Follow us on: @TheDailyPioneer … from Madhubani in Bihar, and Dr Jitender Mourya from Hamirpur — were later rushed to AIIMS, where their condition was declared stable. They were

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The wreckage of the ill-fated Innova car that collided with a canter killing three AIIMS doctors PTI

DEEPAK KUMAR JHA nNEW DELHI

Continuing his tirade againstthe BJP and its leadership,

Congress president RahulGandhi on Sunday unleashedan all-out assault by likeningthem to “Kauravas” and alleg-ing that in the present regimeat the Centre, “the corrupt andpowerful control the conversa-tion in the country”.

Claiming that the Congressrepresented the voice of thenation, Rahul said the peoplewill accept a man accused ofmurder as the president of theBJP, but they will never everaccept the same in theCongress because they holdCongress in the highest regard.Rahul was delivering his vale-dictory speech at the 84thAICC Plenary Session.

Making a passionate appealto the Congress workers tofight for truth, Rahul said,“Like the Kauravas, the BJP andRSS fight for power, but like thePandavas, the Congress fightsfor truth.” Amid thunderousapplause from the party work-ers, Rahul added, “The BJP isthe voice of an organisation, the Congress is the voice of a nation.”

The Gandhi scion assuredthe party workers that he wouldbreak walls between them andleaders and vowed to fill theCongress stage with “talentedyoungsters”. He stressed theneed for discipline, saying,“Let us put all differences asideand work together to ensurevictory for the party.”

Rahul said the BJP soughtto divert people’s attentionfrom issues such as unem-

ployment and farm distresswith “fancy events”.

“Instead of acknowledg-ing the challenges facing thenation, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi diverts ourattention from our problems.We are being told that ourproblems only exist in ourimagination,” he said.

“When it’s important forthe Prime Minister to speak, hegoes silent. We in the Congress

are the servants of people.There is no employment, farm-ers are dying and the PM asksus to do Yoga in front of theIndia Gate,” Rahul said.

Rahul, who was criticised,rather bullied, not so long agofor not having the knack ofwooing people with words, tried to change that per-ception during the two-dayplenary session.

Continued on Page 6

STAFF REPORTER n NEW DELHI

Three doctors of EmergencyMedicine Department of

All India Institute of MedicalSciences (AIIMS) in Delhi diedon the spot while four of theircolleagues sustained criticalinjuries as the speeding SUVthey were travelling in rammedinto a canter on the YamunaExpressway near Kaiti village inSurir police Mathura onSunday around 2.30am.

The driver of the SUV wastrying to overtake the canterwhen the accident occurred, SP(Rural) Aditya Kumar Shuklasaid, adding their speedingSUV (Toyota Innova) was stuckin the canter and dragged alongfor nearly 300 metre.

It took half an hour to takethe victims out of the vehicle,said police.

The deceased — identifiedas Dr Harshad Wankhade (35),Dr Yashpreet Singh Kathwal

(25) and Dr Himbala (25) —were headed to Agra to cele-brate a fellow doctor DrHarshad’s birthday. Dr Kathpalbelonged to Fazilka in Punjab,Dr Himbala was fromHaryana’s Yamunanagar, andDr Wankhade (35) from Akoladistrict in Maharashtra.

The injured — DrAbhinava Singh from Bhagalpurin Bihar, Dr Catherin Halamfrom Tripura, Dr MaheshKumar from Madhubani inBihar, and Dr Jitender Mouryafrom Hamirpur — were laterrushed to AIIMS, where theircondition was declared stable.They were later shifted to JaiPrakash Narayan Apex TraumaCentre, AIIMS, said sources.

Dr Wankhade was a seniorresident doctor, while otherswere junior resident doctors

(non-academic). One of the women suffered

a facial bone fracture and hipdislocation and was operatedupon, while another injureddoctor suffered a wrist fracture.Two other resident doctorssuffered fractures in spine, ribsand hips. AIIMS director DrRandeep Guleria has expressed condolence on the“untimely” and “unfortunate”demise of young doctors in theroad accident.

AIIMS said a team of doc-tors (comprising Dr RitinMohindra, Asst Professor,Emergency Medicine and res-ident doctors of AIIMS) earlyon Sunday left for Mathura tofacilitate post-mortem on thedeceased, other legal formali-ties and take back their bodiedto Delhi.

MOHIT KANDHARI n JAMMU

Amid diplomatic standoffbetween India and

Pakistan, tensions escalatedfurther along the fragile Line ofControl (LoC) on Sundaymorning following heavyshelling in civilian areas inwhich five members of a fam-ily including three young chil-dren were killed while twominor daughters were critical-ly injured in Balakote sector ofMendhar tehsil in Poonch.

According to Defence PROLt-Col Devendra Anand inJammu, “the Pakistan Armyinitiated ‘unprovoked’ andindiscriminate firing from 7.45am along the LoC in Balakotesector using 81 mm and 120mm mortar shells.”

After targeting some ofthe forward posts, the PakistanArmy suddenly switched gearsand started targeting civilianareas at least 3-4 kms deepinside the Indian territory

using heavy weaponary.In response to the major

provocation, the Indian Army

too hit back strongly and gavethem a befitting reply. “TheIndian Army has retaliated

strongly, effectively and propor-tionately to the dastardly act,”the Defence PRO said. The fir-

ing continued till 11.30 am, headded. More than 400 ceasefireviolations have already beenreported along the 778 kmlong LoC since January 1, 2018.The ceasefire agreement wasreached between the twoneighbouring countries onNovember 26, 2003.

A local villager identified asMohd Ramzan, working as aporter with the Indian Army,along with his wife and threechildren were killed while theywere preparing to eat theirbreakfast. A mortar shell hadlanded inside their house leav-ing behind a trail of death anddestruction.

According to RashidaChoudhary, sister-in-law ofRamzan, the family was gettingready to sip tea when they werehit by splinters of mortar shell.Three children aged between14 and 7, along with MohdRamzan and his wife Malika Biwere killed on the spot.

Continued on Page 6

AGENCIES n MUMBAI

Commuters taking Ola,Uber are likely to face

a tough time as cab dri-vers have threatened to goon an indefinite strike inkey cities like Mumbai,New Delhi, Bengaluru,Hyderabad, and Pune fromMarch 19.

The drivers claimed thatthe cab aggregators reneged onbig assurances and now theyare even unable to cover theircosts. “They have invested `5to 7 lakh, and were expectingto make `1.5 lakh/month toservice their debts, but they areunable to even make half of

this, owing to the mismanage-ment by these companies,”Sanjay Naik of MaharashtraNavnirman Vahatuk Sena, whois organising the strike, said.

Naik alleged these taxi-hailing companies are givingpriority to company-ownedcars over driver-owned vehi-cles, causing a slump in theirbusiness. While the companiesoffered loan-guarantee letters

to drivers through theMudra scheme and thattoo without any verifica-tion, they are defaulting on repayment now as theircosts are not covered, he claimed.

“If our demands are notmet, we will go on an indefinitestrike,” he said, adding the dri-vers had approached MNSleader Raj Thackeray to inter-vene in the matter.

Other unions of Ola andUber are also in support of thestrike, Naik said.

While Ola declined tocomment, an Uber spokesper-son termed the strike call as speculative.

J GOPIKRISHNAN n NEW DELHI

After the Aircel-Maxis andINX Media bribery cases,

the probe agencies have comeacross another case of irregu-larity in clearance given by theForeign Investment PromotionBoard (FIPB) when PChidambaram was FinanceMinister in 2005 and his sonKarti was involved in the deal.

According to the findingsof CBI and EnforcementDirectorate (ED), Karti’s firmAdvantage Strategic ConsultingPrivate Limited accepted `10lakh from Katra Holdings for

getting them FIPB clearance toinvest `4.66 crore in aBangalore-based distillery M/sMason and Summer AlcobevPvt Ltd. The agencies areexpected to register a fresh FIRin this case soon.

Karti’s firm accepted thebribe on August 20, 2005 fromKatra Holdings, registered inMauritius, for using his clout inthe Finance Ministry for FIPBclearance. When KatraHoldings transferred `10 lakhto the account of AdvantageStrategic Consulting, the FIPBclearance of the company was pending before fatherChidambaram. The FIPB clear-ance was given byChidambaram on August 26,six days after son’s firm accept-ed the bribe, said sources.

Continued on Page 6

PNS n LUCKNOW

In a heart-rending incident, asix-year-old girl student,

missing for the last four days,was killed and hanged from atree with assailants using herschool belt as noose in Maalpolice station area, about 15kilometres away from herhouse in Madiaon. It is alsosuspected that the miscreantshanged her from the tree andleft her to die of asphyxia.

The body seemed to befour days old and it is appre-hended that she was killed theday she went missing on March15. Her parents suspected shewas done in allegedly afterbeing subjected to sexualassault. They had named theirneighbour and his family to

have a hand in the incident. Meanwhile, taking a strict

cognizance of Madiaon policelaxity in the case, the SSP sus-pended constable Veerpal whileSSI, Madiaon, Amarnath Yadavwas sent to Reserve PoliceLines. After the action againsttwo policemen, the Madiaon

police swung into action andarrested accused Brijesh, hiswife Asha and their daughter.All the three were said to havea hand in the murder of thegirl.

As per reports, Geeta(name changed) of Madiaonhad left for the school, close toher house, to take an examthere. However, she did notcome back and when her par-ents went to search her at theschool they were told that sheleft the school around 11 am onthe fateful day. Her father thenlodged a case and pleaded thepolice to help them in search-ing his daughter while express-ing apprehension that hisneighbour Brijesh and his fam-ily had a role in the sudden dis-appearance of the girl.

However, the police turned adeaf ear to his plea advisinghim to search her on their own.

The girl’s parents keptsearching her at all possibleplaces but in vain. On Sundaymorning, their hope shatteredwhen they got a call about therecovery of the body of a girl,aged six. After identifying thebody, her father was speechlessfor some moment and laterbegan to weep bitterly.

Police said some villagerspotted the body which washanging at Kolawan village’sforest cover on Lucknow-Hardoi road in Maal on Sundaymorning and informed thepolice.

A police team of Maalpolice station reached there andon finding the name of the

school the girl studied, theycontacted the Madiaon police.Later, the Madiaon police con-tacted the girl’s family whoidentified the body.

Initial reports suggestedthat the girl was killed the dayshe was kidnapped by the mis-creants. “It is yet to establish ifshe was subjected to sexualassault but it is clear that themiscreants hanged her fromthe tree,” sources in policedepartment said.

The police spokesman saidthe ante mortem injuries woulddecide if the girl was killed firstand then hanged or she washanged from the tree and shedied later. He said autopsywould be conducted by a panelof doctors to rule out doubtsabout sexual assault.

Rahul likens BJP, RSS to Kauravas

They fight for power, but we fight for truth, says Congress president

PNS n NEW DELHI

Describing the address ofCongress president Rahul

Gandhi at the 84th AICCPlenary Session as the “rhetoricof a loser devoid of any sub-stance”, the BJP on Sunday hitout at him for terming partypresident Amit Shah a “mur-derer”, saying that the Congressleader, who is out on bail in acriminal case, has an audacityof accusing someone who hasbeen duly cleared by court.

“The charge does not hold,even though it was a completeconspiracy by the Congressand a fraudulent at that. It is amotivated campaign… Fasaneke liye, jalsazi”, said senior BJPleader and Union DefenceMinister Nirmala Sitharaman,adding this charge had a simi-larity to those repeated by theCongress against freedom fight-er Veer Savarkar and the RSS.

In a sharp attack on theCongress president, Sitaramansaid, “A leader who is out on bailof `50,000 bond in a criminalconspiracy in the NationalHerald case has the audacity of

accusing the BJP chief.”Describing the Congress as

a party engaged in “fakery”(peddling fake news), thesenior BJP leader went on tosaid its party leaders “person-al bond is safe but his party islosing deposits everywhere”.

Terming Rahul’s commentagainst Shah as “brazen”, shealso took to task Rahul for try-ing to draw comparison in thenames of Nirav Modi, involvedin bank fraud, a former Cricket Board chief Lalit Modi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Continued on Page 6

4 of their colleagues critical as their

SUV rams into canter in Mathura

3 kids among 5 of Poonch family die in Pak shelling One more graft caserevealed on PC, Karti Karti’s firm accepted

bribe from company

for FIPB clearance

Uber crisis stares in Ola users’ face

In red, cabbies to strike work sine die in Delhi,Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad from today

Six-year-old girl killed, hanged in Madiaon

3 AIIMS doctors killedin Yamuna e-way crash

2 minor daughters critically injured

Whileaccusing the ModiGovernment,he forgetsthat the

Congress did worst of genocide ofSikhs, they brought censorship inthe media and are known for allkinds of corruption and scams...Their philosophy is to speak and runPRAKASH JAVADEKAR

We have heard theclamour forchange. It is nowtime for change…We have done itbefore and we willdo it againP CHIDAMBARAM

We must recognise thatthe Modi Government hasmismanaged the J&Kproblem as neverbefore…That is obviousfrom the fact that ourborders are not secure,whether it is cross-borderterrorism or internalterrorism, internalinsurgencyMANMOHAN SINGH

The charge does not hold eventhough it was a completeconspiracy by the Congressand a fraudulent at that. It is amotivated campaign..Fasane ke liye , jalsaziDEFENCE MINISTER NIRMALA SITHARAMAN

Cong engagedin fake news,retorts BJP

Congress president Rahul Gandhi waves to party members during the secondday of the 84th Plenary Session of the party at Indira Gandhi stadium in NewDelhi on Sunday PTI

When it’s important for the Prime Ministerto speak, he goes silent. We in theCongress are the servants of people.There is no employment, farmers aredying and the PM asks us to do Yoga infront of the India Gate

An injured girl being airlifted to Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu on Sunday PTI

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RNI No.2016/1957, REGD NO. SSP/LW/NP-34/2016-18

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BHUBANESWAR RANCHI RAIPURCHANDIGARH DEHRADUN

Late City Vol. 154 Issue 74*Air Surcharge Extra if Applicable

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THE END OF COMFORT IN AIR TRAVEL

After the actionagainst twopolicemen, theMadiaon policeswung into actionand arrestedaccused Brijesh,his wife Asha andtheir daughter

7 killed in separate road mishapsPNS n LUCKNOW

Seven persons, including awoman, were killed while

two persons were injured inseparate road mishaps inLucknow on Sunday. InAlambagh, a railway engineer,identified as Durgesh ManiTiwari, was going to RDSO forsome work when he was hit bya speeding tempo near theRailway Protection Force office.He was rushed to KGMUTrauma Centre where he suc-cumbed after a while.

In Madiaon, a woman,identified as Nanhi Kashyap(45) of Kakori, died while herson-in-law Gyan of Jankipuramsuffered injuries when theirbike was hit by a speeding vehi-cle. In Para police station area,a youth (24), identified as Asifof New Haiderganj localityunder Thakurganj police sta-tion, was mowed down by aspeeding vehicle atBuddheshwar crossing.

city 04LUCKNOW | MONDAY | MARCH 19, 2018

PNS n LUCKNOW

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanathtried to turn the tables on the

proposed Bahujan Samaj Party-Samajwadi Party tie-up when heasked who would be the leader of thealliance but leader of opposition inVidhan Sabha, Ram GovindChaudhary came up with a replysaying Akhilesh Yadav would be thechief ministerial candidate whileMayawati would be the prime min-isterial candidate of the alliance.

The rebuttal was quick andcame during a talk show organisedby a private news channel inLucknow.

Earlier in the day, the ChiefMinister had said that the pro-posed alliance between the SP andthe BSP was opportunistic. “Therewould be confusion on leadershipissue. The alliance leaders shouldcome clean and tell the people whowould head this alliance in 2019,”Yogi said.

In the afternoon, during a debatebetween Jagdambika Pal (BJP) andRam Govind Chaudhary (SP) the

later said that there was no confu-sion. “Akhilesh (Yadav) will be thechief ministerial candidate while thealliance will promote Mayawati as itsprime ministerial,” he said.

This statement, however, wouldraise many an eyebrows because theCongress, which is also likely to bepart of this alliance, has alreadymade Rahul Gandhi the prime min-isterial face of the United ProgressiveAlliance to take up the challenge ofNational Democratic Alliance’sNarendra Modi.

The SP spokesman was silent onthis development as RajendraChaudhary said that what RamGovind Chaudhary had said couldbe correct.

Meanwhile, in his speech, theChief Minister said that UP hadmarched on the path of developmentin the last one year. He claimed thatUP was now a mafia-free, goonda-free and corruption-free state.

“Reflection of government’sachievement was visible on February21 and 22 when top industrialistsfrom the country attended theInvestors’ Summit,” he said.

PNS n LUCKNOW

ADeobandi cleric in Kanpur hasissued a fatwa against a Muslim man

for pledging to donate his body after hisdeath for research and for the needy toget organs for transplant.

The cleric termed body and organdonation as un-Islamic.

The fatwa came after Dr ArshadMansuri, director of a local dental col-lege, made a declaration to donate hisbody to the students of the GSVMMedical College in Kanpur for the pur-pose of research.

“We can only donate what belongsto us. The human body belongs toAllah even after death and it is un-Islamic to part with it for any cause.After death, the body should be buriedwith all due respect,” mufti Syed AzfarHusain of the Madarsa Darul UloomQuran said.

The fatwa reads: “Donating humanbody is illegal and un-Islamic andagainst the wishes of Allah.”

Justifying the fatwa, mufti HanifBarkati of the madarsa said, “Thehuman body is the eternal property ofAllah and it remains the same evenafter death. This is an order of the

Shariah and no one can interfere withit.”

“We (students and staff of thedental college) took a pledge and also filled a form in 2006 that we willdonate our bodies after death forresearch purposes and also so that ourorgans could be further transplanted tothe needy. The almighty also says oneshould be useful and help humanityeven after his/her death,” Dr Mansurisaid.

But Dr Mansuri’s decision was notwelcomed by some, and following aquery to the Madarsa Ehsanul Madaris,a fatwa was issued.

The influential Darul UloomDeoband seminary has also come outin support of the fatwa and has main-tained that since human body is a prop-erty of Allah, it cannot be donated.

Dr Mansuri said: “The clerics are giving wrong interpretations andare misguiding people. The life ofcornea is nearly 300 years and even }god wants humans to be of some useafter death. I will not deter from mydecision and have given a writtencomplaint to the police as I have beenreceiving threatening calls from vari-ous numbers.”

PNS n LUCKNOW

Unperturbed by the defeat in the Lok Sabha bypolls,the Bharatiya Janata Party government will hold

a big function on Monday in the state capital to cel-ebrate the first anniversary of the Yogi Adityanath rulein power in Uttar Pradesh.

With the theme ‘Ek Sal, Bemishal’, the governmentwill hold a function at the Lok Bhawan here onMonday at 11:00 hours.

UP Governor Ram Naik, Assembly SpeakerHriday Narayan Dikshit along with all the ministers,MPs and legislators of the party are likely to partic-ipate in this function.

The Yogi Adityanath government took the oathof office on March 19, 2017. After the recent deba-cle in the Gorakhpur and Phulpur Lok Sabha bypolls,the government is on the back foot as earlier it hadplanned to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi andBJP president Amit Shah on the day.

Officials said here on Sunday that there would bea 10-minute audio-visual presentation of the one-yearrule of the present BJP government and thereafter theGovernor, the Chief Minister and others would speakabout the achievements of the government.

The Yogi government will also release a bookletto showcase its achievements in the last one year.

Meanwhile, the BJP state unit will also hold sep-arate programmes to celebrate the first anniversaryof the Yogi Adityanath headed UP government. It hasdrawn up an elaborate fortnight-long plan to reachevery household in villages till April 6 to make thepeople aware of the achievements of the Yogi as wellas Narendra Modi government.

PNS n LUCKNOW

Union Home MinisterRajnath Singh saidIndia was one of the

fastest growing economies andhoped to attain super economystatus by 2022.

Speaking at a function afterinaugurating several railwayprojects worth `4,000 crore forLucknow on Sunday, Singhsaid, “We are among the top tencountries of the world on GDPcount. We will soon be amongthe five top countries on thiscount and our GDP which is atpresent about 7.5 per cent,will be in double digits.”

The function was held atNorthern Railway Stadiumhere.

He inaugurated a projectworth `1,910 crore for redevel-opment of Gomti Nagar termi-nus and a project worth `1800crore for redevelopment ofCharbagh railway station(Northern Railway), both inLucknow.

“The Charbagh railwaystation will have a second entrypoint towards Cantonmentarea. The Alamnagar railwaystation will now be a satellitestation, a sky walk (foot overbridge) at Durgapuri Metro sta-tion and some other workshave been approved and workon them will start in a coupleof days,” the Union ministersaid.

Singh said work at Kukrailbridge on Faizabad road wouldstart in 2-3 days.

“The work was in limbo forthe last 8-9 years. Now all hin-drances have been removedafter a talk with the DefenceMinistry and the UP govern-ment,” he said while invokingBharatiya Janata Party stalwartand former Prime MinisterAtal Bihari Vajpayee, who, hesaid, was one of the most pop-ular leaders from the Lucknow.

“I dedicate all these railwayprojects to Atal BihariVajpayee,” he said.

Singh praised the YogiAdityanath government sayingthat it had achieved great suc-cess in its one-year rule. Hecongratulated Chief MinisterYogi Adityanath for hisachievements.

Striking a chord with theBharatiya Janata Party mem-bers present at the function,Singh said there could be a

debate on the performance ofthe BJP-led government at theCentre, but no one could raisea question on its integrity andintention.

“There is no need to tellanyone as regards how our gov-ernment is running the coun-try. There can be a debate onwhether more work has beendone or less, but no one canraise a question on the integri-ty and intention of the govern-ment.”

Singh added that no onehad been able to gather theaudacity of levelling corruptioncharges involving even a singlepaisa against any of NDA min-isters.

Coal and Railway MinisterPiyush Goyal spoke about set-ting a target of manufacturing1,400 LSB coaches from RaeBareli’s Modern Coach Factorywhile obliquely criticising theCongress for not doing any-thing in the past.

“The factory was set up in2007 but no work was done. In2011-12, the then government

purchased coaches fromChennai and Kapoorthalacoach factories and claimed tohave manufactured them at theRae Bareli factory after refur-bishing them,” Goyal said.

He added that the factoryhad manufactured 700 coach-es in the current financial year.

Goyal announced that theUnion government wouldrecruit one lakh youths (90,000for railways and 9,500 inRailway Protection Force),adding that women candidateswould get 50 per cent share inthe vacancies in the RPF.

He said a coach refurbish-ment factory would be set upin Bundelkhand while a locoshed was on the anvil forGorakhpur.

Pointing out that severalpoliticians came into thenational political mainstreamfrom UP and Lucknow alsomade a great contribution onthis front, Goyal said: “Thus,Lucknow should have someprivilege and Uttar Pradeshshould figure in much more

space of the railway map of ourcountry.”

He said that UP had a shareof about Rs 1,100 crore per yearin the Railway budget beforethe BJP government but in thefinancial year 2018-19, theUnion government had allocat-ed about Rs 7,865 crore peryear for UP.

Goyal said that trainswould be equipped with CCTVcameras for the safety of pas-sengers and passenger ameni-ties were being improved at allrailway stations.

“The satellite railway sta-tions will also be equipped withWi-Fi facility and measures arebeing taken to modernise therail safety systems,” he added.

Both the ministers werehonoured by the railway offi-cials and railway employees’associations. The function wasattended by a number of stateministers including BrijeshPathak, Swati Singh, RitaBahuguna Joshi, MahendraSingh and Lucknow MayorSanyukta Bhatiya.

PNS n LUCKNOW

Close on the heels of the humil-iating defeat in the recent Lok

Sabha bypolls in Gorakhpur andPhulpur; fresh trouble seems to bebrewing for the Bharatiya JanataParty in the biennial polls of 10Rajya Sabha seats.

Suheldeo Bharatiya SamajParty (SBSP) and Apna Dal aresulking as both these parties werenot consulted by the BJP whiledeciding the names of nine candi-dates for the Rajya Sabha polls.

The BJP on its strength canwin only eight seats and for theninth seat it will need the first pref-erence votes of its two allies. SBSP,which has four MLAs and ApnaDal which has nine MLAs in the403-member UP Assembly, holdkey to the fate the ninth BJP can-didate.

“We are clueless as to whom weare expected to vote for. How canI tell you whether we will be vot-ing for the BJP or any other partyin the Rajya Sabha elections? Weare yet to take a final stand on this,”SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbharsaid here on Sunday.”

Rajbhar added: “My party wasnot consulted by the BJP beforeannouncing the candidates for theRajya Sabha polls.”

“We are still in alliance with the

BJP, but they did not consult usbefore finalising their candidatesfor the Rajya Sabha elections andthe Lok Sabha bypolls toGorakhpur and Phulpur. Theyfielded their candidates in theurban local bodies’ polls also butdid they appropriately discharge thealliance dharma? In the Lok Sabhabypoll did they ever ask the alliancepartners what could be their pos-sible roles?” he rued.

The SBSP chief also said,“Unless someone from the BJP asksus, how will talks take place?Should I on my own go and say thatI will vote for you. Finalising thecandidate is their job, not ours. But,as a courtesy, they should ask atleast once as to whether we will jointhem in campaigning. Not a singleleader asked us. In this scenario,how can I tell you whether we willbe voting for the BJP or for anyother party in the Rajya Sabhaelections. We are yet to take a finalcall.”

Asked whether his party wouldcross-vote, Rajbhar, who is also aCabinet minister in the YogiAdityanath government, said, “Weare in the alliance, and if they donot discharge the alliance dharma,should we go to them and say thatplease take our vote?”

He claimed his party couldhave influenced at least 30,000

votes in the Gorakhpur Lok Sabhabypolls and the results could havebeen different.

“But, it seems we have no util-ity for the BJP. Similarly, in Phulpur,we were not invited even once tocampaign for the BJP candidate,” hesaid.

A sulking Rajbhar also said,“You have kept us in the alliance...either I don’t know how to dis-charge the alliance dharma or I amsaying something wrong. Thenominations for the Rajya Sabhaelections have been done. But, isit not the duty of the BJP to con-sult us and deliberate on the elec-tion.”

The SBSP president observedthat the Dalits and backwardsclasses had been “ignored” and thistrend was continuing.

“The BJP is in the habit ofignoring the allies and they havepaid heavy price for this in the formof losing the two Lok Sabha bypolls.The BJP did not consult the lead-ers of either the SBSP or the ApnaDal for the Lok Sabha bypolls. Ourvoters in Gorakhpur were inclinedto vote for the BJP candidate butthey drifted away as there was nodirection from our party leader-ship’’, said Arun Rajbhar, nationalgeneral secretary of the SBSP.

However, seeking to downplaySBSP’s annoyance, BJP state

spokesperson Manish Shukla said,“All our alliance partners are withthe BJP. Both the Apna Dal andSBSP are with the BJP. I am confi-dent that they will vote for the BJPin the Rajya Sabha elections. Thealliance partners are together.”

Shukla also exuded confidencethat all the BJP candidates wouldwin the Rajya Sabha elections.

The BJP and its allies have 324seats in the Assembly after thedeath of Noorpur (Bijnor) MLA ina road accident recently, and tosecure a straight win in the RajyaSabha election, a candidate needs37 first preference votes.

Thus, arithmetically, the BJPcan easily win eight of the 10 seatsand be left with 28 surplus votes.

If the SBSP decides not to gowith the BJP, even then the eightcandidates of the BJP will smooth-ly sail through, and the party willbe left with 24 surplus first prefer-ence votes.

“There can be some contest onthe ninth seat,” a senior UP BJPleader said.

With 19 MLAs, the BahujanSamaj Party is short of 18 first pref-erence votes, and with NareshAgarwal’s son Nitin, who is still anSamajwadi Party MLA, likely tocross-vote for the BJP, the task willbecome difficult for Mayawati’scandidate Bhimrao Ambedkar.

Printed and Published by Vijay Prakash Singh for and on behalf of CMYK Printech Ltd., 4th Floor, Sahara Shopping Centre, Faizabad Road, Lucknow-226016 and Printed at Tin Tin Printech Pvt Ltd., C-33 Amausi Industrial Area, Nadarganj, Lucknow. Tel: (0522) 2438656 / 9336266608.

Editor: Chandan Mitra. Resident Editor: Vijay Prakash Singh. RNI No. 2016/57. Lucknow Telephones: EPABX: 4036600 Fax: 2345582. Allahabad Office: (95532) 2420818, 2421018, 3290460. Kanpur Office: (95512) 2304006, 2304416. Varanasi Office: (95542) 2414294, 2414295. Delhi

Office: Link House, II Floor, 3 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002. Tel: (011) 23755271-274, 41509074.

Rajnath: India one of the

fastest growing economies

Change visible in one year of Yogi rule in UPPNS n LUCKNOW

Almost a year back, whenYogi Adityanath was made

the Chief Minister of UttarPradesh, eyebrows were raised.“Is a man clad in saffron whois also the mahant of a templefit enough to be the chief min-ister of this politically sensitivestate?” was the general refrain.

In a democracy, election ofthe chief minister is the prerog-ative on the ruling legislatureparty and when the BharatiyaJanata Party’s legislature partyelected Yogi Adityanath as itsleader, no questions wereraised. But questions continuedto haunt the intelligentsia — isa man who does not haveadministrative experience fit tobe the chief minister?.

One year down the line,Yogi Adityanath has provedeveryone wrong. Not only hashe streamlined the working ofthe administration, he has alsomade bureaucrats slog.

Meetings after meetingswere held to remove the cob-web of indecision so that thebenefits of the governmentschemes reach the masses.And all the sectors movedahead in unison. Be it crimecontrol, education, health, agri-culture et al, projects weremade and budgets were sanc-tioned for their speedy imple-mentation.

“I want implementationof projects of the Central aswell as the state governments.

Effective implementation ofschemes will ensure that thebenefits reach the identifiedpeople effectively and in atransparent manner,” Yogi saidduring one of his meetingswith the bureaucrats.

The feather in the crownwas the way the governmentorganised the Investors’Summit in February in whichthe captains of industrypromised to invest in UttarPradesh because they toobelieved it was a changed statenow. The industrialists talkedabout improvement in law andorder and infrastructure.

The government realisedwhat the entrepreneurs need-ed so it started spreading net-work of quality roads acrossUP and repaired the old ones.Electricity supply was

improved and now qualityelectricity is available acrossthe state.

The high point of YogiAdityanath’s regime is the wayhe fulfilled the promised thatthe BJP made during its elec-tion campaign. Be it loan waiv-er scheme in which crop loansworth Rs 36,000 crore werewaived in a transparent man-ner or curbing illegal mining,the Yogi government has livedup to the expectations of themasses.

Not only this, the YogiAdityanath government pur-chased 40 lakh tons of wheatand declared a minimum sup-port price (MSP) for potatothat was unheard in the histo-ry of Uttar Pradesh. The

Chief Minister alsoannounced purchase of 2 lakh

tons of potato from farmers toensure that they got remuner-ative price of their produce.

The Yogi governmentcame to power with a resolveto control crime. Police carriedout over 1,350 encounters inwhich 44 criminals have beenkilled. The action has sentfears among the criminals asthere are reports of hard-corecriminals surrendering beforepolice in western UP.

“The law has to beenforced in the state and wehave ensured that the law ofland prevails,” Yogi had saidand added: “Jo bandook kibhasha samajhte hain, unkowohi bhasha samjhayee jayegi.”

