W ith its own leaders citing the rulebook to press upon the fact that States can- not say no to implement a law passed by Parliament, in this case the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, a red-faced Congress on Sunday sought to undo the damage by calibrat- ing its stance on the issue. Until the Supreme Court takes a decision on the matter, States cannot be forced to implement the “unconstitu- tional law”, the Congress assert- ed even as it maintained that like Punjab, the other States ruled by it are thinking about bringing a resolution against the CAA. It said repeated statements by Home Minister Amit Shah and the Governors on “forcing” States to implement the CAA was against constitutional fed- eralism and the people’s movement against the legisla- tion will “go on fearlessly”. “Let the BJP Government and its Governors not forget that India is a Union of States. States can disagree with the Union and challenge the same by way of their constitutional right under Article 131 of the Constitution,” Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a statement that also came against the backdrop of an ongoing tussle between the Kerala Governor and the Pinarayi Vijayan dis- pensation over the CAA. However, the Congress’ statement came not before another of its senior leader and former Union Minister Salman Khurshid backed party col- league Kapil Sibal’s remark earlier that States cannot say “no’’ to a law passed by Parliament. Sibal reiterated his assertion on Sunday too saying if the law is declared constitu- tional by the Supreme Court then it will be problematic to oppose it. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, meanwhile, reject- ed allegations that the Narendra Modi Government was selective in granting citi- zenship and said singer Adnan Sami and author Taslima Nasreen were among the over 3,900 people who had been given Indian citizenship in the last six years. While senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said party- ruled Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan too are contemplating to pass a reso- lution against the CAA to send out a clear message to the Central Government to recon- sider the legislation, Khurshid said, “If something is on the statute book, you have to obey law, else there are conse- quences. If the Supreme Court doesn’t interfere, it will remain on the statute book.” “It is a matter where the State Governments have a very serious difference of opinion with the Centre as far as this (CAA) law is concerned. So, we would wait for the final pro- nouncement made by the top court. Ultimately, the top court will decide and till then every- thing said, done, not done is provisional and tentative.” Sibal, who was participat- ing in the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) at Kozhikode on Saturday, had said that “a State cannot say no to a law cleared by Parliament”. Though he sought to play down the controversy saying every State Assembly has the constitutional right to pass a resolution and seek the amend- ed Citizenship Act’s withdraw- al, nevertheless, he reiterated, “When and if the law is declared to be constitutional by the Supreme Court then it will be problematic to oppose it. The fight must go on!” His remarks had caused a flutter as several non-BJP Governments, including Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra have voiced their disagreement with the CAA as well as National Register of Citizens (NRC) and National Population Register (NPR). “If the CAA is passed no State can say ‘I will not imple- ment it’,” Sibal said. Continued on Page 4 C onceived in 2008, the much-awaited world’s sec- ond largest and indigenously- made MACE (Major Atmospheric Cherenkov Experiment) gamma ray tele- scope is all set to function from 2020 year-end. Once the MACE system is operational, India will find its place in the elite scientific community working in field of gamma ray study. The telescope is next to the upcoming High Altitude Energy Gamma Ray (HAGAR) observatory at 14,000 feet at Hanle in Ladakh. It has a 21- metre diameter reflector and 45-metre height with 356 mir- ror panels. The first and the biggest gamma ray telescope is in La Palma in Canary Islands set up jointly by Switzerland and Germany in 2011. Scientists involved with the project said here that an array of seven telescopes for monitoring spectacular celestial events like explosion of stars, falling of matters into black holes and collision of extrater- restrial objects have already been installed. It will detect very high energy gamma rays in the energy range of 20GeV to 10 TeV using the earth’s atmosphere as part of its detec- tion system. “Commissioning trials of the MACE are being conduct- ed presently,” said Nilay Bhatt from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), which has played a lead role in setting up the project. He was sharing the details of the project at a cur- tain raiser for Vigyan Samagam to be held in the national Capital at National Science Centre where the MACE, one among various mega science projects being undertaken in India and abroad in collabora- tion with other countries, will be showcased. Bhatt said, “Equipped with a large light collector consist- ing of 356 mirror panels of area 1 sqm each and 1,088 channel photomultiplier tube based imaging camera, MACE will detect extremely short (few nanoseconds) Cherenkov flashes generated by cosmic gamma rays. “It is expected to start observations by the end of the year. To begin with it will observe a Supernova remnant called Crab to validate its per- formance and then it is open for explorations in space. We welcome Indian uni- versities and institutes to make use of the facility,” he added. MACE, which will be operated in the dark nights only, will also help under- stand the nature of cosmic accelerators and the radiation emission processes in extreme environments. R ohit Sharma and Virat Kohli paced a tricky run chase with sublime knocks as India wrapped the series 2-1 with a seven-wicket victory in the decisive third ODI against Australia on Sunday. Rohit delivered 119 off 128 in the all-important game for his 29th ODI hundred. After Rohit’s fall, Kohli (89 off 91) anchored the chase successful- ly, with 2.1 overs to spare. India had a point to prove against Australia, having lost the home series to them in March last year. The 10-wick- et drubbing in Mumbai did not deter India as they posted emphatic victories in Rajkot. Detailed report on P16 F ive persons lost their lives in Jallikattu in the last four days across Tamil Nadu. While four persons were gored to death by the charging bulls in the arena itself, one person suc- cumbed to injuries later in hospital. But this has not pre- vented the organisers from going ahead with the contro- versial sport in different venues in the State. Three bull tamers were killed in Madurai’s Avaniiyapuram village, while two deaths were reported from Alanganalloor village and Tiruchirappalli district. All those who lost their lives were of below 30 years of age. A six-year-old girl, Vinoba, has been admitted to hospital with grievous injuries she suf- fered when a bull which came out of the arena hit her. She was watching the sport with her father when the mishap occurred. More than 50 persons have been admitted to different hos- pitals with serious injuries. “The situation in Tamil Nadu is serious. It is like the gladiators fighting the bulls in the coliseums in Rome. People cheer up the bulls as they charge into the people from the vadivasal (narrow gate sepa- rating the bulls from the bull tamers). The sad thing is that though the human beings know that it is a sporting event, the poor animals are ignorant about the sports and pastime,” said an animal rights activist. R efusing to accept the hike in hostel fees by the Jawahar Lal Nehru University admin- istration, the JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU) on Sunday said it will approach the Delhi High Court on January 20 to seek a direction for quashing the new hostel manual which has provisions for fee hike. The petition shall also seek regis- tration at “old rates without late fines”, they said. In a statement issued on Sunday, the JNUSU said it will file the plea on Monday against the Inter-Hall Administration manual which, it claimed, was passed “illegally” in October without taking the feedback of the Union. The JNUSU, which has been on strike on the issue for close to three months, urged the remaining students to boy- cott of registration. Continued on Page 4 A mid escalation of war of words between him and the LDF Government, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan made it clear on Sunday he will not remain a “mute spectator” as he sought a report from it over moving the Supreme Court against the Citizenship (Amendmend) Act, or CAA, without inform- ing him. Days after the Governor hit out at the Pinarayi Vijayan Government for not informing him before moving the apex court and declaring that he was not a “rubber stamp”, the Raj Bhavan sought the report from the State Chief Secretary on the matter. “The Governor’s office has sought a report from the Chief Secretary for not inform- ing him about the State’s move to approach the apex court against the CAA,” a top Raj Bhavan source told PTI on Sunday. Confirming that he had sought the report, Khan, who arrived here this evening from Bengaluru, told reporters that it should not be seen as a “per- sonal fight”. “This is not per- sonal fight. My only concern is that the Constitution and the law must be upheld and the business of the Government must be transacted in accor- dance with the law”, he said. Khan’s stand had drawn the ire of ruling front with CPI (M) mouthpiece Deshabhimani slamming him for making “political statements” and alleg- ing he was “threatening” the state in a “tough language”. However, the Government has said it did not violate any rules and no deliberate attempts had been made to challenge the authority of the Governor’s office. Law Minister AK Balan had said on Saturday the Government would clear all apprehensions raised by Khan. Days after passing a reso- lution in the assembly against the CAA, the Kerala Government had on January 13 approached the SC. An upset Khan had on Thursday said it was “improp- er” and protocol and courtesy demanded that he should have been informed by the Government prior to moving the court. Khan, who has been at log- gerheads with the LDF regime since it convened a special Assembly session to pass the resolution seeking scrapping of the CAA, on Sunday said the Government moving the court without his knowledge was an illegal act. “This is in contravention of the rules. This is an illegal act. I am not fighting any person- al vengeance. I am just point- ing out that the law and Constitution must be upheld,” he said. When pointed out that the Law Minister had said no rule had been violated by the state government, the Governor challenged him to show the law. “Let him quote the Law. I am quoting here. Even after this, you are saying somebody has given his personal opinion. I am giving you the law. What the Government has done was illegal. Let them show me the provision. I will take everything back. I will not sit like a mute spectator. I have to ensure that the Constitution and the law are upheld”. Continued on Page 4 A group of women protesting against the CAA at the Ghantaghar Park in Hussainabad area of Lucknow on Sunday alleged policemen took away their blankets and food stuff. However, police rejected the allegations. On the lines of Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, the women along with children have been squatting near the Clock Tower (Ghantaghar) in Lucknow’s Old City since Friday night, protesting against the CAA and NRC. The women protesters alleged that blankets provided to them by some organisations were taken away by the police. Rejecting the allegation, the Lucknow Police said, “During the illegal protest at Lucknow’s Ghantaghar Park (Clock Tower), some people tried to make a “gheraa” (cordon) using ropes and sticks, and also tried to put sheets. They were not allowed to do so. Some organ- isations were distributing blan- kets on the park premises as a result of which people living in the vicinity and not part of the protests were coming to take the blankets.” Continued on Page 4 B angladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has termed as “internal matters” of India the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA, and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), but at the same time said the act was “not necessary”. “We don’t understand why (the Indian government) did it. It was not necessary. “(Still), it is an internal affair,” Hasina told the Gulf News in an interview, referring to India’s new citi- zenship law. Her comments came weeks after Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said that the CAA and the NRC are India’s “internal issues”, but voiced concern that any “uncertainty” in the country is likely to affect its neighbours. Hasina, who is in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, also said that there has been no record- ed reverse migration from India. “No, there is no reverse migration from India. But within India, people are facing many problems,” she said. “Bangladesh has always maintained that the CAA and NRC are internal matters of India,” Hasina said. “The Government of India, on their part, has also repeatedly main- tained that the NRC is an internal exercise of India and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi has in person assured me of the same during my visit to New Delhi in October 2019.” She said the relationship between Bangladesh and India is currently at its best, with cooperation in a “wide spec- trum of areas”.
upon the fact that States can-not say no to implement a lawpassed by Parliament, in thiscase the Citizenship(Amendment) Act, a red-facedCongress on Sunday sought toundo the damage by calibrat-ing its stance on the issue.
Until the Supreme Courttakes a decision on the matter,States cannot be forced toimplement the “unconstitu-tional law”, the Congress assert-ed even as it maintained thatlike Punjab, the other Statesruled by it are thinking aboutbringing a resolution againstthe CAA.
It said repeated statementsby Home Minister Amit Shahand the Governors on “forcing”States to implement the CAAwas against constitutional fed-eralism and the people’smovement against the legisla-tion will “go on fearlessly”.
“Let the BJP Governmentand its Governors not forgetthat India is a Union of States.States can disagree with theUnion and challenge the sameby way of their constitutionalright under Article 131 of theConstitution,” Congress’ chiefspokesperson RandeepSurjewala said in a statementthat also came against thebackdrop of an ongoing tusslebetween the Kerala Governorand the Pinarayi Vijayan dis-pensation over the CAA.
However, the Congress’statement came not beforeanother of its senior leader andformer Union Minister SalmanKhurshid backed party col-league Kapil Sibal’s remarkearlier that States cannot say
“no’’ to a law passed byParliament. Sibal reiterated hisassertion on Sunday too sayingif the law is declared constitu-tional by the Supreme Courtthen it will be problematic tooppose it.
Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman, meanwhile, reject-ed allegations that theNarendra Modi Governmentwas selective in granting citi-zenship and said singer AdnanSami and author TaslimaNasreen were among the over3,900 people who had beengiven Indian citizenship in thelast six years.
While senior Congressleader Ahmed Patel said party-ruled Rajasthan, MadhyaPradesh and Rajasthan too arecontemplating to pass a reso-lution against the CAA to sendout a clear message to theCentral Government to recon-sider the legislation, Khurshidsaid, “If something is on thestatute book, you have to obeylaw, else there are conse-quences. If the Supreme Courtdoesn’t interfere, it will remainon the statute book.”
“It is a matter where theState Governments have a veryserious difference of opinionwith the Centre as far as this(CAA) law is concerned. So, wewould wait for the final pro-nouncement made by the topcourt. Ultimately, the top courtwill decide and till then every-thing said, done, not done isprovisional and tentative.”
Sibal, who was participat-ing in the Kerala LiteratureFestival (KLF) at Kozhikode onSaturday, had said that “a Statecannot say no to a law clearedby Parliament”.
Though he sought to playdown the controversy saying
every State Assembly has theconstitutional right to pass aresolution and seek the amend-ed Citizenship Act’s withdraw-al, nevertheless, he reiterated,“When and if the law isdeclared to be constitutional bythe Supreme Court then it willbe problematic to oppose it.The fight must go on!”
His remarks had caused aflutter as several non-BJPGovernments, includingKerala, Rajasthan, MadhyaPradesh, West Bengal andMaharashtra have voiced theirdisagreement with the CAA aswell as National Register ofCitizens (NRC) and NationalPopulation Register (NPR).
“If the CAA is passed noState can say ‘I will not imple-ment it’,” Sibal said.
Continued on Page 4
�������"����� �%&�'%()*
Conceived in 2008, themuch-awaited world’s sec-
ond largest and indigenously-made MACE (MajorAtmospheric CherenkovExperiment) gamma ray tele-scope is all set to function from2020 year-end. Once theMACE system is operational,India will find its place in theelite scientific communityworking in field of gamma raystudy.
The telescope is next to theupcoming High AltitudeEnergy Gamma Ray (HAGAR)observatory at 14,000 feet atHanle in Ladakh. It has a 21-metre diameter reflector and45-metre height with 356 mir-ror panels.
The first and the biggestgamma ray telescope is in LaPalma in Canary Islands set up
jointly by Switzerland andGermany in 2011.
Scientists involved withthe project said here that anarray of seven telescopes formonitoring spectacular celestialevents like explosion of stars,falling of matters into blackholes and collision of extrater-restrial objects have alreadybeen installed. It will detectvery high energy gamma raysin the energy range of 20GeVto 10 TeV using the earth’satmosphere as part of its detec-tion system.
“Commissioning trials ofthe MACE are being conduct-ed presently,” said Nilay Bhattfrom Bhabha Atomic ResearchCentre (BARC), which hasplayed a lead role in setting upthe project. He was sharing thedetails of the project at a cur-tain raiser for Vigyan Samagamto be held in the national
Capital at National ScienceCentre where the MACE, oneamong various mega scienceprojects being undertaken inIndia and abroad in collabora-tion with other countries, willbe showcased.
Bhatt said, “Equipped witha large light collector consist-ing of 356 mirror panels of area1 sqm each and 1,088 channelphotomultiplier tube basedimaging camera, MACE willdetect extremely short (fewnanoseconds) Cherenkovflashes generated by cosmicgamma rays.
“It is expected to startobservations by the end of theyear. To begin with it willobserve a Supernova remnantcalled Crab to validate its per-formance and then it is openfor explorations in space.
We welcome Indian uni-versities and institutes to make
use of the facility,” he added.MACE, which will be
operated in the dark nightsonly, will also help under-
stand the nature of cosmicaccelerators and the radiationemission processes in extremeenvironments.���� +%�,-(./.
Rohit Sharma and ViratKohli paced a tricky run
chase with sublime knocks asIndia wrapped the series 2-1with a seven-wicket victory inthe decisive third ODI againstAustralia on Sunday.
Rohit delivered 119 off 128in the all-important game forhis 29th ODI hundred. AfterRohit’s fall, Kohli (89 off 91)anchored the chase successful-ly, with 2.1 overs to spare.
India had a point to proveagainst Australia, having lostthe home series to them inMarch last year. The 10-wick-et drubbing in Mumbai did notdeter India as they postedemphatic victories in Rajkot.
Detailed report on P16
��������������� 0)%��-*
Five persons lost their lives inJallikattu in the last four
days across Tamil Nadu. Whilefour persons were gored todeath by the charging bulls inthe arena itself, one person suc-cumbed to injuries later inhospital. But this has not pre-vented the organisers fromgoing ahead with the contro-versial sport in different venuesin the State.
Three bull tamers werekilled in Madurai’sAvaniiyapuram village, whiletwo deaths were reported fromAlanganalloor village and
Tiruchirappalli district. All those who lost their
lives were of below 30 years ofage. A six-year-old girl, Vinoba,has been admitted to hospitalwith grievous injuries she suf-fered when a bull which cameout of the arena hit her. She waswatching the sport with herfather when the mishapoccurred.
More than 50 persons havebeen admitted to different hos-pitals with serious injuries.
“The situation in TamilNadu is serious. It is like thegladiators fighting the bulls inthe coliseums in Rome. Peoplecheer up the bulls as theycharge into the people from thevadivasal (narrow gate sepa-rating the bulls from the bulltamers).
The sad thing is thatthough the human beingsknow that it is a sporting event,the poor animals are ignorantabout the sports and pastime,”said an animal rights activist.
���##������� �%&�'%()*
Refusing to accept the hike inhostel fees by the Jawahar
Lal Nehru University admin-istration, the JNU Students’Union (JNUSU) on Sundaysaid it will approach the DelhiHigh Court on January 20 toseek a direction for quashingthe new hostel manual whichhas provisions for fee hike. Thepetition shall also seek regis-tration at “old rates without latefines”, they said.
In a statement issued onSunday, the JNUSU said it willfile the plea on Monday againstthe Inter-Hall Administrationmanual which, it claimed, waspassed “illegally” in Octoberwithout taking the feedback ofthe Union.
The JNUSU, which hasbeen on strike on the issue forclose to three months, urgedthe remaining students to boy-cott of registration.
the LDF Government, KeralaGovernor Arif MohammedKhan made it clear on Sundayhe will not remain a “mutespectator” as he sought a reportfrom it over moving theSupreme Court against the
Citizenship (Amendmend)Act, or CAA, without inform-ing him.
Days after the Governor hitout at the Pinarayi VijayanGovernment for not informinghim before moving the apexcourt and declaring that he wasnot a “rubber stamp”, the RajBhavan sought the report fromthe State Chief Secretary on thematter. “The Governor’s officehas sought a report from theChief Secretary for not inform-ing him about the State’s moveto approach the apex courtagainst the CAA,” a top RajBhavan source told PTI onSunday.
Confirming that he hadsought the report, Khan, whoarrived here this evening fromBengaluru, told reporters thatit should not be seen as a “per-sonal fight”. “This is not per-sonal fight. My only concern isthat the Constitution and thelaw must be upheld and thebusiness of the Governmentmust be transacted in accor-dance with the law”, he said.
Khan’s stand had drawn theire of ruling front with CPI (M)mouthpiece Deshabhimanislamming him for making“political statements” and alleg-ing he was “threatening” thestate in a “tough language”.
However, the Governmenthas said it did not violate anyrules and no deliberateattempts had been made tochallenge the authority of theGovernor’s office.
Law Minister AK Balanhad said on Saturday theGovernment would clear allapprehensions raised by Khan.
Days after passing a reso-lution in the assembly againstthe CAA, the KeralaGovernment had on January 13approached the SC.
An upset Khan had onThursday said it was “improp-er” and protocol and courtesy
demanded that he should havebeen informed by theGovernment prior to movingthe court.
Khan, who has been at log-gerheads with the LDF regimesince it convened a specialAssembly session to pass theresolution seeking scrapping ofthe CAA, on Sunday said theGovernment moving the courtwithout his knowledge was anillegal act.
“This is in contravention ofthe rules. This is an illegal act.I am not fighting any person-al vengeance. I am just point-ing out that the law andConstitution must be upheld,”he said.
When pointed out that theLaw Minister had said no rulehad been violated by the stategovernment, the Governorchallenged him to show the law.
“Let him quote the Law. Iam quoting here. Even afterthis, you are saying somebodyhas given his personal opinion.I am giving you the law. Whatthe Government has done wasillegal. Let them show me theprovision. I will take everythingback. I will not sit like a mutespectator. I have to ensure thatthe Constitution and the laware upheld”.
Ghantaghar Park inHussainabad area of Lucknowon Sunday alleged policementook away their blankets andfood stuff. However, policerejected the allegations.
On the lines of Delhi’sShaheen Bagh, the womenalong with children have beensquatting near the Clock Tower(Ghantaghar) in Lucknow’sOld City since Friday night,protesting against the CAAand NRC.
The women protestersalleged that blankets providedto them by some organisationswere taken away by the police.Rejecting the allegation, theLucknow Police said, “Duringthe illegal protest at Lucknow’s
Ghantaghar Park (ClockTower), some people tried tomake a “gheraa” (cordon) usingropes and sticks, and also triedto put sheets. They were notallowed to do so. Some organ-isations were distributing blan-kets on the park premises as aresult of which people living inthe vicinity and not part of theprotests were coming to takethe blankets.”
Continued on Page 4
���� '.+-*
Bangladesh Prime MinisterSheikh Hasina has termed
as “internal matters” of Indiathe Citizenship (Amendment)Act or CAA, and the NationalRegister of Citizens (NRC),but at the same time said theact was “not necessary”.
“We don’t understand why(the Indian government) did it.It was not necessary. “(Still), itis an internal affair,” Hasina toldthe Gulf News in an interview,referring to India’s new citi-zenship law.
Her comments came weeksafter Bangladesh ForeignMinister AK Abdul Momensaid that the CAA and the NRCare India’s “internal issues”, butvoiced concern that any“uncertainty” in the country islikely to affect its neighbours.
Hasina, who is in the UAEcapital of Abu Dhabi, also saidthat there has been no record-ed reverse migration fromIndia. “No, there is no reversemigration from India. Butwithin India, people are facingmany problems,” she said.
“Bangladesh has alwaysmaintained that the CAA andNRC are internal matters ofIndia,” Hasina said. “TheGovernment of India, on theirpart, has also repeatedly main-tained that the NRC is aninternal exercise of India andPrime Minister (Narendra)Modi has in person assured meof the same during my visit toNew Delhi in October 2019.”
She said the relationshipbetween Bangladesh and Indiais currently at its best, withcooperation in a “wide spec-trum of areas”.
Uttarakhand recently cele-brated its Youth Leaders’
Conclave with a lot of fanfare.Though, it was SwamiVivekananda’s vision that wassought to be celebrated at theconclave, the event ended upbeing another political jam-boree, mismanaged and sansany vision for the mountainstate and its youth. Manyyoung people who did attendthe conclave, came out disillu-sioned, saying that the eventhad nothing to offer exceptpropaganda. This is a pre-dictable pattern in a state thatis staring at the twin spectersof economic and ecologicaldisaster, where dams continueto ruin our rivers and roadstear through the very fabric ofour venerated pilgrimage sites.What is even more surprisingabout such events is that intheir haste to please the pow-ers that be, our authorities failto even acknowledge youngleaders that have recentlybrought glory to the state.
Since the conclave wasorganised in honour of SwamiVivekananda, let me begin bysaying that his message ofkarma combined with the zealto protect all that is spiritual,needs to be deeply imbibed. Headvised us to, “…act on theeducated young men, bringthem together, and organisethem. Great things can bedone by great sacrifices only.No selfishness, no name, nofame, yours or mine, nor mymaster's even! Work, work the
idea, the plan, my brave, noble,good souls - to the wheel, tothe wheel put your shoulders!”
But how will our youth puttheir shoulders to the wheel,when they are made to worshipfalse gods? Today, the need ofthe hour is to celebrate rolemodels who have shown us thepath out of the quagmire ofmigration that our mountainsseem to be afflicted with.Uttarakhand faces a crisis ofnot only losing its jal, jangal,jamin (water resources, forestwealth and land), but also itsjawani (youth). In an atmos-phere of gloom, few youngpeople have not only createdemployment opportunities forthemselves and their peers,but they have also helped pre-serve the ecological balance ofthe communities they workwith. Let me introduce you totwo young men, Arun Gourfrom Devalsari and TaukeerAlam from Laldhang, whohave emerged as the leaders weshould have actually been cel-ebrating.
Arun Gour is a livelihoodscreator, mountain protector,community tourism advocateand traditional bee-keepingtrainer. He is a messiah of sus-tainable eco-tourism in theHimalayan villages ofDevalsari, Bangseel andUntadh. Founding theDevalsari Ecotourism andResearch Centre, he nurtureda culture of conservation in hiscommunity. The eco-tourismmodel he created benefits both
people and the forest and is aliving example of the solutionsneeded for a secure tomorrow.By training his community inbeekeeping, conducting natureand heritage trails, bird-watch-ing, butterfly walks, homestays,and of course, the sale ofhoney, he has provided pur-pose and income to severalpahadi families. His work toprotect the Indian honeybee,
Apisceranaindica, has helpedprotect the forests of his com-munity. His support to theForest Department in com-bating forest fires, reportingpoaching incidents, and more,has built a strong bondbetween the ForestDepartment and his commu-nity. With his combination ofinnovation and ethics, Arun iscreating livelihoods while pro-
tecting a breathtaking slice ofthe Western Himalaya.
As a child of the nomadicVan Gujjar community,Taukeer Alam grew up in thelap of nature, around the RajajiNational Park, Uttarakhand.His profound interest inwildlife saw him dropping outof school to work as an appren-tice-cook with a group ofresearchers from the Centre for
Ecological Sciences. His pas-sion, curiosity and innateunderstanding of the forest ledresearchers from the NatureScience Initiative to take him
under their wing. Soon, hebecame an expert naturalist,indispensable to his scientistmentors. One of Uttarakhand'stop e-birders on an online
global database of bird obser-vations, he can remarkablyidentify virtually every Indianbird! His love for the wild hasinspired the youth of his com-munity to learn from him, toprotect the forests he cherish-es so dearly. He is activelyworking with schools in theLaldhang area and nurturingyoung wilderness experts. Heis a generation-next green war-rior, the kind that gives us hopefor the future.
While Arun Gour recent-ly won the prestigiousSanctuary Asia Wildlife ServiceAward, Taukeer Alam was theproud recipient of theSanctuary Asia’s YoungNaturalist Award. Both theseyoung people are role modelsfor not just the state but theentire country. They are thetrue sons of the soil that needto be projected as role models.However, their achievementhas gone largely unnoticed intheir home state.
We need many more suchgood Samaritans working forour environment while alsocombating migration. We needmore Aruns and Taukeers,walking the jungles ofUttarakhand, protecting thefragile economy of the statewhile also generating liveli-hoods for its peoples.
least two people, injuring oneand digging up graves to scav-enge on the human remains inHaridwar region was shot deadby authorised hunters on theweekend. The authorisedhunters Dr Prashant Singh andZahid Bakshi shot the leopardat about 8 PM on Saturday.
It is pertinent to mentionhere that two persons had beenkilled and partially eaten by aleopard while a third personwas seriously injured in a leop-ard attack. The leopard alsodug up graves near BHEL inHaridwar and reportedly dugout a child’s corpse.
After this, the Haridwardivisional forest officer hadwritten to the chief wildlifewarden asking that the big catbe declared a man-eater. Afterthe leopard was declared aman-eater, authorised huntersarrived in the area on the
weekend.Doctor Prashant Singh,
who is a dentist by professionin Dehradun, said that he hadshot the leopard along with hispartner Zahid and his team.
They began tracking theleopard on Saturday morningand managed to shoot it by 8PM on the same day.Identifying and tracking the bigcat with its pug marks, theyshot the leopard in the night. Itwas a male leopard aged abouteight years.
Talking to this correspon-dent, Dr Singh said that theleopard had become fearless.“He saw us with cars andweapons but didn’t stop.Instead, he continued movingtowards us, which only showsthat he had lost fear of humansafter preying on them.”
The Haridwar DFO AkashVerma said that the leopardkilled on the weekend wasresponsible for killing two andinjuring one person. The leop-ard had been identified earlier
by the team after which theoperation was carried out toeliminate him. It had also start-ed to rain on Saturday evening,after which it seemed that theoperation would have to beabandoned. However, theauthorised hunter managed totrack and shoot the big catdead.
It will be recalled that thisleopard was synonymous withterror in the BHEL and its sur-rounding areas. His movementin the residential area wascause of major concern for thelocals and department offi-cials.
However, observers pointout that though the locals andofficials may breathe a sigh ofrelief for now, the problem ofhuman-wildlife conflict is verymuch alive. Factors like habi-tat fragmentation, increasinghuman pressure and leopardsbeing pushed out from Rajajinational park by other big catswill continue to move aroundin the residential areas.
Dehradun (MCD) is focusingon optimising the level of san-itation in the city in view of theongoing Swachh Survekshan2020, garbage in the open andlitter is still a common sight invarious parts of the city.
According to deputymunicipal commissionerRohitash Sharma,“Approximately 400 bannershave been placed in differentparts of the city to spreadawareness about sanitationamong people.
Sanitation workers areworking day and night for thecity’s cleanliness and if still,somebody finds garbage lyingaround in the city or has anykind of complaints concerningthe sanitation; they can clickthe photo of the site and uploadin our app or call our helpline
number, and within five hoursthe area will be cleaned.”
He further added that thegarbage accumulated on privatelands is also getting clean byMCD across the city.
It is pertinent to mentionhere that in view of the SwacchSurvekshan 2020, MCD ismaking all possible efforts toimprove the ranking ofDehradun.
Last year, the city was notable to secure a rank even in thefirst 100 clean cities in thecountry.
