Delhi monday, february 6, 2017

www.thehindu.in ● Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 ● RNI No. TNENG/2012/49940 ● ISSN 0971 - 751X ● Vol. 7 ● No. 31 ● CITY EDITION ● 28 Pages ● Rs. 8.00 Printed at Chennai, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Madurai, Noida, Visakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Vijayawada, Mangaluru, Tiruchirapalli, Kolkata, Hubballi, Mohali, Allahabad, Malappuram and Mumbai

Modi mocks SP-Cong. Kashmir is core dispute Adhia: Penalty of equal Davis Cup: India claims alliance, says Akhilesh between India and amount for receiving both reverse singles clinging to any prop Pakistan: Nawaz Sharif cash over ₨3 lakh to wrap up the tie 4-1 Page 12 Page 12 Page 15 Page 17 • • BRIEFLY U.S. court rejects plea to reinstate CBI to probe mobile Sasikala set to become T.N. Chief Minister towers in Hisar Unanimously Trump’s travel ban NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau ‘I have to fulfil Jaya’s dreams’ of Investigation (CBI) has elected AIADMK started a preliminary inquiry WASHINGTON: In a significant SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Ms. Sasikala said, “Even into the alleged irregular legislature blow to President Donald now, since all of you urged installation of mobile phone Trump, a U.S. federal appeals party leader CHENNAI: AIADMK general that the party’s general towers and misappropriation of court on Sunday rejected a secretary V.K. Sasikala, secretary and the Chief funds at the Hisar military request by his administra- DENNIS S. JESUDASAN who was elected leader of Minister should be one station in Haryana. Among tion to immediately reinstate the Legislature Party on and the same, I am those under the CBI scrutiny is a the travel ban on citizens of CHENNAI: Sunday, said that she accepting your request.” retired Lieutenant-General. Exactly two months seven Muslim-majority after Jayalalithaa’s death, her would fulfil the dreams of countries. ½ NATION | PAGE 9 long-time friend and AI- Jayalalithaa. ‘Path of Jaya’ The Justice Department ADMK general secretary Reading out her She thanked the MLAs had made the request with ‘India has to devise its V.K. Sasikala was “unanim- acceptance speech at the and other party workers the Ninth Circuit Court of own H-1B strategy’ ously” elected leader of the MLAs’ meeting, she said, for having smashed the Appeals in San Francisco as dreams of political rivals, NEW DELHI: Amid unease in India Legislature Party at a meet- “I am under compulsion to part of an appeal against a who hoped to see cracks in and the U.S. over the legislation ing in the party headquarters fulfil the dreams of our lower court order halting the the walls of the golden fort in the U.S. Congress for hikes in here on Sunday, paving the Amma that the party travel ban on people from of the party. salaries of H-1B visa-holders in way for her to become the should work for the Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Ms. Sasikala said the order to discourage American third woman Chief Minister welfare of the people even Somalia, Libya and Yemen. government would follow firms from hiring them, BJP of Tamil Nadu. after a thousand years and “Appellants’ request for an the path laid out by general secretary Muralidhar Ms. Sasikala, who has no NEW ROLE: Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, right, and other AIADMK leaders greet general to accept the demands of immediate administrative Jayalalithaa. Rao said India should “devise its formal political experience secretary V.K. Sasikala, second from left, in Chennai on Sunday. — PHOTO: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM her [Amma’s] children.” stay pending full considera- own strategy” rather than try to except for the last month- tion of the emergency mo- put pressure on the U.S. and-a-half, is expected to as- the party head oice from likely to take a couple of tion for a stay pending ap- sume oice on February 7 or the Poes Garden residence days. Mr. Rao was in Coim- ½ NEWS | PAGE 12 peal is denied,” the ruling 9. As per the constitutional in the Toyota Prado car batore on Sunday and left for DMK, BJP slam AIADMK said. mandate, she has to get elec- (TN-09 BE-6167) used by New Delhi to attend a private The court asked for both IndiGo security training ted to the Assembly as a le- Jayalalithaa. function and his exact date SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ated only O. Panneerselvam Tamilisai Soundararajan said sides to file legal briefs be- licence suspended gislator within six months of Addressing the MLAs, 62- of return to the city is not as the Chief Minister. Even the development could not fore it makes its final de- NEW DELHI: The Bureau of Civil taking charge as Chief year-old Ms. Sasikala ac- known, a Raj Bhavan oicial CHENNAI: DMK working pres- when she was hospitalised in be seen as the AIADMK’s in- cision, after a federal judge Aviation Security has suspended Minister. knowledged the loyalty of said. ident M.K. Stalin on Sunday the Apollo, she handed over ternal party issue. “Only a halted the programme on the security training licence of Mr. Panneerselvam to the Meanwhile, Mr. Pan- criticised the AIADMK’s de- her portfolios only to him.” couple of months ago, the Friday. It asked challengers OPS to quit IndiGo after lapses were found party and claimed it was he, neerselvam faxed his resig- cision to elect general secret- MLAs had elected Mr. Pan- of the ban to respond to the in its examination procedures. Incumbent Chief Minister who first urged her to take nation to the Governor. “Due ary V.K. Sasikala as the ‘Against the wishes’ neerselvam as the Chief appeal, and for the Justice IndiGo employees circulated and party treasurer O. Pan- over as the general secretary to my personal reasons, I am leader of the Legislature Mr. Stalin said Jayalalithaa Minister. What is the need Department to file a counter- question papers to cabin crew in neerselvam, who proposed as well as the Chief Minister tendering my resignation,” Party, saying making her the had never given any post, for this development so response by Monday. advance, as a result of which her name for the legislature soon after Jayalalithaa’s he said, requesting him to re- Chief Minister was against either in the party or in gov- soon?” she asked. The administration was the applicants scored over 90% party leader’s post at the death. “However, I was not in lieve the Council of Minis- the wishes of both the late ernment to Ms. Sasikala. Tamil Maanila Congress fighting Seattle federal judge in training. MLAs’ meeting, announced the frame of mind to accept it ters appointed on December Jayalalithaa and the people of “But today, going against the president G.K. Vasan said it James Robart’s Friday de- that he would send his resig- then,” Ms. Sasikala said in 6, 2016. In a separate letter to the State. wishes of Jayalalithaa, and was imperative for the AI- ½ PAGE 15 cision that imposed a tem- BUSINESS | nation to Governor Ch Vidy- her speech, which was tele- the PM, Mr. Panneerselvam Addressing reporters in the people of Tamil Nadu, ADMK to make it clear to the porary nationwide halt to asagar Rao. The resolution cast by party mouthpiece thanked him for all the sup- Tiruvarur, Mr. Stalin said: this development has taken people the real reason be- Mr. Trump’s order. — PTI ISRO to launch 104 was adopted unanimously. Jaya TV. port during his tenure. “When Jayalalithaa was place. We will fight this hind electing a new leader. satellites, 88 from U.S. Soon after, dressed in a green With the Governor out of jailed in the disproportion- democratically,” he said. ½ VISA HOLDERS HOPE ½ PAGE 12 ½ PAGE 12 PAGE 14 BENGALURU: The Indian Space saree, Ms. Sasikala arrived at town, the change of guard is CONTINUED ON ate assets case, she nomin- BJP’s State president CONTINUED ON TO ENTER U.S. | Research Organisation (ISRO) is on the cusp of making history when it sends 104 satellites into the orbit on its PSLV-C37 rocket Committed to ending triple talaq: Prasad Aadhaar linkage to school subsidy on February 15. Only three of them are Indian satellites. GHAZIABAD/LUCKNOW: The “The government respects “Which party will merge ½ NATION | PAGE 9 schemes worries HRD Ministry Centre is likely to take “a ma- faith but worship and social with which party will be seen jor step” to ban triple talaq evil cannot coexist,” he said. after the polls. This is noth- SOMESH JHA impacting education of chil- ous subsidies or benefits or Pakistan should hold after the ongoing Assembly Addressing a press confer- ing but a theatre of the ab- dren across the country, the schemes” to beneficiaries. referendum: Rajnath polls, Union Law Minister ence in Lucknow on Sunday, surd,” the BJP leader said. NEW DELHI: The Human Re- matter has to be examined in HARIDWAR: Union Home Ravi Shankar Prasad has said the union minister said: “I He also touched upon the source Development (HRD) greater detail,” Maneesh 31 schemes identified Minister Rajnath Singh said on and dared the Samajwadi want Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul salient features of the BJP’s Ministry has expressed con- Garg, Joint Secretary, DSEL, So far, the Centre has iden- Sunday that Pakistan should Party, the Congress and the Gandhi and Mayawati to cla- manifesto and the Union cern over the Centre’s push said, according to the tified 31 schemes where the hold a referendum on its soil to Bahujan Samaj Party to make rify their stand on the issue of Budget and explained how it to link the Aadhaar number minutes of the meeting held Aadhaar number can be used ascertain what its people their stand clear on the con- triple talaq. Our (the BJP’s) would help the poor. with subsidy schemes re- on December 23. The meet- as identification for provid- wanted before asking for a tentious issue. stand is very clear. The issue Speaking to the media in lated to school education. ing was chaired by Dr. A.R. ing various benefits, accord- popular vote in Jammu and Insisting that the issue is Union Law Minister Ravi is not related to religion but Ghaziabad on Saturday, Mr In a recent inter-minis- Sihag, Secretary (Co-ordina- ing to various minutes of the Kashmir. not related to religion but in- Shankar Prasad involves respect and dignity Prasad had alleged that the terial meeting, the Depart- tion and Public Grievances), meetings reviewed by The volves respect and dignity of of women.” Samajwadi Party and the ½ NEWS | PAGE 12 ment of School Education at the Cabinet Secretariat. Hindu. A senior government women, he said the govern- held in UP and four other Attacking the BSP, he said Congress had entered into an and Literacy (DSEL), under The HRD Ministry oicial oicial said the Ministries ment “respects faith but wor- states will conclude on it should rise above caste alliance as both the parties the HRD Ministry, said the was responding to the Cab- would either ask all benefi- One killed as car rams ship and social evil cannot March 11. politics and respect women. “indulge in corruption, crime decision to use the Aadhaar inet Secretariat’s directive in ciaries to furnish Aadhaar poles in Chanakyapuri coexist.” Asserting that “every per- and loot.” number as an identification November, asking all the details for receiving benefits ‘Alliance of desperation’ NEW DELHI: A staff member of nicious practice” cannot be “Both parties are oppor- document for receiving be- Ministries to issue notifica- under Central government the High Commission of ‘Evil social practice’ part of a religion, the minis- Referring to the SP-Con- tunist and have tied up with nefits under various school- tion under Section 7 of the schemes or would help them Singapore was killed and his He said the tradition of ter, who is a lawyer himself, gress alliance in Uttar Pra- each other just to stop the related schemes needs more Aadhaar Act, 2016, which get enrolled under Aadhaar. wife injured after their car triple talaq denies respect to said the Centre would raise desh, he said: “This is an alli- landslide victory of the BJP,” deliberation. makes the use of Aadhaar “an rammed two poles on a women and the central gov- the issue in the Supreme ance of desperation between he claimed. “As the schemes are huge, identifier for delivery of vari- ½ CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 pavement oustide the Czech ernment was committed to Court on three points -- two dynastic parties... and al- Not a single big industry Republic Embassy in ending the “evil social justice, equality and dignity liance of desperation had been established in Uttar Chanakyapuri here. practice.” of women. between crime, criminals Pradesh during the tenure of “The government may take “We are the only party and corruption.” the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP ½ PAGE 3 CITY | a major step to ban triple which respects women. Ridiculing the pre-poll tie- government, the BJP leader talaq after the UP Assembly Neither do other parties ofer up, he claimed the “conflu- alleged, adding that funds EDUCATIONPLUS polls,” he said while address- a good place to women nor ence of Ganga and Yamuna” sanctioned by the Centre for 4 Pages ing a press conference in do they respect them,” said will end up with one party development of the state had METROPLUS Ghaziabad on Saturday even- Mr Prasad, a senior BJP merging with the other after not been used due to the feud 4 Pages ing.The Assembly polls being leader. the polls.” within the Yadav family. - PTI 5 AIIMS docs A Long Way Home takes Saroo to the Oscars suspended over ‘Lion’ tells tale of lost 5-year-old who went to Australia, and returned to find his family nurse’s death SUHASINI HAIDAR India 25 years later is Brierley, who adopted BINDU SHAJAN PERAPPADAN taking him to the Oscars Saroo and another boy NEW DELHI: Within a few ceremony in Los Angeles from India, gave him their minutes of meeting his this month. blessings to return and NEW DELHI: The All India Insti- mother in 2012, Saroo Lion, which stars Nicole look for the family he left tute of Medical Sciences Brierley discovered two Kidman playing his behind. Saroo zeroed in on (AIIMS) on Sunday suspen- things. One, that he had adoptive mother and Dev his village in M.P. using ded five resident doctors been mispronouncing his Patel as Saroo, has been Google Earth. over the death of a pregnant name, and the other, that nominated in six categories “The hardship I saw my nurse owing to their alleged the brother from whom he for the Academy awards, to mother go through, the negligence. got separated 25 years ago, be announced on February fights between my mother Over 300 nurses held a was never coming back. 28. and father, remembering protest march in the hospital It was his brother Guddu Saroo Brierley during an Perhaps the most unreal how my sister would eat after the death, following who had agreed to take interview in New Delhi. part of his story is how charcoal and not get any which the suspension orders Saroo, or Sheru as he was — PHOTO: SHANKER CHAKRAVARTY hard he worked to try and nourishment drove me to were issued. named, along when he return, to find his family, keep looking,” he says. The decision has been de- went cleaning trains at who is in Delhi for the especially his mother On a Sunday in February nounced by the Resident night. Saroo dozed of and premiere of Lion, the film Kamala, a construction 2012, his dream came true. Doctors Association (RDA), got separated from him. about his life, based on his worker at a mine, who he In village Ganesh Taili, he who are demanding an im- Guddu, his family learnt bestselling book A Long always missed. was led to his mother mediate roll-back. later, was run over by a Way Home. “If I hadn’t tried to find Kamala, sister Shakila and In a letter to the AIIMS train that night. Events that night took them,” he explains, “it brother Kaloo. He has Director, RDA oicials said “It was the most five-year-old Saroo, who would have eaten me away. since paid for his mother’s the five doctors, on duty in traumatic thing. Finding slept of on a train in Not to say I didn’t love my home, takes care of her the operation theatre, had out that he died on the Madhya Pradesh, 1,600 family in Hobart. My expenses, and speaks to decided to perform a railroad made me wonder kilometres east to Kolkata, parents in Australia are like her a few times on phone Caesarean on the nurse, Ra- whether I was to blame for where an orphanage found gods to me. But little things each month. jbir Kaur, as there were some it. If I hadn’t been so him scavenging and helped like Jalebis, home food, Saroo has bagged a complications. She sufered persistent about going with send him to adoptive music and sound would contract to write his next a cardiac arrest during the him, this would never have parents in Australia. The keep the memories alive.” book, a prequel to A Long surgery, leading to more happened,” says Saroo, story of his journey back to Eventually, Sue and John Way Home. complications. ½ DETAILS ON | PAGE 9

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI 2 | CITY THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 Overspeeding a concern in Delhi-NCR Case filed in Noida ponzi scam DELHI Calling all readers to connect with us for all things Delhi at The ED has registered a case to probe the alleged cheating of twitter - @DelhiConnect The recent BMW and Audi hit-and-run cases were cruel www.facebook.com/NewDelhiConnect reminders of the menace of speeding Page 4 ₨3,700 crore by a Noida-based marketing company Page 5 CONNECT

Open to meeting protesting The great global culinary experiment JNU students, says Minister STAFF REPORTER three-tier entrance test con- Four upcoming food festivals to offer Delhiites the best in world cuisines; wine and music to pep up the mood sisting of a qualifying test NEW DELHI: Union Minister for (OMR type), where all stu- Human Resource Develop- dents need to get 50% for JAIDEEP DEO BHANJ ment Prakash Javadekar on moving on to the next stage Sunday said he was ready to of a descriptive-type written NEW DELHI: For the past few meet the Jawaharlal Nehru test and viva voce. years, February, with its University (JNU) students The University said the is- pleasant weather and plenty who were protesting against sues discussed at the meet- of sunshine, has become syn- the University Grants Com- ing would be taken up with onymous with open-air food mission’s notification on UGC oicials before final- festivals that are carefully M.Phil/Ph.D admissions. ising the admission policy. curated by organisers to ofer The JNU Students’ Union a slice of the best food in the had submitted memor- ‘Call of hunger strike’ city and a peek into upcom- andums to the Ministry last Meanwhile, Registrar ing food trends. These fest- week on the issue as well as Pramod Kumar on Sunday ivals are often accompanied conducted a protest outside appealed to students to call by live music and dance per- the Ministry. of their hunger strike. formances, cooking classes “The rules for Ph.D admis- He said, “The strike is un- and games so that visitors sions, which the UGC has warranted when the JNU ad- can lounge around the venue given, are operational in 799 ministration is doing trying the food on ofer at a universities worldwide. If everything possible to en- leisure. While it was the there is a problem for one sure social justice and take farm-to-fork concept of eat- University, I am open to care of students’ concerns. ing organic food or the trend- meeting anybody,” Mr. The protesters are urged not ing food trucks some years Javadekar said. to spoil the future of the ago, each season brings with Protests by the students other students.” it a new experience. continue despite a Standing Students have alleged that This year, the season Committee on Admissions the administration changed began with the Spring Food assuring them that the the minutes of the meeting Festival organised at Lajpat deprivation points system of held by the Standing Com- Bhawan on Sunday. It was a JNU will not be done away mittee and that they falsified treat for those looking for- with and that there will be a facts. ward to savouring home- made delicacies. Proceeds from the festival will go to- wards helping poor women, slum dwellers and the aged. Film raises ideas for Asian-themed flea market The coming week, the Asian Hawkers Market housing urban poor promises to provide a multi- AYAN SHARMA Baker reiterated all his sensory experience outside life. In a career spanning Select Citywalk in Saket. The NEW DELHI: ‘Uncommon over 50 years and more fest will have an Asian- Sense: The Life and than 1,500 buildings in themed flea market, daily Architecture of Laurie diferent parts of India, performances by a b-boy Baker’, a documentary his unique ‘cost-efective’ dance crew; and a competi- made on the illustrious building methods and tion that will get Delhi- and adventurous life of vibrant designs helped NCR’s most talented bar- the British-origin Indian him stand out from most tenders shaking and stirring. architect by his grandson of his contemporaries. The festival will have a Vineet Radhakrishnan, Singaporean menu by Social, premiered at the India Sustainable buildings The Farm Food Company Habitat Centre on Moving to India in 1945 selling preservative-free dips February 4. Filmed over a as an architect associated and sauces, and Korean food period of three and a half with a leprosy mission, from Hahn’s Kitchen, among years, the documentary Laurence Wilfred, others. The festival will be covers Baker’s popularly called ‘Laurie’, held from February 10 to Feb- remarkable life story and soon started building ruary 13. SPOILT FOR CHOICE: At the festivals, visitors can look forward to signature dishes, demo classes by masterchefs, music goes on to reflect his low-cost houses for the On the same weekend, the ances and open-air art performances, and open-air art galleries. PHOTOS: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT binding philosophy of a poor in southern India. Palate Fest will be organised galleries. low-cost, sustainable Today, when housing at Nehru Park, where visitors Gurugram will also host a global culinary tour with its mixologists and sommeliers. the Indira Gandhi National Hyderabadi, Parsi, Pashtun, lifestyle that was for urban poor has can look forward to digging food festival of its own at wine-tasting events, gour- Centre for the Arts on the Kashmiri, Afghani, Mughlai, translated to his building become a top discourse into signature dishes. The DLF Cyber Hub on the same met product exhibits, Poetry and food sidelines of the Jashn-e- Sindhi, Punjabi and nomadic projects too. in policy-making, Delhi other attractions at the event weekend. The three-day sampling of innovative re- Between February 17 and Rekhta Festival that is being cuisines. The festival will “Architecture is not may take a leaf out of will include demo classes by Gourmet High Street prom- cipes, and culinary classes February 19, the Rekhta Food held to celebrate Urdu po- also feature the finest selec- frozen music but music”, Baker’s programmes. masterchefs, music perform- ises to take visitors on a conducted by celebrities, Festival will be organised at etry. On ofer will be Awadhi, tion of popular street food. Delhi turns the spotlight on puppetry Authors weave magic at children’s fest

STAFF REPORTER ASHOK KUMAR

NEW DELHI: For many, pup- GURUGRAM: A large number of petry is a form of entertain- parents along with their ment that they are not com- children thronged the Gur- pletely familiar with. To gaon Children’s Literature popularise this art form, the Festival on its concluding Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust day here on Sunday. The is back with its annual edi- main attractions included tion of the Ishara Interna- storytelling sessions, pup- tional Puppet Theatre Fest- pet shows, writing work- ival. The 15th edition of the shop, panel discussions, and festival, which began on Feb- workshops for parents. ruary 3, will continue till Held on the premises of February 10, with perform- Vega School, the two-day ances across Delhi-NCR. was open to children aged 5- Teamworks Productions, 12 years and was inaugur- which has been supporting ated by its co-founder Sandy the festival, describes this Hooda. edition as a mixture of tradi- The festival aimed at ex- tional and modern forms of ploring the creativity of stu- puppetry, with both rod and dents so as to develop their string puppets on show. interest in reading. The festival is on at the “Organising festivals to Amphitheatre, India Habitat NO STRINGS ATTACHED: Roberto White, a puppeteer from Spain, performs at the Ishara instil a love and passion for Centre, Lodhi Road, and International Puppet Theatre Festival at India Habitat Centre. PHOTO: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR literature among kids is a Artemis Hospital, Wazira- novel move. Hope it will be bad village, Gurugram. A diverse collection miliarise themselves with Shankhajeet De, explores observed every year from The participants are from many legendary Indian pup- the journey of Ravana Ch- now on,” said one of the par- Afghanistan, Germany, In- of puppets has been pets and characters that haya, a puppetry form prac- ents, Chetna Bhola, visiting donesia, Iran, Palestine, put together for the have not been on display for tised in Odisha. the festival. Spain, Sweden and Taiwan. first time at the Art decades. The art form is popular Another parent, Nilima The exhibition is on till for its interplay of translu- Narang, said the festival was Early works Gallery, IIC Annexe February 10. cent and dark shadows and a commendable attempt at POWER OF WORDS: The festival The festival also celeb- the use of lyrical Odiya po- popularising reading among aimed at exploring the rates the creativity and in- the Art Gallery, IIC Annexe. Film screening on Feb 8 etic renditions of the kids in these times of Inter- creativity of students so as genuity of Indian puppeteer On display are puppets On February 8, there will Ramayana. net and television. to develop their interest in Dadi D. Pudumjee, whose created during Dadi Pu- be a screening of the docu- The film also has puppet- Mehul Berwal, a Class III reading. PHOTOS: SPECIAL works have inspired many dumjee’s theatre days at Shri mentary film, “Samayara eers reflecting upon the student at Heritage School, ARRANGEMENT generations. Ram Centre for Arts and Chhaire: In the Shadow of changes the art form has un- said he enjoyed the A diverse collection of his Culture in 1980, his award- Time”, at C.D. Deshmukh dergone in the last over 40 storytelling session and the experience documented in puppets has been put to- winning productions and Auditorium. years in the name of keeping puppet show the most. books, Mr. Hooda said. gether for the first time at more. Visitors can also fa- The film, which is by it alive. Some of the authors ‘Reading builds empathy’ present at the festival in- Speaking on the occasion, cluded Benita Sen, Himan- CINEMA Mr. Hooda said: “The fest- jali Sankar, Payal Dhar, ival aimed at making reading Yashodhara Lal and entertaining for children Haimanti Mitra. ENGLISH: (Noida), Star X (Vaishali), SRS Pitampura), FUN (Moti Nagar, EDM), M2K (Rohini, Pitampura), and encouraging parents to Among the illustrators Cinemas, Movie Palace. Pitampura, Laxmi Nagar, Movie Time (Raja Garden, build a ‘reading’ relationship and storytellers who atten- THE GREAT WALL: PVR (Rivoli, RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL Karkardooma), Satyam (Patel Pitampura), FUN (Moti Nagar, Anupam, Sangam, Shalimar Bagh, CHAPTER (Hindi – New Release): Nagar, Nehru Place, Janakpuri), Pitampura, Laxmi Nagar, with their children. We ded the event were Arunima Vasant Kunj, City Walk, Naraina, PVR (Naraina, Prashant Vihar, BIG (Odeon, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Karkardooma), DT (Saket, strongly feel that books doc- Shekhar, Dr. Tanu Shree Sangam), Wave (Noida, Raja Opulent, EDM), M2K (Pitampura), Noida), Wave (Raja Garden, Shalimar Bagh, Vasant Kunj), ument the fall and rise of Singh, Sreedevi Gopakumar, Garden), Movie Time (Raja Satyam (Janakpuri, Patel Nagar), Kaushambi, Noida), Cinepolis, Satyam (Patel Nagar, Nehru Place, Garden), DT (Saket), Satyam Movie Time (Pitampura, Raja Movie Palace, Movie Magic, Janakpuri), BIG (Odeon, Vaishali, civilisation and have played Kamal Pruthi and Yuveka (Janakpuri, Nehru Place, Patel Garden), Wave (Kaushambi), Galaxie, Star X (Vaishali), Spice Kaushambi, Noida), Wave (Raja an important role in shaping Singh. Nagar), SRS Cinemas. Cinepolis, SRS Cinemas, Spice (Noida), Chaudhary (Ghaziabad), Garden, Kaushambi, Noida), the world. Reading a beauti- (Noida), Silver City (Ghaziabad). Movie World and Silver City Galaxie, Star X (Vaishali), SRS ful story has the power to Tackling imagination HINDI: KAABIL (Hrithik Roshan, Yami (Ghaziabad), Inox and Q Cinemas Cinemas, Movie Palace, Movie Gautam, Ronit Roy, Rohit Roy): (Faridabad). Magic, Chaudhary (Ghaziabad), transport us to other Elaborating on the pur- KUNG FU YOGA (Hindi – New worlds.” pose of holding children- discussions and contours of ity and gives them space to Release): Ritz, G3S (Rohini), PVR Shiela, Amba, Delite, Eros One, RAEES (Shah Rukh Khan, Movie World and Silver City (Saket, Sangam, Shalimar Bagh, Batra Reels, G3S (Rohini), PVR Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Mahira (Ghaziabad), Inox and Q Cinemas According to a study, get- centric literature fests, Har- literature set the tune, imagine. City Walk, Naraina, Vikaspuri, (Plaza, Rivoli, Priya, Saket, City Khan): Abhishek Cineplex, Ritz, (Faridabad). ting lost in a good work of leen Mohanty, Head, Vega whereas for children one She added: “This festival Walk, Naraina, Vikaspuri, Prashant Amba, Liberty, Milan, Gagan, (BOOKING ENQUIRIES: PVR Prashant Vihar, EDM, Mahagun, fiction can help build em- School, said: “There is a ba- needs to convey everything is a small movement to Opulent), M2K (Pitampura), Vihar, EDM, Mahagun, Opulent), Seble, Suraj, G3S (Rohini), Eros 51513391; Spice Gold Satyam (Janakpuri), Movie Time M2K (Rohini, Pitampura), DT One, Batra Reels, PVR (Plaza, 012043890000; Satyam Cinemas pathy and allows the reader sic diference between liter- in a storytelling manner. A spread awareness in Guru- (Pitampura, Raja Garden), Wave (Saket, Shalimar Bagh, Vasant Rivoli, Priya, Saket, City Walk, 25797385; Delite 23272903; to build desirable personal- ature festivals for adults and habit of reading informs gram about reading good (Kaushambi), Cinepolis, Spice Kunj), Movie Time (Raja Garden, Naraina, Vikaspuri, Prashant Vihar, Wave 51832222) ity traits by learning from children. For adults, panel children of universal moral- literature.”

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 CITY 3 DELHI Feb 06, Mon Feb 07, Tue Feb 08, Wed RISE 07 06 SET 18 05 RISE 07 06 SET 18 05 RISE 07 05 SET 18 06 RISE 13 38 SET 02 28 RISE 14 33 SET 03 31 RISE 15 32 SET 04 30

Photographer One killed as car rams poles Afghan national arrested for shot dead in 24-yr-old deceased was employee of Singapore High Commission; wife injured ‘raping, cheating’ US woman south-west Delhi STAFF REPORTER STAFF REPORTER STAFF REPORTER used to win the channels,” said Mr. Yadav. NEW DELHI: A 30-year-old pho- NEW DELHI: A 24-year-old staf confidence of female tographer was shot dead in member of the High Com- NEW DELHI: An Afghan victims and entrap them. Blackmail south-west Delhi’s Chhawla mission of Singapore was national has been arrested We are ascertaining how However, the victim on Sunday. The police sus- killed and his wife injured for allegedly raping a US many other women he has discovered his real pect his friends are behind after the car he was driving national and duping her of targeted,” said Mr. Yadav. identity and found that the murder as the victim, rammed two poles on a $86,000 after gaining her The police said the the accused has been Dalchand, had left his Naja- pavement oustide the Czech trust by befriending her woman met Hameedullah mentioned as a scammer farh residence with one of Republic Embassy in on social media and then around November last on a website ‘who them. Chanakyapuri here, early on threatening her. year and he professed his scammed you.Com’. As According to the police, Sunday. He allegedly threatened love for her. she raised the matter with Dalchand’s body was found The accident comes less to post her private “Initially, he would him and demanded a by the roadside in Shyam Vi- than a month after the vic- pictures online, attack her portray himself as a return of her money, he har around 9 a.m. on Sunday. tims — Pattrick and Sonal with acid and frame her in gentleman and spend allegedly threatened to It appeared that he had been Chopra (22) — got married, fake terror cases in her money on the woman to carry out an acid attack on shot dead a few hours said the police. The accident country, said the police. gain her trust, the police her. “He blackmailed her earlier. happened as the couple was said. He would win her saying he would implicate The body was found with returning home in Moti Refugee status confidence, give her her under charges of a single bullet wound and Nagar, after having attended Joint Commissioner of assurance of marriage and terrorism and also told was subsequently sent for a function at the Singapore Police (Crime) Ravindra then get physically her that he would upload post-mortem. High Commission. Yadav said Hameedullah intimate with her,” said her explicit pictures on (34) is currently in India Mr. Yadav. the internet,” said the CCTV footage probed Another vehicle ruled out and has a refugee status. police. A senior police oicer ad- According to the police, The 39-year-old American Fake marriage Mr. Yadav said ded that the victim's family prima facie Pattrick was WRECKED: The car rammed two poles on a pavement oustide the Czech Republic Embassy in woman, who is in the He added that in this Hameedullah disclosed told them that he had left driving the car at a high Chanakyapuri. Witnesses said the car was speeding. PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY business of compression case, he also prepared a that he usually targeted home on Saturday night speed under the influence of clothing, had come to fake marriage document women who were in their with a male friend. They alcohol. Medical tests will The police have also ruled bassy. The time was around She is out of danger, said a India to meet him after mentioning the woman as 30s, because he felt that waited for him to return the establish the exact amount out the involvement of a 2 a.m. The car first hit a sign- senior police oicer. they interacted over his lawful wife and started they were more whole night. Phone calls of alcohol in his body. second vehicle in the board and then an electric The Wagon R car in which Facebook where he posed exploiting her sexually. vulnerable as they were made to him went un- Eyewitnesses said the accident. pole in quick sucession be- the couple were travelling as M.K Faheem, a banker “Hameedullah also took looking to get settled answered. vehicle was being driven at a Sikkim Police constable fore coming to a halt,” re- was badly damaged. based in Dubai. sexually explicit pictures soon. Another oicer The family panicked very high speed. Gopal Kumar Basnett, who called Mr. Basnett who An oicer said that a case “He possesses excellent and videos of the woman added that his victims when he didn’t return by was manning a police post called the police control under sections 304-A (caus- communication skills and and even managed to were mostly foreign early hours of Sunday and close to the accident site on room. ing death by negligence) has command over cheat her of $86,000 on nationals. During then informed police. He ad- Niti Marg, said he had just and 279 (Rash and negligent several languages. He has various pretexts. The questioning, he claimed ded that no suspects have Prima facie, Pattrick reported for duty when he Wife out of danger driving) has been made Facebook profiles accused got the amount that he is married and his been zeroed in on till now. heard the sound of the car The two were rushed to registered. with diferent names and transferred to wife is in the US and is CCTV footage of the area was driving the car crash. All India Institute of Med- Pattrick worked as a clerk approaches female users Afghanistan and further pregnant but the police are being scanned to at a high speed “It was a speeding car that ical Sciences (AIIMS) with the High Commission, for friendship over social received this money in will now verify his claims, identify the accused person. had crashed into a couple of Trauma Centre where Pat- where his father had also media. With his eforts, he India through alternative sources said. Dalchand is survived by under the influence poles one after the other trick succumbed to injuries once worked. wife and two children. of alcohol after it climbed on to the while Sonal is still recuper- The oicer said that he pavement next to the em- ating. married Sonal in January. DELHI TODAY Talk: “Retrieval of Indian antiquities the seamless world of joy through 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Photography: ‘Enigma - Street from abroad” by Dr. D.N. Dimri, Dir- the infinite language of Bharatan- Exhibition: ‘EYE & MEA’ - solo char- stories of Delhi’ - solo photography Audi accident: Senior Gurugram gang-rape: 4 ector (Antiquities and Publications), atyam. Concept, choreography, mu- coal, mix-medium, lithograph & di- show by Ahmed Firoz, at Delhi ‘o’ Archaeological Survey of India. sic arrangement and presentation gital art painting exhibition by Delhi Foyer, India Habitat Centre Chair: Shri B.M. Pande at Confer- by Dr. Rajashree Warrier at The Niloysen at Open Palm Court Gal- (IHC), 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. ence Room - I, India International Stein Auditorium, India Habitat lery, India Habitat Centre (IHC), 11 Screening: ‘Nostalgia for the Fu- cops to oversee probe suspects’ sketches out Centre (IIC), 6:30 p.m. Centre (IHC), 7 p.m. a.m. - 7 p.m. ture’, Hindi film screening with Eng- Music: Hindustani flute recital by Exhibition: “Abhushan”, display of Exhibition: “World of Watercol- lish subtitles at C.D. Deshmukh PURUSHARTH ARADHAK dentials before forwarding STAFF REPORTER The women, along with Chetan Joshi from Delhi at Lecture the exclusive hand-crafted state- ors”, solo art show by Paresh Maity Auditorium, India International reports to the court. These their family and other work- Room II, India International Centre ment jewellery pieces at Central at Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Centre (IIC), 6:30 p.m. (IIC), 6:30 p.m. Cottage Industries Emporium, Bhavan, Copernicus Marg, Mandi (Mail your listings for this column GHAZIABAD: After reports came developments later led to the GURUGRAM: More than a week ers, were sleeping inside the Jawahar Vyapar Bhawan, Janpath, House, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. at [email protected]) out of alleged shoddy invest- police saying that they had after a gang of over half-a- factory premises around Dance: ‘Upari’ (Beyond), exploring igation by the Indirapuram not given a clean chit to the dozen dacoits gang-raped midnight on January 28 when police into the Ghaziabad ac- SUV owner Dr. Manish two women inside a factory the dacoits, armed with cident that killed four people, Rawat. premises in Haileymandi country-made pistols, barged senior oicers, including here, the Gurugram police inside. Ghaziabad Senior Superin- Fingerprints to be checked have released the sketches of tendent of Police Deepak Ku- The police have now de- four of the culprits. SIT set up mar and Uttar Pradesh DGP cided to take fingerprints and They first took the secur- Javeed Ahmad are now keep- check the location of Dr. UP gang’s role probed ity guard hostage and then ing a close tab on the probe to Rawat at the time of the incid- “Based on the statements forced their way into the ac- avoid further goof-up. ent and gather electronic and of the accused, including the commodations of the work- forensic evidence into the women, we have prepared ers inside. The dacoits also Credentials not verified matter. “Once Dr. Rawat and and released the sketches of beat up the male workers and A man claiming to be one the driver, who claimed to be four of the culprits. The rest tied them up. They then took Ishaq Ahmad had sur- driving the SUV at the time of were wearing monkey caps turns to rape the two women. rendered before a court say- the incident join the investig- and could not be identified,” The culprits consumed li- ing that he was driving the ation, we will cross-question said Station House Oicer quor and remained inside the Audi Q7 that was involved in both of them. We will gather (Pataudi), Inspector Shiv Ku- factory for over three hours. the accident on January 27. In- manual and electronic evid- mar. He added the police sus- A six-member Special In- dirapuram police oicers ence,” said Deepak Kumar, pected the involvement of an vestigation Team led by As- courted controversy when it SSP Ghaziabad. Initially, the Uttar Pradesh gang as a sim- sistant Commissioner of Po- turned out that they had not police had given a clean chit ilar incident was reported in lice-level oicer has been cross-checked Ishaq’s cre- to Dr. Rawat. Tappal over a month ago. set-up to probe the matter. Truck rams bus on Yamuna Expressway, two dead

