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NEARBY Foreign envoys in J&K JNU students beaten up during march Ministry rules out V­C’s removal after talks with delegation of students, teachers

Shinjini Ghosh Chancellor, have been called on a fact­finding visit NEW DELHI at the Ministry on Friday over Several students of Jawahar­ students’ claims that the re­ They met politicians, editors and elected grassroots leaders lal Nehru University (JNU) vised fees as decided during Brutally thrashed, says were beaten up on Thursday HRD intervention are not be­ actor Deepak Kabir Peerzada Ashiq by Delhi police personnel as ing implemented. LUCKNOW Srinagar they tried to march towards Towards evening, JNU Stu­ Theatre actor and cultural A 15­member foreign en­ Rashtrapati Bhavan after “un­ dents’ Union president Aishe activist Deepak Kabir on voys’ delegation arrived in satisfactory” talks with offi­ Ghosh addressed those gath­ Thursday alleged that the police not only brutally Srinagar on a two­day visit cials of the Human Resource ered outside Shastri Bhawan thrashed and abused him in to Jammu and Kashmir and Development (HRD) Ministry. and termed the MHRD meet­ custody but also labelled him met over 100 people, includ­ At least four students re­ ing “unsatisfactory” and an “urban Naxal”. Mr. Kabir, ing senior Valley­based polit­ ceived injuries when police called for a march to Rashtra­ 44, was released from jail icians, top newspaper edi­ used “mild force” to disperse Students being detained during a protest march towards pati Bhavan. Students and after a court granted him bail tors and grassroots the march. Around 11 stu­ Rashrapati Bhavan on Thursday. * SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA protesters started moving but in a case of violence during a representatives. dents were also detained but were stopped by the police. protest against Citizenship They were seeking feed­ later released. Teachers' Association de­ as important as resolving the In the melee, several protes­ (Amendment) Act in Lucknow back on the ground situation Scores of people, since late manding the removal of Vice issues that have come up,” ters were beaten up by the on December 19. post the revocation of the Ground study: Foreign envoys arriving at the Srinagar airport afternoon, had assembled Chancellor M. Jagadesh Ku­ said Mr. Khare. police and taken away in pol­ NEWS Ī PAGE 13 State’s special status, Pakis­ on Thursday on a two­day visit. * ANI outside the HRD Ministry as a mar. The Ministry ruled out Ministry officials, howev­ ice vehicles. A male student DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD tan’s attempts at interfe­ protest march starting from Mr. Kumar's removal. “Re­ er, asserted that the “formu­ suffered head injuries during Teenager in hit-and-run rence and the immediate de­ SC verdict on Mandi House culminated moving the VC is not the solu­ la” decided during consulta­ baton charge. to be tried as ‘child’: SC mands of the people. Why ban us, there. HRD Secretary Amit tion. The basic issue on tions with students and (With inputs from Sau- NEW DELHI Unlike the controversial curbs today Khare met a delegation of which the whole problem has administration needs to be rabh Trivedi and agencies) A loophole in juvenile law will tour of the European Union asks Congress nine representatives from arisen needs to be addressed implemented. The university see a teenager who allegedly (EU) parliamentarians in Oc­ The Supreme Court will on Congress leader Jairam JNU Students' Union and JNU first. Changing X, Y or Z is not officials, including the Vice SEE ALSO Ī PAGE 2 drove his father’s luxury car tober last year, these envoys, Friday pronounce its Ramesh accused the Centre over a 32­year­old man in including U.S. Ambassador verdict on the legality of of adopting double Delhi being tried as a child to India Kenneth I. Juster the restrictions on the standards by taking rather than an adult who and the Norwegian Ambas­ fundamental freedom of Ambassadors on a “guided T.N., Kerala hunt for Centre withdraws CRPF committed a heinous crime. A sador, drove past busy movement and the political tour” of Jammu Supreme Court Bench streets from the airport to shutdown of communic­ and Kashmir, while barring observed that an offence reach Lalit Grand Palace Ho­ ations in Jammu and Indian politicians from the suspected Islamic ultras cover for Stalin, OPS which does not provide a tel. The venue is close to the Kashmir since August 5, minimum sentence of seven Union Territory. He sought sub­jail where National Con­ following the withdrawal years cannot be treated as a “unfettered access” for all Duo killed an SSI in Kanniyakumari ‘State govt. can provide them security’ ference (NC) vice­president of Article 370. Ī page 12 Ī page 12 heinous offence. politicians. Special Correspondent Special Correspondent Omar Abdullah has been de­ DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Stalin was given NATION Ī PAGE 9 KANNIYAKUMARI New Delhi <> DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD tained since August 5. The Z-category security envoys did not meet him. vocation of Article 370 and African and Asian nations, Preliminary investigations The Ministry of Home Affairs cover and No shutdown was ob­ wanted to know if Pakistan held a closed­door interac­ into the gunning down of (MHA) has withdrawn the se­ Panneerselvam served nor was any violence was making attempts to in­ tion with a group of promi­ special sub­inspector of pol­ curity cover of DMK presi­ Y-category reported, unlike during the terfere, delegates at the nent politicians led by Altaf ice Wilson, 57, at Padanthaa­ dent M.K Stalin and Tamil EU parliamentarians’ visit. meetings told The Hindu. Bukhari, fast emerging as lumoodu checkpost in Kan­ Nadu Deputy Chief Minister personnel involved, Y­cate­ During their interactions There was a common de­ the face of a non­NC, non­ niyakumari district on O. Panneerselvam, a senior gory protection entails de­ with politicians, local edi­ mand for restoration of In­ Peoples Democratic Party Wednesday night, point to M. Thoufique (left) and government official said on ployment of 11­12 personnel. tors and elected grassroots ternet services, they added. (PDP) third front. the involvement of suspect­ Abdul Shameem Thursday. The official said that the leaders, the envoys posed The foreign envoys, main­ ed Islamic extremists. Mr. Stalin had Z­category State government could pro­ FRIDAY REVIEW Ī 4 PAGES pointed questions on the re­ ly from South American, CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 12 With the help of CCTV im­ December 2019. He went un­ security cover and Mr. Pan­ vide protection to the two ages, the police identified derground thereafter. neerselvam had Y­category leaders. the assailants as A. Abdul Tamil Nadu Director Gen­ proximate security cover, In July last year, around Shameem of Thiruvithaan­ eral of Police J.K. Tripathy provided by the Central Re­ 1,300 security personnel code and M. Thoufique of and ADGP, Law and Order, serve Police Force (CRPF). were freed of VIP security SC rebuffs plea to implement CAA Malik Dinar Nagar in Kottar, K. Jayanth Murali, who ar­ The official said that the duty after the MHA reviewed Kanniyakumari. rived in Kerala on Thursday, CRPF was tasked with pro­ security cover of 350 indivi­ Police sources said Sha­ had an hour­long meeting viding proximate and mobile duals, including politicians. Court must independently review the law for elements of unconstitutionality: CJI meem was involved in the with Kerala police chief Lok­ security cover to both the Recently, the Centre with­ murder of Hindu Munnani nath Behera and ADGP, Law leaders only in Tamil Nadu, drew the Special Protection Krishnadas Rajagopal and fundamental value of activist Suresh Kumar in and Order, Sheikh Darvesh which now stood with­ Group cover of Congress NEW DELHI secularism by discriminating Chennai in June 2014. He Saheb. drawn. While Z­category is leaders Sonia, Rahul and Pri­ Chief Justice of India (CJI) in the grant of citizenship on was arrested with some oth­ the second highest form of yanka Gandhi and replaced Sharad A. Bobde said the the basis of religion. ers but released on bail in CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 12 security cover, with 20­22 it with Z­plus cover of CRPF. country was already going The CJI remained non­ through difficult times and committal when the lawyer an endeavour should be sought an urgent hearing of made to maintain peace. his petition favouring the The CJI made the oral CAA. Ms. Dhanda asked the Nirbhaya case: two convicts file curative pleas comments while hearing a court to direct the Election petition seeking an “aggres­ peace. Such petitions don’t view the law for elements of Commission to take “strict Vinay, Mukesh in their pleas claimed ‘sea change in death penalty jurisprudence’ sive” implementation of the help,” Chief Justice Bobde unconstitutionality in it. action” against political par­ Citizenship (Amendment) told the lawyer for Mumbai­ “How can we just declare ties “spreading false ru­ Legal Correspondent petitions, said there had tution Bench of the Supreme open for convicts in the Su­ Act (CAA), which fast­tracks based Puneet Kaur Dhanda. it [CAA] constitutional? mours and violence in the NEW DELHI been a sea change in the Court in its judgment in the preme Court. benefits of citizenship to ille­ Ms. Dhanda’s petition There is anyway a presump­ country”. The petition also Curative petitions were filed death penalty jurispru­ Rupa Ashok Hurra case in Sharma was the first of gal immigrants from Pakis­ wanted the court to declare tion of constitutionality. You sought legal action against in the Supreme Court by two dence. They argued that ig­ 2002. A party can take only the four convicts to file a cu­ tan, Bangladesh and Afghan­ the Act “constitutional”. have been a student of law, those protesting against the convicts in the Nirbhaya noring the subsequent two limited grounds in a cu­ rative petition, arguing that istan belonging to six The CJI scoffed at the you would know...” Chief Jus­ CAA. case on Thursday. The peti­ changes in the law against rative petition — one, that he there had been “a change in minority religions but denies prayer, explaining to the la­ tice Bobde said. Protesters have said the tions come just days after a the death penalty would be was not heard by the court the law on death sentence in the same treatment to Mus­ wyer that any law passed by The court, he said, had Act is discriminatory in Delhi sessions court sche­ a “gross miscarriage of before the adverse judgment India” since the death penal­ lims. the legislature was anyway listed over 60 petitions chal­ granting citizenship and had duled the execution of the justice”. was passed, and two, the ty was first confirmed for “Country is going through attached with “a presump­ lenging the legality of the Act ripped apart the fabric of four convicts at Tihar Jail on judge was biased. A curative the Nirbhaya convicts in difficult times. There has tion of constitutionality”. It for hearing on January 22. secularism. January 22. Rare remedy petition, which follows the 2017. been some violence. Endea­ was now for the Supreme They argued that the Act Vinay Sharma and Mu­ A curative petition is a rare dismissal of a review peti­ vour now should be for Court to independently re­ shredded the nation’s basic CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 12 kesh, in separate curative remedy devised by a Consti­ tion, is the last legal avenue CONTINUED ON Ī PAGE 12 Maharashtra may reopen U.P. tops list U.P. govt. suspends Noida SSP over objectionable video in crimes Loya case, says Minister Vaibhav Krishna had alleged corruption in the State police force in a ‘secret’ report to CMO, DGP against women Foul play was alleged in judge’s death Special Correspondent so made news when he alleg­ Ajaypal Sharma, Rajiv Na­ Vijaita Singh Ghaziabad edly sent police officers to rayan Mishra, Sudhir Kumar New Delhi Staff Reporter the high­profile Sohrabud­ Days after an objectionable Meerut to detain a senior Singh and Ganesh Saha, The National Crime Re­ Mumbai din Sheikh fake encounter video of Gautambuddha Na­ journalist to know the whose names were men­ cords Bureau published Maharashtra Home Minister case of Gujarat involving gar Senior Superintendent source of the video. A de­ tioned in the report submit­ the annual Crime in India Anil Deshmukh on Thurs­ current Union Home Minis­ of Police (SSP) Vaibhav partmental inquiry has been ted by Mr. Krishna. Report 2018 on Wednes­ day said the State govern­ ter Amit Shah, died of car­ Krishna came to light, the ordered against him. day. It was published with ment is open to reinvestigat­ diac arrest in Nagpur on De­ IPS officer has been sus­ Fighting corruption provisional data, as five ing the death of special CBI cember 1, 2014, when he pended by the Uttar Pradesh ‘Police-scribe nexus’ An official release said there States — West Bengal, As­ judge B.H. Loya if fresh evi­ had gone to attend the wed­ government. The leaked report detailed was zero tolerance against sam, Arunachal Pradesh, dence warrants it. dingof a colleague’s daught­ Mr. Krishna had de­ an alleged nexus between corruption and a three­ Meghalaya and Sikkim — “Our government is open er. His death turned contro­ scribed the video as police officers and journal­ member Special Investiga­ did not send clarifications to reinvestigating the Loya versial after news reports “morphed” and a move to ists to influence transfer tion Team has been consti­ sought by the NCRB. death case. Some people suggested foul play. “malign” his image. He filed postings and cases. The re­ tuted to investigate the mat­ According to the report, are meeting me today to de­ BJP MLA Ashish Shelar an FIR and called it a move port was published after ter and submit the report 3,78,277 cases of crime mand that the case be reo­ criticised Mr. Deshmukh for by his rivals to deflect atten­ Gautambuddha Nagar SSP Vaibhav Krishna (left) had four journalists were arrest­ within 15 days. against women were re­ pened. I will hear them out his statement. “If the Su­ tion from a “secret” report described the video as ‘morphed’. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT ed by the Gautambuddha The allegations of ex­ ported, up from 3,59,849 and if necessary, the case preme Court has closed the on rampant corruption in Nagar police for alleged pu­ change of money for plum in 2017. Uttar Pradesh will be reinvestigated,” said case, then what is the rea­ postings that he had submit­ report have been removed minary report found it to be blication of fake news about postings sullied the “clean” topped the list with 59,445 Mr. Deshmukh. Asked son for the Home Minister ted to the Chief Minister’s Of­ from field postings and an authentic. The inquiry re­ police officers. image projected by the Yogi cases, followed by Maha­ whom he was meeting, the to make such statements? Is fice and the Director General SIT probe has been ordered. port also found him guilty of Among the 14 IPS officers Adityanath government and rashtra (35,497) and West Minister said he could not he acting as per law or are of Police. Official sources said the violating the service rules as transferred by the Uttar Pra­ gave an opportunity to the Bengal (30,394). divulge the names. political intentions behind In a simultaneous action, video was sent to the foren­ he leaked the secret report desh government on Thurs­ Opposition to take on the go­ Loya, who was hearing this?” he said. five IPS officers named in the sic lab in Gujarat and a preli­ to the media. Mr. Krishna al­ day are Himanshu Kumar, vernment. DETAILS ON Ī PAGE 9 CM M ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 2 CITY FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

AQI inches closer to ‘JNU’s character has changed Students contest V­C’s statement, ‘satisfactory’ call it a bid to put pressure on them

