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string of eight devastating Ablasts, including suicide    attacks, struck churches and luxury hotels frequented by for- eigners in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, killing 215 people,    including three Indians an American, and shattering a decade of peace in the island   ,*-(*)./ Their names are Lakshmi, nation since the end of the bru- Narayan Chandrashekhar and tal civil war with the LTTE. ondemning the “cold- Ramesh, Sushma said adding The blasts — one of the Cblooded and pre-planned details are being ascertained. deadliest attacks in the coun- barbaric acts” in Sri Lanka, Sushma tweeted, “I con- try’s history — targeted St Prime Minister Narendra veyed to the Foreign Minister Anthony’s Church in Colombo, Modi spoke to Sri Lankan of Sri Lanka that India is St Sebastian’s Church in the President Maithripala Sirisena ready to provide all humani- western coastal town of and Prime Minister Ranil tarian assistance. We are ready Negombo and Zion Church in Wickremesingh and offered to despatch medical teams.” the eastern town of Batticaloa the southern neighbour all Sushma said, “In all eight around 8.45 am (local time) as possible help and assistance to bomb blasts have taken place the Easter Sunday mass were in deal with the situation. — one more in a guest house progress, police spokesman “Strongly condemn the in Dehiwela near Colombo Ruwan Gunasekera said. horrific blasts in Sri Lanka. and another in a housing Explosions were reported There is no place for such bar- colony in Dematagoda in from three five-star hotels — barism in our region,” Modi Colombo." the Shangri-La, the Cinnamon tweeted. In a statement, the Grand and the Kingsbury in External Affairs Minister Ministry of External Affairs Colombo. Sushma Swaraj said, “Indian said there can be no justifica- Gunasekera confirmed 207 High Commission in tion for any act of terror and deaths. However, the News 1st Colombo has conveyed that called for concerted global channel said that 215 people National Hospital has action to effectively deal with have died in the blasts. informed them about the the menace, including cross- Chairman of Sri Lanka death of three Indians.” border terrorism. Tourism Kishu Gomes said 33 foreign nationals have been killed in the coordinated attacks believed to be carried  )  out by a single group. Director of the National Hospital Dr &  Anil Jasinghe identified 12 of !
" # the 33 foreign nationals, which     include three Indians, two
   Chinese and one each from *    
       P      - !   !  . Washington: US President Poland, Denmark, Japan, Colombo: The Sri Lankan Donald Trump yet again com- Pakistan, America, Morocco ern and eastern provinces of looked like a suicide attack. Later in the day, a power- police said. said. Government on Sunday mitted a faux pas on Sunday as and Bangladesh. the island nation for nearly 30 An unnamed official said a ful blast in the capital’s south- Soon after the eighth blast, President Maithripala blocked social media platforms he erroneously tweeted “138 Around 500 people, years before its collapse in suicide bomber blew himself ern suburb near the Colombo the Government imposed cur- Sirisena has appealed for calm. like the Facebook and million people” were killed in including Indians, were injured 2009 after the Sri Lankan Army up at the restaurant of the Zoo killed two persons, few with immediate effect. “I have been shocked by this Instagram to prevent the spread a string of blasts in Sri Lanka. in the attacks. killed its supreme leader Cinnamon Grand hotel. Gunasekera said. The curfew will be in force totally unexpected incidents. of false news reports after a “Heartfelt condolences from No group has claimed Velupillai Prabhakaran. Gunasekara said that 66 When a police team indefinitely until further The security forces haven been series of blasts killed 215 peo- the people of the US to the responsibility for Sunday’s Briefing reporters, bodies were kept at the entered a house in the notice, officials said. asked to take all action neces- ple. The Presidential Secretariat people of Sri Lanka on the hor- attacks. However, most of the Gunasekera said the police National Hospital while 260 Colombo north suburb of State Minister of Defence sary,” Sirisena said. said the decision to block social rible terrorist attacks on deadly attacks in the past in Sri was not able to confirm at the injured were receiving treat- Orugodawatta to conduct a Ruwan Wijewardene said Prime Minister Ranil media was taken in reaction to churches and hotels that have Lanka were carried out by the moment if they were all suicide ment there and 104 bodies search, a suicide bomber blew seven persons had been arrest- Wickremesinghe termed the false news reports spreading on killed at least 138 million peo- Liberation Tigers of Tamil attacks. He, however, said that were placed at the Negombo himself up causing a concrete ed in connection with the blasts as “cowardly attacks” social media. Meanwhile, ple. We stand ready to help!” Eelam (LTTE) which ran a mil- one of the blasts at the Hospital and 100 injured were floor of a two-storey building blasts. “We believe these were and said his Government is Facebook has activated its Trump said in a tweet which itary campaign for a separate Katuwapitiya (Negombo) receiving treatment at the to crash on them, killing three coordinated attacks, and one working to “contain the Crisis Response tool for the was taken down after more Tamil homeland in the north- church has signs of being what Hospital. policemen in the eighth blast, group was behind them,” he situation.” blasts, CNN reported. PTI than 20 minutes. PTI       )*  +    !"  #$           
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           /    

     .,(/56. didates including former CM         lier nominee MLA Lalit Nagar Bhupinder Hooda’s son, three-        with former MP Avtar Singh   0)1*2-3,(4 nding the suspense over its time MP Deepender from Bhadana from Faridabad seat. ,*-(*)./ Ecandidates, the Congress Rohtak, CLP leader Kiran         !    Bhadana had represented the on Sunday sprung a major Choudhry’s daughter former   !        seat in 1991, 2004 and 2009. mid speculation that she surprise by fielding former MP Shruti from Bhiwani-      "P The four-time former MP Acould be pitted against Chief Minister Bhupinder Mahendragarh, former Bhadana, who is considered an Prime Minister Narendra Singh Hooda from Sonipat Minister Capt Ajay Singh Yadav  "
    influential Gujjar leader having Modi from Varanasi in the Lok Sabha constituency. from Gururgam, Rajya Sabha a stronghold in Haryana and Lok Sabha poll, Congress gen- Apart from Hooda, the MP Kumari Selja from Ambala. western Uttar Pradesh had re- eral secretary Priyanka party also announced to field Haryana has 10 parliamen- constituency with the com- Janta Party’s candidate joined the Congress in Gandhi Vadra on Sunday said former Minister Nirmal Singh tary seats that will go to vote on munity having more than 5 Dushyant Chautala. February. she will be happy to contest from Kurukshetra, former May 12 in the sixth phase of lakh voters while there are Dushyant, who was the Notably, the Congress against the PM if asked by Speaker and MLA Kuldeep ongoing general elections. more than 1.5 lakh Brahmins youngest MP in the 16th Lok could retain only one Lok party president and broter Sharma from Karnal and MLA The party’s candidates list as well. Sabha in 2014, is grandson of Sabha seat i.e. Rohtak out of 10 Rahul Gandhi. Kuldeep Bishnoi’s son Bhavya released on Sunday had few In Hisar constituency, former Chief Minister and in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Five Party sources said that the  #  $           from Hisar. surprises. Two-time former making his electoral debut in INLD’s chief OP Chautala. On of Congress’ sitting MPs Congress will announce the $ '  (   " The party also announced Chief Minister Bhupinder Lok Sabha polls, Bhavya the other hand, the BJP has including state unit chief Ashok name of candidate for this pres- to field former MP Avtar Singh Singh Hooda, a prominent Jat Bishnoi, a young third-gener- fielded, IAS Brijender Singh, Tanwar (Sirsa-SC), Naveen tigious seat in a couple of days. party workers have been test,” Priyanka told the media Bhadana from Faridabad in leader will take on BJP’s ation politician in Haryana son of Union Minister and Jindal (Kurukshetra), Arvind The Congress has already named working on this line, AICC in Wayanad, while responding place of MLA Lalit Nagar, Ramesh Chander Kaushik, a and grandson of three-time for- Rajya Sabha MP Birender Sharma (Karnal), Shruti candidates for neighbouring sources said. to a question whether she whose candidature was Brahmin who currently repre- mer Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Singh, a prominent Jat leader Choudhary (Bhiwani- Chandauli and Ghazipur. “You will find out. If my will contest the poll from announced earlier. sents the Sonipat Lok Sabha will take on two Jat candidates from Hisar. Mahendergarh) and Avtar Priyanka is likely to fight Congress president tells me to Varanasi against the Prime The Congress had nearly a constituency. including BJP’s nominee In another surprise move, Singh Bhadana (Faridabad) from Varanasi as she and contest, I will be happy to con- Minister. week back announced six can- Sonipat is a Jat dominated Brijendra Singh and Jannayak the Congress replaced its ear- had lost in 2014 polls.    !"#   %& !
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  ./>) in the Mandi and Hamirpur Thakur is busy chastising "It is Sukh Ram's desire and his grandson Ashray devoting his maximum time team six times at the nation- who was re-elected as HPCA seats, respectively. his rival and four-time legis- that spoiled the political Sharma rejoined the Congress and energy in the con- al-level and remained its cap- President in 2016 for the fourth t's 'blind love' for two BJP Anil Sharma has lost his lator Sharma, who resigned career of his son Anil Sharma on March 25 after quitting the stituency only to ensure his tain thrice. time in succession since 2000, Ipolitician fathers when it berth in the Jai Ram Thakur- from the cabinet on April 12. and his grandson's ambition BJP. son's victory, say political However, Anurag Thakur, has been targeted by the rivals comes to supporting their led cabinet as he refused to Son of former Telecom that destroyed his father's Taking a jibe at his rivals, observers. 44, who believes the people for being high-profile and jet- sons in the Lok Sabha elec- campaign against his party Minister Sukh Ram, Sharma career," Thakur speaks in Ashray Sharma, whose broth- He has not toured other will vote for the BJP for setting, and for rubbing shoul- tions in Himachal Pradesh. BJP's nominee Ram Swaroop defected to the Congress and chaste local dialect. er is married to Bollywood three parliamentary con- ensuring stability and sus- ders with high and mighty, says While one 'lost' his cabi- Sharma from Mandi. joined the BJP before the BJP General Secretary superstar Salman Khan's fos- stituencies in the state so far, tainable economic growth of a political observer. net berth owing to his green- His son Ashray Sharma is Assembly elections in Chander Mohan Thakur told ter sister Arpita, is saying admitted a senior party leader. the country, is the BJP's most Contrary to him, people horn Congress politician son in fray as a Congress nomi- November 2017. IANS: "Anil Sharma should "his father's soul is in the The Congress pitted ex- flamboyant member of know Dhumal personally and who is trying his luck against nee. So is two-time Chief Thakur never forgets to either rise above 'putra moh' Congress while only the body wrestler and five-time legisla- Parliament whose innings have seen his work in his two his own party's nominee, the Minister Prem Kumar tell voters that "his former or he should resign (from the is in the BJP". tor Ram Lal Thakur against with the Board of Cricket for stints as the Chief Minister. other has to spend most of his Dhumal who is devoting Cabinet Minister has love for party)." Contrary to them, BJP's Thakur from Hamirpur, Control in India is fast furi- "So they will vote in his time and energy to ensure the much of his time campaign- son Ashray Sharma and that Popularly known as Dhumal, who has been mar- the seat the Congress has won ous but short-lived. favour," believes the observer. victory of his three-time MP ing for his son and sitting MP is why he's not campaigning 'Panditji' in his bastion of ginalised in state politics after only once in 30 years. Since his maiden victory in Voting for the four Lok son. son Anurag Thakur, known in Mandi for the BJP candi- Mandi, the six-time legislator facing a humiliating defeat in Ram Lal Thakur has rep- the parliamentary by-election Sabha seats will be held on That's what is happening for his flamboyance. date". and three-time MP Sukh Ram the 2017 Assembly polls, is resented the state in kabaddi in May 2008, Anurag Thakur, May 19. +$    '"(')      # 6            %,7     / > 2/>J!?#D4 &                          !$1  5    L:          
      
    

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  .,(/56. *   +   n view of recent rains in +
    IPunjab resulting in increased moisture level in          ./>) have a total of 50,96,869 elec- Ram Shandil will be filing his wheat grains, the Punjab    tors, including 25,84,183 men, papers on April 23 while Mandi Government on Sunday   , - he filing of nominations for 25,12,627 women and 59 third candidate Ashray Sharma and appealed to the farmers to Tthe four Lok Sabha seats in gender. There are 133,083 first- Hamirpur candidate Ram Lal bring only the properly dried   "   Himachal Pradesh, that go to time voters but the number Thakur will file their papers on wheat in the mandis so that       polls on May 19, will start on may increase further by April April 25. hassle-free procurement      Monday and continue till April 29, when the EC clears 182,890 The Congress candidate could be ensured. 29. new applications. from Kangra, Pawan Kajal, “The Government has     The papers will be scruti- Notably, Congress candi- will be filing his papers on April made elaborate arrangements      nised on April 30. The last date dates in Himachal Pradesh will 29. for procurement of entire    of withdrawal of candidature is start filing nomination papers In the Lok Sabha polls, wheat during current May 2. for the elections from April 23. Himachal Pradesh has tradi- Rabi marketing season. The   The nominations would Six-time Chief Minister tionally favoured the party at farmers have been    be filed in the office of return- Virbhadra Singh along with the helm in the state, except for advised to harvest fully ing officers in Shimla, Mandi, former Union Minister Anand 2014, when the Bharatiya ripened crop to ensure that Hamirpur and Dharamsala Sharma and AICC in-charge Janata Party (BJP) won all the the moisture level of the to wait in mandis,” said a made extensive plan to pro- it limit (CCL) have already Punjab Mandi Board to towns from 11 am to 3 pm, Rajni Patil will be present dur- four seats. wheat grain should not be spokesperson of the state cure 132 lakh metric tonnes been made. ensure that farmers do not excluding April 27 (Saturday) ing the filing of nomination In 2009, the BJP, which more than 12 percent as fixed Agriculture Department. (MT) of wheat for which The State Government face any difficulty in the man- and April 28 (Sunday), said papers by all the four candi- was then in power in the state, by Food Corporation of India Spokesperson said that arrangements of bardana, has directed all the staff of dis during the course of pro- election officials. dates. won three of the four Lok (FCI) so that farmers have not the government had also storage space,, and cash cred- procurement agencies and curement operation. The four constituencies Shimla candidate Dhani Sabha seats. 
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  6/,,(196./; ed the party or declined to con- aryana Congress chief and 26:164 test. “Remaining two — Prem Hparty candidate from Sirsa Singh Chandumajra and (reserved) Lok Sabha seat, ongress candidate from Sri Harsimrat Kaur Badal — will Ashok Tanwar on Sunday CAnandpur Sahib parlia- be chased out by the people”, he accused the BJP of not deliv- mentary constituency Manish remarked, while adding that ering on its poll promises made Tewari on Sunday rubbished retaining their security deposits in 2014. the reports of alleged rebellion will be the greatest achievement Tanwar, while addressing within the party. for the Akalis. public meetings in Sirsa said “The entire rank and file On the issue of develop- that the BJP has done nothing of the party is together and I mental roadmap for Sri for the people of the country as have been receiving unprece- Anandpur Sahib constituency, well as the state. They (BJP) dented and overwhelming sup- he said, “After filing my nom- only divided people on the port from all sections of the ination papers on April 29, we basis of religion and caste, he party since the day my candi- will bring out the constituen- alleged. dature was announced by the cy specific manifesto that will The Congress leader said party,” he said after a road-show spell out the specific develop- that he would ensure develop- and workers’ meeting, orga- ment agenda, which will be ment of Sirsa as an industrial nized by the local MLA and doable and achievable as I hub on the lines of Gurugram Punjab Vidhan Sabha speaker don’t believe in making false and Faridabad. Rana KP Singh. promises or impracticable The BJP has stopped all He said: “I have taken out commitments.” development projects that were a few road-shows and Taking on the Prime initiated when I was the MP addressed a few public meet- Minister, Tewari said that in from Sirsa five years ago. I ings so far and there is unprece- case Narendra Modi became promise to restart all the pend- dented participation of peo- have made me feel as if it is the Prime Minister once again, ing works, he said. ple...Such love and support is their own election...It is actu- “it will be end of democracy in A day after filing his nom- obvious that people want to ally the election of each and India...Modi is synonymous ination papers from Sirsa par- vote for the Congress party.” every worker of the party in the with dictatorship”. liamentary constituency, the At the same time, Tewari parliamentary segment,” he Tewari said that there was Congress leader said that the election would spell doom for chowkidar campaign, he said masses, he added. districts and part of Jind dis- thanked all the leaders and said. already an undeclared emer- Sirsa segment used to be the the INLD, he added. that from 2014 to 2019, Prime Notably, the former MP trict. The constituency is a workers of the constituency for Taking a jibe at SAD pres- gency in the country for the last stronghold of the Indian Tanwar further said that Minister Narendra Modi has Tanwar had lost to INLD’s Dalit dominated seat with more giving their best in this cam- ident Sukhbir Badal, he said five years, “and God forbid, if National Lok Dal but now the people has made up their changed his name from chai- Charanjeet Singh Rori in 2014 than 7 lakh Dalit voters, over paign. “All my party colleagues, that of the 10 candidates who Modi becomes the PM again, party has been completely minds to get the Congress wala to chowkidar. The fact is polls. 3.4 lakh Punjabi and Sikh vot- including the Ministers, legis- had contested on Akali ticket in there will be total dictatorship wiped out in the entire state. back to power at the Centre. that the Narendra Modi gov- Sirsa Lok Sabha seat cover ers and around 3.34 lakh Jat lators, leaders and workers 2014, eight had already desert- and no democracy”. The result of Lok Sabha Taking a dig at BJP’s ernment has lost the trust of the the entire Sirsa and Fatehabad voters.

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    its campaign by either field- ly the Congress, played their and Fatehgarh Sahib MP, and candidate over Sampla. fort for the party. .,(/56. ing actress Poonam Dhillon, horses and fielded the sitting Nirpreet Kaur — one of the Parkash, who has been But since he moved on to cricketer Harbhajan Singh, MP Gurjit Singh Aujla. key witnesses in 1984 anti- two-time MLA from join the Congress party, BJP he saffron brigade on or even Bollywood superstar Earlier, the BJP was con- Sikh riot cases against Phagwara, is a retired bureau- was virtually left in the lurch. TSunday decided to field Sunny Deol from Amritsar. sidering to field Dhillon or Congress leader Sajjan Kumar crat who had served as At the time when the reluctant Hardeep Puri — However, it is believed Harbhajan from Amritsar — from Amritsar. Hoshiarpur Deputy nation was swept by Prime sitting Rajya Sabha MP and that the party’s national pres- constituency assuming that It has also been learnt that Commissioner for many Minister Narendra Modi wave the Union Minister of State — ident Amit Shah’s meeting the Congress may field a the BJP has made up its mind years, and is in the know of in 2014 polls, BJP won two from Amritsar Lok Sabha with Deol was for Gurdaspur heavyweight just like the pre- to replace its sitting MP and the issues of the district. seats in Punjab, out of the   8 constituency. Lok Sabha seat, from where vious polls. Union Minister Vijay Sampla Presently, the BJP has a total three it contested in   The BJP kept on hold the the yesteryears superstar After Congress who is facing stiff opposition negligible presence in Punjab alliance with the Shiromani %,7## announcement of its candi- Vinod Khanna won four announced Aujla’s name, BJP within the party, especially in with just one parliamentarian Akali Dal (SAD).        dates for the remaining two times and had been the Union started looking for a suitable his constituency. in the Lok Sabha, and three However, the number 0      seats it contests in alliance Minister too. Sikh face, and the race was To replace Sampla, BJP legislators in the Vidhan came down to just one after it         with the Shiromani Akali Dal The party is also consid- between Puri and local senior has shortlisted the names of Sabha. lost 2017 Gurdaspur by-elec- 1 1     (SAD) in Punjab. ering the names of Khanna’s leader Rajinder Mohan Singh its sitting Phagwara MLA The party has been on a tion.   O   
 & Puri, in the past, had widow Kavita Khanna or his Chinna — who had unsuc- Som Parkash, and local constant lookout for a strong During 2017 State assem-   )  reportedly expressed his actor son Akshay Khanna cessfully contested 2017 bye- leader and Dalit face Rajesh and winnable faces, bly elections, the party could  ;   reluctance from contesting from Gurdaspur. elections against Aujla. Bagha. especially a Sikh leader, that secure just three seats, out of       the polls and insisted on con- BJP, which has announced At one point of time, the The party surveys have could help it make a come- total 23 it contests in          tinuing as Rajya Sabha mem- its first candidate for Punjab party was even proposing or favoured Som Parkash, who back in Punjab after May 19 alliance with Shiromani Akali >         ber from Uttar Pradesh. on Sunday while all other par- recommending the names of lost 2009 general elections to elections. Dal (SAD)registering a dip of   >   ;            His name was announced ties’ election campaign is in party’s new entrant Harinder Congress’ Santosh Earlier, the cricketer- 12 percent votes in its   >   < 0      amidst reports that the BJP is top gear, has changed its strat- Singh Khalsa — Aam Aadmi Chowdhary by a slim margin turned-politician Navjot share in previous assembly 3   0 -       )  planning to add star power to egy after the rivals, especial- Party’s (AAP) former leader of 366 votes, as its Hoshiarpur Singh Sidhu was holding the elections.        
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  stituency to strengthen the hands of          5   Bibi Khalra. Now, while we have Maintaining that AAP is also a band had laid down his life the great >16/               withdrawn our candidate from the big factor in Khadoor Sahib parlia- cause during militancy. “People want election fray, Khaira is reluctant to N16 .9* ,(/(* mentary constituency, Brahmpura Jaswant Singh Khalra’s wife to elect 6 &$ 6     $ field Bibi Khalra as an independent,” said: “If AAP is there, it may lead to as MP. Now ball is in Khaira’s court %,7   /      ;
 alleged Brahmpura. a split in votes which would surely whether he gives up his ego rising ;      O   .       “We have decided to support Bibi ;(6*,(/,1:)// O benefit the two traditional parties in above politics and announces Bibi as         .    Paramjeet Kaur Khalra now, but the battle field...If we are united, we an independent candidate. If there is  
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      ;
>) not ready to support her if she con- eacting on the speculations of chute candidates only to win elec- SAD who are no longer popular be Khaira’s responsibility alone,” he 0  ;             tests the election as a PDA candidate. RBJP planning to parachute tions who have no connection with among the masses.” added.
  