PURUSHARTH ARADHAK of the bus and started chan- ging the tyre while the JEWAR (GREATER NOIDA): Two per- groom’s cousin Gaurav sons were killed and nearly a Tiwari (24) was helping him. dozen injured after a speed- Meanwhile, a speeding truck ing truck rammed a station- on its way to Agra carriage- ary bus, ferrying a wedding way rammed the bus,” the procession, near Jewar toll complaint reads. plaza on Yamuna Expressway early on Sunday. The groom’s Toll operator helps cousin and the bus driver The bus passengers, along died in the accident while the with Jitender, Gaurav, Dhar- injured are recuperating in a mender and Prakash Chand private hospital in Greater sufered injuries. With the Noida. TAKEN: The truck was seized help of the toll operator com- The police have sent the after its driver fled. pany’s ambulance, the vic- bodies for post=mortem and PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT tims were rushed to Kailash an FIR has been lodged hospital in Jewar area. against the unidentified truck Tiwari’s marriage was “The doctors at the hos- driver. The FIR has been schedulded on February 5. pital declared bus driver lodged on the basis of a com- The bus ferrying the proces- Jitender and the groom’s plaint filed by one Anuj sion was headed to Muraina cousin Gaurav dead on ar- Tiwari, son of Ved Prakash, a in Madhya Pradesh and left rival. The other injured per- resident of Laxmi Nagar in Delhi late on Saturday night. sons are recuperating. The east Delhi. “The bus reached near Jewar truck driver fled the scene. toll plaza around 3:30 a.m We have seized the truck and Punctured tyre where its tyre got punctured. an FIR has been lodged,” said The complaint reads that The bus driver, identified as Ajay Kumar Sharma, Jewar Anuj’s brother Ashish Jitender Kumar (41), got out police station in-charge. 25-yr-old kills self in Malviya Nagar STAFF REPORTER ive of Assam's Dibrugarh His girlfriend returned and had come to Delhi look- late at night and found the NEW DELHI: A 25-year-old man ing for a job, the police said. door locked from the inside from Assam allegedly com- and then informed the land- mitted suicide at his rented No suicide note lord. accommodation in south He was living with his The door was forced open Delhi's Malviya Nagar on girlfriend at the rented ac- to find Serma hanging. Sunday. commodation in Malviya No suicide note was re- The deceased, identified Nagar for three months, said covered from the spot, said as Sanjay Serma, was a nat- a senior police oicer. the oicer.

Published by N. Ram at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of KASTURI & SONS LTD., Chennai-600002. Editor: Mukund Padmanabhan (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act).

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI 4 | CITY THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 CITY/STATE 5 ‘Noida is a den for cyber criminals’ Case filed in Noida ponzi scam SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Cyber cells have been battling an increasing number of online frauds ever since demonetisation NEW DELHI: The PURUSHARTH ARADHAK number of complaints of Enforcement Directorate online fraud received after (ED) has registered a ■ Ayush Garg, a business ex- November 8. We have roped money laundering case to ecutive from Greater Noida, in expert oicers to deal probe the alleged saw a withdrawal of ₨30,000 with the issue,” an oicer cheating of ₨3,700 crore from his bank account with the Cyber Security by a Noida-based ■ Shobhit Agarwal, a Cell said. multilevel marketing businessman from Sector 137 company, against which in Noida, was cheated of PINs being leaked the Uttar Pradesh police ₨1,15,000 Oicials also said that in- has registered an FIR. ■ Anirudh Lal, a 70-year- stances of strangers calling The company old retired Indian Air Force up citizens and seeking collected funds from oicer in Vasundhara, was debit card details are on the more than 6.5 lakh duped of ₨30,000 after an rise. They added that in- investors by promising unidentified caller got hold stances of ATM card PINs good income from online of his debit card details being leaked was also on the promotion schemes. NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: Ever since rise due to more than one On Sunday, the ED demonetisation, the person being present inside conducted searches on Ghaziabad and Noida cyber a kiosk. the premises of the security cell have seen a accused persons in spurt in the number of com- IAF oicer duped Kanpur, Ghaziabad and plaints about fraudulent Recently, a 70-year-old Noida. While the Income withdrawals from ATMs retired Indian Air Force of- Tax Department is also and unauthorised online ficer, Anirudh Lal, a resid- conducting a probe, the transactions. ent of Vasundhara, was al- Special Task Force of the legedly duped of ₨30,000 UP police has already ‘High risk factor’ after an unidentified caller arrested three of the IN THE NET: The company collected funds from more than Talking to The Hindu, managed to procure his accused, including 6.5 lakh investors by promising good income from online Gautam Budh Nagar Super- debit card details. company director promotion schemes. FILE PHOTO intendent of Police and Cy- high,” Mr. Yadav said. equip our Cyber Cell with got my money back, but A few days ago, two In- Anubhav Mittal, CEO ber Cell head, Dinesh Yadav, “Post-demonetisation, more advanced equipment. now we are more careful dirapuram residents were Shridhar Prasad and plans ofering various that the accused cheated said that cities like Noida we saw a rise in cyber Our investigating oicers while doing online transac- duped of ₨85,300 and technician Mahesh incentives depending their clients and invested were dens for cyber crimin- crimes. In January 2016, as will have to undergo train- tions. After demonetisation, ₨70,000 in separate incid- Dayal. upon the investment in assets at various als. “People are educated many as 23 cyber crime ing,” he said. the government should also ents through frauds in- “According to their made by users. places. The company’s and do most transactions cases were reported from Ayush Garg, a resident of focus on ensuring safety of volving online wallet sys- business model, they The multilevel bank accounts having a online. Post-demonetisa- Gautam Budh Nagar. The Purvanchal Heights in users from online fraud,” he tems. The Cyber Security promoted a scheme marketing and Ponzi total balance of ₨500 tion, the number of online figure shot up to 46 in Janu- Greater Noida, said that he said. Cell in Ghaziabad, however, through their web portal, schemes were allegedly crore have already been payments has spiked. On- ary 2017. Apart from edu- fell prey to online forgery Oicials in Ghaziabad is not as equipped to track whereby people could run by Ablaze Info frozen. line transactions make life cated people, who can ap- when ₨30,000 was with- said that they received fraudsters as its Noida make money by liking Solutions Pvt. Ltd, Social “The Enforcement easy, but the risk factor is proach us, there are many drawn from his bank ac- nearly 25 cyber security counterparts. web pages that were Trade India Pvt. Ltd, 3W Directorate has also others like small vendors count. “I immediately in- complaints since November fraudulently shown to be Digital Pvt. Ltd and asked for transaction who are being duped. A ci- formed the Noida police’s 8 last year, besides eight Focus on special training associated with social Intmaart India Pvt. Ltd. details of the accounts garette vendor near our of- Cyber Cell. The police ac- complaints related to fraud- “We are now looking to media groups like Google “All these companies are operated by the accused fice was cheated of ₨5,000, ted promptly and coordin- ulent withdrawals from focus on special training on and Facebook,” said an the brain child of accused to investigate the money In January 2016, as but he did not report to us as ated with my bank. Thank- ATMs. This is in contrast to issues related to cyber ED oicial Anubhav Mittal, Ayushi trail. All the movable and many as 23 cyber he did not know that the po- fully, I got my money back,” a total of 85 complaints filed crimes. Eforts are on to The accused persons Agarwal and their immovable assets of the crime cases were lice could help. He came to he said. in 2015 and 60 complaints equip our Cyber Cell with gave a false story that the associates,” said the accused persons will be us much later,” Mr. Yadav Another online fraud vic- filed between January 1 and more advanced equipment. promotional web pages oicial. attached provisionally reported from added. tim was Shobhit Agarwal, a November 8, 2016. Our investigating oicers linked to these portals under the Prevention of Gautam Budh Nagar. resident of Sector 137 in will have to undergo a five- paid ₨6 per like, of which Documents seized Money Laundering Act ‘Need advanced equipment’ Noida, who lost ₨1,15,000. Experts roped in to seven-day training on cy- they paid ₨5 to the user. The ED probe has led to secure investments The figure shot up to “We are now focusing on “I had informed the “In comparison to the ber security,” said Deepak They also promoted four to the seizure of made by the victims,” 46 in January 2017 special training on cyber Noida police’s Cyber Cell. earlier average, there has Kumar, Senior Superintend- systematic investment documents, confirming said the oicial. crimes. Eforts are on to With help from the police I been an increase in the ent of Police (Ghaziabad).

Kejriwal to Intricate layers CORRIDORS OF POWER undergo Trial by time for their turn. When the media asked him treatment in “This nursery admission is how and where he learnt to It is not just the prolonged one issue which comes to speak such fluent Punjabi, Bengaluru trials that keep people the court every year and he said that he has been waiting. Waiting for their takes up so much time,” taking ‘classes’ from his STAFF REPORTER case to be called for rued an advocate for a friend, H.S Phoolka. Mr. hearing is a task in itself. government agency. Kejriwal can also read and NEW DELHI: As the polling has Not just for the interested “Most of the time goes write Punjabi. concluded in Punjab and parties, but also for their waiting,” she complained. Not by the book Goa, Chief Minister Arvind advocates. Similar was the scene Kejriwal will leave for On any given day, one can outside another courtroom Some oicers of the Delhi Bengaluru, Karnataka, on see a sea of advocates and where advocates Police insist that they do February 7 to undergo natur- litigants in the corridors of concerned in a matter their best to avoid one opathy treatment for his high the Delhi High Court. relating to the Chandni particular lawyer blood sugar. Many are seen waiting Chowk decongestion plan representing them in He returned to Delhi on outside courtrooms for kept waiting as the Bench important cases. Saturday after spearheading their cases to be called. heard arguments in This particular lawyer, said AAP’s aggressive campaign The judges themselves another matter. some of these oicers, for the Punjab Assembly struggle with managing “I am tired of waiting. See, often does not follow the polls. “The Chief Minister’s time and a heavy roster as I could have done brief that the policemen blood sugar level has shot up. they try to give a patient something else in the give him and makes little He is taking insulin thrice a hearing to one and all. hours I have wasted here. efort to understand their day to keep it under control. However, there are times What to do?” said an point of view. He will leave for Bengaluru when this wait gets too advocate who waited till The lawyer also allegedly on February 7 to undergo na- long as the hearing in some almost 5 p.m only to get a seems convinced by the turopathy treatment. Also, cases consumes most of date for the next hearing. submissions of other he has fever. He will be there the court’s time. Common parlance stakeholders in diferent for 12-14 days,” said a senior Recently, while the hearing court cases where the Delhi government oicial. in the nursery admissions Taking a cue from Mamata police are also a party. In January last year, Mr. issue was on, it took up a Banerjee, who is learning Also, while arguments are Kejriwal had undergone 12 lot of time considering the Hindi, Arvind Kejriwal, on, oicers have observed days of naturopathy treat- number of parties recently in an audio that the lawyer struggles to ment at the same institute for involved. message, which was issued put the point across and chronic cough and diabetes. The advocates or their by the Aam Aadmi Party invites the ire of the He had also undergone a juniors in other cases (AAP) across social media judges, often leaving throat surgery at Narayana SHADOW LINES: Visitors at the India Art Fair, which ended on Sunday, at the NSIC Exhibition Complex in Okhla. listed before the same platforms, was heard himself and, of course, the Hospital in Bengaluru in PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA Bench kept waiting outside speaking chaste Punjabi. Delhi Police red-faced. September last year.

AAP takes to Facebook Gross human rights violations in to ‘expose’ BJP, Cong govt-run mental asylum: DCW STAFF REPORTER In the past two installed. The Commission STAFF REPORTER saw the CCTV footage of men- NEW DELHI: In the past two months, 11 residents at tally-challenged women roam- NEW DELHI: With polling over in months, 11 residents at Asha Asha Kiran, a shelter ing around naked,” she said. both Punjab and Goa, the Aam Kiran, a government-run shel- in Rohini for mentally Disturbed by the condition Aadmi Party (AAP) has started ter in Rohini for mentally ill of the facility, the DCW has is- focusing on the Delhi people, have died. ill people, have died sued a notice to the Secretary municipal elections. On The revelation comes after of the Delhi government’s So- Sunday, the party took to the Delhi Commission for Wo- tioned at the entrance of the fe- cial Welfare Department to re- Facebook to ‘expose’ the BJP men chairperson Swati Mali- male wing,” she said. spond within 72 hours as the and the Congress. wal, along with her team, spent In the morning, as many of “matter is extremely serious In a live session on a night at the facility after the the residents are bedridden, and concerns the life and Facebook, AAP MLA from AAP MLA Saurabh Bhardwaj commission received several they urinate on their beds and liberty of the residents”. Greater Kailash, Saurabh complaints. faecal matter is littered on the Bhardwaj, claimed that the spreading wrong information. “At Asha Kiran, there is floor. State’s responsibility pension scheme in the gross human rights violations. “Some menstruating wo- In its notice, the DCW said: Municipal Corporations was a ‘Civic bodies not helping’ In October, three residents had men were not given any sanit- “It is to be remembered that big ‘scam’. “The Corporations aren’t died. And in the last two ary napkins and there was the State has a huge responsib- He alleged that the cooperating with the Delhi months, 11 residents have blood on the floor. The stench ility to look after the mentally- beneficiaries in his government. At first, they died,” said Ms Maliwal. was unbearable,” she said. challenged people. The State constituency weren’t refused to share the data of the Explaining the situation of needs to make special eforts informed. “Recently, a camp pensioners. After the High the facility, Ms. Maliwal said ‘Women roam around naked’ to look after them as at times was organised to inform Court intervention, they that four women were sharing She added that women roam they are unable to share and people about the pension handed it over. When we are a bed; there were not enough naked in the corridors as no communicate like others.” scheme. We [AAP] had put up trying to help the people, they blankets for the residents, and one is there to take care of It has also set up an inquiry banners, but within a day the [councillors] are spreading wheel chairs were not being them and since there are into the condition of the home area councillor had taken them wrong information,” he said. used even as women and chil- CCTVs in the facilities, male and asked the Social Welfare down,” he said during the The AAP, which will be dren in need were crawling on staf monitor the feed. secretary to give it data on the session. contesting all 272 seats in the the floor unattended. “Women were being made deaths in the home in the last Mr. Bhardwaj said that after municipal polls to be held in to remove their clothes in the one year. the High Court asked the Delhi April, also plans to highlight ‘Only one psychiatrist’ open while being lined up to It has also asked whether the government to take over the the development works not “There is only one psychiat- give them a bath. Women were department’s senior oicials Corporations’ pension initiated by the BJP and the rist, who visits the home and roaming the corridors naked. were aware of the problems scheme, councillors were Congress. several posts of doctors are va- Moreover, the corridors of the and about the action taken by cant. There was no guard sta- dormitory had CCTV cameras them to rectify it.

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI 6 | STATE THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 3 killed in accidents Fake lawyer arrested STAFF REPORTER A 65-year-old was HC dismisses ‘malafide’ plea STAFF REPORTER did not mention what case his cousin was fighting, he GURUGRAM: Three persons, in- among those killed. Woman had alleged that her 25-yr-old niece was detained at a rehab centre by her mother and brother NEW DELHI: A man allegedly told the police that their cluding an elderly, were killed No arrests have been posing as a lawyer at the priority was to get the bail in as many accidents in the made in any of the AKANKSHA JAIN The court was told the director of the rehabilita- Dwarka court was arrested of the other party city over the past 24 hours. tion centre. The judges, who after of his “clients” cancelled, which Ajitkar No arrests have been made in three cases so far NEW DELHI: The Delhi High that the girl was spoke to Mamta in a chamber, submitted a written promised. any of the cases so far. Court recently refrained from addicted to drugs held that there was suicient complaint alleging that the However, when he an automobile company was imposing cost upon a woman and needed to be material to justify her being accused, Ajitkar, had taken reached the court on Visit to temple killed when his car hit a sta- who had filed a petition al- admitted to a rehabilitation ₨50,000 from him. Saturday, he saw Ajitkar Sixty-five-year-old Pyare tionary mini-truck on a fly- leging that her niece had been rehabilitated centre. Deputy Commissioner surrounded by lawyers, Lal, a resident of Baliyawas over near Binola village on detained at a rehabilitation Later, after Mamta’s aunt of Police (South-West) including bar council village, had gone to ofer pray- National Highway-8 in the centre by her own mother and an eye on the property where requested, the court sent her Surender Kumar said a members, all of whom ers at a temple in neighbour- early hours of Saturday. elder brother and later prayed she lived with her children. medical file to the Institute of case of cheating had been claimed that he was duping ing Bandhwari village along “Gaurav, who was driving, that she be produced before ded danger to her niece’s life. Human Behaviour & Allied registered at the Dwarka people. with his son Deepak on Sat- was on his way to Ghasera the court to withdraw her Mamta’s mother, who is a ‘Blatantly false’ Sciences (IHBAS). The insti- (south) police station. urday morning when a speed- with his four friends when his plea. widow, and brother told the “Based on our interaction tute, too, confirmed the girl’s The complainant told Escaped scrutiny ing Sports Utility Vehicle hit car rammed the truck. He The Bench, which learnt court that she was addicted to with Mamta’s brother and state and said that all parties the police that he was It is, however, not clear him on Gurugram-Faridabad died on the spot. Himanshu, that the girl needed to be re- drugs and other intoxicants. mother, and records pro- concerned had agreed to keep looking for a lawyer to how he fought cases Road around 10 a.m. who was travelling on the habilitated, found the plea to They informed the court that duced from the de-addiction Mamta at the rehabilitation represent his cousin at the without being qualified. “The father-son duo were passenger seat is injured,” be “filed with malafide in- many of their family mem- centre, we find that the aver- centre for the next two Dwarka court when he saw Sources said it is unclear waiting for a conveyance to said Sub-Inspector Subhash. tent” and “gross abuse of the bers, including Mamta’s ments made by the petitioner months. It was after this that Ajitkar ‘fighting’ a case. He how the court staf failed return to their village on the The oicer said that the truck process of court”. father, had sufered violence in this petition appear to be Mamta’s aunt told the court was further impressed to carry out proper roadside, when he was hit. driver was replacing a punc- at her hands, forcing them to blatantly false. We have also that she wanted to withdraw when the accused told him scrutiny. His son rushed him to Paras tured wheel but had not Property issues? seek police help. been informed by Mamta’s her petition. that he was an expert in Ajitkar, who was later Hospital in a private vehicle turned on the parking lights. In this case, the woman had The police, too, confirmed mother and brother that they “Although we are of the criminal cases. asked by the police to where the elderly succumbed In the third case, a speed- approached the court saying receiving calls regarding live on the ground floor of the view that this petition is a “He took ₨50,000 from submit documents to to injuries,” said Assistant ing bus hit a motorcyclist, that her 25-year-old niece Mamta’s violent behaviour. property, while the first and gross abuse of the process of me and said he would prove that he was a lawyer, Sub-Inspector Narpal Singh. later identified as Harsh, Mamta* had been illegally de- Mamta’s mother also told second floors are with the sis- the court, and was filed with a charge another ₨50,000 failed to do so. He also said A case of causing death due to from behind near National tained at a rehabilitation the court that her daughter ters of the deceased husband, malafide intent, we refrain after the case was settled. I that he would wear a black negligence has been re- Security Guards complex in centre by her mother and had been admitted to a de-ad- of whom the petitioner is from imposing cost upon the paid him in cash,” the coat which was often gistered at DLF Phase-I Po- Manesar on Saturday. He brother in December last diction centre in Rohini. Ac- one,” the court said. petitioner,” the court said victim told the police. enough to convince lice Station here. later died at a hospital. Harsh year. Alleging property is- cording to her, her sister-in- Mamta was then produced while dismissing the petition. While the complainant gullible targets. In another accident, a 25- was a resident of Himachal sues, the woman apprehen- law had filed the petition with before the court along with *Name changed year-old man working with Pradesh.

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 NORTHERN REGION 7 Avalanche warning for Kashmir, Himachal Snowfall in higher reaches of H.P., storm and rain in lower areas affect normal life

STAFF CORRESPONDENT likely to occur until tomor- tional Highway remained row at some places in Jammu closed for traic for the third SHIMLA: The higher reaches in and Kashmir. consecutive day on Sunday Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti, Chamba Among other places following landslides at some and Kangra on Sunday ex- which had received fresh places, even more wet perienced a mild to moder- snowfall until this morning weather has been forecast ate snowfall and the down- included Gulmarg (31 cm) over the next 24 hours. stream areas were hit by a and Drass (30 cm) in J&K. “The Srinagar-Jammu wind storm and rain highway is closed for traic showers, partially afecting Temperature rises on Sunday due to landslides the normal life. Keylong, the The minimum temperat- at various places and fresh district headquarters of La- ures rose sharply across Pun- snowfall,” an oicial of the haul-Spiti, had 13 cms of jab and Haryana, where a few Traic Control Room told snowfall and the higher alle- places received light to mod- PTI. viations like Rohtang Pass, erate rainfall. He said landslides have oc- Kunzum Pass and Goshal Chandigarh recorded a curred at many places along hills recorded 30 to 40 cms of minimum temperature of the nearly 300-km highway, snowfall. 16.6 degrees Celsius. Ambala the only all-weather road link The tourist resorts of in Haryana registered a connecting Kashmir Valley Manali and Dalhousie had sharp increase in its min- with the rest of the country. around 15 mm of rain and the imum temperature, which The oicial said many higher peaks near these settled at 15.3 deg C. Hisar re- vehicles are stranded along towns received a moderate corded a low of 14.8, while the highway and would only REUNITED: Rohina Kiani from Pakistan holds her son Iftikhar spell of fresh snowfall. Kalpa Karnal’s minimum settled at be allowed to proceed fur- Ahmed after he was handed over by Indian officials at the in Kinnaur also received 13. Amritsar in Punjab recor- ther once the debris is Wagah border on Saturday evening. The five-year-old boy was around 10 mm of rainfall. ded a low of 15.6 degrees cleared. taken to Jammu by his Indian father but following a long legal Naina Devi in Bilaspur re- Celsius. Ludhiana recorded a “The men and machinery battle, the mother and son were reunited. Pakistan’s High corded a rainfall of 30 mm FRESH SNOW: A vendor walks in snow in Srinagar on Sunday. - PHOTO: PTI low of 15.2. Patiala’s min- are on the job. Once the Commissioner to India Abdul Basit thanked Indian authorities followed by Chamba and ters. Establishment (SASE) is- lanche-prone slopes in imum settled at 15.4. Path- debris is cleared, the stran- for the gesture. PHOTO: AFP Dharamsala with around 10 The sky remained over- sued the warning that would Kullu, Chamba, Lahaul and ankot (15.5 C), Adampur (16 ded vehicles will be allowed mm. cast in Shimla and strong be valid for the next 24 hours Spiti, Mandi, Kangra, Sir- C), Halwara (13.5 C), to proceed further, subject to According to the reports, wind kept blowing but there starting at 5 pm. mour, Shimla and Kinnaur Bathinda (13.4 C), Faridkot weather conditions,” he said. Pak thanks India for the Jalori Pass in Kullu was was no rain or snowfall till A SASE advisory here said districts of Himachal (14 C) and Gurdaspur (15 C) The higher reaches of closed for normal traic the evening. that a “medium danger” Pradesh. also registered above normal Kashmir received fresh reuniting boy with mother after extremely bad weather warning is in place for ava- “People are advised not to minimum temperature. snowfall overnight with the conditions on Sunday after- Medium danger lanche-prone slopes in Kup- move in avalanche-prone Chandigarh, Ambala, plains witnessing a mix of ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI: Pakistan less than a miracle for me,” noon. This has cut of almost A medium danger ava- wara, Bandipora, Anantnag, areas and further they are Panchkula, Mohali, Amrit- rains and snow. has thanked India for its co- she said. all 60 panchayats in the Ani- lanche warning was again is- Baramulla, Ganderbal, Kul- also advised to keep clearing sar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Path- The famous ski-resort of operation in reuniting a five- The boy’s mother alleged Nirmand area from the rest sued on Sunday for some gam, Budgam, Poonch, Doda, the snow deposition from ankot, Adampur, Halwara, Gulmarg in north Kashmir’s year-old boy with his that her estranged husband, of the district. The residents avalanche-prone slopes of Kishtwar and Kargil districts rooftop of their houses/ Bathinda, Faridkot and Gur- Baramulla district received 11 Pakistani mother nearly a who hails from Jammu and here are demanding a tunnel Jammu and Kashmir and Hi- of Jammu and Kashmir. bunkers to avoid damages,” it daspur also received rainfall. inches of fresh snowfall dur- year after he was taken to In- Kashmir, had lied to her that beneath the Jalori Pass for machal Pradesh. Medium danger avalanche said. ing the night, a Met Depart- dia on the sly by his father. he was taking the child to a round-the-year connectivity The Chandigarh-based warning for the same period The SASE also said that NH remains closed ment oicial said. “We are thankful to Indian wedding along with him as with the district headquar- Snow and Avalanche Study has also been issued for ava- very light to light snowfall is The Srinagar-Jammu Na- (With PTI) authorities for their coopera- he took him to Dubai and tion in this humanitarian from there to Kashmir in matter,” Pakistan’s High March 2016. Commissioner to India Ab- Rohina with the help of dul Basit tweeted. Pakistan High Commission Blankets in jails to be washed The boy, Iftikhar Ahmed, in New Delhi had filed a cus- Tales of Krishna was on Saturday handed over tody case in an Indian court. to Pakistan Rangers by In- After the case was taken as inmates get skin diseases dian authorities at Wagah up by the Pakistani High where his mother was wait- Commission and proven that RAIPUR: The inmates of Chhat- Blankets were never around 10,000 are undertri- ing for him for several hours. Iftikhar was a Pakistani by tisgarh jails will soon get rid als while 8,000 are convicts. “I am extremely happy to nationality, the court ruled in of their stinky and dirty washed before and Each prisoner is given 2-3 have my son back. I am her favour and ordered that blankets as the State Home kept in the open to blankets and in this way, total thankful to the Pakistani gov- the child should be returned department has decided to prevent fungus 54,000 blankets are being ernment for its help for re- to his mother in Pakistan. get them washed. used in jails of the State. turn of my child,” Iftikhar’s Due to border tensions, it The decision to this efect formation One blanket is used for mother Rohina Kiyani had took eight months for the was taken after several com- atleast five years by several said on Saturday at Wagah. mother to get the good news plaints of skin-related dis- health examination of 22,000 inmates. “I had lost all hope of get- of seeing her son. - PTI eases and allergy to prisoners lodged in separate During this period, neither ting my child back. It’s not a prisoners. jails of the State by holding the blanket is cleaned nor “We have permitted to camps during which it was washed. procure washing machines found that most of them Though sometimes they at a cost of ₨40 lakh. Very were sufering from skin-re- are kept out in the sun, the of- Nagaland bandh eased for soon, washing of blankets lated diseases and allergy. ficial said, adding that “these will be started in jails,” Dir- During investigation, dirty unhygienic blankets now ector General (Jail) Girdhari blankets used by them were have become source of dis- people to attend church Nayak said on Sunday. found to be a major reason ease for the users”. KOHIMA: The ongoing bandh in Sunday even though no unto- The step is expected to behind it. “The department has Nagaland was on Sunday re- ward incident was reported in have a positive impact on the Surprisingly, it later came planned to wash all blankets laxed by various tribal organ- the State. mental as well as health con- to light that the blankets and for the purpose has isations to allow people to at- dition of the prisoners, he were never washed. To pre- given permission to buy in- tend church services in the Emergency services said. vent them from fungus, they dustrial washers in five cent- Christian majority State. The functioning of the “The efort is being made were just kept in open when ral jails - Raipur, Bilaspur, The organisations are Nagaland Board of School under ‘Swachh Bharat Ab- the sun is out. Keeping this in Durg, Ambikapur and Jag- protesting against the state Education, Nagaland Public hiyan’ We want to improve view, it has been decided to dalpur. Very soon it will be government for going ahead Service Commission, SCERT, the conditions in jails so that procure industrial washers procured,” he said. with the Urban Local Body banks, postal, power sub-sta- the inmates become good for cleaning the blankets, he The washing machines (ULB) polls with 33 per cent tions, fire and emergency ser- citizens. For the purpose, it is said. will have the capacity to seats reserved for women. vices, telecom and Nagaland necessary that they should wash 20 kg clothes at a time, The bandh against func- State Transport have been ex- be both physically and men- 18,000 inmates and thereby around 500 tioning of the State govern- empted from the purview of tally fit,” the D-G said. As per statistics, the State blankets will be cleaned in a ment oices and vehicles was the bandh, a Kohima-based Another jail department has five central jails, 12 dis- day. only relaxed for on Sunday tribal youth body Angami oicial, on condition of an- trict jails and 16 sub-jails The entire task will be and would continue indefin- Youth Organisation (AYO) onymity, said, “The depart- where more than 18,000 in- completed in about four itely till Chief Minister T. R. said. ment recently conducted mates are lodged. Of them, months, he added. - PTI Zeliang and his Cabinet col- AYO volunteers had on Sat- leagues step down, Nagaland urday locked the main gate of Tribes Action Committee the Nagaland Civil Secret- MESMERISING PERFORMANCE: A group of artistes performing at the international Let Okhla plant function in public (NTAC) Kohima said. ariat, state Assembly building Surajkund Crafts Mela in Faridabad on Sunday. - PHOTO: PTI Private activities, including and some government oices business, educational institu- in Kohima demanding the interest, says Green Tribunal tions, banks and movement of resignation of Zeliang and his pedestrians have been exemp- cabinet colleagues. NEW DELHI: Noting that proper mar made the observations yard or waste-to-energy Prohibitory order clamped in Odisha ted from the bandh, the organ- The Eastern Nagaland functioning of waste-to-en- in its recent judgement al- plant in the neighbourhood isation stated. Peoples’ Organisation ergy plant would serve pub- lowing operation of Okhla of their residential area,” it The prohibitory order im- (ENPO) has decided to extend lic interest, which must pre- waste-to-energy plant, say- said, adding that the plant village over a political murder posed in some areas of Ko- its support to the demands vail over “little ing it is now non-polluting. owner has to adhere to the hima was still in force on made by NTAC and JCC. - PTI inconvenience”, the National The tribunal said if any in- prescribed standards and to STAFF REPORTER on pretext of discussion. house, a tractor, a bike and Green Tribunal has advised convenience is caused to the make it pollution-free. When Salman reached the other furniture on fire belong- citizens to overcome “men- Sukhdev Vihar residents, The Bench said the BHUBANESWAR: Prohibitory or- place, four to five persons at- ing to family of main accused tal block” that there cannot who had filed a petition to concept of ‘not in my back- ders have been clamped and tacked and fired at him. He on fire. Besides, family mem- Nitish colours lotus, be a compost yard in the shut down the plant, they yard’ has to be subservient to security stepped up in Tar- was immediately rushed to bers of the accused were neighbourhood. must give way to larger pub- processing of waste in public abha village of Odisha’s Dhen- Dhenkanal District beaten up. The main accused The tribunal said that ef- lic interest of handling and interest and it has to be been kanal district on Sunday in the Headquarter Hospital where is a constable in Odisha State triggers speculation forts should be made to pro- processing of municipal seen what is the best possible wake of huge tension prevail- he was declared dead. Armed Police. tect the environment which solid waste (MSW) in Delhi. way of handling and pro- ing over a murder of local “Preliminary investigation Body of the deceased was PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister painted it,” Mr Neeraj said. is the fundamental duty of It, however, made it clear cessing such huge quantity political worker. says the murder was executed taken in a procession to vil- Nitish Kumar adding ‘col- Coming to the issue of citizens and other stakehold- that the plant should comply of waste generated by the Order under section 144 over silly issue of sticking lage. Senior BJP leaders in- our’ to a ‘lotus’ painting, ‘safron’ colour, Mr Neeraj ers and the fundamental with all environmental rules residents of Delhi. CrPC were issued banning poster during ongoing pan- cluding party’s State vice- drawn by famous said “it is very much part of right to have a decent and and regulations and not “They (local authorites) gathering of five or more per- chayat election. We have ar- president Sameer Mohanty Madhubani artist Baoa Devi our national flag.” clean environment as man- cause any injury to public need to tackle this huge sons in the village following rested main accused Byo- and spokesperson Sajjan at the Patna Book Fair on Mr Kumar had added col- dated under the Constitution health or environment. problem with utmost sense arson. Protesting the murder, makesh Biswal and Sharma accompanied the rel- Saturday, has triggered spec- our to ‘lotus’, election sym- can be achieved by protect- “As of present, it appears of sincerity and objectivity. Bharatiya Janata Party has interrogated two others in this atives of Salman. Apprehend- ulation among political bol of BJP, when Devi had in- ing the environment and not to be the only plausible solu- Similarly, the public at large called for a bandh in Dhen- connection,” said Basant Ku- ing that the situation might circles whether the JD(U) vited him at 23rd Patna Book by opposing the plant’s tion when the influx of popu- should not propagate the kanal on Monday. mar Panigrahi, Dhenkanal Su- slip out of control, massive po- and BJP may come together Fair to paint her drawing. operation. lation is increasing day by principle of ‘not in my back- The murder had taken place perintendent of Police, on lice deployment has been again. This gave rise to specula- day,” it said. yard’ that too founded on no when Tarabha’s Salman Rout, Sunday. made in the village. Prohibit- Both the BJP and Mr Ku- tion with some even conjec- “Plant non-polluting” “Public at large has to scientific data but only on who was said to be a BJP sup- The arrest, however, did not ory order under section 144 mar’s party JD(U), which is turing whether the colour A Bench headed by NGT overcome the mental block mere apprehensions,” it said. porter, was called by a few fel- assuage relatives and support- CrPC would remain in force ruling the State in alliance the Chief Minister was using Chairperson Swatanter Ku- that there cannot be compost -PTI low villagers to a lonely place ers of the deceased. They set a till peace returns to the village. with RJD and Congress, rub- in the drawing was indeed bished any such possibility safron or red. saying not much should be The BJP too dismissed any read in the act. JD(U) such speculation of JD(U) Guilty of corruption in Manipur would be punished: Ram Madhav spokesman and MLC Neeraj joining hands with the saf- Kumar said it was a “non-is- fron forces once again. - PTI IMPHAL: Accusing the Ma- State would no longer wit- tilisers and also helps in economic blockade in the he said: “If the BJP comes to Promising zero tolerance sue” and no political mean- “We have supported each nipur government of being ness economic blockade. smuggling of narcotics. Ma- State and everybody enjoys power, any allegation made in corruption, transparency ing should be read in it other on good work - like involved in rampant corrup- Mr. Madhav, who is nipur is the third least de- the fruit of development,” against the incumbent gov- in governance, the BJP leader (adding colour to lotus). Nitish Kumar having sup- tion, the BJP national general presently in the poll-bound veloped State in the whole Mr. Madhav said. ernment would be investig- said the State needed devel- ported demonetisation — secretary Ram Madhav on Manipur, accused the Okram country,” Mr. Madhav alleged ated and those found guilty opment and progress in “No political meaning” and we supported prohibi- Sunday said if BJP came to Ibobi Singh government of while addressing a press Extreme shortage will be punished.” every sector. “This is nothing. It is a tion PM Modi believes in power it would investigate being involved in corruption conference. Economic blockade has Questioning the utilisation “Under the guidance of non-issue. No political Team India and Nitish Ku- allegations of graft against and smuggling of foodgrains “If the BJP comes to power led to extreme shortage of es- of funds sanctioned by the Prime Minister Narendra meaning should be read in mar, being the CM of a pres- the present regime and those and fertilisers. our first priority would be to sential commodities includ- Central government, Mr. Modi who is committed to it... CM goes to the book fair tigious state, is also the part found guilty would be “The State government provide clean, corruption- ing food items, lifesaving Madhav expressed shock clean politics, the State can every year and he was in- of Team India...” senior BJP punished. and the ruling party are in- free and progressive govern- drugs and motor fuel in the that several dam projects ha excel in everything. We have vited by the noted Mah- leader and spokesman Syed He also assured that if the volved in corruption and ment in the State. We would State. been stalled for more than zero tolerance towards cor- dubani artist to paint her Shahnawaz Hussain said. - BJP came to power, then the smuggling of foodgrains, fer- also ensure that there is no Answering media queries, three decades. ruption,” he said. - PTI drawing this time and he PTI CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI 8 | SOUTH THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 From video rental shop to Fort St. George ‘Aim is to avoid Sasikala’s friendship with the mercurial Jayalalithaa survived many a shock and is now yielding rich dividends two power centres’

