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*+)&$R) " : 6&" " #$ port commissioner on her last day in office, an official said. According to the order, based on the cost of a vehicle, N O ) : =1! the one-time parking charge for L private cars and SUVs will L our days after Prime range between 6,000 and # FMinister Narendra Modi 75,000 — 18 times the exist- % & # strongly hinted at bringing 99 ing rate of 4,000. '' # per cent of products and ser- With the order, bus and vices in the 18 per cent or lower ** : =1! taxi operators would be hit brackets, the GST Council on hard as the annual parking fee # Saturday reduced tax rates on he Delhi Transport for different categories of com- ( L 23 goods and services, includ- TDepartment has approved mercial vehicles will rise from ' ) ing movie tickets, TV and a recommendation proposed the existing 2,500-4,000 to ( # monitor screens and power by all three municipal corpo- 10,000-25,000. % banks, and exempted frozen * + & , & & - ' & # $ ') rations for a hike of one-time The process of charging the * # and preserved vegetables from parking charges in the nation- money during vehicle regis- the levy. cranks, gear boxes, used tyres, al Capital. With the move, car tration is prescribed through a ( The reduced rates are like- lithium ion batteries, digital buyers in Delhi will have to pay notification of Union Urban L# # ly to come into effect from cameras, video camera and 6 - # 2 2>? higher one-time parking Affairs Ministry not by the &+ ) January 1, 2019, Finance video game consoles. 024? - 2 24? >4? charges in 2019. transport department, Joshi # # Minister Arun Jaitley told The 28 per cent slab is now # > #. - According to the order who has taken charge as North reporters after the 31st meeting restricted to only luxury and 24?6 >4? issued by outgoing Transport Delhi Municipal Corporation’s of GST Council here. The sin goods apart from auto-parts Commissioner Varsha Joshi commissioner told PTI. . annual revenue implication of and cement — the tax rate on 00 . # , on Friday, the charges will The Transport Department ' the rate cuts would be 5,500 which could not be cut due to now range between 6,000 and only acts like the post office in crore, he said. high revenue implication. A >4 0 >4? . - 75,000 which will be applic- the process, she said. Of the 23 goods and ser- “Rate rationalisation is an # 0 .BB able from January 1, 2019. The parking charges mech- , ( vices on which rates have been ongoing process. When the The Transport Department anism will be replaced by spot - . - / slashed, tax rate on seven items original rates were fixed, India then the revenue impact would ity increases we gradually bring collects the parking charges on parking fees after 0 in the 28 per cent slab has been had the most irrational taxation have been there and therefore it down. And therefore 28 per behalf of the municipal corpo- new parking regulations are '1 & -. brought down. With this, only rates. the social expenditure of cen- cent bracket is already moving rations, which is meant for cre- notified by the Delhi 2 & -/ # 28 goods are left in the highest Most of these items were tral and State Governments towards a sunset, except the ating parking infrastructure in Government, she said. ', L 28 per cent tax bracket. charged, along with cascading would have suffered. luxury and sin items, 3 items the city. The proposal recom- “Till then this mechanism & -/# The goods on which GST effect, at 31 per cent. So we had “Therefore we followed a which are used by upper mended by the three corpora- will be applicable. So we fol- 3 has been lowered to 18 per cent only transiently put them at 28 more realistic pragmatic and a income group and only 1 item tions regarding the same was lowed an Urban Affairs from 28 per cent include pul- per cent, because if we had prudent policy that as the rev- of common use remains,” pending for quite some time Ministry notification and leys, transmission shafts and immediately brought it down enues move up and affordabil- Jaitley said and was cleared by the trans- issued these orders,” she added. # 4 # 6 ; # #$% &R ( 00 0 K ## -$ ( $()$ . # !"## $ - P . . # .0 ** : =1! Sisodia clarified the lines about %& -(# ' Rajiv Gandhi were not part of ' (" #' Q efuting party MLA Alka the original resolution placed ## +," - ) RLamba’s claim that Delhi before the House. It was a #-# .# Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal handwritten amendment pro- # $ ## had “demanded” her resigna- posed by a party MLA and it '!: 6 ' * tion for not supporting a res- cannot be passed in such a olution in the Delhi Assembly manner, he added. akir Musa’s radical group 6 on stripping late Prime “The aim of the original ZAnsar Ghazwat-ul-Hind, % # 37& Minister Rajiv Gandhi of resolution, moved by Jarnail an outfit affiliated to al-Qaeda, (( / ) Bharat Ratna, Delhi Deputy Singh, was only to help the vic- received a severe jolt when six Chief Minister Manish Sisodia tims of 1984 riots of its terrorists, including the 0# * 89:; on Saturday said neither any get justice. No resolution men- outfit deputy chief, were killed . 1 37& resignation has been sought tioning late PM Rajiv Gandhi in a gunfight in south 2345 - $ ) from her and nor is anyone was passed in the Assembly as Kashmir’s Tral sub-district on % # ! & #! & & ) . # # resigning from the party. being reported in the media,” Saturday morning. ' % . 2 Q Addressing the media, Sisodia said. The gunfight triggered * around 8.30 am at Arampora was no collateral damage dur- “All the six terrorists were !"#$%&# & 6 . * 89:<L village along the Awantipore- ing the encounter.” wanted for their complicity in ' M Tral road, some 35 km from He said arms and ammu- a series of terror crimes, includ- 0 ( Srinagar, when joint teams of nition were recovered from ing an attack on security estab- ( # * police, Army’s 42 Rashtriya the site of encounter. All the six lishments and civilian atroci- 0 # + ' Rifles and CRPF’s 130 and 180 terrorists were locals from Tral ties,” the spokesman said. " Q & battalions launched an opera- and neighbouring areas and A police officer said Soliha #O 0 tion after “tip-off about ter- were affiliated to Ansar was active since 2015 and Rasiq . . $ ' Q rorists’ presence”. Ghazwat-ul-Hind. had joined a militant group in # Q “As the searches were going The slain included Musa’s 2016. on, the search party was fired deputy Soliha Mohammad “The two (Soliha and * upon by the holed-up terrorists. Akhoon of Arampora, Faisal Rasiq) were initially associated +," The fire was retaliated leading Khanday, resident of Amlar, with Hizbul Mujahideen and 6 to a gunfight,” said a police Nadeem Sofi of Batagund, when Zakir Musa parted ways + 0 4 spokesman in Srinagar. “In the Rasiq Mir, Rouf Ahmed Bhat with Hizb and formed Ansar, 1 % * # ! ensuing encounter, six terror- and Umar Ramzan all three the two joined him,” the officer - # 0 Q # $ # ists were neutralised. There residents of Dadsara. added. L M $ ( 89:; > # Q ! * Q , 6 # * : =1! ern parts of the country, which es temperatures below four over the northern region which Officials said frost has % include Rajasthan, Punjab, degree Celsius over a consistent results in ground frost. Frost is already started to damage in L hy is north India wit- Haryana and Delhi, are getting period of time. formed when the dew on the plants like potato, peas, toma- Wnessing a colder-than- affected by this severe weath- The IMD said as a result of ground freezes and forms a toes and capsicum in Punjab, ( usual winter this year? It is due er. The IMD said a cold wave drop in temperatures, high thin layer of ice due to the sud- Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and ' ! " to early and heavy snowfall in prevails when a place witness- moisture content will prevail den drop in temperatures. Himachal Pradesh. -&) the region and the western dis- The IMD also said analy- % New Delhi: Only one out of 39 turbance across east Jammu sis of minimum temperature & ( N O locations through which the and Kashmir moving down- +(( data over the country during %? Ganga flows had clean water in wards. the last four decades suggest- N O the post-monsoon period this Since dry north-westerly -./ ed a decreasing trend in the fre- ( # year, the Central Pollution winds are prevailing over the quency and duration of cold Control Board (CPCB) has plains of Punjab, Rajasthan, waves in many parts of the said in its latest study. Haryana, Uttrakhand, ** : =1! country. * ( As many as 37 of the 41 Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Rajasthan is one State locations through which the Pradesh, the minimum tem- ercury in the national which is the coldest with iso- * Ganga flows reported moder- peratures have dropped in MCapital once again lated pockets seeing minimum # ate to severe water pollution in north India. dropped to 4 degrees Celsius temperatures close to the 0 the pre-monsoon period this According to Charan on Saturday morning making degree mark. year, according to the Singh, scientist, India Delhiites shiver. Churu is the coldest city in “Biological Water Quality Meteorological Department According to the Indian plains of India, with its night + Q Assessment of the (IMD), north India will witness Meteorological Department temperature settling at 1.1 River Ganga (2017-18)” report colder winter this year com- (IMD), this is the second time degree Celsius. In Uttar that was recently made public pared to Central and Western in three days that the temper- Pradesh, Muzaffarnagar # Q by the CPCB in compliance India. ature has touched the lowest recorded 0.4 degree Celsius @ * with a Supreme Court direc- In its forecast, IMD warned ( #& $ this season. followed by Agra that record- tion. PTI that the north and north west- ') ed 3.7 degrees Celsius. ( ) *+, *-./
*706+8&9 !: *& ! 1+ ' : / 1 : "/ 6 1 / .>> 24 >> 24 # 6 - G# 22# J # - . -0 - . 24 ! ## .H / " # # 0&. B33 !0 0 = "/ $ 0 0 6 0 "/ 22BB>>22 $ E 0D : $ $ 0 0 . $"/ 0 ' 0 # # 0 .# 0 ! # -- $A00 . # $ . - 0 . 0 # 1 . . 0 0 0 0- $ - # 0 $ 0 . # 0 0 " $0 0 0 ( 0 . " # # .' ( $ # - # 0 # - . . ' #"- # - ## - . . K, '+ = $ ## . ! 1. $ L .# 0 0 $ 2> ", . / ' ;910 chair-bound, cerebral palsy the first half passes off in an .>B> 24 % " . K6 L :22 22 < *1)% hit girlfriend Afiya Yousufzai enjoyable jiffy, what with G# 5 .>5 >B> 2G + 4)*% (brilliantly played by Anushka most of his leading ladies -' " -! = (# : %2>3B >53B # 8989"L . 00 # . % Sharma) whom he ditches for (Juhi, Kairshma, Kajol, Sridevi % # 53B## $ . 00 233B# 1$ = > superstar Katrina Kaif and Alia) making a cameo in . # . 2> 0 $ erroneously called Babita trying to applaud his magic of 00 0 0 . . 00 $A !L0N# # rom fantastic to dense, Kumari! Who can call Katrina, plucking stars from the skies # . 0 ( # 0 # . 2533B# crackling to insipid, especially when she comes on a count of 9 to zero. - . # # Fgrounded to OTT — laced with a sizzling star’s But him reaching America 0 # 5 $ .$0N# Zero is a film that swings demeanour who thinks she is to get back to Afiya and then - . # # $ incredibly before getting too fair to need make-up or she hating him enough to . 0 . 0 # 0 - # . completely spaced out to long clothes for that matter, be pack him off in a rocket to a $ - # #0 >533B# # qualify being called one from called Babita Kumari of all the place as far away as her hurt # - # -# - . .$0N Mars. Quite a journey from names? could push him, Mars the 00 . - $! . # Meerut to Mumbai, you would But that’s just one of the second half of the film which +++ * * 0 0 - . . % # . O say. But it is King Khan, no many quirky faultlines in this gets caught in lack of gravity " : #0 0 . $ # 5333B# longer king, returning to the film that was otherwise so full issues. Both director Anand .> >B> 24 # screen after virtually two long of potential, especially with Rai and SRK try hard but fail 2># 2 # .$ years of absence, so the ups SRK out to cash in on his god- to stop the script from hurtling 2B ## 0N # .$ and downs were expected. gifted dimples, his sense of into insanity and disbelief — +DA100 . - ( 60 6 !<.$"!<.#L # + + 00 Whatever you might say humour and his seething and finally Mars as the - MO .>2> 24 , >> 23 # ; O 533B## $ about this film having a rather repartee, powered by his angst audience ring their hands in % . 0 B33 > + + 00 >53B#. 2> ambitious premise, there is no at being born several inches frustration of a good film and A 0 ( 6 . 0 $ denying the fact that the VFX shorter than what is perceived effort having lost the plot. 0 :D . 6 J # . . 00 used to show SRK as a char- normal. But SRK is fantastic as a 0 - 0 # ; O 533B## $ foota is picture perfect. But You settle down and dwarf. Anushka excels with 0: H 0 0- + . 00 >53B#. 4 2> why SRK, the bauna called chuckle along with all of SRK’s her disability too and Katrina 0 $ #0 $2 0 $ Bauaa so frequently strips into jokes and mannerisms which sizzles as she is meant to. But # . . . (0 his kachha-baniyaan is he has thrown at you for more somewhere between these - 00-#0 0# 1 : bewildering, as is the diluted than a decade before three superstars making their , 6+ .. # $= . 0 = N climax which takes him all the veteranising himself into presence felt, the story sadly ' ,+ - # $ # ## - # way from his humble abode in Bollywood irrelevance. curls up like a dog battling cold , $ # 0 0 &. ! # 0 $ India’s small town to no less a Thanks to all the SRK wit — despite the familiar funny 0 . (0 0 planet than Mars, rocketed and his power to empower one liners and the familiar wit # ' 0 # ## 0- 0 0 # into outer space by his wheel- even the most insipid of films, rounds you expect of SRK. " .6 0 $ $ 0 $ 6855854485*+0//* Q+@A " 0 "# D .O 11 !! = - & + 1 1! . . $ :6 D #0 ( 0 # P)*& ..326Q How did your journey start? there for it, it’s just you who has look like and I was hosting a one-hour live show. I 46)2041) + It was by accident. I came to Mumbai you are looking at him. When I was asked used to do 7 O’clock shift for Bandhini and 2 to become a model but someone asked me to do it, I was actually searching for him then I used to go for the live show and then 2 study but they couldn’t see the neurological disease called L to appear for a TV show audition which in the crowd and I thought ye kaha chala I used to do night shifts for Naaginn. It was L root cause of my problem. I was Absence Seizure which makes I went for and got selected. This is how I gaya. I didn’t realise that I am supposed to a crazy time for me and I used to sleep in e was diagnosed with a an introvert and bad at studies. you unable to read further. I self taught dancer who got Tumhari Disha. give act like I was looking at him just for my car during the short breaks that I had. neurological disease at a I was not able to understand used to get stuck on the first reached the top 12 How did you come up with your the camera. Starting from there and now How do you balance your work and Hvery young age due to why I was not able to do alphabet written by my teacher Acontestants of Dance YouTube channel? creating my videos, I personal life? which he was weak in academics concentrate. When I was in on the board and keep staring Plus, the journey of Chetan I came up with my YouTube channel have come a long My husband and I used to have those and had a tough time in striking Class VI, one day I suddenly at it. Gradually, it became worse (SIT) because I wanted to leave give up way. hectic working schedules so we were a conversation. But 21-year-old fainted. But when this happened and I realised that the more I acting and do something else. My husband What is your used to it. We used to cherish whatever Rishabh Sharma, has now more frequently, my family took was thinking about my and I were not getting time to spend with working time we got with each other. When I used overcome all fears. me to the doctor and after six condition, the worse it got,” each other and our daughter. We wanted schedule? to pack up early I used to visit him on his “People thought that I am a months of treatment, it was Sharma says. to do something which would give us more There was set or he used to come on my set. We used poor child who doesn’t want to revealed that I had a It took him five years to time for her and give us satisfaction in our a time when I to steal some moments together. Whenever recover and he work lives. We were feeling stagnated in was doing the show went off-air we had a long break credits the TV with playing same kind of roles, three shows at and in those breaks we used to spend time success to his doing same acting and getting the same the same time, together. We used to take offs from our two sisters. “My kind of work hours. Therefore, we decided I was doing schedule and plan trips outside Mumbai two elder sisters to make content for our channel. Initially, Bandhini, to spend some quality time together. became my it started on a trial basis but our first video Naaginn (2007) What is your take on shows that shut pillar of strength. went viral. This encouraged to continue, down abruptly? My eldest sister it has been three years now. I don’t think I am the right quit her job to Salunkhe has been an uphill Are you more popular for your web person to comment on it but I feel take care of me. task. The circumstances at series than TV? that when a show is created there The other home were such that he had to Yes. But more than the popularity it is are too many viewpoints on it. If encouraged me discontinue studying. the kind of love and quality of appreciation one person’s judgment is to join dance by “My mother works at I am getting which is wonderful. While I followed, probably the show gifting me a other people’s houses and my was working in TV, I got fewer people would do a little better but workshop of father is a contractual painter. walking up to me and telling me that they unfortunately, no matter how Raghav Juyal on My elder sister is a Class IX really liked my work. Now, many walks up novel the concept is, it doesn’t my birthday. drop out and younger one is in to me and tell me that I am doing a great matter because after the first Because of Class X. My mother goes to work. It feels amazing. week of telecast it all depends weakness, I had work at 7 am and comes back How has your life changed after on TRPs. We should give a little to drop one year at 9 pm and my sisters take becoming a YouTuber? more time to a show to sink in from the school care of our the house and the My life has changed in many ways. with the audience before turn and we also family. I had to discontinue my First, I don’t have to worry about the show into something changed our education and started somebody calling me with a good role. else. We keep anticipating house since we distributing newspaper in the It is the biggest thing because being a what the audience wants to were living in morning, assisted promotional content creator I do the kind of work that see and this is a wrong point railway quarters events and did catering work I enjoy. Second, I am my own boss. I of view. A show is a creative as my dad was as well,” Salunkhe says. have my working hours under my process and there has to be an employee. But he loved dancing and control. Third, the contentment and creative liberties that should My sister saw enrolled himself in a class. work satisfaction is far more be taken and let the show live potential in me “Paying 500-800 every immense here because I am doing its life but there is so much and never gave month was challenging. I had what I love. money involved in it and at the up on me. I no financial support. I started How was your experience end of the day everyone wants to make joined my working as a cleaner in the working in TV? a profit out of it. school and also dance studio and also taking It was amazing. When I started One change you would like to see scored good classes in the absence of the working on TV, I had no idea of how to in the industry? marks. Those instructor. One time my act. I have learnt acting from TV and the That the scripts should be two-three years instructor humiliated me for popularity that I have, I gained from TV. delivered on time to the actors so that brought a great wearing torn track pants and YouTube has only increased it. But I have they get a little time to prepare for transformation. said that I would never be able many people who still watch my TV shows the role and then the whole creative I was lucky that to learn popping. I took this as and I get messages and mails from them process will be more satisfying. I took to a challenge and pushed that they love my work. It was definitely Are you planning on some more dancing like a myself,” Salunkhe says. a learning experience. frequent episodes for your channel fish to water. His mother wanted him Can you share some anecdotes? and any upcoming projects? Since Dance Plus to go back to school because The first time I faced camera was for We upload a video every Thursday is my first reality he had been rejected in the a telefilm which was directed by my at 2:30 pm. We have been doing this show, I have a very same previous season. “I husband. It was there where I met him for the last three years and will continue long way to go,” asked my mother to give me for the first time. At that time, I had no uploading them every week. I am Sharma says one year to prepare for it and idea of what a close-up or a master shot looking for films now and also we are who is mentored I made to top 12 finally,” was. I was told to look at my co-actor planning to do some web-series for our by Shakti Salunkhe says who aspires to for a close-up shot. When we went for channel. We are planning to launch a few Mohan on the better the financial condition the shot, the co-actor is usually not other channels as well. show. at home.