When Yogi Adityanathcame to power, crime againstwomen was on the rise. Girlswere afraid to go to schoolsand they were dropping out ofschools. The governmentlaunched the anti-Romeosquad and the results are foreveryone to see. This ValentineDay, the celebrations passed offwithout any incident.

But it is the beginning. TheBJP government has madeplans. The test lies now inbringing the projects downfrom the drawing boards to theground level. The adminis-trative acumen of YogiAdityanath will be put to realtest because good implemen-tation of projects means happypeople who in turn will helpthe BJP in the 2019 parliamen-tary elections.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at a function to inaugurate rail projects at NorthernRailway Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday Pioneer

Adityanath govt tocelebrate first year in office today

UP has marched

on path of dev in

last one year: CM

Fatwa against body,

organ donation

RS polls: Sulking ally crucial for BJP BJP govt did no significant work,says Akhilesh

Lucknow (PTI): SamajwadiParty president Akhilesh Yadavon Sunday said that the YogiAdityanath government in UttarPradesh had “not done anythingsignificant” so far, as he target-ed the BJP, which will be com-pleting its one year in power inthe state on Monday.

He said that deviating fromthe “real issues” was the charac-ter of the BJP and only theregional forces “can stop itsmarch”, according to a statementissued here by his party.

The former Chief Minister,who was attending a pro-gramme organised by a newschannel, said, “The govern-ment of Yogi Adityanath hasspent its first year in office byremoving the word ‘Samajwadi’from various schemes.”

“The BJP has divided thesociety in the name of religionand festivals. It has duped thepeople after making a numberof promises in its election man-ifesto. Deviating from the realissues is the character of thisparty (BJP), and only theregional forces can stop itsmarch,” he said.

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE n ALLAHABAD

With the arrest of twomembers the Mauaima

police claimed to have busteda gang involved in printing andcirculating fake currency noteshere recently. It frisked themand recovered counterfeit cur-rency worth `1.6 lakh alongwith a scanner, a printer, inkand other equipment.

Talking to mediapersonsthe Senior Superintendent ofPolice (SSP), Akash Kulhari,said that on being tipped off byan informer, a team ofMauaima police and the CrimeBranch under its incharge,Brijesh Singh, arrested twopersons near Tilai Bazar in theMauaima area here on Saturdayevening.

They were identified as

Nagendra Patel, a resident ofPratapgarh, and Ranjit Yadav,a resident of Mau Aima, whoconfessed their involvementin printing fake currency notesand circulating them. A probeinto the case was underway, theSSP added further.

Meanwhile, cocking asnook at the guardians of lawa gang of unidentified thievesbroke open the locks of shut-

ters of two shops situated in theposh Civil Lines area on thenight between Saturday andSunday and decamped withvaluables and cash worth lakhsof rupees. Before committingthe theft, they damaged theCCTV cameras installed inthe shops. On Sunday morningwhen the shopkeepers came toknow about it they informedthe police.

Gang printing fake currency busted: Two nabbed


PIONEER NEWS SERVICE n LUCKNOW

Devotees flocked to Durgatemples on the first day of

Chaitra Navratra on Sundaywhile bhajan programmes wereorganised in the evening.Chaitra Navratra marks thebeginning of the Hindu calen-dar year and considered aus-picious for ceremonies.Devotees also observe fast onthe occasion.

The Agnihotri brotherspresented a soulful evening ofbhajans at Khaatu ShyamMandir. The programme wasorganised by Nav Varsh ChetnaSamiti. Devesh Agnihotri saidit was that time of the yearwhen people were all ears tobhajans. The second day willwitness ‘Cheti ChandMahotsav’. Media incharge ofCheti Chand Mela CommitteeAshok Motiyani said a shobhayatra would be taken out fromSeva Ashram to Jhule Lal Parkvia Alambagh, Mawaiyya,

Charbagh, Naka Hindola andHazratganj.

“The theme is womenempowerment and there will

be around 100 woman bikers.The theme will also reflect inthe tableaux,” he added. He saidthat the aarti in Jhulelal Park in

the night would witness thepresence of Chief MinisterAdityanath Yogi and DeputyChief Minister Dinesh Sharma.


The online application formsfor under graduate man-

agement programmes andBElEd will be available on theLucknow University websitefrom Monday. LU admissioncoordinator Anil Mishra saidthat the target was to completethe admissions by June 30. Thecourses in these programmesinclude BA/BA (Hons), BCom(Hons)/BCom (Regular),BCom (SF), LLB (5 years), BSc(Mathematics Group), BSc(Biology Group), BVA/BFA,BVoc (Renewable Energy),BCA, Diploma in Fine Arts,BBA, BBA (IB), BBA (MS),BBA (Tourism) and MBA (5 year).

“During the form fillingprocess, the applicants canmake the entries and save theinformation. If the applicantsare unable to fill the forms inone sitting or somehow theprocess is interrupted, there isno need to register again. Theycan login using the credentialssent on their mobile numbers

and continue the process,”Mishra said. He added thatapplicants were advised tocheck all the data they hadentered before depositing appli-cation fees. “If there is someerror, they can edit it or start theentire process again. Once theyhave deposited the applicationfees, the data entered in the reg-istration page cannot be editedunder any circumstances.Restricted data can be edited bythe candidates by logging intothe admission website using thecredentials sent to their emailsand registered mobile numbers.In case the candidates miss outon the login details, they canregenerate their password byclicking on the ‘forgot password’link and entering registrationnumbers. The new login detailswill be sent to their registeredmobile numbers. The dataentered in the registration pageand the opted category cannotbe edited under any circum-stances,” he said.

Mishra said that all the can-didates who had sought someweightage or sub-category

reservation had to get their cer-tificates verified on the day ofthe admission test at designat-ed places in the test centre afterthe test was over.

“Such candidates have tobring along their original andself-attested photocopies of thecertificates related to theirclaims along with printouts ofapplication forms. Candidateswho have sought any weightageor sub-category in their appli-cation forms but do not appearfor verification will not begiven the benefit claimed,” headded. He said that for OBCapplicants, the certificate shouldhave been issued after July 1,2015 and be valid on the day ofverification. “Validity of thiscertificate will be verified fromthe government website. Thescheduled caste, scheduledtribes and other backward classcandidates originally belongingto Uttar Pradesh will be giventhe benefit of reservation.Scheduled castes, scheduledtribes and other backward classcandidates of other states will betreated as general,” he added.


Alarge number of Muslimwomen assembled at Teele

Wali Masjid on Sunday toprotest against the Triple TalaqBill on Sunday. The protestwas organised by Tahafuzz-e-Shariat Muhim and supportedby over 30 Muslim organisa-tions of the city.

Convener of the protestMaulana Najib-ul-HassanSiddiqui from Tahafuzz-e-Shariat Muhim said over25,000 Muslim women fromacross the city had gathered forthe protest. “The demonstra-tion was staged to show thatMuslim women do not wantany interference in Shariat.They have confidence in theAll-India Muslim PersonalLaw Board and they also spokeagainst the unwarranted lan-guage used by higher echelonsof the government,” he added.

“We have organised this

protest on a call given by theAIMPLB. The governmentshould understand the prob-lems of its citizens so that thecountry can move on the pathof progress,” he said.

AIMPLB secretaryZafaryab Jilani, who was alsopresent on the occasion, toldThe Pioneer that the womenwere protesting against theBill which had been passed byLok Sabha and was pending inRajya Sabha. He said AIMPLBhad issued an appeal towomen to come forward andtake this stand and protestswere being simultaneouslyorganised across the country.He said some prominentwomen such as Asma Zehrafrom Hyderabad and Dr Majidfrom Kolkata were among thespeakers who addressed thegathering. The woman speak-ers stressed that the TripleTalaq Bill was against theinterests of Muslim women

and it was an interference inShariat. They also said that theIndian Constitution gave themfull freedom to follow theirreligion and the governmentshould not interfere in suchmatters. They knew that noone from AIMPLB was con-sulted while making theMuslim Women and Rights inMarriage Act, 2017, Jilaniadded.

Meanwhile, chairpersonof All India Muslim WomenLaw Board Shaista Amber saidthat the Muslim women werebeing misguided. “The TripleTalaq Bill will help in protec-tion of women and is notagainst Shariat. I have alreadythanked the Central govern-ment for this Bill but itrequires an amendmentbecause of the provision of jailterm for husbands,” she said.The protest led to traffic snarlson Pucca Pul and tributaryroads.


After battling for life forabout 12 hours, busi-nessman Durgesh

Tiwari succumbed at KGMUTrauma Centre on Sunday. Hewas shot at by his businesspartner Ashutosh Jaiswal overa dispute of Rs 3 crore onSaturday around 5 pm.“Durgesh died around 3.45am on Saturday as the doctorsfailed to remove the bulletwhich was imbedded in hisskull,” the police spokesmansaid. He said a case of murderwas registered againstAshutosh who was arrestedimmediately after he fired atthe victim at their showroomclose to the Vibhuti Khandpolice station.

On the other hand, thepolice recorded the statementof the showroom staff andDurgesh’s friends who werepresent at the time of the inci-dent and had seen the miscre-ant opening fire. The copsalso revisited the crime sceneto collect evidence corrobo-rating the miscreant’s involve-ment in the crime. Ashutoshwas in partnership withDurgesh for a long time andthey dealt in real estates, dis-tillery and other businessincluding tiles. The police saidAshutosh confessed his crimebefore the police. As per police,Durgesh was not willing toreturn the cash and that ledboth to fall apart.

Contrary to this, Durgesh’s

family said that Ashutosh camefrom an influential family.“His father Jai Prakash Jaiswalis a former MLC and runs dis-tilleries while his mother is aformer zila panchayat chair-man. He himself was veryclose to several bureaucratsand politicians and used tothrow weight on Durgesh,”they said while explaining thereason which created differ-

ences between Durgesh andAshutosh. They said Ashutoshwanted to have a lion’s share intheir joint business andDurgesh was opposed to thesame. “That was why Ashutoshkilled him. His murder was apremeditated plan,” theyclaimed. Police said the motivefor the murder, as told byAshutosh, was a dispute overthe cash and the police were

verifying the same. Durgesh ofYamuna Apartment was sittingat the showroom with hisfriends when Ashutosh Jaiswalof Alaknanda Apartment inGomti Nagar along with hisdriver Ajay of Gonda districtreached there. Ashutosh wentstraight to the seat whereDurgesh was sitting and pickedup a fight before shootinghim. After committing the

crime, he opened fire in the airinside the showroom to intim-idate the staff and Durgesh’sfriends when they tried tooverpower him. The KGMUdoctors said Durgesh was shotat the left side of the temple.“The bullet had damaged thenerves and almost the entirethe neuro system. The bulletcould not be removed,” theyadded.


The defence authorities onSunday gave permission

to the Public WorksDepartment (PWD) to resumethe project relating to theKukrail bridge. The work wassuspended since 2012. Thiswas disclosed by project exec-utive engineer Pawan Vermaafter detailed talks with seniorArmy officer Colonel RNTiwari recently.

Verma claimed the work atthe site of Kukrail ‘nullah’started on Sunday. He said thata six-lane bridge and overbridge would be constructedover the ‘nullah’. Apart fromthis, the CIMAP crossing willbe widened and an over bridgewould constructed over Gomtiriver near the Pipra ghat.

A bilateral talks was heldon March 16 between UPChief Secretary Rajive Kumarand GOC-in-C Pravesh Puri to

sort out the dispute. After along deliberation, it was decid-ed the state government wouldgive compensation to the armyand as well as the land inSaharanpur district.

The executive engineersaid Colonel Tiwari onSaturday evening had given averbal permission to PawanVerma during a telephonicconversation to resume thework and added the disputewas settled amicably.


Lucknow DevelopmentAuthority (LDA) has invit-

ed private partner participationto maintain and generate fundsfor the prestigious JaneshwarMishra Park. It is expected thatover Rs 80 lakh can be earnedannually. It is said on publicdemand the price of the entryticket to the park has beenreduced to Rs 10 from Rs 20.The revised price will comeinto existence from April 1.

LDA administration hasexempted morning walkers aswell those coming for the pur-pose in the evening. Its maingate will be opened for morn-ing walkers at 5.30 am. On theother hand, there will be noentry fee for walkers who comethere in the evening. The maingate will be closed for the dayat 8 pm. Only two gates will beopened for the public - one forthe entry and other for the exit.Two gates will be used byemployees for maintenancepurpose. The gate number 6will be used exclusively forcyclists. A rose garden willalso be developed and managedby the private partner. A nego-tiation is in final stage in thisregard with Chandigarh-basednon-government organisation(NGO). The proposed gardenwill come up on 4 acres of land.


Unsure that their parentswould allow them to tie

a knot, a girl and her loverconsumed poisonous sub-stance after they met outsidea col lege in Kakori onSaturday. They were rushed toTrauma Centre of KGMUwhere the girl breathed herlast on Sunday. The conditionof her lover is stated to beserious.

As per reports, Nisha(19), a class X student of a col-lege, fell in love with Rahul,who happens to be her closerelative and in the light ofexisting social norms theirparents were not allowingthem to marry. On Saturday,the girl reached ShakuntalaCollege where she had totake exam and later metRahul. Both went to a seclud-ed place where they con-sumed poison as they weredespondent that their familywould approve the relation.

On Sunday, the girl’s auntcalled up her father andinformed him about her deathwhile informing that Rahulwas undergoing treatment.On the information, herfather Durga Prasad reachedTrauma Centre and then tothe mortuary to take posses-sion of her body. Police areinvestigating the case.

The kin of the girl toldthat both were in love headover heels after they metsometimes back. When theiraffair came to the notice oftheir families, they stoppedboth from meeting each other.“For some time, Nisha’s fatherwas looking for a groom. Shesomehow met Rahul and laterplanned to end their lives,”one their relatives said.

Bizman succumbs to gunshot wound


Woman safai worker Sarita (30)employed at Ram Manohar Lohia

Medical Institute was found murdered onSunday morning at her house in KhurramNagar where she was living with her twochildren, Anurag (8) and Krishna (6). Thepolice suspect victim’s husband Dinesh tobe the killer as he was against her doingthe job at a hospital.

As per reports, Sarita, a resident ofSitapur district, was found lying in theroom of the house and was spotted firstby Anurag, who woke up early in themorning to attend nature’s call and triedto wake her up. On finding that Sarita wasnot responding to calls, Anurag rantowards the house of Sarita’s sister Savita,who lives in the same locality to informher about the same.

Anurag told her that a saree was tiedaround Sarita’s neck and she was bleedingfrom the nose. “I and my husband Neerajrushed to the scene and found Sarita lyingwith her face down on the ground and the

saree tied around her neck. Blood hadoozed from her nose and ears,” Savita saidwhile weeping bitterly and accusingDinesh to have killed Sarita.

As the news broke, a large number ofresidents gathered outside the houselocated near Panchmukhi Lord Shiv tem-ple near a police picket. On information,a police team reached the place for inves-tigations. Giving details, SO, Indira Nagar,Mukul Prakash Verma said that Sarita hus-band Dinesh was not living with her as he

was opposed to her decision to work at ahospital. “However, he used to visit thehouse and it came to police knowledgethat the couple had a verbal duel on anumber of occasions in the past,” the SOsaid. He added the couple was married 10years back but they were not on goodterms. “We suspect that Dinesh killed hiswife and fled the scene some time at night.A team had been sent for Sitapur to nabDinesh who is hiding since the incident.His phone is found switched off and itindicates that he would have done so toevade his arrest,” the SO said.

Sources disclosed that Dinesh had vis-ited Sarita’s house where she was living onrent a week back. “The couple had a ver-bal spat and Dinesh had thrashed her onthe day. He suspected Sarita’s infidelity andso he was forcing her to leave the job andlive with him in their Sitapur house,” theysaid. Police registered a case of murder inthis connection against unidentified mis-creant(s) and sent the body for autopsy.The family had been informed about theincident.

Woman employee found murdered

Army nod to Kukrail project

Muslim women raise voice

against Triple Talaq Bill

Women at Teele Wali Masjid protesting against Triple Talaq Bill on Sunday Pioneer

Huge rush in temples as Navratra beginsUnsure of future,

love-lorn couple

consume poison;

girl succumbs

Pvt partner

to manage

Janeshwar

Mishra Park

Online UG admission formsto be available from today

Lucknow (PNS): Presidentof Indian Industries Association(IIA) Sunil Vaish said on Sundaythat for investment to come inUttar Pradesh, the pain points ofexisting industries requiredtreatment. Amidst the efforts ofUP government to attract newinvestments, IIA in its centralexecutive committee meeting inLucknow decided to identify thepolicy and operation-relatedissues and problems of the exist-ing eight lakh micro, small and

medium industries in UP.“The study will be con-

ducted through a structuredproforma at all 40 chapters of IIAin UP, wherein feedback will beobtained of various issues suchas working capital, sales andmarketing, power, GST, tech-nology, labour laws, banking,pollution, skilled manpower,competition and profit marginas well as delay in payment.Based on the feedback, IIA willre-structure its activities for the

benefits of its members in par-ticular and MSME sector in gen-eral. IIA will submit suitable rep-resentation to the UP govern-ment based on this feedback,” anIIA member said. While chair-ing the central executive com-mittee meeting of IIA, Vaish saidthat for attracting new invest-ments, it was important to pro-vide relief to the existing indus-tries from several pain points forwhich very little had been doneby the present government.

Pain points for existing industries

in UP need treatment, says IIA


The Biodiversity Lab ofLucknow University will

be holding a sparrow censusfrom 6 am to 6:30 am onMarch 20. Coordinator,Wildlife Centre and ONGCCentre, Amita Kannaujia saidsince 2009, an appeal wasbeing made to the generalpublic every year to count thesparrows in and around theirgardens/houses on March 20morning.

“For the purpose, a count-ing form was also distributedevery year with awarenessmaterial. This activity forcedpeople to think about thesparrows if they are not foundaround their garden. Hencepeople were forced to makeefforts to bring them back,” shesaid. In the year 2013, thecount showed 2,503 birdswhile in 2014, the number was3,362. In 2015, the number of

sparrows was 5,637 while in2016 and 2017, the count was6,036 and 7,066 respectively.

She said that a study whichthey had conducted recently inLucknow showed many areasdense, highly-developed coreand surrounded by irregularrings of diminishing develop-ment. “Therefore, the gradientconcept is a powerful organ-ising tool for ecological

research on urban influenceson eco systems. The study ofbird ecology and urbanisationis an underutilised area ofecological research. Hencestudies of foraging, breeding,competition and predation ofhouse sparrows were carriedout along the Lucknow gradi-ent in order to compile thecomplete picture and revealthe key functional elements of

an urban landscape and thehouse sparrows within it.Theresults of the research workhave shown that the likelihoodof house sparrow occurring atthe nine sites is dependent onthe surrounding local habitat,”she said. Kannaujia said that inthe study area there were var-ious differences in rural, sub-urban/urban and naturalbionetwork such as the acces-sibility to food resources, avail-ability of nesting and roostingsites, inter-specific competi-tion and in the presence orabsence of predators. The sur-veys revealed an uneven dis-tribution of house sparrows atall the nine sites. The mostpreferred sites for sparrowswere a matrix of residentialand commercial areas, purelyresidential areas, rice mills,grocery shops and houseswhich were built on old con-struction patterns with less orno repairs,” she said.

Sparrows to be counted tomorrow

Devotees paying obeisance to the deity at a temple in Chowk on Sunday Pioneer

Construction work started on Sunday after the Army gave its nod to the Kukrail project


Lucknow (PNS): CentralInstitute of SubtropicalHorticulture (CISH) arrangedlive telecast of the speech ofPrime Minister Narendra Modidelivered at ‘Krishi UnnatiMela 2018’ which was organ-ised at ICAR-IARI (New Delhi)on its Rehmankhera campus.

CISH director ShailendraRajan said that after the PM’sspeech, farmers also interactedwith scientists during a sym-posium. The major issues wereinsect and disease control inmango, nematode manage-ment in guava and fruit rot injackfruit.

He further said that 50farmers were a part of the pro-gramme which was held atDelhi. “Fifty farmers fromMalihabad participated inKrishi Unnati Mela in NewDelhi on March 17. Being tra-ditional mango farmers, it wasan occasion when they couldlearn about many of othercrops like dragon fruit andolive which are uncommon inMalihabad and have beenrecently introduced to Indiaand give better income to farm-ers. Farmers were excited tohear PM for the first time andhappy to hear from him aboutthe new policy to make theMSP more than 1.5 times. ThePM laid emphasis on the devel-opment of Farmers ProducersOrganisation which was per-ceived as a need for Malihabadby the farmers,” he said. Headded that it was first timewhen farmers selected from‘Farmers FIRST’ programmehad female farmers in the team.

Lucknow (PNS): A speciallecture on communityresilience and social inclusionwas delivered by chief execu-tive officer, Centre forCommunity Economics andDevelopment ConsultantSociety (Jaipur), Sharad Joshi inthe auditorium of LucknowUniversity’s Social Workdepartment. Head of SocialWork department GurnamSingh welcomed the guestsand participants. Associate pro-fessor and organiser of theevent AK Bhartiya apprised theaudience of thematic areas ofprogrammes undertaken byCECOEDECON in promot-ing social inclusion, makingcommunity resilience, empow-ering women, children andfarmers, especially from themarginalised sections of soci-ety. A large number of MSWstudents actively participatedand interacted with speakers.

Joshi asserted that liveli-hood has become a formidable

challenge and with the down-fall of millennium develop-ment goals and slow pace ofSDGs, it had become more dif-ficult to measure and addressthem. “We do not see anyremarkable improvement inthe policy intervention frompre to post-independence era.Actually, huge attention isrequired on making policyguidelines and interventions,”he said.

He was of the view thatseminars and workshops onpertinent social issues shouldbe organised from time totime in every academic insti-tution. Replying to differentquestions by students, Joshisaid that orientation pro-grammes had played a verypivotal role in exchange ofknowledge keeping in viewthe community needs. Theprogramme ended with a voteof thanks by former head ofSocial Work department DKSingh.


CIMAP is organising a pho-tography competition on

medicinal and aromatic plants(MAPs). “Over the last fewyears, we have seen a varietyof images of medicinal aro-matic plants that have attract-ed public attention towardsthe uses of these wonderfuland valuable plants whichserve mankind for their healthand well being. Many of theseplants that contribute to theoverall health of a large major-ity of world population areincredibly beautiful and large-ly unseen. In an effort to cre-ate awareness about the use-fulness of these plants and anurgent need to conserve them,the institute has invited peo-ple to send us the most strik-ing images one can find tohelp us capture the beauty ofMAPs to support our effortson world class research andconservation work,” seniorscientist Manoj Semwal said.He said the theme of the con-test was ‘Know your medici-nal and aromatic plants’.

“The winners will receivecash awards of Rs 5,000, 3,000and 2,000 for first, second andthird prizes respectively. Inaddition, there will be conso-lation prizes of Rs 1,000 eachfor another 10 entries. All theentries must reach us byMarch 22 and the winners willbe announced on the AnnualDay of CSIR-CIMAP,” headded.

Meanwhile, the researchscholars of CIMAP organ-ised a two-day symposium,‘INSA-JIGYASA-2018’, atCSIR-CIMAP. The theme ofthe 4th annual symposiumwas ‘Medicinal and aromaticplants for health and well-being.’ It was inaugurated byformer director-general ofICAR Mangala Rai. CSIR-CIMAP director Anil KTripathi welcomed the guestsand INSA fellows attendingthe symposium.

Rai shared personal expe-riences of his scientific career.He inspired the scientific fra-ternity not to lose hope. Theinaugural address was fol-lowed by the plenary lectureby NIPGR (New Delhi) direc-tor Ramesh V Sonti, whoshared his experiences as aplant bacteriologist to find theright mix between basic andapplied research. He conveyeda message to identify goodcollaborators to cover theknowledge gaps, identify thestrengths and maximiseopportunities and to be gen-erous to give credit to the col-laborators. He also shared thekey qualities of a valuableresearcher i.e. to develop goodcommunication and writingskills and to do application-oriented work.


The 26th annual generalbody meeting of CSIR

Pensioners’ Welfare Association(CPWA) and the symposiumon ‘Clean Environment andHealth’ kicked off at NationalBotanical Research Instituteon Sunday. The two-day meet-ing is being attended by around85 delegates from 13 chaptersof Pensioners’ WelfareAssociations (PWA) of CSIRLabs, including their spouses.

President of CPWA(Lucknow branch) PK Sethwelcomed the members fromdifferent chapters of PWA.

Dr Nakul Sinha spoke on‘A healthy heart for a healthyliving’. He said that vascularhealth was the new motto fora healthy life. He dwelt uponthe various stages in athero-sclerosis and the factorsresponsible for it. He addedthat the risk factors formyocardial infarction weresmoking, lack of exercise, con-sumption of alcohol, hyper-tension, diabetes, abdominalobesity, lipids and noise.

CSIR-CIMAP directorAnil K Tripathi said that therehad been an unprecedentedrise in the use of plant-derivednaturals for health, food andcosmetic benefits.

“Most of the formulations,supplements are poly-herbals.There are several points of con-cerns with such products. They

contain a long list of con-stituent herbs; many of themare rare and threatened. Batch-to-batch inconsistency in com-position, quality and efficacy isa concern which must beproven wrong by sound scien-tific back-up in terms of chem-ical analysis and quality of fin-gerprints of each batch,” hesaid. CSIR-IITR director AlokDhawan said they had beencarrying out R&D activities inthe domain of water for a longtime and over the years, anumber of its laboratories hadcarved a niche in water-relat-ed technologies which includ-ed delineation of waterresources, ground water man-agement, filtration technolo-gies, reuse and recycling ofwaste water, rainwater har-vesting, mine water reclama-

tion etc. In her lecture on‘Nutraceuticals from theHimalayan plant resources fora healthy living,’ senior prin-cipal scientist (IHBT,Palampur) Ashu Gulati saidthat changes in lifestyle anddietary habits led to prevalenceof non-communicable diseasessuch as obesity, diabetes andhigh blood pressure, posingnew challenges to publichealth. “Most of the ailmentsgive rise to a range of sec-ondary complications, themanagement of which involveslifelong treatment. Many atimes these treatments haveside-effects and even provideinadequate cure. Therefore,there is an unmet need toexplore and develop effectivehealth care products from nat-ural bio-resources using sci-

entific reasoning and valida-tion. Nutraceuticals are natur-al health care options availableover the counter without a pre-scription,” she said.

In his lecture on ‘SwachhBharat Abhiyan, climatechange and environmentalprotection,’ JS Pandey fromNEERI (Nagpur) said that themission was a major steptowards environmental pro-tection. He said that while thefocus of the programme wason eliminating the culture ofopen defecation, the ultimateobjective was to bring aboutsuch behavioural and lifestylechanges which would directlyor indirectly help in regulatingthe climate and ensuring envi-ronmental protection by mit-igating and controlling pollu-tion.

DIVINE EDUCATION CONFERENCESVarious campuses of City Montessori School organised divine

education conferences on Sunday. The conferences were organ-ised by Indira Nagar andMahanagar campuses andRajendra Nagar (CampusII). Students displayed theirtalents before their parentsand also propagated theCMS philosophy of‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’. The students who had performed bril-liant in academics, co-curricular activities and sports through-out the year were awarded with certificates and trophies.

WORLD UNITY SATSANG

Speaking at the World Unity Satsang organised at CityMontessori School’s Gomti Nagar auditorium, school’s founder-director Bharti Gandhi said that mankind were born to knowgod, his teachings and then follow the path shown by him. Earlier,the students of RDSO campus presented several educational-cul-tural-devotional items, leaving the audience mesmerised.


As the demands put forth byworkers’ association rep-

resenting various municipalcorporations and urban localbodies from all over the statehasn’t been met by the stateadministration, the electedrepresentatives of SwayatShasan Karmachari Sangathan(SSKS) are all set to go on anindefinite hunger strike from

Monday. The association had urged

the state government to takeback the workers whose ser-vices were recently discontin-ued following an order.“Around 10,000 corporationworkers have been renderedjobless by an order. Theseemployees were officiallyrecruited into various corpo-rations and urban local bodiesof the state from 1997 till

2003,” SSKS general secretaryAshok Goyal said.

The workers’ associationfrom urban local bodies,municipal corporations of dif-ferent cities and districts of thestate had staged a rally in thestate capital on March 9 topress their demands. The asso-ciation of various workers hadannounced that if theirdemands were not met, theywould go on hunger strike

from March 19. A protest rallywas taken out from Walaqadarroad till LMC headquarters inLalbagh. “Promotions of ourworkers have not taken placefor a long time. Almost half thepositions are to be filledthrough promotions. But theposts are being filled either oncontract basis or deputationfrom other departments,”deputy secretary Pankaj Mittalpointed out.


On the third and last day ofthe 51st annual conference

on Allergy & Asthma,‘ICAAICON’, which was held atthe Scientific ConventionCentre, King George’s MedicalUniversity (KGMU), manycurrent and future practices ofasthma management were dis-cussed, including the stem celltherapy.

Dr. BS Rajput, who headsthe Stem Cell India ResearchCentre and is the founder vice-president of Stem Cell Societyof India, informed the audienceabout basics and clinical appli-cations of stem cell transplan-tation. In India, it is a relative-ly new therapy which is beingcurrently used in orthopaedics,neurology, pulmonology, car-diology and metabolic dis-eases. In pulmonology, it hasbeen in use for the last 4-5 years

to give a new lease of life topatients of lung fibrosis andinterstitial lung disease (ILD) inwhich patients’ own bone mar-row mesenchymal cells areused to boost immuneresponse and heal damaged tis-sues. The bone marrow nuclearcell concentrate is made andafter filtering it is transfusedback to the patient.

Dr Rajput explained that inthe two cases of asthma andILD, the causative factors weredifferent. To treat ILD, one hasto increase blood circulationand decrease fibrosis for whichmesenchymal stem cells frombone marrow are used. Whilein the case of asthma the aller-gy component has to bereduced for which either mes-enchymal stem cells procuredfrom the umbilical cord of anewborn baby or the T regu-latory stem cells that decreasethe inflammation in the body

are used to stimulate theimmune system.

Even in case of severebronchial asthma, stem celltherapy is helpful as it con-tributes to the regeneration oflung tissues, which leads to asignificant reduction in theincidence of asthma attacks andtheir duration. It also increas-es patients’ body resistanceand reduces the allergicresponse to allergens like housedust, animal dander, pollenand foods.

Dr Rajput guided his fellowdoctors to start using this ther-apy increasingly for treatmentof asthma. He said it was not acostly procedure as the biomaterial was obtained from thepatient only after which cellsare prepared and given back tothe patient. However, there islack of knowledge about thistherapy which needs to belooked into.

Vascular health new motto

for a healthy life: Dr Sinha

PM’s speech

telecast for

farmers at CISH

Doctors discuss practicesof asthma management

Children taking out a rally on the occasion of Nav Samvatsar in Lucknow on Sunday Pioneer

SSKS reps to go on indefinite strikeCIMAP organising

photography

contest on

medicinal,

aromatic plants

Special lecture on community resilience and social inclusion

SCHOOLSCAN

RAHUL LIKENS...Rahul went back to “suit

boot ki sarkar” jibe, with whichhe greeted the Prime Ministerafter Modi put on a mono-grammed suit during his theRepublic Day meeting withBarack Obama in 2016. “Modijihas now given up wearing suitand his expressions are alsochanging,” Rahul said.