D. SURESH KUMAR T. RAMAKRISHNAN After saving the CHENNAI: The emergence of Sasikala struggling CHENNAI: A host of factors, party, it’s now V.K. Sasikala as a key player such as the need for time to save the in Dravidian politics and maintaining unity within government, says a Tamil Nadu’s administration to get out of the party and the anxiety has been made possible by to avoid the emergence senior functionary patient handling of her of two power centres, friendship with a mercurial legal quagmire have played a role in the Jayalalithaa over an exten- election of V.K. Sasikala Mulayam Singh and says ded period of time. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT to face trial in a case related as the leader of “it is always better not to Ms. Sasikala was born in a to acquiring illegal foreign AIADMK’s legislature delay her [Ms. Sasikala’s] hamlet named Thiruthurai- CHENNAI: AIADMK leader V.K. exchange through an ac- party. appointment as Chief poondi in the composite Sasikala, who was on Sunday quaintance in Malaysia and Though many senior Minister.” Thanjavur district in 1957. elected leader of the Legis- using the money to purchase members of the The turning point in her life lature Party, is facing three the Kodanad Tea Estate in AIADMK say that Astrological reasons came when she married M. cases registered by the En- the Nilgiris, along with her Sunday’s development is When quizzed about Natarajan, then an oicial forcement Directorate (ED) sister-in-law J. Elavarasi. In only a reflection of the the timing of the move, with the State Department of 20 years ago, in addition to May 2015, the additional desire and demand of the the leaders said that Information and Public Rela- awaiting the fate of the ap- chief metropolitan magis- party’s rank and file, though she could have tions, in 1973. peal in the Supreme Court trate in Egmore had dis- some of them say that the become Chief Minister Their wedding was against her acquittal in the charged her from the case. government would much earlier, she did not presided over by then Chief disproportionate assets case, But on a criminal revision function with a sense of want to be seen as acting Minister and Dravida Mun- in which is she is the accused petition filed by the ED, the purpose “only if” Ms. in haste. netra Kazhagam leader M. No. 2. High Court directed her to Sasikala becomes Chief She wanted to take Karunanidhi. Just last week, the Madras face trial. Minister. some time to study the Mr. Natarajan, known to High Court refused to dis- One of the FERA cases re- party and its leaders, be politically inclined, en- charge her from three cases late to payments made in the U.P. power struggle even though she has been couraged his wife to open filed by the ED in 1995 and U.S. and Singapore dollars to To substantiate this observing them for long. Vinod Video Vision, a video T.N. Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam with Jayalalithaa and Sasikala at the Raj Bhavan after the 1996 on charges of violating foreign firms for hiring argument, they recall There is also a view cassette rental and video re- swearing-in ceremony on September 21, 2001. Sasikala remained Jayalalithaa’s all-weather the provisions of the Foreign transponders and uplinking that the party founder that for astrological cording shop in Mylapore, friend, and the latter backed her despite numerous allegations. — FILE 0PHOTO: S. MAHINSHA Exchange Regulation Act facilities for J. Jay TV, of M.G. Ramachandran had reasons, the current Chennai, in the early 1980s (FERA). which she was the retained the post of period is considered when video cassettes, chiefly help her, (in Jayalalithaa’s ing to the extravagant wed- because a person had a Besides, she will also have chairperson. general secretary for 15 auspicious; Ms. Sasikala those that featured movies, own words) “Ms. Sasikala ding were thought to have humble and modest begin- months (October 1986- is said to be a believer in were all the rage. Ms. and Mr. Natarajan ofered to caused her loss in the elec- ning he should never rise December 1987) while he such matters. Sasikala, who claims to be help. So, I accepted their help tion in 1996. above that? If the person be- was Chief Minister. One more reason is the first woman video- in good faith. They both Ms. Sasikala was in 1996 came successful later, does it Jayalalithaa, in all her that the agitations over grapher in the State, had in a came to [Poes Garden] to arrested by the Enforcement mean that he did so because terms as Chief Minister, jallikattu and the rare interview spoken about live here.” Directorate for alleged viola- of corrupt or illegal means.” had also held the post of subsequent Assembly her expansion plans, includ- Within a year, Jayala- tions of the Foreign Ex- Some months later, Jayala- party general secretary. session delayed the ing ofering outdoor video lithaa’s supporters began al- change Regulation Act. She lithaa expelled Ms. Sasikala Alluding to the split development. shoots for political parties leging that the couple was in- and Jayalalithaa also faced from her household — only that the party had and tourists, who at that time terfering in political afairs. multiple corruption charges, to welcome her back undergone immediately ‘Not an impediment’ were exposed only to still While Jayalalithaa expelled and many AIADMK func- subsequently. after the death of M.G. As far as the leaders of photography. Mr. Natarajan from her tionaries began to urge their Over the years, Ms. Ramachandran in the party are concerned, This skill she used to the household, she fiercely de- leader to sever her relation- Sasikala became the ‘priest’ December 1987, a senior the status of the hilt when Mr. Natarajan, fended Ms. Sasikala, who ship with Ms. Sasikala. — the first contact point for leader from the southern disproportionate assets through his IAS oicer survived a car accident while However, Jayalalithaa in- aspiring party ticket-seekers belt of the State says, case involving friend V.S. Chandralekha travelling with Jayalalithaa in sisted that Ms. Sasikala was a and those seeking positions. “Initially, we took steps Jayalalithaa and Ms. (who sufered an acid attack 1990. much misunderstood and She began to identify “loyal” to save the party by Sasikala has never been in the 1990s), in 1984 got her a maligned person, who was party workers to Jayalalithaa, making her [Ms. considered an contract to videograph Jay- ‘Extra-constitutional’ being targeted for being loyal who rewarded them with Sasikala] the general impediment to Ms. alalithaa’s political meetings After Jayalalithaa became to her. positions. secretary. Now, we have Sasikala becoming Chief when she was the AIADMK Chief Minister for the first Again in her words: Even outgoing CM O. Pan- saved the government Minister. propaganda secretary. time in 1991, there were ac- “…[T]ime and again some- neerselvam earned Jayala- too.” In mid-2016, the Jayalalithaa was impressed cusations that Ms. Sasikala body says that so and so was lithaa’s confidence only due Another leader, who is Supreme Court had with her video shoots, and and her relatives were func- running a small video shop to Ms. Sasikala. Jayalalithaa from the western belt, reserved its judgment on their “friendship gradually tioning as extra-constitu- and how come today she has trusted Ms. Sasikala impli- cites the recent case of a petition filed by the developed”. tional authorities. Jayala- so many assets. Why don’t citly, though she expelled her power struggle between Karnataka government, Three years later, after lithaa paid no heed to these you ask the same question of again in 2014, and this helped Uttar Pradesh Chief challenging the acquittal M.G. Ramachandran’s death, and even conducted a mega- others. Does it mean that if the latter populate the party Besides three cases filed by the Enforcement Directorate Minister Akhilesh Yadav of Jayalalithaa, Ms. when Jayalalithaa was going wedding for V.N. Sud- some one starts in a small with her own loyalists who against her, Sasikala is also awaiting the fate of an appeal in and his father and Sasikala and a couple of through a “traumatic phase” hagaran, Ms. Sasikala’s way they should never come are now backing her to the the Supreme Court against her acquittal in the Samjawadi Party chief others. and had no one at home to nephew. Controversies relat- up in life? Does it mean that core. disproportionate assets case.

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 NATION 9 Bribe videos 5 AIIMS doctors suspended leave BJP in Mobile phone towers in Hisar trouble in Nashik for death of pregnant nurse SHOUMOJIT BANERJEE cantonment under the scanner BINDU SHAJAN PERAPPADAN PUNE: The BJP may seem well- placed in the fight for the CBI initiates preliminary inquiry after reference by Defence Ministry NEW DELHI: The All India Insti- Nashik Municipal Corpora- tute of Medical Sciences tion, but it is in an awkward DEVESH K. PANDEY vider installed the towers on Chandimadir Cantonment in (AIIMS) administration on situation after a couple of the chassis of heavy vehicles, Panchkula had also granted it Sunday suspended five res- videos went viral on social NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau calling them “cell-on- the permission for three such ident doctors for the death of media, appearing to show of Investigation (CBI) has be- wheels”. After the Military towers. It is alleged that on a pregnant nurse due to their some of its leaders demand- gun a preliminary inquiry Intelligence highlighted the the instructions of the then alleged negligence. ing bribes from aspirants for into the alleged irregular in- security issues, an internal General Oicer Command- Over 300 nurses held a nomination. stallation of mobile phone inquiry found that bills for ing, a clearance was given to protest march in the hospital In the first video, BJP towers and misappropriation power supply to the towers install the bus shelters and after the death, following Nashik secretary Nanasaheb of funds at the Hisar Military running into lakhs of rupees three “cell-on-wheels”. which the suspension orders Shiledar and oice-bearer Station in Haryana. Among were pending. After the sup- were issued. Arun Shendurnikar are those under the CBI scrutiny ply line was snapped, gener- BSNL failed to get nod The decision has been de- shown demanding ₨ 2 lakh is a retired Lieutenant ator backup was being used. During the inquiry, the In- nounced by the Resident Nurses and staff of the AIIMS stage a protest in New Delhi from an aspirant for “cam- General. The Intelligence wing telligence wing found that Doctors Association (RDA), on Sunday. — PHOTO : R. V. MOORTHY paign expenses” at the The CBI initiated the in- found that in June 2010, the government-owned BSNL who are demanding an im- party’s oices in Nashik. In quiry on a reference from the service provider had been had also sought permission mediate rollback. “The RDA strongly con- According to Sukhlal Jat, a the second, another leader Defence Ministry about The cell-on-wheels inside the given an approval by the Sig- to install signal towers at In a letter to the AIIMS demns this action and urges member of the nursing Gopal Patil is shown com- three years after The Hindu Hisar Military Station. nal Regiment of Hisar Can- Hisar Station, but it did not Director, RDA oicials said the administration to with- union, Rajbir Kaur was ad- plaining about not getting carried a series of reports on tonment to construct three get the approval. It had also the five doctors, who were draw the suspension order mitted to the hospital for a nomination even after he the alleged irregularities in ities and security implica- modern bus shelters on the installed a digital exchange on duty in the operation immediately, failing which normal delivery on January paid ₨10 lakh to unspecified the sensitive installation, tions. They were functioning campus. for the Army base in 2009. theatre, had decided to per- the resident doctors will be 16. persons. which is the base headquar- since 2012, it was alleged. The company, through a Alleging irregularities and form a Caesarean section on forced to withdraw all pa- During treatment, she lost The videos are believed to ters for the battle formation Enquiries revealed that de- letter dated July 2, 2010, in- corruption at the Hisar Sta- the nurse, Rajbir Kaur, as tient care with immediate ef- her baby and was put on life have been uploaded by a dis- of the Army’s 33rd Armoured fence land could not be formed the then Command- tion, a Colonel lodged a com- there were some fect,” the letter said. support. She died on Sat- gruntled aspirant. Division. leased out for the installation ing Oicer that while con- plaint with the Defence Min- complications. urday night. “Ever since her The party leaders in As reported in January of signal towers. As in the structing the bus shelters, it istry and the President’s The nurse sufered a car- Nurses’ strike threat baby died, the nursing union Nashik have not yet ques- 2014, at least two functioning case of private entities, it had interacted with some jawans Secretariat, and sought their diac arrest during the sur- Earlier in the day, the had been protesting against tioned their veracity. base transceiver stations in- to be done through the and families and found that intervention. He also cited gery, leading to more com- members of AIIMS nursing the administration for not Meanwhile, the police stalled by a private mobile Quarter Master General its mobile network strength the reports on mobile towers plications. union staged a protest over taking note of the issue and have filed a case against two phone service provider on Branch in consultation with was not good on the campus. in his complaint which was But without taking this the nurse’s death. The union punishing the errant doc- BJP aspirants in Pune for vi- the Hisar cantonment the Military Intelligence, fol- The service provider pro- filed under a provision man- into consideration, the ad- threatened to go on strike if tors,” said the nursing union olating the model code of premises had come under the lowing a mandatory Cabinet posed that it be allowed to in- dating that if his allegations ministration placed them the doctors, who treated the representative. conduct, taking out rallies scanner of intelligence agen- Committee authorisation. stall three “cell-on-wheels”, were proven wrong, he under suspension, a senior woman, were not terminated Police said a post-mortem without permission. cies for suspected irregular- Therefore, the service pro- mentioning in the letter that would face action. RDA oicial said. from service. would be conducted. Road to reservation In ISRO’s launch of 104 satellites next week, 88 will be from U.S.

MADHUMATHI D.S. No space agency kg, and occupies roughly half rocket from the Satish the space in the launch Dhawan Space Centre in Sri- BENGALURU: The Indian Space has launched such vehicle. It will carry two more harikota, India.” Research Organisation a large number of Indian nano satellites, INS-1A (ISRO) is on the cusp of mak- satellites in a and INS-1B, each weighing Biggest launch ing history when it sends 104 about 10 kg. They have a short “This is the 15th time Planet satellites into orbit on its single flight so far lifespan of six to 12 months. is launching Dove satellites; PSLV-C37 rocket on February All the payloads will totally and it will be our biggest 15. Only three of them are In- Planet’s earth observation weigh around 1,500 kg, ac- launch to date. Combined dian satellites. constellation of 100 satellites. cording to an ISRO oicial with the 12 satellites of Flock Notably, in ISRO’s first mis- They weigh around 5 kg each who did not want to be 2p operating in a similar orbit, sion of 2017, a single U.S. Earth and are called ‘Doves’ or named. The 88 Doves would this launch will enable Plan- imaging company, Planet, has Flock 3p. For California-based be released in sets of four et’s 100-satellite ‘line scanner’ made an eye-popping bulk Planet, too, it will be the re- cubesats. The other co-riders constellation of Doves,” Mr. booking for 88 of its small cord largest number of cube- are cubesats or small special- Safyan said. ‘cubesats’. sats to be flown in a single ised satellites of customers Since September 2015, the No space agency has launch, according to one of its from Israel, the UAE, Kazakh- PSLV has launched 18 small launched such a large number executives. stan, the Netherlands, Bel- U.S. earth imaging satellites in of satellites in a single flight Planet, an earth observa- gium and Germany. They will a total of 79 foreign spacecraft so far. (While ISRO’s PSLV tion company formed in 2010 be released separately into — which earns it some rev- launched 20 satellites last by former NASA scientists, their orbits at around 500 km enue and an increasing global year, Russia’s Dnepr launcher has chosen ISRO’s PSLV from Earth. While ISRO has market share. holds the record for lifting 37 launch for the second time. It been cagey about giving de- The Planet series comes satellites to orbit in June got its earlier set of 12 ‘Doves’ tails of its customers, even as COMSTAC, (Com- 2014.) launched in June last year. Planet’s executive Mike mercial Space Transportation The PSLV will carry a main Safyan announced on Friday, Advisory Committee under remote-sensing satellite in Cartosat-2 & INS-1 “In February, we are launch- the U.S. FAA) is considering if the Cartosat-2 series and two The main passenger on ing 88 satellites — the largest U.S. satellites can be sent to small spacecraft, all for ISRO, PSLV-C37 will be the fourth in fleet of satellites launched in space on Indian launchers. WOMEN POWER: Jat women on their way to participate in a protest in Rohtak on Sunday, in support of reservation for and 101 small foreign com- the Cartosat-2 series, a very history. The Dove satellites, Sources said PSLV’s U.S. cli- their community.— PHOTO: PTI mercial satellites. high resolution Earth obser- collectively known as “Flock ents were being approved on The 88 cubesats are part of vation satellite of about 650 3p,” will ride aboard a PSLV individual basis. Gadchiroli gram sabhas to take poll route to oppose mining

PAVAN DAHAT ing in the tribal district. ment and the political mentation of the FRA and mining was done until “The lives of the people of parties have continuously the PESA Acts, the gram December by Lloyd Metals, NAGPUR: Many gram sabhas this district are dependent neglected the opposition to sabhas have decided to put has seen strong opposition (village bodies) in Gadchir- on the forest land and the these projects by the local up ‘people’s candidates’ in by tribals. oli district of Maharashtra PESA and FRA Acts have villagers expressed in the this zila parishad election,” The tribals have alleged have decided to contest the given them the ownership of form of gram sabha resolu- said a joint statement issued that the shrines of their tradi- coming zila parishad elec- this land. But the govern- tions. Now, to oppose the by gram sabhas from the tional gods, which are situ- tions due to the “neglect by ment has proposed around mining activities in the dis- Ettapalli, Korchi and Dhan- ated on top of the hills where mainstream political 25 mining projects, including trict, to protect the constitu- ora divisions of Gadchiroli the mining is proposed, will parties” of the issues of local the Surajagad project, to des- tional rights of the local which have come together. be destroyed due to mining. villagers and to oppose min- troy our forests. The govern- people and for strict imple- The Surjagad area, where activity. Man kills wife More skeletons found and daughters, hangs himself at Bhopal man’s home STAFF REPORTER SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT KOLKATA: A day after a man al- PUNE: A 42-year-old man, his legedly killed and buried his wife and two daughters were live-in partner at their house found dead in their home in in Bhopal, he said that he had the city’s Ambegaon area in killed his parents too. Two the early hours of Sunday. skeletons have been re- According to the police, covered from their earlier Deepak Hande strangled his residence in Raipur in Chat- wife Swati (35) and their tisgarh. Bankura and Raipur teenage daughters Tejas (16) police, who conducted a Udyan Das and Vaishnavi (12). He then joint operation, suspect that hanged himself from a ceil- they belong to the parents of house and shifted to Bhopal. ing fan. the accused. Superintendent of Police of The incident came to light The skeletons and some Raipur Sanjeev Shukla said when suspicious neighbours ornaments were found in the that after Das’s mother re- alerted the police. garden in Udyan Das’s previ- tired, they had settled down “A suicide note has been ous residence in Sundanagar. in Raipur. found in which Deepak cited The search was conducted “The accused was study- his failure to repay mounting after the accused told the in- ing engineering and had debts as the main reason for vestigators about his parents’ failed to clear his exams. He ending their lives,” said a murder and identified the had not revealed this to his senior police oicial. spot. parents. On being asked by A native of Sangamner in his parents as to why he Ahmednagar district, Sent for forensic tests wasn’t getting a job, he de- Deepak had moved to Pune Police said the skeletons cided to kill them,” the of- and had been working at a had been sent for forensic ficer said. sugar mill for the past few tests. Speaking to The Das was arrested on years. He had allegedly bor- Hindu, Superintendent of Thursday from Bhopal after rowed money from a number Police of Bankura Sukhendu the police recovered the of people. Hira said the “accused will body of his live-in partner “Whether the debts com- be brought to Bankura on Akansha Sharma (28), from pelled Deepak to take this ex- transit remand in a couple of their residence. She had left treme step or not can only be days”. home on June 22 after telling ascertained after the com- According to Raipur po- her parents that she was go- pletion of investigations. A lice, the 32-year-old accused ing to the U.S. via Delhi for a case has been registered and murdered his parents prob- job. She was in touch with a probe is in progress,” said ably in 2010. About a year her parents through social the oicial. after the murder, he sold the media till December last.

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI 10 | EDITORIAL THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 Ancient sport, new age protests Almost everybody appeared to miss the siren song of ‘unsynchronised awakenings’ of an ‘under class’ in the jallikattu protests. It is these segments that are leading the global revolt against the so-called ‘elite’