Staff Reporter since current V-C took charge’ New Delhi They say a few who are affiliated to ABVP had registered online The overall air quality of Yechury, Kanhaiya address students as protesters demand V­C’s resignation the city was in the lower Sidharth Ravi <> The V­C is inflating among students. Sachida­ end of “poor” category on Shinjini Ghosh New Delhi the numbers by NEW DELHI nanda Naiq, a PhD Sanskrit Thursday, only a few Contesting the Vice­Chan­ adding those who scholar who said that he is notches above “satisfacto­ Scores of students from JNU cellor’s statement that have paid their politically “leaned towards” ry” level, according to go­ assembled outside the HRD 3,300 students had made hostel fees the ABVP, lamented that if vernment­run monitoring Ministry since late afternoon payments for online regis­ Durlabh Sahoo various utility charges were agency System of Air Qual­ on Thursday, demanding trations in the current sem­ PhD student imposed, then the pro­ ity and Weather Forecast­ JNU Vice­Chancellor’s resig­ ester, students of Jawaharlal gramme would be unaffor­ ing and Research (SAFAR). nation and safe university Nehru University ( JNU), pre­ community through such dable for him. “The high surface winds spaces. Thousands, includ­ sent on the campus on statements so that those “I am considering to take and ventilation are likely to ing ordinary citizens, stu­ Thursday, argued that it was who were boycotting regis­ up a part time job to supple­ continue for the next two dents and professors from an attempt to put pressure trations stop doing so out of ment my income. But to do days. The AQI is forecast to various universities, partici­ on the student community. fear of adverse a job and to carry on my re­ be at the higher end of pated in the march. All the students The Hin- consequences. search would be very hard,” poor to lower end of very Stating that the “charac­ du met said that they were he said. poor category on Friday,” ter of JNU has changed since boycotting the registrations Confusion prevails Students here said that said SAFAR. the current V­C’s joining, Sa­ in support of the students’ “We get calls from students, there was no clarity on what On Thursday, the aver­ na Khan, a Ph.D scholar in union which was holding who have gone back home, kind of increase would take age level of PM 2.5 — dead­ the university said: “When I demonstrations at the Mi­ every day asking us whether place. "They had only re­ ly respirable particles — joined JNU 10 years ago for nistry of Human Resource registrations have started. moved the medical charge, was (78.9 ug/m3) more my M.A. course, JNU was a Development (MHRD). There is so much confu­ but we are worried whether than the safe limit (60ug/ space where one could have “Only a few students who sion,” said Sibtin Raza, an they will add other utility m3) as per Indian stan­ debates and students from are with the ABVP have re­ MA student, who said that charges later on. There are dards, in Delhi and NCR at various classes mingled with gistered themselves to get he was still on the campus rumours that the fees will be 9 p.m., according to Cen­ each other. It was a place into the V­C’s good books,” for the same reason. hiked by 10% every semes­ tral Pollution Control which helped us break stere­ alleged Durlabh Sahoo, a “We don’t know about ter after that,” said Durlabh. Board (CPCB). But the level otypes. Suddenly the entire PhD student at the School of our exams either. If registra­ Students said that while is more than three times character of the university International Studies tions take place, then exams the campus was calm now the safe limit (25 ug/m3) has changed with the V­C “The V­C is inflating the will be called at any time. So there was an apprehension set by the WHO. bringing in all kinds of numbers by adding those we are constantly preparing that it had become unsafe Defiant stand: * SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA The city’s AQI on Thurs­ restrictions.” Students marching to the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday. who have paid their hostel for exams,” he added. for students with some tak­ day was 203, down from JNU student Sohini Das­ fees,” he said. Others such Commenting on the ef­ ing safety precautions. Wednesday’s 266, accord­ gupta, who was seen carry­ tion, he has not met any of rampage inside the campus Mandi House to MHRD, as Mohamed Arif, an MPhil fect of the entire imbroglio Arif, a resident of Bareilly ing to the 4 p.m. bulletin of ing a blank poster, said: “We the injured faculty members despite the police being out­ Shastri Bhawan via Rajendra Urdu scholar, claimed that on studies, students such as in Uttar Pradesh said: “One the CPCB, which is the av­ have so much to say that it and students. It is clear that side. They were only called Prasad Road. A delegation of an internal student survey Vinod Kumar, a PhD scholar of the reasons why I haven’t erage of the last 24 hours. cannot fit in one poster. he has come here with a pol­ when it was over. This can nine persons, including had shown that only about at the School of Internation­ gone home is because there “The SAFAR model sug­ While the fee hike should be itical agenda.” only mean that the V­C is al­ teachers, went to meet JS, 1,100 students had al Studies (SIS), said that stu­ is a fear that someone might gests marginal deteriora­ revoked completely, the V­C Saket Sonkar, another so complicit in the incident.” MHRD. The gathering re­ registered. dents were studying them­ attack me there.. but my fa­ tion in air quality and in should immediately step JNU student added, “The ad­ Activist Anjali Bharadwaj mained peaceful till they Durlabh argued that the selves. mily says I am not safe here the “very poor” category down. This is an issue which ministration with the V­C be­ said, “This government does were in the meeting.” V­C was attempting to put However, concerns over either.” He now sleeps with by January 11. Further de­ is affecting thousands of stu­ ing the head has completely not believe in any form of “However, when the dele­ pressure on the student the increased fees remain the lights on at night. terioration towards the dents. If students don’t failed the students. He has dialogue. People are fighting gation came out after the middle of the “very poor” speak up, then who will?” not done anything to restore against CAA, NRC and V­C, meeting, one of the student category is expected by Ja­ normalcy. Until and unless opposing the violence leaders provoked the gather­ nuary 12,” SAFAR said. ‘Political agenda’ they rollback this manual across the campuses. But ing to move towards Rash­ Police got order from ‘above’ JNU forms Friday’s top three air Former JNUSU president and pass a new resolution in what we are seeing is a non­ trapati Bhavan. They pollution hotspots are like­ Kanhaiya Kumar said: “The a democratic manner we responsive government un­ stopped the normal traffic at panel to look ly to be Vinobapuri, Va­ Home Minister keeps refer­ will continue protesting.” willing to take on board opi­ Rajendra Prasad Road and to let violence happen: CM sundhara and Sahibabad, ring to the “tukde tukde nion, which is critical in a some of them tried to march into violence according to SAFAR. gang”. I want to tell him that Leaders join students democracy.” towards Rashtrapati Bha­ ‘Whatever is happening now not their fault’ I own the term proudly. Several political leaders and van,” he said. Staff Reporter New Delhi Desh ko todne ka jo sapna activists also addressed the DCP’s contention “They were prevented Staff Reporter hain unka, uska tukde tukde gathering. Meanwhile, Deputy Com­ from doing so. In the pro­ New Delhi The Jawaharlal Nehru Un­ kadenge hum desh ko bacha- CPI(M) leader Sitaram Ye­ missioner of Police (New cess, 11 people were de­ AAP national convener and iversity administration on kar. Besides this, the V­C has chury said, “No resignation, Delhi) Eish Singhal said: “A tained and they were subse­ Chief Minister Arvind Kejri­ Thursday said that a five­ to be removed. Despite be­ he (V­C) has to be removed. gathering of JNU students quently released,” he added. wal on Thursday, in an allu­ member committee was ing the head of the institu­ For three hours he allowed and teachers marched from sion to JNU without naming constituted to look into the the university, alleged that violence which took place the Delhi Police got “orders on the campus on Sunday. from above” to let violence The V­C has set up a com­ happen and let the attackers mittee “to inquire into the ‘Police in plainclothes were on JNU campus’ escape and then only enter whole incident of violence the campus. which took place on the Narrative goes counter to reported claim that officials were not in a position to stop goons “Whatever cycle of events Arvind Kejriwal campus on January 5,” read DELHI TODAY happening now is not the a statement issued by the Special Correspondent ice in civil dress were not on­ Delhi Police’s fault... If con­ porations. “There are 90% administration. Concert: The second day of Swami NEW DELHI ly mute witness but in fact stables are told ‘let violence chances that the complaint The five­member panel Haridas Tansen Sangeet Nritya Ma­ Policemen in plainclothes assaulted students near the happen, do not enter inside, will not be filed by the police will be assisted by Chief Se­ hotsav will feature vocal recitals by Ustad Wasifuddin Dagar and Pt. Ch­ were on the JNU campus north gate. stay outside’. How can they in case of an emergency. You curity Officer and the com­ hannulal Mishra and flute recital by when students were assault­ “Students identified the go inside? They will be sus­ all have witnessed the atti­ mittee “shall submit its re­ Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia at Shankar pended,” Mr. Kejriwal said at tude of Delhi Police in the port at the earliest,” the Lal Hall, Modern School, ed by an armed gang, stu­ persons in plainclothes that Barakhamba Road, 6.30 p.m. dent activists said. Eyewit­ they were indeed from Delhi a press conference. last few days when the law statement said. Exhibition: “Light and Lines in the nesses maintained that they Police and around 7 p.m. of “They [police] get order and order situation in the A masked mob armed Middle Land”, a solo exhibition of spotted a large number of January 5, they assaulted stu­ from above, ‘let violence State was grave,” he added. with sticks and rods had on photographs by Amit Verma at Con­ armed men with faces co­ dents,” said a PhD student happen and after that let Sunday attacked several fa­ vention Centre Foyer, India Habitat Centre (IHC), 11 a.m. ­ 7 p.m. vered in handkerchiefs sta­ who witnessed the violence them escape and then only Delhi Police’s reaction culty members and stu­ tioned outside Periyar Hostel near the north gate, which is enter inside’. So they do When asked for a comment, dents, including JNUSU pre­ Exhibition: A group art show by Kushala Vora, Sangita Maity and and policemen in civil Delhi University students enact a play to protest against the the main entrance of the un­ that,” he said. additional PRO of Delhi Pol­ sident Aishe Ghosh. Shruti Mahajan at Shrine Empire Gal­ clothes were standing near­ violence at JNU campus, at the Arts faculty on Thursday. iversity and near the Periyar There have been allega­ ice, Anil Mittal said: “Delhi On being questioned lery, D 395, Defence Colony, 11 a.m. * V.V. KRISHNAN ­ 6 p.m. by when the mob began pelt­ and Ganga hostels. tions that the police waited Police has all along been a about the violence which ing stones at students. Students maintain that it outside the gates of JNU, professional force and han­ took place and how the Exhibition: “Sands of Time”, a solo art show by Rashmi Khurana at Art “Our first response was to The narrative goes coun­ asked why were they just was because of the presence while a masked mob at­ dles situations professionally masked mob managed to Konsult, 3, Ground Floor, Hauz Khas run. But after a while we re­ ter to the reported claim that standing and not stopping of the plainclothes police­ tacked students and teachers as per its legal mandate. It is enter the campus, Vice­ Village, 10.30 a.m. ­ 6.30 p.m. turned to the Periyar main the police were asked to be the gang that still could be men that the violence was in­ on Sunday night. absolutely incorrect to say Chancellor M. Jagadesh Ku­ Exhibition: “Katha”, a solo painting gate, and there we saw a col­ stationed at the entry gates heard hollering nearby. But tense from the side of the Delhi Police is under the that it acts under any pres­ mar had on Tuesday said: show by Chandar Panjre at Triveni Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, 205, lection of men who were not of the campus and therefore they kept standing there,” gang. ambit of the Lt. Governor, sure and also to suggest that “Let the police investigate Tansen Marg, 11 a.m. ­ 8 p.m. masked and armed . So we were not in a position to stop said Ms. Talukdar. “I was beaten up by the who is appointed by the Cen­ complaints are not regis­ into it, let the facts come to Screening: “Every Day a Good Day”, asked them who they were the violence by the armed police during our anti­fee tral government, and is not tered at police stations. the front and then we will a Japanese film with English sub­ and they responded that gang. The students indicate Closer scrutiny needed hike agitation but the pre­ under the Delhi government. There is a well established know what exactly hap­ titles will be screened at The Japan they were from the Delhi that the police were present The role of the police during sence of policemen on the The Chief Minister said mechanism to address com­ pened. We must not add ad­ Foundation, 5A Ring Road, Lajpat Nagar IV, 6.30 p.m. police,” said Sucheta Taluk­ on the campus to incite and the night of assault deserves campus was a form of incite­ that the Delhi Police is func­ plaints, including women ditional versions of what is (Mail your listings for this column dar of the All India Students participate in violence. closer scrutiny as some oth­ ment for targeting students,” tioning along the same lines help desks and public facili­ going around and cause at [email protected]) Association. “We were agitated and er students said that the pol­ said Ms. Talukdar. of the BJP­run municipal cor­ tation officers.” further confusion.” Lakshmi’s mahout fails to get custody Court asks bank to recover ‘Find out whether automated as apex court refuses to entertain plea car loan from defaulter plants can address pollution’ Man took a loan of ₹6 lakh to buy car Bench wondered how habeas corpus plea can be heard for a jumbo Green panel directed CPCB to carry out study within 4 months Special Correspondent testimony of the witness Press Trust of India have to produce some docu­ NEW DELHI and the documents proved Staff Reporter New Delhi ments to get back the custo­ In an ex­parte judgment, a on record, it is established NEW DELHI due to monitoring by CPCB A 26­year­old mahout failed dy of Lakshmi. Delhi court has allowed a that defendant failed to and State pollution control to get the custody of elephant At this, advocate Wills public sector bank to recov­ make the payment of the The National Green Tribunal boards [SPCBs]. SPCBs based Lakshmi as the Supreme Mathews, appearing for the er a car loan of ₹5.65 lakh outstanding amount and a (NGT) has directed the Cen­ on direction of CPCB has Court on Thursday refused to petitioner, withdrew the peti­ from a borrower. total sum of ₹5,65,938 was tral Pollution Control Board started process of closing the entertain his habeas corpus tion with liberty to approach The borrower had taken a outstanding as per the state­ (CPCB) to carry out a study non­compliance units ,” the plea seeking its release from the High Court. loan of ₹6 lakh from the ment of accounts dated within four months to ascer­ CPCB said. alleged illegal detention. The top court in its order bank to buy a car by hypoth­ 29.06.2012.,” Additional tain whether advance batch The tribunal was hearing a Lakshmi was in news a few said, “Counsel for the peti­ ecating the vehicle to it. Ho­ Sessions Judge Murari Pra­ automated plants can ad­ plea moved by NGO Social months ago when she was al­ tioner seeks permission to wever, after paying a few sad Singh said. dress pollution caused due to Action for Forest and Envi­ legedly taken away by the withdraw this petition with EMIs, he stopped burning of waste tyres in py­ ronment (SAFE) which mahout before Delhi police The elephant Lakshmi. * FILE liberty to approach the High repayment. 6% interest rolysis industries. other matters. sought a ban on end­of­life rescued her and took to a for­ PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY Court for appropriate relief. The bank filed a recover “Therefore, I find that plain­ A Bench headed by NGT The directions came after tyres in pyrolysis industries est shelter. Permission sought for is suit after the borrower took tiff bank has been able to es­ chairperson Justice Adarsh the apex pollution control citing non­implementation of Saddam, the mahout of and asked the lawyer appear­ granted. The writ petition is no note of the legal notice tablish its case on prepon­ Kumar Goel directed the body informed the tribunal environmental laws. the 47­year­old pachyderm, ing for the mahout whether dismissed as withdrawn with served on him. The court is­ derance of probabilities. CPCB to carry out the study that according to an action “Direct the Ministry of En­ had moved the apex court he had document to show le­ liberty to approach the High sued a notice to the borrow­ Plaintiff bank, is therefore, with the National Environ­ taken report from respective vironment, Forests and Cli­ seeking its directions to re­ gal right of possession. Court for appropriate relief er on taking cognisance of entitled for a sum of mental Engineering Re­ State pollution control mate Change, the CPCB and lease Lakshmi from “illegal “Is elephant a citizen of In­ in accordance with law.” the case. ₹5,65,938 against the defen­ search Institute and Indian boards, currently there are the State pollution control detention” at Elephant Reha­ dia?” the Bench, also com­ In July last year, the ele­ However, the borrower dant. On this amount of Institute of Technology (IIT) 678 tyre pyrolysis units in 19 boards in consultation with bilitation Centre and bring prising Justice B.R. Gavai and phant had gone missing and chose not to defend himself. ₹5,65,938, plaintiff bank is Delhi. States. Out of the 678 units, other scientific agencies to her back to Delhi. Justice Surya Kant, said. a countrywide alert was is­ Hence, the court decided awarded pendente lite [dur­ Pyrolysis is a method of re­ 270 were compliant with en­ develop a monitoring me­ A Bench headed by Chief The Supreme Court said sued to trace it. The animal the matter ex­parte on the ing the pendency of the cycling old tyres through a vironmental norms, the chanism to ensure that waste Justice S.A. Bobde wondered that if the animal was with was found by the Delhi forest basis of evidence by an offic­ case] and future interest at thermochemical treatment CPCB informed. tyres imported are verified how a habeas corpus plea the Elephant Rehabilitation department two months la­ er of the bank. 6% per annum,” the judge under high temperature to “The increase in number through scientific means ,” can be heard for an elephant Centre, the petitioner would ter. “In view of unrebutted said in his decision. produce industrial oil and of compliance units is mainly the plea had said. CM M ND-NDE YK THE HINDU DELHI FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 CITY 3 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

IN BRIEF 15 Daryaganj violence Woman tries to kill self at food outlet washroom NEW DELHI A woman in her 20s tried to accused granted bail end her life at a food outlet at Bahadurshah Zafar Marg here on Thursday, the police said. She had slit her wrist Accused told to appear at police station till further orders and was found bleeding in Special Correspondent they were in no position to the washroom. She had come NEW DELHI alone, ordered food and gone influence any witness or to the washroom. She was A Delhi court on Thursday tamper with the evidence. rushed to a hospital in a PCR granted bail to 15 people The court had earlier di­ van and is said to be out of who were arrested by the rected the police to submit danger. State police for alleged vio­ medico­legal certificates and lence during protests against the CCTV footage, in sup­ the amended Citizenship Act port of their allegations, for 1-yr-old undergoes rare in Daryaganj last month. perusal. liver transplant surgery Additional Sessions Judge The judicial custody of NEW DELHI Kamini Lau allowed the bail the accused people was on A 14-hour rare liver graft applications on the condi­ Monday extended till Janu­ transplant surgery was tion of a bond of ₹25,000 ary 18. Thereafter, the hear­ performed on a one-year-old per head and surety of the the case. ing on their bail applications girl from Saudi Arabia at like amount. Lawyer Rebecca John, was transferred to another Artemis Hospital in Sector 51 The accused persons have who represented the ac­ Tis Hazari court as the case here. Baby Fatima (name been directed to appear in cused people, had submit­ was taken over by the Crime changed) underwent the person before the Station ted before the court that the Branch. living donor liver transplant, House Officer of Daryaganj police arrested them from On December 23, a magis­ where only 1 out of 8 portions of the liver was used to police station on the last Sa­ different places; that they terial court had turned provide a new liver to her. turday of every month, till were not involved in any vio­ down the bail pleas of the ac­ The surgery called further orders. lence; and that they did not cused. Monosegment (Segment 3) They are also required to have any political affiliation. The said incident took living donor liver transplant is surrender their passports Ms. John also said that the place on December 20, after the first such case reported in and not to make any attempt arrested people were from which the accused were ar­ Delhi-NCR, the hospital said. to influence the witnesses in low­income groups and that rested for alleged violence. Cognisable crime in 2018: Delhi with City records highest no. of over 2 lakh cases leads 18 metro cities cases of crime National Crime Records Bureau releases report on Thursday against women

STAFF REPORTER SAURABH TRIVEDI NEW DELHI NEW DELHI The national capital regis­ The national capital records tered a total of 2,37,660 cog­ the highest number of nisable cases followed by Crime Against Women Chennai (85,027) and Surat (CAW) in 2018 among 19 oth­ (60,384) among 18 metro ci­ er metropolitan cities, as ties in terms of crimes in per a report released by the 2018, according to the Na­ NCRB. tional Crime Records Bureau In 2018, a total of 11,724 (NCRB) data released on cases of CAW registered in Thursday. Delhi accounts for 27.8% of The NCRB released the sharp rise from 41,573 cases lowed by Bengaluru (229) total CAW cases registered 2018 edition of the report, registered in 2017. and Coimbatore (174). Under in other metros. In 2017, ‘Crime in India’, which stated Surat in Gujarat, and the head of death due to ne­ 11,542 cases were registered. that Delhi has witnessed a Mumbai in Maharashtra fi­ gligence, the Delhi records Mumbai is ranked second marginal rise in crime cases gure at third and fourth posi­ 1,715 deaths where as Chen­ with 6,058 cases in 2018. as compared to 2017. In 2018, tions with shares of 7.5 and nai (4101) and Bengaluru “Delhi recorded 137 cases Delhi accounts for a 29.6% 7.1 % of the overall figure. (834). of dowry deaths, three cases share of the overall Indian Together, India’s 19 metro In cases of death due to of murder after rape and 35 Penal Code (IPC) and Special cities show a modest 10% in­ negligence of civic agencies, cases of abetment to suicide and Local Laws (SLL) among crease in crime in 2018, ac­ the city recorded only one of women while five cases of 19 metro cities. cording to the data from the death and four deaths in acid attack and nine cases of The total number of IPC latest edition of the ‘Crime in Ghaziabad in 2018. Three attempt to acid attack,” the and SLL cases registered in India’ report. In all, 8,02,267 deaths were reported in Ben­ report reads. Out of the total 2017 was 2,24,346, according cognisable crimes compris­ galuru and no deaths in any crimes registered under the to data from the NCRB. ing 5,45,502 IPC crimes and of the metro cities. IPC against the women, the Chennai ranks second on 2,56,765 SLL crimes were re­ The NCRB said that the ci­ majority of the those (3131) the list of metro cities, with a gistered in 19 metropolitan ty recorded no death due to involved “cruelty by hus­ share of 10.6%. In 2018, the cities in 2018. medical negligence and band or his relatives”. total number of crime cases In 2018, the city topped deaths due to negligence re­ The city recorded highest registered was 85,027, a with 460 murder cases fol­ lating to rail accidents. number of cases (1,367) un­ der the Protection of Chil­ dren from Sexual Violence High Court disposes of petition Act (Girl Child Victims only). against Bollywood movie

CBFC asked producers to insert disclaimer on use of a word

Staff Reporter Central Board of Film Certi­ beginning of the film a: New Delhi fication (CBFC) had asked “disclaimer in English and The Delhi High Court on the producers to insert a Hindi that the word Ma­ Thursday disposed of a disclaimer on the use of the ratha is a general term re­ plea against Bollywood film word “Maratha” in the ferring to all soldiers of Tanhaji The Unsung War- movie. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maha­ rior, which releases on Fri­ The CBFC had asked the raj, and not used to refer to day, after noting that the producers to insert at the any community”.

