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$ % rally in Changsari in Assam %5 8 .0: % !. 1 :0. 6 %! where he laid the foundation stone of the All India Institute belt has further shifted east- rime Minister Narendra of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). wards now and thunderstorms, ! " PModi on Saturday assured The Prime Minister also said hailstorms at isolated places are !!! ! the people of Assam and the the BJP is committed to likely over east and north-east ! ! ! Northeast that the citizenship implementing the 36-year-old India including Assam, "# ! % bill will in no way cause harm Assam Accord and a commit- Arunachal Pradesh, !& to their interests. Addressing a tee set up on the implementa- Mizoram and Tripura on ' " public rally in Assam, Modi said tion of its Clause 6 is a step in February 10-11. Himachal ( ! !! ! the NDA Government is com- that direction. Pradesh’s popular tourist des- ! mitted to protecting the lan- Modi also lashed out at the & 6)5)180 tinations Kufri and Dalhousie &) ! guage, culture, resources, hopes Opposition, saying the main received more snowfall on ! "* and aspirations of the people of job of the ‘mahamilawatwalas’ s farmers in northern Saturday leading to a drop in ! "( Assam and the Northeast. is to deride him and it seems AStates — Punjab, Haryana, temperatures by several !! “It is a national commit- they were all competing in an Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan notches. ! ! + ! "( ! ! ment to the people of the Olympics of hurling abuses at and Madhya Pradesh — brace As per preliminary reports, ! ! Northeast that they will not be him. Calling the Opposition a for another round of rainfall potatoes crop in northern ! harmed in any way and citi- ‘mahamilawat’ (great adulter- ! # and hailstorm next week, States have been damaged due " zenship will be only granted ation) again, he said its leaders $ % &% experts said frequent showers to untimely and frequent rain- - ! ! after due investigation and rec- are only involved in “holding with hailstorm and thunder- fall and hailstorm this year. ! ! !! ommendation of the State each other’s hands in meetings storm in the past two week !! Governments,” Modi said. in Delhi and Kolkata for pho- have damaged potatoes, mus- ! ". It must be understood that tographs”. tard, green pea, onion, orchard /+ there is a difference between “The job of the ‘mahami- and rice of the rabi season. A # % ! L those who forcefully entered lawatwalas’ is only to heap clearer picture will emerge ! ! 1 L the country and those who abuses and more abuses on over the next few days as !"- were “forced to flee their homes Modi. It is as if an Olympics is $ %5 8 .0 Saturday when they stripped reports start pouring in. % ! ! ! "- ! to save their lives due to their on to deride Modi,” said the naked in front of Janata Bhawan The India Meteorological ! & faith. Both are not the same”, he Prime Minister at a public rime Minister Narendra — the State secretariat here. Department (IMD) has fore- 0 !"% asserted. “We have committed rally in Agartala in Tripura. PModi’s second day in Assam The KMSS activists had cast a fresh western disturbance #, !" to provide shelter to those who “The results of the coming saw nude protests, a bandh, arrived in cars and stripped that will affect western 0 . ! are minorities in neighbouring Lok Sabha elections will show raising of black flags and burn- naked before holding the Himalayan region and plains of , *0+, ! & countries and had to leave what it takes to lie to the peo- ing of effigies by agitators over protests. the north-west region from / <= 2 everything due to the atrocities ple,” Modi said commenting on the contentious Citizenship The Tai Ahom Yuba February 13. The IMD pre- ! L inflicted on them. They have the allegations leveled by (Amendment) Bill. Parishad had called a 12- dicted that another western dis- L7/ <= 3 ") Q 51 1 come to our country and Congress on certain issues Six Krishak Mukti Sangram hour bandh in the State to turbance may affect western / <> ! embraced the idea and ethos of including the Rafale fighter jet Samiti (KMSS) activists were protest against the PM’s visit Himalayan region from . 7,, Mother India,” said Modi at a deal. taken into police custody on to the State. February 10, but the rainfall 4 "- & ( 1 6 '%( $ , (!" . )* ! * + 1 ! 8 "-!! 4$ , L ! M % "+ $ 6)5)180 Q & & $.0 , witter CEO and top officials ! ! Thave declined to appear he questioning of Kolkata ! " ! !11 before the Parliamentary TPolice Commissioner Rajiv # $ ! % 1 !" Committee on IT that had Kumar in connection with the %O '' - ! summoned them over the issue Saradha chit fund scam by a ( ! of safeguarding citizens’ rights CBI team in Shillong continued ) ! on social media platforms, till night, a senior official of the *)+ ! & sources in the panel said on agency said on Saturday, , L ! Saturday. The Parliamentary adding that he has been called , 2 " Committee, headed by BJP again on Sunday. ,, & ! MP Anurag Thakur, had asked The marathon questioning & 3"+ Twitter to appear before the began at 11 am this morning at # %& ! $ 3!086 % !*54+ panel and an official letter in Meenakshi Lekhi said. “There the highly secured CBI office at ! ! 2 this regard was sent to Twitter are repercussions because in Oakland in Shillong as per the ! " rinamool Congress MLA on February 1. any democratic country, insti- directions of the Supreme ! TSatyajit Biswas was shot The BJP on Saturday tutions need to be respected by Court, the official said. neutral meeting place “to avoid . ) 7 + dead by some unidentified warned Twitter of “repercus- the world powers. Kumar was the functional all unnecessary controversy”, *)+ 3 + assailants on Saturday evening sions” after the social net- If there is any violation of head of the special investigation while making it clear that N O+! 5:!! ; in Nadia district, police said. work company’s CEO and top any sort, then there are reper- team (SIT) formed by West Kumar will not be arrested. $ ' /' ' / " 2! ;' The incident occurred officials declined to appear cussions to those viola- Bengal Chief Minister Mamata On February 3, a team of 0 */0/+ & when Biswas representing before the Parliamentary tions...The institutions need Banerjee to probe the case CBI officials had gone to ,1 . " Krishnagar constituency was Committee on information to be respected,” she said. before it was handed over to the Kumar’s residence in Kolkata to ! ! present at Saraswati puja at technology, saying no agency The Parliamentary CBI by the apex court. question him, but their attempt 7 2 " Phoolbari under Hanskhali has the right to disrespect Committee meeting was Three senior CBI sleuths was thwarted by the police, fol- - "- ! police station area. institutions of the country. scheduled for February 7, but reached Shillong from Delhi on lowing which Banerjee had !"# % 22 3 ! - - ! +! +! ! said a police official. Following Parliament, then there are of the hearing” as the reason, arising out of the Saradha chit ly in possession of certain key . , +!% +!" ! the incident, security was repercussions,” BJP spokesper- despite being given 10 days to fund scam. documents as a member of the , !3 7 2 stepped up in the area. son and New Delhi MP travel, the sources said. It chose Shillong as the SIT. % 22 " + ! 7 2 Q ! " 7 2 ! "( ! L ' Q 2 ' L $ 11 8 4 January 15 on Makar "#$R& $' 2 Sankranti, the first bathing " ll roads led to Sangam city day, and the Mahashivratri on $ 8 !05 !: 8 ! 6$! Pradesh after drinking the spu- Awhere devotees gathered March 4 will mark its last rious liquor in Balupur on ' " ahead the third and the final bathing day. he death toll in the hooch Thursday night, are also dead. shahi snan on Basant “Shahi snan is the central Ttragedy that hit two adjoin- Uttar Pradesh officials said & Panchami, falling Sunday, dur- highlight of the Kumbh Mela ing districts in Uttarakhand 35 of the Saharanpur deaths "( ing which more than two crore and the most important part of and Uttar Pradesh has risen to took place in the district itself. ! ! !) people are expected to take a the celebration. 70 with more people dying of Eleven other victims, who were ! ! holy dip at the Kumbh Mela. It is only after the com- the spurious liquor they drank referred from Saharanpur for 2 "-) The festival of Basant pletion of ‘shahi snan’ that at a Haridwar village, officials medical treatment in Meerut, ! Panchami heralds the arrival of people are allowed to take the said Saturday. died at a hospital there. ". !! spring and is dedicated to holy dip, he said. Prior to The viscera examination In Uttarakhand, about 20 %& Goddess Saraswati. Basant Panchami, shahi snans on 11 more bodies is yet to be more people are still under &"3 < Allahabad Mayor were held on Makar Sankranti conducted to find out if these treatment. Most of the victims 7 2 !! " Abhilasha Gupta Nandi told on January 15 and Mauni too were alcohol-related deaths. had consumed the liquor - ) PTI, “Basant Panchami is the Amawasya on February 4. Twenty-four of the vic- Thursday evening after the ! ! "- 1 third and last shahi snan of the Lucknow-based astrologer, tims died in Balupur and its ‘tehravin’, the 13th day of ! ! ! ! < Kumbh. By taking three dips Trilokinath Singh highlighted neighbouring villages in mourning ritual, following a rel- ! !"% ! on this day, a devotee gets the the significance of the festival. Uttarakhand’s Haridwar dis- ative’s death in Balupur, officials 1 ! ! ! < " blessings of Ganga, Yamuna Saturday that more than two Parishad (ABAP) president “It marks the onset of trict, state’s Additional Director said. UP police, however, added -%& !!7 2 and the mythical Saraswati crore people from different Narendra Giri said there were spring (Basant), and also marks General (Law and Order) that a Saharanpur district resi- " 1 !% rivers. Hence, it holds tremen- walks of life are likely to arrive three shahi snan or royal baths the start of preparation for Ashok Kumar said. dent may have brought 30 ? dous significance for people.” here to take a dip on the occa- and three ‘parv snans’ during Holi, the festival of colours, At least 46 others, who had pouches of the same liquor @. ! Kumbh Mela Adhikari sion of Basant Panchami. the Kumbh Mela. which occurs around 40 days come home to the adjoining from Uttarakhand for sale back 2? Vijay Kiran Anand told PTI Akhil Bharatiya Akhara The Mela commenced on later,” he said. Saharanpur district in Uttar home. ( ( )*+ ,*)-

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$ 801 get, the chief minister, who also will be formed under the chief holds the finance portfolio, minister to tackle trafficking imachal Pradesh Chief announced 15 new schemes and consumption of narcotics HMinister Jai Ram Thakur for various sections. ), ,H ( and rehabilitate addicted per- on Saturday presented the In his three-hour address $ 8 ,, sons, he added. Budget for the financial year in the house while tabling the Announcing a new Sahara 2019-20 in the state assembly 168-page proposed budget, scheme, he said financial assis- which focuses more on the Thakur said an annual plan of $0 . 0 $ tance of Rs 2,000 per month rural population, which con- Rs 7,100 crore is focused on would be given to patients stitutes 80 per cent of the increasing farm productivity, 0, 1 7,, , suffering from grievous and state, in the Rs 44,388 crore developing rural infrastruc- 0 0, ) debilitating conditions as such 'populist' budget. ture, developing new sources of 8 as Parkinson's, cancer, paraly- With the implementation irrigation, flood control and sis, muscular dystrophy, of VAT reducing the flexibili- social services. haemophilia, thalassemia and ty of the state governments, no Presenting the budget a breeding farm for Sahiwal and LPG refill cylinder will be renal failure. Diet allowance of new tax has been proposed in few months before the Lok Red Sindhi cows will be set up provided free of cost to the people infected with HIV- the budget which saw an Sabha elections, he announced with a total cost of Rs 11.21 beneficiaries of Himachal AIDS will be increased to Rs increase of Rs 2,948 crore (7 several schemes for farmers, crore. Grihani Suvidha Yojna and 1,500 per month. per cent) from Rs 41,440 crore including a Rs 150 crore Besides, Rs 11,000 per Ujjwala Yojna. Two lakh fam- Thakur also said a new in 2018-19. Mukhya Mantri Nutan annum will be provided as ilies will benefit as a result in tourism policy would be intro- The revenue receipts of Polyhouse Yojna, higher bud- 'Varshik Loktantra Prahari the next year. duced and a Master Plan for 2019-20 are estimated at Rs get outlay for anti-hail net, irri- Samman' to people who had The state government has promoting eco-tourism will 33,747 crore, whereas expen- gation and flood control been arrested during decided that 10 per cent reser- be prepared. Helicopter taxi diture is likely to be Rs 36,089 schemes, Mukhya Mantri Emergency under the vation will be provided to the services will be launched to crore -- leading to a revenue Khumb Vikas Yojna, subsidy Maintenance of Internal economically weaker section connect more towns. deficit of Rs 2,342 crore.The up to Rs 25,000 on indigenous Security (MISA) Act. (EWS) of the general category The chief minister said fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs cow breeds and Rs 2 per litre The social security pension in employment and educa- hydel projects with an installed 7,352 crore for 2019-20, which increase in milk procurement irrigation. projects. Most of the projects Thakur announced 50 per is proposed to be increased tional institutions, Thakur said. capacity of 500 MW would be is 4.3 per cent of GSDP. The net price. said the state government are aimed at uplifting the rural cent subsidy for barbed wire from Rs 750 to Rs 850 and Five drug de-addiction and commissioned. These include borrowing will be Rs 5,069 Thakur also announced has got approval for projects economy by providing support and chain link under the from Rs 1,300 to Rs 1,500. rehabilitation centres will be the 111 MW Sawra-Kuddu crore. reducing power tariff from 75 worth Rs 10,300 crore from the to agriculture, irrigation, water Mukhya Mantri Khet More than 5 lakh persons will set up to tackle the drug men- and the 100 MW Uhl Hydel Presenting his second bud- paise per unit to 50 paise for Centre for externally aided supply and energy, he said. Sanrakshan Yojna. He said be benefited. One additional ace. 'Yuva Navjeevan Board' projects. ' %!,+ - , $ #8 60% !8 the BSP today ends alliance rethink on the alliance. Our year. with the INLD and ties up with votebank was disturbed," he Saini, a rebel BJP MP Chandigarh: Bringing relief to the n what could be seen as a the Loktantra Suraksha Party claimed. from Kurukshetra had last passengers, Punjab government Inew alignment in Haryana (LSP)," BSP Haryana incharge The BSP leader said the year floated his 'Loktantra $ #8 60% !8 ond day of the Summit, the have been formed based on on Saturday slashed fare of pub- politics ahead of the Lok Sabha Meghraj told reporters here. objective of ousting the BJP Suraksha Party' and the can- Union Minister of State for innovative farming for mak- lic buses by eight to 16 paise per polls, the Bahujan Samaj Party Meghraj said the decision out of power was unachievable didate fielded by him in the aryana Agriculture and Agriculture, Parshottam ing farming a profitable ven- passenger per kilometer in ordi- on Saturday called off its near- to snap ties with the INLD was in alliance with the INLD. Jind bypolls had put up a bet- HFarmers’ Welfare Rupala would be the Chief ture. "During the 3-day nary to super integral coaches. ly nine-month-old alliance taken by BSP chief after con- Under the new arrangement, ter performance than INLD's Minister, O.P. Dhankar on Guest. On the concluding Summit, our farmers and our The decreased rates will come with Haryana's main opposi- sidering the demand of the the BSP and the LSP will con- Redhu. The ruling BJP had Saturday said that the 4th Agri ceremony, the President, departments would exhibit into effect immediately, Punjab tion INLD and forged ties people of Haryana. "Our leader test the upcoming Lok Sabha won the Jind bypolls while Leadership Summit-2019 Ramnath Kovind would be all what they have achieved. Transport minister Aruna with LSP, an outfit floated by Mayawati gave them a chance elections and Haryana Digvijay Singh Chautala, the would be organised from the Chief Guest and Haryana Farmers would also be Chaudhary said in a statement rebel BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini. for staying united. When we Assembly polls. candidate of the Jannayak February 15-17 at India Chief Minister, Manohar Lal allowed to sell their products issued here. On expected lines, the entered into an alliance, the In Haryana, the BSP will Janata Party, had finished International Horticulture would preside over the pro- or produce," he said. Bus fare was hiked three times development comes days after INLD was one party. But after contest on eight and the LSP runners up. Market (IIHM), Ganaur in gramme. The minister said this last year in Punjab, with increase Om Prakash Chautala-led Chautala family split, we got a on two Lok Sabha seats, The INLD and the BSP district Sonipat. Presiding over a meeting year, the state government of two paise in February, six paise Indian National Lok Dal chance to judge them in Jind Meghraj said. He further said had entered into an alliance in Union Agriculture to take stock of the prepara- would honour the farmers in June and seven paise in (INLD) suffered a humiliating bypoll," Meghraj said. his party would contest on 35 April last year, which both rul- Minister, Radha Mohan Singh tions for the Summit, with new award Haryana November on account of rising defeat in the Jind bypolls, with He said the BSP gave a and the LSP on 55 seats during BJP and opposition and Union Minister of Steel, Dhankar said that in 2015, the Kisan Ratna Samman to fuel prices. For ordinary buses, the party candidate Umed Singh rethink on the alliance with the ing the Haryana Assembly Congress had described as a Birender Singh would inau- State Government had organ- encourage them. This award fare has been reduced from 117 Redhu forfeiting his security INLD after drubbing of its can- polls. "marriage of convenience" gurate the summit and every ised the first Agri Leadership would carry a cash prize of Rs paise per passenger per km to 109 deposit, amid the ongoing didate in the Jind bypoll. "Out Following family feud in which they entered into just to day over 60,000 farmers as Summit in Gurugram for the 5 lakh and a citation and paise. The fare of the heating, ven- family feud in the Chautala of around 3,400 votes polled to the Chautala clan, Ajay "grab power" in the state. well as dignitaries from across development of agriculture would be given to a farmer for tilation and air conditioning family. INLD candidate, Redhu man- Chautala and his two sons After forging the alliance, the country and abroad, and farmers. his outstanding work in the (HVAC) bus will be 130.80 paise "On the directions of BSP aged just 1,000 votes and rest Dushyant Chautala and the two parties had announced would participate. He said during the three- field of agriculture develop- per passenger per km, a cut of 9.60 national president and former of them were BSP votes. Digvijay Chautala had floated to jointly contest the 2019 Lok Dhankar said on the sec- day summit, different themes ment. paise. PNS UP chief minister Mayawati, Thereafter, we decided to the Jannayak Janata Party last Sabha and Assembly polls. ! " # "$ # "!# # # &'

