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Babri Demolition Case PUBLISHED FROM DELHI & KOLKATA VOL. 3, ISSUE 106 | Thursday, 20 April 2017 | Kolkata | Pages 16 | Rs 3.00 NO HALF TRUTHS CRIMINAL CHARGES RESTORED qNIFTY 9103.50 (-01.65) pSENSEX 29,336.57 (+17.47) pDOW JONES 20,527.34 (+04.06) pNASDAQ 5,879.55 (+30.08) pRUPEE/DOLLAR 64.58 (+0.05) qRUPEE/EURO 69.19 (-0.04) nGOLD/10GM 29,900.00 (-00.00) qSILVER/K 49,250.00 (-550.00)Supreme Court has restored criminal charges against fourteen people including KIN OF DEAD CHINA MPs BACK MAY’S WILL REVISIT MY OWN LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma TODDLER RANSACK ‘STANDARDISES’ CALL FOR SNAP STRUGGLES WHILE Bharti in the Babri Masjid demolition case APOLLO CRYING NAMES FOR 6 PLACES ELECTION IN PLAYING NARGIS: Details: n Bench comprising Justices n Trial will proceed on a NEGLIGENCE PG3 IN ARUNACHAL PG5 JUNE PG10 MANISHA PG16 PC Ghose and RF Nariman day-to-day basis and on no allowed CBI's appeal to review grounds it will be adjourned BENGAL CM HITS OUT AT BJP FOR ITS ‘DIVISIVE’ POLICIES criminal conspiracy charges in n Judges presiding over the Quick News44 Advani, Bharti,Babri Masjid Joshi demolition case case will not be transferred n Charges against one of the till the trial is concluded 43 killed as bus falls to stand trialaccused, Kalyan in Singh who n In the interest of justice, Mamata asks regional is the Governor of Rajasthan, trial to be completed into river in Shimla Ayodhyawill case be framed only when he preferably within two years leaves the governor's office SHIMLA: Forty-three passengers were killed MPOST BUREAU n BJP leaders Advani, Joshi when a private bus plunged into River Tons and Uma Bharati are accused in remote Nerwa area of Shimla district in the NEW DELHI: Top BJP lead- of making inflammatory north Indian state of Himachal Pradesh on parties to unite against BJP ers L K Advani, M M Joshi Wednesday. and Uma Bharti will be tried speeches that motivated the The passengers were on their way from OUR CORRESPONDENT matter legally.” for criminal conspiracy in the demolition of the disputed Vikasnagar in Uttarakhand to Tuni and the acci- They (BJP) wanted to divide the Banerjee is likely to meet Odi- 1992 Babri Masjid demolition structure in 1992 dent took place on the Uttarakhand-Himachal BHUBANESWAR: Bengal Chief nation in the name of religion, region sha chief minister Naveen Pat- case as the Supreme Court KBK Info border in Himachal territory, Deputy Commis- Minister Mamata Banerjee on and caste. They pit Hindus against naik in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. on Wednesday allowed the graphics sioner Shimla, Rohan Chand Thakur said. Wednesday said all regional parties Political experts said her meeting CBI plea to restore the charge The bus was carrying 56 passengers must work together for better fed- Muslims, Christians against Hindus, with Patnaik with whom she has against them. the sensational case. The court SP, Shimla, D W Negi said 43 bodies have eralism even as she accused the BJP Odias against Bengalis, always maintained cordial relations The court also clubbed the further said that no party shall been recovered and the search is on for the rest. of indulging in “divisive” politics to Biharis against Bengalis, assumes significance as Banerjee is trial in the matter pending be granted adjournment with- Police along with medical and rescue teams defame Hindutva. and so on trying to unite non- BJP chief min- against the leaders and ‘karse- out the sessions judge being have been mobilised from Sirmaur and Shimla “Our effort will be to ensure that isters and regional parties before the vaks’ and ordered the day-to- satisfied with the reasons for it. districts to help in rescue and relief operations all regional parties work together 2019 Lok Sabha polls. day trial with the proceedings It also directed the probe at the spot, about 190 km from here. Mpost for better federalism in the country. Banerjee visited the Jagannath to be completed in two years. agency CBI to ensure that pros- They should be strong,” Banerjee, temple late on Wednesday after- “We have allowed the CBI ecution witnesses appear on also the president of the All India noon. She was greeted by the priests appeal against the Allahabad each and every date for record- Leave encashment for Trinamool Congress (AITMC) told who took her inside the temple. High Court judgement with ing of evidence in the case and reporters at Puri. She went to the sanctum sancto- certain directions,” a bench the trial court should start the defence personnel cleared Banerjee, who is on a three-day rum where the idols of Jagannath, comprising Justices P C Ghose proceedings within four weeks visit to Odisha since Tuesday night, Balaram and Subhadra are kept. and R F Nariman said. The apex from Wednesday. NEW DELHI: The government on Wednes- came down heavily on the BJP and There was enthusiasm among locals court, however, noted that Raj- It, however, made it clear day approved leave encashment of up to three accused it of indulging in divisive gal government is bad, the Bihar is acting against the ideology and to catch a glimpse of the Bengal asthan Governor Kalyan Singh that there would be no de novo months for those defence personnel who died or politics. government is bad and all non-BJP defaming Hindutva,” she added. CM. They stood on both sides of the enjoys Constitutional immu- (fresh) trial in the matter. were disabled while in service between 1991 and “They (BJP) wanted to divide state governments are bad. How are Noting that the regional parties road leading to the temple. Baner- nity and can be tried only after It had also said since 25 1999. The decision will benefit the families of the nation in the name of religion, you good if you go on dubbing oth- respect all, Banerjee said, “How can jee walked down the street barefoot. he ceases to hold the office. years have already passed, in 9,777 officers and other personnel of the defence region and caste. They pit Hindus ers bad,” she said. the leaders of Delhi say others are BJP is trying to create trouble Kalyan Singh was the chief the interest of justice, it would services who died or were invalidated out of ser- against Muslims, Christians against Banerjee claimed that Hindu- bad when you are unable to take ever since Banerjee left for Odisha minister of UP in 1992. consider ordering a time- vice between December 30, 1991 and Novem- Hindus, Odias against Bengalis, ism was not something practised by care of Delhi.” on Tuesday evening. A priest of Jag- The court said separate tri- bound trial on the day-to-day ber 29, 1999 with less than 15 years of service. Biharis against Bengalis, and so on the BJP and dubbed the BJP mem- On the FIR filed against her annath temple said on Tuesday that als being conducted in trial basis, to be completed prefer- This period is very significant as a large num- ... This is not Hinduism,” she alleged. bers as “black spot” on Hinduism. party leaders in connection with the doors were closed for Baner- courts at Raebareli and Luc- ably within two years. ber of casualties took place during the Kargil Claiming that she was a real She alleged that they divide people Narada chit-fund case, she said, jee for her statement on the con- know will be clubbed and con- Senior advocate K K Venu- conflict and in counter-insurgency operations Hindu who believes in taking instead of taking everyone together. “These decisions are taken with evil sumption of beef. On Wednesday ducted in the capital of Uttar gopal, appearing for Advani in Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast, the everyone together, Banerjee said “I’m a Hindu but not the one intentions and are politically moti- two BJP Yuva Morcha members Pradesh only. and Joshi, had vociferously government said. The decision on the leave the BJP’s attitude towards others was who defames religion. While the vated. The TMC is against the BJP were arrested when they raised “ Go It also said that the trial opposed the proposal for hold- encashment scheme was taken at a meeting of not acceptable. Hindu belief talks about the ideol- ideologically but they are fighting back Mamata” slogans. The security judge of Lucknow “shall not ing a joint trial and transfer- the Union Cabinet presided over by Prime Min- “According to them (BJP) the ogy of moving forward and taking against us at a personal level. We will arrangements around the temple be transferred” till conclusion ring their case from Raebareli ister Narendra Modi. Mpost Odisha government is bad, the Ben- everyone along, the saffron party take up the challenge and handle the was tight. and delivery of judgement in to Lucknow. More reports on P7 CENTRE CLEARS `3,174 CRORE GOVT DECIDED TO REMOVE RED BEACONS FROM The CBI is under BSF jawan who ALL VEHICLES INCLUDING THAT OF PM the influence of PM EC gets funds for complained of Narendra Modi bad food sacked No ‘lal batti’ cars from May 1 LALU PRASAD paper trail machines MPOST BUREAU DHIRENDRA KUMAR »»Trinamool Congress-led NEW DELHI: A BSF MPOST BUREAU Govt in West Bengal jawan, who posted a clip on NEW DELHI: Come May 1, under the leadership of In today’s social media complaining ‘lal batti’ cars or vehicles with NEW DELHI: The Election Com- of bad quality food being red beacons will be a thing of Mamata Banerjee was paper mission’s plan to go for paper trail served to the troops, was the past as the government the first to remove red machines in the next Lok Sabha polls on Wednesday dismissed has barred their use by VVIPs, beacons followed by ... to add an additional layer of transpar- from service following an including the President, the Delhi’s Chief Minister CITY ency in voting is set to materialise as the inquiry. Prime Minister and chief Arvind Kejriwal in government on Wednesday cleared Rs Officials said Tej Baha- ministers. 2013 during his 49- STALLS, SHOPS GET KMC NOTICE 4 3,174 crore for the purpose. dur Yadav was sacked by the Seeking to end the VIP day regime A total of 16,15,000 Voter Verifiable border guarding force on culture, the Union Cabinet NATION Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines the basis of a report of a staff on Wednesday decided that PAK DY HIGH COMMISSIONER SUMMONED 5 would be purchased to cover all poll- court of inquiry (SCoI). beacon lights will be removed cussion for some time and abolish VIP culture of beacon ing stations. The inquiry, they said, from all vehicles, except emer- “the Prime Minister took the lights and sirens”. EDIT Several parties have been pressing »»The VVPAT is a machine found the constable-rank gency vehicles, like ambulances decision and informed the Beacons, however, will be for the use of these machines to dis- which dispenses a slip with jawan guilty of making false and fire brigade. Cabinet,” Jaitley said, adding allowed on vehicles concerning SEEKING STABILITY 8 pel doubts that the EVMs are not tam- the symbol of the party for charges. The vehicles with beacon amendments will be made emergency and relief services, pered with. which a person has voted for. “The action of dismissal lights, which are seen as a sym- soon in the Central Motor ambulance, fire service etc. In INTERNATIONAL Sixteen parties had recently peti- The slip drops in a box but of the jawan has been taken bol of VIP culture, “have no Vehicles Rules to give effect to light of the decision, the Min- tioned the EC to revert to paper ballot under the Border Security place in a democratic country”, the decision. istry of Road Transport and XI RESTRUCTURES MILITARY 10 system for greater transparency. The the voter cannot take it home. Force Act that is applicable the government said. A rule that empowers the Highways will make necessary BUSINESS BSP, the AAP and the Congress had to all the personnel serving “After May 1, no one will be Centre or state governments provisions in the law. attacked the EC on the issue of alleged In a statement, the poll watchdog in the paramilitary force,” a able to put red light atop his/ to allow the use of red beacon The move is first at the TRUMP INKS H-1B EXEC ORDER 12 tampering of EVMs. said it will “closely monitor” the pro- senior officer said. her vehicle. The blue light will lights to dignitaries will be alto- national level, but there are The paper trail machines leave a duction of VVPATs for timely delivery “Yadav has been found be used only for emergency gether removed from the stat- precedents by state govern- SPORT paper trail which helps an elector con- well before the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. guilty on certain charges vehicles in the country...Nei- ute books, the minister said. ments of not using the red firm whether the EVM has faithfully “With this, the Commission will of indiscipline including ther the states nor the Centre “There will be no exception beacons. The Trinamool Con- RONALDO HATTRICK SINKS BAYERN 15 registered the vote has cast to a partic- ensure the total compliance of the uploading the said video in will have the power to give any for anyone. The reason is very gress-led government in West ular candidate. orders of the Supreme Court (on the violation of laid down pro- special permission (for use of clear that the rule itself is being Bengal under the leadership The funds would be given to the use of VVPATs) and its commitment cedures and rules. He has an beacon lights),” Finance Min- removed from the rule book,” of Mamata Banerjee was the FOR ADVERTISING Commission in two instalments — the to using VVPATs with every EVM at all option to appeal against the ister Arun Jaitley said after the he added. Road Transport and first to remove beacons from kindly contact at 9810195709 or first of Rs 1,600 crore in this fiscal and polling stations in the country in Gen- verdict within three months Cabinet meeting. Highways Minister Nitin Gad- VIP vehicles in Bengal. This the rest in the next fiscal. eral Elections 2019,” it said. time,” he added. He said the use of red bea- kari was the first Union Minis- was followed by Delhi Chief [email protected] The clearance was given by the Cab- Between September 2013 and Yadav, in January this cons atop vehicles has been ter who took the red beacon off Minister Arvind Kejriwal in inet chaired by Prime Minister Nar- March this year, the Commission has year, had alleged in his a matter of discussion and his official vehicle immediately 2013 during his 49-day regime. FOR SUBSCRIPTION endra Modi after a brief discussion. written 38 times to the government on video post that bad quality debates for long as to why cer- after the Cabinet meeting. Kejriwal continued the practice kindly contact at 8800854665 or The decision was taken in the absence the procurement of VVPATs, according food was being served to the tain people have special privi- Gadkari said: “this gov- after the party came to power [email protected] of Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to an affidavit filed by the poll panel in soldiers. See P6 leges on road. ernment is a government of with an unprecedented man- though the issue relates to his ministry. the Supreme Court on the issue. The matter was under dis- masses and has decided to date in 2015. All eyes on CM’s chair as OPS, Sonu responds to fatwa by shaving off his head

Palaniswami plan reunion MPOST BUREAU After the conference got over, he went into a room to get his head MPOST BUREAU of the party and made it clear MUMBAI: Shave off his head, said a tonsured. that the MLAs’ meet called by cleric, enraged by Sonu Nigam’s tweet Nigam had hinted in a tweet earlier CHENNAI: The dramatic him was not a show of strength. on loud sermons. So the Bollywood in the day that he planned to shave off late-night announcement by Meanwhile, rebel playback singer did just that at a press his head. finance minister D Jayakumar AIADMK leader and former conference he had himself tonsured by “Today at 2 pm Aalim will come on Tuesday that the AIADMK Chief Minister O Panneersle- a celebrity hairstylist. to my place and shave my head. Keep be rescued from T T V Dhina- vam on Wednesday described He had called the press to talk about your 10 lakhs ready, Maulavi,” he had karan and family have cleared the ministers’ revolt against his tweets on Monday which led to an tweeted, tagging a new report on the the decks for talks between the rival Amma faction leader online furore and a fatwa being issued fatwa. the two factions; now the big TTV Dhinakaran as the “first against him by the Kolkata-based cleric, Cleric Syed Sha Atef Ali Al Quaderi bones of contention would be success” of his “dharma yudh” Syed Sha Atef Ali Al Quaderi. took exception to that and announced the chief minister’s chair and a huge blow to him. against V K Sasikala. Before hairstylist Aalim Hakim got a reward of Rs 10 lakh to anybody who crucial portfolios. Beleaguered AIADMK Panneerselvam said he had into the act, Nigam stressed that his would tonsure Nigam and garland him The sheer necessity for (Amma) faction leader TTV launched the ‘dharma yudh’ tweets were against the use of loud- with a string of old shoes. political survival has forced the Dhinakaran on Wednesday with the help of his support- speakers in morning sermons and not Nigam took the challenge up and two groups to work towards a struck a conciliatory note, say- ers, including MPs and MLAs, aimed at any particular religion. called Hakim to the press conference broad consensus for a possible ing he had no problem with the in an effort to ensure that the “I only spoke against the use of loud- a move that he also made public on merger. merger of rival party factions AIADMK did not go into speakers. Everybody has a right to his have done anything wrong, please for- (hooliganism). Twitter. While the trial proceed- and felt the rebellion against hands of Sasikala’s family. opinion. I have the right to have an give me. My intention was just to talk on “People took one tweet of mine The singer said he wanted to respond ings in the two money launder- him was due to some “fear”. He was reacting to the min- opinion and it should not be miscon- a social topic and not a religious topic,” where I mentioned ‘gundagardi’ and to the ‘fatwa’ in the language of love. ing cases against Dhinakaran The Deputy General Secre- isters’ decision late Tuesday strued. Loudspeakers are not a neces- he added. ignored other tweets where I also talked The cleric, however, is not satisfied picked up steam in recent tary of the V K Sasikala faction night to keep away Sasikala, sity; they are not a part of any religion,” The singer said it was wrong to about temples and gurudwaras,” he said. with Nigam’s gesture. “He only heard weeks, the FIR filed against him of the AIADMK also said that Dhinakaran and their families Nigam said. focus on one particular tweet where “I am a secular person, a neutral half of the fatwa. I had also mentioned by the Delhi crime branch for he had “stepped aside” on Tues- from the AIADMK and the His intention, he pointed out, was he described the broadcasting of ser- person. You will rarely find people who a garland of old shoes,” Syed Al Quaderi allegedly bribing EC officials, is day night itself in the interest affairs of its government. not to hurt anybody’s sentiments. “If I mons on loudspeakers as ‘gundagardi’ are neutral. So, I am the minority here.” told a news channel. 2 town mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 20 April, 2017 Air pollution may cause year-round runny noses New findings suggest that people living in large cities and industrial areas with polluted air, particularly in the developing world are at higher risk of developing chronic sinus problems

ir pollution in cities like New cles of a similar size in cities like New Delhi or Beijing may cause peo- Delhi, Cairo and Beijing. Nineteen ple to have year-round runny mice breathed in filtered air, and 19 noses and chronic sinus prob- breathed polluted air for 6 hours per Alems, warn scientists including one of day, 5 days a week for 16 weeks. Indian origin.Although human popula- The researchers used water to flush tion studies have linked air pollution to out the noses and sinuses of the mice, chronic inflammation of nasal and sinus and then looked at the inflammatory tissues, direct biological and molecular and other cells in the flushed-out fluid evidence for cause and effect has been under a microscope. They saw many more scant. Researchers found that mice contin- white blood cells that signal inflammation, ually exposed to dirty air have that direct including macrophages, neutrophils and biological effect. eosinophils, in the mice that breathed in Scientists have long known that smog, the polluted air compared with those that ash and other particulates from industrial breathed in filtered air. smokestacks and other sources that pollute For example, the mice that breathed air quality exacerbate and raise rates of in the polluted air had asthma symptoms, but had little evidence almost four times of similar damage from those pollutants as many macro- to the upper respiratory system. The new phages than mice findings have broad implications for the that breathed fil- health and well-being of people who live tered air. in large cities and industrial areas with Chronic sinusitis can cause conges- “We’ve iden- Delhi food truck polluted air, particularly in the develop- tion, pain and pressure in the face, and a tified a lot of ing world. stuffy, drippy nose. Numerous studies have evidence that festival concludes “In places like New Delhi, Cairo or reported significant social implications breathing in dirty Beijing, where people heat their houses of chronic sinonasal disease, including air directly causes with wood-burning stoves, and factories depression, lost productivity and chronic a breakdown in the release pollutants into the air, our study fatigue. integrity of the sinus suggests people are at higher risk of devel- To see how pollution may directly and nasal air pas- oping chronic sinus problems,” said Mur- affect the biology of the upper airways, sages in mice,” said ray Ramanathan, associate professor at the the researchers exposed 38 eight-week- cles measuring 2.5 Ramanathan. Johns Hopkins University School of Medi- old male mice to either filtered air or micrometers or less, which “Keeping this bar- cine in the US. concentrated Baltimore air with parti- excludes most allergens, like dust and pol- rier intact is essential for len. The aerosolized particles, although protecting the cells in the tissues from concentrated, were 30 to 60 per cent lower irritation or infection from other sources, than the average concentrations of parti- including pollen or germs,” he said. PTI

OUR CORRESPONDENT FLOWER ART WORK this to happen! ‘We had incorporated many INDIA’S BIGGEST Food Truck Fes- authentic activities to create a whole- tival , the Delhi Food Truck Festival some experience for all kind of audi- (DFTF) 2017, a two day affair finally ences,” said Shivangi Gupta, one of the came to an end and captured many organisers. Talking about the vision eyeballs for not only being conducted she says, ‘Being the debut, we were at a massive level but also for being the not focusing on the commercial suc- first food truck event to offer pleth- cess but wanted all the visitors to have ora of fun and engaging activities. The a good time and have a one-of-a-kind fest had already been trending up ever experience and feel the difference”. since its inception and has become Delhi Food Truck Festival powered a buzzword in the culinary circles by India Gate Basmati Rice, was an ini- for showcasing the best of the Food tiative by VMS Events and Radio City Trucks! 91.1 and saw 18k people attending the History says the first food truck fest during both the days. festival was conducted in Los Ange- Be it Rain Dance to soothe every- les and post then, food truck festivals one amidst Delhi’s 42’c heat, or live have been happening in all parts of Performances by Jassie Gill and Babbal the world such as Chicago, New York, Rai on Baisakhi to Witlinger adding a Berlin etc. With the trend emerging in craft beer flavour to the food for bev- India, the Capital was expected to host erage connoisseurs, all fascinated the In the scorching summer, Delhiites witnessed a refreshing week when fragrant flowers a Big Show after being recently con- food aficionados and kept hem expect- were brought from Korea and was displayed by 15 Korean artists in an exhibition ducted in Bangalore and Bombay and ing for more fun at Delhi’s biggest Food named, ‘Floral Art & Lifestyle-II’ organized by Korean Cultural Centre India which DFTF 2017 left no stone unturned for Truck Festival. talked about ‘Wedding’ – the second chapter of Life.