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% ! that Haryana would get 45 per earlier used to get approved at announced to give cash prize of cent water with the construc- headquarters, would now be 21,000 to her. tion of Lakhwar dam being possible at local level with the Appreciating the organisers & ' constructed in Uttarakhand. coordination of Municipal of the camp, he said that the Similarly, two such MoUs Corporation and Haryana Artificial Limbs Manufacturing 6&'&6' F% '! + and then Lok Sabha and there- were under process related to Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran. The Corporation of India(ALIM- after Vidhan Sabha elections . Renuka and Kisau dams. With FMDA will be headed by the CO) of Union Ministry of uoyed by the civic body In these elections, you will the construction of Renuka Chief Minister and it will also Social Justice and Belections in Haryana in have to work for yourself. We dam, Delhi would get its water include elected Members of Empowerment has distributed which the BJP had a clean win or lose it will not make any and the additional 300 cusecs Parliament and the Legislative free aids and equipment to 800 sweep, Haryana Chief Minister difference to us. Profit or loss water, which Delhi was getting, Assembly, Municipal Divyang persons and senior cit- Manohar Lal on Saturday will be yours”. would be for the people of Corporation, Zila Parishad and izens. He said that the State lashed at the Opposition par- Targeting the Opposition, Haryana. Government Officers. The Government has given land to ties saying those who used to he said they were involved in FMDA will have the power to ALIMCO in district Faridabad discriminate have gone for 2G scam, land scam and coal FARIDABAD issue CLUs and licences. for setting up a branch so that good and they will never return scam. Their aim was to see METROPOLITAN For the better participation maximum number of differ- to power. their own benefit first, then AUTHORITY TO of citizens in urban gover- ently abled persons in the State Addressing a public meet- their near and dear ones, then BE CONSTITUTED nance, FMDA will be guided by could get assistance. ing at village Lokra in district party and if anything is left then the Residents Advisory He said, “We should not Gurugram, he said the victory they used to think about the Addressing a news confer- Council. The Council will have consider disability as a curse. in recent Municipal country, he added, whereas ence at Faridabad later, the participation of up to 15 Every person has shortage of Corporation Elections have for us Country comes first, Manohar Lal said that residents who are to be nomi- something in their lives made it clear that whatever then party and thereafter Faridabad Metropolitan nated from amongst Resident . ! &# & - # whether visible to anyone or works have been undertaken by everything else. Development Authority Welfare Associations, civil soci- not, but overcoming our short- the present State Government, The Chief Minister said (FMDA) would be constituted ety, labour, real estate devel- Police, MCF and District be a historical industrial city, but Minister, also inaugurated the comings is the key to success”. people have recognised them. that the State Government has to accelerate the pace of devel- opers, commerce and services. Administration towards easing due to negligence of previous ‘Samajik Adhikarita Shivir Avm The State Government has He said the Opposition been taking up the matter in opment of Faridabad. A bill has The area of FMDA will include traffic and resolving trans- Governments, Faridabad lagged Sugamya Gurugram Abhiyan’ started skilling programmes leaders get pleasure in acquir- the Supreme Court to bring been prepared for this which all the areas in the Master portation issues. A special pro- behind from last two decades. at Gurugram. On this occasion, to develop skills in Divyang ing and amassing whereas we SYL water to the state. This would be presented in the next Plan notified in March 2018. vision for operation of city Now the present State he distributed aids and equip- persons so that they could get love sacrificing. He said, “We matter was pending in the session of Vidhan Sabha. After He said that the working of bus services would be done. He Government has been making ment to Divyang persons and employment. Apart from this, have taken the resolve to serve court for last 12 years, but the Gurugram, Faridabad would be FMDA would be paperless to said that this year after getting efforts to bring the industrial city senior citizens. the State Government has also the people and it is being done. present State Government took second such district where make it transparent. the Act passed, formal struc- back to track of development. He released the calendar made provision of reservation We want to stay in hearts of up this matter as a result of FMDA is being constituted. Considering rapidly increasing ture would be made. It is and Vision Document of for Divyang persons in gov- people and so people will which the Supreme Court had He said FMDA will be traffic volumes and congestion expected that FMDA will start INAUGURATES CAMP Sugamya Gurugram Abhiyan. ernment jobs. He appealed to remain our supporters”. ordered that Haryana would constituted as per Master Plan on roads, FMDA will prepare functioning in next three FOR DIVYANG PERSONS Impressed with the song the private organisations to Manohar Lal said, “Now get its share of water. Taking 2031. After constitution of a mobility management plan in months, he added. sung by a girl, Sonia in the give priority to providing jobs Jind by-elections will be held about the recent MoU, he said FMDA, all such works which coordination with Faridabad He said Faridabad used to The Haryana Chief function, the Chief Minister to them. . & 6 O0 & ! * 1234 P & & 1 :!6 '1 0 various refugee camps in the nering votes in the run-up to # # wake of the riots. the Lok Sabha elections, said unjab Chief Minister Capt 0 - 0 ; 0 While Rajeev Gandhi was Capt Amarinder . PAmarinder Singh on + out electioneering in West Trashing Sukhbir’s allega- Saturday ridiculed Sukhbir ## 0 Bengal, Rahul was just a school- tion that he had been fielded by Singh Badal for his “atrocious” . going child at the crucial time, Rahul to defend the Gandhis statement on the 1984 riots, -.O . 6 0 and neither had any role to play and the Congress, Capt saying the Akali president had in the riots, in which a few indi- Amarinder said he had been packed his bags and gone to the # . vidual Congress leaders were talking on the issue since the US for studies when the vio- 0# named by the victims, said the time Rahul was just a child. lence erupted. . - 0 Chief Minister. The Gandhis do not need In a statement issued here, = # # There were in fact several to nominate anyone to defend Capt Amarinder said while he RSS/BJP workers named in themselves as there was never himself had personally wit- get his virtually defunct he did not need to indulge in confidence of the Congress the FIR, to whom Sukhbir had any evidence of their nessed the developments, and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) sycophancy to save his chair. leadership, Captain Amarinder never eluded, clearly suggesting complicity in the riots, said the had first-hand knowledge of back into public limelight,” said Asserting that he would Singh said his defence of the that his concern for the pain Chief Minister, pointing out 1!= worth 34 crore in the con- the sequence of events, the the Chief Minister, brushing off remain the chief minister for as Gandhi family was out of his suffered by the Sikh commu- that none of the victims had stituency. Badals had conveniently dis- with utter disdain Sukhbir’s long as the people of Punjab personal knowledge, which he nity during the riots was mere ever blamed the family in the imachal Chief Minister Jai He said it was due to the appeared from the scene dur- statement that he (Capt wanted, and he shared the full had gathered from visiting the hogwash, aimed only at gar- matter. HRam Thakur on Saturday wholehearted support of the ing the turbulent times. Amarinder) was defending the ridiculed the charges of the people of the state that he got Sukhbir’s statements blam- Gandhis to save his chair. Opposition of using helicopter the opportunity to head the ing the Gandhis for the riots, As a duly elected leader of for visiting the far flung areas State Government which is with which they were not even the Congress in Punjab and its of the State saying that he was completing its one year in remotely connected, were com- unanimously elected Chief using it for the welfare of the office on December 27. Thakur pletely baseless and senseless, Minister, he had the mandate common man and not for per- said Jan Manch Programme of and a clear case of desperation not only of the people of the sonal use as was being done by the State Government is prov- to get back into the electoral state but his party, pointed out the previous State Government. ing a boon for redressal of the game ahead of the Lok Sabha the Chief Minister. Unlike the Aaddressing a public meet- grievances of the masses, polls, said Capt Amarinder. SAD, the Congress functions in ing at Kanjayan in Bhoranj adding till date over 20,000 “He (Sukhbir) was not even a democratic system and not Assembly constituency of grievances has been redressed around at the time of the inci- on the whims and fancies of its Hamirpur district, he said it through the Jan Manch. dents and was dragging the leadership, said Captain was unfortunate that the He said the State Gandhi family into the case to Amarinder Singh, adding that Opposition leaders are point- Government has launched ing finger at his use of heli- Grihini Suvidha Yojna for pro- copter and it seems that they viding free gas connection to ( )*+ , have no issue and are raking up the women who have not been a non-issue in a desperate covered under Ujjawala Yojana attempt to remain in news. of the Centre Government. ! -./ "& He said the Congress lead- Former Chief Minister ers had been making unneces- Prem Kumar Dhumal said the 1!= Pradesh has been bestowed sary hue and cry about his vis- State has lot of expectations with immense natural grandeur its to Delhi. Now, when the pre- from the Chief Minister and it imachal Chief Minister Jai and his government is resolute sent state government has suc- is a good sign that the one year HRam Thakur on Saturday to preserve the precious envi- ceeded in getting approval of tenure of the present State expressed happiness that ronment and ecosystem. developmental projects worth Government has been full of Himachal Pradesh has emerged The report prepared, with thousands of crores for the achievements. front runner along-with Kerala the support of the UN in India, State, their mouths are glued Irrigation and Public and Tamil Nadu in achieving has listed out the India index and eyes are bewildered. Health Minister Mahender the United Nations Sustainable with aims to measure the He announced opening of Singh Thakur said that the State Development Goals (SDG) in progress of States and Union Irrigation and Public Health Government has succeeded in the State ranking released by Territories (UTs). The index and Public Works Department getting 3,267 crore external NITI Aayog. He said Himachal covers 13 of the 17 sustainable Divisions at Bhoranj and said aided water supply projects Pradesh has been ranked high development goals, including 90 crore water supply scheme sanctioned for the State. on providing clean water and healthcare, gender equality, clean has been posed for BRICS Member of Parliament sanitation, in reducing inequal- energy, infrastructure, educa- funding for Bhoranj which Anurag Thakur said the State ities and preserving the moun- tion, peace and building strong, would benefit over 45,000 pop- Government has succeeded in tain ecosystem. The Chief accountable institutions. The ulation of the area. He said that getting assistance of crores of Minister said that this has been index comprises a composite a 157 crore project for chan- rupees from the Centre during possible due to active cooper- score for each State and Union nelisation of Seer Khud has this short period of one year. ation of the people of the state. Territory based on their aggre- been sent to the Centre, which He detailed various develop- The State Government is gate performance across 13 of would be approved soon. mental and welfare schemes committed to providing best the 17 SDGs. Among the States, The Chief Minister laid launched by the Centre basic amenities to its citizen for Himachal Pradesh and Kerala foundation stones and dedi- Government for the welfare of which all-out efforts are being are the front runners, with an cated developmental projects the common man. made. He said that Himachal SDG India Index score of 69. "#" $
1 :!6 '1 causing the mercury to dip below the freezing point in he mercury dipped to zero Manali, Solan, Kalpa, Seobagh, Tdegrees Celsius in Karnal Bhuntar and Sundernagar as on Saturday as the cold wave well, the Met Centre Director sweeping most parts of Manmohan Singh said. Haryana and Punjab for over a The lowest temperature in week continued unabated. the state was recorded in The minimum tempera- Keylong at minus 8.8 degrees tures in the two states were sev- Celsius between 5.30 pm on eral notches below the normal. Friday and 8.30 am on Saturday, Karnal in Haryana record- he said. Both Manali and ed a low of zero degrees Seobagh recorded a minimum Celsius, seven degrees below temperature of minus 1.6 degrees the normal and the lowest in in the state for the second con- COLD WAVE GRIPS Celsius during the period. the two States, a Meteorological secutive day at 0.2 degrees PARTS OF HIMACHAL The minimum temperature Department official said. Celsius. Amritsar, Ludhiana, in Kalpa was minus 3 degrees Among other places in Patiala, Pathankot, Halwara Shimla: Tribal district Lahaul Celsius, minus 1.1 degrees Haryana, Hisar, Ambala and and Bathinda also braved icy and Spiti’s administrative cen- Celsius in Bhuntar, minus 0.8 Narnaul shivered at 2.7, 4.6 and temperatures at 2.2, 1.4, 4.7, 3.1, tre Keylong continued to be the degrees Celsius in Sundernagar 2 degrees Celsius respectively, 2.2 and 2.4 degrees Celsius coldest place in Himachal and minus 0.5 degrees Celsius in up to five degrees below the respectively. Pradesh with a minimum tem- Solan. However, the minimum normal. Rohtak, Bhiwani and Chandigarh, the joint cap- perature of minus 8.8 degrees temperature in Shimla was 6.7 Sirsa recorded minimum tem- ital of Haryana and Punjab, Celsius, the Meteorological degrees Celsius during the peri- peratures of 3.8, 5.5 and 3.8 recorded a minimum temper- (MeT) Department said on od. Kufri recorded a low of 5.3 degrees Celsius respectively. ature of 4.6 degrees Celsius. Fog Saturday. degrees Celsius and the mini- In Punjab, Adampur con- reduced visibility at several Cold wave conditions also mum temperature in Chail was tinued to be the coldest place places in the two States. gripped other parts of the state, 5.8 degree Celsius. PNS ( ) *+, *-./ %
$ &$' 8 $$ 4 * =!0 , ' - 0 6 37& ) . 0 0 # . $1 # 0 $ -" : 0 - . 0 $1 0 6 0! 1 :!6 '1 024# 2># B # 0 O # $ he country may be moving Ttowards digital modes of payment and going cashless is =! .0# . the new norm but its exactly :. 0 +$/ the opposite at Chandigarh - ## 0 1 Railway station here. ##0 . $0 Ironically, the Rail ticket 1 " -. counters here only deal in cash # # ; 0. $ 0 due to severe paucity of either . 1 " $"#0. Point of Sales (POS) machines # . # $1 or awareness about other dig- . # 0 # 0 ital modes of payment. # 0 0 .$ Railways Official said that they have eight counters for 32344 * unreserved railway ticket and working for the past six months and saw the facilities some !#.$!< 0 # #002>G another six for reserved tickets as the contract has not yet been time back. # 0 5>> # #0 at the Chandigarh Station but renewed. Chandigarh Railway # 255>" . 0 they have only one card swipe Interestingly Pawan Kumar Station is a Important Station $ 00 #-# 0 Machine. Officials admitted Bansal, who was the Member of this region with 62 up 53>2 00 # that even this is often not of Parliament from Chandigarh and Down trains coming here 02>G# 02>4 found in a working condition. remained a Railway Minister everyday. An average of round # #( 0 $ Those who want to pur- during the UPA regime and 20,000 people use the station chase their ticket through debit brought in several facilities everyday. When contacted 1 :!6 '1F: =1! — Manmohan Goel from to be a bridge between the card or credit card simply can- and trains for the people. But Hari Singh Mohan,SDCM Rohtak, Avneet Kaur from Government, administration not do it here. All they have to since then, authorities have Ambala Railway Division said JP president Amit Shah on Panipat , Renu Bala Gupta from and the people. dole out is cash for tickets. To practically abandoned the sta- he has just joined and will look BSaturday asked the newly Karnal, Gautam Sardana from State BJP president Subhash add to the woes of the travel- tion. Railway Minister Piyush into the matter. “We will try to elected Mayors of Haryana to Hisar and Madan Chauhan Barala and party in-charge of ers, none of the ATM Machines Goyal though visited resolve these problems as soon work for the people of the State. from Yamunanagr, Shah con- the State, Anil Jain were also installed at the station are Chandigarh Railway station as possible,” he said. Talking to the new Mayors gratulated them and asked them present on the occasion. 6.$ - "& 0 % ) $ ( ) 1 * #0
New Delhi: A Delhi-based 1 :!6 '1 &<9"&>- ification. After applying online, wildlife body on Saturday res- &<$!#".-?&<=$! the applicant would keep get- cued a white-throated king- aryana Chief Minister !,#8<% ting the status of his application fisher caught in a rat glue trap HManohar Lal will launch on his mobile. in Delhi Cantt. 115 Antyodaya Saral Kendras -#?&<=.!-&,% Two new features have According to Wildlife SOS, of the State from Karnal on $-%&?-#?8!<" been added to the Saral portal, a concerned passer-by spotted Good Governance Day on %&!!-#?%&? which included e-Ticketing the kingfisher near a dumpster, December 25. An official system and Knowledge inextricably stuck to a rat glue spokesman on Saturday said !<&,""8=" Management System. Through trap. The wildlife body was through these Kendras, the e-Ticketing system, any citizen contacted and a two-member State Government is providing could submit his complaint on team later rescued the bird and over 400 services of 38 depart- The spokesman said a Saral portal regarding any ser- provided treatment. ments, under one roof. In these workshop would be organised vice and the concerned depart- It took over two hours to centres, people are being pro- for all the operators before the ment would redress the com- free the bird and safely vided with the benefit of gov- mega launch of Antyodaya plaint within 24 hours. removed the deadly glue from ernment schemes and other Saral Kendras on December 25, Similarly, through e- & & & # ') its beak and feathers, it said. services. where they would be informed Ticketing system, the depart- Glue trap devices consist of He said people need not go about the eligibility of benefi- mental officials would also be pieces of cardboard, fibreboard, to any department for the ser- ciaries to avail the benefit of able to submit the problems or plastic, coated with a sticky vices, which are being provid- various schemes. being faced by them. The adhesive designed to ensnare ed at Saral Kendras. The He said any person can Knowledge Management sys- any small animal who wanders departmental officials have also apply online on Saral portal tem would provide information across or lands on its surface. been directed to send people at from home but need to visit to people about services PTI these centres for services. only once at the centre for ver- through Saral portal. 7 P 8 O P& New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality deteriorated to the ‘severe’ cat- egory on Saturday as a thick smog engulfed the national Capital and prevented disper- sion of pollutants, authorities said. This is the fourth time this season that the air quality in the city has worsened to the ‘severe’ category. The first time the air quality dipped to this category this year was just two days before Diwali. A day after Diwali, which fell on November 7, the air quality again slipped to the ‘severe’ category. The third time it slipped into this cate- gory was on December 12. The overall AQI of the city stood at 421, which falls in the ‘severe’ category, CPCB data showed. PTI ( ) *+, *-./ (
&)P+ + +$ C!4($ % 2. "
