Delhi monday, january 2, 2017

www.thehindu.in ● Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 ● RNI No. TNENG/2012/49940 ● ISSN 0971 - 751X ● Vol. 7 ● No. 1 ● CITY EDITION ● 28 Pages ● Rs. 8.00 Printed at Chennai, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Madurai, Noida, Visakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Vijayawada, Mangaluru, Tiruchirapalli, Kolkata, Hubballi, Mohali, Allahabad, Malappuram and Mumbai

Shoe thrown at Arvind Tapas Paul names Black money will Somdev Devvarman Kejriwal at public Babul Supriyo in Rose be converted into announces retirement meeting in Rohtak Valley chit fund scam cheaper loans: Jaitley from professional tennis Page 4 Page 12 Page 15 Page 17 • • BRIEFLY Loans to be cheaper Pakistan backs China’s Akhilesh camp declares him SP head block on Azhar as SBI slashes rate NEW DELHI: Pakistan on Sunday Mulayam made Despite this, the Akhilesh endorsed the block that China camp went ahead with the has imposed on India’s mentor, Amar meet, where some “major Benchmark rate will campaign at the United Nations decisions” were “unanim- be 8 per cent as Security Council to blacklist Singh expelled ously passed”. Masood Azhar of the Jaish-e- from party While Mr. Akhilesh was against 8.9 per cent Mohammed, a Pakistan-based declared the new party pres- terror group. It said India’s OMAR RASHID ident, his father was releg- SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT campaign to impose a ban on ated to the nominal post of a Masood Azhar was “politically LUCKNOW: Samajwadi Party su- margdarshak or a guiding MUMBAI: State Bank of India motivated.” premo Mulayam Singh on mentor. (SBI), the country’s largest ½ NEWS | PAGE 12 Sunday expelled his cousin, The meet also “displaced” lender, has reduced its mar- general secretary Ramgopal Mr. Shivpal, Mr. Akhilesh’s ginal cost of funds based Mine accident toll Yadav for the “illegal” act of bête noire, from his party lending rate (MCLR) by a mounts to 18 making Uttar Pradesh Chief post, and “expelled” Amar whopping 90 basis points. Minister Akhilesh Yadav the Singh, Mr. Mulayam’s aide Among the steepest interest GODDA (JHARKHAND): Two more new “national president”. who has been held respons- rate cuts in a long time, the bodies were recovered from the This was Mr. Ramgopal’s ible by the Akhilesh camp for move is aimed at boosting debris of the Rajmahal Open second expulsion in three the internal feud. loan growth, which has fallen loans. The efective interest Cast Mine here on Sunday. The days, and his third in the last TROUBLE CONTINUES: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and ‘newly elected Samajwadi Party national Later, Mr. Akhilesh to a multi-decade low. MCLR rate for new home loans is death toll went up to 18. The three months. president’ Akhilesh Yadav speaks at a convention in Lucknow on Sunday as party general tweeted: “Sometimes to pro- is the benchmark rate to likely to be between 8.25 per authorities revised the number Mr. Ramgopal had earlier secretary Ramgopal Yadav looks on. — PHOTO: PTI tect the ones you love you which all loans are linked. A cent and 8.5 per cent. Exist- of people still buried in the in the day gone against the must make the right de- percentage point equals 100 ing loans linked to the MCLR rubble to six. Twenty-three diktat of the supremo and proposals and decisions ing, signed by Mr. Mulayam, menced at the Jnaneshwar cision. What I did today was basis points (bps). will be impacted when they people went missing after the convened a special “emer- passed there as “illegal.” the board blamed Mr. Mishra Park, Mr. Mulayam a tough decision but one that The SBI, in a statement, are re-priced. MCLR has accident, Sub-Divisional Officer gency national convention” Later in the day, Mr. Ramgopal for “conspiring” issued a warning to party I had to take.” said its one-year MCLR been in efect from April 1 Sanjay Kumar said. of the SP, where several pro- Ramgopal’s expulsion was to harm the SP. It, however, members against attending would be 8 per cent as com- and had replaced the base ½ NATION | PAGE 9 posals and decisions were approved by the SP’s central did not refer to Mr. Akhilesh. the programme, asserting it ½ SOME OF THE OLD GUARD pared with 8.9 per cent rate. “The decision is promp- Jan Dhan deposits announced by him in the parliamentary board meet- Mr. Mulayam has con- was in “total violation of the GRAVITATE TO AKHILESH earlier. Home and auto loans ted by liquidity,” SBI chair- presence of a few thousand ing at Mr. Mulayam’s resid- vened a fresh national con- party constitution and dis- CAMP; CM APPOINTS NEW of most banks, including the man Arundhati Bhattacharya double to ₨87,000 cr. STATE PRESIDENT | PAGE 12 party workers. Mr. Mulayam ence, attended by Shivpal Ya- vention on January 5. Hours cipline and organised with ½ SBI, are linked to their one- told The Hindu. NEW DELHI: Deposits in Jan Dhan termed the meet “unconsti- dav, State president. In a before the convention called the intention of harming” the SPLIT WIDE OPEN year MCLRs. The rate cut ½ PAGE 12 accounts have more than tutional” and dismissed the letter issued after the meet- by Mr. Ramgopal com- party. | EDITORIAL will be applicable to all fresh CONTINUED ON doubled to ₨87,000 crore in 45 days post demonetisation, prompting the tax department to “dissect” information relating 2 Indians among 39 dead in Turkey attack to such deposits, an official said. We will not hesitate to use

½ NEWS | PAGE 13 SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT TMC MP to appear force if needed: Gen. Rawat NEW DELHI: Two Indians died in before CBI on Jan 3 a New Year’s eve terror strike “Supersession was “We want peace and KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress at a night club in Istanbul, MP Sudip Bandopadhyay on Turkey, that claimed 39 lives. a decision of the tranquillity on the Sunday said he would appear External Afairs Minister government” border. But it doesn’t before the CBI on January 3 in Sushma Swaraj made the an- mean we are weak.. connection with the nouncement on Twitter on DINAKAR PERI investigation into the Rose Sunday. We are capable.” Valley chit fund scam. “I was “I have a bad news from NEW DELHI: Chief of Army Staf first called on November 15, but Turkey. We have lost two In- Gen. Bipin Rawat said on shoulder. I hope that we con- I couldn’t go. The CBI told me to dian nationals in the Istanbul Sunday that India desired tinue to work shoulder to come on January 3,” he said. attack. Indian ambassador is peace but, if provoked, would shoulder in future too to fur- on way to Istanbul. The vic- not hesitate to use force. Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat ther the unity and strength of ½ PAGE 12 NEWS | tims are Mr Abis Rizvi, son “We want peace and tran- addresses the media in New the Army,” he added. Indonesian tourist of former Rajya Sabha MP, quillity on the border. But it Delhi on Sunday. — PHOTO: PTI Eastern Army Com- and Ms Khushi Shah from doesn’t mean we are weak. mander Lt. Gen. Praveen boat blaze kills 23 Gujarat,” she tweeted. We are fully capable and pre- the border; 141 terrorists Bakshi and Southern Army JAKARTA: A massive fire erupted The Rizvis are well- pared. If necessary, we will were killed in Jammu and Commander Lt. Gen. PM in a boat carrying hundreds of known businessmen in not hesitate to use force,” he Kashmir. Hariz are senior to Gen. local tourists to an island north Mumbai with interests in said, in response to a ques- Gen. Rawat stated that the Rawat. of the Indonesian capital Jakarta real estate, education and en- tion from the media after re- rank and file of the Army was Lt. Gen. Bakshi was widely on Sunday, leaving 23 dead and tertainment. Turkish police viewing a guard of honour equal to him irrespective of tipped for the top post as per 17 injured. Passengers jumped launched a massive manhunt outside South Block. the “arm and service they be- the ‘seniority-cum-merit’ into the sea as flames engulfed for the gunman who went on He assumed charge as the long to.” which has been traditionally the boat. the rampage at the nightclub. 27th Army chief on Saturday. On the supersession of two followed. However, the gov- The assailant shot dead a po- Last year was the worst for oicers in appointing him as ernment appointed Gen. ½ WORLD | PAGE 14 liceman and a civilian at the the Army in terms of casual- the Army chief, Gen. Rawat Rawat, who was then Vice EDUCATIONPLUS club entrance and then ties with major terror attacks said it was “a decision of the Chief, citing his “tremendous 4 Pages turned his gun on partygo- and heightened tensions government” and he “accepts hands-on experience” as well METROPLUS ers. (With AFP) along the Line of Control and it with all humility.” as his “operational assign- Survivors mourn the loss of friends who died when a gunman went on the rampage at a 4 Pages ½ FULL COVERAGE | PAGE 14 the International Boundary “I respect the two super- ments” as most suitable to nightclub in Istanbul during a New Year celebrations, leaving 39 dead. — PHOTO: REUTERS with Pakistan. seded oicers. I have worked deal with “emerging It lost 63 personnel along with them shoulder to challenges.” Man dies in police station, Now bus-tracking body dumped in cover-up bid only a click away

SHUBHOMOY SIKDAR AVINASH BHAT

NEW DELHI: In a case of an at- BENGALURU: In a first for a tempted police cover-up, a government-run transport 25-year-old man first fell to corporation, the Karnataka death under mysterious cir- State Road Transport cumstances from the terrace Corporation has of the Adarsh Nagar police developed an open source station following which real-time updated data some policemen allegedly sharing platform to be dumped his body elsewhere shared with app to pass it of as an unidenti- developers and fied corpse. researchers. Six policemen, including The platform is set to MORE OPTIONS: Open data on the Station House Oicer of roll out by January-end, vehicles will be updated the police station, an Assist- oicials said. every 10 seconds. ant Sub Inspector and four Real-time updated data — FILE PHOTO: M.A.SRIRAM constables, have been has revolutionised urban booked for committing culp- commuting the world over, will be updated every 10 able homicide not amount- including India, with an seconds by the KSRTC. An ing to murder and suspen- explosion in the use of online form accepting the ded till the probe is apps that rely on such data terms of use can be filed completed. for taxi availability, for for most information, example. If the data while certain data streams Fruit seller HIGHHANDED POLICE: Family members of Sompal grieve at the availability is extended to will require the issuance of The family of the de- Adarsh Nagar police station in New Delhi on Sunday. public transport, an ID and a password. ceased, Sompal, claims he - PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA commuters will have more Now, the data can be sold fruits at the Azadpur options and KSRTC’s procured only through a wholesale market. tioned at the investigating of- and Sulender, according to initiative is a step in that lengthy process, defeating According to the police, ficers’ room and was left the FIR. The name of the As- direction. the purpose of asking for Sompal was picked up and alone for a few minutes sistant Sub Inspector, the live data. “Only static data brought to the police station which provided him an op- sixth accused, was not re- How to use were available without for questioning on Decem- portunity to rush to the ter- vealed. The complaint was Data that will be shared permission, which do not ber 28 following a PCR call race and jump. We are verify- filed by a sub-inspector of include the estimated time help app developers who about a quarrel. ing these claims,” Mr. the same police station. of departure and arrival of are looking to provide live The sequence of events Dumbere said. The complaint said this vehicles, the data from the updates to their users,” from his arrival at the police was a bid to destroy evidence KSRTC ITS-Mysuru and said Rajender Kumar station to his death is being Body dumped so that the incident is not re- the vehicle tracking and Kataria, managing probed, said Deputy Com- Followed the death, the corded as a case of custodial monitoring system, director, KSRTC. missioner of Police (North body was dumped on Shah death. A few hours after the besides data on online “Start-ups and other West) Milind Mahadeo Alam Bandh Road by In- death, a PCR call was made reservations. Users can companies can harness the Dumbere. spector Sanjay Kumar, the about an unidentified body access data on an data to devise new “The accused policemen SHO, and constables lying near the Majlis Park intermediate server, which services,” Mr. Kataria said. claim that he was being ques- Kuldeep, Surender, Indraj metro station. CM YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 CITY 3 DELHI Jan 02, Mon Jan 03, Tue Jan 04, Wed RISE 07 15 SET 17 37 RISE 07 15 SET 17 37 RISE 07 15 SET 17 38 RISE 09 57 SET 21 29 RISE 10 36 SET 22 26 RISE 11 15 SET 23 26

Gang of teens held for car-jacking STAFF REPORTER Mr. Singh said the five ac- cused were caught after in- NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police on vestigators examined CCTV Sunday claimed to have bus- footage from the routes they ted a gang involved in car- had taken while committing jacking and several cases of the crime. vehicle theft in south Delhi. Five members of the gang, Distinct dialect all in their teens, were arres- “We got another clue from ted and a juvenile in conflict the victim’s statement — that with law apprehended for the accused were speaking a their alleged involvement in dialect of Hindi spoken by three such cases, the police those from eastern Uttar said. They targeted Guru- NABBED: Four of the five arrested were involved in a recent case Pradesh or Bihar. We relied gram-bound passengers near where a cab driver was abducted. PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT on local intelligence to arrest the inter-city border, be- them. They were identified cause of which many crimes alpur before driving away in Commissioner of Police as Sagar alias Shital (19), remained unreported, said his vehicle on December 28. (south) Ishwar Singh. Kishan Kumar Singh (19), the police. “The victim, Nizam, ap- Kanhaiya alias Kana (18) and proached the Vasant Kunj Robbed of belongings Rahul Kumar Singh (19). All Making of with taxi (south) police with a com- Nizam also alleged that the four are school dropouts and Four of the five arrested plaint that his cab had been five snatched his mobile residents of Rangpuri Pahari were allegedly involved in a robbed while returning to phone and wallet containing and Mahipalpur near Vasant recent incident where an Ola Gurugram after dropping of ₨600, his driving licence, Kunj,” said Mr. Singh. cab driver was abducted a passenger in Lajpat Nagar. voter ID card and other doc- “Sagar was the first to be after he was asked for a lift. A Five persons had requested uments. They then allegedly arrested. Questioning him senior police oicer said the him to drop them till Guru- threw him out of the car in a led to the arrest of the other accused thrashed the victim gram. However, he realised jungle at Rajokari Pahari. A three. The juvenile was also and then pushed him out of on the way that they had case was registered and in- caught after their interroga- the moving vehicle at Mahip- other motives,” said Deputy vestigation started. tion,” added the oicer. SNAIL’S PACE: Heavy traffic at Rajpath as people gathered in large numbers on Sunday. PHOTO: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR Traic crawls in central Delhi Wine shop manager Man smashes beer was killed for cash bottle on his head, dies Parts of city see clogged roads as hundreds converge to usher in New Year STAFF REPORTER STAFF REPORTER Someone from the DEEKSHA TERI ideal for a New Year lunch estrians were not cooperat- along Ring Road, Outer Ring NEW DELHI: The government NEW DELHI: A 30-year-old man crowd that had outdoors,” said Sudha, who ive at all,” said Sahil Chhabra, Road, Vikas Marg, Mathura wine shop assistant manager, died after he allegedly gathered after the NEW DELHI: As hundreds from was with her family. a tourist. Road, Aurobindo Road, who was allegedly shot dead smashed a beer bottle on his incident made a video all parts of the city converged Bhishma Pitamah Marg, by a group of car-borne as- head at a New Year celebra- at India Gate and Connaught Lawns of limit Managing traic NH-24 and ITO crossing. sailants in Mehrauli last tion in south Delhi’s Hauz and circulated it Place on Sunday, parts of the The lawns surrounding In- However, the restrictions Meera, a commuter coming week, was murdered be- The police team that Khas Village on Saturday. Capital saw massive crowds dia Gate have been kept out had a bearing on the traic, towards Central Delhi from cause the accused were un- cracked the case. Victim Deepak Tondon senior police oicer. and heavy traic on the first of bounds for the public due with the C-hexagon choked Preet Vihar, said she was der the impression that he PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT worked as bouncer in Ludhi- day of 2017. to preparations for Republic due to the sheer number of stuck at one red light for carried collections from the ana and had come to the No CCTV footage Day. This left many disap- people there. The police had nearly 40 minutes in Nirman liquor shop home, said the Singh. Capital to celebrate the day The oicer added that Arriving early pointed. a tough time managing traic Vihar. police. Bhushan was attacked on with three friends. while no CCTV footage was People started arriving at “I was hoping to enjoy a at all radial roads of India Another commuter Abaan December 20 while on his recovered from the café, famous tourist spots as early picnic with my friends, but Gate and the two circles of Hazarika recalled a similar Shootout with the police way home. The CCTV foot- New Year party someone from the crowd as afternoon and seemed we were not allowed to enter Connaught Place. situation near National Mu- “The accused had waylaid age showed his car being “Deepak and his friends that had gathered after the happy to spend their day at the lawns. It is usual proced- Those who drove to seum Institute on Janpath. 42-year-old Brij Bhushan vandalised. He was taken to a had gone to Elf Cafe and Bar incident had made a video India Gate thanks to the good ure, but I wish the restric- Sarojini Nagar, Karol Bagh, “I got stuck in the traic. A near his house. They then hospital, where he suc- in Hauz Khas Village to and circulated it. weather. “My kids wanted to tions were put in place after Chandni Chowk, Sadar distance of barely 100-200 stabbed and shot him even as cumbed to injuries. A case party on New Year’s Eve. In the video, Deepak is dine out, but we decided to New Year,” said Vidya Mal- Bazaar, South Extension and metres till the main road took they kept demanding that he was registered at the When the police team got seen bleeding profusely. A come to India Gate instead of hotra from Ashok Vihar. Lajpat Nagar had to either nearly half an hour to cover. hand over the cash he was Mehrauli police station. there, Deepak had sustained policeman is seen attempt- spending money at some “I saw many traic police turn back disappointed or Thankfully, I had booked a carrying. He kept pleading an injury on the forehead. ing to seat him inside a PCR high-end restaurant. The personnel deployed near In- were stuck for hours. pool cab or my bill would with them that he did not Missing men The café staf told us that he van, but is met with cold wind and sunshine was dia Gate on Sunday. The ped- Long jams were reported have shot up,” he said. have any money,” said DCP “Though Bhushan had no had hit himself with a beer resistance. Ishwar Singh. Pankaj Sharma enemies, he may have been bottle while dancing. He Deepak’s family told the and Dharmendra Yadav, two seen handling the proceeds was taken to Safdarjung police that he occasionally of the five alleged assailants, of the wine shop by helps, Hospital, where he suc- worked as a bouncer at mar- Prosecution of Two NSG men were arrested following a delivery boys and restaurant cumbed to injuries,” said a riages in Ludhiana. AMU students protest shootout with the police in employees, who visit the motorists on New killed in accident west Delhi’s Uttam Nagar on shop daily to purchase liquor over Najeeb, lathi-charged Saturday. Delivery boy Vivek for their employers,” said Mr. Year’s Eve rises STAFF REPORTER has also been arrested. Singh. STAFF REPORTER “Vivek works at a restaur- The police found five of STAFF REPORTER GURUGRAM: Two National Se- ant and would visit the wine them missing. Investigators MEERUT: The Uttar Pradesh curity Guards (NSG) men shop daily. He estimated that matched their photographs NEW DELHI: Prosecution of mo- Police on Saturday were killed in an accident in the daily turnover was about with the suspects captured torists on New Year’s Eve allegedly lathi-charged Manesar here on Sunday. ₨7 lakh to ₨8 lakh. He had also in the CCTV footage, leading more than doubled in 2016 Aligarh Muslim According to the police, observed Bhushan carrying to Vivek. compared to last year. University (AMU) the duo were riding a motor- two bags home every night His interrogation revealed As many as 13,260 motor- students who were cycle when a container truck after work. Mistaking it for the role of the others. ists were prosecuted on protesting over the hit the two-wheeler from be- cash, he told his relative Two of the accused are December 31, 2016, com- disappearance of JNU hind at Industrial Model Pankaj about it,” said Mr. still on the run. pared to 6,486 motorists pro- student Najeeb Ahmed. As many as 150 students Township Chowk around 3 secuted on the same date in Over 150 students were were held at the protest. p.m. The two fell on the road 2015. detained. PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT and sufered serious injuries. DELHI TODAY In order to ensure a hassle- free experience on roads, the ‘Forced to take action’ police lathi-charged the Driver flees spot Music: “Vrindan” (120mins) - sculpture exhibition by various traic police made elaborate The police oicials “peacefully The traic police present Vrindan is conceptualized as a sound- artists at Open Palm Court Gallery, arrangements on various justified the lathi charge protesting”students in the at the intersection took them scape, an acoustic experience in the India Habitat Centre , 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. coming together of rare traditional Exhibition: “Barren Red” a solo art routes across the city, with saying they were forced “most brutal way”. to the Civil Hospital, where Indian instrumentsand Indian clas- show by Punnet Kaushik at Gallery special focus on areas in the to take action to prevent the duo was declared sical dance forms Artists: Ar- Espace, 16 Community Centre, New vicinity of Connaught Place the students from Head injuries brought dead. They were unangshu Chaudhury (Tabla and Friends Colony, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. Handsonic), Mani Prasad (Nakkara), Exhibition: "Penal Colony" solo and other busy areas includ- blocking traic. Rejecting Mr. Pandey’s later identified as Vinod Sujoy Chakrovarty (Srikhol), Yoshida show of Madhusudhanan at Vadehra ing Hauz Khas, Khan Market According to Aligarh SSP claim of “mild force”, Mr. Ashok Gaikwar and Su- Daikiti (Sitar), Archana Singh Art Gallery, D-53 Defence Colony,11 (Dance), Takuya Iida (Percussion) at and Saket. Rajesh Pandey, the Hassan said several darsan Naik. a.m. - 7 p.m. The Stein Auditorium, India Habitat students didn’t have students were injured and The erring truck driver Culture: Tirumala Tirupati Dev- Drunken driving the same Centre (IHC), 7 p.m. necessary permission to some of them even fled the spot leaving the Photography: “Of miles and me” - A asthanam: Thirupavai Upanyasam by As many as 2,423 traic of- carry out the protest. sustained head injuries vehicle behind. The vehicle photo travelogue solo photography Dr. K. Ananthachariar at Lakshmi ficials were present till the “We used mild force and fractures. has been impounded and ef- exhibition by Nipun Nayyar at Con- Nrisimha Mandir, Karol Bagh, 6:30 p.m. early hours to check viola- because the police had to “This was a completely forts are on to arrest the ac- vention Centre Foyer, India Habitat Centre (IHC), 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Screening: “Harvesting the Seas” tion of rules during the year- prevent the students from unjustified police action... cused. The NSG oicers Paintings: Raghuvansham School of (English/27mins/2015) document- end revelries. Of the violat- blocking the rail traic. Many students have been were informed about the ac- Modern Art presents - group show of ary film on shell trading, at Gulmohar ors, 889 motorists were pro- An FIR has been injured on the head. Some cident and the bodies have paintings at All India Fine Arts & Craft Hall, India Habitat Centre, 7 p.m. secuted for drunken driving, registered against 150 of them even complained been sent to a mortuary, the Society , 1 Rafi Marg, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Mail your listings for this column almost the same as last year’s students arrested during of fractures and are police said. Exhibition: A group painting and at [email protected]) figure of 887. Incidents of the protest,” said Mr. undergoing treatment at over-speeding witnessed a Pandey. However, the hospitals,” he said, sharp decline on Saturday, as AMU Students’ Union demanding action against only 78 motorists were pro- (AMUSU) president the police personnel secuted as opposed to 335 in Faizul Hassan said the responsible. 2015. There were 4,022 in- stances of motorists riding without a helmet, nearly six times last year’s figure of 730. As many as 789 motorists were prosecuted for driving on the wrong carriageway, as opposed to 148 motorists in 2015. As many as 414 two- wheeler riders were prosec- uted for triple riding.

New heads Joint Commissioner of Po- lice (Traic) Garima Bhat- nagar attributed the rise in numbers to inclusion of new heads. “We realised that drunken driving was not the only reason why accidents happened. All kinds of viola- tions needed to be checked,” she said. Among several restric- tions imposed in the heart of Delhi, no vehicle was al- lowed to proceed towards Connaught Place beyond certain points.

Published by N. Ram CM YK NOIDA/DELHI 4 | CITY THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017

BACK TO BASICS Nursery admissions to begin in 1,400 schools today Directorate of Education instructs schools to upload their admission criteria on the DoE portal to ensure the process is as transparent as possible

STAFF REPORTER

NEW DELHI: The admission pro- cess for entry-level classes at private unaided and recog- nised schools in the Capital is set to begin on Monday. Twenty-five per cent of seats in pre-school, pre-primary and Class I will be reserved for the Economically Weaker Sections/Disadvantaged Groups (EWS/DG).

3 days to resolve grievances Parents of prospective stu- dents now have time till January 23 to apply to over 1,400 schools across the city. However, they will get only three days — from February 16 to 18 — to resolve any queries they may have re- garding allotment of points to their ward. To ensure that the process is as transparent as possible, CLASS APART: Parents of prospective students have time till January 23 to apply to schools across the Capital. the Directorate of Education FILE PHOTO (FOR REPRESENTATION PURPOSE) (DoE) has instructed schools to upload their admission The DoE has also asked criteria on the DoE portal. schools not to charge ‘capita- 285 schools await notification Most of the 1,400 schools tion fee’, which has been have already decided to allot defined as any kind of dona- points to those who reside in tion or contribution other the vicinity or areas where than the notified fee. Any their buses ply. A notifica- school or person found con- tion is still awaited on 285 travening the provision will schools built on DDA land, be liable to be punished with which are required to fill 75 a fine that may extend up to per cent of seats with stu- 10 times the capitation fee dents who live in nearby charged. localities. Further, parents, who are not required to buy the pro- Also, schools have been of the education and whenever required, will be spectus of any school, will be The DoE has also asked to stay clear of the 51 achievements of parents. conducted in the presence of charged only ₨25 as admis- asked schools not to criteria that the government Schools have also been in- parents, who will be in- sion registration fee. did away with last year, and structed that their criteria formed in advance. The first list of selected charge ‘capitation which the Delhi High Court should be well-defined, Further, the draw-of-lots is candidates will be released fee’, which has been upheld later. equitable, non-discriminat- to be videographed, with the on February 15, while the defined as any kind ory and transparent. school retaining the footage second list will come out on No oral test or interview for three months. February 28. of donation other As per these, there will be Draw-of-lots to be taped The slips being used are to The department hopes to than the notified fee no oral test, interview or The DoE guidelines also be shown to parents before complete the process by points awarded on the basis state that draw-of-lots, they are put into a box. March 31.

LEFT GUESSING: Parents are a worried lot with the Directorate of Education asking 285 Bracing up for the admission rat race private schools running on DDA and government land to withhold the admission process for now. FILE PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY JAIDEEP DEO BHANJ Schools that have STAFF REPORTER A notification in NEW DELHI: How does a school established themselves admit students who are at as brands are getting NEW DELHI: With nursery this regard is the starting line of their aca- set for a barrage admissions underway in stuck as the file is demic careers? most schools, the pending approval Years of litigation and of applications Directorate of Education many committees and gov- (DoE) has asked 285 from the new L-G ernment notifications later, lottery ticket. Buying more private schools running guidelines were put in place tickets increases your on DDA and government notification in this regard to conduct nursery admis- chances. You can just hope land to withhold the is stuck because the file is sions in the Capital. Yet, that lady luck is on your process till the next pending approval from every year, parents are faced side,” said Darshan Gulati, academic session, when the Lieutenant Governor with a number of confusing who is looking to send his new guidelines are issued. of Delhi. Anil Baijal, the criteria and rules put forth by second son to school. These schools are new L-G, took over on the point system. Schools that have estab- required to reserve 75 per January 1. lished themselves as brands cent of seats for students Consequently, parents A tough call are now bracing themselves residing in neighbouring who live in areas where This makes it tough for for the barrage of applica- areas. schools have been built on them to take the important tions. With guidelines ban- DDA land are now stuck. decision that will play a cru- ning parent interviews, re- 25% seats for EWS This is especially true in cial role in the upbringing of servations, and oral or The DoE has also localities like Vasant Kunj their child. FIRST STEP: Parents looking to send their children to school this year have geared up by doing written tests, these schools instructed these schools certificates required, and where schools like Vasant Parents looking to send their own research and closely reading criteria for each school. FILE PHOTO (FOR REPRESENTATION PURPOSE) have their work cut-out to fill to reserve 25 per cent whether the admission Valley, DPS, Bloom their children to school this the few seats available. seats for the EWS/DG process is online or Public, Heritage and Ryan year have geared up for the idence to areas that boast have any schools that are are looking at is whether the As per a list of 51 abolished category, but has not manual. International have come admission season by doing good schools. But, since well-known. Since I am at the school ofers education till guidelines, admission cri- specified the process up on DDA land. their own research and schools have not come up start of my career, I cannot Class XII. If this is not the teria cannot be formed based required to be followed in Concern over certificates “We don’t know if we closely reading criteria for after proper planning, some aford to live in parts of Delhi case, switching schools at a on parents’ education, occu- such cases. Some of them are should wait for the each school. Often, schools areas have a higher concen- that have good schools. As a later stage becomes another pation, whether they are per- Seats under this worried as there are notification or fill up on top of their list may not be tration while new colonies result, we do not stand a exercise. manent resident of Delhi or category have been specific certificates forms in other schools. the best bet as individual cri- may not have schools that chance in schools that give not, etc. reserved for parents required for admission What if the notification teria may play spoilsport. enjoy good reputation. higher weightage to students Taking no chances Earlier, schools had come whose annual income is under the Disadvantaged has some clause that does Most private, unaided, re- from localities around For now, most parents are out with bizarre criteria like less that ₨1 lakh. Group (DG) category that not suit our application?” cognised schools in the Cap- ‘Looking for the best’ them,” said Prathiba Das, taking no chances and are non-smoker parents, veget- Parents, however, have cannot be procured at said Anant Choudhury, ital have reserved points for “I want to ensure that my who lives in north-east filling up forms in schools arianism, non-alcoholic par- been left guessing about short notice. who lives in C-1, Vasant locality. This criteria has of- child gets the best education, Delhi. that may not be on their ents, which made it to the list the documents and According to sources, a Kunj. ten seen parents shifting res- but the area I stay in does not Another criteria parents dream list. “It is like buying a of banned criteria.