        
 .   We cannot ignore the importance of Bollywood superstar Sunny Deol as the constituency and flee after win- “But if there are more candidates At the same time, Brahmpura (          .  < other parties without taking any its candidate from Amritsar, ning, leaving the people in the in election fray and we fail to reach refused to even considering return- <1 (         risk,” he said. Brahmpura termed it a bad trend in lurch. It also demoralize out grass a consensus on the nomination of ing to SAD while responding to a 1 
 0     1  Brahampura said that in case Bibi politics. root workers who actually work to Bibi Kharla to field her as an inde- statement made by party president 3)   ;<1;
   ;<1 Khalra contested polls as an inde- “It is very sad and unfortunate ensure the win of a candidate,” said pendent candidate, it would be our Sukhbir Badal. “I am not going to say 
        
   ;<1 pendent candidate from Khadoor trend in our politics to bring para- Brahmpura. loss,” he added. much in this regard as we have been >) ; 0  
      Sahib, even Aam Aadmi Party’s Brahmpura said that we could a family for about half the century.             (AAP) state unit president Bhagwant social working and human rights they would not support Bibi Khalra only request and appeal Khaira to But there is no going back now. We   
     .       Mann had assured to support her. committees may also join to support if she is Khaira’s candidate,” he honour the sentiments of the mass- shall contest the elections as a SAD
    
           “Besides, some more parties, her. But now, many are saying that added. es and Sikhs abroad because her hus- (Taksali) is here to stay,” he added. 0  ;     6 5  ! , $     - 

action against the Badals, Capt politics of vendetta,” he On whether he would con-       Amarinder asserted, “Even if declared, pointing out that test again in 2022, the Chief Prakash Singh Badal is found even in his previous term, it Minister said that he hoped the       guilty, he will be punished. But, was not he but the courts that ideal Punjab would have I would follow the due process had put Badal behind the bars. become a reality by the time his of law, in accordance with Responding to an interest- current term ends, and he   0.66 happy, the State should be free Constitutional norms. They ing question tweeted by his would be able to hand the reins of drugs and unemployment, will have to face the conse- young party colleague Sachin to the young generation, unless enying being soft on the there should be prosperity. quences of their actions, if Pilot, Capt Amarinder said the State still needs him in three DBadals, Punjab Chief That is my ideal Punjab and if found responsible.” that had he not been in politics, years. Minister Capt Amarinder we get the time, we will ensure “I believe in the he would have remained in the Asked about the Special Singh on Sunday asserted that that this dream is achieved,” he Constitution and the rule of Army and would by now have Investigation Team (SIT) probe he would not spare anyone said while pointing out that the law, and am totally against retired from there. into the sacrilege cases follow- found guilty, as per law, of any two times he had become crime against the people of his Member of Parliament, he had State. resigned in the interest of At the same time, Capt Punjab. 6/*76/* Amarinder made it clear that Sitting under a peepal tree he was happy with Punjab and in Kharar’s Chuahr Majra vil- always wanted to remain in the lage about 20 kms from ,'%P*
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!)%*!,*'!9%%%=+'*) state politics, while adding that Chandigarh, Capt Amarinder he has no aspirations of becom- also lambasted the Bharatiya 
!%>?) %7)>'%,7*1!+!%)!,(6*1',>''*!,! ing the Prime Minister. Janata Party (BJP) for trying to '!))'>1%',%!*'%)***'%%'9) “I don’t have any national destroy India’s unique strength aspirations, and have always of diversity with their divisive '!*!,!%=+',+!'9!!*+*!*9!9!%**!9!%,)1%, wanted to remain in Punjab politics. ',+!+!*'%,*!!%)*''%77!%!*'%1%!))*! **!)*%!!,)9!% politics,” said Capt Amarinder Expressing his anger and *!!!) while responded to a question anguish at the remarks of BJP received on his official Twitter leader Sadhvi Pragya against a )!
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!%9!%*!9'!!)+!*?!%'%'*%,*!,!9%,) orders to shift out Kunwar intervene in election matters, extend to them all possible #TwitterChaupal organized in the BJP for politicization of the +!>>!,)*!)**!P)>%%!)9'
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!*'+!*)>'*!*9!+!%7 Vijay Pratap Singh, the Chief he said, explaining why the support if they wanted to set association with @TwitterIndia armed forces, who are fighting Minister said that his Government was not moving up studios in Punjab, he said at Kharar. for the nation as a neutral and *!%,!)!,+!!%>'*!,>',)*+*'%'> (@?)9*'%!)%*!>)*)! Government had approached the court against the in response to another ques- “My only wish is that united force. %,*!'!))'99!%!>*!!!*'%) the poll panel for a review of its EC orders. tion, patiently listening to everyone in Punjab should be On a query regarding decision. His Government would every questioner. ./0  1    .      

  .,(/56. Brahmin, had in 2014 Lok Singh Malhadi from Sirsa, would cover six districts. The Congress. We tried our best, Sabha polls contested from Pradeep Deswal from Rohtak second roadshow to be orga- but they kept on behaving in 2 3   am Aadmi Party on Rohtak parliamentary seat and and Swati Yadav from nized from Bahadurgarh to a manner which will help the ASunday announced its finished fourth. This time, Bhiwani-Mahendergarh. Dabwali will cover five dis- BJP, he said. three candidates for the ensu- Jaihind will take on outgoing Notably, late last year, a tricts in the state. Rai alleged that by divid-   .,(/56. '1    senior INLD leaders had ing Lok Sabha polls in Faridabad MP and BJP nom- group led by Ajay Chautala, Apart from this, Arvind ing votes of the opposition, the     &%34 ! refused to contest Lok Sabha Haryana. inee Krishan Pal Gurjar and elder son of former Haryana Kejriwal will hold two election Congress wants to benefit the he Indian National Lok  -      polls forcing the party to field AAP, which is contesting Congress nominee and MLA Chief Minister Om Prakash rallies in the last week of cam- BJP. He further said that the TDal on Sunday announced eight new faces in the general the Lok Sabha polls in an Lalit Nagar. Chautala, broke away from the paigning in Haryana, he Congress was giving an to field Virender Rana, an - !     elections. alliance with Jannayak Janta AAP’s alliance partner- Indian National Lok Dal added. impression that the AAP industrialist from Gurugram    
  Notably, the INLD, which Party (JJP) in Haryana has JJP- has already announced (INLD) and formed JJP after The AAP leader also refused to form an alliance. Lok Saba seat.    / was fighting the 2014 Lok fielded state party chief candidates on four seats out of a power struggle between Ajay accused the Congress of wast- “But the fact is whichever Abhay Chautala, INLD       Sabha polls with its back to the Naveen Jaihind from seven seats in its quota in and his brother Abhay ing AAP's time over the tie-up seat sharing formula the secretary general made an ,       wall after the conviction of Faridabad, former IPS officer Haryana. Chautala. The grandsons of in Delhi, Haryana and Congress proposed we agreed announcement in this regard in party chief OP Chautala and and ex-DGP of Himachal, The voting to 10 Lok OP Chautala — Dushyant and Chandigarh. to it in Haryana, Delhi and Gurugram.  5"*   P his son Ajay Singh Chautala in Prithviraj from Ambala Sabha seats in Haryana will be Digvijay — are spearheading He said that the AAP had Chandigarh and even then He said that the party has      JBT teachers’ recruitment case, (reserved constituency) and held on May 12. The filing of the JJP. even postponed the nomina- they backtracked,” Rai added. fielded four youth candidates in       had managed to secure Sirsa Krishna Kumar Agarwal, an nominations for all the 10 Meanwhile, AAP leader tion of its candidates in Delhi. A day before, the AAP the Lok Sabha elections. This      and Hisar seats. advocate from Karnal seat. Lok Sabha seats began on Gopal Rai also announced Now, they will file their nom- leaders had said that the shows that the INLD is a party    However, after the split in The announcement was April 16 and will close on April that Delhi Chief Minister and inations on Monday and we Congress, AAP and JJP had of youth and educated profes- INLD and formation of its made by senior AAP leader 23. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal will also launch a 'Pol-Khol earlier agreed to the 7-2-1 sionals, he added. splinter group-Jannayak Janta and Haryana in-charge Gopal JJP leader Dushyant would participate in two mega Abhiyan' against the Congress, formula in Haryana where With this, the party has Chautala from Kurukshetra Party last year, the INLD has Rai in a joint press conference Chautala is seeking re-election roadshows and two election Rai added. the Congress would be the announced all candidates for 10 constituency and outgoing MP remained on the back foot and with JJP leader Dushyant from Hisar Lok Sabha con- allies in Haryana. All the doors of an alliance biggest player with seven seats, Lok Sabha sears in Haryana. Charanjit Singh Rori from Sirsa will be battling for its exis- Chautala at the party’s Delhi stituency and has already filed He said that the first road- with the Congress party are while JJP would get two and The party has fielded seat. tence in the ensuing Lok office. his nomination. The JJP has show will be organized from shut now. There are no hopes AAP one but the Congress Abhay’s younger son Arjun Several sitting MLAs and Sabha polls. Naveen Jaihind, who is a fielded new faces--Nirmal Sonepat to Panchkula and left for an alliance with later backtracked.    !"#   %4 *  
 
  
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  .,(/56. Unlike before, Punjab, this upcoming elections would be Patiala DC for Patiala parlia- time, would witness a multi- *   1      "?     > 1      #"  filed in the office of respective mentary constituencies. he poll panel will set the cornered contest with Aam  
         - ;       (      returning officers situated in Dr Raju said that in order Tball rolling for the crucial Aadmi Party (AAP), SAD  >#D   >!     #" 9     #? District Administrative to qualify for a parliamentary May 19 Lok Sabha election in (Taksali), Punjab Democratic       1    1     .        Complex from 11 am to 3 pm (Lok Sabha) seat, a candidate Punjab on Monday by the Alliance (PDA) comprising     !!  >#D  1     ;<1K    from April 22-29, 2019, should be registered as an issuing the notification and six parties, also entering the  !D      ;            1      excluding April 27 (Saturday) elector for any parliamentary starting with the process of fil- electoral field besides the tra-          <    1(
         and April 28 (Sunday),” he constituency. To satisfy the ing nominations for 13 parlia- ditional Congress and SAD- said. concerned Returning Officer mentary constituencies. BJP. He said that nomination on this point, candidates Election in Punjab will be As of now, the Congress, .*,:>/,/:,B:6.*91 :>/,5*)* /:,-:9)(;*B/)*( papers are to be filed with the should produce a certified held in the seventh and the last AAP, and PDA have respective Deputy copy of the relevant entry of phase on May 19 for which the announced its candidates for /,.*:BB/ *:B6*1* /'*6*96,/,5:BB/ *6/9*(/, Commissioners, who are the the electoral roll in force. candidates can file their nom- all 13 seats, while SAD is yet to Returning Officers for these He said that there are total inations from April 22 till declare its candidates for two (/6/ (>/,/6/'* :>1)*OB6:>##>:"1>B6:> constituencies — Gurdaspur 2,03,74,375 registered voters in April 29, while the last day for of the 10 seats its contests in DC for Gurdaspur, Amritsar the State for these elections, out scrutiny of nominations will be alliance with the BJP — which 16/)!!&!D!?#D*O )9(/,516/)!@296(34,(16/)!H DC for Amritsar, Tarn Taran of which 1,07,54,157 male, April 30, and last date for is yet to disclose the names of DC for Khadoor Sahib, 96,19,711 female, 507 third withdrawal of candidature is its two of the total three can- Jalandhar DC for Jalandhar genders, 68,551 PWD voters May 2. didates. Union Minister Harsimrat on the Congress ticket, from Sri Anandpur Sahib, and Officer (CEO) Dr S Karuna (SC), Hoshiarpur DC for and 1,00,285 service voters. Along with Punjab, other SAD is yet to announce its Kaur Badal, while from Khadoor Sahib MP Ranjit advocate Rajdev Singh Khalsa Raju on Sunday said that as per Hoshiarpur (SC), Rupnagar There are 23,213 polling states that go to polls on May candidates for the two crucial Ferozepur, the party may field Singh Brahmpura floating his from Sangrur. schedule, the filing of nomi- DC for Sri Anandpur Sahib, stations on 14,460 polling loca- 19 will be Bihar for eight par- seats of Bathinda and its president Sukhbir Badal to own outfit — SAD (Taksali). It had fielded former nation papers for the upcom- Ludhiana DC for Ludhiana, tions from which 249 booths liamentary constituencies, Ferozepur, while BJP is keep- give the much needed boost to While Brahmpura has Indian Army chief General JJ ing Lok Sabha 2019 elections Fatehgarh Sahib DC for arev identified as critical, 719 Jharkhand for three, Madhya ing its cards close to chest for the party’s poll campaign. decided against contesting Singh but withdrew his candi- would start with issuance of Fatehgarh Sahib (SC), Faridkot as sensitive, and 509 as hyper Pradesh for eight, West Bengal Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur Two out of the four SAD elections, his party has fielded dature in the favour of PDA’s notification on April 22 DC for Faridkot (SC), sensitive. A total of 12,002 for nine, one for Chandigarh, seats. MPs have parted ways, with two candidates — Punjab joint candidate Bibi Paramjit (Monday), and would contin- Firozepur DC for Firozepur, polling booths will be covered 13 for Uttar Pradesh, and four For Bathinda, SAD is like- Ferozepur MP Sher Singh Vidhan Sabha’s former deputy Kaur Khalra. ue till April 29 (Monday). Bathinda DC for Bathinda, under web casting on the for Himachal Pradesh. ly to retain its sitting MP and Ghubaya seeking re-election speaker Bir Devinder Singh The state Chief Electoral “The nominations for the Sangrur DC for Sangrur, polling day. >       5
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Gayeshpur (West Bengal): Attacking the special observers appointed by Election Commission in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday accused the Centre of trying to run a parallel government in the state by sending in "officers from Delhi". The Trinamool Congress supremo also hit out at Special Poll Observer Ajay Nayak for his comment com- paring the political situation in Bengal with that of Bihar 10 years ago, alleging that "retired officers" like him are abusing and insulting the people of Bengal. "There is an elected gov- 9*)'*'** = ?>')'99!%* '9%7*!'* )**'%%6!%7***'> 6-3!)7'1!7%7 **A!*!,'>>!)A?!9 !+)%7%,%)*%7*! !'!'>6!%7

ernment in the state. But they are trying to run a parallel        0  * !
    ! " +  !  " government here by sending people from Delhi. It is unconstitutional. They are changing officers every day, 4      '( #)#"*#" saying whatever they wish in the name of Bengal and try- ing to help the BJP in every *+*### way possible," Banerjee said at      " ). an election rally in Nadia P*!"%#.+ !# district's Gayeshpur. "They are abusing Bengal. Tiruchirappalli: A stampede Kharar: Punjab Chief Minister this year that his successor's They are comparing Bengal during a local temple festival 1>    
Amarinder Singh Sunday lam- (Amarinder Singh) only aim with Bihar. The retired offi- killed seven devotees and injured basted the BJP for allegedly try- was to put him behind bars. cers are making political ten others near Thuraiyur, 
   ing to destroy India's unique The Shiromani Akali Dal statements. I respect the about 45 km from here, on strength of diversity with their (SAD) patriarch was then react- retired officers. But they are Sunday, police said. New Delhi: Prime Minister when hundreds of devotees "divisive politics". ing to the chief minister's address trying to control duty officers The tragedy occurred when Narendra Modi Sunday had gathered at the temple to "The BJP is trying to destroy in the Punjab Assembly in here. Bengal will not tolerate hundreds of people gathered for expressed anguish over the offer puja on 'Chitra India's unique strength of diver- February wherein he vowed to any kind of abuse," she the 'padikasu' (temple coin) dis- loss of lives in a stampede at Poornima'. sity with their divisive politics," punish those guilty of the "hor- said.Mocking several BJP tribution ceremony, held as part a temple in Trichy and "Saddened by the loss of he said rendous" 2015 sacrilege incidents leaders including Prime of annual 'Chithira Pournami' announced an ex-gratia of Rs lives due to the stampede at a Amarinder denied being in the state. Minister Narendra Modi and festival, at the 'Karuppasamy' (a 2 lakh for the families of the temple in Thuraiyur, Trichy. soft on the Badals and asserted Badal had earlier termed the party chief Amit Shah, who rural deity) temple in victims. My condolences to the fami- that he would not spare anyone Special Investigation Team are frequently coming to Muthiampalayam village. Seven devotees were lies of those who passed away found guilty, as per law, of any formed to probe sacrilege and Bengal ahead of the 2019 Prime Minister Narendra killed and 10 others injured in and prayers with the injured," crime against the people of his police firing incidents in 2015 polls, Banerjee compared Modi and Tamil Nadu Chief the stampede at Karuppasamy he tweeted. state. "Even if Prakash Singh and Justice Ranjit Singh them with "seasonal birds", Minister K Palaniswami Temple in Muthiampalayam He said all possible help Badal is found guilty, he will be Commission set up by the who do not have any knowl- expressed anguish over the loss village in Trichy. is being extended by the punished," said the CM, but reit- Congress government as a edge about Bengal's culture, of lives in the incident. The tragedy hit the village authorities. PTI erated that he would follow the "drama" and asserted: traditions and people. While Modi announced an due process of law in accordance "Amarinder's only goal is to put Daring the Modi govern- ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the women, died on the spot while A temple official, on condi- with constitutional norms. me in jail." ment to send "five crore cen- families of the victims, ten others were seriously injured tion of anonymity, said there was "They (Badals) will have to Sitting under a tree in village tral force personnel" from Palaniswami ordered a solatium and have been hospitalised, they no effort to control the crowd face the consequences of their Chuahr Majra, Kharar, about 18 Delhi during the polls, she of Rs one lakh each and Rs said. nor was there enough security actions, if found responsible," he km from Chandigarh, said BJP will still draw a 50,000 to the injured. Distribution of the coins is personnel to bring the situation added. "I believe in the Amarinder Singh on Sunday blank in Bengal in the 2019 The stampede occurred the main event of the festival, under control. Constitution and the rule of law, took a wide range of questions Lok Sabha elections. when the priest started distrib- which draws a large number of District authorities said the and am totally against politics of received on Twitter and from "They are sending police uting the coins and a section of devotees from in and around the matter was being looked into vendetta..," he said. people who took part in the from Delhi as they do not devotees surged forward to col- village. Devotees believe keeping and action would be taken He was referring to former #TwitterChaupal organized in have faith in the police force lect them, police said. the temple coins at home in their against those responsible for Punjab chief minister Parkash association with @TwitterIndia. here. What would the Delhi Seven people, including four cash box will bring prosperity. the mishap. PTI Singh Badal's earlier comment PTI Police do? In 2016 assembly polls, the election was held by deploying central force in 100 per cent booths. We know IANS 56#
       the result," she said.

Gurugram: Residents of 72 They have also threatened District Judge (ADJ). The Supreme Court in 2013. On to the permanent residents of villages in Gurugram's IMT that the residents of 72 villages court on January 27, 2010 March 3, 2018, the apex court 72 villages in the area, urging Maneser area may boycott the in the Maneser area would ruled in favour of the farmers enhanced the per acre com- them to participate in the Lok Sabha elections after the boycott the Lok Sabha elec- and enhanced the compensa- pensation amount by a further Mahapanchayat on April 21," Haryana State Industrial and tions on May 12 if Chief tion amount to Rs 2.81 crore Rs 4 lakh. Master said. Infrastructure Development Minister Manohar Lal Khattar per acre," Moolchand said. "The farmers took the According to another vil- Corporation (HSIIDC) served and sitting BJP MP from "But since we had chal- revised compensation amount lager Suraj Pal Chauhan, each notices to take back Rs 35 lakh Gurugram Rao Inderjit Singh lenged the HSIIDC decision from the HSIIDC, but a pri- village has 7,000 to 8,000 per- from a compensation amount do not sort out the matter. seven years ago in 2003, dur- vate company went to the manent residents belonging to given to the farmers for land According to Moolchand, ing which the market price of apex court, urging that the several castes, including Jats, acquisition. the sarpanch of Dhana village, the said land had zoomed compensation given was too Rajputs and Yadavs, who have The notices were served to HSIIDC had acquired 1,700 further, the farmers moved the high compared to the current the potential to disturb the meet the directives of a acres of land for the Phase 1 of Punjab and Haryana High market price," said Devender political equation in the February 8 Supreme Court IMT Maneser in 2002-03, fix- Court which further enhanced Master of Baskusla village. region, especially for the BJP. order to reverse the compen- ing a compensation amount of the per acre compensation "The Supreme Court on The villagers also claimed sation amount in a time bound Rs 75 lakh per acre. amount by Rs 37.4 lakh," he February 8, 2019 directed the that they had written to and manner till June 30, 2019. "Since the compensation added. HSIIDC to take back the addi- personally met Gurugram MP The villagers have decid- amount was low as compared But since the farmers felt tional compensation amount Rao Inderjit Singh for help in ed to hold a Mahapanchayat to the market price, we chal- that the compensation amount of Rs 35 lakh per acre. This the matter, but he had done on the issue in Dhana village lenged the HSIIDC decision at was still lower than the mar- reversal of the court order is nothing. on April 21. the court of the Additional ket rate, they moved the unacceptable. We have written IANS    !"#   %8 1 " 
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  ,*-(*)./ only answer on the national features of Lt Gen D S Hooda’s security document. plan (in the manifesto). These ieutenant General DS Congress said the top three ideas will be implemented LHooda (retired), who over- issues affecting the people were when we form our govern- saw the cross-border surgical unemployment, farm distress ment. Our approach is not ad strikes in September 2016 as and the security of people. hoc, our approach is not impul- the former Northern “The number one issue sive. It is after a careful study Command chief of the Army, remains unemployment. The and deliberation and necessary has condemned the Malegaon number two issue is farm dis- measures will be taken. Our blast case accused Pragya tress and the number three interest is to protect India’s Thakur’s comments that 26/11 issue is security of various sec- national security,” hero Hemant Karkare had died tions of the people, women, Chidambaram who was Home at the hands of terrorists after Dalits, scheduled castes, sched- Minister in UPA-II said. she “cursed” him. uled tribes, forest dwellers, Hooda, while presenting 6$  8  $ a section of the Members of the “Yes, it hurts. Any martyr, journalists, academicians, the report, said there are five Bar affiliated to the Congress police or Army, he must get all NGOs,” Chidambaram said pillars of national security in The pivotal position of the Party tend to join them. respect. These utterances are briefing the media. the report. Assuring India its Chief Justice of India Frequent attempts are made to not good,” Lt General Hooda Asked whether this report, “rightful place” in global affairs, The incident of a junior ex- get some Parliamentarians to said at an event where he which has been made public securing India’s lady employee of the Supreme sign Motion of Impeachment released a report that he had during the Lok Sabha elections, neighbourhood, peaceful res- Court making harassment against judges and even the prepared on the country’s is meant to change the narra- olution of internal conflicts charges against the Chief Chief Justice on unsustainable national security. tive on national security, he like Jammu & Kashmir issue Justice of India has acquired a grounds. What has always puz- Pragya has filed her nom-    #  7  8*/ !        0       said, “National security is an and ensuring “Jan Suraksha”, disproportionate magnitude. zled me is the Congress lend- inations as a BJP candidate to           ."     - *    0*     important aspect of the narra- the main goal of national secu- Such complaints, when they are ing support to such fringe contest Bhopal Lok Sabha seat tive. But to say that it is dom- rity of protecting the people, he made in the ordinary course of campaigns. against the Congress heavy- comment on the demolition of inating the poll narrative. cal debates. I think that’s not inating the narrative is com- said. any administrative functioning, The power of contempt weight Digvijay Singh. For the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. “As far as politics or raising correct,” said Hooda. pletely wrong.” “The fifth and final pillar of are referred to the appropriate The power of contempt is past few days she has raised a Hooda has been tasked by questions over cross-border Explaining the significance He said the Congress and national security is strength- Committee. However, when intended to protect the digni- political storm with a string of Congress to prepare a report of strikes are concerned, I think of the report prepared by him, its president Rahul Gandhi has ening our capabilities. We have the complainant distributes ty of the Court. However, the controversial comments. country’s security aspect which when senior military officers Hooda said, “India is doing well been speaking about jobs, farm, drafted the report based on a copies of her representation to power of contempt is rarely and “I had told him (Hemant he released on Sunday in the come and say you know this diplomatically but there should distress and security of differ- roadmap for enhancing our other Judges of the Supreme sparingly used. Ordinarily, Karkare) you will be finished, presence of senior Congress operation has been done, I be a permanent seat in the ent sections of people every day hard power. Keeping in view Court and the media in order courts tend to ignore con- and he was killed by terrorists leaders P Chidambaram and think that should be the end of UNSC (United Nations during campaigning. the nature of future war fight- to sensationalise her allega- temptuous criticism. Courts in less than two months,” Jairam Ramesh. On the occa- it. Unfortunately, the whole Security Council).” Chidambaram said the report ing, there is a need to build up tions, it ceases to be routine. are willing to accept a criticism Pragya Thakur said. The sion Hooda said the issue of debate keeps dragging on and “As an Army chap I always is a broad outline of how to capabilities and ensure ade- When four digital media of judgements because that Election Commission has national security was important it comes up in various forums, remain apolitical. I don’t want approach the issue of national quate budgetary support is organisations with an unparal- aids the process of legal evolu- issued a second notice to her but it would be “completely and that’s why the military to get dragged into a political security. available to the three services,” leled track record of ‘institu- tion. The liberal attitude of the over another controversial wrong” to say that it was dom- tends to get drawn into politi- debate,” he said, adding he will “We have taken several said Hooda. tional disruption’ send similar Courts has emboldened the questionnaires to the Chief ‘institution disruptors.’ At the Justice of India, there is obvi- end of the day, they get away ously something more than because of the magnanimity -
   