hough Sirsa, one of the two Treserved Lok Sabha constituencies in Haryana has been a stronghold of Chautalas, who lead Indian National Lok Dal in the state, this time the situation could be different with the weakening of the party after a split. The INLD, which was fighting the 2014 Lok Sabha polls with its back to the wall after the conviction of party chief OP Chautala and his son Ajay Singh Chautala in JBT divided between the INLD and teachers’ recruitment case, had the Congress. An aggressive managed to secure Sirsa seat in campaign by INLD in its bas- the elections. tion and sympathy over con- INLD’s Sikh candidate viction of its two top leaders Charanjeet Singh Rori had had worked for the party in won the Sirsa parliamentary 2014 polls, say political experts. seat, trouncing his nearest rival Despite a strong Modi- Congress’ Ashok Tanwar by wave, BJP’s alliance partner more than 1.15 lakh votes. HJC’s candidate Sushil Indora Sushil Indora of Haryana Janhit had finished third by polling Congress, an alliance partner of less than half the votes polled ()* ()) the BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha by Charanjit Singh Rori. On the polls, had finished at third other hand, slipping of urban spot. voters from the Congress to shifted to Ambala parliamen- and assembly polls held later However, with the forma- HJC also resulted in defeat of tary seat and became a Rajya that year in Haryana had also tion of JJP and the decision of Ashok Tanwar, who is Haryana Sabha MP in 2014. led to a bitter feud between Bahujan Samaj Party to part Congress chief and had repre- In the past, Atma Singh Tanwar and former Chief ways with INLD, the situation sented the Sirsa constituency Gill of Congress represented Minister Bhupinder Singh could take a different turn this from 2009-2014, they say. the constituency from 2004-09 Hooda, who headed Congress’ time round. Top leaders of Punjab’s while Sushil Kumar Indore, Government in Haryana from Sirsa Lok Sabha seat cover Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) — who contested on INLD tick- 2004-2014. the entire Sirsa and Fatehabad former Chief Minister Parkash et had won in 1996 and 1998 The sitting MP districts and part of Jind district Singh Badal and SAD chief polls. Charanjeet Singh Rori is seen and is a Dalit dominated seat Sukhbir Singh Badal — having The Sirsa parliamentary as INLD’s safe bet for the Sirsa with more than 7 lakh Dalit family ties with Chautalas, had constituency has more than Lok Sabha seat while the voters, over 3.4 lakh Punjabi also backed INLD’s Sikh can- 17.51 lakh voters, as per the lat- search for candidates is on in and Sikh voters and around didate in Sirsa. est data with Election BJP and Jannayak Janta Party, 3.34 lakh Jat voters. Sirsa Lok Sabha con- Commission. which a breakaway faction A major section of Jats in stituency has nine assembly Congress state unit chief of INLD. Haryana are considered as sup- segments including Narwana Ashok Tanwar has already While many senior leaders porters of INLD led by (SC), Tohana, Fatehabad, Ratia evinced interest to contest the have joined the JJP formed by Chautalas. (SC), Kalanwali (SC), Dabwali, ensuing Lok Sabha polls from Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala This parliamentary con- Rania, Sirsa and Ellenabad. the Sirsa seat and seen as a and his father former MP Ajay stituency had witnessed an Rori had led in seven seg- frontrunner for the party tick- Chautala, Sirsa MP Rori has so intense four-cornered contest ments while Tanwar and et. far stayed with the INLD led by in last general elections. Indore had managed to main- Having lost in the last gen- Leader of opposition and Charanjeet Singh Rori, tain their lead in Tohana and eral polls, Tanwar had in the INLD’s senior leader Abhay who managed to record victo- Fatehabad segments respec- past five years focused on Sirsa Chautala. ry in Chautala’s bastion—Sirsa, tively. constituency and addressed was polled 5.06 lakh votes In previous 2009 Lok many public meetings besides D $ (39.59 percent) followed by Sabha polls, Ashok Tanwar launching several party’s cam- Congress’ Ashok Tanwar, who had won the Sirsa seat with a paigns there. $ secured 3.90 lakh votes (30.54 margin of over 35,000 votes by In 2014, Tanwar had 2014-incumbent: percent), Sushil Indore of HJC defeating Sita Ram of the INLD blamed treachery by some Charanjeet Singh Rorti recorded 2.41 lakh votes at a time when Chautalas’ out- party leaders and anti-incum- (INLD) (18.85) and AAP’s Poonam fit had contested the parlia- bency of the Congress led 2009-2014: Ashok Tanwar Chand Ratti was polled 66844 mentary elections in alliance Haryana Government for the (Congress) votes (5 percent) with the BJP. party’s severe drubbing in Lok 2004-2009: Atma Singh While the Modi wave was Congress’ popular dalit Sabha polls in Haryana, where Gill (Congress) visible to some extent in urban face, Kumari Seja had repre- the party had managed to win 1999-04: Sushil Kumar areas of Sirsa, it was not a big sented the Sirsa seat twice only one seat out of 10. Indora (INLD) issue in rural areas of the con- from 1991 to 1998. The former The humiliating defeat of 1998-99: Sushil Kumar stituency, where the votes were Union Minister Selja had later the party in Lok Sabha polls Indore (INLD) ( ( )*+ ,*)- " +

! ' $ #8 60% !8 . nion Minister of Health Uand Family Welfare, J P $ 4 1 Nadda on Saturday said the !%06%$6 4067..70"0) Government is committed to hiromani Akali Dal presi- .8)0!"7.)4 1 0.8)0! ensure proper delivery of health Sdent Sukhbir Singh Badal on care facilities to the poor, needy Saturday promised to provide 0)#714) !))761D and underprivileged sections of free power to farmers in the society in every nook and Haryana, on the pattern of 0/.8) #7).7$75)!06 corner of the country. Punjab, if his party is voted to .8). .)8) 0.8)$ !.D5 Delivering his convoca- power in the state assembly tion address at the 35th elections later this year. #70..).7 306%) #8 Convocation of Postgraduate Addressing a public rally "011 %) 7)1"011 %)4D Institute of Medical Education here, Badal asked Punjabis to and Research (PGIMER), unite to help the party form the )6!06%

$ 6)5)180 the AICC Manifesto committee,” said an AICC source. ( # he Central leadership of the Further preparations under- TCongress on Saturday set a way to accord a grand welcome time frame of ten days for the to Rahul and Priyanka in $ 6)5)180 agency had obtained or seized the allegations of possessing State leaders to decide upon the Lucknow on Monday was also as part of its probe in the case, illegal foreign assets and alliances if any or their plans to reviewed. They will be wel- obert Vadra, Congress chief including those linked to termed them a political witch go solo in their respective comed by party workers and RRahul Gandhi’s brother- absconding defence dealer hunt against him. He said he States in the forthcoming gen- leaders at nearly 37 points on the in-law, on Saturday appeared Sanjay Bhandari. was being “hounded and eral elections. Congress chief 10 km-route from the airport to before the Enforcement Vadra has also shared doc- harassed” to subserve political Rahul Gandhi in a meeting the Nehru Bhawan Uttar Directorate (ED) for the third uments with the investigating ends. with State Congress Chiefs and Pradesh Congress Committee time in connection with a officer of the case and has Sources said Vadra’s state- the Congress Legislative Party (UPCC) headquarters. probe into allegations of assured some more will be ment is being recorded under leaders also asked the leaders This will Priyanka’s maid- money laundering in purchase provided as and when he gets Section 50 (powers of author- concerned to finalise the list of en visit to Uttar Pradesh after of assets abroad. them, official sources had said. ities regarding summons, pro- candidates for the forthcoming she formally entered politics Vadra arrived at the central He was directed by a Delhi duction of documents and to Assembly and Lok Sabha polls last month and she will be probe agency’s office at court on February 2, to coop- give evidence) of the by the end of February. joined by another general sec- Jamnagar House in central erate with the probe being car- Prevention of Money Besides, the meeting also retary in-charge for western Delhi around 10.45 am in his ried out by ED after he Laundering Act, as was done chalked out detailed strategy Uttar Pradesh Jyotiraditya private vehicle. knocked at its door seeking the last two times. for the newly appointed 0 4, ! &% Scindia. Priyanka has respon- Officials said the anticipatory bail in the money His appearance before the Congress general secretary in- sibilities of 42 of the 80 Lok investigating officer (IO) of laundering case. ED acquired political over- charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha poll strategy which ensure the participation of tutions and investigative agen- Sabha constituencies in the the case required Vadra to The ED case against Vadra tones after his wife Priyanka Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s four was also attended by Priyanka. maximum party stakeholders cies, in the mass campaign crucial State while remaining in answer more questions in con- relates to allegations of money Gandhi, recently appointed day visit to State from Monday A PCC leader said the and workers. He also instruct- and social media. bags of Scindia. nection with the case and laundering in the purchase of Congress general secretary in- onwards. The party in UP is Congress president under- ed to complete the candidate He also opined that the dic- Priyanka is scheduled to hence was asked to depose on a London-based property charge of eastern Uttar seeing the visit as the virtual scored the need for better selection process as soon as tatorship style of Governance of meet senior leaders and office Saturday, after his two ses- located at 12, Bryanston Square Pradesh, accompanied him to launch of the Congress cam- booth management. He also possible. Modi Government should be bearers of the party con- sions of questioning on worth 1.9 million GBP (British the investigating agency’s office paign in the State, ahead of the spoke about proper publicity of The Congress chief also highlighted in the campaign. stituency-wise during her visit February 6 and 7. pounds), which is allegedly on Wednesday while she coming Lok Sabha elections. the candidates contesting the instructed the PCC presidents Furthermore, the Congress till February 14. Lists of lead- He is being questioned on owned by him. picked him up after question- Presiding over the meeting elections in their area and and CLP leaders to expose chief emphasised that the pro- ers, including former MPs, transactions, purchase and pos- The agency has told a Delhi ing on Thursday. at the Congress War Room at desired to know from the party anti-farmers, anti-youth, anti- people policies proposed by MLAs and other people’s rep- session of certain immovable court that it has received infor- Vadra is also expected to Rakab Ganj Road in national leaders about the State-wise women and anti-people poli- Congress like the Minimum resentatives, have been sought assets in London. While Vadra mation about various new depose before the ED on Capital, Rahul asked the party assessment for Assembly and cies of the Modi Government. Income Guarantee programme from the district unit presi- was grilled for the first time for properties in London which February 12 in Jaipur in an leaders to give priority on Lok Sabha polls at earliest. He stressed on highlighting should be taken to the people dents. Each constituency is about five-and-a-half hours, belong to Vadra. another money-laundering booth management. The Regarding the candidate in the public campaign of the across the country. being allotted a different time he was questioned the second These include two houses, case related to a land scam in Congress chief had also con- selection and finalisation, party the burning issues of “All State PCC Presidents to meet the senior leadership, time for about nine hours. one worth 5 million GBP and Bikaner. The Rajasthan High ducted a meeting of the Rahul guided the leaders to unemployment, farmers dis- and CLP leaders were asked to during which all issues related It is understood that the the other valued at 4 million Court has directed him to General Secretaries on take broader steps to make tress, sabotage of constitution- focus on State oriented major to their areas will be discussed last time Vadra was “confront- GBP, six other flats and more cooperate with the agency in Thursday aimed at focusing on them more inclusive and to al bodies, misuse of the insti- issues and to suggest them to in detail. ed with” documents that the properties. Vadra has denied the case. " )*%+ (A '%+ ! 11 , $ 6)5)180 Investigation Agency (NIA) # " "$ lapsed and it had never been nected with the deputy chief of FIR, filed under the Unlawful extended or tabled in FIF.” n one of the rare investiga- Activities Prevention Act # # Parliament to be converted Salman is alleged to have R ., Itions, the Enforcement (UAPA) last year in September, # 1 !2 into an act. received funds from FIF oper- Directorate (ED) has regis- to file its own case against the . # 3" Several top Pakistani politi- ators through hawala and he $ 6)5)180 ister needs to reply as to how tered a money laundering case Falah-e-Insaniyat.. “These ! 1 # cians and senior officials have and other persons were report- the BJP managed Rs 450 crore against Pakistan-based outfit funds were utilised to carry out O ! " been seen sharing the dais ed to have received money he Congress on Saturday to “buy” 20 MLAs and Falah-e-Insaniyat (FIF), a front terrorist activities and create with him, making anti-India illegally from various persons Talleged that top central BJP allegedly “feed” the assembly for banned terror group unrest in India,” the ED said in . 2. # statements. of Pakistan and UAE among leaders were behind the move speaker. Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT). a statement. ,# " !1 According to ED, the NIA others, the agency said. to topple the Karnataka “Did the money come FIF is a Lahore-based The development comes " # has carried out searches in Besides Salman, the NIA Government and said it would from the BJP, the PMO or else- organisation established by the within a week of India’s Note " this case in the past and has has also arrested FIF hawala rake up the issue in Parliament where ... Which deal did it Jamaat-ud-Dawa and acts as a Verbale to Pakistan, raising a - $"$)P seized over four dozen conduit Mohammad Salim aka during the remaining days of come from,” he asked in an front for the LeT. It was found- strong protest Saeed’s recent SIM cards, phones and 1.56 Mama, a resident of central Winter Session. apparent reference to the Rafale ed in 1990 by Hafiz participation at ‘Kashmir country concerned. mer president Mamnoon crore (suspected) cash, Delhi’s Daryaganj, and Against the backdrop of an jet deal. He asked whether Mohammad Saeed, the mas- Solidarity Day’ rally in Lahore. According to reports, the Hussain had signed an ordi- Nepali currency worth worth Srinagar-based hawala courier audio tape in which State BJP anti-corruption laws would be termind of the 2008 Mumbai The Note Verbale read, “The 69-year-old — an internation- nance amending the country’s 43,000, 14 mobiles phones, Sajjad Abdul Wani. leader and former Karnataka applied on those behind alleged terror attack. Its headquarters ministry registers its strong ally designated terrorist with a Anti-Terrorism Act to include five pen drives, nine pass- The US also designated Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa attempts to topple the is in Pakistan. protest at the continued use of US bounty of $10 million on entities banned by the UN ports,two kg gold jewellery FIF as a terrorist entity in 2010. is purportedly trying to lure a Government in Karnataka. The ED said a criminal Pakistan controlled territory by his head — was showered with Security Council, including apart from other incriminat- It is a front-end organisation of JD(S) MLA with an offer Will the CBI and the case under the Prevention of extremist and terrorist ele- rose petals during the rally pro- terror organisations such as ing documents. Four persons Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a terror of 10 crore, the Congress also ED raid Yeddyurappa? If Money Laundering Act ments to freely propagate and ceeding. JuD, FIF, Lashkar-e-Toiba, al- have been arrested till now in organisation proscribed under urged Chief Justice of India not then it will become clear (PMLA) has been filed by the promote violence and terror Saeed’s oganisation FIF is Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban the case. the Unlawful Activities Ranjan Gogoi to take suo motu that Narendra Modi and Amit central probe agency for the against India.” also no longer in the list of Pakistan and Lashkar-e- The ED said one of the (Prevention) Act (UAPA). cognisance of claims that Shah are behind (the alleged outfit’s “involvement in money Note verbale is a form of Pakistan’s banned organisa- Jhangvi. arrested accused in the case, The ED said its probe will top BJP leaders can “manage” topple move) it,” said Surjewala. laundering through various protest a country gives to tions. Following international However, in October 2018, Delhi-based Mohammed “establish money trail and iden- judiciary. Congress also it will not hawala channels. another country when it pressure and USA act of freez- the Islamabad High Court Salman, was in “regular touch tify proceeds of crime that are Addressing a Press confer- “unwarrantedly interfere” in The agency said it took annoyed by something or some ing military and economic aids (IHC) was informed that the with a Dubai-based Pakistan suspected to be generated out ence in the national Capital, the functioning of the Madhya cognisance of a National issue that undermines it in the to Pakistan in early 2018, for- presidential ordinance had national, who in turn was con- of the criminal activities. Congress General Secretary Pradesh Government on the KC Venugopal alleged Prime issue of imposition of the strin- Minister Narendra Modi and gent NSA against five people on BJP chief Amit Shah were charges of cow slaughter and /0 " involved in attempts to illegal transportation of cattle. topple the JD(S)-Congress The party said law and order is $ 6)5)180 ical devices. Government in Karnataka. the domain of the Chief It recently held a meeting where, “The State Government is Minister and police. ll implantable medical devices, a consensus was reached to roll out being destabilised by the “Kamal Nathji (Chief ACT scan, MRI equipment, defib- medical devices regulations in a national Government,” Minister of MP) has categori- rillators, dialysis machine, PET phased manner and constitution of Venugopal alleged joined by cally said the law will take its equipment, X-ray machine and bone medical devices - expert advisory Congress chief spokesman own course. Nobody who is marrow cell separator have been of April 2020 namely — all group (MD-EAG) to aid Health Randeep Surjewala. innocent will be persecuted or notified as drugs with effect from implantable medical devices, CT Ministry in this regard. “Since Yeddyurappa is punished in any manner and April 1, 2020, as per a recent notifi- scan equipment, MRI equipment, These include separate and clear heard saying that Amit Shah nobody who is guilty will be cation by the Union Health Ministry. defibrillators, dialysis machine, PET law for regulation of all medical will manage judges, the CJI spared,” Surjewala said. This aims to regulate medical and equipment, xray machine and bone devices in the country; separate should take suo motu cogni- On Friday, authorities in diagnostics devices in the country. marrow cell separator,” a notification medical devices authority (or sance of attempts to defame the Agar Malwa district of Giving this information here, issued on Friday by the Ministry said. revamping of CDSCO) in due judiciary,” Surjewala said. Madhya Pradesh booked two officials said these eight medical A majority of medical devices are course; no compromise on quality & He said the party will men under the National equipments have been notified as unregulated in India. This move is safety of medical devices, imple- rake up the issue in Parliament Security Act (NSA) for ‘drugs’ under Section 3 of the Drugs important for patient’s safety as with mentation of defined transition time on Monday. The Budget alleged illegal transportation of and Cosmetics Act. “In pursuant of this notification, all implantable and & competency building measures Session is presently on cattle and disruption of sub-clause (IV) of clause (b) of sec- diagnostic devices will come under the including infrastructure and training and would conclude on public peace. tion 3 of the Drugs and Cosmetics regulatory framework, said the official. for regulators and industry. February 13. The Kamal Nath-led Act of 1940, the central government Meanwhile, it is learnt that the The consensus was also built into The purported audio tape Government in Madhya after consultation with the drugs Central Drugs Standard Control registration of all manufacturers was made public by Karnataka Pradesh had earlier slapped the technical advisory board hereby Organization (CDSCO), the nation- and importers of all non notified Chief Minister HD NSA against three men accused specifies the following devices al medical device regulator, is also medical devices at earliest; devices’ Kumaraswamy on Friday. of killing a cow at Khandwa intended for use in human beings as working to chart out a road map for labels to carry registration number Surjewala said the prime min- district. drugs with effect from the first day regulating the sale and use of med- and address to enable traceability. ( ( )*+ ,*)- " !6

