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! "$% !&   R      R   # 23# he powerful OBC leader    TBhupesh Baghel overcame all odds and outsmarted his competitors within the party on    Sunday as he was chosen unan- imously as the leader of the   Congress Legislature Party in a jam-packed but  # 4 #425# 6&# . emotionally charged-up meet- ing at party State headquarters ighlighting the Supreme here. HCourt clean chit to the Congress observer Government in the Rafale deal, informed Prime Minister on Sunday mediapersons that Baghel unleashed a vicious attack on emerged as consensus candi- the Congress from the home date for the next turf of its supreme leader, Sonia of the mineral-rich State. The Gandhi, and hurled corruption 58-year-old five-time legislator charges against the grand old Baghel will take oath as the party in defence purchases     #           third Chief Minister of making stinging jibes like the  *0   ) on Monday at absence of “Quattrocchi uncle” 4.30 pm at Science College or Christian Michel in the BJP around 1100 crore for the dis- ground. Government’s defence pro- trict here on Sunday.   Kharge said names of curement. He also asked why is it that Ministers would be declared The Prime Minister also whenever Congress made later “after detailed discussions accused the Congress of trying attack on the Indian army,  with all stake-holders”. to malign and influence judi- people from the across the State Congress president ciary. border in Pakistan clap and Baghel faced a stiff challenge The Prime Minister was why they appreciate the coun-  from TS Singhdeo, party’s lone making his first public speech try’s oldest party. Lok Sabha member from State,   " -   & & "   .      /&     after the Supreme Court gave  %47 4!2 and former           a clean chit to the BJP Union Minister Charandas Government in Rafale deal    ontinuing to target the Mahant. including then State Congress new Congress Government out in 2003. He joined the Youth Congress and BJP lost the three Hindi CCentre over Rafale, the Shortly after Baghel was chief Nandkumar Patel, the would live up to their expecta- Baghel has always been in in 1985 and was elected to the heartland States of Rajasthan, Congress on Sunday urged the elected the Congress veteran VC Shukla and tribal tions and wishes.” the centre stage of the ousted undivided Madhya Pradesh and    R Supreme Court to recall its Legislature Party leader, he leader . The Congress said on BJP Government’s attacks and Assembly for the first time in Chhattisgarh to the Congress. related judgment and issue announced to write off bank Baghel personally suspects Twitter, “We wish him the best was recently jailed for a few 1993. Claiming that country will    notices to the Central loan of farmers within 10 days, ‘political hand’ in the killings. as he forms a Government of days in after he was Hailing from a farmer’s never forgive Congress for Government for contempt of a prime poll campaign promise In his first tweet as Chief equality, transparency and charge-sheeted by the CBI for family, Baghel is credited with attempting to weaken the  %47 4!2 court and perjury, alleging the that led to the BJP’s rout in Minister-elect, Baghel integrity starting off with farm his alleged role in the circula- leading the party from the Army, Modi said the main Centre had provided false Assembly elections. expressed his gratitude towards loan waiver for farmers as we tion of a sleaze CD against a front in the fight against the Opposition party is disturbed inance Minister Arun Jaitley information to the apex court. Baghel said the Congress Congress president Rahul promised.” Baghel is Post- powerful BJP Minister in BJP and scripting the crushing over NDA Government’s per- Fon Sunday rubbished the Addressing a Press con- Government will unravel the Gandhi and said Rahul had Graduate from Pt Ravishankar Chhattisgarh. defeat of the 15-year-old formance because this Opposition demand for a par- ference, senior Congress conspiracy that led to the given him the responsibility of Shukla University Raipur and He launched his political regime of . Government has carried out liamentary panel probe into leader said killing of top Congress leaders building “a new Chhattisgarh”. he was Revenue Minister in Ajit career in early 80s from Durg The Congress won 68 of 90 defence deals without involving the Rafale deal and said the the Government is guilty of by Maoists in the Jheeram “I can assure the great peo- Jogi-led Congress Government district under the guidance of seats. The BJP bagged just 15 people like Quattrocchi or Supreme Court had the last committing breach of privilege Valley in Bastar in May 2013, ple of Chhattisgarh that the in Chhattisgarh that was voted the late Chandulal Chandrakar. seats. Michel. word on the issue and there of both Houses of Parliament “Congress’ history in could not be a contrary verdict by misinforming the Supreme defence deals is involvement of by a political body. The FM said Court that the CAG report on      people like Mama Quattrocchi the Comptroller and Auditor Rafale aircraft pricing had       or Christian Michel who was General (CAG)’s view on the been presented to the Public recently brought to the coun- deal is not relevant after the SC’s Accounts Committee of !   " #  try,” Modi said while address- clean chit to the Government. Parliament. ing a public meeting in Rae Citing washout of four day’s “We demand that the SC $   % $ Bareli, the Parliamentary con- proceedings in Parliament, immediately recall that judg-     stituency of UPA chairperson Jaitley said the Congress will ment which is void. This Sonia. prefer disruptions in Parliament entire episode has dented the    !4%% 2     Earlier, Modi flagged off over discussion on Rafale dur- dignity of the highest court the new rake of rail coaches and ing the remainder of the session. which cannot be allowed,” he n what is being described as     %47 4!2 admission, the admission dedicating projects worth Detailed report on P5 told reporters. Ithe battle cry for the 2019 process of these 105 schools at Lok Sabha elections, a call has nhappy with the opaque entry level for session 2019-20 been made by the combined Uadmission process of the shall be on hold till further Opposition parties in the coun- Nursery classes, the Aam orders,” a senior DoE official try that should Aadmi Party (AAP) dispensa- said. be the Prime Ministerial can- tion has directed 105 schools in “If it is found that the said didate to take on Narendra the national Capital to put on schools are taking admission Modi. DMK president MK hold their nursery admission despite being prevented to do Stalin who was the host of a process. Directives so, necessary mammoth public rally at were issued by the action as per Chennai on Sunday evening, Delhi Government norms will be asked the people in the coun- as the concerned taken without try, including all the major schools failed to any further political parties to elect Rahul make their criteria notice,” the offi- as the Prime Minister in the     *   * 1-   -  # public within the cial added. upcoming Lok Sabha elections. ""#    #  "    prescribed dead- The dis- “Only Rahul has the abili-    2 "     -   0,   line. tance of stu- ty and capability to defeat the  ) The application dent’s residence fascist-Nazist-communal process for admis- from school, sib- Narendra Modi Government,” at Anna Arivalayam, the party son of Dr Kalaignar, I propose sions to entry-level classes in ling quota, parents being alum- declared Stalin in the public headquarters in Chennai’s the candidature of Rahul from over 1,600 private schools ni of the school, single child, meeting which was attended by Mount Road. Sonia and Rahul Tamil Nadu, “ said Stalin. began on Saturday. first child are some of the cri- a galaxy of Opposition leaders flew down to Chennai to attend This is the first time Stalin The Directorate of teria listed by schools for that included UPA chairperson the function. It may be noted or for that matter anybody Education (DoE) has also admissions to the entry-level , Rahul, Chief that in 2004, it was from the Opposition benches advised the parents to not classes. Ministers N Chandrababu Karunanidhi, then DMK pres- proposed the name of Rahul for approach these schools till the According to the schedule Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), ident, who wanted the the post of PM though the department issues further order released by the DoE, the appli- (Kerala), V Opposition parties to endorse Congress leaders had made it to avoid any inconvenience to cation window will be open Narayanasamy (Puducherry) the name of Sonia as Prime known many times in the them in case any penal action from Saturday and the last and a host of other leaders. Minister of the country. recent past that the young is initiated against defaulter date of submitting application Earlier in the day, Sonia “We will build a new . president of the party would schools. forms for nursery class admis- unveiled the life-size statue of Welcome Rahul, give the lead the nation and take India “In order to maintain sion for 2019-20 session is       P   " #     %     P"    late DMK chief M Karunanidhi nation good governance. As the to new heights. transparency and uniformity in January 7.    &'(' ) (  *     P*      ,                                 %47 4!2 Kumbh Mela to be held next with targeted least available Godavari in Maharashtra    month. depth (LAD) of 1.0 m. Five tem- (apart from Allahabad).     o promote tourism in water It is estimated that over 15 porary jetties at Chatnag, Sirsa, The UP Government has       Ttransport during Kumbh crore people will visit next Sitamarhi, Vindhyachal and drawn up an estimate of more         Mela beginning from January year Kumbh Mela. The Kumbh Chunar have also been set up than Rs 4,200 crore for the 15, 2019, the Narendra Modi Mela is believed to be the for embarkment and dis- preparations around next year’s     Government plans to promote largest religious gathering in embarkment of passengers. Kumbh Mela and has asked the     the use of inland waterways for the world and is held every 12 Sources also said that a Central Government to bear   ! "  ferrying pilgrims and tourists. years on the banks of the Russian company is expected to more than half the cost. This # $    The Inland Waterways ‘Sangam’ — the confluence of start an airboat service. The air- will make the mega pilgrimage      Authority of India (IWAI) has the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna boat will have an engine of a in 2019 the costliest ever. The      set up four floating terminals, and the mythical Saraswati — vehicle and carry 16 people at last full Kumbh Mela in 2013  % &  one each at Kila Ghat, Saraswati in Prayagraj (Allahabad). a time. It can cruise up to 80 cost less than a third of the  ()*+ Ghat, Naini Bridge and Officials said the route for kilometers per hour and amount estimated for next Sujawan Ghat. In addition, the water transport service will requires a depth of only 1 year. The Mela, which usually      two vessels — CL Kasturba and stretch from Sujawan Ghat to meter. extends up to 55 days, draws      SL Kamla — and small boats Rail Bridge (Naini Side) and The Kumbh Mela is a reli- millions of pilgrims from   ,    will be deployed for pilgrim then to Boat Club Ghat to gious Hindu pilgrimage that is across the world, who take the  ((- -     movement. The ships will ferry Saraswati Ghat ending at Kila celebrated four times over a holy dip at the sacred conflu-    passengers between these ter- Ghat. Multiple terminals will be course of 12 years. The geo- ence of the Ganga, Yamuna and         minals and also between constructed on this stretch of 20 graphical location spans four Sarasvati rivers.  .     O Varanasi and Allahabad, a dis- kms and boats and vessels will locations (each hosts a Mela The Government also " 0  1  tance of 60 km. Over 70 Heads be provided by the Mela every 12 years): Haridwar on plans to run vessels, mini cruis-  ,   of Missions based in Delhi Authority. Fairway with navi- the Ganges in Uttarakhand, es and commercial ships in the     have reached Prayagraj to wit- gational aids will be maintained Ujjain on the Shipra in Madhya River Yamuna from Prayagraj ness the preparations for the between Prayagraj and Varanasi Pradesh and Nashik on to New Delhi in near future.   ()  ( *+, -.*/      &  !"# !$%"!  %47 4!2  2((-    1.   $*("    %47 4!2 ment of the Supreme Court        1   , conclusively establishes the he Public Accounts        1      ejecting demand for a par- Congress party’s vulnerabilities TCommittee (PAC) may not "  $C  , ,""      Rliamentary panel probe into in a discussion on Defence summon Attorney General and , 1.   2 "C the fighter jet Rafale deal, transactions. the CAG over the public audi-  ,.- % "       Finance Minister Arun Jaitley 2 legacy of the Congress Party ing those from Opposition  ."&   Supreme Court had the last !" !.6$ and its Defence acquisitions - parties, are apparently not in     &   word on the issue and there !=! a great opportunity indeed for favour of the proposal by panel   O     &  could not be a contrary verdict =!3"8/ some of us to speak,” he wrote. chairman Mallikarjun Kharge.    by a political body. The Finance Minister, who On Saturday, Kharge had the Government on the Rafale 5.!8"#.$  .O    "   $    The Finance Minster said 8"226 had alongside the Defence said he will request all mem-      F  O  deal, and it is unfortunate that the Comptroller and Auditor Minister led a spirited counter- bers of the panel to summon Congress and a seasoned politi- General (CAG)’s view on the 8.3!." attack against the Congress on the Attorney General and the cian like Kharge are politicis- deal is not relevant after the <2$2= Friday post the Supreme Court CAG to ask them as to when that CAG report was present- panel, the BJP has a majority ing this sensitive issue of Supreme Court’s clean chit to 8.2!6"6!. ruling, said the opponents of the public auditor’s report was ed before the PAC, something with 12 MPs and there is one national security,” BJP MP the Government. "!!8.06! the Rafale deal had a choice of tabled in Parliament. denied by Kaharge member each of its allies, Shiv Anurag Thakur said. Citing a wash-out of four "  "$ forum to present their side, and Responding to his remarks, himself. Mahtab, who is longest Sena and SAD. The Congress Another BJP MP Gopal day’s proceedings in Parliament, they chose the Supreme Court. senior BJD MP Bhartuhari serving member of the panel, has three members in the Shetty sought to know how the Jaitley said the Opposition “The court conducts a judi- Mahtab said PAC chairman can said the remarks of the two offi- panel, including Kharge. There chairman can call the two top Congress will prefer disrup- cial review, it is a non-partisan, call the AG and the CAG in his cials cannot be recorded if are two TMC MPs and one Government officials on the tions in Parliament over dis-  6 2.!6"2!!.!<2" independent and a fair personal capacity but not they are called in a personal member each of the TDP, the topic which was not in the cussion on Rafale during the <2$2= .256.8$065682="2$.<< ! Constitutional authority. The before the entire panel as the capacity. BJD and the AIADMK. committee’s agenda and when remainder of the Session. 0556 /0!#"$. 6 26"885!! court’s verdict is final. It can’t Rafale deal was not part of its Speaking on the lines sim- The BJP-led NDA MPs in the CAG report had not been The Congress, which was !60!/"2=<"$230!5 !" be reviewed by anyone except agenda for 2018-19. The CAG ilar to that of Mahtab, TDP MP the panel are strongly opposed placed before the panel. not a petitioner before the apex 2. !"6!$"22202$."#.0!!0$=32! by the court itself,” he said. ? report on the deal has not been CM Ramesh said if the mem- to the idea, with the ruling BJP’s ally partner SAD MP court, has sought the multi-crore Ruling out setting up a JPC placed before the panel, he said. bers wish so, the panel may call party members saying it was Prem Singh Chandumajra said Rafale deal to be referred to a to go into the deal, Jaitley said, The controversy was trig- AG and the CAG but only after like “questioning” the SC. it would be unfair for the panel Joint Parliamentary Committee contrary to what the court has if an ambiguity has emerged in “How can a Parliamentary gered after the SC judgment on the report was tabled in “The apex court has cate- to start questioning the (JPC) to go into the price arrived said,” Jaitley wrote in a the Court Order, the correct Committee go into the cor- the Rafale issue mentioned Parliament. In the 22-member gorically given a clean chit to Supreme Court’s order. at by the BJP Government ver- Facebook blog, titled ‘Rafale - course is for anyone to apply/ rectness or otherwise to what sus the one negotiated by the Lies, Shortlived lies and now mention before the court and the court said. Is a Committee previous UPA regime, as also further lies?’. have it corrected,” he said. of Politicians both legally and how billionaire Anil Ambani’s On the Congress claiming The correct picture has in terms of human resources        56789  group with virtually no experi- ‘ambiguity’ in the Supreme been presented to court and it capable of reviewing issues ence in manufacture of fighter Court judgment said the deal must now be left to the wisdom already decided by the Supreme jets was selected as an offset has been examined by the of the court to state at which Court?”  %47 4!2 partner for the deal. CAG and is now before stage the CAG review is pend- “On areas such as proce- The Congress has alleged Parliament’s Public Accounts ing. “The CAG review is not dure, offset suppliers and pric- ome Minister Rajnath Singh on that the French Government Committee (PAC), Jaitley said relevant to the final findings on ing, can a Parliamentary HSunday said the internal security was pressurised by the Modi Defence transactions go to the procedure, pricing and offset Committee take a different scenario in the country has vastly Government to include CAG for an audit review, which suppliers. But bad losers never view of what the court has improved ever since the NDA Government Ambani group as the offset then are referred to the PAC. accept the truth. Having failed said?,” he said, asking if a con- came to power in 2014. Addressing a ‘Vijay partner as the deal makes it “This was factually and in multiple lies they have now tract be breached, nation’s secu- Diwas’ function here, Singh said the left- obligatory on the part of the accurately stated by the started an innuendo about the rity be compromised and the wing extremism-affected districts have selling country to offer 50 per Government before the court. Judgement,” he said. pricing data be made available shrunk from 90 to just about 12, while cent of total business to domes- The audit review of Rafale is Jaitley said the Congress, to Parliament or its panel. there has been an 80 per cent decline in tic Indian players. pending before the CAG. All having failed in their initial He asked what was the insurgency in the North-east. “The inter- “After the Supreme Court facts are shared with it. When falsehood, is now “manufac- experience of JPC when it took nal security scenario has vastly improved has spoken the last word, it gets its report is out, it will go to the turing further lies about the up the Bofors deal — the only during the last four years,” he said. legitimacy. A political body PAC. Notwithstanding this fac- judgement.” occasion when it investigated a The Home Minister said the Border can never come to a finding tually correct statement made, “On facts it lied. The judge- Defence transaction. Security Force (BSF), which guards the India-Pakistan border, has been given complete freedom to retaliate effectively to       "   ceasefire violations by Pakistan. Singh said (  the ex-servicemen can play a key role in inculcating a sense of national pride    : "  9 among the youths. Recalling the heroics of Brigadier Mohammad Usman, Maha Vir Chakra awardee and Major Somnath   %   %47 4!2 headquarters on Akbar Sharma, India’s first Param Vir Chakra, Road here. Singh said some youths today have their n a day Rahul Gandhi “On the 1st anniversary of idols in cricketers and film stars, but if Ocompleted a year as taking over as Congress presi- someone asks them to name Param Vir  &0 Congress president, he reiter- dent, I reiterate my commit- Chakra recipients, they may not be able to 3 4             1   # ated his commitment to build- ment to building a name even one. 1   ) ing a strong, united and a strong, united and vibrant The Home Minister said martyrs like  %47 4!2 vibrant party. Congress party. Chandrashekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh proved in 1971 that they have the capabil- India Association, an NGO. Singh also Gandhi, after being elect- “I am overwhelmed by the were all driven by passionate patriotism. ity to rewrite history and redraw maps. The declared that he would contribute his one sserting that the National ed unopposed as the Congress greetings and messages I’ve “The society has to stand up with the Indian Army has since emerged as a pro- month’s salary to the organisation’s corpus ADemocratic Alliance chief, took over his new received today and thank each veterans today and an action plan needs to fessional model before the world, he said. for martyrs’ welfare. ‘Vijay Diwas’ is cele- (NDA) was unbeatable, BJP assignment on December 16 and every one of you for your be framed to preserve individual honour On the occasion, the Home Minister brated to mark India’s historic victory over chief Amit Shah said Sunday last year from her mother, affection and support,” he post- and nation’s integrity among the citizens,” honoured families of martyrs and released Pakistan in 1971 war which led to the cre- no ‘gathbandhan’ or ‘maha- Sonia Gandhi, at the party ed on Twitter on Sunday. he said. Singh said our armed forces the first quarterly newsletter of Veterans ation of Bangladesh. gathbandhan’ (alliance) can come in the way of the BJP and its agenda of inclusive growth. Addressing the concluding   )  +++  + session of the two-day work- shop of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha here, he said if everyone works together, no alliance can stop the BJP from    Q-+   -+  fulfilling its agenda of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ (collective to voters in the run up to the     %47 4!2 effort, inclusive growth). 2019 Lok Sabha election.   &  - -!1    - Shah urged young party Various sessions were held A  2 1   workers to spread the message on organisational management, error group Ansar Ghazwat-          of development to all Indians. dissemination of key schemes Tul-Hind, the affiliate of the       He said BJP-led NDA would and achievements of the al-Qaeda in the Indian    . B score a repeat victory in 2019 Government, and media and Subcontinent, has issued a C   Lok Sabha poll. social media, according to a detailed list of “Dos and Don’ts” The workshop was party release. for it cadres to evade the glare  ,1 D "    attended by national office- The seven ‘Morchas’ of the of the security agencies amid the   -  1 bearers of BJYM, state presi- BJP are holding country-wide ramped up hits by the security         dents and district presidents conventions across the country forces in Jammu & Kashmir.      from all States. to step up party’s campaign on The advisory by the terror    1     The focus at the work- Lok Sabha-2019. Some of these group could be a precursor to          2 shop was to design a strategy conventions will also be attacks by the ultras in Jammu for BJYM workers, right up to addressed by Prime Minister #    "    (  .(,  "3    4   & Kashmir as the outfit is oper-  ,      the mandal level, to reach out Narendra Modi and Shah.       ,( #1   ) ationally active in the Valley.      The group, led by Zakir   Musa who is an engineering drop out is a tech-savvy ter- also other encrypted and secure and there is a need to protect " # &%''()  *#  rorist, develops its own apps for apps is also advised. the Mujahideens from such communication within the out- Internet should also be equipment,” reads the terror fit and keeps changing such used when necessary and the group’s advisory.   %47 4!2 1!222 Within nine months — report here last year, Elephant applications, a possible reason medium should be avoided to The Mujahideens have also 3.2! L between April and mid- expert and head of Asian why he has been successful in make any sensitive communi- been advised to frequently ven as the heart-wrenching #!256"2$ December this year — 65 ele- Nature Conservation evading the law enforcement cation. The guidelines also change the timings of the Edeath of a male tusker while 3$7 83#6 phants have already lost their Foundation (ANCF) R agencies in India. exhort the cadres to make their movement and prefer uncon- he was crossing over the rail- ! "6L': lives, with 62 of them suc- Sukumar had warned that as The guidelines include hideouts without the help of ventional time. way fence to save his life from 5"2! " cumbing to man-made causes. the elephants are expanding to maintenance of secrecy and any civilian or private worker After maghrib (evening) villagers in Karnataka’s "6"$. !!6 In the first 10 months of this new areas, it could lead to more sharing of information on the and personally take all the prayers, the spies also come Nagarhole National Park on  !'*.< year, 38 elephants have died in human-animal conflicts. need to know basis. necessary things like utensils into action more and to deceive Saturday has shocked the !3 08803#2= Assam. According to a “This expansion has been “We will rub their (Indian) and eatables without outside them the change in timings is wildlife lovers, various data !.3"273"$ December 2017 study by happening gradually over 30 best Army and tactics into help. The location of the hide- a must, it says. shows that this incident just 8"0  Aaranyak, a wildlife NGO based years. It is worrying because it dust...The only thing needed is outs should only be known “Do not give away the adds up to the long list of ele- in Guwahati, between will be difficult to manage. The that we should ensure that we those Mujahideens in the field location of your hideouts and phant deaths reported from September and December 2017, real challenge is that elephants have our connection with Allah who are associated with it. other points to anyone in any across the country. we block elephant passages, she …Lord Ganesha forgive us for at least forty elephants suc- are moving to other forest areas, very strong and change our war The guidelines also advise circumstances. Division of the According to the statis- said asserting that elephants are the way we Indians treat our cumbed to unnatural causes-- which could increase the poten- strategies and make them bet- the Mujahideens to stay away armed work and others in the tics, electrocution, train acci- wide ranging animals, who elephants...” In fact, last week in electrocution, poisoning, colli- tial for conflicts with humans,” ter,” says the latest internal com- from residential areas and cells is required so that secre- dents, poaching, habitat loss need to move given they are Karnataka a tusker was killed sion with speeding trains, and he had said suggesting that the munication from the outfit. whenever there is a require- cy is maintained and in case a and poisoning are taking toll on copious consumers, and seed after it was hit by a train at accidents when the animals maintaining elephant corridors On secrecy and sharing of ment 2-3 persons should go to Mujahideen is arrested or is the jumbos whose number has dispensers shaping forests and Kakanamane near Bage in walked into ditches in tea estates is need of the hour to save both information on the need to any place together. exposed, other fellow jehadis declined from around 30,000 in eco-systems as they travel. She Sakleshpur taluk. The incident and constructions sites and elephants and humans. know basis, the guidelines stip- The outfit has further remain safe. 2012 to 27,312 in 2017. In other has filed a PIL in the Supreme came a few months after when other man-made structures. Authored by experts and ulate, “One of the fundamen- advised that the movement of Even the ansars (fighters) words, the country has lost Court seeking removal of two elephant calves died near As per the Synchronized published by the Wildlife Trust tal pillars of armed fighting is Mujahideens should be limited. should also follow the guidelines 2,330 jumbos in six years. spikes and other artificial Yedakumari on June 3, 2018. Elephant Population of India (WTI) in collaboration secrecy and its (secrecy) is the The mujahideens have also been and should not share any infor- “The way we are losing, objects as fences to allow free The elephants in the neigh- Estimation India, a report by with Project Elephant and the principle of ‘giving information advised to spend maximum mation about the work of the killing elephants is heart-rend- movement of the elephants. bouring State Odisha too are the Elephant Division of the UK-based NGO Elephant on need to know basis’.” time in hideouts so that the outfit to any friend or relative ing. So deep rooted in our cul- Elephants move long dis- unsafe. In the latest incident, in Union Environment Ministry, Family, ‘Right of Passage’, an The document also men- ‘enemy” (security forces) does and should avoid any activity ture, held sacred. Intelligent, tances and such artificial bar- Kamalanga village in Odisha’s “as a consequence of being 800-page study identifies and tions the Prophet who used to not have any clue about them. which can arouse suspicion in empathetic, social …yet, this is riers at times can have an Dhenkanal district, seven ele- squeezed out of their homes records details pertaining to 101 send raiding parties of the “Whenever you make any the minds of the security forces. the sorry fate of our National adverse effect, she said. phants died of electrocution on and migratory routes, India, elephant corridors across India. Sahaba (Holy army) and write movement, analyse everything Whenever the Mujahideens Heritage Animal,” tweeted Biologist with Wildlife October 26, 2018. As per the home to the world’s largest Of these 101 corridors, 28 the target in a letter and order around you and even above you have to meet, they should opt to author and conservationist Conservation Society India State Forest Department, 109 population of Asiatic elephants are located in south India, 25 in the Sahaba to only open the let- as the Indian Army is now meet at a different point than Prerna Bindra, calling the Vidya Athreya? tweeted, “The elephants died of electrocution (27,312), also ranked first glob- central India, 23 in northeast- ter it reached a specific place. using silent drones during the the hideout and should be Nagarhole National Park inci- railway sleeper fences, has not over nine years to 2018; that is ally over five years to 2017 by ern India, 14 in northern West Mobile phones should be night whose light is only visi- mutually decided. Such loca- dent ‘heart-broken.’ decreased conflict and has 12 elephants a year or an ele- elephant deaths.” Bengal and 11 in northwestern used very less and with pre- ble. Such gadgets serve as the tions should be away from res- This is what happens when worsened the life of elephants. phant monthly. During the release of the India, it has pointed out. caution. Use of VPN and Tor as best spies for the security forces idential areas, it added.   ()  ( *+, -.*/    $   Q R    ,      # 23# Singhdeo, Ravindra Choubey, Shiv Dahariya, hhattisgarh Pradesh Kawasi Lakhma, Amitesh CCongress Committee pres- Shukla, Mohammed "- ident Bhupesh Baghel after Akbar and others reached being elected as Congress Raj Bhavan to stake claim Legislative Party reached Raj to form the government. Bhavan on Saturday evening While handing over and staked claim to form the the letter addressed to next Government. Governor, Baghel told He was accompanied by reporters while recalling senior Congress leaders includ- his frequent visit to the ing TS Singhdeo. Secretary to Governor house in recent Governor Surendra Kumar times, “circumstances have Jaiswal accepted the letter. changed. We have arrived Governor today with claim to form has invited Baghel him to form the government. Earlier, I the new government and was used to visit here for extended invitation to take handing over letters oath of office and secrecy as regarding several demands Chief Minister on December for the people.” 17 at 4.30 pm at Science Meanwhile, state College Ground, Raipur. administration has fast- During afternoon hours, in tracked process for mak- the Congress Legislature Party ing all arrangements for meeting held at Rajiv Bhawan, oath-taking ceremony in state Congress headquarters, in which several key oppo- Raipur capital city, Baghel was sition leaders at national elected as CLP leader unani- level are expected to mously. grace the occasion. After the formal election Congress president Rahul process, Baghel accompanied Gandhi will also attend by senior Congress leaders T S the function.      "# $   $  )  +-+     &%   & %  $ &  " -'- )       # 23#  (" #  hhattisgarh’s Bharatiya )  # * + " CJanata Party president  Dharamlal Kaushik on Sunday   &"     extended good luck and greet- # 23# ings to Chhattisgarh Pradesh  # % % Congress Committee presi- hief Minister dent Bhupesh Baghel for being   Cdesignate elected as Congress Legislative Bhupesh Baghel Party leader. along with Baghel will take oath as senior Congress Chief Minister on Monday in     # 23# at ‘Pahuna’. leaders inspected a function scheduled at Science Authorities say that it the preparation College ground. hhattisgarh State Guest would take a week or more to of the oath-tak- Kaushik said, “My hope CHouse at Shankar Nagar in keep the Civil Lines-located ing ceremony and wish is that Baghel should Raipur, ‘Pahuna’ has been made CM House ready for Baghel as venue at work in the interests of state.” makeshift Chief Minister’s res- the sprawling house needs Government Kaushik assured that in all idence for Chief Minister elect some minor renovation. Science College the subjects related to welfare Bhupesh Baghel while the secu- CM designate Bhupesh ground premises of state, BJP will extend all sup- rity has been beefed up in and Baghel after staking claim to on Sunday port and cooperation to the around it on Sunday. form the Congress evening. new government. He stated As per reports, at present Government at Raj Bhawan, Baghel will that the BJP will play the role Chief Minister’s residence reached ‘Pahuna’ at Shankar be administered of constructive opposition to based at Civil Lines has not Nagar on Sunday. Chief oath of office make Chhattisgarh, a powerful been vacated by the former Minister Security officials had and secrecy on December 17 at Secretary Ajay Singh, Director officials briefed Baghel about state. Congress got 68 seats. The powerful OBC leader Chief Minister Raman Singh, taken over the ‘Pahuna’ and 4.30 pm. General of Police A N the preparations undertaken at The BJP has bagged just 15 seats in a 90- Baghel is credited the main architect of the BJP’s Chief Minister designate provided the necessary secu- Chhattisgarh Chief Upadhayay and other senior the venue. member state legislative assembly while the whitewash. Bhupesh Baghel will be staying rity as per protocol. +1,.'('02.+0'((.* 122'031+34.+(.(2

