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         publication of documents marked as secret or from plac- ing such documents before a O   P court of law which may have   23 /304 petitions, the Bench said, “The been called upon to adjudicate   23 /304 right of such publication would a legal issue concerning the he Rafale issue returned to seem to be in consonance with parties,” the CJI said. he Election Commission Ttorment the Modi the constitutional guarantee of Writing a separate but con- Ton Wednesday (EC) decid- Government on the eve of the freedom of speech.” curring judgment, Justice KM ed to defer the screening of the first phase of the Asserting that the publica- Joseph backed the freedom of biopic on “PM Narendra polls on Wednesday when the tion of the said documents was press and said that the press in Modi” till further orders. The Supreme Court allowed a set of backed by several decision of India has greatly contributed to order will also apply to NaMo “leaked” documents to be relied the SC since 1950 upholding the strengthening of democra- TV, which can’t air the movie. upon by petitioners seeking freedom of the press, the court cy in the country.            The movie was slated to release review of its Rafale judgment said there was no legal provi- “It will have a pivotal role  

      !"# on the first phase of poll on and dismissed the sion to prevent publication of to play for the continued exis- April 11. Government’s objections claim- a document marked as “secret” tence of a vibrant democracy in political or financial In its detailed directive, the ing “privilege” over them. or restrain such papers to be the country,” said Justice considerations betrays true EC said, “Any poster or pub- The import and timing of submitted in the court. Joseph, adding a caveat that the freedom. licity material concerning any the judgment have serious “There is no provision in stream of information that “The ability of truth to be such certified content which implication for the BJP and the the Official Secrets Act and no flows from it, “must remain recognised by a discerning pub- either depicts a candidate Opposition. The admission of such provision in any other unpolluted by considerations lic in the supposedly free mar- (including prospective) for the the review petition means that statute has been brought to our other than truth”. ket place of ideas forms much furtherance (or purported to there is no “clean chit to the notice by which Parliament He said the press must of the basis for the grant of the further) of electoral prospects, On the banning of biopic political entity or any individ- Government in the purchase of has vested any power in the remain fearless and free from unquestionable freedom to the New Delhi: Finance Minister directly or indirectly, shall not on Modi, the EC said any ual entity connected to it, the fighter jets, while the tim- executive arm of the biases, for transmitting biased Press, including the media hous- on Wednesday be put on display in electron- such material/ film disturbing which is intended to, or which ing offers a “talking point” to Government either to restrain information due to personal, es,” said Justice Joseph. said the SC decision to allow ic media in the area where the level playing field in favour has the potential to disturb the the Opposition leaders to place leaked papers to be relied upon MCC is in force.” of any political party or indi- level playing field during the the Prime Minister in the dock. by petitioners in the Rafale case As far as the telecast of vidual should not be displayed elections, should not be dis- The judgment is also major is “at best procedural”. NaMo TV’s itself, the EC is in the electronic media. The played in electronic media victory for the journalist com- In a series of tweets, Jaitley expected to give detailed orders poll body has also received including cinematograph dur- munity. Mediapersons were up $ %        said the CAG has already soon as the Information and complaints about biopic “PM ing the operation of MCC.” in arms over claims by the cleared the deal and a petition Broadcasting Ministry termed Narendra Modi”, “NTR Laxmi” The release of the film Centre that they could be pros- seeking review of the earlier it as advertorial platform, and and “Udyama Simham”. was deferred last week on ecuted for publishing classified judgment of the SC is pending. Tata Sky described it as “con- Opposition parties have been grounds of pending certifica- documents, which had bearing P  %'   “All that the court has tent TV” before the EC. calling for a ban on the movie tion clearance from the Central on the national security. today said is that even a wrong- The EC has received some in view of the Model Code of Board of Film Certification The Centre had invoked ly procured document can be clarification from the Delhi Conduct (MCC). (CBFC), which it secured on the Officials Secret Act and considered for review. The CEO regarding pre-certifica- In an order issued on Tuesday. submitted that the “classified” issue which delights the belea- tion of political advertisement Wednesday, the EC said, “Any Last week, biopic produc- documents were “stolen” by the guered Opposition is at best on NaMo TV by Media biopic material in the nature of er Omung Singh had tweeted petitioners and used to support ‘procedural’,”Jaitley said. Certification and Monitoring biography/hagiography sub- that movie will be release by their review petitions against Detailed report on P5 Committee. serving the purposes of any next week on April 11. the December 14, 2018 judg-   23 /304 ment of the apex court dis- missing all pleas challenging ailing the Supreme Court procurement of 36 Rafale fight- Horder in the Rafale case, er jets from France. the Opposition parties accused “We dismiss the prelimi- Prime Minister Narendra Modi nary objection raised by Union of engaging in a “dubious” of India questioning the main- deal to favour industrialist Anil tainability of the review peti- Ambani and asked for open tion,” a Bench comprising Chief debate on the issue. He said he will ask Modi Rahul said at an election rally Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Congress president Rahul three questions on the Rafale in Katihar. Justices SK Kaul and KM Gandhi on Wednesday deal and industrialist Anil “You (Modi) will speak Joseph said. launched a stinging attack on Ambani and the Prime whatever you wish and I will Dismissing Attorney the Prime Minister over alleged Minister will not be able to ask just three questions. After General KK Venugopal’s argu- irregularities in the Rafale deal show his face to people. “The 15 minutes, Modi will not be ment that the illegally obtained and public sector chowkidar has handed over able to show his face to any- documents and news reports banks, and challenged him to keys of the banks to thieves. I body as it would be writ large filed on their basis cannot be a debate on the issue of cor- promise to return these keys to on his face that chowkidar taken on record in the review ruption. the people of this country,” chor hai.”     - 5- "" $ "&" '(" perception. seven candidates. The con- )&++', $-+ (!." On Tuesday, the Danewada stituency also has more women he Bastar Lok Sabha con- $&/(!+& " .'(+  MLA and four policemen were (7,15,550 ) voters than men Tstituency that has several &+! 00!$$!" " killed by Naxalites in an IED (6,62.355 ). There are 41 vot- pockets of Naxal strongholds '(&($+$/('(" blast, triggering shock and ers from third gender. will go to poll on Thursday '"!()" +!.!1-223, !. anger in the state’s political cir- Around 72 polling teams amidst unprecedented securi- &+($$,(""&($$+  cle. have been sent through heli- ty arrangements, kick-starting In the core Maoist affected copter to their designated des- a three-phased general elec- "$+(.!&0,(!$!.!. + areas Dantewada, Bijapur, tination. tions in the State. $$0) &$+!+/&!$ Konta and Narayanpur, the The candidates in the fray Naxals have called for a !'!!$+(!&+$ polling will be held from 7am are the Bahujan Samaj Party’ boycott of polls, throwing a to 3pm, Chhattisgarh Chief Ayatu Ram Mandavi, Deepak security challenge for the located in inaccessible and far- Electoral officer Subrat Sahoo Baij of the Congress, Baiduram Election Commission and law flung forested areas. Around said. Kashyap of the BJP, Ramu Ram enforcers to ensure free and fair 224 polling centres have been In other segments — Maurya of the CPI, Panish balloting in 1,880 polling cen- declared highly sensitive and Kondagaon, Bastar, Jagdalpur Prasad Nag of the Ambedkarite tres spread across the vast 512 as sensitive. and Chitrakote — polling will Party of India, Manglaram region comprising eight Police issued advisory to all be held between 7am to 5pm. Karma of the Akhil Bharat Assembly constituencies in five the political leaders not to The parliamentary con- Samagra Kranti Party and districts. venture out without security in stituency has 13,77,946 electors, Suresh alias Sargim Kawasi of     (   ' ,   % !  '(  $  , , $    %   ,'   , Many of the centres are view of the growing threat who will decide the fate of Shiv Sena.            +',        !"# 

           23 /304 combination. In 2014, the BJP Lok Sabha and the State   won most of the seats in the Assembly as over 3.93 crore   he stage is set for the first western UP. voters get to exercise their LM Tphase of the Lok Sabha In Muzaffarnagar, RLD franchise. This is the first gen-          23 /304 election on Thursday with 91 chief Ajit Singh will take on eral election in the State after    ! constituencies at stake across 20 BJP’s Sanjeev Balyan. Ajit’s son the bifurcation of Andhra "##   he AAP has rejected the States, including eight hotly Jayant Chaudhary is fielded Pradesh in 2014.    %% TCongress’ offer to form an contested seats from the west- against Union Minister There are 2,118 candidates    %  & alliance in any State, senior ern Uttar Pradesh where SP- Satyapal Singh in Baghpat. VK for Andhra Assembly polls leader Sanjay Singh said on BSP-RLD is expected to give a Singh and Mahesh Sharma are and 319 for the LS elections.     Wednesday. tough challenge to the BJP. BJP candidates in Ghaziabad Naidu is seeking election    “In Punjab, where we have A total of about 1,300 can- and Gautam Budh Nagar, from Kuppam, while his son  ! '()  four MP and 20 MLA, a single didates, including Union respectively. Nara Lokesh is making his  * +  seat is not being given to us,” Ministers Mahesh Sharma, VK The first phase will also electoral debut from     (   said the AAP leader. Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Kiren witness Assembly polls in Mangalagiri.      “In Chandigarh, where we Rijiju and former Uttarakhand Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and YSR Congress chief YS %,     got 1.30 lakh votes, they are not Chief Minister Harsih Rawat Odisha for 175, 32 and 28 seats, Jaganmohan Reddy, an aspirant    -( giving us a single seat. In Goa, are in the fray in the first respectively. for the CM’s post, is fighting  % & where we got six per cent vote, phase of the Lok Sabha polls. Ruling TDP of from his family’s pocket bor- no seats there either. In Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, which deliv- Chandrababu Naidu, who ough Pulivendula. In 2014, the    where the Congress has no ered 71 seats to the BJP in 2014 broke away from the NDA at TDP won 101, the YSRC 68,    presence, they want to give us LS polls under the Modi-wave, the Centre, faces stiff challenge the BJP 4, Navodayam Party  ! +%.  three seats,” Singh said. is starting its seven-phased from the YSR Congress. Strong one and an Independent one in    He said this offer has been marathon in the west UP which anti-incumbency, caste and the Atate polls. % -/% 0 rejected by the AAP and hence- is proving to a real challenge for corruption are the major fac- In Lok Sabha seats, the  1   forth there would be no talks the BJP as it is pitted against a       ' !          (  !  '(  $  tors that could determine the TDP bagged 15, YSRC eight & with the Congress on alliance. formidable SP-BSP-RLD caste !  )*     +',      !"# outcome of the elections to the and BJP two.    !      23 /304 prime minister also. To hide the lies of Rafale, Modi-ji spoke a he Congress on Wednesday hundred lies, but, truth has Tlost no time in hitting out finally caught up with him -.!%%  %  %  at Prime Minister Narendra and the truth is that ‘chowkidar Modi following the Supreme chor hai’,” he told reporters.   23 /304 was gross contempt of court.” rity in public domain,” it added. Court’s interim order on the Addressing a press confer- Meanwhile, the defence The Supreme Court by a well- Rafale matter saying it has ence, he said the source of the dopting an aggressive ministry in a statement said, “It reasoned judgement and order blown the lid off his “lies”. It document will not be seen Astance, Defence Minister is reiterated that the petition- dated December 14, 2018 had also termed it as the first step and the evidentiary value of the   23 /304 ing officials and multi-min- Nirmala Sitharaman hit out at ers are using documents with already dismissed the Writ towards justice with the last document will be seen. isterial committees”. Congress chief Rahul Gandhi the intention to present a selec- Petitions, the statement said. being a Joint Parliamentary “The evidentiary value of ailing the Supreme “There is a very, very big for comments hailing the tive and incomplete picture of This reaction by the gov- Committee probe. the document is that there is HCourt’s order in the scam involved in the deal. Supreme Court order on the internal secret deliberations ernment came in the backdrop Congress chief spokesper- blatant theft, blatant violation Rafale case, the Left parties on Why did you renegotiate the Rafale deal case on Wednesday on a matter relating to nation- of classified documents son Randeep Surjewala said the of procedure, blatant corrup- Wednesday said the Modi deal Mr Modi, because there and said his remarks amount- al security and defence.” sourced by the media regard- layers of corruption in the tion and compromising nation- Government faced a big set- was a massive degree of cor- ed to contempt of court as he The statement also said the ing the Rs 59,000 crore deal for Rafale fighter aircraft deal are al interest in the entire Rafale back and “truth is slowly com- ruption in this deal,” he said. had misquoted the apex court. documents presented by the 36 Rafale fighter jets to be now out in the open and that deal, something that the prime ing out” in the dubious deal to CPI leader D Raja wel- Reacting to the top court’s petitioners are failing to bring brought from France through justice will be done as the minister sought to hide and favour “discredited” industri- comed the Supreme Court order, the defence ministry out how the issues were a government to government prime minister can no longer now that clean chit has been alist Anil Ambani. Hitting order allowing leaked docu- said petitioners in the Rafale entire country is saying that addressed and resolved and deal. hide behind the veil of “official blown away. out at the NDA Government, ments to be relied upon by case are using certain docu- Chowkidar has committed necessary approvals of the Citing internal reports of secrets act”. “The Supreme Court has CPI(M) general secretary petitioners seeking review of ments with the intention to theft. It is a day of celebration competent authorities taken. the Defence Ministry, The The SC allowed “leaked” taken the first step. First step in Sitaram Yechury claimed it its Rafale judgment, saying the present a “selective and incom- that the Supreme Court has “These are selective and Hindu daily had come out documents to be relied upon by the justice towards Rafale and was clear that the Government order was a “setback” for the plete picture” of internal secret talked about justice.” His party incomplete presentation of the with a series of stories includ- petitioners seeking review of its a Joint Parliamentary had concealed many truths as BJP-led NDA government at deliberations relating to nation- took a dig that that an investi- facts and records by the peti- ing one on how the Defence Rafale judgement and dis- Committee would be the final far as the deal was concerned. the Centre. The CPI nation- al security. gation is going to take place tioners,” the ministry said. Ministry had objected to par- missed the government’s pre- step. It is now clear that the first “This (apex court order) al secretary said the “truth has Maintaining that the now, whether Prime Minister The defence ministry fur- allel negotiations carried out by liminary objections claiming step of justice has been taken the Government of India, the to be found out now”. Supreme Court order was lim- Narendra Modi “likes it or not.” ther said the government pro- the Prime Minister’s Office. “privilege” over them. and now justice will be done,” Modi Government, hoped “It is a setback and a slap ited to whether it should con- Rejecting his contention, vided the requisite information Referring to these sensitive “The layers of corruption he said. will not happen, “ Yechury in the face for the sider the documents the gov- Sitharaman also said “the as desired by the Supreme documents, the petitioners in in the Rafale scam are now out He said these documents told reporters at Coimbatore. Government. The court has ernment said were illegally Congress president probably Court and also to the peti- the case had sought a review of in the open. The entire struc- prove corruption, violation of Quoting Modi’s words that rejected the government’s obtained by petitioners, the doesn’t read even half a para- tioners as per directions of the the Supreme Court’s December ture of lies built by PM is in tat- procedures and that Modi results of Balakot air strike argument. And now what is defence minister said “Rahul graph of the court’s order, but court. “The government also 14 order in the case. The ters. Prime Minister Modi used himself was negotiating the could have been different if the answer from Mr Gandhi has completely showed here, saying the court has said provided all records and files as Centre had claimed privilege to hide behind a self-pro- deal which compromised the Indian Air Force had the (Narendra) Modi and Mr his frustration by saying what ‘chowkidaar chor hai’ it is verg- required by CAG. The main over the documents pertaining nounced clean chit by the national security and caused Rafale fighter jets, Yechury Arun Jaitley who were refer- the court had not said.” ing on contempt of court... He concern of the government is to the deal and said those Supreme Court. But, today the loss to exchequer. “ I think asked what was the reason for ring to Supreme Court all the Her sharp comments came may be brazen enough to claim relating to availability of sen- documents cannot be consid- Supreme Court has demol- that’s a great victory as a first it, “because you (Modi) rene- time on the clean chit,” he when Rahul Gandhi said after what he claims without any sitive and classified informa- ered in evidence as per Section ished that lie of clean chit of the step to justice,” Surjewala said. gotiated the deal, by overrid- said. the Supreme Court order “the proof, but today what he said tion concerning national secu- 123 of the Indian Evidence Act.        23 /304       !     23 /304 the US Supreme Court had power in the executive, which ormer Union Minister Arun % )%  refused to recognise a right in it could have so done, the  23 /304 Narendra Modi on the Rafale FShourie, one of the review  !  ! ! he Supreme Court on the executive government to courts cannot carve out such a deal, and termed it as the first petitioners in the Rafale case, %%      TWednesday held that the seek a restraint order or publi- jurisdiction as the same may inance Minister Arun Jaitley step towards justice. Wednesday said he was delight-  %  2'7 5  .  publication of three docu- cation of the papers. amount to unauthorized judi- Fon Wednesday said the Earlier in December, a ed by the unanimous verdict of  +  ments by ‘The Hindu’ on the The judgment penned by cial law making thereby vio- Supreme Court’s decision to three-judge bench of the the Supreme Court dismissing     Rafale jet deal, on which the Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, on lating the sacred doctrine of allow leaked documents to be Supreme Court had dismissed Centre’s “peculiar argument”     '    Centre had raised preliminary behalf of himself and Justice S separation of powers,” the CJI relied upon by petitioners in all Public Interest Litigations on admissibility of privileged @0%A'0B  objections claiming “privilege” K Kaul who were part of the said. the Rafale case is “at best pro- (PILs) against the deal between documents. .   8  0 over them, were in conso- three judge-bench delivering The top court said the cedural”. India and France for procure- The apex court on A.80B&4+ nance with the constitutional the verdict, said the apex court principle of law depicted in the In a series of tweets, Jaitley ment of 36 Rafale fighter jets, Wednesday dismissed prelim- / A7% B '0 guarantee of freedom of of the United States had “Pentagon Papers” case would said the Comptroller and saying there was no occasion to inary objections raised by the      speech. refused to recognise the right apply to the facts of the Rafale Auditor General (CAG) has missed the Government’s pre- “really doubt the decision mak- Centre that documents on     The SC further said that the of the Government to restrain case. already cleared the deal and a liminary objections claiming ing process” warranting setting which claimed”privilege” can- % & publication of the documents in publication primarily on the “There is no provision in petition seeking review of the “privilege” over them. aside of the contract. not be relied upon to re-exam- the newspaper reminded it of its ground that the First the Official Secrets Act and no earlier judgement of the The Centre had submitted The top court Wednesday ine the verdict in the Rafale    various judgments upholding Amendment guaranteed free- such provision in any other Supreme Court is pending. that privileged documents were said that review petitions fighter jet deal with France.       the freedom of the press which dom of the press and the US statute has been brought to our “All that the court has procured by petitioners in an against its December 14 verdict “We are delighted it is an  !3 have also been echoed by the Code did not contemplate any notice by which Parliament has today said is that even a wrong- illegal way and used to support dismissing all petitions against unanimous verdict dismissing .      