% ' ,! -,. /012 --. ()"*+, )/+! *)+ 2 ,,& $ 34 35/46 /1 7 spokesperson Randeep Singh (anti-satellite missile), some Surjewala said. “Take back intelligent people got confused. rime Minister Narendra your words and apologise to They thought that I was speak- PModi invented a contro- 130 crore people, or the nation ing about sets used in theatres.” versial acronym — sarab — for and Uttar Pradesh will never “They got confused A-SAT the Opposition coalition in forgive you,” he added. with set used in theatres. Uttar Pradesh at his election Samajwadi Party chief Whether we should cry or rally in Meerut to launch a Akhilesh Yadav, however, laugh at their intellect for con- scathing attack on the tweeted that the PM confused fusing space mission with the- Samajwadi Party, the RLD and “sarab (mirage)” and “sharab atre,” Modi said. the BSP that have come togeth- (liquor)” because of the In a veiled attack to the er to take on the BJP. teleprompter. “Teleprompters Opposition, Modi said he will A furious Congress exposed how those who pro- give clear “hisaab” of all that his demanded his apology and mote hate don’t know differ- Government did. He said, accused him of stooping to a ence between ‘sarab’ and “Chowkidar hoon bhai, hisaab new low. ‘sharab’; ‘Sarab’ means mirage hoga, sabka hoga, baari baari se “Sapa (Samajwadi Party) ka which the BJP has been show- hoga.” ‘sa’, RLD ka ‘Ra’ aur Baspa ing for the last five years,” Lambasting the Opposition (BSP) ka ‘ba’, matlab ‘sarab’. Akhilesh said. while keeping the focus on a (Take the ‘Sa’ of Samajwadi Describing the PM as strong Government, Modi said Party, ‘Ra’ or Rashtriya Lok Dal “drama king” and “flop film that his Government had " # $ % & '()*$ and ‘Ba’ of Bahujan Samaj actor”, Surjewala said despite shown the courage to conduct +, % $ Party),” PM Modi said to a large his party’s differences with a surgical strike in all spheres () - % public gathering as he launched Mayawati, he addressed her as — land, sky and space. The his campaign in Uttar Pradesh “ji” and this is “Indian culture”. contest is between a “a decisive M *( for the Lok Sabha election. Hitting out at Rahul Government and an indecisive " “For UP’s good health and O P ! Gandhi’s theatre jibe over PM past,” Modi said a day after hief Minister Ragubar Das for India’s future, should you Modi’s address to the nation announcing that India had Con Thursday held a meet- $ not stay away from sarab? Prime Minister said. condemning Modi for likening Minister? You are calling three after India’s successful testing of demonstrated anti-satellite mis- ing of BJP Vistaraks, or full- *( Sapa, RLD, Baspa, ye ‘sarab’ Barely had he finished three political parties to political parties sarab? Is this anti-satellite missile on sile capability by shooting time worker seeking feedback aapko barbaad kar degi (this speaking, the Congress “sharab” or liquor. “Does this the way a PM talks? Can the Wednesday, Modi said , “When down a live satellite. about party preparations for sarab will destroy you),” the addressed a Press conference kind of talk befit a Prime people accept this,” Congress I was speaking about A-SAT Continued on Page 4 parliamentary elections at State % % % BJP headquarter. The party Vistaraks are full time mem- % bers who visit every homes, building in the state to ensure % that the party’s views can be directly presented before com- ( poorly executed Gabbar Singh Aay Yojana) a “game changer” mon people. Tax (GST). Informal sectors and a “final assault” on pover- The Chief Minister on the ongress president Rahul have been badly hit. ty, Gandhi said the scheme is occasion issued necessary direc- % % % CGandhi on Thursday said “The aim of the ‘Nyay’ “fiscally perfectly doable” and tions to full time party workers N the “Nyay” scheme will remon- scheme is two-fold. First is to will not be implemented “rash- to reach out to masses high- etise what the Prime Minister guarantee a minimum income ly like demonetisation and lighting the various develop- countering the allegations made demonetised and asserted that to the bottom 20 per cent fam- GST of the BJP”. mental schemes launched by by opposition parties. The CM his party’s anti-poverty pro- ilies. The second is to remon- Asked about apprehen- Prime Minister Narendra also sought the feedback of gramme has thrown the BJP etise the economy that has sions of some economists that Modi. The CM asked the BJP Vistaraks about the work they !" into total disarray. been demonetised by Modiji,” “Nyay”, which entails an expen- workers to go through various have done in the areas. In an exclusive interview to Rahul said. diture of 3.6 lakh crore annu- social media medium to reach BJP national president PTI ahead of the 17th general The Congress chief said ally, could aggravate India’s out to masses. Amit Shah had mooted the election beginning April 11, there is a reason why the party fiscal deficit position, Rahul State BJP spokesperson, idea of Vistaraks two years back Rahul said the Nyay scheme christened the scheme Nyay, said, “No, that’s not right.” Deepak Prakash said, “The under which BJP leaders had to has the twin objectives of giv- which translates to justice in He said the party consult- Vistaraks are core members for spend a day at various booths ing money to the 20 per cent Hindi. “There is another aspect ed a large number of econo- any party. It is the Vistaraks who in the district, interacting with poorest families in India and to calling the scheme ‘Nyay’. mists and experts, studied reaches out to people high- voters and also making them # remonetising the economy Why have we chosen to call this numerous papers and other lighting the schemes of gov- aware of the Central govern- “damaged” by demonetisation. scheme ‘Justice’? Because over research material on this sub- ernment. The CM gave neces- ment schemes led by Prime “What the PM has done the last five years, Mr Narendra from the small and medium country. We want to return to ject and run an extensive finan- sary instructions to party work- Minister Narendra Modi. over the past five years is to Modi has simply snatched from businesses, he’s taken away India’s deprived sections what cial modelling exercise before ers how to reach to people “Vistarak Yojana”, is aimed at remove all money from the poor and given nothing back. from the unemployed youth, he Modiji has snatched from deciding to include the plan in highlighting the schemes. ” The targeting the individual voter, economy with failed policies “He has taken away from has extinguished the savings of them,” he said. its Lok Sabha manifesto. CM also asked the party work- which is the basic unit of the like demonetisation and a the farmers, he has snatched mothers and sisters of this Terming Nyay (Nyuntam Continued on Page 4 ers to be active in social media electioneering process.
! " Q R and present his reply. Notably, the Speaker’s tri- # he Jharkhand High Court bunal in Jharkhand Assembly $ # Ton Thursday ordered to had on February 20 validated issue notices to six MLAs of the joining of six legislators BJP, who had changed sides elected on the tickets of the from JVM after being elected JVM during 2014 Assembly to the State Assembly in early polls into the BJP. The decision 2015. Hearing the petition filed was taken after four-year long by JVM chief Babulal Marandi hearing at the Speaker’s tri- and MLA Pradeep Yadav, the bunal that started in 2015. court gave the MLAs four Eight JVM leaders had week’s time to present their become legislators after the sides. 2014 Assembly elections in The bench of justice Sujit the State but soon six of them % Narayan Prasad ordered to went to the BJP taking the issue notices to the MLAs -- strength of BJP to 43 in the 81 &'(") Randhir Singh, Amar Kumar member house. The MLAs Bauri, Ganesh Ganjhu, Alok who changed sides contended Chaurasia, Janki Prasad Yadav that their party merged with and Navin Jaiswal and asked the BJP, however the JVM them to appear before the chief filed a complaint with the court after four weeks to pre- Speaker’s tribunal, which after () # ) " # . sent their side in the case. a long hearing of the case val- # # / # $ / # The court also asked to idated the cause of the six 012 # % ()% % # / issue notice to Jharkhand MLAs and dismissed Marandi’s % % Assembly advocate Vinod Sahu petition.
an arms embargo. discussed informally and then UN sources told PTI that it goes to the Council. However, this is the “first time” the US, P it is not yet decided by when a tepping up the internation- the UK and France have moved vote would be held on the draft Sal pressure to designate a draft resolution directly in the resolution, during when it Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Security Council to designate ! could again face a veto by Masood Azhar as a global ter- Azhar as terrorist. Unlike a list- " China, which has in the past rorist, the US, supported by ing proposal, which is generally blocked bids to blacklist Azhar. France and the UK, has direct- under a 10-day no objection Sources said the draft res- ly moved a draft resolution in period, the draft resolution is ! " olution would condemn “in the the UN Security Council to not under any no-objection $ strongest terms the heinous blacklist the Pakistan-based provision. and cowardly suicide bombing” terror group’s chief. Reacting to Washington’s % & on February 14 in Jammu & Two weeks after China put move, Chinese Foreign L ( Kashmir’s Pulwama district a hold on a proposal to list Ministry spokesman Geng that killed 40 CRPF personnel. Azhar under the 1267 al-Qaeda Shuang in Beijing said, “This is only complicates the issue.” blocking the proposal when he In New Delhi, sources said, Sanctions Committee of the not in line with resolution of “We urge the US to act cau- said Wednesday that China they were aware that a draft has Council, the US circulated the the issue through dialogue and tiously and avoid forcefully abuses over a million Muslims been initiated for consideration draft resolution to the power- negotiations. This has reduced moving forward this draft res- at home, but “protects” violent of Council members to list ful 15-nation Council to black- the authority of the Committee olution,” Geng said. Islamic terror groups from UN Azhar in the sanctions regime list the leader of the terror as a main anti-terrorism body Meanwhile, US Secretary sanctions. as part of global efforts to group and subject him to a of the UNSC and this is not of State Mike Pompeo made an Sources in New York said fight against terrorism. travel ban, an assets freeze and conducive to the solidarity and apparent reference to China that the draft resolution will be Continued on Page 4 !" # $%& $'(% ,- % +% %- +% 012 (2 uge amount of illicit liquor Garhwa: The Bisunpura police Hwas seized by police and today stopped economist Jean administration from three dis- ticket of Jai Bharat Samanta Dreze meeting in Bishunpura. tricts of the State on Thursday. Party. They are accused of meeting Ranchi sub divisional officer Incidentally, Geeta joined there without prior permission. Garima Singh, with her team, Congress earlier this year. In In this regard, SDO Kamleshwar caught a van filled with illegal 2014, BJP candidate from Narayan told that Vivek Gupta alcohol after getting a tip off on Singhbhum seat Laxan Gilua of illicit liquor being made at had defeated his rival and Jai Dehan Nagari area of the district. The he probable Congress can- Bharat Samanta Party (JBSP) Group raid was conducted at 5 am and Tdidate Geeta Koda from candidate Geeta Koda by a had the team managed to not just Singhbhum Lok Sabha seat margin of 87476 votes. applied seize the van but also arrest one went on meeting spree on Gilua had maintained a for per- person, while the other man- Thursday connecting to the steady lead in five of the six mission aged to escape. party cadres in her con- assembly segments in the to hold Meanwhile, police recov- stituency. spirit of the cadres and I am Singhbhum Lok Sabha con- meet- ered 45 litre country liquor Koda, who is also a legis- thrilled to see the response. stituency. The JBSP had suc- ings from Juti village under lator from Jagannathpur assem- " We are holding meetings ceeded to have a mariginal lead with subjects like ration and Garhwa police station on bly constituency in West at grass root level. It is an over Gilua only in Majhgaon pension etc. in Bishunpura. In Thursday. Police also arrest- Singhbhum, addressed a series important step as the cadres assembly segment in each view of the model code of con- ed two persons including of meetings with her party will reach out to the voters round till the 10 round. The duct, he asked report from CO woman in the connection. cardre at Goelkera in West spreading party’s vision for the other five assembly segments Bishunpura and police station SDPO Om Prakash Tiwari Singhbhum. The parliamentary area," said the legislator. She, where Gilua continued to reg- in-charge. The meeting was not said that acting on a tip off, a election is scheduled to be however, prompted to add that ister his lead were Chaibasa, allowed because CO and officer police team recovered 15 liter held there on May 12. her formal campaigning will Jagannathpur, Seraiklea, in charge did not mention the wine from a motorcycle and "I am really happy to be begin only after she gets offi- Chakradharpur and speaker's name in the report. arrested one Munna Kumar % $&, % % - # connected with party workers. cially declared as the Congress Manoharpur. There were in all Today, in Bishunpura a who was taking the alcohol to % I am holding meetings with the candidate for the Singhbhum 12 candidates in the fray for meeting was being held with- sell in market. In another cadres of Jai Bharat Samanta seat. Singhbhum Lok Sabha seat in out permission, to the Dahan raid police recovered 30 liter Kumar, who was also arrested. ensure that illicit liquor does could not give satisfactory Party as well as the Congress at Wife of former chief min- 2014 which has 9,57.406 voters. Group. Jean Dreze came as the country made wine from the SDPO Kuldeep Kumar not reach market." answers. The two were taken to the village level. I want to ister Madhu Koda, Geeta (35) Though she could not win main speaker in the meeting. house of Sheo Vishwakarma received a tip off on a huge In another incident, the police station for further understand issues concerning had successfully contested the the Singhbhum seat, but she Without holding permission, it and arrested his wife Kunti racket of illicit liquor in Dumri Ranchi police on Thursday questioning. On searching the our party workers of 2009 assembly elections on had made a dent in the parlia- has been stopped. Police briefly Devi. Bazaar area following which a recovered 30 lakh cash from car, police found eight bundles Singhbhum Lok Sabha con- the ticket of Jai Bharat Samanta mentary election as she had took Jean Dreze and organiz- In another case, police raid team was constituted. a Fortuner vehicle in Pithoria. of 2000 currency notes, 34 stituency," said the Party from Jagannathpur. She succeeded to garner over 2,500 er of the meeting to Bishunpura seized huge amount of foreign Kumar said, "The police are Sources informed that when bundles of 500 notes, and sev- Jagannathpur legislator. retained her legislature post of votes over Gilua in five out of police station for security rea- liquor in Dumri police station alert for the upcoming elec- the police questioned the two eral bundles of 200 and 100 Geeta, when questioned the Jagannathpur assembly seat the six assembly segments of sons. All people were released area of Dumka from the house tions. Check posts have been people in the car regarding the currency notes, total amount- said her visit has revamped the in November 2014 also on the the Singhbhum seat. after the process, he said.PNS and shop of one Deepak set up across the district to cash they were carrying, they ing to 30 lakh. -, " ! "%
* On March 7, the police with the Lalpur Police Station were murdered at the news hand over the cash they had amount of cash the two broth- of the arrested bodyguards recovered bodies of brothers after the brothers did not channel’s office and named with them, Tiwari told the ers were carrying, sources said Sunil Singh told the police fter 22 days since the Hemant Agarwal and return till late in the night and one Dharmendra Tiwari, who police. that they had at least Rs.5 lakh that he and Tiwari had set Adouble murder of Mahendra Agarwal lying in a their phones became unreach- also happens to be a private Chaudhary and Singh had cash in their bag. ablaze mobile phones of Agarwal brothers that shook pool of blood inside the locked able. Their bodies were recov- bodyguard. Later on March 19, planned to take away the cash “Interrogation has revealed Agarwal brothers. The accused the state capital on March 6, premises of a private news ered the next morning. Tiwari surrendered to the by scaring the two brothers. a lot about the case so far. The had also burnt their own the police have stumbled upon channel in Ranchi’s Ashok What unfolded in these 24 police in Ranchi. However, when the Agarwal manhunt is on and the two clothes after the coldblooded several evidences against the Nagar locality. Chaudhary was hours has become a puzzle for During interrogation, brothers refused to get intim- prime accused will be nabbed murder in a bid to ensure that prime accused and got a clear- the franchise owner of the the local police. Investigation Tiwari revealed that idated by their script, soon,” said Sujata Vinapani, no evidences were recovered er picture of the crime by news channel. has unraveled several aspects of Chaudhary and his partner Chaudhary and Singh asked Ranchi Superintendent of from the spot. interrogating two private According to the investi- the crime, but many parts lack MK Singh had planned a script Tiwari to shoot the two broth- Police. The police have also recov- bodyguards involved in per- gating team, Hemant and clarity. to take away cash from the ers dead. Tiwari has confessed She added that the police ered the DVR of the CCTV petrating the murders. Mahendra left their residence The police on March 15 Agarwal brothers. On the fate- of firing three rounds of bullets will detach the properties cameras installed in the office. However, the prime accused in Lalpur’s Shivam Apartment arrested one of Chaudhary’s ful day, MK Singh walked in at the Agarwal brothers, owned by Chaudhary and They suspect that Chaudhary Laukesh Chaudhary and his on March 6 to meet bodyguards, Sunil Singh from the office disguised as an sources said. Singh if they do not surrender and MK Singh are hiding aide MK Singh have remained Chaudhary. Their family Bermo in Bokaro. He con- %% # % Intelligence Bureau (IB) official While the police have not or get arrested soon. somewhere in neighbouring absconding. lodged a missing complaint fessed that the two brothers 2 " '4 * and asked the two brothers to officially commented on the During interrogation, one Bihar. 6 # %+ %
