teve of second phase elec- prayer for the departed soiul,” tion in Odisha, gunning down Patnaik twitted. head of the second phase a woman poll official and set- She was an officer of the Aof polling on two Lok ting ablaze two poll vehicles state panchayat department. Sabha seats of Srinagar and and a motorbike on way to In the other incident, the Udhampur-Doda on April 18, booths on Wednesday, police red rebels set ablaze two vehi- terrorists attacked a CRPF said. Both the incidents cles and a motorbike carrying camp in Tral area of Pulwama occurred at separate places of election officials to a polling late Wednesday evening in Maoist affected Kandhamal station in a village in remote which one CRPF jawan district where the red rebels Phiringia police station area. received minor injuries. have asked the people to boy- Kandhamal district collec- Official sources said, “ter- cott the elections. tor cum returning officer D rorists hurled a grenade at Following the incidents, Brunda said armed Maoists in CRPF camp at Nowdal, Tral in the police have set up a uniform asked the officials to Pulwama district wednesday Command Centre here for get down from the vehicles and evening in which one CRPF smooth conduct of voting on the motorbike before they set personal received injuries. Thursday. those ablaze. Police said the The injured CRPF The ultras gunned down officials are safe but all poll jawan,identified as TL Prasad the officer when she was tak- materials like EVMs were of 160 CRPF battalion, was ing a team of poll personnel to destroyed in the fire. shifted to the nearby hospital a booth, police said. “Alternetive arrangrments after the grenade attack. Sector Officer Sanjukta are being made for smooth Earlier, on Tuesday major Digal was shot dead when she conduct of polling. But the pol- tragedy was averted when got down from the vehicle to ing officials are intensely ter- National Conference candi- check a suspicious object lying rifed by the incidents and date from Anantnag con- on the road while passing reluctant to perform their stituency and retired Justice, moved inside the house and ty apparatus was further beefed through a jungle near    !    )"           duties unless they are provid- Hasnain Masoodi, escaped escaped unhurt. up to prevent any toward Balandapada village under       " $ !   4    ed with adequate security,” unhurt in a similar strike in Meanwhile, the entire secu- incident. Elaborate security Gochhapada police station lim- Brunda said. Tral area of South Kashmir. rity grid has been kept in a state arrangements have been made its, DGP BK Sharma told PTI. under Kandhamal Lok Sabha district headquarter of Phulbai mobilised to Kandhamal,” Police suspect that the Terrorists had lobbed a of high alert along the Jammu in Doda, Kishtwar and Other four polling personnel seat where polling is scheduled and a comprehensive plan has Sharma said. KKBN (Kalahandi- grenade at the residence of a Srinagar National Highway fol- Ramban to ensure incident were in the vehicle and they to begin at 7 am on Thursday. been put in place, he said. Chief Minister Naveen Kandhamal- Boudh-Nayagarh) National Conference leader lowing reports of possible ter- free polling on Udhampur- were unhurt. “The Maoists fired and a “Senior police officers have Patnaik expressed grief over the division of the CPI(Maoist) was where Masoodi was present to ror strike by fidayeen squad of Doda Lok Sabha seat. Dr There were also reports of bullet hit her on the head rushed to Kandhmal. They killing of the officer. involved in both the incidents. address a workers meeting. Jaish-e-Mohammad. Jitendra Singh, sitting BJP MP an explosion at the spot but the killing her on the spot,” DGP B will operate from there to “Deeply anguished by the A few days ago, the Maoists At the time of the explo- Ahead of polling in is facing a tough challenge police are yet to confirm it. K Sharma said. ensure an incident-free polling sad demise of polling super- have put up posters and ban- sion, NC candidate was not Srinagar,from where National from the joint candidate, of The incident occurred in A Police Command Centre tomorrow. Additional armed visror Sanjukta Digal in Maoist ners in the district asking the present in the open. Masoodi, Conference Chief Dr Farooq Congress-National Conference, Phulbani assembly segment has started opertating at the force units have also been attack in Kandhamal district of people to boycott the polls. according to reports, had Abdullah is in the fray, securi- Vikramaditya Singh. 8))/././9/33/.!.4 2 35 ;/902 /0/9'/'#4! 4 New Delhi: As many as 300 of Journalism and vestigated and unproved academicians have approached Communication. The police charges,” the letter stated.     the DIG of police, the EC has Vice President , has booked former Vice- Extreme steps, such as taken action against the seeking his intervention for Chancellor BK Kuthiala of the lodging an FIR against univer- he Election Commission General Observer of quashing of a criminal case University along with 18 other sity teachers, can and must log- Ton Wednesday suspended Sambalpur came a day after the against former vice-chancellor officials on charges of fraud and ically follow an adequate an officer posted as General prime minister's visit there on and 18 officials of Bhapal- criminal breach of trust. enquiry and a notice seeking Observer in Odisha for alleged- Tuesday. based Makhanlal Chaturvedi “We are rudely surprised explanation, it said. ly checking Prime Minister “Checking of the prime University. The FIR had been and shocked at the MCNUJC's Even after that, as good Narendra Modi's chopper in minister's chopper, undertak- lodged by the Economic Governing Council's chairman practice, a full-fledged impar- Sambalpur in violation of the en at Sambalpur, was not in Offences Wing of Madhya instructing the registrar of the tial enquiry must be held laid down norms. accordance with the EC guide- Pradesh Police on a complaint university to lodge an FIR because the concerned people The 1996 batch Karnataka lines as SPG protectees are by the governing council chair- against the former vice-chan- are university teachers and cadre IAS officer, Mohammed exempt from such checking,” man of the Makhanlal cellor and twenty existing fac- highly responsible citizens, it Mohsin, has not acted in con- said a senior official without Chaturvedi National University ulty members on various unin- stated. PTI formity with the EC's instruc- elaborating. tions concerning SPG pro- The Prime Minister was tectees, an order issued by the stated to have been held up at commission said. the place for around 15 minutes (') %  !     ! )      "   %!     On the basis of a report because of the sudden check-  from the district collector and ing, the official said. From Page 1 Six people were killed and over 100 injured when a bomb ,./&+ 0 went off near a mosque in * Malegaon in north    the legacy of Jayalalithaa. These marred by violence on polling  $   crores of rupees to Adanis and Maharashtra, on September Lok Sabha elections in Tamil day that left nine people dead Ambanis,” Sidhu, who is one of 29, 2008. According to the he second phase of Lok Nadu are the first ever after the and scores of others injured. n a scathing attack on Prime the star campaigners of the prosecution, it was the handi- TSabha polls for 95 seats demise of Dravidian stalwarts Fate of 68 candidates will be IMinister Narendra Modi, Congress, said. work of a Hindu extremist will decide the fate of several J Jayalalithaa of AIADMK and decided in Bihar by 86.01 lakh Congress leader Navjot Singh “How can you talk about group. stalwarts, including Union M Karunanidhi of the DMK. voters across Bhagalpur, Banka, Sidhu on Wednesday said those patriotism? You gave eight lakh The BJP has been holding Ministers Jitendra Singh, Jual The fledgling Makkal Kishanganj, Katihar and Purnea behind the Godhra incident jobs, but 25 lakh government Bhopal Lok Sabha seat, where Oram, Sadananda Gowda and Needhi Maiam of actor-politi- Lok Sabha constituencies. had no right to question him or posts are still vacant. People about 4.5 lakh of the 18 lakh Pon Radhakrishnan, former cian Kamal Hassan will make Five seats in Assam will see talk about patriotism. neither got Lord Ram nor voters are Muslim, since 1989. Prime Minister HD Deve its debut in the polls. polling on Thursday and one The cricketer-turned- employment,” he added. In the 2018 Assembly elections, Gowda and DMK’s Dayanidhi The BJP had 27 of the 94 seat in Manipur. The past few politician made the remarks In his address, Sidhu also the Congress won three out of Maran, A Raja and Kanimozhi. seats at stake in the second days have seen hectic cam- while addressing a rally in said this Lok Sabha election the eight Assembly segments in Altogether 1,600-odd contes- phase in the last Lok Sabha paigning by top leaders includ- Dholka town of Ahmedabad was a battle between Lord the Bhopal Lok Sabha con- tants are in the fray from 11 polls. The Congress had won 12 ing Prime Minister Narendra district today. Krishna and Kans, Ram and stituency, and in the remaining States and the Union Territory of these seats in 2014, the Shiv Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, “Tum Narendra Ravan, and Godse and Gandhi. segments the BJP’s victory of Puducherry. Sena and the BJD 4 each, the Congress president Rahul Damodardas Modi, koi He lambasted Modi over margin decreased. Thirty eight of the 39 Lok JD(S) and the RJD two each Gandhi and a host of Union Godhra karaane wala Sardar the Rafale deal, unemploy- Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu will and the AIUDF, the NCP, the Ministers. Bhagwant Singh Sidhu ke bete ment and farmer issues, and go to polls and bypolls will be JD(U), the PDP, the AINRC, There was lot of drama ko sawal nahi kar also dared the PM to have a held in 18 Assembly con- the PMK, the CPI(M) and the during electioneering as sever- sakta...Rashtrabhakti ki baat debate with him. stituencies. The Election TMC one seat each. al leaders like Uttar Pradesh nahi kar sakta. (You, Narendra “China is building a railway Commission cancelled the Besides Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister , Damodardas Modi...Someone line beneath the sea. US is find- 4 polling in Vellore Lok Sabha polling will also be held in 14 Union Minister Maneka behind Godhra (incident) can- ing life on Mars. Russia is try- seat, which is currently repre- seats in Karnataka, 10 in Gandhi, BSP chief Mayawati not question Sardar ing to build an army of robots. sented by the AIADMK, fol- Maharashtra, eight in Uttar and SP leader Azam Khan Bhagwant Singh Sidhu's And what is India doing? We 4 lowing recovery of huge Pradesh, five each in Assam, made controversial remarks, son or talk about patriotism),” are making a 'chowkidar' who amount of cash allegedly from Bihar and Odisha, three each in prompting the Election he said. is actually a 'chor' (thief). I am an associate of a DMK leader. Chhattisgarh and West Bengal, Commission to bar them from The Punjab minister was telling you that you are indeed 63 The EC also announced two in Jammu & Kashmir and Even though security was and of campaigning for varying peri- referring to the incident that a thief,” Sidhu. From Page 1 postponement of polling in one seat each in Manipur and heightened, Maoists gunned Congress are contesting from ods over violations of the moral occurred on the morning of 27 “You always talk about In Kanker Parliamentary Tripura (East) Lok Sabha seat to Puducherry. Elections will also down a polling officer in Nanded and Solapur seats code of conduct. February 2002, in which 59 nationalism. Then listen Mr. seat the polling timing will be the third phase on April 23, say- be held in 35 Assembly con- Kandhamal district of Odisha respectively. In West Bengal, the EC has people died in a fire inside the Modi. This is a battle between truncated to 3pm for three ing the prevailing law and order stituencies in Odisha. on Wednesday when she was Cinestars Hema Malini and deployed 194 companies of Sabarmati Express train near Lord Krishna and Kans. This is assembly constituencies of situation there is not conducive Other prominent candi- leading a team of poll person- Raj Babbar are among the 85 Central forces in the three con- the Godhra railway station. a battle between Ram and Antagarh (ST), for free and fair polls. dates in fray include Congress nel to a booth in Phulbani candidates from Uttar Pradesh, stituencies going to polls to The incident triggered vio- Ravan. And, this is a battle Bhanupratappur (ST) and The stake is high for the leaders Verappa Moily and Raj Assembly segment. whose electoral fate will be cover 80 per cent of the 5,390 lence and large-scale riots between Godse and Gandhi,” Kanker (ST). In other seg- AIADMK which had swept the Babbar, National Conference It is a high-stake battle for decided on Thursday. The eight booths for free and fair polling. across Gujarat. Modi was then he added. ments, the 7am to 5pm timing polls in 2014 and has gone from president Farooq Abdullah and the ruling Congress-JD(S) Lok Sabha seats, where polling The fight for the lone Lok the chief minister of the state. The Punjab minister will remain unchanged. one internal crisis to another BJP’s Hema Malini. alliance in Karnataka as any is scheduled to be held, were Sabha seat in Puducherry is Responding to Sidhu's crit- accused Modi of dividing the The prominent BJP candi- after the death of its supreme In Odisha, Chief Minister adverse result is likely to have an won by the BJP in 2014. expected to be mainly between icism of Modi, who was in nation. date Santosh Pandey and leader J Jayalalithaa. The party and BJD president Naveen impact on the longevity of the In Jammu & Kashmir, the ruling Congress, which has Gujarat to address rallies on “Our Constitution says Congress candidate Bholaram has formed a strong alliance with Patnaik is contesting from his coalition Government in the authorities have deployed over put up former Speaker V Wednesday, state BJP chief Jitu there should not be any dis- Sahu are in fray at Rajnandgaon PMK and DMDK to take on the home turf Hinjili in Ganjam State. The BJP is determined to 80 companies for election duty Vaithilingam and the Vaghani said the opposition crimination on the basis of LS seat. At Mahasamund BJP might of DMK-Cong-Left district and Bijepur in Bargarh. improve its tally compared to last in the twin constituencies of Opposition AINRC’s K party should make Sidhu a caste, colour and creed. It also candidate Chunnilal Sahu is alliance, which is expected to win Among others, Union Tribal time riding on the Modi wave. Srinagar and Udhampur. Narayanasamy. minister in the Pakistani gov- says that no one should be sub- pitted against Congress candi- at least two third of the 39 seats, Affairs Minister Oram of the A total of 179 candidates Thursday’s polling in Srinagar The Lok Sabha polls are ernment. jected to discrimination on date Dhanendra Sahu, who is as per various opinion polls. BJP, BJD’s Rajya Sabha MPs are in the fray in Maharashtra will be keenly watched within being held in seven phases for Gujarat Chief Minister the basis of religion. But you are an MLA from Abhanpur. The The presence of TTV Prasanna Acharya and Achyut in the 10 constituencies spread and outside Kashmir as the 543 seats on April 11, April 18, also slammed trying to divide the nation. And Congress candidate in Kanker Dinakaran’s AAMK could hurt Samant, BJP nominee and in parts of Vidarbha and constituency recorded an all- April 23, April 29, May 6, May Sidhu over his remarks against still you are claiming that you is Biresh Thakur while BJP the AIADMK prospects on three-time MP Kharabela Marathwada regions. Former time low of 7.2 per cent voter 12 and May 19, and counting Modi. are a nationalist! What kind of fielded Mohan Mandavi. many seats as he is fighting for Swain are in the fray this time. Chief Ministers Ashok Chavan turnout in the 2017 by-election, will be on May 23. “We all know about Sidhu's nationalism is this?” Sidhu drama during his recent asked. Pakistan visit. He is acting like “Instead of talking about ## $  O &P   a dalal (broker) of Pakistan mandir and masjid, we should because of his friendship with talk about unemployment, +%      (   Imran Khan (Pakistan PM),” farmers and poor people. But Rupani told reporters. do you discuss these issues?    operate today,” Jet Airways sion of operations,” it said. NEW DELHI: After a fresh Singh said alliance talks between AAP and Congress has been During his speech, Sidhu You are just diverting people's informed the exchanges. The last flight of the airline, round of discussion for the the AAP and the Congress was called off following disagree- further accused Modi of not attention from these key issues. eetering for over four months The airline said the deci- left the Amritsar airport at Congress-AAP alliance in Delhi called off following disagree- ment over tie-up in Haryana doing anything for the com- You always speak lies. I chal- Tdue to cash-drought, Jet sion follows the lenders refus- 10.30pm for New Delhi. and neighbouring States of ment over tie-up in Haryana and Delhi. The Congress has mon people and working only lenge you to have a debate with Airways, flying for over 25 years, ing to offer a lifeline. After a board meeting on Haryana and Punjab, the Aam and Delhi, senior Congress refused to form an alliance in for select industrialists. me on these issues,” he added. on Wednesday said its last flight “Since no emergency fund- Tuesday, the management had Admi Party (AAP) on leader , who Haryana, and we do not want a “What did you do for the On the Rafale deal, the will takeoff on Wednesday night, ing from the lenders or any authorised chief executive Vinay Wednesday said the Congress was part of the discussion on tie-up only in Delhi,” said Sanjay youth and farmers? What hap- Congress leader said although after its lenders refused to offer other source is forthcoming, Dube to make one last appeal to has refused to form an alliance Wednesday, presented a defen- Singh , who earlier held a meet- pened to your promise of dou- Modi assumed office in 2014 as a 400-crore lifeline. the airline will not be able to the lenders for an emergency in Haryana and thus the party sive statement and said as par- ing with Azad following the bling the farmers' income. In 'Ganga ka lal' (son of Ganga), “With immediate effect, pay for fuel or other critical ser- 400 crore funding, and if not does “not want a tie-up only in liamentarians they keep meet- fresh rounds of expression by fact, you could not even give he will have to vacate the office we are compelled to cancel all vices to keep the operations the demand is not met, take a Delhi”. ing and declined to state any- party chiefs — Rahul Gandhi of them water to drink. On the as 'Rafale ka dalal' (middleman our international and domes- going... And has decided to go final call on the future of the air- While AAP leader and thing about the meeting. the Congress and Arvind other hand, you gave lakhs and of Rafale). tic flights. The last flight will ahead with temporary suspen- line on Wednesday. Rajya Sabha member Sanjay “Alliance talks between Kejriwal of the AAP. SR     !"  )

