Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 1 A NUWAY MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATION IIFA Rings in The Bell

STORY ON page 20 Voice of South Asian Community Since March 2002 Vol. 14 Issue 43 Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 $1 www.thesouthasian.info Sixth Mass Extinction The era of ‘biological annihilation’

(sai Bureau) Many scientists say it’s even the full picture of the “biological de México, and his co-authors, abundantly clear that Earth is entering annihilation” people are inflicting on the including well-known Stanford its sixth mass-extinction event, meaning natural world, according to a study University biologist Paul Ehrlich, cite three-quarters of all species could published Monday in the Proceedings striking new evidence that populations disappear in the coming centuries.That’s of the National Academy of Sciences. of species we thought were common terrifying, especially since humans are Gerardo Ceballos, an ecology professor are suffering in unseen ways. contributing to this shift. But that’s not at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma (Contd on page 21) Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 COMMUNITY 2 12-year waiting period for Indians applying for Green Card ? status to permanent to H-1B visa holders. research report said. status than to new arrivals. residency while 27,798 Green Card, is the According to the study, in Since 2004, a total of 7.4 Indians are new arrivals immigration status of a every fiscal year since million people who adjusted who received lawful person authorised to live 2004, the US has issued their status and 5.5 million permanent residency in and work in the US more Green Cards to new arrivals have received the form of a Green Card, permanently. A Green immigrants living in the lawful permanent Pew Research said. “In Card holder can apply for country on another visa residency in the form of a one employment-related US citizenship after five who adjust their legal status Green Card, the study category, people from years of residency. This than to new arrivals. In said. Employment-related India applying for period is shortened to 2015, there were 508,716 categories (including permanent residence as three years if married to a new arrivals who received workers’ family members) (sai Bureau) In 2015, about applying for permanent skilled employees US citizen lawful permanent accounted for 14 per cent 36,318 Indians adjusted residency also known as currently have a 12-year Green Card holders who residency in the form of a of 2015 Green Cards. their status to permanent Green Card in the US as waiting list. In other words, adjusted their status are Green Card and 542,315 Refugees (11 per cent) residency while 27,798 skilled employees, the government currently is more likely than new people adjusted their and people granted asylum Indians are new arrivals according to a new report. processing applications arrivals to be in their prime status, it said. (3 per cent) together made who received lawful However, India is also filed in May of 2005,” the working years of 25 to 64. In every fiscal year since up a similar share, it said. permanent residency in the among the top countries report said. Pew said from Among those who adjusted 2004, the US has issued There is also a “diversity” form of a Green Card, Pew whose residents get fiscal 2010 to 2014, about their status, 72 per cent more Green Cards to category for people from Research said. Green Cards every year. 36% of employment- were of ages 25 to 64, immigrants living in the countries with historically There is a lengthy 12-year In 2015, about 36,318 related Green cards more compared with 55 per cent country on another visa low rates of US waiting period for Indians Indians adjusted their than 222,000 were granted of new arrivals, the who adjusted their legal immigration (5 per cent). Indian-origin man arrested for lying on US army applications statements on his The charge carries a arrested and eventually On one occasion, he applications to join the US maximum sentence of five deported. had talked about wanting military. years in prison. His parents spoke with to become a martyr but Shivam Patel, 27, of According to the the FBI about their son suggested his “jihad” Norfolk was charged for affidavit, Patel - who after learning he was in might not be violent. He not disclosing on his converted to Islam several Jordanian custody and had also praised the application to join the Army years ago - had travelled said he had become terrorist attacks in that he had travelled to to China in July 2016 to “obsessed with Islam.” Paris, Nice and Orlando China or Jordan. teach English. While there, An investigation of and expressed an He claimed he had not he had expressed Patel’s room and admiration for Anwar al- gone anywhere outside displeasure to his father computers disclosed Awlaki, a slain leader of the US in the past seven about how that country evidence that he had the al-Qaida in the years, except for a family treated Muslims, it said. downloaded three copies Arabian Peninsula. (sai Bureau) NEW had searched online for trip to India in 2011-’12, a Patel was sent back to of an online magazine On another occasion, YORK: An Indian-origin ways to join the terror report in The Virginian the US by his employer but produced by the Islamic speaking to an Muslim convert, who had group, has been arrested Pilot said, quoting a court he travelled to Jordan State and searched for undercover agent, Patel voiced support for ISIS and for making false affidavit. instead where he was how to join the group. expressed desire to do something “bigger, better and more Indian-origin fugitive arrested after being on run for 26 years purposeful,” like dying (sai Bureau) New York: A prison after warranting his actions.” for Allah, the report 63-year-old Indian-origin on his guilty plea to first- If not for a casual added. fugitive has been degree assault. He had inquiry made by a family He told the agent about arrested and jailed in the been on the lam for 26 member of the victim his desire to see a holy US more than 26 years years. fortuitously making its war between Muslims and after he was sentenced He had been arrested in way to the Queens non-Muslims. for driving in an December 1989 and District Attorney’s “He sang an Islamic inebriated state and pleaded guilty to first Office, the defendant State fight song to the causing an accident that degree assault. When might very well have source and recalled severely injured a Maharaj, then 36, failed escaped punishment for making a replica of the woman. to appear at his crime,” Brown said. group’s flag, which he Jaipaul Maharaj of New sentencing, a bench Maharaj, who as Abdool wanted to replace his Jersey was arrested on warrant was issued for Persaud is on five neighbour’s American flag Friday and brought his arrest. He was years’ probation for an with,” the report said. Patel before the court where sentenced in absentia October 2015 then applied for jobs with he was remanded to the to a term of 4 to 12 conviction, appeared on Robert Kohm, who 1989 morning and local police and fire state Department of years in prison. Friday for a scheduled executed the long- struck another car in departments, correctional Corrections to begin his “It took 26 years but the meeting with the overdue sentence. which Grace Schachnu facilities and even the US sentence, Queens victim’s family finally Sullivan County According to the was a passenger. Army and Air Force. district attorney Richard has achieved justice in Department of criminal charges, As a result of the collision, “He wanted to blend into Brown said. knowing that the Probation and was Maharaj was driving Schachnu suffered society and do something Maharaj, who also went individual responsible promptly arrested. He without a driver’s fractured ribs, a fractured ‘glorious’,” FBI Special Agent by the name of Abdool for causing serious was returned on the license and in an cervical, collapsed lungs Thomas Pembroke wrote in Persaud, was sentenced physical injury to their warrant and appeared intoxicated state when and hemorrhaging of the an affidavit unsealed on in absentia in 1990 to loved one is now being before Queens he went through a red brain. Schachnu passed Thursday in US District four to 12 years in held accountable for Supreme Court Justice light on a December away in 1994. Court. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 COMMUNITY 3 Two Indian-Americans plead guilty in US call centre scam

Patel, 34, from Illinois Rajubhai Patel, Viraj from the IRS and US pay alleged monies owed pleaded guilty to Patel, Dilipkumar A Patel Citizenship and to the government. conspiracy to commit and Fahad Ali previously Immigration Services Victims who agreed to fraud and money pleaded guilty on various (USCIS), and engaged in pay the scammers were laundering offenses, the dates between April and other telephone call instructed how to provide Department of Justice June. According to scams, in a ruse payment, including by said. admissions made in designed to defraud purchasing stored value Sentencing dates are connection with their victims located cards or wiring money. pending. respective pleas, throughout the US. Using Upon payment, the call A total of eleven Bhavesh, Asmitaben and information obtained from centres would defendants have pleaded their co-conspirators data brokers and other immediately turn to a (Agencies) Washington : fraud and money guilty thus far in this case. perpetrated a complex sources, call centre network of "runners" Two Indian-Americans on laundering scheme in the Co-defendants scheme in which operators targeted US based in the US to Saturday pleaded guilty to US perpetrated by India- Bharatkumar Patel, individuals from call victims who were liquidate and launder the the charges of their based call centres. Ashvinbhai Chaudhari, centres located in threatened with arrest, fraudulently-obtained involvement in a massive Bhavesh Patel, 47, from Harsh Patel, Nilam Ahmedabad,imprisonment, fines or funds, federal telephone impersonation Arizona and Asmitaben Parikh, Hardik Patel, impersonated officials deportation if they did not investigators alleged. Ria Money Transfer adds Tens of Thousands of Locations to Indian Network to Serve World’s Largest Diaspora Group •Ria launches partnerships with three of India’s leading cash sending countries such as transfer.com or via an agent remittance payout agents the United States, where location. In a recent report •Customers in India gain access to tens of thousands of new many Indians reside. In from the World Bank’s locations to receive remittances from friends and family in the 2015, the United States was Remittance Prices United States named the second top Worldwide3, Ria ranked first investment. We are proud remittance sending country for sending $200 and $500 to •Partnerships provide Ria’s customers with a high-quality cash to India, responsible for India using the online service payout network in the top remittance receiving country in the world to be the link that connects our customers in the US to facilitating $11.7 billion in and in the top 10 for cash to (Press Release) New said: “Indians make up the of the best services in the their loved ones in rural and transfers2. In addition to account transfers through an York : Ria Money Transfer largest diaspora group United States to send urban centers across India. cash pick-up, Ria also agent location. These results (“Ria”) the third largest globally and India is still the money to India. Millions of We welcome our new offers bank deposit services reflect the company’s money transfer company in top receiving market for households are largely partners to the Ria family.” which offers customers the commitment to offering the the world and subsidiary of family remittances, dependent on these Ria already has a strong option to transfer money to most competitive rates and Euronet Worldwide, Inc. receiving $62.7 billion1 in transfers for family network worldwide, any bank account in India best service possible to the (NASDAQ: EEFT) has 2016. “Today, Ria has one maintenance, savings and including in top remittance online at www. riamoney customers its serves. signed direct partnership agreements with three of India’s leading cash Gas station owner convicted in sales tax theft scheme remittance payout agents, Paul Merchants Limited, Kulbir Singh Pleads Guilty To Three Counts Weizmann Forex Limited Grand Larceny In The Third Degree For Fail- and Transcorp International Limited. Ria’s new principal ing To Remit Over $1 Million In Sales Tax Col- agents are well-recognized lected At His Three Gas Stations; Will Be Sen- in India and each have tenced To Up To 1 1/3 To 4 Years In Prison more than 15 years’ experience in the money (By our staff reporter) - state, officials said.“Our Avenue in West transfer sector. With the Long Island : Nassau investigation uncovered a Hempstead; Dashmesh is addition of these agents, County gas station owner deliberate scheme by Kulbir on Merrick Road in Valley Ria will upgrade its cash Kulbir Singh on Tuesday Singh to cheat New York Stream and Karam is on payout network during the pleaded guilty to three State out of vital tax Hempstead Avenue in next 12 months by adding counts of third-degree revenue,” Schneiderman Elmont. tens of thousands of high- grand larceny for failing to said in a statement. The gas stations quality retail and non- report more than $1 million “Stealing from taxpayers collected but failed to to pay sales tax, $500,000 of the money banking financial company in sales taxes collected at undercuts the funding of report more than $1 million prosecutors said. owed, officials said. (NBFC) locations across three of his properties, important programs that in sales taxes from In October 2012, Singh It was during the India. The robust and Attorney General Eric T. support all New Yorkers.” September 2011 through admitted to controlling four investigation of that failure ubiquitous payout network Schneiderman has Singh’s corporations, December 2014, gas stations that had to pay the remaining will provide Ria with announced. the three BP gas stations prosecutors said. stolen more than $500,000 money that the increased brand Singh, 53, faces up to in Nassau County — The case was in sales taxes. Department of Taxation recognition, while providing four years in prison as a Dashmesh Petroleum Inc., investigated by the state The corporations and Finance uncovered tremendous convenience result of the conviction on Gobind Petroleum Inc. and Department of Taxation pleaded guilty to felony tax evidence that Singh and accessibility for the Class D felonies, Karam Mart Inc. — each and Finance’s Criminal fraud charges and agreed continued to steal sales beneficiaries to easily officials said. He was pleaded guilty to one count Investigations Division and to pay more than $1 million tax proceeds at gasoline receive cash remittances. ordered to pay $150,000 in of second-degree grand was later referred to in restitution, interest and stations he controlled, Speaking at a press restitution and sign a larceny, a class C felony and Schneiderman’s office. penalties, state officials prosecutors said. That event in New York, Juan confession of judgment for were fined $50,000 each, Singh’s gas stations said. investigation resulted in the Bianchi, CEO & President the remaining $850,000 state officials said. were previously convicted But the corporations current indictment, state of Ria Money Transfer, that was stolen from the Gobin is on Hempstead of felony charges for failing ultimately paid only officials said. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 OP-ED 4

itself apart from the rest. multilateralism itself is G20G20 Summit:Summit: USUS standstand But it is rare for them to do now unclear. Talk of a so on something as German-Chinese axis or fundamentally important as some other combination onon ParisParis climateclimate dealdeal climate change. More of middle powers taking worrying is that US a global leadership role President Donald Trump proved overblown. unbecomingunbecoming ofof itsits seems willing to sacrifice Instead, temporary his country’s long-term coalitions around specific credibility influence in issues were formed but superpowersuperpower statusstatus return for the most often the same countries symbolic of actions to found themselves on TheThe needneed toto tackletackle climateclimate changechange keep his voter base back opposite sides in regard home pleased. This to some other global waswas oneone ofof thethe bedrockbedrock almost the opposite of problem. India, for internationalinternational understandingsunderstandings ofof what strategy means and example, supported Paris how a superpower is but was happy at the US- recentrecent times.times. USUS PresidentPresident DonaldDonald supposed to act. inspired clause in support However, it also says of clean fossil fuel TTrumprump hashas regressedregressed onon thatthat something that the Paris technology. Germany, agreement is likely to go Japan and China were on The Group of Twenty for the Paris agreement on this multilateral forum does Trump administration’s ahead without US the same side on free trade (G20) major economies of climate change. This was not bode well for the body’s scepticism has at least led involvement and if local but not much else. If the the world failed, for the first pathbreaking in a negative future. Two, the need to the other member-states to governments in the US US continues to regress in time, to have a full sense for two reasons. tackle climate change was strengthen their put up enough resistance, multilateral diplomacy, this consensus on their joint One, the G20 was created one of the bedrock commitment to Paris. Mr Trump’s defiance may may be the future of statement. The United by Washington and the international It is not the first time the not make much international cooperation States put in a note of US’ willingness to understandings of recent US or some other major difference. and governments like India dissent regarding support undermine the credibility of times. Fortunately, the power has decided to set The future of should adjust accordingly. Are our beliefs so fragile that we would kill over Facebook posts? The recent cases of violent clashes as a result of Facebook posts should make us introspect about how tolerant we Indians are as a society. of expression doesn't 66(a) of the IT Act come with tolerance. which has since faced Is it a crime to lot of flak. The section disagree to some was later quashed content posted over down by the apex court Facebook or any other of India in 2015 stating social media platform? it as Is it a crime to voice "unconstitutional". that disagreement? If Social media has you nodded your head become a staple in our in disagreement for everyday life. Every both these questions, day we see posts that Facebook was picture of Kedarnath. because of their man who now has a here is question you we do not agree with launched in 2006 with The two incidents in Facebook posts. Here, sedition case on him would answer with a and yes, we the aim to help people Bengal and sample a few: after making loud YES. understand how connect with friends Uttarakhand have led In March 2017, a statements considered Is it not a crime to difficult it is to deal and family. us to question how man was arrested in anti-Indian Army and when someone else's with some people on Fast forward a few intolerant we have Greater Noida for anti-India. point of view is used as social media when years where Facebook become as a society. posting a status Ambikesh an excuse to they would just not posts are now causing Was Aamir Khan right criticizing UP Chief Mahaptra, a professor vandalise, kill, loot and acknowledge your riots. In a recent when he spoke about Minister Yogi at Jadavpur University disrupt the public point of view but incident in West the rising despondency Adityanath. was arrested along with harmony? violence can never be Bengal's Basirhat, a in the country? Cartoonist Aseem his neighbor Subrata Much hue and cry the solution. Facebook post about With time, we have Trivedi was booked Sengupta for sharing was caused in 2012 With increasing Prophet Mohammad realised how things with charges of an "objectionable" when, after the death of number of smartphone has led to violent you share on social sedition in 2012 over cartoon of West Shiv Sena chief Bal users, the social media clashes in the area and media platforms could cartoons he shared on Bengal Chief Minister Thackarey, a girl penetration in the a man being stabbed. be used against you. his website and Mamata Bannerjee. posted a status country will also A post that Muslims in No, not in an Facebook, cartoons What is important questioning the need increase and it is quite the area considered embarrassing is-this- some thought were to understand here is for a shut down in obvious that not blasphemous, a post how-you-looked-a-few- 'offensive' towards that all these incidents Mumbai on the funeral everyone will agree with that was made by a 17- years-ago kind of way, Mother India. are happening in a day. She was arrested, each other's point of year-old boy.In another but in a we-can-kill-you A Class 11 student country were freedom and another girl was view. If the country incident in and we-will-jail-you was arrested and sent of speech and arrested merely for continues to deal with Uttarakhand, a mob kind of way. to jail for posting expression is a 'liking' the status. disagreement the way it vandalized the shop of In the past, there "objectionable" fundamental right The girls were is doing at the moment, a young boy who have been several comments pertaining granted to the citizens. booked for "hurting we may certainly have posted what they incidents of people to UP minister Azam Lately, however, it religious sentiments" to fear for our safety in considered a 'offensive' being arrested Khan. Yes, the same feels like the freedom and under Section the coming days. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 EDITORIAL 5 A misstep on N Korea may lead to first use Amarnath killings: Hardliners must desist from communalising terror attacks of nuclear weapons after World War II The terrorist bullets that killed the pilgrims in Amarnath Pyongyang’s threats with ICBM’s and nuclear tech Yatra 2017 also took aim at a government, which has two unlikely parties as allies: The soft-separatist People’s need to be handled carefully because a diplomatic Democratic Party and the right-wing BJP misstep in the Korean peninsula could result in the The terror attack that killed seven Amarnath shrine pilgrims is a first use of nuclear weapons since World War II deadly reminder of how fragile peace is in Kashmir. The attack is also a blow to the state’s syncretic traditions that bind Hindus and Muslims. The cave-shrine was discovered by a Muslim shepherd in 1850 and his family and Hindu priests together were its custodians for decades till the state government set up a board to regulate the yatra in 2000. The yatra, in fact, is incomplete without both communities and local logistics are all provided for by the Muslims. The pilgrimage has come under threat on several occasions since terrorism reared its head in the Valley in 1989 but even through the 1990s — when violence was at an all-time high and Kashmiri Pandits were forced to flee their homes — the pilgrimage has not once been suspended. To the contrary, villages worst affected by militancy have opened their homes and gone out of their way to make the yatris comfortable. The killing of seven pilgrims on Monday has cast a deep shadow over the Valley. The timing couldn’t have been worse: The attack has taken place at a time when the state is already reeling under the impact of an unprecedented uprising that followed the death of militant commander Burhan Wani. The security establishment is stretched and has to now ensure that there is no communal flare-up in the ideologically opposed regions of Jammu and the Valley. The terrorist bullets that killed the pilgrims also took aim at a government, which has two unlikely parties as allies: The soft-separatist People’s Democratic Party and the right- wing BJP. It is imperative for the alliance partners to behave maturely A bad boy has got himself a big gun and the neighbours don’t know what and hold the peace that is already tentative. to do. That crudely sums up the predicament that the US and, to some degree, The most-heartening signals of Kashmiriyat not taking a beating in the China find themselves with North Korea’s first successful testing of an face of extreme provocation are coming from the state’s common citizens. In intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). an important signalling, a fresh batch of 3,000 yatris left Jammu a day after Whether the missile could make it all the way to North America is the terror attack. Kashmiris, too, are deeply disturbed by the killing of the uncertain. But that is almost certainly just a matter of time. There will be a pilgrims. The separatists from the Hurriyat Conference were quick to condemn longer lag before Pyongyang can prove it has developed a miniaturised nuclear the attack. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said that the pilgrims will always be respected warhead for use on the missile. Again, this is also a matter of time. guests. It is important to remember that the same separatists were silent when What is clear is that North Korea has fast forwarded closer to the day it militants killed policemen and government employees. can credibly say it can strike continental US with a nuclear weapon. This, in As the state braces for testing times ahead and as the bodies of the turn, raises the question as to the nature of Washington’s response, especially pilgrims reach their homes in Gujarat and Maharashtra, political hardliners if it concludes it cannot accept the threat of nuclear blackmail by the most must desist from communalising the killings. renegade government on earth. New Delhi will feel a sense of déjà vu at Washington’s predicament. India, after all, has been under the nuclear shadow of another rogue state, Pakistan, for years. And Islamabad’s illicit nuclear weapons programme greatly benefited from North Korea’s sister programme. Unlike India, however, the US does have the ability to militarily stop North Korea at any time, but only if it is ISSN No. 1554 06X prepared to absorb the collateral damage that this would have on South Korea, Chairman & Publisher : Karam Singh Thind Japan and its relations with China. Managing Editor: Sharanjit Singh thind US President Donald Trump has not helped matters by blowing hot and Editor in Chief : Bhupinder Kaur Thind cold on North Korea. While his administration seems to accept that North Editor (Political Affairs-India) : Aruna Singh Korea is their thorniest foreign policy issue, its messaging to Pyongyang has been all over the place. One of the reasons for North Korea’s nuclear- Chief Photographer : Vijay Shah Special Correspondent : cum-missile brinkmanship has been dictator Kim Jong-un’s demand that the Photographers: Ruth Alvarez/Hamad Gagandeep Singh (INDIA) US agree to negotiate directly with him as an equal partner. The US has refused, saying this would be succumbing to blackmail while undermining Editorial Intern: Aman Thind Web Coordinator : Jatinder Kumar the regional six-party structure. But Mr Trump initially declared he would be “honoured” to meet the North Korean dictator directly. This was eventually A Publication of NuWay Media Group rolled back by his staff but not before encouraging Pyongyang to continue REGD & MAILING OFFICE : down a path of provocation. China’s unwillingness nor inability to control North Korea will at least allow P.O Box 7005 Hicksville New York 11801 US-Chinese relations to shift to a more natural and thus more belligerent status. Washington however needs to provide much more clarity on what TelFax : 516 342 1076 exactly its red lines and responses will be to Pyongyang’s actions. This is [email protected], [email protected] doubly important given the incoherence that has marked the Trump www.thesouthasianinsider.com administration. More than anywhere else in the world, a diplomatic misstep Disclaimer The South Asian Insider is a weekly newspaper published every week by The South Asian Insider. It's available in in the Korean peninsula could result in the first use of nuclear weapons since community & religious centers, ethnic grocery stores and also available by mail, email & online to subscribers. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various writers, authors and forum participants in The South Asian Insider do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and World War II. viewpoints of the Editor. All advertisers advertising in The South Asian Insider assume responsibility for accuracy of their advertisements. The South Asian Insider and/or people associated with it are not responsible for any claims made by the advertisers and don't endorse any product or services advertised in The South Asian Insider. We strongly urge consulting your lawyer before buying/contracting /hiring through the ads published in the newspaper. We are in the business of selling space and claims made by the advertisers are not authenticated or confirmed by an independent source Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 OPINION 6 BJP Has Given Bengal “Supari” To These 8 Stalwarts Derek O’Brien these people? even getting a losing ticket Gujarat pogrom in 2002. his own tweets are riddled of 294 in the 2016 In Bengal, the BJP is a Exhibit One: A former is worth it. I wonder why!). What’s more - a BJP with factual inaccuracies. assembly election! The strange party. It lacks Rajya Sabha member from This person used to study spokesperson tweeted that His Bengal propaganda is BJP rewarded him with a leaders, grassroots Uttarakhand, and former in Kolkata as a schoolboy. image and tried to pass it so uninformed that we job in the Uttar Pradesh politicians and even editor of the RSS He showed up 40 years off as being from Bengal. can’t even refute it. How government. His effective spokespersons. It mouthpiece Panchajanya. later for the Lok Sabha (She now has an can you refute uneducated obsession with Bengal has outsourced its wicked Now looking for his next election in 2014. As soon unbailable warrant against garbage? remains. As his and ghoulish pursuit of sinecure and shopping as he lost, he very sweetly her) Exhibit Six: Another government unleashes power to guns for hire. On wildly for it. One day, he vanished. Now he’s back. Exhibit Four: A tabloid “former journalist”, now a vigilantes and as law and the streets, such as in speaks about China and As Led Zeppelin sang: “In editor, again of possible columnist and think-tank order collapses in his Baduria and Basirhat, the Tibet. The next day about through the ‘out’ door”. He origins from Kolkata. He fellow. Pretends to be state, he prefers focusing party used stormtroopers the writings of too wrote a column for now hangs around the sober but slips in on Bengal. from the BJP-RSS Thiruvalluvar. The third day media. ruling party in Delhi hoping disinformation and the Exhibit Eight: The BJP combine to spread about dark-skinned and Exhibit Three: A for some crumbs. He is the party line in the midst of General Secretary for rumours and fuel riots. In fair-skinned Indians. His columnist-turned-Rajya print equivalent of the TV his pieces. He may as well whom Bengal is a short the media, it is using a latest bandwagon is Sabha MP (nominated) - Studio Pracharaks and is become an official BJP stop while he tries to oust select band that claims to Bengal, where he styles the Burra Sa’ab among vituperative and nasty in spokesperson. Last lived in and replace Shivraj Singh understand Bengal and himself as an expert. He the Sanghis and the his comments. The boy Kolkata maybe 25 years as Chief Minister of attempts to shape the even wrote a column for epitome of the Lutyens’ needs to learn some ago. Claims he still Madhya Pradesh. Scores narrative, but manages NDTV. Zone Parivar. He recently ambiguity and deniability. understands it. It’s like me of farmer suicides in his only to make a fool of itself. Exhibit Two: Another addressed a small-scale That’s the route to success saying I understand home state don’t move In particular, there is a editor, also a former Rajya public meeting in Delhi’s in BJP circles. lacrosse. him. But fictional accounts gang of eight who have Sabha member, now Jantar Mantar. Behind him Exhibit Five: The BJP Exhibit Seven: The of violence in Bengal have been given the Bengal looking to confirm his was an image of violence, IT head, now also a Bengal Health Minister of Uttar driven him to a frenzy. All supari by the BJP HQ. Let nomination for a BJP ticket with captions reading expert. His job is to spread Pradesh, earlier in charge he wants is the big job in us call them the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha “Save Bengal” and “save disinformation and manage of Bengal for the BJP. He Bhopal. Once that Octette, singing together in elections. (He will lose, of Hindus”. Guess what? The troll armies. He does this was so successful the happens, bye-bye disharmony. Who are course, but in the BJP, image was from the very well, so much so that party won three seats out Bengal. Reading Modi's Many, Fervent Hugs For Netanyahu Mani Shankar Aiyar are talking of Merchant of Venice for a Gaza at the invitation of process." (I wrote up my viable Palestine, co-existing Can Israel be de- contemporary times in the poignant rendering of the Yasser Arafat for the visit for Encounter, volume peacefully with Israel hyphenated from Palestine run-up to the first-ever visit awful treatment meted out doleful commemoration in 1, no.4, July-August 1998, (through) an early any more than Modi 2002 by an Indian Prime to them). Ironically, the only 1998 by the Palestine from which I have retrieved negotiated solution." can be de-hyphenated Minister to Israel, a state time the Jews were safe National Authority of the these quotes). However, there was no from Modi 2017? The indicted in both these and secure in Europe was 50thanniversary of Al- In Modi, Netanyahu has mention of any of this when question is germane reports. in the Arab empire of Naqba, the "Catastrophe" discovered his soul-mate. Modi met Netanyahu. In an because even as Modi and De-hyphenation cannot Andalus that ruled over the that massacred tens of Both are economical with anodyne, throwaway his apologists try to be done - for the Indian Iberian Peninsula (what is thousands of Palestinians the truth. A few weeks penultimate paragraph of distance Modi in domestic Prime Minister of today now Spain and Portugal) and drove three-quarters before embarking for Tel their Joint Statement, it was policy from the pogrom arose from the Chief for 781 years between AD of a million Palestinians out Aviv, Modi received the baldly stated that they over which he loomed in Minister of the horrors of 711 and 1492. of their burnt homes as President of the Palestinian "discussed" the (dead in Gujarat, so do Modi and his fifteen years ago, even as When Modi embraced Israel proclaimed its National Authority, the water) "Israeli- cohort try in foreign policy all the achievements of Netanyahu, it was Savarkar establishment as a state at Mahmoud Abbas, in New Palestinian peace process" to project an Israel that is Israel are grounded in their embracing Theodore Herzl, the expiry of the League Delhi. At their press (sabotaged by Netanyahu unrelated to the atrocities hounding out 750,000 displacing Gandhi who had of Nations' British mandate conference, Modi affirmed, when Hamas joined the that have been inflicted, Palestinians from the famously written in the Harijan on May 14, 1948. The Oslo "India has been unwavering Palestinian delegation), and continue to be Palestinian homeland in 1938: "Palestine belongs agreement had allowed in its support for the sought the establishment of inflicted, on Palestine and seventy years ago and to the Arabs as France Arafat to return to Gaza. Palestinian cause." (True, a "just and durable peace its people - documented imprisoning in Israel's belongs to the French and At my long meeting with at least till Modi arrived on in the region" (how can most recently in a 2017 backyard - the Occupied England to the English". Modi him on May 16, 1998, the scene: Modi's India has there be justice in the report for the UN Economic Territories - millions was bent on replacing the Arafat sadly shook his twice in succession, and in region if justice is denied and Social Commission for rendered exiles in their own Mahatma with Savarkar who, head and said the "peace complete violation of past to the Palestinians? How West Asia by Prof Richard homes and another 1.7 on December 19, 1947, process" had been precedent, abstained on can there be peace without Falk, renowned emeritus million reduced to second- celebrated the vivisection "frozen". I intervened with UN resolutions, carried by justice?), and "reaffirmed" professor of Princeton class citizenship in a nation of Palestine by a question, "Frozen, huge majorities of our their support for "an early University, and his explicitly reserved for one proclaiming: "The creation because of the Israelis or erstwhile partners and negotiated settlement" colleague, Virginia Tilley. race and one religion to the of a strong and because of Netanyahu?" several shocked (repeatedly undermined by Their report follows the exclusion of all others. independent Jewish state "Netanyahu," he Europeans, relating to Netanyahu after Oslo, 2009 Richard Goldstone The Palestinians are a must serve to checkmate immediately and firmly Israeli atrocities in Camp David and the Wye fact-finding report to the people who would be free the aggressive tendencies replied, "it is Netanyahu Palestine, and the Indian River accords). No UN on the atrocities if Israel had not been of Moslem fanaticism in who is refusing to delegation to the last non- mention, as with Abbas, of committed by Israel in the conjured up as a balm to general". accurately and honestly aligned summit in the "long and-standing war it unleashed on the appease the conscience of That, not a few shekels implement what has been Venezuela - not attended solidarity and friendship" Gaza Strip from December the European Christians worth of defence signed" and recalled that by the otherwise endlessly between India and 28, 2008 to January 17, who had caused the equipment, is why Modi so even Israel's President had peripatetic Modi - was Palestine "since the days 2009 that took almost the Holocaust by fervently and repeatedly said that "what Netanyahu instructed to not say of our freedom struggle", same number of systematically inflicting for embraced Netanyahu. is doing is wrong and anything on Palestine). and no talk of a "sovereign, Palestinian lives as did the two millennia dreadful Netanyahu and his against Israel itself". "The Having uttered this half-truth independent" or, indeed, of Gujarat pogrom of deeds on the Jews who extreme Zionist Likud party problem," Arafat added, "is in Abbas' presence, Modi a "united and viable February-March 2002 take took refuge amongst them. have repeatedly been that Netanyahu does not added, "We hope to see the Palestine" - to all of which of Indian Muslim lives. We (Read Shylock in returned to power in Israel. believe in peace, he is realization of a sovereign, Netanyahu is firmly are not talking history. We Shakespeare's The He was PM when I visited against the peace independent, united and opposed. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 OPINION 7 Why weakening of National Green Tribunal is bad news for India By tweaking the appointment rules to National Green Tribunal, the NGT could become a parking lot for retired bureaucrats In 2010, Parliament enacted of June, the Centre modified the review the country’s environment the National Green Tribunal process of appointments to the laws in 2014, which (NGT) Act, which said that a NGT: Instead of a senior judge, recommended dilution of the judge of the Supreme Court or its chairperson will now be tribunal’s powers. The NDA, a chief justice of high court will recommended by a five-member however, could not act as it would be eligible to be chairperson or panel, which will be led by the have lead to a political backlash. judicial member of the Tribunal. chief justice of India (CJI) or a But it later merged eight In six years since its formation nominee of the CJI, but a autonomous tribunals with other in 2011, the NGT has emerged majority of the other members tribunals, and also gave itself the as an independent voice when in the panel will be power to appoint and remove the chairperson and judicial the tribunal and it could become it came to protecting the recommended by the members in another 17 such members to the tribunal; now it a parking lot for retired environment. It has pulled up the environment ministry. bodies. The new uniform will be the environment ministry’s bureaucrats, rendering the NGT Centre for fast-tracking The NDA has been trying to appointment rules for 19 call. Giving power to the ineffective for protecting the approvals and corporate groups curtail the NGT’s powers for tribunals were notified on June executive to sack a retired judge citizens’ rights to a clean, for violating green approval some time. It set up the TSR 1. They have taken away powers is unprecedented. All this would healthy and pollution-free conditions. But in the first week Subramanian committee to of the CJI to appoint and remove ensure that judges may not join environment. Chinese Army Itching For Escalation With India. Beware The India-China standoff at strategic planners in New Delhi the Northern tri-junction in absorb the enormity of the Doklam (Donglang) area situation, and also its relevance bordering Bhutan has brought today. The 1962 war was thrust divisions of the armies of the two upon India as part of a larger countries face to face in one of Chinese strategy. China had the world's highest-altitude started moving into the Aksai Chin theatres. area before 1961. There was still The standoff began when the a large area which was Chinese started construction of unoccupied and Indian posts a road up to Yadong town in the were sparsely present. According Chumbi Valley. The narrow to reports prepared after the 1962 stretch of land touches India and debacle, the Indian army Bhutan where China has a very reclaimed a big chunk of small strip of land in what is territory. Subsequently, the actually Tibet, not enough to build Chinese army's withdrawal was even a footpath. The Chinese a strategic move and soon, the attempt seems to be to take the retaliation took place that turned entire land between India and into a major conflict. Bhutan and become an entity in China has travelled a long the border. The lower portion of way in history since 1962. Both the Chumbi Valley points south India and China made serious exclusive prerogative of the escalatory measures that political also probably with other countries towards India touching the efforts to mend fences and re- Chinese Communist Party. This decision-makers believes are except India. India's commitment Chicken Neck, highly sensitive to establish diplomatic and brings into focus the thinking, certain to reach the intended to protect the security and India and Bhutan. Considering economic ties. Years later, by writings and also the relationship result, such as the occupation of strategic interests of Bhutan and the narrow approach road, China 1980, the two countries came between the secretary general of Tibet, or the social and centuries-old Buddhist has been claiming 269 sq kms in much closer diplomatically and by the party and the PLA. demographic change in Xinjiang connections are certainly major the border as belonging to them. 2008, China had become India's The PLA since 2008 has been where the Islamic separatists are irritants for Beijing. In 1996, China offered to largest trading partner. seriously engaged in working out waging a freedom struggle to free It will be in the best interest of swap this area with Bhutan for Yet, trade, commerce and policy parameters for Beijing China-occupied Uyghuristan India if New Delhi adopts a policy 495 sq kms of land in the industry notwithstanding, Beijing especially in areas of flashpoints, (now renamed as Xinjiang). of wait-and-watch rather than Pasamlung and Jakarlung is not just a political establishment. conflict and crisis management Strangely, the political enter into a jingoistic diatribe Valleys in the north-central area This is the first time since the and non-conventional warfare establishment in Beijing appears thereby aiding the "conflict of Bumthang during one of the reign of Chairman Mao that the such as cyber and physiological to be endorsing the PLA's view escalation theory" of the PLA, many border talks between political boss of China has warfare. Interestingly, according that in a conflict, it is necessary which, according to China Beijing and Thimpu. Bhutan assumed two more important to the PLA, strategic and political to seize the initiative, but it is also watchers, is itching for a refused to fall for the deal as the posts. The present President Xi objectives must always be critical to preserve strategic and showdown with the political land in question was also Jinping is also the chief of army prioritized over military objectives political stability and operational establishment to retain its legitimately claimed by Bhutan as and secretary general of the in planning, executing and flexibility, in order to respond to supremacy in the decision- their own land, forcibly taken over party, the highest in power, controlling conflicts. an adversary's actions without making process. Needless to say, by China when they occupied position, decision-making Unlike accidental or unnecessarily escalating the New Delhi should do everything Tibet. processes and execution. inadvertent conflicts, China conflict. in its command to strengthen the In fact there is a history to Another important factor in strongly believes in deliberate Going by the huge volumes army at the border and be the area and China's desperation China's internal governance escalation where certain of strategic thinking with the prepared to thwart attempts by in getting a foothold in Doklam. process and matters of external measures initiated by the state or secret confines of Beijing, it is Chinese army to usurp territory The frequent references to the affairs is the close proximity of non-state actors are intended to important for New Delhi to study or create strategic disadvantage infamous 1962 war by both sides People's Liberation Army (PLA) cause a geo-political and the present border standoff in to India and Bhutan. and in the social media will serve to the day-to-day running of the advantageous change through a detail. China is eager to settle the Bhutan cannot be allowed to very little purpose unless the country, which was earlier the crisis or conflict. This includes border dispute with Bhutan and become another Tibet. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 OPINION 8 When TV Anchors Become BJP Spokespersons To Spread Fake News Mahua Moitra appeasement”. What does this population of 78 lakhs, has a and Madrassa Students via the under it. Bangladeshi The Goebbels doctrine - even mean? This is actually the Minority Affairs budget of Rs. Minority Affairs arm in 2011-12. infiltration?! The Trinamool is in “Repeat a lie often enough and question that the agitators for 2,750 crores - a per capita It was extended to all government its sixth year of power after an it becomes the truth” - is also Gorkhaland are finally asking the allocation of Rs. 35,256. schools in Bengal in 2015. It is uninterrupted 34-year stint by known to psychologists as “the BJP. Three years ago, a crafty Telengana, with 14.2% Muslim patently untrue that it was started the Left. Bangladesh and India illusion of truth”. Under test last-minute addendum to the population of 44.6 lakhs, has a for or limited to Muslim girls. But share a 4,096 km long conditions, people were more BJP’s 2014 manifesto promised budgetary allocation of Rs.1, alas, the truth is irrelevant to our international border of which likely to rate statements as true to “sympathetically examine and 279 crores or Rs. 28, 677 per friends in the BJP. Homes for 2,217 kms lies in Bengal. when these statements were appropriately consider the long- head. Telengana spends twice imams also exist only in the Border security is solely more familiar. Welcome to the standing demand of the as much and Karnataka three twisted minds of pracharaks. controlled by the BSF, one of the BJP’s nation-wide test lab, Gorkhas”. What does it mean? times what Bengal spends on its The Bengal government’s five Central Armed Police where the illusion of truth is Gorkhaland - yes or no? The minorities. So why is Bengal Gitanjali housing scheme was Forces of the Union of India. It crafted by swayamsevaks and Trinamool government has accused of “appeasement”? started in 2011-12 for is not within the purview of the amplified by eager bhakts aided unequivocally opposed the “Mamata only gives cycles to construction of houses for the state government. The central by a veritable army of highly paid division of Bengal to create Muslim girls.” “Only Muslim Economically Weaker Sections. government as recently as cyber propaganda warriors and Gorkhaland. Their stand is clerics get free houses.” Initially, the scheme was February, 2017 was rabidly biased news anchors crystal clear. The BJP, however, “Muslims from Bangladesh enter implemented in rural areas by reprimanded by the Supreme who comprise the newest breed cannot define what they really freely and Mamata does six departments including Court over its response to an of BJP spokespersons. They are stand for. Prevarication and nothing.” “Fake currency cross- Minority Affairs and Madrasah order to fence the India- uniformly ill-informed, under- subterfuge rule the day. Can this border racket in Malda run by Education, Backward Classes Bangladesh border to keep out qualified, and disgustingly loud shibboleth of minority TMC.” Words we hear being Welfare, Fisheries, Forests, illegal immigrants. The centre’s in their fervour to win the race appeasement be quantified? passed off as gospel truth every Sundarban Affairs and affidavit sought more time to for that much-coveted Rajya Does the Bengal government, single day on television and on Paschimanchal Unnayan and in complete the task, citing lack of Sabha seat. Their latest perhaps, spend social media. No. No. No. And urban areas by the Department data on the riverine stretches to “alternative fact” is that “minority disproportionately more on No. Providing cycles free of of Municipal Affairs and urban explain why it had so far failed appeasement by the Trinamool Minority Affairs? The answer is cost to girl students of classes bodies. The scheme was to carry out the court order and government is to blame for the no. The numbers to prove it: 9-12 was started as a scheme extended to all parts of the state stated that work on the entire breakdown of law and order in Bengal, with a 27.5% Muslim to promote education among in early 2014, and the nodal stretch could take till 2020 to Bengal”. This may seem population of 2.5 crores, has a backward sections of society in department today is the Housing complete. Again, the pre- ridiculous, but it is still total budget in 2017-18 of Rs. schools in the Sunderbans Department. The RSS lying election rhetoric of the BJP necessary to once and for all 2,815 crores for its Minority through the Sunderban Affairs machine stands exposed. The stands exposed - the centre is disprove the inherent falsehood Affairs department - a per capita department. It was later extended Gitanjali scheme was not started supposed to control the border, of both the blatant lies in this allocation of Rs. 11,433. to SC/ST students via the just for Muslims and Imams do but, by its own admission, statement. First, “minority Karnataka, with 13.2% Muslim Backward Classes Department not get free houses constructed cannot even get data on its responsibilities. Counterfeit currency from Bangladesh? The Difficulty Of Covering PM Modi At G-20 The central government controls this border too, but more I woke up on Sunday morning "apparently", it's because five of the dozen-odd government and discussed a range of importantly, how do you explain in Hamburg with sore muscles, other reporters and me who handles, or get cross-eyed issues with Xi. "Don't lie to us, counterfeit currency in a post- relishing the thought that I came all the way to the port city from tracking all of them, and at least," the reporter demonetisation world, Mr. Modi? didn't have to start rushing out to report on India at the G20, miss something? I know the complained. The poor officer Didn’t your midnight dhamaka of my hotel at dawn to follow learnt of it from Twitter. I saw government's rallying cry is maybe didn't know himself but promise to end fake currency Prime Minister Narendra Modi's that Arvind Panagariya, the Digital India but how are we to he certainly won't speak to any once and for all? Pray, do tell hectic schedule. He'd left the Sherpa - a term used for an interpret things if all that we reporter now before checking us, Sir, why this contradiction night before on Air India One adviser to the heads of state have is 140 characters on the with his boss or the PM's exists eight months into your and I was hoping that before I and government - had tweeted Xi meeting and a day later, tweeted position first. experiment? The Nation Needs headed to my Cattle Class ride, about it the day before! China pushes up the hostility I recently heard a long, radio to Know. Second, the apparent I'd get out for a walk to see the Now here's what's strange with an advisory to its citizens analysis of the media's breakdown in law and order. Tarun Vijay, ex-Rajya Sabha MP stunning lake close by. I had about it. Arvind Panagariya living in India? We then rely on problems in reporting on and ex-editor of the RSS’s no illusion about making it to a and the Ministry of External common sense, put two and Trump. There was some good mouthpiece, in his column here ferry ride on the harbour, or a Affairs did have a briefing at two together and figure out - advice there - the traditional a few days ago lamented the boat tour of the Elbe, but I did the end of the summit, but they despite the tweeted pictures of method political reporters have purported lack of security for hope that I could go back did not mention either the our PM smiling with Xi, the followed is to get information Hindus in Bengal. Mr. Vijay, seeing at least one other thing POTUS Face-Time or any meeting didn't resolve the from the inside and then spread Bengal comprises 70% Hindus. than just Hotel Atlantic, where details of the Modi-Xi meeting. border standoff. It's simplistic, it outside. Now, we have to Mamata Banerjee’s government PM Modi and German In fact, I can tell you that the but that's the ball park. follow the Outside-In mode. Get was re-elected with an Chancellor Angela Merkel information on the China That's the problem with 140- it from the big, wide, world overwhelming mandate in 2016, stayed, or the media room of meeting doesn't go beyond 140 character communication with outside and then use it to try winning 211 of a total of 293 the Messe, where the Indian characters. "A range of the media: you have to simplify and understand what's seats. Clearly Bengal’s Hindus press pack sat and waited issues," said Foreign Ministry things. If you refuse to do happening inside the don’t seem to view the RSS’s dangerously divisive and futilely for news, any news for spokesperson Gopal Baglay background briefings to explain establishment. But for those parochial usurping of their faith in more than 50 hours. when I pressed him for more, the nuances of an obviously well-wishers we have inside the quite the same shining light as Mr. Apparently, right where we "means a range of issues." complex situation, how can you establishment who keep telling Vijay. Tarun-ji, you might try to were at the G20 centre, PM Maybe it is my fault that I wasn't then attack the media for us to understand their point of actually win a people’s election to Modi shook hands, got waved following the very eminent "sensationalizing" the China view, to see things from their truly understand ground realities. To at and then held forth on some economist and NITI Aayog situation? One of the reporters perspective. I just have one guard against the pernicious “illusion enthralling subject while Vice-Chair on social media. It's seemed very upset. She'd thing to say - we want to of truth”, we must stop repeating POTUS Donald Trump just a wrong that I have corrected asked an officer specifically understand, we want to listen, falsehoods. Facts matter. They must listened. Apparently, it was very immediately, and I have set whether Xi and Modi talked and but talk to us beyond 140 matter. We must stand guard to interesting because not just alarms for every tweet now. But he clearly said no. Just a few characters. Hey, even protect them. Every re-post, re- POTUS, but other leaders doesn't the government lose out minutes later, those who had POTUS's top aide Rex Tillerson tweet, story, datum passed on, gathered to listen to him too. If if those disseminating their twitter alarms on, learnt spoke to reporters at length on without checking if it is true, is another step towards a world where you're wondering why I say information like me lose track that our PM had warmly greeted the Trump-Putin meeting. lies and truth are confused. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 ADVERTISEMENT 9 Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 INDIA CURRENT NEWS 10 Expel Lalu’s son Tejashwi, will support your government from outside: BJP to Nitish Kumar Bihar BJP president Nitayanand Rai said they are ready to support Nitish Kumar government from outside. (Agencies) As speculations happens in the party is what Lalu BJP president Nitayanand Rai are rife that Bihar Chief Minister Yadav wants,” he said. said. Nitish Kumar may ask his The BJP leader said Nitish Even after the CBI filed a case deputy and Lalu Yadav’s younger Kumar will have to leave the against him and his family son Tejashwi Yadav to reisgn after Congress as Sonia Gandhi has members, the Rashtriya Janata CBI raids against him, Bihar BJP already said that she is with Lalu Dal has decided that Deputy today said they will support the Yadav in the corruption case. Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav will crackdown against the Yadav come out and openly extend JD-U government from outside. “And BJP’s dream is to make not resign. family and Nitish’s increasing his support to PM Modi, much “I appeal Nitish Kumar to India Congress-free,” he said Nitish Kumar, who is heading closeness with Prime Minister to the discomfort of the expel Tejashwi Yadav. After that adding that Nitish Kumar’s image the Grand Alliance government of Narendra Modi. Opposition, especially RJD if they need it we are ready to which was that of good Janata Dal-United, Rashtriya Nitish, who was in an alliance chief Lalu Prasad with whose support them,” said. governance has also been Janata Dal and Congress in with the BJP for 17 years, has support he is running a However, he said, it is the affected. Bihar, is yet to comment on the been giving political signals of coalition government in Bihar. central leadership that will take “But if Nitish Kumar will need matter but he spoke with Lalu last getting closer to the BJP. Even in the presidential the final decision. to save his government then BJP night on the phone. Surgical strikes on Pakistan election, Nitish has decided to “In RJD there is no meaning will not be behind. We will There has been speculation and demonetisation have been a support NDA nominee Ram Nath of a meeting. Today’s meeting support his government from of cracks in the alliance few instances where Nitish has Kovind and not the opposition’s was a drama and whatever outside but will not join it,” Bihar government after the CBI been the lone opposition face to candidate Meira Kumar.

(Agencies) The controversial The move invited criticism anti-Romeo squads, which from several quarters following drew widespread criticism for allegations that the police were moral policing and harassing invading private space of young couples in the name of citizens. The opposition even women safety, will soon be back sought Central intervention into to patrol Uttar Pradesh streets. what they alleged “violation of However, the state police chief the Constitution” by allowing claims, the new teams will anti-Romeo squads to “ridicule comprise a polite, observant democracy and the freedom of and trained set of personnel who youngsters”. will act as a deterrent only to ‘IMPARTIAL POLICE’ eve-teasers and stalkers. Singh said the biggest A pre-poll promise of the achievement of the Yogi Bharatiya Janata Party, the government on the law and drive was aimed at punishing order front was its “impartial molesters and harassers in policing”. “Now people can say public places. However, that similar action is being vigilante groups took over the taken in similar cases and exercise, often targeting young there is no distinction on the couples and handing out basis of his or her political embarrassing punishments. affiliation or status. Whoever breaks the law will be dealt with an iron fist,” the DGP said. No shaving heads, blackening faces: UP’s Without naming any party or organisation, Singh said the police are not hesitating to take Anti-Romeo squad to return in gentler, 2.0 avatar strong action against the “newly emboldened constituents for Uttar Pradesh police is set to bring in new anti-Romeo teams that will have their over-enthusiasm” and trained, sensitised personnel to keep a check on eve-teasing and stalkers. cited strict action against cow vigilantes and the dealing of “Earlier, these squads were men are harassing women. They to protect themselves from officer. They will see a group of Saharanpur riots. Contrary to not trained. They were often are being taught that. Training is charges of human rights boys and they will go and threaten the view of opposition parties over-enthusiastic and took over in 30 of the 75 districts,” violations or other wild them... a girl and boy will be who referred to several incidents foolish actions like chasing said the IPS officer who was DG allegations. These teams will not walking together and they will of rape, caste violence and ‘gau young people and grilling (training) before being elevated be given the power to investigate question them. These things rakshaks’ as worsening law them,” said state DGP Sulkhan by chief minister Yogi but only detain the stalkers, should not happen,” the DGP and order situation in the state, Singh in an exclusive interview Adityanath. rowdy elements and issue said. Singh said the situation had “in to Mail Today. “This brought bad ‘NO MURGA warnings after “careful Supporting the need for such fact improved”. “After stern name to a well-meaning PUNISHMENTS’ observation of a situation”. a squad, Singh said it was action was taken against cow exercise.” The top cop assured that The curriculum also necessary to prevent teasing, vigilantes who indulged in According to Singh, the new there will be no more arrests, conducted sensitisation classes molestation or harassment of violence in the name of cow teams underwent a curriculum shaving of heads, blackening of of policemen where they were women at public place and instill protection, such incidents are designed by the Women Power faces or murga punishments (a taught to how to behave with a sense of security among no longer taking place in UP Line, a unit for prevention and stress position of holding ears) young couples and spot a people. now,” the DGP said. Regarding detection of crime against or chasing of couples at public suspicious character. The Allahabad high court in the Saharanpur riots, where women, with three areas of parks, college campuses, “The squad is being given March had upheld Yogi Thakurs and Dalits were locked focus: behavioural, legal and railway stations and shopping training in distinguishing a Adityanath government’s move to in violent clashes and tension practical. malls in the name of curbing eve- molester from a friend through set up these squads but persisted for weeks, Singh “They only have to be vigilant teasing or protecting women. keen observation and by being cautioned that the police must said: “Some people tried to and observant about situations Singh said the squad will also vigilant. Earlier these squads act only as per law and not create a volatile situation but and see if a man or a group of be asked to use body cameras were trained only as a police “outside its purview”. police took prompt action. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 INDIA CURRENT NEWS 11 Zakir Naik’s passport could be revoked soon (News Agencies)New Delhi: passport officer (policy) at RPO with them in the investigation pending Fugitive televangelist Zakir Naik could Mumbai wrote to Naik on July 3, against him”. Citing its June 23 soon become a stateless person, with directing that he meet him on any communication to the home ministry, the Regional Passport Office, working day between 10 am and the NIA said Zakir Naik had thrice Mumbai, serving him a 10-day 12.30 pm within 10 days from the been issued notices under Section ultimatum to submit his passport in issue of the letter, along with his 160 of CrPC on February 28, March person or face its revocation. passport dated January 20, 2016. 15 and March 31 but was yet to join The proceedings were initiated on “Failure to submit the passport will the proceedings against him. It added a request from the National force us to initiate necessary action that a non-bailable warrant had been Investigation Agency (NIA), which is under the Passport Act, 1967 against issued against him on April 21. probing Naik’s speeches that you,” he warned. Naik had left India on May 13 last allegedly incited youth to commit The NIA had written to the RPO, year and has not come back. NIA terror acts, after he failed to respond Mumbai, on June 29 seeking sources said he has been travelling to its multiple notices asking him to revocation of Naik’s passport on the to different countries, Malaysia being join the investigation. The assistant ground that he was “not cooperating his last known location. Head of every Kashmiri hangs in shame over Amartnath Congress in a spot after Rahul meets Chinese envoy (News Agencies) New Delhi : Congress attack, Mehbooba says found itself tied in knots after first vehemently denying and then acknowledging that party vice-president Rahul Gandhi had met Chinese ambassador Luo Zhaohui amid the continuing stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops near the Sikkim-Tibet- Bhutan tri-junction. The controversy gained traction on social media over reports that the Chinese embassy first tweeting “it is my job to be informed on impression that he met only the Chinese reported the meeting, saying it was to critical issues” and “the government must ambassador during the ongoing crisis over “exchange views on the current bilateral explain why three ministers are availing China’s attempt to build a road and take relations”, but deleting the post. Chinese hospitality”. The reference was control of a part of Bhutanese territory . The post seemed to have to the visit of three ministers to China for Rahul added, “If government is so embarrassed Congress which denounced (Agencies) New Delhi : Jammu and BRICS-related engagements. concerned about me meeting an it as fake news. But with the controversy Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba In a series of tweets, Rahul said, “It is my ambassador, they should explain why refusing to die down and reports of the job to be informed on critical issues. I met three ministers are availing Chinese Mufti said the terror attack on meeting and the deletion by the Chinese the Chinese ambassador, ex-NSA hospitality while the border issue is on.” Amarnath pilgrims in Anantnag is a embassy gaining traction, Congress (Shivshankar Menon), Congress leaders As the controversy grew, Congress “blot on all Muslims and Kashmiris”. finally confirmed the meeting. The party from north-east and the Bhutanese confirmed the engagement, arguing While visiting the injured in then struck a defiant stance in the face of ambassador.” The expanded reference ‘there’s no need to sensationalise the a hospital in Anantnag, she said the sharp criticism by BJP with Rahul seemed aimed at countering the meeting’. head of every Kashmiri hangs in shame over today’s incident. “Pilgrims come to Kashmir every Mallya defies SC, doesn’t appear in contempt case year for the yatra despite all the told that notice to the businessman was difficulties. And seven people died duly served after he was convicted for today. I have no words to condemn contempt of court. The court was hearing it. I hope the security forces and the contempt proceedings against Mallya Jammu and Kashmir police arrest filed by a consortium of 17 banks, led the perpetrators forthwith and take by SBI, which contended that he had not stern action against them,” the made truthful disclosure of his assets chief minister said. “This incident is before the court and he had intentionally a blot on all Kashmiris and Muslims. kept the court in dark on payment of $40 We will not keep quite till we bring million, which he received in February last the culprits to book,” Mehbooba year from British liquor major Diageo for said. She said efforts will be aimed stepping down as Chairman and of United at ensuring that quick action is Spirits Limited . SBI has the highest exposure of Rs 1,600 crore to KFA. Other taken against the culprits and banks that have exposure to KFA include justice is done. The chief minister Punjab National Bank and IDBI Bank (Rs said seven people, including six 800 crore each), Bank of India (Rs 650 women, were killed in the crore), Bank of Baroda (Rs 550 crore), (News Agencies) New Delhi: Fugitive and diverting $40 million to overseas dastardly attack that took place Central Bank of India (Rs 410 crore). businessman Vijay Mallya, who fled to accounts of his family members in around 8:20 pm.Those killed and Among other banks, UCO Bank has to the UK to escape criminal proceedings violation of the court’s order. It had injured in the attack were on a recover Rs 320 crore and Corporation Bank against him for not refunding bank loans directed Mallya to personally appear Rs 310 crore. The SC had started bus carrying pilgrims from Valsad of nearly Rs 9,000 crore, failed to appear before the court on July 10 to decide the contempt proceedings against Mallya and district of Gujarat. The bus came before the Supreme Court on Monday in punishment