Therefore, the mayor SunilUniyal ‘Gama’ and municipalcommissioner Vinay ShankarPandey have also appealedeveryone to contribute to thissurvey by giving feedback onSwachhata app to uplift theranking of the city as the pos-itive feedback from the citizenshelps in the alleviation of theranking.
The mayor has alsorequested the councillors in thelast meeting to motivate peo-ple in their respective areas togive feedback on Swachhataapp.
issued a letter to its councillorfrom Yamuna Colony, SumitraDhyani asking for her clarifi-cation within one week onturning violent towardsBallupur councillor Komal
Bohra during the MunicipalCorporation of Dehradun(MCD) board meeting onJanuary 9.
According to the letterissued by the party’s discipli-nary committee chief PramodKumar Singh, the councillorhas been given one week timeto clear her side on why sheallegedly slapped Komal Bohraand why she should not beexpelled as per the party rules.
However, when asked bythis correspondent about thenotice, Dhyani said that she
had not yet received any suchletter form the party till Sundayevening.
It is worth mentioning thatan altercation took placebetween the two councillors inwhich Sumitra Dhyani alleged-ly slapped Komal Bohra whenshe was just trying to offer hera seat. Though Dhyani haddenied all the allegations in thepast saying nothing serioushappened, Komal Bohra wasenraged and wanted justicefor the embarrassment she hadto face in board meeting.
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Awoman was found dead insuspicious circumstances
at a hotel in Ranipur Modwhich falls under the jurisdic-tion of the city Kotwali police.After receiving informationabout the incident, the policeteam reached the spot andtook the body in possessionand sent it for post mortemexamination. It is stated that apolicemen posted at Mayapurpost had reportedly booked theroom. Police are investigatingthe case.
According to the informa-tion provided by sources, AnuTyagi (35), a woman fromDehradun, stayed in a hotelroom near Rishikul. When thewoman's room was knocked inthe morning there was noresponse from the inside. The
hotel staff then informed thepolice. Reaching the spot afterbeing informed, the policebroke the hotel room door.The police then found thewoman lying dead on the bed.According to the police, thewoman is involved in the beau-ty parlor business in Dehradun.
The woman came toHaridwar regarding a mar-riage booking. It is being toldthat a policeman posted atMayapur post had reportedlybooked a room for the womanin the hotel.
Someone else was presentwith the woman in the roombut fled from the spot. Variouspolice officers including the
Haridwar senior superinten-dent of police Senthil AvoodaiKrishnaraj S and superinten-dent of police (City) KamleshUpadhyay reached the site andare involved in the investiga-tion.
The SSP said that after thepolice acted on informationand found a 35-year oldwoman dead in the hotel room,the hotel management told thepolice that the said hotel roomhad been booked by a policeconstable. The police are inves-tigating the case from everyangle. Receipt of the postmortem report will help clearthe scenario a bit more, headded.
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The ONGC and PCRADehradun organised
Saksham Cyclothon fromONGC Kendriya VidyalaySports Ground here on Sunday.
The Dehradun mayorSunil Uniyal ‘Gama’ along withthe Indian Military Academy(IMA) deputy commandantMajor General GS Rawatflagged off the cyclists in thepresence of ONGC corporatecommunications head andexecutive director Preeta PantVyas.
According to the eventorganisers, the chilling winterwinds at 6:30 AM on a coldJanuary Sunday could not deterthe enthusiasm of more than1,000 cyclist including 50 IMAcadets, members of ONGC
Cycling Association, MaitriGroup, students from variousschools and families ofONGCians.
Addressing the gatheringon the occasion, the Dehradunmayor appreciated the jointeffort of ONGC and PCRA fororganising the SakshamCyclothon with a large numberof participants. Further, hemotivated all the participants tocycle more to keep oneself fitand at the same time conserveenvironment and fuel. He saidthat today the cycle is also asymbol of status and healthwhereas once it was the poorman’s need.
The IMA deputy com-mandant major general GSRawat thanked ONGC andPCRA for organising theSaksham Cyclothon. He high-
lighted that cycling is a goodmeans to stay healthy and alsoavoid traffic congestion onroad while also keeping theenvironment clean.
Earlier, executive directorPreeta Pant Vyas welcomed thechief guest, guest of honourand all the participants.
Deputy Director, State Co-ordinator of PCRA NeerajGupta and other officials werealso present on the occasion.The cyclothon which com-menced from ONGC KendriyaVidyalaya passed throughChakrata Road, Bindal Bridge,Clock Tower, Rajpur Road,Dilaram Chowk, GarhiCanttand KDMIPE Chowk coveringan approximate 12 kilometreroute before concluding at theONGC Kendriya Vidyalayasports complex.
Swamy is considering theoption of filing a Public InterestLitigation challenging the CharDham DevsthanamManagement Act which wasrecently accorded approval bythe Governor Baby RaniMaurya. Though the StateGovernment has been repeat-edly stating that this Act willnot affect the traditional rightsand position of the priests andvarious other stakeholders,many in the religious fraterni-ty are still not convinced andcontinue to oppose this Act.
Recently, a delegation ofTeerth Purohits and tradition-al stakeholders in the CharDham shrines met the BJPMP. Swamy also tweeted, “TheUttarakhand Government has
got a new law passed by theAssembly. On the face of it, onecan say that it is unconstitu-tional. Many sadhus came tosee me to ask me to file a PIL.Will consider.”
Ever since talk of the CharDham DevsthanamManagement Board started,the Teerth Purohits and otherstakeholders have been oppos-ing this idea. Protest rallies werealso staged in Dehradun andother parts of the State againstthis. After the bill was passed inthe Assembly, the Raj Bhawanrecently granted its approval toit. The Chief Minister TrivendraSingh Rawat, Culture andTourism minister SatpalMaharaj and others have beenstressing that this Act will notaffect the rights or position ofthe various stakeholders. TheState Government has beenmaintaining that this Act was
brought to further improve thefacilities for devotees fromacross Indid and abroad visit-ing the Char Dham and othershrines in the State. However,some have continued to opposethis. Recently the Char DhamMahapanchayat vice presidentand priest in Gangotri shrine,Ashok Semwal led a delegationwhich called upon the BJP’sRajya Sabha MP SubramanianSwamy. In the memorandumsubmitted by the delegation toSwamy, it was stated that manyare opposing the Act and thata protest will also be organisedin Delhi on this issue. It is per-tinent to mention here thatsome other members of thereligious fraternity inUttarakhand have also opposedthe Act on the grounds thatonly Hindu shrines should notbe brought under governmentcontrol.
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Former Chief Minister andsenior Congress leader is
expected to meet the protestingAnganwadi workers inDehradun on Monday.According to the protesters, hewill be extending his support tothe protest and meet thoseundertaking the fast unto deathin support of their demands.
According to StatePresident of Anganwadi work-ers association, Rekha Negi, “Ialso came to know it just nowthat Harish Rawat is coming tosupport us.
Before that Congress leaderSuryakant Dhasmana had alsocome to support us.
I am glad people are sup-porting us but also want to
make it clear that we are notinviting leaders from any partyto show any kind of support forus. We do not want to get polit-ically involved; we just want our
demands to be fulfilled.”It has been around two
months since the protest start-ed and till now five women-Savita Sharma, Shashi Thapa,
Manorama Nautiyal, NeelamPaliwal and BhagyashreeUniyal have been admitted tothe Government Doon MedicalCollege (GDMC) hospital by
the police after the health of thewomen was affected by themundertaking a fast unto death.
At present, Anganwadiworkers Pinky Singh and AnjuChand are carrying on the fastunto death at the protest sitenear Parade Ground.
According to Rekha Negi,“Government is thinking theyare controlling our protestthrough police but when we areforced to committ self-immo-lation, they will not know itbefore it’s too late.”
It is pertinent to mentionhere that the Anganwadi work-ers had also protested duringthe term of the previousCongress state government.
At that time, theirallowance had been raised by �1,000 per month.
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The police conducted a trialof the one-way system on
various city roads here onSunday.
The system is slated to beenforced in view of the variousworks to be undertaken in thecity as part of the Smart Cityproject. However, on the day ofthe trial, the people faced var-ious problems and gave mixedresponse to the system.
“It is Sunday so somehowwe managed, but our kids haveschool on the same route andthe one-way will make it hard-er for us to go extra miles todrop them every morning.This will double the time ittakes us to drop out children toschool,” added Akriti Sahni.
According to JeetramSahni, “On normal days ithardly takes me five minutes ona motorcycle to reach ParadeGround from my place evenduring dense traffic but todayI had to cover extra distance toreach the same place.
How it is helping anyone?It just wasted my time, energyand fuel. It might be helpful forpedestrians, but for bike riders
and drivers, it is an inconve-nient situation.”
Kedar Bhandari, an auto-rickshaw driver said, “Routesare undoubtedly longer thanthe usual ones and that is whythe vehicles are taking moretime to reach a destination. I donot know if this plan can helpto reduce traffic in other daysbut it is certainly not goinggood for us today.
Commuters are not payingextra to go extra miles to reachthe destination which is takingmore time too besides extrafuel.”
However, some people
found it helpful for commuters.“I am not saying that it is notcausing inconvenience to thepublic, but I can also see lesstraffic jam than on other days.I come almost every Sundaytowards Clock Tower and theintersection is always congest-ed with vehicles.
Today the traffic here isabout three times less thanusual traffic. If it can work thisway on other days too then Ihave no problem to cover a fewextra miles without gettingstuck in traffic,” said VedantTiwari.
According to Dipaneeta
Sharma, “I had to ride someextra distance just to reach theplace which was at a walkingdistance. We can go walking tosuch places but we can’t leaveour vehicle on the road, so we’llhave to go extra miles.However, if this system canreduce the traffic then it is
bearable, otherwise, it is awaste of fuel, time and effort.”
It is pertinent to mentionhere that traffic on RajpurRoad, Chakrata Road, SubhashRoad, EC Road and some otherroads in the core area ofDehradun city was affected bythe one-way plan of the police.
Arriving here to attend themarriage function of MLA
Mahesh Negi’s son, chief minis-ter Trivendra Singh Rawatadministered polio drops tochildren at a polio booth organ-ised near the helipad.
On arriving here, the chiefminister visited a polio-booth setup by the health department inthe army area near the helipad.He witnessed the proceedingsand also administered polio-drops to some of the children atthe booth. Speaking on the occa-sion, the Chief Minister said thatit was the responsibility of all par-ents to ensure that their childrenhad been administered the med-ication for protection from dan-
gerious diseases like polio. Hesaid that due to public awarenessand proactive action, polio hadbeen eradicated from the Nationand the State. Despite this, oneshould get the medicationadministered to children on
polio-days being organised as aprecautionary measure, hestressed. Various office bearers ofthe Bharatiya Janata Party andlocal officials concerned werealso among those present on theoccasion.
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Accusing the BharatiyaJanata Party government at
the State and Centre of “dup-ing” Uttarakhand, the Congressis planning to undertake astate-wide protest rally.
Addressing media personshere on Sunday, former cabinetminister and senior Congressleader Mantri Prasad Naithanisaid that during the past threeyears, the Central and StateGovernments had been dupingthe state and imposing anti-people laws.
Due to this, the people whohad voted overwhelmingly infavour of the BJP in the LokSabha and Vidhan Sabha elec-tions are now feeling cheated.
He said that the Congressparty had been consistently
undertaking movementsagainst the objectionable deci-sions and actions of theGovernment since 2017.
However, the Central andState Governments are sup-pressing the public agitationsinstead of resolving the issuescausing problems to the pub-lic. The women, farmers,members of the business fra-ternity, unemployed personsand even government employ-ees are suffering due toGovernment policies. Naithanisaid that the party will under-take a 15-day ‘UttarakhandBachao Dev Yachna’ rally in theState from February 15.
The rally will be in protestagainst the Devsthanam man-agement Act, shifting of NCCAcademy from Tehri, disin-vestment of THDC and NTPC,
formation of district authoritiesin various districts, failure toclear pending dues of sugarcane farmers, fee hike in med-ical colleges, discontinuation ofpublic-welfare schemes startedby the previous Congress gov-ernment and about a dozenother issues.
The rally will also beextending support to theprotesting Anganwadi workers,protest against failure to meetthe valid demands of govern-ment employees, CentralGovernment cutting the bud-getary allocation for theKumbh Mela to be held inHaridwar during and againstthe continued price rise, addedNaithani.
Before the protest rally,the Congress will submit mem-oranda to the Prime Minister
and various union ministers inthe national capital fromFebruary 5 to 10. In the secondstage of the protest, the partywill start from the RampurTiraha and travel to variousshrines in all the 13 districts ofthe state, seeking justice andhelp from the deities. If theGovernment fails to respond,the Congress will lock downthe Vidhan Sabha during thebudget session. After that theparty workers will lock downthe secretariat.
If still the desired resultsare not achieved, the Congresswill undertake the fifth stage ofits planned protest by takingout a ‘Jawab Do Sarkar’ rallyfrom Narayan Ashram inPithoragarh which will passthrough all the districts andconclude at Gangotri.
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Five persons including twoforeign tourists were res-
cued by the police after they gotstranded on a slip of land in theGanga river at Rishikesh onSunday. The Lakshman Jhulapolice were informed by thecontrol room that five peoplewere stranded on the island dueto sudden rise in the level ofwater in the river at Goa beachalong the Rishikesh-Neelkanth
route.The Lakshman Jhula police
station officer R Singhinformed that the police hadreceived information aboutthis incident in the morning.Along with the water policepersonnel, the police conduct-ed a rescue operation. Five per-sons including a tourist fromUkraine, one from France, onevisitor from Delhi and two res-idents of Rishikesh were res-cued by the police.
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Sachin Upadhyaya, the broth-er of former Pradesh
Congress Committee presi-dent Kishore Upadhyaya wasarrested in a case of fraud bythe police. He was present inthe court from where he wassent to jail. Meanwhile, someCongress leaders have allegedthat this action is politicallymotivated.
According to informationprovided by sources, Noidaresident Mukesh Joshi hadfiled a complaint regardingfraud and verbal abuse in theRajpur police station duringFebruary 2017. He had statedin the complaint that he hadlodged a case against SachinUpadhyay accusing him offraud in Delhi during 2012. Itis alleged that Upadhyaya hadused forged signatures in a
property deal. After the casewas lodged, he sought to settlethe case with the complainantand reportedly spoke of payinghim � 26.50 lakh.
Till the payment of the saidamount, Upadhyaya reported-ly kept a property of his assecurity with the complainant.However, later Joshi came toknow that this property hadalready been mortgaged with abank. When the complainantapproached Upadhyaya regard-ing this, he allegedly refused toreturn the amount and verbal-ly abused him. After this Joshilodged a complaint againstUpadhyay with the Dehradunpolice. After various subse-quent developments, the stategovernment ordered the for-mation of a special investiga-tion team to probe the case.After the SIT probe was suc-cessful in finding various sub-
stantial proofs against theaccused, a non-bailable warrantwas secured from the court.According to the police, theaccused was arrested onSunday from outside his home.On the other hand, someCongress leaders have allegedthat this action is politicallymotivated.
teenager was injured after thecar they were travelling in felloff the road into the Alaknandariver on Sunday.
The mishap took placenear the Dhari Devi temple onthe national highway toBadrinath. According tosources, those travelling in thecar were identified as 52 yearold Devendra Singh, 16 yearold Divyanshi and 28 year oldPraveen Kumar.
While the two men weremissing after the mishap, theteenage girl was rescued in aninjured condition.
She was admitted to thebase hospital in Srikot whileefforts were carried out fortracing the other two meninvolved in the mishap. Theexact cause of the mishap is notyet known.
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What's more important-cold steel or warm hugs,
harsh consequences or secondchances? Do we achieve safe-ty and security by making
schools harder - or makingthem softer? To understand thedebate that has been ragingsince time immemorial,between the "hards" and the"softs" we have to analyse oureducation system and themindset of our young learners.
The era of the softs beganjust a decade ago. Instead ofzero tolerance, more and moreschools and institutions nowadvocate expanded tolerance-discipline reform. The age oldadage of "Spare the rod andspoil the child" has becomeredundant. "Restorative jus-tice" is now in vogue. Studentswho indulge in fights or whocursed out a teacher are asked
to "circle up" and work theirproblems out with words.'Positive behaviour interven-tion" is considered to be a goodpractise -meaning studentssometimes get incentives fornot acting up.
These new policies have tobe adopted with varyingdegrees of buy-in, profession-al development, resources andsuccess. Schools have to be cau-tious not to fall prey to a "cul-ture of tolerance and leniencythat allows habitual offendersto fly under the radar in a waythat puts other kids at risk". Ithink it is humane that if pupilsmake mistakes they are givena second chance. However, we
have gone far from over disci-plining to under disciplining.The pendulum looks poised toswing back from "softs" to"hards". Policymakers havebeen making enough noise fora long time to get smaller classsizes, more money for schoolcounselors but implementa-tion has been a major issue.
Outside the home andclassroom, strong educationpolicy is critical to an excellenteducation system. Educationpolices in various countriesand India too, dictate every-thing from length of a schoolday to staff requirements tocurriculum. As educators it isour mission to ensure that all
children receive an excellenteducation, regardless of theirbackground, so much so thatevery student grows up to be aresponsible student. The solu-tion shouldn't be draconianrather with lot of compassionand hope we have to direct ourattention and adopt the middlepath. It is essential for us tounderstand that children are insome way savages, untrained inthe ways of society, the need isto make them stand tall andstop worrying about test scores.
As the board examinationsare knocking at the door, it isvital for parents and teachers toensure a congenial atmosphereof learning for the young ones.
By doing this we build self-con-fidence in students, therebysafeguarding the most impor-tant ingredient to success thatis motivation. Some of thesimple strategies to be used toimprove confidence at this cru-cial juncture can be by
� Focussing on achievements
� Sharing positive experience
� Making minor personalchanges in communication
�Enabling learners to practiceself-acceptance
� Lending unconditional sup-
port and reward
� Lessen fear and anxiety
� Build resilence
� Exhibit improved bonding
�Help set manageable goals
�Give useful feedback at reg-ular intervals
Let the learners see possibilityinstead of limitation, and helpthem see very failure as anopportunity to improve andexcel. Grow and bloom every-day to spread your sheen allaround.
"Listen o my lovely studentsleave all fear In any situation never leaveyour cheerMistakes do occur in realityrealmNever lose your heart anddon't shatterLearn from your mistakes andimproviseBecome more and more wiseAdmiration and success willfollow suiteNever lose your confidenceand don't fear."
(The writer is a seniorteacher at Delhi Public School,Ranchi and the viewsexpressed in the article are herown.)
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The Tinplate Company ofIndia Limited (TCIL), a
subsidiary of Tata Steel willcomplete 100 glorious years ofits existence on January 20,2020 following the ideals andphilosophy laid down by Tatagroup`s founder, JN Tata.
The journey of TCIL beganin 1920. Started as joint venturebetween TISCO (now TataSteel) and BOCL (a Britishcompany – Burmah OilCompany Ltd.), the Companyrolled out the first tinplate inDecember 1922 from its facil-ity in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand(erstwhile Bihar).
TCIL is a manufacturer ofTinplate, an environment-friendly packaging material.The steel base with coating ofTin suffice the need of pack-aging, i.e. strength and foodcompatibility. Worldwide two-thirds of tinplate producedgoes into food packaging.Process improvement,Innovation and continualimprovement has helped thecompany to sustain a market
share of about 45% in Indiawith 18-20% of its productionbeing exported.
The technology with whichproduction started primarilyinvolved Hot Pack Rolling ofsteel sheet bars followed by tin-ning by Hot Dip technology. In1950s, the product was highlyprofitable with more than 100%value addition over basic rawmaterial. Designed to produce28,000 tonnes of tinplate, thefacility went on to produce60,000 tonnes, through sheerdedication and hardwork of the
employees. The 1950s also sawthe advent of efficient processto produce tinplate, using theelectrolysis process.
To be aligned with marketneeds, the company set up its1st Electrolytic Tinning Line(ETL) in 1979. Since its indige-nous raw material (TMBP –Tin Mill Black Plate) sourcingplan did not work out, compa-ny was left with no choice butto import the same.
High duties of import,erratic supply conditions andquality issues due to high lead
time of supply could not sup-port the new technology andlead to ineffective operations ofthe new tinning line.
During late 70s, BOCL,due to its financial difficultieswanted to sell off its equityholdings. During the sametime TISCO stopped produc-tion of steel bars (raw materi-al for the hot dip facilities) dueto strategic reasons leading toloss of production. The newtinning line could not sustainthe vagaries of imported rawmaterial due to high cost andfluctuation in supplies. All puttogether, the company carrieda negative worth at the end of1980.
In 1981, TISCO got thepreferential rights to purchaseBOCL’s shares and, subsequentmultiple initiatives saw the com-pany moving ahead from mid80s.Key strategic decision wastaken during this period, back-ward integration of TCIL (ColdColling Mill Complex - CRM)to set up its own TMBP mak-ing facility (raw material for tin-ning line) and reinforcement ofTISCO’s flat products business
by setting up the Hot Strip Mill(HSM) at Jamshedpur whichwould provide raw material toTCIL’s CRM complex. Thisbrought in a lot of excitement inthe organisation. However, thedark side of the moon was tak-ing the inevitable decision ofclosure of the old facilities, dueto obsolescence of technologyand non-availability of rawmaterial.
The late 90s saw coming upof the state of art CRM complexand phasing out of the old hotdip technology and plant.
Standing today, the com-pany has a capacity to produce379,000 tonnes per annum oftinplate and the journey con-tinues with options beingexplored for further capacityaddition at Jamshedpur.
While the turf has changedand challenges are many, theteam is committed to upholdthe foundation laid in its jour-ney towards a sustainablefuture. TCIL is working for thenext level of organic growth oftinplate production and furtherreinforcement of downstreampresence.
gramme in education sectorimplemented under CorporateSocial Responsibility (CSR) byCentral Coalfield Limited(CCL) has produced JEE Mainstopper. The scheme emergedfrom the vision of theChairman cum ManagingDirector, CCL Gopal Singhwho wanted to provide anopportunity of education todowntrodden section of thesociety.
The result of this year’s JEEMains 2020 broke all therecords with 11 students of thebatch of 16 securing 90 per-centile or higher in JEE Mains.Siddhant Shekhar topped thefield with 99.25 percentile.Another student, Vicky KumarSinha scored 98.64 percentile.The admirable part of thisperformance is that Vicky losthis father in childhood and ifit was not for this initiative ofCCL, he would have never gotan opportunity like this.Another touching story is thatof Bittu Kumar. His father is adaily wage laborer and todaythe child scored 94.68 per-centile. The highlight of thescheme is that the childrenbelong to the most downtrod-
den and backward section ofour community.
Under this program, chil-dren who are appearing intheir class 10 examination areselected through a test fromacross the state. All the select-ed students of ‘CCL ke Lal andLadli’ are given free coachingfor IIT admission. The tutorsare IIT qualified engineersworking in CCL. The schemewas launched in 2012-13. Thestudents have attained variouslaurels and over 50 students ofthe previous batches across theyears are studying in prominent
engineering colleges of thecountry and many of them areemployed in leading corporatehouses of the country.
C.M.D Gopal Singh con-gratulated the children on theirachievement and wished thebest to students for JEEAdvance exams. He expressedconfidence that with hard workand dedication children willsurely crack the exam. He saidthat schemes like this are a partof the all-round inclusive devel-opment of society which is theaim of the company. He addedthat their company produces
coal to illuminate the future ofthe children. He further said,“We produce coal to meet aspi-rations of children ofJharkhand as they need plat-form and support from PSUs tofulfill their goal in education,sports and other fields.”
CCL ensures that the finestresources are made available forthe children. It provides thechosen students free coaching,lodging and mess facility. Theirschool education is the respon-sibility of the company and allthe students are studying inD.A.V Gandhinagar.
From Page 1“It is not possible and is
unconstitutional. You canoppose it, you can pass a reso-lution in the Assembly and askthe Central Government towithdraw it. But constitution-ally saying that I won’t imple-ment, it is going to be prob-lematic and going to createmore difficulties,” the formerLaw Minister had said.
Defending the CAA,Sitharaman maintained therewas no necessity to mix up theNRC and NPR with the CAAand appealed to those oppos-ing the Act not to make alle-gations that would lead tounrest among the public.
She was addressing a CAAevent in Chennai as part ofBJP’s nationwide ‘Jan JagranAbhiyan’ campaign in supportof the Act.
The CAA provides forgranting citizenship to Hindu,Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi andChristian minorities who facedreligious persecution and fledfrom Pakistan, Afghanistan,and Bangladesh, and came toIndia on or before December31, 2014.
From Page 1 “Police removed those per-
sons and organisations distrib-uting blankets there, and actionis being initiated against them,”the Lucknow police said, andurged people not to spreadrumours. Lucknow’s police com-missioner Sujeet Pandey also dis-missed the allegations levelled bythe protesters.However, a 27-sec-ond video clip emerged on socialmedia which purportedly showsa policeman carrying blanketsand sheets in a plastic bag andlater putting them in policejeeps. A woman is seen in thevideo shouting at a policemanand calling him “thief ”, butpolice personnel did not respondto it.The protest at Lucknow’sGhantaghar started on Fridaynight and later several othersfrom different parts of the cityjoined it as the night advanced.The BJP said the protest by thewomen was “sponsored by theCongress and the SamajwadiParty”.The protest by women atthe national Capital’s ShaheenBagh against the CAA and NRChas been going on for over amonth now. Besides Delhi,protests have unfolded in sever-al parts of the country over thenew citizenship law and have ledto clashes at several places,including Uttar Pradesh.
From Page 1Khan further said, “Please do not make it as a personal fight.
I am not important. What is more important is the Constitutionand the law of the land. My only point is that the transactionsof business of the state must be done according to thelaw.Attacking Vijayan, the Governor had earlier said the publicaffairs and the business of the Government cannot be run inaccordance with the “whims of an individual or a political party”and everyone has to respect the rules.
Khan had told reporters in Delhi on Friday that as per Ruleof Business Sec 34 (2) sub section 5, the State Government shouldinform the Governor regarding matters that affect the relationsbetween the state and the Centre.
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Early this month, the uni-versity had witnessed tusslebetween student groups over theissue of registration. Amid thestir, masked men had gone on arampage on January 5 in thecampus assaulting students andteachers and storming hostels,drawing widespread outrage.
The JNUSU also appealed tostudents to boycott exams andclasses till they get “buffer time”to complete the academic back-log of the Monsoon Semester2019. “Furthermore, takingexams and/or classes at thisjuncture will only create more
chaos and ruckus and lead toanother bifurcation in the stu-dent community that has beenresolutely and unitedly fightingtooth and nail against this dra-conian VC and his politicalmasters,” the JNUSU said.
They also demanded thatthe JNU administration should“annul and completely quash allpunitive actions on studentswho have been struggling againstthe exorbitant fee hike”.
According to the agitatingstudents, they were not invitedto the meeting where the IHAManual was passed.
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An Independent legislator inHaryana, who has been
booked for cheating, on Sundaygave an ultimatum to theManohar Lal Khattar led StateGovernment on withdrawinghis support.
Indirectly hitting out atChief Minister, Meham legis-lator Balraj Kundu said he hasextended support to the CM forhis clean credentials and not to a person who is sup-porting the corrupt.
Police had on Fridaybooked Kundu and his broth-er Shivraj Kundu for allegedlycheating Rohtak residentNarender Dhankhar.
While talking to the medi-apersons, Kundu said that if theCM is not taking action againsthis leader Manish Grover, I willbe forced to withdraw my sup-port to this Government.
“I am giving a month’stime to the Chief Minister toact against Grover,” he said,adding “I know that the with-drawal of my support will haveno impact on the Governmentstability as without me it has
the support of 56 legislators,but my fight against the corruptwould continue”.
Kundu had alleged irregu-larities in sugar mills in thestate since the BJP came to
power in the state in 2014. Hehad sought a probe against for-mer state CooperativesMinister Manish Grover.
Earlier, Kundu, along withthe supporters, reached thepolice station and daredauthorities to arrest him for thecase registered against him.
The police told him thatthe case was under investiga-tion.
The Meham legislator, aBJP turncoat, had won polls asan independent after beingdenied a party nomination.
In October last year, theBJP had won 40 seats and wassix short of a majority in the 90-member Assembly.
Besides the Jannayak JantaParty (JJP), seven indepen-dent MLAs had also extendedsupport to the BJP, helping itreach a tally of 57 seats.
Kundu’s allegations arelikely to be raised by the oppo-sition during the year’s first ses-sion of the Haryana Assemblybeginning January 20.
This will be a specialassembly session to pass a res-olution ratifying the SC/STquota Bill for another 10 years.
MP from Punjab Partap SinghBajwa threw a letter bomb onthe Chief Minister CaptAmarinder Singh demandingState Advocate-General AtulNanda’s expulsion, the PatialaRoyal on Sunday receivedanother letter from his party leg-islator raising issues concerninghuman resource development.
Congress MLA fromFerozepur City ParminderSingh Pinki has shot off a letterto the Chief Minister raisingseveral issues concerning thephysically challenged, besidesthe people’s health, expressinghope that Capt Amarinderwould prioritise the same.Pinki,in his letter, has sought month-ly allowance for the physicallychallenged persons, along withorganising district wise camps
for them, issuing certificates toaccess certain facilities like trav-el, among other things.
“I am inviting your atten-tion to an issue that is con-cerned with the society atlarge….It is about the disabledpersons in Punjab,” said Pinki.
He added, “I recentlyorganised a camp for the hand-icapped in Ferozepur duringwhich I realised the extent anddepth of their problem andcater to the needs of 1,562 suchdisabled persons. They virtual-ly are a neglected section of thesociety going by their unmiti-gated problems.”
Underlining that the num-ber of handicapped in Punjab ismore than six lakhs as per offi-cial figures, Pinki said that suchcamps should be organized inevery district from time-to-time.“The persons certified ashandicapped should be givenmonthly allowance.