protesters. Still later, and even as it was be- the police for all that happened, while ignor- MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 ginning to turn into a mass movement, with ing the provocations the latter had to contend M.K. NARAYANAN the participation of large concentrations of with as also the Herculean eforts made by urban people from diferent segments and them during the previous days to maintain across cities, mainly Chennai, no attempt peace, is standard policy. It only highlights Targeting old seemed to have been made by those in au- the nature of the intellectual vacuum that has The final months of 2016 witnessed high thority to introspect about the true character prevailed in the State in the recent past. drama in Tamil Nadu, with millions across of the movement. scourges the State overcome by grief following the It is possible that the peaceful nature of the Politics of identity prolonged hospitalisation and subsequent protests lulled the vast majority into missing The reality is far graver than what the ad- he reference in the Union Budget to new demise of Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa. The the true character of the agitation. Almost ministration and the Opposition are making elimination targets for some major com- first few weeks of 2017 have since seen everybody appeared to miss the siren song of it out to be. A resurgence of Tamil chauvin- municable diseases barely hints at the protests over the issue of jallikattu convulse “unsynchronised awakenings” of an “under ism is apparent. The reality also is that the enormous burden carried by millions in the State. To “outsiders”, viz. those not be- class”. It is these segments in almost every politics of identity, far from receding, is very T longing to Tamil Nadu, it may appear ex- country of the world today that are leading much alive. Beneath the surface calm, deep India with tuberculosis, kala-azar (leishmaniasis), filariasis, leprosy and measles. It would appear in- traordinary that so much frenzy should be on the revolt against the so-called “elite”. It has wells of unhappiness exist in the State over congruous that an emerging economy with no display over an issue that, elsewhere, would had major political repercussions and com- issues concerning so-called “Tamil pride”. timetable for universal health coverage and a lack be merely equated with the sport of bullfight- pelled many a government to renegotiate the Furthermore, sizeable segments in Tamil ing. However, those guilty of simplistic as- terms of governance. The digital highway has Nadu feel even more estranged from New of political will to loosen its purse strings for higher sumptions of this kind wouldbe unable to see been the principal medium for initiating Delhi than before due to the Centre’s policies government expenditure has set ambitious dead- the wood for the trees. many of the radical and fundamental changes over issues such as the Cauvery water dis- lines to rid itself of deadly scourges. Last year it was Steeped in hoary tradition, dating back to that have taken place lately and this should pute. It would be much more than mere polit- revealed that India has a higher burden of new pa- the fabled Sangam era, jallikattu holds a spe- not be lost sight of by those in authority in In- ical myopia if the State administration and tients with TB than estimated earlier — 2.8 million cial place in the hearts and minds of ordinary dia. other State politicians were to turn a blind in 2015 compared to 2.2 million in the previous year, Tamil folk. The decision of the Supreme eye to this reemergence of anti-national and a quarter of the world’s cases. Having set concrete Court, in May 2014, to uphold the Central Beneath the surface calm, wells An intellectual vacuum anti-social forces in Tamil Nadu. goals, the Centre must now demonstrate its seri- government’s notification of 2011 (adding of unhappiness exist in Tamil It is unfortunate that while such significant The celebrated British physicist, Stephen ousness by moving away from the flawed policies bulls to the list of animals whose training and Nadu over issues about ‘pride’. events were taking place, the public debate in Hawking, is credited with the remark that of the past. The promise of a well-funded five-year exhibition is prohibited), in efect formalised Tamil Nadu over the jallikattu issue, and its “the 21st century will be the century of com- the ban on bullfighting as a sport. However, it Segments feel more estranged aftermath, remained confined to old shop- plexity”. Hence, all governments need to ac- scheme to meet the TB challenge beginning in 2017 seemed to trigger concerns among sections from New Delhi than before worn arguments and logic. The administra- cept that change is the order of things and is welcome, although steady progress towards the in Tamil Nadu that it amounted to an assault tion, under attack for the violence that oc- that the nature of change itself changes. Lo- new elimination deadline of 2025 will also depend on Tamil culture and Tamil pride. Such feel- curred on the final day of the protests — even gical thinking has been overtaken, or is being on improved capabilities in the health system to ings had possibly lain dormant but seemed to tacle of being adrift in choppy waters — the as an ordinance for the lifting of the ban on eclipsed, by disruptive logic. meet the daily drugs requirement and a feeling of come to life after the ban. jallikattu agitation only provided an oppor- jallikattu was being promulgated and a law In 1971, India dealt efectively with a prob- ownership at the State level. The World Health Or- tunity to stir up the proverbial witch’s brew. was being enacted — had little more to say lem of over a million refugees from East ganisation has been pointing to the lack of integra- Behind the cover of spontaneity In this unedifying situation, every rumour than to accuse “outsiders”. This label in- Bengal on its soil. Most of them returned tion of private practitioners with the national mis- It has been a field day for conspirators and appeared to have an element of truth. cluded a motley group of Tamil chauvinists, home after the new state of Bangladesh came sion on tuberculosis for guaranteed access to drugs, conspiracies thereafter. Questions have been The movement, at the outset at least, ap- secessionist elements, pro-LTTE and Tamil into being. Today, the refugee influx into raised as to how and why a situation — that peared spontaneous. It was perceived as a Eelam cadres, and some other “invisible Europe is threatening the very existence of and lack of continuous monitoring of such patients. had merely been simmering for some time— peaceful protest by Tamil youth against re- forces” it alleged of having infiltrated into the Europe and is posing the most profound chal- India’s campaign on leprosy is in reality a ‘post- should all of a sudden turn explosive. Most strictions imposed on jallikattu, which were gathering at Marina beach in Chennai and of lenge to the traditional concept of what states elimination’ struggle resulting from complacency, ongoing rumours had little to do with portrayed as an assault on Tamil cultural tra- instigating the violence. The Opposition felt are, and their meaning. since it announced at the end of 2005 that it had jallikattu as a sport; they related mainly to the ditions. In the early stages, few tended to comfortable blaming both the government eliminated it as a public health problem, based on a turn of events following the demise of the question whether any movement could be for allowing such a situation to develop and Time of ‘indeterminate complexity’ rate of less than one person in 10,000 having it. Such former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. Accusa- truly spontaneous. Fewer still failed to look the police for provoking the protesters and The metastasising nature of the current self-congratulatory moments weakened both tions relating to the “usurpation” of the askance at the fact that a principally rural employing indiscriminate force. wave of protests, here and elsewhere, con- policy focus and funding in some pockets in east- mantle of Chief Minister by so-called “pre- sport (confined largely to pockets in the It is quite obvious that the political class as tains a message which, if not heeded, could ern India, where it exceeded the accepted preval- tenders” added spice to these rumours. In the southern and western parts of Tamil Nadu) a whole, and not only the administration, has have dangerous consequences. Growing in- ence rate. Health Minister J.P. Nadda’s admission in circumstances that prevail today in Tamil had suddenly become a major symbol of little understanding of the undercurrents tolerance is a special feature across societies Nadu — presenting as it does a sorry spec- urban protest, and able to rally thousands of that exist today. For the Opposition, blaming and populations today. As the spontaneous the Rajya Sabha that there were 1,02,178 leprosy nature of protests begins to decline, they are cases on record as of September 2016, and districts CARTOONSCAPE increasingly taken over by vociferous and in- of ‘high endemism’, shows the battle was never tolerant groups. These elements are there- truly won. Detecting new cases early and prevent- after able, in most cases, to hold the state to ing them from progressing to disability-inducing ransom. This is especially true in situations grade two level is crucial, although complete re- where the establishment is perceived to be moval by 2018 as envisaged in the Budget may weak. In Tamil Nadu, the perception of a “dif- prove diicult. Rehabilitation of patients is also a fusion of power” gives the impression of it weak spot. Kala-azar, though underreported and being a weak state. It heightens the danger of not being able to contain situations where mainly confined to Bihar and Jharkhand, is a prom- sub-nationalism, chauvinism, caste preju- ising candidate for elimination in the current year, dices and insular politics hold sway. since the few thousand cases are caused by a proto- The trend in “new wave” protests — which zoal parasite with no animal reservoir; control of are occurring with greater frequency today the vector, the sand fly, holds the key. If good med- — is towards creating a spectacle and mobil- ical protocol is pursued, pockets of filariasis in ising large crowds to heighten the intensity of many States can be removed. Rehabilitation pro- the initial cause. The cascading nature of grammes for these diseases require more resources public protests over the rape of a young wo- and policy support. man in Delhi in December 2012, on the issue of safeguarding the dignity of women, is an instance in point. In Tamil Nadu today, the is- sue of Tamil pride could generate similar out- Road to comes, with other grievances being added. Public opinion tends to be easily galvanised in a world which has gone from being “con- the Élysée Palace nected” to “hyper connected”. he presidential race in France may be Hence, we need to recognise that the real- ity of “indeterminate complexity” is already gaining momentum, but clarity it is not. upon us. Scientists and mathematicians are Centre-right Les Républicains candidate familiar with this phenomenon. Social sci- TFrançois Fillon, until recently seen to be entists, politicians and administrators are the most likely to win the race, is engulfed by allega- less familiar with it. The underlying message tions of payments made to his wife, Penelope Fil- is that authorities need to be more discern- lon, and their children for oicial work they may ing. There is also need for a great deal of care- not have done. What looked like a passing storm ful thought and well-considered action in ap- now looks like a weather pattern that could linger. proaching such situations, and in calibrating In a rival camp to the left, Benoit Hamon’s recent responses. victory in the French Socialist Party’s presidential M.K. Narayanan is a former National Security Adviser and primaries indicates voters are disenchanted with former Governor of West Bengal. the ideological drift and absence of acuity in the ruling party’s policies. His comfortable victory over the centre-left rival, former Prime Minister LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Manuel Valls, represents a shift leftward for the So- Letters emailed to [email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. cialists, back to their ideological roots, stemming a drift towards the centre seen not just in their party but also in the Republicans. With the business- The IPKF chapter not supposed to say or do anything campaigns need to be taken up, (‘Weekend Being’ page – “A clinical opportunities for distributed friendly Mr. Valls out of the race, Mr. Hamon faces that goes to diminish his stature. especially along the highways, trial that isn’t”, Feb.5). As a society development. All SEZs must the prospect of losing his opponent’s supporters to What was dreaded appears to be Nothing could be more uncharitable educating the common man on the that must be driven by scientific subscribe to the concept of true. For all the sacrifices made and than saying that “political parties need to help accident victims within temper, it is time that we in India provision of urban amenities to rural former Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, a troop casualties sufered by India, it seeking details of the surgical strikes the “golden hour” and protection require homoeopathy and any other areas and their basic infrastructure 39-year-old independent centrist who is a better was always suspected that some were unhappy that our soldiers given to them from police system of alternative medicine must include power, housing, water, ideological fit for many centre-left Socialists than is startling accusation would emanate came back alive in the operation”. It persecution and civil or criminal (under the umbrella of AYUSH or waste management, education, Mr. Hamon. Following the election, rifts in the to undo all that was done by the is a misconception that barbs are liabilities. In India, reckless driving otherwise) to be held to the same health and recreational facilities. party have become more open, with some senior Indian government in undertaking a essential to pull of election accounts for a major share of standards of scientific evidence as M. Sridhar Chakravarthi, leaders saying they cannot support Mr. Hamon and thankless job of taking on the LTTE victories. accidents. Heavy penalties should conventional medicine is — i.e., Hyderabad others asking him to adopt policies that would ap- at the behest of Sri Lanka (“I was G. David Milton, include suspension or even provide solid, scientific evidence of peal to a broader spectrum of voters. Among Mr. forced into a deal with India, Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu cancellation of a driving licence. The safety and eicacy before making For the picture book? Hamon’s policies are a universal basic income of Jayawardene told U.S. envoy”, Feb.5). present “friendly” rules hardly make any medical claim. about €750 a month, further cuts in the 35-hour Even when former Prime Minister I am afraid that publishing Uttar an impact. S. Dutt, One has lost count of elephant Rajiv Gandhi made the decision to Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh deaths in the recent past — from work week, and a plan to legalise marijuana. Not all V. Subramanian, Kolkata send the Indian Army to the island Yadav’s rejoinder quite immediately Thane, Maharashtra train hits, poaching, falling into open these are palatable to Socialists to Mr. Hamon’s nation, eyebrows were raised and after reporting Narendra Modi’s wells and electrocution, the last right. there was bitterness within the “SCAM” remark was not in good On urban living accounting for most cases (“Oicials A poll last week placed nativist Marine Le Pen of Indian top brass and think tanks over taste. It would have been just and Less cash push It is an established fact that the mull measures to prevent elephant the far-right National Front in the lead for round the futility of such an exercise. That fair had the response been given From the interview, “‘How many urban real estate market is being deaths”, Feb.5). While the electricity one of the presidential race, with Mr. Fillon and Mr. India played an America in Sri Lanka space right after covering the Prime people withdraw ₨1 lakh a month driven by investment needs rather boards can be faulted for mulling Macron neck-and-neck behind him. The Socialists was always feared. Critics sounded Minister’s speech in full. Let Mr. from savings accounts?’” (‘Business’ than out of a need for afordable late preventive measures, the Centre were expected to come in fourth. This did not last, the alarm that India was walking into Yadav try to take the sting out of Mr. page, Feb.4), it is clear that the housing (‘Weekend Reading’ page – has been lethargic in setting up a however. Growing dissatisfaction with Mr. Fillon’s a trap and for no worthwhile cause. Modi’s term. The question is Economic Afairs Secretary, “‘I think we need more cities’,” task force to suggest measures to History will never be kind and India whether The Hindu should have Shaktikanta Das, lives in an ivory Feb.5). This gap will only widen as prevent such tragedies. Stringent response to ‘Penelopegate’ has altered the results paid heavily for the adventure. covertly joined forces with him. tower. At any given time, hardly 10% investors would always be the punishment for illegal tapping of significantly; one poll showed that over 60% of re- Sivamani Vasudevan, C.G. Kuriakose, of ATMs function. How can he catalyst pushing housing prices electricity by the way of life spondents want Mr. Fillon to step down. The party Chennai Kothamangalam, Kerala propagate the idea that beyond the reach of most citizens. sentencing should be explored by a is considering finding a replacement candidate. remonetisation is complete? People One more danger arising out of this task force. This has bolstered the chances of Mr. Macron and ‘SCAM’ remark Save a life who had extended their unstinted will be the inability of town All open wells need to be fenced in Ms. Le Pen, a candidate who has benefited from the cooperation to this poorly planned authorities to support this massive the vicinity of elephant corridors anti-European Union, anti-migrant, populist wave Resorting to harsh linguistic The Karnataka Government needs scheme — the demonetisation — are growth with the necessary services. and accountability should rest with washing over Europe and across the Atlantic. She is profundity is unbecoming of the to be complimented for introducing frustrated by such irresponsible Basic amenities such as water, the owners, with punitive penalties still unlikely to win the second round of the race country’s Prime Minister (“PM the Good Samaritan Bill (“Good comments. sanitation and solid waste for non-compliance. It is incumbent since her opponent will attract the mainstream Modi terms political rivals in U.P. a Samaritan Bill awaits Governor’s R. Vidya Sagar, management are already under upon such a task force to make the ‘SCAM’,” Feb.5). Before such verbal nod”, Feb.3), a step to help accident Chennai strain. A solution would be to have Railways take preventive measures vote. This is a good thing as the National Front abuse, he ought to have given victims that must be replicated realistic limits to what constitutes in elephant corridors. At this rate, coming to power would further unravel Europe and thought to the amenability of his across India. It is possible that the the boundary of a city. We have to future generations will have to learn be a destabilising force in a world much in need of party’s name to the formation of public may still be wary of the HIV ‘cure’ create satellite cities. about this majestic animal only from tolerance and stability. For the moment the Élysée acronyms with equally negative efectiveness of the bill given the It is a matter of concern that large We need to create SEZs not just for picture books. Palace appears well within sight for Mr. Macron. connotations. The holder of the way such provisions are followed in numbers of people in Telangana are economic reasons but also out of a A.V. Narayanan, exalted oice of Prime Minister is practice. Extensive awareness being misled about a “cure” for HIV need to identify them as Tiruchi

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 PERSPECTIVE 11

FROM THE READERS’ EDITOR Breaking the status quo A chronicle of reverse The NDA government is determined to undertake reforms in all domains metamorphosis The game-changing decision to de- monetise high-value currency was The last column, “Is past the key to future?” (Jan. 30, M. VENKAIAH NAIDU aimed at bringing a major transforma- 2017), was not about the fortunes of the news media in- tion in the attitude of people as part of dustry. It was about the rupture caused by technological the measure to curb corruption and un- disruption in the value system that governs the informa- earth black money. With all the money tion ecology. The story I am sharing now is hard to be- Change is the key for progress. Fulfilling coming back into the banking system A.S. lieve and I would have dismissed it as fantasy a year ago. the dream of Resurgent India through a following the demonetisation of old PANNEERSELVAN It is about a bunch of teenagers who made money by gen- series of reformatory initiatives has ₨500 and ₨1,000 notes, there would be erating traic to websites through sensational fake news been the leitmotif of the National surplus liquidity for banks and this and, while doing so, played a role in upending an election far away. Democratic Alliance (NDA) govern- would naturally result in lower interest In the political imagination of the developing world, undivided ment under Prime Minister Narendra rates and increased access to credit. Yugoslavia represented the ideas of non-alignment and peaceful coexist- Modi ever since it was swept to power. Also, more money would be available to ence. One of its ancient cities, Vilazora, was renamed Titov Veles at the end From introducing a biometric attend- the government for spending on social of World War II to commemorate Josip Broz Tito. After the disintegration of ance system for government employees, welfare schemes. The Economic Survey Yugoslavia, the city became a part of Macedonia and it was renamed Veles in to selecting unsung heroes for the has indicated that growth would re- 1996. The lies and slander that have been produced by some of its youngsters Padma awards, to ensuring transpar- bound after the hit due to the demonet- in the recent past were amplified by social media platforms to alter the rules ency in the funding of political parties, isation. A success story of this saga is the of public discourse. This inconspicuous town became the unlikely epicentre the Prime Minister is seeking to trans- popularity of BHIM (Bharat Interface for fake news in the run-up to the U.S. presidential elections. form the mindset of individuals and the for Money) for mobile App-based Craig Silverman and Lawrence Alexander of BuzzFeed spotted the role of functioning of institutions. This was payments. this small city in the sudden spike in fake news (“How teens in the Balkans also reflected in the presentation of a Other schemes that seek to bring are duping Trump supporters with fake news”, Nov.4, 2016). They identified single, all-encompassing Budget by do- about transformation include One Na- more than 100 pro-Donald Trump websites being run from Veles, which has ing away with a separate Railway tion, One Market; the Deendayal Upad- become a sort of cottage industry. The youngsters from Veles had created Budget. hyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana; supply of 20 websites with American-sounding domain names such as WorldPoliti- Status quoists fear change, but vision- crore afordable LED bulbs; Mission In- cus.com, TrumpVision365.com, USConservativeToday.com, Don- aries with courage and conviction are dradhanush; Stand Up India; Start Up aldTrumpNews.co, and USADailyPolit- capable of taking game-changing de- India; repealing over 1,100 outdated laws ics.com to ensure traic, and began How did the social cisions in the larger interest of the na- with another 400 to be abrogated in the generating fake news. For instance, a media, which was a hero tion. It is time for citizens to realise that near future; and providing minimum story on WorldPoliticus.com cited un- Mr. Modi is singularly focussed on ush- monthly pension of ₨1,000. named FBI sources and claimed that during the Arab Spring in ering in total transformation in every GAME CHANGER: “Narendra Modi is focussed on ushering in transformation in every Hillary Clinton would be indicted in 2011, reduce itself to a walk of life and making every Indian a walk of life.” The PM in Varanasi as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. PHOTO: PTI The government’s agenda 2017 for crimes related to her email scan- villain now? proud citizen of a ‘clean, transparent The transformation-driven agenda of dal. Trump supporters used social me- and resurgent India’. government”. Status quoists fear change, the government was also reflected in the dia to generate more than 140,000 shares, reactions, and comments for this With the government according pri- 2017-18 Budget in which political fund- baseless story. These numbers, in turn, became a source of revenue for those Transforming India ority to the welfare of “Gaon, Garib, but visionaries with courage ing reforms were announced by Finance producing fake news through their Google AdSense account. The decision to demonetise high- Kisan, Mazdoor, Mahila and Yuva”, and conviction are capable of Minister Arun Jaitley. Now, a political value currency notes and other changes various schemes such as the Pradhan taking decisions in the larger party can receive a maximum amount of Creating fake news are marked by the Prime Minister’s Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana for financial in- ₨2,000 in cash as donation and every This easy way to earn a substantial amount of money has, of course, a motto of Reform, Perform and Trans- clusion, and the Pradhan Mantri Mudra interest of the nation party has to file its returns. The Reserve chilling, darker side to it. The Financial Times reported that a particularly form. The intention to transform India Yojana, have made a huge impact at the Bank of India Act is also proposed to be inflammatory story was put out by one of the Veles websites on December 6, for a better future was reflected in one of grass-roots level. Already an unpreced- transfer scheme for providing LPG sub- amended to enable issue of electoral 2016. It claimed that Syrian terrorists had attacked New York, when no such the government’s earliest decisions: ented 26 crore accounts for the un- sidy, has resulted in saving over ₨21,000 bonds. attack took place (“Macedonia’s fake news industry sets sights on Europe”, winding up the Planning Commission banked have been opened under the Jan- crore in the last two years. It is hearten- The Budget summed up the agenda of Dec.16, 2016). When the FT correspondent asked Slavcho Chadiev, the and setting up NITI (National Institu- Dhan scheme, while over ₨2 lakh crore ing to note that Chandigarh and eight the government — Transform, Energise, town’s mayor, about the websites credited by some with helping to elect Mr. tion for Transforming India) Aayog to has been provided under the Mudra districts in Haryana have been declared Clean India. According of infrastructure Trump as U.S. President, his opinion was not really diferent from that of the provide directional and policy inputs to Yojana for unfunded small businesses, kerosene-free. status to afordable housing is a huge teenagers who were generating fake news without guilt or responsibility. He the government. with 70% of the loans availed of by wo- As part of the government’s vision to step. Also, the allocation under the said: “No one can be sure, but it’s nice to think we could have changed the Similarly, another major initiative that men entrepreneurs. double the income of farmers by 2022 Housing for All scheme was enhanced course of American history… Some think we should now be called ‘Trump’s fetched the government lakhs of crores Cleanliness is next to godliness, to use and prevent farmers’ suicides, schemes to ₨23,000 crore as against ₨15,000 crore, Veles.’” The FT report documents the total absence of concern for truth. was the transparent auctioning of nat- a clichéd phrase. Unfortunately, import- such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima in this year’s Budget. “One of my best stories said Trump had slapped a Muslim guy at a rally,” said ural resources like spectrum and coal ance was never attached to vital aspects Yojana and the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Similarly, the usual practice of segreg- one 17-year-old website owner to the FT. Another website owner said that blocks. This was in contrast to the scam- of cleanliness by most till this govern- Sinchayee Yojana, to provide crop-risk ating plan and non-plan expenditure has he had “created more than 10,000 fake Facebook profiles to post links across tainted allocations conducted during ment launched the Swachh Bharat Ab- coverage at low premium and expand ir- been done away with. Reforms to be un- the social network and used an automated tool to schedule millions of the previous United Progressive Alli- hiyan, which virtually turned into a rigation facilities, have been yielding dertaken in the University Grants Com- posts.” The FT report also cites one of the Facebook groups managed by him ance regime. During the last two years, people’s movement. As a result, over 450 good results. In order to ensure easy mission, according greater autonomy called “American Politics Today” that has more than 85,000 followers. the NDA government has put an end to a cities, 1.4 lakh villages, 77 districts and credit to farmers, the corpus of for good quality institutions and ranking In its magazine section, the BBC profiled some of the youth from Veles discretionary-based system and moved three States have declared themselves as NABARD fund has been doubled to them on the basis of excellence and cre- who are actively involved in generating fake news (“The city getting rich to a transparency-oriented one. open defecation-free. A remarkable ₨41,000 crore. Steps taken by the govern- ation of innovation fund for secondary from fake news”, Dec.5, 2016). One of them told the BBC’s Emma Jane Kirby: Acceptance of the recommendations transformation in the attitude of the ment, including increasing minimum education are all aimed at bringing “The Americans loved our stories and we make money from them. Who of the 14th Finance Commission to de- people has made this possible. More support price for pulses and the pro- about transformation. cares if they are true or false?” He added: “Teenagers in our city don’t care volve 42% of the funds to States and 5% than three crore toilets have been con- curement of eight lakh tonnes of pulses, While the list of such revolutionary how Americans vote. They are only satisfied that they make money and can to local bodies from the divisible pool is structed under the mission. have controlled their prices. initiatives is exhaustive, it is suice to buy expensive clothes and drinks!” a clear example of Mr. Modi’s belief in Another initiative that focussed on Another revolutionary initiative has say that this government is determined cooperative federalism and in the spirit changing attitudes was the Give it Up been the Beti Bachao, Beti Padao not to be swerved from the path of trans- Role of technology companies of Team India. campaign. Following the Prime Minis- scheme. Over one crore accounts have forming the nation by undertaking re- My concerns are not restricted to the activities of a bunch of teenagers President Pranab Mukherjee, in a re- ter’s appeal to well-to-do families, over been opened and more than ₨11,000 forms in all domains, irrespective of the from a distant country exploiting political cleavages to earn some money. cent address to Parliament, mentioned 1.2 crore consumers voluntarily gave up crore has been deposited under the Pra- attempts by naysayers and status quoists They are also about the role of major technology companies, which have be- that the luminous path of social trans- their LPG subsidy. A whopping ₨36,000 dhan Mantri Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, to place hurdles in its way. come global platforms and the carriers of traic to news sites. The Washing- formation and reform shown by Guru crore has been saved by preventing leak- which seeks to ensure a secure future for ton Post’s Caitlin Dewey has meticulously explained how Facebook re- Gobind Singh and saint-philosopher ages after the direct benefit transfer of the girl child. The government has also M. Venkaiah Naidu is Union Minister of Urban peatedly trended fake news (“Facebook has repeatedly trended fake news Ramanujacharya serves as a beacon for Jan Dhan, Aadhar and Mobile. Similarly, enhanced maternity leave from 12 weeks Development, Housing and Urban Poverty since firing its human editors”, Oct.12, 2016). She reported that Facebook, on all and “is an inspiration to my PAHAL, the world’s largest cash benefit to 26 weeks. Alleviation, and Information and Broadcasting. August 26, 2016, laid of its editorial team and replaced them with engineers to vet news. Earlier, editors verified trending topics that were thrown up by the algorithm. Now, the engineers were asked to accept every trending topic linked to three or more recent articles irrespective of the source. The automated streams push advertisements to fake news, which in turn Return to a dangerous normal undermines the financial sustainability of credible news organisations. That is just one part of the tragedy. The shifting of the crucial editorial gate- keeping responsibility from humans to algorithms undermines democracy. The hurry to declare the clean-up operation complete raises questions that go beyond just the In an interview to The Guardian (“Facebook’s failure: did fake news and po- larized politics get Trump elected?” Nov.10, 2016), Claire Wardle, research specifics of the oil spill on the Chennai coast director at the Tow Center for Digital Journalism, said: “Facebook stumbled into the news business without systems, editorial frameworks and editorial guidelines, and now it’s trying to course-correct.” But a closer reading of The Indian National Centre for Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s statements reveals that he is still not pre- NITYANAND Ocean Information Services’ computer pared to concede that his company is not a mere platform but a major news JAYARAMAN model on the first day of the spill estim- organisation. His company’s “engagement” metrics are oblivious to that all- ated that for a 20-tonne spill at this time important line that divides news from misinformation. The answer to this of the year at Ennore, more than 60% disturbing reality may not lie in more technology or mathematics, but prob- would be beached by the end of the ably in a question: how did the social media, which was a hero during the On January 14, 2017, Ennore fisherfolk ninth day. What has been removed is the Arab Spring in 2011, reduce itself to a villain now? and the Save Ennore Creek campaign weathered oil and sludge from the released a song called “Chennai nearshore sea and the accessible parts [email protected] Poromboke Paadal” spotlighting En- of the intertidal area. The rocks remain nore as an environmental crime scene covered with oil, and the gaps between (disclosure: this writer was involved in rocks filled with toxic oily residues. the production of the song). Poromboke Standard practice is to use warm high- is an ancient Tamil revenue term de- pressure water and foams to remove oil CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS scribing areas reserved for communal from such terrain. Given that only buck- use such as the seashore, grazing ets were in evidence, it is safe to assume >>A sentence in the editorial headlined “H-1B visa in the spotlight” (Feb. 3, grounds, and the margins of wetlands. that KPL or the Coast Guard do not have 2017) read: “Indian IT firms have been among the top recipients of the 65,000 Sung by Carnatic vocalist T.M. Krishna, what it takes to clean spills that afect such visas ... garnering well in excess of 80% of them.” It should have been In- the song decries the degradation of the such rocky shores. dian nationals. Also, a sentence that read “…an unconfirmed draft executive word and the devaluation of the geo- order leaked to U.S. media houses appeared to call for reform of immigration graphies it denotes. It uses the pollution SLIPPERY SLOPE: “Nonchalance towards an inflammable chemical cocktail has What is normal? rules for skilled foreign workers that would raise the salary eligibility for such and encroachment of the Ennore Creek emboldened the state to deploy student volunteers, fishermen and conservancy Even after a thorough job of removing visas to $130,000…” should be recast to say: “…an unconfirmed draft executive to make the case for reclaiming the workers to handle toxic oil with inadequate protective gear.” Ennore Port. PHOTO: AFP the beached oil, talking about a return to order leaked to U.S. media houses appeared to call for reform of immigration word and healing the creek. normal is problematic. Chennai’s seas rules for skilled foreign workers. Scarcely days before this, bills in Congress Barely a fortnight later, two ships col- has emboldened the state to deploy un- and the Ennore Creek were in a state of called for a hike in the salary eligibility for such visas to $130,000…” lided of Kamarajar Port Limited’s trained, bucket-wielding student volun- Ending the clean-up should not crisis prior to the spill. The spill is the (KPL) harbour in Ennore. The con- teers, fishermen and conservancy be determined by the stamina latest in a series of insults on the estuar- >>Two mistakes in “Small, medium enterprises find Budget disappointing” sequent oil spill, the disaster that is un- workers to handle toxic oil with inad- of the executing agency, but ine and marine habitats. As you read (some editions, Feb. 3, 2017): 1) Reference to a flood that ruined more than folding in the name of containment and equate protective gear. this, KPL — a key agent in the unfolding 14,000 units causing losses to the tune of ₨11.8 lakh. It should have been ₨11.8 remediation, and the hurry to declare Petroleum oils are complex mixtures by the results of post- drama — is dumping dredged sand onto lakh per MSME; 2) An editing error: no specific announcement regarding in- the clean-up operation complete raise of chemicals that are toxic, bioaccumu- remediation assessments salt pans that are part of the Ennore wet- crease in the period after which a loan is considered an NPA from 90 to 18 questions that go beyond the incidents lative and persistent in the environ- lands. The petrochemical industries in days. It should have been 180 days. of this last week. ment. Some, like benzene, are known wonders what crimes will be commit- Manali are discharging tonnes of oily More than a week after the accident, human carcinogens. They enter the ted while cleaning up sites like the Bho- chemical eluents into the creek and >>One of the Budget-2017 highlights on a page titled “Consumer” (Feb, 2, there is no clarity on the quantity and body through inhalation, ingestion and pal factory, Unilever’s mercury-con- the sea. The power plants in the area are 2017) said: “To encourage digital exchange, cash transactions above ₨3 lakh nature of the material that spilled on the skin. An oil spill clean-up is a haz- taminated site in Kodaikanal, or the discharging their coal ash and hot waste would be permitted.” It should have been “would not be permitted”. January 28. This is not surprising. ardous waste remediation exercise. But DDT-laced soils of Hindustan Insect- water into the wetlands. Our regulators Denial, downplaying and buck-passing the world watched as Chennai’s youth icides in Eloor, Kerala — that are of- know all this and do nothing to enforce >>In the report, "Fiscal resolve may pave way for rate cut" (Feb. 2, 2017), the are standard disaster response protocol rolled up their sleeves and scooped the limits to citizens. the law. references in the second deck and the text to Bank of Merril Lynch should be that have stood the test of time from oily emulsion bare-handed by the It is this normal that is being ofered corrected to read: Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Bhopal to Kodaikanal to the Chennai bucketful. Clean-up complete? to us at the culmination of the clean-up. floods. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control In 1996, Union Carbide handed over Thanks to the spill, the media glare is Disasters are great teachers. The les- Board and the Ministry of Environment, its factory to the Madhya Pradesh gov- spotlighting the holes in our gov- It is the policy of The Hindu to correct significant errors as soon as sons though are never only about the Forest and Climate Change, who have ernment stating that the clean-up was ernance infrastructure. The clean-up possible. case in point. made a virtue of gutting environmental complete. Twenty years later, the site will only address the toxic oily residues, Please specify the edition (place of publication), date and page. due diligence to expedite project ap- remains contaminated and begging for and even that only to the extent that The Readers’ Editor’s oice can be contacted by Criminal nonchalance provals and ease the doing of business, a real clean-up. public pressure persists. The holes will Telephone: +91-44-28418297/28576300 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Despite the visibly oil-coated coast- are yet to utter a word about the spill. In Ennore too, the Coast Guard has remain. This governance deficit needs Friday); Fax: +91-44-28552963; E-mail:[email protected] line, the Coast Guard, KPL and various No advisories on the toxicity of the been threatening to complete the clean- to be fixed if we are to avert the death of Mail: Readers’ Editor, The Hindu, Kasturi Buildings, ministers have sought to underplay the spilled material have been issued. No up in a couple of days — less than 10 our life-support systems through the 859 & 860 Anna Salai, Chennai 600 002, India. disaster by referring to the spill as prosecution has been launched for viol- days from when it commenced. Ending slow-motion disaster of day-to-day pol- All communication must carry the full postal address and minor or a non-incident, and its envir- ation of environmental laws by various the clean-up should not be determined lution or shock incidents like oil spills. telephone number. onmental efects as negligible, nil or agents. by the stamina of the executing agency, No personal visits. temporary. This nonchalance towards a If this is how hazardous waste is but by the results of post-remediation Nityanand Jayaraman is a Chennai-based writer and The Terms of Reference for the Readers’ Editor are on www.thehindu.com toxic, inflammable chemical cocktail cleaned in full view of the world, one assessments. social activist. CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI 12 | NEWS THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 FROM PAGE ONE ‘India has to devise its own strategy on H-1B curbs’ BJP leader Muralidhar Rao says India’s growth using U.S. and European markets is no longer possible NISTULA HEBBAR (SJM), told The Hindu that ‘Mr. Trump’s actions threat with this new Bill. Terming these views his India had “limited influence President Trump is also ex- own, and not attributing it NEW DELHI: Amid growing un- on the Trump or any other could be seen as a pected to issue an executive either to the BJP or the gov- ease in India and the United U.S. administration”, which catalyst and not as order on H-1B restrictions ernment, Mr. Rao said Mr. States over legislation in the would always frame policy soon. Trump’s actions could be U.S. Congress advocating an looking at its own interests. an initiator of seen as a “catalyst” in the increase in salaries of H-1B “The United States is not protectionist moves’ Reflection of economy situation, and not as an “initi- visa holders to discourage framing any India-specific “These moves by the U.S. ator” of protectionist moves. American firms from hiring laws, and we may be able to based allocation of visas to are a reflection of what has “Wherever immigrants fill them, and an anticipated ex- influence it to a certain ex- those companies willing to been happening in the global the American skill gap, they ecutive order from President tent but not enough for the pay more than double the economy in the past few may still be unafected, but, Donald Trump, BJP general U.S. to change a certain $60,000 fixed as minimum years. Globalisation has been wherever there can be an secretary Muralidhar Rao course it has decided on,” he annual wage for H-1B holders seeing a downward journey American substitute, it will says India should “devise its said. in 1989, which has remained for some time. The econom- be diferent,” he said. V.K. Sasikala flashes the victory sign after meeting AIADMK own strategy” rather than try Muralidhar Rao unchanged since. ies of the U.S. and European “We need to respond to MLAs in Chennai on Sunday. — PHOTO: PTI to put pressure on the U.S. Minimum wage The economic advantage countries are facing a down- this by devising our own government. The High-Skilled Integrity latest in a series of Bills that of hiring low-salaried tech- turn. The growth that we strategy, and orient our in- Mr. Rao, who earlier and Fairness Act of 2017 in- aim to restrict the number of nology workers from India want to register using their dustries to create more sus- Sasikala set to become headed the RSS ailiate troduced by California Con- H-1B visa holders. and other countries, instead markets is not possible now,” tainable profits,” the BJP T.N. Chief Minister Swadeshi Jagaran Manch gressman Zoe Lofgren is the The Bill advocates market- of locally, comes under he said. leader said. Earlier in the day, after his In the evening, Chief visit to Ernavur, a Chennai Secretary Girija Vaidy- Kashmir is the suburb, where he oversaw anathan, Public Secretary the clean-up operations fol- Shiv Das Meena and a few ‘BJP storm will blow away Akhilesh’ core dispute, says lowing an oil spill, Mr. Pan- other senior oicials met neerselvam along with Ms. Sasikala at Poes Nawaz Sharif senior Ministers and party Garden, ostensibly to get a Modi says that due to the ‘BJP wave’, the Chief Minister joined hands with anyone he could find leaders went to her Poes briefing on her plans to take ISLAMABAD: Upping the ante, Garden residence and had a over the reins of MOHAMMAD ALI youth belonging to the Yadav Pakistan Prime Minister meeting with her. administration. community in recruitment Nawaz Sharif on Sunday said The Chief Minister and Tamil Nadu has on three MEERUT: Prime Minister Nar- by the Akhilesh Yadav gov- Kashmir was the “core dis- the Ministers later arrived occasions in the past wit- endra Modi on Sunday said ernment and promised elim- pute” between India and for the meeting at the party nessed persons not elected Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister ination of all kinds of corrup- Pakistan and the dream of head oice on Avvai Shan- to the Assembly being Akhilesh Yadav and the Con- tion from the recruitment for peace and prosperity of the mugam Road. sworn in as Chief Minister. gress had joined hands to government jobs in the State. people of the region would save themselves from the remain elusive without BJP wave in the Assembly Widow’s pension resolving the issue. polls. He attacked the SP rule Expressing shock at the re- Describing the Kashmir is- DMK, BJP slam decision for encouraging mafias and ports of “corrupt people sue as the “unfinished “They should disclose to them,” Mr. Ramadoss said. goondaraj, and blamed the withdrawing money out of a agenda of Partition and the the people the need for The Aam Aadmi Party State government for lack of widow’s pension” from oldest disputes in the U.N. changing the Chief Minis- said the people of Tamil growth in the world-famous banks, Mr. Modi said, “the Security Council,” he said ter, who has been function- Nadu should wave black lock industry of Aligarh. corrupt are flourishing un- that “for the last seven dec- ing for the past two months, flags on the day of Ms. After his acronym ‘SCAM’ der the present U.P. govern- ades India has denied the in such a hurried manner,” Sasikala’s swearing-in to for the SP, Congress, ment. To stop this, we have, people of Kashmir the right Mr. Vasan said. express their disapproval. Akhilesh and Mayawati on from the Centre, linked pen- to self-determination prom- “It is an internal party “Supporters of MGR and Saturday, Mr. Modi coined sions to Aadhaar cards and ised to them by the interna- matter. Democratically, Jayalalithaa, and all people another at his rally on bank accounts. Forty thou- tional community through whomever they want to se- who expect a clean and Sunday — VIKAS which, he sand crore of the treasury numerous UNSC resolu- lect, they can do it. It is their non-corrupt government said, stood for vidyut (elec- that these rats would have si- tions.” He was speaking on right to select their leader,” should fly black flags in tricity), kanoon (law and or- lently eaten, is now being the occasion of ‘Kashmir TNCC president Su. public places and their der) and sadak (roads). Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election rally in Aligarh on Sunday. — PHOTO: PTI saved.” Solidarity Day’. Mr. Modi told the gather- “The people of Pakistan Thirunavukkarasar, said. homes, on the day she takes Lock industry ‘ruined’ Former TNCC president over,” the party said in a said, “The present govern- how electricity came on spe- screws. Through demonet- ing, many of whom were join their Kashmiri brothers E.V.K.S. Elangovan statement. Addressing a huge rally on ment of the State has nothing cific days of a week. But the isation, I asked for an ac- farmers: “The Akhilesh gov- and sisters in observing slammed the move calling However, the Viduthalai the Numaish ground in Al- to do with development. The times have changed. We are count of the crimes they have ernment buys only three per Kashmir Solidarity Day to it a “black day” for Tamil Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), igarh, Mr. Modi said, “Here in Aligarh locks used to be working all day and night to committed for the last 70 cent of grains from farmers. reairm our moral, diplo- Nadu. He said followers of Dravidar Kazhagam and front of me I can see a safron world-famous, but the State ensure that electricity years. These people have But we gave ₨22,000 crore to matic and political support MGR and Jayalalithaa the CPI (M) welcomed the sea. When a storm comes, government has made sure reaches every home. We are nothing to do with develop- sugarcane farmers. Give us to the legitimate struggle of would never accept elevation of Ms. Sasikala. everyone looks for a safe that the manufacturing units working for U.P.’s VIKAS,” ment. They came together an opportunity, we will the Kashmiri people for their Sasikala. The PMK too hit The VCK welcomed the de- shelter. Similarly, in the were shut down and the Al- Mr. Modi said. only to ensure that Modi change the situation basic human rights, espe- out at the AIADMK. “It is a cision as all the MLAs had storm of people’s support for igarh locks were used to lock Accusing the entire Op- doesn’t get a majority in the completely.” cially the right to self-de- big betrayal of the people of unanimously elected her, BJP, the Chief Minister here them. The lock industry is no position of ganging up Rajya Sabha and he is unable Touting “shocking” crime termination enshrined in the Tamil Nadu who voted for its leader Thol. Thirumava- has joined hands with any- longer in a great situation.” against him because of the to make laws to curb and ex- figures to underline his point relevant Security Council Jayalalithaa as the Chief lavan said. “It augurs well one he found. But, the fact is, “The manufacturing units Central government’s moves pose their corruption.” of the goondaraj in the State resolutions,” Mr. Sharif said. that won’t save him from the were shut down because the against corruption, Mr. Modi being patronised by the SP Pakistan wants the global Minister. The party is now for the State that she has ‘Recruitment scam’ bringing in a totally unre- been elected unanimously, storm.” State government in Luc- said, “These days some government, Mr. Modi said, community to raise its voice lated person to the post,” and there will no longer be Mr. Modi accused the SP know could not provide people are issuing fatwa He raised the issue of al- “There are 24 rapes in Uttar for an end to the ‘gross viola- party founder S. Ramadoss two power centres, elimin- government of ruining the them with electricity. People against me because I have legations of corruption and Pradesh daily.” tion of human rights’ in said. “It is a big question ating any divergence in de- lock industry of Aligarh and at tea stalls and hotels talk started tightening the discrimination in favour of Kashmir, he said. — PTI mark over the future of cision-making, while mak- Tamil Nadu that the Chief ing her the main person Minister’s chair which saw responsible for all de- the likes of Kamaraj and cisions,” Dravidar Hold referendum on Anna, is now going to be oc- Kazhagam leader K. Man and beast cupied by a person who is Veeramani said. facing various corruption G. Ramakrishnan, State own soil: Rajnath to Pak. charges. “Just like 1991-96, secretary, CPI(M) while HARIDWAR: Ms. Sasikala’s relatives are congratulating Ms. Sasikala Union Home Min- going to indulge in anti- said the party hoped she ister Rajnath Singh on democratic activities and would take into account all Sunday said Pakistan should people should live in fear opinions, especially those hold a referendum on its soil that their homes and factor- of the people of TN and run to ascertain what its people ies could be taken over by the government smoothly. really wanted before asking for a popular vote in Jammu and Kashmir. HRD Ministry worried “Pakistani authorities who speak in favour of a referen- Rajnath Singh Some of the identified enrolment of girl child and dum in Kashmir better con- schemes include direct economically weaker sec- duct it first on their own soil terests, he said they would cash transfer of food sub- tions in schools — with to know what their people have long-term and good sidy under the National Aadhaar has been put on really want,” said Mr. Singh, efects. Food Security Act, supple- hold after the Supreme who addressed two rallies in At another rally in the area mentary nutrition to chil- Court stayed the mandat- Haridwar (Rural) to mobilise from where Congress Chief dren below six and preg- ory use of Aadhaar in one of support for the BJP for the Minister Harish Rawat is nant mothers, alongwith the scholarship schemes of February 15 Assembly polls contesting, the Home Minis- monthly honorarium for West Bengal in September. in Uttarakhand. ter said that if voted to anganwadi workers under In the December meet- Terming both demonetisa- power, the BJP would make the Integrated Child Devel- ing, the Cabinet Secretariat tion and surgical strike steps crop loans to farmers in- opment Services, and sub- asked the Unique Identific- taken in the country’s in- terest-free. — PTI sidy on housing loans un- ation Authority of India to der the Pradhan Mantri “expedite and take the Awas Yojana (Grameen). opinion of the Attorney However, there is uncer- General in respect of noti- Reinvented JuD holds tainty over the 11 schemes fications to be issued for of the HRD Ministry identi- [two] scholarship schemes rallies across Pakistan fied to be covered under at the earliest.” The Cabinet the Aadhaar Act. Secretariat asked the HRD LAHORE: RISKY RIDE: Seventy-four persons and a bull were injured on Sunday during the jallikattu held at Avaniyapuram, one of Jamaat-ud-Dawah Schedule of the Anti-Terror- The proposed notifica- Ministry to “expedite pre- and Falah-e-Insaniyat, re- ism Act by the government. tion to link two Centrally paration of draft notifica- the three places renowned for bull-taming in Madurai district. Nearly 600 bulls and 700 tamers took part in the event, which was conducted after a gap of two years. — PHOTO: G. MOORTHY cently placed under a Saeed had indicated a sponsored student scholar- tion in respect of the re- “watch-list” and against week before his “house ar- ship schemes — to promote maining nine schemes”. which the Pakistani govern- rest” that he might launch ment launched a crackdown, the TAJK to “expedite the on Sunday held rallies across freedom of Kashmir”. The the country under the ban- Interior Ministry had also Delhi, Dhaka push Ganga basin project ED files laundering case ner of Tehreek Azadi Jammu placed Saeed and 37 other Kashmir (TAJK). JuD and FIF members on the KALLOL BHATTACHERJEE during the visit of the then solution to aridity in the against Noida firm The rallies were organised exit control list, barring them Prime Minister Manmohan Bangladeshi territory that just days after the JuD’s chief from leaving Pakistan. NEW DELHI: Bangladesh and In- Singh to Dhaka in 2011. Dhaka blames on the Farakka SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Kanpur, Ghaziabad and and Mumbai attack master- At rallies in several parts dia have held talks on the Former Bangladeshi Ambas- barrage. Once completed, Noida. mind, Hafiz Saeed, was put of Pakistan, the participants Ganga basin development sador Mohammed Zamir, the Ganga barrage can hold NEW DELHI: The Enforcement While the Income-Tax De- under “house arrest” in demanded immediate re- project after dialogue on the who is a specialist on the is- water for the lower riparian Directorate (ED) has re- partment is also conducting Lahore under the Fourth lease of Saeed. — PTI Teesta water-sharing agree- sue, said Bangladesh needed system in the lean season. gistered a money laundering a probe, the Special Task ment slowed down, India’s support to build a Sources indicated that a case to probe the alleged Force of the U.P. police has Bangladeshi sources said new Ganga barrage on its ter- Ganga basin development cheating to the tune of ₨3,700 already arrested three of the during the weekend. The ritory to operationalise the project could become a ma- crore by a Noida-based mul- accused, including company project is expected to feature scheme. jor achievement for Prime tilevel marketing company, director Anubhav Mittal, prominently on the agenda Minister Sheikh Hasina be- against which the Uttar Pra- CEO Shridhar Prasad and of Prime Minister Sheikh For joint development fore the next election of desh police have registered technician Mahesh Dayal. Hasina’s next visit to India, Sheikh Hasina “The main component of Bangladesh due in two years. an FIR. The company collec- “According to their busi- which is yet to be finalised. the Ganga basin develop- Prime Minister Hasina’s ted funds from more than 6.5 ness model, they promoted a Joint dredging and develop- ment is the issue of joint de- visit has not been finalised so lakh investors promising scheme through their web Navigation and irrigation ment activities in the basin velopment and manage- far even as talks on the good income from online portal, whereby people “Ganga basin develop- area are also part of the ment. That apart, Teesta river-sharing has promotion schemes. could make money by liking ment project will help agri- project. Bangladesh needs a new been stalled because of dif- web pages that were fraudu- culture and river navigation The Ganga basin develop- Ganga barrage to hold water ferences between West Searches conducted lently shown to be associated and revive the river eco- ment project was first con- released from the Farakka Bengal Chief Minister On Sunday, the ED con- with social media groups like nomy,” said a source close to ceived during the UPA rule barrage,” said Mr. Zamir. Mamata Banerjee and Prime ducted searches on the Google and Facebook,” said the ongoing discussions. and came up for discussion The barrage will provide a Minister Narendra Modi. premises of the accused in an ED oicial.

