2 MidWeeksouthasiandaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/part_144.pdfCHANDIGARH - Though Gurmehar Kaur, daughter of Kargil martyr Capt Mandeep Singh, who has dared to confront the ABVP

2 MidWeek MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017

GURMEHAR WITHDRAWS CAMPAIGN AGAINST ABVPBUT SUPPORT FROM ACROSS INDIA POURS IN

CHANDIGARH - Though Gurmehar Kaur, daughter of Kargil martyr Capt Mandeep Singh, whohas dared to confront the ABVP for allegedly attacking students and teachers of Ramjas Collegein Delhi, has taken her campaign back, support from all quarters is pouring in.Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi: "Against the tyranny of fear we stand with our students.For every voice raised in anger, intolerance and ignorance there will be a Gurmehar Kaur."Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal: "Just listen to this. This is BJP. They will destroy our country.Everyone must rise against their goondaism. Threatening our daughters and sisters with rape, isthis the BJP's patriotism? Shame on these people."AAP MP from Sangrur Bhagwant Mann: "Gurmehar, tere khoon mein desh bhakti hai...ham aapkesath hain...u r the pride of country..keep fighting wid enemies like ur dad (sic)."Capt Amarinder Singh: "Instead of allowing her (Gurmehar) to be victimised for her stand, theauthorities, including the Delhi and the Centre governments, should ensure that the perpetratorsof violence and those issuing threats to the martyr's daughter are given exemplary punishment."Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi: "Gurmehar is the honour of our country. We are all with her andwill go all out to protect her honour and dignity. No one should think that she is alone. She is awoman of substance."Congress president Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra: "Way to go Gurmehar Kaur, fortaking on fascists bravely. I am with you and all those people who stand for their rights andfreedom of speech. The nation is proud of you for standing your ground and fighting fascistforces."Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju: "Who's polluting this young girl'smind? A strong Arm Force prevents a war. India never attacked anyone but a weak India wasalways invaded."Renowned lyricist Javed Akhtar: "I don't about her but Mr Minister I know who is polluting yourmind . Mr Minister, you have condemned the Left by falsely accusing them of celebratingsoldier's killing, and not a word about ABVP. Grossly biased."

CIRCULATED THROUGH : TORONTO, MARKHAM, SCARBOROUGH, RICHMOND HILL, VAUGHAN, WOODBRIDGE, ETOBICOKE, NORTH YORK, MALTON, REXDALE, BRAMPTON, MISSISSAUGA, OAKVILLE, HAMILTON, MILTON, STONEY CREEK, BURLINGTON

IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER 10-12YEARS FOR UNIVERSITY INBRAMPTON: VICKY DHILLON

He Didn't Deserve a Death Like This:Wife of Indian Techie Killed in US

MIDWEEK EXCLUSIVE

MP CHARLIE ANGUS, GUY CARONENTER NDP LEADERSHIP RACE

MAJOR DEBATE IN DIASPORAON GURMEHAR ISSUE

UNIVERSITY COMING TOBRAMPTON IN 2018: BRAMPTON

MAYOR LINDA JEFFREY

MIDWEEK EXCLUSIVE

BY SHAZIA MALIKMISSISSAUGA - No matter how small a uni-versity is and has even just about 500 to 1,000students, it will be operational in Bramptonby 2018. This was announced by Linda Jef-frey, Mayor of Brampton during an exclusivediscussion with Yudhvir Jaswal, Group Edi-tor and CEO of YMedia on Southasian PULSEPrime Time radio show. The Ontario government had asked the city toprepare and proposal and sent in January. Linda said the proposal has beensent to the provincial government who is expected to make the announcement innext month. She said the city is working with Sheridan College, as well asAlgoma University to see how to proceed. Taking about Councillor Grant Gibson'sconcerns on the university, Linda said they are unwarranted and the city requiresa higher academic institute. I CONTD. ON PAGE 9

BY SHAZIA MALIKMISSISSAUGA - It will take Brampton an-other 10-12 years before a university is set-up in the city and even the smallest wouldrequire an investment of at least $1.6 billion.How will Brampton generate this kind of money?This was commented by Vicky Dhillon, CityCouncillor Wards 9 & 10 Brampton, whiletalking to Yudhvir Jaswal, Group Editor and CEO of YMedia onSouthasian PULSE Prime Time radio show recently.Vicky said all what Mayor Linda is saying is an eye-wash as stillnothing has been planning. The land for the university has not beendecided, and the mayor and council are all the time at loggerheads.As not all are on the same table on this issue, a higher educationalinstitute in the city will remain a dream. I CONTD. ON PAGE 9

MUMBAI - Sunayana Dumala, the wifeof Srinivas Kuchibhotla, an Indian techiewho was killed in a shooting at a sub-urban Kansas City bar says she won-ders what the US will do to stop hatecrimes against minorities. In the middleof a crowded bar, Adam Purinton yelledat two Indian men to "get out of my coun-try," witnesses said, then opened firein an attack that killed one of the men and wounded the other, as wellas a third man who tried to help. Srinivas Kuchibhotla had come to theUS in 2005 to pursue a master's degree at the University of Texas at ElPaso. He worked in Iowa for six years before moving to the KansasCity area, his widow said Friday at a news conference organized byher husband's employer, the GPS device-maker Garmin.

MIDWEEK EXCLUSIVE

CAN BE NDP'S PM CANDIDATE AT FEDERALLEVEL: JAGMEET SINGH

BY SHAZIA MALIKOTTAWA - The NDP lead-ership race is getting in-teresting by the day. Lastweek a second person,Ontario MP Charlie Angusentered as a candidate for theleadership of the federal NDP. BC MP Peter Julian has already announced he will berunning for the post. Last month, Angus launched a website askinggeneral public whether he should run the NDP leadership race or not.

I CONTD. ON PAGE 9

BY SHAZIA MALIKMISSISSAUGA - Gurmehar Kaur, a 20-year-old daughter of a Kargilmar tyr garners countrywide spotlight for raising her voice againstviolence on campuses in wake of clashes in Ramjas College recentlyand so Kaur advocated for peace.Whereas several leaders and celebrities spoke in her favour, severalin India condemned her action and few even mocked her. The wholeincident has star ted not only a debate on freedom of speech inIndia but here in Canada as well. Many community members calledin and shared expressed their views on the issue on SouthasianPULSE radio show. Talking to Yudhvir Jaswal, Group Editor andCEO of YMedia, Gurdev Singh condemned those who gave herrape threats saying he stands with her as she has right to speakher mind in a democratic country.Another speaker also suppor ted Gurmehar and spoke against

Sehwag's comments against her. Yet another caller was of theview that Sehwag should not be condemned because if Gurmeharhas the right to express her opinion freely, Sehwag also has. Afour th caller thought lines should really be drawn between whatcan be called freedom of speech and imper tinence. He said underfreedom of speech a person can call another one names but is itright?Currently, an FIR has been registered against unknown personsin connection with the "rape threats" allegedly by ABVP mem-bers. Also the National Human Rights Commission has issuednotice to Delhi Police Commissioner over allegations of policeexcesses outside Ramjas College in DU Campus last week. Leftleaders D Raja and Sitaram Yechury join JNU and DU students'protest march against ABVP at DU and Gurmehar's college LadyShri Ram College have come out in strong suppor t of her.


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017s p e c i a l r e p o r t

ICCC inks MoU with Ontario Trucking AssociationTORONTO - In an alliance whose time is nigh, the Indo-Canada Chamber of Com-merce (ICCC) and the Ontario Trucking Association signed a memorandum ofunderstanding (MoU) at the Westin Hotel on 22nd February 2017. The MoU willenable both the organisations to forge mutually beneficial relationship for theirrespective members. Primarily, the linkage will enhance the relationship betweenOTA member-carriers and transpor tation companies in the South Asian community."The South Asian community is a rapidly growing segment of the trucking communityin Ontario. By working with the ICCC, OTA hopes to make inroads in reaching for-hirecarriers in that community and involve them in the many invaluable educational,professional networking and enter tainment events that OTA organizes and viceversa," said OTA President Mr. Stephen Laskowski. Through this MOU, OTA and ICCCwill work together in creating and co-marketing events to attract leaders in thetrucking industry."We are delighted with this new alliance with the Ontario Trucking Association," ArunSrivastava, President, ICCC, said, adding, "Our association with the OTA will opennew avenues for our members and for the South Asian community at large." He notedthat South Asians have taken to trucking business with enthusiasm in recent years.Geoffrey Wood, Vice President OTA, Lak Shoan, Program & Education CoordinatorOTA, Marco Beghetto, Vice President, Communications, OTA and Jonathan Blackhamaddressed the audience on different topics related to the trucking business inOntario. The first kick-off event also featured updates on key issues like ELDs,mandatory entry level training, ESDC audits, automation in trucking industry, crossborder issues, problem of marijuana and other key matters affecting the industry.ICCC board members Pappur Shankar, Devika Penekelapati, Abu Becker, KanwarDhanjal, Sanjay Brahmbhatt and Logistics Committee Chair Rajneesh Walia werealso present with the other committee members Mahmood Lalani, Surinder Singh,Manpreet Mann, Deepak Anand, and Laxman Chauhan among others.