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NITI Aayog member VKSaraswat, who courted
controversy with his remarksthat the shutdown of internetservices in Jammu & Kashmirdid not have any significanteffect on its economy as people there only use it for“watching dirty films”, onSunday apologised for his utterance.
“I have been quoted out ofcontext. If this misquotationhas hurt the feelings of the peo-ple of Kashmir, I apologise andwould not like them to carrythis impression that I amagainst the rights of theKashmiris to have internetaccess,” Saraswat maintained.
His comments defendingthe suspension of internet inJ&K drew strong reaction fromtrade body Kashmir Chamberof Commerce and Industry(KCCI) which demanded hisimmediate removal for uttering
“this nonsense”, while CPI(M)General Secretary SitaramYechury also hit out atSaraswat, saying he needs toread the Indian Constitution.
Saraswat made the contro-versial remarks in Gujarat’sGandhinagar on Saturday afterattending the convocation ofthe Dhirubhai AmbaniInstitute of Information andCommunication Technology.
“What difference does it
make if there’s no internetthere? What do you watch oninternet there? What e-tailingis happening there? Besideswatching dirty films, you donothing there,” he toldreporters on a query about sus-pension of Internet services inJammu and Kashmir over fivemonths ago following abroga-tion of its special status.
“If there is no internet inKashmir, it does not have any
significant effect on the econ-omy,” he said.
He also said internet ser-vices were suspended in Jammu& Kashmir to prevent certainelements from “misusing” infor-mation that could affect law andorder situation there.
“If Article 370 had to beremoved, and if Kashmir hadto be taken forward, we knewthere were elements therewhich will misuse this kind of
information in a manner thatwill affect the law and order sit-uation,” he said.
Condemning Saraswat’sremarks, KCCI president SheikhAshiq said it is unbecoming ofa person entrusted with seriousresponsibilities to make suchstatements that “malign thepopulation of Kashmir”. Ashiqsaid the Valley is suffering dueto the internet shutdown andthe losses to the business sector
here have amounted to over Rs18,000 crore.
The KCCI recently sub-mitted a detailed report aboutthe business losses in theKashmir valley to LieutenantGovernor GC Murmu andUnion minister of CommercePiyush Goyal as well as MoSPMO Jitendra Singh.
Internet services, landlineand mobile phones weresnapped across Jammu andKashmir on the eve of Centre’sannouncement to scrap specialstatus of the erstwhile state andits bifurcation into UnionTerritories on August 5.
While tagging Saraswat’sremarks, Yechury said onTwitter: “This man is a mem-ber of the NITI Aayog. Heneeds to read the IndianConstitution to update himself,and can start with the Preamble.There are numerous anti-CAA/NRC protests in everytown and city across the coun-try, and he will easily comeacross the Preamble in them.”
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To boost the morale of stu-dents, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi will onMonday interact with students,teachers and parents to share“valuable tips” with them toensure they take the upcomingboard and entrance exams in arelaxed manner.
The third edition of PrimeMinister’s ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’is being organised at TalkatoraIndoor Stadium in Delhi. Atotal of 2,000 students andteachers will attend the event,of which 1,050 students havebeen selected through an essaycompetition.
“We will once again haveextensive discussions andinsightful conversations on awide range of subjects relatingto examinations, especially how
to remain happy as well asstress free during exam season.
“Inviting you all to join‘Pariksha Pe Charcha 2020’!. Inthe run up to ‘Pariksha PeCharcha 2020’, lakhs of stu-dents, parents and teachersshared their inputs and sug-gestions. These are extremelyvaluable, giving insights intothe pressing issues when it
comes to exam preparation, theexam itself and the time afterexaminations,” Modi said in aseries of tweets on Sunday.
In 2017, Prime Ministerhad written a book ExamWarriors advising students how to face exams in cool stateof mind. Officials said the eventwill start around 11.00 am andwill also be broadcast on
YouTube. Doordarshan andmany TV channels will broad-cast the programme. The stu-dents who will get to ask ques-tions to the Prime Minister havebeen short-listed on the basis ofessays submitted by them onfive subjects — Gratitude isGreat, Your Future Depends onYour Aspirations, ExaminingExams, Our Duties, Your Take,
and Balance is Beneficial.“A lot of excitement and
enthusiasm is being seen amongthe students, teachers and par-ents to not only participate inthe unique event but also toreceive valuable tips from thePrime Minister who is keen toensure that the students takeexams in a relaxed atmosphereand do not come under stress,to ensure better results in thelong run,” the HRD Ministrysaid in a statement.
A senior official said theMinistry received around 2.6lakh entries from students forthe event this year. Last year, itwas around 1.4 lakh entries.The PM took ten questions in2018 edition and 16 in 2019.This year’s event was initiallyscheduled for January 16 butwas rescheduled due to festivalsacross the country.
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The National Commissionfor Scheduled Tribes
(NCST) will ask theChhattisgarh Government toprobe if the resettlement ofBangladeshi refugees has led todemographic changes in trib-al areas, according to officials.
It will also ask theChhattisgarh Government toprobe complaints of therefugees “displacing” a largenumber of tribals from theirland in the Bastar region and“inflicting atrocities” on them,an NCST official told PTI.
A number of tribal repre-sentatives raised these issuesduring the commission’s visit tothe State last month, the offi-cial said.
“The Government resettleda large number of Bengalirefugees, who came to Indiafrom East Pakistan (nowBangladesh) after Partition, inOdisha, Madhya Pradesh andthe Northeast under theDandakaranya project thatstarted in 1958. Many morecame after the 1971 India-Pakistan War,” the official said.
In Chhattisgarh, theBengali refugees were resettledin the Bastar region, especial-ly Kanker district.
“During our visit toChhattisgarh, tribal represen-tatives claimed that the influxof refugees over the years hasled to demographic changes intribal areas,” the official said.
The commission has alsoreceived complaints about therefugees “displacing a largenumber of tribals from theirland and inflicting atrocities onthem”, he said.
NCST chairman NandKumar Sai said, “The matterpertains to the Bastar region.We have told the Chhattisgarhgovernment that it is a seriousissue and a thorough investi-gation is needed.”
“Tribal areas are specialareas as per the Constitutionand a demographic change is aserious threat to the rights of theindigenous people,” he said.The commission will ask theState Government to furnish the
number of Bangladeshi refugeesresettled in the State initially andtheir current population.
“The State Governmentwill be asked to find out if thenumber of refugees has exceed-ed the tribal population, andhow many cases of Bangladeshirefugees displacing tribals fromtheir land have been reported,”the official said.
The commission hasapprised ChhattisgarhGovernor Anusuiya Uikey, whohas also served as the vice-chair-person of the NCST in the past,of the issue, another official said.
When contacted,Chhattisgarh’s Scheduled TribesDepartment Secretary DDSingh said, “The commissionhas informed us that certainissues have surfaced duringtheir visit to the state and thatthey are preparing a report. Weare awaiting a formal commu-nication from the NSCT.”
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CPI(M) General SecretarySitaram Yechury on
Sunday demanded that theCentre come clean on the de-radicalisation camps operatingin India. He also described as“outrageous” the disclosure ofChief of Defence Staff (CDS)Gen Bipin Rawat that de-rad-icalisation camps were operat-ing in the country. The CDShad said there is need for de-radicalisation of Muslim youth,particularly in Kashmir.
“Army commanders areentering domestic politics. Thisis unprecedented. What isshocking is that already suchcamps are existing,” Yechurytold reporters here, after thecentral committee meeting ofthe party.
Yechury also said the partywill soon launch a nation-widehouse-to-house campaign toexplain to the people, the ‘link’between CAA-NPR-NRC. Theintense campaign will take placeall over the country, he said.
The Central committeealso urged the people not toanswer the NPR questions.“The Central committee hascalled upon the people not toanswer any questions con-cerning the NPR when the enu-merators come to their hous-es...,” the Left leader said.
New Delhi: Congress generalsecretary Priyanka GandhiVadra on Sunday accused theBJP of repeatedly harassingparty leader Hardik Patel, whohas been arrested for failing toappear before a court in a2015 sedition case.
The Congress general sec-retary said Patel has been fight-ing for the employment ofyouth and the rights of farmers.“Hardik voiced the concerns ofthe people of his society, soughtjobs for them, sought scholar-ships, carried out farmers’movement. BJP is calling this‘treason’,” she said. Patel wasarrested on Saturday night fromViramgam taluka in Gujarat’sAhmedabad district for failingto appear before a trial court inconnection with the seditioncase, hours after a warrant wasissued against him. PNS
sonnel died due to reasonslike accidents and suicides in afive year period from 2014 to2018, according to NationalCrime Records Bureau(NCRB) data.
However, such casualtiesare declining over the years. Atotal of 132 deaths that includ-ed 28 suicides and 104 acci-dents were recorded in 2018.
In 2014, when the NCRBhad first collected data of suchcases linked to paramilitaryforces, as many as 1,232 acci-dent-related deaths werereported and suicide figuresstood at 175.
The number of accident-related deaths stood at 113 in2017, 260 in 2016 and 193 in2015. Suicide cases stood at 60in 2017, 74 in 2016 and 60 in 2015, according to theNCRB data.
According to the data,1,902 CAPF personnel died inaccidents, while 397 in suicides,totalling 2,199 such casualtiesfrom 2014 to 2018.
The NCRB has includeddata from five forces — BorderSecurity Force (BSF), CentralReserve Police Force (CRPF),Central Industrial SecurityForce (CISF), Indo-TibetanBorder Police (ITBP), SashastraSeema Bal (SSB) besides AssamRifles (AR) and NationalSecurity Guard (NSG).
A cause-wise analysis of
accidental deaths of paramili-tary personnel revealed thatmaximum causalities of forceshave been reported under‘Killed in Action or Operationor Encounters’ -- 31.7 per cent(33 out of 104 deaths) in 2018,the NCRB said.
It was followed by ‘deathsdue to other causes’ accountingfor 21.2 per cent (22 deaths),while road or railway acci-dents’ (21 out of 104 deaths)accounted for 20.2 per cent oftotal fatalities during the year,it stated.
There were also four deathseach because of ‘forces of nature’and ‘fratricide’ during 2018,according to the NRCB data.
A cause-wise analysis ofsuicidal deaths revealed that35.7 per cent, which is 10 outof 28 suicides, were due to ‘fam-ily problems’, the data showed,adding, another 17.9 per cent(5 out of 28 suicides each) weredue to ‘marriage-related issues’and ‘service-related issues’.
Overall, 1,34,516 suicideswere reported in the countryduring 2018, showing anincrease of 3.6 per cent incomparison to 2017.
The rate of suicides, deathsper one lakh population, alsoincreased by 0.3 per cent dur-ing 2018 over 2017, the NCRB stated.
Medical experts, however,say that suicide is a serious pub-lic health problem but are pre-ventable with timely, evidence-based and often low-cost inter-ventions. �����-����������������������������.�����/� �����,�*�������������������������������������.�������������� ���
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Mercury dipped in mostparts of north India on
Sunday as bone-chilling coldswept Kashmir, Ladakh andHimachal Pradesh.
The Kashmir Valley andLadakh Union Territory con-tinued to reel under sub-zero night temperatureswith a layer of frost developingon roads, causing inconve-nience to the people.
The night temperaturecontinued to remain belowthe freezing point acrossKashmir and Ladakh, a MeTofficial said.
Srinagar recorded the min-imum temperature at minus2.8 degrees Celsius, over adegree down from Saturday’s minus 1.4 degreesCelsius, he said.
Leh in Ladakh recorded alow of minus 16.3 degreesCelsius — down from minus13.0 degrees Celsius the previ-ous night. Kashmir witnesseda sunny day though, bringingsome relief to the residents, theofficial said.
Cold wave conditions per-sisted in Himachal Pradesh onSunday with popular touristhotspots in the State shiveringat sub-zero temperatures, the
MeT office said.The minimum tempera-
ture decreased by 2 to 3 degreesCelsius across the State, ShimlaMeT Centre DirectorManmohan Singh said. Kufrirecorded a low of minus 4.6degrees Celsius, followed byManali (minus 4.4 degreesCelsius), Dalhousie (minus 2.4degrees Celsius) and Shimla(minus 0.6 degrees Celsius).
Tribal district Lahaul-Spiti’sadministrative centre Keylongcontinued to be the coldestplace in the state at minus 14.6degrees Celsius. Another trib-al district Kinnaur’s Kalparecorded a low of minus 8.4degrees Celsius.
The maximum tempera-ture was 1 to 2 degrees Celsiusbelow normal. The highesttemperature in the state wasrecorded in Una at 21 degreesCelsius. Besides, Shimlareceived 0.8 cm snowfall,whereas Kalpa got 0.6 cmsnowfall in the last 24 hours,Singh said.
Punjab and Haryana werein the grip of cold wave con-ditions on Sunday, with theminimum temperature hover-ing below normal at mostplaces. In Punjab, Adampurwas the coldest place recordinga minimum temperature of
3.8 degrees Celsius.Ludhiana (6.7 deg C),
Patiala (7.6 deg C), Halwara (7deg C), Bathinda (5.3 deg C),Faridkot (4 deg C) andGurdaspur (8.1 deg C) experi-enced cold night, a meteoro-logical department official said.
In Haryana, Hisar (5.3 degC), Ambala (6.2 deg C), Karnal(6 deg C), Narnaul (5.5 deg C),Rohtak (6.2 deg C), Bhiwani(6.1 deg C) and Sirsa (5.2 degC) also experienced cold night.
Chandigarh registered anight temperature of 6.6degrees Celsius.
The MeT official said fogreduced visibility in the morning hours at Ambala,Hisar, Karnal, Narnaul,Bhiwani, Amritsar, Ludhianaand Patiala.
Night temperatures were 2to 3 notches below normal ascold weather conditions inten-sified in Rajasthan over the last24 hours, the meteorologicaldepartment said.
Sikar was the coldest placein the State with a minimumtemperature of 2.5 degreesCelsius, followed by Churuwhere the night temperaturewas 4.4 degrees Celsius.
In Uttar Pradesh, cold dayconditions occurred at isolat-ed places over the western
part of the State. Lucknowrecorded a minimum temper-ature of 11.7 degrees Celsiusand a high of 18.2 degreesCelsius. Muzaffarnagar was
the coldest place in the State,where mercury fell to 6.1degrees Celsius, followed byMeerut and Etawah, with boththe places recording a mini-
Hundreds of women hit the streetshere on Sunday protesting against
the contentious Citizenship(Amendment) Act, even as public ral-lies were held across the State.
Artistes, journalists, writers andwomen from other fields joined in largenumbers at Latasil playground andmarched to Chandmari area ofGuwahati and vowed to continue theiragitation till the CAA is repealed.
“Women have been at the forefrontin Assam protests. Today also we havecome out in large numbers for the state.The Government is trying to lure usthrough various means. But they shouldwithdraw the Act and then all theprotests will end,” film actress BarshaRani Bishaya said.
The Government is stating thatfive lakh people will benefit throughCAA, but the people of Assam are notready to accept a single Bangladeshi after1971, she added.
Senior journalist Ratna BharaliTalukdar said: “We will not accept this
Act at any cost. It will endanger the cul-ture, identity and history of Assam aswell as North East. So, we all have to beunited in our fight against this Act.”
In Bengali Hindu dominated Hojai,a huge gathering took place during aprotest rally, in which senior journalistAjit Bhuyan urged people to continuetheir movement till the “anti-people” Actis withdrawn.
Thousands of people in Tezpurparticipated in an agitational pro-gramme organised by the All AssamStudents’ Union (AASU) and AsomJatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad(AJYCP).
A large number of people partici-pated in similar protest rallies inSimaluguri, Moran, Duliajan,Nagarbera, Doom Dooma, Rupai,Rangia and many other places.
The CAA seeks to provide Indiancitizenship to Hindus, Jains, Christians,Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis enteringIndia on or before December 31, 2014,from Bangladesh, Pakistan andAfghanistan after five years of residencehere.
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Dubbing as “unconstitutional”the stand of some States that
the CAA would not be imple-mented, Union Minister NirmalaSitharaman on Sunday said allhave the responsibility to ensurea law passed by parliament isenforced.
Defending the Citizenship(Amendment) Act, she main-tained there was no necessity tomix up the National Register ofCitizens (NRC) and NationalPopulation Register with the CAAand appealed to those opposingthe act not to make allegations thatwould lead to unrest among thepublic.
The Finance Minister alsorejected allegations that theNarendra Modi Government wasselective in granting citizenshipand said Pakistani singer AdnanSami and over 3,900 others fromneighbouring countries had been
given citizenship in the last sixyears.
Speaking at an interactiveevent here on the controversialCAA organised by the ChennaiCitizens’ Forum, she said the res-olutions passed by some StateAssemblies, including Kerala,against the law was a politicalstatement.
“We can understand that.Butsaying they will not implement it,then it is against the law. It isunconstitutional to say that...Everybody in this country has theresponsibility to implement thelaw which has been passed inParliament,” she said.
The Kerala and PunjabAssemblies have adopted resolu-tions demanding repeal of theCAA which has triggered wide-spread protests across the country.Kerala Government has alsomoved the Supreme Court againstthe law.
Several State Governments,
including Kerala, Rajasthan,Madhya Pradesh, West Bengaland Maharashtra have voicedtheir disagreement with the CAA,as well as the NRC and the NPR.
Sitharaman said that duringthe last six years, a total of 2,838Pakistan nationals, 914 fromAfganisthan and 172 fromBangladesh have received Indiancitizenship. This included 566Muslims.
“Besides, 4.61 lakh Tamilsfrom Sri Lanka during the period
1964-2008 have received citizen-ships,” she said.
“This data is for those whocomment that the Governmenthas not given citizenships forMuslims. For example, AdnanSami, he is a singer of prominence.He received citizenship in 2016when the same Prime Ministerwas there then”, she said.
The Minister also pointed toBangladeshi writer TaslimaNasreen, who has been given res-idence permit since 2004.
These figures would denyallegations made by theOpposition that this Governmentwas giving citizenship only tosome people and not for everyone.“There is no truth in it and that isnot the right allegation,” she said.
Appealing to those whooppose the CAA with foldedhands, Sitharaman said if youhave any objection speak andraise questions in the Parliament.
“Please do not make any alle-gations which are not true and thatwould create unrest among thepublic”, she said.
Noting that the CAA was asensitive issue and needed to behandled carefully, she said therewas no necessity to link NPR orNRC with this.
“NPR is taken every 10 yearsand it was not brought in by ModiGovernment in 2010. It was by thethen Home Minister and seniorleaders (of Congress),” she said.
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The BJP has slammed theOpposition Trinamool
Congress and Left Front forbetraying the Hindu refugeesfrom Bangladesh by keepingthem in stateless State and bat-ting to the Muslim gallery ofinfiltrators in order to pursuetheir dirty vote bank politics.
Bengal BJP president DilipGhosh on Sunday fired a freshvolley of salvos at the TMC,Left and Congress by promis-ing and then keeping the“Hindu refugees from Pakistan,Bangladesh and Afghanistandeprived of citizenship for thepast 70 years.”
And “when Prime MinisterNarendra Modi showed the
courage of finishing theirunfinished job these TMC,Left and Congress people havedescended on the streets toprotest against the move withthe so-called bunch of civilsociety who are nothing butparasites in their trail.”
Not a single drop tear wasshed when the Hindus weretortured, persecuted andhounded out of their motherlands, he said reminding howtheir ancestors played animportant role in the freedomstruggle. “Did their ancestorsfight for freedom, receive bul-lets and sacrifice their lives andproperty so that their succes-sors would be left in a state lesssituation?” he said recallinghow till recently Hindu girlswere being lifted at gun point
in Pakistan.“Those who had to leave
their home and hearth inBangladesh are living here likebeggars and when the BJPGovernment is feeling hon-oured to provide them citizen-ship Mamata Banerjee, BimanBose and Adhir Chowdhuryare feeling hurt burns…. Butcome what may we are deter-mined to provide them citi-zenship,” Ghosh who wasreelected to the post of Stateparty president for the secondterm last week said.
Ghosh on Sunday led twomassive rallies (AbhinandanYatra) in North 24 Parganascongratulating the central gov-ernment for enacting theCitizenship Amendment Act.
“We know in whose inter-
est Didi and the Left leaders aredoing this. We know in whoseinterest the Chief Minister iswalking the streets for the pastone month. It is in the interest on one croreMuslim infiltrators fromBangladesh who form the bulkof her vote bank and but forwhose she will lose all theelections. But we will not allowthis game anymore,” Ghoshsaid adding how theBangladeshi infiltrators wereigniting riots and blastingbombs everywhere.
“They have triggered riotsand Basirhat, Asansol, Baduria,Uluberia and many otherplaces, they have set up bombfactories which the TMC useduring the elections … oneafter the other accidents occur
at bombs factories and theTMC Government call it blastof crackers…. This won’t be tol-erated and the infiltrators willhave to leave this country,” hesaid.
Attacking the civil societymembers including top Bengalicine stars, writers, poets andpainters for descending on thestreets against CAA he said“these so-called intelligentsiawho are nothing but parasitesliving on the alms of theGovernment say that they willnot show their papers but Iwarn them that days are com-ing when they will not be ableto show their faces… I ask thepeople to identify and remem-ber those who are protestingagainst the CAA for an appro-priate time in future.”
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Aizawl: The MizoramGovernment has disbursedover � 5.98 crore as compen-sation to victims of variouscrimes in the State from 2012to September, 2019, an officialsaid. According to records ofMizoram State Legal ServiceAuthority (MSLSA), at least235 people have been com-pensated during the period.
The fund was disbursedunder provisions of theMizoram Victims of CrimeCompensation Scheme, 2011,which was implemented in2012, the official said.
The records also said that
143 girls and 6 boys were givencompensation for being victimsof crimes committed underthe Protection of Childrenfrom Sexual Offences(POCSO) Act”.
As many as 33 peopleincluding 6 females were com-pensated for being victims ofcrimes under the IPC and 28rape victims were also givencompensation amounting to ��36.40 lakh during the sameperiod. The number of crimevictims was highest in 2018 asthe government had disbursedcompensation of ��3.32 crore to103 that year, according to therecords. PTI
Guwahati: Assam FinanceMinister Himanta Biswa Sarmahas said it is impossible for an immigrant to provide proof ofreligious persecution.
Sarma, who is also con-venor of the NDA’s regionalwing North East DemocraticAlliance (NEDA), said that it isnot possible for the person to goback to his country of origin andcollect a copy of police report toshow that he was subjected toreligious persecution.
Assam has been witnessingprotests against the Citizenship(Amendment) Act with thepeople apprehending that itwill hurt their interests.”It is notpossible for an applicant toprove that he had been sub-
jected to religious persecution inhis country of origin.
Because if he has to proveit, then he has to go toBangladesh to collect an FIR orpolice report,” Sarma said aftera party function on Saturday.
“You cannot prove fear ofreligious persecution or reli-gious persecution itself. Howcan you prove it? Somebody willchallenge it.
“That is what my assess-ment is. You will ask a personto go back to Bangladesh andask him to collect videograph-ic or photographic evidence ofreligious persecution?” he asked.The Assam Government hasrequested the Centre to includesubmission of evidence by an
applicant that he was in the Stateprior to 2014 in the rules of theCAA, which are under prepa-ration, the NEDA convenorsaid.
“Our firm view is that inorder to prove that you havecome to Assam before 2014, youhave to prove it through docu-ments like a bank accountopened prior to 2014 or namein the electoral roll prior to 2014or NRC application before2014,” the BJP leader said.
The Assam Governmentwants a very short windowperiod to establish citizenshipunder the CAA becauserumours are being spread aboutthe possible number of benefi-ciaries under the Act. PTI
Guwahati: Assam Minister JogenMohan was shown black flags inSivasagar district on Sunday by AASUactivists protesting against Citizenship(Amendment) Act, a day after he wassworn in.
The incident happened when theminister was going to his constituen-cy Mahmara.
The actvists also shouted slogansagainst him. “Jogen Mohan go back”,“We don’t accept CAA” and “BJP goback” were some of the slogans the agi-tators shouted while waving black flagsat the new minister.
Jogen Mohan on Saturday wassworn in as minister of state with inde-
pendent charge was given the portfo-lios of revenue and disaster manage-ment, PWD (assisting the cabinetminister).
Dozens of members of the AllAssam Students’ Union (AASU)showed black flags while Mohan’s con-voy passed through Gaurisagar area ofSivasagar district.
On January 15, the day of ‘BhogaliBihu’, Assam Chief MinisterSarbananda Sonowal was shown blackflags by AASU activists in Dibrugarh district while he was on hisway to his hometown Chabua to cel-ebrate Bihu with his family members. PTI
Kolkata: For the first timein the Republic Dayparade, the Kolkata PortTrust is likely to showcaseits tableau during theevent, sources said, givingpeople, who were earliersore over the rejection ofthe Bengal Government’sproposal for January 26, areason to cheer.
Earlier in the month,the defence ministry hadrejected West Bengal’stableau proposal, withoutciting any specific reason.
A statement by theministry said the propos-al was rejected after an expert com-mittee examined it in two rounds ofmeeting. The KoPT tableau, under theaegis of the Union Ministry ofShipping, will display the riverine
port’s rich history, its mechanizedtransformation and unique features, asource privy to the development said.
Additionally, the KoPT anthem,which Prime Minister Narendra Modi
had unveiled last week onthe occasion of the port’ssesquicentenary celebra-tions, will be played, whenthe tableau rolls down theRajpath.
The Prime Minister,during his visit, hadrenamed the port, afterJan Sangh founder SyamaPrasad Mookerjee.
“As of now, trials aregoing on.... The finalapproval for the theme —‘Glorious Past VibrantFuture’ — is likely to comeby January 23,” the sourcessaid. The Kolkata Port
Trust, the oldest operating port in thecountry, was constructed by the BritishEast India Company. The port has twodistinct dock systems — one in Kolkataand the other at Haldia. PTI
Mumbai: The Vanchit BahujanAghadi (VBA) has called for aMaharashtra bandh on January24 to protest against theCitizenship (Amendment) Act(CAA), the National Register ofCitizens (NRC) and “wrong” economic policies ofthe Centre.
Talking to reporters here onSunday, VBA leader PrakashAmbedkar alleged that therewas unrest in the country overthe CAA, which the Centre wastrying to implement forcibly.
“The country is on the path ofeconomic bankruptcy. Due todemonetisation and GST, cou-pled with atmosphere of mis-trust in the country, the gov-ernment is not getting rev-enue. The economic policies ofthe Centre are wrong,” healleged.
Ambedkar also appealed topolitical parties andsocialorganisations to join the bandh.He also met Chief MinisterUddhav Thackeray in connec-tion with the bandh call. PTI
Alappuzha(Ker): In a rare weddingceremony held in a Mosque, a Hinducouple tied the nuptial knot andexchanged vows here on Sunday.
The marriage hosted by theCheruvally Muslim Jamaat mosquenear here, was held according tohindu rituals in front of a lighted tra-ditional lamp with guests from boththe communities participating.
The Bride Anju and the groomSarath exchanged garlands and performed rituals in the presence ofa priest at the mosque premises,which was decked up for the rare occa-sion signifying communal amity. Avegetarian sadya was also held at thepremises.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi
Vijayan took to Facebook to con-gragulate the young couple and saidthe state has always upheld and show-cased such beautiful examples of reli-gious harmony.
The wedding was held at a timewhen a concerted attempt was beingmade to divide people in the name ofreligion, Vijayan said conveying hiswishes to the couple, their families andthe mosque committee.
“Kerala is one and we will stayunited” he said and shared a photo-graph of the wedding ceremony.
Since the bride hailed from a pooreconomic background, Anju’s moth-er had sought help from the mosquecommittee to conduct the wedding,which they readily agreed. PTI
Gorakhpur: Asserting that theamended citizenship law is notagainst any Indian, Uttar PradeshChief Minister Yogi Adityanathon Sunday alleged that the “pro-paganda” against CAA is “rippingthe country apart” and it is beingdone by keeping women at theforefront.
Addressing a gathering atMP Inter College ground here aspart of a public awareness cam-paign being run by the BJP on theCitizenship (Amendment) Act,he alleged that afterIndependence, the Left partieshad lied a lot to mislead the peo-ple and now the Congress and theSamajwadi Party were doing thesame thing.
“The Citizenship(Amendment) Act is not a law
against any citizen of India. It isagainst those intruders who areresponsible for terrorism, extrem-ism and separatism. The countryis being ripped apart due to pro-paganda against CAA, and this isbeing done by keeping women atthe forefront,” Adityanath
said.“We can-
not remainsilent. It is ourconstitutionalobligation toreach out topeople regard-ing the issue.Citizenship lawwas made dur-ing Nehru’stime, but nowthe Congress is
not ready to accept it. The con-duct of the Congress and SP iscondemnable and irresponsible.These parties have financed themiscreants for opposing theCAA,” he said.
The way people of the coun-try understood the lies of the Left
and have buried them forever, onthe same lines, these parties arealso standing at the fag end oftheir political ladder, Adityanathsaid, adding the Congress was“unable to accept a new India”.
“The citizenship law gavethe Congress an opportunity torepent for its sin, but it missed thischance. In support of this law, weall should write a postcard andgreet Prime Minister NarendraModi,” the Chief Minister said.
Newly elected UP BJP chiefSwatantradev Singh alsoaddressed the gathering.He said,“Both SP and BSP are deeplyimmersed in corruption. AfterYogi Adityanath became the chiefminister of UP, goondaism pro-moted by these parties came to anend.” PTI
The driver of a school vanwas arrested and his two
minor friends were detained forallegedly molesting some men-tally-challenged girl studentshere, police said on Sunday.
Police took the action onSaturday after a video clip ofthe molestation, shot by thetwo minor accused, went viralon social media, police said.
The accused driver hasbeen identified as AvinashShejul (19), an official said.