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI ELECTIONWATCH | THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 UTTAR PRADESH, UTTARAKHAND, PUNJAB, MANIPUR, GOA 13

POLLDIARY

Now, it is anybody’s game in Punjab BJP to go it alone in Manipur IMPHAL: Ram Madhav, the BJP national secretary, said here on Sunday that the party would not join Political analysts interpret the high turnout as a vote for change, but others point to the strikingly similar polling figure in 2012 hands with any party for the Manipur Assembly elections. “The straight fight VIKAS VASUDEVA in the two regions. districts indicates that the especially after the Dera in the tribal-dominated hill Political experts usually AAP could have an edge here Sacha Sauda of Sirsa an- districts will be between CHANDIGARH: A vote for associate a high voter as people could have voted nounced its support for the the BJP and the Naga change? Many interpret the turnout as an indication of a for change. Having said that, SAD-BJP combine,” said Mo- People's Front,” Mr. heavy turnout in the keenly vote for change, though the voters siding with the Con- hammed Khalid, Professor of Madhav said. This will be contested Assembly polls in hypothesis has no scientific gress cannot be ruled out,” Political Science at Panjab the first such fight Punjab on Saturday as one validation. In the 2012 As- Ashutosh Kumar, Professor University. between the two parties that has the potential to un- sembly elections, of Political Science since the lone BJP MLA is seat a government. Punjab voters de- at Panjab Univer- Three-cornered contest not a tribal and is from With more voters exer- fied this theory, sity, said. Given the situation in Pun- the valley district of Im- cising their franchise in most with as much as Notably, the dis- jab, where the contest was phal East. He said there 78.6% of the elect- tricts falling in the mainly between the AAP and had been no development INFOCUS orate exercising Malwa region re- Congress, the votes of the during the 15 years of their franchise to corded nearly 84% Dera followers could have Congress rule while cor- ILLUSTRATION: SATHEESH VELLINEZHI return the alliance polling, while the been divided between the ruption was rampant. It of the districts in the Malwa of the Shiromani Doaba area re- AAP and the Akalis. This was during the Congress regime that close family region, which accounts for Akali Dal and the gistered a turnout would have benefited the members of some Ministers were roped in for drug 69 of the 117 Assembly seats Bharatiya Janata of about 74%. The Congress, he said. Mr. Khalid trafficking. He said, “The BJP is committed to pro- in the State, political analysts Party to power. In the cur- Majha region registered said that in Doaba and Ma- tecting the integrity of Manipur.” On the Congress believe that the Aam Aadmi rent election, the State saw a around 75%. “When there is jha, polling has been relat- charge that the BJP was a threat to the territory, he Party can be the gainer in this 78.62% turnout — almost the higher polling, usually it is ively lower, giving mixed sig- said, “The peace accord and framework agree- belt. However, with the same as in 2012. presumed that it is for nals on the voting pattern. ments are between the Centre and the NSCN(IM).” Doaba and the Majha regions “The AAP appeared to be a ‘change’. In Malwa, polling “In Doaba, the AAP was seen — Staff Reporter recording a lower turnout, strong contender in pockets has been as high as 88%, as having considerable sup- the AAP can fall short of of the Malwa region during which hints at a gain for the port of the NRIs, but in Ma- seats to form a government. the campaign ... A comparat- AAP, but the Congress also jha, the Congress certainly Repolling in Goa booth tomorrow The Congress holds an edge ively higher polling in Malwa seems to have an advantage, has an upper hand,” he said. PANAJI: The Election Commission on Sunday ordered repolling in one booth in the Margao constituency of south Goa on Tuesday, after polling was called off on Saturday following failure by officials to follow procedure. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer, Princes have pauperised nation: Shah On location Goa, Sumit Mukherjee, Secretary to the Commis- sion, instructed that political parties and candid- Insecurity forced SP one km of road for ₨18 crore, ates be informed in writing about the fresh polling. while Akhilesh’s govern- “Please ensure that wide publicity is done about it to tie up with ment developed one km for in media and also by beating of drums [Davandi] in Congress, says BJP ₨31 crore. the polling areas of that station,” Mr. Mukherjee national president “I have not come to sup- said. Polling at the government primary school at port Pankaj Singh. Noida is Aquem in Margao was cancelled after officials at PURUSHARTH ARADHAK for sure the BJP’s seat. I ap- the booth failed to delete the sample votes logged peal to Noida residents to in the electronic voting machine. The sample votes NOIDA: BJP national president vote in huge numbers so that have to be deleted before voting starts.— Special Amit Shah on Sunday trained Pankaj Singh’s victory mar- Correspondent his guns on Akhilesh Yadav gin becomes a history in Ut- and Rahul Gandhi as he cam- tar Pradesh. Vote for a paigned for Pankaj Singh, change of fortune of Uttar Minister raises poll pitch in Uttarakhand son of Union Home Minister Pradesh as the BSP and the DEHRADUN: Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh on Rajnath Singh, in Noida. SP have looted the State,” Mr. Sunday accused the Congress government in Ut- Alleging that one shahz- Shah said. tarakhand of indulging in scams and not working for ada [prince] had robbed the While slamming Congress the State’s development. “Instead of taking advant- country and another had vice-president Rahul age of Central schemes and utilising the develop- robbed Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Gandhi, Mr. Shah said, ment funds allocated by it, the State government Shah appealed to voters to BJP national president Amit Shah, left, flanked by BJP “Rahul baba keeps asking kept itself busy with scams and shouting slogans not just ensure Mr. Pankaj candidate Pankaj Singh, in Noida on Sunday. —PHOTO: PTI what PM Modi has done in against the Centre,” Mr. Singh told Singh’s victory but also vote two-and-a-half years of gov- the media here on Sunday. Mr. to change the fortune of the earth to space. criminals in his party,” Mr. ernance. I, on behalf of PM Singh, who is here to campaign for State. “You must be watching Shah said. Modi, reply to Rahul that the BJP for the February 15 As- Mr. Shah said Mr. Akhilesh photos of Rahul baba and Debunking the Chief Min- first we have given a PM to sembly polls, said the State govern- tried to portray a clean im- Akhilesh together. If ister’s claims of corruption- the country, who speaks. ment could not spend ₨10 crore out age, but his fear of losing the Akhilesh has done so much free governance, the BJP Former PM Manmohan of a total of ₨36.74 crore sent by the elections had forced him to work and wants to paint a president said, “Noida has Singh only listened to Sonia Centre under the National Agricul- ally with the most corrupt clean image, then what also witnessed an Akhilesh Gandhi.” ture Development Scheme in 2014- political party on earth. forced him to go for an alli- government scam in the “Soldiers were losing their 2015 and could spend just ₨15 crore out of the ₨54.4 While naming AgustaWest- ance with the Congress? cycle track. In the name of lives during the Congress re- crore available with it under the scheme in 2016-17. land, Adarsh, 2G, Common- Akhilesh has admitted his ‘cosmetic development’, gime, but in PM Modi’s re- The Union Minister charged the State government wealth Games and coal failure before the polls as his Akhilesh tries to hide his gime, the Army replies with with not furnishing the Centre with details of how it scams, Mr. Shah said only the insecurity forced his alli- government’s corruption. gola (bombs) against STAR POWER: Congress leader Nagma at the venue for an spent the funds allocated to the State under the Na- Congress could take credit ance. He has also accom- Under PM Narendra Modi’s Pakistan’s goli (bullet) ,” Mr. upcoming election rally in Meerut on Sunday. —PHOTO: PTI tional Food Security Scheme or the Prime Minister’s for scams spanning from modated tainted people and regime, the Centre develops Shah said. irrigation scheme. He said the State had not yet re- sponded to the Centre’s letter despite several re- minders seeking land for setting up agricultural sci- ences centres in Pithoragarh and Chamoli Congress brings out Rae Bareli, a dynast’s destination districts.—PTI Uttarakhand manifesto BJP leader promises development of Braj In the Congress Gandhi and Nehru the MATHURA: BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma is villains. campaigning here, promising them “uplift” of Braj, to bastion, politics Akhilesh and his brother, unseat Pradeep Mathur of the Congress, who is bank- comes full circle Ashok Singh, were both ing on his “connect with the locals.” Mr. Sharma has with the party once in the Congress as was made a slew of promises for Braj, including getting their father, Dhunni Singh, Mathura included in the NCR area fielding Aditi Singh an influential zamindar. and the Yamuna cleaned. He ac- The political lives of the cused the Samajwadi Party and Mr. SMITA GUPTA Gandhis and Singhs re- Mathur of doing little for Mathura. mained intertwined for “There is a problem of drinking RAE BARELI: Akhilesh Singh decades, with Indira water on the one hand and water- has held political sway over Gandhi often visiting their logging on the other. This is the Rae Bareli, the Gandhi bas- house to meet Dhunni birthplace of Lord Krishna but there tion in Uttar Pradesh, for 25 Singh. But the Singhs, who is a lack of amenities. Electric sup- years, progressing over the started out as “opinion ply is erratic, there are problems of transport, and the past decade from the fam- makers” and “facilitators”, crime rate has risen more alarmingly than in Main- ily’s chief facilitator to its FAMILY TREE: Aditi Singh, who is contesting the Rae Bareli ended up as antagonists. puri and Etah,” Mr. Sharma says. He says that the principal opponent. A gen- Sadar seat. — PHOTO: SMITA GUPTA Now, Ms. Singh is return- Akhilesh Yadav government received funds from the Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat, left, along erous benefactor to his con- ing to the family’s roots in Centre under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban with Congress leaders Ambika Soni and Kumari Selja in stituents and a bahubali the hint of an American ac- she is taking a break at her the Congress because she Renewal Mission, but Mathura residents have not Dehradun. — PHOTO: VIRENDER SINGH NEGI (strongman) to his critics, cent, Ms. Singh has spent desk, papers piled up high. likes its “inclusive politics” . gained anything because of improper implementa- he has remained at the the past two years tramping Flanking it is a glass-fron- Her first cousin, Manish tion. — PTI DEHRADUN: The Congress on The manifesto has set a heart of this district’s through Rae Bareli’s ted cupboard full of neatly Singh, is however contest- Sunday released its mani- target to make at least 30 per politics. bylanes, and bumping labelled files on education, ing on the BSP ticket from a festo for Uttarakhand which cent of unirrigated land par- Now, seriously ill, he has down its dusty village roads health and local issues that neighbouring constituency. Modi to address 4 rallies in Uttarakhand focusses on disaster manage- tially or fully irrigated over passed the baton to his 29- to its furthest corners. need attention. A white Unembarrassed about DEHRADUN: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address ment, infrastructure devel- the next five years. year-old daughter, Aditi Today, the tall young wo- board on the wall lists her her father’s image of being four rallies in Uttarakhand starting February 10 to opment, economic em- The disaster management Singh; she is contesting the man, a dupatta modestly schedule for the week. the local strongman, she drum up support for the BJP for the February 15 As- powerment of women and mechanism will be Rae Bareli Sadar Assembly draped over her head, sun- says: “That’s just a tag. The sembly elections in the State. Mr. stopping migration from the strengthened by appointing seat this time — the seat Mr. shades in place, bitiya Love-hate relationship fact is the poor love him. Modi will start with a rally in Harid- hills. The State goes to the five “aapda [disaster] Singh won thrice on the (daughter) to her constitu- If Ms. Singh’s oice is any You can’t get elected five war on February 10 to be followed polls on February 15. mitras” in every village. Congress symbol, once as ents, is a familiar sight here. indication, her politics is times without people’s by another in Pithoragarh on Febru- Releasing the manifesto, Employment opportunit- an Independent and most If her father’s name is her likely to be very diferent support.” ary 11 and two each in Shrinagar and Chief Minister Harish Rawat ies will be generated in the recently, on the Peace Party calling card, her election from that of her father’s. The Lok Sabha seat here Rudrapur on February 12, State BJP said the emphasis was on remote hill areas through re- ticket. plank is to fix the basics — When I met him five years may be the uncontested media in-charge Devendra Bhasin halting migration from the newed emphasis on skill de- The facilitator for Ms. roads, water, electricity — ago, his oice held a table, preserve of the Gandhi fam- said. hills caused by an absence of velopment of local youth to Singh’s entry into the Con- the “unglamorous” part of some dusty chairs and a lu- ily, local Congressmen say. The campaign scene is hotting up employment avenues, eco- stop the exodus in search of gress? Priyanka Gandhi politics, as she phrases it. At minous Subhas Chandra But the man who plays a in Uttarakhand with both the BJP nomic empowerment of wo- work, the Chief Minister Vadra, whom she describes each stop, she spends a few Bose — in his Congress pivotal role in all the other and the Congress having already announced their men and creation of basic said. as a “youth icon”. minutes talking about her avatar — looking down elections here is Akhilesh election manifestos and their top brass descending infrastructure. The manifesto promises Educated in Mussoorie background before asking from one wall. In his ver- Singh, they add. on the State to hit the campaign trail. Union Ministers Congress in-charge of the creation of new districts, de- and Delhi and in the U.S. at people about their prob- sion of the freedom So much so, that the Con- Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Radha Mohan Singh State Ambika Soni, Pradesh velopment of infrastructure, Duke University, where she lems, noting them before struggle, Bose was the hero, gress is confident that this have already addressed rallies in different parts of Congress Committee presid- boosting connectivity and acquired a Master’s in Man- moving on. Jinnah, Ambedkar, Lohia is one seat that is already the State. ent Kishore Upadhyay and building a modern Ut- agement Studies, and with When I catch up with her, the supporting cast, and theirs. Dynasty does help. Congress star campaigners Sonia Gandhi and Kumari Selja were present. tarakhand. — PTI Rahul Gandhi are likely to address rallies in the State in coming days. — PTI

Rahul, Akhilesh take on Modi at second joint rally Man held with cash in Varanasi VARANASI: A man was detained here on Sunday for KANPUR: Hitting back at Prime Addressing a joint rally this is his reality,” Mr. Gandhi vice-president said, “De- the youth, who would give a the people but false promises allegedly carrying ₨3.75 lakh in cash in violation of the Minister Narendra Modi here with Mr. Akhilesh Ya- said, adding that the Con- monetisation has hurt the befitting response to him in in its tenure while the Sama- model code of conduct in force for the elections, the over his ‘SCAM’ jibe, Con- dav, Mr. Gandhi urged voters gress-Samajwadi alliance poor the most. Do not raise the U.P. elections as he gave jwadi Party had delivered the police said. Mohammad Sakib of Jaunpur district was gress vice-president Rahul to ensure that the outcome of had made Mr. Modi jittery. these slogans [denouncing the slogan of ‘Make in India’, goods. Hailing the Congress- taking the cash from Mughalsarai to Jaunpur in his Gandhi on Sunday alleged the Bihar election was re- “S in fact stands for ‘ser- Modi], but vote for the Con- made promises, but SP tie-up, Mr. Yadav said, “A car, they said. He could not furnish any valid that one who was in the peated in U.P. vice’, C for ‘courage’, A for gress-SP alliance and ensure provided no jobs”. Mr. true friend is one who is big- documents to show the source of the money, the wrong saw a scam in “Whenever Modi is ‘ability’ and M for ‘modesty’,” that Modi never utters the Akhilesh Yadav, who reached hearted. If you befriend a police said, adding that the Income Tax Department everything, while SP chief nervous, he starts giving la- he said at the rally on the gov- name of Uttar Pradesh again, an hour ahead of Mr. Gandhi, mean person, you will only had been informed of the seizure. Under the model Akhilesh Yadav said the ac- bels PPE, ABC, DEF, GHY. ernment inter-college the same way he forgot to say also took on the Prime Min- sufer. We had an alliance code of conduct, carrying more than ₨50,000 in case ronym stood for “Save coun- Now this SCAM ... A person ground here. Bihar after the Assembly ister for his ‘SCAM’ taunt, al- with the Congress because without valid papers is prohibited, the police said. try from Amit Shah and who is in the wrong sees a Attacking Mr. Modi over elections there.” Mr. Gandhi leging that the Modi govern- both of us are large- The Assembly elections will be held from February 11 Modi.” scam everywhere because the note ban, the Congress said Mr. Modi was “afraid of ment had given nothing to hearted.”— PTI to March 8 in seven phases. — PTI CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI 14 | WORLD THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 Visa holders hope to enter U.S. Refugee ban is unchristian, Advocates ask travellers to get on the earliest flights; V-P Pence calls court decision ‘frustrating’ says Indian-origin evangelist

VARGHESE K. GEORGE CHICAGO: Visa holders from seven majority-Muslim Iran lifts ban on WASHINGTON: Evangelical countries who were turned Christians voted for Donald away from the United States U.S. wrestlers Trump in large numbers but due to President Donald hundreds of their leaders Trump’s travel ban are hop- TEHRAN: Iranian media said on have opposed the temporary ing to make it through a nar- Sunday that the country has ban on refugees imposed by row window opened by legal lifted a ban on U.S. wrestlers, the President. Mr. Trump challenges. allowing them to take part in the has promised to give priority The federal appeals court Freestyle World Cup later this to Christians when he re- in San Francisco denied Mr. month in the Iranian city of opens the refugee admis- Trump’s efort to immedi- Kermanshah. sions programme. ately reinstate the ban early The Sunday report by the Many evangelical leaders on Sunday. For now, it re- semi-official Fars news agency believe that turning your mains blocked by a judge’s quoted Foreign Ministry back to human sufering is temporary restraining order, spokesman Bahram Ghasemi as ‘unchristian’, while many see and federal oicials have told saying that the ban was lifted in the humanitarian crisis an AMERICA FOR ALL: A protest against U.S. President Donald their staf to comply. after the “discriminative opportunity for evangelism Trump’s executive order on Saturday. — PHOTO: AFP Advocates weren’t taking restrictions” on Iranian nationals among Muslims — who are any chances, telling people travelling to the U.S. was reportedly converting to Mr. George is part of an platforms. “We strongly op- who could travel to get on suspended by a U.S. federal Christianity in large num- evangelical stream that be- pose the refugee ban. Those the earliest flights they could judge. bers in Europe. lieves “Jesus was a Refugee,” who fleeing violence, find after the week-old ban The wrestlers were originally a thought spurred by Joan E. whether they are Christian was blocked Friday by U.S. banned from the Feb. 16-17 ‘Jesus was a refugee’ Taylor, Professor of Chris- or Muslim, have to be wel- District Judge James Robart competition after President Sam George, Chicago- tian Origins and Second comed and sheltered,” Mr. in Seattle. Donald Trump temporarily based Indian-American Temple Judaism at King’s George, who leads the out- “We’re telling them to get suspended travel from seven evangelist who has been College London, in a reach to diasporas for the on the quickest flight ASAP,” JUDICIAL SUCCOUR: International travellers are greeted as they arrive at the John F. Kennedy Muslim-majority countries, working among the West September 2015 blog. The Lausanne Movement, a said Rula Aoun, director of international airport in New York City on Saturday. — PHOTO: REUTERS including Iran. — AP Asian refugees in Europe, meme gained traction as global network of evangel- the Arab American Civil says people escaping the vi- hundreds of thousands of ical leaders, says. Rights League in Dearborn, are U.S. citizens and the olence perpetrated in the Syrian refugees reaching World Relief, a humanit- Michigan. Her group sued in mother has an immigrant name of their own faith are Europe caused hostile reac- arian outfit ailiated with federal court in Detroit, chal- visa, but the other two chil- ‘You think our country is innocent?’, increasingly turning to tions in host countries. the National Association of lenging Mr. Trump’s execut- dren don’t have their papers Christianity. “Joseph and Mary fled to Evangelicals, has received ive order as unconstitu- yet. In New York, 33-year-old asks Trump, backing Putin Mr. George spent several Egypt with infant Jesus to es- 12,000 signatures from evan- tional. Protesters sought to Sudanese doctor Kamal Fad- months last year preaching cape death. We retell this gelicals, opposing the ban. keep up the pressure, gather- lalla rejoiced — after a week CHRISTOPHER MELE Saturday night in an excerpt from a separatist conflict in eastern to refugees in 12 cities across story to refugees,” Mr. “Any limitation against any ing in Denver and other U.S. blocked in his home country, the interview, which was to be Ukraine, after a telephone call six European countries. George said. vulnerable population is to cities to demonstrate against he was back in the Big Apple resident Donald Trump, asked broadcast before the Super Bowl with President Petro Poroshenko “They have reached Europe Mr. Trump’s restrictions fly in the face of human dig- the ban. Meanwhile, legal ad- with friends and colleagues. Pby an interviewer on on Sunday. What Mr. Trump was of Ukraine on Saturday, Reuters walking for days through the on refugees has ticked of a nity, of people made in the vocates waited at airports in In Tehran, a 30-year-old Ira- Saturday whether he respected specifically referring to or reported. desert, crossing the seas, los- fresh debate on how its image of God,” it said. case anything went wrong nian woman told AFP she President Vladimir Putin of Russia whether there was added context The call was the first direct ing many loved ones on the squares with Christianity. However, a number of with new arrivals. had rebooked her tickets to even though he is “a killer”, that came after his comment was contact between the two leaders way, and enduring unspeak- “Before you head to evangelical leaders are in Renee Paradis was among the United States and was seemed to equate Mr. Putin’s not immediately clear based on since Mr. Trump’s inauguration. able violence. We have no church today, remember to support of the ban. Franklin 20-25 volunteer lawyers and ready to travel late Sunday to transgressions with past actions the excerpt that was made In another excerpt from the disrespect for Islam, but we thank God for his son, Jesus a Graham — son of Billy Gra- interpreters who stationed see her brother. by the United States. available. Fox interview, Mr. Trump was tell them that we are in- refugee who fled to Egypt,” ham, who founded the themselves inside John F. Mr. Trump, known for his “You got a lot of killers,” he asked whether it was spired by Christ when we Al Sharpton, an influential Lausanne Movement — de- Kennedy’s Terminal 4 in early morning tweet storms, told the interviewer, Bill O’Reilly Willing to work with Kiev irresponsible for him to say that meet them,” Mr. George, African-American pastor fended Mr. Trump’s New York in case anyone did not ofer an immediate of Fox News. “What, you think our In the interview, Mr. Trump three million illegal immigrants who will be returning to and TV anchor, tweeted last decision. needed help. They were car- comment about the ruling, country’s so innocent?” said he respected Mr. Putin, voted in the election while refugee camps in April, said. Sunday, enraging Trump “It’s not a biblical com- rying handmade signs in Ar- but Vice-President Mike Mr. Trump has long expressed adding that he respected “a lot of lacking the evidence to support He says many people have supporters. Fox News and mand for the country to let abic and Farsi “that say we’re Pence, who made the rounds his admiration for the Russian people, but that doesn’t mean I’m that assertion. converted to Christianity, Breitbart have questioned everyone in who wants to lawyers, we’re here to help. on Sunday's TV political talk leader’s strength. But his going to get along with him”. “When you see illegals, people but doesn’t have exact the claim, as have numerous come, that’s not a Bible is- We’re not from the govern- shows, called the decision willingness to seemingly draw a Mr. Trump’s campaign pledge that are not citizens and they’re numbers. other Christian extremist sue,” he said. ment”, Ms. Paradis said. “frustrating”. “We will move moral equivalence to actions by to mend ties with Moscow has on the registration rolls,” he Some people have had to very quickly,” Mr. Pence told Mr. Putin led to an eruption on raised questions over his started to say before shifting. make hard choices. A Ye- Fox News. “We are going to social media. administration’s commitment to “Look, Bill, we can be babies, but meni family expected to ar- win the arguments because Many asked how maintaining sanctions against you take a look at the rive at John F. Kennedy Inter- we will take the steps neces- conservatives would have Russia for its involvement in the registration, you have illegals, Batticaloa women take RTI route national Airport on Sunday sary to protect the country, reacted had President Barack fighting in Ukraine and the you have dead people, you have from Egypt after leaving two which the President of the Obama, or other Democrats, annexation of Crimea. this — it’s really a bad situation, of their four children behind. United States has the author- compared U.S. actions to Mr. He said he was willing to work it’s really bad.” — New York to seek details on loved ones The father and two children ity to do.” — AP, AFP Putin’s. The exchange surfaced on with Kiev and Moscow to resolve Times News Service MEERA SRINIVASAN 15 of them walked to of women ended up educat- ing oicials on the Act COLOMBO: Last week, when Sri the offices, expecting passed by the government, Indian held for Lanka’s Right To Informa- to get details on said A. Amalanayaki, who White terror tion Act came into efect, a the disappeared has also been looking for her group of women in Battic- husband. taking photos near aloa had a plan. family members Most of the government After years of petitioning oicials were not aware of PM’s residence government oices and testi- the blazing sun, skipping the Act, let alone be prepared SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT fying to innumerable com- lunch and fighting to receive applications, the missions, they decided to use pessimism. women said. COLOMBO: Sri Lankan police the brand new Act, to seek Sri Lanka’s Eastern arrested an Indian national information about their Province witnessed some of Insensitivity of oicials on Saturday for taking pho- missing relatives. the most brutal aspects of the Sri Lanka’s Media Minister tographs near Temple Trees, “We set out at eight in the island’s protracted civil war Gayantha Karunathilake has the Prime Minister’s oicial morning, and went from one — tens of thousands lost said that since the Act was residence, Sri Lanka’s state oice to the other until 5.45 their lives, and thousands new to the country, they media reported. p.m.,” P. Deepa told The were abducted reportedly by can’t be 100 per cent right Undercover police of- Hindu over telephone. the Sri Lankan armed forces just as yet. ficers, deployed for surveil- and, in some cases, the The women understand lance duties during Sri Adopted in 2016 LTTE. Enforced disappear- that teething troubles are Lanka’s Independence Day In June 2016, Sri Lanka’s ances remains a key concern likely in any such interven- celebrations, had spotted Parliament unanimously ad- for many families in Sri tion. However, it is the now- and arrested him, news re- opted the Right to Informa- Lanka’s Tamil-majority familiar insensitivity in gov- ports said. tion (RTI) law, inspiring North and East. ernment oices that makes The suspect, Bharatha hope among sections push- For the women, who have women like Ms. Muttukumar (35) from Tamil ing for greater transparency been running from pillar to Amalanayaki feel dejected. A Nadu, is said to be working in and accountability in Sri post hoping for some clue few oicials were courteous, a private firm in suburban Lanka. The Act came into ef- about their relatives, Friday’s but many others were in- Kotahena near Colombo. fect on February 3. efort was yet another at- sensitive, the women said. The State-run Sunday Ob- The very same day, nearly tempt. But it did not make “One oicer asked us ‘you server quoted police media 15 women went by foot to the them optimistic. have waited for eight years; spokesperson Priyantha District Secretariat, the pro- can’t you wait another few Jayakody as saying the arres- vincial and district police ‘No convincing response’ days?’ Clearly, they do not ted man had been behaving headquarters, the Human “It was like all our previ- realise what we go through in “a suspicious manner”, Rights Commission and the ous eforts — yielding no without any information on taking photographs opposite prisons department to sub- convincing response,” said our loved ones,” she said. Temple Trees. “He was ar- DEATHS IN SNOW: More than 100 people have been killed in a series of avalanches triggered by days of heavy snowfall mit applications asking for Ms. Deepa, who has been “We are not asking them to rested at around 11 a.m. and around Afghanistan, including 50 in one village in the Nuristan province. The avalanches struck after three days of details on their disappeared searching for her husband find our relatives immedi- was taken in for further ques- snowfall, which has destroyed scores of homes and blocked roads in central and northeastern provinces.— PHOTO: REUTERS family members. They since 2009. ately. But just give us some tioning” Mr. Jayakody said. walked around the town in Ironically, the small group information.” Turkey detains Bangladesh’s veteran Hindu leader dead IS’s ‘hole fee’ angers cash-strapped Mosul residents 400 in anti-IS BAGHDAD: Cash-strapped ji- The string of holes in adja- the river front in a bid to de- played a significant role in hadists punching holes in cent homes acts like a street- fend their last bastions in framing post-Independence operations people’s homes to move level tunnel that allows fight- Mosul against Iraqi forces Bangladesh’s first across west Mosul undetec- ers to move without losing expected to deploy pontoon Constitution in 1972, died ISTANBUL: Turkish police on ted are now asking victims to their cover from the aircraft bridges across the Tigris early in the morning at a Sunday detained hundreds pay for the labour, several of the Iraqi government and from the east bank. private hospital in Dhaka. A of suspected members of the residents said on Sunday. its Western allies. An assault on Mosul’s DHAKA: Bangladesh’s former Railways Minister, Mr. Islamic State (IS) extremist The fee is a modest 7,000 Mohammed Jalil, who west, which is home to the prominent Hindu politician Sengupta was a member of group in nationwide raids, Iraqi dinars (around $5) but lives in the Najjar neighbour- narrow streets of the Old and veteran lawmaker from Awami League Advisory just over a month after an at- adds insult to injury, said res- hood near the Tigris river City and some of the ji- the Awami League Suranjit Council and chairman of the tack on an Istanbul nightclub idents of Mosul’s west bank, that divides the city, also saw hadists’ traditional bastions, Sengupta died on Sunday parliamentary standing claimed by the jihadists. where the Islamic State (IS) his home pierced at both is widely expected to begin after prolonged illness. He committee on law and Over 400 suspects were group is digging in for a ends by IS sappers boring a this month. was 72. Mr. Sengupta, who justice. — PTI rounded up in Turkey’s planned ofensive by the Ir- covered pathway through his Zyad al-Zubaidi, a Mosul- biggest police operation IS aqi security forces. block. born retired oicer and civil since the New Year attack on “We are all amazed that society activist now based in the Reina nightclub that ‘No choice’ Daesh is still claiming to up- the neighbouring Kurdish re- Le Pen launches campaign, vows ‘France first’ happened just 75 minutes “Daesh is smashing holes THE BATTLE CONTINUES: A police officer inspects weapons used hold Islamic values when gion of Iraq, condemned IS’s into 2017 that killed 39. Those LYON (FRANCE): Far-right leader in the walls of our homes by Islamic State militants in Mosul. Iraqi forces last month they are tearing down the use of civilians in their milit- Marine Le Pen vowed on detained included foreigners without giving us a choice,” secured full control of the city’s eastern half. — PHOTO: REUTERS privacy of families whose ary planning. Sunday she would be a and those suspected of plan- said a resident of an area houses are now open and ex- “These measures by President who puts France ning attacks in Turkey, the known as “Pepsi street” who afected residents that the “They gave us a choice to posed to each other,” he said. Daesh are a filthy tactic. first as she formally launched Dogan and Anadolu news gave his name as Abu Asaad, generated income would stay in our homes with the “I have a big family and, They are victimising civil- a campaign, echoing many of agencies reported. using an Arabic acronym for contribute to financing their walls or leave,” said Abu As- generally, we live in fear. We ians very deliberately and the themes that propelled Anadolu said at least 423 IS. defence of west Mosul aad, who would not give his have nowhere else to go but using them as human Donald Trump to the White suspects had been detained. “And they are forcing res- against the security forces. full name for fear of IS if we stay we will be caught shields,” he said. House. The operation around the idents to pay 7,000 dinars to Iraqi forces last month se- reprisals. in the middle of the military Former President Saddam Less than three months country saw 150 suspects the workers who just des- cured full control of the city’s operation,” Mr. Jalil said. Hussein used to levy a “bul- Street-level tunnel before voting begins, the and “Islamic rounded up in Sanliurfa in troyed their homes,” said eastern half, marking the end “How can we all stay in a let fee” on the families of ex- National Front (FN) leader fundamentalism” and also the southeast and 47 in the Abu Asaad, who was among of an important phase in the Most residents of west house that gunmen are going ecuted prisoners. Many say attacked “mass said that she wanted a nearby city of Gaziantep what he said were hundreds broad ofensive launched on Mosul have little or no elec- to use to fire on the security oicers of his Baath party immigration”, globalisation country “which owes nothing close to the Syrian border who had sufered the same October 17 to retake the last tricity and winter temperat- forces,” he asked. formed the backbone of the to anyone”. — AFP which has a known jihadist fate. major jihadist stronghold in ures have regularly dipped to IS fighters are reported to IS group that seized a third of presence, Dogan said. — AFP He said IS members told the country. below zero at night. have fortified positions on Iraq in 2014. — AFP CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 BUSINESS 15 Pizza Hut plans to double outlets by 2022 Sun Pharma recalls antidepressant in U.S. Pawan Hans union opposes divestment Pizza Hut, riding the wave of popularity of Sun Pharma is recalling more than 2.7 lakh Strongly opposing the sale of Pawan Hans, a western fast-food in India, plans to double its bottles of antidepressent tablets in the U.S. due section of the staff has said the decision was stores to more than 700 in five years. — PTI to “failed dissolution specifications.” — PTI taken in an “arbitrary” manner. — PTI