US Supreme Court from time restriction on publication of vested any power in the exec- ly procured document can be their review petitions against procurement of Rafale jets will Central Government’s peculiar   % 0 ! to time. items or material specified in utive arm of the government considered for review. The the December 14, 2018 judge- be decided on merit. The court argument on admissibility of +    C In the famous case of New the Code. either to restrain publication of issue which delights the belea- ment of the apex court dis- said it will fix a date for hear- documents. Centre’s argument  C"  +& York Times Company vs United “By a majority of 6:3, the documents marked as secret or guered opposition is at best missing all pleas challenging ing review petitions. meant no wrong can be done %    States relating to the publication US Supreme Court had from placing such documents ‘procedural’,” Jaitley said. procurement of 36 Rafale fight- The Rafale fighter is a in the defence deal,” he told      %  of the “Pentagon Papers”, which declined to pass prohibitory before a court of law which The Supreme Court er jets from France. twin-engine Medium Multi PTI. Shourie is one of the  %  %& contained information about orders on publication of the may have been called upon to Wednesday allowed leaked Commenting on the Role Combat Aircraft review petitioners along with  1%  % the political and military “Pentagon Papers” on the adjudicate a legal issue con- documents to be relied upon by Supreme Court order, Congress (MMRCA) manufactured by former Union Minister ""    "=& involvement of the federal gov- ground that the Congress itself cerning the parties,” the CJI petitioners seeking review of its said the it has blown the lid off French aerospace company Yashwant Sinha and activist ernment in the Vietnam War, not having vested any such said. Rafale judgement and dis- the “lies” of Prime Minister Dassault Aviation. advocate Prashant Bhushan. /   %   % )   23 /304 filed a complaint which ings, you have violated the ... O’Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray become ‘nikamma tions issued by BJP leaders who claimed that the Telangana The Model Code of Conduct,” New Delhi: The Centre and the and Dr Chandan Mitra sub- Commission’. Enough is publicly claimed” that such he Election Commission Rashtra Samithi chief “tried to the notice served Tuesday said. EC took contrary stands in the mitted a nine-point memo- enough. actions were taken by T(EC) has issued a show secure votes by passing deroga- The poll panel reminded Supreme Court on Wednesday randum protesting what they Transfers of good, honest the ECI at the initiative of their cause notice to Telangana Chief tory remarks against Hindus Rao of the provision of the poll over political funding with the called was “EC bias”. In the senior police officers of Bengal party, the memorandum Minister K Chandrashekhar while addressing an election code which states that no party government wanting to maintain   23 /304 memorandum, the TMC said are being decided by a traitor alleged. Rao, finding him prima facie rally at Karimnagar on March or candidate shall indulge in anonymity of the donors of elec- the removal of Kolkata Police who now works out of the BJP Earlier, in a letter to the guilty of allegedly passing 17”. any activity which may aggra- toral bonds and the poll panel he Trinamool Congress on Commissioner Anuj Sharma Central office in Kolkata,” said chief election commissioner derogatory remarks against The Commission has pro- vate existing differences or cre- batting for revealing the names TWednesday accused the along with those of Bidhan Derek, indicating the hand of on Tuesday, the TMC had Hindus while addressing an duced his remarks in Telugu ate mutual hatred or cause of donors for transparency. Election Commission of bias Nagar Police Commissioner former TMC MP Mukul Roy, alleged that Gupta’s transfer was election rally in Karimnagar but did not give English trans- tension between different castes The top court was hearing and dubbed it a “nikamma Gyanwant Singh, Birbhum SP who is now in the BJP, in the “arbitrary, motivated and last month. lation of the same. “... The and communities, religious or the plea of NGO, Association Commission” even as it sub- Shyam Singh, Diamond removal of the Cooch Behar biased” and claimed the poll Now, he has been asked to Commission is, prima facie, of linguistic; and prohibits appeal of Democratic Reforms (ADR)’, mitted a memorandum to the Harbour SP S Selvamurugan Superintendent of Police body was taking instructions furnish his reply by April 12 the opinion that by making the to communal feelings for secur- which has sought interim poll body against transfers of and Airport Division DCP Abhishek Gupta by the poll from BJP leaders. West Bengal evening, failing which the aforesaid statement which has ing votes. reliefs that either the issuance top police officers in West Avaru Rabindranath, have been body on April 9. Chief Minister Mamata Commission will take a deci- the potential of disturbing har- The model code came into of electoral bonds be stayed or Bengal just before the first effected “without following “In this case, we have Banerjee had alleged that the sion “without any further ref- mony and aggravating existing force on March 10 when the the names of the donors be phase of voting in the Lok proper procedure”. observed that the transfers electoral body was working at erence to you”. The differences between social and schedule for the seven-phased made public to ensure trans- Sabha elections. “People are saying were made soon after com- the behest of the ruling party Commission said VHP state religious communities, and Lok Sabha elections was parency in the poll process. Party leaders Derek Nirvachan Commission has plaints were made and instruc- at the Centre. president M Rama Raju had appealing to communal feel- announced. PTI / %       23 /304 Kashmir. Malik was produced of stones on security forces,     before special judge Rakesh burning down of schools and he National Investigation Syal where the NIA arrested damaging of government TAgency (NIA) on him inside the courtroom and establishments in J&K.       Wednesday arrested Yasin the proceedings in the case The terror funding case has Malik, chief of banned terror were heard in-camera. also named Lashkar-e-Tayyaba   23 /304   23 /304 spokesperson Randeep paign, where he has scur- group Jammu & Kashmir During the custodial inter- chief Hafiz Saeed who alleged-    "(&+ !$$/ Surjewala launched a blistering rilously tried to link it to oppo- Liberation Front (JKLF), in rogation, Malik will be facing ly funded the separatists in the he Election Commission "$ &"/$+!&+ he Opposition on attack on Modi over Khan’s sition. Now we know who connection with the J&K terror questions from the NIA relat- Kashmir Valley through his T(EC) on Wednesday direct- $'($ !.(!0 TWednesday latched on to comments. Pakistan actually wants as PM, funding case. ed to funding of his organisa- frontal organization Jamaat- ed Doordarshan to “desist” !!$+("(("!P$ Pakistan Prime Minister Imran “Pak has officially allied the only Indian PM to have Malik was on Tuesday tion. The Jammu & Kashmir ud-Dawah. from extending any preferen- O"! ! ?!"(P Khan’s remarks that there may with Modi! A vote for Modi is invited ISI to a military base, night brought on a production High Court has reserved its The NIA has also named tial or disproportionate airtime ,(.("00'("(  be a better chance of Indo-Pak a vote for Pakistan!” Surjewala and the only one who went to warrant from Kot Bhalwal Jail, judgment on a plea of the CBI organisations like Hurriyat coverage in favour of any party. /("'+(,,$!+! peace talks and settling of the tweeted. “Modi ji, first there Pakistan uninvited,” he said. Jammu, where he has been for reopening three-decade- Conference factions led by In a strongly-worded letter to ,"(+!$&0, "!+ "+ Kashmir issue if the BJP is was love for Nawaz Sharif and “We have serious concerns detained under Public Safety old cases in which Malik was Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Secretary, Information and voted back to power to target now Imran Khan is your dear about foreign governments Act, and produced before the an accused. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, anoth- Broadcasting Ministry, the EC + "+!" )("&"$+( Prime Minister Narendra friend,” he added in a tweet in influencing our democratic NIA Special Court here. The Malik is facing charges of er Pakistan-based terror group said, “Would like you (secy) to "$)!.)!"$ Modi. It said a vote for Modi is Hindi. election process. Last year, it NIA court has granted 13-day abduction and murder for Hizbul Mujahideen and the direct the DD news channel to a vote for Pakistan. The truth is out in the was reported that ISI wants NIA custody of Malik. being allegedly involved in Dukhtaran-e-Millat led by desist from extending any pref- In its reply, DD news had In a scathing attack, the open, Surjewala claimed. Modi as PM. Now Pakistani JKLF is also a constituent abducting Rubaiya Sayeed, Asiya Andrabi. erential or disproportionate reportedly said the BJP gets Congress said Khan’s remarks Prime Minister Modi has PM says it,” Yechury said. of All Party Hurriyat daughter of then Union Home The case was registered airtime coverage in favour of maximum time on its news reflect that Pakistan has “offi- been accusing the Congress of con- Conference (APHC) whose Minister Mufti Mohammad on May 30, 2017 for raising, any party and extend com- slot, followed by the Congress cially allied” with Modi. During being supportive of Pakistan’s venor and Delhi Chief Minister leaders are also under probe in Sayeed in 1989, and killing of receiving and collecting funds mensurate and balanced cov- since the Lok Sabha polls were an interaction with a small narrative following the Balakot Arvind Kejriwal also seized on the terror funding case. He will four Indian Air Force person- through various illegal means, erage of the activities of all announced. group of foreign journalists in air strikes. He has also Khan’s remarks, saying if Modi now be produced before the nel in the early part of 1990. including hawala transactions, recognised political parties...” “It was noted from the Islamabad, Khan had said he slammed opposition leaders wins in the general election, NIA Special Court, Patiala NIA had approached a for funding separatist and ter- The EC had recently issued report that the airtime cover- believes there may be a better for asking questions on the crackers will be burst in House Court, here on April 22. special court in Jammu, seek- rorist activities in Jammu & a show cause notice to DD age given to various political chance of peace talks with strike, saying such statements Pakistan. The NIA special court ing Malik’s remand for custo- Kashmir and for causing dis- news for showing Prime parties is disproportionate India and settling the Kashmir were helping Pakistan. “Why does Pakistan want granted Malik’s custody after dial interrogation in the terror- ruption in the Valley by way of Minister Narendra Modi’s and not balanced, which is not issue if Modi’s party BJP wins For his part, CPI(M) Modi ji to win. Modi ji should the agency sought his custodi- funding case. The NIA probe pelting stones on the security ‘Main Bhi Chowkidar’ pro- in accordance with the princi- the general elections. Khan General Secretary Sitaram tell the country how deep are al interrogation for 15 days in seeks to identify the chain of forces, burning down schools, gramme for nearly one hour ple of maintaining neutrality said other parties would be Yechury said now it was known his relations with Pakistan. All connection with a case related players including the layers of damaging public property and after opposition parties com- and a level playing field, espe- afraid of right-wing backlash in who Pakistan wants as PM. Indians should know that if to funding of separatists and financing and their connection waging war against India, plained that the national cially in the context of the pro- case of a settlement on the “Pakistan has been the only Modi wins, crackers will be terror groups in Jammu and with terrorist activities, pelting according to the NIA FIR. broadcaster was being biased. visions of MCC,” the EC said. Kashmir issue. Congress’s chief issue of Modi’s election cam- burst in Pakistan,” he said. RAIPUR | THURSDAY | APRIL 11, 2019 chhattisgarh 03

Baghel pays tribute to Mandavi, Bhima Mandavi cremated with reviews security arrangements state honours, thousands bid adieu STAFF REPORTER n STAFF REPORTER n DANTEWADA DANTEWADA he last rites of Bharatiya hief Minister Bhupesh Baghel TJanata Party’s lone MLA from Con Wednesday paid tribute to Bastar region Bhima Mandavi slain Dantewada MLA Bhima were performed as per tribal Mandavi and four cops here at traditions with full state honour district headquarters. at his native village Gadapal on Wednesday. They were killed in a Maoist attack here on Tuesday. Mandavi’s 10-year old son After laying floral tributes, the Khirendra Mandavi lit the pyre. CM went into a huddle with Mandavi was killed in an IED senior police and security officials blast triggered by Naxalites near and officers of the district Nakulnar area. Along with him administration at local police lines one driver and three PSOs were here to review the security killed. Before, the final rites, the arrangements. mortal remains of the MLA were Tamradwaj Sahu paid tributes at Agrawal and large array of party Ramlal Oyami, constable Somdu Home Minister Tamradhwaj kept at Dantewada BJP office and the Police Line. BJP national vice leaders participated in the final Kawasi and driver Danteshwar Sahu was also present in the Dantewada Police Line for public president and former chief min- rites. BJP national general secre- Rao were sent to their respective meeting. and others to pay the last tributes ister Raman Singh, BJP state tary and Chhattisgarh in-charge native villages for final rites after Baghel cancelled all his pre to the departed soul. president Vikram Usendi, Leader Anil Jain was also present. District Police Force and other scheduled election programmes in districts to be at Dantewada dis- death of the BJP leader and the Chief Minister Bhupesh of Opposition Dharamlal Mortal remains of head con- jawans paid rich tributes to their Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Durg trict headquarters to mourn the four cops. Baghel and Home Minister Kaushik, MLA Brijmohan stables Chaggan Kuldeep and slain colleagues. Justice Menon to Govt open to CBI probe ECI allows 11 documents be Chief Justice of C’garh HC into Mandavi’s killing: CM for identification of electors n STAFF REPORTER STAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR RAIPUR The eleven documents other than EPIC are Aadhar he Chhattisgarh govern- lection Commission of Tment is open to a Central EIndia has allowed 11 card, passport, driving license, photo identity Bureau of Investigation other documents, apart (CBI) probe into Tuesday’s from electoral photo-iden- cards issued by the Central or state government, Maoist attack in Dantewada tity card (EPIC), for identi- district that killed a BJP fication of electors during government institutions, pass book with MLA and four others. polling, informed Chief Minister Bhupesh Chhattisgarh Chief photograph issued by the bank or post office, PAN Baghel said his government Electoral Officer Subrat card, MGNREGA job card, health insurance card, BILASPUR: Senior most judge of would consider it if any such Sahoo. Kerala High Court P.R. demand was made to it. On the basis of only photo-based pension document, MP, MLAs issued Ramachandra Menon will be the new Several BJP leaders, talk- voter’s slip permission to Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High ing to media after the killing cast vote will not be given. photo-identity card and smart card issued by the Court, Bilaspur. of party MLA Bhima Elector will have to pro- The Supreme Court Collegium Mandavi demanded that the duce one more identity Registrar General of India central agency should probe document from the list of comprising Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justice S.A. Bobde into the attack, alleging there 11 documents if one does card, health insurance published after the final on the basis of voter’s slip. was a political conspiracy and N.V. Ramana recommended Talks could be held with “If he has any proof, he not possess EPIC. card, photo-based pension publication of electoral behind the killing. The Booth Level Menon’s appointment. the ultras only on one condi- should bring the facts before The eleven other docu- document, MP, MLAs roll, as an identity paper. Officers will continue to Talking to media persons tion that they should first shun the government and appro- ments are Aadhar card, issued photo-identity card But as photograph of the distribute the voter’s slip The post of Chief Justice is at after returning from the cre- the path of violence reposing priate action will be taken”, passport, driving license, and smart card issued by elector is not attached on for convenience of the present lying vacant in as former mation of Mandavi, Baghel faith in the Indian constitu- the CM assured. Chief Justice A.K. Tripathi resigned photo identity cards issued the Registrar General of the slip, there was no electors as it has the basic said he had not so far tion, Baghel reiterated. He further slammed the from the post to assume the charge of by the Central or state gov- India. Non-Resident authentication of identity information regarding the received any demand for a He also refuted the alle- BJP leader for indulging in judicial member of the Lokpal, New ernment, government Indians can produce their of the bearer. elector. CBI probe into the incident. gation of leader of ppposition “politicking” over the death Delhi. institutions, pass book passport as an identity Now that EPIC It has polling centre Replying to a query, the Dharamlal Kaushik that of the MLA. “It is not the with photograph issued by proof. attained 99% coverage the number, part number, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra is CM further clarified that he there was an increase in time to do politics over it. We the bank or post office, Commission earlier EC decided not to allow serial number and other at present acting as Chief Justice of had never made any peace urban network of Maoists in all are deeply shocked over PAN card, MGNREGA job used to allow voter’s slip, electors to cast vote merely information. the Chhattisgarh High Court. overtures to the Maoists. the state. the incident”, he said. Mandavi Killing: BJP, other ‘Bhima was a sensitive mass leader’ STAFF REPORTER n RAIPUR attack and yet continued to work parties refrain from campaigning he BJP paid rich tributes to its for the people. Tslain Dantewada MLA Bhima He defeated Bastar tiger Mandavi and termed his untimely Mahendra Karma to reach the death as an “irreparable loss” for assembly. the party. He was soft spoken, religious Describing him as “laborious and socialising person, he recalled, and dedicated worker”, the BJP said adding his trade mark was ‘kalgi’ in its state unit as well as the central hand and a vermillion on forehead. He always completed any task organisation are pained to hear assigned to him. about his demise and that the party workers are still in a state of shock. Leader of Opposition Dharamlal Kaushik said a pall of The party also organised a con- gloom has descended on whole of dolence meeting at all the district Bastar region as they had lost a BJP officials and leaders’ blackened their profiles in social media account mainly Facebook and headquarters of the state and at BJP young leader and son of a farmer. Twitter for the second consecutive day as a mark of protest against the state government’s failure divisional headquarters, Ekatma Kaushik recalled that the slain Parisar on Wednesday. n MLA always used to speak about STAFF REPORTER RAIPUR tion campaign till 6pm. The and leaders’ blackened their The party leaders and office alleviation of poverty in the region n a goodwill gesture, all polit- other parties, including profiles in social media account bearers participated in the meeting. through education and ical parties in the state stayed Congress, also did not take part mainly Facebook and Twitter Two minutes silence was observed development. I in electioneering as a mark of for the second consecutive day away from campaigning on and floral tributes were paid to BJP national co-organisation solidarity. as a mark of protest against the Wednesday as a mark of respect MLA Bhima Mandavi and four him. He was a true tribal mass “With his demise party lost an secretary Saudan Singh and former state government’s failure. for slain BJP MLA Bhima The condolence messages jawans. leader. His “martyrdom” would not enlightened worker and people of minister Brijmohan Agrawal stated Mandavi, who was killed the continue to flow over the killing Former chief minister A short documentary of his be allowed to go in vain. Dantewada have lost a true servant that the death of an energetic and of the Dantewada MLA. previous day in Naxal attack in Raman Singh, leader of the speeches and photographs were BJP state president Vikram forever,” he said. dedicated public servant created a Dantewada along with four BJP state president Vikram Opposition in the state assembly also exhibited during the meeting. Usendi said the Naxal attack on BJP Scheduled Tribe cell’s vacuum. others. Usendi had termed the incident Dharamlal Kaushik, Ramvichar BJP national vice president and Bhima Mandavi was an attack on national president Ramvichar Other leaders also recalled and The BJP had already as failure of the law and order. Netam and other leaders have former chief minister Raman Singh democracy. People of Bastar would Netam said Bhima lost his brother shared their experiences of their declared not to conduct elec- Meanwhile, BJP officials kept their profile black. said it was also a personal loss for give a befitting reply to Naxalites. when he was a Sarpanch in Naxal association with Bhima Mandavi.    !   ! 