“Shejul picks up and dropsmentally-challenged girls to
and from their school atValadgaon area in Aurangabad.Last week, he picked up thegirls from their school. Whiledropping them home, he cameacross his two minor friends onthe way and asked them to getinto the vehicle,” inspectorVitthal Pote of Satara PoliceStation here said.
“However, the duo startedmolesting and harassing thegirls inside the van. They alsoshot the video of their acts andshared the video clip on socialmedia later. Shejul kept thatvideo as his WhatsApp status,”he added.
Bareilly: Stressing that theRSS follows the Constitution,RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat onSunday said the organisationdoes not have any agenda andit does not want to becomeanother “power centre”.
He was addressing a gath-ering at Rohilkhand Universityon the topic ‘Bharat kaBhavishya: RashtriyaSwayamsevak Sangh kaaDrishtikon’ (Future of India:Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’spoint of view).
“The Sangh follows theConstitution of India. It doesnot have any agenda and it doesnot want to become anotherpower centre. A number ofmisconceptions about the RSSare being spread, and they canbe cleared only when it isunderstood from closequarters. The Sangh does nothave any remote control and itdoes not want that anyoneshould function according toit,” he said.
Bhagwat said that if thereis a power centre barring theConstitution, the Sangh willoppose it.
Seeking to clear the air overhis reported remarks inMoradabad about the imple-mentation of two-child policy,the RSS chief said,
“Due to misunderstanding,
some people are saying that theSangh wants to restrict familiesto two children. We are of theview that the Governmentshould make a policy on it afterdeliberation. The policy shouldbe made after getting consentfrom all sections of the society.”
He said that when they saythat there are 130 crore Hindusin this country, then it does notmean that they want to changeanyone’s religion, caste or lan-guage.
The RSS chief said thatthey did not want any powercentre apart from theConstitution in which theyhad faith, and added that people should build India in aunited manner despite thediversity of caste, communityand region.
“A handful of people usedto come and used to make usslaves. This used to happenbecause of our shortcomings.Whenever we have forgotten‘Hindu bhaav’ (Hindu spirit),problems have come,” Bhagwatsaid. Referring to followers ofother religions, he said, “We donot believe in Ram-Krishna, noissues. But despite all thesediversities, we all are Hindus.Those whose ancestors wereHindu, they are Hindu stilltoday. “ PTI
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Former UP Minister andpresident of Pragatisheel
Samajwadi Party Shivpal Yadavon Sunday launched a veiledattack on his brother and SPpatriarch Mulayam SinghYadav for siding with his sonAkhilesh Yadav and said that hewas not going to look back.
Shivpal, who has neverbeen openly critical of hisbrother before, said he hadformed his party “only with theconsent” of Mulayam.
He was answering areporter’s question on whetherMulayam betrayed him bybeing seen more with his sonthese days.
“The PragatisheelSamajwadi Party was formedonly with the consent ofMulayam Singh Yadav. Why is
Mulayam today standing withAkhilesh, its answer can begiven by him (Mulayam) alone.But this is certain that I will notlook back,” he said.
Mulayam was seen withhis son at the SP headquartersin Lucknow on Saturday whenformer chief of Hindu YuvaVahini (HYV) Sunil Singh,once considered close to UttarPradesh Chief Minister YogiAdityanath, joined theSamajwadi Party.Shivpal saidthat his efforts will be to unitepeople who believe in thephilosophy of Ram ManoharLohia, Chaudhary CharanSingh and Mahatma Gandhi.
The PSP chief said that healways gave respect toMulayam, who is also his elderbrother, and listened to every-thing he said.
“Not giving importance to
what Mulayam said led to thesplit of the Samajwadi Party in2018. This is the reason that theSP could not form theGovernment in UP again, oth-erwise Akhilesh would havebeen the Chief Minister,”Shivpal said.
Shivpal had formed hisnew party in October 2018after parting ways with theSamajwadi Party.
Simmering discontent inthe Yadav family came to thefore in January 2017 whenAkhilesh became the nationalpresident of the party by replac-ing Mulayam. Shivpal lost thebattle for control of the partyfor which the uncle andnephew were fighting sinceAugust 2016 when Akhileshwas the Chief Minister and hewas a key minister in then SPGovernment.
Mumbai: Mumbai will get amounted police unit for trafficand crowd control post a gap of88 years, and the horses will bedeployed on duty after takingpart in the Republic Dayparade at Shivaji Park this year,Maharashtra Home MinisterAnil Deshmukh said onSunday.
Deshmukh said themounted police unit, whichwould patrol the streets of thebustling metropolis, was disbanded in 1932 due to grow-ing vehicular traffic.
“Today Mumbai police hasmodern jeeps and motorcycles.However, it was felt a mount-ed police unit would be usefulfor crime patrol in crowdedareas. Accordingly, for the first
time since Independence, Mumbai will have mount-
ed police unit,” he toldreporters at a press conference.
He said horses in the unitcan be used for crowd controlduring festivals and marches, atbeaches and the rider can keepwatch from a good height, andclaimed a policeman on horse-back was equal to 30 personnelon the ground.
He said the unit could bereplicated in cities like Puneand Nagpur, among others, aswell.
In the next six months, theunit will comprise 30 horsesapart from a sub-inspector,one assistant PSI, four haval-dars and 32 constables. PTI
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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister CN
Ashwathnarayanon on Sundaymade it clear that the Belagaviborder issue was settled, evenas he accused certain politicalleaders in neighbouringMaharashtra of raking it up forpolitical reasons.
Also, he urged them tofocus on issues of public goodthat need immediate attentionrather than instigating peoplefor petty reasons on such emo-tive issues that have alreadybeen decided upon.
The Karnataka andMaharashtra border issue hasalready been settled by theMahajan commission report,so they(political leaders)should stop repeatedly instigating the people on theissue with political
motive,”Ashwathnarayan toldreporters here.
He said, We all are Indians,boundaries between States havebeen fixed and decided upon.Instead of repeatedly dwellingon the issue, there are manygood work to do. There are noboundaries for humanity andgood work...”
“... Sanjay Raut (Shiv Senaleader) raking up such an issueis making things awkward forhimself,” he added.
A s h w a t h n a r a y a n w a s reacting to visits by Shiv Senaleaders Raut and MaharashtraMinister of State Rajendra PatilYadravkars to Belagavi alleged-ly with an intention to bring theborder issue up.
Raut, during his visit toBelgagavi, has reportedly saidthe 70-year-old border issuebetween two States can beresolved by a ‘strong’ Union
Home Minister like Amit Shah,who abrogated Article 370related to Jammu & Kashmir.
He said the chief Ministersof Maharashtra and Karnatakaand NCP supremo SharadPawar should meet to resolvedemands of Marathi-speakingpeople of Belagavi and nearbyareas.
Last month, KarnatakaChief Minister BS Yediyurappahad declared that not even aninch of the State’s land wouldbe given away and accused hisMaharashtra counterpartUddhav Thackeray of stokingthe Belagavi issue for politicalgains, as there were protests bythe ruling Shiv Sena workers.
Maharashtra claims theborder district of Belagavi waspart of the erstwhile BombayPresidency, but is currently adistrict of Karnataka, on lin-guistic grounds.
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Karnataka Chief MinisterBS Yediyurappa on Sunday
said he has had detailed discussions with BJP nationalpresident Amit Shah on theCabinet expansion and that theexercise would be carried outafter his return from Davos.
The Chief Minister toldreporters before leaving forDavos to attend the WorldEconomic Forum meet that hehoped his visit would helpbring in large-scale invest-ments to the State.
“On Cabinet expansion, Ihad detailed discussions forabout half-an-hour (with AmitShah on Saturday), got a goodresponse... One or two daysafter I come from Davos, I willexpand the Cabinet. There areno stumbling blocks for it,Yediyurappa said.
He also rubbished mediareports about lack of clarity onthe Ministry expansion.
“It is not right... There areno issues, he said. Askedwhether he would travel toDelhi to meet Shah afterreturning from Davos,Yediyurappa merely said, “It isnatural for me to meet AmitShah.”
According to the ChiefMinisters tour programme, hewill be back in the city onJanuary 24.
Yediyurappa, along withUnion Ministers Piyush Goyaland Mansukh Mandaviya, aswell as Chief MinistersAmarinder Singh of Punjaband Kamal Nath of MadhyaPradesh, are among thoseexpected to join over 100Indian CEOs at Davos in thecoming days for the WEF’s50th annual meeting.
Stating that he was leavingon a four day trip for Davoswith an aim to bring investments to the state, he saidinteractions have been fixedwith 38 industrialists andinvestors.
“There is a large possibility of investments com-ing to the state from meetingsduring the WEF meet. I willassure industrialists andinvestors that the governmentwill give all necessary facilitieswithin our limits and also clearall the doubts that they have,”the Chief Minister said.
He said employmentopportunities in Karnatakawould increase due to all theseefforts.
Claiming that the eco-nomic situation in Karnatakawas stable despite the globaleconomic slowdown, he saidthe state was also organising theGlobal Investors Meet inNovember to attract indus-tries and create employmentopportunities.
The delegation led byYediyurappa includesIndustries Minister JagadishShattar, Chief Secretary T MVijaya Bhaskar and top officialsof the state government.
The Chief Minister,whowas anxiously waiting for thehigh command’s nod to expandhis ministry amid intense lob-bying by the aspirants, waskeen on getting approval for itfrom Shah, but was asked tovisit Delhi after returning fromDavos, party sources said.
They also said that with JP Nadda all set to take over asBJP National President, hewould have final discussionswith Yediyurappa on theMinistry expansion exercise.
S R Vishwanath,PoliticalSecretarytothe Chief Ministertoo said that Yediyurappawould go to Delhi after hisreturn from Davos and immediately expand theMinistry.
He said the Chief Ministerhas been asked to hold discus-sions with Nadda, who is cur-rently BJPs National WorkingPresident and finalise things.
As the Chief Minister hasalready made it clear that 11 ofthe disqualified JDS-CongressMLAs who got re-elected in thebypolls on BJP tickets will bemade ministers, lobbying hasbeen on in the party for theremaining ministerial berths.
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Afive-year-old girl wasallegedly raped by a minor
boy on a vacant quarter in ameat plant in Uttar Pradesh’sMuzaffarnagar district, policesaid on Sunday.
The incident took place inAlnoor meat plant compoundunder Sikheda police stationarea on Saturday, they said.
Parents of both the victimand the accused (14) work atthe meat plant, the police said.
According to the com-plaint lodged by the girl’s fam-ily, the accused took her to thevacant quarter and raped her,they said.
Alerted by the girl’s cries,her mother rushed to the spotand rescued her. The boy wascaught by the victim’s family,they said.
of Saibaba amid considerableinconvenience in the templetown of Shirdi in Maharashtra’sAhmednagar district onSunday, as the local residentsand people from the neighbouring villages resortedto an indefinite bandh over acontroversy on the birthplace ofthe 19th century saint.
Despite the bandh called bythe local residents and peoplefrom 30 villages surroundingvillages, the Shri SaibabaSansthan Trust (SSST) hasdecided to keep the famoustemple open for the visitingdevotees. “The devotees are freeto take darshan of Saibaba,
while prasadalaya and accommodation facilities, willcontinue to operate as normal,”SSST’s CEO Deepak Muglikarsaid.
Being a Sunday, there werehuge crowds of devotees at thetemple queuing up for darshan.However, with shops, hotelsand all other establishmentsremaining closed in the templetown, the devotees were incon-venienced. “Because of thebandh, we have made morethan adequate arrangementsfor food and accommodationfor the devotees,” Muglikarsaid.
The people of Shirdi andneighbouring 30 villages havefor the past few days stagingprotests against ChiefMinister Uddhav Thackeray’s
announcement to developPathri village in Parbhani dis-trict of Marathwada region asthe birthplace of Saibaba, adecision that they fear willerode the importance of theirtown associated all along withthe memories of Saibaba.
Taking cognisance of theprotests by the people of Shirdiagainst the State Government’sdecision to develop Pathri asbirthplace of Saibaba, the ChiefMinister has called a meetingwith the leaders of the aggriev-ed people in Mumbai onMonday. At Monday’s meeting,Uddhav is expected to clarifythe State Government’s standon the issue and request thepeople of Shirdi to call off theiragitation.
The raging controversy
over the birthplace of Saibabashould be seen in the contextof that a delegation of peoplefrom Pathri village had met thechief minister, during the lat-ter’s recent tour of Marathwada.They had claimed that Pathriwas the birthplace of the 19th
century saint revered by peo-ple of different communitiesand urged the chief minister tomake financial allocation fordeveloping the place into a pil-grim centre.
During his interaction withthe delegation, the chief min-
ister had announced that thestate government had prepareda development plan for Pathriand it would soon perform abhoomi pooja for developing apilgrim centre there.
Following the announce-ment, the people of Shirdi andneighbouring villages havegone on an agitation against thestate government’s Pathri devel-opment move. What has sur-prised as to how the claim ofPathri being birthplace ofSaibaba has come up all of asudden. Though there is notmuch of evidence or docu-mentation as to the date orplace of borth of Saibaha, avail-able historical evidence sug-gests that he came to Shirdiwhen he was about 16 years’old in 1858 and he remained
there till his death in 1918. Three months ahead of
his death on October 15, 1918,Saibaba told his devotees hewould soon be “leaving hismortal body” (dying). By theend of September 1918, hehad high fever and stopped eat-ing. As his condition deterio-rated, he asked his disciples torecite holy texts to him andcontinued to meet visitors. On15 October 1918 which hap-pened to Vijayadashami, hebreathed his last.
His mortal remains wereinterred at “Buti Wada” inShirdi, after which it has nowbecome place of worshipknown today as Shree SamadhiMandir or Shirdi Sai BabaTemple.
The claim that Saibaba was
born in Pathri village inParbhani district ofMarathwada region is based ona reference made in the eighthedition of “Sai Charitra” (his-tory of Saibaba), a Hindi pub-lication brought by the SaiSansthan between 1972 and 76.So far, the Sai Sansthan hasbrought out 36 editions of “SaiCharitra”.
“The reference to Saibababeing born in Pathri village hasbeen made in the eighth edi-tion. Incidentally, this editionhas gone missing. We haveordered an inquiry into themissing edition of `SaiCharitra’,” a leading Marathitelevision channel reportedlyquoted SSST’s chairman Dr.Suresh Kashinath Haware assaying.
Patna: A 55-year-old Government teacher and awoman died in Bihar while taking part in a humanchain organised by the Nitish Kumar Government onSunday, officials said.
Mohammad Daud died at Keoti area inDarbhanga district while a woman, whose identityis yet to be ascertained, died in Samastipur district.
“Both died of heart attack,” Chief SecretaryDeepak Kumar told reporters.
Kumar said an ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh eachwill be paid to the family of the two deceased.
“Besides, family members of Mohammad Daud,who taught at a Government Urdu medium schoolin Darbhanga, will get all the benefits to whichbereaved kinsmen of State employees are entitled,” thechief secretary said.
Daud fell ill and collapsed while he was stand-ing in the human chain, Darbhanga DistrictMagistrate Thyagarajan SM said. Daud was taken toa hospital where he was declared brought dead.Hospital sources said the deceased had suffered a car-diac arrest though it was not clear whether he wassuffering from any heart disease. PTI
It is just another Sunday evening inDelhi, the howling cold forcing peopleindoors for comfort and wrapping uptheir energies for the week ahead. Yetin an old warehouse in Okhla, an all-
women group stages a play, a dark tale aboutthe common woman’s conflict with identi-ty, one who finds no space to breathe amidthe sorting and reordering of society thatdecides who she should be. What of themigrant worker, who doesn’t know where shewas born or belongs, who got her to the cityor not except the world that her workplacehas become? Trafficked as a child, she has nopaper trail, no parentage to prove why shewas born. Then there’s the grass widow ofAssam, whose husband has gone to the bigcity in search of work after their farmland wasravaged by the floods in the Brahmaputra,her ration card, the only claim to her citizen-ry and proof that she was married to a local,washed away by the raging waters. So left outof the National Register of Citizens (NRC),she has been torn apart from her family.What of the orphaned factory worker, whohas no memory of ancestry? These are sur-vivors in a no woman’s land, a wilderness ofthe disowned, rising up to claim their duesfor service to a nation that they are being toldis not their own. “For years, have we notimproved your lives as workers in factoriesand helps at home? Have you not trusted yourchildren with us? Have we not been produc-tive or contributed to your economy? Havewe not helped you build your lives? Whythrow us away now?” Rhetorical questionsthat trouble the audience.
The thunder of protest courses throughthe walls and seeps into every pore of humanconsciousness. Somehow it streams out all theway to Shaheen Bagh, to Seelampuri and evenPrayagraj. Everyday women, having finishedtheir chores and responsibilities for the day,are sitting on night vigils with candles andwoollens — the same faces showing up likeclockwork at the same time, same place andfor the same time period — to fight for thesafe future of their children and their rightto be heard as mothers born of earth.Nurturing societies as they have known, cre-ated and healed, they won’t let them bedestroyed by divisive constructs of theempire of politics or the hate virus that’s lab-grown from the databank of social and ances-try profiles. Certainly, they are shedding thepatronising mantle of empowerment, likesome undeserved grant or concession, andcreating their own powerful narratives ontheir terms. And should that meet brutality,they would face it not as human shields orspoils of war but as a force majeure of allhumanity. Age, education, privilege would-n’t matter.
Women across the world are challeng-ing the authoritarian politics of the times byleading mass grassroots movements and civiluprisings. Be it the women of Shaheen Bagh,or those in Sudan and Algeria, they havebecome the new face of democracy, change
and peace-building in a worldwhere all of these have becometoxic or anachronistic. Why isthis so? Because for all theirefforts at political participationas drivers of change, women arestill a minority or a marginalisedlot in decision-making process-es. This despite the UnitedNations’ vision from 20 years agothat women could anchor con-flict resolution better whenentrusted with leadership roles.Somewhere, this has got to dowith the idea of leadership itselfmutating with the bubbling upof women and the intransigenceof a patriarchal order to give in.It is becoming increasingly mus-cular and male, qualities that areincreasingly finding acceptancein a fractured world looking fordirection. One that is dominat-ed by a totalitarian control ofegoistic fiefdoms and the toxicmasculinity of helmsmanship.One that cannot deal with thecrumbling of failing institutionsand seeks solace in history, onethat is lazy about finding one’sway in changed times and con-texts and falls back on the pro-tectorate of revisionism, onethat chooses simplicity of bina-ries over the complexities of mul-tiplicity. Simply because it is eas-ier to follow than evolve, simplybecause the past is tested and thepresent is too risky to try out. Asa “pretend democracy,” India isfast becoming an Orwellian
nightmare, the State controllingevery cellular aspect of nationallife. Be it through identity andprivacy laws or through nation-alism enforced with the sancti-ty of religion, there is a patriar-chal aggression, sometimes vio-lence, at play to keep order sim-ply by denial of rights. That iswhy women are changing thisparadigm by not staying withinbut choosing to move out andseizing the polarity that liesvacant, by embracing the oppo-siteness of gender as a strength,not a weakness. They alsoembody the contrarian discoursethrough their rather dramaticcampaigns, the night vigils acrossIndia being a case in point.
Taking the global scenariointo account, women-led move-ments are inclusive, non-violent,compassionate and have a 50 percent chance of ensuring resultsthan those led by others. Theyare cooptive, practical, welcom-ing of other subsidiary move-ments and can metabolise theminto a larger force to spark a rev-olution. Women’s movementshave managed to reset the agen-da in Spain, Argentina, Braziland South Korea, simply becausethey reflect the issues that mat-ter to people at a structural, liveli-hood level rather than foistingimagined devils that hang in theair so thick and heavy, it givesyou a brain fog. UN research hasshown that where women are
influencers rather than being atoken presence, the peaceprocesses and social stability aremore lasting. And as the womenof Shaheen Bagh have shown,their door-to-door access tohomes has meant that they arebest placed to generate agroundswell of support, irrespec-tive of faith, propaganda orhired activism. A Sikh jathacooked for the women ofShaheen Bagh in solidarity, sim-ply because the community isconvinced by their spontaneityand sense of justice. Theirs is anethical integrity, one that cannever be bought or intimidated.This subliminal hold as nurtur-ers definitely lends womenmovements a decisive edge. Andgiven their tenacity and disci-pline, women-led movementslast longer and emerge as asocial disruptor. Most important-ly, they appeal to the youth, sim-ply because by resisting change,they appeal to their sensibility ofchallenging status quo. If we panall mass movements of 2019, wewould find that women collec-tives, not leadership, have com-pelled course correction.
Narmada Bachao Andolanactivist Medha Patkar had oncesaid that women were swords,something she herself harnessedfor her anti-dam agitations andensured rehabilitation of evac-uees and refugees. Visuals ofwomen half-immersing them-
selves in water still form a pic-ture of civil determination. Orremember Sundar Bahuguna’sChipko movement, where villagewomen encircled and huggedtrees to save them from beingfelled by loggers and set anexample for conservation muchbefore Greta Thunberg did?This organised resistance didlead to a ban on tree-felling inUttar Pradesh.
Women have spearheadedprotests against the Kudankulamnuclear plant, where authoritieswanted to set up a reactor forspent fuel, and have got a con-versation going on safeguardsagainst radioactivity for commu-nities that live around it. And letus not forget the women sur-vivors and descendants of theBhopal gas tragedy, who despitegetting their compensation, havenot given up the campaignagainst exploitative practices ofmultinationals or the awarenessdrive on chemical contamina-tion, ensuring that there is norepeat of a disaster that resultedfrom governmental sellouts.Women in India will no longerbe content being unicorns withself-made success stories meantto be emulated and inspira-tional. They are going to havefaith in their regular lives andtake on societal irregularities bystaying together.
Sir — This refers to the editor-ial, “Death of justice” (January17). It’s wrong on the part ofpolitical parties to politicise thedelay in the execution of the cul-prits of the 2012 Delhi gangrape.Actually, the fault lies in the verysystem, which is ridden with toomany loopholes, allowing con-victs to twist it and get their way.
The four convicts have nofear for death as they continueto utilise every caveat in the rulebook to defer their hanging.There’s a possibility even nowthat they may not be hanged onFebruary 1 because three of theconvicts can still file mercypetitions one after the other. Itis surprising that their mercypetitions are still being enter-tained.
This calls for an overhaul ofthe system whereby crimesattracting death penalty must befast-tracked during all stages oftrial from the district court tothe Supreme Court. Review orcurative petitions should beallowed only in the SupremeCourt. These, too, should bedecided within a fortnight afterthey have been filed. Mercy
petitions should be decided in atime-bound period of threemonths. May be they should beallowed only when no court hashanded out the death sentence.The law should be amended insuch a manner that criminalsfear death penalty.
Madhu Agrawal Delhi
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Sir — Indian cricket has lost a realstalwart in Bapu Nadkarni. Hebecame famous for havingbowled 21 consecutive maidenovers (21.5 overs or 131 balls) inan inning against England onJanuary 12, 1964, at the Nehru
(Corporation) Stadium in Madras(now Chennai). Besides, he wasalso a brilliant fielder. He was thecoach of the Indian team thattoured Australia in 1981, whichsaw a major controversy withSunil Gavaskar threatening awalkout in the Melbourne Test.
In today’s scenario of limitedovers cricket, he would have
been a wonderful bowler. Hisdeliveries used to skid off thewicket pretty quickly. He wasimpossible to negotiate on theback foot. If today’s LPW rule wasto be applied, his tally would havebeen more than thrice of what itwas. He was also a sound utilitybatsman. He was probably themain person instrumental inhaving Sandeep Patil come backafter a blow on his head.
Vijaykumar HK Karnataka
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Sir — This refers to the editori-al, “Talks with Pakistan?”(January 18). India’s decision toinvite Pakistan Prime MinisterImran Khan for the ShanghaiCooperation Organisation (SCO)meet has come at a time whenrelations between the two coun-tries are strained. Though it is apositive development, a lot willnow depend on Khan. Will heaccept the invitation or just senda representative?
Goal 8 of the UN Sustainable DevelopmentGoals looks at decent work and economicgrowth. One offshoot of this should be an
improvement and sustained growth in the country’sstate of jobs. But India is facing a unique challengeon this front, owing to a combination of evolving jobopportunities across sectors, reduced employabili-ty due to the gaps between the education system andthe dynamic changes in today’s workplace and defi-cient learning capabilities due to legacy nutrition chal-lenges. Even though the NSSO data estimating India’ssix per cent unemployment rate at a 45-year high wascontested due to its narrow sample-size, the labourforce participation rate and work participation rate(those in working-age looking for work and findingit, respectively) declined between 2012 and 2018, asper a paper by the Azim Premji University. TheGrameen Foundation India’s (GFI’s) State of the Jobsin India report underscored the urgency to create jobsfor over 15 million youth who are expected to enterthe workforce each year. The question is whichavenues can create net new jobs?
A more enduring challenge is the fact that oureducated workforce often lacks the requisite employ-ability skills to meet the emerging demands of today’sjobs, be it on knowledge, competencies, technolo-gies, processes, critical thinking and analytical abil-ities. Our archaic education pedagogy is not mak-ing our youth employable. This is causing a mismatchbetween aspirations and abilities, between incomeand consumption and a delay in realising India’sdemographic dividend. The need to push the rightskill set and education to meet the evolving natureof jobs is perhaps even more imminent.
The investment in human capital for most of ourpopulation has been low from infancy which hascaused legacy nutrition issues like stunting and under-nutrition. Research suggests stunting and undernu-trition impacts the brain’s development and thus abil-ities to learn new knowledge and skills which ren-ders us unemployable. No quick-fix skill training canaddress this vexed issue.
The GFI recently brought together corporates,policymakers, researchers, think-tanks, innovators,skill-developers, financiers, NGOs and the youth todeliberate on the current situation, identify trendsand opportunities and seek the best recourse as theway forward. One priority was to address the issuessurrounding the major employers of the workforce,i.e. agriculture and micro, small and medium enter-prises (MSMEs). The discourse on these sectors oftengets shadowed by the buzz surrounding start-ups andtechnology as the new engines of job growth; how-ever, these two remain the mass employers.
With net income growth from farming movingsouth — a minuscule growth of 0.44 per cent perannum between 2011 and 2016 as per a NITI Aayogpaper — coupled with chronic debt due to expen-sive chemical inputs and natural phenomena likevarying rainfall, floods and droughts, it is no surprisethat sectoral employment declined by 27 millionbetween 2012 and 2018. This is manifesting in massmigration from rural regions, led by youth. Whilethe Government’s efforts to bridge the knowledge-gaps of new farming methods and technologies withextension and technical training have been in theright direction, there is a need to devise a reverse-migration strategy to bring back the youth to thefarms. This can be done by incentivising low-cost,
sustainable farming, setting up rural-based industries, facilitating farmer pro-ducer organisations (FPOs), ramping upsocial collateral-based rural credit, intro-ducing technologies to scale up crop pro-ductivity, reduce damage, facilitate storageand transport and encourage the agri-entrepreneur ecosystem. That would alsohelp revive the Bharat consumption story,a selling point of India’s growth story thathas hit headwinds.
The manufacturing sector, whereMSMEs dominate in terms of peopleemployed, saw employment decline by 3.5million between 2012 and 2018. While thiswas led by a sluggishness in the construc-tion sector, it is also worth noting that onlyabout 50 million out of the 62-63 millionMSMEs are said to be operational andmost are struggling to scale up. The chal-lenges include their inability to adopt newtechnologies, digitalisation and productionprocesses and the failure to reinvent theircompetitiveness given the new sources ofcompetition and trade-wars. A concertedmix of technology influx, policy supportand funding measures is needed to buildtheir long-term competitiveness and cre-ate better outcomes through sustainedbusiness and job growth. That presuppos-es their workforce is also made capable onskills to leverage the new technologies.
The debate on sustainability and cli-mate change is turning loud following theincreasing awareness of consumers andinvestors. Stakeholders are concernedhow these risks impact businesses,economies, natural and social ecosystems,and that is driving a new category of jobs,i.e. green jobs. Most of these did not existtill some time back, ergo their existingworkforce migrated from other roles.That implies a demand for upskilling to filltheir knowledge gaps. New graduatecourses dedicated to these avenues are alsorequired.
Renewable energy, circular economy,waste recycling, water treatment, sanita-
tion, green transport and so on are theavenues picking up speed. Social enterpris-es that seek broader social goals and notjust shareholder returns, are another.While these are still in their infancy, theycould be instrumental in creating much ofthe new jobs the country needs. Since thesesectors still require partnerships betweencorporates, Governments and communi-ties to establish scalable operating models,these linkages could create job opportu-nities even with other stakeholders.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution, ledby breakthrough technologies, is changingthe way we work. That means new typesof jobs, replacement of erstwhile jobs andnew skills. It is important to understandthat technology is becoming a job-enableracross sectors and not just a job by itself.Thus, to grow in any sector or function,the workforce will need to build technol-ogy skills. This includes sectors which werarely associate with technology, like agri-culture and textiles. It is also important tounderstand that upskilling on technologyis not only to save oneself from the discom-fort of becoming redundant but to makeone competent to leverage newer oppor-tunities of business (and job) growth. Wenot only need more people to devise inno-vative technologies, we also need thinkersto devise how those innovations can helpus redefine our target market, expand cus-tomer base and markets. That means build-ing our critical thinking and analytical skillsas well.
A growing awareness among workingprofessionals to remain relevant and avoidlayoffs is driving the demand for upskilling.Institutionalising upskilling programmesthat are quick, low-cost and convenient forall would depend on the employers’ ini-tiatives and the strength of public-privatepartnerships. A frequent method ofupskilling are skill programmes by theemployers themselves. This may need part-nerships with state authorities to developcontent or recognised certifications. The
employers’ role enables relevance of thepedagogy. Such programmes could also berevenue-generating if they enrol out-siders. Certification courses could bedeveloped separately by specialised skillproviders as well, leaving employers freeto focus on their core business.