MidWeek 5MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2012

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017 s p e c i a l r e p o r t

JUSTIN TRUDEAU MET WITH MISSISSAUGA MAYOR BONNIE CROMBIE HELD A PRODUCTIVEMEETING.

JUSTIN TRUDEAU MET WITH BRAMPTON MAYOR LINDA JEFFREY AND FOCUSED ON BUILDINGSTRONG CITIES AND CREATING JOBS.

PAKISTAN'S TOP DIPLOMAT INUN FACES IRE, DELETES TWEETISLAMABAD, (IANS)Pakistan's envoy to the UnitedNations Dr Maleeha Lodhicame under fire back homefor congratulating MahershalaAli, who became the first Muslimto won the best-supporting-actorOscar. Maleeha faces thebacklash for promoting Ali, anAhmadi, who are considerednon-Muslims in Pakistan. Shelater deleted her tweet as aresponse to all the criticism.

Ahmadis are considered asnon-Muslims by law inPakistan and have beenpersecuted over the years forbeing Kafirs (heretics). Thegroup has been deprived ofreligious rights under the SecondAmendment to the Constitution ofPakistan. Article 260-3 ofPakistan's Constitution declaresAhmadis "non-Muslims". Aliplayed the role of a drug dealerJuan in oscar winning "Moon-

light", who takes care of Chironas he struggles to find his placein the world while growing up inMiami. Ali's birth name isMahershalalhashbaz and heconverted to Islam in 1999. In2001, he joined theAhmadiyya Community. One ofPakistan's Nobel laureatesscientist Dr Abdus Salam, amajor figure in the 20thcentury theoretical physics,was also an Ahmadi.

PIA CAPTAIN, STAFF GET NOTICE FORPASSENGER-OVERLOADING

ISLAMABAD, (IANS) The Pakistan In-ternational Airlines (PIA) has issuednotice to a pilot and two other staff mem-bers for loading seven extra passen-gers on a Karachi-Madina flight, offi-cials said on Monday. According to PIAspokesman Danyal Gilani, "disciplin-ary action has been taken against allconcerned officials" for violation of airsafety regulations on January 20, Dawnonline reported. Captain Anwer Adil,senior purser (air hostess) Hina Turaband terminal manager Akbar Ali Shahwere issued notice for letting extra pas-sengers travel on jump seats and in thecockpit on PIA flight PK-743. The devel-opment came after an inquiry commit-

tions of safety violation against theCaptain.However, Captain Adil deniedthat he allowed extra passengers totravel on jump seats and demanded atransparent inquiry against "whoever

allowed passengers on jump-seat".Seven passengers aboard the PIA flightwere forced to stand throughout the overthree-hour-long flight after excess pas-sengers were allowed to board the air-craft. The aircraft has a seating capac-ity of 409, including jump seats, whileflight PK-743 carried 416 passengers.Sources said this constituted a seriousair safety breach as in the case of anemergency, passengers without seatswould not have access to oxygen andcause congestion in case of an evacu-ation. The PIA on Sunday said it wouldinvestigate the allegations, but deniedthat the extra passengers "stood in theaisles" for the three-hour journey.

tee found the allegations to be true. "Pas-sengers travelled on the flight were overthe aircraft configuration (including jumpseats), which is a clear violation of SOP[standard operating procedures] andviolation of passenger safety," read areport signed by Manager OperationsSohail Jaffar Ali. In such cases, the air-craft should be parked again to offloadextra passengers, "which was not donein this case. Such type of violation/ir-regularity cannot be ignored in whichsafety of the passengers is at stake."According to sources, Captain Adil willnot be able to operate flights after beingissued the notice. The Civil AviationAuthority is also investigating allega-

Pervez Musharraf launches career as TV analystISLAMABAD - A retired general and former president of Pakistan,Pervez Musharraf seems to have chosen mainstream media as hiscareer of choice post retirement, with Bol TV billing him as the mainattraction of a weekly TV programme in a Sunday evening post on thechannel's Facebook page. According to the promotional video airedby Bol TV, the weekly show is called 'Sab Se Pehle Pakistan withPresident Musharraf' and will be aired every Sunday 8pm.The first episode, which aired on Sunday, February 26, saw Musharrafresponding to an anchor's questions from Dubai - where he is cur-rently living in self-exile. The incumbent government had in March2016 allowed Musharraf to travel abroad to seek medical attentionafter the Supreme Cour t lifted a ban on his travel abroad. This hadstirred a controversy, as Musharraf had been facing a treason casefor abrogating the Constitution and imposing an emergency in 2007.An anti-terrorism cour t (ATC) had on Dec 8, 2016 given a month'sdeadline to Musharraf to surrender in the judges' detention case, whichrelates to the detainment of over 60 judges of the superior cour ts afterMusharraf declared an emergency in the country in Nov 2007. Thecour t had warned that the former military ruler would be declared aproclaimed offender if he failed to comply with the deadline.However, Musharraf's counsel had on Jan 13 filed an application with the ATCseeking "foolproof security" in order to be able to return to Pakistan and appear incourt. Until such security measures are taken, the application said, Musharrafshould be exempted from appearing in the court. Earlier this month, an ATC inIslamabad had issued perpetual arrest warrants for Musharraf in the same case.

Bol TV has recently been mired in a tussle with Pakistan Electronic Media Regu-latory Authority (Pemra) over 'hate speech' aired from its platform. Last month,Pemra had issued a show-cause notice to Labbaik Pvt Ltd (Bol Newschannel) for defying an order to discontinue the Aisay Nahi Chalay Gaprogramme, and to keep its host, Amir Liaquat, off the air.

NEW DELHI, (IANS) Social networking site Twitter on Mondayturned into a battleground of words after cricketer VirendraSehwag and actor Randeep Hooda apparently mocked DelhiUniversity student Gurmehar Kaur who launched an onlinecampaign against the ABVP after the February 22 violence inDelhi University's Ramjas College. Former India openerVirender Sehwag on Sunday posted his image holding a plac-ard which read "I did not score two triple centuries, my batdid," and said: "Bat me hai Dum! Bharat Jaisi Jagah Nahi (Bathas power! no place like India).Actor Hooda also suppor ted Sehwag and retweeted a tweetwhich apparently mocked Gurmehar. Kaur, a student of Delhi'sLady Sri Ram College, and daughter of Captain Mandeep Singhwho died in the Kargil war, made a Facebook post in the wakeof the Ramjas v io lence, with the hashtag#studentsagainstABVP. She posted a picture of herself hold-ing a placard that said, "I am a student from Delhi University.I am not afraid of ABVP. I am not alone. Every student of Indiais with me." The post went viral with hundreds of shares. Shealso held a poster, saying 'Pakistan did not kill my dad, warkilled him'.Sehwag's post was a reaction to the reference to the Kargilwar. Hooda said in a tweet: "It was just very witty of Viru tocome with "Bat mein Dum". Can't you see the irony? Defusethe situation not add." He also said that "She (Gurmehar) isbeing made a pawn." Kaur, retor ted with: "Really sweet of youto encourage the hate I've been receiving. Makes me feelhappy that I adored your work Pawn? I can think. I don't sup-por t violence perpetuated on students? Is that so wrong (sic)."Hooda, in a reply said, "I agree with you it's is absolutelywrong..have a feeling it's not limited to that in interpretation."The twitter exchange saw many others jumping in.A twitter account WoCharLog said sarcastically that "DawoodIbrahim's father was a CID Officer. Being born to a great mandoesn't imply that you inherit his patriotism and values." Con-cerned at the social media attacks on Kaur, one twitterati,Amrinder Singh, said: "It's very disappointing that GurmeharKaur is seeking suppor t from us and she is not getting thedeserved backing." One, Siraj said in his tweet that "we arewith you Gurmehar, people who oppose your views do notunderstand the basic idea of democratic India."Salman Abdi defended Kaur in his tweet, saying: "RandeepHooda is great actor. Virender Sehwag is my hero but Mehartweets you're right. Any type of violence should not be sup-por ted." In her last tweet, Kaur said: "Please consider thistweet as my request for leave of absence. Can't speak toanyone, anymore. Will speak up on Tuesday #FightBackDU."After being trolled on Twitter and receiving rape threats, Kauron Monday approached the Delhi Commission for Women andcomplained against the online threats she had been receivingever since she stood up to the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyar thiParishad (ABVP).