The Congress leader addedthat the corrupt and powerfultoday “control conversation” inthe country and the “nameModi symbolises the collusionbetween crony capitalists andthe Prime Minister”.

“Nirav Modi shares thesame name as our PrimeMinister. He is the biggestfraud of India. Also, Lalit Modi,the most corrupt person ofIndian cricket, also shares thesame with our Prime Minister.All the biggest corrupt peopleof our country share the samename with our PM Modi,”Rahul quipped. Referring todemonetisation, Rahul saideven the world felt it was a dis-aster, but the people who did itare yet to realise. “They neveraccepted the mistake. Had itbeen the Congress, it wouldhave admitted immediatelythat it was a mistake andworked to rectify it. We arehuman, we make mistakes butModiji thinks he is a reincar-nation of God, he can’t makemistakes,” Rahul said. On thefreedom struggle, Rahul choseto differentiate between theideology of Mahatma Gandhiand Veer Savarkar. He saidBapu spent 15 years in jail anddied for the nation, Savarkarwrote a letter to the British beg-ging for mercy and clemency.He hoped that India would inthe next decade play an all-important role on the globalstage. “There are two visions inthe world -- of the US andChina. In 10 years, I want to seeIndia’s vision there,” he said.The party also authorisedRahul to choose members ofthe new Congress WorkingCommittee (CWC) the highestdecision-making body of theparty which is likely to be a mixof young and experienced partyleaders.

3 KIDS AMONG...All of them had received

fatal splinter injuries and diedon the spot. Their bodies werepunctured by the piercing

splinters. “Two criticallyinjured minor daughters iden-tified as Nasreen and Mehreenwere airlifted by 132 FAC flightfrom Rajouri to GovernmentMedical College Hospital inJammu for advance treatment.Flight Lieutenant Mittal andFlying officer Akash immedi-ately swung into action andshifted the critically injuredminor girls to Jammu,” theDefence PRO said.

Jammu & Kashmir ChiefMinister Mehbooba Mufti inher first reaction to thePakistan aggression tweeted,“Anguished to hear of 5 peoplelosing their lives in the cross-fire along the LoC in theBalakote sector of Poonch. Mydeepest condolences to theirfamily.” Holding Pakistanresponsible for sabotaging thedialogue process, Mehbooba inher another tweet clearly stat-ed, “Peace is the only way for-ward. Initiatives were started byVajpayeeji with his Lahore busjourney & were later carried onin the same spirit by PM@narendramodi. Sadly theywere sabotaged at Pathankot.We need to get on the righttrack if we want to save thepeople of J&K”. Her bete noireand former Chief MinisterOmar Abdullah in Srinagarsaid, “The best gift India andPakistan gave to border areas,areas near LoC, is ceasefire butoff late it has remained con-fined to paper. I hope both theGovernments talk it out andfollow the ceasefire. Innocentpeople have lost lives”.

Meanwhile, after the firingstopped a large number oflocal villagers converged at theresidence of Mohd Ramzan inDhar Galon Devta village, 75kms from Poonch, to performtheir last rites. As the dead bod-ies of all the five members ofthe family were being loweredinto their graves local villagersstarted shouting slogans againstPakistan and blamed them fortheir plight. The local villagerswere also angry with the slowpace of work on the construc-tion of bunkers in the forwardareas. The Union Governmenthad recently approved con-struction of 14,460 bunkers toensure safety of local villagersliving along the InternationalBorder and the LoC. Theseinclude 1,431 large communi-ty bunkers and 13,029 indi-vidual bunkers in the districts

of Samba, Jammu, Kathua,Poonch and Rajouri. The pro-ject is being implemented bythe J&K Government.

CONG ENGAGED...“The Congress president

sharing surname with Father ofNation Mahatma Gandhi…you are sharing name but youare on the bail,” she said andwondered how any parallelcould be drawn with a PrimeMinister, who first as a ChiefMinister in Gujarat for decadesand now as the leader of theGovernment at the Centre forfour years, gave a spick andspan Government. “Is it aresponsible politics?” she asked.She lashed out at Rahul forextending “pretentious sup-port to Judiciary and Press “and reminded Rahul of impo-sition of Emergency by theCongress after an unfavourablecourt decision and his fatherRajiv Gandhi bringing in aPress defamation Bill in 1988only to withdraw it later.“Today his grandson says I willcome to power and protect themedia,” she said. Sitaramansaid a party, which was respon-sible for Emergency, Sikh riotsand recently peddling fakenews, wants to see itself play-ing the role of “Pandavas”. Shesaid it is people of India whowill decide who are Kauravasand who are Pandavas ofMahabharat fame. The BJPleader further said a partywhose president questionedthe very existence of Lord Ramwants and “ridiculed Hindu rit-uals and believes” wants to beidentified with ‘Pandavas’.

“I have never heard of a‘Congress priest’ and a ‘BJPpriest’, but Rahul has narrateda whole story on that, just a wayto mock Hindus andHinduism,” she said. Earlier inthe day, Gandhi had narrateda story about his meeting andconversation with priests dur-ing his visit to a temple.Ridiculing “Congress man-than”, she said the icing on thecake was the conclusion ofRahul where he said that whilethe BJP was losing one electionafter the other his party waswinning regularly. “How doyou react to this factually incor-rect conclusion? Even thoughthe BJP lost two UP by-elec-tions, let us not miss the pintthat the Congress lost deposits,”Sitaraman said and again

stressed “it is the rhetoric of aloser with no substance”.

Union HRD Minister andsenior BJP leader PrakashJavadekar also attacked Rahulover his speech at the Congressplenary session, saying heshould apologise for his party’smisdeeds first and then attackModi. “While accusing theModi Government he forgetsthat Congress did worst ofgenocide of Sikhs, they broughtcensorship in the media and areknown for all kinds of corrup-tion and scams. He shouldfirst apologise for all that,”Javadekar said. The BJP leaderalso said that Rahul’s accusa-tions against Shah are part of a“conspiracy”. “They think patri-otism is speaking false thingsbut speaking loudly. Their phi-losophy is to speak and run,”the Minister said.

ONE MORE GRAFT...Both Katra Holdings and

M/s Mason and SummerAlcobev Pvt Ltd belong to theBangalore-based Katra Group.The promoters of this group areindustrialist Ramesh Vangaland wife Katarzyna Zimpel,having many firms in hospi-tality, health, petroleum, ship-ping, logistics and bankingsectors. In 2008, RameshVangal’s Foreign InstitutionalInvestor (FII) consortiumacquired around 25 per centshares of Tamil NaduMercantile Bank. Like INXMedia bribe case, the mattercame to light in the joint raidby the ED and Income Tax atKarti’s firms in connectionwith Aircel-Maxis probe. Theagencies have tracked themoney transaction invoices ofboth Katra Holdings and Karti’sAdvantage StrategicConsulting. The Advantageraised an invoice (No:ASCPL/0506/003) datedAugust 20, 2005 for Rs 10 lakhplus service taxes on KatraHoldings. The Advantagereceived a payment of Rs9,39,050 (after Tax Deducted atSource or TDS). The agenciesare expected to register a freshcase under Prevention ofCorruption Act and Preventionof Money Laundering Actagainst Chidambaram and son.Meanwhile, Chidambaram isexpected to be summoned bythe CBI and the ED in theAircel-Maxis and INX Mediabribe case soon.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

PNS n NEW DELHI

Thak Thak gang, a menacefor police forces across

India, was busted on Sundaywith the arrest of its 48-year-oldkingpin Kanahiya, who wascoming from Kolkata in theHowrah Rajdhani Express, atNew Delhi Railway Station.

Bhisham Singh, DCP(Cyber and FICN), said, “Withthe arrest of Kanahiya, we havebusted the Southern module ofthe Thak Thak gang. “We haverecovered `8 lakh, a pistol andtwo live cartridges from hispossession,” he said.

Kanahiya told police thathis gang members usually tar-get moving cars and distractdrivers either by knocking onthe window, puncturing tyres,pouring oil at windscreen attraffic signals or by stagingminor accidents.

“While gang members dis-tract driver’s attention, one ofthem snatch away bag(s) fromthe car. The female members ofthe gang play active role byobstructing moving vehicles,”the DCP said. In the aftermathof several cases where men orwomen made away with valu-ables from cars, the InterBorder Gangs InvestigationSquad, Dwarka, received a tip-off about the movement of thekingpin. The DCP said, “A teamunder ACP Aditya Gautam laida trap at the New Delhi Railwaystation and apprehended him.”

Kanahiya told police thathe started stealing bags fromcars at a very young age andmastered the act to evadearrest. “He became famous inhis area for his expertise,” saidthe police officer.

Impressed by his talent,youth in his area made a bee-line to join him in the act, saidthe officer. “Apart from men,several women joined the ThakThak gang,” said Singh

The DCP said, “Kanahiyaspecified different roles fordifferent members according totheir skills and sent differentteams to different States orcities. Every team included 2-3 female members. Wheneverthe team managed to steal ahefty amount of cash or valu-ables like gold or laptop, theywould inform Kanahiya, whomthey fondly called “Guruji”.

No more ThakThak! Kingpinin police net

nation 07LUCKNOW | MONDAY| MARCH 19, 2018

GRAPEVINE

Cycle, cycle in RS

Samajwadi Party leader in the Rajya SabhaRamgopal Yadav was grace personified a

day after his party won two crucial Lok Sabhabypolls of Phulpur and Gorakhpur last week.Yadav walked across to the Treasury Benchesto greet BJP members including MinisterThawar Chand Gehlot before the Housecommenced proceedings. Later, when the pro-ceedings were adjourned due to uproar, LawMinister Ravi Shankar Prasad reciprocated thegesture by going up to Samajwadi Partyleader and congratulated him.

Advance booking

The Centre recently issued notificationappointing three new Additional Solicitor

Generals (ASGs) for the Supreme Court. Buteven before they took charge, there was a madscramble for occupying the vacant officespace left behind by their predecessors in theSupreme Court. Presently, four ASGs havetheir offices on the second floor of the build-ing adjacent to the courtrooms. The remain-ing offices are situated in the Indian LawInstitute (ILI) building opposite to the apexcourt. One of the newly appointed ASGs madea smart move by putting up his nameplate out-side of the vacant ASG offices in the Courtbuilding even before the notification arrived.Grapevine has it that the Attorney General’soffice asked the junior ASG to make way forhis seniors and shifted him to the ILI instead.

Rahul cries foul

Congress remains a trusted ally of the RJDchief Lalu Prasad and vice versa. Latching

on to a media report which claimed that anFIR was filed against Lalu despite CBI’s legalwing saying there was no proof in the IRCTCcase, Congress came forward to accuse the BJPof engaging in political vendetta against itsopponents to hide its “epic failures”. Leadingthe Congress’ charge was party president RahulGandhi who accused the BJP of “using” theCBI to “harass” key opposition politicians andasked who will be Prime Minister NarendraModi’s “next target”. Significantly Rahul hadpublicly tore an Ordinance brought by the thenPrime Minister Manmohan Singh in order tosave Lalu, a UPA partner, from the clutches ofjail and facilitate him contesting elections.

Non-functional kisan cell

When Rajasthan Agriculture MinisterPrabhu Lal Saini visited Unnati Mela

at the Pusa Institute on Saturday, at the kisancall centre stall he dialed 1800-180-1551 (tollfree) to know how many mandis inRajasthan were integrated with NationalAgricultural Market. He was told to hold fora while and later the call was disconnected.He again called at the toll free number-thistime to know which medicines could begiven in the case of spread of YVM diseasein urad and tur crops. Saini was again toldto wait while his call was being transferred.After ten minutes of wait, the call was dis-connected.

Truce over lunch

Union Housing and Urban AffairsMinister Hardeep Singh Puri is likely to

invite Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwalto sort out differences on several projectsincluding metro phase IV, sealing, regulationon unauthorised colonies, and notificationsto declare 351 roads as commercial. DuringMetro Pink Line inauguration last week,Kejriwal reminded Puri that he hadpromised to meet “over lunch”. “We will sorteverything out over lunch. We can clear theviable routes and the unviable ones can bepostponed,” he has said. Puri agreed to invitehim for lunch.

Cong to keep online data bank

Congress president Rahul Gandhi hasasked the AICC to maintain online

details of every party worker as well as thedata related to the booths they look after.This is an idea of data analytics organisation,Cambridge Analytica, hired by Gandhi.

Mosquito Ministers

Mosquitos do not spare even the high andmighty. They were in full of action at

the 84th AICC Plenary held at the IndiraGandhi Indoor stadium on Saturday andSunday. The invitees faced their wrath somuch UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi hadto be given a mosquito repellant gel to wardthem off.

PNS n NEW DELHI

Congress on Sunday accusedthe Modi Government of

“destroying” the economy andsaid growth can be achievedonly if the country is rescuedfrom “incompetent economicmanagers”. The party alsoadopted a resolution on theeconomy at its Plenary sessionwith former Prime MinisterManmohan Singh seeking toknow the fate of the promisedtwo crore jobs.

Former Finance Minister PChidambaram accused theModi Government of squan-dering a golden opportunity tocatapult India’s growth aftereconomic gains during theprevious UPA Government.

Singh rued that at a timethe world economy had grownfrom 2.8 per cent to 3.8 per centfrom 2014 to 2018, the Indianeconomy had “decoupleditself ” from the world econo-my. He claimed India grew by7.8 per cent under the UPAregime led by him. He lament-ed that only about 1.6 per centof the country’s GDP was spenton defence expenditure, which,he said, could not meet thechallenges that the securityapparatus posed. He alsoalleged that there were manyissues on the foreign policyfront that had been poorly

handled by the ModiGovernment.

“The BJP Government hasmessed up the economy. WhenModi ji was campaigning hemade lots of tall promises. Thosepromises have not been fulfilled,”he said. Singh said the BJPclaimed in 2014 that if it cameto power it would provide 2crore jobs. “But we have not seeneven two lakh jobs,” he said.

The “ill-thought and ill-conceived” demonetisation and“hastily put forward” legislationfor GST had destroyed manyjobs and created problems forthe small and medium indus-try and the informal sector,both in terms of production

and providing jobs, he said.When the former prime

minister spoke on foreign pol-icy and defence, he was accord-ed a thunderous applause anda standing ovation by partyleaders. Singh accused theBJP-led Government of having“mismanaged” the dispute inJammu and Kashmir and saidthe Government’s talk of fight-ing two and a half wars was “yetanother hollow promise”.

On his part, Chidambaramsaid the crisis which the coun-try faces can worsen in the lastyear of the Modi Governmentas the budget has provided noanswers. “This budget is thehandiwork of a government

which is completely helpless,clueless and directionless. Iam afraid, 12 months fromtoday, whoever comes into theGovernment, will face a majorcrisis,” he said.

The resolution moved byChidambaram said that thetenure of the Narendra Modi-led Government was repletewith Governance and man-agement misadventures andmistakes. “The most colossalfailure has been its misman-agement of the economy,” saidthe resolution moved byChidambaram.

“The one party which canbring this country out of crisisis the Congress. Why do I say

that? I say that not out of arro-gance, not out of conceit, I saythis because we have done itbefore and we can do it againbeginning next year,” the for-mer Union Minister said.

“The Congress reiteratesthat the abysmal economicmanagement of the ModiGovernment has resulted inlack of jobs for millions ofIndia’s youth, stagnant realincomes for hundreds of mil-lions of farmers, collapse of themanufacturing sector, destruc-tion of micro, small and medi-um businesses, paralysis ofIndia’s banking sector,” the res-olution mentioned.

“The economy is in thehands of ignorant and incom-petent policy makers who havederailed economic growththrough reckless and bizarrepolicies such as demonetisationand a hasty imposition of aflawed Goods and ServicesTax regime,” it said.

“They said we will abolishblack money, we will put anend to corruption. We willstop fake currency. Have theyput an end to black money?Every rally, every public meet-ing of the prime minister isfinanced by any money otherthan black money. Have theyput an end to corruption, fakecurrency?” Chidambaramasked.

Modi Govt destroying economy: Cong

PNS n NEW DELHI

While the Congress pres-ident Rahul Gandhi and

his mother and UPA chair-person Sonia Gandhi andformer Prime MinisterManmohan Singh were at thecentre stage at the party’s84th plenary session held atIndira Gandhi stadium in thenational Capital, PriyankaGandhi Vadra was handlingthe stage management andengaged in fine-tuning ofspeeches delivered by theCongress leaders.

It was Priyanka Gandhi’sidea that youth leaders in theparty should be allowed tomoderate the session. That’swas the reason that youngleaders such as Nadeem Javed,Sushmita Dev and RaginiNayak were given a chance toconduct the session alongwith senior leader MukulWasnik. In the past, party vet-

erans like Janardan Dwivedi,Ahmed Patel or Ghulam NabiAzad had conducted AICCplenary sessions.

Sources said that Priyankahas been holding regular dis-cussions with senior Congressleaders at the Congress warroom at 15 GurudwaraRakabganj Road to make thetwo-day plenary session afruitful and successful exercise.

A Congress leader said onthe condition of anonymitythat even sitting arrangementinside the stadium wasfinalised by Priyanka Gandhi.“There was a concertedattempt to promote “brandRahul”.

Besides, it was an effort toconnect with the workers andthe common people in gener-al, the party this time alsointroduced panel discussionson various issues, includingone on contemporary media.

PNS n NEW DELHI

India on Sunday issued afresh Note Verbale to

Pakistan Foreign Officethrough its High Commissionin Islamabad, protesting againstthe intimidation and harass-ment of Indian HighCommission officials. This wasthe 13th Note Verbale thisyear on the issue of harassmentof diplomatic staff.

In its latest complaint, theIndian High Commission saidon Sunday its Second Secretarywas aggressively followed byunidentified people in a car inclose proximity in an intimi-dating manner while he wasgoing to Chhaye Khana restau-rant. Videos were made using

mobile phone.In another incident, four

officials Indian HighCommission traveling in an offi-cial vehicle were aggressivelyfollowed while going to Aabparamarket by two unknown personson motorbikes in “an intimidat-ing manner.”

Sources said that the web-site of the Indian High

Commission continues to beintermittently blocked byPakistan causing inconvenienceand affecting the normal func-tioning of the Mission. “We haveasked the Pakistan Governmentto investigate these incidentsand ensure that such incidentsdo not recur and share the resultof the investigation with us,”sources said.

PNS n NEW DELHI

The Congress on Sundayattacked Narendra Modi

Government for conductingIndia’s foreign policy in a ‘cav-alier manner’ which has dam-aged country’s profile globallyand undermined nationalinterest.

The Congress in its visiondocument on Foreign Policyalso criticised Modi govern-ment for messing up its entireforeign policy with regard toneighbourhood while saying itsPakistan policy has been a dis-aster. On China, the Congresssaid India’s approach to mustnot only be marked with prag-matism, but also realism withefforts to work for peaceful res-olution of all outstandingissues. The party has also out-lined the need to have a balancein relations between Russiaand the United States.

“There is an urgent need tore-calibrate equations with theUS, arrest the slide in relations

with Russia and improve com-munication and trust withChina. Congress remains of afirm view, that diplomacy musthave depth and gravitas. Grandevents and photo opportunitiescannot be a substitute to effec-tive diplomacy,” the party said.It also critised Modi for using theplatform of ‘Overseas Indians’for carrying his propagandaand insult his predecessors.

Congress accused Modigovernment of mismanagingIndia’s relations with majorpartner countries leaving theForeign Policy confused andbereft of focus and direction.The party underlined thatunless India is able to manageits neighbourhood effectively,it will be unable to play anycredible regional or global role.

“Never before inIndependent India’s history, hasthe country been so dimin-ished in its immediate periph-ery…We have created spaces inour neighbouring countriesthrough episodic engagement,

which has allowed other powers,in particular China, to entrenchthemselves. Recent develop-ments in Maldives, Nepal,Myanmar and Sri Lanka, are amatter of serious concern. Thesewill need careful and timely han-dling. It needs to be ensured, thatrelations with India do notbecome a factor in the domes-tic politics of the countries in ourneighbourhood,” the party said.

On India’s current rela-tions with Pakistan, theCongress said Government’sclaims of a more effective andassertive policy towardsPakistan are boastful, and havenot yielded any positive results.It also accused the Governmentof squandering away the good-will and positivity created by theUPA Government’s initiativeswith Bangladesh in the past.

Economy and said growth can be achieved only if the country is rescued

from incompetent economic managers, says party at its plenary session

Priyanka managed stage, it was her idea to let youthmoderate planery session

PNS n NEW DELHI

Asserting that the welfareschemes for farmers are

being implemented on a mis-sion mode, Union MinistryRadha Mohan Singh said onSunday new methodology ofgood governance, new ideasand an improvement orientedvision will pave the way formodernisation of farming.

The Minister of Agricultureand Farmers Welfare said thatthe Centre was working withspeed towards doubling farmers'income by 2022. "To improve thefinancial status of farmers, PrimeMinister Narendra Modi haskept a goal before the country ofdoubling farmers' income by2020. This is the first time thatthe Prime Minister has put aconcrete goal of welfare of farm-ers," Singh said.

Under the leadership ofModi, the Agriculture Ministryis determined to accomplishthis goal by 2022 and is work-ing with full commitment toachieve this goal, he added.

The Minister was speakingat the Valedictory function ofthe KrishiUnnatiMela 2018.

RAJESH KUMAR n NEW DELHI

The Ghaziabad-basedSimbhaoli Groups, under

probe for cheating the OrientalBank of Commerce (OBC) of`109.08 crore, has allegedlyduped another bank — UttarPradesh Cooperative BankLimited — of `60 crore.

Turning a blind eye to thefact that the group had NPAworth `152 crore, the banklent another `60 crore loan toone of the companies of thegroup. The complaint per-taining to the cooperativebank has been forwarded toPrime Minister Office.

The CBI has not yet filedany FIR into the matter evenafter questioning GurpalSingh, the son-in-law ofPunjab Chief MinisterAmarinder Singh, and othermanaging directors of thecompany.

As per the documentaccessed, the cooperative bankhad sanctioned `152 crore toSimbhaoli Sugars, whichturned NPA in April 2017.Interestingly, the cooperativebank sanctioned another loanof `60 crore to SimbhaoliPower Private Limited, a sub-sidiary company on February8, this year.

The chairman of theSimbhaoli Groups of compa-nies Gurmit Singh Mann runsvarious companies whichinclude Simbhaoli Sugars

Limited, Simbhaoli PowerPrivate Limited, DholadharDevelopers Private Limited,Integrated CasetechConsultants. Pvt Ltd,Uniworld Sugars Pvt Ltd andDholadhar InvestmentsPrivate Limited.

The CBI booked Mann,the compnay's chief executiveofficer Gurpal Singh, and 10others and unknown bankofficials in OBC bank fraudcase filed last month.

The bank in the letter tothe company stated, "a short-term cash credit limit of `60crore for working capitalrequirement has been sanc-tioned to your companyagainst the stock of new mate-rial used for the production ofpower and power receivablesfrom UPPCL for CalendarYear 2018."

Also, the letter said, "Allcredit facilities will be securedby personal guarantee ofGurmit Singh Mann, chair-man, and Gursimran Mann,director and MD, SimbhaoliSugars. All facilities to besecured by hypothecation ofbook debts of the company ascollateral security. The com-pany has to repay 65 percentof maximum loan availed dur-ing 2018 on or before 31December 2018. The compa-ny will ensure that the cashcredit loan is utilised for thepurpose for which it has beensanctioned."

PNS n NEW DELHI

If your child below five yearsold is having fever for more

than a day without any othersymptoms like a running noseor ear ache, then chances arethat he/she is suffering fromurinary tract infection (UTI).If ignored, the bacteria causingUTI may spread to the blood-stream and cause a life-threat-ening infection or lasting kid-ney damage, say nephrologists.

The UTI is caused by bac-teria that has entered the urinarysystem. This commonly occursin the lower urinary tract, ie. theurinary canal and bladder,although infections can progressto the upper tract and0 affect thekidneys. This mostly happens inthe case of the kids in UTI is nottreated in time.

Dr Arvind Bagga, pediatricnephrologist from the AIIMS,Delhi said that in India, 20 per

cent of kidney disease in childrenis due to UTI. But mostly parentsfail to recognise its occurrence."We have found that parents usu-ally dismiss the fever without anyother symptoms as a viral feverand start giving antibiotics. Thisjust aggravates the UTI as bac-teria reaches to the upper tractof the kidney and can damagethe organ.

In fact, said Dr Bagga,many times it has been seen

that even physicians fail todiagnose the UTI.

He said that as children can-not complain about the unex-plained fever or burning urina-tion or frequent urination, par-ents should contact doctors if thekid is having fever. This is thetime when kidney are maturing.Parents must take note of suchsigns in their kids and contactdoctors immediately. “It is thetime that when the kidney are

developing,” said Dr Baggaadding that in children recurrentor severe episodes of UTI cancause permanent kidney dam-age (scarring of kidneys), growthretardation, high blood pressureand anaemia. Younger childrenhave greatest risk for kidneydamage from UTIs, especially ifthey have some unknown uri-nary tract abnormality, headded.

Obstructions in the urinarytract can also increase the risk,while a weakened immune sys-

tem and urinary structures thatare abnormally developed frombirth can also put the child atrisk. Chronic constipation isanother risk factor.

Dr Sandeep Mahajan,Professor of 0Nephrology atAIIMS, Delhi added that thereare cases when children areborn with less nephrons orunderdeveloped kidneys.Parents need to get such childrenscreened for any future problemon a continuous basis and ensurethe treatment accordingly.

* A fever not caused by the flu

* Urine that smells strange and is pink and cloudy

* Vomiting

* Frequent trips to the bathroom that produce very little urine

* Pain in the area below the navel

* Loss of appetite

* Bed-wetting

Symptoms

Good governance

to pave way for

better farming:

Radha Mohan

Simbhaoli Groups

defrauds another

bank of `60 crore

PNS n NEW DELHI

The Union Ministry of Ayush’sambitious plan to integrate

allopathy with ayurveda to seetypes of diseases that can betreated with both in integrationhas got a major push with PrimeMinister Narendra Modi recent-ly asking the Government toexplore the potential of the alter-nate medicines in treating tuber-culosis (TB) and share the resultswith other countries.

Officials in the Union AyushMinistry said that the PrimeMinister’s suggestion to work onherbal drugs for treatment ofdeadly diseases like tuberculosiswill go a long way in promoting

the, so-far neglected, alternatemedicines in the country.

Union Ayush Secretary DrRajesh Kotecha said that, in fact,the Government is serious aboutpromoting a model whereexperts in different domainscontribute to the health scienceand some migration of knowl-edge occurs between eachstream for the welfare of patients.

He said that in this regarda nationwide AYUSH grid isbeing set up to network all hos-pitals and research labs to recordcases to gather evidences andanalyse the efficacy of the alter-nate medicine. He pointed outthat the integration of Ayurvedawith Allopathy has been wide-

ly discussed in the country butnot put into practice. “This isthe first time that the integrativeapproach is being attempted andsome of main diseases beinglooked at are cancer, diabetes,and arthritis,” the official added.

Herbal drugs are alreadyfinding acceptance amongpatients. For instance, for man-aging Type-2 diabetes mellitusdiabetes, a lifestyle disease,there are herbal drugs likeBGR-34 developed by theCouncil of Scientific andIndustrial Research (CSIR). Itis being sold by the Delhi-basedAIMIL Pharma, said Ministerof AYUSH Shripad Naiak inthe Rajya Sabha recently, indi-

cating that the efficacy of thewell-researched ayurveda drugscannot be negated.

The Minister alsoinformed that the CentralCouncil for Research inAyurvedic Sciences (CCRAS)has developed herbal drug,AYUSH SG, an anti-rheuma-toid arthritis preparation.

Urging the Union HealthMinistry to increase the researchwork being done in ayurvedafor finding cure for tuberculo-sis, the Prime Minister at arecently held 'END TB' summithad said: "India will support allcountries needing first linedrugs, commodities and tech-nical support to fight TB".

Experts too favours anational policy on the integra-tion of Ayurveda with allopa-thy so that India can take itsrightful place as the globalleader in integrative medicine.

The Director of Centrefor Nanosciences andMolecular Medicine at AmritaUniversity, Prof ShantikumarNair said, "IntegratingAyurveda with evidence-basedmodern medicine has thepotential to revolutionise worldhealthcare. Integrative medi-cine is becoming a popularspecialty among clinicians inWestern countries because ofthe many ways in which it canbenefit patients."

‘PM’s idea can boost alternative medicines’

Cong slams BJP for running India’sforeign policy in a ‘cavalier manner’

‘Never before in Independent

India’s history has the

country been so diminished

in its immediate periphery’

Harassment of diplomatic staff:13th note verbal issued to Pak

p In its latest complaint, the Indian High Commission said on Sunday

its Second Secretary was aggressively followed by unidentified

people in a car in close proximity in an intimidating manner while

he was going to Chhaye Khana restaurant

p In another incident, four officials Indian High Commission traveling

in an official vehicle were aggressively followed while going to

Aabpara market by two unknown persons on motorbikes in an

intimidating manner

UTI ups kidney damage risk in kids under 5: Experts

Back in the day when flying was theprivilege of a few, it was relative-ly comfortable. It was a timebefore intrusive security and verylong queues to check-in and

board. The seats were properly padded, themeals were not exercises in blandness andcutting quantities. And a time when passen-gers really could have some personal space.

However, flying has become moredemocratic. An air ticket between Delhi andMumbai at the start of the millennium costmore, and not just in ‘real terms’, but in itsprinted value. Buying an airline tickettoday is an incredibly easy process, you don’thave to go to a travel agent or the airlinesoffice to buy a long hand-written ticket. Andthose who flew back in the days of IndianAirlines being the sole carrier, the conceptbeing waitlisted has pretty much ended.

Flying is not the privilege of a few any-more, and that is a great thing, especially ina country like India with a manufacturedromanticism of the railways, much like thatof agrarianism, which is damaging. As morepeople in India realise the value of time, fly-ing is becoming far more popular particu-larly as flying is extremely affordable.

However, airlines cut services to be com-petitive in the era of expensive oil prices, par-ticularly with older aircraft and onboard ser-vice. The cut in amenities, including longerseat pitches and restricted baggageallowances, seemed prudent at the time tosurvive. Airlines were bleeding, and even inIndia times were tough.

The collapse of Kingfisher Airlineswith its initially extravagant onboard service,including proper meals and seatback tele-visions, was a cautionary tale. The airlinesthat did well financially doled out less ser-vice by being a bit cheaper and, thus, puttingmore people in seats at a time when bud-gets were stretched.

But as fuel prices dropped, airlinesbecame used to the profits from these lowerlevels of service and wanted to take them fur-ther. A new generation of aircraft haveappeared from the major manufacturersAirbus and Boeing that will bring in small-er galleys and in the case of Airbus’ newA321LR, a narrow-body jet that can carry240 people over 7,500 kilometres, which isover nine hours flying time has space-sav-ing toilets. As someone who flies quite a bit,the thought that airlines will choose toiletsthat are smaller than the existing tiny toi-lets is frankly, horrifying.

Sure, these new aircraft will make a lotof previously unviable routes possible but atwhat cost? Being crammed in a plane forlong periods of time with limited facilitieswould make it no better than a suburbantrain in Mumbai at rush hour, a seemingassault of human dignity, and not a place forsomeone with claustrophobia.

While the civil aviation should for the

most part be free of interference by regula-tors, as deregulation in the United States,Europe and to a large extent in India has wellhas proven, authorities across the world haveto start examining how people are beingcrammed into planes.