This upskilling and critical thinkingwould also boost growth of startups asmany ventures are still in the red despiteseveral years in operations. The era of star-tups delivering me-too products withouta distinct competitive advantage is ending.Critical thinking and innovations wouldbe instrumental in making their businessmodels competitive, generating operatingcash flows and turning their books black.
Inclusiveness in the workforce bybringing in more women and specially-abled could help the job market incremen-tally, while driving economic gains. Almosthalf of India’s specially-abled are literate andin employable age, a potential workforceIndia could leverage with market-basedvocational training and appropriate roles.Addressing the socio-cultural challengesthat women face at homes, on the streetsand at the workplace could help reduce thegender gap.
Several sectors hold promise to createnew jobs, provided the necessary policies,technologies and funding converge in time.In the near-term, there is a need to driverelevant skilling and education content thatmust be monitored, measured and backedwith appropriate apprenticeships, entrepre-neur-incubation or job functions so thatthe migration from skilling to relevant jobsoccurs. That presupposes measures toimprove the nutritional status of ourhouseholds, especially in the rural and peri-urban regions. One has to watch how Indiaaddresses all these requirements. Withoutthese investments in human capital devel-opment, the going would only get tough.
(Labh is the CEO of GIF and a globaldevelopment expert and Aiyer is a consul-tant with a leading business insights portal)
The assassination of the contro-versial Major General of Iran’sIslamic Revolutionary Guard,
Qassem Soleimani, by the equally con-troversial Government of US PresidentDonald Trump, has sent Pakistaninto a spin. A Minister in PrimeMinister Imran Khan’s Governmentannounced that Pakistan would sidewith Saudi Arabia, the oil-rich king-dom that is a firm American ally andstrongly opposed to Iran. However, thespokesperson of the Pakistan military’sInter-Services Public Relations wingand then Foreign Minister ShahMehmood Qureshi were quick toannounce that the country wouldremain neutral in case hostilitiesintensify between Iran and the US.
Pakistan was a frontline proxyState in the US and Saudi-funded
“Islamist” insurgency against Soviettroops in Afghanistan in the 1980s. Bythe time Soviet troops left Afghanistanin the late 1980s, the fallout of that wargreatly impacted Pakistan, deepeningsectarian fissures in the country andaiding the mushrooming of religiousmilitancy and extremism, that even-tually mutated and turned anti-state.Indeed, this must be on the minds ofthe state and Government of Pakistanfor them to declare their neutrality. Butthere is a lot more to Pakistan’s ambi-guity in this context. And I use theword ambiguity because relationsbetween Iran and Pakistan have large-ly remained abstruse, especially in thelast 40 years or so. Rand Corporation’s2014 study Iran’s Inf luence inAfghanistan describes the relationshipbetween Pakistan and Iran as “a com-plex mix of cooperation and peer rival-ry.” Iran is a Shia Muslim-majoritycountry headed by a powerful Shiaclergy, which came to power througha revolution in 1979. According toAndreas Rieck’s 2016 book The Shiasof Pakistan: An Assertive andBeleaguered Minority, Pakistan has asignificant Shia minority. Estimatesfrom 2018 suggest 20 to 25 per cent ofPakistan’s population is Shia. And
according to Jacquelyn Davis, inAnticipating a Nuclear Iran, many ofthe Pakistani Shia support Iran’s post-1979 political and ideological set-up.
Until the mid-1970s, Pakistanenjoyed a seamless relationship withIran. In fact, Pakistan was closer to Iranthan it was to Saudi Arabia. Iran, amodern pro-US monarchy, was one ofthe first countries to recognise Pakistanwhen it was formed in August 1947.Also, the Shah of Iran became the firstmajor foreign head of state to visitPakistan in 1950.
During the 1965 Pakistan-Indiawar, when the US had suspended allmilitary aid to both India and Pakistan,Iran sent nurses, medical supplies and5,000 tonnes of petroleum to Pakistan.As an oil-rich country, Iran alsothreatened to impose an embargo onoil supplies to India. In the 2015 edi-tion of the journal International Affairsand Global Strategy, M Saqib Khanwrites that, to sidestep the US andEuropean arms embargo imposed onIndia and Pakistan during the war, Iranbought 90 Sabre fighter jets from WestGermany and sent them to Pakistan.
Iran saw Pakistan as a modernextension of Persian culture in SouthAsia because of the role this culture
and language had played duringMuslim rule in India between the 13thand 19th centuries. But since the Shah’sIran was known as “America’s police-man in Asia”, it also tried to insulatePakistan from the Left-leaning “Third-Worldism” — an idea first formulat-ed by the charismatic Arab national-ist leader Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egyptand the “socialist” Indian PMJawaharlal Nehru. Iran made sure thatPakistan remained firmly in theAmerican orbit during the Cold War.
The state of Pakistan admiredIran’s economic and social moderni-ty and tried to emulate it. In his essay,Pakistan As A Factor in Indo-IranianRelations, for the December 1974issue of The Indian Journal of PoliticalScience, LK Choudhary wrote that,during the 1971 Pakistan-India war,Iran again sidestepped an arms embar-go on Pakistan and supplied it withmilitary equipment. The Times ofIndia quoted the Shah as saying,“Pakistan and Iran are like one soul intwo bodies.”
In 1973, when a Baloch insur-gency broke out in Balochistan, whichshares a border with Iran, the Shahprovided lethal American-made com-bat helicopters to Pakistan so that
Baloch insurgents operating in theremote areas near the border could beeliminated. This way Iran also elimi-nated the threat of the insurgencyspilling into Iran’s Baloch-majorityareas. Relations between the twocountries began to somewhat recedewhen the populist Government of ZABhutto in Pakistan attempted to for-mulate an international “Muslim bloc”in 1974. The planned bloc also includ-ed “enemies” of the Shah, especially“radical” Soviet-backed Arab regimes,such as Libya, Iraq, Syria, Algeria andthe erstwhile South Yemen. Therefore,the Shah was the only major Muslimhead of state to decline attending the1974 Islamic Summit in Lahore,organised by the Bhutto Government.
In 1977, the Bhutto regime wastoppled in a reactionary military coupby General Zia-ul-Haq. So when theShah’s regime fell in 1979 and wasreplaced by a radical theocracy,Pakistan became the first country torecognise the new Government. Butthe refreshed relations between the twocountries, on the basis of Islam, soonbegan to nosedive from 1981 onwards.
From the mid-1970s, SaudiArabia, buoyed by increasing oilprices, had begun to aggressively
expand its circle of influence with thepower of the so-called “petrodollar.” Italso started to outpace Iran in mattersof providing economic aid to Pakistan,which came with the condition ofadopting the Arab culture and faith asprescribed by Saudi Arabia.
Iran’s Shia theocracy began to beseen as a threat by the puritanical Saudipolitical and religious establishment —especially when Iran initiated therather unabashed export of its versionof anti-Saudi and anti-US “politicalIslam” to other Muslim countries.
In the 1980s, Pakistan acceptedhefty financial and military aid fromthe US and Saudi Arabia during theanti-Soviet insurgency in Afghanistan.This money was also used to form rad-ical Sunni indoctrination outlets andmilitant outfits to supplement Afghanmilitant groups. But many such out-fits eventually turned anti-Shia andthus anti-Iran. This saw Iran bankrollmilitant Shia groups within Pakistan.The result was deadly violence, clash-es and riots between Saudi and Iranianproxies in Pakistan.
Even though Pakistan declaredneutrality during the Iran-Iraq war inthe 1980s, the Zia regime increasing-ly galvanised Pakistan towards the
Saudi and American orbit. Pakistansent 40,000 soldiers to Saudi Arabia incase the conflict spread to the king-dom. A cultural consequence of thiswas the “Saudization” of Pakistan andthe steady erosion of Persian culture;after the 1979 revolution in Iran, itbegan being seen as “Shia culture.”
Ever since 1981, Pakistan’s rela-tions with Iran have remained tenseand enigmatic. Iran has often accusedPakistan of backing radical anti-IranSunni groups operating near the Pak-Iran border, and Pakistan hasexpressed concern that anti-Pakistangroups backed by India have beenallowed by Iran to operate near thesame border. Yet, not once have thetwo countries come close to fightinga war against each other. Soleimani wasunderstood by Islamabad as being an‘anti-Pakistan hawk.’ Pakistan, havingfrenzied borders with India andAfghanistan, and only recently man-aging to vanquish the extreme conse-quences of its participation in the anti-Soviet Afghan insurgency, has wiselydecided to declare neutrality in the US-Iran conflict. More so, it has down-played the fact that Soleimani was nohero to Pakistan.
Centre to converge multiplecorporate tax rates to 15 percent by April 2023 without anyexemptions, and make theannouncement in the upcom-ing Budget to facilitate invest-ment decisions.
“The Union Budget couldannounce a roadmap for con-vergence of all corporate taxrates to 15 per cent, with noexemptions and incentives,
by April 1, 2023. A signal-ing to this effect could help fur-ther boost investor sentimentand encourage investments,”CII President Vikram Kirloskarsaid.
According to the industrybody, the desired impact of thereduction in corporate taxes onthe ground is still far from sat-isfactory.
It said one of the reasonsbehind this has been the mul-titude of tax rates, which havecreated tax rate inequalitiesacross manufacturing and ser-vice sectors.
The government last yearreduced corporate tax rates to22 per cent, plus surcharge andcess. However, companies willnot be allowed to avail any taxexemptions or incentives.
Further, manufacturingfacilities that start productionbefore 31 March 2023 and areincorporated on or after 1stOctober 2019 would be taxedat only 15 per cent, plus sur-charge and cess.
The new rates have cata-pulted India to a very compet-itive position against many ofthe OECD (Organisation forEconomic Co-operation and
Development) and BRICScountries, and others likeIndonesia and Philippines.
Over time, the lower rateswill reduce the cost of capitaland catalyse investments.
The announcement of con-vergence of all these rates to asingle rate of 15 per cent by2023 will provide a line of sightto industry and investors totake decisions now, CII said.
The statutory corporatetax rate in India has beenbrought down in the last threedecades from 45 per cent in1991-92 to 22 per cent in 2019-20.
Services Tax (GST) in nearfuture, the government is con-sidering levying specific rate ofexcise duty on aviation turbinefuel (ATF) in place of currentad valorem rates to insulate itsprices from cascading effect intimes of volatile prices.
ATF presently is chargeableat 11 per cent ad valorem rateof excise duty.
Concessional rate of 2 percent is applicable for ATF soldunder Regional ConnectivityScheme. Ad valorem ratemeans that the impact of anincrease in price of the fuelbecause of global rate hiketranslates into an even higherprice for airlines as the tax inci-dence also rises.
To insulate airlines fromsuch volatility, the governmentmay in the forthcoming Budgetfor 2020-21 fiscal year maybring specific excise dutyexpressed in �� per kilolitre,sources aware of the develop-ment said.
Petrol and diesel alreadyattract a specific rate of exciseduty and so ATF naturallyqualifies for such a shift, theysaid.
Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman will present hersecond budget on February 1.
Explaining the duty struc-ture, sources said if cost of pro-duction of ATF is �100 perkilolitre, the fuel at exit fromthe refinery will be priced at�111 per kilolitre after levying11 per cent excise duty. If thecost rises to �110, the ex-refin-ery rate would attract an exciseduty of �12. A specific duty ofsay �11 per kilolitre wouldmean that even if the costgoes up the tax incidencewould remain the same.
Petrol and diesel alreadyattract specific excise duty forthe same purpose. Excise dutyon petrol currently is �21.16
per litre and that on diesel is�15.83 a litre.
This, they said, wouldensure correct payment of dutyat the initial clearance stageitself and will eliminate com-plexities and difficulties inredetermination of duty onfurther stock transfers whichsometime result in avoidablelitigation.
Specific excise duty wouldaddress part of the concerns ofoil companies and airlines ofnot being able to set of tax paidon inputs against the tax onfinal product as ATF has beenkept out of GST regime.
When the Goods andServices Tax (GST) was intro-duced on July 1, 2017 amalga-
mating 17 central and statelevies, five commodities name-ly crude oil, natural gas, petrol,diesel, and ATF were kept outof its purview given the revenuedependence of state govern-ments on this sector.
Under the existing struc-ture, both natural gas and ATFattract the Centre’s excise dutyand a state’s value-added tax(VAT). Both these and all otherlevies will get subsumed underGST if they are brought underits ambit.
The decision on theirinclusion depends on the finan-cial position of States as rev-enues from these five petrole-um products constitute a sub-stantial chunk of state govern-ment finances.
The aviation ministry hastime and again sought inclu-sion of ATF under GST as anysurge in international oil ratesgets reflected in domestic jetfuel prices, leading to costlierair tickets. Oil Ministry too hasfavoured including ATF alongwith natural gas under theGST regime to help companiesset off tax that they paid oninput.
ATF makes up for almosthalf of the cost of an airline andrates vary from state to statedepending on local VAT.
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In its effort to demystify thebudget for common man, the
Finance Ministry will start asocial media campaign fromJanuary 22.
Through the ‘#ArthShastri’campaign, the ministry wouldexplain several economic termsthrough interesting animatedvideos to help common manand students understand bud-get exercise in a simple way, anofficial said.
The ministry also under-took this exercise before theBudget last year as well, theofficial added.
“Curious student Arthunpacks his box of questions inProf. Shastri’s class. Let’s seehow Dr. Shastri tackles his dif-ficult questions with her sharpinsight. Tune into this space tojoin the classes starting 22ndJanuary @ 11am. #ArthShastri,”pinned tweet of the ministrysaid.
The ministry has alsolaunched another campaignon Budget promises and deliv-ery with tag ‘#HamaraBharosa’.
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The domestic steel industryis seeking reduction in
basic customs duty on key rawmaterials such as coking coal,pet coke, limestone anddolomite in the upcomingBudget.
Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman is scheduled topresent the Budget for financialyear 2020-21 on February 1.
“Anthracite coal, cokingcoal, coke, limestone, dolomiteare vital inputs for the steelindustry. The availability ofthese items in good quality isdeclining in the country andthe industry has to depend onimports on regular basis,”industry body Ficci said in itsBudget recommendations forIndian steel sector.
The basic customs importduty on anthracite coal is 2.5per cent. Since ferro alloyindustry plays a vital role insteel manufacturing, it is nec-essary to make available thesereductants at internationalcompetitive price to makeIndian steel mills more com-petitive, it said while recom-mending that customs duty onanthracite coal be reduced tozero from 2.5 per cent.
Met coke, another vitalinput for the industry, hadalways attracted lower andconcessional rate of customsduty, it said.
However, the basic cus-toms duty was enhanced from2.5 per cent to 5 per cent witheffect from March 1, 2015.Additionally, anti-dumpingduty was also imposed on itsimports with effect fromNovember 25, 2016.
“As a result, the cost of this(met coke) vital input in steelmanufacturing has gone upnecessitating increase in price
of steel which is acting asdeterrence to the competitive-ness of domestic products ininternational markets vis-à-vissimilar products of other coun-tries like China,” it said.
“Moreover, high inputscosts have led to an invertedduty structure in the domesticindustry and are acting as adeterrent to government’sMake in India initiative, asdomestic producers have lessincentive to import met coke.Rather, imports of finishedsteel goods are preferred,” itsaid and suggested that duty onmetallurgical coke be reducedto zero.
The industry body saidexemption available to cokingcoal was also removed by thegovernment in 2014-15 Budgetby bringing it at par with othertypes of coal and imposing 2.5per cent basic customs duty.
This amendment hasadversely affected steel manu-facturers in India. Coking coalis one of the principal rawmaterials used in steel manu-facturing and predominantlyused for making coke for use insteel making and thus forms amajor part of the final price ofthe steel, it said.
“Levy of 2.5 per cent ofduty on coking coal and simul-taneously fixing the importduty of 5 per cent on coke hasadversely affected the costing ofsteel. It is requested to restorethe exemption of nil rate ofduty allowed earlier to cokingcoal without any technical def-inition of coking coal,” it said.
Ficci also recommendedzero customs duty on steelgrade limestone and dolomiteas increase in steel productionhas led to rising demand forSMS (steel melting shop) andBF (blast furnace) grade lime-stone.
Nagpur: Union Minister forRoad Transport and HighwaysNitin Gadkari on Sunday saidhis ministry planned to spend�5 lakh crore on infrastructuredevelopment this year.
He was speaking at theinaugural function of theDiamond Jubilee celebrationsof Visvesvaraya NationalInstitute of Technology (VNIT)in Nagpur in Maharashtra.
“In the last five years, I haveawarded contracts worth �17lakh crore. This year, I’m plan-ning to touch �5 lakh croremark in spending on infra-structure development,”Gadkari said.
“I want to tell you there isno dearth of money,” he toldthe gathering. PTI
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The United Forum of BankUnions (UFBU), which
represents nine trade unions,has given a call for a two-daystrike beginning January 31.
It has also called strike athree-day strike from March11, and if the demands are notmet, the UFBU has threat-ened to go on an indefinitestrike from April 1, 2020.
So, the bank unions areplanning basically to observestrike in three phases.
According to the convenerof UFBU, Sanjeev KumarBandlish, a letter in this regardhas already been sent to thechairman of Indian Banks’Association, SecretaryDepartment of Financial Servicesand Chief Labour Commissionerin the Ministry of Labour.
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Blocking Huawei fromrolling out 5G technology
may cause loss of up to $63 bil-lion in the GDP of top eighttechnology markets, and atleast $4.7 billon in case ofIndia, by 2035, a report ofOxford Economics commis-sioned by the chinese telecomgear maker has claimed.
The US and Australia haveblocked Huawei from deploy-ing 5G infrastructure allegingsecurity concerns and severalother markets includingCanada, France, Germany,Japan and the UKGovernments have announcedthey are either consideringexclusion or have imposed par-tial restrictions.
The Chinese telecom firm,however, has been allowed toparticipate in 5G trials in Indiaand the Indian governmenthas not taken any stand yet tobar the company from building5G network. The report com-piled in December 2019 esti-mates three impact scenariobased on low, medium andhigh-cost 5G gear deploymentin the eight technology marketcovered in the study and pro-jected that the investment costin India will increase in therange of 8 per cent to 27 percent and GDP may suffer lossin the range of $4.7 billion to$27.8 billion in case Huawei isrestricted in the country.
“Lower economic growthdue to delays in 5G rollout andthe associated slower techno-
logical growth reduces GDP bybetween $4.7 billion and $27.8billion in 2035,” the study said.
Oxford Economics hasassumed that in low cost sce-nario 5G will be only used forenhancing broadband speedand support access to contentthat will require high band-width. In medium scenario, 5Gwill be used to deploy internet-of-things infrastructure whereall machines can be controlledusing internet while high costscenario will see use of 5G intransport like driverless cars,healthcare, energy etc.
In the medium technologycost scenario, OxfordEconomics estimated thatrestricting competition in thenetwork infrastructure marketmay significantly reduce eco-nomic growth in India over thenext 15 years.
“We estimate this couldreduce GDP in 2035 by $15.5billion,” the report said.
The Telecom RegulatoryAuthority of India in one of itsreports mentioned that 5G isexpected to be launched inIndia by 2020 and is predictedto create a cumulative eco-nomic impact of $1 trillion inIndia by 2035.
Oxford Economics saidthat in medium infrastructurecost scenario restriction onHuawei could increase the costof building the 5G network by$500 million per year over thenext decade, $200 million addi-tional in low-cost scenario and$700 million per year in highcost scenario.
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The issue of interim dividendmay come up for discus-
sion in the next Reserve Bankboard meeting as the govern-ment struggles to meet itsambitious fiscal deficit target of3.3 per cent amid revenueshortfall, sources said.
Government finances havecome under pressure due tomoderation in revenue collec-tion and a slew of measurestaken to lift growth from oversix-year-low of 4.5 per cent inthe second quarter of the cur-rent fiscal.
As per the government’sestimate, the country’s GDPgrowth is seen dipping to an11-year low of 5 per cent in thecurrent fiscal as compared to6.8 per cent in 2018-19.
There would be at least oneboard meeting of RBI before
this fiscal comes to an end, theissue of interim dividend couldbe raised by government nom-inee directors in the meeting,sources said.
However, the board meet-ing would be preceded byFinance Minister NirmalaSitharaman customary addressto the central board of RBI toexplain vision of the Budget tobe presented on February 1.This traditional exercise takesplaces a few days after theBudget presentation every year.
According to sources, it hasbeen an exceptional year dur-ing which several extra-ordi-nary measures including slash-ing corporate tax rate outsideBudget were announcedputting government financesunder stress.
If the RBI board agrees tointerim dividend based ontheir six-month performance,it would provide some financialrelief to the government,sources added.
Reserve Bank of India(RBI) follows July to Junefinancial year.
The RBI largely earns prof-its through its trading of cur-rencies and government bonds.Part of these earnings are setaside by the RBI for its opera-tional and contingency needswhile the rest is transferred tothe government in the form ofdividend.
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The telecom department isexamining the legal applic-
ability of January 23 deadlinefor payment of over Rs 2.4 lakhcrore statutory dues in thecase of non-telecom PSUswhich were not originally partyto AGR matter in the SupremeCourt, according to sources.
Sources in the Departmentof Telecom (DoT) told PTI thatwhile the PSUs too have beenasked to make payments relatedto statutory liabilities (after theSC in October upheld govern-ment’s position on calculation ofnon-core revenue for AGR dues),the larger question is whether theJanuary 23 deadline is legallyenforceable on state-owned com-panies that were not direct partyto the dispute.
The current view that isemerging in the DoT appearsto be that the court-imposedtimeline may not apply toPSUs, but the matter is beinglegally examined for clarity.
“Of course, the court hasdecided the issue of principle ofwhat is AGR, so they (PSUs)have to pay but if they do notpay by January 23 it will not becontempt as it will be in case ofthe parties to the case. So PSUshave to pay and we have raiseddemands, but if they do not payby January 23 it will not amountto contempt of court on theirpart because they were notparty to the case, but they haveto pay,” a source added.
Another official also saidthat the issue of deadline forPSUs is being examined legally.
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Investors pumped in nearly�75,000 crore in equity-ori-
ented mutual fund schemes in2019, a sharp plunge of 41 percent from the preceding year,mainly hit by extreme marketvolatility amid slowing eco-nomic growth.
Experts, however, are of theview that equity schemes willattract investor interest thisyear as the market is expectedto perform well.
“While volatility in themarket may continue for somemore time going forward, webelieve investors will want tobenefit from this volatility anduse it to create and growth theirwealth. As we expect industryinflows to rise, we believe thatall categories of mutual funds
including equity funds to see asteady rise in flows,” saidAshwani Bhatia, MD and CEOat SBI Mutual Fund.
According to data withAssociation of Mutual funds inIndia (Amfi) equity and equi-ty-linked saving schemes(ELSS) attracted an inflow of�74,870 crore in 2019, muchlower than �1.2 lakh croreseen in 2018.
In 2017, such schemes hadwitnessed an impressive inflowof around �1.33 lakh crore ascompared to �51,000 crore in2016.
Equity schemes have seena little bit of a slowdown in2019 as compared to the pastfew years because of extreme-ly volatile markets, L&T MutualFund chief Kailash Kulkarnisaid.
The pace of inflows inequity funds tapered offtowards the end of the yearwith the inflow in suchschemes hitting a 41-monthlow of �1,312 crore in
November as investors did notsee the index returns in theirown funds. Besides, weaknessin the mid and small-cap spacedented the investor confidence,said Vidya Bala, co-founder ofPrimeinvestor.In.
Equity flows have twocomponents — systematicinvestment plan (SIP) and non-SIP. Flows through SIPs haveconsistently grown over theyears and have touched morethan �8,000 crore on a month-ly basis, while the non SIP flowsare volatile based on theinvestor’s need for money andview on the market.
Overall, fund houses havegarnered �82,453 crore throughSIPs — a preferred route forretail investors to invest inmutual funds as it helps them reduce market tim-ing risk.
The industry added over9.55 lakh SIP accounts eachmonth in the year with an aver-age SIP size of about �2,850 perSIP account.
New Delhi: Union MinisterPralhad Joshi on Sunday saidthe Centre will stop the “sub-stitutable import” of coal in thenext three to four years and cango for auction of 100 fullyexplored blocks.
The statement assumes sig-nificance in view of recentdevelopments in the sectorwhere the government recent-ly brought an ordinance toamend laws to open up coalmining to firms other thanthose in the steel and powersectors, removing restrictionson end-use of the fuel.
Terming the promulgation ofthe ordinance as “one of the majorreforms”, the coal minister in aninterview to PTI said that “what-ever the substitutable shortfall isthere...We want to achieve it in thecoming three-four years. Thatmay be around 2023-24. Wewant to stop the substitutableimport of the coal”. PTI
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Air India trade unions arelikely to demand a VRS
package at their second meet-ing with Minister of State forCivil Aviation Hardeep SinghPuri in New Delhi on Monday.
The minister is set to meetover a dozen Air India unions,including unrecognised ones,on Monday for the secondtime in a month over the air-line’s privatisation plans.
The government is plan-ning to float Expression ofInterest (EoI) for selling itsentire 100 per cent stake in theloss-making flag carrier sometime next week.
At the first meeting onJanuary 2, the minister hadmade it clear that privatisationwas the only option before theGovernment to keep the airlineafloat and sought employeescooperation in carrying out thedisinvestment process.
Puri had also told theunions that he will call themagain after the meeting of theministerial panel on Air India
disinvestment.“Initially, we were told that
Government would protect ourjobs if airline gets privatisedand therefore we did not think about voluntaryretirement.
“But off late, our membershave been approaching us andwant us to discuss a voluntaryretirement scheme packagewith the government as it isexpected that our job will beprotected only for one year postprivatisation. We are going toraise this issue at the meetingwith the minister on Monday,”an airline source told PTI.
The source said that if thegovernment agrees “in-princi-ple” on their demand, theunions will work out the con-tours of the VRS package,including the service cut-offperiod and the quantum ofmonetary compensation.
Media reports suggest thatthe new investor may beallowed to retain Air India’ssome 11,000 employees onlyfor one year after the carriergoes into private hands.
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Passenger vehicle (PV)exports from India increased
by 5.89 per cent in the first ninemonths of the current fiscal,with Hyundai Motor leading thesegment with dispatches ofaround 1.45 lakh units, as perthe latest data by SIAM. PVexports stood at 5,40,384 unitsin the April-December period ofthe current fiscal as comparedwith 5,10,305 units in the sameperiod of 2018-19.
Car shipments saw 4.44 percent growth at 4,04,552 units,while utility vehicle exports sawa rise of 11.14 per cent at1,33,511 units during the April-December period, the Societyof Indian AutomobileManufacturers’ data showed.
However, vans witnessed a17.4 per cent decline in exportsat 2,321 units during the peri-od under review as comparedwith 2,810 units in the sameperiod last fiscal.
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The Commerce Ministry hasrecommended restricting
purchase of tax-free alcohol toone bottle at duty-free shops aspart of steps to reduce importof non-essential goods, sourcessaid.
The ministry has also rec-ommended to its finance coun-terpart that purchase of ciga-rette cartons at duty-free shopsshould be prohibited, they said.
These recommendationsare part of proposals made bythe commerce ministry for theforthcoming Budget, whichwould be unveiled by FinanceMinister Nirmala Sitharamanon February 1.
Currently inbound inter-national passengers are allowedto buy two litres of alcohol anda carton of cigarette from theseshops.
According to sources, thereare countries that allow onlyone litre of liquor to interna-
tional passengers and the samepractice can be adopted inIndia.
This suggestion assumessignificance as the Governmentis looking at various ways tocurtail import of non-essentialgoods into the country to reinin trade deficit.
A duty-free shop is wherean inbound international pas-senger can generally purchasegoods worth about �50,000without paying any importduty. The commerce ministryhas also suggested increase incustoms duty on several prod-ucts like paper, footwear, rub-ber items and toys to promote‘Make in India’ and boost man-ufacturing growth, sourcessaid.
The ministry has proposedrationalisation of basic customsor import duty on over 300items from different sectors,including furniture, chemicals,rubber, coated paper and paperboards.