 2      what meets the eye. and the compassion of judges. India has always taken Independent judiciary and pride in its independent judi- free media are both essential for  /     8 ciary. Judges decide cases which a vibrant democracy. Both have          deal with life of the common to live with each other. In man as also the most powerful order to co-exist, both must 


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commercial and political inter- respect the respective rights of   ,*-(*)./ the course to be steered in the a platform for institutionalised ests. A judge is not in a popu- each of these institutions. One ensuing six months. interaction of Naval larity race. He owes his com- cannot take upon itself the task n the backdrop of heightened The Navy is operationally Commanders with senior gov-  


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 mitment only to law, Justice of destroying the other. Ever Itension between India and deployed as per is doctrine of ernment officials. &)%*?91 and fairness. A Judge is neither since 1950, every judgement of Pakistan post Pulwama inci- mission based deployment and Interaction with Chiefs of  8   ,*-(*)./ is second on the list. He has to follow the ballot box nor is the Supreme Court relating to dent in February this year, the has further increased vigil in Indian Army and Indian Air '%7!))%,,*!>'9 assets worth 199 he to be swayed by the times. Article 19(1)(a) has favoured Navy commanders will take the strategically important Force during the conference hrivenkateshwar Maha %?9% 9 ,) crore.Praveen Singh Aron, with His judgement pleases us at the strengthening of free stock of the operational pre- Indian Ocean region besides would be utilised to analyse the SSwamiji who is contesting *!!)*9'%7*! assets worth 147 crore is third times and leaves us unhappy on speech. The reverse is not true. paredness of the force during Arabian Sea after the operational environment, from Bijapur in Karnataka on %,,*!)'%*!)*%7%*! on the list. He is contesting on many occasions. But that is the Mainstream print media con- the three-day conference here Pulwama incident. Forty deliberate on Tri-Service syn- a Hindustan Janata Party tick- )!'%,)!'>'? + a Congress ticket from Bareilly reality of the system which we ventionally had greater edito- starting on Tuesday next. The Central Reserve Police ergy and readiness to deter and et has assets worth 9 and his !!*'%)()*'*))!*)! in Uttar Pradesh. have learned to live with. The rial control. The ability to dis- top echelon will also review Force(CRPF) were killed in a neutralise threats aimed at the immovable assets are nil. He is 9'!*%0-'! The ADR report says that Chief Justice of India is the first sect facts and take a balanced progress made on various suicide attack on February 16. country’s sovereignty and ter- followed by Sreejith PR, an there are 392 candidates in the amongst the equals in the view was much higher. But of issues discussed during the India retaliated by launching air ritorial integrity. independent from Wayanad, Ramjan, AR Shaikh and RB fray with assets worth more Supreme Court. He is the head late, the rat race for grabbing last such meeting held six strikes on February 26 destroy- The themes of ‘Functional has assets worth 12. Johnson Mahapure (all Independent) than Rs one crore. There are of the judicial institutions. He eyeballs or viewership has months back. The commanders ing Jaish-e-Mohammad(JeM) Reorganisation of Indian Navy Vasant Kolhapure contesting as have declared zero assets in 392 (25 per cent) candidates is both the ‘Master of the begun. For the ‘institutional meet every six months for training centre in Balakot, towards improving Operational an independent from the Pune their affidavits. All of them who have assets worth 1 crore Roster’ and the ‘Head of the disruptors’ there are no red brainstorming and discussing Pakistan. Efficiency’ and ‘Optimal seat is third on the list. He has have neither movable nor and more. Among the major Collegium’ which makes bind- lines. matters pertaining to the ser- The Pakistan Air Force hit Manning’ will form the core of declared assets worth 207. immovable assets in their name parties 81 (84 per cent) out of ing recommendations for the The history of the last sev- vice. back the next day and tried to discussions towards finalising There are 11 candidates who or in their spouse name. 97 candidates from BJP, 74 (82 appointment of judges. His eral year shows that cases after Giving details of the issues target military installations in long term road map for the ser- have declared zero assets in ADR report also says Suhas per cent) out of 90 candidates integrity, ethics, scholarship cases have witnessed facts likely to come up during the Rajouri sector. In the ensuing viced. their poll affidavits. Popat Gajarmal, who is con- from INC, 9 (90 per cent) out and fairness reflect the image being manufactured and twist- forthcoming meeting, officials aerial battle, Wing Commander Discussions are planned Vasanthakumar H, a testing from Pune on the of 10 candidates from SP, 10(53 of India’s judiciary. He lives by ed. This falsehood found sup- said here on Sunday the con- Abhinandan Varthaman flying on acquisition of new capabil- Congress candidate from Rashtriya Janasakti Party, has per cent) candidates from example. For both the Chief port in a section in the media. ference assumes greater signif- a MIG-21 downed a Pakistan ities, harnessing niche tech- Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu is assets worth 771. RK Mishra CPI(M), 12(13 per cent) can- Justice and the judicial institu- Upon deeper analysis most of icance in the backdrop of F-16. nologies like ‘Big Data the richest among all the can- who is contesting from Puri, on didates from BSP, 9 (41 per tions, credibility and respect are them were found to be factu- Pulwama associated events that However, the Indian pilot’s Analytics’ and ‘Artificial didates contesting in the sec- a ticket of CPI(ML) Red Star, cent) candidates from SHS and essential. Once the ‘Iqbal’ of ally incorrect. Facts were man- have brought country’s defence plane was hit by Pakistan air Intelligence’ for solutions in the ond phase of Lok Sabha elec- has assets 1,000. Sharad 7 (70 per cent) out of 10 can- judiciary is destroyed, the insti- ufactured. The same ‘gang’ was under sharper focus and will defence and he was captured by domains of naval combat, con- tions. His total assets are more Bhamre, a candidate from didates from NCP have tution itself will crumble. behind this campaign. provide the higher naval lead- Pakistan Army after his para- vergence of networks and than 417 crore. He is followed Jalgaon has assets worth declared assets worth more The assault on the insti- The present case ership a forum to discuss the chute landed in Pakistan information, logistics, admin- by Uday Singh of the Congress 1,500. An independent can- than 1 crore. tution A Judge is continuously emerging challenges in the Occupied Kashmir(POK). istration and equipment health from Purnia in Bihar at 341 didate Aswathi Rajappan of There are 392(25 per cent) It was in the decade of judged every day by the Bar maritime domain and fine tune He returned to India two monitoring for sustained oper- crore and DK Suresh from the Ernakulam, has declared assets candidates who have assets 1970s that we witnessed super- and the stakeholders in the the strategies for responding to days later. Since then the IAF ations. same party from Bengaluru worth 2,026. worth 1 crore and more. session of judges, intimida- course of his personal and the evolving geo-strategic envi- has increased vigil all along the In keeping with the expec- South in Karnataka at 338 ADR also says the richest Among the major parties 81(84 tion of courts and transfer of judicial conduct. Every time he ronment. western sector facing Pakistan tation of the Indian Navy being crore. candidate is Samajwadi Party ( per cent) out of 97 candidates High Court Judges. This was makes a comment or writes a The conference is the apex while the Army is alert along the net security provider in the According to a report by SP) leader Kunwar Devendra from BJP, 74 (82 per cent) out coupled with appointment of judgement, every word is scru- forum within the Service for the Line of Control(LOC) in Indian Ocean Region(IOR) the Association for Democratic Singh Yadav with assets worth of 90 candidates from INC, 9 politically and ideologically tinised. In terms of personal interaction between the Naval Jammu and Kashmir and the and first responder to any cri- Reforms ( ADR), JP Ladakbhai 204 crore in the second phase (90 per cent) out of 10 candi- inclined judges in courts. Post decency, values, ethics and Commanders. The Navy Chief international borders. sis, the forum will also delib- of Bahujan Mukti Party, B of the Lok Sabha polls. Yadav dates from SP, 10 (53 per cent) the 1982 judgement in the first integrity, the present Chief with the Commanders-in- Meanwhile, navy officials erate upon the lessons learnt Vansabhai Khulat of Bhartiya is contesting the elections from candidates from CPI(M), 12 judges case, the appointment of Justice of India is extremely Chief, will review major oper- also said Defence Minister from the recently concluded Tribal Party, HR Bhanabhai of Etah in Uttar Pradesh. He is fol- (13 per cent) candidates from politically affiliated judges con- well regarded. Even when crit- ational, materiel, logistics, Nirmala Sitharaman is sched- humanitarian and disaster Navsarjan Bharat Party, lowed Bhonsle Shrimant BSP, 9 (41 per cent) candidates tinued in several High Courts. ics disagree with his judicial human resources, training and uled to address the Naval response operations by the Shankar Jadhav of Bharatiya Chhatrapati Udayanraje from SHS and 7 (70 per cent) This process substantially view, his value system has administrative activities under- Commanders on the opening Navy and various other mar- Peoples Party, DS Khatarabhai, Pratapasinh Maharaj contesting out of 10 candidates from NCP stopped after the 1993 judge- never been questioned. taken during the previous six day and interact with them. itime security initiatives, they MS Khanagoudar, Suresh on an Nationalist Congress have declared assets worth ment in the second judges Lending shoulder to completely months and deliberate upon The conference also serves as said. Kumar, Tawar Vijay Jagan, NS Party (NCP) ticket from Satara more than 1 crore. case. unverified allegations coming The last few years have wit- from a disgruntled person with nessed the consolidation of a not-so-glorious track record ‘institution destabilizers’ in a is aiding the process of desta- !         major way. Many of these bilisation of the institution of destabilizers represent Left or the Chief Justice of India. ultra-Left views. They have no India has witnessed a series  8$  ,*-(*)./ posals for the ban to take “Chances of survival for electoral base or popular sup- of attacks by the ‘institution dis- effect. CITES is an interna- newborn otters in the trade port. However, they still have a ruptors’ against judges who orried over the booming tional agreement between gov- appear to be low; this is reflect- disproportionate presence in are unwilling to agree with Wonline illegal trade of ernments that sets regulations ed from the juvenile otters the media and the academia. them. It may not be an exag- two species of otters — the on the trade in wild animals which that offered at a higher When ousted for mainstream geration to say that today both Asian small-clawed otter and and plants. price as a result of increased media, they have taken refuge in Court and by creating an the smooth-coated otter — Both species of the otters survival chance. in the digital and social media. environment outside, a mass- India along with Bangladesh, are currently listed as However, the much high- They continue to believe in the intimidation of Judges is on. Nepal and Philippines are seek- ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red er volume of newborn pups old Marxian philosophy of Some lawyers have used inti- ing complete ban on all inter- List but wildlife activists warn supplied in the trade indicates ‘wrecking the system from madatory behaviour as a tactic national commercial trade in that growing online demand that otters are indiscriminate- within.’ They use free speech to to expand their practise. the water loving mammals for will put further pressure on the ly extracted from the wild, destroy the judicial institution. Intimidation and discrediting their protection. species in the wild. even as a newborn, despite the This section has found a are important weapons in the The four Asian nations In fact, recent investiga- risk of death. convenient ally in a small but hands of these people. have moved a proposal in this tions by TRAFFIC, the wildlife “While each trader indi- vocal section of the Bar. This Reputation is an integral part regard at the forthcoming 18th trade monitoring network, has vidually sells a small number of section exploits the judicial of a person’s fundamental right Conference of the Parties revealed that their populations otters each time, the overall vol- refrain of excessively using the to live with dignity. An intim- (COP18) to the Convention on have declined by more than 30 ume of the trade itself is sig- power of contempt. However, idated judge can fear conse- International Trade in percent largely due to destruc- nificant, raising concerns for they themselves have no hesi- quences of a possible view that Endangered Species of Wild tion of their habitat and the wild populations of tation in contemptuous behav- he is taking. It is, therefore, Fauna and Flora (CITES) to be exploitation for the global trade smooth-coated otter and Asian iour themselves. They go pub- essential that all well-meaning held in Sri Lanka in May, 2019. in otter skins and pet trade. small-clawed otter” noted a lic against individual judges, persons stand with the judicial Currently, both the species Nobody knows exactly report titled “Illegal pet trade including the Chief Justice, institution when destabilizers are listed on Appendix II of how many Asian small-clawed on social media as an emerg- when they fail to get a get ready for an assault. CITES, which allows regulated otters or smooth-coated otters ing impediment to the conser- favourable order. They carry on Since the case relating to international trade. If the are left in India and Southeast otters, Southern river otters, ed an emerging trend of otters Southeast Asian countries con- vation of Asian otters species,” social media campaigns against this is pending in judicial side CITES members approve the Asia, but the general consensus marine otters, African clawless being caught for the commer- fiscated 59 otters in 13 seizures, published in the December judges who write judgements before the Bench of a Court, we proposal, these carnivores, is that numbers are declining. otters, Congo clawless otters cial pet trade in this region. most of them in Thailand and 2018 edition of Journal of Asia- adverse to them. They have lit- should leave it to the wisdom whose number is dwindling Overall, there are 13 and spotted-necked otters. A TRAFFIC report Indonesia where commercial Pacific Biodiversity. tle regard for truth but mas- of the Court as to how they owing to habitat loss and species of otter, all listed in the In the past 35 years, seizure released last year revealed all. breeding may be taking place, “Weak national laws hinder querade as protectors of pub- intend to deal with it. But let it increasing online trade for pets IUCN Red List which live in records reveal that otters are Researchers found 560 adver- the group said, with at least 32 enforcement action and wide- lic interest. Their behaviour in be remembered that this is not in various countries, would be Europe, Asia, Africa, North, traded in around 15 Asian tisements for up to 1,189 otters seized en route from Thailand spread trade in otters online courts is offensive both to the the first case of the ‘institutional transferred to Appendix I, ban- Central and South America: countries, the majority being in over a four-month period in to Japan. throws the survival of remain- Bench and their opponents. destabilizers’ nor will it be the ning all global commercial Eurasian otters, smooth-coat- China, India, and Nepal. 2018. In addition, the report According to the ing wild populations in They threaten walkouts if last. If those who peddle false- trade. ed otters, Asian small-clawed However, in recent years, there found that 59 live otters, most International Otter Survival Southeast Asia into question,” judges are in disagreement. hood to destroy the institution More than two-thirds of all otters, hairy-nosed otters, sea have been a growing number of of which were juveniles, were Fund, the mother otter is often said a regional TRAFFIC offi- Even though most of them are not dealt with in an exem- the CITES Parties in attendance otters, North American river seizures of “live otters” in seized by officials from 2015- killed by poachers so they can cial, Kanitha Krishnasamy in subscribe to fringe ideologies plary manner, this trend will must vote to adopt the pro- otters, neotropical otters, giant Southeast Asia which suggest- 2017. From 2015 to 2017, four capture the cubs. the report. and ideas, it is regrettable that only accelerate.    !"# %9

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  ,*-(*)./ in four seats in Assam, five in undertaking whirlwind tours of Congress exchanged acrimo- seat will be Ahmednagar where joined the BJP quitting Uttar Pradesh with the party a 72-hour ban by the Election Bihar, seven in Chhattisgarh, constituencies. nious barbs, with leaders from Sujay Vikhe Patil is the BJP’s Congress and as MLA; and having won seven out of the ten Commission of India on his ampaigning for the third one in Jammu & Kashmir, 14 in Among the key contes- both groups exuding confi- nominee. He is the son of Shimogga, where former chief seats in the region in 2014, leav- campaigning after making the Cphase of polling in 116 par- Karnataka, 14 in Maharashtra, tants in the fray are BJP chief dence of a good showing. Congress veteran and Leader of Minister Yeddyurappa’s son ing three for the Samajwadi underwear jibe, was among the liamentary constituencies on six in Odisha, 10 in Uttar Amit Shah (Gandhinagar, The BJP had swept all 26 Opposition in the Assembly BY Raghavendra is pitted Party, but facing a tough chal- three other leaders, including April 23 ended on Sunday with Pradesh, five in West Bengal and Gujarat), Congress president seats in the State in the 2014 Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil. against another former Chief lenge from SP-BSP-RLD com- Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister top leaders making a last-gasp one Tripura. Election to Tripura Rahul Gandhi (Wayanad, Lok Sabha polls. In Sujay Vikhe Patil joined the BJP Minister S Bangarappa’s son bine here. Yogi Adityanath and BSP effort to sway voters in favour East Lok Sabha constituency — Kerala), and Samajwadi Party Maharashtra, the prominent in the run-up to the polls, after Madhu Bangarappa. The campaigning for the supremo Mayawati, who faced of their respective parties. which was deferred due to secu- patron Mulayam Singh Yadav seats in the third phase include the NCP refused to vacate the In 14 constituencies that phase witnessed a new low with the poll panel’s wrath for mak- Polling will be held in the rity reasons — will be held in (Mainpuri, UP). Jalna, where State BJP president Ahmednagar seat for the will go to the polls in the second SP leader Azam Khan making ing “provocative” speeches. 116 seats, spread across 15 this phase. In Pathanamthitta, the Key Raosaheb Danveis in the fray Congress. He is now pitted phase on April 23, the BJP is an “indecent” remark, targeting The political heavyweights, States and Union Territories. Prime Minister Narendra candidates are BJP’s K against Vilas Autade of the against NCP’s Sangram Jagtap. contesting all the seats. his opponent Jaya Prada in whose fate will be decided in All seats in Gujarat (26), Kerala Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Surendran, CPM’s Veena Congress, and Baramati, where Key constituencies in The Congress and JD(S) Rampur by allegedly speculat- the third phase of elections (20), Goa (2), Dadra and Nagar Congress president Rahul George and Congress’ Anto Supriya Sule, the daughter of Karnataka to be watched out that are facing the polls in ing on the colour of her under- here, include Mulayam Singh Haveli (1) and Daman and Diu Gandhi and a host of Union Anthony. NCP chief Sharad Pawar, is for during the polls include alliance have fielded their can- wear and attracting the saffron Yadav, Union Minister Santosh (1) go to polls in the third of the ministers among others can- During campaigning in contesting against BJP’s Gulbarga, where Mallikarjun didates in 12 and two con- party’s wrath, besides that of Kumar Gangwar, who is fight- seven-phase election. vassed for their party candi- Gujarat, the two principal par- Kanchan Kul. Kharge is pitted against Umesh stituencies respectively. The BJP the National Commission for ing from Bareilly and BJP’s Besides, polling will be held dates in the past few days, ties — the BJP and the Another keenly watched Jadhav, who ahead of polls has a huge stake in this phase in Women. Khan, who also faced Varun Gandhi from Pilibhit. 6  3 +

  


 &  ;*,5)969 Yeddyurappa. This Malnad constituency n the second phase of has been the stronghold of IKarnataka elections on April BJP and also the home town of 23 Shivamogga lok sabha con- Yeddyurappa since 2004. JDS stituency is in the news as two candidate Madhu Bangarappa sons of former Chief Ministers had lost to Raghavendra in the are fighting their crucial battle. November 2018 by-election by BY Raghavendra — son of a margin of 52,148 votes in a BJP’s lingayat strong man BS constituency comprising over #   ; <    
    Yeddyurappa — and Madhu 14.3 lakh electorates. . *             -     
 3   <.        Bangarappa — son of former It’s a neck-to-neck fight ! # !  "        ! .   " Chief Minister S Bangarappa and the JDs-Congress com- from the JDS — are in the fray. bines leaving no stone Madhu Bangarappa who untouched to trounce the BJP. was defeated in the bypoll held But Yeddyurappa and BJP is also few months back by a small betting big on to take on Madhu margin is the united candidate Bangarappa. RSS and BJP are of the Congress and the JDS in working hard to keep the seat to this constituency. It was in defeat Madhu Bangarappa. The 2014 BS Yeddyurappa won caste and polarisation is the key against Manjunath Bhandari of factor in deciding the fate of the Congress by a very big mar- these heavy weights. gin of over 3,50,000 votes. In With the help of the politi- 2018 Assembly polls BJP won cally dominant Lingayat com- seven of the eight segments. munity, to which Yeddyurappa Shivamogga Lok Sabha and Raghavendra belong, the constituency, one of the high- BJP hopes to outsmart Madhu, profile constituencies in the who belongs to the backward State, is likely to witness a Idiga ( toddy tapper ) commu- high-voltage electoral battle nity. Experts say the coming BY Raghavendra and Madhu together of the Congress and the Bangarappa — in a gap of just JDS will lead to the consolidation six months. It is also the fight of secular, backward and minor- between AHINDA( Minorities ity votes against the BJP. It’s not and Backward classes) of about any ideology but in a way Siddaramaiah and the domi- direct fight between Narendra nant community of Lingayat of Modi and Rahul Gandhi.