Spurt in illegal sex-determination Shoe hurled at Kejriwal during public meet in Rohtak tests in UP, say Haryana govt oicials STAFF REPORTER ASHOK KUMAR As many as 74 received little support from ROHTAK: A young man local oicials. “During a raid hurled a shoe at Delhi GURUGRAM: Despite increased inter-State raids at Aligarh, we found that the Chief Minister Arvind vigil against cases of illegal have been conducted ultrasound centre was re- Kejriwal during a public sex determination in Haryana over the past gistered in the name of a doc- meeting organised by the as part of its ambitious “Beti tor, but was being run by a Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Bachao, Beti Padhao” cam- one-and-a-half-years quack. There are many such here on Sunday. The paign, launched by Prime cases in UP. Also, the licence culprit was allegedly QUITE A COMMOTION: Police Minister Narendra Modi at in Uttar Pradesh are as low as of the centre expired 10 thrashed by party take away Vikas Kumar, who Panipat two years ago, there is ₨10,000, said an oicial. months back,” said Mr. supporters before being allegedly hurled a shoe a sudden spurt in such cases Campaign project co-or- Chauhan. handed over to the police. (above) at Delhi CM Arvind in neighbouring States, espe- dinator G.L. Singhal told The Mr. Kejriwal was Kejriwal on Sunday. Haryana CM lashes out cially Uttar Pradesh. Hindu over telephone that speaking on PHOTOS: PTI, SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Haryana government oi- government oicials con- Raids have been conducted demonetisation when the cials have conducted as many ducting raids in UP faced in UP’s Saharanpur, Shamli, youth, later identified as corrupt politicians and as 74 inter-State raids over the threats and even mobs. “The Ghaziabad, Meerut, Aligarh, Vikas Kumar, a resident of industrialists to jail. Mr. past one-and-a-half-years, level of sensitisation in UP is Bijnor, Bulandshahr and Dadri district, allegedly Modi has a file. I have seen tracking leads in cases of il- not at par with Haryana. The Baghpat over the past year. threw a shoe at him. It fell it. It has the names of 648 legal sex determination and police are not aware of provi- During a public meeting in just short of the stage, but people, who have accounts female foeticide. Of these, the sions under the Pre-Concep- Baghpat in December, Chief created a commotion for a in Swiss banks. But he will maximum (37 cases) were tion and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Minister Manohar Lal Khat- few minutes. not take action against conducted in UP. Techniques Act and Medical tar had criticised the UP gov- them, because they are his Termination of Pregnancy ernment over the issue of sex- No formal case lodged The police said the man Modi did not have the man go. friends. Instead, he has Touts charge lesser in UP Act. Even senior oicers are determination cases. He said Later, the police said seemed to be mentally courage to face him and Mr. Kejriwal said made the rickshaw-pullers, The oicials conceded that not aware of their powers. Haryana government oicers that Mr. Kumar, a disturbed. No formal case had sent his ‘stooge’ to demonetisation was not a women, farmers and with increased enforcement With a spurt in such cases in had exposed many cases in graduate, was upset with has been registered against throw a shoe. fight against corruption, traders stand in queues as in Haryana, touts were now UP, we have held a couple of UP, adding that these would Mr. Kejriwal over his him yet. “I had once said that Mr. but a ₨8 lakh crore scam. if they all have black taking pregnant women to ul- workshops in the State to cre- stop only when the State gov- alleged remarks on the Modi is a coward. This “How can Mr. Modi end money.” trasound centres located out- ate awareness,” said Mr. ernment showed some “Sutlej Yamuna Link” CM attacks Modi again incident proves it...I dare corruption by banning Deputy Chief Minister side the State, with UP turn- Singhal. seriousness. canal and surgical strikes, Continuing with the him to come face-to-face,” ₨500 and ₨1,000 notes and Manish Sisodia and ing out to be a haven. While Gurugram Drugs Control Mr. Singhal said sex-de- and threw the shoe after he address after the incident, said Mr. Kejriwal, introducing ₨2,000 notes? Haryana AAP president touts in Haryana charge Oicer Amandeep Chauhan, termination and female foet- was not allowed to speak Mr. Kejriwal said that requesting the party If he wants to end Naveen Jaihind were also ₨35,000-₨30,000 for illegal who has been part of a few icide was also thriving in his mind. Prime Minister Narendra workers to let the young corruption, he should send present at the rally. sex-determination, the rates raids in UP, claimed the team Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan.

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 CITY/STATE 5

HARDSHIPS CONTINUE New notes bale visually impaired PM’s address evokes mixed They are yet to understand the features of the new notes that distinguish them from fake ones response from Delhiites DEEKSHA TERI scale businessmen, farmers, SHIV SUNNY rural households and the NEW DELHI: Prime Minister elderly. I was expecting NEW DELHI: A young Tabrez Narendra Modi’s much- Taking a jibe at this, Alam has been living with a awaited address to the na- people said the Prime Minis- Modiji to speak dented confidence ever tion on New Year’s Eve ter was favouring only cer- about the way ahead since the demonetisation an- earned mixed reviews from tain sections of society. nouncement. Visually im- Delhiites, with many saying for demonetisation paired since birth, Alam they were expecting more ‘Pre-election speech’ by acknowledging could tell the diference on demonetisation. “It sounded more like a the sufferings of the between a real and fake ₨500 “My main motive of sitting pre-election speech. The note by merely running his in front of the television for Prime Minister seems to be common fingers across one. an hour was to get some trying to impress certain cat- man. Instead, The introduction of the more news on demonetisa- egories of society. He should he tried to new notes has left him wor- tion. Instead, our Prime have concentrated on de- ried. “The new ₨500 note ap- Minister decided to be polit- monetisation,” said Shar- woo the pears to be of the same size ically correct on the issue,” man, a resident of Karol lower-middle as a ₨20 note. I can no longer said Raman Kumar, a resid- Bagh. class by announcing tell the diference merely on ent of Mira Bagh. Some others said the the basis of the size of the Prime Minister had ignored various incentives note,” Tabrez says. No acknowledgement the middle class. for them Tabrez and many others “Mr. Modi did not ac- “The government has not like him in the Capital are yet knowledge the fact that introduced a single scheme Anjli Sharma to understand the features of people are sufering because to support middle-class Vaishali resident the new notes that may dis- of demonetisation. He as- businessmen,” rued Rajan tinguish them from fake sumed that we are happy Sareen, who lives in ones. They can no longer fol- STEP FORWARD: A visually impaired woman touches a new ₨500 note for the first time at a training centre in New Delhi. with his decision,” said Gurugram. low the practice of identify- PHOTO: V. SUDERSHAN Akhilesh, a resident of “To be honest, it hardly af- ing currency notes on the Vaishali. fected me. Though Mr. Modi basis of their length, breadth only from people known to says. share of embarrassment too. to impart training to such People were also disap- said a lot of things, there was and tactile markings on the them. Problems for the visually “When I made repeated vis- people so that they are famil- pointed that no explanation nothing that afects the It is good to see top, bottom and sides. Harish Kumar, another impaired do not stop there. its, the bank staf began ask- iar with the new notes. was provided by the Prime middle class,” said Aayush that the Prime visually impaired man, says Harish recounts how he had ing me why I was spending K.C. Pande, the honorary Minister about what to ex- Nassa, a resident of Saket. Minister is giving a Trust an issue he has been accepting only to pay at least five trips to his my money so quickly. Why executive secretary of the as- pect now that the promised There were, however, “We had learnt the trick ₨100 notes or lesser. bank branch in Bhogal to be should I answer such ques- sociation, says the visually 50 days of sufering are over. some who appreciated the chance to after months of practice. able to withdraw money. tions,” he says. impaired will also be trained “All the policies that were Prime Minister’s address. people who Now we have to unlearn Problems galore “The extra visits meant ex- Tabrez, meanwhile, was in using mobile applications announced yesterday [on most of them and under- “I can be tricked into ac- tra expenditure on travel. once not allowed to jump the for making online payments. Saturday] would have been For the people are never stand the new features,” says cepting a fake note,” says Even rickshaw pullers ex- queue because he “did not Few visually impaired more appreciated if they “How long are we going to heard in this Kala, a visually impaired Harish, who works at a tract more money from us look blind”. “I had to con- people, however, have been were announced a month talk about demonetisation? society. I am very woman. candle manufacturing unit in knowing we can’t see,” he vince people that I actually taking some of these incon- ago. He should have imple- He rolled out a scheme for For now, many visually im- the city. says. could not see,” he recounts. veniences in their stride. mented these instead of de- our betterment. He does not happy with the aid paired people are using But handling a large num- The bank staf was accom- “If those with visibility monetisation. The timing is need to provide an explana- announced for either a ruler to measure the ber of notes comes with its modating towards him, but On the anvil cannot get cash, why should really bad,” said Vaishali res- tion for it. We chose him as a pregnant women notes for accuracy before ac- own woes for the visually even they could never sanc- The Blind Relief Associ- we blind people expect ident Parul Dutt Sharma. leader, and we should follow cepting them. Some are ac- impaired. “It takes me more tion him the stipulated ation, which runs training much?” says Harish, before In his speech, Mr. Modi his words,” said Ram Charan Suman Singh cepting the new notes time, more trouble to count ₨24,000. centres and a school for the walking of to pack clay announced schemes for Narang, a resident of Laxmi Patel Nagar resident without any verification, but so many notes at once,” he But Harish had to face his visually impaired, has plans candles in a basket. pregnant women, small- Nagar. CM slams Modi, says demonetisation biggest scam of India Kejriwal questions Metro-Paytm tie-up STAFF REPORTER Kejriwal demanded what was gained and lost commanded respect four objectives — reduce been ruined. “It is a matter that a white paper due to demonetisation,” internationally, but Mr. corruption, curb black of inquiry whether bribe STAFF REPORTER lowing 10 metro stations go- NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Mr. Kejriwal said at a press Modi has destroyed the money, reduce terrorism was taken for leaking prior ing “cashless” from Sunday. Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday be released on the conference held at his reputation of the PM’s and circulation of fake information about NEW DELHI: Questioning the The stations where the demanded a “white paper” gains and losses due residence in Civil Lines. oice,” he said. currency. demonetisation or was it Delhi Metro tie-up with e- measure has been rolled out and an independent to demonetisation Referring to Mr. Modi’s “It has neither managed shared for free. The BJP wallet app Paytm, Chief are Rohini East and Rohini inquiry into Prime Allegations against PM December 31 address to the to curb black money nor has been running the Minister Arvind Kejriwal on West on the Red Line; MG Minister Narendra Modi’s Later in the day, he nation, he said it was reduce terrorism or racket of exchanging notes. Sunday said he would be Road Station on the Yellow demonetisation decision. (RBI) on the amount of addressed a rally in hollow as he did not speak circulation of counterfeit All his [Modi] rich friends seek an inquiry to know if Line; Mayur Vihar Phase-I, Calling it the “scam of all money deposited and the Rohtak, Haryana, against about the gains and losses currency, as fake ₨2,000 were informed in advance the move had been a forced Nirman Vihar, Tilak Nagar, scams” even as he claimed eventual gain out of the 50 Mr. Modi and his arising out of the shock notes are available in the about it,” he said. one. Janakpuri West, and Noida that the reputation of days after demonetisation demonetisation decision. currency move. The market. It has not yielded Sector 15 on the Blue Line; Prime Minister’s Oice had was announced on Mr. Kejriwal also levelled schemes could have been any benefits and has ‘Make BJP cashless’ 10 stations go ‘cashless’ and Nehru Place and Kailash been tarnished globally November 8. allegations of corruption announced even without instead led to a spike in “Mr. Modi is talking “It’s being done forcefully, Colony on the Violet Line. under Narendra Modi, Mr. “Demonetisation is the against the Prime Minister. enforcing any such corruption,” Mr. Kejriwal about a cashless economy. maybe as directed by the However, when similar Kejriwal said Mr. Modi’s biggest scam of India, and “The PM has become a measure, he said. claimed. But first he should make Prime Minister’s Oice. I questions were raised re- speech on Saturday was a is entirely guided by subject of ridicule Questioning Mr. Modi’s the BJP cashless. There’s a will speak to the authorities garding Paytm, the DMRC sham. politics and corruption. internationally. Big ‘No check on corruption’ moral responsibility over list of 648 people who have [the Delhi Metro] and ask for had on December 24 clari- The Chief Minister has We demand that an economists of the world Mocking Mr. Modi and the death of around 100 Swiss bank accounts. He the files. How can they force fied that more e-wallets sought answers from the independent inquiry be are talking ill about the his decision, Mr. Kejriwal people while standing in should have announced a decision like this? They are would soon be roped in and Prime Minister and the conducted and a white whole exercise. said the Prime Minister queues outside banks, he that these people will be promoting Paytm through the contract was awarded to Reserve Bank of India paper be released on the Manmohan Singh had said it would achieve said people’s lives had arrested,” he said. this,” Mr. Kejriwal said. Paytm through an open The statement came fol- tender process.

CORRIDORS OF POWER Baijal breaks from past, makes debut on Twitter

Lieutenant-Governor STAFF REPORTER being re-tweeted 131 times. who didn’t have a Twitter Minister Sandeep Kumar in Mr. Baijal started following Najeeb Jung while Confirming that the L-G account. August. President Pranab Mukher- extending New Year NEW DELHI : Making his first of- had joined Twitter, an oicial The L-G will join the likes jee, Prime Minister Naren- greetings to the members ficial move a day after taking said, “The Twitter handle of of Chief Minister Arvind Looking forward dra Modi and the Prime Min- of the audience. oath as the Lieutenant-Gov- the new L-G— @LtGov- Kejriwal, who is quite active Oicials in both Raj Niwas ister’s Oice. The year gone by, Mr. ernor of Delhi, Anil Baijal Delhi — will be used for pro- on the website. and the Delhi government By 9 p.m. on Sunday, he Goel said, had “ended joined micro-blogging site ductive engagement with the Mr. Kejriwal often uses the are already anticipating in- had 1,089 followers, includ- well despite proceeding Twitter. In his first tweet, he media and citizens.” platform for political teresting Twitter exchanges, ing Deputy Chief Minister through many diicult wished the people of Delhi purposes. given the troubled relation- Manish Sisodia, Health Min- situations”. on New Year. Fake accounts created Just last week, he was in- ship between the two power ister Satyendar Jain and A scheduled lunch for the “My dear fellow citizens of He, however, warned that volved a bitter exchange houses in the past. Delhi Commission for Wo- press at the Delhi Delhi , wish you a very happy more than four “fake” and with Punjab Congress pres- Mr. Jung’s tenure was men chief Swati Maliwal. All Centre of Assembly after breakfast and peaceful 2017 with “parody” accounts going by ident Amarinder Singh. marred by spats with the of them have had run-ins Fading rivalry attraction at Raj Niwas post career Almighty’s blessings for the name of Anil Baijal had Mr. Kejriwal and his Cab- Kejriwal government on a with Mr. Jung. bureaucrat Anil Baijal’s good health, happiness & been created. Mr. Baijal’s de- inet colleagues use the site to myriad of issues, including Meanwhile, AAP workers If politics can drive a The innocuous muler, swearing in, the Speaker prosperity [sic],” the tweet cision to join Twitter is a announce government de- the administrative control of were seen asking people on wedge between friends, which is seemingly joked, had “happened by said. break from the practice of his cisions too, including the the bureaucracy. Twitter to ‘follow’ the new Twitter can bring them among Chief Minister chance and hadn't been It became a hit by evening, predecessor, Najeeb Jung, sacking of Social Welfare Soon after joining Twitter, L-G. together. In the last one Arvind Kejriwal’s planned”. month, the rivalry preferred articles of ■■■ between Arvind Kejriwal clothing, was considered Off the track and his bête noire as a theme for the annual DCW to the aid of acid attack victim Former faculty expresses Prashant Bhushan seems Delhi Legislative While occasional turf to be fading. First, on Assembly wall calendar, wars between field units ASHOK KUMAR Ms. Shaheen told The Hospital and later sent to December 9, the Delhi he was told at an event of the Delhi Police and Hindu over telephone that Safdarjung Hospital for shock over JNU meeting CM re-tweeted Mr. held here to mark its the specialised Crime GURUGRAM: In a ray of hope for the boy’s father had ap- treatment. Aditya’s father is a Bhushan’s tweet on launch on Saturday. Branch and the race to two-and-a-half-year-old proached her for help on mason and mother a STAFF REPORTER threatening disciplinary ac- Supreme Court’s inquiry A decision to go with the edge past each other in Aditya, found dumped in December 27 saying that housewife. tion saying they had violated into the appointment of theme step wells under solving cases are not garbage with serious acid Aditya had developed high NEW DELHI: Former faculty rules by talking to students in Gujarat-cadre IPS oicer the heritage category, something unheard of, burns at Rajiv Chowk here fever and infection. Accused arrested members of Jawaharlal an open meeting. Rakesh Asthana as the however, was taken some oicers from the nearly two weeks ago, he has “We tried to admit him to a Accused Govind was ar- Nehru University (JNU), in a CBI acting director. instead after a raid at his districts have been now been admitted to Sir prominent private hospital rested by the Gurugram Po- statement on Sunday, ex- ‘Irreparable damage’ Then both tweeted the oices in the Delhi complaining that of late Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi in Gurugram citing court or- lice a few days after Aditya pressed shock and dismay at “We see no reason why the same illustration mocking Secretariat in 2015 “threw the Crime Branch has following the intervention of ders in case of acid burns. He was found. Govind pur- the way in which the Aca- administration should be al- Prime Minister’s up only four of them [the tried to venture into the Delhi Commission for was discharged two days portedly told the police that demic Council (AC) meeting lowed to direct university af- demonetisation decision. mulers]”, a senior Delhi incidents which were Women (DCW). later by the hospital,which the boy’s mother had got into was conducted on December fairs in total disregard of stu- The latest one from Mr. Assembly oicial further relatively low-profile and said he had thermal burns an altercation with his sister 23 and 26. dents and teachers who are Kejriwal was on Saturday. apprised a smiling Mr. were not exactly Treatment refused and not acid burns. Since he six months ago and that he As per the statement, the the lifeblood of the institu- Mr. Bhushan, who was Kejriwal even as the said organised in nature. “Aditya was under treat- was in need of immediate abducted the boy and former faculty members tion. To do so will inflict irre- expelled from AAP in oicial’s initial statement Recently, on the sidelines ment at Safdarjung Hospital, care, we contacted Ms. Mali- burned him with acid to were informed that an AC parable damage to intellec- March last year, had continued to trigger of a press conference, a but was in need of better wal,” said Ms. Shaheen, avenge his sister’s insult. meeting was held in unpre- tual life in JNU, set up tweeted, “30 yrs ago BJP sporadic bouts of laughter senior police oicer from care. We tried to admit him adding that Aditya had Both families stayed in the cedented fashion in the midst dangerous precedents for wanted inquiry in Bofors from the audience. a district was heard to a private hospital in Guru- sufered injuries on the left same locality when the alter- of winter vacation. They other universities, and payof charge. 5 Yrs ago,It Though government complaining that while gram, but the hospital re- eye and ear, and that it might cation took place. However, were also saddened to know trample on fundamental aca- sought 2g/Coalgate sources chose to remain Crime Branch oicers had fused to take him. We then take him several months to Aditya’s family shifted to that some students were sus- demic values and intellectual inquiry. Now stalls tight-lipped on whether not been able to make contacted DCW chairperson heal. The two-year-old was Shanti Nagar. pended without enquiry, in freedom, without which Sahara/Birla INV. That’s or not the muler was much headway in cases Swati Maliwal. He was fi- abducted from outside his “Since Aditya knew marked contrast to the casual democracy cannot survive,” the dif! [sic]” actually considered as a where their expertise was nally admitted to Sir Ganga house at Shanti Nagar in Govind, he went with him and cavalier approach to- said the statement, signed by Mr. Kejriwal, however, theme, next in line to needed, they were busy Ram Hospital on December Gurugram on December 13. without protest. The morn- wards other students guilty 15 former teachers, incuding chose to forget his rivalry elicit laughter from the competing with district 29. He has shown a lot of im- He was found abandoned ing after the abduction, of physical violence against a Tanika Sarkar, Romila with Mr. Bhushan and audience was Speaker oicers in solving other provement over the past few close to his house the next Govind took the boy to Rajiv student who has been miss- Thapar, Sabyasachi Bhat- took a dig at Prime Ram Niwas Goel himself, cases. days. We hope he recovers morning. Initially, the police Chowk and poured acid on ing for over two months. tacharya, K.N. Panikkar, Har- Minister Narendra Modi who took a subtle jibe at (Contributed by Maria soon,” said Shaheen, the Hu- suspected that the boy had him. He abandoned the boy, They also brought to light bans Mukhia, Amit Bhaduri, based on the tweet. the government’s Akram, Jatin Anand and man Rights Law Network’s been beaten up and had sus- presuming he was dead,” that distinguished members Utsa Patnaik, Zoya Hasan, ■■■ association with outgoing Shubhomoy Sikdar) national co-ordinator for tained some burn injuries. said Assistant Sub-Inspector of the faculty had received Kalpana Khosla, Abhijit Sen acid attack cases. He was taken to the Civil Rupesh. humiliating warning letters and Prabhat Patnaik.

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 NORTHERN REGION 7 Health cards to be Seeking divine blessing issued in Haryana: Vij Tertiary care cancer centre in Ambala soon

CHANDIGARH: Haryana will that digital records were be- soon become the first state to ing prepared for patients un- issue health cards to all its 2.5 dergoing treatment in all crore citizens to facilitate government hospitals in the them in getting treatment state. without repeated check- ups, “This will enable doctors State Health Minister Anil to easily access the patient’s Vij said on Sunday. entire medical history on- “Tenders have been allot- line,” he said. ted to private agencies to prepare the health cards,” Road mishaps Mr. Vij said in an oicial Anil Vij With a view to minimise statement here. the number of casualties due He said that these health ment, he said later in to road mishaps, the State cards would facilitate the Ambala. Government launched the people in getting treatment “This centre, which costs ‘Atal Jeevan Rakshak Yojana’, for their ailments without re- Rs 45 crore, will provide ad- under which 40 ambulances, peated check-ups. vanced treatment facilities to equipped with all necessary The Minister said that 19 the people from all over facilities, would be deployed Community Health Centres north India,” Mr. Vij, who on the highways here, he (CHCs) and 72 Primary was addressing the gathering said. These ambulances Health Centres (PHCs) were after inaugurating the OPD would be deployed in such a being constructed in the block of new building of manner that they would be State. Civil Hospital in Ambala able to reach the nearest gov- Meanwhile, the Haryana Cantt, said. ernment or private trauma government would soon set centre within half an hour. up a tertiary care cancer Digital medical record As many as 14 such ambu- centre in Civil Hospital, Am- The Minister, who got his lances have so far been pur- bala Cantt with the assist- digital medical record cre- chased and 26 would soon be ance of the central govern- ated on the occasion, said purchased, he added. PTI Devotees seeking divine blessing thronged the Golden Temple on the occasion of New Year in Amritsar on Sunday morning. PHOTO: PTI Panel to use mobile apps to Amarinder urges Modi Clash over ATM in Muzafarnagar STAFF REPORTER an ATM in Bokaheri village track Punjab polls under Bhopa police station. to waive farm loans MEERUT: Fifty days after the The fight started when two SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT and order, streamlining the across the State. SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT submitted over one crore and ill-executed” demonet- Narendra Modi government persons from the two groups functioning of polling of- A database was prepared. rolled out demonetisation entered the State Bank of In- CHANDIGARH: forms from farmers of Pun- isation. “First, the Badal The Election ficers and monitoring crim- It included a list of pro- CHANDIGARH: Punjab Pradesh jab and U.P. “Instead of government’s policies about half a dozen people dia ATM and wanted to be Commission (EC) will intro- inals. claimed ofenders, the num- Congress Committee pres- making it easier for them to pushed the farmers to bank- were injured in a Muzaf- the first one to withdraw duce a mobile app-based sys- “These apps have import- ber of pending warrants and ident Capt. Amarinder borrow from banks, Mr. ruptcy, with procurement farnagar village during a money. According to the tem to monitor the law-and- ant features that would en- arms licences, police per- Singh on Sunday urged Modi should have an- delays and failure to make fight which started over en- Circle Oicer Akhil Ahmad order situation during the able poll oicials to feed real- sonnle deployment and Prime Minister Narendra nounced a loan waiver for timely payment of min- tering into an ATM and with- fire arms were used in the Punjab Assembly elections. time information and data on sensitive areas. Modi to waive farm loans. the farmers who have been imum support prices. Now, drawing money. fight in which at least half a Numerous mobile applica- polling. Even the complaints The application will be “Symbolic sops an- reeling under huge debts demonetisation has aggrav- The fight broke out dozen people were injured tions, based on the Android received by the EC would be visible only to the EC and of- nounced by Mr. Modi for that force them to commit ated their problems...,” he between two groups outside during the fight. platform, have been de- dealt with online.” ficials designated by it. An farmers in his New Year Eve suicide.” said. Farmers had no money veloped for this purpose, Mr. Saxena said poll oi- oicer from the control room address are not enough to Capt. Singh said that once to pay farm workers, while Deputy Election Commis- cials were trained in the in Delhi can access any in- rescue farmers from the voted to power in Punjab, the traders had no money to sioner Sandeep Saxena said technology to be used ex- formation for any police sta- crisis caused by demonet- the Congress would settle pay farmers. Hence, the at a meeting of oicials and tensively during the elec- tion in Punjab. Based on the isation,” he said in a state- the debts of farmers who farmers “are forced to bor- information technology ex- tions. At the meeting, senior data gathered through the ment. Mr. Modi did not an- were selling their produce row at a high interest rate perts here. police oicers said mapping application, mapping and nounce a debt waiver at rock-bottom prices be- from commission agents,” He said these apps were of areas under police stations listing of sensitive polling though the Congress had cause of the “ill-conceived he said. meant for maintaining law had already been done stations would be done.