./, .  +Q+#P Q +  !%  *+,**-. 78 # #*#* #* -&+  ! 6 * +  ,   #2-  - +, , , '. %99/'  % 78  9&/'/O?@4   % %   "  % ers were asked to choose 9.3/.9.5' 2 between the incumbent   "  Committee or else they would /'O.'5' wo-thirds of the largely ndonesia’s Joko Widodo was Widodo, lauded for his infra- press for a discussion on the .'9.''/9 Tmedieval roof of the famed Ion track to be re-elected leader structure driven economic push, hina Wednesday dismissed issue at the UNSC itself, Foreign 9/A Notre Dame cathedral in Paris of the world’s third-biggest and his fiery nationalist rival, Creports that the US, the UK Ministry spokesman Lu Kang B//4"/2/9/'//4 have “gone” after the devastat- democracy with pollsters giving who has strong ties to the coun- and France have served an ulti- said, “I don’t know where you get /'/9'/'' ing fire, but UN cultural him a wide lead over rival try’s three-decade Suharto dic- matum to Beijing to lift its such information.” /99?)+,A experts are standing by to offer Prabowo Subianto, a firebrand tatorship. “technical hold” by April 23 on He said both the UNSC and help in rebuilding the iconic ex-general, hours after voting The call to prayer had rang branding Pakistan-based JeM its subsidiary body 1267 /  0, structure, UNESCO World closed Wednesday across the out as voting began at first light chief Masood Azhar as a glob- Committee have clear rules and  0 ,   Heritage Centre Director 17,000-island archipelago. in restive Papua province in the al terrorist by the UN but procedures. 12'. .B'29' Mechtild Rossler said. While official results are east. claimed the vexed issue was “You need to get clarifica- /9./3'/%35.' Rössler, who visited the site not due until next month, a Almost 90 per cent of the “moving towards settlement”. tion from the sources about 4.09 99' Tuesday, told UN News that the series of so-called “quick counts” population of the 4,800 kilome- After the Pulwama attack, a where you get such information. /9'/'90/9 cathedral is a universal symbol by pollsters showed Widodo tre-long country are Muslim. fresh proposal to designate China’s position is very clear. /2//2'/5B33 and the centre of France and its holding a strong lead with The campaign was punctu- Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda This issue should be resolved //2/.'9. devastation has left people around 55 per cent of the vote ated by bitter mudslinging and Sanctions Committee of the through cooperation. We don’t '9099// across nations shocked. to Subianto’s 44 per cent. a slew of fake news online -- UN Security Council was believe that any efforts without ./2A She described seeing peo- !    & !+       %  The vote officially ended at much directed at the presiden- moved by France, the US and the consensus of members will ple praying outside the strick- 1:00 pm (0600 GMT) in tial contenders. the UK. achieve a satisfying results,” he   %!!  en symbol of the city and the investigate the stability of the Heritage List, in 1991. “Notre Sumatra, although some of the Leading in pre-vote polls, However, China, a close said.  , +    nation, still trying to take in the stonework and potential dam- Dame represents a historically, 800,000 polling stations across President Joko Widodo, 57, ally of Pakistan, blocked the bid “On the issue of listing '3'3. /8))33 scale of the disaster. age to stained glass windows, architecturally, and spiritually, the volcano-dotted nation pointed to his ambitious drive to by putting a “technical hold” on Azhar, China’s position remains /9/'9 “I saw many, many people echoing a statement by the outstanding universal heritage. remained open late due to delays build much-needed roads, air- the proposal. Following this, the unchanged. We also stay in 9090./'./90 going from the Metro, to the UNESCO Director-General, It is also a monument of liter- and long queues. ports and other infrastructure US backed by the UK and communication with relevant 3''999'/' site of Notre Dame, and I have Audrey Azoulay, in which she ary heritage, a place that is From the jungles of Borneo across Southeast Asia’s largest France moved directly to UN parties. The matter is moving 0'3/'2'' to say many are still in a state announced that a “rapid dam- unique in our collective imag- to the slums of Jakarta, economy. Security Council (UNSC) to towards the direction of settle- ./3'/'/'/9'53. of shock, because it’s not only age assessment” would be car- ination,” said the UNESCO Wednesday saw millions of But Widodo, a political out- blacklist Azhar. China, a veto- ment,” he said. /%/A the Christian community, it’s a ried out as soon as possible chief, adding that the inferno Indonesians cast their ballots in sider with an everyman per- wielding member of the UNSC, “The relevant parties are for- building for all of us,” she said. with the authorities. which engulfed the cathedral, one of the world’s biggest exer- sonality when he swept to vic- opposed the move, saying the cing new resolution through the  +,,  “Really, it’s a universal symbol After visiting the site of but appears to have left the cises in democracy. Horses, ele- tory in 2014, has seen his rights issue should be resolved at the UN Security Council. We firm-  O, * P and it’s the centre of France …I Notre Dame on Monday night, medieval stonework intact, phants, motorbikes, boats and record criticised owing to an 1267 Committee itself which ly oppose that. In fact, the rele- 67* 0389. %9 think this is really shocking Azoulay said “we are all heart- “reminds us of the power of planes were pressed into service uptick in discriminatory attacks also functioned under the top vant discussion in UNSC, most /'9/9 $9' people profoundly and they lost broken.” heritage that connects us to one to get ballot boxes out across the on religious and other minori- UN body. member expressed wish that this /..' 9''/'2 something that is part of their The Cathedral is part of the another. vast country that is home to ties, including a small LGBT Reacting to reports that the issue should be discussed with- ./90L29/9.//M9 identity.” World Heritage site officially We are receiving messages hundreds of ethnic groups and community, as Islamic hardlin- three countries have fixed April in the 1267 Committee and 33/9//9 ./9 Rössler said that a team of known as “Paris, Banks of the of support from all over the languages. ers become more vocal in pub- 23 as a deadline for China to lift they don’t hope to bypass it to 3/.3/933''9' UNESCO experts is on hand to Seine”, inscribed on the World world.” More than 190 million vot- lic life. its technical hold in the 1267 handle the issue,” he said. BL9/MA  P !      29''5 4'/'9'9 1)   % $ his name for security reasons. been shot and many have died. measure. 20/939 Witnesses near the prison All this because we said what On taking power on ) udan’s military rulers have in north Khartoum said there we wanted to,” protester Fadia Thursday the army said a mil- Stransferred ousted president was a heavy deployment of sol- Khalaf told AFP. itary council would run the         % that aimed to reverse the bor- “first and foremost” to “protect Omar al-Bashir to prison, a diers and members of a para- Officials say at least 65 country for two years, sparking der emergency he declared the safety of the more than family source said Wednesday, military group outside. people have been killed in an immediate backlash from UN report says around a resident Donald Trump on in order to secure more fund- 80,000 Americans who reside as demonstrators keep up their The 75-year-old’s where- protest-related violence since protest leaders who have issued Athird of all conflict-relat- PTuesday vetoed a resolution ing for his wall between the in certain coalition countries.” sit-in outside the army complex abouts have been unknown December, with some of those a series of demands. ed from Congress directing him to United States and Mexico in These countries “have been calling for a swift transfer to since a military takeover on killed immortalised in a Just a day later former detainees in Afghanistan end US support for the March. subject to Huthi attacks from civilian government. Thursday, when the country’s Khartoum mural. defence minister General Awad report being subjected to tor- Saudi-led war in Yemen, the Vetoing the measure is an Yemen,” he said, referring to Following the dramatic new rulers said he was being While there have been Ibn Ouf stepped down as coun- ture or ill-treatment. second such move of his pres- “effective green light for the war drone and missile strikes the end to Bashir’s rule of three held “in a secure place”. scenes of celebration -- with cil chief, sparking jubilation on UN officials interviewed a idency. strategy that has created the Saudi-led coalition has either decades last week, he was The detention of Bashir has demonstrators singing and the streets of Khartoum. total of 618 detainees held in The resolution was a harsh world’s worst humanitarian claimed were intercepted or moved late Tuesday “to Kober failed to pacify protesters, who waving their national flag -- the His successor General 77 facilities across the country bipartisan rebuke to Trump crisis to continue,” said denied altogether. prison in Khartoum”, the launched anti-government protest site has grown more Abdel Fattah al-Burhan over- between January 2017 and that took the historic step of International Rescue The president also said the source said without revealing demonstrations in December tense amid concerns the army saw weekend talks with polit- December 2018. The alleged curtailing a president’s war- Committee president and CEO resolution would “harm the and have for days been will try to clear the sit-in with ical parties, which failed to torture included suffocation, making powers -- a step he David Miliband. foreign policy of the United camped out in front of force. make headway. electric shocks, pulling of gen- condemned in a statement “Yemen is at a breaking States” and “harm our bilater- Khartoum’s army headquar- “Now we fear that our rev- Sudan’s foreign minister itals and suspension from ceil- announcing his veto. point with 10 million people on al relationships.” ters. olution could be stolen, which has said Burhan is “committed ings. “This resolution is an the brink of famine. There are And it would “negatively Sudan’s military rulers is why we are keeping our to having a complete civilian The UN mission to unnecessary, dangerous as many as 100 civilian casual- affect our ongoing efforts to have made some concessions ground here. We are staying government” and has called on Afghanistan and the U.N. attempt to weaken my consti- ties per week, and Yemenis are prevent civilian casualties and to protesters, including the here until our demands are other nations to back the coun- Human Rights Office released tutional authorities, endanger- more likely to be killed at prevent the spread of terrorist sacking Tuesday of prosecu- met,” said Khalaf. cil. The military rulers dis- the joint report on Wednesday. ing the lives of American citi- home than in any other struc- organizations such as Al-Qaeda tor general Omer Ahmed Earlier this week witness- patched an envoy to the The US-backed Afghan zens and brave service mem- ture.” Trump argued that US in the Arabian Peninsula and Mohamed, but demonstra- es said several army vehicles African Union’s headquarters government is holding bers, both today and in the support for the bloody war ISIS, and embolden Iran’s tors fear their uprising could had surrounded the area and in the Ethiopian capital Addis thousands of detainees, future,” Trump said. between the Saudi-backed malign activities in Yemen,” be hijacked. that troops were removing the Ababa, but the regional bloc many of them captured as The veto was the second of Yemeni government and Iran- Trump said, referring to two “We faced tear gas, many barricades which demonstra- threatened to suspend Sudan part of the ongoing war with his presidency, after he over- aligned Huthi rebels was nec- Sunni Muslim militant groups of us were jailed. We have tors had put up as a security over the coup. the Taliban. rode a congressional resolution essary for a variety of reasons, and his Shiite bete noire. Q1)3 . #3 +*#+# - %& #!++#* - 3*  %   urkish President Recep     % lenge it in court. TTayyip Erdogan on   $ said the bullet went straight “Our Constitution does not Wednesday met with Iran’s through Garcia’s head. S President Donald Trump’s allow the government to lock up foreign minister, who arrived in eru’s former president Alan The attempted arrest took Uadministration has issued asylum seekers without basic Ankara to brief him on his PGarcia shot himself in the place at 6:30 a.M. (1130 GMT) an order that could keep some due process. We’ll see the meeting with Syria’s President head at his home on Wednesday at Garcia’s home in the posh asylum seekers in jail for months administration in court. Again,” Bashar al-Assad. as police were about to arrest Miraflores neighborhood of or years as they wait for their the ACLU tweeted. Turkey supports Syrian him in a sprawling corruption Lima. “This morning there was cases to be heard, The New York Trump has staked his pres- opposition rebels and Iran case, his lawyer and hospital offi- a regrettable accident: the pres- Times reported Tuesday. idency on his insistence that the backs Assad in Syria’s long cials said. ident took the decision to shoot The order from Attorney United States is being overrun by war, but the two sides have The 69-year-old Garcia was himself,” Erasmo Reyna, Garcia’s General Bill Barr directs immi- migrants and asylum seekers. been expanding contacts amid undergoing emergency surgery lawyer, told reporters outside the gration judges to no longer all- But opponents, mostly in international efforts to end the for “a bullet wound to his head” hospital. ow asylum seekers who are ap- the Democratic Party, say his fighting. at the Casimiro Ulloa Garcia, who was president prehended after entering the push for building more walls on Kazakhstan will host a  P  # 9      P:    !! Emergency Hospital in Lima, from 1985-90 and again from country illegally to post bail, the the Mexican border and his fresh round of Syria talks on ;    )  !     %  " the hospital said. Peru’s Health 2006-11, is suspected of having newspaper said. The order — almost daily denunciations of April 25-26 in its capital,     % Minister Zulema Tomas said taken bribes from Brazilian con- which will not go into effect for migrants as dangerous criminals recently renamed from Astana Garcia was in “very serious and struction giant Odebrecht in 90 days — does not affect those incites racial hatred. to Nur-Sultan. reporters in translated com- “assassin”. critical” condition. return for large-scale public who apply for asylum at a legal The president declared an “I had a long ments. But Erdogan “We’ve had to resuscitate works contracts. port of entry, the Times report- emergency to bypass Congress interview with Bashar al-Assad. Ankara broke acknowledged in February him three times. He’s had three In November he sought ed. The move was quickly con- and unlock funds for his con- I will be giving details of these ties with Damascus in 2011 that low-level contacts cardiac arrests,” said Tomas. refuge in the Uruguayan demned by the American Civil troversial wall project, and has discussions to Mr. Erdogan,” after the start of the Syrian war, have been taking place and “He is in a delicate condition Embassy and applied for asylum Liberties Union rights organi- also deployed troops to the bor- Iran’s Foreign Minister and Erdogan has in the his rhetoric has also softened and the prognosis is reserved,” but he left the next month after zation, which vowed to chal- der with Mexico. Mohammad Javad Zarif told past described Assad as an in tone in recent months. added the health ministry, which it was denied. 10!!)   %  (,),     % wider range of mitigation sion we can spot objects necessary. !   possibilities,” said Amy regardless of their sur- Astronomers also think ASA scientists have found Mainzer from NASA’s Jet face colour, and use it to that examining the composi-    An official of the Na simple yet ingenious way Propulsion Laboratory measure their sizes and tion of asteroids will help to Edhi Welfare Trust said the to spot tiny near-Earth objects (JPL). other surface proper- understand how the solar sys- 4 Members of an deceased belonged to (NEOs) early as they hurtle However, it is a dif- ties,” Mainzer said. tem was formed. 1Afghan family, including an extended family that resided towards the planet, an advance ficult task -- like spotting Discovering NEO “These objects are intrin- women and children, were in Karachi and were Afghans that may aid the efforts to pre- a lump of coal in the surface properties pro- sically interesting because some killed in a road accident when who were going to vent dangerous impacts. night’s sky, Mainzer said. vides an insight into are thought to be as old as the the vehicle they were travelling Qila Abdullah in Baluchistan The Chelyabinsk meteor, “NEOs are intrinsi- how big the objects are original material that made in collided head on with a truck for the funeral of a relative which was a mere 17-20 metres cally faint because they and what they are made up the solar system,” Mainzer on the Karachi-Quetta highway when they met with the acci- across, caused extensive ground are mostly really small of, both critical details said. here. dent. damage and numerous injuries and far away from us in in mounting a defen- She is now keen to leverage Six family members “Nine people had died when it exploded on impact space,” she said in a statement. signature of NEOs -- their sive strategy against an Earth- advances in camera technolo- were injured in the accident on the spot after the with Earth’s atmosphere in “Add to this the fact that heat. threatening NEO, researchers gy to aid in the search for that took place on Tuesday accident while five others February 2013. some of them are as dark as Asteroids and comets are said. NEOs. after the driver of the truck passed away later in hospital,” “If we find an object only printer toner, and trying to spot warmed by the sun and so glow For instance, one defensive “We are proposing to coming from the opposite he said. a few days from impact, it them against the black of brightly at thermal wavelengths strategy is to physically “nudge” NASA a new telescope, the direction lost control of the Earlier in July last year, greatly limits our choices, so in space is very hard,” Mainzer (infrared), making them easi- an NEO away from an Earth Near-Earth Object Camera vehicle near Mastung on the 20 people including women our search efforts we have said. er to spot with the Near-Earth impact trajectory, they said. (NEOCam), to do a much highway. had lost their lives after focused on finding NEOs when Instead of using visible Object Wide-field Infrared However, to calculate the more comprehensive job of The final rites of the their vehicle fell down off the they are away from Earth, pro- light to spot incoming objects, Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) energy required for that nudge, mapping asteroid locations and deceased were held on road near Mastung on the viding the maximum amount Mainzer’s team at JPL/Caltech telescope. details of NEO mass, and there- measuring their sizes,” Mainzer Wednesday. highway. of time and opening up a has leveraged a characteristic “With the NEOWISE mis- fore size and composition, are said.     !" 0  1     2/.BA.E/39 G%/ 9 9'/0/A.E/39E

:;:88 )& )   %    %  '990/'O3/.9'/9/H.'2/H.9'9'3/'A (#                 $        9./5'/''/''00'22'"/9./9/9+,*? ,    $       &(        $%    $   $   $           $   $  #           % $         %  &2 %   ,  3      S   $   .5!! ". &2**#   %    $&1     $   his time, Easter has tested the   $              patience of its believers, almost to  % &'     $0 3     the limit. It usually happens exact-     %0         %    ly one month after the Spring Equinox. The festival shifts irreg- )    ,     $&'    % Tularly in the compass of 35 days, ranging   P       &/   from March 22 to April 25. But this shift is $  &"/       %    not akin to that of a Hindu festival, say Holi or Ram Navami. All Hindu festivals follow

 %  &Q   /    %     a pendulum-like trajectory while shifting as      ,  $    per the lunar tithi year-on-year.  , &"%  ,  %  $  6   The Easter is reckoned according to three factors — Spring Equinox (March 21), ) &(  ) )     full moon and day of the week (Sunday). It               is the principal movable feast in the Christian       $       %      %)   liturgical calendar. Notwithstanding its irregularity, future Easter dates could be pre- S  %    7 &8  )     S  % dicted hundreds of years in advance, algo- $            %  rithmically. However, determining its place-   $&($     $  $     ment has been subject to major controver- sy in the past. Ironically, it was this contro-             versy that triggered the reform of the Julian   $   $          %     calendar in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII.         &"        $ Easter celebrates the supernatural Resurrection of Jesus Christ after his mor- One good way of determin- Roman Church. This was led to the Julian year over-       #        %    tal death on the Cross. While the ing Easter for the Church was to indeed the beginning of a split shooting the natural year by %   %     &0% #   %  Resurrection is in the domain of belief, his consult the Hebrew calendar in the Church into Western and three days in the course of four  ,  0  $    %,  $  death may be a historical event. There must itself. This was exactly what the Eastern domains, which was centuries. Thus, by the time of      %  0  %         have been a date for it as per the Julian solar early Eastern churches, which completed a thousand years the Nicaean Council in 325 calendar, applicable throughout the Roman were in closer communication later in 1054 AD. The AD, the Spring Equinox had   % , %    %   0  &"$ % world then. The Romans were the masters with the Jews, did. Thus, they Ecumenical Council of Nicaea shifted from original March 24 $           $     of Israel-Judea during the lifetime of Christ. celebrated the Easter feast on full    in 325 AD ruled that Easter to March 21.  $&(             Though Jesus was crucified according to the moon on the month of Nisan, should be celebrated on Sunday, But in the absence of a cor- orders of a Roman Governor viz, Pontius regardless of other factors. But % $   % following the full moon, follow- rective mechanism, the Equinox %        3      9 &(   Pilate, the date of his crucifixion was either for the Western churches, head-  %  % ing the Equinox. shifted to March 11 over the     $   ,  +  /   not recorded as per the Julian calendar or quartered in Rome, the day of If the full moon happens to next 12 centuries. The Church )          & at any rate not available to us. In fact, it was the week was equally important.   % coincide with the Equinox as it might not have bothered itself never available to the Church, which led to The concept of the week, as a happened this year or previous- with Equinox but for determin- '%        %    a lot of kite-flying. grid of seven days, was incorpo-  %% ly in 1981, one will have to wait ing the Easter. How Equinoxes  0       " $7 %3      But evidence in the Gospel shows that rated into the Julian calendar by    for the ensuing full moon to and Solstices had shifted over         , 7  ( &'   Jesus was crucified around the Passover feast the Church. The week is astro- apply the formula. But if the full age is pithily described in a let- of the Jews. The Jews celebrate the Passover nomically an arbitrary concept %A%   moon occurred even a day later ter written by French theologian        % &0 $       %  feast — in remembrance of their deliverance and ancient Romans were igno- K %  %% (provided it is not as late in the and astronomer Cardinal Pierre      $ %   , $   %  from Egyptian captivity by Moses — on the rant of it. The Roman Church week as of Saturday) the Easter d’Ailly (1350-1425) to Pope        %     &"     14th day of the month of Nissan of the emphasised the fact that Jesus    %  could be marked on that very (now regarded as Anti-Pope) Hebrew calendar. Each month of the Hebrew rose from the dead on a Sunday,  5  Sunday. But in the latter case, the John XXIII Baldassare Cossa in 0  0 %  0     7  (    $  % calendar begins on the morrow of the new which is celebrated every week full moon should occur latest by 1411.     % %%  &(      moon (which is actually no-moon or in the form of a Sunday mass.    Friday. This because Good Pierre d’Ailly’s ambitious  $       %     amavasya), the 14th day would be full moon. Thus, Easter must be held on no $$   %  Friday has to precede the Easter. plan to reform the Julian calen- On that day, every Jewish family eats the rit- other day expect Sunday. Since The Equinoxes and Solstices dar could not be taken up at the                    ually slaughtered and roasted Passover the Gospel says he rose from the  %%"5 together form the four pillars of Ecumenical Council at Rome in        &'0 3   lamb. Jesus had occasionally likened himself day on the third day he was cru-  A% 5% the tropical calendar inaugurat- 1412 nor at the Council of      %        to a lamb in the Gospel. His martyrdom cified, Friday became his day of ed by Julius Caesar in 44 BC. Constance in 1414-18. But it cre- coinciding with the Passover feast carries a crucifixion. This is called “Good  %% These astronomical phenome- ated a tempo which culminated : ($  &(         religious analogy. His last supper is believed Friday.” na were known to the ancient in the Gregorian reform of the  $   6    %       to be the Passover feast meal. During the first century  %  % Greek astronomers long before. calendar in 1582. By cancelling       %  $  $ P     Q   The Jewish calendar is lunisolar, which AD, the churches in the East and  $% But Caesar made it an integral 10 days from the calendar in  : ($      &'%$ $     means an intercalary month is added (as in the West mutually tolerated, part of the Western calendar, 1582, the Spring Equinox was the case of Vikram Samvat in India) to keep celebrating Easter on different $%  5 though it was not necessary that restored to March 21 as in days # $ %           it abreast of seasons. The Nisan is a spring days. But towards the end of the   the year or month should begin in Nicaean Council in 325 AD.           $ %   %%%  month. But in ancient times, intercalation century, there was a heated %  %  from those points. In innovat- Pope Gregory XXIII wanted a     &      ;(%      was not done through any algorithm but by exchange among correspon- ing quadruple leap year, Caesar fixed date for Easter, like an arbitrary decision taken by the Jewish dences on the subject between had assumed the length of a Christmas, a demand that con-      #    $   S grand assembly viz, Sanhedrin, based in Polycrates, the bishop of tropical year to be 365 days and tinued to be echoed till the 20th %   7 )      %#  & Jerusalem. Sanhedrin was in existence till the Ephesus and Victory, the bish- six hours; whereas in reality, it century by various stalwarts. destruction of ancient Israel in 70 AD. Thus, op of Rome (equivalent to was 11 minutes shorter (365 This, however, has not come a day cannot be transposed from the old Pope). Victor sternly severed the days five hours 48 minutes and about. Jewish calendar to Julian Calendar with reli- whole Eastern Church from 46 seconds). The surplus 11¼ (The writer is an indepen- 33 ability. being in communion with the minutes remaining unadjusted dent researcher) 4 3 , 2 - & * & /9B/ /9 '9B /''/' 9'2'90 /5 O'9 /B'/9        9'/ 9// '/B90'0/' 9/#3'9/9 $9' /9/9# '2O2A/ '990/9 9./90A%/''90 /9AB30''90     93/.'9''4 #3''90''B '/'.'92''9'A 092'  ./ #.'A /9/.'/..90A          .2B//3A       S ,3 '1:3+3 1 3'3+3 1 3:1 2'8 63 13+3 1 "#$% % $  %  K //' K"'9 K/90 K 9!H $  % $          $&   %        %    %&' $    /  * *  + 3 * , ** (  &*,+  %        country does not need a sem-    &(             blance of just and fair election,    % $   but a real ‘just and fair’ election            Sir — The Supreme Court has 2'''/5LO''22/'M6 3 in every sense must take place been just in allowing the use of +J7A %/9B25 ' .'9 9 67 and a real Government out of  &) $      %   R)+S  % the three leaked ‘classified’ doc- %LB3''3M5''3 the will of the people must     & uments as evidence in the Rafale 'O 3/A ''/ / 2 $9' 0 come to take the country for- "   $ %$   $        $,  review case, dismissing the '/9/'/./' 9/9 L$OM5 ward. In this regard, the role of 2'$//L09M/9/00L 2 $&(    -  %       #    Government’s objections. The the EC is greater than what it monumental efforts put forth by '/ 5//H/90/MA/H/9//H playing now.       $  ..       Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, /'6 7.2$///'//33/''$ TK Nandanan %  % &'          Prashant Bhushan and N Ram to ' ' 2 '  4  //9. /9 9' / ' Kochi   $    &"   $   expose the murky Rafale deal 90'3'''A//H/ /'/ deserve accolades. / /9 / 2 ' L    M '             $ %   $ % One hopes that the Supreme 3/"// //O/0/9.'' A 9 ''2' ///'A /.9''4   $   $ %   $ %&/       # Court will soon bring the case to $/9B/ /9/'/'9'$'' '9/9'''''/B2.9.'902  0( $%%   $  #     its logical end after the '2B90'0''92'A /92/35'''0'/2'  Sir — This refers to the editorial, recently procured evidence, '/.'/0/9'/'/9'9 $9'/9'3'.'/9229'/'/'4 “EC’s test of faith” (April 17). It   %              shedding light on the wilful /2'/B5'299'9090' 9'2/A ''.9//3/4 is shameful that the Supreme $  &/  % ' '       defaults in the surreptitious $9'/9/$OL/H'59'M '//9''/A Court had to step in to remind the    # #       $$        deal, is examined. Culprits must .9'9.9''2 / /9.9''902 $+ '3 Election Commission (EC) about be brought to book. //9//9L3/93/M'2'4''4    its constitutional powers. But it is  %$%   $ %%     % % Tharcius S Fernando encouraging that after being   &"  %     $  % %  Chennai pulled up by the top court, the EC  %         $       %   it to issuing gag orders on some Constitution and reprimanded it and fair election. did take action against four errant   senior leaders, including Uttar severely for failing to discharge The general election in our political leaders who had made  $   $          %&0  Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi its duties. country is touted to be the some shocking and divisive state-  %' '   % %      ,     % Adityanath Samajwadi Party Some leaders have regular- largest democratic process in the ments. The EC may be a toothless  $     %   &1   S Sir — This refers to the editor- leader Azam Khan and BJP ly been violating the model world and every citizen must feel tiger but it deserves credit for hav- ial, “EC’s test of faith” (April 17). leader Maneka Gandhi. code of conduct and were also proud that he/she is somebody ing taken swift action against "#     %      & Following a severe stricture on Earlier, the EC had cut a on a spree of spitting hate who has played a role in decid- these leaders.      $%          the Election Commission (EC) sorry figure when it came to bell speeches. Sadly, the EC failed to ing who should head the new Sarita $  %  &(      %  %    by a Bench headed by Chief the cat and rein in political act and remained a mute spec- Government at the Centre. In Via email Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, parties who flexed their muscles. tator to such incidents. Now, the this process, the EC is the cus- &  %   ,  $    #   the electoral body was forced to The court reminded the EC of Supreme Court has done well to todian to oversee that “just and    ) /     &"  % $  & take a flurry of actions, leading the powers vested in it by the strengthen the EC to ensure just fair election” takes place. The  1 '2'31<:6(='6     !"   4     5+3* ,/26- $. ,2-*+ $.#