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    # 23# ,!43:#,4#:9 1  &!4 "4  ,!2 fter the formal announce- :9922 #42 4%4-( Ament that Bhupesh Baghel would be the next Chief 2%! %,2% & # %  , Minister of state, jubilations  3"% & #2% 3   started all over from Congress !2 2-<  ,!49:#"  state headquarters Rajiv Bhawan in Raipur to 4 # ,2:%7 " 4     # 23# Padum Nagar based ,!46, #,4 residence of Baghel in steel 48! %&2%&744, ugal Kishore Gilda, Advocate city Bhilai. JGeneral of Chhattisgarh, has Thousands of his sup- % !3&&2%&4 ! quit the office by sending res- porters who were anxiously :,!4#,:44# ,4,!4 ignation letter to Governor of waiting for the announce- ":"4%, Chhattisgarh on Sunday. ment of his election as a With Congress party get- Congress Legislative Party at Padum Nagar in Bhilai-3. ting landslide victory in state leader began celebrations in As the formal declaration was recently, chairman of Boards Raipur as well as at his resi- made they started exchanging and Corporations have been dence in Bhilai. Firecrackers sweets and hugging each other tendering their resignations reason had quit the office by were burst and jubilant sup- to celebrate the moment. before the new chief minister sending his resignation to porters danced to the tune of Later state guest house Bhupesh Baghel takes oath on Governor. drumbeat soon after the con- ‘Pahuna’ in state capital was Monday at Science College Gilda had earlier served as firmation on Sunday after- made makeshift residence of ground in Raipur. Deputy Advocate General and noon. Baghel where legislators as In this series, J K Gilda, Additional Advocate General The supporters of Baghel well as supporters of Baghel all Advocate General of for the state. Gilda hails from camped at his official resi- over the state gathered to Chhattisgarh citing personal Nagpur. dence C-2 in Shanti Nagar and greet him.