8;   Kuldeep is in touch with the busy reaching out to the vot- advocates for the establish- and connect with the voters of nominee Kuldeep in Hisar .42/'-4 BJP leaders as well to get a tick- ers of Hisar through coordi- ment of the SYL canal in Hisar. Lok Sabha seat. et for his son from Hisar par- nated online and offline cam- exchange for Chandigarh being Notably, Kuldeep Bishnoi Kuldeep had earlier defeat- mid continuing suspense liamentary seat but the paigns. given to Punjab. had merged his ed Dushyant’s father Ajay Aover Congress leader Congress leader has refuted the 26-year-old Bhavya is quite Proposals like introducing Haryana Janhit Congress Chautala in the 2011 bye-elec- Kuldeep Bishnoi’s next politi- reports. active on social media plat- ‘Ch Bhajan Lal (HJC) with the Congress in the tion in Hisar constituency, cal move, his son Bhavya Kuldeep, who also served forms including Facebook, Dastakaari Fund’ for those year 2016. which had fallen vacant after Bishnoi, who is staking claim as Hisar MP in the past, him- Twitter, Instagram and also, working in the arts and crafts, Since the formation of the demise of Bhajan Lal, who for a party ticket from self, remains a frontrunner for has an Andriod mobile App— a pro-farmer crop insurance coordination committee for had won the seat in 2009. Hisar Lok Sabha seat, has Congress’ ticket from the seat Team Bhavya—which updates scheme are among others Haryana for Lok Sabha polls Dushyant Chautala has already gone into the campaign even though he is pushing for his supporters about his recent shared by him on social media under former Chief now floated separate political mode. his son’s candidature, which activities. accounts. Minister Bhupinder Singh outfit, Jannayak Janta Party Even as uncertainty pre- may be approved by the party Besides issuing video mes- Bhavya holds a bachelor’s Hooda, Kuldeep is giving a and is likely to contest from vails over Kuldeep Bishnoi’s high command. Kuldeep is sages on social media plat- degree in ‘Economics and miss to party’s meetings and Hisar seat again. political association with the MLA from Adampur assembly forms sharing his vision for Government’ from London events. Except on the day of The BJP is also yet to Congress following his absence segment while his wife, Renuka Hisar and making an appeal to School of Economics and visit of Congress president announce its Hisar candidate from party’s events in the is MLA from Hansi con- the voters to carefully elect Political Science and Master of Rahul Gandhi to Haryana last for the Lok Sabha polls and the recent past, it is no secret that stituency, both assembly seg- their next representatives, Science from University of month, Kuldeep had even state BJP president Subhash he wants to secure a ticket for ments falls in Hisar Lok Sabha Bhavya has also released a Oxford. maintained distance from Barala, Finance Minister Capt. his son Bhavya from Hisar Lok seat. vision document for Hisar While it remains to be party’s statewide “Parivartan Abhimanyu, Veer Chakra Sabha seat. Hoping to make his polit- which focuses on agriculture, seen whether the Congress Yatra”. awardee Capt Bhupinder Reports of him consider- ical debut in ensuing Lok employment and rural econo- reposes its faith on In 2014 general elections, (retd), Union Minister ing switching sides to the BJP Sabha polls, Bhavya, a young my. |Bhavya or his father or some Dushyant Chautala, repre- Birender Singh’s son IAS have also been doing the third-generation politician in Interestingly, some of the another candidate for Hisar senting the fourth generation Brijender Singh and INLD rounds since long but Kuldeep Haryana and grandson of key proposals in his vision doc- parliamentary seat, the father- of former Deputy Prime turncoat Ranbir Gangwa Bishnoi has denied it. Recently three-time former ument include making Hisar, son duo are busy holding pub- Minister Devi Lal on INLD’s (Nalwa MLA) are in the race it was also reported that Chief Minister Bansi Lal is the new capital of Haryana and lic meetings to muster support ticket had defeated BJP-HJC for the ticket.  % % ;

,  0!      and Wing Commander stability to continue, or want is of Prime Minister Narendra sequent IAF air strike in the key issues of unemploy- .42/'-4 Abhinandan Varthaman, dur- the government run by Modi of pursuing policies of Pakistan, return of Wing ment, farm distress, Shimla: The battle in the Kangra and Mandi -- from ing their campaign speeches Congress which speaks of pro-poor and ensuring safety Commander Abhinandan corruption among others, he Himachal Pradesh political arena where Dhumal's son Anurag s nationalism and nation- to push party’s nationalism breaking the country and sup- of the country from internal Varthaman to the country, added. is without the titans this time. Thakur is again in the fray. Aal security top the themes agenda. ports separatists. and external threats… The are getting echoed in party’s Accusing the BJP of doing For almost two decades, the Thakur, the former Board in the ’s Sample this: “The Not only the Chief second ideology of the oppo- election rallies everyday in politics on martyrs, Jannayak electoral battle was seen as a war of Cricket for Control in India manifesto for the Lok Sabha Narendra Modi led BJP Minister but other senior Haryana. Janta Party leader and Hisar for supremacy between Congress boss, is trying to win the seat for polls, the party’s top brass in Government at the Centre party leaders are also pitching On the other MP Dushyant Chautala said leader and six-time Chief the fourth time in a row. Haryana, in tandem with BJP’s gave a free hand to the Army up the nationalist rhetoric hand, the opposi- that it is unfortunate how the Minister Virbhadra Singh and The Congress, which has manifesto, are also stressing to take appropriate action in and reiterating how Prime tion parties are BJP leaders are violating the BJP's two-time Chief Minister won this seat only once in the on nationalism as its main poll the wake of the Pulwama Minister Narendra Modi led taking on the rul- model code of conduct. Prem Kumar Dhumal. past 30 years, has fielded former plank, with issues like cor- attack on a CRPF convoy. BJP Government is the only ing BJP for for- Even after the directions But in these parliamentary wrestler and five-time legislator ruption and unemployment The defence forces in a well alternative to ensure national getting “ache din” of Election Commission to polls it is for the first time that Ram Lal Thakur. taking a backseat this election planned operation entered security. and key issues not use the armed forces for both of them are virtually 'out' of Since his maiden victory in season. Pakistan and not only suc- Reacting to Congress’ poll sition is to grab power even at like employment and corrup- political advertisements or the battlefield. the parliamentary by-election in Whether it is Chief cessfully destroyed terrorist promise on reviewing AFSPA, the cost of country's unity and tion in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. campaigns, the Prime Call it generational change May 2008, the image of Anurag Minister Manohar Lal, his camps but also neutralised ter- Haryana BJP chief Subhash integrity,” he had said. Former Chief Minister Minister Narendra Modi had or that they have been forced to Thakur, 44, is more of a dandy Cabinet Colleagues or party’s rorists,” the Chief Minister Barala had recently said that Through a notification, Bhupinder Singh Hooda has a day before at an election retire from active politics. who is busy in rubbing shoul- candidates for ensuing polls, Manohar Lal said at a recent the main opposition party the Election Commission alleged that the BJP is doing rally sought votes in the name Virbhadra Singh, 83, and ders with the high and the all the leaders are harping on election rally in Haryana. had always doubted the brav- (EC) had last month asked politics on the issue of nation- of martyrs, Dushyant said. Dhumal, 73, have alternately mighty all the time, a senior BJP the nationalist narrative dur- To cash in on the nation- ery and sacrifices of armed political parties to not use the alism and national security. The public knows how been at the state's helm for over leader admits. ing the election campaign. alism sentiment, Manohar Lal forces personnel besides armed forces for political The senior Congress the BJP is playing nationalism 20 years. For this reason, Dhumal is The leaders of saffron party went onto say that the people humiliating them. advertisements or campaigns. leader said that the BJP has card to divide the society, he Also, the state politics devoting his maximum time and have been mentioning the of the country have to decide “During the ongoing Lok However, with the BJP’s failed to deliver on its poll added. revolved around personal issues energy in the constituency only armed forces, Pulwama attack, whether they want the present Sabha elections campaigning, election campaign centering promises made in 2014. And, Notably, Haryana has 10 of both the leaders, say political to ensure his son's victory, he IAF (Indian Air Force) air government, which provided two ideologies have emerged on “nationalism”, the inci- the party is now trying to Lok Sabha seats, which goes to observers. said. strike in Balakot (Pakistan) development, security and before the countrymen. One dents of Pulwama attack, sub- divert people’s attention from polls on May 12. In these polls, they neither Contrary to him, Virbhadra have any say in the ticket allo- Singh, who was lobbying to cation nor is the poll campaign field Abhishek Rana, son of being carried out under their Congress legislator Rajinder +!! (()* leadership. Rana, to counter Anurag Thakur < .  While Virbhadra Singh is prefers to "stay away from the currently a legislator, his bate state politics" after his candidate noire Dhumal has been mar- was denied ticket by the party % New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi "It is doing the same in ginalised in state politics after high command. Party (AAP) on Wednesday Delhi," Singh added. facing a humiliating defeat from Rajinder Rana, who   ' rejected the Congress' propos- He said that the Congress his once political manager resigned as an independent leg- al for an alliance in Delhi. With was not ready for an alliance Rajinder Rana, now a Congress islator from Sujanpur to join the  .42/'-4 much needed push to the party’s within the party, especially in his   +25-D24 this all hopes for a tie-up with the AAP in Punjab, where leader, in the 2017 assembly Congress and was once prospects in the ensuing elec- constituency. D+45-2 between the two parties have the latter has four MPs and 20 polls. Dhumal's "election manager", he saffron brigade is look- tions in the State. To replace Sampla, BJP has come to naught. MLAs. For BJP leader and first- defeated the BJP's chief minis- Ting at the electoral race Khalsa, a former Indian shortlisted the names of its sit- AD president Sukhbir Badal The Congress had demand- "They were neither ready time Chief Minister Jai Ram terial candidate Dhumal in the course before laying its bet on diplomat who resigned in ting Phagwara MLA Som Son Wednesday asked Punjab ed three seats in Delhi, where for an alliance in Chandigarh Thakur, Dhumal is still a senior 2017 polls. the political horses in Punjab. protest against the Operation Parkash, and local leader and Chief Minister Capt Amarinder the AAP is in power. It had also where we got 1.5 lakh votes, nor leader with vast political expe- Moreover, Virbhadra Singh Initially planning to add a star Bluestar in 1984, had defeated Dalit face Rajesh Bagha. Singh and the Congress party rejected the offer for alliances in in Goa where we have six per rience and elections are fought is also not happy with the party power to its election campaign, Congress’ sitting MLA Sadhu The party surveys have why they are so upset and peev- Haryana and Punjab. cent of the total vote share," with collective efforts. by fielding a turncoat from the the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Singh Dharamsot with 54,144 favoured Som Parkash, who ed at the removal of IGP Kunwar Speaking to IANS, AAP Singh added. "I don't think there is any- Mandi, the seat he represented has now decided to hold its votes from Fatehgarh Sahib in lost 2009 general elections to Vijay Partap from the SIT by the MP Sanjay Singh, who was He also attacked the thing wrong in seeking the in Parliament thrice, admitted a horses for some time more. 2014 elections. With all panth- Congress’ Santosh Chowdhary poll panel even as there are four mediating the alliance talks Congress for not being ready for advice of Dhumal-ji on any senior Congress leader, request- Changing its strategy after ic credentials, Khalsa’s name has by a slim margin of 366 votes, other members including the SIT here, said, "The AAP rejected an alliance in Haryana where political issue," Thakur told ing anonymity. the rivals, especially the reportedly been shortlisted for as its Hoshiarpur candidate chairman against whom no the Congress' proposal as it was they only have one MP. IANS. Setting aside speculation, a Congress, played their horses, Amritsar seat. over Sampla. action was sought nor taken. impractical and wrong. The "After rejecting all our On getting a free hand from confident state Congress unit the saffron party is now looking But, it is Nirpreet Kaur Parkash, who has been two- “Why this obsessive protec- Congress is trying to give ben- offers, they expected us to give the party high command to lead President Kuldeep Singh for the candidates according to who is leading the race for thee time MLA from Phagwara, is a tive concern only for one officer? efits to the BJP and help it in them three seats (in Delhi) the party in the General Rathore told IANS Virbhadra the electoral racecourses. seat. Along with Jagdish Kaur retired bureaucrat who had SIT is headed by a DGP. Does the states including Uttar Pradesh, where they have zero MP and Elections, Thakur, the five-time Singh would be the party's star Earlier, the BJP was con- and Jagsher Singh, Nirpreet is served as Hoshiarpur Deputy CM and his Congress party Bihar, West Bengal and Kerala." MLA," he added. IANS legislator in a row from 1998, campaigner like in the previous sidering to field Bollywood among three eyewitnesses on Commissioner for many years, have no faith in these other offi- said: "The elections are fought elections. actress Poonam Dhillon or whose testimony the Delhi High and is in the know of the issues cers?” asked Sukhbir while with collective efforts and with "In the past he was busy Indian cricketer Harbhajan Court convicted Congress of the district. speaking with the news persons collective strategy. Being head of with the wedding of his son Singh from Amritsar con- leader Sajjan Kumar in 1984 Presently, the BJP has a on the sidelines of SAD BJP elec-  + ,   the state I would have greater (Vikramaditya Singh) and stituency assuming that the cases. However, the party negligible presence in Punjab tion rally at Sanaur. responsibility to ensure victory appointment of his daughter Congress may field a heavy- sources neither confirmed nor with just one parliamentarian Sukhbur also addressed ral-  ,  of the party on all four seats.a (Abhilasha Kumari) as a mem- weight just like the previous denied that Nirpreet has agreed in the Lok Sabha, and three leg- lies at Nabha and Shutrana In this election the spotlight ber of the Lokpal. Now he is polls. But as the Congress decid- to contest polls. islators in the Vidhan Sabha. wherein he blasted the Chief Ranchi: While the income of Minister purchased immovable has turned to Hamirpur rather free and will soon launch his ed to retain its sitting MP Gurjit Besides, the local prominent The party has been on a con- Minister for taking a false oath Civil Aviation Minister Jayant property worth Rs 14,18,40,400, than the three other seats in the state-wide campaign," Rathore Singh Aujla, BJP is now looking Sikh face Rajinder Mohan Singh stant lookout for a strong and on Guru Gobind Singh ji’s sacred Sinha who filed his nominations while his wife bought assets state -- Shimla (reserved), added. for a suitable Sikh face for the Chinna — who unsuccessfully winnable faces, especially a charan only to break all the from the Hazaribagh Lok Sabha worth Rs 8,54,79,717. holy city. contested 2017 bye-elections, Sikh leader, that could help it promises made under that oath. seat on Wednesday decreased in Sinha arrived to file his After proposing or recom- and former Minister Anil Joshi make a comeback in Punjab Commenting on the last five years, his wife's nomination papers, accompa- mending several names, both — who lost 2017 state assembly after May 19 elections. Amarinder’s reaction to EC income increased. nied by Jharkhand Chief  ,-'& from within the state party unit polls to Congress’ Sunil Dutti Earlier, the cricketer- order on Kunwar Vijay Partap, According to Sinha's decla- Minister Raghubar Das and and from outside, the BJP has from Amritsar North segment, turned-politician Navjot Singh Sukhbir said that SAD also ration, his total income was Rs Union Minister Suresh Prabhu. now reportedly shortlisted the were also under consideration. Sidhu was holding the fort for sought and got the transfer of 5,74,20,270 in 2013-14, which He had to walk to the District  .   .. names of party’s new entrant Earlier, the party had con- the party. But since he moved Bathinda DC but that didn't declined to Rs 91,01,220 in Election Officer's office after his Harinder Singh Khalsa — Aam sidered the name of the Union on to join the Congress party, upset the CM and the Congress 2014-15 and then to Rs 35,91,290 vehicle developed a snag.   .42/'-4 Aadmi Party’s (AAP) former Minister of State Hardip Puri, BJP was virtually left in the at all. It is only the action against in 2017-18. But in contrast, his After Sinha filed nomina- leader and Fatehgarh Sahib MP, who has reportedly expressed lurch. Kunwar Vijay Partap that has wife Punita Kumar's income tions, Das tweeted, "Welcome to he Aam Aadmi Party has constituted a state level 20-mem- and Nirpreet Kaur — one of the his reluctance from contesting At the time when the unnerved the Congress, he said. increased from Rs 1,14,27,790 in all who came for Jayant Sinha's Tber election core committee for ensuing Lok Sabha polls in key witnesses in 1984 anti-Sikh the polls and insisted on con- nation was swept by Modi Sukhbir, reacting to Capt 2014-15 to Rs 5,36,21,990 in nomination. Under Prime Haryana. riot cases against Congress tinuing as Rajya Sabha member wave in 2014 polls, BJP won Amarinder’s letter to EC seeking 2017-18. Minister Narendra Modi's lead- The decision to constitute the committee was taken at a state leader Sajjan Kumar — from from Uttar Pradesh. two seats in Punjab, out of the review of its order on SIT mem- Punita also has no liabilities, ership, Hazaribagh has moved level party meeting held under Haryana party chief Naveen Amritsar. It has also been learnt that total three it contested in ber, said that the EC order was while Sinha has Rs 14,68,40,898 forward on the path of develop- Jaihind in Rohtak on Wednesday. With Khalsa giving up the BJP has made up its mind alliance with the SAD. based on the outrageously polit- loans. ment. Let's give momentum to After the meeting, party state chief Naveen Jaihind said that ‘broom’ to hold a ‘lotus’, BJP not to replace its sitting MP and However, the number came ical and biased opinions Sinha owned Rs the development of Jharkhand. the 20-member core committee has been constituted in view of only gets a prominent Sikh Union Minister down to just one after it lost expressed by Vijay Partap on 32,56,77,716 moveable assets, Phir ek bar Modi." ensuing Lok Sabha polls and Haryana Assembly polls due to be face, but is expected to give a who is facing stiff opposition 2017 Gurdaspur by-election. Akali leaders. his wife, Rs 11,43,46,266. The IANS held later this year. The functions of the core committee include election cam- paign, to collect funds for election and to ensure training of office bearers and workers of the party at booth level in all ten Lok Sabha seats in Haryana, Jaihind said. (()*+-) He further said that that the party will reach out to the vot- ers in villages through 200 election campaign vehicles in Haryana. This campaign will begin from April 15 and the party workers New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi statehood to Delhi in its man- will ensure that the Centre gave with Tiwari. will apprize people about the achievements of AAP led Delhi Party (AAP) on Wednesday ifesto for the 2014 Lok Sabha money to the Municipal The BJP MP also did not Government, he said. released a report card of BJP elections. But Tiwari had not Corporation of Delhi (MCD), utter a single word when fuel Besides this, the voters will be informed about the unfulfilled MP from North East Delhi, asked a single question on nothing has happened on that prices were hiked in the poll promises of the BJP made in 2014 general elections. The party Manoj Tiwari, and accused that. front. national capital, Rai said. workers will connect with the voters through door-to-door cam- him of not fulfilling his "Tiwari, who is also the "Tiwari also did not speak "I would request him paign, he added. promises. member of a standing com- about permanent positions for (Tiwari) to list out the works Notably, Haryana is the home state of Delhi Chief Minister Releasing the report card, mittee on transport, has not MCD workers and school done by him in the last five Arvind Kejriwal but AAP had faced a humiliating defeat in the AAP leader Gopal Rai said that raised any question over the teachers teaching in Delhi gov- years," Rai said. state in last general election. Tiwari had not asked a single fare hike in Delhi Metro," Rai ernment schools," he said. Starting Wednesday, the The AAP had not only lost on all 10 seats in Haryana but question on statehood for told media. The AAP also said that AAP will release the report most of its candidates had finished at poor fourth or fifth posi- Delhi, sealing drive or metro He also said that the vil- under the MP Local Area card of all the seven BJP MPs tion in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. fare hike in the Parliament dur- lages adopted by Tiwari under Development Scheme from Delhi. This time, the AAP is likely to contest the polls in alliance ing his term as the MP the "Sansad Adarsh Gram (MPLAD), a total of Rs 11.48 "We will compare the with the Jannayak Janta Party of Hisar MP Dushyant Chautala. between 2014 and 2019. Yojana" were in bad shape crore remained unspent by works done by the MPs with The alliance of the two parties is likely to be announced in a cou- "The Bharatiya Janata without proper roads, lack of tion facilities. the BJP had promised that after the Delhi MPs and the highest their promises," Rai said. ple of days. Party (BJP) had promised full cleanliness, health and educa- The AAP leader said while winning the MCD elections, it amount, Rs 3.16 crore, was IANS  #    !