PM’s measures Labourers worst afected: PUCL Bird flu scare SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT sharper fall in wages and economist and advisor to the ‘transformational’, overall incomes due to sev- Supreme Court's Commis- says Chouhan JAIPUR: Demonetisation has eral associated processes. sioner in the right to food in Rourkela left a deep impact on the case and Komal Srivastava of lives of labourers in the un- Average daily wage rate Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh STAFF REPORTER Rapid response organised sector in Jaipur Post-demonetization, av- coordinated the study. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh not merely in terms of work erage daily wage rate in the About 54 per cent of la- Chouhan on Sunday de- BHUBANESWAR: Massive surveil- teams undertaking and incomes but has also Rajasthan Capital has fallen bourers reported that their scribed Prime Minister Nar- lance and disinfection drives surveillance resulted in a colossal collat- in the range of 50 to 70 per family and other relations eral damage to several other cent, said PUCL general sec- had been impacted due to endra Modi’s announce- were undertaken in Rourkela and disinfection ments in his speech on after samples drawn from spheres of their day-to-day retary Kavita Srivastava on loss of job and incomes. Saturday as “transforma- dead birds tested positive drives existence. Labourers have the basis of response of la- “There have been regular tional” for the poor, farmers, with H5N1virus. overwhelmingly rejected bourers who seek work fights, arguments and even small traders, pregnant wo- The National Institute of alert zone. The Fisheries and demonetisation because of everyday at 20 “chowktis” – physical assaults within the men and senior citizens. High Security Animal Dis- Animal Resource Develop- its devastating impact. labour markets where wage- families due to money prob- “PM has shown sensitivity eases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, of ment Department has also The People's Union for work seekers assemble in lem. One person even repor- and progressive approach by the Indian Council Agricul- sent a technical team to over- Civil Liberties (PUCL), re- the morning – in the city. ted that his wife has deserted giving relief to these categor- tural Research confirmed see the surveillance leasing the findings of a sur- Over 730 casual labourers at him,” said Ms. Srivastava. ies (of people). State govern- samples sent from Indira programme. vey conducted among la- the “chowktis” were inter- ment, in cooperation with Gandhi Park and CISF “We have already closed IG bourers here on Friday, said viewed by 64 law students other states, will fulfil PM’s Colony in Rourkela of bird Park for general publi . As per the demand for labour had from 13 diferent law col- resolution to rebuild India,” flu. guidelines, surveillance and come down from three-fifth leges and universities for Mr. Chouhan said in a In Indira Gandhi Park Zoo, disinfection programmes to almost one-third of labour four days, between Decem- statement. Rourkela, three pelicans, two have been taken up. There is, availability. This sharp de- ber 20 and 23, as part of the Homeless families will be- rosy pelicans and white ibis however, no report of any in- cline in demand has led to survey. Ashok Khandelwal, nefit by interest subvention have died in the last few days. fection among poultry and on loans for construction of As soon as the park authorit- domestic birds. People house under the Pradhan ies received confirmation should not get panicked,” said Mantri Awas Yojna, Mr. from NIHSAD, the park was Sundargarh Collector Bhu- Chouhan said. shut down for general public. pendra Singh Poonia. “The decision to waive 60 The zoo’s aviary was lime- Crow carcasses were also days interest amount on loan washed after the water-body found in Keonjhar district taken by the farmers for was dried up. Similarly, car- which raised fear of bird flu kharif and rabi crops is in the casses of crows were noticed infection. wider interest of farmers,” he near the CISF Colony in The district administration added. Rourkela. has already sent samples for Increase in credit guaran- The district administration confirmation of avian influ- tee for small traders from Rs has identified the infected enza. one crore to Rs two crore zone and alert zone in the The first bird flu infection will expand micro and small city. Four response teams was reported at Keranga vil- industry sector, the Chief (RRTs) have been formed to lage in Khordha district. The Minister said. take efective action to pre- government had culled 845 “Similarly, financial assist- vent and control the avian in- poultry birds and buried 151 ance of Rs 6,000 for pregnant fluenza at its source. They are eggs to contain bird flu women will boost their self- checking bird mortality in the spread. confidence. The announce- ment of 8 per cent interest rate on bank deposits of senior citizens is progress- ive,” Mr. Chouhan said. PTI

47 injured in accidents

JAIPUR: At least 47 people were injured in road accidents due to drunk driving on New Year’s eve, authorities of the state-run SMS Hospital said on Sunday. Between December 31, 8 p.m., and January 1, 8 a.m., 47 people were injured in road accidents due to drunk driv- ing, they said, adding there were also seven cases of as- sault. Meanwhile, as many as 56 motorists were booked for drunk driving, the police said.-PTI “ CM YK NOIDA/DELHI 8 | SOUTH THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017

Chandy seeks CMs’ A splash of light Appam production meet on demonetisation halted at Sabarimala RADHAKRISHNAN KUTTOOR

‘Each region needs separate strategies to overcome crisis’ PATHANAMTHITTA: Production of ‘appam’ at Sabarimala has SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT He wanted Mr. Modi to been disrupted with the take the CMs into confid- Travancore Devaswom KOTTAYAM: Former Kerala ence to tackle the crisis. Board (TDB) failing to com- Chief Minister Oommen “This is a federal State and ply with the directive of the Chandy, who raised ques- the Prime Minister has to Kerala High Court to ensure tions about the re-emer- deal with the situation in a the quality of the prasadam. gence of the blacklisted U.K.- democratic way,” Mr. In its order dated Novem- based currency printing Chandy said. ber, 23, 2015, the Division Appam production at company De La Rue coincid- Bench of the High Court, Sabarimala before it was ing with the demonetisation ‘Serious questions’ comprising Justice Thot- stopped on Sunday. drive, followed it up by de- Mr. Chandy also wanted a tathil B. Radhakrishnan and — PHOTO: LEJU KAMAL manding a Chief Ministers’ Oommen Chandy response from the Central Anu Sivaraman, had categor- conference to take stock of authorities on the issues he ically stated that the articles court order in 2015. the situation. people’s patience, but did not had raised regarding the re- brought by pilgrims in the The violation of the court He told mediapersons mention about the 115 per- emergence of De La Rue. Re- ‘irumudikkettu’ (sacred order came to the notice of here on Sunday that the sons who had died on ac- acting to a question, he said bundle) should not be reused the Duty Magistrate and the much-awaited address to the count of the misery. He did he had informed the Central or recycled. Food Safety oicials during nation by Prime Minister not say when the misery leadership of the party about The court order said: “The an inspection of the ‘appam’ Narendra Modi after com- would end. It only shows that the issue. “I had done nearly contents of the ‘irumudi’ are plant at the Sabarimala San- pletion of the 50-day limit he the situation has gone out of 10 days of homework on this. always held to be holy. The nidhanam on Sunday. had fixed to set right the dis- the Prime Minister’s control. There is nothing new in what need to preserve their sanc- They have taken up the ruption caused by demonet- Diferent regions are facing I have raised,” he said. tity cannot be permitted to matter with the Special isation was a total disap- diferent crises on account of But the Report of the Pub- be eroded.” Commissioner appointed by pointment to the people as demonetisation and they lic Undertakings Committee the High Court M. Manoj, there was no mention about need separate sets of of Parliament, the company’s Reuse of rice and directed the Sabarimala demonetisation, its rate of strategies to overcome this. annual report, media reports The TDB has been reusing Executive Oicer to strictly success in achieving its ori- For example, in Kerala, it is and the interview given by the rice brought by pilgrims comply with the Court order ginal goals or the steps being the cooperative sector which the company oicial, when in the ‘irumudikkettu’ for of 2015 and stop using the taken to alleviate the misery needs assistance. In other read together, give rise to NEW YEAR FANFARE: A colourful fireworks display lights up the sky above the Mysuru making ‘appam’ for the past rice brought in the ‘irumudis’ of the people. States, it would be diferent,” serious questions, Mr. Palace, ringing in the New Year. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM many years and this practice for ‘appam’ production with “The PM talked about he said. Chandy added. continued even after the immediate efect.

Even after PMO’s response, she awaits repair of road Vizag doctor, 2 others booked The 8th standard Mangaluru student missed classes, thanks to bumpy roads from her village to school for money exchange racket RAGHAVA M. have been turning up late to given assurances of school owing to the bumpy improvement but no action SUMIT BHATTACHARJEE He was trying to The surgeon has a flour- MANGALURU: Three months road. On many occasions, had been taken. exchange ₨ 46 lakh ishing hospital and the new after a reply from the Prime we missed the first period,” The Prime Minister’s VISAKHAPATNAM: Orthopaedic notes belong to the patients. Minister to her letter said Shravya, a student of Oice forwarded Shravya’s surgeon Anne Sireesh and in old notes for a For exchanging ₨ 1 lakh in seeking repair of a road in St. Victor’s Girls Secondary letter to the Karnataka two others were caught by commission of new currency he will take ₨ her village, 8th standard School in Puttur. Chief Secretary, who in the City Task Force (CTF) 1.3 lakh in old currency and student Shravya C.S. saw It takes nearly an hour by turn sent it to Dakshina while allegedly trying to ex- about 30 per cent then deposit them in bank action only a few days ago bus from her village to the Kannada Deputy change new notes for old accounts as the window is with oicials visiting to school, which is 8 km away. Commissioner K.G. ones to the tune of ₨ 46 lakh abu, the surgeon was trying open till March 31 (if done ascertain the condition of It takes the bus 30 minutes Jagadeesha. here on Sunday morning. to exchange ₨ 46 lakh in old through the RBI). the road. to cover the 5-km bumpy Shravya’s father Suvarna The other two were identi- notes for a commission of In the process, he would “It’s a positive sign. I stretch. R.B., a cashier in an fied as M. Surya Prasad about 30 per cent. Dr. Sireesh gain ₨ 30,000 per lakh, it was hope work will be taken up Agriculture Cooperative Reddy and B. Srinivasa Rao, had earlier exchanged about stated. soon and our misery will Shravya C.S. (inset) had written to the PM in September Decades-old problem Credit Bank, said a few said to be close associates of ₨ 40 lakh in old currency for Dr. Sireesh and his associ- end,” she said. seeking repair of the road between Devasya and Chelyadka Writing in Hindi, engineers from the zilla the surgeon. new notes after the denom- ates had been booked under village. — PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT Shravya said that the panchayat visited the place Based on reliable informa- ination was announced. possession of suspicious Frequent breakdowns condition of the road had some days ago. tion, the CTF team led by The ACP said many cash and handed over to the The frequent breakdown villages of the road resident of Olamogaru remained the same for “We have fought a lot for ACP I. Chittibabu, raided an people with black money Fourth Town Police station of private buses on the connecting Puttur town village near Puttur, to write several decades. this road to be repaired. I apartment on the Shankar- were desperate to exchange for investigation. 5-km-long stretch between and Perla, Kerala, to the Prime Minister. Oicials and public hope at least now the mattam Road and apprehen- old notes and they were The Income Tax oicials Devasya and Chelyadka prompted Shravya, a “My schoolmates and I representatives had only condition changes,” he said. ded the trio. ready to pay 25 to 30 per cent had been alerted, said the According to Mr. Chittib- as commission. ACP. NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 NATION 9 Anti-Jaitapur protest on Jan. 25

Cold wave sweeps North India ALOK DESHPANDE plant built using similar consistently opposing the technology, which is func- project for more than eight Mild snowfall in high-altitude areas of Himachal; road and rail traffic hit in Punjab, Haryana MUMBAI: Following news re- tional and produces years now. Though we stayed ports of the Government of electricity. away from politics, this year NEW DELHI: Cold weather con- tions in the State’s Ladakh re- many places in Punjab and India asking French and Despite the environ- we will try to mount pres- tinued to grip parts of North gion where the mercury Haryana where the min- American companies, which mental clearance to the pro- sure on political parties as India on Sunday and a went up by several degrees. imum temperature contin- propose to build atomic ject six years ago and com- zilla parishad and panchayat blanket of fog enveloped sev- The night temperature in ued to hover a few notches plants in the country, to fur- pletion of land acquisition samiti polls are slated in Feb- eral areas of the region af- Leh settled at a low of minus above normal. nish details of functional re- process, no plant was set up ruary,” he added. fecting road and rail traic. 7 degrees Celsius, an oicial Chandigarh, the common actors designed by them, the in Jaitapur as the Nuclear Delhiites experienced a of the Meteorological De- capital of the two States, re- anti-Jaitapur nuclear power Power Corporation of India Oil refinery planned cold yet pleasant New Year partment here said. He said corded a further increase in plant group has announced a Limited (NPCIL) and the Apart from the nuclear as the day began with a Srinagar recorded minus 4.3 its minimum since Saturday one-day protest on January French company are yet to power project, the govern- sunny morning and got degrees Celsius. to settle at 9.2 degrees 25. sign certain techno-com- ment has begun surveying chilly by the evening with In Himachal Pradesh, mild Celsius, the MeT Depart- French company EDF pro- merical agreements. for land to set up an oil re- the minimum temperature snowfall greeted high-alti- ment report said here. poses to build six European “If the DAE wants to in- finery in the adjacent area. settling at 9.2 degrees tude tribal areas, mountain In Haryana, Ambala recor- Pressurised Reactors (EPR) spect functional EPR, they “Why do projects which lead Celsius. passes and key tourist re- ded a low of 10.1 degrees of 1,600 MWe each in should have placed this de- to pollution come to According to a MeT de- sorts of Kufri, Fagu and Celsius. Karnal recorded a Jaitapur. The project was mand before giving environ- Konkan? Power projects, re- partment oicial, the max- Narkanda, even as a “white TOURISTS’ DELIGHT: People walk on a snow-covered road at Kufri minimum of 8.5 degrees earlier with another French mental clearance. This only fineries, mines are set to des- imum temperature settled at new year” eluded Shimla, the near Shimla on Sunday. — PHOTO: PTI Celsius. Amritsar in Punjab company Areva in which the proves how badly the whole troy the natural wealth of 21 degrees Celsius. queen of hills. recorded a further increase EDF has now taken 51% share project was designed,” said this area,” he said. Humidity level was recor- The high altitude tribal Intense cold conditions dropped by 1.5 degree to stay in its minimum temperature in the reactor business. Satyajit Chavan, president, Despite several claims, the ded at 100 per cent, the areas of Lahaul and Spiti, gripped most parts of the at 14.1 degrees Celsius. since Saturday to settle at 8.8 Recent news reports say Jan Hakk Seva Samiti, an um- French company is yet to set weatherman said. Kinnaur, Pangi and State and strong velocity icy Keylong and Kalpa in tri- degrees Celsius. Cold condi- that Department of Atomic brella organisation of groups up a functional power plant Kashmir continued to wit- Bharmaur and Rohtang, winds lashed Shimla and bal Lahaul and Spiti recor- tions continued to prevail in Energy (DAE) oicials have fighting against the project. with EPR. Two sites, in Flam- ness dry weather and sub- Kunzam, Saach and Chansel surrounding areas and min- ded minimum temperatures Rajasthan while dense fog sought to know how the Mr. Chavan said the gov- ville in England and Taishan zero night temperature, even passes received mild snow- imum temperature dropped at minus 4.1 degrees Celsius, engulfed most of the places technology works. The In- ernment’s stand showed it in China, are under construc- as there was some respite fall, causing sharp fall in day to 4.6 degrees Celsius while and minus 1.4 degree Celsius. in the region afecting rail dian government wants to intended to go ahead with tion and may be used as a ref- from the cold wave condi- temperatures. the maximum temperature Fog reduced visibility at and road traic. — PTI see the reference nuclear the project. “We have been erence project by the Centre. A new day Long wait for kin of missing workers

SHIV SAHAY SINGH

GODDA (JHARKHAND): It has been an endless wait for relatives and family members of vic- tims whose bodies are still trapped under the rubble as Rajmahal open cast mine collapsed on Thursday. Three days after the res- cue operation, there is no trace of Gagan Singh, a su- pervisor, who was working in the evening shift when the hill of overburden in the mine came crumbling down. On Sunday, Ranjit Kumar Singh, Gagan’ s brother-in- law, said: “So far, we have checked 14 of the 18 bodies recovered. We still don’t ANXIOUS LOT: Relatives watch the search operation at the Rajmahal mine in Godda district know how long we have to of Jharkhand on Sunday. — PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT wait.” Angad, Gagan’s uncle, wondered what will happen if the body is not found at all. Death toll mounts to 18 “Kuch nishani to wapas le jana hoga. [We will have to SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Twenty-three people ascertain the cause of the take something back],” Mr. went missing after the accident. Angad said. “We have come GODDA (JHARKHAND): Two accident on December 29, Experts of the Central all the way from Madhya Pra- more bodies were Sub-Divisional Oicer Mine Planning and desh. After hearing the news recovered from the debris Sanjay Kumar told The Disaster Institute on Thursday night we hired a of the Rajmahal Open Cast Hindu. Seventeen vehicles (CMPDI), Ranchi, have OLD WAYS, NEW BEGINNING: A bee sets about its old task of collecting nectar on the first day of the New Year. - PHOTO: ASHOKE Mine here on Sunday also got buried when the installed a magnetometer CHAKRABARTY car which has charged us Rs. 5,000 a day with additional taking the death toll in the waste dump of the mine to ascertain the magnetic fuel cost,” Mr. Angad said. mining accident to 18. came crashing down. field of the debris and “We had fixed Gagan’s The local administration Director-General of locate the huge metallic marriage in February and and authorities of the Mines, Safety, Rahul Guha, objects buried in the Petrol, diesel and LPG to cost more were making necessary ar- Eastern Coalfield Limited who visited the site of dump. Excavation with the rangements. He was only son revised the number of accident, said technical help of magnetometers NEW DELHI: Petrol price was crease in petrol price in one dollar exchange rate warrant 3.7 per cent cut in rates last and earning member in the people still buried in the experts were making a “may help to extricate the hiked by ₨ 1.29 a litre and the month and the second in increase in selling price of month. family. After him I don’t rubble to six. thorough investigation to bodies,” an oicial said. diesel rate by 97 paise a litre case of diesel in one petrol and diesel, the impact With an increase of ₨2 per know how the family will on Sunday. fortnight. of which is being passed on 14.2-kilogram cylinder, sub- survive,” Mr. Ranjit Kumar Also, aviation turbine fuel After Sunday’s hike, petrol to the consumers,” IOC said sidised LPG will now cost said. brother Parvez Alam, 32, family member asked Mr. body of his grandson, San- (ATF) price was hiked by a in Delhi will now cost ₨ 70.60 in a statement. ₨434.71 a bottle against There are others like Mr. who was a driver at the mine. Guha to ensure that the res- geet Viswakarma, 23, during steep 8.6 per cent and sub- a litre as compared to ₨ 68.94 ₨432.71 previously. This is the Ranjit Kumar who are wait- “The mining company has cue operation was not dis- the day. sidised LPG rate raised by ₨2 currently. Similarly, a litre of Steep hike in jet fuel price 8th increase in prices since ing for their missing family not even contacted us. They continued till the last miss- “He got married two years per cylinder. diesel will cost ₨ 57.82, up ATF or jet fuel price was July when the government members. are not even telling us ing person was found. ago and has a 18-month-old The increase in petrol and from ₨ 56.68. hiked by ₨4,161 per kilolitre decided to go in for small Anwar Hussain from whether Alam was in the Those who are able to loc- child. You can understand diesel rates is excluding State “The current level of inter- (kl), or 8.6 per cent, to hikes of up to ₨2 a bottle Ramgarh in Jharkhand has shift or not,” Anwar told Dir- ate the bodies were swept by what pain it is for a grand- levies and the actual hike will national product prices of ₨52,540.63 a kilolitre in Delhi. every month to cut down its been putting up arduous wait ector-General of Mine Safety overpowering grief. Ram father to take back his grand- be higher. This is the third in- petrol and diesel and Rupee- The latest hike comes after a subsidy outgo. —PTI for news about his cousin Rahul Guha. The aggrieved Siya Viswakarma got the son’s body,” Ram Siya said. Uttarakhand Family demands martyr CM to stage status to dead jawan protest in Delhi STAFF REPORTER gets over quickly. This agile STAFF REPORTER action should be shown for MUMBAI: A day after a my husband as well,” said DEHRADUN: Ahead of Assembly Mumbai Fire Brigade jawan Bharti Bhojne, wife of de- polls, Uttarakhand Chief died of burn injuries sus- ceased jawan. Minister Harish Rawat will tained while rescuing a bird, The stand of between the observe a fast in New Delhi his family members refused family members and the civic on January 5 against the to accept the body until they administration continued till “anti-Uttarakhand de- receive a letter recommend- 3 pm in the afternoon, after cisions” being taken by the ing for him a ‘martyr’ status. which the relatives relented Narendra Modi government. On December 10, three fire and accepted it to avoid any The decision was brigade jawans, Rajendra disrespect to the dead body. triggered by the Centre’s re- Bhojne, Sanjay Kalbhere and Meanwhile, the Chief Fire jection of a zonal master plan Dinesh Sabankar, had Oicer slammed the Union proposed by the Rawat gov- sufered major burn injuries for provoking the family ernment to develop a 100-km while rescuing a bird trapped members of the dead jawan. stretch of River Bhagirathi in an electric wire near Ma- “When I reached there, I told into an eco-sensitive zone. halaxmi Racecourse. They them that giving such written Addressing the media here were admitted to Airoli’s Na- assurance is not under my on Sunday, Mr. Rawat said, “I tional Burn Centre , where power. I even ensured that all will sit on a day-long fast at Bhojne died on Saturday dues and liabilities of Bho- Jantar Mantar [in New Delhi] night. jane will given to the family at on January 5. We [people of On Sunday morning, Mr. the earliest. But it seems Uttarakhand] are already Bhojne’s body was brought to union members were pro- reeling under the impacts of the Fire Brigade headquar- voking the family which too demonetisation and now the ters at around 10, but the fam- came under pressure,” said P Centre has taken a decision ily members refused to ac- S Rahandale, CFO. which is anti-development cept it. “ The administration Mr Rahandale clarified and anti-Uttarakhand … It had delayed the process to that the administration has [the Centre] should have en- confirm martyr status to taken serious cognizance of dorsed our zonal master jawans who have died on union’s activities and the top plan.” duty on many occasions. But oicers have been intimated According to a Central the same process for oicers about the episode. government notification of December 18, 2012, a 100-km stretch of the river PSPCL bags award for power supply Bhagirathi from Gaumukh to Uttarkashi was to be de- SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Kumar Balyan, presented the clared as eco-sensitive. award to Karan Deep A zonal master plan was to CHANDIGARH: The Central Chaudhri, chairman-cum- be prepared by the State gov- Board of Irrigation and managing director, PSPCL at ernment within two years of Power awarded Punjab State function in New Delhi. the notification based on Power Corporation Limited Mr. Chaudhri said that the which the area could be de- (PSPCL) as the best per- PSPCL was awarded on the veloped as an eco-sensitive forming power distribution basis of outstanding contri- zone. However, the Congress utility in the power sector, an bution to Punjab by provid- government in the State has oicial said on Sunday. ing reliable 24x7 cost-efect- been reluctant to implement Union Minister of State for ive electricity to all the notification. Water Resources, Sanjeev categories of consumers. CM YK NOIDA/DELHI 10 | EDITORIAL THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 Playing the angles, with Russia If Donald Trump succeeds in what Barack Obama failed to do, which is resetting ties with an aggressive Russia, it could trigger a cascade of geostrategic realignments across the world

of humility and restraint.” The Republicans collapse of the ceasefire. A fact, however, is MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 ridiculed his approach as “apologising for that the Pentagon was less than enthusiastic VARGHESE K. GEORGE America’s success”. President-elect Trump about joint operations with Russia, a line Mr. accused him of surrendering American lead- Kerry has been promoting since late 2015. ership in the world, throughout the cam- At the core of the Pentagon’s discomfort paign last year. with Russia is the fact that the NATO alliance Split John Kerry, U.S Secretary of State, and his is based on Cold War logic — or the pre-Is- Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister The Russian view lamism logic if you will — and the U.S milit- wide open Sergey Lavrov, met 14 times and spoke on the But that is not how Russia and its aggress- ary industrial complex has developed ac- phone numerous times in 2016 as both coun- ive leader, Mr. Putin — who has crossed cordingly. Technologies and weapons more hat began as a family feud is now a tries sought to work together on some in- many red lines of international engagement suitable for combating non-state actors are fight for the very soul of the Sama- tractable global issues. The relationship — see Mr. Obama’s tenure. A document now developing at a fast pace but not at the jwadi Party. If power and position between the two has been an extraordinary titled ‘Foreign Policy Concept’ released by cost of more advanced fighters and missile were all that mattered, SP supremo one, producing a range of outcomes. At one the Russian Foreign Ministry on December systems. With its continuing military ag- W end of the spectrum is the Iranian nuclear 27 noted that “the entire world has to pay a gression on the border of NATO, Russia Mulayam Singh might have been able to more deal that both Russia and America agree has high price for the attempts of a limited num- qualified to be considered enemy by the U.S. evenly distribute the loaves of oice and quickly capped the Shia regime’s nuclear capabilit- ber of countries to retain their global ‘leader- In Warsaw in July, the last NATO summit end the crisis engulfing his party. But his son ies. At the other end is the collapse to abyss ship’ at all costs”, in a clear reference to the during the Obama regime, resolved that the Akhilesh Yadav has now taken the fight to another of Syria, a bloody and grim reminder of the U.S and its North Atlantic Treaty Organiza- alliance has to deal with two distinct threats plane, debunking the old guard and projecting his limits of their cooperation. Meanwhile, each tion (NATO) partners. “The terrorist threat — on the east from Russia, and on the south own actions as those taken in the interest of the lar- consecutive commentary on U.S- Russia re- in the belt of instability ranging from North and southeast from Islamist groups. On Rus- ger public good. This time the Uttar Pradesh Chief lations said they were at the lowest point Africa to South Asia’s borders has taken on a sia, there is a remarkable convergence Minister’s revolt is directed at the very manner in since the end of the Cold War. systemic dimension…the international com- between the Republican and Democratic se- which the SP is being run and, by implication, he is Mr. Trump has some unflinching munity clearly saw the... nature of a unipolar curity establishments. Mr. Obama appears to Anew low challenging what he perceives as the subversion of notions about America’s role in hegemony and... unilateral approaches,” the have come around to his 2012 opponent Mitt the party’s founding values. But if he is going to ‘lib- The flashpoint in the relationship last document said, while calling for a “poly- Romney’s view — which he then contested week when President Obama announced the the post-Cold War era, though centric world order”, — that Russia is the U.S’s “number one geo- erate’ the SP from the feudal old guard, he will need expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats from the they don’t add up to a full picture It said Russia’s relationship with the U.S. political foe”. to do much more. When Akhilesh Yadav objected U.S. had been building up for a while. In July, “was complicated by an aggressive US to the party leadership’s proposal for the merger U.S newspaper reports — citing anonymous of his view of the world, yet policy of systemic containment of Russia, Trump’s global perspective with the SP of the Quami Ekta Dal, led by the gang- intelligence sources — accused Russia of which included the build-up of sanctions Mr. Trump has some unflinching notions ster-politician Mukhtar Ansari, he was not ques- trying to influence the outcome of the U.S ure, in a binary world of good and evil, has pressure, the deployment of Ballistic Missile about America’s role in the post-Cold War tioning the mobilisation of votes on communal presidential election. The reports said hack- been the hallmark of American foreign Defence (BMD) components and provocat- era, though they don’t add up to a full picture lines but the building of support blocks at the risk of ers working for the Russian government ob- policy for most part of the last century. First ive military activities on Russia’s western of his view of the world, yet. He believes that being perceived as a party that is soft on crime. Sim- tained the emails of Democratic Party func- it was Nazism, and then Communism. borders and in the Black Sea”. It said the NATO has to repurpose itself and focus on ilarly, his opposition to the re-entry of Amar Singh tionaries, which were published by “well-orchestrated campaign to accuse Rus- fighting Islamist threats. He believes that he WikiLeaks. Subsequently, emails of John Reviving Cold War logic sia of interference in the presidential elec- can cut a deal with Mr. Putin. He isn’t much into the party was not — as it arguably should have Podesta, the chief of Democratic presiden- The end of the Cold War made such a dis- tion in the United States was designed to bothered about Russia’s human rights track been — an attempt to delink the SP from the perils tial candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign, tinction diicult to sustain and when George whip up anti-Russia sentiments”. record or its expansionist posturing. Unlike of corporate funding, but an efort to distance it were hacked and appeared in the public do- W. Bush declared in 2001, “you’re either with In subsequent explanations, Russian For- Mr. Obama, Mr. Trump believes that Islamist from seeming to be close to wheeler-dealers. On main. These leaked emails revealed some us, or against us”, it was an attempt to resus- eign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakhar- terrorism is an “existential threat” to Amer- both occasions his interventions seemed little details about the internal functioning of the citate a dead Cold War logic in the new con- ova held Mr. Obama personally responsible ica, a point on which the Democrats and Re- more than a part of an image-building exercise. Democratic Party and exposed some facts — text of terrorism that would soon invalidate for the degeneration in bilateral ties and publicans diverge. Mr. Trump will challenge Akhilesh Yadav may have become the new, for instance, a few paragraphs from one of most strategic theories that then existed. As singled out Mr. Kerry for praise. Terming Mr. his Republican colleagues in the U.S. Con- urbane face of the party, at the head of a generation the several paid speeches Ms. Clinton made the complexities of the world grew, friends Obama’s advisers “a group of foreign policy gress to choose what to fight first — Russia of technology-savvy youth that speaks the language to Wall Street firms — that her campaign had and enemies mutated and fused among losers, bitter and narrow-minded”, she wrote or the jihadis. Addressing the UN in Septem- of progress and development. But he has so far not tried to conceal. themselves to form a galaxy of frenemies on Facebook, “Out of this group of spoilers, I ber 2015, Mr. Putin called for a “genuinely The Obama administration’s response to around America. Meanwhile, the new threat pity only Kerry. He was not an ally. But he broad alliance against terrorism, just like the been able to change it in any substantive way. The the alleged hacking grew progressively of Islamism, its rise aided by Mr. Bush’s tried to be a professional and maintain his one against Hitler”, and Mr. Trump is in com- Chief Minister knows he cannot do without the strident. The anonymous allegation was policies, is not territorially confined as the human dignity.” plete agreement with this position. SP’s organisational structures in an Assembly elec- made oicial. From initially terming it as an earlier enemy ideologies, Nazism and Com- Ms. Zakharova was alluding to the col- An unstated, but equally important reason tion, just months away. But he also seems to have attempt to discredit the U.S electoral pro- munism, were. For a country used to part- lapse of a ceasefire that Russia and America that Mr. Trump is seeking a partnership with realised that he could not possibly benefit from the cess, the administration concluded that the ners swaying to its will and being able to sought to enforce in Syria, once in February Russia is China. The Obama years have wit- brand of brash politics characterised by his father attempt was to engineer Republican candid- force enemies to fall in line, this was an unfa- and again in September, before the current nessed an increasing closeness between and uncle Shivpal Yadav without being tainted by ate Donald Trump’s victory. And then, Rus- miliar world. The U.S’s struggle with this deal among Iran, Turkey and Russia began Russia and China, and Mr. Trump wants to it. By striking out on his own, Akhilesh Yadav is sian President Vladimir Putin was person- post-Cold War world has been singularly taking shape. The September ceasefire plan reverse that by tying up with the former. Mr. now hoping he would gain acceptance beyond the ally held responsible, an allegation that Mr. pronounced in its wobbly relations with was to have a Joint Implementation Centre Putin sent Mr. Trump a year-end greeting Obama himself made publicly. All this cul- Russia. of Russia and America that would have co- card hoping to “take their interaction in the traditional vote banks of the SP. But the intra-party minated in a raft of retaliatory measures. The Succeeding Mr. Bush, who set out to ordinated a military campaign against iden- international arena to a whole new level”, in quarrels are unlikely to have inspired confidence Russian diplomats were given 72 hours to change the world according to his vision, Mr. tified jihadi groups. The February ceasefire “a constructive and pragmatic manner”. This among the public of the SP’s ability to provide sta- leave. A special Russian plane flew them out Obama started in 2009 with a scholarly ap- lasted for a few days; the September one “pragmatic” deal being proposed by Mr. bility and good governance. Yadav Jr will be judged from Washington. preciation of the way the world is and spoke could not even begin. Russia and the U.S ac- Putin could span a vast range of regions and not on how he distanced himself from the lathi- The notion of an irreconcilable enemy fig- about the need “for the tempering qualities cused each other of being responsible for the issues. wielding criminal elements of the SP, but on how he Unlike Mr. Obama, Mr. Trump may have maintained law and order. Similarly, not on how he CARTOONSCAPE no problem in allowing the Assad regime in managed the SP’s leadership, but on how he gov- Syria to continue as a part of a settlement. erned for five years. After all, in the Assembly poll, The problem areas could be Iran and Afgh- he will be fighting against the BJP’s Narendra Modi anistan. Mr. Trump has repeatedly said he would scrap the Iranian nuclear deal. Mr. and the BSP’s Mayawati, not his father and uncle. Putin, meanwhile, has been using Pakistan and Iran to strengthen Russia’s contacts with the Taliban in Afghanistan. While Mr. Obama theorised the poly- Obama’s parting centric world, Mr. Putin appears to have done a good job navigating it, striking stra- tegic and commercial deals with a multitude shot at Russia of countries and gaining influence in the resident Barack Obama’s decision to slap trouble spots of West Asia, far dispropor- tionate to its tumbling economy and ageing more sanctions on Russia and sack 35 dip- military hardware. lomats from the U.S. is the latest flashpoint Mr. Trump, in an unusual move for a Pres- Pin the bilateral relations of the former Cold ident-elect, said on Twitter, “I always knew War foes. Though the immediate trigger for Mr. he was very smart,” responding to Mr. Obama’s action are the cyberattacks on Democratic Putin’s decision not to expel American dip- Party systems, which U.S. intelligence agencies be- lomats in retaliation last week. The Russian lieve were carried out by Russians to influence the leader said he would wait to see the direction results of the presidential election, the action must of the incoming Trump administration. Mr. be seen against the deteriorating relationship Obama’s measures against Russia, which between the two countries. Ironically, Russia-U.S. were welcomed by the Republican Congres- sional leaders, appears at least in part aimed relations have hit the lowest point since the col- at restricting Mr. Trump’s latitude when he lapse of the Soviet Union under a president who assumes oice on January 20. But if he man- had promised a “reset” of ties. At home Mr. Obama ages to reset America’s ties with Russia — faces criticism for not acting decisively against which was attempted by the Obama admin- Russian interventions that go against American in- istration with limited success — it could trig- terests. The sanctions the U.S. and its European al- ger a cascade of geostrategic realignments lies have imposed on Russia after it annexed across the world. Crimea had little impact on Moscow’s foreign policy decisions. In Syria, Russia made a military [email protected] intervention to boost the regime of Bashar al-Assad against armed rebels who had U.S. support. Mr. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Obama remained largely a spectator when Russia reshaped the Syrian conflict, first through a brutal Letters emailed to [email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials. military campaign and then through multilateral diplomacy. Ties plunged to a new low with the al- Rift in the SP After the 50 days cash deposited, black money ‘movement for honesty’ was a bid to lead in fighting corruption. His legations of hacking into the Democratic Party sys- unearthed and the number of new assume the role of a moral crusader. speech has certainly made people tems. By taking the toughest actions yet against The high voltage political drama that In the run-up to the 2014 notes pumped into the system. None If the people initially seemed take note that we have a Prime Russia in his final weeks in oice, Mr. Obama may has unfolded within the Samajwadi parliamentary election, Narendra of this was clear in the Prime favourably disposed to the move, it Minister who has the courage to say be trying to mute criticism of his Russia policy. Party in Uttar Pradesh is only a Modi was very generous in his poll Minister’s speech. Short-term pain is was because they were under the that dishonest and corrupt oicials But Mr. Obama’s policy will have long-term im- continuation of the intense, bitter promises and was quite clear about over but let’s hope that the long- misapprehension that it was aimed will not be spared. and desperate power struggle that blaming the UPA government for all term gain now percolates to the at curbing black money and would plications for U.S.-Russia ties. The rising tensions N.S. Venkataraman, happened a few months ago in the the ills the country was facing. His marginalised sections who were not cause them immense distress Chennai have reignited fears of a new Cold War. Though party (“Mulayam revokes Akhilesh, mantra was economic development, afected the most. and prove to be a pointless exercise today’s Russia doesn’t have the economic resources Ramgopal expulsions”, Jan.1). The assuring the electorate that he would Gagan Pratap Singh, as it did. Taking charge in the AIADMK of the Soviet Union, its actions in Syria and Ukraine incidents are reminiscent of the bring back black money stashed Noida, Uttar Pradesh The slew of schemes, or rather sops, show that Moscow is not afraid of upping the ante adage that kingship knows no abroad, promising to create millions for the poor announced were Though undesirable, the rise of V.K. in a “unipolar” world. Second, Mr. Obama is further kinship. Rather than being done out of jobs and guaranteeing clean, The “relief package” announced will crumbs. We couldn’t help noticing Sasikala as the new general secretary complicating matters of foreign policy for his suc- of a spirit of genuine political transparent and good governance. In not reduce the pain of the common that the Prime Minister cleverly of the AIADMK is hardly Achhe Din cessor. Given that President-elect Donald Trump reconciliation, the revocation of the short, it would be ‘ ’. In man. Mr. Modi has admitted that sidestepped the specifics of the unexpected (“Sasikala takes charge had promised during the campaign to have better suspensions of Chief Minister 2016, Mr. Modi has completed half most of us sufered a lot due to the demonetisation scheme and failed to as AIADMK general secretary”, Akhilesh Yadav and Ram Gopal his tenure. No real development has lack of homework in implementing demonstrate with data that his Jan.1). As B.R. Ambedkar relations with Russia and closer coordination in the Yadav by party supremo Mulayam taken place, there have hardly been the policy. It is evident that nothing prescription achieved the desired forewarned, hero worship plays a fight against the Islamic State, Mr. Obama’s last- Singh Yadav has resulted from a any attempts at job creation and no will improve in the first quarter of efect. He disappointed those of us part in politics. It is a sure way of minute intervention is being interpreted as an at- realisation of ground-level political black money stashed abroad has 2017. His stoic silence on the who were all ears to hear from him degradation and eventual tempt to tie Mr. Trump’s hands. The Washington realities — that Akhilesh Yadav has been brought back. The politician in quantum of black money collected how he was going to plug the dictatorship. This is particularly true establishment is also happy with the President’s de- outgrown him and has a tall political him has adopted demonetisation as a and the steps to minimise the sources of black money. The in the case of the Dravidian parties cisions. For now, Mr. Putin has deftly avoided a tit- stature. Despite the political stock of diversionary tactic. There is no relief financial crisis and anarchy government is not empowered to which were founded on sound for-tat response, saying that Moscow will assess the the Chief Minister being made from this thoughtless and impulsive underlines this. meddle with the savings of citizens ideological principles but later policies of the next administration. The question is, evident, one wonders whether the decision even after 50 days (“Modi B. Prabha, in a manner it does with tax sufered erosions while making a what will Mr. Trump do? If he goes completely “Akhilesh factor” alone will be thanks people for enduring note ban Varkala, Kerala revenues. transition to populist measures and against the Obama administration’s policies, he will suicient enough to help the party pain”, Jan.1). G. David Milton, a personality cult-based propaganda win back power in the upcoming N. Jan Mohammed, By Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu in order to buy people’s allegiance. upset the establishment, including leaders from his Assembly elections. The inner feuds Chennai standards, his televised New Year- Another crucial dimension is the own party. If he doesn’t, he will fail on his promise have certainly sullied the party’s eve address was an insipid The redeeming fact after the caste factor. As long as these factors of reshaping ties with Russia and potentially raise image as a disciplined and coherent Since the exercise of demonetisation performance sans verve and vitality. demonetisation exercise is that the dictate politics, there can never be tensions further. Either way, Russia is back as a top one in the public eye. is now complete, it is the For once his political messaging people are still willing to stand by acche din. challenge on the U.S. foreign policy landscape. B. Suresh Kumar, government’s responsibility to looked pedestrian. His comparison Mr. Modi in his battle. They do B. Kumaran Ravi, Coimbatore release all data about the amount of of the demonetisation drive to a expect him to continue to take the Tiruchi