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". !3!5 #+/#+ 66(     S   $    S                    '& 3  &(              $% ' ( <///       y now, it’s common knowledge that    $ 7    &(     #   Mahatma Gandhi, without whom the              $& call for independence from British '    $ % $     rule would never have reached the  &1 ' S            Indian masses, had wanted the Indian   2  = '$  % :      BNational Congress (INC) to be disbanded after       %    - ( %  S   independence. That it was a party of the British             $    and the Indian English-educated elite was clear to him and he knew that this was not what    7  $    S  % & “freedom” truly meant. The purpose of INC as '       $       envisaged was to achieve independence from #       $>       %$     British Raj and to not hand over the country  %    "     %      to them on a platter. Gandhiji was clear that the %    $&(           INC needed to be disbanded after the British 3             $ left India. But what he wanted did not happen. %$ 8  &#      He increasingly became disillusioned after inde-   " %(         $  pendence. After his assassination, pressure to        $            $& have a truly representational democracy took /  $ %              a backseat and the corrupt cronyism of the INC held sway. "    %%  %        Gandhiji was indeed right about INC. It did           7& not quite truly understand what nationalism '    %       7  & was. It still does not and does not even seem '  % P Q7    to care about it. As the 2019 election campaign      $    %        is in full swing right now, we can see how the   &7              grand old party relentlessly disparages the

     %   &'       nation, fails to stand by our brave armed forces          =  %  ?   and even scoffs the country’s phenomenal  P3 Q$       %7 0    achievements —Mission Shakti and the testing  $3     %    $$  of the first anti-satellite missile system that        & made us the fourth nation in the world to have this critical defence capability are a few exam- ' S     7     $   ples. With 70 years of independence, we are now       #     %  $ a witness to some of the most negative state-  &/    % &(         ments against the nation by INC members. So  %  O   0    6  ) # O   % %   % much so that today, even those Indians, who ' S  &/    %7&'' < were supportive of the Congress, are stunned      7     $  at the lows the party has taken.             ,    $ In no other democratic country does the   P%% &Q'3    %      Opposition party ridicule the nation’s achieve-   $ %  %     P     ments or take sides with the enemy country — even said that British rule in India was the Bose, that pushed the British to the wall and policy except for mentions like secularism, the        %     &Q when its soldiers have been massacred by ter- “greatest gift of providence to his race.” raised the daunting prospect of an outright party members’ lack of national pride remained rorists like in Pulwama — as in India. For, their Point to be noted here is that nowhere does mutiny — the INA’s contribution to India’s inde- obfuscated from public knowledge all these '    A " B   0   opposition is to the ruling party and never to the INC website mention about Hume. History pendence is undeniable. The sacrifices made by decades except for the occasional mention of  P %             their nation. The INC’s behaviour as an of this party is one that was never actually root- INA soldiers are, however, not what we think 1971 and Bangladesh (of course, it didn’t $ &Q     $ %  $ Opposition party will be unthinkable say in ed in India’s cultural identity as a basis for about in the common narrative of India’s inde- explain why 90,000 PoWs had to be returned   # &7 %   $  $     Britain or the US where leaders’ loyalty to their nationhood. This is a deeper theme in itself. pendence. to Pakistan to keep aflame the fire of hatred    ?        ?   country remains unquestioned — it defines who In the historical context, recent public pro- Unlike other nations, India did not really against India in them as free Pakistanis and go   &'          $ %P % they are as a people. nouncements by INC members, who have win a war and defeat foreign forces to reclaim on to spawn anti-India terrorism). The truth  %&Q/  %    %       So, why is it that in India we have a party alarmed many Indians and provided fodder its sovereignty. So, post-independence, the INC of the INC — as a party still comprising the     %%     %        like INC, whose statements, like the one doubt- dangerously enough to Pakistan, bears reference captured national consciousness by means of English-speaking elite, scoffing at all that is  %#        %& ing the Balakot strikes, sound like they are the to the party’s history. The INC was indeed so educational propaganda that highlighted the anti-thetical to its understanding — is being 7       $      same as the ones made by politicians in cosy with the British that its prominent mem- party’s role in the freedom struggle when the exposed now. All of this reveals a well- Pakistan? Why is it that the leading Opposition bers failed to create a national identity that fact remains that none of the prominent lead- entrenched disconnect with Indian ethos and      #  O     party is unable to distinguish between the nation could resonate in its being — either before or ers from INC lost their lives to gain indepen- pride of the people.      %&3  %    $ and the ruling party and spares no opportuni- after independence. The ones, who stood for dence. The great sons of India, who sacrificed In the 10 years of UPA rule, there was noth-          7      ty to belittle the country? It’s, therefore, worth a stronger and more assertive tone in demand- their lives like Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, ing much to feel proud about but much to be %    %     asking: Does this disconnect with the country ing legitimate rights for the people, were Chandrashekhar Azad and Khudiram Bose, disheartened about, including the cowardly  % %  % % ;'      have much deeper roots, going back to the for- staunch nationalists but were deemed as were not talked about in the public domain. silence by the Congress’ powers-that-be in Delhi    &3         # %P  7Q mation of the INC itself? “extremists.” And this is well-known viz, the Instead, India’s freedom from the British was after the horrendous Mumbai 26/11 attacks. But P  Q   $           %& INC still not rooted in India: The party divisions between the “moderates” and the and is still showcased as being an INC affair, after losing power in 2014, party leaders have          %      was founded in 1885 by AO Hume, a British “extremists” in the INC. failing to highlight the internal struggles with- maintained a unified stance to run down India’s imperial civil service officer. But did the party The firebrand, who gave the first clarion call in the party in its early days with the “moder- significant achievements.    %       %%     swarajya ji,   %    %    %    & ask for complete independence soon after it was for before Gandhi was Lokmanya ates” toeing the British line of administrative Since the last five years, India has touched formed? No. It was only after 44 years of its for- Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who said, “Swarajya is my reform and discussions and “extremists” significant highs on defence and technology /   0    %    % '  <  mation that the INC demanded poorna swara- birthright and I shall have it” in 1906. This call demanding freedom from foreign rule before fronts, something it had not pursued in its years          % ?  %& jya for India in December 1929. Until then, all came at a time when the INC was led by the Gandhiji came to India and led the struggle. in governance. So its principal strategy is to ?    %     '      that it meekly asked the British was a domin- moderates (which was true for its first 20 years Needless to say, these “extremists,” or assertive attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi.   &7 %        7  ion status for the country. And who were the of existence, working only on policy changes nationalists, didn’t really make it big in INC as Given its origin, it is difficult for the INC       $$     % party’s members? They were a part of the through administrative means). INC’s top time went on after independence. to internalise the idea of India, the nation, its         %  %   &8 British elite — those Indians who were educat- leaders didn’t really want to let go off the British This then is the problem with INC: It never pride, its spirit and its civilisational sanctity. For  '  %       $% ed in England and who held wealth and social rule as they thought of it as being beneficial to believed in the main pillars that define a coun- it, poll time means reviving divisive agenda and  %   % %     standing. The formation of the INC can itself the nation. This can be seen in the stated posi- try — a unified core cultural identity and mil- let’s not forget that the divide and rule policy       & be seen as a smart move by the British to main- tion of several INC presidents of the early days. itary strength that builds a nation. This is why worked well for the British, who inspired and 3      S          tain a sense of stability, badly shaken as they What is INC’s position on nationalism? when quite naturally all Indians would feel a founded the INC anyway. And so this saga were by the First War of Independence or what The party has never come to terms with what swell of pride on the achievements of the mil- endures. It is time for the voters to inform them-          % % &'   they called the Mutiny of 1857. It is an unde- its position on India as a nation is and what it itary, Congressmen don’t. The INC’s disparag- selves of the history of the INC and realise that   %$       !  "  # niable fact that early members of the INC means to be an Indian. This could be because ing stand on the brave and impactful Balakot it never really came around to re-modelling   $     % &/   $  $    looked up to British education and governance like many Indians believe, there was no armed strike by the Indian Air Force even disturbed itself from its British past as colonised subjects.    &'  #    %  as means to achieving a “stable India.” There struggle by its members to achieve indepen- former party leaders like Tom Vadakkan, who And any party, which chooses to ally with the  %     P( %      $   are documented references to past Indian pres- dence, no suffering and no pain. It was, in fact, spoke about it later when he was asked as to INC now, is also standing by the same credo   &QA7   B&< $      & idents of INC eulogising the British Raj and one the armed resistance by the Indian National why he decided to join the BJP. of perpetuating that legacy. &  '     ! (  ) (    * of its presidents, Pandit Bishan Narayan Dar, Army (INA), led by Netaji Subhash Chandra A disconnect with India: With no clear (The writer is a social activist) * 5,+.- 8                                

extends across more than 693 kms is exactly the problem with conserva- ties admit that the State’s progress from Gujarat to Delhi (through tion initiatives for the Aravallis as the must happen at the cost of ecology Rajasthan and Haryana). The people as also the officials have not and the environment. Aravallis, with their vast landscape realised the potential of natural mar- There is no way to undo the dam- and biological diversity, have shaped vel that they have at their disposal. age done to the Aravalli range. India’s northern landscape in more They could only decipher the econom- Humans have exacted a terrible price ways than one. ic value of the range. As a result, this from nature. The sad thing is that all 6$! 3++#7 They guide the monsoon clouds amazing creation of nature with all its of this is happening under the super- and act as a groundwater recharge unique flora and fauna was taken for vision of State authorities. Mining %  $$ % he might of the mountain zone. Thus, they are important for granted and exploitation started to fin- mafia trucks ply day-in and day-out,     ranges is almost mythical. These long-term ecological security of Indian ish off large stretches. carrying loads of stone extracted Tnatural formations have not cities. The Aravallis also help in pre- To make matters worse, the from the quarries deep within the %3/92'990' only shaped history and topography venting long-term desertification. Haryana Government recently Aravallis. '.'92'/ but have also played a pivotal role in They act as a barrier against the wind, task, thanks to the many problems already delicate condition of the passed an amendment in the Punjab In the midst of these dreary and '/0/'/ conserving the ecology. These once carrying sand from the Thar Desert associated with it and the continuous range. And it’s not that only the ter- Land and Preservation Act, a law that grim conditions, all hope is not lost. /9/92 formidable ranges — be it the Western and prevent it from entering the intervention of humans. The situation rain has been affected. People and was drafted by the British in 1900. The judiciary of India is playing a van- Ghats along the south-western coast Delhi-NCR region. has been exacerbated due to a decline communities, who were dependent on With a change in the law, it is now guard role by taking up critical issues 0/'9'3'.'/' of India or the Aravallis in the North Greenery associated with this in rainfall in the past few decades, the Aravallis, are now faced with an being feared that large areas of the pertaining to the well-being of the /9'/9' — have existed unchallenged through- mountain range has been replaced which has led to the depletion of the uncertain future. Further, large-scale Aravalli forest area, that were earli- country and environment is certain- 3/'990.9'9 out the history of time. But the reign with dry and dusty shrub-like environ- groundwater table. mining with dynamites blowing up er protected, will now face the risk ly one of them. The National Green ''./2'A of supremacy for these colossal won- ment. This is due to the mountain As the Aravallis paid the price of huge tracts of granite rocks caused of being used for development pur- Tribunal (NGT) has intervened many %'/'/B992 ders seems to be waning thanks to range being subjected to decades of being close to human habitations, relentless vibrations and tremors that poses. But the Haryana Government times to ensure that the environment deteriorating environmental and wors- abuse and threats from mining activ- human intervention sadly did not stop led to the permanent displacement of defended the Act by stating that even is safe. In matters pertaining to the B5/9'90' ening climate conditions. The nega- ities and large-scale real estate devel- at deforestation of the mountains. The many bird species that were native to though the protection of forests was Aravallis, too, the judiciary must 0/'./9'' tive role played by mankind is unfor- opments. The degradation of the real estate lobby and the mining the area. its priority, the present scenario also intervene. This alone can stop the oth- '3/3' tunately expediting the end of these Aravallis has led to a decline in mafia started eyeing the geological Prosperity of a region is directly required changes to be done, espe- erwise certain doom and death for the /'90' marvels of nature. wildlife habitat, thus adding to the ani- wealth of the mountain ranges. proportionate to the concern and care cially at a time when the State has to much-fabled Aravalli ranges. //2A The Aravalli mountain range is mal-human conflict. The revival of the Political protection and apathy of the shown by the local people towards progress ahead. (The writer is an environmental one of the oldest in the world. It Aravallis has become almost an uphill authorities further compromised the their natural assets and resources. This This is shocking as the authori- journalist)            !" 9 FARM DISTRESS, DEVELOPMENT, NATIONALISM TAKE LEAD      ###*+*#+# #*#+ #+# #*#-  # * +# #! #(8# #  -# ## # #9:#& ##+*+###+ +#+#+++#*#+*#*; 7*#*#  ##++##*#+ +# # *  +#! ++#*#  *;#*## *# +** +###+*++# ###* ;# #*#    ;# #      ;##- #++#+## *##<+* # #   ## *# -#*#+*+*+#*##. #*#=>(?#2 * +;## ##@#6+#  3 +*#% <#! # ;#*# * -# *-#+# #+ #?=## *;#*# +*## #* #* # ##& ## * ##-#+* # ## #   L# +#* # #&  #+*+# ## # ##+ - #+# -*# ;#*#+## # * #L#* #*#!.!36# #36##+**# ## ##*# * #+ *+#L#* #+#*#*#*# !#  *#!#+# # #* #-*##*  # #*#** 5,//,:-. #+ 3,6 ,5 *( 8 ,-3**2- 3 *(#* :// ., *, ,//3 *,