to be awarded to him.A s had issued notice to him on March 8, 2016, under terrorists’ fire near defiance of the order of the apex court neither Mallya nor his lawyer appeared on the plea by banks for recovery of about Khanabal in Anantnag district which was to decide on quantum of before the court, the bench adjourned Rs 9,000 crore which Mallya and his around 8.20 pm, over one hour punishment for contempt. A bench of the case for July 14 to decide the further companies owed to them. Mallya, however, after the patrolling by the security Justices A K Goel and UU Lalit had on course of action to be taken against the managed to flee the country days before forces on the Srinagar-Jammu May 9 held him guilty of contempt of court former chief of the now-grounded the SC took up the case against him. national highway wound up. for not honestly disclosing all his assets Kingfisher Airlines (KFA). The court was Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 12 RJD downplays differences with Nitish Kumar, but mum on Tejashwi also cast a shadow over the spoken to the CM, the party’s respond to signals from Kumar who meeting of opposition leaders position that their is no case had removed three ministers in the called by Congress president against Tejashwi makes it clear past after cases were registered Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday.Though that the deputy CM is not quitting against them. Jitan Ram Manjhi, JD(U) is likely to be represented, just yet. JD(U) leaders feel that Ramdhar Singh and RN Singh had the CBI case as well as recent without Tejashwi stepping down, been removed. Manjhi has now allegations about transfer of a middle ground will prove elusive. attacked Kumar alleging that action properties to Lalu’s kin threatens The alliance may not, however, against him was taken as he was to weaken opposition unity already snap overnight. If Kumar spells out a Dalit but the Bihar chief minister hit by Kumar’s support to NDA his stance clearly, the differences did not have the gumption to act presidential nominee Ram Nath will widen and further against Lalu Prasad’s Kovind. The BJP state chief developments in either the CBI sons.”Message to the RJD is Nityanand Rai meanwhile said the case or enforcement directorate loud and clear that Nitishji can’t (News Agencies) New Delhi: The national general secretary Sanjay party could offer support to Nitish probe into shell companies and run the government if people attention of political circles in Delhi Jha told TOI, “There can be no Kumar from the outside.”The final properties acquired by Lalu’s daughter facing corruption allegations are and Bihar is focussed on a compromise on principles the party decision of course will be that of Misha Bharti and her husband there in the ministry,” said a meeting of JD(U) legislators and represents and its image in the central leadership,” said Rai. Shailesh could provide a further trigger. senior JD(U) functionary as he organisation scheduled for public.The chief minister’s views He has offered such support JD(U) sources, in fact, feel that claimed that RJD should have Tuesday with Bihar chief minister on issues of financial probity are earlier, but the timing of the Tejashwi’s continuance in the ministry tried a way out but the party Nitish Kumar likely to break his well known. He has stood for remarks ahead of the JD(U) meet is becoming increasingly untenable. rallies behind the Lalu Prasad silence on corruption cases transparency and accountability in is significant. Though RJD leaders In the light in which the current family and they have refused to dogging his ally and RJD boss governance.” The rising friction chose to downplay differences with situation is developing, the alliance accept removal of Tejashwi and Lalu Prasad and his family . between JD(U) and RJD could Kumar and claimed that Lalu had might remain in turmoil if RJD doesn’t Tej Pratap. Tensions have been running high in the alliance since CBI registered an FIR against Lalu, his wife Rabri India boosts troop presence near face-off site with China Devi and son Tejashwi Yadav who (News Agencies) New Delhi : The Indian commanders have lost their relevance. junction. is deputy CM in the Bihar Army has moved another 2,500 soldiers There is total stalemate. The decision to But all Indian Army formations in the government. Opposition BJP has mounted pressure on Kumar to from their peace-time deployments in de-escalate has to come from the politico- region, ranging from the 17 Division sack Tejashwi and the CM’s Sikkim to further reinforce its proactive diplomatic level. The Working Mechanism (headquarters at Gangtok) to 27 Division comments can have a bearing on stance in the ongoing troop face-off with for Consultation and Coordination on India- (Kalimpong) and 20 Division (Binnaguri), all the alliance with RJD and China on the Doklam plateau, even as it China Border Affairs, set up in January infantry mountain warfare units with over Congress. With RJD on Monday maintains high alert along the entire 4,057- 2012, or talks between the two designated 10,000 soldiers each, are maintaining “high categorically ruling out Te jashwi km Line of Actual Control from Ladakh to Special Representatives, is the only way operational readiness for any contingency”, Yadav’s resignation, the ball is in Arunachal Pradesh. to diffuse the situation now,” a source said. sources said. Apart from the already- Kumar’s court.The CM could China has apparently also sent some There are just about 300-400 troops deployed 63 and 112 Brigades in east and outline a strong line upholding troop reinforcements to Khamba Dzong and each from India and China in the eyeball- north Sikkim, with 3,000 troops each, probity in public life and signal his other areas near its Chumbi Valley, which to-eyeball but “non-aggressive” sources said two battalions under the 164 views on the controversy kicked juts in between Sikkim and Bhutan, in the confrontation at the exact stand-off site on Brigade have also been “activated and up by the CBI case that relates to backdrop of both armies being clearly the Doklam plateau - which is actually moved up” to the Zuluk and Nathang Valley manipulation of railway hotel contracts and a land deal in Patna unwilling to budge from their positions in Bhutanese territory but coveted by Beijing in the state. Similarly, “some elements” when Lalu was railway minister in the month-long stand-off now. to add strategic depth to its narrow Chumbi under the 20 Mountain Division have also the UPA government. JD(U) “Flag meetings between local Valley - near the Sikkim-Bhutan-Tibet tri- been moved to their exercise area. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 US & THE WORLD 13 Malabar exercise is a signal to China we are one: US commander (Insider Bureau) Chennai : Amid is better to stand together,” he submarines will take part in the vociferous protests and far from said. Flag Officer Commanding war games in international waters subtle bluster by China, the navies in Chief, Eastern Naval off the coast of Chennai from July of India and the US and the Command, Vice Admiral H C S 14 to 17. The joint fleet deployed Japanese Maritime Self Defence Bisht declared the exercise by the three navies is significant Force on Monday opened the 21st open, describing it as a joint in its size and timing, given that edition of maritime exercise attempt to address common China is flexing its muscle in the Malabar with the US unequivocally challenges and address shared Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean, standing by the country in its efforts threats. He refused, however, to to the vexation of India, and that to check Beijing’s growing footprint acknowledge outright that the North Korea is growing in the Indian Ocean. choice of ships and the venue of increasingly hostile to its Commander US Strike the exercise had anything to do neighbours and America with Group 11 Rear Admiral William D with presence of Chinese ships successive tests of nuclear Byrne said the only strategic or Indian threat perception in the missile-capable ballistic rocket, to message that Malabar 2017 is Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean. the consternation of the US.Vice sending to “all navies is that we Three aircraft carriers — the USS Admiral Bisht denied that personnel,” he noted. “The — to be held till July 17 — will be are better together”, adding that the Nimitz of the US Navy, the INS Malabar 2017 would have any process of planning the exercise on carrier operations, air defence, drill should “eliminate possibilities Vikramaditya of the Indian Navy implication for India’s current began a year ago.””There is a anti-submarine warfare, surface of miscalculations”. Another US and the JS Izumo of the standoff with China but said the large number of extra-regional warfare, visit board search and commander, who asked not to be Japanese Maritime Self Defence exercise is aimed at a long-term ships in the region,” Bisht said. seizure, search and rescue, named, said the exercise would Force — will take part in strategic relationship between “The Indian Navy has the joint manoeuvres and have a significant impact on the Malabar 2017. In addition, 16 the three countries.”Each wherewithal to monitor these. The tactical procedures. A Chinese. “They will know that we ships, 95 aircraft including a large exercise helps advance the exercise will focus on submarine ‘harbour phase’ will be held at are standing together and that it number of fighter jets, and two level of understanding of the tracking.” The thrust of exercise Chennai Port till July 13. US ‘redrawing’ ties with world, not withdrawing: Foreign secretary S Jaishankar The US, since Trump assumed office in January, has changed its policies on several issues, most importantly on climate change by withdrawing from the historic Paris accord. this change matters to India and up of Brunei, Cambodia, redefinition of its objectives,” included ASEAN members Southeast Asia, foreign Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Jaishankar said. Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, secretary S Jaishankar said on Myanmar, the Philippines, “In others, we may be looking at Singapore, signed up to the TPP Tuesday. Singapore, Thailand and a redrawing of its posture. At the in February 2016, representing His comments came as several Vietnam. same time, let us be clear what roughly 40 per cent of the world’s countries around the world fear Speaking on ‘India, ASEAN and is not happening: the US is not economic output. the US, under President Donald the Changing Geopolitics’ at the withdrawing from the world,” he Jaishakar, who was the Trump’s “transactional” policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public said. ambassador of India to China may not be willing to engage Policy in Singapore, Jaishankar On the contrary, he said, the US from 2009-2013, and then to the with regional issues in absence said the “big question” before the was seeking to get what it hopes US before becoming the foreign of a meaningful return for the world today is the global strategic to be a better deal from the rest secretary in January 2015, said, American interests. approach of the US. of the world. “These are still early days. It is The remarks assume “This matters to India as much The US, since Trump assumed important not to jump to (Insider Bureau)The US is significance in terms of India’s as it does to ASEAN nations, and office in January, has changed conclusions.” “redrawing” its policy of ‘Act East’ policy as China indeed to the entire world. There its policies on several issues, The continued presence of the engagement with others but not becomes more assertive in the seem to be a number of parallel most importantly on climate US in the Asia-Pacific is an withdrawing from the world, and ASEAN region, which is made processes at work,” he said at change by withdrawing from the important factor in the the lecture marking 25 years of historic Paris accord. The new calculations of all nations. Now, Supreme Court too stays Centre’s cattle India-ASEAN relations. administration has shown Developing a nuanced “The United States is, generally keenness for bilateral deals over understanding of the unfolding speaking, reframing its terms of multilateral agreements like the situation is a must for slaughter ban, court order to be in place for 3 months engagement with the world. In Trans-Pacific Partnership trade policymakers, as well as (Insider Bureau) New Delhi : Following the Madras high court’s some arenas, there may be a deal. Twelve countries, that analysts, he said. similar action in May, the Supreme Court (SC) too on Tuesday ordered a three-month stay on the Centre’s rules banning the sale Anantnag terror attack and purchase of cattle for slaughter+ . The SC forced the Centre to undertake before it that it would not implement these rules, which PM Modi says India will never be the Madras high court put on hold on May 30. These orders staying the new ‘no slaughter’ regulations give some reprieve to butchers’ business across the country. Meat suppliers had already planned bogged down by evil designs of hate to petition the Supreme Court about the huge setback to their (Insider Bureau) New Delhi: Prime and a number of others injured everyone.India will never get businesses with the new Central rules. On May 23, the Centre had Minister Narendra Modi on in the terror attack in Anantnag bogged down by such cowardly issued new rules banning the sales of cattle for slaughter.A week Monday night strongly district+ of south Kashmir attacks & the evil designs of later, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court stayed this condemned the dastardly terror tonight. hate.Terming the terror attack on ‘slaughter ban’ for four weeks and asked the Union environment attack+ on Amarnath pilgrims in “Pained beyond words on the Amarnath pilgrims in Kashmir as Kashmir and asserted that India dastardly attack on peaceful the most reprehensible act, ministry and the Tamil Nadu government to respond to a petition will never get bogged down by Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The Defence Minister Arun Jaitley filed by a Madurai-based activist-lawyer and vegetarian S such cowardly attacks and evil attack deserves strongest on Monday said the incident Selvagomathy. designs of hate. condemnation from everyone,” should add to India’s On Tuesday, the Centre, arguing against the ‘stay’, PM Modi said he spoke to PM Modi tweeted. determination to eliminate said that since the Madurai bench of the Madras high court Governor NN Vohra and Chief Pained beyond words on the terrorism. The defence minister stayed the new rules they were unlikely to be implemented Minister Mehbooba Mufti and dastardly attack on peaceful also conveyed his condolences immediately. It added that the government is listening to assured all possible assistance Amarnath Yatris in J&K. The to the families of those killed in various organisations that are against these new rules and required. attack deserves strongest the attack in Anantnag district of that it plans to bring changes in the rules by August end. At least seven pilgrims were killed condemnation from south Kashmir tonight. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 US & THE WORLD 14 Allowing felons to vote could change American politics (Agencies) An estimated 6.1 entire population of Missouri, and they would, can we predict who’d million American adults were not it’s the largest single group of benefit? The US has the highest allowed to vote in the 2016 American citizens who are incarceration rate in the world, election because they had a barred by law from participating with about 670 inmates per felony conviction on their in elections. 100,000 residents, according to record. Most had already So many people are barred from figures from the International served their sentences and the polls that some worry their Center for Prison Studies . returned to their communities. absence could change election Some estimates put the figure The majority of US states take results. One study even higher . That rate is about five away felons’ voting rights, suggested that allowing felons to times the average of other occasionally for life. vote in Florida could have tipped developed economies in the This disenfranchisement the 2000 presidential election to Organization for Economic the past 25 years. The rate for mid-2000s at around 1,000 per affects an estimated one in 40 Democrat Al Gore. Cooperation and Development. US residents ages 18 and up 100,000. Few major economies adult Americans, or 2.5% of the About half of US states have The next-closest OECD state is rose from about 310 per around the world allow inmates total US voting-age population, loosened restrictions in recent Israel, which has an 100,000 in 1980 to about 870 per to vote. Politicians and voters according to The Sentencing years. But how this might affect incarceration rate of about 250 100,000 in 2015, a spike generally argue that if a person Project , a group that advocates the country’s fractured politics inmates per 100,000. the correlated with the “ war on does not follow the law, then that criminal-justice reform. is more complicated. Would ex- number of Americans drugs “-era tough-on-crime person should not get to That number is greater than the felons turn out to vote? And if incarcerated has increased over policies. The rate peaked in the choose lawmakers. Tobacco use jumps 80% in top-grossing movies (Agencies) In 2016, 41% of “We’ve known for a while that Since 1991, the organization has There was a steady decline movies depicting the use of top-grossing US movies showed the more you see smoking on collected data on tobacco use by in the amount of tobacco use tobacco decreased slightly; the people using tobacco, according screen, the more likely you are counting the number of times a shown in movies from 2005 to 2010 rates were 31% for youth- to a recent report from the US to see youth smoking cigarettes tobacco product is used or 2010. But in the next six years, rated movies and 71% for R- Centers for Disease Control and in real life,” said Michael Tynan, implied to be used in a movie the incidence fluctuated. It rated. Prevention, a decrease from the lead author of the report and a scene. reached a peak in 2016, with Tobacco use was featured in year before. However, there was public health analyst at the The new report crunched the 3,145 tobacco incidents in 143 41% of the surveyed movies in an 80% increase in incidents of CDC’s Office on Smoking and numbers from 2010 to 2016. The movies. 2016, down from 50% in 2015. tobacco use in those movies Health. “There’s a causal use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, Of 2016’s youth-rated movies However, the number of from 2015 to 2016. relationship between the two.” hookahs, smokeless tobacco and — including G, PG and PG-13 tobacco incidents within movies The numbers are prompting The data from the new report e-cigarettes was recorded in ratings — 26% featured tobacco actually increased by 72% from concern from public health were taken from Thumbs Up! each of the top 10 highest- incidents. Sixty-seven percent of 2010 to 2016. And from 2015 to researchers and advocates over Thumbs Down!, a project of the grossing movies at the US box R-rated movies in 2016 had 2016, there was an 80% the effects these scenes have nonprofit Breathe California of office for each week of each tobacco incidents. Compared increase, from 1,743 incidents on young people’s behavior. Sacramento-Emigrant Trails. year. with 2010, the percentage of to 3,145. Texas parents say their 15-year-old son livestreamed China's richest man gives his own suicide as part of deadly 'Blue Whale' up on plans to beat Disney (Agencies) China's richest man is selling hotels and (Agencies) The parents of a San report about the challenge theme parks worth more than $9 billion as he steps Antonio, Texas teen who recently and asked his kids back from plans to beat Disney. livestreamed his suicide this if they knew about it. 'It Dalian Wanda Group announced plans Monday to weekend say he killed himself as talks about satanic stuff and sell a 91% stake in more than a dozen tourist part of a deadly internet craze. stuff like that and my son attractions to Sunac China Holdings. The $9.3 billion Jorge Gonzalez walked into his son was never into that,' Mr deal also includes 76 Wanda hotels. Isaiah's room Saturday morning, Gonzales told News 4 San Wanda and Sunac said in a joint statement that the and found him hanging dead inside Antonio. Isaiah told his deal will be finalized by the end of July. his closet. Nearby, the 15-year-old's father that he had heard of The move comes a year after Wanda founder cellphone was propped up, it, but would never Wang Jianlin vowed to crush Disney's (DIS) business livestreaming the event. Now, participate. in China, comparing his theme parks to "a pack of Gonzales and his wife Angela In the wake of his death wolves." "Disney really shouldn't have come to China," believe that their son killed himself however, they found that he he said in May 2016. "Its financial prospects don't as part of the 'Blue Whale had been sending pictures look so good to me." Theme parks were a key part of Challenge' - a game that involves of him completing Blue Wang's plans to turn his firm into a major player in victims completing increasingly Whale tasks to his friends, real entertainment, tourism and sports. In its 2016 dangerous tasks. telling them that the final annual report, Wanda said that the success of two Mr Gonzales says he read a task would be suicide. new parks -- in Nanchang and Hefei -- had inspired report about the challenge recently 'They blew it off like it was a joke 'I want [parents] to go through it to export the model abroad. While Wanda is giving and asked his kids if they knew and if one of them would have said their phones, look at their social up its controlling stake in the parks, they will about it. 'It talks about satanic stuff something, one of them would have media,' Mr Gonzales said. 'If they're continue to use the firm's branding. Wanda will and stuff like that and my son was called us, he would have been alive,' on that challenge already, they can also operate the parks. Wang said Monday that never into that,' Mr Gonzales told Isaiah's sister, Scarlett Cantu- catch that from happening.' the sale should help improve Wanda's balance News 4 San Antonio. Isaiah told Gonzales, told KSAT. According to reports on the sheet, which has been weighed down by debts his father that he had heard of it, The family is now speaking out challenge, victims seek out so- after years of aggressive expansion. "The but would never participate. in order to raise awareness of the called curators on social media, group's debt-asset ratio will drop dramatically," Mr Gonzales says he read a deadly game. who then give them daily dares to Wang told Chinese business magazine Caixin. complete over a 50-day period. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 ADVERTISEMENT 15 Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 ADVERTISEMENT 16 Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 ADVERTISEMENT 17 Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 SOUTH ASIA 18 'Third country's' Army could enter Kashmir on behalf of Pak: Chinese media controlled Kashmir,” the article after a Chinese Army’s “Through mass immigration to said. construction party attempted to Sikkim, ultimately leading to The Chinese state media build a road. Doka La is the control of the Sikkim parliament, have carried a barrage of critical Indian name for the region which India annexed Sikkim as one of articles on the Doklam standoff Bhutan recognises as Doklam, its states,” it alleged. “This criticising India, but this was the while China claims it as part of incursion reflects that India fears first time Pakistan and Kashmir its Donglang region. China can quickly separate have been brought into the Of the 3,488-km-long India- mainland India from northeast narrative. China border from Jammu and India through military means, (Agencies) A “third country’s” established territory, not the “Indian troops invaded Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, dividing India into two pieces,” Army could enter Kashmir at disputed area,” Long Xingchun, China’s Doklam area in the name a 220-km section falls in Sikkim. it said. “In this case, northeast Pakistan’s request, using the Director at the Centre for Indian of helping Bhutan, but in fact the “For a long time, India has India might take the opportunity “same logic” the Indian Army Studies at China West Normal invasion was intended to help been talking about international to become independent. India used to stop the Chinese military University, said in the article he India by making use of Bhutan,” equality and non-interference in has interpreted China’s from constructing a road in the wrote in the Global Times. it said, referring to the June 30 the internal affairs of others, but infrastructure construction in Doklam area in the Sikkim sector “Otherwise, under India’s statement issued by India’s it has pursued hegemonic Tibet as having a geopolitical on behalf of Bhutan, an analyst logic, if the Pakistani External Affairs Ministry. diplomacy in South Asia, intention against India. India at a Chinese think tank said. government requests, a third China and India have been seriously violating the UN itself is unable to do the same “Even if India were requested country’s Army can enter the engaged in a standoff in the Charter and undermining the for its northeastern part, so it is to defend Bhutan’s territory, this area disputed by India and Doklam area near the Bhutan tri- basic norms of international trying to stop China’s road could only be limited to its Pakistan, including India- junction for the past three weeks relations,” it said. construction,” it said. Panamagate: Pakistan How a Microsoft font may bring down Pakistan’s Nawaz Sharif govt (Agencies) NEW DELHI: The undoing investigative team’s final report submitted PM, family face of Pakistan’s Nawaz Sharif government on Monday, it says Maryam’s documents might be a Microsoft Word font the PM’s had on them sentences typed in the corruption case daughter Maryam used while allegedly “Calibri” font which was not available forging documents she submitted to a before January 31, 2007, said The (Agencies) ISLAMABAD: In a setback team investigating illegal offshore Express Tribune report. The documents to Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, a properties flagged in the Panama themselves, though, were from 2006. Still, Supreme Court-ordered probe panel in Papers, the country’s media reported. the report noted that Wikipedia says the its final report on the Panamagate on Pakistan’s Twitterati is having a field Calibri font was made much before 2007, Monday recommended filing of a day with that bit of information, calling it in 2004. However, it was made available corruption #Fontgate. On page-55 of the for public use in 2007. case against him and his Many terror organizations banned in Pakistan thrive online children (Agencies) ISLAMABAD: It’s dusk. The money and demand a rigid Islamic postings considered critical. All but two after shadows of three men brandishing system. It is also where they incite the have been released and a third is still finding assault rifles welcome the reader to the Sunni faithful against the country’s under investigation, he said. “significant” Facebook page of Lashkar-e-Islam, one minority Shias and extoll jihad, or holy Activists, journalists and rights groups disparities in their income and actual war, in Kashmir who monitor Pakistan’s cyberspace say wealth. and in Afghanistan. the banned groups active on social The six-member Joint “It’s like a party of media operate unencumbered because Investigation Team (JIT) that probed the the banned groups several are patronized by the military, Sharif family’s business dealings in its online. They are all its intelligence agencies, radical report submitted to the apex court on social media,” religious groups and politicians looking recommended that a corruption case the FIA official told for votes. Even the FIA official concedes should be filed against Sharif and his the Associated state support for some of the banned sons Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Press. He spoke on groups but said it is a global Nawaz, as well as daughter Maryam condition his name phenomenon engaged in by all Nawaz, under the National not be used intelligence agencies. Accountability Bureau (NAB) because agency “Everyone is protecting their ordinance 1999. The report, however, officials are not own terrorists. Your good guy is my bad was slammed by the Nawaz Sharif allowed to be guy and vice versa,” he said, adding government as “trash” with PM’s close quoted by name. that some sites belonging to banned aide and minister for development of 65 organizations that are banned in Meanwhile, Pakistan is waging a cyber groups are intentionally ignored to gain Ahsan Iqbal in press conference Pakistan, either because of terrorist crackdown on activists and journalists intelligence. On one Facebook page, with other ministers, saying they will links or as purveyors of sectarian hate. who use social media to criticize the the Afghan Taliban flag welcomes challenge the report in the Supreme Still more than 40 of these groups government, the military or the viewers, its masthead emblazoned with Court and will “completely expose and operate and flourish on social media intelligence agencies. The interior Arabic script identifying the page as unveil its contradictions and sites, communicating on Facebook, ministry even ordered the FIA, belonging to the Islamic Emirate of falsifications.” Sharif’s daughter Twitter, WhatsApp and Telegram, Pakistan’s equivalent of the American Afghanistan. Still another Facebook site Maryam also rejected the report, according to a senior official with FBI, to move against “those ridiculing features one of India’s most wanted, saying, “JIT report REJECTED. Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, the Pakistan Army on social media.” Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar- Every contradiction will not only be or FIA, who is tasked with shutting down The FIA official said the agency has e-Taiba, another banned organization contested but decimated in SC. NOT the sites. They use them to recruit, raise interrogated more than 70 activists for and a US declared terrorist group. a penny of public exchequer involved.” Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 US & THE WORLD 19 Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 CONTD. 20 Firebrand Hindu Cleric Ascends India’s Political Ladder when the Bharatiya “invests a certain amount Hindu militants to kill Janata Party won a of power in Yogi Adityanath Mahatma Gandhi days landslide electoral victory that cannot be easily taken before he was shot. His in Uttar Pradesh, political away,” said Ashutosh successor, Mahant prognosticators expected Varshney, a professor of Avaidyanath, urged Hindu Mr. Modi to make a safe political science and mobs in 1992 to tear down choice — Manoj Sinha, a international studies at a 16th-century mosque cabinet minister known for Brown University. and build a temple there, his diligence and loyalty to “Modi has been either setting off some of the the party. On the morning unwilling to stop his rise, bloodiest religious riots in of the announcement, an or unable to stop his rise,” India’s recent history. honor guard had been he said. When Adityanath arranged outside his As a young man, announced his intention to village. Adityanath’s passion was join the temple, his father, But by midmorning, it politics, not religion. One Anand Singh Bisht, forbade was clear that something of seven children born to a it, he said in an interview. unusual was going on. A forest ranger, Adityanath, But Adityanath left anyway. chartered flight had been born Ajay Singh Bisht, Years later, Mr. Bisht burst sent to pick up Adityanath found his vocation in into tears at the memory. and take him to Delhi for a college as an activist in the Mr. Bisht did not learn meeting with Amit Shah, student wing of the that his son had become a a new group he had formed: They stopped, he said, Pradesh, in many cases the party president. At 6 Rashtriya Swayamsevak monk until four months the Hindu Yuva Vahini, or only because the police with Adityanath’s p.m. the party announced Sangh, a right-wing Hindu after the fact, he said. Mr. Hindu Youth Brigade, a intervened. encouragement, said it had appointed him as organization. Bisht rushed to see his son vigilante organization. The “All the Hindus got Manoj Singh, a journalist. minister, sending a ripple He was so engrossed at the temple, and found volunteers, now organized together and the first slap In 2007, Adityanath was of shock through India’s in the group’s work that the him transformed, his head to the village level and said was given by me,” he said arrested as he led a political class.They were first two or three times he shaven and his ear pierced by leaders to number proudly. “If they do procession toward shocked because was summoned by a in a painful ceremony. 250,000, show up in force something wrong, fear is neighborhoods seething Adityanath is a radical, but distant relative, the head “I said, ‘Son, what have where Muslims are what works best. If you do with religious tension. also because he is priest of the Gorakhnath you done?’ I was shocked,” rumored to be bothering something wrong, we will Even then, Mr. Singh ambitious, even rebellious. Temple, he “could not find he said. “That was my Hindus. stop you. If you talk too recalled, the officer who As recently as January, he the time,” he has said. child’s desire and so he Vijay Yadav, 21, a much, we will kill you. This arrested Adityanath walked out of the party’s But religion and politics was there. Then I gave my volunteer lounging at is our saying for Muslims.” stopped first to touch his executive meeting, were fast converging. permission to go ahead. I Gorakhnath Temple in During the first five feet as a gesture of reportedly because he was Gorakhnath Temple had a had no choice.” Gorakhpur on a recent day, years after the vigilante reverence. not allowed to speak. Mr. tradition of militancy: Adityanath won a seat said he had recently group was formed, 22 Adityanath was Modi is not known to have Digvijay Nath, the head in Parliament, the first of mobilized 60 or 70 young religious clashes broke out released after 11 days, but much tolerance for rivals. priest until 1969, was five consecutive terms. men to beat a Muslim in the districts surrounding the arrest seemed to jolt The appointment arrested for exhorting Among his advantages was accused of cow slaughter. Gorakhpur, a city in Uttar him. He became more The 18th Edition of IIFA Weekend and Awards Rings in The Nasdaq Stock Exchange Bell New York, 12th July 2017: As the highly anticipated 18TH edition of IIFA, to be held from 13th – 15th July 2017 descends on the captivating city of New York, the International Indian Film Academy commences its festivities by ringing in the Nasdaq stock exchange bell at Times Square, thus marking the globalization of transform Early Childhood on health, safety and for IIFA to take over the City association Indian cinema. Care and Education environment and on of New York and America.” with tGELF, Seen at the prestigious Centers. enhancing the lives of local The 18th Edition of the The FICCI- event were members of Designed in line with the communities, Vedanta IIFA Festival New York is IIFA Global Nasdaq along with IIFA’s vision of Prime Minister founders have pledged 75% presented by Lycamobile Business founders Mr. Andre Timmins Narendra Modi with a view of their wealth for social in association with Forum 2017, businesses, communities and Mr. Sabbas Joseph, to eradicating malnutrition, development.Commenting McDonalds. 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With a strong focus cinema and we can’t wait “Shuruaat” Gala Dinner in bridges across cinemas, Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 CONTD. 21 Sixth mass extinction: The era of ‘biological annihilation’ “What is at stake is really constitute my view from my odd and unfamiliar, often kept up with that pace, there causes are well-known. the state of humanity,” window here, I know we no restricted to one island or would be no more wild People are burning fossil Ceballos told Media. Their longer have wolves or forest. You probably didn’t elephants in Africa in 20 fuels, contributing to climate key findings: Nearly one-third panthers or black bears notice, for example, that the years.” change. They’re chopping of the 27,600 land-based wandering around. We have Catarina pupfish, native to Twenty years. No more down forests and other mammal, bird, amphibian and eliminated a lot of species Mexico, went extinct in African elephants. Think habitat for agriculture, to the reptile species studied are from a lot of areas. So we no 2014, according to the paper. about that. point 37% of Earth’s land shrinking in terms of their longer have a functional set Or that a bat called the Barn swallows and surface now is farmland or numbers and territorial of species across large parts Christmas Island pipistrelle jaguars are two other pasture, according to the range. The researchers of the planet.” is thought to have vanished examples, according to World Bank. The global called that an “extremely This is an important point in 2009. Ceballos, the lead author of population of people high degree of population to emphasize, Pimm said. Meanwhile, as this the paper. Both are continues to rise, along with decay.” But the new paper’s analysis research shows, entire somewhat common in terms our thirst for land and The scientists also looked risks overstating the degree populations of other plants of their total numbers, he consumption. And finally, but at a well-studied group of 177 to which extinction events and animals are crashing, said, but their decline is not exclusively, poachers are mammal species and found already are occurring, he even if they’re not yet on the troubling in some places. driving numbers of elephants, that all of them had lost at said, and the research brink of extinction. Some of Such population crashes pangolins, rhinos, giraffes least 30% of their territory methodology does not have these are well-known. can, of course, lead to and other creatures with body between 1900 and 2015; the level of granularity Consider the African inevitable extinctions. And parts valuable on the black more than 40% of those needed to be particularly elephant. “On the one hand, currently, scientists say that market to worryingly low species “experienced severe useful for conservationists. you can say, ‘All right, we species are going extinct at levels. population declines,” “What good mapping does still have around 400,000 roughly 100 times what All of this is contributing meaning they lost at least is to tell you where you need elephants in Africa, and that would be considered normal to a rapid decline in wild 80% of their geographic to act,” Pimm said. “The seems like a really big — perhaps considerably creatures, both on land and range during that time. value of the Ceballos paper number,’ “ Barnosky said. more. in the ocean. Looking at the extinction is a sense of the problem. “But then, if you step back, There has been some Ceballos’ paper highlights crisis not only in terms of But given there’s a problem, that’s cut by more than half dispute lately about whether the urgency of this crisis — species that are on the brink what the bloody hell are we of what their populations the Earth’s sixth mass and the need for change. but also those whose going to do about it?” were in the early part of last extinction event already has “The good news is, we still populations and ranges are Often, scientists who century. There were well over begun or is simply on the have time,” he said. “These shrinking helps show that study crisis in the natural 1 million elephants (then). horizon, but there is little results show it is time to act. “Earth’s sixth mass world focus on species that “And if you look at what’s disagreement among The window of opportunity is extinction is more severe” are at high and short-term happened in the last decade, scientists that humans are small, but we can still do than previously thought, the risk for extinction. These we have been culling their driving an unprecedented something to save species authors write. They say a plants and animals tend to be numbers so fast that if we ecological crisis. And the and populations.” major extinction event is “ongoing.” “It’s the most US firm paid $1.18m bribe to National Highway comprehensive study of this sort to date that I’m aware of,” said Anthony Barnosky, Authority of India officials to get contracts executive director of the Between 2011 and 2015, country manager) were would be paid by CDM Smith Infrastructure Investment Jasper Ridge Biological employees of CDM Smith’s aware of the bribes for CDM by October 1, 2017. Project in the Socialist Preserve at Stanford division responsible for India Smith and CDM India As per the agreement, Republic of Vietnam, CDM University, who was not operations and CDM India illegally contracts, and approved or CDM Smith agreed that it Smith failed to disclose a involved in the study. Its paid bribes to NHAI officials in participated in the would not seek a tax sub-consulting agreement value, Barnosky said, is that order to receive contracts from misconduct,” it said. deduction for the USD 4 with a local Vietnamese it makes visible a them, the Justice Department said Road Transport and million it was required to company, and did not seek a phenomenon typically in the letter to CDM Smith. Highways Minister Nitin disgorge. contractually-required unseen by scientists and the “The bribes Gadkari has taken a serious “CDM Smith has a clear written approval of the public: that even populations generally were two-four per note of the allegations and Code of Ethics and core agreement from the Project of relatively common species cent of the contract price and asked the NHAI Chairman to values that drive our implementing agency,” the are crashing.”We’ve got this paid through fraudulent hold an inquiry into the behaviour every day,” CDM bank said. stuff going on that we can’t subcontractors, who provided matter, a senior Ministry Smith CEO Stephen J Hickox CDM Smith said it has really see because we’re not no actual services and official said in New Delhi. said in a statement. expanded its Ethics and constantly counting numbers understood that payments The investigations into the “Any breach of these Compliance programme, of individuals,” he said. “But were meant to solely benefit bribery allegations by the values or improper business including appointing its first when you realize that we’ve the officials,” it said. Fraud Section of the Criminal activities is counter to our Chief Compliance Officer, to wiped out 50% of the Earth’s In addition, CDM Smith’s Division of the Department of culture and will not be ensure all employees fully wildlife in the last 40 years, division responsible for India Justice has now been closed tolerated,” Hickox said. understand their role in it doesn’t take complicated and CDM India paid USD after CDM Smith agreed to Meahwhile, CDM Smith compliance, and has math to figure out that, if we 25,000 to local officials in disgorge USD 4 million, has also been sanctioned by established channels for keep cutting by half every 40 Goa in relation to a water which the Boston-company the World Bank for failing to reporting any compliance- years, pretty soon there’s project contract, the Justice earned as profit due to the disclose a subcontract on a related concerns. “The going to be nothing Department said. bribery. project in Vietnam. The employees associated with left.”Stuart Pimm, chair of “All senior management at The Justice Department company and its affiliates these improper business conservation ecology at Duke CDM India (who also acted as said it has decided to close have been conditionally non- activities were separated from University in North Carolina, employees and agents of the investigation in this debarred for one and half the company following the summed up the the concept CDM Smith and signed regard. years. “When executing a early findings of CDM Smith’s this way: “When I look out contracts on behalf of CDM The final fourth instalment consulting contract financed internal investigations,” the over the woods that Smith, including CDM India’s of the disgorged money by the Da Nang Priority company said. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 CONTD. 22 Andrew Cuomo Could Beat Trump … If He Can Win Over the Left First Think about it. All the pundits century Democrat. Our party is widely seen as further on TV say, ‘We don’t understand in a deep hole. You have to look burnishing his own bipartisan why there is such anger and around and say, ‘Who is credentials; his aides have anxiety.’”Standing before a crowd succeeding? Who is doing it reached out to out-of-state of unionized hotel workers differently?’” donors about a possible several hundred strong, the It’s not just Democrats who fundraising swing later this year. governor of New York rails against see Cuomo showing up on the But if he runs, he’s got one Republicans for feeding workers radar. “I would say Cuomo is the big roadblock in his way first: The like them a lie all these years. one I am most nervous about,” energy in the Democratic Party He speaks to them like he alone said Michael Caputo, a longtime right now comes from a newly understands what they have adviser to Trump who helped put energized left. And the energized been going through, watching together an aborted Trump left, not to put too fine a point wages disappear while the rest gubernatorial run against Cuomo on it, hates Cuomo. of the country gets richer. “It’s the in 2014, and helped lead the “The worst of the worst,” said labor movement that built the campaign for Carl Paladino, Nomiki Konst, a Bernie Sanders middle class and it’s the labor Cuomo’s 2010 Republican delegate to the Democratic discuss it—not with the boss, by dropping out just before the movement that’s going to have opponent. “Hillary Clinton wouldn’t National Convention and frequent and certainly not with reporters primary, denying McCall the to rebuild the middle class in this take the gloves off. There isn’t a cable TV defender of the trying to catch him thinking about chance to fully trounce country,” he thunders. He has counterpunch Andrew Cuomo candidate who now serves on anything beyond the day-to-day him.Single, alone in the political the room, completely. won’t throw.” the Democratic National running of New York. For years, wilderness, Cuomo assiduously Cuomo is a big-name So far, Cuomo’s forays onto Committee’s Unity Cuomo wouldn’t leave the state, worked his way back, working on politician who has long seemed the national stage have been far Commission. “Andrew Cuomo is even on vacation, as if just homelessness and rallying with an extremely unlikely national more muted than some of the somehow the only politician in crossing the state line would the likes of Russell Simmons and candidate until now, when other talked-about potential 2020 America who still thinks trigger a cascade of “Is He or other hip-hop stars to reform the suddenly he’s seeming like a very Isn’t He?” headlines. He even state’s punitive Rockefeller Drug likely one. In theory, he is here once declining to go to Laws. He won election as to ceremonially sign a bill that Washington to lobby for disaster attorney general despite would allow union members to relief funds after Hurricane Sandy. resistance from the New York deduct their union dues from their “If I went to Washington now,” Times editorial board and other state taxes, but it’s clear what Cuomo asked reporters at the left-leaning institutions, and then he is really doing today is waging time, “what story would you ran the only two people ahead of a bigger argument against write?” him in line—Gov. Eliot Spitzer President Donald Trump. It’s a vintage Cuomo (with an assist from Client 9 on “You want to deport comment, one that speaks not that one) and Lt. Gov. David immigrants? I say to them, start only to his ruthlessness and Paterson—out of town on a rail. with me, Andrew Cuomo, the ambition, but his awareness of But he had a perception grandson of Andrea and how that ruthlessness and problem: To New Yorkers who Immacolata Cuomo, Italian poor ambition are viewed. (Needless knew anything about him, which immigrants,” he tells a roomful to say, he declined to be was most New Yorkers, Cuomo of people who are mostly interviewed for this article about was political ambition immigrants. his presidential prospects.) personified. Would he stay The hotel workers stand up. Cuomo was a top political aide governor, or just step over the They cheer. “Andrew Cuomo for to a father who famously dithered bodies once more on his way to president!” Someone yells. And Democratic nominees. There has neoliberalism and triangulation in his own presidential something else? So he made it then all at once. “2020! 