There is no doubt that despite recentevents, including a crash in Kathmandu, airtravel is incredibly safe, definitely safer thanbeing on the road. But such cramming ofpeople in a small space should be a safetyconcern. Emergency evacuations in therecent past, including of a plane thatcrashed at Dubai, have been lessons inhuman behaviour.

Evacuating a plane, particularly one witha single aisle with so many passengers onboard and fewer main doors, is a problem.Most single-aisle planes operate with over-wing exits or smaller doors. These doors arespaced to older standards and the fact is thathuman beings are bigger and taller than theyhave ever been. It is easy to wonder how theold and infirm will exit using these doorsin the case of an accident or an evacuation.

Global aviation certifying and safetyauthorities have to consider newer standardsfor future aircraft. If so many people areinside a plane, it has to be made possible forthem to escape and these narrow-body air-craft are now carrying the same number ofpeople as much larger aircraft from a fewdecades ago, they must be held to a newstandard, people have to be comfortable andthey should be safe.

Air travel is more affordable and moresafe than it has ever been and it shouldremain that way, in fact flying should

become more affordable and more Indiansand people across the world must fly. Agrowing interdependence between peoplewill bring not just better economic and socialgrowth, it should play a role in de-escalat-ing potential conflicts as well.

Air travel is a good thing but it shouldnot be put in jeopardy. Cramming passen-gers in confined spaces will not just start aclaustrophobia epidemic but could impactthe popularity of air travel as well. This isnot the same as travelling in a crowded trainfor a couple, because one is paying so muchmore than a train ticket, and people are rightto expect a level of service.

Rising levels of frustration among air-line travellers to various aggravationsboth real and imagined are seen on viralvideos. A passenger stuck on a tarmac ina plane in Europe recently opened theemergency exit to leave. He ended updelaying the plane more to the frustrationof fellow passengers he was also put on ano-fly list. A video of an assault at Delhiairport also went viral.

So what should be done? I believe theaviation authorities should explore the pos-sibility of mandating a minimum size of seatat the very least, possibly toilets as well.Everyone requires a bit of personal space,even babies and solving that one issue wouldgo a long way in making flying more toler-able. Nobody is saying go back to large seatsand four-course meals even in EconomyClass, but a little bit more respect for the per-son who pays to sit on the seat.

(The writer is Managing Editor, ThePioneer)

In a social media post last week, Bollywood and indeed, global film superstar IrrfanKhan admitted to his fans and well-wishers about his medical condition. He saidhe had a neuroendocrine tumour, and this was after admitting a couple of weeks

ago that he had a rare disease. His frankness about his medical condition, while heis still in the prime of his life, is in stark contrast to the behaviour of most public per-sonalities today who choose to hide their health problems with Khan and previous-ly Yuvraj Singh being notable exceptions in India. While film personalities, sports starsand politicians have the right to a private life, such openness removes all innuendoand rumour from the picture. In fact, the argument could be that with such open-ness at the start and with occasional updates to the public, personalities can

actually enjoy a level of privacy and peace dur-ing the treatment of their medical condition. But the real problem is thatof innuendo and rumour, particularly when apolitician falls ill. In India, even in the very recentpast, there have been clear cases of obfusca-tion of health details of senior politicians. Farfrom being secretive, constituents and the pub-lic have a right to know about the health con-ditions of the people who govern them. Andwhile the same may not always be true aboutother personalities, being open with health prob-lems is a good thing. This was evident whenformer Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaapassed away after a prolonged illness in

Chennai. With few updates and information being tightly controlled, it led to rumoursand speculation and near riot-like conditions. On the other hand, when External AffairsMinister Sushma Swaraj and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who fell ill, there was ahuge level of openness about their health conditions. In fact, the gregariousness ofthe latter while in hospital made matters worse apparently. But their cases should notbe exceptions, one feels that all people who govern directly or indirectly should makeat least any serious health issues slightly public and not be like Franklin Delano Rooseveltand hide their conditions in plain sight because the world has changed immenselysince the World War II. Movie stars and sports personalities are less public, their livesare often exposed thread-bare with their full backing in newspapers. By hiding anycondition these personalities believe they are protecting their privacy and financialinterests, but often find their lives a maelstrom of rumours. In the age of social mediaand rumours going viral in seconds with little control, going public yourself is thebest course of action we feel. Our thoughts and prayers are with Khan and his fam-ily as they begin their difficult journey of treating his conditions.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has, as Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singhwho has spent over 50 years in politics pointed out in New Delhi on Saturday,probably learnt over the past few years that unsubstantiated allegations against

political opponents do nothing to improve either the level of discourse or the desirefor better governance. Which is perhaps why while both the Congress and the AAPfought a spirited campaign against the Badals-led Punjab State Government in 2017,it was the former, which didn’t pull its punches either when it came to taking theAkali-BJP regime to task for the drug menace in the State spiralling out of controlon its watch, won the Assembly poll handsomely while the AAP, which targeted indi-viduals in and around the administration as the drug barons, put in an underwhelm-ing performance despite being in pole position as it was seen by many as compris-ing a fresh, idealistic bunch of non-career politicians. AAP characterising the erst-while Akali Dal-led Government in Punjab as “patronizing the drug mafia” could arguablybe explained away in terms of an articulation of public perception, but to name andon various platforms term the then Punjab Minister Bikram Singh Majithia as a “druglord”, who would be “dragged by his collar” to justice if it was voted to power, wasjust not on. We know that those in public life have to possess a thick skin but withabout 20 defamation cases against Kejriwal pending at various stages, including theone being prosecuted by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, it is equally true that

certain red lines have been crossed. Putanother way, imagine if a private citizen hadfalse and/or unsubstantiated allegationsthrown at him/her and was maligned in thismanner. Wouldn’t any innocent personhave rushed to bring the accuser to jus-tice with a criminal complaint of defama-tion, the only legal remedy available tohim/her? Therefore, the Delhi Chief Ministertendering an apology to Majithia, statingthat he realized that the allegations madewere “unfounded” and politics over thematter must now end, should be wel-comed. As must the news emanating fromthe AAP camp that similar apologies toother political opponents are in the pipelineto bring an end to the waste of time and

resources that could be much better employed in serving the people.Of course, there is a political backlash AAP is facing as a result of the apology

with its Punjab unit in virtual revolt, and there surely will be more pushback as andwhen the other apologies reportedly being planned are issued. But Kejriwal and histeam must take it all on the chin and go ahead with their plan to bring sanity backinto political conversations, even when between adversaries. And, crucially, if indeedan allegation is to be made in the future, whether against a political opponent or com-mon/garden variety of citizens aka the aam aadmi/aurat, it must be backed by legal-ly admissible proof that the allegation is not false and/or unsubstantiated. There isa larger question too: Can an apology undo the damage a falsehood has inflicted onan individual? Nevertheless, now that the battle of egos seems to be winding downand Kejriwal has decided not to expend his political energies and capital on court-room battles, he should use the opportunity to focus on governance. Ever since beingvoted to power with an unprecedented mandate, the AAP Government has gone someway, despite hiccups, in delivering on key promises made during its election cam-paign. From ensuring cheap supply of water and electricity to launching the odd-even scheme, fighting air pollution and educational reforms, building school infra-structure, to the Mohalla Clinic health scheme — the Kejriwal Government has shownit has the political will to bring about change working within the limitations theConstitutional scheme of things imposes on its powers. Long-term future of the partywill be decided not by hit-and-run politics or courtroom battles but how much theState where it has been elected to power has developed. His course-correction is asign that Kejriwal understands that AAP politics must continue to forge this new path.

Political prudence pays

In politics, as in life, apologizing for

unsubstantiated allegations is always prudent

opinion 08LUCKNOW | MONDAY | MARCH 19, 2018

The end of comfortin air travel

Private life, public health

Khan’s public disclosure about his health should

be applauded as a rare moment of opennessAccepting loss

Sir — This refers to the editori-al, “Roadblock for Modi” (March17). The recent setback for theBJP in Uttar Pradesh and Biharby-polls is indeed a wake-up callfor the party. It can no more reston the past laurels and needs tobuck up if it wants to come backto power in the 2019Parliamentary elections.

There can be no high or lowalways and one’s life is a mix ofboth. Like-wise, political partiescannot always expect victoriesand they have to face failures too.This is the law of nature. Peoplecan no longer be taken for grant-ed, for they know pretty wellwhen and whom should they votein and vote out.

While equanimity will winhearts, arrogance, on the other willkill. The BJP leaders, right from thetop to the lower down, should takenote of the mood of the people andact with tact to win their hearts.

VS Jayaraman Chennai

Andhra storm

Sir— This refers to the editorial,“Roadblock for Modi” (March17). Along with the no-confidencemotion, TDP’s ChandrababuNaidu has decided to bid adieu tothe NDA. This decision to makethe divorce complete came a weekafter he had withdrawn two of hisMinisters from the NarendraModi Government.

Following this move, otherMPs from Andhra Pradesh toomay resign. Admittedly, the BJP, inits enthusiasm to win the elections

in Andhra Pradesh promised spe-cial category status for 10 years, asagainst the five granted by the UPA.The fact that it thereafter went backon the promise has led the peopleof Andhra believe that it was justanother one of Modi’s jumlas.

But is the BJP worried aboutthe Andhra umbrage? Far from it.In fact, the BJP could not care lessabout the TDP exit. In the revolv-ing door policy that the BJP is like-ly to adopt in the southern State,the YSR Congress could be broughtpost 2019 if the BJP falls short ofnumbers. With just two MPs andfour MLAs, the BJP does not havehuge stakes in Andhra Pradesh andwould not lose sleep over Naiduwalking out of the marriage.

P ArihanthSecuderabad

Brilliant mind

Sir— The death of StephenHawking — the man who defiedthe ALS disease for several decades— has created a vacuum that cannever be filled. The remarkablephysicist’s work shaped moderncosmology. Although the wheel-chair-bound scientist lost the abil-ity to speak a few years after he wasdiagnosed with ALS, he kept giv-ing lectures by using speech synthe-sizer. His books that are written oncomplex and difficult concepts ofspace and time are often called lay-man’s guide to cosmology. Hawkingwill be missed by millions of peo-ple around the world. His legacyand work will live on forever.

Md Rustam Parwez Hyderabad

www.dailypioneer.com

p a p e r w i t h p a s s i o n

Send your feedback to: [email protected]

SOUNDBITE

Kashmir is, was and will be

ours always. No one can

take it from us. We not only

secure India within but can

also cross the border to

protect the country, if need-

ed. No one should take it

otherwise.

Union Home

Minister

—Rajnath Singh

KUSHANMITRA

Flying is becoming a chore and with airlines and aircraft companies filling in peoplelike sardines, there is a need for some intervention

I want to tell the Congress

and other Opposition

members that there is

confidence inside and

outside the House. That’s

why the BJP is ready to

face the no-con-

fidence motion.

Union Minister

—Ananth Kumar

ISA: A bold initiative to

test India’s capacity

This refers to the article, “ISA: Achche din for solar power”(March 16)by Kota Sriraj. As Indians, we are all proud that our country has reacheda place on the world stage where we can positively contribute to that

part of humanity which is lot less privileged and is still bereft of the sim-ple comforts of this century, irrespective of the place they live on this plan-et. Taking along 121 countries, mostly developing, in this stride is not amean task. This bold initiative will test India's capacity in leading a largegroup of diverse countries by its diplomatic, political, technological andeven financial expertise. Present dispensation in the country has shownthat promise.

Where solar energy will help countries like India and Brazil in the shiftfrom traditional fossil fuels and reduce their carbon footprints, many oth-ers will have almost a fresh and green beginning from the start with theirdevelopment and mobility. In this task, India would face two enormouschallenges. One could be from some other powerful countries who couldenviously view this initiative to derail it or slow it down. The other is athome where our manufacturing technology in solar PV and other equip-ment will have to be competitive globally in quality and durability and theirprice in order to serve those for whom this whole alliance is meant.

Prakash C DixitRishikesh

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The symbol of the hand

is the symbol of the

Congress. It can unite

the nation and take it for-

ward. Only the Congress

can show the way and

take the nation forward.

Congress president

—Rahul Gandhi

I have always been busy

working on films. I am

glad to be working

throughout my career so

far. I am happy that I have

got success in whatever I

have done.

Actor

—Rajpal Yadav

A GROWINGINTERDEPENDENCEBETWEEN PEOPLEWILL BRING NOT

JUST BETTERECONOMIC AND

SOCIAL GROWTH, ITSHOULD PLAY

A ROLE IN DE-ESCALATING

POTENTIALCONFLICTS AS WELL

In its 2014 poll manifesto, theBharatiya Janata Party had promisedto guarantee farmers a price equal

to 1.5 times the cost of production.However, the promise came too late,when Union Finance Minister ArunJaitely made the announcement in theBudget speech for 2018-19.

Later, replying to a debate inParliament, Jaitely clarified that the pro-duction cost would be taken as actualpaid out cost plus imputed value offamily labour (A2+FL). Actual paid outcost (A2) costs basically cover all paid-out expenses, both in cash and in kind,incurred by farmers on seeds, fertilis-ers, chemicals, hired labour, fuel andirrigation, whereas FL is the imputedvalue of unpaid family labour.

Under the extant dispensation, the

Commission for Agricultural Costs andPrices (CACP) adds to A2+FL, therental value of owned land and imput-ed cost/or interest on owned fixed cap-ital assets to arrive at what it calls ascomprehensive cost (C2 cost). Dubbedas a more comprehensive measure, C2cost forms the basis for determining theminimum support price (MSP). Therecommendations made by CACP arenormally accepted by the Government.

The clarification offered by Jaitelyon what should be the cost of produc-tion for the purpose of arriving at 50per cent mark up (albeit towards prof-it of farmers) has led to disappointmentamong farmers leaders who argue thatA2+FL is a narrow base and is out ofsync with the recommendation of theNational Commission on Farmers(NCF) under the chairmanship of MSSwaminathan.

In its fifth report submitted inOctober 2006, NCF had recommend-ed that MSPs, which act as a floor priceto avoid distress sales, should be “at least50 per cent more than the weightedaverage cost of production”. The recom-mendation did not specifically mention

the measure of costs that would be used.However, Swaminathan clarified:“When we recommended 50 per centover costs, we meant complete costscalled C2, which includes all assumedcosts”.

The clarification given by the ch-airman now cannot be taken to meanthat the Commission had meant it thatway. A recommendation emerges fromdeliberations and is based on consen-sus among members. The same prin-ciple applies to the clarification givenin respect to a recommendation. Inretrospect — after the report wasfinalised and submitted — it cannot besaid that Swaminathan’s clarificationnow would also have the approval ofother members.

On the substantive issue, the pro-posal for 50 per cent profit in additionto C2 costs is seriously flawed. First,it ignores the fact that already underC2, there are three components viz,imputed value of family labor, inter-est on own capital and rental value ofowned land which contribute to theincome of the farmer. Let us illustratewith an example.

In case of paddy, all-India weight-ed average A2 cost for 2017-18 Kharifseason, as projected by the CACP, is`840 per quintal; A2+FL cost: `1,117per quintal and C2 costs: `1,484 perquintal. In the total cost of `1,484 perquintal, the amount going towardsfarmer’s income is ̀ 644 per quintal. Ofthis, `277 per quintal is for familylabour and `367 per quintal for rentaland interest.

Now, team Swaminathan wants aprofit of 50 per cent to be given inaddition to ̀ 644 per quintal being theremuneration for the three factors ofproduction viz, land, labour and cap-ital brought in by the farmer himself.If we insist on the former, then it cancome only in substitution of the lat-ter. You cannot have both.

In this scenario of giving profit inlieu of imputed values for own land andcapital (A2+FL plus 50 per cent of A2),the MSP would be `1,537 per quintal.This is marginally higher by `53 perquintal over what the farmer is current-ly getting. So, the switch-over to newformula does not make any materialdifference vis-à-vis price received under

the extant dispensation. On the other hand, under

Swaminathan formula, the MSP willwork out to be `2,226 per quintal(1.5XC2) which is `742 per quintalhigher than the existing price. This maybe music to the farmers but it sacrificeson the principle in as much as it givesthem profit of 50 per cent over andabove the returns already built into C2.The figure also gets inflated due to a cal-culation flaw. When you take 50 percent of C2, which includes `367 perquintal for rental and interest, this tan-tamount to giving profit to these twocomponents as well. How can you givea return on return? This is patentlyabsurd. The extra cushion on this scoreworks out to ̀ 183 per quintal which istotally unjustified and untenable.

Clearly, computing MSP as 1.5times C2 cost suffers from seriousanomalies apart from the fact that thiswas not even the recommendation ofNCF. This should be avoided not justbecause this will have huge financialimplications and in turn, subsidy pay-ments under National Food SecurityAct (NFSA) but more so on the

ground that the methodology is flawed. What about the formula contem-

plated by the Government viz, MSPbased on 1.5 X (A2+FL)? This is freefrom giving return twice over first asimputed value of own capital andowned land and then, a component ofprofit. The price computed on this basisworks out to `1,675 per quintal. Thisis ̀ 191 per quintal higher than the priceunder existing C2 methodology.

But even in the Government’sformula, a calculation flaw remains.Herein, the profit is also given onimputed value of family labour. Thisresults in excess of `138 per quintal(0.5x277). This has to go. With thisadjustment, the price would be ̀ 1,537per quintal which is marginally high-er than the current price.

To conclude, it is a typical case of‘much ado about nothing’. The inter-ests of farmers are well protectedunder the existing mechanism of fix-ing MSP. The Government needs tofocus on ensuring that they actually getit on ground zero.

(The writer is a freelance journalist)

Challenge of reshaping textbooks

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | MARCH 19, 2018

I hereby withdraw all my statements and

allegations made against you (Bikram Singh

Majithia) and apologise for the same.

—Delhi Chief Minister

ARVIND KEJRIWAL

We cannot be associated with a party whose

main leader meekly surrendered by tendering

apology to Bikram Singh Majithia.

—LIP leader and MLA

SIMARJEET SINGH BAINS

POINTCOUNTERPOINT

It is indeed encouraging thattextbooks are under discussionon a nation-wide scale, conse-quent to the decision of theUnion Government to ‘reduce

the NCERT syllabus by one half ’. Incommon parlance, it is interpreted as(mere) trimming of the size (and, obvi-ously, the weight) of the textbooks.Even this has its relevance but that isnot the entire story of initiatives toreduce excessive burden of the bag andlet children get education withoutsacrificing the bliss, happiness and joyof childhood that is the birthright ofevery young one.

Union Human ResourceDevelopment Minister PrakashJavadekar’s courageous statement onthe reduction of the curriculum loadcould have far-reaching consequencesfor the future of the education system,its immediate implication being therewriting of textbooks. Parents areanxious and teachers are still ‘think-ing about its implications’. Childrenare expecting better days ahead.Incidentally, textbooks are generallyperceived as reading materials thatmust be mastered to sail throughexaminations, leading to a successfulcompletion of study. Their impact onfuture generations and the destiny ofthe nation usually escapes the atten-tion of most of the parents.

Planning and writing a textbook isa very sensitive process that requireshigh level of sensitivity, comprehensionand empathy, apart from professionalcompetence and commitment to thedelineated task. Those writing and pub-lishing textbooks; and also the agen-cies prescribing them, become part ofthe process of creating the future of thecountry. Not all of them comprehendthe importance of this responsibility.

A small, yet significant personalexperience could illustrate a couple ofthese aspects. One of the NCERT text-books of Class III had a quarter pagesketch titled, ‘The farmer is ploughingthe field’. A handwritten letter wasreceived by yours truly (as Director ofthe NCERT): “I am a student of classV. I was teaching my brother who is inclass III. In this book, the caption underthe sketch on that page is incorrect. Youmust correct your mistake.”

Immediately, the book wasperused. In the sketch, the farmer wasseen with the plough on his shoulderand a pair of bullocks standing near-by. Within half an hour, a handwrittenresponse from the NCERT Directorwas mailed, acknowledging the error,apologising, congratulating the boy ofclass V for the initiative and alsorequesting him to convey regards andrespects to his teachers and parents.

The MSS passes through a seriesof stages and even then how such anerror could go unseen and unchecked?Every textbook requires regular scruti-

ny, assessment and revision. TheNCERT stands enriched with morethan 60 years of experience in practi-cally every aspect of school and teachereducation which could indeed beunparalleled amongst institutions andorganisations with similar responsibil-ities anywhere. It could very wellclaim the credit for ushering theprocess of educational reforms atnational and State-level.

It has not only dexterously pre-pared curricula and syllabus, but alsotrained experts in textbook writing,evaluation of learning achievements,continuous and comprehensive evalu-ation (CUE), annual evaluation andgender sensitivity among others. Inpublic perception, it is often remem-bered, praised and criticised mostlyonly for its textbooks.

The present discourse aroundJavadekar’s statement on reducing cur-riculum load has also been shifted to‘curtailment in the size and volume ofthe NCERT textbooks’. Not many peo-ple are aware that the NCERT is anadvisory body not a statutory body andevery school education board has theauthority to take its own decision inmatters of curriculum, syllabus, exam-inations and other related issues.

The basic premise is that theNCERT shall set up levels and stan-dards. And every State board must aimat ensuring comparability with these sothat children are not put to any disad-vantage in all-India level competitions.It has generally been achieved becauseof close links established over thedecades between the NCERT, State-level agencies and experts spreadthroughout the country.

The process of load reductionshall involve every agency working inareas of education policies, program-

mers, teaching and evaluation, mate-rial development, IT induction, ped-agogical implications and severalother aspects. The major objective ofreducing the avoidable curriculumload is to encourage curiosity, creativ-ity, innovations and entrepreneurship.

Great attention should be paid totransform the content, pedagogyand work culture of each and everyteacher education institutions. Andthat, indeed, is a tough task. Whiletextbooks have to be redone to makethem leaner, practical experiencesmust be enhanced and innovationsmust be encouraged. The face ofteacher training institutions mustundergo a transformation.

One could safely state that 90 percent of these institutions pay littleattention to physical fitness andparticipation in outdoor activities.One can expect no visible change inlearning environment in schools ifteacher training institutions permitpurchase of lesson plans and projectwork from the market, just to com-plete the formalities.

Children would be extremelypleased to learn the views of MahatmaGandhi on textbooks: “I do not wantchildren to have any textbooks. Theteacher may, if they so wish, read them.We may write as much for them as weplease. If you write for children, youmay make the teachers mechanical anddestroy their originality and initiative.I do not, of course, wish to arrest theprogress of teachers…Where the peo-ple need their books; all means buythem, but please understand what liesbehind my attitude.”

Textbook is no longer the onlyresource available to students andteachers. The role and the presence ofa teacher shall become more valuable

as children would require guidance andcounseling in charting out the rightcourse and picking relevant informa-tion from the loads of information andknowledge emanating out of machines.

Every teacher shall require moreintensive application of his profes-sional competence and skills thatneeds to be renewed, upgraded andrefurbished continuously. New text-books, apart from laying only focuson reducing load, could also look intocertain other responsibilities that areemerging in the fast-changing sce-nario in education.

In the words of Mahatma Gandhi:“Pupils should know to discriminatebetween what should be received andwhat rejected. It is the duty of theteacher to teach his pupils discrimina-tion. If we go on talking indiscriminate-ly, we would be no better thanmachines. We are thinking, knowingbeings and must in this period distin-guish truth from untruth. Sweet fromthe bitter language, clean from theunclean, and so on.” Coming from avisionary blessed with unparalleledforesight, this could be considered astatement of expectations from educa-tion of the future.

To err is human and textbook writ-ers are no exception. The day a text-book is out of the Press, it is ready forrevision. It may include corrections,additions of new and necessary inputsand simultaneously removal of redun-dant and obsolesce. It is a continuousprocess and this is the strong point ofany organisation or publication housedealing with textbooks. Dynamic anddistinguished systems of education areever ready to take the next step aheadwhich will ultimately guarentee success.

(The writer is former Director,NCERT and an educationist)

Another empty promise to farmers?thinknow

Champions are

not the ones

who always

win races —

champions are

the ones who get

out there and try.

And try harder the

next time. And

even harder the

next time.

‘Champion' is a

state of mind.

They are devoted.

They compete to

best themselves

as much if not

more than they

compete to best

others.

Champions are

not just athletes.

—Simon Sinek

English author

Beginning of a

new era in China

The Government’s decision to drop curriculum load is welcome but not enough. Lighter textbookswith relevant course work and better teachers can well be the recipe for improved learning

The Government’s commitment to ensure a MSP for crops that is equal to 1.5 times the cost of production is much ado about nothing. Interests

of farmers are well protected under the existing mechanism of fixing MSP. The need is to focus on ensuring that they get it on ground zero

JS RAJPUT

UTTAM GUPTA

Given the nation's unique political arrangement, it is tobe seen how ‘complete economic transformation' willshape and converge in the new Constitutional scheme

REDUCTION INSYLLABUS NEEDS

TO BE AUGMENTEDBY GREATER

RIGOUR IN THEEVALUATION

PROCESS. EVERYTEACHER SHALLREQUIRE MORE

INTENSIVEAPPLICATION OF

HIS PROFESSIONALCOMPETENCE ANDSKILLS THAT NEEDTO BE RENEWED,UPGRADED ANDREFURBISHED

CONTINUOUSLY

The 13th Nat ionalPeople's Congress inChina has drawn antic-

ipated interest from schol-ars and experts in the coun-try. Given the steps toamend ‘two-term' limit onthe Presidency in China, thequestion of its larger impli-cation on domestic politics and China's outreach effortsremains a matter of analysis.

While the domestic media hailed the development, citing itsconcurrence with the realisation of ‘China dream', the globalmedia has identified this change with the proverb ‘President Xiforever' in China. While noting the limitation of Western notionsto understand the politics in developing world, The Global Timeseditorial identified “strong party leadership” a key componentto China's growth.

Interestingly, the office of the President has not alwaysremained important in China where we have seen examples ofYang Shangkun (1983-1987), or even Li Xiannian (1983-1987)holding ceremonial position subject to 1982 Constitution.However, what distinguishes Xi Jinping is that he not only holdsthe Presidency but also the office of the General Secretary ofthe Communist Party of China and is also the Chairman of theCentral Military Commission (CMC). He also heads more thana dozen ‘small policy groups' within the Government.

Despite too much focus on describing the amendment asmaking Xi Jinping President for life, what lies behind the sceneis how this transition towards ‘centralisation of power' withinthe party and the Government has happened in China over thelast five years. The real cause of concern should be the possi-ble rise of Xi and its implications. The two major trends thatreflect the current development are the increased role of ‘per-sonalities over institutions' and a shift towards ‘individual overcollective' leadership in China. In one sense, rather than build-ing institutional authorisation, the present changes reflect moreon promoting ‘authorisation of power' under the present regime.

Over the years, a system of collective leadership has beenbuilt into the Chinese political system but is more likely to facea challenge given the latest amendments. After the end of DengXiaoping rule, the next two decades in China witnessed a ruleby Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, who steered the process of eco-nomic reform under the same principle. The system of collec-tive leadership was much able to form a stable, accommoda-tive and transferable ruling arrangement in China. As Xi tookthe centre-stage with the ‘core leadership', he has effectively‘overturned the consensus-driven collective leadership model’.With the recent changes, it would be interesting to see how Chinaachieves a delicate balance between both.

In recent years, the issue of corruption has been an age-oldphenomenon and penetrated deep into the Chinese system. Underthe present regime, the anti-graft campaign has been a key poli-cy priority for the ruling establishment. The anti-graft campaignhas been more about managing the scope and consequences ofcorrupt practices than rooting them out altogether. This not onlygot him popular with the masses, enforcing discipline within theparty, responding to some contending voices, but also combinedit with rule of law promotion.

Most likely to defy the age limit, he is set to become China'sVice President, marking an important shift from established prac-tices in China. The same has been the case with China's SupremePeople's Court (SPC) chief Zhou Qiang, who himself has beenthe country's most vocal critics of judicial independence. As thetrend shows, China seems more tilting towards the importanceof personalities over institutions in the political system. All thesedevelopments have helped the present leadership strengthen itshold on power in China.

The Communist Party of China (CPC) says that the coun-try faces unprecedented new challenges, which demand strongleadership. As China moved from revolution to reform and nowtowards rejuvenation, the call for strong leadership seems close-ly tied to the objective of Chinese dream. While some say it istoo early to pre-judge if President Xi will go for the third term,no doubt, ending the two-term limit ignores the painful lessonand vulnerabilities of unaccountable power centralisation dur-ing the Maoist era, which the party itself attributes of being ‘70per cent right and 30 per cent wrong'.

The ‘two sessions’ also discussed the plan for economicreform and innovation, along with other two focus areas beinganti-corruption and protection of the environment. China is stand-ing at a new historic juncture of development as socialism withChinese characteristics has entered a new era. Against such back-ground, it would be interesting to see in the future if the party'stheory and Constitution, the fundamental law for State gover-nance, are both evolving with the times and in a right direction.Given the recent developments, it remains futuristic how the‘complete economic transformation' of China, based on reformand development, will shape and converge in the newConstitutional scheme given China's unique political arrange-ment.

(The writer is a PhD candidate at the School ofInternational Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University; and Fellow,South Asia Democratic Forum, Brussels, Belgium)

ABHISHEKPRATAP SINGH

3rdeye 09

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | MARCH 19, 2018 nation 10

PTI n MUMBAI

Budget carrier IndiGo, whose11 A320neo aircraft powered

by Pratt & Whitney (P&W)engines are grounded due tosafety concerns, on Sunday hadto pull out one more such aircraftfrom service.

The A320 neo aircraft, bear-ing registration number VT-ITX, has not flown since 8:45amon Sunday after landing at NewDelhi's Indira Gandhi interna-tional Airport (IGIA), accordingto FlightRadar24, a flight-track-ing website.

According to a source, theairline was forced to ground theaircraft after metal chip particleswere detected in the jet's engineoil after it completed theBengaluru-New Delhi flight thismorning.

This is the third incident ofan IndiGo A320neo, fitted withP&W engines, facing a glitchsince the grounding of 11 aircrafton March 12. IndiGo, however,in a statement said that the air-

craft was "proactively with-drawn" in Delhi for a mainte-nance check to attend to a defectreported by the pilot.

"These maintenance checksare part of a comprehensiveprogramme of early detection.During the maintenance check,metal chips were observed onengine number 1, (and) number3 bearing chip detector, which isa known concern on the Neoengine," the airline said.

Aviation regulatorDirectorate General of CivilAviation (DGCA) had on March12 ordered the grounding of 11A320Neo planes fitted withP&W1100 engines beyond ESN450 series due to recurring prob-lems, including mid-air shut-downs. Of these, eight belong toIndiGo and the rest are of GoAir.Another three A320Neos ofIndiGo are already on theground since February.

Today's incident comesahead of the submission of anaffidavit by the DGCA nextweek to the Bombay High Court,

in response to a PIL, on the stepstaken by it to quell the anxiety ofpassengers over issues related tothese engines.

A city resident, HarishAgarwal, in his PIL has soughtappropriate directions to thecivil aviation authorities overrecent reports that certain 'Pratt& Whitney (P&W) engines',which power A320neo planes,were more susceptible to enginefailures.

Concerns over the safety ofsuch planes increased withanother engine failure forcing theemergency landing of an IndiGoflight at Ahmedabad airport onMarch 12.

This had forced the regula-tor to crack the whip saying thatthere was no concrete proposalin place at this stage to addressthe issue.

On March 16 too, oil chipwas detected on engine 2 of theVT ITE (A320neo) atHyderabad and the plane had tobe ferried to Delhi after obtain-ing the DGCA's nod.