TWITTER TURNSBATTLEGROUND AFTER SEHWAG

TWEET MOCKS DU STUDENT

HUSAIN HAQQANI'S UPCOMING BOOK TOREIMAGINE THE IDEA OF PAKISTAN

WASHINGTON - One of Pakistan's most prominent public intellectuals and a renowned author, Husain Haqqani's upcoming book will take stock of the contemporary situation in the country and will attemptto reimagine its concept in a progressive way."Salman Rushdie described Pakistan as a 'poorly imagined country'. Given the country's myriad problems I thought it was time to reimagine the idea of Pakistan, as one that takes the country forward ratherthan staying mired in a mythical past," Haqqani, who was also Pakistan's former ambassador to the United States, said in a statement here.Titled 'Reimagining Pakistan: Transforming a Dysfunctional NuclearState',the book will release coinciding with the 70th anniversary of Pakistan's formation, this August. Harper Collins Publishers India has acquired the world rights to publish the book.In his new book, Haqqani examines the causes of Pakistan's perennial crises and attempts to answer the question: "Can Pakistan transform itself into a modern, functional state - and if so, how?"Udayan Mitra, Publisher - Literary, HarperCollins India, described Haqqani as one of the most astute and perceptive commentators on Pakistan today.





MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017 c o m m u n i t y

MP Raj Grewal with members of the Lexus Titans Wrestling Club on holding a great tournament at Sandalwood SS in Brampton East.

Renewed Negotiations with theOntario Medical Association

ONTARIO - Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne released the followingstatement after renewed negotiations with the medical association.She said: "Ontario's doctors are essential to the delivery of a strongand sustainable health care sector. As we work to deliver on ourmandate in health care to improve access, reduce wait times andimprove the overall patient experience, we will only be stronger witha productive relationship with Ontario's physicians.Earlier the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) announced its newlyappointed negotiating committee to its membership. Within the nextfew days, the government will also establish a new negotiating team.Minister Hoskins and I want Ontario's physicians to know that thegovernment is committed to the principle of interest arbitration, andto negotiating an interest arbitration process as the first order of busi-ness when negotiations resume.

The Minister and I have discussed the next steps and, as a show ofgood faith, and to demonstrate our sincere commitment to trying toreach a positive outcome in these renewed negotiations, our govern-ment will not make any unilateral adjustments to physician compen-sation or accountabilities while discussions are taking place. As thedaughter of a family doctor myself, I have tremendous respect for theprofession and their dedication to Ontario's patients. I value and lookforward to the oppor tunity to return to the negotiating table to discusshow we can work together to continue to improve our health caresystem for everyone in Ontario." Meanwhile, Dr Eric Hoskins, Minis-ter of Health and Long-Term Care said: "Ontario's physicians workhard every day to deliver the highest quality care to their patients. ?Iam optimistic that we will be able to reach an agreement that will befair and allow doctors to continue that impor tant work."

BALBIR SOHI A TRUE REPRESENTATIVEOF CANADIAN DREAM

BRAMPTON - Smiles on Wheels founder, Balbir Sohi was featured on CBC'sDragons' Den, which aired on Wednesday, February 8 at 8pm (8:30 NT) on CBCTelevision. She was at the show for an investment in her innovative businessSmiles on Wheels, a mobile dental hygiene practice on wheels.Launching a business is no small task. No matter how big an idea is, it still takesa lot of work and a ton of cash. Balbir started Smiles on Wheels three years agowith a focus on educating the clients about the importance of oral hygiene care.When she noticed, it was difficult for some families, people with disabilities andindividuals under time constraints, to make their regular dental hygiene exams.She decided to do something about it, so she created a custom dental hygiene vanto fulfill their dental hygiene needs.This episode was featured as a Canadian Dream by CBC as all the pitchers werefirst generation Canadians and they shared their story on arrival and their strugglesin Canada. Balbir asked for 40,000 investment for 10% of her business and wasable to convince the dragons about the viability of the business with consistent

growth over the last three years. All the dragons were interested in the businessand wanted to invest.Everyone offered to invest except for Joe Mimran. He loved the business modeland was impressed with the revenues generated, but stated that he is not inter-ested in the franchise option and will not be a suitable candidate to take thebusiness to the next level. Michael Wekerle offered $40,000 for 10% of businessplus 2% royalty on franchises while Manjit Minhas, Michelle Romanow offered$40,000 for 10%.Jim Trevling, the franchise king with Boston Pizza and Mr Lube franchise tookeveryone by surprise by offering $240,000 for 25% of the business. Manjit Minhasincreased her offer to $40,000 for 7% of the business. She accepted the offer fromJim Trevling considering his experience in franchising as he was a best match tofulfil her dream of having fleet of Mobile Hygiene vehicles across Canada. Here'sthe link to the episode:www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/episodes/season-11/episode-14-season-11

WORKING TOGETHER FORMISSISSAUGA

MISSISSAUGA - On behalf of the City of Mississauga and Membersof Council, I want to thank Ontario Finance Minister and MississaugaSouth MPP Charles Sousa for coming to our Civic Centre to discussMississauga's 2017 Ontario government pre-budget submission andother important city-building priorities, Mayor Bonnie Crombie saidtoday."Mississauga plays asignificant role in driv-ing Ontario's economy.We always look forways to help our localbusinesses grow, whileimproving the quality oflife for all Peel residents.Whether it's investing$1.4 billion in theHurontario LRT, sup-porting the redevelop-ment of Lakeview wa-terfront or increasingfunding for TrilliumHealth Partners to re-duce wait times and improve hospital stays for patients and families.I thank Mayor Crombie and our city councillors for sharing their priori-ties on how together we can make Mississauga and Ontario a betterplace to live, work and raise a family," said Minister Sousa.Discussions between Mayor Crombie and Minister Sousa focused oninvestments for transit, infrastructure and new dedicated, account-able and transparent revenue tools for municipalities to make impor-tant and lasting investments. "We applaud the provincial government'sfocused commitment to build regionally-integrated transit and mod-ern infrastructure," Mayor Crombie said, citing the Ontariogovernment's April 2015 to commitment fully fund the Hurontario LightRail Transit (LRT). "With gridlock costing our economy billions eachyear, a reliable and extensive transit network will help grow theeconomy and allows businesses to better invest, grow and competein places like Mississauga," Mayor Crombie added.Mayor Crombie reiterated her support for the government's decisionto double the gas tax funding. Mississauga can now expect approxi-mately $33 million in gas tax funding, Mayor Crombie said, adding that"Municipalities and the Province need to take urgent action and havean honest debate about how to fund transit with revenue tools thatensure permanent, dedicated and long-term funding."

MUMPS OUTBREAK IN GTATORONTO - Toronto Public Health (TPH) is currently investigating 14lab-confirmed cases of mumps involving individuals 18 to 35 years ofage. While TPH continues to follow up with exposed individuals whoare known to the confirmed cases, the investigation to date has iden-tified that many of these cases have frequented bars in the westdowntown core of Toronto. This may be a contributing factor in thecirculation of this viral infection.The mumps virus is found in saliva and respiratory droplets. It isspread from person to person through coughing, sneezing, and com-ing into contact with a person's saliva by sharing drinks or utensils, food orwater bottles, or by kissing. A major factor contributing to outbreaks isbeing in a crowded environment, such as attending the same class, play-ing on the same sports team or living in a dormitory with a person who hasthe mumps. The risk to the general public from this infection is low. How-ever, it is important that the public know mumps is circulating inToronto and the following measures are recommended:* Check your immunization record to make sure you andyour family members are up to date with the mumps vaccination (MMRor MMRV). If you are unsure, check with your health care provider. Indi-viduals born after 1970 should have two doses of the vaccine.* If you are travelling, ensure your immunizations are up-to-date before you leave, including family members travelling with you.* Watch for symptoms of mumps. These include swellingand pain in one or more salivary glands (sides of the cheeks and jaw),fever, headache, muscle aches and pains, fatigue and loss of appetite.These symptoms can last up to 10 days.* Call your doctor if you have symptoms of mumps infection, or ifyou have been in contact with someone who has mumps. Tell your doctorthat you think you have mumps before going to the doctor's office. This willallow the doctor to prepare for your visit and protect other patients.