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 PERSPECTIVE 11

FROM THE READERS’ EDITOR State of the U.P. battleground What readers want – 1 All parties in the fray are not just positioning themselves against each other — they need to bring Over the last five years, this column has discussed the clarity on many issues before the Assembly elections many strands that make up the wonderful fabric called journalism. From the importance of verifica- tion, accuracy and fairness, to the perils of excessive category. But that is a late move and also use of adjectives in reporting, and dependency on an- A.K. VERMA inappropriate as most sub-castes belong A.S. onymous sources, all these were closely scrutinised. not to SC but to the ST category. Besides, PANNEERSELVAN These essentials of journalism indeed miss one ele- only a parliamentary law could bring ment that constantly brings young men and women about the recommended change, so the to this profession: passion. SP may not reap any political advantage Twenty years ago, Gabriel Garcia Marquez explained this process: The Uttar Pradesh Assembly election of on that count. “Journalism is an unappeasable passion that can be assimilated and human- 2017 has become interesting for a variety The Congress does not know how to ized only through stark confrontation with reality. No one who does not of reasons. One, since 2007, people are reach out to social groups, especially have this in his blood can comprehend its magnetic hold, which is fueled by giving clear mandate to a party, demand- Dalits and Muslims, who were once the the unpredictability of life. No one who has not had this experience can be- ing that it own full responsibility for gov- party’s support base. However, a few gin to grasp the extraordinary excitement stirred by the news, the sheer ela- ernance or otherwise and not shift re- weeks ago during kisan yatras and khat- tion created by the first fruits of an endeavor, and the moral devastation sponsibility on alliance partners. So, charchas in U.P., its party vice-president wreaked by failure. No one who was not born for this and is not prepared to parties are expecting clear wins in com- Rahul Gandhi did try to reach out to the live for this and this only can cling to a profession that is so incomprehens- ing polls. Two, the electoral threshold poor and farmers by promising a loan ible and consuming, where work ends after each news run, with seeming fi- for legislative majority has been declin- waiver and subsidy on electricity. Since nality, only to start afresh with even greater intensity the very next moment, ing; Mayawati formed the Bahujan Samaj his party has been out of power in U.P. not granting a moment of peace.” After being a journalist for well over three Party (BSP) government in 2007 on 30 since December 1989, voters may not decades, I realise that the foundation for this passion is the precious human per cent vote and Akhilesh Yadav take his promises seriously. attribute: hope. formed the Samajwadi Party (SP) gov- ernment in 2012 on 29 per cent vote (low- Leadership war Processing the wish list est since Independence). That makes Party leadership constitutes the third When passion and hope are channelled in a responsible and responsive parties optimistic. Three, unlike bipolar front of U.P.’s electoral battle. The SP is manner to the needs of citizenry, journalism becomes the public sphere for competitions in Kerala, Tamil Nadu or badly divided on leadership though it democratic mediation of ideas and policies. Karnataka, the electoral battle in U.P. is still vests authority in the Yadav family. A good news organisation derives its One of the being fought among two regionally dom- But if Akhilesh Yadav scores in this strength not only from adhering to its stated suggestions was inant (SP, BSP) and two national (BJP, battle, he may become the real inheritor values but also from actively listening and Congress) parties. That may fragment of samajwadi leadership and Mulayam responding to the readers. This column has having a dedicated votes in such a way that a marginal vote Singh Yadav’s legacy. The BJP’s leader- been the listening post that collects, pro- weekly page to cover shift could cause the victory or defeat of ship contest remains under wraps cesses and passes on to the editorial team individual States a party. It is against this backdrop that though there are many aspirants for the the voices of readers. In my earlier column, political parties are entering the fray in CM’s job belonging to diferent social “Should news give way for views?” (September 26, 2016), I had solicited U.P. In doing so, they are not just posi- denominations. Since Prime Minister readers’ views about what they want to see in this newspaper. I promised to tioning themselves against each other; Narendra Modi happens to be the main share their views in the year-end columns. But, the views from the readers rather, they have multiple fronts to at- face of the BJP in U.P., nominating were as varied as the diversity of this country; it took some more time to pro- tend to in the electoral battle. someone as U.P. CM, if required after cess their wish list. Given the level of engagement, I am compelled to para- polls, may be easier. The BSP and Con- phrase their views. I also refrain from attributing ideas to specific readers as Party turmoil gress have, of course, no issues on this in most cases more than one reader suggested identical ideas. In run-up to the 2017 Assembly polls, SLIPPERY TRACK AHEAD: “In run-up to the polls, in-house turmoil is the prime concern count as Ms. Mayawati remains the un- One of the suggestions that came from diferent parts of India was the cre- in-house turmoil is the prime concern of of all parties.” Picture shows Uttar Pradesh Chief MinisterAkhilesh Yadav disputed leader in the BSP, and the Con- ation of a dedicated weekly page to cover individual States. Readers felt that all parties. The SP sufered a virtual split inaugurating a cycle track near his residence, in Lucknow in 2015. gress is out of the reckoning. some States get much bigger space than others. “Small States like Delhi get a when party supremo Mulayam Singh Ya- — PHOTO: RAJEEV BHATT big play in the media because they are in the centre. But we do not have dav expelled his son, and CM, Akhilesh Demonetisation, development enough stories from States in the periphery like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Yadav from the party for anti-party activ- Party leadership constitutes marks against Ms. Mayawati; (b) the BSP The final front centres around the is- and the various Northeastern States. These States are relegated only to re- ities for six years, along with his cousin lost its grip over Dalits during last dec- sues of demonetisation and develop- porting natural disasters or acts of insurgency. We appreciate the new long Ram Gopal Yadav. Given the subsequent the third front of the battle. ade; and (c) Muslims and Dalits have ment. The BJP on occasion appears form reportage ‘Ground Zero’. A weekly in-depth section on the States that developments, many wonder whether it The SP is badly divided on much in common in social life. nervous on demonetisation despite pub- generally miss the media radar would help us to understand this sub-contin- is a genuine tussle or has been choreo- leadership though it still vests The BJP too is positioning itself for a lic support for the move in spite of incon- ent size country better,” said a reader. The regime change games played out graphed by the father to brush up his complete constituency revamp and is fo- venience to people. Akhilesh Yadav in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were cited to prove a point. The de- son’s image. But it has confused the authority in the Yadav family cussing on becoming representative of wants to recast the coming polls as a ref- velopments in these States came in as a surprise for many because the media people and may end up harming the OBCs by appropriating greater space erendum not on his governance and de- did not cover the events that led to change of governments in these States. party. Since the SP’s vote share was very solve this problem to the satisfaction of among more-backwards and most-back- velopment, but on demonetisation. But fragile in 2012, any loss of its traditional rival caste lobbies in the party. wards. The party made Keshav Prasad the way the Maharashtra, Gujarat and Stamp of authenticity supporters among Muslims or Yadavs The Congress had also been besieged Maurya president of its State unit, induc- Chandigarh civic polls, held after de- A vast section of readers feel that news is important despite the fact that could be disastrous for the party. with a party revamp though the importa- ted BSP leader Swami Prasad Maurya monetisation, have approved of demon- most read them as developing or breaking news in various 24x7 platforms. The BSP had been through the same tion of Sheila Dikshit from Delhi as a CM (both most-backward) and allied with etisation is a pointer to the risk involved The reportage in The Hindu helps them to confirm that it was indeed news turmoil leading to some of its senior- candidate did not work — nor did the de- the Apna Dal, making its MP Anupriya in doing so. While all parties may focus because of the trust factor. However, they feel that the news can be brief if it most and trusted leaders — including ployment of party strategist Prashant Patel (more-backward) a minister in the on Mr. Yadav’s failings, he may counter is accompanied by an insightful analysis. They feel that articles in the Lead Swami Prasad Maurya (most-backward Kishor, which led to senior leaders like Modi government. that with his clean image and develop- section and the Comment sections are mostly from people who have a clear caste), R.K. Chaudhary (Pasi-Dalit) and Rita Bahuguna Joshi to quit the party. The BJP’s eforts to appropriate the ment-centric politics and also earn the political ailiation or economic orientation. In order to contextualise these Brajesh Pathak (Brahmin) — exiting the OBC space in U.P. were facilitated be- people’s sympathy in view of his recent views and to make sense of the news, readers prefer an explainer of major party. That does not augur well for the Constituency battling cause the SP under Mulayam Singh Ya- battles within the SP. developments providing the facts and figures to explain the rationale, or the BSP. There has also been a withering away dav neglected homogenisation of the So the electoral battle field in U.P. is lack of it, by policy makers. “We need to sift facts from rhetoric and an in- The BJP too had been battling to shun of traditional support bases of parties. OBCs, restricting itself to yadavisation becoming clearer. There are multiple formed fact file would be of immense help when there is a surfeit of opinion its traditional image of an upper-caste, Ms. Mayawati is attempting a transform- only. As OBCs are the largest social fronts to be addressed. Many fast-paced sans rational analysis,” said another reader. urban-centric party of middle-class ation of her social engineering from a group in UP, 41 per cent of the State pop- changes are taking place on a daily basis. traders and merchants and become in- Dalit-Brahmin to Dalit-Muslim coali- ulation (NSSO data), any inroads could But how things unfold henceforth will Special interest pages clusive. In this, the upper-caste domin- tion. That was necessitated because (a) give the BJP a big handle in the coming depend much on how parties finesse Some readers wanted a few sections to be moved to the magazine to ance in the party puts the brake on the she had angered upper castes when BSP electoral battle. their strategies and tactics once the Elec- provide a sense of thematic symmetry to the newspaper. For instance, they leadership’s eforts at constituency leader Naseemuddin Siddiqui made The SP also attempted to create a new tion Commission blows the whistle. wanted “Weekend Reading” to be a part of literary review. They felt that this transformation. The BJP’s reluctance to derogatory observations about the wife constituency for itself by recommending section should be expanded to a four-page weekly supplement and include a disclose its chief ministerial face in U.P. and daughter of BJP leader Dayashankar to the Union government recently that 17 A.K. Verma is Director, Centre for the Study of section on writings in Indian languages. They also felt that “Weekend Be- is probably dictated by its inability to Singh after the latter’s objectionable re- OBC sub-castes be transferred to the SC Society and Politics (CSSP), Kanpur. ing” on Sundays should be part of the Sunday Magazine. “Issues and topics that have a longer shelf-life should be in the magazine section as we tend to read them at leisure unlike news and current afairs,” opined readers. In their wish list of sections to be shifted from the main paper to magazines are “Open Page” and “Education Plus”, and they want the “Science and Techno- Not just about a quota logy” page to brought back to the news section. Readers from centres where not all the supplements such as “Metro Plus”, the “Friday Review” and “Cinema Plus” are available expect a curated supplement featuring some of We need to educate children in schools about caste, ethnic, gender and regional diversities and the best features from these magazines. have public policy interventions to make society more equal and fair (To be continued) resentation of all social groups in posi- [email protected] AMIT THORAT tions of power. When people from all so- cial groups are represented in government, higher education, and in business, it is less likely that traditionally marginalised groups will continue to be FROM THE ARCHIVES Should jobs, schools, and universities denied fundamental rights and access to promote diversity with reservations or their fair share of society’s resources. quotas? This question has long evoked strong and passionate responses. People Not an anti-poverty plan (dated January 2, 1967) come to the debate with preconceived Finally, some people say that they op- ideas and stands, and rarely change their pose today’s reservations because they Mob sets stadium furious mob chased the minds. As a result, India is left with little believe reservation should be made on policemen away, and took consensus on the reasons for reserva- the basis of income rather than social on fire possession of the ground 15 tions and whether or not reservation is a background. However, reservation is in- A riotous mob to-day [January minutes after the scheduled start useful policy. tended not to be an anti-poverty pro- 1] overpowered the police and set of play. A new survey called SARI, Social Atti- gramme. The government has many pro- fire to the Eden Garden Cricket Krishna Menon to tudes Research for India, investigated grammes which are, in principle, Stadium, forcing the cancellation what people in cities, towns, and villages accessible to all poor people. Reserva- of the second day’s play in the contest from Bombay think about reservations. SARI uses a tion exists because, in addition to being second Test match between India Mr. V.K. Krishna Menon, sampling frame based on mobile phone more likely to be poor than general and the West Indies. Military had former Defence Minister, subscriptions, random digit dialling, castes, Dalits, backward Muslims, and to take over control of the scene announced at a public meeting, within-household sample selection, and Adivasis face social discrimination and of trouble and restore order. attended by 2 ½ lakh people, at statistical weights to build representat- Delhiites’ opposition to reservation one In many countries, reservation exclusion that poor people from general About 200 persons, including 52 Shivaji Park here [Bombay] to- ive samples of adults 18-65 years old. by one. When people say that jobs and caste backgrounds do not face. The fact police personnel, were injured in night [January 1] that he was seats in schools should be allocated on or other types of affirmative that the right to education, the right to to-day’s incidents, according to seeking the sufrage of the people Divided by background the basis of “merit,” they are referring to action are used to try to own land, the right to conduct business, hospital sources here [Calcutta] of North-East Bombay to stand as We asked respondents whether or not the fact that people from reserved cat- overcome human prejudice or to pursue a well-remunerated occupa- to-night [January 1]. The a non-Party candidate to the Lok they support reservation. In Delhi, about egories are often given a concession of a tion has been reserved for men from beautifully turfed ground, scene Sabha in the coming general half of the respondents say they do not few points on exams and in interviews. and encourage representation high caste backgrounds for generations of many a famous cricket match, election. He said that he wanted support it. Responses vary by social cat- This view overlooks the important dis- means that government must take steps looked like a battle field as the to contest in a democratic way. egory, and support is more common advantages that people from reserved caste groups, while reserved category to correct the unequal distribution of among people from reserved categories. categories face in going to school or get- students rarely have such networks to rights. The graph shows diferences in opposi- ting a job today. Reservation is a useful draw on. Reservation is a policy tool that is used tion to reservation by social categories. tool to level the playing field: we cannot It is also important to reconsider what not only in India. In many countries, re- CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS As expected, the lowest opposition is expect groups who have been historic- is meant by “merit”. The ability to an- servation or other types of airmative among respondents from the Scheduled ally deprived of education, skills, and ac- swer test questions correctly is certainly action are used to try to overcome hu- >>Editing error: The strapline of a report, “Jaitley sees green shoots after de- Castes (SC) and Other Backward cess to other means of economic mobil- not the only, or even the best, predictor man prejudice based on race, gender, monetisation” (December 30, 2016), should read: “Revenue up, says Finance Classes (OBC), while the highest oppos- ity to suddenly start competing with of how well someone will perform in ethnicity, religion, caste or any other Minister.” The Minister did not say “business in several sectors thriving”, as ition is found among general caste re- those from groups who have had access school or on the job. It is worth noting group identity, and to encourage repres- mentioned in the strapline and in the second paragraph of the report. spondents. to these means for centuries. that many reserved candidates have entation of and participation by groups These results indicate that a majority Social transformation and building of reached schools and jobs in spite of eco- traditionally excluded and discrimin- >>Editing error in a business report: The second paragraph of a report, of the most educated and historically economic and cultural capital takes time nomic and social disadvantage as well as ated against. One way to make these “Toyota takes steps to cut emissions” (December 29, 2016) said: “TKM sells 95 well-to-do communities in Delhi do not to be passed on from one generation to overt exclusion and discrimination. Be- measures more acceptable and help cars per month.” It should have been “TKM produces 95 Camry hybrid cars feel that people from marginalised another. It is an all too commonly held cause they have succeeded in the face of people better understand the historic, per month at Bidadi. groups should get government support belief that people from general castes are adversity, they bring a diferent and de- social and cultural background behind for representation in social and public meritorious inherently. Yet, the ability to sirable kind of merit to a school or work- reservation would be to educate chil- >>The name of a town Kankesanthurai was misspelled as Kanesanthurai in spheres. But why? decipher test answers or speak confid- place. dren in schools about caste, ethnic, a report, “I want to topple the govt. in 2017, says Rajapaksa” (December 30, Among respondents who had heard of ently in an interview is often the result of Some of the respondents said that they gender and regional diversities and the 2016). reservation before the survey, we further being nurtured in an environment that is opposed reservation because they be- need for public policy interventions to asked those who opposed reservation a result of accumulated economic, social lieve in equality. However, reservation is make society more equal and fair. Please specify the edition (place of publication), date and page. why they were opposed. The responses and cultural capital. Children who grew a policy tool that promotes equality The Readers’ Editor’s oice can be contacted by that we got from general caste respond- up in a dominant caste household are of- rather than undermines it. The primary Amit Thorat is Assistant Professor at the Centre for the Study of Regional Development, JNU. The first Telephone: +91-44-28418297/28576300 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to ents are shown in the graph. ten encouraged, supported, and helped reason why reservation was written into and second parts in this series, with Diane Coffey, Friday); E-mail: [email protected] We examine the top three reasons for to succeed by other members of their India’s Constitution was to ensure rep- appeared on December 29 and December 30, 2016.