Another IndiGo A320neo withdrawnover P&W faulty engine concerns

IANS n VARANASI

The holy city of Varanasi issoon likely to get a railway

station named "Banaras".The Railway Ministry is

considering renaming theManduadih railway station asBanaras railway station.

Manduadih is among oneof the four railway stations inthe city besides VaranasiJunction, popularly known asVaranasi Cantt RailwayStation, Varanasi City andKashi. Minister of State forRailway Manoj Sinha told agroup of journalists: "There isa proposal to change the nameof Manduadih railway station.The Ministry is considering it.We have already stations in thenames Varanasi and Kashi.Only the name of Banaras isleft out."

Manduadih is a place inVaranasi situated about fourkilometers from Varanasi CantStation. The DieselLocomotive Works (DLW),where engine parts of thetrain are manufactured, is sit-uated near Manduadih.

Varanasi, also calledBanaras and Kashi, was chosenin 2014 by Narendra Modi tocontest the Lok Sabha pollsfrom city of Uttar Pradesh.

The name Varanasi is saidto be derived from combina-tion of 'Varuna' and 'Asi' — thenames of rivers. Kashi is theancient name of Varanasi.

Dushyant Rai, theRajbhasha consultant in theRailway Board, welcomed themove.

"The name Banaras means'bana rahe ras'. This wordreflects the real culture of thecity. The people in Banaras

enjoy everything. Be it 'geet-sangeet, puja-path and alsomisthanna-paan'," said Rai,who hails from the city.

A top railway official ofVaranasi division told IANS:"The name Manduadih does-n't sound good and doesn'tconnect with the legacy ofBanaras which the nameBanaras does."

Mughalsarai Junction isanother important stationlocated near Varanasi whosename was changed to DeenDayal Upadhyay junction inOctober 2017 after the BJPcame to power in UttarPradesh.

A plan to change the nameof a railway station goesthrough a long process. Itmust be cleared by the HomeMinistry after a state sends aproposal of renaming a stationto the Ministry of Railways.

Manduadih to be renamedBanaras railway station

PTI n JAMMU

The Jammu and KashmirGovernment on Sunday

said it would take full care oftwo injured sisters after theirentire family, including theirparents and three brothers werekilled in Pakistani shelling alongthe LoC in Poonch district.

"The Government will takefull care of the two minor girls,who have no one left to lookafter them in the family," saidState works Minister NaeemAkhtar, who is also theGovernment spokesperson.

The Minister visited theGovernment Medical CollegeHospital (GMCH) to enquireabout the condition of the girls- Naureen and Mehreen - whowere airlifted here for treatment.

Akhtar asked the doctors atGMCH Jammu to provide thebest available medical treat-ment to the girls. He said theGovernment is taking all theadministrative measures toreach out to the affected popu-lation in the area.

The hospital authoritiestold Akhtar that the injured girlsare being provided best possi-ble treatment and one of themhad to undergo surgery and isnow recuperating.

The minister expresseddeep anguish over the loss oflives on the borders duringcross-border firing.Five mem-bers of their family were killedwhen Pakistani troops resortedto heavy mortar shelling inBalakote sector of Poonch thismorning.

Will take care of two

sisters injured in LoC

shelling: J&K Govt

PTI n HYDERABAD

Vice President M VenkaiahNaidu on Sunday said he

was disturbed at the 'unrulybehaviour' and 'unparliamen-tary language' in legislaturesand stressed the need to moveaway from the current envi-ronment of settling scores andto make a new beginning.

Expressing anguish over theevents (frequent disruptions)in Parliament and state legisla-tures, Naidu, quoting MahatmaGandhi, said there was no placefor violence in legislatures.

"Let us recall Gandhiji'swise words:No perfect democ-racy is possible without perfectnon-violence at the back of it. Solet us abjure violent emotions,violent speech and violentactions. Let us discuss, debateand decide in a dignified man-ner," the Vice President said.

Though Naidu, who is alsochairman of the Rajya Sabha,did

not refer to any particular legis-lature, his comments today comein the backdrop of the logjam inParliament and the recent inci-dents in the Telangana Assembly.

In the joint session of theTelangana Assembly on March12, an object flung at the dais bymain Opposition Congressmembers hit the legislativecouncil chairman in his eye,injuring him.

The slogan-shoutingCongress members had earlieraccused the TRS Government ofbeing "anti-farmer", torn papersand flung them in the air.

Addressing the firstNational ConsultationConference on 'Swarajya toSurajya: Taking Forward theGood Governance Agenda"here, Naidu, according to anofficial release, urged legislatorsto argue with the force of logicand conviction, rather than stallthe proceedings through bruteforce.

Disturbed at trendsof unruly behaviourin legislatures: V-P

PTI n SRINAGAR

Former Jammu and KashmirChief Minister Omar

Abdullah on Sunday calledupon India and Pakistan touphold the ceasefire on theLine of Control (LoC), sayinginnocent lives were being lostto border skirmishes.

"Ceasefire was the bestgift India and Pakistan gave tothe areas near the border andthe LoC, but since the last fewyears, we are continuouslyseeing that it has remainedconfined to paper only. It isnot being implemented. Irequest both New Delhi as wellas Islamabad to please followthe ceasefire as part of theCBMs (confidence building

measures)," Abdullah said.Innocent lives are being

lost, he said and referred to thekilling of five members of afamily in Pakistani shellingtoday. The former J&K ChiefMinister added that two girlswere in hospital.

"This is too much. Wewant there should be peace onthe border and the LoC,"Abdullah said.

The National Conference(NC) working president wasspeaking to reporters after aparty convention at DamhalHanjipora in south Kashmir'sKulgam district on the occa-sion of the 23rd death anniver-sary of NC leader and formerspeaker Wali MuhammadItoo.

Taking a dig at ChiefMinister Mehbooba Mufti,Abdullah asked what hap-pened to her announcement ofan inquiry into the allegationsof nepotism in the recruitmentin Khadi Village and Industrial

Board (KVIB)."The Chief Minister, three

weeks before, had assured theyouth of the State that aninquiry will be conducted intoback-door appointments inKVIB. But, even as three weekshave passed, we have not gota copy of the order from thesecretariat. Are her directionsnot be implemented or has shebefooled the youth?" he saidattacking the ruling party.

The former Chief Ministersaid the Chief Minister stood"relegated by her allies as erst-while exclusive jurisdictions ofthe Chief Minister and theState Government had beeneffectively shifted to the cen-tral Government and theUnion Ministry of HomeAffairs".

Mehbooba Mufti has sum-marily surrendered her powerto take decisions and has pre-cious little to offer to the peo-ple beyond photo-ops andpress statements, he alleged.

Omar asks India-Pakto observe ceasefireAttacks PDPof not beingsincere

Villagers gather near the mud house destroyed by cross-border shelling between Indian and Pakistan along the Line of Control(LoC) to mourn the death of five members of a family in Balakote sector of Poonch in Jammu on Sunday PTI

PTI n GANDHINAGAR

Niti Aayog Vice ChairmanRajiv Kumar on Sunday

said that while Gujarat hasdone very well in industriali-sation, it will need to do somecatching-up in the health andeducation sectors.

Kumar met Chief MinisterVijay Rupani and senior Stateofficials here.

"Gujarat's achievements ineducation and health are notlike those in other areas likeindustrialisation, infrastruc-ture and energy....It lags behindin these two (health and edu-cation). I talked about thiswith the State Government," hesaid, speaking to reporters afterthe meeting.

He was happy to learnfrom the Government thatbudgetary allocations for healthand education have been

increased for 2018-19, Kumarsaid.

He was told that the stateis planning "big success thisyear itself " in the health sector,and district collectors havebeen asked to pay special atten-tion to child malnutrition andthe maternal mortality ratio, hesaid.

The Niti Aayog will helpGujarat set up the proposedCoastal Economic Zones whichaim to spur economic activitiesalong the State coast, he said.

"The issue of CoastalEconomic Zones betweenKandla and Jamnagar wasraised, and I believe this can bea very good initiative. If these(Zones) are formed, I can talkto relevant departments of theCentral Government to take itforward," Kumar said.

"The Chief Minister laid alot of emphasis on the need to

take up (creation of) Zones,and I will see how this can bemade possible. It will be a bigstep towards industrialisationin the State," he said.

Kumar further said thatthe Niti Aayog will help theState Government in disposalof around 8.5 lakh tons ofgroundnut procured fromfarmers at a price higher thanthe Minimum Support Price(MSP).

The Aayog has alsorequested the StateGovernment to share details ofits desalination plant project,so that it can be replicated inother coastal States, he said.

"We will see how it can beimproved further in Gujaratand implemented in othercoastal States to make it cost-effective. If the desalinationplant runs on solar energy, thecost will drop further," he said.

PTI n JAMMU

Tibetan spiritual leader theDalai Lama on Sunday said

issues should be resolvedthrough dialogue and Indianeeds to play its role in ensuringa peaceful 21st century.

Opposing the arms raceand nuclear weapons, he saidviolence leads to counter vio-lence and the cycle continuesunabated.

This cycle should be brokento make the world a better placeto live in, the Dalai Lama saidhere at the first convocation ofthe Central University of Jammu(CUJ), which was established inAugust 8, 2011.

"The only way to createpeace, is we must develop willpower no matter how compli-cated the situation is and try toresolve issues through dialogue,"he said.

Dialogue will be successfulif views of opposite parties arerespected and their interests aretaken into consideration, the

spiritual leader said."India's ancient knowledge is

very relevant in todays world toachieve a peaceful 21st century.The 21st century must be a cen-tury of peace and India can playa major role to achieve thisgoal," he said.

The world is going throughimmense violence and there is athreat of use of nuclear weapons,and "if you think it will make theworld a place, the answer, I

think, is simply no", the DalaiLama said.

The world presently has toomuch violence and it seems thatthe 20th century belongs toarmies, he said.

"No matter how sincere themotivation (for violence) is andonce there is involvement of mil-itary forces, it will have unpre-dictable consequences," the DalaiLama warned. Differences willalways be there. But in order to

face these differences, the use offorce cannot be justified, the spir-itual leader.

Once violence is committed,it "leads to counter violence anda chain cycle", he said referringto the 2003 Iraq war.

"I had written a letter to for-mer US president George WBush and suggested non-violentmeasures… What happened,today the entire Arab world isengulfed (in violence). I feel awrong policy was one of the fac-tors that increased hatredtowards the US," the Dalai Lamasaid. The US, Russia and even asmall country like North Korea,is developing deadly weaponsand "if it continues, the 21st cen-tury would be a century of dis-aster", he warned.

"Basic human nature is morecompassionate and constantanger and fear is actually eatingour immune system," he said.

Mentioning India's rich cul-ture and ethos, he said the coun-try's 1,000-year-old tradition isof secularism, non-violence and

religious harmony. "India's Constitution is also

based on secular credentials andaccording to Indian under-standing it means respect for allreligions. People from differentfaiths live peacefully in Jammuand Kashmir.

"I think religious harmony isreally marvelous in the whole ofIndia and it is the only countrywhere people of different reli-gions live together which issomething very unique in todaysworld," he said.

The Dalai Lama said thatmodern education methods hadfailed to help reduce violence andthat India was the only nationthat can combine modern edu-cation and its ancient knowledgeto achieve peace.

"Modern knowledge hasgiven us physical comfort butancient Indian knowledge hasthe power to provide inner com-fort and peace. You can combinethe two. Ancient Indian knowl-edge is very relevant in todaysworld," he said.

Issues should be resolved through dialogue: Dalai Lama

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama speaks during the 1st Convocation of CentralUniversity of Jammu 2018 at General Zorawar Singh Auditorium in Jammu onSunday PTI

Gujarat lagging behind inhealth, edu: Niti Aayog VC

T N RAGHUNATHA n MUMBAI

Warning the people ofthe efforts being made

in certain quarters to engineer“communal riots” acrosscountry on the Ram Mandirissue to win elections, MNSchief Raj Thackeray onSunday night called upon allthe Opposition parties tocome together to ensure“Modi-Mukt” Bharat in the2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing a largelyattended “Gudi Padwa” rallyat the Shivaji Park here, acombative Raj said: “Underthe prevailing situation inthe country now, what weshould do is to fight for thirdfreedom in the country. Weneed is ‘Modi Mukt’ Bharat. Iappeal to all the Oppositionparties to come together toherald `Modi Mukt’ Bharat inthe country, in 2019 polls”.

Castigating Modi for “tak-ing the people in the countrythrough his lies”, the MNSchief said: “If Modi is allowedto continue in power after

2019, he will ruin the coun-try”. Charging that a movewas afoot in certain quartersto engineer riots in variousparts of the country to “winelections”, the MNS chief said:“I have definite informationthat there will be communalriots in the coming months onthe issue of Ram Mandir.These riots are being organ-ised to win elections. We def-initely want Ram Mandir butnot to serve someone’s vestedinterests.

I do not mind RamMandir being built at Ayodhyaeven after the 2019 Lok Sabhapolls. But, we should ensure

that the BJP does not politicisethe Ram Mandir issue to winelections”.

In his vehement criticismof the demonetisation move,Raj said: “If there were to bea change in Government inthe country in 2019, the newGovernment would definite-ly order an inquiry into thedemonetisation move. I cansay that the demonetisation isthe biggest scam that thecountry has seen since itsIndependence in 1947”.

The MNS chief chargedthat after failing to separateMumbai from Maharashtra,the Modi Government was

desperately trying to mar-ginalise Mumbai to benefitAhmedabad and Gujarat.“After Modi took over as thePrime Minister, the proposedinternational business centreat Bandra-Kurla complex inMumbai was moved toAhmedabad. The Air Indiaheadquarter, which was allalong in Mumbai, was shift-ed to Delhi. The moves tointroduce bullet train andstart an expressway betweenMumbai and Baroda are allaimed at benefiting Gujarat”.

Raj charged that insteadof being uniform to all statesin the country, Modi as thePrime Minister has been par-t ial towards Gujarat .“Whenever a foreign digni-tary comes to India, he makesit point to take him toGujarat. Why are the foreignleaders not taken to otherIndian cit ies thanAhmedabad?,” he asked, as heread out the list of foreignleaders whom Modi hadtaken to Gujarat during thelast four years.

Alluding to Raffle air-craft deal, Raj wondered:“Why does not Modi talkabout the Raffle contract?Why does Defence MinisterNirmala Seetharam feignignorance about AnilAmbani’s stake in the deal.The Raffle aircraft deal ismuch bigger than the Boforsscam”.

Raj was critical of boththe Modi Government at theCentre and DevendraFadnavis Government in theState. “Both theseGovernments have failed tokeep their promises. Modi liesthrough his teeth. TheFadnavis Government isGovernment of middlemen”

Slamming the electronicmedium for failing to performits duty, Raj said: “The tele-vision channels continuouslyran stories on Sridevi’s deathfor three days. What heldthem from doing stories onthe death of Judge Loya? TheModi Government has fin-ished the independence ofboth the media and courts”.

Raj Thackrey gives call for ‘Modi-mukt Bharat’“If there were to be a change in

Government in the country in2019, the new Government

would definitely order an inquiryinto the demonetisation move. Ican say that the demonetisation

is the biggest scam that thecountry has seen since its

Independence in 1947”

Telangana CM to meet Didi today

SAUGAR SENGUPTA n KOLKATA

Indicating their eagerness tostrike a nationwide anti-BJP

alliance Telangana ChiefMinister K Chandrashekhar Raois likely to meet his Bengalcounterpart Mamata Banerjeeon Monday, sources said.

In an apparent bid exhibit-ing the urgency for the dialogueRao will come calling to Kolkatafor a few hours and fly back toHyderabad, sources said.

Though sources in theTrinamool Congress said theBengal Chief Minister was equal-ly eager to replace the BJP witha “widely acceptable alterna-tive,” they refused to commenton Rao’s initiative to form anti-BJP alliance keeping theCongress out of it.

“Talks are going on amongthe parties opposed to the BJP.Mr Rao is a senior leader whohas also taken the initiative likeMamata Didi. It is too prematureto speak on the outcome of the

talks. But one thing is sure theBJP will have to pay dearly for itsarrogance and misrule,” said aBengal Minister when asked tocomment on whether it was pos-sible to keep the Congress out ofa comprehensive system ofalliance. The Minister was react-ing to news agency reports quot-ing statements emanating fromthe Chief Minister’s office atHyderabad. “In the backdrop ofTelangana Chief Minister callingfor a qualitative change in poli-tics he will meet and hold dis-cussions with West Bengal ChiefMinister Mamata Banerjee onMarch,” the statement saidadding the meeting could takeplace around 4 pm where afterRao would fly back toHyderabad.

The Telangana ChiefMinister had earlier held a tele-phonic conversation withBanerjee on March 4 and wasassured of support by her. “I amin agreement with you and I willlike to work with you,” Banerjee

reportedly told her Telenganacounterpart.

Meanwhile, in an unrelat-ed development, statues ofeminent personalities contin-ued ‘suffer’ at the hands of mis-chief mongers: this time agroup of miscreants smearingthe statue of first PrimeMinister Jawaharlal Nehru inblack at Katwa town inBurdwan district.

The face of the bust wasfound at Katwa a pilgrimagetown in East Burdwan district,police said even as theCongress immediately lay theblame at BJP door though thelatter denied charges.

The incident that tookplace late on Saturday eveningfollows similar incidents inKolkata and Hooghly wherethe statues of Shyama PrasadMukherjee were smeared andTripura where the statue ofRussian Bolshevik leader V.I.Lenin was pulled down withthe help of a bulldozer.

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | MARCH 19, 2018 money 11

The Agriculture Ministry isdetermined to accomplish thegoal of doubling farmers' incomeby 2022 and is working with fullcommitment to achieve thisgoal––Union Minister Radha Mohan Singh

NBCC is always scouting forgrowth opportunities in existingand new sectors. With theGovernment's thrust towardsroads and highwaysconstruction, we foreseeimmense opportunities in thisspace––Anoop Kumar Mittal, CMD, NBCC

GOVERNMENT

FROM

BUZZ

PTI n NEW DELHI

Demonetised `500 and`1,000 notes, whichhave been counted and

processed for genuineness, areshredded and briquettedbefore being disposed ofthrough a tendering process,the Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has said.

The central bank had ear-lier estimated the value of old`500 and `1,000 notesreceived, as on June 30, 2017,at `15.28 trillion.

“Old currency notes whichinclude demonetised `500 and`1,000 notes are counted andprocessed in sophisticated cur-rency verification and pro-cessing system. The notesprocessed are shredded andbriquetted in the shreddingand briquetting systeminstalled in various RBI

offices,” the RBI said in replyto an RTI query filed by a PTIcorrespondent.

Once compressed into‘bricks', the shredded notes aredisposed off through a ten-dering process, according tothe reply.

“RBI does not recycle suchprocessed notes,” the RBI said.

At least 59 sophisticatedCurrency Verification andProcessing (CVPS) machinesare in operation in variousbranches of RBI across thecountry to process demone-tised notes for their arith-metical accuracy and gen-uineness.

The Government had onNovember 8, 2016 banned theuse of `500 and `1,000 notesand allowed the holders ofthese currency bills to depositthem with banks or use themat certain notified utilities.

In its annual report for2016-17 released on August30 last year, the RBI said`15.28 lakh crore, or 99 percent of the demonetisednotes, had returned to thebanking system.

The central bank said inthe report, for the year endedJune 30, 2017, that only

`16,050 crore of the `15.44lakh crore in old highdenomination notes had notreturned.

As on November 8, 2016,there were 1,716.5 crore piecesof `500 and 685.8 crore piecesof `1,000 notes in circulation,totalling `15.44 lakh crore, ithad said.

PTI n NEW DELHI

The Government said onSunday that 50 nations will

engage in free and frank dis-cussions on global trade herethis week to explore the optionsfor resolving various issuesand re-invigorating the WorldTrade Organization (WTO).

Representatives from 50countries will be gathering inNew Delhi today and tomor-row for an informal WTOministerial meeting.

“The informal meeting ofministers will provide anopportunity to engage in freeand frank discussions with thehope that it will lead to politi-cal guidance on some majorissues,” the Ministry ofCommerce and Industry saidin a statement.

It will look at the issuesboth at the negotiating tableand also in other areas.

Commerce Secretary RitaTeaotia had said recently thatthe meeting would be more ofan ‘ice-breaker’ as it is beingheld after the collapse of talksat the Buenos Aires WTOMinisterial in December.

When asked if there wouldbe a statement by the Chair at

the end of the meeting, she hadsaid it would be for the mini-ministerial to decide.

The ministry's statementfurther said: “In the absence ofministerial guidance at theEleventh MinisterialConference (MC 11) that took

place from 10 to 13 December2017 in Buenos Aires,Argentina, it is hoped that theNew Delhi meeting will pro-vide an opportunity for minis-ters to explore in greater detailthe options on different issuesfor re-invigorating the WTO.”

It further said that safe-guarding and strengtheningthe multilateral trading sys-tem was never as important asit is today, and the WTO isalso facing systemic chal-lenges, particularly its disputesettlement arm.

PTI n NEW DELHI

The Ministry of CorporateAffairs is considering a pro-

posal to seek passport details ofall individuals, who have beenpermitted to serve as directors onthe board of companies in a bidto prevent loan defaulters likeNirav Modi and Mehul Choksileaving the country.

In case, a person withDirector Identification Number(DIN) does not have a passport,the ministry plans to obtain a cer-tificate in the form of declarationthat the person does not have thepassport, sources said.

It is also proposed that theprospective DIN seekers willhave to submit passport detailsfor obtaining the 8-digit uniqueid provided by the ministry.

The DIN application formwill be suitably modified toinclude the passport detail col-umn, sources said, adding that itis contingent upon the proposalbeing approved by the ministry.

Passport details at the digi-tal warehouse will help authori-ties to take timely action andcheck fraudsters from fleeing thecountry. In absence of passportdetails, authorities were con-strained in taking swift action to

prevent defaulters especially wil-ful ones from fleeing the coun-try. Several big defaulters likeNirav Modi, Mehul Choksi, VijayMallya and Jatin Mehta have fledthe country, putting recoverymechanism in quandary.

Earlier this month, theFinance Ministry asked the banksto collect passport details of bor-rowers taking loans of ̀ 50 croreand more over 45 days.

Last week, the governmenttabled a bill seeking to confiscateall the assets of absconding fraud-sters against the outstandingloan. The Fugitive EconomicOffenders Bill 2018 aims toimpound and sell assets of fugi-tives such as Nirav Modi, who isalleged to be behind the nearly`13,000 crore fraud at PunjabNational Bank.

The law will apply to default-ers who have an outstanding of`100 crore or more and haveescaped from the country.

The Bill tabled in the LokSabha provides for ‘measures todeter fugitive economic offend-ers from evading the process oflaw in India by staying outsidethe jurisdiction of Indiancourts, to preserve the sancti-ty of the rule of law in India andfor matters connected there-with or incidental thereto’.

As per the statement ofobjects and reasons of the Bill,there have been severalinstances of economic offend-ers fleeing the jurisdiction ofIndian courts anticipating thecommencement of criminalproceedings.

PTI n NEW DELHI

With only 16 per cent ofthe summary sales

returns under GST matchingwith the final returns, theRevenue Department hasstarted to analyse major gapswith a view to check any pos-sible tax evasion.

According to the GSTreturns data, 34 per cent of busi-nesses paid `34,400 crore lesstax between July-Decemberwhile filing initial summaryreturn (GSTR-3B).

These 34 per cent of thebusinesses have paid ̀ 8.16 lakhcrore to the exchequer by filingGSTR-3B, whereas analysis oftheir GSTR-1 data show thattheir tax liability should havebeen `8.50 lakh crore.

As per the analysis by theRevenue Department, initialreturns filed and taxes paid by16.36 per cent of the busi-nesses have matched withtheir final returns and tax lia-bility. They paid a total tax of`22,014 crore.

However, the data alsoshowed that there was excess taxpayment of `91,072 crore by49.36 per cent of businesses reg-istered under GST between

July-December. While they havepaid ̀ 6.50 lakh crore as GST, theGSTR-1 filed by them showsthat their liability should havebeen `5.59 lakh crore.

The Revenue Departmenthas analysed the Goods andServices Tax (GST) returnsdata filed by over 51.96 lakhbusinesses during July-December, 2017. The indirecttax reform GST was rolled outfrom July 1, 2017.

EY Partner Abhishek Jainsaid: “While the differences inthe liabilities reported in GSTR-1 vis-a-vis that in GSTR-3Bwould need to be analysed indetail by the Government, oneof the contributor to the differ-ence could be non-considera-tion of credit/debit notes in the

GSTR-1 data which would havebeen considered for GSTR-3Bnumbers”.

The GST Council, headedby Finance Minister Arun Jaitleyand comprising state counter-parts, had on March 10 decid-ed to further analyse data gapsbetween self declared liability inGSTR-1 and the taxes actuallypaid while filing GSTR-3B.

AMRG & AssociatesPartner Rajat Mohan said:“84 per cent of taxpayersreporting incorrect revenuestatements, is a matter of con-cern. Triumph of GST dependson self-assessment mechanismfor which we have to adoptcompletely bias-free, indepen-dent, automated, and digitalTax regime, which would beimpossible if such high num-ber of taxpayers are commit-ting errors in data entry”.

As per a FinanceMinistry reply to the LokSabha, GST mop up was`93,590 crore in July, `93,029crore in August, `95,132 crorein September and `85,931crore in October. The collec-tions in November stood at`83,716 crore, December(`88,929 crore) and January(`88,047 crore).

PTI n NEW DELHI

In a major clampdown on unregis-tered investment advice being

offered online, regulator Securitiesand Exchange Board of India (SEBI)has barred the ‘Fatal Attraction’fame research analyst AnirudhSethi from the securities market,while asking him to refund the feescollected from investors.

In its probe, SEBI found multipledeposit entries of `36,000 in Sethi'sbank account from different parts ofthe country from April 1, 2013 toApril 20, 2016, which he said wastaken from traders and investorsseeking financial advice on globalmarkets.

The probe, which included scruti-ny of website details and posts, tweets,bank account details and income taxreturns, also found total credit of over`10 crore in Sethi's bank account dur-ing the period under probe.

His tax returns showed that Sethiearned over `2 crore as net income

from 'investment adviser services'during the financial year 2014-15,about `28 lakh during 2015-16 andover `13 lakh in 2016-17.

In its 25-page order, SEBI said ithad barred in January 2007 Sethi andhis extant business 'Stock MarketNavigator' from giving investmentadvice to clients including any com-pany-specific recommendations thatviolated the regulations.

Sethi had given an undertakingsubsequently that he would publisharticles containing technical analysiswithin the rules and regulations pre-scribed by SEBI.

Again in July 2009, SEBI had cau-tioned Sethi of his dealings in secu-rities market and asked him to strict-ly follow his undertaking.

SEBI said it found in January 2016that Sethi was providing services as aninvestment adviser and research ana-lyst and offering payment-based sub-scription plans through his website,after which the regulation launcheda scrutiny of his website and Twitter

posts and sought details from him.The regulator asked him to pro-

vide details of the 'Fatal Attraction'scheme offered through his website,while it also sought details fromICICI Bank regarding his account.

SEBI subsequently passed aninterim order against Sethi in May 26,wherein it also noted that he main-tained an active social media presencethrough a Twitter handle with alarge number of followers and histweets were mostly in the nature ofstock specific recommendations andprice targets.

SEBI also found that 'FatalAttraction' was a subscription basedservice through which Sethi wasproviding general investors technicalanalysis on stocks, futures and options,commodities and currencies, whilepromising profit.

Pursuant to the interim order,Sethi made further submissions beforethe regulator including through per-sonal hearing and said he was onlyproviding educational articles and

posts and his website gave advice onglobal markets, not on Indian markets.

He also told SEBI that the web-site being referred by the regulatorwas owned and operated by anAmerican citizen. The regulator,however, ruled that Sethi failed toprove his claim and the websiteitself mentioned Anirudh Sethi

being ‘our key mind’ and was foundto be registered and administeredby him only.

SEBI said Sethi has been foundoffering unregistered investmentadviser services and unregisteredresearch analyst services in exchangefor fees, in the form of variousschemes such as subscription based

services and seminars and thereforewas in violation of the regulations.

Noting that Sethi was eligible toapply for registration as an investmentadviser till October 21, 2013, SEBIsaid his bank accounts show credit ofabout `7.35 crore from October 22,2013 till April 20, 2016 and thisamount needs to be refunded.

However, the amount to berefunded may go higher dependingon further details such as aboutinvestor complaints, payment vouch-ers and bank account transactions.

In its order, SEBI asked Sethi torefund the money collected from hisclients, issue public notices withmodalities of the refund and not todivert any funds raised from theinvestors. Sethi has also been askedto submit a certificate from aChartered Accountant after therepayments within three months, fail-ing which SEBI would initiate recov-ery proceedings against him.

SEBI also barred Sethi from alldirect or indirect dealings in securi-ties market till four years from thedate of refund, while he has alsobeen restrained for four yearsfrom associating with any listedcompany or any company intend-ing to raise money from public.

SEBI further barred Sethi fromundertaking any investment advi-sory services.

NEW DELHI: After pullingout massive funds fromIndian equities last month,overseas investors havepumped in nearly `6,400crore in the segment inMarch so far on expectationsof rebound in corporateearnings and easing of glob-al oil prices.

However, they pulled outover `10,600 crore from thedebt markets during themonth, depositories datashowed.

Net inflow by foreignportfolio investors (FPIs)from equities stood at `6,380crore during March 1-16.This follows an outflow ofover `11,000 crore from theequities and more than `250crore from the debt marketslast month.

“The positive sentimentsin equity could be attributedto a likely strong rebound incorporate earnings over thenext 2 quarters and easing ofglobal oil prices providing arelief on the macro front,”said Ajay Bodke, CEO andChief Portfolio Manager PMSat Prabhudas Lilladher. PNS

PTI n NEW DELHI

State-owned Indian Oil Corp(IOC) and Bharat Petroleum

Corp Ltd (BPCL) may buy 26 percent stake each in gas utility GAILIndia Ltd, paying the Governmentover `20,000 crore each tobecome integrated energy firms.

Following Finance MinisterArun Jaitley's February 2017Budget announcement of cre-ating integrated oil majors,IOC and BPCL had submittedseparate proposals to buy theGovernment's 54.89 per centstake in India's biggest gasmarketing and transporta-tion firm, GAIL.

A top source said since theGovernment is not looking atactual merger of oil companiesbut only transfer of its ownershipto a cash-rich PSU, the bestoption would be to split the54.89 per cent holding in GAILequally between IOC and BPCL.

At Friday's closing price of`440.85 a share for GAIL onBSE, the stake is worth closeto `41,000 crore.

In January this year, Oil andNatural Gas Corp (ONGC)bought out government's 51.11per cent stake in refinerHindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd(HPCL) for `36,915 crore. ButHPCL hasn't been merged withONGC and continues to remaina separate listed company with thesame board. After the buyout,HPCL has become a subsidiary

of ONGC, which gets up to twoseats on the company board.

The source said IOC andBPCL too can follow the samemodel and split the govern-ment's stake equally amongthemselves. GAIL will becometheir subsidiary and will con-tinue to operate as a listedcompany with an independentboard. IOC and BPCL wouldget to appoint one director eachon GAIL board.

Like in case of ONGC'sacquisition of HPCL, the gov-ernment would get to encash itsholding in GAIL yet retaincontrol over the companythrough IOC and BPCL.