# 1 !      . =       /  072/72  23 87-* Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin observed that the world is a )0 said the ILO worked with the greener place than it was 20 heresa May on Wednesday n an "innovative outreach", India's Permanent Mission to years ago, was based on data Tdescribed the Jallianwala Ian imposing mural on the promote a global concern - received and analysed from its Bagh massacre in Amritsar as premises of India's Permanent environmentally sustainable satellite. The greening in India a "shameful scar" on British Mission to the UN depicts a green jobs. He said the mural's is mostly from croplands (82 Indian history but stopped multi-pronged theme of envi- theme also has other elements per cent) with minor contri- short of a formal apology ronmentally sustainable green of India - green jobs, the NASA bution from forests (4.4 per sought by a cross-section of jobs, Mahatma Gandhi's 150th report and Gandhi's 150th cent), the NASA study, pub- Parliament in previous debates. birth anniversary, the birth anniversary. lished on February 11, said. In a statement, marking the International Labour "Rare is an occasion that Akbaruddin voiced appre- 100th anniversary of the mas- Organisation's centenary cele- you can get so many themes ciation for Ash for being able sacre, at the start of her week- bration and India leading the together," Akbaruddin said as to "artistically depict the mul- ly Prime Minister's Questions in global greening effort as doc- the mural was inaugurated in tiple themes in a way that all of the House of Commons, she umented recently by NASA. the presence of ILO Director- us can comprehend." reiterated the "regret" already The mural, on the sidewall General Guy Ryder as well as Ash said he was honoured expressed by the British of the Permanent Mission of top UN diplomats. to participate in the project, Government. - !  "   '      /     India to the UN here, was cre- "We hope that this innov- which gives a message that it's The massacre took place in /,   -      ! ated by French artist, original- ative outreach, which goes important for nations to work # 1 !  - *            Jallianwala Bagh in Amritsar on ly from Portugal, Victor Ash to beyond diplomatic outreach, together for a greener future. # 1  %  %   " #     ! Baisakhi in April 1919 when the the UK-India relationship is Foreign Office Minister commemorate the centenary reaches out to people on the "I painted the astronaut British Indian Army troops, one of collaboration, partner- Mark Field had told MPs that celebrations of the street in a form that is com- because astronauts are also  3-5+03 ditional political allies were in under the command of Colonel ship, prosperity and security. he had been "compelled" by the International Labour prehensible to them." workers, they carry all the command of a 65-55 majority Reginald Dyer, fired machine Indian diaspora make an enor- arguments to raise the issue of Organization (ILO) as well as "We diplomats work on machines and tools when they enjamin Netanyahu in parliament. A couple of guns at a crowd of people hold- mous contribution to British going further than the "deepest Gandhi's 150th birth anniver- resolutions, outcomes, docu- go up in space. I think the Bappeared to be headed small parties were still teeter- ing a pro-independence society and I am sure the whole regret" expressed over the sary. ments but this is our combined future of workers will also be toward a historic fifth term as ing along the electoral thresh- demonstration. House wishes to see the UK's killings during the British Raj. The mural, an innovative effort to promote green jobs in space," he told PTI. Israel's Prime Minister on old and fighting for their sur- According to the British relationship with India contin- "I feel that we perhaps need collaboration with the ILO and a much more sustainable man- He added that astronauts Wednesday, with close-to-com- vival, so the final makeup of the government records, 379 peo- ue to flourish," she said. to go further... I have now non-profit organization ‘Street ner," he said. often say that when they are in plete unofficial election results next parliament has yet to be ple, including men, women and In response, Opposition been persuaded - not just by Art for Mankind', was inaugu- Looking down on Earth, space, they don't see borders giving his right-wing Likud and decided. Final results were children were killed and around Labour Party Leader Jeremy this debate - to take a different rated Tuesday. the astronaut in the mural when they look down at Earth. other nationalist and religious expected Thursday. 1200 injured in the firing. Corbyn demanded that those approach," the minister said, The imposing white, black, sees that the world is a green- “There are no borders, it's only parties a solid majority in par- Two of his potential allies, "The tragedy of Jallianwala who lost their lives in the mas- adding that the government grey and green mural depicts a er place than it was 20 years in our minds.” liament. The outcome affirmed hawkish former Defense Bagh of 1919 is a shameful scar sacre deserve a "full, clear and had to also consider the "finan- gigantic weightless astronaut, ago. India is amongst those Ash, who has been doing Israel's continued tilt to the Minister Avigdor Lieberman on British Indian history. As unequivocal apology for what cial implications" of any apol- floating in space, a green lndia contributing in significant mea- street art and murals since the right and further dimmed hopes and economic-centric Finance Her Majesty the Queen took place". ogy for events of the past. visible in the astronaut's helmet sure to this increase in the 1980s, finished the mural in of a negotiated solution to the Minister Moshe Kahlon, (Elizabeth II) said before visit- May's statement comes a "These issues are an visor. Gandhi's portrait and the greening on Earth and the one week. Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Re- have yet to formally confirm ing Jallianwala Bagh in 1997, it day after British MPs at important way of trying to number ‘150' are on the astro- same was corroborated by the "Big murals like this are a election will also give they would sit with Netanyahu is a distressing example of our Westminster Hall of the draw a line under the past. naut's spacesuit's left arm while recent data from the NASA good way to give messages. Netanyahu an important boost and could emerge as wild- past history with India," she said Parliament complex debated Therefore, this is work in a patch with the ILO logo and satellites. Very often art is not under- as he braces for the likelihood cards. In any case, the country in her statement. the issue of a formal apology for progress and I cannot make any the numeric '100' is on the right A recent NASA study had stood by most people. I use of criminal charges in a series of now faces what could be weeks "We deeply regret what the April 13, 1919 massacre to promises," he said, holding out arm. said India and China are lead- very simple message in what I corruption scandals. of political negotiations over happened and the suffering mark its centenary this some hope of a formal apolo- India's Permanent ing the global greening effort. do so people can understand With 97.4 per cent of the the composition of a ruling caused. I am pleased that today Saturday. gy over the incident. Representative to the UN The NASA study, which very easily," he said. vote counted, Likud and its tra- coalition.

$% ,,, .   %     $ .,  ,,    '      6  ".??  % %!  ,  .       (  7*87 are reluctant to return as the tors caused massive radiation  !    complicated process to safely leaks that contaminated the  ! !, %%   +42'72 dence of deliberate collusion apan partially lifted an evac- decommission the plant con- plant's surroundings, forcing      between Trump and Russia. Juation order in one of the tinues. Opponents of lifting at its peak some 160,000 & resident Donald Trump on However, Mueller did not two hometowns of the tsuna- the evacuation orders in long- people to evacuate their .   ! F% PWednesday said he had yet come down on whether Trump mi-wrecked Fukushima abandoned communities say homes for areas elsewhere in % !%  3 to see the full report drawn up obstructed justice during his nuclear plant on Wednesday the government is promoting Fukushima or outside the pre- 3   & by special prosecutor Robert continuous and fierce opposition for the first time since the residents' return to showcase fecture. Mueller into his election cam- to the probe. Barr said that in his 2011 disaster. safety ahead of the Tokyo Evacuation orders in most    ; 1  paign's allegedly suspicious links judgement there was no obstruc- Decontamination efforts Olympics next summer. of the initial no-go zones have   to Russia. tion — a finding that opposition have lowered radiation levels The government has been lifted, but restrictions are "(!$   "I have not seen the Mueller Democrats quickly questioned. significantly in the area about pushed for an aggressive still in place in several towns    report, I have not read the The full report -- barring sec- 7 kilometers (4 miles) south- decontamination program by closest to the plant and to its %   !     Mueller report," he said at the tions blacked out for legal or west of the plant where three removing topsoil, chopping northwest, which were cont- 1    White House. "As far as I'm con- security reasons -- is expected to reactors had meltdowns due trees and washing down hous- aminated by radioactive  5  cerned I don't care about the be released within days, promis- to the damage caused by the es and roads in contaminated plumes from the plant soon   %  Mueller report. I've been total- ing to fuel intense political bat- March 2011 earthquake and areas, though experts say the after its meltdowns. More  & ly exonerated," Trump said. tles ahead of the 2020 presiden- tsunami. effort only caused the conta- than 40,000 people were still The two-year probe into tial election. Trump is attempt- The action allows people mination to move from one unable to return home as of    Trump and his team's interac- ing to divert attention from any to return to about 40 percent place to another, creating mas- March, including Okuma's  O   @ tions with Russians caused huge potentially embarrassing revela- of Okuma. The other home- sive amounts of radioactive population of 10,000. Town !A!. .     controversy. According to a tions about his own activities to town, Futaba, remains off- waste and the need for its officials say the lifting of the G!G  , brief summary released by a full-frontal attack on what he limits, as are several other long-term storage. evacuation order in the two %   Trump's attorney general, Bill says was the illegal launching of towns nearby. The meltdowns at three of districts would encourage the (  Barr, Mueller found no evi- the probe in the first place. Many former residents Fukushima Dai-ichi's six reac- area's recovery.  %            3% :   & 2 6 @  BC 6 I%  %       /" "/0,/(   ,1 ! H+  3       %  H#  !  7+.7 Alexei Kordichev. It added it hopes four oth-   , ! Calvey asked several times ers detained would also be     %   301-+4 ussian investigators have to be released from behind bars released. The lawyer for  9322  G G& Rasked a Moscow court to to be with his family, including French national Philippe gyptian security officials say move US investor Michael in a letter to President Vladimir Delpal who was denied bail as he Austrian city of Etwo separate attacks Calvey, who is accused of fraud, Putin. recently as Tuesday evening, TKlagenfurt indefinitely sus- overnight have killed three from pre-trial jail to house The court had previously said he was perplexed as "the pended its bus services police conscripts and an officer arrest. denied his request. A bail hear- crime they were accused of is Wednesday after a case of in the restive northern Sinai The surprise motion comes ing was initially scheduled for the same." measles was detected in one of Peninsula. two months after Calvey, head the end of this week. Calvey was arrested in the drivers. The officials said of a multi-billion dollar equi- Calvey's lawyer Dmitry February with five other indi- "All bus traffic is suspend- Wednesday that the first attack ty firm that has invested in Kletochkin told AFP that he viduals, and accused of ed until further notice in order took place in the city of el-Arish some of Russia's biggest com- had no information on the sur- defrauding Vostochny Bank of to prevent infection," the city's when an explosive device tar- panies, was detained in a case prise development. 2.5 billion rubles (USD 37.7 KMG public transport opera- geted an armored vehicle, killing he says is driven by a rival "I have not seen the million). tor announced. a police officer and two con- shareholder out to discredit motion," he said, adding that The arrest shocked The company runs all pub- scripts. Another explosive device him. house arrest is "much better Western business circles, who lic transport in the southern hit an armored vehicle in the Basmanny District Court than to be detained." warned it could further dis- city of 100,000 inhabitants, town of Rafah, killing a conscript spokeswoman Yunona Tsareva Calvey's Baring Vostok pri- courage the foreign investment which is also the state capital of and wounding four others. said the court will consider the vate equity fund — which has Russia's economy badly needs. Carinthia. The officials spoke on con- petition by the Investigative been working in Russia since Calvey and his firm main- It took the unusual mea- dition of anonymity because Committee on Thursday. the 1990s — said it "hopes the tain that the case is fabricated sure after it was revealed that they were not authorised to A similar petition was filed court will give due considera- and related to a shareholder one driver had been diagnosed brief the media. for one of the other suspects, tion" to the request. dispute. with measles on 3 April.    ! &  '      !& D%  K/    & D% D

; 5 +*-2  % 1   /%% %   !N     O 8  1    9:2  '   , %     #!; '#    "=C= (           " ; .";/  S         %     $              8   %           #          !   * %#   "(         ,   %  $ or the past several weeks, the  #    %      Chinese propaganda machine has # 3  #  #    been running full-steam. The focus     !     of the information warfare’s exercise is on the events of March 1959,     %'  #     whichF ended in a bloodbath in Lhasa, but       !(   %#     which is today being promoted as the    #  !7    %' “Emancipation of the Serfs” and the “Introduction of the Democratic Reforms” by  #        !8    #! the communist regime in Beijing. One could &   %    '   #       ! ask: Where is democracy in China today?  %  3  S   8   S % Just take a look at the list of party sec- retaries in Tibet — since August 16, 2016, $ #  #$ %    2  #  the Communist Party of China’s boss on the          # ,&    Roof of the World is Wu Jingjie. He is the #     !&      #      15th Han to hold the post since the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) entered Tibet in * '       % # 1950. Can you imagine Tamil Nadu having      P Q ,&   %   non-Tamil Chief Ministers for more than 60        !+ '    %  years or any other Indian State for the mat- ter? The fact is that despite the propaganda       ( #    that the Tibetans took “their destiny in their   !  #  #     # own hands” in 1959, Beijing still does not         #    2 ! trust the local cadres. The Serfs’ Emancipation is an even big- '        "  S   ger lie. In fact, it was a massacre that saw thou-         %     sands of ordinary Tibetans losing their lives   #    !  #   in Lhasa. We have several genuine accounts on March 20, started an all-out and two independent regiments Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on the                of what happened at that time. offensive against the ill-organised, were involved. To this should be introduction of the so-called From the Chinese sources, it is worth ill-equipped, untrained-Tibetans added three Cavalry divisions reforms. Beijing had decided to     !(   #      mentioning a Kindle book, The 1959 Tibetan with artillery, mortars, machine and “special units”, ie, chemical postpone them by at least for six    !+ %         ( Uprising Documents: The Chinese Army guns and all types of automatic warfare, motorcycle and demo- or seven years. In the course of +S  P        % # # Documents (China Secrets), published last year weapons — was short-lived.” 4325 3-76 lition or signals. Also were the conversation, Zhou pointed which provides documents from the PLA’s He further explained the involved some logistic units such a finger at non-existing foreign-     !Q*  0  (  % military intelligence on the bloody events of Dalai Lama’s flight: “Smelling .+503+ + as four truck transportation reg- ers in Lhasa: “Those bent on      %     1959. Another account of the events is given danger, he left Lhasa secretly on 3+ 3/ iments, engineer corps, field trouble are preparing for an     !, %         by Jianglin Li in her book, Tibet in Agony. The the night of March 17, 1959, hospitals, Army stations, supply incident in Lhasa. These people preface of the book of the Chinese scholar …for Lhoka area (south of "# =OIAI PI</3/ stations and animal hospitals or have some armed forces. Some             " affirms, “The first clear historical account of Lhasa), where at that time gas stations. Li estimated that three temples in Lhasa have also "  S      # , !+  the Chinese crackdown on Lhasa in 1959. Khampas had full sway.” The 2/C HHO some 1,50,000 military person- armed forces and they want to  !; %      3  S Sifting facts from the distortions of propagan- Dalai Lama ultimately took 752/3/B7243 nel participated in the “emanci- create an incident there. If it hap- da and partisan politics, she reconstructs a refuge in India on March 31. pation” of a couple of million pened, then there would be      2    $   chronology...” Matthew Akester studied 0+/3  475 recalcitrant Tibetans. bloodshed.” *  "  3 .*"3/( " *  China celebrates March 28 as the Serfs’ the findings of Jianglin Li: *2'27 Li wrote that besides PLA Although there was no “for- .("*/%#% %  !3      #  Emancipation Day, the day “reforms” could “Satisfactory confirmation of units, a large number of local eigner” in Lhasa, except for the finally be implemented on the Roof of the detail for this period of Tibet’s ..75204+ militia supported the operation: Indian staff of the Consulate  P   Q P  !Q' World; the Tibetan Government had been history is notoriously difficult due 2/.32-03 “The numbers of militia I was General, but the bloodshed                  declared “illegal” by Mao and the so-called to official secrecy and the virtu- able to find in Sichuan, Gansu, indeed took place in March %       !    Tibetan serfs had been liberated from feudal- al non-existence of reliable non- A67- 4.4 Yunnan and Qinghai add up to 1959; it helped Mao to firmly ism and theocracy by PLA guns. official documentation. The fig- 6'5-3+-3 over 71,000 people.” Civilians consolidate the position of the     $    ;S Then, there is the report of the Indian ures assessed, though incomplete, were also drafted for various tasks Communist regime. In January     !+ %$      Consul-General in Lhasa (Maj SL Chibber) provide crucial indicators of the 52*27 2B&43 such as transport, evacuation of 1959, Mao and the Central        #          to the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi. scale of the PLA’s engagement in 32 wounded soldiers, handling pack Committee realised that “the Maj Chibber, an Indian Army officer from the Tibet at that time.” animals; no less than 143,000 PLA had to be used to control   2     "#  !7 Jat Regiment, had already spent nine years in After assessing a larger num- .+503+ 3-3 civilian laborers. the rebellion.” China was facing   %   2       Tibet. Chhiber, a reliable eye-witness (he even ber of official Chinese docu- HCC F##67- The number of casualties a revolt of the “serfs.” On January                heard a few bullets passing overhead during ments, Li noted: “Although glob- was estimated at 10,934 (4,748 22, 1959, Mao wrote: “It is good,    !+   #  % the uprising), wrote: “In the history of move- al estimates remain elusive, the Q2'4 '2+5 dead and 5,223 wounded) on the since there is a possibility for us ment for a free Tibet, the month of March study shows from official figures PLA side, without taking into to solve the [Tibet] problem % ##            1959 will be most historic as during this that something in the order of 10 +.4522/ account Lhasa and Central Tibet militarily.” The Chinese are fond   !7 #  % #   month Tibetans, high and low, in Lhasa, per cent of the total Tibetan pop- 852223 332 (for which figures are unknown). of announcing “don’t hurt the  % %           1  Capital of Tibet, openly challenged the ulation was involved — killed, The Tibetan casualties were Chinese sentiments.” One could Chinese rule in Tibet. They set up an organ- wounded and captured — in mil- "=CP2/C= 2,55,600 for Qinghai, Gansu, ask, what about the Tibetan sen-   S        ! isation called the Tibetan Peoples’ itary operations during these Sichuan and Yunnan only for the timents? Will the compassionate Independent Organisation …staged demon- years [1957-59].” years 1957-59. Dalai Lama ask for an apology for strations to give vent to their anti-Chinese feel- Using reliable Chinese In January 1957, while on a what the Chinese did in Tibet in ings and demanded withdrawal of the sources, Li calculated that eight visit to India, Zhou Enlai, the the 1950s? He should. Chinese from Tibet. But this challenge, Infantry divisions (about 100,000 Chinese Premier, had long dis- (The writer is an expert on before the might of the Chinese PLA — who soldiers), three Air force divisions cussions with the then Prime India-China relations) 4     ( %                 +  %  %      6  %               ! &    !    *   "##  .   %R    %    &     %&,     %  %   ,   & .  !        !"      R    , !             # # $          *& ! ! &        .($$ "( .($$@.(" $&(+"( "?!$+"(0!( &+(  !"      K . K  !'  K *  K *  %       #       #  $#         (      !&'     %            a new vision document, the party         should have come up with a  # ( % S  report card on its performance in        *  Sir — This refers to the editori-    L  MA% the last five years. Further, it hard-  #        S    al, “Muscular pledge” (April 10).