1 $ $ Q # 2"" '( $ ) Kathmandu: Two people were killed Washington: US President advancing the cause of North Korea has yet to and four children seriously injured in Donald Trump and North peace!" The US State provide any official confir- Beijing: Blizzards in Tibetan separate incidents of lightning strikes Korean leader Kim Jong Un Department said the special mation of the summit and Washington: President Donald areas of western China have left in the western part of Nepal, police said. will meet for a second much- US envoy for North Korea Kim Jong Un appeared to Trump is "in very good health" thousands of head of livestock A 20-year-old girl, identified as anticipated summit in Hanoi, will meet again with make no mention of it dur- and is expected to remain dead and roads covered in up Saraswoti Nath, was killed after being as preparations kick into Pyongyang officials ahead ing a meeting earlier with the healthy for “the duration of his to 45 centimetres (18 inches) of struck by lightning at Bhageshwor high gear for the peace talks. of the Trump-Kim talks — top brass of the Korean presidency and beyond,” his snow, State media reported on area in Dadeldhura district on Friday, Trump announced the hours after he returned to People's Army. As reported doctor declared on Friday fol- Saturday. they said. exact location on Twitter — Seoul from talks in the North by state media, the meeting lowing an annual medical check- Local authorities had sent Her two brothers, aged 15 and 8, only the country, Vietnam, on the summit's agenda. focused on the need to mod- up. Trump underwent a nearly veterinarians, medicine and and as many sisters, aged 14 and 12, was previously known — for In a statement, the State ernize the military while four-hour annual physical test animal feed to the hard-hit sustained serious injuries in the inci- the follow-on to the leaders' Department said talks during maintaining party discipline on Friday — his second periodic areas in Qinghai Province's dent. summit in Singapore last Stephen Biegun's three-day in the ranks. examination after becoming the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous They have been admitted at sub- year as he hailed "very pro- trip explored Trump and Biegun is expected to US President in January 2017. Prefecture, the Xinhua News regional hospital in Dadeldhura, police ductive" preparatory talks Kim's "commitments of com- share details of his "While the reports and rec- Agency reported. added. between diplomats from the plete denuclearization, trans- Pyongyang meetings with ommendations are being Villages in the area are In a separate incident at Amargadhi two countries. forming US-DPRK relations his South Korean counter- finalised, I am happy to above 5,000 metres (16,400 hoods and to feed their families. returned home after the past area in the same district, a 48-year-old "My representatives have and building a lasting peace on part Lee Do-hoon and announce the President of the feet) and workers were seeking Harsh winters are routine week's Lunar New Year holiday. man, identified as Gogan Daulyal, just left North Korea after a the Korean Peninsula." Biegun Foreign Minister Kang United States is in very good to clear roads to ensure the in the Himalayan region that In the capital Beijing, only died after being hit by lightening on very productive meeting and landed at Osan US Air Base Kyung-wha on Saturday. health and I anticipate will delivery of supplies, a task long fell within Tibet's tradi- light snow fell although tem- Friday, they said. an agreed upon time and date late Friday, foreign ministry Attention will focus on remain so for the duration of his made more difficult by high tional borders. peratures dipped below freezing. In Nepal, lightning is considered as for the second Summit with spokesman Noh Kyu-duk told whether the US team have Presidency and beyond," Sean P winds and drifting snow. Snow was also expected in Falling rocks killed one person one of the major causes of natural Kim Jong Un," Trump said. AFP. The State Department offered to lift some eco- Conley, a Navy officer who is Mainly ethnic Tibetan vil- other parts of northern and and injured 12 others at an ice calamities deaths. "It will take place in confirmed Biegun agreed to nomic sanctions in return the president's physician and the lagers in the area depend heav- central China over coming lantern show at Longqing Gorge Parts of Nepal have been witness- Hanoi, Vietnam, on February meet his North Korean coun- for Pyongyang taking con- current director of the White ily on livestock, mainly Yaks, days, leading to some travel dis- on Beijing's outskirts, the local ing heavy rains and snowfall from the 27 & 28. I look forward to terpart Kim Hyok Chol again crete steps toward denu- House medical unit, said in a goats and sheep, for their liveli- ruptions as millions of Chinese Government reported. AP past few days. PTI seeing Chairman Kim & before the leaders' talks. clearisation. AFP statement. AFP 3 +4, 5 #6$ 3 Washington: The United States with this task by the Secretary we have reached an agreement Administration. is seeking a peace agreement of State Mike Pompeo. in principle with the Taliban on "Our hope is, our expecta- and not an agreement to with- "My overall goal is, at the a framework that would provide tion is that once interact can dia- draw its troops from war-rav- direction of the president of the guarantees, and enforcement logue begins, which is our key % / aged Afghanistan, the Trump secretary of state, not to seek out mechanism that no terrorist objective, that these parallel Administration has said. withdrawal agreement, but the group, international terrorist discussions will be brought Vatican City: Pope Francis Weeks after initiating direct peace agreement. Because peace group or individuals would be together," he said. will meet with migrants in Kiev: Ukraine's president says talks with the Taliban, wherein agreement can allow with- able to use Afghanistan, the "Even if we achieve success Morocco and visit a training the nation needs to join the the two agreed on a framework drawal. It is not just the with- areas that they control and on these two issues, we make institute for imams that seeks European Union and NATO to of peace agreement, Trump drawal agreement that we are should they be part of a future further progress, a peace agree- to be a bulwark against Islamic protect itself from Russia's Administration's point person seeking," Khalilzad said. government; against the United ment would not be, immediately extremism during his March expansionist actions. on Friday told a Washington The veteran American States as allies and others," or shortly are achieved in the 30-31 visit to the North African President Petro audience that these were just a diplomat in his appearance Khalilzad said. foreseeable future without a country. Poroshenko, who is seeking a Russia's 2014 annexation of few steps in the direction of before the US Institute of Peace "We will engage with comprehensive agreement on The Vatican on Saturday second five-year term in the Crimea and its support for sep- peaceful resolution of the con- (USIP) said that to achieve a Taliban further to flush out other issues," he added. released the schedule for the March 31 vote, accused Russia aratists in eastern Ukraine, lead- flict in Afghanistan and that peace agreement, quite a num- these commitments that they've Nothing is agreed to until pope's trip to Rabat. Morocco's king, the country's on Saturday of planning to ing to a sharp decline in living they have a long way to go. ber of issues have to be dealt made," said the Afghan-born everything has been agreed to It comes on the heels of priests and religious sisters meddle in the election. He standards. The government's And this cannot be with. US diplomat who was the high- and the other issues that must Francis' recent visit to the and celebrate Mass for the described the election as a "gen- failure to combat corruption has achieved without the help of "We have tried to develop a est ranking Muslim American be dealt with are issues of a United Arab Emirates, where Catholic community. eral battle for Ukraine." Opinion also fueled public dismay. regional players, in particular long agenda of issues that must in the Bush Administration in roadmap for Afghanistan polit- he signed a landmark "frater- Morocco has long consid- polls show Poroshenko trailing Poroshenko has sought to Pakistan, Special US be addressed. Initially, we have his capacity as the US ical future to end Afghan war. nity" document with a leading ered itself a key ally in the fight behind comedian Volodymyr shore up his sagging support by Representative Zalmay focused on two issues, one on Ambassador to the United The Afghans, he asserted, Sunni imam and sought to against Islamic extremism, and Zelenskiy and former Prime spearheading the creation of a Khalilzad said in his maiden the issue of counter terrorism Nations. must sit across the table with encourage moderate Islam and King Mohammed VI routine- Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. new Ukrainian Orthodox public appearance before a and the other the issue of us He also served as the US each other and come to an interfaith ties. ly criticizes jihadism and the Ukraine has struggled with Church independent from Washington audience some six forced withdrawal," he said. Ambassadors to Afghanistan agreement about their future of Francis will also meet with discourses of radical Islam. AP economic woes following Moscow Patriarchy. AP months after he was entrusted "After many conversations, and Iraq during the Bush their country. PTI / * Q' & - $", " '4 Bangkok: A new Thai political customs". professor of political science at + 25 party vowed on Saturday to "Thai Raksa Chart party Chulalongkorn University. Beijing: China insists that peaceful dialogue and polit- obey a command from the complies with the royal com- Thailand is a constitution- Washington: In a dangerous sign that Pakistan-based ical means are the "only way" toward enduring peace in + king blocking the candidacy of mand", it said. Thailand has al monarchy and has not had a Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) has expanded its tentacles in the United Venezuela, the Foreign Ministry said, adding that it backs a princess for prime minister in some of the most severe lese royal run for frontline office States, federal prosecutors on Friday announced to have arrest- multinational efforts to reach such an outcome. a dramatic reversal that majeste laws in the world and since 1932. ed a New Yorker who was about to catch a flight to Pakistan Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying's statement Nuremberg: Five paintings attributed to appeared to boost the junta's the king's word is considered to join the terror group. came in response to a question about a meeting Adolf Hitler will be auctioned off on chances ahead of March elec- final. While in Texas, the FBI charged a teenager with using Thursday of an "International Contact Group" led by Saturday in the German city of Nuremberg, tions. Royalist Thais and social media to recruit people on behalf of the LeT. Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez and attended by sparking anger that the Nazi memorabil- The announcement effec- celebrities praised the inter- Jesus Wilfredo Encarnacion (29), was arrested Thursday leaders of 14 countries, including Spain, Italy, Portugal ia market is alive and well. tively blocks Princess vention on social media after night at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK Airport) and Sweden. Nuremberg's mayor Ulrich Maly has Ubolratana's unprecedented the order, writing "long live as he was about to board an international flight with Pakistan China is a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas condemned the upcoming sale as being "in bid for the premiership and the king". being his final destination. Maduro, to whom it has lent billions to help shore up bad taste," speaking to Sueddeutsche comes after an extraordinary Analysts believe the "Encarnacion allegedly attempted to travel to Pakistan to his embattled regime. Zeitung newspaper. rebuke of the candidacy by her events that unfolded over the join a foreign terrorist organization and conspired with anoth- Hua said China "believes that Venezuela's affairs Among the items to go under the ham- younger brother, King Maha past day will help the junta er individual to provide that organization with material sup- should be resolved by the Venezuelan people under the mer are a mountain lake view with a start- Vajiralongkorn. consolidate power and tilt the port," said Assistant Attorney General John Demers. framework of its constitution and laws and through ing price of 45,000 euros ($51,000) and a The Thai Raksa Chart odds in favour of coup leader Encarnacion, a.K.A. "Jihadistsoldgier", "Jihadinhear", peaceful dialogue and political means. wicker armchair with a swastika symbol party, affiliated with the pow- Prayut Chan-O-Cha. "Jihadinheart" and "Lionofthegood," plotted to travel to This is the only way toward enduring peace in the presumed to have belonged to the late Nazi erful Shinawatra political clan, Prayut is standing as pre- Pakistan to join and train with LeT, which is infamous around country." dictator. announced the princess as their mier for the Phalang the world for perpetrating the lethal 2008 Mumbai terror However, she added that "China supports the efforts The Weidler auction house is holding candidate on Friday morning. Pracharat party, a group attacks and other atrocities, said US Attorney Geoffrey Berman. by the international community to this end and hopes the "special sale" in Nuremberg, the city in The move looked to rattle aligned with the regime. A Manhattan resident, Encarnacion not only express a that all sides will continue to play a constructive role in which Nazi war criminals were tried in the status quo and threaten the The military has "gained desire to "execute and behead people," he scheduled travel and the peaceful resolution of the Venezuela issue." 1945. ambitions of the junta that has the upper hand", said profes- almost boarded a plane so he could go learn how to become Late last month, the Ministry issued a statement in The auction made headlines ruled Thailand since it toppled sor Anusorn Unno from a terrorist, FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney Hua's name saying China "opposes external intervention days before its start after several artworks the administration of Yingluck Thammasat University, Jr. in Venezuela," in a rebuke to calls in the US for military were withdrawn Thursday on suspicion Shinawatra in a 2014 coup. adding that it is poised to per- In the southern state of Texas, Michael Kyle Sewell, 18, action to remove Maduro. they were fakes and prosecutors stepped But the Thai king torpe- form well in the upcoming was charged by the FBI with using social media to recruit peo- Over the last decade, China has given Venezuela $65 in. doed the bid in a sharply word- vote. The election on March ple on behalf of LeT and send them to Pakistan for terrorist billion in loans, cash and investment. Sales of alleged artworks by Hitler — ed statement the same day 24 is the first since the 2014 training. Venezuela owes more than $20 billion. who for a time tried to make a living as an that said bringing senior royal coup. The arrest of the New Yorker and the charges against the China's only hope of being repaid appears to lie in artist in his native Austria — regularly family members into politics is Even before Thai Raksa Texas teenager — who do not appear to be of South Asian Venezuela ramping up oil production, although low spark outrage that collectors are willing to against tradition, national cul- Chart's reversal, many origin as has been the case in previous such arrests – has set petroleum prices and the country's crashing economy pay high prices for art linked to the coun- ture and "highly inappropriate." warned the palace statement the alarm bells ringing among the law enforcement agencies bode poorly for such a possibility. try's Nazi past. Thai Raksa Chart responded had scuttled the princess' in the US. The arrests have thrown the spotlight on issues of Two dozen nations, including the US and some of "There's a long tradition of this trade swiftly, cancelling a campaign chances. homegrown terrorism and radicalisation of American youths, Latin America's biggest countries, have recognised oppo- in devotional objects linked to Nazism," event on Saturday and issuing "The palace disapproval a situation that authorities have dreaded post Mumbai-ter- sition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president, Stephan Klingen of the Central Institute for a statement saying it would invalidates her candidacy," rorist attack. PTI while China and Russia are backing Maduro. AP Art History in Munich told AFP. AFP respect "tradition and royal said Puangthong Pawakapan, ( ! "$ # # )$ + # Tokyo: Occasional fasting may expectation, it turned out that metabolites whose quantities London: The British and Irish not only help people lose weight fasting induced metabolic acti- decline with age, including Kano: Three soldiers were killed when Boko leaders are meeting to discuss but also boost their metabolic vation rather actively," said three known as leucine, Haram jihadists raided a military base in north- the Irish border — and mend activity, generate antioxidants, Teruya. isoleucine, and ophthalmic acid. east Nigeria, security sources said on Saturday. fences — amid a tense UK-EU and reverse some effects of The study presents an In fasting individuals, these The attack happened at the Forward standoff over Brexit. ageing, a study claims. analysis of whole human blood, metabolites increase in level, Operation Base in Ngwom village, some 14 kilo- UK Prime Minister Theresa Scientists at the Okinawa plasma, and red blood cells suggesting a mechanism by metres (nearly nine miles) north of the Borno state May will dine with Irish premier Institute of Science and drawn from four fasting indi- which fasting could help capital, Maiduguri. Leo Varadkar in Dublin to press Technology (OIST) and Kyoto viduals. The researchers mon- increase longevity. "Boko Haram infiltrated our base in Ngwom her case for changes to Britain's University in Japan identified 30 itored changing levels of "These are very important yesterday (Friday) at around 6:50 pm (1750 GMT) divorce deal with the EU. previously-unreported sub- metabolites — substances metabolites for maintenance in which we lost three soldiers," a military officer Britain's Parliament reject- stances whose quantity increas- formed during the chemical of muscle and antioxidant activ- in Maiduguri told AFP. A second military source ed the agreement last month, es during fasting and indicate a processes that grant organisms ity, respectively," said Teruya. said the Islamist militants left with two army vehi- largely over concerns about a variety of health benefits. energy and allow them to grow. "This result suggests the cles and "demobilised" a mine-resistant armoured provision designed to ensure an "We have been researching The results revealed 44 possibility of a rejuvenating vehicle. "The terrorists also burnt two houses and open border between the UK's ageing and metabolism for metabolites, including 30 that effect by fasting, which was not a car belonging to our members in the village," Northern Ireland and EU mem- many years and decided to were previously unrecognised, known until now," he said. added a civilian militia leader in Maiduguri. ber Ireland. search for unknown health that increased universally The human body tends to It was not immediately clear which of the two Britain is due to leave the effects in human fasting," said among subjects between 1.5- to utilise carbohydrates for quick Boko Haram factions was behind the attack. bloc on March 29. Takayuki Teruya, first author of 60-fold within just 58 hours of energy — when they are avail- Most of the attacks on troops in Borno and The bid for last-minute the paper published in the fasting. able. When starved of carbs, the neighbouring Yobe state since mid-2018 have been changes has exasperated EU journal Scientific Reports. In previous research, body begins looting its alternate claimed by, or blamed on, the self-styled Islamic leaders. AP "Contrary to the original researchers identified various energy stores. PTI State West Africa Province. AFP " 7 ( ( )*+ ,*)-

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$ 6)5)180 actions of L&T Finance”. ing the interests of all stake- gations as “unfounded, baseless R The financial services arm holders. and false”, Edelweiss Group day after accusing L&T of Reliance Group said its Further, the group said said it had granted credit facil- Aand Edelweiss entities of board has recommended and that Reliance Capital, Reliance ities against pledge of shares to “Once the report is seen recommendations of the causing huge market value ero- approved that the company Infrastructure and Reliance Reliance ADAG Group. approved by the commission, it commission are not taken seri- sion by “illegal and motivated” take all appropriate legal steps Power as well as their various Edelweiss Group said it is known as the final report. ously. In the 2017-18 report, we sale of their pledged shares, to protect and enhance the subsidiaries are performing has reached out numerous $ You cannot say it has to be clearly mentioned that we are Anil Ambani-led Reliance value of all its stakeholders, satisfactorily on all operating times to Reliance ADAG approved by the government. pained that the government is Group on Saturday said boards especially its over 7 lakh retail parameters, and there is no Group to address concerns on You accept it or reject it. But the not taking seriously the rec- of its three listed firms have rec- shareholders. change whatsoever on any shortfall in margins and resul- government cannot approve ommendations of the com- ommended “all appropriate Reliance Power separately aspect as compared to the tant fall in collateral valuation. $ 6 the statistics. It raises certain mission.” legal steps” to protect share- said its board also reviewed the position prevailing prior to “Despite our best efforts, questions of credibility,” he Mohanan also made it clear holders’ value. events leading to a sharp fall in these sales. not only did Reliance ADAG told NDTV. his resignation was not due to In separate regulatory fil- market capitalization and In its statement on Friday, Refuting the allegations, Group fail to address any of the 6)5)180 “The Commission is the personal reasons as stated by ings, Reliance Capital, Reliance destruction of wealth due to Reliance Group had alleged L&T Finance said it had grant- concerns raised by Edelweiss final authority on the NSSO NITI Aayog Vice-Chairman Infrastructure and Reliance “illegal, motivated and unwar- that some NBFCs, “substan- ed loans against pledge of Group, but also continued to C Mohanan, who resigned report. After that, the NITI Rajiv Kumar. Power said their respective ranted actions of L&T Finance tially L&T Finance and certain shares to Reliance ADAG breach contractual obligations,” Pfrom the National Statistical Ayog getting involved is not a “In my letter, I made it very boards met on Saturday to Limited and Edelweiss Group entities of Edelweiss Group, Group companies. it said in a separate statement. Commission (NSC) last month very desirable thing. Previous clear I have specific instances review the events of last week, impacting its over 3.1.75 lakh have invoked pledge of listed “As per loan and pledge On February 4, there was over the Government “with- chairmen of the commission and we thought our continuing leading to a sharp fall in their shareholders”. shares of Reliance Group and agreements, borrower did not a sharp drop in the prices of holding” the report showing have also said that the NITI in the commission was not market capitalisation and Its board also recom- made open market sales of the cure various events of defaults Reliance ADAG group shares, high unemployment rate dur- Aayog cannot be in the picture serving any purpose because destruction of wealth. mended and approved “all value of approximately Rs 400 including providing margin which led to further erosion in ing 2017-18, has said the com- of releasing the official statis- the commission was not very L&T Finance and appropriate legal steps to pro- crore from February 4-7”. for shortfall in the stipulated the collateral value, Edelweiss mission is the final authority on tics. effective and there’s nothing Edelweiss Group have refuted tect and enhance the value of “The illegal, motivated and security cover. said, adding that it also gave the NSSO report and the NITI They are the users of the personal in that. the allegations and have all its stakeholders, especially wholly unjustified action by the “Despite various notices due opportunity for remedia- Aayog should not have got data and cannot get involved.” The Government should counter-alleged Reliance the over 31 .75 lakh retail above two groups has precipi- in the past few months, events tion. involved. He said it was important take note of the issues and Group of failing to make time- shareholders of the company”. tated a fall of Rs 13,000 crore, of defaults continued. “Since there was no The former head of the for the commission that its improve the system. And (JV) ly payments, which they said Reliance Infrastructure an unprecedented nearly 55 per Consequently, L&T Finance response from Reliance ADAG NSC, also dismissed the NITI autonomy was maintained. Meenakshi, who resigned along necessitated sale of pledged blamed L&T Finance Limited cent, in market capitalisation of enforced its rights of invocation Group, it necessitated liquida- Aayog’s claim that it was a draft Mohanan also said that with me, also said the same shares. for market value erosion, say- Reliance Group over just these and sold pledged shares to the tion of the collateral as per the report and was not ready for the government’s unwilling- thing,” Mohanan said. He said In its filing, Reliance ing it has impacted its over 8 four short days,” it had said. extent of its outstanding dues agreed contractual terms. release as the “Government ness to release the report was he had flagged the delay in the Capital said its over 7 lakh lakh shareholders and said its The group said the actions by following the due process of Throughout this process, had not approved it”. He said “the last straw”, forcing him to report’s release, but got no shareholders have been impact- board has therefore recom- have caused substantial losses contract and law,” it said in a Edelweiss has acted in a lawful that the NITI Aayog’s argument step down. response from the ed by what it termed as “illegal, mended and approved all to 72 lakh institutional and statement. and responsible manner,” it was “unacceptable”. “Over the years, we have Government. motivated and unwarranted appropriate legal steps. retail shareholders, and harm- While noting that the alle- added. ' 0 ( 6! # ##"