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI 12 | NEWS THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017

STORM IN SP Some of the old guard gravitate to Akhilesh camp They attend ‘national convention’ convened by Ramgopal Yadav, defying the diktat of party supremo Mulayam Singh Who will get ‘cycle’? OMAR RASHID

LUCKNOW: In a clear shift of the It’s poll panel’s call balance of power in the party, top Samajwadi Party leaders KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL In case of a split, from the old guard, including the EC will Reoti Raman Singh and vice- NEW DELHI: In the likelihood president Kironmoy Nanda, of a split in the Samajwadi determine which attended the meet convened Party, the Election Com- group is entitled to by Ramgopal Yadav and ex- mission may have to use tended support to Uttar Pra- its plenary powers to de- the party symbol desh Chief Minister Akhilesh cide which of the rival Yadav. Party chief Mulayam groups is the real Sama- Commission does not de- Singh and State president jwadi Party which can cide which group repres- Shivpal Yadav did not attend contest the elections un- ents the party, but which the meet as they had termed der the symbol “cycle”. group is that party,” a it “unconstitutional.” For this, the Commis- three-judge Supreme Shortly after Mr. Ramgo- sion will have to under- Court Bench of Justices pal’s announcements, Mr. take the long-drawn pro- H.R. Khanna, K.S. Hegde Akhilesh took the micro- cess of the ‘Rule of and A.N. Grover clarified phone asserting that he Majority and Numerical the purpose of Paragraph would act against anyone Strength’ envisaged in 15, while upholding the conspiring against the party Paragraph 15 of the Elec- constitutionality of the or his father and declared tion Symbols (Reserva- test of majority in Sadiq that he was ready to sacrifice tion and Allotment) Or- Ali v. Election Commis- anything to preserve the fam- der, 1968. The first task sion of India. ily and party. will be to check if there “Netaji will continue to be really are two groups, Congress split my father, I will be his son. each claiming to be the This 1972 verdict dealt Nobody can end that rela- real Samajwadi Party. with a split in the Con- tionship. As my responsibil- Once the Commission gress following dier- ity, I will step up to sacrifice is satisfied that there are ences over the choice of anything to save the party or two factions, it would the Congress nominee family,” he said, to loud “take into account the for the oce of the Pres- cheers from hundreds of available facts and cir- ident. In 1969, the Con- supporters. cumstances of the case” gress split into two — In his short address, Mr. and hear the representat- Congress ‘O’ and Con- Akhilesh took potshots at his ives of the groups or any gress ‘J’. The EC had to uncle Shivpal and Mr. Amar other person. It would use the test of majority to Singh, saying that “some ele- decide which one of the determine “which of the ments do not want an SP gov- sections or none of them two groups was the re- ernment to be formed again.” would be no rapprochement, is the recognised political cognised party known as As Mr. Mulayam’s son, Mr. approved the previously de- CM appoints State president of party party. The decision shall the Indian National Con- Akhilesh asserted, it was his clared election candidates be binding on all the gress for the purpose of duty to stand up against and said the remaining would OMAR RASHID within the Samajwadi Party, but was sidelined by Mr. Shivpal was declared groups and conceived as the Election Symbols Or- those conspiring against him. be announced soon. Mr. Shivpal had a few Shivpal, who sacked him as “sacked”. However, later in a direction to the Return- der”. The Supreme Court “Those who have conspired The family feud had ac- LUCKNOW: Even as Samajwadi months ago replaced Mr. the State vice-president a the evening, Mr. Akhilesh is- ing Ocer. has upheld the test of ma- against the party not only quired a new dimension on Party supremo Mulayam Akhilesh as the State head. few months ago as part of his sued a formal appointment “The symbol is not a jority in the Symbols Or- worked to harm it but also Saturday when Mr. Mulayam Singh termed Chief Minister Mr. Akhilesh has now ap- clean-up of Team Akhilesh letter too under the signa- property to be divided der to be a “valuable and created a crisis for the na- revoked the expulsions of his Akhilesh Yadav’s elevation pointed senior SP leader from the party oce-bearers ture of “national president”. between co-owners. The relevant test” to decide a tional president. The entire son and his cousin, a day after as national president “il- Naresh Uttam Patel from list. Mr. Akhilesh instructed allotment of a symbol to dispute. State must know that I will they were sacked. Earlier on legal”, the junior Yadav Fatehpur, MLC, as the new Mr. Patel, a Law graduate, Mr. Patel to convene a ses- the candidates set up by a In case of a split, now honour him more than I Saturday, Mr. Akhilesh had stepped into action immedi- State chief. Mr. Patel, who be- has no criminal cases against sion of the State executive political party is a legal between Akhilesh and did before...Netaji will be the outmanouvred his father in a ately after assuming the new longs to the Kurmi backward him, providing Mr. Akhilesh board within seven days. right. And in case of a Mulayam, and in case, happiest if we form a full ma- show of strength here as role on Sunday, as he form- caste, served as State vice- somebody with a clean The letter was copied to all split, the Commission has one of them moves the jority government,” the CM most of the 227 MLAs of the ally appointed a new State president while Mr. Akhilesh image. district presidents, former been authorised to de- EC claiming to be the real said. SP turned up at his meeting president displacing his was the president. His name was proposed in State presidents and the na- termine which of the rival SP, the process of test of The SP parliamentary while Mr. Mulayam’s was at- uncle Shivpal Yadav. Mr. Patel is one of the the “emergency national tional oce of the party in groups or section is en- majority may extend bey- board, in a signal that there tended by less than 20. In the course of the feud founding members of the SP convention” where Mr. Delhi. titled to the symbol. The ond the poll dates. FROM PAGE ONE Remembering the brave Pak. endorses China’s Loans cheaper as block on Masood Azhar SBI slashes rate SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Alleges “politically “We have a lot of deposits “It will impact all NEW DELHI: Pakistan on Sunday motivated” campaign in low-cost accounts. new loans… and old endorsed the block that by India to impose a Credit growth is very China has imposed on In- muted. It is important for loans as and when dia’s campaign at the United ban on Jaish-e- us to try and jump-start they are renewed and Nations Security Council to Mohammed chief the credit growth,” she blacklist a Pakistan-based said. re-priced.” terror group chief. attack that India intensified Asked if all the loans The Ministry of Foreign its global campaign targeting that are linked to MCLR hand, grew from 11.7 per Aairs (MoFA) of Pakistan Azhar. will be impacted, Ms. cent to 15.9 per cent in the termed “politically motiv- Bhattacharya said, “It will same period. ated” India’s campaign to im- No response impact all the new loans… Another public sector pose a ban on Masood Azhar The Ministry of External and the old loans as and lender Union Bank of In- of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Aairs did not respond to the when they are renewed dia has also reduced its said the Indian proposal at Masood Azhar statement even though it had and re-priced.” MCLR with the one-year the 1267 counter-terror com- described the Chinese block The bank has also re- rate coming down by 65 mittee of the U.N. Security proposal is also a rejection of which prevented the 1267 duced its base rate by 5 bps bps to 8.65 per cent. The Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, pays homage at Amar Jawan Jyoti on Council had “no merit”. Indian attempts to politicise committee from taking up to 9.25 per cent. The IDBI Bank on Fri- Sunday. — PHOTO: PTI “The 1267 Sanctions Com- and undermine the work of the Indian proposal as “sur- This is the second rate day had announced reduc- mittee related to IS/al-Qaeda this important committee of prising”. cut by the SBI in two tion in its two-year MCLR has rejected a politically mo- the Security Council,” said a “We will continue to push months, as the lender had by 40 bps to 9.2 per cent, Trinamool MP tivated proposal by India. statement issued by the forward with resolute de- reduced MCLR by 15 bps and the 1-year MCLR was Tapas Paul names Replete with frivolous in- MoFA, Islamabad. termination through the use in November. Following reduced by 15 bps to 9.15 to appear before formation and baseless alleg- The strongly worded of all options available with the withdrawal of the old per cent. All the banks ations, the Indian proposal statement is significant as it us to bring perpetrators of ₨500 and ₨1,000 notes, have made the new MCLR had no merit and was came on the eve of the first terrorist violence to justice,” banks’ loan growth has eective January 1. CBI in chit case Supriyo in scam primarily aimed at advan- anniversary of the Pathankot the MEA spokesperson had slumped, with economic Prime Minister Naren- cing its narrow national attack of January 2, 2016. It stated about China’s ob- TAFF EPORTER STAFF REPORTER activity taking a hit. dra Modi on Saturday, had S R agenda. The dismissal of this was in the aftermath of the struction. According to RBI data, said banks had received loan growth, on a year-on- huge amounts of deposits KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress BHUBANESWAR: Trinamool Con- year basis, dropped to 5.8 following the withdrawal (TMC) MP Sudip Bandy- gress parliamentarian Tapas per cent as on December 9 of the high value notes, opadhyay on Sunday said Paul, who is in CBI custody India again asks from 7.9 per cent on and appealed to banks to that he will appear before the in connection with his repor- J&K MLA seeks end November 11. The with- keep the poor, the lower Central Bureau of Investiga- ted involvement with the Pak. for consular drawal of notes came into middle-class, and the tion (CBI) on January 3 in tainted Rose Valley Group, a to killing of policemen eect from November 9. middle-class the focus of connection with the Rose chit fund company, alleged Valley chit fund scam. that Union of State for Heavy access to Jadhav Deposits, on the other their activities. PEERZADA ASHIQ ponder over it. The UJC Earlier, he was summoned Industries and Public Enter- NEW DELHI: Renewing its de- needs to keep in mind that twice by the CBI but he failed prises Babul Supriyo was mand, India on Sunday asked SRINAGAR: A day after a police- around one lakh policemen to appear. also involved in the group. Pakistan for consular access man was killed by militants cannot be isolated,” said Mr. “They (CBI) first asked me Paul talked to media-per- to Kulbhushan Jadhav, arres- in north Kashmir, Independ- Rashid, an MLA of Kup- to appear on November 15, sons for a brief moment Babul Supriyo Man dies in police ted on charges of espionage, ent legislator Engineer wara’s Langate constituency. but I could not come as the while he was taken for a and Nehal Ansari, who was Rashid on Sunday appealed The remarks came during Parliament was in session. health check-up to Capital cured three days of remand, caught for illegally entering to the United Jehad Council the funeral prayers of the They again asked me to ap- Hospital here on Sunday. started questioning him station the country from Afgh- (UJC) to “stop bloodshed of constable Abdul Karim pear on December 30, but I “I am absolutely not guilty. about Rose Valley Group’s anistan apparently to meet a local policemen” and “un- Sheikh of Kupwara’s Mawar Constable Kuldeep was as- following which legal and requested them to postpone There are many, including Odisha operations. girl he had befriended derstand their compulsions”. area. The policeman was signed to respond to the administrative action was it to January 15. The CBI o- Mr. Suprio, who were in- The group, which was op- online. “Policemen are our own killed on Saturday evening call. Sompal was rushed to initiated. cials told me that I have to volved in the scam,” he said erating in West Bengal, Bi- India called for consular blood. Nothing will be when militants ambushed a a nearby hospital where he appear on January 3, to while being whisked away in har, Assam and Odisha, al- access to the two after it ex- achieved by killing them. It’s police patrol near Chogal was declared dead. Family’s reaction which I agreed,” Mr. Bandy- CBI van. legedly collected ₨17,000 changed with Pakistan the high time for militants to area of Handwara. “We followed the stand- But it was not till Sunday opadhyay said. Paul said, “I reiterate that I crore, promising high lists of their citizens, includ- ard procedure for identific- that Sompal’s family found “ If he fails to turn up on am innocent. My innocence returns. ing civil prisoners and fish- ation and he was identified about his death, they said. January 3, we will have to will be proved later.” In Odisha, the group had ermen, languishing in each as Sompal, a resident of C “Around 2 p.m. a police consider other options,” CBI His wife Nandini Paul, duped investors through its other’s jails as per provisions block,” the FIR said. team reached our house sources said. Trinamool MP who was in Bhubaneswar, 65 branches. The State crime of the bilateral Consular Ac- On December 30, a whis- and asked for his picture. Tapas Paul was arrested by said the arrest was politically branch was initially entrus- cess agreement. tleblower from the police When we inquired, they the CBI after a prolonged in- motivated. ted with the probe into the The MEA said India re- station alerted the Assist- told us that he had been ar- terrogation a day ago. The CBI, which has se- scam. mained committed to ad- ant Commissioner of Police rested. It was only after dressing on “priority” with of the Model Town sub di- coming to the police station Pakistan the humanitarian vision. The matter was that we found out about his NSG website hacked, anti-India message posted matters, including those per- communicated to senior of- death,” said Sompal’s NEW DELHI: Suspected Pakistan- content. Ocials said the themselves as ‘Alone Injector’, taining to prisoners and fish- ficers and all the sta mem- brother. aliated operatives on hacking attempt was noticed posted the oensive content ermen. In this context, we bers were questioned. According to the police, Sunday hacked the ocial early on Sunday and the URL on the site’s home page. O- await from Pakistan confirm- Mr. Dumbere said the ac- Sompal had a criminal re- website of the elite NSG and — www.nsg.gov.in — was cial sources said the hacking ation of nationality of those cused admitted that they cord and had been booked defaced it with a profanity- blocked soon after by the attempt could have been car- in India’s custody who are had indeed disposed o the for robbery, theft and as- laden message against the counter-terror force. ried out by Pakistan-aliated otherwise eligible for release body, flouting procedures, sault in the past. Prime Minister and anti-India The hackers, identifying hackers. —PTI and repatriation. — PTI CM YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 NEWS 13 In Cox’s Bazaar, Rohingyas huddle together in shacks in a harsh winter SUVOJIT BAGCHI social help,” Mr. Dash said. The Bangladesh wrenching as I had experi- Mr. Dash said the refugees He said a “lot of the refugees enced similar attacks a were staying with their dis- KOLKATA: Describing the influx are visibly depressed [as] district struggles to quarter century ago,” Mr. tant relatives or of refugees from Myanmar to they had traumatic experi- provide amenities Mahmudulla told The Hindu acquaintances. southeast Bangladesh as a ences”. to the refugees on the phone from Cox’s “forgotten crisis”, Sarat Since the beginning of an Bazaar. 15 to a room Dash, chief of mission of the anti-Rohingya cleansing from Myanmar The photographs — mutil- “It is locally called “doub- International Organisation drive in parts of Myanmar ated bodies, charred corpses ling” as the refugees are en- for Migration in Bangladesh, from the early 1990s, three refugees have arrived since covered with banana leaves tering the semi-permanent has said the crisis is worsen- lakh to five lakh refugees early October. and burning villages — that shack of another refugee ing in the Rohingya refugee have settled in southeastern Mr. Mahmudulla received on family, which perhaps ar- camps. Bangladesh, according to the Influx on his mobile phone, describe rived few years ago,” Mr. Mr. Dash, who visited the National Strategy on Myan- “The condition of the the trauma that the Ro- Dash said. The space short- camps in Cox’s Bazaar dis- mar Refugees report by the refugees already settled is hingyas are experiencing. age was acute. “Fifteen or 16 trict with the Foreign Minis- Bangladesh Government in not any good. But since they Nearly 90 people are oi- persons living in a tiny room ters of Indonesia and 2013. are staying over a period of cially killed till last week. which has only plastic on all Bangladesh, said “34,000 Besides the 32,000 oi- time, they have managed to While the killings are denied sides.” refugees” had moved from cially registered refugees, somewhat put together their by the Myanmar govern- At night, the men take Myanmar to Bangladesh there are nearly 50,000 in the lives. But these new people ment, Rohingya refugees in their turn to rest in the local since the recent spate of eth- makeshift settlements near came empty-handed and the camps in Bangladesh mosque. nic violence in Rakhine state the camps, says the Prime without resources and thus said they had now “stopped “The temperature is drop- of Myanmar. While at least Minister’s National Strategy their living condition is counting the bodies” of their ping and there is an immedi- half-a-dozen international report. worse than pavement dwell- family members. ate need to provide some ba- humanitarian agencies were The report also says that ers in Kolkata. Unlike the sic comfort, especially to working in the area, the situ- another three lakh to five pavement dwellers, they are Horrible stories children,” Mr. Dash said. One ation was worsening with lakh “undocumented Myan- living in forest land or unin- “Two of my family were in every three children was the advent of winter, Mr. mar nationals” are living habited land,” Mr. Dash said. killed and my daughter was severely malnourished. Dash said. across Cox’s Bazaar. They As the Rohingya refugees, raped in front of her mother,” The IOM has set up med- are mainly settled in the many of whom speak DISPLACEMENT WOES: A Rohingya family in Cox’s Bazaar in Bangladesh— PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT said Arshad (name changed), ical camps, provided drink- Diicult times upazilas (sub-districts) Bengali, are pouring in large a farmer from Khawar Bil vil- ing water and set up toilets in “With severe crisis of shel- along the 62-km western numbers, on an average of “But do we have an option Cox’s Bazaar in the early side of the Naaf river. lage near Muang Daw town the camps. ter and food [as] the winter is bank of the Naaf river. 500 a day, the sub-districts other than to give them shel- 1990s and speaks urban “The villages on the other in Rakhine. Mr. Arshad Yet Mr. Dash called it a approaching, there is a seri- The Foreign Ministers and are getting crowded by the ter in our tiny plastic Bengali. side — at least 20 — are checked in to his cousin’s crisis which has been ous need of winter clothes; Mr. Dash visited these sub- hour, increasing pressure on thatched boxes,” asked Mah- He has documented the vi- decimated and we could only house in the Nayapara “forgotten”. also an urgent need of med- districts and the IOM has hygiene, sanitation and mudulla, a schoolteacher. olence on the Rohingyas in see the smoke, hear them refugee camp in Ukhia He expects the situation to ical assistance and psycho- concluded that 34,000 more security. Mr. Mahmudulla came to Rakhine state on the other screaming for help. It is gut- sub-district. improve in the New Year.

Curbs on RBI doesn’t divulge if Jaitley Internet lifted ₨5.5 lakh for each PoK refugee in Manipur had a say on demonetisation Relief package for Hindu migrants was announced by Prime Minister last year

A CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: Whether views of formation Commissioner VIJAITA SINGH Pakistan refugees, mostly Sum will be directly State-Centre committee first the Chief Economic Adviser A.N. Tiwari said, “No. It does Hindus, who came to India to examine their demands, IMPHAL: Curbs on the and the Finance Minister not. It is a fact sought by an NEW DELHI: The Centre will de- after Partition, but are yet to credited to their the oicial further explained. Internet were lifted in were taken before the sud- RTI applicant. The CPIO posit ₨2,000 crore into the be given any voting rights or account; those from “This will largely cover Manipur on Saturday, den announcement of de- cannot say an opinion has bank accounts of 36,000 financial package. west Pakistan too PoK and Chhamb refugees,” after 13 days. The monetisation of high-value been sought from him.” Hindu refugees from “Each PoK refugee would said an oicial, adding that measure had been currency notes by Prime “How it can be called seek- Pakistan-occupied Kashmir get ₨5.5 lakh in his or her bank demand package the move has also caused dis- taken to block misuse Minister Narendra Modi on ing opinion? Whether (PoK), a senior Home Min- account, and the Centre will content among the refugees of social media by November 8? someone was consulted or istry oicial said on Sunday. bear the cost,” the oicial compiled. of West Pakistan who are yet anti-social elements, The Reserve Bank of India not is a matter of record. Had The compensation pack- said. The Home Ministry has to get the government’s at- even as a solution to feels this query cannot be the question been that age for the Hindu refugees sought bank account details tention. The Mehbooba the economic blockade answered under the Right to Finance Minister Arun should views be taken then it was announced by Prime Resettlement fund of all the families from the Mufti government has eludes the government. Information Act as it does Jaitley.—PHOTO: PTI would mean taking opinion,” Minister Narendra Modi last The west Pakistan State government as it in- agreed to sanction ₨1.2 crore A senior minister not come under the defini- former Information Com- year, and it got the clearance refugees have been demand- tends to transfer the money in the ₨2,000-crore package told The Hindu that tion of information under the of seeking opinion from the missioner Shailesh Gandhi from the Union Cabinet in ing a similar package, but the directly into their accounts as the amount pledged by the some anti-social transparency law. CPIO which is not defined as said, expressing surprise at December. These refugees previous Omar Abdullah instead of giving it to the Centre fell short by a few elements had posted The applicant wanted to information as per Section the response of the RBI migrated to Jammu and government had vehemently State government. hundred rupees per person. messages to stoke know whether the views of 2(f) of the RTI Act,” the RBI Central Public Information Kashmir in 1947, 1965 and opposed the move. However, “Once we get the details of “Since the PM has an- communal hatred, Chief Economic Adviser said in response to an RTI Oicer. 1971. packages for PoK refugees the bank accounts, we will nounced a package of ₨2,000 forcing the government Arvind Subramanian and query. The query was also sent to Currently, violent protests were cleared by the Union release the funds in batches. crore, we asked the State gov- to impose restrictions. Finance Minister Arun Jait- Asked whether the in- the Prime Minister’s Oice have erupted in the Valley Cabinet on November 30 and This is for the first time that ernment to chip in as the be- Recently 22 vehicles ley were taken before the an- formation sought will fall un- and the Finance Ministry but against domicile certificates the “resettlement fund” will the Centre has allocated nefit for each family was a were torched in Imphal nouncement was made. der “seeking opinion” from it remained unanswered. — being issued by the State gov- be disbursed once the fig- ₨2,000 crore for providing little less than the ₨5.5 lakh,” east district along the “The query is in the nature the CPIO, former Chief In- PTI ernment to 19,000 west ures and data of refugees are relief instead of setting up a said an oicial. Imphal-Ukhrul road. The media report was that the drivers and passengers were not harassed at all and they Jan Dhan deposits double to were escorted to safety. However some elements posted ₨87,000 cr., come under I-T lens misleading and fabricated accounts NEW DELHI: Deposits in Jan the oicial said. Cash deposit saying that they were Dhan account have more between ₨30,000 and beaten up. than doubled to ₨87,000 ₨50,000 have been reported A senior police crore in 45 days post demon- in 4.86 lakh accounts till oicer said a special etisation, prompting the tax November 30, taking the cell had been opened to department to “dissect” in- total deposits in such tackle cyber crime, formation relating to such quantum to ₨2,022 crore. which has been on the deposits, a top government The oicial further said increase in the State. oicial said. that inflows of funds into Jan More victims, mostly Besides, the tax depart- Dhan accounts was the girls and married ment also has data on small highest in the first week after women, had come out cash deposits between on November 9, takes the ag- demonetisation at ₨20,224 with complaints. ₨30,000-50,000 made in 4.86 gregate amount in Jan Dhan crore, but after that the de- Chief Minister lakh accounts totalling to accounts to over ₨87,100 posits went down Okram Ibobi Singh told ₨2,000 crore. crore. substantially. The Hindu that the Between November 10 and “All these information are “The inflow of funds in the government had to December 23, 2016, the total being dissected. If money de- accounts after the first two block the Internet to deposits reported is ₨41,523 posited in these accounts be- weeks was below ₨5,000 maintain communal crore in 48 lakh accounts. long to some other persons, crore a week and then it re- harmony. This, together with the total necessary action will be duced to about ₨1,000 crore deposits of ₨45,637 crore as taken at appropriate time,” per week,” the oicial said. In New Year, services await revised pay

DINAKAR PERI Defence sources have NEW DELHI: As the New Year said that as the issue sets in, there is disgruntle- is complicated, it will ment in the military as they take some more time are yet to receive their re- vised pay under the Seventh to resolve it Pay Commission (SPC). This is because the issue is held Lavasa committee, appoin- up pending resolution of the ted to look into the issue of core concerns raised by the allowances under the SPC, services with respect to their Defence Minister Manohar held its 7th meeting. “The De- civilian counterparts in the Parrikar.—PHOTO: PTI fence Ministry has largely SPC recommendations. supported the concerns of Defence sources said that quest, and thus military per- the services,” the source the government had in prin- sonnel continue to receive added. ciple agreed to most of the the Sixth Pay Commission The services had on sev- core concerns expressed by prescribed salaries unlike eral occasions raised four the services but stated that their civilian counterparts. core concernswhich they the issue being complicated perceive reduce the status of it would take some more Letter to PM, Parrikar the armed forces with re- time. The three Chiefs had writ- spect to their civilian coun- “The issue is currently be- ten to Defence Minister terparts. These include Non ing discussed between the Manohar Parrikar and Prime Functional Upgrade (NFU), Defence and Finance minis- Minister Narendra Modi NFU pay fixation, Military tries and the Prime Minis- over the discrepancies Service Pay (MSP) and com- ter’s Oice. A decision will which were not cleared by mon pay matrix for civil and be taken at the earliest,” a the empowered committee military. source observed. appointed to look into the is- Ahead of Diwali in The Defence Ministry has sue. “The finance wing of the November the Government already issued the imple- Ministry sought the financial approved a one-time 10 per mentation order, which is implication of these con- cent interim relief for milit- pending further process as cerns from the services two ary personnel for a period of the services have not issued weeks ago.” another source 10 months from January to special instructions so far stated. October 2016 pending resol- despite the government’s re- Around the same time, the ution of the issue. CM YK NOIDA/DELHI 14 | WORLD THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017

‘Terrorists’ freed Ankara launches manhunt after club massacre following Bahrain At least 39 are killed as gunman goes on a rampage during New Year celebrations; U.S., Russia, Germany condemn the attack prison raid MUSCAT: A policeman was ISTANBUL: Thirty-nine people, killed on Sunday when including many foreigners, armed men attacked a prison were killed on Sunday when Son of former MP in Bahrain, freeing several a gunman went on a ram- convicted inmates, the In- page at an exclusive terior Ministry said, in what nightclub in Istanbul where among Indian victims it described as a terrorist act. revellers were celebrating SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT According to available It did not provide an exact the New Year. information, Abis Rizvi (49) was number for those who had As police launched a drag- NEW DELHI: Two Indians were the son of former Rajya Sabha MP escaped or identify them but net for the assailant, Presid- among the victims of Sunday’s Akhtar Rizvi. The incident comes said authorities were search- ent Recep Tayyip Erdogan attack in Istanbul. as a shock to the Rizvi family as in ing for them. said the carnage sought to External Affairs Minister 2010 it had lost Abis’s younger Thousands of mainly Shia sow chaos and undermine Sushma Swaraj made the brother Saquib to cancer. Muslim Bahrainis are in jail peace, but that Turkey announcement hours after Prime According to family members, on charges ranging from par- would never bow to the Minister Narendra Modi Abis was on vacation to Turkey to ticipating in anti-govern- threat. condemned the attack. celebrate arrival of New Year. “His ment protests to armed at- The shooting spree at the “I have a bad news from Turkey. father has gone to Turkey after tacks on security forces in waterside Reina nightclub We have lost two Indian nationals learning the news, from where the Western-allied Gulf king- was unleashed when 2017 in in the Istanbul attack. Indian more details are awaited,” said a dom, where the U.S. Fifth Turkey was just 75 minutes Ambassador is on way to Istanbul. family member. Fleet is based. “An armed at- old, after a year of unpreced- The victims are Mr. Abis Rizvi, son Ms. Swaraj also announced tack on the Jau reform and ented bloodshed that saw of a former Rajya Sabha MP, and that the authorities have arranged rehabilitation centre resul- hundreds of people die in Ms. Khushi Shah from Gujarat. I for Turkish visas for the relatives ted in the death of policeman strikes blamed on Kurdish have asked Rahul Kulshreshth, of Ms. Shah, the other deceased. Abdul Salam Saif and the es- militants and jihadists and a Indian Ambassador in Turkey, to Rizvi builders are among the cape of a number of inmates bloody failed coup. receive the families at the airport top real estate companies in the convicted of terrorist and make all arrangements,” Ms. city, with over 200 projects in crimes,” the Ministry said in 700 in the club Swaraj said in her message. Mumbai and Goa. a statement posted on its The assailant shot dead a Twitter account. policeman and a civilian at A Bahraini court in Janu- the club entrance and then attacks than any other year in purge of his alleged support- ary last year sentenced 57 went on the rampage inside the history of the country. ers from state institutions. men to 15-year jail terms for where up to 700 people were On December 10, 44 “It’s hard to imagine a taking part in a 2015 riot in- ringing in the New Year. people were killed in a crime more cynical than the side Jau prison, which is loc- Interior Minister Suley- double bombing in Istanbul killing of civilians during a ated outside the capital Man- man Soylu said the attacker after a football match hosted New Year’s celebration,” ama. Bahraini security forces had escaped and was now by top side Besiktas, an at- Russian President Vladimir tear-gassed and beat inmates the target of a major man- tack claimed by the Kur- Putin said in a condolence at the prison while trying to hunt, expressing hope the distan Freedom Falcons message to Mr. Erdogan. quell clashes that erupted suspect “would be captured (TAK), seen as a radical of- Two weeks ago, an of- during family visits, local hu- soon”. shoot of the outlawed PKK duty policeman assassinated man rights group Bahrain Many revellers threw rebel group. In June, 47 Russia’s Ambassador to Tur- Youth Society for Human themselves into the water in people were killed in a triple key in an Ankara art gallery. rights said at the time. panic. Dogan news agency suicide bombing and gun at- The United States and Bahrain crushed mass said the gunman was tack at Istanbul’s Ataturk air- France voiced outrage at Arab Spring protests in 2011 dressed in a Santa Claus out- port, with authorities blam- Sunday’s attack and said they but continued to sufer occa- fit, although this has yet to ing IS. stood alongside their NATO sional outbursts mostly by be confirmed. Mr. Soylu said said two Tunisians lost their men in cocktail dresses — The attack evoked least 17,000 police oicers ally in its fight against terror. majority Shias demanding the gunman had arrived with lives. An Israeli woman was emerging from the nightclub memories of the November had been deployed and Failed coup German Chancellor An- reforms and a bigger share in a gun concealed underneath killed and another injured, in a state of shock. 2015 carnage in Paris when some, as is customary in Mainly Muslim Turkey’s gela Merkel condemned “an running the island state an overcoat but sub- Israel’s Foreign Ministry Mr. Erdogan said in a Islamic State jihadists went Turkey, dressed themselves religious afairs agency Diy- inhumane, sneaky attack on wedged between regional sequently exited the venue said. statement that with such at- on a gun and bombing ram- as Santa Claus as cover, ac- anet condemned the attack, people who wanted to celeb- rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia. wearing a diferent garment. Istanbul Governor Vasip tacks, “they are working to page on nightspots in the cording to television re- saying the fact it took place in rate” while Pope Francis con- In June, 17 prisoners broke No-one has yet claimed Sahin said at the scene on the destroy our country’s mor- French capital, killing 130 ports. “Just as we were set- a nightclub “was no diferent demned the shooting in his out of Al-Hadd jail east of responsibility for the blood- shores of the Bosphorus that ale and create chaos”. Tur- people including 90 at the tling down, by the door there to it being in a market or New Year message. Manama, but the authorities shed. Family Minister Fatma the attacker “targeted inno- key would deploy every Bataclan concert hall. From was a lot of dust and smoke. place of worship”. The bloodbath came as the recaptured 11 of them the Betul Sayan Kaya indicated cent people who had only means to fight “terror organ- Sydney to Paris, Rio to Lon- Gunshots rang out,” said Turkey is still reeling from Turkish Army wages a four- next day. there were many Arabs come here to celebrate the isations” and the countries don, security had been boos- witness Sefa Boydas, a pro- a failed July coup blamed by month incursion in Syria to Shias in the country com- among the wounded. Jordan New Year and have fun”. supporting them, Mr. Er- ted over fears that the New fessional footballer. “When I the government on the U.S.- oust IS jihadists and Kurdish plain of discrimination by said three of its nationals Television pictures dogan said, without giving Year festivities could was walking, people were based Islamic preacher militants from the border the Sunni-led monarchy, a mere killed while the showed party-goers — in- details on which groups or present a target for violent walking on top of people.” Fethullah Gulen that has area, sufering increasing charge the government Tunisian Foreign Ministry cluding men in suits and wo- nations he was referring to. extremists. In Istanbul, at Turkey in 2016 saw more been followed by a relentless casualties. — AFP denies. — Reuters, AFP 23 killed as North Korea close to Indonesia ferry Legion d’Honneur Religious extremists blamed catches fire for Nice heroes for Bangladesh MP’s murder launching ICBM: Kim SEOUL: North Korean leader It tested ballistic JAKARTA: A massive fire erup- PARIS: A man who tried to halt HAROON HABIB in the chest and once in the Kim Jong-un said on Sunday ted in a boat carrying hun- the rampage of the truck arm. that the isolated nuclear cap- missiles at an dreds of local tourists to an driver who mowed down 86 DHAKA: Bangladesh’s religious Condemning the killing, able country was close to unprecedented rate in island north of the Indone- people in Nice last year was extremists have been Prime Minister Sheikh Has- test-launching an intercon- 2016, with the last sian capital Jakarta on among 22 citizens included blamed for the killing of ina has asked the law en- tinental ballistic missile Sunday, leaving at least 23 on France’s New Year’s hon- Manjurul Islam Liton, a rul- forcement agencies to bring (ICBM). one on Sept. 9 dead and 17 injured, oicials ours list on Sunday. ing Awami League Member the killers to book. North Korea tested bal- said. Franck Terrier chased of Parliament who was shot listic missiles at an unpre- were tightened last month Passengers panicked and after the truck on his scooter dead in northern Gaibandha Protests in district cedented rate during 2016, after Pyongyang conducted jumped into the sea as flames as Mohamed Lahouaiej district on Saturday. Leaders and activists of although some experts have its fifth and largest nuclear and smoke rapidly engulfed Bouhlel ploughed along the Mr. Liton was shot at by local units of the ruling party said it is years away from de- test on Sept. 9. the Zahro Express shortly Nice promenade on July 14, several unknown attackers Manjurul Islam Liton, who also demonstrated in north- veloping an ICBM fitted A successful ICBM test after it left port to head to the using the 19-tonne vehicle to Franck Terrier, who at his home in Sundarganj on was shot dead on Saturday. ern Gaibandha and Sundar- with a nuclear warhead cap- launch would mark a signi- popular holiday island of crush people celebrating tried to halt the march Saturday evening. He was — SCREENSHOT: YOUTUBE ganj upazila, blocking the able of reaching the United ficant step forward for se- Tidung, the national disaster Bastille Day, France’s na- of the attacker. rushed to the Rangpur Med- railway lines demanding the States. cretive Pyongyang’s agency said. tional holiday. ical College Hospital where Bangladeshis were begin- attackers’ arrest. weapons capability. When Mr. Terrier drew up Alexandre Nigues, a cyc- doctors declared him dead. ning to celebrate,” Mr. Mr. Liton had earlier ‘In last stage’ ICBMs have a minimum ‘Electrical fault’ alongside the truck he clung list who tried unsuccessfully Police could not immedi- Quader said, adding the drawn widespread flak after “Research and develop- range of about 5,500 km, but Another 17 people were onto the cab and punched to wrench open the door of ately give any specific killing of the MP was a “pre- he allegedly shot a 10-year- ment of cutting edge arms some are designed to travel missing and 194 were res- the 31-year-old Tunisian the moving truck, also re- reason behind the attack. meditated murder”. He also old boy in Gaibandha on Oc- equipment is actively pro- 10,000 km or further. The cued following the blaze through the open window ceived the Legion d’Hon- said that the state will ensure tober 2 last year. He was ar- gressing and ICBM rocket U.S. State of California is which started with an explo- but failed to bring him to a neur, along with the two of- ‘Premeditated murder’ that those responsible will rested but later granted bail. test launch preparation is in roughly 9,000 km from sion in the engine room that halt. ficers who chased the However, the ruling party pay a high price for the Mr. Liton is the second in- its last stage,” Mr. Kim said North Korea. However, the Transport Ministry said “I was ready to die,” the vehicle on foot and shot dead General Secretary Obaidul crime. cumbent MP killed by gun- during a televised New North Korea has struggled to was accidental and could airport worker, who received Bouhlel, ending his rampage. Quader blamed religious ex- Mr. Liton’s family mem- men after the 2005 murder of Year’s Day speech. reliably deploy its intermedi- have been caused by an elec- the Legion d’Honneur, Several doctors and fire- tremists for the murder. bers said that three men rid- top Awami League leader The country has been un- ate-range Musudan ballistic trical fault. Fatal boat acci- France’s highest award, told fighters also received awards “The attack was planned to ing on a motorbike came to and ex-Finance Minister der UN sanctions since 2006 missile, succeeding just once dents are common in In- Nice Matin newspaper at the for their assistance to the in- coincide with New Year’s their house on Saturday Shah A.M.S. Kibria in north- over its nuclear and ballistic in eight attempted launches donesia. — AFP time. jured. — AFP celebrations, coming just as evening. He was shot at twice eastern Habiganj. missile tests. The sanctions last year. — Reuters