: =1! ( 1+8 ollowing the Delhi High ( FCourt order in the National Herald case, the BJP on : =1! Saturday launched a direct . & attack on the Gandhi family t a time when the saying the matter is a case of AOpposition parties are up “massive irregularity and scam in arms against the BJP-led to appropriate public premises” & 7 Government for giving snoop- by them and dared Congress ing powers to investigating president Rahul to provide : =1! we are confident of getting agencies, an RTI reply from answer as how 5000 crore complete justice in the high- 2013 has surfaced to reveal that property was allegedly usurped day after the Delhi High er court.” around 9,000 phones and 500 by them for a paltry 50 lakh. ACourt verdict against “The court’s findings and email accounts were intercept- Addressing a Press confer- Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), observationare not final. The ed every month by the ence here Law Minister and publisher of the National parties have all rights to appeal Congress-led UPA senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Herald newspaper to vacant its against the court findings. Government at the time. Prasad sought to ask Rahul to headquarters, Herald House, The final finding is of the The BJP that has been at respond to the court verdict in the national Capital with- Supreme Court of India. We pains to clarify that its order “exposing their corruption” in two weeks, the Congress on are confident that since we was not new but only a con- rather than asking too many ..<""#$!<"" ily of Sonia and Rahul has also Saturday said it will appeal have a strong case and on the tinuation of the UPA’s 2009 questions on the Rafale fight- 8&#?<#8<! been found to be questionable against the order even as it basis of facts and evidence, the decision lost no time in mak- !<<=8!#"= maintained the notification on er jet deal. #"%<!#."#&< by the court, he said. exuded confidence that they final victory will be of the ing a strong counter on the surveillance is a reiteration of The Delhi High Court dis- !.< !!#9!< Pointing to what he will get full justice in the AJL,” he added. basis of the RTI, filed by one !"#&%.?#.!#.% the order that was amended by missed plea of Associated described as double-faced Supreme Court. The Centre and Land and Prosenjit Mondal. The !"#&-#=!. the UPA Government in 2008, Journals Ltd, publisher of &#.%&% leader said when it comes to Manu Singhvi said the court have said in their order that no the Ministry of Home Affairs of communication and infor- challenged Centre’s order end- 8&,<%<.8%O>&"#$ saving income tax the party findings are not final and the Press has been (MHA) on August 6, 2013. L !!#9!<%&#PRavi Shankar Prasad Rahul, Sonia and Motilal Vora which it has been done is also The Modi Government constitutional right to appeal, renting out almost the entire The reply also disclosed the during the UPA-2, a reference has said. The earlier mecha- acquires massive 5,000 crore questionable.” would not allow loot of public which we will exercise. We building except one floor list of 10 Central and State to the alliance second term in nism was not defined and it has property by paying off only 50 He said the massive irreg- money, as was sought to be have a very strong case in AJL which has negated the pur- agencies that are authorised for office during 2009-14. now been made robust and lakh, Prasad said a similar ularity and scam to appropri- done in this case, Prasad and there is nothing illegal or pose for which the land was lawful interception, which The Government has accountable, he claimed. model was also perfected by ate public premises by the fam- alleged. against the law in the case and originally allotted”. 1$(($ * "!(( * $ "!A New Delhi: The BJP on yatras in the State. to consider intelligence inputs. three different locations in the Saturday announced that it A division Bench of the The BJP filed a plea after it State before converging in ()( will move to Vacation Bench of Calcutta high court on Friday received the green signal from Kolkata. The administration / * & the Supreme Court against the quashed a single bench order a single-judge Bench of the had earlier denied permission Calcutta High Court verdict on that had allowed BJP’s ‘rath same court on Thursday. for the political rallies, saying Friday asking the party to defer yatras’ in West Bengal and The BJP ‘yatras’ are they could trigger communal Q5$D its three “Save Democracy” asked it to hear the case afresh planned to be launched from clashes in the State. PNS ( $ : =1! R JP president Amit Shah on BSaturday appointed former : =1! Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy as a national spokesper- ounding a note of caution son of the party. The BJP said Sabout encroachment of in a statement that his defence land, Defence Minister appointment will take place Nirmala Sitharaman said here with immediate effect. on Saturday rapid urbanisation A Lok Sabha MP from is taking place in the country * & $ # # & ) # Bihar who had defeated RJD and critical assets of defence + K) 6& :)+ )6; $ ') president Lalu Prasad’s wife estates have to be protected. Rabri Devi in 2014 general Asserting that urbanisa- tant as the guarding of the bor- isation is creeping in at a very elections, Rudy has held organ- tion is spreading at a “very fast” ders of this sovereign country. fast (rate), pressure is coming isational responsibilities in the rate in cities, she said defence And, I say with so much of seri- from places closer to where past as well and was also a gen- estates need to be “more cau- ousness, several lakhs of acreage defence estates are located...We eral secretary, a key position. tiously protected” against any fall under your (DGDE) con- probably lose a lot more space “My thanks to Prime kind of encroachment. In her trol. In particular areas of can- for want of greater coordina- Minister Narendra Modi & address at the Raksha Mantri tonments, over 20 lakh citizens tion between local authorities BJP president Amit Shah. I look Awards for Excellence 2018 depend on it,” she said. and the DGDA,” she said. forward to responsibility as hosted by the Directorate The Minister said the area The Minister said after any the national spokesperson to General of Defence Estate managed by the DGDE may be kind of encroachment, it take forward the achievements (DGDE), she also pitched for located in far, interior areas of becomes everybody’s tiring of the Government under the “greater coordination” between the country, but it is very business as to how to remove leadership of the Prime cantonment and municipal important to spread defence it. “So, I strongly appeal to all, Minister,” Rudy said in a tweet. authorities to ensure no part of assets, which are “critical for to have greater coordination The Rajput leader was a defence lands are lost to emergency (situation), and crit- with municipal and canton- Minister in the first BJP-led encroachments. ical for protection of the coun- ment authorities, to ensure we NDA Government under Atal The categories in which try, and critical to house our do not lose, inch by inch, what Bihari Vajpayee and was also these awards have been given soldiers.” is otherwise defence estate,” entrusted with the responsi- are very critical to transform Sitharaman said earlier this Sitharaman said. bility of the newly-created min- India to a civic-conscious, wel- year elected representatives Among the various cate- istry of Skill Development and fare-conscious, and public- from various cantonment gories of awards which were Entrepreneurship in the Modi conscious country, the Defence boards had met her and dis- handed out by the Union dispensation. However, he was Minister said. cussed the issue of roads and Minister at a ceremony, Delhi later dropped in a Cabinet “Defence estates role is access to certain areas. “In Cantonment won it in the reshuffle. very important, and as impor- towns and cities, where urban- Swachh cantonment segment. $ # ) # +
: =1! increase in natural disasters “The expertise of the resi- and trans-national threats like dent ILOs would be utilised n an effort to have more piracy, terrorism and traffick- towards sharing of real time Iintense relations with coun- ing. information with partners as tries in the Indian Ocean According to Navy offi- well as for generating timely region, India on Saturday inau- cials, all countries that have and adequate response to gurated an Information Fusion already signed White Shipping developing situations,” the Centre — Indian Ocean Region Information Exchange agree- Navy said. (IFC-IOR) which will work ments with us, about 21 of The resident ILOs would closely with countries in the them, are IFC partners and can collate information from their region and will be manned by post International Liaison allocated areas of responsibil- the Indian Navy. The centre at Officers (ILO) at the centre. ity and contribute towards Gurugram is a step to consol- Atleast 10 countries, including development of a common idate the regional efforts with US, France, Italy and Japan, operational picture that would friendly nations to keep the have expressed in posting their then be shared with partner global commons “open and officers. “It is for equals, it is for countries. “The ILOs would accessible for all.” partners,” Sitharaman stated. also interact with their nation- “The need for IFC-IOR The centre will be tracking al maritime security agencies stems from importance of the point centre interlinking all the and monitoring 75,000 to 1.5 and solicit response to devel- IOR for world trade and secu- coastal radar chains to gener- lakh shipping traffic in the IOR oping maritime scenarios in the rity. All stakeholders are equal ate a seamless real-time picture in real time round the clock. To IOR,” the statement added. in this maritime security and of the nearly 7,500-km long begin with, the ILOs will have Indian Navy is mandated safety milestone,” Defence coastline. a virtual presence at the centre. to conclude white shipping Minister Nirmala Sitharaman The IFC aims to bring var- In the near future, Navy is look- information exchange agree- said at the inauguration. ious countries in the region and ing to host additional ments with 36 countries and The IFC has been estab- pool in best practices to joint- International Liaison Officers three multi-national constructs, lished at the Navy's ly monitor the vast IRO which adjacent to the IFC-IOR for the first of which India joined Information Management and is increasingly becoming the which creation of infrastructure earlier this month in Italy, the Analysis Centre (IMAC) at theatre for contention between and manpower is being worked Trans Regional Maritime Gurugram which is the single great powers apart from out. Network (T-RMN). ( ) *+, *-./ , ) ##
* 1!:6A: ers and many at the House would likely balk at Departments of Homeland that figure. he US Government began Security, Justice, Agriculture “There’s no agreement,” Ta Christmas shutdown and State. National parks will congressman Mark Meadows, * A&' :K & :L Speaking to reporters in ularly campaigned against the early on Saturday, after remain open, but most park chairman of the House Omdurman, on the west bank policies of Bashir’s govern- Congress adjourned without staff will stay home while Freedom Caucus of ultra-con- rotests this week in Sudan of the Nile, Mahdi said the ment. passing a federal spending Bill Washington is unable to servatives, told reporters as he Pover the rising cost of bread protest movement “is legal and Sudan has been facing a or addressing President Donald accomplish one of its most left a closed-door meeting on have claimed 22 lives, Sudanese was launched because of the mounting economic crisis over Trump’s demand for money to basic tasks -- keeping the gov- the Capitol’s Senate side. Opposition leader Sadiq al- deteriorating situation in the past year. build a border wall. ernment up and running. “There’s a whole lot of Mahdi said on Saturday, Sudan”. The cost of some com- Operations for several key “It’s up to the Democrats numbers being thrown although officials gave a lower He said that demonstra- modities has more than dou- agencies ceased at 12:01 am whether or not we have a shut- around,” but a maximum USD death toll. tions will continue to rock bled, inflation is running at Saturday (0501 GMT), despite down tonight,” Trump said 1.6 billion for border security A Government decision to Sudan. Government close to 70 percent and the last-ditch talks that continued earlier Friday, blaming his “is not acceptable.” raise the price of a loaf of bread spokesman Bashar Jumaa on pound has plunged in value. on Capitol Hill between White political opponents for the cri- Trump reversed course from one Sudanese pound to Friday warned that authorities Shortages have been House officials and congres- sis. Thursday and rejected a mea- three (from about two to six US “will not be lenient” with those reported for the past three sional leaders in both parties. “I hope we don’t,” the pres- sure that had unanimously cents) sparked demonstrations who set state buildings on fire weeks across several cities, While most critical securi- opposed, and the absence of an taxpayer dollars,” David Cox, ident added, but “we’re totally passed the Senate and was across the country on or cause other damage to pub- including Khartoum. ty functions remain opera- elusive deal means federal national president of the prepared for a very long shut- under House consideration. Wednesday. lic property. Protests broke out in tional, the effects of the budget funds for dozens of agencies American Federation of down.” Senators told reporters It would have extended The protests first erupted It was Mahdi’s first news January over the rising cost of wrangling and uncertainty have lapsed at midnight Friday. Government Employees, said that congressional leaders from government funding until in the eastern city of Atbara conference since he returned to food, but they were soon cast an air of chaos over the The House of in a statement. both parties were negotiating February 8, but contained no before spreading to Al-Qadarif, Sudan on Wednesday after brought under control with capital, which is also reeling Representatives and the Senate “This is a dereliction of behind the scenes with White money for a border wall, a pet also in eastern Sudan, and almost a year in exile. the arrest of opposition leaders from Defense Secretary Jim are due back in session at duty by Congress and the pres- House officials including Vice project Trump has fought for then to the Capital Khartoum A fixture of Sudanese pol- and activists. Mattis’s resignation announce- noon on Saturday but it ident.” But the prospect of a President Mike Pence, Trump’s since his presidential cam- and twin city Omdurman and itics since the 1960s, Mahdi was Also on Saturday, Sudan’s ment on Thursday. remains unclear how long the large portion of government son-in-law Jared Kushner, and paign. other areas. prime minister from 1966 to national news agency SUNA The uncertainty pushed shutdown — the third this workers going without pay- incoming chief of staff Mick Democrats painted Trump Two demonstrators were 1967 and again from 1986 to reported that Bashir appointed Wall Street into a third straight year — will last. Trump checks was not enough to spur Mulvaney. as the Grinch who stole the killed in Atbara and six others 1989. a senior officer from the pow- rout on Friday, to end its worst expressed hope late Friday lawmakers or the president to The power trio shuttled year-end deal. in Al-Qadarif, officials said on His government was the erful National Intelligence and week since late 2008 at the start night that it “will not last long,” action. from one side of the Capitol to With lawmakers like Thursday, as protesters torched last one to be democratically Security Services (NISS) as of the global financial crisis. after earlier saying he was The House of the other, seeking a break- Meadows and prominent con- offices of the ruling National elected in Sudan, before it was governor of Al-Qadarif. “President Trump threw a ready for just that. Representatives adjourned just through with Republicans and servative commentators Congress Party of President toppled by a 1989 coup Mubarak Mohammed temper tantrum and convinced His own Republican party before 7:00 pm Friday, with no Democrats. demanding that the president Omar al-Bashir. launched by Bashir. Shamat will replace Mirghani House Republicans to push still controls both the House moves taken to avert a shut- It did not come on Friday. stick to his campaign promis- But according to Mahdi Since then Mahdi’s Umma Saleh who was killed in a heli- our nation into a destructive and Senate, but that will change down, and the Senate closed up Should they eventually es, Trump would not budge on “22 people were martyred and Party has acted as Sudan’s main copter crash on December 9, Trump Shutdown,” Chuck in January when the House shop an hour later. strike a deal, it could swiftly his wall. several others wounded”. opposition group and has reg- SUNA said. Schumer, the top opposition comes under Democratic con- About three-quarters of clear Congress and reach the The House swiftly passed a Democrat in the Senate, and trol. the government, including the president’s desk, said Senate bill that fulfilled the presi- his House counterpart, fellow For now, 800,000 federal military and the Department of Republican Bob Corker. dent’s demands. It included Democrat Nancy Pelosi, said in employees will be either fur- Health and Human Services, is One focus of discussion USD 5.7 billion in wall fund- *% & # # a joint statement. loughed or forced to work fully funded until the end of was the USD1.6 billion in bor- ing, and USD 7.8 billion in dis- Trump has dug in on his without pay in the run-up to September 2019, leaving 25 der security funding that was a aster relief. But it stalled at the demand for USD 5 billion for the Christmas holiday. per cent unfunded as of part of pending Senate legisla- first hurdle in the Senate. construction of a wall to curb “The failure to fund the Saturday. tion, number two Senate Trump was scheduled to fly illegal immigration on the US government’s operation is Most NASA employees will Republican John Cornyn told to Florida Friday for his border with Mexico. shameful, unacceptable, and a be sent home, as will AFP. Christmas break, but he post- Democrats are staunchly completely avoidable waste of Commerce Department work- But conservatives in the poned the trip. =A:A: investigations into the criminal information that can help with use of drones which has severe- their investigations. wo people have been arrest- ly disrupted flights in and out According to some reports, & Ted over the “criminal use” of Gatwick Airport, Sussex a cyclist was spotted by a mem- P Q + ++$ of drones that brought Police made two arrests,” Police ber of the public hurriedly London’s Gatwick Airport, the Superintendent James Collis of packing away two drones into UK’s second busiest, to a stand- Sussex Police said. a bag before the arrests were still, leaving tens of thousands “Our investigations are still made. Gatwick Airport said on P of passengers stranded ahead of ongoing, and our activities at Saturday that it was open for Q R #%.!%&#" 0 the busy holiday season. the airport continue to build flights but urged passengers to * " '! + O Sussex Police confirmed resilience to detect and mitigate check with their airline before - &: # that they arrested a man and further incursions from drones travelling. rench “yellow vests” turned 0 woman on Friday night after by deploying a range of tactics,” “Our runway is open and * 1' : Fout in small numbers for a 0## raids were carried out in the he said. He called on the pub- we aim to run a full schedule sixth Saturday of nationwide . area around Gatwick Airport in lic around the airport to remain — 757 flights scheduled today, ran said on Saturday the US demonstrations, with one per- - the south of England. vigilant and contact the police carrying 124,484 passengers,” a Ipresence in Syria had been son killed in a road accident, # #$ As part of our ongoing if they believe they have any spokesperson said. “wrong and illogical” from the the tenth death since the start, in its first official reaction protests began last month. to President Donald Trump’s In Paris, the scene of vio- decision to withdraw troops. lent clashes in previous demon- “The presence of American strations, traffic was normal in forces was from the very start, the morning and most shops, in principle, a wrong and illog- except for some luxury bou- ical move and a primary cause tiques, were open for business of instability and insecurity in in the busy weekend before the region,” said foreign min- Christmas. istry spokesman Bahram David Delbruyere was one # ' Ghasemi on his Telegram of about 20 protesters near the # channel. Trump vowed Arc de Triomphe, the fifth Thursday that the United States time he has come to the French fears of unrest. since they began on November would no longer be the “police- capital to join a demonstration. A Facebook event organ- 17. Around 50 “yellow vests” man of the Middle East” as he And he wasn’t discouraged by ised by “yellow vest” leader Eric briefly blocked trucks near the ordered troops back from Syria. the small turnout so far. Drouet listed 1,400 people as border between France and Iran’s Revolutionary Guards “I think it’s going to hap- planned “participants” in the Spain before gendarmes have a contingent of comman- pen,” the 48-year-old said. Versailles demonstration with stepped in. ders and advisers deployed in Some 200 people gathered for a further 8,000 people saying Blockades were also report- Syria in support of President a demonstration in Paris’ they were “interested”. ed in northern France near the Bashar al-Assad, and have fer- tourist area of Monmartre and Overnight in Perpignan in border with Belgium. ried weapons and thousands of the Sacre Coeur basilica. southern France a driver was Further demonstrations militia fighters to the frontlines In all, around 800 “yellow killed when his car collided were planned for Saturday in from various countries. vests” showed up for small with a truck stopped at a road- Lyon, Toulouse, Orleans and The United States current- demonstrations around the block set up by “yellow vest” Brittany. The number of pro- ly has around 2,000 forces French capital, police said at protesters at the entrance to an testers has however fallen sig- deployed in Syria in two areas mid-day. Authorities were also autoroute, prosecutor Jean- nificantly since last week, when along the Iraqi border that stationed at the Palace of Jacques Fagni told AFP. President Emmanuel Macron, was partly aimed at keeping Versailles outside Paris which There have now been 10 a pro-business centrist, gave in Iranian forces in check. has been closed to visitors over deaths related to the protests to some of their demands. (& # & & # # A=A+A some media were attempting to mislead the public and action : !'A+!K/:D L &"9.#8,.%< ri Lankan Prime Minister must be taken against them. "%!??<"?<&=%&#.&#E SRanil Wickremesinghe has He called for a debate next n explosives-packed vehi- -!".#<"! acknowledged that there are month on media which were Acle detonated at a military "%!%#8,.#$ some differences of opinion reporting false information. checkpoint near Somalia’s pres- with President Maithripala The Prime Minister said idential palace, killing at least ><&=##%D&,<#!"% Sirisena on the ministerial that while there were some dif- 16 people and wounding more !<!!.2"!.>&8 appointments, but he is confi- ferences of opinion with the than 20 others, police said. !>%+&!=. ,""#2 dent that the issues will be President on the Ministerial The al-Qaida-linked al- &$!%%&&?.!. resolved. appointments, he was confi- Shabab extremist group, which President Sirisena on dent the issues will be resolved. often targets Mogadishu, !#.&,#.. Thursday named a 30-member He said he will make a claimed responsibility for the Cabinet while reportedly reject- statement in the House on attack. rushed to the scene. “At first I ing some of Prime Minister how the Cabinet was appoint- Those killed include three saw a vehicle driving to and fro, Wickremesinghe’s nominees ed. The new Cabinet was staffers from the London-based then we tried to stop people and retained control over the appointed after an unexpected Universal TV station, including walking here and there, and security forces and police, indi- delay of three days since prominent journalist Awil then in the blink of an eye the cating that the power tussle Wickremesinghe was sworn Dahir Salad, said police Capt. vehicle exploded, causing between them is far from over. in as Prime Minister on Mohamed Hussein, who gave havoc,” traffic police officer Wickremesinghe on Friday December 16 following weeks the toll of dead and wounded. Mohamed Harun told The slammed media, saying some of political crisis that led to The bomber targeted the Associated Press. had reported a “fake list” claim- Government dysfunction. checkpoint near the rear Al-Shabab, the most active ing they were nominated for The Cabinet formation was entrance of the heavily fortified Islamic extremist group in sub- ministry portfolios but had delayed as Sirisena reportedly palace, Hussein said. A law- Saharan Africa, was pushed out not been approved by the did not agree with some nom- maker and a deputy mayor of of Mogadishu years ago but President, Colombo Gazette inees from the list submitted by Mogadishu were among those continues to control large parts reported. Wickremsinghe. wounded, he said. of rural southern and central He said that some media Sirisena, who holds the Soldiers also were among Somalia. had claimed that Sri Lanka Defence and Mahaweli the dead, Col. Ahmed The US military, which Freedom Party (SLFP) member Development and Mohamud said. partners with Somali forces and Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa was Environment Ministry portfo- The blast and a second, a 20,000-strong African Union in the list of MPs nominated for lios, has retained his control smaller one nearby appeared to peacekeeping mission, has ministerial posts. over the police, which is inves- target those heading to work on greatly increased airstrikes The Prime Minister, how- tigating an alleged plot to kill what was a business day in the against al-Shabab under the ever, insisted that Zoysa was him. The plot widened the Horn of Africa nation. Trump administration. At least not on the list. gulf between Sirisena and A plume of smoke rose 47 U.S. Strikes have been car- Wickremesinghe said that Wickremesinghe. over the capital as ambulances ried out this year. ( ) *+, *-./ "#"- , '