+ $ $ "/ * 6 9 # 8O $ 5, 6 New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on $ 4 0 Fiscal Forum in Dubai. price shock of 2014,” she said. M)8" ' 6)5)180 Consumer Protection Bill, he Saturday assured the Textiles Lagarde said public debt “Modest growth contin- =?1. ' said, “I do not think so. Since Ministry to provide all support ublic debt has rapidly among Arab oil importing ues, but the outlook is highly @ / tringent penalties like jail there is no consensus, we said for promoting silk in global Pincreased in many Arab nations had increased from 64 uncertain.” Lagarde said oil =C<@* + Sterm for adulteration and the government should not markets. countries since the 2008 glob- percent to 85 percent of Gross producing countries should 0 endorsing false and misleading bring those bills on which Sushma said that silk is a al financial crisis, due to per- Domestic Product in the look to renewable energy in the $ . , 2 , $ % # , advertisements by celebrities there is no consensus.” strong commodity and there is sistently high budget deficits, decade since 2008. coming decades, in line with 01 *$75)!%!0+N6 O#, may still remain a distant pos- According to officials in huge demand for it in the the International Monetary Nearly half of these coun- the Paris Agreement on climate $ % 0 sibility as the much-awaited the Consumer Affairs Ministry, international markets. Fund warned Saturday. tries now have public debt of change, which stipulates a 7 8O $L0 O, , ' Consumer Protection Bill has the major opposition to the Bill “I assure you that the min- “Unfortunately, the region over 90 percent of GDP, she reduction in greenhouse emis- , : : fallen off the priority list of the is from the medical fraternity istry of external affairs will has yet to fully recover from the said. Public debt among oil sions. ( ,,, M. , , , , lawmakers as the last and e-commerce portals. become a facilitating Ministry” global financial crisis and other exporters — including the six- The IMF last month low- , =>> =:>> "*)8"+ ' this session of the Rajya Sabha, objections to the Bill saying the market is there,” she added. “Among oil importers, in oil prices around five years and North Africa region due to F=@" , MC >>:<< " then it will be for a future gov- entire medical profession and Talking about the popu- (economic) growth has picked ago, Lagarde said. “The oil a renewed fall in oil prices, low ' ?QF" , , ernment that comes after the the small traders will be affect- larity of India made silk saree, up, but it is still below pre-cri- exporters have not fully recov- output and geopolitical ten- <@= ". 1 <@=> elections to pursue it. ed by it. Swaraj said her counterparts sis levels,” she told the Arab ered from the dramatic oil sions. >> "1 The proposed Bill, which is He had said there was no during the United Nations to overhaul the three-decade- provision for penalty against General Assembly meetings, old Consumer Protection Act false complaints which may often ask about the wide vari- 6 1986, was passed in the Lok encourage people to launch ety of colour, pattern and dif- Sabha in December last year false complaints just for getting ferent designs of these fabrics. , after it was introduced in 2015. money and sought further The Textiles Ministry dis- It was decided in a meeting amendments. tributed machines to weavers in of leaders of various parties in A senior ministry official order to eradicate thigh reeling , the Rajya Sabha held last week told IANS, “We are taking our practice in tasar silk sector and that only non-contentious bills best efforts to ensure the Bill is to ensure rightful earning to the $ would be taken up for discus- passed. However, we cannot rural and tribal women reelers. sion. decide whether it comes up for On the target of eradicat- $ 6)5)180 CPI leader D. Raja, who is discussion.” ing thigh reeling and replace it a member of the Upper House, Sachin Taparia, Chairman with ‘Buniyaad’ reeling ommerce and Industry said “We agreed only to passage of LocalCircles, a social engage- machine by end of March 2020, CMinister Suresh Prabhu on of non-contentious bills such as ment platform, said the Swaraj said the ministry should Saturday said there is a need to the one relating to Scheduled Consumer Protection Bill is the strive for eliminating this prac- create a conducive environ- Tribes.” biggest consumer reform in tice this year only by distrib- ment and bring changes in old Speaking about the three decades. uting these equipment. PTI regulations to promote budding entrepreneurs. “Had a fireside chat with the startups from Maharashtra and regulators on one platform. As entrepreneurship blooms, we need to create a conducive environment for our young entrepreneurs and bring changes in old regulations to catch up with technological changes,” he said in a tweet. The statement assumes significance as the government is working on support measures for startups that are raising concerns over angel tax issues. The Govt is contemplating hike in the investment limit for availing income tax concessions by startups and provide a more clear definition. Giving relief to budding entrepreneurs last year, the Government allowed startups to avail tax concession only if total investment, including funding from angel investors, does not exceed 10 crore. ( ( )*+ ,*)- #-" 9

,:)0, % & # # 6% &7 London: ! , 3 ) 7 '# , # #,, . , ,, 3 6* " * , G , ) ! 2 =C #B =CK bigger motivation than winning and hopefully a few which are playing XIs will indicate that to bowl back of the length to avoid New Zealand: Kane %G = 2 1 , yet another series in challenging there will also be corrected," #!0#3).#8!0% D1)* Chahal has been their preferred being hit for boundaries. There Williamson(c), Doug Bracewell, 0U)+ 6 !.06 # 4 1 overseas conditions. Khaleel added. shortest format bowler on most will be a similar plan in place on Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie %=CCM, "We have played in Hamilton India played the same XI in %$.011*0U)+ occasions. Sunday also. Ferguson, Scott Kuggeleijn, 1 =C<<=C<= , and there won't be any surprise the first two games and in all The Indian bowling unit will The stand-in captain, who is Colin Munro, Daryl Mitchell, 8 !).8)!)#7!7/ , G ,, . ?>' ' element as far as the pitch is likelihood, will maintain look to replicate their good show now the world's top run-getter in Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert, concerned. Also having won the continuity unless there are some 7.0U)06.5)6.D'=C from the last match where they T20 Internationals, will like to Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross ) 1 ' second game gives us confidence niggles. 06.)!6 .076 1 found their rhythm after a pasting better the 29-ball-50 of the Taylor, Blair Tickner, James , 0 going into the final match," left- In case the team management in the opener from Tim Seifert. previous match, which can well Neesham. =C=C & F $ 8 01.76 3, Dhaka: 4 2 ( G ' n improved batting performance )70 6 B Awill be foremost on skipper 4 # 4 ' Harmanpreet Kaur's mind, when Indian due to lack of batting time since the start fair if the team management decides 8 women eyeing a consolation victory, of the ODI series where the visitors won where exactly she fits in. $ 6)5)180 2 take on New Zealand in the third and quite comfortably. #B If they are unable to find 4 final T20 International at Seddon Park "We did not win the 5C: - Deepti's replacement, it will icketkeeper R Kalpana made a $ 1 . =C / on Sunday. series but more than ,(.,'-.(,;0(2-.& reflect more about the lack Wcomeback to the Indian 4#4 U' After winning the ODI series 2-1, winning and losing, we of quality in the bench women's cricket team following a S Indian women lost momentum and learnt a lot. We have a very young squad, strength. long hiatus after she was included in S 4#4 subsequently the T20 series. there are very few players who have The White Ferns have picked their the 15-member squad, led by skipper , # . With an aim to build a squad for played more than 30 matches. Most of game since losing the ODI series with Mithali Raj, for the upcoming three- 2 4 ICC World T20 in 2020, the Indian team the players have played less than 10 T20I senior batswoman Suzie Bates scoring match ODI series against England ' . management decided to drop team's matches. It is a good learning process for 57 in the final one dayer and a match- starting on February 22 in Mumbai. $ . senior batswoman Mithali Raj, who is us," Harmanpreet has rued the lack of winning 62 in the second T20 Kalpana, who last played for no longer considered a force to reckon experience. International. India three years ago in a home ODI with in the shortest format. One of the biggest problems for against Sri Lanka, replaced batting all- Only time will tell whether this Indian team has been deciding on what "- rounder D Hemalatha in the squad inspired call pays dividends in the long exactly is Deepti Sharma's role in the that had won the ODI series 2-1 in Perth: 6 # '6 , !! G ' . =C run but the results have been far from Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah squad. New Zealand. encouraging in the first two matches Rodrigues, who were top scorers As an off-spinner, she is neither as Kalpana, who made her ODI 0 , which India lost by 23 runs and four respectively in the first two games. restrictive as left-arm spinner Radha debut at home against New Zealand 441 . $ wickets respectively. Debutant Priya Punia's lack of Yadav nor an attacking option like leg- in 2015, will be the second In both games whether chasing or experience has been evident but spinner Poonam Yadav. !" wicketkeeper in the squad apart . =C batting first, India are stuck in the less probably what hurt Women in Blue most As a left-handed batswoman, she from Taniya Bhatia. than 140-run mark, which is below-par is skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's lacks the firepower to up the ante in the The Indian board also $ , against a top team like New Zealand. indifferent form. final overs of the innings. She has announced the President's XI squad The biggest problem has been the The Indian captain scored 17 and 5 failed repeatedly over the last two years L . that will play a warm-up game ahead lack of fight from the middle-order save in the first two games. She has been rusty to change her game and it will only be / of the series on February 18. ,# V # ' 6 S S S8 , , SV , 441 / $ 4)6% 1! delivered a baby boy and the not so young as a tennis She is a great example New Delhi: 0G , Indian ace said she now player. But I would die if I did because people say a woman 4 # 7, ndia's tennis star Sania wants to return to the game not try. Tennis is my life, it cannot have to it all, but she % IMirza is planning to make and would start her training has given me everything. I had it all," she said. 4 %0 a return to the game by year soon. still have it in me." "She is the greatest player. 4 0 G end following the birth of her "Realistic possibility for Sania said she looks up to She married and had kids , baby. comeback is by the end of the German legend Steffi Graf, a and achieved many things in The 32-year-old had last year," she said. winner of 22 Grand Slam life despite it." 0 % 04 played at the China Open in "My conditioning trainer titles, as she has achieved a lot Talking about favourite 0# 4 0 2 G, October, 2017 where she is coming in the next ten even after marriage and player, Sania said, "I will go , 0 suffered a knee injury and days. Now that I have lost having a kid. with John McEnroe because $ % was out of competition in weight, I do tennis specific "Steffi Graf is someone I he had personality. I don't , early part of last year. training. look up to. I am still star smash rackets, but it is fun to ! . 0 , ' ! Q In October, last year she "I am 32 years old, I am struck whenever I see her. watch others do that." 96:) A 7 Q $ 5 D 6 % P

brilliant double century by Priyank Panchal (206) and a $ !7) Aquickfire ton by wicketkeeper KS Bharat (142 in 139 balls) $ . 6 helped India 'A' take control against England Lions on the ' 2 tephan El Shaarawy and Edin Dzeko scored third day of the first unofficial Test on Saturday. ndia ended its Searly with Aleksandar Kolarov adding a India 'A' declared their innings at 540 for 6 in reply to Icampaign at 3 third after the break as Roma eased past England Lions' 340 to gain a massive 200-run lead, thanks the Fed Cup with a fourth place basement club Chievo 3-0 to get back to to Panchal's marathon knock, which came off 313 balls and finish after losing the classification ) winning ways and move up to fourth in Serie A. Bharat's blistering innings that was studded with 11 fours and tie 1-2 to Korea as the team badly Eusebio Di Francesco's side had been eight sixes. missed injured Karman Kaur Unseeded Australian coming off two league draws and a humiliating Out-of-favour KL Rahul, who had a dismal tour of Thandi, who did not play on Andrew Harris shocked top- 7-1 Coppa Italia exit to Fiorentina. Australia, finally found his touch and was unbeaten on 88 Saturday. seed Pranjnesh Gunneswaran Roma now occupy the final Champions on Friday. But he could add only one run to his overnight Captain Vishal Uppal handed 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 in the semifinal of League berth, a welcome boost ahead of their last score before spooning a catch to substitute Jamie Overton to national champion Mahak Jain today. She could have won this the Chennai Open ATP 16, first leg tie against Porto next week in this give left-arm spinner Danny Briggs his first wicket. her Fed Cup debut after a groin match but she dropped off at the Challenger tennis tournament season's elite European competition. Panchal, 89 not out overnight, continued his imperious strain forced Karman out of the start of the third set which you on Saturday. "We could have scored a few more goals, but minutes after the interval. form and played some eye-catching shots. He reached his 20th tie. cannot afford to do against a good Harris, a former junior I hope we held them back for Porto," said Di A well-worked Roma counterattack saw El first class century and continued to torment the visiting The diminutive Mahak player," Uppal said. doubles winner at Wimbledon Francesco. Shaarawy came through for Dzeko to set up bowlers with his defence and stroke-making. played her heart out before losing Ankita dominated her match and French Open, hit his Chievo had held the Romans in their two Kolarov who left Sorrentino helpless. Though skipper Ankit Bawne, who nicked one to his steam towards the end for a 2-6, and we could have won 2-0 today groundstrokes with precision previous meetings, battling back from two The Serb then turn to bow to Roma's ultras counterpart Sam Billings off Zak Chappell and Ricky Bhui 6-3, 1-6 defeat against Na Ri or even 2-1 had Karman been fit and attacked at opportune goals down to draw 2-2 in the Stadio Olimpico fans who had criticised him. (16) didn't last long, Panchal was at his best. Kim. enough to play." moments. earlier this season. "I think it was a great gesture, to apologise Later, Panchal found an able partner in Bharat, who had Like on many occasions, Uppal said future was bright In the other semifinal, the This time Roma did not let their lead slip, to the fans after what happened," added Di been in decent form in the Ranji Trophy, and the two added Ankita came out to level the tie as for the Indian Fed Cup team good run of Mukund came to after also throwing away a three-goal lead to be Francesco of their struggles. 196 runs in quick time in little over 37 overs. she outplayed Sunam Jiong 6-3, 6- players. an end as the tenacious held by Atalanta two weeks ago. Dzeko and Shaarawy both missed chances Bharat belted 11 fours to underline his talent as England 3 in one hour and 18 minutes. "As a captain I have seen a lot Frenchman hit back after Roma took control early with teenage striker to double their tally rattling the woodwork late Lions bowlers' wilted under the assault. Panchal fell shortly The doubles became decisive of good things which we need to losing the opening set. Nicolo Zaniolo forcing goalkeeper Stefano on. after completing his double century, edging a delivery from but Ankita and Prarthana build on. I think once we have all The second-seeded Sorrentino to pull off a diving save. Roma move up to fourth ahead of Lazio who medium-pacer Chappell to Billings behind the stumps. Thombare lost the close rubber 4- our best girls healthy we can Frenchman dominated in the El Shaarawy lobbed in the first after nine had occupied the final Champions League Bharat continued to flay the Lions bowlers and reached 6, 4-6 to the Korean team of Su become an even more dangerous final set to take it 6-2 to seal a minutes with Dzeko adding the second goal ten berth overnight after a 1-0 win over Empoli . his ton off 105 balls and added 42 runs in 34 balls to complete Jeong Jang and Kim. team. I am encouraged by the fact spot in the final against Harris, minutes later. Behind runaway leaders Juventus — who India's domination. Captain Uppal said India had we are a young team and we will who had ousted fifth seed Chievo lost defender Nicolas Frey who have 60 points from 22 games — and travel to In reply, England reached 20 without no loss before rain a good chance to win this tie. only keep getting better," said Alejandro Davidovich Fokina hobbled off with a leg injury before the break with Sassuolo on Sunday, and second-placed Napoli, Gods intervened and ended the day's proceedings. "Big learning curve for Mahak Uppal. in a three setter. PTI Serbian defender Kolorav getting the third six nine points behind, who play at Fiorentina. "#$"%

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“People think that a liar gains a victory over his victim.” — Ayn Rand in Atlas Shrugged