( Rajkiyakrit Jamshedpur Balika 17 for 70. Here teachers have to Uchcha Vidyalaya (Sakchi) read 'seven' 'zero'," said an " DBMS Girls High School, official. ! Kadma, BSSP High School An official of JAC said " (Sonari), and Saradamoni Girls that they are hopeful that the High School, Sakchi for matric- entire evaluation process to " ulation papers. BPM High be completed by April 15 but School, Burmamines and ADL they do expect some change High School in Kadma St. since it is election time. The Joseph's High School and date of the results will depend he evaluation of matric Michael John High School in on when the evaluation gets Tand intermediate exami- Golmuri have been made cen- over. nations started under strict tres for evaluation of answer % With JAC taking steps in vigil on Thursday. Evaluators sheets. '# %* improving its standards, it has of matric and intermediate The highest number of introduced a new method of examinations under the evaluation centres are in down strict directives on eval- need to be student friendly. If scrutiny. An evaluator has to Jharkhand Academic Council Ranchi- seven centres for uators to follow step by step we receive copies for re-scruti- correct an answer sheet and ( JAC) seem to be extra cau- matric and six centres for inter- evaluation of an answer fol- ny this time and we find mis- crosscheck the totalling twice tious this time fearing strict mediate; Gumla, Giridih, lowed by re-totalling to ensure takes in totalling, the evaluators before it is fed in the comput- punishment from the board. Dhanbad, Bokaro, Palamu and an error free system. Evaluators will not be spared. For this we er. The most important part is The evaluation across the Dumka have got two centres aren't allowed to enter the cen- have introduced the rubber that every evaluator has been state started at 69 centres- 36 each while Hazaribagh have tre with their mobile phones. stamp so that we know which given a rubber stamp which for matric and 33 for interme- three centres for evaluation of JAC also organised a workshop teacher is responsible for the they have to use in every sin- diate evaluation across 19 and matric. About 10,000 evalua- for centre superintendents in same. Also we have asked eval- gle copy they check. The stamp 18 districts respectively. tors from across the state are Ranchi yesterday. uators to speak the double bears the name of the evalua- In East Singhbhum, evalu- involved in the task. "We are trying our best and digit numbers because it is tor and the name of the college ation started in eight centres This year JAC have laid I have made it clear that we many times wrongly heard like he/she belongs to. ' 3 -0
* This tradition was introduced by Srimanta Sankardev, Saint he Indira Gandhi National and reformist in the 14th- 15th TCentre for the Arts century as a part of the (IGNCA), Regional Centre Vaishnava Bhakti Movement. Ranchi in collaboration with Over the years, it has been the IGNCA North East developed and evolved by the Regional Centre Guwahati is Sattradhikars who are the head organizing a three day event monks or gurus of the satras ‘Outreach: Portraying Culture which are the mathas or monas- of North East’ through the teries where the tradition is performance of Sattriya Dance preached and propagated. n a major road mishap, ten Tradition of Assam and Gayan bayan is a portrayal of Ipeople were injured follow- Raasleela of Manipur at Ranchi the Sattriya tradition which is ing a collision between a bus University. The event began a part of the Anika- Nat or one and a trailer on Tata- Chaibasa today and will continue till . # % % #O& % act play where music, dance and NH 220 under Raj Nagar police March 30 at the Aryabhatta " # 68 % drama are interrelated. The station area of the district. Auditorium, Ranchi University oral rendition is known as Police said that the bus, which Campus. guests and spoke about the with an inaugural Odissi Dance gayan where as the instrumen- was carrying passengers from Chief guest Dr. SN Munda, endeavor of IGNCA Regional by Sumedha Sengupta, who tal part is called bayan and is Tata bus stand to Kiriburu, was Vice Chancellor, Dr. Shyama Centres in organising a series performed ‘Ardhanariswar’ usually performed to praise hit by the trailer coming from Prasad Mukherjee University, of outreach programs to choreographed by Guru Sankardev and Madhabdev- the opposite end in the Raj Guest of Honour Padma encourage inter- religion cul- Kelucharan Mahapatra, where his close disciple. Nagar market early in the Awardee Mukund Nayak, B. B. tural exchange and populariz- a composite androgynous form The second and third day morning. Soon after the Sharma, Deputy Secretary ing the art forms of various of the Hindu deities Shiva and of the program will have the mishap locals with the help of (Academic) IGNCA, Dr. Richa regions. Parvati was showcased. Raasleela of Manipur and Mati police rushed the injured to the Nehi, Regional Director, Nehi explained the impor- Ardhanarishvara was depicted Akhora of Assam. The audi- nearby hospital. Later, both IGNCA North East Regional tance of the outreach series and as half-male and half-female, ence was mesmerized by the the vehicles were seized by the Centre and Dr. Ajay Kumar elaborated about the Sattriya equally split down the middle. vibrant performace while the police. " We are investigating Mishra, Regional Director, and Manipuri artisans of The right half illustrating the artists expressed their joy of the mishap. As per our initial Regional Centre Ranchi were Assam and Manipur respec- male and his traditional attrib- being able to perform in the probe a trailer was coming present for the inauguration tively. Munda and Nayak utes. capital. from the opposite direction and ceremony. A total of 22 artists expressed their pleasure on This was followed by Gayan Towards the end, the the bus was plying at a high from the north east states of being a part of this venture and Bayan- a form of Sattriya tra- anchor Anjani Kumar Sinha speed, but suddenly the driver Assam and Manipur will be extended their best wishes to dition of Assam. The Sattriya thanked the esteemed guests of the bus lost its control and performing. the IGNCA Regional Centres. tradition consists of a group of and the viewers for their pres- hit the trailer by its side, caus- Mishra facilitated the The programme began Bhagats disciples in Sattras. ence. ing the mishap," said an official.
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out ensuring their replace- in-charge of BJP for three par- “The SP will have to take a ! " #$ % &&Q( )) * ment. liamentary constituencies, call on this matter. The police atehar police on Thursday “We have to train our Chatra, Lohardaga and will not compromise with the unteers at polling booths during Lsaid that they were con- jawans under our protocol. Palamau, I have to visit rural security of any person,” he the elections. All the volunteers, cerned about the security of all However, we will try and not areas under these constituen- said. hief Electoral Officer L he said, will be below the age of individuals –including that of compromise with the security cies for taking stock of BJP’s Shahdeo is one of the vocal CKhiangte has recommend- 18 years and help in managing State Bharatiya Janata Party of any individual,” said Anand. poll preparations. As these BJP office bearers and is often ed Padma Shri awardee the crowd and other facilities at Spokesperson Pratul Shahdeo, based on intelli- constituencies are LWE-hit, in the news for his jibes against Mukund Nayak’s name to the the booths. A nodal officer will Shahdeo—who has potential gence and police inputs of there is always a threat to my the opposition parties. Ever Election Commission of India also be appointed to manage all threats from criminals and left having threat from Left Wing life.” since election dates were (ECI) for state icon to the 2019 the volunteers, he said. wing extremists. Extremist (LWE) groups and The BJP spokesperson in a announced, Shahdeo is camp- General Elections in Jharkhand, The District Education Latehar Superintendent of anti-national forces, was given () letter to Latehar DC has also ing in Chatra, Lohardaga and a communiqué from the CEO’s Officers will coordinate with Police Prashant Anand said, security cover. attached the letter of Special Palamau taking stock of poll office said on Thursday. the District Election Officers “We are concerned about the However, the Latehar Branch where the Special preparations. Nayak is a famous folk with regards to the deployment security of any individual, who police on March 25 issued a let- drawal of his security. Branch had written to Latehar The Latehar district police singer, storywriter, drummer of volunteers. The volunteers has potential threats to life ter asking the security person- Shahdeo in his letter to police on March 16 urging the had issued the letter with- and activist, who has repre- district icons for the election, will be given a photo identity and we will do our best to nel protecting Shahdeo to join Latehar DC stated that on sev- Latehar police to provide secu- drawing security cover to sented Jharkhand in platforms while Nayak is likely to be the card in a bid to ensure that they ensure security cover to them.” training for Lok Sabha polls. eral occasions both verbally rity cover to Shahdeo as he Shahdeo on the grounds that across India and abroad. state icon. do not face any difficulty while The statement came a day Shahdeo, who also happens and through letters he had faces life threat from LWE ahead of parliamentary elec- After a meeting of the dis- Khiangte also met repre- undertaking their duties at the after Shahdeo accused the to be the media in-charge of informed the Latehar police groups. tions, the Latehar district trict icon selection committee sentatives of the National polling booths. Latehar police of sending letters BJP for Chatra, Lohardaga and about the threat he faces from Deputy Inspector General administration has to carry at the CEO’s office in Ranchi, Service Scheme (NSS), National The NSS, NCC and Bharat to his security personnel ask- Palamu parliamentary con- LWE and anti-national forces. (DIG) of Police, Palamu, Vipul out training programme of a total of 32 names were rec- Cadet Corps (NCC) and Bharat Scouts and Guide will also ing them to attend a training stituency, has written a letter to Sahdeo said, “As I have Shukla said that he will look security forces which is manda- ommended to the ECI. Twenty Scouts and Guide on Thursday hold voters’ awareness cam- session for the elections with- Latehar DC protesting with- been appointed as the media into the matter. tory for all security personnel. four of them will be appointed and discussed the role of vol- paign from April 1 to April 7. +$$ () . #/ $& //0$1 2% 3 ) ,) $*! ormer Chief Minister and FBJP candidate from Khunti parliamentary seat, Arjun Munda on Thursday kick start- 4 ed his election campaign from he State of Jharkhand will Khunti by offering worship in Tget new Chief Secretary as a temple and seeking blessing soon as the Election 4 3 of eight times BJP MP Kariya Commission of India gives a ! 589: Munda. Munda, the senior green signal on one of the BJP leader and tribal face in names prescribed by the State " $ ! State, started his election cam- Government to it. Highly ( % paign by offering Puja at placed sources in the govern- " famous Aamreshwar Dham ment confided that the gov- Temple of Lord Shiva in # * $ ernment has sent the list of top Khunti. Along with Arjun IAS officers for the post to the Munda, his wife Meera Munda ECI for its approval. $ also visited Aamreshwar Dham Incumbent Chief Secretary temple. Sudhir Tripathi, a 1985 batch % After offering worship at () # ) " # . %# / # $ IAS officer, is due to retire on Aamreshwar Dham temple, / # 012 / March 31. He has already been Arjun Munda along with his given two extensions and is wife visited sitting BJP MP and Kariya Munda the recipient Jharkhand was being consid- Subhash Chowk. Addressing unlikely to be given further octogenarian Kariya Munda’s of this year’s Padma Bhushan ered for the Chief Minister's party workers at Khunti, extension. Secretary Rajeev Kumar (1984 residence at Annigarha village award said, “I am neither dis- post when Jharkhand was Munda said, “Khunti is birth Sources said that batch) and Union Information in Khunti. The couple touched appointed nor had any hard carved out from Bihar in 2000. place of Bhagwan Birsa Munda Development Commissioner and Broadcasting Secretary the feet of Kariya Munda seek- feelings after BJP denied me the Despite being from Saffron and it is proud moment for me Devendra Kumar Tiwari, a Amit Khare (1985 batch). 1983 ing his blessing for parliamen- ticket from Khunti. As an able camp, Kariya Munda is con- to serve the holy land.” Munda 8 * 1986 batch IAS officer, is like- batch IAS officer BK Tripathi tary election. The former Chief worker I am ready to accept sidered as respected leader in also said that if he is elected ly to get the top bureaucratic is presently serving in the State Minister also had lunch at any responsibility BJP gives even opposition camp. from the seat he will try to meet post in the State. Tiwari is one but is due to retire in August Kariya Munda’s house. me.” The former Lok Sabha Arjun Munda, after visiting the expectations of people of of the most senior IAS officers this year. On the visit of Arjun deputy speaker and eight time Aamreshwar Dham temple and the area. Munda in the evening serving in the State and has a Officers junior to DK Munda to his house, Kariya member from Jharkhand had Kariya Munda’s house, later also participated at the Khunti spotless career. Tiwari are 1987 batch IAS offi- Munda said, “My blessing is with said that he will return to took part in padyatra from BJP core committee meeting Other senior officers of cer NN Sinha, who is also on Arjun Munda. The BJP’s mission farming. Kariya Munda was Durga Mandir to Subhash where he issued necessary Jharkhand cadre are on central Central deputation. 1987 batch is to bring back Narendra Modi first elected to the Lok Sabha in Chowk in Khunti. After cov- directives to party leaders. On deputation including Union officers IS Chaturvedi and government in centre and so we 1977 and became deputy ering a distance of around 1 Friday, Arjun Munda will visit Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba Sukhdeo Singh are also said to have to ensure that all party can- speaker in 2009. The leader, km, Arjun Munda later Torpa where he will participate (1982 batch), Union Finance be in the list, said sources. didates win election.” who is widely respected in addressed party workers at at the workers meet. % +)$P, () 4