2020!” been no book tour, no earnest work, who opens up the Blue exploratory foray, and the son his mission to neutralize that Cuomo stops. He wags a Facebook videos or airport protest Dog playbook and says, ‘How was determined to not get attack. He made it known that finger in mock annoyance, a bullhorn photo-ops, no whispers can I use this to run for sidetracked by similar whispers. serving as governor of New York broad smile across his face. that he is even thinking about it— president?’” He was aware of his reputation; was the highest pinnacle a “Don’t start trouble for me today. although longtime friends and Cuomo has in many ways if Mario was the American Cuomo could ever hope to You are supposed to be my advisers have gingerly begun to solved New York, a state whose Cicero, Andrew was the Dark achieve. Former aides say that friends. This is not helpful.” bring it up to him. (They say government routinely ranked Knight, his father’s relentless any mention of higher office New Yorkers love to assume Cuomo seems intrigued, but among the most dysfunctional political enforcer. Mario wanted during planning meetings in the that their politicians are national noncommittal.) In the world of and corrupt in America. But if he to appeal to the better angels of first years of his administration figures by default, even as one political betting, most hopes to be taken seriously as our nature; Andrew would spear would have brought quizzical by one they flame out on the big oddsmakers have him in the top a standard-bearer, he has to all the bad angels and step over looks, as if they had interrupted stage. For much of his career, 10, but barely. solve something far more the bodies on the way to higher a strategy session to talk about Cuomo has looked like another Subtly, however, Cuomo looks complicated: The Democratic office. your favorite TV shows. in this long line: someone too very much like someone doing the Party, an institution that can Cuomo is a kind of “Everyone thought he was nakedly ambitious, too pushy, spadework to run for president. make Albany seem like Sweden Northeastern political royalty— running for president,” said one with too messy of a personal His speeches, like the one at the in its functionality. There are the son of a governor, once former aide. “So he decided he life—too, well, New Yorky—to Hotel Trades Council signs he’s already trying to work married to Bobby Kennedy’s would relentlessly communicate play much beyond Buffalo and headquarters, are increasingly that puzzle: The state daughter. But his ascent to the that he was focused on running the Battery. But suddenly it laced with the kind of big themes Democratic Party has run ads Statehouse did not come without the state.” seems that Americans are willing that become the rhetorical out-of-state featuring Cuomo a fight. After a stint as Bill When he at last became the to pull the lever for a muscular, cornerstones of presidential alongside Sanders, trumpeting Clinton’s secretary of Housing second Cuomo to serve as messy, rough-edged leader campaigns. He rails against the Sanders-esque free college and Urban Development, and governor of New York, by the shouting for the common man, Washington, contrasting the proposal that he pushed with his marriage to Kerry standards of the state, he was and suddenly the governor is gridlock of Congress against his through. After six years of Kennedy collapsing, Cuomo barely a Democrat. It was in the starting to show up on a lot of own relatively smooth straddling the center line, can cut the line and embarked on depths of the Tea Party’s people’s lists. management of the previously Cuomo convince his party’s an ill-fated run for governor of counter-revolt against Barack “Look at his career, look at dysfunctional Statehouse, the progressive wing that he is New York, even as the state’s Obama’s presidency; the state’s his work in New York,” said misplaced priorities of national actually one of them?For Democratic establishment economic outlook was Jonathan Cowan, president and Republicans against the steady most of Cuomo’s first six was firmly behind state disastrous and Cuomo founder of Third Way, a centrist progress he has made in Albany. years in office, this was the comptroller Carl McCall, who positioned himself firmly as a think tank, and a former Cuomo Over the past several months, kind of thing that couldn’t be would have been New York’s first man of the center. He capped adviser. “He is laying out a model Cuomo has hired Chris Christie’s talked about. Cuomo’s aides African-American governor. property taxes and let a tax on for what it means to be a 21st- former chief of staff, a move were on strict lockdown to never Cuomo compounded the problem millionaires expire. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 SPECIAL REPORT 23 Chink In The Checker’s Board The Doklam plateau is an area of vulnerability for China and India. The Chinese action is the usual creeping barrage of aggression and presenting faits accomplis. India has had a long history East Pakistan are where the of standoffs with China, given CIA and Tibetan exiles once their long and unsettled border. planned operations against their On one occasion it has led to forces in Tibet. war, on others, skirmishes and Indian and Chinese artillery duels. But in the past perceptions of vulnerability are 40 years, the confrontations common—the Chinese worry have been carefully about the Chumbi Valley and choreographed through a Indians are concerned about series of Confidence Building the Siliguri Corridor. But both Measures to ensure that the two have larger calculations and countries do not end up concerns. The Chinese are shooting at each other. neurotic about Tibetan What makes the current separatism and see India as the clash in Doklam plateau serious principal villain, so they adopt is its location, and the fact that a forward policy wherever they it is entangled with the issues can to keep us off balance on of a third country, Bhutan. The this issue. location is near the Siliguri The Northeast is, of course, Corridor, a narrow neck of land, intrinsically important to us. But just about 25 km at places, it also has a practical and bound by Nepal and important military role beyond Bangladesh and proximate to just the defence of the area. It Bhutan and China. is where we locate our strategic As distances go, Siliguri, the their post in the Doklam area. to blatantly violate the UN Verma hypothesised a Chinese deterrent viz. long-range principal rail, air and road hub They probably approached the Convention on the Law of the special forces attack to seize nuclear armed missiles, which that connects Northeast India to Indians for help and the Indian Seas in reclaiming and fortifying the Corridor. John Garver cites otherwise lack the range as of the rest of India, is just 8 km Army moved across the border rocks and reefs in the South Ind••••ian planners worrying now to hit principal Chinese from Bangladesh, 40 km from at Doka La to block the China Sea. So if India about the Siliguri Corr•i•dor cities. Nepal, 60 km from Bhutan and construction. According to an perceives that its security is being the ‘anvil’ for a PLA This is one area with dense 150 km from China. With China MEA statement, India and being dangerously undermined, hammer coming once again military deployments on both seeking to expand control over Bhutan had been in close it will act, treaty or no treaty. through Bomdi La in Arunachal sides, the only part of the 4,000 the Dok••lam plateau, it contact on the issue, and in Even so, New Delhi needs to Pradesh. There are concerns, km Sino-Indian border where shortens the distance by 20 coordination with the carefully think if it wants to too, that in the event of the armies are close to each kms or so. Bhutanese, “Indian personnel question the 1890 treaty and hostilities, Chinese forces may other—some 40-50 ft apart in Chinese proximity comes who were present at the general reopen the Sikkim-Tibet just bypass Indian defen•ces Nathu La and Cho La. In the through the Chumbi Valley, a area Doklam approached the boundary for negotiation. overlooking the Chumbi Valley past decade, India has steadily sliver of land between Bhutan Chinese construction party and Beyond that, it must remain and come through Bhutan. enhanced its defence and India (Sikkim)—the main urged them to desist from prepared to confront the always But Indian vulnerability is capabilities in the East, raising route of ingress and egress changing the status quo.” active PLA. much larger. The Siliguri new formations, acquiring from Tibet to India. What the Bhutan has been taking up Given its location, the Corridor does not have to worry heavy-lift helicopters, mountain present face-off is all about is the issue for years and had Siliguri Corridor has long been about just the putative Chinese artillery, as well as forward the Chinese effort to add an been reminding China of the the focus of military planners attack. It is in itself a cauldron basing fighter jets. With a new area of some 40 sq kms or so 1998 agreement not to alter the and arm-chair str•ategists. of tension, with agitating Mountain Strike Corps, to the south of the existing status quo of the China-Bhutan When Bangladesh was East Gorkhas, Kamtapuri and Bodo headquartered in North Bengal, trijunction, which India and boundary, pending its final Pakistan, there were concerns separatists, smugglers and India has also enhanced the Bhutan place near Batang La. resolution. But as is their wont, about possible consequences of transiting militants using it. ability of its Army to intervene From the point of view of the Chinese are relentless and Sino-Pak collusion. To pressure For their part, the PLA, too, along the border. But in many treaty, the Chinese have a point. follow the tactic which they India to ease off on Pakistan in must be looking at alt••ernate ways, it has been playing catch The Anglo-Chinese Convention practice elsewhere—of creating the 1965 war, China built up its scenarios, especially after their up with the Chinese. of 1890 exp•licitly lays down the facts on the ground and leaving forces in the Chumbi Valley and experience with Gen Sundarji We need to enter a caveat start point of the border, and the you with a fait acompli. tried to coerce Indian troops and Operation Falcon/ about the chances of all-out trijunction, at a place called The Chinese are hopping deployed on the Sikkim border. Cheq•ue•rboard. India can use war. Of course, it benefits none. Mount Gipmochi. But, while mad, because they say that In 1967, there were more its flanking positions in Sikkim The nuclear factor is not India has to accept this as part India has violated an accepted serious clashes at Nathu La and to “pinch out” the Chumbi Valley something you can ignore. So, of the agr••eement that defines border, which is true. But the Cho La, both in Sikkim. With and emerge astride a Chinese the likelihood is that the Chinese the Sikkim-Tibet border, the Indians have done so to prevent the creation of Bangladesh, the highway going to Lhasa. The will continue their strategy of Bhutanese don’t, as they were the Chinese from bullying the wor•ries have lessened, but not Chinese know the Chumbi hybrid warfare, using “Tibetan not party to it. So, they have Bhutanese, who lack the entirely gone. Valley was the route that Sir grazers” to encro•ach on been contesting this and have capacity to deal with the The job of military men is to Fra•ncis Younghusband took in territory, or building roads extended their claim, belatedly Chinese. But the Indians have construct scenarios and plan to his expedition to Tibet. This without a by-your-leave, though, to the Doklam plateau, also done it because a deal with them. Many attack could well come from creating facts on the a rough area between deepening of the Chumbi Valley alternatives can be constructed northern Sikkim, which is a ground that become difficult Gipmochi, a place called can aid in undermining their for military operations in the relatively flat plateau, where to question. Moreover, Gye•mochen which is south of otherwise strong defences in region. Writing in 2013, Lt Gen Sundarji had once emplaced Bhutan is vulnerable, Doka La, and northwards on the Sikkim and the Siliguri corridor. (retd) Prakash Katoch said that tanks and Infantry Combat because it lacks the ability ridge to Doka La itself and International treaties are the Doklam plateau, if occupied Vehicles in the 1986-87 stand- to challenge the PLA. The Batang La. pieces of paper whose value is by the Chinese, will turn the off with China. main lesson of the present The issue emerged when the only set if both the parties have flanks of Indian defences in The Chinese worry about confrontation is the need for a Royal Bhutan Army spotted the an interest in upholding them. Sikkim and endanger the Siliguri the history of the region too. new strategy of dealing with the Chinese building a road towards The Chinese have not hesitated corridor. The late Capt. Bharat Kalimpong and the erstwhile challenge. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 SPECIAL REPORT 24 The Hard Trek To Mount Of Olives It has taken 25 years for India to break out of its moral duplicity regarding Israel. West Asia has changed, so have Indian priorities that demand realpolitik. K.C. SINGH Israel banishes the guilt-laden Prime Minster Narendra trepidation in engaging Israel. Modi’s visit to Israel from July It also acknowledges that the 4-6 is a first by an Indian head Palestinian issue is complex. of government. Israeli premier Possible solutions, like the Benjamin Neta•nyahu flew Quartet Plan or the Arab Plan, down from Jerusalem, are beyond India’s capacity to breaking protocol, to warmly shape. Indian foreign policy receive Modi. It culminates a towards West Asia thus shi••fts process that began 25 years from sloganeering to ago, when P.V. Narasimha Rao pragmatism. Interest•ingly, till recalibrated Indian foreign President Mukherjee’s visit, policy to the post-Cold War India was demanding a world. It would be useful to Palestinian state ruled out of capture the evolution of East Jerusalem. Now, India is bilateral relations. calling for a two-state solution. In 1991, when Rao India-Israel ties are assumed office, he faced an diversified. Israel is the second empty treasury, a limping biggest defence supplier to economy and India’s all- India. India and Israel have weather friend, the Soviet been in conversation for years Union, imploding. Post the fall on low water use cultivation of of the Berlin Wall, the world crops, arid zone cultivation moved from a bipolar balance techniques, hybrid crops etc. to US hegemony. Francis even have a book with basic by picking on Iran or even hope, often belied, that they A new $40 million research and Fukuyama declared the end of data on Israel, despite it being threatening to renege on the would not rally behind Pakistan development fund has been history, implying victory of the the principal antagonist of the nuclear deal. By his on Kashmir. created for joint research. Western liberal order. The US’ Arabs and shaper of participation in the Riyadh David Ben-Gurion, first There are hints of major 1991 intervention in the Gulf, geopolitics of West Asia. The Summit he unleashed new and premier of Israel, urged Albert defence purchases, but such to successfully eject Saddam approval of the cabinet was dangerous fissures in the Einstein to write to Nehru in sales are normally not finalised Hussein from Kuwait, received over the weekend. Islamic world between Shia and 1947 to push for a sympathetic during high-level visits. confirmed the new unipolar Indian policy in West Asia Sunni and Arab and non-Arab, hearing on Zionism. “I trust,” Whether some cutting-edge global order. It then turned to began to breathlessly adjust to i.e. Iranians and Turks. Modi- wrote Einstein, “that you, who weapons sys••tems are sold by settle the lingering Israel- geopolitical changes. Netanyahu hugs are hardly so badly have struggled for Israel, including armed drones, Palestine dispute. The Madrid PM Rao now had to finesse noticed, with the Arab world freedom and justice, will place would indicate the additional Peace Conference was jointly the public part. He inv•ited focussed on the outcome of your great influence on behalf heft of Modi’s visit. convened by the US and Yasser Arafat, the unchallenged Saudi-UAE ultimatum to Qatar, of the claim for justice made During PM Netanyahu’s Russia on October 30- leader of the Pal•estinians, to expiring on July 4. by the people who for so long March visit to China and talks Nov•ember 1, 1991. Jordan, Delhi in January 1992 to The BJP alleges that and so dreadfully have suffered with Chinese PM Li Keqiang, Lebanon, Syria and Palestine convey per••sonally the Indian votebank politics of the from its denial”. India voted cooperation was discussed in were invited to participate and decision. Arafat could hardly Con•gress and non-BJP against the UN partition plan of areas of basic science, engage with Israel. For the first object when his own delegation parties had stymied India the Mandate of Palestine in modern agriculture, clean time, Palestinians sat face-to- had been engaging with diplomatically for decades, 1947. India saw the Israeli energy and biomedicine. China face with Israelis, albeit as part Israelis after Madrid. Similarly, when Israel was only engaged case tainted by the collusion of also pointedly advised of the Jordanian delegation. Narendra Modi invited surreptitiously. But commitment its exponents with colonial adherence to the two-state PM Narasimha Rao began Palestinian President to the Palestinian cause dates powers against Palestinians. solution and early resumption reshaping not only the Indian Mahmoud Abbas on a state visit from the Indian freedom The journey to full of peace talks. China has also economy but India’s foreign before his own Israel trip. P.K. struggle and the Khilafat normalisation, symbolised by been investing in Israeli policy too. Imp•roving relations Singh, earlier the head of movement, when the Congress Modi’s visit, has been gradual. companies. Like with India, with the US was a pre- Americas division at espoused Islamic issues to co- Israeli PM Ariel Sha•ron visited interest was expressed in condition to his success. The headquarters, was named the opt Indian Muslims. Mahatma India in 2003, invited by PM ‘innovation cooperation’. Thus, US conveyed that post the first ambassador. Gandhi emphasised in 1938 Atal Behari Vajpayee. The UPA despite the bonhomie, Israel Madrid Conference, invitees to Palestine no longer that “Palestine belongs to the government for ten years kept will tango with both the Asian the political sub-group meeting, dominates the age•NDA of Arabs in the same way that the door open, with calibrated giants without taking sides. to be chaired by US, needed Arab and Islamic countries. England belongs to the English ministerial visits, but Defence PM Netanyahu took PM diplomatic ties with all Since 9/11 and US intervention and France belongs to the Minister A.K. Anthony dithered, Modi on a visit to the grave of participants. India, historical in Afghanistan and Iraq in 2001 French”. He was declaring a neither visiting Israel nor Theodor Herzl—the father of cheerleader for Pal•estinian and 2003, followed by the Arab global anti-British campaign, hosting his Israeli counterpart. Zionism. He would be the rights, could not attend even as Spring from 2010, the spread which besides consolidating In fact, he blacklisted some counterpart of Savarkar, who an observer without full of Sunni radical Islam occupies Hindus and Muslims had an Israeli defence suppliers for coined the phrase ‘Hindutva’. diplomatic ties with Israel. strategic space. To counter it, objective that went beyond alleged corruption. Modi used The philosophical guides of the Sometime in October- Obama accepted a nuclear paying lip service to the his first three years in office two PMs show ideological November, when I was director deal with Iran, to unsha•ckle Palestinian cause. Thus, the for engaging Gulf and West convergences between the (West Asia and North Africa), the Shia regional power to lead Palestinian issue played both Asian countries. He sent core beliefs of the two PMs that Foreign Secretary J.N. Dixit’s a Shia alliance against ISIS. ways after independence. President Pranab Mukherjee to leaders of a theocratic and office sought drafting of a Iran, with Russia, shored up Domestically, it built a Israel in 2015, including the secular state should normally cabinet note to facilitate this. the tottering Syrian regime, consensus against Israel’s traditional detour to Ramallah, not have. Perhaps Modi’s The Patiala House library of which the US did not illegal occupation of the headquarters of the journey is not a new bridge the ministry of external affairs anticipate. Pal••estinian lands. Abroad, it Palestinian Authority. between India and Israel. It is houses books on international Donald Trump as president kept Indian stock amongst PM Modi’s visit by de- a happy reunion between affairs. Howe•ver, it did not upturned the Obama approach Islamic nations high in the hyphenating Pal•e•stine from kindred souls. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 SPECIAL REPORT 25 1515 yearsyears afterafter GodhraGodhra riots,riots, CongressCongress triestries softsoft HindutHindutva,va, BJPBJP eyeseyes MuslimMuslim votesvotes Communal polarisation is a defining feature of Gujarat politics, and Godhra is its prime example. Godhra, a town of 150,000 people, has never been known for Hindu-Muslim harmony. In Part 1 of our series on the Gujarat polls, we look at how political parties in Gujarat are playing the communal card.