farewell Budget that lays out a 10-year roadmap and a pot of gold $10 trillion strong at 13 years from now, is unusual to say the least. If Ayou think of 2032, when most of our 65 per cent of the population — that is under 35 — will be around, remember $10 trillion puts you in the top three economies of the world in nominal terms, and probably at the very top in PPP terms. This is due to India’s 7-8 per cent GDP growth per annum, year on year compounding away, and expected to power on for the next 30 years. No other major economy can hope for as much with the near certainty that we can. Of course, it presupposes that the great Indian electorate does not plunge this country into chaos by throwing a spanner in the works. Narendra Modi’s audacity is in his assumption of continuity. He is bank- ing on the good sense of the electorate to see him through. And very deftly, he has moved the time dial for himself forward. In 2014, he used to speak of the need for 10 years to get many things done. At the end of the first five, he wants, health and God willing, a further 13 years — some two-and-a- half terms to retirement or worthy Lotus branded successor. There is no pleading or grandstand- ing Congress-style, of “if we are voted back to power”. And this, weeks before the declaration of dates for the General Elections 2019. And in the face of a howling cacophony of an Opposition contemplating a life of irrelevance and powerlessness. The whole country registered the point that Modi thinks he has done well because he has not hesi- tated to list his Government’s achieve- ments so far. But he also needs more time to see his vision through to its logical conclusion. Given that the other side had nearly six decades, most of its payola systems, and in a sulk ever of people. This comes on top of other opment programmes of this adminis- qualify, and will also improve our sta- them mired in low growth, scarcity, and since it was booted out, along with a insurance schemes for the poor, tration to go forward. tistical abilities. States will need to poverty, it seems like a very reasonable mostly unproductive public sector, is announced earlier, including those for The Modi Government presented, cooperate by supplying much of the implied request indeed. The foreign not the whole truth, is obvious. The medical insurance, life, and accident via a stand-in Finance Minister, who is information from their land records. media was quick to join a chorus of formal private sector, deprived of loans insurance. In addition to bank also the Railway Minister, what might But the uses of this captured informa- domestic observers that called it a they understood they were not required accounts, Aadhaar-based identity have been a vote-on-account. That is if tion will be handy for other benefits “campaign Budget” because it tried to to pay back, leading to a massive bad authentication, and a massive thrust it was an administration with less self- too, as they roll out in future. include over 70 per cent or more of the debt problems at all the public sector towards digitisation, the insurance confidence and more reverence for con- The Congress was quick to mock at electorate in its reach. It was campaign and some private sector banks, has vehicles are definitely a Modi favourite. 0.804%). vention. Minister Piyush Goyal — this one, announced early in the Budget promise, yes, but also an American indeed not grown much. The larger benefit for the country !)$760") 0. young, fit, fluently bilingual in Hindi speech, seeing their plank of being the style “state of the Union” address, and a The informal economy, however, is the inclusion of the same millions and English — presented a substantial farmers’ champion melting away. At vision statement, besides being at its which is at 80-90 per cent of the whole, who work in these sectors, on the sta- 0.7710..1).77 Budget through a long speech. just 17 a day, Rahul Gandhi called it minimum the usual set of proposals and fuels the robust GDP growth too, is tistical rolls. We will know who these 1 .)06.8) D.7 Prime Minister Narendra Modi was an “insult” to the “Indian farmer”. towards the annual accounting exercise. ignored by the lazy babus at the NSSO, people are, where they work, as the there, thumping the table along with his Internet wags promptly mocked him on The new NSSO data on jobs on who can’t be bothered to survey and pension scheme identifies millions of )!071D06/1)6#) colleagues on the Treasury Benches, in social media, calling it 0.02 paise per which the Opposition has jumped with enumerate it. But this cannot be workers for eligibility. They can qualify .8)#706% repeated approval of many of the second. This, even as the BJP said the all the vigour of a pack of ravenous ignored with impunity. Certainly not for the scheme only by making a announcements that were made. States, particularly the Congress-ruled hyenas, is clearly spurious, resignation without serious distortions of data. monthly contribution of between 55- )1)#.076I.80 The media and the middle classes ones, were at liberty to enhance the of its authors notwithstanding. This Because, it, the domestic service, the 100, depending on age. It will be, )$)67658 . saw to it that the best received amounts to the extent that their purse talk of a 45-year high in unemploy- self-employed small entrepreneur, the therefore, to an extent, self-supporting, announcement bar none was the one and conscience could afford. This was ment is absurd, because 45 years ago, street vendor, the drivers, helpers, like most insurance schemes are. 76).80637/47.8 that exempted up to 5 lakh in taxable probably in oblique reference to the this country, in the sadistic grip of the cooks, guards, construction site work- In this Interim Budget as a whole, $410#)7!D 6 income from Income Tax. It will benefit already floundering farm loan waiver Licence-Permit Raj and minus growth ers, chowkidars even — is growing there was the careful balancing act of an estimated three crore people. And schemes announced by the Congress in rates, was barely allowed to manufac- much faster than the formal economy! distributing sops, incentives, and ..)6.076$ 6 there were hints that people in higher the three Hindi heartland States they ture a sling shot. It, therefore, reads like Along with it are the poorly docu- largesse, without impacting the 70#1) !1D.8063 tax brackets might also see some relief have recently won as well as in an old Soviet crop report in its exag- mented small and medium enterpris- admirable fiscal deficit number as it when the Budget proposals are con- Karnataka. This token amount, of geration and inaccuracy. The half- es, estimated to employ some 200 stands. Certainly not by more than 0.1 .8 .0.04)..77 firmed after the elections. This even as course, comes on top of other benefits, baked NSSO report was leaked just million people at least. In this Budget, per cent, even projected into next year. 5)1#7).806% a small payment of 6,000 per annum such as minimum price guarantees for before the tabling of the Interim this MSME sector has been given an This was made possible by a doubling to farmers who own less than five acres produce, subsidised fertiliser and low- Budget on February 1, despite being interest subvention of 2 per cent for of direct tax collections for the very #17).7.8) of land, has nevertheless remembered cost loans and interest waivers — also disallowed by the Government. loans up to 1 crore. first time. It was a Budget that was %)6)! 1)1)#.076 another 12 crore people. extended by this Budget to those in It has clearly done no more than a The broad informal sector has been responsive to the needs of various sec- $7041) This too, like the pension scheme fisheries, poultry, and dairy industries. shoddy job of surveying the formal offered a small monthly pension of tions of the population, and thanked for the informal sector will help identi- economy. That the private sector in it, 3,000 per month after the age of 60. It the taxpayer — a first for any Indian fy by name, Aadhaar Card and bank mostly benefited by the Congress and is a benefit that will accrue to millions Government — for enabling the devel- account some 12 crore people who 00 1 .74)/!))067.)!)1D .7# .7//76)O#8 06 4..710")06 5 D.8 . !)$)#. 6)68 6#) yucie .8)/!))77/7.8)! K6)176 6)1 "#$"% P&145Q45-71845

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alentine’s Day is nearly here, with heart- adorned cards, bumper boxes of chocolate, Vbouquets of red roses and teddy bears wearing T-shirts emblazoned with cutesy messages starting to appear in shops across the country. Now heavily commercialised and laden with expectation, the annual event was once a day where people earnestly showed their love and affection for another person. The oldest surviving Valentine’s poem was written by a prison-entrapped, pining lover: Charles, Duke of Orleans wrote it for his wife in 1415, confined in the Tower of London after being captured at the Battle of Agincourt. However Valentine’s Day was celebrated for centuries before that. The event falls on the same day each year, February 14 — which this year is a Thursday. Cupid is the god of desire, erotic love, attraction and affection. He is often portrayed as the son of the love goddess Venus and the war god Mars. Cupid is also known in Latin as Amor (“Love”). His Greek counterpart is Eros and he is just one of the ancient symbols associated with St Valentine’s Day, along with the shape of a heart, doves, and the colours red and pink. He is usually portrayed as a small winged figure with a bow and arrow which he uses to strike the hearts of people. People who fall in love are said to be ‘struck by Cupid’s arrow’. Q The heart was once associated with knowledge as well as feelings: Egyptians believed that the heart here have been some pleasant is driven by a self propulsion module The IR is taking this initiative fur- understood that Indian tracks are was the source of our memories, as well as our developments with regards to without a locomotive and is capable of ther and is now looking forward to man- overused and is one of the main reasons emotions. They placed so much value on the Indian Railways (IR) in the running at a speed of up to 160 kmph. ufacture its first aluminum shell coach- for train derailment. This has been organ that they left it in people’s bodies during recent times. While mam- It has technical features for enhanced es that will possibly attain speeds of 250 stressed adequately in the safety reports mummification, while throwing all other organs, moth projects like the bullet and quick acceleration and is expect- kmph through a project called Train 20 of Anil Kakodkar and Sam Pitroda led including the brain, away. And they weren’t the Ttrain, Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) ed to significantly cut travel time which is stated to come up by 2020. A committees. In this backdrop India has only ones — Aristotle also believed that the heart and first train to Andaman Islands have compared to Shatabdi trains. proposal to make 500 aluminum coach- to be careful in operating T18 trains at was an organ of intellect. caught the attention of many; India’s first It boasts of aerodynamically .! 06

he moribund real estate sec- domestic filmmakers, and a third world country. Modi also er, is grossly inadequate, consider- Is this Budget, responsive as it tor that accounts for at least massive push for furthering the wants a fully digital economy by ing the backlog of work towards is, too little too late in the day to T10 per cent of the GDP, digital in general as a tool to 2030, probably in line with all of modernisation of the equipment seriously influence the coming ignored for the entirety of the curb corruption and increase the developed world. Electric for the armed forces. This will elections? This depends on what Modi Government so far, despite efficiency. Bank fixed deposits vehicles will become de rigeur, as have to be reinforced liberally off one thinks of both public memo- being a significant employer, has might experience a revival will renewable energy to curb bad Budget. The Budget for the ry and attention span. Modi at last been given some benefits. because the TDS threshold has air, ground, and water pollution. Indian Railways towards mod- clearly thinks that it is best to do Perhaps the Government saw its been raised from applicability at Rural industrialisation is an ernisation, greater connectivity, welcome things as close to the relentless emphasis on infrastruc- just 10,000 earned to 40,000. inevitable priority, as more and and growth, has been enhanced, General Elections as possible. ture development in preparation The Opposition was visibly more people migrate to the cities as it is on its way to revival and The coherence and signature rep- for facilitating a $10-trillion econ- upset at a near-full Budget instead as a corollary to development profitability once again. It is resented by the six Modi Budgets omy, as attention enough. of a mere vote-on-account, and seen all over the world. So there indeed a proud achievement that is in the emphasis given to long- However, the housing, office, whined about this for a day or will be mechanisation, productiv- all unmanned level crossings on term nation building and mod- retail shopping centres and so two after the one-hour-45-minute ity enhancement, village industry the broad gauge network have ernisation over populist sops. It is on, are definitely a distinct, presentation by Goyal. It was nev- and so on, to transform the coun- now been eliminated. People this that has given us the good largely urban area category, and ertheless called a good Budget by tryside. Clean rivers are starting need not die at them anymore. macroeconomic profile and the deserve encouragement. Having experts, the captains of business to become a reality for the first Civil aviation is growing by leaps international recognition of an seen the light on this at last, the and industry, the ordinary people, time with sewage and chemicals and bounds as over a million economy on the move. present Budget moves on relief the stock market, and the media. being processed instead of being people use it daily to travel to and Of course, at the grassroots in notional rents from second Various Congress Party allowed to pollute the rivers. This from 100 airports domestically. level, this Budget acknowledges homes. It also includes long- grandees, including the Gandhis, trend will be strengthened going There are many other aspects that there is much that remains to term capital gains from property sat on in Parliament through forward even as Ganga water has of this Budget, both in the head- be done. But the Opposition concessions. This permits buying Goyal’s cheerful speech, making shown improvement for the very lines and the fine print. But suf- seems to be considerably behind two homes after the sale of one faces as if they were suffering the first time. Let us remember that fice is to say that it plans to the curve on this, because it relies to a capital gains value of 2 full rigours of purgatory. there were no fish in the Thames increase expenditure significantly heavily, as always, on the gullibili- crore, without attracting any tax, Undaunted, the Budget laid out a because it was so polluted before become the world’s go-to place is also a basic requirement for a without wrecking the fiscal ty of the voter and its response to but only once in a lifetime. 10-point vision statement. It conservation measures were put for the launch of satellites. developed economy. Improved deficit. Let us hope the the promise of immediate benefit, There were a number of effi- wants to build physical infrastruc- in place. There will be a scaling Food self-sufficiency, already Government efficiency as a goal Government’s substantial divest- however fraudulent. It has even ciency-oriented announcements, ture fit for a $10-trillion economy. up of the Blue Water Economy a thing achieved, must be main- is probably the hardest to ment PSU programme, which has worked for them to an extent including income tax assess- This cannot be faulted, because using the flagship Sagarmala and tained using sustainable farming achieve, but can come about if not gone particularly well, does electorally very recently. Will it do ments and refunds within a day, infrastructure bottlenecks have other projects. The Space practices. Comprehensive educa- permanent tenure is removed. not queer the pitch. The lending the trick in a couple of months? digitised and anonymous scruti- hampered our progress for Programme will send an Indian tion and healthcare for all is on The biggest defence Budget and rating agencies will be watch- My guess is that it is advantage ny, single-window clearances for decades and stigmatised India as a to space by 2022 and India will its way to becoming a reality, but ever at 3 lakh plus crore, howev- ing for fiscal slippage. Narendra Modi all the way. 5) 15 DV).076.8) 476 /0)7/.8) 6587 buuqy .)116$1) 6./ #. K!36 ! D 6 "#$"%

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he 2017 World Cup, and the women’s team into more than the who has captured 300 international reporter, and Sidhanta Patnaik, also Jamshedpur in 1995 — “ India needed India playing in the finals, forever “feisty underdog”. The wickets through her career so far. an ICC reporter, have set out a chron- someone to play a few bold strokes at was the moment when Indian women’s annual retainer was tripled to Team culture and cohesion too icle of the long struggle to establish the top before the ball got older and Women’s Cricket finally 50 lakh a year for the top players. TV needs to be worked on. But how long, Women’s Cricket in India from the started to grip the surface”. arrived. That it was mostly a rights for both men’s and women’s in the era of the fitness and coordina- 1970s onwards. It describes many And another excerpt, from March Tgender stereotype that kept this sport cricket, a lucrative game changer since tion of a Virat Kohli led men’s team, memorable games and their high- 2018, by which time Women’s Cricket from being taken seriously as something the eighties and nineties, were sold for will it take before the women’s team too lights over the years, the early stars was a recognisable force that puts women could excel in is a sad thing. thousands of crores for a five year become world-beaters? and their considerable grit. things in perspective — “In a room India has been gradually led, by the contract starting in 2018. India, said It stands to reason that Women’s The first Women’s Cricket Clubs full of people that matter, Diana, in example of other cricketing nations, to an ICC survey, wanted to also see Cricket should forge ahead to become were set up in Mumbai, Pune, and her typical dark trousers, flats, and offer it patronage and facilities. their women cricketers playing. world champions as training, skill, tal- Chennai in 1971, when all three places loose, printed shirt, is the only woman. Similarly, other sports such as Coaches and other support staff were ent, new bench strength and fitness are had different names and women’s crick- Three members of the Indian team, Wrestling, Shooting, Boxing, Kabaddi, given two-year contracts. being emphasised like never before. et had to fight in the face of low admin- Mithali, Jhulan and Harmanpreet, who Fencing, Tennis, Badminton, even In the 12 months after July 23, Meanwhile, Indian men’s cricket istrative support and funds crunches. have been playing a T20I tri-series in Athletics and Gymnastics, in which 2017, the Indian Women’s Team played has become the biggest sports money- The Indian Railways, with their multi- the city, walk in eventually. They’re Indians are making their mark consis- nine ODIs with four wins and five loss- spinner in the world next to interna- ple railway colonies that spawned tal- here to receive honorary Cricket Club tently now, are also joining in on the es. In T20, India won eight of 15 inter- tional soccer. This is primarily due to ent, were early sponsors of Women’s of India (CCI) life memberships fol- benefits and national prominence at national matches played. But it lost the the size of Indian audiences both at Cricket teams. Early pioneers of the lowing India’s run in the World Cup — last. India did not win Gold at the Asia Cup for the first time since 2004, the stadium and on TV, and, of sport included names like Diana it’s a privilege few can afford or are eli- 2017 tourney, missing it narrowly, as it to a resurgent Bangladesh. course, the associated advertising rev- Eduljee who still plays an administra- gible for and the CCI makes sure they went to England, but they did win There are shortcomings. India is enues. That the male players are now tive part via the BCCI, and Shantha realise it. The three, still in their India Silver, at the semi-finals, beating the still struggling to unearth new power paid small fortunes for ODI, T20 and Rangaswamy, India’s first Captain. jerseys after a long hot afternoon of Australian Women’s Team. India had hitters even as star player Mithali Raj is $ *! 9!+: ;9 Test Cricket with grueling and busy The Fire Burns Blue reads for the training, drag Diana into the com- also managed to reach this high once the most-capped player and most- < < calendars, and earn much bigger sums most part like a cricket commentary in memorative photograph with them. before, in 2005, losing the final, as it capped captain in ODIs in 2018. There via multiple endorsement deals the classic mould from the radio days They know they wouldn’t be here, happened, to Australia that time. are other champions like Harmanpreet : # organised by sport star management of the fifties and sixties, even though playing cricket, earning accolades, if it Subsequently, officialdom seems to Kaur, who was the the first to sign up firms, puts them on par with the big Women’s Cricket commenced only in hadn’t been for their senior. Four have made up its mind. The BCCI, with an overseas T20 League (Sydney ) :( =44 stars of the silver screen. the seventies. Here is a description for decades before, she was tonking balls that has been sponsoring international Thunder for the Women’s Big Bash The authors of this book Karunya the cricket fan from the last day of the and stereotypes on this very ground. tours since 2006, got to work to turn League) in 2016. And Jhulan Goswami, Keshav, a former Wisden and ICC second Test against England at Their honour was hers as well.” < 7 &5( ! + )8 !O , , 8 );); )* " "/ , 0 ) 3 !#8)11 $$ 6 /"% + ,--

. ( ne of the offshoots of with him. They could also eas- ments because he was the resi- O globalisation has been ily identify with RK Narayan’s dent of such an unnamed ,, Othe massive growth fictitious small town of town and had gained first- . registered by the literature Malgudi and its residents hand knowledge about the ( industry. Since 1991 the coun- because it was just like the people living there. Adithi, , , 0 try has seen an unprecedented towns in which they grew up too, seems to have experienced increase in the number of and all the characters in it the same and it has helped her 2 novelists, short story writers, were just like their own in portraying characters like poets and historians coming friends and acquaintances. Devendrappa, Narayanamma, , out with their works accom- There were several novels Basavaraj, Raghuvir Dixit and panied by a kind of advertis- written by Indians writing in others. These seem like real 0 2 ing blitzkrieg. The country English but most of them did people to the readers. They do which, till then, had witnessed not have the kind of quality not come across as strangers very few Indian writers in and stickability that one would because their dreams and dis- English publishing their works have liked for them to have. appointments are very lifelike. <);)( once in a blue moon began They did not stand the test of Adithi Rao has been suc- "/" ("0" 00"%" experiencing a plethora of time. Readers were often cessful in delving into their " $ %+ 34* writers flooding the markets drawn to them more because lives and bringing out the with all kinds of literary of scarcity of better options goodness in their hearts. The 5 I. G works. Every third person you than anything else. disappointment Devendrappa ( 3 met in the book houses and Well, a major source of faces when he loses his job as a $ libraries even in small towns relief for such readers has painter in the cinema talkies turned out to be writers — been offered by Adithi Rao, has been written in a way that 8, internationally acclaimed through her pioneering work is bound to get the reader to 6 ,. writers if the blurbs on their Left From The Nameless Shop. feel sad for the character just . ;. 3 works are to be believed. Her book is a collection of sto- like one would feel for a friend 1 . Mulk Raj Anand, Raja ries (of course inter-connect- or relative. Narayanamma’s Rao, RK Narayan ended up as ed) centred around anxiety and stress as he strug- , 3 ‘pass’ for the new breed of Rudrapura, a small time town gles to emerge as a supplier of writers. For the first time in in Karnataka. Rao has created ice cream to a city-based shop 03 my life, I heard the new gen Rudrapura and its local resi- is palpable even through just 8 4 critics scoffing Ramayana and dents in the style of Malgudi. words. The author brings out Mahabharata as pulp. For the craftsmen about whom they in South India which told the But the similarity ends there. the unquenchable thirst in GenNext writers, the great had only read news reports. story of the downtrodden Each character is different Dixit’s heart for the love of a Indian epics were exaggerated This was in stark contrast and that too in their style. No from the ones created by woman. There’s no judgment or )*(31 accounts of events which to what the great novelists wonder, more than seven Narayan though there is an bias against him based on the (=*:) occurred in the reactionary and short story writers of decades after its publication, intangible link which brings fact that he is not quite interest- "/ minds of some monks or yore years stood for. “Do you it continues to be the most them together. While the ed in getting married. She %0%+ 3-- sanyasins. They ignored the want to write novels or short sought novel in Malayalam painter Devendrappa paints makes the character human, fact that the works featured stories? Learn life first. and has been shot into films the images of reel-life charac- fallible, and adorable. And, she 0<< , , places, people, environment, Experience the hardships of in three or four languages. ters on his canvass to be does it with ease and poise. 6 $ ecology and universal laws reality. Never go by the Dev’s words still echo all installed as a hoarding on the What makes Rao stand out , , about love, kindness, truth accounts by a third person. over the literary world. Those first floor balcony of the man- in a crowd of younger writers 8 and humanity. Hence, we You travel, watch places and who followed his style and sion in the own, Rao has pic- is her capability to tell the ' started getting exposed to people, speak to them, live way of thinking ended up turised the life of Rudrapura stories in an inimitable style 0 poetry, stories and short sto- with them and then you will writing some of the all-time community on her canvas and dear to serious readers. It is , ( 5 ries that lacked a sense of nat- get first-hand information of bests among novels and sto- that too with élan. impressive because it reminds ural flow. Writers confined to what is life,” said P Kesavadev, ries. The names of R K Left From The Nameless readers of writers of the cali- K their royally furnished studios the eternal rebel of ; *$ *!8 $ Narayan, Raja Rao, Mulk Raj Shop relates stories of the local bre of RK Narayan and Mulk and study rooms started writ- Malayalam literature who Anand and Sarat Chandra population of Rudrapura. Raj Anand. Rao introduces K ing about poverty, drought wrote path-breaking books +> ; :: :8 Chatterjee became synony- What makes the book a mem- herself as a writer of stories and of course universal broth- like Ayalkkar (The > ! mous with the best of novels. orable one is the honesty with and spinner of yarns, but this , K erhood and civil rights. The Neighbours), Odayil Ninnu ( 44 Devdas, a character created which the author has por- young author is a master , problem was that they mould- (From a Drainage; 1942), by Chatterjee is a universal trayed them. Narayan could craftswoman. Her portrayal of , ed stories out of the lives of Adhikaram (1968) etc. Odayil icon because the readers write about Malgudi’s happi- emotions and events is both , poor farmers, labourers and Ninnu is the first ever novel could identify themselves ness, sorrow and disappoint- engaging and enlightening. uvitiut ! "#$"% : R 9>