speculation that Girinath will Sources said that as " " 5, join BJP camp had suspended Girinath Singh had joined BJP, head of Lok Sabha election him for six years for anti-party there is speculation that affect the counting. Ais State, candidates and activities; later Girinath himself Girinath opponent and better Meanwhile SSP Ranchi leaders hopping different par- tendered his resignation from noire and two time sitting eputy Commissioner cum Anish Gupta informed that a ties continue in the State. The RJD. Sources said that Union MLA from Garhwa, Satyendra Ddistrict election officer three layered security arrange- latest in the list is former RJD Home Minister Rajnath Singh Nath Singh who is now BJP (DEO) of Ranchi, Rai ment has been made for the State president and four times is said to be behind Girinath MLA is likely to join Mahimapat Ray, on Thursday strong room. MLA from Garhwa, Girinath joining the BJP camp. Mahagathbandhan and to con- directed all the assistant elec- The officers of district Singh. Girinath is founder mem- test from Chatra. tion officers (AEO) to visit all administration also informed Girinath on Thursday ber of RJD in Jharkhand (ear- Apart from Girinath and the clusters till April 10 and %$" on Thursday that a person can joined BJP in presence of lier Bihar). After the death of Annapurna, another BJP leader check on the booth level facil- vote even without a voter ID if Defence Minister, Nirmala Gopinath Singh he became who is likely to change his par- ities available there. % their name is in the voters' list. Sitharaman in the National RJD MLA for first time in by- ent party is Ravindra Pandey the In a review meeting for the A special camp will be orga- Capital. Girinath is second poll in 1993 from Garhwa on sitting BJP MP from Giridih. The Lok Sabha election prepara- related to code of conduct viola- nized on Friday across the dis- senior State RJD leader to join Janta Dal ticket. He has repre- Giridih seat this time has been tions, Ray directed the officers tion, helpline number 1950, vot- trict wherein people can get the Saffron brigade. Earlier, on sented Garhwa in 1995, 2000 given to AJSU as per seat shar- to report on assured mini- ers awareness and other issues. themselves enrolled with the Tuesday, RJD state president 4 ) $')$* , ( ) and 2005. He was also PHED ing arrangement between BJP mum facilities in all the booths Later in the evening, the voters' list by filling up Form 6. Annapurna Devi joined BJP in '()* % #9 $ # % + # minister in Rabri Devi gov- and AJSU. Pandey who is upset and clusters timely. DEO inspected strong room Once enrolled, the person presence of Chief Minister 2 % :; $ ernment in United Bihar. after he was denied ticket, The DC also gave direc- situated at Pandra Bazaar and can use any of the 11 identity Raghubar Das. Girinath Singh winning spree expressed his resentment stating tions to take measures based on gave directions on mainte- proof to cast their vote. These Sources said that BJP is to media persons in Delhi said, Narendra Modi.” Girinath came to halt in 2009, when that he was not informed by State the vulnerability mapping nance and security of EVMs. identifications include passport, likely to field Girinath Singh “Joining BJP is like home com- Singh’s father Gopinath Singh Satyendra Nath Tiwari then leadership before giving the seat reports from all the blocks. He He directed the officers to driving license, bank passbook, from Chatra, while Annapurna ing to me as my father was one one of the founder members of JVM candidate defeated him to AJSU. Pandey is likely to join also directed the officers to arranged sufficient number of employee ID card issued by is likely to be fielded from the founder member of Jan Jan Sangh had represented from Garhwa. In 2014 Mahagathbandhan either ensure continuous updating tables for the counting based on Centre, State of public limited Koderma seat—the two seats Sangh in Jharkhand (earlier Garhwa Assembly in 1962 and Assembly election too, Girinath Congress or JMM and to contest of voters' list. the number of EVMs. companies, pan card, MNREGA where BJP is yet to announce Bihar). I have joined BJP with- 1969 and when BJP came into had to taste defeat in the hands from Giridih. The Ray gave several directions to Ray directed completion of job card, health beema smart its candidates. Girinath, like out any lust and will work as existence represented the same of Tiwari. In 2009, RJD made Mahagathbandhan is yet to the officers regarding identifica- Ring Road construction up to card issued by labour ministry, Annapurna is said to close to party worker. I am impressed seat in 1985 and 1990. Girinath as party State presi- announce candidates from tion of differently abled voters, Pandra Bazaar Samiti till May pension document with photo RJD chief Lalu Prasad, talking with work of Prime Minister The RJD on Tuesday on dent. Giridih and Chatra respectively. booth management plan, cases 3 to ensure that it does not and Aadhar card among others. % 6 7 07 %
Parinda is a play based on really got a chance to showcase els were a different thing, they you. never complete without songs Maoist Background, Thane Ki them as I was too caught up take you to an imaginary world. and music but as it is very resently posted as Ek Raat is based on Police with life, studying and then job. If not IPS, what did you expensive, people resorted to PCommandant, Jharkhand while Firoza is based on What was the first ever want to do? street plays. This ended the Armed Police (JAP) – 2, batch Communal riots. So how did you finally play you wrote? I was interested to get into purity of theater art and pub- 2009 IPS officer Sanjay Ranjan decide to stage the plays you It was in 1986, called theaters but it was an expensive lic started believing that street Singh has now become popu- How and when did you wrote? Andheron Ke Darakht trans- passion so it was not possible play is theater. We have to cater lar for his not just his profes- develop this interest in writ- I did not. A friend lating to trees of darkness It was back then. to an audience which watches sional work but also his theatre ing plays? approached me around two based on the riots of 1984. Back movies and TV and to do that activism. Singh talks about his I developed the love for years ago who said he has the then I did not have the confi- With such busy schedule you will have to give theater a love for theater and script writ- reading novels when I was in copy of my script for Ek dence or the resources to get it do you get time to write? panoramic treatment. ing, quirk of writing from the class nine or ten. This gradu- Swapna Katha. People gradu- staged as it was not just a sen- I write in my free time. However, if you take this art last page of a diary and other ally inclined towards writing. ally started coming together sitive issue but also expensive. This is my only hobby. In day seriously, then people would aspects of his life with The When I took admission in St. and the play was staged. However, now I plan to get it time it’s not possible so I write gradually start taking you seri- Pioneer. Excerpts: Xavier’s College, Ranchi, I con- However, staging that play was staged. at night. I have a diary and a ously. nected with other people inter- not easy as it required not just pen next to my pillow. I have How many of your plays ested in theaters. I wrote actors but also composing and Having a strong love for this quirk that I write only on What does your family have been staged till date? around seven to eight plays, recoding the music among theatre, how did you end up worn out diaries from the last say on your love for theater? Around half a dozen, each including Ek Swapna Katha other things. Interestingly, I in Police? page. I have a brand new diary My wife supports me a lot with an entirely different sto- which was among the first did not even know when peo- Frankly, this was never I cannot write on it. Also, you and in fact she is a very brutal ryline and issue. Around three plays to be staged. ple were working towards act- +" + planned and neither was I pick up any of my diaries, the critic to my work. She doesn’t more are in pipeline which will ing out some of the plays I ) . % ').*K= interested. It was just a coinci- front pages are all blank and hesitate to say it on my face if be staged after the elections. Ek Swapna Katha was not wrote. It was a surprise to me dence, not a success story. I everything is written from the she doesn’t like a script. There just dialogues but a musical when I saw them being staged. You said you developed a cheap rate or even free, that is wanted a job so I thought why last page. was an instance when she did What is the genre you play with some beautiful Nothing was ever planned. I love for reading in school how I started reading. Then I not. I do take my job serious- not like a play I wrote and prefer to write in? lyrics. So can we say that you wrote as a passion and when days. What were the type of came across Rabindranath ly but let me tell you getting a Theater definitely is not at threw my diary out of the There is no specific genre. are not just a script writer but people came across the scripts books that got you hooked? Tagore and Premchand's works job is not a successful endeav- its prime. What according to house. Meanwhile, my daugh- Every play has an entirely dif- a lyricist too? they appreciated it and started In Daltonganj, where I at friends' place and that fasci- our as people believe. What you is the reason behind its ter has also picked up the love ferent storyline. Joihla Johila is I always loved writing dia- to work on them. spent my childhood, Russian nated me. I never enjoyed really matters is how many peo- downfall? for reading, I guess this is a love story of three rivers, Ishq logues and songs but never literature was available at a very reading course books but nov- ple are happy when they meet The original theater is genetic. !" # $%& $'(% ,; 02 "7
tender, becoming obvious 56 2 7 choice for the party High Command particularly after Pulwama, but sealing and issue 9 7 of unauthorised colonies in New Delhi constituency is also 2 other important issues where the selection committee has to give a thought,” said a BJP * leader. The competition is not just between Congress and BJP, AAP has evolved and gaining s the BJP leadership is popularity in clusters and slum Abrainstorming to select colonies,” said sources, adding, candidates for seven Lok Sabha “AAP has always highlighted seats in Delhi, the leadership is has been meeting various solved problems like conges- issues pertaining to water and in two minds whether to give Residential Welfare tion and parking issue. Sealing electricity in slums and may ticket to incumbent Member of Associations (RWAs) in the drive by the Municipal gain momentum against Parliament Meenakashi Lekhi New Delhi constituency to Corporations on the order of Congress and BJP.” or to field new candidate from strengthen his case. Supreme Court appointed In the Delhi Assembly, the the New Delhi Lok Sabha con- BJP watchers said Gambhir Environment Pollution Control New Delhi seat is represented stituency. chance of getting ticket has Authority have only added to by Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Among the frontrunner brightened after his name was woes of the traders in Hauz who rode on the votes of the # %B P% P % % 2 for ticket, former cricketer included in the fresh list of 31 Khas, Greater Kailash, Defence dominant service class people Gautam Gambhir has emerged probable candidates for the Colony, Lajpat Nagar, Green residing in the constituency. as a popular contender with Lok Sabha elections by the Park and South Extension. Further, he was also voted by backing of senior party leaders Delhi BJP. Sources in BJP said Popular markets like Khan the slum dwellers in the con- for the New Delhi constituen- the party workers have Market, Lajpat Nagar, Sarojini stituency. R cy, a seat having political sig- expressed displeasure with the Nagar come under New Delhi R K Puram, Malcha Marg, nificance as it was represented functioning of Lekhi. constituency and party fears near Moti Bagh Pilnaji Village by BJP veterans like Lal Also, with the AAP and the that the issue of sealing could are urban villages where peo- Krishna Advani and late Prime Congress attacking the BJP for upset their applecart. ple reside in unauthorised ! " # Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee the sealing drive, sources said, The BJP had won the New colonies and frequent visits of in the past. the BJP leadership might Delhi seat in 2014 comfortable AAP representatives may According to reliable party replace Lekhi with a new face with a margin of over 1.5 lakh. change the narrative. master in the grand alliance, several has offered the other Mithilanchal seat of insiders, Gambhir’s entry into in order to beat anti-incum- Lekhi had won the seat with Delhi BJP president Manoj Congress leaders of Bihar claimed the party Madhubani to Mukesh Sahni’s Vikassheel the BJP has further changed the bency and woo local traders as 46.75 per cent vote share while Tiwari said candidates for was “not getting a fair deal” in the seat- Insaan Party (VIP). Here also RJD is insist- equation. BJP vice president well as party workers who have Congress leader Ajay Makan seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi sharing arrangement and urged the high ing VIP to field rebel RJD leader MAA and Delhi BJP in-charge accused the sitting BJP MP of managed to get 18.86 per cent could be announced by first ays after a unanimous announcement command to step in before it was too late. Fatmi or former MP Ali Anwar. Shayam Jaju and Monika Arora being inaccessible. of vote and AAP’s Ashish week of April. The filing of Dby all the stakeholders of Bihar Congress sources said the crisis aggra- The Congress is already upset at hav- are other contenders. Various trading bodies are Khetan got 18.86 per cent nominations will begin on Mahagathbandhan, the RJD and the vated to a level that the RJD and the ing to concede its traditional Aurangabad The cricketer reportedly upset with Lekhi citing unre- votes. “Gambhir is strong con- April 16. Congress on Thursday entered into a fresh Congress almost decided to part ways, seat to Jitan Manjhi-founded Hindustani round of sparring over two Lok Sabha however, a communication was established Awam Morcha (Secular). As of now, the seats. The development forced RJD leader between Congress leaders with RJD supre- seats offered to Congress are Sasaram and Tejashwi Yadav and HAM leader Jitam mo Lalu Prasad currently serving a jail Samastipur (reserved), Patna Sahib, Supaul, Ram Manjhi to cancel their election cam- term to defuse the situation. Valmiki Nagar and Munger. Three other CCC paigns in the State and rush to Patna, while Congress is believed to have suc- Congress seats, which have already been Bihar Congress leaders flew to Delhi to cumbed to the pressure of RJD to vacate announced are Purnea, Kishanganj and From Page 1 fitting the poor,” he said. who announced the demon- set down a robust way of iden- brief party high command of the “arm- Darbhanga Lok Sabha seat currently rep- Katihar. To a question on the “Is it only the crony capi- etisation of high value curren- tifying the beneficiaries, so twisting” by the RJD. resented by Kirti Azad. RJD had lost the In the meantime, Congress received scheme being prima facie pop- talist friends of Mr Modi who cy notes in a surprise move in that no deserving family is left In the centre of the row is Congress’ seat by a thin margin in 2014 and is push- another shot in the arm with another BJP ulist, Gandhi said “it is not a are to benefit from government November 2016, Rahul said, out,” he said. insistence on fielding from Darbhanga sit- ing for the candidature of its senior leader rebel MP Shatrughan Sinha calling on the populist measure as projected schemes? I’m only asking for “We’re not rash. We don’t take Asked if the pilot will be ting local MP and former test cricketer Abdul Bari Siddiqui from Darbhanga. Congress chief expressing interest in join- by some critics”. “If giving out fairness, for justice, or ‘nyay’ for steps like demonetisation and run in Congress-ruled states, Kirti Azad, who recently joined the Congress sources said that in case of ing the grand old party. He is likely to be Rs 3.5 lakh crore to 15 people India’s poor. There’s nothing GST without consultations, Rahul said experts will decide Congress after resigning from the BJP. sorting out the last minute hurdle Congress pitted against BJP candidate Union by Narendra Modi is not con- populist about that,” he coun- without conferring with the on that. The two parties are also at loggerheads may request subject to agreeing of Kirti Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad from Patna sidered populist, why should tered. experts. We have vetted this, “This is for the experts to over RJD’s threat not to back Congress MP Azad to field him either from Sahib that has irked RJD which had this be as it is aimed at bene- Taking a swipe at Modi, tested this, and fiscally ‘Nyay’ decide. In the 10 years of the Ranjeeta Ranjan from Supaul after her hus- Valmikinagar or West Champaran in thought Sinha to field from the same Lok as a scheme is completely Congress-UPA Government, band, Pappu Yadav, filed nomination Bihar or Dhanbad in Jharkhand. However, Sabha berth. doable.” we took 14 crore people out of from Madhepura as an Independent can- in Jharkhand RJD has already given threat Under the seat-sharing arrangement in The Congress president poverty net. Our goal now is to didate against veteran Sharad Yadav, who to walk out from the Opposition alliance the Grand Alliance, the RJD will field can- did not give a time line on finish the job,” he said. is contesting on a RJD ticket. over being allotted only one Lok Sabha didates on 20 seats, Congress on nine, when the party planned to Rahul added that 20 per The RJD has staked claim to both the seat. Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) on make India poverty free and cent to 22 per cent families are Darbhanga and Madhepura seats due to There are also speculation that three, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) said ‘Nyay’ will first be tested living in poverty even today. sizeable numbers of Muslims and Yadav Congress may field Kirti Azad from Delhi on five, Vikassheel Insan Party (VIP) on through a pilot to “smoothen Many of them have been votes. if the Cong-AAP alliance shapes up in the three and the Communist Party of India out any flaws”. pushed into this cycle by the Sources said the matter may be national Capital. (CPI) on one seat. “We’re not going to do it prime minister’s demonetisa- resolved amicably by Friday morning and Congress has focused on Brahmin- Reacting to the days’ development, the way GST was done. We are tion scheme and ‘Gabbar Singh Kirti may be fielded from either Valmiki dominated Mithilanchal and party work- Supaul MP Ranjeeta Ranjan said a strong first going to run a short pilot Tax’ (GST), he noted. Nagar or West Champaran. However, it is ers are keen to have either Darbhanga or message must be sent across that Congress project to smoothen out any “Our goal is to completely not cear what could both the parties do to Madhubani in their pocket. RJD, howev- is not a pushover and claimed to have flaws in the implementation eliminate poverty from India,” persuade Pappu Yadav to withdraw from er, does not want to give up either of these urged the high command to take a deci- process and then roll it out he said, describing ‘Nyay’ as the the race. two seats. It is keen to keep Darbhanga for sion for the sake the party’s well being in nationwide. We’re also going to final assault on poverty. While the RJD has been playing the former Minister Abdul Bari Siddiqui and the State. ::: From Page 1 “It will not be appropriate for us to comment at this stage on a process which is entirely within the parameters of infor- mal discussion of the Council and its members,” a source said. An annex to the draft res- olution says Azhar is associat- ed with the Islamic State terror group, al-Qaida for “partici- pating in the financing, plan- ning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating” or “supplying, selling or transferring arms and related material” or sup- porting acts of the JeM. It says that Azhar founded JeM after his release from prison in India in 1999 in exchange for 155 hostages held on an Indian Airlines flight that had been hijacked to Kandahar, Afghanistan. It adds that Azhar was previously the leader of the terrorist group Harakat al Mujahadin, also known as Harakat ul-Ansar, and that most of these groups’ members sub- sequently joined Jaish under Azhar’s leadership. In 2008, JeM recruitment posters contained a call from Azhar for volunteers to join the fight in Afghanistan against Western forces. The Sanctions Committee makes its decisions by consen- sus of its members. However, for a resolution in the Security Council to pass, it needs nine . % # > % # # % ?=@0A: +/ votes in favour and no vetoes % from any of its five permanent members — China, Russia, the United States, France and the UK. France, the UK and the US on February 27 moved a pro- posal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee. It was under the no- objection period and Committee members had a period of 10 working days to raise any objec- tions to the proposal. More than a dozen mem- ber States had co-sponsored the proposal. About an hour before the no-objection deadline was to expire on March 13 at 3 pm, China blocked the proposal by putting a hold on it. !" # $%& $'(% ,< ;< '6