Scheme NAV 1Yr %Kotak World Gold Fund(G) 10.71 37.82DSP World Gold Fund-Reg(G) 14.42 29.86Franklin India Feeder - Franklin 36.06 29.34U.S. Opportunities Fund(G)SBI Tax Advantage Fund-III-Reg(G)29.16 28.94Nippon India US Equity Opp 18.15 28.81Fund(G)ICICI Pru US Bluechip Equity 32.64 26.41Fund(G)Sundaram Fin Serv Opp Fund(G) 48.69 25.97Franklin Asian Equity Fund(G) 25.61 25.93Sundaram Services Fund-Reg(G) 12.97 25.32PGIM India Global Equity Opp 21.46 25.20Fund(G)Tata Banking & Financial Services 21.70 25.20Fund-Reg(G)SBI Tax advantage Fund-II(G) 41.58 23.49BNP Paribas India Consumption 13.31 22.88Fund-Reg(G)SBI Banking & Financial Services 20.25 22.70Fund-Reg(G)Principal Global Opportunities 32.79 22.66Fund(G)Axis Focused 25 Fund-Reg(G) 31.56 22.33DSP Equity Fund-Reg(G) 44.18 22.21DSP Focus Fund-Reg(G) 26.28 22.14Baroda Banking & Fin Serv 26.17 22.06Fund(G)Axis Bluechip Fund-Reg(G) 32.66 21.91Invesco India Financial Services 64.07 21.90Fund(G)DSP US Flexible Equity 28.44 21.83Fund-Reg(G)Axis Long Term Equity 50.36 21.62Fund-Reg(G)Sundaram Select Small Cap 16.23 21.61Series-III-Reg(G)Sundaram Select Small Cap 11.04 21.60Series-VI-Reg(G)Sundaram Select Small Cap 16.25 21.52Series-IV-Reg(G)Sundaram Multi Cap Fund-Sr 11.56 21.41II-Reg(G)SBI Focused Equity Fund-Reg(G) 158.33 21.33Sundaram Select Small Cap 11.32 21.32Series-V-Reg(G)Sundaram Multi Cap Fund-Sr 11.58 20.91I-Reg(G)Axis Multicap Fund-Reg(G) 12.98 20.86JM Multicap Fund(G) 35.60 20.78SBI LT Advantage Fund-IV-Reg(G) 14.71 20.75Kotak US Equity Fund(G) 18.87 20.53Aditya Birla SL Intl. Equity 24.16 20.45Fund-A(G)JM Tax Gain Fund(G) 19.00 19.65BNP Paribas Large Cap Fund(G) 99.91 19.64Kotak Global Emerging Mkt 17.66 19.58Fund(G)Axis Growth Opp Fund-Reg(G) 12.18 19.53Mirae Asset Emerging 59.71 19.48Bluechip-Reg(G)Motilal Oswal Focused 25 24.53 19.40Fund-Reg(G)Edelweiss Emerging Markets 14.41 19.10Opp Eq. Offshore Fund-Reg(G)DSP Top 100 Equity Fund-Reg(G) 229.68 18.79Axis Capital Builder Fund-4-Reg(G)11.91 18.63Aditya Birla SL Global Emerging 14.57 18.45Opp Fund(G)Canara Rob Bluechip Equity 27.84 18.42Fund-Reg(G)BNP Paribas Multi Cap Fund(G) 52.56 18.30Axis Midcap Fund-Reg(G) 40.91 18.24Mirae Asset Tax Saver Fund-Reg(G) 19.59 17.85Aditya Birla SL India GenNext 94.43 17.82Fund(G)ICICI Pru Global Stable Equity 17.20 17.81Fund(FOF)(G)Motilal Oswal Long Term Equity 19.32 17.80Fund-Reg(G)Edelweiss Eur Dynamic Equity 12.02 17.45Off-shr Fund-Reg(G)Kotak Equity Opp Fund(G) 132.98 17.44ICICI Pru LT Wealth Enhancement 11.86 17.43Fund(G)BNP Paribas Long Term Equity 42.46 17.41Fund(G)DSP Tax Saver Fund-Reg(G) 52.77 17.37Invesco India Feeder - Invesco 14.17 17.18Global Equity Income Fund(G)ICICI Pru Smallcap Fund(G) 27.32 17.15Kotak India Growth Fund-Sr 5(G) 10.69 17.04Kotak Bluechip Fund(G) 257.75 17.01Axis Emerging Opp Fund-1-Reg(G) 13.70 16.99Motilal Oswal Midcap 30 27.93 16.94Fund-Reg(G)IDBI Banking & Financial Services 11.49 16.89Fund-Reg(G)SBI Magnum Equity ESG 115.74 16.88Fund-Reg(G)Kotak Tax Saver Fund(G) 48.57 16.85SBI Magnum Comma Fund-Reg(G) 39.36 16.76L&T Focused Equity Fund-Reg(G) 11.85 16.72Aditya Birla SL Banking & 31.56 16.67Financial Services Fund-Reg(G)Aditya Birla SL Sensex ETF 392.33 16.61HDFC Sensex ETF 4413.54 16.52Tata Large & Mid Cap Fund(G) 223.93 16.50Parag Parikh Long Term Equity 27.46 16.42Fund-Reg(G)JM Value Fund(G) 34.81 16.40DSP World Mining Fund-Reg(G) 9.19 16.39DSP Midcap Fund-Reg(G) 60.29 16.37L&T India Large Cap Fund-Reg(G) 29.65 16.36IDFC Sensex ETF 432.78 16.26PGIM India Diversified Equity 14.53 16.24Fund-Reg(G)Axis Emerging Opp Fund-2-Reg(G) 13.15 16.06HDFC Index Fund-Sensex(G) 372.85 16.06Tata Resources & Energy 15.50 16.03
Fund-Reg(G)IDFC Equity Opportunity-6-Reg(G)11.18 15.98UTI Focussed Equity Fund-IV(G) 10.79 15.92Kotak Emerging Equity Fund(G) 42.73 15.88Canara Rob Consumer Trends 43.59 15.87Fund-Reg(G)Tata Index Fund-Sensex Plan(G) 103.42 15.83Nippon India Japan Equity Fund(G)14.32 15.82DSP Equity Opportunities 241.27 15.78Fund-Reg(G)PGIM India Large Cap Fund(G) 182.27 15.73Sundaram Select Focus(G) 196.82 15.72BNP Paribas Focused 25 Equity 10.54 15.65Fund-Reg(G)Axis Capital Builder Fund-1-Reg(G)11.17 15.63UTI Focussed Equity Fund-I(G) 14.98 15.63UTI Equity Fund-Reg(G) 156.63 15.60ICICI Pru Sensex Index Fund(G) 13.04 15.56Invesco India PSU Equity Fund(G) 19.10 15.55SBI LT Advantage Fund-III-Reg(G) 14.48 15.46DSP A.C.E. Fund-Sr 2-Reg(G) 10.80 15.37Tata India Tax Savings Fund-Reg(G)19.59 15.36
SBI LT Advantage Fund-II-Reg(G) 14.93 15.35DSP A.C.E. Fund-Sr 1-Reg(G) 10.87 15.32Kotak Standard Multicap Fund(G) 38.34 15.30SBI Infrastructure Fund-Reg(G) 16.38 15.29DSP 3Y Close Ended Equity 16.32 15.27Fund-Reg(G)Edelweiss ETF - Nifty Bank 3218.54 15.27Tata Mid Cap Growth Fund(G) 149.37 15.25Edelweiss Large Cap Fund(G) 38.62 15.21Nippon India Index Fund - Sensex 20.60 15.19Plan(G)Canara Rob Equity Diver 145.83 15.12Fund-Reg(G)Invesco India Growth Opp Fund(G)37.33 15.11ICICI Pru Value Fund-18(G) 12.44 15.08JM Core 11 Fund(G) 9.60 14.96IDBI India Top 100 Equity Fund(G) 26.30 14.95Aditya Birla SL Focused Equity 64.53 14.93Fund(G)Tata Nifty ETF 125.16 14.85Mirae Asset Nifty 50 ETF 125.19 14.81ICICI Pru Banking & Fin Serv 70.73 14.73Fund(G)Mirae Asset Large Cap 55.17 14.72Fund-Reg(G)HDFC Nifty 50 ETF 1296.50 14.68SBI LT Advantage Fund-VI-Reg(G) 11.50 14.67Axis Nifty ETF 1273.63 14.66Sundaram Large and Mid Cap 37.85 14.61Fund(G)DSP Global Allocation Fund-Reg(G)13.60 14.59PGIM India Euro Equity Fund(G) 14.67 14.52SBI LT Advantage Fund-I-Reg(G) 14.42 14.50UTI Nifty Index Fund-Reg(G) 81.08 14.50SBI LT Advantage Fund-V-Reg(G) 11.00 14.37IDFC Nifty ETF 127.63 14.33Kotak India EQ Contra Fund(G) 56.77 14.31Mirae Asset Great Consumer 38.87 14.29Fund-Reg(G)HDFC Index Fund-NIFTY 112.80 14.2150 Plan(G)Principal Focused Multicap Fund(G)70.32 14.19IDFC Nifty Fund-Reg(G) 25.62 14.12Invesco India Infrastructure Fund(G)18.35 14.12ICICI Pru Nifty Index Fund(G) 119.73 14.08Aditya Birla SL Equity Advantage 438.11 14.08Fund(G)Aditya Birla SL Global Real Estate 21.38 14.03Fund(G)Tata Index Fund-Nifty Plan(G) 74.84 14.03ICICI Pru Growth Fund-1(DP) 12.14 13.88UTI Focussed Equity Fund-V(G) 10.50 13.79SBI Nifty Index Fund-Reg(G) 106.21 13.77BNP Paribas Mid Cap Fund(G) 35.06 13.76SBI BlueChip Fund-Reg(G) 42.24 13.71Aditya Birla SL Index Fund-Reg(G) 121.25 13.60Nippon India Index Fund - Nifty 20.67 13.54Plan(G)IDBI Nifty Index Fund(G) 22.79 13.54Edelweiss Large & Mid Cap 33.96 13.52Fund-Reg(G)ICICI Pru Bharat Consumption 11.70 13.48Fund-5-(G)Invesco India Smallcap Fund-Reg(G)11.55 13.46UTI Focussed Equity Fund-VI(G) 10.97 13.45SBI Equity Opp Fund-Sr I-Reg(G) 17.21 13.42UTI Value Opp Fund-Reg(G) 66.42 13.38Kotak Small Cap Fund(G) 78.06 13.32Baroda Large Cap Fund(G) 15.62 13.27Franklin India Index Fund-NSE 97.65 13.27Nifty(G)SBI Equity Opp Fund-Sr IV-Reg(G) 16.41 13.15Tata Value Fund-Sr-2-Reg(G) 10.38 13.15SBI Small Cap Fund-Reg(G) 56.30 13.15UTI Infrastructure Fund-Reg(G) 56.10 13.12SBI Magnum Multicap 52.34 13.12Fund-Reg(G)ICICI Pru Growth Fund-2(DP) 12.98 13.07
Tata Value Fund-Sr-1-Reg(G) 10.69 13.01Canara Rob Equity Tax Saver 69.98 12.96Fund-Reg(G)Canara Rob Emerg Equities 100.53 12.89Fund-Reg(G)Aditya Birla SL Digital India Fund(G)57.82 12.89L&T Emerging Opp Fund-II-Reg(D)10.88 12.87Sundaram Global Brand Fund(G) 18.27 12.86Nippon India Consumption Fund(G)71.46 12.82UTI Mastershare-Reg(G) 131.79 12.78UTI LT Equity Fund 94.84 12.77(Tax Saving)-Reg(G)ICICI Pru Value Fund-11(G) 13.17 12.76IDBI Equity Advantage 28.98 12.72Fund-Reg(G)Invesco India Tax Plan(G) 55.03 12.67Tata Large Cap Fund(G) 233.39 12.59DSP Healthcare Fund-Reg(G) 11.52 12.49SBI Technology Opp Fund-Reg(G) 70.23 12.45Invesco India Largecap Fund(G) 30.66 12.35Nippon India Growth Fund(G) 1202.24 12.29Franklin India Technology Fund(G)173.02 12.21
Kotak India Growth Fund-Sr 7(G) 11.15 12.12IDFC Large Cap Fund-Reg(G) 34.75 12.10ICICI Pru Value Fund-8(D) 11.50 12.09Aditya Birla SL Equity Fund(G) 783.86 12.06ICICI Pru Bharat Consumption 10.88 12.05Fund-4-(G)Aditya Birla SL Resurgent India 12.75 12.04Fund-2-Reg(G)Principal Emerging Bluechip 111.94 11.97Fund(G)DSP World Agriculture Fund-Reg(G)17.60 11.86UTI MEPUS 114.83 11.84IDBI Dividend Yield Fund-Reg(G) 11.23 11.74Edelweiss Long Term Equity Fund 49.73 11.70(Tax Savings)-Reg(G)ICICI Pru S&P BSE 500 ETF 163.71 11.66L&T Business Cycle Fund-Reg(G) 16.29 11.63ICICI Pru Bluechip Fund(G) 45.21 11.60IDFC Multi Cap Fund-Reg(G) 99.00 11.44DSP India T.I.G.E.R Fund-Reg(G) 94.97 11.34PGIM India Large Cap 13.33 11.31Fund-2-Reg(G)Invesco India Midcap Fund(G) 52.77 11.24IDFC Focused Equity Fund-Reg(G) 39.52 11.23Sundaram Emerging Small 11.40 11.20Cap-Sr-VI-Reg(G)UTI India Consumer Fund-Reg(G) 28.10 11.19Edelweiss Mid Cap Fund-Reg(G) 28.40 11.14Kotak Infra & Eco Reform Fund(G) 20.99 11.12PGIM India LT Equity Fund-Reg(G)15.08 11.05L&T Large and Midcap Fund-Reg(G)50.21 11.01Nippon India Banking Fund(G) 295.01 10.98Edelweiss Tax Advantage 42.91 10.92Fund-Reg(G)Sundaram TOP 100-Sr VI-Reg(G) 13.19 10.87ICICI Pru LT Equity Fund 401.72 10.85(Tax Saving)(G)Sundaram TOP 100-Sr VII-Reg(G) 12.95 10.71Edelweiss Multi-Cap Fund-Reg(G) 15.48 10.68IDBI Diversified Equity Fund(G) 22.73 10.66PGIM India Midcap Opp 19.40 10.48Fund-Reg(G)ICICI Pru NV20 ETF 58.51 10.46Invesco India Contra Fund(G) 50.84 10.40Nippon India Vision Fund(G) 559.31 10.39ICICI Pru Value Fund-14(G) 11.30 10.35Baroda Multi Cap Fund(G) 102.70 10.30IDBI Focused 30 Equity 10.44 10.24Fund-Reg(G)Sundaram LT Tax Adv 15.71 10.21Fund-Sr II-Reg(G)Aditya Birla SL Intl. Equity 19.67 10.15Fund-B(G)SBI Large & Midcap Fund-Reg(G) 235.73 10.11Mirae Asset Healthcare Fund-Reg(G)11.49 10.10UTI Banking and Financial 103.18 10.07Services Fund-Reg(G)ICICI Pru Value Fund-17(G) 11.04 10.07ICICI Pru Value Fund-15(G) 11.37 10.07Nippon India Quant Fund(G) 26.73 10.01ICICI Pru Large & Mid Cap 342.59 9.98Fund(G)Invesco India Multicap Fund(G) 50.50 9.88Franklin India Focused Equity 42.70 9.85Fund(G)Motilal Oswal Multicap 35 27.37 9.85Fund-Reg(G)L&T Tax Advt Fund-Reg(G) 57.47 9.74ICICI Pru Exports & Services Fund(G)60.389.66Sundaram Value Fund-III-Reg(G) 17.74 9.63Sundaram Diversified Equity(G) 105.36 9.61Sundaram Emerging Small 11.18 9.53Cap-Sr-VII-Reg(G)DSP World Energy Fund-Reg(G) 13.77 9.51ICICI Pru Value Fund-16(G) 11.45 9.46Aditya Birla SL Frontline Equity 236.62 9.41Fund(G)Tata Infrastructure Fund-Reg(G) 57.19 9.41
Sundaram Emerging Small 9.65 5.73Cap-Sr-III-Reg(G)Franklin India Opportunities 74.58 5.71Fund(G)Baroda Mid-cap Fund(G) 9.29 5.57Principal Tax Savings Fund 212.78 5.44Sundaram Smart NIFTY 100 Eq 12.11 5.41Weight Fund-Reg(G)Franklin India Equity Fund(G) 605.65 5.38DSP Equal Nifty 50 Fund-Reg(G) 10.04 5.38ICICI Pru Nifty Next 50 ETF 29.28 5.36UTI Nifty Next 50 Index 10.35 5.30Fund-Reg(G)ICICI Pru Midcap Fund(G) 98.50 5.28UTI Core Equity Fund-Reg(G) 64.21 5.27Aditya Birla SL Infrastructure 31.78 5.20Fund(G)HDFC TaxSaver(G) 525.35 5.11Tata India Consumer Fund-Reg(G) 18.12 5.10Principal Personal Tax saver Fund 199.12 5.05ICICI Pru Nifty Next 50 Index 25.71 4.89Fund(G)Nippon India Tax Saver (ELSS) 57.01 4.88Fund(G)SBI Magnum Midcap Fund-Reg(G) 74.43 4.85Sundaram Emerging Small 10.16 4.85Cap-Sr-V-Reg(G)L&T Infrastructure Fund-Reg(G) 16.21 4.78SBI Consumption Opp 120.76 4.77Fund-Reg(G)IDBI Nifty Junior Index Fund(G) 21.88 4.76Aditya Birla SL Resurgent India 10.15 4.75Fund-4-Reg(G)Sundaram Emerging Small 8.85 4.69Cap-Sr-II-Reg(G)UTI Healthcare Fund-Reg(G) 88.72 4.47HDFC Equity Opp Fund-Sr 10.56 4.322-1126D-May 2017(1)-Reg(G)Nippon India Multi Cap Fund(G) 100.30 4.29ICICI Pru Value Discovery Fund(G)146.58 4.13Aditya Birla SL Midcap Fund(G) 290.88 4.06ICICI Pru Focused Equity Fund(G) 30.00 3.88Sundaram Value Fund-VIII-Reg(G) 11.07 3.83UTI LT Adv Fund-IV(G) 10.68 3.76Nippon India Capital Builder 8.19 3.75Fund-IV-B(G)ICICI Pru Bharat Consumption 10.09 3.59Fund-2-(G)IDBI Midcap Fund(G) 10.86 3.33Nippon India Pharma Fund(G) 156.67 3.28Sundaram Value Fund-VII-Reg(G) 9.07 3.23Aditya Birla SL Mfg. Equity 13.47 3.14Fund-Reg(G)UTI LT Adv Fund-V(G) 9.77 3.05Sundaram Emerging Small 8.52 3.03Cap-Sr-I-Reg(G)Nippon India Capital Builder 8.08 2.71Fund-IV-D(G)ICICI Pru Technology Fund(G) 60.61 2.64Templeton India Value Fund(G) 250.09 2.60UTI MNC Fund-Reg(G) 202.38 2.40IDFC Infrastructure Fund-Reg(G) 14.73 2.15IDBI Small Cap Fund(G) 9.55 2.14Sundaram Small Cap Fund(G) 81.87 2.09SBI Contra Fund-Reg(G) 107.08 1.80HDFC Capital Builder Value 290.42 1.69Fund(G)IDFC Sterling Value Fund-Reg(G) 50.09 1.42SBI Healthcare Opp Fund-Reg(G) 123.47 0.81IDFC Equity Opportunity-4-Reg(G) 7.75 0.78Nippon India Capital 7.77 0.74Builder Fund-IV-C(G)ICICI Pru Dividend Yield Equity 16.43 0.61Fund(G)SBI-ETF Sensex Next 50 328.37 0.34Sundaram LT Tax Adv Fund-Sr 9.73 0.04IV-Reg(G)UTI LT Adv Fund-VII(G) 8.96 -0.09Sundaram Select Micro 13.27 -0.30Cap-Series IX-Reg(G)Sundaram Select Micro 13.34 -0.32Cap-Series VIII-Reg(G)Sundaram LT Tax Adv Fund-Sr 8.37 -0.47III-Reg(G)L&T Emerging Businesses 24.27 -0.59Fund-Reg(G)Franklin India Smaller Cos 52.58 -0.75Fund(G)HDFC Infrastructure Fund(G) 15.74 -0.96Sundaram Value Fund-IX-Reg(G) 9.05 -1.42Sundaram Value Fund-X-Reg(G) 9.00 -1.51Sundaram Select Micro Cap-Series 12.99 -1.83X-Reg(G)Aditya Birla SL Resurgent India 8.31 -1.89Fund-7-Reg(G)UTI LT Adv Fund-VI(G) 8.55 -1.97Sundaram Select Micro Cap-Series 9.43 -2.57XII-Reg(G)Sundaram Select Micro Cap-Series 8.68 -2.64XIV-Reg(G)Sundaram Select Micro Cap-Series 9.79 -2.69XI-Reg(G)Aditya Birla SL Small Cap Fund(G) 32.99 -2.94UTI Transportation & Logistics 96.67 -3.04Fund-Reg(G)HDFC Small Cap Fund-Reg(G) 40.88 -4.12Sundaram Select Micro 7.93 -4.25Cap-Series XVI-Reg(G)Sundaram Select Micro Cap-Series 8.43 -4.44XV-Reg(G)Sundaram LT Micro Cap Tax 8.31 -4.49Adv Fund-Sr V-Reg(G)Sundaram LT Micro Cap Tax 8.45 -4.68Adv Fund-Sr IV-Reg(G)Sundaram LT Micro Cap Tax Adv 9.92 -4.80Fund-Sr III-Reg(G)Aditya Birla SL Pure Value Fund(G) 48.87 -4.95Sundaram Select Micro 7.49 -5.30Cap-Series XVII-Reg(G)Sundaram LT Micro Cap Tax 7.77 -5.50Adv Fund-Sr VI-Reg(G)
DSP Small Cap Fund-Reg(G) 58.20 9.35IDFC Equity Opportunity-5-Reg(G)10.55 9.33Nippon India Value Fund(G) 77.02 9.32L&T India Value Fund-Reg(G) 37.54 9.25Tata Equity P/E Fund(G) 141.14 9.22ICICI Pru Multicap Fund(G) 307.67 9.18Invesco India Feeder - Invesco 11.20 9.16Pan European Equity Fund-Reg(G)Tata Small Cap Fund-Reg(G) 11.23 9.16Tata Digital India Fund-Reg(G) 15.81 9.16Aditya Birla SL CEF-Global 24.92 9.13Agri-Reg(G)HDFC Growth Opp Fund-Reg(G) 119.27 9.10Tata Ethical Fund-Reg(G) 167.94 9.09L&T Emerging Opp Fund-I-Reg(D) 10.11 9.06ICICI Pru Growth Fund-3(DP) 11.08 8.95Principal Dividend Yield Fund(G) 56.14 8.93L&T Equity Fund-Reg(G) 86.04 8.90Tata India Pharma & Healthcare 9.58 8.89Fund-Reg(G)IDFC Core Equity Fund-Reg(G) 47.26 8.84ICICI Pru Nifty Low Vol 30 ETF 94.36 8.78Sundaram Rural and Consumption 44.31 8.74Fund(G)Aditya Birla SL Dividend Yield 170.08 8.72Fund(G)Nippon India India Opp 11.33 8.66Fund-Sr-A(G)Sundaram LT Tax Adv Fund-Sr 14.39 8.62I-Reg(G)Nippon India Capital Builder 10.41 8.50Fund-IV-A(G)Franklin India Prima Fund(G) 1001.09 8.48SBI PSU Fund-Reg(G) 10.52 8.48ICICI Pru India Opp Fund(G) 10.90 8.46Baroda ELSS 96(G) 46.00 8.34SBI Magnum Global Fund-Reg(G) 181.76 8.33DSP Natural Res & New Energy 32.91 8.31Fund-Reg(G)Nippon India Focused Equity 48.44 8.24Fund(G)Nippon India Large Cap Fund(G) 36.21 8.22Aditya Birla SL Tax Relief '96(G) 32.99 8.16
Aditya Birla SL Tax Relief '96(ELSS 32.99 8.16U/S 80C of IT ACT)(G)ICICI Pru Infrastructure Fund(G) 52.43 8.15ICICI Pru Bharat Consumption 10.89 8.14Fund-1-(G)Franklin India Taxshield(G) 589.10 8.11ICICI Pru Value Fund-13(D) 11.02 7.93Kotak India Growth Fund-Sr 4(G) 9.80 7.92Edelweiss ETF - Nifty 100 293.68 7.90Quality 30Sundaram Infra Advantage Fund(G)33.11 7.78Aditya Birla SL MNC Fund-Reg(G) 799.96 7.76HDFC Top 100 Fund(G) 503.84 7.69Templeton India Equity Income 47.97 7.62Fund(G)IDFC Tax Advt(ELSS) Fund-Reg(G)57.00 7.43Franklin Build India Fund(G) 42.68 7.39Canara Rob Infrastructure 46.48 7.34Fund-Reg(G)ICICI Pru FMCG Fund(G) 256.26 7.31Sundaram Mid Cap Fund(G) 487.53 7.20ICICI Pru Bharat Consumption 10.93 7.16Fund-3-(G)Franklin India Equity Advantage 82.90 7.00Fund(G)HDFC Equity Fund(G) 680.22 6.87HDFC Mid-Cap Opportunities 56.21 6.83Fund(G)IDBI Long Term Value Fund-Reg(G)10.81 6.82UTI Mid Cap Fund-Reg(G) 105.76 6.57Principal Multi Cap Growth 146.87 6.51Fund(G)Sundaram Value Fund-II-Reg(G) 16.56 6.48L&T Midcap Fund-Reg(G) 140.03 6.38Sundaram Emerging Small 10.01 6.36Cap-Sr-IV-Reg(G)UTI Dividend Yield Fund-Reg(G) 67.45 6.35ICICI Pru Manufacture in India 10.73 6.34Fund(G)Franklin India Bluechip Fund(G) 477.84 6.33SBI Magnum TaxGain'93-Reg(G) 148.36 6.31Principal Nifty 100 Equal Weight 73.69 6.24Fund(G)UTI-Nifty Next 50 ETF 298.53 6.22Aditya Birla SL Resurgent India 12.26 6.15Fund-3-Reg(G)Aditya Birla SL Resurgent India 9.94 5.97Fund-5-Reg(G)Nippon India Power & Infra 100.39 5.93Fund(G)HDFC Focused 30 Fund(G) 79.13 5.91JM Large Cap Fund(G) 68.66 5.86Aditya Birla SL Nifty Next 50 ETF 292.57 5.81UTI LT Adv Fund-III(G) 13.99 5.77Nippon India Small Cap Fund(G) 41.71 5.73
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Washington: US PresidentDonald Trump’s legal teamfiled its first response toimpeachment summons fromthe Senate, calling the twoarticles passed by the House ofRepresentatives a “brazen andunlawful” attempt to overturnthe will of the American peo-ple.
“This is a brazen andunlawful attempt to overturnthe results of the 2016 electionand interfere with the 2020election-now just monthsaway,” Trump’s lawyers said onSaturday in a six-page fieryresponse filed with the Senate.
“The highly partisan andreckless obsession withimpeaching the Presidentbegan the day he was inaugu-rated and continues to this day,”
they said and urged the Senateto reject the two articles ofimpeachment.
The House ofRepresentatives, controlled bythe Democratic Party, onWednesday voted to send arti-cles of impeachment againstPresident Trump to theSenate, in a major develop-ment to remove him fromoffice for his alleged abuse ofpower and obstruction ofCongress.
In a 228-193 vote, whichwas mainly on party lines, theHouse appointed sevenimpeachment managers whowill argue the Democrats’ casefor removing Trump from theoffice. The managers —Congressmen Adam Schiff,
Jerrold Nadler, Zoe Lofgren,Hakeem Jeffries, Val Demings,Jason Crow, and Sylvia Garcia- were named by HouseSpeaker Nancy Pelosi.
The 435-member Houseon December 18 chargedTrump with “high crimes andmisdemeanors” andimpeached him for pressuringUkraine to investigate formerVice President Joe Biden, apotential Democratic rival for
the current president in the2020 elections.
“The evidence over-whelmingly establishes that he is guilty of both. The only remaining question iswhether the members of the Senate will accept andcarry out the responsibilityplaced on them by the Framersof our Constitution and their constitutional Oaths,” thebrief said. PTI
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Washington: Bill Clinton’s1999 impeachment trial lastedfive weeks; Andrew Johnson’swent on for three months in1868. If the White House andRepublicans have their way,President Donald Trump’s trialwill be over in two weeks, justin time for him to celebrate hisexpected acquittal in theFebruary 4 State of the UnionAddress.
But that depends onRepublicans being able to blockDemocrat demands to sub-poena documents and wit-nesses that could strengthenthe case against the president.
So far, Republicans, led by
Trump’s tough protector, SenateMajority Leader MitchMcConnell, have the upperhand.
Trump’s trial for abuse ofpower and obstruction ofCongress opened with asolemn, ceremonial reading ofthe charges in the Senate onThursday, but the rules andschedule have not been set.
That will be decided onTuesday, with the 100 senatorsdebating voting on procedures:the time given to openingarguments from the prosecu-tion and defense, and ques-tioning by the senators — thejury in the case. AFP
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Washington: No cellphones.No talking. No escape.
That’s the reality duringthe Senate’s impeachment trialof President Donald Trump,which will begin each daywith a proclamation: “All per-sons are commanded to keepsilence, on pain of imprison-ment.”
After that, 100 senatorswill sit at their desks for hourson end to hear from Houseprosecutors, Trump’s defense
team and possibly a series ofwitnesses.
The first time the procla-mation was used, in the 1868trial of President AndrewJohnson, lawmakers couldn’thave imagined life in the mod-ern era.
The pace of today’s politicswould have been hard to fore-see even in early 1999, at thestart of the impeachment trialof President Bill Clinton, whensmartphones didn’t exist. AP
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Dubai: More than 80 Yemenisoldiers have been killed andscores injured in a missile anddrone attack blamed on Huthirebels in central Yemen, med-ical and military sources saidSunday.
Saturday’s strike followsmonths of relative calm in thewar between the Iran-backedHuthis and Yemen’s interna-tionally recognised govern-ment, which is backed by aSaudi-led military coalition.
The Huthis attacked amosque in a military camp inthe central province of Marib— about 170 kilometres (105miles) east of the capital Sanaa— during evening prayers,military sources told AFP.
A medical source at aMarib city hospital, where thecasualties were transported,said that 83 soldiers were killedand 148 injured in the strike.
Death tolls in Yemen’sgrinding conflict are often dis-puted, but the huge toll inMarib represents one of thebloodiest single attacks sincethe war erupted in 2014 whenthe rebels seized Sanaa.
The drone and missilestrike came a day after coali-tion-backed government forceslaunched a large-scale opera-tion against the Huthis in theNihm region, north of Sanaa.
Fighting in Nihm wasongoing on Sunday, a militarysource said according to theofficial Saba news agency.
“Dozens from the (Huthi)militia were killed and injured,”the source added. YemeniPresident Abedrabbo MansourHadi condemned the “cow-ardly and terrorist” attack onthe mosque, Saba reported.
“The disgraceful actions ofthe Huthi militia without a doubt confirm its unwilling-ness to (achieve) peace,because it knows nothing but death and destruction and is a cheap Iranian tool inthe region,” it quoted Hadi assaying.