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   ;6*/))3 has been very confusing. It was billed on the theme of ‘one humka”, “surma”, “maanjha” nation, on tax’ but now there Jand “baans” — the four spe- are different slab rates,” he told       cialty trades of Bareilly in Uttar PTI outside his shop in Pradesh were hit by demon- Sahukara market. etisation and the Goods and “In the run-up to GST’s Lucknow: As the Lok Sabha task on many of these seats. had chose to retain the latter. enjoys an advantage because he her cheeks, is trying to earn the Service Tax (GST), leading to implementation, workshops election enters its third phase The seats in this phase In Badaun, Samajwadi is familiar with the organization sympathy votes from the peo- closure of some businesses but were conducted here for traders in Uttar Pradesh, the battle is include Samajwadi Party Party’s Dharmendra Yadav is at the ground level. ple while Azam Khan is play- are far from being a Lok Sabha in which jewellers were assured now taking place in Yadav strongholds like Badaun, locked in a straight The SP is also hopeful of ing the victim card to make it poll issues. that corruption would end and land with the prestige and Sambhal, Mainpuri, Ferozabad, fight with Salim winning the Sambhal seat to the winning post. Two of the most significant it would benefit the communi- stature of the Mulayam Singh and Rampur as well as Aonla, Iqbal Shervani of where the party has again In Pilibhit, BJP MP Varun economic policy decisions of ty. The benefits that the ordinary Yadav clan on test. Bareilly, Pilibhit, Etah and the Congress. The fielded Shafiqur Rehman Gandhi is pitted against SP’s the Narendra Modi govern- traders should have got are yet The phase will also decide Moradabad. One of the safest four lakh Muslim and Barq who had lost the Hemraj Varma and in ment, the overnight scrapping to be seen, GST has only the course that the battle in the seats for the SP is Mainpuri nine lakh OBC votes seat by just 5,000-odd Moradabad, BJP’s Sarvesh of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in increased our return filings and Yadav family will take in future. where party patriarch Mulayam in this constituency votes in 2014. Singh is being challenged by 2016 and the launch of GST in paper work,” Agarwal, also the The Samajwadi Party had Singh Yadav is the candidate. It could tilt the scales in Rampur, mean- young poet Imran Pratagarhi. 2017 that subsumed all other Mahamantri of the regional contested only three out of the was in Mainpuri two days ago favour of the SP. while, is witnessing The BJP appears strong in taxes, did not bring the expect- traders association, Bareilly, said. 16 seats that went to polls in the that Mulayam Singh shared the BJP’s Sanghmitra Maurya is, its worst-ever elec- both the constituencies. ed respite to traders, locals said. However,Agarwal assert- first two phases in the state, but stage with BSP President meanwhile, embroiled in a con- tion campaign In Bareilly, veteran BJP MP There are around 450 reg- ed that “we are traditional in the third phase, is contesting Mayawati, burying the hostil- troversy after her video asking with BJP’s Jaya Santosh Gangwar is seeking his istered jewellers here with an backers of the BJP”. nine out of the 10 seats that will ities of the past two and a half her supporters to cast fake votes Prada and SP’s eighth term and his challenger estimated daily business of Rs Bareilly is home to one of see voting on April 23. decades. went viral. Mohammad is Praveen Aron of Congress. In 15 crore to Rs 20 crore, Sudesh the finest “surma” manufac- The Samajwadi Party- There are no guesses for the In Ferozabad, the war is Azam Khan call- Etah, Rajvir Singh, son of Agarwal, president of the turers in the country but some Bahujan Samaj Party-Rashtriya result in Mainpuri where between uncle Shivpal Yadav and ing each other Rajasthan Governor and former Bareilly Sarafa Committee, marginal operators shut shop in Lok Dal alliance looks rather for- Mulayam Singh remains the nephew Akshay Yadav and there unprintable Uttar Pradesh CM Kalyan Singh, claimed. “There were obvious the after-effect of the note ban, midable in this phase, given the tallest and most popular leader. is certainly no camaraderie in the names. Jaya is seeking a second term. He is problems after the note ban but as did some cane traders in the caste equations and the Bharatiya He was elected from Mainpuri air. This is a real battle between Prada, with tears pitted against SP’s Devendra the traders here accepted that. city also referred to as “Baans Janata Party may face an uphill in 2014 as well as Azamgarh but Yadav leaders and Shivpal Yadav flowing down Yadav. IANS The GST is a good decision but Bareilly”.    !"# %:

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leader Priyanka Gandhi on          rime Minister Narendra     /   Sunday asked people to vote for PModi on Sunday said he  >  saving the country from “nar-          had warned Pakistan of conse- 5
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         Indian Air Force pilot       of undermining democracy and                Abhinandan Varthaman.   ) .  suppressing dissent.      ,   *      Addressing a poll rally at        In an interaction with      I         Patan in Gujarat, he asserted    
media here after visiting the Pradesh said. I    
  1/2>4 his government’s commitment family of CRPF jawan VV She claimed that suddenly    >  ) '   towards national security and Vasanthkumar martyred in the people were not free to express               said whether the Prime for air strike proof? They have Pulwama terror attack, she themselves. “Suddenly people  *'>      Minister’s chair remains or got the message to stop asking said Congress was not con- are afraid. The institutions that    not, he has decided that either because people are getting testing the polls for power but are to protect the rights of the he will be alive or the terrorists. angry. After the first and sec- for the larger idea of the coun- people are undermined.    -3     He also took a jibe at NCP ond phases of polls, they have try and to strengthen the forces Democracy is being under-  ,   *  :      leader Sharad Pawar, saying if forgotten to ask.” of democracy. mined and we must all realise      *       he is unaware of his next move, He also took a swipe at “This election is to save the that this is no ordinary elec-   #?            then how can Pakistani Prime Pawar, who on Saturday said he country that we all love, the tion,” Priyanka said.              Minister Imran Khan gauge was “terribly afraid” as to what country that we all believe in. The Congress leader, who       
      what he will do. Modi, who once called the The country in which all of us did not name either the BJP or          * Modi urged the people of NCP chief his mentor in poli- are equal, in which all of us are the NDA or Prime Minister Gujarat to help the BJP win all tics, would do next. “Sharad free to express ourselves, our Narendra Modi throughout 68#     1   6& 26 Lok Sabha seats in his home Pawar says I don’t know what religion, our ways of eating, our her interaction, asked the peo- B  ;    >    6<( 
 &  6 state, where polling will be held will Modi do. If he is unaware ways of living,” she said. ple to save the country from a (
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   discussions on TV over it on free hand to the military. “They repeatedly saying India know?” he said. brother and Congress president “Save the country in which 6    
      the day of vote counting. (Pakistan) made tight arrange- bombed us, but people here He also attacked the Rahul Gandhi contesting the rules are being imposed on us              6   Following the air strike at ments, but being the disciple of were questioning if this was Congress for not providing new polls from Wayanad con- by a narrow minded ideology, /   >    <    Balakot terror camp in Lord Hanuman, our people India’s Balakot. They were howitzers to the Army since stituency in Kerala besides in where only one kind of think- Pakistan, there was a dogfight conducted air strike and their proved false,” he said. 1985 and said his government his traditional Amethi seat, ing prevails. Save the country  &        between Indian and Pakistani story was over,” he said. Accusing the Congress of has arranged for artillery man- appealed to the electorate in the in which there is a government 
   9 
      fighter planes on February 27 in Hitting out at the questioning the bravery of ufacturing at three factories in state to vote for Congress for that is afraid of criticism, which :     1  >        which the IAF wing comman- Opposition parties, he said the India’s military force and the country, one being at Hazira the bigger cause. wants to suppress you when      >     der was captured by the neigh- Balakot strike made them doubting its action, he said, in Gujarat which manufactures “I appeal to you to vote for you raise your voice. So when    , 1>19   ;       bouring country and released uncomfortable. “Pakistan was “Does any Congress leader ask K-9 Vajra Howitzer. our alliance as we are fighting you cast your vote you must  O,  1  L;     ;<1&    on the night of March 1. for a much greater thing. We think of this. A larger idea of :             He said after Abhinandan are not fighting just to gain our country,” she added.    M    was caught, opposition started power. We are fighting for a Priyanka spent about half- seeking a reply from him. “We  R  &   much bigger thing in this elec- an-hour at Vasanthkumar’s held a press conference and tion,” the AICC general secre- house and consoled the griev- warned Pakistan that if any- tary in-charge of Eastern Uttar ing family. PTI thing happened to our pilot, you will keep telling the world Q0&R ! what Modi did to you.” “A senior American official Barmer: Prime Minister think that I did what was right, giving back the land it had won said on the second day that Narendra Modi on Sunday but Congress and its allies as well returning 90,000 cap- Modi has kept 12 missiles said India is no longer afraid of think it was not right. “They tured Pakistanis soldiers. ready and might attack and the Pakistan’s nuclear threats as think terrorism and national “At that time, the Kashmir situation will deteriorate. today it is among world pow- security is just not issue to dis- problem could have been dis- Pakistan announced return of ers with capability to carry out cuss. They think that Modi cussed and resolved. However, the pilot, or else it was going to nuclear attacks across land, should not talk of Indian hon- the Congress government be a qatal ki raat,” h e s ai d . water, and air. He said, “The our and valour. Why? Am I bowed to the world pressure “This was said by America, NDA Government has instilled here to attend a Bhajan and did not discuss anything I have nothing to say about this fear in the minds and hearts of Mandali (hymn singing ses- significant. Had Modi been now, I will speak about it when terrorists. We hit terrorists get- sion)?” there, he would never have lost the time will come,” he said. ting right into their homes. Citing his Government’s this opportunity,” he said. “The (PM’s) chair remains Now India is no more afraid of record on terrorism, particu- “There is one more reason or goes, I have decided that Pakistan threats.” larly the Balakot air strike fol- why Congress doesn’t want to either I be alive or terrorists will “There was a time when lowing the Pulwama attack on talk on national security,” he remain alive,” he said. Pakistan used to threaten India February 14 that left 40 CRPF added. He also accused of He said the air strike at ter- every second day saying ‘We men dead, he mocked the Congress of indulging in the ror camps in Pakistan was some- have the nuclear button, we Opposition’s response. AgustaWestland VVIP heli- thing people expected from have the nuclear button’, which “We went into their (ter- copter scam. him. “When Pulwama hap- was also reported by our media. rorists’) homes to attack them “With Michael mama pened, what did the country “Then what do we have? Is it and they (Congress) are asking (alleged middleman Christian expect Modi to do? Would you, (India’s nuclear arsenal) for for proof. As we the hit terror- Michael), they looted honest would the country have par- Diwali?” he asked as the crowd ists, pains were felt in their people”s income. However, as doned me had I done what the applauded and started chanti- hearts.” Modi also accused the you had elected a ‘mazboot’ Manmohan Singh Government ng his name. Congress of losing the upper Government, we contacted did after 26/11,” he asked. Attacking the Congress hand after the 1971 war with France for Rafale (fighter jets), The country wanted some- and other Opposition parties, Pakistan by surrendering the leaving aside Congress agents. thing to be done, he said, adding he said, “We forced Pakistan to opportunity at the Shimla These aircraft will soon be seen               that he had announced giving a beg around the world. You Round Table Conference and in Indian skies,” he said. IANS     !  !  " $ '     * "+$ #,"
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#+ *  ""+ '
 #              "         "   ,*-(*)./ India (Marxist) said it would “We will enable develop- push for scrapping of the use of ment of young agri-scientists to New Delhi: With an aim to -   oing by the poll mani- Aadhaar and biometrics for all take advantage of Artificial R  '  & strike a chord with young vot-    Gfestos published by major social welfare measures if voted Intelligence, Machine Learning, ers, political parties, candi-    political parties, the use of to power. Blockchain technology, Big dates and the public relations
    digital technology is likely to The Congress manifesto Data analytics etc. for more pre-  9!RQ  R firms have gone into a frenzy,    get a boost under the new even devoted a section on dictive and profitable preci- sharing memes and dubs-    Government that will come to ‘Digital Rights of Every Citizen’ sion agriculture,” the BJP said. mashes, including in regional     power after the Lok Sabha to affirm “its belief that every While adoption of digital   B/6:Q;( Rajveer. languages, across social media    election results on May 23. Indian shall enjoy digital rights technologies has increased dra- The constituency votes on platforms. From Prime 
   While most political par- and freely access the digital matically over the years, the irozabad earned the sobri- April 23. In the last Assembly Minister Narendra Modi’s   ties have promised greater world.” From promising access poll manifestos of the political Fquet ‘Suhagnagari’ as its elections in 2017, the BJP had “achcche din” and “Mai Bhi   implementation of emerging to all persons to high-quality parties also suggest that stricter bangles bound families in mat- recorded victory in four of the Chawkidar” campaign and his    technologies such as Artificial Internet at affordable rates, to regulations for social media rimonial alliances, but this five constituencies under the reverse archery skills to Rahul   Intelligence (AI), Big Data and passing a law to protect the per- could be in the offing. election season the Uttar Firozabad parliamentary seat Gandhi’s “Aaloo Daalo Sona    Blockchain technologies to sonal data of all persons and The Congress, which was Pradesh town is witnessing a dominated by voters of other niklega” — everything new   drive the growth of the econ- uphold the right to privacy, the earlier linked to hundreds of prestige battle between two backward classes. The SP-BSP- and old is being refreshed,    omy, some have also assured Congress is promising the fake Facebook pages and members of a family — RLD alliance gives an edge to recycled and reused as memes punishment for those who common man quite a lot of dig- accounts, said it would pass Samajwadi Party’s Akshay Akshay Yadav, the son of SP and dubsmashes on social misuse digital and social media. ital benefits. regulations to stop the spread Yadav and his estranged uncle Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal media in the election season. ness on Twitter. micro-blogging site which The BJP, which pushed dig- “We will establish a of fake news and hate speech Shivpal Singh Yadav. Yadav, with core voters of For example, a dubsmash “Election Commission trended for a while. “What so ital transactions in a major way National Mission focused on and punish those who misuse As the protracted family Samajwadi Party and BSP join- “Jai Hind” explains how Prime using various memes from pop- you call when Rahul Gandhi during its five-year rule ending sunrise technologies such as digital and social media. feud plays out in the open, the ing hands making him a potent Minister Narendra Modi has to ular series and movies is really make dubsmash video? Dumb- this year, said it would further Big Data, Machine Learning, The Dravida Munnetra voters in this industrial town, force. Other backward classes, keep going the right path creative and young voters must smash,” read a tweet from a user. increase the ongoing incentives Internet of Things, 3-D Kazhagam (DMK) went a step however, seem glued to the scheduled castes and Muslim despite people mocking his get up and vote,” tweeted a user. After the trailer release of to expand digital transactions if Printing and Manufacturing, ahead and stated that if voted national political narrative reportedly constitute over 70 decisions. While political memes are com- the “PM Narendra Modi” voted to power again. and Knowledge Networks,” to power, it will urge the Union rather than local issues. per cent of total voters. Another hilarious pro- ical or satirical representation of biopic, memes and clips sur- The BJP said it would cre- read the Congress manifesto. government to bring in a law to Sensing division of core But the road is not likely to Congress video sells ‘Bhakt ka social issues, the app Dubsmash rounding Modi narrating “Ma ate a new data-sharing frame- The BJP manifesto promis- prevent all types of social media voters of the Samajwadi Party, be easy as his estranged uncle Chashma,” which shows devel- that was very popular in 2014- mai sanyasi bab na chahta hu work that builds on the success es a “Science Mission” with two from publishing any kind of the BJP has smelled victory and Shivpal Singh Yadav, known for opment while there is none, 16 lets users choose audio (mother, I want to become a of ‘Jan Dhan’ and Aadhaar submissions, focused on obscene content. trusted an ayurvedic doctor, his organisation skills, who covering issues such as unem- recordings and record a video of monk)” became one of the platforms while ensuring data Artificial Intelligence and The poll manifestos suggest Chandra Sen Jadon, with a had quit Samajwadi Party and ployment, farmer distress, themselves dubbing over that most enacted monologue on privacy and security. “With robotic research. The BJP’s that irrespective of the parties ticket from here. launched his own outfit, is housing and health. piece of audio. social media. this scheme, we will ensure that ‘Sankalp Patra’ also puts a lot of that could come to power for the There are over 17.85 lakh likely to make a substantial A pro-BJP video comes Earlier this week, Rashtriya Dubbed clippings of chu- every Indian has access to emphasis on using technology next five year, there will be no voters who will be decide the dent in the SP base because of up with an answer to this, say- Janata Dal (RJD) President navi parodies and rap battles banking facilities within a for helping farmers and halt in the digital journey that fate of six candidates — his appeal ing forget “Bhakth ka and former Bihar Chief have also been doing the rounds radius of 5 km,” the BJP man- improving agricultural output. the country has embarked on. sitting MP Akshay Yadav among Chashma” video and give vote Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav on social media. Catch phrases ifesto said. from SP, his uncle ground- to the BJP and it has fulfilled all shared an old 17-second and dialogues from popular The National Democratic '%7+*!' Shivpal Singh Yadav level work- the promises made. Dubsmash video of himself TV series are also being Alliance (NDA) Government 9%>!)*') from Pragatishil ers. Since Game Of Thrones mouthing Modi’s catch phrase reworked as fun and catchy elec- led by the BJP faced severe crit- +)!,+9=' Samajwadi Party (GoT) Season 8 has been from his 2014 election cam- tion content for party cam- icism from the Opposition for '**!)1 (Lohia), Jadon trending, the Congress party paign promising “achcche din”. paigns and promotions. the use of Aadhaar biometric *!)!'>,7* from BJP, shared and circulated a creative The dubsmash video is The controversial Chinese identification system in distri- *!%''7)?! Upendra Singh replacing the villain “Night captioned: “Muft mein lelo 15 app TikTok which has now bution of benefits to the people. *'7!*+'')* Rajput from King” of the epic fantasy by lakh, acche din aur jumla”. The been blocked in the country is They followed up the criticism %,!*!%! Bhartiya Kisan Modi. The Election video gathered over 1,800 com- full of memes and dubsmashes. in their manifestos as well. '
!%9!%*** Parivartan '9!*''! Commission also used the mil- ments, 2,700 re-tweets as well “TikTok is banned, not Rahul While the Congress >*!*!'? + Party and lennial-favourite “Winter is as 14,000 likes on Twitter. Gandhi; the show must go on, promised an amendment to the !!*'%!)*)'% Independents coming” phrase from Game of Yadav’s clip surfaced old so also the entertainment. Aadhaar Act in order to restrict 2 Chaudhary Thrones to raise voter aware- tweets with #Dubsmash on the #TikTok,” a tweet read. IANS its use, the Communist Party of Basheer and    !"#   %; /*%!"/."0   8     7 ( 1     8    8 &!)$&11!/ & 

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Many of  / ? =AAB 5                ( Jet’s more experienced pilots, cabin crew            P   Q     and engineers will find jobs in India’s                S        ( growing aviation industry. But the collapse of two airlines in the space of five years    5 S           ;  ,$  with boatloads of debt, as well as the life-     ,6        E  (,     support that Air India is on, makes one                  5$    wonder just how sustainable the Indian aviation sector is.    *  F                ( This is an issue that the next            S   ,    Government will have to debate upon.                    While the collapse of Jet and the subse- quent reduction of capacity will ironical-         0   (  -/$   ly make things better for many airlines,                  -5$S  ( allowing them some amount of pricing        5              power, it will make things pricier for the consumer. Successive Governments have        ,            long milked the Indian aviation sector 5   0       ,         :-* with high fuel taxes, landing charges and forever as airports have a “use atively new and modern planes IndiGo which run a very tight      -/$  *     5$        airport fees while not allowing Indian car- it or lose it” system and aircraft like the 300 and 400 series of ship and cost controls. And     9           *   ries to operate on more lucrative foreign have to be regularly main- the Boeing 737. Their air- with huge amounts of debt routes. At the same time, it opened up tained. Most of Jet Airways’ hostesses spoke well and the thanks to an ill-advised acqui-    <$      ?G??       India to foreign start-up airlines to feed aircraft belong to leasing com- .*/5,:B entire experience was like a sition of Air Sahara, Jet had          ,9 3,(9 4   $     off the riches of the Indian market, panies and they also won’t 6:9;)*-*6* breath of fresh air after decades swallowed the poison pill to *    $   %S       , -  something particularly apparent with hang around forever with their of Indian Airlines’ domination keep Vijay Mallya’s Kingfisher Arabian and South-East Asian carriers assets gathering dust. Many 116*,P.* of the domestic aviation space. from operating lucrative inter- *  3,-*4    )     5       being given a free run in India. The aircraft are, in fact, being Over the years, I must national routes. This in turn           5$  -5$        Indian Government should realise that a taken away or being offered to /6)/,*-/, have flown with Jet Airways forced Mallya to spend an  HG    <$        ,     healthy aviation sector generates and pro- other airlines. Until a rescue (**1B/,, /) hundreds of times on the incredible amount of money to motes domestic and inbound tourism. happens soon, and soon pret- Delhi-Mumbai sector itself. I buy Air Deccan, which was                 This leads to an overall boost of the entire ty much means before the 96>:/)9,;)* was a loyal frequent-flyer and quick-acting poison for ,  0          -5$      economy. end of this month, the plug : )*6 often went out of my way to fly Kingfisher. But the debt and              P    Q    Jet Airways’ promoters and manage- would effectively have been with Jet, and yes, like with the complex nature of the Air ment, even with their sweetheart deals, pulled. As one airline executive )6/* ;9 every other airline, service Sahara acquisition without an     5$    "     -5$   ( were, however, keen on keeping the good muttered, “It would be easier standards did drop over the unified operating certificate           9          times going, quite unlike the erstwhile to put a billion dollars in ,:-//)>: years. There have been sever- has cost Jet to this day.      -                King of Good Times, whom they had seen starting a new airline rather *6/,..* al times that service standards I did not believe that a off. At the start of Jet Airways’ silver jubilee than buying Jet Airways.” on the ground and in the air flight I took on February 25           5  0     5$    year, the fact that the airline would not But I will always have :63/:'*6 have been wanting. I have between Lucknow and Delhi                  ,   ( even survive 12 months was the last thing some fond memories of the )*'/,5*'*6) also had cabin crew who have onboard a ATR-72 aircraft      -              on everyone’s mind. But the signs of trou- airline. I distinctly remember ;,0)*(;3 had a “I am better than you” would be my last with the air-                     ble were apparent for anyone willing to my first flight on Jet Airways, attitude and I have had cabin line. One can still hold out open their blinkers and see: The airline was I was in Class XI and was trav- *&:-,*(;/ crew that have gone out of some hope for the airline’s     5$(-5$   0    -     8 in deep financial turmoil, unable to clear elling to Mumbai with a the- their way to help. When you revival but having seen simi- salaries of pilots and cabin crew. Now, it atre production back in 1996. .:)(/,5.* , fly hundreds of times with an lar ‘temporary suspensions’ is almost certain that the story is over, leav- It was a then brand-new -./ .>*, airline over the years, there will becoming permanent, I would ing several banks, led by the State-owned Boeing 737-300 aircraft. Many be some bad experiences along like to thank the airline for all / 


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 State Bank of India holding the can, which other airlines that had started 9)/>*)3.* with some superb ones but the memories. While I am means ultimately, the Indian taxpayer will in the aftermath of the /,(/,O13*6 most of the time, Jet was good. upset about losing my miles, I -   &     " R   pick up a large part of the bill. Government opening up the May be that is why, as a fre- do wish all the employees of Jet The fact is that until Jet Airways’ aviation sector to private car- -/))1/ 091 quent flyer, you start getting Airways well and believe that -2=$   R  lenders can quickly find a resolution, its riers, were using older, often 9;,/);/)) the first hints that things are most of them will find jobs revival is almost certainly off the cards. much older aircraft, such as not all great, as service stan- even in this difficult econom-  *S +  ,    Other airlines are already buzzing around first-generation jet aircraft like dards, including in-flight ser- ic environment. It was a good - S *       the airline’s body as it lies comatose with the Boeing 707. Many used vice, started to drop. Jet clear- quarter-century long ride! ) some aircraft and assets like slots still in second and third-hand Boeing ly could not compete with the (The writer is Managing             its possession. But the slots will not stay 737-200 aircraft. Jet used rel- likes of low-cost carriers like Editor, The Pioneer) *                    $  S !   *         /   1 "'* .     #  +     (        O    /     //                    O  & -       5      &         /            
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            0             opportunities, considering that air               Sir — As the national election is in transport is still expensive for a ,      ;     ;<1O progress, it is disappointing that     O   -           O majority of the country’s popula-       .  
 