Azad’s medical treatment: court upset with Tihar

Staff Reporter New Delhi A Delhi Court which direct­ ed the Tihar jail authorities to provide treatment for po­ lycythemia to Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad, arrested in connec­ tion with violence during anti­CAA protest here, ex­ pressed displeasure at the jail authorities, which took no action despite being aware of Mr. Azad’s condition. The court noted that it was the duty of the State to preserve life even if a per­ son is incarcerated. It passed the order on Mr. Azad’s plea for proper treat­ ment at AIIMS where he had been undergoing treat­ ment. The court was also gi­ ven a report from AIIMS that confirmed that Mr. Azad is suffering from Polycythemia. Mr. Azad, in his plea, said he required continuous medical check­up at AIIMS. CM YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 4 CITY FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Shoaib Iqbal CM’s remark on bribery during CM compares work done Kejriwal owes ₹20K crore joins AAP Goa poll not appropriate: HC to civic bodies, alleges BJP Staff Reporter New Delhi Kejriwal had challenged two EC orders by Delhi govt., civic bodies Former five­term MLA ‘Govt. has no achievements to show people’ from Matia Mahal consti­ Staff Reporter tuency, Shoaib Iqbal, New Delhi Special Correspondent Even after five BJP turned the city into ‘garbage capital of India’, he alleges New Delhi <> joined AAP on Thursday The Delhi High Court on years, he is in the presence of the par­ Thursday noted that the Staff Reporter Chief Minister Arvind Kejri­ avoiding talking New Delhi ty’s national convener Ar­ controversial remarks on wal has “no achievements” about the vind Kejriwal. bribery made by Chief Mi­ AAP national convener Ar­ of his own government to achievements of Chief Minister Arvind nister Arvind Kejriwal dur­ vind Kejriwal on Thursday show to the people and is his government Kejriwal said, “I want to ing the Goa Assembly elec­ presented a report — BJP’s yet to give ₹20,000 crore to and running away welcome Shoaibji and his tion campaign in 2017 were civic bodies model vs govt. the civic bodies, alleged the from the people team to the party with all “not appropriate”. model —, saying the BJP has BJP on Thursday. Manoj Tiwari my heart. I strongly be­ The court suggested he turned the city into “gar­ BJP State chief Manoj Ti­ BJP State chief lieve that his support will make general statements, bage capital of India”. wari and south Delhi MP Ra­ strengthen the work that which does not point a fin­ Mr. Kejriwal said there mesh Bidhuri addressed a poration, ₹1,938 crore to the we have done for the poor ger in the upcoming polls. are two models of gover­ joint press conference East body and ₹3,763 crore in Delhi. His addition to Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva would lead to action against nance in front of the people where they sought to place to the North body. the party will help take said there were some “spec­ him and his party and the of Delhi. “I hope that the pe­ Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at a press conference in New “questions being asked by In order to paralyze the forward the development ific imputations” in the second directing lodging of ople will cast their votes Delhi on Thursday. * SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR the people of Delhi” to Mr. civic bodies out of “political that AAP always believes statement which were not an FIR against him for his based on the good gover­ Kejriwal, seeking to expose malice”, the Kejriwal go­ in and is devoted to.” appropriate. comments. The Chief Minis­ nance model of AAP in Del­ <> BJP’s biggest gift to in the north civic body do the “claims” of AAP through vernment had not been re­ Mr. Iqbal said: “AAP has The court also refused to ter, had during a series of hi,” he said. Delhi is the landfill not have a chargesheet filed the exhibition of videos and leasing funds to the civic bo­ worked towards the wel­ endorse a draft statement rallies in Goa during 2017 “Delhi’s children say that in Ghazipur. against them. tweets illustrating broken dies due to which the fare and development of placed before it on behalf of elections, asked voters to MCD’s full form is ‘Most Cor­ According to roads, waterlogging, road­ people of Delhi are not be­ the downtrodden as well the AAP convener. It re­ “accept money from the rupt Department’,” he said. Supreme Court, Full statehood side filth and schoolchildren ing provided several “amen­ as the Dalit communities marked that there cannot Congress and BJP candi­ The BJP’s “biggest gift” to the landfill will “People of Delhi want full “endangering their lives ities”, he alleged. in Delhi. I have full faith in be an endorsement from dates but vote for AAP”. Delhi is the landfill in Ghazi­ statehood so that there is while crossing open drain”. have to be marked the strength of the party the court on what one can The BJP had filed two pur, he added. only one government in the “Even after five years, he ‘One question daily’ with red lights to that it will come back with say. complaints against Mr. Kej­ “There are open garbage city. It is not Kejriwal’s de­ is avoiding talking about the “Has Kejriwal admitted that a record­breaking win of riwal, seeking his prosecu­ dumping grounds and warn airplanes mand,” he said when asked achievements of his govern­ he has no answer to the 70/70 Assembly consti­ Next hearing tion under various sections heaps of waste in every Arvind Kejriwal why “full statehood” is not a ment and running away questions being raised Chief Minister tuency seats. I have The court, however, did not of the Indian Penal Code for nook and corner of the city. main agenda for the party. from the people. This is a against his government? Out worked with Arvind Kejri­ pass any order in the case. asking voters to accept mo­ This is a matter of shame for “Today people have cho­ jhadu government not a go­ of the questions being walji during his 49­days The counsel appearing for ney. The Congress too had Delhi, which secures the among other sectors. “The sen us, tomorrow it could be vernment that performs. In raised by the people, we will government in Delhi, his Mr. Kejriwal sought an ad­ condemned his statement. bottom position in the BJP’s garbage and waste moun­ some other party, in the order to cover reality, Kejri­ ask him one question per attitude towards work is journment in the post­lunch The Election Commis­ Swachh Bharat Mission. The tain in Ghazipuris expected next five years or 10 years... wal talks about irrelevant day,” Mr. Tiwari said. commendable.” session. The court will hear sion had directed that a Centre in December 2019 to cross the height of the Taj Whichever party people things but does not talk “Today’s question is why Mr. Iqbal said won from the case on April 24 next. complaint be lodged against had rated Delhi’s civic bo­ Mahal. According to the Su­ chose, in democracy, all about water supply, DTC has Kejriwal concealed Matia Mahal for five terms Mr. Kejriwal had chal­ Mr. Kejriwal under the pro­ dies at bottom 10 of the 49 preme Court, the landfill powers should be with buses, pollution, lack of col­ ₹20,000 crore due to the — 1993,1998, 2003, 2008, lenged the Election Com­ visions of the Representa­ largest cities for cleanli­ will have to be marked with them, which is not there to­ leges, flyovers and roads,” civic bodies like a thief? 2013 — and has served as mission’s two orders of tion of the People Act deal­ ness,” he said. red lights to warn air­ day. This [current] system of Mr. Tiwari said. Since Kejriwal has withheld the Deputy Speaker of 2017, one censuring him for ing with bribing voters and The report also compares planes,” he added. governance is not good for He said the government the funds, the civic bodies Vidhan Sabha from 2003 his remarks with a warning the relevant sections of the the work done by AAP and He said data shows that the country, Capital or the has to pay ₹7,712 crore to the can’t give salaries to its em­ to 2008, the party said. that a repeat of the same IPC. BJP in education, health only 17 of the 230 engineers people,” he said. South Delhi Municipal Cor­ ployees regularly,” he said.

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Tiwari flags off mega bike Catching some rays 25­year­old man dies rally against JNU violence in printing press fire Goel, other BJP leaders attend event Owners have been identified: police

Special Correspondent “This rally was against Staff Reporter New Delhi the rumour being spread New Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party State among the youth over Citi­ A 25­year­old man died in a chief Manoj Tiwari flagged­ zenship (Amendment) Act fire that broke out at a off a mega bike rally from and their misuse by political printing press in Patparganj the party’s office here on parties,” Mr. Tiwari, who Industrial Area on Thurs­ Thursday against recent vio­ had BJP Rajya Sabha MP Vi­ day morning, said officials. lence in Jawaharlal Nehru jay Goel as his pillion rider, Phool Dev from Bihar University. said. “When the zeal and used to work as a help at He said the JNU incident power of youth decide to the printing press, they was the “misuse” of the maintain the unity and inte­ said. youth by opposition parties grity of the country then no to “push their agenda”. one can damage it. But, the Fire call at 2.38 a.m. The fire broke out in the frustrated opposition par­ A fire department official building in Patparganj on Rally diverted due to stir ties are trying to push the said a call regarding the Thursday morning. The “Vijay Abhiyan Sankalp youth into anarchy for its blaze was received at 2.38 * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Rally” was scheduled to electoral gain,” he added. a.m. after which more than pass through Mandi House, Mr. Goel said the rally had 30 fire tenders were ment, said an official. Kashmiri Gate and Britannia signalled “the political fare­ pressed into service. The police said they got a Chowk but was, however, well” of the Kejriwal govern­ The fire was brought un­ call from the press manag­ diverted to bypass Mandi ment in Delhi. der control at 8 a.m. after er, Yogesh, about the fire at House owing to a march by “When such a large num­ which the cooling­off oper­ Kaveri printing press at 2.45 students and teachers in the ber of youth give their polit­ ation continued. The fire a.m. area, said Delhi BJP media ical support then it becomes department said a search The press owners have relations head Neelkant clear that the Kejriwal go­ was conducted to see if been identified as Atul and Bakshi. vernment is an obstruction anyone was trapped in the Anuj Goyal, both residents BJP MPs Harsh Vardhan, to the development of Delhi. building. Dev was inside of Sukhdev Vihar, they said. Gautam Gambhir, Parvesh Under the leadership of the building at the time of His family has been in­ Verma and Meenakshi Lekhi Prime Minister Narendra the incident and died due formed, said an officer. The took part in different legs of Modi, the works will pro­ to suffocation, the police body has been kept at Lal the rally, which Mr. Tiwari gress at double speed in Del­ said. The blaze had en­ Bahadur Shastri Hospital termed “historic and per­ hi and I am confident that gulfed the ground, first and and the post­mortem will haps the biggest bike rally in BJP will form a government An old man sits in the sun while the other exercises in a park on a cold morning in the city. * R.V. MOORTHY second floors of the build­ be after his family arrives, the Capital so far”. here,” he said. CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC ing except for the base­ the police added. Wrong injection Locals seek withdrawal of controversial land Bill Three terror suspects held DUTA protests claims life of against delay teen; doctor held They demand protection of Aravallis as Haryana has the ‘lowest forest cover in country’ ‘They are members of Tamil Nadu­IS’ in release We got Staff Reporter Special Correspondent der the Punjab Land Preser­ Staff Reporter <> New Delhi GURUGRAM vation Act since 1966 making NEW DELHI information that of funds A 13­year­old girl died after A few local residents held a the Act totally redundant in The Delhi Police Special Cell the three might allegedly consuming silent protest in front of Haryana.” claimed to have arrested move towards Staff Reporter New Delhi wrong medicines, the pol­ Town Hall in Civil Lines here Anuradha Prasad Dhawan three members of Tamil Na­ Delhi­NCR to carry ice said on Thursday. on Thursday seeking the said the Aravallis are the du­IS for allegedly planning out a terror strike. The Delhi University Teach­ DCP (South) Atul Thakur withdrawal of the Punjab lungs of the National Capital a terror strike in the Capital, P.S. Kushwah ers’ Association (DUTA) said 47­year­old accused Land Preservation Act Region and “act as natural after a brief exchange of fire, DCP (Special Cell) protested against the delay doctor Banshi Lal, who ran (PLPA) Amendment Bill, barriers protecting us from said officials. in release of funds to 12 col­ a clinic in Sanjay Colony, 2019. the sandstorms coming in Two of them were out on Bridge and the three men leges run by the govern­ has been arrested. The Haryana Chief Minister from the Thar”. If the Araval­ bail in a Hindu Munnani were nabbed from the spot. ment at the Vidhan Sabha complaint was received Manohar Lal Khattar was at­ lis were destroyed, NCR ci­ leader K.P. Suresh Kumar’s “Moideen has links with on Thursday. from the victim’s father, tending a grievance redressal ties would turn into a dust murder case, they said. ISIS. After being released on Following the expansion Bachchu Paswan. meeting inside the Town Hall bowl, she added. DCP (Special Cell) P.S. conditional bail in the mur­ of the university on account “Paswan from Bhati at that time. Protesters stand outside Town Hall in the Millennium City on Prem Singh Tanwar and Kushwah said the accused der case of Suresh, he made of EWS reservations imple­

Mines said his daughter “We are here to convey to Thursday. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Rajbir Singh, both from vil­ have been identified as Kha­ planned to revive the ISIS mented in 2019, additional died because of wrong our Chief Minister that we lages in the Gwal Pahadi ja Moideen (52), Syed Ali Na­ network in India through funds are required to sup­ medicines and injections have elected this govern­ 2019, after the Haryana State protected under any forest area, said: “A lot of illegal en­ vas (32) and Abdul Samad his co­associates,” Mr. Kush­ port the increased intake of given by Lal,” Mr. Thakur ment to work for the welfare Assembly had cleared it in law, it is feared that the entire croachments have come (28), all from Tamil Nadu. wah said. students as well as addition­ said. of the citizens. The PLPA February last year but a reply Aravallis would be destroyed upon the Aravalli forest areas The police said they re­ The police said Moideen al teaching and non­teach­ During enquiry, the pol­ Amendment Bill 2019 passed to an RTI application last if this Bill was notified. and water bodies. How will ceived a tip­off about the was associated with “radical ing posts and infrastructure ice said Lal produced an in the State assembly in Fe­ month revealed that the Ha­ the groundwater get re­ trio who had allegedly elements and indoctrinated improvements, the teachers ayurvedic degree, which bruary 2019 goes against the ryana Governor subsequent­ ‘Violation of SC order’ charged with all these illegal pledged allegiance to ISIS. youth” throughout. He was said. was verified from the de­ interests of the citizens and it ly gave his approval to con­ Vaishali Chandra Rana, constructions coming up? “We were informed that first arrested in 2004 for or­ The additional posts are partment concerned. “It needs to be withdrawn in the troversial bill which seeks to another protester, said: “The We have complained to the they had entered east U.P ganising a training camp also essential to mitigate the was revealed that Lal never next Assembly session,” said open 33% of the forest cover government is currently in authorities but nothing has through Nepal and might “wherein people were con­ crisis for ad­hoc teachers, obtained any qualifications Sarika Verma, a protester. in the State for real estate violation of the Supreme been done.” move towards Delhi­NCR to verted into Islam and who face job losses, said and is not entitled to prac­ The protesters sought the development. Court orders. Instead of de­ “Aravalli forests cover less carry out a terror strike,” trained in handling wea­ DUTA. The union also high­ tice any system of medi­ protection of the forests. The protesters said Harya­ molishing the illegal con­ than 10% of Gurugram and Mr. Kushwah said, adding pons and martial arts”. He lighted that several colleges cine,” Mr. Thakur added. They were holding placards, na already has the lowest for­ structions on PLPA protected south Haryana and less than that it was learnt that the was arrested in 2014 in con­ have started new courses Subsequently, a case un­ some of which read: “Protec­ est cover in the country, a Aravallis, the government is 2% of the entire State. As citi­ persons were sent to Delhi nection with Suresh’s mur­ but did not have adequate der Sections 304 and 419 of tors becoming Destroyers. mere 3.59% and if the bill trying to legalise them by zens, we demand that the by their foreign­based der and was later arrested teaching positions to cater the IPC & 27 DMC Act was Aravali Bachao”, “Hamare was notified by the govern­ opening our forests for the PLPA Amendment Bill is handlers. by the NIA in a terror case. to the same. However, no registered on Wednesday. Jungle Se Buri Nazar Hatao ” ment, then 60,000 acres of builder mafia through this withdrawn and the Aravallis The police said they were Navas was earlier in­ additional posts had been “Lal was produced before and “Pragati=Van (Develop­ Aravallis in south Haryana Amendment Bill. This Bill is protected under law so we also informed that the ac­ volved in an attempt­to­ created for the same, it said, the court and then sent to ment is equal to forests)”. and 10,000 acres in the Shiv­ comes into force from No­ can leave this natural herit­ cused had taken a room on murder case apart from Su­ adding that the delay in judicial custody,” the DCP The Supreme Court had aliks would be concretised. vember 1, 1966, the date of age for our future genera­ rent and procured arms and resh’s murder case. Samad sanctioning the posts was said, adding that further in­ put a stay on the PLPA Since another 50,000 acres formation of the Haryana, tions,” said Neelam Ahluwa­ ammunition. A trap was is postgraduate in computer adversely effecting the vestigation is under way. Amendment Bill on March 1, of the Aravallis are not even thus nullifying all actions un­ lia. then laid near Wazirabad application, they added. teaching process.

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THE HINDU DELHI FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 NORTH 5 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Timings DELHI FRIDAY, JAN. 10 Rein in leaders violating ‘coalition ‘Congress only party that RISE 07:16 SET 17:42 RISE 17:18 SET 06:39 SATURDAY, JAN. 11 RISE 07:16 SET 17:43 dharma’, JD(U) tells Bihar ally can provide secular rule’ RISE 18:21 SET 07:38 SUNDAY, JAN. 12 Preamble cannot be allowed to be tinkered with: Amarinder RISE 07:16 SET 17:44 BJP MLC Sanjay Paswan had pitched for Chief Minister from his party RISE 19:28 SET 08:32 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT We all know what happened Press trust of india them,” Mr. Prasad said in a CHANDIGARH with Priyanka Gandhi Vadra patna statement. Terming the situation pre­ in Uttar Pradesh,” he said, The JD(U) on Thursday asked Mr. Shah, the party presi­ vailing in the country as ex­ underlining the need for its Bihar ally the BJP to act dent and Union Home Minis­ tremely distressing, Punjab youth to take the lead in sav­ against its leaders violating ter, has said in more than a Chief Minister Amarinder ing the country. the “coalition dharma”, a couple of TV interviews in Singh on Thursday urged the Capt. Amarinder said that day after BJP MLC Sanjay the recent past that Mr. Ku­ youth to come forward to he would continue to lead Paswan pitched for a Chief mar, serving his third con­ protect and safeguard the the State in its growth and Minister from his party to re­ secutive term as the Chief nation and its Constitutional development and would not place Nitish Kumar. Minister, will be the NDA’s principles of democracy and quit politics till he had en­ JD(U) spokesman Rajiv face in the Assembly polls. secularism. sured jobs for the youth and Ranjan Prasad said deterrent He was addressing Punjab opportunities for all to grow action would have followed Repeated demand Youth Congress members Punjab Chief Minister in a progressive Punjab. had a leader from his party Mr. Paswan, a dalit leader, and workers at the installa­ Amarinder Singh * made such a statement. had raised the JD(U)’s hack­ tion ceremony of the youth ‘I will be there for you’ The State unit of the BJP les a few months ago, too, wing’s newly­elected office­ blic,” he pointed out, adding “This is my State, you are all distanced itself from the when he demanded that Nit­ bearers, including its presi­ that though the various Arti­ my people…I will always be

views expressed by Mr. Pas­ Sanjay Paswan with JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar * FILE PHOTO ish Kumar be replaced as dent Barinder Singh Dhillon cles of the Constitution had here for you, and will not go 0 wan, a former Union Chief Minister by a BJP here. since undergone many anywhere till I have ensured DISCLAIMER: Readers are requested to Minister. (Deputy CM and BJP leader) (U) been guilty of repeatedly leader. Capt. Amarinder said the amendments, the Preamble the welfare of every citizen verify and make appropriate enquiries to satisfy themselves about the veracity of “The people of Bihar now take,” Mr. Paswan had told violating coalition dharma in “Sanjay Paswan is a senior Congress was the only party has remained untouched. of Punjab,” said the Chief an advertisement before responding to any published in this newspaper. THG want to see a BJP leader as reporters on Wednesday. this manner, he would have and respected leader of our that could provide secular, “The Preamble cannot be Minister. PUBLISHING PVT LTD., the Publisher & Owner of this newspaper, does not vouch the Chief Minister... We are The BJP quickly went into faced the consequences for party. He may have said so­ democratic rule in the coun­ allowed to be tinkered with,” He also accused the pre­ for the authenticity of any advertisement or advertiser or for any of the advertiser’s in a position to form a go­ damage control, insisting sure. I hope the BJP takes mething in his personal ca­ try. “The Congress fought for said Capt. Amarinder, hitting vious Akalis with ruining the products and/or services. In no event can the Owner, Publisher, Printer, Editor, Dir- vernment in the State on our Mr. Paswan’s view was his note of leaders who keep pacity. It is not the party’s of­ India’s independence and out at the current attempts State to promote their self­in­ ector/s, Employees of this newspaper/ company be held responsible/liable in own, though we shall abide own and not the party’s offi­ shooting their mouths off ficial stand,” BJP the Constitution was framed by the BJP to divide the na­ terest and blamed them any manner whatsoever for any claims and/or damages for advertisements in this newspaper. by whatever decision Naren­ cial stand. despite Amit Shah’s inter­ spokesperson Nikhil Anand on the Preamble of a socialist tion. “What prevails today is squarely for the spread of dra Modi and Sushil Modi “Had a member of the JD vention and act against said. secular democratic repu­ not Lok Raj but goonda raj. drugs in the State. Six ex­Punjab policemen BJP minority cell secretary in Punjab govt. nod for fast­track courts sentenced M.P. resigns over CAA, NRC The move aims to ensure speedy trial and justice in rape cases in the State Press trust of india SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT setting up of seven fast­track sions of the Criminal Law ment and Regulation) Ordi­ Mohali Can’t tolerate indecent remarks of colleagues: Akram Khan CHANDIGARH courts, with the creation of (Amendment) Act, 2018 to nance 2019. Six former Punjab police­ The Punjab government has 70 posts to manage them, for deal with the pending rape The Ordinance, which was men were on Thursday Staff Reporter 25 years,” Akram Khan told can’t resist provocative re­ decided to set up seven fast­ dealing exclusively with the cases expeditiously. approved by the council of held guilty by the CBI court Bhopal reporters. “But some col­ marks made by fellow BJP track courts to ensure spee­ rape cases. Four of these Ministers earlier at its meet­ here in a 27­year­old case of The BJP’s secretary for the leagues have been making in­ workers.” dy trial and justice in rape courts will be set up in Lud­ Two months time ing on December 4, 2019, is disappearance of six mem­ minority cell in Madhya Pra­ decent comments against a Denying the allegation, cases, besides three special hiana and one each at Amrit­ As per the amendment car­ now all set for legislation as bers of a family. desh has quit from his post particular community, which Lokendra Parashar, party courts to adjudicate offences sar, Jalandhar and Feroze­ ried out in Section 173 of ‘The Punjab Water Resourc­ Mohali’s Special Judge over the Citizenship (Amend­ is unbearable.” State media incharge, said, against children will also be pur. Seven additional posts Cr.PC in 2018, trial of rape es (Management and Regula­ Karunesh Kumar sen­ ment) Act and the proposed In the resignation letter, “Akram ji has become a vic­ set­up. of Additional and District cases is to be concluded tion) Bill, 2020’, according to tenced former Inspector nationwide National Register addressed to Sanvar Patel, tim of the misinformation The State Cabinet, which Sessions Judges along with within two months, said the the statement. Suba Singh, and Sub­In­ of Citizens, charging party BJP State minority cell presi­ campaign on the law. After met under chairmanship of 63 supporting staff have statement. “The Bill proposes to set spectors Bikramjit Singh workers of making indecent dent, Mr. Khan wrote, “I ten­ resigning, he should explain Chief Minister Amarinder been approved,” said an offi­ The Cabinet also paved up a Punjab Water Regula­ and Sukhdev Singh to ten remarks against a particular der my resignation over NRC to everyone, especially the Singh on Thursday, also de­ cial statement. the way for setting up a Wa­ tion and Development Auth­ years in jail while another community. and CAA. Kindly accept it.” Muslims, anti­minority provi­ cided to establish 10 more fa­ The courts, to be set up at ter Regulation and Develop­ ority. The authority will be Sub­Inspector Sukhdev Raj “I respect the party’s deci­ Stating that he had ap­ sions in the law. If he fails in mily courts to cover all the an approximate annual ex­ ment Authority by approving responsible for management Joshi was sentenced to five sion on the CAA and the NRC prised the senior leadership that, that means he even be­ districts of the State. penditure of ₹3.57 crore, will enactment of The Punjab of water resources of the years in jail. and have been serving it for of the comments, he said, “I trayed minorities.” “Cabinet has approved be implementing the provi­ Water Resources (Manage­ State,” the statement added. Withdraw PPP model for govt. Major fire at ESI hospital in hospitals in Rajasthan: JSA Noida; no loss of life, injuries ‘NITI plan would reduce access to public health institutions’ Special Correspondent Special Correspondent Ghaziabad JAIPUR State governments. The doc­ ument also states that this A major fire engulfed the The Rajasthan Jan Swasthya model is based on the PPP Employees’ State Insu­ Abhiyan ( JSA) has demand­ arrangements operative in rance Corporation (ESI) ed immediate withdrawal of Gujarat and Karnataka and hospital in Noida on Thurs­ the NITI Aayog’s plan to link has been developed on the day morning. private medical colleges with basis of “international best “Five fire tenders were the government district hos­ practices”. pressed into service. No pitals, in which the private An investigation by JSA loss of life or injuries have entities can convert half of has revealed that there was been reported. All the pa­ the hospital beds into paid no PPP model operative in tients were safely evacuat­