of familial political power in post-20th power have forever been beyond their Were we as a nation so trusting and many stalwarts of the JP movement ance the rigidity of the hierarchies of century democracies emulates the reach. Those at the top project a naïve that we let a few naamdaar fam- created their own political dynasties caste and religion with the new- intent and ambitions of monarchies, mirage of democracy marked by ilies pull the wool over our eyes? Is it at the sub-national level such as the found avenues of individual mobility. autocracies and the so-called proletar- political freedom for all. But to the less a consequence of systematic and thor- Rashtriya Janata Dal in Bihar. Further, An implicit yet clear message by ian dictatorships that preceded them. fortunate at the bottom, it is nothing ough indoctrination into political when aspirations were sacrificed at the most political outfits that hereditary But seldom do powerful families in more than an oligarchy with no fatalism that we have been deceived altar of family politics, leaders opted power succession is acceptable in a modern democracies succeed in avenues of access to the towering insti- into believing that nothing will change to break away from the parent party democratic nation presented an insur- .03-93-/.+ extending the longevity of short-term tutions of power. and so nothing is worth aspiring for? and form splinter groups. The mountable ideological challenge. 43233/76475- acquisition of power into dynasties It is astounding how a few fami- More importantly, it must be debat- Trinamool Congress formed by Thankfully, things are changing. #2 ! !  , spanning several generations. The rea- lies carried out a silent coup and placed ed how we can overcome these ideo- Mamata Banerjee in the late 1990s is After being denied the opportunity to 6    son behind this inability, despite themselves at the focus of political logical shackles. an example. These leaders chose not democratically challenge the ascension    he “rise and fall” of powerful fam- focussed and powerful efforts, is the power for over half a century. It is Thankfully, such debates are hap- to stay within the parent political of Rahul Gandhi as the president of the ilies in democracies around the fundamental transience of power. The equally unfortunate that as a nation, pening, and with an increasing frequen- organisation and fight for its democ- Congress, Shehzad Poonawalla did not  &4 Tworld is a known phenomenon. entropy of this transience is exponen- we have silently accepted this politi- cy. The entire conversation revolving ratic functioning. Perhaps they sought take the conventional routes available %   From the Roosevelts and Clintons of tially heightened in democracies by cal enslavement, which has held our around the naamdaar-kaamdar to create their own hereditary politi- to him — launch his own party, join a    the US to the Shinawatras of Thailand every single vote cast by individual vot- aspirations hostage. The explicit expec- dichotomy did hammer home valid cal fiefdoms, replicating the dynastic political opponent, or play the card of %& — most democracies are characterised ers. Global democratic experience tation of Chacko that a nation of 1.3 and necessary questions of individual principle of the parent organisation in minority victimisation. Instead, he     by the presence of prominent political indicates that conscious and informed billion people should be “obliged” to merit of a political leader — as a party the splinter party. launched a fierce attack on dynastic pol- families. They seek to perpetuate and individual action is the antidote to the a “family” reeks of vain arrogance and worker, a statesman and a visionary. Since these influential “victims” of itics itself, spearheading the dynasty-    consolidate their control across all pil- tyranny of dynastic politics. worse, a sense of dynastic entitlement. More recently, the dynasty-mukt Bharat dynastic politics did not agitate to cre- mukt Bharat campaign. But for such  &  lars of power — legislative, executive, Somehow political parties in India Our forefathers won this country its campaign struck a chord with the cit- ate greater awareness and mobilise campaigns to transform into popular       judiciary and the media. Donn M Kurtz have succeeded in overcoming this freedom from the most powerful izens and was trending on Twitter. people against it, a movement against movements, it is vital that the despot- )  has aptly elucidated how democratic transience of power and neutralising empire in the pre-WWII era through Although it is not the first time the undemocratic idea of “first fami- ic notion of “first family” is countered politics becomes “something of a fam- the will of the voter. This was made unimaginable courage and sacrifice. So that dynastic politics has been ques- ly” did not gain momentum. What’s with democratic ideals. There should % % &  ily business.” Not surprising then, that possible by the evident paradox that why did the deceitful and clandestine tioned, there are some stark qualita- worse is that it normalised the prac- also be no room for personal attack on    in a recent statement, PC Chacko, a is the Indian representative democra- replacement of the ‘British Raj’ by tive differences that make recent tice, making it acceptable to the soci- political leaders, for it is the undemo- 5*   Congress leader, went on to say, “…the cy — over a billion people enjoy some ‘Parivar Raj’ go unopposed? opposition to familial domination of etal value structure. Indian society had cratic idea of “family first” that is to be    %O first family of India is truly the first fam- semblance of political equality This is a question that warrants power more potent. The JP Movement only recently unburdened itself from fought, not its instantiations that per- & ily. India is obliged to them…”. bestowed upon them by the founding both a sincere personal contemplation was arguably the first mass movement the despotism of countless princely vade the political spectrum. The expansion and consolidation fathers, yet the higher echelons of and a vocal political conversation. that opposed dynastic politics. But States and was still struggling to bal- (The writer is a researcher)          ! .

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6  2       -  2-  * 7   / - ! -((        *70*   .  2! +!  -+ .  .  onsidering the experience Cof a bloody past an edgy lull descended over the two dis- F FF   ( tricts of — Alipurduar and ** -+ +  -0/+ ( Cooch Behar — even as these      two North Bengal constituen- 8!'  cies go to the first phase of polls .  on Thursday. Notwithstanding, the      Election Commission made a   .   heavy security bandobast 6- + 1+ 4 +  deploying about 83 compa- -0! %   % nies of Central forces to man .  2010 booths in Cooch Behar and 1,834 polling stations in Alipurduar seat.   F' Much to the chagrin of the   9*+    Opposition Left, BJP and the . -0/ / + Congress the Commission had +% .  earmarked 1253 booths of +   +  + Cooch Behar as sensitive post- ing CAPF in these areas. The remaining 757 booths will be         ( manned by armed State police.     2 '! 4 (     Incidentally controversy had +     2  + % erupted after the ruling TMC *+  .    2 .  registered a strong protest at the + + .  .  ECI office in Delhi after the Commission changed local SP A Gupta 48 hours before the . C       polls were to start replacing  0+    4- *  .  him by AK Gupta a 2019 batch 5% - +  . (  + -   IPS officer. For Alipurduar the ECI has marked 544 booths as sen- sitive where CAPF will be posted while polls will be con- ducted in the remaining 1290 booths with the help of State armed police, sources said. Both the constituencies are witnessing a four cornered 3 2 #,.. 4.. ! 3  contest between the TMC, BJP, >= Left and the Congress. “A total of 83 companies of seeks re-election from Nagpur throwing up a hung house and CAPF will be deployed in the Lok Sabha constituency. the BJP emerging as the single two seats for the first phase of Riding as he is on the back largest party in Lok Sabha. polling. State police force will of the considerable goodwill Gadkari had won the also be deployed in adequate that the newly inaugurated Nagpur Lok Sabha seat in the numbers,” ECI police observ- first phase of the Nagpur Metro 2014 polls by an impressive er Vivek Dubey said. Dubey   05.*27 after vote bank for both the BJP Ghaziabad, and roughly 14 and other development works margin of 2,84,848 votes against had earlier decided to conduct and the Opposition alliance. In per cent in GB Nagar. that have fetched him in his Vilas Muttemwar of the the polls from Kolkata but on restige of three Union min- the 2014 Lok Sabha election The Scheduled Castes in the home city, sixty-one-year-old Congress. The BJP captured all Wednesday he decided to con- Pisters will be at stake in the and the 2017 UP Assembly region comprise Chamar or Gadkari takes on former BJP the six seats coming under the duct the polls from Cooch first phase election to eight par- poll, a large section of this base Jatav community. They range MP from Bhandara-Gondiya Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency, Behar, sources said. liamentary constituencies in had shifted to the BJP. Jats and from nine per cent in Kairana constituency Nana Patole. in the 2014 Maharashtra “We are trying to accom- western UP that go to polls on Gujjars make up most of the to nearly 17 per cent of the total A bitter Narendra Modi Assembly polls. Interestingly, modate the central forces in as April 11, as caste arithmetic is OBC population in these con- 20 per cent Dalits in Saharanpur. critic, Patole had quit the prin- Maharashtra chief minister many booths as possible,” he in favour of the SP-BSP-RLD stituencies — on an average, Traditionally, this section cipal ruling party at the Centre Devendra Fadnavis is a four-time said adding about 45 companies alliance which is ready to upset over 20 per cent. has voted for the BSP. But, the in December 2017 and joined MLA from Nagpur. (He had rep- of CAPF personnel will be the applecart of the ruling BJP According to data, the BJP has made a big dent in this the Congress in January last resented Nagpur west con- deployed in the sensitive booths in Uttar Pradesh. Gujjars and Jats constitute 38 segment in the 2014 parliamen- year. A name to reckon with in stituency in the State Assembly of Cooch Behar. One company The three Union minis- per cent of the population in tary and 2017 assembly polls. his own right, Patole is con- from 1999 to 2009 and was elect- will be in the district strong ters in the fray are General Baghpat, with the latter mak- In Baghpat and sidered an outsider in Nagpur. ed from Nagpur south-west con- room and another will be with (Retired) VK Singh ing up 23.8 per cent of it. Jats Muzaffarnagar, the Jat-OBC Though Congress presi- stituency in the 2009 and 2014 the Quick Response Team. (Ghaziabad), Mahesh Sharma also make up 12 per cent of the factor will be the most decisive dent Rahul Gandhi drew a Assembly elections). Dubey said 36 companies (Gautam Buddha Nagar) and population in Muzaffarnagar one. Ajit Singh, a Jat by caste, huge crowd at his public rally Interestingly, Gadkari has would be deployed in Satyapal Singh (Baghpat). and 10.8 per cent in Bijnor. is the alliance candidate from in Nagpur on April 4, Gadkari gone on record saying that he Alipurduar, a relatively peace- RLD chief Ajit Singh and While the Jats are concen- Muzaffarnagar and will be up has a distinct edge over Patole has been getting phone calls ful constituency. Meanwhile, his son Jayant Chaudhary are trated in a few constituencies in against BJP MP Sanjeev    5  of the Congress. Patole, it may from workers and leaders of Hansraj Ahir (Chandrapur), election officials continued to also fighting to sustain the this region, the Gujjar popula- Baliyan, who is a prominent Jat be recalled, had contested the non-leaders pledging support former State unit Congress protest throughout the State legacy of late Prime Minister tion is evenly scattered — leader. Jayant Chaudhary is nion Road Transport and 2014 Lok Sabha polls on a BJP to him. president Manikrao Thakare demanding deployment of Chaudhary Charan Singh and around seven per cent in the alliance candidate from UShipping Minister and ticket and trounced then Union Apart from Gadkari, (Yavatmal-Washim) and Shiv CRPF in all the booths to both are in direct contest with Kairana, 6.5 per cent in Baghpat and will fight against senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari Minister Praful Patel by Thursday’s polls will decide the Sena’s four-term MP Bhavna avoid violent situations as in the the BJP, with a Jat versus Jat Gautam Buddha Nagar, 5.5 another Jat, Union Minister is sitting pretty in the orange 149,254 votes. fate of Union Minister of State Gavali (Yavatmal-Washim). recent past. fight in their constituencies. per cent each in Meerut, Satyapal Singh. city of Nagpur, as seven Lok Gadkari is extremely pop- Congress, which is con- Saharanpur and Ghaziabad, In Meerut, the opposition Sabha constituencies in ular among various sections of testing six seats in this region, and six per cent in Bijnor. alliance has fielded Haji Yakoob Vidarbha region — a majority people in Nagpur. A Brahmin has not fielded candidates The Muslim vote bank, Qureshi. While the sitting BJP of them falling in the farmers’ by caste, Gadkari has following against Ajit Singh in around 38 per cent in MP can expect 25 per cent of suicide belt of eastern among various strata of the Muzaffarnagar and Jayant Saharanpur, stands a chance of the upper caste votes, the win- Maharashtra — go to polls on society, including sections of Chaudhary in Baghpat. getting divided between ning candidate will have to get Thursday. Muslims and Dalits. The BJP is banking on the Congress’ Imran Masood and a bigger chunk of OBC and Unlike in the 2014 Lok Apart from Gadkari being loyalty of the upper caste vot- alliance candidate Hazi Fazlur Dalit votes (14 per cent-plus Sabha polls when he was fight- the BJP’s former national pres- ers, who have traditionally Rehman, fighting on a BSP Chamar vote in this segment). ing his first direct election ident, what has turned the supported it. The party has ticket. Masood was runner-up In GB Nagar and after a gap of 29 years (he had spotlight on Nagpur is the fact fielded four upper caste candi- in the 2014 Lok Sabha election. Ghaziabad, the OBC-Dalit been defeated by the Congress’ that the orange city houses the dates in this phase — VK Muslims make up 32 per combination will play a decisive Gev M Awari of the Congress headquarters of RSS, with Singh, Mahesh Sharma, Raghav cent of the vote bank in Bijnor, role as well. Although the by a margin of 21,552 votes which he is closely associated, Lakhanpal (Saharanpur) and 31 per cent each in Meerut and alliance has not fielded well- from Nagpur (west) con- and the possibility that he Rajendra Agarwal (Meerut). Muzaffarnagar, 26 per cent in known faces from these seats, stituency in the 1985 might emerge as a consensual The non-upper caste Kairana, 20 per cent in the caste and political equation Maharashtra Assembly polls), Prime Ministerial candidate Hindus are the most sought Baghpat, 18.5 per cent in will matter the most. Gadkari is quite relaxed as he in the event of the 2019 polls   %  P  %   % -.!3    2' 5- bouring Marathwada region revenue division — comprising to be the epi-centre of farmers’ free, a situation that would should be seen in the context of districts of Akola, Amravati, suicides, there is a shift in the have facilitated them to take he agrarian distress, the unabated farmers’ suicides Buldhana, Washim and scenario. It is the neighbouring fresh loans from banks. Of the Tunabated suicides and mas- and poor implementation of the Yavatmal in eastern Maharashtra Akola district that has account- total beneficiaries under the sive unemployment is likely to farm loan waiver scheme — accounted for a maximum of ed for a maximum 102 farmers’ scheme, a total 36.10 lakh farm- affect the electoral prospects of announced by the BJP-led saf- 4,383 out of the total 5,727 suicides during the last three ers were eligible for a financial the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena fron alliance Government in the farmers’ suicides reported from months. Suicides by the dis- assistance of Rs 1.50 lakh each alliance in at least seven out of state. The available official sta- across the State between 2014 tressed farmers have also been to clear their piled up loans. the ten Lok Sabha constituen- tistics revealed that the four and 2018. reported from districts like Known once as a pocket- cies in Vidarbha region. years from 6268 in 2015 to In the first three months of Amravati, Yavatmal in Vidarbha borough of the Congress, Similarly, the issue relating 11,995 in 2018. 2019, as many as 35o farmers and most parts of the neigh- Vidarbha region has in the last to the State Government’s fail- The reply obtained by RTI have committed suicides in var- bouring Marathwada region,” decade or so become volatile in ure to waive farm loans of even activist Jeetendra Ghadge ious parts of the state. “Unlike leading farm activist and terms of mood swings of the vot- half the affected farmers — will revealed recently that Amravati in the past when Yavatmal used Vasantrao Naik Sheti ers towards political partis and matters difficult for the BJP- Swavlamban Mission (VNSSM) their candidates. If the 1998 Lok Shiv Sena Government in all chairman Kishor Tiwari says. Sabha polls — held a year prior rural areas of the State. Another major issue that is to the split of the Congress and Seven out of the ten Lok bound to go against the BJP-led formation of the NCP — saw the Sabha constituencies in saffron alliance government Sonia Gandhi-led party sweep Vidarbha — Wardha, Ramtek in Maharashtra is the patheti- the Vidarbha region by bagging (SC), Nagpur, Bhandara- cally poor implementation of all the eleven seats, the 1999 polls Gondiya, Gadchiroli-Chimur the Rs 34,022 crore loan waiv- produced mixed results, with the (ST), Chandrapur and er scheme “Chhatrapati Shivaji Sena-BJP alliance winning six Yavatmal-Washim — are going Maharaj Krishi Samman out 11 seats and the Congress— to polls in the first phase in Yojana” which it announced on contesting in alliance with Maharashtra on Thursday. The June 4 2017. Prakash Ambaedkar-led BBM— three remaining constituen- Under the waiver scheme, securing the remaining five cies — Buldhana, Akola and the Maharashtra government seats. The then fledgling NCP, Amravati — will go to polls on was to waive the apicultural which made an electoral debut April 18. loans 89 lakh farmers. Of them, and contested the 1999 polls on The severity of the agrari- early 40 lakh farmers were its own strength, drew a blank an crisis in Vidarbha and neigh- expected to become totally debt- in Vidarbha region.    ! /