Park denies charges of wrongdoing Trump still sceptical of Russia’s role in hacking saying that the accusations against her were “fabrication PALM BEACH (FLORIDA): U.S. Pres- and falsehood”. She also said ident-elect Donald Trump that she was set up over on Saturday left open the Obama works hard to cement allegations that she ordered possibility of meeting with the government to support a Taiwan’s President if she vis- 2015 merger of two affiliates its the United States after he Samsung, a deal which has is sworn in on Jan. 20 and legacy before he demits oice SEOUL: South Korea’s become central to the probe. also expressed continued impeached President Park WASHINGTON: Two days after the the ranks of the government with Geun-hye on Sunday broke a She also denied that her scepticism over whether friend Choi Soon-sil was Russia was responsible for election, President Barack Obama his own appointees; since month-long silence over her sat by President-elect Donald Election Day, he has named 103 alleged role in a corruption allowed to wield undue and computer hacks of Demo- scandal, publicly denying wide-reaching influence over cratic Party oicials. Trump’s side in the Oval Office people to senior Civil Service charges of wrongdoing and state affairs. — Reuters In remarks to reporters and declared that the No. 1 jobs, boards, key commissions upon entering a New Year’s priority in his last days in the and oversight panels. Eve celebration at his Mar-a- White House would be ensuring a He is also pushing ahead with Deal reached to end DR Congo crisis Lago estate, Mr. Trump said, smooth transition of power. his goal of freeing nonviolent “We’ll see,” when pressed on What Mr. Obama did not say drug offenders from federal KINSHASA: Rival groups on whether he would meet Tsai ROLE-PLAY: A swimmer dressed as Donald Trump takes part in was that he also intended to set prisons. And on Wednesday, he Sunday agreed a deal for Ing-wen, Taiwan’s President the New Year’s Day swim on Sunday as others dressed as up as many policy and ideological will meet with Democratic hauling DR Congo out of a if she were to be in the Mexicans hold up a wall, at Saundersfoot, U.K. — PHOTO: REUTERS roadblocks as possible before Mr. lawmakers to discuss ways to perilous political crisis. United States at any point Trump takes his oath of office on U.S. President Barack Obama protect the Affordable Care Act. Under a landmark accord, after he becomes President. On another foreign policy role in Mr. Trump’s victory January 20. With less than three delivering his Cairo speech in To many conservatives, Mr. the country’s contested Taiwan’s President will be in matter, Mr. Trump warned over Democratic presiden- weeks before the Obama White June 2009.— FILE PHOTO: REUTERS Obama is acting out of spite as President, Joseph Kabila (in transit in Houston on Jan. 7 against being quick to pin the tial candidate Hillary Clin- House is history, the President is much as conviction. picture), who under the and again will be in transit in blame on Russia for the hack- ton. “I think it’s unfair if we using every power at his disposal Russia for interfering in the White House aides note many Constitution should have left named from Opposition San Francisco on Jan. 13. ing of U.S. e-mails. The don’t know. It could be some- to cement his legacy. recent elections through of the President’s last-minute office on December 20, will ranks. The deal was reached Mr. Trump, citing pro- Washington Post also repor- body else. I also know things cyberattacks. actions were put in motion stay in power until elections after talks launched by the tocol, said he would not meet ted on Friday that Moscow that other people don’t know Bans and roadblocks The next President may be months or even years before the are held at the “end of 2017”. Roman Catholic church amid with any foreign leaders could be behind intrusion so we cannot be sure,” Mr. He has banned oil drilling off able to roll back some of those outcome of the election was During this 12-month escalating violence, claiming while President Barack into a laptop owned by a Ver- Trump said. the Atlantic coast, established actions, a point Mr. Obama’s top clear. period, a so-called National between 40 and 100 lives as Obama is still in oice. mont electric utility. Asked what that informa- new environmental monuments, aides concede. But every step the But they represent a Transition Council will be set Mr. Kabila’s second and final Talk of a stop-over in the U.S. intelligence oicials tion included, the Repub- protected funding for Planned President takes requires Mr. determination by the 44th up, headed by Opposition mandate ended and he United States by the Taiwan have said that they are con- lican President-elect said, Parenthood clinics, ordered the Trump to overcome one more President to squeeze in every last leader Etienne Tshisekedi, showed no signs of stepping President has further rattled fident Russia was behind the “You will find out on Tues- transfer of detainees from hurdle as he seeks to change Obama-era achievement before and a Prime Minister will be down. — AFP Washington-Beijing hacks of political figures, day or Wednesday.” — Guantanamo Bay, criticised direction in Washington. Mr. Trump takes over. — New relations. which could have played a Reuters Israeli settlements and punished Mr. Obama is continuing to fill York Times News Service

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 BUSINESS 15 Myntra aims to become profitable in 2018 Royal Enfield sales rise 42% in Dec. Nissan India sales up 21% in December Myntra said it aimed to turn profitable by March Royal Enfield, the two-wheeler division of Eicher Nissan Motor India reported a 21 per cent jump 2018 by rationalising costs, lowering discounts Motors, reported a 42 per cent jump in total in sales at 3,711 units in December, against 3,065 and introducing more private labels. — PTI sales at 57,398 units in December 2016. — PTI units in the same month a year ago. — PTI Centre permits ‘Demonetisation alters 12 PSU banks to ‘Hoarded black money to be raise ₨3,000 crore economy’s recovery path’ NEW DELHI: In a bid to TCA SHARAD RAGHAVAN strengthen the capital base converted into cheaper loans’ of public sector banks NEW DELHI: The Centre’s de- (PSBs), the Centre has al- Transfer of wealth will change spending habits of the people, says Jaitley monetisation move has hurt lowed 12 lenders to raise private consumption and im- close to ₨3,000 crore via pref- SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT insolvency law, the creation Jaitley said that it process has pacted sectors such as real erential shares over and of the Monetary Policy Com- been completed in “a very estate, automobiles and above the ₨22,915 crore cap- NEW DELHI: The future agenda mittee, and the passage of the successful and peaceful FMCG, which in turn has ital support committed to of the government, as stated constitutional amendment manner”, with the whole altered the economy’s recov- them in July last year. by Prime Minister Narendra bill on the Goods and Ser- country supporting it ery path in the short-term, The Finance Ministry Modi in his speech on New vices Tax, Mr. Jaitley added overwhelmingly. economists said. granted approval to 12 PSBs Year’s eve, is to channel the that he was confident that “The remonetisation pro- But it could yield some be- to raise a sum of ₨2,914.038 wealth that was previously 2017 would see GST being cess has progressed ex- nefits in the medium- to crore through preferential being hoarded as black implemented. tremely well and I am sure in long-term, provided follow- allotment and permission money into cheaper capital “Last year we saw a large the days to come it will be up measures are taken and was given to raise ₨200 crore for afordable housing, wo- number of major economic very soon completed,” he there’s no return to an era of by United Bank of India men’s health, the agriculture steps taken by the govern- said. “The benefits of this are inspectors and tax terrorism, through the QIP mode. The sector, and medium and ment. We had the Monetary already flowing into the sys- according to economists. CASH DEBATE: Sectors that rely on household consumption have Centre had already infused a small enterprises, Finance Policy Committee, we are tem. What was the shadow “One big reason for the been hit by demonetisation, says an economist. — FILE PHOTO sum of ₨25,000 crore in 19 Minister Arun Jaitley said on Arun Jaitley now keeping inflation under economy and black money slowdown post-demonetisa- PSBs during FY16. Seventy- Sunday. control, there is a specified has now lost its anonymity tion is that it came in at a “Demand has taken a hit, demand for products. So if five per cent of the ₨22,915 Mr. Jaitley added the re- transfer of this wealth which target and consequently we and come into the banking time when the spending whether it is in automobiles, demand picks up then capa- crore has been allotted and monetisation process is pro- was being hoarded as black have also seen the interest system. This will lead to a cycles should have started, motorcycles, real estate, or city utilisation can improve the rest will be based on per- gressing “extremely well” money now as cheaper cap- rates coming down which changed spending habit of which have now slowed construction. Except, of and that’s when you go in for formance. — PTI and would be completed ital in these areas is the fu- hopefully should come down the people.” down on account of the course, as the Finance Minis- fresh investment.” very soon. ture agenda of the govern- further,” he said. “And obviously it will shortage of currency, which ter pointed out on Thursday, “I see 2017 as a year whose ment. The Finance Ministry “And for the implementa- mean the more lending capa- has afected quite a few in- unexpectedly, the airlines Message against graft agenda has been set last will do its best to implement tion of GST this year, we are city of the banks and the cost dustries especially con- have shown improvement.” Mr. Kumar, however, be- Maruti sales night by the Prime Minister,” every word of what the PM moving at a fairly good pace. of capital will come down,” sumer goods, automobiles, In the run-up to the de- lieved that demonetisation Mr. Jaitley said. “Cheaper has announced yesterday.” And, I am sure 2017 will see Mr. Jaitley added. “There real estate, FMCG goods, and monetisation announce- will have medium-to-long decline 1% in loans for afordable housing, this historic indirect tax re- will be more taxation re- textiles,” Madan Sabnavis, ment on November 8, private term benefits for the eco- women’s health, for the agri- Major reforms form in India, which will be ceipts of the government, so chief economist at Care Rat- sector investment was on the nomy as an increasing share December cultural sector, for the While saying that 2016 saw the biggest ever tax reform the government’s ability to ings told The Hindu. cusp of a recovery on the of economic activity gets MSMEs, and therefore several major economic re- since independence.” spend and support the “Several sectors that rely back of recovering house- formalised, not to mention NEW DELHI: The country’s cheaper capital and the forms like the passage of the On demonetisation, Mr. spending will also increase.” on household consumption hold demand, easing infla- the message such a policy largest carmaker Maruti Su- have been afected by de- tion, and the boost to agricul- move will send against cor- zuki India (MSI) reported a monetisation; therefore, ture due to the stronger ruption and black-money one per cent decline in total there will be a push-back on monsoon. This momentum hoarders. sales to 1,17,908 units in Opportunity to lower corporate tax rates: CII the overall growth of in- has since been lost, and will “If this move has been suc- December 2016 as against dustry.” likely begin to return only in cessful in capturing a part of 1,19,149 units in the year-ago SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT “In our recommendations lowering the tax rate to 18 per vestment in public sector en- Mr. Sabnavis added that the next financial year. the informal, black economy, period. The company’s do- for Budget 2017-18, CII has cent and removing all tax ex- terprises and encourage even spending by the farm- “It looked like consumer which is estimated to be 40 mestic sales stood at 1,06,414 NEW DELHI: The widening of called for reducing the cor- emptions will not negatively public-private partnerships. ing community, which was spending would continue to per cent of GDP, those num- units, down 4.4 per cent from the tax net due to demonet- porate income tax rate to 18 impact government reven- expected to pick up due to improve in October and bers will now be reflected in 1,11,333 units in December isation will give the Centre per cent, including all sur- ues on this head,” he said. Innovation fund the higher kharif output and November and so private in- the formal GDP numbers, so 2015, MSI said in a statement. an opportunity to lower cor- charges and cess, along with “The 18 per cent rate will CII also recommended the the stronger monsoon, has vestment could pick up,” Mr. that will likely lead to an in- Sales of mini segment cars, porate tax rates, according to removal of all tax incentives bring India in line with at- government work towards been squeezed due to des- Sabnavis said. “But that is crease in the growth num- including Alto and WagonR, the Confederation of Indian and concessions.” tractive international invest- the creation of better quality pair sales taking place be- something that has gotten bers,” Mr. Kumar said. “So, declined by 15.3 per cent to Industry. The trade body, in a CII noted that there were ment destinations such as jobs in the formal sector, and cause of the unavailability of thwarted.” the efect could be an uptick 31,527 units during the statement, added that the 32 incentives applicable on Singapore and the U.K.” a national technology cash and the fact that all “Private investment prior in the GDP numbers in the month under review as com- roll-out of the GST will also corporate profits before cal- “Less-cash use implies strategy with a ten-fold in- mandi transactions are car- to demonetisation was sub- third or fourth quarter.” pared with 37,234 units in be facilitated due to the in- culating tax, which resulted higher tracking of transac- crease in public investment ried out in cash. dued, but we were on the “However, its success will December 2015, MSI said in a creasing formalisation of in an efective tax rate of tions, which feeds into better in research in higher educa- precipice of seeing some- be dependent on the follow- statement. transactions. “With a larger about 19.8 per cent. and more eicient imple- tion institutions. “Public in- Demand hit thing happening,” Mr. Sab- up measures which have to However, exports during share of the economy cap- mentation of GST,” he said. vestment in research in the “The sector-specific im- navis added. be persistent and yet not the month under review in- tured in the tax net, the gov- Higher compliance Apart from reducing cor- higher education sector is mediate efects of demonet- “A major reason invest- heavy-handed, so that we creased by 47.1 per cent to ernment has greater space to “Going by experience, it is porate tax rates, CII also re- currently 0.04 per cent of isation have been mostly ment is not taking place is don’t need an emergence of 11,494 units as compared lower corporate income tax found that a lower tax rate commended that the govern- GDP and this should be in- negative,” Rajiv Kumar, because we have surplus ca- ‘inspector raj’ or tax terror- with 7,816 units in December rates,” Chandrajit Banerjee, encourages higher compli- ment boost its infrastructure creased to the global average Senior Fellow at the Centre pacity. We have surplus ca- ism in the country,” Mr. Ku- 2015, MSI said. — PTI Director General of CII said. ance; hence, we believe that investments, quicken disin- of 0.4 per cent.” for Policy Research said. pacity because there is low mar added. NOIDA/DELHI 16 | BUSINESS THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 BOTTOMLINE Packing food, drugs at a blistering pace global round-up Car owner files suit against Tesla, About 80 per cent of cold-form blister packaging is currently imported and the aim is to bring that figure down to zero claims sudden acceleration Tesla Motors Inc was sued on LALATENDU MISHRA India imports packaging Friday by a Model X owner who material valued at said his electric SUV suddenly he Indian packaging industry is accelerated while being parked, more than ₨360 crore causing it to crash through the Tturning a new leaf. garage into owner’s living room, The more than $25 billion Indian per year for pharmaceutical injuring the driver and a packaging industry, growing at a products alone passenger. The Model X owner, Ji rate of about 10 per cent, is initiating Chang Son, said that one night in major steps to develop innovative September, he slowly pulled into packaging for all segments, but “Once we have those standards, his driveway as his garage door mainly for pharmaceutical and food our products will have demand in opened when the car suddenly products, even as the country bids the international market, our inter- sped forward. “The vehicle to radically boost its exports. national trade will increase and our spontaneously began to These eforts are aimed at redu- balance of payments will come accelerate at full power, jerking cing the import of packaging materi- down. Our exports will see a forward and crashing through the interior wall of the garage, als and to produce those materials in quantum jump. That is one aspect destroying several wooden support beams in the wall and a India so that the country becomes the government is keen on seeing,” steel sewer pipe, among other things, and coming to rest in self-reliant and emerges as a key he said. Plaintiffs’ living room,” the lawsuit said. The lawsuit alleges supplier base for the world. It is important to adopt very high product liability, negligence andbreaches of warranty, and Currently, India imports large standards both for domestic and ex- seeks unspecified damages. The luxury Model X, launched in volumes of packaging material. Both port markets because packaging late 2015 X, was Tesla'sfirst sport utility vehicle. In its the industry and the government are helps in enhancing the value and life marketing, Tesla claims the Model X is the safest SUV in history. — Reuters working to reduce such imports. In- span of a product. dia imports packaging materials of To begin with, importance has more than ₨360 crore per year for been accorded to pharmaceutical packaging of pharmaceutical packaging which has vast potential China's Midea receives U.S. products alone. for growth. Developed countries use, and de- green light for Kuka takeover mand, advanced packaging for phar- Focus on RoW China's Midea said it would maceuticals to keep products safe. About 55 per cent of the pharma- complete its takeover of These are done through cold-form ceutical export market is regulated German robotics maker Kuka in blister packaging which is used ex- where little more needs to be done. the first half of January after the United States authorities tensively around the world. India is For, importers lay down specific gave the deal a green light. now beginning to adopt such pack- standards that are required to be ad- Midea, which launched a 4.5 aging techniques in a major way. PRODUCT LIFE: Though the primary objective of packaging is to ensure quality, the broader goal is to increase the shelf opted while packing, the focus is billion euro ($5 billion) offerfor lives of products through affordable packaging. — FILE PHOTO: AFP now on to improve packaging for ex- Kuka in May, said Germany's Imports at 80% ports to the RoW markets. markets regulator had approved Currently, 80 per cent of cold- avoid importing it, we developed ingly the Nano percolation test will a far higher standard, at par with the Worldwide, packaging is a $975 the settlement of the form blister packaging is imported. packaging using isotropic polyester be done. developed world is in the works and billion industry and is expected to transaction, allowing it to “Why does it have to be imported? film on both sides which does the “Ultimately, I see an India where would be made mandatory for pack- reach close to $1000 billion this year. control a 94.55 percent voting Why can’t we make it in India? That job and now we have given it to 50 there will be thousands of such units aging of products for the export The Indian packaging industry is stake in Kuka from January. The is the direction in which we are pharmaceutical companies to do the put up all over the countryside to markets. estimated at $25 billion and is set to bid for Kuka sparked working,” said Amitava Ray, an in- testing.” he said. enhance exports of farm products,” The Union Commerce Ministry grow to $30 billion by 2020. The goal controversy in Germany amid dustry veteran and wholetime dir- Once proven successful, these Mr. Ray said. has constituted an expert commit- is to grab a chunky pie of the global fears that key technologies were falling into foreign hands at ector at Uflex Ltd. will be introduced for the exports The same is with floriculture tee comprising importers, players market, industry insiders said. The a time when China protects its own companies against In packaging, India has tradition- markets and then in the domestic where India has already made a from the packaging industry and industry also has scope for provid- foreign takeovers. Kuka said in a separate statement on Friday ally looked to post-World War II Ja- market. name in the international market. other experts to review existing ing large scale employment. that the deal could now go ahead. “The United States pan for inspiration. While the in- “We believe that in the next two A few weeks ago, the Flexible standards and formulate new stand- Though the primary objective of government authorities Committee onForeign Investment in dustry there derived from western years neither would we have to im- Packaging Association (FPA) of ards which will be implemented packaging is to enhance the value of the United States and the Directorate ofDefense Trade packaging methods, they were in- port for the rest of the world pack- America, regarded as tops in the within a couple of years. the product and to ensure quality Controls on December 29, 2016 have cleared thetakeover of Kuka,” Kuka said. — Reuters tegrated with the traditional Japan- aging nor for the regulated mar- field of packaging, awarded India a “The Government of India has standards, the broader objective is ese concept of packaging called kets,” Mr. Ray said. gold medal, its highest recognition formed an expert committee to to increase the shelf lives of Tsutsumi - which is described as the for modified atmosphere packaging study the packaging standards re- products through afordable pack- concept of gentle concealment, Modified atmosphere packaging because it has extended the shelf life quired to be met by the country in a aging. And this gels well with the Continental CEO says jobs will be which in turn, is a part of the tradi- Since India is one of the largest of fruits and flowers being exported highly competitive global market,” ‘Make in India’ initiative of the tional Japanese sense of beauty. producers of agriculture products, from India. Dr. Inderjit Singh, Additional Sec- government. lost in shift to electric cars Similarly, the Indian packaging in- mainly fruits and vegetables, max- A higher standard of packaging retary, Union Ministry of Com- Dr N.C. Saha, Director, Indian In- The shift to electric vehicles dustry started manufacturing cold- imum emphasis is now given to in- obviously has advantages for busi- merce and Industry had said. stitute of Packaging, the apex body will cost jobs at German form packaging material for phar- crease the shelf life of these nesses organisations but more im- “India’s packaging standards for packaging, said the government automotive supplier maceuticals, tablets and capsules in products and to reduce wastage portantly, it has potential to bring must match the rest of the world or had identified a few products that Continental, its chief executive told a newspaper, but he said India, industry consultants said. through innovative packaging. significant benefits to the country’s the western world so that we are have export potential. “There we many of those jobs would be “We brought in the latest equip- As per rough calculations, up to economy. able to compete with them, rather need a packaging standard,” Dr. offset by new positions related ment, we learnt the technology be- 40 per cent of such produce gets Every day planeloads of raw meat exceed their standards. That is the Saha said. India has an old pack- to electro-mobility. “Due to the cause we did not have the techno- wasted at farms due to lack of appro- is exported to the Middle Eastern purpose,” Dr. Singh had said. aging standard for tea which is being low added value, production logy partner anywhere in the world priate logistics and a cold chain. countries and we just get the basic upgraded. It is also updating pack- jobs will be lost,” German and then we developed our own To deal with this problem, the price as value addition is done there. aging standards for spices. These weekly paper Welt am Sonntag technology,” Mr. Ray said. packaging industry has developed “It is the same old story. Cotton was sectors have significant export quoted Elmar Degenhart as “Our objective is not to go for any modified atmosphere packaging. grown in India and sent to England potential. saying in a summary of an import. Are we there as yet? No. Still Each fruit and vegetable has a cer- for processing so value addition To avoid imports, we used “The standards committee will article ahead of publication. He said it was too soon to say imports are coming but I am abso- tain respiratory rate. If a set of fruits went there. The hard work was done isotropic polyester film on take up (products) one by one. We whether the number of jobs that would be lost would be lutely sure that in the next year or is packed using modified atmo- here. So why can’t we do the value- have our own packaging standard, bigger or smaller than the number of new positions created. two, there will be no need to im- sphere packaging, which in turn addition here by processing, pack- both sides for packaging, the BIS is just voluntary. The new “There is enough time to design the process such that the port,” he added. uses Nano technology, its shelf life aging and supplying,” asked Mr. Ray. and about 50 pharma standard will be mandatory for ex- blow is softened and major pain can be avoided,” he said. The product [laminate] that is be- gets extended. firms are now testing it ports.” Dr. Saha said. Some 30,000 of 218,000 jobs at Continental are dependent ing made has biaxial oriented nylon “This is a vast field. We have not Higher standards soon “We will go by the priority (accor- on combustion engines, the paper said. Continental had said on one side and Polyvinyl Chloride even scratched the surface of this. India has its own packaging Amitava Ray ded to) sectors and the standards in November that it would increase spending on electric-car (PVC) fills on the other. Equipment will measure the respir- standard in the form of BIS certifica- Director, Uflex Ltd. will be established in a year or two,” parts but expects to avert any major impact on its earnings “Both these are imported. To atory rate of each item and accord- tion which is voluntary in nature but he added. through additional sales from new R&D projects. — Reuters

INTERVIEW  RAKESH SINGH Smart electricity meters can Demand for housing loans will rise again be dangerously insecure

OOMMEN A. NINAN circulation and therefore optimisation of loan been well-recognised, with There exists a huge ALEX HERN the economy coming back application cycle times. the core strengths of shortfall in housing units in Joining Aditya Birla on track. The basic demand Also, the focus in the future NBFCs being strong India and about 90 per cent mart electricity meters, Finance Limited (ABFL) as will not disappear but would be on digitising customer relationships, of this shortfall is in Sof which there are more Chief Executive Oicer in (will) only get pushed out. customer journeys as much excellent understanding of afordable segments. This than 100 million installed 2011 from Standard When it does make a as possible, so that existing regional dynamics, well- provides a huge around the world, are fre- Chartered Bank, where he comeback; it will make up products could be routed developed collection opportunity for Housing quently “dangerously insec- spent 15 years, Rakesh for some of the slowdown through the digital flow. systems and personalised Finance Companies to tap ure,” a security expert has Singh spearheaded the that has happened. Another key driver would services. into. said. diversified Non-Banking While the structural be how agile and adaptive In this function, they are The lack of security in the Finance Company (NBFC) growth story of NBFCs is NBFCs are to customer perceived to be playing a • Impact and implications on smart utilities raises the pro- cutting across retail, expected to remain intact needs, Keeping in mind the complimentary role to the real estate sector and the spect of a single line of mali- MSME, SME, mid- in the medium- to long- agenda of financial banks rather than being way forward after cious code cutting power to a corporate and structured term, this event will bring a inclusion as well as need competitors, reaching out demonetisation? home or even causing a cata- finance solution verticals section of MSMEs into the for credit, NBFCs would in areas where banks have a strophic overload leading to within the Aditya Birla formal ambit of banking. need to scale up and roll- limited presence and also There is a very strong and exploding meters or house Financial Services group. With surplus liquidity out products at a pace to segments which are primary demand for fires, according to Netanel HACKER POWER: Hackers could well control all smart devices He also served as director infusion into the banking required by existing and credit-starved and not housing in the country. Rubin, co-founder of the se- connected to the electricity meter. — FILE PHOTO on the board of Aditya system, we also expect to new customer segments. served by banks. Also, After demonetisation has curity firm Vaultra. Birla Housing Finance see customer segments NBFCs can scale up much hit the economy, customers “Reclaim your home,” Mr. smart meters were hacked en Worse still, said Mr. Rubin, Limited and Aditya Birla such as the SMEs moving • How have NBFCs faster than banks as they are adopting a wait-and- Rubin told hackers and se- masse, leading to widespread all the meters from one util- Money with responsibility to formal means of funding differentiating themselves are more agile and watch strategy with regard curity experts, “or someone billing fraud, and in 2015 a ity used the same hard- for building these and hence benefit NBFCs from banks? considering the scale to housing prices. However, else will.” If a hacker took house fire in Ontario was coded credentials. “If an at- businesses respectively. over the course of next required for financial the basic demand for control of a smart meter, they traced back to a faulty smart tacker gains access to one According to him, NBFCs fiscal year. The role of NBFCs as inclusion and meeting housing is not going to would be able to know “ex- meter, although hacking was meter, it gains access to them can scale up much faster efective intermediaries has credit demand, NBFCs are disappear. Once the actly when and how much not implicated in that. all. It is the one key to rule than banks as they are • What will be the future well positioned for this availability of cash is electricity you’re using,” Mr. them all.” Inside the home, more agile and given the driver for the NBFC sector? agenda. normalised, there will again Rubin told the 33rd Chaos Outdated protocols too, the communications are scale required for financial be demand for loans, Communications Congress The problems at the heart rendered insecure by out- inclusion and meeting A big under-banked and • What is the outlook for the especially in the market for in Hamburg. An attacker of the insecurity stem from dated standards and bad im- credit demand. un-banked section of affordable housing housing. could also see if a home had outdated protocols, half- plementation. He says NBFCs are well society will be available for segment in the country any expensive electronics. hearted implementations Almost all smart meters positioned for financial NBFC Micro-financiers and profitability at the • What is your strategy to “He can do billing fraud, and weak design principles. use the Zigbee standard to inclusion following the and other diferentiated bottom of the pyramid? maintain top-line growth for setting your bill to whatever While the physical secur- speak to other smart devices demonetisation of high- lending platforms. One the Aditya Birla Financial he likes ... The scary thing is ity of smart meters is strong in the home. Zigbee, which value currency notes. needs to create Afordable housing Services (ABFS) group? if you think about the power — “trust me, I tried” to hack dates from 2003, is a home customised solutions for has immense they have over your electri- in that way, Mr. Rubin said — automation standard, used • How do you view these segments. The potential in the We would be focussing on city. He will have power over the wireless protocols many for controlling everything demonetisation and its impact sector, going forward, country as the three strategic areas in all of your smart devices con- of them use are problematic. from lightbulbs to air condi- on the economy, especially on would also be driven by current Mortgage to order to maintain top-line nected to the electricity. This To communicate with the tioners. But it is so convo- the NBFC segment? the extent of digitisation GDP ratio for India is growth: focus on retail will have more severe con- utility company, most smart luted, due to the vast array of and automation through only at around 9 per client base to further sequences: imagine you meters use GSM, the 2G mo- devices supported, that it is There was an immediate technology for delivering cent, which is very low granularise business and woke up to find you’d been bile standard. That has a almost better to think of it as wait-and-watch situation products to customers. compared with developed diversify portfolio; digital robbed by a burglar who fairly well-known weakness 15 diferent standards, each post-demonetisation but This would be led by countries. Housing for all lending products as well as didn’t have to break in. whereby an attacker with a of which vendors can choose things are coming back to reduction in customer by 2022 is one of the big digitisation of lending “But even if you don’t have fake mobile tower can cause to implement as they see fit. normal. Even if there a turnaround time agendas for this across existing business smart devices, you are still at devices to “hand over” to the “This unique situation is slowdown for a quarter or and government. lines to expand further into risk. An attacker who con- fake version from the real so diicult to implement, so, the growth will come existing and new customer trols the meter also controls tower, simply by providing a vendors actually choose back fast as the underlying segments; and cross-selling the meter’s software, allow- strong signal. In GSM, what they want to imple- demand is always there in of products across ing him to cause it to literally devices have to authenticate ment. And when they choose the economy. We are businesses in the explode.” Mr. Rubin said with towers, but not the what to support, they more talking about money customer bases of ABFL many of the warnings were other way round, allowing often than not skip security,” coming back into and ABFS. not hypothetical. the fake mast to send its own Mr. Rubin said. — The In 2009 Puerto Rican commands to the meter. Guardian

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 SPORT 17 Telecast schedule Guptill’s injury keeps Broom in squad Kerber enjoying pressure Ranji Trophy semifinal: Tamil Nadu vs Mumbai, STAR Sports 4 & HD 4, 9.30 a.m.; Neil Broom’s return to international cricket was extended on Germany’s Angelique Kerber says she is enjoying the South Africa vs Sri Lanka: 2nd Test, TEN 3, 2 p.m.; Chennai Open tennis: Sony Six & Sunday when he was named to replace the injured Martin pressure of being the world’s top-ranked tennis player as Sony Six HD, 5 p.m.; EPL: STAR Sports Select HD 1, 5.50 p.m., 8.20 p.m. & 10.35 p.m.; PBL: Ī Guptill in the New Zealand Twenty20 squad to play Ī she prepares to get her 2017 season underway. Kerber STAR Sports 1, 3 & HD 1 & 3, 7 p.m. & 9.30 p.m.; Australia vs Pakistan: 3rd Test, STAR Bangladesh. Guptill pulled a hamstring while running between conceded she would be under more pressure in 2017 as the Sports 2 & HD 2, 5 a.m. (Tuesday); NBA: Sony Six & Sony Six HD, 6.30 a.m. (Tuesday). the wickets in Saturday’s third ODI. World No. 1 but was not letting it get to her.

