millenniumpost.in RNI NO.: WBENG/2015/65962

PUBLISHED FROM DELHI & KOLKATA VOL. 4, ISSUE 4 | Thursday, 4 January 2018 | Kolkata | Pages 16 | Rs 3.00 NO HALF TRUTHS pNIFTY 10,443.20 (+1.00) qSENSEX 33,793.38 (-18.88) pDOW JONES 24,824.01 (+104.79) pNASDAQ 7,006.90 (+103.51) qRUPEE/DOLLAR 63.53 (-0.05) pRUPEE/EURO 76.36 (+0.28) nGOLD/10GM 30,450 (0.00) pSILVER/K 39,850 (+140.00) CENTRE APPROVES DON’T WORRY TRUMP MAY GO I’VE LIMITED TIME, BENGAL LOGO IF NAME NOT IN ‘GREAT LENGTHS’ TO CAN’T GIVE 5 YEARS DESIGNED BY 1ST NRC DRAFT: END ALL AID TO PAK: TO A FILM NOW: MAMATA PG3 SONOWAL PG6 HALEY PG10 PRABHAS PG15 Oppn-BJP spar over MAMATA ATTACKS CENTRE FOR ITS DIVISIVE POLITICS BJP-RSS fuelling violence triple talaq bill in RS SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE NRC is Centre’s conspiracy to against Dalits, PM should

NEW DELHI: A united opposition on Wednes- clarify stand: Congress day had a face-off with expel Bengalis from Assam: CM OUR CORRESPONDENT the government over the triple talaq bill in the Rajya Sabha and stalled OUR CORRESPONDENT Nazrul. Sri Ramakrishna had told NEW DELHI: The Congress debate on it insisting us there are as many paths as there on Wednesday accused the BJP that it should be sent to a AHMEDPUR (BIRBHUM): are views,” she said, adding “but the and the RSS of fuelling violence select panel, as the ruling Launching a scathing attack on BJP is telling us which religion and against Dalits and demanded BJP vigorously sought its expeditious passage to the BJP for its divisive politics, Gods we will have to worship. As that Prime Minister Narendra stop the unlawful practice. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a Hindu, I respect Rama and not Modi make a statement in Par- Amid noisy scenes, Law Minister Ravi Shan- spoke out for the first time against Ravana, I respect Sita and Kaush- liament clarifying his stand on kar Prasad introduced the Muslim Women (Pro- the National Register of Citizens alya but not Kaikeyi and Manthara the Bhima-Koregaon incident tection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017 for (NRC) in Assam. Comparing it who had always conspired against in Maharashtra. divide people and society and discussion and passage, but pandemonium with the 1960s ethnic cleansing the masses.” The party also demanded create an atmosphere of illusion broke out in the Upper House with the opposi- ‘Bongal Kheda’ movement, she She urged people not to lis- the formation of a commis- that only they are nationalists. tion creating an uproar and the BJP countering termed the exercise to determine ten to what BJP is telling them. sion of inquiry by a sitting "We demand that the prime it vociferously. the original inhabitants of Assam “They will misinform you for their Supreme Court judge on the minister, who shows sympathy However, Trinamool Congress (TMC) mem- a conspiracy to expel Bengalis out own benefit and have come only clashes between Dalit groups for Dalits during polls, should ber Sukendu Sekhar Roy moved a motion for of the state. to raise funds,” she remarked. The and supporters of right-wing clarify his position inside Par- amendment under Rule 125 and sought that the Addressing a gathering here on CM further said that the Centre has Hindu organisations during the liament on violence against Bill be sent to a Select Committee. "We think the Wednesday afternoon, Banerjee CM Mamata Banerjee at Birbhum PIC/MPOST stopped funds for the Asha project 200th-anniversary celebrations Dalits," he told reporters out- Bill is faulty. It requires suggestions from differ- said the BJP is spreading the pol- but the state government, despite of the Bhima-Koregaon battle side Parliament. ent stakeholders," he said. itics of hate and dividing people in other states, got murdered. and I strongly feel that through the immense economic hardships, is in Pune district that had left a Kharge also accused the Congress member Anand Sharma too on the basis of religion. She said She further alleged that in the FRDI Bill, the Centre will inter- carrying on with it and is giving man dead on January 1. BJP government in Maha- moved a motion under Rule 70 (2)(a) to send all Trinamool Congress MPs will attempt to stop triple talaq, the Bill vene in the savings of the common Rs 2,000 to the workers per month. The leader of the Congress rashtra of having "failed" to the Bill to a Select Committee. assemble at the Gandhi statue in placed by the Centre will actually people. We are not going to toler- She urged the girls who have got in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun control violence as it did not "We are all for this bill; it is a faulty bill. No Parliament on Thursday to protest curb the rights of Muslim women. ate this.” money under the Kanyashree proj- Kharge accused the BJP-RSS make proper arrangements in women's' groups, stakeholders were consulted. against the draconian Civil Act and “I have always fought for the pro- Banerjee said she is not ashamed ect to work very hard and do well of "conspiring to divide peo- Bhima-Koregaon. All we ask for is that talk to all stakeholders," alleged that the BJP will use this tection of rights of Muslim women. to call herself a religious person. “I in the examinations. “I am proud ple" on caste and religious lines, "We have demanded that TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien stated. to create further division among But this Bill will fail to protect go to the temple of the Hindus and of my Kanyashree girls and know and asked the prime minister to a sitting judge of the Supreme Terming it "a historic bill", Prasad said the people. them.” offer prayers with the Muslims and they will do well in life.” Banerjee make a statement on the issue Court should carry out a probe Supreme Court on August 22 "called triple talaq She demanded that the Centre The Chief Minister said the Christians. This is the tradition and inaugurated a slew of projects that in Parliament. into the incident for an impar- as unconstitutional ... The judges appealed to should come out with a statement Trinamool Congress will continue history of Bengal. We believe in the include plans to develop tourism in "The BJP and the RSS are tial probe. A commission Parliament to come out with the law. on why Bengalis are being driven to fight for the oppressed and the harmony of all religions. We follow Birbhum, construction of bridges, fuelling and instigating vio- should be set up to ascertain Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday out from Assam, or why people downtrodden. “We had protested the paths shown by Swami Vive- Anganwari centres and drinking lence against Dalits across who was behind the violence lashed out at the Congress for "indirectly" oppos- from Bengal, who had gone to work against the linking of Aadhaar card kananda, Rabindranath and Kazi water projects. the country. They conspire to and who instigated it," he said. ing the triple talaq bill in Rajya Sabha and said Muslim women would continue to face injustice GOVERNMENT ORDERS INQUIRY due to its attitude. The politics of the opposition party has been Jet Airways commander ‘slaps’ female peer, both grounded to support the bill in one House and oppose it in the other, he said. Maha bandh called off after MUMBAI: Jet Airways has grounded when the aircraft was in over the Iran- and the same was “resolved amicably” and "It has become clear that the Congress party two of its senior pilots following a mid- Pakistan airspace and was 2.45 hours away “quickly”. However, the source alleged that is indirectly opposing the triple talaq bill. air brawl on a London-Mumbai flight on from its destination, an airline source said the male pilot who has been working with bringing Mumbai to standstill January 1, in which the male commander on Wednesday. When contacted, a Jet Air- the airline for over a decade had some allegedly slapped his female counterpart. ways spokesperson said there was a “mis- “argument” with the female commander Fewer trains running MPOST BUREAU The incident took place this Monday; understanding” between the cockpit crew over some issues. MPOST in late than flights in fogs MUMBAI/DELHI: After a day of protests, road and rail traffic disrup- PIYUSH GOYAL tion, and sporadic violence, the mas- sive shutdown across Maharashtra called by Dalit groups and parties, was called off. The shutdown generated In today’s tension in Mumbai and some towns and cities across Maharashtra, as the In Mumbai, local trains were paper state marked its third day of simmer- blocked at Ghatkopar, causing delays ... ing tension between Dalits and upper on the Central Harbour lines. Thir- CITY castes, mainly Marathas. In Mumbai, teen buses of the civic transport ser- supporters, allegedly of Dalit parties, vice ‘BEST’ were also damaged. Offices, B.TECH STUDENT MISSING 3 tried to block trains, metro and buses schools and colleges remained open, and forced shops in some areas to shut though school bus operators did not NATION down. Two major roads in Mumbai’s ply buses in the morning as a precau- `6,809-CR ZOJILA TUNNEL PROJECT 5 Bandra were blocked. Coupled with tionary measure. route diversions by the police, it caused Protests were held in Nagpur, Pune EDIT traffic jams in parts of the city. There and Baramati and arson was reported have been students’ protests in Delhi from several areas. There was a total ACCELERATE INNOVATION 8 too. The bandh was called off around shutdown in Baramati, a town near INTERNATIONAL 4.30 pm by Prakash Ambedkar -- the Pune, and Sangli and Miraj, two towns grandson of Dalit icon BR Ambedkar in south Maharashtra. In Nagpur, most IRANIAN GEN DECLARES ‘END OF SEDITION’ 10 -- who had given the strike call on Tues- schools and markets remained shut, day after massive protests in Mumbai. and bus services were disrupted as pro- BUSINESS He said the shutdown, which had the tests were held in sensitive parts of the PAR PANEL FOR DATA PRIVACY LAW 13 support of 250 Dalits groups, had been town. Sporadic violence was reported peaceful. from Aurangabad too. SPORT The state government had taken Thane, a major suburb of Mumbai, immediate measures, deploying nearly saw the clamping of prohibitory orders NO THREAT TO INDIA’S NO.1 STATUS 14 21,000 security personnel to keep that banned large gatherings. Slogan- the peace in Mumbai. Extra troops shouting Dalit activists attempted a FOR ADVERTISING were deployed other towns and cit- rail-blockade but were foiled by secu- ies. Huge groups of protesters, how- rity forces. kindly contact at 9810195709 or ever, descended on Mumbai and other The tension had started on Monday parts to Maharashtra to enforce the when lakhs of Dalits gathered in the vil- [email protected] bandh today. lage of Bhima-Koregaon, about 30 km In the evening, Chief Minister from Pune, to celebrate the 200th anni- FOR SUBSCRIPTION Devendra Fadnavis said an inquiry versary of a battle that saw Dalit sol- kindly contact at 8800854665 would be conducted in the incidents of diers fighting with the British, defeating or violence that took place across Maha- the army of the upper caste Peshwas [email protected] rashtra. “We are monitoring the CCTV or rulers. A 28-year-old Maratha was footage of the violence,” he added. killed in the clashes. THE INCIDENT LED TO OPERATIONS AT THE GOA AIRPORT BEING SUSPENDED MiG 29K combat jet crashes after overshooting runway in Goa, pilot safe

MPOST BUREAU The Navy said the safety services expeditiously doused PANAJI/NEW DELHI: A the fire. MiG 29K combat aircraft of the "The runway at Goa was Indian Navy caught fire after it cleared, and services were veered off the runway at Goa restored expeditiously," it said. airport, the first such incident "When the pilot was tak- involving the Russian-man- ing off, there was some mal- ufactured jet, a senior Navy function in the aircraft which official said. we will have to investigate," The trainee pilot man- Real Admiral Punit K Bahl, aged to eject safely from the Flag Officer Commanding Goa aircraft, which crashed inside Area (FOGA), said. INS Hansa base while it was Due to the malfunction, the trying to take off. said in New Delhi that a Board The pilot aborted take-off dur- aircraft could not take off. The incident led to opera- of Inquiry (BoI) had been ing a training sortie," it said. There were fire and smoke tions at the Goa airport being ordered to investigate the cause During deceleration, the in the aircraft, that was brought suspended from 12.30 pm to of the accident. aircraft veered off the end of under control. about 1.40 pm. "An Indian Navy MiG 29K the runway and caught fire. "This is the first main inci- Goa's Dabolim airport is aircraft operating from Naval The pilot jettisoned the can- dent of the MiG 29K since the located inside the naval base. Air Station at Goa was involved opy and egressed the aircraft time it was inducted," Bahl In a statement, the Navy in an accident on Wednesday. safely, it added. said. ICA-22(7)/2018 2 mp around town MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018 Want a good night’s sleep? WHEN MUSIC MAESTROS CAME TOGETHER TRY SIMPLE

TRICKS Music maestros – Vocalist Pta. Shubhada Paradkar from Aurangabad, Gauri Pathare from Mumbai and Sitarist, Anupama Bhagwat from Bangalore along with Sanjay Budhia, Patron of Dover Lane Music From ‘millenial’ bedtime stories, comfortable Conference at the press meet of 66th Annual Dover Lane Music Conference. mattress to turning upside-down; you won’t fail to catch forty winks the next time you lie down Playing outdoor games could o you wake up in the middle vices that you can use for this purpose. sleep? The best way to ignore of the night and keep staring 4Choose the right mattress: One all these external disturbances at the ceiling thinking of ways main reason for your sleepless nights could during sleep time is to listen to to finally get some rest before be your uncomfortable mattress. The best white noise. White noise is an BOOST YOUR KID’S EYESIGHT theD alarm rings? Are you tired of restless way to address this trouble is to switch to ambient noise produced digitally tossing and turning during sleep time? Do a comfortable mattress that allows you to combining different sounds like you wake up feeling tired in the morning? submerge in deep sleep and wake up in the rustling leaves, rumbling water- WORRIED THAT YOUR kid’s eyesight Try these simple tips to get a perfect good morning without aches and pains. Look fall, etc. White noise works in the might deteriorate because of endless hours night’s sleep. for a mattress that provide complete spine background and drowns out other spent on smart- phones, gaming Here are some sleep-inducing tricks support and are designed keeping ergo- disturbing sounds of traffic, snor- consoles, comput- ers and tab- from experts to try out the next time you nomics in mind. Enjoy the compressed ing, etc. White noise has the abil- lets? Take heart, spending just fail to catch forty winks: relaxation that the memory foam offers, ity to relax you and induce sleep. two hours a day out- 4Listen to bedtime stories, millen- which will make you feel that you have This is especially helpful if you live doors, playing any nial style: Remember those good old days slept for a longer duration of time. in proximity to main roads with sport in the sunlight, when you enjoyed listening to grandma’s 4Block all blue light screens before higher vehicular traffic. might help, experts suggest. bedtime stories? Not only did her narra- bedtime: It’s imperative to create a calm- 4Drink cherry juice: If you’re Myopia – also known as tions transport you to lands of mystery ing ambience in your room to get the best struggling with a sleep disorder, nearsightedness and shortsight- and utopian countries, but they easily quality of sleep. Block all the blue lights then try sipping a glass of cherry edness – is a condition of the eye where drifted you off to the world of slumber as emitted from screens of cell phones, com- juice before you’re off to bed. the light that enters the eye does not directly well. Try the same technique now. Listen puters, tablets, televisions and other gad- According to several studies, focus on the retina, but in front of it. to stories or audio books as you tuck in gets in your bedroom. cherries contain melatonin, a This causes the image that one sees – and let your brain relax for a good night’s 4Listen to white noise: Are the hormone that helps regulate when looking at a distant object – to be out sleep. There are tons of podcasts and ser- sounds of bikes and cars hampering your sleep patterns. of focus. It does not affect focus when look- 4Do a headstand: Turn- ing at a close object. ing the body upside down According to experts, lack of natural is not an easy task. How- light is the key behind the condition. ever, a headstand will supply “The main factor seems to be a lack of enriched oxygenated blood exposure to direct sunlight, because chil- to the brain cells and ward off dren who study a lot and who use comput- all depressive thoughts. This ers or smartphones or tablet computers a lot exercise if done regularly can have less opportunity to run around outside beat any kind of sleep disorder. and are less exposed to sunshine,” Annegret A must try! Dahlmann-Noor, consultant ophthalmolo- 4Place lemons in your gist at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, room: If you are prone to aller- was quoted as saying to BBC Health. gies or suffer from asthma or cold While stopping or limiting screen time and find it difficult to catch good use may be a big task for parents, the best sleep, then simply cut a lemon and thing to do, say the experts, is to get children place it next to your bedside table. playing outside as much as possible. This will not only leave a fresh “We know that myopia or short-sight- citrus scent in your room but edness is becoming more common,” Chris will also help you breathe Hammond, professor at King’s College Lon- better and sleep well. IANS don, was quoted as saying to BBC Health. “Protective of myopia development is time outdoors – sport and leisure outdoors are protective of eyesight,” Hammond said. “Probably on average across the week and the weekend, two hours a day outdoors is protective of becoming short- sighted in children,” he noted. Regular annual eye checks can also help, experts LOST INNOCENCE OF THE CITYSCAPE an exhibition is going to open where more suggested. IANS DAYINDAYOUT A solo exhibition by artist Meena Yadav, this than 400 works of Dhanraj Bhagat’s works series of art works will showcase the present will be displayed on the theme of ‘Journey What’s on Around Town environmental crisis our civilisation is facing. from the Physical to the Spiritual’. Meena uses the colours in her paintings, pas- WHEN: Till February 20 TRANSITION ZONE sionately and sensitively, as if the environment WHERE: National Gallery of Modern Art Exhibition ‘Transition zone’ is a manifesta- colours also have an emotional significance TIMINGS: 11 am – 6:30 pm tion of change, phenomenon and metaphor. for her. The colour patterns in her paintings DASTKARI HAAT At the same time, it is a variety of options are subtle and soft, and is left to imagination Dastkari Haat ​Samiti brings and boundaries, a space of buffering, and of the viewer. The colours here show the inner the 32nd Annual Dastkari Haat Craft Ba- a process that has the same dailyness as the tranquil mind of an artist, and how it wanders zaar where art enthusiasts will get to see a density of the overcrowded city. Dimensional, to create and reflect ones thoughts. mélange of colorful and traditional handi- multidimensional of points, lines, spaces, and WHEN: January 4 – 8 crafts, textiles and classical dance perfor- time, which crosses visibility and non-visibility, WHERE: Indian Habitat Center mances as artistes from India and Israel will but which is neither clear nor an uncommon TIMING: 11 am – 7 pm come together to showcase their cultural issue. legacy​​. WHEN: Till January 18 100 YEARS OF DHANRAJ BHAGAT On the ocassion of 100th birth anniversary of WHEN: Till January 15 WHERE: Dilli Haat WHERE: Korean Cultural Centre India INA TIMING: 11 am – 9 pm TIMINGS: 9 am – 6 pm eminent sculptor Padmashri Dhanraj Bhagat, Sourav launches music album featuring Dona

NANDINI GUHA Dona Ganguly, Pandit Vishwamohan time and has been conceptualized by Speaking about his latest collabo- Bhatt on raga music last week. Pandit GIMA award-winning musician Pan- ration with Dona Ganguly, Mukher- ricket legend Sourav Ganguly Prodyut Mukherjee and Dona Gan- dit Prodyut Mukherjee. jee said, “I wanted to present Indian released ‘Rhythm Express- guly were present at the launch cer- Mukherjee, the winner of the classical music in a different way Music for Dance’, an album by emony. It features Odissi bolbani by GIMA award for his album, MOODS which is fusion. Dona ji Pandit Prodyut Mukherjee, Dona Ganguly in her voice for the first (2016), released his latest musical is by far the best Odissi C venture ‘Rhythm Express–Music For dancer I have Dance’ with Ganguly doing the hon- known. ours at the latter’s residence. Interest- No one ingly, it features Odissi boltan by noted matches Odissi exponent Dona Ganguly who up to her lent her voice for the first time to any level of per- audio project while the melody has been fection when composed by the Grammy-winning it comes to musician Pt Vishwamohan Bhatt. The dancing.” entire concept and direction of this pre- “The idea of sentation has been executed by percus- Rhythm Express is sion maestro Pt Prodyut Mukherjee. It to promote Indian contains four tracks: Within You, With- classical music and out You, Rhythm Express, and Pleasure. reach out to a wider The legendary Pt Bhatt hopes that audience,” said this album shall be as sensational as the Dona Ganguly. “It GIMA award-winning Rhythm Express was a new experi- Moods. The man behind Rhythm ment. We have music Express, Pt Prodyut Mukherjee was across the globe. ing beyond the boundaries of India, in our dance routines, ecstatic for having collaborated with the The album encompasses a vast Rhythm Express offers global musical so we tried and exper- two fabulous performing artists, Dona spectrum of musical genres ranging influences by adapting African, Latin imented with Mukher- (L-R) Pandit Prodyut Mukherjee, Sourav Ganguly, Dona Ganguly at the launch of ‘Rhythm Ganguly and Vishwamohan Bhatt, and from traditional Hindustani classical American, Jazz & Blues and traditional jee’s music,” added the Express – Music For Dance’ album hopes that the album shall create history to South Indian classical notes. Extend- western classical notes. Odissi exponent. Dona Ganguly Although every possible care and caution has been taken to avoid errors or omissions, this publication is being sold on the condition and understanding that information given in this publication is merely for reference and must not be taken as having authority of or binding in any way on the writers, editors, publishers, and printers and sellers who do not owe any responsibility for any damage or loss to any person, a purchaser of this publication or not for the result of any action taken on the basis of this work. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent court and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only.