New study to decode what makes Game of Thrones so popular

responses to the films of The Lord of the Rings and new set of dimensions has been added. Not just that then The Hobbit a few years back,” said Smith. “Some the book series is huge and unfinished. More, per- of us are currently researching the revived Star Wars haps, that this is such a doom-filled series, where the franchise. But ‘Game of Thrones’ is different, clearly,” moment you form affection for a character, s/he is she said. Over the past 25 years, many commentators likely to suffer horribly, and die,” she said. argue that ‘fantasy’ has changed beyond recognition, “Hanging over everything is the coming winter, with an increasing mixing of Science Fiction with fan- the threat from the North, the White Walkers, all tasy, published fantasy has also expanded and become set in a world that is not ours, yet in a hundred ways ever more complex. reminds many people of ours,” she said. “In film, we have seen the The questionnaire will huge expansions in technical be open until the end of the capacity to make ‘worlds’ upcoming Season Seven, that ooked to the fantasy world of the ‘Game look real,” said Smith. is set to premiere on July 16 this of Thrones’ TV series? Scientists have set The Lord of the Rings, year. Once the season ends in out to discover what makes the doom and Avatar, and The Hunger August, the team will death-ridden epic franchise so popular Games have transformed report on what Hamong viewers across the world. An international the public face of fantasy, it achieved team of researchers has devised a questionnaire for as well as in TV series with a sum- fans of the series to understand what it is about the like ‘The Vampire Dia- mary of the show that people love, and cannot let go, despite key ries’, ‘Outlander’, ‘Super- main find- characters being killed off each season, or what has natural’ and ‘True Blood’. ings. PTI even annoyed and upset them about the programme. “We’re seeing worlds The team will share what they learn once the that have steadily research is complete.“We’ve sensed that ‘Game of become more Thrones’ is significant, and important, a ‘game- present, and changer’, but we’re not yet sure how,” said Professor more varied,” Clarissa Smith from the University of Sunderland in said Smith. the UK. “All of us have been involved in previous audi- “With ‘Game ence projects, of different kinds. Some of us researched of Thrones’ a Although every possible care and caution has been taken to avoid errors or omissions, this publication is being sold on the condition and understanding that information given in this publication is merely for reference and must not be taken as having authority of or binding in any way on the writers, editors, publishers, and printers and sellers who do not owe any responsibility for any damage or loss to any person, a purchaser of this publication or not for the result of any action taken on the basis of this work. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent court and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only. “MILLENNIUM POST”, Published & printed by Durbar Ganguly on behalf of Front Row Media Pvt. Ltd. from 36/4, Prince Gulam Mohd. Shah Road, Kolkata - 700 033 & printed at Aajkaal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., BP-7, Sector-V, Bidhannagar, Kolkata - 700 091, Editor: Durbar Ganguly, Executive Editor: Arya Rudra, Resident Editor (Kolkata): Tarun Goswami. Email: [email protected], [email protected], Editorial and Marketing Office: Tivoli Court 1A, Ballygunge Circular Road, Block-A, Flat-94, 1st Floor, Kolkata-700 019. For marketing, contact: 9836292306, 9830532306. For editorial, call: 9836072100 city 3 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 20 April, 2017 mp Schoolteacher IN A SPOT AGAIN missing from New set: 22 more Monday found Kin of dead toddler ransack bike taxis launched dead in ground OUR CORRESPONDENT Apollo crying negligence KOLKATA: Mystery shrouds the death of a schoolteacher OUR CORRESPONDENT hours before a huge contingent onstration. The Incident turned whose body was found on a of police reached the spot and violent when the mob started playground near her house. KOLKATA: Family members brought the situation under ransacking a portion of the The incident occurred at of a four-month-old girl who control. Family members of hospital. Senior police officers Farakka in Murshidabad on died at Apollo Gleneagles Hos- the victim lodged a complaint rushed to the spot and pacified Wednesday morning. The inci- pital in Kolkata on Wednesday at Phoolbagan police station the mob. Following the ten- dent triggered tension among ransacked a portion of the hos- against the hospital authorities. sion, the hospital authorities the local residents. The family pital alleging negligence. The four-month-old baby, decided to close the main gate members of the woman regis- Meanwhile, the state Health Kuheli Chakraborty, a resident of the hospital. Minister Suvendu Adhikari flagged off the bike taxis on Wednesday tered a murder case in this con- department has ordered a of Thakurpukur area was taken The hospital authorities, nection so far. probe into the death of the to Joka ESI Hospital following however, said that the baby OUR CORRESPONDENT vate company – Radhashree The victim had been miss- toddler. The private hospital some ailments. She was shifted suffered a cardiac arrest after Road Stars Private Limited – ing from Monday evening. authorities also formed a three- to the Apollo Gleneagles Hos- she was administered anes- KOLKATA: The step to intro- launched the bike taxis. Police said that the victim, member committee to probe pital on April 17. It was learnt thetic drugs. She was put on duce 22 more bike taxis has The new company also has a teacher of a private school into the alleged negligence. The that the patient was bleeding ventilation but the patient faced been taken due to the success to follow the norms that the in Farakka had gone missing hospital authorities have, how- in her intestine. The doctors another cardiac arrest and she of Phase I of the pilot proj- state Transport department while returning home from ever, claimed that there was decided to conduct colonos- eventually died. There was no ect when similar service was has framed for bike taxis. For school. The other teachers apparently no medical negli- copy on the patient on Tues- negligence on the part of the introduced for Rajarhat and the first one kilometre, the fare of the school told the police gence and the infant had died day. The family members of the hospital, added the authorities. New Town, state Transport would be Rs 20 and Rs 5 for that she left for her house after following two cardiac arrests. victim alleged that she was not should be administered on the anesthetic drugs could have The doctors and nursing staff department minister, Suvendu each of the consecutive kilo- school got over. But she did not The incident triggered ten- given food on April 17 for con- patient for getting the test done. led to the patient’s death. Some members of the hospital tried Adhikari, said. metre. An app has also been return home. The family mem- sion among the patients and ducting colonoscopy. When the The colonoscopy was done on of the family members went their best, officials of the hospi- Adhikari flagged off the launched using which the bike bers of the victim also lodged a their relatives in the hospital as family members asked the hos- the patient by applying anes- to Phoolbagan police station tal said. A three-member com- bike taxis on Wednesday. Sujit taxis can be booked. missing diary in the local police a mob went on a rampage ran- pital authorities why the baby thetic drugs but soon after, the this morning and lodged a mittee has been constituted to Bose, MLA and Director of Since the first launch of the station as they did not find any sacking a portion of the hospi- was kept in empty stomach on family members on Wednes- complaint against the hospital probe into the incident follow- WBTC and Alapan Bandyo- bike taxis in Rajarhat and New trace of the victim. The victim’s tal. The incident had also left Monday for nearly 12 hours but day morning were told that the authorities. As the news of the ing the allegation of negligence. padhyay, Principal Secretary Town on March 16 till March family members searched for the staff members of the hospi- the test was not done that day, baby has died. baby’s death spread, the rela- The state Health department of Transport Department, were 31, around 6,000 downloads the woman in the locality and tal anxious. The agitation con- the hospital authorities told The family memberstives and neighbours reached is also carrying out a separate also present in the programme. have been recorded and a total also called up some of the rela- tinued for nearly one-and-half them that the anesthetic drug alleged that an overdose of the hospital and staged dem- probe in this regard. This time, another pri- 623 people have taken the rides. tives but failed to get any trace of the victim. Some of the local residents Bengal received on Wednesday morning found Come June, rural electrification project to be complete in state the body lying on a ground. benefits of After being informed, police OUR CORRESPONDENT other states. tion work in Bengal was quite slow in reached the spot and recov- It may also be mentioned that comparison to the other states in the many Central ered the body of the victim and KOLKATA: Soon, Bengal will be Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, after country but Banerjee government has sent the body for post-mortem among the first few states to com- coming to the power, had asked the done a major revamp in infrastructure schemes: Irani examination. plete the rural electrification project power department to provide elec- development. According to the police the successfully. tricity to the entire Sunderbans area In some parts, people opposed OUR CORRESPONDENT lady’s dupatta was wrapped Come June and the project will through power grid. Banerjee had the setting up of electric poles but around her neck which sug- witness completion with state Power taken a pledge to electrify each and the issue has now been resolved KOLKATA: The Bengal gov- gests that the she might have minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay every village across the state. The state through continuous dialogue and ernment has received the ben- been strangulated to death. laying emphasis that the rural electri- government is trying hard to resolve interaction. The officials of the state efits of many Central schemes, Police are also investigating fication work is all set to be complete the issues with the involvement of power department are, however, try- Union Textile minister Smriti if the woman was tortured as soon as infrastructure in four vil- local panchayat functionaries and the ing to solve the issue by talking to Irani said in the city on before being murdered. As per lages of Sunderban area gets over. This zilla parishads. those who have expressed their reluc- Wednesday. the preliminary investigation, apart, the electrification work is more parts as many villagers were reluctant however, claim that Bengal is the first According to West Bengal State tance to get an electricity connection police suspect that the teacher or less complete throughout the state. to get an electricity connection due state to complete the rural electrifi- Electricity Distribution Company done due to financial reasons. The She urged them to was murdered. The crime had “Infrastructural works have been to financial constraints. Despite the cation work. It may be mentioned Limited (WBSEDCL), state’s nodal department is also trying to amicably taken place somewhere else going on in four islands. The work is challenges, the state government will that the Centre had also applauded distribution agency, the total num- resolve various issues by engaging the go to the people and miscreants dumped her expected to be completed by the end achieve 100 percent electricity cover- the state government for perform- ber of subscribers has gone up to 1.72 panchayat functionaries. The district and strengthen body on the playground after of June this year. The Power depart- age by June,” Chattopadhyay added. ing exceedingly well in the rural elec- crore from around 88 lakh in 2011. A administrations were also approached murdering her. ment has been facing hurdles in some Senior Power department officials, trification work in comparison to few years ago, the pace of electrifica- in this regard. the organisational base of the party Bio-lab to come up She alleged that the HIDCO allots 139 EWS Stop individual counselling of state government had not informed people about the at Abash to promote various schemes provided flats through lottery by the Centre. “The benefits medical students, Centre to MCI which people are getting are OUR CORRESPONDENT organic farming all schemes of the Centre,” she The lottery was held at PRADIP CHATTERJEE in the admission of candi- It was learnt that various said. She urged party workers KOLKATA: The Housing Infra- Netaji Indoor Stadium OUR CORRESPONDENT dates in the private medical private medical colleges may to go to the people and inform structure Development Corporation KOLKATA: The Centre seats. It is often alleged that pursue legal suit challenging them about the schemes. She (HIDCO) on Wednesday allotted on Wednesday KOLKATA: The state government has decided has instructed the Medical the private medical colleges the decision of the Centre as held a meeting with party around 139 Economically Weaker Sec- afternoon for the flats to set up a bio-laboratory at Abash in West Mid- Council of India (MCI) to take huge capitation fees from the claimed that they have the workers on Wednesday morn- tion (EWS) flats to people through lot- napore at a cost of more than Rs 1 crore to pro- stop individual counseling of the candidates. right to conduct their exam- ing. She urged them to go to tery in which around 5,000 applicants that are coming up at mote organic farming. medical students by the pri- In Bengal, for filling up ination filling up the medi- the people and strengthen participated. New Town. HIDCO The decision to set up the laboratory has vate hospitals throughout the the government-owned seats, cal seats. the organisational base of The lottery was held at Netaji been taken considering that the western region country. private medical colleges used The Universities, Deemed the party. Indoor Stadium on Wednesday after- will return the money of the state has immense potential in growing It has asked the highest to admit candidates on the Universities, Private & It may be mentioned that noon for the flats that are coming up to the unsuccessful organic crops. regulating body to fill up the basis of the recommendation Minority Medical Colleges around 20 BJP leaders have at New Town. HIDCO will return the All sorts of tests that are necessary for organic undergraduate medical seats by the state government but have claimed their right to visited Bengal in the past 10 money to the unsuccessful applicants applicants within farming can be undertaken in the proposed bio- in the private medical colleges for their own seats the pri- prepare their own merit days. Each and every leader within a month. Around 20 people a month laboratory. Preliminary tasks needed to set up through central counseling vate medical colleges in the list as per IMC amendment has asked the state unit to have been kept in the waiting list. After the lab have already been undertaken and the that would be conducted by state used to conduct their Act, 2016. strengthen the organisational allotment, HIDCO authorities will Minister Mamata Banerjee abolished work to set it up will start begin. the respective state govern- own examination. It may be pointed out base of the party. The state now examine the documents submit- the chairman’s quota in allotting the This comes at the time when the state agri- ments on the basis of the merit The state government that CMC Vellore has unit had miserably failed to ted by the allottees. Senior HIDCO plots. There are allegations of nepo- culture department has taken several measures list prepared by the Central hardly had any control already announced their organise party workers in officials felt that the yearly income of tism against the erstwhile Left Front to ensure increase in organic farming. Board of Secondary Educa- over the admission of can- admission tests among the the past two years. The party some of the allottees may be more than government in allotting plots of land. Simultaneously, the state government has tion (CBSE) on the basis of didates in the private medi- candidates who will qualify could not meet those who the stipulated amount and in that case The then Housing minister, Gautam allotted around 25 acre of land to the Centre to the National Eligibility cum cal seats. the NEET. Many other uni- took membership by sending their allotment will be scrapped. It is Deb, distributed the plots among peo- set up a dedicated groundnut research station at Entrance Test (NEET). But from this year, the rule versities and private medi- SMS two years ago. because of this that 20 people have ple known to him without publishing Abash in West Midnapore. Earlier, the private medi- is going to change as the Cen- cal colleges have decided not However, steps have now been kept in the waiting list. advertisements in newspapers. Baner- There is one such research station in Jaun- cal colleges across the coun- tre has asked the MCI to issue to join the central counsel- been taken to organiSe party To make the lottery transparent, jee made Debashis Sen, an IAS officer pur and the second of its kind is coming up try used to fill up the private clear instructions to the pri- ling and will make their own meeting up to the block level women applicants and senior citizens as the chairman of HIDCO, the post in Bengal. Research related to groundnut medical seats through the vate medical colleges to admit merit list. as the party is gearing for the have been asked to select the names which is usually reserved for political cultivation across the country would be car- counseling conducted by the candidates in private seats on Till last year, all the states panchayat election scheduled through lottery. The names of the personalities. ried out in the station that would come up in private medical colleges on the basis of the central coun- used to conduct their own to be held in 2018. The recent applicants were kept in one box and There was a lot of enthusiasm West Midnapore. their own. Most of these med- seling carried out by the entrance examination but success of the party in Kanthi the application numbers were kept among the applicants as a result of But the eastern and north eastern states ical colleges used to hold their respective state governments. from this year all the medi- south by-election has given in another. They were asked to take which HIDCO had to host the lottery would get additional benefit with the setting up own examinations to admit It may be mentioned cal colleges in the country be moral boost to party leaders out two chit papers, one each from at Netaji Indoor Stadium. The appli- of the research station in Bengal. candidates in those private that from this year all the it government or private has and workers. the two boxes. Earlier, HIDCO had cants did not complain of any nepo- It has also been learnt that the state govern- medical seats. admissions would be done to admit candidates on the Irani said the state govern- allotted EWS flats to the land losers of tism as the lottery took place in their ment has also proposed to the Jindals to take up It may be mentioned here on the basis of the NEET basis of the merit list prepared ment had failed to stop atroci- New Town. presence and names of the allottees a project of agriculture farming in their plot at that there were allegations of which would be conducted by by the CBSE on the basis of ties against women which was After coming to power, Chief were put up outside the stadium. Salboni in West Midnapore. irregularities and nepotism the CBSE. the NEET. on the rise. Trinamool, GJM announce Govt to organise Civil Service Day on candidates for civic polls April 21 at Uttirnya, CM’s dream project AMITAVA BANERJEE insiders state that the TMC list state government with their for Darjeeling could be made bases in Kalimpong could PRITESH BASU REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE who are mainly posted in the city and DARJEELING: With April 24 public on Thursday. work in favour of the TMC feel its adjacent places will be taking part being the last date of filing of Incidentally, the Hills will observers. Having entered into KOLKATA: For the first time, the state in the programme. “It is expected that nomination for the Hill munic- be witnessing a triangular fight a coalition with the GNLF will government has decided to organise around 700 officials will be present in ipal polls, political camps are during this Municipal election emerge as an added advantage Civil Service Day that will be attended the programme,” an official said add- busy announcing names of their with the major players being with the GNLF having a dedi- by around 700 senior officials. ing that some senior officials will also candidates. Trinamool Congress the TMC-GNLF coalition, cated support base in the Hills. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee be addressing the gathering. and the Gorkha Janmukti Mor- GJM and the JAP. Kalimpong is The upgradation of Mirik will be addressing the programme that He further said that since the pro- cha made parts of their candi- expected to witness a very close from a block to a sub division has been organised with focus on “role gramme is of only of one-and-a-half date list public on Wednesday. contest with different forces and will act to the advantage of the of civil service in nation building”. hours or so, officials from the districts Filing of nominations had com- issues at play. TMC-GNLF combine opine The programme will be held on are not going to be a part of it. menced from Tuesday. With the recent upgrada- observers. “We will fight for April 21 in the newly-constructed open All ministers have also been invited Darjeeling with 32 munici- tion of Kalimpong into a dis- civic amenities including good air stage – Uttirnya – at Alipore which to be present in the programme which is pal wards; Kurseong with 20, trict from a sub-division, a long roads, drinking water, proper will also be inaugurated by the Chief being organised by the state Personnel, Mirik with 9 wards and Kalim- standing demand of the peo- sewerage system as this is a Minister on the same day. Administrative Reforms and E-Gover- pong with 23 wards will be ple of Kalimpong, the TMC is municipal election. We will fight According to the sources in the state nance department. going to polls on May 14. expected to reap benefits. Even for development, democracy secretariat, Centre’s Department of Per- The Public Works Department, “We have announced the the Jan Andolan Party claims and good governance” stated sonnel and Training had sent letters to that constructed the open-air stage, is names of 10 candidates for credit for the creation of the Aroop Biswas, TMC observer all the state governments and union ter- providing the logistic support for the the Kalimpong Municipality. Kalimpong district as JAP for Darjeeling and Kalimpong. ritories for the past few years requesting officials of the West Bengal Civil Ser- Administrative officials of joint sec- programme that will start at 6 pm on Names of the remaining can- had metamorphosed from the However the GJM is a strong them to organise the programme in the vice, Indian Administrative Service and retary rank and above and police offi- Friday. Uttirnya is a state-of-the-art didates for Kalimpong, Darjeel- Kalimpong District Demand force to reckon with. All the pre- state headquarters. Indian Police Service. Some officials of cers of deputy commissioner rank and open-air stage with the capacity to ing, Kurseong and Mirik will Committee (KDDC). vious boards of the Hill Munici- This is for the first time when the the Indian Revenue Service and Com- above will be attending the programme. accommodate 1,968 people at a time be announced soon,” stated N The 15 development and palities were under the sway of state government decided to hold a mercial Tax Service will also be attend- Since the programme will be spanning and it is one of the dream projects of B Khawas, TMC leader. Party culture boards created by the the GJM. programme that will be attended by ing the programme. around one-and-a-half hours, officials the Chief Minister. 4 city mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 20 April, 2017