The source said the gov-ernment has so far not takenany view on the proposals madeby IOC and BPCL. How and towhom the stake would be soldwill be decided after inter-min-isterial consultations, he saidadding that the option of split-ting the stake equally among thetwo firms is one of the optionsthat would be considered dur-ing such deliberations.

Demonetised notes are being

shredded, briquetted, says RBI

NEW DELHI: RBI is expected to

be on an ‘extended pause’ as

inflation is likely to remain close

to 4.5 per cent during 2018-19,

says a report.

According to Kotak Economic

Research, inflation through the

next financial year, commencing

April 1, is likely to remain close to

4.5 per cent, higher than its stated

target of 4 per cent and this will

warrant ‘cautiousness from RBI’.

“We expect the RBI's Monetary

Policy Committee (MPC) to

maintain status quo as it awaits

clarity on monsoons,

sustainability of high crude oil

prices post the winter squeeze,

and global financial conditions,”

the report said.

For Reserve Bank, the

Consumer Price Index (CPI)-

based retail inflation continues to

remain the prime focus, besides

monsoon, high crude oil prices

and global financial conditions.

“Amid still-subdued capacity

utilisation levels and being

mindful of any nascent growth

recovery, the RBI would possibly

remain on an extended pause,”

the report said.

However, any sharp deviation

from the RBI's estimated inflation

trajectory on account of non-

transitory causes will prompt the

RBI to revisit its neutral stance

and move policy rate higher, it

added.

As per the Central Statistics

Office (CSO) data, retail inflation

fell to a four-month low of 4.44

per cent in February on cheaper

food articles and lower cost for

fuel. Following the easing of retail

inflation in February, there is

industry clamour for a rate cut by

RBI next month to maintain

growth momentum. The central

bank's next monetary policy

review is scheduled for April 5. It

had kept the policy rate

unchanged in its February

meeting on fears of inflation. PTI

RBI likely to remain onextended pause: Report

IOC, BPCL maybuy 26% stakeeach in GAIL

SEBI bars ‘Fatal Attraction' investment advisor, orders refund

50 nations to take up global trade issues

NEW DELHI: India should engage

bilaterally with its key trading

partners to promote exports if the

world witnesses an escalation of

trade war, industry chamber

ASSOCHAM said on Sunday.

It said that higher level of

imports than exports will not

provide the country much space

to retaliate at the time of

increasing trade war as most of

the Indian imports are

unavoidable.

“So, the best course would be

to keep engaged with the major

trading partners, without aligning

ourselves too much into a single

bloc. Wherever, our exports are

affected, we must engage

bilaterally and use the channel of

the World Trade Organisation in a

rule based manner,” the chamber

said in a statement.

India, it said, may end up the

current fiscal with a hefty import

bill of $450 billion against exports

of about $300 billion.

Almost one-fourth of the

imports will be only on account of

crude and other related items,

besides imports of essential

commodities such as plastics and

fertiliser for which the country

does not have an immediate

domestic capacity, it added.

Further, it said that India should

be watchful about a sudden jump

in steel imports as the US has

imposed heavy duties on steel.

“We cannot flex too much of our

importing muscle, even if our

exports face consequences of

trade war and are subjected to

tariff barriers,” it said. PNS

‘India should engage with key trading

partners if global trade war escalates’

REPRESENTATIVESFROM 50 COUNTRIESWILL BE GATHERINGIN NEW DELHI TODAY

AND TOMORROWFOR AN INFORMALWTO MINISTERIAL

MEETING

Only 16% of initial GST returns filedfor July-Dec matched with final returns

FPIs turn positiveon Indian equities;pump in `6.4k-crin March so far

Corp Affairs Ministry mullsproposal to collect passportdetails of co’s board directors

ANIRUDH SETHI TOLD SEBI THAT THEWEBSITE BEING REFERRED BY THE

REGULATOR WAS OWNED AND OPERATEDBY AN AMERICAN CITIZEN. THE

REGULATOR, HOWEVER, RULED THATSETHI FAILED TO PROVE HIS CLAIM AND

THE WEBSITE ITSELF MENTIONEDANIRUDH SETHI BEING ‘OUR KEY MIND’

AND WAS FOUND TO BE REGISTERED ANDADMINISTERED BY HIM ONLY

W T O M I N I S T E R I A L M E E T I N C A P I TA L

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | MARCH 19, 2018 money 12

PTI n NEW DELHI

Introduction of e-walletmechanism will effectivelyaddress the woes of

exporters who have beencomplaining of delays inrefund of taxes under theGST regime, Commerce andIndustry Minister SureshPrabhu has said.

Under the e-wallet mech-anism, a notional credit wouldbe transferred to exporters’accounts based on their pastrecord and the credit can beused to pay taxes on inputs.

Prabhu said that secre-taries in the Commerce andFinance Ministries are work-ing on the matter.

“The only way it can beaddressed properly is throughe-wallet (mechanism).Finance Ministry has to takea call on this. E-wallet willactually address the issuebecause then you (exporters)do not have to pay and seekrefunds,”.

According to exporters,delay in refund of taxes isblocking their working capi-tal and impacting shipments.The issue of refunds toexporters has been delayed forover eight months now.

The revenue department,on the other hand, has arguedthat there are discrepancies inthe forms submitted byexporters with the customsdepartment and those withthe GST Network (GSTN).

As per exporters, about

`20,000 crore is stuck onaccount of delay in refund ofduty claims under the newindirect tax regime.

Before GST, exportersused to get ab-initio exemp-tions from duties. But nowthey have to pay first andthen seek refund.

The Prime Minister’sOffice had earlier called ameeting of top officials ofCommerce and FinanceMinistries to discuss the issueof GST refunds. The GSTCouncil in its meeting earlierthis month decided to imple-ment e-wallet scheme forrefunds to exporters byOctober 1.

Meanwhile, the CBEC fieldformations have launched‘GST refund fortnight’ begin-ning Saturday to quickly sanc-tion pending refunds toexporters.

Federation of Indian ExportOrganisations (FIEO) had stat-ed that e-wallet could helpresolve the problem of liquidi-ty. Exporters may use it like arunning account where moneywill be debited from e-walletwhen duty paid supplies have tobe undertaken and the amountis credited when the proof ofexports is made available.

PTI n NEW DELHI

The process of network port-out is set to become faster

and simpler for mobile sub-scribers, as telecom regulatorTRAI is planning to initiate areview of the Mobile NumberPortability (MNP) mecha-nism.

It will issue, by the month-end, a consultation paper thatwill look at reducing the timetaken to switch from one net-work to another under MNP,and will also seek to simplifythe entire process, accordingto Telecom RegulatoryAuthority of India (TRAI)Chairman RS Sharma.

“We will be bringing aconsultation paper on expe-diting MNP. Today, theprocess takes time. The con-sultation paper will be aimedat reducing that time andchanging the processes. We arecurrently working on it andwill issue it by the month-end,”Sharma said.

The move to revamp thecurrent mechanism for MNPcomes on the heels of the reg-ulator recently slashing theMNP charges by almost 79 percent to a maximum of `4.

The prescribed ceiling forMNP charge was `19, previ-ously. Under the review pro-

posed, TRAI will seek indus-try’s views on how the entireMNP process can be madefaster, simpler and more fool-proof for telecom subscribers.

At present, switching toanother network with thesame mobile number takesseven days but globally theprocess gets completed in amatter of hours, a TRAI offi-cial said, adding that the reg-ulator aims to make the pro-cedure more efficient, andalso reduce the code errorsthat consumer may face, attimes.

Under the MNP regime,

an individual can retain theexisting mobile number whileswitching from one operator toanother. The port outs or trans-fer of connection on someother network may happendue to an individual’s prefer-ence of another operator, oreven involuntary where existingoperator decides to close ser-vices.

In the last few months,troubled operators such asReliance Communications, TataTeleservices and Aircel havegiven their subscribers theoption to port out to other net-works under the MNP regime.

PTI n NEW DELHI

The combined market valu-ation of 6 of the top-10

most valued companiesdeclined by over ̀ 52,000 crorelast week, with IT major TCStaking the steepest hit.

Reliance Industries Ltd(RIL), TCS, HDFC, HUL,ONGC and SBI saw losses intheir market valuation for theweek ended Friday.

HDFC Bank, ITC, MarutiSuzuki India and Infosys how-ever made gains.

TCS’ market capitalisation(m-cap) slumped by `40,008.61crore to `5,40,881.96 crore.

The m-cap of RIL dropped`7,316.53 crore to `5,70,435.32crore and that of Oil & NaturalGas Corporation (ONGC)plunged `2,887.48 crore to`2,27,661.59 crore.

HDFC’s valuation dipped`989.2 crore to `2,99,893.64

crore and that of State Bank ofIndia (SBI) fell by `474.76crore to `2,18,045.68 crore.

The m-cap of HindustanUnilever Ltd (HUL) wentdown by `324.67 crore to`2,81,190.10 crore.

On the other hand,Infosys’ valuation jumped `1,987.55 crore to `2,56,087.40crore.

ITC added `1,577.79 croreto `3,17,976.53 crore andHDFC Bank `1,115.32 crore to

`4,81,791.07 crore.Maruti’s valuation went up

by `782.38 crore to`2,62,518.14 crore.

Over the last week, the BSEbenchmark Sensex fell by131.14 points to end at 33,176.

In the ranking of top-10firms, RIL stood at number oneposition followed by TataConsultancy Services (TCS),HDFC Bank, ITC, HDFC,HUL, Maruti, Infosys, ONGCand SBI.

PTI n NEW DELHI

India has imposed anti-dumping duty on import of

Chinese pharma product,used in treatment of certaininfections, to protect domes-tic producers from below-costshipments.

The duty on import of‘Ofloxacin’ from China will bein the range of $2.58 to $9.48per kilogram for three years,said a notification issued bythe revenue department inthe Finance Ministry.

The levy has been slappedfollowing the recommenda-tions of the DirectorateGeneral of Anti-Dumpingand Allied Duties (DGAD).

Aart i Drugs hadapproached the DGAD forinitiation of anti-dumpinginvestigation and impositionof the duty concerningimports of Ofloxacin, origi-nating in or exported fromChina.

After a probe into theimports, the Authority con-cluded that the product hasbeen exported to India fromChina below its normal value,

“resulting in dumping”.“The domestic industry

has suffered material injurydue to dumping of the prod-uct,” the DGAD said whilerecommending the levy.

Ofloxacin is used to treatcertain infections includingbronchitis, pneumonia andinfections of the skin, bladder,urinary tract, reproductiveorgans, and prostate (a malereproductive gland).

Ofloxacin is in a class ofantibiotics called fluoro-quinolones. It works bykilling bacteria that causeinfections.

Countries carry out anti-dumping probe to determinewhether their domesticindustries have been hurtbecause of a surge in importswhich are below the cost ofproducing them.

As a counter measure,they impose duties under themultilateral regime of WTO.

The duty is aimed atensuring fair trading practis-es and creating a level-play-ing field for domestic pro-ducers with regard to foreign

producers and exporters.

MANOJ RAGHUVANSHI n NEWDELHI

Global accountancy firmPwC has suggested “time-

bound” resolution of disputesunder the Goods and ServicesTax (GST) to make the newindirect tax regime more busi-ness friendly.

One-time dispute resolu-tion schemes were introducedunder the erstwhile regime,but industryhas beenrigid abouta d o p t i n gsuch mea-sures for var-ious reasons,PwC said in areport.

The gov-e r n m e n tshould ‘seri-ously look’ atbusiness-friendly measures toput to rest long pending liti-gations, it said.

India rolled out GST onJuly 1 last year thus subsum-ing most of the other indirecttaxes both at the central as wellas states’ level. PwC also saidthe government needs to focuson strengthening the advanceruling process to ensure min-imal litigation and improvedtax regime.

“There is a need for a

mandate to ensure that dis-putes under the GST are closedin a timebound manner,” itsaid. The report noted that theimplementation of GST is a‘truly a remarkable’ achieve-ment for India and all thestakeholders, and the govern-ment, industry and consumersdeserve ‘to be applauded forthis’.

“It’s now time to consoli-date and let the regime sta-

bilise, whilecontinuingto explores t r u c t u r a lchanges tobring it clos-er to what wehad all visu-alised,” thereport said.

It furthersaid that2018 may see

the expansion of the tax basein India with real estate andpetroleum products beingbrought under the ambit of theGST.

As per the report, inclu-sion of real estate under theGST may be more difficult andrequire a constitutionalamendment. On bringingpetroleum products under theGST, PwC said the real bottle-neck is in building a consen-sus among the states.

PTI n MUMBAI

The Association of PowerProducers has accused the

RBI of over-ruling theParliamentary standing panelon power and key Ministrieswith its February 12 circularthat ended all the existing loanrestructuring mechanisms andvoted for insolvency code toresolve stressed assets.

The association has alsosought a special dispensationfrom the Reserve Bank sayingtheir defaults are caused most-ly by non-payment/delayedpayments by state discoms andregulatory delays coupled withpoor coal supplies by CoalIndia.

The association claims thatregulatory delays have resultedin pending payments worth`7,800 crore, while pendingreceivables from state discomsstand at `8,300 crore. Alsostate-run Coal India is meetingonly around 60 per cent of itscommitted supplies.

In a March 12, letter to theRBI- exactly a month after theFebruary 12 RBI circular extin-guishing all the existing badloan management mechanismslike the 5/25, SDR, S-4A, CDRetc forthwith- the associationhas requested Governor UrjitPatel to intervene and excludethe power sector from thepurview of the new NPA res-olution rules.

Indirectly accusing thecentral bank of over-ruling theHouse panel on energy and theviews of the Union power andCoal Ministries, associationDirector General AshokKhurana says, “The issue ofstressed assets was discussed indepth with developers, bankers,regulators, and officials ofpower and Coal Ministries bythe Parliamentary StandingCommittee on Energy.

“After hearing all the stake-holders, they’ve recommended

that the revival schemes of theRBI or government should berealistic and not symbolic,”Khurana says in the letter.

“Every effort should bemade to see that the projectswith huge investment do notbecome NPAs for want of mar-ginal financial infusion oradjustment in the way of mak-ing working capital availablefor passing on the interestvariable to the stressed asset,”the letter further said quotingthe House panel report.

The letter also notes thatalready there are over 75,000MW assets- either under oper-ation or under construction-severely stressed due to variousreasons – lower coal availabil-ity, lack of long-term/medium-term PPAs, divergence betweenpolicy and regulations on passthrough of incontestablechanges in law (pending regu-latory receivables of `7,800crore), huge delays in regula-tory orders, and pendingreceivables from discoms withpending bills at `8,300 crore.

The letter lists three mainfactors for the stress in the pri-vate sector power sector.

“Three-four months ofaverage delay in payment fromdiscoms has resulted in around`8,300 crore of receivables cur-rently.

“Over two years of delay inreceiving orders from regula-tors to pass on the increase incost of coal due to various taxes

and duties which are to betreated as ‘change in law’ andaround `7,800 crore are stuckdue to this,” the latter says andfurther notes that as againstthis, power developers pay inadvance for coal, transporta-tion and transmission.

Stating that ‘a one-jacket-fits-all guidelines’ of RBI willnot work, the letter seeks sec-tor-specific guidelines for dif-ferent infrastructure sectorslike energy, telecom, and steelas they have vastly differentissues to be resolved.

“The system has to be tol-erant of genuine difficulties,while coming down heavily onmismanagement and fraud,”the letter said.

“We request you to issuespecial dispensation for powersector by relaxing the defaultclause from one-day delay indebt servicing and classify theasset as NPA only after thecompletion of 180-day periodand submission of resolutionplan should be initiated onlyafter the 180-day period.”

That apart, resolution planmust note the regulatory/ gov-ernment delays and so shouldbe exempted from counting asdefaulting period. Finally forthose case already gone to IBCresolution, RBI must allowgrandfathering/a 12-18 monthgrace period so that resolutionand standstill benefit may beallowed to be continued tillsuch period.

PTI n NEW DELHI

Airports Authority of India(AAI) is looking to raise

`1,500 crore as term loan tofund capital expenditure inthe next fiscal, wherein work isto commence on new terminalbuildings at various aero-dromes.

The state-owned air-ports operator, which has ahealthy balance sheet, is goingin for borrowings for the firsttime.

For 2018-19, the capitalexpenditure is projected to bearound `4,100 crore, com-pared to `2,500 crore for thecurrent financial year endingon March 31. The domesticaviation market is growing athigh double digits and to meetthe rising demand, infrastruc-ture capacity needs to beramped up.

AAI – which operatesmore than 120 airports in dif-ferent parts of the country isscouting for rupee term loansto the tune of `1,500 crore,according to a recent publicnotice. “Since we have ahealthy balance sheet, we areconfident of raising funds atmore competitive rates,” AAIChairman GuruprasadMohapatra said.

Going forward, he said,most of the projects would beimplemented on ‘60:40 ratio’,which means that 60 per centwould be the debt componentand the rest would be equity.

“This would allow us to

take up more projects, espe-cially at a time when lot morespending is required for theaviation infrastructure,” hesaid.

For the next three years,AAI plans to make capitalexpenditure to the tune of`15,000 to 17,000 crore, headded. According toMohapatra, in the next financialyear, AAI would be startingwork for new terminal buildingsworth around `15,000 crore.

Mega projects of new ter-minal buildings are to start atGuwahati, Leh, Patna, Trichy,Vijayawada, Jabalpur,Ahmedabad, Chennai, Srinagar,Pune, Lucknow, Mangalore,Dehradun and Jaipur.

In 2016-17, AAI reported23 per cent jump in net profitto record `3,115 crore.

‘E-wallet will address GST

refund issue of exporters’

Anti-dumping dutyimposed on Ofloxacinimport from China

TRAI to revamp MNP process;discussion paper by month-end

AAI prepares for highercapex; eyes ̀ 1,500 cr loans

New NPA rules: Power producers' bodyaccuses RBI of overruling House panel

PwC suggests timebounddispute resolution under GST

Mcap of 6 of 10 most valuedcos drops by `52,000 crorePTI n NEW DELHI

Hindustan Infralog, JVbetween DP World and the

National Investment andInfrastructure Fund, said todaythat it has bought 90 per centstake in logistics firmContinental Warehousing.

“Hindustan Infralog PrivateLimited (HIPL) Announces theacquisition of a 90 per cent stakein Continental WarehousingCorporation (Nhava Seva) Ltd(CWCNSL),” a statement said.

The purchase considera-tion is below 5 per cent of DPWorld’s net asset value as ofFY2017 and it is the first invest-ment of HIPL, it said. HIPL isthe recently created investmentvehicle between DP World andNIIF to invest up to $3 billion inports, logistics and related sec-tors. CWCNSL’s founders, theReddy family, will retain theremaining 10 per cent share-holding and stay involved in thebusiness operations. “We aredelighted to start our recent

partnership with NIIF with thisstrategic acquisition to developlogistics and warehousing solu-tions to support India’s growingeconomy and trade,” DP WorldGroup Chairman and CEOSultan Ahmed Bin Sulayemsaid.

The strategic partnershipwith Hindustan Infralog and itsparent DP World will have hugepotential for logistics infra-structure in India CWCNSLfounder Adi Keshav Reddysaid.founder Adi Keshav Reddysaid.

PTI n PANAJI

The closure of iron ore min-ing in the state will affect

India’s competitiveness in theinternational market and ratingin ease of doing business, theindustry stakeholders onSunday said.

According to South GoaTruck Owners’ AssociationPresident Prakash Raut Desai,the closure of mining leases inthe state will hit the country’s andGoa’s economy, as in the absenceof mining the revenue, whichused to go to the Centre and statein the form of royalty and oth-ers, will stop.

“This money was used bythe state for development of thestate, including infrastructuredevelopment. Now that the min-ing has come to a halt this moneywould not go to the state andGoa would be at disadvantage,”Desai said here.

According to the industryexperts, the revenue, which alsoincludes royalty, paid by the min-

ing industry to the Centre andthe state is around `4,500 croreper annum at 20 million tonnes(MT) iron ore extraction cap,currently applicable in Goa.

This 20 MT iron ore extrac-tion cap is to be enhanced to 30million tonnes per annum as perthe expert committee reportsubmitted to the Supreme Court,the experts said. MSAA – anassociation representing ship-ping agents at the ports - is of theview that the entire internation-al community of foreign ownershas become jittery at the dis-ruption of mining operations.

“Insurance premiums (ofgoods transported in ship) areshooting up and this will spoil

Goa’s and India’s image andfreights will get higher for thefear of disruptions and vesselsgetting stuck up,” MormugaoShips Agents' AssociationExecutive Committee memberManu Thakker said. “This willaffect India’s competitiveness ininternational market which isfalling and our rating in ease ofdoing business,” he stressed.

Stating that this is the secondtime disruption has taken placein the mining sector in last sixyears, Thakker said that the for-eigners are looking at Goa as nolonger a safe place to send theirvessels.

“At its peak 1,000 vessels arecalled Goa annually. As all thiswill come to a halt, we along withship repairers, ship chandlers,barge owners, divers etc whoemploy so many skilled workersin Mormugao port haveRequested both Central and Stategovernments to allow the min-ing to continue and not disruptthe same, while following dueprocedures of law,” he added.

Mining ban to affect India's competitiveness

in international market, say ind stakeholders

GENEVA:Tata Motors plans to bring in new products in order to havepresence in around 95 per cent of Indian passenger vehicles market by2020, besides working on offering ‘electric solution’ on most of its portfoliogoing forward.The company currently sells a range of vehicles fromhatchback to SUVs playing in about 70 per cent of the market in India.

“Our resolve is that by 2020, we will cover 95 per cent of the marketwith various kinds of products,” Tata Motors President, Passenger VehiclesBusiness Unit, Mayank Pareek said on the sidelines of Geneva Motor Show.

With the addition of new products and enhanced play in the segment, the company would be able to ramp up its market share, which currently stands at around 7 per cent, he added. PTI

NEW DELHI:As the electricvehicle markets stand on thebrink of explosive growth, gov-ernments and the industrymust proceed with caution asthey need practical strategy tomanage this fast-growing seg-ment, says a report.

A number of governmentsand car makers have ambitiousplans for electric vehicles, butcar makers are facing chal-lenges to secure supplies of rawmaterials used for battery pro-duction, the report by researchorganisation A T KearneyEnergy Transition Institutesaid.

“Governments, miningcompanies, battery producersand carmakers need strategiesfor an industrial and techno-logical energy transition toreduce CO2 emissions, basedon solutions that are practical,safe and economically viable,”said Richard Forrest,Chairman, A T KearneyEnergy Transition Institute.

According to the report,cobalt is in particularly shortsupply globally and reservescould be depleted completelyby the time 300 million EVs areproduced - a modest propor-tion compared to the 1.2 billioncars on roads today.

“Electric car batteries relyon a host of rare materials —from lithium and nickel, tocobalt. Battery makers aroundthe world are struggling tosecure supplies of these keyingredients as demand out-strips supply,” said RomainDebarre, MD, A T KearneyEnergy Transition Institute.

In the Indian context,Abhishek Poddar, Partner,Energy & Process Industries, AT Kearney India said, "It is crit-ical that India takes intoaccount the practical aspectsrelated to EV rollout, as itdefines its long term strategyfor the sector. The problem isfurther complicated. PTI

Electric car indneeds practicalstrategy: Report

Tata Motors plans to drive in newproducts to expand mkt presence

UNDER THE E-WALLET

MECHANISM, ANOTIONAL CREDIT

WOULD BETRANSFERRED TO

EXPORTERS’ACCOUNTS BASED

ON THEIR PASTRECORD AND THE

CREDIT CAN BEUSED TO PAY

TAXES ON INPUTS,SAYS

SURESH PRABHU

‘The prescribed ceiling for MNP charge was

`19, previously. Under the review proposed,

TRAI will seek industry’s views on how the

entire MNP process can be made faster &

more foolproof for telecom subscribers’

THE PURCHASECONSIDERATION ISBELOW 5 PER CENT

OF DP WORLD’SNET ASSET VALUEAS OF FY’17 & IT IS

THE FIRSTINVESTMENT

OF HIPL

Most of theprojects would beimplementedon ‘60:40 ratio’,which meansthat 60 percent would bethe debtcomponent andthe rest wouldbe equity, says

AAI Chairman

Guruprasad Mohapatra

Hindustan Infralog acquires 90% stake in Continental Warehousing

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | MARCH 19, 2018 world 13

TROTTINGTROTTINGGLOBE

FOUR DEAD IN MANILACASINO FIREManila: At least four peoplewere killed and 14 others injuredas a fire swept through a casinoin a Manila hotel on Sundaymorning, the authorities said.

LANKAN PREZ LIFTSEMERGENCYColombo: Sri Lankan PresidentMaithripala Sirisena on Sundaysigned a gazette notification tolift a nation-wide state ofemergency which was imposedon March 6 following communalriots in Kandy district.

EU NOW IN CRITICALPHASE, SAYS MERKELBerlin: German ChancellorAngela Merkel has said theEuropean Union (EU) is now in acritical phase and Germanywanted to address majorEuropean issues quickly togetherwith France.

SIX KILLED IN ROADACCIDENT IN MOROCCO Rabat: At least six people havebeen killed in a road accidentnear Moroccan city of Agadir,officials said.

ONE KILLED IN AFGHANSCHOOL BLASTKabul: A child has been killedand 16 others woundedfollowing a blast in Afghanistan’seastern province of Khost, policesaid on Sunday.

‘OBESITY PARADOX’ IS AMYTH: STUDYLondon: “Obesity paradox,” - theidea that overweight or obesepeople are not always atincreased risk of heart disease — may be a myth,according to a study of nearly300,000 people.

Dhaka: Seven terrorists,including neo-JMB terrorgroup’s regional chief, weresentenced to death on Sundayin Bangladesh for killing a Sufishrine caretaker in 2015.The terrorist hacked RahmatAli, the caretaker of a shrine,and slit his throat on November10, 2015.

The terrorist group is ide-ologically opposed the moder-ate Sufi philosophy, which callsfor universal fraternity and

interfaith harmony.Police filed charges against

15 people in the case. The courtindicted the suspects on August16 last year.

A court in Rangpur hassentenced seven militants,including neo-JMB regionalcommander Masud Rana, todeath for the murder.

“Six of the seven convictsfaced the trial in person andwere present on the dock asJudge Naresh Chandra Sarker

pronounced the verdict. . .The rest is on the run,” a pros-ecution lawyer told PTI.

He said four of the convictswere also sentenced to death byanother Rangpur court formurdering a Japanese nation-al Kunio Hoshi last year.

The court officials said, thetribunal, however, acquitted asuspected leader of the Neo-JMBand five others finding their noinvolvement to the murder ofKawnia shrine caretaker.

Washington: In a strong mes-sage, US Vice President MikePence has told Pakistan’s PrimeMinister Shahid KhaqaniAbbasi that his country “mustdo more” against Taliban andother terror groups, the WhiteHouse said on Sunday.

Pence said this to Abbasi,who was on a personal trip thisweek to see his ailing sister.They met at the NavalObservatory residence of Penceon Friday. The meeting washeld at the request of Abbasi.

“Vice President Pence reit-erated President Trump’srequest that the Government ofPakistan must do more toaddress the continued presenceof the Taliban, HaqqaniNetwork, and other terroristgroups operating in their coun-try,” the White House said in astatement of the meeting.

“The Vice President statedthat US efforts to eliminate ter-rorist groups who threaten USsecurity and the stability of theregion will continue and notedthat Pakistan could and should

work closer with the US,” theWhite House said.

According to the Dawnnewspaper, which reportedfirst reported about the meet-ing, Pence told the PakistaniPrime Minister that the TrumpAdministration could take uni-lateral actions if there was nosatisfactory counter-terrorismaction from Pakistan.

During the 30-minutemeeting, Pence also empha-sised the need for immediateaction from Pakistan to stopcross-border attacks, the Dawnreported. PTI

Sydney: Myanmar’s de factoleader Aung San Suu Kyi waspressed about the Rohingyacrisis at an ASEAN summit inSydney on Sunday, but theregional bloc stressed it couldnot intervene and “force anoutcome”.

Suu Kyi has been underintense global criticism for herpublic silence amid a brutalmilitary crackdown that hasforced nearly 700,000 of the

Muslim-minority Rohingya toflee Myanmar’s Rakhine statefor Bangladesh.

The humanitarian crisiswas one of the key topics at athree-day special summitbetween the ASEAN andAustralia.

“We discussed the situationin Rakhine at considerablelength today,” Australian PMMalcolm Turnbull said.

“Aung San Suu Kyi

addressed the matter compre-hensively, at some considerablelength herself.

“It’s certainly an issue thathas been discussed and it is fairto say... Very constructively, inour meeting.” Singapore’s PrimeMinister Lee Hsien Loong, whois this year’s ASEAN chair, saidMyanmar’s neighbours wereconcerned about the ongoingsituation but could not “force anoutcome”. AFP

Istanbul: Turkish-backedforces have taken full control ofthe centre of the Syrian-Kurdish city of Afrin.

Fighters waved flags andtore down the statue of a leg-endary Kurdish figure afterclaiming the city centre onSunday.

Turkish troops and alliedSyrian rebels have taken Afrincity centre under control fol-lowing two-month’s of fighting,Turkish President Recep TayyipErdogan said on Sunday.

The Free Syrian Army,backed by the Turkish army,completely took over Afrin’scity centre on Sunday, Erdogansaid at a ceremony marking the103rd anniversary of theGallipoli campaign inCanakkale in northwesternTurkey, Xinhua reported.

“At this moment Turkishflag is flapping there, the FreeSyrian Army flag is flapping,”he said.

Turkey started the cam-paign against the Afrin districtin northwestern Syria onJanuary 20, with a view to dri-ving out Kurdish militants,who are seen by Ankara as ter-rorists.

Erdogan pledged to take allthe steps needed to make theentire region livable, improvingboth its infrastructure andsuperstructure.

“We will take all necessarysteps to bring the people of the

region back to their homes assoon as possible,” he added.

Erdogan has repeatedlythreatened to move on east-ward to take over Manbij, atown which is also held byKurdish militia known as thePeople’s Protection Units(YPG) but has a US militarypresence.

Turkey and the UnitedStates, with a relationshipstrained over an array of issuesincluding Washington’s con-tinued arming of the YPG, have

agreed to resolve their differ-ences over Manbij throughtalks.

The presidents of Russia,Turkey and Iran are scheduledto meet on April 4 in Istanbul,with war-torn Syria on top oftheir agenda.

In the view of AbdullahAgar, a security analyst, theAfrin operation has progressedmore rapidly than expected.“Currently, the work to securethe stabilisation is continu-ing,” he said. IANS

IANS n DAMASCUS

Some 30,000 civilians haveevacuated Syria’s rebel-held

Eastern Ghouta area on theoutskirts of capital Damascus,according to a local mediareport.

The SANA news reportsaid mass evacuation took placeon Saturday night through twocrossings, one in Hamouriyehand the other near the WaterResources facility in Harasta.

The evacuation is ongoingand is the latest in a series ofmass evacuations that began inEastern Ghouta on Thursday,Xinhua news agency reported.

Earlier on Saturday, theSyrian Observatory for HumanRights (SOHR) said that 50,000civilians have evacuatedEastern Ghouta over the past72 hours.

Since an escalation of vio-lence in Eastern Ghouta onFebruary 18, a total of 1,394civilians, including 271 minors and 173 women,have been killed, according tothe SOHR.