The president also stressedthe importance of increasingmilitary vigilance “to foil hos-tile and destructive plans and
maintain security and stability”.The Huthis did not make
any immediate claim ofresponsibility and the Sabareport did not give a death toll.
The uptick in violencecomes shortly after UnitedNations envoy Martin Griffithswelcomed a sharp reduction inair strikes and the movementof ground forces.
“We are surely, and I hopethis is true and I hope it willremain so, witnessing one ofthe quietest periods of thisconflict,” he said in a briefingto the UN Security Council onThursday.
“Experience, however, tellsus that military de-escalationcannot be sustained withoutpolitical progress between theparties, and this has becomethe next challenge.” AFP
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Hong Kong: Two police offi-cers were beaten bloody by pro-democracy protesters in HongKong on Sunday as violenceerupted at a rally calling forgreater democratic freedoms inthe heart of the city.
Trouble flared when policeordered the authorised gather-ing to disperse after officersconducting stop and searcheson nearby streets had waterbottles and paint thrown atthem by angry crowds.
A group of plainclothesofficers who were speakingwith organisers were then setupon by masked protesters,who beat them with umbrellasand sticks, an AFP reporter onthe scene said.
Two officers were seenwith bloody head wounds as
colleagues shielded them fromfurther attacks.
“We strongly condemn allthe rioters and violent acts,”police spokesman Ng Lok-chun told reporters.
Video posted onlineshowed an organiser with amicrophone asking the officersto show their warrant cardswhich they did not do, a fre-quent gripe among protesters.
Rally organiser Ventus Lausaid he believed police should“shoulder the greatest respon-sibility for the clashes” becausethey took too long to showtheir warrant cards.
Lau was later arrested forobstructing officers, police andrally organisers confirmed.
Soon after the officers wereattacked, riot police swept into
the area and fired tear gas todisperse the crowds.
Brief cat and mouse clash-es ensued with police makingmultiple arrests, including oneprotester who had bloodstreaming from the back of hishead.
Hong Kong’s protests haveraged for seven months afterbeing sparked by a now-aban-doned proposal to allow extra-ditions to the authoritarianmainland, where the opaquelegal system answers to theCommunist Party.
They soon morphed intoa wider movement calling for greater freedoms in what isthe most concerted challengeto Beijing’s rule since the former British colony’s 1997handover. AFP
+��������������������������������* ���������������� Tehran: The Iranian official
leading the investigation into theUkrainian jetliner that was acci-dentally shot down by theRevolutionary Guard appearedto backtrack Sunday on plans tosend the flight recorders abroadfor analysis, a day after sayingthey would be sent to Kyiv.
Hassan Rezaeifar was quot-ed by the state-run IRNA newsagency as saying “the flightrecorders from the UkrainianBoeing are in Iranian hands andwe have no plans to send themout.” He said Iran is working torecover the data and cabinrecordings, and that it may sendthe flight recorders — com-monly known as black boxes —to Ukraine or France. “But as ofyet, we have made no decision.”The same official was quoted bythe semi-official Tasnim newsagency on Saturday as saying therecorders would be sent toUkraine, where French,
American and Canadian expertswould help analyze them.Iranian officials previously saidthe black boxes were damagedbut are usable.
It was not immediately pos-sible to reconcile the conflictingaccounts. Iran may be hesitantto turn over the recorders forfear that more details from thecrash — including the harrow-ing 20 seconds between whenthe first and second surface-to-air missiles hit the plane — willcome to light.
The Guard’s air defensesshot the plane down shortly afterit took off from Tehran on Jan.8, killing all 176 people onboard. Hours earlier, the Guardhad launched ballistic missiles atU.S. Troops in Iraq in responseto the U.S. Airstrike that killedIran’s top general in Baghdad.Officials say lower-level officersmistook the plane for a U.S.Cruise missile. AP
Kiev: Around a thousand people includingPresident Volodymyr Zelensky bid farewell toUkrainians who died in a plane mistakenly shotdown by Iran during a spike in tensions withWashington.
Zelensky laid flowers on the flag-drapedcoffins of the 11 Ukrainian victims — nine flightcrew and two passengers — during the solemnceremony at Kiev’s Boryspil airport and brieflyspoke to their relatives.
The caskets were to remain for several hoursat the terminal so that relatives, UkraineInternational Airlines staff and ordinaryUkrainians could say their last goodbyes. Thefunerals are expected to be held on Monday.Earlier Sunday the black-clad Ukrainian leader,Prime Minister Oleksiy Goncharuk and top offi-cials stood on the tarmac outside the terminal tosee the caskets with the remains of the downedplane’s nine Ukrainian flight crew and two pas-sengers being removed from the aircraft. AFP
London: Prince Harry and hiswife Meghan Markle, the Dukeand Duchess of Sussex, havesigned up to a formal exit dealfrom the royal family, which willsee them forsake their His andHer Royal Highness (HRH)titles and will no longer receiveUK taxpayers’ funding for theirduties.
The deal, which comes intoeffect by spring in a few weeks’time, means the couple will nolonger be representing theQueen in an official capacity.
“The Sussexes will not usetheir HRH titles as they are nolonger working members of theroyal family,” Buckingham
Palace said in a statement onSaturday night. Queen ElizabethII said the agreement followedmonths of discussions and wasa “constructive and supportive”way forward for her grandsonand his family.
“Harry, Meghan and Archiewill always be much loved mem-bers of my family,” the 93-year-old monarch’s personal statementread. “I recognise the challengesthey have experienced as a resultof intense scrutiny over the lasttwo years and support theirwish for a more independentlife,” she says, thanking the cou-ple for their work for UK andacross the Commonwealth. PTI
!�����*������(����������������/�������� ���������������� Beijing: A 6.0 magnitude
earthquake hit a remote area ofnorthwest China’s Xinjiangregion late Sunday, the USGeological Survey said.
The shallow quake struckat 9:27 pm (local time) around100 kilometres (60 miles) east-northeast of the ancient SilkRoad city of Kashgar.
In its initial assessment, theUSGS said there was a low like-lihood of casualties.
It said however that sig-nificant damage was likely,with many buildings in theregion built from mud bricksor cinder block masonry.
The area near the quake’sepicentre is sparsely populat-ed mountain and desert terrain. AFP
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Moscow: More than a thou-sand Opposition activists ofvarious stripes marched incentral Moscow on Sundayafter President Vladimir Putinproposed re-drafting the con-stitution, unleashing politicalupheaval.
Protesters — mostly younganti-fascist activists — chant-ed “Revolution” and “No to dic-tatorship” and some carriedcopies of the constitution.
The annual sanctionedmarch was called to com-memorate the memory oflawyer Stanislav Markelov andjournalist Anastasia Baburovawho were gunned down inMoscow by ultra-nationalists in2009.
A number of independentlocal deputies including YuliaGalyamina and opposition-minded Russians joined themarch, carrying copies of theconstitution and chanting“Putin leave!”.
About ten people including
a protester who carried a plac-ard urging Putin to quit powerwere detained by police.
Pyotr Alyoshin, a 54-year-old lawyer, said at the march hewas against changing the coun-try’s basic law.
“The constitution that Ihold in my hands protects ourrights and basic freedoms,” hetold AFP.
Galyamina, who had earli-er said it was important toprotest against Putin’s attemptsto cling to power and urgedordinary people to join themarch, acknowledged the mea-gre turnout but said averageRussians were confused.
“We will explain it to them,”she told AFP. “I think peoplewill be joining the fight to pre-vent a state coup in Russia.”More than 1,400 people tookpart in the march, said theWhite Counter group whichmonitors political protests.
The march took place afterPutin stunned the nation on
Wednesday by proposingsweeping amendments to theconstitution, the first majorchanges to the country’s basiclaw since it was adopted underBoris Yeltsin in 1993.
The move triggered theresignation of his government.
Observers say Putin’s pro-posals are designed to ensurehis grip on power after heleaves the Kremlin and his crit-ics have accused him of orches-trating a “constitutional coup”.
But Sunday’s turnout paledin comparison to the protestsof last summer when tens ofthousands took to Moscow’sstreets to protest against theexclusion of opposition candi-dates from local elections, lead-ing to wide-scale arrests andlong jail terms for a number ofdemonstrators.
Russia’s top oppositionleader Alexei Navalny said onFriday he did not support ral-lies in “defence of the consti-tution”. AFP
Tokyo: Japanese PrimeMinister Shinzo Abe pledgedSunday to bolster his country’srole under its security pactwith the US in “outer space andcyberspace,” as the alliesmarked the 60th anniversary ofa treaty that has been the basisfor their postwar defensealliance.
Abe’s grandfather,Nobusuke Kishi, who wasprime minister at the time,signed the treaty inWashington on January 19,1960, with President DwightEisenhower.
The treaty allows for thestationing of tens of thou-sands of US troops and thedeployment of American war-ships in Japan. In exchange, theUS is obligated to protectJapan in case of enemy attack.
“We have elevated the rela-tionship to one in which each
of us, the U.S. And Japan,protects the other, thereby giv-ing further force to thealliance,” Abe said in his open-ing remarks.
“Going forward, it isincumbent upon us to make iteven more robust, to make it apillar for safeguarding peaceand security in both outerspace and cyberspace.”
The anniversary comes asWashington adds pressure onJapan to shoulder more of thefinancial cost and play a greaterdefense role in the Asia-Pacificregion to make up for a reced-ing US presence.
“As the security environ-ment continues to evolve andnew challenges arise, it isessential that our alliance fur-ther strengthen and deepen,”President Donald Trump saidin a statement marking theanniversary. AP
Tagaytay (Philippines):Philippine officials said Sundaythe government will no longerallow villagers to return to acrater-studded island wherean erupting volcano lies, warn-ing that living there would be“like having a gun pointed atyou.”
Taal volcano has simmeredwith smaller ash ejections inrecent days after erupting onJanuary 12 with a giganticplume of steam and ash thatdrifted northward and reachedManila, the capital, about 65kilometers (40 miles) away.
While the volcano remainsdangerous, with large numbersof local villagers encamped inemergency shelters, officialshave begun discussing post-eruption recovery.
Interior Secretary EduardoAno said officials in Batangasprovince, where the volcano islocated, have been asked tolook for a safer housing area, at
least 3 hectares (7 acres) in size,for about 6,000 families thatused to live in four villages andworked mostly as touristguides, farmers and fish penoperators on Volcano Island.
The new housing siteshould be at least 17 kilometers(10 miles) away from therestive volcano to be safe, hesaid.
The island has long beendeclared by the government asa national park that’s off-lim-its to permanent villages. Thegovernment’s volcano-moni-toring agency has separatelydeclared the island a perma-nent danger zone, but impov-erished villagers have lived andworked there for decades.
“We have to enforce theseregulations once and for allbecause their lives are at stake,”Ano said, adding that closelyregulated tourism work couldeventually be allowed on theisland without letting residents
live there permanently.Philippine President
Rodrigo Duterte has approveda recommendation for theisland to be turned into a “noman’s land,” but he has yet toissue formal guidelines. Afteran initial visit last week, Duterteplans to return to hard-hitBatangas province on Mondayto check conditions of dis-placed villagers, Ano said.
Although it’s one of theworld’s smallest volcanoes, the311-meter (1,020-foot) -highTaal is the second most-active of24 restive Philippine volcanoes.
The Philippine Institute ofVolcanology and Seismologyhas placed Taal and outlyingcities and towns at alert level 4,the second-highest warning,indicating a more dangerousexplosive eruption is possiblewithin hours or days due tofewer but continuous earth-quakes and other signs ofrestiveness. AP
In 1890s Malacca,Li Lan finds herself inthe after life andbecomes mired in amystery linked to thesinister, deceased sonof a wealthy family.Starring HuangPeijia,Wu Kang-jen,Ludi Lin, the sci-fiand fantasy dramareleases on January23 on Netflix.
This is a stand-up comedy whichfeatures actor,comedian andwriter FortuneFeimster. She takesthe stage and riffson her southernroots, sexual awak-enings, showbizcareer and more.The show releaseson January 21 onNetflix.
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a shocking claim about hiswife, family man AdamPrice becomes entangled ina mystery as he desperatelysearches for answers.Starring Richard Armitage,Siobhan Finneran, JenniferSaunders, the show releaseson January 30 on Netflix.
After food trucks, which haveredefined the way millennials eaton the go, it is the turn of fash-
ion trucks. Mobile, eye-catching and asmart business model in stressed times,it is slowly capturing the youth market.
Pune-based Ravi Yadav, an IIT-Kharagpur alumnus and founder ofFabulo Fashion Truck, says that thetrend is on the rise because other thanbeing convenient, it is also unique andcatchy. He adds, “It attracts more cus-tomers because of its conceptual nov-elty.” Experts also claim that while onewould have to take out separate time offtheir regular routines to visit a complexor showroom to shop, a fashion busbeside the street would just make themstop and look at the collection while onthe go.
Ravi had earlier talked about why hechose to start the venture, “The ideacame to me post a poor experience atonline shopping. I had ordered t-shirtsfrom a shopping website, which turnedout to be of very poor quality. Post that,exchanging them became a hassle as ittook more than two weeks.” This waswhen he thought about creatingsmoother delivery options and zeroeddown on the idea of a fashion truckthrough which deliveries to people’sdoorstep could become hassle-free andviable.
“Initially, we thought of having adoorstep shop idea, where the customerscan try and purchase at their home oroffice but due to its grand size and struc-ture, we faced the challenge of reachinginto narrow lanes and areas. Hence, westarted parking and covering differentlocations of an area,” adds Ravi.
Ankit Shukla, co-founder of Truckand Mortar along with RoopikaSrivastava, points out that the trend isalso on the rise because fashion truckshelp them reach out to a larger audience.“You are not located at one place or lim-ited to only the kind of crowd who visityour store frequently,” says he.
Experts say that fashion truckscarry a good potential to cater differentkinds of audience. The sellers are ableto sell a variety of clothing — from rep-resenting the local designers’ fashion toyour organic line of apparel.
Ankit, who is also the founder oftwo London-based high fashion brands— Adamo London and Evah London —under the English Closet, has stockedthe truck with Adamo and Evah appar-el too along with other top brands. It isan AC store complete with bright sig-nage and changing rooms, which deliv-ers at the doorstep. “Fashion trucks willgo to people unlike a physical store.Also, our fully equipped retail trucks canbe hired by the brands to do their offlinesales, which isn’t possible in otherphysical stores. The truck is alsoequipped with technology-driven mar-keting tools,” says he.
Kolkata-based Gravity Gearr’s fash-ion truck is another example of howwheels have brought style and fashionbrands to the busy Mirza Ghalib street(near the Park Street).
Talking about how a portable fash-ion studio is different from a physicalstore or even online shopping, Ravi says,“In today’s world, where everything isgoing digital, at mobile studios, the cus-tomers, most importantly, are able totouch and feel the clothes physicallybefore purchasing. They will get newapparel after every visit at any particu-lar location because we are constantlyon the go. Fashion trucks can categorisetheir kind of collection as per locationrequirements. But in studios, categori-sation depends only on one location.”
Ankit highlights some drawbacks ofstudios, the top one being the highinvestment and fixed monthly expens-es in opening and running physicalstores. There are also long-term com-
mitment requirements with shops; therisks of not achieving the minimumsales to cover the expenses; financial andlogistical challenges of operating atmultiple demographic locations; thechallenge of not getting desired space inpremium malls or important spots. Onthe other hand, fashion trucks allowflexible working hours andless walk in over theweekdays.
Even thoughfounders ofmobile fashionstudios mayargue thatthey have aunique fea-ture of com-bining theonline andoffline sales,which helpspromote sus-tainability too,there are certainchallenges which can’tbe ignored. For instance,the space restrictions. As compared toan apparel showroom or a studio, a fash-ion truck has less space for customers
to roam and look around for theirchoice of garments.
However, the Truck and Mortarteam have made sure that this doesn’tbecome a challenge for them. Ankit tellsus, “Our truck is not very small in size.It is 20x8 ft with smart displays, throughwhich customers can explore more
options if they want. And they willbe delivered to them next
day.”On the other hand,
Ravi looks at keepinga huge collection in aconfined space as abigger challenge.He says, “The firstchallenge comeswhen there aremore customersinside the truck
than it can hold andsometimes, also
waiting for their turnoutside. The next comes
while showing the varietyof clothes, which could get
difficult at times. But the positivesare many. It enables the customersselect a dress faster as compared to wast-ing hours at malls.”
The National Security Agencyhas discovered a major secu-
rity flaw in Microsoft’s Windows10 operating system that could lethackers intercept seeminglysecure communications.
But rather than exploit theflaw for its own intelligence needs,the NSA tipped off Microsoft sothat it can fix the system for every-one.
Microsoft released a free soft-ware patch to fix the flaw andcredited the intelligence agencyfor discovering it. The companysaid it has not seen any evidencethat hackers have used the tech-nique.
Amit Yoran, CEO of securityfirm Tenable, said it is “exception-ally rare if not unprecedented” forthe US government to share itsdiscovery of such a critical vulner-ability with a company.
Yoran, who was a foundingdirector of the Department ofHomeland Security’s computeremergency readiness team, urgedall organisations to prioritisepatching their systems quickly. Anadvisory sent by the NSA onTuesday said “the consequences ofnot patching the vulnerabilityare severe and widespread.”
Microsoft said an attackercould exploit the vulnerability byspoofing a code-signing certificateso it looked like a file came froma trusted source. “The user wouldhave no way of knowing the filewas malicious, because the digi-tal signature would appear to befrom a trusted provider,” thecompany said.
If successfully exploited,attackers would have been able toconduct “man-in-the-middleattacks” and decrypt confidentialinformation they intercept onuser connections, the companysaid.
“The biggest risk is to secure
communications,” said AdamMeyers, vice president of intelli-gence for security f irmCrowdStrike.
Some computers will get thefix automatically, if they have theautomatic update option turnedon. Others can get it manually by
going to Windows Update in thecomputer’s settings.
Microsoft typically releasessecurity and other updates oncea month and waited until Tuesdayto disclose the flaw and the NSA’sinvolvement. Microsoft and theNSA both declined to say whenthe agency privately notified thecompany.
The agency shared the vulner-ability with Microsoft “quicklyand responsibly,” Neal Ziring,technical director of the NSA’scybersecurity directorate, said ina blog post.
Priscilla Moriuchi, whoretired from the NSA in 2017 afterrunning its East Asia and Pacificoperations, said this is a goodexample of the “constructive role”that the NSA can play in improv-ing global information security.Moriuchi, now an analyst at theUS cybersecurity firm RecordedFuture, said it’s likely a reflectionof changes made in 2017 to howthe US determines whether to dis-close a major vulnerability orexploit it for intelligence purpos-es.
The revamping of what’sknown as the “VulnerabilityEquities Process” put moreemphasis on disclosing vulnera-bilities whenever possible to pro-tect core internet systems and theUS economy and general public.
Those changes happened aftera mysterious group calling itselfthe “Shadow Brokers” released atrove of high-level hacking toolsstolen from the NSA, forcingcompanies including Microsoft torepair their systems. The USbelieves that North Korea andRussia were able to capitalise onthose stolen hacking tools tounleash devastating global cyber-attacks.
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When 45-year-old story-teller and author AparnaKarthikeyan gave birth
to her daughter two decades ago,her grandmothers advised her notto rely on breastfeeding alone asa source of food and nutrition forthe baby.
“Amul milk was also consid-ered a good source for the Indianmiddle class then. My grand-mothers said that if I was breast-feeding my daughter, I should topit up with bottled Amul formulamilk or diluted cow’s milk,” saysKarthikeyan. Their argument wasthat the bottle would allow her tomonitor the quantity of milk thebaby consumed, whereas the babymight not get enough milkthrough breastfeeding.
The only person who sup-ported Karthikeyan in her questto breastfeed was her paediatri-cian, with whose encouragementshe breastfed her daughter for fivemonths and does not regret it.“My daughter never fell sick dur-ing breastfeeding. She built up herimmunity. And the exercise alsohelped me bond with her.Weaning off was a challengebecause it results in cold, fever andeven upsets her stomach,” saysKarthikeyan.
Breastfeeding babies for sixmonths is a widely recommend-ed practice. According to TheLancet, the first 1,000 daysbetween conception and a child’ssecond birthday are crucial forhealth, nutrition and developmentof the child.
But for expecting and newmothers, breastfeeding can be amix of conflicting advices, emo-tional turmoil and never-endinganxiety about whether the baby isbeing adequately fed. Moreover,the fact that breastfeeding isn’teasy for many women, and rathera technique that needs to belearned, is often swept under thecarpet. The experience differs forvarious mothers. Take the case of32-year-old Dr Nandini Hebbar,an academic scholar of genderstudies. She has been committedto the idea of breastfeeding evenbefore her son was born. Sheattended an orientation pro-gramme at a Delhi hospital andwatched YouTube videos on prop-er positioning to achieve the cor-rect latch for the baby. And yet,despite all the preparation, shestruggled with the experience.
“A couple of days after givingbirth to my son and starting tobreastfeed, I was terribly sore,
bleeding, and struggling. My sonwas crying inconsolably, lookingjaundiced and losing more weightthan what was average — allsigns that he was not being fedenough. I had to resort to formu-la milk,” recalls Hebbar.
As she struggled with thedilemma of whether or not to per-severe with breastfeeding, Hebbar,began reading up on the matterand found that “an overwhelmingnumber of women worldwidegive up exclusive breastfeedingwithin days of childbirth for rea-sons described as insufficientmilk, painful and sore nipples orbaby refusing the breast.”
Hebbar knew that poor latchand breastfeeding technique wasthe root cause of not being able tofeed the baby, causing distress toboth mother and infant. She wassimultaneously aware that exclu-sively breastfeeding for six monthsreduces the rate of infant mortal-ity and is linked to lower rates ofchronic diseases such as diabetesand improves neurocognitivedevelopment. The mother wouldalso benefit through lowered risksof breast and ovarian cancer,osteoporosis and heart disease.
There was no dearth of advicefrom family for Hebbar. Whileelders suggested her to feed sugarwater and dilluted cow milk to the
baby, others encouraged her tocontinue breastfeeding. “My fam-ily knew my problems but did notknow how to help me. My gynae-cologist suggested over thecounter nipple butter. But eventhat didn’t help,” she says. ThenHebbar turned to a private lacta-tion consultant who taught her toposition herself and to ensure thatthe baby was fed well. After thisshe managed to exclusively breast-feed her son for six months.
Art critic and journalist BlessyAugustine too sought advice froma lactation consultant two weeksafter her daughter’s birth. “Mynipples were very sensitive and mydaughter would keep biting hardcausing them to bleed. She wouldcry for hours because she washungry and had lost weight too.”
The lactation consultantadvised her that it was moreimportant that the baby gets milkin general, opposed to its variety.Augustine realised that a mix ofbreastfeeding and bottle feedworked best. “Once I switched tobottle feeding, my daughter wascalmer and I was able to breast-feed her better. I think the conclu-sion of the advice was that youhave to see what works best foryou and the baby,” she says.
For 31-year-old ShrutikaBhat, an IT professional and
mother to a five-month-old,breastfeeding was difficult only forthe first two or three days whenthe baby was not latching on. Butthings smoothened soon. Shedoesn’t feel that there are majordifferences in practices or mind-sets about breastfeeding acrossgenerations. “Old is gold”, she says,with regard to the advice shereceived on breastfeeding by oldermembers of the family whoencouraged her to breastfeed.
Even as mothers, grandmoth-ers and obstetricians continue toplay an important role in provid-ing guidance, new mothers usu-ally prefer referring to profession-al lactation consultants. Socialmedia also plays a role in helpingwomen prepare for breastfeed.
Though breastfeeding iswholly considered a woman’s anda mother’s job, but the wider com-munity plays a crucial role in pro-viding a supportive and enablingenvironment. Augustine says, “Ithink I would have done better ifpeople around me were not stress-ing me out so much about it.”
Workplaces also need to chipin with support for both motherand father. “If my spouse had alonger paternity leave, that wouldhave really helped. He just had fivedays off,” she says.
According to the Maternity
Benefit Amendment Act, 2017,women are entitled to 26 weeks ofpaid maternity leave from theirworkplace. Six months of paidmaternity leave enabled Bhat toexclusively breastfeed. ButShrutika isn’t sure how frequent-ly she will be able to breastfeedafter six months since she wantsto return to work.
However, exclusive breast-feeding is not available to allwomen, except for those who arefinancially well-off to avail paidmaternity leave, lactation consul-tants and internet access. Butthis does not apply to vast swathesof women across India. For exam-ple, the 2017 Act that enables paidmaternity leave is only applicableto commercial establishmentsthat employ 10 or more people.
A vast number of women(over 90 per cent as per estimates)work in the unorganised or infor-mal sector and are not coveredunder the law. And the entitle-ments provided by laws whichcover women in the unorganisedsector are insufficient. For exam-ple, under the National FoodSecurity Act and accompanyingPradhan Mantri Matru VandanaYojana, �6,000 needs to be givento every expecting and new moth-er for the nutritional needs of bothmother and child. A report byDown to Earth showed that therewere many cases where womendid not receive any money. Hence,the policy has failed to include theneeds of poor women and theones engaged in casual employ-ment in the unorganised sector.These women then have to lookfor alternatives.
“Take the case of female farm-ers,” says Karthikeyan, who writesabout rural livelihoods in TamilNadu. “It is hardly possible forthem to take their babies alongwith them to the fields. They tryto breastfeed as much as possiblebut it isn’t as often or regular asthey would like to. Before sixmonths, they give them food likeragi porridge in Tamil Nadu andbanana mash in Kerala. This is tooffset the dependence on themother for milk,” adds she.
Breastfeeding babies is impor-tant for both mother and child butthere are various challenges thatstill need attention from the gov-ernment, lawmakers and thewider community including fam-ily, workplace and medical prac-titioners to ensure they lead ahealthy life.
Gardeners in 2020 will veer fromthe beaten path, opting for
unconventional varieties and eco-conscious surroundings, accordingto a plant trends study by horticul-turalists with the University ofFlorida Institute of Food andAgricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS).Their forecast is based largely onmarket observations and feedbackfrom people seeking informationfrom extension offices.
Interest is strong for nativeplants, dwarf hybrids, “re-wild-ing’’ gardens, edible settings,wildlife-friendly landscapes, darkfoliage, succulent, novel greens,landscaping for natural disasters,and softer, leafier floral arrange-ments, the horticulturists said.
“More and more folks are want-ing to think about sustainability,’’said Mark Tancig, a UF/IFAS agentbased in Leon County. They’rewanting to plant things that don’trequire as much water or fertiliz-er. Plants that resist disease andinsects. Plants that provide forwildlife use and need less mainte-nance and input. That not onlysaves money but it looks good, too.It’s restorative to the environment,”he said.
Breaking down the study’s trend-ing Top 10:
NATIVE PLANTS: These plantsoriginal to a specific place general-ly are lower maintenance, requiringless water, pruning and fertilizer.
DWARF HYBRIDS: Gardenerswithout a lot of living space increas-ingly are choosing the dwarf varietiesof their favorite plants. They alsorequire less pruning.
RE-WILDING GARDENS: Toencourage beneficial insects andthe health of your garden, allowshrubs to return to their naturalshapes, let grass grow longer andpermit a few weeds to flower, saidTheresa Badurek, horticulture agentfor Pinellas County. ̀ `Some of those
volunteer weeds may be great wild-flowers.”
EDIBLE SETTINGS: Fruit-bearingplants, ornamental vegetables andedible flowers do double duty, addingbeauty as well as nutrition to thehome landscape.
PLANTS FOR WILDLIFE: “Mostcontemporary landscapes lack diver-sity, so gardeners should choose avariety of plants that flower and fruit,”Badurek said. Plants with berriesattract birds, and layering plants ofvarying heights provides hidingplaces for other species.
DARK FOLIAGE: Plants with red,purple or black leaves are strikingadditions to any landscape, makingthem attractive to gardeners looking
for something new in 2020, saidMarguerite Beckford, a horticultureagent in Sarasota County.
SUCCULENT: People are reachingout for lesser-known succulent thatoffer interesting shapes, textures andgrowth habits, the University ofFlorida horticulturists say.
NOVEL GREENS: Vegetable garden-ers will be looking to diversify theirharvests with leafy greens generallygrown outside the United States —bok choy, mizuna and komatsunaamong them, according to the hor-ticulturists.
LANDSCAPING FOR NATURALDISASTERS: “Storms are becomingmore erratic and more feared,” Tancigsaid. “Plant the kinds of trees aroundyour home that reduce risk.”
SOFTER, LEAFIER FLORALARRANGEMENTS: Flowers com-bined with foliage are gaining in pop-ularity. “We are going away from thebundle bouquet of solitary flowerblooms to the soft, organic feel ofgreenery,” said Karen Stauderman, anExtension horticulture agent forVolusia County. @"�
As per the World PopulationReview (WPR), there are 197
countries all over the world inhabit-ed by people who are believed to fol-low about 4,200 religions and speakmore than 6,900 languages. Thus, itis needless to say that the differencesof nationality, race, language and reli-gion have lead to various conflictsover centuries. People of the samenationality fight over language; thosespeaking the same tongue fight overreligion; those with the same religionkill each other over sectarian differ-ences; and those of the same race fightover class or ideological differences.
In all such strife, people identifythemselves with their nationality,religion, race or section, forgettingwho they really are. However, as perspiritual principles, it is the spirit orsoul that is the core of a human being.The soul has consciousness about aperson’s existence and identity. It is inthe form of an infinite small point oflight. Within itself, it carries a recordof everything it does throughthoughts, feelings, words and actions.