New police AT ESPLANADE commissionerate Sector V awaits facelift, to be set up in Stalls, shops get KMC notice for Hooghly district using industrial ice to cool liquids work on in full swing OUR CORRESPONDENT OUR CORRESPONDENT tendency to take them. Hun- KOLKATA: The state gov- dreds of people visiting Espla- DEBAMOY GHOSH ernment is planning to set up KOLKATA: Wish to enjoy a nade and its neighbourhood a police commissionerate in glass of chilled juice or lassi in areas take cold lassi and fruit KOLKATA: State Urban Hooghly district. If everything this heat? Think again. juice every day. “So we have Development minister Firhad goes according to plans, the Several shops in Esplanade to be careful and such drives Hakim said several develop- new police commissionerate area were raided and indus- would be conducted in the ment projects and decisions will be named Chandannagar trial ice seized by the Kolkata future too to ensure that indus- have been taken to give a face- Police Commissionerate. Municipal Corporation (KMC) trial ice is not used to cool the lift to Sector V, the first infor- This will be the sixth police on Wednesday. These are the ing lassi and fruit juice in areas liquid,” Ghosh added. mation technology hub in commissionerate in Bengal shops from where scores drink surrounding Esplanade. It was The KMC is also conduct- Bengal. after the change-of-guard in everyday to quench their thirst. found that the owners had been ing drives to stop selling of cut The Urban Development the state after Howrah, Bidhan- And now, it has come to light using industrial ice to cool the fruits in the city. Though the department has already started nagar, Barrackpore, Asansol- that the ice which is used is the liquid, which is a strict no-no civic authorities have warned work to implement those proj- Durgapur and Siliguri police same one that is used in mor- according to regulations. people not to eat cut fruits that ects at the earliest. commissionerates. tuaries to preserve dead bodies. Atin Ghosh said the ice are kept in the open, people do An exclusive gate for Sector As many as nine police sta- Notices have been served blocks which were found in not listen to the warning and V, a new administrative build- tions including Bhadreswar, against the owners of those the shops had been seized and continue to take them. Drives ing, a fresh property tax struc- Rishra, Serampore, Chinsura, shops. A shop on Mirza destroyed. He said for quite against coloured drinks, that ture for plot holders, Mastiff Dankuni and two women Ghalib Street that used to sup- some time KMC had been is, locally made serbats are also Asphalt layer in road surface police stations will be under ply industrial ice has also been receiving complaints that some being conducted. The bottles are examples of the projects the police commissionerate. served notice. The KMC is shop owners were using indus- containing coloured drinks are that would be done in near The remaining 17, including all set to take the legal course trial ice to cool lassi and fruit sent to the laboratory for tests future. a woman police station, will against them. juices. There are over 50 stalls and non-permissive colours Nabadiganta Industrial remain under the jurisdiction Acting on a tip off, a KMC and another 50 handcarts in have been used. In such cases, Township Authority (NDITA), of the state police that will be team led by Atin Ghosh, mem- Esplanade area selling these the bottles are destroyed and the implementing agency for headed by the Superintendent ber, Mayor in Council (health) items in summer. Because of cases are being initiated against the developments in Sector of Police. visited around 16-17 shops sell- excessive heat, people have a the shop owners. V, has planned them in their According to sources in the recent board meetings. state Home department, the While informing the proposal was mooted to ensure Youth drowns upcoming development works, better policing in the area and Fire in restro near state Urban Development min- the bifurcation has been done ister Firhad Hakim said: “We While informing the upcoming development works, state in such a manner that all the in river, rescue do not want to repeat the mis- Urban Development minister Firhad Hakim said: “We do police stations under the juris- Jadavpur 8B bus takes that had been done by diction of the proposed police the erstwhile Left Front gov- not want to repeat the mistakes that had been done by commissionerate are along the operations on ernment 30 years back. The the erstwhile Left Front government 30 years back. The river Hooghly. infrastructure of this tech-sec- According to plans, the stand kills one OUR CORRESPONDENT tor was so poor that techies infrastructure of this tech-sector was so poor that headquarters of the police had decided to shift from here techies had decided to shift from here to other states. It commissionerate will be Chin- KOLKATA: A youth drowned to other states. It was really sura while the headquarters of in River Hooghly on Wednes- unfortunate.” was really unfortunate” the Hooghly rural part will be day but the police divers could He further added: “The new Singur. not find his body till Wednes- ‘Sector V Gate’ will soon come ment Authority (KMDA) will by Mastiff Asphalt,” said the tor VI at Bantala, the state It may be mentioned that day night but the efforts con- up as the identity of this tech- set up the new administrative minister. government is trying to soon after the change-of- tinued throughout the night sector. People will identify this building for NDITA behind Indian Institute of Technol- develop a smooth connectiv- guard in the state; Chief Min- to rescue the body. information technology hub by Swasthya Bhawan, the officer ogy Kharagpur had conducted ity between two information ister Mamata Banerjee had Rahul Bhattacharya, an that gate.” added. indepth research for coming technology hubs. taken steps to set up separate 18-year-old youth had gone On this issue, a senior state “Like New Town, Sector V up with a comprehensive mas- “Jadavpur University police commissionerates in for a bath in the river after a government officer informed will also have separate cycle ter plan on Sector V’s traffic experts are working on the urban parts of the districts. football match in his local- that the gate will likely be tracks. Most of the places in management. construction of the road. It will At the same time, the ity. Police learnt that he located at the backside of Sec- Sector V will have wi-fi con- However, with the deci- take much less time to reach area that was under the juris- OUR CORRESPONDENT spotted smoke billowing out slipped while taking a bath tor V near the large waterbody. nectivity, LED streetlights and sion to set up a 7.5 km link from one sector to other,” the diction of Kolkata Police was of the restaurant situated close and drowned in the river. His Kolkata Metropolitan Develop- roads surface will be covered road from Sector V to Sec- minister said. also doubled. KOLKATA: One person was to the KPC Medical College friend tried to rescue him but killed and two others injured and Hospital this morning. in vain. in a fire that broke out at a res- When the local people rushed Bhattacharya, a Class XII taurant near Jadavpur 8B bus to the spot they found that a student was a resident of ‘All the eggs are Shyam Sundar Co and Jewellers stand on Wednesday morning. fire engulfed the restaurant. Salkia. His family informed Police and fire officials sus- Three workers of the restau- that the youth was playing pect that the fire might have rant suffered burnt injuries. football in a nearby field with goes traditional in new collection broke out after a gas cylinder Police rushed the injured to the his friend. normal’, say tests stocked inside the restaurant KPC Medical College and Hos- “All the 5-6 youth had OUR CORRESPONDENT exploded. As the fire took place pital where one was declared gone for a bath in a ghat adja- OUR CORRESPONDENT fatty acid estimation of the egg at a busy area, there was a ten- brought dead. The victim has cent to a local temple. Bhat- and total protein and quantifi- KOLKATA: Shyam Sundar sion among the local residents. been identified as Nanda Bera. tacharya drowned during KOLKATA: After carrying out cation of albumin were being Co Jewellers have brought out Many curious people started The condition of two others was the high tide,” said a family necessary tests, the West Ben- carried out. an exclusive line of designer gathering near the spot of the stated to be critical. The doctors member. gal University of Animal and The tests revealed that “all gold jewellery collection named incident. The local residents said that the two others received “Another youth, a friend Fishery Sciences confirmed the eggs were normal in bio- Bandish aur Raagdari owing its tried to take part in the res- burn injuries on their body. of Bhattacharya had also that there was “no existence of logical origin and there is no roots to the signature style of cue operation but they faced Police and fire officials have drowned in the river but any plastic egg and were nor- existence of any plastic egg in the Indian gharanas. problems as smoke engulfed started a probe in this connec- the divers managed to res- mal in biological origin”. the seized samples”. The specially-crafted the area. tion. They are examining if cue him. We are expecting It may be recalled that on At the same time, sensory designer gold and diamond The matter was informed the restaurant had proper fire that the divers will find the March 30 there was a com- evaluations were also being ornaments are real glowing for Shyam Sundar Co Jewellers. the exclusive designs that have to the fire brigade department. license or not. The fire officials drowned youth as well,” he plaint of “plastic eggs” being conducted on fried and boiled tributes to our good old ghara- Speaking on the occasion, been made keeping in mind our Two fire tenders rushed to the are checking whether proper added. sold in different markets of the eggs. Tests confirmed “the orig- nas and signature styles of expo- Rupak Saha, Director, Shyam rich culture and the intricacies spot to douse the flame and firefighting equipment were The disaster management state. Subsequently, steps were inality of the eggs and its bio- nents of the day. The brand’s Sundar Co Jewellers said: “I of traditional jewellery in the they took nearly an hour to installed at the restaurant or force later came to help the taken to undertake necessary logical character. Moreover, latest campaign of Bandish aur welcome you all to the launch most affordable and contem- bring the situation under con- not. The cause of the fire and police divers, but they were tests to ascertain the genuinity DNA test was conducted using Raagdari was shot at heritage of our new collection inspired porary styles and designs. There trol. The police cordoned off the the extent of the damage are also unable to find the youth. of the complaint. PCR technique to identify the locations of Benaras, Lucknow from Bandish and Raagdari. could not have been anybody entire area, however, this led to yet to be ascertained by the Fire “I think the youth did The Kolkata Municipal origin of the eggs by chicken and Bishnupur with Kaushiki The new exclusive collection other than Kaushiki to show- a huge traffic jam prompting department. Police are investi- not know swimming but Corporation had collected specific primer. It revealed Chakraborty who is not just eulogises our traditional gha- case this line who is herself an the police to divert Jadavpur- gating if it was as accident or his friend had insisted him samples of 38 eggs from dif- that all the examined eggs are the Brand Amassador but also ranas and it gives us great plea- embodiment of gharana music bound traffic. there was any foul play behind to go for a bath,” said a ferent markets and the Animal of hens in origin. There was the face of the latest campaign sure to present before you all and classical tradition.” Local people said that they the incident. local resident. Resource Development depart- a strong rumour that “plastic ment had sent the samples to eggs” were being sold at differ- the West Bengal University of ent markets and it led to panic Swabujdwip: Bengal’s latest eco-tourism hotspot Animal and Fishery Sciences. among people. Local civic Soon, TET notification Scientists conducted tests bodies had carried out raids OUR CORRESPONDENT these places of natural beauty. Tourism department began to in the Laboratory of Faculty in markets and samples were Many packages were made for work on a draft plan follow- of Veterinary and Animal Sci- checked and sent for neces- KOLKATA: Imagine walking enthusiastic tourists. ing the instruction from the to be out following ences for three consecutive sary tests. Finally, it came to alongside a ‘sal’ forest and the “In Bankura, Swabujdwip CMO. The proposal has been days from March 31. Around an end with the statement of gushing Kanshabati river while is one of the popular tourist prepared and senior officials 22 tests including examination Chief Minister Mamata Baner- on a short trip not very far away spots at Raipur block. The river of the department will exam- of internal quality of the egg jee when she said that there was from Kolkata. Kanshabati has bi-furcated in ine it before sending it to Chief NCTE rules: Partha yolk, molecular weight of albu- no problem with the eggs pro- To all travellers’ delight, a place here and reunites again Minister Mamata Banerjee for min by page electrophoresis, duced in Bengal. Bankura district adminis- after going some distance. The consideration. OUR CORRESPONDENT However, the government tration is all set to promote island in between two bi-fur- It may be recalled that the recruited around 43,000 can- Swabujdwip. The eco-tourism cated streams is known as Chief Minister had announced KOLKATA: State Education didates as teachers of primary there has gathered huge pop- Swabujdwip,” said an officer of to promote tourism in these minister Partha Chatterjee on schools recently. The Education ularity among those who visit the district administration. sectors during her district Wednesday said that the gov- department source informed Bankura. The area, surrounded people tend to go to those “Spending time on the shore visit to Bankura. She had par- ernment will soon issue noti- that around 12,000 more aspi- by ‘sal forest’ on one side and places more and more. Most of the river, going for fishing are ticularly mentioned the areas fications for Teacher Eligibility rants will get jobs through the a stream of Kanshabati on the of them are not eager to go out the most popular attractions around Susunia hills to be Test (TET) for the recruitment upcoming TET. But the min- other, is also near to Mukut- of state in short trips and pre- for the tourists. This is one of promoted. of primary school teachers. The ister, however, did not inform manipur and Jhilimili — two fer nearby areas,” said a tourism the best eco-tourisms in this “An interesting thing is that minister has instructed West about the number of vacancies. famous tourist destinations. department source. region,” the officer added. this river will never dry up. We Bengal Board of Primary Edu- “I will not make any pre- Susunia hills are also close to The Bengal government The state government has have arranged CCTV surveil- cation to issue the notification. mature comment. I have to the area. and West Bengal Tourism framed an adventure tour- lance in the area so that no Talking to Millennium Post, see the remaining vacancies in “The mindset of Bengali Development Corporation ism policy in some areas of tourists feel unsafe here,” said Chatterjee said: “The notifica- schools across the state,” the tourists has changed now as took several steps to promote Bankura and Purulia. The state Raipur BDO Dipankar Das. tion will soon come out for minister said, adding that: “The TET. This time we will follow process of recruitment through the guidelines of the National TET is very transparent. Unlike Council for Teacher Educa- recruitment process during the Eastern Railway celebrates ‘World Heritage Day’ tion (NCTE). We had a relax- CPI(M) regime, we have main- ation on NCTE guideline till tained transparency.” OUR CORRESPONDENT preserved to demonstrate the rich heritage March this year. But this is a There are some candidates of the rail system. fresh examination and the can- who had gone to the court and KOLKATA: Eastern Railway celebrated It is stated that The Hall of Heritage didates should have required filed cases against state gov- ‘World Heritage Day’ at Regional Rail has a collection of rare photographs and B.Ed training to sit for the ernment claiming malpractice Museum, Howrah, on Tuesday. glimpses of rich history of East Indian examination.” in the recruitment process. There was a debate competition where Railway and the Howrah station building. It may be mentioned, “Those students have realised school students participated and cultural It is housed in a building which is the rep- that the National Council for their mistakes and have with- programmes were held to highlight the lica of Howrah station building. The San- Teacher Education (NCTE) drawn the cases,” the minis- history and heritage of Indian Railways in skriti Express which travelled throughout made a guideline for every ter said. general and Eastern Railway in particular. India to celebrate 150th birth anniver- state to recruit primary teach- It may be recalled that the Moreover, joy rides for school students was way, Eastern Railway, East Central Railway, sary of Kaviguru Rabindranath Tagore has ers. But NCTE had given some state government has success- also organised as part of the programme. East Coast Railway, South Eastern Railway, now been preserved at the Regional Rail relaxation to Bengal during fully completed recruitment Speaking on the occasion, S N Agrawal, Northeast Frontier Railway, Chittaranjan Museum for the visitors. the recruitment process last of primary teachers through General Manager, Eastern & South Eastern Locomotive Works and Metro Railway, The first ac electric locomotive which year. Necessary training for TET recently. Earlier, the gov- Railway said that Regional Rail Museum, Kolkata. He further said that 150-year- dates back to 1960, hauled different pres- the examination was also not ernment could not publish the Howrah, is one of the pride of Eastern Rail- old steam locos, carriages, saloon cars are tigious trains including Howrah — Delhi mandatory for the candidates. result for some legal issues. way. The museum displays history of East- preserved to evaluate the gradual evolu- Kalka Mail, Coalfield Express, Black Dia- It was also not mandatory for But Calcutta high court had ern Railway as a whole, Howrah station tion that led to progress in different fields. mond Express, Deluxe Express (now, the candidates to have 50 per directed the state government and Railways in Eastern India. It also puts Century-old drawings, forms, documents, rechristened as Poorva Express) has been cent marks in Higher Second- to publish the pending result in up pictorial history of East Indian Rail- fascinating collection of philately are also preserved in the Museum. ary examination. the middle of last year. 5 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 20 April, 2017 mp nation Investigating agencies doing best China ‘standardises’ names to bring back Mallya: Jaitley for 6 places in Arunachal MPOST BUREAU FM may take NEW DELHI: Finance Min- BEIJING: China on Wednesday ister Arun Jaitley on Wednes- up H-1B visa announced that it has "standardised" China’s provocative day said investigative agencies official names for six places in Arunachal move comes just days are doing their best to ensure issue with US Pradesh and termed the provocative extradition of controversial move as "legitimate", days after it lodged after the Dalai Lama’s businessman Vijay Mallya, who strong protests with India over the Dalai visit to Arunachal was arrested in London yester- authorities Lama's visit to the frontier state. day and later released on bail. The state media here said the move Pradesh, which was “I think the government MPOST BUREAU was aimed at reaffirming China's claim the seventh since the and all the investigating agen- over Arunachal Pradesh. China claims cies are certainly putting (in) NEW DELHI: Finance Minis- the state as 'South Tibet'. 81-year-old spiritual their best efforts because the ter Arun Jaitley on Wednesday "China's Ministry of Civil Affairs leader fled from Tibet agencies do believe that an Indian courts in connection indicated that he would take announced on April 14 that it had stan- offence has been committed with loan default cases. up the visa issue with the US dardised in Chinese characters, Tibetan through Tawang and for which the person (Mallya) Mallya, whose now-defunct authorities during his visit to and Roman alphabet the names of six sought refuge in India is required in India,” the min- Kingfisher Airlines owes more America. places in 'South Tibet', which India calls ister told reporters here. than Rs 9,000 crore to various "These (IT industry issues) 'Arunachal Pradesh', in accordance with Standardising the names from the The minister further said banks, had left India on March are matters of discussion with the regulations of the central govern- angles of culture and geography could Mallya’s extradition is part of 2, 2016. the appropriate authorities ment," state-run Global Times reported serve as a reference or leverage when the “judicial process” in the The Indian government has there. Once I do discuss and on Wednesday. Arunachal Pradesh as South Tibet, firm the country's territorial sovereignty China and India negotiate border issues UK. “It’s part of the judicial since revoked his Indian pass- get an opportunity, I will let The official names of the six India asserts that the dispute covers to the disputed region", according to in future, Guo said. process in that country and the port, but he has repeatedly dis- you know," he told reporters places using the Roman alphabet are Aksai Chin area which was occupied the daily. "The standardisation came "The South Tibet region is located judicial process functions on missed all charges against him. when asked whether he would Wo'gyainling, Mila Ri, Qoidengarbo Ri, by China during the 1962 war. amid China's growing understanding alongside China's southwestern border certain considerations,” he said In January, an Indian court take up the concerns of the Mainquka, Bumo La and Namkapub Ri. The two sides have so far held 19 and recognition of the geography in and India's north-eastern border where in response to queries regard- ordered a consortium of lend- Indian IT sector with the US Standardisation of Chinese names rounds of Special Representatives talks South Tibet. Sino-Indian border disputes are can- ing Mallya’s extradition. Mal- ers to start the process of recov- administration. The Indian IT to six places in Arunachal Pradesh is to resolve the boundary dispute. Naming the places is a step to reaf- tered," the report said. lya, who has been declared a ering the loans. industry has expressed serious a "legitimate" action, Foreign Ministry China's move comes just days after firm China's territorial sovereignty to It claimed that India "abruptly proclaimed offender by Indian India had placed a formal concerns over the US govern- Spokesperson Lu Kang said at a briefing. the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal South Tibet," Xiong Kunxin, a professor announced that it was officially desig- courts, was arrested in London extradition request for Mallya ment moving towards tighten- The Dalai Lama's activities are Pradesh, which was seventh since the of ethnic studies at Beijing's Minzu Uni- nating the region as 'Arunachal Pradesh' by the Scotland Yard yesterday as per the Extradition Treaty ing the rules for grant of H-1B against Indian government's commit- 81-year-old spiritual leader fled from versity of China, was quoted as saying. but the Chinese government has nei- on India’s request for his extra- between India and the UK visa, mainly used by domes- ment to China, he said. Tibet through Tawang and sought ref- Xiong said that the legalisation of ther recognised India's occupation of dition on fraud charges. through a note verbale on Feb- tic IT professionals for short- Asked about the timing of the uge in India. During the Dalai Lama's the regions' names is a part of the rule the region, nor the legitimacy of the He was, however, released ruary 8. term work. announcement, he said China is now Arunachal Pradesh visit, China had of law. province". During the Dalai Lama on bail a few hours later on Earlier in January this year, Jaitley is leaving on doing a second census of names of local- warned India that it will take "neces- "These names have existed since Arunachal Pradesh visit, Union Min- a bail bond worth 6,50,000 a CBI court had issued a non- Wednesday night on a five- ities and an important part of it is to sary measures" to defend its territorial ancient times, but had never been stan- ister of State for Home Affairs Kiren pound. He is required to appear bailable warrant against Mal- day visit to the United States standardise names in ethnic language. sovereignty and interests. dardised before. Therefore, announcing Rijiju, who accompanied the Tibetan at Westminster Magistrates’ lya in the Rs 720-crore IDBI to attend the Spring Meet- The India-China border dispute cov- Commenting on the standardisa- the names is like a remediation," Guo spiritual leader, had asserted that that Court on May 17. Bank loan default case. He is ings of the World Bank and ers the 3,488 km-long Line of Actual tion of the names of six places, Chinese Kefan, a research fellow at the Tibet Arunachal Pradesh is "an inseparable The 61-year-old liquor the owner of a Formula One IMF as well as deliberations of Control (LAC). While China claims experts said that it was a move to "reaf- Academy of Social Sciences, said. part of India". AGENCIES baron has to face charges in team. G20 nations. No assurance that Virbhadra Guj HC notice Jadhav case: India summons Pak to Centre, state won't be arrested: ED to HC deputy high commissioner on plea against MPOST BUREAU due to an October 1, 2015 order MPOST BUREAU OBC list of the Himachal Pradesh High HC says govt taking steps to NEW DELHI: The Enforce- Court restraining the CBI from NEW DELHI: India on ment Directorate (ED) on arresting, interrogating and fil- Wednesday summoned the OUR CORRESPONDENT Wednesday refused to give any ing the charge sheet against the Pakistan deputy high commis- secure Jadhav's life & release assurance in the Delhi High accused. sioner on the issue of death AHMEDABAD: The Guja- Court that it will not arrest ED had earlier termed as penalty being given to Kulb- NEW DELHI: The Delhi High ment) are best placed to take the rat High Court on Wednesday Himachal Pradesh CM Virb- "premature" Singh's plea for hushan Jadhav by a military Court on Wednesday said it decisions, as also all appropriate sought the stands of the Union hadra Singh when he appears quashing of the money laun- court there and made a fresh would not interfere with the steps to safeguard the life and and the state governments on before it tomorrow to record dering proceedings. It had demand for consular access to but we cannot do it unless process relating to the release of liberty of the citizens of this a plea seeking cancellation of a his statement. said the plea seeking stay on the retired Indian navy officer. we have the details of charges death row convict Kulbhushan country. In view of the above, 1994 official resolution which The Himachal Pradesh the proceedings was "not main- Pakistan’s Deputy High and a copy of verdict. So, my Jadhav from a Pakistani jail, as as the concerns raised in peti- had inducted people of 39 Chief Minister has been sum- tainable" as the inquiry into Commissioner Syed Haidar demand was that the details of the government was taking all tion are being addressed by the castes into the OBC list. moned by the ED to appear the matter was in a prelimi- Shah was called by the external the charge sheet and a copy of steps to safeguard his life. respondent, no intervention by The plea by BJP corpora- before it tomorrow for record- agency comes in the wake of nary stage. affairs ministry which reiter- the verdict be provided to us,” The Pakistan army chief had us in the matter is called for," tor Ajmal Thakor of Visnagar ing his statement in a money- the charge sheet filed by CBI ED had in 2015 lodged the ated that Jadhav was innocent Bambawale had said after the on April 10 confirmed the death the bench said. The high court Nagarpalika in Mehsana dis- laundering case against him, against Singh and his wife in a case against Singh and others and false charges were framed meeting. sentence awarded to Jadhav, a accepted the stand of Additional trict also sought a fresh sur- his wife Pratibha Singh and disproportionate assets (DA) under Prevention of Money against him, according to Expressing disappointment former Naval officer, by a Paki- Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay vey to identify other backward others. case. Laundering Act (PMLA) after sources. over Pakistan turning down stani military court after he was Jain that the Union of India was communities and create a new The submission was made CBI had filed the charge taking cognisance of a crimi- Shah’s summoning comes India’s request for consular convicted of "espionage". making every possible endeav- list of the Other Backward before Justice R K Gauba by sheet hours after the Delhi nal complaint filed by CBI in five days after Indian envoy access to Jadhav, the Indian A bench of Acting Chief Jus- our with urgency to get Jad- Class. the ED during the hearing of High Court on March 31 had this regard. CBI had lodged a Gautam Bambawale had met envoy had also said, “They have tice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu hav back. The division bench of Chief Singh's plea for quashing of the refused to quash the FIR lodged separate disproportionate the Pakistan foreign secretary denied our request for consular Malhotra observed that at a time "We find no reason to Justice R Subhash Reddy and money-laundering proceed- against Singh in the DA case. assets case against Singh and and sought a certified copy of access 13 times (in the last one when the entire energies of the disbelieve the submission Justice V M Pancholi issued ings against him. The high court, which rub- others alleging that he and his the charge sheet and the army year). government are required to be made by ASG when he informs notices to the Union and the The court was hearing argu- bished the Chief Minister's family members had amassed court order in the case, besides “I have forcefully asked for devoted to addressing such a this court that every possible state governments as well as ments on behalf of Singh and claim that the FIR was the wealth of Rs 6.1 crore between consular access to the retired consular access on the basis of serious matter, this petition has endeavour is being made by the the national and state OBC will continue to hear them on result of a "political vendetta", 2009 and 2011 dispropor- Indian navy officer. the international law and on sought to "divert our attention". Government of India to safe- commissions on Thakor's April 24. paved the way for criminal pro- tionate to the known sources “We definitely want to humanitarian grounds as he is "We have no doubt at all that guard the life and liberty of its petition. The stand taken by the ceedings which were stalled of income. appeal against the judgement an Indian national.” the respondent (central govern- citizen," it noted. Thakor in his plea filed through his counsel Rohit Patel contended that the inclusion of 39 castes in the OBC list was NATION BRIEFS Technology is solution to all problems, says Prabhu not based on any review or SPECIAL COURT CONCLUDES recommendation of the OBC MPOST BUREAU adaption and sustainability of He said cutting-edge tech- panel and that it was against ARGUMENTS IN 2G SCAM CASE modern technologies in rail- nology in communication the Supreme Court's 1993 NEW DELHI: A special court on Wednesday conclud- NEW DELHI: Railway Minis- way signalling with focus on can be used in transportation order in Indra Sahwney case. ed final arguments in 2G spectrum allocation scam ter Suresh Prabhu on Wednes- skill development and Make sector. In the Sahwney case, while day advocated for the use of in India. Adaptation of modern directing periodic review of case involving former Telecom Minister A Raja, DMK cutting edge technology in the He said there is a need to technologies like Central- the list every ten years, the MP Kanimozhi and others as accused, six years after transportation sector, stressing focus on safety as it is a much ised Traffic Control, Auto- apex court had ordered that the CBI filed the first charge sheet. Special Judge that technology is the solution larger issue. matic Train Protection and no caste be included without O P Saini, who is exclusively dealing with the scam of every problem. “There is a need for upgra- Automatic Signalling provide recommendation or review of related cases, is likely to pronounce the verdict in the “We need to modernise, dation of signalling and bal- low-cost solution for safety at the commission. three cases within three months. The court has been upgrade our infrastructure ancing it with safety. With higher speeds and throughout The 1994 official resolution and find technology solution. safety, there is a greater need enhancement. was made by the state govern- Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu releasing the ‘Action Plan 2022’, in hearing the three cases –two filed by the CBI and the All problems can be solved for upgradation of signalling. “We should constantly ment alone and was based on Enforcement Directorate –against Raja and others through technology...Right New Delhi on Wednesday. Chairman, Railway Board, AK Mital and We have to identify new tech- develop, modernise (the sys- Parikshit Majmudar Com- and the third filed by the CBI against Essar Group technology is the answer,” he Director General (S&T), Railway Board, Akhil Agrawal are also seen nology and also for training tem) and make it suitable mission's recommendation of promoters Ravikant Ruia, Anshuman Ruia and others. said here while inaugurating technology in railway signal- The public transporter required to use it,” Prabhu for contemporary times,” 1953 in the old state of Saura- INLD MP DUSHYANT CHAUTALA an event on the use of modern ling system here. has organised a workshop on said. Prabhu said. shtra, it said. TIES KNOT IN GURGAON I-T crackdowns on bureaucrats GURGAON: A host of dignitaries including Home 200 KVs, 125 Navodaya Vidyalayas Minister Rajnath Singh and Baba Ramdev attended the wedding ceremony of INLD MP Dushyant Chau- unearth Rs 20 cr black income tala who tied the knot with Meghna, daughter of an running headless, says report MPOST BUREAU made an inventory of some IPS officer. Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, costly assets and posh vehicles Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu, HRD Minister MPOST BUREAU education to around 50,000 NEW DELHI: The Income like Range Rover, an Audi and Prakash Javadekar, Steel Minister Birender Singh, MoS The revelation comes against the students. Tax department has detected a BMW car from the premises for External Affairs V K Singh and MoS for Information NEW DELHI: At least 200 backdrop of demands from aspiring Similar faculty shortage undisclosed income worth over of the official and his family. and Broadcasting, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Kendriya Vidyalayas and 125 has been pointed out in the Rs 20 crore after it conducted They said the I-T teams MoS for Agriculture Sanjeev Balyan were present at Navodaya Vidyalayas across teachers and education stakeholders for annual report of the Navo- searches against some bureau- were surprised to find 15 the function held at a hotel here on Tuesday evening. the country have no princi- filling up vacant positions in various daya Vidyalaya Samiti which crats based in Uttar Pradesh large LED television sets fit- pals, as per a report submit- supervises functioning of the and Uttarakhand. ted in the farm house which GOVT APPROVES LEAVE ENCASHMENT ted to the Ministry of Human institutions including the prestigious IITs Javahar Navodaya Vidyalayas Official sources in the tax was constructed on a land ear- Resource Development and central universities such as the DU (JNVs) in the country. department said raids were car- marked to setup a factory. A SCHEME FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL (HRD). The report also high- JNVs are government- ried out in the last two days well- equipped gym, a guest NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday ap- lights shortage of over 10,000 funded residential schools against four government func- house and an under-construc- proved leave encashment of up to three months for teachers, including those for manages operations of the three abroad -- Moscow (Rus- set-up in each district of the tionaries in these states includ- tion swimming pool were also primary classes, in KVs. KVs across the country, out sia), Kathmandu (Nepal) and country for gifted students. ing against a general manager found there. those defence personnel who died or were disabled The revelation comes of total 1,081 posts for prin- Tehran (Iran) -- with an aim to “Out of 589 sanctioned of the Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya “The department is prob- while in service between 1991 and 1999. The deci- against the backdrop of cipals, 200 of them are vacant cater to the educational needs posts of principals in JNVs 125 Nirman Nigam Ltd (UPRNN) ing tax evasion to the tune of sion will benefit the families of 9,777 officers and demands from aspiring teach- while position of Vice-Princi- of children of transferable are vacant while 53 schools in Dehradun for alleged “mis- a few crores against the offi- other personnel of the defence services who died or ers and education stakeholders pals is vacant in 113 schools. central government officials do not have vice-principals. A use of official position” and cial and his associates based in were invalidated out of service between December for filling up vacant positions “10,039 teaching posts including defence and para- total of 2,023 teaching posts subsequent charges of tax eva- Rishikesh,” they claimed, with- 30, 1991 and November 29, 1999 with less than in various institutions includ- including TGTs, PGTs and military personnel by provid- and 1,734 non-teaching posts sion. “Documents showing out elaborating further. ing the prestigious IITs and PRTs are also vacant in Kend- ing a common programme of are also lying vacant in JNVs undisclosed investments in In an another search oper- 15 years of service. This period is very significant as central universities such as riya Vidyalayas besides 14,144 education. across the country,” the annual farm houses spread over hun- ation against a local body a large number of casualties took place during the the DU. non-teaching posts”, the report The Union Cabinet had report said. dreds of bighas and immov- chairman in UP’s Siddharth- Kargil conflict and in counter-insurgency operations in According to the annual pointed out. last month approved setting Both KVs and JNVs follow able properties in other cities nagar district, the department Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast, the report for the year 2015-16, At present 1,142 Kend- up of 50 new Kendriya Vidya- the curriculum of the Central have been seized,” a senior offi- detected tax evasion to the government said. submitted by the Kendriya riya Vidyalayas are function- layas and creation of 650 reg- Board of Secondary Educa- cial said. “tune of Rs 10 crore as per pre- Vidyalaya Sangathan, which ing under the KVS, including ular posts to provide quality tion (CBSE). The tax sleuths have also liminary estimates.” 6 nation mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 20 April, 2017 Akhilesh’s pet ‘Samajwadi BSF sacks jawan who had posted video on bad food Smartphone Yojana’ in limbo OUR CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: BSF jawan OUR CORRESPONDENT Tej Bahadur Yadav who had posted a video online com- No liquor shops near plaining about poor quality LUCKNOW: The Samajwadi food being served to the troops Smartphone Yojana, a pet proj- on icy heights along the LoC ect of former chief minister Akh- religious places, in Jammu and Kashmir, has ilesh Yadav which promised free been dismissed on charge of smart phones to people, appears Adityanath tells officials indiscipline. as good as scrapped with the Yogi A spokesman for the Bor- Adityanath government taking OUR CORRESPONDENT cials during the meeting held der Security Force said con- no decision on its continuation. late last night. stable Yadav “was found guilty Tej Bahadur Yadav “No decision has been taken LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Adityanath directed offi- of all the charges and awarded The spokesman alleged that ‘dal’ and burnt ‘chapatis’ were by the Uttar Pradesh government Chief Minister Yogi cials that the 8,544 liquor dismissal from service.” constable Yadav did not obey a being served to the troops to continue the scheme,” Addi- Adityanath on Wednesday shops whose location has The order comes five general order of the force and serving across the inhospita- tional Chief Secretary (IT and warned state officials of action to be changed following a months after he posted the carried two mobile phones ble terrain. Electronics) Sanjiv Saran told a if the ban on liquor shops in Supreme Court order ban- video on Facebook, triggering while on operational duty While the government pro- news agency here. important religious places ning liquor sale along high- public outcry over the working which was against the Standard cures essentials for the soldiers, Saran, however, did not elab- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath during his Janata Darbar like Ayodhya, Vrinda- ways should be allowed to conditions of troops guarding Operating Procedure (SOP). the higher-ups “sell them off” orate on the issue.Official sources in Lucknow on Wednesday van, Chitrakoot and Deva open only at a prescribed dis- the country’s frontiers. Yadav also posted photographs in an “illegal” manner in the said the scheme would have put a scheme. had already been announced. Sharif was not strictly tance from schools, places of The BSF had conducted in uniform on social media in market making the lower level huge burden on the state exche- The registration process The Uttar Pradesh govern- implemented. worship, hospitals and popu- a Summary Security Force contravention of instructions, personnel in the force suffer, he quer. Over 1.4 crore people, espe- for the scheme had begun on ment recently scrapped the In a meeting with officials lated areas. Court (SSFC) where Yadav was he said. had alleged. cially youngsters, have already October 10. The online regis- Samajwadi Pension Scheme of of the Excise Department, he There should be total tried on two counts of mak- The SSFC began its pro- The jawan, who was part registered themselves online for tration process was also aimed the previous government and also directed that a new excise prohibition in the one kilo- ing “false allegations” on social ceedings from April 13 dur- of a BSF unit posted along the the scheme, which was launched at establishing Akhilesh’s effort ordered a detailed review of its policy be chalked out with a metre area around Kanshi media regarding the quality of ing which “all opportunities” Line of Control in Jammu and by Akhilesh amid much fanfare to usher in “digital democracy” beneficiaries. CM Yogi Aditya- view to increase the state’s Vishvanath Temple in Vara- food, and carrying two mobile were given to Yadav to defend Kashmir, had also said in the last year, months ahead of the in the state and bridge the digi- nath, who was reviewing various revenue. nasi, Krishna Janmasthan in phones while on operational himself, the spokesman said, video that a watery soup-like Assembly elections. tal divide. In January this year, schemes being run by the Social “Strict action will be initi- Mathura and Sangam in Alla- duty, the spokesman said. adding he can appeal against dal, which he claimed had only “Persons who are at least 18 the online registration for the Welfare Department of the state, ated against officials in case habad, he said. He said making “false alle- the punishment to an appellate turmeric and salt, and a burnt years old as on January 1, 2017, scheme was stalled in view of asked the officials to review the total prohibition was not Adityanath also told the gations” about the quality of authority within three months. chapati were served to them. have an annual income up to an Election Commission order list of beneficiaries under the imposed around religious Excise Department officials food was an act “prejudicial to Yadav, clad in battle fatigues Yadav was serving in the Rs 6 lakh, have passed Class X, after a complaint was filed by the pension scheme and find out places and officials respon- to chalk out on priority, a new good order and discipline” of and carrying his service rifle, 29th battalion of the force and and who are not government BJP, which said it violated the whether they were deserving sible will be punished,” the excise policy with a view to the force, and that he did not had in January this year posted had been transferred to a BSF employees or their children” were Model Code of Conduct as the candidates fulfilling the eligibil- chief minister warned offi- increasing revenue. adhere to formal grievance a video on Facebook, claiming battalion in Jammu during the eligible for the free smart phone UP Assembly election schedule ity criteria. redressal mechanism available. poor quality food like watery inquiry. Dinakaran cautious, claims BSP to fight UP urban body polls 3 municipal corporations MLAs meet not show of strength on party symbol after 22 yrs go to polls in Maharashtra OUR CORRESPONDENT Dinakaran said, adding he was OUR CORRESPONDENT gantiwar. At present Congress even “stepping aside” in their OUR CORRESPONDENT the urban body polls on party is in power in this 66-member CHENNAI: Beleaguered interest. ticket after 1995 but Wednes- MUMBAI: Polling is under- civic body. AIADMK (Amma) faction The Deputy General Sec- LUCKNOW: The BSP on day’s decision was taken follow- way in three municipal corpo- As many as 460 candidates leader TTV Dinakaran on retary and nephew of Sasikala Wednesday decided to contest ing a demand to this effect from rations -- Chandrapur, Latur are in the fray whose fate will Wednesday struck a concil- said the MLAs’ meeting called the upcoming urban body elec- its leaders who felt it was time and Parbhani -- in Maharash- be decided by 3.02 lakh voters. iatory note, saying he had no by him later on Wednesday tions on the party symbol after to make the party’s presence felt tra on Wednesday. In the 70-member Latur problem with the merger of should not be seen as a show of a gap of more than two decades in the state, especially after the The stakes are especially corporation, it will a test of rival party factions and felt the strength.“All MLAs have been and stressed on dealing with debacle in the recent assembly high for the ruling BJP as it is political clout for BJP leader rebellion against him was due asked to come. It is not a show fresh challenges through a new polls, party insiders said. not in power in any of these and state minister Samb- TTV Dinakaran Party supremo Mayawati to some “fear”. of strength... I am not trying to strategy. Reviewing the present three corporations and is look- hajirao Nilangekar and the The Deputy General Sec- satisfaction against me. But I show any numbers,” he said. At a meeting of party lead- not as strong in urban areas political situation, Mayawati ing to make inroads. local Congress MLA Amit retary of the V K Sasikala fac- don’t know,” he told reporters. He said he had asked the ers of Uttar Pradesh and Utta- (as in rural areas), the decision directed the leaders to increase According to the State Deshmukh. tion of the AIADMK also said He said he had no regrets MLAs to be patient and united rakhand convened by party has been taken in view of the the BSP’s support base among Election Commission, till Congress, which controls that he had “stepped aside” last over the revolt against him. and give no room for rivals to supremo Mayawati, detailed growth in people’s support in the sarv samaj while facing new 1.30 pm, 29.2 per cent, 37.31 the corporation, had got a night itself in the interest of “I wonder what the appre- exploit the situation. discussions were held on the urban areas as well, the release challenges, the release said. per cent and 34 per cent voter drubbing in the recent local the party and made it clear that hension is about. When they “I myself would have issue of upcoming urban body said. “There is a need to work turn-out had been registered body polls in Latur district. the MLAs’ meet called by him make such sudden announce- announced it (of keeping away elections in the state, and it was “The party will try to give with renewed vigour and mis- in Chandrapur, Parbhani and The city had faced acute was not a show of strength. ment there must be some from the party) if they had told decided that they will be con- good results with the help of sionary zeal through a new Latur, respectively. water crisis last year and gov- “They might have done this fear,” he said. However, none me about their decision,” he tested on the party symbol, said sarv samaj (entire society),” it strategy to deal with new chal- Chandrapur is the home ernment had to transport (revolt) due to some fear. of the actions should affect said referring to the last night’s a statement issued here. said quoting the party chief. lenges before the BSP move- turf of senior BJP leader and water by railway waggons at Maybe there was some dis- the party and its government, decision of senior ministers Though the BSP’s base is The BSP has not fought ment,” she said. Finance Minister Sudhir Mun- the peak of summer. NATION BRIEFS Pb Cabinet nod to fee regulation rules ARMY RECRUITMENT Cracker shop CBI initiates preliminary fire: Toll rises SOUTH-EASTERN RAILWAY’S PASSENGER Cabinet approves TRAFFIC, EARNINGS REGISTER GROWTH e-bidding for enquiry into paper leak to seven KOLKATA: In the financial year 2016-17, South OUR CORRESPONDENT in the leak. INDORE: The death toll of Eastern Railway has carried 259.06 million originat- sand mining Thane police had said 350 fire in Ranipura area here has ing passengers as against 256.88 million passengers NEW DELHI: The issue of students were also detained for risen to seven, with two more carried in 2015-16 registering an increase of 0.85%. CHANDIGARH: The Pun- army recruitment examina- questioning and later let off. persons succumbing to injuries Out of total 259.06 million passengers, 137.10 million jab Cabinet on Wednesday tion paper leak in February The test was cancelled at late last night, a municipal offi- were suburban passengers and 121.96 million were Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh presides over a cabinet meeting approved fresh mine auctions has come under the scanner examination centres in Kamp- cial said on Wednesday. through progressive e-bidding of the CBI which has initiated tee, Nagpur, Ahmednagar, The fire started at a fire- non-suburban passengers. South Eastern Railway’s OUR CORRESPONDENT Captain Amarinder Singh. to boost the state revenue and a preliminary enquiry into it. Ahmedabad, Goa and Kirkee. cracker shop in Ranipura area earnings from passenger traffic in 2016-17 has been The spokesperson pointed bring greater transparency into Sources said the CBI had The examination was to on Tuesday afternoon, and Rs. 1924.75 crores as against Rs. 1838.82 crores CHANDIGARH: Private out that the Punjab Regula- the mining sector. The decision received a complaint from be held for a number of posts spread to the adjoining shop earned from passenger traffic in 2015-16, achieving schools in Punjab will not be tion of Fee of Unaided Edu- will bring to an end the earlier the Defence Ministry alleging including those of soldier selling polythene bags and five a growth of 4.67%. able to increase fees by more cational Institutions Act, 2016 practice of granting contracts that the examination paper of clerk, strongman and soldier other outlets. Owner of the than 8 per cent annually as the had already been enacted fol- of mines through reverse bid- Army Recruitment Board for tradesman at 52 centres across firecracker shop, Gurvinder ELECTRONIC INTERLOCKING, YARD state Cabinet on Wednesday lowing directions of the Pun- ding process, an official spokes- lower level posts was leaked a the country. Singh Narang, and another gave its nod to the rules for reg- jab and Haryana High Court. person said. day before the test was sched- The police had received person, Jagdish Solanki, were REMODELING COMMISSIONED AT DADRI ulation of fee of unaided educa- The Punjab State Regula- The decision, taken by the uled on February 26. information that an institute found dead on the spot on