The Syrian army said it hadcaptured 70 per cent of EasternGhouta, after splitting the areainto sections to facilitate thebattle against various rebelgroups there.

Stockholm: North Koreanofficials wrapped up three daysof talks with Swedish counter-parts with no indication theirefforts cleared the way for amooted nuclear summitbetween US President DonaldTrump and Kim Jong Un, as asenior Pyongyang diplomatheaded to Finland on Sundayfor further meetings.

The North’s state KCNAnews agency said Sunday theStockholm talks had discussed“bilateral relations and otherissues of mutual concern”, with-out providing further detail.

The meetings in Swedencame a week after Trumpagreed to a summit proposalrelayed by South Koreanenvoys who met Kim Jong Unin Pyongyang.

His response triggered arace to set a credible agenda forwhat would be historic talksbetween the two leaders.

But no specific time orvenue has been set and NorthKorea has yet to confirm it evenmade the offer to meet.

Choe Kang Il, deputydirector for North Americanaffairs at Pyongyang’s foreignministry, was seen at Beijing

airport on Sunday departingfor Finland, where he is expect-ed to hold talks with former USambassador to Seoul KathleenStephens, multiple mediareports said.

Earlier reports had listedChoe among the North’s dele-gation to Sweden.

Choe, experienced in nego-tiations with the US, is expect-ed to meet the retired USdiplomat as well as other retiredSouth Korean diplomats, theSouth’s Yonhap news agencysaid, citing an unnamed diplo-matic source.

“But no current US orSouth Korean officials will bethere,” Yonhap quoted the

source in Seoul as saying.In Stockholm, the Swedes

were seeking to pave the wayfor talks which could end athreat of nuclear war, using theleverage of their longstandingties with Pyongyang, where itsdiplomatic mission opened in1975, the first Western embassyto be established in the hermitcountry.

The embassy today repre-sents US, Canadian andAustralian diplomatic inter-ests, giving Sweden a key liai-son role and facilitating thetalks in Stockholm betweenSwedish Foreign MinisterMargot Wallstrom and coun-terpart Ri Yong Ho. AFP

Jerusalem: Israeli military air-craft carried out a raid againsta Hamas target in the GazaStrip overnight after an explo-sive device detonated near theborder with Israel, the militarysaid on Sunday.

“The Hamas terror organ-isation is held accountable forall occurrences in and from theGaza Strip,” the Israel DefenceForces said.

Hamas is the mainPalestinian Islamist movementcontrolling the Gaza Strip.

“The IDF will continue tooperate for the safety of Israelicivilians, by all means at its dis-posal,” the Israeli military said,without giving further details.

According to Palestiniansources, the raid did not causeany casualties.

An explosive device wentoff late Saturday in the north-ern Gaza Strip near Israel’s bor-der fence, the army said in anearlier statement, with no casu-alties reported.

Israel had already retaliat-ed, with tanks targeting aHamas observation post.

According to Palestiniansources, the retaliatory fireslightly injured one person.

Two explosive devices weredetonated Thursday along theborder, which had already pro-voked Israeli attacks on Hamaspositions. AFP

AFP n MOSCOW

Russians voted on Sunday inan election set to hand

President Vladimir Putin afourth Kremlin term, as thecountry is embroiled in a cri-sis with Britain and its alliesover a spy poisoning.

With the vast countrystretching across 11 time zones,polls opened in the Russian fareast at 2000 GMT on Saturdayand will close in Kaliningrad,the country’s exclave on the EUborder, at 1800 GMT today.

With Putin’s main chal-lenger Alexei Navalny barredfrom taking part in the poll forlegal reasons, the result of theelection is expected to be huge-ly predictable, with overallturnout remaining the onlyelement of surprise.

Some analysts say that after18 years of leadership — bothas president and prime minis-ter — Putin fatigue may bespreading across the country,and many Russians are expect-ed to skip the polls.

The Kremlin needs a highturnout to add greater legiti-

macy to a new term for Putin,who is already Russia’s longestserving leader since Joseph Stalin.

Sunday marked four yearssince Putin signed a treatythat declared Crimea part ofRussia following its annexationfrom Ukraine, a move that ledto the outbreak of a pro-Kremlin insurgency in the eastof the ex-Soviet country, in aconflict that claimed more than10,000 lives.

In retaliation, Kiev saidearlier this week Russians liv-ing in Ukraine would not beable to vote as access toMoscow’s diplomatic missionswould be blocked.

Since first being elected aspresident in 2000, Putin hasstamped his total authority onRussia muzzling oppositionand reasserting Moscow’s lostmight abroad.

Polling at around 70 per-cent, the 65-year-old formerKGB officer is certain to extendhis term to 2024 despite alacklustre campaign and hisrefusal to participate in tele-vised debates.

Beijing: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the no. 2 leader of the rul-ing Communist Party, was today re-elected for a second five-yeartenure by China’s rubber-stamp parliament, a day after Xi Jinpingwas re-appointed as the president with no limits on the num-ber of terms he can serve.

Li, 62, who was nominated on behalf of Xi, was re- appoint-ed with 2,964 votes in favour and two against during the annu-al session of the National People’s Congress at Beijing’s Great Hallof the People.

Li maintained a low profile under the Chinese president main-ly looking after the country’s economy as Xi consolidated powerand surrounded himself with powerful aides. PTI

London: Britain should con-sider postponing Brexitbecause there may not beenough time to strike a dealwith the European Unionbefore the UK leaves the bloca year from now, a key com-mittee of British lawmakerssaid on Sunday.

The House of CommonsExiting the EU Committee saidif major aspects of the futurerelationship with the EU remainunsettled by October, Britainshould seek a “limited exten-sion” of its EU membership.

Britain and the EU want adeal on future relations settledby the fall so national parlia-ments can approve it beforeBritain officially leaves the 28-nation bloc on March 29, 2019.

In a report publishedtoday, the lawmakers said aproposed transition period ofabout two years should also beable to be extended if needed.

The two sides have agreed inprinciple that Britain will con-tinue to remain part of the bloc’sstructures and rules until the endof 2020. AP

Jerusalem: Israel’s militarytargeted a Hamas observationpost on Sunday after an explo-sive device detonated near theborder between the Gaza Stripand Israel, the military said.

The explosion occurred inthe northern Gaza Strip nearIsrael’s border fence, the armysaid in a statement, with nocasualties reported.

“In response, IDF (IsraelDefence Forces) tanks targeteda military observation postbelonging to the Hamas terrororganisation,” the Army said onTwitter.

According to Palestiniansources, the retaliatory fireslightly injured one person.

Two explosive devices weredetonated Thursday along theborder, provoking Israeliattacks on Hamas positions.

No group has claimedresponsibility for the blasts, butIsrael held Hamas responsibleas the de facto power in thePalestinian enclave.

AFP

AP n LONDON

Britain’s foreign secretarysaid on Sunday that the trail

of blame for the poisoning ofa former spy “leads inexorablyto the Kremlin,” after a Russianenvoy suggested the nerveagent involved could havecome from a UK lab.

Foreign Secretary BorisJohnson said Britain has evi-dence that Russia has beenstockpiling nerve agents likethe one used against SergeiSkripal and his daughter Yulia.

Johnson told the BBC thatofficials from the Netherlands-based Organisation for theProhibition of ChemicalWeapons would arrive inBritain on Monday to takesamples of the nerve agentused to poison the Skripals.

Britain says it is Novichok,a class of powerful nerve agentdeveloped in the Soviet Uniontoward the end of the Cold War.

“We actually have evidencewithin the last 10 years thatRussia has not only been inves-tigating the delivery of nerveagents for the purposes ofassassination but has also been

creating and stockpilingNovichok,” Johnson said.

Vladimir Chizhov,Moscow’s EU ambassador, saidRussia has no chemicalweapons stockpiles and was notbehind the poisoning.

“Russia had nothing to dowith it,” Chizhov told the BBC.Chizhov pointed out that the UKchemical weapons research facil-ity, Porton Down, is only eightmiles from Salisbury, whereSergei Skripal a former Russianintelligence officer convicted inhis home country of spying forBritainâ€” and his daughter werefound March 4. They remain incritical condition.

Asked whether he was say-ing Porton Down was respon-sible, Chizhov replied: “I don’tknow.”

The British Governmentdismissed the ambassador’ssuggestion as “nonsense.”Johnson said it was “not theresponse of a country thatreally believed itself to be inno-cent.”

Britain and Russia haveeach expelled 23 diplomatsand taken other measures inthe escalating tit-for-tat dispute.

Johnson said Britain’s

National Security Council willmeet this week to discuss “whatfurther measures if any” thecountry will take.

Opposition lawmakers are

calling on the government toclamp down on the illicitlygained money of wealthyRussians in Britain.

Critics say UK authorities

have been slow to investigatethe origins of the wealth invest-ed in London’s financial districtand property market.

Russia’s ambassador in

London, Alexander Yakovenko,called for “cooler heads,” tellingthe Mail on Sunday that thedispute is “escalating danger-ously and out of proportion.”

Russian diplomat hints UK lab

could be nerve agent source

UK, Russia trade blame over poisoning of spy

AFP n LONDON

Britain is to target wealthlinked to the Kremlin in

response to the poisoning of aformer spy, Foreign MinisterBoris Johnson said on Sundayahead of a visit by internationalchemical weapons experts.

“Where people haveobtained wealth by corruptionand where we can see a linkwith the Kremlin, withVladimir Putin, it may be pos-sible to have unexplainedwealth orders and other sanc-tions on those individuals,”Johnson told BBC’s AndrewMarr Show.

Former Russian doubleagent Sergei Skripal and hisdaughter Yulia are in a criticalcondition after being exposedto a nerve agent in the Englishcity of Salisbury on March 4,leading Britain to expel 23Kremlin diplomats.

Technical experts from

Organisation for theProhibition of ChemicalWeapons will visit Britain onMonday to collect samples ofthe nerve agent used in theattack.

“These will then bedespatched to highly-reputableinternational laboratoriesselected by the OPCW fortesting with results expected totake a minimum of two weeks,”said a Foreign Office state-ment.

Johnson said theGovernment was consideringsomething similar to the US“Magnitsky Act” which wasadopted in 2012 to punishRussian officials accused ofhuman rights violations.

The act imposed a visa banand froze the assets of Russianofficials implicated in the deathof lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, atax fraud whistleblower whodied in Russian custody in 2009.

PTI n LONDON

Britain’s banks, energy andwater companies are all

said to be on high alert againstthe threat of a possible Russiancyber-attack amid an escalatingdiplomatic row between thetwo countries over the poison-ing of a former Russian doubleagent on British soil.

Fears that Moscow couldtarget Britain’s critical nation-al infrastructure came asRussia’s ambassador to theEuropean Union (EU) sug-gested a UK research labora-tory could be the source of thedeadly nerve agent used in theattack on Sergei Skripal and hisdaughter Yulia.

“When you have a nerveagent or whatever, you check itagainst certain samples that youretain in your laboratories.And Porton Down, as we nowall know, is the largest military

facility in the United Kingdomthat has been dealing withchemical weapons research.And it’s actually only eightmiles from Salisbury,” VladimirChizhov told the BBC.

He stressed that Russiahad “nothing to do” with thepoisoning and that it did notstockpile the poison. Chizhov’scomments came as a Russianforeign ministry spokespersonalso tried to lay the blame onBritain, saying the UK was oneof the most likely sources of thenerve agent, along with theCzech Republic, Slovakia,Sweden or possibly the US.

Meanwhile, officers fromBritain’s Special Branch of intel-ligence and security services areinvestigating death threatsagainst another Russian dissi-dent living in the UK, who hasreceived a series of threateningemails linking his fate toSkripal.

Chemical weapons experts

heading to UK in spy case

UK on high alert againstRussian cyber-attack threat

Putin eyes fourthterm as Russiansgo to polls

Turkey-backed forces oustKurds from heart of Afrin

SYRIAWAR

Erdogan announces takeover of Syria’s Afrin city

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army soldiers celebrate around a statue of Kawa, amythology figure in Kurdish culture as they prepare to destroy it in city center ofAfrin, northwestern Syria on Sunday AP

30,000 civiliansevacuate Syria’sEastern Ghouta

No news on Trump-Kim summitas N Korea wraps up Sweden talks

Helsinki: Representativesfrom the US and North Koreawill hold unofficial talks hereon Sunday, Finnish mediareports said.

According to the reports,Choe Kang Il, who is respon-sible for relations with the US

at the North Korea ForeignMinistry, will arrive here onSunday on a two-day visit,reports Xinhua news agency.

The Finnish ForeignMinistry has confirmed thevisit, describing it as “unoffi-cial”. IANS

US, N.Korean representativesto meet in Finland unofficially

Pak ‘must do more’

against Taliban:

Pence tells Abbasi

Peshawar: Terrorists onSunday attacked a polio teamin Pakistan’s tribal region bor-dering Afghanistan, killing twoworkers and abducting threeothers, officials said.

Unidentified terroristsopened fire on the seven-mem-ber polio team comprisingseven volunteers in Safi tehsilof Mohmand Agency, officialswere quoted as saying by Dawn News.

Two polio workers wereshot dead and three otherswere abducted by the assailantsin the Safi tehsil.

Two polio workers man-aged to escape the attack andreached Ghalanai, the head-quarter of the agency, andinformed about the incident,the officials said.

Last month, a group ofPakistani polio workers wasattacked by a school’s admin-istration in Karachi after theteam attempted to vaccinate itsstudents against the disease.

Polio workers have facedproblems during vaccinationdrives in many parts of thecountry, including Karachiwhere in the past militants haveattacked female health workers.

Many extremist groupshave spread rumours that thevaccination drives were a frontfor espionage or a conspiracy tosterilise Muslims.

Pakistan is still among thevery few countries, which is yetto be declared polio free coun-try. PTI

2 polio workers

killed, three

abducted by

terrorists in Pak

Israel hitsHamas positionin response to explosion

Israeli planes raidGaza after explosion

Suu Kyi pressed on Rohingya crisis at ASEAN 7 terrorists sentenced to death for killing Sufi shrine caretaker

Chinese Premier Li re-electedfor second five-year term

Lawmakers say UK should

consider postponing Brexit

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | MARCH 19, 2018 sport 14

CHHETRI NAMED ‘HERO' OF ISLBENGALURU: A title triumph may have eluded histeam but Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri wasnamed the 'Hero' of Indian Super League's fourthedition for his leadership and goal-scoringprowess. Chennaiyin FC triumphed with a 3-2victory over Bengaluru FC in the title clash here onSaturday. ISL-4 also belonged to a number ofemerging Indian talents but Kerala Blasters FC's23-year-old Mizo defender Lalruatthara walkedaway with the ISL Emerging Player of the SeasonAward. FC Goa star striker Ferran Corominas wonthe Golden Boot for his consistency in finding theback of the net. The Golden Glove Award went todebutants Jamshedpur FC's wall, Subrata Paul,for having made 44 saves, which included anenvious seven clean sheets in 18 matches.

KXIP TO PLAY FIRST 3 GAMES IN MOHALINEW DELHI: The IPL Governing council hasdecided to swap the dates of Kings XI Punjab'shome matches with the first three games beingheld in Mohali (in April) and the last four games inIndore (in May) owing to some logistical issues.As per the revised itinerary, KXIP will play inMohali on (April 15, 19 and 23) instead of Indore.The reason for this swap is because theChandigarh airport will remain closed from May12-31 owing to renovation work. "There werelogistical difficulties that teams would haveencountered had KXIP played their home gamesin Mohali in May. Therefore the IPL GoverningCouncil has decided that the dates will beswapped and Indore will now host all theirmatches in May," acting president and IPLGoverning Council member CK Khanna said.

BANDRA BLASTERS ROUT PANTHERS BY 10 WICKETSMUMBAI: Shreyas Iyer and Eknath Kerkar madea mockery of a listless North Mumbai Panthersbowling attack as NaMo Bandra Blasters thrashedthem by 10 wickets in a T20 Mumbai Leagueencounter here on Sunday. Chasing a modest125, Iyer, who also plays for India, took theopposition bowlers to task. He was ablysupported by Kerkar, who plays Ranji forMumbai. Bandra join Triumph Knights MumbaiNorth East in the play-offs, which begin fromMonday. While Iyer remained unbeaten on 71 off34 balls, Kerkar was not out on 50 off 36 balls asthe two took the side home without much fussand with 8.3 overs to spare. Earlier, electing tobat, North Mumbai Panthers managed to post apaltry 125/9 on the board with Sairaj Patil topscoring with 26 in 17 balls.

NEERAJ FINISHES 4TH AT ASIAN RACE WALKING C'SHIPNOMI (JAPAN): India's Neeraj Rathi and KaramjitKaur finished fourth and eighth in the men's andwomen's events respectively at the Asian 20kmRace Walking Championship here on Sunday.Rathi clocked 1 hour 25 minutes and 33 seconds,while Kaur had a timing of 1:58:22. In the opencategory for women, Ravina of Haryana won thegold in an impressive timing of 1:35:35 which isbetter than that of India's official entry KaramjitKaur. The top two finishers in the NationalChampionships have been named in the country'steam for next month's Commonwealth Games inGold Coast.

Agencies

S I N G L E S

PTI n COLOMBO

Dinesh Karthik did a JavedMiandad with a last-ball six

as India pulled off an incrediblechase beating Bangladesh by fourwickets in the Nidhas T20 Tri-series final, here on Sunday.

Needing five off the finaldelivery, Karthik smashed SoumyaSarkar over extra-cover as a sec-ond-string Indian side held itsnerve in a tense situation to chasedown a target of 167 in 20 overs.It would count as one of India’sfamous last ball sixes — some-thing that Pakistani legend didagainst India 32 years back inSharjah.

Karthik’s gem of a cameo gothim 29 off 8 balls with twoboundaries and three sixes — thelast of them which will be forev-er be etched in the memory.

Skipper Rohit Sharma’s (56 off42 balls) dismissal set India’sinexperienced middle-order inpanic mode and Vijay Shankar’sfour dot balls off the 18th over byMustafizur Rahaman made itvery difficult for India.

Karthik came at the start ofthe19th over and hit RubelHossain for 22 including twosixes and two fours to bring downthe equation to 12 off the finalover before finishing it off in style.

A partisan Sri Lankan crowd,who were upset by Bangladesh’sbehaviour did the now famous‘Nagin Dance’ (Sbnake Dance’)along with Indian supportersleaving the Togers distraught.

Rohit started with a loftedboundary over long-on off hisopposite number Shakib. Youngoff-spinner Mehidy Hasan Mirazthen got a taste of what world classbatsmanship is as he was hit fortwo huge sixes — one over deepmid-wicket and other over long-on along with another boundary.

Shikhar Dhawan (10) andSuresh Raina (0) were out inquick succession but the Indiancaptain was in his element asBangladesh’s ploy of using spin-ners in the Powerplay didn’t proveto be as effective as India.

Rohit hit left-arm spinnerNazmul Islam over mid-off for aboundary and then an inside outlofted shot over long-off fetchedhim a six.

He square cut MustafizurRahaman for a boundary as Indiaseized control scoring 56 in thePowerplay overs.

KL Rahul (24, 14 balls) onceagain looked in fine touch duringa 51-run stand with his skipperbut failed to make it count as hismistimed pull off a Rubel Hossaindelivery landed into safe hands of

Sabbir at deep square leg.Earlier, Indian pacers undid

the hardwork of their spinners asBangladesh scored a competitive166 for eight, riding on Sabbir’s50-ball 77 after batting first.

Off-spinner WashingtonSundar (1/20 in 4 overs) and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (3/18in 4 overs) were brilliant in the

Powerplay but the duo of VijayShankar (0/48 in 4 overs) andShardul Thakur (0/45 in 4 overs)leaked 93 runs between them ona good batting surface.

While the Washington-Chahal duo bowled 20 dot ballsbetween them with only oneboundary, Shankar and Thakurconceded 10 boundaries and four

sixes. Jaydev Unadkat (2/33) didcome back well in his final overbut Sabbir cleverly waited for thespinners to finish their quota as helaunched a furious assault on thepacers during the back-10.

Skipper Rohit taking a gam-ble by introducing both spinnersinside the Powerplay overs insteadof using an effective part-timer

like Suresh Raina when Thakurand Shankar were being hit, cameas a surprise.

The last six overs of theBangladesh innings yielded 66runs — mostly coming fromSabbir’s blade.

The 17th over was the onewhen Shankar fluffed his lineswith the back of the hand slowerdeliveries as Sabbir hit him for asix over deep mid-wicket fol-lowed by one over long-on.

Shardul, whose knuckle ballhas been a hit was picked up bySabbir in the next over for twocheeky boundaries.

Earlier, Washington, who hasgrown from strength to strengthagain stifled the batsmen in thePowerplay overs.

Bangladesh openers TamimIqbal (15) and Litton Das (11)started off in a whirlwind fashionbut Washington forced the latterto play a slog sweep and the ballballooned for Raina to completea lovely catch. The dangerousTamim was more of a fielder’swicket as Chahal flighted onealtering the length. The left-han-der jumped out at the invitationand his lofted shot had elevationbut couldn’t clear the distance.Shardul maintained his balancebeautifully at the long-on bound-ary rope to cling onto the catch.

Chahal got his second wick-et when an out-of-form SoumyaSarkar (1) tried to slog sweep afuller delivery from Chahal withShikhar Dhawan taking a simplecatch at square-leg.

The wiry-framed leg-spinnergot his third wicket when an in-form Mushfiqur Rahim (9) triedto hit inside out but was caughtsmartly by Shankar covering somedistance on his right.

Sabbir, however, continuedto play his strokes — some cheeky,a few streaky and some confidentones in between.

In Mahmudullah Riyadh (21),he found a steady ally and added36 runs before a miscommunica-tion saw the vice-captain gettingrun-out by Vijay Shankar.

Shankar then had a hand ingetting rival captain Shakib AlHasan run-out with a direct throwfrom cover region. But Sabbir’sbig-hitting prowess helped thempost a challenging total.

PTI n NEW DELHI

Contrary to popular belief thatMahendra Singh Dhoni was

relegated from the elite categoryof central contracts, it was the for-mer skipper himself who wantedan A+ grade for top performers,says CoA chief Vinod Rai.

Twenty-six cricketers havebeen handed central contractswith skipper Virat Kohli, RohitSharma, Shikhar Dhawan,Bhuvneshwar Kumar and JaspritBumrah being included in the `7crore A+ category. Dhoni is in theA category with ` 5 crore annu-al retainership.

"This A+ category was pro-posed by the players themselves.We had a discussion about thiscategory with Dhoni and Virat.They proposed that there should

be category of world class excel-lence in which players who playall three formats of the gameshould be there," Rai said.

The head of the Committee ofAdministrators said both Dhoniand Kohli wanted A+ to be afunctional category to indicatewho are the Indian team's top per-formers.

"This should be a functionalcategory where players move inand out. Also it will show that thebest in the business are reward-ed as per performance."

What the former CAG foundheartening was the camaraderiebetween Kohli and Dhoni.

"Their camaraderie is excep-tional with so much mutualrespect. Virat respects Dhoni'scricketing acumen and Dhonirespects what Virat is achieving as

a player," said Rai.In fact, Virat has told the CoA

why he thinks Dhoni is irre-placeable in the limited overs setup as of now.

"Virat feels that there are nofaster pair of gloves than MSDhoni today. Also Dhoni's crick-eting mind honed over so manyyears is an asset for Virat. As far

as how many years of cricket is leftin him, time and his perfor-mance will tell," he said.

Rai said that the best partabout central contracts was thatit ensured a decent earning fordomestic players.

"These increases have beenproposed in consultation with theplayers. Domestic players, whowere getting ` 10-12 lakh perannum, will now get ` 20-22 lakhper annum in addition to theearnings from Gross RevenueSystem.

"Now with this kind of salary,domestic players can concentrateon their game without looking forjobs," Rai said.

There was a lot of anguishamong BCCI office bearers at notbeing consulted and the financecommittee being allegedly

bypassed but Rai set the recordstraight.

"We discussed with playersand we placed the proposal to theoffice-bearers. The package wasthere with them from September(2017) and there's nothing new init. Finance committee did notmeet is a fact but package wasknown to them," said Rai.

The retired bureaucrat feelsthat while everyone is happy tocall themselves cricket adminis-trators, very few know the prac-tical problems the players have.

"Nobody knows the plight ofthe cricketers than the cricketersthemselves. They are interactingwith cricketers everyday. In factit was the cricketers who gave usnames of former players who arefacing difficulty in getting twomeals together."

PTI n VADODARA

Indian women suffered their most embar-rassing series defeats in recent times as

Australia completed a 3-0 rout with a com-prehensive 97-run drubbing of the hosts in thethree-match ODI series.

Wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy smashed herway to a brilliant 133 off 115 balls with theSouthern Stars piling up a massive 332 for 7.

In reply, India started off well riding onJemimah Rodrigues (42 off 41 balls) and SmritiMandhana (52 off 42 balls)'s 101-run openingstand but their fight fizzled out as they were allout for 235 in 44.4 overs.

Healy's maiden ODI hundred ensured thatAustralia's margin of victory only got bigger asIndia's campaign turned from bad to worse.

With Punam Raut correctly dropped fromthe playing XI after her painful knock,

Mandhana and Rodrigues did try their bit hit-ting 17 boundaries between themselves in thefirst 13 overs but Gardner struck twice in asmany balls to decisively turn the match inAustralia's favour.

Skipper Mithali Raj (21 off 38 balls)and herdeputy Harmanpreet Kaur (25 off 26 balls)added 46 runs for the third wicket but the tar-get was well beyond their reach.

Kaur hit four boundaries before edging oneoff Nicola Carey to Healy behind the stumps.

Deepti Sharma (36) and Sushma Verma(30) started off steadily but failed to finish thematch as they hosts were all out for 235 in 44.4overs.

Earlier, after opting to bat, Australia losttheir opener Nicole Bolton (11) after she wasdismissed by left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht in thesixth over.

However, Healy anchored the innings byplaying a match winning knock of 133 runswhich was peppered with 17 boundaries andtwo sixes.

Healy was assisted by vice-captain Haynes,who hit four boundaries, before the former fellto leg-spinner Poonam Yadav in the 41st over.

Beth Mooney (34) and Gradner (35) alsoplayed key knocks to help set a 300 plus tar-get.

PTI n NAGPUR

Reigning Ranji Trophy championsVidarbha completed a coveted double

crown by winning the Irani Cup beatingRest of India by virtue of massive firstinnings lead.

The hosts had made a mockery of thecontest when they decided to post arecord total of 800 in their first innings andthen bowled out Rest of India for 390 onthe final day of the match. Vidarbha wonby virtue of huge 404-run first inningslead. With Rajneesh Gurbani (4/70) doingthe primary job of dismissing the top-order, left-arm spinner Aditya Sarwate(3/97) polished the lower-order despite

Andhra batsman Hanuma Vihari's gutsy183. Out of favour India all-rounder JayantYadav scored 96 as the duo added 216runs for the seventh wicket showing thatthere were no demons on the pitch.

Vidarbha coach Chandrakant Pandit'sdecision to bat on and on in order to tireout the ROI batsmen yielded results. Noneof the top-order were able to show desiredfootwork after spending 15 hours on thefield.

Pandit's tactic got his team the trophybut at the same time raised the question ofwhy coaches and teams don't think thatkilling the contest only drive people awayfrom the game. Vidarbha's approach ofwin at all costs only left the contest poorer.

Resuming at 236/6, Vihari was the loneranger hitting 23 boundaries and threesixes in 327 balls. Jayant on his part hit 14boundaries off 230 balls. Sarwate finallybroke the partnership in the 106th overwhen Jayant in his bid to complete hishundred was stumped by Akshay Wadkar.Vihari carried on and was the last Rest ofIndia batsman to be dismissed as his bidto hit Aditya Sarwate over long-on failed.

The match was called off at the startof the mandatory overs with Vidarbhascoring 79 for no loss. Such was thefarce that Rest captain Karun Nair evenmade Prithvi Shaw bowl. RavichandranAshwin didn't bother to bowl during theinconsequential last hour.

DK emerges hero, India winner

Australian womenwhitewash Indiain ODI series

Virat and Dhoni proposed A+ category: Rai

Vidarbha beat RoI, win Irani Trophy

PNS ■ LUCKNOW

Railway Sports PromotionBoard scored a thumping

5-0 victory over Uttar PradeshHockey to top the pool A in the8th Hockey India Senior Men’s‘A Division’ NationalChampionship at Mohd ShahidStadium on Sunday.

The match saw RailwaySports Promotion Board scorea goal each in the first threequarters and end the finalquarter with two more goals tosecure a convincing 5-0 win.Goals for Railway SportsPromotion Board were scoredby Kusha Gowda (6th minute),Rajin Kandulna (28th minute),Karanpal Singh (45th minute),Sheshe Gowda (58th minute)and Malak Singh (60th

minute).Earlier, Comptroller &

Auditor General of India playout a 1-1 draw with HockeyChandigarh in Pool D. HockeyChandigarh took the lead inthe 8th minute throughBalwinder Singh butComptroller & AuditorGeneral of India made a come-back in the third quarter asthey found the equaliserthrough Md Naeemuddin inthe 42nd minute to stay in thehunt of topping the pool witha tally of five points. In anoth-er pool D match, Namdhari XIblanked Association of IndianUniversities 2-0.

In pool B, Air India SportsPromotion Board came frombehind twice to earn a 2-2 drawagainst Punjab & Sind Bank

while Hockey Haryana beatHockey Gangpur-Odisha 3-2.

In pool C, Hockey Punjabended up playing a 3-3 drawwith The Mumbai HockeyAssociation Ltd to occupy thefirst position in tally whileHockey Karnataka beatServices Sports Control Board3-1 to secure their firstwin.

In the last match of the day,Hockey Odisha defeatedMadhya Pradesh HockeyAcademy 4-2. Nilam SanjeepXess netted three goals forHockey Odisha in the 15th,19th and 55th minute whileAshok Lakra sounded theboard in the 57th minute.Shaun Glen Gladwin andShakir Hussain were the scor-ers for MP.

LUCKNOW: K Nandgopal of CAGbagged twin titles in All-India SeniorDoubles Ranking BadmintonTournament at UP BadmintonAcademy on Sunday. Partnering withBituparna Panda of Odisha, Nandgopalwon the mixed doubles title while hewon took the men’s doubles title withAlwin Fransis of Kerela.

Chief secretary (UP) Rajive Kumargave away the prizes. Justice ARMasudi, principal secretary provision-al education Bhuvneshwar Kumar,executive director SAI Rachna Govil,director (sports) RP Singh, IndianOlympic Association treasurerAnandeshwar Pandey and vice-president Badminton Association of India Viraj Sagar Das were also present.RESULTS: (Men’s doubles) K Nandgopal/Alwin Fransis bt Anjan/Ranjan 21-14, 21-15(Women’s doubles) Rituparna Panda/Arundhati Patwane bt Simran Sindhi/Ritika Thaker 21-6, 21-10(Mixed doubles) K Nandgopal/Rituparna bt Gaus Shaikh/Arundhati Patwane 21-16, 21-13.

RSPB thrash UP Hockey

Double delight for K Nandgopal

India's Dinesh Karthik, right, celebrates scoring the winning run to defeat Bangladesh by four wickets during the finals of Nidahas triangular Twenty20 series in Colombo on Sunday

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | MARCH 19, 2018sport 15

AP n MANCHESTER

Romelu Lukaku and Nemanja Maticscored in each half as ManchesterUnited reached the semifinals of the

FA Cup with a 2-0 victory over Brighton onSaturday.