“MILLENNIUM POST”, Printed & Published by Jaiyendra Kumar Sharma on behalf of Front Row Media Pvt. Ltd. and printed at Aaj Kaal Publishers Pvt. Ltd., BP-7, Sector-V, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata - 700 091 and published from Tivoli Court 1A, Ballygunge Circular Road, Block-A, Flat-94, 1st Floor, Kolkata-700 019. Editor: Durbar Ganguly, Executive Editor: Arya Rudra. Email: [email protected], [email protected]. For marketing, contact: 9836292306, 9830532306. For editorial, call: 9836072100 3 city mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata |Thursday, 4 January, 2018 62-yr-old dies State to construct Centre approves Bengal after parapet wall caves in houses for slum logo designed by Mamata at Parnasree dwellers on Port land OUR CORRESPONDENT OUR CORRESPONDENT vides financial assistance to OUR CORRESPONDENT people having their own plots KOLKATA: A 62-year-old man KOLKATA: The state govern- of land to construct houses KOLKATA: The Centre has approved was killed when a portion of the ment has proposed to construct under “Nijo Bhumi Nijo Griha” the state’s symbol that is going to be parapet wall of an old building houses for slum dwellers in the project. formally introduced by Chief Minister at Parnasree fell on him. He city’s Port area. Later, “Banglar Bari” has Mamata Banerjee on Friday. was taken to Behala Vidyasagar The houses would be built been introduced to construct It may be recalled that Banerjee had Hospital where he was declared under the state government’s multi-storeyed buildings con- unveiled it in May 2017 that was sent to dead. The deceased was identi- “Banglar Bari” project. sidering the scarcity of land in the Centre for its approval. fied as Satya Senapati. It is the policy of the urban areas and one need not Sources said that the symbol was Locals said around 11 am Mamata Banerjee government have their own piece of land to designed by the Chief Minister and was on Wednesday that a portion of to always stand beside the eco- avail the benefits of the scheme. sent to Delhi after being approved by a the parapet wall at 93, Ramak- nomically weaker sections of State Urban Development committee comprising of experts. The rishna Sarani fell on Senapati society and to extend support. Agency (SUDA) will be con- design was placed before a committee, who was standing under it. It may be mentioned that structing the houses by giving headed by eminent artist Jogen Chow- Attracted by a loud noise, there are certain sections in priority to families headed by dhury, which approved it. locals rushed to the spot and the Port area where there are women and financially weaker Moreover, the matter related to found Senapati lying on the many slum dwellers. So a let- sections whose monthly introduction of a completely new sym- road in a pool of blood. He was ter has been written to the Port income is less than Rs 10,000. bol for the state was also being discussed rushed to the hospital where he authorities in this connection. Once the Port authorities in a meeting of the Cabinet and it was was pronounced brought dead. The state government has agree, the state government will unveiled and sent to Delhi for final The conservancy workers introduced “Banglar Bari” proj- take all necessary steps for the approval after the Cabinet’s nod. of the Kolkata Municipal Cor- ect to provide flats to people project as it will be of immense The logo highlighting the “Biswa poration (KMC) cleared the living below poverty line in the help for those living below pov- Bangla” theme with Ashoka Pillars on debris. Senior civic officials municipality areas. erty line. it was sent to the Centre for its approval said the building had not been The decision has been At the same time, different to allow it as a state symbol. repaired for several years and taken to build four-storeyed steps have been taken for beau- Introduction of a state’s symbol the structure itself is over 50 buildings in municipal areas tification of the areas. was conceptualised to give a separate years old. to ensure permanent shelter to With construction of the identity to Bengal as in all government Senior civic officials said people from financially weaker houses there will be no more works and programmes from now on, It may be mentioned that the Chief despite repeated requests, only sections. slum dwellers in the area and the state’s symbol is going to be used. The logo highlighting the ‘Biswa Bangla’ theme Minister herself designs logos for all the few owners of old buildings had It may be recalled that the it will also improve the living The logo will be used, besides the with Ashoka Pillars on it was sent to the Centre projects that have been taken up so far got the health of their houses state government also pro- standard of those people. national emblem as a symbol of the by different departments of her govern- examined by structural engi- state, in all documents as well. for its approval to allow it as a state symbol ment. Not only designing of logos but neers. Some had also agreed to This is for the first time when such the Chief Minister also gives names to pull down the old structures to Chairman, Vice-Chairman for a step has been taken by the state gov- when it will formally introduce the sym- programme when it will be introduced. the respective projects. Worth men- make room for new ones with ernment to have a symbol for Bengal. bol by the Chief Minister, who was on Sources said that the information tioning are logos for projects including proper rehabilitation of tenants. Now, with the approval given by the a tour in Birbhum district on Wednes- related to the Centre’s approval to the Gatidhara, Sabuj Sathi, Kanyashree, and The owners of two houses on Darjeeling civic body named Centre, the Bengal government is plan- day. All senior officials of the state gov- symbol that was being designed by the the like along with the names that were College Street have approached ning a major programme on Friday ernment would also be present in the Chief Minister came on Wednesday. also being given by her. the KMC and got plans for the DARJEELING: The Binay Tamang-Anit Thapa faction of the new buildings cleared as well. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) announced the names of the The officials said the only way Chairman and Vice-Chairman for the Darjeeling Municipality the city can be saved is to pull on Wednesday. Incidentally with the GJM winning the elections 24-yr-old B.Tech student missing since Dec 31 down the old dilapidated struc- in the Darjeeling municipality, D K Pradhan, a central commit- tures and make new buildings. tee member of the GJM had been sworn in as the Chairman and OUR CORRESPONDENT Deep went to his friend Sanjay when he arrived at Sanjay’s Twenty five people died and Ram Jung Golay as the Vice-Chairman. Burman’s house. house that night. The police said the youth, Deep Barik, several were injured when por- D K Pradhan, Chairman of the Darjeeling municipality had KOLKATA: A 24-year-old It was around 11.30 pm The investigating officers is a resident of Dakshineswar area. tions of old dilapidated build- been arrested from Gurugram along with two others on Septem- engineer went missing after on the same day, when he last are trying to ascertain whether His family has lodged a complaint ings fell on them in the city in ber 22 in connection with the clashes between the police and GJM he went to attend a New Year’s called his mother. Deep, who Deep had left Sanjay’s house 2017. Two persons were injured supporters on June 8 which had left many injured on both sides. party at one of his friend’s is a B. Tech engineer prepar- alone or with someone. with Belgharia police station in this critically when portions of a Pradhan, at present, is in judicial custody. Ram Jung Golay, Vice- houses at Dunlop in the out- ing for various exams for gov- The police also found out connection. Investigating officers spoke century-old building on B B Chairman, had also resigned. The GJM also faced a vertical split. skirts of North Kolkata. ernment jobs, told his mother that on December 31 morning, Ganguly Street fell on them on “The GJM has decided that Pavitra Rai, Councillor of Ward 23 The police said the youth, over phone that he was unwell Deep went to Chandernagore to Deep’s family and deduced that December 29, 2017. On Octo- will take charge as Chairperson and Sagar Tamang, Councillor Deep Barik, is a resident of and would leave Sanjay’s house with his cousin. he had left home at around 8.30 pm ber 23, two were injured when of Ward 25 as Vice-Chairman. We will now inform the govern- Dakshineswar area. His fam- within the next 10-20 minutes Now, the police are trying the roof of an old building col- ment. Legally for the two to take charge it will take a few days,” ily has lodged a complaint with to return home. to ascertain the identity of the on December 31, saying that he was lapsed on Brabourne Road. stated Anit Thapa, GJM leader. GJM central committee leader Belgharia police station in this Accordingly, he left Sanjay’s person whom he went to meet. going to the house of a friend who On September 5, four persons Jyoti Rai has been given charge to initiate legal steps in this direc- connection. house within 10 to 15 minutes They came to know that he were injured when the first floor tion. There were 27 Councillors in the meeting on Wednesday. Investigating officers spoke but didn’t return home and is went to Bally Station and took lives at Dunlop balcony of an old building on “D K Pradhan has to come out on parole to initiate the process. to Deep’s family and deduced still missing. a train to Chandernagore. He Shibtala Lane in Burrabazar This is because at present both the chairs of Chairman and Vice- that he had left home at around His family members alleged used the same route to return several of his friends but no whether he went to their houses fell on them. Senior civic offi- Chairman are vacant. The Chairman or Vice-Chairman needs to 8.30 pm on December 31, say- that his friends had forced him home and at night, he went one has managed to pro- but have failed to receive any cials said the KMC had issued call a special meeting,” stated Rai. As per administrative sources, ing that he was going to the to consume alcohol. However, to attend the party at Sanjay’s vide any leads regarding his positive information. They are notices asking the residents to once D K Pradhan is released on parole he can call a special meet- house of a friend who lives at his friends turned down all residence. whereabouts. also trying to contact some vacate the buildings but con- ing in which a vote of no confidence can be moved. The other Dunlop. allegations and claimed that The police have initiated The cops have also ques- of the organisations that he tinued to stay in them risking alternative is that Pradhan can also tender his resignation from The probe disclosed that Deep was already inebriated a search and also questioned tioned his relatives to know visited. their lives. Chairmanship. MPOST TMC drops Chowdhury, Charuchandra College to reopen today HAIR-RAISING Sabitri Mitra from all committees for infighting after intervention from Education minister OUR CORRESPONDENT this regard was also put up. told reporters that the decision to OUR CORRESPONDENT Chatterjee, however, expressed shut down the college was taken as KOLKATA: Charuchandra Col- his unhappiness over the way the the atmosphere was not conducive KOLKATA: Krishnendu Narayan Chowdhury and lege will reopen on Thursday after college was shut down. He said that to continue the normal functioning Sabitri Mitra, two veteran Trinamool Congress lead- declaring an indefinite shutdown in the decision to close the college can- of the institution. ers have been dropped from all the committees of the morning hours on Wednesday. not be supported. The minister also According to a senior official of the Malda district unit of the party on Thursday. The shutdown was withdrawn asked the governing body of the col- the college, some students staged The new committee was announced in pres- after state Education minister Partha lege and his department officials to protest against the removal of a secu- ence of state Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari. Chatterjee said he neither favoured take prompt action so that the col- rity guard, recruited by a private Political experts said the removal of the duo the gherao of the principal by stu- lege could reopen at the earliest. agency on which the college had no from all the dents nor the subsequent decision “The college authorities or the control. It was alleged that the stu- When contacted, committees of of the college management to go for principal have no power to close the dents abused the teachers and non- Sabitri Mitra said: the party before indefinite closure of the institution. institution for an indefinite period. I teaching staff, despite the college the ensuing Pan- College authorities closed the have asked the officials of the depart- authorities appealing to the protes- ‘It is the decision of chayat election is college on Wednesday morning say- ment and also college governing tors that they hardly had any control the party and it is significant. ing that the situation was not con- body to take steps so that it can be on such recruitments. Both Mitra ducive for holding classes in after reopened. The attempt to meet the The students allegedly refused final. I am a worker and Chowdhury the principal had remained gher- demands by suspending classes can- to lift the gherao of the principal. of the party and had joined the aoed by college union students for not be supported,” Chatterjee said. A teacher and a non-teaching staff Trinamool from nearly eight hours on Tuesday. The It was learnt that the higher were allegedly manhandled when will accept it’ the Congress and main gate of the college remained education department, prodded by they tried to pacify the students. Mitra was a close shut and a notice was put up on the Education minister had sum- Hence, the teaching and non-teach- aide of ABA Ghani Khan Chowdhury. Both were the notice board. However, it was moned the principal of the college ing staff unanimously decided to Cabinet ministers in the first Trinamool govern- removed by the college authorities to the higher education department continue cease work unless the sit- ment (2011-16). In 2016 Assembly election, they later on Wednesday after receiving in this regard. uation improved. A spokesperson lost despite Trinamool’s great success. The reason for instructions from the higher educa- It may be mentioned here that a of the students’ union, however, their defeat was infighting. Despite party supremo tion department. section of the students staged agi- claimed that the students only pro- Mamata Banerjee’s strict instructions, they went Earlier in the day, the college tation at the principal’s room and tested against the “unfair” removal ahead with infighting affecting the party’s rank and authorities claimed that teachers gheraoed the teaching and non- of the security guard. When the stu- file. When contacted, Sabitri Mitra said: “It is the and non-teaching staff unanimously teaching staff for nearly eight hours dents went to the chamber, the prin- A sadhu (holy man) takes bath in River Ganga at Babughat transit camp in Kolkata on Wednesday decision of the party and it is final. I am a worker decided to continue cease work till from Tuesday morning. Principal of cipal had been extremely rude with morning, on the way to Sagar Island to attend the upcoming Ganga Sagar Mela PTI of the party and will accept the decision.” the situation improves. A notice in the college S Ghosh on Wednesday them in his behaviour. Wing from AJC Bose Rd flyover up to Gariahat to ease traffic Master plan for arsenic free water in state OUR CORRESPONDENT Sources said the wing from the AJC Bose Road KOLKATA: The Bengal government has drawn up KOLKATA: Soon the journey from Park flyover will be passing through Syed Amir Ali Avenue a master plan for providing arsenic free water to Circus to Gariahat is going to be completely all the affected areas but the people need to be free from traffic congestion. The reason — via Ballygunge Phanri up to Besco Residency. Hence a wing from AJC Bose Flyover up to Garia- with its completion, a vehicle need not take the sensitised on the issue, experts said at a discus- hat is going to be constructed. sion on dwindling freshwater resources. At present one needs to get down at existing congested road from Park Circus to reach The plan has been drawn up in consultation with Park Circus if he takes the Maa flyover Gariahat and instead it can take the proposed wing the Arsenic Task Force, they said. President of while returning from EM Bypass side. But the Institute of Public Health Engineers K J Nath a step has been taken so that vehicles plying Sources said that the wing from the tivity with the AJC Bose Road flyover for on Maa flyover need not get down at Park AJC Bose Road flyover will be passing vehicles heading towards EM Bypass has said at the discussion that most advanced and Circus Seven Point Crossing. A new wing through Syed Amir Ali Avenue via Bal- been of immense help to reduce the severe latest technologies have been used in the arsenic will be constructed to connect Maa flyover lygunge Phanri up to Besco Residency. pressure of vehicular traffic on Park Circus removal units attached to approximately 400 and AJC Bose Road flyover so that vehicles Hence with the completion of the wing, a Five Point Crossing. Now, with the con- tubewells installed by the state government as can directly take the AJC Bose Road flyover vehicle need not take the existing congested struction of the wing that will also ensure a part of the master plan. But many of these instead of getting down at Park Circus while road from Park Circus to reach Gariahat direct connection between the Maa flyover coming from EM Bypass. and instead take the proposed wing of the and the AJC Bose Road flyover for vehicles tubewells have various kinds of operational The point where the wing from Maa fly- flyover, taking minimum time to reach his coming from EM Bypass will further reduce problems like damage to mega piped water over will connect AJC Bose Road flyover is destination. The 2-km long wing will also the pressure on the intersection. At pres- schemes fed from arsenic free surface water considered to be quite crucial as the wing ensure the reduction in traffic congestion. ent, one needs to travel on Syed Amir Ali sources (mostly the Hooghly river) by miscreants that will connect the flyover with Gariahat It may be mentioned that the construction Avenue to reach Gariahat, coming across will also start from there. of the Maa flyover and its direct connec- several traffic signals, leading to loss of time. who cut pipe lines and steal valves. AGENCIES 4 city mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018 Sleaze racket Kolkatans feel the chill as busted in Hooghly OUR CORRESPONDENT Local residents KOLKATA: Police busted had been alerted mercury dips to 14 degrees a sleaze racket at Hindmo- tor in Hooghly and arrested by suspicious OUR CORRESPONDENT three persons on Wednesday activity in a rented The temperature could for their involvement in the KOLKATA: The mercury dropped drop further in the racket that had been running room in a house to 14 degree Celsius in Kolkata on in a rented house. in Hindmotor Wednesday under the impact of the next 48 hours Police said that around two chilly North-Westerly wind. months ago, one Bapi Saha had According to the regional meteo- South Bengal districts,” a weather offi- taken a room in the ground Policemen from the local rological department at Alipore, the cer said. The city dwellers on Wednes- floor of a three-storeyed house police station rushed to the temperature could drop further in day enjoyed the chilly winter morning on rent. The youth had taken spot. But two had managed to the next 48 hours. The temperature in with many of them visiting various the room on rent saying that flee when the police reached. the city stood at 15 degree Celsius on places of interest in Kolkata, still soak- some work related to PAN card Three were arrested on charges Tuesday, which is two degrees above ing in the spirit of New Year celebra- will take place there. of running a sleaze racket. normal. tion. The Met department has also Every day, around 10 peo- Police took statements of Though the drop in temperature forecast that the minimum temper- ple including some youths and local people and they said that was marginal, the people felt the day ature in the city may drop below 13 women used to visit the place such activities had been going being cooler than the day’s tempera- degree Celsius within the next few and they used to stay there till on in the place for the past two ture, which was hovering around 14 days. According to an official of the late in the night. Such activi- months. Local residents also degree Celsius. Alipore Met office, there was a delay ties led to the suspicion of local gave the description of a person An officer of Alipore weather office in winter finally setting in, due to the people. They had been keeping who used to supply food and said that the North-Westerly wind has Western Disturbance that interrupted a close watch on them for the alcohol at the place every day. started pulling the mercury down. the flow of the North-Westerly wind, past few days. The police initiated a search Though the drop in temperature in bringing the winter chill to South Ben- On Wednesday morning, for the youth who used to sup- the city was not a substantial one, the gal districts. some of the local residents ply food, considering that he chilly wind made it feel cooler than Various places in North Bengal raided the house and broke was also involved with the 14 degrees. remained under fog, especially early in open the door that was locked racket. Police suspect that the “It may continue to get chillier as the morning, leading to disruption in from inside. same youth also used to bring the mercury will be going down by services. Many trains ran behind their There were around five new people to the place. a few notches in the next two days. schedule. According to sources, most people inside the house and all They also initiated a search The lowest temperature may touch of the North Bengal bound trains were were caught red-handed. Some for two of the accused who had 13 degree Celsius as the chilly winter running late due to fog in Siliguri, of the local residents contacted managed to flee from the house wind will continue to sweep through Alipurduar and several other parts of Uttarpara police station and before the police reached the the city as well as several parts of Boys play cricket in Maidan on a foggy morning in Kolkata on Wednesday PTI North Bengal. informed the police. spot. Father-son duo crushed ER GM holds CAUGHT IN THE ACT INTO THE HORIZON performance Woman nabbed while under loaded matador review meet OUR CORRESPONDENT trafficking infant The father, a daily KOLKATA: Harindra Rao, KOLKATA: A father and his wage labourer, General Manager, Eastern Rail- OUR CORRESPONDENT in the next station and handed 11-year-old son were killed in way, held a high level meeting over the woman along with the a tragic road accident that took was travelling with all the Principal heads KOLKATA: A woman was baby to the police after they place at Maheshtala in South with his 11-year- of Departments (PHODs) on detained on suspicion that arrived at the spot. 24-Parganas on Wednesday Wednesday to review the per- she was attempting to traffic Sources said that the morning. old son in a brick- formance of Eastern Railway in a five-month-old baby. She woman told police that she is The victims have been loaded matador terms of safety, security, punc- was caught red-handed while the baby’s grandmother. How- identified as Rahamat Ali (55) tuality, loading, on-going proj- travelling in down Sealdah- ever, the police didn’t let her and his son Seikh Sanaullah ects, etc. during the month of Canning Local on Wednesday go and started a probe into the (11). The father, a daily wage ditch. December, 2017. morning. incident to ascertain whether labourer, was travelling in a The two victims were It emerged during the dis- Police said that the woman the woman was really the baby’s matador along with his son, trapped under the vehicle while cussion, that in compliance to had boarded the train at Cham- grandmother or a member of who was supposed to unload the other two sustained injuries the instruction issued by Gen- pahati railway station. She was any child trafficking racket. the bricks the vehicle was on various parts of their bodies. eral Manager, utmost impor- carrying the baby on her lap It may be mentioned that a carrying. Some of the local residents tance was accorded to the and it was covered with pieces series of incidents of child lift- Police said that the victims rushed to the spot and tried to safety aspects in Eastern Rail- of cloth. ing and trafficking have taken were crushed under the loaded remove the trapped ones from way. Accordingly, all the ‘gate- The baby had started to cry place in certain parts of South vehicle after it overturned. under the vehicle. men’ and ‘patrolmen’ of Eastern since the woman had boarded 24-Parganas district in recent According to police, the Police later reached the spot Railway were counselled thor- the train and had been contin- times and it has made the peo- bricks were loaded into the and removed the victims, who oughly to ensure safety in train uously crying for around 15 to ple of the area cautious. vehicle from the Birlapur area were declared brought dead at movement. 20 minutes. Thus nowadays they take of South 24-Parganas. Apart a nearby hospital. The bodies Moreover, 17 night inspec- The woman had failed to immediate action and inform from the victims, there were have been sent for postmortem tions were undertaken by make the baby quiet, despite the police in case they find two other labourers in the vehi- examination. senior officers of Eastern Rail- trying a lot and it had led to the anyone moving around a place cle, whose job was to unload The two other injured per- way. Consequently, not a single suspicion of other passengers. suspiciously. the vehicle at Chattaraipur in sons were undergoing treat- untoward incident took place They asked the woman several The Criminal Investigation the same district. ment at the hospital. Police in Eastern Railway during the questions, but were not satis- Department (CID) had busted On the way, the vehicle was have started a specific case in preceding month. The GM fied with the answers given by a major child trafficking racket passing through a narrow road. this regard and arrested the instructed all the Divisional the woman. a few months ago and some As the vehicle was loaded, it driver of the vehicle on the Railway Managers to take all Following this, the suspi- people from South 24-Parga- lost balance suddenly, over- charges of negligence. A probe possible steps to improve the cious passengers called the nas were also arrested for their People row boats on a lake in Kolkata on Wednesday morning PIC/PTI turned and fell into a roadside has been initiated. level of punctuality of ER. MPOST police when the train stopped involvement in it. millenniumpost.in Docs, medical staff in tizzy AirAsia to hold travel fair in city KOLKATA: AirAsia on Wednesday announced the launch of an exciting travel fair in Kolkata. The is now available in everypart of Bengal over leave permit mandate fair, organised to promote tourism in India, will SL DISTRICT Centre Name Agent Name Contact No OUR CORRESPONDENT from the health secretary, 30 family suddenly falls ill. offer interesting deals and offers to the visitors. NO NAME days prior to the day the leave A section of doctors said Guests can avail a discount of up to 20 per cent KOLKATA: A government starts. that the new order has trig- 1 East Midnapore TAMLUK N.C.Bera 7501493175 on their flight tickets on bookings made between order issued by the state In case of someone taking gered confusion among them January 4 and January 7 for travel between HALDIA Ayesha 9474306356 Health department, saying a leave for less than 15 days, as it does not give a clear idea January 15 and July 31. This discount is appli- Begum,Ranichak that the doctors and non- they will not be required to on what an applicant would do cable on all flights operated by AirAsia’s Group DIGHA Kamal Lochan Panda 8906868884 medical staff have to take prior take permission from the if he or she requires an urgent permission from the princi- health secretary, as the depart- leave for more than 15 days. network, including those of AirAsia India, AirAsia 2 West Midnapore MIDNAPORE Balaram Pandit 9932708271 pal secretary of the depart- mental head or the head of They had also claimed earlier Berhad, Thai AirAsia and AirAsia X. Guests can 3 Jhargram JHARGRAM Champa Maity 9547230220 ment before going on a leave the institution can clear their that there was a rule under avail the offer on domestic routes and fly to 4 North 24 - Parganas BARASAT/NILGUNJ B N Kundu 9836333630 for more than 15 days at a leaves. The leave application which the doctors had to seek stretch, has triggered confu- can be submitted online. permission from the health Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, New Delhi, BARRACKPORE Biswajit Ghosh 9830830798 sion among the doctors and Many of the doctors, secretary only in case of a leave Jaipur, and many more destinations. For inter- BASIRHAT Uttam Biswas 9474574927 health workers. nurses and non-medical staff of 59 days at a stretch. national travel, guests can plan interesting desti- 5 Bardhaman BURDWAN Kamal Mukherjee 9332192230 The order says that if the have questioned how can they The Health department nations such as Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Johor 6 West Bardhman ASANSOL Hiralal Sen 9933662126 doctors, nurses or any non- submit their leave application has, however, termed it to be a medical staff need to take a 30 days prior to the first day of great move for providing bet- Bahru, Phuket, Singapore, Bali, Melbourne and DURGAPUR WARIA Joy prakash Ray 9563601176 / leave for 15 days or more, leave in case of emergencies, ter healthcare services to the much more. MPOST 7864818860 they have to seek permission where someone from their patients at various hospitals. NIRSHA Gopal Chatterjee 9386695330 BARAKAR Jai Bhagwan Singh 9334652173 7 Murshidabad BAHARAMPUR COURT Dipak Choudhury 9851612424 CSPCA Animal Hospital coming up with AC 8 Nadia KALYANI / Dey News Agency 9830609355 KANCHRAPARA 9 Howrah HOWRAH CENTRE Manik Lal Bag 9883393201 ‘holiday homes’ for our canine companions /9732243933 10 Purulia PURULIA D.C.Nag 9434130550 OUR CORRESPONDENT is completely a new initiative where 11 Jalpaiguri SILIGURI Toton Saha 9832046238 the pets will also get medical atten- KOLKATA: In a unique initiative, tion during their short stay here in the 12 Hooghly CHINSURAH / CHAN- B.Singh 9883108806 CSPCA Animal Hospital on B B Gan- kennels,” an official of CSPCA Animal DAN NAGAR guly Street is planning to set up air- Hospital said. 13 Birbhum SHANTINIKETAN Anita Shaw 9232162151 conditioned kennels inside the hospital According to Sil, there will be both 14 Darjeeling DARJEELING Bitta Newspaper 9434131515 premises. vegetarian and non-vegetarian food Agency According to an official of the hos- available for the dogs. They will be pital, it can serve as a ‘holiday home’ for provided food three times a day. Dogs 15 Cooch Behar COOCH BEHAR Jayanta Das 9434217084 dogs, who can be kept here for many would also be provided with medical 16 Alipurduar ALIPURDUAR Bablu Saha 9733166169 days. The initiative will cater to a sec- attention. The doctors will also exam- 17 Kalimpong KALIMPONG Sandeep Jain 9832016738 tion of people who often go to other ine the health condition of the dogs. states and abroad with no one to look As per the plans, around 10 dogs 18 Uttar Dinajpur RAIGUNJ Pradyut Karmakar 9434384154 after their pets back home. can be accommodated in the kennels 19 Dakshin Dinajpur BALURGHAT Sujan das 8670582892 This is completely a new initia- initially. There will be non-air-con- 20 Malda MALDA TOWN Ashim Kr.Sarkar 7797919580 tive where the pets will be kept in AC ditioned kennels for the dogs as well. Others District List accommodation, claimed the official. Those who will keep their pets at the People in the city often face difficul- non AC kennels will have to pay Rs 21 Jharkhand RANCHI Birendra Nath Singh 9431929279 / ties with their pets in deciding where 2,000. In case of AC kennels people 8409298763 to keep them while going outside the have to pay Rs 5,000. TATA NAGAR Surender Singh 9835170495 country. cannot always travel with their pets due some definite obligations for keeping People can keep their pets for a DHANBAD S.K.Pandey 8409984151 These people will find a perma- to some obligations. their pets away from them, can keep month also. The dogs will be given nent shelter for their dogs once the Samir Sil, medical superintendent their dogs in the AC kennels, which will special care including the free health 22 Bihar PATNA Nandalal Yadav 7765012713 AC kennels are ready for operation. It of the hospital, said that those who are be constructed at the hospital. checkup during their stay at the will prove to be beneficial for those who planning to go outside the state with “There are crèches for dogs but this kennels. 5 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018 mp nation Narcotics Bureau gets 14,400 bunkers to be constructed new chief Govt tables amended for border dwellers in Jammu OUR CORRESPONDENT OUR CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: IPS offi- cer Abhay has taken charge OBC bill in Lok Sabha JAMMU: The Centre has given as the new chief of the OUR CORRESPONDENT sanction for construction of of the Narcotics Control over 14,400 underground bun- Bureau (NCB), officials on NEW DELHI: The govern- kers at a cost of Rs 415.73 crore Wednesday said. ment on Wednesday tabled in for safety of people living along The 1986-batch police offi- the Lok Sabha the crucial OBC the LoC and the International cer of Odisha cadre took charge bill, proposing to negate the border in Jammu division. as the Director General (DG) at amendments proposed by the Chief Minister Mehbooba the NCB headquarters in Delhi Rajya Sabha in the last session, Mufti, who is minister-in- on Tuesday, they said. with the ruling BJP asserting charge (Home), said this in a Abhay, who goes by a sin- that it underscored the gov- written reply in the Assembly. gle name, was till now working ernment’s commitment to She said the Union home in the Central Reserve Police empower backward classes. ministry gave sanction for con- Force (CRPF) as Additional The bill, which proposes struction of bunkers in Decem- DG (Training). constitutional status for the ber last year and steps have and third priority (two to three Department (CPWD) and He has had a seven-year OBC commission, carries most been initiated to fulfil various kilometres), the chief minister National Buildings Construc- stint with the CBI in the past of the provisions it had in its conditions before taking up the said. She said the Centre has tion Corporation (NBCC) be apart from heading the crime original version passed by the construction work. also said that the project would engaged, Mehbooba said. branch and special branch of Lok Sabha before the opposi- The Union ministry has be funded on reimbursement In response to another part the Odisha Police. tion got amendments passed asked the government to spec- basis through security-related of the question about clearance The Appointments Com- in the Upper House in the last ify building norms for all areas expenditure (rehabilitation and of liabilities on account of pre- mittee of the Cabinet, headed session. up to five kilometre from the relief) as it relates to relief and vious constructed bunkers, by the Prime Minister, had However, the discussion border and priority be given rehabilitation of individuals the chief minister said there recently approved his appoint- on the Constitution (123rd to bunkers which are nearest to besides it must be ensured the is no pending liability on this ment to the post till November Amendment) Bill 2017 had A view of the Rajya Sabha in New Delhi on Wednesday PTI the existing Border Out Posts. work has not been funded by account. 18, 2019, which is his sched- an abrupt end due to heated The other conditions any other source or scheme of “As reported by divisional uled stint in central deputation. exchanges between union min- He claimed that despite a included that every bunker the government. commissioner, Jammu, against The post of the NCB DG ister Giriraj Singh and TMC The bill, which proposes constitutional quota for OBCs, many govern- should be within three kilo- The Centre has also the approved outlay of Rs three was lying vacant since April member Kalyan Banerjee, status for the OBC commission, ment institutions were not exe- metre from the border and first demanded that the work would crore for construction of 60 last year when the incumbent which led Speaker Sumitra cuting it and gave the example line of sight from the IB and be executed as per norms, due bunkers in Jammu district, the R R Bhatnagar was appointed Mahajan to adjourn the House carries most of the provisions it had of AIIMS in Patna. In many the LoC first priority (zero to procedure be followed during project has been completed and as the CRPF DG. till tomorrow. in its original version passed by the places, OBC candidates who one kilometre), second pri- execution and central agency an amount of Rs 2.945 crore Special Secretary in the Singh objected to Baner- Lok Sabha before the opposition got qualify on the basis of their ority (one to two kilometres) like Central Public Works stands spent, she said. home ministry Rina Mitra was jee’s accusation that the BJP of merit are put in the reserved handling the additional charge not taking the views of other amendments passed in the Upper category. PM pays tributes of NCB DG since then. parties on the matter and sug- House in the last session Singh also sought removal Cabinet nod to India, UK pact The NCB, under the com- gested that the OBCs had of creamy layer, which bars mand of the Union Home Min- opposed it in the Gujarat polls. those members of backward to Savitribai Phule istry, is the apex coordinating A BJP member accused in the original bill passed by proposing to restore the clause. classes whose family income is to improve public transport and enforcement agency in the Banerjee of giving wrong infor- the Lok Sabha in the Monsoon Rajiv Satav (Congress) above a stipulated limit, in res- OUR CORRESPONDENT country against drug crimes mation while Singh alleged Session. said there should be a separate ervation. Instead, if somebody OUR CORRESPONDENT and Highways and ‘Transport and for countering drugs abuse. that the TMC member had Gehlot said opposition ministry to deal with issues has benefitted from reservation NEW DELHI: Prime Minister for London’, a statutory body called him names. Rejecting parties in the Rajya Sabha involving OBCs, which make once, should not get its benefit Narendra Modi on Wednesday NEW DELHI: The govern- established under the Greater the charge, Banerjee said the had demanded that the Act up for over 52 per cent of pop- again, he said. paid homage to social reformer ment on Wednesday approved London Authority Act, 1999 I-T officer held opposition was being threat- should make provisions for a ulation, and demanded that Banerjee hit out at the BJP, Savitribai Phule on her birth a Memorandum of Under- (UK) to improve public trans- ened, following which a din woman and a member from there should be more than five saying it should not claim that anniversary, saying the govern- standing (MoU) between India port in India,” an official state- taking `1L bribe erupted in the House leading minority communities in the members in the commission it was the party which gave all ment is working tirelessly to and London’s transportation ment said. to its adjournment. commission. to make it more representative. benefits to OBCs and accused fulfil her vision of empowering authority to improve public It will go a long way in OUR CORRESPONDENT Earlier, Social Justice He said he had agreed to The government should its members of making election the marginalised. transport in the country. strengthening ties and promot- and Empowerment Minister make provision for including adopt good suggestions given speeches. Savitribai Jyotirao Phule The MoU is aimed at ing bilateral relations between MUMBAI: The CentralThaawarchand Gehlot tabled a woman in the commission by the opposition parties, he He, however, welcomed the was a social reformer and poet. improving the overall public India and the United Kingdom, Bureau of Investigation has the bill which, he said, seeks to in the rules, which will guide said. new provision that requires the She worked to abolish discrim- transport system, improve pas- the statement by the Ministry arrested an Income Tax officer reject the amendments inserted its functioning, but there was Ganesh Singh (BJP) said the commission to give its report ination and unfair treatment senger services and promote of Road Transport and High- for accepting a bribe of Rs 1 in the original bill by the Rajya no need for a quota for minor- government has proved that it to the state government con- of people based on caste and the use of high capacity buses ways said. lakh from one woman here on Sabha. ity communities as a Minor- was for empowering the OBCs cerned and not to the Gover- gender. “Bow to the great Sav- in India. It said the MoU will help in Wednesday. The bill also says that the ity Commission already exists. and the bill underscored this nor, saying “good sense” has itribai Phule on her Jayanti. “The Union Cabinetstrengthening the integrated An official of the pre- proposed National Commis- The opposition then moved commitment. He asked Gehlot prevailed. Hers was a life devoted to the chaired by the Prime Minister public transport for all. mier investigating agency sion for Backward Classes will an amendment to delete the to make the census data public The discussion on the leg- empowerment of the poor and Narendra Modi has approved This will help people from said the accused had allegedly give its report concerning a Clause 3, which dealt with its so that population of different islation remained inconclusive marginalised. She gave utmost the signing and implemen- poorer strata of the society to demanded a bribe for comple- state to the state government composition, and it was car- OBC communities could be as the House was adjourned importance to education and tation of the MoU between have access to a quality public tion of assessment of income of and not to the Governor as said ried by the Rajya Sabha, he said, known. for the day. social reform,” Modi tweeted. Ministry of Road Transport transport system, it added. the complainant’s sister for the financial year of 2009-10. The officer said the ITO allegedly asked the complain- 19 killed, 18 injured in two separate Hardeep Puri files nomination for RS seat ant and his sister to come at his office on December 29 OUR CORRESPONDENT His election is all but cer- Narendra Modi and party pres- with regard to the assessment road accidents in Rajasthan tain in view of the BJP’s massive ident Amit Shah for making me of her income tax where he LUCKNOW: Union min- strength in the 403-member minister and now giving me a handed over the assessment OUR CORRESPONDENT to overtake another bus when ically, were referred to a hospi- ister Hardeep Singh Puri on UP Assembly. Puri was accom- chance to represent the state in order and demanded Rs 1.25 it collided with a speeding tal in Jaipur, they said. Wednesday filed his nomina- panied by Chief Minister Yogi the RS as a BJP member,” Puri lakh for favours shown to her SIKAR/JAIPUR: At least 19 truck coming from the oppo- Sikar collector Naresh tion as a BJP candidate for the Adityanath and BJP state chief said. An IFS officer of the 1974 in the order. people, including four women site direction, the police said. Kumar Thakral, Superinten- by-election to a Rajya Sabha Mahendra Nath Pandey. batch, Puri has served as India’s After negotiation, the and two children, were killed The victims were taken to dent of Police Vinit Kumar and seat in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking to reporters, permanent representative to accused agreed to accept Rs 1 and 18 others injured in two a nearby hospital in Fatehpur other officers reached the spot. The seat fell vacant follow- Adtiyanath said, “Hardeep the United Nations. The Elec- lakh. CBI laid a trap and caught separate road accidents in Raj- where 11 people, including a In another incident, eight ing the resignation of Manohar Singh Puri is an able person tion Commission announced the accused while accepting the asthan, police said on Wednes- woman, were declared brought people were killed and six oth- Parrikar, who quit as defence and has a long administrative the elections last Friday. The bribe of the money. day. Eleven people were killed dead, they said. ers injured when their tempo minister after he became the experience”. last date for filing nominations The sleuths of the agency on Wednesday and 12 others Eight of the deceased collided with a truck in Ren- Goa chief minister. His term housing and urban develop- Puri said that he had come for the election is January 5. conducted search at the office injured when a Rajasthan Pub- have been identified as Bar- wal area in Jaipur district on was to end on November 25, ment ministry. to know about his candida- The nominations will be and residential premises lic Transport service (RPTS) kat Ali, Mani Ram, Sirajuddin, Tuesday night, the police said. 2020. But since he was not a ture during the chief minister’s scrutinised the next day while of the accused in Mumbai. bus collided head-on with a Noparam, Rajendra, Gopi- The victims were return- A career diplomat-turned- Member of Parliament, he has recent Noida visit and added parties can withdraw names of The accused will be produced truck on National Highway ram, Shakeel and Surendra, ing home in Chomu town after politician, 65-year-old Puri was to enter either the Lok Sabha or that he would be happy to rep- their candidates by January 8. before a court on Thursday, the 11, they said. the police said. attending a wedding function, sworn in as a minister in Sep- Rajya Sabha within the stipu- resent UP in the Rajya Sabha. Polling and counting of votes official said. The bus driver was trying Of the 12 injured, three crit- they said. tember and was allocated the lated six months of taking oath. “I thank Prime Minister will take place on January 16. 11 lakh sr citizens Cabinet approves Rs 6,809-cr gave up ticket UP cinema halls to show Kumbh subsidy between Zojila tunnel project in J-K July-Nov: Rlys logo before screening movies OUR CORRESPONDENT completion, it will lead to enor- OUR CORRESPONDENT mous boost in employment as OUR CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: The govern- local businesses get linked to LUCKNOW: Cinema halls in ment on Wednesday approved National market and the beau- NEW DELHI: Over eleven Uttar Pradesh will soon dis- the Rs 6,809-crore strategic tiful region is able to receive lakh senior citizens gave up play the newly-unveiled logo Zojila pass tunnel project in round the year tourist traffic. their fare concession between for Kumbh Mela, right after the Jammu and Kashmir to pro- IL&FS Transportation last July 22 and November 30 last national anthem is played, to vide all-weather connectiv- year in July had said it has year, the government said on make youths understand the ity between Srinagar, Kargil emerged as the lowest bidder Wednesday. importance of the religious fes- and Leh, which remains cut- for Rs 4,899 crore Zojila pass In a written reply in Lok tival, a senior official said here off from the rest of the world tunnel in Jammu and Kashmir. Sabha, Minister of State for on Wednesday. during winters due to heavy “We wish to inform that Railways Rajen Gohain said The new logo shows a group snowfall. the company has emerged as while the option for giving of sadhus taking a holy dip at Zojila pass is situated at the lowest bidder for the afore- up 100 per cent concession the Sangam in Allahabad in The chief minister recently the Mela in all correspondence. an altitude of 11,578 feet on and socio-cultural integration The project will be imple- said (Zojila tunnel) project. in passenger fare for senior the backdrop of temples and interacted with seers of the Nearly Rs 2,500 crore will Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National of these regions. mented by the Ministry of The company had quoted an citizens was already avail- a Swastik symbol, Principal Akhada Parishad and the Alla- be devoted for the first Kumbh Highway which remains closed “The project has strategic Road Transport and High- amount of Rs 4,899.42 crore able since 2016, the railways Secretary (Torusim) Awanish habad administration while in Allahabad in January 2019 during winters (December to and socio-economic impor- ways (MoRT&H) through the to be constructed in a period extended the system to allow Awasthi said. reviewing preparations for under the Adityanath govern- April) due to heavy snowfall tance and shall be an instru- National Highways and Infra- of 2,555 days (7 years),” IL&FS such passengers to give up 50 The decision comes soon Magh Mela and Kumbh Mela. ment, over two times more and avalanches cutting off Leh- ment for the development of structure Development Cor- Transportation said. per cent of their concession after the Yogi Adityanath gov- The government has also than what Uttar Pradesh had Ladakh region from Kashmir. the economically backward poration Limited (NHIDCL). Road Transport and High- in 2017. ernment announced that all directed the local administra- spent on the last Kumbh held “The Cabinet Committee districts in Jammu and Kash- The main objective of ways Minister Nitin Gadkari “5.67 lakh senior citi- official letters will carry the tion to display the logo with its there in 2013, official sources on Economic Affairs, chaired mir,” it said. the project is to provide all had earlier said, “We under- zens gave up 100 per cent of Kumbh logo. tagline ‘Sarvsidhiprad Kumbh’, said. They said over 200 proj- by Prime Minister Narendra The construction period of whether connectivity to stra- stand the plight of the people their concession in these four The Kumbh Mela, which meaning Kumbh is the pro- ects of 16 departments were Modi, has given its approval the project is seven years. tegically important Leh region in Leh and Ladakh region who months while 5.81 lakh such has lately joined the UNESCO’s vider of all accomplishments. coming up at break-neck speed, to the construction, operation “The civil construction cost in Jammu and Kashmir which face severe crisis during winters passengers gave up 50 per list of intangible world heritage, In a circular last month, the and this time at the Kumbh, it and maintenance of 2-lane bi- of the project is Rs 4,899.42 at the moment is limited to when they are cut off from the cent of their concession”, said is scheduled to be held in Janu- government had made it com- would not just be about a holy directional Zojila Tunnel with crore. The total capital cost of at best 6 months because of rest of India for six months. We Gohain. ary 2019 in Allahabad. pulsory to carry the logo in all dip in the Sangam but also an Parallel Escape (Egress) Tun- the project is Rs 6,808.69 crore. snow on the passes and threat are committed to undertaking A total of 11.48 lakh senior On the new year day, Adity- publicity material, including “enhanced pilgrim experience”. nel excluding approaches on It includes the cost towards of avalanches. the project.” citizens thus gave up their con- anath directed departments hoardings and advertisements, It will be ensured that pil- Srinagar-Leh section connect- land acquisition, resettlement “This project along with On March 1, 2016, the cessions in the given period. concerned to complete prep- with immediate effect. grims have to transverse the ing NH-1A at Km 95 and at and rehabilitation and other other ongoing projects like transport ministry had ordered The scheme was launched arations for the 2019 Kumbh The Mela was last held in least distance on foot as shut- Km 118 in Jammu and Kash- pre-construction activities as 6.5 km long Z-Morh tun- “re-bidding” for the project, to reduce the nearly Rs. 1,300 Mela in Allahabad “well in Allahabad in 2013 and attended tle buses will be used for the mir on engineering, procure- well as maintenance and oper- nel at Gagangir would ensure which had been awarded to crore subsidy burden of the time” for its smooth conduct. by around 10 crore people. first time. ment and construction (EPC) ation cost of tunnel for four safe, fast and cheap connec- IRB Infrastructure. Railways in the senior citizen “All preparations should The state government A senior UP government mode,” the Ministry of Road years,” the statement said. tivity between the two regions The decision was taken at a category. be completed well in time and expects nearly 12 crore people official said about Rs 950 Transport and Highways said The project aims at con- of Kashmir and Ladakh,” the high-level meeting, chaired by As of now, Railways bears in a concrete manner, so that to visit Allahabad this time. crore were spent on Kumbh in in a statement. struction of 14.15 km long two- statement said. Gadkari, after Congress leader 43 per cent of the cost of train the event is held successfully. The UP government has Allahabad in 2013. “So it is a The statement said apart lane bi-directional single tube It will further increase the Digvijay Singh alleged that fare and incurs a loss of about The Magh Mela and Kumbh also changed the nomenclature two-and-a-half-time jump in from providing all weather tunnel with a parallel 14.2 km employment potential for the guidelines were violated while Rs. 30,000 crore a year in sub- Mela 2019 are important from of the fair. The Ardh Kumbh is budget. Yogi Aditynath gov- connectivity between Srinagar, long egress tunnel excluding local labourers for the project awarding the contract. sidising passenger fares, out religious and tourism point of to be known as Kumbh. ernment is clear - funds will Kargil and Leh, the project will approaches between Baltal and activities, it added. The ministry, however, had of which Rs. 1,600 crore is for view,” a government statement Orders were also issued to not come in the way of world- bring about all round economic Minamarg in the state. The government said on denied the charges. concessional fares. quoted him as saying. carry only the updated name of class pilgrim facilities,” he said. 6 mp nation MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018 Disgruntled Guj Court to ED: Don’t pick & choose, Don’t worry if name not Fisheries Minister Solanki skips big fish should be also caught Cabinet meeting OUR CORRESPONDENT in 1st NRC draft: Sonowal AHMEDABAD: Unhappy over the allocation of portfo- NEW DELHI: A special court OUR CORRESPONDENT draft of the NRC be published lios in the new BJP government today came down heavily on by December 31 after complet- in Gujarat, state fisheries minis- the Enforcement Directorate GUWAHATI: Assam Chief ing the scrutiny of over two ter and Koli leader Purshottam (ED) saying the agency should Minister Sarbananda Sonowal crore claims along with that of Solanki on Wednesday skipped not adopt a pick and choose on Wednesday said all those around 38 lakh people whose a cabinet meeting. Demand- policy and catch only small excluded in the first National documents were suspect. ing that “good” departments fishes but also act against the Register of Citizens draft Of the 3.29 crore applica- be allocated to their leader, key accused in the Rs 5,000 should not worry as no one will tions submitted, there was con- Solanki’s supporters, led by his crore money laundering scam. be discriminated against on the fusion over the inclusion of 29 brother and former BJP MLA It was hearing the bail plea basis of caste and community lakh people who had submit- Hira Solanki, gathered at the of Delhi-based businessman and will be given opportunities ted certificates issued by ‘gram minister’s residence at Gandhi- Gagan Dhawan in connection Rs 5,000 crore. Attachment November 14 issued non-bail- to prove citizenship. panchayats’ as proof of iden- nagar on Wednesday. with the laundering case. of properties are taking place able warrants against two other Sonowal also said that a tity, after a Gauhati High Court He told reporters that his “The entire system is cor- and the bail plea must be dis- persons-- SBL directors Nitin mechanism has to be devised order in February had deemed community feels that he should rupt. You (ED) are only catch- missed,” Rana said. and Chetan Sandesara. The “humanely” by the central gov- ‘panchayat’ certificates invalid, be given some more portfolios. ing small fishes while I am In the bail plea, Dhawan, agency had told the court that ernment on what to do with an official said. “I have not called the Koli surprised why till date no offi- arrested on November 1, has Sandesara might have left the those who are found to be ille- The Supreme Court set community leaders. They came cials of the accused company sought the relief saying he was country. gal immigrants after finalisa- aside the High Court order and here on their own to express (Gujarat-based pharma firm not required for further inves- Dhawan was arrested in an tion of the National Register Assam, which faced influx of people upheld the validity of the cer- solidarity. The Koli commu- Sterling Biotech Ltd), the char- tigation since the charge sheet alleged bank fraud case involv- of Citizens (NRC), a list of the tificates as identity proof if they nity feels that I should be given tered accountants and others has already been filed and no ing the SBL under sections of state’s citizens. from Bangladesh since the early 20th were followed up with proper some more portfolios,” Pur- are arrested? Don’t do pick and purpose would be served by the Prevention of Money Laun- “There is no question of century, is the only state having an verification. The apex court shottam Solanki told reporters choose,” Additional Sessions keeping him in custody. dering Act (PMLA). discriminating against anyone also asked authorities to stick at his residence. Judge Sidharth Sharma said The charge sheet was filed The firm and Dhawan were whether he or she is a Hindu, NRC, first prepared in 1951 to the original deadline for the After meeting his brother, while reserving his order on against Dhawan on December also being probed by the ED for Muslim, Bengali or Nepali,” publication of the draft NRC Hira Solanki said the Koli com- bail plea for tomorrow. 23, last year. allegedly bribing senior Income Sonowal said. ing reasonably as per the sion in 2005 after a series of and include names of those munity will convey its feeling The court was critical of the Dhawan was sent to judicial Tax department officials in an No one will be victimised Supreme Court order. Those meetings between the central whose claims were verified. to the BJP leadership. “Koli fact that except Dhawan, other custody on November 15 by earlier criminal complaint. on the basis of caste and com- who will be found to be illegal and state governments and the When the NRC was first community is confident that accused were still at large in the the court after the probe agency The CBI had booked Ster- munity, he asserted. immigrants after the final list influential All Assam Students’ prepared in Assam way back justice will be done,” he said. “huge scam”. said he was not required for ling Biotech, its directors “All will be treated equally will also be treated humanely. Union (AASU). in 1951, the state had 80 lakh Earlier on Tuesday, Solanki had Special Public Prosecutor further custodial interrogation. Chetan Jayantilal Sandesara, and given opportunities to A mechanism has to be evolved Assam, which faced influx citizens then. expressed displeasure over the Nitesh Rana, representing the The ED had alleged that Dipti Chetan Sandesara, Rajb- prove their citizenship so that by the central government on of people from Bangladesh The process of identifica- department allocated to him ED, opposed Dhawan’s plea Dhawan had facilitated the hushan Omprakash Dixit, their names could be incorpo- what to do with them,” he said. since the early 20th century, is tion of illegal immigrants in and demanded “better” port- saying he was damaging coun- directors of SBL in the pur- Nitin Jayantilal Sandesara and rated in the subsequent drafts The part draft of the NRC the only state having an NRC, Assam has been debated and folios. He claimed that despite try’s financial health by helping chase of several properties and Vilas Joshi, chartered accoun- of the NRC,” Sonowal said. was published on the inter- first prepared in 1951. become a contentious issue in being a five-time MLA, he was others in committing offences helped in misuse and diversion tant Hemant Hathi, former The chief minister said the vening night of December 31 The current exercise,the state’s politics. ignored by the leadership while of such a vast magnitude and of the credit facilities of several director Andhra Bank Anup NRC has given an opportunity and January 1 where names started in 2005 under the then A six-year agitation several “juniors” have been enlarging him on bail will have bank totalling Rs 5,000 crore. Garg and some unidentified to segregate the bona fide citi- of 1.9 crore people out of the Congress regime, got a major demanding identification and given “good portfolios”. serious consequences. “Rs 1.5 crore was received persons in connection with the zens from illegal immigrants 3.29 crore applicants were push only after the BJP came deportation of illegal immi- The Koli community He told the court that inves- by the accused from the alleged bank fraud case. and it is a “win-win situation” incorporated. to power in the state with illegal grants was launched by the strongman has been given fish- tigation was at a very crucial SBL group. Prior to that, the It had alleged that the com- for those who have been living The massive exercise aimed immigration from Bangladesh AASU in 1979. It culminated eries department as a minister stage and Dhawan may flee amount of bank loans was pany had taken loans of over Rs under the stigma of “suspected at identifying illegal immi- as a poll plank. with the signing of the Assam of state. Solanki held the same from justice and divert the pro- rotated in various group com- 5,000 crore from a consortium illegal immigrants” for the last grants in the state that borders The Supreme Court, which Accord on August 15, 1985, portfolio as an MoS in the pre- ceeds of crime if granted bail. panies of SBL group,” the ED led by Andhra Bank which had four decades. Bangladesh is being carried is monitoring the entire pro- in the presence of then prime vious government under Chief “The ED has to recover had claimed. turned into non-performing “The government is work- out in Assam following a deci- cess, had ordered that the first minister Rajiv Gandhi. Minister Vijay Rupani. entire proceeds of crime worth The trial court had on assets. Jaganmohan Reddy PMLA case: ED attaches `117.74 cr assets NATION BRIEFS OUR CORRESPONDENT Projects, Embassy Property Devel- mohan Reddy was the Chief Minister.” ED said Jitendra Virwani of Embassy INSTANCES OF ROHINGYAS OBTAINING opments and Vasantha Projects in It said I Syam Prasad Reddy Group “assisted” I Syam Prasad Reddy NEW DELHI: The Enforcement the the Indu-APHB (Andhra Pradesh “paid bribe amounts” to Jaganmo- in “grabbing housing projects by plac- AADHAAR, PAN REPORTED: GOVT Directorate (ED) on Wednesday said Housing Board) case related to Y S han Reddy through the companies of ing a non-relevant project for getting NEW DELHI: There have been instances of some it has attached assets worth Rs 117.74 Jaganmohan Reddy.” Nimmagadda Prasad in the form of eligible for awarding projects and ben- Rohingya Muslims obtaining Aadhaar, PAN and voter crore in connection with its money In a statement, it said this case per- investments at “exorbitant premiums.” efitted to the tune of Rs 50.16 crore cards, but there is no report of providing accommo- laundering probe in a case against YSR tains to a “quid pro quo investment The agency said in lieu of the under guise of profit on investment, Congress chief Jaganmohan Reddy where I Syam Prasad Reddy made quid pro quo payments made by I service compensation and sale of dation to the illegal migrants, the Rajya Sabha was and others. huge investments in the companies Syam Prasad Reddy, he was illegally villas.” informed on Wednesday. Minister of State for Home Official sources said the central floated by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy favoured by the then government of The agency began its probe against Kiren Rijiju said there have been no specific reports probe agency’s zonal office in Hyder- for the favours received from erst- Andhra Pradesh by awarding hous- the politician and his associates on the that some people were providing illegal accommoda- abad issued a provisional order for while government of Andhra Pradesh ing projects at Kukatapally (65 acres), basis of a CBI FIR. tion to Rohingyas. However, instances of some Rohing- attachment of these properties under by way of allotment of 8,844 acre of Bandlaguda (50 acres), Gachibowli The FIR had stated that since “May yas having obtained documents like Aadhar, PAN the Prevention of Money Laundering land for Lepakshi Knowledge Hub (4.57 acres) and Nandyal (75 acres) 2004, Jagan floated number of compa- Act (PMLA). Private Limited, 250 acres of land at by “deviating all standard norms and nies wherein quid pro quo investments and voter cards through fraudulent means have been The ED said it has attached “mov- Shamshabad for Indu Techzone Pri- without examining the technical/ have been made by beneficiaries from reported, he said in reply to a written question. The able and immovable assets worth Rs vate Limited and various housing financial capabilities”. decisions of the state government in minister said as and when such instances are detected, 117.74 crore under the PMLA of com- projects to Indu Group, when late Y Stating the role of others who were various forms like SEZs (special eco- relaxation/permission for real estate the respective state governments and other authorities panies of I Syam Prasad Reddy, Indu S Rajasekhara Reddy, father of Jagan- named in the attachment order, the nomic zones), irrigation contracts, ventures, mines among others.” concerned take necessary action for cancellation of such documents along with other action. Rijiju said as 2,300 ‘fake’ madrassas on verge per an estimate, around 40,000 Rohingyas are living in India. of losing govt recognition in UP INJURED CRPF JAWAN DIES AURANGABAD (BIHAR): A CRPF jawan succumbed ARUNAV SINHA of January,” Chaudhary said. to injuries received in a gunbattle with Maoists in this However, he added, the naxal-infested district, police said on Wednesday. LUCKNOW: Nearly 2,300 government will wait till Ashish Patra (28), of 205 Cobra Battalion succumbed madrassas in Uttar Pradesh run month-end for them to furnish to injuries at a hospital in Ranchi late last night, hours the risk of losing their recog- information on this regard. nition for not submitting their “The government-recog- after he was critically injured in the encounter with details on the website of UP nised madrassas, which have Maoists at Chakarbandha forest under Madanpur Madrasa Board, UP minority not furnished their relevant police station area, Sub Divisional Police Officer welfare minister said today. details on the website can (SDPO), Aurangabad, P N Sahoo said. He said a CRPF T6674(3)/2017/ICA The state’s minority wel- approach the government in party was patrolling the area when Maoists, who were fare department is consider- case they face any difficulty. If hiding in the forests, opened fire which was retaliated The Executive Engineer, Krishnagar Division, Social Sector, ing a proposal to treat these they tell us their problems, we Islamic institutions as “fake”, may help in resolving them,” he by the security personnel. A grievously wounded Patra, P.W. Dte. Govt. of W.B. invites 2(two) nos. e-tender for the who had received bullet injury in his head, was flown following works. State Minority Welfare Minis- said. With that said, the min- WEST BENGAL MEDICAL SERVICES CORPORATION LIMITED Tender Ref. No. : WBPWD/SS/EE/KNG- 36(e)/2017-18 ter Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary ister also made it clear that to Ranchi for treatment, where he breathed his last, the (A Company wholly owned by (1) Landscaping In front of Birla College & Birla Research said. “In Uttar Pradesh, there no student of the registered SDPO said. Search operation was being carried out the Government of West Bengal) Building & Drainage Arrangement by providing Double are 19,108 madrassas, which madrassa will be deprived of jointly by the district police and the Cobra Batallion to Swasthya Sathi, G N-29, Sector V, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700091 wall corrugated High Density poly ethylene pipes in the have been recognised by the the opportunity to appear for nab the Maoists. campus of WBUAFS, Mohanpur In the Dist. of Nadia. (2nd state Madrasa Board. Of these, any examination. Memo No: WBMSC/ENGG/2027/17/004 Date:02.01.2018 Call) Tender ID: 2018_CB_146298_1 Rs. 11,74,912.00 16,808 madrassas have submit- “We had extended the last GOVT DOCTOR DEPOSES BEFORE PANEL NOTICE INVITING E-TENDER and ted their information on the date for submission of details West Bengal Medical Services Corporation Ltd. is inviting elec- Tender Ref. No. WBPWD/SS/EE/KNG/MSCL -02(e) of 2017-18 website of the board. There are by madrassas on the web por- PROBING JAYALALITHAA’S DEATH tronic bids for Quotation of Comprehensive Annual Maintenance (1) Construction of a New Plant cum Manifold room for no details submitted by nearly tal of the department a number CHENNAI: A government doctor, who led the em- for ETP System installed at College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Medical Gas Pipeline Systems of Tehatta Sub Divisional 2,300 madrassas,” Chaudhary of times. Dates were extended balming procedure to preserve J Jayalalithaa’s body, Hospital, Kamarhati. as per details indicated in the table below: Hospital at Tehatta in the District of Nadia (2nd Call) Tender told PTI in an interview here. on July 15, 2017, July 30, on Wednesday deposed before a one-man commis- “Now where are these 2017 and on August 15, 2017. SI. Item Bid Ref. No. Last date of ID: 2018_CB_146336_1 Rs. 15,89,371.00 madrassas? We are consider- But, surprisingly no student, sion probing her hospitalisation and death. Dr Sudha No. submission of Bid Submission closing date is 16/01/2018 upto 2:00 P.M. each ing them as fake. There is a pos- teacher, principal or manager Seshaiyan, vice principal of Madras Medical College, online bid Details are available in the website https://wbtenders.gov.in. sibility that action may taken of any of the 2,300 madrassas appeared before the Arumughaswamy Commission of 1 Comprehensive WBM- 29.01.2018 against these madrassas by end approached us,” he said. PTI Inquiry here in response to summons issued by it to her Annual Maintenance SCL/NIQ - at 04.00 P.M Government of West Bengal recently. Later, she told reporters that she apprised the Contract (AMC) for 127/2017 ETP System installed dated- Office of the Deputy Director of panel of the embalming procedure that was done for at College of Medi- 30.12.2017 Health Services (E&S), WB Demonetisation badly hit Jayalalithaa. The 15-minute procedure was done to cine & Sagore Dutta Central Medical Stores, 141, prevent the body from deteriorating and these aspects Hospital, Kamarhati. A J C Bose Road, Kolkata — 700 014 FICN, hawala trade: Govt were brought to the notice of the commission, she Phone No (033) 2265 4418/4417/4419 said. Seshaiyan had said in February last that normal Interested Bidders may download the tender document and / OUR CORRESPONDENT or submit their bids online at the website www.wbtenders.gov.in. Email: [email protected], [email protected] rency notes. It also adversely embalming procedure was followed to preserve the The tender document may also be downloaded from the web- Notice inviting E-Tender affected the hawala opera- body Jayalalithaa, who passed away on December 5, sites www.wbmsc.gov.in . NEW DELHI: The demon- tors,” he said replying a writ- NIT NO. HST/4T-20- 2018/ED/2018-20/054 Dated: -03-01-2018 2016. The commission of inquiry was constituted by the etisation of Rs 500 and Rs ten question. Sd/- E TENDER IS HEREBY INVITED FOR PROCUREMENT 1,000 notes had instantly Ahir said Left Wing Tamil government to go into the circumstances Managing Director surrounding the hospitalisation and death of Jayala- WBMSCL OF ESSENTIAL GENERAL DRUGS FOR SUPPLY IN wiped out Pakistan-printed Extremism cadres have GOVERNMENT RUN HOSPITALS IN THE STATE FOR high quality fake Indian deposited illegal money into lithaa and commenced its hearing on November 22 currency notes besides hit- the accounts of the sym- last year. A PERIOD OF 2(TWO) YEARS FROM THE DATE ting hawala transactions, the pathisers or simple villagers. OF ISSUANCE OF WORK ORDER. INTERESTED Rajya Sabha was informed Nearly Rs 97.75 lakh were LANKAN BOAT FOUND ABANDONED MANUFACTURERS OR DIRECT IMPORTERS on Wednesday. seized from various LWE NAGAPATTINAM: A Sri Lankan fibre glass boat was OF DRUGS MAY VISIT THE WEBSITE “https:// Minister of State for groups post demonetisation on Wednesday found abandoned near Vedaranyam wbtenders.gov.in” OR “www.wbhealth.gov.in” Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir and the red ultras also pro- said according to reports, tested against the note ban coast, police said. The Coastal Marine Group Police FOR FURTHER DETAILS. demonetisation also resulted drive, indicating their dis- personnel, on intensified patrolling in view of com- CLOSING DATE: 29.01.2018 — 31.01.2018 (AS in significant positive impact contentment, he said. plaints about drug smuggling through the sea route, PER GROUP MENTIONED IN BID DOCUMENT) PRE in most theatres of violence “Since illegally held cash found the boat without its engine. The engine was later BID MEETING: 15.01.2018, AT 12 NOON, IN THE in the country. forms the major chunk of found among the bushes in the vicinity, they said add- “Demonetisation also terrorist funding, after the ing investigations were on to find out from where the SWASTHYA BHABAN AUDITORIUM. led to instant extinguish- demonetisation, most of the SD/- ment of Pakistan-printed cash held with the terrorists boat had come and its occupants. The marine police DDHS(E&S), WB high quality fake Indian cur- turned worthless,” he said. also found a kerosene can hidden among the bushes. 7 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018 mp nation Fewer trains running in late Govt mulling stringent norms to 2018 will see biennial than flights in penalise dishonest businessmen fogs: Goyal DHIRENDRA KUMAR mote their businesses, they find OUR CORRESPONDENT it very difficult to carry out elections in 8 LS seats NEW DELHI: In a move their operations, which means NEW DELHI: Lesser num- aimed at providing a friendly there are flaws in the system SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE After losing to Samajwadi sion of the most populous ber of trains are running in ecosystem for honest entrepre- and it needs to be rectified. The Party (SP) in 2012, the vet- state is another key issue for all late than flights due to fog neurs, the Ministry of Corpo- government is working in this NEW DELHI: Like last year, eran politician chose to enter intense political gazes. May- this year because of constant rate Affairs (MCA) is mulling direction,” the sources said. 2018 too will see some buzzes the Upper House of the Par- awati’s core voters, Dalits share efforts for computerisation of to make penalty provisions for “The passage of insolvency with upcoming polls and polit- liament. Her term will end in 20 per cent of the demogra- the signalling system, Railway offenders more stringent by (amendment) bill is another ical developments. It will start April next year, and her party phy and another significant Minister Piyush Goyal said on making major changes in the bold step in this direction as the with the biennial elections in now even does not have num- population of OBCs—Kur- Wednesday. “Due to our con- existing rules. adding, “The government is Bill proposes to relax the norm 8 Lok Sabha seats across the bers to ensure the victory of mis (Patels) have been getting stant efforts, fewer trains were According to sources, the working to make operational for disqualifying a promoter country including Bihar (1), even one candidate in biennial divided between SP, BSP and running in late in comparison move has been initiated to part of companies a human- from bidding for a company Jammu & Kashmir (1), Rajast- elections for the council of the BJP since 2014. to flight during fogs,” the min- encourage fair trade practices interface free affair to prevent undergoing insolvency resolu- han (2), Maharashtra (1), Uttar states. Thus, she has to be the Yadavs, another OBC ister claimed during Question in a holistic manner and build a unfair practitioners from tak- tion,” the sources said. Pradesh (2), and West Bengal joint candidate of SP, BSP and caste, have also been getting Hour in the Lok Sabha. confidence among honest busi- ing advantage of the ‘vulner- The ordinance had barred (1). Meanwhile, the political Congress. divided between SP and BJP Goyal said that a commit- nessmen in the country. The able’ system.” promoters whose companies corridor is abuzz with Bahujan On the contrary, in the and reportedly they have also tee has been set up to review government is also identify- The government is aiming have had their loans declared Samajwadi Party (BSP) chief last Assembly polls BJP and voted largely in favor of BJP in the flexi-fare system and rec- ing ‘suspicious’ activities of ‘big to bring transparency in the NPAs by banks for over a year Mayawati’s candidature from its allies convincingly won all the last elections. ommend best options, keep- sharks’ to take necessary action whole process so that honest from bidding for these. The Phulpur Lok Sabha constitu- absolute majority in 2007, she five assembly seats in the Lok Kushwaha, Maurya and ing in mind the interests of against them for giving a mes- businessmen should not feel year is counted from the dec- ency of UP, after Keshav Prasad did opt for nomination to the Sabha constituency, which Mallah votes have traditionally passengers and the railways. sage that unfair practices would cheated in comparison to those laration of a loan as an NPA till Maurya took the MLC route. state legislative council. has been politically significant got divided between BJP and The minister said the railways not be accepted anymore, the who follow unfair practices to the invitation of bids. It is speculated that she BSP has just four members, sending Congress nominees BSP, but these castes shifted in have given highest priority on sources added. promote their businesses such The Bill proposes to calcu- could be the joint candidate including party general secre- till 1984. From this constitu- a big way to the saffron party in safety and highlighted the pub- “The proposed penal provi- as using shell companies to late this period of one year till of non-saffron parties, while tary Satish Chandra Mishra, ency the first Prime Minister of 2014, when Maurya contested lic transporter’s focus on com- sions would be so ‘harsh’ that park their assets, etc, the an application of insolvency is the political observers opined left in the Rajya Sabha, who India, Jawaharlal Nehru, won the seat. puterisation of the signalling defaulters wouldn’t even think “It’s a hard fact that those accepted by the National Com- that it would be the litmus test all be completing their tenure in 1952, 1957 and 1962. In his The constituency also has system, which continues to run to break the rules,” sources said, who follow right ways to pro- pany Law Tribunal (NCLT). for the “United Oppositions”, in April. In fact, total 58 mem- final electoral contest (1962), 15 per cent Muslims voters and through the old system started ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha bers are slated to complete their Nehru defeated socialist ideo- the traditional vote bank of SP. before independence. elections. term and retire during the same logue Ram Manohar Lohia. Among upper castes, Brahmins Goyal said that the ultimate Now get SMS AISU says will submit proposals After her angry walkout tenure from the Upper House. In 1967, Nehru’s sister Vijay have around 10 per cent of vote solution to the railways’ prob- from the Rajya Sabha, the BSP Of these 58, at least 10 mem- Laxmi Pandit won the seat share in Phulpur and they are lems was a capital investment, delay alerts at on skill varsities on Jan 12 chief had hinted many times bers have to be elected from defeating Janeshwar Mishra. more tilted to the saffron party which has been highest in the that she is not afraid of facing UP and after humongous man- The Congress domination later traditionally. But interestingly, last three years. “Rs 1.20 lakh halt stations OUR CORRESPONDENT the electorate. However, it is dates in the UP, Gujarat, and ended by Janata Dal’s Ram the BSP chief became UP CM crore will be invested this year also indeed a fact that May- Himachal Assembly polls the Pujan Patel’s win in 1986. Later in 2007 on the back of a Dalit- and the amount will be more OUR CORRESPONDENT awati has not faced any direct Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in 1996, BSP founder Kanshi- Muslim-Brahmin alliance. next year. Our aim is to make JAIPUR: Representatives of elections for almost a decade. riding towards ‘Mission 2018’ ram contested and lost from The biennial elections a new Indian Railways by 2022 NEW DELHI: Passengers Association of Indian Skills When she became chief min- which pertains to elections to this seat. would be held earlier this year, and works are going on in this awaiting the arrival of their Universities will submit its ister of Uttar Pradesh with an all 58 seats of Rajya Sabha. Meanwhile, the caste divi- sources said. regard,” the minister said. trains at halt stations along the recommendations on norms route will now get SMS delay for skill universities in a meet- FODDER SCAM alerts if their train is more than ing to be organised by Minis- ‘Allow use of an hour late, the Railways said try of Skill Development and So far there are Rajini calls on Karuna, on Wednesday, extending the Entrepreneurship (MSDE) in no norms with the Quantum of punishment domestic coal service to cover 1,104 more Pune on January 12, an offi- trains. cial said. University Grants in plants run on seeks his blessing The service was started President of AISU and Commission for to Lalu likely today for 102 premium trains on Vice Chancellor of Bhartiya imports’ November 3 last year and was Skill Development University skill universities extended to 157 more trains (BSDU), Brig (retd) Surjit Pabla OUR CORRESPONDENT later. It was restricted to peo- said so far there are no norms universities to the UGC and ple boarding at the departure with the University Grants the MSDE before the norms NEW DELHI: The govern- station only. Commission (UGC) for skill are finalised. ment should consider allow- Now, travellers boarding at universities. Some of the suggestions ing domestic coal to be used halt stations all along the route MSDE has invited AISU include change in nomencla- in imported coal-based ther- will also receive alerts. members including vice ture of degrees from B.Voc mal power plants to reduce the “Passengers at halt sta- chancellors of seven skill and M.Voc to B.Skill and dependency on the dry fuel tions too can now anticipate universities where recommen- M.Skill, waiving a skill uni- bought from other countries, when the train will arrive at dations for the norms will be versity’s territorial jurisdic- says a Parliamentary Commit- their destination, making plan- submitted. tion limit, holding virtual tee report. ning travel much easier,” said a He said the meeting will classes, flexibility to enroll stu- “The Committee has noted senior official of the Railway be a suitable platform to pres- dents from class 9 onwards, he that the use of indigenous coal Board. ent recommendations for skills added. by the imported coal-based OUR CORRESPONDENT and 15 others on Wednesday is thermal power plants is depen- likely to announce it on Thurs- dent on policy interventions CORRESPONDENT WEST BENGAL STATE LOTTERY RANCHI: A special CBI court day, a CBI advocate said. by the government,” Standing political leader Rajinikanth is here on Wednesday served con- The case did not come up Committee on Coal and Steel meeting after announcing his Results of NEW YEAR Bumper Draw,2018 held on 03.01.2018 at 3.00 P.M. at Tarapada Memorial tempt notices to senior leaders on Wednesday due to a condo- said in its latest report. CHENNAI: Days afterentry into politics on Decem- Hall, 37,Ganesh Chandra Avenue, Kolkata-700013. • JUDGES PRESENT • of the RJD and the Congress lence meeting held during the It observed that govern- announcing his entry into pol- ber 31. 1.Smt. Sweta Das for criticising the December day to mourn the death of two ment’s intervention is needed itics, top actor Rajinikanth met The meeting assumes sig- 2.Smt. Tiyasha Das 23 conviction of RJD chief Lalu lawyers, he said. for allowing use of domestic DMK chief M Karunanidhi at nificance as DMK is the main 1st Prize : One : ` 1,01,00,000/- (Common to all Series ) EE-700129 Prasad Yadav in a fodder scam The RJD chief and the 15 coal along with imported coal his residence here on Wednes- opposition party in the Tamil 2nd Prize : One : ` 5,00,000/- (Common to all Series ) CC-184773 case on television. others who were brought to as the existing consent is only day evening and sought his Nadu assembly. Rajinikanth 3rd Prize : ` 5,000/- each ( 2 in 10,000 tickets) (Sold Tickets ending with the following numbers ) CBI judge Shiv Pal Singh the court in the morning were for the use of imported dry fuel. blessings. has said it was his desire to 27785 34425 33176 58652 30012 77548 18522 51845 96148 17240 directed senior RJD leaders taken back to jail. “The committee has there- DMK sources described create a political revolution in 36644 60190 74451 33547 49840 22790 16839 03933 32849 11636 4th Prize : `1,000/- each (5 in 10,000 tickets) Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, The court had on Decem- fore desired that the govern- it as a courtesy call. Clad in a Tamil Nadu, a “historic” state (Sold Tickets ending with the following numbers ) 06810 05710 80896 21466 77287 03879 97035 30378 34104 99026 Shivanand Tiwari and Lalu ber 23 convicted Lalu Prasad ment should earnestly address white shirt and black pant, the that facilitated major changes. 67257 46019 14359 22205 85871 34529 79809 19988 82758 96609 Prasad’s son Tejashwi Yadav and the other 15 in a fodder this issue to bring down the actor extended his New Year “It is my desire to start from 71654 16822 93524 54707 79959 72358 36060 12657 13468 30011 99852 98709 46510 69285 20333 76272 89099 41770 30748 71963 and Congress leader Manish scam case, 21 years after it had import of non-coking coal,” greetings and apprised the here a political revolution,” he 67725 49048 73149 44787 31107 57610 02170 75094 03516 75836 Tewari to personally appear surfaced. Six others, includ- the report said. The commit- DMK president and his aides said yesterday. Future genera- 5th Prize : ` 500/- each (10 in 10,000 tickets) INFORMATION WANTED ( Sold Tickets ending with the following numbers) before the court on January 23. ing another former chief min- tee also suggested that all out of his political plunge. tions will live better if a change 13709 17777 73753 34776 24164 86881 77955 69780 02996 12090 38340 68343 78466 14259 08147 56511 28991 11476 93573 92725 Tejashwi Yadav is leader ister, Jagannath Mishra, were efforts be made to reverse the Rajinikanth also enquired was facilitated now, the actor 81664 19527 59166 81607 08439 18201 13094 28471 70196 98990 of opposition in the Bihar acquitted. trend of importing coking coal about the veteran leader’s said. The actor has launched a 93838 76517 84050 18703 98135 82703 43441 52525 38053 88076 75882 23198 05743 56374 69491 24813 99819 94335 09021 85482 Assembly. The case pertains to fraud- by steel units by enhancing the health. DMK working presi- mobile app, website and a Twit- 93364 28490 67799 67187 25786 49714 77728 86357 58685 08649 99176 94342 68642 11779 31566 67405 26927 24109 15370 96948 The court which was sched- ulent withdrawal of Rs 89.27 domestic output or acquir- dent MK Stalin was present on ter account as part of efforts 24993 08566 86983 97046 48537 48387 49846 81437 18212 88302 uled to pronounce the quantum lakh from the Deoghar Trea- ing coking coal mines by Coal the occasion, the sources said. to mobilise cadres for his pro- 13025 04850 96554 45712 63016 18273 03202 76666 17106 06909 68439 09036 14253 85176 15990 45822 70560 12483 90389 67731 of punishment to Lalu Prasad sury between 1991 and 1994. India overseas. Karunanidhi is the first posed party. 6th Prize : ` 200/- each (5 in, 1,000 tickets) This is the Photograph of Umera ( Sold Tickets ending with the following numbers ) Khatoon W/o of MD. Ayula 3022 6152 6607 8433 8180 7008 2222 8171 1626 6495 5975 8130 0222 9493 5582 4265 9620 2941 3116 8076 Khan of 35/3/D ,Topsia Road, 8046 8569 1727 7731 5967 8265 4000 1986 1306 2809 ‘Killing of soldiers in terror attacks an insult’ Kol-39 who has been missing 5669 7777 5128 2957 2619 5133 8136 9835 3648 2920 Since 19-12-17 Who has been 6168 9356 6337 5807 7531 4017 9937 9550 4722 4167 deposited at...... description 7th Prize : ` 100/- each (6 in 1,000 tickets) OUR CORRESPONDENT ( Sold Tickets ending with the following numbers ) hand,” Yadav said. Pakistan sponsored terror- of this missing person is: 7062 4850 9292 5906 9865 4018 2203 5915 4616 1070 2461 0214 8476 8068 8304 6795 6440 8723 5513 7064 Yadav, who was defence ism. During my tenure sol- Age 40 years, Complexion Shy- 9910 9123 2089 9800 7740 1267 7557 9884 1464 4621 NEW DELHI: Senior Sama- minister between June, 1996 diers were given free-hand,” amla, Height 4’-10’’ Wearing 5352 0256 0492 4188 3319 2088 4857 1830 4900 0786 Green Color Salwar Kamiz & 2766 4907 7296 2946 4110 7705 9608 7082 8506 5781 jwadi Party leader Mulayam and March 1998 in the United said Yadav. However, during 8608 8429 0219 4319 9212 4888 7366 0444 4618 1277 Jampar, Language...... Iden- Claim by 01.02.2018. Claim for prizes above `5,000/- shall be received and paid by the Directorate of State Lotteries, Singh Yadav on Wednesday Front government, was pri- the discussion, Mulayam was tification Mark...... slammed the government over marily referring to last week’s supported by his party mem- Govt. of West Bengal, 69, Ganesh Chandra Avenue, Kolkata-700013 (Phone Nos. 2236-4688/89). Rest by the Distributor. Please inform whereabouts of Official Result Sheet is FINAL. Terms & Conditions apply. incidents of killing of security Pulwama attack. ber Dharmendra Yadav who the missing person please con- ICA-1(4)/2018 Sd/- personnel in terror attacks In a pre-dawn strike, five demanded a reply from the tact to the O/C, Missing Persons Next Attraction: Joint Director, in Jammu and Kashmir and CRPF men were killed and government over the killing Squad, Lalbazar Kolkata-700 515th Bangalakshmi Draw, on 10.01.2018. State Lotteries, 243rd Bangasree Super Draw, on 17.01.2018. Government of West Bengal. called for giving them a “free three others injured when of soldiers. “The government 001 . hand” to retaliate to cross-bor- heavily-armed terrorists must answer as why our sol- ICA/10(2)2018 der terrorism in the state. stormed the CRPF camp at diers are being killed and why Raising the issue in Lok Lethpora in Pulwama district the government is not taking INFORMATION WANTED Sabha during the Zero Hour, and Kashmir. on December 31. The attack action. The government must Yadav, a former Defence Min- “Our soldiers are the best in was claimed by Pakistan-based answer,” Yadav said. ister, said repeated target- the world. But now Pakistan is Jaish-e-Mohammed. The Congress too had tar- ing of the armed forces by killing them. It is an insult to “Our soldiers are being geted the government yester- terrorists has affected their our armed forces. It is not a killed almost regularly. The day over the terror attack on image globally and wondered small issue. What is the gov- government must tell us why the CRPF camp, alleging that whether the government was ernment’s dilemma? I have this is happening. The armed it has failed to protect military in a “dilemma” to deal with the information that the armed forces must be given full installations from cross-border problem of militancy in Jammu forces have not been given free freedom to retaliate against terror strikes. INFORMATION WANTED