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orussia Dortmund will begin the new year in pole posi- Btion to win their first Bundesliga title since 2012 after beat- ing second-placed Borussia Moenchengladbach 2-1 on Friday. An outstanding goal from English teenager Jadon Sancho and a sliding finish from Marco Reus ensured Dortmund end the first half of the German season top of the table as "autumn champions" going into the winter break. Dortmund captain Reus admitted they showed some signs of tiredness following three league games in the last six days, including Tuesday's shock 2-1 defeat at strugglers Fortuna Duesseldorf. "You could see in the last 20 minutes that we were on our knees," admitted match-winner Reus. "A few weeks break will do us good so that we can attack again in the new year - the job is half done." The win puts Dortmund nine points clear of 'Gladbach, who are level on points with reigning champions Bayern Munich who have a chance to cut the gap to six points when they face Eintracht Frankfurt on late Saturday. Sancho, the 18-year-old whose progress has been a major factor in Dortmund's fine season, squeezed a shot in from the tightest of angles on 42 minutes after the lively Reus had crossed and Mario Goetze helped the ball on to the young- ster. Gladbach pulled level just before the break with a con- troversial goal from Christoph Kramer, which came after a goalmouth scramble that appeared to involve a handball but which the referee ruled valid after checking the VAR. After the break, Reus charged in to put Dortmund back in front with Goetze the provider. Reus then slammed a free- kick against a post as Dortmund returned to winning ways after losing for the first time this season at Dusseldorf. Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre played an experi- mental back four with Germany's defensive midfielder Julian Weigl partnering Omer Toprak at centre-back. "We deserved the win and now a few days of holiday," said Favre. "Julian Weigl played really well, created a lot of movement and solved a few problems for us at the back - it worked well." ( ) *+, *-./ "#. Q@8$R 10 / ! 0-##
look to play the extra bowler by pick- ing the all-rounder and added to their bowling depth." Hogg heaped praise on Indian pacers and said it would be a huge opportunity for the visitors against a 'relatively weak' Australian side. "India have to be proud with the '# ! & way their pacers have bowled in both Tests. They have been aggressive and won the first Test, and it was very !& & & 7 important because it gave them ener- gy and belief," he said. "This is a huge opportunity for /A=/ individual players come togeth- India because of the relative weakness er with the support staff, it's a of the Australian team. So that adds earing up for the New huge and big family. pressure and it plays on back of their GZealand tour, Indian "And usually in a family minds. Perth tested this bowling women's ODI captain Mithali there will always be a difference attack's character and they showed Raj on Saturday stressed on the of opinion. Everybody will not true fight, but didn't score enough need to bring focus back on have the same kind of per- runs." cricket after hogging the lime- spective. There will be issues India also faced flak for not play- light for the wrong reasons fol- and it does happen." =+A&': ing a spinner at the Perth pitch where lowing a controversial ending to "These issues are secondary Nathan Lyon scalped eight wickets, their World T20 campaign. to us... Not even secondary irat Kohli might have come despite the wicket favouring the pac- "The way things panned out these things do not even come under sharp criticism from ers. was obviously not in a very good in the list of priority. But when Vvarious quarters for his on-field Hogg backed the decision saying taste. It affected everybody in a we take on the field, we are aggressive behaviour but former in absence of injured Ravichandran different level, in a different ambassadors of the sport. On Australia spinner Brad Hogg on Ashwin, India simply couldn't play way," Mithali said during a pro- the field, we are one unit, we Saturday defended the India captain, Ravindra Jadeja or Kuldeep Yadav for motional event. come as a team. We are there to saying the visiting team derives ener- a lack of aid from the pace-friendly "Now I am sure things are give our best and perform as a gy from him. < % & ! ## # . &#! ' pitch. settled and we should give more unit," she said. "Virat Kohli is the energy of this "See, Ashwin wasn't fit and yes, spotlight on the sport, on the Mithali said she is also Indian team. He is their clear leader Talking about Kohli's batting, else - he finds boundaries and rotates Hogg said he hopes to see a close they did have Jadeja and Kuldeep. I players and in the team." looking forward to working and they feed off him. You just see him Hogg said: "As a batsman too, Kohli strike, and turns momentum of the contest in the remaining two Tests. would have loved to see Kuldeep bowl Mithali said she and her with newly-appointed coach on the field - his athleticism is dif- is on a different level to anyone else. game at will," he added. "I only really want a close series. on that track, but even Nathan Lyon family had to endure a lot of W V Raman. ferent and he expects that from the Perhaps only Usman Khawaja came Hogg said India would need to We have had two close Test matches, didn't get too much turn," he said. stress after her controversial "It's very early to comment Indian team," Hogg said. close, that too in the second innings find balance going into the third Test and that's what we want. We want "As for Jadeja, he would have been ouster from the team. on him. I had met him briefly "And what he expects from the where he batted with a lot of compo- to put Australia under pressure. He Australia tested on their home soil and spinning into a long left-handed "I can only say that the last at the National Cricket team, he does as well, so it is not as if sure," said 47-year-old Hogg who said both the teams might look to play they have been tested a couple of times Australian line-up so India probably few days were very stressful for Academy. We have to support he is telling the team what to do with- played seven Tests between1996 to a pace-bowling all-round at the MCG. previously by Indian teams coming had that point at the back of their me and my parents. And also him and look forward to build out leading from the front. He is actu- 2008. The four-match Test series is here," said the left-arm spinner. mind. I suspect India might have for people around me, espe- a team." ally leading from the front and ask- "But even then, they don't have now levelled at 1-1, with India win- "It will be interesting to see how made the right decision but it came cially the way it panned out," India are scheduled to play ing his teammates to follow him," he someone on the same level as Kohli. ning in Adelaide and Australia draw- India will balance their team going down to the first hour on day one," he she said. five ODIs and three T20Is in the added. He is a different batsman to everybody ing level in Perth. into the MCG Test. Both teams might opined. "It definitely did put tour beginning on January 24. women's cricket in the spotlight "We last toured there in which was not needed. When 2007. Only Jhulan and I from you talk about non cricketing the current team were part of ,*6,&2)>6,..2)*++B.,) issues and not the team the the last tour. For many in the focus goes away from the sport. team it will be a first tour. It will "Now that we have a tour be challenging. We should give =+A&': age', the lowest pass mark pro- at the MCG," Johnson wrote on bounce that became more Mohammed Shami delivery hit- (vs New Zealand), it's time more importance on the prepa- vided by the ICC when they his twitter handle. prevalent later in the match. ting Australian opener Aaron that we move forward. Look ration. The priority will be to ormer Test cricketers assess the pitch and outfield of Vaughan also took to However, Johnson dis- Finch's right glove, forcing him forward and be more positive getting the team together," she FMitchell Johnson and Test grounds. Twitter to criticise ICC's deci- agreed. to retire hurt. going forward." said. Michael Vaughan have slammed "Nothing wrong with it. It sion. "Inconsistent bounce use to At the start of the year, the The rift between T20 cap- "The upcoming tour will be the ICC for giving an 'average' was exciting to watch a contest "And they wonder why Test happen a lot, the pitch is sup- ICC introduced a disciplinary tain Harmanpreet Kaur and important. It's part of the ICC rating to the Perth Stadium between bat and ball for a Match cricket is struggling .. Was posed to deteriorate. Is it any dif- system in a bid to improve the ODI captain Mithali was out in Championship one dayers and pitch, which hosted India's sec- change and not these dull flat a tremendously exciting pitch ferent to a pitch that spins a standard of pitches around the the open and the team was there's a point system in place. ond Test against Australia. tracks being served up con- which had a bit for everyone .. metre or more & stays low?," he world and can provide six rat- sharply divided into camps. It's important for India to gar- Match referee Ranjan stantly. I'd actually be interest- Should be more like this IMO..." wrote. ings - very good, good, average, Asked if she would go along ner as many points as it will Madugalle on Friday rated the ed in knowing what a good pitch The ICC's rating is pre- The Perth pitch saw some below average, poor and unfit - well with Harmanpreet, Mithali help us in 2021 World Cup," pitch at Perth Stadium as 'aver- is? Hope for another exciting test '# & & & & sumably due to the uneven sharp bounce with one when rating Test venues. said: "We will see. When the 15 Mithali said.
. 26. * 3! 3 % London: -# = 1 / : =1! / # # . % $ >4 00 - # otivated by a no-ball decision against his ndia's fourth Test against Australia at 0 + 6 Mteam, fast bowler Keemo Paul took 5-15 as ISydney, starting January 3, 2019, will 0 # , 2 West Indies won the Twenty20 series against be the team's last assignment for six > >$P . Bangladesh 2-1 after a bad-tempered 50-run win months and the BCCI is likely to pre- 0 =N # in the third match on Saturday. pare a road map for the longest format ; P . Put into bat, opener Evin Lewis smashed a specialists. .N . $ P1 36-ball 89, with six fours and eight sixes, to help There is a possibility that some of -# - 0 West Indies pile up 190 before being bowled out the senior India players may play ( . in 19.2 overs. against England Lions (A team) when 0 , $P / . 0 Paul, along with left-arm spinner Fabian they tour India for a full-fledged series ; #0 Allen (2-19), then helped to dismiss Bangladesh in end January-February. ' $ A( : for 140 in 17 overs. Once India finish their Test . 0 . Bangladesh made a rapid start, thanks to ting lineup, varying his pace well to leave engagements against Australia, they will 0 # 00 Liton Das, despite opener Tamim Iqbal being run Bangladesh 96-8 and became only the second next play the five-day format in July, # = & out for 8. West Indies bowler to take five-for in T20 crick- 2019 against the West Indies in a two- $ Das helped Bangladesh to go past 50 in just et after former skipper Darren Sammy (5-26) Test series as part of the World Test four overs before he was caught off pacer Oshane against Zimbabwe in 2010. Championship. F Thomas but the delivery was judged to be a no- Mehidy Hasan (19) and Abu Hider (22 not However, a few like Cheteshwar Kolkata: ! # = ball. out) took Bangladesh past 100 runs. Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane might K! =L # /- K /L West Indies captain Carlos Brathwaite and Earlier, Bangladesh's bowlers bowled well to have precious little to do once the Ranji Shaw (expected to be fully fit by then) Rajasthan Royals. ; his players protested the decision - with Thomas' deny West Indies reaching the 200-run mark as Trophy ends in the last week of January. to play the longer format matches. Once Saurashtra's Ranji engage- 0 6 foot shown to be on the line - and the game was the hosts sought a tour sweep against Windies. "The fast bowlers workload man- As of now, Pujara is expected to ments finish, Pujara will have nothing $ 0 stopped for around 10 minutes with no review Evin Lewis launched West Indies in aggres- agement is a different issue but in case feature in the Ranji Trophy quarter- to do as he has not been picked by any 0 # allowed. Match referee Jeff Crowe intervened, the sive style and the visitors racked up 88 runs in of some of the Test specialists, we might finals, starting January 15, as Saurashtra IPL franchise. There is the Mushtaq Ali # . decision stood and play resumed. the first powerplay with the loss of Shai Hope. play them against England Lions. are currently on top of their group with Trophy but with the IPL auctions over, - 0 0 -$ The dispute fueled West Indies to such an In the third over of the innings, Lewis England Lions are coming for a full 25 points. it will not hold the same kind of impor- . / ( extent that the tourists hit back with three wick- smashed Hider for 27 runs including four sixes. series where they will play four day In case of Mumbai, the chances of tance like last edition. # 0 Q( 6 %$ 1 ets for one run in nine balls with Allen and Paul Bangladesh came back strongly through off- Tests as well as List A and T20 match- qualification are bleak as they have only It's not that Pujara will need to # 0+ % at the fore. spinner Mahmudullah (3-18) who bowled es," a BCCI source privy to the devel- eight points from five games. Rahane, prove anything to anyone but there is > 2G 0 0 From 56-1 before the no-ball dispute, Lewis, leaving West Indies at 122-3 and spark- opment said on Saturday. who is not a part of India's limited overs a school of thought that serious match # $ Bangladesh was 66-4. ing the collapse with Shakib (3-37) and Rahman It is learnt that the selectors might scheme of things will next play the time won't do any harm to him or for 0! . -" / 0 Paul then ran though the Bangladesh bat- (3-33) causing problems for West Indies. look at Pujara, Rahane and Prithvi Mushtaq Ali Trophy followed by IPL for that matter Rahane. $ * * Lima: " # 0 = " 3.)Q.:8C26)1*-*3) ., .), " % . % K%"%L $ + . & #" N# &+ ! # ' 6 .0 Karan Patel (27 not out). 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Trophy match Saturday, his indis- Rio De Janerio: % + with fellow-opener Auti (57) At Raipur hosts Chhattisgarh At stumps, Uttar Pradesh cretion leading to a delay of two 0 + before the visiting team's bowlers, bundled out Maharashtra for were 257 for 4 with Garg and and half hours. 000 . led by left arm spinner 239 on the opening day of Rinku Singh batting on 113 Despite perfect weather con- ## #0 Dharmendrasinh Jadeja (3 for their Ranji Trophy game. and 13 respectively. ditions, the match began in the 24 $B N 89), triggered a collapse post For the visitors, Rahul Nath and right-hand second session. + # " lunch taken with the hosts at a Tripahi top scored with batsman Garg anchored While the hosts reduced MP # . 2 commanding 122 for no loss. 102. 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o most of us in Delhi, the Yamuna is Take farming, for instance. How many of us taged metamorphosed into convenient scape- Rajghat Power Plant. From January 2010 to not more than mere abstraction. in Delhi know that there is a lot of agricultural goats for pollution. Being visibly present on the January 2017, the DDA undertook as many as 25 Either politicised imagery of foam activity happening in the city? Farming has no floodplains, they were assigned a lion’s share of demolition drives to free public land from farm- and muck or a banal montage of space in our collective imagination of a city, a so- blame for degrading the river’s ecosystem. ers. The Golden Jubilee Park is located here, much black water seen through the count- called modern, world class city. For most of us, Farmers, being peripherally part of these bastis, of compensatory afforestation happens here; this lessT trains crossing it daily, the Yamuna is for farming happens out there in the villages, out- too were considered criminal offenders; that they is the site of Phase 1 of the DDA’s Yamuna the most a metaphor for much of Delhi. side city boundaries. It is supposed to be an continued to farm on public land to which they Riverfront Development Project. Even as farmers’ Unlike other great riverine cities of the sub- anomaly in an urban environment, just as cows legally had no right counteracted the fact that fields and hutments are regularly bulldozed, there continent, unlike Agra, Kanpur, Prayagraj, and hens and other kinds of livestock are seen as they also continued to deposit land rent to the seems to be no question of dismantling, say, the Varanasi, and Kolkata, Delhi seems to have aberrations not belonging in a city. Yet, how DDA. Consequently, successive bureaucratic and defunct Rajghat Power Plant, or shifting out the only a strictly functional relationship with its many of us know that farming has been an inte- judicial regimes have found them unnecessary Delhi Secretariat, or evicting the Delhi Metro. All river: It draws water from and expels waste gral part of Delhi for centuries now? Of the eyesores, and have maligned them for not only of these public installations have been built on back into it, but there exists no close, affective many millions who daily cross the Yamuna, how encroaching upon public land but also polluting floodplains in violation of the law by those tie between the Yamuna and the crores of citi- many have registered the presence of scattered the river by practising agriculture along it. appointed to implement it, yet the larger public zens whose life it so critically supports. farming communities along its much-maligned But what must be practised along a river if and judicial discourse on saving, reviving, clean- This isn’t as surprising as it is often made banks? We tend to think of such agrarian liveli- not agriculture? Which uses must a river’s ing, and developing the Yamuna seems to revolve out to be though. Unlike most other riverine hoods as unhygienic violations of the urban floodplains, in close human contact, be put only on the apparently wilful occupation by an cities, it is entirely possible to live fully in Delhi imaginaries we aspire for and seek to materialise, to? What suits a riverine ecosystem, exposed unscrupulous few. Not only does this conveniently and yet never have the occasion to come across but how many of us have bothered to examine for millennia to human touch, better than sea- gloss over the complex history of riverine farming it. The city has not grown out from the river, its their relation to our city and to its making? sonal farming? Jogging tracks, tourist gazebos, and its completely legal precedents in Delhi, it development has never been centrifugal to any Organised under the cooperative movement, and ornamental ponds, if the DDA is to be also negates the possibility of involving all stake- one key site along its banks. Delhi has the envi- farming on the Yamuna’s floodplains was given believed; biological parks and wetlands, as per holders in fruitfully co-creating a viable solution able past of having had many iterations of legal sanction via registered leases as far back as environmentalists. However, thinking thus, for the deep, dark mess the Yamuna is today. urbanisation in often incompatible directions. 