beds. CM Ashok Gehlot * Karnataka and only one such ed,” said Kamlesh Mishra, The JSA urged Chief Minis­ arrangement was functional Fire Safety Officer, Noida. ter Ashok Gehlot to reject Gupta said it was ironic that in Gujarat, involving the Guj­ Mr Mishra told The Hin- the public­private partner­ the NITI Aayog was “so bra­ arat Adani Institute of Medi­ du there were 243 patients ship policy formulated by NI­ zenly” admitting that the go­ cal Sciences, Bhuj, under a in the hospital out of TI Aayog for the health vernment lacked in resourc­ corporate social responsibili­ which 43 were in the criti­ sector. es and finances to meet the ty project. cal unit. They were shifted The JSA, which functions basic health needs of com­ to nearby private hospitals as a Statewide network of or­ mon citizens. Letter to CM Gehlot and the government hospi­ ganisations working on “This despite the fact that In a letter to the CM, signed tal. health rights, said the NITI only 25% of non­hospitalised by Dr. Gupta, health activist Situated in Sector 24, Aayog’s proposal amounted and 45% of hospitalised pa­ Chhaya Pancholi and civil ESI hospital is a seven­sto­ to an “unnecessary intru­ tients seek health care from rights activist Kavita Srivasta­ rey building. sion” of the Union govern­ public health institutions,” va, the JSA said that no con­ ment with a “very regres­ he said. sultations with the State go­ ‘Fire caused by sparks’ sive” model to A NITI Aayog draft policy vernments were carried out Mr Mishra said the hospital commercialise the already document has stated that the by NITI Aayog before formu­ authorities had listed the small public health system. PPP model was being pro­ lating the PPP model. The time of the fire as 9.15 a.m. The PPP model, if executed, posed for offering district JSA requested Mr. Gehlot to “We got the call at 9.40 would further reduce access hospitals to private entities reject the proposal with a a.m. The fire started from to public health institutions, to set up medical colleges in message to NITI Aayog to de­ the basement in the bat­ it said. view of limited resources sist from formulating such tery bank. Prima facie, it JSA convener Narendra available with the Union and models in future. seems the fire was caused by sparking in one of the battery’s terminal. It caused dark and dense Dense fog claims 8 lives smoke which causes suffo­ cation. When we reached Press trust of india Six peersons died on the the spot, the building was Jaipur spot while two succumbed filled with smoke,” he said. Eight persons were killed on to their injuries on the way Mr. Mishra pointed out Thursday when the van they to a government hospital the hospital lacked fire sa­ were travelling in collided here. fety features. with a bus due to dense fog The police said the van “Fire safety equipment on the Jaipur­Bikaner na­ driver failed to see the bus was not present on every tional highway, the police coming from the opposite floor and those which said. direction due to dense fog. were there were not func­ tioning properly. It was dif­ ficult to provide an outlet to the thick smoke. The fire was put out in half­an­hour but it took us more than three hours to get rid off the smoke.” The officer admitted the patients had to spend time in the open before they were gradually shifted to nearby private hospitals and government hospital.

06, on behalf of THG PUBLISHING PVT LTD., Chennai-600002. Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act).

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DELHI THE HINDU 6 EAST FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Protests planned against PM Modi’s Kolkata visit over the weekend Explosion in Special Correspondent There will be posters and ban­ From early Saturday morning, will be flown into the city from appeal to participants to carry on­ dent institutes demanded “crea­ Naihati rocks both Kolkata ners urging the Prime Minister the groups will mobilise people the airport in an Army copter or ly the national flag and not the tion of awareness to examine the Multiple civil society groups, so­ “to go back.” An elaborate ‘civil from the city and suburbs to taken by road all the way to his flag of any political party,” said connection of government exer­ banks of Hooghly, cial organisations, human rights disobedience movement’, brand­ march to two points. At Kaikhali first programme venue in Dalhou­ Prasenjit Bose, a key organiser. cises [like NRC and CAA] with the platforms and cultural bodies in ed as “no NRC, no NPR, no CAA traffic crossing near the airport, sie Square. He is expected to visit Meanwhile, protests continued day­to­day issues” of the people. 2 policemen hurt Kolkata have planned a demon­ campaign,” has been planned. the objective will be to stop the Belur Math founded by Swami Vi­ in parts of Kolkata on Thursday. The group, Democratic Research stration under a common slogan Mr. Modi is expected to attend Prime Minister from entering the vekananda on Saturday evening. At one anti­NRC, CAA pro­ Scholars’ Organisation, said more Special Correspondent on Saturday when Prime Minister four programmes in the city over city, the organisers said. Howev­ The anti­NRC groups will also gramme, research scholars from than 100 scholar representatives Kolkata Narendra Modi will visit the city. the weekend. er, it is not yet clear if Mr. Modi assemble near Raj Bhavan . “We various universities and indepen­ participated in the programme. A massive explosion in West Ben­ gal’s Naihati on Thursday rocked both banks of Hooghly river in North 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts. Non­concrete roofs of a number of houses in Naihati were blown off and glass panels of many buildings, including the municipal­ ity in Chinsurah, were shattered due to the impact of the explosion. The blast occurred when police were trying to defuse materials seized from a firecracker factory in Naihati. At least two policemen were injured in the blast. Videos of the explosion showed an enormous cloud of smoke rising several metres over the surface, triggering panic among people who came out their homes in both districts. “We will investigate why the impact of the explosion was so high. Huge quantity of explosives were seized and the bomb disposal squad was trying to dispose them of,” said Barrackpore Police Com­ missioner Manoj Verma said. The materials were seized following an explosion in the firecrackers manu­ facturing unit at Naihati killed four workers on Janaury 3. Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar tweeted videos of the explosion saying it “leaves nothing to imagi­ nation”. “It calls for a thorough probe in view of its seriousness, in­ tensity and damage caused. Only expert investigation can unearth is­ sues involved. This ominous deve­ lopment should be an eye­opener for law enforcing and regulatory re­ gime in State,” Mr Dhankhar said. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she had sent the local MLA to take stock of the situation. “If there are any cracks because of the ex­ plosion we will provide compensa­ tion to the people,” she said.

Activists protest felling of trees for road widening in Berhampur

Staff Reporter BERHAMPUR Environmental activists in Odisha’s Berhampur are protesting against indiscriminate cutting of trees for widening of two roads, despite past directive of authorities to tran­ splant mature trees. Since Wednesday, activists from different organisations, including Berhampur Sabuja Bahini (BSB), Anchalika Vikash Parishad (AVP) and Mahatma Helping Hand, have started regular vigil to protect the remaining trees from getting cut. In August 2019, similar protests by green activists had saved 188 ma­ ture trees from getting cut from MKCG medical college campus in the city for road widening work. At present, mature trees are be­ ing cut for widening of roads con­ necting Mango Market to old Ber­ hampur area via Andhapasara road and the stretch from Mango market to sub­registrar office square. Due to persuasion of BSB, office of superintending engineer of Roads and Buildings for southern circle, through a letter on July 19, had directed all its executive engi­ neers concerned to limit cutting of trees during road construction or widening and transplantation of trees wherever possible. The green activists alleged that despite the directive, 37 mature trees were cut down during past few days for widening of the two roads. “To save the rest of the ma­ ture trees, we started documenting all of them through special num­ bering on their trunks and photo­ graphs,” said BSB president Siba­ ram Panigrahy. There are 105 trees that face the danger of being cut down, he said. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 WEST 7 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Two tents gutted in fire Easy to torch houses, hard to ensure State to review industrial at Rann Utsav people have food to eat, says Uddhav subsidies in Vidarbha Press Trust of India Bhuj ‘Instead of complaining about economic slowdown, Maharashtra will fight it’ We need to introduce some financial discipline: Ajit Pawar Two tents were destroyed in a minor fire on Thurs­ Tanvi Deshpande neurs,” the Chief Minister Sharad Vyas day morning at the ongo­ Mumbai said. Mumbai ing Rann Utsav in Tent Ci­ “It is easy to torch houses Industry Minister Sub­ Deputy Chief Minister Ajit ty, a famous tourist but hard to ensure people hash Desai said three Maha­ Pawar on Thursday said the destination in Gujarat’s have food to eat,” Chief Mi­ rashtra Industrial Develop­ Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) Kutch district, a fire official nister Uddhav Thackeray ment Corporation (MIDC) government will review the said. said in Aurangabad on areas (industrial colonies) subsidies given to select in­ While there was no ca­ Thursday after inaugurating will be established in Ma­ dustries in Vidarbha over sualty, an NRI family an Advantage Maharashtra rathwada, and 1,018 hectares the last five years. Vidarbha, claimed to have lost all Expo­2020. Mr. Thackeray of land will be acquired for a stronghold of the Bharatiya their belongings in the also said that instead of com­ this. Janta Party (BJP) and its lea­ mishap. plaining about economic The new MIDC areas will dership, receives an annual Some tourists who had slowdown, Maharashtra will come up in Shendra, Nand­ power subsidy of ₹1,200 booked the tents claimed fight it. ed and Osmanabad, he said. crore and another ₹1,000 that short­circuit in a water Accompanied by Indus­ “Sixteen companies have crore in textile subsidy. All of heater may have caused tries Minister Subhash Desai decided to invest ₹8,360 these will be under “recon­ the blaze, the official said, and Tourism Minister Aadi­ crore in Marathwada,” Mr. sideration”, the Finance Mi­ adding that an inquiry was tya Thackeray, the Chief Mi­ Desai added. nister told The Hindu. on to ascertain the exact nister, who is on a two­day Sunik Kirdak, convener of Mr. Pawar, who has re­ cause of the fire. tour of Aurangabad and Jal­ Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. * FILE PHOTO the exhibition, said the go­ viewed the State’s finances “Two tents were gutted na districts, said, “The peo­ vernment should help the after assuming charge, said in a fire in the morning. No ple of this State deal with a slowdown, we won’t be able The Chief Minister an­ Micro, Small and Medium some financial discipline has The State currently has a view of State finances so far, one was injured in the inci­ lot of serious issues.” to fight it. We will fight it,” he nounced a new food pro­ Enterprises (MSME) sector to be introduced in the subsidy burden of ₹22,136 there is no way forward but dent as the occupants After referring to the inci­ said. cessing park in Aurangabad’s by cutting red tape. “We spendings, especially the crore, which is a big chunk to cut spend,” he said. were out for breakfast. Our dents of violence across the Bidkin and also reviewed va­ don’t want red carpet treat­ undue subsidy doled out by of annual revenue expendi­ Senior officials said the fire engines stationed at country, Mr. Thackeray reit­ Food processing park rious projects of Osmanabad ment but don’t spread the previous BJP regime. He ture of ₹2,82,630 crore. The government is looking at ra­ the Tent City brought the erated his commitment to­ At the four­day expo, organ­ district. He also announced thorns in the path of MSMEs. said. “The previous govern­ Finance Minister said pru­ tionalising administrative blaze under control,” fire wards farmers and also said ised by the Marathwada As­ a new skill development We request you to provide ment doled out a lot of bene­ dence and discipline is the expenses including salary officer Anil Maru said. his government would en­ sociation for Small Scale In­ centre in the State to create space for the factories which fits to industries, especially need of the hour. The State paid to nearly nine lakh em­ Tourists from across the sure that not a single indus­ dustries and Agriculture skilled manpower to meet are currently operating from in Vidarbha. It is our respon­ is looking at rationalisation ployees and five lakh teach­ world come to stay at the try goes out of the State. “We (MASSIA), 450 entrepre­ the increasing demand of rented premises,” Mr. Kirdak sibility to check how many of expenditure, at the same ers who are on the State’s Tent City during the Rann are committed to creating neurs will be showcasing industries. said. industries benefited from time increasing taxes as a payroll. The salary burden Utsav between December economic growth in the their products. The expo fea­ “A food processing park The president of MASSIA these subsidies and how ma­ way forward to come out of on the government is and February. State by assimilating agricul­ tures stalls from automobile, will be established in DMIC Dyandeo Rajale demanded ny new industries came up its debt trap, he said. Maha­ around ₹1,14,249 crore, with While no one was in­ ture and industry and acting engineering, agriculture, (Delhi­Mumbai Industrial that the Aurangabad­Pune owing to these measures. rashtra currently has a debt pensions accounting for jured, an NRI family as a catalyst between the two animation, IT, electronics, Corridor) over 500 acres, of highway should be expand­ We will also check if some of of ₹4,72,000 crore. “As of ₹36,368 crore. The interest claimed they lost all their sectors. If we keep complain­ trading, infrastructure and which 100 acres will be re­ ed. these industries actually ex­ now I have not passed any on borrowings is ballooning belongings. ing about the economic other sectors. served for women entrepre­ (With PTI inputs) isted.” orders, but going by the re­ at ₹34,207 crore.

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Painting on the wall Not keen to be Kolhapur’s guardian minister: Thorat ‘Am already holding two major posts... will speak to CM’

Shoumojit Banerjee Congressman­turned BJP Pune leader Radhakrishna A day after Chief Minister Vikhe­Patil,” said an Uddhav Thackeray re­ analyst. leased names of guardian However, a section with­ ministers for all districts, in the Congress feels that Maharashtra Pradesh Con­ Mr. Thorat ought to step gress Committee (MPCC) down as MPCC chief and chief and State Revenue make way for a ‘new face’ Minister Balasaheb Thorat to galvanise the Congress has expressed unwilling­ rank­and­file across the ness to take up his respon­ State, and western Maha­ sibility as Kolhapur’s guar­ rashtra in particular, ahead dian minister. Revenue Minister Balasaheb of the crucial 2022 civic bo­ Sources said Mr. Thorat Thorat. * FILE PHOTO dy polls. would have been comfor­ “Mr. Thorat’s politics table had he been assigned appointment. has mainly been restricted Ahmednagar which is his Given their strong in­ to Ahmednagar district. He Delhi­based artist Ruchin Soni painting a mural of former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on a sphere of influence. Two fluence in Kolhapur, both lacks the necessary organi­ wall of Ismail Yusuf College in Jogeshwari as part of a beautification drive.* AADESH CHOUDHARI ministers from Kolhapur Mr. Mushrif, an oft­elected sational experience need­ CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC district — senior Nationalist MLA from the Kagal consti­ ed to resuscitate moribund Congress Party (NCP) lead­ tuency, and Mr. Patil, an party organisations. More­ er and Rural Development MLC and a tall leader in the over, the post of an MPCC Man posing as U.P. minister stays Minister Hasan Mushrif, district’s cooperative sec­ chief is a full­time job re­ and Satej ‘Bunty’ Patil of tor, were in the running for quiring a leader’s undivid­ Congress, who is Minister the post here. ed attention,” said a Con­ at Goa guest house, arrested of State for Home — have Three ministers, all gress leader, requesting been allotted Ahmednagar from the NCP, have been anonymity. and Bhandara districts made guardian ministers “This is the right time Press Trust of India Mr. Singh stayed at the to arrest the person. He had respectively. in their respective consti­ for the Congress to cash in Panaji State guest house here for al­ produced forged letters and “I am not personally tuencies in the five ‘sugar on this success by getting The Goa Police have arrest­ most 12 days before being e­mails to claim that he was keen on accepting it. I am belt’ districts in western someone senior like [form­ ed a man for allegedly pos­ caught on Tuesday. He had a minister in the Uttar Pra­ already holding two major Maharashtra — Deputy er Chief Minister] Prithvi­ ing as a minister from Uttar even sought an appointment desh government,” Mr. Sa­ posts [Revenue Minister Chief Minister and Finance raj Chavan, who has not Pradesh, submitting fake with the Chief Minister, the want told reporters here. and MPCC chief] which re­ Minister Ajit Pawar (Pune), been assigned any respon­ documents and staying at a official said. The accused also met Goa quire my complete atten­ Water Resources Minister sibility, to helm the MPCC,” State guest house here for “He had shown his desig­ Cooperation Minister Go­ tion. I will speak to the Jayant Patil (Sangli) and said a city­based political over 10 days. nation as Minister of Cooper­ vind Gawade in the ministe­ Chief Minister about it and Cooperation Minister Bala­ observer. Four of his accomplices, ation from the Uttar Pradesh rial block here last week and urge him to consider a saheb Patil (Satara). However, yet another who were staying with him government, and was also discussed various issues re­ Congress Minister who has “In addition to getting section of Congress leaders at the guest house have also provided a personal security lated to the department. not been given any guar­ the Revenue portfolio as feel that Mr. Thorat’s ‘re­ been arrested, a senior Goa officer from the Goa Police,” When asked about it, Mr. dian responsibility…as I well as being MPCC chief, jection’ of his appointment Crime Branch official said on the official said. Gawade said, “I was told that am senior, I feel younger Mr. Thorat would naturally as Kolhapur’s guardian mi­ Thursday. After his behaviour was he was a State guest and a people must be given a have been keen on guar­ nister is symptomatic of The accused, Sunil Singh, found to be suspicious, Mr. minister in the UP Cabinet. I chance,” said Mr. Thorat, dianship of Ahmednagar, the resentment brewing was nabbed after Goa Chief Sawant brought it to the not­ didn’t meet him for much adding that he would be where he would have con­ within the party and Minister Pramod Sawant ice of the Goa Police. time. He was with me for 10 writing to Mr. Thackeray to solidated his position smacks of opportunism alerted the police about him. “I asked the Crime Branch minutes.” reconsider his against his nemesis, ex­ and self­interest. Declare Goa sanctuaries as ‘tiger reserve’: activists ‘State government must follow up proposal sent to Centre in 2017’