confronts changing India with the others. resources and its ability to several questions. It also discriminates raise more has been crippled by inance Minister Arun Jaitley “Was the Nehruvian between permanent residents Article 35A. Fon Thursday said Article course, which the State had of the State and all other Indian No investor is willing to set 35A, which restricts non-per- embarked, a historical blunder citizens living elsewhere, he up an industry, hotel, private manent residents and those or was it the correct course to added. educational institutions or pri- outside the Jammu & Kashmir follow? Most Indians today “Lakhs of Indian citizens in vate hospitals since he can nei- to buy property in the State , believe that it is the former. Jammu & Kashmir vote in Lok ther buy land or property nor was “surreptitiously” included “Does our policy today Sabha elections but not in can his executives do so, he by a presidential notification in have to be guided by that erro- Assembly, municipal or said. the Constitution in 1954 and is neous vision or an out of box Panchayat polls. Their children “Article 35A, which is con- “constitutionally vulnerable”. thinking which is in conso- cannot get Government jobs. stitutionally vulnerable, is used The BJP leader who is also nance with ground reality?” They cannot own property as a political shield by many but chairman of party’s campaign Jaitley wondered . and their children cannot get it hurt the common citizen of committee said the article was The senior BJP leader and admitted to Governmental the State the most. It denied also hampering economic in-charge of the party’s cam- institutions. them a booming economy, development of the State. paign committee for general “The same applies to those economic activity and jobs,” The Jammu & Kashmir is elections said Article 35A was who live elsewhere in the coun- Jaitley said. currently under President’s rule “surreptitiously” included by a try. The heirs of ladies marry- The Minister added that after BJP pulled the plug on the presidential notification in the ing outside the state are disin- the present Government has coalition Government in the Constitution in 1954. herited from owing or inherit- decided that the rule of law in militancy infected border State. Article 35A, he said, was it come as a Constitutional third majority of both Houses tion in the Constitution.” inate between two State citizens ing property,” the Minister the interest of the people of In a blog, Jaitley said the neither a part of the original Amendment under Article 368 of Parliament. “It came as a Jaitley further said the living in the State on the basis added. Kashmir valley and the larger seven-decade history of the Constitution framed by the of the Constitution which presidential notification and is Article gives the right to the of declaring some as perma- He said the State does not interest of India must equally State of Jammu & Kashmir Constituent Assembly, nor did requires an approval by two- a surreptitious executive inser- State Government to discrim- nent residents while leaving out have adequate financial apply to Jammu & Kashmir. '=7 $ # % 6" #% & # ' # ?D #2
Janjgir-Champa (SC), Korba, biopic on PM Modi starring Bilaspur, Durg and Raipur in Vivek Oberoi and produced by ok Sabha MP Shatrughan he process of filing nomi- Chhattisgarh will head for vot- ollywood actor Vivek Sandip Ssingh — alleging that LSinha on Thursday ended Tnations for the third phase ing in the third phase. BOberoi and producer of the film violates the model speculation over his joining the of Lok Sabha election involving The Anantnag seat in film “PM Narendra Modi”, code of conduct ahead of the Congress after meeting party five out of 40 seats scheduled Jammu & Kashmir will also go Sandeep Singh on Thursday Lok Sabha 2019 elections. president Rahul Gandhi and on April 23 in 115 seats spread for polls in this phase. While met the Election Commission Speaking to reporters after both sides announced that the across 14 States. The Election the nominations begin on (EC) after complaints were the meeting with the Election BJP rebel will induct himself in Commission (EC) on Thursday Thursday, the last date for fil- filed over the release of the Commission officers in New Congress next week. Sources issued a notification for phase ing of filing papers is April 4 upcoming movie “Prime Delhi, senior Congress leader said that the joining which was three Lok Sabha polls. and scrutiny of nominations Minister Narendra Modi” the Kapil Sibal not only targeted to happen on Thursday itself All seats in Goa, Gujarat, will be held on April 5. The last biopic on the life of Prime the BJP party, but also the mak- had to be delayed due to revival Kerala, Dadra and Nagar date for withdrawal of candi- Minister Narendra Modi and ers (Producer Sandip Ssingh) of the tension within the RJD Haveli, Daman and Diu, and dature is April 8, the notifica- ban of its trailer in light of the and actors (Vivek Oberoi) of and Congress in the Bihar Puducherry will go for polling tion said. Model Code of Code (MCC) the PM Modi biopic saying that mahagathbandhan. in this phase. Uttar Pradesh, The election will pit the being in force ahead of the Lok the film is a “corrupt practice” After meeting Rahul , () $ ! Bihar and West Bengal will BJP-led National Democratic Sabha election. The duo had and “launch of the film is Gandhi, Sinha announced he head for voting in all the seven Alliance against mostly differ- discussions with the poll offi- motivated” ahead of the will join the Congress. “Joining seat and has been critical of the Shatrughan Sinha would join phases of the general elections. ent Opposition groupings in cials on the release date of the General Elections. will happen soon, we will give Narendra Modi Government the party “in New Delhi on According to the Election various States, including of Modi’s biopic which is set to ). ). )9 )".&'! A delegation of the CPI you a positive news during for past couple of years. He has March 28 at 11.30 am”. Singh Commission, the parliamen- Congress, the Left and region- release on April 5, merely a ' : "!) 99'! 9;): ;' and the CPI(M) on Tuesday Navaratri. I will join Congress been sidelined in the BJP, had also announced that Sinha tary constituencies going to al forces who are continuing to week before the first phase of /5 ';),, ! ! ! )" ! met Election Commission offi- now,” Sinha said talking to which replaced him with will be the Congress candidate polls in the third phase in work out a grand alliance to Lok Sabha elections on cials and demanded that release media later. AICC incharge of Union Minister Ravi Shankar from Patna Sahib. Uttar Pradesh include minimise a division of votes April 11. . " ! '!)" of the film based on the life of Bihar Shaktisinh Gohil tweet- Prasad as the Lok Sabha can- On his part, Sinha praised Moradabad, Rampur, Sambhal, against the saffron party. Accompanied with his )::,,)" "")&"'. ! Prime Minister Narendra Modi ed that Sinha will join the didate from Patna Sahib con- Rahul Gandhi after he Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, The BJP has worked out a lawyer Hitesh Jain, actor Vivek . !, 9); '!)", ' ; be deferred, claiming it to be a party on April 6. stituency. promised to implement a min- Badaun, Aonla, Bareilly and seat-sharing formula with some Oberoi met officials of the EC ,'.&. !) -=" 9;): >; “propaganda material”. Sources said that Sinha’s On Wednesday, Bihar imum income guarantee Pilibhit. new allies and several old part- and responded to all queries // ! ;,&!, ; !) - CPI’s D Raja and CPI(M) joining was marred by the Congress election campaign scheme if the Congress is voted Jhanjharpur, Supaul Araria ners. However, the Opposition raised by the Commission. "")&"'. )" 37 Polit Bureau member Nilotpal immediate friction between committee chairman Akhilesh to power in the Lok Sabha , Madhepura Khagaria in Bihar parties are yet to do so in sev- Speaking to the media, Oberoi’s Basu met the poll panel officials the two major grand alliance Prasad Singh had said that polls. and Surguja (ST), Raigarh (ST) eral States. lawyer, Hitesh Jain said that on March 25 and also pointed partners while RJD complain- that they have filed a detailed notice to the makers of the out serious law and order sit- ing that Sinha could have been response to the notice received biopic after it felt that the film uations in Tripura and West even RJD’s bet. Sinha, Congress from the EC. “We have sub- was allegedly violating the Bengal. and RJD finally decided to .# % % # % mitted that biopic PM Model Code of Conduct. On The Model Code of abort the move to join and buy Narendra Modi is not in vio- 20 March, East Delhi Conduct came into effect from peace for sometime. . lation of Model Code of Returning Officer K Mahesh, March 10 across the State on “RJD was said to be keen Conduct.” suo motu, issued notices to the the day when the Election on having Sinha as its candidate +?> When asked, whether the production house and music Commission announced the from Patna Sahib constituency. movie would be released as on company behind the film, and dates for elections which are Sinha and RJD supremo Lalu @3( its scheduled date, Oberai’s two leading newspapers for scheduled to begin from April Prasad share a cordial relation. wo years after giving nod lawyer said: “ We have already publishing advertisements of 11, while the results are to be But the Congress has always New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tto the conversion of the announced the release date. the biopic. announced on May 23. contested the Patna Sahib seat on Thursday said it would hear Akola-Khandawa railway line, However we will wait and Congress and the CPM Directed by Omung whenever it allied with the on April 8 a batch of petitions passing through the heart of watch”. The EC has earlier sent had complained to the com- Kumar, the biopic on India’s RJD in Bihar. challenging the Centre’s decision Maharashtra’s Melghat Tiger a notice to four producers of mission about the film’s release, incumbent Prime Minister - So, the party wanted to to grant 10 per cent reservation Reserve, from metre gauge to the upcoming film ‘PM saying it’s being done with Narendra Modi - features Vivek field Sinha on its own symbol. in jobs as well as admissions to broad gauge, the Standing Narendra Modi”. EC had ear- political intent. Senior Oberoi and Boman Irani in This tug-of-war had apparent- educational institutions to eco- Committee of the National lier sent notices to two news- Congress leaders including pivotal roles. Prior, it was ly caused the delay in decision nomically weaker sections Board of Wildlife (NBWL) papers on 20 March over pub- Kapil Sibal had held a meeting expected to release on April 12, of Sinha joining the grand old across all classes. has recently asked the railways lishing ‘PM Narendra Modi’ with the Election Commission but given the elections were party,” said a senior Congress A Bench comprising to look for alternate route. film’s poster for promotions. on Monday demanding to due to begin a day earlier, the leader. Justices SA Bobde and SA The move follows after Meanwhile, the Delhi postpone the release of the film release was preponed to Sinha is a two-time sitting Nazeer said it would also deal the National Tiger Chief Electoral Office sent a “PM Narendra Modi” — the April 5. BJP MP from Patna Lok Sabha with the contentions raised by Conservation Authority area of tiger reserve and The members also noted that some of the petitioners who (NTCA) as well as the options for the alternate two applications were filed have said that the matter was Dehradun based Wildlife routes/alignments bypassing before the Central Empowered required to be adjudicated Institute of India (WII) in a the tiger reserve should be Committee against the .;> *) upon by a Constitution Bench. meeting in February 2019 of taken up by the railway author- approval of the upgradation of At the outset, Solicitor the high-lavel wildlife panel ities. the track. General Tushar Mehta, appear- headed by Union Environment As per the minutes of the Spread over an area of (( # crorepatis. While 227 of them ping and crimes against India Majlis-E-Ittehadul ing for the Centre, sought an Minister dr Harsh Vardhan Standing Committee of the 1,673 sq km, the Melghat Tiger )#% are from BJP, 37 are from women, 10 sitting MPs have Muslimeen and AIUDF each,” adjournment saying he and which is responsible for fram- NBWL, NTCA Member Reserve, which is home to Congress, 29 from AIADMK, declared cases related to mur- it added. Attorney General KK ing India’s policy and strategy Secretary Anup Nayak point- about 50 tigers is connected % among others,” the report said. der. Out of these, 4 sitting MPs In another report on per- Venugopal were appearing in a for wildlife conservation, ed out that “alternate align- northwards to Satpuda forests. The average assets per sitting are from BJP, 1 MP from INC, formances of the MPs, the matter on Thursday before a opposed the proposal. ment surveyed by the railways In 2017, the Standing com- MP for Lok Sabha 2014 elec- NCP, LJP, RJD, Swabhimani ADR said that seven MPs from Constitution Bench headed by They asserted that the which bypasses the tiger mittee of the NBWL had tions are 14.72 crore. Paksha each and one MP is an Delhi had the highest average Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. upgradation of the track will reserve can facilitate greater approved the proposal subject t least 83 per cent of 521 While 32 sitting MPs have Independent,” the report said. attendance and on an average, “I am on my legs before the fragment the tiger habitat given economic development of the to the mitigation measures Asitting MPs are “crorepatis” declared more than 50 crore “14 sitting MPs have they attended 289 out of the Constitution Bench. Please that of the 35 km long railway region by connecting the near- recommended by the NTCA and 33 per cent of them have worth of assets, only two sitting declared cases of attempt to 312 sittings. On an average, accommodate me,” he told the lines which falls inside the by 29 villages and large popu- and WII. criminal cases against them. MPs have declared assets less murder. Out of these, eight sit- MPs asked 251 questions and Bench. Tiger Reserve and proposed to lation living in the area. However, wildlife activists The Association for than worth 5 lakh. At least 33 ting MPs are from BJP and one attended 221 out of the 312 sit- Senior advocate Rajeev be upgraded, 18 km pass “After discussions, the had slammed the move with Democratic Reforms (ADR), per cent sitting MPs have MP each from INC, AITC, tings. Two MPs from Nagaland Dhavan, appearing for one of through the core area, thus Standing Committee recom- some of them even approach- has compiled the report after declared criminal cases against NCP, RJD, Shiv Sena and attended 88 sittings on an aver- the petitioners, referred to the having serious impact on the mended to return the propos- ing the Supreme Court led analysing self-sworn affidavits them in the affidavits. Swabhimani Paksha. 