USA thrashes Cilic looks to start 2017 on a rousing note Czech Republic PERTH: The United States Yuki Bhambri qualifies, takes on Ramkumar Ramanathan in the opening round opened its Hopman Cup cam- paign in style with a 3-0 win N. SUDARSHAN Funnily, Cilic himself, and his Finals and only narrowly lost quarterfinals last year, it over the Czech Republic here coach Goran Ivanisevic, chose out on a Davis Cup trophy. presents yet another chance to on Sunday. CHENNAI: Prior to his arrival not to shave during his victori- The highest seed in his half utilise it as a springboard for The results: USA bt Czech Republic 3-0 here in Chennai, Marin Cilic, ous US Open run in 2014! is Spaniard Albert Ramos- future successes. The 22-year- [Coco Vandeweghe bt Lucie in an email exchange, was Come next Sunday, one can Vinolas. Borna Coric, his com- old’s opening match will be Hradecka 6-4, 6-2; Jack Sock bt asked about Stan Wawrinka’s even imagine the Croat hold- patriot and last year’s finalist is against the returning Bhambri, Adam Pavlasek 7-5, 3-6, 6-3; absence from the 2017 Aircel ing the trophy up and saying there too. But in the last five who made it through after two Vandeweghe & Sock bt Hradecka & Chennai Open. Chennai is his “lucky charm”, matches he has met them — rounds of qualifying. Pavlasek 2-4, 4-2, 4-1 (fast four)]. “Stan has played the last few for it is the site of his second three against Ramos-Vinolas On Sunday evening, top Spain bt Australia 2-1 [Feliciano years here,” he said. “So I and fourth ATP 250 titles in and two against Coric — he seed Cilic had his first practice Lopez lost to Nick Kyrgios 6-3, 6-4; guess it is a quite popular tour- 2009 and hasn’t lost a set. session on the outside courts, Lara Arruabarrena bt Daria Gavrilova nament. It often comes in 2010 re- Spain’s Roberto Bautista hoping to erase any sign of 7-5, 6-1; Arruabarrena & Lopez bt people’s minds when Stan was spectively. Agut, who too achieved his ca- rustiness which the of-season Gavrilova & Kyrgios 4-0, 4-2 (fast doing so well in Australia. He A third reer-best ranking of 13, leads is known to induce. four)]. — AFP would start his season in one will the other half. The 2013 finalist Those were the same courts Chennai and that sent a make it a has two titles this year and a on which he lost in the final message.” champion- famous win over Novak round of the qualifying in For a fact, Wawrinka, at ship he Djokovic, part of a run in 2007. For the fans in Chennai, least in the last three years would Shanghai which culminated in however, the connect estab- SC to pronounce when he was the champion have won most times apart a first-ever Masters final. lished then, will be renewed here, repeatedly said that from his home event in On the prowl on his side are this week. order on the fate Chennai was his “lucky Zagreb. The draw gives him a the erratic Frenchman Benoit of BCCI bosses charm.” And in each of those fair chance of doing it. Paire, Brit Aljaz Bedene, THE RESULTS years he went on to win a The halo around him is shin- fourth seed Martin Klizan and Grand Slam tournament. ing brighter than ever too, for Russian Mikhail Youzhny. Qualifying (Final round, Indi- KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL It would be a bit of stretch to the fall of 2016, leading to this He also has for company the ans unless specified): Hyeon conclude that Cilic came here season, has been more than three Indians — Saketh Chung (Kor) bt Jurgen Melzer (Aut) NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on hoping to ride that “lucky kind. He won the Basel indoor Myneni, Ramkumar 6-0, 7-6(4); Yuki Bhambri bt Nicolas Monday will pronounce its orders on charm.” But more often than title, earned his first-ever Mas- Ramanathan and Yuki Bham- Kicker (Arg) 6-3, 6-1; Jozef Kovalik Justice R.M. Lodha Committee’s not, tennis players are tradi- ters crown in Cincinnati, got bri. While it is a main draw de- (Svk) bt Prajnesh Gunneswaran 7-6 recommendation to remove the EYES ON THE PRIZE: The draw has been kind to top seed Marin Cilic, and he will hope to go the tion-loving and their habits to a career-best ranking of No. but for Myneni, for Ramku- (2), 6-2; Nicola Mektic (Cro) bt current crop of BCCI administrators in distance in the Aircel Chennai Open which begins on Monday. — PHOTO: R. RAGU border on the superstitious. 6, made the ATP World Tour mar, who reached the Marco Trungelliti (Arg) 7-5, 6-2. order to smoothly implement reforms to usher transparency and accountability within Indian cricket. A Bench led by Chief Justice of Paes on the home stretch of his career? India T.S. Thakur has indicated that Somdev Devvarman calls it a day the order, scheduled to be S. DIPAK RAGAV pronounced at 10.30 a.m., will also S. DIPAK RAGAV but at Uzbekistan in 2008, and contain the apex court’s decision on CHENNAI: Every time his career has been the torch-bearer for whether to initiate contempt of court has been written of, Leander CHENNAI: Somdev Devvarman the country in the competi- and perjury proceedings against the Paes has risen like a phoenix. has ushered in the New Year tion, playing 24 matches and BCCI president Anurag Thakur. But on New Year’s day, the 43- by calling time on his tennis winning 14. The Supreme Court, in the last year old gave his most definit- career. Devvarman’s most memor- hearing before it reserved the case for ive hint yet that the next few “Starting 2017 on a new note, able victory in Cup play was orders, had conveyed that it found months could be his last as a retiring from pro tennis. against Jiri Vesely, then Thakur prima facie guilty of contempt professional tennis player. Thanks to everyone for the ranked over a 100 places above of court and perjury for having “At 43, I am blessed to be love and support over the him, in the World Group play- approached the ICC chairman able to compete at this level. I years #newyearnewbegin- of match against the Czech Shashank Manohar for a letter have to thank my whole team. I nings,” Devvarman tweeted Republic in 2015. seeking to undermine the Supreme have a few new people on my on Sunday. His last tournament was in a Court’s decision on July 18 for the team who are going to help me Since turning pro in 2008, Futures event in March 2016 in appointment of a nominee of the in the last few months of my Devvarman was India’s top the US where he lost in the Comptroller and Auditor General playing career and my post- singles player for most of his quarterfinals. (CAG) on the BCCI Apex Council. tennis career. I think it is the playing career. At one point, the apex court had right time now to transcend Legacy and do something bigger. He reached his highest rank- threatened that once it passes an ing of 62 in the World in 2011, Leander Paes said one of “I would love to create a big order to initiate prosecution against before a recurring shoulder in- Devvarman’s lasting impres- winner. That’s the dream I A QUIET GOODBYE: Somdev Devvarman made the the BCCI president, no other court jury threatened his career. He sions on Indian tennis will be have now more than going out announcement on Twitter on Sunday. — PHOTO: R. RAGU would dare to come in between, and did come back strongly in 2013, the focus he brought to fitness. and playing an eighth NEW YEAR WISH: Leander Paes says it is time to move on and do Thakur would have “no way out, but breaking into the top-100 Olympics or trying to win 20 Devvarman is now in Chen- go to jail”. something bigger. — PHOTO : S.R. RAGHUNATHAN again, but since mid-2014 his Grand Slams.” nai, holding a training camp The court had further observed ranking has steadily fallen. Fighting tears, he added, “It the planet that regardless of Anand Amritraj before his and working with Prajnesh that the “crux” of the matter was that has been a fun run.” age, you can be the best you former partner Mahesh Bhu- He came into the spotlight Gunneswaran who lost to the Lodha Committee set up by the can be. That’s what I play for.” pathi takes over. with a breakthrough perform- Jozef Kovalik in the second Supreme Court “thinks he (Anurag Motivating factor... Paes might have chosen to “With the credentials that ance at the Chennai Open in round of qualifying here. Thakur) should step down as he is When asked what still kept look ‘beyond records’, but he [Mahesh] has, he deserves 2009 when he reached the fi- “He is very focused and he obstructing reforms”. him motivated, Paes said, “I against New Zealand in the his spot there. I think, in the nal before losing to Marin brings a lot of intensity to the The observations against Thakur have been really looking for- Davis Cup tie in Pune, he will doubles game, he brings in a Cilic. practice sessions,” said Pra- were part of a report filed by the ward to finding one thing that have a chance to break Nicola lot in terms of communication He made the title round at jnesh. Lodha Committee, which sought the motivates me. In 2017, I am Pietrangeli’s record of 42 and technical skills. one more ATP 250 tourna- “He knows exactly what he court to direct the removal of BCCI playing for a few things. I play doubles wins in the competi- “Mahesh and myself have ment, the 2011 South African wants and what he wants me office-bearers, especially those above to motivate the youngsters all tion. played together for so many Open in Johannesburg, where to do, so it’s pretty simple; he 70 years, government ministers and around the world. I live my life That will also be his last as- years. So I think in the game of he fell to Kevin Anderson. knows what to do, I listen to those who have already served at the to show every human being on signment under captain doubles he will add.” He made his Davis Cup de- it.” Board’s helm for nine years. Cornet overcomes Vesnina’s challenge

BRISBANE: Frenchwoman Alize ing results in 2016. Cornet battled back from los- Third-seeded Czech Karo- ing the first set to overcome lina Pliskova was in superb seventh-seeded Russian Elena touch as she downed Yulia Vesnina in the opening round Putintseva of Kazakhstan 6-3, of the WTA Brisbane Interna- 6-1. tional on Sunday. Russia’s Daria Kasatkina Playing on an outside court beat Irina-Camelia Begu of where the on-court temperat- Romania 6-3, 6-3, while Misaki ure climbed above 40 degrees Doi of Japan was too good for Celsius, the tenacious Cornet Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova wore down Vesnina 3-6, 6-4, 7- 7-6(1), 6-4. 6(5) in two hours, 37 minutes. In the only men’s first round She will now play Christina match, Australian Jordan McHale in the second round Thompson defeated Swede after the American beat Italian Elias Ymer 6-3, 6-2. Sara Errani 6-3, 6-3. The results (first round): Bouchard’s hopes dashed Men: Jordan Thompson bt Elias Canadian Eugenie Ymer 6-3, 6-2. Bouchard’s hopes of turning Women: Christina McHale bt her form slump around were Sara Errani 6-3, 6-3; Shelby Rogers bt dashed when she was bundled Eugenie Bouchard 6-2, 2-6, 6-1; Alize out by US player Shelby Ro- Cornet bt Elena Vesnina 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 gers 6-2, 2-6, 6-1. (5); Karolina Pliskova bt Yulia Putint- Bouchard reached a career- seva 6-3, 6-1, high world ranking of five in Daria Kasatkina bt Irina-Camelia October 2014 but has slumped Begu 6-3, 6-3; Misaki Doi bt Ekater- to 46 after a run of disappoint- ina Makarova 7-6(1), 6-4. — AFP Djokovic still the biggest threat: Murray DOHA: World No. 1 Andy Mur- Murray also tipped six-time ray insisted on Sunday that Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will remain Djokovic to be the player to his biggest threat in 2017, as beat in Melbourne, when the the pair prepares for a poten- year’s first Grand Slam begins tial first clash of the season this later this month. week. Murray is the No. 1 seed here The newly-knighted Mur- and if matches go to form, he ray said the Serb will continue will set up a mouth-watering to make life tough for him on final with Djokovic, the No. 2 court this year. seed and defending champion. “In terms of the number one The Brit will open against ranking, Novak would be (the France’s Jeremy Chardy on biggest threat),” said Murray. Tuesday while Djokovic be- “I had a great sort of four, five gins his title defence against months at the end of last year Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struf. and I still only got to the top by The Qatar Open, now in its one match basically at the end 25th year, has not been suc- the year, so I know it will be cessfully defended since Mur- very tough to stay there.” ray won back in 2009. — AFP CM YK NOIDA/DELHI 18 | SPORT THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017

Siddhant, Mahak Aster Rose for spearhead Indian TN stumbles after sound start challenge Golconda Oaks Four wickets fall for 53 runs after Indrajith-Kaushik century stand HYDERABAD: Aster Rose has an edge Sameeruddin 52, 8. Globetrotter over her rivals in the Golconda Oaks (3) Md. Ismail 51.5 and 9. Yet An- CHANDIGARH: Siddhant Banthia (2,400m), the chief event of the races other (4) K. Sai Kiran 50.5. and Mahak Jain spearhead the AMOL KARHADKAR silken touch as he drove the 50, B. Indrajith c Tare b Thakur 64, to be held here on Monday (Jan. 2). 1. Vijays Delight, 2. Garib Par- Indian challenge as the top Mumbai pacers and flicked the Dinesh Karthik lbw b Thakur 16, Vijay There will be no false rails. war, 3. Ice Cave seeds in the ITF grade-3 junior RAJKOT: Tamil Nadu started of spinners at will. Shankar (batting) 41, B. Aparajith c 1 SALARJUNG CUP (Div. III), 6 DR. M. A. M. tennis tournament which be- the New Year on an ideal note, It was a pity for Tamil Nadu Suryakumar b Gohil 9, Aswin Crist (1,200m), 5-y-o & over, rated 26 to RAMASWAMY MEMORIAL gins here from Monday. but by the end of the opening that neither of the set batsmen (batting) 9; Extras (b-4, lb-4, nb-7): 50 (Cat. III), 12-40 p.m: 1. Mano- CUP (1,400m), 4-y-o & over, rated 15; Total (for six wkts. in 90 overs): gamini (9) A. K. Pawar 60, 2. Ro- 86 & above (Cat. I), 3-15: 1. In a field packed with qual- day of its Ranji Trophy semi- could convert his innings into mantic Fire (7) A. A. Vikrant 59, 3. Gaarswood (9) Koushik 62, 2. Ma- ity players from abroad, as final against Mumbai, Abhinav one that could be taken note of 261. Aware (4) Koushik 56.5, 4. Proud chiavellianism (5) Akshay Kumar only Parikshit Somani has Mukund and his boys weren’t by the national selectors, two Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-68, 3-178, Image (1) G. Naresh 55.5, 5. Exclus- 62, 3. Kolors (10) P. Gaddam 60.5, managed to get a seeding from left with much to celebrate. of whom watched the pro- 4-188, 5-202, 6-231. ive Monarchy (5) K. Sai Kiran 53, 6. 4. Time For Fun (2) P. S. Chouhan Nelly (2) Kiran Naidu 52.5, 7. Vijays 60, 5. Vijay Viraaj (12) Srinath 59.5, among the other Indians, it A combination of a rash ceedings from the gallery. Mumbai bowling: Shardul Splendour (6) Gopal Singh 52, 8. 6. Carlton (1) P. Trevor 59, 7. should be a good test for the stroke, disciplined bowling The scores: Thakur 20-4-64-2, Balwinder Singh Blaze Of Glory (3) Ajeeth Kumar Happy Guy (6) N. S. Rathore 54.5, Indian boys who have been and an error of judgement by Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: Sandhu 18-5-46-1, Abhishek Nayar 50.5 and 9. Dear Friend (8) Kunal 8. Parushram (3) Beuzelin 54, 9. Ganga Sridhar Raju c Tare b Nayar 19, 23-6-56-2, Akshay Girap 11-2-34-0, Bunde 50.5. Commanding Boy (4) Suraj performing well. the umpire meant Mumbai 1. Manogamini, 2. Blaze Of Narredu 52.5, 10. Baashagar (7) B. Abhimanyu Vannem had its nose ahead going into Abhinav Mukund c Tare b Sandhu 38, Vijay Gohil 18-3-53-1. Glory, 3. Romantic Fire R. Kumar 52, 11. That's My Darling Reddy, Vashisht Cheruku, the second morning at the Kaushik Gandhi c Waghela b Nayar Toss: Tamil Nadu. (13) Kuldeep Singh 51.5, 12. City Of 2 SALARJUNG CUP (Div. II), Dreams (11) K. Sai Kiran 50 and 13. Rishabh Sharda, Shramay Saurashtra Cricket Associ- (1,200m), 5-y-o & over, rated 26 to Greek Star (8) G. Naresh 50. Dhawan, Sacchitt Sharma, ation Stadium. 50 (Cat. III), 1-10: 1. Dublin (6) Suraj 1. Vijay Viraaj, 2. Time For Alex Solanki and Dhruv On a typically flat Khanderi Narredu 60, 2. Vijays Triumph (2) Fun, 3. Kolors Sunish will be some of the In- strip, Tamil Nadu mustered A. Joshi 59.5, 3. Green Striker (7) Frequent ball change Ajeeth Kumar 58.5, 4. Coral Springs 7 BYERLY TURK MILLION dian players who can make a 261 for six against a Mumbai (8) Md. Ismail 55, 5. Trustful (3) (1,200m), fillies 3-y-o only mark in the event. attack that couldn’t ask many Aneel 55, 6. My Choice (5) G. (Terms), 3-50: 1. Clarisa (9) It is a lot better in the girls’ questions of the batsmen for a Naresh 53, 7. Roma Rouge (9) B. R. Dashrath Singh 56, 2. Fashion raises eyebrows Kumar 52, 8. Ashwini (1) Kunal High (4) Beuzelin 56, 3. Juneau (7) event for the host, as Mihika better part of the day. Bunde 51.5 and 9. Golden Phoenix Kuldeep Singh 56, 4. Meritocracy Yadav and Akanksha Bhan are However, the Tamil SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT (4) Kuldeep Singh 51. (3) P. S. Chouhan 56, 5. Sarvatra (2) keep changing the ball, you won’t get P. Trevor 56, 6. Southern Promise also seeded along with Mahak Nadu middle-order, set. That means the quality of balls is 1. My Choice, 2. Dublin, 3. Roma not for the first time, Rouge (8) A. Sandesh 56, 7. After Hours Jain. RAJKOT: Mumbai opted for the not good. That is not in our control. (6) Suraj Narredu 52, 8. Eternal The results (qualifying event saw a mini-collapse second new ball at the end of the That’s definitely unusual for me to 3 MUSICAL MORN PLATE Angel (5) Akshay Kumar 52 and 9. third and final round): Boys: Alex (1,200m), 4-y-o & over, rated 46 to Shivalik Honour (1) Neeraj 52. as four wickets fell 86th over of the opening day’s play of see.” Solanki bt Sagar Bains 6-4, 6-1; 70 (Cat. II), 1-40: 1. Dancing Leaf (2) 1. Meritocracy, 2. Clarisa, 3. for 53 runs, thus leav- its semifinal against Tamil Nadu. But Perennial issue Rithvik Choudary bt Ashutosh Tiwari Srinath 60, 2. Aragonda Princess Southern Promise ing the team reeling that wasn’t the only change of ball on Quality of balls has been a peren- (5) A. Sandesh 57.5, 3. Bharat Queen 4-6, 7-5, 6-3; Sumitpal Singh bt 8 GOLCONDA OAKS at 231 for six. the opening day. The umpires were nial issue plaguing domestic cricket. (10) B. R. Kumar 55, 4. Modern Krishan Hooda 6-3, 4-6, 6-4; Atharva Sniper (7) S. Sreekant 54.5, 5. (2,400m), fillies 4-y-o only Vijay Shankar, the FIRST STRIKE: Abhishek Nayar of Mumbai celebrates after forced to change it thrice in the first Even though the Board of Control for Sharma bt Drona Walia 6-0, 6-3. Charlie Brown (3) N. Rawal 54, 6. (Terms), 4-25: 1. Aster Rose (6) last of the recognised batsmen, prising out TN opener Ganga Sridhar Raju. — PHOTO : R.V. MOORTHY two sessions at the Saurashtra Cricket in India has started using the Without Makeup (4) Kiran Naidu Srinath 57, 2. Frosty (3) P. Trevor Girls: Humera Shaik bt Harleen then saw the day of with As- Cricket Association, thus prompting SG Test balls — the same ones that 53.5, 7. Cash Landing (9) P. Tervor 57, 3. Like Wise (4) P. S. Chouhan Kaur 5-7, 6-3, 7-5; Shivani Manjanna 53, 8. Ans Ans Ans (1) Sai Kumar 57, 4. Veronese (1) A. Sandesh 57, 5. win Crist playing the second Kaushik Gandhi, the other way down the leg-side. both camps to raise a concern about are used for Test matches in India — bt Misha Sood 6-3, 6-1; Yubarani 52.5, 9. Naamdhari (8) P. Gaddam Vijay's Empire (5) Deep Shanker foil. half-centurion who was stifled Vijay Gohil then forced a the quality of balls used in the do- for the Ranji Trophy, frequent stop- 57, 6. Volantis (2) Suraj Narredu 57 Banerjee bt Richa Chougule 7-6(7), 51.5 and 10. Symbol Of Glory (6) by Abhishek Nayar and nick of B. Aparajith’s willow mestic circuit. pages due to change of ball has been Ajeeth Kumar 51.5. and 7. Anantara (-) (-) 57. 6-1; Gauri Bhagia bt Anjali Mogili 6-2, Trigger point 1. Aster Rose, 2. Frosty Thakur, got a thick inside edge to Suryakumar Yadav in the “You don’t like to change too a constant feature in the premier do- 1. Aragonda Princess, 2. Dan- 6-3. cing Leaf, 3. Cash Landing B. Indrajith’s reckless shot to an incoming delivery from slips to stamp Mumbai’s au- many balls. It’s unusual to see that in mestic tournament every season. 9 NEXT MOVE PLATE The seedings: Boys: 1. Siddhant selection prompted the col- Nayar and the ball popped of thority on the game. However, the first session three-four balls were Mumbai coach Chandrakant Pan- 4 FIRE HAVEN CUP (2,000m), (1,600m), 4-y-o & over, rated upto Banthia, 2. Hua-Chen Yu (Tpe), 3. 30 (Cat. III), 5-00: 1. Amazing lapse. Well past his fifty and the pads to Praful Waghela the first two sessions belonged changed,” L. Balaji, the Tamil Nadu dit hoped the issue would be ad- 4-y-o & over, rated 46 to 70 (Cat. Jack Draper (GBR), 4. Jazem Naow mauling the Mumbai attack at who came running in from a to Tamil Nadu, thanks to an II), 2-10: 1. Handy Man (1) P. S. Power (6) G. Naresh 61, 2. Angels bowling coach, said. dressed on a priority basis. “Quality Bay (3) N. S. Rathore 60.5, 3. Cir- (Syr), 5. Dostanbek Tashbulatov Chouhan 60, 2. Elysian (6) Akshay will, Indrajith attempted a widish second slip. entertaining 114-run partner- “The ball makes a big difference in of balls has continued to be an issue Kumar 59.5, 3. Naazaan (5) Srinath illo (11) Akshay Kumar 60, 4. Car- (Kaz), 6. Parikshit Somani, 7. Arthur nival Express (12) K. Sai Kiran glance of one from Shardul The onus then lay on Dinesh ship between Kaushik and the bowlers’ skills because in the re- in Ranji Trophy. Not much has 59.5, 4. Leading Legend (9) Craig Pantino (Phi), 8. Tonkla Mulada Beuzelin 57.5, 5. Silvassa (8) 59.5, 5. Ta Ta (10) Khurshad Alam Thakur that was pitched short Karthik to rescue the team. Indrajith. cent past a lot of [ball-related] con- changed since the last season. A (Tha). and heading way down the leg The senior pro looked in good Despite losing both the Deepak Singh 57, 6. Doroteo (2) P. 57, 6. Captain General (7) A. A. troversies have been going on. I am change in ball has a lot of repercus- Trevor 54.5, 7. Cloud Dancer (3) Vikrant 56.5, 7. Sensational Girl Girls: 1. Mahak Jain, 2. Mihika Ya- stump and Aditya Tare dived nick, as was displayed in his openers — debutant Ganga sure the ball has some kind of ability sions on the batting and bowling Md. Ismail 53.5, 8. Undu Undu (9) N. Rawal 56.5, 8. Touch Of dav, 3. Thasaporn Naklo (Tha), 4. Ax- Gold (13) Md. Sameeruddin 56.5, 9. to his left to latch on to a bril- punch of Thakur that sped to Sridhar Raju and captain Abh- to change the course of the game. I sides’ strategies and at times, a team Undu (7) Ajit Singh 53.5 and 9. ana Mareen (Bel), 5. Kuan Yi Lee liant catch. That pulled Mum- the cover-point fence. How- inav Mukund — in the first Nautanki (4) Dashrath Singh 52. Cannon Hope (1) S. Sreekant 56, believe in that because softer balls might end up losing its grip on the 10. Fresco (8) Dashrath Singh 50.5, (Tpe), 6. Akanksha Bhan, 7. Esther 1. Leading Legend, 2. Naazaan, bai back into the game as the ever, umpire Virender Sharma session, Kaushik and Indrajith are sometimes helpful on some wick- match due to a sudden change in ball. 3. Handy Man 11. Rainbow Blues (2) P. Gaddam Adeshina (GBR), 8. Yasmina Karim- 50, 12. Royal Gold (4) B. R. Kumar wicket was earned in the last adjudged him leg-before of a appeared to be in little trouble, ets and heavier balls are sometimes This has to be taken seriously,” Pan- janova (Uzb). — Special over before tea. reverse-swinging quick ball putting the bad balls away. In- 5 SALARJUNG CUP (Div. I), 50 and 13. War Dancer (5) S. S. helpful on different wickets. So, if you dit said. (1,200m), 5-y-o & over, rated 26 to Tanwar 50. Correspondent Soon after the break, from Thakur that was heading drajith, especially, was in 50 (Cat. III), 2-45: 1. Dolce (5) B. R. 1. Carnival Express, 2. Fresco, Kumar 60, 2. Vijays Delight (9) Ak- 3. Cannon Hope shay Kumar 59.5, 3. Pamella (1) G. Day's best: Aragonda Princess Naresh 58, 4. Garib Parwar (6) Go- Double: Vijays Delight - Vijay pal Singh 56.5, 5. Ice Cave (2) N. S. Viraaj Panchal’s record fifth century wins day one for Gujarat Rathore 55, 6. Onk Onk Onk (8) Sai Jkt: 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9; Tr (i); 1, 2 & 3; (ii): Kumar 53, 7. Bouncer (7) Md. 4, 5 & 6; (iii): 7, 8 & 9; Tla: All races.