' NEW DELHI: Dadri Electronic Interlocking with mas- tional Institutions. tion of Fee of Unaided Educa- state cabinet under the chair- The agency has started a which conducts coaching Tuesday. Others who died at sive yard remodelling involving Up & Down main lines, The rules lay a cap on the tional Institutions Rules, 2017 manship of CM Amarinder preliminary enquiry into the classes for army job aspirants the government-run M Y Hos- common loop and ICD & NTPC yards with construction annual fee hike by private were approved by the cabinet Singh, is expected to increase alleged leakage of the ques- had given the paper to some pital during treatment were schools at 8 per cent of the pre- on Wednesday, he added. the government revenue receipt tion paper of the Common aspirants in advance for a identified as Suresh Sharma, of new platforms & 5.03 KM 3rd line connecting it to vious year’s fee, Punjab Finance The Cabinet also decided to around Rs 300 crore, the Entrance Examination to be price. Chetan, Sudarshan, Raja and all lines has been commissioned on April 16 within 150 Minister Manpreet Singh Badal that persons of national emi- spokesperson said. It will also held in Maharashtra, Gujarat The middlemen had also Karan, police said. minutes of traffic block without any NI. The work in- said adding that this applied to nence in the field of industry, ensure uninterrupted supply and Goa, they said. arranged for fake domicile and The district administration volved insertion of total 19 new points with 4 over runs all other funds charged by the technology or technical edu- of sand and gravel (bajri) to The army had to cancel residence proof for students has ordered a magisterial probe and removal of 10 points effecting UP and Dn main school as well. cation would be appointed as the consumers at fair price, he the examination following hailing from other places so into the incident. Collector P lines and Goods movement into NTPC and ICD yards. The move is aimed at curb- Chairmen of the Board of Gov- added. The state government the crime branch of Thane as to enable them appear for Narhari said the shop where ing the excessive fees being ernors of the Maharaja Ranjit would soon implement the police busting the recruitment the examination in that zone. the fire started was autho- THIEVES DON’T SPARE EVEN POLICE, charged by private schools Singh Punjab Technical Uni- Integrated Mines and Miner- racket. The beneficiary was to pay rised to keep only samples of across the state, an official versity, Bathinda and the IK als Management System (i3MS) Police had arrested 18 peo- around Rs four to five lakh to firecrackers, but the owner had STEAL THEIR JEEP IN UTTAR PRADESH spokesperson said after a meet- Gujral Punjab Technical Uni- to bring greater transparency ple from Maharashtra and Goa the middlemen, the officials illegally stocked a huge quan- LUCKNOW: In Uttar Pradesh, thieves do not spare ing chaired by Chief Minister versity, Jalandhar. into the system, he said. AGENCIES for their alleged involvement had said. tity. AGENCIES even the police stations when they strike. This was evident when a police jeep with a beacon was stolen KVIC marks centenary celebrations from the premises of Ghazipur police station. The theft EC full bench talks J&K by-poll came to light this morning, creating an embarrassing of Gandhi’s Satyagraha in Bihar situation for the administration since the new govern- ment is giving top importance to law and order. After the theft was noticed, the police swung into action issue with Home Secretary and the jeep was recovered. The accused was also OUR CORRESPONDENT the Chief Electoral Officer of arrested. “A case been registered and the accused CEC Nasim Zaidi and the two Election the state had suggested to the has been arrested. Action will definitely be taken for NEW DELHI: The Election Commissioners held talks with Union Election Commission to reduce negligence,” Senior Superitendent of Police Manzil Commission and the Home the number of polling booths. Saini said. Ministry on Wednesday dis- Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, As per the revised list, there cussed measures to ensure a who assured them of providing are more than 1,200 polling violence- free bypoll to the booths in the Anantnag con- Anantnag Lok Sabha seat like adequate paramilitary forces for stituency which are spread PATNA: As part of the Gan- Patna and Motihari as well,” cutting down on the number the by-poll to be held on May 25 over four districts. The Cen- dhi’s Champaran Satyagrah he said. Saxena also informed of polling stations for better tre had sent 30,000 paramili- centenary celebrations, the that the state unit of KVIC had security. within the Mehbooba Mufti- led till November keeping in view tary personnel to the Valley for Khadi and Village Indus- organised a state-level exhibi- Chief Election Commis- coalition government in Jammu the tourist season as well as poll duty but majority of them tries Commission (KVIC), on tion at Town Hall Maidan in sioner Nasim Zaidi and his and Kashmir for postponing the Amarnath Yatra. had been brought back after Wednesday organised several Motihari, where local Khadi two Election Commissioners bypoll, citing law-and-order sit- Mehrishi conveyed to the the elections were postponed programs at Patna and Moti- institutions and Prime Min- held talks with Union Home uation in the Valley. Election Commissioners that to May 25. hari, the district headquarters ister Employment Generation Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, who There were large-scale vio- all required forces will be pro- Conducting elections in of East Champaran. Program units of five districts assured them of providing ade- lence during the bypoll to the vided but it would be conve- this parliamentary seat will be Chairman VK Saxena of Bihar and adjoining states quate paramilitary forces for the Srinagar Lok Sabha seat on nient if the EC provides details a daunting task for the EC as informed that KVIC had took active part. KVIC also bypoll to be held on May 25, April 9 in which eight people of security forces required in well as the state government set up the largest pavilion in distributed five charkhas and West Central Railway’s Jabalpur division secures Rajbhasha official sources said. died. Several trade and travel advance. There were around as several areas in South Kash- Gandhi Maidan. “Selfie with one looms each in those 13 proficiency shield during its 62nd Railway Week celebration event The assurance from the bodies had made representa- 1,600 polling booths in Anant- mir have presence of local as Gandhi and honey-bee infor- villages – where Mahatma on Tuesday Union Home Secretary assumes tions to the state government nag constituency but after the well as foreign militants, the mation centres were hotshots Gandhi had visited during his significance as there were voices seeking postponement of polls violence during Srinagar bypoll, sources said. and most visited places at Satyagrah in 1917. AGENCIES 7 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 20 April, 2017 mp nation

SC VERDICT ON BABRI DEMOLITION CAME AS A SETBACK TO PARTY'S VETERANS INCLUDING LK ADVANI Uma unperturbed, says ‘ready Lalu accuses PM of ‘crafting’ to sacrifice life for Ram temple’ Advani trial MPOST BUREAU Law of land OUR CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: Unfazed by the Top BJP leaders meet, PATNA: RJD chief Lalu apex court order that she be should prevail, Prasad on Wednesday alleged tried for "conspiracy" in the that the Supreme Court order Babri mosque demolition case, discuss SC verdict guilty must be allowing trial of top BJP lead- Union minister Uma Bharti ers in the Babri Masjid case today said she is ready to sac- was a “well-thought-out pol- rifice her life for construction MPOST BUREAU apex court verdict and its punished: Cong itics” of the Prime Minister of Ram temple in Ayodhya. implications –political as well to remove L K Advani’s name "Grand Ram temple in NEW DELHI: Top BJP lead- as legal –were also discussed MPOST BUREAU from the Presidential race. Ayodhya is my dream. Ready ers on Wednesday discussed with the leadership exploring “The CBI is under the to go to prison or be hanged the political and legal fallout of various options to deal with it. NEW DELHI: The Congress influence of Prime Minis- for India and Ram Mandir," the the Supreme Court verdict on Some BJP leaders said the on Wednesday said the guilty ter Narendra Modi. It stood senior BJP leader told report- the Babri mosque demolition party would not like the mes- in the 1992 Babri Masjid demo- in the Supreme Court and ers here. Bharti, who said that has come as a setback to sage to go out that the "heroes" lition case should be punished. sought permission to run trial RJD Chief Lalu Prasad at a Press she would go to Ayodhya on the party's sidelined veterans of its most resonant Hindu- "The Supreme Court has against Advani and others in conference in Patna Wednesday night, cancelled Union Minister for Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation Uma including L K Advani. tva movement, spearheaded by spoken. Let justice be done the Babri Masjid demolition her visit apparently after being Bharati addressing a Press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday Prime Minister Naren- Advani in early 90s, were tried and the guilty punished, Con- case,” Prasad alleged. Prasad was reacting to the advised by the party leadership. dra Modi, BJP president Amit for criminal conspiracy when gress chief spokesman Randeep “Since Advani’s name was apex court order allowing the Asserting she was "proud, dence. I had given up the post was at the house of her hus- Shah, union ministers Arun it was in power at the Centre Surjewala said, reacting to a in circulation as a probable for CBI plea and restoring crimi- unapologetic" and does not of Chief Minister for the sake band. Rajiv was trying to justify Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Nitin as well in Uttar Pradesh. Supreme Court order restoring the post of President, Modi nal conspiracy charges against repent her role in the Ram Jan- of the tri-colour. the massacre. Gadkari and M Venkaiah For the record, senior a criminal conspiracy charge through well-thought-out pol- Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi mabhoomi campaign, Bharti "I will do whatever it takes "So, can we say she was part Naidu were huddled for two leader and Law Minister Ravi against BJP leaders L K Advani, itics struck out his (Advani’s) and Uma Bharti. “The BJP said she is ready to face what- to see the Ram temple is con- of a conspiracy? The Congress hours at Modi's residence but Shankar Prasad said the party M M Joshi and Uma Bharti. name,” he alleged. makes no difference between ever punishments come her structed...Ram temple will be has no moral right to seek my a senior party leader played will study in detail the court The Congress also urged “It is well known that the itself and others while play- way as she fights for the con- built, koi maai ka laal use rok resignation," she said. down the meeting's signifi- verdict before offering com- Prime Minister Narendra Modi CBI does what the govern- ing dangerous politics against struction of Ram temple. nahi sakta (no one has the At the same time, Bharti cance, saying it had a number ments. Prasad asserted that to ensure that his ministers ment desires,” the RJD chief anyone considered opposed to The Water Resources Min- power to stop it from being said she is not the type of a per- of issues, including the Kash- BJP highly respects its leaders maintained a "high standard claimed. Modi,” he claimed. ister was speaking after the built)," Bharti said, adding she son who want to sticks to any mir crisis, on its agenda. like Advani and Joshi. of morality". Uma Bharti is the Supreme Court allowed the was present at the mosque site post and recalled she had quit The meeting was held The party has held the posi- Minister for Water Resources CBI's plea seeking trail under on December 6, 1992. chief ministership in Madhya against the backdrop of the tion that the demolition of in the Modi Cabinet. "conspiracy" charges against Hitting out at the Con- Pradesh over a decade ago after apex court verdict allowing mosque was not planned but "The law is equal for every- Gaikwad issue: Air India BJP leaders L K Advani, M M gress for seeking her resigna- a court convicted her in a case the CBI to put Advani, 89 , a spontaneous act of agitating one irrespective of stature, Joshi and her in the 1992 Babri tion, Bharti referred to the 1984 involving the national flag. Murli Manohar Joshi, 83 , and 'kar sevaks' and there was no caste, creed, religion or region," Masjid demolition case. anti-Sikh riots and claimed "I gave up the chief minis- Uma Bharti, 57 , on trial after conspiracy behind its razing he said. writes to Delhi Police She dismissed the conspir- that then Prime Minister Rajiv ter's post after a court convicted restoring the criminal conspir- on December 6, 1992 at the Senior Congress leader acy charges. Gandhi had sought to justify me. In this (Ayodhya) case, the acy charges against them. disputed site in Ayodhya. Kapil Sibal also expressed NEW DELHI: Air India is The airline is understood to "There was no conspiracy. the killings post the assassina- trial is yet to begin. The charges A senior leader insisted The uneasy relationship satisfaction over the order believed to have written to the have said that the morale of the Everything was in the open. I tion of Indira Gandhi. are yet to be proved," she said that it was a pre-scheduled that Modi and Shah share with and hoped that Modi would Delhi Police asking why action employees is being impacted took part in Ram temple cam- "When thousands of Sikhs but added, "The post of a min- meeting. Advani and Joshi also does not remember his "pronounce- has not been taken yet on the as no action has been initiated paign with pride and confi- died in the riots, Sonia Gandhi ister is too small for me." It is understood that the help the party. ments" on morality. complaint filed against Shiv against the MP despite nearly Sena MP Ravindra Gaikwad a month after the incident, who had assaulted a staffer of they added. I-T searches the airline last month. There was no official com- Judicial probes on Manipur encounters ‘biased’: Army to SC Following the incident on ment from Air India or the in TN, K’taka March 23, an FIR has been reg- Delhi Police. NEW DELHI: A day after it case is that the slant of judicial the district judges to inquire "compensation cannot be a istered in the matter. The incident and subse- and Kerala; was rapped by the Supreme inquiry was against us. Judicial into the allegations of extra- substitute for everything". Sources said Air India has quent flying ban on Gaikwad Court for remaining silent inquiries which have been done judicial killings. He said the Rohatgi responded to the written to the Delhi police on had generated a lot of polit- over rape and murder charges by a district judge proceeded Army in Manipur was operat- remark saying none of the kin why there is delay in taking ical heat before the ban was documents seized against its personnel in Mani- against us by the virtue of their ing in a very difficult situation of the victims have complained action against the MP. removed. MPOST pur, the Army on Wednesday local apprehensions or local and needed to be trusted as it and compensation was paid to CHENNAI: The Income Tax said the judicial probes con- positions. Army's job is not cannot stage-manage the kill- their satisfaction. department on Wednesday ducted into these charges were to kill its own people," Attor- ing of its own people. "In criminal law, victim WB HIDCO conducted searches at about 80 "biased" and slanted against ney General Mukul Rohatgi "Army is operating in insur- compensation is immaterial locations in Tamil Nadu, Kar- them due to local factors. told a bench of Justices M B gency-prone areas of Manipur and the victim satisfaction can nataka and Kerala in connec- It alleged that the district Lokur and U U Lalit. Citing If army is disbelieved, then the in difficult circumstances and it only be considered when there tion with its tax evasion probe judges, who were locals, had an example, Rohatgi said if the whole system will go haywire cannot be disbelieved. It cannot are compoundable offences," against a group involved in chit conducted the judicial inqui- Army goes after two terrorists and cannot work. The inquiry be said that I have stage-man- the bench said. The Attorney fund operations. ries into the alleged killings and holed up in a civilian area and officers were biased due to their aged to kill my own people," General urged the apex court Officials said a number of local factors came in the way of in cross-fire some people are local considerations," Rohatgi he said, adding that compen- that no decision should be documents have been seized the probe reports which went killed, then it cannot be held said, adding the judicial probes sation has been paid wherever taken on the judicial inquiry during the raids and bank against the armed forces. guilty for these casualties. were not conducted by the the High Court has directed. reports of district judges due lockers and accounts identi- "The problem in every "We are in our own country. High Court which had tasked To this, the bench said to their local bias. MPOST fied even as the searches on the ICA/T 857(3)2017 group, identified as Gokulam, and its associates are still con- tinuing. Efforts to reach the Note ban: ED attaches Rs 12 cr company, based here, over phone or email did not fructify. No cash seizures have been assets in Sekhar Reddy case made so far, they said. The raids were conducted at about 43 locations in Tamil CHENNAI: The Enforcement Nadu, 29 in Kerala and six in Directorate (ED) has attached The agency had filed a criminal Karnataka apart from few oth- assets worth Rs 12 crore of two complaint against Reddy and others ers. They added that the depart- accused in connection with ment was acting on some "vital" its money laundering probe based on a CBI FIR in the case which ICA/T 869(3)2017 inputs on alleged generation against sand mining baron J was registered after the I-T department of black money by chit fund Sekhar Reddy and others post first searched his and his associates' or ponzi route and hence the demonetisation. operations were launched early Officials said the agency premises in November last year this morning. The firm is said issued a provisional attachment to be involved in various sec- order here attaching the assets case in December last year. The Reddy case and the tors like education, health care of Ashok Jain and Mahaveer A total of five people have other involving Delhi-based and film production, they said. Hirani under the provisions of been arrested till now in this lawyer Rohit Tandon and Kol- Officials made it clear that the Prevention of Money Laun- case including Reddy by the kata-based businessman Paras the action had no political con- dering Act (PMLA). central probe agency. The Mal Lodha are being probed by nection within Tamil Nadu or "The investigations revealed agency had filed a criminal at least four agencies– the ED, outside it. that Rs 10.25 crore of cash and complaint against Reddy and the Income Tax department, The department here had 6.5 kg gold (valued at Rs 1.80 others based on a CBI FIR in the CBI and Delhi Police, and conducted multiple searches crore) seized by the Income the case which was registered are considered the most high- few days back and had raided Tax authorities from the after the I-T department first profile black money cases being the premises belonging to premises of Jain and others are searched his and his associ- investigated in the aftermath of Tamil Nadu Health Minister C assets involved in the process ates' premises in November the notes ban. Vijayabaskar and others, days of money laundering and are last year. An attachment of assets before the April 12 bypolls at liable to attachment pending The tax department has action under PMLA is aimed RK Nagar Assembly constit- confiscation. "Accordingly, the made one of the biggest detec- to deprive the accused from uency, which have now been said assets worth Rs 12 crore tion of alleged unaccounted obtaining benefits of their ill- postponed by the EC after were attached provisionally," income of over Rs 142 crore gotten wealth and it gets con- reports of illegal money power the agency said in a statement. in this case with the seizure of firmed after an order of the being allegedly used to influ- Both Jain and Hirani had Rs 34 crore in new notes, post Adjudicating Authority of the ence the polls. AGENCIES been arrested by the ED in this demonetisation. said Act within 180 days. MPOST ISRO set for 1st developmental flight of ‘game-changer’ rocket OUR CORRESPONDENT "By the time two develop- 19 satellite which has a mass mental flights are over, we will of 3200 kg. HYDERABAD: Indian Space be working towards making The satellite would carry Research Organisation plans more launches so that it (GSLV- Ka and Ku band payload along to undertake next month the Mk III) becomes operational", with a Geostationary Radia- first developmental flight of a he said. ISRO views opera- tion Spectrometer (GRASP) "game-changer" rocket capa- tionalisation of this rocket as a payload to monitor and study ble of launching four-ton class "game-changer" for it, he said. the nature of the charged par- of satellites from Sriharikota "Once we build our own ticles and influence of space spaceport, says its Chairman four tonne capacity, we will be radiation on spacecraft and A S Kiran Kumar. able to significantly reduce our electronic components. ISRO rockets (launch vehi- launch from outside; then we The satellite would employ cles) at present have the capa- ISRO Chairman A S Kiran Kumar are also looking at building sat- advanced spacecraft technolo- bility to launch satellites up to ellites within that four-tonne gies including bus subsystem 2.2 tons; it depends on interna- Mk III-D1", Kiran Kumar said. capacity, so that you can do all experiments in electrical pro- tional launchers to orbit satel- The Bengaluru-headquar- the launches within the coun- pulsion system, indigenous lites heavier than that. tered space agency plans to try," Kiran Kumar said. Li ion battery and indigenous "Next month, we have undertake the second devel- The GSLV-Mk III-D1 bus bars for power distribution, scheduled the launch of GSLV- opmental flight within a year. launcher would carry GSAT- among others. 8 editorial mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 20 April, 2017 EDITORIAL Seeking stability Distraction from China forges ahead with global revival t last, the eight-year- where; sluggish medium-term old crisis is giving growth prospects in advanced the real problem S. SETHURAMAN way to global out- economies and domestic strife, ews of former liquor baron Vijay Mallya’s arrest put and trade gain- political discord, and geopoliti- on Tuesday in London saw television channels Aing momentum while India’s cal tensions in several coun- scampering for “expert analysis”. Some even went policy-makers seem to be mak- tries are have become major to the extent of congratulating the Indian govern- ing little progress with easing constraints to orderly growth Nment on the arrest, while others began speculating on the constraints to investment and and progress of world economy. fate that awaited Mallya. Reports later in the day that he was growth revival to lift a stagnat- On protectionism, a “salient granted bail threw cold water at all the excitement gener- ing economy, let alone job cre- threat” that could lead to trade ated. The former Rajya Sabha MP owes 17 banks in India an ation to write about. warfare, IMF has warned estimated Rs 9000 crore, besides standing accused of money And the Modi Govern- any broad-based increase in laundering and fraud under Indian law. Much to the embar- ment’s focus is increasingly import costs caused by height- rassment of Indian authorities, he had fled the country on Beyond the turning to an outright “pro- ened global trade protection- March 2, 2016—the day public sector banks moved the Debt immediate poor” agenda, as the Prime ism would put a dent in global Recovery Tribunal against him. A consortium of banks, led Minister kicks off elections in output. A possible increase in by the State Bank of India, had hoped to restrain the former challenge more states, buoyed by BJP’s trade barriers in some, could liquor baron from leaving the country and sought a security of replacing spectacular win in UP. The rul- translate into generally subdued deposit from him to ensure his attendance at the debt recov- ing party is far ahead of any demand growth for emerging ery tribunal proceedings against him. Suffice it to say, they currency in credible opposition visible to market and developing econo- were unsuccessful in their attempts. Even since his escape, circulation challenge its supremacy in the mies, it said. New Delhi has been attempting to get British authorities to run-up to 2019 for renewal of While IMF sees sure signs extradite him to India. Although both countries have signed following the national mandate, with a target of growth gaining momen- an extradition treaty, the process of bringing Mallya back is November of adding another 120 seats in Representational Image tum, its Economic Counsellor going to be long drawn. All the hoopla surrounding him the next Lok Sabha. Maurice Obstfeld also poses deflects from the real problem at hand, which is the moun- 2016 currency Doubling of farmer the question whether it would tain of corporate debt that Indian banks, especially those in exchange incomes, power for all, and Whereas China’s growth disruptions from the recent infrastructure enhancements to be sustained. While consumer the public sector, are trapped under. As per recent reports in initiative, houses for all are some of remained strong, reflecting con- currency exchange initiative. ease supply bottlenecks. and business confidence in a leading news daily, the gross non-performing assets (NPAs) the goals set for 2022 which tinued policy support, activity For 2018, growth should rise India has also been urged to advanced economies could of state-owned banks surged 56.4% to Rs 614,872 crore dur- policy actions would see Prime Minister’s has slowed in India, IMF said, to 7.7 per cent. boost financial stability through rise further, the world econ- ing the 12-month period that ended last December. What’s should focus on “New India” emerge. In this “because of the impact of the According to IMF, medium- full recognition of non-per- omy still faces headwinds. For even more frightening is that the volume of NPAs is set to milieu, harder issues like restor- currency exchange initiative”, term prospects are favourable, forming loans and raising one thing, trend productivity grow further in the following two quarters. Stressed assets reducing labour ing credit culture in the highly as well as in Brazil, which has with India’s growth forecast to public sector banks’ capital buf- growth remains subdued across now make up over 12% of the total loans in the banking sys- and product stressed banking system for been mired in a deep recession. rise to about 8 per cent over fers as well as securing pub- the world economy, tem. The situation in public sector banks is far worse. Their providing adequate working China has surprised forecasters the medium term due to the lic finances with well-targeted One set of uncertainties stressed loans are at least 16%, which is more than three times market rigidities capital and reviving corporate with a first quarter growth rise implementation of fundamental subsidies and implementation stems from macroeconomic than that of private banks. Real credit growth is now nega- to ease firm investments remain intractable. in 2017 of 6.9 per cent. reforms, loosening of supply- of GST. Globally, inflation is policies in the two largest econ- tive, the lowest in over two decades. Nearly 20% of India’s cor- IMF’s World Economic However, economists opine side bottlenecks, and appropri- rising on the back of an uptick omies, USA and China. Given porate debt is held by firms that are not generating enough entry and exit, Outlook, April 2017, notes a that it could be the peak for the ate fiscal and monetary policies. in commodity prices, and a the faster US recovery to an profits even to service their annual interest – forget about expanding the cyclical recovery in investment, year and that growth trajectory The economy’s strong pace in broad-based increase in head- estimated 2.3 and 2.5 per cent the principal sum they owe. Under the tenure of former RBI manufacturing, and trade to would moderate in the com- recent years flowed from criti- line inflation rates is projected for 2017 and 2018, the Fed is Governor Raghuram Rajan, a whole host of steps was initi- manufacturing raise world growth projections ing quarters. Apparently, high cal structural reforms, favour- in both advanced and emerging ahead of other major central ated to tackle the problem. base, and to 3.5 per cent (from 3.1 per growth was fuelled by Govern- able terms of trade and lower market and developing econo- banks in rate hikes. Also, US One of the major tasks that Rajan has undertaken during cent in 2016) and 3.6 per cent ment-led infrastructure spend- external vulnerabilities. mies. India has already begun fiscal policy seems likely to turn his tenure is the proposed clean-up of bank balance sheets gainfully in 2018. Developed economies, ing and property boom. IMF Beyond the immediate to experience price pressures more expansionary over the initiated under the RBI’s Asset Quality Review, much to the employing the chiefly the USA, are growing assumes a successful rebal- challenge of replacing cur- which could get accentuated next couple of years. chagrin of wasteful major corporate borrowers. The RBI’s faster than anticipated while ancing of China’s economy rency in circulation following depending on the monsoon The resulting inflation asset quality review covered 36 banks (including all those in abundant pool improved outlook is also notice- to lower, but still high, trend the November 2016 currency prospects this year. could lead to a faster pace of the public sector). What the AQR revealed to some extent of labour able in Europe and Japan. growth rates. exchange initiative, IMF said, In emerging market and rate rises, sparking sharp dol- was the actual scale of the NPA problem. Besides the steps On the other hand, the Out- For India, the WEO expects policy actions should focus on developing economies, IMF’s lar appreciation and possible initiated during Rajan’s tenure, the RBI and the Centre have look notes, emerging market an acceleration of activity, reducing labour and product WEO says, growth remains difficulties for emerging and not covered any significant ground in tackling the problem. and developing economies have resulting from the implemen- market rigidities to ease firm uneven and generally below some developing economies. Senior economic advisors to the Centre proposed a ‘bad accounted for the bulk of the tation of necessary structural entry and exit, expanding the these economies’ average per- In China, though rebalancing bank’—a private or state-owned public asset reconstruction downward revisions to global reforms. But IMF’s growth fore- manufacturing base, and gain- formance in 2000–15. Factors process continues, with declin- agency that would buy up bad debt from banks. In its bid to growth in recent years and cast for 2017 at 7.2 per cent is a fully employing the abundant weighing on their outlooks ing current account surplus and tackle the problem, the RBI has come up with this idea prob- have been a source of uncer- result of trimming by 0.4 per- pool of labour. include China’s transition to a larger GDP share of services, ably with the understanding that many of its schemes—Flex- tainty around the WEO fore- centage point, from its October Policy actions should also a more sustainable pattern of any rapid credit growth may ible Refinancing of Infrastructure, Asset Quality Review and casts. Most of the downward forecast, primarily because of consolidate the disinflation growth that is less reliant on cause financial stability prob- Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets, among others— revisions to growth have been the temporary negative con- underway since the collapse investment and commodity lems down the road. IPA have not produced the necessary results. Many have posed in China and India, especially sumption shock induced by in commodity prices through imports. (The views expressed the argument that under the current schemes introduced during 2011–13. cash shortages and payment agricultural sector reforms and Also, high debt levels every- are strictly personal.) by the Central bank too much discretion is left at the hands of banks. Rajan, however, was never a major votary of the dear idea. He argued that this approach would just transfer the Quote martial TIGHTER LAWS NEEDED EDITOR millenniumpost.in bad loans from banks to another firm. The focus, he argued, should be on how to restructure bad loans. With a signifi- The rate of increase in crime against women is so dismal that it has virtually desensitised Log on to write letters to the cant amount of NPAs, banks are forced to push up the risk But from each crime editor or send them to premium, which in other words amounts to raising the cost are born bullets that will people to the horrendousness of it. The unfortunate and infamous incident of December of lending. “That’s exactly why there is such a huge gap in the 2012 was one that caused immense public outrage but did nothing of consequence. An inci- [email protected] commercial lending rate and the policy rate of the RBI. This, one day seek out in you dent of crime against women is nothing more than a news report. Pointless discussions over You can also send your in short, is the price of crony capitalism. It is not just banks where the heart lies comments to The Editor, that are impacted. The resulting high-interest rate regime pre- why others are not treated as seriously as Nirbhaya will do nothing to help matters. What Millennium Post, cludes investments, erodes the competitive ability of Indian we need terribly is not just laws, but serious deterrent laws against crime against women business and leaves a big hole in our wallets through pay- Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah outs on EMIs,” according to a leading Indian business daily. PABLO NERUDA and sensitisation to it. Via email Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 There are wrongdoers among the Indian business com- SUNIL DUTTA munity who have raised the cost of borrowing for the com- mon man. NPAs in our public sector banks represent a massive transfer of wealth from the Indian taxpayer to India’s business empires. Given the strong bond that exists between major corporate houses and political parties, there is little What fate awaits the Valley? action against loan defaulters. Politicians and government officials are involved in the decision-making process to grant loans to businesses. Mallya is merely the tip of the iceberg. Has Kashmir’s spiral of violence slipped out of control? Asks Sheikh Qayoom The likes of Reliance, Vedanta, Essar, Adani, and Jaypee owe the banks even more money. For the moment, banks have n alarming spurt in violence missed the Central bank’s deadline to clean up their balance in early spring has been sheets by March 2017, since their efforts were redirected marked by attacks on civil- from recovering bad loans to implementing the government’s ians by militants, the army demonetisation initiative. The Centre’s latest Budget provided Ausing a civilian as a shield against stone- Rs 10,000 crore for recapitalisation of public sector banks in pelters, the lowest ever voter turnout in 2017-18. Experts contend that this is markedly below the Rs a parliamentary by-election and the use 25,000 crore the government had set aside in the previous of social media as a tool to stoke pas- year. Banks are in desperate need for recapitalisation so that sions. These are all indications of bad they can start lending to sound companies with smart busi- days ahead for Kashmiris, who were ness proposals, thereby kickstarting economic activity. The The blame looking forward to a calmer summer onus of repairing weak lenders with necessary capital lies in 2017. with the government. “At its current level, India’s NPA ratio games between If this is bad news, what is even is higher than any other major emerging market (with the the mainstream worse is that the situation appears to exception of Russia), higher even than the peak levels seen be slipping out of the hands of both the in Korea during the East Asian crisis,” the 2016-17 Economic parties state and the non-state actors in Kash- Survey grimly notes. The knock-on effect of these bad debts notwithstanding, mir’s sordid drama of pain and suf- has been deleterious for the entire economy. Don’t get dis- fering. In the Srinagar parliamentary tracted by all the hoopla surrounding Mallya. unless the Central by-poll on April 9, just seven per cent and the state of the voters came out to exercise their franchise. Eight civilian protesters died governments while trying to ensure the boycott of an Hoping for act fast to pull election that was otherwise ignored by a vast majority of Kashmiris. Kashmir out The fallout of the unprecedented good rains of its present low voter turnout and violence in he India Meteorological Department on Tuesday Srinagar forced the deferment of the predicted a normal monsoon for the country this spiral of anger Anantnag by-poll that was scheduled year – 96% of the long-period average. A weakening and violence, on April 12. While the Election Com- An expression of protest sprayed on a wall in old city Srinagar (Representational Image) El Niño and a stronger Indian Ocean Dipole have 2017 might be mission pushed this to May 25, all Tgiven forecasters hope for a favourable outcome this year. indications on the ground suggest it cursing himself for being an activist of lowered to prevent uploading of vid- against a youth being tied to an army For the uninitiated, these weather phenomenon impact sea worse than what would have to be deferred to October a mainstream political party and vowed eos. Following attacks on the families of jeep to avoid stone-pelting. A FIR has surface temperature and general weather patterns. Doubts, Kashmiris have or beyond. never to even look at politics in the policemen, the state police department been lodged by the state police against however, remain about the intensity of showers. The Met In other violence, two civilians were future. The recent “video war” in the issued an advisory on April 16 asking its the military personnel involved in the department predicted a 38% chance of near-normal rainfall been through killed in the south Kashmir districts of Valley started after images of a CRPF men to exercise extreme caution while act. and said there were signs that the rains will be well distrib- since armed Pulwama and Shopian for their politi- trooper being heckled by youths dur- visiting their hometowns. The opposition NC has demanded uted this time around. A more detailed forecast of rainfall cal affiliations. Bashir Ahmad Dar of ing the April 9 election were uploaded On Monday, Amnesty International the dismissal of the PDP-BJP govern- distribution in various regions will be available in early June violence started Rajpora town in Pulwama was killed on on social media. took serious note of armed groups tar- ment, accusing it of “Pushing Kashmir when the IMD is armed with more data on the El Niño and here in the early April 15 by gunmen for his affiliation This was followed by the video of a geting civilians. The human rights into darkness”. The PDP and BJP lead- Indian Ocean Dipole. India saw drought years in 2014 and with the ruling Peoples Democratic youth tied to the front of an army jeep, watchdog condemned attacks on civil- ers have, in turn, accused the NC of 2015. Despite the IMD’s forecast of ‘above normal’ rains in 1990s Party (PDP) while a day later, a young apparently to avoid attacks from stone- ians for their political affiliations and having left behind the Augean Stables 2016, India received 3% less than the average. Vast parts of lawyer was killed in Pinjura village of pelters. Then, massive Valley-wide pro- also on the families of state police force. of trouble during its long years of rule. states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala are already Shopian district for his affiliation with tests by students broke out on April 17 The operations of the security forces The blame games between the reeling under severe drought due to deficient pre-monsoon the National Conference (NC). The after videos showing students of a Pul- have been highly compromised by civil- mainstream parties notwithstand- rains. With the massive shortfall in irrigation facilities, good young lawyer had served as a public wama college being ruthlessly beaten ian protests while they are on, especially ing, unless the Central and the state showers are necessary this year to trap enough soil moisture prosecutor during the NC government by the security forces were uploaded on in south Kashmir districts. governments act fast to pull Kashmir for a healthy kharif crop. What a good harvest season will in the state. social media the previous day. The Army chief, General Bipin out of its present spiral of anger and vio- do is help keep inflation down and rural consumption up. On April 16, a video clip was To prevent the use of social media as Rawat, visited the state on Sunday. He lence, 2017 might be worse than what The monsoon season last year did little to recharge our water uploaded on social media of a trader a tool to stoke passions, the authorities met Governor N.N. Vohra in Jammu Kashmiris have been through since bodies adequately. Earlier this year, the government said that of Pulwama town denouncing India on Monday again ordered the suspen- and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti armed violence started here in the early water levels in India’s 91 major reservoirs were at 41% (less and begging for his life with guns sion of mobile internet services in the and National Security Advisor Ajit 1990s. IANS than half) of their storage capacity. pointed at him. In another video from Valley. Also, the internet speed of fixed- Doval in New Delhi. Gen. Rawat (The views expressed the same district, a civilian was seen line broadband connections has been has reportedly expressed displeasure are strictly personal.) 9 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 20 April, 2017 mp in focus At death’s door Around 3 million people are estimated to be severely food-insecure in north-eastern Nigeria, South Sudan, and Somalia. Jonathan Pound looks at why famine still plagues Africa