(49 ? (   05.*27 Rae Bareli during filing of her their mobile phones. UP nomination papers. Congress leaders, including fter filing his nomination Earlier the Gandhi-Vadra Pramod Tiwari, Deepak Singh Apapers from Wayanad in family joined Congress presi- were in the crowd during the Kerala on April 4, Congress dent Rahul Gandhi in a grand road show.  4 3// president Rahul Gandhi on roadshow in Amethi before the In Amethi, Rahul is pitted Wednesday filed his nomina- leader filed his nominations against his arch rival and Union n a setback to the Congress tion papers from Amethi, in the from the constituency. Textile Minister Smriti Irani, Iin Gujarat days before the presence of his family members. However, this was the first whom he had defeated in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, OBC Rahul Gandhi, along with time that entire Vadra family elections by a margin of over leader Alpesh Thakor on his family members — had joined the political expo- one lakh votes. Wednesday quit the party. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, her sure together. Earlier, Robert However in Rae Bareli, Thakor, appointed nation- husband Robert Vadra and Vadra used to campaign alone BJP has fielded an old al secretary after joining the their children Raihan and in support of his brother-in-law. Congressman and MLC party in 2017, said in a letter to Miraya — joined a 40-minute The Congress chief and his Dinesh Pratap Singh against Gujarat Congress chief Amit long roadshow atop a bus, family were greeted by party Sonia Gandhi making the con- Chavda that he was resigning before reaching the Amethi workers, who gathered in the test interesting. In 2014 polls, from all the posts in the party Collectorate in Gauriganj to file city, despite hot weather con- Sonia Gandhi had defeated due to insults and betrayal. edly asked the party leaders to the nomination papers. ditions, to get a glimpse of their BJP candidate Ajay Agarwal by “I should not stay in a give suitable posts to our youth Notably, Gandhi filed his leaders. over four lakh votes. The party where I am being insult- in their organisation,” he said. nominations on the opening On his way, crowds on polling in both Amethi and Rae ed, ignored and betrayed,” he At the Press conference, day of the nomination process both sides of the road showered Bareli seats would be held in said. “Poor youth of my com- Thakor was accompanied by and this was the fourth time he rose petals and marigold flow- the fifth phase on May 6. munity were angry and upset as two Congress legislators from would be contesting from ers on him and cheered for the The nominations in this they were ignored and insulted. the Thakor community — Amethi. UPA chairperson Sonia Congress chief, who waved phase commences from  2 !     ,     +',  For me, Thakor Sena is Bayad MLA Dhavalsinh Zala Gandhi, who did not join the back at them. Surging crowds Wednesday. The UPA president ! *  (   !"# supreme....My Sena had asked and Bechraji MLA Bharat roadshow due to health reasons, of Congress supporters walked would be filing her nomina- rime Minister Narendra me to leave a party if we are Thakor. Zala and Bharat came early to the Collectorate to along Rahul’s vehicle as it made tions for the fifth time from PModi on Wednesday Modi referred to Rahul’s Government was suspicious. ignored, insulted and cheated Thakor said they were not be along with her son in the its way to the Collectorate Rae Bareli seat. trained guns at Congress pres- visit in January this year to then “The Congress played such there,” he added in the letter. resigning from the party or as nomination process. through areas in Munshiganj, She had been winning ident Rahul Gandhi, saying he ailing Goa Chief Minister games in defence deals...(that) Amit Chavda said he will MLAs, but supported Alpesh In the nomination process, Darpipur and Gauriganj. from the seat since 2004 after was “burdened” with “Bofors Manohar Parrikar, who was the there was no defence deal dur- speak with Thakor before say- Thakor. “I am not joining the Rahul Gandhi was accompa- Since morning, Congress being migrated from sins” of his late father and Defence Minister when the ing Congress’s regime which ing anything to the media. BJP. I am not resigning as an nied by Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka supporters, wearing tricolour Amethi, which was left to her therefore wrongly accusing Rafale jet deal was signed with was not suspicious. “They took Addressing a Press conference MLA. I am not going to do poll Gandha, Robert Vadra and a caps and scarves, were out on son Rahul. others of corruption. France in 2016. After the meet- ‘dalali’ (commission) in Bofors. later, Thakor said he was not campaigning for or against any lawyer to file their papers the streets holding placards A Nehru-Gandhi family Launching a blistering ing, Rahul claimed Parrikar had Agent Quattrocchi ‘mama’ was joining the ruling BJP. Lok Sabha candidate (of before the district returning and posters in preparation for borough, Rae Bareli has been attack on Congress, he accused spoken about the Rafale deal, a allowed to escape. As a result, “Thakor Sena helped Congress or BJP). I will cam- officer Ram Manohar Mishra. their party president’s visit. represented by Sonia’s mother- the country’s oldest political claim rejected by the late CM. our Army could not get a sin- Congress win almost 43 seats paign for Thakor Sena candi- Congress president, for the They raised slogans and in-law Indira Gandhi repre- party of “playing games” in “The entire country saw, gle (Howitzer) gun. Because no during the 2017 Assembly polls. dates who are contesting from first time is contesting from often broke into impromptu sented this seat in the fourth defence deals when in power. Naamdar (dynast) went to one wanted to be partner in But our youth were sidelined Banaskantha Lok Sabha seat two seats Amethi and Wayanad dance at the beat drums. The and fifth Lok Sabha. Addressing a poll rally here, enquire about well-being of Congress’s sins,” he said. and even humiliated after the and Unjha Assembly seat (by- in Kerala. After filing his nom- streets were lined with Similarly, Amethi too is the Modi, without naming Rahul, Parrikar, but spoke such a lie The PM accused the elections got over. I had repeat- poll),” Alepsh said. inations, Rahul Gandhi rushed Congress flags, and hoardings Nehru-Gandhi family con- equated him to a cunning that none could imagine. Congress of delaying the Rafale to Fursatganj airport to board and posters with pictures of stituency, and Rahul Gandhi “pickpocket”, who himself “When Manohar ji was bat- deal, which was finalised after a special aircraft for cam- Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. has been representing the con- screams “chor, chor” and joins tling for life, in such a situation, the BJP-led government came -.!      paigning in Bihar and West Some banners read ‘Vikas stituency since 2004. Rahul’s the crowd after getting caught he had to come out to clarify to to power at the Centre in May Bengal while rest of the fami- ki andhi, Priyanka Gandhi’ father Rajiv Gandhi was elect- in the act to confuse others. those who were lying. A big lie 2014. “When the force pro-    24 ly members returned back to a and ‘Amethi ka sansad, desh ka ed from the seat for a decade The Prime Minister recalled was caught, but there was no posed to purchase Rafale jets, Q guest house in Rae Bareli. On PM’. Enthusiastic youngsters on from 1981 to 1991. Sonia how the Congress in the past tar- trace of remorse on their face. it saw some progress during Lucknow: Terming the law Thursday, the entire family motorcycles moved around Gandhi too was elected from geted former defence ministers And because of such a lie, peo- Atalji’s tenure. The close agents  against triple talaq at one go an will again join Sonia Gandhi in making videos of the event on Amethi in 1999. George Fernandes and Manohar ple do not trust them,” the PM of Naamdar family of Congress attempt to restore dignity of Parrikar. Referring to the said. The PM then referred to the got involved in it later. Muslim women, Uttar Pradesh Vajpayee Government’s deci- controversial Bofors deal of mid- “The result was that the deal Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sion to buy coffins to carry mor- 1980s to target the Congress got stuck for years and the asked Muslim women to tal remains of martyrs, Modi president, who has repeatedly strength of forces reduced. recognise their true brothers. said Congress had unnecessar- alleged corruption in the Rs Before 2014, amid atmosphere “It is Narendra Modi ily targeted honest people like 58,000-crore Rafale deal signed filled with scams, Congress Government which has freed Vajpayee and Fernandes over the by the NDA Government. closed the box of Rafale deal (put Muslim women from age-old ill issue and not allowed Parliament “I wonder why they speak it in the cold storage),” he said. of triple talaq. India may have got to function for weeks. so many lies. Perhaps he is bur- Modi said the Congress had no freedom in 1947 but our Muslim “At a l j i’s G o v e r n m e n t h a d dened with his father’s (late clue that wrongdoings in defence Bengaluru: In a bid to woo sisters got freedom only recent- allowed to bring bodies of Rajiv Gandhi) sins of Bofors. deals signed under its watch will voters, Karnataka Housing ly because of Prime Minister,” martyrs to their homes in And to wash it off, committing come out when a “chowkidar” Minister MTB Nagaraj danced Yogi said while addressing rallies coffins to give opportunity to the sin of imposing sins on oth- (watchman) takes charge. to a popular tune from the in Aonla, Budaun and Fatehpur the people to honour those ers. “You may get reins of party “There was graft in the Hindi movie ‘Nagin’ much to Sikri (Agra). who give up their lives (on bor- in legacy, but from where will VVIP chopper deal too. Same the amusement of people at He said this measure was a ders). “Caskets were purchased you create credibility in the trick was used as in Bofors. Hoskote, near here, and the game changer because it freed under George Fernandes’ hearts of 125 crore country- Agents like Michelle mama were video has gone viral. Muslim women from hun- watch for the martyrs. But the men? Congress can stoop to any allowed to escape. “They thought Nagaraj, whose name dreds of years of abuse and cap- Congress did not spare even level for power,” Modi alleged. this matter too would get under means King Cobra, had gone tivity they were subjected to. honest individuals like Atalji The Bofors deal was carpet like it happened after with his supporters to “The wicked practice of triple and Fernandes. Kept speaking believed to be one of primary Quattrocchi was allowed to run. Katigenahalli village in Hoskote talaq was being used as a lies. Boycotted Fernandes in reasons for the Rajiv Gandhi- They had no clue that a chowki- Tuesday evening seeking votes weapon to exploit women. By Parliament. Humiliated him. It led Congress’s defeat in the dar will come and bring back the for Congress candidate and abolishing instant talak, we is their old habit. The same 1989 Lok Sabha polls. agents they allowed to run away, former Union Minister have brought back their digni- thing they tried with Parrikar,” Modi said every defence even from ‘paatal’ (under- Veerappa Moily who is con- ty and respect,” he said. PNS    % (  %%  ,  !  '$        !"# he said. deal signed by the Congress ground),” Modi said. testing from the Chikkaballapura Lok Sabha constituency. A music band that fol- lowed the Minister’s convoy started playing the famous ‘Nagin’ tune to captivate a Party,” Rahul said reminding TMC’s Kanhaialal Agarwal and ple of the country.” cobra from the 1954 Hindi “only the Congress has been CPI(M)’s Md Salim. If Modi had looted the movie. The tune was part of the fighting against the BJP for Attacking Mamata for common man to pay the cor- song ‘Man Dole Mera Tan these many years. We never delivering false promises, Rahul rupt rich “I will loot the corrupt Dole’ and it charmed Nagaraj tied up with them unlike your said “like the Prime Minister rich and fill the pockets of the too and the 67-year-old con- Chief Minister.” your Chief Minister too is a common man,” he said. gress leader started to gyrate.      *70* Mamata had hours ago master of false promises. Like Incidentally, the Congress Soon his supporters too told a TMC rally at he offered 2 crore yearly jobs, chief had no words of criticism began dancing with him and fter a long interval Rahul Behrampore that both Adhir she also promised jobs but for the Left which stillconsti- the performance went on for AGandhi took on Mamata Chowdhury and Abhijit failed to implement them.” tutes a substantial section of the about 10 minutes. The dance Banerjee likening her to Mukherjee — Congress candi- Taking the Prime Minister State electorate. video has gone viral. Narendra Modi for her volleys dates from Behrampore and on for his failure to bring Rs 15 Attacking the PM for “trem- Those accompanying of failed promises. Jangipur — were fighting with lakh to every account the bling in fear” after the apex court Nagaraj finally asked him to The Congress president’s the help of RSS. “The Congress Congress president said, “Modi allegedly smelt a rat in the Rafale slow down in view of his age. diatribe came soon after the candidate from Behrampore had promised you an amount. deal he said “even the Supreme This is not the first time that Bengal Chief Minister con- and the one from Jangipur But he failed to implement it. Court has now accepted that the Minister has exhibited his- demned the State Congress who is the son of Pranab Instead of implementing his there could be some problem in dance skills in public. He had leaders for contesting elections Mukherjee are contesting with promises he filled the coffers of the Rafale deal and that needed done it earlier too during reli- with the help of the RSS and the the help of the RSS. They are the rich people like Anil to be probed,” adding “after the gious events in Hoskote. BJP. “It is for all to see. Who dummy candidates of the BJP Ambani. He filled his pocket Supreme Court order Modi’s face Minister, popularly known was the person to be a part of here,” she said almost prompt- with Rs 30,000 crore of the tax has blackened in fear because he as MTB by his supporters, the first NDA Government for ly inviting a scornful reply payers’ money. But I won’t do knows that we will not spare him wasranked the richest MLA in so many years? Who has been from Rahul from Raiganj. that I will do the opposite. After or the corrupt businessmen like the country by the Association raising the Rafale deal? Who Rahul was addressing a consulting with the Congress the other Modis and Anil for Democratic Reforms, an has proved that the chowkidar rally in favour of party candidate think-tank we have decided Ambani if we come to power. NGO, last year which said his (watchman) — read Modi — is Deepa Dasmunshi at Karan that the Congress will give an Every one along with the PPM assets were valued at over Rs a thief? It is not Mamata Dighi in Raiganj constituency. yearly allowance of Rs 72,000 will be proceeded against and 1,000 crore. PTI Banerjee but the Congress Dasmunshi is pitted against to 20 per cent of the poor peo- they will go to jail.”