14 sit- age, the lowest in the last five apex court’s last order passed in rich flora and fauna of the al to the Maharashtra Centrally Empowered com- of the 521 MPs out of 543 “While 106 of them have ting MPs declared cases relat- years. Among political par- the matter on March 11 and region. Government with request to mittee (CEC) against the rail- members elected to the Lok declared serious criminal cases ed to causing communal ties, the maximum number of said the issue of whether these The NTCA recommended review the proposal in the way plan arguing that it should Sabha in the 2014 elections. including cases related to mur- disharmony. Out of them, 10 questions were asked by 18 Shiv pleas should be referred to a that the only feasible mitiga- light of the recommendations be shot down as it will endan- “Out of the 521 Sitting MPs der, attempt to murder, com- sitting MPs are from BJP and Sena MPs, each of them on an Constitution Bench should be tion is ‘avoidance’ of the broad- of the NTCA and WII,” said ger the tigers besides other analysed, 430 (83 pc) are munal disharmony, kidnap- 1 MP from TRS, PMK, All average asking 639 questions. considered. PTI ening of gauge through the the minutes of the meeting. wildlife in the region. # #) ## # $ #&* R$ #+&# # causing loss to the patients and sible for irregularities”. The request for voluntary retire- tificate that the said equipments lized much below the project- imposed because of violation of been twisted …while a close public exchequer,” has recent- matter is now under the scan- ment from Dr RML Hospital are being procured not as ed usability of the equipment ie the terms of the contract and scrutiny of the operation the- Central Health Ministry ly submitted yet another exten- ner of Union Health Minister which he had joined after serv- replacement or additional but even less than 10 per cent, thus the decision in this regard has atre records reveal that dispro- Aprobe panel set up to audit sive 62 pages report in the mat- JP Nadda. When contacted, ing several years in the SIC. The as a first-time procurement. suggesting infructuous expen- been taken at the level of portionately large number of the country’s top Sports Injury ter. Union Health Secretary Preeti probe panel in its interim Frequent purchases have been diture for extraneous consid- Director (SIC) and MS surgeries were performed by Centre at Safdarjung Hospital The Ministry in September Sudan said appropriate action report said “On scrutiny of the resorted to for certain equip- erations,” further said the Safdarjung Hospital. Besides using implants of certain makes in Delhi has found huge irreg- last year had set up a seven- will be taken in the matter. files pertaining to procure- ments such as arthroscope 30 report. there is no system in place to (Depuy and Arthrex). ularities in its functioning — member panel, headed by Joint The huge gross irregulari- ment of equipments and facil- and 70 degrees, and camera etc. The panel has also sus- monitor the free cases as The final 62 pages report ranging from violation in pro- Secretary Rajeev Manjhi, to ties have also pointed needle of ities for operation theatre and “It is surprising that these pected nexus between SIC, agreed…” notes the report. too has recommended further curement of equipments and take up the special audit of suspicion towards the then physiotherapy units of the SIC, equipments have been con- SFH and M/S Mahajan Also, “….. there is no ratio- detailed investigation in view of facilities, financial mis-man- SIC’s functioning in various director of the SIC, Dr Deepak it has been observed that there demned even during the man- Imaging, a private diagnostic nalized purchase procedure “blatant violations of agement to serious discrepan- areas ranging from equipments Chaudhary. are blatant violations of gener- ufacturers’ warranty period. player. “The centre (SIC) made followed by procurement of GFRs/CVCs instructions” and cies in appointments of health- and facilities for operation the- Intriguingly, the Ministry al financial rules (GFRs) and …many equipments are not in recommendations by conceal- implants in SIC. Documents large scale irregularities. care professionals. atres to their procurement and in December 2018 had issued the procedures adopted are working conditions. There is ing some vital information made available to the panel evi- “The Indenting officer The panel after submitting maintenance. a notice to Dr Chaudhary too repugnant to CVC instruc- no clarity with regard to which resulted in extending dently indicate of a nexus (HOD) may be made person- an interim report to the Union Both the reports have rec- for “taking up a commercial tions. CAMC/AMC….. It has also favour to M/Mahajan Imaging between SIC and a particular ally accountable for submitting Health Ministry on October ommended a detailed probe assignment with a private hos- “With regard to usefulness been observed that Director, by relaxing the terms of agree- supplier who has been supply- false indents,” said the report 2018 which said that “available into the matter in view of “bla- pital without prior permission and usability of the equipment SIC indented some expensive ment and to neutralize sub- ing almost 90 per cent of even as it has sought annual records and evidence, prima- tant violation of CVCs instruc- from the Government”. Sources with almost similar functions equipments for procurement stantial amount of penalty implants at exorbitant rates. audit of the high-value equip- facie, indicate collusion of SIC tions and has sought immedi- said that pending reply, the have been proposed to be pro- projecting quite high usability, accruing to the Government, “The records suggests that ments and devices among with some suppliers thereby ate action against those respon- Ministry has put on hold his cured twice by furnishing a cer- whereas the same are being uti- which could have been the provisions of the GFRs have others. !" # $%& $'(% ,:
-2 7 * !R# 7 * %# ### -. #%,# Q R Amethi: Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wriggled herself out of her party workers demand to ) ')&"!; , get herself weighed in ‘lad- ! ("= " )" )' ". doos’, making the local leader !, )"=;,, >)> who had planned the event to sit on the scales instead. ; ! ("= " .99;"! After day-long meetings with )'+ ) )& ''>! !, partymen in her brother "=& = )9 )"=;,,C 9 Rahul Gandhi’s Parliamentary constituency C )9 C (,! " on Wednesday, Priyanka >> &., !; "=& = Gandhi arrived at the resi- dence of local leader Fateh Bahadur around midnight, where the host had the weighing scales ready. She, however, turned and Pakistan”. down the request by her He said even those parties party workers to sit on them who ruled the State of Jammu against ‘laddoos’ and instead & Kashmir for many years are got the host to sit on them, doing the same. Commenting much to the amusement of on the language of opposition, onlookers. # % # $ % #2 Modi said that Pakistan She also got a promise % +$ ) ! " % , applauds such voice. Rae Bareli: Congress general + ( + ! from the partymen to work “The whole country is talk- secretary Priyanka Gandhi on harder not just for the electoral fray in Jammu ignor- election rally in the border belt ing in one voice and these Thursday said she has been to the then British rulers. going to be defeated for next upcoming Lok Sabha elec- ing the statements and stand of Akhnoor Prime Minister Congress people are talking in given the key task of strength- Addressing block presidents, 10-15 years on the basis of the tions but also for the 2022 taken by the leaders of these said, “Congress, NC & PDP are a different voice. Do you accept ening her party in the Uttar booth workers and the members development works.” Assembly polls in Uttar olstering Bharatiya Janata parties in Kashmir valley . responsible for the problems this language of Congress? Of Pradesh — even beyond the of gram panchayat and zila pan- Priyanka Gandhi had Pradesh. PTI BParty’s (BJP) election cam- The Congress had earlier Jammu & Kashmir faces today. PDP? of NC? Pakistan applauds Lok Sabha elections — and chayat of the party in Rae Bareli, made the same point at her paign on two Lok Sabha seats fielded joint candidates, from It is because of them that their language,” said Modi. ensure it comes back to power the constituency of her mother programme near Gauriganj in from Jammu region, Prime Jammu-Poonch and Kashmiri Pandits faced so much Further escalating its sharp in the 2022 Assembly polls. and UPA chairperson Sonia Amethi — the constituency of in the party’s long-term strat- Minister Narendra Modi on Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha trouble. Terrorism took roots in attack on the Opposition, Modi Hitting out at the Bharatiya Gandhi, she said: “I have been her brother and Congress egy in the State. Thursday launched a ‘blister- seat, after stitching a tactical the State. Sadly, national secu- said, “What is beyond compre- Janata Party (BJP), Priyanka, given the task to strengthen the President Rahul Gandhi — on “And we do not need cer- ing’ attack on three rival polit- alliance with the NC to defeat rity is not a priority for them, hension is Congress’ attitude. Is who is the Congress’ eastern party in the state. And I will Wednesday night. tificate of nationalism from ical parties — the Congress, the the BJP. The PDP has also they only care about power it the same Congress that Sardar Uttar Pradesh in charge, also ensure that the party comes to “Are you preparing for the anyone who never participat- National Conference (NC) and extended support to the two and their dynastic politics”. Patel was a part of? Is it the said her party which fought for power in the State in 2022. elections? I am not talking ed in the freedom struggle the Peoples Democratic Party Congress candidates in Jammu He said “leaders of these same Congress that Netaji freedom does not need a “cer- “And once the Government about 2019, but 2022,” she and who wrote letter to the (PDP) and held them respon- province. three political parties in the Subhas Chandra Bose was a tificate of patriotism” from is formed in Uttar Pradesh, I asked the workers, indicating Britishers seeking apology,” she sible for the current situation in Before kick-starting his state are losing their sleep fol- part of, and fought for India’s those who sought to apologise can ensure that we are not the reason for her appointment said. IANS Jammu & Kashmir. election campaign, Prime lowing complete crackdown independence,” Modi asked. Prime Minister accused Minister Modi remembered by the security agencies on ter- Modi said, if you monitor the Congress and its policy party stalwart Prem Nath rorist organisations and their social media and TV channels makers for not according top Dogra and saluted members of sympathisers in the State. in Pakistan, terrorists and their 556 priority to the issues of the Dogra community. He also Referring to Balakote handlers are all praying to get National Security and striking greeted them in chaste ‘Dogri’ strikes on terror factories active rid of ‘Chowkidar’ and victory ‘discordant’ notes against the language amid thundering in Pakistan, Modi said, “ever of ‘mahamilavati alliace’ in Lok wishes of the countrymen at a applause. since India demonstrated its Sabha polls. In his 35 minute crucial juncture. “I am happy that when I capacity to destroy terror infra- speech Prime Minister also pre- He also pointed fingers have set out to reach out to the structure deep inside Pakistan sented a comprehensive report towards the Congress party people of this country ahead of one after the other senior con- card of his government before /% # ## $ for taking support of two the Lok Sabha polls, I came to gress leaders are speaking the electorate and sought anoth- )( ! Kashmir-based regional parties Jammu first”, Modi said. against the national interest and er term to carry forward the for its own survival in the Addressing a mammoth giving clean chits to terrorists journey on road to prosperity. ihar BJP president 156 '(R BNityanand Rai was on " % Thursday mobbed and heckled 227 $ $ 6 # ? # by supporters of a party rebel, 2 who has filed his nomination .; - . as an Independent candidate 2 from Katihar Lok Sabha con- # , % stituency notwithstanding the Thiruvananthapuram: BJP seat going to alliance partner tions in her State. “Can these Kerala unit chief PS Sreedharan JD(U) headed by Chief people say anything about the Pillai on Thursday said the Minister Nitish Kumar. n an apparent bid to hit the real symbolism behind Durga party will raise the Sabarimala Rai called on BJP MLC IBJP where it hurts the most or Kali or do they remember issue over women’s entry and Ashok Kumar Agarwal at his Mamata Banerjee on the mantras (of the Mother the alleged harassment suffered residence and spent over two Wednesday questioned the saf- Goddess)? I am sure they don’t. by the Lord Ayyappa devotees hours trying to persuade him $ $ # # * fron outfit’s failure to keep its But I do though I do not sell during the campaign in the to withdraw his nomination in & ! promises particularly the one about my religion.” upcoming Lok Sabha polls. favor of the JD(U) candidate by the police before he could on Ram Temple at Ayodhya. Banerjee who once again If the law permits the Dulal Chandra Goswami, depart. Later, Agarwal made his Mounting a blistering assured the nation that GST Centre to intervene in the mat- who would seek to wrest the intentions clear when he defi- attack on the BJP for dividing will be reviewed and demon- ter, the BJP would take all pos- seat for NDA from Tariq antly said roothne manaane ka India in the name of religion etisation will be investigated sible steps to bring a new leg- Anwar of the Congress. daur khatm hua (the time for and in the name of Lord Ram said how the BJP was driving islation to protect the temple’s The BJP had won the seat sulking and cajoling is over). 3 # $ but failing to proceed a single a wedge in the Indian society customs and traditions, the three times on the trot in 1999, Besides Katihar, the BJP is also !" step towards constructing the by setting one community leader said in a statement here. 2004 and 2009 with support of faced with the embarrassment Ram Temple in Ayodhya the against the other and how they “Each BJP candidate has the JD(U). In 2014, when of rebellion by its leader in Bengal Chief Minister on are dividing India to rule the the right to raise the issue of Nitish Kumar went it alone, the another constituency Banka Wednesday said “when the country. assault on Lord Ayyappa devo- three-time BJP MP Nikhil where former MP Putul election comes you (BJP) go “We will not divide the tees in Sabarimala and the Kumar Choudhary finished Kumari has filed her nomina- about selling Ram’s name for country but we will review attempts to destroy their faith the runner-up while Anwar tion as an Independent. votes. But after the elections GST, probe demonetisation” during the campaign in a then with Sharad Pawars NCP On Wednesday, State vice- you forget your promises.” and double MNREGA days to peaceful manner,” he said. and a several-term MP from president and in-charge of party O P Comparing her achieve- ensure increased employment, Pillai’s statement came hours Katihar, won after a gap of headquarters Davesh Kumar &:- ments in restoring places of Banerjee said. after his reported remarks that more than a decade. had shot off missives to the worships to their lost glories The Chief Minister who the BJP will not use Sabarimala The JD(U)s Ram Prakash rebel candidates to withdraw Banerjee said “Despite making had earlier disapproved of the as campaign issue in the LS Mahto had finished third with their nominations and warned tall promises before the elections Prime Minister’s announcement polls triggered a controversy. just over one lakh votes, way them of disciplinary action. you (BJP) have failed to construct of India’s path-breaking progress A section of the media behind the BJP candidate, who Putul Kumari had made a Ram Temple in five years but in the anti-satellite warfare reported that his statement polled nearly 3.16 lakhs. her electoral debut in 2010 as here. I have renovated a whole lot instead of the DRDO chief said, was contradictory to the stand However, the seat went to the an Independent candidate and of places of worship — provid- “the BJP is adopting all kinds of taken by K Surendran, the JD(U) this time after the par- won in the bypoll that was ing added facilities in — # mean ways to gain votes.” BJP-NDA’s candidate in tys return to the NDA as the necessitated by the death of her Dakshineshwar, Belur Math, She had earlier attacked Pathanamthitta (where the alliance had to make many husband Digvijay Singh, who Tara Peeth Furfura Sharief.” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley Sabarimala temple is located), adjustments to accommodate had served as a minister in gov- Taking an apparent dig at all communities. Citing how who accused her of demeaning who had made it clear that the the Chief Ministers party. ernments headed by VP Singh Prime Minister Narendra Modi the people of Bihar, UP, India’s Defence programmes. Sabarimala row would be one However, when Rai and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. the Chief Minister said “the Rajasthan, Gujarat and other “Jaitley ji is an educated man, of the major campaign issues. emerged from Agarwals house Singh had pulled off a * condition of Ganga in Varanasi places feel “more than at home a good looking man but how “I have never said any- here, he found himself sur- stunning victory in the 2009 .; - . — from where Modi was elect- in Bengal,” she said the situa- can he say like that? He said where that Sabarimala issue rounded by hundreds of the Lok Sabha polls when the for- ed — remains the same as it tion in those places were not that I am criticising India’s would not be raised during our MLCs supporters who had mer JD(U) leader won the seat was five years ago but go to the same. nuclear and other programmes. election campaigns. The NDA kept shouting slogans outside fighting as an Independent Ganga Sagar and you will see “You will not find lynching Why should I do so? I only candidate in Pathanamthitta during the period the state unit after falling out with Nitish how we have made it a living in Bengal like it happens in objected to the announcement and the party cadre there have chief remained inside. Kumar even though the elec- paradise.” The Chief Minister other places,” she said attacking made by the Prime Minister. every right to raise the issue dur- As Rai tried to get inside tions were swept by the NDA was attending a Holi Milan the BJP leaders for accusing of This should have been done by ing campaigns in accordance his vehicle, he had to jostle with which bagged 32 out of 40 seats gathering attended by people of stopping Durga Puja celebra- the DRDO chief,” she said. with the law,” he said. PTI the agitators who were quelled in the State. 0 # 1