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At stake are the reputations Mundes’ home constituency scheduled for Thursday. With the Modi magic not of senior leader and former of against the NCP’s Like in the case of seven working on ground and anti- Union Home Minister Sushil Bajrang Sonawane. constituencies of eastern incumbency factor weighing it Kumar Shinde (Solapur), for- The contest in Beed has Maharashtra that went to polls down, the BJP and — mer chief minister Asho become a prestigious battle a week ago, the ten poll-bound which had collectively won Chavan of the Congress Ashok between Pritam’s sister and a constituencies — six of which eight out of ten seats in the Chavan (Nanded) and late BJP minister in Maharashtra fall in Marathwada, three in 2014 Lok Sabha polls — are leader ’s Cabinet Pankaja Munde and Vidarbha region and one in struggling to retain its hold in daughter Pritam Munde her cousin and leader of the western Maharashtra — have more than half the poll-bound (Beed). Maharashtra Legislative been reeling under one of constituencies. Shinde, who suffered a Council of worst agrarian crises that the On the contrary, the humiliating defeat at the hands the NCP. Dhanjay had rebelled state has witnessed in recent Congress — which had picked of Sharad Bansode of the BJP against his late uncle Gopinath decades, a situation that has up the only two seats it had by a massive margin of 1,49,784 Munde and joined the NCP made matters very difficult for won in the 2014 polls in votes, is taking on BJP’s when the latter was still alive. the ruling saffron alliance. Maharashtra from Marathwada Mahaswami Jaisiddheshwar In the politically significant Though it attempted to — and the NCP — which had Shivacharya and Bharip constituency of Osmanabad in ease the farmers’ distress bagged all its four seats from Bahujan Mahasangh leader Marathawada, NCP’s Ranajagjit through its the Rs 34,022 crore western Maharashtra in the Prakash Ambedkar, who is sinh P Patil is taking on his loan waiver scheme, the BJP- previous polls — are showing also contesting from his home cousin and Shiv Sena nominee led saffron alliance has lost the signs of making a recovery this constituency of Akola. Omraje Nimbalkar. perception battle against the time around. Chavan, who was inciden- Ranajagjit sinh is the son of Opposition which has made The constituencies that are tally is one of the two Congress Maharashtra’s senior former agrarian crisis a major issue in going to polls on Thursday are: candidates (out of its 26 can- minister and ’s the polls. No wonder that there Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, didates) elected to Lok Sabha in close confidant Padamsinh Patil. are not many takers for chief Beed, Osmanabad, Latur (SC), 2014 polls from Maharashtra in Padamsinh is one of the nine minister ’ all from Marathwada, the face of a fierce Modi wave, accused others in the much-dis- claim that the saffron alliance Buldhana, Akola, Amravati is seeking re-election against cussed murder case of 2006 in government has waived farm (SC), all from Vidarbha and BJP’s Pratap Patil-Chikhalikar which Congress leader loans amounting to nearly Rs Solapur (SC), which is in west- in his home constituency of Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his 24,000 crore and benefitting 51 ern Maharashtra. Nanded in Marathwada region. driver Samad Abdul Wahid Kazi lakh farmers (out of the total 89 The main contests are Barring four terms, at Kalamboli, near Panvel, were lakh beneficiaries). between the BJP-Sena combine Nanded has been under the shot dead on February 3,2006. Notwithstanding the claims and Opposition Congress-NCP control of the Congress since In Amravati, four-time that the Maharashtra govern- in a majority of the con- 1952. While late S B Chavan Sena MP Anandrao V. Adsul is ment has extended relief to the stituencies. In a few of the con- represented the constituency pitted against South Indian affected farmers, the suicides by stituencies like Akola, twice (1980 and 1984), Ashok actress Navneet Kaur Rana of farmers are continuing unabat- Osmanabad and Solapur, the Chavan himself was elected to the Yuva Swabhiman Party ed in Vidarbha and Marathwada Dalit-Muslim front of Vanchit Lok Sabha once in a bye-elec- (YSP), supported by the regions, More than 300 debt- Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) are tion in 1987, following the Congress-NCP led trapped farmers have commit- threatening to cut into the tra- resignation of his father. Late S Mahagathbandhan.  ,  # 5 - 9 < ,,*(3= 2* +      0 +    // +  / : >,*+3 :#-* 6,+ /  /9/9/9 /$/96" 75$/ %/; 9/6907 /9H/'6" 75 6$7/9%// /'/B690759/ /9//9/ //' /'   % Ajay V Nayak as the Special a history of political violence 9//H/96" 7 /9/906 7 /6" 7 6907/9 0  Observer. He will work in tan- will be manned by 69 compa- /B/ B/6!/9.' '/ 39/'/ oters on Wednesday asked dem with Special Police nies of CAPF whereas  $  7,9.   / . + /H/9 0/7 $96" 75/H/90 Vfor cent per cent CAPF Observer Vivek Dubey. Jalpaiguri will get 52 companies  /H/6$7/9$ /H//6" 75 /H//  , $/9//9/9 coverage of polling booths The ECI has requisitioned of central forces, EC sources %/0//H/96 $7 69075  /9'6 7 '/69075  6 7 even as Bengal prepared for 195 companies of Central said. Out of 69 companies for /H3 6" 75// $/.9/ second phase of elections for forces for the three con- Darjeeling seat 31 companies &$$ $  7  & 9 /9$//6 7 9/9'///'   threeparliamentary con- stituencies out of which 64 will be deployed at Darjeeling, /' ///  90/06" 75 69075/B/ "// stituencies of Darjeeling, companies will alone be used 29 companies at Siliguri and 9 6907/9 /H/ '//'69075 A++B/+ %B///90/6" 7 /.///6" 75 Jalpaiguri and Raiganj on for Raiganj witnessing a four- company at Kalimpong. B/9 6" 7 $/9H96 7 + Thursday amid tight cornered contest featuring out- Police Observer said about 6907 "'9/906" 75   security bandobast. going MP of CPI(M) Md Salim, 80 per cent of the booths ,  ,    $  !B//'/90 B//9 In an apparent bid to avoid Congress’ Deepa Dasmunshi, would be manned by the CAPF //9$//96$75 /' /'/6" 75 69075/ 69075 electoral violence like in the TMC KL Agarwal and BJP’s while the armed State police / /6 $7/9 H9/9069075 /9060/ /'/3/ /' first phase the Commission has Supriyo Sarkar. will handle the remaining $/9/;/6 7 H'//96 7 //9/90/'/97 B/B/6" 7 appointed senior IAS officer Darjeeling which also has booths. !3.&#! $ #$# .# !&!.7!35Q#%!#$!5

/+ ,   dence and business premises of be announced on May 23. Nadu. What is unique about the he has at least 130 MLAs for Karunanidh could be buried in the DMK candidate Kathir The high decibel campaign bye-election is that if the DMK smooth sailing in the House. Marina Beach though there are <   /=+9+P  ore than 5.86 crore voters Anand. The date for the new for the Lok Sabha and 18 manages to win 21 of the 22 The April 18 election in no rules which mandate that a Mspread across 38 Lok election from Vellore would be Assembly by-election came to seats, then there would be a Tamil Nadu would go down in former chief minister should be /+ ,   sabha constituencies in Tamil announced afterwards. an end on Tuesday evening. change of Government in Tamil history as the most fiercely buried at Marina Beach. Nadu will march to the polling Along with the 38 Four more Assembly con- Nadu. The DMK alliance has 97 fought poll. By Tuesday evening, While the DMK-led he Madras High Court in Wednesday upheld the decision booths on Thursday to cast Members of Parliament, elec- stituencies in the State would members as of now and requires when it was time for switching Secular Progressive Alliance Tof the Election Commission rescinding the Lok Sabha elec- their votes to elect 38 law torate in 18 Assembly con- elect their representatives on 21 seats to unseat the AIADMK off microphones and loud began the campaign much ear- tion from the Vellore parliamentary constituency in Tamil Nadu. makers who would represent stituencies will elect their leg- May 19 as the Election Government which has only speakers, Stalin raked up the lier and with a clear advantage A Division Bench consisting of Justices S Manikumar and them for the next five years. islators to fill the vacancy Commission could declare the 113 members (excluding the refusal by Edappadi over the AIADMK-led front, Subramanium Prasad dismissed the petitions filed by AC Though there are 39 Lok caused by disqualification of schedule to these constituen- Speaker). M K Stalin, the DMK Palaniswamy adminis- the latter picked up momentum Shanmugham, the AIADMK candidate and an independent can- Sabha constituencies in the some of the AIADMK MLAs by cies only after getting clearance chief has been claiming from day tration to intern his father and caught up with the rivals. didate seeking an order from the court for quashing the Election State, the President of India the Speaker. Though there are from the Madras High Court one onwards that his party M Karunanidhi at the Though two more parties, Commission’s decision. President Ram Nath Kovind rescinded heeding the request of the 22 vacancies in the Tamil Nadu which was hearing petitions would win all the 22 seats. Marina Beach. It was at the AMMK of TTV Dhinakaran the Vellore Lok Sabha election on Tuesday. The judges said the Election Commission of India Legislative Assembly, election with respect to these con- If Edappadi Palaniswamy’s instance of the Madras and MNM of film star Kamal EC which has the power to issue notification for conducting elec- rescinded the election from for the remaining four seats stituencies. AIADMK wins five seats, he High Court which over ruled Haasan are also in race, it is tions, also has the power to recommend for cancellation if it has Vellore following large scale would be held on May 29. The Hence a total of 22 by-elec- would get the absolute major- the Opposition from the widely believed that they would arrived at the view that it is necessary to halt the election. seizure of cash from the resi- results of all the elections would tions are being held in Tamil ity but it would be advisable if AIADMK-led Government that end up as ‘also ran’.     !" ? %&  /  3 % /#3     E he did not fall prey to Pakistan’s lies in his home State, Modi replied in the positive. we conducted surgical strike,  $$ % E   nuclear blackmail, because also claimed that the then UPA “Today is Mahavir Jayanti, Congress questioned us. When India has the “mother of Government arrested BJP pres- the day to observe peace. But we conducted air strike, it asked rime Minister Narendra nuclear bombs”. ident Amit Shah and some when shall we have peace? Will for proof. Do you (Congress) PModi on Wednesday said Addressing three poll ral- police officers in Gujarat to anyone listen to a weak man trust your own sons or Pakistan’s topple the State Government making an appeal for peace or rhetoric?” the PM said. then headed by him. to the warning of a strong man Earlier, speaking at a poll At a campaign rally at who can flex his mussels? Only rally in Himmatnagar, Modi Surendranagar, Modi referred the peace appeal of a strong man said the then UPA Government to the surgical strikes and air will be respected, not that of a arrested BJP president Amit strikes by India inside Pakistan weak person,” Modi said. Shah and some police officers in in response to terrorist attacks He also alleged that the Gujarat to topple the state in Uri and Pulwama. Congress spoke ill of the armed Government then headed by “Earlier, terrorists from forces. “You must have seen how him. Modi also said this election Pakistan would come here and the character of the Congress will decide if nationalist forces go back after conducting an party has changed in this elec- will rule the country or those attack. Pakistan would threat- tion. The way the Congress who want to help the “tukde en us, saying it has the nuclear spreads lies, and questions the tukde gang” by scrapping sedi- bomb and will press the button country’s military, saying its tion law. “From 2004 to 2014, (if India retaliated). seniors are street goons, the Air there was a ‘remote control “We have nuclear of Force chief is a liar...If you say government’ and you know +   #3       !        nuclear bombs (the mother of something like this, will it not who was in control. In those 10 nuclear bombs). I decided to make Pakistan happy?” he said. years, those sitting in Delhi tried Wayanad/Alathur: Launching dent Amit Shah had chided decided by the people and not tell them, do whatever you Modi also slammed the to damage the interest of Gujarat a blistering attack on Narendra Rahul for selecting his second by Modi or the RSS chief. want to do (but we will retali- Congress for seeking proof of and acted as if the state is not in Modi, Congress Chief Rahul seat in north Kerala, saying In three rallies in Wayanad, ate),” the Prime Minister said. action against terrorists. “When India,” Modi said. Gandhi said all that the Prime “when a procession is taken out he tore into BJP-led NDA “In the past our people Minister “does is tell lies and there, it is difficult to make out Government and said the saf- would weep, go around the steal from the poor people.” whether it is India or Pakistan.” fron party was only interested in world saying Pakistan did this, Rahul, who addressed three Shah was referring to the imposing its ideology on people did that....It is now Pakistan’s 7 election rallies in his Wayanad IUMLs green flags during of the country. “Who is Mohan turn to weep. “Didn’t our Lok Sabha constituency, spread Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow in Bhagwat to teach us about cul- jawans kill them by entering over the districts of Wayanad, Wayanad on April 4 after filing ture and history? Kerala should their houses? Shall we not kill Malappuram and Kozhikode his papers. Rahul also said the be run by the people of them by entering their houses? and campaigned in Thirthala in saffron party was arrogant and Kerala.This is same sentiment in Shall we not take revenge for Palakkad district, attacked Modi believed that they can re-define State after State,” he said,  $ $ $ !  &    =!    )    " our martyred soldiers?” he “But your model is a spe- and RSS and touched on cor- Indian history. addressing a rally in Wayanad.    asked the large crowd which cial family (Nehru-Gandhi) ruption. “Only the Indian people Taking a jibe at Modi, Rahul lamming NCP chief Sharad from Delhi. You have learned “All the PM does is tell lies can define, decide about the said he was not here to tell his SPawar for raising questions things only from them and you and steal from the poor people. country. It does not matter that ‘Mann Ki Baat’, but understand about his family, Prime have been serving only that Six airports were given to his Uttar Pradesh is much bigger the various difficulties, including Minister Narendra Modi on family,” Modi said. friend Adani on the day the than Nagaland.The voice of all the night travel ban, man-animal <<8 Wednesday took a vicious dig Addressing a public rally in Pulwama attack took place. Indians matter. This is the conflicts and lack of medical at Pawar for “serving” only one Solapur, Modi said he had And he (Modi) says they were fight that is taking place. Why facilities being faced by the peo- $  $  % huge rally at Kandi in special (Nehru-Gandhi) fami- been at the receiving end of fighting black money. Modi do these people want to define ple here. “I understand there are Murshidabad which has three ly from Delhi for some many abuses from Opposition lead- said demonetisation was to India? The entire goal to re- complex problems here. There sking the voters to shun the parliamentary constituencies decades. ers. “Despite that, I have been fight black money, but it define India is to steal from are man-animal conflicts. There ACongress and the Left for traditionally dominated by the “You (Pawar) are elder to sincerely working for progress destroyed the Indian economy. India. The entire idea is to cre- is a conflict between develop- their RSS links Mamata Congress and the Left. me. You have a right to say of nation and empowerment of Fifty lakh people lost their ate two .One India for the ment and environment. I want Banerjee on Wednesday Attacking the Prime whatever you want to. Pawar poor people. jobs after demonetisation,” the Ambanis, Adanis, Nirav Modis, to see a solution. I don’t believe appealed to the voters to send- Minister for trying to suppress can say anything as per his Exhorting the people to Congress chief said while wind- Mehul Choksies, Vijay Mallyas in imposing a solution. I believe maximum number of voice of Opposition she said understanding and values. But, vote for a “stable” and “strong” ing off his campaign at and one for others”, Rahul said in the wisdom and intellectual of Trinamool Congress MPs to “whenever anyone raises his let me tell you that the life that government, Modi said:” In Thrithala on Wednesday. lashing out at the PM. our people in resolving such Parliament “so that