G. VISWANATH who were not able to extract nings:Samit Gohil c Virat b Vikash 18, 3-266. any turn or bounce. Priyank Panchal (batting) 144, Bhar- Jharkhand bowling: Ajay Yadav NAGPUR: Priyank Panchal’s fifth The left-hander finally fell gav Merai c Kishan b Vikash 39, 13-5-36-0, Vikash Singh 13-5-48-2, Commodore wins century of the season — he be- leg-before to Kaushal, but his Parthiv Patel lbw b Kaushal 62, Man- Rahul Shukla 18-4-52-0, Shahbhaz came the first Gujarat batsman ability to keep the scoreboard preet Juneja (batting) 12; Extras (lb-6, Nadeem 25-4-73-0, Kaushal Singh 15- to achieve that feat — put his ticking resulted in his side rais- w-2): 8; Total (for three wickets in 88 2-52-1, Saurabh Tiwary 3-0-13-0, main event team in a good position on the ing 91 in the third session. overs): 283. Pratyush Singh 1-0-3-0. opening day of its Ranji The scores: Gujarat — 1st in- Fall of wickets: 1-62, 2-127, Toss: Gujarat. MUMBAI: Commodore (A.Sandesh Sound (A.Gaikwad) 4. Snk, 4-1/2, Trophy semifinal against up) claimed the Velvet Rope Nose. 1m 25.19s. Rs. 28 (w), 14, 18 and Jharkhand at the Vidarbha Trophy, the main event of the races 13 (p). SHP: Rs. 50, FP: Rs. 163, Q: Rs. held here on Sunday. The winner is 113, Tanala: Rs. 182 and Rs. 56. Fa- Cricket Association stadium owned by Mr. Pallon S.Mistry rep. vourite: Sensex. Owner: Mr. Nazir here on Sunday. Dhoni meets Jharkhand team Manjri Horse Breeders’ Farm Pvt Shaikh. Trainer: Shazaan Shah. The right-hander opened Ltd & Mr. D.R.Thacker. P.Shrof 5. KHEEM SINGH GOLD CUP (1,400m), Maiden, 4-y-o only: G. VISWANATH trains the winner. the innings with Samit Gohil 1. GREAT GUNS PLATE Spiridon (C.S.Jodha) 1, Wild Jack after skipper Parthiv Patel won (1,400m), Cl.V, rated 01 to 26: Top (J.Chinoy) 2, Signor (Trevor) 3 and the toss, and batted right NAGPUR: India’s ODI and T20 captain Wizard (Ajinkya) 1, Resilient Brothersofthewind (Srinath) 4. Not through the day to make an un- Mahendra Singh Dhoni flew into the city (Sandesh) 2, Royal Mews run: Dhishoom, Allegria and Sweet (C.S.Jodha) 3 and Silver Edge Temptation. 3, 2-1/4, 2-1/2. 1m 25.31s. conquered 144 (252b, 21x4) in on a chartered plane and arrived here (Nazil) 4. Not run: Cristo Boss. 1/2, Rs. 34 (w), 12, 17 and 13 (p). SHP: Rs. Gujarat’s first innings score of during lunch time to meet the Jharkhand 3-1/4, 1-1/4. 1m 26.79s. Rs. 22 (w), 12 61, FP: Rs. 118, Q: Rs. 40, Tanala: Rs. and 17 (p). SHP: Rs. 26, FP: Rs. 31, Q: 347 and Rs. 117. Favourite: Brother- 283 for three. PURPLE PATCH: Gujarat’s Priyank Panchal acknowledges the team that is playing the Ranji Trophy semifinal against Gujarat. Rs. 32, Tanala: Rs. 47 and Rs. 20. softhewind. Owners: Ms. Tarita On 110, he was let of by crowd after his century during the Ranji Trophy semifinal Favourite: Top Wizard. Owners: Dr. Shankar & Mr. Chetan S.Wakalkar Ishant Jaggi in the slips of Not being part of the team, the au- Adi R. Nazir, M/s. Sanjay Rai & Nar- rep. Sahaan Infrastructure (India) against Jharkhand on Sunday. — PHOTO: PTI seamer Rahul Shukla; other- thorities provided him with a Players and endra Lagad. Trainer: Narendra Pvt Ltd. Trainer: Altaf Hussain. wise it was a near-flawless two to the mid-wicket bound- up the pitch he ofered a chance Match Officials Area (PMOA) accredita- Lagad. 6. RACE OF HOPE TROPHY 2. PRADEEP VIJAYKAR (1,200m), Cl. III, rated 40 to 66: An- knock. ary, while Gohil struck clean to Virat Singh at gully, who tion so that he could move within the re- TROPHY DIV.II (1,400m), rated cient Glory (Trevor) 1, Franz He also went past Wasim strokes through mid-of and held a dipping catch. stricted areas. 20 to 46: Angel Of Love (Baria) 1, Ferdinand (Neeraj) 2, Beach Game Jasfer’s total of 1,260, until wide of mid-of of Yadav. Bhargav Merai then gave the This also gave him access to the Hunting Pleasure (C.S.Jodha) 2, (Nazil) 3 and Magical Dancer (Da- Asahi (Sandesh) 3 and Diwali Lights man) 4. Lnk, 3/4, 2. 1m 12.10s. Rs. 19 Sunday evening the fourth The duo realised the import- Jharkhand bowlers no respite, Jharkhand dressing room. “He has a (Daman) 4. Sh, 3-1/2, 4-1/2. 1m (w), 11, 11 and 63 (p). SHP: Rs. 37, FP: highest championship aggreg- ance of staying at the wicket rotating the strike and staying PMOA card, he’s part of the team now,” 25.74s. Rs. 108 (w), 29, 16 and 20 (p). Rs. 42, Q: Rs. 16, Tanala: Rs. 465 and ate in a season after V.V.S. Lax- and showed a resolute ap- beside the line to hammer said match referee Narayanan Kutty. SHP: Rs. 55, FP: Rs. 1,514, Q: Rs. 370, Rs. 334. Favourite: Ancient Glory. Dhoni spoke to Jharkhand coach Ra- Tanala: Rs. 2,825 and Rs. 1,614. Fa- Owners: Mr. Haresh N.Mehta and man, Shreyas Iyer and Vijay proach against the new ball. shots into the backward point INSPIRING PRESENCE: M.S. Dhoni met the Jharkhand players Mr. Manav H.Mehta rep. Rohan jeev Kumar, captain Saurabh Tiwary and vourite: Aeolus Maximus. Owner: Bharadwaj. Anything short on the of side area. before the start of the second session. — PHOTO: PTI Mr. Sujay Chandrahas. Trainer: Bloodstock Pvt Ltd. Trainer: When action began on was cut away or punched to the The second wicket added 65 got about five minutes to meet the play- Vinesh. Shazaan Shah. Sunday morning in a slightly square-point fence. runs in one-and-a-half hours ers before the start of the second ses- is also the possibility of him training with gives his view. 3. VELVET ROPE TROPHY 7. ALMA MATER PLATE (2,000m), Cl. I, rated 80 and up- (1,000m), Cl. V, rated 01 to 26: Fash- hazy atmosphere, with Ajay Panchal showed a proclivity before Merai nicked Vikash to sion, which he watched with former In- the team before the start of the match on “He makes a big difference. He also wards: Commodore (Sandesh) 1, ionable Gait (C.S.Jodha) 1, Bo- Yadav and left-arm seamer to rock onto his back foot and ’keeper Ishan Kishan. dia seamer and Jharkhand coach Monday and Tuesday. played for us in the Vijay Hazare tourna- Arlene (Trevor) 2, Jack Frost (Da- hemian (Daman) 2, Padmakosa Vikash Singh operating with put the ball away between The arrival of skipper Subroto Banerjee. ment last year. His work-ethic is good, so man) 3 and Remember Me (Santosh) 3 and Country’s Empress the new ball, the odds favoured point and gully. When he hit Parthiv (62, 115b, 6x4, 1x6) only At tea, he had a long chat with Tiwary Listens, reacts when you have a senior who is a role (J.Chinoy) 4. 1-1/2, Nose, 6-1/2. 2m (Ayyar) 4. 1-1/4, 1-1/2, Nk. 1m 0.88s. 3.55s. Rs. 35 (w), 12 and 12 (p). SHP: Rs. 68 (w), 15, 21 and 35 (p). SHP: Rs. Gujarat’s opening pair. Vikash straight down the accelerated the run rate, as the and for a few minutes with left-arm spin- Coach Rajeev said Dhoni spoke about model, as a coach it becomes very easy Rs. 43, FP: Rs. 45, Q: Rs. 13, Tanala: 43, FP: Rs. 228, Q: Rs. 184, Tanala: Rs. Gohil and Panchal not only ground for a four, Panchal gave left-hander launched into crisp ner Shahbaz Nadeem. Much of the post- different situations and the way to deal to explain to the others what you should Rs. 48 and Rs. 32. Favourite: Arlene. 1,968 and Rs. 928. Favourite: Pure showed sound technique in the first evidence of seeing the drives through the covers. A tea session, Dhoni spent with the coach. with them. do. Dhoni being there is a big help to Owners: Mr. Pallon S.Mistry rep. Sin. Owners: M/s. P.J.Vazifdar, Manjri Horse Breeders’ Farm Pvt Firoze A.Vakil, M.Rashid & Mrs. leaving the ball that was ball big and also the reason why busy batsman always, Parthiv He is expected to be here for another two “He was trying to explain what we everybody, even me. Ltd & Mr. D.R.Thacker. Trainer: Elicca Vazirani. Trainer: S.S.Shah. slanted away by Vikash, but he has been in good nick dominated the third-wicket days and probably meet National selec- have to do when there’s a big partner- “The plan at the start of the season P.Shrof. Jackpot: 70 per cent: 18, 783 (31 also excelled in playing front- through the season. stand that delivered 139 runs. tion committee chairman M.S.K. Prasad ship, which bowler to use and how long was that he would be a mentor. He prom- 4. PRADEEP VIJAYKAR tkts), 30 per cent: Rs. 1,124 (222 tkts). of-the-wicket shots. Quickly Gohil hit his third four after He was severe on left-arm and also Jatin Paranjpe. to wait. He’s very calm, interacts with all ised to visit us and he’s here. Since the In- TROPHY DIV.I (1,400m), Cl. IV, Treble: Rs. 880 (38 tkts). Super Jack- rated 20 to 46: Dancing Lord pot: 70 per cent: Rs. 1, 13, 296 (carried spotting Vikash’s error in nearly 75 minutes, but just spinner Shahbaz Nadeem and The India team for the ODI series is the boys and makes everyone comfort- dian team selection is on Jan. 5, I think he (Sandesh) 1, Sawgrass (Santosh) 2, forward). 30 per cent: Rs. 12, 138 (2 length, Panchal dispatched when he seemed to have sized of-spinner Kaushal Singh, likely to be selected on January 5. There able. He listens to everybody and then will be here till then,” said Rajeev. Sensex (Trevor) 3 and Speed Of tkts).

CM ND-ND YK NOIDA/DELHI | THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 SPORT 19

Harden and WRESTLING James sparkle Hunters of to a winning start Mumbai meets Haryana in opener WASHINGTON DC: Houston Rock- ets’s James Harden scored a Marin upstages Smashers’ Sindhu in the opening rubber UTHRA GANESAN claimed it would be a month- The Indian challenge will be career-high 53 points in long event with eight teams. led by Rahul Aware, and his powering the host Rockets V.V. S UBRAHMANYAM In the second match, World NEW DELHI: The second season However, the season remains bout against Sandeep Tomar over New York Knicks 129-122 No. 21 Tommy Sugiarto de- of the Pro Wrestling League a six-team, 15-day event. would be interesting given the and LeBron James’s 32 points HYDERABAD: Carolina Marin feated B. Sai Praneeth 11-6, 11-8 kicks of with last year’s final- Several of the teams have re- rivalry between the two. sparked visiting Cleveland gave a winning start to Hy- to level the scores but again ists Mumbai Maharathis tak- vamped completely, including Haryana Hammers unveiled Cavaliers to a 121-109 win over derabad Hunters’ campaign in Chennai Smashers fought ing on Haryana Hammers at changing their names. Delhi its team and sponsors for the Charlotte Hornets in the NBA the first women’s singles, get- back brilliantly to clinch the the K.D. Jadhav Indoor Sta- Veer, for example, has now be- second season on the eve of its on Saturday. ting the better of P.V. Sindhu mixed doubles match — a dium here on Monday. come Delhi Sultans, and Mum- opening tie against Mumbai The results: Houston Rockets as her team beat Chennai trump encounter — when Two of the biggest draws — bai Garuda has become Mum- Maharathis. 129 bt New York Knicks 122; Utah Smashers 4-3 in the first match Chris Adcock and Gabrielle Sushil Kumar and Yogeshwar bai Maharathi and Bengaluru With two Rio Olympics Jazz 91 bt Phoenix Suns 86; Ok- of the Vodafone Premier Bad- Adcock downed Hoi Wah Dutt — have withdrawn from has pulled out, replaced by medallists in its ranks — Sofia lahoma City Thunder 114 bt Los minton League at the Chau and Satwiksairaj the PWL but the presence of Jaipur. Mattsson (53kg) and Marwa Angeles Clippers 88; Milwaukee Gachibowli indoor stadium Rankireddy 11-7, 11-9. Rio Olympic bronze medallist Last year, Mumbai managed Amri of Tunisia (58kg) — the Bucks 116 bt Chicago Bulls 96; Cleve- here on Sunday. Importantly for Hunters, Sakshi Malik ofers comfort. to get past Haryana in the franchise will hope to go one land Cavaliers 121 bt Charlotte Hor- The much-awaited clash World No. 16 Rajiv Ouseph Other big names including league stage and in the final, better. nets 109; Memphis Grizzlies 112 bt between Marin and Sindhu, a shocked Denmark Open Ukraine’s Oksana Herhel, who and Haryana will hope to The team also has Russians Sacramento Kings 98. — Agencies rematch of the final at the Rio champion Tanongsak was the highest-paid wrestler make amends. Mumbai, led by Abdusalam Gadisov and Olympics, had the crowd on its Saensomboonsuk 6-11, 11-8, last time around, and USA’s Rio gold medallist Erica Magomed Kurbanaliev in the feet as 11-6 to keep the team in the Adeline Gray have given the Wiebe of Canada, also has Jab- higher weight categories. the two hunt. event a miss this time. rayil Hasanov (Azerbaijan) The Indian wrestlers in- Giroud special dished The focus then shifted to the When the second season of and Reineris Salas Perez clude Tomar, Rajneesh, Sumit out won- crucial men’s doubles match, the PWL was announced in (Cuba), both former World Sehrawat, Indu Chaudhary takes Arsenal derful ar- which was the trump match October, the organisers had Championship medallists. and Kiran. ray of for Hunters, and the gamble to third place strokes paid of when Boon Heong and delectable half-smashes in Tan and Wee Kiong Tan won LONDON: Olivier Giroud scored the first two games. the contest against Mads a stupendous ‘scorpion kick’ Marin scored an 11-8, 12-14, Pieler Kolding and B. Sumeeth volley as Arsenal climbed to 11-2 win over Sindhu to trigger Reddy 11-7, 11-8. third place in the Premier of celebrations in her dug-out. “I think Ouseph’s win was League table with a 2-0 New It was obvious the Spaniard crucial even as we were bank- Year’s Day victory over Crys- was in no mood to relent even ing on the men’s doubles pair tal Palace. after Sindhu managed to take to pull it of in the trump match Giroud netted with a breath- the issue into the decider. which was the last one,” said a taking improvised strike re- Sindhu did show her typical pleased Hunters coach miniscent of Henrikh fighting qualities saving a Fernando Rivas. Mkhitaryan’s recent goal for match-point in the second The result (T denotes Trump Manchester United and Alex game with some stunning match): Hyderabad Hunters bt Iwobi was also on target at the MENTALLY TOUGH: Carolina Marin recovered brilliantly after smashes — one of them into dropping the second game to completely outplay P.V. Sindhu Chennai Smashers 4-3 [Carolina Emirates Stadium. Marin bt P.V. Sindhu 11-8, 12-14, 11-2; Marin’s body which saw the in the third. — PHOTO: K.V.S. GIRI It left Arsenal nine points latter smile in B. Sai Praneeth lost to Tommy Sugi- below leader Chelsea and it acknowledgement. as she showed better control performance by me. I am de- arto 6-11, 8-11; Hoi Wah Chau & was joined in the top four by But in the decider, Marin over the game under pressure. lighted that I pulled of this Satwiksairaj Rankireddy lost to Chris Tottenham Hotspur, which re- moved into a diferent zone What compounded the win. I was a bit nervous since it Adcock & Gabrielle Adcock (T) 7-11, placed Manchester City in the and reeled of winners at will. misery for Sindhu were her er- was the first match of this 9-11; Rajiv Ouseph bt Tanongsak Champions League places The way she stretched Sindhu ratic returns and she was not PBL,” Marin said later. Saensomboonsuk 6-11, 11-8, 11-6; after winning 4-1 at Watford. and then set up the big able to get the length right “It was never so easy as it Boon Heong Tan & Wee Kong Tan (T) Arsenal, which was without smashes which brooked no re- either for her smashes or the might have looked in the final bt Mads Pieler Kolding & B. Sumeeth the ill Mesut Ozil, finished the turn was a treat to watch. returns. game. The fact is that I fo- Reddy 11-7, 11-8]. weekend three points below In a way, it was sweet re- On the other hand, using the cussed on what I should do Delhi Acers leads Bengaluru second-place Liverpool, with venge for Marin who was half-smash and the big cross- better and finished of the con- Blasters 2-1 [Jan O Jorgensen bt north London rival Spurs a beaten by Sindhu in the recent court returns with impeccable test. I think that was the phase Viktor Axelsen 11-9,11-8; G. Jwala & point back, above City on goal BWF Dubai Super Series. It placements, Marin emerged when Sindhu was nervous Vladimirov Ivanov lost to Syung diference. was a fantastic display by the the star performer of the playing in front of the cheering Hyun Ko & N. Sikki Reddy 11-6, 11-6; The results: Spaniard whose superior net- evening. fans,” the champion shuttler Son Wan Ho bt Sourabh Verma 13-15, Watford 1 (Kaboul 90+1) lost to game was the clinching factor “It was a very, very happy remarked. 11-9, 11-6]. Tottenham 4 (Kane 27, 33, Alli 41, 46); Arsenal 2 (Giroud 17, Iwobi 56) bt Crystal Palace 0; Watford 1 (Kaboul 90+1) lost to Tottenham 4 (Kane 27, 33, Alli 41, 46). ‘It is only a question of how quickly On Saturday: Liverpool 1 (Wijnal- dum 8) bt Manchester City 0. — Agencies we understand each other’ V.V. S UBRAHMANYAM On her part, Sikki, fresh Bolt from from the Brazilian and Russian HYDERABAD: Ashwini Ponnappa Grand Prix titles and finishing the blue and N. Sikki Reddy, who will runner-up in the Scottish play for Bengaluru Blasters, Grand Prix partnering LONDON: Usain Bolt showed his look to the ongoing Premier Pranaav Chopra in mixed love for Manchester United, Badminton League (though doubles, is excited about play- making a surprise phone call to they feature only in the mixed ing with Ashwini. the club’s in-house TV channel doubles event as there is no “Unlike many seniors, she is on Saturday. women’s doubles) as a huge a very sweet person always In a post-match phone-in on learning curve. pushing me to be better. The MUTV following Manchester Their first target will be to best part is she tries to make United’s 2-1 win over break into the elite group in me feel comfortable. Middlesbrough, presenter women’s doubles after finish- “Breaking into the top-15 in Mandy Henry introduced the ing runner-up in the recent mixed doubles in such a short next caller as “Usain from Welsh International Chal- span is a huge morale-booster. Jamaica” and added: “It’s not lenge and picking up a bronze These are the kind of results Usain Bolt, is it?” at the Irish Grand Prix. which can change your per- “It is Usain Bolt,” came the Ashwini says they will take ception and confidence level,” reply. it match by match as they chart said Sikki, who shot into the “They came through like the their course in the big league. limelight after losing to Saina old Manchester United,” the “PBL is a major platform NEW BEGINNINGS: Ashwini Ponnappa and Sikki Reddy say they Nehwal in the 2008 Pune caller told a disbelieving Henry. with so many Olympians. Any- are both excited about and look forward to playing together. Commonwealth Youth Games “They came through and pushed one can pick up a few new final. on and persevered the things to improve their game,” the partnership with the more very good doubles coach (Tan A serious knee injury, how- Manchester United way. It was a says Ashwini. experienced Jwala,” said the Kim Her),” says Ashwini. ever, forced her to focus only great match, I am very happy “Personally, I am very keen 27-year-old Ashwini. “I always believe that on doubles. about this.” to focus on fitness and be more “It’s been only a month everything happens for a “I don’t want to talk big, but Bolt then tweeted to confirm consistent,” she said. since we began training to- reason. So also my split with yes there was some pressure it was indeed him, and Henry “It is only a question of how gether and I am happy at the Jwala, and it is time now to initially as I stepped into the replied to the Jamaican quickly we understand each way Sikki has been respond- look ahead. I am confident shoes of the formidable Jwala. apologising and telling him to other in the next few tourna- ing, especially in mastering Sikki and will be a formidable She is a fabulous player and, call again soon. — AFP ments. It will be a diferent ex- how to rotate in simulated force in women’s doubles,” like me, a left-hander,” Sikki perience for me compared to match situations. We have a she said. said. NOIDA/DELHI 20 | LIFE THE HINDU MONDAY, JANUARY 2, 2017 Hollywood sign now reads ‘HOLLYWeeD’ Bambi cartoon artist Tyrus Wong no more Queen misses another church service Los Angeles residents awoke on New Year’s Day to Legendary animation artist Tyrus Wong, whose Queen Elizabeth II missed a New Year’s Day find that a prankster had altered the famed evocative sketches were used to create Disney’s church service due to a lingering “heavy cold” that Hollywood sign on Mount Lee to read ‘HOLLYWeeD.’ famous Bambi cartoon, has died at the age of 106. also forced her to stay at home on Christmas Day.

‘Leap second’ STAR TREK ‘It was fire in boiler that sank Titanic’ syncs Indian time Cumberbatch & Holmes, a match made in history Irish journalist claims in documentary the liner’s hull was fatally weakened by blaze in coal bunker with Earth’s spin hy does actor Benedict Cumberbatch cuts such a dash as British literary detective Sherlock Holmes? That’s LONDON: The real reason for before it left Southampton — peratures in excess of 1,000 He points to dark marks NEW DELHI: A ‘leap second’ was Titanic’s tragic sinking that at the same spot the iceberg degree Celsius, making the that can be seen on the star- added to the Indian clock at Welementary, according to genealogy website claimed over 1,500 lives in struck — support the theory, hull so weak and brittle that board side in a set of photo- 5:29.59 hours on Sunday to Ancestry.com. Cumberbatch is distantly related to author Sir Arthur 1912 was a fire in the ocean Mr. Molony, who has spent what should have been a graphs that came to light in a synchronise with the Earth’s Conan Doyle, who created the brilliant but quirky sleuth some 130 liner’s boiler room and not 30 years researching the dis- minor collision became a private auction recently. rotational clock. As the years ago, the website said. Cumberbatch (40), star of the Emmy award-winning BBC simply a collision with a gi- aster, was quoted as saying catastrophe that killed more The irish author believes atomic clock at the National th ant iceberg, a new docu- by The Times. than 1,500 people. that it is evidence of the fire Physical Laboratory (NPL) TV series Sherlock, is a 16 cousin, twice removed of Doyle. The two are related via mentary has claimed. He claimed that J Bruce Is- inside and the reason why here struck 23:59:59 last th The Titanic’s hull was may, president of the com- ‘A perfect storm’ the most luxurious ocean night, it was programmed to 14 century nobleman John of Gaunt, who, according to records, was Cumberbatch’s 17th fatally weakened by a fire pany that built the ship and “The oicial Titanic in- liner of its day was, unusu- add an extra second to 2017 th that had been smouldering in the man forever branded a quiry branded the sinking as ally, reversed into her berth to compensate for a slow- great-grandfather and Conan Doyle’s 15 the coal bunker in the boiler coward for taking one of the Mr. Molony points to dark an act of God. This isn’t a — presenting the unmarked down in the Earth’s rotation. great-grandfather. John of Gaunt, born about room since it left the few lifeboat places, knew marks seen on the starboard simple story of colliding side to passengers as they Adding a second barely 1340, was a son of England’s King Edward III, shipyard in Belfast, Irish about the fire but down- side in recent photographs. with an iceberg and sinking. boarded. has an impact on the daily meaning Cumberbatch and Doyle have a journalist and author Senan played its significance in the It’s a perfect storm of ex- “Nobody has investigated life, but it does matter in the distant royal connection. “How rare that an Molony has claimed in the aftermath. cast on Channel 4, he sug- traordinary factors coming these marks before or fields of satellite navigation, actor in a major series has the chance to documentary. In Mr. Molony’s docu- gests that the prolonged fire together: fire, ice and crim- dweled upon them. It totally astronomy and communica- play a character created by a relative, Photographs of the ship mentary, titled Titanic: The subjected the partitions, or inal negligence,” Mr. Molony changes the narrative,” he tion. “The Earth and rotation especially one as iconic as Sherlock with a dark mark on her hull New Evidence, to be broad- bulkheads, in the hull to tem- was quoted as saying. said. — PTI around its own axis is not Holmes,” said Jennifer Utley, a family regular, as sometimes it historian at Ancestry. — Reuters speeds up and sometimes it slows down due to various Mariah Carey bungles New Year’s Eve show Goa gears up factors, including earth- ariah Carey has ushered in 2017 with a botched Web of life quakes and moon’s gravita- performance on ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with for folk and tional forces. As a result, as- MRyan Seacrest on ABC. The singer appeared to have tronomical time (UT1) technical difficulties during her live performance on Saturday night in handicrafts fest gradually falls out of sync Times Square in New York. She with atomic time (UTC), even stopped singing her song SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT and, as and when the difer- Emotions, paced the stage and told ence between UTC and UT1 the audience to finish the lyrics for PANAJI: An exquisite mixture approaches 0.9 seconds, a her. She told the crowd, “I’m trying of folk art forms and handi- leap second is added to UTC to be a good sport here.” Carey crafts from across the coun- through atomic clocks headlined the festivities in Times try will be on display at the worldwide,” D. K. Aswal, Square, where about a million Darya Sangam Kala Director of NPL, said. revellers jammed in to greet the Academy here at the annual new year. A representative for the 18th Lokotsav 2017, which will Extreme precision singer confirmed there were be held from January 6 till Adding the leap second to technical difficulties. Carey took to Instagram after the performance, January 15. the Indian clock is done by saying, “Here’s to making more headlines in 2017.” — AP Around 500 folk artists are the NPL under the Council set to present folk dances for Scientific and Industrial and music of their States, Research. The NPL, one of Film-making is a gamble, says Diana Penty while about 600 artisans will the oldest laboratories in the here are strokes of myriad emotions on the canvas of Indian display their handicraft country, has five atomic cinema, but Diana Penty feels beyond that. She feels the whole items during the festival, said clocks and nearly 300 such Tmovie-making business is a big gamble, but one that actors Prasad Lolienkar, Goa Dir- pieces exist across the globe. have to take. “The whole movie-making business is such a gamble at ector, Art and Culture, here Atomic clocks are so pre- the end of the day — something works, on Sunday. cise that the margin of error something doesn’t. It is a gamble you have Folk dancers from in its functioning is just of a to take. So yes, there is a certain amount Jharkhand will perform on second in 100 million years. of pressure, but I can’t let that govern the January 8 on the occasion of “The leap second adjust- way I go about for my next project,” ‘Jharkhand Divas’. Folk dan- ment is not so relevant for Diana said. After her modelling stint, cers from the International normal everyday life. How- Diana ventured into Bollywood with Group of Germany will put ever, this shift is critical for Cocktail — which featured Saif Ali Khan on a performance on the con- applications requiring time and Deepika Padukone — in 2012. Her cluding day of the festival. accuracies in the nano- role of a demure Indian girl stayed with “Artisans will get a perfect second, which are critical in the audience despite the presence of platform to showcase and the fields of astronomy, satel- Saif and Deepika. She came back to sell their works. The fest- lite navigation, communica- the silver screen last year with ival’s popularity is increasing NET ATTRACTION: A curious boy examines spider webs on a foggy winter morning on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar on tion networks,” Mr. Aswal Happy Bhag Jayegi. — IANS rapidly,” said Mr. Lolienkar. Sunday. — PHOTO: BISWARANJAN ROUT added. — PTI