 
          political leaders have been playing                   tion. It is against this backdrop of      /         /  religious and caste cards to attract           #           capacity-reduction that Jet’s deci-           
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   and the procedure thereof, they    *S -!)              ( be in the interest of thousands of have been unmindful and have    9  )        *     ( employees and travellers, who will been gleefully violating the Model                  *   ( otherwise see a massive capacity look at their plight. the party but also making her its avoided making her its candidate Code of Conduct. shortage, leading to a tremendous Ramesh G Jethwani candidate in Bhopal against in Bhopal. Interestingly, BJP Spreading hate speeches and  :     S           ( increase in airfares. Jet’s story has Bengaluru Congress leader Digvijaya Singh. leader Subramanian Swamy has intruding privacy of others will in  )    (             *   ( also raised serious questions as to Out on bail for the past two years, gone to the extent of saying that no way strengthen society. It is a  0      ;        9  )S why the domestic airline indus-       Pragya Singh Thakur was dis- the charges against the candidate travesty that with such a mindset,            *       try is proving to be so perilous for charged by a court of charges are in the “final stages of being the issues faced by the citizens get enterprises. The Government under the Maharashtra Control of dismissed,” as if her acquittal is a overlooked.       )     )          needs to do some re-thinking as Sir — Literally cocking a snook Organised Crime (MCOCA) in foregone conclusion. Ramachandran Nair       $ ;    )      to why over half-a-dozen of air- at the law and the judicial process, the 2008 Malegaon blast case. Having picked a controver- Malappuram  *                 ( lines have fallen by the wayside in the BJP has set an unhealthy Still, even if she is innocent, sial nominee, the BJP can no the last decade or so. The airlines, precedent in not only inducting given the magnitude of the longer take the moral high     =             too, must take a comprehensive Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur into charges, the BJP could have ground. So sharp is the polari- !**!)*''%!!D79('9    !"#   %< /*%!"/."0 )'(*/ '"##%.3 2/*( 2  $          &       &8  ##%#.    (    #  #   6   (  6    #  #  ( #      F   (        &
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   # ;0:       =B ( '4 1'         JG  @A      (             ( y the end of May, a newly-elected             Government, constituting the 17th Lok              BSabha, will firmly be in place. While it’s a chal-    (         lenge to predict the electoral outcomes of India’s                ( heterogeneous democracy, taking an average of the               recently-declared, pre-electoral opinion polls makes it clear that the BJP still retains some                   momentum. The most significant takeaway from ,   (      Phase-I of the elections was the absence of anti-                 ( incumbency undercurrents, which is what differ-            entiates 2019 from 2004.         !  According to survey projections, Prime              Minister Modi appears to be the front-runner for )               ( a next term with an average of 272 seats for the                 NDA versus 141 for the Congress +. The only              ( speculation is about the margin of victory. The                pro-incumbency calculus is broadly based on expectations of a less than anticipated loss for the      (        S  ( BJP in Uttar Pradesh, despite the Samajwadi      "           Party-Bahujan Samaj Party’s (SP-BSP) over-         #         whelming arithmetic; a pro-Modi popularity rat-     +             ings bias in the recently lost Hindi heartland     (     States of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and             #  (   Rajasthan as also in Bihar, Delhi and the strong-                   hold of Gujarat. The BJP is also expected to  # ()  # ())  increase its footprint a bit in the eastern bastions                   ( of Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal and Naveen                 ( Patnaik’s Odisha. demand as 60 per cent of the households account Reserve Bank of India’s autonomy. a livelihood. Entrepreneurs and self-employed As momentum for the elections picks pace, for over 25 per cent of the consumption. As 12 Restoring the credibility of Central insti- are now a sizeable base who have grown since         +       what is increasingly evident is that of the 31 per crore farmer families are expected to benefit tutions like the Economic Offences Wing, the the last three years to 48 million. Promoting                 cent of the middle class, who were disillusioned from the expanded coverage of the PM-KISAN Central Bureau of Investigation and the mass entrepreneurship needs policy improve-           #     ( due to demonetisation and who voted for the scheme — which in the next phase will include Enforcement Directorate should be another pri- ment to ease seed capital funding, providing            BJP in 2014, a sizeable section of the aspirational tenant farmers — it requires the creation of a ority. Investigative efficiency of economic collateral-free loans and erasing regulatory ;          ( and burgeoning lot seems to be coming back to database to identify the beneficiaries as also bet- offences by Central agencies is vital for higher requirements.            (   ( the incumbent yet again — a pattern discernible ter digital mapping and titling of land records. conviction rate to punish wilful offenders. Further, as improved human capital stems        (    across caste barriers. Perhaps because of a lack Essentially, India needs economic growth Further, in the next leg of the “Housing for from higher literacy, there is an urgent need to               , of a leadership alternative. Further, the BJP has which is “organic”, one that can only happen by all by 2022” scheme, there is a need to ease double outlays in education and improve the                ( strategised on energising three key demo- enlarging the economic pie, as compared to funding for low-cost housing for both builders human capital quotient if India has to grow in                  graphics it hopes to gain from: First-time vot- interim measures that artificially boost incomes and buyers. This will allow for greater access double digits. India’s mobile data is the cheap-   (     #          ers, the start-up universe and women. Although at the bottom of the social pyramid through to institutional finance and relax the eligibil- est in the world and had an estimated 566 mil- women do not vote en bloc, on-ground deliv- expansive welfarism. Organic growth can hap- ity criteria for loans to consumers on lines of lion internet users as of December 2018, out of                   ( ery of the Government’s welfare schemes has pen broadly through: the proposed “rental-cum-ownership basis.” which rural users comprised 250 million. Here   #               found resounding resonance among them.  Maintaining fiscal prudence. This because as the Government targets to in lies the biggest opportunity for transforma-            Regardless of which dispensation comes to Continuing efforts at increasing the tax- build 29 million housing units in rural areas tion in education through distant-learning and         ,    power, for the first 100 days, the next payer base, which will yield revenue for nation- and 12 million units in urban areas, most buy- e-commerce job-creation. Another avenue for     %        (     Government will not have the luxury of the fable building, yet lowering corporate tax to facilitate ers lack collateral. The construction sector job-creation that has lagged behind is the                “honeymoon period” and will have to hit the Capex spend and job creation. needs acceleration as it holds the potential of export sector. India has an opportunity to plug #  %           ( ground running. This because of the World  Boosting the share of the manufactur- the highest job-creating coefficient after the the vacuum created by relocation of produc-                 )  Economic Outlook’s forecast of a slowdown in ing sector in the economy to 25 per cent by 2022 unremunerative agricultural sector. tion sites outside China by eliminating super- economic activity in 2019 for 70 per cent of the from the current 17 per cent . There’s little room for complacency despite fluous regulations that lower competitiveness                               world economy, which includes India. Improving access to reasonably priced the International Monetary Fund and the and make India a more attractive investment Consequently, the global slowdown as also the capital in order to service the credit requirements World Bank certifying that India is the fastest destination for producing goods for exports.       5        revival of growth within the country needs recal- of MSMEs. growing economy, averaging at 7.5 per cent. We India is currently a $2.5 trillion economy and                   ( ibration in order to expand the economy and use  Continuing with the ambitious invest- need a “job-full” growth of 10 per cent year-on- by 2030, it is anticipated that its national             the resources sustainably for poverty alleviation. ment target of 100 lakh crore to expand the year successively in order to avert a demograph- income will touch $7 trillion. As a key driver of     )  %  S    So what would a new government prioritise? highways, railways and airports. This is expect- ic disaster. In order to achieve the UN’s growth and jobs, urbanisation holds another vital        -        ( Some of the big themes include continuing the ed to create 25-30 lakh crore jobs. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of key for expanding the economy. “Given India’s       # %       $  impetus for infrastructure and housing, both of Accentuating the pace of structural and bridging inequality and mainstreaming the commitment to the 2030 development agenda, 0  *   3$0*4  0   ;   *   30;*4 which are the biggest job aggregators; facilitat- market-based reforms, including trade liberal- disadvantaged communities by 2030, the we will need to build 700 to 900 million square 0        (       ing an entrepreneurial workforce that fosters self- isation, digitisation of land records, lowering the Government as well as the private sector will metres of urban space annually. This will mean $0*      %  S  (     employment and is a proxy for formal job cre- cost of land acquisition to hasten infrastructur- have to work closely to infuse resources on pro- 70 per cent new jobs will be created in and +           ation; and ensuring targeted delivery of social al development. jects that pose the biggest investment opportu- around cities.” sector schemes like Ayushman Bharat and the  Hastening the process of privatisation, nities to modernise India and accelerate the While Modi has firmly laid the groundwork %        (    ( farm income support scheme, PM-KISAN, by especially of Air India and MTNL. growth of human development. on strong foundations for an anticipated re-run         +      %    funding in a fiscally responsible manner, with-  Reducing the debt load of 34 power “Jobs are human capital” and the creation of office, huge challenges lies ahead. If handled                  out burdening the middle classes with high taxes. plants amounting to 1,80,000 crore as 40 per of better paying jobs is the only way to avert with surgical precision, a prosperous India @75   )      %       ( A quasi-universal income support scheme cent of their output is not paid for. This has a demographic disaster. The self-employed are could be well within striking range.             "   ( necessitates setting aside one per cent of the increased State utility losses and has become part a fall-back segment of job seekers, those who (The writer is an author, columnist and        Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for a few of the banks’ bad loan portfolio. mostly opt to begin their career by running Chairperson for the National Committee of                years. This will also speed up rural consumer Streamlining bureaucracy, reinforcing the small street stalls as a second-option to earn Financial Inclusion at Niti Aayog)    '  &  '    E                    )/('+ =                            

But as always, there are some to speak to the tribals, who are bene- trained over a thousand youths belong- This innovative example of the use ules. CAMPA funds can also be tied up. change-mongers, whose enterprise, ficiaries of the various income-gener- ing to Korku and other tribes till June of forest department to train the trib- In a nutshell, the implementation zeal and innovation bring resilience, ation activities launched by the forest 2016. Around 600 boys were trained for al youth for livelihood was executed of such modules sends out a larger long-term credibility and, hence, faith department here so that they can lead security guards, data entry jobs and dri- through the NGO. However, the infra- message to our planners to reshape in the system. In the midst of failed a decent livelihood. It was reassuring ving vehicles. structure for training, including the developmental programmes by inter- Government schemes, there are peo- to see that irrigation facilities had pro- Further, 450 girls were skilled in building, was arranged separately by the linking conservation of forests with ple who, with their sheer perseverance moted wheat and vegetable cultivation cloth stitching, tribal art and beauty par- forest department. A cost-benefit analy- income-generation and growth of pri- >61.:,* and hard work, have rewritten laws of but sadly, millets were fast vanishing. lour jobs. Training happens for a dura- sis will make for a nice model that can mary sector activities through infu- governance. In this column, this writer The most noteworthy aspect was tion of three months for each trade in be replicated for not only employment sion of technology. Emphasis of for- ,-/ 1"+ will discuss one such example of for- the creation of a skill development cen- a batch of 35 and covers personality generation for the tribals but also for est management should be on con- -     est conservation and tribal development tre at Anwlia in 2010, for which funds development, too. After the completion reducing their dependence on the for- serving the forests, soil moisture and    ureaucracy is a tool for gover- reviewed by him recently when he vis- were generated from the tribal-sub plan of the training, placement services are est and land-based resources. Success bio-diversity and making people less nance and implementation of ited some tribal areas in the hinterland of the State and the Union Government activated by the centre. SEES was paid has come very silently, without blow- dependent on forests through such     Bdecisions as per the law and con- of Madhya Pradesh’s Khandwa district. pitched in as well. It was the innova- 8,000 per candidate for training. ing the trumpet, but the district admin- activities that ultimately not only lead       ventions set by the rulers. It functions This area is home to dry teak tive thinking of former Divisional It was heartening to learn that out istration of Khandwa must take cue to better livelihood but can help in cli-      in a systematic manner and if it per- forests and many tribal communities Forest Officer SS Rawat, currently of the 450 trained girls, 176 are work- from this and help this centre grow as mate change mitigation and adapta-      forms its duty honestly and efficient- live in and around the forests. The Kol, overseeing this centre as the Chief ing at a textile company in Bengaluru a model for employment-generation by tion on broader scale by covering the      - ly, it can become an agent of change Korku, Sahariya and Baiga tribals have Conservator of Khandwa circle, and the and others have taken up independent adding up more trade and providing entire landscape. for the welfare of the people. However, registered the highest population. A staff that led to the establishment of this work in nearby places. One of the girls, financial support. It should focus more It will also assimilate the tribal       the bureaucracy is severely criticised large number of forest villages were cre- centre. The skill development centre who had come home from Bengaluru on animal resources and horticulture youth in the mainstream society where   
    all over the world for creating logjam, ated during the British period for the was created through a public-private for Holi, was present with her baby dur- development and the creation of infra- they will enrich it with their culture, lan- 5      being insensitive to public feelings, execution of forestry works and peo- partnership with help from an NGO, ing my visit and she informed me that structure for primary sector. The cen- guage, art and music. It is in this light         breeding red-tapism, setting up a ple over here were deprived of even Self Employment Education Society they are provided safe accommodation, tre needs fresh infusion of funds. that the recommendations of the P  roadblock for innovation and running basic civic amenities. However, the sit- (SEES) and with bare minimum invest- dining, crèche facilities and a good Equally, the forest department National Commission on Scheduled after those who dare innovate. In a uation changed after the Forest Rights ment. The centre focussed on the salary of more than 8,500 during their must submit a comprehensive project Tribes that the Indian Forest Service     S country as diverse as India, where chal- Act, 2006. This writer visited the advantage of the location of the initial appointment. Another textile before the Ministry of Skill should be entrusted with tribal devel-      lenges faced by its people are immense, Chattu-Pattu and Bangda villages, Khandwa town on the main railway producer in Mandideep near Bhopal Development and Entrepreneurship, opment must be seen. It’s time that the   )     the success of any Government pro- inhabited by the Korku and Gond track from where all trains going to recruited 450 boys as security guards. Ministry of Rural Development and Government takes a call considering       gramme depends on the commitment tribes, around 70 km away from major South Indian cities like Those, who were trained in driving, are Ministry of Tribal Affairs, that covers the future of the country.       and efficiency of its administration. Khandwa last month and got a chance Bengaluru passed. The centre had on their own and self-employed. the entire State with site-specific mod- (The writer is a retired civil servant)    !"#  3% & ! % #  "# 5
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  >9>;/ 7  6!'    ""(   <   P)    ir India Express, the international budget arm Aof Air India, is examining the possibility of   >9>;/ tions for the time being has put jobs of its over growth is not sustainable, healthy and even”. leasing some Boeing 737 aircraft of grounded car- 20,000 employees. Calling the government to reconsider its &/;      rier Jet Airways, which are parked at different air- rivatisation is not a remedy, which can make Moreover, as many as six airlines have plans of privatising Air India, which are put on ports due to non-payment, through a firm deci- Pan airline profitable or efficient and shut- closed down in the last five years. the backburner for the time-being, the ACEU sion is yet to be taken, a top company official said tering of Jet Airways and Kingfisher is a case “First it was Kingfisher which folded up, official said even in the present crisis when Jet       Sunday. in point, a senior Air India employees union and now its Jet Airways, which has stopped Airways passengers are stranded across airports Before halting operations temporarily mid-last official said Sunday even as he urged the gov- operations, albeit for the time being. The globally, it is the national carrier which has week due to severe cash-drought, the private car- ernment to reconsider its plans to de-nation- votaries of the privatisation, both in the gov- come to the rescue of the passengers by   ,*-(*)./ Tribunal’s (NCLT) approval is rier was forced to ground 69 planes owing to non- alise the flag carrier, which are currently on hold. ernment and outside, need to understand that announcing special fares for such passengers. required for initiating the payment of rentals to lessors. Supporting the 20,000 employees of the denationalisation alone can’t bring profitabil- “The government can’t expect such a ges- s they explore ways to process, wherein the resolution Later, on April 16, it grounded the rest of the grounded Jet Airways, the union official said ity and efficiency. Had it been so, the two pri- ture from private airlines,” he said. Arecover debt, lenders of Jet would be market-linked and planes in its fleet, when it decided to temporarily that the present policies of the government need vate airlines would not have gone bust,” said “If the present crisis is allowed to contin- Airways are in favour of a res- time-bound. suspend all its domestic and international services. to be relooked as they have only lead to a cri- an Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) ue, it will lead to unprecedented crisis in the olution outside the insolvency Outside the NCLT would Air India Express parent, Air India, is already sis in the industry and jobs of thousands of peo- senior official. industry leading to more and more employees law framework in case the be a better option as far as plan discussing a proposal to lease five of Jet Airways ple are at stake. Stating that the foremost reason for the cur- being thrown out of employment. A mere ongoing bidding process fails to B is concerned, sources said, wide-body planes, Boeing 777s. Weighted down by huge debt, majorly from rent crisis in the aviation industry is the gov- glance of problems indicate that there is take off, sources said. adding that then banks would “We are looking at leasing (B737 of Jet Airways) the public sector banks, Kingfisher went belly- ernment’s “reliance” on the private sector in something seriously wrong with the policy Running into debt of more realise better value from the aircraft but there is no firm decision on this issue up in 2012. Jet Airways, which has a debt of achieving its ambitious Vision 2040, which has direction,” he added. than Rs 8,500 crore, Jet Airways aircraft and other tangible so far. As a matter-of-fact, there are a lot of other Rs 8,500 crore, mostly from the government- projected the countrys air passenger traffic to There is also a need to put brakes on ‘open has shut down operations tem- assets owned by Jet Airways. things that have to be looked at, like slots, sectors run banks, ceased operations last Wednesday grow to 1.1 billion per year by 2040, the union sky policy’ besides strict enforcement of bilat- porarily after lenders decided Four entities — Etihad and timings, among others,” Air India Express chief due to paucity of cash. official said, “the industry is not doing well from eral to make the business of domestic com- against extending emergency Airways, TPG Capital, Indigo executive officer Shyam K Sunder told PTI over The abrupt closure of Jet Airways opera- the vision document point of view as the panies, including of Air India, viable, he said. funds for its survival. Partners and National phone from Kochi, the airline’s headquarter. SBI, the lead lender of the Investment and Infrastructure When asked about the number of planes that seven-member consortium of Fund (NIIF) — are learnt to have his airline could induct from Jet Airways, he said, domestic banks that have shown interest in picking up “We don’t have a target number.”       O
 P    extended loans to the airline, stake in Jet Airways. The details Air India Express, has its operations largely out has started the bidding process of initial bidders are expected to of Kerala to the Gulf and South-east Asia. Besides, for stake sale in the carrier and be known on May 10. it also operates some flights to these regions from clarity about potential bidders As they wait for comple- North and Western India as well as on some        =>   would emerge next month. tion of the bidding process, the domestic routes. While lenders are “reason- lenders are also looking at It has a fleet of 25 Boeing 737 planes, of which   ,*-(*)./ have been under stress at the airline for a while, Chakraborty told PTI. ably hopeful” of a successful options to raise funds from the 17 are owned and rest 18 are on lease. The now though quite a few would have been hopeful of She also noted that there is a significant bidding process, sources said carrier’s available assets, includ- out-of operations, Jet Airways also has B737s in housands of employees at now-shuttered Jet a turnaround of the carrier. Under the current demand for core staff while non-specialised banks are working on a plan B ing utilising Jet Airways’ 16 the fleet. TAirways might be staring at an uncertain circumstances, they might have to either shift staff should look at an alternative industry for in case things don’t progress as own planes. Shyam Sunder also said the airline plans to future but other airlines will see “value” in hir- base to Tier-II or Tier-III cities or accept job suitable functional roles. expected. On Friday, sources said recruit 50 commanders from Jet Airways, of which ing such experienced people even though they offers having lower compensation, they opined. The country’s oldest private carrier, Jet If the bidding process fails, that lenders have been proac- 20 have already been hired. might end up getting relatively lower pay pack- Staffing firm TeamLease Services Co- Airways has a substantial number of employ- lenders would favour a resolution tive and cannot be blamed for “We have already recruited a lot of pilots. We have ets, according to HR experts. Founder and Executive Vice President ees who have put in more than two decades at for the debt-ridden Jet Airways the current situation at the air- about 20 of them already, all from Jet Airways as at Demand continues to outstrip talent sup- Rituparna Chakraborty said that the aviation the airline. outside the Insolvency and line. “They (lenders) have been present only Jet pilots are available in the market. Our ply in the Indian aviation sector, which is one sector in India has immense potential and if Executive search company GlobalHunt’s Bankruptcy Code (IBC) frame- actively engaging with the com- intention is hire up to 50 pilots. So we will be induct- of the fastest growing in the world. one goes by the current equation, the supply Managing Director Sunil Goel said there has work, sources said. Recovery on pany for almost nine months ing another 25-30 pilots going forward,” he said. Cash-starved Jet Airways, which has been fly- of ground staff, crew and pilots are still low in been a huge expansion in terms of new airports the basis of existing security and ever since the airline started The AIE official, however, ruled out hiring of ing for nearly 26 years, has around 23,000 employ- comparison to the demand that exists. and connectivity in Tier-II and Tier-III cities tangible assets would be a pre- incurring cash losses and have first officers at this stage, adding that the airline ees, including contractual staff. It announced a “In my mind, other airlines will definite- through air transportation. So, there is a con- ferred option, they added. been urging the management may look at it if there was any requirement for them temporary suspension of operations on April 17. ly see value in hiring the experienced and high- sistent demand for talent in the aviation sec- Under the Code, the to come forward with a definite in the future. Experts observed that employees would ly well-trained staff that Jet has currently,” tor, he added. National Company Law plan for resolution.” 0  7 *"##$$3) !# 0   "        &  *     said. alcoholic beverages, 100 per He added that India has   
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       Sharing similar views, cent on coffee, and 60-75 per complied with all tariff com-  Professor at Indian Institute of cent on automobiles have mitments under the WTO     Foreign Trade (IIFT) Rakesh made India a villain in the and has made sincere efforts   ,*-(*)./   ,*-3:60 tors such as apparel, footwear, lation of PSBs (by the Reserve Mohan Joshi said that the US eyes of the US President. to reduce applied duties suo- furniture, kitchenware and other Bank of India and the govern-    allegations are not correct However, many countries moto to 13.7 per cent today he total deposits in bank ndia must focus on growth of light manufactures to create ment) and two different RBI  >*/ and in fact, they should ratio- in the world including Japan, over a period of time. Taccounts opened under the Ilabour-intensive sectors to decent jobs for the masses. regulatory regimes for PSBs nalise their duty structure South Korea, the EU, the US Recently, the US decided Jan Dhan scheme, which was create decent jobs for the mass- “We need firms in these and private banks. being a developed nation. maintain an extremely high to withdraw incentives being launched about five years ago es as well as give “serious sectors that are globally com- “The simultaneous role of   ,*-(*)./ Trade Promotion Council tariff primarily on agriculture provided to Indian exporters by the Modi-Government, are thought” to privatising the pub- petitive and capture the space the government as a provider of of India Chairman Mohit products, FIEO Director under the Generalized System set to cross 1 lakh crore soon. lic sector banks (PSBs), eminent in export markets that China banking services through PSBs, ndia is not a ‘tariff king’ and Singla said that the assertion General Ajay Sahai said. of Preference (GSP) pro- The total balance in the Jan economist Arvind Panagariya has been quitting due to its policy maker and regulator cre- Iit has all the right to take of the US is not factually cor- “India’s average WTO gramme. However, India has Dhan accounts, which has been has said, emphasising that the high wages. This requires flex- ate obvious conflicts. There needs appropriate measures to pro- rect. bound tariff is 48.5 per cent stated that it would not impact steadily rising, was at reform process must be com- ible labour and land laws and to a separation of policy making, tect the interest of specific sec- He said that the allegation while average applied tariff is domestic exporters as the 97,665.66 crore as on April 3, pleted in the coming five years. an ecosystem that is yet friend- regulatory and service provision tors like agriculture, interna- of Trump that India is a tariff 13.4 per cent. The wide gap benefits were only about $190 as per the latest government Panagariya, who had served lier to large firms,” he said. functions,” he said, adding that it tional trade experts have said. king does not hold true and is between the two clearly shows million annually. data. as the first Vice Chairman of the Panagariya elaborated that is possible to promote social Rejecting the US allega- unjustified. that India is not a tariff king Despite the fact that India The total number of Jan NITI Aayog from January 2015 one way to achieve this is to goals without ownership of the tion that India’s import duties “Like other nations, India else it would have pushed the and the US were working on Dhan accounts have crossed to August 2017, was responding create Shenzhen-style Coastal banks as the experience with pri- are one of the highest in the has the right to take appro- applied tariff very close to the a trade package, the US decid- 35.39 crore. to a question on what the pri- Employment Zones (in China) ority sector lending illustrates. world, experts said that several priate measures to protect its bound rates,” Sahai said. ed to go ahead with its deci- The deposits stood at orities should be of the that create zones of 500 square “As a last resort, if the gov- developed countries and domestic interests in specific While bound tariffs or sion. 96,107.35 crore on March 27 Government that comes into kilometers or more along the ernment feels that it must have regions including Japan, South sectors as and when it is duties refer to the ceiling, the The package was covering and 95,382.14 crore in the power when India’s mammoth coast that are characterized by control, keeping the State Bank Korea, European Union, and deemed fit. Moreover, there applied tariff is the duty which all concerns related to bilateral week before. and crucial general elections end highly entrepreneur-friendly of India in the public sector America maintain “extremely are many countries which is currently in place. trade with the US on sectors More than 27.89 crore next month. regime with respect to land, (with due governance reforms) high” tariffs primarily on agri- have much higher tariff as Another expert, who did including medical devices, account holders have been “My personal view is that labour and international trade. may be a reasonable compro- culture products. compared to India. Being a not wish to be named, said dairy products and agricul- issued the Rupay debit cards. India must complete its reform “Eventually, we must mise,” Panagariya said. The US President Donald signatory and member of that the US should not level tural goods. America also The Pradhan Mantri Jan process in the coming five extend this regime to other The noted academician also Trump has repeatedly claimed WTO, India remains com- any allegation of discrimina- wants a cut on duties on cer- Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) was years,” Panagariya, Director at parts of the country as well,” he stressed that serious thought that India is a “tariff king” and mitted to free, fair, and pre- tion at tariff front vis-a-vis tain ICT products. launched on August 28, 2014 the Raj Center on Indian said. must be given to the consoli- imposes “tremendously high” dictable trade,” Singla added. developing countries like According to sources, with an aim to provide uni- Economic Policies at Columbia He stressed that it is also dation of numerous transfers import duties on American Geneva-based 164-mem- India as America has emerged India was ready to address the versal access to banking facil- University, told PTI here. time that “we gave a serious into a single cash transfer. goods. ber World Trade Organisation as one of the richest nations in US concerns regarding these ities to all households. The Deepak and Neera Raj thought to privatising public “We must also introduce a Biswajit Dhar, a professor (WTO) is a multilateral body the world with per capita sectors. Enthused by the success of Centre in The School of sector banks (PSBs). sunset clause to all Centrally of economics at Jawaharlal which frames global trade income of about $60,000 per The bilateral trade the scheme, the Government International and Public Affairs “Experience has shown that Sponsored Schemes and Central Nehru University, said that the norms. annum. between India and the US has enhanced the accident insur- (SIPA) at Columbia University public sector ownership creates Sector Schemes. Ministries run- US allegations are complete- Singla claimed that coun- “Repeated mention of increased to $74.5 billion in ance cover to 2 lakh from 1 provides research and expertise perverse incentives that have ning these schemes should be ly unfounded. tries like Japan levy 736 per India as a tariff king with 2017-18 from $64.5 billion in lakh for new accounts opened necessary to inform policy deci- repeatedly manifested them- subject to the burden of justify- “In fact, the US import cent duty on certain products; cherry-picked examples like 2016-17. after August 28, 2018. sions, deliver increased pros- selves in episodes of accumula- ing continuation of their duties on several of their while Korea imposes 807 per motorbikes and whiskey is Although India has a The overdraft limit was perity, and define India’s future tion of non-performing assets schemes beyond a certain date,” products are quite high such cent on some goods. disingenuous, as it conve- trade surplus with the US, also doubled to 10,000. role in the global economy. (NPAs) in PSBs while the same he said, underscoring that as on tobacco it is about 350 Federation of Indian niently ignores the overall India is a thriving market for The Government also Highlighting the priority has not been a problem in pri- “indefinite perpetuation” can per cent and 164 per cent on Exports Organisation (FIEO) tariff structure of the country, US defence firms, e-com- shifted the focus on accounts areas, Panagariya said that India vate and foreign banks,” he said. often mean that the scheme in peanuts. They too maintain said that product-specific high apart from India’s developing merce and technology com- from ‘every household’ to ‘every needs a clear focus on the Further, public ownership question is making no progress reasonably high duties,” Dhar tariffs, like 150 per cent on status,” the expert said. panies. unbanked adult’. growth of labour-intensive sec- has also resulted in dual regu- in achieving its goals. ?     !"
 /      &",       '      678." >$   "    ,*-(*)./    ,*-(*)./ its first EV in a complete more support,” he added. = knock-down (CKD) form in Under the FAME-II S Cranberries recently !%"$ outh Korean auto major the country this year. The scheme with an outlay of Rs    ,*-(*)./ The Ministry monitored Upartnered with SheShines, SHyundai is looking at var- vehicle would be assembled at 10,000 crore, the government 367 projects of Indian Railways to celebrate womenhood and ious options for sourcing elec- Hyundai’s Chennai-based is primarily focusing on elec- ational transporter Indian in December 2018. The report discuss latest wellness trends   ,*-(*)./ crore for this month so far, tric vehicle (EV) components manufacturing plant. With trification of public trans- NRailways account for near- stated that 94 of these projects for women. Over 200 partici- depositories data showed. in India, including local man- the Government pushing for port. ly three-fifths of 344 central reported time overrun or delay pants of the event were edu- verseas investors have Foreign investors have ufacturing of battery parts, a local sourcing of EV compo- When asked about sector projects that are facing of one month to 324 months. cated about the benefits of Opumped in a net sum of been on a buying spree in the top company official said. nents, Suzuki Motor Corp launching hybrid vehicles in huge cost overrun due to delay After the railways, the Cranberries, ranging from 11,012 crore into the Indian Indian markets since February The automaker, which is along with its partners is the country, Kim said the in implementation for various power sector reported the sec- taste, health and wellbeing. capital markets in April so far due to improvement in glob- present in India through its already in the process of con- company will take a decision reasons. ond highest incidence of over- The event hosted discussions amid easing liquidity condi- al liquidity which was trig- wholly-owned subsidiary structing an automotive lithi- after further policy clarity on Total cost overrun of 205 all cost overrun. Of the 95 pro- around women’s careers, life tions globally. gered by a shift in stance on Hyundai Motor India Ltd um-ion battery manufactur- the segment from the delayed railway projects is whop- jects monitored by the Ministry choices and wellness. Foreign portfolio investors monetary policy outlook by (HMIL), said it is also looking ing plant at Hansalpur in Government. ping 2.21 lakh crore, the latest in the power sector, 40 report- Fibre-rich, and free of (FPI) were net buyers for the various central banks global- for further clarity in Gujarat. “Once the hybrid policy flash report of the Statistics and ed cost overrun of 63,334.88 both fat and cholesterol, previous two months as well, ly, experts said. Government policy to drive in Tata Motors and and its framework is readied Programme Implementation crore. Cranberries are fast emerging infusing a net amount of On the domestic front, hybrid models in the country. Mahindra are also actively by the Government we will Ministry (MOSPI) for December The total original cost of as one of India’s favourite 11,182 crore in February “the investors are looking “We are studying various pursuing EV segment in the also plan our activity accord- 2018 showed. these 40 projects was superfruits. and 45,981 crore in March bullish on the Indian markets, options, not only us (HMIL) country. ingly,” he said. The MOSPI monitors cen- 1,72,830.59 crore, which esca- In Delhi alone, US 2019. given the positive prospects of in India, but even Hyundai Kim said Government On establishing a new tral sector projects involving an lated to an anticipated cost of Cranberries has registered a Prior to that, FPIs had a stable Government” post Motor Company (HMC) pro- support is critical to support factory, Kim said the installed expenditure of 150 crore and 2,36,165.47 crore. good growth in sales in 2018, pulled out a net 5,360 crore elections, said Harsh Jain, curement division is looking growth of EVs in the person- capacity at the company’s above. The report stated that of majority of buyers being from the capital markets (both COO at Groww. at it,” HMIL MD and CEO SS al mobility space. Chennai plant is currently According to the report, the 95 power sector projects, 56 women. equity and debt) in January. “So, this year has wit- Kim told PTI when asked if “In many countries where enough to take care of the the total original cost of these reported time overrun (delay) “We are happy to witness FPIs invested a net nessed foreign money flowing the company plans to locally the EVs are sold to private demand. 205 projects was 1,68,116.34 of two months to 147 months. great growth in consumption amount of 14,300.22 crore in into the emerging markets manufacture batteries for EVs. customers, they are support- The company has added crore up to December 2018. The third largest cost esca- in Delhi and are grateful to be equities during April 1-16, and India is getting its share The company’s parent ed by the Government in an additional capacity of The total anticipated cost of lation was recorded in the road helping many residents in while pulling out a net of the same. These factors HMC is even contacting sup- terms of subsidies ... If OEMs 50,000 units, taking the total these projects is estimated at transport and highways sector staying healthy” said, Michelle, 3,288.12 crore from the debt continue to drive the flows pliers in India for battery need to push EV mobility, installed capacity at the plant 3,89,745.97 crore, which indi- where out of the 605 monitored Cranberry marketing market, taking the total net into the Indian equity mar- components, he added. Government push is critical, to 7.5 lakh units per annum, cates overall cost escalation by projects, as many as 49 report- committee. investment to 11,012.10 kets,” he added. Hyundai plans to drive in so we are expecting some he added. 131.83 per cent. ed cost overrun.    !"#  33