Roca Parryware Path ahead for Nano not to invest ₨100 cr. Company staf must pay tax on gifts clear: Tata Motors CEO in expansion Tax applicable on gifts valued at more than ₨50,000, whether received from companies or others MUMBAI: Remaining non-com- 7-8 product variants from SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT mittal over the future course two platforms for greater TCA SHARAD RAGHAVAN of Nano, Tata Motors said de- coverage and sizable eco- CHENNAI: Spain-based sanit- cisions will be taken in align- nomies of scale.” aryware maker Roca Bath- NEW DELHI: Company employ- Receiving more than ment with the board as the “I can’t tell you right now room Products will invest ees receiving large gifts, time and the need appears. because these are decisions close to ₨100 crore in capa- whether from the company Although the company has in line with the PV strategy. city expansion and in im- itself or from somebody else, ₨3 lakh in cash to adopted a new passenger These decisions are going to proving its market share in will now have to pay tax if vehicles (PV) strategy with be taken in alignment with the mass market segment, a they are valued at more than an aim to achieve “sustain- the board as the time and the top oicial said. ₨50,000, according to attract equal penalty able financial performance” need appears,” Tata Motors “For the last three to four changes made in this Budget, and to be amongst the top MD and CEO Guenter years, we have been invest- Revenue Secretary Has- NEW DELHI: In a bid to check also curb the avenues of three PV makers in India by Butschek said when asked if ing close to ₨70-₨100 crore in mukh Adhia told The Hindu. generation of black conspicuous 2019, its top management is Nano will be a part of the increasing production capa- The Finance Bill 2017 has money, a steep penalty consumption through shy to elaborate what role company’s future by 2018. city. This year too, we will be introduced an amendment to awaits those accepting cash. Ratan Tata’s dream project He said the new PV investing a similar amount. Section 56 of the Income Tax cash in excess of ₨3 lakh, People with large sum will play going forward. strategy was presented to the The company has a capacity Act, which delineates the tax beginning April 1, to of unaccounted money Tata Motors has said that it board of directors of the to produce four million bath- treatment meted out to ‘in- settle any transaction. usually spend it on would reduce the number of company in the middle of room products and we will come from other sources.’ A ban on cash holidaying or buying PV platforms to just two last year. think about increasing the “Right now, there is a pro- transaction of more than luxury items like cars, from the current six by 2018 “The board is provided up- capacity after 2018-19,” said vision that if you give a gift to ₨3 lakh has been watches and jewellery. when it shifts to what it dates on the progress made K.E. Ranganathan, managing any individual above ₨50,000 proposed in the Budget The new cash curbs will called as ‘Advanced Modular on a regular basis,” Mr. director designate, Roca then it will be taxed,” Mr. Ad- GIFT TAX: Section 56 outlines the kinds of gifts and from whom for 2017-18. mean that such spending Platform (AMP)’ to “deliver Butschek said. — PTI Bathroom Products. hia said in an interview. “But they can be received, to still be exempt from tax. — FILE PHOTO In an interview to PTI, avenues are curtailed, The world’s largest sanit- that does not apply to com- Revenue Secretary disincentivising people aryware maker, which ac- panies. Now we have made it A large number of come such a voluminous is- Hasmukh Adhia said the from generating black quired the entire stake of applicable to companies as firms reward senior sue is that if you do anything, penalty for doing cash money. Licence of IndiGo security Parryware from the Mur- well. People used to take gifts they will find a number of transaction will be steep Mr. Adhia said that the ugappa group in 2008, is in in companies and not pay tax employees with ways to get around it,” Mr. and the receiver will previously notified rule the process of acquiring a on it.” non-cash gifts, which Adhia said. have to pay an amount of quoting PAN for any training centre suspended private firm in Sriperumbu- “The earlier provisions will now be taxed “We have to plug the loop- equivalent to the cash cash transaction above ₨2 dur, near here, for producing were that if you get more hole. So a new section will be received. lakh stays. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ing manual tests for the last plastic toilet seats for ex- than ₨50,000 from anybody created. And once that sec- “Supposing you do a Finance Minister Arun eight training batches. He ports. This would be the but your close relatives, then marriage of the individual, tion is created, there will be transaction of ₨4 lakh in Jaitley had in his Budget NEW DELHI: The Bureau of Civil said that “illegal practices” second production unit and the amount was subject to by way of inheritance, for ex- people finding a way around cash, then the penalty for 2017-18 proposed to Aviation Security (BCAS) were going on for the past would increase the annual taxation,” Surendra Prakash ample). But the Finance Bill that too. And so there will be would be ₨4 lakh. If you insert Section 269ST in has suspended the security seven-eight months, the in- capacity of plastic seats from Singh, senior director at De- 2017 seeks to widen the provisos upon provisos upon do a transaction of ₨50 the Income-Tax Act to training licence of low-cost vestigation revealed. one million pieces to two loitte India said. “It would scope of the section, by ap- provisos.” lakh, penalty would be state that “no person airline IndiGo after lapses The airline has been million. not be easy to avoid. It would plying it to more kinds of The Finance Bill 2017 also ₨50 lakh,” he said, adding shall receive an amount were found in its examina- barred from conducting “Roca sells 40 million be very liable to be detected assessees. states that the existing ex- that the penalty will be of ₨3 lakh or more by way tion procedures. fresh courses for security pieces of sanitaryware during the scrutiny process, “It is proposed to insert a ceptions contained in the levied on the receiver. of cash in aggregate from “We suspended the avi- training till it convinces the products globally every year. if your case comes up. This is new clause (x) in sub-section section are proposed to be So, if someone buys an a person in a day; in ation security training centre regulator about the free and It procures 20 million plastic clarificatory in nature and in (2) of the said section so as to rationalised by including expensive watch for cash, respect of a single licence of IndiGo for fudging fair conduct of the tests, Mr. seats from diferent vendors. line with the concept of tax- expand the scope of the pro- certain additional excep- it is the shopkeeper who transaction; or in respect or leakage of question paper Chandra added. The training In India, we produce one ing large gifts, when it was visions of the said section to tions that will be added sub- will have to pay the tax, of transactions relating for cabin crew,” BCAS Dir- academy is run by IndiGo’s million pieces per annum first introduced.” all categories of assessees so sequently. Towards this, it he said, adding that the to one event or occasion ector General Kumar Rajesh parent company, InterGlobe locally and the opportunity that the assets received has been decided to sunset provision is to deter from a person.” Chandra told agencies on Aviation. is huge, to exploit. But, we Non-cash gifts without or inadequate con- some of the clauses in the people from doing large However, the Sunday. Low-cost airline IndiGo will do it gradually,” Mr. Ran- According to tax experts, a sideration may be brought to section such as clause (vii) cash transactions. restrictions will not Mr. Chandra said that In- said that its flight operations ganathan said. large number of companies the tax,” according to the Fin- which deals with the precise Demonetisation apply to the government, diGo employees were illeg- would not be afected due to Roca expects to complete reward or compensate their ance Bill. nature of the gifts and who brought to account the any banking company, ally found circulating the the move and all its other the acquisition of the unit in senior employees with non- The Revenue Secretary can give them, and clause (vii stock of black money and post oice savings bank question paper to cabin crew training modules were con- the next two months and to cash gifts, which will now be said that there was a need to a) which delineates the rules now the government or co-operative bank. in advance as a result of tinuing as scheduled. “We commence production of taxed. continuously update the pro- for companies receiving wants to stop future Mr. Adhia said the which the applicants scored are in discussions with BCAS plastic toilet seats in Octo- Section 56 outlines the visions of the Income Tax such gifts. generation of the same. Budget proposes to levy more than 90% marks in and are confident of demon- ber. The entire production kinds of gifts and from whom Act since people were always The amendments made to The government, he penalty on a person who training. He said that the se- strating compliance with all will be exported. Currently, they can be received to still looking for ways to bypass Section 56 of the Income Tax said, will track all large receives ₨3 lakh and curity training tests should regulatory requirements to exports constitute 5% of the be exempt from tax (close and evade tax. Act will come into force from cash transactions, and above. — PTI ideally be computerised but the satisfaction of BCAS,” an total sales. family, on the occasion of the “Why income tax has be- the next financial year. IndiGo was found conduct- IndiGo spokesperson said.

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI 16 | BUSINESS THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 BOTTOMLINE An Indian sub-prime crisis in the making? global round-up Google, unlike Microsoft, must The share of debt of firms with failing financial health has been going up every year since 2011, leading to mounting NPAs turn over foreign emails: U.S. judge A U.S. judge has ordered Google to comply with ROHIT AZAD the debt can keep piling up. search warrants seeking What is significant here is that customer emails stored he Indian corporate sector is most of these firms were able to not outside the United States, Tgrappling with a severe bad only extract fresh borrowing from diverging from a federal debt crisis, and as a result, the banks the banks but actually increase it appeals court that reached (public sector banks) are increas- even as their status continued to be the opposite conclusion in a ingly getting saddled with non-per- ponzi! It is for this reason that I call it similar case involving forming assets. Calling it India’s a potential sub-prime crisis building Microsoft Corp. U.S. sub-prime crisis might be an exag- up. Magistrate Judge Thomas Rueter in Philadelphia ruled on geration but I would just like to add It can be seen from the Figure 3 Friday that transferring emails from a foreign server so FBI ‘not yet’! Moreover in conditions that other than Vedanta Ltd., all agents could review them locally as part of a domestic fraud such as these, with the global eco- companies have had at least two probe did not qualify as a seizure. The judge said this was nomic crisis in the background, it’s years of being in a ponzi state because there was “no meaningful interference” with the better to be cautious rather than (ICR<1) and yet their borrowings, account holder's “possessory interest” in the data sought. looking back at the data when it’s all for most, have increased every year. “Though the retrieval of electronic data by Google from its over. This might also help policy- Let me draw an analogy here. It multiple data centres abroad has the potential for an invasion makers to take regulatory steps in shows that with increasing diabetic of privacy, the actual infringement of privacy occurs at the time to control the contagion before problems in a patient (ICR falling), time of disclosure in the U.S.,” Rueter wrote. — Reuters it spreads in the banking system in a doctors (banks) are injecting more big way. of sugar (loans) to the body of the Let’s look at the extent of the bad patient! Very high debt-equity ratios Mobile app helps China recover corporate debt. There are two stat- in the table also corroborates their istics for a corporate house, which bad health condition. hundreds of missing children need to be looked at to understand A mobile app helped Chinese the nature of the debt crisis. One is Bank NPAs authorities recover hundreds the amount of bank loans taken in a So far we have seen the story from of missing children last year, particular year and the other is the culprits’ side. Let us briefly look Xinhua news agency reported, whether the firms were financially at the problem from the side of the in a country where child trafficking is rampant. The healthy enough to take the loan in banks, which has got a lot of media Ministry of Public Security said the first place. attention especially since the then 611 missing children were governor, Mr. Raghuram Rajan found last year, Xinhua said. Healthy vs ponzi firms flagged this issue initially. As can be The “Tuanyuan”, or “reunion” in Chinese, app developed by The latter is measured by whether seen from Figure 2, most of the bur- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. was launched in May and has they made enough profits in a par- den of bad loans since 2011 has been allowed police officers to share information and work ticular period to even cover for the debt. It being less than 1 is a danger profits; ratio of current assets to cur- 2012. These are the ponzi firms we borne by public sector banks as op- together. Users near the location where a child has interest payments accrued on past sign for the lender because it means rent liabilities to measure what part discussed above. posed to the foreign banks or disappeared receive push notifications, including photos and debts. As we all know, any loan you that the firm is not even making of the liabilities they can pay of if Let us now look at something privately-owned banks. The share of descriptions. Notifications are sent to users farther from the take has two parts when the repay- enough profits to pay for its past in- they were to sell their assets; debt to more specific with respect to some stressed loans, which is the sum of location of the disappearance if the child is still not found. A ment starts: the principal (total loan terest payment commitments let equity (own capital) ratio to meas- big sharks in this respect. We take a non-performing loans and restruc- new version of the app in November has expanded its reach amount) and the interest accrued on alone the principal amount. ure how much have they stuck their sample of four corporations out of tured loans, as a percentage of total through cooperation with other mobile apps. — Reuters it. For a firm to be financially We cover the period between 2011 own neck out compared to other the top 10 corporations (in terms of advances made has been skyrocket- healthy, just as a family taking a loan, and 2015 during which this process people’s money in the risky adven- borrowing) identified by the Credit ing for public sector banks. it should make enough profits to unfolded in India. We look first at a ture they are undertaking. The well- Suisse 2012 report on the House of In conclusion, while the banks U.S. job growth accelerates in cover for both (in financial terms, larger sample of corporate firms accepted thresholds for these meas- Debt and follow their trajectory for have knowingly put themselves in January, but wages lag these are called hedged firms). On with consistent coverage available ures are 0, 0.5 and 5 i.e. firms which the same time period as above. In- the current position, the real cul- the other hand, an unhealthy firm is for these (and some other relevant are making negative profits, can stead of looking at the stock of debt, prits are the big borrowers and pro- U.S. job growth surged one which does not even cover its variables) in the datasets available. honour at least half their liabilities we focus now on new borrowings moters who are not paying up as more-than-expected in interest payments (the ponzi firm). by selling of the assets, while debt is during these years because it is pos- promised and the government, in- January as construction firms ICR, best metric? and retailers ramped up That the latter should not be given five times as large as own capital re- sible to argue that if you are not in a stead of being strict on the default- hiring, but wages barely rose, more loans is a no-brainer as that is a One might doubt whether ICR is spectively. The accompanying Fig- position to pay in full the interest ac- ers, is expecting the central bank to handing the Trump sure-shot recipe for disaster. At the the best measure of financial health ure 1 presents the share in the debt of crued, then on that account alone inject liquidity into the banking sys- administration both a head heart of the U.S. sub-prime crisis especially for companies which take such firms in the total sample debt tem to write of these bad loans. It start and a challenge as it was the fact that loans were dished longer to generate profits resulting with these individual characterist- would be travesty of justice if this seeks to boost the economy. out increasingly to ponzi house- from time lags that assets take to ics over the years 2011-2015. were allowed to be done. It would Non-farm payrolls rose by holds. That’s where the similarity build. In anticipation of this criti- It can be seen from the figure that Most of the burden of just give a fillip to the habitual de- 227,000 jobs, the largest gain in four months. The lies. What was true for the house- cism, I present three other variables the share of debt of firms with fail- faulters to default with impunity unemployment rate, however, rose one-tenth of a percentage hold sector could be true for the cor- to present a comprehensive picture ing financial health has been going bad loans since 2011 has since the central bank will always be point to 4.8% and wages increased by only three cents, porate sector in India. of the current corporate debt crisis up since 2011. The dotted line rep- been borne by public made to come in as the lender of last suggesting that there was still some slack in the labour In financial jargon, the health of a but interested readers can just look resents how the share of bad debt sector banks as opposed resort. market. The labour market is tightening and could hopefully, firm is measured by what is called at the ICR to draw their conclusions. has increased in those firms which (The author is a Visiting Scholar at spur faster wage growth. Federal Reserve officials view the the Interest Coverage Ratio (hence- The three other measures are: could not even honour their interest to the foreign banks or the New School for Social Research jobs market as being at or near full employment. U.S. forth ICR). It is a ratio of net profits profitability i.e. whether the firms commitments to the lenders and it privately-owned ones and Columbia University and government bond prices initially rose as traders focused on to interest payments due on past were making positive post-tax has increased significantly since teaches at JNU.) the disappointing wage growth. — Reuters Borrowers struggle in deep sea Will Budget help double farmers’ income?

VIDYA VENKAT isers companies in the me- dium term through higher de- as banks deflate life jackets inance Minister Arun Jait- mand”, according to an Fley announced a slew of analysis report it released on MANOJIT SAHA measures in the Union Budget the Union budget 2017. The 2017 to boost the agriculture subsidy hike of 6% for the fter having been chided by fin- sector. Higher agricultural phosphatic and potassic seg- Aance ministry oicials and then credit, higher allocation for ir- ment was also seen as a posit- having been reminded by Prime rigation projects, a crop insur- ive thrust for the manufactur- Minister Narendra Modi – in his ance scheme and increased al- ers and traders of these December 31 address to the nation – locations for MGNREGA to fertilisers. about the gains that had accrued to dig farm ponds were among However, Mr. Pandian said them following the withdrawal of the measures announced on that farmers needed an incent- high-value banknotes, banks ended February 1. But will these help ive to go organic as high input up sharply reducing lending rates in attain the goal of doubling the costs of fertilisers had raised early January. farmer’s income by 2022, as farm debts. Organic farming Following demonetisation, high- Prime Minister Narendra did not get any attention in the value currency notes that had been Modi had first suggested last HAND-TO-MOUTH: For cultivation-related expenses, farmers depend Budget. withdrawn were deposited in banks home loan at 8.6% from SBI (for are saying if it is because of demon- year? on loans as earnings go towards consumption expenses. — FILE PHOTO NABARD welcomed the by account holders, mostly in cur- loans up to ₨75 lakh) but existing etisation that the cost of funds has The average monthly in- hike in the corpus of the long- rent and savings accounts. Since borrowers will have to continue to come down, then MCLR cuts should come of the Indian farm companies. Also nearly 50% of how well the schemes are ex- term irrigation fund by an- most banks ofer only a 4% interest pay above 9%. have happened in the beginning of household was estimated to be farmers are women, who often ecuted on the ground. other ₨20,000 crore, taking the rate on savings accounts (no interest But why are banks reluctant to December.” about ₨6,426 by the Situation do not benefit from credit While the crop insurance total fund size to ₨40,000 crore. is paid on current account deposits), lower the interest rate for existing The withdrawal of high-value Assessment Survey of Agricul- policies as they do have land scheme aims to rightly protect The setting up of a dairy pro- banks’ overall cost of funds came customers? notes came into efect from Novem- tural Households in its NSS titles in their name. Unless farmers from the vagaries of cessing and infrastructure de- down sharply. So, banks were asked “Our discussion with banks ber 9 and banks started to accept de- 70th round. This included net land titling recognises female the weather, allocations for velopment fund at NABARD, to pass on the benefit of lower costs seems to suggest that about 15-20% posits from November 10. A sub- receipts from cultivation, ownership of land for cultiva- which have been increased in with a corpus of ₨8,000 crore to the borrowers. loans are linked to MCLR while the stantial amount was deposited in farming of animals, non-farm tion, half of India’s farmers the 2017 Budget, the terms of over three years, was also ap- State Bank of India (SBI) reduced rest is linked to the base rate or other November itself. According to RBI business and income from cannot claim institutional the Pradhan Mantri Krishi preciated by them. However, its marginal cost of funds-based rates,” said Karthik Srinivasan, norms, banks are supposed to re- wages. During the same credit,” he said. Bima Yojana spell out that the Mr. Pandian pointed out that lending rate (MCLR) by 90 basis Group Head - Financial Sector rat- view the MCLR once a month. Most period, the average monthly Professor R. Ramakumar, amount of insurance cover de- focussing on drip irrigation points, ICICI Bank by 70 bps, HDFC ings, ICRA. big banks announced rate cuts much consumption expenditure per Dean of School of Develop- pends on the premium paid will not be suicient, and Bank by up to 90 bps. (100 bps = 1 “So, this sharp cut will impact later than early December. agricultural household was ment Studies at Tata Institute and extent of cover, so a farmer though more funds were alloc- percentage point.) These rate cuts some of the borrowers. If banks have “Some banks announced rate cuts ₨6223. What this shows is that of Social Sciences, Mumbai, may not necessarily recover all ated for irrigation, no expan- would lower interest costs for new cut the base rate there would have on January 1, which was a Sunday - a most of the earnings of the av- said chasing the goal of doub- losses sustained from crop sion of specific projects for ir- borrowers. However, existing bor- been a sharper hit on the margin. day after the Prime Minister’s ad- erage farm household were ling incomes lacks clarity as to damage in case of an eventual- rigation were made during the rowers may find little to cheer The other reason is, banks have cut dress. I don’t know which banks spent in meeting consumption whether it is nominal incomes ity. Budget. about. MCLR sharply to push credit work on Sundays,” Mr. Chakrabarty expenditures. For cultivation- or real incomes that are being Harjeet Singh, Global Lead Indian farmers do not con- growth so that new borrowers come said suggesting that banks decided related expenses, the farmer is chased. It is also unclear on Climate Change, Action Aid stitute a homogenous com- MCLR vs Base rate into the borrowing system,” Mr. to cut interest rates after being mostly dependent on loans whether it is income from agri- International told The Hindu munity. There are rich, land- MCLR is the benchmark lending Srinivasan said. nudged by the government. and the NSSO survey revealed culture or that of agricultural that the National Adaptation owning farmers and then there rate to which all loan rates are Deciding on the pricing of loans that half of the farm house- households being targeted. Fund for Climate Change with are poor, landless farmers. linked. MCLR came into efect from and protecting margins are business Existing borrowers’ options holds were neck-deep in debt. “Agriculture will have to the cost of ₨350 crore for 2015- Hannan Mollah, General Sec- April 1, 2016, replacing the erstwhile decisions; but not lowering a float- So, what should existing borrow- grow at 12 or 14% to realise 16 and 2016-17, the government retary of the All India Kisan benchmark base rate. The Reserve ing rate for loans while interest rates ers – who are still on the base rate – ‘Commodity pricing’ such rise in earnings,” he said. made only a paltry allocation Sabha observed that a new Bank of India (RBI) had decided to are coming down is akin to not hon- do to get the benefit of MCLR cut? For any real increase in in- At present, the growth rates of ₨130 crore to this Fund in the nexus was now emerging com- shift to the MCLR regime to im- ouring the contract that a bank and Banks ofer to switch loans from the come, farmers require higher stand at a poor 1.2%, according 2017-18 budget. prising farm contractors and prove monetary transmission, since the customer sign while a loan is base rate to the MCLR but that returns for their produce. In a to World Bank data. “This is disturbing in the big traders combined with rich banks were reluctant to cut interest sanctioned. comes with a fee. The fee and its statement issued on the “The problem of economic wake of the fact that the coun- landowners in rural India, rates despite the central bank redu- structure difer from one bank to an- Budget, Professor M. S. Swam- viability of farming is one of try faced unprecedented which was replacing the feudal cing the key policy rate, ie the repo ‘Systemic failure’ other. Some banks charge a percent- inathan, founder of the M.S. rising input prices such as for drought afecting 330 million landowning structures of the rate. K.C. Chakrabarty, former Deputy age of the loan outstanding, while Swaminathan Research fertilisers, pesticides and people last year,” he said. past. However, if a customer had taken Governor, RBI said such a practice others charge a flat fee. Bankers said Foundation noted that it was seeds and stagnating output P.R. Pandian, President of “It is this new class of rural a home loan before April 1, 2016, for reflects as a failure of the entire that since the MCLR cut is sharp, the high time that the recommend- prices as MSP is not rising. Coordination Committee of landlords that will largely be- example, (on base rate) and if he or system. borrower stands to gain on a ations of the National Com- Further, protectionist barriers All Farmers Associations, said nefit from the Budget an- she had not shifted to the new loan “It is total failure of the judiciary, switchover. mission on Farmers - to for Indian farmers are much that farmers in Tamil Nadu nouncements of higher loan al- pricing mechanism – MCLR – consumer court, regulator... every- “I think the processing charges provide the minimum price of lower now and there is little in- were disappointed that their location and online trading of (which one can do by paying a fee), one,” Mr. Chakrabarty told The are quite minimal,” said Arundhati the total cost of production crease in expenditure for demand to write-of farm farm produce,” he said. then his or her interest burden Hindu. “Floating rate cannot be dif- Bhattacharya, chairman, SBI at a re- plus 50% - are implemented. agriculture.” debts for households witness- Also, in spite of food price would not have declined signific- ferent for diferent customers with cent interaction with the media. Speaking to The Hindu, the ag- ing suicides in the aftermath of inflation in recent times, farm- antly as a result of the January rate the same risk profile. If LIBOR “There is a lot of work there. You riculture expert said that in the Drought-proofing farming cyclone and drought in the ers’ gross income will not in- cut. comes down then can I say that my have to redo the entire documenta- case of rubber, for instance, a Tackling climate change and State had not been addressed crease automatically. Being About 80% of the loans that were costs have not come down?” he said. tion. Given that we are bringing price stabilisation fund was es- its potential impact also re- in the Union budget. both producers and con- taken before April 1 continue to be Asked what the regulator should down rates so much substantially, a tablished which helped farm- quires a budget to safeguard sumers of food, farmers do not base-rate linked. do if banks are reluctant to cut rates? customer will recoup the processing ers get better prices for their farmers. Given the drought Who benefits? stand to gain from inflation Sample this: While SBI has re- “The regulator should say if I cut the fee amount in just 5 or 6 months,” produce. He suggested that and errant rainfall afecting The credit ratings agency either. duced its MCLR by 90 bps in Janu- rate by 50 bps, then all your (banks’) she said. similar measures be intro- farmers, the government’s step ICRA welcomed the expan- As Mr. Mollah points out, ary, it reduced its base rate by only 5 rates - deposit, lending... should Before deciding to switch from duced for other farm produce to create five lakh more farm sion in coverage of National “The farmer sells his produce bps. The same is the case with its come down by 50 bps. That should the base rate to the MCLR, a cus- as well. ponds that will work as a Agriculture Markets (e-NAM), for a fixed MSP, but when he peers – ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, be the directive,” he said. tomer should make relevant calcula- “As far as the farm loans are drought-proofing measure in an online agriculture market, tries to buy the same from the Axis Bank – to name a few. Mr. Chakrabarty also questioned tions to see if such an exercise is fin- concerned, the agricultural gram panchayats is welcome, from 250 to 585 APMCs in the market, he has to shell out a So, a new borrower could get a the timing of the rate cut. “If banks ancially beneficial. credit is mostly netted by large but everything depends on Budget, as it will “help fertil- higher price for it...”