Lucknow: With electioneering for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls "3*3))3)// 3)"//1 gaining steam in Uttar Pradesh, political leaders are increasing- person Sonia Gandhi and statements, had earlier termed ing hands with one-time arch a “coward and impotent”. ly resorting to personal attacks Haryanvi singer-dancer Sapna Rahul and his sister Priyanka rival SP. UP Power Minister The comments triggered a on their adversaries. If the mav- Chaudhary, evoking wide- “Ravana and Shurpanakha”, and Shrikant Sharma stirred up a war of words between the two erick BJP MLA from Bairia, spread criticism from political accused Mayawati of “murder- hornet’s nest with his tweet parties as well as on social Surendra Singh hit the headlines parties and social media users. ing” a woman’s dignity by join- terming the Congress president media platform. PTI for his remarks against BSP A media agency quoted him supremo Mayawati, Uttar as saying that both Sonia Gandhi Pradesh Cabinet Minister and Sapna Chaudhary used to "3*3) 133A-/)3 )10-/6B )* Shrikant Sharma hit a new low work as dancers. “Rahul’s moth- 03/) %) (1 -"3 president Firoz Khan had allegedly said Jaya Prada by making indecent comments er (Sonia Gandhi) was also in the would “enthral the people of Rampur with her on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. same profession in Italy and his Lucknow: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav ghungaroos and thumkas”. In a short video clip, The Bairia MLA had said father made her his own. He directed party workers not to make indecent com- Khan is heard saying “Rampur ki shaamein Mayawati gets facials done and (Rahul Gandhi) should also take ments against women after the National rangeen ho jaayengi ab jab chunavi mahual chale- her hair coloured even though the family tradition forward and Commission for Women pulled up a party leader ga (Rampur’s evenings will turn colourful this elec- $ " # . / . " # she is 60-years-old. He also make Sapna his own,” the MLA for allegedly making sexist remarks against actor- tion season)”, seemingly referring to Jaya Prada, $ % #" % + # reportedly made offensive said. The BJP legislator, who is turned-politician Jaya Prada. SP Sambhal district who recently joined the BJP. PTI 2 % ! remarks against UPA chair- known for his controversial !" # $%& $'(% ,=
# QR <2 /@ )6* 2& Madhya Pradesh. Assembly election. This time, Beside Pal, former SP Puja has been pitted against #%1 Minister Bhagwat Sharan Sakshi Maharaj, the sitting MP Gangwar was been given tick- of Bharatiya Janata Party from Patna: Upset over being side- et from Bareilly, Nasir Quereshi Unnao, and former Congress #%2 lined in the party and the fam- from Moradabad, Shyam MP Annu Tandon. ily, Tej Pratap Yadav, elder son he Samajwadi Party on Sunder Singh Yadav from “Puja Pal is ‘Gaderia’ by of RJD chief Lalu Prasad, on TThursday declared five Jhansi and Nathuni Prasad caste and since Unnao has a Thursday resigned as patron of more candidates for Lok Sabha Kushwaha from Kushinagar. sizeable population of Lodhi the RJD student wing ahead of polls in Uttar Pradesh, taking The surprise inclusion in and Mallah, she seems to be a ven as suspense continues the Lok Sabha polls, dealing a the total number of it candi- the list is Bahujan Samaj Party good bet,” a senior SP leader Eover the name of Congress blow to Bihar’s main dates declared so far to 27. leader Raju Pal’s widow Puja said. On the other hand, former to its sitting MP Rajesh Pandey The SP is contesting the candidate from Lucknow Lok Opposition party. The list includes the names Pal. Raju Pal was shot dead in MLA from Nawabganj from Kushinagar this time and general election in alliance Sabha constituency, former of former MLA Puja Pal from daylight by Atiq Ahmad in (Bareilly) and a minister in has replaced him with Vijay with BSP and would contest on Union Minister and party can- Unnao and one candidate for Allahabad. Later the BSP field- Akhilesh Yadav government, Dubey. 37 seats, while the BSP would didate from Dhaurahra parlia- Madhya Pradesh. The party ed Puja Pal and she won the Bhagwat Sharan Singh Gangwar The SP has also fielded field candidates from 38 seats. mentary seat, Jitin Prasada, had earlier declared a list of 23 2012 Assembly poll comfort- has been fielded from Bareilly. turncoat Naseer Quereshi from Rashtriya Lok Dal, the third has hinted at contesting from candidates, including one from ably but lost in the 2017 The inclusion of Nathuni Moradabad. He contested two partner of the alliance, has Lucknow instead of Dhaurahra. Prasad Kushwaha’s name in the Assembly elections on BSP been given three seats. Prasada, who was on his SP list also came as a surprise. ticket in 2012 (Moradabad SP patron Mulayam Singh way to the state capital via Kushwaha, a veteran SP leader, Dehat) and 2017 (Kaanth) but Yadav is contesting from Sitapur on Thursday, was # contested five elections — three lost both. In 2018, he joined the Mainpuri, SP chief Akhilesh stopped by Congress workers -). : - Assembly and two parliamen- SP and was selected as alliance Yadav from Azamgarh, his wife who wanted him to contest tary — but lost all. He will be candidate from Moradabad. Dimple Yadav from Kannauj, from Dhaurahra. “My body >;,"! " &'(") -&! pitted against RPN Singh of In Jhansi, the SP has field- Dharmendra Yadav from may be present in Lucknow but : ,)& , - “I am resigning as patron . 0 Congress and Vijay Dubey of ed Shyam Sundar Singh Yadav, Budaun, Akshay Yadav from my soul will always be in " &; ; + : of RJD student wing. Those BJP from Kushinagar in east UP. who had joined the SP after Ferozabad and Mohammad Dhaurahra. Give me some ,): !: : who think I am naive are mis- post-poll scenario. The BJP has denied ticket leaving the BJP. Azam Khan from Rampur. time, I am standing at a polit- ,! "."= ! >)!' taken,” tweeted Tej Pratap A senior SP leader said in ical cross-roads. I am going to Yadav, a former Bihar Health he Samajwadi Party is like- Lucknow on Thursday that at Lucknow and will decide what ';),,%;) .,+ : Minister who has been having Tly to release its manifesto a time when rising unemploy- "$$# I have to do,” said Prasada as he =)"= !) &'(") simmering disputes with his for the Lok Sabha polls, ment was a big issue, the party 2 addressed Congress workers at ". .'. ! younger brother and the more promising jobs and setting up planned to catch the imagina- # Kanshiram Colony in Sitapur. !) .) active Tejashwi Yadav. of a youth commission, in the tion of youths, specially in the 22 2 Jitin Prasada reached his Tej Pratap Yadav added first week of April. As SP’s state, by promising to enact leg- Lawrence Terrace house in that he knew who wields what alliance partner Bahujan Samaj islation on national youth # # # Lucknow in the evening and kind of influence in party Party does not have a tradition employment job guarantee. held a meeting with his sup- affairs. The resignation comes to release a manifesto, Akhilesh “In this legislation, the porters over the future strategy. Minister reportedly conveyed in the absence of Lalu Prasad, Yadav will be free to announce party will make the promise of Kaliabor/Teok: BJP chief Amit a second term at the Centre. # Earlier, there were rumours his reservation over fighting who is undergoing treatment at his party’s poll promises. The providing jobs to all those Shah on Thursday accused the He said only Prime that Jitin Prasada was joining from Dhaurahra. a Government hospital in BJP and Congress will also youths who are registered in previous Congress Government Minister Narendra Modi and 22 $ the BJP after reports emerged Prasada, a Brahmin, hails Ranchi after being convicted in release their manifestos soon. employment exchanges with- in Assam of settling illegal the BJP can ensure security of of his being unhappy with from a prominent political fodder scam cases. The SP manifesto is like- in six months time,” he said. immigrants in the State, as he the country and not the 2 alleged pressure from the party family of Shahjahanpur. His Tej Pratap Yadav has ly to be pro-youth, with the Besides, the youth com- applauded the Narendra Modi Congress or its president Rahul leadership to change his seat father, late Jitendra Prasada, reportedly told his aides that he promise to bring a national mission will be constituted on Government for securing the Gandhi. “In his five years in from Dhaurahra to Lucknow. was a Congress stalwart and was pained because his request youth employment job guar- lines of the existing minority country’s frontiers and aveng- office, Modi brought in a lot of However, he rubbished the had even contested the party to accommodate two of his antee bill, compulsory job for or women’s commissions. But ing Indian soldiers killed by development. But most of all he aving decided to fight all speculation. presidential election against supporters as candidates in every youth and setting up of this commission will com- Pakistan-backed terror groups. ensured the security of the Hthe 48 Lok Sabha polls in Prasada was a Union Sonia Gandhi. the Sheohar and Jehanabad a youth commission. prise youths from universities Addressing election rallies country and its borders. Under Maharashtra as a third front, Minister in the UPA Jitin Prasada son won his Lok Sabha seats was rejected. The manifesto will also and civil societies. It will advise in the state, Shah asserted, let his leadership, India avenged the Bahujan Samaj Party and Government and is presently first Lok Sabha election from RJD leaders close to him focus on larger role to be the government on formulat- alone infiltrators “not even a the blood of our soldiers killed the Samajwadi Party will con- an invitee member of the Shahjahanpur in 2004. In 2009, say he is not happy the way played by regional parties in ing policies for the youths,” the bird” will be allowed to enter in Uri and Pulwama attacks by test 44 seats and four seats Congress Working Committee. he shifted to the newly-formed Tejashwi Yadav has been given the country, particularly in the leader said. Assam illegally if the BJP secures Pakistan-based terror ele- respectively in the State. As per sources, the Dhaurahra constituency and command of the party and with ments,” Shah told election ral- Thirteen days ahead of the Congress is likely to field him won but in 2014, he lost to the the latter’s style of functioning. lies in Kaliabor and Teok. first phase of the four-phased from Lucknow for a direct BJP. Dhaurahra is one of the 80 Tejashwi Yadav is the Leader of The BJP president claimed polls in the state, the BSP and fight with Union Home Lok Sabha constituencies in UP Opposition in the Bihar the way the world viewed India SP on Thursday announced the Minister Rajnath Singh. The that will go to polls in the fourth Assembly. underwent a drastic change seat-sharing pact between sources said Congress general phase. While the Congress has “In last six months, Tej under Modi. Shah insisted that them. Under the pact, the secretary incharge of eastern declared Prasada as its official Pratap had time and again India under Modi was only the Samajwadi Party will contest UP, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, candidate from Dhaurahra, reli- pointed out how he was side- third nation after the US and Mumbai north-west, Dhule, came up with the idea of shift- able sources close to the leader lined in the party” by Tejashwi Israel to take swift revenge for Nanded and Beed seats. ing Prasada from his present said the party now wanted to Yadav, a former Deputy Chief the spilling of their soldiers’ Of the 44 seats that it is constituency after the former shift him to Lucknow. Minister. IANS blood by enemies. He criti- contesting in the State, the cised the Congress party for BSP will release its first list of demanding proof of the damage 19 seats. () ( caused by the Indian Air Force’s The seats for which the Balakot air strike inside Pakistan BSP it has named candidates % in the wake of the killing of 44 include: Bhandara-Gondia, CRPF personnel in Pulwama. Chandrapur, Ramtek, Nagpur, Mumbai: The BJP is banking “Should we avenge our fall- Washim, Amravati, Buldhana, on the popularity of some of en soldiers or not? The Congress Hingoli, Akolam, Parbhani, Bhojpuri film industry’s biggest party cannot protect the coun- Osmanabad, Latur and Solapur. stars to see it through a clutch try’s borders. If we want to pro- Mayawati will launch the of Lok Sabha seats in eastern tect India’s borders, then only BSP-SP launch in Maharashtra Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. () . # % % # 2 % + + Narendra Modi and BJP can do at a rally in Nagpur on April 4. The saffron outfit is tap- ! that,” Shah said. PTI SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is ping film stars Ravi Kishan, expected to attend the rally. singer-actor Dinesh Lal Yadav Both the BSP and SP do alias ‘Nirahua’ and Pawan not have the following in Singh and they are expected to Maharashtra that they can contest elections from seats in influence the Lok Sabha poll eastern UP and West Bengal, outcome. For instance, the BSP which have Bhojpuri voters, 2 had contested all the 48 lok party insiders said. Sabha polls in the state. The Singh is already in the BJP, Mayawati-led party polled a while Yadav joined the party on New Delhi: The CPI(M) on measures, repeal/amend the pathetic 2.61 per cent – which Wednesday in Lucknow in the Thursday proposed curbing of National Security Act, section 2.22 per cent votes less than the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief mass surveillance, statutory 499 of IPC (relating to defama- votes it had polled in the 2009 Minister Yogi Adityanath. minimum wage of not less tion) and Armed Forces Lok Sabha polls. PTI than 18,000 per month and (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). checking monopolies over tele- In the declaration, the party com and internet service plat- also proposed alternative poli- forms in its manifesto for the cy platform under which it coming Lok Sabha elections. called for protection of the sec- This is the first time when ular principle and democratic the Left party has mentioned rights enshrined in the digital rights of citizens in its Constitution and enforcement manifesto. The CPI(M) said it of farmers’ right to sell their pro- would recognise digital infra- duce at minimum support price. structure as public infrastruc- "!'* % > % / + “Our main aim is to defeat ture and stop mass surveillance ( / P # $ the BJP, increase the strength of by State agencies under section the CPI(M) and the Left in 69 of the IT Act. tion/misuse of users private Nilotpal Basu. Parliament and form an alter- “There should be clear data for commercial use,” said He said the party would native secular Government,” provisions and judicial super- CPI(M) General Secretary curb monopoly of some tele- Yechury said. vision of any surveillance that Sitaram Yechury while releas- com majors. The manifesto The left party said the pen- violates citizens privacy. Enact ing the manifesto along with also proposed the scrapping of sion system would enable data privacy laws that protect Polit Bureau members Brinda the use of Aadhaar and bio- senior citizens to live with dig- the people against appropria- Karat, Prakash Karat and metrics for all social welfare nity. PTI , ($ (* -R 7 56 #! % &&(/ ( 9 7 /2 (%*& % &* #( Kolkata: Lok Sabha candidates Rampurhaat locality. cific reason had been offered for in West Bengal’s Birbhum dis- Roy, clad in a pink saree the new move. Banerjee had on trict are seeking to exploit all and donning sunglasses, also day after Bengal Chief Wednesday cited photographs modes of transport to attract participated in a tribal dance AMinister Mamata Banerjee showing how in 2018 Sharma attention. While one candidate with the women folk of the questioned propriety of appoint- had joined an RSS-sponsored chose bullock cart, another locality. Not to be outdone, her ing a Special Police Observer for programme in police uniform. decided to drive an e-rickshaw. BJP rival Dudh Kumar Mondal Bengal who had earlier been seen Apart from police Actor-turned-politician rode a bullock cart to interact attending an RSS programme in observers the ECI has also Satabdi Roy, seeking to retain with the people of another uniform, the Election appointed 44 expenditure the Birbhum Lok Sabha seat Panchayat area. The Birbhum Commission of India on observers to monitor the she had won for the Trinamool constituency will go to polls on Wednesday replaced the senior spending of various political Congress in 2009 and 2014, April 29 in the fourth of the IPS officer with a new one. parties, sources said. was seen riding an e-rickshaw seven-phased Lok Sabha elec- Though the ECI would not Meanwhile, the Kolkata all by herself while campaign- tion in the State. IANS provide reasons it removed for- Police on Thursday recovered ing in villages of the mer Director General of BSF KK Rs 35 lakh from a person at Sharma as the Special Police Brabourne Road in North Observer for Bengal. Vivek Kolkata. Identified as PK Dubey 1981 batch IPS officer will Sharma from Odisha the supervise the Lok Sabha election accused was taken into custody. in the State in place of Sharma, The Thursday’s recovery takes Additional Chief Electoral the total recovery of unex- Officer Sanjay Basu said. plained cash to about 11 corein He quoted “specific orders” the past two weeks: highest ever from the ECI but said no spe- in Bengal, sources said. !" # $%& $'(% ,9 1*&%* 1 3)(-/ - 2 4 ### " # # 13 #### R ? > # +S ? $( 9( ( 4 4 @ / $ > + ?