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   akistan condemned terror Lanka. RPutin has denounced a     

 '/ , /3 gypt’s Al-Azhar, the Sunni Pattacks on churches and “Pakistan condemns explo- series of attacks on churches        9, EMuslim world’s foremost reli- hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter sions and terrorist attacks in Sri and hotels in Sri Lanka as         ope Francis denounced the gious institution, on Sunday con- Sunday that killed160 people Lanka at Churches & Hotels, “cruel and cynical.”      P“cruel violence” of the demned “terrorist” attacks in Sri and injured over 450. that have led to numerous In a telegram of condo- Easter Sunday slaughter of Lanka against hotels and church- The blasts targeted St casualties and immense loss. lences sent to his Sri Lankan 2     Christians and foreigners in Sri es celebrating Easter that killed Anthony’s Church in Colombo, People and Government of counterpart, the Russian leader     Lanka as he celebrated the more than 200 people. “I cannot St Sebastian’s Church in the Pakistan stand by people and said Moscow remains a “reli- *9%,/  most joyful moment on the imagine a human being could western coastal town of Government of Sri Lanka at able partner of Sri Lanka in the       Christian liturgical calendar target the peaceful on their cel- Negombo and another church this moment of tragedy and fight against international ter- ,       by lamenting the bloodshed ebration day,” said Sheikh Ahmed in the eastern town of against terror,” he said in a rorism.”     
? and political violence afflicting al-Tayeb, the institution’s grand Batticaloa around 8.45 am. tweet. He added that the Russians      many parts of the world. imam. “Those terrorists’ per- (local time) as the Easter Prime Minister Imran “share the grief of the relatives /     Francis skipped his homi- verted disposition goes against Sunday mass were in progress. Khan also strongly condemned of those killed and wish a ly during Easter Mass but deliv- the teachings of all religions,” he Three explosions were the barbaric attacks. quick recovery to all those C G 6   ered his traditional “Urbi et said in comments published on reported from the five-star “Strongly condemn the who were wounded” after the 4      $ Orbi” (To the city and the  @       
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     Al-Azhar’s Twitter account. hotels — the Shangri-La, the horrific terrorist attack in Sri Easter Sunday blasts that killed '%,'% T *  //  world) speech highlighting  1 P     $    . At least 207 people were Cinnamon Grand and the Lanka on Easter Sunday result- at least 138 people.      D"    conflicts in the Mideast, Africa killed Sunday in a series of Kingsbury. ing in precious lives lost & hun- Putin voiced confidence         and the Americas and demand- end, Francis lamented the matic event.” eight devastating bomb blasts, Foreigners and locals who dreds injured. My profound that “the perpetrators and the *     I   ing that political leaders put “grave attacks” on Sri Lankan More than 130 people were which ripped through hotels and were injured in hotel blasts condolences go to our Sri masterminds of such a cruel   *    aside their differences and hotels and churches, which killed and hundreds wounded churches where Christians were were admitted to the Colombo Lankan brethren. Pakistan and cynical crime committed 
        work instead for peace. occurred just as the Christian following near-simultaneous celebrating Easter. “I pray that General Hospital. stands in complete solidarity amid the Easter festivities will  5   O   “May the one who gives us faithful were celebrating Easter blasts at three Sri Lankan God grants patience to the fam- Foreign Office spokesman with Sri Lanka in their hour of take the punishment they    -     his peace end the roar of arms, Mass that marks the resurrec- churches and three hotels fre- ilies of the casualties and recov- Dr Mohammad Faisal said on grief,” he tweeted. deserve.” both in areas of conflict and in tion of Christ following his cru- quented by foreigners. ery to the injured,” added Sheikh our cities, and inspire the lead- cifixion. In his roundup of global Tayeb. Al-Azhar frequently ers of nations to work for an “I want to express my lov- conflicts, Francis warned that denounces jihadist movements "    end to the arms race and the ing closeness to the Christian the world was increasingly and regularly reaches out to the troubling spread of weaponry, community, targeted while they becoming resigned to the Christian faith.  )"   especially in the economically were gathered in prayer, and all ongoing conflict in Syria. He In February, Pope Francis more advanced countries,” the victims of such cruel vio- called for a “renewed commit- and Sheikh Tayeb signed a doc-        Francis said from the loggia of lence,” Francis said. “I entrust ment for a political solution” ument on “human fraternity for St. Peter’s Basilica overlooking to the Lord all those who were that would respond to Syrians’ world peace”, hailed by the  ;5.(( the flower-decked square tragically killed and pray for the need for freedom, peace and Vatican as an “important step below. injured and all those who are justice and allow for millions of forward in the dialogue between raq’s judiciary condemned to In a special appeal at the suffering as a result of this dra- refugees to return home. Christians and Muslims”. Ideath four Islamic State group members on Sunday, the first known sentence for hundreds of Iraqi jihadists repatriated in   + O P  recent months from neighbour- ing Syria. In early April, Iraq’s spe-   ):,(:, tragic time,” prime minister However, most of the dead- cialised terrorism courts began May said in a statement on ly attacks in the past in Sri preparing cases against nearly 900 ritish Prime Minister Twitter. Lanka were carried out by the Iraqis accused of joining IS. BTheresa May Sunday con- “We must stand together to Liberation Tigers of Tamil They had been caught in demned the “truly appalling” make sure that no one should Eelam (LTTE) which ran a Syria by the US-backed Syrian multiple blasts at churches and ever have to practise their faith military campaign for a separate Democratic Forces (SDF), an hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter, in fear,” she said. Tamil homeland in the north- alliance of Kurdish and Arab killing over 160 people, includ- The statement came soon ern and eastern provinces of the fighters, and transferred to Iraqi ing at least nine foreigners. after she called for the UK to island nation for nearly 30 authorities. On Sunday, the Six near-simultaneous and stand up for religious freedom years before its collapse in 2009 judiciary said it had tried four coordinated explosions rocked “The acts of violence in her annual message to mark after the Sri Lankan Army Iraqis “accused of belonging three churches and three five- against churches and hotels in Easter. killed its supreme leader to Daesh (IS) and carrying star hotels frequented by Sri Lanka are truly appalling, No group has claimed Velupillai Prabhakaran. No out crimes against innocent civil- tourists as the Easter Sunday and my deepest sympathies go responsibility for Sunday’s group has claimed responsibil- ians in order to destabilise Iraq mass were in progress. out to all of those affected at this attacks. ity for Sunday’s attacks.  .        1.       !   . and Syria.” .%0 9   '" **%##.3           "$) ' '     "  
   (   0#  0.6:9> AFP. Rabia, a senior member of  ;*/69 “All Sudanese people are in SPA, said it was possible that ?  
 '>  udanese protest leaders were favour of the council to be the unveiling of the council he Islamic State group Spreparing Sunday to unveil announced by the SPA.” could be delayed. TSunday claimed responsi- a civilian council that they Whistling and waving “If (the military council)  0/*' ratists in the east.   0;9) bility for an attack that killed 10 want to take power from mil- Sudanese flags, dozens of are willing to negotiate, then Polling stations opened at people and trapped around itary rulers, who have resisted demonstrators were sitting on there is a chance that tomor- krainians went to polls 0500 GMT as voters from S special envoy for peace 2,000 for hours inside the com- calls to step down despite mass a bridge at the site, rhythmically row’s announcement could be USunday in the second Ukrainian-speaking regions in Uand reconciliation in munications ministry in the demonstrations. banging stones against metal. postponed,” he said. round of an extraordinary elec- the west to Russian-speaking Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad Afghan capital the previous Thousands of protesters “We will stay at the site But on Sunday he con- tion with a comedian who regions in the war-torn east visited the Afghan capital and day. gathered outside the army until all our demands are met,” firmed that it would go ahead plays a president on TV expect- went to cast their ballots. exchanged views with the coun- Four IS jihadists detonated headquarters in central said Al-Baraa Yousef, another as planned. ed to win in a stunning rebuke Speaking outside a polling try’s leadership, the media explosives near the ministry, Khartoum ahead of the demonstrator. “There will be a press con- to the political establishment. booth in the capital Kiev, reported on Tuesday. As part of peace process and added that the then entered and “battled announcement, an AFP corre- On Saturday, protest lead- ference today at the said time Forty-one-year-old Galyna, 81, said she voted for his multi-nation trip to facilitate outcome of the peace talks Afghan security forces with spondent reported, a day after ers and the military rulers held at the protest site,” he told AFP, Volodymyr Zelensky’s bid to Zelensky. intra-Afghan peace talks, would be shared with the peo- machine guns and hand the two sides pledged to hold talks about a power handover without offering details. lead the country of 45 million “Because I am against Khalilzad arrived in Kabul on ple. The Taliban has so far grenades for numerous hours”, more talks. and agreed to continue dis- Since Bashir was ousted on people was initially dismissed Poroshenko,” said the pen- Monday and immediately start- rejected to sit on negotiating the group said in a statement On Friday the Sudanese cussions. April 11 by the army in as a joke when he announced sioner who refused to give her ed meeting Afghan officials, table with the Afghan govern- on its social media channels. Professionals Association “We clarified our main response to months of mass his candidacy on New Year’s last name. Daily Outlook Afghanistan ment, saying the militant group The attack in central Kabul (SPA), which was at the fore- demand, which is the transfer street protests, the military Eve. Zelensky has tapped reported. won’t talk to Kabul administra- killed seven civilians and three front of the protest campaign of power to civilian authorities,” rulers have resisted calls to But now all opinion polls into widespread frustration Khalilzad, the Afghanistan- tion in the presence of foreign members of the security forces, that toppled longtime president Siddiq Yousef, a senior mem- transfer power to a civilian suggest incumbent President over graft, poverty and a born US veteran diplomat, met military forces in the country. the interior ministry said on Omar al-Bashir this month, ber of the Alliance for Freedom body. Petro Poroshenko is heading conflict with separatists President Mohammad Ashraf Khalilzad, who ended his Sunday, in a new toll after three said it would announce and Change, the umbrella “What we want from them for defeat amid widespread that has claimed some 13,000 Ghani, Chief Executive fifth round of marathon talks people died of their wounds. the civilian council at 1700 group leading the protest is a timetable to hand over anger over poverty, corruption lives. Abdullah Abdullah and several with the Taliban representatives AFP journalists heard one GMT. movement, told state television power, so things don’t drag on,” and war. But others doubted other politicians. Afghan in Doha a couple of weeks ago big blast around 11:40 am It has invited foreign diplo- after Saturday’s talks. said Rabia. Zelensky’s victory is whether the consummate Presidential Palace in a short and resumed his peace mission (0710 GMT), followed by spo- mats and journalists to attend “We agreed to continue He said mounting pressure expected to open a new showman would be able to take statement released here on on March 25 with visit to radic gunfire for hours after- the event at the rally site. negotiations to reach a solution from the street and from the chapter in the history of a on the country’s vested inter- Tuesday said that President London and Brussels, is expect- wards. “We are waiting for the that satisfies both the sides, so international community was country that has gone through ests, negotiate with the likes of Ghani and Khalilzad exchanged ed to visit Pakistan, Uzbekistan, By about 5:00 pm (1230 announcement today,” that the transfer of power will expected to make the military two popular uprisings in German Chancellor Angela views on the situation in Jordan and Qatar after ending his GMT), the interior ministry Romaysaa Omar, one of the happen in a peaceful way.” council cede power in “two to two decades and is mired in a Merkel and stand up to Russia’s Afghanistan and the ongoing meetings with Afghan leaders. declared the assault over. protesters at the sit-in area, told On Saturday Ahmed al- three weeks”. five-year conflict with sepa- Vladimir Putin. 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!!"#  0;9) N.*916*>* of the service term of the pres-  :6,5*;965294 Elizabeth Warren, New York of the political network She ident,” Khwazoon said, adding Sen Kirsten Gillibrand and The People, which plans a can- fghanistan’s supreme court :96 the extension would last “until    =  alifornia Sen Kamala former Texas Rep Beto didate forum Wednesday at Ahas extended the term of 9,(*6,(.* the re-election of the new pres- CHarris has described her O’Rourke have campaigned at Texas Southern University, a President Ashraf Ghani until ident”. Ghani’s office could not  (:. groups using Afghanistan as experience as a student at a his- historically black colleges. So historically black college. delayed elections take place, an B/,, /) immediately be reached for a safe haven or for torically black college as “one of has the other black candidate in Allison said that holding official said Sunday, resolving * 96/3,( comment. pcoming talks between launching attacks on other the most important aspects” of the 2020 race, New Jersey Sen. events at these schools is an for now the question of what The delayed elections come Uthe Taliban and the United countries. her life. Now, her Democratic Cory Booker. “essential part of a long-term would happen after his term ):5// ) as the United States tries to States will focus on the “But still there are some presidential campaign is using At a CNN town hall last strategy to build trust and rela- expires on May 22. negotiate a peace deal with the timetable for pulling all foreign details to be discussed, and this that experience to connect month in Orangeburg, home to tionships” with black voters. Presidential elections .))*,5*B *( Taliban, and some had specu- forces from Afghanistan, discussion will take place in our with voters. two of South Carolina’s Harris’s focus on histori- were initially slated for April 20, ;3.**)* /:, lated the polls were being delib- according to a senior Taliban next round of talks and that is Not only is she one of only HBCUs, Booker noted that his cally black colleges could be but Afghan poll officials were erately stalled to create more member. about (the) timetable of the two black candidates in a field parents and grandparents were particularly important in South unprepared for a new nation- :>>//:,O space for those talks. In an interview with AFP, withdrawal of forces from the that’s expected to grow to more educated at historically black Carolina, home to eight wide vote so soon after October Opposition politicians and the Taliban’s political country and other details,” than 20 candidates, she’s also institutions and that “the HBCUs. Black voters are vital parliamentary elections. rity and logistical challenges presidential contenders had spokesman Suhail Shaheen said Shaheen said. the only candidate who attend- majority of black doctors, black to success for Democratic pri- With some final results faced by the election commis- called for an interim previous negotiations with The next round of talks is ed a historically black college or lawyers, black generals are pro- mary candidates anxious to win from that election still pending, sion.” Government to fill the gap Washington saw the two sides expected to take place in Doha university, commonly called duced by HBCUs.” the South’s first primary. the presidential poll was While the court did not between Ghani’s mandate agree to a total withdrawal, in the coming weeks, but no an HBCU. But Harris’s campaign In Orangeburg, Harris’s delayed until July 20, then make the statement public, expiring and the presidential with only the details needing to dates have been formally And she’s the first major- has visited more historically town hall Saturday night was pushed back again until Faraidoon Khwazoon, the elections. be fleshed out. announced. party candidate to have grad- black colleges than any candi- moderated by Bakari Sellers, a September 28. deputy spokesman to Afghan The supreme court said it “In our last round of talks US special envoy Zalmay uated from an HBCU — date, and she is burnishing her former South Carolina state Ariana News published a chief executive Abdullah was asking “presidential can- with the US side, we agreed Khalilzad, who is leading the Washington’s Howard personal ties to this commu- representative who recently statement from the court say- Abdullah, confirmed the doc- didates to respect the delay in with them on withdrawal of all talks for Washington, said after University — since Jesse nity, and not just to current stu- endorsed her campaign. ing it “has extended the service ument to AFP, noting that the presidential elections”. foreign forces from the latest round ended that Jackson ran for president in the dents. Turning to a group of term of President Ghani until Abdullah’s term had also been Ghani was elected in 2014 Afghanistan,” Shaheen said late “real strides” had been made, 1980s. “Presidential candidates South Carolina State students the re-election of a new presi- extended. in a closely contested poll that Saturday in Doha. but he insisted no agreement To be sure, she is not the are recognising HBCUs as a seated on bleachers, Harris dent”. “Yes, the supreme court has was mired by allegations of In return for a withdraw- was reached on when the US only candidate focusing on political and cultural center for talked briefly about the value of “The supreme court made its decision, based on the fraud and that saw him lead a al, he said the Taliban have and other countries might leave such institutions. the broader black community,” attending a historically black understands the financial, secu- constitution, on the extension power-sharing Government. committed to preventing terror Afghanistan. Massachusetts Sen said Aimee Allison, the founder institution.