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 SPORT 17 Telecast schedule For the growth of a ‘revolutionary event’ Noah targets Davis Cup glory NBA: Sony Six & HD, 5.30 & 8 a.m. Usain Bolt says he is keen to spread the Nitro team athletics concept France captain Yannick Noah said his team could go on to lift the La Liga: Sony Six & HD, 1.10 a.m. globally after the success of its inauguration. He said he was looking for ways Davis Cup after its first-round victory over Japan. “If all my players are (Tuesday). Ī to make the ‘revolutionary event’ more popular. Ī ready then we have the possibility to go all the way.” Ramkumar has it easy, Bhambri not so India wraps up both the reverse singles; to take on Uzbekistan at home next KAMESH SRINIVASAN After the superb perform- up with a cameo dance, like the doublefaults which complic- ance of Artem Sitak and Mi- way it had one after the tie ated matters. PUNE: Ramkumar Ramanathan chael Venus, who won the against Korea in Chandigarh On the hard courts, on did not have to push himself pivotal doubles against last year. If anything, the cam- which Yuki came fresh with hard to tame Finn Tearney to Leander Paes and Vishnu eraderie in the team was power packed strokes, clinch the Davis Cup tie for In- Vardhan, it was an anticlimax bewitching. Ramkumar played the spin far dia. The 22-year-old Ramku- for the New Zealanders, but In the next round, India will too much as if he was playing mar did not drop his serve in they kept reminding that they play at home from April 7 to 9 on clay. Against an opponent the tie as he overpowered the were ranked beyond 400 in the against Uzbekistan, which like Tearney, he could try any- Kiwi 7-5, 6-1, 6-0, reeling of the beat Korea, for a berth in the thing and get away. last 11 games. World Group playof. In a special step, the organ- Yuki Bhambri, who played a Ramkumar served well and isers who had done a wonder- key role in giving the host a vi- saved five breakpoints in the ful job of hosting the tie, after a brant start on the first day, did, match to ensure a clean re- gap of 43 years in Pune, in such however, drop a set to the de- cord, with his serve. Like he a vibrant atmosphere, asked serving Jose Statham, but had saved three breakpoints at the captain and all the Indian played strong overall with his 0-40 in one game against players, including Saketh all-round game that kept the world, with their flowing Statham on the first day, Myneni, to address the crowd spectators entertained. errors. Ramkumar did so against which stayed back after the en- Yuki prevailed 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. The Indian team started the Tearney with his strong tertaining day in pleasant The Kiwi could have won in celebrations immediately serves. breeze and bright lights to sa- straight sets, but for Yuki win- after Ramkumar gave the team He fired 12 aces, but had vour the moment. ning the first set from being an unassailable 3-1 lead, by nine doublefaults as well. He It was a fitting climax that down 2-5. tossing the outgoing captain converted six of 15 breakpoints would stay in the memory of There was no such revival in Anand Amritraj three times in to cruise home. everyone who witnessed the the second set as Statham was the air. Yet, there was a distinct lack tie. sharp in serving out. In the de- The routine was slowly fol- of sting in his strokes much in The results: cider, Yuki bounced back from lowed on coach Zeeshan Ali contrast to the explosive India bt New Zealand 4-1 (Ramku- a break in the first game with a and continued for Yuki and serves. Maybe that completely mar Ramanathan bt Finn Tearney quick break back and broke Leander as well. bamboozled the opponent, 7-5, 6-1, 6-0; Yuki Bhambri bt Jose TOAST TO A WIN: Indian Davis Cup team celebrate after Ramkumar Ramanathan gave the host a winning lead aganist decisively in the tenth game. At the end, the team came who himself struggled with 16 Statham 7-5, 3-6, 6-4). New Zealand. — PHOTO: R. RAGU

EURO LEAGUES CRICKET Jesus saves Man City with last-gasp winner ICC changes may be discussed MANCHESTER: Gabriel Jesus doria 1 (Muriel 70-pen). scored two goals including an Saturday: Serie A: Bologna 1 injury-time winner as Pep (Torosidis 36) lost to Napoli 7 (Ham- clause-by-clause in April Guardiola’s Manchester City sik 4, 70, 74, Insigne 6, Mertens 33, recorded a dramatic 2-1 victory 43, 90). G. VISWANATH its Chief Executives Commit- status with all executive sharing model, and that over struggling Swansea City at Premier League: Sunday: tee and the Board, did not re- powers. Then it was resolved “equity and conscience” the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. Manchester City 2 (Jesus 11, 90+2) bt MUMBAI: After the long-awaited veal the real gains from the that the BCCI would take a big should be the heart of the mat- The home side looked in Swansea 1 (Sigurdsson 81); Leicester facelift and remodelling of the special working group’s pro- share of the annual revenue, ter and that a wrong notion ex- complete control during a dom- 0 lost to Manchester United 3 International Cricket Coun- posed change. much of it from the broadcast ists that India contributes near inant first-half showing only to (Mkhitaryan 42, Ibrahimovic 44, cil’s constitutional and finan- But a Board member said agreement with STAR Sports about 70% to the ICC annual surrender an 81st-minute Mata 49). cial structure were given a that “equity” was the theme (around 22% before the ICC revenue kitty. equaliser to Gylfi Sigurdsson. Saturday: Tottenham 1 (Kane 58- thumbs up by a two-third ma- around which the revenue paid for its expenditure and The ICC understood the The Iceland international pen) bt Middlesbrough 0. jority decision at its quarterly sharing model has been pre- another 4% after all expenses BCCI representative Vikram capitalised on some poor de- La Liga: Sunday: Sevilla 0 drew Board meeting in Dubai on pared although India (BCCI) were paid) and with England’s Limaye’s view that the two im- fending, collecting Luciano with Villarreal 0; Sporting Gijon 2 Saturday, the full members would receive more than share being 4.5%, Australia portant matters could be put Narsingh’s pass, switching the (Traore 84, Castro 90) lost to Alaves 4 may be given an opportunity double the sum that’s been ap- 2.9% and South Africa 1.3%. of to the next Board meeting ball to his left foot and scoring (Sobrino 10, Santos 58-pen, Mendez to discuss the salient features portioned to England and Aus- Converted to Indian rupees, in April, but it went ahead to with a brilliant low drive from NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: The emergence of Gabriel Jesus has put 70-pen, Alexis 85); Celta Vigo vs Real of the new governance and tralia. the BCCI’s share would have get the approval. just outside the area. Sergio Aguero’s place in jeopardy. — PHOTO: REUTERS Madrid (postponed). revenue sharing model, The five-member working been ₨3250 crore; now scaled Having been appointed to But deep in injury time David Saturday: Atletico Madrid 2 clause-by-clause at the next group has worked out a rev- down to around ₨2500 crore the Committee of Adminis- Silva’s right-wing cross found “He has arrived really, really, second in the standings. (Torres 15, 51) bt Leganes 0; Valencia Board meeting in the last week enue sharing model taking a for the 2016-2023 eight year trators (CoA), Limaye was al- Jesus and after his initial header well. We are happy to have The results: Sunday: Atalanta 2 0 lost to Eibar 4 (Sergi Enrich 28, 77, of April. post-expenditure line; the cycle. together new to the ICC envir- had been saved by Lukasz Fabi- him.” (Gomez 4, 17) bt Cagliari 0; Empoli 1 Adrian Gonzalez 45+2-pen, Dani Gar- It is possible that the consti- 2014 resolution had set aside An ICC member said that its onment. anski, the 19-year-old Brazilian (Pucciarelli 45+2) drew with Torino 1 cia 57). tutional changes and revenue 32% to be paid to its members independent Chairman, An oicial said: “He also at- tapped the rebound into an Hamsik, Mertens dazzle (Belotti 11); Pescara 2 (Benali 29, Bundesliga: Sunday: Augsburg 3 sharing model will be put to first and then to pay for the ex- Shashank Manohar, in the tended the important ICC Fin- open goal. In Serie A, Slovakian interna- Brugman 41) lost to Lazio 6 (Parolo (Schmid 28, Koo 79, Bobadilla 90+4) vote separately and not as a penses incurred. course of his 20 minute speech ance and Commercial Afairs “Gabriel Jesus is strong, fast tional Marek Hamsik and Bel- 10, 14, 49, 77, Keita 57, Immobile 69); bt Werder Bremen 2 (Gebre Selassie merged one as it was done on The 2014 constitutional at the start of the Board meet- Committee and perhaps could and has really good move- gian star Dries Mertens both hit Chievo 0 drew with Udinese 0. 26, Kruse 65-pen). Saturday: Borus- Saturday. changes gave the cricket ing explained that there can- have found out the other full ment,” City manager Guardiola hat-tricks as Napoli routed Bo- Genoa 0 lost to Sassuolo 1 (Pel- sia Dortmund 1 (Aubameyang 35) bt The ICC’s press release, boards of India, Australia and not be any “straightjacket” for- members’ distrust of the told the BBC. logna 7-1 on Saturday to go legrini 26); AC Milan 0 lost to Samp- RB Leipzig 0. after the three-day meeting of England, the supreme “Big 3” mula to determine revenue BCCI.” Three cheers for BFC rallies to hold HOCKEY INDIA LEAGUE East Bengal DSK Shivajians Dabang Mumbai overpowers Kalinga Lancers AMITABHA DAS SHARMA Y.B. SARANGI leagues to plug the gaps. NANDAKUMAR MARAR defending champion. The Mumbai, which resorted to KOLKATA: East Bengal sailed on home team, which had 10 men BHUBANESWAR: Dabang Mumbai some quick counter-attacks, three goals in the second half PUNE: Bengaluru FC halted its in the opposition half at one gave a commanding perform- had a better grip over the pro- to defeat Chennai City FC 3-0 back-to-back defeats with a 2-2 point, was positive right ance to beat Kalinga Lancers ceedings when its captain for its sixth successive win in draw against DSK Shivajians in through the match. 5-2 in the grudge match and Florian Fuchs hammed in a re- the I-League at the Vidyasagar the Hero I-League here on spoil the latter’s plans of ending verse hit after receiving a long BFC was forced to drop deep Stadium (Barasat) on Sunday. Sunday. The draw kept the its home assignments on a high and hard drive just after the as the home team banked on champion in fifth position after at the Kalinga Stadium here on change of ends. The visitors defended resol- long passes to link up with six games. Sunday. Mumbai pumped in another utely in the opening session, strikers Narzary and Sumeet Sunil Chhetri and Salam Ran- Mumbai’s fourth win helped goal, this time Gurjant Singh but the hosts regrouped well Passi. In the 59th minute, Milan jan Singh it regain the top spot and Lan- firing in with a reverse stick after the break and scored at Singh struck the ball deep into were on tar- cers wait to book a slot in the seven minutes from the hooter regular intervals to cement the BFC goalmouth for Narzary get for BFC, semifinals. and triggering premature de- their position on top of the cur- to strike. Amrinder tried to neutralising The neck-and-neck contest COMMANDING SHOW: Dabang Mumbai’s big win spoilt Kalinga Lancer’s hopes of finishing the parture of the loyal Lancers rent standings. cover the angle, but the ball had a stunning two-goal burst by began with both sides pressing home leg on a high. — PHOTO: BISWARANJAN ROUT fans. Haitian midfielder Wedson darted between his legs into the Holicharan Narzary for DSK. hard and earning penalty Anselme opened the scoring net. Lancers’ finishing woes fi- Chhetri scored with a crafty corners in the opening quarter. Employing tight marking, the Lancers’ goal, while Dhara- height in the 23rd minute. early in the second half before nally ended when Turner placement, Salam powered Narzary’s goal in the first half Lancers warded of an early Mumbai defended strongly mvir Singh’s spirited run was Lancers worked hard work he set up striker Willis Plaza scored in the dying minutes. home a header of a flag-kick. also happened due to inde- danger through a successful and targetted some of the key thwarted by dashing Mumbai to breach the Mumbai wall but from Trinidad and Tobago to However, it was too little and The applause, though, was re- cision at the back. The striker video referral that reversed the Lancers players, including goalkeeper David Harte. the touring side’s back line double the lead. Lalrindika came too late. served for Narzary, later named used the time and space given first penalty corner awarded to Glenn Turner and Moritz Mumbai worked the ball well stood like a rock under the The result: Dabang Mumbai 5 Ralte made it 3-0 of a penalty ‘Best Player’, for two audacious to punish the visitors. Mumbai. It blocked another to Fuerste. to secure two penalty corners guidance of Sander de Wijn, (Harmanpreet Singh PC 23, Florian in the last minute of added strikes past Amrinder Singh. It The result: DSK Shivajians FC 2 keep its post safe. Johan Bjorkman, who was in second quarter and Harman- who not only tackled the op- Fuchs 2-FG 31, Gurjant Singh 2-FG 53) time. With its fourth loss of the was worth mentioning DSK’s (Narzary 41, 55) drew with Bengaluru The host won two but could fed by Nikkin Thimmaiah, preet stunned the host through ponents with eiciency but bt Kalinga Lancers 2 (Glenn Turner 2- tournament, Chennai City FC dominating display against the FC 2 (Chhetri 75, Salam Ranjan 90). not make most of those. missed a fine chance in front of a deceptive flick at awkward made loud calls to his col- FG 57). remained at the bottom on four points from seven matches. When Charles de Souza BADMINTON made two great sorties in the first half — the first hit the side of the net and the second was saved by East Bengal custodian Lakshya stuns Prannoy, Reshma puts it across Anura Prabhudesai T.P. Rehenesh — the home fans were silenced by the spirit K. KEERTHIVASAN shya with powerful smashes Reshma didn’t give Anura the 21-19, 21-15; Harsheel Dani (Mah) bt (TS) bt Ananya Goel (Del) 21-8, 21-7; of CCFC’s Brazilian striker. from the backcourt, the level of height and width to unleash her M. Mithun (AI) 21-18, 21-14; Pratul Rasika Raje (AAI) bt Neha Pandit East Bengal was a reformed PATNA: He couldn’t have found a calmness and confidence Lak- trademark smashes or cross- Joshi (AAI) bt Ansal Yadav (UP) 21-13, (Mah) 21-16, 28-26; Reshma Karthik side in the second half. The better place to announce his ar- shya displayed is not generally court drops. 19-21, 21-18; Daniel Farid (Kar) bt Ro- (AI) bt Anura Prabhudesai (AAI) 21-10, first break happened in the rival than the 81st Senior Na- expected from boys his age. In the third round there were hit Yadav (TS) 17-21, 23-21, 21-11; Bod- 21-15; Arundhati Pantawane (PSPB) 50th minute when a smart lob tional badminton In the next two games, he as many four major upsets. hit Joshi (Utr) bt A.S.S. Siril Varma bt Shriyanshi Pardeshi (MP) 16-21, 21- from Ralte reached Wedson championship. grabbed the half-chances that Reigning junior under-19 Na- (TS) 21-19, 21-14; Sameer Verma 19, 21-18; Saili Rane (Rly) bt Ashmita clear of the CCFC defence and Playing his first Senior Na- came his way. During crunch tional champion and finalist, (PSPB) bt M.G. Hemant (Kar) 21-9, Chaliha (Asm) 20-22, 21-11, 21-18; the Haitian made no mistake tionals, Lakshya Sen — all of 15 moments, his defence was Ira Sharma of Haryana and 21-6; Aditya Prakash (PSPB) bt Mun- Aakarshi Kashyap (Cht) bt Ira Sharma with an angular left-footer. years, and recently crowned solid, retrieving the top seed’s Aakarshi Kashyap (Chhattis- awar Mohammed (Ker) 21-18, 21-18. (Har) 21-12, 21-16; Riya Pilai (Mah) bt Third round: Prannoy bt Pallab East Bengal doubled the lead World Junior No. 1 — stunned smashes and going for the kill garh) made their first-ever A.J. Niranjana (AAI) 21-6, 21-10. Bose 21-8, 21-14; Lakshya bt Talar Laa Third round: Tanvi bt Khushboo in the 75th minute. This time it top-seeded H.S. Prannoy of with his cross-court smashes entry into the pre-quarterfi- (Anp) 21-14, 21-16; Daniel bt Alap Patel (MP) 21-11, 21-14; Riya bt Ishita was Wedson who gave a nice Petroleum 15-21, 21-18, 21-19 which gave Prannoy little nals, with upset-wins over 16th Mishra (MP) 21-11, 21-17; Rohit bt Kumar Manchander (Cht) 21-18, 21- through-pass that split open here on Sunday to enter the chance. seed Shenan Christian and K. Kabir Kanzarkar (Rly) 21-15, 21-12; 17; Shruti bt K. Vaishnavi (TS) 21-19, the CCFC defence to find quarterfinals. At the net, Prannoy flufed Sri Krishna Priya, seeded third. Harsheel bt Abhishek Yeligar (Kar) 21- 21-18; Reshma bt Rutaparna Panda Plaza, who placed the ball As much as the stunning vic- his forehand and backhand Assam’s Ashmita Chaliha 19, 15-21, 21-15. (Ori) 21-12, 21-10; Ira bt Shenan Chris- home to fetch the insurance tory, it was the manner in drops quite often especially in made it quite a memorable day tian (Guj) 14-21, 21-14, 21-17; Ar- goal. which he handled the pressure the third game, and an un- for herself and her State, de- Mithun bt Kiran George (Ker) 21-12, that came in for much praise. ruled Lakshya kept his com- BIG STRIDES: Lakshya Sen, playing his first senior Nationals, feating Sai Uttejitha Rao Ch., 21-12; Aditya bt Deepak Khatri (Rly) undhati bt Devarshi Sanghvi (Guj) 21- East Bengal inflicted further Never for a moment did the kid posure to script a famous win. overcame the top seed H.S. Prannoy in a pre-quarterfinal the fourth seed, in three games. 21-19, 21-17; Munawer bt Karan 11, 21-17. damage by earning a penalty in from Almora make a noise or Lakshya will next take on encounter. — PHOTO: RANJEET KUMAR Petroleum’s Sameer Verma, Chouhan (Guj) 21-17, 22-20; Bodhit bt Shriyanshi bt Shikha Gautam (Kar) the added time when Boithang celebrate exuberantly after Daniel Farid of Karnataka, who the defending champion, en- Kartikey Gulshan Kumar (AI) 11-21, 21- 21-14, 21-17; Ashmita bt Sai Uttejitha Haokip was brought down by Rao (AP) 21-18, 20-22, 21-14; Anura bt winning a point. put it across Rohit Yadav of clash. Sameer Verma, the de- Tanvi Lad faced her first resist- countered a stif resistance be- 12, 21-18; Ansal bt Saurav Kapoor (HP) CCFC defender Aniyichie Mrunmayi Saoji (Mah) 21-11, 25-23; On the tour, Lakshya, the Telangana in tough three fending champion, eased past ance in three matches against fore overcoming Subhankar 21-13, 21-15; Siril bt Neeraj Vashisth Echezona inside the box and Aakarshi bt K. Sri Krishna Priya (TS) reigning junior National cham- games. Karnataka’s M.G. Hemant in Shruti Mundada. Dey of Railways in three (Rly) 24-22, 21-10; Kaushal bt Kaus- Ralte scored from the spot. 18-21, 21-18, 21-17; Niranjana bt Anur- pion, is known for his no-non- In other interesting matches, straight games. Sameer how- games, in the men’s third tubh Rawat (Del) 21-15, 21-8; Sameer The results: East Bengal 3 (Wed- The top seed from Petro- iya Das (Rly) 11-12 (conceded); Saili bt sense approach and his disreg- Pratul Joshi, seeded five, had to ever, encountered a stif resist- round. bt Subhankar Dey (Rly) 19-21, 21-14, son Anselme 50, Willis Plaza 75, Lal- leum emerged unscathed with V. Pramada (TS) 21-16, 21-12; Rasike ard for opponent’s reputation. bring all his resources to outwit ance before overcoming The results: 21-9; Hemanth bt D. Jaswanth (AP) rindika Ralte 90+4) bt Chennai City a 21-15, 21-15 win. Men (pre-quarterfinals): Lak- w/o Kaberi Phukon (Rly); Neha bt M. It was in full view this day. Ansal Yadav of Uttar Pradesh Subhankar Dey of Railways in 21-18, 10-21, 21-15. FC 0. shya Sen (Utr) bt H.S. Prannoy (PSPB) Women (pre-quarterfinals): Tanishq (AP) 21-15, 21-14; Ananya bt Not being perturbed even 21-13, 19-21, 21-18. Pratul will be three games, in the third round. Earlier, Reshma Karthik of At Shillong: Shillong Lajong 1 after losing the first game, challenged by Harsheel Dani of Air India tamed Anura Prab- 15-21, 21-18, 21-19; Sourabh Verma Tanvi Lad (PSPB) bt Shruti Mundada Unnati Bisht (Utr) 21-15, 21-13; Ritu- (Dicka 51) bt Churchill Brothers 0. where Prannoy blew away Lak- Maharashtra in the last eight In the women’s section, hudesai of AAI, the sixth seed. (PSPB) bt Kaushal Dharmamer (AAI) (Mah) 21-15, 21-15; Rituparna Das parna w/o Chimran Kalita (Asm).

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI 18 | SPORT THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017

BFI to host two Tiwary to lead major events Bengal maintains clean slate Kohli feted where KOLKATA: Manoj Tiwary will SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT had Pratysh caught by Pramod 71-run partnership with lead a 16-member East Zone this year Chandila. Pramod Chandila (37 not out team in the upcoming Syed KOLKATA: Opener Shreevats Tiwary’s onslaught, includ- of 21 including four fours and Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Goswami’s 53-ball 81 helped ing two fours and three sixes, one six) before getting out in Bengal’s Pragyan Ojha and he started it all Bengal post a comprehensive gave Jharkhand a major boost the 18th over. Bengal was 10 Pramod Chandila and BENGALURU: India will host two five-wicket win over at a crucial stage. He was runs shy of the target, but Odhisa’s Suryakant Pradhan major international basketball Jharkhand and complete its caught by his opposite number eventually achieved it losing have been placed in the tournaments later this year, CRICKET / ‘I am so focused that pressure doesn’t affect me’ zonal engagements with an all- Manoj Tiwary of Kanishk one more wicket. standby list. the Basketball Federation of win record in four matches of Seth in the 18th over. Assam defeated Odisha by Jharkhand’s Rajiv Kumar India (BFI) announced here on VIJAY LOKAPALLY the East Zone-leg of the Syed Sumit Kumar (18) Anand six wickets in its last match. will be the coach of the team. Sunday. Mushtaq Ali T20 league at the Singh (16) gathered some The scores: The team: Manoj Tiwary (cap- The FIBA Women’s Asia NEW DELHI: Virat Kohli is at ease Eden Gardens here on Sunday. quick runs to take the total Jharkhand 177 for six in 20 overs tain), Saurabh Tiwary (vice-captain), Cup will be held here from in the company he has loved Jharkhand scored 177 for six past 170. Sumit became Din- (Saurabh Tiwary 44, Virat Singh 42, Ishan Kishan (wk), Sreevats Gos- July 23 to 29, and the FIBA U-16 from the time he wanted to be after being asked to bat. Bengal da’s second victim in the final Pratyush Singh 39, Ashoke Dinda wami, Ishank Jaggi, K.B. Arun Women’s Asian Champion- a cricketer — family, friends overhauled the target with five over. two for 28) lost to Bengal 178 for five Karthick, Writtick Chatterjee, Shah- ship in Hyderabad from Oct. and coaches from his format- balls to spare. Goswami played a fine in 19.1 overs (Shreevats Goswami 81, baz Nadeem, Ashok Dinda, Pritam 22 to 28. The last time India ive years. Virat Singh’s aggressive ap- knock, studded with nine hits Abhishek Raman 37, Pramod Das, Sayan Ghosh, Biplab hosted a big-ticket tourna- The occasion was a felicita- proach helped Jharkhand to the fence and two over it, Chandila 37 not out, Varun Aaron Samantaray, Dhiraj Singh, Virat ment was in 2009, when the tion function organised for gather 46 runs for the opening and collected 73 runs for the two for 41). Singh, Amit Verma, A.K. Sarkar; BFI was allotted the same two him by the West Delhi Cricket stand. Captain Saurabh second wicket with Abhishek Odisha 143 for seven in 20 overs Coach: Rajiv Kumar. — Special events. Academy here on Sunday on Tiwary (44 of 31) and Praty- Raman (37 of 28) even after (Biplab Samantray 50, Amit Verma Correspondent “It is a matter of great pride his being bestowed with the ush Singh (39 of 28) formed Bengal lost Wriddhiman three for 19) lost to Assam 148 for that we are conducting these Padma Shri award and also for another useful partnership to Saha’s wicket to Varun Aaron four in 18.3 overs (Pallav Das 51, Amit events,” said BFI President K. his elevation to captaincy in all add 69 runs for the third in the second over. Verma 31, K.B. Arun Karthick 28 not Govindaraj. “The best teams three formats of the game. The wicket before Ashoke Dinda Goswami forged a decisive out, Basant Mohanty two for 17). Yashvardhan in Asia are taking part. It has most striking aspect of the star been very long since Indian batsman that came through on beats Sarthak fans last got to watch a major the occasion was his humility. tournament.” “He is so grounded,” re- Boult helps NZ reclaim trophy CHANDIGARH: Yashvardhan A total of 14 teams, including marked a close friend Raman Singh bounced back to beat New Zealand and Australia, Gujral, efectively conveying Sarthak Arora 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 in ranked fourth in the world, the impressions of a group of FOND MEMORIES: Virat Kohli with mother Saroj and HAMILTON: A six-wicket haul for peared to have under-per- the first ODI by six wickets the boys’ final qualifying will compete in the Women’s club cricketers who have coach Rajkumar Sharma in New Delhi. Trent Boult and a Ross Taylor formed with 281 for nine, and the second was washed round of the Road to Wimble- Asia Cup. Matches will be known Kohli from the time he century carried New Zealand despite Taylor’s 107 of 101 out. Taylor was key to the New don AITA National-ranking played at two venues here, the was making waves in the local My mind My roots are at the academy to a 24-run victory over Aus- balls and his century partner- Zealand innings as he equalled under-14 tennis tournament Sree Kanteerava and league. flashed back to and I learn something new tralia in the third one-day in- ship with Dean Brownlie who Nathan Astle’s New Zealand here on Sunday. Koramangala indoor stadia. every time I go there,” he said. ternational on Sunday to win made 63. New Zealand won record of 16 ODI tons. — AFP After the first two legs in “We have begun prepara- Strong point the time when I Kohli also spoke of how he the series 2-0. Pune and Bengaluru, the tour- tions already,” said Govinda- “He has remained humble would cycle to the dealt with pressure. “I am do- The masterclass saw New SCOREBOARD nament has moved to Chand- raj. “A new wooden floor has and it is a quality that distin- ing what I loved from child- Zealand reclaim the Chappell- igarh en route to Kolkata. The been laid at the Kanteerava in- guishes him. His desire to academy with my kit hood — play cricket. I am so Hadlee Trophy while Aus- New Zealand: D. Brownlie c amson 56, S. Marsh (run out) 22, P. Masters will be played in Delhi door stadium at a cost of Rs. 1 learn and the commitment to focused that pressure doesn’t tralia also lost its outright hold Handscomb b Faulkner 63, T. Latham Handscomb b Boult 0, T. Head c in April. crore. The air-conditioning be involved all the time is a afect me. I don’t worry about on the world No. 1 ODI rank- c Hazlewood b Starc 0, K. Williamson Brownlie b Boult 53, G. Maxwell c The results: (qualifying, final will be fixed next week. We strong part of his character came to the academy to speak win or loss. I look at the larger ing. It slipped to 118 ranking c Handscomb b Cummins 37, R. Latham b Santner 0, M. Stoinis c round): Boys: Vishal Gautam bt will shortly upgrade the play- now. Indian cricket is proud of to Rajkumar Sir. He assured picture and my daily hard points, equal with South Taylor c Stoinis b Faulkner 107, N. Neesham b Santner 42, J. Faulkner c Krish Patel 6-2, 6-3; Parv Nage bt ers’ change-rooms as well. The him and we at the WDCA just her it was nothing to worry work pays of. I just focus on Africa, which beat Sri Lanka in Broom c Handscomb b Faulkner 8, C. Taylor b Boult 0, P. Cummins c Sant- Kushal Gentela 6-0, 6-3; Raunaq Koramangala stadium will adore him,” said Rajkumar about. She did not have to staying in my zone. It helps me Johannesburg on Saturday to Munro c Starc b Hazlewood 3, J. ner b Boult 27, M. Starc (not out) 29, Bhalla bt Parth Goel 6-4, 7-5; Dushy- also get wooden or synthetic Sharma, the coach who shaped come to the academy again,” stay calm. It helps me tackle go 3-0 up. Neesham b Hazlewood 1, M. Santner A. Zampa c Taylor b Boult 1, J. Hazle- ant Deswal bt Payas Mann 6-4, 4-6, flooring. FIBA will conduct an this gem of a cricketer. said Kohli. pressure.” South Africa will overtake (not out) 38, T. Southee b Starc 10, L. wood b Boult 4, Extras (lb-12, w-11): 6-3; Akash Deb bt Dhairya Chadha inspection in the first week of Kohli fondly remembered To the delight of the audi- Also present at the function Australia if it wins the remain- Ferguson b Starc 0, T. Boult (not out) 23; Total (in 47 overs) 257. 6-2, 4-6, 6-1; Yashvardhan Singh bt March. All work will be com- his days at the WDCA. “I am so ence, Virat shared his feelings were his brother (Vikas), ing two matches in that series. 1, Extras (lb-5, w-7, nb-1): 13; Total Fall of wickets: 1-44, 2-44, 3-119, Sarthak Arora 2-6, 6-1, 6-4; Yuvraj pleted by April.” happy to see people here when he was appointed cap- mother (Saroj) and his child- When Kane Williamson (for nine wkts. in 50 overs) 281. 4-120, 5-173, 6-174, 7-198, 8-249, Sangwan bt Arhaan Pahwa 6-2, 6-2; Govindaraj and Chander whom I saw on my first day at tain of the Indian team. “I told hood friends. won the toss he had no hesita- Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-76, 3-176, 9-253. Vishnu Goswami bt Agriya Yadav Mukhi Sharma, the BFI Secret- the academy. Atul (Wassan) my coach that my mind Veteran cricket oicial Ra- tion in batting first on the 4-198, 5-205, 6-209, 7-246, 8-265, New Zealand bowling: Southee 2-6, 6-3, 6-3. ary, also revealed plans for a Sir, (Suresh) Batra Sir. I can’t flashed back to the time when I jeev Shukla also narrated a few Hamilton wicket, correctly 9-265. 8-0-39-0, Boult 10-1-33-6, Ferguson Girls: Nirmat Kaur Atwal bt Rid- new National league for men, forget the day I returned home would cycle to the academy anecdotes and implored Kohli forecasting it would slow up as Australia bowling: Starc 10-1- 9-1-62-0, Neesham 3-0-17-0, Santner hima Mehra 6-2, 6-1; Aditi Singh bt to begin later this year. The de- after being hit by some deliv- with my kit bag. It’s been an to be “less demonstrative and the day wore on and Boult 63-3, Hazlewood 10-0-44-2, Stoinis 10-0-50-2, Williamson 7-0-44-1. Kumkum Chaudhary 6-1, 6-4; Sai tails were being worked out, eries after I had started play- unbelievable journey. I am angry” on the field. The star would come into his own. 4-0-22-0, Cummins 10-0-47-1, Result: New Zealand won by 24 Rajesh Boyar bt Snigdha Sran 6-4, they said, with an announce- ing in the senior group. My glad to share my good times cricketer responded with a But in the early batting con- Zampa 7-0-41-0, Faulkner 9-0-59-3. runs. 3-6, 6-2; Riya Bhatia bt Adi Singh 6-0, ment to be made in March. mother was worried and she with the same people today. reverential nod. ditions, New Zealand ap- Australia: A. Finch c Boult b Willi- Man-of-the-Match: Boult. 6-1; Shenvi Ahluwalia bt Mrinalini Sharma 6-2, 4-6, 6-3; Mehar Kohli bt Suryansh Tanwar 6-3, 6-3; Deep- NBA shikha Sriram bt Kaashvi Thapliyal Indian boys win SA takes unassailable lead 7-5, 6-0; Sharon Williams bt Cather- ine Bhangu 6-4, 6-1. — Sports team gold in JOHANNESBURG: South Africa marked four previous such Bureau routed Sri Lanka by seven occasions. Kings topple Warriors Asian squash wickets to take the third One- “The crowd was amazing al- Day International at the Wan- though we didn’t score 300 LOS ANGELES: Sacramento Kings Matt Barnes produced a pion Cleveland Cavaliers to a coaching wins with one club. HONG KONG: Top seed India de- derers on Saturday in a match and hit a lot of sixes,” said de stunned Golden State Warri- double-double of 11 points and 111-104 victory over New York The results: Sacramento 109 bt feated Malaysia 2-0 to win the held up for an hour after bees Villiers. “Our focus today was ors 109-106 in ov ertime on Sat- 14 rebounds as Sacramento Knicks at Madison Square Golden State 106 (OT); Milwaukee Sunil’s ton sets gold medal in the boys’ team swarmed onto the famous on winning the series and our urday to snap a 13-game skid handed the Warriors their Garden. 137 bt Phoenix 112; San Antonio 121 event at the Asian Junior arena. bowlers did a fantastic job. It against the league-leading eighth defeat of the season San Antonio’s Manu Gino- bt Denver 97; Memphis 107 bt Min- up big win Squash championship, here on The hosts also took a win- wasn’t an easy wicket to bat on Western Conference rivals. against 43 victories. bili and Tony Parker scored 18 nesota 99; Utah 105 bt Charlotte 98; Sunday. ning 3-0 lead in the five-match and if Sri Lanka had got a hun- Kings forward DeMarcus points each, combining to Cleveland 111 bt NY Knicks 104. KOCHI: Sunil belted an unbeaten Indian boys had won the series after bowling out Sri dred runs more they could Cousins scored six of his 32 LeBron scores 32 points make 13 of 14 of their shots Miami 125 bt Philadelphia 102; At- 163 as India thrashed Australia title for the second time, the Lanka for 163 before South have made it diicult for us.” points in overtime and also LeBron James scored 32 from the floor in a 121-97 vic- lanta 113 bt Orlando 86; Indiana 105 by 128 runs in the T20 World earlier being in 2011 when they Africa captain AB de Villiers Sri Lanka captain Upul contributed 12 rebounds and points and handed out 10 as- tory over Denver Nuggets that bt Detroit 84; Washington 105 bt Cup for the Blind on Sunday. defeated Pakistan in Colombo. starred while scoing an un- Tharanga was left to bemoan nine assists. sists to lead the reigning cham- put Popovich atop the list of New Orleans 91. — Agencies India lost the toss, but did Fresh from his Asian indi- defeated 60. another sub-standard batting everything right after that. vidual and British Junior Open In what has become a tradi- performance, with five bats- Apart from putting up a solid successes, India’s No.1 player tional “pink day” at the Wan- men falling prey to short- RACING total of 272 without losing a Velavan Senthilkumar first de- derers, with the South African pitched bowling. wicket, India also fielded ex- feated Malaysia’s second seed players and most of the capa- Despite Dickwella’s 74, Sri cellently and six Australian Ong Sai Hun in quick time. city crowd wearing pink in Lanka was bowled out in 39.2 batsmen were run out. Then Abhay Singh pre- support of breast cancer overs after being sent in to bat. Hall Of Famer claims India Derby The scores: vailed over Darren Rahul in awareness, de Villiers apolo- It was the third time in as India 272 for no loss in 20 overs MUMBAI: The S. Padmanabhan- 3. GRAND TURF RACING 1m 38.87s. Rs. 20 (w), 10, 18 and 39 Not run: Mathaiyus. 1, Hd., Nk., (Sunil 163 n.o., Muhammed Farhan five games to lift the title. gised for not providing the many matches it failed to bat trained Hall of Famer (David Allan AND REALTY MILLION (p). SHP: Rs. 54, FP: Rs. 35, Q: Rs. 55, Rs. 29 (w), 11, 13 and 14 (p). SHP: Rs. National coach Cyrus Pon- feast of run scoring that has for a full 50 overs. — AFP up) won the grade I Kingfisher Ultra (2,400m), Cl. IV, rated 20 to 46: Tanala: Rs. 450 and Rs. 544. Favour- 35, FP: Rs. 39, Q: Rs. 17, Tanala: Rs. 53 retd. hurt.) bt Australia 144 in 18.3 Indian Derby partnered by Signa- Raees (C.S. Jodha) 1, His Master’s ite: Perfect Star. Owners: M.A.M. 100 and Rs. 67. Favourite: Serjeant overs (Daniel James Pritchard 32). cha was ecstatic with his ture, the star attraction of the races Vice (Srinath) 2, Sanam (C. Alford) Ramaswamy Of Chettinad Charit- At Arms. Owners: Mr. Tegbir Singh wards showing. “It was bril- SCOREBOARD held here on Sunday. The winner is 3 and Aspen (J. Chinoy) 4. 3-1/4, 1, able Trust. Trainer: Karthik G. Brar rep. Sarainaga Racing Pvt. Ltd. liant stuf from the Indians,” owned by Mr. Tegbir Singh Brar Nk. 2m 33.28s. Rs. 83 (w), 19, 12 and 6. B.K. RATTONSEY ME- Trainer: S. Padmanabhan. 28 (p). SHP: Rs. 41, FP: Rs. 320, Q: Rs. MORIAL MAIDEN MULTI- said Poncha. Sri Lanka: N. Dickwella c de Kock b 7-2-19-3, Duminy 3-0-17-0, Phehluk- rep. Sarainaga Racing Pvt. Ltd. (Note: Lucas (Donoghue up) 1. MAHINDRA LIFESPACES 106, Tanala: Rs. 4,207 and Rs. 1,603. MILLION (1,200m), Maiden 3-y-o drifted out and stopped galloping Sarangi elected Squash Rackets Federation Pretorius 74, U. Tharanga c Pretorius wayo 5-0-26-2, Imran Tahir MILLION (1,000m), Cl. II, rated 60 Favourite: Sovereignsky. Owners: only: Awesome Hooves (Trevor) about 100m after the start of the of India (SRFI) patron N. b Rabada 31, K. Mendis c Amla b 9.2-2-21-2. to 86: Abbey (C.S. Jodha) 1, Celtic Mr. & Mrs. Hoosain S. Nensey & Mr. 1, Benefactor (Suraj Narredu) 2, race). Ramachandran also expressed Phehlukwayo 4, D. Chandimal c Mor- South Africa: Q. de Kock b Ku- Prince (S. Amit) 2, Serenita (Tre- Saif H. Nensey. Trainer: Imtiaz Sait. Roosevelt (Sandesh) 3 and Lady 8. BANARSIDAS MILLION ASF vice-president his happiness over India’s per- vor) 3 and Undisputed (Neeraj) 4. 4. SSHAAWN’S MILLION Sergeant (I. Chisty) 4. 3, 5, lnk. 1m (1,200m), Cl. III, rated 40 to 66: Al- ris b Phehlukwayo 4, D. de Silva c mara 8, H. Amla (run out) 34, F. du Nk, nk, 3/4. 58.70s. Rs. 47 (w), 16, 30 (1,600m), Cl. V, rated 01 to 26: Sus- 10.47s. Rs. 146 (w), 34, 12 and 14 (p). lora (Trevor) 1, Benezeer (C.S. formance. Amla b Morris 16, A. Gunaratne c Plessis c de Silva b Madushanka 24, and 11 (p). SHP: Rs. 123, FP: Rs. 2,138, sex Pride (Trevor) 1, Sweeping SHP: Rs. 48, FP: Rs. 793, Q: Rs. 104, Jodha) 2, Magical Memory (Suraj HONG KONG: Debendranath “After the British Junior Pretorius b Rabada 2, S. Pathirana b AB. de Villiers (not out) 60, J. Duminy Q: Rs. 1,881, Tanala: Rs. 731 and Rs. Move (P.S. Chouhan) 2, Firenze Tanala: Rs. 1,105 and Rs. 616. Favour- Narredu) 3 and Turf Dancer (San- Sarangi, IAS, was elected vice- Open success and now the Tahir 18, L. Madushanka c du Plessis (not out) 28, Extras (lb-1, nb-1, w-8): 184. Favourite: Serenita. Owners: (Parmar) 3 and Brazos (J. Chinoy) 4. ite: Benefactor. Owner: S.T. Shiv- tosh) 4. 1/2, 3/4, 1/2. 1m 11.30s. Rs. 30 president of the Asian Squash Mr. & Mrs. Shapoor P. Mistry rep. Not run: Dem Sao. Lnk, 4-1/4, 1-3/4. aprasad. Trainer: Shazaan Shah. (w), 11, 18 and 19 (p). SHP: Rs. 56, FP: Asian championship, it is clear b Pretorius 0, S. Lakmal c Behardien 10; Total (for three wkts. in 32 overs) Manjri Horse Breeders’ Farm Pvt. 1m 39.45s. Rs. 27 (w), 16, 22 and 19 7. KINGFISHER ULTRA IN- Rs. 70, Q: Rs. 24, Tanala: Rs. 133 and Federation (ASF) with two- junior squash in the country is b Pretorius 0, L. Kumara c Rabada b 164. Ltd. & Mrs. B.E. Saldanha. Trainer: (p). SHP: Rs. 51, FP: Rs. 102, Q: Rs. 64, DIAN DERBY (Gr.1) (2,400m), 4- Rs. 108. Favourite: Allora. Owners: thirds majority at its 37th on a firm foundation, thanks to Tahir 5, L. Sandakan (not out) 0, Fall of wickets: 1-23, 2-58, 3-92. Faisal Abbas. Tanala: Rs. 280 and Rs. 90. Favour- y-o only: M/s. Geofrey B. Nagpal & Ashley B. AGM here on Sunday. Sarangi, Nagpal. Trainer: Sanjay Kolse. the structured training that Extras (lb-3, w-6): 9; Total (in 39.2 Sri Lanka bowling: Lakmal 6-1- 2. R.N. KANGA GOLD ite: Sussex Pride. Owner: Mr. Ketan HALL OF FAMER (Win Le- who is the president of the TROPHY (1,600m), 4-y-o & over: R. Mehta. Trainer: Subhag Singh. gend – Elusive Treat) David Allan 1. Jackpot : (70 per cent): Rs. 12,204 was started more than a dec- overs) 163. 23-0, Kumara 8-0-49-1, Madushanka Myrtlewood (Trevor) 1, B Fifty 5. DR. M.A.M. SERGEANT AT ARMS (Ikhtyar – (376 tkts.), (30 per cent): Rs. 1,706 Squash Rackets Federation of ade ago. Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-79, 3-89, 4-0-15-1, Sandakan 6-0-33-0, Pathir- Two (Donoghue) 2 and Airco (I. RAMASWAMY MULTI-MIL- Rahy’s Serenade) A. Sandesh 2. (1,153 tkts.). India (SRFI), replaces the sit- “My congratulations to the 4-115, 5-125, 6-149, 7-149, 8-155, ana 7-0-35-0, De Silva 1-0-8-0. Chisty) 3. 3-3/4, 4-1/2. 1m 36.78s. Rs. LION (1,600m), Maiden 3-y-o only: TEMERITY (Intense Focus – Treble: (i): Rs. 1,470 (11 tkts.), (ii): ting VP and Management entire team for winning the Result: South Africa won by 12 (w), SHP: Rs. 15, FP: Rs. 13. Favour- Perfect Star (P.S. Chouhan) 1, Lord Narmina) Neeraj 3. Rs. 1,679 (24 tkts.). Committee member Syed Razi 9-158. ite: Myrtlewood. Owners: Mr. & Of The Sea (Trevor) 2, We Break WINTER RENAISSANCE Super jackpot: (70 per cent): Rs. Asian crown again,” South Africa bowling: Rabada seven wickets. Mrs. Mehernosh H. Deboo. Trainer: The Rules (Suraj Narredu) 3 and Art (Courageous Cat – Winter House) 87,112 (11 tkts.), (30 per cent): Rs. 12, Nawab of Pakistan. — Sports Ramachandran said. — PTI 7-0-39-2, Morris 8-0-38-1, Pretorius Man-of-the-Match: Pretorius. P. Shrof. O War (K. Kadam) 4. 3-3/4, 4, 2-1/4. C.S. Jodha 4. 079 (34 tkts.). Bureau