he three days visit of Pope itics, including US-Israeli-Iran con- governance” incorporating the prin- nised the modern principle of TFrancis to the UAE has attract- frontation, UAE-Saudi Arabia vs ciple of tolerance, moderation and human rights, equality, freedom, & ed tremendous global attention, the Iran in Yemen and the possibility of religious freedom and its Islamic dialogue, pluralism, diversity, and kind of which has hardly been regrouping of ISIS and other Islamic humane approach towards immi- mutual cooperation. It decisively P noticed in recent history. The event terrorist forces in view of Trump’s grant community, which insulated rejects political manipulation of reli- ## has been dominantly framed as a declaration of the withdrawal of both its citizenry and immigrant gion as anything to do with religion bold attempt to overcome the mod- American troops from Syria and population from falling into trap of as well as of an understanding that 3 ern, binary framework of Islam/Arab Afghanistan. radicalisation and terrorism. It may terrorism and violence has no roots vs Christian/West and therefore a Second, this was the Pope’s first be noted here that the vision of fed- in religion. + welcoming step for contributing to visit to the land of Arabia. It is the eral, plural and multicultural UAE is Whether Document on Human the regional and global peace and Arabian Peninsula that continues to the legacy of its founder, late His Fraternity for World Peace and Living :: P stability. Though the narratives were represent the cradle of Islam. Highness Zayed bin Sultan Al Together will become a living reali- built in the context of the fifth However the visit is not without a Nahyan; as a result of which today ty in most parts of Muslim world in meeting of the Pope, the head of context. The UAE being a close ally the UAE boasts of having more than near future is questionable proposi- :: Universal Catholic community with of Saudi Arabia, the visit has the 70 places of worship for different tion, considering the fact that most Grand Imam of Al Azhar, Sheikh blessing of Saudi Arabia and took faith communities, including more of Muslim states are basically “rogue OO% :: P Ahmad al Tayyib, the oldest Sunni place in the context of growing than 50 Christian Churches of var- states”, what is important to under- OP 99 theological seminary; the latter is not Israeli-Saudi bonhomie in view of ious denominations with establish- score here is that the Pope’s visit has, equivalent of the Pope, either in rank checkmating the Iranian threat or +*7+777 &5 #: # 4 ment of earliest church dated back to by implication, recognised the grow- and authority or in exercising sig- keeping the USA remained in Gulf 1965 and a grand Hindu temple at ing stature of the UAE as “the lead- nificant influence on the Sunni through Jewish lobby, visit of Israeli Ahmed el-Tayyib to celebrate UAE’s migrants, refugees, which is increas- Abhu Dhabi under construction. ing moderate Islamic nation” in the Muslim world. Hence the breaking Prime Minister Netanyahu to Oman declaration of 2019 as “Year of ingly emerging as the vast pool of Fourth, the Pope through the Muslim world, a recognition that till of Islam vs West binary through this and gradual opening of Saudi Arabia Tolerance” signalled the Arabia’s humanity in the age of globalisation. UAE assured his global Christian recently was applied to Turkey. It is meeting does not hold much ground. to the idea of pluralism. readiness to embrace other and to It is mostly people from this segment community that Islam represents a widely believed that Saudi Crown Rather there are four important The Pope’s symbolic embrace of welcome all those who had left the of population across the globe that tradition of peace, compassion, dia- Prince MBS’ penchant for reforming reasons that underlie warm global Arabia — its land, people, culture, Arabia due to persecution or hard- has attracted toward the discourse of logue, service, cooperation, togeth- the Saudi’s Islamic orthodoxy comes reception to the Pope’s visit to the civilisation, religion, language — is ship. The unity of the Pope and the terror and terrorism. erness, friendship, love, and thus an from the UAE model. Further, the UAE. First, the visit came amid the indeed momentous considering the Grand Imam of Al Azhar mediated In accepting the invitation of the important partner in the addressing Pope implicitly throws his weight rising authoritarian, nationalistic fact that Europe’s Orientalism thrived through the UAE gave voice to the UAE — a country of 9 million out of the challenges of global common. behind the UAE and other emerging regimes and xenophobic voices, ter- and continue to thrive among some largest section of humanity repre- which 8 million is immigrant belong- While in the UAE, the Pope con- moderate Islamic voices such as rorism, sectarianism, religious-sec- pockets of European citizenry on the sented by two great monotheist tra- ing to more than 200 nationalities — ducted an International Interfaith Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain ular-ethnic divide across major parts construction of “Islamic Middle ditions — Islam and Christianity — the Pope seemed to be guided by Meeting on Human Fraternity, and against the political Islamist regimes #!9# ##,# of the world, particularly in the East” as “Other” of Christianised in isolating and delegitimising the three objectives for the visit: (a) to a Catholic Mass of more than 1.3 of Iran, Turkey and Qatar in the “matured” land of democracy. In West. On the other hand, it also pro- voices of terror and extremism with- identify with pathetic plight of mil- million Catholic Christians, mostly emerging fault lines of Middle East short, the Pope’s visit kept the hope vided a good opportunity to the ruler in the Christian Right and the lions of immigrants — legal, illegal, from India and Philippines and and Gulf. This partly explains the of togetherness, civility of life, of of the UAE to showcase to the Islamic Right. semi-legal all across the globe — to signed “Document on Human near knee-jerk responses from these humanity as abiding values at a time world of its experiment with relative Third, Pope Francis, raised as the be treated with rights and dignity as Fraternity for World Peace and Living countries to such a momentous when the world looks dangerous openness and pluralism. The stand- son of an Italian migrant in they are emerging an important Together” with the Grand Imam of event. enough to slide into chaos and ing invitation of the UAE through Argentina, preferred to identify and stakeholders in the development, Al-Azhar, Ahmad Al-Tayyib. The breakdown, particularly in the con- Muslim Council of Elders headed by speak on rights, duties and dignity security and stability of the globe. (b) Document is indeed valuable for fos- (The writer is Senior Fellow, text of volatile Middle Eastern pol- the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, of immigrant, emigrants and Highlighting the “UAE model of tering human fraternity as it recog- Policy Perspectives Foundation, Delhi)

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+ ! R 2 "> 55 ## 3 >99 ?? 3 + # OO P OO# P > A great person is one who affects the mind of "!< ? & +55 new generation — Benjamin Disraeli %- ## 3 + 32 rime Minister Modi’s motivational “Pariksha Ppe Charcha” is highly appreciable at a time O P when students are encountering challenges in the rise of nationalist trends in both the coun- the bellicosity was driven both by ideo- Today the US is as vigilant on China transition phase, mainly value systems across the tries simply add to a bleak future in glob- logical supremacy and a consistent arms and the rest of its potential threat points. globe. In this context, the PM’s direct talk to stu- al business. Further, in the past, the US race between the USSR and the US, today There is nothing new in this. Trump is not dents is a kind gesture to exorcise the looming administration is accusing China of steal- it is spearheaded by an ever growing trade the only US President who has targeted spectre of board examination-related quandary. ing massive resources in the field of war accompanied by tech war. China. It is a long drawn game plan for This process of acquisition of information is Intellectual Property (IP), adopting preda- Is there a link between the latest global supremacy and leadership. Equally, not yielding positive results and slowly turning a tory approaches to foreign investment and episode of Huawei and the game plan China’s growing global presence is offer- highly pious institution like education into a busi- finally, making its market inaccessible to orchestrated by a US-led group of nations ing its leadership and massive spying net- ness venture, wherein success is measured by the global players. Trump has already charged to counter a resurgent China? Currently, work a golden opportunity to peep into the material possession alone. As “perform or perish” a tariff of $234 billion of goods China the US Attorney General has charged ifs and buts of the so-called liberal order. is still deeply inscribed in the Indian social psy- exports to the US. Simultaneously, China Huawei with 23 crimes ranging from sanc- Thus the battle spreads across the che, the student community is undergoing has initiated the legal process at the WTO tions-busting, stealing corporate secrets fields of global terrorism, trade war, tech tremendous pressure from family, peers and soci- #$.#! #%$%# to hear the charges imposed by the and IPRs, obstructing justice, etc. And at war, and finally to lawfare. In reality, no ety to obtain “good marks”. This marks morass #!;%..%!9#! Trump Administration. But what the the centre of the controversy is Meng one wins in all these master games, sim- sometimes goads those behind the curve into oday, the US and China are on the Trump Administration has done to China Wanzhou, the company’s CFO and daugh- ply because of ever increasing economic committing suicide. Therefore, the advice to parents against forcing their ambitions Tcusp of a New Cold War (NCW). The has received considerable support among ter of its founder, who is accused of mis- interdependence on one another and on the children illustrates Modi’s concern about the marks penchant. NCW is strongly characterised by sus- the business tycoons in the US. leading banks about the company’s busi- accessibility to advance technology and Students’ success lies in contemplation about the possibility of timeless and end- tained clashes either on the military or on Beyond the economic front, some key ness and violating US sanctions. information. Henceforth, the state of less hope in his/her capabilities. The Indian education system is known for embrac- the political front between the two oppos- developments in China have also embold- She is under arrest in Canada and the intransigence between the US and China ing values and approaches that shape the creative urge of the student community. ing geopolitical power blocs. Unlike the ened Xi to move on a confrontation course US authorities are awaiting an extradition goes on. Specially for Trump, when an However, we all acknowledge the challenges that are posed by the increasing tenta- phases of the Cold War I, wherein two dis- with the US. By abolishing the term lim- of Wanzhou from that country. The US election is looming large over his unpop- cles of the transitional phase. Although one cannot but admire ingenious display of tinct ideological camps were led by the US its on Chinese presidency last year, Xi has officials view Huawei as a threat to its ular presidency both at home and abroad rich contents by our traditional education set-up, the inexorable demands of com- and the former USSR, the NCW has clearly signaled that he would do anything national security. They say that its 5G net- accompanied by a cantankerous Congress, petition is compelling the students to focus on contents. moved beyond the point of traditional to make China a global power, even if it work which is spread across 170 nations he should have been extremely careful, as At the higher education platform, a departure from the methodologies of many bipolarity. risks irking the US global interests. today may be used by China for spying or the way warned by legendary Greek earlier existing education parameters, we need to provide a cutting edge and trans- And, the current conflict has seen the Interestingly, even before making formal in times of war for sabotage. However, till statesman Pericles some centuries back: disciplinary overview of the most crucial issues. Our education system always rep- involvement of more than two ideology- announcements for casting aside presi- date there is no public evidence to what “What I fear more than the strategies of resented unique path of making each discipline one of the most exciting areas of con- driven actors. Now, the new lines of ten- dential term limits, Xi had ordered the the US is saying. my enemies is our own mistakes.” temporary life. Not every innovative attempt starts out with serious analytical inter- sions are generated around flashpoints Chinese armed forces to counter the But on the other hand, there are good Whereas for Xi, it is his own fiefdom, he pretation of contemporary issues, therefore, unconventional attempts ought to be tried engaging multiple nations and groups Pentagon with fast modernisation drives reasons to be wary. The way Huawei oper- is nowhere going to be answerable to his to put forward myriad exploration of ideas and topics in which each pupil can par- such as America, Russia, China, the in air, sea, space and in cyber world. ates is full of obfuscation and opacity. Its voters. He rules China as long as the ticipate and display talent. European Union (EU) and the North However, this was followed partly in 5G networks dispersed designs make it Communist Party desires. After all he is New education policy needs to provide insights on important issues concerning Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In response to Trump’s announcement for truly difficult to monitor. Therefore, the widely designated as the reincarnation of our society and its concerns. Sometimes, conceptual and scholastic argumentations recent years, the US has been embroiled revitalising American nuclear forces. China Inc should demonstrate well before Mao Zedong. and discussions result in the creation of exquisite ideas. Proper attention is required in a potentially debilitating course of col- Mostly beyond the economic interests, the world that it can be trusted. At its core Therefore, when the stand-off comes to be paid to judge the empirical and normative understanding of many variations lision with China irrespective of whether what is causing irritation in bilateral rela- it should build up a transparent corporate into place between the global giants, it that were found in constellations of various education reforms recommended by var- there is a Republican or a Democratic tions is the completion between the US governance system open to the interna- must be viewed from what sort of polit- ious commissions. President. With Donald Trump’s vitriolic and China for a dominant role in the Asia- tional community. If charges against ical system each rules over. Accordingly, These constellations, to a great extent, reflect the real concern of our new gen- and boastful pronouncements, at times Pacific region. With Xi becoming life- Huawei are proved, it would set a dan- they are pressed over to perform and bring eration. The past two decades have been marked by a period of substantial change sharply aggressive, bilateral relationship President, his intention to carry forward gerous trend for Chinese IT firms and home back a sense of security, pride and in the contents and relevance of many disciplines. The purpose of education is to with China has badly dived down despite the grand “Dream” might indicate build- would invite counter charges on top US leadership. Arguably, with an increasing improve reasoning, observation and experimentation skill. The topics should be inter- having regular diplomatic forays and ing an “Asian Order” under his leadership. tech giants. Hence, it is time to reorgan- trend of populist politics around, a esting, thought provoking and oriented towards reasoning, analysis and proper appli- ministerial level engagements. It is a fact Thus, the US has to either sacrifice its vital ise serious talks between the US and renewed vibe of nationalism backed by cation. Recent developments have established new basis for understanding the chang- that there is a genuine schism between the interests in the Asia-Pacific, meaning not China to clear the massive mistrust. This localism has grown louder. And, never- ing nature of polity and community. The ongoing debates in contemporary politics two superpowers. Certainly, the new insisting on a dominant role in the region can gradually help alleviating the shadow theless, both Trump and Xi are largely have been dominated by the relationship between global, national and identity and variants of conflicts would be fought in for ever or it has to re-adjust its power of the NCW. influenced by such ethnocentric narra- politics. The purpose of the change in the policy is to provide a comprehensive view the realm of technology. Further, it would sharing dynamics with China. The real determinants and the con- tives. This trade and tech war is deeply of politics and emphasise on the following main areas to make the subject more rel- be lawfare than warfare. But then some analysts argue that the ducting of a Cold War in a truly globalised enmeshed in a new trend for nations set evant: 1) To link theory to contemporary issues; 2) To link old issues to topical and- Trump’s “Make America Great Again” NCW is full of political gimmicks and new world is a utopia only. Undeniably, there forth by a post-globalist era wherein we practical concern; 3) To develop a new analysis of various areas of concerns; and Xi’s “China Dream” of course do not tactics to manoeuver benefits of global is a streak of squeamishness among the all witness a sharp transition beginning 4) To demonstrate how market forces accept these issues; 5) To demonstrate match. But then, there has been a phalanx business and trade on one’s own advan- Trump team and his confidants in regard from bipolarity to uni-polarity and to a how new models can be used in real-life experiments with democracy, envi- of issues, charges and counter-charges that tage. It is all about media glaze and show to what has been unfolding between the well-contested multi-polarity. But it is ronment, globalisation and governance; 6) To show how policies drive change; finally have descended upon both of strength. It’s a virtual war. They say that two nations. On the rise is the death of the interesting to see “sed quis custodiet ipsos 7) To show the importance of applied research; 8) To demonstrate how we can Washington and Beijing probably to take contemporary politics full of false analo- US-sponsored liberal order that has swept custodes” (but who watches the watchers). make use of theoretical knowledge. a parallel, but rivalrous route as of today. gies. The Cold War of the yesteryears is the world in the last two decades. The Only time will tell us. Let’s permit histo- Therefore, the aim is to stimulate and disseminate the latest research and hap- Both are at each other’s throats on unimaginable and even if it takes place at irony is that at the moment both the spon- ry to display its inevitable tendencies as penings at national and international arenas in different disciplines. Thus, issues such multiple fronts wherein their vested inter- all between China and the US, it would sor and the mentor (i.e. the US) are shy- it used to. Winston Churchill once made as diaspora, science, technology, engineering, fine arts, music, politics, global, local, ests lie and underneath are the race for the never last the way it did between the US ing away from shouldering the responsi- plea in the British House of Commons, civil society, organisations, problems of governance, alternative economic and polit- global leadership. They are working and the USSR. bility of leading the international com- “Democracies are quite strong enough to ical systems will be essential resources of comprehending and assessing various dis- towards mutually incompatible goals in What are the chances of convergence munity to the next century. At the core of negotiate, and would only weaken itself ciplines for all students. The catch is multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary frame- the international trading system. Today, and collaboration between the US and this paradox what irks the current US by waiting.”. Though the context and pos- work of knowledge to be the best in the world. China does not buy the thesis that China? Nearly 1,000 meetings, starting establishment is the shifting (preferably sible consequences are entirely different, Although PM’s recent advice to students may appear to many seeing it through America wants it to realise its full poten- from the summit level talks to mid-rank- fast) balance of power in the world. The it’s all about “containment” of an offspring the political prism to be a construction of a social narrative, the apolitical real aim is tial without tweaking the status quo of the ing bilateral official exchanges take place Trump administration’s strategy to engage of socialism only, so America must reflect to de-stress students and instill in the harbinger of new India a new urge to develop global political order. Worryingly, Trump between Washington and Beijing each in spasmodic to consistent fighting with back whether to negotiate or to summarily self-confidence. wants to roll back the global supply chain year. It is widely believed that economic China can nowhere contribute to the lose the game to China. system and signals going towards the age interdependence is what is putting brake growth of a world system that can herald (Author is with University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Panjab University of mercantilist approaches for economic on the outbreak of an immediate confla- peace and stability. It is harmful for the (The writer is an expert on interna- Chandigarh. She is Branch Convener of Training and Placement Cell and E Cell development. With this, an alarming gration. Unlike the Cold War days when US and China. tional affairs) Representative of her College at IIT Mumbai ) 06.! 60%)6#)7/ ) 6!)$410#7/ 0!)1 6#71) 6 bacqbute " 67') 14!)U0. K !1)6)/7.)! "#$"% /5 3/ &8 . , # O , 1 <@?= , , ;