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   ple may not always stick to the 
/   & “golden rule.” While some people would have genuine concern for
    others, some others might not and     rather demonstrate, what is called    / in psychological terminology,    ‘moral opportunism.’ Here,       humans want to appear morally depending on what serves their depending on the situation. “In ly nurtured and brought up. “This justified but are also seeking to interests best. everyday life, we may not notice is based on personal thought     maximise their own benefits. Dr Samir Parikh, director, that our morals are context- processes as well as circum-    For the study, which was pub- Mental Health and Behavioural dependent since our contexts tend stances,” he added.    lished in Nature Communications Sciences, Fortis Healthcare, to stay the same daily. However, While flexible morality and    M  journal by the lead author Jeroen believed that the first and foremost under new circumstances, we may moral opportunism would look L       Van Baar, a postdoctoral research things that the society needs to do find that the moral rules we like two overlapping concepts, he associate at Brown University, is to take the “psychosocial” thought we’d always follow are differentiated, “Moral oppor-       US, a computational strategy aspects out of morality. “A lot of actually quite malleable,” said tunism is when the person is        model was developed to examine morality is also something that we study co-author Luke J. Chang, always seeking for or trying to cre-       the brain activity patterns and how learn from observing. One such is assistant professor at Dartmouth ate an opportunity for hot-headed widow searching for the hit-and-run driver who    M  they are linked to moral aspects being honest and following College, US. himself/herself while being moral- Amowed down her husband befriends an eccentric optimist and strategies. transperancy. When we talk to The study revealed that ly justified. It’s again subjective to who isn’t quite what she seems. Talking about how moral children, we encourage them to be “unique patterns” of brain activi- people’s personal experiences and Starring Emmy winner Christina Applegate with Linda behaviour varies from person to honest and as they start growing, ty underlie the inequity aversion thoughts.” Cardellini and James Marsden. Created by Liz Feldman, season O* @ person, Dr Sandeep Vohra, senior they only realise through our and guilt aversion strategies. “Our The aspect of various princi- one releases on Netflix on May 3.    consultant, Psychiatry, interactions that we are ourselves results demonstrate that people ples explain why people that we   Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, sometimes use personal discretion may use different moral principles like and respect, occasionally do   2 2 28   ! New Delhi, said, “Whatever we do, in the fear of transperancy and to make their decisions, and that things that we may find morally   all our actions are powered truth. We start accepting it as a some people are much more flex- objectionable. However, Dr Vohra through certain chemical sig- norm and an acceptable thing. ible and will apply different prin- argued that it is because we tend      nalling through the brain. And This results in a lot of dilution. ciples depending on the situation,” to “idealise” people and put them     morality as a concept could be And morality cannot be seen in a said Chang. on a higher pedestal. “We start  @  based on subjective variations, generic way because at various lev- Dr Vohra explained that while searching in them some God-like     A there could be different definitions els, we use our morality compass some people may follow very characteristics, however forget     of morality for different individ- to define certain aspects of wis- rigid morality principles, it would that they have the usual human uals.” dom.” be flexible for some others due to tendencies. They are bound to     @ The researchers of the study He explained giving examples, the given circumstances. “For an make certain decisions as per      also tried to determine which “crossing the traffic lights; some- instance, when someone says that their comfort zones. Also, it varies      '  type of moral strategy the partic- body teasing someone in a public ‘I’ll never bribe, it’s morally incor- from person to person on how     ipant was using under certain cir- transport and you decide to stay rect,’ there could be two cases. they would morally react to cer-     cumstances — inequity aversion, quiet; witnessing a road accident Case 1: When s/he breaks a traf- tain situations,” said he. where people reciprocate because and walking past it; a friend doing fic signal, the person bribes the Making a similar point, Dr    -  they want to seek fairness in their something wrong and you letting policeman and gets away with it Parikh added that “morally objec-    
    outcomes) and secondly, guilt them do it. It could even be at the time of the situation — flex- tionable is a term subjective to   -A  aversion, where people reciprocate something financially unjusti- ible morality. Case 2: When s/he people’s interpretations and       because they want to avoid feeling fied.” actually pays the penalty for dis- understanding. It could be their iscovering his ties to a secret ancient order, a young man guilty. The third would be greed The study showed that people obeying the traffic law — rigid upbringing, the societal narrative, Dliving in modern Istanbul embarks on a quest to save the      or moral opportunism, where used different moral principles to morality,” he explained. Such their schooling and observations, city from an immortal enemy.      people switch between inequity make their decisions and also behaviours are completely depen- personal feedbacks and back- Starring Çagatay Ulusoy, Ayça Aysin Turan and Hazar  AP aversion and guilt aversion changed their moral behaviour dent on how the person is moral- ground that shifts its definition.” Ergüçlü, the season 2 is slated to release on April 26 on Netflix. L=  +   * *    &       n arsenal of new technology is being put    (  & Ato the test fighting floods this year as & "
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       rivers inundate towns and farm fields across the central United States. Drones, supercom- 0  L/    puters and sonar that scan deep under water 0           are helping to maintain flood control projects    and predict just where rivers will roar out of  &          their banks.     Together, these tools are putting detailed   ,  information to use in real time, enabling    emergency managers and people at risk to    M make decisions that can save lives and    property, said Kristie Franz, associate profes-      sor of geological and atmospheric sciences     & P  4:Q at Iowa State University. The cost of this technology is coming       down even as disaster recovery becomes   #??5   B  /5>,.9(.9)/ more expensive, so “anything we can do to    L:       
    reduce the costs of these floods and natural 
      hazards is worth it,” she said. “Of course, loss     ;39./ .6> of life, which you can’t put a dollar amount       on, is certainly worth that as well.”        M ilmmaker Tigmnashu Dhulia films. This trend has started now. U.S. scientists said in their spring weath-  0    Fstirred up a hornet’s nest when “I discussed the story with one of er outlook that 13 million people are at risk   9   he suggested that actors really do my friends, so he told me write it of major inundation, with more than 200 0       not have any role to play in the suc- but I said yeh koi fiction thodi hai river gauges this week showing some level of cess of a film. “Everything is done kuch bhi likh du. It’s a story of flooding in the Mississippi River basin, which 6
    & for them in advance, the schedule someone’s life. How can I make it drains the vast middle of the United States.    is made, the location is set, every- up and show it to the audience? Major flooding continues in places from the one reaches on time and they have Then after some days a channel Red River in North Dakota to near the mouth the privilege of coming late on the came to me, they told me to of the Mississippi in Louisiana, a map from    sets, all they have to is put their research more, I did so and even- the National Weather Service shows. ways at the nation’s tallest dam in northern erwise get to because of high water or rough make on and sign autographs,” he tually Paan Singh Tomar happe- Advanced computer modeling is helping California. The program also helped forecast terrain, said Edward Dean, a Corps engi-   -  said. But when countered, he nend. So that’s how this research predict when and where floodwaters will the flooding after Hurricane Harvey in neer. chuckled, retracted his statement funda kicked off. And none other inundate parts of the United States this Texas and Louisiana that year. “We can reach areas that are unreach-       and conceded that without good than Irrfan (Khan) could have spring. Engineers monitoring levees along the able,” Dean said.      9'%'%!?1 actors there cannot be a quality done justice to this role. He is my “There are over 200 million people that Mississippi River have been collecting and The Corps also now uses high-defini-     film... while adding the caveat that jiggar (heart).” are under some elevated threat risk,” said Ed checking data using a geographic informa- tion sonar in its daily operations to survey L    it is an amalgamation of everything Talking of another change he Clark, director of the National Water Center tion system produced by Esri, said Nick the riverbed, pinpointing where mainte-   
  & that makes any film, exceptional. said, “People have stopped going in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, a flood forecasting Bidlack, levee safety program manager for the nance work needs to be done, said Corps However, he did say that film to theatres unless and until there hub. Memphis district of the U.S. Army Corps of engineer Andy Simmerman. The Memphis M    making has become easier in is a film like Baahubali or Much of the technology, such as the Engineers. The company produces mapping district uses a 26-foot survey boat called the  today’s time. “Those were the Tamasha. I must say cinema is National Water Model, didn’t exist until tools such as an interactive site showing the Tiger Shark, with a sonar head that looks L  & dark ages and didn’t have much going to be dead in no time.” recently. Fueled by supercomputers in nation’s largest rivers and their average like an old-fashioned vacuum cleaner and       advancement, even in terms of sto- He expounded that theatre is Virginia and Florida, it came online about monthly flow. collects millions of points per square inch    ries,” he said. on the verge of coming to end, and three years ago and expanded streamflow On the Mississippi River, flood inspec- of data, Simmerman said. Tigmanshu recalled that while the history has been a witness. data by 700-fold, assembling data from five tors use smartphones or tablets in the field The technology has helped them find 
  making Bandit Queen he chanced There has been a lot of encourage- million river miles (eight million kilometers) to input data into map-driven forms for cars and trucks that have been dumped into   
& upon the story of Paan Singh ment in the past to keep it alive, of rivers and streams nationwide, including water levels and the locations of inoperable the river, along with weak spots in the lev-      Tomar, a soldier in the Indian believed Dhulia. However, he is not many smaller ones in remote areas. flood gates, seepages, sand boils or levee ees. “These areas are 20 to 80 feet under-    M  Army, who won a gold medal at ready to give up. Just yet. He is back “Our models simulate exactly what hap- slides, which are cracks or ditches in the water, we’d never get to see them without  the Indian National Games, but to making a film with Irrfan again. pens when the rain falls on the Earth and slopes of an earthen levee. Photos, videos sonar,” Simmerman said. “The water never unfortunately was forced to “Probably it will be on a life of a whether it runs off or infiltrates,” Clark said, and other data are sent to an emergency gets low enough for us to see a lot of these    become a bandit. The director said, journalist,” he said. adding, “And so the current conditions, flood operation center in real time, allow- failures.” 0    “I was sure since that time that I Tigmanshu, who was the guest whether that be snow pack or the soil mois- ing Corps officials to visualise any problems During recent flooding near Cairo,     had to make this film. But I could- at the Cineaste International Film ture in the snow pack, well that’s something and their exact location, instantly inform- Illinois, a culvert that should have been    n’t find any information anywhere Festival, said, “Achieving success in we can measure and monitor and know.” ing the response, Bidlack said. closed was sending water onto the dry side !?#! on him. I just had a single maga- life is not a huge thing. You just Emergency managers and dam safety “If people in the field have concerns of a levee. The sonar pointed engineers to zine with me in which it was writ- have to be honest with your work officials can see simulations of the conse- about something, they can let us know to the precise location of a log that was stuck     ten about him but the details as well as with your family mem- quences of flood waters washing away a levee go out there and look at it,” Bidlack said. 20 feet deep in murky water, keeping the cul-     were not sufficient to make a bers and that is enough to lead a or crashing through a dam using technolo- “There’s a picture associated with it, a vert open. Plastic sheathing and sandbags    ! film.” peaceful life.” gy developed at the University of Mississippi description of it, and it helps us take care were brought in to stop the flow and save the  "#   He further apprises us that In (The film festival was held at — a web-based system known as DSS-WISE of it.” land below. the olden days there was no such the Delhi Metropolitan Education.) . The software went online in 2017 and quick- Corps engineers are increasingly flying “The sonar definitely made a difference,” $ concept of research while making  =/  ' !- . ly provided simulations that informed the drones to get their own aerial photography said Simmerman. “A big success.” response to heavy rains that damaged spill- and video of flooded areas they can’t oth- L.

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or a country that is aquaponics is a responsible predominantly agrar- and sustainable farming sys- ian — and directly tem. and indirectly Internationally, aquapon- 
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 employing — over 60 ics has attained some maturi- Fper cent of its active working ty as a farming alternative, population, the lack of a com- especially in the USA and in prehensive vision and innova- Australia. Many out-of-the- " 
tion in the sector is unfortu- box solutions are now available nate. Our farm output growth and it is comparatively simpler rate has been fluctuating to set up a farm. In India,
 #
 between 0.2-4.2 per cent in the aquaponics is in a nascent last five years. While in quan- stage as yet. The supply side is         O tities of produce, we may be in very slow in the uptake and the top few producers across most set-up projects require      

   the world, but our yields per that equipment is custom cre-          hectare are amongst the low- ated. This is a challenge for est. high speed scale-ups for    6<3:5/ Take the example of toma- aquaponics. Additionally, of ;6.>09>6 ,/09,< *.:( ticides, insecticides and fertilis- to conventional soil-based Aquaponics has the poten- However, due to the dominance if god is up there, then what is keep up with the demands of start missed the bullseye. After :BB::( ers. agriculture. Established in a tial to drastically change our of negative forces in the world, he doing to set things right? the growing population? Will 70 years, our farm holdings are controlled environment, it is a production patterns and the effect of the positive gets Some faithful ones look up to our farm produce offer the smaller than before, and 65 16:(9 /:, "*# "#!  $(% completely chemical-free indeed make us competitive clouded but, just as the sun god as a formidable figure quality that is essential for percent of our farmlands are . :>;/,* We need a game-changer. And mode of farming making it one internationally in yields per keeps shining behind a thick whose job is to punish humans healthy living? Will farming dependent on monsoons for we believe aquaponics offers us of best forms of farming hectares. With higher produc- veil of clouds and comes out for their misdeeds and hence, ever modernise? And will our crop growth. 6//,5B/. just that opportunity. known today.It very possibly is tivity, the enhancement of when the clouds pass, the good we are witnessing so much farms help protect the planet Left to vagaries of nature, Aquaponics is a method of the 'future of farming.' food security would improve deeds can never go un-reward- suffering. But should we fear by saving valuable and scarce we cannot seek progress. As -/.:/)&)* food production that com- We believe aquaponics has across India while reducing the ed even though it might take god or love him? He is truth resources? social innovators; we wanted to 56:-/,5:B bines raising fish (aquaculture) great potential. Since it is not burden on land and limiting some time. It is said that when and he is love. Loving him is What will it take for India's bring out a change. We realised with soil-less growing of plants dependent on land, it can be the resource wastage prevalent evil goes to extreme, it comes to our natural birthright because farm sector to change? And that we needed to provide a 1),;3 (hydroponics) by creating a moved to inhospitable ter- currently. With the ability to an end and paves the way for a as souls we are his children. He therein lays the solution. different and new approach to 6*/,5 symbiotic ecosystem. The rains and even urban loca- grow nearly all crops in new beginning. Another ques- is merciful and benevolent. He Change is absolutely essential. the sector. It was not only a water in an aquaponics system tions;it's resource-smart, sav- aquaponics, it could be the tion that follows is that why do will never wish his children to Status quo will get us nowhere. question of increasing yields - 3>;/:/ is re-circulated on a continu- ing vast quantities of water; leverage the agriculture sector good people suffer from painful suffer, but we all are suffering For a nation that employed a but also how to remove the * :3*> ous basis with zero-discharge. and it is chemical-free. Yields requires in future. and deadly diseases like cancer? today because we do not love majority of its population and farms from the dependence on The aquaponics cycle therefore are 10-12 times greater and the (The writer is the founder Well, we must understand that him, we do not honour our indeed got a large part of its rainfall. Additionally, we need- reduces the requirement of quality is far better. In one line, of Red Otter Farms.) we are living at the end of Iron eternal relationship with him Age that is, the Kaliyuga when and we have been even unjus- the old karmic accounts of all tifiably and ungratefully blam- ffective parenting requires a lot souls are being settled before ing god for all our misery. Yet of sacrifice, dedication and time. they can become pure and get he loves us unconditionally EHowever, for working parents, liberation and enjoy complete and guides us lovingly to puri- time is always short. Since working @  happiness in the new world. So, fy ourselves and liberate our- parents spend a major chunk of their we are in a period of transition selves from all suffering. But, day away from their children, raising now when the new world is when we say that god is incor- happy, healthy and well-adjusted chil- * 
   I         >**,) 6:6   being established but a lot of poreal, without any bodily dren might seem like a major chal- suffering is also visible as the old form, then why do we celebrate lenge. However, with dual-income                 world is moving towards its a festival like Shivratri as his households on the rise in India, end. Good people are also set- birthday? numerous parents are proving that it tling their old accounts but they Shivratri means the ‘Night is not impossible to balance work and your children. Eating dinner togeth- after work and head home for quali- do not suffer so much pain as of Shiva’ which signifies the family, and that kids of working par- er, reading and then tucking them into ty time. they have the blessings earned darkness of spiritual ignorance ents are able to thrive as well. If yours bed is a great way to end the day. by their good deeds. in Kaliyuga. Shiva is the incor- is a family where both parents work, Look on the bright side In a world that is rife with poreal Supreme Soul who is the here are some tips that will help you Look for flexible workplaces As working parents, you will violence, crime, fear and inse- Father of all souls. He imparts strike that balance and lead a blissful Many workplaces offer flexible have more disposable income at hand. curity use of force and violent the truth about soul, god and family life as well: working hours and work from home You will be able to create additional means is seen as the best way to the creation and inspires options. Such jobs will allow you to opportunities for your children such ensure safety and security. But humans to purify themselves by Communicate with your chil- spend some time with your children as lavish summer trips, professional is it right to use violence to get linking their heart and mind dren in case the need arises. Doctor’s visit, activity classes and better schools. As justice or to succeed in a good with him and by doing pure Since working parents spend lit- school functions and sick days can all children of working parents spend a cause, people ask. We all know deeds. He does not live, eat, or tle time with their kids, it is impor- be taken care of without the slightest lot of time in different social settings that violence begets more vio- indulge in sensual experiences tant to set aside time and communi- of guilt if the workplace understands such as daycare or co-curricular class- lence. The rise in terrorism is a like human souls do. He is the cate with them every day. Parents need that parents sometimes require certain es, research shows that they grow up proof that terror cannot be one who never comes in the to speak to their children about their concessions. to be more confident individuals contained by arms. It is the law bondage of actions and their feelings to ensure they are not feeling with a high degree of emotional and of karma that if we use hatred fruits. The Supreme Soul is neglected or lonely without them. Seek help and support social intelligence. Looking at these or violence for any end it will remembered in all faiths as Furthermore, it is important for par- It is important for parents to dis- positive aspects of being working par- rebound and reflect in our Shiva, God, Allah, Jehovah, ents to speak to children about how cern who will take care of their child ents will help you feel great about your lives in one way or another. A Ishwar and by many other their studies, friends and activities while they are away. It is best to leave family-set up. Again, it is also a good good cause is good only if it is names. He is praised as the they did throughout the day. the child with grandparents or a rel- idea to communicate about these achieved through good means almighty, omnipotent, omni- Communicating regularly is the best ative whom you trust to take good upsides so that children understand and noble values. In practical scient being who can liberate way to connect with children even if care and focus on the child’s needs. it too. sense, this may sound to be human beings from the cycle of you don’t spend a lot of time with For younger kids or toddlers, you can Children are flexible individuals impossible. But as said earlier, sin and suffering. them. also look for a daycare center where and can adjust well in any set-up. All that as much as possible one The best thing to realise is children can be looked after by pro- they require is a little time and should try to find the root cause that humans can now experi- Don’t bring work home fessionals. Here, children can also unconditional love. Whether it is of any problem and try to solve ence god’s wisdom and bless- It is not conducive for parents to spend their day in a productive man- after work or over the weekends, allot it with compassion, forgiveness, ings as never before because the complete work tasks at home as it ner while learning new things. For some time to do things that your chil- wisdom and patience. So, to time has come for him to guide might make children feel neglected older, school-going kids, you can opt dren love. Play games, read stories or win over violence, we need to the process of the transforma- and resentful. The best approach to for schools that offer full-day pro- go out together to let them know that make peace, tolerance, respect tion of the world from Kaliyuga avoiding this situation is to complete grams. Such schools facilitate con- mother and father will always priori- and compassion our strong to Satyuga. So what are you work at the office and switch off your ducive after-school curriculums tise family time over work. weapons. It does take time and waiting for? Let’s join him and work-mode before entering your focussing on co-curricular activities (The writer is the Founding effort but we must not forget a be a part of great transforma- home. Make sure that your focus is on and homework. Parents can conve- Director, Shemford Futuristic fact that even hard stones are tion of old world into new spending maximum quality time with niently pick up children from school Schools.) cut by a gentle stream over a world. '   @        @       A L-  