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      )  form the Shiromani Akali Dal thing what People’s Party of Congress in 2017 assembly Democratic Alliance (PDA) ! % 2& #! (Taksali), while another out- Punjab (PPP) did in 2012 polls, with just 20 seats in 117- with AAP’s rebel MLAs, led by fit — the Punjab Democratic assembly elections—not win- member House. But, the plus Sukhpal Singh Khiara, and  ! % 2& #! traditional parties and the cor- fill promises made before the unday, December 16, Alliance (PDA) ning any seat but eating into point is that it has pushed the others. rupt feudal families. elections. Smarked the launch of two comprised suspended and Congress’ vote,” a senior SAD-BJP combine to the last SAD is also represented by he aam aadmi in Punjab “The actions of these cor- Simrajeet Bains, president new political outfits in Punjab, rebel leaders of the Aam Congress leader told The spot, becoming the principal four MPs in the Lok Sabha, Twill have a new face. For, rupt parties and leaders had of the LIP which was an AAP’s with the decisive 2019 Lok Aadmi Party (AAP). Pioneer, off the record. opposition party. out of which its Khadoor the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) ruined a glorious state like alliance partner for 2017 state Sabha polls just about a few With the ruling Congress In the past, Punjab has But with the emergence of Sahib MP Ranjit Singh rebel faction, demanding com- Punjab for their lust to amass polls, targeted the Congress months away. has all along been sitting on always witnessed a one-on- two new political fronts, and Brahmpura has revolted and plete autonomy for the state ill-gotten wealth by looting Government for its failure to Both the parties have so the fence closely watching the one contest between the the minute possibility on Sunday announced SAD unit, on Sunday joined hands the people. Punjab is facing a redress the grievances of small much in common — they are infighting between Congress and the SAD-BJP of their joining hands, (Taksali). Another SAD MP with like minded parties to colossal debt of Rs 2.5 lakh and medium scale industry breakaway faction of the main both the parties, the formation combine. It was only after the ensuing 2019 from Ferozepur, Sher Singh announce the formation of a crore, farmers and labourers and its workers. political outfits in the State, of new political outfits has 2014 Lok Sabha polls, that elections are expected to be a Ghubaya, has also revolted new party based on the prin- are committing suicide, lakhs “The so-called relief of Rs formed by the rebel leaders of sent alarm bells ringing in its AAP was emerged as an alter- cliff-hanger. against the party, with his ciples of democracy. of unemployed youth have five per unit electricity charges these parties, and both the camp. native in the state by winning Currently, AAP has four son, Devinder Singh Ghubaya AAP’s rebel leaders, com- taken to drugs or are migrat- has only benefitted a few hun- parties are in opposition in the “Infighting was good for four, out of the total 13 seats. MPs, out of which two have currently being the Congress prising suspended MP Dr ing to foreign shores because dred large industrial houses, Congress-ruled state. us, but with the new political However, the party failed been suspended since 2015. MLA. Dharamvira Gandhi, sus- of hopelessness, frustration while more than 30,000 small- Senior leaders of the parties coming up, things may to keep up the momentum in Among them Dr Dharamvira Besides, the Congress pended MLA Sukhpal Khaira, and dejection,” he said. er industries are paying Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) go wrong way for the the next three years, and fin- Gandhi on Sunday announced party has three MPs and BJP along with Lok Insaaf Party Khaira also vowed to con- through their nose for heavy splintered from the party to Congress. It may do some- ished at distant second to formation of Punjab two. (LIP) MLAs Simarjeet Bains tinue seeking justice for sacri- electricity tariffs,” he said. and Balwinder Bains, and lege of Guru Granth Sahib and Bains said that the state’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) the victims of Behbal Kalan employees are up in arms state president Rashpal Raju, police firing. “The Congress against the draconian policies /.0!1         joined hands to form a new government has hoodwinked of Congress Government political front in the state — the Insaaf Morcha by making which is playing a cruel joke on Punjab Democratic Alliance false promises on the issue, its own employees by snatch-    0!123, 4 (   " (PDA). which will never be imple- ing their dues. Launching with the com- mented,” he said. “Teachers are being forced mencement of nine-day Insaaf He announced that if the to work at labour rates of Rs   ! % 2& #! in tackling the issues of internal March that began at Takht government failed to render 15,000 per month at a time ! % 2& #!5 "#2, # security of the country. Damdama Sahib at Talwandi justice on sacrilege and Behbal when inflation is at its highest ice President M Venkaiah Underlining 78 years of Sabo and covered 180 kms and killings within a month, the peak. The government has hiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) VNaidu on Sunday said that glorious history of the force, 54 villages, the PDA was PDA would announce an failed to implement the report Sexpelled “taksali” (tradi- Central Reserve Police Force Bhatnagar said that the force launched formally at a rally in action plan on the occasion of of sixth pay commission, not tional Akali) leaders on Sunday (CRPF) has played a key role in personnel have always exhibits Mehmadpur near Patiala. Maghi in January. paying DA to its employees announced the name of their maintaining the unity and the highest standards of valour PDA also announced to Dr Gandhi, Patiala MP, etc,” he said while advocating new party — Shiromani Akali integrity of the nation. This and sacrifice. He said last year contest the ensuing Lok Sabha condemned the BJP-led to restart the old regular pen- Dal (Taksali) — while unani- force has a glorious past, praise- only CRPF personnel have been elections, while welcoming Central Government for sion scheme that was scrapped mously nominating Khadoor worthy present and a future awarded as many as 135 “more like minded parties and encroaching upon the rights of by Capt in Sahib’s sitting MP Ranjit Singh filled with hope and service, Gallantry medals including individuals who maintain the states, including Punjab 2004. Brahmpura as its president. Naidu said at the Passing out seven Shaurya Chakras, which equidistance from the through gross centralisation. BSP state president The sad turn of events for Parade of the 50th Batch of the is a record in itself. Congress, BJP and SAD, so Suspended from AAP in Rashpal Raju said that the the Akali Dal came just a cou- Directly Appointed Gazetted He added that the force has that Punjab can be saved the 2015, Dr Gandhi said that the weaker sections and Dalits are ple of days after the party Officers (DAGOs) of CRPF in constantly been upgrading itself agony of corruption, feudalism larger aim of the PDA would being exploited through petty observed its 98th foundation Mincing no words, in foreign countries will also be the premises of the CRPF tactically to effectively meet and draconian family rule”. be to strive for a federal India welfare schemes of Atta-Dal, day on December 14, and a few Bahmpura said that this Akali given sufficient membership Academy, Gurugram. new challenges. “The new political forma- and a democratic Punjab. meagre pensions etc, while months ahead the crucial 2019 Dal (Taksali) is aggrieved by and leadership in the newly- Haryana Chief Minister On the occasion, the chief tion of like-minded leaders “It is unfair for the Central they are being denied their Lok Sabha elections. the decisions taken by the formed SAD (Taksali) so that Manohar Lal was also present guest presented gallantry aims to clean the corrupt poli- Government to unilaterally right of quality education, The name of the new party Badals, “like pardon to the glory of Sikh religion can on the occasion. The Vice medals to the awardees and tro- ty of Punjab,” said Khaira, implement schemes for edu- healthcare, affordable hous- was announced by the expelled ‘pakhandi sadh of Dera Sirsa’ be spread all over the world,” President said, CRPF person- phies to the trainee officers. MLA from Bholath. ,Khaira, cation, healthcare, rural devel- ing and employment. leaders — Brahmpura, former for their personal and indi- he said. nel have always won the faith Those who were honoured who was unceremoniously opment, MNREGA, without AAP’s suspended MLA Minister Sewa Singh Sekhwan vidual financial-political gains”. On December 2, the and confidence of the people included 18 officers/personnel, removed as the Leader of taking into consideration the Kanwar Sandhu charged the and former MP Rattan Singh “Both the Badals and their expelled SAD leaders had wherever they have been who received Police Medals for Opposition in Vidhan Sabha aspirations of the people of the Capt Amarinder Singh led Ajnala, among others — after associates are responsible for declared that they would float deployed. Gallantry. Similarly, trainee offi- by the AAP central leadership state,” he said. government for perpetrating paying obeisance at Akal Kotkapura, Behbal Kalan and a new political outfit based on He said CRPF has played a cers like Nishant Yadav (all in August and later suspended Other leaders criticised the Akali-sponsored mafia raj. Takht, the Sikhs’ highest tem- Bargari incidents. The families the Akali Dal's old constitu- significant role right from the round best trainee), Gyanendra from the party previous the BJP-led Central “Congress mafia now contin- poral seat. of victims are looking for jus- tion, which was framed in days of unification of the coun- Giri (best in outdoor subjects), month, said that the alliance Government and the ues to rule the roost be it ille- Talking about the new tice and relief but so far no 1920. try to successfully tackling sep- Banai Singh Meena (best in would aim to liberate Punjab Congress-led Punjab gal mining, liquor trade, trans- party’s political agenda, they result,” he said, while address- They had accused SAD, aratism in the North east and physical training) and Ujwal from the clutches of corrupt Government for failing to ful- port, cable network etc. told that the new outfit would ing the press conference in the led by Sukhbir Badal, of dis- terrorism in Punjab. Kumar Tiwari (best firer) take up issues pertaining to open space in front of Golden torting the party’s constitution. Appreciating the Civic Action received trophies from the Vice Punjab's right over capital Temple complex, sitting on The expelled SAD leaders had Programmes of CRPF, the Vice President. With their passing Chandigarh, and river water the ground, as they were trained their guns at Sukhbir, President said that such pro- out on Sunday, the officers will 7?>5    -&  issues and other rights of denied permission by the accusing him of causing grammes increase the accept- undergo specialized counter inhabitants of Punjab. SGPC. irreparable damage to the SAD ability of the police among the insurgency training before being The new outfit will fight The Taksali Akali leaders and its cause. public. He called upon the force posted in different parts of the  3#2 shortlisted from Kakatpur area. In Nimapara out against the drug menace affect- declared that the Badals would Acting tough, SAD’s core personnel to upgrade their pro- country. Earlier, the chief guest, of total 254 beneficiaries, five are women. In Puri ing the State, said Brahmpura. not be allowed to capture committee had expelled fessional efficiency in view of accompanied by Bhatnagar s many as 1,862 artists, including 140 Sadar, 186 persons including 49 women will be Sekhwan declared that the Gurudwars and other religious Brahmpura and Ajnala from the newer challenges arising out inspected the parade and took Awomen, of Puri district will avail monthly given pension. Similarly, in Satyabadi, 93 new party — SAD (taksali) — places as if these were their the party's primary member- of cyber technology. salute in the colourful march pension of Rs 1,200 each. including two women will be benefited and in would be the “real” Akali Dal personal property. ship for six years, along with He also called upon the past. As many as 48 trainee offi- Under the ‘Mukhyamantri Kalakar Bhatta Pipili 175 artists, including a woman, are in pen- “based on the original consti- Equating the Badals and their sons — former MLA government and the authorities cers including 4 lady officers,11 Yojana,’ the beneficiaries will get pension sion scheme. tution of 1920” with the Majithia with Aurangzeb, Ravinder Pal Singh Brahmpura to give attention to the facilities post-graduates and as many as between15 to 20 of every month. An amount Rs In Brahamgiri 179 artists were shortlisted required modifications. Brahmpura said that the and former MLA Amarpal being provided to the personnel 37 engineering graduates passed 44, 68,800 has been sent to the local culture of whom seven are women. “To point out the illegal, newly-formed SAD (Taksali) Singh Bony — as the two of the force, especially those out from the academy, after offices, which will be distributed among bene- The number for Krusnaprasad block is 208 wrong, incorrect decisions will have full concern with the leaders were allegedly who are posted in difficult and undergoing a rigorous training ficiaries through ‘Peetha’ programme in each of which three are women. In taken by the Badals as the con- Gurudwaras and religious indulging in "anti-party activ- inaccessible areas and also to regime spanning 52 weeks. Like block and panchayat. Besides district culture offi- Kanas of total 289, while 23 are women, 134 scious of Guru Sikhs could not activities. “In this newly- ities". take special care of the health the previous batches of the cials, the local representatives will participate the including six women belong to Gop block. In bear these wrong deeds done formed Akali Dal (Taksali), all Earlier, the party had also and educational needs of the DAGOs of CRPF, the 50th Peetha programme and offer pension. In the Delanga, 122 artists including two females will by them, the new Shiromani sects would be given adequate shown the door to Sekhwan for families of the force personnel. Batch too bears a pan-Indian ensuing month, artists will get two-months' pen- be availing pension. In Puri Municipality, 13 Akali Dal (Taksali) is formed. representation and the Deputy speaking against the party Earlier, in his welcome address, character with the trainee offi- sion, a release by district administration males and 29 females will get the benefit. This party is dedicated to the Chief Minister will be select- shortly after he had announced Director General, CRPF Rajeev cers representing as many as 16 informed. This apart, 14 persons belonging to Konark holy Gurudwaras, Sri Guru ed from the SC/BC communi- his resignation as senior vice- Rai Bhatnagar, said that CRPF states of the country having dif- The release said that while 53 artists, NAC, one in Pipili NAC and four including a Granth Sahib and Sikhs,” said ty if they come to power. president and core committee is the world’s largest armed ferent socio-educational back- including three women in Astaranga block will woman in Nimapara NAC have been shortlist- Brahmpura. “Our Sikh brother residing member. police force and is the lead force ground. avail pension, of total 66 including nine women ed for pension, informed the release.   ()  ( *+, -.*/ "# -

 . /       0 0 / 3  #% 4 #%  +  3#    ::": “This showed the true from holding the office of character of the President,” he Prime Minister until it fully anil Wickremesinghe on was quoted as saying by the heard the case next month.  .   RSunday staged a tri- Colombo Gazette. Rajapaksa signed his res- umphant comeback as Sri Premadasa said that the ignation letter during a multi- Lankan Prime Minister to end President was “misled by some religious service at his home the unprecedented political groups who were against the that was attended by several turmoil in the country, 51 days unity Government” and this lawmakers of United People’s after he was sacked by his bete resulted in the President Freedom Alliance (UPFA), noire and President removing Wickremesinghe. Buddhist and other religious Maithripala Sirisena, who also “But now truth has pre- leaders. After signing the res- dissolved Parliament, contro- vailed,” he said. “The party is ignation letter, Rajapaksa said versial decisions which were prepared to work with Sirisena that following the February 10 nullified by the Supreme Court. again in the government.” local government election, the Wickremesinghe, the 69- Premadasa said, “The aim of his party is to have a year-old United National Party lessons from the incident must general election. leader, was administered the be used to strengthen the foun- However, he said that he oath of office by President dation of democracy and pro- has no intention of remaining Sirisena, who had sacked him mote justice and fairness.” as Prime Minister without a on October 26 and installed Sirisena and Rajapaksa suf- general election being held, former rival and ex-strong- fered reversal setbacks since and in order to not hamper the man Mahinda Rajapaksa in his October 26, forcing the presi- President in any way, he place. The UNP leader had dent to reinstate resigned from the position of  :% :% 8.332! 8.3"3$ refused to step down asserting Wickremesinghe. Prime Minister and made way "!$$ 80 .2 .2 that his sacking was illegal. Rajapaksa, 73, had sought for the President to form a new ritish Prime Minister His re-appointment comes  .P        '   "       to secure a majority in the 225- Government. BTheresa May and former !6"2.!66! a day after Rajapaksa resigned      "  .  , member Parliament but failed. Rajapaksa said that since a Prime Minister Tony Blair have .! "556.56"! Saturday, after two crucial Sirisena then dissolved general election can no longer exchanged sniping attacks as Supreme Court decisions made A sheepish Sirisena, who discussions will take place Sri Lankan media reported. Parliament and called snap be held, the UPFA cannot Britain’s divorce from the sible” for trying to “steamroll” his efforts to cling to premier- had ruled out reappointing Sunday to select the Cabinet. Earlier, Wickremesinghe’s elections on January 5. implement any of the measures European Union keeps get- lawmakers into accepting her ship untenable. Wickremesinghe as prime min- The Cabinet is expected to party said it was ready to work However, the Supreme they had planned to take “to ting uglier. deal or face the prospects of no “Today marks a victory ister, was smiling with be limited to 30 and will with President Sirisena, who Court overturned his decision prevent the country from May has accused Blair of deal at all. not for myself or for the UNP. Wickremesinghe as he handed include a few Sri Lanka was “misled by some groups” and halted the preparations for becoming another Greece.” “undermining” her efforts to The former Labour Party It is a victory for Sri Lanka’s him the letter of appointment. Freedom Party (SLFP) mem- against the unity government. snap polls. Most of the countries had deliver Brexit by calling for a leader says Sunday he had a democratic institutions and Wickremesinghe’s sup- bers who have offered support UNP deputy leader Sajith The Supreme Court on not recognised Rajapaksa’s gov- second referendum on whether right to comment on “the most the sovereignty of our citi- porters took to streets to cele- to Wickremesinghe. Premadasa said that he was not Thursday unanimously ernment. or not Britain should leave the important decision our coun- zens. I thank everyone who brate after he took oath at the It is expected a new surprised that the President declared that the dissolution of The global credit rating bloc. May, of the Conservative try has taken since the end of stood firm in defending the Presidential Secretariat for the Cabinet will be formed by had agreed to appoint Parliament by Sirisena was agencies — the Fitch, the party, says his comments were World War II.” constitution and ensuring the record fifth time. Monday and a vote on account Wickremesinghe as Prime “illegal”. Standard & Poor’s and the “an insult to the office he once The comments come amid triumph of democracy,” UNP Assistant Leader Ravi will be passed to provide for the Minister again despite taking a The apex court on Friday Moody’s — had also down- held.” heated discussions on whether Wickremesinghe said after Karunanayake said that talks required provisions until a firm position earlier that he will also refused to stay a court graded Sri Lanka’s rating owing Blair shot back, declaring another Brexit vote is appro- assuming office. were held Saturday and more budget for 2019 is formulated, not appoint the UNP leader. order restraining Rajapaksa to the current political crisis. that May had been “irrespon- priate. 3# O "P  " %-   + 1 #2R + -    #        %-   0+-   --+  7 !2%&,:% and government watchdogs  :! this, we will go to the end.”  .4#3 4" Hamas runs the Gaza Strip that eschew partisanship. Earlier this month, the minis- but also has a presence in the nvestigations now entangle The intensity is certain to N chief Antonio Guterres ter said Turkey was in talks over sraeli Prime Minister West Bank. Netanyahu’s com- IDonald Trump’s White increase next year when Ucalled on Sunday for a a possible United Nations IBenjamin Netanyahu said ments came after two soldiers House, campaign, transition, Democrats assume control of “credible” probe into journalist investigation into the killing on Sunday he had issued a were shot dead at a central West inauguration, charity and busi- the House and the subpoena Jamal Khashoggi’s murder in which has provoked global warning to Hamas after recent Bank bus station near a settle- ness. power that comes with it. Saudi Arabia’s consulate in outrage. deadly attacks in the occupied ment on Thursday. For Trump, the political, Although Trump dismiss- Istanbul. According to Turkey, a 15- West Bank, including two On the same day, a baby the personal and the deeply es the investigations as politi- “It is absolutely essential to member Saudi team was sent to shootings claimed by the prematurely delivered after his personal are all under exami- cally motivated “witch hunts,” have a credible investigation Istanbul to kill Khashoggi, a Islamist movement. mother was shot and wound- nation. his high-octane Twitter account and to have the punishment of ed to the murder of the jour- palace insider turned critic of Netanyahu referred to a ed in a separate attack nearby Less than two years into frequently betrays just how those that were guilty,” Guterres nalist, a critic of Crown Prince the regime. controversial Gaza ceasefire in on December 9 also died. Trump’s presidency, his busi- hanging over Trump’s head, consumed he is by the scruti- said at a conference in Doha. Mohammed bin Salman. Riyadh has since detained November that ended the worst Hamas claimed responsi- ness associates, political advis- spinning out charges and ny. He’s also said to watch The UN chief said he had Turkey’s foreign minister 21 people over the murder. escalation between Israel and bility for the December 9 ers and family members are strong-arming guilty pleas hours of television coverage on no information on the case said Saturday that his country Despite speculation that Hamas since a 2014 war. shooting and another in the being probed, along with the from underlings while keeping milestone days in the investi- except what had been report- would “not give up” on estab- the powerful crown prince “I conveyed a clear message West Bank on October 7 that practices of his late father. in suspense whether the pres- gations. ed in the media. lishing the truth about the ordered the hit, the kingdom to Hamas — we won’t accept a killed two Israelis. On Friday, Interior ident — “Individual 1” in pros- Almost midway through Khashoggi, a Saudi con- murder. has strongly denied he was situation of a truce in Gaza and The two Palestinians Secretary Ryan Zinke became ecutor Robert Mueller’s coded his term, Trump is struggling tributor to the Washington “We haven’t received any involved. terror in Judea and Samaria,” behind those attacks were shot the fourth Cabinet member to legalese — will end up accused to deliver on his central cam- Post, was killed on October 2 new information or outcome of The murder has damaged Netanyahu told a cabinet meet- dead by Israeli forces during leave under an ethical cloud, of criminal behavior himself. paign promises. He may end shortly after entering the king- the investigation from the Riyadh’s international reputa- ing, using the biblical name for arrest raids last week, Israeli having sparked 17 investiga- The scope of the scrutiny the year without a Republican- dom’s consulate in what Riyadh Saudi side,” Mevlut Cavusoglu tion, and Western countries the West Bank, as is Israel’s offi- officials said. tions into his actions on the job, has shaped Trump’s presiden- led Congress giving him the called a “rogue” operation. said, also in Qatar which has including the United States, cial policy. Israel’s security forces say by one watchdog’s count. cy, proving a steady distraction USD 5 billion he wants for a Saudi Arabia has repeat- been the target of a Saudi-led France and Canada have placed “We will exact a high price they have also arrested at least All of this with the first from his governing agenda. border wall. And he’s pre- edly rejected Turkish demands boycott since June 2017. sanctions on nearly 20 Saudi over them,” he said of the 37 Hamas operatives in con- special counsel investigation So far, much of it has been viewed few legislative priorities to extradite suspects connect- “Turkey will not give up on nationals. attacks. nection with recent violence. against a president in 20 years launched by federal prosecutors for 2019. 1+ / // 1 %    3 R #  # 6  0      " (    (%      #2 ment, mostly from traffic acci- “Mr. Castaner, if you want “Revolution 2018.”   ? 22         dents linked to roads blocked us to clear roundabouts, you On Saturday, yellow vest .>. .       ellow vest protesters occu- by protesters. will need to offer your resig- demonstrators took to the  +)  $ Doha: Nobel laureate and for-  ,4 02H&4:#&2 I The event was held in the Ypied dozens of traffic The demonstrators are nation. We don’t need bandits streets in cities across France,         mer jihadist captive Nadia mediaeval town of Telavi in roundabouts across France on demanding more measures to of your kind,” a protester iden- including in Paris, .   ,   Murad called for the protection eorgia on Sunday swore in Georgia’s eastern winemaking Sunday even as their move- help France’s workers and tified as Nicolas told the BFM but in far fewer numbers than  1   of women belonging to her Gits first female president, region of Kakheti. ment for economic justice retirees and want top officials TV channel. on previous weekends: 69,000 .  O    Yazidi minority until Islamic Salome Zurabishvili as oppo- French-born Zurabishvili, appeared to be losing momen- in President Emmanuel Some yellow vest protesters compared to 125,000 a week !  State leaders are tried for sition parties continue to 66, took the oath of office in the tum on the fifth straight week- Macron’s centrist government — whose movement takes its before. Paris police had to fire crimes against the community. denounce her election as fraud- courtyard of an 18th-century end of protests. to resign, including Macron name from the safety garb that tear gas and water cannon   & “All the victims need a safe ulent and demand snap par- manor that belonged to The road blockades himself. all French motorists must carry across the Champs-Elysees and  @  haven until Daesh is brought to liamentary polls. Georgia’s penultimate king remained despite a call by Despite the cold weather, — set up a small fire with some protesters scuffled with 60!        the international courts,” the The inauguration paved Heraclius II. Interior Minister Christophe protesters occupying a round- wooden planks and held a bar- police.      25-year-old Iraqi said at an the way for a new constitution “The goal of my presiden- Castaner to free the round- about near the southern city of becue at a roundabout near the In an effort to defuse   -,   international conference in to come into force, transform- cy is to make Georgia’s demo- abouts from the traffic chaos Orange close to a major high- city of Reims in the France’s social crisis, Macron    Doha, using an Arabic ing the country into a parlia- cratic development and its path created by the protests. Eight way pledged to keep holding Champagne region. Some of has announced a series of mea-  1  -    acronym for the jihadist group. mentary republic with a large- towards Europe irreversible,” people have died in incidents more demonstrations, includ- them wore Santa hats and sures aimed at improving peo-  AFP ly ceremonial president. she said in an inaugural speech. tied to the yellow vest move- ing blocking fuel depots. deployed a banner that read ple’s spending power.       ,  ,     