1949. At the time, soon after the shortages of both assume that the Yamuna’s floodplains We must ask new and different questions if Of these many cities which have been regarded World War II and the ravages of Partition, have been empty land, tabula rasa awaiting we are to productively imagine a sustainable Delhi over the past millennium and a half, only putting the floodplains immediately adjacent to the master stroke of visionary experts. future for the Yamuna and its floodplains. We two — Ferozabad and Shahjahanabad — can be the urban limits of the city to agricultural use There is, first, the logic of capital, seeing the must acknowledge that what we think our cities properly considered riverine. Shahjahanabad, was considered an expedient avenue for self- river and its floodplains in terms of their dual should be like is often divorced from what they the historical city we are most familiar with as employment, a pertinent contribution to Delhi’s potential as sources of revenue-oriented recre- actually are. This is not as much compromising Old Delhi, was also built with its regal back to food security, and a source of steady revenue for ation on one hand and sites for supposedly iconic from cherished ideals as examining these ideals the river, with Chandni Chowk and the great the Government. Revenue records and maps public infrastructure on the other. This logic, on the sound basis of ground realities. How Jama and Fatehpuri masjids being the key sites establish the long-standing presence of agrarian informing policies across generations of the DDA’s much, for instance, do a few hundred individu- of sociality much more than any of the ghats. communities along the Yamuna’s floodplains in technocracy, has sought to make the floodplains als reduced to the brink of desperate poverty by New Delhi, arguably the centre of the city as we this region, so in taking this decision the Delhi amenable for so-called development. The Golden ceaseless demolition pollute an entire river? Is know it today, was built by the British on a van- Improvement Trust (DIT), precursor to the Jubilee Park and Akshardham Mandir are prime their presence responsible for our failure to tage of the Ridge, Delhi’s other primary geo- Delhi Development Authority (DDA), was only examples of this, as are the Commonwealth clean up the 22 major storm water drains dis- graphical feature. The Yamuna exists only on the reverting to a tradition which Delhi’s tryst with A%1 :D!==!A: Games Village, Millennium Bus Depot, a number charging millions of gallons of untreated domes- peripheries of this city, part ornament, part British imperial modernity had ruptured. Even 1A !=D'A 1 of Delhi Metro installations, and even the Delhi tic and industrial waste in the Yamuna? Is fur- malarial threat, and — a little downstream — though Delhi was the National Capital and an Secretariat. Built in violation of zoning and envi- ther concretisation and landscaping likely to simply sewage disposal channel. exponentially growing city, agriculture was still D &: 1A :D ronmental laws, these and similar establishments augment ground water recharge over and above Is it surprising, then, that the typical considered integral to its social and economic 1 '6! '1 have been accepted as fait accompli. what currently happens naturally in farmlands? Dilliwaalah has no space for the Yamuna in his fabric. This has been the reality of our city, this Secondly, there is the rhetoric of revival, see- At a time when rooftop farming and urban self-image as a citizen of Delhi? The Metro sys- its actual, corporeal experience. Yet, we still "' :A% ' ing all human contact as polluting and seeking farming have become international trends, we tem, Raisina and India Gate, various roads and insist on seeing our habitat through the grid and % '!:6A&:!! to restore the river and its banks to some halcy- don’t have to look elsewhere for inspiration. We flyovers, Connaught Place, even smog, these sig- frame of idealised urban imaginaries which on, pre-human bio-diverse heaven. simply need to remember that agriculture is nifiers stand in for Delhi. These and similar penalise such forms of urban life and livelihood =A:6! =!6: Environmental activists of this ilk argue, rightly, already an integral part of Delhi and has con- motifs are what most Dilliwaalahs lay claim to simply because they no longer seem to fit in. + :/ T : that the Yamuna has reached its present degrad- tributed to its environment and economy for and identify with as constitutive of their mental Such has been the fate of farming communi- ed condition only due to the unchecked interfer- generations now. If we expect the state and judi- and emotional make-up with reference to their ties along the 22-km urban stretch of the Yamuna A1!:/A% &1 ence of all of us, as a city. They appeal to the ciary to prioritise livelihood over law in exempt- city. The Yamuna is more often than not just an in Delhi, from Wazirabad to Okhla. The courts 6' '! :=! =!1AA judiciary to enforce basic minimum standards ing merchants and markets from sealing, then abstraction, something they hear and listen are told by the DDA that the leases were not upon the state, to monitor the augmentation of we can surely move to accept farming as an eco- about but can hardly be bothered to care for. renewed after 1967, so farmers are necessarily &:1D6!:! our sewage treatment capacity and check the logically inventive and socially profitable use of More than lack of funding, much more than encroachers on public land. Why, though, were !A= !A: A%1 flow of untreated waste water into the river. The the Yamuna’s floodplains. The nature and terms lack of policy, this pervasive lack of public inter- the leases not renewed? What plans did the DDA floodplains, they feel, are best suited for biodi- of agrarian activity come later, what should be est seems crucially responsible for the have for the floodplains and for the Yamuna? &'+ :! 6!: '! versity reserves and ecological parks, nurtured grown and how; what is needed first is to recog- deplorable state of the Yamuna in Delhi. The Over the past three decades, as Delhi wit- "!'%A' : carefully and closely to reflect the wealth of local nise the very real threat to an entire way of life river and its floodplains hold immense possibili- nessed massive structural transformations, the flora and fauna being lost to urbanisation. which has been integral to Delhi. As a city, we ties of radically inclusive and sustainable regen- Yamuna and its floodplains have been sites of /A '! =! Both these stakeholders, vocal and powerful, recently showed ourselves capable of coming eration for the city. However, since the Yamuna fierce contestations amongst the DDA, the judi- ignore the basic reality of the river in pressing together to assert our inalienable right to deter- is just an abstracted metaphor for most ciary, and environment activists. Much has been these solutions: That it is not empty land, that it mine its future in the avenues of Sarojini Nagar. Dilliwaalahs and they have no idea of what it’s researched and written about the waves of brutal has been home to farming communities for We can do something similar for the Yamuna actually like and what happens around and in it, demolition which swept the floodplains clean of more than seven decades now, and that people’s and its farmers, only if we come forward and the debate on how best these resources can be many bastis, often in violation of rehabilitation lives and livelihoods must be prioritised as acknowledge their contribution to the city. used remains restricted to a closed circuit of and compensation policies. Even as the river much as any ideal imaginaries of what cities ' ! & & & bureaucrats, planners, jurists, and environmen- turned black and became a weary icon of Delhi’s should look and feel like. Consider Bela Estate, a & & 0# P talists. The public is simply not involved. apathy towards itself, the poor and the disadvan- small stretch of the floodplains from Loha Pul to =' 1 ::& =A A%'A ' 1 !:!:! A&=+ 'A&:"':A%1 yucie 6'A A !"'A& ! "#$ %&''()*+&,-.( % .%./'(&,0,((,-
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ahatma Gandhi famously ty by understanding how each one of us said, “You must be the is a driver of change rather than passing change you want to see in on the baton. A ‘safety culture’ covers val- the world,” which emphasis- ues, actions and behaviours that show a es how initiating personal commitment to safety over other interests changeM is the first step towards driving or demands. While there is general recog- change in the society. It suggests that your nition of road traffic injuries and fatali- responsibilities begin and end with your ties, little is known about the link between own behaviour. In a country like India, it road traffic injuries and economic growth. is an acceptable practice to criticise the Looking at the bigger picture, one must Government for not implementing citizen- also consider the economic advantages of centric policies that enhance the quality of preventing road accidents. living. Road safety is one such area where A World Bank study, funded by accidents are often blamed on bad roads, Bloomberg Philanthropies, found that poor safety infrastructure and ignorance of reducing road traffic deaths and injuries Government officials. However, despite the could result in substantial long-term many traffic rules and agencies responsi- income gains for low — and middle — ble for setting and maintaining standards income countries. In addition to the and enforcement, infringements are being GDP gains from preventing death and committed every day by commuters and injury, road safety interventions improve pedestrians themselves. The share of fatal welfare benefits to the society. Hence, road accidents has increased phenomenal- reducing road traffic injuries would not ly as Indian commuters give more impor- only mean a victory to the transport sec- tance to high speed and aggressive driving tor, but a significant milestone for devel- than ensuring safe access for all. opment with benefits for public health, Delhi, along with the National Capital wellbeing and economic growth. Region, accounts for majority of the unsafe road practices in the country. Issues relat- * * ed to the safety of road users in Delhi, * which already suffer from engineering Concerted actions and collaboration faults, are compounded by speed and the between public, private entities can go a behaviour of “unruly drivers.” The biggest long way in changing mentalities and in example of rules being flouted is the men- diagnosing road safety challenges that ace of underage driving. In Delhi, it’s almost deliver measurable outcomes. Using become a matter of pride to handover keys combined expertise and resources, part- to your underage children. According to nerships are essential for educating dri- Section 180 of the Motor Vehicles Act, vers and road users by engaging commu- owners of the vehicles driven by minors — nities, the Government, businesses and parents in most cases — are punishable by the civil society. A recent campaign by law with up to a three-month jail term, or Radio City in Delhi called #MeraGhaata a heavy fine, or both. Many lives are addressed each of these issues at length destroyed by underage drivers going for a and strives to spread awareness about the joyride in the vehicles of their parents or importance of following road safety older relatives. Commoners are aware of measures. The campaign included sever- many unlicensed drivers going for the short al activities such as educating com- drive — but often overlook the nature of muters, disseminating information on the risks and the consequences to these the various dos and don’ts for road safe- youngsters. While parents should famil- tions, as of October 2018 (Delhi Police Jaywalking, another ‘trend’, has resulted in the Delhi Police Act, empowering the police when caught in the act, a few phone calls ty to bring about a behavioural change iarise themselves with the risks associated records), a staggering number of 35,598 tragic consequences for both the pedestri- to formulate new rules to curb jaywalking. easily resolve conflicts. Instead of educat- among the masses towards adopting with underage driving, ignorance and people were caught drunk driving, as com- ans as well as the drivers. It’s a condition ing children about following traffic rules road safety practices in daily life. This is pride often take centre stage, leading to pared to 27,672 last year. Despite a variety engrained in the ethos of the capital city * and holding human life in highest regard, a different yet novel way to create aware- tragic accidents which can destroy families of methods, from educating people to leg- of India, maybe even an urban cultural dis- they set the wrong example by flouting the ness among the public about the need to in a matter of minutes. islative changes, the problem of drunk dri- order that lurks within us all. While we can Most of these problems can be attributed law themselves. There is an urgent need drive safely and responsibly. India is a Delhi’s other favourite pastime is ving persists. There seems to be a general complain about lack of amenities such as to a general lack of awareness on the to highlight how road accidents cause rapidly developing into one of the largest drunk driving or ‘car-o-bar’. Driving under attitude of apathy when it comes to driving subways, footpaths and footbridges, the sad harmful effects of unsafe road practices. severe collateral damage — lives and liveli- economies in the world; if we just take the influence of alcohol or drugs, can lead after drinking in India and the problem reality is that we believe it’s safer to jaywalk For example, parents/guardians often fail hoods are lost in an instant causing a life- charge of resolving social issues like these to a fine or a prison term of up to six seems to be worse when it comes to young, than to march on to a zebra crossing at a to comprehend the grave consequences of time of guilt, pain and trauma. The aim at an individual level, economic and soci- months. Despite these rules and regula- urban professionals, especially men. traffic signal. This is despite Section 28 of allowing their underage kids to drive; and should be to develop a culture of road safe- etal progress won’t be far behind.
he issues surrounding the various databases. While vociferous usage of Aadhaar Card have critics of Aadhaar term this as a Tbeen contentious ever since means for acting as a “surveillance its inception in 2009. The 4, % state”, it still needs to be analysed Government of India’s flagship as to how this can harm any citi- scheme was supposed to be a tool zen. Recently, TRAI chief RS for eliminating duplicity and plug- Sharma has given his Aadhaar ging leakages. However, many also 0 ( - number in an open challenge see it as a means of creating a “sur- thrown at critics on how they veillance state” through profiling of could do any harm to him. its citizens by effectively “intrud- 0 $+ # '!: 1' :6 ' , : While hackers could get some ing into their privacy”. of his basic details like address, In November 2012, a former Act, secondly it has a legitimate between the social welfare obliga- bank account etc, they could not Karnataka High Court Judge KS State interest of ensuring social ben- tions of the State and the citizens’ penetrate further as most of the ser- Puttaswamy, and a lawyer, Parvesh efit schemes to reach the deserving concerns over issues of privacy. vices we use today have proper Khanna, filed a Public Interest poor and finally it passes the test of But all is not well that ends well. authentication features through Litigation (PIL) against the proportionality (wherein the poten- Some lingering issues remain out of OTPs. And as far as the Government in the Supreme Court tial threats to privacy are balanced which a few take the form of daily Government is concerned, we need of India. They contended that the by the benefits of the Act). public discourse on Aadhaar. to remember that data profiling Unique Identification Authority of To lessen the fear of acting as a The biggest impediment information that is speculated to be India (UIDAI) was proceeding with “surveillance state”, the court has remains the technical problems accessed through Aadhaar can this scheme solely on the basis of an ordered deletion of authentication occurring during authentication. anyhow be accessed through those executive order without any legisla- logs after six months instead of the This has resulted in exclusion of the respective individual departments tive backing. Collecting biometric five years requirement under the beneficiaries from social security where the information is given. It data of citizens in such a way existing regulations. schemes. The number of people is only that data which is speculat- would clearly be a violation of pri- With regards to mandatory being excluded is increasing day by ed to have integrated here and the vacy under Article 21 of the usage, the 2017 amendment of the day. It should be noted that absolute profile of the citizen is generated. Constitution. It is against this back- Prevention of Money Laundering faith on the biometric system can Please note that one is still not sure drop that the Aadhaar (Targeted Act Rules which made linking of only be logical if the operators who if such data profiling can be gen- Delivery of Financial and Other bank accounts and all other finan- take the biometrics do it in the erated. And even if it can be, can Subsidies, benefits and services) Act cial instruments with Aadhaar most meticulous manner by col- it be treated as potentially threat- of 2016 was passed in the mandatory has been done away lecting 10 fingerprints as per ISO ening? We do not know. Time alone Parliament as a Money Bill. with as it does not stand the pro- standards at the time of enrollment. will answer this question. But in the However, a thorough reading of portionality requirement of the Apart from these, there are a few interest of the scheme to work for the act and examination of the man- triple test. Aadhaar’s role in educa- simple but critical techniques rec- the benefit of the citizens, it would ner in which the Governments at tion and admissions have also ommended in a report from a com- be better to come up with a prop- the Centre and in various States are been restricted while its mandato- mittee on UIDAI’s Design Standard er clarification in this regard. implementing the scheme, one will ry usage for linking with PAN, IT for Biometrics to reduce authenti- Data protection that too in the have to come to the conclusion that Returns and certain social securi- cation errors. Besides these, most present day internet world is like there are a lot of things to worry ty schemes has been advocated. of the Aadhaar authentication cen- pandora’s box by itself and Aadhaar about, not necessarily limiting to As far as privacy and data theft tres use only the fingerprint is only a part of it. The issues of privacy alone. are concerned, the court has struck authentication and not the iris Government should be credited for On September 26, 2018, a down the section which stated that scan authentication. While iris constituting Justice BN Srikrishna Constitution bench of the Supreme UIDAI alone could file a complaint scan is a more reliable mode of led a committee to frame a draft Court, led by the Chief Justice of in case of data theft thereby open- authentication, the higher costs of law on data protection. It’s report India, upheld the validity of ing the doors for citizens to file installation and calibration may can be considered as a starting Aadhaar by a 4:1 majority but with complaints. The court also made it have deterred it. India’s use of bio- point for further deliberations on certain caveats. In this context, it is clear that Aadhaar can be used only metric authentication on such a this contentious topic. The long pertinent to analyse the future of by the Government and not by any massive scale for social security term benefits of Aadhaar are plen- this scheme vis-a-vis the con- private parties or individuals to seek schemes may be considered as ty and the Supreme Court judg- tentious points relating to privacy, authentication. unique. In many other countries ment did indeed clear most of the data protection, mandatory usage The only part of the judgment across the globe, biometric authen- casualty of this as Aadhaar was of riskier. Customers may face pecu- Government has already initiat- ambiguities. However, the and the constitutional issue of which according to many constitu- tication is used only in that coun- a substantial support to them. It liar challenges to access credit like ed some actions, but further Government does need to go the being passed as a money bill. tional experts remained uncon- try’s passport or for authentication needs to be noted that frauds and delay in instant approval of loans details are awaited. extra mile in clearing the techni- First and foremost, the verdict vincing was that of upholding the while crossing borders. impersonations are very high in and increase in accessing the The biggest threat that is being cal glitches and further suspicions declares Aadhaar to be constitution- validity of the Aadhaar act being While some privacy issues have this sector. Start ups in the digital cost of credit. Also, the court has heard frequently is the chance that of the people to ensure smooth and ally valid as it passes the triple test passed as a money bill.The ruling been undoubtedly answered by payments sector see Aadhaar as a mandated private companies not people in government have got to unhindered usage. laid down in the Puttaswamy judg- clears the ambiguity over several not allowing private companies to low cost foolproof mechanism for to collect and authenticate data, profile citizens by integrating the ' ? ment (Right to Privacy verdict). aspects of Aadhaar and at the same allow for authentication, several authentication rather than the tra- but what about the data already information collected through <$ # # Firstly it is backed by the Aadhaar time strikes a delicate balance fintech companies may be a direct ditional methods which may be collected before the verdict? The seeding the Aadhaar number from A' 'A%A&' 1A "A '%&= buuqy '&6& +D :/!: K'&D '/!"=!:6 ! "#$