Improving traffic flow on BloorStreet after bike lane pilotTORONTO - The City of Toronto will make traffic flow improve-ments along Bloor Street including signal retiming, enhancedsignage and intersection modifications following the first phaseof measurement of the one-year bike lane pilot. Separated bikelanes were installed on Bloor Street between Shaw Street andAvenue Road in August as part of the City's Ten-Year Cycling Net-work Plan. The pilot project is being measured over a 12-month period forimpact on local businesses, traffic flow, cyclists, pedestrians, safety andparking through data collection and public feedback.Preliminary data collection completed includes an opinion survey,travel-time studies and volume counts for all modes of traffic takenin June and October 2016, before and after installation of the bikelanes. Preliminary findings include:* A 36 per cent increase in the number of cyclists usingBloor Street has been recorded since the installation of the pilot,with about 25 per cent of the increase being new cycling trips.* Vehicle travel times have increased on Bloor Street be-tween Bay Street and Ossington Avenue by an average of fourminutes in the morning "rush hour" period and about 8.5 minutes inthe afternoon rush hour period.* About 63 per cent of drivers surveyed indicated they feelcomfortable driving next to cyclists on Bloor Street, compared to14 per cent surveyed in 2015 before installation of the pilot.* More than 10,800 online surveys were collected, show-ing a broad level of support for the bike lanes on Bloor Street. Localresidents are generally supportive of the initiative (64 per cent), whilebusinesses are somewhat supportive (53 per cent). About nine out of 10cyclists are in favour of the pilot project (92 per cent), while aboutone-third of motorists are suppor tive (34 per cent).

Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie met with the management team of the Meadowvale Islamic Centre.

AMARJEET SOHI, MINISTER OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES WITH DEFENCE MINISTER HARJIT SAJJAN, MP RBOISSONNAULT, AND MP IQRA KHALID WEARING PINK TO OPPOSE BULLYING.


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017opinion

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WE HAVE NO SECRET PACT WITH TRINAMOOLAT CENTRE: BENGAL BJP CHIEF

KOLKATA: Rubbishing the Congress and the Left Front`s allegationsof a secret understanding between the BJP and Trinamool Congressat the Centre, the West Bengal chief of the saffron par ty sayspolitical opponents were alarmed as it was on way to becoming a"deciding factor" in the next assembly polls in the state."There is no doubt that BJP will be a decisive factor in the 2021assembly elections," Dilip Ghosh told IANS in an interview here.However, in the run-up to the fight for the state secretariat, theBharatiya Janata Par ty (BJP) was focusing on a good show in thepanchayat (rural body) polls next year, and the 2019 Lok Sabhaelections. "We are initially targeting the panchayat election whereour par ty plans to contest every seat and fight to win so that it canreach out to every household in Bengal. We are also targeting over50 per cent seats in the parliament election. We`ll make sure thatwhen Narendra Modi-ji star ts his second spell as Prime Minister,no one from Bengal can disturb him any fur ther."If we can achieve what we are planning in these two elections, itwould cer tainly have a positive perception in the people`s mind,"Ghosh contended. The BJP leader, who was a RSS "pracharak"since his school days before joining mainstream politics just acouple of years back, said the par ty is getting "amazing response

from all spheres of the society" in Bengal. "People are joining ourpar ty in all the districts every day as they are attracted towardsBJP`s work ethics, principle and the wave of developmentsushered in under Modi`s leadership," he said.Admitting that the BJP has a weaker organisation in Bengalcompared to a lot of other states, Ghosh said steps were beingtaken to activate the par ty and reach out to new members. "Thoughthe Bharatiya Jana Sangh had a base here, the par ty was bleedingdue to the lack of proper leadership. But our 2014 initiative of givingpar ty membership through a missed call, saw nearly 4.2 millionpeople became par ty members in Bengal. The par ty has takenvarious steps to engage with these new members. We have a targetof training 50,000 members in the state; so far we have completedtraining of 30,000 members."We plan to have polling agents in more than 90 per cent of boothsduring the next election. We have increased the number of party units(mondols) from 496 to 1,054. Units comprising 60-80 booths have beencreated in every region to have a better control and make the whole partyactive," he said. Denying any collusion with the Trinamool, Ghosh said therecent run in with the state government shows the BJP`s readiness tofight it out for every inch of political space.

"The party might have looked for Trinamool`s suppor t in the past inpassing some bills in parliament, but that does not mean they haveany collaboration," he said. Referring to the BJP getting over 10 percent votes in last year`s assembly elections, Ghosh said his partyhas increased its political might since then. The BJP won threeseats in 2016, even as its vote share dropped from the 16.80 percent it got in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.Dismissing the allegations of the Congress and LF about the BJP`s"cover t understandings" with the Trinamool, he said in politics,opponents often level such accusations to defame a par ty. "But inBengal, everyone including the par ty in power (Trinamool) knowshow the BJP is gaining strength." Accusing the Trinamool govern-ment of using the minority (read Muslim) community for vote bankpolitics, Ghosh said the struggling community needs propereducation and professional opportunities, and not special aid, fortheir overall uplift."If there is no new investment or industrialisation in the state, howwould they get jobs? The state government is trying to use an entirecommunity as their vote bank. This is an example of bad politics,he said. The state has a 27.01 per cent muslim population as perthe 2011 census.

Carnage at Qalandar: The Shia, Sunni, Sufi triangleBY SAEED NAQVI

Audiences in their hundreds of thousands across the subcontinentwill remember Reshma with her flashing eyes and haunting, gypsyvoice singing "Dama dum mast qalandar". Well, that`s the Dhamaalsignature tune. It was the punchline of this song which had becomecontroversial when President Zia ul Haq set Pakistani Islam on acourse of Arabisation in the 1980s in order to wrench it away from thesyncretic Islam which hundreds of Sufi schools had established inIndia since the 13th century."If Iran imbibes Indian culture, it will still remain Iran, but if Pakistan

retains Indian traditions, it will over time become India." That was theGeneral`s warped reasoning. The suicide attack on the shrine of LalShahbaz Qalandar in Sindh, which killed nearly 100 devotees lastweek, is unlikely to dampen the spirit of Dhamaal, the ecstatic danceperformed in the shrine`s cour tyard at dusk every Thursday to themagical rhythm of drums. Nazir Akbarabadi has a brilliant poem on"haal" or trance. It describes per fectly the transcendent dance atDhamaal. Terrorism is too feeble an instrument to kill the idea.The punchline of the Mast Qalandar song is "Ali da pehla number"which means "Ali is first". This, unfor tunately, touches on the princi-pal point of difference between Shias and Sunnis. Shias believe thatthe Prophet`s son-in-law, Ali should have been the first inheritor ofthe Prophet`s worldly and spiritual responsibilities, the Caliphate.Sunnis accept what actually happened: the Prophet`s senior com-panion, Abu Bakr Siddiq became the first Caliph of Islam. To avoidfur ther controversies, the punchline was amended. It became "Alidum dum de andar", or Ali is in every breath.The two sects cite different traditions to advance their claims. TheShias point to the episode of Ghadir Khumm. Returning from his lastHaj, the Prophet stopped at an elevated spot in Ghadir, held Ali by thehand and announced to the congregation that they must respect Ali`sprimacy after his death. While creating Qawwali as a devotional formof music, Amir Khusro dressed up this episode as a compulsory Qaulor declaration of faith to be sung at the star t of every Qawwali ses-sion. Google Qawwali and search "Mun Kunto Maula, Fahaza AliMaula", (Roughly translated it means: he who considers me his spiri-tual and temporal leader must accord the same status to Ali).It is an open and shut case, claim the Shias. The prophet had publiclypassed the baton to Ali. Sunnis advance their claim differently: whenthe Prophet was fatally ill, he asked his companion Abu Bakr to leadthe Friday prayers. Why are Shia-Sunni differences being explainedin the context of an attack on the Sindh Sufi shrine? Because in popu-lar perception there is a lack of clarity on the Shia, Sunni, Sufi tri-angle. Sufi saints were all of Sunni origin as are the overwhelmingmajority of devotees at their shrines. There will also be a sizablenumber of Hindus and a sprinkling of others.If most of those in attendance at shrines like Shahbaz Qalandar areSunnis why would Jihadist Salafis, who are also Sunni, kill them sobrutally? Islamic State claimed "credit" for the carnage in Sindh. TheIS, let it be clarified, is an amalgam of Salafis, Muslim Brotherhood,offshoots of Al Qaeda, Jabhat al Nusra and dispossessed Baathistsfrom Iraq now standing on a militant, Sunni platform because post-Saddam Baghdad is largely in Shia hands. In other words each com-ponent of IS may have different emphases but together they form acritical mass.The harsh Salafi disapproval, even visceral hatred for Sufis, can beexplained in broad terms: the Sufi incorporation of music, dance,local customs into their practice of Islam. Also, their acceptance ofpeople of all faiths, castes, their general Catholicism, contrast sharplyfrom the arid austerities of the Salafis. But this does not fully explainthe intensity of their anger. This is focused on the personality of Aliwho is the centerpiece of Sufi ritual. Ali, as I have mentioned earlier,is the main point of contention between Shias and Sunnis. After thecoming of the Ayatollahs in Iran, the Arab-Ajam, Saudi-Iranian antipa-thies began to determine the geo-politics of the Arab world.At a recent lecture in Oslo, Henry Kissinger said it in so many words:the defining issue in the Arab world is not Palestinian homeland butthe Shia-Sunni conflict. If the West, Israel and Saudi Arabia are on thesame page on what is increasingly being described as the centralfaultline in the Arab world, namely the Shia-Sunni divide, what doesone make of the Sunni Salafi suicide bomber, sometimes wearing the