 C ,:724 “We will all have to give in Alarmed by efforts to dissing science on the one to the Paris vision of a common screaming to the finish line order to gain,” he said. “We will include this in the final text of hand, but also working hard in transparency framework for shows that some nations have early 200 countries at the all have to be courageous to the meeting, the oil-exporting the room for strong trans- all countries that also provides not woken up to the urgent call NUN climate talks have look into the future and make nations of the U.S., Russia, parency rules,” said Elliot flexibility for those that need it,” of the IPCC report” on the dire agreed upon universal, trans- yet another step for the sake of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait Diringer of the Center for said Keohane, calling the agree- consequences of global warm- parent rules on how nations humanity.” blocked an endorsement of Climate and Energy Solutions, ment “a vital step forward in ing. can cut greenhouse gas emis- The talks in Poland took the IPCC report mid-way a Washington think tank. realizing the promise of the In the end, a decision on sions and curb global warming, place against a backdrop of through this month’s talks in When it came to closing Paris accord.” the mechanics of an emissions putting the principles of the growing concern among sci- the Polish city of Katowice. potential loopholes that could Among the key achieve- trading system was postponed 2015 Paris climate accord into entists that global warming on That prompted uproar from allow countries to dodge their ments in Katowice was an to next year’s meeting. action. Earth is proceeding faster than vulnerable countries like small commitments to cut emissions, agreement on how countries Countries also agreed to con- But to the frustration of governments are responding to island nations and environ- “the U.S. pushed harder than should report their green- sider the issue of raising ambi- environmentalists and a group it. Last month, a study found mental groups. nearly anyone else for trans- houses gas emissions and the tions at a U.N. summit in New of countries who were urging that global warming will wors- The final text at the U.N. parency rules that put all coun- efforts they’re taking to reduce York next September. more ambitious climate goals, en disasters such as the dead- talks omits a previous reference tries under the same system, them. Poor countries also Canada’s Environment negotiators on Saturday ly California wildfires and the to specific reductions in green- and it’s largely succeeded.” secured assurances on getting Minister Catherine McKenna delayed decisions on two other powerful hurricanes that have house gas emissions by 2030, “Transparency is vital to greater predictability about suggested there was no alter- climate issues until next year in hit the United States this year. and merely welcomes the U.S. interests,” added Nathaniel financial support to help them native to such meetings if an effort to get a deal on them. And a recent report by the “timely completion” of the Keohane, a climate policy cut emissions, adapt to countries want to tackle glob- “Through this package, Intergovernmental Panel on IPCC report, not its conclu- Economists believe that an wasn’t credible or transparent. expert at the Environmental inevitable changes such as sea al problems, especially as mul- you have made a thousand lit- Climate Change, or IPCC, con- sions. international trading system Among those that pushed Defense Fund. He noted that level rises and pay for damages tilateral diplomacy is under tle steps forward together,” said cluded that while it’s possible to Last-minute snags forced could be an effective way to back hardest was the United breakthrough in the 2015 Paris that have already happened. pressure from nationalism. Michal Kurtyka, a senior Polish cap global warming at 1.5 negotiators in Katowice to go drive down greenhouse gas States, despite President talks happened only after the “The majority of the rule- “The world has changed, official chairing the talks. degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees into extra time, after Friday’s emissions and raise large Donald Trump’s decision to U.S. and China agreed on a book for the Paris Agreement the political landscape has He said while each indi- Fahrenheit) by the end of the scheduled end of the confer- amounts of money for mea- pull out of the Paris climate common framework for trans- has been created, which is changed,” she told The vidual country would likely century compared to pre- ence had passed without a sures to curb global warming. accord and his promotion of parency. something to be thankful for,” Associated Press. “Still you’re find some parts of the agree- industrial times, this would deal. But Brazil wanted to keep coal as a source of energy. “In Katowice, the U.S. said Mohamed Adow, a climate seeing here that we’re able to ment it didn’t like, efforts had require a dramatic overhaul of One major sticking point the piles of carbon credits it had “Overall, the U.S. role here negotiators have played a cen- policy expert at Christian Aid. make progress. We’re able to been made to balance the inter- the global economy, including was how to create a function- amassed under an old system has been somewhat schizo- tral role in the talks, helping to “But the fact countries had to discuss the issues. We’re able to ests of all parties. a shift away from fossil fuels. ing market in carbon credits. that developed countries say phrenic — pushing coal and broker an outcome that is true be dragged kicking and come to solutions.”   () ( *+, -.*/ &  2        5   K,       5  5 1.+*'2100'( &'  6  .     , R  6 )##                                   7 +        3 "( #               1 1.L          2                  O .  1     .  )  O           2     1  "                + S              2         (  "!  3  8 /   +        ( quick glance at the recent Assembly poll results will invariably lead to a fal-            Alacious conclusion that the Congress,  3                ( with three additional major States in its kitty,   #        2           is the sole winner, and BJP, a clear loser. There is little doubt that the election outcome is con-   (     9            fusing. The electorate has voted the Congress #   + S  R   S   % S ;     to power without rejecting the BJP. While in                     Chhattisgarh, the Congress’ victory is con- vincing and clear, so are its defeats in           #        +  Telangana and Mizoram.                  ( In Madhya Pradesh (a State with the "            1  . +  largest number of seats, 29, in the Lok Sabha, out of the five States that went to polls), the ! #    3   %       +   losing BJP got marginally more votes than        8 #         the victorious Congress. The BJP, even after #    "          2 bagging 47,827 more votes than its imme- diate rival, had to concede defeat. The BJP        + S <      had polled 1,56,42,980 votes and the Congress                     1,55,95,153. Thanks to the infirmities of our    #      "    +       electoral systems, the BJP had to contend with 109 seats and the Congress romped home                    with 114 seats, two short of majority.            "  #   ( In fact, had the BJP polled 4,337 more solved the Lok Sabha and ship. ’s selection by the spot for a major part of the     2              votes than it did in seven seats in Madhya advanced parliamentary elec- Rahul Gandhi underlines the siege. That he was there at all, for    + %    +       +     Pradesh, it could have well crossed the major- tions by five months because in fact that the Congress will con- whatever reason, given that the ity mark. The seven seats which it lost by a December 2003, it swept polls in tinue to give precedence to other Congress leaders were                    .< slender difference are Gwalior South (121), Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and ,!444,2:% political expediency over ethics discreet enough not to hobnob #     +         4 ( Suwasra (350), Jabalpur North (578), Chhattisgarh. The Vajpayee- #43,! 04 or high principles. Kamal Nath, with mobs in places where they                 %       Rajnagar (732), Damoh (798), Biaora (826) Advani duo thought that results one of the richest politicians in were liable to be noticed by jour- and Rajpur (932). of these Hindi heartland States 4:%9:#,!4 the country, has been accused of nalists.        3          The Congress, on the other hand, suf- reflected the general mood in leading violent mobs against “Since Kamal Nath spent                  fered a loss of only three seats — Jarora (511), favour of the NDA and, thus, an #:&%:,2 ,:# beleaguered Sikhs in 1984 dur- about two hours in front of  (           8 2       Bina (632) and Kolaras (720) — with a small early parliamentary election :9,!4 ing the riots that followed the Rakab Ganj Gurudwara Gate on margin. In contrast, in 2013, the BJP’s vic- would help them easily return to assassination of . November 1, The Indian Express     +                tory in Madhya Pradesh was decisive. The power. However, the BJP lost.      Here are excerpts from a reported the next day that he had    1       #       ( party polled 44.88 per cent votes against 36.38 Fast forward to December 74 ,!4 book, When a Tree Shook Delhi: led the mob. The interference of        (     .<      ( per cent by the Congress. 2013, the BJP lost the Assembly The 1984 Carnage and Its his complicity was no reflex reac- In Rajasthan (25 Lok Sabha seats) the election to a newly-founded :%-, -49, Aftermath, by HS Phoolka, an tion, as made clear by journal-    (      (     (    +  margin between the victor and vanquished Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi, but advocate and Manoj Mitta, a ist Sanjay Suri, in his report, as     2      "     was razor thin. The Congress’ share of votes won all seven Lok Sabha seats in : 2,2:%7  journalist. The book was pub- also in his affidavit before the  2              "   was 39.3 per cent, 0.5 per cent higher than the April-May 2014 parliamen- 3:4 ,:&204 lished a decade ago and Kamal Misra Commission, and oral that of the BJP’s 38.8 per cent. tary elections. The election Nath has not gone to the court deposition before the Nanavati  2    2            The Chhattisgarh results, of course, results have a lesson for the prog- ,:3&!92&!,,:,!4 against the charges levelled Commission. 2          2        should set the BJP worrying for the party’s nosticators of the mahagath- #32%&,# % against him. “The leader in “Suri found that Kamal                  defeat here was convincing. Its vote share bandhan as well. The Congress- question was Kamal Nath, who Nath was ‘controlling the crowd’ dropped from 41 per cent in 2013 to 33 per TDP-Left coalition was sup- 4,!#:%4!249 was at the time of the 1984 car- which he said was looking to     +    cent and that of the Congress improved, from posed to give a tough fight to the "2%2,4#C nage, an up and coming him for direction. Though he 40.3 per cent to 43 per cent. While the ruling TRS and dethrone Chief Congress MP from Madhya could not vouch for what exact- Congress has won the three heartland States, Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. ! % # !4C # Pradesh. In a siege that lasted ly Kamal Nath had told the it has all but bowed out of the North-East, However, the KCR-led TRS won # : !:7404#1,!4 over five hours, Kamal Nath is crowd, Suri said that ‘some $   losing its last government in Mizoram. 88 of 119 seats. Its poll percent- said to have been there for mobs had charged at the gurud- What is the political message of this ver- age was 46.9, way ahead of the C#-4 ,#7:% about two hours. wara’ in the Congress leader’s 5),R $      0 7, #83  dict? Prime Minister Modi’s detractors will Congress’ 28.4 per cent. NN:9**=4 , 2, “Given the strategic location presence. Equally significant, he see the results as a precursor to the 2019 Lok Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP only of Rakab Ganj Gurudwara, testified that while all that     ,#       Sabha polls. But unfortunately for them, each won two seats. :4#4%, &4 Kamal Nath’s presence at the site drama was going on, the bod- election has a different nuance and under- Incidentally, poll results 7 +O =17 6 of violence was confirmed by ies of those Sikhs were still  *S    $  tone. In March 1998, the BJP won 182 Lok were declared the day Rahul two of the senior-most police burning on the roadside”. +    + Sabha seats and the Congress dropped to Gandhi completed one year as !4 :9 officers, Commissioner Subhash An interesting sidelight of ) 141. By end of that year, Assembly elections president of his family fief- Tandan, and Additional the recently conducts polls was !S (     were held in Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya dom. The post-poll develop- :%O(N +4# Commissioner Gautam Kaul, as that the EVM’s credibility was   S    Pradesh. The BJP was routed. Four months ments — his choice of Kamal 4%, ! % #  3 also by an independent source, restored. Except for a feeble        ( later, in April 1999, the Vajpayee Nath for Madhya Pradesh and % 2 3O, :%6 The Indian Express reporter, attempt to question its working           Government fell by one vote. Fresh parlia- efforts to buy peace in Rajasthan Sanjay Suri. in Telangana, the Congress hap- mentary elections followed. The BJP under by virtue of a patch-up arrange- 7:%,7:4 , “Another distinguishing fea- pily accepted the verdict in the           Vajpayee was back in power at the Centre, ment between ture of the Rakab Ganj episode rest of the four States. ,          ( winning all seven seats from Delhi and per- and Sachin Pilot — provide was the evidence of political (The writer is a political             forming well in the Hindi heartland. indications as to how the party complicity: The presence of commentator and a former BJP In early 2004, the BJP leadership dis- will function under his leader- Congress MP Kamal Nath on Rajya Sabha MP)  O      . $S ! ,      (    $   +  )      +/  !    $  + ,    - #      :   22 1  :C O            1 -            1 - #  )  /       1           K             2   -   1      "   !                   -          $    $   )                  F        #                  S 3#" "$.6 #!"2 56!0""$6 8!.6 2<.  8.7<.02$6              $   K,    K,  K4  !   K%#%    "                             #        /     (             0  !       / /   /  // )   /              (         )   1  )    ,             

      !             Q   )                    ( Sir — This refers to the editor- Sir — Recently, former RBI                 $   )   ial, “Rahul’s day dawns”    1L&   M governor Raghuram Rajan said H  *?I   #  &                .    (December 12). Congress pres- that loan waivers can never be ident Rahul Gandhi must be , $      a solution to farm distress.        $  +    ,    congratulated for a job well "  "     # $   2  - Politicians in their eagerness to                !     done. The Congress, which had    #  &     capture power announce free-          O         lost all hopes of revival both at     11   bies and farm loan waivers. the State and national level        Once they come to power, they   /              # after suffering a massive defeat           start struggling to redeem their           2         in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll,         - promise. The common man is ,                  stormed back to power in three     2"    1C %  mercilessly targeted by way of crucial States. The present wins          rise in direct and indirect taxes *S                 in Madhya Pradesh, &  1     &          to meet the cost of loan waiver.      /         $     Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will    1# $  1 & 1     !      With other parties preparing                    ( certainly have definite ramifica- &    $ O  !         to waive off the loan, the Modi- tions for the Congress in the    1                led BJP naturally has to fall in line                  ( 2019 Lok Sabha election.  &         ()*=  with them for survival.        )             Kamal Nath is a sure bet for     "2"5"!"! Ultimately, the nation suffers.               3 .$4     ( Madhya Pradesh. Not only does # $      1#   Posterity will blame previous he have experience in hand, but Governments for their plight.     5   !S 6        is also a nine-time Lok Sabha The future of the country is ,     . $      member, who has been Union      and the telecom department rying a bandwidth of 100 giga- bleak if the lawmakers do not 2              ! Minister for two terms. He is must go on with the plan of lay- bits per second have been understand how it impedes a someone who will bring experi- ing the cable across the sea. planned for the islands by the political party’s ability to take a         +        ( ence and sagacity to his job. Sir — This refers to the report, Admittedly, coral reefs are rich Department of long-term view. Political interests    $          S         After taking office, it should be “Will submarine optic cable in and around these islands and Telecommunications. are overriding the national inter- /   ,            3     action time for him as well as imperil coral reef?” (December hundreds of varieties of fish So, the cable connection est. The nation has everything to other Chief Ministers in 14). It must be said that the lay- species are commonly found in between the mainland and the pay for need but not for greed.     )  S             Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. ing of undersea optical cable these areas. But considering the islands must not be shelved at KV Seetharamaiah     /    (2  #   2   There is a lot of work that connecting the Andaman and strategic position of the any cost citing environmental Hassan (        (       needs to be done. Nicobar islands with Chennai Andaman and Nicobar islands, problems.  " 9 Devendra Khurana for a distance of 2,246 km will secure, robust and affordable TK Nandanan !!6 !.5.26B=3"/8.3                   Bhopal in no way affect the marine life telecommunication facilities car- Kochi   ()  ( *+, -.*/ " 4     . / $"% / $"%

 ) Q+ +-))                    1                             /1 C      ? / ,      #  L     L                  1      3,#     9  "              %    #01%%        !   / 5!/6        8: R              !   /  S  ( +  5  6    $     )     !   /  ==    =>     (               /                 3 S    $   ;  <   !/      (            ?@      3               AB?C                    (           A= O  <       )          !/ # !   /    / 5  ( 2"  )0 6             #                    he Assembly election results of Madhya    )     # !/    / Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh  >D              ( have not only set the template for the   E     9   2   F 2    Lok Sabha election, which is expected     5     6 1   to be announced in the first week of                  MarchT next year, but has also clearly drawn the 5 D?   DA6 ,           1   battle lines for what is expected to be one of the ?GCB  !/            fiercest elections ever. For the Congress, the 5  1            biggest takeaway from the polls is, undoubtedly,  ?@ /       6 ,     the emergence of Rahul Gandhi as an unassum-                  " ( ing leader who has shed his past baggage of indif- ference, political immaturity and dynasty to come       #   (    $  on his own. For the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), *            the biggest setback has been the demolition of the         3    + )  )  myth and hype built around the invincibility of 44"4#**1()*N          1          Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party chief ! %&4 ,!4   5   6  =A   3        Amit Shah. :2,2    ?GG@           ( Till these elections took place, the BJP had % ## ,2049:#           P  Q become one big electoral juggernaut, very con- ,2"4,::"4 #                 S ( vincingly demolishing one political opponent after  #46,!#44        *  <    +  the other. The routine rout of the Opposition in ":%,!              the elections had built an aura of invincibility 49:#4,!4 around the Modi-Shah duo — the mass connect /   (     3     %%:3%4"4%,:9 of Modi and the Chanakya-like strategy of Shah ,!4&4%4#       ABB?            had become a part of political punditry and was ;  <    =B       < ;  also instilled as an ideal combination in some of 44,2:%1,!4           5  the BJP-RSS workers. 4"6 #43,        6        On the contrary, repeated defeats had affect- ! 04,#2&&4#4    3        !/     ?@   ed even the body language of the Congress lead- :2,2 ,3% "2 widely billed to go the BJP way. This is issue has already been milked to the hilt body politic of India. Already, banners O              ers, who went into a defeatist mode, occasional- % ,!#:7%:4% what the spin doctors of the party had by the party for over the last quarter of have come up in Lucknow extolling the  ?AB               ly without putting up any fight, like in Goa. Rahul :#,:9 projected — the sulking Yeddyurappa a century and which yielded rich elec- hardliner Yogi as “Prime Minister O             ( Gandhi and pappu had almost become synony- :222,24   was back with the BJP, moneybags were toral dividends up to a point, this plank material” and Modi has been painted            mous, popularised as it was by WhatsApp groups :9 3 4%,!4#4 with the party managers, the Congress has reached a saturation level. The BJP as some sort of a liberal. of the BJP’s IT cell. So much so that there was a Government was facing anti-incum- can no longer hope for the same result Similarly, what’s the way forward 1               ( 2 #2%&2%,!4 time when even die-hard Congress workers ,4:9,!4 bency and what not. Everything was and the law of diminishing returns will for the Congress? Right now it is the  (          ,       started believing the falsehoods doing the rounds supposedly going for the BJP and automatically apply. This is what hap- default Opposition party in several   # S   .   3   on how ineffective Rahul Gandhi was as a leader :% against the Congress. But that was not pened in the three States. States and is expecting to get the anti-               and how his stewardship was taking the party 7:#C4#7!242% to be. The BJP failed to get a majority So what’s the way forward for the incumbency votes from those who     S      ;  <   towards peril. ,!4.1 % on its own. “Congress-mukt Bharat was BJP? First, it has to abandon the expected too much from the first       )        / December 11, 2018, changed this political nar- 44"4%,:9 :3, too arrogant a slogan,” said a BJP leader Congress-mukt Bharat pitch. Second, it majority Government of the BJP in  8 S    #  S       rative for all time to come. Its developments have ! #4,2% on condition of anonymity, adding that must draw a list of achievements of its decades. This complacency has to end. 9  !E )        <S  come barely three months before the announce- this was a classic case of unrealistic pol- major decisions — demonetisation First, it has to come out with an            )       ment of the general election, triggering a politi- itics, bereft of grassroots reality. He and GST — and keep hammering about aggressive and workable solution to the   <S   2  )    cal tsunami and throwing open all sorts of pos- hoped that this slogan would never be their long-term benefits repeatedly problems it has been highlighting. It sibilities. All of a sudden, there is a spring in the raised now, and even if it did, it would and see how much traction it gets. should spell out what it would do to    (           ( steps of the Congress workers while in the BJP, instantly become a matter of ridicule. Third, now that it has been cleared by solve farm distress beyond loan waivers.     <         an element of doubt has crept in. Similarly, the systematic targeting the Supreme Court in the Rafale jet Second, if traders and small enterpris- 5   7 $   +     !  ( This brings forth the most plausible question: of the likes of , Indira deal, it should keep the Opposition in es are distressed, what is the solution             6 Will the Modi magic work or not? Even though Gandhi and were in bad the loop for future acquisitions rather to the woes? Third, offending slogans J    )            party spokespersons keep hammering the fact that taste and the appropriation of other than being defensive about them. like “chowkidar chor hai” should be                     the Prime Minister’s personal integrity is intact Congress stalwarts by extolling the Fourth, it would have to stop pitchfork- banned; it is similar to “Congress-mukt  )       #    ( and that issues for Assembly and Lok Sabha polls virtues of the likes of Sardar Patel and ing the Modi-Shah axis and democra- Bharat” and even worse.              ( are entirely different, this is hardly convincing for Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose did not tise its intra-party discourse. “At pre- It should articulate what its policies                    both sceptics and supporters. They know it well quite have the intended effect. “Leave sent, party MPs are treated more like would be at the Centre and how differ-                ( that victory in the Assembly elections in these very historical figures alone for history booth-level workers to whom directions ent they would be from the ones fol- States five years ago, in 2013, had set the ball books and academic discussions, not are hurled and there is no process of lowed by the BJP Government? It also          <S   rolling for the saffron party and it built on the for electoral rhetoric and as poll issue,” consultation or listening involved,” a has to spell out its plan for job creation J     4  #    ( J ( momentum of the wave in May 2014. summed up the leader. BJP MP told this writer after the poll and how it proposes to go about it.      +  4          ( Five years down the line, that pace is now with In the run-up to the Lok Sabha poll, results. The days of sloganeering are over.   # S             the Congress and it will expectedly follow it till obviously, the BJP will try to turn it into Last but not the least, it would have The youth had a lot of expectations in                the 2019 Lok Sabha poll. In fact, the Grand Old some sort of a presidential election, to stop polarisation of votes through 2014 and will have similar expectations                 Party was building a thrust ever since it made cru- pitching Modi versus Rahul, and ask- hawkish leaders like Uttar Pradesh in 2019 as well. Hollow and emotive slo-             )  cial headway in the Gujarat Assembly polls in ing people if they would vote for an Chief Minister . He will gans will no longer yield electoral div-     )            ) December 2017, where for the first time, Modi untested, unwilling and timid leader or hardly attract any new votes as the idends. Both parties should come with     O  <         J had to campaign really hard and Shah had to use go for the qualities of “a time-tested, Assembly elections of Karnataka, policies, which are implementable with            #    all his electoral arithmetic to romp home. A resur- strong face with muscular politics.” Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and details of how they intend to proceed. gent Congress had given the BJP a run for its The BJP’s second strategy would be Chhattisgarh, where he campaigned That would be the key to gaining the  !/                money in a State which for long had been con- to polarise the election with a strong extensively, have proved that there trust of our electorate.      E  sidered a laboratory for Hindutva politics. pitch for building the Ram Mandir at aren’t many takers for the religion card. (The writer is Senior Editor, The       There was more to follow. Karnataka was Ayodhya. But given the fact that the At the same time, it would damage the Pioneer, Chandigarh) !    #   . 1                 D E                   