ecember 20, 1942, was a Sunday. On never saw our bread delivery man again.’ that day, Calcutta’s ‘Oldest Not unnaturally, those who felt the most Nationalist Daily’ (according to the vulnerable —from working-class suburbs, indus- masthead), the Amrita Bazar trial establishments and around the docks — Patrika, reported that in Burma were those most inclined to leave. The Bengal Dthere was a possibility of ‘the end of defensive Government Labour Commissioner put a brave warfare on this frontier [by the Allies] and the face on the situation on the Monday morning beginning of a war of attack.’ Meanwhile, in the after the first raid: ‘There was full attendance Don-Volga area, ‘the Soviet ring is drawing this morning in mills and in engineering firms. tighter around the enemy.’ Despite this opti- In fact, some engineering firms reported better mistic note, the paper reflected evidence of attendance than on normal Monday mornings.’ wartime stringencies. The Imperial Tobacco The docks presented a different picture. The Company appealed to its customers to accept Chief Secretary reported that boatmen, port cigarettes without packets in order to alleviate employees and contract labour (including coal the paper shortage. The Government denied a coolies) all evacuated. Workers from outside shortage of rice. Women were told that they Calcutta ‘left in large numbers on foot both by were ‘the Inner Wall of Defence’ and as such way of the Grand Trunk Road and the Orissa they should join the Women’s Auxiliary Corps Trunk Road.’ He estimated their number at (India). Indian political problems were also evi- 2–3,00,000. Severe labour shortages ensued. The dent in the shape of the continuing Quit India workers that remained took the opportunity of campaign. An attack on a police station, bombs pressing their demands on the employers. There in Baroda and acid attacks on the police were was an increase in strikes in Calcutta after the reported. raids. The Australian war correspondent, The Calcutta races, however, went ahead as Wilfred Burchett, was present in the Calcutta normal and were graced by the presence of the Port Commissioner’s office after one of the Marchioness of Linlithgow, His Excellency the December raids, when the latter was confronted Governor of Bengal, and Lady Mary Herbert. by a deputation of wharf labourers. They told There was cricket on Saturday and Sunday and a him: tennis carnival to look forward to on Thursday. We don’t mind staying and working, even if Cinemas catering to English speakers were fea- they do bomb us, but we want food in our bellies turing Chaplin in Goldrush, Robert Taylor in and decent shelters. At present we’ve got neither. Her Cardboard Lover, and Abbott and Costello The Scavengers’ Union demanded wage in Pardon My Sarong. The paper reported an increases and free accommodation as ‘a large increase in the production of Indian films for number of sweepers had already left the city and ‘the surging crowds during yuletide hungry for many would go away in the near future.’ The entertainment.’ wharf labourers’ demand for shelters reflected, That night Calcutta was bombed by the again, the feeling in the city and in the Japanese air force. The structural damage was province—and perhaps across India as a minimal, but the panic that ensued was wide- whole—that the Government had not prepared spread. Large numbers of Calcutta residents well enough for the possibility of war and was fled. Fear was exacerbated by indications that not doing enough about it now that it had neither the Government of India nor the arrived. In the aftermath of the raids, Sudata Government of Bengal nor the Calcutta munici- Debchaudhury argues, ‘[t]he Government had pality were prepared for the defence of the city. practically collapsed.’ This may be overstating The air raid took place in a context of over- the case, but at the time the Amrita Bazar whelming Japanese military success and territor- Herbert, telegrammed the Viceroy after the first Patrika reported that ‘Little damage was done trenches were dug in the same area. But follow- Patrika was complaining that the Government ial expansion. The British — the assumed raid that despite two deaths and fourteen and no nervousness was shown by the towns- ing the December 1942 raids, many of Calcutta’s of Bengal had done nothing to organise an defenders of India — had been pushed out of injuries, there had been ‘No people.’ citizens were not concerned with defence. They orderly evacuation, or to provide the evacuees Malaya, Singapore, Hong Kong and Burma. In noticeable effect on morale.’ Down amongst the townspeople, were more interested in flight. with alternative means of livelihood, shelter and late 1942, it was widely expected, in India and Later the Chief Secretary relat- however, things were not quite so san- On December 23, Governor Herbert report- conveyance. Confidence in the authorities could beyond, that a Japanese move into northern ed that ‘ARP Services are in guine. After the first raid, ‘nervous- ed to the Viceroy that there had been a ‘consid- not have been strengthened by the fact that dur- India was inevitable, imminent—and perhaps general reported to have done ness’ broke out on a wide scale. erable exodus of people from Calcutta though ing the December raids about 10 per cent of ‘the unstoppable. excellent work,’ demonstrated According to Joydeep Sircar, the raid not yet amounting to a panic rush.’ Workers had lower ranks of the Calcutta Police’ themselves Calcutta served as an industrial centre, a by the fact that ‘defections were was a ‘devastating blow to the morale ‘wholly disappeared from the dock area’ and abandoned their posts and fled. port and a transit point for troops moving up to very few.’ The Viceroy was of the inhabitants.’ Sircar suggests that morale was deteriorating — though ‘nothing like Widespread fear of air raids and even inva- fight the Japanese in Malaya and then in Burma. moved to tell Calcutta’s citizens: ‘one and-a-half million people’ fled, a landslide’. The post-bombing exodus took up sion had taken hold in India well before It was a city of considerable strategic importance Yours is the first capital city causing a breakdown in ‘the civil ser- the full capacity of the railways. Special trains December 1942, and this laid the basis for the to the Allies. Once Burma fell, Calcutta was the in India to suffer in this war a vices.’ There was a widespread feeling were laid on to cope with the numbers attempt- civilian exodus from Calcutta. In the early part mainstay of the Allies’ Asian front. baptism of fire and her citizens that ‘The Government had not pre- ing to leave the city. On December 27, ‘measures of the year, the example of Burma was there for Consequently, it was a Japanese target. As have provided an admirable pared for the eventuality and seemed were taken to clear crowds of refugees collected all to contemplate. The Government should have Prasad points out, ‘Their air force was also well example of steadiness and overwhelmed by developments in at railway stations along the evacuation routes.’ known what to expect. On the basis of Burma’s poised…to inflict continuous and heavy raids on fortitude. Well done Calcutta. Southeast Asia.’ The British authorities estimated that some experience of attack from the air, the Calcutta and the industrial area in the eastern The English press was, if In the ensuing days and weeks, 2,50,000 people left the city by road and another Government of India’s Civil Defence regions. The official reaction to these first raids anything, even more relaxed. some signs of defence began to 1,00,000 by rail. Katyun Randhawa, a Calcutta Department sent out a circular, Lessons learned on the city was very much along the ‘we can The European-owned Statesman declared that appear: A number of Hurricane aircraft were schoolgirl, remembered the exodus and the rail- during air raids, to all Provincial Governments take it’ and ‘business as usual’ line, modelled no the first raid was ‘a small affair and, if the city moved to Calcutta; emergency airfields were way stations ‘packed with people trying to get in August 1942. doubt on the (officially) stoic British reaction to has to be raided, it can be described as a very constructed, including one in the centre of the out’—some permanently. ‘Some of our street : , P the Blitz. The Governor of Bengal, Sir John suitable introduction.’ Even the Amrita Bazar city between Chowringhee and the Maidan; slit hawkers also disappeared,’ she relates, ‘—we + % +@A Q; R

onald Trump has declared Heinrich had pressed him on being president one of the 60#3 11)6 . ,O the legal basis for his answer, D“great losers of all time” given that Trump has not financially as he lambasted sug- invoked executive privilege and gestions he was making money $ prevented Sessions from testify- out of the office. The US presi- ing. He had accused Sessions of dent also indicated he is prepar- of the $5.7 billion funding he has “evasiveness,” and had said he ing to declare a national emer- requested for the border wall. If N/7!.6 .)1D0 was “obstructing” their investiga- gency in order to build a wall on agreement is not reached by Feb 76O.6))76)D tion. When the attorney general the Mexico border, calling ongo- 15 the US Government may shut had said he had spoken to ing negotiations with Democrats down. A previous 35-day shut- .80*4)06% lawyers from the department of in Congress a “waste of time”. down, caused by the same fund- $!)0)6.+0 justice who advised him on what Trump also said he has been ing impasse over the wall, ended he could and couldn’t say, informed he is not personally a last month. 76)7/.8)%!) . Heinrich had replied archly: “I “target” in special counsel Robert Trump indicated there would */06 6#0 1+17)! bet you did.” Mueller’s investigation into probably be no second shutdown “Your silence speaks volumes,” whether his campaign colluded because he will declare a national 7/ 11.0)O 0 he had said. Angus King, an inde- with Russia in 2016. emergency, allowing him to use 76 1.!$ pendent senator for Maine, had His comments came on a day military funding for the wall. “I taken the baton. “What is the when it emerged the US economy think Nancy Pelosi is hurting our basis of your refusal to answer added 3,04,000 jobs in January, country very badly,” Trump told these questions?” he had asked almost twice what economists the New York Times. “I’ve set the time, won her plaudits from Sessions, noting that Trump had had forecast. Trump tweeted: table. I’ve set the stage for doing Democrats. It was back in June, not invoked executive privilege. “JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!”. The presi- what I’m going to do.” 2017 that Jeff Sessions had been Sessions again dodged, stating dent has been accused by critics The president also said his accused of “evasiveness” and that he could not answer. Twitter of violating the “emoluments personal lawyers had been “obstruction” by Democratic sen- had gone wild with King’s facial clause” in the US Constitution, assured he was not being targeted ators, questioning the US attor- expressions, with memes of his which bars gifts from foreign by Mueller. He said that assur- ney general before a Senate com- exasperated look proliferating. states, due to diplomats and other ance came from Rod Rosenstein, mittee. The former Alabama sen- Kamala Harris, then the officials staying at his hotel in the deputy attorney general, who ator had shown a rare flash of Democrat for California, had Washington, a few blocks from is overseeing the special counsel. anger when Ron Wyden, a asked Sessions to show what law the White House. Trump said: “He [Rosenstein] Democrat from Oregon, refer- prevented him answering their But in an interview with the told the attorneys that I’m not a enced media reports about questions. New York Times, Trump said he subject, I’m not a target.” Sessions’ contact with Russians. He had referred vaguely to “a had actually lost out on business The president said he had “This is secret innuendo being long-standing principle”. On opportunities because he was never spoken with Roger Stone, leaked out about me and I don’t Twitter Mike Huckabee, the for- president. He said: “I lost massive his longtime political ally, about appreciate it,” Sessions had said, mer governor of Arkansas, had amounts of money doing this job. Wikileaks and Russian-hacked his voice raising. come to Sessions’ rescue. “Dems This is not the money. You know, Democratic Party emails made He was further rattled by act like they never heard of attor- fortunately, I don’t need money. public in 2016. Martin Heinrich, a Democrat ney/client privilege,” he had said. This is one of the great [finan- He said: “No, I didn’t. I never from New Mexico, who was “Attorney-general is top attorney cial] losers of all time. But they’ll did.” Stone pleaded not guilty this The president said he did not ing so far would be Kamala ference in the 2016 election, angered by Sessions saying he in the executive branch. He say that somebody from some week to charges including lying believe he would face a Harris. Some of the others were earned her the kind of national could not answer his question, serves the president and is not a country stayed at a hotel. And I’ll to Congress, and obstruction, Republican challenger for his very flat.” spotlight almost unheard of for a because it related to a private stooge of Congress.” He was say, ‘Yeah. But I lose’. I mean, the stemming from the investigation. party’s nomination ahead of the In 2016, Kamala Harris was a fledgling senator. conversation with President rapidly corrected by social media, numbers are incredible.” Trump also denied that he had 2020 election. And he praised fresh-faced senator still finding One of her most notable Donald Trump. “My judgement is pointing out that his role is to Trump criticised Nancy ever directed Kamala Harris as having had the her way around Washington. A appearances on the committee that it would be inappropriate for uphold the constitution and not Pelosi, the Democrat speaker of anyone to make contact with best campaign launch of his year later, her role on the Senate was in June 2017, when her feisty me to reveal private conversa- simply do the president’s — or the House of Representatives, Wikileaks. “Never did,” he potential Democrat rivals.He Intelligence Committee, which exchange with Jeff Sessions, tions with the president,” he had Congress’s — bidding. who has refused to agree to any told the New York Times. said: “I would say the best open- was investigating Russian inter- Trump’s attorney general at the said. & & 4)8!7B477#8 60.8) ). 06) D1))3)! itextaiutar # 8 576 .! 10 O !0#8).10.)! !D$!0B) "#$"%

> # oo bad pop star Ariana Grande is vegan — she just tattooed an $ Taccidental homage to a Japanese barbecue grill on her palm. The US singer’s attempt to ink an ode to her hit single 7 Rings backfired recently after social media quickly " !P# chimed in to tell her the characters actually translated to “shichirin”: A small charcoal grill. Grande, 25, had posted a now- deleted photo of the new body art on Instagram before her fans pointed out the spelling error. In widely shared She later wrote: “Pls leave me and @3 "" screenshots of now-deleted tweets, my tambourine grill alone. thank u.” Grande acknowledged she had forgot- Her apparent nonchalance didn’t stop ten a symbol but noted that the Twitter from skewering her with " ? design would not last, as skin on the memes and mockery. Some were palm regrows faster than that on the ironically sympathetic: “Met with all rest of the body and tattoos there the Asians, and our official ruling is usually fade. “It hurt and still looks that the Ariana Grande tattoo is tight. I wouldn’t have lasted one more good,” wrote Twitter user Kevin symbol lmao,” she tweeted. “But this Nguyen. The video for 7 Rings boasts spot also peels a ton and won’t last so more than 100m views on YouTube if I miss it enough I’ll suffer thru the and debuted at the top of the whole thing next time.” Billboard Hot 100 chart. Q$7 9< # # R ew research has found that more than two-thirds of young Npeople are active musicians. The study by music charity Youth Music, in tandem with Ipsos Mori, polled more than 1,000 British children aged seven to 17 about their music / , N, O 38 6 habits. Unsurprisingly, 97 per cent of them had listened to music in the previous week — but 67 per cent had also t the start of this year, I ten about the “mutual support” that he ostracised, losing their jobs, or failing engaged in “some form of music-mak- appeared as a guest on a says exists within the industry. But the to progress in their careers. ing activity”. It’s a huge rise from 39 per podcast called The explosive nature of the claims in this It’s notable that for women to do cent in 2006, when Youth Music con- FoodTalk Show. Asked for story do not surprise me one bit. I’ve the latter, they tend to need to have a ducted their previous survey. Music-making tends to fall off as chil- my predictions for 2019, I long been aware of the exploitation, “patron saint”, who comes in the form Among those who said they made dren get older — 79 per cent of chil- Ahoped that this would be the year that violence and abuse that goes on of a male chef. Indeed, many of the music, singing was the most popular dren aged seven to 10 made music “Me Too” reached restaurant kitchens. behind the scenes of so many top highly regarded female chefs in the means, with 44 per cent saying they versus 53 per cent of those aged 16 The movement until then had seen restaurants, and the tales I’ve been told industry today worked closely with did so compared with 17 per cent in and 17. Income affected the findings: women speak out about sexual abuse by other women in the trade would do male chefs before making it on their 2006. Thirty per cent of surveyed 76 per cent of children entitled to free and harassment in a number of indus- more than put you off your food. own. It’s rare to see a woman succeed- children played an instrument — 39 school meals described themselves as tries already. But, to this point, not in I know of one woman who worked ing on her own in the restaurant busi- per cent of whom are somewhat self- musical, versus 60 per cent of those mine. Which was not to say it didn’t in a top fine dining establishment in an ness. This could be another factor, taught — with the piano proving not entitled. Activities including rap- exist. I am founder and head chef at upmarket neighbourhood of London. perhaps, that makes newcomers feel most popular. Eleven per cent made ping, DJing, writing music and mak- Darjeeling Express in Soho in London, Each day when she arrived at her they must take the abuse and hang on music on a computer — rising to one ing music digitally were all markedly where I run an all-female kitchen with workplace, the morning ritual to which in there until they’ve learned enough in five young men — while fewer higher among children from lower- women who cook the way I do. I’d she was subjected was a huge, hard slap to leave that kitchen and move on to a than 10 per cent rapped or DJ’d. income backgrounds. heard so many horror stories from on the back from the head chef. It was better environment. women in some of the best kitchens in obvious the violence, not to mention I came up through a different the country, but in the podcast on the power imbalance, gave him plea- route myself, starting out with a sup- January 3, I observed that they never sure. Another chef told me she’d been per club, which evolved into a restau- $? spoke out. “You need one person to sent inappropriate and suggestive text rant, and the money behind it was break the silence, and I hope this year messages by a celebrity chef whom she my own. I don’t owe anyone for any- will be that year,” I said then. worked for. But she was too scared to # $ thing, but this is an unusual way in Well, it seems that I’ve been proved breathe a word of it, fearing she’d never 2 : to the trade (not least because I’d first correct. Recently, it was reported that get a reference. Instead she sat it out done a law degree). For those with Dan Doherty, a celebrity chef, and a for a year until she found a better place hellholes of abuse. To me these excus- more typical career paths, it’s differ- judge on the BBC One show Britain’s to move on to. It’s not only physical es are pathetic. The pressure in a ent, and bullies and abusers can hide Best Home Cook with Mary Berry, had and sexual abuse, but sometimes also kitchen is intense, that’s for sure. But in plain sight. They’re looked up to left his gastropub, The Royal Oak in racial. One female chef from South if abusing someone else is your reac- and celebrated, revered. It takes a Marylebone, London, for a month in Africa was called a “black b----” when tion, you ought to be in therapy and brave soul to object, especially when November after allegations he’d sexually she first came to work in a restaurant not working there at all. There still the owners of the restaurants are harassed a female staff member. He was kitchen in London. Her colleagues who exists a culture of heavy drinking and arguably complicit themselves. also alleged to have told workers he heard this just laughed. drug-taking, but again it can’t explain There’s been something of a deaf- wanted to see them “without their Meanwhile, a friend of mine will away the problem — although it’s ening silence following the claims kitchen whites on”. regularly walk into the kitchen she arguably yet another symptom. against Doherty. Where are the mes- In a statement responding to the works in, where the chefs will pick her What lies behind this phenomenon sages of support or condemnation claims, Doherty has said he “would up, put her in the walk-in fridge and is a culture where the head chef is king from all the other members of our never intentionally make offensive touch her up. There’s something like a and operates within a network that’s a industry? I can only assume they’re comments to anyone I work with, wolf pack mentality at times, with the boys’ club in essence. For so many of too scared. Or perhaps we are seeing female or male. I have apologised to the men ganging up to undermine the sta- the men in these roles, their work them close ranks. Some female chefs whole team for any offence I may have tus of the (very few) women they work becomes one enormous ego trip, and visiting my restaurant break down in Very English Scandal, the Treadwell-Collins added, “At the inadvertently caused. It would never be with. A lot of women keep quiet and they believe themselves to be unassail- tears of disbelief: “My God, there’s no Golden Globe-winning BBC time, the news was in all the papers: my intention” and announced on accept this, out of fear they’ll be able. The celebrity chefs aren’t immune shouting here,” they say. Yes, the work- Adrama about the Jeremy People thought it could have been a Twitter that he had “decided to step sacked, or from shame. — quite the contrary — because the ing conditions in some restaurants can Thorpe affair, will return for a second member of the royal family or the away” from the second series of the I know of one very young and greater their profile, the less likely are be brutal — but they don’t have to be. series by looking at a very different Government or a Hollywood actor. BBC show. A statement released by The innocent woman who complained to victims to complain. If the culprit was Restaurants usually need more women scandal: The notorious divorce case of No one still knows who it was.” Royal Oak confirmed that the chef, the female owner of a top restaurant a nobody, you would slap them and working there, in part because there’s Margaret Campbell, Duchess of The original series of A Very who was the subject of an external about bullying from the male chefs. It leave. But if you slap a famous chef, safety in numbers. When surrounded Argyll, known by some back in 1963 English Scandal, written by Russell T company investigation, was no longer was the victim who was sacked from you might never work again. And we’re by a gang of male chefs, a woman can as the “Dirty Duchess”. Davies, starred Hugh Grant as the dis- working with them, “with immediate her job. Another female chef suffered talking about well-respected names easily grow isolated. “We’re going to focus on the very graced Liberal leader Thorpe who was effect”. It has also been confirmed that severe burns to her hands when a here: Men who, out of sight of the pub- You need other people to stand by public divorce from her second hus- scrambling to cover up his affair with Doherty’s partners in a New York City male chef threw a boiling piece of lic, will aggressively pursue younger you, and what we need is a union of band. He went through her private Norman Josiffe (AKA Scott), played restaurant opening have “severed ties” meat across the kitchen at her face. In female colleagues, or send sexual pic- female chefs. To get our voices heard, desk and found a list of all the men by Ben Whishaw. The Guardian’s TV with the chef. shielding her face, it was her hands tures of themselves. Some female chefs we must all come together and let she’d slept with,” producer Dominic critic Lucy Mangan described it as The fresh-faced 33-year-old, a for- that got seared. So how, you might have confessed to me they are everybody know this: You touch Treadwell-Collins told the Radio “brutally funny, endlessly clever” and mer head chef at Duck and Waffle in wonder, have these men got away with even too ashamed to tell their one of us and you deal with Times. He also found compromising an immaculate show that “entwines London, has always been seen as one it so long? Some people point to the parents or partners that us all. Together we can Polaroids of her wearing nothing but two decades of salient political history of the good guys. He’s been a support- high pressure working conditions, the they’re having a hard stamp out the abuse. pearls with a man whose face was with a finely worked portrait of the er and ambassador for the Action long hours and the stressful environ- time in their workplace. # 4 not in the pictures. English establishment”. Against Hunger charity, and has writ- ment, that make many top kitchens They fear being & & ( *