Press Trust of India her three cubs were found in Panaji the Mahadayi Wildlife Sanc­ Residents will be Activists and politicians from tuary earlier this week. Goa have demanded that Three locals were arrest­ certain areas in wildlife sanc­ ed for suspected poisoning relocated: Goa CM tuaries of the State be noti­ of the four wild cats, which Press Trust of India the human habitats with­ fied as ‘tiger reserve’. were captured roaming in panaji in the territory of tigers, The demand has come fol­ the area on cameras set up A day after the arrest of so that people can be reh­ lowing the death of four tig­ by the forest department on three persons for alleged­ abilitated to avoid man­ ers in Mahadayi Wildlife December 23, 2019. ly poisoning a tigress and animal conflict,” he said. Sanctuary of Sattari taluka in Union Ministry of Forest, her three cubs in a wil­ The Forest and Reve­ North Goa district in the last Environment and Climate dlife sanctuary in Goa, nue Departments have al­ few days. Change has constituted a Chief Minister Pramod Sa­ so been asked to initiate In 2017, the State govern­ Congress activists in a heated argument on Thursday with high­level committee to in­ want on Thursday said the process of relocating ment had sent a proposal to Santosh Kumar, assistant principal chief conservator of forest quire into deaths of the people living in the tiger the people, he added. the Centre according to (not in the pic), over the death of four tigers.* ATISH POMBURFEKAR tigers. territory in the State will Carcasses of the tigress which, about 500 sq km area Environmentalist Rajen­ be shifted elsewhere to and her third cub were re­ of Mahadayi, Netravali and mals in those places. “The State government dra Kerkar, who was the first avoid man­animal covered from Mahadayi Cotigao sanctuaries and Former forest minister of should follow up the propo­ to moot the proposal for tig­ conflict. Wildlife Sanctuary in Sat­ some part of Mahaveer Na­ Goa Rajendra Arlekar said in sal so that there is proper er reserve, said the State go­ Talking to reporters tari taluka on Wednesday, tional Park was to be select­ 2017, the State Wildlife Board protection and conservation vernment should form a here, Sawant said, “I have days after her two other ed and marked as ‘tiger re­ approved the proposal and it of tigers in these areas,” the ‘task force’ for the protec­ already asked the forest cubs were found dead serve’, considering the was sent to the Central Wil­ BJP leader said. tion and conservation of department to identify nearby. presence of the striped ani­ dlife Board. Carcasses of a tigress and wild cats. CM YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 8 SOUTH FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE IN BRIEF Want Rajini to help Tamil Nadu: Kamal ‘Muslims have no The actor­politician says Dravidian politics is the mainstay of the State

Staff Reporter He said there was a sinis­ Chennai grounds to fear CAA’ ter attempt now to consoli­ In yet another sign of his wil­ date the Hindu vote bank lingness to work with col­ and make India a Hindu Will change Act if even one citizen is affected: Kishan Reddy league and friend Rajini­ Rashtra in the long run. kanth in politics, Mr. Kulkarni said there V. Geetanath Four held for blocking Hyderabad Michael Levitt actor­politician Kamal Haa­ was a move to mould the BJP ALAPPUZHA san on Thursday said he on the vision of V.D. Savar­ The Government of India is A day after supporters of wanted the latter to help Ta­ kar, which was different ready to change the Citizen­ Wednesday’s nationwide mil Nadu. from that of M.S. Golwalkar ship (Amendment) Act general strike blocked a To a question by N. Ram, and Deendayal Upadhyaya. (CAA) if “even one citizen of houseboat carrying Nobel Chairman, The Hindu Group He said there was a need the 130 crore is adversely af­ laureate Michael Levitt in of Publications, on the fra­ to make a section of the lega­ fected by it,” asserted Union Kuttanad, the police on ternity shared by the two ac­ cy of the BJP and the RSS as Minister of State for Home G. Thursday arrested four tors at a recent event, Mr. N. Ram, Chairman, The Hindu Group of Publications, in an ally in the fight against the Kishan Reddy on Thursday. persons in connection with Haasan said he would try to conversation with actor and MNM president Kamal Haasan present extremist version of “Our government has the incident. Prof. Levitt and convince his friend. in Chennai on Thursday. * B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM Hindutva. brought forth the CAA with a fellow foreign traveller “He is proudly a Tamilian “There is a need to engage full responsibility as a spe­ visiting Kuttanad had a now... I want him to invest in present phase of divisive pol­ being one of the most cor­ the Hindus who voted for cial drive to provide citizen harrowing experience on Tamil Nadu. That’s what I’ll itics, he said democracy was rupt States, he said the sys­ Mr. Modi. The [political] Left status to refugees from the Wednesday after the try to convince him [to do]. not infallible and constant vi­ tem could not be changed must also change its strategy neighbourhood who had houseboat they were He is of that mindset,” he gil was needed to keep it without seizing power. in engaging them,” he said. faced religious persecution,” Drawing their dissent: People participating in a rangoli travelling in was blocked for said at a conversation organ­ healthy. He said that even in these he said. contest opposing the CAA, in Bengaluru. * V. SREENIVASA MURTHY over two hours. ised on Thursday by Algebra On the domination of Dra­ ‘Sinister attempt’ “dark times” there were Stating that the govern­ Trial run of demolition ­ The Arts and Ideas Club. vidian politics in Tamil Na­ Sudheendra Kulkarni, socio­ some very good things hap­ ment had not expected such of Maradu flats today du, Mr. Haasan said it political activist, who was pening as part of the opposi­ a “vicious false propaganda Sedition case filed over KOCHI Divisive politics emerged as it was the need formerly with the BJP, spoke tion to the Citizenship against the CAA,” Mr. Reddy A trial run of the demolition, Mr. Haasan said he almost of the hour. on the need to overthrow the (Amendment) Act. He said said Muslim citizens had no minus explosion, of H2O Holy stepped into politics when “But it later became present BJP regime, in a sep­ the country was seeing stu­ ground to fear and assured ‘Free Kashmir’ placard Faith and Alfa Serene, the two he made Hey Ram. He said ‘their’ [certain parties’] arate conversation with Mr. dents coming out in large that even in the census oper­ illegal structures that were the signs he saw at that time need,” he said. Stating that Ram at the event. numbers, which even sur­ ations about to commence Special Correspondent Act and the proposed built in violation of the CRZ about the country reaching Dravidian politics is the He said the present dis­ passed the magnitude wit­ for the National Population MYSURU National Register of norms in Kerala’s Maradu, will the political situation it is in mainstay of Tamil Nadu and pensation led by Prime Mi­ nessed during the Emergen­ Register (NPR), no docu­ The Mysuru police have Citizens. be held on Friday to ensure today prompted him to there was no need to change nister Narendra Modi and cy period. ment needed to be shown invoked sedition charges One of the demonstrators that safety and recovery make that movie. that, he, however, said there Home Minister Amit Shah “There is also a display of and urged them not to be­ and initiated an held the placard and the operations, including the “Today, making that film was a need to take it in the was very different from the Hindu­Muslim unity that has lieve “wrong stories being investigation after taking photograph was published entry of fire tenders and will be difficult,” he said. On right direction. one led by the late Prime Mi­ not been witnessed in a long circulated on the social suo motu cognisance of a in a section of media on ambulances to the site, are how the country went to the Criticising Tamil Nadu for nister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. time,” he said. media.” “Free Kashmir” placard that Thursday. Following this, performed as planned, said Participating in the ‘Meet was allegedly raised during the police initiated Snehil Kumar Singh, the Fort the Press’ programme or­ a protest organised by the investigation and invoked Kochi RDO. ganised by the Telangana students of the University of provisions of Section 124A DGCA suspends licences Union of Working Journalists Mysore on Wednesday. of the IPC against the of two pilots Key accused in Gauri murder case held (TUWJ) here, Mr. Reddy said The University of Mysore organisers, including MUMBAI though the Bharatiya Janata Research Scholars’ association president The Directorate General of Deodikar arrested probing the assassination of ferences to his role. Multiple Party did mention about the Association and the Dalit Mahadevaiah. Civil Aviation on Thursday M.M. Kalburgi, caught the key accused in the case — National Register of Citizens Students’ Federation General secretary of the announced the suspension of from a small town trail of Deodikar in Decem­ Sharad Kalaskar, Vasudev (NRC), the government had organised it to condemn the association Mahesh Sosle a GoAir expatriate in Jharkhand ber 2019. The arrest was Suryavamshi, recruiters for not taken it up and there had violence on the Jawaharlal said the organisers and commander for six months made from Katrasgarh, a the gang in Karnataka Sujith been no discussion in the Nehru University (JNU) other leaders were and the co-pilot’s licence for Staff Reporter small town near Dhanbad, Kumar and Manohar Edave Union Cabinet. campus in Delhi and marching in the front and three months after they were Bengaluru Jharkhand, where Deodikar — have said Deodikar was an express opposition to the were oblivious to the person found to be involved in a case The Special Investigation was hiding and working at a ideological motivator and ‘PM has the final word’ Citizenship (Amendment) holding it at the rear. of serious runway excursion in Team (SIT) on Thursday ar­ book store. recruiter. “Prime Minister Narendra Bengaluru on November 11. DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD rested a key member of the Deodikar, 44, hailing from Deodikar will be pro­ Modi has the final word on The DGCA said the GoAir unnamed organisation be­ Aurangabad district of Mah­ duced at a local court in Ka­ NRC, it does not matter what States about the CAA, in­ cause this has been a long flight G8-811 from Nagpur to Bengaluru with 180 hind the murder of activist arashtra, went by the names trasgarh, Jharkhand, on Fri­ anyone else has said,” he cluding those in the north­ standing assurance of the go­ passengers on board was and journalist Gauri Lan­ of Murali and Shiva. He was Rushikesh Deodikar day and will be brought to said. The Minister said the east and its intent is not to vernment from the time of involved in a serious incident kesh. The accused, Rushi­ a key member of the un­ Bengaluru by Saturday on a government was still trying bulldoze them into accept­ first Prime Minister Jawahar­ when the crew lost visual kesh Deodikar, had man­ named criminal syndicate and Gauri Lankesh between transit warrant. He will be to frame rules and regula­ ing it,” Mr. Reddy said. lal Nehru to accept minori­ reference at about 50 feet aged to evade investigators behind the murders of Dr. 2013 and 2017. The chargesh­ produced before a city court tions for the CAA. “The go­ “We will hold discussions ties in Pakistan, Afghanistan above ground but continued until recently. Narendra Dabholkar, Go­ eet in the Gauri Lankesh where the SIT will seek his vernment has taken note of with such States and seek to and Bangladesh, who faced to land in violation of norms. The SIT, which is also vind Pansare, M.M. Kalburgi murder case has several re­ custody, sources said. apprehensions in some remove misconceptions be­ discrimination,” he said.

CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Jagan’s appeal to Amma Vodi beneficiaries New beat ‘Contribute ₹1,000 from total benefit of ₹15,000 towards maintenance of schools’

Staff Reporter schemes — Jagan Anna Vidya CHITTOOR Deevena and Jagan Anna Va­ Andhra Pradesh Chief Minis­ sathi Deevena. All govern­ ter Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy ment schools would be deve­ on Thursday urged benefici­ loped in line with the aries of the Amma Vodi Naadu­Nedu concept. scheme to make a contribu­ tion of ₹1,000 from their to­ English medium tal benefit of ₹15,000 to­ He said English medium wards maintenance of would be introduced from schools in their areas. It the next academic year in all would also bring a sense of government schools from responsibility among them, classes 1 to 6. he said. Criticising the previous Addressing the gathering governments for delayed after launching the scheme Schoolchildren greeting Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan supply of uniforms and text­ at the PVKN Government De­ Reddy in Chittoor on Thursday. * SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT books, the Chief Minister gree College grounds here, said as and when the aca­ Mr. Reddy said: “This will go fits 42.12 lakh mothers and Mr. Reddy said the seed demic year starts, each stu­ a long way in the holistic de­ guardians, covering a total of for the launch of Amma Vodi dent would be immediately velopment of schools. The 81.72 lakh students. All eligi­ was sown during his wal­ supplied with a kit, including beneficiaries can question ble families should submit kathon, “as I observed the three pairs of uniform, and the officials about the func­ their applications before Fe­ difficulties of mothers who textbooks. tioning of toilets and deploy­ bruary 9 and they could seek were unable to send their Mr. Reddy took a dig at his ment of watchmen. Amma the assistance of village vo­ children to schools and col­ predecessor N. Chandraba­ Vodi is a revolt against out­ lunteers and village secreta­ leges due to financial strin­ bu Naidu, a media organisa­ dated syllabus and it will also riat staff. gency,” he said. tion and “a cinema actor” bring about a phenomenal The Chief Minister made it The Chief Minister reiter­ for throwing mud on the change in the mid­day meal clear that 75% of attendance ated the government’s com­ YSRCP government’s com­ Cultural show: Students of a government school rehearsing for a performance as part of the Rangotsav celebration at the scheme.” would be made mandatory mitment to reach out to poor mitment to English medium Jawahar Bal Bhavan in Puducherry on Thursday. * S.S. KUMAR He said Amma Vodi bene­ to avail the benefit. students through two more education. CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC SCR seeks cheaper power for traction network Migrant Telangana workers Tariffs charged by Andhra Pradesh’s power utilities are too high, says South Central Railway caught in U.S.­Iran crossfire Staff Reporter tion 14 of the Electricity Act, and works are in progress on VIJAYAWADA 2003. another 955 km stretch. Be­ Over 10,000 from State believed to be working in Erbil The South Central Railway sides, 1,564 km of electrifica­ (SCR) is likely to start buying Overall burden tion projects have been pro­ Special Correspondent km from Erbil, the largest thy, has been working as a power for its traction net­ Mr. Mallikarjuna Rao further posed. NIZAMABAD populated city in the Iraqi supervisor on regular em­ work in Andhra Pradesh said that the average unit The crux of the issue (pur­ Tens of thousands of mi­ Kurdistan where the U.S. ployment visa in DPR­Hewa through the open access rate, which was ₹5.14 earlier, chasing from the State power grant workers from the forces are based. About company. He had gone to route due to rising tariffs be­ was sought to be increased to utilities) is that higher trac­ State, especially from the 10,000 workers from the the Gulf country nine years ing charged by the State pow­ ₹7.89, and energy charges by tion tariffs will slash the rate undivided districts of Niza­ State are reported to be ago and ensured the evacua­ er utilities. ₹2.75 per KVAh. The demand of return for the new railway mabad, Karimnagar and working in Erbil and 100 in tion of many workers who SCR’s Chief Electrical Dis­ charge stands at ₹350 per electrification projects. Adilabad, have been report­ Bardarash. were denied the Akama (of­ tribution Engineer G.V. Malli­ KVA. The overall burden on edly stranded in Iraq with­ ficial work visa) to the home karjuna Rao requested A.P. account of the increased ta­ Basic argument out work and food for some At wits’ end country. Electricity Regulatory Com­ riffs was estimated to be The Railways is requesting a days now. They are suffering The workers, who were al­ “About 80% of workers mission (APERC) Chairman APERC chairman Justice (retd.) C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy ₹430 crore. special consideration to go the worst of the bomb at­ ready in dire straits owing to from Telangana in Erbil Justice (Retd.) C.V. Nagarjuna addressing a public hearing in Vijayawada. * V. RAJU Besides, the Railways is for open access with the bas­ tacks and crossfire between invalid visa and shutdown of don’t have proper docu­ Reddy to issue a No­Objec­ paying huge sums towards ic argument that a hike in ta­ Iranian and American ar­ a number of factories, are at ments,” said Mr. Moorthy, tion Certificate (NOC) for said the Indian Railways had ability­Based Tariffs (ABT) cross­subsidy surcharge. It riffs will eventually force it to mies in the wake of the as­ their wits’ end. “They are who is also Gulf Telangana sourcing power from cheap­ opted for open access in 12 meters at the traction substa­ has, therefore, resolved to pass on the burden to trad­ sassination of Iranian Gener­ spending sleepless nights on Welfare and Cultural Asso­ er sources at the public hear­ States, and it would prefer tions that help in monitoring buy power from indepen­ ers and passengers as a last al Qassem Soleimani on the streets, unable to get ciation representative in Er­ ing on Discoms’ Annual Re­ the same for SCR, which in­ and billing bulk inter­utility dent producers, or energy resort, leading to a spurt in Sunday. enough food,” said E. Daksh­ bil. GTWCA president P. Ba­ venue Requirement (ARR) cluded the Vijayawada, Gun­ power flows. exchanges, at the tariffs that commodity prices and infla­ The Iran­U.S. unrest in­ ina Moorthy, who has just santh Reddy said unless the and proposed tariffs for takal and Guntur divisions. Having met other pre­con­ are affordable for it. tion. It cannot avoid electrifi­ creased the woes of the Te­ returned from Erbil on a 15­ Central and Telangana go­ 2020­21 here on Thursday. The SCR had already paid ditions, the SCR sought the The SCR has completed cation lest the utilisation of langana workers following day company leave. vernments intervened, the Making a plea to that ef­ nearly ₹28 crore for the pro­ NOC by treating it as a distri­ 887 km of electrification pro­ diesel should grow tremen­ the missile attacks on an Ira­ Belonging to Kondukur of workers stranded in Iraq fect, Mr. Mallikarjuna Rao vision of high accuracy Avail­ bution licensee under Sec­ jects in the last two years, dously. qi airbase at Bardarash, 50 Nirmal district, Mr. Moor­ could not be rescued.