been steadily working towards this years. Reports from the National does not know about filariasis and Ivermectin, will prove to be a game- mittees and governance structures goal, and like many other nations, Vector-Borne Disease Control the importance of consuming MDA changer for the elimination of filar- can be effective mechanisms to our journey towards universal health Programme indicate that around medicines annually. When more iasis. It paralyses not just the micro- ensure community participation — coverage is defined by the reach of 8.77 lakh cases of lymphedema than 65 per cent of the population filariae but also the adult worm, people are more likely to use and our healthcare delivery system to the (swollen limbs) and 3.87 lakh cases fails to comply with MDA treat- making IDA a faster means to respond positively to health services last mile of the population. of hydrocele (swollen scrotal sac) ment, it creates a potential reservoir break filariasis transmission. The when they are involved in decisions Since population coverage is were caused sue to filariasis in 256 of infection for parasites to feed on, WHO has been playing an impor- related to delivery of public health % ) )0/ fundamental to this journey, invest- endemic districts across India. It also thus reducing the probability of the tant role in establishing link with services. ing in health programmes that deliv- estimated that around 20 million programme’s success. As a result, external partners. It is also helping Progressive strategies like these ountries across the world er treatment to families at their children and adolescents suffer from even today, about 377 million peo- in expanding the supply of medi- and policies such as the Ayushman celebrated December 12 as doorstep irrespective of their socio- Acute Adenolymphangitis that on an ple in India remain at the risk of cines and building capacity in Bharat National Health Protection     Cthe Universal Health economic status will play a key role average lasts for about four to seven contracting filariasis. The need of endemic countries. scheme, which aims to holistically   Coverage (UHC) day to mark the in realising the ‘health for all’ dream. days in each episode. People with the hour, therefore, is to educate Apart from this, innovative address health at the primary, sec- journey towards achieving ‘health One such scheme is the Mass Drug lymphedema need disability impair- people about how filaria spreads, its strategies that include a vector- ondary and tertiary level, can have far-    for all.’ Over 40 years have passed Administration (MDA), which will ment services and they must be cov- consequences, vector-control mea- control component in smart cities reaching impact in eliminating vec- since the target of universal health soon be strengthened with the intro- ered under the Rights of Persons with sures and promote a sense of own- missions, mandatory web-based tor-borne diseases. These efforts, 3    was set by the World Health duction of new triple-drug therapy Disabilities Act, 2016. ership of elimination efforts in the reporting of vector-borne disease however, should not just be a one-  ,   Organisation (WHO) Assembly in that will help the elimination of lym- The Government of India community. cases, ensuring proper sanitation point destination but a long-term     1977 to ensure affordable healthcare phatic filariasis. launched the MDA programme in Tanzania and Togo are suc- and sewage facilities, clean water investment and commitment towards    1 across the globe. This is an oppor- A disease that affects the margin- 2004 with a combination of two cessful examples of developing supply and regulated construction shaping communities as agents of     " tune moment to take stock of how alised sections of society, filariasis is drugs — diethylcarbamazine citrate countries that combined communi- sites, can help control spread of vec- change. It is the responsibility of each we have fared so far. a mosquito-borne infectious disease (DEC) and albendazole. While ty engagement and effective use of tor-borne diseases like filariasis. one of us to encourage better health- 7  2  1 There is no denying the fact that that has become one of the major administration of the drug is free of MDA treatment to eliminate filar- Fostering collaborations with all seeking behaviour and build an inclu-      ‘health for all’, which is a part of the public health challenges for the cost, preventive treatment has iasis. Recently, Kenya, Samoa and relevant stakeholders — between sive and sustainable pathway to forge       Sustainable Development Goals country today. A known cause of helped the programme reduce infec- American Samoa rolled out the new local civil society organisations and a truly strong and healthy India.         (SDGs), can only be achieved permanent disability, it damages the tion levels in 107 out of 256 districts. Triple Drug Treatment (IDA). India departments, especially at district, (The writer is Principal Advisor, through effective community lymphatic system, and if left untreat- A major challenge is low compliance will be the first country in South block and village levels — can con- Ministry of Health & Family Welfare 3   engagement and universalisation of ed, it incapacitates individuals dur- to the treatment by communities. East Asia to introduce the pro- tribute to better eliminate lym- on public health. The views expressed     healthcare services. India, too, has ing the peak of their productive A large section of society still gramme. The third new drug, phatic filariasis. Local health com- are personal)     ()  ( *+, -.*/  5

(   // +  // *        ," 4 " &0   4 Jaipur: A galaxy of political rated with murals in a variety leaders and Congress workers of styles, including the will descend on the premises of Ramayana, reproducing paint-   1 #2% & # Srinagar, Pulwama and the historic Albert Hall in ings from illustrations in the Shopian districts were sus- Jaipur on Monday for Persian Razmnama prepared he normal life went out of pended as a precautionary the oath-taking ceremony of for Emperor Akbar. Tgear in Kashmir Valley on measure. Ashok Gehlot as Chief Minister European, Egyptian, Sunday on first day of three-day Sources sad that many civil- of Rajasthan. Chinese, Greek and Babylonian shutdown called by the sepa- ians wounded in the indiscrim- A fine example of Indo- civilizations were portrayed in ratists to protest against the inate firing were battling for life saracenic, a revival architectural the murals to enable the people killing of seven civilians near an in various hospitals in Srinagar. style mostly used by the British of the region to compare and encounter site in south Kashmir Reports of shutdown have in the later 19th century, the contrast them with their own where three terrorists and a sol- been received from Chenab foundation of the iconic struc- and develop their knowledge of dier got killed on Saturday Valley’s Banihal, Khari, ture was laid in 1876 during the the history and art. PTI morning. The Army appealed Bhadarwah, Doda, Thathri, visit the Prince of Wales, Albert       , * , ,  to the people not to pay heed to Gandoh and Kishtwar areas Edward, to Jaipur.      "   2   ," 4  +7 Q R the separatists’ call to march against Pulwama civilian killings. The construction was %   ) towards the headquarters of the Reports said thousands of completed in 1887 by the archi- ##  R XV Corps in Srinagar on people participated in the tect Samual Swinton Jacob, are usually organised at the Raj Leader of Opposition in Monday while as Governor funerals of slain terrorists and who was the director of Jaipur Bhawan. However, the function Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge,    Satya Pal Malik appealed to the civilians in Pulwama district. PWD then. in 2003 and 2013, when Puducherry CM V people to keep a distance from        %:-   A ," Former legislator Sheikh Located in Ram Niwas took oath as Narayanasamy, Punjab CM +7  &3 areas where anti-militancy         ) Abdur Rashid was briefly taken Garden outside the old city Chief Minister, was held at Amarinder Singh, former operations were in progress. into custody when he attempt- wall, the hall is a museum Janpath outside the Rajasthan Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Jaipur: Senior Congress leader Police and paramilitary last year to join terrorist ranks Corps headquarters on ed to march towards the office where thousands of people Assembly building. Hooda and others wil attend Ashok Gehlot, who will be tak- personnel were deployed in had been killed in the Monday. The army has foiled of United Nations Military visit during the tourist season, And this time, Albert Hall has the function. ing oath as Chief Minister of strength in sensitive parts of encounter. such attempts in the past. Observers Group in India and usually during the winters. been decided as the venue for Allies of the Congress Rajasthan on Monday, said Kashmir to prevent assem- An Indian army soldier, Shops, business establish- Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to pre- On Monday morning, the event. party will also be present dur- outgoing Chief Minister blage of people or anti-gov- 29-year-old Sowar Kishan ments and fuel stations sent a memorandum seeking Congress leaders Gehlot and “There would be a large ing the ceremony at Albert hall, Vasundhara Raje was “careless” ernment protests against the Singh, was also killed in the remained closed while public the international body’s inter- Sachin Pilot would take oath as number of guests and leaders a distinctive landmark in in fulfilling people’s expecta- spree of killings in south encounter. A native of Bhinchri transport was generally off the vention in stopping killings in chief minister and deputy chief of various political parties will Jaipur where cultural func- tions despite a huge mandate Kashmir’s Pulwama district. village of Ratangarh Tehsil in roads in summer capital Kashmir. Activists of National minister of Rajasthan respec- attend the ceremony. So, tions are also held on different in the last elections. At least seven civilians were Churu, Rajasthan, had sus- Srinagar. The traffic move- Conference also staged a tively at Albert Hall. Albert Hall was finalised,” occasions. Holding Raje responsible killed with firearms on tained gruesome injuries in the ment was very low on Srinagar- protest march. Several senior Congress Satyendra Singh Raghav, the With its beautiful archi- for the financial condition of Saturday afternoon after encounter and later succumbed Jammu National highway and Meanwhile, Governor leaders and hundreds of party Pradesh Congress Committee tecture dominated by onion the state, Gehlot said she could crowds of people staged at 92 Base Hospital in Srinagar. most of the inter-district routes. Satya Pal Malik while express- workers are expected to attend spokesperson said. domes, archways and terraces, have done more work if she protests and attempted to The separatist leadership in Restrictions under Section 144 ing grief over the loss of civil- the event. “The ceremony will be the building of the hall became wanted. “What is the financial march towards the encounter Kashmir—Joint Resistance were imposed in district ian lives has directed Divisional “Congress president Rahul held in the open... Seating an integral part of its display, its condition of the state is known site in Sirnoo village of Leadership (JRL) comprising Pulwama. Commissioner, Kashmir to Gandhi, former prime minis- arrangements are being made architecture and stone orna- by all. The BJP got a huge Pulwama. Three Hizbul Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz The train services across inquire into the Pulwama inci- ter and other to accommodate about 11,000 mentation became a source of mandate in the last elections Mujahideen terrorists includ- Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik Kashmir remained suspended dent. He appealed to the peo- leaders will attend the cere- people,” an official of the pub- reference for varied classic and people had expectations ing a former army soldier called for three-day shutdown for the second consecutive day ple not to go near such areas mony,” Gehlot told reporters lic works department said. Indian styles of design from from Raje, but she was careless Zahoor Ahmad Thokar, who against the killings and asked for security reasons. The during or immediately after Sunday. Nearly 2,000 VIP guests Mughal to Rajput. and passed five years in care- had deserted the armed forces people to march towards XV mobile internet services in anti-terrorist operations. Oath-taking ceremonies will attend the function. The corridors were deco- lessness,” Gehlot said. PTI        1   & "        90     

Faizabad: Taking a veiled dig at "    Election Commission, 20,990 Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, posts are of gaon panchayat Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister    # members (GPM), 2,192 are of Yogi Adityanath has said peo- gaon panchayat presidents ple have started showing their  &37 ! ,2 (GPP), 2,186 are anchalik pan- gotra and janeu (sacred thread) chayat members (APM) and to become prominent in the he BJP is maintaining a lead 419 are zila parishad members country’s politics. Tin Assam panchayat polls (ZPM). The BJP has won 8,730 Addressing a gathering in by pocketing 41 per cent of the GPM seats, followed by the the district on Saturday he total seats and marching ahead Congress 6,971, AGP 1,580, said, the people who had of the Congress which secured AIUDF 1,018, BPF 54, CPI(M) described themselves as acci- 32 per cent of the seats, as 31, CPI 4, TMC 2 and dentally Hindus were now real- counting continued for the Independents 2,596. ising that they were Hindus in fifth day on Sunday. For the GPP posts, BJP has the real sense and it was a vic- The BJP has bagged 10,953 secured 991, Congress 759, tory of Sanatan faith. seats, followed by the Congress AGP 137, AIUDF 130, BPF 2 He said Google failed     #  3     0  ,  &% 8,646, Independents 2,927 as and Independents 173. before the epic Ramayana, 3 #         counting for the 26,808 posts In the APM seats, BJP which was written by sage -"567B  %  ,"  ) across the State continued, bagged 1,020, Congress 769, '     "  O 1 P    7BC7 2   -  Valmiki, and he asserted Assam State Election AGP 117, AIUDF 136, CPI(M)  ) that the knowledge of the spir- themselves as accidentally with the help of foreign funds. Commissioner (ASEC) said in and TMC — 1 each and itual books was correct Hindu are now realising that The BJP leader claimed a press release. Independents 142. instead of what the search they are also Hindus. (They are that they were trying to The Asom Gana Parishad The ASEC said that in engine said. realising) it is not accidental defame Hindu religion over the (AGP), an alliance partner of ZPM constituencies, BJP won ) &P      “The word Kumbh has and we are Hindus in the real Sabrimala issue when the BJP-led Government which 212, Congress 147, AGP 19, started becoming prevalent. It sense. Now they are remem- everybody knew the tradition contested independently, was in AIUDF 25 and Independents Agartala: Tripura Chief every year on this day to mark India is the closest neighbour has become a fashion and bering their janeu and Gotra. of the temple. the fourth position with 1,853 16. The elections were held in Minister on India’s decisive win over of Bangladesh... I hope this his- trademark for the branding of I think this is the victory of He claimed that those who seats till Sunday evening while two phases on December 5 and Sunday urged Bangladesh to Pakistan in 1971, and the birth toric relation would strength- one’s programme... These days India’s Sanatan faith. This is the had never been to temple were minority dominated, the All 9 to elect 21,990 GPM, 2,199 work in close coordination of Bangladesh. en both the countries in people are showing their Gotra victoy of our beliefs,” he said. issuing statements over the India United Democratic GPP, 2,199 APM and 420 ZPM with India to strengthen both He said Tripura shares a future,” Deb said. Bangladesh and janeu to become promi- He claimed the people who issue and a similar environ- Front (AIUDF) of the across the state, recording an the nations. long history of friendship with Assistant High Commissioner nent in the country’s politics,” were criticising the Kumbh ment was being created over Opposition, bagged 1,309 overall 82 per cent voting. Deb was speaking here Bangladesh, and the state in Tripura Kiriti Chakma said Adityanath said without nam- Mela were trying to destroy the the grand Kumbh Mela by posts, the ASEC said. Of the total 78,571 contes- after laying wreath in memory played a crucial role in the 1971 his office here observed ‘Vijay ing Gandhi. Indian culture and were con- terming it an anti-Dalit con- As per the results declared tants, 734 had been elected of war martyrs on the occasion war. “People of Tripura whole Divas’ with a seminar on the “The people who described spiring to disgrace the country vention. PTI for 25,787 seats by the State uncontested. of ‘Vijay Diwas’, celebrated heartedly supported the war... liberation of Bangladesh. PTI " ,  / . 6 ()/ 0)  - - --  3 %-Q+ + )'  #Q #R    Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister to showcase as a picture of Opposition Gandhi, Banerjee, Andhra Pradesh has not been seen for the Congress. will not attend the unity. “I have been directed by the party Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Nath, a nine-time parliamentarian swearing-in ceremony of Congress chief (Banerjee) to be present at Bahujan Samaj Party supremo from Chhindwara seat and currently 3 leader Kamal Nath as Madhya Pradesh Monday’s swearing-in programme,” Mayawati and Samajwadi Party presi- president of the Madhya Pradesh  )     Chief Minister, official sources said on Trivedi told PTI. dent Akhilesh Yadav were invited for Congress, will become the first Chief Sunday. Asked whether he was carrying any the event. Minister of a Congress Government in  !2:%& / 78 8  There was, however, no reason message for the function, Trivedi said, Banerjee, who had earlier floated the the central Indian State after a gap of 15 # "   cited for Banerjee not going to Bhopal “There is no message as such. My going idea of a federal front of regional par- years. was the last he Meghalaya Government for the swearing-in ceremony on there is a message itself.” ties, has been seen recently exchanging Congress Chief Minister of the State. Twas “unhappy” with the  $ && #  Monday, an official of the Chief The Congress has invited leaders bonhomie with Naidu, and her coun- The BJP had snatched power from decision of the Punjab Cabinet &&" * Minister’s Office (CMO) said. from across the political spectrum. terparts from Delhi and Telangana, the Grand Old Party in 2003 and went approving 60 lakh compen- &# 2 "$ Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Apart from party chief Rahul and Chandrashekar on to retain it till its narrow defeat sation to the Sikh community Trivedi will be representing the party at Gandhi and United Progressive Rao respectively, apart from DMK pres- in the recently-held Assembly residing here who were affect-  %&  the event, which the Congress intends Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia ident M K Stalin. But, the same warmth election. PTI ed during the June riots, a State   $ Minister said on Sunday. %% ) Meghalaya Urban Affairs  Minister Hamletson Dohling Gaya: Tibetan spiritual leader, 0   ; $<8& "%   urged the Punjab Government Minister Prestone Tyngsong is the Dalai Lama, on Sunday to reconsider the Cabinet deci- taking into consideration all arrived in Bodh Gaya where sion to grant the relief to the aspects of the case and is try- he will stay in a monastery for affected Sikh community in ing its best to solve the issues 23 days. Srinagar: Srinagar experienced al Amarnath yatra in south Shilling and said it would “add amicably. The Dalai Lama, who the coldest night of the season Kashmir, settled at a low of more fuel to the fire” as the The Meghalaya Urban reached Gaya international air- on Saturday night as the mer- minus 9.3 degrees Celsius, State Government is trying to Affairs Minister said, “The deci- port by a chartered plane, pro- cury continued its downward compared to the previous solve the issues amicably. sion is nothing but to mislead ceeded to the monastery from spiral in most parts of the night’s minus 9.5 degrees “We are unhappy with the the people of the nation because the airport amid tight security, Kashmir valley and Ladakh Celsius. The ski-resort of decision and we request them not a single stone was thrown at Gaya District Magistrate and region. Srinagar, the summer Gulmarg in north Kashmir (Punjab Government) not to the school or the Gurdwara dur- Bodhgaya Temple Management capital of Jammu & Kashmir, recorded the minimum tem- add fuel to the fire,” Dohling ing the protest in June.” Committee (BTMC) chairman recorded a low of minus 5.6 perature of minus 9.5 degrees said. The Punjab Cabinet had He claimed that the Abhishek Kumar Singh said. degrees Celsius Saturday night, Celsius , Saturday, up two earlier this week approved the Meghalaya police had handled He will visit Mahabodhi down from minus 4.2 degrees notches from the previous proposal for providing 60 the situation and all efforts are temple on Monday morning to Celsius the previous night, night, the officials said. lakh as compensation to the on to end the problems there offer prayers, Singh said. MET officials said Sunday. The mercury in Leh town, Sikh community against dam- (Punjabi lane) once and for all. A large crowd was waiting It was the coldest night of in Ladakh region, went down age caused to their properties Meghalaya Chief Minister on both sides of the road to get the season so far in the city, from the previous night’s minus during violence in Shillong in will soon a glimpse of the Nobel Peace they said. 13.9 degrees Celsius to settle at June earlier this year. speak to his Punjab counterpart Prize winner, he added. The night temperature in a low of minus 15.6 degrees Of the 60 lakh sanctioned in this regard, he said. Earlier, on his arrival at the city has dropped over five Celsius Saturday night. by the Punjab Cabinet, 50 Clashes erupted when a Gaya aiport, senior officials, degrees since Thursday as the Leh was the coldest place in lakh is earmarked for recon- bus driver and his friend were including Magadh divisional valley is moving closer to the town to the valley, in south of minus 5.9 degrees Celsius on from minus 4.5 degrees Celsius Jammu and Kashmir. struction of Khalsa Middle attacked at the Punjabi Lane commissioner T Bindeshwari, 40-day harshest winter period, Kashmir recorded a low of December 27, 2014. the previous night to settle at The officials said the mer- School as the building was area and they received injuries. Magadh range Deputy locally known as ‘Chillai Kalan’, minus 5.6 degrees Celsius The nearby Kokernag town a low of minus 6 degrees cury in the nearby Kargil town declared unsafe. As rumours of the assault- Inspector General (DIG) Binay which begins December 21. Saturday night, compared to recorded a low of minus 5.7 Celsius Saturday, the official settled at a low of minus 10.8 The rest of the amount ed victims dying in hospital Kumar, District Magistrate The officials said the previous night’s minus 5 degrees Celsius Saturday night, said. They said it was the cold- degrees Celsius, compared to would be given to Sikhs whose spread on social media, local Abhishek Kumar Singh, Senior Qazigund, Kupwara and Leh degrees Celsius. up from minus 6.6 degrees est December night in Kupwara minus 10.2 degrees Celsius the shops and truck were damaged people grouped together and SP Rajiv Mishra, BTMC secre- also experienced the coldest The officials said it was the Celsius the previous night, in the last five years. previous night. in the riots. Dohling said the went to attack the residents fol- tary N Dorje and Airport direc- night of the season Saturday coldest December night in they said. The night temperature in The MeT Office has fore- high level committee appoint- lowing which the entire area tor Dilip Kumar welcomed night along with Srinagar. Qazigund in the last four years. Kupwara in north Kashmir Pahalgam, which serves as one cast mainly dry weather for the ed by Meghalaya Government was put under curfew for over him. PTI Qazigund, the gateway The town had recorded a low saw the mercury going down of the base camps for the annu- week ahead. PTI headed by Deputy Chief a month.   ()  ( *+, -.*/  9