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ou know you have a good education and taste. Writing a good book in hand when you are letter was a cultivated art which afraid of reading more formed an important part of the than a few pages each day, self-fashioning of society’s elites, in lest it finishes too soon! particular. In the days before the YAfter all, good wine and good books advent of the World Wide Web, letters are best enjoyed at leisure. Each letter had the power to make or break of Written in History is of critical fortunes — sometimes literally so. value not just as a historical docu- For instance, Elizabeth I, the future ment but also as a means of humanis- Tudor monarch, escaped execution ing these otherwise larger-than-life as a result of the extremely well-crated personages. One realises that certain letter that she wrote to her half-sister human emotions have (un)surpris- Mary, the Queen of England. A tour ingly remained unchanged from the de force in diplomacy. time of Octavius Caesar (a contem- Letters are usually seen as a rather porary of Christ) to that of Frida personal form of expression but they Kahlo (d.1944). Each letter is a have always been able to carry news unique treasure trove. For an which is of a decidedly public or polit- instance, one of the most unexpected ical nature. The flexibility of the epis- letters was that by Bonaparte. tolary form is abundantly clear when manuscript for publication. In this let- The letter is all the more precious Napoleon’s letter to his newly-wedded one looks at the topics covered in ter Eliot rejects Orwell’s now- because very few letters of the inmates wife is over brimming with youthful Written in History: Love, War, renowned 1984 by stating that: of the camps have survived from the ardour, reckless passion and sexual Friendship and Family, to list a few. 1A A !:6 …we have no conviction…that this Holocaust. While a chilling reminder innuendos that one would hardly Many a wars in the history of the is the right point of view from which to of the horrors of human history, associate with the French dictator: world have begun, and yet many ='1 A+ criticise the current political situation at this letter also gives us hope that Your letters are the joy of my days, avoided because of contents of certain != 6'&: =O the present time even at its worst moments, humanity and my days of happiness are not many letters. It is indeed a timeless form of ='A1' Clearly, failure must never be has the potential to redeem itself It makes you realise that the writing and one has to give credit to allowed to mar one’s self-esteem. through courage, love and self-sacri- shrewd statesman is also an ardent the editor for bringing such exception- 1& + :/&' Indeed, even the very best writers fice. Vilma writes: lover. The anxieties, frustrations, inse- ally wonderful and diverse range of 6'&: =A: have had to face rejections in life. Take care of the little golden boy curities and passions articulated by letters to the reading public. The intro- This one though has been preserved, and don’t spoil him too much with your these letter-writers makes them that ductory note appended to each piece is +%A'1' 1 much to the embarrassment of Eliot love…I will be thinking of you and much easier to identify (and, in most extremely pertinent and concise, and & 1 !Q$ 1 admirers, for posterity. Misa. Have a fabulous life, we must cases, sympathise) with. enables one to contextualise her read- However, the most moving letter board the trucks. In this day and age, it is rather dif- ing. One only wishes that some of 1A A! !1 has to be Vilma Grunwald’s letter to Some of the letters in this book — ficult, for some, to grasp the concept these letters were a little longer. 1' A: 1A her husband Kurt Grunwald, moments it is just a privilege to read. that a letter might have held great TS Eliot’s rather sanctimonious 5-$$'++!$/-) before her death at Auschwitz. As This is a book that I would recom- charm beyond its functionality. Letters advice to George Orwell in 1944, is + & A%1! =!" Montefiore’s note tells the readers, she mend to readers of all kinds because were not just a necessity in a world contained in a letter that the reader * A::A chose to die with her son who, because there is something for everyone here: where people across social classes, must not miss. The former was, by this 5 6 of his limp, was immediately con- from the history aficionado to the stu- relied solely on them to bear tidings — time, an established writer and also 16 1 +' demned to the gas chambers. Vilma dent of literature, to the curious read- good or bad — to friends and family, worked as an editor at Faber and + 1733 displayed exemplary courage and er. Nothing reveals a person’s nature they were also a marker of a person’s Faber, where Orwell submitted his maternal love through this decision. and emotions like a letter. 3 $0
+ +$ 3 $3 &/ 0 ## .- 0 ## 0 0 . - "% 0 )&" ;)" ", *:: . K . # . # : , ' + . -/ 0 xploring and mastering selected, best techniques of and increasing passion, espe- 1 0 the art of lovemaking has love and sex, “something for cially for couples who share a ! + -A. Ecaptured human imagi- everyone” as she says, aestheti- deep love and trust to “keep # . ##0 nation across civilisations cally discussing and unravel- their love alive and healthy”. 0 # 0 & since times immemorial. At its ling secrets. The Kama Sutra After describing the technical- . $+ best, lovemaking is a delicate abounds in references and ities of such quarrels from the # craft involving finesse and materials which have become Kama Sutra, Anand sums it up . . - immaculate understanding in obscured by the ages and out- by adding her advice for the K ND N order to be the greatly pleasur- moded in these times, the respective sexes to become . 0 able and mutually satisfying archaic language being another adept in the art of quarrelling # $ experience that it is meant to hurdle too steep for a twenty- and appeasement without be. In these times of instant first century novice to access. burning any bridges. “Secret messaging and dating applica- Anand wants to “make the Language of Lovers” giving +1 ' tions, one would like to idea of seduction part of insights into how lovers had to )/$ +2 " "%" )"%"%%"% assume that love and lovemak- everyday life”, “a state of mind” find codes to communicate in 9 " , +:: ing expertise have grown pro- as Vatsyayan states, as opposed scenarios where the kind of portionately. However, to the intensely pejorative and privacy granted by text mes- London-based mythologist, conspiratorial tones attributed sages was simply unthinkable: ! " Kama Sutra expert and story- to seduction now-a-days: this lovers had to find codes to - teller Seema Anand disabuses also in the wake of a global communicate while they : / her readers of this assumption campaign like #metoo, a moved about with families, in . # early on in her compact intro- marked rise in cases of “hon- the market place, in crowded 0 # $ duction to The Arts of eytrapping”, understanding areas and so on. The chapters #0 Seduction. It helps that Anand “consent”, and recognition of on “Erotic Nerves” and “The 0 is also a recognised authority “marital rape”. Phases of the Moon” draw . on the Kama Sutra and has The chapters are titled upon ancient scientific knowl- - 0 0$ lectured widely on lesser- crisply and at times innova- edge and a deep understand- 0 known aspects of subjects as tively, such as: “Secret ing of the human anatomy to - $! varied as Eastern Erotology, Language of Lovers”, “The Art make the best of different # . Tantric philosophy, the of the Curved Finger”, “Paan times to enhance pleasure and # 0 $' Mahavidyas, Mahabharata and and the Arts of Seduction” to fulfilment throughout the 0 # Bhagavad Gita, among other name a few. The first chapter month. “Paan and the Arts of subjects. The author-bio also titled “The Art of Perfuming” Seduction” reveals how the 00 informs the readers of Anand’s plunges the reader into the paan has been the mode of # $ work on the revival and repro- heart of the matter by talking secret “language of lovers for duction of oral literature from have for pleasure independent which differ in terms of their about what could be called the over 2000 years”! The giving &$ India being associated with the of that of man. focus: While the former deals first step towards making the and taking of the Paan by both % UNESCO project for While justifying the need with foreplay and seduction, first move, i.e. through fra- men and women in various , <:: Endangered Oral Traditions. to re-introduce the Kama the latter concentrate on the grance. Anand explains how as combinations relayed different In the introduction, Anand Sutra to a twenty-first century mechanics of the actual sexu- described in the Kamasutra, meanings to their lovers and % 0 # laments how sex is reduced to audience, Anand also empha- al act. Anand’s convincing “Perfume was a way of life. also acted as an aphrodisiac. 0 # merely ‘an act of instant grati- sises that the language of theories regarding the arts of Clothes, bedrooms, bath water The last few chapters delve = 0 . fication’ and ‘overrated sensa- Kama Sutra is distinctive in seduction include: — everything was perfumed.” deeper into the precise sci- 0 tions’, sans the magic of linger- terms of its “refinement, beau- Comparing male and female Each chapter is a mixture of ences of lovemaking, “Sex and ing pleasure to be followed by ty and nuanced pleasure” as desires to fire and water selections and details from the Food”, “Therapeutic Sex”, ! " = N happiness and a greater sense opposed to the “crudely misog- respectively, the purpose of Kama Sutra and related sto- “Gems and Precious Stones” 0 ## J of stability, security and ynistic and downright abusive all the rules and rituals of the ries, and ends with a section deal respectively with food, . " $ belonging. While underscoring vocabulary” that seems to Kama Sutra as bridges titled “My Advice” where health enhancing aspects of 0 once again the importance of define sexuality, sexual prac- between the two sexes, and Anand doles out practical sug- lovemaking and gemology . 0 Indian erotic texts and manu- tices and especially references suggesting the pivotal role $!'"-$/# gestions. The chapter on combined with astrology, - als including the Kama Sutra, to female genitalia in urban played by Rati after Kama '&0$/+ “Lovers’ Quarrels” is particu- making optimum use of all ## 0 0 Anand points out that slang discourse. Anand’s com- became ananga or formless, larly illuminating: It emphasis- branches of human knowledge # 0 Vatsyayan was way ahead of prehensive research is evident burnt to ashes by Lord Shiva. " es the importance laid by the for the purpose of both deriv- his times, propounding and in her comparison of Indian In twenty-two chapters, she " 1233 Kama Sutra on lovers’ quarrels ing and providing pleasure to N 0 . $ explicating women’s ability to and Chinese erotic treatises, offers numerous carefully in strengthening relationships one’s beloved. uvitiut ! ! "#$ 8
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The past has revealed to me how to time and from time immemori- books are in English, a sense of ated process of getting rid of the the future is built and preoccupation al. History bears it out. This, of despondency seemed to have over- mess and gruesomeness, I, like with the future tends to sweep every- course, is in passing. taken him. He narrated the sad- many of my fellow-travelers, was thing else aside. In my earlier article published dening literary scenario in the city privy to during my childhood and — Pierre Teilhard de Chardin in this newspaper titled, Gorakhpur and lamented lack of serious liter- early adolescence, reflects on in Letters from a Traveller waiting for a new dawn (May 20, ary and artistic gatherings. “A few Gorakhpur’s determination to 2017), I,epitomising my experi- Hindi and Urdu poets are there and detach itself from insensitiveness of n my almost two years of stay in ences of that place, expressed a hope occasionally they meet in anyone’s the past. People carry a hope that a IDelhi, I have developed a fad for that things would brighten up in house. But certainly there is none transformed Gorakhpur will cer- Shankar Market in Connaught times to come laying particular writing in English. And if you still tainly have “transformed human place. The reasons are not legion but stress on Paul Streeten’s economic want to go ahead, I am afraid if it beings” a la Paul Streeten. a single one that binds me to that stipulation that economic growth could raise any curiosity. Bekar hai The announcement of winner market. It has a book shop with its must “transform human beings.” (It is worthless),” he concluded. My of Jnanpith award, the highest lit- uniqueness. One can find rare and My short visit to Gorakhpur in gusto started waning and by the erary award in India, for 2018 for very old books not available in other November 2018, afforded me with time the gentleman left, I surren- Amitav Ghosh is yet another feath- book shops. On my third or fourth an opportunity to estimate how dered to his arguments. Any er in his cap. In my earlier article visit, two things happened. One I things had moved forward. matured society should evolve the published in this newspaper (21 met a Sardar Ji, aging seventy or so. An airport, a railway station or power of contemplation. Thinking October 2018), this is what I wrote Curiosity brought me closer to him a bus stand, providing one an entry is not only a great job but also more about Amitav Ghosh. as on my earlier forays, I hardly saw into a city acts as the face of the importantly a greater art and this art “Amitav Ghosh is a highly rated anyone except a man, incharge of body. It gives one a sense of what is emanates from proper studies and writer. Amtiav Ghosh stands head the book store, lackadaisical enough likely to ensue. During my student peaceful atmosphere in colleges and shoulders above his peers in as to generate any interest in a visitor. days, it was common for prospec- and universities. Gorakhpur is much as he shuns literary festivals, To my question as to number of vis- tive young boys to hear a sagacious required to pay due attention to this never raring to showcase his face itors and books sold, his gaze comes refrain from older, married ones — art by properly harnessing the edu- before a crowd a majority of which as a befitting reply. Turning to Ghar Dekha Pichchware Se, cational potential efficiently, eco- hardly understand what literary Sardar Ji, my efforts to engage him Mehararu Dekha Sale Se (See a nomically and effectively. It is an books are all about. His articulated in some conversation yielded a tiny house from its backyard, and “would immutable element vital for “trans- views are well expressed in his output. He told me he lived in Noida be wife” from “would be brother-in- forming human beings”. essay Festivals and Freedom. The and was a regular visitor to this book law”.) Analogous it is to say an air- almost an hour and advised that I Bazar and the construction works facilities have improved and quali- Overall, my perception is that essence of this essay is: Books are shop. He admitted he liked to inter- port, a railway station or a bus sta- should take a longer bypass route like road widening and sanitation ty of services delivered is nearing Gorakhpur is steadily seeking much important; not their authors. “Public act with the man present in the shop tion lets one know the kind of city (Deoria bypass): almost five times were in full swing. Illegal occupa- excellence.” A maid living in village desired integration: integration (See spectacles are a sideshow.” Great. and particularly the smell of old one is going to enter. “Fantastic and longer than the usual Mohaddipur tion of Government land by resi- Pipiganj but working in Gorakhpur the relevance of the line by Pierre The relationship between writers, books attracted him. I asked him fabulous.” This was what occurred route. With hardly any choices on dents using it for construction of had this to say, “Now electricity Teilhard de Chardincited in the their books and readers gets evolved about the future of books, old to me on seeing the condition of the table, we moved along the illegally covered portions of hous- comes 18 to 20 hours a day in the beginning) in terms of firmness of not in such places of public ren- books in particular. His otherwise Gorakhpur airport. The very per- longer route. The excitement in the es were earmarked for demolition or village and in my house, there is a purpose, smoothness, cleanliness, dezvous but in private, in isolation thoughtful face became a bit more ception convinces that under car was more about the incoming had already been demolished. Old latrine.” Her face exudes genuine delivery and inclusiveness. Police where only the book and the read- grimed as he uttered, “It is not about dynamic supervision and control AIIMS campus and the “big Gorakhpur i.e Sumer Sagar, gesture. She knows she is being personnel deployed in different er exist. books. The power of contemplation. how the ugliness of past can be changes” Gorakhpur was witness- Golghar, Dharamshala Bazar, Ali cared and looked after. Her world places in the city were alert, helping It comes as a great pleasure for The power of collective contem- washed out very fast and how new- ing. The longer route irked none. A Nagar, Betiahata, Daudpur, Ghosh has started growing and expanding. and strict. I was told by whoever I all those who believe in the power plation is dying; it will vanish soon.” ness can help in disinfecting the delay of forty five minutes is hard- Company, etc, are areas which are It will never be as gloomy as it used had interacted with and they had of books rather than in the power Good enough, I chose to buy a book past. My enthusiasm has acquired ly a price for serene grandeur like- really hard nut to crack. Many to be. admitted that, “Crimes have been of faces of authors illumining liter- of an author I have never heard of. the freshness it has always aspired ly to emerge in near future. The inhabitants have both houses and Turning to first paragraph of decreasing fast and the very thought ary festivals and elite TV channels It is: Letters from a Traveller(1962 for. At this time of the year, winter bypass i. e the highway, was very businesses there. These cannot be this piece detailing my brief con- of committing any sort of crime that highest literary award in India edition) by Pierre Teilhard de had just started setting in and the wide and clean; easy and fast move- separated out. There is hardly any versation with Sardar Ji, let us sends chills rushing down the spine by Bharatiya Jnanpith will be given Chardin. Chardin was a leading looming shadows of the evening ment of vehicles was visible. The dri- space, congestion is startling defy- spend some time on “contempla- of criminals, even hard-core ones. to Ghosh. All kudos to him. paleontologist and a wide traveler. were gaining in strength. Winds had ver driving the car took pride in ing any solution. Still, identification tion” or more importantly “collec- This is most significant achieve- He exhibited keen interest in gen- been smooth and so were move- claiming he could now drive car at of illegally occupied land, especial- tive contemplation”. During my ment.” It is becoming a society (The writer was born in eral problems of evolution of human ments inside the airport. New bag- a speed of more than hundred ly for boundaries of houses, is seen stay, one evening, I invited a gen- where the rule of law has started Gorakhpur in 1960. He did his beings and societies. In this book, gage handling system was working kilometre per hour. “Gorakhpur to have been done and with possi- tleman who had associations as a reigning supreme. Humanitarianism Masters in Economics from he describes his experiences of his excellently and baggage came in no Dilli ban ker rahega,” (Gorakhpur ble demolition of these in future, old editor with local Hindi newspapers has no spoilt face any longer and is Gorakhpur University in 1980 and travels to China, South Africa, time and no long waiting was will become Delhi), his visionary city may emerge more specious. As a decade back but is leading a quiet seen to be sponsoring itself ade- joined Indian Audit & Accounts Rome and America but also devotes involved as in the past. Airport staff qualities were remarkable. He hard- for affected people, to the extant I life now. He was a frequent visitor quately. The process of “clean-up” Service in 1983. Currently he is about ten pages to India (undivid- without losing their radiance were ly knew road congestion in Delhi. could gather, there were no demur to my house during 1978-83 when has set in and is becoming more Director General in the Office of ed) where he travelled during 1935 quick to help and a serene atmos- Nor did he knew traffic wildness nor any agitation against any demo- my uncle late Ganesh Prasad firm. Comptroller & Auditor General of to 1936. One of his remarks needs phere assured me of an invading among people crowding the roads. lition. Rather people realised it was Srivastava, a teacher of English in Oldness has a charm of its own India. He is a poet writing in English a look: “The people (in Central change. It took me about fifteen This time I found traffic on the bad on their part to illegally grab DAV Inter College, Gorakhpur, was in as much as its loss means loss of with three poetry collections. His third India) are very gentle. In Lahore and minutes to be out on the road to be move and not constant. Perhaps Government land. Change in their alive and entertained a very limit- identity and action but Gorakhpur book Shadows of the Real has been Calcutta, I saw something of the welcome by relatives. A logical gone are the days to come face to attitude was noteworthy and wel- ed number of poets for evening ren- ought to turn out to be a picturesque translated into Hindi and Russian.He Hindu upper classes (highly time at any airport. face with hideously overloaded lor- come. It speaks volumes of firm dezvous. One was Gauhar Saheb, place allowing its inhabitants to have is literary reviewer and columnist for civilised)... As individuals, Indians Outside scene did not bemuse ries always running the risk of leadership and close monitoring. and the other this gentleman. I told time to ponder and wonder over the newspapers The Pioneer and The are charming, but taken as a whole but there was a justification. My rel- overturn. In my childhood, such My acquaintances with whom I him of my desire to host a literary higher facets of culture and litera- Daily Star. His fourth book: a semi- the country seems to be just as inca- atives told me crossing a distance of overturns were matter of routine, had detailed conversation about gathering where poets/writers could ture that give qualitative propellant autobiographical, literary non-fiction, pable of self-government as China one kilometre near Mohaddipur, easily absorbed by public. the way city was moving were can- exchange literary views and where to life of the people. Numbness has will be released in March 2019. The or Malaya.” near which new AIIMS campus at Next day, I undertook a two- did with their expression: “Yes, I could also share my writings. started vanishing and a sense of views expressed in this article are his The story harped on from time Kunraghat is coming up, would take hour long journey towards Padri things are improving fast; medical Knowing that my writings and accommodation visible. The initi- personal views.