> @ ( @ / , ?A 2"" 2 04$ # ?>( ? 8 he Indian sub-continent is a wound- ( ed region that has been subjected to @ > " Tdangerous contextualising of terror ?> ? ( ( that is ultimately tantamount to “justifica- tion of terrorism.” The adage, “One man’s P Q ? >+ terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter” # ?> has been used and abused by both terror $ groups and roguish states, whose stated pol- icy distinguishes between “good” and S B ) = “bad” terrorists. Repeated warnings to 8 $ desist from such categorisation — as the A same inevitably backfires — is personified by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s 9 / 9 routine posting of the figure of 75,000 $ S Pakistani casualties and an economic cost ,(2C ?> ( of $123 billion to the state, owing to its ostensible fight against terrorism. $ Obviously, the Pakistani state has not + ?> come clean on its own track record of duplic- / + PQ itousness and insincerity on terror, with the then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s $ 9 $ prophetic warning that “snakes in the back- + @ yard would not just bite the neighbours.” The + tact of selectively legitimising and deliber- ately contextualising some terror organisa- # $ ( tions as “freedom fighters” or “defenders of / > 4 ( the faith” comes with accompanying risks of + $ . + 5+$.+6 8 these morphing and mutating into on popular legitimacy of its claims-and-counter-claims and 2001, had famously exhorted ?> + Frankenstein monsters and turning upon its actions among the aggrieved societal assimilations. on the double-speak on terror- progenitors. The fact is that Pakistan is wit- communities and the other It is important to recognise ism, “Every nation in every / nessing a breakdown in its social structures, stakeholders — this psychoso- that the maximum “context- set- region now has a decision to + ! ?> , 8 economic health and political future by pan- cial “oxygen” is the key determi- ting” of terrorism is done by for- make: Either you are with us or / @ dering to regressive “contexts” to justify its nant for its sustenance. It is this eign powers who have vested you are with the terrorists.” interferences across the Durand Line in the spirit of unequivocal delegitimi- interest in the disruption of This nudge had led to some / S ?> ( Afghan region, across the Line of Control in sation that was invoked by normalcy, national politicians temporary course-correction + ?> > > 4 $ India as also across its Iranian border. Ardern when she spoke about with a hovering electoral calcu- in Islamabad — with Pakistan ( +S P Q ( An unwarranted and insensitive contex- the terrorist in a deliberately lator and finally the TRP-driven purportedly joining the glob- tualising of a terror act was recently made nameless way by stating, “He media (mainstream and social) al “war on terror” — but the 4 by an Australian Senator, Fraser Anning, fol- may have sought notoriety but that ignites popular passions to subsequent reversal to its 8 S P# +S lowing the horrific massacre of at least 50 we in New Zealand will give him ensure that the requisite ‘fuel’ for patent contextual support to 4 ) + lives at Christchurch in New Zealand, nothing. Not even his name.” terror justifications persists. the terror industry led to its which literally resulted with an egg on his This handling was very China’s patent realpolitik coming under the internation- 4 / face. The Senator had incredulously stated, different from the terror attack approach in defending Pakistan, al scanner — take for example ? Q “The real cause of bloodshed on New in Pulwama in India, where and by that extent, JeM chief the ongoing Financial Action + ? ( Zealand streets today is the immigration pro- spotlight on the “perpetrator” Masood Azhar on the floor of Task Force (FATF) proceedings gramme, which allowed Muslim fanatics to was ensured by the cynical the United Nations, is a classic — and reached its pinnacle of migrate to the country in the first place.” political manipulation of the case of a foreign power afford- opprobrium when Osama bin / + While his statement was squarely lambast- same, a 24-hour media ing a context of “technicality” in Laden was “taken out” from the / D ed by the political leadership in specific and blitzkrieg covering the sublime- vetoing the symbolic step that military garrison town of society in general, in both his native to-the-ridiculous theories and could have named and shamed Abbottabad. + % + Australia and New Zealand — the age-old the unashamed “sharing” of Islamabad, which brazenly Similarly, Pakistan refuses @ ? practice of “contextualising” terror, that fur- true and manufactured content chooses to side with those who to abandon its basic instinct of / ther divides and polarises societies, was in on the social media. use violence in the name of faith. contextualising and interfering 9 B ?> full display. In stark contrast was the deft Somehow, under the garb Even fringe support, in the affairs of its neighbours, statesmanship, empathy and sensitivity of various “contexts”, the applause or “context” is suffi- much to the chagrin of Kabul, + E shown by New Zealand Prime Minister Pulwama terror act did not cient for the terror industry — Tehran and Delhi. Proverbial Jacinda Ardern in handling the post-attack unite the entirety of populace it is imperative that no platform chickens are coming home to narrative by unambiguously designating the for its sheer brutality and for contextualising of terror is roost as the Pakistani establish- incident as a “terrorist attack”, resulting in a inhumanity but deflected the allowed in the aftermath of any ment now plays the “martyr / 2 more corrective and reformative step as issue into unnecessary divides terror attack. Speaking about card” on terrorism after years opposed to the vacuous “contextualising”, as of political positions, pro- Pakistan’s support for terror- of contextual support based on 0 # # # was done by the Australian Senator. and-anti-nationalism and ism, UN Secretary-General a flawed interpretation of his- In India, too, expected apologists of ter- ended up polarising the mass- António Guterres had specifi- tory, co-religionist and “free- % # %## # ror across the border and some within, lend es even more. cally said that “no political rea- dom struggle” as it expectedly immediate “context” and “credence” to any A similar frenzy was instru- son…no cause, no grievance” backfired, giving an invaluable terror attack by willy-nilly justifying the same mental in elevating Burhan could justify it. Former US lesson to all apologists of ter- on the pretext of the need to “introspect why Wani into a cult-like phenom- President George Bush in his ror-contextualising. ) it happened?” Terrorism is a multi-dimen- enon with a complex process of address to the joint session of (The writer is a well-known P+ , ! Q sional phenomenon that breeds and survives cognitive accommodation, Congress on September 20, columnist and an author) . & 4 /$ . ( % ( ( )"=;,, ="; ", $);=" ",!; ,';! ; '!); ,>)(,: " )"=;,, ,>)(,>;,)" ) / 0123 / 4 % 0 > 4$ 0 ( S # # . regime, the Pulwama terror attack and the subsequent air strike in + 5.+6 ( Balakot gave the latter a chance # Sir — This refers to the editori- to uplift its sagging image. / ( ! $ S al, “Space superpower” (March Further, while the BJP has 29). Having successfully test- announced a slew of pre-poll fired an anti-satellite missile, alliances, the grand alliance has 7 ( India has joined the elite space been more interested in forming league comprising the US, Russia state-specific partnerships. In the # and China. Mission Shakti is the end, it is the electorate who will result of nine years of hard work play the role of a king-maker. 8 9 $ 589$6 S by our scientists. By shooting Azhar A Khan down a low earth orbit satellite, Rampur # O the mission has been declared successful. India has rightly assured the international commu- O / nity that it would not misuse this new capability. Sir — This refers to the editori- KV Seetharamaiah al, “Between spirit and rules” # .+S Hassan (March 28). After Ashwin’s O 012; % . 31 ( . !)" “Mankaded” dismissal of Jos Buttler, much talk has erupted about the true spirit of the game. 2;;; % . 012; If the rule is against the game’s O 4 < Sir — This refers to the editori- book of cricket and his call was May 2019. The writer’s compar- true spirit then why was it includ- = > ( al, “Between spirit and rules” completely legal. He did not do ative analysis between the ed at all? Nowadays, batsmen take (March 28). R Ashwin’s anything wrong. If experts are so Congress and the BJP holds good. advantage of being out of the 7 21 “Mankading” of Jos Buttler dur- much depressed by his action, Sir — This refers to the article, For the latter, issues like anti- crease even before a ball is deliv- ing an Indian Premier League then the rule of “Mankad” should “The fatal game of opportunistic incumbency, agrarian crisis, ered. It’s time to include ? > match between Punjab and be removed from the law books. politics” (March27) by Kalyani demonetisation blues and most “Mankaded” as the 11th type of Rajasthan has stirred up a contro- But until the removal of the Shankar. Impartially speaking, importantly, non-delivery of poll dismissal in ICC laws. S # versy. The cricket fraternity and clause, all must enjoy one of the both the BJP-led National promises, including jobs for the PK Suresh " fans stand divided on the most watched sports around the Democratic Alliance (NDA) and youth, will matter. Via email 8 “Mankading” incident. However, world with passion. the Congress-led United As a united Opposition was it must be understood that Navneet Seth Progressive Alliance are set for a leaving no stone untuned to pose ## % Ashwin just followed the rule Dhuri high-octane political battle, come a grave challenge to the ruling !!;,!)>)";D=: +'): !" # $%& $'(% ,8 1*&%* 1 1$0 & ) % ) )$ & 0 C $ + % # ( * C # * + $ + + L $ L # $ # R S @ ) ( # " 7 $ 4 4S 5# % + ) # ( O $ %6) 5 # $### # 4 O ( ) # # ##%# . ( 8 4S ( ( ( # ( ( , # ( @ / ( + 0? 4 n times of rapid globalisation, open mar- ket, technological advancements and cli- 7S ( mate change, the world is getting more and " ( more complex day-by-day. The situation + is accentuated by insecurity, apprehen- Isions, distrust and violence that confront prac- ( ( tically every nation. Further, there was never so much competition among nations as it is at pre- sent. Indians understand these issues very well $ in the context of the perpetual state of aggres- ( sion created by Pakistan against it. 8! / Our country has done astonishingly well in creating global goodwill during the last five years @ " as was evident from the support we got for the # (( genuine and effective response to the Pulwama 4S ( massacre, which was a massive and unprecedent- ( ed act in the history of post-independent India. The strategy of renewing and refreshing past rela- tionships has proved its worth beyond doubt. 89$ # However, this cannot be an occasion to become ( sluggish. Instead, we must realise that much more ) needs to be done to sustain the international good- 89$ will we earned and seriously delineate the elements # required to further strengthen this bond. There D # are several areas of cooperation like trade and 89$S commerce, investment and production, collabo- # ( rations in technology, transfer and the like but past; oblivious to the need to move ahead in times flowing from “us” and being received by “them.” on basing its democracy on values defined by ( there are also long-term strategic imperatives that and with times. Probably realising this, Mahatma Take for example, Indonesia or Thailand. Gandhi and the spirit of freedom struggle, these ( remain unmatched in giving soft-power dividends. Gandhi had indicated that he would keep the win- One can say that these nations have far better nations would have flocked to India to learn more. For ages, India has gone through this expe- dows and doors of his house open for fresh air comprehension of the need to sustain cultural Deeply satisfied, they declare India as their ( > ( rience from its Asian neighbours, particular- — of ideas and knowledge — but refused to be continuity than we Indians. In Thailand, Ram, guru without the latter itself making a claim. If ly the Southeast Asian segment. Indeed, we are blown off his feet by any. It is one thing to be proud Ram Lila and Ayodhya enjoy respect at a level we were a learning hub and had ancient higher ( proud of our past glory and its acceptance of one’s history, culture, tradition of knowledge, as is not — repeat not — being extended by a learning institutions like Nalanda, Taxila and beyond sea shores. To cultivate new interna- growth, scriptures and literature but it is also nec- large number of Indians. The manner in which Vikramshila among others, the continuity of our 89$ tional relationships even with old friendly essary to examine whether all of this alone is suf- Indonesians have sustained and refined their cul- gurudom would have been unchallenged. India D ( nations, one must realise the importance of ficient for the times ahead? ture presents much to be learnt by Indians. The needs to become a great global learning hub. acquaintance with history, culture and heritage Present international relationships require Gita and Yoga could earn respect all around the Swami Vivekananda presented India’s past glory # on both sides. These play a significant role in a very sensitive recall of the past and a realisa- globe but in India, one cannot include even a to the world, the values it had adhered to in the furthering mutual understanding and refresh- tion that these are the times of “equality of part- couple of shlokas — fully and totally secular — past and the concern it had shown towards the ing cultural and emotional bonds. This famil- nerships”, which must be dexterously har- in the school text books. welfare of all without any discrimination. iarity is an essential support to comprehend monised and sustained. There are unique fea- Who are culturally more advanced? Are we Vivekananda received global acclaim and admi- # 89$ the current situation and visualise its import tures in every culture, region, religion and civil- ready to learn from others? Or are we too happy ration. He knew that this alone was not sufficient. % ? $ ( in the emerging context. Strategic readiness in isation. When dealing with Asian countries, one with our dream of becoming a Vishwa Guru again? He established the Ramakrishna Mission world- ( ( current times requires comprehension of ‘the is often tempted to recall how Indian influence In recollecting, refreshing and re-envisioning wide. Yes, you have to create institutions that pre- $ pace of change’ in pragmatic terms. Common has reached far and beyond the sea shores, with- India’s relationship with Asian countries, the first pare the people and give them true education. Let wisdom will be to learn from history, draw out any bloodshed and coercion. It was not part caution is to forget the psyche of being the giver, them comprehend that “education is the perfec- inspiration from it, know the present, and of any conquest or converting people to one pre- being the Vishwa Guru. This concept — when tion already in man.” # reshape it for a better future for the genera- ferred religion or “salvaging the souls of the sav- devoid of the connected responsibility to set our Tagore had predicted that “India is destined " # tions to come. ages” but an organised, respectful and mutual- own house in order — can create negative vibes to be the teacher of the world.” He did not trav- 89$ ( India is fortunate to have an unimpeachable ly beneficial interaction and exchange of ideas among other people. We must now accept that el the globe to declare that India would be the and exemplary legacy of mutual relationships with and knowledge among equals. Trade and com- knowledge, both secular and temporal, has been Vishwa Guru. Instead, he established institutions the East Asian region. What has sustained this merce featured prominently and strengthened created and discovered in all parts of the globe — that had all the ingredients of a gurukula and # mutuality for ages? It cannot just be trade and bonds with the international community. time, measure and magnitude can differ. Ancient every feature of a modern-day international % G ( commerce alone; though they remain a very strong Knowledge exchange brought people together Indians had really toiled hard on the terrain of knowledge hub. Similarly, this aspect was elab- S cementing factor. We have to only delineate the in rather close bonds that went beyond the mun- knowledge quest and earned respect from all over. orated by Sri Aurobindo. He predicted that 4 ( essence of mutually constructive partnerships both dane requirements of human existence. Are we doing the same now? This aspect should “India will be the moral leader of the world.” in the past and the present. Initiatives like the ‘Act This makes one understand how scholarship, be paramount in present-day considerations. He established the Auroville Ashram in @ East’ policy deserve appreciation and strengthen- knowledge and wisdom