Bengaltakes voice against the Prime Modi is leading is based on the 2014. you gave me a full major- All praise for Wayanad,the He also said poor farmers issues,” Rahul said. “I am not like the lead in forming a Minister officers of Income inspirations of various families. ity and I could work with full second constituency from where who took meagre loans of the Prime Minister. I am not Government in Delhi” by Tax and Enforcement I have been inspired by the fam- strength to take firm decisions Rahul is contesting for which he around Rs 20,000 were behind going to make false promises and removing the “Gabbar Singh of Directorate are sent to his ily traditions of the greats like and work for public welfare. was attacked by Modi and BJP, bars for non-repayment while tell you I will give you two crore a Prime Minister.” house… See what they are Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Bhagat You have witnessed how I ran Gandhi said he wanted to rep- the rich who availed loans jobs or Rs 15 lakh in bank Attacking Narendra Modi doing against Chandrababu Singh, Sukhdev Rajguru, Sardar the country past five years”. resent the remote district as the over Rs 35,000 crore were accounts or that I will give farm- for disturbing the peace of the Equating the Prime Naidu in Andhra Pradesh, , Veer Savarkar “The country needs a “beautiful place” symbolises dif- walking free. Continuing his ers whatever they want. I am not country in his bid to divide Minister with as dreaded a per- Kumarswamy in Karnataka and others,” Modi said. strong Government, not a ‘maj- ferent ideas and cultures. tirade against Modi and the going to lie to you. Because I votes, Banerjee said “Modi son as Gabbar Singh of Sholay and MK Stalin in Tamil Nadu.” Modi said the NCP chief boor’ (helpless) one. Only the Addressing a rally in RSS, the Congress president respect your intelligence, your Babu thinks that he is themost fame Banerjee said “today It was this habit of clubbing would have learned more about BJP can provide a strong gov- Nagpur last week, BJP presi- said issues of Kerala should be wisdom,” he added. powerful person in the coun- whenever the people hear of his the opposition to silence with family traditions if the latter had ernment not the Congress- try. In his lust for power he has name they think that Gabbar the help of central agencies that taken inspiration from late Y B NCP alliance.... Even in your set one community against the Singh has come. He scares the people would not take kind- Chavan whom Pawar considered villages, you want a tough cop, 74  # + other and has divided India as everybody into submission like ly. “The BJP will be defeated for his “mentor”. “I know it is beyond not a ‘dheela-dhaala’ (weak never before.If he is not defeat- the Bargis (the Maratha this haughtiness of theirs.” your capacity to lead the life of and loose) policeman. The #**#* ed this time then he will demol- invaders of Bengal of early Attacking the Congress for hav- Modi. But, please learn from the same is required for running ish the democratic set up of the 17th century) used to do.” ing been a “stooge of the CPI(M) families of those who sacrificed such a vast country, we need a 3 3 B#< country once and for all.” Banerjee was addressing a all these years,” she said. their lives to the country.” strong leader,” Modi said. Panaji: Senior BJP leader Nitin Mumbai: Union Minister Gadkari said here on on Wednesday that four genera- Wednesday said Congress gen- tions of the Nehru-Gandhi eral secretary Priyanka Gandhi < family have promised to erad- Vadra poses no threat to Prime icate poverty without success. Minister Narendra Modi even Only the poverty of if she contests against him        0 &   Congress leaders was alleviat- from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat. 03:)1).//000/'/99//'3 ed in the process, he quipped, He also criticised Congress 2'39'/'6 7''390'9 addressing BJP workers in president Rahul Gandhi for cre- /./'9''.'9/''9/'9./' $  $  % influence a particular commu- Mandrem Assembly con- ating a “fake narrative” against 3/'.3/'99'B//.'99/9/'/B/A%.3/9 nity in the elections,” said BJP stituency in Goa. the BJP. “Someone is going to be /'/3/'9''22.2'/9/'/B/2.'/ ot happy with mere can- leader GVL Narsimha Rao. A by-election will be held there in the fray (from Varanasi). 22./9'59.90'..9/.'9' Ncellation of the business TMC leader and outgoing in Mandrem on April 23. The But Priyanka does not pose any 0/A /3/'2'2.5///09?J)./' visa of Bangladesh cine star Serampore MP Kalyan Union minister said that challenge to Modi. The so- '.'9.9.////'2  Firdaus for taking part in an Banerjee however said he had , the country’s called ‘mahagathbandhan’ ''390'5///9/A election rally favouring Raiganj “no information of any elec- first PM, fought elections on (grand alliance) is already falling TMC candidate Kanhaia Lal toral law that debars foreign cit- the plank of poverty eradica- apart...,” Naqvi said. +       / / Agarwal, the BJP on :  izens in taking part in election tion. “But people remained “I am not even sure how 03:)1). +LB//.9''9.9/9/'/B/0'3 Wednesday upped the ante rallies.” poor...Later many parties will contest %/5'2./2'''.93/9'B' against the facilitators of the used him by flouting the visa Elsewhere, the BJP and fought the elections on the against Modi in Varanasi, but /''90'./3/09'/9'9'9'2''/'A2 incident demanding “exem- rules to be jailed and if possi- the CPI(M) launched another same issue but she too could do the outcome is not going to be '?*B///'9''/'52'99'9'93/' plary punishment — if possi- ble the candidature of the can- complaint against a TMC MLA nothing,” Gadkari said. different. Modi will definitely 0'39 3?89'.93/A $9' ble incarceration and even can- didate concerned cancelled.” from Chakdaha, Jharna Ghosh as prime min- win the seat,” the BJP /9/$//9/0/B'/9BBB cellation of the candidature — The saffron leadership had for “inciting her party men to ister and when she leader added. //.9''9.9%/A90 9' / against those who flouted the launched a formal complaint chase away the CRPF with became Congress president There has been a specula- /9''./3/099 /./9BB09'// visa rules and used the foreign with the Election Commission broom sticks.” repeated the same ‘Garibi Hatao’ tion that Priyanka Gandhi /'A actor for electoral purpose.” even as its leaders from Delhi JP Majumdar quoted slogan, he said. “In the current Vadra may take on Modi from Bengal BJP vice president questioned Mamata Banerjee’s Ghosh citing a video footage election, the great grandson of Varanasi seat. She formally ,      JP Majumdar said “it is not secular credentials. “This is the “telling her party women to Nehru (Rahul Gandhi) is con- entered politics and was //H/ /'39' B //299/'9 enough to send the actor back way she is trying to send com- chase away the CRPF with testing on the same plank of appointed the Congress general 3/32 /0/B//.9''9.9%/A 2 or cancelling his visa. The BJP munal signal to the electorate by brooms as ‘during a battle no Garibi Hatao (eradicate pover- secretary for eastern Uttar 2903/35 B /////90' also wants the people who brining Bangladesh stars to rule but only victory matters’ ty),” he said. PTI Pradesh in February. PTI 9/2'//9.3/'99 /0/A 3B39 /H9////9.B999/ '/'/2'2902'99/'93/35'//9.3/'9 ////''/A 909 /0/9' '3/9$/+?A.90'.9''2 /0/5 B/./90.9''9.2/''A/5 /9'3//9'/.'92/99/H/9//A    god paying them a visit. “We did not have enough hief Minister Yogi to offer. The Chief Minister had CAdityanath continued to roti and sabzi and later took gur send out subtle political mes- (jaggery) and water,” she said. sages on the second day of his Savitri told reporters that three-day curb on campaigning the Chief Minister was pained in the ongoing Lok Sabha elec- at the condition of her house tion by visiting a Dalit’s home and offered help to get it for lunch and meeting triple repaired. talaq victims in Ayodhya on Before lunch, Yogi met a Wednesday. six-year-old girl, Neha Soni, Yogi offered prayers at and took her on his lap after Hanumangarhi temple and which the girl came up with recited Hanuman Chalisa. In several innocent questions. the evening, he went for dar- When the Chief Minister shan of Ram Lalla and then asked whether she was afraid of took part in aarti on the banks coming there, the girl said of the Saryu river. where was the fear when Yogiji The Chief Minister started was there. She even sang a his Ayodhya sojourn by visit- song, much to the amusement ing the house of Mahavir, a of the Chief Minister. Dalit, at Suthati Malin Basti Later, Yogi went to nearby and had food with the family Ashrafi Bhawan on foot and      %!       members. spoke to the people standing in      .)"    "    Mahavir’s wife Savitri said the by-lanes. He also spoke to that the visit of the Chief students and enquired about Minister to their house was like their studies. -  +   > %   !  )   " %        !"  @ : %* (<,,, 88809 5). -0   = 0:8;7(   #    least once a year. these engines, manufactured by  $ $    He, however, did not com- the US firm, since their induc-   ment on the show-cause notice tion three years ago. ndia’s fast  B: saying, “we conduct detailed “We confirm that there is Imoving con- he NCLAT has sought a  = audits of all airlines at least once currently a DGCA audit on sumer goods Tresponse from Reliance a year. IndiGo’s audit is this IndiGo which is combined (FMCG) indus- Group Chairman Anil Ambani  month, and another airline’s is with the annual main base try is likely to within 10 days over a contempt     in June. Every audit involves audit. We have received a lim- grow at a slow- plea filed against him and some action.” ited number of show cause er pace at 11-12 other officials by the minority “The DGCA has issued a notices,” IndiGo said in a percent in 2019, shareholders alleging non-pay- show-cause notice last week to statement to PTI. almost 2 per- ment of dues by one of its  $ $ IndiGo’s chief operating officer The airline also said it has cent lower than group firms. that in 2018, An NCLAT bench headed racking the says a report. by Chairman Justice S J Cwhip on The indus- Mukhopadhaya said he would budget carrier try is also like to hear Ambani and other IndiGo over the expected to grow at 12-13 per- from the previous quarter). respondents over the contempt issue of faulty cent during the April to June “Similar sentiments are petition filed by HSBC Daisy Pratt & Whitney quarter of the calender year witnessed in the economy with Investments (Mauritius) and passed by NCLAT on June 29, its plea to approach again with engines, aviation 2019, according to Nielsen. a 6.6 percent GDP growth in some other minority share- 2018 amounts to an undertak- its contempt plea against the regulator DGCA “In line with the FMCG the December quarter of 2018 holders of the company over ing given by the parties in a officials of Reliance Infratel. has served show- growth forecast for Q1 2019 at against an expected 6.8 percent. alleged breach of undertaking consent decree over payment of HSBC Daisy and other cause notices to 13-14 percent, this sector grew Inflationary pressure is also for payment by group firm 230 crore and a breach of such minority investors of Reliance its chief operat- at 13.6 percent. We are wit- seen mounting in recent Reliance Infratel. undertaking amounts to Infratel had moved National ing officer and nessing a softening of growth by months from 2 percent in “We intend to hear the Contempt of Court. Company Law Tribunal engineering 1-2 percent sequentially every January 2019 to 2.9 percent in learned counsel appearing on As per the consent terms of (NCLT) Mumbai alleging head, sources quarter leading to healthy dou- March 2019,” it added. behalf of the contemnor- the agreement between oppression and mismanage- close to the ble digit growth in the first half “While slight drop is wit- respondents (Anil Ambani and Reliance Infratel, HSBC Daisy ment after the company had development of the year followed by a high nessed in urban growth, there others),” the bench said. and others, recorded by the allegedly not taken their con- said on single digit growth in the second is a significant softening of “They may file short reply NCLAT in its order dated June sent for selling the tower and Wednesday. half of the year,” Nielsen said. growth trends in rural which is within ten days. Rejoinder, if 26, 2018, the Anil Ambani- fiber assets. The Nielsen maintained that dampening the overall FMCG any, may be filed by the appel- owned firm was to pay the NCLT in March 2018 halt- Directorate the FMCG industry growth industry growth from third lants within a week thereof,” it amount in the next six months. ed the sales process, following General of Civil Aviation Wolfgang Prock-Schauer and responded accordingly and it outlook will be in the range of quarter of 2018 to first quarter added. The six-month period has which Reliance Infratel moved (DGCA) is also carrying out a engineering head SC Gupta can only comment on this 11-12 percent in 2019, almost of 2019. The National Company come to an end following NCLAT challenging the order. special safety audit of the car- over the Pratt & Whitney matter after it has discussions 2 percent lower than that in Historically, rural has Law Appellate Tribunal which HSBC Daisy and other Later, on June 29, Reliance rier as it has found issues in engines issues,” the source said. with the regulator on the mat- 2018. grown 3-5 percent points faster (NCLAT)has directed that the nine minority shareholders Infratel and its minority share- “operations and engineering “The regulator is also con- ter but refused to comment on The volume growth which than urban and the recent matter be listed on May 20, holding 4.26 per cent stake in holder, HSBC Daisy submitted of the country’s largest airline,” ducting a special safety audit of the reasons for the audit. peaked in 2018 to 11 percent is slowdown in rural growth has 2019 for admission. Reliance Infratel filed the con- final consent terms of their set- an official source said. the airline after coming across “We can confirm that our expected to be healthy but brought the growth closer to HSBC Daisy moved the tempt plea. tlement before NCLAT over While IndiGo confirmed issues in its operations and operations are run in more lower at 8.5- 9.5 percent in the urban growth. appellate tribunal over alleged Earlier, on January 2, the sale of tower and fibre the receipt of show-cause engineering,” he said. stringent ways as prescribed by FY19, it added. “The overall drop wit- default of payment of 230 NCLAT had disposed of the assets. notices and the safety audit, IndiGo and GoAir, which regulatory framework. As this It noted that the 13.6 per- nessed in rural growth is crore by Reliance Infratel. contempt plea filed by HSBC Following this, the appel- DGCA chief BS Bhullar said have Pratt & Whitney-powered is an ongoing audit we can only cent growth in first quarter is majorly driven by slow down in During the proceedings, Daisy on technical grounds. late tribunal had disposed of the regulator carries out Airbus A320 Neo planes, have comment after the process is slightly lower than the last packaged food category,” it counsel appearing for HSBC However, the tribunal had the appeal filed by Reliance detailed audit of all airlines at been facing problems with over,” the airline added. quarter of 2018 (-2.3 percent noted. Daisy submitted that the order given it the liberty to withdraw Infratel. 6 ))  !!  '7$'   % %  the world. These are nations demand from younger coun- follow-up (FfD Forum) is an  +    "C    that have benefited tremen- tries outside, especially devel- annual platform to promote 3 rotectionism does not real- dously from the open world oping countries and emerging consensus among key stake- !  !  Ply help preserve jobs and order,” he said. markets to boost growth,” he holders on financing for sus- offers little defence against the Rajan, the Katherine said. tainable development. job-destroying effects of Dusak Miller Distinguished “Is it wise to block imports Ministers, senior UN officials, 8=9>8=?   had allotted secured automation and Artificial Service Professor of Finance at today from the very countries high-level finance officials, civil redeemable debentures (SRDs) Intelligence, Former Reserve the University of Chicago you will have to export to in the society, business representa-   nesses up until 2021. arkets regulator Sebi has between financial years 2010- Bank of India Governor Booth School of Business, said, future? Probably not,” he said. tives and local authorities, are Deep diving into the $136 Mbarred Bengaluru-based 11 and 2012-13 and raised at Raghuram Rajan has said, “We know that protectionism Rajan said that while meeting at UN Headquarters he Indian traveller has billion spending, the report Siyaram Development and least 4.22 crore from more asserting that industrial and does not really help preserve nations recognise the cost of for the four-day FfD Forum, Tcome of age, spending cites a 12 percent growth in Construction Ltd and its eight than 49 allottees. developing nations cannot jobs. In this competitive world, protectionism, it is true that which will run from April approximately $94 billion in transportation ($50 billion), directors for at least four years The number of allottees afford to ignore the democra- jobs gained by a country in the “we cannot afford to ignore the 15 to 18. 