he severe food insecurity situation that is afflicting several countries in Africa is unprecedented in terms of magnitude, severity, and multifac- Teted causes. While early warning systems, which have been augmented in recent years by a proliferation of remote sensing analy- sis, have become increasingly efficient in forewarning about droughts and proposing actions to mitigate their impact, conflict has become a key driver of severe food insecu- The ability of rity in Africa, particularly in north-eastern humanitarian Nigeria, South Sudan and Somalia. In 2016 and 2017, while intra-country agencies to access conflicts were the main catalyst that put pop- food-insecure ulations at risk or in famine conditions, it was also an amalgam of elements includ- populations ing droughts, record high food prices and is impeded by economic downturns, which combined to push millions of people into food insecu- conflict, and this rity across the continent, and concurrently contributes to eroded capacities of households and govern- ments to respond effectively. intensifying and In aggregate, nearly 3 million people are prolonging food estimated to be severely food insecure and at risk of famine in north-eastern Nigeria, insecurity. While Somalia, and South Sudan where famine conflict is a key has already been declared. Conflict acutely impinges on households’ productive capac- catalyst, limited ity, physically denying access to agricultural agricultural land and inputs, while the persistent threat of violence can negatively affect farmers’ productive planting decisions. It also adversely impacts capacity in the pastoralists’ livelihoods, significantly restrict- ing mobility, which is critical for sustainable context of erratic natural resource management. Representational Image weather and droughts also People pushed to the brink holds’ production and non-functioning mar- are now open to humanitarian operations. duction, particularly for small-scale farmers the large proportion of a household’s bud- In South Sudan, large displacements and kets, 5.2 million people are projected to be who lack resilience, is highly susceptible to get allocated to food purchases. Currency undermines insecurity following a renewal of violence severely food insecure in Adamawa, Borno, Stability, peace vital reduced rains. Therefore, even in periods of depreciations, notably in Nigeria and South national coping in mid-2016 hampered cultivation and har- and Yobe states in the forthcoming lean sea- It is, therefore, paramount that peace and stability, production shocks can have a signif- Sudan, as well as several countries in South- vesting activities for the main 2016 crop. In son (July-September). Furthermore, record stability are attained to achieve sustainable icant impact on food security, as was the case ern Africa, exacerbated price rises and con- capacities particular, the area planted in the most pro- or near-record high food prices, under- long-term food security and to capacitate in Southern Africa in 2016 that witnessed a strained food access. Policies are, therefore, ductive regions was well below average. The pinned by the depreciation of the currency a country to respond to the precursors of substantial increase in humanitarian needs needed to cushion the impact for the poor- reduced plots were mainly sowed with veg- and insecurity, intensified food insecurity famines effectively. Such conditions will aid due to the El Niño-induced drought. More- est households from excessive food price etables due to their shorter growing period conditions. in facilitating and scaling up investment in over, a generally static per capita cereal pro- increases. Furthermore, in the context of a compared to staple cereal crops, in an attempt The situation is also extremely grave in agriculture and rural livelihoods. An example duction growth in the preceding ten years conflict situation, the potential to capture any to mitigate potential losses due to the inher- Somalia. Here, three consecutive poor rain- would be Ethiopia where decade-long eco- (2006-2015), at the continent level, has lim- benefits of higher food prices for net produc- ent threat of violence. Moreover, a macroeco- fall seasons have resulted in sharply reduced nomic growth, relative peace in the country ited the ability to absorb supply shortfalls. ers is virtually non-existent. nomic collapse, high food prices exacerbated harvests and severely affected livelihoods and the implementation of effective safety- Africa’s stock-to-use ratio of cereals, Africa as a continent has achieved a by currency depreciation and the exhaustion of pastoral and agro-pastoral households. net programmes helped avert famine despite which can be used as an indicator to infer the reduction in the proportion of undernour- of households’ coping mechanisms further Widespread animal deaths were reported. the drought conditions in 2016. level of a country’s vulnerability and exposure ished since the 1990s and recorded growth in undermined resilience, engendering famine The situation could deteriorate significantly, Similarly, the ability of humanitarian to supply/demand shocks, has been stable in cereal production (in absolute terms). How- conditions for an estimated 100,000 people. heightening the risk of famine, if the upcom- agencies to access food-insecure populations recent years, while by comparison, this ratio ever conflict, which has emerged as the domi- This figure is likely to increase as the hunger ing Gu rainy season (April-June) performs is impeded by conflict, and this contributes to increased in Latin America and the Carib- nant cause of food crises, has halted, and in season peaks until July 2017 and if humani- poorly as predicted by latest forecasts. In the intensifying and prolonging food insecurity. bean, and Asia. Although this does not indi- some cases, reversed gains of the preceding tarian access is not adequate and timely. worst-case scenario, households’ purchas- Particularly in emergency situations, rapid cate deterioration in the continent’s coping years in some countries. More is needed to Similarly, the protracted conflict in north- ing power could decline to levels observed distribution of humanitarian assistance is capacity, it highlights a rigidness to respond ensure peace, which will help to promote eastern Nigeria has caused massive displace- in 2010-11, when famine was declared, and crucial to prevent a worsening of conditions. to agricultural shocks. further investment in structural factors that ment, resulting in a widespread disruption in areas where humanitarian assistance is While conflict is a key catalyst, limited can impede sustainable and long-lasting food in marketing and agricultural activities. Sig- unable to reach due to insecurity, famine agricultural productive capacity in the con- High food prices security. DOWN TO EARTH nificant cutbacks in the planted area to food would be expected. text of erratic weather and droughts also On top of conflict and drought in 2016, (The writer is an economist at the Food crops were the main result in affected areas, Currently, however, humanitarian access undermines national coping capacities. With price spikes that reached record levels in and Agriculture Organization’s Global notably in Borno State. With both supply is relatively better than in 2011 and previ- less than 10 per cent of Africa’s total arable several countries had further detrimental Information and Early Warning System. shortfalls emanating from reduced house- ously inaccessible areas of southern Somalia land equipped for irrigation, food crop pro- impacts on food security, particularly given Views expressed here are strictly personal.)

tweet Urban consumer bias RETWEET

Agriculturists deserve justice and empathy, not sympathy, writes Sanjay Bhoosreddy PRASHANT BHUSHAN @pbhushan1 rban consumers with decent salaries are agitated when- ever the price of agricultural and associated commodities Govt claims credit for Urise by one or two rupees. In such situa- Mallya arrest, after tions, all of us want the government to intervene immediately. But after work- allowing him to flee. ing for farmers and animal rearers, I’ve But why does it hide realised that the urban consumer and names of other big the media are unable to see the com- The urban plete picture, and are insensitive to the defaulters? farmer’s plight. consumer does Many urban consumers ask why not appreciate should the farmers or animal rear- the risks Indian ers be paid more for their produce NITIN PAI than the cost of inputs plus additional @acorn agriculturists go money for their basic needs and liv- through. Farmers ing? To elaborate the point, let’s take the case of a dairy farmer. Presuming the It's distressing to see have to contend farmer has three to four hybrid exotic the Delhi media & na- with uncertain cows. Without taking the readers into the details of the economics of farm- tional public discourse rains and weather ing or animal rearing, the earnings of treat the protesting conditions, and the poor farmer would be as follows: Tamil Nadu farmers his gross revenue would be around Representational Image animal rearers Rs.9,500/- to Rs.10,000/- per cow per with disdain. I suspect have to face risk month (PCPM) of which Rs.6,500/- to adversely affect the food security pro- for a kg of raw potato. The potato fries and weather conditions, and the ani- bias. Rs.7,000/- is the expenditure PCPM of gram and, thereby, the food sovereignty cost the MNC food chain not more mal rearers have to face risk like a sud- like a sudden feed, fodder, health care, etc. It means of the Nation. than Rs.150/- a kg, but we are happy den eruption of disease and lack of eruption of that PCPM the farmer’s net revenue is If the dairy cooperatives decide to to shell out Rs.1,500/- a kg for the same fodder due to drought. There are other only Rs.3,000/- to Rs.3,500/-. Presum- pay the farmers even one rupee more without a murmur. We pay up rather unforeseen situations apart from the KARUNA NUNDY disease and lack ing three animals produce milk then his for his produce, then there is great hue gladly and relish the junk food in the exploitation by the middlemen, lack of @karunanundy of fodder due to net income is around Rs.10,000/- per and cry by everybody especially the urban environs. To the MNCs, we are post-harvest infrastructure. drought. There are month. This income is not the farmer’s urban middle class which is amplified happy to pay 1,000 to 1,500 times as It’s high time that instead of sym- net revenue because this includes the by the media. So is in the case of eggs profits for their products, but we get jit- pathising with the farmers and animal #FreeSpeechProblem other unforeseen labour cost borne by himself and his or any such agro and allied products. ters in paying the poor farmers a rupee rearers the urban consumers appre- family members also. If you take out the The urban consumer need not make extra for their produce, which he and ciate the value of their produce and when bad laws are situations apart labour cost of minimum two persons an issue for a genuine and desirable his entire family work upon for one full empathise with their hard working con- used against idiotic from exploitation at the rate of Rs.3,000/- each, a total of increase in price for the agriculturists’ crop cycle of 4 to 5 months. Further, ditions. It is an endeavour in which not speech, having to Rs.6,000/- then what remains with the produce. Why do we expect the farmer when these MNCs offer the consumer a only the farmer or animal rearers are stand up for the idiotic by the middlemen farmer is net income Rs.4,000/- for all to earn a maximum of only 10-15 per combo meal at a little-discounted price, involved, but their entire family works and lack of the efforts of the family to earn their cent on his produce? Why should the the urban consumer feels jubilant to get the entire year round. They are wholly speech. post-harvest livelihood through animal husbandry. farmer account only for his food and the best bargain. dependent on the little remunerations If the farmer decides to go for wage bare minimum basics as earnings from There is a bias in urban consumers from their agro produce for their live- infrastructure employment in government proj- his vocation? Don’t the farmers deserve and, therefore, the price discrimination lihood, which cannot be restricted to ects under MGNREGA then he, his good health, good education for his against agricultural or animal products. only their food requirement but also PRIYANKA CHATURVEDI wife and adult children would earn children, decent housing, healthy liv- The urbanites, on the one hand, desires for their health, decent housing, edu- @priyankac19 Rs.3000/- per person per month for ing and future for his family? If urban that the farmers provide agro produce cation, clothing, and planning for the working only 8 hours a day for 26 days. consumers attempt to answer these at a throwaway price but on the con- future of their family. In the ultimate It ensures the family the total earnings fundamental questions, then only the trary want their salaries/wages to be analysis, the solution lies in consumers of Rs.9,000/- to Rs.12,000/- from their society would do real justice to the linked to all types of indexes. Why are resolving to pay a remunerative price to Tej Bahadur has been wages alone and that too without any farming community. They deserve jus- the urban consumers not ready to pay the farming community for their pro- sacked for exposing the input cost and risk involved. This is tice, empathy, and not sympathy. to the farmers or the animal rearers for duce so as to ensure adequate and qual- a far-reaching issue for the nation as Now let’s compare how much the their hard earned and due remunera- ity food for all, which is a sine qua non food our jawans at the the poor economics of the agriculture same urban consumer pays to a mul- tion for their produce? for the healthy survival of any nation. border get to eat but production systems would push the tinational corporation for their potato This mindset is very unfortunate. (Sanjay Bhoosreddy is farmers to non-agricultural activities. fries. While standing in long queues, The urban consumer does not appreci- an officer in the Indian for news media Sonu This scenario would be highly unde- urbanites are happy to pay a minimum ate the risk, which the Indian farmers Administrative Service. Nigam rocks TRPs. sirable for the agriculture sector and of Rs.1,500 a kg for potato fries but are or animal rearers go through. Farmers The views expressed ultimately for the country as it would unwilling to pay only a meagre Rs.15/- have to contend with uncertain rains are strictly personal.) 10 world mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 20 April, 2017 IRAN COMPLIES WITH 2015 N-DEAL Panama Papers: POLL SUGGESTS VOTERS BACK THERESA MAY’S U-TURN Pakistan SC Trump orders verdict can oust review on lifting Sharif as PM MPs back May’s call for ISLAMABAD/ KARACHI: sanctions on Iran A looming Supreme Court decision that could disqual- ify Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif over corruption alle- snap election in June gations had the country on edge Wednesday, as a drawn- LONDON: British lawmakers government’s achievements, out investigation related to the on Wednesday approved including delivering record “Panama Papers” leaks neared Prime Minister Theresa Mays levels of employment and a conclusion. decision to call a snap general spending more money on the Disqualifying Sharif would election on June 8. The House health service than ever before. leave his party in power, but it of Commons voted for an early “We will be fighting for would cause intense turmoil election by 522 votes to 13 -- a every vote, while the right at a time when Pakistan is majority of 509. honourable gentleman experiencing modest growth May raised a motion (Corbyn) would bankrupt our and improved security after calling for a vote in the House economy, weaken our defences years of violence, and the of Commons on Wednesday. and is simply not fit to lead.” civilian government and She made an unexpected She accused opposition powerful military have announcement on Tuesday that MPs of trying to thwart the appeared to come to uneasy she would seek an early election Brexit process. terms. Sharif has denied any less than halfway through her “What the people of the wrongdoing, but the Supreme government’s five year-term. United Kingdom voted for last Court agreed to investigate his She said an election was needed year was for the UK to leave the family’s offshore wealth late last to prevent opposition parties European Union. We must set year after opposition leader at Westminster “frustrating” that process in motion, there is WASHINGTON: The Trump to Iran pursuant to the JCPOA Imran Khan threatened street the Brexit process and provide no turning back.” administration said on Tuesday is vital to the national security protests. The Supreme Court long-term “certainty and “But it is clear from the it was launching an inter- interests of the United States,” could take a range a of steps. It stability”. statements that have been made agency review of whether the Tillerson added. could clear the prime minister, The next general election by the Scottish nationalists lifting of sanctions against He did not say how long or order a further judicial was expected in 2020, but the and others that they do want Iran was in the United States’ the review would take but said commission of inquiry or even Fixed Term Parliaments Act to use this House to try to national security interests, in the letter to Ryan that the declare him ineligible to hold allows for one to be held earlier frustrate that process. I will be while acknowledging that administration looked forward office, as it did in 2012 with if two-thirds of MPs back the not hold an early general Wednesday, Labour leader issue proved she could “not be asking the British people for Tehran was complying to working with Congress on then-Prime Minister Yusuf move. May has repeatedly said election. Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the trusted”. a mandate to complete Brexit with a deal to rein in its the issue. Raza Gilani over a contempt since becoming the Prime Speaking at the Prime prospect of an election but May responded by saying and make a success of it,” nuclear program. During his presidential of court case. AGENCIES Minister in July that she would Minister’s Questions on suggested May’s U-turn on the she is “very proud” of her May said. AGENCIES In a letter to US House of campaign, Trump called the Representatives Speaker Paul agreement “the worst deal ever Ryan, the top Republican in negotiated,” raising questions May says early elections will boost her in EU Congress, on Tuesday US over whether he would rip 2 Bangladesh war crimes Secretary of State Rex Tillerson up the agreement once he talks, Brexit negotiations to start thereafter said Iran remained compliant took office. The historic deal with the 2015 deal, but said between Iran and six major convicts sentenced to death there were concerns about powers restricts Tehran’s LONDON: Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday an early election its role as a state sponsor of nuclear program in exchange would strengthen her at the “most crucial point” in Britain’s divorce talks DHAKA: Two Bangladesh war crimes convicts in Malaysia. terrorism. Under the deal, the for the lifting of international with the EU, as she prepared to ask parliament to approve a vote in just seven were sentenced to death by a special tribunal Both the convicts hailed from northern State Department must notify oil and financial sanctions weeks’ time. May surprised allies and opponents on Tuesday when she an- for committing crimes against humanity during Kishorganj, where Husain served as local Congress every 90 days on against the Islamic Republic. nounced her plan to bring forward an election that was not due until 2020. the 1971 Liberation War against Pakistan on commander of Rajakar Bahini, a Bengali- Iran’s compliance under the Iran denies ever having Wednesday. manned auxiliary force of Pakistani troops, so-called Joint Comprehensive considered developing atomic The former interior minister, who became prime minister without an elec- Moslem Prodhan and Syed Mohammad while Prodhan was a member of the local unit. Plan of Action (JCPOA). It is weapons although nuclear tion when her predecessor David Cameron quit after last year’s referendum Hussain, who is absconding, were sentenced Describing the court’s decision to recognise the first such notification under experts have warned that any vote for Brexit, said she needed to strengthen her hand in negotiations which to death by the three-member International wartime rapes equivalent as genocide as a US President Donald Trump. U.S. violation of the nuclear will reshape Britain and test the cohesion of the EU. “I’ve taken this decision Crimes Tribunal for committing atrocities like “extraordinary achievement”, Prosecutor Turin “The US Department deal would allow Iran also to “genocide, rape and extermination” committed Afroze said this is the first instance, where of State certified to US pull back from its commitments because I genuinely believe it is in the national interest,” May told BBC radio. during the war for freedom. the mass rape in 1971 has been recognised as House Speaker Paul Ryan to curb nuclear development. “If you look at the timetable, had the election been in 2020 we would have been The tribunal led by Justice Anwarul Haque “genocidal rape” and the highest punishment on Wednesday that Iran is Those commitments coming up to the most crucial part of the negotiations, at the end of the nego- ordered to carry out the execution either has been handed for it. compliant through April 18 include reducing the number tiations, in what would be starting to be the run-up to a general election.” hanging by the neck or shooting by a firing Defence counsel Abdus Sattar Palwan with its commitments under of its centrifuges by two-thirds, She is expected to win the necessary backing of more than two-thirds of squad, whichever the government decides. refrained from commenting saying they respect the Joint Comprehensive Plan capping its level of uranium The tribunal described as “system crimes” the the law and the tribunal. “The matter of appeal of Action,” Tillerson said in a enrichment well below the parliament in a vote that is likely to take place soon after 1300 GMT. The offences committed by the two convicts, both will be decided after discussing it with the client,” statement. “President Donald level needed for bomb-grade European Union’s “real political” negotiations on Britain’s exit from the bloc in their mid 60s. he said. The convicts can appeal against the J. Trump has directed a material, reducing its enriched will start after the snap British election in June, an EU spokesman said on They were held guilty of six charges, including tribunal’s decision within a month of the verdict. National Security Council-led uranium stockpile from Wednesday. “The real political negotiations on article 50 with the UK will abductions, tortures, mass murders and Bangladesh launched the belated process interagency review of the Joint around 10,000 kg to 300 kg start after the elections foreseen for the 8th of June,” European Commission genocide, levelled by the prosecution. Moslem of trying 1971 war criminals in 2010. All the Comprehensive Plan of Action for 15 years, and submitting was arrested in July 2015 from Kishoreganj accused who were tried until now were civilians that will evaluate whether to international inspections to spokesman Margaritis Schinas told a press conference. AGENCIES after a warrant was out for him.The court on and mostly belonged to fundamentalist Jamaat-e- suspension of sanctions related verify its compliance. AGENCIES Wednesday instructed the home minister and Islami, which was opposed to the independence. the Bangladesh Police chief to initiate measures The International Crimes Tribunal, set up to arrest Hussain. It asked officials concerned for the trying the war criminals, have so far to apprehend Hussain with the help of the convicted 48 persons, of whom 30 received the Xi restructures military, consolidates control Interpol if necessary as he is believed to be hiding death sentence. AGENCIES

BEIJING: Chinese President Xinhua news agency report late regions, as well as streamlining Erdogan, Xi Jinping has announced a on Tuesday. All 84 new units troop numbers particularly in WORLD BRIEFS military restructure of the are at the combined-corps level, non-combat facing roles. The Trump to meet People’s Liberation Army which means commanders previous seven military area BERNIE SANDERS MOST POPULAR (PLA) to transform it into a will hold the rank of major- commands were regrouped leaner fighting force with general or rear-admiral, the into five, and the four military in May before POLITICIAN IN US: POLL improved joint operations official China Daily reported departments - staff, politics, WASHINGTON: Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is the capability, state media said. on Wednesday, adding that logistics and armaments - Nato summit US’ most popular active politician, viewed favourably Centered around a new, unit members would likely be were reorganized into 15 condensed structure of 84 regrouped from existing forces agencies last year. The 84 ANKARA: President Recep by 57 percent of registered voters, according to military units, the reshuffle given the Chinese military units will come under the 15 Tayyip Erdogan will meet a new poll. Sanders is particularly popular among builds on Xi’s years-long was still engaged in cutting its agencies. Retired PLA Major- Donald Trump in May, the people aged between 18 to 34, who gave him a 62 efforts to modernize the PLA troops by 300,000, one of the General Xu Guangyu, a senior Turkish foreign minister said per cent approval rating. He also has majority support with greater emphasis on wide-ranging military reforms researcher at the Beijing-based on Wednesday, after the US among those over the age of 50, according to the new capabilities including introduced by Xi in late 2015. China Arms Control and president congratulated the latest Harvard-Harris survey. cyberspace, electronic and commander-in-chief of China’s a world-class military,” Xi told Those reforms include Disarmament Association, Turkish leader for winning a information warfare. armed forces. commanders of the new units establishing a joint operational said the restructure represented referendum on enhancing his IN MOSUL, IRAQI SNIPERS TRACK As chair of the Central “This has profound and at the PLA headquarters in command structure by 2020 the second major phase of powers. Military Commission, Xi is also significant meaning in building Beijing, according to the official and rejigging existing military Xi’s reforms. AGENCIES “We will determine a date JIHADISTS AROUND THE CLOCK for the two presidents to meet in MOSUL: A few hundred metres from an iconic mosque May before the NATO summit in west Mosul, Iraqi sniper Salah al-Zuheiri has his eye as previously confirmed by glued to his scope as he searches for Islamic State Clinton apologised to the leaders,” Foreign Minister group jihadists. Iraqi forces are battling to retake Mevlut Cavusoglu said. The NATO summit is Mosul from IS, after the group overran the city in 2014 scheduled to be held in late and its leader proclaimed a “caliphate” from the Obama on election night May in Brussels and Trump mosque in its Old City. IS “fighters are within range. is due to attend. Cavusoglu We’re tracking them day and night,” says Zuheiri, a WASHINGTON: Hillary did not specify if the meeting sniper with the Iraqi federal police who has taken up Clinton apologised to the would take place on the position some 300 metres (yards) from the Al-Nuri then President Barack Obama sidelines of the summit or at shortly after conceding defeat another venue. After Erdogan’s Mosque. Inside a darkened room in a four-storey to Donald Trump on elec- narrow win in Sunday’s building retaken from the jihadists, Zuheiri tries to tion night, according to a referendum on creating an steady his rifle on sandbags. new book. executive presidency, Trump “Mr President, I’m sorry,” congratulated the Turkish FEMALE AHMADI PROFESSOR STABBED Clinton told Obama over leader in a phone call on AT HOME IN LAHORE phone as her unexpected Monday, in contrast to the election loss became a real- muted reaction of European ISLAMABAD: A woman Ahmadi professor was found ity, according to a Washing- leaders to the result, which stabbed to death in her house in the residential colony ton Post review of the book has been challenged by the of Pakistan’s top Punjab University (PU) in Lahore on ‘Shattered’ which is about opposition. Tuesday. Saleemuddin, a spokesperson for Jamaat the Democratic presiden- Cavusoglu said that during Ahmadiyya Pakistan, said Professor Abdullah was tial candidate’s failed 2016 their call the two leaders had an Ahmadi and it was very likely that she had been campaign. The book ‘Shat- expressed a common desire tered: Inside Hillary Clinton’s election night, after Wiscon- saying. But as Clinton was to meet in Washington “to killed because of her faith. Tahira Abdullah, the Doomed Campaign’ reveals sin was called by Fox News, dragging it out, she got a improve bilateral relations”. deceased professor, had retired from the varsity’s how in a flurry of calls the Allen and Parnes report that call from Obama. “You need Turkey hopes ties with molecular genetics department and was working at PU White House urged Clinton the campaign fielded a series to concede,” urged Obama, the Trump administration on a contractual basis. According to reports, she was to concede defeat. “You’re of calls from the White House who repeated the message in will improve after relations teaching cell biology at the post-graduate level. going to come up short,” Steve pushing Clinton to concede, a follow-up call to Clinton’s soured between the NATO Schale, the best vote-counter even though the margins in campaign chairman, John allies during Barack Obama’s ITALY CALLS FOR RELEASE OF the Democrats had in Florida, many states were extraordi- Podesta, according to the term over Syria and Turkey’s told campaign officials. narily close. President Obama book. At last, Clinton said, calls for US-based Muslim JOURNALIST HELD IN TURKEY The call with Schale thought it was over and did “Give me the phone.” And cleric Fethullah Gulen to be ROME: Italy has called for the release of an Italian marked the beginning of a not want a messy recount. then the first woman who extradited. Gulen is accused of journalist who has been held in custody in Turkey riveting account of the final, First came a call from White was going to be president ordering last July’s failed coup for more than a week since he was detained while dreadful hours of Clinton’s House political director got her opponent on the line and Ankara has repeatedly long pursuit of the presi- David Simas to Clinton’s cam- and said two words she never called for his extradition. doing research for a book. Gabriele Del Grande dency, as told by reporters paign manager, Robby Mook. expected to say, “Congratu- The preacher vehemently was arrested on April 9 close to Turkey’s border with Jonathan Allen and Amie “POTUS (President of lations, Donald.” Moments denies Turkey’s accusations. Syria and transferred to a migrants center in the city Parnes in their insidery new the United States) doesn’t later, Obama was back on Last month, US Secretary of Mugla. The Italian foreign ministry was working to book. think it’s wise to drag this the phone, this time making of State Rex Tillerson met ensure that he was not been charged with any crime. Shortly after 11:00 PM on out,” Simas was quoted as a consolation call. AGENCIES Turkish leaders. AGENCIES world 11 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata |Thursday, 20 April, 2017 mp