IS cap, on a relentless spree of murder and mayhem? On whose sideis the West? It must be added, in parenthesis, that no suicide bomberhas ever been identified as a Shia. Mysteriously, this fact has neverbeen highlighted by the western media, currently under severe pres-sure to arrest its plummeting credibility.In the Indian subcontinent, the Shia, Sunni, Sufi triangle has its owndynamics. From the Delhi Sultanate right up to the last Mughal, rulershad Central Asian antecedents with a sprinkling of Persian, Shia elitein key positions. This may have been one enabling factor for most theregional Muslim dynasties being Shia -- Bahmani Sultanate, Sharqi,Berar, Bidar, Qutub Shahi, Adil Shahi, Awadh Nawabi, Najafi Nawabsof Bengal, Nawab of Murshidabad and Rampur. All these came underthe cultural influence of Iran which has an abiding respect for itsZoroastrian past. Shias of the subcontinent, like the Parsis, celebrateNavroz, the Persian New Year.The catchment areas of these Kingdoms and Nawabis were fer tileground for Sufi schools to take root. In Awadh, Holi, Basant, Diwali,Krishna, Radha, Rama were incorporated into Sufi songs. MohsinKakorvi`s celebration of the Prophet`s bir thday invokes Ganga,Jamuna and Krishna. Maulana Hasrat Mohani belonged to a schoolwhich respected Krishna as God`s messenger. His numerous poemson Radha and Krishna are high points of Sufi mysticism. All Urdupoets are of a Sufi bent. There is not a single line in the annals of Urdupoetry suppor tive of the hapless Mullah.



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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017 c a n a d a

416-907-4420Life, Critical illness, Disability & Travel Insurance, RRSP, RESP & TFSA

General Accounting & Bookkeeping

ONTARIO MINISTERS WEARING PINK TO SPREAD A MESSAGE THAT BULLYING, WHETHER ONLINE OR IN PERSON, IS NEVER OKAY.

Trudeau Announces Working Group ofMinisters On Review of Laws, Policies

Related to Indigenous Peoples

CONTD. FROM PAGE 3She said as a mayor she has to diversify the city's businesses and servicesto enhance economic activity unlike the previous city management thatfocused only on building houses.She also due to the council fight they lost LRT for the city and so this timearound she will not step back from the demand of a post-secondary insti-tute. She said after assuming her job as a mayor she has attracted 800business that have created 7,000 jobs in the city. She also mentioned her tripto Dubai and informed that investors from there are interested in investing inBrampton because the city's credit health is good. Linda also mentioned thatwhile the council is constantly fighting on petty issues families residing inthe city are struggling to make their two ends meet on daily basis.During the show some callers also asked her questions for not advertisinggovernment jobs to general public and offering those only to her relatives.On this Linda hit back saying none of her relatives are working in her officeor at the council. Her goal only is to work for the welfare of the people. Sheadded in fact she voluntarily decided to draw $50,000 less compared to thelast mayor. Another caller asked her since she has come in office, city taxeshave been going up. Linda clarified that as the city is growing, itsneeds are also. So if people wish to keep enjoying the samefacilities, they have to pay for those.

Trudeau announces by-electionsOTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced that by-electionswill be held on April 3, 2017, in the following four electoral districts - Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Markham-Thornhill, Ontario, Calgary Heritage, Alber taand Calgary Midnapore, Alber ta.

CONSUMER PRICES JUMP2.1% IN JANUARYOTTAWA - The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 2.1% on a year-over-year basis in January, following a 1.5% gain in December.Excluding gasoline, the CPI was up 1.5% year over year in Janu-ary, after posting a 1.4% increase in December. Prices were upin seven of the eight major components in the 12 months toJanuary, with the transpor tation and shelter indexes contribut-ing the most to the year-over-year rise in the CPI. The food indexdeclined on a year-over-year basis for the four th consecutivemonth. The transpor tation index rose on a year-over-year ba-sis, up 6.3% in January after a 3.0% gain in December. The gainin January was led by gasoline prices, which posted their larg-est increase since September 2011, up 20.6% in the 12 monthsto January. The increase was par tly attributable to higher crudeoil prices in January, as well as a monthly decline one yearearlier. On a year-over-year basis, the purchase of passengervehicles index rose more in January (+3.8%) than in December(+2.6%). This acceleration was par tly attributable to the greateravailability of new 2017-model-year vehicles.The rail, highway bus and other inter-city transpor tation indexwas up 3.2% in the 12 months to January. On a monthly basis,the index rose 0.9%. On a year-over-year basis, drivers' licencesfees posted no change in January. The shelter index rose 2.4%in the 12 months to January, with the homeowners' replacementcost index (+4.3%) contributing the most to the gain. The natu-ral gas index increased 15.6% on a year-over-year basis inJanuary, after decreasing the previous month. Fuel oil pricesrose 18.3% in the 12 months to January, after increasing 4.2% amonth earlier. At the same time, electricity prices (-0.7%) weredown year over year for the first time since February 2013.Consumers paid 2.1% less for food in January than they did ayear earlier. The food purchased from stores index decreased4.0% year over year, with broad-based declines among its com-ponents. The fresh vegetables (-15.5%), fresh fruit (-10.8%) andmeat (-1.7%) indexes all posted larger year-over-year declinesin January than in December. A limited number of food productcategories recorded price increases. Prices for food purchasedfrom restaurants were up 2.3% year over year in January, match-ing the gain in December.

UNIVERSITY COMING TOBRAMPTON IN 2018: BRAMPTON

MAYOR LINDA JEFFREY

OTTAWA - As par t of the government's commitment to a renewednation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous Peoples, the PrimeMinister, Justin Trudeau, has announced the review of laws andpolicies related to Indigenous Peoples.The Working Group of Ministers responsible for the review willexamine relevant federal laws, policies, and operational practicesto help ensure the Crown is meeting its constitutional obligationswith respect to Aboriginal and treaty rights; adhering to interna-tional human rights standards, including the United NationsDeclaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; and supporting theimplementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action.The Working Group will work with Indigenous leaders, youth, andexper ts on various legal and policy questions relating to IndigenousPeoples. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada,the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, will chair the WorkingGroup, which will comprise six ministers who have significant

responsibilities for the relevant statutes and policies to be re-viewed.As its first order of business, the Working Group will develop arigorous work plan and principles, which will reflect a whole-of-government approach that addresses all Indigenous Peoples. "We are meeting the commitment we made to First Nations, Inuitand Métis, and to all Canadians to review the laws and policies thatrelate to Indigenous Peoples. The Working Group of Ministers - inpar tnership with Indigenous leaders and a broad range of stake-holders, including youth - will assess and recommend whatstatutory changes and new policies are needed to best meet ourconstitutional obligations and international commitments toIndigenous Peoples. Through this initiative and the other steps wehave recently taken, we are working on a complete renewal ofCanada's nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous Peoples." -Justin Trudeau

MINING, OIL SECTORS EARN HIGHESTAVERAGE WAGES - $2,096 A WEEK

OTTAWA - Average weekly earnings of non-farm payroll employeeswere $971 in December, an increase of 1.0% from November and1.2% from 12 months earlier. In general, changes in weekly earningsreflect a number of factors, including wage growth; changes in thecomposition of employment by industry, occupation and level of jobexperience; and average hours worked per week.Non-farm payroll employees worked an average of 32.8 hours perweek in December, little changed from the previous month but downfrom 33.3 hours in December 2015. Average weekly hours have beenon a downward trend since the beginning of 2016. In the 12 months toDecember, average weekly earnings increased in two of the 10 larg-est industrial sectors: construction and educational services. At thesame time, earnings declined in retail trade, while there was littlechange in the remaining large sectors.Compared with 12 months earlier, average weekly earnings in con-struction were up 2.5% to $1,234. Average weekly earnings wereboosted by increases in the heavy and civil engineering constructionsubsector. Gains in earnings were spread across several provinces,with notable growth in British Columbia and Quebec. On a year-over-year basis, average weekly earnings in educational services grew