This is the photograph of Puppet show on Vivekananda’s life held in Parliament Bandana Singh D/o Rajesh Singh of Bankra Mishrapara. PS - Domjur, Dist — Howrah who MPOST BUREAU has been missing since 01.11.17 Government of West Bengal from Mishrapara, PS — Domjur, O/O The Superintending Engineer PWD South Western Electrical Circle Sahid Mangal Pandey Sarani, Midnapur-721101 NEW DELHI: A puppet show This is the Photograph of Chullapil- Hawrah, WB. based on the life and teach- lil Ramakrishnnan Rathasan S/o Description of this missing Abridged NIT Lt. p. Rama Kishnan of 18/27,Bidhu ings of Swami Vivekananda person is: Age — 15Y, Retender Notice Inviting e-Quotation No. - WBPWD/SE/ Bhusan Sen Gupta Road, Kol-34 Complexion- Fair, Built Thin, was organised by the Ramak- who has been missing since 15-12- Hair —Black Height - 4’8”, SWEC/NIQ25/MSCL/2017-18/ Retender rishna Mission, New Delhi in 2017 From Residence Who has Tender ID: 2017_WBPWD_140993_2 collaboration with the Bharatiya deposited at description of this Wearing — Red colour churidar missing person is: and black colour pant. Religion Name of Work: Electrical Installation work at proposed Lok Kala Mandal, Udaipur in monastic life as Narendra Nath Some of the incidents depicted dra serving an injured seaman, — Hindu, Mother Tongue Nursing Training School with Hostel ( G+ 5) at Dist. Hospital, the Parliament Library Build- Datta. included: Narendra’s mother who had volunteered to help Age 56 years, Complexion Shyamla, Height 5’-5’’ Wearing Light Blue — Hindi/Bengali. Tamluk, Purba Medinipur. ing on Wednesday. The unique show, with high- pouring water on the child to boys lift a trapeze, and so on. Color Full Shirt & Dark Blue Full Please inform whereabouts Work Site : Tamluk Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra class background music and cool his irrepressible energy; The puppet show was com- Pant, Language...... Identification of the missing person please Mahajan and other members of special effects, conceptualized his ignoring a warning of an missioned to commemorate Mark...... Last date of submission of bid :-17/01/2018 up to 16:55 Hrs. contact to the Spl. Sipdt. of Further details can be seen in the above mentioned office during the house watched the show. colourful performances by life- elderly neighbour while swing- the 150th Birth Anniversary of Please inform whereabouts of the Police. CID (WB), Bhawani The puppet show depicted like puppets through the nimble ing from a tree; Narendra man- Swami Vivekananda in the year missing person please contact to Bhavan, Kolkata — 700027, working hours or in Official Website www.pwdwb.gov.in the O/C, Missing Persons Squad, various incidents and stories fingers of the dedicated team aging a situation with the help of 2013. Since then, the show has Phone No. (033) 2450-6120. For all details and online tender submission visit https:// Lalbazar Kolkata-700 001 . wbtenders.gov.in from the life of Swami Vive- of puppeteers which enlivened policeman when a friend falls ill been staged in different parts of ICA/13(2) ICA/18(2)2018 kananda known in his pre- the message of the great saint. during a boat ride; and Naren- India and world. 8 editorial mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018 EDITORIAL Accelerate innovation Decoding Trump With other economies pacing their growth strategy, India must not be complacent about strategising innovation ow do you solve a problem like Donald Trump? To many, including some even in his Cabinet, this would he New Year is upon seem to be the proverbial million dollar question. us. It has been 17 But, just as he loves to boast, “This is a first in US years into the 21st Hhistory,” every time he signs an executive order, he is unlike any century and if one President since George Washington himself. Indications were AMIT KAPOOR Tword has to define this period, there during his 2016 campaign of how erratic, inconsistent, ‘innovation’ is bound to reign irresponsible and vindictive he could be in the statements he supreme. Technological inno- made to his audiences. For the major part of the campaign, he vation in every field has taken was the underdog in opinion polls. But that did not deter him place at such a rapid pace over from making tall and unconventional promises to the sort of the last two decades that most fans who lapped up all that came to them. He also broke from of it is taken as a given. tradition by condemning countries like China, Mexico and It is hard to imagine that a North Korea, among others. The condemnation came in a lan- world obsessed with acronyms guage that left his speechwriters stumped. The media was not like AI, VR, and EV was still spared. He coined a new phrase by branding them as “fake” very much dependent on the simply because they reported on his unusual methods of con- post office barely 17 years ago. ducting himself in public. It is, of course, another story that It is unfathomable and poten- American elections are a different cup of tea when it comes to tially scary, from some aspects, declaring the victor. He lost to his opponent by over three million Like China, it as to what the future holds for “popular” votes but triumphed by the Electoral College system. mankind. The other disconcerting factor in this coast to coast election is critical that With the world innovating is the fact that since the election of Dwight Eisenhower, after India works at breakneck speed, no coun- the Second World War, a little more than 45 per cent of the try wants to be left behind the electorate has chosen to stay away. Their absence does make upon building curve. China is the latest kid a significant difference. It certainly did during the Trump vic- an enabling on the block. It is no longer the tory. Did his win make a difference in his ways as an ‘elected’ low-labour-cost country that President? By no means. He continued from where he left with and conducive makes it the manufacturing a vengeance. Some features were added to his style. As some environment powerhouse of the world. Now, There is no time for complacency for India when it comes to matters of innovation (REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE) senators from both sides of the aisle chose to put it, his behav- the country’s manufacturing iour was like that of “a middle schooler”. His latest outburst to for innovation strengths lie in its strong supply for all of this. As per the Global It is not a preposterous argu- A striking feature of the state of resources need to be devoted his North Korean counterpart that his nuclear button “is big- to take place. chain networks and advanced Innovation Index, India has ment to make that the econ- performance on innovation is towards it, something which the ger and more powerful” is a case in point; and, this when the production know-how. In shown consistent improvement omy which stays ahead in the that there is a clear demarcation industry typically lacks. Finally, North Korean dictator asked for the hotline with South Korea This includes, fact, in its 13 Five Year Plan since 2011 and its performance race for innovation will dictate running across India where the India lacks stringent regulations to be activated. This, ironically, was what the US Secretary of but is not limited that began in May 2016, China has been ahead of the average global dominance. As things western and southern belt of and IP laws, which hinder any State, Rex Tillerson, had been working for, to open a channel laid out a roadmap to becoming lower-middle and upper-mid- have panned out over the last states scores considerably bet- innovative activities. It is a tell- for negotiations. Trump had tweeted, “You are wasting your to, access to an “innovative nation” by 2020 dle-income countries of the year, USA seems to have been ter than the rest of the country. ing fact that in the International time, Rex!” That implied that his original threat of annihilat- technology and an “international innova- world. However, the India State ceding that ground to China. This belt of states also performs IP Index released by the US ing North Korea was the only option left. How could he forget required tion leader” by 2030. Innovation Report 2017 has Denying realities like climate economically better than the Chamber of Commerce, which what one of his great predecessors, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Even before these goals were brought out some interesting change to support industries of rest of India, but per capita ranks 45 economies based on had once said, “Never fear to negotiate but never negotiate for scaling, set, the country had doubled highlights on the state of inno- yesteryears like coal and closing income explains only 60 per patents, trademarks, copyrights, out of fear”? During the campaign, by his own admission, his availability of its spending on R&D between vation in India. doors on the very people who cent of the innovation scores. enforcement and international daughter had asked him to be more “Presidential”. Even today, 2000 and 2016, from 0.9 per First, on a national scale, built the country, seem inimi- Higher industry presence and treaties, India ranks 43. when he sits in the Oval Office, he is anything but “Presiden- funds, leadership cent of its GDP to 2.1 per cent. India lags considerably behind cal to the innovative spirit that better prevalence of institutes There is simply no time for tial”. In the one year that he has been President, he has done and skill, and It is no surprise then, that the the major economies of the has come to define America. A of higher education along with complacency for India when plenty that he should never have stepped upon. Relations with greater Shenzhen-Hong Kong world. As of 2015, India spent huge vacuum will probably be improving linkages between the it comes to matters of innova- old US allies have come under strain, Washington does not also a market for area finds itself ranked sec- 0.88 per cent of its GDP on left behind, and India needs to two has a substantial impact tion. The country has a perfect seem to be as committed to the NATO as it had been since all of this ond in terms of global inven- R&D while Brazil, the US and grasp the opportunity while the on making the environment opportunity to get on board it was set up. Relations with even the most trusted and spe- tive clusters, as measured by Japan spent 1.2, 2.8 and 3.4 time is ripe. conducive to innovation across the innovation train that is cial ally, Britain, is under the scanner. Both Conservative and patents. per cent respectively. As for Second, coming to the sub- these states. swiftly chugging away beyond Labour parliamentarians do not, in the least, seem eager to It is clearly time for India patents, India had filed 17 per national level, India shows a However, there is a multi- its reach. Almost 15 per cent of have him pay the scheduled State visit later this year. Trade to adopt innovation as a para- million people while Brazil, very mixed performance. Delhi, tude of challenges faced even the start-ups in Silicon Valley relations have already been affected. His first New Year tweet digm and a long-term principle China, the US and Japan were Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra by these states in undertaking have been founded by Indians. to Pakistan ought to be lauded, true, but he had been talking to be competitive on the world at 34, 541, 910 and 3,716 respec- were the most innovative states innovation. The first and most We clearly have the capability to about this for quite some time. As far as his decision on rec- stage. Like China, it is critical tively. Finally, India’s share of in 2017. A three-way categori- basic one is that the university do the same in India. Only the ognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is concerned, it has that India works upon build- the global publications stood sation was also done based on system in India lacks focus on enabling factors are lacking. IANS not gone down well with most member states of the United ing an enabling and conducive at 4.2 per cent while China and the classification of develop- research and innovation. Inade- (Amit Kapoor is chair, Nations. On the home front, he has not merely threatened but environment for innovation to the US were at 20.2 and 25.3 mental stages of economies by quate funding dedicated to edu- Institute for Competitive- also has made no secret of the fact that he wants many immi- take place. This includes, but respectively. Therefore, there Michael Porter, considered the cation does not help in building ness, India. Chirag Yadav, grants out. These include even those that had come as infants is not limited to, access to the remains a vast gap for India to guru of competitiveness. Delhi, adequate facilities for research researcher at this Institute, with their parents. Called ‘Dreamers’, these immigrants, who technology required for scaling, cover if it is to catch up with the Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh either. Second, the patenting has contributed to the article. are all grown assets in their own right to the US, have man- availability of funding, leader- global economies in the field of turned out to be the leading process is quite cumbersome in The views expressed aged to get through to the President. A representation of theirs ship and skill, and also a market innovation. states in their respective stages. India and a significant amount are strictly personal.) had detailed talks with him at the Trump Towers in New York and he was reported to be very happy with them. And, now, comes the bombshell that they could be deported soon. A dear large chunk of the ‘Dreamers’ comprise of brilliant minds of Quote martial BOOSTING TOURISM EDITOR millenniumpost.in Indian origin. Such doublespeak has its own negative manifes- tations. Much like the condemnable statements he had made Kudos to our Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who has been earnestly trying to develop Log on to write letters to the on women and their genitalia in a video recording during the Tourism is campaign. 13 women have, since, come out with accusations various places of West Bengal, especially in riverine areas that have tourist attractions. editor or send them to that they had all been sexually assaulted by him, some time the biggest The Gangasagar is a place that has both religious significance and natural beauty. Her [email protected] or another. Predictably, he has denied the allegations. But, at endeavor to make a bridge on the swelling Muriganga river to mitigate the constraint of You can also send your a time when everyone accused of sexual harassment is being industry in the punished, getting hauled up or even losing elections, such alle- communication on this island of national importance is commendable. Many districts have comments to The Editor, gations assume alarming proportions. At a time when peace world non- descript tourist attractions that can fetch more revenue to the government and provide Millennium Post, is at a premium the world over, Trump has been raving and MARTIN PARR employment if efforts are made to encourage weekend tours or jaunts. Pratap Bhawan, 5 Bahadur Shah ranting with a threat thrown in occasionally. As “the leader of the free world”, he certainly could do better. Irrespective of SAMIR CHAKRABORTY Via email Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002 what eventually surfaces from the Mueller investigations into the alleged ‘collusion’ of the Trump transition team with the Russians, President Trump must try and prevail not just as a good and fair leader of his people, but one that others in the ‘free world’ can look up to. Roots of Climate Change Maharashtra New study claims that Vedic Civilisation declined due to weak monsoon in the Indus marred region, leading to migration towards the Ganga basin, writes Akshit Sangomla aharashtra was torn apart by caste violence on aturally occurring The downfall of the civili- Tuesday, as celebrations of subverting caste iden- climate change has sation or the emergence of the tities ironically backfired to become a debacle in been influencing de-urbanisation phase, in turn, the quest for wresting power. The bi-centenary human civilisation was marked by a decrease in Mcelebrations of the Bhima-Koregaon battle, a clash between Nsince its inception. Changing temperature and decline in the upper caste Peshwas and the colonial rulers represented by climate, partly, brought about monsoon rainfall in the region. the Dalits, was markedly reduced in its memorable intensity, The peak the rise and fall of several Around the same time, evi- as mob violence raged the streets of Maharashtra, bringing the of the Vedic ancient civilisations, like that dence from other research areas state to a standstill. The government was left befuddled over of the Mayans and old Egypt, suggests, the flow of the Indus the ‘correct method’ to arrest such an incidence while being Civilisation was according to a NASA report River also reduced which led to sensitive to the concerns of each caste that was at loggerheads characterised by from 2014. It had also said the migration of people further with each other. January 1, 1818, had witnessed a historic bat- that climate change-induced east towards the River Ganga. tle as the British troops represented by the Dalits, clashed with a stable monsoon droughts were adept at chang- This conclusion is also consis- Peshwa Bajirao II’s forces at Koregaon along the Bhima River, and consistent ing the course of human society. tent with the changing cropping a little off Pune. Though outnumbered severely by the power- Now, scientists from the US pattern of the region during the ful Peshwas, the fight ended with Bajirao’s troops withdraw- temperature and China have found further same period. ing themselves to fight another British contingent impinging when all the evidence in this regard. In a This migration of the Indus upon the Pune territorial boundary. To commemorate this research paper published in the valley people towards the fur- symbolic victory, the British had set up and obelisk that car- texts revered by journal, Science Advances, on ther east meant that the Indo ried the name of 22 Dalits, known as the Mahars. Maharashtra the present-day December 13, 2017 suggests Aryan group of people could witnesses annual celebration among the Mahars to celebrate that variations in monsoonal move into the Indus valley this historic event that had alternated caste superiority and Hindus were rainfall over the past 5,700 years and mark the beginning of the witnessed the totemic victory of ‘good over evil’. Remembered composed. This may have influenced major Declining monsoons had propelled de-urbanisation in the Indus Valley Civilisation (REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGE) Vedic Civilisation. The early time and again as an important event in the Dalit dictionary, developments in the ancient phase of this civilisation had a this year witnessed about 10 lakh supporters who gathered to civilisation also Indian civilisations, including enon was no different during with different numbers of neu- data over the period when these stable temperature and strong voice their power that would not succumb to the pressure of declined because expansion and de-urbanisation ancient times. trons—in limestone formations ancient civilisations existed. monsoon rainfall. The Vedic casteism. Yet, ironically, a day that should be celebrated across of the Indus Valley Civilisation, Changing climate impact- (stalactites and stalagmites), Migration from the Indus Civilisation also shifted east India, and not just by the Dalits, as an overcoming of mythical of a weak the rise and fall of the Vedic ing ancient civilisations in Uttarakhand’s Sahiya cave. Valley during a weak monsoon period caste structures, was severely reduced in its valour and mean- monsoon period, Civilisation and downfall of The changing character of Such formations are highly It was already known that in the Indus region. The peak ing as violence erupted among the mob with Dalits claiming according to the the Tibetan Kingdom of Guge the ISM had affected atmo- sensitive to climatic change as the Indus Valley Civilisation of the civilisation was charac- that they were attacked by men from the right-wing. The situ- in the 17th century. spheric temperatures and the their chemistry gets altered. evolved in three distinct phases: terised by a stable monsoon ation rapidly escalated as 25 vehicles were torched by members study The Indian Summer Mon- flow of rivers originating in the The changes in their chemis- the early phase was mostly and consistent temperature, who opposed this gathering that has been a routine affair since soon (ISM), is the annual phe- Himalayas, according to the try are tracked over thousands agrarian, centred on villages; when all the texts revered by the last several decades. Stones were hurled, further damaging nomenon that collects moisture study. Both changing temper- of years to know how climate the later phase was character- the present-day Hindus were public property and ultimately a young 28-year-old bypassing from the Indian Ocean and ature and the changes in river changed over time. ised by the development of cit- composed. This civilisation the protests on his way from office fell prey to the violence and spreads it over the Indian sub- flow would have influenced the Earlier studies of a similar ies, and the third phase was also declined because of a weak succumbed to his injuries. While activists and governments are continent in the form of rain- crops that were grown in the nature had not been able to one of de-urbanisation, where monsoon period, according at loggerheads to pinpoint the source of the mishap, hoping to fall. It influences climate in the region. As these civilisations establish, with conviction, a several cities were abandoned. to the study. The study con- capitalise upon the miscreant and enter another battle emerging region on a large scale and is were completely dependent on relationship between climate The study explains that in the cludes that these changes in from differences in caste and colour—the unquestionable fact crucial for the prevalence of agriculture, the changing crop- and societal changes. This was first two phases, the climate was civilisations would have had remains this: 200-years since the British lent a hand of support annual weather patterns. A siz- ping pattern affected their lives, mainly due to the lack of high- warm and wet due to a stable the involvement of anthropo- to the Mahars, we are still living in a society that is deeply frag- able population in the region, hence, pushing them to look resolution climate records cor- monsoonal pattern, which was genic and local climatic fac- mented and difference is celebrated with animosity far before a which is engaged in agricul- for new avenues and methods responding to the periods when better for growing crops. A sta- tors as well, which is where hand of comfort is extended. The upliftment of Dalits will not ture, depends on monsoon for of civilisation. major upheavals in human ble climate ensured a surplus further studies are required. only assign victory to that community, it will mark the victory their livelihood and survival, The scientists studied the society took place. But, the of agricultural produce during DOWN TO EARTH of our entire country. even in the present time. The occurrence of an oxygen iso- current study provides us with these phases slowly leading to (The views expressed study proves that the phenom- tope—a variant of oxygen an analysis of high-resolution the evolution of cities. are strictly personal.) 9 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018 mp in focus Bitcoins may not be a flash in the pan Institutional safeguards have not prevented IPOS going up in smoke