CM M ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

THE HINDU DELHI FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 NATION 9 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

NEARBY Weather Watch U.P. tops list in crimes against women Rainfall, temperature & air quality in select metros yesterday NCRB publishes Most political Crime in India Report 2018 murders in T.N. to file defamation Vijaita Singh West Bengal case against Stalin New Delhi CHENNAI The National Crime Records special correspondent The Tamil Nadu government New Delhi has decided to file a criminal Bureau (NCRB) published defamation case against DMK the annual Crime in India Re­ West Bengal reported the chief M.K. Stalin for accusing port 2018 on Wednesday. It maximum number of politi­ Municipal Administration was published with provi­ cal murders in 2018, says a Minister S.P. Velumani of sional data, as five States — report by the NCRB . The having indulging in West Bengal, Assam, Aruna­ number of murders due to corruption to the tune of chal Pradesh, Meghalaya and “political reason” in the ₹1,000 crore. Sikkim — did not send clarifi­ State stood at 12, followed cations sought by the NCRB by nine in Bihar and seven Keeladi reports in 24 in Maharashtra. In all, 54 Indian, global languages despite repeated reminders. The 2017 annual crime re­ political murders were re­ CHENNAI Temperature Data: IMD, Pollution Data: CPCB, Map: INSAT/IMD (Taken at 18.00 Hrs) port was published on Oc­ ported in the country in Forecast for Friday: The findings of the Keeladi Cold day conditions likely over Bihar, sub­ tober 21 last year, after a de­ 2018. In 2017, the number excavations in 24 languages Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim. Dense fog likely in isolated of such cases stood at 98. were released on Thursday in lay of two years. pockets over Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, However, the data is not in west Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Sikkim, As­ Chennai and the copies are According to the report, sam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and available at the stall of the 3,78,277 cases of crime consonance with an adviso­ Odisha. Department of Archaeology. against women were report­ jor share of crimes against es were reported. The high­ weep and Puducherry ry sent by the Ministry of ed, up from 3,59,849 in 2017. women, the report said. est number of suicide vic­ reported zero suicides by Home Affairs to West Ben­ city rain max min city rain max min Tamil and English versions are Agartala...... —....21.0....13.0 Kozhikode...... —....35.0....25.0 priced at ₹50 and copies in Uttar Pradesh topped the list The NCRB also released tims were daily wagers — farmers/cultivators as well as gal government last year. Ahmedabad...... —....26.0....11.0 Kurnool ...... —....31.0....21.0 other languages cost ₹200. with 59,445 cases, followed the Accidental Death and 26,589, comprising 22.4% of agricultural labourers,” the In a June 15 advisory, the Aizawl...... 13.4....18.0....12.0 Lucknow...... 4.8....16.0....10.0 by Maharashtra (35,497) and Suicides in India 2018 re­ such deaths. NCRB report said. MHA had said political vio­ Allahabad...... 13.4....18.0....12.0 Madurai...... —....32.0....21.0 FSSAI issues directive on Bengaluru ...... —...... —...... — Mangaluru ...... —...... —...... — online usage of its logo West Bengal (30,394). The port, which said that 10,349 The majority of the sui­ The incidents registered lence had claimed 96 lives Bhopal ...... —...... —...... — Mumbai ...... —....29.0....19.0 and that the “unabated vio­ Bhubaneswar...... —....26.0....17.0 Mysuru ...... —....00.0....00.0 NEW DELHI conviction rate in rape­relat­ people working in the farm cides were reported in Maha­ under the Scheduled Caste lence” was a matter of deep Chandigarh ...... 2.9....14.0...... 6.0 New Delhi ...... 10.8....15.0...... 8.0 The Food Safety and ed cases stood at 27.2% even sector ended their lives in rashtra (17,972) followed by and Scheduled Tribes relat­ Chennai ...... —....30.0....21.0 Patna ...... 15.0....20.0....14.0 Standards Authority of India though the rate of filing char­ 2018, accounting for 7.7 % of Tamil Nadu (13,896), West ed Acts saw a decline from concern. The NCRB said the Coimbatore ...... —....30.0....21.0 Port Blair...... —....31.0....24.0 (FSSAI) has directed that gesheets was 85.3% in such the total number of suicides Bengal (13,255), Madhya Pra­ 6729 incidents reported in clarifications on data were Dehradun...... 32.2....18.0...... 5.0 Puducherry ...... —....30.0....19.0 pending from West Bengal, Gangtok...... 3.3...... 7.0...... 3.0 Pune...... —....27.0....15.0 no entity can register its cases. Cruelty by husband or in the country. The total desh (11,775) and Karnataka 2017 to 4816 in 2018. A total Goa...... —....33.0....21.0 Raipur ...... 1.4....25.0....15.0 website with the domain his relatives (31.9%) followed number of people who com­ (11,561). “West Bengal, Bihar, of 29,017 cases of murder Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Guwahati ...... —...... —...... — Ranchi...... —....21.0...... 9.0 name comprising the word by assault on women with in­ mitted suicide in 2018 was Odisha, Uttarakhand, Megh­ were registered in 2018, Meghalaya and Sikkim, and Hubballi...... —....30.0....19.0 Shillong...... —...... —...... — the data might be treated as Hyderabad ...... —....27.0....19.0 Shimla...... 27.2...... 7.0.... -2.0 ‘FSSAI’, or use its name tent to outrage her modesty 1,34,516, an increase of 3.6% alaya, Goa, Chandigarh, Da­ showing an increase of 1.3% Imphal ...... —...... —...... — Srinagar...... —...... —...... — and logo. (27.6%) constituted the ma­ from 2017 when 1,29,887 cas­ man & Diu, Delhi, Lakshad­ over 2017 (28,653 cases). provisional. Jaipur ...... —....19.0...... 4.0 Thiruvananthapuram...... —....32.0....23.0 Kochi ...... —....33.0....24.0 Tiruchi...... —....31.0....21.0 Kohima ...... —...... —...... — Vijayawada ...... —....30.0....21.0 Kolkata ...... —....23.0....15.0 Visakhapatnam ...... —....29.0....21.0 (Rainfall data in mm; temperature in Celsius) Teenager in hit-and-run Panel approves scheme to ‘trade’ in forests Pollutants in the air you are breathing Yesterday CITIES SO2 NO2 CO PM2.5 PM10 CODE Ahmedabad..... 52 .19 43 ....58 ...84 ....* to be tried as ‘child’: SC Bengaluru ...... 11 .60 35 ....56 ...82 ....* In observation made at 4.00 It allows Forest Dept. to outsource reforesting to non-government agencies Chennai ...... 60 .42 53 ..115 ...42 ....* p.m., Muzaffarpur, Bihar Delhi ...... 9 .28 49 ..289 .148 ....* recorded an overall air Legal correspondent * quality index (AQI) score of tion to declare that a juve­ Jacob Koshy In the current system, in­ complained that they find it been disbursed to States un­ Hyderabad ...... 2 .46 26 ....92 ...80 .... 337 indicating a severe level NEW DELHI nile above 16 years of age, NEW DELHI dustry needs to make good hard to acquire appropriate til August, but it has barely Kolkata...... 10 .93 41 ..259 .170 ....* of pollution. In contrast, Lucknow...... 14 .66 57 ..360 ...66 ....* Panchkula, Haryana recorded A loophole in the juvenile who commits an offence for The Forest Advisory Com­ the loss of forest by finding non­forest land, which has led to any rejuvenation of Mumbai ...... 9 .61 41 ..159 .145 ....* a healthy AQI score of 37. law will see a teenager who which the Indian Penal mittee, an apex body tasked appropriate non­forest land to be contiguous to existing forests. Pune...... 88 .34 83 ..119 .100 ....* allegedly drove his father’s Code (IPC) prescribes a with adjudicating requests — equal to that which would forest. Nearly ₹50,000 crore The proposed ‘Green Cre­ Visakhapatnam ..9 .76 52 ..151 .191 ....* luxury car over a 32­year­ maximum prison sentence by the industry to raze forest be razed. It also must pay the had been collected by the dit Scheme’ allows agencies Air Quality Code: * Poor * Moderate * Good (Readings indicate average AQI) old man in Delhi being tried of more than seven years SO2: Sulphur Dioxide. Short-term exposure can harm the respiratory system, land for commercial ends, State Forest Department the Centre over decades, but the — they could be private com­ making breathing difficult. It can affect visibility by reacting with other air as a child rather than an but for which the minimum has approved a scheme that current economic equivalent funds were lying unspent be­ panies, village forest com­ particles to form haze and stain culturally important objects such as statues adult who has committed a sentence provided is less could allow “forests” to be — called Net Present Value — cause States were not spend­ munities — to identify land and monuments. heinous crime. than seven years or even no NO2: Nitrogen Dioxide. Aggravates respiratory illness, causes haze to form by traded as a commodity. If of the forest land. It’s then ing the money on regrowing and begin growing planta­ reacting with other air particles, causes acid rain, pollutes coastal waters. A Supreme Court Bench minimum jail term, should implemented, it allows the the department’s responsi­ forests. The Supreme Court tions. After three years, they CO: Carbon monoxide. High concentration in air reduces oxygen supply to led by Justice Deepak Gupta be tried as a “child” under Forest Department to out­ bility to grow appropriate intervened, a new law came would be eligible to be consi­ critical organs like the heart and brain. At very high levels, it can cause dizziness, confusion, unconsciousness and even death. on Thursday used its ex­ the Juvenile Justice (Care source one of its responsibil­ vegetation that, over time, about with rules for how this dered as compensatory for­ PM2.5 & PM10: Particulate matter pollution can cause irritation of the eyes, traordinary powers under and Protection of Children) ities of reforesting to non­go­ would grow into forests. fund was to be administered. est land if they met the De­ nose and throat, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath, reduced Article 142 of the Constitu­ Act, 2015. vernment agencies. Industries have often About ₹47,000 crore had partment’s criteria. lung function, irregular heartbeat, asthma attacks, heart attacks and premature death in people with heart or lung disease EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 10 EDITORIAL FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE A nation losing democratic steam Beyond the undermining of India’s pluralism, the CAA signals New Delhi’s low regard for neighbouring countries

the divide with Islamabad. thus been led to the cliff’s edge. The genie that has been re­ Even discounting the fact that This seems to be motivated by leased through the enactment of Mining deep residents of glass houses must re­ nothing more than a hunger for the CAA must be forced back into While opening up the coal mining sector, the sist the urge to throw stones, this political power using religion and the bottle, taking into considera­ was an unexpected accusation. ultra­nationalism as tools. Mr. Mo­ tion the sheer scale of human tra­ govt. must protect the interests of Coal India While no South Asian country is di and Mr. Shah have essentially gedy possible in the subcontinent. Kanak Mani Dixit he Centre’s decision to liberalise norms for entry free of majoritarian discrimina­ lined up behind Muhammad Ali And, while the ongoing country­ tion, the concern of New Delhi’s Jinnah’s two­nation theory, leav­ wide dissent against the CAA by into coal mining and relax regulations on mining rulers was clearly not the well­be­ ing India’s Muslims emotionally lay­citizens has been spontaneous Tand selling coal in the country is significant in hese are bewildering times ing of the minorities of Pakistan, drained and fearful. and heartfelt , it may not be many respects. Amendments to two legacy Acts for members of civil society Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who In a world increasingly defined enough to challenge a party that through the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Ordinance Tin countries bordering India, have been in fact been made more by populist ultra­nationalism, has just been elected with an over­ 2020 cleared by the Cabinet on Wednesday will free the who are no longer able to appeal vulnerable by the Act. The Indian GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO seen in the ascent of figures like whelming majority for a five­year sector from restrictions that were inhibiting its develop­ to New Delhi on the platform of authorities did not engage in sus­ Donald Trump, Rodrigo Duterte term. ment. This will open up the coal mining sector com­ reason, pluralism and even hu­ tained international effort to ad­ loping along this highway believe and Jair Bolsonaro, India with its manity. When New Delhi ap­ dress the issue, such as through in a selective rendering of a Hindu ancient­civilisational and modern­ Seeking greater federalism pletely, enabling anyone with finances and expertise to peared arrogant or tone­deaf in the United Nations Special Rap­ subcontinent overrun by invaders Gandhian heritage should have One used to regard India’s Central bid for blocks and sell the coal freely to any buyer of the past, there were ways to make porteur on Minority Issues. The from the northwest. This exclusi­ been framing the democratic res­ government as the protector of ci­ their choice. Until now there were restrictions on who yourself heard, but today there is a appropriate approach here would vist project seeks to paint the va­ ponse to myriad pressing issues, tizens when the States went rene­ could bid for coal mines — only those in power, iron and silencing within that weakens not have been to join the 1951 UN Con­ riegated belief system of ‘Hin­ from global warming to nuclear gade, but what happens when the steel and coal washery business could bid for mines — only the spirit of India, but the vention on Refugees, and to be duism’ with a broad ideological weaponisation. A confident, egali­ Centre goes rogue? Devolution of and the bidders needed prior experience of mining in prospects of peace in South Asia. open to foreigners of any faith or brushstroke. Faith has been tarian­minded India would also power and authentic federalism is India. This effectively limited the potential bidders to a While the first term of Prime Mi­ persuasion who seek refuge. To turned on its head, becoming less have been leading the discourse clearly the solution for human dig­ nister Narendra Modi saw adven­ cherry­pick among non­citizens a quest for spiritualism. Many god­ on international migration and nity and social justice in a country select circle of players and thus limited the value th at turism, from demonetisation with­ on the basis of religion was crass. men, god­women, gurus and ba­ challenging China for its intern­ as vast and diverse as India. Here, the government could extract from the bidding. Se­ in to blockade without, his Now, the human rights com­ bas have boarded this Hindutva ment camps for Uighurs and for as a former Chief Minister of Guja­ cond, end­use restrictions inhibited the development re­elected government seems in­ munity and intelligentsia in the wagon, notably the mahant of Go­ using facial recognition technolo­ rat, Mr. Modi could have set an ex­ of a domestic market for coal. The ordinance essentially tent on changing the face of India neighbouring countries are left in rakhnath temple who is now also gy for surveillance. Instead, we ample as the great federalist Prime democratises the coal industry and makes it attracti ve through majoritarian intolerance an awkward position when chal­ the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister. have a regime whose topmost Minister. Instead, he has presided for merchant mining companies, including multina­ under the banner of Hindutva. lenging the CAA’s selectivity — The Indian establishment has leader terms Muslim immigrants over a further Centralisation of go­ tionals such as BHP and Rio Tinto, to look at India. The While putting fear in minority their interest is to promote inclu­ thus super­charged its social engi­ as ‘termites’ fit to be dumped into vernmental power, with the Hin­ move was overdue considering that the country spent a communities, this trajectory is al­ sion within rather than demand neering campaign, specifically tar­ the Bay of Bengal; which keeps dutva agenda part and parcel of so accelerating India’s economic that India become an ‘equal­op­ geting the country’s Muslim citi­ Rohingya refugees away with this process. huge ₹1,71,000 crore in coal imports last year to buy 235 decline and weakening New Del­ portunity’ host for Muslims as zenry. The campaign started with threats of deportation; and which And this is why it is vital to re­ million tonnes; of that, 100 million tonnes was not sub­ hi’s international influence. well. Nevertheless, one must chal­ the revocation of the autonomous is itself rushing to catch up with cognise the institutional resistance stitutable, as the grade was not available in India, but lenge India’s Home Ministry as to status of Jammu and Kashmir, fol­ Beijing in building internment to the CAA emerging from the the balance 135 million tonnes could have been subst i­ A geopolitical folly why the CAA ignored the larger lowed by the Ayodhya verdict that camps and using facial recognition States run by non­BJP parties. tuted by domestic production had it been available. While the adoption of the Citizen­ number of Muslims of different privileged mass belief over evi­ and drones to control dissent. Amidst the gloom, one sees in the Large investment in mining will create jobs and set ship (Amendment) Act in Decem­ sects enduring sectarian strife. dence. The enactment of the CAA Looking at India from the out­ State­side reaction not only an im­ off demand in critical sectors such as mining equip­ ber has triggered India­wide dis­ These include Ahmadiyya and and the scheme to confirm citizen­ side, we see a ruling establishment mediate response to the CAA, but sent, it began as an act of Shia, particularly Hazara, of Pakis­ ship through the National Register that values mythology more than the glimmer of possibilities of a ment and heavy commercial vehicles. The country may geopolitical folly. For domestic ap­ tan and Ahmadiyya and Bihari of Citizens is part of the plan. history and a society losing its longer­term restructuring of the also benefit from infusion of sophisticated mining tech­ peasement, Home Minister Amit Muslims of Bangladesh. And why scientific edge, its great universi­ Indian state towards governance nology, especially for underground mines, if multina­ Shah and Mr. Modi brought forth a ignore the Sri Lankan Tamil refu­ Hunger for political power ties being run to the ground. India that is more accountable to the pe­ tionals decide to invest. However, for that to happen, Bill that essentially accused three gees in India and the vulnerable Of course, India’s population of under Mr. Modi is losing demo­ ople. The centripetal force repre­ the government needs to do more such as whittling the selected countries of discrimina­ Rohingya of Myanmar? 200 million­plus Muslims will not cratic steam, with its weakened sented by Narendra Modi requires time taken for approvals of mining leases and also eas­ tion against their Hindu, Jain, In reality, the adoption of the be going anywhere. India is their courts, progressively politicised a centrifugal counter from the ing the procedures for clearances. The test would come Christian, Sikh, Buddhist and Par­ CAA is just a way­station on the homeland, and they have no extra­ military, and a police force and in­ States of India. si minorities. In one stroke, New Hindutva highway, which consid­ territorial magnet similar to Israel vestigating agencies that are will­ when 46 producing mines, whose leases expire in Delhi distanced itself from the ers not just modern­day India but vis­à­vis the Jewish people. One ing instruments of power­brokers. Kanak Mani Dixit, a writer and journalist March, come up for bidding shortly. The opening up of friendly state establishments of all of the notional ‘Jambudvipa’ as searches, therefore, for an expla­ Many of us have been there, done based in Kathmandu, is founding editor of coal mining effectively ends Coal India’s (CIL) monopo­ Dhaka and Kabul, and deepened the Hindu homeland. Those gal­ nation as to why Indian society has that. the magazine ‘Himal Southasian’ ly status. Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi took care to em­ phasise that CIL has been and will be allotted adequate blocks and that it will be supported and the interests of labourers will be taken care of. The company has been CDS and the path to jointmanship set a target of one billion tonnes production by 2023­24 — last year, it produced 606 million tonnes. CIL is a His role is not just about tri-service cooperation, but also to ensure that acquisitions do not exceed capital allocations Maharatna PSU and tremendous public resources have been invested in the company over the years. It is t he matters involving all three services been no initial indications in this sibly the entirety of Gen. Rawat’s government’s responsibility to ensure that CIL is not and the service chiefs will be regard. If he privileges support for tenure. This will demand innova­ compromised the way BSNL has been by the opening obliged to confine their counsel to the Army, his parent service, he is tion, given the fact that infantry­ up to private players. The company employs about issues pertaining to their respec­ likely to put himself on a collision based operations geared for coun­ three lakh people, is listed and is a national asset. It has tive services. The CDS is also vest­ course with the Naval and Air terinsurgency warfare, which a to be nurtured even as private players are welcomed. ed with the authority to provide Force chiefs. A corollary is that as large part of the Army is dedicated Harsh V. Pant directives to the three chiefs. an infantry officer, he may become to undertaking, are manpower in­ & Kartik Bommakanti susceptible to bias in matters con­ tensive. A chief as well as an adviser cerning procurement decisions or There are no instant remedies, A continent on fire Additionally, the CDS will lead the personnel issues focused on the but one pointer is towards greater Australia must adopt policies that will foster he announcement on a Chief Department of Military Affairs infantry. The latter outcome could investment in Artificial Intelli­ environmental protection of Defence Staff (CDS) last (DoMA) dealing with the three ser­ vitiate his capacity to address the gence (AI) over the long term, a Tyear and the appointment of vices. Gen. Rawat will enjoy the needs of the armour and artillery process that has already begun, ustralia’s catastrophic fire season that began in Gen. Bipin Rawat as the first CDS rank of Secretary within the DoD corps. Any parochialism could po­ but will require a dedicated push August last year is unprecedented, and has has been one of the key policy de­ and his powers will be confined to tentially derail the primary objec­ from the CDS over the course of