FRESH WARNING TO NORTH KOREA A PRINCELY AFFAIR US V-P to North Korea: ‘The sword stands ready’ Vice-President Mike Pence says working with allies to put pressure on N Korea

YOKOSUKA: From the From two continents, wind-swept deck of a massive Pence and Defense Secretary aircraft carrier, Vice-President Jim Mattis warned that North Mike Pence on Wednesday Korea’s latest failed missile warned North Korea not launch was a reckless act of to test the resolve of the US provocation and assured allies military, promising it would in Asia that the US was ready make an “overwhelming and to work to achieve a peaceful effective” response to any use denuclearization of the Korean of conventional or nuclear Peninsula. (Centre right) Britain’s Prince Harry helps staff as he officially opens the London Marathon Expo at weapons. Mattis denounced North ExCel center in London on Wednesday AP/PTI Pence, dressed in a green Korea’s attempted missile military jacket, said aboard launch as he began a Middle the hulking USS Ronald East tour, telling reporters Syria resumes Reagan that President Donald traveling with him to Saudi Nikki Haley: Human rights Trump’s administration would Arabia, ``the leader of North continue to “work diligently’’ Korea again recklessly tried reciprocal with allies like Japan, China to provoke something by and other global powers to the shield stands guard and the “Those who wouldPence said. launching a missile,’’ he said. violations triggered evacuations after apply economic and diplomatic sword stands ready,” Pence told challenge our resolve or Pence also said the US The term “reckless’’ is one the pressure on Pyongyang. But he 2,500 sailors dressed in blue readiness should know, we would protect freedom of North Koreans have used to deadly bombing told the sailors, “as all of you fatigues and Naval baseball will defeat any attack and navigation in the South China describe ongoing large-scale Syrian conflict know, readiness is the key. caps on a sunny, windy meet any use of conventional Sea, the sea lanes vital to US and South Korean military BEIRUT: Syria’s military “The United States of morning aboard the carrier at or nuclear weapons with global shipping where China exercises, which the North UNITED NATION: US and other council members, media says the evacuation America will always seek peace the US Yokosuka naval base in an overwhelming and has been staking claim to calls a dress rehearsal for Ambassador Nikki Haley and was the first meeting and transfer of thousands of but under President Trump, Tokyo Bay. effective American response,” disputed territory. an invasion. AGENCIES said on Tuesday that human solely on human rights. The Syrians from four besieged rights violations have triggered United States initially wanted areas has resumed. The conflict in Syria, stifled the debate under a new reciprocal evacuations from United Nations discovers 17 dissent in Burundi and led to agenda item for the council two pro-government villages Aus, NZ step up nationalist rhetoric repression in Myanmar, and entitled “Human Rights and two opposition-held towns mass graves in central Congo the next international crisis and International Peace and was disrupted by a bombing could come from North Korea, Security”, which would mean on Saturday that killed more UNITED NATION: UN investigators have discov- with visa curbs on skilled workers Iran or Cuba where human that item could be raised again than 120 pro-government rights are widely disregarded. and again in the council. evacuees, mostly children. The ered 17 mass grave sites in central Democratic SYDNEY: Australia and New Zealand have 12,866 of the so-called 457 skilled work visas But Russia and China But many council Central Military Media says Republic of Congo, bringing the total to 40 docu- tightened visa conditions for skilled migrants in approved in the year to September 2016. disputed her contention that members didn’t want the 3,000 residents of the pro- mented in an area where the army has clashed a bid to woo nationalist-leaning voters, echoing More than 95,000 foreigners are now human rights violations are a UN’s most powerful body, government villages, Foua and with a local militia, the United Nations said on the United States’ “America First” policy, but employed under the 457 visa, making up a mere main driver of conflicts. which is charged with Kfarya, left on Wednesday in 45 critics have decried the move as mostly political 0.8 percent of Australia’s labour force. “This And Human Rights ensuring international peace buses bound for government- Wednesday. The sites were reportedly dug by posturing. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm is just a change of name, nothing else,” said Watch questioned the Trump and security, to also focus on controlled Aleppo. Congolese soldiers after fighting with the Turnbull on Tuesday abolished a temporary Shamim Ahmed, a Sydney-based migration administration’s decision to human rights. Russia’s deputy Another 11 buses carrying Kamuina Nsapu militia in Kasai Central province work visa popular with foreigners, replacing agent at AIC Education Services. “They cannot focus on human rights at the UN Ambassador Evgeny opposition fighters left Madaya in late March, a UN statement said. “At least 74 it with a new programme. New Zealand also really abolish this visa, because it is demanded UN Security Council in light Zagaynov said the Security and Zabadani, near Damascus, people, including 30 children, were reported to tightened access to skilled work visas, taking a by employers.” The 457 visa has been axed with of its own actions. The United Council has no mandate to heading toward the northern “Kiwis-first approach.” immediate effect, and replaced by two new States holds the UN Security consider human rights which rebel-held Idlib province. have been killed by soldiers as a result of these The changes are likely to hurt small businesses visas with a shorter skills shortage list and a Council presidency this month are discussed elsewhere at The opposition-run Syrian clashes,” the statement said. A government and Australian tech start-ups, industry officials tougher English language requirement, Turnbull and Haley was determined to the UN. He objected to Observatory for Human Rights spokesman did not immediately respond to a said, but both countries will continue to see a announced on Tuesday. Additional details are hold a meeting to focus on the the US contention that also reported the transfer, request for comment. The government has previ- surge in foreigners. Recent population growth still awaited. Turnbull, who broke the news importance of human rights rights violations are “a main which it says includes 800 ously denied that soldiers have used dispropor- in Australia has been driven by student visas, on social media site Facebook, expects fewer to international peace and precondition for armed armed men from both sides. which offer a path for people to study, work and entrants to Australia under the new scheme, he security. conflict” and to its assertion The population exchange tionate force against militia members and said the eventually become permanent residents. In the said in a radio interview on Wednesday. “There It took place Tuesday that protecting human rights has been criticized by rights militia had dug the graves. The Kamuina Nsapu six months to December, the country granted will be a short-term skills visa for two years and after the US addressed a key is “a key instrument” to groups, which say it rewards uprising has become the most serious threat to 156,453 student visas. This compares with just it can only be renewed once. AGENCIES objection from Russia, China prevent conflict. AGENCIES siege tactics. AGENCIES President Joseph Kabila. AGENCIES Pakistan Army chief issues execution order of 30 militants WORLD BRIEFS ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday signed execution orders of 30 har dcore terrorists who were awarded death sentence by military courts of the country, the mili- UK POLICE NAME SUSPECT IN EAST tary said. “These terrorists were involved in committing heinous offences relating to terrorism,” an army statement said. They were behind the attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar, kidnapping and LONDON NIGHTCLUB ACID ATTACK slaughtering soldiers of security officials, attack on an airport in Swat Valley, killing innocent civilians, LONDON: Police investigating an acid attack at a attacking armed forces’ law enforcement agencies, the statement said. It is the first time the army chief London nightclub that left 20 people injured are has approved death penalty of 30 convicts on a single day. The army said the process of execution has searching for the boyfriend of a reality TV performer been expedited during the ongoing anti-terror major operation codenamed “Radd-ul-Fasaa” or “reject who has urged him to turn himself in. London police discord” in English. AGENCIES have named Arthur Collins as a suspect wanted for questioning in the case, which left two people seriously UNITED AIRLINES injured and needing hospital treatment in special burn units. The 25-year-old Collins is the boyfriend of ‘Weakening Syria’s reality TV performer Ferne McCann. CEO says no one will be RIGHTS GROUPS CONDEMN ATTACK govt could help IS’ fired for dragging incident ON SIKH CAB DRIVER IN NYC NEW YORK: Civil rights groups are strongly ISTANBUL: The Islamic State government is essentially the NEW YORK: The CEO of United Airlines says no one will be group could inadvertently anvil to the US-led coalition’s fired over the dragging of a man off a plane including himself. condemning a ‘racially motivated’ attack on a Sikh benefit from a situation in hammer,” Strack said. CEO Oscar Munoz said on Tuesday that he takes full taxi driver here, calling it an assault ‘on all New which Syrian government Weakened Syrian government responsibility “for making this right,” and he promised more Yorkers’. Harkirat Singh (25), an immigrant from forces are considerably forces could give the militants details later this month after United finishes a review of its Punjab who moved to the US three years ago, was weakened on the ground, a additional footholds at a time policies on overbooked flights. Company executives said it’s too assaulted and his turban knocked off by unruly London-based military analysis when their grip on territory soon to know if the incident is hurting ticket sales. passengers in the early hours of Sunday. The New group has said. elsewhere in Syria and Iraq United has been pummeled on social media #BoycottUnited The report, published is being rolled back, Strack is a popular hashtag and late-night television. Through yesterday, York Police Department is investigating the incident. by IHS Jane’s Terrorism and explained. its shares have fallen 4.4 per cent since Flight 3411, wiping out TALIBAN ‘GOVERNOR’, 21 OTHER Insurgency Centre, follows In Iraq, IS has lost more nearly USD 1 billion in market value, although some other the United States bombing than half the territory the airline stocks also declined in the same period. MILITANTS KILLED IN AFGHAN RAID of a Syrian army base after a militants once controlled there After the market closed Monday, United reported a $96 KABUL: At least 22 militants, including Taliban’s chemical weapons attack on and is now fighting to defend million first-quarter profit, down 69 per cent from a year earlier “Governor” for Baghlan, were killed when Afghan April 4 killed nearly 90 people. a cluster of western Mosul largely because of higher costs for fuel, labor and maintenance. security forces carried out an operation in this The US has accused the neighbourhoods that mark The revenue picture was looking better evidence was growing Syrian government of being the last significant urban area that after two years of falling average fares, United will be able northern province, the Defence Ministry said on behind the attack charges the group holds in that country. to push prices higher this year. Wednesday. “On specific intelligence inputs, the army that Syria denies. In Syria, the Across both Iraq and Syria, On a conference call to discuss those results, Munoz started launched an operation in Dand-e-Ghuri district of Islamic State group is battling IS has lost nearly half the by apologizing again for the April 9 scene on a United Express Baghlan province on Tuesday night. both government forces and territory it held at the height of plane at Chicago’s O’Hare airport. David Dao, a 69-year-old forces allied with the US-led its power in 2014. Since then, Kentucky physician, was bloodied and dragged off the plane by THREE KILLED IN CALIFORNIA coalition. If Syrian government a combination of more intense Chicago airport officers who had been summoned by United SHOOTING SPREE forces are weakened, IS fighters US-led coalition involvement employees when Dao wouldn’t give up his seat. The three officers could more easily move into in the fight against IS and have all been suspended. Munoz and other executives vowed WASHINGTON: Three persons were killed when a heavily populated cities and Syrian government advances to treat customers with dignity, and said that what happened to man went on a shooting spree in the US’s California towns, said Columb Strack, in Aleppo and Palmyra have Dao will never happen again. Munoz’s early statements on the state, a media report has said. The incident occurred senior Middle East analyst pushed IS out of more than incident were widely criticized. He initially supported employees on Tuesday at 10.45 a.m. in downtown Fresno when at IHS Markit. “The Syrian 40,000sqkm of territory. AGENCIES and blamed Dao. AGENCIES the man while shouting “Allahu Akbar” shot a person in a PG&E utility truck, then a second person on Fulton Street and a third one in the parking lot of Catholic Study: Rising sea levels could push some Charities, Fox News reported. Police said the man, is identified as Kori Ali Muhammad, 39. TURKEY’S FM SAYS OBSERVER REPORTS US migration to inland cities from coast ON VOTE ‘EXTREMELY PARTIAL’ SEATTLE: Rising sea levels program at the University of ANKARA: Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu caused by climate change may Georgia, said in an interview said on Wednesday that a critical report by European drive US coastal residents to on Tuesday. “But if people have observers on the referendum to expand President areas far from the seaboard, to move, they go somewhere.” Tayyip Erdogan’s powers contained several mistakes not just to adjacent inland The U.S. National which he believed were deliberate. Observers from regions, according to a study Oceanic and Atmospheric the Organisation for Security and Cooperation published online in the journal Administration predicted in Nature Climate Change. January a 1-to-8-foot (0.3-2.5 in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe said Even landlocked states metre) increase in sea levels Sunday’s referendum had been an uneven contest. such as Arizona and Wyoming by the year 2100. Previous “The OSCE’s report has no reliability as their could see significant increases the surge, said the analysis being a coastal challenge or a research by Hauer and observations lack objectivity and are extremely in population because of from a University of Georgia coastal issue,” Mathew Hauer, others has put the number of partial,” Cavusoglu told a news conference in Ankara. coastal migration by 2100, and researcher. “We typically author of the study and head Americans displaced as high may be unprepared to handle think about sea-level rise as of the Applied Demography as 13.1 million. AGENCIES 12 business mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 20 April, 2017 Trump inks H-1B exec order; Indians to be hit WASHINGTON: Acting on ney General, the Secretary of those applicants having mas- his ‘Buy American, Hire Amer- Labour, and the Secretary of ters and higher degrees from ican’ pledge, US President Homeland Security shall sug- a US educational institution. H-1B visas applications from Donald Trump has signed an gest reforms to help ensure that This month USCIS received executive order for tightening H-1B visas are awarded to the 199,000 H-1B visa petitions the rules of the H-1B visa pro- most-skilled or highest-paid and as a result the federal gramme, the most sought-after petition beneficiaries. agency had to resort to a com- Indians for 2018 dip by 37,000 by Indian IT firms and profes- In a statement, the White puterised draw of lots to decide sionals, to stop “visa abuses”. House said H-1B visas are the fate of successful applicant. Trump signed the order supposed to bring the high- Meanwhile, some US law- WASHINGTON: The US has received 37,000 that calls for tightening the est skilled and paid labour to makers said the executive order less petitions for the H-1B visas for the 2018 fiscal rules of the programme at the the United States. But accord- signed by Trump calling for a year, the country’s immigration agency has said Kenosha, Wisconsin, head- ing to studies, 80 per cent of review of H-1B visas was too amidst a revamp of the visa programme popu- quarters of tool maker Snap- the approved applications were little and too late. lar among Indian IT firms and professionals. on Inc yesterday. for the two lowest wage levels “We already know H-1B The United States Citizenship and Immi- “Right now, widespread allowed. “Currently, compa- visa abuse hurts American gration Services (USCIS), the federal agency abuse in our immigration nies routinely abuse the H-1B workers. which receives and determines the successful system is allowing American visa programme by replacing Simply reviewing the pro- applications for H-1B visas, said yesterday that workers of all backgrounds to American workers with lower gramme is too little, too late,” it received 199,000 H-1B applications for the be replaced by workers brought paid foreign workers,” it said. Senator Dick Durbin said. 2018 fiscal year. in from other countries to fill Reforming the H-1B visa US lawmakers have already As per the USCIS figures, it received 37,000 the same job for, sometimes, President asserted. should be made with Ameri- system was one of the major tabled more than half a dozen less H-1B petitions for the fiscal year 2018 begin- less pay. This will stop,” Trump “No one can compete can goods. election promises of Trump. As legislations in the Congress ning October 1 this year than the 236,000 it told an enthusiastic audience with American workers when “No longer are we going to per several US reports, a major- with specific proposals to received in 2017. in Wisconsin before signing they’re given a fair and level allow foreign countries to cheat ity of the H-1B visas every reform and improve the H-1B These applications were received in the first H-1B visas this year as compared to the previ- the order. playing field, which has not our producers and our workers year are grabbed by Indian IT visas systems. Many of those five days before USCIS stopped receiving the ous two years, but experts attributed this to the He said the order sets in happened for decades,” he said. out of federal contracts. professionals. proposals, as per industry body H-1B petitions. current rhetoric against it. motion the first steps to initi- Trump said his admin- Everyone in my admin- India accounts for the high- Nasscom, are discriminatory The successful applicants have been decided This years applications are “surprisingly low”, ate “long-overdue” reforms to istration is going to enforce istration will be expected to est pool of qualified IT pro- and are targeted towards Indian on the basis of a computerised draw of lots. William Stock, president of the American Immi- end “visa abuses”. ‘Hire American’ rules that are enforce every last ‘Buy Ameri- fessionals, whose services go IT companies. USCIS, as per Congressional mandate can gration Lawyers Association told ‘San Francisco “Right now, H-1B visas designed to protect jobs and can’ provision on behalf of the a long way in making Amer- The US tech industry and issue a maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas every Chronicle’. Stock said a reason behind the drop are awarded in a totally ran- wages of workers in the United American worker, and we are ican companies globally corporate sector, however, has year. In addition, it can issue another 20,000 to could be that companies that hire engineers to dom lottery, and that’s wrong. States. “We believe jobs must be going to investigate every sin- competitive. welcomed the “much-needed” those who have completed their higher educa- handle other businesses’ programming needs Instead, they should be given offered to American workers gle trade deal that undermines As mandated by the Con- review of the H-1B visa pro- tion at a US university. may have filed fewer applications. to the most skilled and high- first. Does that make sense?” these provisions,” he said. gress, the US Citizenship and gramme and expressed confi- In 2017, USCIS had received 233,000 appli- India’s Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services est-paid applicants, and they he said. According to the executive Immigration Services (USCIS) dence that it would help them cations. In 2015 it had received 172,500 H-1B and Wipro accounted for the majority of H-1B should never, ever be used to The executive order also order signed by Trump, the every year issues 65,000 H-1B bring in the best and the bright- applications and 124,000 in 2014. applications filed in California last year, the daily replace Americans,” the US declares that American projects Secretary of State, the Attor- visas and another 20,000 to est from across the world. PTI The USCIS gave no reason for the drop in reported. PTI ONGC topples SBI Yogi for ‘Make in UP’ on lines Jet Airways giving ‘step-motherly’ States can borrow directly to reclaim from foreign agencies its status as of ‘Make in India’ campaign treatment to Indians: Pilots’ body most valued PSU LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditya- MUMBAI: Jet Airways is treat- for infra projects: Centre NEW DELHI: Energy behe- nath has asked the officials to ing Indian pilots in a “step- moth ONGC today surged past start schemes for the success motherly” manner compared NEW DELHI: The Centre on will help create infrastructure State Bank of India to reclaim of ‘Make in UP’ on the lines to expats, pilots’ body NAG Wednesday permitted state as state government entities can the status of the most- valued of Centre’s ‘Make in India’ said today even as the airline government entities to borrow now get funds for big projects. PSU by market valuation. programme. asserted that it has a strict and directly from bilateral overseas While state governments A day after State Bank top- Taking strong excep- common code for employees. lending agencies like JICA to will furnish guarantees for pled the energy firm, the mar- tion to certain finance com- Seeking swift action against fund infrastructure projects. loans, the Centre will provide ket capitalisation (m-cap) of panies duping investors, the alleged racist approach of expat The decision will directly counter-guarantees. External ONGC stood at Rs 2,30,805.73 Chief Minister at a presenta- pilots at the airline, the National benefit large infrastructure assistance today plays a sup- crore at the end of trade today. tion of the state institutional Aviators Guild (NAG) called projects like the Mumbai trans- portive role in financing major This was Rs 323.59 crore finance department here late for disallowing such pilots in harbour link (MTHL), Finance infrastructure projects, social more than SBI’s m-cap of Rs last night directed that a plan the cockpit. Minister Arun Jaitley told sector projects and in building 2,30,482.14 crore. ONGC had be prepared to act stringently opening new accounts. The group’s statement fol- manner and has disregarded opportunities employer and reporters here after the Union up institutional capacity. been the country’s most valued against defaulter companies. For the benefit of state’s 12 lows its direction on April 15 the legitimate expectations endeavours to employ the best Cabinet took decision in this Jaitley said the decision will firm across private and pub- Asking officials to identify such lakh pensioners, the chief min- asking its members not to fly of its employees to be treated human capital irrespective of regard. An official release said help states manage their Fis- lic sectors for some time a few companies which run away ister said digital life certificates with the expats in the cockpit fairly, reasonably and in a just race, gender, caste, creed or the government has approved cal Responsibility and Budget years ago, when it first toppled with investors’ money, he said should be linked to Aadhar and after one of the foreign pilots manner,” it noted. religion,” he added. the policy guidelines to allow Management (FRBM) targets. RIL from the top of the charts stringent laws should be used government departments must allegedly assaulted a trainer in A Jet Airways spokesper- The guild claims represen- financially sound state govern- Presently, external develop- and then also TCS from the against them. ensure that pension amounts Bengaluru recently. The car- son said as part of the airline’s tation of nearly 1,000 pilots of ment entities to borrow directly ment assistance from bilateral pole position. Shares of both Rooting for extending are disbursed to people’s bank rier has around 60 expat com- open door policy, it encourages the total around 1,500 pilots in from bilateral ODA (Official and multilateral sources is the companies traded weak in banking services to maximum accounts through a digital manders, who mainly operate all employee groups to engage Jet Airways. The Naresh Goyal- Development Assistance) part- received by the Government of today’s session but the fall was number of people, he said a transfer by the first day of each its Boeing 737 and ATR fleet. in consultative processes and promoted airline had witnessed ners for implementation of vital India for projects/programmes sharper in SBI’s case. PTI drive should be launched for month. PTI In a strongly-worded state- arrive at amicable solutions. a 5-day long strike by NAG in infrastructure projects. in the central sector; for proj- ment, NAG said disparaging, “As an Indian airline operat- September 2009 over the issue The Mumbai Metropolitan ects executed by central PSUs; inappropriate and racist com- ing internationally, all employ- of forming the union. Region Development Author- and on behalf of the state gov- IndusInd Cabinet approves ments allegedly made by cer- ees, regardless of nationality, NAG also said the airline’s ity (MMRDA), a state gov- ernments for state sector proj- tain expat pilots cannot be are governed by a strict and management needs to respond ernment entity, has also been ects/programmes. The existing Bank Q4 net taken lightly. common code of conduct,” swiftly and ought to issue a dik- allowed to borrow directly guidelines do not allow direct extending sugar stock “This is in addition to the the spokesperson said in a tat to said expat pilots to apolo- from Japan International borrowings by the state gov- up 21% to verbal and physical abuse of a statement. gise or else leave forthwith. Cooperation Agency (JICA) ernment entities from external senior trainer by an expat pilot He noted that there are Stressing on the need for for implementation of MTHL agencies. `751.61 crore limit for six months employed by the airline,” NAG robust HR processes to ensure collective action, the guild project. The estimated project Several state agencies are claimed. that instances of contradictory said the airlines reputation cost for MTHL is Rs 17,854 implementing major infra- Mumbai: Private NEW DELHI: The Cabi- The move is expected to “The management has for nature are duly investigated cannot be “tarnished by racist crore, out of which JICA loan structure projects. These proj- sector IndusInd net Committee on Economic improve the availability of a very long time treated the and appropriate actions taken and hateful comments made portion is expected to be Rs ects, even if viable and sound, Affairs (CCEA) today approved sugar to general public at rea- Indian employees, including as per company policy. by certain misguided foreign 15,109 crore. have huge funding require- Bank's net profit extending the stock limit on sonable rates and control the the pilots, in a step-motherly “Jet Airways is an equal nationals”. PTI Jaitley said the decision ments. PTI grew 21.1 per cent sugar by six months till Octo- tendencies of hoarding and to Rs 751.61 crore ber to boost its availability in profiteering. Currently, there for the last quarter the open market and help con- is a stock limit of 500 tonne and ended March of fis- trol the price rise. turnover limit of 30 days for GoFro offers facility to compare holiday packages At present, sugar is being sugar traders in the country cal 2016-17. sold at an average Rs 42-44 per other than those in West Ben- MUMBAI: After air fares and to gain access to more trav- year and also sees an increase and Guidelines Travels, among they can simply visit GoFro The bank had regis- kg in most retail markets in the gal. The stock limit for traders hotels, tourists can now com- ellers and mid-sized players in the number of suppliers sell- others, where users can com- and compare packages offered tered a net profit of country. Prices are expected in West Bengal is 1,000 tonne. pare holiday packages on a sin- to move beyond a particular ing packages on the platform, pare holiday packages across by all the travel agents,” GoFro Rs 620.35 crore in to be under pressure due to The country’s sugar out- gle platform with travel online regional player and reach out it said. The company has part- all travel partners. Founder Amitabh Misra said. the corresponding domestic shortages. put is estimated to fall for the marketplace GoFro partnering to new markets, GoFro said in nered with more than 12 travel “It is another big step by The company started its The CCEA -- headed by second consecutive year to with 12 major industry players a release here on Wednesday . companies like Thomas Cook, GoFro to become India’s first journey in June 2016 and has January-March pe- Prime Minister Narendra Modi around 20 million tonnes in to offer the facility. GoFro is expecting the Yatra, MakeMyTrip, Paras and largest travel market- since then partnered with riod of the previous -- has approved the Food Min- 2016-17 season (October-Sep- The move will create a plat- number of bookings to grow Holidays, Contiki, Byond place. Now the power lies in more than 200 tour operators fiscal of 2015-16. PTI istry’s proposal to extend the tember), much lower than the form for large tour operators by 10 times in the next one Travel, Flamingo Transworld the hands of the consumer, and travel agents. PTI stock limit on sugar by six annual demand of 24-25 mil- months, according to sources. lion tonnes. PTI Facebook for ‘everyone’ and not just high end: Zuckerberg India Inc seals deals worth NEW YORK: Facebook does innovation to serve “everyone” in the community and not Paytm in talks to raise $17.9 bn in January-March just the “high end”, its CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said in NEW DELHI: India M&A an apparent swipe at Snapchat over $1 billion funding activity saw a robust start in the Top deal in the quarter was Vodafone boss’ reported “poor countries” first quarter of this year with Group’s merger of Vodafone India remark that triggered a contro- from Japan’s SoftBank the value of deals doubling to versy in India. $17.9 billion, says a report. with Idea Cellular, which contributed “I think one thing that peo- NEW DELHI: Fintech com- action with SoftBank. In the corresponding three $12.7 billion to sector and accounted ple probably don’t think about pany Paytm is believed to be The funding will also help months a year ago, the deals as much as we do is innovation in discussions with Japanese Paytm accelerate expansion were valued at $9.2 billion. for 70.6% of total value. Another big to serve everyone in the com- conglomerate SoftBank to raise ahead of the launch of its pay- According to global deal deal in the sector was Kohlberg Kravis munity, not just the high end, over $1 billion. The deal, if suc- ments bank service. The Alib- tracking firm Mergermar- right?,” Zuckerberg told Tech cessful, will value the Alibaba- aba-backed company already ket, notwithstanding the sig- Roberts & Co’s $948 million investment Crunch on the sidelines of the backed Paytm at over $7 billion runs mobile wallet and e- com- nificant rise in the value of in Bharti Infratel for a 10.3% stake annual Facebook Developer from the current $5 billion, merce services. deals, the number of transac- Conference (F8) at the McEn- multiple sources said. Paytm has seen manifold tions declined to 76 in January- was Vodafone Group’s merger Oil and Natural Gas Corpo- ery Convention Center in San When contacted, Paytm growth in transactions on its March this year from 110 in the of Vodafone India with Idea ration Limited’s $995 million Jose, California yesterday. and SoftBank declined to com- platform after the government year-ago quarter. Cellular, contributed $12.7 for 80 per cent stake of KG- When asked about the per- ment. Interestingly, SoftBank scrapped high denomination Moreover, India’s market billion to the sector, which OSN-2001/03 from Gujarat ception of Facebook being less tend to worry more and think poor countries like India and was an early investor in Ali- notes in November last year. share grew significantly in the accounted 70.6 per cent of the State Petroleum Corporation innovative, Zuckerberg said, more about the substance of Spain. baba. The talks come at a time SoftBank, which has com- Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan) total value. Limited. “I guess I’m not that worried what our community actually Snapchat had refuted the when SoftBank is working on mitted an investment of over region comprising 13.2 per Another noteworthy deal in Although inbound M&A about that. I mean, I feel like wants, Tech Crunch reported. reported claims of a former a sale plan of e-commerce firm $10 billion in the Indian mar- cent of the total regional deal the sector was Kohlberg Kra- has shrunk to a three-year we do different kinds of work in Snapchat is strongly deny- employee who alleged that its Snapdeal and is likely to make ket, is also engaged in sale dis- value, the highest proportion vis Roberts & Co’s (KKR) $948 low, Industrials & Chemicals, different areas. I mean, I think ing allegations by a former CEO Evan Spiegel made nega- an announcement in the next cussion for Snapdeal to rival across all quarters since 2013, million investment in Bharti fuelled by the government’s certainly, no one who looks at employee Anthony Pompliano, tive comments about the Indian few weeks. Flipkart. Paytm, which counts Mergermarket India M&A Infratel Limited for a 10.3 per ‘Make in India’ ambition, the solar-powered planes that who alleged in a lawsuit that market, saying the multimedia SoftBank is the larg- China’s Alibaba as a promi- trend report Q1 2017 said. cent stake. stood out and continued to we’re building or the satellites Spiegel had once shot down his mobile app is for everyone and est shareholder in Snapdeal, nent shareholder, was valued at The telecom sector attracted Energy, Mining & Utilities attract interest from overseas that were making, and thinks suggestion to pursue growth in the company is “grateful” to its which is locked in an intense about $5 billion last year when deals worth $13.6 billion from (EMU) was the second biggest investors. that that stuff isn’t interesting.” certain international markets. Indian users. battle with Amazon India and it had raised $60 million from three deals in the January- M&A sector by deal value with Out of the 14 deals worth Zuckerbeg, 32, said we Pompliano alleged that Spiegels remarks caused an Flipkart. One of the sources Mediatek. Also, Reliance Cap- March period, as compared $1.5 billion in January-March, $597 million announced dur- focus on a lot of things like Spiegel said Snapchat is “only uproar in India where users are said Paytm may buy Snap- ital recently sold its 1 per cent to only $60 million from two attracting 11 deals. ing the first quarter of this Facebook Lite. It’s up to 200 for rich people” and that he quickly uninstalling the Snap- deal-owned payments firm stake to Alibaba for an esti- deals a year ago. This sector featured the sec- year, 10 were made by foreign million people in like a year...I didnt want to “expand into chat app. PTI Freecharge as part of the trans- mated Rs 275 crore. PTI The top deal this quarter ond largest deal of the quarter: investors. PTI business 13 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 20 April, 2017 mp Power sector sees coal Draft National Steel Policy to be supply from CIL ready soon, says Birender Singh rising to 420 mt in FY17 MPOST BUREAU a demand for infrastructure development in this part of India’s steel import decline by MUMBAI: Chaudhary Biren- the world. “The next destina- der Singh, Union Minister for tion for steel consumption will Steel on Wednesday inaugu- be the African continent,” he 36% to 7.4 MT in 2016-17 rated the two-day India Steel- disclosed. Hence for the next 2017 exhibition and conference 50 years, lack of consumption NEW DELHI: India’s import of total finished here. In his inaugural address, will not hamper production. steel fell 36 per cent to 7.4 million tonnes (MT) he complimented the indus- The government will soon be and exports jumped 102 per cent to 8.2 MT in try representatives for posting releasing a National Steel Policy 2016-17, according to official data. In terms of good growth figures in 2016- draft, which will give concrete 17. “I want as much growth shape to its vision and plans for production too the country did well, according and one per cent more,” he the steel industry. to Joint Plant Committee’s annual report on the exhorted. Production increased He declared that he wanted sector for 2016-17. Export of total finished steel by 9 per cent last year, so it to bring a 100 per cent qual- rose 102.1 per cent in April-March 2016-17 to should go up by 10 per cent this ity regime into the steel sector. 8.244 MT as against 4 MT in same period of year. He expressed confidence “Quality regime is one of the although the past three years factors which can increase our last year and dependence on import eased to NEW DELHI: The supply of demand of coal by the power were challenging for the steel exports to great heights.” The 7.4 MT as compared to 11.7 MT in the preced- coal by state-owned CIL to sector has picked up since industry, the government had quality regime will be driven by ing fiscal, it said. “During April-March 2016-17, power sector increased by 1.3 December as the economy was been intervening strategically the availability of raw materials, crude steel production was 97.385 MT, a growth per cent to 420.2 million tonnes doing well. at important times and thus demand generation and R&D. (MT) in 2016-17. The increase “The demand of coal by today India is a net exporter, He revealed that his min- of 8.5 per cent, over the same period of last in supply comes at a time when the power sector has picked and among the few countries istry was working with other year,” the report said. PTI demand of coal by the power up since December. I feel that that have a positive demand departments to make alter- sector has picked up on back generally economy is doing for steel. native raw materials available made here. He also felt that Praising the industry repre- bringing in some stability in the focus for optimism in our of economy doing well. well so our demand is there- “The government has pro- so that the industry need not in this era, R&D should also sentatives for their effort, she input costs, she informed. global steel industry,” he said. Coal India Ltd (CIL) which fore increasing,” Kumar said. vided the steel industry with be unduly dependent on cok- include marketing. “We have reminded them that they still Lowering the power tariff is He explained that India has accounts for over 80 per cent A series of measures have a level playing field, and the ing coal. He also mentioned gained speed and momentum had a production target of 300 another challenge. “Each one a successful economy from of the domestic coal produc- been taken by CIL to make industry has responded by that he is considering a pro- on the runway in the last two tonnes. She said that a major of you has brought down the the steel perspective, a large, tion had dispatched 414.7 MT more coal available for power converting challenges to posal to make it mandatory to three years. Now is the time challenge is to identify which cost of production. Your effi- young population, the need for of fuel in FY 2015-16, accord- sector such as offer coal under opportunities”. to use India-made steel in key for take-off and touch com- materials steel can replace, cit- ciency and management bring infrastructure, a good labour ing to latest government data. special forward e-auction Chaudhary Birender Singh projects. manding heights of success,” ing drinking water pipes, build- it down,” she said to the indus- force and a strong history of However, in March, the dis- scheme exclusively for the sec- highlighted five focus areas He also called for increased he concluded. ing material, and structures for try barons. production. patch of coal by CIL declined tor, the government had said. where he felt further effort R&D. “We have been limit- The minister released a wood and timber. Speaking of Dr Edwin Basson, Direc- Yet, he cautioned, globally by around seven per cent to Besides, measures like was needed: (i) production ing ourselves to incremental FICCI-KPMG report on the the advantages of using steel tor General, World Steel Asso- there is a decline in the demand 34.6 MT from 37.1 MT in reduced reserve price and ear- and productivity increase; (ii) improvements,” he said call- steel industry. Earlier, Dr A over other materials, she said, ciation, presented a special for steel. This is partly due to March 2016, the data said. nest money deposit to make R&D; (iii) ‘India-made’ steel; ing for work on new technolo- Didar Singh, Secretary Gen- “There are reports that high- address. He felt that by 2018, the success of the industry. The overall dispatch of coal e-auctions attractive, no per- (iv) demand boost for steel; and gies to overcome bottlenecks. eral, FICCI, welcomed the light the hazards of using alter- China may go back to 2014 lev- “We have better and stronger by the PSU increased by 1.6 formance incentives on higher (v) excellence in quality and He expressed disappointment delegates and CEOs to the native materials in the drinking els of production, and India steels; we don’t need as much as per cent to 543.2 MT in 2016- grades of coal have also been efficiency. that although India is the third inaugural session. water industry.” is poised to become the third we did 20 years ago.” He fore- 17 from over 534.5 MT in the taken up, it said. He asserted that demand largest producer of steel, we Dr Aruna Sharma, Secre- The Steel Ministry is try- largest user and producer of saw that industry will have to preceding fiscal. Coal India is eyeing one bil- will increase because India still import value-added and tary Ministry of Steel, deliv- ing to work on diminishing the steel. It may even reach the be ready to face a future with Coal Secretary Susheel lion tonnes of production tar- is strategically placed with specialised steels that are not ered the keynote address. dependence on iron ore and number two spot. “India is slower growth than in the past. Kumar had earlier said, the get by 2020. PTI HPCL’s Barmer refinery Taparia Tools holds retailers’ Opec ‘optimistic’ that oil output project viable: Chairman conclave in Bengaluru cuts will help prices recover ABU DHABI: Oil-export- JAIPUR: The Barmer refinery project of HPCL ing cartel OPEC is optimistic is viable despite reduction in viability gap fund- We will have a system to that production cuts agreed ing, its chairman M K Surana has said. with non-members to prop up On whether the previous MoU done by ensure that pollutants remain in prices will lead to a recovery in HPCL was not viable, Surana said, “Viability optimum level and effluent water the market, its chief said today. gap funding for the refinery project has reduced “We are optimistic that the in the revised MoU, but the project is still viable can be reused. Pet Coke, a policy measures we have taken for HPCL.” by-product, will be used for already place us on the path He said that parameters change with times. of recovery,” OPEC Secretary It is our responsibility that whatever deci- power generation, which will General Mohammad Sanusi sion we take is techno-commercially viable and also meet the power requirement Barkindo said at an energy at the same time, it benefits people and the gov- forum in Abu Dhabi. month. “These 24 countries, I “reacting to market develop- ernment. “HPCL is a big company and we have of the refinery OPEC members agreed in believe, will take a decision that ments.” The cuts were agreed to tried exploring all technical and commercial MPOST BUREAU November to cut production will be in the best interest of not help restore market stability “by opportunities. At the same time, we have also also meet the power requirement of the refin- by 1.2 million barrels per day only producers but also con- addressing one variable, which tried passing on the benefits to the state govern- ery,” Surana said. BENGALURU: Taparia Tools Ltd organised a Retailers Get for six months beginning from sumers and the global industry is stock,” he said. ment and people, Surana said following signing Further, he said that refinery will produce Together Meet in Bengaluru, where they had on display various the start of the year. Some non- in general,” he said. OPEC and “As a result of the rising of revised MoU for Barmer refinery. petro- chemical derivatives and will provide raw product ranges. Taparia Tools had started manufacturing Hand cartel producers, led by Russia, non-OPEC producers said after stock over the past years, the Talking about the project, he said the refin- material to petro- chemical industries. Tools in India since 1969. joined in in December com- talks in Kuwait last month that equation has gone out of bal- ery will incorporate best of technologies used in He said the work for the refinery project Sales Director DP Taparia was present at the event and he said mitting to cut output by 558 they were looking into extend- ance.” All producers taking the world so that environmental impact resulting will commence following necessary approvals that Taparia Tools have been in the market for last 40 years and million bpd. ing the output cuts, as compli- part in the cuts are committed from the refinery can be minimised. required from various government authorities. there are authorised dealers of Taparia Hand Tools in Bengaluru. The OPEC chief did not ance with the agreement has to restoring stability, he said. “We will have a system to ensure that pol- “The government has assured that a sin- The company has quality products that are well accepted in take a position on whether oil increased. Barkindo said the Oil prices have dropped by lutants remain in optimum level and effluent gle window clearance will be set for necessary the market. Its newly-launched products like Plastic Tool Box, ministers from participating joint action has put OPEC and around half since 2014 and cur- water can be reused. Pet Coke, a by-product, approvals for the refinery project. We are hope- Steel Files, Non-sparking Tools, Diamond Cutting Blade, Cut Off countries would extend the cuts other producers in the “driving rently hover just above 50 per will be used for power generation, which will ful for the early approval,” he added. PTI Wheel, etc., were displayed in the Retailers’ Get Together Meet. when they meet in Vienna next seat” to dictate events instead of barrel. PTI Tata, Godrej, Adani show interest in buying Sahara properties