can be exchanged to ben- A strife-torn world today must be looking Pondicherry. All of these examples must give # ( ing, besides a constant vigil on elements who may efit both the interacting parties, lead to better and towards India, conscious of its unique historical us an idea of how international relationships can " be apprehensive about these developments. higher comprehension of humanity, happiness and standing as a nation that had learnt to live togeth- indeed be given a sound cultural knowledge and 89$ D Rabindranath Tagore had mentioned in one harnessing respectfully the bounties of nature. In er with every conceivable diversity, like that of eth- spiritual base, to strengthen the moral basis of , (( of his lectures that “it was often alleged that Asia knowledge exchange, one can benefit only when nicity, language, religion and culture. The West relationships. It was the continuity of this moral ( ( will never progress as it has turned its face back- both sides are respectful to each other, none is is now facing problems arising out of a necessity tradition that Gandhi included “commerce with- ward.” This acquisition has been proved wrong by obsessed with being the giver, but are ready to to learn to live together with diversities. These have out morality” and “wealth without work” Japan, China and India. Equally, if not more effec- accept knowledge and wisdom from the other side reached their doorsteps because of globalisation, among the seven social sins that he published ) ( tively, the South-East Asia region has proved it as well. The wisdom of the East does not belong ease of mobility in seeking greener pastures and in 1925. Incidentally, it also included “knowl- # R S ( wrong. All nations have moved ahead without just to one country of the region ie, India. One have also forced migrations in search of security edge without character.” India needs to relearn, either disregard for their past or ignoring new would be uncomfortable if in any reference to the and livelihood. If India was still high on its record and create knowledge hubs of its own. @ knowledge. People of this region are not perpet- glorious past of ours and its vast spread beyond of social cohesion and religious amity, on adher- (The writer is the Indian Representative on the ually lost in the sweet slumber of the glory of the the Indian borders, it is presented as everything ence to joint family systems and social security, Executive Board of UNESCO) # #
attacks, death tolls and socio-polit- Al-Tarabi all peaked in the late tragic 9/11 attacks in New York. But nihilistic violence) as a global war memory of a past with a sense of India) is what ‘jihadist’ extremism ical fissures triggered by extremist 1970s and across the 1980s. if we trace the rise and relative against ‘infidels.’ Indeed, once they modern-day victimhood. was in Pakistan some 15 years ago. assaults on civilians and security They contributed in the engi- decline of extremist terror in coun- began to become engulfed by their Recently, many media and It’s a confusing stage in which personnel, most Muslim countries neering of what came to be known tries such as Pakistan, Algeria, own fires and nihilistic impulses, the political commentators in the US many sections of society and even eventually came round to chal- as “political Islam”, which advocat- Turkey and Egypt, we can see state moved in to push them out. have been urging their the intelligentsia are willing to buy lenge the grave existentialist threat ed the formation of “Islamic states” much of Roy’s thesis coming true. It is remarkable how similar the Government (and those in various into the victimhood claims of the and attacks posed by extremists. through both conventional as well The outfits behind extremist trajectories of White power pop- European countries) to start treat- extremist groups and even act as These states did this through some as revolutionary political means. terror in these countries were ulism and the terrorism that it is ing violence by individual or col- their apologists. As a result, the State 3 0> unprecedented military operations But according to Roy, as this strand entirely nihilistic. They enforced inspiring, and of ‘Islamic’ extrem- lective White supremacists just as and society spiral down in a flux of and related political and judicial of political Islam reached a crescen- their presence through three main ism are. The narratives of ‘Islamic’ they have been doing the violence confusion and inaction, especially uring my last trip to the US manoeuvres. But whereas the situ- do — especially during the ‘Afghan stratagems: (1) seeding fear through extremists are a combination of a coming from ‘jihadists.’ E l e n a when politicians and influencers — in 2018, I noticed that the ation in the most affected countries jihad’ against Soviet forces in extreme terror; (2) using various superiority complex derived from Pokalova, a professor of interna- who were once on the fringes of Dcurrent affairs sections of — such as Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Afghanistan — there was also its criminal activities to financially an imagined (and largely a histor- tional security studies, wrote in society — begin to cultivate and almost all major book stores in the Saudi Arabia and Algeria — was fragmentation and eventual decline. supplement themselves; and (3) ical) Utopian past, and a besieged Foreign Policy in Focus (November organise the growing extremist American cities that I visited car- gradually brought under control and Roy wrote that after the Soviet manipulating non-militant person- mindset — which explains the 2, 2018) that White far-right rad- sentiments as a constituency. ried quite a few titles on ‘White major extremist outfits were taken forces were forced to pull out of nel in the media, religious circles Muslims as victims of Western icalisation needed to be addressed Indeed, as Olivier Roy pre- power populism.’ Most of these out, the situation in other affected Afghanistan, emboldened ‘Islamists’, and even within the State and modernity and immorality. The at the same level as Islamist radi- dicted, extreme ideas and groups books were alarming in their con- countries such as Afghanistan, who had fought in Afghanistan, Government so that they could narratives used by White suprema- calisation. In a 2018 article for the eventually get engulfed by their own tent and tone. This was a stark con- Yemen, Iraq, Somalia, Nigeria and, then attempted to create ‘Islamic’ rationalise this terror in the main- cists, too, hark back to a past in New York Times, author and socio- fires. But Western countries, now trast to what one often found on the to a certain extent, Mauritania, is revolutions in their own countries. stream as an outcome of econom- which violent and destructive political commentator Janet facing the spectre of White far-right same shelves some five years ago. still somewhat precarious. As the State in their respective ic issues and ‘lack of Islam’ in the events, such as slavery in the US, Reitman wrote that despite the ris- violence, should not wait to address Most of them used to be stacked In his 1992 book, The Failure of countries pushed back, however, the workings of the State. apartheid in South Africa and rise ing number of hate crimes and the problem. Before extremist ideas with books on ‘Islamic’ fundamen- Political Islam, the French political Islamists retaliated with violence But as German academic of Nazism in Germany, are seen as groups in the US, the country’s burn out, they leave behind a trail talism and terrorism. The content scientist and author Olivier Roy through terrorism. Roy wrote that Markus Daechsel wrote in his book, Utopian epochs which were over- law-enforcement agencies failed to of death and destruction. Because, of these books, too, had been large- wrote that the more coherent ide- from being a coherently defined The Politics of Self-Expression, the thrown by the Jews, liberals and detect their rise and influence. She remember, before the State and ly alarming in nature, written as ologies formed from the 1940s ideology, political Islam took a post-9/11 terror groups had lost communists. The supremacists wrote that this allowed the prolif- Government of Pakistan finally warnings about a phenomenon onwards and derived from the more anarchic and even nihilistic interest in the theory of 20th cen- believe this status quo was now eration of extreme White suprema- decided to act against major terror which was already tearing many writings of radical Islamic scholars turn. Roy predicted that this force tury political Islam and were more being maintained by allowing non- cist ideas and related violence. groups, over 70,000 Pakistanis had Muslim countries apart and threat- such as Rashid Rida, Hassan Al- would burn out in its own fire and interested in filling a personal emo- White immigrants to settle on It can be said that the stage this already been killed in the nihilistic ening Western societies. Banna, Abul Ala Maududi, Sayyid fury. Interestingly, he was writing tional void; even though they “White lands.” So this narrative, too, strand of extremism is in the West flames of the extremists. After facing numerous terrorist Qutb, Ruholla Khomeini and Hasan this in 1992, nine years before the explained their acts (and their combines a mythical and Utopian (or the stage Hindu extremism is in (Courtesy: The Dawn) !" # $%& $'(% 5,
Q3 8% !"!"!( % %&,( 45 %*( < Q 8+ 8 % 0% ) 6718 2 3 ,+C,. 20 % , # # () , && Chidambaram on Wednesday said 'enough' economists and ive State-owned banks, ormer NITI Aayog vice experts had been consulted rivate sector ICICI Bank on Fincluding PNB, Bank of Fchairman Arvind and they broadly agreed that PThursday said it has Baroda and Union Bank, on Panagariya has said the imple- India has the capacity to imple- launched two instant home Thursday received sharehold- mentation of the Congress ment the scheme. loan products for up to 1 ers' approval for capital infu- Party's ambitious 'Nyay' scheme Former RBI Governor crore. sion to the tune of 21,428 not only poses a "fiscal chal- Raghuram Rajan has said the The instantaneous home crore in lieu of preferential lenge" to India's economy but implementation of the scheme loan facilitiy enables cus- allotment of shares to the also has a "serious incentive is possible, Chidambaram said. tomers to get final sanction Government. problem". "Our calculation shows letter for new home loans as This capital infusion is for Congress president Rahul that it will not cross 2 per cent well as for a top up loan in a the current fiscal ending March Gandhi on Tuesday said that its of the GDP, it will be 1.8 per fully-digital way, the bank 31, 2019. minimum income guarantee cent of the GDP at any given said in a release. Punjab National Bank scheme, Nyuntam Aay Yojana point of time," he said. 'Instant Home Loan' (PNB) in a regulatory filing (Nyay) assures up to 72,000 a Commenting on the enables pre-approved salaried said that an extraordinary gen- year or 6,000 a month income scheme, Panagariya said the customers of the bank to avail eral meeting of shareholders to 20 per cent of India's poor- transfer is meant to be 6,000 loans up to 1 crore for a tenure was held on March 28 for est families if the party is voted per month per family to 50 mil- of up to 30 years (based on the obtaining shareholders' back to power in the Lok Sabha lion families and at the same age of the customer) using approval to issue and allot general meeting decided to to mance as seen in the third elections next month. time, it also guarantees an internet banking facility, ICICI 80,20,63,535 equity shares at a allot preferential shares to quarter results. Panagariya, who served as income of 12,000 per month Bank said. premium of 71.66 per share Government to get capital infu- Subramaniakumar hoped the first vice chairman of NITI to these families. 'Insta Top Up Loan' helps amounting up to 5,908 crore sion of 3,806 crore. that the bank will be able to Aayog for two years from 2015 "What happens if one fam- existing home loan customers on preferential basis to the "The Board for Issue of return to the black in the next to 2017, told PTI that 'Nyay' is ily has an income of only of the bank to avail the facili- the US dollar. Government. Equity Share Capital at its fiscal year beginning April 1, difficult to implement and 4,000 and another 8,000 per ty of topping up loan instanta- Foreign institutional Bank of Baroda said the meeting held today has issued 2019. unlikely to achieve its intend- month? Will the former then neously upto 20 lakh for a he rupee slumped 42 paise investors (FIIs) remained net Finance Ministry informed and allotted 269,54,67,422 Earlier, the bank raised ed objective. receive 8,000 and the latter tenure of up to 10 years in a Tto end at 69.30 against the buyers in the capital markets, about its decision to infuse cap- equity shares at an issue price 261 crore to its share capital "It raises three major ques- 4,000 per month? If so, why paperless manner. US dollar on Thursday, its putting in 1,481.11 crore ital of 5,042 crore in the bank. of Rs 14.12 per equity share in January under Employee tions - the incentive compati- should anyone with income The facility helps the cus- second straight session of Wednesday, as per provision- "The capital infusion will (including premium of 4.12 Stock Purchase Scheme (ESPS) bility issue, the fairness issue below 12,000 do any work at all tomers get the top up amount decline, in line with other al data. be by way of preferential allot- per equity share) to in which as much as 92 per cent and fiscal challenge," since their incomes will be disbursed immediately in their Asian currencies amid Meanwhile, brent crude ment of equity shares (special Government by way of prefer- of the employees participated Panagariya, an eminent Indian- 12,000 regardless of what they account as compared to the strengthening of the green- futures, the global oil bench- securities/bonds) of the bank ential allotment," IOB said. which resulted into over-sub- American economist, said. earn?" he asked. industry practice of approving back. mark, fell 1.08 per cent to trade during 2018-19, as With this allotment, the scription of bank stock. But Gandhi said the ‘Nyay’ Interpreted this way, "there and disbursing a top up home Most Asian currencies at $67.10 per barrel. Government's investment," Government holding has "With this capital infusion scheme has the twin objectives is a serious incentive problem loan in a few working days, the struggled amid expectations of BSE benchmark Sensex Bank of Baroda said. increased from 89.39 per cent and taking into account the of giving money to the 20 per with the scheme", Panagariya bank said. dovish monetary policy stance zoomed over 400 points while Union Bank said: "The to 92.52 per cent in the bank, capital raised through ESPS as cent poorest families and asserted. "As a result of our con- by central banks following a the NSE Nifty reclaimed the Committee of Directors for it added. well as sale of non core assets, remonetising the economy "If the scheme is meant to tinued endeavour, we have deteriorating global economic 11,500 mark Thursday on Raising of Capital Funds "This capital infusion will CRAR (capital to risky asset damaged by the demonetisa- transfer flat 6,000 per month the largest mortgage portfo- outlook. robust buying in banking, (CDRCF) of the bank at its help the bank to shore up its ratio) will improve consider- tion in 2016. to identified families regardless lio among private sector At the Interbank Foreign finance, telecom and IT meeting held on Thursday capital adequacy requirements ably," he said. Its aim is two-fold. First is of the family's earned income, banks in the country with the Exchange (forex) market, the stocks. considered and approved the and enable the bank to build a Central Bank of India allot- to guarantee a minimum you cannot deliver 12,000 lowest delinquency levels. rupee opened weak at 69.04 The Financial Benchmark allotment of 52,15,62,658 equi- robust loan book," R ted 68,72,48,322 equity shares income to the bottom 20 per per month to families earning Instant home loan facilities and fell further to touch the India Private Ltd (FBIL) set the ty shares at an issue price of Subramaniakumar, MD & CEO, at 37.25 aggregating upto cent families. The second is to less than 6,000," he asserted. are extensions of this same day's low of 69.35. reference rate for the 78.84 aggregating to 4,111.99 Indian Overseas Bank told PTI. 2,560 crore. remonetise the economy that The programme, as endeavour. These facilities It finally finished at 69.30 rupee/dollar at 69.0038 and for to Government in accordance He also said that various With this allotment, share- has been demonetised by announced by the Congress, will help new home buyers as per dollar, down by 42 paise rupee/euro at 77.6868. The with the applicable provisions." initiatives have been taken by holding of Government has Prime Minister Narendra guarantees 12,000 per month well as the existing cus- against its previous close. reference rate for rupee/British The board of the Chennai- the bank for turnaround and increased from 89.40 per cent Modi, Gandhi told PTI. in income to the poor, which is tomers," ICICI Bank On Wednesday, the rupee pound was fixed at 91.0280 headquartered Indian Overseas there was a visible improve- to 91.20, Central Bank of India Senior Congress leader and 144,000 per year, he said, Executive Director Anup had weakened marginally by 2 and for rupee/100 Japanese yen Bank (IOB) in an extraordinary ment in the bank's perfor- said. former finance minister P explaining the fairness issue. Bagchi said. paise to end at 68.88 against at 62.69. " " % /