& 0 $$ big teddy bear, in has been sold in a store were premature, but four were offered 3-- $ $ % $ %P $ $ Henney’s words. on the island of Java for for sale. Two were sold and the %& classic scene from a Pennsylvania man says his The cold-blooded a hefty $1,000 per fruit. others pulled from display after olice dispatchers are Adecade-old episode of The Aemotional support alliga- reptile likes to rest his snout The “J-Queen” durian was their quality faded. He did not Ptrained to deal with a Office helped an tor helps him deal with his on Henney’s, and “he likes to give selected by a panel of farmers in a know who bought the fruit. number of situations, Arizona mechanic depression. Joie Henney, 65, hugs,” he said. The alligator has never region of central Java because it was and a dispatcher in save an unconscious said his registered emo- bitten anyone and is even afraid of cats, deemed to have a special taste and tex- Indiana had to know woman’s life. The tional support animal according to Henney. ture, said Sudarno, a farmer who grew & her numbers when a Arizona Daily Star named Wally likes to Henney acknowledged that Wally is the fruit. Two of the rare durians, which 0$ $ boy called 911 seeking reports that 21-year- snuggle and give hugs, still a dangerous wild animal and could were displayed in a perspex case in a olice in Massachusetts are help with his home- old Cross Scott despite being a 5-foot- probably tear his arm off, but says he’s store in Tasikmalaya in the neighboring Plooking for a woman they work. Lafayette Police dispatcher found a woman long alligator. The York Haven never been afraid of him. Henney’s back- province, were sold for 14 million rupi- say intended to rob a bank but Antonia Bundy answered the call locked in her car this man said he received approval ground also indicates a comfort with ah ($1,002) each, said Sudarno, who got cold feet and left without from the boy, who said he had “a month and broke in, finding from his doctor to use Wally as creatures like Wally. He hosted a show uses one name like many Indonesians. a penny. Fall River police tell bad day at school.” It seemed she wasn’t breathing. his emotional support animal called Joie Henney’s Outdoors on ESPN Asked why anyone would pay such the Herald News the woman the boy had “tons of home- He doesn’t have any emer- after not wanting to go on Outdoors from 1989 to 2000, according a high price, he said the harvest from walked into the Fall River work” before the dispatcher gency training but thought of medication for depression, he to the York Daily Record. Henney fre- this particular tree had failed in past Municipal Credit Union on narrowed down that he was the show where Steve Carell’s told Philly.com. “I had Wally, and quently takes Wally out for meet-and- seasons, but a new fertiliser helped to Monday afternoon and approached having trouble with fractions. character does CPR to the tune when I came home and was around greets at places like senior centers and produce fruit this year. “It’s sweet..fluffy a teller. Police say the woman hesi- An audio recording of the of the Bee Gees’ song Stayin’ him, it was all OK,” he said. “My minor-league baseball games. “He’s just and delicious,” Sudarno said by phone, tated, told the teller “give me a call posted on Twitter shows Alive. The song has the correct doctor knew about Wally and fig- like a dog,” Henney told a woman at a describing the texture as creamy like minute,” and went to a counter and how the dispatcher helped the tempo for chest compressions. ured it works, so why not?” Wally recent outing to a senior centre. “He butter. Durian are often grown in family wrote on a piece of paper. But she child solve the equation: Three- Within a minute, the woman was was rescued from outside Orlando at wants to be loved and petted.” orchards or small-scale farms and are ripped up the note, dropped the fourths plus one-fourth. She had breathing, and she was taken to a 14 months old and is still growing; hugely popular in many parts of Asia. pieces in the trash and walked out. him take out a piece of paper to hospital and later released. Scott, who Henney said Wally could be 16 feet Sometimes described as smelling Bank employees pieced the note figure out the answer: One. The shares the last name of Carell’s char- long one day. Henney says Wally eats $ O P like an open sewer or turpentine when together and it said: “Give me the boy thanked the dispatcher and acter Michael Scott, had help from chicken wings and shares an indoor I-0111 ripe, durian are banned in some air- money.” Anyone who recognises the apologised for calling 911. Police two women who also stopped when plastic pond with a smaller rescue alli- n Indonesian variety of the durian ports, public transport and hotels in woman in surveillance images is say they don’t recommend calling they saw the car and called 911. gator named Scrappy. A— a pungent, spiky fruit considered Southeast Asia. Sudarno said most of asked to contact Fall River police. 911 for homework help. Wally, who turns four this year, is a a delicacy across many parts of Asia — the 20 durians produced by his tree 3!086 5 47!6#8 8) 7/80.0)K 11%!) .$)!76 yvixiari $ !)47!6 8) 7/.8)0!.0) K787 "#$"%

/ :) 1 O $! 7$ .8 3 8 , , "/ 5 / 8 " $ 8 , ! 8 6 .85 0 , ' , , O . , ! , >!8>+ 5 , ' he leadership question has always been debated. O More so in present times as means and mediums O Tof discussion have grown manifold. From village 0 gossip to print media to electronic media to the now . : (;: all-pervasive social media, leadership seems to be one , of the most talked about subjects in society. But still , there is little clarity as to what is true leadership. There O is often the issue of strong versus weak leadership that ) occupies centrestage. However, what is a strong leader, 4 #)7 0 who is a weak leader, and which is better are all ques- 9!9 $>$$?> tions that still do not get best answers. The simple reason is the definition and the related attributes. .. However, a recent book, The Myth of the Strong Leader N by Archie Brown offers valuable clues to this riddle of O! , strong versus weak leader. A comprehensive book, ' ' ord Krishna, in His supreme edge and awareness of our eternal in the spiritual world, is facilitating rather voluminous, has largely taken into consideration , , abode of Gokula, has noth- existence. But if we serve Him indi- devotion for all beings to Radha and political leadership, but can be a useful reference for , ing to do with creation of rectly by serving His maya shakti, His Krishna. That is guru-tattva. And in leadership per se, across the board. The greatest myth material existences; it is external energy then we become cov- this material world it is Lord Balaram that the author has shattered is the widespread belief through His various expan- ered of our true identity and we have Himself in this form of guru tattva that ‘strong leaders’, dominant individual wielders of sionsL and incarnations that all this to suffer the three fold miseries of that empowers the spiritual master to power, are the most successful and admirable. The work of His is done. The original per- material existence, miseries caused by engage us in the loving service to basis of this analysis has been a careful examination of sonality of Godhead is Rasabihari. He one’s own body and mind, miseries God and to reveal Krishna to us. top leaders of the world, ranging from Roosevelt, to only has one business — to engage in caused by other living beings and mis- Sometimes we hear that there is Gorbachev to Deng Xiaoping, to Thatcher among loving pastimes with His devotees. eries caused by natural disturbances, only one guru, jagad guru or Krishna, many. The book overturns the popular notion of But we should know that all devotees higher powers. And we are subjected specifically revealing Himself through strong leader and forces readers to rethink preconcep- ! ' of Krishna are all expansions of to the repetition of birth and death Balaram and in this way all gurus...true tions about what it means to lead. The author himself , Himself. There is the Vishnu tattva. and all of the sorrows that pertain to gurus, bonafide gurus... are simply claims that he wishes to expose the notion that strong Those expansions which are directly that. So, for the jiva (soul) as well as empowered representatives of that tatt- leaders — in the conventional sense of the term, that is , , and personally Krishna Himself, who for liberated soul who are eternally va, the original guru. those who push their way, dominate their colleagues, , , assumes various forms in various anxious to engage in the Lord’s ser- Balaram appeared in Ram’s lila as and concentrate decision making in their hands — are , places. For instance, Narayan and all vice, the Lord manifests through ener- Lakshman and in Gauranga most successful and admirable. The basic assumption !1 of the various avatars, the lila avatars, gy, through a principle by which He %!0.8)$1 #) Mahaprabhu’s lila as Nityananda behind this premise is that huge power usurped by the 2 they are Krishna who have expanded engages all living beings in His loving Prabhu, the original Guru. It is widely individual leader paves way for errors in judgement as the same person revealing various service and this is called guru tattva. 7/7!)).06% believed those who are associated and may also lead to disaster and bloodshed at times. 6 . attributes and opulences of the It is been explained by great 50.83!086 6 with the Guru or represent the Guru, He seems to be correct when we consider leaders like , supreme personality. Acharyas that the conditioned jivas in they are Guru’s Guru and they must Hitler and Mussolini and what they did. Though the And then there is shakti-tattva. this world that point Krishna in the .8 .%!. .." be offered the same kind of respect term ‘strong leader’ can have different connotations, it , , Srimati Radharani, in the world of spiritual world embraces the jiva of 0# .)%7!0)4D that is generally given to the Guru. generally means one who has a tendency to concen- . , Vraj bhumi, she is not different than this world, that is called guru tattva. However, if you offend the represen- trate too much or rather all power in his hands. It is , Krishna. There is no difference That is guru. Guru is that place of our $!)"07 #8 !D tative of Guru, then you offend the this power that then creates the illusion of invincibility between Radha and Krishna the one meeting with Krishna. And that guru )0.8)!"086 Guru himself. Also, if you offend the and the leader thus emboldened acquires the demonic , O personality has expanded into two Tattva is categorised by previous Guru, you eventually offend Shri tendencies of egotism, which promotes cravings, and ' forms for the sake of intimate loving Acharyas as either Vishnu tattva or jiva . .." 7!0" Balaram and Shri Krishna. arbitrariness becomes the norm. But gradually this , exchanges. She is the supreme enjoy- tattva. It is in its own unique category. . .." 0.006 As Kaviraj Gosvami explained arbitrariness degenerates into a totalitarian regime L , ' er just like Sri Krishna who is also A jiva soul who is an inspired devotee “You cannot have faith in Lord which the people start detesting. The same people who , the supreme enjoyer. But how can surrendering his life to the previous 0.75660V) Chaitanya without Nityananda. You were nursing the illusion of equating the strong leader you enjoy if you have nothing to acharyas, that soul by the arrangement # .)%7!D 0" cannot approach Mahaprabhu without as a messiah. The biggest difficulty is in the thin line 7 ' enjoy? So, Srimati Radhika is the of previous acharyas may be endowed Guru and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that creates the strong-weak dichotomy. Strong does supreme absolute truth who has with guru tattva, which is actually 71 D4) has personally proclaimed this.” In the not denote exploitative autocrat and weak is not about , , appeared to fulfill His every desire in Krishna Himself, spreading His mercy )675)50.8 Chaitanya Bhagvat, He explains that laissez-faire. Leadership is best that respects the sys- M the form of His pleasure potency. and reveling Himself. “anyone who offends Lord Nityananda tem and its institutions that keep the system running. D And there is also the tatastha shakti Krishna’s original expansion is %!. .." 580#8 is condemned by me.” Mahaprabhu Thus, this whole idea of strong and weak leadership is or jiva tatva, the infinite part and Lord Balaram and He is the guru tatt- 03!086 80)1/ said “without approaching illusory. Rather it should be about righteousness and parcels of Krishna who are eternally va because in the spiritual world He Nityananda, without approaching duty consciousness. The nature of true leadership is subordinate to Krishna and have free is making all arrangements for all of guru tattva, His representatives, no not about the ability to concentrate all power in one’s choice, independence to either sur- the eternal souls to engage in the lov- one can approach me.” hand but to let the system function smoothly. render in love to Krishna or to rebel ing service of Lord. The abode of We should know that if we are Humility should not be construed as weakness and against Krishna. Now this jiva tattva Vrindavan is the expansion of strongly connected with faith and arrogance as strength. It is this arrogance that ulti- is always subordinate. Balaram and everything in Vrindavan devotion to Balaram with guru tattva mately leads to ruins. Interestingly for those who But we have the choice of being is ultimately working under His through our spiritual master then all of nurse the illusion of invulnerable status, the following subordinate to either Krishna’s superi- instruction. So, therefore, all the lib- the powers of Maya and all of the words from Yoga Vashistha may do some mellowing: or spiritual energy or His inferior erated eternal associates of the Lord demoniac influences can pound upon “I am time; and I have destroyed countless beings, material energy which is conducted by in the spiritual world can only us, but we will remain unshaken. After even the Gods who preside over this universe. I am the three modes of material nature. approach Krishna through the grace all, in His mere expansion as ananta the consumer and you are our food. This relationship We are all servants of Krishna. If we of Balaram or Srimati Radharani, shesha, He is holding all the universes is not based on mutual likes or dislikes.” serve Him directly, then we can depending on the particular rasa, and like little jewels on His hood. + + achieve eternal bliss, eternal knowl- their associates. So it is Balaram, who & % $! >.> B > 4 ' he Gita informs us that this planet earth is an impermanent place of miseries, but we don’t have to be T 8 Q ! ' 2 ' miserable. The Gita also informs that one #$% can experience eternal bliss. So it is possi- & ( L5 ble to not be miserable but be very peace- , , ful and happy. How does one make such a . %O , ,, 0.3 !408670 transformation? One has to take God’s 6 assistance. See for yourself from this sciously looking for what will enhance dharma. Rather the Lord advocates example. As we get older, the physical it. For example, shouldn’t one wonder peaceful enjoyment by making proper use M prowess goes down. How does one replen- how an expert astrologer can foretell of sense objects by disciplined senses. $ , 3 ish it? Link with God — the omnipotent. what will transpire decades later when Our scriptures advocate earning accord- Enjoying life through sense objects also things will be so much different? Yes, ing to dharma. The same can be enjoyed ) becomes increasingly difficult. Then we some initial faith is essential. This according to dharma. Though we are $ , need to find shelter elsewhere. God is the comes from what sanskars we bring small souls, we have been give free will to perfect shelter. What is true for older folks from our previous lives and what we get desire whatever we fancy and decide the ! '6 is also true for all ages in various ways. from our parents, etc. Then, ego is a big way we deem fit. God only wishes that we 4 L. , God can help one and all. enemy if not the biggest: “I am the doer; desire sensibly and decide according to , Who doesn’t need guidance? Is any- I am superior.” One is foolishly proud dharma. He is not holding us captive, , one omniscient like God? That false feel- being a small soul. One is also too lazy rather God encourages us to be suitably ing of “what I know is enough” gets us in not to follow God’s instructions in this active. Not only with Him, God wants us ' ,, ' trouble because our knowledge can at regard. Don’t we give many excuses to to interact with others as well. He encour- , , best be very limited only. God is avail- avoid what all human beings must do, ie ages us to cooperate with others, make M0=C 0/71175.8)480. $!06#0$1);01) 4) 08!1)D7!5 DK.80 axu % .778 11$ K 085 !D ! 0 4 #8#8 6 "#$"%

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( 8 "$ $ 48 ! .488 6$ )7 human mind deals with somewhere ing whatsoever. Having attained this sta- aking off from the previous issue, Buddha was going somewhere. On the between 60 to 70 thousand thoughts tus, wherever you pay attention, you will it comes out that mind is the carri- way he felt thirsty. He then asked one of every 24 hours. Lot of them are inconse- be able to visualise things in the right Ter of Karmic imprints from one his disciples to get water from the near- quential, some of them even negative. perspective, and therefore, shall be able life to the other. They find reflection in by stream. As the disciple approached Caught up in its melee, mind loses the to pick up most appropriate lead. That our usual run of life as and when conge- the water stream, a stray animal had sense of alert necessary to optimally use by itself would be enough to set the nial ground is available. If, however, just crossed it, making the water its own empowerment tool. Not to say course of life better. mind maintains its sense of order, when muddy. The disciple could not serve anything about coordinated working of Becoming equipped thus, you may all its functional tools — buddhi, dirty water to his Guru, and so he the functional tools of mind. no longer remain slave to your mental ahamkara, and manasa work in coordi- returned back empty handed. After a If, however, we let the thoughts nat- tendencies. You rather become the mas- nation with each other as a unified while Buddha asked his disciple: “Why urally flow in and flow out for a while, ter of your mind and begin to use it organism, it could very well modify the did you not get me water?” “Sir, water without paying any attention to the rightfully as you will apply proper fore- karmic track. Mind could reflect upon was muddy.” Responded the disciple. nature of thoughts, mind will come to thought before getting into an act. You itself, identify and acknowledge its “Go again. By this time, muck must rest, as muck settled down in the water may then consciously deny grounds con- inherent trends, and employing buddhi, have settled down,” directed Buddha. stream. Once mind gains restful state, its genial to fruition of negative karmic make necessary amends if any desired. Thereafter when the disciple sense of orderliness begins to gain imprints if any in store. For, you will be The paradox, however, is that mind approached the water stream, most of ground. Having acquired this status, able to discriminate between “what you usually remains flirting with huge vol- the muck had already settled down. He when you turn your attention inwards, want” and “what is right” and according- ume of randomly generated thoughts. still waited for a while till all the muck you may be able to figure out the true ly make choices. Also reframe the defin- Such a scattered mind loses its sense of settled to fetch clean water. nature of your individualistic mind, with ing principles of mind in such a way that order. Consequently, in the first place, it Remember, just like a water stream, all its positive and negative tendencies. buddhi remains in active mode all the fails to maintain the sense of alert neces- mind remains engaged in uninterrupted Pursuing the meditative process further time. Evidently then, nothing will move sary to invoke its own empowerment flow of randomly generated thoughts. It in right earnest, you may be able to puri- without due diligence. To sum up, you tool — buddhi for due diligence. is something like a wild monkey fy your mind of all its negative karmic are the architect of your own destiny. Second, it doesn’t allow the focus neces- unmindfully jumping from one branch imprints, which otherwise disorient your The issue continues… sary to mindfully frame one’s priorities of a tree to the other. Such a scattered thought process and thereby, your con- & + in life. Third, it doesn’t leave scope to monkey mind becomes totally disorient- duct. Following purification of mind, its >99 put in one’s whole towards the tasks in ed. On the way, often, negative and full landscape with its wholesome pow- 037+''!!+!! + hand, and with obvious consequences. unpleasant thoughts and feelings, real or ers shall become accessible. ! KK777A What’s the way out? Applying sim- imaginary, intrude mind-space to make You may then begin to look at the &6@@33DD@*D*DEA4@**78EE8 ple meditative technique, one could let it even more restive, which further com- issues in hand holistically and with an : 6 ( B > the mind settle down. Once, Gautam pounds the problem. It is said that open mind, free from any precondition- 9 6> >

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