cisions made by the Narendra Mo­ only the revenue budget. Howev­ GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO tive of creating the CDS — promot­ his tenure. The application of AI caused large scale destruction, mainly in New A di government in its second term. er, he is vested with the authority ing synergy and shaping technology is likely to lend itself to South Wales (NSW) and Queensland. Fire is no stranger In the aftermath of an emphatic in prioritising inter­service pro­ With his inauguration as India’s acquisition priorities both within tanks and artillery systems, as is to the dry continent’s woodlands, but the inferno th is election victory in May 2019, Mr. curement decisions as Permanent first CDS last year, Gen. Rawat has and between the services. Indeed, visibly evident from the vigorous time has devastated over 10 million hectares of land, Modi pushed the needle on a long­ Chairman­Chiefs of Staff Commit­ hit the ground running with some one of the tasks the CDS is to avoid pursuit of AI by China’s People’s killing at least 25 people and tens of millions of animals, pending reform for the establish­ tee. While the CDS does not enjoy important announcements. He wasteful expenditure and duplica­ Liberation Army. besides forcing the evacuation of entire communities . ment of a CDS, which was recom­ any command authority, in his ca­ has sought the establishment of an tion of equipment in the invento­ The final challenge facing the Shocking images of kangaroos burnt in their tracks as mended by the Kargil Review pacity as DoMA, he will wield con­ Air Defence Command (ADC) by ries of the services. CDS will be the extent to which he Committee in 2001. The CDS will trol over issues governing promo­ directing the Integrated Defence But, the CDS’s role is not simply can encourage the services to sup­ they tried to flee and koalas desperately escaping the be “first among equals” in that he tions, travel, appointment to key Staff (IDS) to develop a proposal by about tri­service cooperation, it is port indigenisation. Cost saving is fire are indelibly imprinted in the consciousness of pe­ will consult and solicit the views of posts, and overseas assignments. June 30. An integrated ADC will equally about fostering better not simply about reducing man­ ople around the world. This is a moment of reckoning the services, but the final judg­ Consequently, the CDS will enjoy a enable nationwide coverage, pre­ cooperation between the MoD bu­ power in the Army, it is equally for Australia. The government of Prime Minister Scott ment will be the CDS’s alone and substantial amount of influence. vent fratricide in the event of war reaucracy and the services and en­ about getting all the services, par­ Morrison, who has sought to downplay the impact of he will be the principal military He will also perform an advisory and sustain jointmanship in air de­ suring that projected and planned ticularly the capital­intensive ser­ changing climate, is struggling to pacify angry citizens adviser to the Defence Minister. role in the Nuclear Command fence operations. In addition, acquisitions of the services do not vices, to rally behind a committed who are calling for a reconsideration of the country’s The role here will be confined Authority (NCA). Above all, his Gen. Rawat has declared his inten­ exceed capital allocations. A se­ enterprise to support the native to the acquisition matters exclu­ core function will be to foster grea­ tion to synergise logistics support, condary challenge stems from the Research and Development for relationship with fossil fuels. Warnings have been sive to each service and won’t ex­ ter operational synergy between particularly in areas where two or sheer levels of manpower in the production and eventual deploy­ sounded by scientists that even with a global average tend to the procurement of big­ the three service branches of the more services are co­located. Indian Army, which is the service ment of weapons systems, which temperature rise of 1°C, the raging fires have engulf ed ticket items such as warships or Indian military and keep inter­ser­ that consumes the lion’s share of when procured from abroad drive an area the size of Switzerland. In a world set to warm at fighter aircraft, which will remain vice frictions to a minimum. Fun­ Three main challenges the defence budget. As it is a man­ a massive hole in the budget. least half a degree more in coming decades, Australia’s under firm control of the Depart­ damentally, the CDS will perform Gen. Rawat faces three main chal­ power­intensive fighting force, encounters with devastating fires could become more ment of Defence (DoD). The CDS two roles, as the single point mili­ lenges. First, there are concerns pruning the number of personnel Harsh V. Pant is Director of Research at frequent, perhaps even once in eight years , making will be the single­point military ad­ tary advisor to the Defence Minis­ over matters relating to service pa­ in the Army will remain perhaps Observer Research Foundation, Delhi where viser to the Defence Minister on ter and as head of the DoMA. rochialism, though there have the most vexed challenge for pos­ Kartik Bommakanti is an Associate Fellow large parts of the continent uninhabitable. The current fire season presents a cross­roads, and a wise choice would be to move to a greener future, one that streng­ thens an already diverse economy through innovation. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to [email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. As scientists have been pointing out for years, the To read more letters coal industry has a sway over politics in Australia that is Dialling down tensions has called upon the other attacks; and electricity was follow. This has not Goods and Services Tax has online, scan the QR code disproportionate to its share of economic production . Fortunately, better counsel signatories of the earlier cut off for some time — we happened, as amply further exacerbated this. This was evident when Mr. Morrison held up a big piece has prevailed and U.S. has nuclear accord to work for can deduce that the revealed by the lack of any Part of the problem lies in Asia (Editorial page, of the black rock in Parliament in a gesture to highlight backed away from a new deal, Iran should also administration must have meaningful electoral the unwillingness of the “Betrayals from outside and its economic importance. The display may have reas­ escalating the conflict come forward to negotiate a had some knowledge of reforms. A single­party States to tap the potential of within,” Jan. 9). But his (Front page, “Trump backs fresh accord. what was in store. Mr. dominance would not have the assigned taxes. Kerala, proposed cure — an appeal sured the mining industry, which has torpedoed a pro­ away from further conflict Kosaraju Chandramouli, Kumar should submit his occurred had India which is in the forefront of to Muslims to shun fits tax in the past, but it shocked researchers who wor­ after Iran hits U.S. troops,” Hyderabad resignation immediately, in switched to proportional the opposition to the orthodoxy — appears as a ry about greenhouse gas emissions increasing in Jan. 9). The truth behind deference to the wishes of representation. As a Centre, is in deep fiscal mere palliative. Australia, and in countries to which it exports the fuel. the diametrically opposite JNU V-C should resign the students and teachers. consequence, the Bharatiya stress and mostly Conspicuous by its absence Credentialled specialists at the country’s Climate Coun­ claims of “minimal After remaining absent for Tharcius S. Fernando, Janata Party, which secured dependent on the Centre to is any mention of the role of cil have had to crowdsource funds to continue their damage” by U.S. and “80 long when a set of his Chennai 37.36% of votes, is now in a meet its committed items of Muslim nations like Saudi work after the official Climate Commission was shut American terrorists” having students were attacked by position to initiate changes expenditure. The message Arabia in propagating Centrist bias down by the government six years ago. Today, they are been killed by Iran may or masked hooligans with which have far­reaching that comes out of the recent extremist ideology. may not be known allegiance to right­wing The founders of the Indian implications. The developments seems to be: Ordinary Muslims are raising the alarm over the lowest ever rainfall recorded immediately. But, the world elements, it is uncharitable Constitution cannot be declaration of a few States to fight the centralisation powerless to counter the in parts of NSW and Queensland, and high peak tem­ has heaved a sigh of relief that Jawaharlal Nehru faulted for framing a that they will not tendencies, the States have coalition of powerful rulers peratures, producing a tinderbox effect across the large that a disastrous war has University ( JNU) Vice Constitution with an implement the Centre’s to become more fiscally and fundamentalists. How Murray­Darling Basin. The situation is bound to worsen been averted. As it has Chancellor M. Jagadesh explicit ‘Centrist bias’, moves on citizenship is independent. then can the syncretic and without policy change, as temperatures are predicted taken the revenge for the Kumar advised the affected considering the unlikely to have any Jose Sebastian, benign Islamic vision that to soar to 50°C. Over the past half century, the number assassination of Qassem students to bury the past. background of Partition significant impact. More Thiruvananthapuram remains in the margins of of hot days and very hot days each year have steadily in­ Soleimani, Tehran should Looking at the manner in (Op­ed page, “The Indian than legality, it is the fiscal popular imagination go desist from issuing further which the events took place Constitution’s unitary tilt,” dimension that is going to Schisms within Islam mainstream? Where is the creased. It would be tragic if this scientific insight is ig­ threats. It would be in the — goons were allowed free Nov. 9). Perhaps they dampen the activism of The writer has rightly courageous reformer who nored. Long­term prosperity for Australians and a fu­ best interests of the volatile entry into the campus; the hoped that the democratic States. In India’s fiscal diagnosed Islam’s internal will challenge the intolerant ture for its charismatic animals can be secured only region for Iran to make security guards and the process would deepen in federalism, powers are schisms as the cause of and scriptural narratives? through policies that foster environmental protection. peace with the U.S. As police acted as mute the years to come and disproportionately tilted in not as the consequence of V.N. Mukundarajan, President Donald Trump spectators to the gruesome electoral reforms would favour of the Centre. The U.S. interference in West Thiruvananthapuram

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THE HINDU DELHI FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 OPED 11 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE What is the state of ‘open source’ in India today? lance of power and software paten­ beyond activism and legislative PARLEY It is the new normal, but we still need to go a tees is with them. If patents are al­ participation, to make ordinary long way to adopt open source tools in Big Data lowed in India, they will be able to Indians more informed about charge royalties from domestic soft­ protecting their privacy? ware technology players. There are The open source movement, which is what has happened now with the billions of dollars at stake for this VH: Clearly we need new approach­ has focused on democratising tech- democratisation of technologies, and it is never going to go away un­ es. What might happen in the next nology access, has over a two-de- cloud computing, Artificial Intelli­ less the Indian government removes few years is that there will be AI cade history in India. In a conversa- gence (AI) — OS has become much the term ‘per se’ from Section 3(k) tools which will act as personal data tion moderated by Jacob Koshy, more mainstream. of the Indian Patent Act. brokers between me and the plat­ Venkatesh Hariharan and Sangeeta form so that I need not surrender Gupta discuss its relevance to digi- Do you think proprietary forms SG: I agree. But given that we are liv­ my privacy to access book and mus­ tal technology, privacy, and soft- have co-opted OS? Yes, sharing ing in a world still dominated by ic recommendations from plat­ ware patenting. Edited excerpts: software and tweaking source companies, India needs to invest in forms. Many of these tools will be code happens, but largely have building its own intellectual proper­ built on the back of OS. And the oth­

Open source (OS) has been a major tech companies CC BY SA 4.0: BENJAMINTF1 ty. And that means we need to have er bit of it is that the platforms that part and parcel of software monopolised OS? our own patents. We see a number are being built in India, like the ac­ programming and code areas. NASSCOM is trying to do a <> We are in an open source of Indian service companies patent­ count aggregator, are built on top of development for a while. Since VH: The commercial support for OS number of things to upskill software 2.0 era where we are no ing whatever products or solutions OS. The idea and intent is to give pe­ the advent of Linux (an OS ensures that people can use it in developers and students and bring longer catching up with they are building in the U.S. and oth­ ople more control over data. operating system) in the 1990s, mission­critical applications like the in the industry­academia connect. proprietary software; we er key markets. So I don’t see this as what do you think is the state of stock exchange or e­government ap­ have leapfrogged. We see an era where patents will not exist; I SG: The data privacy issue requires the OS movement in India now? plications. That has played a major The promise of OS was that the pragmatism of think patents will become an even every creator to build trust. Trust is role in boosting the adoption of OS. programmers everywhere more important tool for supremacy going to be an important feature for Microsoft joining the open Venkatesh Hariharan: When we Now, if you look at the amount of could learn to code and apply or whatever you want to call it in any data­led industry as we move started the campaign for more OS in code that has been written, in the them to various contexts. But invention network. this new technology era. forward. There are two or three dif­ 2000, we had political, cultural and initial days OS was an imitation of India has few creators and is Venkatesh Hariharan ferent roles that the OS sector could economic reasons to believe it was proprietary software or a replace­ mostly a passive consumer of When these initial debates play. One is organisations like the important. Politically, we wanted to ment for it. For instance, Linux as technology. Have barriers and some other things. There is were happening in the '90s, it Mozilla Foundation, which is doing ensure more diversity in the kind of an alternative to NetWare or Unix imposed by language along hope that we will get into more ef­ was a world of globalisation. a lot of good work in demystifying players that existed in the market for Microsoft. The pace of innova­ with limited access to technical fective usage, whether it’s for But now we have more trade what privacy notices mean for the with twin objectives: that we were tion in OS, because of its collabora­ education sharpened the healthcare or education. Some of barriers and authoritarianism. average user and how they could independent from a technology tive nature, outstrips that in pro­ digital divide? these will be locally built for India. So should India get more make privacy­aware decisions. The standpoint and that software was lo­ prietary software. So, if you look at And some of these may be solutions serious about patenting? second is when you create tools that calised to Indian languages. From a the current areas of explosive VH: The digital divide has been that we will adopt from other mar­ will help organisations either en­ cost perspective, if we were depen­ growth such as Big Data and analyt­ bridged: the mobile phone is in the kets. But I do believe that many of VH: We’re living in an era where da­ hance their compliance on privacy dent on multinational companies ics, the pace of innovation in OS is hands of an estimated 800 million these entertainment apps have ta is abundant and I look at the com­ or create an intermediary between Venkatesh for core technology like operating so rapid that there is no proprietary people today. It’s the first comput­ played a role in removing the fear of monality between code and data. me and the organisation that is pro­ Hariharan systems, that would have been a competitor. We are in an OS 2.0 era ing device that they have been intro­ technology from people’s minds. The ideals of the OS movement viding me the tools or software to is a Senior Fellow drain on the exchequer. So that was where we are no longer catching up duced to. Combine this with the fact were about collaboration and the do that. The third can be about at the IDFC the logic. Today, some of the largest with proprietary software; we have that bandwidth has become far There was a time when debates shared ownership of knowledge. building privacy­maturity discus­ Institute e­governance projects and start­ups leapfrogged. We see the pragma­ cheaper in India. Among the largest around OS and proprietary And within that context, the prolif­ sions or building frameworks . OS in India are running on OS. The ear­ tism of Microsoft joining the open YouTube channels are three Indian used to be around the patenting eration of data and the fact that it’s has a key role to play. ly days when we had to campaign invention network. And now what channels. That has also changed a of software. We’re in the era of only a few players who are able to for people to use OS is over; now we they are realising is that OS is not a lot of things in terms of consuming AI, machine learning, Internet monetise that data means that we Do you think legislation will are in a new era where OS is the new competitor, but maybe an OpenOf­ technical content, which is relevant of Things. But multinationals now need to move to an era where help regulate the scene? normal. fice is a competitor to Microsoft to OS. We also need to work on the continue to be the biggest it’s not just a few platforms that be­ Office. mindset of people. We are in an era patentees in India. We’ve nefit from our data, but that indivi­ SG: Legislation is important; there Sangeeta Gupta: In the initial where people have to continuously moved into a post-OS era. Are duals are able to leverage and are is the Data Protection Bill. Our focus years, there was a lot of focus on OS One of the things about OS was update themselves. debates around software empowered with their own data. So, at NASSCOM has also been about Sangeeta Gupta versus proprietary. From a NASS­ that it would democratise code patenting even relevant now? in a sense, I see a commonality with practices. It should not only be is Senior Vice COM perspective, we’ve always be­ creation and train coders to use SG: When we look at the digital di­ the OS movement in that even a col­ about regulations. Whether you President, National lieved that while it’s important for basic tools to make commercial vide, I think the first part of it is VH: We will continue to see pres­ lege student sitting in Sweden or have the right practices that will Association of us to promote OS, it’s also impor­ products. Do you think the about access, where you may have sure on the Indian government to al­ any other part of the world should help comply with these regulations Software and tant to give users a choice: do they government and the tech your low­hanging use cases like en­ low for patenting of software. The be able to write an operating system is equally, if not more, important. Service Companies want OS or some other proprietary industry have done enough to tertainment. This access has been law says that software per se is not that can be used in any part of the software? I think some government promote OS technologies and addressed to a great extent because patentable. But the interpretation of world. Now, we should be able to VH: The government has two roles. decisions helped propel OS adop­ introduce them in school and [content on] the computer was once ‘per se’ has been twisted and that build systems where individuals can One, lawmakers have to ensure that tion in India. One [reason] why OS engineering curricula? only in the English language. The game of football has been going on take control of their data and be in they pass laws that benefit citizens. was held back in the early years was computer was expensive and was for almost a decade now. The intent control of how other people mone­ And the second is that the govern­ the lack of capability in fixing tech­ SG: Software education in universi­ meant for people who could afford of Parliament was that software tise it and leverage it for loans, etc. ment is also one of the largest data nical issues that OS software could ties in India continues to lag behind. it. I think the ability of the smart­ shouldn’t be patentable. The reason controllers apart from platforms. So bring in versus using proprietary But it’s good to see the All India phone combined with cheap data we will continue to see pushback by Privacy, or the lack of it, is the what kind of governance they have Scan the QR code to software, which your regular ven­ Council for Technical Education has enabled a lot of access for peo­ multinational companies is because dominant concern around the around the data is going to be areal­ listen to the full dor also knew how to fix, such as a and others introduce new courses ple. I believe, by the use cases, peo­ these are the largest patent holders technology debate. What can ly critical part of the data ecosystem interview online Microsoft Office or a Windows. That on some of the newer technology ple are starting with entertainment anywhere in the world and the ba­ the OS movement contribute, in India. Teaching research ethics better CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC Image preparation should be included as part of FROM THE ARCHIVES the UGC’s course on research ethics FIFTY YEARS AGO JANUARY 10, 1970 U.K. collusion with Pakistan disclosed R. Prasad screened from PLOS One for a 16­ month period from 2013 to 2014 re­ Years after ignoring the elephant in vealed that papers published from Brigadier Ghansara Singh, who was Gover­ the room, the UGC has finally made it India had 1.93­fold higher probability nor of Gilgit at the time of partition of the compulsory for PhD scholars to take of containing “problematic images”, country in August 1947, exposed here [Srina­ up a course on research and publica­ the highest in the world. gar] to­day [January 9] in detail British collu­ tion ethics as part of their pre­regis­ Unlike in the case of data falsifica­ sion with Pakistan in capturing Gilgit. Ghan­ tration course work. Effective from tion and fabrication, duplication and sara Singh was appointed by the Jammu and the coming academic session, the manipulation of images is relatively Kashmir Government to take over charge of course carries two credits and entails easy to identify post­publication. Gilgit from the British Government to which 30 teaching hours. It covers several That PubPeer, a website that allows Gilgit had been leased by Kashmir for 60 aspects of research conduct, publica­ independent scientists to publish years. After termination of British rule in In­ tion ethics and misconduct, open ac­ post­publication review of scientific dia the Brigadier flew to Gilgit on July 31, cess publishing and databases, and papers, is flooded with reviews of 1947 but was taken prisoner in a mutiny research metrics. But on closer scru­ papers with questionable images is jointly sponsored by British officers and tiny, it looks like the course will not proof that the scientific community some Muslim officers. Eleven months later help much. It will create “awareness has become alert to a malice that has he was sent to Pakistan from where he was about publication ethics and miscon­ so far been largely overlooked. sent to India in exchange of prisoners after duct” but it will not equip students to another three months. Brigadier Ghansara steer clear of unethical research A big Indian problem Singh, who is 79 and leads a very active life practices. For instance, ‘scientific In India, dozens of papers with ques­ CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCC in Jammu, fully supported the view ex­ conduct’ deals with a range of issues tionable images have been published NOTEBOOK pressed in the book “Slender was the that research students might face by researchers from a few Council of Thread” by Lt.­Gen. Sen that what hap­ during research. This includes pla­ Scientific and Industrial Research pened in Gilgit in 1947 prior to and during giarism, falsification and fabrication, labs, and reputed institutions such as Political cartoons in the age of memes the tribal invasion of Jammu and Kashmir misrepresentation of data, selective IIT­Dhanbad, the Indian Institute of strengthened the inference that British offic­ reporting, duplicate publication, and Science, and Bose Institute. It is far Social media can both challenge and inspire cartoonists ers were involved in Pakistan’s plan and that segregation of data and publishing as worse in the case of state universi­ the loss of Gilgit was the result of “piratical multiple papers. All this is to be mag­ ties. Recently, Dr. Bik identified pro­ Satwik Gade gan to be shared via email fact, some of the most pro­ so receive really positive action.” ically covered in just five hours. blematic images and plagiarised text and became ‘viral’ in the found observations come comments. Substantial copying of text from in over 200 papers from Annamalai The job of the editorial car­ email era. All these chang­ from regular people with a The political climate is A HUNDRED YEARS AGO JANUARY 10, 1920 previously published papers and University in Tamil Nadu. Several toonist has changed con­ es only served to make the small number of followers. also important for cartoo­ even paraphrasing without due cita­ papers from Periyar University in Ta­ siderably since the advent cartoonist’s space more sa­ All these changes have nists. What has really Prison Reform. tion are quite common in papers pu­ mil Nadu and Banaras Hindu Univer­ of social media. The edito­ crosanct. forced cartoonists to reflect changed over the last de­ (From an editorial) blished from India, particularly from sity too can be found on PubPeer. rial cartoon used to be But social media not just on political affairs, cade or so is the manner in state universities. The introduction The magnitude of the problem can placed on a pedestal; this is changed all that. Today, but the space they occupy which cartoonists have The evidence tendered by Lt Col. Fearnside of plagiarism­checking software in be judged by scanning the largest da­ no longer the case. everybody has a space to in political humour. been censored. India once to the Jail Committee, at Coimbatore a day or most universities and compulsory tabase of retracted papers main­ With the advent of 24X7 respond. And there is no These rapid changes again finds itself in an auth­ two ago, is of a nature to arrest the attention checking for plagiarism prior to pap­ tained by the Retraction Watch blog. news channels, access to exclusivity of observation have also pushed cartoo­ oritarian regime without a of these who are interested in ameliorating er publication by most journals has The blog reveals that of the 1,050 breaking news stopped be­ whatsoever. At times, a nists from the cosy and ex­ sense of humour. Cartoo­ the lot of the Indian prisoner. All the evi­ largely addressed the problem. papers from India retracted since the ing the privilege of the child sitting in his bedroom clusive gentleman’s club in­ nists want to say a lot but dence tendered by Col. Fearnside is not to 1970s, 330 have been for plagiarism newsroom. Since an edito­ can access expert opinions to the muck of unfiltered are often silenced by edi­ hand, but we may be excused for comment­ Preparing images and nearly 200 for image duplication rial cartoonist’s job is to ob­ of distinguished journalists online commentary. This tors, trolls, political parties ing on some important matters in which an While the course does cover data fal­ and/or manipulation. There is no serve and comment more quickly than an edito­ can be a harrowing expe­ and the worst of them all, experienced jail officer’s opinions are of ex­ sification and fabrication, there is no ballpark figure for papers corrected through the comic medi­ rial cartoonist can while sit­ rience, but often liberating Sections 124A and 295A of ceptional interest. Apart from his sugges­ mention of teaching researchers the for problematic images. Though the um, the exclusivity of ob­ ting in a newsroom. He can too. Having your ego shat­ the Indian Penal Code. tions and views on jail management and basics of preparing images for publi­ U.S. and China have the most num­ servation was the first loss. also respond to it without tered a hundred times a We find solace in the fact control, Colonel Fearnside’s evidence relat­ cation. While certain changes to im­ ber of journal papers retracted, India What they still retained, being bound by the neces­ day can educate you but al­ that the best work and the ed to matters of wider application in which ages are acceptable, hundreds of has a higher rate of retractions, says a however, was the space for sary drawing skills. In other so free you in a way. most dynamic ways of re­ large sections of the public are interested; papers are corrected or retracted ev­ paper in Science. response, the hallowed words, with the creation of However, not all is bad. I sistance always come in the such as imprisonment for debt, the abolition ery year for image duplication and If UGC is serious about teaching re­ political cartoon space . At memes, the cartoonist’s life find memes and web car­ worst of times. Cartoonists of transportation to the Andamans, and Go­ manipulation. Unlike plagiarism, search and publication ethics, it the time, political cartoons has changed forever. toons a great way to exer­ must balance the dual task vernment competition with private enter­ journals have woken up to inappro­ should make scientific conduct and did not evolve to the video Today we live at a time cise my brain. A lot of stray of being neutral and witty prise. With regard to civil prisoners, Colonel priately altered images and manipu­ publication ethics separate courses format beyond the occa­ where the ‘one point witty comments serve as inspira­ political observers and be­ Fearnside was of opinion that imprisonment lation only since the early 2000s. with sufficient teaching hours or re­ sional Gustakhi Maaf (a TV comment’ space has be­ tion for my work, and col­ ing activists who constantly for debt should be abolished as in England. As Dr. Elisabeth M. Bik and others tain it as a single course and devote programme with puppets). come the most crowded lege students are some­ push boundaries and at­ But the Debtor’s Act imprisonment for debt had noted in a June 2016 paper in the more time to teach research ethics The cartoon space of im­ and dynamic space on the times my mentors. People tempt to reclaim lost spac­ was abolished in England in 1869, and it now journal mBio, the instances of “inap­ and include image preparation as portant newspapers could Internet. Observations in ask me to address specific es through innovation and exists only as a punishment in certain cases propriately duplicated images” sud­ part of the course. inform readers what politi­ this space are not always issues, so there is constant persistence. These are not which involve fraud, misconduct, wilful dis­ denly peaked in 2003 and has been cal news was ‘trending’ the commonplace; they are of­ feedback. And amidst all easy times, but they sure obedience to an order of the Court, and in­ 4­5% since then. Over 8,100 papers [email protected] previous day. Cartoons be­ ten deep and insightful. In the trolling I deal with, I al­ are exciting times. tention to abscond. CM M ND-NDE YK EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