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le Gunnar Solskjaer's prob- lems since taking over as per- Omanent Manchester United manager intensified with a humili- ating 4-0 loss away to Everton on Sunday. Defeat at Goodison Park — United's sixth in eight games — also dealt a huge blow to the Red Devils' hopes of playing in the Champions League next season. Goals from Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott inflicted the largest defeat on United since they lost by the same scoreline at Chelsea three years ago. But, after starting his reign with eight consecutive victories, the best start ever made by a manager at the  96/, Champions League but next year club, former United striker Solskjaer is a new page, the fans all want it is now collecting some other, very ristiano Ronaldo said he is and so do we. unwanted, statistics. C"1,000 percent committed to "I'm staying at Juve, 1,000 per- This latest loss means United staying" with Juventus next season cent." have now leaked 48 league goals, the as he claimed his first Serie A title It was the 34-year-old's sixth most they've conceded in a season, and Juventus their eighth in a row domestic league title, having won since letting in 63 back in the 42- on Saturday. three with Manchester United and game 1978/79 campaign. Massimiliano Allegri's side two with Real Madrid, as he Sunday's loss also means United had needed just one more point for becomes the first player to win the have conceded in 12 consecutive a 35th Scudetto and their latest title Premier League, La Liga and Serie games for the first time since triumph helped ease some of the A. December 1998 while, under pain of their shock Champions Their eight straight title sees Solskjaer, the Reds have lost five con- League exit at the Juventus them overtake French club Lyon secutive away games for the first time Stadium to Ajax on Tuesday. for the record of consecutive vic- in 38 years. A come-from-behind 2-1 win tories in the top five European over Fiorentina was enough to give leagues.  6 them a 20-point lead on nearest The day was a double celebra- United looked second best even Solskjaer had been looking for. reaction save from de Gea. game in the 56th minute. De minute. rivals Napoli with five games to tion as Juventus' women's team before the hosts scored twice inside Everton soon made the situation From the rebound the Gea punched clear a Sigurdsson again carved out play. won their second straight league the opening half-hour, conceding a worse for the visitors. Brazilian hurried his follow- Sigurdsson corner to the the opening with a brilliantly-timed Serbian defender Nikola title since being founded in 2017. succession of corners from which After 27 minutes, Everton up effort wide. unmarked Digne who sent a through ball which allowed the Milenkovic put Fiorentina ahead "I'm very happy because we've Everton threatened. cleared a United corner and imme- superb, first-time volley fly- former England international the after less than six minutes. achieved an important goal," said It was another type of set-piece, diately broke on the counter-attack, 6 $   ing back past the United space to sprint into the area and beat But Alex Sandro's diving head- Allegri, who becomes the first a long throw-in by Digne, from with winger Bernard playing a With the recalled Romelu keeper from 20 yards. the advancing de Gea. er on 37 minutes and an own goal coach to win five consecutive which Everton took the lead after 12 delightful ball inside to Idrissa Lukaku booed every time he Three minutes later, and Not until the 86th minute, and from Fiorentina defender German Serie A titles. minutes when the full-back launched Gueye. touched the ball by his former from the same left wing, a comfortably saved Anthony Pezzella after a Ronaldo cross in He has six in total, having also the ball deep into the United area. He, in turn, released Sigurdsson fans at Everton, United had little another Sigurdsson corner almost Martial strike, did United have a the 53rd minute sealed another won with AC Milan, one behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin helped who, with Nemanja Matic backing response to an impressive effort crept in at de Gea's near post before shot on target. title to ease their European disap- Giovanni Trapattoni, who has the ball on with the flick of his head off, unleashed a magnificent 25-yard from the home side. the Spaniard stuck out a boot to Meanwhile Everton, who had pointment. seven. and Richarlison sent a spectacular shot which bounced just in front of In between the goals, United clear off his line. not beaten a 'big six' rival in 25 "It was a great season and I Juventus also equalled the scissor-kick finish flying past David the diving de Gea on its way into the star Paul Pogba's long diagonal Even though Richarlison had attempts before last month, have adapted well. We won the Scudetto record for the earliest the Italian de Gea. bottom corner. pass freed Marcus Rashford who limped off through injury, the agony now won consecutive home match- and the Italian Super Cup, which title has been won, with five games After a humbling 3-0 Richarlison might have given could only poke his effort over from was not over for United with the es against Chelsea, Arsenal and is not easy to achieve," said to spare, achieved by Torino in Champions League exit at Barcelona Everton the lead even earlier. His a tight angle. Brazilian's replacement Walcott United while keeping three clean Ronaldo. 1948, Fiorentina in 1956 and Inter in midweek, it was not the start 10th minute shot drew an amazing Everton effectively killed the continuing the rout in the 64th sheets in the process. "It didn't go well in the Milan in 2007. 1!/=1 "    7 ,
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  24
  arim Benzema made it 30 goals for the one of their most confident perfor- in the Ruhr derby next Saturday,  

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     Benzema's advance in the absence of with 20 minutes left. Qatar-backed PSG are Christopher Nkunku to fill             Cristiano Ronaldo and surge since the reap- But it was his run in behind that won now 16 points ahead of Lille gaps but Kylian Mbappe has  !?#H      
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   *   when introduced as a substitute here and comical mix-up in the Bilbao defence gift- them only lose on three league appearances.  
 #" $" !"     frequently during his 20 minutes on the ed him his hat-trick. occasions in another domi- The Parisians host  &   pitch. Iago Herrerin rushed out to intercept nant league campaign. Monaco, later on Sunday For all the impatience of the home a speculative ball over the top but made a PSG now have eight three earlier chances to space of 10 days. with Neymar set to return     6     crowd, it was Bale who won the corner for mess of his headed clearance, the ball falling French championships since secure this season's trophy Tuchel, in his first year as from a foot problem which London: *  .   Benzema's second and then teed up his to Bale to tee up Benzema, 30 yards out but their maiden victory in 1986 by failing to beat Strasbourg, boss, has complained about has kept him sidelined since             team-mate's third in injury-time. with the goal open. although they squandered rivals Lille and Nantes in the not having enough players as January. I     
   
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     ;6/;,*              >:,* 6): Fognini looked to be temporarily       U;; I  ,  hampered as he limped momentarily ustralia powered into its first Fed      *      taly's Fabio Fognini thrilled a crowd after breaking Lajovic for 3-2 in the sec- ACup final since 1993 on Sunday  -           Icomposed mainly of his countrymen ond after claiming the opening set in 44 with Ashleigh Barty and Samantha :(/ /   1   as he defeated Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-4 to minutes. Stosur clinching the deciding fifth rub- & 1  8#   win the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday. During a medical timeout, he was ber in Brisbane against Belarusian pair The 13th seed based just 20 kilome- taped on his right thigh and a heel, but Victoria Azarenka and Aryna Sabalenka. New York: ' 0           tres over the border in San Remo, carried on without apparent problems as Their battling 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win set      ,  5     
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     , 0     &      Nicola Pietrangeli, who watched his The winner of his first Masters The tie was sent into the crucial for the more accomplished pairing.        > I  5  record fall from the royal box at the 1000 trophy came to the first major week doubles match after Azarenka crushed But they fell short to give seven-  ,  3   /   -;          & Monte Carlo Country Club. of the pre-Roland Garros run-up with a Stosur 6-1, 6-1 in the reverse singles, fol- time champions Australia a crack at   ,      >  L   )  Pietrangeli won the trophy in the 0-4 record on the clay, the surface he grew lowing Barty sweeping past Sabalenka their first title since last winning in >  
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He came to the court after the tro- this victory, especially with all of the Among his victims this week was Belarus, a losing finalist in 2017, was Elsewhere, World number two               phy ceremony to pose for pictures with Italians here today,"Fognini, 31, said. number three Alexander Zverev, and his scheduled to pit Lidziya Marozava and Simona Halep battled back from a set     -  '            his new tennis heir, who was following The 48th-ranked Serb Lajovic was stunning stunning 6-4, 6-2 victory over Vera Lapko against the Australian duo, down to defeat France's Caroline Garcia ; L61  ,     up his shock semi-final win over 11-time playing in the first ATP final of his career Nadal on Saturday to end the Spanish who were playing together for the first 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 6-4 and put Romania ) ; 1    7!%!) Monte Carlo champion Rafael Nadal. and got to the title match without the loss star's 25-set win streak in the principal- time. But with so much on the line team within touching distance of a first "I started the season rather badly, so of a set. ity. captain Tatiana Poutchek opted instead final appearance since 1973. A

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#?$    0      However, Rajasthan would be a bit more desper- ate than Delhi as they are lan-   .3(*6;( of Warner and Bairstow paved from nine matches while KKR other notable contributer with guishing at the second last the way for a Sunrisers victo- remain on the sixth spot with a 25-ball 30. position in the points table onny Bairstow and David ry this season. The duo had eight points from 10 games. Also Narine's blistering with just three wins from Live on Star Sports 1& 2 HEAD off 49 balls to win their last Warner continued their guided SRH to victories Earlier, young left-arm innings of 24 runs off eight nine outings. TO game. Jstellar run at the top as against Rajasthan Royals, pacer Khaleel Ahmed grabbed balls was laced with three Rajasthan would look to HEAD With Dhawan and Prithvi they powered Sunrisers Royal Challengers Bangalore three wickets in an impressive boundaries and two maxi- continue to capitalise on their -. Shaw at the top and the likes Hyderbad to a nine-wicket and Delhi Capitals in similar spell. The 21-year-old speed- mums. home advantage under new 45 ,* of Rishabh Pant, Iyer and win over struggling Kolkata fashion. ster removed Sunil Narine With the wicket of Narine, captain Smith. But they would  ++ Colin Ingram to follow, Delhi Knight Riders in an IPL KKR were sloppy in the (25 off 7 balls), who was the momentum shifted in certainly miss their prolific ."?0 would start as a confident bat- encounter here on Sunday. field and ended up paying looking dangerous in his first SRH's favour. In Khaleel's opener Jos Buttler. >:,(3  HP??1> , ting unit. Chasing a target of 160, heavily for their mistakes. spell and then came back to next over, he dismissed Gill Anjikya Rahane, who has Down the order, even Warner struck 67 off 38 balls Bairstow was dropped twice, dismiss Shubman Gill (3) and (3). Nitish Rana (11) and been struggling with his form coming good with the bat, Axar Patel is capable of accel- hitting three fours and five once on 5 by Cariappa off Chris Lynn (51) in his corre- captain Dinesh Karthik (6) and also seemed to be out of Rajasthan would fancy their erating the run-rate. sixes while Englishman debutant Prithviraj's delivery sponding spells to keep KKR also returned to the dressing ideas, was eventually stripped chances. Though their bowl- As far as bowling is con- Bairstow punished the hapless in the second over and then in check. room in quick succession. of captaincy and next he ing still remains a worry in cerned, Delhi Capitals heavi- KKR attack with seven again on 58 by Piyush Chawla Australian but it was a little Senior pacer Rinku and Lynn shared a might also lose his opening death overs. Except Jofra ly depend on Kagiso Rabada boundaries and four maxi- off Sunil Narine. too late as the hosts needed Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned 51-run stand for the fifth slot to Rahul Tripathi. Archer and leg spinner although they have variety in mums in his unbeaten knock The troika of spinners just 29 runs off 40 balls. with the figures of 2/35 while wicket to stabilise the innings Tripathi was impressive Shreyas Gopal, none of the medium pacers Ishant of 80 off 43 balls. were the reason for KKR's With Warner gone, Kane leg-spinner Rashid Khan before Sandeep Sharma dis- during his 45-ball fifty against bowlers have been consistent. Sharma, Sandeep Lamichhane The openers looked in downfall as Sunil Narine (0/34 Williamson (8 off 9 balls) (1/23) and seamer Sandeep missed the 21-year-old Kings XI Punjab, while Delhi Capitals have a solid and spinners Amit Mishra command as the target was in 4 overs), KC Cariappa walked in but the captain had Sharma (1/37) took a wicket Indian. Big-hitter Andre Rahane was too slow in his batting line up with a blend of and Axar Patel. achieved in 15 overs largely (0/34 in 2 overs) and Piyush little to do with Bairstow hit- apiece with the Sunrisers' Russel scored 15 off 9 balls. 21-ball 26 as Rajasthan failed experience and youth. Another victory for Delhi due to their 131-run stand. Chawla (0/38 in 3 overs) gave ting a four and two sixes to bowlers making life difficult He hit two sixes off to chase down 182, finishing Senior opener Shikhar will brightening their chances This was KKR's fifth succes- away 106 runs in nine overs. seal the victory. for the KKR batsmen. Kumar before the right-arm at 170/7. Dhawan laid the foundation of making the play-offs and sive loss in the tournament. Prithvi (1/29) got the only With the win, Sunrisers For KKR, Lynn was the seamer dismissed the With Smith back in form, with a fluent 56 of 41 balls and they would leave no stone This is the fourth time breakthrough for KKR dis- Hyderabad jumped to the top-scored with a dogged 47- Jamaican in the penultimate and the youngsters like Sanju skipper Shreyas Iyer con- unturned to achieve a win that the opening partnership missing the threatening fourth spot with 10 points ball 51. Rinku Singh was the over. Samson and Riyan Parag tributed with an unbeaten 58 against the home side.

  ;,5):6* Plessis at long-off Jadeja's bowling #6 "%! '#"@ at the stroke of team's 100-run arthiv Patel's attacking half- mark. Pcentury and Moeen Ali's final The baby-faced Parthiv, whose flourish wasn't enough as Royal overs) twin breakthrough during ing in fine touch. form has been inconsistent during Challengers Bangalore put up a partnership was also important in De Villiers smashed Chahar the tournament so far, was ready sub-par 161 for 7 against Chennai the context of the innings. over square leg while Parthiv also to punish the loose balls on the day Super Kings in an IPL encounter Dwayne Bravo (2/34 in 4 flicked Shardul Thakur (0/40 in 4 as he sent a Jadeja half-tracker on Sunday. overs) also chipped in with a cou- overs) for a couple of sixes. soaring into the stands for his third Parthiv smashed 53 off 37 balls ple of wickets in the end. Having picked 16 runs off the six and hit Imran Tahir for a fourth but didn't get a lot of support from Virat Kohli (9) hit a couple of final Powerplay over, RCB looked one. the other end until Moeen Ali used boundaries before a thickish edge in control before Jadeja induced He reached his half-century by the long handle to hit 26 off 16 off a Chahar outswinger brought De Villiers to go for a big shot only pulling Bravo in-front of square balls even as AB de Villiers (25 off about his downfall. Mahendra to be holed by Faf du Plessis at but was out off the very next ball. 19 balls) and Akshdeep Nath (24 Singh Dhoni took a nice catch Long-off. Parthiv's innings had two fours off 20 balls) delivered little after behind the stumps. Parthiv was joined by the and four sixes. promising a lot. However Parthiv and AB de burly Akshdeep Nath (24, 20 Just when 150 was looking a Deepak Chahar (2/25 in 4 Villiers (25 off 19 balls) added 47 balls), who hit a six off Jadeja, bit dicey, Moeen hit five bound- overs) was impressive as usual runs in only 4.2 overs with the for- added 41 runs with his senior part- aries to take RCB past 160-run while Ravindra Jadeja's (2/29 in 4 mer South African skipper look- ner before being caught by Du mark. B      ( !  '  '2B 6 .  P  H

 E   (    2;   ,*-(*)./ hiva Thapa placed himself just one win   (:.   ,/,5;: Talib, who lifted 304kg Saway from securing a record fourth medal (140kg+164kg). by entering the 60kg quarterfinals, along with avelin thrower Annu Rani and 5000m ormer world champion The final standings for four other Indians, on the third day of the Jrunner Parul Choudhary won a Silver FMirabai Chanu produced the men's 67kg event will be Asian Championships in Bangkok on Sunday. and a Bronze respectively as India opened her personal best but missed known after group A compe- Shiva was at his destructive best as he out- its medal account on the opening day of out on podium by a whisker, tition on Monday. punched Kyrgyzstan's Seitbek Uulu 4-1 to the Asian Athletics Championships here while Youth Olympics Gold Jeremy, in fact, broke 15 march into the quarter-finals. on Sunday. medallist Jeremy Lalrinnunga records in total, combining Four-time Asian Championships Gold On a day which saw sprint sensation went on a record-smashing national and international medallist Sarita Devi began her hunt for a stag- Hima Das suffer a lower back spasm spree at the Asian Weightlifting marks. He smashed six inter- gering sixth medal from this elite event in while runner her quartermile event, Championship here on Sunday. national records — three impressive fashion. Dutee Chand smashed her own nation- The 24-year-old Mirabai youth world and three youth The 37-year-old Indian blanked Korea's al record in 100m dash to qualify for the lifted 86kg in snatch and a per- Asian — and nine national Gwon Sujin to storm into the quarter-finals semifinals. The other Indian in the fray, Sanjivani sonal best of 113kg in clean records — three youth nation- after a RSC (Referee Stop Contest) decision The 26-year-old Annu, who had Jadhav finished fourth with a time of and jerk for a total of 199kg in next year. while she was fourth in snatch. al, three junior national and in Round 3 as she was too dominant for her won a Bronze in the 2017 edition in 15:41.12. the women's 49kg event to fin- Unfortunately Mirabai In World Championships and three senior national. opponent. Bhubaneswar, hurled the spear to a best Bahrain took both the Gold and ish on fourth position. Her ear- missed the Bronze as China's continental championships, The Mizoram weightlifter Agile and sharp as ever, Amit Panghal distance of 60.22m to grab the Silver. Silver through Mutile Winfred Yavi lier personal best total in 49kg Zhang Rong with the same medals are awarded separate- pulled off clean lifts in two of opened his campaign and made it to the last- China's Lyu Huihui won the Gold with (15:28.87) and Bontu Rebitu (15:29.60). was 192kg in the EGAT Cup in total of 199kg (88kg+111kg) ly for snatch, clean and jerk, his three attempts in snatch eight with a 5-0 decimation of Taipei's Tu Po- an effort of 65.83m at the Khalifa Saritaben Gayakwad (58.17s) and M Thailand in February. finished third under new rules, and total lift. But in the (130kg, 134kg) to set a new Wei in his first continental competitive bout Stadium. Arpitha (58.20s) qualified for women's In a remarkable perfor- which came into effect in 2017. Olympics, medals are award- youth world record. The ear- in the 52 kg. Annu's performance was, however, 400m hurdles finals from their respective mance, 16-year-old Jeremy Under these rules, the ed only for total lift. lier youth world record was Panghal continued his sublime form more than 2m short of her national record heats while M P Jabir (50.17s) did the secured second place in group competitor who has a lower This was Mirabai's second also in Jeremy's name when he after starting the season with a glittering Gold shattering effort of 62.34m during the same in men's 400m hurdles. B of the 67Kg men's event. clean and jerk result (that international competition in had lifted 131kg in the EGAT from the Strandja Cup and will hope to record Federation Cup at Patiala last month Earlier in the morning session, 23- During his record-smashing means higher snatch result) this category after the Cup in Thailand in February. his second consecutive victory over reigning which gave her a berth in the World year-old Dutee clocked 11.28 seconds to spree, he claimed three world will be ranked higher in the International Weightlifting Jeremy then lifted more Olympic champion Hasanboy Dusmatov in Championships to be held at the same set a national record while winning her marks. classification of athletes for Federation re-jigged the than double his body weight a highly-anticipated quarter-final showdown. venue in September-October. heat in the women's 100m race. She has Earlier in the day, Jhili total lift. weight categories last year. (157kg, 163kg) in two success- Former world junior champion Nikhat The other Indian in the fray, Sharmila qualified for the semifinals. Dalabehera opened India's The Gold medal went to She was earlier competing in ful attempts in the clean and Zareen (51kg) was at her imperious best in Kumari finished seventh with a best Dutee bettered her earlier national medal account, claiming a Hou Zhihui of China who 48kg. jerk, and in the process oblit- her opening bout against Cambodia's Srey Pov throw of 54.48m. record of 11.29 seconds which she set last Silver medal in the women's produced an effort of 208kg Jeremy gave a power- erated Kazakhstan weightlifter Nao. The Telangana pugilist advanced to the The 24-year-old Parul gave India the year in Guwahati. 45kg category. However, 45kg (92kg+116kg) while North packed performance, smash- Saikhan Taisuyev's youth quarterfinals by RSC in Round 2 as her rival second medal as she finished third in The Odisha runner, however, could is not a Olympic weight cate- Korea's Ri Song-gum clinched ing the Youth World and world record of 161kg. could not contain the flurry of punches. women's 5000m race, clocking a person- not touch the 11.24 second qualification gory. the Silver, lifting 200kg Asian records in snatch, clean It was Jeremy's personal In the men's 69kg, Ashish continued his al best of 15 minutes 36.03 seconds. She mark for the World Championships. The points gathered from (86kg+114kg) in the Gold and jerk and total lift with an best and 9kg more than his scintillating run of form with a strong 4-1 win bettered her earlier personal best of The Indian contingent suffered a jolt this event will come in handy level Olympic qualifier. effort of 297kg (134kg+163kg) 288kg youth world record over Abdurakhman Abdurakhmanov of 15:58.35 which she had clocked during as Hima failed to finish her 400m heat due when the final rankings for Mirabai, however, picked to be placed second in his effort in the EGAT cup, where Kyrgyzstan in a split verdict to book his quar- the Federation Cup last month. to a lower back spasm. 2020 Tokyo Olympics are made up a Bronze in clean and jerk group behind Pakistan's Talha he won the Silver medal. ter-final berth.