ith traditional investment avenues not guaranteeing even plausible returns and the equity markets stymied G. SRINIVASAN Wby the greed and recklessness of firms float- ing even initial public offerings (IPOs), leave aside those established ones not living up to their reputations for fair-play, it is small won- der that legions of even ill-informed Indians scramble to trade in virtual currencies (VCs) such as bitcoins! In desperate times, there is a tendency to seek desperate remedies and the latest bonkers is for bitcoins whether such people are from the tinsel world or ordinary middle-class people who plump Bitcoin has for cryptocurrencies of various hues, par- generated high ticularly bitcoins. The Finance Ministry’s latest cautions demand in to people against risks in investing in VCs America and which are like “Ponzi” schemes and that both the Government of India and the apex bank, this mania the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), have not has wrought authorised any VCs as a medium of exchange are but understandable. In its defense, the an explosion Government said VCs are “stored in digital/ in other electronic format, making them vulnerable to hacking, loss of password, malware attack cryptocurrencies etc., which may also result in permanent with about a fifth loss of money. As transactions of VCs are encrypted, they are also likely being used to of the 1000 plus carry on illegal/ subversive activities, such as cryptocurrencies terror-financing, smuggling, drug trafficking, and other money-laundering acts”. in circulation Be that as it may, notwithstanding the having been wild volatility of bitcoin prices, which peaked a record of 19,511 dollars on December 18, created in the 2017 and traded at 13,624.56 in New York second financial on the evening of the New Year on Janu- half of 2017! ary 1, 2018 or close to nine lakh of Indian Indian authorities should not resort to any knee-jerk reaction in condemning Bitcoin (Representational Image) rupees for one bitcoin, the reasons behind While many this swing is ascribed to speculation and the by a bizarre nomenclature Satoshi Nakamoto. a fifth left to be issued, the scarcity spawns fying the existing institutional safeguards for This is par for the course and crucial in cryptocurrencies entry into the market of numerous people Abruptly, the new-fangled financial exot- value. As more digital currencies are paid investors who have been left high and dry for an emerging economy like India, where the hired by the lucre of quick and easy profits. ica has generated high demand in America for with other digital currencies, basically being prudent enough to put their nest-egg authorities are starting to link everything would end up Indian investors with an appetite for risks and this mania has wrought an explosion in bitcoin, the price of the latter surged with savings in IPOs or brownfield expansion of from pension and bank accounts to mid- being nugatory have naturally followed the universal pat- other cryptocurrencies with about a fifth of many holders recycling their gains into new firms for modernisation and technological day meals for school children and Amazon tern. This is despite the government’s warn- the 1000 plus cryptocurrencies in circula- cryptocurrencies, thereby augmenting turn- upgradation. India should also be circum- deliveries to a humongous pan-India biomet- like the dotcom ing, which came close on the heels of three tion having been created in the second half over and letting others to buy in. So the value spect enough to differentiate between cryp- ric database. While extreme centralisation is bubble of 2000, precautionary flags hoisted by the RBI way of 2017! They all promise to become a new of bitcoin, which was 771 dollar in December tocurrencies and the blockchain technology welcome from the authorities, viewpoints in back from 2013. Bitcoin exchanges do not medium of exchange enabling transactions 2016, zoomed to 14,965 dollars in December they are based on. tracking things and rectifying mistakes of many are betting concur with the government’s contention sans such as a bank or a fiat currency such as 2017 at a particular comparable point The Bitcoin is the best-known application of leakage such data analytics permit, block- that bitcoin to trading in cryptocurrencies as a Ponzi the dollar/pound/rupee! While many crypto- aggregate value of all bitcoins in circulation blockchain, a technology with implications chain is fostering its opposite. There are many scheme. No doubt, bitcoin prices are volatile, currencies would end up being nugatory like as reported in authentic western media is 250 that may go much beyond one wildly fluctu- wise people who hold the belief that custom- would emerge but that does not make it Ponzi because Ponzi the dotcom bubble of 2000, many are betting billion US dollars! ating currency. Blockchain is a decentralised, er’s data should be owned by the customer the strongest is something where someone guarantees a that bitcoin would emerge the strongest sur- The potential features of cryptocurren- digital public ledger that logs peer to peer and not by any intermediary and that is the return. Here no one guarantees any return vivor from the wreckage! cies—both as a medium of exchange and as transactions in a system secured by complex reason why Microsoft Corp and IBM are survivor from the to the traders of bitcoins and countries such Economic analysts contend that the more a store of value—is still being studied with cryptographic conundrums. It is immutable leading the battle in backing a decentralised wreckage as Japan and the United States, which allow turbulence plunges the world—be it from giant tech firms such as IBM fostering their and logged on hundreds and thousands of digital ecosystem to ensure that individuals bitcoins trading with the latter recently open- the Trump Presidency in the US, Brexit, the own cryptocurrency platforms to expedite computers across the universe. While it is are in control of their information. But this ing trading in bitcoins derivatives in Chicago secessionist conflict in Spain or the unsettled cross-border transactions in a safe, secure true that the blockchain that underlies bit- is a greater debate entailing the sovereignty Board of Exchanges (Cboe), are not running conditions in the West Asian region with ISI and transparent fashion. Alongside, there are coin has seldom been hacked, cyber crimi- of nations. But cryptocurrencies do hold the a Ponzi scheme! wrecking the Middle East peace policy by its also moves afoot to widen regulatory watch nals have fobbed off billions from the online potentials to vastly enhance the payments A little background is in order as to the medieval tactics, the greater the allure of a of the VCs market with South Korea recently wallet where people hold their digital cards machinery manifestly transparent and to the origin of this new investor craze—be it for currency not bound to any single institution unveiling legislation to either solidly regulate and the exchanges where bitcoin and other extent let us not throw the baby out with the trading, speculation or accumulation of or government! To boot, bitcoin is also ben- exchanges or debar them outright! currencies are traded. It is time that efforts bath water. IPA wealth! Bitcoin is a stateless digital currency efitted by its relative scarcity. There are now Indian authorities should not resort to were made to build safeguards against digital (The author is a freelance that was created a decade ago by an anony- 16.7 million bitcoins in circulation, with the any knee-jerk reaction in condemning bit- thefts so that confidence of the users in the commentator on economic issues. mous coder or congeries of coders, who went supply being fixed at 21 million. With only coin lock, stock, and barrel without intensi- digital economy gets reinforced. Views expressed are strictly personal.)