Lukaku picked up Matic's precision passfrom outside the box to nod the opener inthe 37th minute. Matic doubled United'slead in the 83rd by heading in from AshleyYoung's free kick.

Alexis Sanchez started on the bench forthe first time since his January arrival, withPaul Pogba another among the substitutes.Neither player made an appearance in thequarterfinal as United made a swift recov-ery from being knocked out of theChampions League by Sevilla in midweek.

Jose Mourinho launched an astonish-ing verbal tirade against his ManchesterUnited players after they reached the FA Cupsemi-finals, accusing them of "a lack of per-sonality, lack of class and lack of desire."

Just 24 hours after the United manag-er had made a memorable defence of hisown record in the pre-match press confer-ence, Mourinho turned his attention to hisplayers after a comfortable 2-0 quarter-finalvictory over Brighton.

Only Nemanja Matic, who set up theopening goal for Romelu Lukaku beforescoring a late second himself, and young-ster Scott McTominay were spared massivecriticism.

And after Mourinho claimed he waslooking for a response to the midweekChampions League exit to Sevilla, thePortuguese veteran even claimed some ofhis players lacked the personality anddesire to play for the famous Premier Leagueclub.

"I didn't like the game," said Mourinho."I think we deserved to win but I didn't havethe reaction from all of them.

"I had the reaction from some of them.Some of them were mentally strong enoughwith the football quality to play that was thereason we won.

"But a team of 11, when you have a min-imum of six or seven players performing andwanting to play, who want the responsibil-ity to have the ball, who have the desire real-

ly to play it is difficult to have a good per-formance

"So I am not happy with the perfor-mance at all. But I am happy with the result."

England full-back Luke Shaw was theone player named by Mourinho as havingfailed to follow his game plan and was,accordingly, substituted at half-time.

That made Shaw an obvious target forMourinho to be questioned about althoughthe United manager clearly had other play-ers in mind when issuing his widespread cri-tique.

"I wanted more personality in the teambecause many, many times I felt that Maticwas an island of personality, desire and con-trol surrounded by lack of personality, lackof class and lack of desire.

"I have to say that for example

McTominay lost more pass-es today in all the matches heplayed put together but hewas a Manchester Unitedplayer.

"And for me aManchester United player isone who when he playsbadly still gives to the team.That is a question of per-sonality, that is a ManchesterUnited player for me. Andthat is what some of the oth-ers did not have."

Mourinho had hintedbefore the game that manyof his stars are currentlyunder-performing and,tellingly, Paul Pogba and

Alexis Sanchez were bothleft out of his starting line-up. But the United manag-er's response to what was,after all, a comfortable vic-tory was an astonishingpsychological tactic thatmay, backfire a point thatMourinho accepted whenasked why he had madesuch a calculated outburst.

‘SCARED TO PLAY' "My calculation is that

without pressure, they don'tperform well. What can Ilose?" he said.

"And the ones that arealways there are the ones

that will always be there. And that is anexample of personality.

"You have the kid that didn't play wellat all (McTominay). I told him already, hewas the first one I spoke to individually inthe dressing room.

"And instead of being critical with him,I was positive with him because 'Youplayed very bad but you did the basic thingsthat one player has to do.'

"The basic things is to keep the emo-tional balance to play with that red shirt,which is a heavy shirt to wear. And the kid,in his worst performance by far, he was thereand he had body to wear that shirt.

"He was not afraid to play. He playedbad, and every player can play bad.

"But to feel not comfortable to play -'Please Mister, take me from the pitch.' I felt

that."Mourinho, whose only hope of a tro-

phy this season is the FA Cup, warmed tohis theme.

He said that some of his big name starsare simply scared of the job in hand at OldTrafford.

"A few of the guys, I saw them scaredto play. You know when the sun is shiningand in football the sun is shining wheneverything goes well, you win matches, youscore goals, everything goes in your direc-tion, every player is a good player and everyplayer wants to play and every playerwants the ball and every player is confidentto play and every player looks amazing.

"When it is dark and cold, and that infootball means a period of bad results or abad result like what happened to us a cou-ple of days ago, not everybody has the con-fidence and the personality to play really."

KANE NOT MISSEDIn South Wales, Tottenham coped well

without star striker Harry Kane, who is like-ly to be out until next month because of anankle injury.

Son Heung-min started as Kane'sreplacement and had a goal disallowed foroffside, with the decision being confirmedby the video assistant referee.

Eriksen was allowed to advance to theedge of the area by Swansea's retreatingdefenders before the Denmark playmakercurled a left-foot shot into the corner in the11th minute.

Erik Lamela scored from similar range,and in similar circumstances, in first-halfinjury time before Eriksen fired home a lowshot from 20 meters in the 62nd.

The FA Cup represents Tottenham's lastchance of silverware this season after get-ting eliminated from the Champions Leagueby Juventus last week.

And the semifinal is at a neutral venuefamiliar to Tottenham this season: Wembley.Tottenham has taken up temporary resi-dence this season at the national stadiumwhile its home at White Hart Lane is beingredeveloped.

In the other quarterfinal matches onSunday, Chelsea visits Leicester and third-tier Wigan is at home to Southampton.

AP n LIVERPOOL

Mohamed Salah scored four goalsand set up another in Liverpool's

5-0 victory over Watford in the PremierLeague on Saturday, cementing his sta-tus as the most prolific forward inEurope's leading competitions.

The Egypt international's first hattrick for Liverpool took his tally to 36in his first season at the club, includ-ing 28 in the league.

Not far behind is Roberto Firmino,who marked the best scoring season ofhis career with his 23rd in all compe-titions against a Watford side whichpresented little challenge. It was anexquisite backheel from Salah's cross.

The blizzard of goals in the snowmarked a swift recovery from lastweekend's defeat at Manchester United.With third-place Tottenham playing inthe FA Cup quarterfinals on Saturday,Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool moved intothird place.

Salah's opener after four minuteswas reminiscent of a Lionel Messimove. He exchanged passes with SadioMane before chasing down the ball inthe penalty area and setting off on oneof those driving, jinking runs whichinevitably leaves defenders on theirbehinds.

It was a goal so good it required asecond look and many of Liverpool'ssubstitutes left their seats on the benchto view it on a pitchside monitor.

If that was good the goal whichcompleted his hat-trick was even bet-ter and similarly Messi-esque.

The middle goal of his treble twominutes before half-time was less

individual and more team-orientatedas Andrew Robertson exchanged pass-es with Mane before sliding in a crosswhich Salah could not fail to convert.

Even at that stage it appeared thegame was beyond the visitors, butFirmino made sure five minutes intothe second half when he backheeledSalah's near-post cross through his legsand inside the far post.

After completing his hat trickwith some penalty area trickery theEgyptian rifled home rebounded shotto become the first Liverpool playersince Suarez to net four times in a sin-gle game.

AP n ROME

Juventus's march towards a seventh consecutive Serie Achampionship was stalled by a goalless draw at struggling

SPAL that kept the suspense alive in Italy.Massimiliano Allegri's side had been bidding to open a

seven-point cushion on Napoli, who can now close the gapto two when they host Genoa on Sunday .

Juventus's 12-match league winning streak came to a haltbut they matched their own Serie A record of 10 games with-out conceding a goal.

The champions lacked inspiration against the promot-ed side from Ferrara, to the north of Bologna, with normally

reliable goal machines Paulo Dybala and Gonzalo Higuainfailing to fire.

It was the first time in nearly 50 years that Juventus hadplayed in Ferrara and they came up against a solid and well-organised SPAL unit.

Juventus almost scored in their first attack of the nightwhen a Douglas Costa solo run created space for fellowBrazilian Alex Sandro but his effort was deflected wide.

Dybala tried his luck after 17 minutes with a long-rangecurling effort that flew wide.

There was also a worry three weeks before theirChampions League quarter-final first leg against RealMadrid with Giorgio Chiellini leaving the pitch 10 minutesbefore the end with a thigh injury which Allegri later saidwas "muscle fatigue".

PTI n BIRMINGHAM

Star Indian shuttler P VSindhu on Sunday vowed

to come back stronger afterlosing an epic semifinalagainst World No 2 AkaneYamaguchi at the All EnglandChampionship here.

In a nail-biting semifinal,fourth seed Sindhu wentdown fighting 21-19, 19-21,18-21 to Yamaguchi after bat-tling for an hour and 19 min-utes late on Saturday.

"It was just not my day. Igave my 100 per cent. Thereare always up and downs andone should win and oneshould lose. There were longrallies and she played well,"Sindhu said after the gru-elling contest.

"Playing a three-game tieis not easy. Just 2-3 pointsmade the huge difference inthe end as it was anybody'sgame. I have a lot of things tolearn from this tournament.

You keep losing and winningbut it was a good tournamentand I have to come backstronger."

Yamaguchi, who had wonthe German Open early thismonth, said it was her aggres-sive approach that earned herthe win.

"This win is very valuableasset for me. I am thankfulthat I got a chance to fight onSunday. I was just trying tokeep up with the pace andhang on. I was aggressive inthe end and it led to the win,"she said.

World No 2 Yamaguchiwho defeated Olympic goldmedalist Marin in quarterswill face World No 1 TaiwaneseTai Tzu Ying in the final.

Asked about her oppo-nent, the 20-year-old Japanesesaid: "She is aggressive and hasgot speed and great retrivingskills and I will give every-thing I got and just want toenjoy the match."

PTI n BENGALURU

Awar of words has broken outafter an entertaining Indian

Super League final here withChennaiyin FC coach John Gregorytaking exception to Bengaluru FCgoalkeeper Gurpreet Sandhu's "Wewon league stage and so we arechampions" quip, saying his team haswon the crown fair and square.

Chennaiyin defeated Bengaluru3-2 in the summit clash to clinch thetitle of the fourth edition of ISL at theKanteerava Stadium here onSaturday. Just after the match ended,Bengaluru and India number onegoalkeeper Gurpreet said "We are thechampions because we won theleague stage."

Asked at the post match confer-ence about Gurpreet's comments,Chennaiyin head coach Gregorysaid, "I was honestly disappointed tohear these words. We won the cupis what I know."

"A large number of countries usethis format. Play-offs were intro-duced in the UK about 20 years ago.You could finish sixth in your divi-sion and still win promotion to thePremiership. You could finish 20points behind the champion. In myyears, we did it, we finished sixth wellbehind Portsmouth and then wonpromotion," said the former AstonVilla boss.

Bengaluru had finished at thetop in the league stage, eight pointsahead of second-placed Chennaiyinand then stormed into the final afterclinching a two-leg semifinal play-offs against FC Pune City.

"Everybody knows we finishedfirst, eight points above Chennaiyin.

We are human beings, the players didan incredible job. I am sad for themand the fans. But that's football,"Bengaluru FC head coach AlbertRoca said.

He said it's left for others to judgewhether the structure of the tour-nament was fair or needs to bechanged to reward the teams whichfinish top of the league stage.

"It is too easy for him to say yes.I think even some of their(Chennaiyin) players came to us andsaid we should not have been in thissituation. The tournament is like itis and we cannot change that. It is notfor me to say that is fair or not. It isfor you to say," he added.

Bengaluru and India captainSunil Chhetri expressed disappoint-ment.

"The fact is that we had 40 pointsand won the league stage. Sadly, wecould not win the final."

Gregory praised Mailson Alvesfor his two crucial strikes which sawChennaiyin win their second ISLtitle.

"Big man (Mailson) had scoredtwice all season, but has had lot ofopportunities. Today he couldn'thave connected any better for bothgoals, which were almost identical."

He said he was delighted to hearthe final whistle after a long season,especially after Bengaluru hadreduced the margin by one goal inthe dying minutes of the final match.

"We showed a lot of gumption.We did not let anything bother us.This was a big obstacle, playingagainst the home team in a final.They are just an incredible group ofplayers."

Gregory lauded captainHenrique Sereno for braving aninjury and yet playing the entirematch.

AP n INDIAN WELLS

World No 1 Roger Federer extended his season winstreak to 17 matches, booking his spot in the

Indian Wells Masters final by rallying past Borna Coric5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

The Swiss superstar survived a stern test from worldnumber 49 Coric but managed to hold on for a 17-0record this year, surpassing his prior career-best cal-endar year start in 2006 when he opened with 16 wins.

"It took a while to get the record," Federer said. "ButI'm happy. It was just a fighting match. It didn't comeeasy, so I had to go get it.

"I got a little bit lucky. I hung tough and put a lotof effort into it to get the record.

"The focus has to be the finals right now. But it'snice to get off to a good start this year, and I hope Ican play well again on Sunday."

The defending champion will be aiming for a recordsixth Indian Wells title when he squares off againstworld number eight Juan Martin Del Potro in Sunday'schampionship match.

The 36-year-old Federer said he had to draw onevery ounce of experience and mental toughness to pullout the match.

"Margins are slim at the top of the game," he said."And I have been there so many times.

"You just hope to take the right decisions along the

way, and then it ends up falling your way."But for that you need to have a very positive mind-

set. You need to be match-tough, you need to be con-fident, have experience, and I think I have a bit of allof that right now."

Down a set and trailing 4-2 in the second, Federerhad to claw his way back from the brink of defeat.

In the third set he fell behind again 4-3 but wonthe final 11 points of the match to claim the victory.

Federer clinched the match when Coric hit a shotwide. The ball was called out but Coric challenged andafter the video review the original call was confirmed.

Federer had not dropped a set (8-0) entering thesemi-final. But he looked out of sorts in the openingset Saturday as Croatia's Coric took it handily.

The match was played under difficult conditionswith winds swirling around the main stadium. Federersaid he had to be conservative with his shotmaking toget back in it.

Former US Open winner Del Potro improved to16-3 on the season as he stormed past the hard-serv-ing Canadian Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-3 in just 65 minutes.

‘EASIER THAN EXPECTED'Del Potro is looking for his 22nd career and sec-

ond straight ATP title in a row after winning earlierthis month in Acapulco where he beat three top eightplayers in a row.

"I broke his serve quick in both sets and that gaveme control of the match," said Del Potro.

"It was an easier match than I expected."Federer is 18-6 lifetime against Del Potro, having

rallied to win the last two contests in three sets, includ-ing a 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-3 victory in the championshipgame last year in Federer's hometown of Basel.

Del Potro said he will be the underdog againstFederer.

"He's the favorite to win tournament," Del Potrosaid. " But I beat him in the past, and I know I can repeatthat. But it is not easy."

Man Utd progress, Jose unhappyDespite goals from Lukaku, Matic send Red Devils into FA Cup S/F, Mourinho not pleased with performance

Salah sizzles in Liverpool’svictory, scores 4 goals

We won ISL fairly: Gregory

SPAL hold Juventus to

offer Napoli title lifeline

Have to comeback stronger: SindhuFederer survives scare, faces Potro in final

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | MARCH 19, 2018 vivacity 16

Bollywood megastar AMITABHBACHCHAN, son of late notedpoet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, hasrecently questioned the stipulationin the copyright law which allowsexclusive rights to heirs of originalliterary work for 60 yearsafter the death of the author.

In the case of orig-inal literary, dramat-ic, musical and artis-tic works the 60-year period iscounted from theyear following thedeath of theauthor, accordingto the CopyrightAct, 1957. ButAmitabh Bachchansays this is ‘rubbish.’

“Written copyrightand whatever else inthe realm, lives 60years after the pass-ing with the elements ofthem that be the rightful?Really? So who designed 60years? Why 60, why not 61, orwhy not perpetuity,” AmitabhBachchan wrote in a somewhatrambling blog.

Big B explodes inanger on blog

KUSHAN MITRA

You have made your money,possibly more than you

will need in your life and youto have a vehicle that exudesconfidence, class and charac-ter. So, you bought aMercedes-Benz S-Class. I donot mean to denigrate the oth-ers, the new BMW 7-series isa spectacular vehicle and thenext generation Audi A8 ismore advanced than anythingwe put up into space nowa-days. But the S-Class was it.You could be a captain ofindustry or the President of theRepublic, the S-Class is it.Sure, you could be different and go in for aQuattroporte or a Lexus LS, but there is a rea-son that Dictators, Demagogues and Democratsall love big Mercs as do Fortune 500 ChiefExecutives. Sure, you can get a Rolls or a Bentley,but oddly enough, there is something under-stated about the S.

And you don’t drive the S-Class, but myfriend Siddharth Patankar of NDTV did wantto drive the car soon after we left the fantasticFalaknuma Palace in Hyderabad. So I settledinto the extremely comfortable primary seat,diagonally behind my chauffeur. When fullyextended, which you can do with the press ofa button on a panel on the door, the seatbecomes what airlines describe as an ‘angled’flat seat and this is supremely comfortable. Andyou realise that this is the person that this entire`1.33 crore car is designed around. However,each seat at the back gets an individual remoteand Mercedes branded noise-cancelling head-phones, which, judging by their looks seem fair-ly similar to AKG models and you can watchand listen to your own content without both-ering anyone else.

While the passenger on the rear right seatin India, directly behind the driver does not getthe luxury of the throne seat, he or she still getsan obscene amount of legroom, a heated andventilated seat as well as the massage function.And what a massage function, the S-Class offerssix different types of massages to its passengers,and I chose the relaxing heated shoulder mas-sage. Of course, I did this while I had the ven-tilated seat function on and was sorely missingan airline-style eye mask, because I really want-ed to sleep as the car wafted over Hyderabad’ssmooth and brilliantOuter RingRoad.

B u tthe life ofan auto-m o t i v ewriter doesinvolve drivingright, so I had toget behind the wheel of the car. Now, Iwill be the first to admit that I’m really not afan of long-wheelbase cars, rather I am not afan of driving long-wheelbase cars. But then

again, the S-Class despite having a mad AMGversion with 600 horsepower, is not a car youreally want to throw around corners. Indeed,it majestically turns in and out of corners, butif you’re behind the wheel of a S-Class you donot want to get your passengers unhappy by try-ing to do a tailslide. Guaranteed way to lose yourjob. However, when you consider this is a hugeand heavy vehicle, the fact that it turns with-out a squeak of protest from the suspension or

the tyres is testament to the engineer-ing behind the car.

Are there any niggles with thecar? Well, the driver might not appre-ciate a button function for the boot,but the owner might not like the factthat there is no single button functionto get the seat back from ‘snoozemode’ back upright. You do not needto fiddle around a bit with the seatfunctions to get it back up. This issomething that Mercedes-Benzshould look at, your average airlinebusiness class seat does have this.

But, some of you will say this isjust a facelift. Yes, it is. But it is a rathernice one, for one the updated

Mercedes S-Class gets a stunning ‘triple-torch’design of three LED strips on each headlight,differentiating this car from all its smaller sib-lings. It also gets a host of what we call ‘AdvancedDriver Assistance Systems’ (ADAS) but Ibelieve this is more a case of the systems beingbuilt into the vehicle at the time of construc-tion and Mercedes-Benz India not disablingthem. This is the first Mercedes-Benz vehicleto have radar-adaptive cruise control, advancedlane assistance, a lane-change warning as wellas automated braking in case it senses an acci-dent might happen. All very nice, but this sortof technology, which one would describeAutonomous Level 1 is what you want, then buya Volvo XC60, which is a more geeked out car.

What is very new and interesting is theinline six-cylinder engine (OM656) that is onthe S350d model which is also the first car tomeet Bharat Stage-VI fuel norms. The way theengine achieves this in an era of BS-IV fuel isby having a Selective Catalytic Converter tank,containing something called ‘AdBlue’, a mixtureof urea and deionised water which is blown intothe exhaust and dramatically reduces particu-late emissions and Nitrogen Oxide emissionsand meet BS-VI standards even with BS-IV fuel.One worry some have is that BS-VI normsmight mean that diesel engines will have lesspower and be more expensive. Well, on the lat-ter front, the S350d is 10 lakhs cheaper than theS450 petrol version and Mercedes-Benz India’sRoland Folger told us that 95 percent of all S-Class sales will be of the diesel. That said, small-er diesel engines will get more expensive thanksto BS-VI norms. As for power, the new inline-six produces a quite impressive 286 horsepow-

er. Is it fast? Yes. Do you want to go par-ticularly fast in this car? No. In fact,

even with the advanced driveraids on the car, which we

experienced onthe road andon a specialtest track, thenew 2018 S-Class is a cart h a t

demands you take upthe rear seat.

Trends that dominatedthe runway at AmazonIndia Fashion Week

AW’18 were few but eye-catching. The surprise ele-ment was the way the gownswere designed. Almost alldesigners went ahead withloose gowns, pants and jump-suits. The usual accentuationof the body shape wasn’t visi-ble this season except for theuse of bow belts to draw thefocus on a cinched waist. Withquirky collection names like It’sa Glitch and Upside Down, thefashion week created the nec-essary tides among the fash-ionistas, fashion bloggers andthe fashion conscious.

Gloves: The accessory thatwill be in rage is somethingyou already own and is oftenseen as a practical necessity inwinters, gloves. Models strollon to the ramp acing gloves inall shapes, sizes, and colors. InAdarsh Gill’s show, a model inthe long printed blazer was seenwearing satin mix gloves. InVineet Bahl’s line up, a modelwas sporting fingerless fauxleather gloves. Whereas in PallaviMohan’s collection the modelwore the long navy blue ones. Butthe stand out piece was thepairing of long ruffled gloves inpurple-pink with a sari in ILK byShikha and Vinita.

Tassels: Tassels have thepower to makes any ordinaryoutfit feel like a celebration.And nowhere was it more appar-ent than on the runway. InKarishma and Deepa Sondhi’sshow, a model kitted out in a lilacskirt and an off shoulder topwhich was replete with tassels inthe same hue. In Pinnacle byShruti Sancheti, brown tassels onstrings were seen on a maroonballoon sleeves top.

Bow belts: Therewas a comeback ofthe underdog-acces-sory for bow beltswere seen big time ata recent fashion event.In Abhi Singh’s collec-tion, the bow belt wasseen on relaxedbrown separates. InPallavi Mohan’s, it waspaired with a longglamorous gown withfeather details. Thebow belt was also seenin Sonam Dubal andEsha Amiin’s collec-tion. And lastly amodel wearing print-ed shrug was givenform with a bow beltby Gaurav Jai Gupta.

Embroidere dcoats: There were alsoplenty of exquisitely

tailored jackets brim-ming withembroidery seenon male modelsstrutting downthe runway.B e a d e dembroideryon v-neckblazer was asight to beholdon Kommal andRatul Sood’smenswear col-lection. And itwas again seenon Rohit Kamra’smodel wearingnavy-blue band-hgala with beigeembroidery spi-raling out. Addinga touch of royalty,Shyamal andBhumika’s model

was adorned in a vel-vet blazer withelaborate embroi-dery.

R u f f l e dSleeves: Addingsoftness and anillusion ofmovement, ruf-fles have been agame changingtrend on dress-es, sleeves andeven trousersfor some time

now. Designers likeAnupama Dayal pre-sented ruffled sleeves

whereas SamantChauhan showcasedthe trend on gowns.Bring back the childin you with volumi-nous ruffled fun.

Royal Men:

Facial hair is in with themarket flooded with men’sgrooming products. Withlong moustaches and a fullbeard, the male modelssashayed on the ramp forSamant Chauhan and RohitKamra gave the impression ofhaving walked out of thepaintings of kings of yore.Donning suits, belted band-hgalas, skirts and jackets, thelook of the royals was rede-fined.

Furry Shoes: Fluffy slid-ers have been popular amongwestern brands for some-time now. But, seeing it grac-ing the feet of PawanSachdeva’s showstopper wasa refreshing experience.Ranging from multi-colouredto faux fur, it’s time to get yourfur on.

Floral prints: Flowershave always bewitched uswith their beauty. A source of

inspiration for creative minds,floral prints were predominanton the ramp with designers likeRina Dhaka and Vineet Bahl’smaking full use of their vibran-cy. Bright bold blooms add atwist of sophistication andwhimsical fantasy to the designs.

Cape jackets: Cape jacketswere seen in abundance duringthe event. Jackets have a ten-dency to add instant status tothe wearer. With the dual prop-erties of sporting it as casual-ly or professionally, this pieceof fabric is certainly the gar-ment for all time.

Headgear: Take your pickfrom the twirling wired hat inblack and white designed byNitin Bal Chauhan or the whiteheadwear with devil’s horn atMalini Ramani’s collection —for both left the audience in awe.

When Nizami brothers firstheard the composition of

the Kun Faya Kun song to be fea-tured in Rockstar, they immediate-ly wanted the integration of theplace from which they derivetheir passion for Qawwali. ARRahman was of the same opinionas well and that is how the geniussong came to be shot at the dar-gah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.

Ustad Chand Nizami, ShadabFaridi Nizami and Sohrab FaridiNizami belong to the family ofqawwals, who belong to a familythat are the descendants of singersat the shrine of Sufi saint HazratNizamuddin Auliya for severalcenturies. Generation after gener-ation, their predecessors kept tak-ing the qawwali legacy to newerheights.

The song clearly struck achord with the audience at large.Ustad Chand reveals, “Once a girlcame to me who believed that thesong was her life. She had amajor operation which was suc-cessful and she believed that it wasthe power of the qawwali whichshe heard that kept her alive.”

And the film appearance havehelped. “We have become famousand people recognise us. Ourappearance in Rockstar has beenfruitful because we too becamerockstars in our own way eventhough I believe that we have beenrockstars for the last 700 years aswe bear the torch of qawwali inIndia,” says Ustad Chand. Theartist is the son of late UstadMehmood Nizami. Shadab FaridiNizami and Shorabh FaridiNizami also comprise the qawwaligroup that has been active for thelast seven years.

People often say that theNizami brothers came to the limelight due to the qawwali being fea-tured in the movie. But thenthere are others who disagree.“Once someone told me that the

movie garnered recognitionbecause of you. If the song is sungfrom deep within your heart,then it automatically resonateswith the lives of others. During theshooting, it felt as if the presenceof the Dargah was supporting us,”asserts Ustad Chand.

But then Hazrat Nizamuddinhas always held a special place intheir heart. “We have been livinghere for the past 700 years and ourqawwali is a gift bestowed by him.We have earned respect and peo-ple have loved our songs and havetreated us with unconditionallove because of him. TheNizamuddin dargah is our soul.Without it, we are just a bodywhich will be burnt to the ashes.There are a lot of qawwals here butI am the only one who stays inclose vicinity to the dargah and lis-ten to the music that has beenborn here, where my ancestorslived. Till I depart from my jour-ney on this planet, I will contin-ue to stay here,” he added.

And there is a reason for theirdevotion. The brothers credit theNizamuddin Dargah for shapingtheir life and giving them theopportunities that have madethem a household name.

Their journey into music

began at a tender age. “I have beensinging qawwali since I was eight.Classical music and qawwali aremy roots. Performing in films wasimportant to keep in touch withthe evolving trends. My forefa-thers would never have dreamtabout Nizami Brothers givingtheir soulful voice to Bollywood,”says Ustad Chand.

Revealing a little about theirforthcoming projects associatedwith Bollywood, Shadab Faridisaid, “Both Ranbir Kapoor andAR Rahman are fondly lookingforward to experimenting with thetraditional Sufi music or Sufism.”

For the brothers, singing issoul food. “Without singing for afew times in a week, we areunable to eat our food. Thoughthe shayari is usually in Hindi, butsometimes when there are for-eigners in the audience, it is spo-ken in English to please the pub-

lic,” says Sohrab Faridi. The brothers have sung in

various festivals and concerts.Though, the profession fetchesthem money but for them, it is anact of worship.

Talking about the genre,Ustad Chand elaborated,“Qawwali is all about a state ofcalm and peace that descends onindividuals when one hears themelodies which have the names ofthe Prophets and verses from theQuran. Every flower has its ownunique individuality and smellthat cannot be imitated.” TheNizami Brothers add an essentialelement to each song that hasalready been sung before them.

Elaborating upon the songthat made them famous, they saythat Kun Faya Kun was written inArabic. “Earlier Persian dominat-ed the compositions as peoplewere able to comprehend the

lyrics easily. But now we useUrdu, Persian and Braj Bhasha.

The instruments too haveundergone a change. The instru-ments while singing this form areTabla, Dholak and harmoniumbut now synthesisers and guitarsalso make an appearance. “Thecontent changes with the audi-ence. The tradition of the familyhas always been to learn and teachthis art form to take the legacy for-ward,” says Shadab Faridi.

But some things remain thesame. Allahu is a tradition ofqawwali that began 200 yearsago. “In every art form, be it danceor music, the gods are worshiped.Before starting anything good, itis important to take the name ofthe higher power. Even when I amout at a cocktail party, I still takethe name of Allah for a few min-utes to thank him and ask him forhis blessings,” says Ustad Chand.

And for them a thread runsthrough, “Whenever you sing,sing it with your heart, honestyand your ancestors are always sup-porting you,” Chand added.

With the ability to sootheone’s soul and connecting at adeeper level, there is a reason whythe Nizami brothers are tearyeyed while singing. Chand says,“It’s true that I do cry whilesinging because that makes mefeel his (God) presence aroundme. Often, it happens by remem-bering the betrayal, hate of peo-ple from whom I had immenseexpectations. Sometimes whenyou are deeply involved in some-thing and suddenly feel or recallsomething bad that happened toyou, people tend to cry and thatis what happens to me at times.”

But it is not just the singers

that break down during a perfor-mance. “I have seen people cry-ing while listening to us sing. SuchNisbat (affinity in Urdu) amongpeople is something which con-nects us with them and withGod,” he added.

“Jab tak bika na tha, koipuchhta nah tha; tumne khareedkar mujhey anmol kar diya (tillthe time we were sold no onecared and after you , this perfect-ly fits with our musical life, saidUstad Chand Nizami whobelieves that Rockstar has madetheir existence noticeable amongthe country and has garnered apositive recognition in the soci-ety.

Shedding light on their tradi-tional Sikandra Gharana andperforming qawwali written bythe Sufi saint’s primary discipleAmir Khusro, he shared, “It’s aseven hundred years old gharana.Not just us but our forefatherslearnt from the same gharana,” heasserted with a quick added notestating, “The genre of qawwaliwas first coined by our elder gen-eration and since then we areworking hard to make it reachworldwide.”

Ustad Chand, like everygrandfather, too wishes to see theirfuture generation taking the fam-ily profession forward. “I havebegun training my grandsonsand granddaughters and they areattentive.”

Following their passion withutmost dedication and being spir-itually grounded, the Nizamibrothers credit the singer ARRahman for imparting Sufism tocinema. “A number of films showwhat they call the Sufi qawwali,but doesn’t hold its true essence.Pia Haji Ali, Khwaja Mere Khwaja,Maula Mere Maula are the exam-ples of a real qawwali and audi-ence to connect with them,” saysUstad Chand.

The facelift on theMercedes-Benz S-Class isnot just about the ‘Triple-Torch’ headlightsand the Bharat Stage-VIengine, but so much more

Taking it even higher

TEAM VIVA spots the trends for you at the Amazon India Fashion Week AW’s 18. Gloves, tassels, embroidered

coats, furry shoes and headgear made it one of flourish than a revolutionary burst of ideas

PRET GETS A FEW TWEAKS

SOUL SOOTHING TRIOThe NIZAMIBROTHERS delvedeep into theqawwali tradition andreveal the secrets ofthe artform toUPASANA SINGH

Documents

Follow us on: @TheDailyPioneer … from Madhubani in Bihar, and Dr Jitender Mourya from Hamirpur — were later rushed to AIIMS, where their condition was declared stable. They were