NEW DELHI: A large number of corpo- on part of Saharas to get the money and Eldeco’s Managing Director Pankaj constitutes due diligence, site inspec- Valley township in Lonavala, which the rates, including Tatas, Godrej, Adani and deposit the same with the regulator Sebi Bajaj said they are interested in some prop- tions, financial bids (pricing to be on as- group estimates to be worth over Rs 1 Patanjali, have shown interest in buying as per Supreme Court directions. erties but would not be like to share the is-where-is-whatever-it-is basis) and shall lakh crore and fears that a hurried sale embattled Sahara group’s 30 properties All prospective buyers are asking for exact details at this stage. culminate on finalisation of successful will favour only those wanting to “grab estimated to be worth about Rs 7,400 crore. 2-3 months for due diligence, which is An Apollo Hospitals spokesperson bidder. Aamby Valley cheaper”. The properties, mostly land parcels considered to be normal period of time said, “The Apollo has submitted an expres- “Due diligence and site inspections The Sahara spokesperson said the group being auctioned by real estate consultant in the high-value real estate transactions, sion of interest for Sahara Hospital and are either completed or underway in most had committed to deposit the directed Knight Frank India, have also generated sources added. (we) are conducting our evaluation and cases. We expect to receive the final bids amount of Rs 10,500 crore by July-August interest from several real estate develop- When contacted, a Sahara group due diligence process.” shortly,” it added. Sources said there were 2017, including Rs 7,400 crore from sale ers including Omaxe and Eldeco, as also spokesperson declined to disclose the Tata Housing declined to comment, a large number of individuals as also some of the 30 properties being auctioned and from HNIs and at least one public sector names of prospective buyers, saying “deals while there were no replies to specific que- educational institutions who have submit- payments from other deals, but the court firm Indian Oil, sources familiar with the are in process and will materialise soon”. ries made to Adani Group and Patanjali. ted expressions of interest for the proper- declined and asked for the Aamby Valley process said. He also said the details have been submit- “The advertisement got an overwhelm- ties. The shortlisted entities are now being auction which will take much longer. Besides, Chennai-based Apollo Hospi- ted to the Supreme Court. ing response. Over 250 expressions of asked to submit their financial bids. “We committed around Rs 1,500 crore tal has shown interest in acquiring Sahara Godrej Properties’ Executive Chair- interest (EOIs) have been received. EOIs The group is expecting to get the first from overseas hotels, expected to reach Hospital in Lucknow. man Pirojsha Godrej said, “We are looking firmed that his company was interested in have been received for all sites with major- instalment from the sale of these properties India within 45 days. Also we informed Sources, however, said that the sale pro- at part of one of the Pune land parcels for some properties. ity of sites having multiple EOIs,” Knight by June 17 and get all the money, estimated about Vasai land where we are going cess and the valuation could get impacted which Knight Frank is running the bidding “As a prudent business organisation, we Frank India said in response to queries at around Rs 7,400 crore, in three months. to get around Rs 800 crore (and) also due to a hurry in getting the deals closed process. It is still at a preliminary stage.” always keep exploring growth opportuni- from PTI. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court around Rs 800 crore from Ghaziabad,” he within a short time because of an urgency Omaxe’s CMD Rohtas Goel also con- ties,” he said. “Process is an intense process that also directed sale of Sahara group’s Aamby added. PTI CORPORATE KALEIDOSCOPE

Shyam Sundar Co Jewellers unveiled an exclusive line of designer gold IndianOil’s Northern Region kicked off Safety week celebrations jewellery collection named Bandish aur Raagdari owing its roots to the Dr. Rajiv Kumar Gupta (IAS), Managing Director, GNFC, is awarded The 126thBirth anniversary of Bharat Ratan Baba Saheb Dr BR by observing National Fire Service Day to create awareness on fire signature style of the Indian Gharanas. The newly curated collection the prestigious Golden Peacock Innovation Award in Product/Services Ambedkar was celebrated at NHPC. Present on the occasion were prevention, fire protection and renew employees’ commitment towards was launched in presence of the Brand Ambassador, Indian Classical category for initiative of Cashless Townships at the 27th World K M Singh, CMD, Ratish Kumar, Director (Projects), Balraj Joshi, safety. All employees of IndianOil Northern Regional Office took the Vocalist, Smt Kaushiki Chakraborty along with city models. Rupak Saha Congress at Dubai Global Convention. The Award was presented Director (Technical), N K Jain, Director (Personnel) and M K Mittal, safety pledge with determination to follow safety norms and keep & Arpita Saha of Shyam Sundar Co Jewellers were present to address by His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Cabinet Director (Finance) “safety” at top the media Member & Minister of Culture & Knowledge Development, UAE 14 sport mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata |Thursday, 20 April, 2017