The line dividing Hindus November will be a test for If Congress is toying with the 15 years. When our kids There is only one and Muslims in Godhra has both parties as they struggle soft Hindutva to win the are picked up over exception to Godhra’s never run deeper. Darshan to hold on to their Hindus back, the BJP too is suspicion and sent to jail, Hindu-Muslim segregation. Soni can’t remember the last constituencies in the city as trying to woo the Muslims. they keep rotting there Harin Patel and Sajid Khan time he stepped into the well as the state.Muslims, In May, the party’s minority until a court decides in Pathan have been business Muslim territory as himself. 9% percent of the state’s cell kicked off a series of their favour. No partners since 2007. They An active member of population according to Muslim meets with an event investigation happens,” run their motor company from Godhra’s leading cow Census 2011, see the BJP’s in rural Gandhinagar where, she adds. an office space burnt down vigilante group, Soni only renewed focus on cow it claims, around 2,000 Compared to the in the 2002 riots, even ever crosses into the Muslim protection as a bid to members of the Congress’ Hindus, Muslims in though they live across the area posing as a Muslim — consolidate the Hindu vote minority cell joined the Godhra are cautious on line of separation. skullcap placed firmly on his bank.However, the electoral BJP.But as the fight for votes the subject of Hindu- “There should be tuning big, bald head – to pick up dynamics are more kicks off, issues related to Muslim ties. Says Haneef between two people. That’s leads on the movement of complicated this time. A safety and security continue Haji. “Hindu-Muslim the important thing in cows. section of Gujarat’s Muslims to weigh heavily on Muslims relations are perfectly fine. business,” says Patel. “Ek Soni has never willingly feels disillusioned with the of Gujarat. We freely go into each dum close relation hai. spoken to a Muslim in 24 Congress’ perfunctory In Godhra, local meat other’s neighbourhoods. Family relation hai. Har years. “We don’t talk to each patronage. The party hasn’t shops shut down for a week We get together at every cheez mein (We are very other in Godhra; we never made any significant moves after the BJP government’s wedding.”They find it close, like family),” says have.” to rebuild the community’s announcement of life term easier to blame police and Pathan. Godhra, a town of trust. In March, Gujarat for cow slaughter, to avoid politicians for their It seems like the 150,000 people, has never Congress president trouble. troubles. “All this drama is perfect story. Business been known for Hindu- Bharatsinh Solanki, said, “I “Nearly 70% of the to provoke riots,” says beats religion. There is Muslim harmony. “Since will be most happy if Lord community lives in fear that Haji. “BJP people are one catch, though. before 1947, every year an Ram’s temple is rebuilt in they will be implicated by running maximum butcher Pathan happens to be a incident drove the his birthplace.” In June, the police if trouble happens,” shops in India. You tell us vegetarian: “Why eat communities apart,” said a party’s youth wing says Sophia Jamal, vice- that your religion doesn’t beef at all? Not like it’s Muslim trader who didn’t demanded the central president at the town allow the killing of animals a good thing. Some want to be named. government declare the cow municipality. — then what are bulls, people are just being And 2002 sealed it forever, as national animal. “Nothing has changed in buffaloes and goats?” stubborn—that’s all.” when on February 28, 59 Hindu pilgrims travelling in the Sabarmati Express were India ahead of China for a decade: Harvard University killed in a fire that engulfed their coach near Godhra the fastest growing economy till India on the rise Elaborating station; nearly 2,000 people, 2025 with an average annual further, Ricardo Hausmann, a majority of them Muslims, growth of 7.7 per cent, says a Director of Centre for were killed in the subsequent new study by Harvard International Development (CID) University. and Professor at the Harvard riots that singed 20 of Factors affecting the growth Kennedy School (HKS), said, Gujarat’s 25 rate of China The growth rate of "The major oil economies are districts.Communal China which was rapid earlier experiencing the pitfalls of their polarisation is a defining has now decreased because of reliance on one resource. India, feature of Gujarat politics, the decline in its exports. Indonesia, and Vietnam have and Godhra is its prime According to the Harvard accumulated new capabilities example. In the assembly University's Center for that allow for more diverse and constituency of Godhra, International Development more complex production that where Muslims make up (CID), China's rapid growth rate predicts faster growth in the about 22% of the electorate, According to the Harvard chemicals, vehicles, and over the past decade has coming years." the Congress has defeated University's Centre for certain electronics." narrowed the gap between its The CID is a university-wide the Bharatiya Janata Party International Development (CID) China's economic complexity and its income. centre that works to advance China's economic complexity the understanding of (BJP) in six of the 12 growth projections, "India has expansion rate dropped from ranking also falls four spots for development challenges and assembly elections held so made inroads in diversifying its 6.7 per cent (2016) to 4.4 per the first time since the global offer viable solutions to far. The coming elections in export base to include more cent and will continue for the complex sectors, such as coming decade making India financial crisis. problems of global poverty. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 SPECIAL REPORT 26 Presidential election 2017 How will India elect its president? An in-depth guide Next month, India will get its 14th President. Electing the President of India, a process that has already begun, is not quite as simple as voting in a Lok Sabha. Here's a complete guide and answers to common questions about the Indian presidential election. On July 17, 4,896 votes than the quota, then electors will cast a total of the candidate with the 10,98,903 votes (more on lowest number of votes is that later) to elect the next eliminated. President of India. Then, the eliminated The electors will candidates' ballot papers include all elected are distributed between Members of Legislative the remaining hopefuls Assemblies and Members based on those ballot of Parliament (Lok Sabha papers' second preference and Rajya Sabha). People choice. The process of nominated to a state's counting the total votes for legislative assembly (for each candidate is then example, Peter Fanthome repeated to see if any one from Uttar Pradesh) or to polls above the quota. the Rajya Sabha (such as The process continues Sachin Tendulkar or until someone's votes tally Subramanian Swamy), up to more than the quota, like the rest of us, cannot or until just one candidate vote in the Presidential is left after the constant election 2017. eliminations, at which Counting of votes for point that person is the Presidential election declared as the winner of will take place on July 20 candidate who is elected elected." preferences for all in which a particular the President of India. and on July 25, a day after President is one who has This part of the Presidential candidates. candidate receives a first On July 25, a day after incumbent Pranab the support of the majority process of electing the He/she has to only mark preference. President Pranab Mukherjee demits office, of electors. next President of India is their first preference for Remember, the value of Mukherjee demits office, India will get its 14th Each candidate over - both Ram Nath their vote to be considered each ballot paper depends the President-elect will President. considering a run for the Kovind and Meira Kumar in the election. on who cast the votes. take oath. Note that This will be the 15th President of India's office have filed their respective On July 20, the The ballot paper of a UP Mukherjee can only leave time an election is held for must file his/her nominations. Returning Office Anoop MLA will be valued at 208, office if another person is the office of the President nomination by June 28. Only July 17, all Mishra will verify all ballots of an Andhra Pradesh ready to take his place. of India - there have been The candidates will also elected MLAs, in their and begin the counting MLA at 159 and of an MLA For an unforeseen reason, only 13 Presidents as Dr need to fork over Rs respective state and union process using the ballots from Sikkim at 7 (full list if there is nobody to Rajendra Prasad won the 15,000 as deposit and territory capitals, and all that are valid. of the value of votes of assume the office of first two elections, in 1952 submit a signed list of 50 elected MPs, at The ballot papers will MLAs from each state is President of India on July and 1957. proposers and 50 Parliament, will be given be taken up state-wise at the end of this article). 25, Mukherjee will The process for seconders. The proposers ballot papers (green and allotted to each The value of the ballot continue to remain in electing the President of and seconders can be any coloured for MPs and pink candidate's tray paper of any MP (from office. The oath for India is quite unlike of the 4,896 electors coloured for MLAs) to cast depending on whose name Rajya Sabha or Lok President is usually elections to the Lok eligible to vote in the their vote. They will also appears as the first Sabha) is 708. Adding up administered by the Chief Sabha or a state Presidential election be given special pens, preference. For example, the value of each ballot Justice of India, which in Legislative Assembly. 2017. which is the only if an MLA from Uttar paper that is in a this election cycle will be For example, each An elector can only instrument they can use to Pradesh marks Ram Nath candidate's tray gives the Justice JS Khehar. The elector's vote is valued in propose or second one record their votes. Kovind as his/her first total number of votes President-elect will be hundreds - a vote cast by candidate's name. This Each ballot paper will preference that MLA's polled for that candidate. admitered the following one Uttar Pradesh MLA, rule of getting electors to contain the name of all ballot paper will go to The winner of the oath in order to be sworn for example, will be valued propose and second a candidates who are Kovind's tray. Presidential election is in: "I, A.B., do swear in the at 208. The vote of a person's candidature was contesting the Then the ballots papers not the person who gets name of God/solemnly Member of Parliament adopted in 1974 after the Presidential election. The of the Members of the most number of votes, affirm that I will faithfully (Lok Sabha or Rajya Election Commission electors will proceed to Parliament are similarly but the person who gets execute the office of Sabha) will be valued at realised that in the 1952, indicate their preference distributed. For example, more votes than a certain President (or discharge 708. (A complete, state- 1957, 1962, 1967 and for each candidate - all ballot papers of MPs quota. The quota is the functions of the wise list of the value of 1969 (an early election marking '1' for the who mark Meira Kumar as decided by adding up the President) of India and will each MLA can be found at after 3rd President of India candidate they most their first preference will votes polled for each to the best of my ability the end of this article.) Zakir Husain's death in prefer as President, '2' for go to Kumar's tray. candidate, dividing the preserve, protect and But, it ensures that office) polls, several the candidate who is their The total number of sum by 2 and adding '1' to defend the Constitution each state gets a fair say candidates submitted second preference, and so votes that a Presidential the quotient. The candidate and the law and that I will in the election, in their names even though on. candidate garners is who polls more votes than devote myself to the proportion to its they did not have "even a An elector isn't calculated by adding up the quote is the winner. In service and well-being of population, and that the remote chance of getting required to mark the value of all the ballots case, no one gets more the people of India." Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 BUSINESS 27 Govt approves Amazon’s proposal for FDI in food Hence, the Department of Industrial opening stores or online. including through e-commerce, in Policy and Promotion (DIPP) gives the The government had received investment respect of food products manufactured green signal to the proposal. proposals from three companies - and produced in India. As per the proposal, the company will Amazon, Grofers and Big Basket - worth In 2016-17 (April-December), the food open a wholly-owned subsidiary in India USD 695 million for retail of food processing sector in the country to carry out the business. It will stock products. While US-based retail giant received FDI of USD 663.23 million. The (Agencies) The government has approved food products and sell online. Amazon is one of the major e-commerce Union Cabinet last month decided to American e-commerce major Amazon’s Currently, the government permits 100 players in India, Grofers and Big Basket wind up the 25- year-old FIPB, which had proposed USD 500 million investment in per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) are into online grocery space. Amazon been vetting FDI proposals requiring retailing of food products in India, an in the food processing sector. As per has proposed to invest around USD 500 government approval, to expedite the official said. norms, a foreign company can open a million in retail of food products. The clearance process. Under the new The proposal was pending before the wholly-owned subsidiary in India to retail government last year allowed 100 per mechanism, proposals related to retail Foreign Investment Promotion Board food products produced and or cent foreign direct investment (FDI) sector is being approved by the (FIPB) which has been abolished now. manufactured in the country by way of through approval route for trading, commerce and industry ministry. Tata-Mistry row: Bomaby High Court Trump sued after blocking Twitter followers refuses to hear minor shareholders’ suit (Agencies) Twitter users blocked from (Agencies) In a reprieve for the Tata as a result”. following President Trump went to court group , the Bombay High Court today The damages sought are for losses Tuesday, charging the action violates their First overturned its order and ruled it cannot due to a drop in the share prices of Amendment rights. Lawyers for seven Twitter users charged in federal court papers that by hear a suit filed by minority eight Tata group companies since the seeking to "suppress dissent," Trump's action shareholders of the group seeking market closing on October 24 last was unconstitutional. Rs 41,000 crore in damages as a year, when Mistry was ousted, to The president has more than 33 million representative suit on behalf of all December 6, 2016. followers on his @realDonaldTrump Twitter non-promoter shareholders. Shah and the other appellants filed feed and has tweeted more than 35,000 times The suit, filed by shareholders an application along with the suit since first starting the account in 2009. The Pramod Shah and five others, seeking permission under order 1, rule account has become a method for Americans challenged Cyrus Mistry ‘s removal 8 of the Civil Procedure Code, a to keep up with public policy issues, as well as chairman of the Tata group, provision that says that one or more as monitor Trump's mood swings over media terming it “illegal, motivated and persons may, with the permission of coverage of his administration.The lawsuit, malafide”. court, sue or defend on behalf of all The permission was today revoked filed in the Southern District of New York by the Knight First Amendment Institute at The shareholders demanded over interested individuals. by Justice S C Gupte, who said a suit Columbia University, comes a month after the Rs 41,000 crore in damages for In December last year, Justice S filed by few minority shareholders group sent a letter to the president and several themselves and all similarly placed non- J Kathawalla had passed an order cannot be treated as a representative aides, asking that two of their clients be promoter shareholders of the listed permitting the suit to be filed in a suit on behalf of all the non-promoter unblocked. The group said the White House group companies for “losses suffered representative capacity. shareholders. did not respond. Wells Fargo victims get closer to payback in $142 million settlement Wells Fargo customers who had fake accounts created in their names are a step closer to some payback. (Agencies) A federal judge unrealistic sales goals. The because credit card accounts granted preliminary approval over outrage forced the ouster of were secretly opened in their the weekend for Wells Fargo's longtime CEO John Stumpf and names. $142 million national class the restructuring of Wells Derek Loeser, a partner at action settlement. The court ruled Fargo's sales targets, and it the law firm Keller Rohrback and that the settlement, which covers spawned federal and local lead attorney for the plaintiffs, fake accounts back to 2002, investigations. hailed this feature of the "fair, reasonable and adequate." Under an original settlement settlement as "groundbreaking" Victims may still have to wait with regulators in September, and "first-of-its kind." before they get paid. The bank Wells Fargo repaid $3.26 million The settlement is an important and lawyers for the plaintiffs plan in fees to wronged customers. step toward "holding Wells Fargo to reach out to customers in the Since then, the bank has paid accountable for its abuse of next three months, but the $1.8 million more to cover customers' trust," Loeser said in settlement may not be final until complaints from customers a statement. early 2018. about fake accounts. The amount that each Still, Wells Fargo CEO Tim The $142 million national wronged Wells Fargo customer Sloan called the court ruling a settlement is open to customers will receive will vary based on "major milestone in our efforts who claim that Wells Fargo how many fake accounts were of-pocket losses, such as fees March, was worth $110 to make things right for our improperly opened checking or opened in their name, how big from fake accounts. What's left million. That amount was customers." savings accounts, credit cards, a financial hit they took and how will be split among all customers, raised to $142 million in April Wells Fargo admitted last lines of credit or identity theft much money is left in the based on how many and what to expand the settlement to September that 2 million services in their names between settlement pool. kind of accounts they say were 2002. Wells Fargo's board potentially unauthorized 2002 and April 2017. The $142 million will first go opened. recently released a report that checking and credit card Wells Fargo has also offered to lawyer fees and administrative Wells Fargo has agreed to found evidence of fake accounts were opened between to compensate some customers costs. Then Wells Fargo strengthen the deal: The initial accounts going back to "at 2011 and 2015. The bank blamed whose credit scores suffered customers will be paid for out- settlement, announced in late least" that year. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 HEALTH & FITNESS 28 Feel like you’re a big fish in a small pond? It could be bad for your health: Study finds overqualified employees experience more stress in the office work can have negative implications for employees and Dangers of Being OverQualified employers alike, said study lead Psychological strain can stem from employees who do not author Professor Michael Harari. feel they are rewarded for their efforts because there is an A feeling of being overqualified occurs when an imbalance between their efforts and the reward structure of employee is expecting a job that work. Professor Harari said: 'We invest effort at work and we uses their qualifications, but does expect rewards in return, such as esteem and career opportu- not find themselves in such a nities. 'For an overqualified employee, that expectation has been position, leaving them feeling violated. 'This is a stressful experience for employees, which deprived, the researchers said. leads to poor psychological wellbeing, such as negative emo- Professor Harari said: ‘That tions and psychological strain.' The study found workers who deprivation is what is theorised feel overqualified are also more likely to engage in deviant to result in these negative job behaviour. This might include coming in late or leaving early, (Agencies) Being a big fish in Florida Atlantic University’s attitudes. ‘There’s a discrepancy theft and bullying fellow workers. a small pond can be bad for your College of Business, said between expectation and reality. career and your health, new employees who believe they are ‘Because of this, you’re opportunities.’For an overqualified are to engage in research has revealed. over-qualified are unsatisfied angry, you’re frustrated and as employee, that expectation has counterproductive behaviours Scientists claim that over- with their job, uncommitted to a result you don’t much care for been violated. ‘This is a stressful that hinder the workplace. He qualified employees suffer high their company and suffer the job that you have and feel experience for employees, which said workers who were younger, levels of stress and are also psychological strain. unsatisfied.’ Psychological strain leads to poor psychological well- over-educated and narcissistic likely to damage a company with This causes them to be can stem from employees who being, such as negative emotions tended to report higher levels of bad behaviour such as bullying angry, frustrated and unlikely to do not feel they are rewarded and psychological strain.’ The perceived over-qualification. He or theft. care for the job. for their efforts because there study found workers who feel said: ‘It seems to suggest that Workers who are younger, The study team looked at 25 is an imbalance between their overqualified are also more likely there is a need to take jobs below over-educated and narcissistic years of research into efforts and the reward structure to engage in deviant behaviour, one’s skill level in order to gain are most likely to feel they are ‘perceived over-qualification’ - of work. Professor Harari said: including coming in late or entrance into the workforce. We over-qualified for a role, the the belief that someone has ‘We invest effort at work and we leaving early, theft and bullying do see that as people get older research found. surplus skills compared to job expect rewards in return, such fellow workers. Professor Harari they are less likely to report The researchers, from requirements. This attitude to as esteem and career said the more over-qualified a being overqualified.’ worker feels, the more likely they Slouching ISN'T bad for you and should be recommended - it's sitting upright that's wreaking havoc on your body, claims expert people at some point in their partake for just under £2,800 lifetime, have also been ($3,600). reported. Depression links Often adults are desperate to Mr Chew's claims just after avoid the middle-aged burden of New Zealand-based researchers a bad back and seek innovative earlier this year said that good ways to prevent such. posture could be used to treat Due to the growing demand, depression. wellness firms have responded In January they discovered in their hundreds with the sitting upright can make people invention of gadgets promoting feel more proud after a success better postures. and more confident in their One includes 'Tru-Align', a thoughts. series of five cushions designed Research in 2012 made a to realign the backs of users. It link between people who walk costs £384 ($495), The with a bad posture and the risk Independent reports. of being depressed. Another, called CoreAlign, A study from San Francisco offers a balance body course State University found slouching (Agencies) Slouching on your based around trendy wellness Mr Chew's claims challenge and the equipment needed to can lead to decreased energy sofa or in front of your computer techniques, slouching is dubbed a body of evidence that states and feelings of depression. at work isn't as bad for you as as awful. the opposite, suggesting that you have been told, an expert has Such fears have sparked an slouching is the root cause of Good Posture to Treat Depression claimed. entire industry to arise, many ailments. Good posture could help treat depression, a study published Years of slating bad postures promising to kick people into We need to get away from in January claimed. as being detrimental to our health shape by realigning them, taking this idea that bad posture is the Previous research has showed that slouching can crush is 'wrong', Jack Chew, of the hundreds of their pounds single cause of so many one's mood, and sitting straight does the opposite. Chartered Society of simultaneously. complaints because that is never But University of Auckland researchers wanted to examine Physiotherapy says. Mr Chew told The Times: the case.' if something as simple as posture could work for people diag- In fact, slouching could be 'The assumption that we all need Scores of businesses have nosed with depression. recommended - as forcing to be perfectly aligned is just popped up on the back of such 'Compared to sitting in a slumped position, sitting upright yourself to adhere to sitting wrong... nothing about our research, desperate to tap into can make you feel more proud after a success, increase your upright at all times may be bodies is entirely symmetrical. a goldmine of adults worried wreaking havoc on your body. 'Our organs aren't positioned about their bad postures. persistence at an unsolvable task, and make you feel more But due to the financial symmetrically; we each have a Substantial links to bad confident in your thoughts,' lead researcher Dr Elizabeth opportunity it provides firms dominant side.' backs, which affects four in five Broadbent explained. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 ENTERTAINMENT 29 Mom movie Nawazuddin Siddiqui steals Sridevi’s review

Mom thunder in this revenge drama Cast: Sridevi, Nawazudin Siddiqui, Akshaye Khanna What stops Sridevi’s Mom from getting closer to Pink is its inability to get inside the Director: Ravi Udyawar Rating: 3/5 criminals’ minds. Nawazuddin Siddiqui is in top form in Mom. Here’s our movie review. A black car speeds its way (Nawazuddin Siddiqui) is the underutilised, though, probably through a deserted Delhi road real charmer in Mom. He knows to give Sridevi more screen time. on a pitch dark night. An aerial exactly when to switch gears and The movie seems to be headed shot shows it halting at a lonely how to look timid despite being in the right direction, complete crossroad. Two doors open, and in the spotlight. The actor’s with an excellent emotional the driver swaps his seat with a understanding of his reel-life outburst by Devaki inside a person in the rear. The car starts character comes to the fore in hospital in the first half, but the moving again, and sometime an interrogation scene with story soon begins to waver. before daybreak, its occupants crime branch cop Mathew What stops Mom from becoming throw a teenage girl into a Francis (Akshaye Khanna). DK more like Pink is its inability to roadside drain. is scared like any other law- enter the minds of the criminals. We haven’t been shown the fearing citizen, but he still Abhimanyu Singh is definitely inside of the car, but we all know summons the courage to retain menacing, but his accent is what could have happened there. his composure in the nowhere close to what his Hundreds of media reports keep tabs on the social life and punish her daughter’s rapists. circumstances. character should have. Other scream of such crimes against friends of an adolescent Arya Though Mom is similar in tone, And, of course, there are his typically Bollywood liberties have women every year, but people (Sajal Ali). She is Arya’s the previous film didn’t have one-liners. When told that a also been taken to reduce the simply pick up the pieces and stepmother, and is probably why actors like Nawazuddin Siddiqui, certain piece of modern art stature of the movie from a gut- move on with their lives. This Arya doesn’t seem to trust her. Akshaye Khanna and Adnan costs Rs 50 lakh, he murmurs: wrenching film to a slightly movie is not about them. It is The child’s rape threatens to Siddiqui.The supporting cast “Isse toh achcha main paan thuk above-average revenge about a mother who decides to further tear them apart, but turns out to be a great asset for ke bana deta (I could have made drama.Verbal duals between avenge the rape of her daughter Devaki is determined to not let director Ravi Udyawar’s film, a better painting by spitting betel Sridevi and Akshaye Khanna because the law couldn’t get her that happen. which brings out the mental juice on canvas).”Overlook appear staged, as if subtlety was the justice she deserves. Now, all this may sound like the trauma experienced by the rape Akshaye Khanna’s twitched the last thing on the filmmaker’s A likeable-yet-strict biology recently released Maatr, where victim just as much as it eyebrows for a few seconds and mind. They fail to achieve what teacher Devaki (Sridevi) is your Raveena Tandon played a celebrates Sridevi’s valour. you’ll start appreciating his Nawazuddin Siddiqui does with average parent who wants to mother who moves mountains to Dayashankar Kapoor aka DK sarcastic tone. He remains a single glance. Guest Iin London movie review: Don’t make silly films like Paresh Rawal Nothing can save this Paresh Rawal, Kartik Arayan film when it features songs on farts. Mumbai to London. You won’t Even if fart and potty jokes are find actors like Ajay Devgn and your thing, you need nerves of Konkona Sensharma in the new steel to sit through Paresh film, but Paresh Rawal, as the Rawal’s weird Pakistan bashing. nerve-wrecking guest, tries to fill All those ‘baap baap hota hai, for the missing big names. One beta beta hota hai’ sort of more thing, what seemed like a attempted puns will make you fine balance of comedy and slice wonder what could have forced of life in the original is completely director Ashwni Dhir to come up absent here. In fact, it’s so lame with such a film! that you would find the tobacco Rawal, who is also an MP in the ads more entertaining than ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, watching Paresh Rawal farting doesn’t spare China either. So for at least hundred times. brace yourself for all those That’s not all. He sings an entire ‘China ka maal’ gags. At one song on farting in the film. Now point, he also resorts to ‘hor- that’s taking things a bit too far. whore’ wisecracks. Hor dasso! Yes, Guest Iin London is painful. Guess who is the other actor Or who knows, you might be the giving company to Rawal? Superman. Sanjay Mishra. Guest Iin London More than the sequel, Guest Iin Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Paresh London is a copy of 2010 film Rawal, Kirti Kharbanda Atithi Tum Kab Jaoge? by the Director: Ashwni Dhir same director. Just that this time Rating: 1/5 the action has shifted from Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 ENTERTAINMENT 30 Shraddha Kapoor and Athiya Shetty show us how to wear metallic without going overboredd (Agencies) Shraddha Kapoor Athiya actress who picked up the Nathani. She has in the past put Shetty showwear metallic without statement-making pieces from their up stellar looks for Deepika going overbored. From Deepika latest collection styled the bomber Padukone and Anushka Sharma Padukone to Alia Bhatt, almost jacket and the pleated skirt well in metallics. Even celebrity everyone has tried it and the latest with a grey T-shirt. Her accessory hairstylist Franco Vallelonga did ones to nail metallics are Shraddha game was strong too with a pair of a good job with voluminous curls Kapoor and Athiya Shetty. Image powder blue Christian Louboutin and celebrity make-up artist result for Shraddha Kapoor Athiya heels and earrings from Shraddha Naik complemented it with Shetty show wear metallic without Valliyan.Image result for Shraddha a dewy-faced make-up and a pink going overboardThe actress who was Kapoor Athiya Shetty The look was pout. We love this look! Athiya seen at an event rocked colourful absolutely spot on and we aren’t Shetty, on the other hand, was seen holographic separates from Nor surprised since it was curated by promoting her upcoming film Black Nor White. Halfgirlfreind celebrity stylist Shaleena Mubarakan in a mix and match look. Katrina’s throwback with Muammar Gaddafi goes viral! Soha Ali Khan flaunts (Agencies) Katrina kaifs throwback her baby bump Muammar (Agencies) Bollywood actress Gaddafi goes Soha Ali Khan is about to viral. Seems like become a mother. Recently a moment from some pictures of Soha have Katrina Kaif’s been revealed. past has created Soha Ali Khan flaunts a storm on the her baby bump Soha looks very social media. keen with baby bump in light Katrina has dress. Apart from being an hogged the actress, she has been trying her spotlight with a hand in writing.Soha Ali Khan throwback picture, where she is seen seated flaunts her baby bumpTalking along withLibyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. about this, Soha said that my It has been 15 years since the photograph first book, ‘The Paris of Being featuring a slew of models along with the ‘Ek Moderately Famous’, is being Tha Tiger’ star, Aditi Govitrikar, Aanchal Kumar launched in December and Neha Dhupia, was taken. Model Shamita 2017.Soha Ali Khan flaunts her Singha shared the picture on her Instagram baby bumpSoha is spending handle and wrote, “Almost 15 years ago when time with reading books and we all were in Libya for a fashion show and being happy while pregnancy. had the privilege of meeting the man Mr. Kareena Kapoor has already given Gaddafi himself! Girls! Remember this her advice on how to live during trip??”Katrina kaifs throwback Muammar pregnancy.Soha Ali Khan flaunts Gaddafi goes viralDuring the time this picture her baby bumpAfter enjoying a was taken, Gaddafi was the feared dictator, vacation with husband Kunal Kemu who was also known for keeping a strong in London, Soha has returned to her group of female bodyguards, named city in Mumbai. Amazonians. Deepika wears her million-dollar smile for new ad Sridevi and Sanjay Dutt may (Agencies) Deepika wears million-dollar smile new ad bollywood news. Simplicity come together after 25 years has its own charm, proves Deepika Padukone in a new commercial. All in black (Agencies) The superstars of 90’s are and white and minimal makeup, the Mastani of Bollywood gets filmed for Axis still intact, so that director Abhishek Bank, where she is seen experiencing ‘shopping’ and ‘dining’ to its Verman has chosen Sanjay Dutt and Sri fullest.Deepika wears million-dollar smile new ad bollywood Devi for his next film. Sanjay Dutt and newsClicked here by New York based director and photographer sridevi both are busy in new up coming Dean Freeman, the shoot sees Deepika wearing her gorgeous movie “BHOOMI”.Sridevi and Sanjay Dutt smile throughout, making her look ethereal.On the work may come together after 25 yearsThe first front, after making a strong debut in the Hollywood time in the 1993 both of them were seen with ‘xXx Return of Xander Cage ,’ the 31-year- together in thriller ‘Gumrrah’ and now after old actress will next be seen in 25 years later the duo may be seen again, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s from the director to Actor all are kept ‘Padmavati,’ alongside mantain silence on this topic.Sridevi and Ranveer Singh and Sanjay Dutt may come together after 25 Shahid Kapoor. yearsA source reveal that Abhishek Varman is all set to roll out another film post ‘2 States” in collaboration with Karan johar and Sajid Nadiawala that will star Sridevi and Sanjay. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 ENTERTAINMENT 31 Indira Gandhi’s ‘secret granddaughter’ slams Madhur Bhandarkar’s Indu Sarkar Priya Singh Paul, who claims to be the secret daughter of Sanjay Gandhi, on Monday criticised the upcoming movie Indu Sarkar for portraying former prime minister Indira Gandhi in a bad light. adoption papers were forged, Paul said she was not hankering trouble in the recent weeks, with told a press conference that a for media attention and decided Congress leader Sanjay misrepresentation in the film to come out as a wrong Nirupam demanding that it be prompted her to break her impression was being created separately screened for him. silence. Paul, who claimed to about her father. However, its director Madhur be aged 48, last month had said One Goswami Sushil-ji Bhandarkar has turned down she has moved the Central Maharaj, who claims to have Nirupam’s request, stating he Board of Film Certification been a friend of Sanjay Gandhi, will not hold separate (CBFC) against clearing the film. has filed an affidavit in the court, screening for any political Sanjay Gandhi, the younger claiming that he was well aware party. Indu Sarkar is due to son of Indira Gandhi, died in an that Sanjay had a girl child, born be released on July 28. “You air crash in 1980. The before his marriage. Paul said never question a journalist filmmakers have admitted that she had been adopted as a baby writing articles on 40 years of the film is 30 per cent facts and and claimed she was told about Emergency, in which he (Agencies) A woman, leader and his mother and 70 per cent fiction. Sanjay Gandhi being her mentions names. You never claiming to be the secret former prime minister Indira “But these socalled facts biological father after she grew question an author who has daughter of Sanjay Gandhi, on Gandhi in bad light. lead to a fiction. This has been up. Indu Sarkar, which is set dedicated books to emergency, Monday alleged that the Priya Singh Paul, who has cleverly done to influence a against the backdrop of or the tremendous amount of upcoming movie Indu Sarkar moved the Tis Hazari Court in reasonable viewer to make an Emergency imposed by Indira documentaries made about the portrays the late Congress New Delhi alleging that her obvious connect,” she said. Gandhi in 1975, has courted era,” Bhandarkar lamented. These sizzling pictures of Vaani Kapoor Actress Poonam Pandey might take away your mid-week blues launches ‘The Poonam Pandey App’ (Agencies) Actress Vaani Kapoor does quirky and Poonam Pandey launches The Poonam Pandey App. hot better than anyone else. Apart from a new eyebrow- raising topless picture, the (Agencies) The Befikre diva, Vaani Kapoor, shot for actress has announced Cosmopolitan India, and looked hotter than we could the launch of her own app, imagine. She had already won us over with her chic The Poonam Pandey App. look in the film, and now, she’s at it again. 25-year-old Poonam The 28-year-old leggy lass had an air of Pandey posted a nude freshness about her, thanks to her short, organic waves photo of herself revealing that looked super-chic, during this hot shoot. about the upcoming app of Vaani looked phenomenal in the peppy, hers.Actress Poonam colourful outfits she donned for the shoot, and Pandey launched The demonstrated the art of adding a pop of colour to any Poonam Pandey App No outfit without going overboard. Holding a coconut, and points for guessing the bold displaying those long legs, Vaani was effortlessly content of the app which sensual in this one.Vaani looked uber-cool in her printed the Nasha actress has claimed to have her ‘creative clothes, but what we really liked was that retro pair of inputs’. Poonam now joins the likes of Sonam Kapoor, sunnies on her face.Vaani was beyond sexy in the Disha Patani, Salman Khan and Sunny Leone to have plunging neckline, green swimsuit that rightfully her own amazing cool app The social media star in her displayed her sharp-as-a-knife collarbones. The actress own right has green signalled the launch of her app by donned a white, floral print, bodycon skirt with a sharing this photo where the svelte, sexy star has gone matching bikini top, and set our hearts on fire with her topless with her tresses barely covering her hotness. Needless to say, she looked exquisite in the assets.Actress Poonam Pandey launched The attire.We loved the sass with which she pulled off the Poonam Pandey App She may not have had an black dress and those big sunnies.Vaani was a total established career in Bollywood, but that has not stunner in all her looks, and we couldn’t be more stopped Poonam Pandey from scaling the heights. impressed. Happy another work-week, everyone! Divyanka Tripathi takes her style higher (Agencies) Divayanka Tripathi anniversary celebration.While the duo Dahiya, who won the Nach Baliye 8 keeps on sharing pictures on their trophy along with husband Vivek respective Instagram accounts, there Dahiya is getting a lot of compliments is one thing that caught our attention. these days for her drastic weight loss. We noticed that Divyanka Dahiya is The curvy actress lost oodles of very much comfortable wearing weight during the dance reality show western attires unlike earlier, and she and worked really hard on her has really upped her style. Divayanka problem area. Divayanka Tripathi Tripathi Dahiya takes style higher Dahiya takes style higher gameStarting from her on-screen gameDivyanka Tripathi Dahiya and appearances in saree and Anarkalis to Vivek Dahiya are busy romancing her red carpet appearances in gowns. each other in Europe, where they are Divayanka Tripathi is mostly seen in spending some quality time together either Indian wear or the regular western as a part of their first wedding outfits like jeans and loose tops. Wednesday 12 July to 18 July , 2017 NEWS THIS WEEK 32 US firm paid $1.18m bribe to National Highway Authority of India officials to get contracts A Boston-based construction engineering firm allegedly paid USD 1.18 million bribe to officials of the National Highway Authority of India between 2011 and 2015 to bag contracts

(sai Bureau) A Boston-based construction Andrew Cuomo Could Beat Trump … engineering firm allegedly paid USD 1.18 million bribe to officials of the National Highway Authority of India between 2011 and 2015 to bag contracts, the US Justice If He Can Win Over the Left First Department has said, prompting the Indian government to order a probe into the allegations. The Criminal Division The governor of New York suddenly looks like the kind of of the Justice Department, in a letter dated June 21, take-no-prisoners pol his party needs. With one catch. said CDM Smith through its employees and agents, and those of its wholly-owned subsidiary in India (CDM India) (sai Bureau) NEW YORK — The in the Rust Belt in 2020, with a are under attack,” Andrew Cuomo paid approximately USD 1.18 million in bribes to scene is unfolding in the shabby Democratic nominee trying to bellows, his tough-guy accent government officials in India in exchange for highway headquarters of the Hotel Trades reclaim the Upper Midwest for his coming in a little thick. “Middle-class construction supervision and design contracts and a Council just off Times Square in the party. wages are behind where they were water project contract resulting in approximately USD late spring of 2017, but it’s not hard “The truth is the middle class is 20 years ago. four million in net profits. (Contd on page 21) to imagine the speech somewhere under attack. The working families (Contd on page 20) Firebrand Yogi Ascends India’s Political Ladder

animals that has to be stopped.” At one rally he cried out, “We are all preparing for religious war!”Adityanath (pronounced Ah- DIT-ya-nath) was an astonishing choice by Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, who came into office three years ago promising to usher India into a new age of development and economic growth, and playing down any far- right Hindu agenda. But a populist drive to transform India into a (sai Bureau) Lucknow — A floor. Yogi sometimes eats only “Hindu nation” has drowned out the diminutive, baby-faced “They have normalized Hindu warrior-priest has been an apple for dinner. But the taproot Mr. Modi’s development agenda, Adityanath is receiving the kind someone who, three years chosen to rule India’s most of Yogi Adityanath’s popularity is shrinking the economic and social of career-making attention that ago, was considered too populous state, and the cable in a more ominous place. As space for the country’s 170 million projects an Indian politician toward extreme to be minister of state news channels cannot get enough leader of a temple known for its Muslims. Few decisions in Indian higher office.“He is automatically for textiles. Everything has been of him. Yogi, as everyone calls militant Hindu supremacist politics matter more than the on anybody’s list as a normalized so quickly.”Adityanath him, is so ascetic and tradition, he built an army of selection of the chief minister of potential contender to succeed did not respond to repeated incorruptible that he doesn’t use youths intent on avenging historic Uttar Pradesh, because the post Modi,” said Sadanand Dhume, requests for comment for this air-conditioners, they say. Yogi wrongs by Muslims, whom he has is seen as a springboard for future an India specialist at the article.In March, sleeps on a hard mattress on the called “a crop of two-legged prime ministers. At the age of 45, American Enterprise Institute. (Contd on page 20)