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 SPORT 19 Meghna, Pratik We are ready for the challenge: Shakib claim gold SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT of world class spinners, hope he would recover fast NEW DELHI: Meghna Sajjanar backed up by competent pace and join the team at the earli- swept all the three individual HYDERABAD: Bangladesh star attack.” est,” he said. gold medals in women’s air cricketer Shakib Al Hasan says Commenting on Indian of- “Test cricket is all about rifle in the prestigious Inter- India seems to be unbeatable spinner R. Ashwin, the 29- mental fitness and strength. It shoot international shooting at home and it will be a huge year-old Shakib said, “he is a requires a lot of character competition in the challenge not just for himself terrific bowler. Looks at his which are more important Netherlands. but for the entire team when best given the way he has been than technique,” Shakib said. It was a fruitful outing for the two teams clash in the one- bowling in the last two to three “It will be a diicult task for the 22-year-old Meghna who of Test match at the Rajiv years.” What impresses me the us no doubt. But, again despite trains with coach Rakesh Man- Gandhi Stadium here from most about Ashwin is that he Shakib Al Hasan. the disappointing tour to New pat, prior to the World Cup to February 9. has such control over line, — PHOTO: K.V.S. GIRI Zealand recently [where be held at home later in the Speaking on the sidelines of length and flight that he can do Bangladesh lost both the Tests month. the on-going two-day practice anything he wants to. A won- doesn’t seem to be getting out in the series], we can take con- Shriyanka Sadangi managed match for the visitors at the derful blend of confidence and now in any format.” fidence from the fact that we to win two silver medals be- Gymkhana Ground on control when he bowls,” said “Yes, we are going to miss have done well against Eng- hind Meghna from among the MAKING AN IMPACT: Left-armer Aniket Choudhary impressed for India-A with his pace and Sunday, the best ever all- Shakib, who played 46 Tests Mustafizur Rahman (left-arm land at home before that,” he three competitions apart from precision. — PHOTO: K.V.S. GIRI rounder from Bangladesh said, scoring 3213 runs including pacer who was a member of pointed out. “The fact is that the team gold with Meghna “we are ready for the chal- four centuries. the victorious Sunrisers Hy- we are touring abroad after a and Namrata Arora. lenge even though we are On the Indian captain Virat derabad in the last IPL). He long gap and it was definitely Ayonika Paul who represen- aware that the Indian bowling Kohli, the former Bangladesh was so familiar with the play- diicult to adjust to the condi- ted the country in the Rio is top class with the presence captain commented, “he ing conditions here. But, I tions there,” he added. Olympics missed the finals in all the three competitions, but Modest display by finished only marginally TABLE TENNIS behind. In men’s air rifle, Pratik Borse won a gold on the third Seventh for Sharath; maiden for Madhurika day apart from a bronze on the Bangladesh batsmen second. RAKESH RAO 11-6; Ghosh bt 3-A. Amalraj (Pet) 11-7, Similarly, Vinay Kumar 11-8, 11-9, 11-3; Sathiyan bt Devesh Patil won a gold and a silver CRICKET / Aniket Choudhary picks up four MANESAR (HARYANA): For Sharath Karia (Guj) 8-11, 11-9, 11-2, 11-4, 11-4. Kamal and Madhurika Patkar, Women: (final): 1-Madhurika among the juniors in air rifle. V.V. S UBRAHMANYAM India starting from Feb. 9 at 4x4, 1x6) batted fluently the long wait for a National Patkar (Pet) bt Poulomi Ghatak (Pet) Mihika Poore won a bronze, the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium against both pace and spin table tennis title is finally over. 11-5, 11-9, 11-5, 12-10. semifinals: but placed fourth and fifth HYDERABAD: It was a disappoint- here, it was not the kind of bat- after the exit of their captain On Sunday, Sharath’s six- Madhurika bt 5-Manika Batra 7-11, over the next two competi- ing batting display by ting the Bangladesh think-tank Abhinav Mukund (16). year wait for a seventh singles 11-8, 11-9, 11-8, 10-12, 11-8; Poulomi bt tions in junior women’s air Bangladesh. The story would would have hoped for. The scores: Bangladesh — 1st title ended when he over- 6-Pooja Sahasrabudhe 11-8, 11-5, 12- rifle. have been more pitiable but innings: Tamim Iqbal b Aniket The flamboyant Sarkar, powered two-time winner 10, 11-8. Quarterfinals: Madhurika for the useful half-centuries by Choudhary 13, Imrul Kayes c Hardik after early anxious moments, Soumyajit Ghosh in six games. bt Krittwika Sinha Roy (WB) 11-5, Soumya Sarkar (52, 73b, 9x4, Pandya b Chama Milind 4, Soumya settled down to play some For Madhurika, it was her first, 11-9, 11-9, 15-13; Manika bt Nikhat 1x6) and captain Mushfiqur Sarkar lbw b Shahbaz Nadeem 52, Jeevan loses pleasing strokes on either side after beating a seven-time Banu (Tel) 8-11, 11-7, 11-6, 10-12, 5-11, Rahim (58, 106b, 8x4, 1x6), as Mominul Haque c Ishan Kishan b of the wicket. winner and 11-time finalist 11-8, 11-4; Pooja bt Shreya Ghosh the team managed to score 224 Aniket Choudhary 5, Mahmudullah c doubles final Pandya required some med- Poulomi Ghatak in straight (WB) 11-2, 11-9, 11-4, 11-9; Poulomi bt for eight declared against In- Priyank Panchal b Kuldeep Yadav 23, ical attention on his right foot games. Archana Kamath 11-7, 11-6, 8-11, 6-11, dia-A on the first day of the Mushfiqur Rahim c Rishab Pant b NEW DELHI: Jeevan Ned- and did not bowl after three At 34, Sharath showed the 11-7, 4-11, 11-4. two-day practice game at the Aniket Choudhary 58, Sabbir Rah- unchezhiyan and Christopher expensive overs. kind of stuf he is made of. Be- Men doubles: (final): 1-Sou- Gymkhana Ground here on man lbw b Vijay Shankar 33, Liton Rungkat of Indonesia lost to Once Sarkar was trapped fore Sharath made light of a 1-8 myajit Ghosh & Jubin Kumar (Har) bt Sunday. lbw by left-arm spinner Shah- Das (not out) 23, Mehedi Hasan David O’Hare of Ireland and Miraz lbw b Aniket Choudhary 0, deficit in the third game to Sushmit Sriram & Anirban Ghosh Joe Salisbury of Britain 7-6(6), In reply, India-A was 91 for baz Nadeem, it was left to the script a 11-8, 6-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8, (AAI) 11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5. Semi- one at close of play in 21 overs. gritty captain Mushfiqur to Taijul Islam (not out) 4; Extras: (w-5, finals: Ghosh & Jubin bt 4-Arjun 3-6, 9-11 in the doubles final of nb-4): 9; Total (for eight wkts. decl. 11-5 in the final, he had to en- On a pitch which had good hold the innings together as Ghosh & Surajit Das (WB) 11-9, 10-12, the $125,000 men’s Challenger in 67 overs): 224. counter battle from the brink bounce, swing and carry, espe- the others failed to come good. 11-4, 11-8; Sushmit & Anirban bt 7- tennis tournament in the US. Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-44, 3-72, of ouster in the semifinals. PROUD WINNERS: For both Madhurika Patkar and Sharath Kamal And, he did that in style with a Sourav Saha & Mohit Verma (Har) 10- In the ITF women’s event in cially in the morning session, 4-89, 5-113, 6-184, 7-206, 8-206. Sharath overcame Harmeet the National title was something to savour, coming as it did well-paced half-century. 12, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7. Egypt, Natasha Palha and left-arm pacer and local boy India-A bowling: Chama Milind Desai 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 10-12, 7-11, after a long time. Rishika Sunkara clinched the Chama Milind bowled well to For India-A, 27-year-old 12-3-26-1, Hardik Pandya 3-0-29-0, 14-12, 11-9 after saving two Women doubles: (final): 1- doubles title. trouble the openers with a di- speedster Choudhary bowled Aniket Choudhary 12-2-26-4, Vijay match-points at 8-10 in the after the final. “Against the pre-quarterfinals, both Anindita Chakraborty & Sutritha It was the first title as a pair agonal line. He provided the well and with precision to fin- Shankar 5-0-32-1, Jayant Yadav 9-2- sixth game. In the deciding Harmeet, it was tough because matches going the distance. Mukherjee (WB) bt 2-Poulomi Ghatak for Natasha who has four first breakthrough, inducing a ish with a four-wicket haul. 41-0, Shahbaz Nadeem 16-5-38-1, game, Sharath trailed 1-5 but he refused to give any negative But soon it was clear that & Mouma Das (Pet) 11-8, 11-8, 4-11, 7- doubles titles in all, and pull stroke from opener Imrul “I am pleased with my per- Kuldeep Yadav 10-1-32-1. battled all the way to hold five points and that frustrated me. Madhurika had saved her best 11, 11-3. Semifinals: Anindita and Rishika who has nine. Kayes (4) and had him caught formance but disappointed at India-A — 1st innings: Priyank match-points at 10-5. There- That was tough.” for the last. Sutirtha bt Maria Roy & Seraha Jacob The results: in the deep by Hardik Pandya. missing out on a five-wicket Panchal (batting) 40, Abhinav after, Desai played four bril- Like Sharath, Madhurika, The results (prefix denotes (Ker) 12-10, 11-7, 11-7; Poulomi & At Dallas (USA): $125,000 Then, another left-armer haul. This pitch suited my Mukund c Imrul Kayes b Subashis liant points to make it 9-10 but too, reaped a rich reward for seedings): Mouma bt 7-Sagarika Mukherjee & Challenger: Men’s doubles (fi- Aniket Choudhary cleaned up style of bowling. Definitely, Roy 16, Shreyas Iyer (batting) 29; Ex- netted a service return in to her perseverance. Men (final): 1-Sharath Kamal Takeme Sarkar (NB) 11-9, 11-8, 11-7. nal): David O’Hare (Irl) & Joe Salis- the dangerous Tamim Iqbal this spell should give me a lot tras (lb-4, nb-2): 6; Total (for one the net to let Sharath get away The moment Poulomi net- (Pet) bt Soumyajit Ghosh (Har) 11-8, Mixed doubles: (final): 2-Arjun bury (GBR) bt Christopher Rungkat (13) to leave the visitors, who of confidence as I chase my wkt. in 21 overs): 91. to the final. ted a return on match-point, an 6-11, 11-9, 3-11, 11-8, 11-5. Semi- Ghosh & Sutritha Mukherjee (WB) bt (Ina) & Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan 6-7 elected to bat, struggling at 44 dream of playing for India one Fall of wicket: 1-41. “I think, the final was my emotional Madhurika sank to finals: Sharath bt 5-Harmeet Desai 4-Sanil Shetty & Pooja Sahasrabudhe (6), 6-3, 11-9. for two. day,” Choudhary said. Bangladesh bowling: Shafiul Is- best match of the week. I think, her knees and shed tears of joy. (Pet) 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 10-12, 7-11, 14- (Pet) 11-9, 11-5, 11-9. Semifinals: Sh- At Cairo (Egypt): $15,000 ITF After Bangladesh declared lam 4-1-17-0, Taskin Ahmed 6-1- in the final, Ghosh lacked the On the way to the title, 12, 11-9; Ghosh bt 2-G. Sathiyan (Pet) etty & Pooja bt 1-G. Sathiyan & Reeth women’s doubles (final): Natasha Missed opportunity at 224 for eight in 67 overs, In- 25-0, Subashis Roy 5-1-11-1, Mehedi energy with which he nor- Madhurika was severely 12-10, 11-7, 11-6, 4-11, 11-4. Rishya (Pet) 11-7, 13-15, 9-11, 11-9, Palha & Rishika Sunkara bt Sandra For a team which opted for dia-A opener Priyank Panchal Hasan Mirza 4-0-27-0, Taijul Islam mally plays. He played tested in the first round Quarterfinals: Sharath bt Subhajit 11-9. Arjun & Sutirtha bt T. Nitin & Samir (Egy) & Shelby Talcott (US) this practice match ahead of (40 batting, 62b, 6x4) and 2-0-7-0. doubles too and that took its Selvadeepthi in the second Saha (Pet) 11-6, 11-4, 11-6, 11-7; Desai Swetha Kumaravel (Kar) 12-10, 11-13, 6-2, 6-1. — Sports Bureau the one-of Test match against Shreyas Iyer (29 batting, 35, Toss: Bangladesh. toll,” said a generous Sharath round and Moumita Datta in bt 4-Sanil Shetty (Pet) 11-7, 11-8, 11-8, 13-11, 11-8.

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI 20 | LIFE THE HINDU MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2017 World’s smallest pacemaker is implanted Songs of Holocaust victims recovered Buck-toothed shark species found The world’s smallest pacemaker has been successfully The University of Akron in the U.S. has found in its Researchers have discovered a shark species with implanted for the first time in a patient who was archives a long-lost recording of songs sung by rabbit-like buck-teeth and a bulky head, making it suffering from a slow heart rate, U.S. scientists said. survivors of a Nazi concentration camp. the 50th ‘ghost’ shark species known to science. A Tokyo hotel for bookworms ‘How can you partition the air?’ ‘Book and Bed’ offers a twist to the traditional capsule accommodation in Japan Gulzar shares his memories of 1947 at the Arts and Literature Festival of Amritsar

TOKYO: A hotel in Japan is de- DAMINI NATH of the Partition, opened with fying the digital books trend an exhibition on October 24, and appealing to guests who AMRITSAR: Having seen decay- 2016 and has seen about prefer to curl up with a tradi- ing corpses line the lanes of 30,000 visitors since then, its tional paper book. Old Delhi as a child and his CEO, Mallika Ahluwalia, told Book and Bed Tokyo, a home becoming a “refugee The Hindu. From maps de- variation of Japan’s famous camp” in 1947, lyricist and picting the proposed bound- capsule hotels, ofers guests filmmaker Gulzar had one aries of Punjab to oral histor- a closet-sized bunk embed- message for Indians and ies of those who were ded in rows of bookshelves. Pakistanis on Sunday when afected, the items stored at The walls, ceiling and he spoke at the Partition Mu- the museum document the most of the décor of the hotel seum here: Lands, roads, and weeks leading up to August are packed with 3,200 books countries could be parti- 15, 1947, and its aftermath. in diferent languages. tioned, but not language and Photos, newspaper reports, A common room serves as culture. personal efects, paintings a lounge for day visitors who “How can you partition and audio-visual displays can also come to share the the air?” he asked rhetoric- make up the museum. One of experience of reading books ally, at which the audience Gulzar studies a display at the Partition Museum in Amritsar the displays is a saree with together. smiled and nodded as the on Sunday. — PHOTO: DAMINI NATH phulkari embroidery that be- “There are many visitors midday sun streamed into longed to someone afected staying in one big space, so the old Town Hall that and display them on the similarities between the two by Partition. we can communicate and houses the museum. walls, like here at the mu- countries. “The roots, music, Ms. Ahluwalia said that a feel relaxed,” said student The noted poet has writ- seum,” he said, adding that tehzeeb and zaban are the room dedicated to recording Natsuki Suno, who was tak- ten extensively on the Parti- both India and Pakistan had same,” he said, before sug- oral histories and an events ing a break from her studies. tion over the years. But at an not allowed any films to be gesting that materials from space would be added. The hotel, which opened interactive session that made on the Partition. Pakistan should also be in- Additional Solicitor Gen- 18 months ago, has 60 cube kicked of the Arts and Liter- cluded in the exhibits at the eral and BJP leader Pinky rooms equipped with a mat- ature Festival of Amritsar, he The same roots Partition Museum. Anand, who is a trustee of tress and reading lamp. reminded the audience to Sharing his own experi- “A country is not its gov- the museum, said that the Depending on the room, Visitors get into cabins inside a bookshop-themed capsule hotel in Tokyo, Japan. — PHOTO: REUTERS “remember”. To prevent the ences as a child and then ernment. Governments will Centre would look into facil- overnight rates range from spread of hatred and re- decades later being mistaken come and go, but the people itating talks with counter- 3,800 yen (₨2,268) to 4,800 of the hotel for 500 yen something beyond the tradi- stay in this kind of hotel venge, both countries had for a long-lost son by a Union will remain,” he said. parts in Pakistan to collect yen (₨2,865). (₨300) an hour. Kei Asai, tional capsule hotel. “The where you can fall asleep tried to suppress the memor- Minister who had lost two The museum, which is the material for the exhibit. Daytime visitors can chief executive of Book and reason I came up with this while enjoying something ies of 1947, he said. “It’s time children during the Parti- first one in the world dedic- “Partition was not a one- lounge in cushioned corners Bed, said he wanted to ofer concept was that I wanted to fun,” he said. — Reuters to take out these memories tion, Gulzar emphasised the ated to preserving memories way afair,” she said.

STAR TREK Begum in bloom Indian-American teen finds Kangana Ranaut on a ‘vintage’ ride angana Ranaut will soon be seen travelling in a vintage car way to turn seawater potable in the run-up to her forthcoming film Rangoon, which is a SAN FRANCISCO: An Indian- and the water? Chai came in Kperiod drama set against the backdrop of World War II. American student has found and thought about it from a The actor will use the vintage car a cheap method to turn salt completely diferent angle,” everywhere she travels, be it for her work water into drinkable fresh- said Jesuit High School bio- commitments or her personal routine. She water. His work has caught logy teacher Lara Shamieh. will be using it throughout the month, said the attention of major tech- “People were concen- a statement from the film’s makers. nology firms and trated on that 10% of water Directed by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film also universities. that’s bonded to the salt in stars Saif Ali Khan and Shahid Kapoor. Chaitanya Karamchedu the sea and no one looked at In the film, Kangana plays an actor, Saif from Portland, Oregon, is the 90% that was free. Chai takes on the role of a filmmaker and turning heads across the just looked at it and said if Shahid is a soldier. Produced by Sajid United States, all because of 10% is bonded and 90% is Nadiadwala under the banner of a science experiment that Chaitanya Karamchedu free, then why are we so fo- Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment began in his high school cused on this 10%, let’s ig- along with Viacom18 Motion classroom. to implement on a large nore it and focus on the 90,” Pictures, Rangoon is set to hit the The Jesuit High School scale,” Mr. Karamchedu said. Ms. Shamieh said. screens on February 24. — IANS student told KPTV that he The teenager figured it It is a breakthrough that is has big plans to change the out, on his own, in a high estimated to impact millions world. “1 in 8 people do not school lab. of lives if ever implemented Chazelle wins top DGA prize for La La Land have access to clean water, “The real genesis of the on a mass scale. ilmmaker Damien Chazelle’s bid for Oscars glory was it’s a crying issue that needs idea was realising that sea “What this is compared to boosted late on Saturday as he took the top prize at the to be addressed,” said Mr. water is not fully saturated current techniques is that it’s FDirectors Guild of America honours — a key predictor for Karamchedu. He made up with salt,” he was quoted as cheap and accessible to the Academy Awards. his mind to address the mat- saying. By experimenting everyone, everyone can use Chazelle was crowned best ter himself. with a highly absorbent poly- it,” said Ms. Shamieh. director for his dreamy “The best access to water mer, the teen hit upon a less Mr. Karamchedu won a tribute to the heyday of is the sea. 70% of the planet is expensive method to remove $10,000 award from the U.S. Hollywood musicals, La La covered in water and almost salt from seawater and turn it Agency for International De- Land, three weeks ahead of all of that is the ocean, but into freshwater. velopment at Intel’s Interna- the glittering culmination the problem is that’s salt wa- “It’s not bonding with wa- tional Science Fair and of Hollywood’s annual ter,” said Mr. Karamchedu. ter molecules, it’s bonding to second place at MIT’s Tech- awards season. Isolating drinkable water the salt,” explained Mr. Kara- Con where he won more The 32-year-old has from the ocean in a cost ef- mchedu, who is called ‘Chai’ money to continue his already scooped two fective way is a problem that in school. research. Golden Globes for directing has stumped scientists for “They were very encour- and writing La La Land. A years. A diferent angle aging, they could see things darling of this awards “Scientists looked at de- “People have been looking into it that I couldn’t, be- season, his movie has Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor showcases a creation by designer Anita Dongre at salination, but it’s all still in- at the problem from one cause they’ve been working amassed a record seven the grand finale of Lakmé Fashion Week Summer Resort 2017 held against the accessible to [some] places view point, how do we break their whole lives on this,” Globes and 14 nominations backdrop of the Bandra Fort in Mumbai on Sunday. — PHOTO: PTI and it would cost too much those bonds between salt said Mr. Karamchedu. — PTI for the Oscars, including for best picture, best director and for its two stars, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. “Movies are powerful because they speak to everyone. They speak to all countries, all cultures,” Chazelle, whose father is French-American, told fellow filmmakers. Presenters at the star-studded event for 1,600 guests included Gosling, Stone, Michael Fassbender, Nicole Kidman and Alejandro G. Inarritu, who won the top prize at the last two ceremonies. — AFP

Selena shares teaser of new song inger Selena Gomez, who has been out of the spotlight since August last year, has shared a teaser of her new song Son Instagram, giving fans a taste of what’s to come on her third studio album. I had a dream / we were back to 17 / summer nights and liberties / never growing up, Selena sang to the upbeat track. The 24-year-old star posted black-and-white clips of herself listening to the new track, which is believed to be titled It Ain’t Me. The signer followed up the snippets by sharing an Instagram photo of herself, in which she tagged Kygo, hinting at the 25-year-old Norwegian hitmaker’s involvement in the song. Last year, Gomez had cancelled her European and South America leg of a tour due to anxiety, panic attacks and depression caused by her lupus. — PTI

Katrina turns hair stylist for Anurag ctor Katrina Kaif did more than just Aremembering her lines for her Jagga Jasoos director Anurag Basu. She turned into a hair stylist for him. Basu posted a video on Twitter that showed the smiling actor trying to give him a new look with a razor. Though she seemed happy doing it, Basu seemed to be pretending to be tense. Someone can be even heard in the background saying: “Stay still”. The Barfi! director captioned the video: “Katrina! The only thing that will save that haircut now is an invisibility cloak.” Jagga Jasoos, also starring Ranbir Kapoor, is a comedy-drama that tells the story of a teenage detective in search of his missing father. It is set to release on April 7. — IANS

CM ND-ND YK