    disclosed that the DMK-led members of parliament. God for parties entertaining people Rajathi) who is the DMK can- .4322 SPA (Secular Progressive will intervene in the hearts of the who insults Gods and didate for the Lok Sabha con- Alliance) was far ahead in the leaders of the Government and Goddesses. These incidents stituency. But his bête noir he National Democratic campaign and the arrival of they will listen to the God’s have taken the sheen off the Palaniswamy is focussing his TAlliance (NDA) in Tamil Rahul Gandhi would obliterate voice. I believe with Govern- contest across the State vitiat- campaign e on promises and Nadu suffered a jolt on the AIADMK-led front. ment’s order, God’s churches will ing the atmosphere. assurances instead of attacking Wednesday as the president of As the day for election in be built across the nation. It is The DMK is yet to make its the DMK or Stalin. the Pradesh Congress Tamil Nadu is fast approaching coming mow after these elec- plans known to the voters. He limits criticism to the Committee announced that (April 18) , campaign in the tion,” said Paul Dhinakaran, Stalin’s campaign speeches cen- minimum and declares about Rahul Gandhi, the lead star of State has touched a feverish head of the Jesus Calls Ministries tre around the need to throw schemes like linking of rivers, the Opposition alliance, will pitch with both the main fronts in a widely circulated video. out the Narendra Modi building check dams and cre- campaign from four places in exceeding all the limits pre- What add to the woes of Government at the Centre and ation of jobs. the State on April 12. scribed by the Election the DMK is the speeches deliv- the Edappadi Palaniswamy There is a general feeling “Rahul Gandhi will address Commission of India for a fair ered by DK leader K Government at Chennai. among the commentators that four massive election rallies at game. An evangelist, known for Veeramani, a close acolyte of “The Edappady the DMK is being profligate in Krishnapuri,Theni, Salem and his pro-DMK stance said in his late M Karunanidhi who is Palaniswamy Government its attack on his rivals. Vurudhunagar. MK Stalin, prayer meeting that the coun- Stalin’s political ideologue. would be thrown out within “This phase of the elec- president of the DMK is join- try would get the right Prime Veeramani ridiculing the hours of a change of tioneering is crucial and Stalin ing Rahul Gandhi in these Minister, the right Ministers Hindu gods have gone viral in Government at the Centre” should be careful in choosing election rallies,” said KS and the right Parliament after the social media prompting declared Stalin at Thoothukudi the words as he is in focus in Azhagiri, TNCC President. the elections. Hindu activists assembling in while campaigning for Tamil Nadu,” said a scribe Speaking to reporters at “After these elections, God temples across the State to take Kanimozhi (Karunanidh’s who is a veteran of many cam- Chennai, the TNCC President will intervene in the hearts of the a vow that they would not vote daughter by his third wife paign trails.    ! 0 1 D   %2   32  4  #  ,  4 &6   240 7 7  &6  49 4: ;   4 & < +/      2#   23 /304  +42'72 mation helped reduce leakage by 41 per cent relative to the enders of Jet Airways on Wednesday extended the ome reforms in India have control group, it said. Ldeadline for submission of initial bids for stake pur- Sshown the benefits of dig- According to the Fiscal chase in the ailing airline to April 12.  5  italisation which has also Monitor report, studies on Cash-strapped Jet Airways has delayed salaries to reduced the opportunities for public procurement show that #  #            5   pilots, defaulted on loan repayments as well as payments or the third time in a discretion and fraud, the IMF the design of procedures can  %   67  7869:"%   '%  #  P to aircraft lessors. Fweek, national oil mar- said in its latest report on have a significant impact on %  !  ,: )   *     0 SBI Capital Markets, which issued Expression of keter IndianOil Wednesday. the prices and quality of prod- (   0/   ,  (      Interest (EoI) document on April 8, has extended the Wednesday RPT on The introduction of e- ucts. % %    deadline for submission of initial bids to April 12. Wednesday stopped fuel procurement in India and The introduction of e- Potential bidders can send their queries till April 11. Supply to cash-starved Jet Indonesia has also increased procurement in India and The deadline for submission of bids was to end on Airways for non-payment competition and led to better Indonesia also increased com- Wednesday. of dues. quality of construction, the petition and led to better “The qualified bidders will be expected to submit The airline also faced International Monetary Fund quality of construction, it their respective binding bid(s) latest by April 30, 2019 the ignominy of losing (IMF) said in its latest edition said. subject to the terms set out under the bid document,” one of its planes to a European cargo 777-300 ER (VT-JEW) of Jet of the fiscal monitor report External scrutiny by SBI Capital Markets said in a notice posted on its web- agent who seized one of its wide- Airways at the Amsterdam airport released ahead of the its annu- Supreme Audit Institutions site. body planes at the Amsterdam air- as the airline could not clear his al spring meeting with the (SAIs), parliaments and civil The SBI-led consortium of domestic lenders are port for payment related issues, a dues,” the airline source told PTI. World Bank. society helps safeguard the implementing a debt resolution plan for Jet Airways, source said. The aircraft was to operate a “Some reforms in India integrity of public finances whose board approved the plan last month. This is the third time that the flight (9W 321) to Mumbai from show the benefits of digitali- and hold civil servants and “While all soft copies of the EoIs are required to sub- public sector oil marketing compa- Amsterdam Wednesday RPT sation and reducing opportu- elected officials accountable, mitted by the EoI due date, the hard copies may be sub- ny has cut fuel supply to the airline Wednesday. nities for discretion and the IMF said, adding that mitted by April 16, 2019,” the notice said. in the past eight days, which is strug- Jet Airways, however, said the fraud,” the International focused audits can help fight Earlier in the day, SBI Capital Markets issued a set gling to keep afloat amid acute liq- flight was delayed due to “opera- Monetary Fund (IMF) said in corruption by identifying of clarifications related to the EoI document, includ- uidity crisis. tional reasons.” its latest edition of the fiscal waste and miss-management. " %  %  ,   , !, %% ;       3 ing that bidders in a consortium need to furnish sol- “IndianOil has stopped fuel In a statement, the airline said monitor report released ahead “For example, social ,    %  +# +   %,  68 !, %%  vency certificates individually. supplies to Jet Airways in Mumbai, flight 9W 231 from Amsterdam to of the its annual spring meet- audits have been in place in '68  6=  7869        “Bidders are required to provide the solvency cer- New Delhi and Hyderabad airports Mumbai scheduled for April 10, has ing with the World Bank. India since 2005 to oversee   %!, %/   >;!/?      tificate ... On their letterhead and certified by manag- for its failure to clear dues,” the been delayed due to operational rea- “For example, the adop- the implementation of a large     (  !, %/   :!/   ,  5:A8 ing director/ full time director / CEO of the bidder or source said. Mumbai is the largest sons. tion of an electronic platform job guarantee programme and +'% /%B     % 4786C36D  ' ) a person holding an equivalent position in the bidder,” base for the airline and it operates Jet has been operating around for managing a social assis- to fight corruption in the  +#+  68 !, %% ,  SBI Capital Markets said in a separate notice. maximum flights from the city. 100 flights only with 26 planes as tance programme in India programme,” it said. In the case of consortium, each member has to sub- On March 4 and 5 also the oil most of the fleet is grounded due resulted in a 17 per cent These audits were mit solvency certificate, which is a proof of an entity’s company had cut supplies to Jet and to non-payment of lessors’ rentals. decline in spending with no endorsed and supported by financial stability. restored only after getting an assur- Due to cash crunch, the airline corresponding decline in ben- the Indian SAI and relied on   '    As part of the debt resolution plan for the full ser- ance from the airline management. has been paying only part salaries to efits,” it said. the strong and direct partic- vice carrier, the lenders are looking to restructure “exist- Earlier in the day, a European its over 16,000 employees which Similarly in Andhra ipation of citizens, the IMF ing facilities and infusion of funds by way of loans or cargo services provider seized one forced a section of its pilots on Pradesh, the use of smart ID said, adding that SAIs also  %       acquisition/ subscription of up to 75 per cent of equi- of its Boeing 777-300ER planes at Tuesday sending a legal notice to the cards that are used to identi- help promote integrity by ty share capital of the company”. the Amsterdam airport for non-pay- management which is currently fy beneficiaries of specific reviewing the reliability of the Shares of Jet Airways declined 1.59 per cent to close ment of dues. being headed by the lenders led by programmes and improve internal control and audit %  %%     /! at 263.40 apiece on the BSE. “The cargo agent seized Boeing State Bank. beneficiaries’ access to infor- framework.  23 /304 Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore,  %   '   he commerce ministry has Thailand, and Vietnam) and '  % %  Tasked the three agencies, their six free trade pact partners which have been tasked to namely Australia, China, India, % O% % ' 6  prepare a report on proposed Japan, Korea and New Zealand. mega trade agreement RCEP, to It aims to cover among the 

 23 /304 ened by 37 paise Tuesday to sumption, thus remaining the The dollar index, which close at 69.30 against the US fastest growing major economy gauges the greenback’s strength ising for the second straight dollar. of the world. against a basket of six curren- Rsession, the rupee advanced Forex dealers said selling of “Rupee bulls are having cies, slipped 0.07 per cent to 19 paise on Wednesday to the American currency by upper hand over American 96.93. close at 69.11 against the US exporters supported the rupee. dollar amid expectation of Foreign investors remained dollar on strong foreign fund Moreover, IMF’s bullish growth inflows through Vodafone-Idea net buyers in the capital mar- inflows amid the greenback’s outlook for the Indian econo- right issue ($4 billion), Baring’s kets, putting in 1,429.92 crore weakness against key rivals my added strength to the local investment in NIIT ($400 mil- Wednesday, provisional overseas. currency. lion) and Essar Steel acquisition exchange data showed. At the Interbank Foreign According to the ($7 billion),” said V K Sharma, Market benchmark BSE Exchange, the domestic unit International Monetary Fund Head PCG and Capital Markets Sensex, however, lost 353.87 opened at 69.26 and advanced (IMF), India is projected to Strategy, HDFC Securities. points, or 0.91 per cent, to close to a high of 69.09. It finally set- grow at 7.3 per cent in 2019 and Meanwhile, brent crude, at 38,585.35, while the broad- tled at 69.11, showing a gain of 7.5 per cent in 2020, support- the global oil benchmark, was er NSE Nifty dropped 87.65 19 paise over its previous close. ed by the continued recovery of trading at $70.92 per barrel, points, or 0.75 per cent, to The rupee had strength- investment and robust con- higher by 0.44 per cent. 11,584.30. 3 3 %  %Q  6-2*65-   23 /304 he head of the European TCentral Bank warned that harmEasy, an online health platform global friction over trade - Phas partnered with Purple Quarter, such as U.S. Threats to impose a tech head search firm to find a CTO for more tariffs — is holding back the organization. the economy and underlined Purple Quarter facilitated Abhinav the bank’s readiness to deploy Yajurvedi, an alumnus of the University more stimulus if needed. of Delhi and IIT-Roorkee, Ex Senior Vice Mario Draghi said President from Myntra, as a CTO for Wednesday that an improving PharmEasy. Abhinav holds exposure jobs market and rising wages within the Supply Chain and CRM tech were helping the economy in business whilst his stint with Myntra. His the 19 countries that use the previous experiences with Amazon and euro but uncertainties like Trilogy builds a strong foundation for the trade disputes and Brexit are growth phase at PharmEasy. hurting it.    ! & 11

)   % ,%'O  1 )  093- 770 iverpool closed in on a semi-final meeting with Barcelona Lor Manchester United after sweeping aside Porto 2-0 in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at Anfield. Far from the late drama that has accompanied the Red's Premier League title bid of late, Naby Keita and Roberto Firmino struck inside the first 26 minutes to put the hosts  072/72 in command. Liverpool's only regret may be not building a more + O!  ottenham striker Harry Kane emphatic lead to take to Portugal for next week's second leg. Tvowed on Wednesday to come However, a fourth clean sheet in five home Champions    back "stronger than ever" after his League games this season means an away goal at the Estadio latest ankle injury cast a cloud over do Dragao on April 17th will leave Porto needing four to  his side's victory against progress. Manchester City. Liverpool thrashed the Portuguese giants 5-0 in the first Kane limped off the pitch leg of their last-16 tie last season and the scoreline could have %  after a challenge with England been just as embarrassing for Sergio Conceicao's men had teammate Fabian Delph during the hosts been more accurate in front of goal.   Tuesday's 1-0 quarter-final first-leg It took the hosts just five minutes to open the scoring win. as Keita got his second goal in as many games having wait- auricio Pochettino chal- It immediately looked serious ed nine months to open lenged "spirited" Tottenham as Kane was unable to put any his Liverpool account. Mto finish the job after their 1- weight on his left foot and was The Guinean got the 0 win over Manchester City in the helped down the tunnel, later benefit of a big deflec- Champions League quarter-finals was leaving the ground on crutches and tion off Oliver Torres as marred by Harry Kane's potentially with the joint in a brace. his strike from the edge season-ending injury. The club's medical staff will of the area left veteran Pochettino's side earned a slender allow any swelling around the goalkeeper Iker Casillas first-leg advantage thanks to a clini- joint to subside before a scan to helpless. cal strike from South Korea forward reveal how bad the injury is, Mohamed Salah Son Heung-min late in the second expected to be on Thursday. ended his eight-game half at the Tottenham Hotspur "Gutted to go off injured but goal drought as Stadium on Tuesday. every setback is a chance to come Liverpool returned to Much-maligned Tottenham keep- back stronger than ever," Kane the top of the Premier er Hugo Lloris also enjoyed a sweet tweeted. League table with a 3-1 moment of redemption in a troubled "Big finish from the boys to go win at Southampton on campaign when he saved Sergio on and win!" Friday, but the Egyptian Aguero's first-half spot-kick. Spurs boss Mauricio got his angles wrong Pochettino was delighted with Pochettino admitted the injury when he failed to double Tottenham's display against the could end the England captain's the hosts' lead with just Premier League champions, but he 8! .9,..,.: 4 5' .,; season, which would be a huge Casillas to beat moments insisted the tie is still delicately 4.#., .4  . :  blow to the club's hopes of later. poised.    . .8 Champions League progression "We showed great quality. We L 29>0 and also qualification for next year,     were all excited and motivated to play with Tottenham still locked in a Conceicao was visibly furious with his side's slack defend- this type of game," he said. 8, ., ..,. .. .,   top-four battle. ing, but Porto could easily have got back into the tie when "The energy was good, fantastic,  ,. 4 . 4;.,  4#. , "It's very, very sad. It's going to Alisson Becker saved well with his feet from Moussa Marega. and the penalty save gave us a big lift.   .. .O be tough and we're going to miss Liverpool then had to survive a VAR review for a poten- "There are still 90 minutes to play him — maybe for the rest of the tial handball against Trent Alexander-Arnold as Alisson L& $2  and it's Manchester City. But with the season," Tottenham's Argentine palmed the ball into his full-back. spirit we play, anything is possible." coach told BT Sport. Soon, though, Alexander-Arnold was helping twist the Tottenham's victory was an unex- 8;, 4.= .; .  ... England boss Gareth knife into Porto at the other end with his eighth assist of the pected twist after Kane injured his left  .,. 4..,. 5' .,.   .?, Southgate will also be concerned, season. ankle in a tackle on Fabian Delph  ,."....,. : . 4, ,, 8 with the Nations League Finals Jordan Henderson, playing in a more advanced midfield early in the second half. L 26 67  looming in June. position than normal, cut the visitors' defence open for the Kane will have tests on the injury England international to square for Firmino to tap into an on Wednesday, but Tottenham boss empty net. Pochettino fears his star striker could   There were no penalty appeals Delph on the touchline, Kane appeared minute. Only a matter of centimetres denied Liverpool a third miss the rest of the campaign. If Guardiola was concerned about from City, but after consulting VAR, to twist his ankle before immediately When Son beat the City offside early in the second half when another excellent Henderson City had only themselves to blame subduing Tottenham and the boister- Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers awarded signalling he would have to come off. trap, it appeared his touch was too allowed Sadio Mane to volley home, but the Senegalese was for failing to earn an advantage for the ous crowd in their new stadium, his the spot-kick. The sight of the England captain, heavy to take advantage. flagged offside. second leg in Manchester on April 17. side were handed a golden opportuni- However, Lloris plunged to his left who has scored 24 times this season, But he alertly kept the ball in play, The fine balance Liverpool must strike in maintaining City's first defeat since a January ty in the 12th minute. to keep out Aguero's penalty with a limping badly down the tunnel could taking advantage of Delph's pause to their quest for European glory while also trying to end a 29- 29 setback at Newcastle is not fatal to Raheem Sterling cut in from the superb save. have been fatal for Tottenham. protest the decision by slamming a low year wait for a league title was in evidence as Klopp with- their European ambitions, but they left and left three Tottenham defend- Kane was embroiled in a physical Yet they thrived in Kane's absence drive under Ederson from close range. drew Mane and Firmino in the final quarter with one eye will have to improve on this tired ers in his wake before unleashing a shot battle with City defence's but his for seven matches with left ankle lig- Guardiola once infuriated on Sunday's Premier League visit of Chelsea. effort to stop Tottenham reaching that struck Danny Rose's raised arm as attempt to fight fire with fire proved ament damage earlier this season. Pochettino by calling Tottenham 'the However, that proved a luxury that Liverpool could afford their first European semi-final since the Tottenham left-back slid in to his downfall in the 55th minute. And once again they rose to the Harry Kane team' — now Son has pro- to take as they look set for a second Champions League semi- 1984. block. Crunching into a late challenge on challenge to snatch the lead in the 78th vided the perfect riposte to that jibe. final in as many years.          