2.5% to $1,042. Increases in earnings were spread across most in-dustries in this sector.Average weekly earnings in retail trade fell 2.1% to $566 in the 12months to December. There were several decreases in this sector,primarily in general merchandise stores. Par t of the decline was dueto retail trade earnings being at a high point in December 2015. Aver-age weekly earnings in Prince Edward Island grew 3.2% to $834 com-pared with December 2015. The average weekly earnings in NewBrunswick rose 3.1% to $889. In Quebec, average weekly earningsincreased 2.1% to $894 in the 12 months to December.Average weekly earnings in Saskatchewan were up 1.8% to $1,010compared with 12 months earlier. Compared with December 2015,average weekly earnings in Ontario grew 1.6% to $994, with the larg-est increases in information and cultural industries and finance andinsurance. Average weekly earnings in the province have been on anupward trend since September 2016. In the 12 months to December,average weekly earnings in British Columbia were up 0.9% to $934,driven by increases in finance and insurance, construction and infor-mation and cultural industries. Both earnings and employment in theprovince trended upward in 2016.

CONTD. FROM PAGE 3He also mentioned that there is thorough mismanagement at City Hall adding just recently seven of the city staffmembers were fired, but two new ones were hired due to lack of funds. What was the logic of sacking seven oldmembers and hiring the new ones? He alleged that the mayor is all about 'I and me' and not 'I and the council'. As thecouncil sits squarely divided, Vicky said getting issues resolved get difficult. He said thousands of dollars were wastedon investigating the corruption of last mayor without any result. Vicky also stated how the majority of Brampton's citycouncil voted down $400 million in transit funding from the provincial government because no decision could be takenon the route of the Hurontario-Main LRT though 11 different routes were studied. But in the end the council did not approveof any route. He said he was ready to hold a face-to-face discussion with the mayor on issues related to the city's interest.

It will take another 10-12 years for university in Brampton: Vicky Dhillon

CONTD. FROM PAGE 3On Monday Quebec MP Guy Caron, 48 also joined in. Announcing his leadership bid, Guy said: "The political andeconomic class has relegated the needs of people to the bottom of their list of priorities, throwing crumbs from time totime to appease them. Progressives have a duty to propose a credible plan to bring meaningful change to an economicsystem that leaves most Canadians behind." Meanwhile, another NDP leader Jagmeet Singh while talking to YudhvirJaswal, Group Editor and CEO of YMedia on Channel Y said he has still not decided about joining the race. Jagmeet statedhe is asking common people if he should bid for the NDP leadership. Jagmeet was of the view that he will remain an NDPminister if he stays in politics on provincial level but with entry in federal politics, he might be projected as NDP'sprime ministerial candidate. During the course of interview he commended Trudeau for including two Sikhministers in his cabinet but said more needs to be done to fulfill election promises. Jagmeet Singh, who is fit asa fiddle also challenged Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan for push-ups on Channel Y. NDP's first official candidates'debate is scheduled for March 12 in Ottawa. All interested can register till July 3 to enter the race.

MP CHARLIE ANGUS, GUY CARON ENTER NDP LEADERSHIP RACE





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DU STUDENTS HELD PREOTESTS OUTSIDE DELHI POLICE HEADQUARTERS, SEEKING ACTION AGAINST THE ABVP.

ARMY EXAM PAPER LEAK: CONGRESSASKS PARRIKAR TO WAKE UP AND ACT

MODI'S 'MAKE IN INDIA'SLION DOESN'T ROAR BUTWHIMPERS: RAHULBAHRAICH (UTTAR PRADESH), (IANS) Congress Vice presi-dent Rahul Gandhi On Friday ridiculed the 'Make in India'campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying while abig lion was made the mascot of the campaign, it ended ina whimper of a rat. There is nothing called 'Make in India',he said, noting that if this was the case, then why weremobile phones in India still coming with a 'Made in China'tag. Accusing Modi of spreading hatred and dividing thesociety in the name of religion, Gandhi told a gathering inthis Uttar Pradesh town that while the Prime Minister hadinitially promised people the moon and gave them a "DilwaleDulhania Le Jayenge" type feeling, he ended up donning therole of Gabbar himself. Seeking votes for the Congress can-didate Ali Akbar Pappu in Mahsi assembly constituency, healso said that Modi's face was writ large with the fear of animminent electoral defeat in Uttar Pradesh. "A governmentof Samajwadi Par ty-Congress alliance will be formed in UPand the Prime Minister is upset thinking of this prospect,"he added. Attacking Modi for doing nothing for the youth andthe farmers, Gandhi said time had come when people shouldask him where are the two crore jobs he promised. He alsoslammed the 'Swach Bharat Abhiyan', saying that Modi gaveeveryone a broom to do the cleaning while he flew to Wash-ington to meet (then) US President Barack Obama. He alsocame down heavily on demonetisation and said that 94 percent of the back money had been invested in real estate orstashed in Swiss banks and the remaining six per cent waswith 50 rich families of India but Modi had no guts to bringthat ill-gotten money out.

Keep immature Rahul home,why send him to UP: AmitShah to CongressGORAKHPUR, (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Par ty (BJP) nationalPresident Amit Shah on Friday targeted Congress VicePresident Rahul Gandhi after former Delhi Chief MinisterSheila Dikshit's remarks that he needed more time to "ma-ture", saying "immature Rahul should be kept at home" in-stead of being sent to Uttar Pradesh. Dikshit, in an inter-view, said the Congress leader was immature and neededmore time to season up.Addressing an election rally here, Shah said, if such isthe case then the Gandhi scion should be asked to sit athome and groomed there. "Sheila ji, unko ghar bithao,paripakva karo, yahan UP main kyun bhej diya" (Sheilajikeep him at home, groom him, why send him to UP)," hesaid as people cheered. Slamming Rahul Gandhi forseeking the repor t card of Prime Minister Narendra Modifor two years of governance, the BJP chief retor ted thatRahul Gandhi was better advised to take the repor t cardof 60 years of his "great grand father, grand mother, fa-ther and mother who ran the union government withManmohan Singh."In a jibe, he said, "When these two princes - AkhileshYadav ad Rahul Gandhi, had nothing to show they joinedhands. How can they do something good for UP whenone's mother is hassled by him and other's father is fedup of his son," the BJP president said. He went on toattack Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav andsaid he should hang his head in shame as his ministerGayatri Prajapati has been accused of so many crimesincluding gang rape. "First a woman is gang-raped andwhen she goes to the police for filing of an FIR that is notdone. Finally the Supreme Cour t had to intervene andorder lodging of an FIR," Shah said while pointing outhow the Chief Minister had taken no action against thetainted minister but had instead gone to campaign forhim in Amethi.Rapp ing the Bahu jan Sama j Pa r t y (BSP) and theSamajwadi Par ty (SP) for "destroying UP in the past 15years", Shah said that these two par ties were engagedin casteist politics and had nothing to do with develop-ment. He went on to urge the people of the state to vote forthe BJP and ensure a majority government in Uttar Pradeshso that the state government and the union government worktogether to take the state to new heights of prosperity.

PANAJI, (IANS) The Congress in Goa on Monday askedDefence Minister Manohar Parrikar to "wake up" and act,claiming the Army Recruitment Board exam paper scam tookplace due to the lack of vigilance within the ministry. "Parrikarneeds to stop sleeping and wake up. This is a big scam whichhas happened on his watch and it was exposed by the police

and not by the army," Congress spokesperson Aleixo Reginaldo tolda press conference at the state legislative assembly complex.Eighteen persons were arrested across Maharashtra and Goa in aseries of raids conducted by the Crime Branch of the Thane policeon Sunday morning for involvement in the Army Recruitment Boardexamination paper leak case.

Former Union Minister Shiv Shankar dead, Sonia mourns deathHYDERABAD, (IANS) Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Shiv Shankar passed away here on Monday after prolongedillness. He was 88. The judge-turned-politician and former Governor of Sikkim and Kerala is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.According to his family members, he breathed his last at his residence in Jubilee Hills. Born on August 10, 1929, at Mamidipalli in RangaReddy district, Shiv Shankar was prominent leader from backward classes and served as a minister in Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhigovernments. Shiv Shankar, whose political career spanned over four decades, was once considered the second most powerful leader in theRajiv Gandhi cabinet.