/ 6 /) /  1  3  ! #    $    #2 R    % Q6 )#1 R =  -       C:C , sion to the Yatra saying “the ing “these people from the 62"3...2=6 areas proposed to be covered Sangh Parivar are trying to Panaji: Ailing Goa Chief day after the Bengal " M2!2!.2" by the Yatra are, because of ignite communal riots in the   . ""3  ,       -    Minister on N     O & 3  AGovernment denied per- 2<0282=! publicity and propaganda grad- State and the Yatra will only Sunday inspected an under- mission citing law and order ually turning into communal- add fuel to fire.” eneral Officer       1       construction bridge on reasons to the BJP organising "$32 !6"!.2!. ly sensitive pockets. Intelligence The Government had done GCommanding-in-chief,  4    *O    N0$   O Mandovi River here, the first Rath Yatra in the State, the saf- !.$!563 .2 reports indicate that public the right thing by denying per- northern command, Lt Gen    2 O    *=;* time he has been seen in pub- fron party said it would move <.6! "!"!6"8 perception is that the religious mission to the Yatra, they said Ranbir Singh on Sunday led his  ,           -  lic since returning to the state the High Court once again " 2.6=.0 overtones of the Yatra will be suggesting the State would in men and celebrated the 47th            N   on October 14 post hospitali- seeking orders directing the turned into a propaganda.” every likelihood use the anniversary of Vijay  O sation in Delhi’s AIIMS. 358"!.2#0!"506 administration to clear the It also quoted intelligence Sadhwi’s speech to buttress its Diwas, marking India’s military           He later inspected the work Yatra gridlock. 5.!8"56.=6"33 reports saying “in several dis- arguments in the Court. victory over Pakistan in   of a bridge over Zuari River Bengal BJP president Dilip tricts, organisations with overt- Meanwhile the CPI(M), 1971 war. near Agassaim village, some 15 Ghosh on Sunday said his ly communal agenda like the alleged the Trinamool The celebration commem- kilometres from here. party would move the High blocking the Yatra because the RSS, Bajrang Dal and the VHP Congress was trying to “pro- orated with a wreath-laying commander complimented the sent on the occasion, he said. Parrikar, who is suffering Court “once again to knock ruling party was convinced of would actively join the ‘Yatra’. vide oxygen to a moribund BJP ceremony at ‘Dhruva Shahid rank and file of northern com- General Officer from a pancreatic ailment, sense in this autocratic BJP’s rising graph in the State. This is grave apprehension of which was licking its wounds Smarak’ by Lieutenant Gen mand for their steadfastness, Commanding (GOC), Tiger has been recuperating at his Government.” “Bengal is a fit case for ‘breach of peace’ and commu- after the electoral defeat in Singh at Udhampur garrison dedication and selflessness, the Division, Maj Gen Sharad private residence near The Trinamool Congress Article 356 and we will take this nal violence during and in the Hindi heartland.” with traditional enthusiasm, a spokesperson said. Kapur paid tribute to the gal- here since October 14 and this was “intentionally influencing issue up at a future date if such aftermath of the Yatra.” The Government by deny- defence spokesperson said. He said the Army lant soldiers at ‘Balidan Stambh’. is the first time he has the administration to with- undemocratic situation con- On Sunday senior State ing permission to the Yatra was Each year December 16 is Commander exhorted all ranks Among others, Maj Gen moved out of the house, offi- hold the permission for the tinues,” he said adding the “by Ministers including Jyoti Priya “making the BJP more relevant celebrated as ‘Vijay Diwas’ to to rededicate themselves in (retd) Goverdhan Singh cials said. Rath Yatra which has no reli- stopping the Yatra on law and Mullick and Sadhan Pandey knowing full well that they commemorate India’s victory the service of the nation and Jamwal, Hony Capt (retd) Bana A senior Chief Minister’s gious implication but a purely order grounds only shows the quoted from a speech of don’t have the organisational over Pakistan in 1971. The confront new challenges with Singh and a large number of Office functionary Sunday said political programme. In fact we feeble administrative condition Sadhwi Saraswati — who on strength to organise such a victory is unique and unpar- professionalism and courage. serving officers, junior com- Parrikar travelled from were asked by the top officers in the State,” he maintained. Saturday while delivering a huge show. Denying permis- alled as it was on this day that The spokesperson said a missioned officers and jawans Porvorim to Merces inspecting present during the meeting Earlier the representatives public speech from the dais of sion to them will lead to press 93,000 Pakistani troops sur- grand and solemn wreath-lay- of the ‘Tiger Division’ paid the bridge, the third over the and we made it clear that this of the BJP and the State Hindu Jagran Manch asked statements and street corner rendered to the Indian Army ing ceremony was also organ- homage to the brave soldiers, Mandovi. is a political programme and Government engaged in bilat- the Hindus to “spend Rs 1,000 meets which will only help BJP eventuating in subsequent ised with full military honours who laid down their precious The bridge, which is has nothing to do with any reli- eral talks following a High each and get yourselves swords collect sympathy from the mar- secession of East Pakistan into at ‘Balidan Stambh’ here. lives for the country during the expected to be completed next gious issue,” Ghosh said adding Court order. After the talks the … and behead those who ket” senior CPI(M) leader Bangladesh. A large number of serving 1971 Indo-Pak war, he said. year, will connect Panaji to the the Government was still Government denied permis- indulge in love jihad,” — say- Tanmoy Bhattacharya said. On this occasion, the Army and retired soldiers were pre- rest of north Goa. PTI 0     0   " 5 )

1R away from the function. ing Prime Minister Modi and   <   Sources in the Sena attrib- Chief Minister Fadnavis for uted the party’s decision not to issuing necessary permissions  # invite Fadnavis or any other for taking up the coastal road Kottayam: The Kerala Police BJP leader for the coastal Road work speedily. The BJP also put on Sunday denied entry to   “bhoomi puja” to the BJP-led up posters along Lady Jamshedji four transgenders who Maharashtra Government’s Road at Mahim in south-central came for a darshan to the decision of not inviting Uddhav Mumbai. Sabarimala temple.     "3" 2 for the “bhoomi puja” cere- To be developed by the Speaking to the media mony of two metro projects to Shiv Sena-ruled BMC and here, Ananya, one of the four, n an apparent effort to ensure be performed by Prime State-run Maharashtra State said that they were subjected to Ihis party hog the entire cred- Minister Narendra Modi at Road Development ridicule, threats and was asked it for launching a major devel- Kalyan in the neighbouring Corporation (BMC) in four to return by the police at opment project ahead of the Maharashtra Chief south Mumbai MP Arvind Thane district on December 18. packages, the coastal road will Erumely, the first base camp at 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Shiv Minister Devendra Fadnavis Sawant, Uddhav’s wife Rashmi Ahead of Sunday’s function, connect Marine Lines in south the temple town. Sena president Uddhav was conspicuous by his absence Thackeray and son Aditya. a poster war had broken Mumbai with Kandivli in north “We began our pilgrimage Thackeray on Sunday per- at the foundation ceremony There were also no BJP func- between the Sena and BJP. While Mumbai. Along the 29.2 km on Saturday from Ernakulam top police official was very rude asked us to change to a man’s formed the “bhoomi puja” for held at Amarsons garden near tionaries at the function. the Sena on put up posters stretch, the coastal road will and the special branch wing of and so was the female officials,” attire. Initially, we refused and Mumbai’s ambitious 15,000 the Breach Candy Hospital in Sources in the ruling BJP announcing the “bhoomi puja” have tunnels, bridges, inter- the police was witness to the said Ananya. after some time, we decided we crore 29.2-km coastal road south Mumbai, in the presence said that the Sena had not invit- for the coastal road project, the changes, elevated stretches and prayers and all the ritual func- “First they said, we will not will change, but the police project, amid a boycott of the of Mumbai Mayor Vishwanath ed Fadnavis for the function. BJP put up banners at the junc- roads on reclaimed land, along tions that we undertook. But be allowed to visit the temple changed their minds and asked function by his party’s senior Mahadeshwar, State Industry As a consequence, the BJP tion of the Shiv Sena’s head- with pedestrian underpasses when we reached Erumely, the in the ladies dress and they us to return.” PTI ruling alliance partner BJP. Minister Subhash Desai, Sena’s leaders and corporators stayed quarters “Sena Bhavan” thank- and foot over bridges (FoBs). & "     " &P   "  1  -P"  7BC7     ;    Kolkata: The Bangladesh / +"#  Commanding-in-Chief, Government, on the occasion 1 %   Eastern Naval Command, Air of ‘Vijay Diwas’, on Sunday Officer Commanding-in-Chief, posthumously honoured 12 # # #   Eastern Air Command, retired Indian Armed Forces person-   :;2 # Armed Forces officers and nel for sacrificing their lives leaders of a Bangladeshi dele- during the 1971 India-Pakistan % # .  gation visiting India for the War. Describing the honouring &  "  "# occasion, laid the wreaths at the of the families of the martyred memorial. personnel as a great initiative #   "   The Bangladesh delega- by the Bangladesh      tion included 30 Government, GOC-in-C #  :94: ‘Muktijoddhas’, who took part Eastern Command of the in the liberation war, and six Army Lt Gen M M Naravane #($ < serving officers of Bangladesh’s said the process of honouring Armed Forces. martyred soldiers will contin- Describing December 16 as ue in the years to come and it Bangladesh. the most glorious day in the life Mumbai: Following the release threatened by money and mus- will strengthen the bond The families of seven of every Bengali, Haque said of builder Samir Bhojwani, cle power. Request meeting between the two countries. Indian Army soldiers, two Air the fruits of freedom were   "               ) who had falsely claimed own- with you in #Mumbai,” the “We were forced into this Force, two BSF personnel and achieved after suffering a nine- ership of the two plots on tweet read. conflict because of a humani- one Navy personnel were month long genocide by the which Dilip Kumar’s bungalow Earlier this year Banu had tarian crisis of gigantic pro- handed over ‘Sammanana’ Pakistani forces, wherein 30 was built, the legendary actor’s approached police and lodged a portion, resulting in the anni- plaques by Bangladesh Minister lakh people lost their lives and 0 .,  .   wife Saira Banu Khan has complaint against Bhojwani. In hilation of Pakistan Army and of Liberation War Affairs A K two lakh women were raped. requested to meet Prime January, the Economic Offences the birth of Bangladesh,” M Mozammel Haque at the “The Indian soldiers fought Minister Narendra Modi to Wing (EOW) of the Mumbai Naravane said. Indian Army’s Eastern for our cause and laid down discuss the issue. Police had registered a case of “Very rarely it has hap- Command Headquarter Fort their lives,” he said.   ,   # The 96-year-old actor’s cheating against the builder for pened that when two countries William here. Following the wreath lay- bungalow is located in the allegedly trying to grab the fight, a third country is born,” Prior to this, a wreath lay- ing ceremony, four Hawk train- upscale Pali Hill area of Bandra. bungalow of the veteran actor. he said. ing ceremony was held at Vijay er aircraft of the IAF per- Bengaluru: At least six people At least three others were directed to conduct a probe and On Sunday, Banu’s request The police officials sus- The Bangladesh Smarak to pay respects to the formed a fly past over the were killed in an explosion in injured in the blast, the official submit a report. The State gov- was shared on Kumar’s official pected that Bhojwani forged Government has decided to martyred soldiers. Vijay Smarak in a ‘Missing a boiler at a sugar factory in added. Chief Minister H.D. ernment will provide compen- Twitter account. certain documents to grab the honour over 1,600 Indian Honouring soldiers who Man’ formation, which is an Bagalkot district of Karnataka Kumaraswamy directed dis- sation to the deceased’s kin,” a “Request from Saira Banu property. After the offence was Armed Forces personnel who were martyred in the war in the aircraft manoeuvre used to on Sunday. trict officials to shift the injured statement from the Chief Khan: The Hon’ble registered, a team of EOW laid down their lives in the eastern theatre commenced in honour the dead or missing. “Six people have died on to hospitals immediately and Minister’s Office said. @PMOIndia Shri @naren- sleuths raided Bhojwani’s res- eastern theatre during the 1971 2017 with the Bangladesh This was followed by three the spot due to the blast in the asked for the site to be inspect- The sugar factory is run by dramodi Sir, Land Mafia Samir idence in Bandra from where Indo-Pak War. prime minister giving away helicopters from the Army boiler of the sugar factory in ed to ascertain the cause of the the Nirani Group — owned by Bhojwani released from jail. No they seized weapons, including Vijay Diwas (victory day) the plaques to families of seven Aviation Corps, which flew at Kulali village,” a police control explosion. “The death of the six the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) action taken despite assur- knives and daggers. Bhojwani is celebrated every year on this soldiers, he said. tree-top level, with one show- room official told IANS from people in the blast in the sugar lawmaker from the state, ances by CM @Dev_Fadnavis. was arrested by EOW in April day to mark India’s decisive win The GOC-in-C of Eastern ering rose petals over the Mudhol, about 550 km north- factory is saddening. Bagalkot Murugesh Nirani, and his Padma Vibhushit betrayed, this year. PTI over Pakistan and the birth of Command, the Flag Officer Assembly. PTI west of Bengaluru. district officials have been brothers. PTI :    #;     #*) D

Lucknow: To facilitate pil- er big branding exercise for the grims arriving in large numbers Kumbh Mela,” Malviya said.    "    during the Kumbh Mela in He also said that to pro- 2019, the railways has proposed mote local culture, the North  !4%% 2 Thoothukudi”. the people of Thoothukudi,” running 800 special trains from Central Zone Cultural Centre, “We are happy that all he said. various stations of Allahabad under the Ministry of Culture, ining company Vedanta those affected by the closure The National Green district, an officials has said. will be co-opted to put up stalls MLtd on Saturday wel- will get back their source of Tribunal on Saturday set aside These trains would be in in passenger enclosures show- comed the National Green livelihood and the town of the Tamil Nadu Government addition to the regular trains casing the art, culture and her- Tribunal order to resume Thoothukudi will revert back order for closure of Vedanta run by the North Central itage of Allahabad and sur- operations at the company’s to normalcy,” he said in the Ltd’s sterlite copper plant at Railway (NCR). PRO NCR rounding areas. facility in Thoothukudi in statement. Tuticorin, which was at the Amit Malviya said, “Six special “Four big enclosures to Tamil Nadu, and said those Stating that the company centre of massive protests over trains will come to Allahabad house about 10,000 pilgrims affected by the plant’s closure had been operating smelter by alleged pollution, saying it from different railway zones of have been constructed at will get back their source of adapting “best practices” fol- was “non-sustainable” and the country for pilgrims and attending the Pravasi Bhartiya to take the message about the Allahabad Junction railway livelihood. lowed globally, the official “unjustified”. tourists participating in the Divas at Varanasi. religious fair across the coun- station. These will have vend- In a statement issued late noted, “We thank the people The Tamil Nadu Kumbh Mela.” The Pravasi Bhartiyas will try. The coaches will have ing stalls, water booths and Saturday, Vedanta Ltd’s Sterlite of Thoothukudi for the faith Government, meanwhile, He said the railways be taken to New Delhi for colourful and attractive images ticket counters, LCD TVs, pub- Copper Plant, Chief reposed in us and for their said it would challenge in the planned to operate four to five Republic Day celebrations. of Kumbh Mela and landmark lic address system, CCTV cam- Executive Officer, P Ramnath support”. Supreme Court the NGT special trains to ferry 5,000 He also said branding of structures of Allahabad. eras and separate toilets blocks said, “We welcome the order “We will continue to work order setting aside the Pravasi Bhartiyas from the Kumbh Mela will be done “The railways have given for men and women. Similar given by the National Green for the welfare of the commu- closure of the Vedanta Ltd’s Allahabad to New Delhi. They on 1,400 coaches of special space for ‘Paint My City’ ini- passenger enclosures have also Tribunal on allowing us to nities around the region and Sterlite Copper plant in will be in Allahabad to partic- trains and the originating trains tiative at its stations and resi- been built at other stations,” the resume operations of remain committed to Tuticorin in the wake of ipate in the Kumbh Mela after of the NCR by vinyl wrapping, dential colonies which is anoth- PRO said. PTI our copper smelter at grow sustainably along with protests by locals.   ()  ( *+, -.*/ %  :