8  +2' 7-3  +42'4 concern for the Italian mar- Grand Prix with world cham- tar Indian shuttlers P V que. pion Hamilton second. SSindhu, Saina Nehwal and errari's Charles Leclerc is While there has been ful- It was the other way Kidambi Srikanth eased into the Fgunning for his first win some praise of Leclerc, partic- round in Bahrain, leaving the second round of the $ 355,000 this week in China after cru- ularly the mature way he han- Finn a point ahead of the Singapore Open with straight- elly missing out in Bahrain as dled the Bahrain disappoint- Briton in the early drivers' game wins over their respective Formula One's 1,000th race ment, his Ferrari team-mate standings after picking up rivals in the singles event here coincides with the emergence Vettel is facing criticism. the fastest-lap bonus point in on Wednesday. of a bright new star. It seems absurd for a four- Melbourne. Taking the court first, The supremely talented time world champion to have However, Mercedes team Sindhu, seeded fourth, took 21-year-old upstaged five- to defend his ability and tem- principal Toto Wolff is under just 27 minutes to get the bet- time world champion Lewis perament, but the German is no illusions about the chal- ter of Indonesia's Lyanny Hamilton in Bahrain but ulti- having to do just that after a lenge posed by Ferrari. Alessandra Mainaky 21-9, 21-7 mately limped home third series of unforced errors "The truth is that we in a one-sided match. when his Ferrari lost power stretching back to last season. weren't as quick as our direct The Rio Olympics Silver- with 10 laps left. Vettel finished fifth and competitors throughout qual- medallist will next play Mia The Chinese Grand Prix was comfortably eclipsed by ifying and the race in Blichfeldt of Denmark. is replete with sub-plots: can Leclerc, who is a decade Bahrain," he said. Later, sixth seed Saina too Hamilton win the race for a In just his second season history of Formula One and I younger. "The Ferrari was consid- tamed another Indonesian in sixth time? Can Sebastian in F1, it is widely assumed that hope the car will be as good erably faster on the straights Yulia Yosephin Susanto 21-16, Vettel silence the doubters? it is just a matter of time until as it was in Bahrain (until late O @ and this added up to several 21-11, to book her place in the win over world number 28 round event after beating Arjun How much faster are Ferrari? Leclerc tastes victory. on) so that I can continue to With all the talk about tenths around one lap. next round. Rasmus Gemke of Denmark to M R and K Maneesha 21-18, 21- But the focus in Shanghai "Usually the Chinese race go for the results we deserve." Ferrari, it is easy to forget that "Nevertheless, the saying Saina will next look to set up a clash with Olympic 7 in an all-Indian contest. will be on Leclerc, the Ferrari is good fun because the Shanghai has one of the Mercedes won the opening goes that 'in order to finish avenge her first-round loss at champion Chen Long of China. However, it was curtains for rookie from Monaco who weather can be unpredictable longest straights in the 21-race two races. first, first you have to finish'... Malaysia Open to Thailand's Sameer Verma defeated India in the opening round of fully deserved victory two and rain can arrive when you championship and should be Valtteri Bottas claimed a "The challenge we are fac- Pornpawee Chochuwong when Thailand's Suppanyu the men's doubles competition. weeks ago but had to settle for least expect it," said Leclerc. perfect for Ferrari's searing dominant victory in the sea- ing doesn't daunt us, it's she faces her in the second Avihingsanon 21-14, 21-6 to The pair of Manu Attri and the first podium of his career. "It's the 1,000th race in the pace, with reliability the main son-opening Australian uplifting," he added. round. square up against China's Lu B Sumeeth Reddy lost to qual- Chochuwong beat young Guangzu. ifiers Danny Bawa Chrisnanta Indian Mugdha Agrey 21-6, HS Prannoy eked out a 11- and Kean Hean Loh of 21-8 in another match. 21, 21-16 21-18 win over Singapore 13-21, 17-21. Sixth seed Kidambi France's Brice Leverdez. The The mixed doubles pair of (/(///././(-:;4/. Srikanth, who had reached the Indian will meet top seed and Saurabh Sharma and Anoushka finals at India Open, defeated world No 1 Kento Momota of Parikh too exited in the open-    The Indian ous game. very alert India goalkeeper sustain pressure with tight Thailand's Sitthikom Japan next. ing round after a 12-21, 12-21 women's hockey team on Lalremsiami's sensation- Savita made a good save. marking inside the circle giv- Thammasin 21-17, 21-18 in a Momota survived a scare defeat at the hands of third- Wednesday struck a late goal al 55th-minute goal ensured India too earned a PC in ing Malaysia no real chance to 41-minute match. He will next against 2017 champion B Sai seeded Thai pair of Dechapol through youngster the team secured a narrow the following minute but did take a shot on goal. lock horns with Denmark's Praneeth, who put up a stiff Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Lalremsiami to beat hosts win in a hard-fought contest not succeed. With India's ace Having missed out on Hans-Kristian Solberg resistance before going down Taerattanachai. Malaysia and take an unassail- that saw Malaysia give their all dragflicker Gurjit Kaur miss- PCs, India looked for a poten- Vittinghus. 21-19, 14-21, 20-22 to the reign- The Chinese Taipei pair of able lead in the five-match to put up a defensive game. ing the tour due to an injury, tial opportunity, and Navneet 2014 Commonwealth ing Japanese World champion. Lu Ching Yao and Lee Chia bilateral series here. Though it was Malaysia they lost out on five penalty Kaur set up a splendid goal Games champion Parupalli Pranaav Jerry Chopra and N Hsin ended the campaign of India won the first two who made a strong start with corner opportunities in this for Lalremsiami who made a Kashyap also continued his Sikki Reddy also progressed to Venkat Gaurav Prasad and Juhi matches 3-0 and 5-0 followed an early penalty corner in the game. diving effort to help India good run with a 21-19, 21-14 the mixed doubles second Dewangan 21-12, 21-15. by a 4-4 draw in their previ- first minute of the game, a But the team did well to win. PTI

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 5      L Rahul smashed his     116   maiden IPL hundred   1%  -    Kwhile Chris Gayle struck - + *V G   a 36-ball 63 to power Kings XI     & Punjab to an imposing 197 for %   ( ( four against Mumbai Indians in   .%    (   . an IPL match, here on   & )!% Wednesday. -   (     & Gayle, who smashed seven ,   G-   towering sixes and also hit      0 %  three fours, laid the platform for   "" &   G the big total with his opening  ""  -   1 % *   partner Rahul, who carried his   %  & bat through to remain uncon-    1   %  quered on 100, laced with six / .       sixes and as many fours.     &   !% The duo's 116-run stand in G- +   (  &   5- Sanju Samson, who had with Shane Watson and Fau Du 77 balls took MI by storm. %A -    cracked the first ton of this IPL, Plessis at the top while the mid- Gayle's dismissal in the 13th B   &-  %   9 struggling Rajasthan Royals is still recovering from an injury dle-order consists of Suresh over slowed down the innings     *      Awill desperately seek to and after a bright start to the Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Kedar but Rahul punished Hardik %HI &  -+ % revive their campaign when season, Jos Butler too has failed Jhadav and Dhoni. Pandya by hitting three sixes %    !6!%! they host formidable Chennai in the last couple of innings. CSK's bowing unit, which and a four in the 19th, which        &  Super Kings in an Indian The biggest positive for has an impressive mix of pace yielded them 25 runs. Premier League encounter here Rajasthan will be the return to and spin, will look to exploit the Thirteen came off the final on Thursday. form of former Australian cap- Sawai Man Singh wicket, which over to boost the total. Punjab to 86 without loss. with Rahul. Rajasthan are currently tain Steve Smith. Smith scored has been playing slow and low. The flamboyant Gayle, who The left-hander also hit The left-handed Gayle's lying in the penultimate spot in 38 against RCB before anchor- was circumspect initially, struck leggie Rahul Chahar, and the departure slowed down the the eight-team standings with ing his team to 139 with an    G   Australian pacer Jason Pandya brothers Krunal and run-rate with Hardik sending just one win out of five games. unbeaten 73 against KKR. Steve Smith and Ben Stokes Behrendorff for three huge Hardik for a six each. He back David Miller and Karun Rajasthan's sole win came Skipper Ajinkya Rahane, are yet to sizzle this IPL but sixes and one four to cream off reached his 50 in 31 balls and Nair cheaply and Bumrah against laggards Royal Rahul Tripathi and Ben Stokes Rajasthan Royals batting coach 23 runs to begin the punishing the team's 100 was raised in 10.2 accounting for Sam Curran Challengers Bangalore at the too have been below par with Amol Mazumdar on act. overs. between the 15th and 18th Sawai Man Singh Stadium and the bat. To add to their woes, Wednesday reposed faith on In the ninth over, Gayle Gayle's mayhem ended overs. they would be banking on Rajasthan don't have the depth their abilities and backed the struck two fours and another when he was caught at deep Rahul went on the offensive home comfort to upset defend- and bench strength to over- duo to come good in the next massive leg-side six as 17 came mid-wicket off Behrendorff to in the last two and in the ing champions CSK. come the tough situation. match against Chennai Super off Hardik Pandya's over to take nip his opening partnership process completed his century. In contrast, CSK are com- Rajasthan's bowling too Kings. ing off a clinical seven-wicket appears to be lacking in ideas "I feel we are one of the thrashing of Kolkata Knight and the likes of Stokes, Jofra strongest squad and Steve Smith Riders and are sitting pretty at Archer, Jaidev Unadkat, and is a proven customer all over the the top of the table with five vic- Dhawal Kulkarni will have to world," Amol said on the eve of /)48D* tories from six games. Rajasthan Royals' match against Live on Star Sports 1& 2 HEAD Under the astute captaincy TO Chennai Super Kings.   23 /304 now a freelance cricketer. after the one Test. You could not played under. Ashwin falls in the of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, HEAD "Just before what happened, Hardus believes IPL is better get the chance to show your same category. He knows what CSK boasts of a perfectly bal- he was best batsman in the  7: ings XI Punjab pacer than many other T20 leagues in skills and what are you capable to expect from me and I exact- anced squad to excel on any world. He has spent just a little Hardus Viljoen cannot play the world. of. For me, to take this decision ly know what I need to do in dif- surface and all conditions.  of time in the middle. I am sure K .#! for South Africa as had accept- Hardus said the level of after getting dropped was diffi- ferent situations and this makes The Royals, on the other  from what we saw against KKR ed the Kolpak deal, but he feels competition makes the cash- cult. But everything happens for it easier. When your captain hand, are still struggling to 45-+/8  <:## was good enough to indicate playing in the Indian Premier rich Indian league stand out. a reason. At the end of the day believes in you and trusts you, find their bearings. After losing what is going to come from League (IPL) comes closest to "IPL is closest to the World Cup you need security in life and it makes your job easier," he their last match, they find pull up their socks against an him. fulfilling his dream of playing in as you get to play against the food on your table for your fam- said. themselves in a precarious posi- in-form CSK. "Ben Stokes is a fine all- the coveted World Cup. best. It is an unbelievable expe- ily. Kolpak improved me as a A well-known name in T20 tion, and have to win almost all CSK, on the other hand, rounder and has performed all The Kolpak deal allows cit- rience for players as it adds an player also.'' cricket, the bowler feels the for- their remaining games to keep will be brimming with confi- over the world so I am sure he izens of around 100 nations to international flavour," he said. Playing for KXIP, Hardus mat is tailor-made for batsmen. their play-off chances alive. dence having defeated the realizes it and I am sure he play cricket in any EU nation Hardus signed the Kolpak feels (Ravichandran) Ashwin "In T20 cricket, public wants to Rajasthan have failed to Royals earlier in the season, would come to terms with it without being considered an deal with English county County, Hardus said, ''Every boy understands his players. "I have see runs and we as bowlers need seize opportunities in their ear- when Dhoni smashed an and would perform his best for overseas player. Hardus had Derbyshire before ending it in dreams to play for his country, played with a lot of captains. I to restrict the batsmen. I think lier matches and in the previous unbeaten 75 to clinch an eight- us. That what we hope, no donned the national jersey once January 2019. Asked about his but this is all about opportuni- would say Darren Sammy was focusing on the basics makes outing against KKR, they were run victory. doubts about his abilities," he in a Test against England and is move to play in the English ties. You were dropped just probably the best captain I the job easier," he said. totally outplayed on home turf. Their batting looks solid said. #     ,  4   %'  1 %' 6@ 70A (& @  ( %   $    ;   2  :    . ,  .4322 and two catches including a  running one to dismiss Suresh H# /%!.A.+*B **- .  #=1#I1H#"=  072/72 hennai Super Kings pacer Raina, said the visitors didn't "= 2A//B *V    "C1#C1H##= CDeepak Chahar has agreed misread the wicket. "=   A--B **- / H#1#C1H##= t was double delight for with his captain Mahendra He said the batsmen IIndia as it swept the Wisden Singh Dhoni that the team played too many shots at the #/+/"/ Cricketers' Almanack on needs a better pitch at home start, which hurt them badly. Wednesday with Virat Kohli despite winning all their games "It's not that we misread  .4322 jointly held by Sunrisers and Smriti Mandhana clinch- here so far. the wicket but yes, we played Hyderabad spinner Rashid ing the 'Leading Cricketer of CSK captain Dhoni has too many shots at the start. We hennai Super Kings' medi- Khan and Kings XI Punjab Year' honours, continuing criticised the Chepauk pitch lost three extra wickets in the Cum pacer Deepak Chahar medium pacer Ankit Rajpoot. their award-winning spree. after registering a seven-wick- powerplay. That's how it goes has become the bowler with The 26-year-old flum- Kohli and Mandhana had et win over Kolkata, terming it in the shorter format. It hap- the most number of dot balls moxed the KKR top-order won big in the last ICC as "low scoring". pens. Sometimes, the shot that in an innings in the history of with early strikes. He trapped Awards night too. Mandhana And Chahar, who returned went straight to the fielder the Indian Premier League big-hitting Chris Lynn leg was adjudged 'Women's with impressive figures of 3 for would have gone in the gap," (IPL). before in the first over. He then Cricketer of the Year' as well 20 against KKR, blamed the "Nobody wants this type Dhoni, while speaking at Chawla said in defence of the The underrated Chahar claimed the wickets of Nitish as the 'Women's ODI Player of nature of the wicket on hot and of a wicket. It is because of the the presentation ceremony team's batsmen. returned impressive figures of Rana and Robin Uthappa and the Year' by the ICC in humid weather conditions. soil and heat. It's too hot here had earlier said "we don't want He felt that a total of 135- three for 20 from four overs in the third and fifth overs December, while the talis- "I'm happy I performed and the pitch curators are play on wickets like these" after 140 or more would have been against Kolkata Knight Riders, respectively. manic Kohli won the Cricketer well, but obviously we're look- doing their best job to give us CSK won another low-scoring ideal. bowling a staggering 20 dot In the penultimate over, of the Year award besides fin- ing for a better wicket," Chahar a good track. But, at the end of game at Chepauk. "A total of 135-140 would balls. Chahar bowled five dot balls ishing as the top batsman in told reporters at the post- the day you can't help it," he KKR leg-spinner Piyush have been ideal on this wick- Chahar broke the record of with the in-form Andre Russell Tests. match press conference. added. Chawla, who took a wicket et," he added. 18 dot balls in an innings on strike. Indian captain Kohli was named the Wisden Leading Cricketer of the year for the third successive time, having captain was named as the 3)(@4/A O0,* "  '  P amassed 2735 runs across the Leading Cricketer in the three formats in 2018. World for an unprecedented The Indian talisman was third year in a row by the 2019  .4322 looks good. But once we play picked as one of the five edition of Wisden Cricketers' 7(3/@8 on better and flatter wickets Wisden Cricketers of the year, Almanack while this  .4322 arbhajan Singh and Imran with smaller boundaries, we along with England's Tammy Mandhana's first award. HTahir have proved that will have to see what is the best Beaumont, Jos Buttler, Sam Afghanistan spinner olkata Knight Riders skipper Dinesh age is just a number, feels combination to play with," he Curran and Rory Burns. Rashid Khan was named the KKarthik said in-form Andre Russell batted Chennai Super Kings captain added. The India skipper is only Leading T20 Cricketer of the with a "lot of maturity" after the all-rounder Mahendra Singh Dhoni, equat- Dhoni picked Tahir for the third cricketer ever to Year for the second year in a anchored his side in a losing cause against ing the spinners with fine wine special praise, saying the South have won the award more row, following his superb per- Chennai Super Kings. for the way they have matured. African is someone on whom than three times after Don formance last year. He took 22 KKR were under pressure from the word The inspirational CSK he can depend no matter what Bradman (10 times) and Jack wickets at an average of 8.68 go on Tuesday and by the 11th over CSK had skipper, himself 37, was effu- the situation. Hobbs (8 times). for Afghanistan in T20Is, the visiting team reeling at 47 for 6 when Russell sive in his praise for the duo "I have fallen back on Kohli had notched up 593 besides scalping 21 wickets in walked in. after CSK's seven-wicket win Tahir and he has done the job. runs in five Tests at an average the Indian Premier League The Jamaican, who has stolen the limelight over Kolkata Knight Riders He has confidence in me. He of 59.3 during India's 1-4 loss 2018. this season so far with his hard-hitting abilities, on Tuesday. The 38-year-old has got a very good flipper," he to England and ended the year The Five Cricketers of the took it upon himself to post a decent 108 when Harbhajan (2/15) and the 40- said. with five hundreds to his Year are chosen by Lawrence other batsman gave away their wickets cheap- year-old Tahir (2/21) were the "He (Tahir) is someone name. Booth, the editor of the ly. Karthik said after the seven-wicket loss. key performers for the home who if you tell that this is the Mandhana was rewarded Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, Russell refused to take singles to keep the Karthik admitted that the team failed to put team. right pace to bowl on, he does for scoring 669 and 662 runs with the 2019 version serving tail-enders at the non-strikers' end. He finished up enough runs on the board. "Age is on their side it most of the times. He is some- in ODIs and T20Is last year. as the 156th edition. the innings unbeaten on 50 with five fours and "Definitely, not enough runs on the board. (Harbhajan and Tahir). They one who deceives the batsman She also amassed 421 runs at Wisden has been listing three sixes. These are tricky games and you don't know how are like old wine and they are has played. I have fallen back quite a few times. an astounding strike rate of out Cricketers of the Year "Credit to Russell, he showed a lot of matu- many runs to set with the dew and everything, maturing," Dhoni said after the on Imran (Tahir) whenever "Not only a good leggie and 174.68 in the women's Super since 1889 and it is considered rity and I am pleased with the way he's shap- but when the game finishes you feel you should win over KKR. needed and he has come up googly, he has got a very good League. as one of the more prestigious ing up. I like the way we tried defending a small gave got 20 more runs, so it's always a catch- "Bhajji (Harbhajan) has with very good performances. flipper. Overall he is a good The Indian men's team award in the sport. total, especially the spinners with the wet ball," 22 situation," he said. done well in whatever games he "Overall, the bowling unit package," Dhoni added.