Chidambaram hits out at Jaitley for his remarks amid DU rowNEW DELHI, (PTI) Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for his remarks amid the DU row and askedwhether he was leading an "alliance of subversion" when he was the DUSU president in 1975. Jaitley had said on Saturday that there was an"alliance of subversion" on cer tain Indian campuses and that the ultra-Left and separatists were speaking the same language. "When MrJaitley was President of DUSU in 1975, was he heading an 'Alliance of Subversion'?" the former finance minister said in a tweet.They must also allow others with different opinions to speak, he said while delivering a talk at London School of Economics. The minister saidit was his personal belief that "free speech" in society needs to be debated, adding that "violence is however not the method". His commentscame amidst the ongoing row over the clashes between Left-affiliated AISA and the RSS-backed ABVP in Delhi University's North Campus.

Digvijaya Singh booked for hurting religious feelingsHyderabad, (PTI) AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh was booked by police here today over his alleged post about the madrassas(seminaries) and the RSS-run Saraswati Sishu Mandirs. Police registered the case under section 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts,intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of IPC against the Congress leader. In his poston a social networking site on February 22, Singh allegedly equated the schools run by the madrssas and RSS, saying that both spread"hatred". A complaint in this regard was lodged by Majlis Bachao Tehreek (MBT) leader Amjed Ullah Khan, said Dabeerpura police inspectorC Venkanna Naik. "We have registered a case under section 295 A of IPC and are investigating," the officer told PTI.

BJP candidate'ssupporter "attack"Shiv Sena candidateGonda (UP), Feb 27 (PTI) The sup-por ters of BJP candidate todayal legedly at tacked Shiv Senacandidate injuring two of his fol-lowers shor tly af ter the pollingwas over, said the local police.BJP candidate Prateek Bhushan'ssuppor ters attacked Shiv Senacandidate Mahesh Tiwari on hisway back home after the pollingwas over, injuring two personsRakesh Tiwari and Satyadev. Fol-lowing the incident, Shiv Senacandidate has lodged a complaintagainst Prateek and his suppor t-ers with the police which is look-ing into the matter.



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PUNJAB, UP, UTTARAKHAND, MANIPUR AND GOA ELECTIONS 2017 Shiv Sena tally rises to 87 as3 Independents join partyMUMBAI, (PTI) A day after the BMC polls threw up a hungverdict, Shiv Sena's tally of corporators rose to 87 today withthree par ty rebels who won as Independent nominees re-turning to its fold. This gave a slight push to UddhavThackeray's effor ts to cobble up numbers but reaching themagic figure of 114 seats needed to rule the cash-rich civicbody is still a far cry.The development came at a time when both the Sena and itsestranged ally BJP which has won 82 seats, are keepingcards close to their chest on the prospects of coming to-gether again to attain power or otherwise. While Snehal More(Vikhrol i ) and Tuls i ram Shinde (Dindoshi) ar r ived at'Matoshree', the Bandra residence of Thackeray, in morningwhere they were reinducted, Changez Multani (Andheri) ex-tended his suppor t in evening.The Sena, which has been in power in the BMC for last 20years with the BJP being a junior par tner, is looking forwardfor another term. It contested the BMC polls separately bydumping the BJP. Sena is a junior partner of the BJP in Centreand Maharashtra governments. However, the resurgent BJPbreached the Sena citadel of Mumbai and bagged 82 seats,just two less than Sena's yesterday's tally of 84.

AAP announces list of 109candidates for MCD pollsNEW DELHI, (PTI) The Aam Aadmi Par ty today released itsfirst list of 109 candidates, which includes 49 women, for theupcoming MCD polls. The list was finalised after being vettedby the par ty's top decision-making body, Political AffairsCommittee (PAC), headed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.The par ty claimed it has given tickets to 64 youths. Of the 49seats alloted to female candidates, three are from the unre-served category while the rest are reserved for women.Among the prominent ones to find their names in the list isAnkush Narang, Delhi youth wing president of AAP. He willcontest from West Patel Nagar. The three MCDs with 272wards are expected to go to polls in April. AAP Delhi UnitConvenor Dilip Pandey said work for selecting candidatesfor the remaining seats is on. "The BJP and the Congresshave indulged in corruption in civic bodies for the last 20years. It is the time for the broom (the AAP symbol) to wipeout corruption from the MCDs," Pandey said.Swaraj India, the political outfit headed by Yogendra Yadav,also announced second list of 30 candidates. Early this week,it had announced candidates for 25 seats. AAP has receivedover 10,000 applications from aspirants eying the 272 seats. Ofthese, 3,522 are from North MCD, 3,673 from South and 2,902 from EastMCD. The party plans to take on BJP and Congress by focusing onalleged financial irregularities in the civic bodies. Delhi isgoverned by multiple agencies and civic bodies are a crucialcog in the wheel of day-to-day governance.

Centre to deploy 280 Central forces companies in ManipurIMPHAL, (PTI) The Centre will deploy an additional 30 companies of Central paramilitary forces in Manipur for smooth conduct of thestate assembly election. Manipur Chief Secretary O Nabakishore told repor ters here that altogether 280 companies of Centralparamilitary forces will be deployed for election duty in the state which is experiencing more than three-month long economicblockade imposed by the United Naga Council along the highways of the landlocked state. The Chief Secretary said the "state is readyfor elections." Manipur will witness the highest Central forces deployment for the upcoming two-phase elections. The election for the60-member assembly will be held on March 4 and 8.

Lalu plays down Rabri's suggestion of Tejaswi as CMPATNA, (PTI) RJD President Lalu Prasad today sought to play down the political controversy triggered by his wife Rabri Devi'sasser tion that people of Bihar wanted to see their son Tejaswi Yadav as the chief minister. "Tejaswi is still learning the ar t ofgovernance," the RJD leader said about his younger son, who is the deputy chief minister of the state, in apparent reference tocomments by Rabri Devi, a former chief minister."Nitish Kumar and myself have grown old and in future some youth has to assume leadership," he said. Nitish Kumar is the leaderof the Grand Alliance government, Prasad said, seeking to douse the controversy. Despite Lalu's RJD having more MLAs thanKumar's JD(U), the latter leads the ruling alliance and is the chief minister. Par ty members make some assertions out of enthusiasm,Lalu said, adding those should not be given much impor tance.Rabri Devi had set tongues wagging yesterday when she told repor ters while emerging from a meeting of legislators of the alliancethat people of Bihar wanted to see Tejaswi Yadav as chief minister. Apar t from RJD and JD(U), Congress is another constituent in thecoalition government. Soon after Rabri Devi made the remark, JD(U) dismissed it, saying there was no vacancy for the CM's post."Nitish Kumar is efficiently running the Grand Alliance government...where is the vacancy for the post of the CM?" JD(U) chiefspokesman Sanjay Singh said.

FIR against BJP, Cong candidates in UP, 1 in ManipurKANPUR, (PTI) An FIR has been registered against Congress and BJP candidates from Maharajpur assembly seat for allegedlyviolating the poll code and running a "misinformation" campaign against the SP nominee. Aruna Kori, the SP candidate from theassembly seat, had filed a police complaint alleging that suppor ters of BJP's Satish Mahana and Congress's Raja Rampal ran amisinformation campaign through WhatsApp and mobile phone messages telling people she had withdrawn from the electoral race.She claimed she received death threats when she opposed their "act of misleading voters". Based on her complaint, the FIR wasregistered at Chakeri police station against Mahana and Rampal and the matter is being probed, Kanpur SSP Akash Kulhari said. Korisaid she will also write to the Election Commission in this regard. Though the Samajwadi Par ty and the Congress has entered a pre-poll alliance for the state assembly polls, candidates of both the par ties contested elections on the Maharajpur assembly seat. WobaJoram from the Mao seat in Manipur is the other candidate against whom action has been ordered.

UP Phase V polling registers 57.36% voter turnoutNEW DELHI: The polling of fifth phase Uttar Pradesh assembly elections ended at 5PM on Monday. According to latest data available,voting registered till 5PM was 57.36 per cent, lowest till now in ongoing state assembly elections. In this phase, BJP, SP and BSP willfight to stake claim at 51 constituencies of the eastern UP. "A 57.36% turnout in fifth phase of UP Polls; voting ends by and largepeacefully in 51 assembly seats," UP CEO T Venkatesh informed PTI. In all, 608 candidates are in the fray in this phase withmaximum of 24 candidates in Amethi and minimum of six each in Kapilvastu and Etwa seats of Siddhar th Nagar district. A total of 1.84crore voters, including 96 lakh women, will decide the fate of leaders in the fray including ministers Vinod Kumar Singh alias PanditSingh from Tarabganj (Gonda), Tej Narain Pandey alias Pawan Pandey from Ayodhya and BSP state president Ram Achal Rajbharfrom Akbarpur in this phase.