-  # %    + # <# %   22,-"   +    &>? &(@AB#    1 :- E)%        #  9       ?< &&? C      %47 4!2 =;*   %47 4!2 ed new supply.    As per data, the Mumbai ndustry body Nasscom has    ousing sales are estimated Metropolitan Region (MMR) Icollaborated with the Indian   Hto have increased by 25 alone will sell more than 1 Institute of Technology, Madras    per cent this year at 3.1 lakh lakh units in 2018, 34 per cent for its FutureSkills Platform 0    ,       units in nine major cities of the higher than the previous year. that is targeted at re- 3 !4 ,  ,,   country, driven by improved Pune is also reporting an skilling/upskilling four mil-          ()*(  demand especially for afford- increase of 47 per cent in sales lion people on digital skills.        able homes, according to in 2018 over the previous Under its FutureSkills      PropTiger.Com. year. Platform, Nasscom aims to re- The nine cities tracked by Both the cities benefited skill/upskill four million peo-         News Corp-backed PropTiger from a proactive real estate reg- ple from the IT-ITeS industry, are — Mumbai, Pune, Noida, ulator, it added. students entering the workforce Gurgaon, Bengaluru, Chennai, Southern cities also record- and employees of other indus- Hyderabad, Kolkata and ed increase in sales volume tries/government on digital Ahmedabad. compared to previous year. In skills. Last year, housing sales north, Noida has shown “The partnership (with were hit due to lingering improvement in sales on the IIT-Madras) will facilitate the adverse impact of note ban, the back of price cut undertaken by building of an able workforce new realty law RERA that most developers. to support the industry and came into effect from May “Combination of drop in other stakeholders. This will 2017 and the GST implemen- new launches and improve- ensure that there is plenty of tation. ment in sales has brought trained manpower for the jobs “The downslide in home down inventory overhang to being created in the evolving sale numbers has been arrest- the lowest in the past five ecosystem,” Nasscom said in a  %47 4!2 date of their publication in the lite gateway earth stations shall ed and the sector has moved years. Currently, we have only statement. C 0          9   Official Gazette,” the notifica- be interconnected with the out of bottom of sales cycle. 29 months of unsold invento- The partnership will be     2  %    H eople will soon be able to tion dated December 14 said. NLD (national long distance) Since building within the dead- ry at aggregate level of the nine directly with the Sector Skills 4 B I1"!# 1# #     Pmake calls and access The in-flight and mar- or access service or ISP line is mandatory under the cities. Council (SSC) which is the &  2      ,    internet through their phones itime connectivity (IFMC) can licensee’s network for further real estate law, completion rate “There will be over 7.5 lakh education and skill develop-   C 0   1N%  2 during air travel and ship be provided using telecom delivery of service,” the notifi- of housing projects has apartment and villa properties ment initiative of Nasscom.   O ()*N N2 B4     O voyage within Indian territo- networks on ground as well as cation said. improved, too,” it said in a year- available for sale with devel- The SSC and IIT Madras     ry as the Government has using satellites. The IFMC services will be ly-round up for the housing opers in the top 9 cities as on will work towards building a notified rules for providing The services can be pro- activated once the aircraft market. December 2018. Unsold inven- skills academy and establish a  7*+%&    such services. vided by a valid telecom attains a minimum height of On new supply, the realty tory decreased by 14 per cent program with extensive cours- Indian and foreign air- licence holder in India 3,000 metres in Indian airspace portal said that only 1.9 lakh in 2018 as compared to 2017,” es and training programmes lines and shipping companies through domestic and foreign to avoid interference with ter- new units were launched in PropTiger said. to facilitate skill building in operating in the country can satellites having permission restrial mobile networks. 2018, down 22 per cent from The company noted that the institution, the statement provide in-flight and maritime of the Department of Space, it The IFMC licences will be the previous year. the Indian real estate sector said. voice and data services in part- said. granted against annual fee of The developers exercised has undergone a massive This partnership will help nership with a valid Indian “In case of using satellite Re 1 for a period of 10 years caution in launching new pro- transformation in the past Nasscom build a future-ready telecom licence holder. system for providing IFMC, and the permit holder will jects as they have to strictly fol- two years on the policy front. workforce, ready to work with “These rules may be called the telegraph message shall be have to pay licence fees and low deadlines under the pro- 2018 has been the year of emerging technologies and cut- the Flight and Maritime passed through the satellite spectrum charges based on visions of the new real estate implementation and adapta- ting-edge skills in IT and con- Connectivity Rules, 2018. They gateway earth station located revenue earned from providing law RERA. Liquidity crunch tion by the stakeholders of tribute meaningfully to the shall come into force on the within India...And such satel- services. and unsold stocks also restrict- these policy changes. tech sector, he added. , 2  * PO  P     29    &, N    O  O; 2       -()*N       *)*+  1()*N .    %  1%   # $   # 1"  H25I6      -         &     # $ # $ 1 &1291 &   : 1  &29B  9 1 C 1  121 C   1 E  %47 4!2 If a household spends curd, buttermilk, spices, wheat, &1291C 12&H%#I   29B 8,400 a month post GST on 10 rice, nutrition drinks like % ,  2   n average Indian house- goods — cereals, edible oil, Horlicks/Bournvita, pasta, idli  %47 4!2 Ahold is saving up to 320 sugar, chocolates, namkeen dosa batter and mineral water every month on purchase of and sweets, cosmetics and toi- are taxed at lesser rate under  "3" 2 respond to queries on the he revenue department commonly used goods includ- letries, washing powder, tiles, the GST than previously. issue. "D!:   Thas imposed anti-dump- ing cereals, edible oil and cos- furniture and coir products Household goods of daily ikos Kardassis, the for- Amid persisting financial ing duty for five years on a metics post GST implementa- and other household products use like curry paste, tooth Nmer CEO of Jet Airways, turbulence, the airline has been Chinese chemical used in tion, a finance ministry source — its monthly savings would powder and paste, hair oil, who made a come back to the implementing a turnaround   E   making detergents to guard said citing an analysis of con- come to 320, the source said soap, cosmetics and perfumes, carrier in an advisory role and plan, which includes both cost domestic players from cheap sumer expenditure data. referring to the expenditure detergents, butter bans, sanitary was tasked to turnaround the saving and revenue enhance- imports from the neighbour- The Government rolled analysis. ware and footwear too attract cash-strapped airline, has once ment. ing country. out the Goods and Services Tax On a monthly spending of lesser tax now. again parted ways with it, a With three back-to-back    The levy on ‘Zeolite 4A’ (GST) on July 1, 2017, amal- 8,400 on these regular use The source said that wheat source said. quarterly losses and a net debt [Detergent grade] has been gamating 17 different central items, the tax paid under and rice have been exempt The Greek-American avi- of 8,052 crore as on imposed on recommendations and state taxes including excise GST is 510. This compares from tax under the GST as ation veteran in his third come September 30, the airline is also  %47 4!2 Mathews said the author- of Directorate General of duty and sales tax or VAT. to 830 tax charged previ- against 2.50-2.75 per cent tax back to the Naresh Goyal-con- working on ways to raise funds ities that require audits to be Trade Remedies (DGTR) after The GST not just made ously, resulting in a saving of incidence previously. Similarly, trolled Jet Airways in May this and reduce costs. head of the planned special conducted can spell out their conducting a probe in this India one market by levying 320. tax on milk power is down to year was roped-in to revive the The UAE national carrier Aaudit of telecom operators, requirements and the details regard. uniform tax rates on goods and In the old system, the cen- 5 per cent from previous 6 per fortunes of the full service car- Etihad Airways holds 24 per industry body COAI has they need, to the firm selected The duty in the range of services, it also did away with tral Government would levy cent. rier following its dismal finan- cent stake in Jet Airways, which favoured a single audit exercise from the pre-qualified list. $163.90-207.72 per tonne of tax-on-tax prevalent in the excise duty when a good is pro- Similarly, sugar confec- cial performance since January it acquired in 2013. that meets the requirements of The firm that audits can the chemical will remain in previous system. duced in a factory and the State tionary is taxed at 18 per cent this year. “Kardassis had in 2013 multiple stakeholders like the then issue reports based on force for five years (unless Also, GST rates have been Governments would charge post GST, as against 21 per cent “Kardassis, whom Goyal also quit the airline as its chief telecom department and sector the individual specifications revoked, superseded or lowered on an array of com- VAT on top of this. This meant in the earlier indirect tax roped-in to help him in the air- executive officer as he was regulator Trai. of various agencies that amended earlier), said the monly used goods and services that consumer not just paid regime. line’s turnaround plan, had largely kept out of discussions “The DoT is entitled to do require such audits to be con- Central Board of Indirect which resulted in monthly sav- VAT on the basic price of the The tax rate on sugar and gone on leave to his native place on the deal with Etihad at that audits and we can’t argue with ducted. Taxes and Customs (CBIC) in ings for consumers, the source good but also on the excise edible oil has come down to 5 in November but after that he time,” said the source close to that. But can we get to a point “Telecom Regulatory a notification. said. duty charged by the centre. per cent under the new tax sys- did not return,” said a source the development. where a single audit exercise is Authority of India (Trai), for DGTR, the investigation An analysis of household With the introduction of tem, from 6 per cent earlier. privy to the development. Goyal had brought conducted by one entity that is instance, requires billing audit arm of the commerce min- expenditure pre and post GST the new indirect tax, that pat- Also namkeens and sweets are The former chief executive Kardassis on board to help him agreed to by all parties as com- to be conducted and that ties istry, had conducted the probe rollout shows tax rates have tern has been eliminated. The now taxed at 5 per cent, as parted ways with the airline and the senior management on petent, to do detailed checks also into the revenues (revenue on complaint of Gujarat Credo come down on as many as 83 GST is levied at the consump- against 12 per cent/7 per cent after Goyal initiated discussions cost-saving and productivity required by various stakehold- aspect is something that gov- Mineral Industries and items including on food and tion end or when the final con- earlier. with his investment partner improvements, in the after- ers like CAG, telecom depart- ernment’s audit will dwell into Chemicals India which alleged beverages as well as daily use sumer buys the product or Also tax rate on washing Etihad Airways for further math of 636.45 crore loss in ment and Trai,” Cellular as well) ...These are inter- injury to the domestic indus- goods like hair oil, toothpaste, service. powder and tiles has come stake sale to garner funds, said FY 18, with March quarter loss Operators Association of India twined issues and a single try on account of the cheap soap, washing powder and The source said an array of down to 18 per cent from 28 another source. alone of a massive 1,036 (COAI) Director General audit makes sense,” Mathews import from China. footwear. goods including milk powder, per cent earlier. Jet Airways did not crore. Rajan Mathews said. said.      3           #0 &0 7 < ?N     %47 4!2  %47 4!2 Broadband Mission to achieve objective all 2.5 lakh village panchayats.  %47 4!2 of broadband for all,” Sundararajan said. At present, 1.21 lakh panchayats are s many as 369 infrastruc- he Government is planning to Industry leaders and associations ready with broadband services infra- Ature projects, each worth s many as 52 projects for Tlaunch broadband services readiness will discuss at the NDCP workshop structure. The DoT has awarded task to 150 crore or above, have Arail connectivity to ports index of states based on parameters like issues they are facing in states especial- roll out wifi services in 62,0000 pan- shown cost overruns to the are underway entailing an infrastructure, approval processes and ly in rolling out telecom infrastructure chayats to Telecommunications tune of over 3.58 lakh crore investment of 44,605 crore, utilisation of high speed Internet, a top which in turn impact investments. Consultants India Limited (TCIL) and is owing to delays and other rea- an official said Sunday. telecom department official said “We want to ensure that 5G is not working with ITI for setting up wifi hotp- sons, a report said. These projects are Sunday. limited to urban areas. It should reach sots in other panchayats. The Ministry of Statistics being undertaken by the “According to a study by ICRIER (a rural areas. For this, we have to work with “Broadband services have been start- and Programme Indian Port Rail research firm), $100 billion investment states to ensure that there is 100 per cent ed in all panchayats covered under Phase Implementation monitors Corporation Ltd (IPRCL) will have seven-fold multiplier effect on penetration of optical fibre cables. 1. Now we are looking at utilisation of infrastructure projects worth and the Ministry of GDP. There is a need of a national mis- Without massive OFC penetration, 5G broadband where states need to come for- 150 crore and above. Railways. sion to make this happen. We are going services will not expand. States have to ward and identify institutions like school, “Total original cost of IPRCL has taken up 32 to launch broadband readiness index for provide smooth right of way permis- police stations etc that are to be con- implementation of the 1420 projects worth 18,253 crore states which will be vital for investments,” sions,” Sundararajan said. nected with wifi,” Sundararajan said. projects was 18,05,667.72 However, it said the num- months. across nine major ports, of Telecom Secretary Aruna Sundararajan 5G networks are said to provide She said states have to ensure that crore and their anticipated ber of delayed projects decreas- The brief reasons for time which eight projects worth told. broadband speed of 1 Gbps. there is enough electronic equipment completion cost is likely to be es to 300 if delay is calculated overruns as reported by various 175 crore have been com- She said the Ministry of Electronics Theoretically, a high definition 2-hour available at their institutions to start using 21,63,672.09 crore, which on the basis of latest schedule project implementing agencies pleted, a Shipping Ministry and IT has also shown interest in states video can be downloaded in 5 seconds at BharatNet broadband network for vari- reflects overall cost overruns of of completion. are delays in land acquisition, official said. readiness index and want to expand it this speed. ous services like tele-medicine, e-health, 3,58,004.37 crore (19.83% of For 651 projects, neither forest clearance and supply of The official said in addi- further. The telecom secretary said there is a e-education etc. original cost),” the ministry’s the year of commissioning nor equipment. tion, 23 rail connectivity The telecom ministry will hold first need to increase mobile tower base by “DoT is working to create state-of- latest report for September the tentative gestation period Besides, there are other projects worth 24,877 crore workshop on implementation of the three times and OFC rollout by four-folds the-art telecom infrastructure in next 2018 said. has been reported. Out of 366 reasons like fund constraints, identified under Sagarmala National Digital Communications Policy to achieve ‘broadband for all’ target four years and we want states to draw a Of these 1,420 projects, delayed projects, 100 have geological surprises, geo-min- have being taken up by the (NDCP) which envisages $100 billion under the National Broadband Mission. road map to start using it. At the work- 369 reported cost overruns overall delay in the range of 1 ing conditions, slow progress Ministry of Railways, out of investment in telecom sector by 2022, “We have to roll out wifi services in shop, we will work on yearly targets that and 366 time escalation. to 12 months, 69 have 13 to 24 in civil works, shortage of which seven projects entail- broadband connectivity at 50 megabit per rural and urban areas. To deliver bene- States need to achieve,” Sundararajan According to the report, months, 91 projects reflect labour, inadequate mobilisa- ing 2,491 crore investment second speed to every citizen, telecom fit of NDCP to people and create jobs, said. the expenditure incurred on delay of 25 to 60 months and tion by the contractor, Maoist have been completed. connectivity at every corner of India and states have to come forward. We will do She said the telecom ministry will these projects 106 projects show 61 months problems, court cases, con- Sagarmala is a port-led creating 40 lakh jobs. comparative evaluation of all states and discuss with states usage of broadband till September 2018 is and above delay. tractual issues, ROU/ROW development programme of “This is first preparatory national highlight best policies for other states to for development at aspirational dis- 7,83,503 crore, which is 36.21 It also said the average (right of use/right of way) the country which seeks to workshop on implementation of NDCP adopt it,” Sundararajan said. tricts, enhancing connectivity in Naxal- per cent of the anticipated cost time overrun in these 366 problems, law and order situ- reduce logistics cost for both in which 25 states have confirmed to par- The telecom ministry has floated ten- affected areas, north eastern states and of the projects. delayed projects is 45.95 ation, among others. overseas and domestic trade. ticipate. Here we will launch National der to roll out 10 lakh wifi hotspot across islands.    ()  ( *+, -.*/   # 