tweet Pak’s all-weather friend RETWEET Islamabad reaps political dividend out of a provocative Trump

he 45th US President lid Mahmood to this scribe. KAVITA KRISHNAN Donald John Trump’s “Pakistan and the USA friend- @kavita_krishnan 50-word tweet, ship was established by Muham- accusing Pakistan of mad Ali Jinnah who sent his Tsiphoning US $ 33 billion-plus Finance Minister Malik Ghulam India Gate commemorates Indian soldiers SANKAR RAY aid to Afghan terrorists giving Mohammad to the USA for aid who died fighting for the British. Is it anti them ‘safe heaven’ and ‘given and arms. The Pak American us nothing but lies & deceit’ friendship was established to national to light the 'amar jawan jyoti' has been volleyed back by Pak block the Soviet Union and there? Don't think so? Then why are Dalits Minister of Foreign Affairs Kha- Socialism. Pakistan dexter- commemorating #BhimaKoregaon as waja Asif in twitter: “He can hire ously performed this job and victory over Peshwa Army that excluded a US-based Audit firm on our earned tons of hard cash. And Dalit soldiers, being vilified? expense to verify this figure & now, Pakistan services are not let the world know who is lying needed anymore, therefore the & deceiving.” This rebuff was total balance of dole-out ledger expected as Special Assistant is shown. Secondly, President KAUSHIK BASU Pakistan and the to the Pak Prime Minister Dr. Trump, like our many home- Musadik Malik assured that grown demagogues, is not a @kaushikcbasu USA friendship Islamabad would respond to student of history. Whatever was established the US in line of international US President Donald Trump USA doled out to Pakistan had diplomatic norms. But keeping been wisely reciprocated to save One reason the world is in turmoil is by Muhammad up diplomatic dignity, the Paki- longer interested in defeating Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at his Norman during their visits to American vested interests. Not the rules of the game of life are rapidly Ali Jinnah stan Foreign Office summoned terrorism.” residence, attended by Minis- Islamabad. The recent state- a penny of US aid was spent for US Ambassador David Hale and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ter for Foreign Affairs, Min- ments and articulation by the the welfare of masses. If the USA evolving. What was rewarded earlier is no to block the lodged its protest against Presi- leader took a jibe at Trump tell- ister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, American leadership, the meet- does not create anxiety among longer valued. Imagine doing body-building Soviet Union dent Trump’s tweet. ing “the world’s strongest mili- Defence Minister Khurram ing concluded, are completely our hawks, it is very unlikely all your life to be told the prize is not for Trump’s bumptious-as-usual tary force has nothing to show Dastgir, Minister for Defence, incomprehensible as they con- in the current circumstances weightlifting but for solving crosswords. You and Socialism. stance united Pakistan’s rul- off its 16-year long presence Chief of the Army Staff General tradicted facts, struck with great to buck up Taliban and hard- will want to lash out. Pakistan ing and the Opposition parties in Afghanistan but failure and Qamar Javed Bajwa, his second- insensitivity at the trust between liners. Symbolically, New Year against the provocative state- is incapable even of a grace- in- command General Zubair two nations built over genera- Eve celebrations at Lahore and dexterously ment from the White House. ful exit”. Mehmood Hayat, Chief of the tions, and negated the decades Karachi Bahria Towns passed performed Former Pak Ambassador to the The outward restraint not- Naval Staff, Air Chief Admi- of sacrifices made by Pakistan. off without any suicide attacks USA and ex-minister Sherry withstanding, things get unde- ral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, The NSC handout was issued by the Talibans”. SRIJAN : KALAM WAY this job and Rahman, a senator represent- sirably hardened in and around, Chief of the Air Staff Marshal by the Foreign Office stating Based in Gujranwala, Mah- @srijanpalsingh earned tons of ing Pakistan’s People’s Party, thanks to the stupidly myopic Sohail Aman, the PM’s advisor that a consensus is that Paki- mood thinks, “China would not reminded Washington that the obstinacy of Trump administra- on finance, revenue and eco- stan would remain commit- enter this sort of scuffle.” Chi- hard cash. And ‘coalition support funds have tion, which blocked an already- nomic affairs Miftah Ismail, ted to playing a constructive nese Foreign Ministry spokes- now, Pakistan NEVER been counted as AID delayed $255 million military National Security Adviser, Lt. role towards an Afghan-led and man Geng Shuang’s reaction My tributes to the first woman teacher in any accounting by Pakistan, aid to Pakistan. US Ambas- General Nasser Khan Januja, Afghan-owned peace process, endorses this point. Beijing is in the country, #SavitribaiPhule, on her services are not nor will it be seen as part of sador to the United Nations Pakistan’s Ambassador to the not just for the sake of its own happy to see Pakistan engaging birth anniversary today. She campaigned needed anymore, assistance. It was compensation Nikki Haley, who is known US Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry people, but also for the peace in international cooperation, for girls’ education, widow remarriage therefore the total on expenses incurred in joint to often out-Trump the Presi- and other top senior civil and and security of the region and including counter-terrorism, and fought against social evils such as action on border’. In her tweet, dent, promptly informed that military officials. international community. on the basis of mutual respect untouchability. balance of dole- the chair of the non-politicised the US was withholding $255 At the end of the lengthy Hardliners, albeit minority, so as to contribute to regional out ledger think tank stated in a banter- million in aid for Pakistan for deliberations, the extended NSC are not mum. Former Minister peace and stability. “China and ing tone that Pakistan “never the latter’s failure to cooperate observed amid serious disap- during the Musharraf regime, Pakistan are all-weather part- is shown promised a rose garden next fully in America´s fight against pointment that the close inter- Jahangir Khan Tareen, born ners. We stand ready to pro- door in Afghanistan, nor can terrorism. action with the US leadership, in Comillla, now in Bangla- mote and deepen our all-round RAMACHANDRA GUHA it create one. The problem lies Cashing in on the patriotic anticipated as a sequel to the desh, interpreted Trump’s tweet cooperation so as to bring ben- in expecting such while zigzag- response from the Opposition initial pronouncement of the a reflection of ‘complete bank- efits to the two sides. We believe @Ram_Guha ging American policy goalposts – apparently smelt by the gov- policy on South Asia by the new ruptcy and hollow leadership of as neighbours China, Pakistan, with a new toggle jack”. ernment, Islamabad chooses not boss at the White House for a Pakistan today. These lackeys of and Afghanistan are closely PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto to walk into Trump’s provoca- better understanding of each the Sharifs are responsible for linked not only geographically Menachem Begin, the former Prime Zardari, participating in the tive assertions, a construct of other’s perspectives, as the best the manner in which the US but also in terms of common Minister of Israel, once said that “professors tweet war, claimed that the PPP ‘baseless allegations’. The tacti- way forward to achieve durable has treated us today’. interests. It is natural for us to government launched Pakistan’s cal stance is the outcome at an peace and stability in Afghani- A very interesting feedback enhance communication and are a misfortune for the world”. I rather fear first, most extensive and most urgent meeting of the National stan. This was reaffirmed by came from an activist of the exchanges,” he quipped. IPA that our PM thinks likewise. successful anti-terror opera- Security Committee of the Pak Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Progressive Writers Associa- (The views expressed tions adding, the US is “no federal Cabinet, chaired by PM and Defence Secretary James tion and freelance writer Kha- are strictly personal.) 10 world mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018 Trump may go ‘great lengths’ Iranian Gen declares ‘end of the sedition’ TEHRAN: Iran’s Revolution- to end all aid to Pak: Haley ary Guards chief announced the “end of the sedition” on Wednes- UNITED NATIONS: President day as tens of thousands rallied Donald Trump is ready to go to Action against JuD, FIF not taken in a show of strength for the "great lengths" to stop all fund- country’s Islamic rulers after ing for Pakistan as the country under US pressure: Pak Minister days of deadly unrest. continues to harbour and sup- General Mohammad Ali port terrorism, US Ambassador LAHORE: Pakistan has acted against Hafiz Jafari said the Guards only to the UN Nikki Haley has said. Saeed-led Jamaat-ud Dawa and Falah-i-Insaniat intervened “in a limited way” Haley's comment came a against fewer than 15,000 “trou- day after Trump accused Paki- Foundation not under "pressure" from the ble-makers” nationwide, add- stan of giving nothing to the US US but after "serious deliberations", Defence ing that a large number had but "lies and deceit" and provid- Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan said on Wednes- been arrested. Protests over ing "safe haven" to terrorists in day. Pakistan has banned Saeed-led JuD and economic problems broke out return for $33 billion aid over FIF from collecting donations on Monday, after in Iran’s second city Mashhad the last 15 years. Speaking to on December 28 and quickly Pro-government demonstrators gather in Iran's Qom on Wednesday reporters at a news conference President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of spread across the country, at the UN headquarters in New giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and turning against the regime as leader Ayatollah Ali Khame- terrorist content,” he said. York, Haley alleged Pakistan of “The United States expects terrorists,” she said. Nauert said providing "safe haven" to terrorists. The govern- a whole. A total of 21 people nei, as well as placards saying There were few reports of playing "double-game" with the Pakistan to take decisive action Secretary of State Rex Tiller- ment has banned companies and individuals have died in the unrest, with “Death to seditionists”. anti-regime protests overnight, US for years. against the Haqqani Network son and Defence Secretary Jim from making donations to the JuD, the FIF and protesters attacking government A heavy police presence was although it remained difficult "The president is willing to and other militants who are Mattis, who visited Pakistan in buildings and police stations in still on the streets of Tehran, to verify information from the go to great lengths to stop all operating from its soil,” said the last couple of months, had other organisations on the UNSC sanctions list. some areas. along with a large number of provinces. President Hassan funding for Pakistan as they Nauert. “Pakistan is an impor- conveyed the same message to The Securities and Exchange Commission of “Today we can announce the Revolutionary Guards. Rouhani expressed hope in a continue to harbour and sup- tant partner. We have a lot of the country’s leadership. Pakistan (SECP) issued a notification prohibit- end of the sedition,” Jafari said, General Jafari added those phone call with Turkish coun- port terrorism," said Haley. issues in that region. Pakistan The White House also ing the collection of donations by the JuD, the quoted on the Guards’ website. behind the protests had “inter- terpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan "Pakistan has played a dou- knows that, we all know that, defended Trump and asked front organisation of banned outfit Lashkar- e- “A large number of the trou- vened massively on social that the protests would end in ble game for years. They work and we try to work carefully Pakistan to do more to combat ble-makers at the centre of the media” but that “once restric- a few days, a Turkish presiden- with us at times, and they also together on some of those issues. terrorism. Taiba, as well as several other such organisa- sedition, who received train- tions were started, the trou- tial source said. The political harbour the terrorists that attack I don’t want to say that Pak- Pakistan has expressed "deep tions named in a list of banned outfits by the UN ing from counter- revolution- bles reduced”. Telegram and establishment has closed ranks our troops in Afghanistan. That istan can do more, but Paki- disappointment" over the US Security Council. "We have taken action against aries... have been arrested and Instagram were blocked on against the unrest, saying the game is not acceptable to this stan knows what it needs to do,” statements, saying the accusa- the JuD and the FIF not on the pressure of the there will be firm action against cellphones soon after the pro- protests were part of a foreign administration," she said. she said. tions strike with "great insensi- them,” he said. tests began on December 28. plot to destabilise the regime. The US on Tuesday Nauert said the decision was tivity" at the trust between the Trump administration. We have initiated action Jafari spoke after thousands Telecoms Minister Moham- “The enemy is always look- announced that it is withhold- taken in August and Pakistan two countries. Pakistan's For- against Saeed's organisations after 'serious of pro-regime demonstrators mad-Javad Azari Jahromi ing for an opportunity and any ing its $255 million military aid would need to “earn” such assis- eign Minister Khawaja Asif in deliberations'. It is not taken in haste," Khan took to the streets. said Telegram would only be crevice to infiltrate and strike to Pakistan. State Department tance through sincere action. a tweet challenged President said. He said the action was part of the 'Opera- Chants of “Leader, we are unblocked if it removed “ter- the Iranian nation,” Khamenei Spokesperson Heather Nau- “They need to earn, essen- Trump's claim that the US has tion Radul Fasaad', launched in February by the ready” were heard as images rorist” content. said on Tuesday. US President ert, speaking at her daily news tially, the money that we have given Pakistan more than $33 showed thousands rallying in “I had mail exchanges with Donald Trump said Iranians conference, described Pakistan provided in the past in foreign billion dollars as aid over the last Pakistan military to disarm and eliminate the the cities of Qom, Ahvaz, Ker- the head of Telegram and I told were trying to “take back” their as an “important partner” and military assistance, they need 15 years, saying verification by hidden terrorist sleeper cells across the country manshah and elsewhere. The him that the continuation of government, extending a drum- said Islamabad must do more to show that they are sincere in an audit firm would prove the with support of local law enforcement agencies. demonstrators waved Iranian Telegram’s activities is condi- beat of encouragement for the to combat terrorism. their efforts to crack down on US president wrong. AGENCIES flags and pictures of supreme tioned on the suppression of protests. AGENCIES Pak test-fires Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia Peru bus plunge kills 48: Police naval cruise