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017w o r l d

TURKEY'S PRESIDENT RECEP TAYYIP ERDOGAN ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE EMINE AND PAKISTAN'S PRIME MINISTER NAWAZSHARIF AND HIS WIFE KALSOOM NAWAZ SHARIF AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE IN ANKARA. SHARIF VISITED TURKEY TOBOOST TIES IN TRADE AND SECURITY.

TRUMP SLAMS FBI FOR FAILINGTO STOP LEAKS TO MEDIA

FROM LALIT K JHAWASHINGTON, (PTI) President Donald Trump today launched an un-precedented attack on the FBI for not being able to stop the leak ofclassified information and said it could have a "devastating effect" onthe US. "The FBI is totally unable to stop the national security 'leakers'that have permeated our government for a long time," Trump tweeted."They can't even find the leakers within the FBI itself. Classified infor-mation is being given to media that could have a devastating effect onUS. FIND NOW," Trump said, urging the FBI to act.Trump's public criticism of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI),the country's top intelligence and investigating agency, was a rareone that has not been seen in the past. It came after CNN repor ted thatthe FBI rejected a recent request by the White House to dispute mediarepor ts that Trump campaign officials had regular contacts with Rus-sian intelligence officials before the election. A furious White Househas described the repor t as inaccurate and false."What you guys have done is indefensible and inaccurate," a senior

administration official told repor ters. Speaking on condition of ano-nymity, the official gave a time line of the White House Chief of Staff,Reince Priebus, meeting with the FBI Assistant Director AndrewMcCabe on February 15. During a one-on-one meeting between thetwo, after the conclusion of their official discussions, McCabe repor t-edly said, "I want you to know (the) story" in The New York Timesrepor t about FBI investigating contacts between Trump campaignpeople and Russian intelligence "is BS".According to the account of the senior administration official, Priebus asked "whatcan we do about this?" McCabe demurred and said he will get back to Priebus.Later on, McCabe called back and told Preibus that the FBI cannot say anything."We'd love to help but we can't get into the position of making statements on everystory," he was quoted as saying. Preibus asked if he could cite "senior intelli-gence officials" as saying there's nothing to the New York Timesstory. McCabe said yes. Later on, FBI Director James Comey himselfcalled Preibus and reiterated much the same thing that the "story isBS but can't put out statement."

WASHINGTON, (IANS) US President Donald Trump blocked a numberof news outlets from covering White House press secretary SeanSpicers question-and-answer session, media repor ts said. Spicerrecently decided to hold an off-camera "gaggle" with repor ters insidehis office instead of the traditional on-camera briefing in the PressBriefing Room, The Hill magazine repor ted.Among the outlets not permitted to cover the gaggle were newsorganisations that Trump has singled out for criticism, including CNN,The New York Times, The Hill, Politico, BuzzFeed, the Daily Mail,BBC, the Los Angeles Times and the New York Daily News, etc. Sev-

eral outlets which were allowed into Spicer's office, include Breitbar t,the Washington Times, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, Reuters and Bloomberg.The White House Correspondents' Associat ion, a non-profi torganisation of journalists who cover the White House, sharply criti-cized the decision. "The WHCA board is protesting strongly againsthow today's gaggle is being handled by the White House," theassociation's President Jeff Mason said in a statement. "We encour-age the organisations that were allowed in to share the material withothers," he added. "The board will be discussing this fur ther withWhite House staff." A White House spokesman did not respond to a

request for comment.

TRUMP BLOCKS SELECT MEDIA OUTLETS FROM PRESS BRIEFING

Russia criticisesTrump's USnuclear su-premacy defenceMOSCOW, (IANS) Members ofRussia's upper house of parlia-ment on Friday appeared criticalof US President Donald Trump fordefending its nuclear supremacyand shining doubt on a bilateraldisarmament treaty signed in2009. Star ting the presidency bycalling into question an interna-tional treaty between Russia andthe US was not the best way toimplement non-proliferation ofnuclear weapons, chairman of thethe Federation Council's DefenceCommittee Viktor Ozerov toldRussian media. "Of course, Rus-sia is categorically against thistreaty being suspended, we willinsist on its extension," Efe newsquoted him as saying. US Presi-dent Donald Trump's intention toincrease strategic potential didnot respond to stability, mutualunderstanding, and world secu-rity, he said. Call ing the NewSTART nuclear arms reductiontreaty a "bad deal", Trump onThursday said: "It would be won-derful, a dream would be that nocountry would have nukes, but ifcountr ies are going to havenukes, we're going to be at thetop of the pack." New START wassigned in 2009 by then-PresidentBarack Obama and his Russiancounterpar t, Dmitri Medvedev.Since taking office, Trump hasstar ted to roll back some Obama-era policies and appeared to al-ter the US' stance on an interna-tional scale.

Afghans, Uzbeks among 350held in PakistanISLAMABAD, (IANS) At least 350 suspects, including Af-ghan and Uzbek nationals, were arrested in search opera-tions across Pakistan, the Army said. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, arms and drugs were also recoveredin the operations on Saturday and Sunday, The News Internationalreported on Monday. The law enforcement agencies arrested over 30suspects in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Atleast 75 persons were detained in Bannu city and a dozen Afghans inKashmore in Sindh. Over 160 persons, including Afghans, were ar-rested from different parts of Karachi. In Bahawalpur in Punjab prov-ince, 22 suspects were arrested. Arrests also took place in Kaloorkot,Lodhran, Chiniot and Sargodha districts.

Trump seeks to raise defencespending by $54bnWASHINGTON, (IANS) US President Donald Trump is seek-ing to increase defence spending by $54 billion, the WhiteHouse revealed on Monday. The money to boost the mili-tary build-up may come from deep cuts in almost every non-secu-rity category, including foreign aid and domestic discretionaryprogrammes, according to White House officials. "We will increasesecurity and we will decrease lower-priority programmes. Most fed-eral agencies will see a reduction as a result," the Washington Timesnewspaper quoted an Office of Management and Budget official seek-ing anonymity as saying. The White House is scheduled to send itspreliminary funding targets for 2018 to federal agencies.

Kim 'ordered' half-brother'skilling: SeoulSEOUL/KUALA LUMPUR, (IANS) Two North Korean ministries or-chestrated the plot to kill Kim Jong-nam on the orders of Pyongyang'sleader Kim Jong-un, South Korea's spy agency said on Monday. TheNational Intelligence Service (NIS) said four of the eight suspectsbehind the murder worked for Pyongyang's Ministry of State Security,with two others being from the Foreign Ministry, Yonhap reported. "Theassassination of Kim Jong-nam was an act of systematic terror or-dered by Kim Jong-un," South Korean lawmaker Kim Byung-kee saidin a televised address. "The operation was conducted with two assas-sination groups and one supporting group." The half-brother of NorthKorean leader Kim Jong-un died earlier this month after a suspectedpoisoning while on his way to catch a flight to Macau from KualaLumpur Airport. Malaysia said an autopsy showed he was poisonedwith VX nerve agent and died within 20 minutes. Seoul's UnificationMinistry slammed Pyongyang for using VX nerve agent, which isclassified as a weapon of mass destruction by the United Nations. "Westrongly condemned North Korea for using a chemical weapon againsta civilian," Jeong Joon-hee, a ministry spokesman, told a press brief-ing. "The government plans to take joint actions against Pyongyangwith the international community."

Islamabad, Kabul must endproxies: JI EmirISLAMABAD, (IANS) Islamabad and Kabul must create mu-tual harmony and end all kind of proxies because only India benefitsfrom strained relations between the two nations, Jamaat-e-Islam emirSirajul Haq has said. Haq on Saturday evening said at HyderabadPress Club that the two neighbours had no other option but peace,Dawn online reported. About the fate of the Federally AdministeredTribal Areas (Fata), he said the JI party wanted the government toimplement recommendations of Sartaj Aziz-led committee, whichproposed the tribal region's merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. TheSenator advised Pakistani government to reach out to Baloch people toallay their reservations on census and embrace their leadership. Hesaid the JI believed that use of force never resolved any problem andnegotiations should always be given preference.



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2 MidWeeksouthasiandaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/part_144.pdfCHANDIGARH - Though Gurmehar Kaur, daughter of Kargil martyr Capt Mandeep Singh, who has dared to confront the ABVP