:        %  <-(    7  

 !3 %47 #

gritty Belgium defeated former champions the ANetherlands in sudden +-  -+  ) death in a thrilling summit clash to win their maiden men's hock- ey World Cup title at the Kalinga 4'(5 -   Stadium here on Sunday. Olympic Silver medallist Belgium created history by eking  !3 %47 # doubled their lead when Craig scored out a 3-2 win in the penalty from close range with a rebound from shoot-out after the final match of ast edition champions Australia Brand's pass after his initial try was saved the game's showpiece event Lsecured a consolation Bronze medal by England goalkeeper Harry Gibson. ended in a goalless draw. after mauling England 8-1 at the at the Australia made the scoreline 3-0 in It was a great day for Kalinga Stadium on Sunday. their favour four minutes into the sec- Belgium hockey as the country Tom Craig (9th, 19th, 34th minute) ond quarter through another fine field registered its second biggest scored a hat-trick while Jeremy Hayward goal by Craig, following a brilliant link- international title after the (57th, 60th) struck twice for Australia in up play with Jake Harvie and Govers. Olympics Silver in Rio in 2016. the Bronze medal play-off. Blake Govers Australia went into the half time In the last edition of the (8th), Trent Mitton (32nd) and Tim break with a comfortable 3-0 lead. World Cup at The Hague in Brand (34th) were the other goal getters Mitton then extended Australia's Netherlands, Belgium had fin- 1    1  the first for Australia. lead in the 32nd minute with a rebound ished fifth. opportunity World number 7 England's lone after Hayward's try from a penalty cor- The Netherlands, on the "3 ! "6 and he duly con- goal in the lop-sided match came from ner was saved by Gibson. other hand, failed to match     + *=;*1*=;N1 verted it. the stick of Barry Middleton in the 45th Before England could settle down Pakistan's record of a fourth *=N(1*==+ It was then Netherlands' turn minute. from the setback, Australia pumped in world title for the second con- %  < *=;<1*==)1 to score and continue the sudden This was Australia's fifth Bronze two more goals within a minute to make secutive edition. The Dutch had *==N death but Hertzberger faltered medal in the history of the tournament. the contest a completely one-sided finished runners-up to Australia    < *=NO1()*)1 this time as Belgium goalkeeper The last time the Kookaburras had to be affair. four years ago in front of their ()*+ Vanasch came up with another satisfied with a third-place finish was First, Brand finished off a fine home crowd. They last won a brilliant save to hand his side the way back in 1994 in front of their home Mitton pass for the fifth goal and then World Cup title way back in 1998 &  ( ())(1())O biggest win of their careers. crowd in Sydney. Craig got the sixth one for Australia and in Utrecht. 2 * *=;? The title clash, which was The victory also enabled Australia to completed his hat-trick with another Incidentally, it was the   * ()*N witnessed by none other than further increase their head-to-head field strike. Netherlands' second consecu- cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar record against England. England scored a consolation goal tive match that went to shoot-out   and Odisha Chief Minister After sitting back in the initial min- just seconds before the end of third in the tournament after their vic- , turned out to be utes, Australia secured their first penal- quarter with Middleton finishing off into tory over Australia in the semi-      # a fierce contest between the two ty corner in the sixth minute but Govers' an empty goal from a Phil Roper pass. finals on Saturday. * + "% $  European sides. flick was deflected well over the post. Australia scored their seventh goal In Sunday's shoot-out, While the Netherlands took However, it did not take long for in the 57th minute when Hayward Belgium goalkeeper Vincent    the early initiative and attacked Govers to register his name in the converted a penalty corner. Australia Vanasch outmatched his Dutch    #   # continuously in the first two scoresheet. He scored his seventh goal of then secured back-to-back penalty cor- counterpart Pirmin Blaak by 8   " quarters, Belgium made a strong the tournament with a reverse hit after ners in the final minute, the second of making four saves to hand his " *   comeback after the change of receiving a through ball. which was converted by Hayward to seal side their maiden World Cup "%& "   ends. A minute later, the Kookaburras a convincing win. title. Belgium, though, had the There was hardly anything to   :2 first chance but Tom Boon's separate the two sides in the deflection in the second minute !   92!    shoot-out as they were levelled 2- bench into wild celebrations. went just wide. Minutes later,   1  2 L          2 after five tries. While Jeroen But the Dutch goalkeeper Hertzberger's reverse struck the !     !  L   Q  Q  Hertzberger and Jonas de Geus asked for a referral for a foot and side-netting.  2  ! Q   Q scored for Netherlands, Florent the goal was later withdrawn It was a midfield slugfest #         &   F  -  9 H92!I     - Q,92!,      van Aubel and Victor Wegnez after TV replays showed the ball between the two teams as both   D<" =&                  L  2 L  !   were on target for Belgium. indeed touch De Sloover's feet created chances but lacked the F    %      However, the shoot-out was while he was pushing it into the final touch inside the opposition Belgium, on the other hand, Blaak. ,    H * ( CR  1 not without drama as Belgium net past Blaak. circle. failed to secure a single penalty Belgium pressed hard in the !    2 L          needed Arthur de Sloover to The reversal meant that the The Netherlands had two corner in the game. final 10 minutes of the game,          score from their fifth and last match went into sudden death penalty corners in the match but Two minutes after half time, putting relentless pressure on the   92!     2  attempt to win the game and he and Van Aubel was given the the Red Lions defended stoutly Belgium skipper Thomas Briels' Dutch defence but a break- ,2  L   L %  1Q92!      did so, sending the Red Lions responsibility by Belgium to take to deny them any inroads. shot was saved by Dutch goalie through eluded them.  92!      0'(3,.0       0!:3003F!50/!7B"-/70/!9: Kolkata: 4             "  <-(  2-    "     :3,! ",:%        predatory finish handed Arsenal Pedro Rodriguez to open the        "    *< their first defeat in 15 league scoring and then chalked up his      harlie Austin shattered games and brought a stunning ninth goal of the campaign, but *)   C 4 - CArsenal's 22-game unbeaten halt to their longest unbeaten run first in 13 games for club and   H?=I  4          run as the Southampton striker in all competitions since 2007. country.      #  H*;1 O* I  . .  punished a howler from Gunners Unai Emery's fifth placed However, Chelsea failed to H++I    L   L      goalkeeper Bernd Leno to seal a team hadn't lost since a 3-2 build on their 2-0 lead and               shock 3-2 win on Sunday. defeat at Chelsea in August and endured a nervous finale after "         Austin settled a thrilling the north Londoners' first setback Solly March pulled one back H;?I      Premier League clash at St Mary's since the summer leaves them with his first goal of the cam- when he headed home with just two points behind the fourth paign.  %' five minutes left after Leno mis- placed Blues, who won at Victory saw Chelsea open up Noida: F    .      F  judged Shane Long's cross. Brighton on Sunday. Hasenhuttl, taking charge of iour of their fans behind a three-point lead over Arsenal in    C L    *O      Southampton had twice While it was a bitter after- his first home game, danced them on the field thanks to fourth and close back to within  "  "      taken the lead through Danny noon for Arsenal, Southampton's a jubilant jig on the pitch at an inspired Eden Hazard in seven points of leaders        Ings, only for Henrikh first win in 15 matches in all full-time after securing the a 2-1 victory at Brighton on Manchester City. !         2     Mkhitaryan's brace to draw competitions was cause for much maiden victory of his Sunday. Brighton had only previous-  1 "    0  "   **-+1 *<-*?1 Arsenal level on each occasion. celebration. reign.Chelsea put a week of The Belgian provided ly been beaten at home by **-(1 ?-**1 *?-*<   .     3  Leno's mistake and Austin's Southampton manager Ralph negative headlines for the behav- his ninth assist of the season for Tottenham Hotspur this season. .  =-**1 **-*1 **-O1 **-?  2           L  1.     3 . "                   1   +%1     !$%$ %1 .            ,       F   " #2  World Cup winner laid on Nikola Kalinic's second goal of the season in  $77 $!"%$     *)  arim Benzema shot Real Madrid to the 26th minute with a superb through Thiruvananthapuram: C        Kwithin two points of La Liga lead- ball, then put his side two up on the  "2 % pions with Andrea Belotti   (;  # $,&LL  ers Barcelona with the winner in a stroke of half-time. forcing a one-handed save        ()1 scrappy 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, After Kiko Olivas handled ristiano Ronaldo scored from Juventus goalkeeper             1 while countryman Antoine Griezmann Griezmann's long-range Cfrom the spot as Juventus Mattia Perin, with Armando   +*   fired a brace in a 3-2 win over Real shot, and referee saw off city rivals Torino 1-0 Izzo nodding over after 51     . $    Valladolid to take Atletico Madrid level Undiano Mallenco to hammer home their dom- minutes. ((1  <) #  H<*I1 with Barca. pointed to the spot after ination in Serie A. But a poor backpass from      H<

 &3 %&D!:3  )P  1 // 6  ,  :  ,AF   relieved P V Sindhu let out a joyous ()** 2  2  9    #  H2  I (*J*O1(*J** "   9* scream when she finally laid her ()*< "   "  &. H I (*J*;1*;J(*1(*J*= Ahands on a Gold medal by claiming the World Tour Finals with a win over 2017 ()*< "  : " H   I (*J*?1(*J*(  &3 %&D!:3 world champion Nozomi Okuhara here on 0   ()*+ "  : C !- HC I (*J*(1(*J*; Sunday. ()*? "  : "  " H.  I (*J=1(*J(<1(*J*+ hief national badminton coach With the straight-game victory, com- CPullela Gopichand has set his eyes ing after seven straight finals losses, Sindhu ()*O "   "  C & H I (*J*?1(*J= on ending the 18-year-old wait for an became the first Indian to achieve the feat. #  ()*O  : 6H I (*J**1*;J(*1(*J** Indian to become an All England Playing her third successive season- ()*; "2  & "   H2  I (*J*<1(*J*+ champion next year after P V Sindhu ending finale, Sindhu, who had lost in the clinched the season-ending World summit clash to another Japanese, Akane ()*; 2 :    " H I (*J*=1(*J*O Tour Finals title. Yamaguchi, to settle for a Silver in the last ()*; C : % :  H.  I ((J()1**-(*1(*J*N Gopichand was the last Indian to edition, prevailed 21-19, 21-17 in a match  ()*N 797 ,9 % :  H.  I (*J*=1(*J*; win the All England Championship in that lasted an hour and two minutes.  .    .   :5 2001, achieving the coveted feat after This was her career's 14th title but the 6  ,  :  21 years of Prakash Padukone's 1980 year's first. Prior to this in 2018, she has won title. Silver at the World Championships, Asian ()*N 2 : D H3  I *N-(*1(*-**1()-((H  I Asked about the targets, Gopichand Games, Commonwealth Games, Thailand ()*N   &    % H2 I *N-(*1(*J(<H  I said: "For us the 2020 would be a big Open and India Open. ()*N ,  : % :  H.  I *?-(*1*N-(*H  I one, and then 2022, so basically the Dubbed a bridesmaid after falling Commonwealth, Asian Games and short of Gold on a number of occasions, ()*N 7       " H I *=-(*1*)J(*H  I the Olympics are the big event but hav- Sindhu finally broke her jinx, screamed and ()*N  &  , ,-H , I *<-(*1*OJ(*H  I ing said that the All England will be the sunk to her knees. ()*N 797 ,9 % :  H.  I (*J*=1(*J*;HI target next year. Saina Nehwal had reached the finals of "It has been quite a while since we 2011 World Super Series Finals, while Jwala (,A.((A,)3A have won the All England Gutta and V Diju finished runners up at the Championship. It will be almost 20 2009 edition. years since Prakash sir won and then Sindhu, an Olympic and World I won the Championship so I hope this Championship Silver medallist, was com- time it doesn't take so long." posed and held her nerves at the crucial Speaking about, Sindhu's win in the moments to stay a step ahead of the final he said, "I think it is a fantastic Japanese through the match. tournament." "The way she has played, she has O 1G P beaten players of quality. To beat P V Sindhu on Sunday hoped no one (Akane) Yamaguchi, (Nozomi) will ever question her ability to win big titles, Okuhara, Ratchanok (Inthanon) in relieved at breaking the finals jinx with a the same tournament is special. She fin- historic triumph at the World Tour Finals. ishes the year on a high. She has won After losing seven successive summit medals in the major events and that was clashes, Sindhu finally settled her finals the target this year," he said. blues to lift the prestigious season-ending "It is great to end the year like this trophy. but more important is to start the next "I feel really happy. I have no words year with a similar win." because it is my first win this year after com- ing and losing in the finals, so it is memo- rable. The year has ended on a beautiful "It was a good match. Overall there was note," said Sindhu, who won Silvers at the a lot of rallies. Sometimes I was remem- Commonwealth Games, Asian Games and bering about the last final but I tried to World Championships this year. focus again on the match," she said. "Somewhere every time people have for anybody else but for Sindhu's as I won all matches in the league "Whenever I play against Okuhara or been asking me the same question. I hope mind, I think it is important she won stages and also the semifinals and Yamaguchi I never think it would be easy. the question won't again come to me, ask- in the final with a comprehensive big finals. I know every time it would be tough. ing why all the time coming to the finals I win," he said. "I would definitely enjoy the Today also the rallies were 30-40 strokes, lose. I think I can say now that I won Gold "People have been waiting for moment as I am here. Next we have but I gave my 100 percent and I won. and I am really very proud." it and it is great to have this win at the Indian league (Premier bad- Okuhara also played very well." Her mentor and chief India coach the end of the year." minton League), so I will go directly for Asked about her targets for next year, Pullela Gopichand also stressed on the Talking about her title win, world that and I hope do well there so that would Sindhu said: "Next year it will be Olympic importance of Sindhu crossing the final hur- number six Sindhu said: "The last to last be all for the year." qualification year and we have to keep our- dle. year I lost in semifinal and last year I fin- Sindhu, who had lost in the finals in self fit and strategies which tournaments "There has been a lot of talk of her los- ished runners up. This time I am the win- the last edition, said she sometimes lost to play and we will have Malaysia and ing the finals and I think that at least, not ner, so it is a beautiful tournament for me focus during the title clash. Indonesia coming up next year." +++ + +- 3  Q+ -

 4#,! the first hour of play. In doing so, Kohli took India past aptain Virat Kohli became the sec- 200 in the 80th over, and then reached Cond fastest to reach 25 Test centuries his hundred off 214 balls. before Indian pacers made Australia This was also his 34th hundred as labour for an overall 175-run lead, Indian skipper across formats, second leaving the second match evenly poised only to Ricky Ponting's 41 centuries as on Sunday. Australian captain. Usman Khawaja scored an unbeat- The celebrations though were cut en 41 runs as Australia reached 132 for short as Australia used the second new four at stumps on day three. Tim Paine ball to good effect with Vihari caught (8 not out) was keeping company at the behind off Josh Hazlewood (2-66) in the other end. 86th over. Earlier, the Indian skipper scored Kohli fell before lunch, edging Pat 'F  " 123 runs off 257 balls. It was his sixth Cummins (1-60) to second slip where Test hundred on Australian soil, joining Handscomb just got his fingers under the boyhood hero Sachin Tendulkar, and he ball. TV replays were not sufficient 2 9& became the second-quickest batsman in enough to overturn the on-field umpire's Test history to score 25 Test hundreds soft signal of dismissal. (in 127 innings) after Sir Donald The visitors lost another wicket in Bradman's 68 innings. this short passage as Mohammed Shami -  F   Post tea, Aaron Finch (25 retd (0), again batting ahead of Ishant, edged hurt) didn't come out to bat after being the 18th over, attempting to leave the reduced to 85 for three. The big part- a masterful hundred as India reached Lyon behind first ball.  4#,! hit by Mohammed Shami (2-23) in the ball, assuming it would move away only nerships weren't coming as Khawaja and 252 for seven at lunch. Post lunch, India lost their last three 13th over. He retired hurt but scans for it to crash into the stumps. It Travis Head (19) added another 35 runs, From overnight 172 for three, India wickets for 31 runs and were bowled out ndia were "surprised" at the on-field umpire's call that led cleared him of serious damage on his became two wickets in four overs as helping the hosts cross 100 in the 30th made a torrid start to the day as Ajinkya for 283 runs in their first innings. Ito skipper Virat Kohli's controversial dismissal but the team right hand's index finger. Shaun Marsh (5) was caught behind off over. Rahane (51) was caught behind off Lyon Nathan Lyon (5-67) took his 14th five- has moved on and is focused on restricting Australia to a It was a fiery spell of fast bowling Shami. Head threw it away just like he did on the fourth ball of the first over. wicket haul in Test cricket as Australia low score in the second Test, pacer Jasprit Bumrah said on from the Indian pacers. Marcus Harris Australia's lead had barely crossed in the first innings, holing out to third Hanuma Vihari (20) though was up took a 43-run lead in the first innings. Sunday. (20) too had been hit on the helmet ear- 100 at that stage, as Khawaja and Peter man off Shami. Only Khawaja stood tall to the task of batting out the next pas- Post lunch, India's first innings Kohli's dismissal triggered a controversy after Peter lier in the eighth over off Jasprit Bumrah Handscomb (13) put on 21 runs. There among the regular wickets and anchored sage of play, as he put on 50 runs with lasted only another 12.3 overs as the Handscomb took the catch at second slip off Pat Cummins' (1-25). was a lot of chatter in the middle while the Australian innings. the skipper for the fifth wicket. lengthy tail refused to wag for the sec- bowling and on-field umpires deferred to the third umpire The opener, dropped on 1 off Ishant the latter was at the crease, owing to con- Earlier, India lost their last six wick- He soaked up pressure at one end, ond time this series. with a soft signal of out, meaning only conclusive evidence Sharma (1-33) at first slip by Cheteshwar troversy over Virat Kohli's dismissal ear- ets for 60 runs to hand Australia the even if not scoring too many runs, while In doing so, Lyon equalled Muttiah could overturn the decision. Pujara, added 26 runs with Khawaja. lier in the day. Ishant trapped him lbw advantage. Kohli went about his business at the Muralitharan with seven five-wicket However, TV replays were not sufficient enough to over- Harris was bowled off Bumrah in in the 26th over as Australia were In the morning session, Kohli scored other end as India garnered 42 runs in hauls against India in Test cricket. turn the decision, which left the Indian fans and Kohli dis- appointed as the skipper walked off the ground without acknowledging the ovation for his superb innings of 123. "We were a little surprised by the on-field call but now  ""  7!3-!3DF30 that it's been done means it's been done. We will move for- ward with the game. That's about it," said Bumrah when asked about the controversial decision. Virat Kohli scored his 25th Test hundred to help India  4#,! :9:0:"D!1 score 283 runs in their first innings. But the last six wick- ets fell for 60 runs which meant that they surrendered a 43- ensions flared-up towards the   742%&,:% run lead. Tend of day three with none other Talking about Kohli's knock, Bumrah said, "Obviously, than the two captains, Virat Kohli and pener Tom Latham's unbeaten cen- we were in a bit of bother at the start (of the day), and then Tim Paine, exchanging verbal volleys Otury put New Zealand in charge of the way he played, the way he carried his whole innings was as the second Test between India and the first Test against Sri Lanka in infectious. Australia headed for a nail-biting fin- Wellington on Sunday, as the Black Caps "He has been doing all the time and he is an inspiring ish. raced past the tourists' first-innings total leader. He leads from the front. So, it's a good thing for the The Indian skipper was out and looked to build an imposing lead. team and hopefully he will keep doing it in future as well." caught at second slip, and while the Latham was 121 not out at stumps on The hosts finished day three on 132-4 and took an over- catch was referred to the third umpire, day two with New Zealand cruising at 311 all 175-run lead in the second Test. it wasn't overturned on account of soft for two in reply to Sri Lanka's modest Bumrah said that they would want to restrict Australia signal. 282. to as few runs as possible on day four. It led to quite a talkative Kohli on It was a frustrating day for Sri "Tomorrow the first session will be important. We want the field during Australia's second Lanka's bowlers on Basin Reserve pitch to take early wickets, so it will restrict the total to as less as innings, which carried on until that transformed into a batters' paradise possible and that will help us to chase it in the fourth innings. stumps, with both captains exchang- after wreaking havoc during the tourists' In my eyes, our team is capable of chasing any total but we ing words. what India's doing," said Lyon. Macquarie Sports Radio, while former innings on day one. will try to minimise as much as possible," he said. "If he messes it up, it's 2-0,"Kohli "Virat is a great player, he plays on captain Border told Fox Cricket: "I Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson "If you see the match, nobody has really gotten out (to said, which was picked up by the emotion, we all know that, and to be don't think I've ever seen any captain narrowly missed out on his own centu- balls that come) off the track. The crack is just there but it microphone after he and his team- honest I'm not too concerned how carry on like that." ry, falling for 91, and all New Zealand's doesn't do a lot. It's only in the mind. So yeah, we will not mates made a loud caught-behind Virat reacts or the way he conducts With India batting last on a batsmen got good starts, with Jeet Raval take that into consideration (while batting)," he added. appeal for Paine in the final over of himself. I'm just worried about what tricky surface, chasing anything above making 43 and Ross Taylor not out on 50. has eight wickets in hand and has plen- the day. we can control in the Australian dress- 250 will be a big ask. While the Sri Lanka attack worked ty of batting to come. 7 $ &&8 9%! ""%  The Australian captain did not ing room and I thought as bowlers we Lyon said: "The wicket seems like hard, they could not build pressure and Sri Lanka will now be hoping for a "! 3"2   02  %++ hold himself back and replied "You've came out today and performed pret- it's starting to play a few more little the two New Zealand wickets that fell dramatic New Zealand collapse on day   H    I +? ON O*)< =) +< (? got to bat first, big head". ty well," he said. tricks. We were expecting the cracks were the result of rash shots from Raval three to salvage any hopes of a win. The hosts star-spinner Nathan Kohli was his usual animated self to play a little bit more." and Williamson. That was not an issue Earlier, they added just seven to their 0 C H2 I ;? *(; O+=* ?+ ?+ (? Lyon, however, played down the inci- but his on-field antics did not go down "We were pretty happy with the for Latham, who meticulously crafted his overnight total before Tim Southee  ,  H2 I N( *<) O;)< ?; (= (? dent. "I think Tim just asked him well with former Australian players way we bowled and we know that seventh Test century from 219 balls and coaxed an inside edge off Kumara to  &   H2 I ;= *