DELHI THE HINDU 12 NEWS FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020 EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE FROM PAGE ONE SC to rule on J&K curbs today Centre has double Foreign envoys in J&K Petition said the restrictions crippled essential services and communications standards: Congress on a fact­finding visit Legal Correspondent NEW DELHI ‘Indian politicians barred from J&K’ “We apprised the delegation However, Rafi Mir told The Supreme Court will on of the current situation. We The Hindu that he did not Friday pronounce its verdict SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI told them that people were go against people’s aspira­ on the legality of the restric­ hurt by the abrogation of Ar­ tions or the party’s stand. “I tions on the fundamental The Congress on Thursday ticle 370; the matter is be­ have my own mind and no freedom of movement and accused the Union govern­ fore the apex court now,” one can control me,” he the shutdown of communi­ ment of adopting double said Mr. Bukhari. He said. cations in Jammu and Kash­ standards by taking Ambas­ stressed the need to restore Mr. Mir said he shared his mir since August 5. sadors on “guided political statehood for Jammu and “way forward to restore The judgment will be deli­ tourism” to Jammu and Kashmir, introduce domi­ peace and normalcy in J&K” vered by a three­judge Kashmir, while barring In­ cile laws to safeguard land, with the envoys. Bench, led by Justice N.V. dian politicians from the Un­ and find jobs for the locals. No prominent civil socie­ Ramana. ion Territory. The politicians also called ty group or trade body met The clampdown followed “We don’t have a pro­ Jairam Ramesh for “immediate release of all the envoys. An NC spokes­ the revocation of the special blem with the visit of the en­ political leaders and the man termed the visit “a right and privileges enjoyed voys, but the government is Conference, and Mehbooba youth in the Valley.” guided tour.” by the Kashmiri people un­ adopting double standards Mufti of the PDP, were still Prominent political faces The Army hosted the en­ der Article 370 and the bifur­ by allowing the envoys to vi­ in detention. Leader of the that met the foreign envoys voys at its headquarters in cation of the erstwhile State sit Jammu and Kashmir, but Opposition in the Rajya Sab­ included Jammu and Kash­ Badamibagh and apprised into the Union Territories of On guard: Security personnel setting up a road block after the arrival of 16 envoys from foreign not Indian politicians,” Con­ ha and another former Chief mir Democratic Party Na­ them of the current security Jammu and Kashmir and countries in Srinagar on Thursday. * NISSAR AHMAD gress leader Jairam Ramesh Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad tionalist’s Ghulam Hassan scenario, including the issue Ladakh. said at a press conference. and CPI(M) general secre­ Mir, PDP’s Noor Muham­ of terrorism, and Pakistan’s Anuradha Bhasin, one of gress leader Ghulam Nabi The party’s attack came tary Sitaram Yechury had to mad Sheikh, Rafi Mir, Javaid attempts to “destabilise the the petitioners and Editor of Azad are the other petition­ PDP a divided house on a day when the Ambassa­ take the Supreme Court’s Baigh, Abdul Raheem Rath­ situation on the Line of Con­ The Kashmir Times, said the ers. dors from 16 countries, in­ permission to visit Srinagar, er and Majeed Padder and trol (LoC) and the mainland restrictions had crippled the However, the Jammu and special correspondent the national flag in J&K’. It cluding U.S. Ambassador he said. Jammu Congress’s Hilal Shah and in the Union Territory.” freedom of the press, essen­ Kashmir government had should not have been made. Kenneth Juster, arrived in “We demand that the go­ Shoaib Lone. The envoys left for Jam­ tial services and even com­ maintained that normalcy Peoples Democratic Party You cannot threaten Prime Srinagar on a two­day visit vernment allow all politi­ mu in the afternoon, where munications between fami­ had returned to the Valley. (PDP) patron Muzaffar Hus­ Minister Narendra Modi, to Jammu and Kashmir. It is cians unfettered access to PDP action they will meet Lt. Governor lies. A pall of suspicion was Solicitor­General Tushar sain Baigh on Thursday took Union Home Minister Amit the first visit by diplomats Jammu and Kashmir and Shortly after the meeting, a G.C. Murmu on Friday. cast on the entire seven mil­ Mehta, for Jammu and Kash­ pot­shots at jailed party pre­ Shah and National Security since last August when the not resort to guided tours tweet from the PDP’s official Government officials in­ lion people, who lived in a mir, had said the authorities sident Mehbooba Mufti and Adviser Ajit Doval to get erstwhile State was divested for envoys,” he said. “There handle said, “Certain party volved in the planning of the state of imprisonment. Res­ acted on heaps of material, backed the demands to res­ your demands fulfilled,” of its special status and bi­ have been no meaningful leaders are part of parleys visit said that they were “sa­ trictive orders under Section including intelligence and tore statehood and grant said Mr. Baigh at a press con­ furcated into Union political activity in Jammu which go against the inter­ tisfied” with its outcome, 144 of the Code of Criminal military, about inflammatory domicile laws on land and ference here. Territories. and Kashmir since August ests of J&K, the official posi­ and their objective had been Procedure (Cr.PC) were is­ material and speeches, cir­ jobs. He said Mr. Modi and Mr. Mr. Ramesh pointed out last. We demand that the tion and core beliefs. The to “show first­hand the ef­ sued without application of culation of fake news, “Ms. Mufti made a wrong Shah understand the people that former Chief Ministers Centre immediately start a disciplinary committee has forts being made by the go­ mind, she said. Activist morphed images and videos statement that ‘If Article 370 of Jammu and Kashmir and Farooq Abdullah and Omar meaningful political pro­ recommended expulsion of vernment to bring Enakshi Ganguly and Con­ spread on social media. is scrapped no one will raise “were not anti­Muslim”. Abdullah, of the National cess.” these leaders.” normalcy”. Justice Dilip SC rebuffs plea to declare Mamata to skip Opposition meet on CAA Bhosale quits CM upset over nesday. The strike affected call from the All India Con­ CAA constitutional life and violence was also re­ gress Committee asking Lokpal post ‘violence by Left ported from different parts about the cancellation plan Ms. Dhanda said an “anti­In­ tion and rumours”. She and Congress’ of the State. of the Chief Minister. Special Correspondent dia stand has become fash­ asked the Supreme Court in­ “I got a call from Delhi. I NEW DELHI ion of many students be­ stead to clarify and declare Special Correspondent ‘It is hooliganism’ told them that we wanted to Lokpal member Justice Di­ longing to these institutions that the CAA was “not Kolkata “I won’t attend the meeting bring a resolution against the lip B. Bhosale (retd.) has re­ [Jamia Millia Islamia and Ja­ against the spirit of Consti­ West Bengal Chief Minister convened by Sonia Gandhi CAA in the Assembly which signed from his post citing waharlal Nehru University] tution of India and in no Mamata Banerjee on Thurs­ as a protest against the Con­ was not allowed,” he told personal reasons. which, otherwise, were fa­ sense against any citizen of day said in the Assembly that gress­Left hooliganism dur­ presspersons. “I have tendered my re­ mous for the achievements India”. she would stay away from ing Wednesday’s strike,” she Leader of the Left Legisla­ signation from the post of of their legendary stu­ The plea may be listed on the January 13 meeting of the said. She said she would fight ture Party Sujan Chakrabor­ judicial member, Lokpal dents”. January 22 along with the 60 Opposition parties in protest against the CAA and the NRC ty said the success of the on January 6, with effect She sought strict action anti­CAA petitions filed by against the Citizenship alone. strike in Bengal had infuriat­ from January 12, 2020, due by the Ministry of Informa­ parliamentarians, civil (Amendment) Act convened She said she had earlier ed the Chief Minister. to personal reasons,” tion and Broadcasting rights groups, NGOs, politi­ by Congress president Sonia agreed to participate in the At the forefront: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata “She has not got approval tweeted Justice Bhosale on against newspapers and me­ cal parties, activists and citi­ Gandhi. meeting but had withdrawn Banerjee leading a rally in North 24 Parganas. * PTI from her bosses in Delhi that Thursday. dia houses that were zens from all walks of life Ms. Banerjee said her de­ after what the CPI(M) and is why she is not going for the There is a provision for “spreading false informa­ across the country. cision followed the violence the Congress had done. gress chairperson had held Parganas on Thursday. Opposition meeting,” Mr. eight Lokpal members, unleashed by the Left and The decision of the Chief multiple protests against the Leader of the Opposition Chakraborty said, alleging who are appointed for a the Congress during the 24­ Minister assumes impor­ CAA including a march at and Congress MLA Andul tacit understanding between term of five years or till 70 T.N., Kerala launch hunt hour general strike on Wed­ tance as the Trinamool Con­ Madhyamgram in North 24 Mannan said he received a the Trinamool and the BJP. years of age. for suspected ultras India, Sri Lanka hold ‘productive’ talks Modi govt. policies harm The Kerala Police released point­blank range. The offic­ the police photographs of er died on the spot. economy, says risk firm the suspects and footage “It categorically proves Visiting Minister seeks support for vocational training and capacity building from the surveillance came­ that the assailants had inten­ Eurasia Group puts out report ras. They also announced a tionally killed the police of­ Special Correspondent the new Sri Lankan Foreign reward for information lead­ ficer,” an officer privy to the NEW DELHI Minister had discussed tak­ Suhasini Haidar been mentioned for social ing to the capture of the two ongoing investigation said. India and Sri Lanka on ing forward some of the NEW DELHI and political developments. men. Meanwhile, the Karnata­ Thursday discussed the “en­ commitments made by the India has been ranked the Mr. Bremmer, who is the Mr. Tripathy visited the ka police with the help of tire gamut of bilateral ties”, previous Sri Lankan govern­ fifth highest “geopolitical founder and president of Padanthaalumoodu check­ their Tamil Nadu counter­ during talks between the vis­ ment on infrastructure pro­ risk” in 2020, according to a the Eurasia Group, has also post in the afternoon. “Ef­ parts, had nabbed a person iting Sri Lankan Minister of jects in Trincomalee and Co­ list of 10 global risks in the in the past been a major forts are on to nab the assai­ from Ambasamudram and Foreign Relations, Skills De­ lombo as well as the year ahead, compiled by the supporter of reforms under lants,” he told journalists be­ two others from Tenkasi in velopment, Employment Northern region, or about Eurasia Group, a leading the Modi government, and fore leaving to pay his connection with a case re­ and Labour Relations, Di­ taking forward the Econom­ global political risk manage­ praised him in several arti­ respects to the slain police gistered in Bengaluru. nesh Gunawardena, and Ex­ ic and Technical Coopera­ ment consultancy. It said cles and television appea­ officer, whose body was bu­ An officer said, “The kill­ ternal Affairs Minister S. tion (ETCA) preferential that in its second term, the rances since 2014. In June ried with police honours ing of Wilson is an obvious Jaishankar here on Thurs­ trade agreement talks that Narendra Modi­led NDA go­ 2019, Mr. Bremmer wrote around 3.30 p.m. attempt to send strong sig­ day. have been stalled for several vernment’s “social” policies for Time magazine that Mr. Police said the assailants nals to the Tamil Nadu Pol­ The visit by the Sri Lankan years. were affecting India’s eco­ Modi was “India’s best bet were seen entering a mos­ ice as few of their accom­ Minister, his first visit abroad nomic agenda and foreign for economic reform”. que near the check­post af­ plices have been nabbed. A after taking charge, comes On climate change policy image. ter the shooting and might police team recently after the visit by Sri Lankan According to the Ministry, “Prime Minister Naren­ Poll shift have fled in a vehicle parked searched the houses of Sha­ President Gotabaya Rajapak­ the ministers also discussed dra Modi has spent much of “It really shifted with the behind the mosque. A sur­ meem and Thoufique and sa in November as “a follow­ issues of climate change and his second term promoting election,” Mr. Bremmer told veillance camera later grilled their family mem­ up” to his discussions with terrorism. controversial social policies The Hindu, when asked picked them up at Parassala bers to get more informa­ Prime Minister Narendra In a tweet after the meet­ at the expense of an eco­ about the shift in his opi­ in Kerala. tion about the duo. So it’s an Modi. Boosting ties: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, right, ing Mr. Jaishankar said he nomic agenda. The impacts nion. “[Mr.] Modi’s need to

attempt to threaten the pol­ with Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena. * PTI had “productive discus­ will be felt in 2020, with in­ win while the economy was Deliberate act ice force,” the police officer More cooperation sions” with his counterpart tensified communal and softening led him to de­ Though it was initially stat­ suspected. “The Sri Lankan Foreign Mi­ ing and requested India’s lopment and Entrepreneur­ on “bilateral issues and re­ sectarian instability, as well prioritise reform and turn to ed that the police officer was Meanwhile, a special nister reiterated the impor­ support,” the External Af­ ship Mahendra Nath Pandey, gional concerns”. In res­ as foreign policy and eco­ Hindu nationalism and the shot dead by the occupants team from Kanniyakumari tance laid by President Raja­ fairs Ministry said, laying and Minister of State for La­ ponse Mr. Gunawardena de­ nomic setbacks,” said the re­ RSS. Both political strands of a car when he checked district searched the house paksa on exploring newer emphasis on skilling and op­ bour and Employment San­ scribed the discussions as port entitled “Top Risks were always there, but the the vehicle, CCTV footage of S. Al Kabir, 28, at Vazhuk­ areas of cooperation with In­ portunities for people­to­pe­ tosh Kumar Gangwar. “cordial”. 2020”, co­authored by Ian priorities changed, and that collected from the spot kodai in Tirunelveli around dia with emphasis on skill ople ties. However, officials de­ On Friday Mr. Gunawar­ Bremmer and Cliff Kupchan led to the change in our showed that the assailants, 4 a.m. on Thursday. development, vocational Mr. Gunawardena also clined to comment on dena will visit the Mahabod­ of the Eurasia Group, point­ view,” he added. who came to the Padanthaa­ “Since Kabir reportedly training and capacity build­ met Minister for Skill Deve­ whether the meeting with hi temple in Bodhgaya. ing to the widening fiscal According to the report, lumoodu check­post on has links with the trio deficit, low GST collections, amongst the risks for India foot, entered the check­post nabbed by the Karnataka and the latest six­year low in in 2020 are “sectarian con­ around 9.25 p.m. and police, we are looking for GDP growth. flict”, anti­CAA protests, opened fire at Wilson at him,” the police said. What makes the Eurasia and possible violence in Gangster caught after 20 years on the run Group listing significant is Kashmir, which it describes that this is the first time in as a “powder keg” after the Ejaz Lakdawala the country some time bet­ someone in the Jakkanpur many years that India has dilution of Article 370. Nirbhaya case convict had escaped ween 1998 and 1999, was police station area last night wanted in a string of cases, [Wednesday] and the local from the country including murder, attempt to police helped it arrest Ejaz files curative plea murder and extortion, regis­ Lakdawala… After his arrest, Special Correspondent tered since 1989. Crime the Mumbai police complet­ “After the pronouncement a “definite change” in the MUMBAI Branch officers said that so ed the legal formalities, and of judgment in 2017, there sentencing jurisprudence. After spending over 20 years far, they had 25 cases regis­ Lakdawala was handed over have been as many as 17 cas­ Hence, this would require on the run, gangster Ejaz tered against him . His to them,” Bihar Additional es involving rape and mur­ Sharma’s case to be Lakdawala was arrested by daughter Shifa alias Soniya Director­General of Police der in which various three­ reheard. the Crime Branch of the was arrested by the Anti­Ex­ (Law and Order) Amit Kumar judge Benches of the Su­ The court had recently Mumbai Police in Patna on tortion Cell on December 28 told journalists in Patna. preme Court have dismissed a review petition Wednesday. Maharashtra last in a fake passport case, Ejaz Lakdawala The reason for his return commuted the sentence of filed by another of the four Home Minister Anil Desh­ and has been in police to the country has evoked death,” the petition condemned men, Akshay mukh lauded the police’s ef­ custody. would be in Patna and curiosity, with the police be­ contended. Singh, to review its May 5, forts at a press interaction in On Wednesday, the Anti­ rushed a team there. “A team lieving that he could have It argued that this “cor­ 2017 judgment confirming Mumbai. Extortion Cell received infor­ of the Mumbai police sought come down to help his pus of case law” had caused the death penalty. Lakdawala, 50, who fled mation that Lakdawala our assistance in arresting daughter come out of jail. CM M ND-NDE YK