LIMA: A bus plunged over a Lima, said Colonel Dino Escu- missile 'Harba' not linked to any ‘deal’: Aide seaside cliff in Peru, killing at dero, head of the police high- least 48 people after a collision way patrol division. LAHORE: Nawaz Sharif and Both brothers had a meet- with a truck on a precarious The Pasamayo highway on his younger brother Shahbaz's ing with the Crown Prince dur- stretch known as the "devil's which the tragedy occurred is recent visit to Saudi Arabia had ing their stay. Sharif stayed for curve," officials said. only used by trucks and buses, "nothing" to do with a reported three days while Shahbaz for a The bus was travelling from as cars travel a different route. "deal" with Pakistan's military week in Saudi Arabia. Huacho, 130 kilometers north It is a dangerous sea-hug- establishment to provide their Shahbaz told reporters on of the capital, to Lima with 55 ging road where fog is frequent family a relief from the corrup- his return on Tuesday that passengers and two crew on and high humidity can make tion cases, a close aide of the their visits to Saudi were not board when it went off the road the roadway slippery. ousted prime minister has said. of "unusual" nature. about midday. The bus driver had a lot ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Sharif, 67, left for Saudi Ara- "Our visit to Saudi Arabia It plunged 100 meters and of experience and was work- Navy on Wednesday said it suc- bia on a Saudi Airlines flight was not unusual. I will hold a landed upside down on rocks ing with an assistant, said Luis cessfully test-fired the indige- on December 30. His younger linked to the Panama Papers separate press conference to at the edge of the sea. Martinez, a representative of nously developed 'Harba' naval brother and Punjab Chief Min- scandal. discuss the visit," he said. The incident "left at least 48 Transportes San Martin de Por- cruise missile after launching ister Shahbaz Sharif was already "Nawaz Sharif and Shah- Asked if the visit had any- victims" dead, the statement res, which owned the bus. it from a newly commissioned in Saudi Arabia on an "official baz Sharif met Crown Prince thing to do with the attempts to posted on the Interior Minis- ers to the wreck of the blue bus Maria Elena Aguilar, direc- Martinez could not con- fast attack vessel. visit". Mohammad bin Salman in Jed- get another National Reconcili- try's website said, revising an while others made the precari- tor of Alcides Carrion Hospi- firm whether the driver had "The missile is capable of It was reported that Shah- dah during their stay. However ation Ordinance (NRO) for the earlier toll of 36. ous journey down on foot with tal in El Callao, said her facility been killed or injured, but hitting its target from surface baz had gone there to prepare their meeting had nothing to do Sharif family to get relief from Efforts to recover bodies the assistance of ropes. received five patients with mul- added that the bus underwent to surface and ground assault," the ground for the visit of his with any kind of deal here in corruption cases, he said, "For from the overturned vehicle The navy sent a patrol boat tiple injuries. a mechanical check before leav- the Pakistan Navy said in a brother who Opposition parties Pakistan," said Senator Pervaiz God's sake. Saudi Arabia is one were suspended at nightfall to assist the rescuers trying to One other survivor was ing Huacho. statement. claimed needed his friends in Rashid, a close aide of Sharif. of the best friends of Pakistan. because the tide had risen and get everyone out before the taken to a different hospital. More than 2,500 people The indigenously-built mis- the Saudi royal family to reach He said the details of the It has always helped Pakistan reached the bus, the police said. tide came in. There were sev- The accident took place died in traffic accidents in Peru sile was launched from PNS a "deal" with Pakistan's military visit to will become known in during crises like floods, earth- A police helicopter had eral survivors, although most on a coastal highway about 45 in 2016, according to official Himmat and it successfully hit to get a relief from the graft cases the coming days. quakes and wars". AGENCIES winched some rescue work- on board the bus perished. kilometers north of the capital figures. AGENCIES the target, it said. "The missile accurately hit its target signifying the impres- sive capabilities of Harbah Norway suspends arms, ammo Naval Weapon System," said the statement. "The successful live weapon firing has once again demon- exports to UAE amid war in Yemen strated the credible firepower of Pakistan Navy and the COPENHAGEN: Norway used in Yemen but that there's group. There was no comment into exile the Saudi-backed and impeccable level of indigeni- on Wednesday said it has sus- "great concern" over the human- from Kongsberg or from the internationally recognised gov- sation in high tech weaponry pended exports of munitions itarian crisis. The Emirati gov- Saudi-led coalition. It was also ernment of Yemeni President achieved by Pakistan's defence and arms to the United Arab ernment offered no immediate not clear when the sub was pur- Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. industry," it said. Emirates as a "precautionary comment on Norway's decision. portedly seized. Despite a fierce air campaign Naval Chief Admiral Zafar line," based on its assessment of On Tuesday, Norwegian Eriksen Soreide said that against them, the rebels still Mahmood Abbasi witnessed the situation in Yemen, where newspaper Verdens Gang pub- since 2010, Norway has allowed control Yemen's capital, Sanaa, the test launch. a Saudi-led coalition has been lished a video by the Yemeni sale of weapons and ammuni- and much of the country's north Speaking on the occasion, fighting Shiite rebels for the past rebels, known as the Houthis, in tion to the UAE. The decision along the border with Saudi he said the Pakistan Navy will three years. which they claim to have seized to suspend sales for so-called Arabia. Earlier this month, the ensure defence of the country's The UAE is part of the coali- "a US spy submarine." A-material "munitions and Houthis killed Yemen's former shores and interests. Further tion. Foreign Minister Ine Erik- The Norwegian newspaper arms" was made December 19 president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, details like the exaction loca- sen Soreide said she has "no said it was a REMUS 600 Auton- and announced. The Houthis, after he broke off his alliance tion of the launch and other information" that any of Nor- omous Underwater Vehicle who are allied with Saudi Ara- with the rebels and appeared features of the missile were not way's military exports have been made by Norway's Kongsberg bia's rival, Iran, have forced ready to switch sides. AGENCIES disclosed by the navy. AGENCIES Suicide blast kills 14 1st Blue Moon total eclipse in in Nigeria mosque 150 years to occur this month KANO: Fourteen worshippers peared into the darkness and we were killed on Wednesday when believe it was he who attacked WASHINGTON DC: A rare a suicide bomber attacked a the mosque," Mada said. total lunar eclipse that involves mosque on Nigeria's border Boko Haram's eight-year the second full moon of the with Cameroon, civilian vigi- insurgency against the gov- month - popularly referred to lantes said. ernment of Nigeria has spilled as a Blue Moon - is set to take The suspected Boko Haram into neighbouring Niger, Chad place on January 31 for the first jihadist blew himself up amid and Cameroon, killing around time in over 150 years. worshippers inside the mosque 20,000 people and displacing This will be the first eclipse in Gamboru around 5:00 am, more than 2.6 million. of 2018. For the Indian sub- shortly before morning prayers. In August 2014, the group continent, the Middle East and "Fourteen bodies have been seized Gamboru, a trading Eastern Europe, the eclipse will pulled out of the rubble," said hub along with neighbouring already be underway as the Umar Kachalla, a civilian mili- town of Ngala. Nigerian troops Moon rises. tiaman, who said the mosque retook both towns in September The Pacific Ocean will be had been completely destroyed. 2015 with the help of Chadian turned towards the Moon at "Only the muezzin has sur- forces following months-long the time and the eclipse will vived and we believe more bod- offensives. take place during the middle of America, however. The dura- through Earth's umbra will be ies are buried under the debris," Despite the recapture of the the night. Central and eastern tion of the total phase is 77 min- on December 31, 2028, and, said Kachalla. "The death toll area, Boko Haram fighters con- Asia, Indonesia, New Zealand utes, with the moon tracking after that, on January 31, 2037. may likely rise." An hour ear- tinue to launch sporadic attacks, and most of Australia will get through the southern part of Both of these eclipses will be lier, a patrol of vigilantes spotted laying ambush on troops and a fine view of this Moon show the Earth's shadow. total. four suspected suicide bomb- vehicles as well as attacking and in the evening sky. During totality, the Moon's Before 2017, there was an ers on the outskirts of the town abducting farmers. On Tuesday Alaska, Hawaii and north- lower limb will appear much eight per cent partial eclipse and arrested one of them after Boko Haram leader Abubakar western Canada will see the brighter than the dark upper on December 31, 2009, but the a chase, said a second vigilante, Shekau released a video mes- eclipse from start to finish. limb, 'Space.com' reported. last total eclipse of a Blue Moon Shehu Mada. sage claiming a series of attacks Moonset will intervene for After this year, the next happened all the way back in "Two of them turned back in the northeast including those the rest of North and Central time that a Blue Moon passes March 31, 1866. AGENCIES and fled while the fourth disap- in Gamboru. AGENCIES world 11 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018 mp Trump to Kim: My button’s bigger than yours WASHINGTON DC: US President Donald Trump on Will announce Wednesday warned that his Palestinians say won’t be blackmailed "nuclear button" is "much big- most ‘dishonest ger and more powerful" than the one controlled by North and corrupt’ media after Trump threat to withdraw US aid Korea's Kim Jong Un, as the White House said it was keep- awards: Trump RAMALLAH: Palestinian lead- ing all of its options on the table ers said on Wednesday they to curb Pyongyang's atomic WASHINGTON: President will not be “blackmailed” after programme. Donald Trump who shares a US President Donald Trump Trump's response followed bitter relationship with the threatened to cut aid worth a New Year's Day address by mainstream American press more than $300 million annu- Kim, who said that North has said he will announce the ally, his latest provocative move Korea's nuclear weapons can "most dishonest and corrupt" that could upturn years of care- reach anywhere in the US and media awards next week. ful diplomacy. threatened that he has a nuclear Trump has been at log- Relations between Trump’s button on his desk. gerheads with several US White House and the Palestin- The two leaders have threat- mainstream media outlets, ians were already tense after ened one another's countries including the CNN, ABC the US president’s recognition with nuclear weapons repeat- News, The New York Times of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital edly over the last year. and the Washington Post last month. ately clear whether Trump was cial Hanan Ashrawi said in a "North Korean Leader Kim among others. The December 6 announce- threatening all of the budget, statement that “we will not be Jong Un just stated that the He has quite oftenment concerning the disputed worth $319 million in 2016, blackmailed”. Nuclear Button is on his desk described these popular media city led Palestinian president according to US government “President Trump has sab- at all times. Will someone from "The focus here is to apply relations with South Korea and sile programme. Since Febru- houses as "fake" media. Mahmud Abbas to say the figures. The United States has otaged our search for peace, his depleted and food starved maximum pressure on North said Pyongyang might attend ary, Pyongyang has fired off 23 The term is now popularly United States could no longer long provided the Palestinian freedom and justice,” she said. regime please inform him that Korea and the US wants other the 2018 Winter Olympics to missiles. On November 29, the related to news with which one play any role in the Middle East Authority with much-needed “Now he dares to blame I too have a Nuclear Button, countries to join it in this," be held in the South Korean North Korean leader said that does not agree with. peace process. budgetary support and security the Palestinians for the conse- but it is a much bigger & more White House Press Secretary city of Pyeongchang. his country had achieved full "I will be announcing THE Trump’s threat in a tweet on assistance, as well as an addi- quences of his own irrespon- powerful one than his, and my Sarah Sanders told reporters. South Korea welcomed the nuclear statehood after what he MOST DISHONEST & COR- Tuesday to try to force the Pales- tional $304 million for UN pro- sible actions!” Button works!" Trump said in "This is a global threat, North Korean offer and pro- said was the successful test of a RUPT MEDIA AWARDS OF tinians into negotiations led to grammes in the West Bank and However, several Israeli a tweet. which is why we're calling on posed holding high-level talks new missile capable of striking THE YEAR on Monday at 5:00 further outrage, though Israeli Gaza. Israel receives more than ministers voiced support for In a televised address to everybody to step up and do with Pyongyang. anywhere in the United States. o'clock," Trump said in a late- ministers lauded the move. $3 billion in military aid per year Trump, with the country’s the nation, Kim had said the more and we're going to con- Sanders said the develop- Fears of a catastrophic con- night tweet. The Palestinians rely heavily from Washington. right-wing government hav- entire area of the US mainland tinue working with a lot of ments would not change US' flict between the US and North "Subjects will cover Dis- on international aid, with many Abbas’s spokesman said ing seized on the US president’s is within North Korea's nuclear different leaders and other relations with South Korea Korea spiked as the leaders of honesty & Bad Reporting in analysts, including Israelis, say- they were not against negotia- support to push ahead with ini- strike range. countries to help do that," she "which remains stronger than the two nations taunted each various categories from the ing such assistance helps main- tions, but that talks should be tiatives seen as dealing further In the same address, the said. ever". other, with Trump calling the Fake News Media. Stay tuned!" tain stability in a volatile region. “based on international laws blows to remaining hopes for North Korean leader also said Sanders said the US is keep- "We're going to continue to North Korean leader 'Rocket Trump said. “We pay the Palestinians and resolutions that have rec- a two- state solution. Culture his country needs to mass-pro- ing all its options "on the table". work with South Korea to put Man'. He, however, excluded HUNDRED OF MILLIONS ognised an independent Pales- and Sport Minister Miri Regev, duce nuclear warheads and bal- Earlier, Trump said the US- maximum pressure on North The US and its allies, Fox News, his favourite news OF DOLLARS a year and get no tinian state with east Jerusalem from Prime Minister Benjamin listic missiles and accelerate led international sanctions and Korea and work towards the including Japan and South channel. appreciation or respect,” Trump as its capital”. Netanyahu’s Likud party, said their deployment. "other pressures" are begin- ultimate shared goal that we Korea, have put increasing eco- In November, he tweeted tweeted. “With the Palestinians “Jerusalem is the eternal cap- “you cannot on the one hand The White House called ning to have a big impact on both have," she said in response nomic pressure on North Korea about a competition among no longer willing to talk peace, ital of the state of Palestine and receive $300 million in Ameri- North Korea "a global threat" the authoritarian North Korean to a question. in an attempt to halt the reclu- news networks for the "Fake why should we make any of it is not for sale for gold or bil- can aid per year and at the same and asked countries to step up regime after its leader Kim North Korea last year sive regime's nuclear and mis- News Trophy", excluding Fox these massive future payments lions,” Nabil Abu Rudeina said. time close the door on negotia- pressure against it. called for a breakthrough in increased the pace of its mis- sile development. AGENCIES News. AGENCIES to them?” It was not immedi- Senior Palestinian offi- tions”. AGENCIES Inter-Korean hotline Suu Kyi govt ups US seeks no extension minimum wage Ethiopian govt to release all reopens after Seoul as Myanmar political prisoners, close camp of H-1B visas, Indians economy staggers proposed talks ADDIS ABABA: In a surprise may be hit, says report YANGON: Myanmar is set to move, Ethiopia's leader on raise the minimum wage to Wednesday announced plans WASHINGTON: The US is around 3.60 a day, state media to drop charges against political considering new regulations to announced on Wednesday, as prisoners and close a notorious prevent the extension of H-1B Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian gov- prison camp in what he called visas as part of president Donald ernment struggles to project an effort to "widen the demo- Trump's "Buy American, Hire economic progress after almost cratic space for all." American" initiative, a move two years in power. This is the first time the which could hit tech firms and The new daily figure of 4,800 government has acknowledged hundreds of thousands of Indian kyats represents a 33 percent holding political prisoners. IT professionals, a media report increase on Myanmar's first- Prime Minster Hailemar- said. ever minimum wage introduced iam Desalegn's comments The move could directly stop in 2015 by the previous army- came after anti-government hundreds of thousands of for- backed administration. protests engulfed much of the eign workers from keeping their SEOUL: Pyongyang said on leadership, we will make close "The new minimum wage restive Oromia and Amhara H-1B visas while their green visa programmes," said Jona- Wednesday it will restore a hot- contact with South Korea in a will be applied across all regions regions in recent months, This is the first time Prime Minster card applications are pending. than Withington, chief of media line with the South, after Seoul sincere and faithful manner," the and states to all businesses with bringing many businesses, The proposal which is being relations for United States Citi- proposed high-level talks in Yonhap news agency quoted Ri 10 or more workers," the state- universities and transport net- Hailemariam Desalegn led government shared between the Department zenship and Immigration Ser- response to Kim Jong-Un's calls Son-gwon, the head of North backed Global New Light of works to a standstill. The some- has acknowledged holding political of Homeland Security Depart- vices (USCIS). for better relations and sugges- Korea's agency handling inter- Myanmar reported. times deadly protests, the most ment (DHS) heads is part of The H1B visa is a non-immi- tion his country might attend Korean affairs, as saying. Suu Kyi's National League serious since the current gov- prisoners Trump's "Buy American, Hire grant visa that allows US compa- the Winter Olympics. It reported that the North's for Democracy (NLD), which ernment came to power in American" initiative promised nies to employ foreign workers Kim also welcomed Seoul's Committee for the Peaceful took power in April 2016, made 1991, spread into other parts of media sites currently blocked. tody include opposition lead- during the 2016 campaign, US- in speciality occupations that support for his overtures, a Reunification of Korea (CPRK) the economy a central plank of the East African country, lead- "I'm writing you this strug- ers Bekele Gerba and Merara based news agency McClatchy require theoretical or techni- North Korean official told said it will discuss practical mat- its campaign. But critics say it ing to a months-long state of gling with my tears," wrote Gudina. A number of journal- DC Bureau reported. cal expertise. state television. In his New ters involving the participation has failed to make real prog- emergency that has since been renowned blogger and former ists also remain in detention. It aims to impose new It is typically issued for Year address, Kim warned the of North Korean athletes at the ress, struggling to pass laws that lifted. detainee Befeqadu Hailu. "All The months of protests restrictions to prevent abuse and three to six years to employ- US that he has a "nuclear but- Pyeongchang Games. make Myanmar an easier place "Political prisoners that are these pledges need to be imple- demanding wider freedoms misuse of H-1B visas, besides ers to hire a foreign worker. ton" on his table, but extended Kim "expressed welcome" to do business or articulate a facing prosecutions and are mented immediately." began in late 2015 and led to ending the provision of granting But H-1B holders who have an olive branch to the South, after South Korean President clear economic vision. already under arrest will be Rights groups and oppo- hundreds of reported deaths extension for those who already begun the green card process saying his country might take Moon Jae-In said he supported Myanmar saw GDP growth released," Hailemariam said. sition groups in Ethiopia had and tens of thousands of arrests have a green card. can often renew their work visas part in the Pyeongchang Win- Kim's offer of seeking reconcili- in 2017 slow to 5.9 per cent, the "And the notorious prison cell been calling for the release of while disrupting one of Africa's "The act currently allows indefinitely. ter Olympics next month. In ation, Ri said on North Korean International Monetary Fund that was traditionally called political prisoners, saying they fastest growing economies. the administration to extend The technology companies response, South Korea's unifi- state TV monitored in Seoul. said in November, estimating a Maekelawi will be closed down were arrested on trumped-up "The crackdown on the the H-1B visas for thousands depend on H-1B to hire tens of cation minister Cho Myoung- Meanwhile, host South Korea rebound to 6.7 per cent this year. and turned into a museum." charges and were being pun- political opposition saw mass of immigrants, predominantly thousands of employees each Gyon on Tuesday offered to hold is well prepared should North Supporters of the govern- It was not immediately ished for their points of view. arbitrary arrests, torture and Indian immigrants, beyond the year from countries like India high-level talks on January 9 to Korea decide to take part in the ment contend it is too early to clear how many political pris- Ethiopia's government has long other ill-treatment, unfair trials allowed two three-year terms and China. discuss the North's participa- Pyeongchang Winter Olym- judge an administration which oners were being held across been accused of arresting criti- and violations of the rights to if a green card is pending," the The proposed changes tion in the Olympics as well as pics, with a cruise ship ready to inherited a battered economy in the country, a close US secu- cal journalists and opposition freedom of expression and asso- report said. would have a dramatic effect other matters of mutual interest. transport and accommodate its one of Southeast Asia's poorest rity ally. Ethiopians were quick leaders. Some of the prominent ciation," rights group Amnesty "The idea is to create a sort of particularly on Indian visa hold- "By upholding a decision by the athletes, organisers said. AGENCIES countries. AGENCIES to respond, even with social politicians currently in cus- International has said. AGENCIES 'self- deportation' of hundreds of ers considering more than half thousands of Indian tech work- of all H-1B visas have been ers in the United States to open awarded to Indian nationals, up those jobs for Americans," it the report said, quoting the Pew said, quoting a source briefed Research Center report. Autopsy reveals Sherin died of ‘homicidal violence’ by Homeland Security officials. Trump had made the alleged "The agency is considering abuse and fraud in H-1B visa HOUSTON: The much- Indian-American parents of home by CPS officials after later on Wednesday to release a number of policy and reg- system a major election issue awaited autopsy report in the Sherin - Wesley Mathews and Sherin went missing. more details of the case. ulatory changes to carry out during his campaign. After death of 3-year-old Sherin Sini Mathews. The couple can either forfeit Meanwhile, a community the President's Buy Ameri- becoming the president, he Mathews says she died of During a child custody their parental rights during group in Richardson has can, Hire American Executive signed an executive order aimed “homicidal violence,” US media hearing in late November, a Wednesday’s hearing, or the thanked the Richardson Police Order, including a thorough at tightening the process of issu- reported on Wednesday, nearly doctor testified before a court court could decide a date for a Department for its ongoing review of employment-based ing the H 1B visas. AGENCIES three months after the adopted that Sherin, who was adopted civil trial to possibly terminate investigation into Sherin’s Indian girl was found dead in from India, had broken bones their rights, the report said. death. a culvert in suburban Dallas. and had injuries in various Wednesday’s hearing would A group made up of Sherin went missing from stages of healing, indicating mark the third CPS hearing for Richardson residents presented her home in Richardson on abuse. the Indian-American adoptive police with a plaque on October 7 and her body was Initially, Sherin’s foster parents of Sherin. Tuesday, thanking them for found on October 22 in a father Wesley told police that Last month, the couple, their response and hard work culvert in suburban Dallas by he put her outside their home hailing from Kerala, in the complex and high- a cadaver dog after an intense at 3 a.m. to discipline her for temporarily lost their rights to profile case that had attracted search. The toddler’s body was not drinking her milk. see their biological child, who international media attention. identified days later using her His story changed after her has been placed with a family Bill Allen, who lived near dental records. body was found in a culvert, member in the Houston area. where Sherin’s body was found, Sherin died of “homicidal telling police that he “physically During the hearing, both presented the special plaque violence”, a law enforcement assisted” with pouring the Wesley and Sini pleaded the to the police department. official in Dallas, Texas, milk down Sherin’s throat and fifth amendment in court in With his neighbours, they confirmed to WFAA TV then moved her body after he response to pointed questions formed an informal group station, indicating the manner realised she had choked and about their alleged involvement to express gratitude for all of death for the girl. died. adoptive mother, Sini, 35, is Sini Mathews had anything in Sherin’s death to avoid the investigators. They also A cause of death could not Wesley also admitted to charged with abandoning or to do with the death of Sherin self-incrimination. dedicated a bench in Sherin’s be determined due to extensive police that he removed Sherin’s endangering a child. Both are Mathews,” Mitch Nolte told Wesley is still being held on memory this past weekend, decomposition, the official said. body from the home after currently lodged in a Dallas jail. WFAA in a statement. a $1 million bond. Sini had her FOX4News.com reported. Steven Kurtz with the Dallas changing his story multiple The attorney representing The news about the autopsy bond reduced from $250,000 to “To have the community County medical examiner’s times on the events leading Sini Mathews said the report, report on Sherin has reportedly $100,000 in December. If she come together and come to office said that Sherin was up to her death. Wesley and received on Tuesday evening been sent to Wesley and Sini is indeed released, she will be us and acknowledge the good a victim of homicide, the his wife Sini also left Sherin from the Dallas County as they are expected to appear required to wear an electronic work that the men and women Associated Press reported. home alone the night before District Attorney’s Office, does in court later on Wednesday ankle monitor, as she is said to of this police department have An earlier report had said her disappearance, according not implicate her in Sherin’s for a Child Protective Services be a ‘flight risk’ who could try done means so, so much to that the autopsy report of to an arrest warrant affidavit. death. (CPS) custody hearing for their to flee to India. us,” said Richardson Police Sherin has been handed over to Wesley, 37, is charged with “There is nothing in the 4-year-old biological daughter. Richardson Police have Department Chief Jimmy the attorneys for the adoptive injury to a child, while the autopsy results that indicate She was removed from the scheduled a press conference Spivey. AGENCIES 12 business mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018 Govt nod to revised Earnings through railway ticket concession pact for sales up by over `2,000 cr in FY17 PPP projects at ports Railways set Dec 2018 deadline to link locomotives via satellite NEW DELHI: Indian Railways The railways is also working has set a target of December with the Indian Space Research 2018 to link all its locomotives Organisation to use its satel- via ISRO satellites, making it lite-based system to check easy to track trains and com- accidents at unmanned rail- municate with their crew in way crossings and track train real time, officials said. movements. NEW DELHI: The govern- procedure of charging royalty By year-end, all 10,800 Working on a pilot project ment on Wednesday approved which is equal to the percent- locos of the railways will have with ISRO, the railways has a revised model concession age of gross revenue, quoted antennas fixed on them and installed space agency-devel- pact for projects based on pub- during bidding, calculated on they will be monitored inside oped integrated circuit (IC) lic private partnership (PPP) the basis of upfront normative the driver's cabin, senior offi- a senior railway board mem- chips on some train engines. design at major ports to make tariff ceiling prescribed by Tar- cials of the national transporter ber said. The Indian Regional Navi- the investment climate more iff Authority for Major Ports said. Officials said trials for this gation Satellite System (or investor friendly. (TAMP). "We have already tried it system have been done on the NaVIC) will be used to warn The revised Model Con- The government said this on 10 locos and by Decem- New Delhi-Guwahati and New road users of approaching cession Agreement (MCA) will help to resolve the long ber 2018 we will have this sys- Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani routes trains through hooters installed includes providing an exit route pending grievances of pub- tem installed in all our locos," on six electric locomotives. at unmanned road crossings. PTI to developers by way of divest- lic private participation (PPP) ing their equity up to 100 per operators that revenue share NEW DELHI: Railways earned the corresponding period next cent after completion of two is payable on ceiling tariff and an additional Rs 2,000 crore year it increased by Rs 2354.16 years from the Commercial price discounts are ignored. through sale of tickets in 2016- crore. Over 90k contract labourers working in railways Operation Date (COD), simi- The problems associated 2017 as compared to the previ- This refers to the fiscal year lar to the MCA provisions of with fixing storage charges by ous fiscal, the government told ending March 2017. NEW DELHI: Over 90,000 Central Railway, spread over in Kolkata and Western Rail- been issued to zonal railways the highway sector. TAMP and collection of rev- Parliament on Wednesday. "With a view to facilitating contractual labourers work six divisions - Hyderabad, way (7,328) headquartered in that cases of violation of the "The Union Cabinet chaired enue share on storage charges Minister of State for railways convenient booking of unre- with the Indian Railways, Secunderabad, Guntakal, Mumbai. above laws, if any, should be by Prime Minister Narendra which has plagued many proj- Rajen Gohain told Lok Sabha served tickets by passengers Parliament was informed on Guntur, Vijayawada, Nanded "Railways as principal dealt with in accordance with Modi has approved amend- ects will also get eliminated. that in 2015-2016, the national without having to stand in Wednesday. and spread over the states of employer ensures that con- the extant provisions", Gohain ments in the Model Concession The statement said con- transporter earned Rs 17,204.06 long queues to purchase rail- Minister of State for Rail- Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya tract labourers are provided said. Agreement to make the port cessionaire would be free to crore through booking of tickets way tickets, Indian Railways has ways Rajen Gohain told Lok Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil facilities by the contractor as According to data collected projects more investor-friendly deploy higher capacity equip- online and Rs 28,119 crore in introduced facility of booking Sabha on Wednesday that Nadu and Andhra Pradesh - per provisions of labour laws by the Seventh Pay Commis- and make investment climate ment/facilities/technology offline booking while in 2016- paperless unreserved tickets, there are 94,165 contract has the highest number of such including the Contract Labour sion, in 2012-13, the central in the port sector more attrac- and carry out value engineer- 2-017, it earned 19,209.28 crore season ticket and platform ticket labourers in railways and are labourers - 9,043. (Regulation and Abolition) government spent Rs.300.49 tive," the Ministry of Shipping ing for higher productivity in online booking and 28,468.81 through mobile phone in some engaged by contractors them- This is followed by South- Act, 1970 and minimum wages crore on contract or tempo- said in a statement. and improved utilisation and/ crore in offline booking. stations in Central, Western, selves directly depending upon east Central Railway (9,339) as notified by the Central or rary workers. Among minis- The amendments in the or cost saving of project assets. The revenue generated Eastern, Southern, South East- the nature and quantum of which is headquartered in State governments under the tries and departments, Indian MCA envisage constitution In the new agreement, through tickets in 2015-2016 ern, South Central and North- outsourced work. Bilaspur, South Eastern Rail- Minimum Wages Act, 1948. Railways spent the highest, of the Society for Affordable "actual project cost" would be was Rs 45,323.93 crore while in ern Railways", Gohain said. PTI The minister said South way (8,000) headquartered "Suitable instructions have about Rs.35 crore a year. PTI Redressal of Disputes - Ports replaced by "total project cost". (SAROD- PORTS) as dispute The new definition of resolution mechanism similar "change in law" will also include Consumers used to provision available in high- imposition of standards and India signed defence deals worth `2.40 lakh cr in last 4 years ways sector. conditions arising out of TAMP 1.6 GB data per The government said under guidelines/orders, environ- NEW DELHI: India has inked while 68 procurement deals 46,390 crore while it was Rs crore from strategic disinvest- provision of additional land to mental law and labour laws and month in Sept 2017 187 contracts involving Rs 2.40 worth Rs 1.24 crore have been 52,960 crore in 2015-16. ment and Rs 11,000 crore from the concessionaire, land rent increase and imposition of new lakh crore with foreign and signed with foreign vendors. In 2016-17, the value of listing of insurance compa- has been reduced from 200 taxes, duties, etc for compen- NEW DELHI: The average domestics firms for procure- The value of total contracts defence production by these nies," he said. per cent to 120 per cent of the sating the concessionaire. monthly data usage per sub- ment of various military plat- signed in the last four years government entities was Rs Meanwhile, a top Israeli applicable scale of rates for the Since the viability of the scriber has seen a manifold forms and equipment in the comes to Rs 2.40 lakh crore. 55,890 crore, he said. arms firm has confirmed that proposed additional land. project was affected, conces- growth to 1.6 GB in September last four years. He said the expenditure on Bhamre said the budget India cancelled a $500 million "Concessionaire would pay sionaire will now be com- 2017 from around 70MB three Replying to a question in capital acquisition in 2014-15 estimate for disinvestment in deal to develop Spike anti-tank royalty on "per MT of cargo/ pensated for the increase and years ago, helped by strong the Lok Sabha, Minister of State was Rs 65,862 crore while the 2017-18 is Rs 72,500 crore. guided missiles and expressed TEU handled" basis which imposition of new taxes, duties growth in subscriber base for Defence Subhash Bhamre figures for 2015-16 and 2016- defence production by Ord- "This comprised Rs 46,500 “regret” over the decision just would be indexed to the varia- etc except in respect of impo- across the country, Parliament said 119 contracts involving 17 were Rs 62,235 crore and Rs nance Factory Board and other crore from disinvestment of ahead of Prime Minister Ben- tions in the WPI annually," the sition/increase of a direct tax, was informed on Wednesday. Rs 1.62 lakh crore have been 68,252 crore respectively. defence public sector under- CPSEs (central public sector jamin Netanyahu’s first visit to statement said. both by central and state gov- There has also been a sig- signed with Indian vendors Bhamre said value of takings during 2014-15 was Rs enterprises) and Rs 15,000 the country. PTI This will replace the present ernment. PTI nificant growth in adoption of digital payments and elec- Corporate bond India Inc raises tronic delivery of services, IT ‘CIL examining feasibility Sebi eases ‘scheme of arrangement’ Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to the investment limit over `46,000 cr Lok Sabha. "(As per Trai), the aver- of producing methanol’ oversubscribed, standards for listed companies via QIP during age data usage per subscriber per month was at 70.10 MB in NEW DELHI: The government FPIs bid for $2.5 bn NEW DELHI: Markets regula- "No additional lock-in shall April-Nov 2017 June 2014. This grew to 1600 on Wednesday said state- run tor Sebi on Wednesday relaxed be applicable if the post scheme MB in September 2017," he miner Coal India Ltd (CIL) NEW DELHI: Corporate disclosure, promoters' share shareholding pattern of the NEW DELHI: Indian firms said. is examining the feasibility of bonds attracted bids worth $2.5 lock-in and listing related com- unlisted entity is exactly simi- mobilised over Rs 46,000 crore The total internet sub- producing methanol and other billion from foreign investors pliance requirements for listed lar to the shareholding pattern by issuing shares to institu- scriber base also grew from chemicals. in an auction on Wednesday firms undertaking 'schemes of of the listed entity," Sebi said. tional investors during the 259.14 million in June 2014 "Also, CIL (Coal India) is as against the debt investment arrangement' such as mergers Further, Sebi has provided April-November period of the to 429.23 million (including exploring techno-commer- limit of $2 billion on offer, and demergers, including those 60 days to listed or transferee current fiscal, nearly 11-fold 129.41 million in rural areas) cial feasibility of production of GAIL, RCF and FCIL on nomi- exchange data showed. involving subsidiaries and their entity to list specified securi- rise from the year-ago period. in September 2017, he added. methanol and other chemicals," nation basis. Goyal further said The investment limit for divisions. vis the draft scheme. The regu- ties from the current 45 days. In comparison, they had The total base of wireless Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said that the methodology for auc- such securities has been receiv- The decision has been taken lator said that the promoter's "It shall be ensured that steps mopped-up Rs 4,318 crore in subscribers stood at 1.18 bil- in a written reply to the Lok tion of coal mines for sale of fos- ing a good response from for- after Sebi received representa- shares locked-in can now be for listing of specified securi- the first eight months of 2016- lion, while that in rural areas Sabha. These initiatives, he said, sil fuel under the provisions of eign portfolio investors (FPIs) tions suggesting improvements transferred 'inter-se' among ties are completed and trad- 17 fiscal. was 498.28 million in Septem- are under feasibility study stage the Coal Mines (Special Provi- in the recent past. to the existing regulatory frame- promoters. ing in securities commences As per the latest data avail- ber 2017, the Minister said. at present. sions) Act, 2015 and the Mines The auction was conducted work, the Sebi said in a circular. Besides, such locked-in within 60 days of receipt of able with the Securities and "The number of digital pay- Asserting that CIL is explor- and Mineral (Development and on the BSE's e-bidxchange plat- The markets watchdog shares can be pledged with any the order of the High Court/ Exchange Board of India, the ment transactions per month ing alternative uses of fossil fuel, Regulation) Act, 1957 is under form from 3.30-5.30 pm, after has relaxed certain disclosure scheduled commercial bank NCLT, simultaneously on all capital garnered by the listed has increased from 60.7 crore the minister said that the PSU, government's consideration. the market hours. requirements. The listed entities or public financial institution the stock exchanges where the companies through the Qual- in December 2015 to 153 crore through a joint venture with Meanwhile, a Parliamentary Foreign portfolio inves- are no longer required to submit as collateral for loan granted equity shares of the listed entity ified Institutional Placement in October 2017," he noted. GAIL, Rashtriya Chemical Fer- Committee report has said that tors bid Rs 15,961 crore ($2.5 certain documents to the stock by such bank or institution "if (or transferor entity) are/were (QIP) route stood at Rs 46,675 Prasad said Common Ser- tilizers Ltd (RCF) and Fertil- the government should consider billion) for investment limits exchanges following the sanc- pledge of shares is one of the listed," the regulator noted. crore in the first eight months vices Centres (CSCs) are tak- izer Corporation of India Ltd allowing domestic coal to be in corporate bond as against tion of the scheme by the High terms of sanction of the loan". Before commencement of of 2017-18. ing digital services to every (FCIL) is involved in a venture used in imported coal-based Rs 13,756 crore ($2.16 billion) Court or National Company Under the rules, shares held trading, the transferee entity will It was also more than five corner of India, especially in to set up a coal-based fertiliser thermal power plants to reduce on offer, showed the data with Law Tribunal (NCLT). by promoters up to the extent of have to give an advertisement times the total amount raised rural areas. plant at the site of the defunct the dependency on the dry fuel stock exchanges. These documents are copy of 20 per cent of the post-merger in one each in a English, Hindi in the entire 2016-17 which As on November 30, 2017, Talcher unit of FCIL. bought from other countries. Of the 49 bids, as many as the High Court/NCLT approved paid-up capital of the unlisted and a regional newspaper with stood at Rs 8,464 crore. a total of 2,71,311 CSCs were This, the minister said, is “The Committee has noted 42 were declared successful. scheme; result of voting by issuer, should be locked-in for wide circulation with details The funds have been active and transacting for in line with approval of the that the use of indigenous coal The debt auction quota shareholders for approving the three years from the date of list- including pre and post scheme mobilised for business expan- delivery of e-services across Cabinet Committee on Eco- by the imported coal-based gives overseas investors the scheme; statement explaining ing of the shares of the unlisted of amalgamation, financial state- sion, refinancing of debt, the country, among which 1.73 nomic Affairs, whereby revival thermal power plants is depen- right to invest in corporate debt changes, if any, and reasons issuer. Further, the remaining ments of the last three years, working capital requirements lakh were at Gram Panchayat of the Talcher unit of FCIL was dent on policy interventions by securities up to the limit pur- for such changes carried out shares should be locked-in for details of promoters among and other general corporate level. PTI awarded to a consortium of CIL, the government,” PTI chased. PTI in the approved scheme vis-a- one year. others. PTI purposes. PTI Govt extends compulsory jute packaging for foodgrains, sugar Average number of Indian export