2018, on approximately 2 bil- as well as a 13 percent growth from the securities market for and the amount of money tic reaction from those left protected sector are often lost democratic reaction from Rajan told the audience at lion domestic and internation- in lodging ($21 billion) and illegally raising funds. raised during the said period behind by globalisation and in other sectors that are now those left behind by globali- the forum that there is a need al trips, helping the Indian consumption. This includes Besides, the regulator could be more, Sebi said. technological change. rendered uncompetitive sation and technological to preserve a world open to travel and tourism industry spending on shopping, recre- directed the entities to refund Moreover, the firm creat- Delivering the keynote because they pay higher prices change. This should be true trade and investment but “we achieve unprecedented scale. ation and food, which are set to the money collected by the ed a charge for an amount of address at the 2019 ECOSOC for inputs. both of industrial, countries need to keep democratic sup- The momentum is expected to grow at 13 percent ($65 billion) company along with 15 per 70 crore and appointed Forum on Financing for He added that protection- and developing countries. We port in order to do it.” continue and the industry will over the next three years. cent interest. Kalpana Guha as its debenture Development at the UN ism offers “little defence” have to pay more attention to “I would argue that we grow at a 13 percent CAGR to Additionally, as more people Based on a complaint by trustee. Headquarters on Monday, against the job destroying those left behind.” must follow the principle of $136 billion by 2021, according come online, smartphone pen- an investor regarding non- As the number of allottees Rajan said the open liberal effects of automation and He added that if concerns subsidiarity much more strict- to a new report titled, ‘How etration will continue to payment of maturity amount was more than 49, it was democratic market system that Artificial Intelligence, which of these people are to be ly going forward. Decisions Does India Travel’, released by improve and the use of digital of his investment, Sebi con- deemed to be a public issue brought the world enormous often are the larger source of addressed while preserving should be taken at the lowest Bain & Company and Google payments goes up, with the ducted a probe to ascertain and required a compulsory prosperity in the six decades or job losses. an open world, “we should level consistent with effective India today. report estimating that Indian whether the firm had made listing on a recognised stock so after the second World War “The only guarantee start by recognising that the governance. These decisions The report outlines, how travellers will spend an addi- any public issue without com- exchange. is now under attack. against redundancy is to help globalisation of trade and must be taken with an idea of India as a market spends on tional $24 billion on online plying with the relevant pro- Further, the company was “Interestingly the critics the workforce stay ahead investment flows has disem- cooperation, they must be travel, the influence of online travel bookings over the next visions of Sebi and the required to file a prospectus, are not the usual radical acad- through constant retraining. As powered people and their taken responsibly given the channels in their purchasing three years, a growth from 25 Companies Act. among others, which it failed emics or leftist leaders, instead populations age in industrial communities.” spillovers both to the country journey and potential growth percent in 2018 to 35 percent During the probe, the reg- to do, Sebi said in an order on they come from some of the countries, more of them will The ECOSOC Forum on as well as to the rest of the opportunities for travel busi- in 2021. ulator found that the firm Tuesday. most prosperous nations in become reliant on foreign Financing for Development world,” he said. ?,%/ C *# *+ $///9' .''.//'9  * #+#  N/9B//O 9.'./9$/ +**-#+  9/02 #.3 & "' /   fishery subsidies and public stockholding in agriculture,     he meeting of 25 WTO they said. Tmember countries on May India has convened a meet- he Government has invited mbattled liquor tycoon 13-14 here is expected to come ing of 25 developing member Tinitial bids for selling its EVijay Mallya on out with a declaration on crit- nations of the World Trade entire stake in Indian Wednesday took to social ical issues including ‘special Organisation (WTO) on May Medicines Pharmaceutical media once again, this time to and differential treatment’ for 13-14 here. Corporation Ltd (IMPCL). express his solidarity with Jet developing nations and The meet assumes signifi- IMPCL is engaged in man- Airways founder Naresh impasse over the appointment cance as several countries are ufacture and supply of Goyal and repeat his own of members to the appellate raising questions over the rele- ‘ayurvedic’ and ‘unani’ medi- offer to repay all the money body of dispute settlement, vance of the Geneva-based glob- cines and is under the Ministry he owes to India’s public sec- sources said. al trade body. Many countries are of AYUSH. tor banks. The other issues that could also taking protectionist mea- The Government holds The 63-year-old, fighting figure in the meeting include sures, impacting global trade. 98.11 per cent stake in IMPCL his extradition to India on and the rest 1.89 per cent is charges of fraud and money held by Uttarakhand laundering amounting to an Government PSU Kumaon alleged 9,000 crores, claims Mandal Vikas Nigam Ltd. private airlines were discrim- The Government has come inated against by the Indian out with a “global invitation” for Government, which bailed Expression of Interest for the out state-owned Air India proposed strategic disinvest- but did not assist his own ment of its entire stake in Kingfisher Airlines and now IMPCL. Jet Airways. 9/9B29'/09' '/.;&B.2M++)9

  funding from existing investors. ine Labs on Wednesday Pine Labs processes annu- Pannounced that it has alized payments of $20 billion. signed a definitive agreement This acquisition will bring to acquire Bangalore-based together the strengths of Pine  "+ 3      &.+ ."!   gift card solutions provider, Labs’ merchant-focused and    ?  @ &.+ .  A=  ! Qwikcilver, for $110 million, Qwikcilver’s brand-focused 9 !   $ " !        % subject to closing conditions. software-as-a-service (SaaS) +  9    "$! !" $ -  "   The transaction has been technology platforms, and aug-  1BCDA=     !9     !+  funded from the company’s ment their Indian and inter-  9    "% -  "3 "+ ?1BB1@ cash reserves and additional national market reach.     !" 0 @@ #&.C2%& %      %! ! ) 7(1?8(7@   +! . !

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C D     #$     0     &    E , @A          EN    L+ *- (#. P3'9/3.'/.A' Fred and Scott McTominay closed ./'./9B in on Coutinho and the ball M D  =  D  ionel Messi pounced on 99'2'2 spilled out to Messi, whose drib-  E     Ltwo Manchester United 9'A./99'.' bling shot with his right foot    E :   mistakes to score twice and end B'/'9//39 should have drawn a routine      their hopes of another come- /0/'.A/ save. Instead, De Gea let it squirm       back at Camp Nou as 9'./9B9.B'AP under his body for 2-0.       Barcelona breezed into the K $ Pogba lashed out at the      EN Champions League semi-finals increasingly influential Arthur L6#**(73 & /.* on Tuesday. P ./93/9/ and Barca could have had a third .  )            E     After an excellent start, /9'/.'./ before half-time, De Gea scram- %  #! % $  C      United were undone twice in BA'2 bling across to save on the line  %        four minutes by Messi, who when Sergi Roberto should have A&  ,    " K !  +O $ 06$7     first nicked the ball off the care- '/93/.5 finished. jax stunned Juventus to reach Allegri had been forced to reshuf- %  #  E  0    less Ashley Young and then .AP Messi could have had his hat- the Champions League semi- fle his side because of injuries, with $ % % 5         watched as a weak shot from K  "  trick too after Suarez found him Afinals for the first time since Paulo Dybala returning in place of the   =  distance squirmed underneath with a superb cutback and there 1997 as Matthijs de Ligt's thumping injured Mario Mandzukic, while captain 5 %$%           David de Gea. L//2 was an almost comical sequence second-half header secured a 2-1 sec- Giorgio Chiellini was also sidelined.  $   $          E  Philippe Coutinho, in per- 22.'9' in the second half when Leo   =  0     ond-leg victory in the last eight in Ajax's defence took a hit when % %  A% haps his best performance of ./' played with his United chasers Turin on Tuesday. Noussair Mazraoui, who had replaced   EC the season, added a third with '/''90A' before finally being bundled over Cristiano Ronaldo, bidding for the suspended Nicolas Tagliafico, limped   % L5+- & 7,-. a curling effort into the top cor- '9' by McTominay. his sixth Champions League title, off on 11 minutes with an ankle injury, $$ L4+4 ner and by the end, an out- /9'*,9' Rashford might have made it scored a 28th-minute header to put with Daley Sinkgraven coming on. over the bar. classed United might have interesting if he had controlled ! %  %% %  9''/AP Juve ahead after a 1-1 first-leg draw, Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana dived The Juventus back-line struggled been relieved the score was not K %! !  Pogba's ball over the top but but Donny van de Beek levelled for to keep out a scorching Dybala half-vol-    with the pace of the Dutch team with more traumatic than 3-0, 4-0 Barcelona were in exhibition Ajax before half-time. ley in the 20th minute. Pjanic doing well to deny Ziyech a tap- on aggregate. mode, helped by a vintage Teenage centre-back De Ligt struck But Ronaldo latched onto a Miralem in. A dizzying opening spell, United were brilliant for eight Coutinho curler after he had cut midway through the second period, Pjanic corner with a downward head- But Ten Hag's side's incessant pres- in which Marcus Rashford minutes and could have been inside from the left. though, to seal a 3-2 aggregate win and er that left Onana with no chance. sure paid off with 19-year-old skipper had hit the crossbar, was long- ahead within 30 seconds as Messi even attempted a bicy- set up a last-four clash with either It was the Portugal star's 126th De Ligt towering above Alex Sandro and forgotten, even if it could offer Rashford raced onto a curving cle kick and there were celebra- Manchester City or Tottenham. Champions League goal and sixth of this Daniele Rugani to head home Lasse Barca's next opponents some Paul Pogba pass and toed away tions from the home fans when The young Dutch side had already campaign, having now scored in his past Schone's corner on 67 minutes. encouragement. a shot, which Marc-Andre ter news went round that Ajax had eliminated three-time defending six European games against Ajax, net- Ziyech looked as if he had fired a Liverpool, who take a 2-0 Stegen bravely left to graze his taken the lead in Turin. They champions Real Madrid en route to the ting nine goals in total. third past Szczesny, but his goal was lead to Porto on Wednesday, own crossbar. believe this is their year. quarters, overturning a 2-1 home But Van de Beek soon silenced the ruled offside after a VAR check. are now the most likely obsta- defeat against the Spanish side with a cheers of the home crowd when he con- And the Dutch visitors held on, cle between them and their first +$,+  memorable 4-1 victory at the Santiago trolled a wayward Hakim Ziyech shot with Ronaldo unable to make a dif- Champions League final since Barca were flustered, so Bernabeu. six minutes later, rolling the ball past ference after his incredible hat- they last won this tournament much so the crowd even Juventus had been looking to Szczesny to cancel out Juventus' away trick had pulled Juventus into the in 2015. cheered with relief when reach the Champions League semi- goal and make it 2-2 on aggregate. quarter-finals in the last-16 Instead, United's pair of Arthur Melo played his team's finals for the third time in the past five Teenage striker Moise Kean replaced win over Atletico Madrid. early errors made this another first convincing pass. seasons. Dybala after the break, but it was the Four-time winners Ajax night about Messi and ensured Then, Barcelona had their But Ronaldo, who scored an away Dutch who turned on the style, with won their third consecutive any faint hopes of repeating the own eight-minute flurry as goal last week with a diving header in only Szczesny's reflexes keeping title in 1973 at the expense comeback against Paris Saint- United almost conceded a Amsterdam, was Juve's only weapon Juventus in the tie. of Juventus, and last lifted Germain, or even the famous penalty, ruled out after Fred against the impressive Dutch side. The Polish keeper denied the trophy in 1995, with 1999 rescue act against Bayern took the ball before bringing The 34-year-old was signed for 100 Ziyech from close range with their last semi-final Munich, on this same pitch, down Ivan Rakitic, and then million euros ($117 million) last sum- one hand, and minutes appearance ending in were dashed. did concede, twice, to Messi. mer from Real Madrid in a bid to win later tipped Van de defeat by Juve 22 years Messi now has his 109th Both could have been the European trophy for the first time Beek's curling ago. and 110th Champions League avoided, even if Young's turn since 1996, when they effort Juventus now turn goals and, potentially, three on the edge of his own box was beat Ajax in the their focus back to extra matches to reduce the gap punished in devastating fash- final. Serie A where they on Cristiano Ronaldo's 126, ion. Young lunged in to atone "Ajax deserved can win an eighth after Juventus were dumped for his mistake but Messi to qualify," said Juve consecutive title out by Ajax. Barcelona's fans skipped away from him, poked coach on Saturday. celebrated that too. it through Fred's legs and then Massimiliano They could have hardly whipped the ball into corner. Allegri. have asked for a better start. The second was simpler. /9.2''+,+ 9/ 4.%$3&&9%.9+4+4&#%+ '  $   tract with Atletico Madrid until June 30, 2023," a club statement read.   tletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan "The Slovenian player has signed AOblak has signed a new contract his new contract that commits him to ameron Bancroft hit an until 2023, the club announced on our club for four more seasons." Cunbeaten 151 on his one-day Wednesday. Oblak's previous contract con- debut for Durham as the dis-  $%  Oblak's commitment comes as a tained a release clause of 100 million graced Australia batsman start- boost to Atletico, with the 26-year-old euros, which is likely to have been ed to repay the English county's afael Nadal charged out of the establishing himself as one of the increased, rather than removed, in his faith in him. Rblocks on Wednesday to world's finest goalkeepers since join- new deal. According to reports in the Bancroft was banned for hammer Roberto Bautista Agut ing the club in 2014. Spanish press, the adjusted release nine months after being caught 6-1, 6-1 in his opening match at  4)         "Jan Oblak has extended his con- clause will be 120 million euros. in the Australia ball-tampering the Monte Carlo Masters. scandal during their tour to The 11-time champion South Africa last year showed no sign of the knee The 'sandpaper-gate' inci- problems which forced him to . D##++++ dent during the Newlands Test quit ahead of an Indian Wells against South Africa also led to semi-final against Roger Federer Bancroft's Australia team-mates a month ago. Steve Smith and David Warner The 32-year-old had * *# +;#+#* receiving year-long suspensions. expressed pre-tournament cau- After returning in Australia's tion regarding the health of his  $   -   "I actually expected to Big Bash League in December, knee — a worry which appeared      have a muscle injury earlier and playing a role in the back end to be groundless after a 76- njured Bayern Munich   D "@ this season." of Western Australia's current minute masterclass. # &            %     Igoalkeeper Manuel Neuer Neuer said he knew Sheffield Shield campaign, Nadal collected the opening on Wednesday quashed   instinctively that he had suf- Bancroft has joined up with five games of the afternoon in 17 Nadal improved his current position of 33rd. rumours of his imminent &  fered a muscle fibre tear Durham with a view to making minutes as he set the tone for incredible record here to Zverev swept the retirement and says he wants 3    when he pulled up during the Australia's Ashes squad. another dominant display in the 69-4 as he takes aim at a opening set in 30 minutes to return in time to face RB    Duesseldorf game. Durham, now under a new principality. fourth consecutive title but had to get through a Leipzig on the penultimate The Bayern goalkeeper Australian director of cricket in He was equally in control at the event. series of three straight day of the Bundesliga season.    $ praised his understudy Sven Marcus North, attracted criticism during the second set, where he Third seed Alexander breaks of serve between "It is difficult to say when Ulreich and wants to support in some quarters when they saved three break points in the Zverev rediscovered traces him and his opponent I will be back but I think career. the team in the coming recruited Bancroft. fourth game and two more in the of his best form with a 6-1, 6- before finally advancing in 78 Leipzig is a realistic target," he "We smiled about that," weeks. But the 26-year-old was con- sixth. 4 defeat of Felix Auger-Aliassime. minutes. said at a press conference, Neuer admitted when asked "Even if I can't play I want troversially appointed Durham "It was a great start, it's good The German, locally based, The third seed broke six with league leaders Bayern about the rumours. to be around the team," he captain and, making his maiden to be back here," the 17-time reached the third round as he times and will next face Italy's away to third-placed Leipzig The Bayern shot-stopper said. limited overs appearance, Grand Slam winner said. tamed the 18-year-old who broke Fabio Fognini, who reached the on May 5. insists he is taking this latest Bayern face back-to-back Bancroft piled up the runs in "I've had some great through for a Miami semi-final third round when French oppo- Neuer, 33, was substitut- setback in his stride after games against in-form their One-Day Cup clash with moments on this court, I really last month. nent Gilles Simon was unable to ed off during Bayern's 4-1 twice breaking a bone in his Werder Bremen in the next Northamptonshire at Chester-le- enjoy playing here. play their match due to back win over Fortuna Duesseldorf foot in 2017. week. Street on Wednesday. "It's not easy to come back 0 C& & problems. last Sunday after aggravating "I was out for a whole They host Bremen in the Bancroft, who played in the from injury, I had to do a lot of The 21-year-old Zverev Greek sixth seed Stefanos a recurring calf injury. year last season when I broke league on Saturday before 2017-18 Ashes, plundered five mental work as well to be pre- played the semi-finals in Monte Tsitsipas moved ahead, defeating The knock sees him side- Neuer has had a relent- my metatarsal and I was on travelling north for a German sixes and eight fours in a 188- pared. Carlo a year ago but has yet to hit Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 7-5. lined at a crucial phase of the less struggle with injury in crutches for a long time," he Cup semi-final tie on Tuesday. minute stay at the crease. "I tried to play solid, domi- his stride this season. Britain's Cameron Norrie season, with Bayern seeking recent years, and after the said. Neuer described both He and Michael Richardson nate with my forehand when I That may be starting to defeated Marton Fucsovics of to stay a point ahead of club announced that he "When you are out for games as "finals" and warned put on 208 for the fourth-wick- had the chance." change. Hungary 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, while Borussia Dortmund in the would give a press conference that long, your body has to his teammates not to under- et before the latter was ousted in Bautista Agut has now lost to Canadian Auger-Aliassime Pierre-Hugues Herbert stunned Bundesliga title race and bid- on Wednesday, there was adapt so you expect to have estimate Bremen, who cur- the final over. his Spanish countryman in all has made a fast rise in the rank- 2018 finalist and fifth seed Kei ding to reach the German some speculation that he smaller muscle injuries after- rently sit seventh in the Durham went on to score three of their meetings, while ings from 175 a year ago to his Nishikori 7-5, 6-4. Cup final. might be about to end his wards." Bundesliga. 342 for five from their 50 overs. 80

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    EF( 20 -   E  E  8=   6 ustralian great Ricky Ponting on Wednesday Aexpressed surprise at Rishabh Pant's exclusion from India's World Cup squad, saying he could have >?= been the X factor in the playing eleven. Ponting met Pant on Monday night, hours after the India squad was announced with Dinesh +$)!    )     G7   1H  Karthik being preferred over the 21-year-old for the reserve wicketkeeper's slot. "Yes I was surprised when he was left out of the While Watson found the fence Indian squad. I thought he would be in and he four times, Du Plessis hit two max- would be in the starting eleven. I thought someone imums to up the ante at the Rajiv like him batting at four or five could have been that Gandhi International Stadium. X factor and the difference between India and the Having added 79 runs in just other teams," under 10 overs, Watson was said the Delhi bowled by left-arm spinner Capitals head Shahbaz Nadeem, giving the home coach. fans something to cheer about after Ponting had a prolonged wait. nothing but The Australia's dismissal trig-    Live on Star Sports 1& 2 HEAD words of gered a collapse, from which the TO encouragement Super Kings struggled to recover. ishabh Pant will be in focus HEAD for the star Rafter his fiercely-debated + % Delhi Capitals 0,/+   + World Cup exclusion when a ,  player. Struggling with back spasm, buoyant Delhi Capitals aim to &99.= "One thing Chennai Super Kings skipper replicate its stellar away form at %   *Q)) $ + we know about Mahendra Singh Dhoni was on home against the Mumbai Indian cricket Wednesday rested for their IPL Indians here at Feroz Shah Kotla that there is a lot clash against Sunrisers on Thursday. up five wickets. The batting of depth around Hyderabad, the first time he is not Pant has been mum on unit, led by captain Shreyas in batting and leading the yellow brigade since being ignored for the World Cup Iyer, is also hitting its strides with this time 2010. in favour of Dinesh Karthik and Dhawan back among the runs Rishabh has Suresh Raina was handed it would be interesting to see following a few quiet games. missed out. over the captaincy for the away how the 21-year-old's bat His opening partner is due Knowing what game at the Rajiv Gandhi responds to the disappointment. for a big knock after making lit- he is like and International Stadium. With 10 points from eight tle impact in the last five games. the talent he has, "Dhoni wanted to take some games, both teams are on course But the centre of attention I would be sur- rest, he'll be back in the next to make the play-offs. While that will be Pant, who will be play- prised if he      game," Raina said at the toss. counts as familiar territory for ing his first game after missing doesn't play in at least three world cups before his The decision to rest the vet- three-time IPL champions out on a World Cup spot, a deci- career is over. unrisers Hyderabad bowled a eran was a precautionary mea- Mumbai Indians, Capitals are in sion that has divided opinions. "I had a quick chat with him. He seems to have nagging line and length to sure. the middle of a remarkable The focus will also be on the taken it pretty well. There is no doubt that he is dis- Srestrict Chennai Super Kings The two-time World Cup resurgence, having not finished Kotla pitch which has already appointed, he would have loved to be in that squad to 132 for five in their Indian winning captain had suffered in the top-four since 2012. copped criticism for its slowish but the thing he still has to remember is, potential- Premier League match here on the injury against Kolkata Knight The celebrated duo of head nature. Ponting had described it ly he will get the opportunity to play in three to four Wednesday. Riders and after that game, Dhoni coach Ricky Ponting and men- as the "worst possible" track for World Cups. Leading the side in the absence had said, "It's a little tight right tor Sourav Ganguly has man- the home team after a loss ear- "What is negative thing for the Indian team is of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who now but hopefully, it will get bet- aged to instill belief in the team lier in the tournament. positive for Delhi capitals. Really happy that the was rested for the game because of ter". members and that is visible on Apart from the super over decision has been made and he can focus on the back spasm, Suresh Raina opted to Ahead the match, Dhoni was the field. The team now seems game against KKR, the other back half of the tournament." bat after the coin landed in his seen warming up by playing to believe that it can win the title two matches here have been Pant at times has been criticised for throwing favour. But the decision did not some football before Raina after a long spell as the perenni- low-scoring affairs with the away a good start. Asked if that could be the rea- work wonders for the visitors as the walked out for the toss. al underachiever of the compe- home team ending on the wrong son selectors did not pick Pant, Ponting said: "I don't Sunrisers bowlers produced a dis- This is only the fourth time tition. side of the result on both occa- know the selection criteria. Don't know why he is ciplined effort to pick up five wick- Dhoni is not playing for Chennai The South African pace sions. not being picked. I don't know why the other guys ets for 22 runs. Super Kings in the cash-rich combine of Kagiso Rabada and Like Capitals, Mumbai is have been picked ahead of him. To be honest it is Opener Faf du Plessis top- bowler with economical figures of runs. league. Chris Morris have delivered for also getting better with each none of my business. scored with a 31-ball 45 and 2/17 in four overs, seamers In a manner least convincing, Dhoni has been in good form the team. Even in the previous game and look a more potent "Though I don't think he is impatient, he is a added 79 runs for the opening Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0/21) and CSK found their first boundary for Chennai Super Kings in the game against Sunrisers outfit with the return of Lasith very smart player. I think he sums up situations and wicket with Shane Watson (31). Khaleel Ahmed (1/22) were also when Watson's thick edge went fly- 2019 IPL, leading the team's run Hyderabad, the two pacers Malinga. Hardik Pandya is also conditions really well. But they obviously have their CSK did not have much to cheer miserly. ing over the slip cordon. chart with 230 runs from eight shared seven wickets to fashion firing on all cylinders. reasons for not picking him and I am not going to about after that as the hosts made It was a quite beginning for Du Plessis drove Khaleel over matches, including two fifties. an unlikely win for Capitals who Capitals got the better of comment on that. a remarkable comeback. Ignored CSK as Bhuvneshwar conceded his head for a boundary in the CSK, who have won seven successfully defended 155 by Mumbai Indians at Wankhede "I actually think he missing out you will see a for the World Cup, Ambati Rayadu just one run in the opening over. fourth over, a proper cricketing out of their eight matches in this bowling out the hosts for 116. earlier in the competition, so different player in the IPL. His determination will remained not out on 25 off 21 balls. Complementing his senior pace shot this time around, and CSK Indian Premier League so far, West Indies pacer Keemo expect the Rohit Sharma-led shine through and I am sure he will score heavily While leg-spinner Rashid partner, Khaleel also bowled a tight followed that with a flurry of need another win to secure a Paul too has come to the party squad to come back harder at in the back half of the tournament," he said. Khan was the most successful first over, giving away only three fours and sixes. play-off berth. in the last two games by picking Kotla. 68  "# ! E )  +  $ to a historic 2-0 Test triumph in    be going," a senior BCCI official South Africa and made Sri said on Wednesday. eteran pacer Lasith Malinga Lanka the only Asian side to win oung wicket-keeper Rishabh While Khaleel Ahmed, Avesh Vwas sacked as ODI skipper a Test series in South Africa. YPant and veteran batsman Khan and Deepak Chahar will be with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on The other option was Ambati Rayudu were on travelling with the team purely as Wednesday naming Test captain Angelo Mathews, who has been Wednesday named among the net bowlers, they can also be Dimuth Karunaratne to lead the Sri Lanka's ODI captain in two standbys for India's World Cup drafted in if the management feels country at the 50 over World separate stints before. But squad, reigniting their dashed so. cup in England beginning May Mathews is said to have declined hopes of making the trip to the UK "Khaleel, Avesh and Deepak 30. the offer to captain citing his dis- in case an injury setback hits the are not designated standbys. In The World cup squad will agreements with coach side. case of bowlers, that possibility is #* #  be announced on Thursday, Chandika Hathurusinghe. Speedster Navdeep Saini also there but when it comes purely to SLC said. He will replace Malinga, The news will come as a found a place in the list of three batsmen, it will be either Rishabh "Karunaratne's appoint- who had captained the team blow for Malinga, who had back-ups for the mega-event start- or Rayudu," the official said. 7 #+<#* ment was ratified by the during the 0-5 loss to South played a domestic match in ing on May 30. In other developments, there Minister of Africa in the ODI series. Kandy, only 14 hours after play- With the ICC doing away will be no Yo-Yo Test for the World Telecommunications, Foreign Malinga, who led Sri Lanka ing an IPL match for his fran- with the practice of letting coun- Cup-bound players as the IPL is * #++ Employment and Sports to a World T20 trophy in 2014, chise Mumbai Indians in tries announce a probables' list going to end only on May 12, just Honorable Harin Fernando," had personal disagreements Mumbai, earlier this month. before the final squad, the BCCI a few days before India head to the     Sri Lanka Cricket said in a with the team management Apart from Malinga and also has the option of including UK. release. and certain senior players, Mathews, Sri Lanka had also anyone apart from these three but "The players are already in the attling concerns over the form and fitness of 31-year-old Karunaratne, which also soured his stint as tried Dinesh Chandimal and it is unlikely to happen. middle of a gruelling T20 season. Bsome of their players, the Pakistan selection who didn't play a single ODI captain. Thisara Perera to lead the side "Just like ICC Champions Once the IPL ends, they will need committee headed by Inzamam-ul-Haq has since the 2015 World Cup, has Karunaratne, a Test opener, at various stages over the past Trophy, we have three standbys. recovery time. decided to announce the World Cup squad on only featured in 17 ODIs and forced himself into the ODI cap- two years since the retirement of Rishabh Pant and Ambati Rayudu "It's not like that there is a gap Thursday with two reserves. averages 15.83 with a high score taincy following his success in Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela are the first and second standbys between two series and you are The selection committee has decided to utilise of 60. the Test arena. He led Sri Lanka Jayawardene in 2014. while Saini is the bowler in the list. having a test. If you are tired, the the five-match one-day series against England and So if anyone gets injured, as per results may vary," the official some side matches as the barometer for making requirement, one of the three will explained. changes in the 15-member World Cup squad, if required, by the deadline of 23rd May. %      + ! "The selectors after consulting head coach, Mickey Arthur have more or less decided on the 15-member World Cup squad and two reserves   Under the previous system, he would not )5,)$6<<)H<1.. who will be on the flight to England for the World have been eligible until the winter of 2022 after Cup and before that play at the one-day series ngland chief selector Ed Smith is confident a seven-year residency. against England and some side matches," said a Ethe call-up of uncapped all-rounder Jofra Archer and another Barbados-born Sussex 1(5(GG