KASHYAP, HARSHEEL REACH PRE-QUARTER- EX-NFL STAR AARON HERNANDEZ COMMITS ROHAN BOPANNA-PABLO CUEVAS ADVANCE AT FINALS AT CHINA MASTERS SUICIDE IN PRISON MONTE CARLO MASTERS CHANGZHOU: Commonwealth Games champion P Kashyap WASHINGTON: Former American football star Aaron Hernan- ROQUEBRUNE-CAP-MARTIN: Rohan Bopanna and his Uru- and Harsheel Dani advanced to the pre-quarter-finals of men’s dez on Wednesday was found dead in prison where he was guayan partner Pablo Cuevas beat Marcin Matkowski of Poland singles competition at the USD 150,000 China Masters Grand serving a life sentence for murder, after hanging himself with a and Austrian Alexander Peya to enter the second round of the Prix Gold, . Back to playing competitive badminton after recov- bedsheet, prison officials said. Hernandez, 27, was discovered men’s doubles event at the Monte Carlo Masters tennis tourna- ering from a shoulder injury Kashyap took 46 minutes to dispose hanging in his cell by corrections officers in Shirley, Massachu- ment. Bopanna and Cuevas overcame a strong challenge to win of Thailand’s Suppanyu Avihingsanon 21-16 21-17. setts at approximately 3.05 am. the first round clash 6-3, 6-7, 10-2 in one hour and 27 minutes. IPL TURNS 10: MATCH PREVIEW Dhawan, Williamson star as MI look to continue Sunrisers race to 191/4 winning streak HYDERABAD: Brilliant bat- per, who blasted six bound- against KXIP ting from Shikhar Dhawan aries and five sixes in his (70) and Kane Williamson (89) 51-ball knock, tried to flick helped Sunrisers Hyderabad a full length delivery but got (SRH) post a challenging 191/4 a top-edge to the deep mid- against Delhi Daredevils (DD) wicket and Shreyas Iyer then in an Indian Premier League completed a diving catch to dis- (IPL) match at the Rajiv Gan- miss Williamson. dhi International Stadium here With three overs remain- on Wednesday. After losing ing and new batsman skipper David Warner in the Yuvraj Singh (3) at the crease, second over, Dhawan and Wil- Dhawan, who was playing as liamson thrashed Delhi bowl- support for Williamson, shifted ers all around the park as they gears and started attacking together slammed 11 boundar- Delhi bowlers. ies and five sixes to put Hyder- After slamming a couple of abad in a comfortable position. boundaries, Dhawan was also Rohit Sharma, who made a strong comeback in the previous match Hyderabad started of on a dismissed. He was sent back to against Gujarat Lions with an unbeaten 40 will look to build on it steady note but in the second the pavilion in the 19th over. over, Warner was dismissed Brief scores: INDORE: On a roll with four duo have come up with signifi- by pacer Chris Morris. Mor- Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Delhi consecutive victories, two-time cant all-round performances. ris’s back of a length delivery Shikhar Dhawan of Sunrisers Hyderabad plays a shot during the IPL cricket match against Delhi Daredevils in Hyderabad on Wednesday PIC/PTI Daredevils champions Mumbai Indians Come Thursday, Mumbai outside the off-stump took SRH: 191/4 (Shikhar Dhawan would look to continue the would look to their batsmen the leading edge and Amit take a superb catch. With the liamson joined Dhawan and ship for the second wicket in was sent packing in the 17th 70, Kane Williamson 89). winning streak when they to shine again and domi- Mishra ran from fine leg to scoreboard reading 12/1, Wil- both forged a 136-run partner- 14.2 overs before the former over by Morris. The Kiwi skip- DD: Morris (4/26). AGENCIES take on Kings XI Punjab in an nate the opponents. Harbha- Indian Premier League match, jan Singh has been fantastic here on Thursday. in the powerplay overs, while National Youth Having won four out of the Lasith Malinga and Mitchell I am a special talent, avows Yusuf Pathan five matches they played so far, McClenaghan have also been Athletics Mumbai Indians are placed among wickets. McClenaghan KOLKATA: Yusuf Pathan will never shy away from play- entertain the way you have second with eight points and returned with impressive fig- Championship might not have ever looked ing his natural game like he did been,” Pathan said. would certainly start as favou- ures of two for 24 to help the upto Jose Mourinho for inspi- under pressure against DD at Pathan refused to agree his rites against Kings XI Punjab, team restrict Gujarat to 176 for ration but his latest self-assess- the Kotla. style has changed but says he’s who have managed to win just four in their last game. Kings begins on Apr 23 ment is akin to the current “There was a lot of pressure keen to finish off games now. two of their five games. XI Punjab, on the other hand, Manchester United coach’s I just wanted to play my natural “Having played for Even though Mumbai’s will have their task cut out HYDERABAD: The 14th famous statement ‘I am the game. You will always get out at so long, you are aware top order is yet to click, the against a strong Mumbai outfit. National Youth (U-18) Athlet- special one’. some point, be it in the first ball of your team’s strength. middle and lower order have Despite starting their cam- ics Championships will be held So does he harbour hopes or in the 40th ball. But it’s about If you are set, it’s all about fin- more than made up for the paign with back-to-back vic- here from April 23 and see par- of an India comeback with playing my shots and making ishing the game. poor starts. Skipper Rohit tories, Kings XI slipped in the ticipation of 583 athletes from so many ahead of him for the balls count,” he said about It’s about setting a prece- Sharma, who did not have an next three games and would 26 states and Union Territories. those couple of slots in the his knock. dent for the youngsters in the ideal start to the tournament, now be desperate to get back The athletes (boys and girls) middle- order? Pathan has had his share of team as well. They should also made a strong comeback in the to winning ways. Kings XI will take part in 20 disciplines “It does not matter to me disappointment with the team get an opportunity to learn. It’s previous match against Guja- have some dangerous bats- each during the three-day event who’s ahead of me (in repre- especially during their maiden about winning comfortably.” rat Lions with an unbeaten 40 men, especially the three ‘Ms’ which will be held at the GMC senting India). I think no one title-winning campaign in Pathan believes that as long off 29 deliveries, while Kieron — skipper Glenn Maxwell, Balayogi Athletics stadium, can compete with me. I con- 2012 when he managed just as he is at the crease, KKR can Pollard continued with his fine David Miller and Eoin Mor- Sports Authority of Telangana sider myself as a special talent,” 194 in 17 matches without a win matches. run, scoring a quickfire 23-ball gan — besides Hashim Amla Chairman A Venkateshwar Pathan said in an interview on single half- century but the “I think as long as I am at 39. Young Nitish Rana has been who can pile up runs but none Reddy said. Wednesday. Shah Rukh Khan co-owned the crease, the team will win a consistent contributer for of them clicked in the last The National Youth Ath- Having scored 39-ball-59 franchise has backed him comfortably. In the past, I have Mumbai this season. three outings. The lone battle letics Championships assumes against Delhi Daeredevils, the throughout these years. seen the team has gone on to He chipped in with a bril- was fought by Manan Vohra in importance as the Indian teams India discard proved why he is things to change. If I continue others. My job is to play good In fact, his 112 matches lose the match after I got out. liant half- century in the last the last match against Sunrisers to participate in the Asian so highly rated in the Kolkata to perform well, at some point cricket and the start has been since 2011 is one more than All these things, I have brought match to enable Mumbai top- Hyderabad, as he scored a fab- Youth Championships in May Knight Riders ranks despite his I will get an opportunity if not good this time. I should be skipper Gautam Gambhir’s 111 some changes in my game. It’s pled Gujarat Lions by six wick- ulous 50 -ball 90 but Kings XI in Bangkok and the World game-changing knocks being today then tomorrow,” Pathan satisfied with my cricket and games for the popular Kolkata about playing shots.” ets. In fact, one of the biggest still lost by five runs while chas- Youth Championships in Nai- few and far in between. seemed positive that he may be prepared whenever I get a franchise. At this stage of his career, positives for Mumbai has been ing a modest 160-run target robi in July will be selected on “I have to back my tal- once again don the India blues. chance,” he said. “The only message from Pathan only wants to enjoy the form of the Pandya broth- due to lack of support from the the basis of their performances ent. It does not take time for “I don’t want to look at Pathan made it clear that he Shah Rukh Khan continue to his cricket. AGENCIES ers -- Hardik and Krunal. The other end. AGENCIES in this event, he said. Haryana’s shot putter Dipender Dabas, who will FIFA ‘evaluating’ AIFF request to Maharaj makes be the top contender to win RCB coach Vettori applauds Gayle, Chahal a gold in the Asian Youth stage India matches in Delhi debut in Proteas Meet in Bangkok next month, RAJKOT: Royal Challengers The former New Zealand besides defending champions NEW DELHI: Bangalore coach Daniel Vet- skipper said Gayle made the Champions of National Youth Athletics World football governing body tori heaped praise on Chris most of the opportunity he Championships 2016 Gurjeet FIFA said it was “evaluating” India’s request to Gayle for his 38 ball 77, saying got because of AB de Villiers’ Singh (in boy’s high jump) stage the group matches of Under-17 World Cup that the batsmen like swash- injury. “Today (Tuesday) was Trophy squad from Haryana, Nivya Antony involving the national team in the national capital, buckling West Indies opener his opportunity. AB’s injury (girl’s pole vault) from Kerala but asserted that it will have the final say on the do not need guidance from any allowed him to come out and JOHANNESBURG: Indian- and M Karuniya (girl’s discus coach or captain with regard to play. We wanted him to play origin left-arm spinner, Keshav throw) from Tamil Nadu are matter. On the advice of the Sports Ministry, the their batting. with freedom and we had given Maharaj has been included in among the athletes taking part, All India Football Federation has requested FIFA to Gayle smashed a blistering him the confidence,” Vettori the 15-man Proteas squad for Telangana Athletics Associa- allot India’s group matches to Jawaharlal Nehru half-century before Yuzvendra said. The 38-year-old coach the ICC Champions Trophy, tion General Secretary K Ranga Stadium here even though the world body had last Chahal returned with a three- also applauded leg-spinner Cricket South Africa (CSA) Rao said. month announced that the matches of Group A wicket haul as Royal Challeng- Chahal’s three for 31. “I have announced on Wednesday. “On the request of Athletics ers Bangalore defeated Gujarat been lucky enough to have The squad will play three Federation of India, the Direc- would be played at Mumbai’s D Y Patil Stadium. Lions by 21 runs here on Tues- worked with Chahal for the ODIs against England starting tor Anti-Doping Agency will Under the usual practice, the host country of a day night. past four years and also played with the first match at Head- be deputing his squad for this FIFA tournament is placed in Group A. The Un- “Good thing about inter- post match press conference. do well for RCB, do well against him when he was in ingley in Leeds on May 24th, event to collect urine samples der-17 World Cup will be held in six cities -- Kol- national cricketers is that they “They take pride in their for any team he plays for. Mumbai. The way he bowled before their first group match of the participants on all the kata, Margao, Navi Mumbai, Kochi, Guwahati and probably talk to themselves performances, they really Chris is the strongest and in the Champions League final of the ICC Champions Trophy three days to avoid misuse of more than any captain or coach want to contribute to the powerful player on was the reason why we wanted against Sri Lanka at the Oval banned substances by the par- New Delhi -- from October 6-28. AGENCIES talking to them about their per- team and Chris is a really these kind of wickets and he to get him into RCB,” said on June 3. ticipants,” Rao said. AGENCIES formances,” said Vettori at the prideful man, he wants to can take any bowler down.” Vettori. AGENCIES The 26-year-old Maharaj has had an impressive debut season for the Test squad, and comes into the squad to bol- Basil Thampi will soon represent India, A year after being sacked, Haroon ster the spin options alongside Imran Tahir. Morne Morkel makes a return to the limited-overs says WI all-rounder Dwayne Bravo Rasheed is back in PCB format after nearly 10 months, adding experience to the pace KOLKATA: West Indies’ Thampi has the skill and is KARACHI: Exactly a year after forc- “It is clear that the decision to bring bowling group featuring Kagiso World T20-winning all- really good. I really wish him ing him to step down as chief selector, the back Haroon has the full backing of Rabada, Wayne Parnell, Chris rounder Dwayne Bravo all the best from the bottom of Pakistan Cricket Board has brought back Najam Sethi who is tipped to take over as Morris, Dwaine Pretorius and is mighty impressed with my heart.” former Test batsman, Haroon Rasheed in a more Chairman of the board from Shaha- Andile Phehlukwayo. CSA uncapped Kerala speedster Bravo is ever ready to offer powerful position in the PCB. ryar Khan in a few week time, a reliable convener of selectors, Linda Basil Thampi, saying he could tips to the 23-year-old. The PCB has announced the appoint- source in the board said. Zondi, says the selectors have soon represent India. “I follow him very closely, ment of Haroon as Director Cricket He said the only reason Haroon’s appoint- picked a strong squad which Both Bravo and Thampi are I try to give him a lot of confi- Operations and will be reporting directly to the ment as Director Cricket Operations covers all of the combinations turning out for Gujarat Lions dence and experience, explain Chief Operating Officer, Subhan Ahmad. was delayed since last year was and conditions on offer for the in the ongoing Indian Premier to him, break down the game The board said in a statement that due to the resistance put up by eighth edition of the eight-team League. to him. He’s still in a learning Haroon has been picked for the post after the Shaharyar who didn’t want him back in any event. “We have been working “Basil Thampi is a very, very phase. PCB interviewed a total of three candidates position. with this group of players for talented youngster. I would say “He has the raw natural including former Test spinner, Iqbal But soon after the PCB confirmed the last two seasons where our he will get the opportunity to talent and ability. It’s a matter Qasim and Haroon met all the required Haroon’s appointment this week, Shaharyar key emphasis has been con- play for Team India in a year of playing more games, give credentials for the job. also changed his tune and insisted Haroon’s sistency in selection,” Zondi or so. He has the talent, obvi- him more experience and Ironically soon after Pakistan were elim- poor show as chief selector didn’t have any commented. ously, but he also has a lot of the cleaners, Thampi returned recovering from a hamstring exposure.” inated early in the World T20 last April in bearing to his new assignment. “That has shown in how this heart, pace and the skill. He’s economical figures of 1/31 and injury, went straight to the Ker- Talking about himself, India, a fact-finding committee formed “That was a different job and we went group has performed over the always willing to learn,” Bravo bowled the maximum (11) dot ala pacer and said he would like Bravo has said he’s “a game or by the PCB recommended the sack- for changes after the World Cup based last while, which has resulted said on Wednesday. balls. to take him under his wings. two away” from returning to ing of the entire selection committee which on recommendations of the fact-find- in winning three consecutive During Gujarat Lions’ Thampi’s maiden IPL “He’s willing to learn. He action. was headed by Haroon Rasheed. ing committee but this job is different and ODI series. match against Mumbai Indi- wicket came in the form of asks the right questions. I think Bravo had taken 17 wick- Even otherwise Haroon, who has Haroon has the experience and credentials to do “We feel we have a squad ans, the tall pacer impressed Chris Gayle, after the opener India cricket is in right direc- ets from 15 matches last also remained chief coach and manager it successfully,” Khan said. that covers every scenario that everyone by consistently bowl- had smashed a 38-ball 77. The tion when you have someone season and his absence is of the Pakistan senior and junior teams It is no secret that with Shaharyar on we could possibly be faced with ing yorkers. bowler set it up with a yorker like him. hurting the team, which is besides serving as Director his way out after completing three years in on the tour. Most importantly, On Tuesday, when Royal and trapped him next ball with “Bowling 140-plus, like struggling at the bottom of the game development in the board, has been either the board, Sethi, who heads the executive every player knows and under- Challengers Bangalore took another full-length delivery. Indian speedsters Umesh table with just a win from five removed or forced to step down in different committee, is now increasingly calling stands their role and value the Gujarat Lions attack to An excited Bravo, who is Yadav, Mohammad Shami, matches. AGENCIES capacities. the shots on cricket affairs. AGENCIES within the squad. AGENCIES sport 15 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata |Thursday, 20 April, 2017 mp Second string Mohun Bagan lose 0-1 to 10-man Maziya SRC in AFC Cup KOLKATA: Mohun Bagan were before Maziya took onto the field. pace and the Umair found the back the 2017 AFC Cup group stage as Onuoha Darlington started upfront. defeated 1-0 by Maziya S&RC at the Gasim Samaam was put at left back of the net to his farpost, bringing up they staged a 3-1 come-from-behind In that match, the Mariners were Rabindra Sarobar Stadium in Kol- in his place as Imaaz Ahmed was his second goal in the tournament, win against Abahani. on the backfoot from the word go kata in their AFC Cup Group Stage out injured. after scoring in Dhaka last month. Having gone down in the 21st as Abahani had six corners in the encounter. This defeat condemns Balwant Singh had the best of The setback did not deter the minute to Jonathan Brown’s opener, first eleven minutes. However, all of the Mariners to the third spot in the chance to break the deadlock in the young Mohun Bagan outfit to push the Mariners scored twice within them failed to see the back of the net group behind Bengaluru FC and the 14th minute as he dipped in a ball for an equaliser and that was evident minutes before and after the inter- thanks to the early resistance shown night’s victors. from 23 yards out as Pavel Matiash in the plethora of chances which val (Jeje Lalpekhlua 46th, Balwant by the hosts. Holding midfielder The Maldivians won thanks to got some fingers to it before the ball fell to their stirkers. Rakic would Singh 48th) to take the lead. With Rayhan Hasan was awarded the first Mohamed Umair’s goal in the 34th kissed the crossbar. have deemed himself unlucky as just minutes left, goalscorer Balwant booking of the night for a foul on minute as the midfielder scored his In the 20th minute, Aleksandar he found himself in one v one situ- turned provider as Sony Norde too Katsumi Yusa. However, the Japa- second goal in the group stage. Rakic took an swipe from inside the ations twice in the second half but got on the scoresheet (87th). Kin- nese winger failed to make much of The Kolkata giants, who only box as three defenders closed in on failed to convert. shuk Debnath had returned from the ensuing free-kick in the fifteenth had Balwant Singh and Jeje Lalpe- him but the ball flew over. Milos Kovacevic’s two yellow injury and the Indian strike duo of minute. Former Wales U21 forward khlua from the regular first team, Four minutes past the half-hour card within four minutes saw the Balwant Singh and Jeje Lalpekhlua Jonathan David Brown broke the went in with fringe players to rest mark, the Mariners defense was Green Boys go a man down, but started together as Darryl Duffy deadlock in the 21st minute. Raju their key men ahead of Saturday’s caught napping. Ali Samooh glided having the numerical advantage for PIC/PTI was rested. Drago Mamic, facing Gaikwad failed to control Moham- match against Aizawl FC - the in with the ball to be blocked by the last five minutes saw them held Bagan after almost six years decided med Ziban’s darting run from the potential I-League title decider. Souvik Chakraborti and the loose on. saw him let down by Balwant and of momentum after beating Abahani to forego his five-man defence as right as he cut back and passed it Andrei-Alexandru Cordos ball fell in Mohamed Umair’s feet. Katsumi Yusa was introduced Prabir Das. Limited Dhaka on April 4. They had he played Tutul Hosain Badsha in square inside the box. AGENCIES was retracted from the lineup even Kinshuk Debnath was beaten for earlier and his barrage of crosses Mohun Bagan was riding a wave finally opened their points tally for a holding role as Nigerian Emeka Harsh ‘Real’ity: Ronaldo Vardy goal in vain as Atletico end Leicester fairytale hattrick sinks valiant Bayern LEICESTER: Jamie Vardy scored in vain as Leicester MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo the break. City’s Champions League fai- scored a controversial hat-trick The disturbances quickly rytale came to a valiant end fol- to become the first man to died down and Bayern soon lowing a 1-1 quarter-final draw reach 100 Champions League gave the travelling 4,000 from at home to Atletico Madrid. goals as Real Madrid overcame Germany something to cheer Seeking to overturn a 1-0 10-man Bayern Munich 4-2 when play resumed. first-leg deficit, Leicester fell after extra time in a thrilling Another goal-line clearance further behind to Saul Niguez’s quarter-final second leg. by Marcelo from Robben’s din- first-half header, before Vardy’s The holders surged through ked effort temporarily saved 61st-minute strike gave them 6-3 on aggregate at an exhil- Madrid. But the hosts didn’t hope. arated Santiago Bernabeu to escape moments later when But despite heavy Leices- take their place in Friday’s referee Viktor Kassai pointed ter pressure and furious noise semi-final draw for a record to the spot as Robben went inside the King Power Stadium, seventh consecutive year. down under a challenge from Atletico last night completed a But Real were pushed all Casemiro. 2-1 aggregate win to reach the the way by Bayern, who battled Lewandowski stayed cool semi-finals for the third time in back from a 2-1 first-leg deficit under the pressure and con- four seasons. to send the tie into extra time verted from the spot for his “We had them rattled with thanks to Robert Lewandows- 39th goal of the season. the effort and commitment 62 European Cup Winners’ dangerous crosses from Yan- ki’s penalty and an own goal Ronaldo looked to have we showed. It’s no discredit to Cup and the 1997-98 UEFA nick Carrasco -- preferred up from Sergio Ramos. eased Madrid’s nerves when lose to a team of that calibre,” Cup. Beaten by city foes Real front to the fit-again Kevin However, after Arturo Vidal he steered Casemiro’s cross into Leicester manager Craig Shake- Madrid in the 2014 and 2016 Gameiro -- demonstrated their was sent off, Ronaldo hit the the far corner 14 minutes from speare told BT Sport. “The finals, Diego Simeone’s side threat on the counter. It was Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo scores past Bayern’s Douglas Costa (right) during the Champions League century mark in Europe’s top time. However, Real’s celebra- whole club, from the support- can continue to dream that this just as Leicester were threat- club competition on 104 min- quarter-final second leg match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich PIC/AP/PTI tions were very short-lived as ers to the players to the owners will be the year they finally end ening to make inroads, Shinji utes and completed his hat- Marco Asensio gave a night many errors.” foot. just a minute later the ball ric- can be immensely proud, but their wait for European foot- Okazaki stabbing wide at the trick five minutes later. of high-class action the finale The German champions Much like the first leg, ocheted around their box and I’ve just said to the players that ball’s biggest prize. near post from Vardy’s cross, Bayern were left incensed, it deserved with a sensational had been beaten on their pre- Madrid weathered the early Ramos turned into his own net. they should want more of this “I’m full of emotion and that the visitors tightened their though, as Ronaldo’s second solo goal to rub salt in Bayern vious four trips to Spain with- storm and had plenty of The balance of a topsy- and they’ve agreed that that’s pride at the performance of my grip on the tie. and third goals were clearly wounds. out even scoring a goal. chances to go in front before turvy tie turned Madrid’s what they want.” Leicester had team,” said Simeone. Filipe Luis was given space offside. “The (red) card for Arturo However, knowing they half time. way again with five minutes hoped to become the competi- “I also have to say, what a to shape a cross into the box “To score six goals against wasn’t a card and then the two needed at least two to prog- Jerome Boateng bailed out remaining as just as in the first tion’s first debutant semi-final- great performance from our from the left and the unmarked a team like Bayern Munich goals from Cristiano are offside ress, Ancelotti’s men started a rare mistake from goalkeeper leg, Bayern were reduced to 10 ists since Villarreal in 2006, but opponents. It was almost a Saul expertly guided a header isn’t easy so we deserved to so clearly we are not happy,” on the front foot and were left Manuel Neuer as he cleared men when Vidal saw a second they were unable to engineer a pleasure to compete against past Kasper Schmeichel’s out- go through,” the Portuguese said Bayern coach Carlo to rue a huge opportunity just off the line from Ramos after yellow card for chopping down repeat of their last-16 triumph them.” Leicester’s desire to stretched right hand. striker told Spanish TV station Ancelotti. eight minutes in. Neuer fumbled a simple cross. Asensio. against Sevilla. Their exit brings make the most of the occasion Riyad Mahrez volleyed Antena 3. “In a quarter-final you have Marcelo made a miraculous The half-time whistle The extra man proved to an end a golden adventure was clear from the start, pyro- straight at Jan Oblak at the “Real Madrid is Real to put a better referee, or it is block to deny Thiago Alcan- brought some respite to pro- decisive as Madrid set- sparked by last season’s stun- technics greeting the players other end after Marc Albrigh- Madrid, we are used to suffer- the moment to introduce video tara before former Real winger ceedings on the field, although tled the tie with a three-goal ning Premier League title win. as they came out while fans ton’s cross was headed away, ing and we are happy to be in refereeing, which is what UEFA Arjen Robben scuffed into the the Bayern fans were involved burst either side of half time Having successfully staved twirled blue, white and gold but it was the voices of the away the semis once again.” are trying because there are too side- netting on his trusted left in a minor clash with police at in extra time. AGENCIES off the threat of relegation foil flags distributed by the club. fans that rang loudest as the under new manager Shake- But whereas Leicester had half-time whistle sounded. speare, the rest of their season quickly taken charge of their The second half brought East Bengal coach Mridul Banerjee now holds nothing more than second-leg match against with it drastic changes for Injured Neuer out a return to pre-title normality. Sevilla in the previous round, the hosts, with Ben Chilwell injured on first day in training It is the third time Atletico Atletico made it clear they and Leonardo Ulloa replacing have eliminated Leicester from would not be pushed around. Yohan Benalouane and Oka- for eight weeks KOLKATA: East Bengal’s newly-appointed coach Mridul Banerjee got injured continental competition, after They defended with their zaki as Shakespeare switched previous triumphs in the 1961- customary tenacity, while two to a bold 3-4-3 system. AGENCIES MADRID: Bayern Munich during his very first training session with the club, a “ruptured” Achilles goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will tendon ruling him out for four weeks and adding to its woes. Out of I-League Siddhant gets millenniumpost.in miss up to eight weeks of foot- title race, East Bengal appointed the Santosh Trophy-winning coach on an PUBLIC NOTICE millenniumpo NO H ALFst TR U THS ball due to injury, the German interim basis, his tenure fixed till the Federation Cup. With less than a month ticket for French Be it known to all that My club’s CEO Karl-Heinz Rum- to go for the Federation Cup, the 56-year-old suffered the injury on his left client Mrs. Uma Vemanna W/o menigge has said. LOST & FOUND SH. R.Vemanna age 52 years foot. “I’ve ruptured my Achilles tendon and will be out of action for at least R/o C-11, Sector-56, Noida- Neuer fractured his left foot Open wild It is notified for the 201301, has debarred and during his side’s 2-4 Champi- four weeks. I wanted to give it all for East Bengal in the remainder season information that my disowned her husband Mr. R. ons League defeat against Real but such a big opportunity is wasted in such a cruel manner,” Banerjee said card event original Provisional Vemanna from her all movable Madrid. Bayern were knocked after he was discharged from the hospital. The former Mohammedan Sport- th and immovable properties and Certificate of 10 class have served all relations due to out of the competition at the ing AFC-A License holder coach tumbled on the field in an awkward manner NEW DELHI: Siddhant J quarter-final stage with a 3-6 Banthia and Malikaa Marathe Roll No.6168329 issued her/his misconduct and misbe- after his foot landed on an uneven surface. AGENCIES by CBSE passing year have, if anybody dealing with aggregate loss. emerged victorious in the him/her. My client and their The Bayern goalkeeper sus- third edition of Rendez- 2007 has been actually other family members shall not tained the injury during Cris- Vous’ to earn opportunity to lost. Name of candidate be responsible in any manner tiano Ronaldo’s third goal compete for a wild card entry Aanuj Saxena S/o Anil whatsoever for her/his any act during extra-time of the Cham- into the junior French Open. in future. Anand finishes third in Korchnoi Saxena R/o D-304, New Sd/- Vishnu Kant Pandey pions League clash. 16-year-old Banthia Jyoti Appt. Sec 4, Dwarka, Advocate “Neuer will miss eight outclassed Abhimanyu New Delhi. If anybody find D/2782/2012, weeks,” Rummenigge told Ger- Zurich Chess Challenge Vannemreddy 6-1 6-0 in pl contact 9711311915. M-9953738532 man publication Sport Bild, said. the boys final while 13 year- which reported that Neuer Later, Bayern announced CHENNAI: Former world niachtchi took the second Svidler and Grigoriy Oparin old-Malikaa cruised past was seen leaving the stadium on their website that Neuer had chess champion Viswanathan place (overall) with a tally of (Russia) but lost to Kramnik, Yubrani Banerjee 6-1, 6-3 in on crutches. indeed fractured his foot and Anand of India finished third 14 points. Anand scored 4.5 Nepomniachtchi and drew the girls final. The match saw a lot of con- that the Germany international overall, with a score of 13.5 points in the blitz event after with Nakamura. They will com- troversy with questions over the would be further assessed when points from a possible 21 in having managed nine in the The eight players played pete against players from second and third goals scored the team returns to Munich. the Korchnoi Zurich Chess classical rounds. The Indian, seven rounds with a time con- Japan, South Korea, China, by Real Madrid star Cristiano “Manuel Neuer suffered a Challenge. with an ELO rating of 2786, trol of 45 minutes and 30 sec- Brazil and USA for the wild Ronaldo. Bayern’s Arturo Vidal fracture to his left foot accord- American Hikaru Naka- beat Vladimir Kramnik of onds per move and a blitz card entry. AGENCIES was also shown a red card in the ing to an initial diagnosis,” the mura, with 15 points, Russia and Yannick Pel- event with a time control of second half for what appeared statement on the Bayern web- emerged the overall winner, letier (Switzerland) but 10 minutes and five seconds to be clean tackle on Marco site said. claiming 4.5 points in the lost to Boris Gelfand and per move. Asensio. “Neuer will undergo blitz section. Nepomniachtchi. The tournament was “He sustained the injury a thorough examina- He won the Blitz tourna- He held the ultimate cham- held in memory of chess during the third goal, which tion on arrival in Munich ment, and was half a point pion Nakamura to a draw. In legend Viktor Kortchnoi, was offside. I am incredibly prior to a decision on the ahead of Anand. the classical part, Anand man- who passed away on June angry. We were robbed,” Neuer appropriate treatment.” AGENCIES Russian Ian Nepom- aged to beat Pelletier, Gelfand, 6, 2015. AGENCIES 5 Russian athletes admit taking banned doping substances

MOSCOW: Russian run- won in the 4x400 meters relay, vaulter Dmitry Starodubtsev last year on May 17 discuss- medallists from both Olym- ner Antonina Krivoshapka reports Tass news agency. (suspended July 2, 2016- July ing efforts of stepping up pics. On the whole, a total of as well as four more national Besides Krivoshapka, who 1, 2018). the fight against the drugs 1,243 doping samples from the track and field athletes have is serving a two-year suspen- After samples from the cheats and furnish mea- 2008 and 2012 Games were admitted to consuming per- sion term starting from Sep- 2012 Olympic Games were sures to protect clean ath- subjected for retesting. formance-enhancing drugs, tember 7, 2016, four more retested, the Russian national letes ahead of the Olympics in In particular, the IOC the All-Russia Athletics Fed- Russian track and field ath- team has been stripped of Rio. As part of its anti-doping ruled after the series of dop- eration (ARAF) announced on letes publicly confessed on seven medals (four in track efforts, IOC ordered reanaly- ing retests to annul a total of 19 Wednesday. Wednesday of doping abuse. and field events). sis of doping samples of ath- medals from Russian athletes, Over two months ago, the They are Yevgeniya Kolodko Apart from the wom- letes from 2008 Olympics in who took part in the 2008 and International Olympic Com- (stripped of 2012 silver in en’s 4x100 meters relay med- Beijing and 2012 Olympics in 2012 Summer Olympic Games. mittee (IOC) announced short put and suspended for allists, left without medals London. Athletes, who won medals that doping re-tests of Kri- period of July 2, 2016 - July were also Yulia Zaripova Following two rounds in relays or other team com- voshapka from the 2012 1, 2018), hammer thrower (steeplechase gold), Yev- of retesting, 98 Olympians petitions, were also obliged London Olympics tested pos- Anna Bulgakova (suspended geniya Kolodko (silver in shot were reported to test posi- to give up their medals in itive for a banned substance March 2019, 2017 - March 28, put) and Tatyana Lysenko tive for banned substances - case a doping sam- and ruled to strip her as well 2019), discus thrower Vera (gold in hammer throw). 60 from the 2008 Games and ple retest of their team- three of her teammates of the Ganeeva (suspended July 2, The IOC Executive Board 38 from the 2012 Games. mates tested positive for Olympic silver, which they 2016 - July 1, 2018) and pole convened a special session Among them were over 23 banned substances. AGENCIES 16 mp Entertainment MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 20 April, 2017 Will revisit my own ‘Used to sing in trains struggles while and collect money’ MUMBAI: Bollywood actor- his co-star Parineeti Cho- much time to run after girls.” singer Ayushmann Khurran pra for the launch of the song “In fact, I want to share how says he used to perform in ‘Ye Jawaani Teri’ from their we used to perform in trains. express trains from Delhi to forthcoming film Meri Pyaari During my college days, there Mumbai and collect money Bindu. was a train named ‘Pashchim during his college days. The The song depicts the col- Express’ that used to go from actor was present here with lege days of the central char- Delhi to Mumbai. So I, along acters Abhi and Bindu and with my friends, used to get when asked if he used to onto the train and we used to playing sing songs in his col- go to every coach to sing and lege days to impress perform. Passengers used to girls, Ayushmann give us money which we used said, “During my to collect. We earned so much Nargis: Manisha college days I used that we managed to sponsor to do a lot of theatre, our Goa trip from it! So yes, live shows, street you can say I am a train singer,” plays etc. so the Vicky Donor actor said. an event. She was speaking at did not get Ayushmann started the the launch of a social campaign ‘Whenever I press confer- – ‘My Hair for Cancer’ – an ini- ence by tiative by Nargis Dutt Foun- see a cancer sing- dation and hair care brand ing the Richfeel. Sanjay’s sister, former patient today it song ‘Haar- MP Priya Dutt was also present eya’ from the upcom- at the event. “It is a great oppor- is like reliving ing film live before the media tunity and honour to be play- persons. ing Nargis Dutt ji on-screen. the moment Produced by Yash She is a legendary figure. I hope Raj Films, Meri I do justice to the chance that is when I was Pyaari Bindu is set to given to me.” release on May 12. “We did couple if look test fighting with IANS and I think we have got closer to the look both in short or long ovarian cancer’ hair. I am excited and kicked about it,” the 46-year-old actor MUMBAI: Cancer survivor added. Directed by Rajkumar Bollywood actor Manisha Koi- Hirani the biopic stars Ranbir rala said she would be revis- Kapoor in the lead role. iting a lot of moments of her Apart from the Dutt own life while playing the role biopic, Manisha is also work- of Sanjay Dutt’s mother Nargis ing on some other projects in a forthcoming biopic. Nar- and will soon make the official gis was diagnosed with pan- announcement. creatic cancer and died in the “There are other films that When Priyanka Chopra year 1981. I am doing and as and when “Whenever I see a cancer we go ahead the producers with ovarian cancer in 2012. “After that lot of things also one should be strong. I patient today it is like reliv- will announce it. Also, as far After fighting the dreaded dis- changed. I understood the believe in the divine...we all became Parineeti’s ing the moment. I am affected as health is concerned I would ease and winning the battle, importance of health and life have the strength and cour- in many ways. When I will be want to do a chat show about she is now actively involved in and I connected with my soul. age within us we just have to performing that (Nargis Dutt’s it. I am glued to understand spreading cancer awareness. I think a person does look for it.” Manisha revealed MUSIC TEACHER role)...I am yet to start shoot, of health and human body. If She said the period when she become weak mentally and that she was inspired by people course I will be revisiting that,” that comes my way I will do was diagnosed with cancer was emotionally with any dis- who were cancer survivors like MUMBAI: Bollywood actor song,” Parineeti told report- Manisha told reporters here at it.” Manisha was diagnosed the turning point of her life. ease. But even in that time model-actor Lisa Ray. PTI Parineeti Chopra reveals ers here at an event. in her teenage days her sis- Parineeti is the latest ter Priyanka Chopra used to celebrity making her sing- teach her English songs. “We ing debut in Bollywood with Daisy Ridley still getting did not play Antakshari as she ‘Maana Ke Hum Yaar Nahi’ Chunky has been a fan of (Priyanka) went to the US for from her upcoming film Meri studies. Pyaari Bindu. The actor said “...When she came back her father is her inspiration. used to ‘Star Wars’ fame from the US at the age of “My dad is my idol and villains since childhood 16 she was totally Ameri- inspiration when it comes to can as she had an accent and singing. He still sits with a MUMBAI: Bolywood actor Chunky said, “Being a vil- she used to teach us Eng- harmonium and does ‘riyaz’, Chunky Pandey, who has done lain was an easy thing to do. lish songs. She was cool and he sings everywhere he can. a negative role in the recently Comedy completely depends amazing. She was “He cried when he heard released Begum Jaan, says that on the script and the type of the first per- me and my brother sing. I he was a fan of villains since dialogues we get. Comedy is son to mes- have released my song for childhood. dependent on time and so I sage me him. I feel he wanted to see “I have been a fan of villains will say comedy is tougher than after the my musical dream come true. since my childhood. Finally being a villain.” I dedicate all my songs to when I got the role of a vil- Sharing some funny him. I want to be better lain, I got scary reactions from moments from the set, Chunky and better singer just for two women. They were sitting said, “My first interaction with him,” she adds. beside me during the screen- Vidya Balan was inside her Singing may be her ing and left the hall halfway vanity van and I was dressed up first love, but the actor, when they realised I was beside in my character. As I stepped said acting will always be them,” said Chunky Pandey into her van, she looked at me her main focus. at a post-release interview of and screamed. That was like a “My intense passion Begum Jaan. compliment for me.” is to be the best actor I After trying his hand at When asked if he took any LOS ANGELES: Actor Daisy Ridley says she is still trying to can be. I want to sing as comedy and negative genre, inspiration from any past vil- get used to the international fame she received after doing Star much as I can as that’s Chunky now wants to make lains of the industry for this Wars: The Force Awakens. The 25-year-old actor, who essays the my first love, I want his audience cry. “I have done role, he said, “I would like to role of Rey in the franchise and is gearing up for the release of to dance my best comedy and now I did a nega- become ‘Dilavar’ from ‘Muqa- Star Wars: The Last Jedi, says she still finds the whole attention and want to do best tive role. So for future I guess I adar Ka Sikander’ played by weird, reported E! online. and do biggest wanna do an emotional charac- Amjad Khan. That is the kind “It kind of hits me in bursts. After ‘The Force Awakens’ came variety of films ter and make my audience cry,” of negativity a villain should out, I was like, ‘Oh, my God! I can’t leave my house.’” Ridley and that’s my only said the Housefull actor. h av e .” Begum Jaan, starring says. While she was able to ride the subway and “walk through endeavour.” PTI Asked which genre was Vidya Balan hit the big screen Oxford Circus” undetected, “occasionally” she would get rec- more tougher to perform on April 14. IANS ognised. She adds, “It’s very weird to get my head around.” PTI Rihanna was born to act, says Cara Delevingne Shannon comes out as bisexual

LOS ANGELES: Actor Shannon Purser, who has been featured on ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Riverdale’, has come out as bisexual. She posted an emotional message on Twit- ter on Tuesday after backlash for a now- deleted tweet directed at fans of the Archie reboot ‘Riverdale’, ‘shipping’ the show’s female characters Betty Cooper and Veron- ica Lodge. The two locked lips in a previous Relationships are hard: Harry episode, reports people.com. “I don’t normally do this, but I figure LOS ANGELES: Former One now is as good a time as any to get per- Direction star Harry Styles has sonal. I’ve only just recently come out as opened up about his romance bisexual to my family and friends,” Purser, and split with Pop sensation 19, wrote in her post. “It’s something I am Taylor Swift and the singer still processing and trying to understand believes being in limelight and I don’t like talking about it too much. makes it hard to maintain a I’m very very new to the LGBT commu- relationship. The musicians nity,” she continued. dated from October 2012 to “I have never ever wanted to alienate January 2013 and Styles says it anyone and my tweet was thoughtless,” the was a learning experience for star penned. She said she wasn’t referring him, reported RollingStone. October 2014, many peo- to all the “beronica shippers, just the ones “...Relationships are hard, at ple assumed she had written who had particularly cruel to me personally. any age. And adding in that you “Out of the Woods” and “Style” LONDON: Model-actor Cara rare group of people that just Either way, it wasn’t a wise or kind thing to don’t really understand exactly about Styles. The 23-year-old Delevingne believes R&B star have it, and she has it. What say and I’m disappointed in myself”. how it works when you’re 18, ‘Sign of the Times’ singer says Rihanna was born to be an she does is astonishing,” Delev- “I apologise to those who were hurt,” she trying to navigate all that stuff he does not fault Swift for actor. The 24-year-old model ingne says. The model, how- concluded. Purser previously admitted to didn’t make it easier. “I mean, using her experiences as musi- has praised the 29-year-old ever, says she struggles to watch her Twitter followers that she had anxiety you’re a little bit awkward to cal material. musician for her acting abil- herself in the movies. about her sexuality. “I know what it’s like to begin with. “I mean, I don’t know if ity and says she finds her “Seeing myself in a movie have anxiety about it,” she tweeted on April You’re on a date with some- they’re about me or not... But “mesmerising on set”, reported is still something I find hard 11. “Especially trying to come to terms with one you really like. It should the issue is, she’s so good, Femalefirst. to accept. It doesn’t sit very it and my faith. It can be really scary… But be that simple, right? It was a they’re bloody everywhere,” “Rihanna is as mesmeris- easy with me. I can’t connect it’s gonna be okay. You’re going to be okay. learning experience for sure,” he says, adding, “I write from ing on set as she is on stage. with my own body, watching No, you’re going to be great.” IANS Styles says. After Swift released my experiences; everyone She was born to act. There’s a myself.” PTI her first pop album, 1989, in does that.” PTI