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permanent solution to the stub- Conference that Kashmir is an inte- ground. But the Government alone resolve long festering problems. with terrorists? 4) Analysing the role played by ties in the region. Aborn militancy predicament in gral part of India and should not get cannot do much. Individuals and This threat can be encountered by After carefully examining the regional political parties so far and 12) Streamline the existing web Jammu & Kashmir requires a multi- caught in a nefarious game plan of groups can make a significant con- training and development of a new widening gap between the various the possibility of bringing them of formalities involved while getting layered policy-driven initiative Pakistan. Some kind of Popular tribution towards improving the mechanism bolstered up of a mul- governments to formulate a com- under one political umbrella only a productive suggestion through. based on the carrot and stick Mobilisation Force (against ISIS) as general security environment. tidimensional and multi-layered mon strategy for the suppression of for the sake of the bright future of 13) Improve security contents approach. On the diplomatic front, seen in Iraq can be replicated to On the other hand, there is a approach based on checks and bal- terrorism, some strategic measures the region. and need by incorporating recent the opening of the Kartarpur cor- build solid public opinion against need for the sophisticated security ances. There are certain pertinent ought to be looked into for formu- 5) Developing comprehension changes through discourse and ridor was a welcome sign towards insurgency in the region. procedures which can go all the way questions which need to be lating international strategy to about the potentialities and imped- argumentation. working out conflict resolution At the same time, there needs to from airport screening to the bor- answered immediately: counter this menace. In this regard iments in the war against terror 14) Seeking multiple options methods but history bears testimo- be political consensus to stop get- der area. Some kind of positive pro- 1) What are the new terrorist a comprehensive coordination 6) The environment security and viewpoints in order to help in ny to the fact that we still need to ting involved in either in jingoism grammes which can frustrate ter- challenges across the globe, partic- between various nations can be of agenda through multiple layers of forming an integrated team con- be vigilant. or deliberately criticising the rorists can prove effective. There is ularly faced by India? immense use. security sisting of only meritorious members The recent attack by terrorists Government for anti-terrorism also a need to promote open insti- 2) Why terrorists are successful We need to work on the strate- 7) Combating concept of post- for holistic development of Jammu on an Army patrolling party killing operations for vote politics for the tutions, including political institu- in their mission? gic methods which the security truth and ill ideology manufactur- & Kashmir. four soldiers in Zainapora district of same of national security. tion to absorb the ethnic, religious 3) What is the role of religion in forces and the intelligence agencies ing agents 15) Introducing new innovative Kashmir has once again exposed There has been a section of and political pressure and allow motivating terrorists? ought to be preparing for, to 8) Obnoxious nexus between mechanism in the process of indus- our vulnerability and douse rays of strategists who want India to adopt them (the terrorists) to vent their 4) How has sophisticated tech- encounter new form of attacks on the local powerful syndicates, out- trialisation designed to help local hopes for peace. Earlier attacks by hawkish and surgical tactics and not feelings in a proper way. nology helped terrorists achieve markets, trains, shopping centers, siders and drug smugglers. unemployed youth of the region Pakistan-backed terrorists in merely relying on rhetoric. But what Since the present day terrorists their mission? cinema halls, hotels and other pub- 9) There has been a consider- towards career goals. Pulwama, Uri and Pathankot have about handling terrorists driven by are well organised and more pro- 5) What are the external link- lic places. Those who matter in able gap in reality and projection to 16) More integrated programs challenged our security policies religious fervour and wrongly moti- fessional than their counterparts a ages? framing and implementing the deci- the outside world by building wrong and services that provide supple- and political will of the vated for harming the country. It is decade ago, new concepts of safety 6) What are preventive methods sions need to realise that the prob- public opinion through academic mental support to both army and Government. possible to frame a strategy about ter- and security should take birth. A available for the redressal of the lem in Jammu & Kashmir is multi- discourse and media. We need to local police making it more efficient The rise in terror attacks in the rorist attack but there is confusion vigilant and assertive police and grievances of the vulnerable people, dimensional and requires a fresh create counter-narratives by gener- with present circumstances of deal- Valley is taking place only with sup- about whether such a mechanism is paramilitary network should replace thus striking at the roots of the prob- perspective. ating true public support. ing with the worst form of propa- port from locals. It has been noticed successful in dealing with terrorists the old one. lem? What kind of recent threats Unless we hit at the roots of the 10) There ought to be highly ganda terror. that to strengthen the secessionist driven by religious fundamentalism Many of the important sugges- encountered by the representatives disease it will keep haunting us. The clinic and consciously passionate 17) Growth and enrichment of movement, insurgents are recruit- as religion is becoming the main tions and recommendations of the of people? anti-terrorist campaign should also approach to address the hidden the region, both inside and outside ing and training locals. This strat- motivating force for terrorism across various committees are not in tune 7) What are security constraints covers following major issues along problem of the region which is through community development egy has made it difficult for securi- the globe. with the exiting circumstances. in dealing with the problem of ter- with pure security strategy: entangled in the game plan spon- exercise. ty forces to get reliable information Whether terrorism is unleashed There is an apprehension that with rorism? In this regard a careful 1) Tacit understanding of the sored from across the border and Since it is the intellectual class from local sources on terrorist at local, regional national or inter- the availability of biological and analysis of the causes of suicidal region and its historical importance petty interest of a few players to which provides strategies and new operations. national level it cannot survive for chemical weapons, terrorists will squad of terrorism could be great 2) Chalking out comprehensive remain at the helm of affairs. insight into the framework of poli- The hardship that security long without international support start their campaign with renewed use. plan by forgetting political and ide- 11) Entire process need to cies, a positive role of media can be forces have to face during and after and collaboration. vigour. 8) How India could have avoid- ological differences purely as citizen address the issue of meritorious pol- of great help. anti-terrorist operations is mind- Therefore, the intelligence gath- The States affected by terrorism ed Mumbai (26/11) and Hyderabad of India. icy analysis with objective approach boggling. ering should be boosted to get should open the avenues for nego- serial blasts 3) Developing understanding to provide innovative urge to solve (The writer is a Chandigarh- There is need to change the information about terrorists' fund- tiated settlement of disputes and 9) What are legal and constitu- among the intrusive members of the the existing gap between theory and based professor of political science mindset of All Parties Hurriyat ing, targets, timings and breeding exhibit genuine willingness to tional provisions available to deal region. practice by the regional political par- and strategic affairs) ' 1&=6 :1!A :A'& 1! 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"4 hile some ambitious lead- ers might pose hurdles in 1$$ Rahul Gandhi’s path to prime ministership, there 1 '! 1 :/ ' D are others who are keen toW back him and his big dream. Leaders who also have their eyes set on the most coveted post in India consider Rahul as their competitor and are consistently working on a strategy to push him to the margins in the grand alliance. However, at the same time, Rahul enjoys the sup- port of regional stalwarts, who don’t dream big are not hesitant in supporting him as the next Prime Minister. The DMK’s Stalin has no desire to be a part of the politics of the Centre. He wants to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and has hence been support- ive of Rahul’s PM candidature. Without thinking about any of the regional stal- warts, Stalin declared that Rahul would become the PM candidate as he has the capability to stop the BJP. Even Tejashwi Yadav has no qualms about backing Rahul, neither does Akhilesh Yadav, who has on several occasions, given statements in Rahul’s favour. But it should be noted that this time, Akhilesh has a compulsion — Mayawati. She considers herself as a PM candidate and Akhilesh has to go with her in Uttar Pradesh. So, Akhilesh can’t declare Rahul as the PM candidate or he would face the wrath of Mayawati. That is why, perhaps, Akhilesh said that a decision will be taken after the results. Sharad Pawar is the only exception; he has big ambitions yet he is ready to accept Rahul as his leader. He feels that it is bet- ter to have good relations with Rahul and room. When he was elected as leader of On the other hand, despite many and Gorakhpur — seats that belonged * the Congress, so if need arises, Rahul the CLP, Sanjay Gandhi’s cutouts were options, the Congress preferred its veter- to CM Yogi Adityanath and Deputy s soon as the results of Assembly might propose his name for the PM’s post. put up in Bhopal along with those of ans. Kamal Nath is 72 years old and CM KP Maurya — in March. Apolls in five States were out, the Sonia and Rahul. It is noteworthy that Ashok Gehlot is 67. Bhupesh Baghel is, of The BJP got its second jolt in May, disposition of the NDA’s partners seem- P H Kamal Nath and Sanjay Gandhi were course, younger than these two. Last year, when it lost the Lok Sabha byelection in ingly changed. Some of them had been any leaders of the Congress are close friends, and Indira Gandhi called the Congress had won elections in Punjab Kairana, and fell short of majority in unhappy for the past few months, but Mputting their weight behind Varun Kamal her “third son”. Now, Kamal Nath where it had made 76-year-old Captain Karnataka. Despite that, the BJP formed those who were earlier standing uncon- Gandhi’s entry into the party. Though has brought Sanjay Gandhi into main- Amarinder Singh the CM. In 2016, the the Government in Karnataka but could ditionally with the BJP are also frown- = this is a fact that Rahul and Priyanka stream politics. The next logical step party had won in Puducherry where 71- not prove majority and BS Yeddyurappa ing. Allies like the Akali Dal, RPI, JDU, share a good relation with him, and the would be Varun’s entry into the Congress. year-old Velu Narayanasamy is the CM. had to submit his resignation. After that, and LJP are now trying to position three meet frequently, Varun is not will- the Congress and JDS grabbed power in themselves. The RLSP has already # ! ing to join the Congress solely due to his * " O P* I Karnataka. Recently, the Lok Sabha announced it will part ways with the ' mother, Maneka Gandhi. It was being any comparisons are being drawn eople are now debating whether the byelections were held on three seats in BJP. OP Rajbhar is also showing signs speculated that Varun might join the Mbetween the CMs of States ruled by PBJP will return to its old headquar- Karnataka, but the BJP managed to save of discontent. The Shiv Sena will not # Congress in December. It is also being both the BJP and Congress, and one ters, claiming it is only getting bad news only one — that of Yeddyurappa. The leave the bandwagon but will continue - said that this time, he would not fight the parameter is their age. The BJP has after moving into the one on DDU Marg. Congress snatched the prestigious its strategy of inflicting maximum harm # Lok Sabha Elections on a BJP ticket. If mostly put forward new faces, choosing Not only that, party leaders and journal- Bellary seat from the BJP. at the same time. However, soon after the BJP doesn’t give a ticket to Varun, 60-plus CMs in very few States. Four ists are keeping away as it is not easy to In the Assembly Elections of five the results, it was the JDU which then it seems highly unlikely that CMs of the BJP are under the age of 50 reach there and security is tight. States, the BJP lost power in Madhya changed its colour. Chirag Paswan, son $ Maneka will continue in the party. — Yogi Adityanath, Devendra Fadnavis, PM Narendra Modi had inaugurated Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan. In of Ram Vilas Paswan, has also sent out On the other hand, the new Madhya Pema Khandu, and Biplab Kumar Deb — the headquarters on February 18, 2018. MP and Chhattisgarh, the BJP had been a stern message. The Akali Dal, which ' ( Pradesh CM, Kamal Nath, has shown and some others have not crossed 60. He had congratulated Amit Shah for get- in power for the past 15 years. In is the oldest ally of the BJP, has advised ## 0 sympathy towards Sanjay Gandhi, after Some of them, like Raghubar Das, were ting it ready in record time. Soon after Telangana, the BJP was hopeful of a the BJP and the Government to take which people are speculating that he 60 when they became CM and have now that, the party moved into the new build- good show, but the number of its MLAs care of the minorities as they are feeling might be able to coax Varun to join the crossed that age. Manohar Parrikar and ing, vacating its decades-old HQ at 11, went down from five to one. The BJP insecure. It seems that the BJP should ## Congress. When Kamal Nath had Manohar Lal Khattar are exceptions. Ashok Road. After moving into the new also suffered personal losses in the form gear up for big jolts from its allies — become the State party president, he had Shivraj Singh Chouhan continued as CM HQ, the BJP got its first shocker in the of ex-PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Ananth from Bihar to Uttar Pradesh, and " put up Sanjay Gandhi’s photo in his for 13 years but didn’t complete 60 years. form of defeat in byelections of Phulpur Kumar, and MP Bhola Singh. Maharashtra to Assam. 5 $ 1-
his could well prove to be other evidence of Russian med- the year that the long-run- . . # . dling in their institutions, with a Tning conflict more famil- Russian spy recently convicted iarly known as the War on Terror of trying to infiltrate America’s finally came to an end. And in its 0 .O A:A&61=!: powerful gun lobby. And if the place emerged a new Cold War, Russians can do this in America, fuelled by Moscow’s innate hos- one of the world’s most security tility towards the West. Ever )4"" 6 conscious countries, then it is a since al-Qaeda carried out the 7$" "8"# fair bet that they are doing the September 11 attacks in 2001, same in Britain. At the very the primary military, intelligence- "##" least, Russia’s SVR foreign intel- gathering and diplomatic focus : ; ligence agency will be attempt- of the Western powers has been 7 " ing to rebuild the networks that to counter and destroy Islamist- < were destroyed in Britain by the inspired terror cells. The cam- mass expulsion of its agents that paign has not been without its 770 followed the Salisbury attack. controversies, not least over the 4P"4""= The resurgence of Russian military interventions in Iraq + "<# 6 aggression towards the West and Afghanistan. has certainly persuaded our But while the political argu- 4"7 military and intelligence chiefs ments over the ethical and moral 6 <<767 to undertake a radical rethink dimensions of toppling rogue " about their priorities. Just three regimes will continue for many ":4 years ago, when the global cam- years to come, we should not lose paign against Islamist terrorism sight of the fact that, in terms of < was the key goal, only 10 per the original objectives, the mili- 6/6 cent of our intelligence-gather- tary-led campaigns against ing resources were directed Islamist groups like al-Qaeda and towards Russia. Post-Salisbury, Islamic State of Iraq and the Ukrainian naval vessels in the Sea that figure has more than dou- Levant (Isil) have been a success. of Azov. Moreover, Russian intim- bled, and today military and In Afghanistan, where al- idation is not confined to the mil- intelligence chiefs are united in Qaeda’s bases were once respon- itary sphere. As last week’s report viewing Russia as a more sig- sible for around 70 per cent of by the US Senate Intelligence nificant threat than Isil. the terror threats against the UK, Committee reveals, the Russian Moreover, the pressing need the organisation’s infrastructure military employs a wide range of for Britain to upgrade its and leadership have been non-conventional methods — defences to be better prepared to destroyed, with Osama bin Laden a functioning terrorist entity. Qaeda posed, we are today in a emerged to take its place in the demonstrate the potency of hybrid warfare, to use the military deal with Russia was reflected in consigned to a watery grave at It would be foolhardy to far better place, one where an form of Vladimir Putin’s Russia. employing such weapons on term — to target its foes. Defence Secretary Gavin the bottom of the Indian Ocean. write off completely the Islamist Islamist-inspired terrorist attack The most graphic illustration European soil. Nor can the Senate investigators found Williamson’s Commons pledge to After al-Qaeda came Isil, threat. Only recently, Strasbourg’s on the streets of Britain is more of the changing face of the threat Salisbury outrage be regarded as a that Russian interference ringfence £160 million to develop which has now suffered a similar famed Christmas market came likely to be the exception rather we face was the Salisbury nerve one-off. It needs to be seen within involved every social media innovative capabilities in new fate following the establishment under attack from an Islamist. than a regular occurrence. agent attack in March. After we the context of the Kremlin’s platform during the 2016 presi- war-fighting domains like cyber. of its self-styled Caliphate in Yet, compared with the enormity Unfortunately, there will be spent the better part of two relentless assault on the West and dential election campaign, and This is just as well for, if the northern Iraq and Syria in 2014. of what we faced in September no opportunity to pause and decades fretting over the possibil- its allies which began with was specifically aimed at sup- Kremlin does not change tack, The military campaign against 2001, when our intelligence reflect on a job well done. For, ity of groups like al-Qaeda using Russia’s invasion of Georgia in the pressing black voters, the major- 2019 could present all of us with Isil attracted less controversy, but chiefs admitted they were com- just as the menace of Islamist- weapons of mass destruction, it summer of 2008 and most recent- ity of whom support the even greater challenges than we it achieved the same objective: pletely unsighted on the scale of inspired extremism appears to be fell to a unit from Russia’s GRU ly manifested itself with the Democrats. In addition, the have faced in 2018. the complete destruction of Isil as the challenge groups like al- on the wane, so another foe has military intelligence service to Russian navy attacking a flotilla of Americans have uncovered ' ' A:1A%#$%" &'" A'D==A "'A 1 /: %&'1'A== A:1"A"&= '!DA%%':1 itextaiutar # "' !: :&= 'A: : "A== 1A ! "#$
+ $ + + + 9 3: he British box office is heading for its best year in almost five +?$ .()$'? Tdecades as cinemas continue to defy the stay-at-home lure of Netflix. When the final ticket stubs are !:!D 1 ',! counted it is expected that British =!= ' :! cinemagoers will have attended 176m ( 1 times this year, a number not seen since 1971 when the hits included 20 Diamonds are Forever, French Connection, Dirty Harry, and Fiddler on the Roof. There is no Christmas Star Wars blockbuster to turbo- charge the box office in 2018 but film experts believe the 1971 mark will be bettered thanks to a slate of December releases featuring the return of Mary Poppins, Aquaman, ma admission numbers broke the the Transformers spin-off Bumblebee 160m mark at the end of November, and an animated Spiderman. that should be enough to hit or break “It will take something really 176m. Across the Atlantic, the US unexpected, something pretty incred- box office is also on for a record year ible, not to get to there now,” said and could even hit the $12bn mark Phil Clapp, the chief executive of the for the first time. UK Cinema Association. “It looks UK attendance is expected to be like being record admissions, and up by about 6m on 2017. The rise is box office, for modern times.” being attributed to factors including According to Clapp, in four of the a much more diverse film slate rang- last five years December admissions ing from musicals and superhero have been 16m or more. Given cine- films to animated family fare. * rgentinian auteur Lucrecia Martel has revealed she was Aapproached by Marvel to direct the forthcoming Black Widow film starring Scarlett Johansson, in what would have been a directorial choice remarkable even by Marvel’s idiosyncratic standards. In com- ments reported by the Pioneer, Martel, director of Zama, La Ciénaga and The Headless Woman, told an audience at the Mumbai film festival that she “received an email from Marvel for a meeting ... because they had to rejig my travel plans last rise in duties on diesel, widely used by changes that he felt were the best for were looking for directors for Black week to make a trip to Delhi. A French motorists and which has long them. He did not pause to explain Widow.” She added that she had to rible. Also the soundtrack of Marvel delegation from my alma mater, been less heavily taxed than other types enough. When he slashed taxes on sign a non-disclosure agreement films is quite horrendous. Maybe we Sciences-po Paris, was visiting the of fuel. Macron had said higher taxes on wealth, he did not offer more help for the about her meeting, but that “Marvel disagree on this, but it’s really hard Capital and my newly acquired fossil fuels were needed to fund renew- poor or sufficiently explain to them why and other such production houses to watch a Marvel film. It’s painful to Iposition as the democratically elected able energy investments. The protesters the old wealth tax was inefficient, incen- are trying to involve more female the ears to watch Marvel films.” President of Sciences po alumni India adopted the name for their movement tive-sapping, and bad for France in the filmmakers”. In the event, Australian film- made me feel somewhat obliged to be after a social media campaign urging long run. Macron forgets that a democ- However, Martel’s distinct lack of maker Cate Shortland (Berlin there. In my tiny political capacity, I felt people to take to the streets wearing the ratically elected representative is answer- enthusiasm for Marvel’s output may Syndrome, Lore) was announced as answerable to the voters — 150 men and high-visibility yellow jackets that must be able to each one who casts a vote. There have scuppered her chances. She Black Widow’s director in July. women, ranging from age 25 to 70, living carried in every vehicle in France. is little wrong with his policies, yet plenty added: “The first thing I asked them Martel said that despite their across India, bound together by their Last weekend, although in smaller at fault with his attitude. was maybe if they could change the attempts to recruit women directors, French experience. numbers, the protesters were still on the Rolling out change anywhere in the special effects because there’s so Marvel still mistrusted them in cer- The amicable French Ambassador to streets. There were slightly more than world, in governance or in business, many laser lights ... I find them hor- tain aspects of production. India, Alexandre Ziegler, had opened the 2,000 in Paris. In Bordeaux, more than 'A:"'A+ +=D needs to take the long path of consensus. doors of his residence to the alumni 4,500 protesters turned up despite show- Drawing up a list of policies (however community to meet the French delega- ers of water cannon from the police to A/&"A1! great) or to-dos, without effective com- tion over great wine, tiny hors d’oeuvres, disperse them. A similar number protest- A' +!'1 D munication with the affected group, and — predictably — a few speeches. In ed in Toulouse. In Nantes, around 1,200 thrusting the changes upon the group, her short talk — and with the backdrop protesters were fired by tear gas, as they 6!% 'K1 forcing them to implement and bear the of violent clashes in Paris that look to be were in Avignon and Besançon. This ' A%" '! consequences, fast tracks change but is the worst since 1968 — the charming week too the protests have continued. unsustainable. With such a method, the Professor Vanessa Scherrer attempted to The movement has now expanded over =!' !1 changes desired will not last. Moreover, strengthen Franco-Indian ties. other issues, including calls for higher +&': A& ' a changemaker’s hasty actions with poor A clever speech by Enrico Letta, wages, lower taxes, better pensions, easi- communication will always leave some Dean of the Paris School of International er university entry requirements, and so 16= section of people who will feel left Affairs at Sciences Po and former Prime on. The protesters were frustrated about :"A=! behind, uninvolved, deceived. And so, Minister of Italy, suggested that smart- the overall economic situation in France, metaphorically speaking — and to Dean phones have changed politics forever. especially the economic policies rolled 'D 1'$ Letta’s point — indeed the smartphone Indeed, voters get instant news on their out by Macron who is being perceived as 1A"1 %' :O has transformed governance. People can finger tips, they impulsively share their anti-poor and pro-elite. share grievances quickly about policies political views — woes — wants, or sim- According to a recent story by 6!%A1!A and can organise themselves to protest ply ‘thumbs up’, ‘thumbs down’, ‘wow’, The Economist, Macron is looked upon :A' 1! on the streets. But easy connectivity ‘heart’ policies and their elected repre- by most French folks as too haughty. these days also makes it easier for politi- sentatives. Our digital hyper connectivity In a poll by Ipsos, the approval for %'A /!:6+A= cians, such as Macron, to connect much makes it easy to swiftly move into politi- Macron by French citizens has slipped '%A' +& more with citizens, empathise, effective- lightsaber described as having Christian had supplied a letter of cal action. To plan a political agitation, a another two points in the last month, !: 1 ly communicate with them, receive feed- been used by Luke Skywalker authenticity to accompany the sale. secret midnight rendezvous is replaced to 23 per cent. The proportion of peo- back, and defend his tough policies Ain the first Star Wars film has “In light of conflicting informa- by a closed Facebook group event. Door- ple who declared themselves “very dis- &'!:6%% when required! been withdrawn from sale by a tion regarding the origin of Roger to-door campaigns have given way to a satisfied” by his leadership jumped by A:1! !& This week, Macron turned 41. He Californian auction house after fans Christian’s lightsaber, Profiles in call to action on Twitter. six points to 45 per cent. woke up to probably his worst birthday raised concerns about its authenticity. History has decided to withdraw the And so, a week ago, the Sciences-po Macron has made some bold policy gift ever — the streets of Paris littered The item was due to be sold by piece from this auction until Mr alumni in India had voted for their changes, akin to none that France has with burned-out cars, smashed glass, and Profiles in History in Los Angeles on Christian can clear up the inconsis- President via a weblink. Last year, seen in many decades. He has made a police everywhere. We hope that France’s Thursday with an estimated sale price tencies that have been brought to our President Emmanuel Macron’s election few long-needed reforms to make the gift to him does not detract him from of up to $200,000 (£160,000). attention,” the chief executive of the campaign had been powered by social labour market more flexible. His educa- making bold reforms, but instead have a It was described as having been auction house, Joe Maddalena, said. media, now much like the protesters who tion reforms created smaller classes in maturing effect on his attitude. one of five lightsabers designed by Christian did not immediately are on the streets against him. poor areas and greater citizens’ control ' ?6 ! Roger Christian, the Oscar-winning respond to a request for comment. The ‘yellow vest’ movement started over training. The rise in taxes on diesel P ! &! = Star Wars set decorator, and used by Fans of the sci-fi franchise had on November 17, with 282,000 protest- is to fund renewable energy. Yet he did - ! + # Mark Hamill in the 1977 film Star questioned whether the lightsaber ers, leaving one dead, 409 wounded, and so without involving the rest. He single- ( ?& #&+ #= Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope. was a replica or prototype. 73 in custody. It was initially against a handedly delivered to the French all the # @ ! =&# 2