NEW DELHI: The Cabi- to the ability of the jute indus- net Committee on Economic As per the norms, try to meet the requirement, trucks 12 per day at Wagah in Nov Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday it is compulsory the statement added. extended the mandatory pack- Jute industry is predomi- NEW DELHI: The daily aver- aging of foodgrains and sugar to pack 90 per nantly dependent on govern- age number of Indian trucks products in jute bags for the cent of foodgrains ment, which purchases jute laden with export goods at year ending June 2018. products worth more than Rs Attari-Wagah border has come "This decision mandating and 20 per cent of 5,500 crore every year. down drastically to about 12 90 per cent of food grains and sugar products in Considering nearly 3.7 lakh in November last year as com- 20 per cent sugar products jute bags. It will workers and approximately 40 pared 105 in the same month to be packed in jute bags will lakh farmers are dependent for previous year, Parliament was benefit nearly 3.7 lakh workers benefit nearly 3.7 their livelihood on the jute sec- informed on Wednesday. and 40 lakh farmers," Union lakh workers and tor, the government said it has "The daily average num- Textiles Minister Smriti Irani been making concerted efforts ber of Indian export trucks tweeted. 40 lakh farmers for the development of the jute at Attari-Wagah border was She said the Jute mill work- sector. around 12 in November 2017 ers will not be deprived of their incentivising use of jute geo- north-eastern regions of the As per the norms, it is com- With a view to boost as compared to 105 in Novem- statutory dues as a special textiles and promoting jute country particularly in West pulsory to pack 90 per cent of demand in the jute sector, gov- ber 2016," Minister of State for mechanism will be set up in as eco-friendly fibre both in Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Assam, foodgrains and 20 per cent of ernment has imposed Defini- Commerce and Industry C R "The issue has been taken up vailing political relationship consultation with state govern- domestic and global markets," Andhra Pradesh, Meghalaya sugar products in jute bags. tive Anti Dumping Duty on Chaudhary said in a written with the government of Paki- between the two countries. ments to link production con- Irani said in a tweet. and Tripura. The decision also mandates, import of jute goods from Ban- reply to the Rajya Sabha. stan through the High Com- It also affects the policy trol and supply order to ensure The decision will help "The Cabinet Committee on in the first instance, the entire gladesh and Nepal with effect He also said that instances mission for resolution," he framework of the bilateral trade. timely payment. sustain the core demand for Economic Affairs has extended requirement for packing of from January 5, 2017, which of quarantine-related difficul- added. The two-way commerce "Underlining the impor- the jute sector and support the mandatory packaging foodgrains would be placed in has provided scope for addi- ties for export of some perish- In a separate reply, he said between the countries declined tance of diversification of the livelihood of the work- norms under the Jute Packag- jute bags thus, making a provi- tional demand of 2 lakh MT able goods to Pakistan have a major factor affecting India's to $2.27 billion in 2016-17 from jute industry, emphasis will ers and farmers dependent ing Material (JPM) Act, 1987," sion for 100 per cent packing of of jute goods in the domestic been brought to the notice of bilateral trade with the neigh- $2.61 billion in the previous fis- be given to diversification by on the sector in eastern and an official statement said. foodgrains in jute bags subject market. PTI the government. bouring country is the pre- cal. PTI business 13 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018 mp ` All 650 branches of IPPB to be Govt to infuse 7,577 crore in launched by April, says Sinha

NEW DELHI: The govern- six weak public sector banks ment expects to roll out all 650 branches of India Post Pay- ments Bank (IPPB) by April, NEW DELHI: The finance 58,000 crore from the market 2018, Parliament was informed ministry has approved pro- by diluting government s stake. on Wednesday. posal for infusion of Rs 7,577 The government is working In a written reply to Lok crore in 6 weak public sector on the modalities for issuing Sabha, Minister of State for banks (PSBs) as part of the the recapitalisation bonds as it Communication Manoj Sinha recapitalisation plan to bolster aims to front-load the infusion said IPPB has launched 2 pilot capital adequacy ratio. with an aim to strengthen the branches on January 30, 2017 All these banks, which state-owned banking sector, at Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and got capital support, are under sources said, adding that the Ranchi (Jharkhand) in 2016- prompt corrective action of the announcement in this respect, 17. However, no branch was Reserve Bank of India. including detailed guide- rolled out in the current finan- The funding comes under lines, will be made during this cial year, Sinha said. Indradhanus plan of the gov- month. RBI granted licence to IPPB ernment which promised Rs Jaitley had also announced on January 20, 2017 to carry ments bank. MoU with Punjab National 70,000 crore over period of four that banks would get about Rs out payments bank activities. In reply to a separate ques- Bank (PNB) and PNB MetLife years ending March 2019. 18,000 crore under the Indrad- The minister said IPPB tion on IPPB, Sinha said the India Insurance Company Ltd," Lenders, which will receive hanush plan over the next two aims to have a pan-India reach payments bank proposes to Sinha said. capital through preferential years. and subject to feasibility, all tie up with banking and other IPPB was incorporated on issue of shares, include Bank Under the Indradha- post offices (approximately financial institutions and August 17, 2016 under Compa- of India, IDBI Bank and UCO nush road map announced 1.55 lakh) across the country expressions of interest for tie- nies Act, 2013 as a public lim- Bank. The actual fund infusion in 2015, the government had will progressively become its ups have been received. ited company with 100 per cent will take place in the next few announced infusion of Rs access points to provide bank- Also, preliminary discus- Government of India equity weeks after they get necessary 70,000 crore in state- owned ing products and services as sions are on in this regard. under Department of Posts, he regulatory approval, including banks over four years, while per RBI guidelines on pay- "IPPB has entered into an said. PTI nod from shareholders. approved raising of equity capi- While the government an unprecedented Rs 2.11 they will have to raise a fur- Kolkata-based UCO Bank tal by allotting up to 3.88 crore decides the mode for recapi- lakh crore two-year road map ther Rs 1.1 lakh crore from the on Wednesday announced shares at the issue price of Rs talisation of all state-run banks, to strengthen PSBs, reeling market to meet their capital NTPC records approval of board for the pro- 83.15 per unit aggregating to it advanced the release of funds under high non performing requirement in line with global CIL e-auction fetches posal to issue equity shares on Rs 323 crore. to these six banks to help them assets (NPAs) or bad loans. risk norms, known as Basel-III. power generation preferential basis to the govern- At the same time, the gov- meet their equity requirements Their NPAs have increased to In the last three-and-a- ment against capital contribu- ernment has decided to infuse and enable them to resume Rs 7.33 lakh crore as of June half years, the government of 67,781 million 76% premium in Q3 FY18 tion of Rs 1,375 crore subject to Rs 2,257 crore in the Bank of normal business and help them 2017, from Rs 2.75 lakh crore pumped Rs 51,858 crore capi- necessary approval. India, Rs 2,729 crore in IDBI come out of prompt correc- in March 2015. tal in the public sector banks. units in Oct-Dec Besides, Central Bank Bank, Rs 650 crore in Bank of tive action. The plan includes floating The remaining Rs 18,142 crore of India said the capital rais- Maharashtra, and Rs 243 crore Finance Minister Arun Jait- re-capitalisation bonds of Rs will be injected into the banks NEW DELHI: State-run NTPC ing committee of the board in Dena Bank. ley in October had announced 1.35 lakh crore and raising Rs over the next two years. PTI on Tuesday said its power gen- eration was the highest in Octo- ber-December at 67,781 million Cement demand set to units. "NTPC with installed Trai invites inputs on capacity of 51,383 MW has recorded its highest ever quar- terly generation of 67,781 MUs be muted in FY18, may (million units) during Q3 of 2017-18, which is 10.39 per cent KOLKATA: Riding on rising age realisation for November new telecom policy more than the generation of demand, Coal India's average and December is working out pick up next fiscal 61,400 MUs recorded during premium from e-auction of at around Rs 2,056 and Rs 2,064 NEW DELHI: The telecom the corresponding period last coal rose to 76 per cent over per tonne, respectively. regulator Trai on Wednesday year," a company statement said. the average notified price dur- Till December, Coal India invited public views on inputs The NTPC has also achieved ing the third quarter of FY'18. had offered around 80 million for the proposed National commercial declaration of 4,415 "In the Q3 period (Oct- tonne of coal through spot and Telecom Policy (NTP), which MW capacity during the first Dec'17), the average premium forward e-auctions. is under formulation by the nine months of current year over the average notified price However, with some indica- government. itself (April-December, 2017). was up 76 per cent against 23.6 tions of easing of power prices The Telecom Regulatory In line with Government per cent in the corresponding in power exchange, there may Authority of India (Trai) will of India's thrust on Renewable quarter of 2016-17," a senior be some effect on the premium give its inputs on the matter energy, the company is also Coal India official said. in e-auction. to the Telecom Department, increasing its green footprint The miner alloted 28.6 mil- Coal India had earlier indi- MUMBAI: The lingering sand age, slowdown in real estate which hopes to finalise the new and has already generated 912 lion tonne of the fossil fuel in cated that it was aiming for shortages and slowdown in real activities, drought (in Southern policy by March 2018. Million Units from its solar the Q3 period of the current fis- about 25 per cent more reali- estate activities will leave cement states) and transitional issues Trai on Wednesday released and wind stations during the cal, marginally lower than the sation from e-auctions. companies with a muted volume related to the rollout of the Real a consultation paper on 'Inputs year which is around 3 times corresponding quarter's quan- It is to be seen whether Coal growth in the current financial Estate Regulatory Authority for Formulation of National its renewable generation dur- tity of 28.8 million tonne. India will be able to stem the year ending in March, while the Act and goods and services tax, Telecom Policy- 2018'. ing corresponding period of October 2017 saw a drop of declining trend of profitability next fiscal year may see demand the report said. The report also The regulator, in a state- Trai will give its inputs on the matter to last year, it added. With more 40 per cent in coal offering in in the last few quarters. picking up steam with around 5 warned that higher prices of pet ment, said that its inputs have than 20 GW capacity under e-auction platform as there was The recent wage agree- per cent growth, says a report. coke, coal and diesel could put been prepared based on pre- Telecom Department, which hopes to various phases of construction, diversion to power plants owing ment will see some Rs 5,600 On the demand front, based pressure on margins and debt liminary discussions with mul- finalise the new policy by March 2018 the NTPC is all set to continue to sudden rise in demand. crore extra outgo on account on the current trends, cement metrics of cement companies tiple stakeholders including energising India's growth in the An official tracking Coal of a 20 per cent hike in workers' demand is expected to show a in the coming quarters. telecom operators, equipment cations systems, and services. have twin goals - facilitating coming years, it said. PTI India e-auctions said that aver- salaries. PTI very thin growth of 1-2 per cent Cement companies have manufacturers, industry bod- Other objectives include development of communica- in FY18 and show a modest experienced rising energy and ies, and cloud service providers enabling access for connecting tion infrastructure and services recovery only from the March freight costs on the back of "in line with the technological to 10 billion Internet of Things to achieve inclusive socio-eco- quarter, rating agency Icra said higher pet coke, coal and die- advancements in the sector and and Machine-to-Machine sen- nomic growth and to propel Sugar output increases by 26% in in a note on Wednesday. sel prices in the first half of the customer aspirations for digital sors and devices and attracting India to become the front-run- "A pick-up in affordable and fiscal 2018, it said, adding most services". $100-billion investment in the ner in the "Fourth Industrial rural housing segments and of the large cement companies The National Telecom Pol- communications sector. Revolution". Oct-Dec of current season: ISMA infrastructure, including roads (barring the South-based ones) icy 'objectives' outlined in Trai The Trai paper said this can "This policy would set the and irrigation projects, is likely passed on the rising costs. consultation paper include be achieved through strategies mission and objectives to be NEW DELHI: The country's lakh tonnes, Tamil Nadu at to improve cement demand to "Pet coke prices rose around achieving 900 million broad- like review of license fee and accomplished by the end of cal- sugar output rose by 26 per 1.70 lakh tonnes, Bihar at 1.65 grow 4-5 per cent in FY19. 32 per cent in the first half. This, band connections at a mini- spectrum charges, and work- endar year 2022, when India cent to 103.26 lakh tonnes in lakh tonnes, Haryana at 1.80 However, capacity overhang along with a 44 per cent jump mum download speed of 2 ing towards One Nation One will be celebrating its 75 years the October-December period lakh tonnes, Punjab at 1.60 lakh and moderate demand will con- in coal prices resulted in higher Mbps, developing 10 million License for services, and mak- of Independence," Trai paper of current season compared tonnes, Uttarakhand at 1.20 lakh tinue to keep capacity utilisation power and fuel expenses in H1 public wi-fi hotspots, attaining ing available finance for com- said asking stakeholders to give to the same period of previ- tonnes and Madhya Pradesh at levels between 60 and 65 per and the 7 per cent spike in die- average speed of 20 Mbps for munication infrastructure their comments on structure ous year, according to industry 1.30 lakh tonnes. cent over the medium-term," it sel prices lead to higher freight wireless Internet connectivity, projects on par with that of and contents of the proposed body ISMA. With regard to import of 3 said. Cement demand remained cost for companies. All these and placing India among top- connectivity infrastructure sec- NTP inputs. The deadline for Mills had produced 81.91 lakh tonnes of raw sugar permit- weak in the first seven months put pressure on the operating 50 nations in global rankings of tors like roadways and railways. the written comments is Janu- lakh tonnes of the sweetener ted by the government in Sep- of the year due to sand short- profit H1. PTI network readiness, communi- It said that the policy could ary 19, 2018. PTI in the same period of 2016-17 tember 2017, ISMA said 2.35 season (October-September). lakh tonnnes of raw sugar has The Indian Sugar Mills been imported so far, of which Association (ISMA) has pegged 2 lakh tonnes has been refined. Digital economy: Par panel for data privacy law total sugar output at 251 lakh The sugar prices which tonnes in the ongoing 2017- had fallen in the last couple NEW DELHI: A parliamen- formation Towards A Digital ing manifold. structure needs to be included 18 season, as against 202 lakh of months is witnessing an tary committee on Wednesday Economy, which was tabled in "Ordinary customers in the national agenda on pri- tonnes last year. Consumption is improvement in some parts of suggested that the govern- Parliament, also expressed con- are then left high and dry, ority basis. estimated to be 250 lakh tonnes the country. As per the report ment should come out with cern over lack of trained profes- extremely helpless and clueless "The Committee, there- this year. published by Ministry of Con- a legislation on data privacy sionals to deal with rising cyber about the next course of action fore recommended due con- Releasing the latest data, the sumer Affairs, Government at the earliest, as the country challenges. for a remedy and redressal of sultations with domain experts ISMA said the increase in sugar of India, the wholesale sugar moves towards digitalisation The report said that India grievance," the report said. and industry and creation of output so far is basically from prices have improved in some of economy. should have a sound consumer It suggested that customer/ a duly empowered coordinat- two major producing states -- parts of North and West India The Parliamentary Stand- privacy and data protection law the government to bring such user should be provided with ing authority, with status at par Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. from 25.35 lakh tonnes in the by Rs. 30 to 100 per quintal of ing Committee on Finance, "lest we become a digital colony a data protection legisla- an "empowered and respon- with Space and Atomic Energy Sugar output in Uttar said period. The sugar recovery sugar. Sugar sales is also wit- headed by senior Congress with global entities having vir- tion before Parliament at the sive" common helpline (SOS) Departments with adequate Pradesh has increased to 38.80 stood at 10.23 per cent. nessing a slight improvement leader M Veerappa Moily, also tual control over data". earliest. number, which he or she can budget, reporting directly to lakh tonnes in October-Decem- Production in Karnataka, in the last few days because of suggested to create a coordi- The committee said the The committee also found it approach whenever required. the PMO," the report said. ber of this season from 26.78 the third biggest producer, rose buying interest shown by the nating authority, reporting country "now urgently needs "rather disconcerting" that even The report further said as It also stressed that gov- lakh tonnes in the year-ago to 16.17 lakh tonnes in October- sugar traders. directly to the Prime Minis- a data minimisation, data pri- as the country moves towards a the cyber space expands and ernment needs to substantially period. The average recovery December this year from 15.43 The industry body said that ter's Office (PMO), to deal with vacy and data residency law to digital economy, transactional intensifies with implications for rationalise digital transaction rate of the sweetener remained lakh tonnes last year. sugar prices, which had fallen issues related to information ensure security of public and hassles and grievances of users, national security, monitoring/ costs and provide incentives, higher in the state at 10.15 per Sugar output in Gujarat was in the last couple of months, are infrastructure. private data". including ATM frauds such as surveillance and protecting especially for the lower value cent. In Maharasthra, the out- at 3.70 lakh tonnes, Andhra witnessing an improvement in The report titled Trans- The panel has urged the cloning, have also been increas- the national information infra- of transactions. PTI put rose to 38.24 lakh tonnes Pradesh/Telangana at 1.90 parts of the country. AGENCIES BHEL DAY CELEBRATION Indian Oil Corp takes up 2018 as ‘Year of Trust’

NEW DELHI: Indian Oil Corp April 1, 2018, two years before ues of 'Care', 'Innovation', 'Pas- the future energy mix. "Being (IOC), the nation's biggest oil its actual implementation date, sion' and 'Trust'. Year 2016 was a market leader, IOC will be firm, has adopted 2018 as the are a few instances where pol- the 'Year of Core Values', while once again leading this national 'Year of Trust' as it earned belief icy makers trusted the delivery 2017 was observed as the 'Year agenda in the coming years," in the delivery potential in pro- potential of IOC," the company of Innovation and Technology'. it said. IOC said starting from grammes like PMUY, and deci- said in a statement here. The resolution to adopt 2018 refineries and pipeline networks sion of early implementation of PMUY scheme was as 'Year of Trust' comes at at a to bulk storage terminals and BS-VI fuel norms. launched in May 2016 to pro- time when India joins countries fuel stations, adoption of smart Every second Indian is vide free cooking gas connec- like France and China to stand technologies, e-portals for cus- served by the company as it tion to poor women. stakeholders by enhancing its ues inspire us to give our best. by the accord to meet the chal- tomer convenience and effi- BHEL Day 2018 was celebrated with great fervour at its Corporate commands half of the auto fuel Unveiling the corporate capabilities and integrity. Among these, 'trust' is the key- lenge for a low-carbon sustain- cient use of SAP have resulted office in New Delhi where CMD Atul Sobti, functional Directors and cooking fuel market share. theme for the New Year, IOC "Backed by our inherent stone and the active DNA of our able future in the COP-23 Bonn in greater efficiency. on the Board of BHEL and employees of all NCR-based divisions "From Pradhan Mantri Ujj- Chairman Sanjiv Singh said the strengths as a team and as organisational culture," he said. Summit held in November 2017. "Now, a full-fledged CRM participated on the occasion. In his address, CMD urged the wala Yojana (PMUY) to daily observance of 2018 as the 'Year an organisation, it would be The decision follows the tra- For India, moving in con- (customer relationship manage- employees to contribute through a multi-pronged approach in price revision of petrol and die- of Trust' is a unique opportu- a great project to make 'trust' dition started by the company in sonance with the commitment ment) solution is being imple- making a BHEL, which is vibrant, diversified and growth oriented sel, to the decision to leapfrog nity to sustain the company's an enduring value across our 2016 of adopting calendar year would mean an increased share mented to engage more closely BS-VI fuels supply in Delhi by trust among its customers and supply chain. "Our core val- based on IOC's corporate val- of natural gas and renewables in with customers," it said. PTI 14 sport mp MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata |Thursday, 4 January, 2018 MUNRO BLASTS RECORD CENTURY AS BLIND CRICKETERS TO WAIT TILL NORTHEAST UNITED SACK COACH NEW ZEALAND CRUSH WEST INDIES JAN 5 FOR GOVT APPROVAL JOAO DEUS AFTER DISMAL ISL SHOW MOUNT MAUNGANUI: Colin Munro smashed his way into the BENGALURU: Association for Blind in India (CABI) presi- GUWAHATI: NorthEast United FC have sacked their Portuguese record books as New Zealand crushed the West Indies by 119 dent G K Mahantesh said the national team will wait till coach Joao de Deus after their dismal show in the ongoing In- runs in the final Twenty20 here to sweep the series. Munro, with January 5 for clearance from government to travel to dian Super League season. The John Abraham-owned side have a rollicking 104 off 53 deliveries, became the first player to hit Pakistan for the fifth World Cup to be held from January won just one match out of seven they have played so far. They three centuries in international Twenty20 cricket as New Zealand 7-21. “We will wait till January 5 for clearance from the have lost five, the most among the 10 teams, and drawn one, posted an imposing 243 for five, their highest Twenty20 total. government to travel to Pakistan for World Cup.” and are at ninth spot in the league table spot with four points. Mohun Bagan appoint Vijay: More Shankarlal Chakraborty open-minded in No threat to India’s No.1 status my preparation as chief coach than last time even if South Africa sweep Tests CAPE TOWN: Flexibility is the key while preparing for a DUBAI: India’s status as the difficult assignment and that’s No.1 Test side in ICC rankings precisely the reason why senior will remain intact irrespective opener Murali Vijay has done of how the series against South his homework with an “open Africa pans out, but the Proteas mind” compared to his previ- will join the visitors at the top if ous tours of South Africa. they win all the three matches. “I am preparing myself to Faf du Plessis’s side is pres- be a little more open-minded ently 13 points behind Virat than I was last time. You can- Kohli’s team, which is sitting on not have a set pattern you can- top of the table on 124 points. not go into a Test thinking that However, both the sides you are going to leave so many will finish on 118 points if the balls. You also have to be in a South Africa side makes a clean frame of mind to score runs,” sweep of the series which starts Vijay said during a media inter- in Cape Town on January 5, the action after training session. International Cricket Council “If they bowl in good areas, said in a statement. KOLKATA: Mohun Bagan on then you have to try and coun- Even in that scenario, India Wednesday elevated Shankar- Chakraborty, who ter that and come out stronger will be ranked above South lal Chakraborty to the chief as well. These are the things I Africa when the points are coach’s post till the end of sea- has been with the think which will be critical for calculated beyond the decimal son in less than 24 hours after team as assistant us to move forward. point. In such a situation, India Sanjoy Sen resigned. coach since I just want to go out there will be on 118.47 points, while Chakraborty, who has and whatever is thrown at me, South Africa will be on 117.53. been with the team as assistant July 2014, was I just want to play my ‘A’ game On the other side of the coach since July 2014, was at at the helm of and do well for my country,” coin, if India win all the three the helm of affairs during the Vijay added. Tests of the series, then they Calcutta Football League Pre- affairs during the The bouncy tracks of South will move to 128 points while mier Division 2017, where they Calcutta Football Africa has been the talking South Africa will slip to 107 were pipped to the title by bit- point of India’s upcoming Test points. ter foes East Bengal. Mohun League Premier series but Vijay reckons that South Africa will be level on Bagan senior team will resume Division 2017, managing the bounce is eas- points with India at the top of training on Thursday and post- where they were ier for an opener compared to the rankings if they sweep the training Chakraborty will swing where a batsman tends series. South Africa will be level and England in fourth on 101 interact with media, a state- pipped to the title to lose his shape. on points with India at the top points. In the rankings for Test DHAWAN FIT FOR FIRST TEST, JADEJA DOWN WITH VIRAL ment read. by bitter foes The pitch at Newlands has of the rankings if they sweep batsmen, second-ranked India CAPE TOWN: Shikhar Dhawan has been declared fully fit while Ravindra Jadeja is Sen stepped down after they liberal covering of green prom- the series. captain Virat Kohli will aim to down with viral “illness” ahead of the first Test against South Africa beginning here succumbed to a 1-2 defeat to a East Bengal ising good bounce and carry Meanwhile, Australia have break the 900-point mark for 10-man Chennai City FC, their throughout the game. AGENCIES been guaranteed third place in the first time in his career. on Friday. Dhawan, who had suffered an ankle injury before flying out to South first defeat of the season that him all success for his future after leading the series 3-0 with The in-form right-hander is Africa, is set to open alongside Murali Vijay in the series opener at Newlands. “India came at their home ground. endeavors,” the statement said. the fifth and final Test to begin presently on 893 points and a opener Shikhar Dhawan is fit and is available for selection for the first Test. Dhawan “The club management Mariners have slipped to in Sydney on Thursday. How- solid performance will poten- had suffered a minor ankle injury before the team’s departure to South Africa,” the would like to thank Sen for fifth place after three draws and ever, England will have to win tially see him join the select BCCI said in a statement. Jadeja, however, is racing against time to be fully fit for all the hard work he has done a loss as they next face defend- the Test to avoid finishing in group of players with a rating the game and has been taken to the hospital for treatment. AGENCIES being in charge of the team for ing champions Aizawl here on fifth place. If Australia win the of 900 or more, which in rank- the past three years. We wish December 7. AGENCIES series 4-0, then they will finish ing terms is an indication of a third on 104 points and Eng- player’s quality, as to achieve it points behind Kohli in third bowlers, South Africa’s Kagiso behind Anderson and depend- land will end on fifth with 99 a player has to be among the place, while Hashim Amla of Rabada is breathing down ing on how the two bowlers points, while a 3-1 series win very best over a protracted South Africa is the other player number-one ranked James perform in the coming days, Flight carrying Delhi cricket team for Australia will mean they period. who features in the top 10, in Anderson’s neck. Second- there could be a change at the will finish third on 102 points Cheteshwar Pujara is 20 seventh position. Among the ranked Rabada is nine points top of the order. AGENCIES delayed due to technical snag Woakes out for England, INDORE: The flight carry- ties of the 6E-867 flight said, checks revealed malfunction. Kohli, Dhoni set to be retained by ing the Delhi cricket team back eventually leading to a rejected Cricketer Unmukt Chand, who Crane to make Test debut: Root home from here was forced to takeoff at the Devi Aihilya Bhai was also onboard the Delhi- return to the bay after it devel- Airport. The passengers, includ- bound flight, posted a tweet SYDNEY: Seamer Chris Woakes has been ruled respective IPL franchises oped a technical snag causing ing the cricketers and team about his situation. “Indigo flt out with a side strain opening the way for young a long delay. support staff, were provided 867 abruptly stopped at runway The Indigo flight was sched- accommodation by the airline citing technical issues. Stranded leg-spinner Mason Crane to make his debut for MUMBAI: India skipper uled to depart for the national authorities past midnight after at Indore airport. Hoping to gt England in final Ashes Test against Australia. Joe Virat Kohli and his predeces- capital at 9:20 last night, but the captain aborted takeoff at a hotel soon.Frustating for ppl. Root confirmed 20-year-old Crane will play fol- sor Mahendra Singh Dhoni was delayed after the pilot had the last minute. Anxious passen- Me enjoying d arguments.U cnt lowing the injury set-back to Woakes. Woakes had are among the top players to apply brakes while the plane gers heaved a sigh of relief when do much in such cases.Rather who are set to be retained by was taking off at full speed. the flight captain announced accept it.Be at ease.Dnt resist wt scans on his injured left side and was ruled out as their respective IPL franchises, There was some problem that they would be deplaned cnt happen. Gratitude evry1 is the tourists seek to win their first Test win. AGENCIES Royal Challengers Bangalore with the engine, airline authori- after the necessary maintenance safe,” the tweet said. AGENCIES and comeback outfit Chennai Super Kings respectively. The retention list of players is to be announced by BCCI FC Goa yet to arrive, match v ATK to be delayed here on Thursday. Kohli, yet to taste a triumph KOLKATA: A Navy fighter jet logistically as well, with regard as captain in IPL in spite of crash at the Dabolim airport on The travel time to the flights and stay. his extremely successful run Wednesday forced an unprec- from Goa is Changes like this can hurt as national captain, and 2011 edented one-hour delay in the the final standings of the league World Cup-winning skipper Indian Super League football around two hours table,” the coach had said. Dhoni are expected to be shoo- clash between ATK and FC Goa and 30 minutes “I find it surprising that they ins when RCB and CSK decide here on Wednesday. take decisions like this unilater- which players they are retaining The home match of ATK was and there is high ally without prior consultation in the squad for the next three scheduled at 8pm but due to the possibility that with the teams.” seasons — 2018 to 2020. unavoidable circumstances the This trip to Kolkata is fol- Among other top Indians kick off is delayed by a “mini- the match will be lowed by a match in Guwahati who are almost certain to be mum one hour”. further delayed to play NorthEast United FC retained are Rohit Sharma, who “The match between ATK on January 6. The Gaurs will led Mumbai Indians to their and FC Goa will be delayed for then return to Goa to take on title triumph last season, excit- its meeting in New Delhi on GL squads in IPL 2017, as per a minimum of one hour,” Foot- match as police refused to make Jamshedpur FC at the Jawaha- ing MI all-rounder Hardik Pan- December 6. the norms. ball Sports Development Lim- a technical snag in their air- “A chartered flight from New the security arrangements on rlal Nehru Stadium at Margao dya, Ravindra Jadeja, who is set There can be a maximum The salary cap has also been ited, the competition organisers, craft had forced them to stay Delhi will land in Goa around the New Year’s eve. on January 11, thereby com- to go back to CSK after play- of either three retentions or raised. For the coming season, said in a release. put there and take Wednesday’s 5.30pm and then will take off for It remains to be seen how pleting a tiresome set of fix- ing for Gujarat Lions over the three RTMs at the discretion it’s fixed at Rs 80 crore and will An MiG-29 K fighter jet of flight for Kolkata. Their flight Kolkata,” an ISL official said. The the Sergio Lobera-coached side tures which will see FC Goa last two seasons, and Australian of the franchises and if there increase to Rs 82 and 85 crore the Navy overshot the runway was to depart from Dabolim at travel time from Goa is around tackle the situation as the Span- take to the field three times in pocket dynamo David Warner is no retention before player respectively in 2019 and 2020. and caught fire forcing the run- 10am on Wednesday. two hours and 30 minutes and iard along with the team think nine days. FC Goa have slipped for Sunrisers Hyderabad. auction, then franchises can The minimum spend has way to be closed for operations As per their new plan, the there is high possibility that the tank had already criticised the to fifth in the points table with Another franchise making a have up to three RTMs, as per been fixed at 75 per cent of the for a brief period. Goans are slated to land around match will be further delayed. move. “I don’t find it just that 12 points from six matches return after serving a two- year the norms put in place by the salary cap for each season. It was another blow for the 8pm here and that means they The match was originally the calendar changes with such after their loss to FC Pune suspension, Rajasthan Royals, IPL GC. The player retention price Gaurs’ arrival plan. They were will have to directly head slated for December 31 but the a short notice period. We had a City, their first home defeat of will certainly go for Australia The break-up is: Maximum guideline for salary cap charged to depart Goa on Tuesday but towards the match venue. organisers had to postpone the plan in place sporting-wise and the season. AGENCIES captain Steve Smith, consid- number of 3 capped Indian has also been set as Rs 33 crore ering the form he has been in. players, 2 overseas players and (for 3 players pre auction), Rs Each team can opt for up to 2 uncapped Indian players 21 crore (for 2 players pre auc- Starc ‘ready’ to go, says Smith; five players by virtue of a com- each. The player pool available tion) and Rs 12.5 crore (for 1 David James returns as Kerala coach bination of Player Retention for CSK and RR for retention/ player retained pre-auction). Agar likely to sit out (Pre Player Auction) and Right RTM will be the players who Each squad can consist of a NEW DELHI: Former Eng- 47-year-old James, who spent to Match (RTM) (during the played for them respectively maximum number of 25 play- land goalkeeper David James seven years at English Pre- SYDNEY: Mitchell Starc is in line to return to Aus- Player Auction), according to in IPL 2015 and who were part ers (up to 8 overseas players) AGENCIES on Wednesday returned at the mier League side Liverpool tralia’s bowling line-up with second spinner Ashton the decision of the IPL GC at of Rising Pune Supergiant and and a minimum of 18. helm of affairs of Kerala Blast- between 1992 and 1999 play- ers, a day after the Indian Super ing 214 matches, had a huddle Agar unlikely to play in Thursday’s final Ashes Test League side sacked Rene Meu- with team owners and officials. against England. Captain Steve Smith said Starc lensteen as their head coach It is also learnt that the ISL was “ready to go” after bowling this week in the following a string of poor per- issued a prompt permission to nets after missing the drawn fourth Melbourne Test formances by the team. James’ appointment as he was James, who has played for Kochi and we have appointed earlier a part of the league in with a bruised heel. “Starc has pulled up pretty well England in 53 matches between him as head coach of Kerala the inaugural edition. this morning and he says he’s ready to go. I guess 1997 and 2010, was the mar- Blasters for the remainder of That was the reason of his that’s a good indication,” Smith said. Agar’s chanc- quee player-cum-head coach the ISL. We have informed the appointment being cleared es of playing in his fifth Test, bowling in spin tandem of Kerala Blasters in the inau- ISL which has approved his just a day after the sacking of with Nathan Lyon, have also been downgraded with gural edition of the ISL in 2014. (James’) taking over as head Dutchman Meulensteen. He was the England goalkeeper coach of Kerala Blasters,” a James is expected to be at extra grass on the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch. during the 2010 FIFA World team official said on the con- the Kerala Blasters dug out in “The wicket’s got a fair bit of grass and looks to be a Cup in South Africa. dition of anonymity. their home match against FC pretty good wicket,” Smith said. AGENCIES “David James arrived in As soon as he arrived, Pune City on Thursday. AGENCIES 15 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018 mp Entertainment Christopher I’ve limited Nolan is coming to India, says Big B MUMBAI: Acclaimed film- maker Christopher Nolan will be coming to India in a month, according to Hindi movie star Amitabh Bach- chan. Big B, via his blog, revealed that Kodak will open its facility here by March. “It is all about to change TIME, yet again Kodak, that larg- can’t give 5 years to est name for film, is coming back. Many in the world of direction and production are finding values in the prod- uct done on film to be the a film now: Prabhas more liked subject. So, like ‘Dunkirk’, the film by that renowned Christopher Nolan (who) uses only film for his After giving five years of his life to picture.”

Baahubali, the 38-year-old actor wants ing on why the movie world is still referred to as the “film to build upon his success and take his industry” in the digital age. Hol- lywood, he says, is getting back career forward with projects that have to film, again. “Firstly, the archival of films, universal appeal their repairs and preservation, and secondly to support the Kodak world all over again. I believe that Los Angeles, Hol- NEW DELHI: He lived and breathed different, so now I am trying to lywood is already all back to Baahubali for five years, a role that estab- choose stories that cater to my film again. They say the qual- lished him as India’s latest heartthrob audiences across the country. I ity and feel and colour of film but Prabhas says he will not be able to will do stories which most of the “And in a month or so, is unmatched, so what happens devote so much time in a future project. audiences like.” the man himself Mr Nolan to digital... It shall exist, it shall The 38-year-old actor believes as a per- Given his pan-India appeal, is coming to India to inaugu- co-exist and film shot on cellu- former he has a shelf-life and taking such there has been a lot of speculation rate or at least lend support loid shall be sent to the lab for a risk again can have an adverse effect on about Prabhas’ Bollywood debut. to a few matters,” Amitabh its development, but all post- his career. “I am definitely interested in wrote. The cine icon, production work shall be “Actors have limited time. We also doing films in Bollywood. And 75, is upbeat about digital. I mean what have a shelf life. I think I can’t give five not only in Hindi, I am open to the development as kind of times are we years to one project now. Even if I ever working anywhere in the country, just last month, he living in,” Big B ques- give that much time, I will simultaneously even if it is Punjabi. I will do films was contemplat- tioned. IANS keep doing other projects because age is in any of the languages, provided also a factor. It will not be good for my the script is good. The region and the task. I know Hindi. I can read and write career,” said Prabhas. language don’t matter.” The actor said his Hindi but I don’t normally speak the lan- The actor said the two-part fantasy aim as an actor is to deliver mainstream guage and that is very important. I still drama was a “once- in-a-lifetime oppor- entertaining fare. have that South Indian accent. But I am Will be a better actor tunity” and he was aware that the grand “I want my films to be entertaining, working on it. Hindi audiences should scale of the project demanded a cer- not comedy, but something which is grip- feel that I am speaking like them and tain level of dedication. Prabhas wants ping. In future, I may do a dark film but should relate to me.” to build upon his success and take his currently entertainment is the main crite- Prabhas, who is currently working on in English: Saif career forward with projects that have rion.” For the Hindi version of Baahubali, Saaho, which also stars Bollywood actor universal appeal, something that Baa- Sharad Kelkar dubbed for Prabhas but the Shraddha Kapoor, said the team has shot hubali achieved. actor is working on his diction and wants for around 50 days. The actor will be join- MUMBAI: Saif Ali Khan, known Tagore) would give me a more “Most of my projects now will have to use his own voice in future projects. ing Shraddha soon. The film is expected for films like Being Cyrus, Omkara chance here to meet people than a universal appeal. Regional cinema is “Dubbing for myself in Hindi is a big to release this year. PTI and Parineeta, says he will be a in America. But I think in English better actor in English as it is his I speak in English as a primary primary language. During an epi- language, unless I’m speaking sode of online streaming service to someone who is working for Meyers to address sexual harassment scandal at Globes Saavn’s upcoming show “Take 2 me usually.” with Anupama and Rajeev”, Saif “There’s a difference there, so LOS ANGELES: Seth Mey- our focus is far more on the spoke about his career, his daugh- I think I will be a better actor in ers, who will host the 75th worlds that make these films ter Sara and son Taimur, read a English because I’ll know when annual Golden Globe Awards and less on anything that’s hap- statement. I’m lying whereas in Hindi I’ve this Sunday, plans to address pening in Washington.” “One of the reasons why I got never said to a girl ‘aapki aakhein the sexual harassment scandals But Trump is also going to into films unfortunately, I’m being itni khoobsoorat hai’ (your eyes that have rocked Hollywood in get the mention even though honest, is because I wasn’t inter- are so beautiful) so I don’t know recent months. Meyers admits “there are times ested in my exams and academ- whether that sounds genuine Meyers, 44, told People where I wish we were talking ics and I just ran away from home or not, I’m not used to saying magazine that his focus would about other things”. and said ‘Oh movies sound great’. that,” he added. On his daughter be more on the film industry “He holds the keys to us But I didn’t really know what I was Sara, who is gearing up for her than Trump, who has been not talking about him, which talking about,” said Saif. debut film Kedarnath, Saif says a favourite subject of Holly- would to be to just behave dif- “So, this desire and this under- he always knew she wanted to wood comedians so far. “With ferently. But while he continues standing of acting came a bit late be an actor. the monologue, as far as talk- on this path, we’ll continue on for me if it had always been there. “I have seen her do a very ing about anything in the news more than ever Hollywood has obviously deserve to be talked ours.” The 2018 Golden Globes If it had been there earlier maybe funny advert when she was four right now, it seems like this year its own internal politics that about,” he said.“Going into it are set to air on January 7. PTI I might have chosen to struggle and she’s been like this all along. in the US, I don’t know.” There was actor Aishwarya Rai “But I think being sensible on stage in New York with peo- about it, you have more oppor- ple going ballistic and Sara sitting tunities and again it’s that nepo- on the floor behind the curtain tism thing again. Being mum’s saying ‘This is what I want to do’,” EMILY FIGHTING son (veteran actor Sharmila said Saif. IANS Hollywood’s gender pay gap

LOS ANGELES: Actor Emily Blunt says cerned with ‘I hope they think I’m a team she takes “aggressive action” to fight Hol- player’. The people who are calling and lywood’s gender pay gap. making the deals are business affairs. It’s “I took it on as my personal responsi- not the producer.” bility to make sure that I don’t feel short- “It’s people who are billed to f**k you PIC/NAVEEN SHARMA changed or less than... Especially in this up. To shortchange you... In a way, because new climate, I think that it’s okay to reclaim we are inundated with those types of stories the words ‘making an aggressive deal’ as now, it has created a much safer climate to a positive,” vanityfair.com quoted Blunt ask for what you want.” She is known for as saying. “The Girl on the Train”, “Into the Woods”, She added: “Usually, people are mak- “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Edge of Paris Hilton engaged ing so much money off your back that it Tomorrow”. The star lives in Brooklyn, New comes down to a sort of justice thing for York, with husband and actor John Krasin- me. I make it a point to not be too con- ski and their daughters Hazel and Violet.IANS to actor Chris Zylka

LOS ANGELES: Socialite Paris Hilton and actor Chris Zylka got engaged during a ski trip to Aspen, Colorado over the weekend.”I am so excited to be engaged to the love of my life Jake Gyllenhaal’s and my best friend,” Hilton told People. “I have never felt so happy, safe and loved. He is perfect for me in every way and showed me that fairytales really do exist!” Hollywood ‘excuses’ The pair were posing for a photo on the slopes after grab- bing lunch in the ski town when Zylka got down on one knee LOS ANGELES: Actor Jake Gyllenhaal says that he with the ring.Hilton, 36, said, “I was so excited and surprised! has spent a lot of his career making “excuses” for the I immediately said yes!” PTI “absurdity” of Hollywood. “You know, you think about ‘Brokeback Mountain’ – I’ve had people come up to me over the years and say how that movie changed their life or how it made them realise something – and you see the power of movies,” Gyllenhaal told hollywoodreporter.com. “I have spent a lot of time in my career making excuses for the absurdity of our world – Hollywood – and all of its confusion, apparent sickness over the past few months that we’ve discovered, the complications, the vanity.” “But what I will never accept is anyone telling me that movies aren’t an extraordinarily powerful tool for com- munication and ultimately, in a small way, for change. And sometimes in a big way,” he added. Gyllenhaal’s comments come after more than 300 Hollywood actores, writers and directors including Nat- alie Portman, Reese Witherspoon, Cate Blanchett, Eva Longoria and Emma Stone launched a campaign ‘Time’s Up’ to help fight sexual harassment in the film industry and other workplaces. IANS 16 MILLENNIUM POST | Kolkata | Thursday, 4 January, 2018

ICA-28(8)/2018