E tank. The Philippine Coral Reef tank has footage of him dancing abroad say more research is Casanas, a leathery-skinned former thousands of reef fish representing about and speaking as an needed to be able to prop- tobacco farmer who now primarily H t’s a busy time for Santa Claus, but he’s 100 species. People can watch Santa’s example of Russian erly back up such a grows beans for his own consump- n apparent Grinch was spot- Imaking time to feed some fish in San appearance online by webcam. technological claim, Cuban pharma- tion, said he sometimes keeps a Ated on surveillance video Francisco. The California Academy of prowess. Online ceutical firm Labiofam has been scorpion under his straw hat like a plowing through a Christmas dis- Sciences launched its holiday festivi- TJournal noted the using scorpion venom since 2011 to lucky charm. It likes the shade and play outside a suburban ties Thursday by having a scuba O E P lack of sensors, human-like movements manufacture the homeopathic medicine humidity, he says, so just curls Indianapolis home and tips diver dressed as St. and other discrepancies, and revealed Vidatox. The remedy has proven popu- up and sleeps. are being sought to find the Nick submerge ussian media say a con- that Boris was in fact a human clad in a lar. Labiofam Business Director Carlos man. WRTV broadcast the into a coral reef Rtraption presented by costume sold under the name Alyosha Alberto Delgado told Reuters sales were video recorded Sunday exhibit while Russian state television as a by the Russian company Show Robots. climbing 10 percent annually. Vidatox ** night by a neighbor’s dozens of chil- high-tech robot was in fact already sells in around 15 countries J(55 camera in Greenwood. dren watched a man in a commercial- worldwide and is currently in talks with Los Angeles restaurant The video starts with a from behind the ly available robot cos- P China to sell the remedy there. In Cuba, Ais taking dessert to new man getting out of a black glass. The “Scuba tume. The footage where tens of thousands of patients have heights of decadence with a $500 SUV and then walking up to Santa” show runs was shot at a high-tech nce a month for the last decade, been treated with Vidatox, each vial brownie covered in 24-karat edi- take a closer look at the front through Christmas show in the city of OPepe Casanas, a 78-year-old Cuban costs under a dollar. On the black mar- ble gold. Chef Jason Harley, yard where Casie Arnold says Day. It takes place Yaroslavl that opened farmer, has hunted down a scorpion to ket abroad it can cost hundred times owner of Baby J’s Burgers, her family had a 3.7-meter- during the morn- Tuesday, featuring sting himself with, vowing that the that — retailers on Amazon.com are said the opulent brownie is tall inflatable snowman. ing feed at the “Boris the Robot.” venom wards off his rheumatism pains. seen selling them for up to $140. served in a humidor with a The man gets back into the Philippine Forum organizers His natural remedy is no longer seen as “I put the scorpion where I feel Monte Cristo cigar on the vehicle, backs up and drives Coral Reef used Boris to very unusual here. pain,” Casanas said while demonstrating side.The brownie is coated in 24- through the family’s yard and tank at the San enliven the Researchers in Cuba have found his homemade pain relief with a scorpi- karat gold and features glaze made over the decoration. Francisco museum. event, having that the venom of the blue scorpion, on that he found under a pile of debris with Johnnie Walker Blue Label Arnold says they heard a pop Volunteer diver George him dance to a whose scientific name is Rhopalurus on the patch of land he cultivates in scotch whisky. Harley previously while watching a Christmas Bell donned his Santa suit, pop song. junceus, endemic to the Caribbean Cuba’s western province of Pinar del made headlines in 2016 when his movie. Tire tracks were in the from hat to coal black boots, But a crew for island, appears to have anti-inflammato- Rio. After squeezing it long enough, it doughnut shop, Birdies, came out yard. Arnold says she wonders if and scuba gear for a recent Russian state televi- ry and pain relief properties, and may stung him and he winced. “It hurts for a with a $100 doughnut similarly the driver was possibly a Grinch feed and fielded visitors’ sion apparently thought be able to delay tumor growth in some while, but then it calms and goes and I coated in edible gold. who doesn’t like Christmas. questions from inside the Boris was real, and used cancer patients. While some oncologists don’t have any more pain,” he said. !ADA :1!:6$ : !+=! 1 !A! yvixiari $ 1'!611!:6 K/ ': / "AA'/1 : ! "#$
$ "' A" 1 / 9 &%1 %0 %1 - 0 . . . - # # 0 L M 0 0 . 0 $ L 0: M 0 "0 & 0. $ . V $!'.-$/#$!'.-$/# . . V D. .$+ D 'D AV3 # 0 here is a very interesting observation in an . 0!-$*"0!-$*" Organisation Behaviour text that says — you can # + 0 0 Ttake the man out of the Stone Age, but you cannot O' take Stone Age out of the man. To many, this may appear ! . $L1 a bit hazy, but for those who have the eye to observe it is a 0 AV3 ( . . 0 $ 0 rather pithy comment. Going by technological advance- 0 ment, it is true that mankind has come a long way since # M0 $ 0 :' ,!:' !:61 the time of the Stone Age. Those technological advance- ments have been largely effective in changing the lifestyle AV3 of human beings and the way they meet the external . he basis of Christmas is, beginning with God. All things were others. And it is humility which environmental demands. However, the fact is that we # 0 of course, the celebration made by him; and without him was inspires us to reach out to the lowly have hardly changed from within (our internal environ- of the birth of Christ; not anything made that was made. and the poor, the forsaken and the ment), that is the way we think. So, the assertion that 0# $ although in reality saints In him was life; and the life was the forgotten. It is not the magnitude of human nature has remained fairly stable over all those are beyond the cycle of blight of men.” our acts of loving-kindness that ages is quite valid. This is precisely what Philosopher J Tbirth and death. At this time of the This light was in the form of ultimately matters. It is the sincerity Krishnamurthy observed some five decades ago. He said year, let us turn our hearts and souls Jesus and till the time he lived, he with which they are offered. that technologically, man has advanced incredibly, yet he to the significance of the life and was indeed the light to the world. Whenever we celebrate birthdays remains as he has been for thousands of years — fighting, teachings of Christ. Traditionally Because he was in the human form, of the Great Masters, we must try to greedy, envious, burdened with great sorrow. His dis- speaking, it is the day when God he was the “Son of Man” but also follow their teachings/ keep their course on existence was based on what he found in the Power descended on Earth in human because he was one with God, and commandments. What did they world — utter chaos, disorder, violence, extreme forms of . form to give the first hand came as a medium of this power, he preach? What did they explain? On brutality, riots ending up in war. If this does not make 0 $ experience of “Word” to humanity. was “Child of God”. In reality, this Christmas, when a lot of people sense, let us examine what is happening, whether in the To celebrate Jesus Christ’s birthday is power is nothing but the “Holy throughout the world celebrate Jesus most poor and underdeveloped countries, or the most . = " ! a moment of great joy. We sing Word”, or the “Holy Spirit”, as Christ’s birthday, it is important to rich and highly developed countries. Ethiopia and United A & carols, celebrate, present gifts, and mentioned in the Gospels. In other present a gift to our own selves — States have been facing indiscriminate violence. # . exchange best wishes. Though the religions, it has also been called as the gift to practice Jesus’ teachings. Throughout their existence, human beings have been vio- '0 temperature outside shudders us, kalma, Baang-e-asmani, Sarasha, =+' His teachings were teachings of love. lent. The twenty first century seems to be no better as far our hearts are filled with the warmth Lagosa, Shabad, Shruti, Udgati, or His teachings taught us that we can as human aggression and meanness is concerned. Why it 02- of love and brotherhood. Naam. It was with the word that the 1'! =& be one with God. It is important that is so may not be easy to understand because violence and 0 # Every year, people from across whole world was created. It may be A A!:! '& we must not stop only at the outer aggression seem to be learnt predispositions. They are 0 - the world get together to celebrate described with different names in rituals. We must focus at the largely acquired rather than innate. Where do we learn $' the big day of Christmas! This is a different religions, but it means the "!'!$ 1 D! foundation, called the esoteric side these from? Is it ingrained in the evolutionary cycle which . festival of happiness when people same. It is important that on %!== !11 of the religion. We must feed the emphasises struggle for existence, or it is picked up grad- 0 present gifts, especially to children Christmas, we follow Christ’s soul so that it travels within and ually as we grow up and develop. The fact is that violence 0 who are given plenty of gifts on this teachings. Christ, too, like other A""A'&:!! A rises above body consciousness to be and aggression do persist. We need to ponder over why . - # 0 # occasion. The tradition of great Saints, emphasised on leading V"' =A : one with God. we are so violent. May be, we need to realise that our # presenting gifts to children is a pure life. He said: A" !A: :A As we celebrate Christmas, let us aggression is a result of our assumption that our pains - $A associated with Jesus’ birth when “Blessed are the pure in heart: do so in its true spirit. If we but and problems arise due to other people and they need to -0 after his birth; three wise men came for they shall see God.” "'%A' A% develop the eyes to see, we will find be punished. Or it can be that we want to corner every- from the East and presented plenty — Matthew (King James Version) /!:: 1!1 that each day is filled with the thing for ourselves and sharing of resources is an unac- ; 0 of gifts to the infant Jesus. Ethical life includes non opportunities to express love and ceptable proposition. The emotions of fear, hate, and rage Christmas, is an occasion when violence, truthfulness, purity, :+'!:6,ADA compassion, and to perform acts of take the better of us. Is there a way out from this Morass # 0 we must give a thought to humility, selfless service and love for 1A 'A&:& $ kindness which can bring joy to that we are sinking into? There certainly should be a way understand the meaning of ‘Christ’. all. Christ was a living example of all those around us. Each day is filled for the sake of larger interests of humanity. And that way O Jesus Christ, in the Gospel, often of these. Being one with the Father, : "' with opportunities to spread the is to create a Psychological Revolution. The technological $ called himself the “Child of Man” Christ embodied all virtues. He was 1%' 6' :A% fragrance of forgiveness and apply revolution is not going to change humanity. It seems that and “Son of God”. He can be an epitome of love, forgiveness and the balm of soothing words. If we we have defined change wrongly. If only technological understood in this dual context. humility. He represented full %A'6! : : build our lives where there are no change could bring about the desired transformation in According to St John’s teachings, flowering of God’s love in the world. ""=D1+ =A% outer disturbances so that life is human attitude, things would have been much better. But Jesus Christ was the Holy Word, he Indeed, if forgiveness can be defined filled with virtues and we are it has not and most human actions are still driven by was in human form amongst us. He as the perfume that flowers breathe AA1!:6 A' connected with God from within, we envy, greed, hatred, ego and other such negative attribut- reached the spiritual heights where when they are trampled upon, then will speedily reach our destination. es. The problems in this world are more out of psycholog- the soul realises itself as a part of he was a veritable garden of divine Those who are rich may possess ical disorientation rather than any genuine reasons. There God. God Power worked through fragrance. His love encompassed all, everything, but if they lack love, they is need to bring about a psychological reorientation in the him. God power is called Master and he embraced all. Humility was are poor and destitute. So to give basic thinking process so that rather than being driven by power and this power grants us his adornment. Like one the greatest love consciously is not only a negativities, human beings are influenced by positive salvation and merges us back into Urdu Poets of past century has said: panacea for the hardships, the thoughts. Bringing about this psychological change is cer- God. World can be destroyed, but “Humility and love are the torments of modern life, it is an tainly a Herculean task. It is so because calls for a concert- not this power. This power, in the priceless gifts of God-realisation; enriching experience for the giver ed and sustained effort. We must go from a mechanical initial Gospel of St John , has been Humility is the be-all, and love is also. It enriches the giver as well as life driven by a programmed thought pattern to the psy- described as: the end-all of the spiritual path.” the receiver; we all grow. So let’s chological revolution that brings a responsive and empa- “In the beginning was the Word, — Sant Darshan Singh Ji Maharaj celebrate this Christmas with its true thetic life. And this is possible. and the Word was with God, and the It is love which opens our hearts spirit of love, humility and # # && # Word was God. The same was in the to share in the suffering and joys of forgiveness. Merry Christmas! ! & =.& ! & =#@# =&# # . 0 # 0# #0. hat is the usual reaction when difficult to be rid of, and is a very com- $! . things go wrong? One blames mon defect in nature. Then, there are : Wluck. This is gross ignorance. habits of getting anxious or fearful help- & + Don’t we know what luck, destiny or fate *R lessly. They take away peace of mind and # is? This is the accumulated result of deeds are primary causes of painful depression done by us in the past, both good and common to modern man. Are we pre- bad. These come to fruition at their pared to deal with them? Most don’t; one $ appointed times. So, when things go A . # 0 decides to live with them, because the # . ( wrong, one must blame the self. Yes, it is effort to be rid of them appears to be too %( )( difficult to connect a bad happening to a .6 . # ,!/& '+! 1:A! daunting. Few try but give up, and learn # 0 particular act of ours, but there is one to accept them. thing that we can be sure of — the blame Once we own the responsibility for brings rewards and punishments due to God had foreseen this. Therefore, He # lies with us and no one else. Divine whatever has gone wrong, we are ready accumulated karmas. Examples of has given us solutions. As regards the $L authorities who oversee this system do for the next step. The next step is to ask rewards are success in business, landing a fate due to bad deeds, God promises to (. - not make mistakes; they do not ever pun- ourselves, “Why did we not follow the very lucrative job, a brilliant scientific help in successfully getting out of trou- ish someone for someone else’s fault. guidelines for good health?” Either we discovery, etc. Examples of punishments ble, if one develops God consciousness. 0 0 # If we are really to accept the punish- were not aware of them or we inten- are being stricken with a terminal dis- (18.58) Details of becoming God con- # ment and the system under which it is tionally flouted them. If there is lack ease, failure in business, losing one’s job, scious are covered in great detail in the 0 meted out, we have made progress. Now of awareness, it is time to make our- etc. These happen at their appointed Gita. God has solution for faulty nature #M "06 we are ready to ascertain the cause behind selves aware of them. If we have been times, and affect one’s life in a substantial also. One needs to surrender to Him. , - 0 : and what can be done about it. As stated intentionally disregarding the rules for way either in a positive or a negative way. (7.14) Again, one can get the necessary ! 0 earlier, it may be difficult to pinpoint the good health, then, we need to think The other aspect of fate is faults in guidance in the Gita, and can gradually ' $ cause but there is one thing that we can hard to find its root cause — “What is nature. Examples of such faults are: tame/ rectify one’s faulty nature. 0 # be certain of — we broke some rule of the wrong with us such that we have Being lusty in matters of eating, sensu- The conclusion is: Don’t blame fate; 00 material nature. For example, there is a become our own enemies?” Such intro- ous enjoyments, power, fame, etc; being do something about it. God has not made 0 . setback in our health. Then, we in all like- spection will bring us to the realisation greedy; and given to readily getting us helpless. There are always solutions but # - # lihood have violated the instructions of of our faulty natures, which get angry. Lord Krishna has characterised are we prepared to listen to God and fol- .$ the Gita, in which it has been stated, ingrained in us over a long period. these as gates to hell. (16.21) The fault of low His instructions? # “Eating, recreation, activities and sleep Such faulty nature is the result of fate, being jealous is still worse; one goes to & # $ should all be appropriate.” which has two sides to it. The first part lower species. The egoistic feeling is very ! & @ ! =&# 6A '%!'!:":: 1+/A%:A :$ 'DA: :1/!:6 axu % ' " 16A K",11'1A& ! "#$
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+ +1 ' +1& 1 :" A front with multiple functionalities in efforts. But even if we are able to judi- t comes out the previous issue that amends in the thought process. It may apparent terms. First, it is supposed to ciously apply what is already available, at ‘Mind’ leads the Karmic journey not be out of mention here that destiny gather outer field data, relay it to Buddhi least, we could successfully ensure a Irunning through successive lives. indicators come into effect through cor- for due diligence and then respond or smooth run of life. But our fractured Mind gets going on the promptings of responding thought trends they excite. react as directed by the latter. Second, it mind does not let us put in our qualita- Karmic accruals from the past, which But when mind can absorb educative brings forth the callings of Karmic ten- tive best towards the tasks in hand, and has in store destiny pointers in seed inputs fed into it, could very well modify dencies into active play. But, if so direct- naturally to one’s detriment. For, invari- form. They induce the mind to carry the Karmic influences carried over from ed by Ahamkara not to invoke Buddhi, it ably, our minds, unmindfully and ran- forward its agenda to its logical end by the past. So, at the end of the day, it is all could also react and respond on instinc- domly keep running monkey like from preparing the ground suited for the pur- about watching the thought trends of tive judgment as well. one thought to the other, coming as they pose. Remember, seed cannot breed mind, and then making necessary Invariably, with mind mired in self- may attending to unfulfilled desires, the unless it gets a congenial ground. amends to combat negative destiny delusion, Ahamkara identifies itself with challenges faced with, tempting glare and Invariably, ignorant minds get carried pointers. Following which, the indwelling the body-mind organism and indwelling glitters of the seeming world. away with the indwelling tendencies of potential bloom out in full. tendencies, as if that would be one’s iden- Einstein is believed to have used 10 the mind, and themselves prepare the Conceptually, the above discussion tity. Acting on the same premise, often per cent of his faculties of mind to prove ground necessary for their fruition. raises the hope to checkmate at least the Ahamkara does also take seeming realities a legend. Here, it is worth quoting a say- This is not to suggest that mind is negative callings of Karmic accruals. It is, on face value, not feeling the necessity to ing of Swami Vivekananda: “You do not mandated to just blindly follow the however, easier said than done. To invoke Buddhi for due diligence, and with fail in life simply because your destiny dictates of destiny pointers. It does understand how and why, a look into the obvious consequences. And, the truth of would be so scripted. You fail, because also act on feed drawn from environ- construct of mind becomes imperative. life is that seldom do people remain con- you have not strived enough to unfold mental influences. Mind also responds There are four constituents of Mind: scious about looking within to identify the immense power within.” To sum up, to fresh educative inputs. We, thus Citta, Buddhi, Ahamkara, and Manasa. limiting tendencies for necessary correc- we become subject to limitations exer- enjoy the scope to redefine the thought Citta, apart from animating other con- tion. And when something happens to cised by our Karmic accruals, simply process, which may lead us to a mean- stituents of mind, grants the power of one’s detriment causing pains and suffer- because we fail to address the vagaries of ingful life ahead. knowing. Inherent in Citta is Buddhi — ings, one takes refuse in destiny. mind. The issue continues. Remember, mind, on the strength of the faculty of discriminate intelligence — Having said that let me make it clear ' && its indwelling faculty of discriminate which analyses, evaluates, and dispas- that the powers of mind are immense, && =(( # intelligence is empowered to reflect upon sionately arrives at the right judgment. applying which, one can very well tran- -11AB $$ $$++ all that is fed from within or beyond. Ahamkara brings in the sense of ‘I’ scend one’s limitations. It is believed that $ KK111AAABC Applying which, it could dispassionately which enjoins upon us the capacity to we hardly use five to seven per cent of ' 72211114423434DCE2313AFDBDF arrive at the right judgment. Accordingly, wilfully make choices and commit to a the faculties of our mind. We can very ?# 7 8 @! =&# mind can consciously try to make task undertaken. Manasa acts from the well expand it further through conscious (! 7=! =&#
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