The souls take birth in differentplaces, communities and circum-stances. According to these factors, itacquires labels of nationality, race,religion, sect, class, community andgender. In other words, the souls canbe identified as Australian, Indian,Chinese, Hindu, Christian, White,Black, rich, poor, male or female.However, the fact is that the soul isabove all these classifications, whichare applied in relation to the body.But, since most of us are ignorantabout our souls, we take these labelsto be our true identity. And once weidentify ourselves with such labels, webegin to think accordingly. Thus, if wedefine our identity by our nationali-ty, we tend to see those with a differ-ent nationality as “others,” focussingon their different habits, appear-ances and culture. The same happenswhen we identify ourselves with ourreligion, race or any other label. As a
result, we create a distance withthose who have different circum-stances. And when we dwell too muchon the differences we have with oth-ers, it leads to feelings of being supe-rior or inferior and creates likes anddislikes. It even leads to animosity andhatred for those different from us. Itis this negative feeling that fuel reli-gious, racial, international and classconflicts.
And what is the root cause of allthis? We forget that we are all soulsfrom the same abode and children ofthe same father whom we call thesupreme soul. As we forget our trueidentity, we get trapped in body con-sciousness and end up making our aswell as others’ lives miserable. Hence,to be happy and peaceful, it is neces-sary for us to be rooted in soul-con-sciousness and be aware of the factthat all human souls are our broth-ers and we are one family, being thechildren of one god. This awarenessfosters love and respect for our fellowhumans and leads to cooperation andsharing. If everyone recognises theirtrue spiritual identity and followmutual brotherhood, all boundariesof nations, races, religions, classeswould become meaningless, andhumanity would be able to live inpeace and harmony as one family.
Frank Lampard admitted hewants to sign a new striker
after Newcastle damagedChelsea’s bid for a top-four finishin the Premier League with a dra-matic 1-0 win at St James’ Park onSaturday.
With Tottenham held byWatford earlier in the day andManchester United facing run-away leaders Liverpool onSunday, Chelsea would havecemented their grip on fourthplace with a win on Tyneside.
But Lampard’s side wereunable to muster the cuttingedge required to break downstubborn Newcastle and fell toIsaac Hayden’s header with just 20seconds left in stoppage-time.
Chelsea’s first defeat in fourleague matches leaves them fivepoints clear of fifth-placed Unitedand Lampard is growing tired of
his team’s struggles against defen-sive opponents.
“We know we have problemsat the top of the pitch in terms ofwe don’t get enough goals. If youdon’t score you are always liablefor a sucker punch and they gotit,” Lampard said.
“If we are looking for peopleto bring in to the areas to wingames when you are controllingit, it is scoring goals.
“We can’t work anymore intraining on finishing. You need tohave that killer instinct in front ofgoal. We need to score more goalsfrom front-line areas if we aregoing to get to where we want tobe.
“It’s quite clear from what Iam saying now that we knowwhere we need to strengthen butwe shall see.”
After four league games with-out a victory, this was a much-needed success for Newcastle, but
a wasted opportunity for Chelseato open up a bigger gap in the raceto qualify for the ChampionsLeague.
�������� ��Miguel Almiron opened up
Chelsea down the right flank earlyon and Allan Saint-Maximin metthe cross with a header thatlooped over.
Newcastle’s lengthy injurylist gained another casualty inside12 minutes when Jetro Willems
was stretchered off after taking aknock in a challenge on CallumHudson-Odoi.
Chelsea were dominatingpossession but Newcastle strikerJoelinton, his confidence lifted byan FA Cup goal against Rochdalein midweek, went close to his firstleague goal since August when hispowerful header cannoned backoff the bar.
Reece James signed a newcontract with Chelsea this weekas a reward for his impressivebreakthrough campaign and theyoung right-back gave a glimpseof his potential when his pin-point pass found N’Golo Kantefor a shot that Martin Dubravkasaved with his leg at the near post.
Chelsea remained vulnerableat the back and FedericoFernandez headed wastefully overfrom a Jonjo Shelvey free-kick.
Willian squandered a goodopportunity from a Chelsea
counter early in the second halfwhen the Brazilian dragged widefrom the edge of the area.
Chances were at a premiumand Cesar Azpilicueta’s long-range effort lacked the power tobeat Dubravka before Shelveyfinally had Newcastle’s first shoton target in the 59th minute.
Chelsea’s frustration mount-ed when James limped off injuredand moments later TammyAbraham, teed up byAzpilicueta’s header, saw hiseffort turned away by Dubravka’sbrave save.
Emerson fired just wide withan angled drive and in the fourthminute of stoppage-time Chelseapaid for their profligacy.
Saint-Maximin had space towhip in a teasing cross andHayden got behind AntonioRudiger for a close-range head-er that keeper Kepa Arrizabalagacould only push into the net.
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Gennaro Gattuso said he was “worried andscared” as Napoli fell 2-0 at home to Fiorentina
on Saturday leaving last season’s Serie A runners-upscrambling to save their season.
A third consecutive defeat saw the southern giantsslump to 13th position as they sit closer to the rele-gation zone than the Champions League places.
Napoli are without a league win at their San PaoloStadium since October 19 ahead of hosting Barcelonain the Champions League in a month’s time.
For Gattuso the “soulless, unwatchable andembarrassing” defeat was his fourth in five leaguegames since replacing Carlo Ancelotti on December11, with the club then in seventh spot.
“I’m very worried,” admitted the 42-year-old for-mer AC Milan coach.
“We have hit rock bottom and we need to under-stand what we are going towards.
“We’re not looking at the Champions League,we’re looking at the scary ranking. We’re playing withfire.”
Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic scored ineither half to give Fiorentina a valuable win in Naples.
“The performance was embarrassing, we mustapologise to the fans and the city,” continuedGattuso.
“We only did a little bit in the first 20-25 min-utes, then we were unwatchable. We tickled the oppo-nents, without competitive fury.”
Gattuso said the team had agreed to head straightto a training retreat at Castel Volturno, northwest ofNaples, before hosting Lazio in the Italian Cup quar-ter-finals on Tuesday and welcoming championsJuventus to Naples next weekend.
“We have to look at each other, be together, letoff steam and look for solutions. What we are doingis not enough,” explained Gattuso.
“I was convinced that we would have a great per-formance today but I saw a team that did the oppo-site of what we had prepared.”
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Old stagers Novak Djokovicand Serena Williams willaim to keep the younger
generation of players waiting in thewings as Grand Slam tennis entersa new decade at the AustralianOpen on Monday.
After recent bushfire smog large-ly cleared in Melbourne, the view isall too familiar with Djokovic andWilliams, who is seeking a record-equalling 24th Major title, installedas the bookies' favourites.
Top seed Rafael Nadal, 33, is cel-ebrating becoming world numberone in a third decade while RogerFederer, 38, is trying to defy the age-ing process and stay ahead of hisrivals with a 21st Grand Slam win.
The start of 2020 is not dissim-ilar to 2010, when Federer andNadal shared the four Grand Slamtitles and Williams won inMelbourne and Wimbledon.
Ten years later, the men’s BigThree — who have won all but twoAustralian Open titles since 2004 —occupy the top three rankings, andWilliams is one step away fromMargaret Court's record for GrandSlam victories.
The men’s dominance is stark:since Federer won his first GrandSlam title in 2003, only five Majorfinals have not featured one of the
Swiss, Nadal or Djokovic.Several challengers have come
and gone but there is increasing hopefor the men's up-and-comers, whilenine women have won Grand Slamtitles since Williams, 38, claimed her23rd in Melbourne in 2017.
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While Djokovic and Nadal splitlast year’s Grand Slams, DominicThiem, Daniil Medvedev and FabioFognini won their first Masters tro-phies and Stefanos Tsitsipas, 21,became the youngest ATP Finalschampion in 18 years.
“They’re very close. I don’t thinkthat’s miles, miles away maybe as itwas some years ago,” Djokovic of theNextGen winning a Major title.
The clash between old and newwill be epitomised in the first roundon Monday, when Venus Williams,who turns 40 this year, plays 15-year-old rising star Coco Gauff —whowasn't even born when her fellowAmerican lifted her first GrandSlam trophies in 2000.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka, 22, isdefending a title for the second
Grand Slam in a row after herrepeat bid at last year’s US Open fellflat in the fourth round.
World number one AshleighBarty, fresh from winning theAdelaide International on Saturday,carries Australian hopes of seeing thefirst home-grown women’s winnersince 1978.
“Obviously it’s the perfect prepa-ration. But regardless of whether Iwon the title or not last week, I feellike I’m well-prepared,” Barty said.
“I’m happy, I’m healthy. I'mcoming into the first Grand Slam ofthe year with a smile on my face.That’s all I can ask of myself.”
The tournament is taking placeagainst the backdrop of a bushfiresemergency that has swept the nationand ramped up fears over globalwarming — and billowed chokingsmog across Melbourne and othercities.
After player anger during qual-ifying and practice, when severalwere hit by coughing fits and breath-ing problems, air pollution returnedto 'moderate' levels over the week-end, with rain forecast for the startof the tournament.
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Bajrang Punia was far from hisfluent best but still claimed Goldwhile Ravi Kumar Dahiya showedsparkling form in his Gold-winningeffort as the two Indians kickedoff the Olympic year in style atthe Rome Ranking Series here.
The 25-year-old Bajrangstaged a comeback to secure a4-3 win against USA’s JordanMichael Oliver in the sum-mit showdown of the 65kgfreestyle category onSaturday night.
Ravi, who compet-ed in the 61kg categoryinstead of his regular57kg, bagged the gold aftergetting the better ofKazakhstan’s NurbolatAbdualiyev 12-2 in his finalbout late on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old fromSonepat had made the final
round after securing impressivewins over Moldova’s AlexaandruChirtoaca and Kazakhstan’sNurislam Sanayev in the four-wrestler draw.
India, thus, returned with sevenmedals from the tournament.
Vinesh Phogat and AnhsuMalik winning a gold and a sil-ver respectively in the women’scompetition. In Greco-roman,
Gurpreet Singh (82kg) wona Gold, Sunil Kumar(97kg) a Silver while SajanBhanwal (77kg) settledfor a Bronze.
Bajrang admitted thathe was not at his best.
“Yes the bouts wereclose, it’s just first tour-nament of the seasonso I was a bit rusty. Ihad a feeling going
into this tourna-ment that the per-formance will be a
bit up and down,” Bajrang toldPTI.
“But having close bouts is nota worry, it’s good. It keeps me alertand gives ne chance to ponder overmy shortcomings,” he said.
Bajrang’s personal coachShako Bentinidis was not with himin Rome and that too affected theIndian wrestler.
“He had some visa issues, so hecould not be with me. His absencealso impacted my performance. Ibadly missed his guidance duringthe bouts,” he said.
Up against one of India’sbiggest medal prospects in theTokyo Olympics, Oliver concededthat it was not his night againstBajrang.
The American lauded thecompetitive spirit of Bajrang.
Bajrang had to sweat it out inthe first round against Zain AllenRetherford of the USA beforeprevailing 5-4.
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In an enthralling battle betweenexperience and youth, world cham-
pion PV Sindhu will take on risingstar Gayatri Gopichand as the fifthseason of Star Sports PremierBadminton League kicks off here atthe Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadiumtomorrow when Hyderabad Hunterslock horns with Chennai Superstarz.With the league returning to Chennaiafter two years, excitement will behigh as top-class badminton actionwill continue here till January 24.
This will be the second consec-utive season with Hyderabad Huntersfor the Rio Olympic silver medallist,who led the Chennai franchise to titleglory in the second season. WithChennai's Kirsty Gilmour playing atthe Thailand Masters, this will be apriceless opportunity for the 16-year-old debutante Gopichand tohone her skills and gain confidence
in front of home fans.“I have fond memories of win-
ning the title for the Chennai fran-chise in the second season here. Ithoroughly enjoy the love and sup-port every time I play here. I am excit-ed for the new season and I hope peo-ple will come and watch us play,” said
the Hyderabad Hunters star.The fifth season of world’s most
popular badminton league, orga-nized by Sportzlive held under theaegis of Badminton Association ofIndia (BAI), will see a lot of promis-ing talent taking the court. LakshyaSen, who won a staggering five titlesin 2019, headlines the men's singlesdepartment in Chennai Superstarzalong with the youngest player inPBL5, S. Sankar Muthusamy and K.Sathish Kumar. Former WorldChampionships bronze medallistTommy Sugiarto, who was the MVPin the first season of PBL, will beanother key attraction in the Chennaisquad.
“I made my PBL debut last sea-son and this time I hope to win tiesfor Chennai Superstarz. I am reallylooking forward to the new season,”said Lakshya Sen.
The Chennai crowd will also getto witness the fiery smashing skills of
one half of India’s No. 1 men’s dou-bles team, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy,who is donning the Chennai jerseythis time. With veteran SumeethReddy being in the team along withupcoming talent Dhruv Kapila, themen’s doubles side in Chennai looksrobust.
For the former championsHyderabad Hunters, Vietnam Openand Hyderabad Open winnerSourabh Verma will look to bring hissterling form from last year. Alongwith Malaysia’s former World No. 10Daren Liew and India's rising starKiran George, the Hunters will beready for the challenge.
Seven teams - Awadhe Warriors,Bengaluru Raptors, Mumbai Rockets,Hyderabad Hunters, ChennaiSuperstarz, North Eastern Warriorsand Pune 7 Aces — will slug it out fora prize of Rs 6 crore. The PBL season5 will be telecast live on Star Sportsand streamed live on Hotstar.)
Djokovic, Williams lead tennis old guard into new decade
India made a dream debut at the FIHPro League, beating world number
three Netherlands 3-1 in the shoot-outafter both the teams were locked 3-3 atthe end of regulation time in the secondmatch of the two-leg tie here on Sunday.
World number five India had earli-er defeated Netherlands 5-2 in theopening match of the tie on Saturday.
India are now atop the leaderboardwith five points from two games, but theManpreet Singh-led side conceded apoint to the Netherlands after drawing(during the regulation time) the secondmatch of the contest on Sunday.
As per the new rules implementedby the International Hockey Federation(FIH) in the second edition of the ProLeague, every match of a tie has to pro-duce a result.
In case of a draw, the match wouldbe decided by shoot-out and the sidewhich wins will garner two points andthe losing team will get one point.
Mink van der Weeden (23rd minute)scored from a penalty corner, whileJeroen Hertzberger (26th) and BjornKellerman (27th) scored two field goals
for the visitors in the regulation time.Lalit Upadhyay (25th), Mandeep
Singh (51st) and Rupinder Pal Singh(55th) were the goal getters for the hometeam.
In the shoot-out, Vivek Sagar Prasad,Akashdeep Singh and Gujrant Singh
were on target for the Indians butHarmanpreet Singh and Rupindermissed.
Mirco Pruijser was the lone scorerfor the Dutch as Glenn Schuurman,Thierry Brinkman and JeroenHertzberger missed their targets during
the shoot-out.The Indians started from where they
left on Saturday and created a lot ofchances from the beginning but it wasNetherlands who stunned the capacitycrowd by taking the lead in the secondquarter.
Netherlands took the lead when Vander Weerden converted a penalty corner,flicking into the roof of the net from thetop of the circle in the 23rd minute.
The Indians bounced back withinminutes when Lalit scored from closerange to level the scores.
But India’s joy was shortlived asNetherlands restored their lead a minutelater through Hetrzberger, who scoopedhome from close range.
To make matters worse for thehosts, the Netherlands extended theirlead a minute later when Kellermanfired home from close range to go intohalf time with a commanding 3-1 lead.
After the change of ends, Indiapushed hard in search of goals and inthe process created a few bright chances,including a few penalty corners but tono avail as the third quarter yielded nogoal.
Trailing by two goals, India contin-
ued to step up the pressure on theNetherlands defence and finally man-aged to beat it in the 51st minute whenMandeep fired from a rebound from apenalty corner.
India continued in the same veinand within three minutes securedanother penalty corner which was dullyconverted by Rupinder to level thescores.
Thereafter, both the teams pressedhard for the winner and the Dutch cameclose two minutes from final hooterwhen they secured another penaltycorner but it was well defended by theIndians as the match went into shoot-out.
After the Netherlands, India willhost world champions Belgium onFebruary 8 and 9 followed by two morehome ties against Australia on February22 and 23.
The Indian team will then leave forthe away games in Germany (April 25and 26) and Great Britain (May 2 and3).
India will return to play on homesoil on May 23 and 24 against NewZealand before travelling to Argentinato play on June 5 and 6.
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Rohit Sharma and ViratKohli paced a trickyrun chase with sublime
knocks as India wrapped theseries 2-1 with a comfortableseven-wicket victory in thedecisive third ODI againstAustralia, here on Sunday.
Rohit (119 off 128) wasdue for a big score in the seriesand he delivered in the all-important game for his 29thODI hundred.
India had a point to proveagainst Australia, having lostthe home series to them inMarch last year. The 10-wick-et drubbing in Mumbai didnot deter India as they post-ed emphatic victories inRajkot and here at theChinnaswamy Stadium.
Following Rohit's fall,Kohli (89 off 91) anchored thechase as India cantered to athe win in 47.3 overs. ShreyasIyer remained unbeaten on 44off 35 balls.
The 137-run standbetween Rohit and Kohlieffectively won the game forIndia, who overhauled the287-run target with 15 balls tospare.
Steve Smith's ninth ODIhundred helped Australiascore 286 for nine after AaronFinch opted to bat. Indianbowlers, led by MohammadShami (4/63), did well tolimit Australia to under 300.
Opener Shikhar Dhawandid not come out to bat dueto an injured shoulder and he
did not need to, consideringthe way his team got the jobdone.
Rahul, who batted at threein Mumbai and five in Rajkot,came out to open alongsideRohit. He began with a beau-tiful punch on the off side butlasted only 27 balls afterAustralia took a successfulLBW review off Ashton Agar.
Rohit scored bulk of runsin their 69-run opening stand.
Australia offered Rohitplenty of loose balls to free hisarms as he ended up smash-ing six sixes and eight fours.His best hit came off PatCummins as he flicked thepacer for a spectacular six overmidwicket.
Rohit also became thethird fastest to 9000 ODIruns while Kohli became thefastest batsman to score 5000runs as skipper.
Earlier, India bouncedback in the last 10 overs,conceding just 63 runs for fivewickets.
Smith (131 off 132) roseto the occasion but did not getmuch support from the otherbatsmen. Shami was brilliantin the death overs strikingthrice. The other substantial
knock in the Australianinnings came from MarnusLabuschagne (54 off 64).
Australia won the toss forthe third time in a row butunlike the last game in Rajkot,opted to bat.
Kohli decided to go inwith the winning combinationof the last game even thoughRishabh Pant was available forselection.
It meant Rahul was thespecialist wicketkeeper bats-man for the second successivegame.
Australia lost their in-form openers - David Warner(3) and Aaron Finch (19) --rather early. Targeting theoff-stump channel initially,Shami induced an outsideedge from Warner's bat withan away going delivery.
Smith was responsible forFinch's run out as he called hisskipper for a run beforechanging his mind. Finch,who is usually calm and com-posed, was furious and usedcuss words while walkingback to the dressing room.
By the first powerplay,Australia reached 56 for twowith Smith and Labuschagnein the middle. It was once
again evident why they lovebatting together.
They both had stitched a96-run stand on Friday andbatted in a similar fashion,rotating the strike regularlyand picking up an odd bound-ary enroute to their 127-runpartnership.
Labuschagne, who made46 in his first ODI inningsduring the Rajkot game butgot out at the wrong time,went on to score a half-centu-ry on this occasion.
Alongside Smith, helooked set for a big knockuntil a diving Kohli sent himback with a stunning catch atcover.
Jadeja, who got the ball toturn on a dry pitch, got hissecond wicket of the overwhen he had Mitchell Starc,who was sent ahead of AlexCarey, caught at deep mid-wicket.
Smith was going alongnicely at the other end but theteam needed another sub-stantial contribution to gopast 300. He shared 58 runsfor the fifth wicket withCarey (35) but the latterdeparted when the inningsneeded a move on.
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Prithvi Shaw slammed a 100-ball 150 in India A’s 12-run
victory over New Zealand XIin the second practice gamehere on Sunday, coming backfrom an injury in the mannerthat matched the hype aroundhim.
Eyeing a return to theIndian senior team, the 20-year-old Shaw struck 22 foursand two sixes during his blaz-ing knock at the Bert SutcliffeOval.
Shaw’s knock will certain-ly excite the selectors as theypick the squad for the Testseries in New Zealand.
The first Test will getunderway on February 21 atthe Basin Reserve in Hamiltonand the second match is sched-uled to be played at the HagleyOval in Christchurch, startingFebruary 29.
Batting first, India A wereall out for an imposing 372 in49.2 over before restrictingthe home side to 360 for six toregister their second win of thetour.
Shaw was in sparklingtouch since returning fromhis eight-month doping ban,but a shoulder injury on theopening day of Mumbai’s Ranji
Trophy game againstKarnataka cut short his run,ruling him out of India A’s firstpractice match here.
Mayank Agarwal (32) andShaw stitched an 89-run open-ing stand but the former wasdismissed by pacer AndrewHazeldine.
Skipper Shubman Gill (24),Suryakumar Yadav (26) andIshan Kishan (14) alongsideShaw kept the scoreboard tick-ing, helping India reach 241 in31 overs.
After the dismissal of Shawin the beginning of the 35thover, all-rounder Vijay Shankarstamped his authority with a 41-ball 58.
Chasing 373, New Zealandsuffered an early blow withopener Katene Clarke (1)departing in the second over.Josh Clarkson (14) soon fol-lowed, leaving the home teamstruggling at 2-27.
Opener Jack Boyle (130)and Finn Allen (87) kept NewZealand in the fight before thehosts ran out of overs.
For India, right-arm medi-um pacer Ishan Porel (2/39) andspinner Krunal Pandya (2/50)grabbed two wickets each.
Having recovered from theinjury, Shaw has straightawayset his sights on his immediategoals, with a fine knock.
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England fast bowler MarkWood came out after a
lengthy rain break and plungedSouth Africa into trouble in theirsecond innings on the fourth dayof the third Test at St George’sPark on Sunday.
South Africa, forced to followon after being bowled out for 209,were 44 for three at tea, still 246runs short of making England batagain. Wood used his extreme
pace to send Dean Elgar’s offstump flying out of the groundbefore he had Zubayr Hamzafeeling for a ball outside his legstump to present a catch to wick-etkeeper Jos Buttler.
England captain Joe Rootstruck a third blow for thetourists when he trapped PieterMalan leg before wicket in thelast over before tea, leavingEngland well-placed to take a 2-1 lead in the four-match seriesdespite uncertain weather.
Following a lengthy delay onSaturday, the players were off formore than three hours, includingthe lunch break, on Sunday.
England enforced the follow-on after they needed only 28 ballsto dismiss South Africa’s lastfour batsmen at the start of play.Stuart Broad took three wicketsas South Africa added only onerun to their overnight total.
Armed with the second newball, Broad struck with the fourthdelivery of the morning when
Vernon Philander missed a driveagainst a full delivery whichswung in between bat and pad.He was out for 27.
Sam Curran uprootedQuinton de Kock’s middle stumpwith the fifth ball of the next overwith the left-hander missing anextravagant drive against a ballangled in from the left-armedbowler.
De Kock had not added tohis overnight score of 63.
Keshav Maharaj was bowledoff a bottom edge when he triedto pull a ball from Broad beforeKagiso Rabada, who scored theonly run in the collapse, hit asimple catch to mid-off to giveBroad his third wicket.
Broad finished with three for30. Wood, bowling around theleft-handed wicket, fired a fastdelivery through Elgar’s defenceswith the eighth ball after theresumption of play in the after-noon before following up withthe wicket of Hamza.
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Prince Masvaure struckhis maiden Test fifty
while opening partnerKevin Kasuza approached ahalf-century on debut asZimbabwe reached 108 for1 at tea on the first day ofthe first Test against SriLanka in Harare.
Masvaure, playing inhis third Test, made 55before he was caught by SriLanka captain DimuthKarunaratne off the slowleft-arm bowling of LasithEmbuldeniya.
Kasuza was unbeatenon 48 following the after-noon session, having sur-vived a dropped chance
after he miscued a hookoff Suranga Lakmal.
Zimbabwe captainSean Williams electedto bat first despite over-cast skies at the HarareSports Club, where theAfrican nation are play-ing their first home Testsince 2017.
The hosts handeddebuts to three players— opening batsmanKasuza, left-arm spinnerAinsley Ndlovu andseam bowler VictorNyauchi — in their firstTest match in 14 months.
Fast bowler Lakmalreturned for Sri Lanka,having missed the entirePakistan series, while
Angelo Mathews wasalso included in an expe-rienced side. The two-Test tour was onlyannounced by the SriLankan cricket boardearlier this week.
Zimbabwe werereadmitted as an ICCmember last Octoberfollowing a three-monthsuspension over politicalinterference.
The Sri Lanka gamesrepresent their first Testssince a 1-1 series draw inBangladesh inNovember 2018.Zimbabwe last played aTest at home againstthe West Indies inOctober 2017.
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Uttar Pradesh batsman Aksh Deep Nathstuck an unbeaten hundred, which not
only pulled his side out of trouble but alsogave them an upper hand, on the openingday of their Elite Ranji Trophy Group Bmatch against Mumbai here on Sunday.
Following an unbroken 137-run fifth-wicket stand between Nath (115 not out off215 balls) andRinku Singh (71 not out off134 balls; 7x4), UP ended the day at a decent281/4 after being 48/3 at one stage at theWankhede Stadium.
Mumbai pacers Akash Parkar (2-67)and Royston Dias (2 -48) initially dominat-ed proceeding but later Nath stuck apatient hundred to ensure Mumbai couldnot capitalise on the early advantage.
�� ��5�������������� ���New Delhi :Veteran Wasim Jaffer’s master-class was a purists’ delight as Delhi's strat-egy of preparing a result-oriented seamingtrack boomeranged with defending cham-pions Vidarbha taking control on the
opening day of the Ranji Trophy encounter.On a track where players half his age
were not able to cross 20-run mark, the for-mer India opener, who is a month shy frombeing 42, scored 83 in his team's meagretotal of 179.
With ball jagging around all day in coldand windy conditions, former India U-19seamer Aditya Thakare (4/14) polished theDelhi top-order in a five-over burst toreduce the hosts to 41 for 4 at stumps.
The match is expected to get over insidethree days and Delhi will have to dependon the pair of Nitish Rana (3 batting) andLalit Yadav (0 batting) to at least ensure arespectable first innings total.
Thakare got the bowl to swing bothways as the likes of captain Dhruv Shoreywas deceived by away movement andJonty Sidhu squared up by late swing.
The day belonged to Jaffer, who showedthe technique to bat on a track where thetrio of Ishant Sharma (3/45 in 14 overs),Simarjeet Singh (4/39 in 16.5 overs) andKulwant Khejroliya (2/50 in 18 overs) madelife miserable for other players.
��=������5�.���������� KALYANI (WB): Former skipper ManojTiwary hit an unbeaten 156 and ShreevatsGoswami a combative 95 as Bengal recov-ered from a shaky start to end the day oneof their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A matchagainst Hyderabad at a commanding 366for five, here on Sunday.
Desperate for an outright win to keeptheir qualifying hopes alive, Bengal, whochose Kalyani over Eden Gardens, found thegoing tough early on to be reduced to 60for three inside 15 overs.
Opener A Raman fell for a duck in thefifth ball of the day, edging Ravi Kiran (2/47)behind the stumps after Bengal elected tobat.
Skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran (12)continued his poor run while debutant KaziSaifi, who was drafted in after his stupen-dous show at the U-23 level, could not con-vert his start to be dismissed for 27.
But it was Tiwary who showed a classact as he paced his innings beautifully tolead Bengal's recovery.
Number five Anustup Majumdar (59)
also gave a fine support with 86-ball 59(8x4) as the duo put on 112 runs for thefourth wicket.
������������ CHENNAI: A superb performance bybowlers R Ashwin and M Siddharth and aton by Abhinav Mukund gave Tamil Naduthe upperhand on the opening day of itsRanji Trophy Group B match againstRailways here on Sunday.
Electing to bat, the visiting team fold-ed for 76 in 39.1 overs as the experiencedAshwin (4/26) and left-arm spinnerSiddharth (4/32) ran through the railwaysbatting order.
At stumps, the hosts were sitting pret-ty putting up 236 for 4.
From 15 for no loss in the 8th over,the Railways batsmen came a cropperagainst Ashwin and Siddharth to be bun-dled out in the opening session of thegame.It was a dismal display by theRailways batsmen as only three managedto reach double figures with Saurabh Singh(22) being the top-scorer.
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Captain Kieron Pollard producedthe best bowling spell by a West
Indian in Twenty20 Internationalcricket on Saturday before rain forcedthe second match of a three-gameseries against Ireland to be aban-doned.
Pollard took 4-25 as Irelandwere limited to 147-9 in a clashreduced to 19 overs a side.
Set a rain-revised target of 152 towin, the West Indies reached 16-1after 2.2 overs before rain caused
another in a series of stoppages.Umpired eventually called the
game off as a no result. Ireland leadthe series 1-0 after their dramaticfour-run win in the opener inGrenada on Wednesday.
The third and final game is alsoin St Kitts on Sunday.
Pollard ripped the heart out ofthe Irish middle order by removingtop scorer Gareth Delany, whose 44included five sixes, skipper AndyBalbirnie (36) as well Gary Wilson(five) and George Dockrell (two).
Fast bowler Sheldon Cottrellalso starred with two wickets, includ-
ing dangerous opener Paul Stirlingwho was caught in the deep for just17.
Stirling had smashed a 47-ball 95in the first game.
Ireland lost three wickets on thelast three balls of their inningsSaturday, two of them off run-outs asthey desperately scrambled to get past150.
The West Indies would havebeen confident of chasing down thetarget although wary of their recentrecord at St Kitts.
In 2019, they were bowled out forjust 45 and 71 against England.
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Senior India openerShikhar Dhawan was
taken for an x-ray after hehurt his left shoulder duringthe series-deciding thirdODI against Australia hereon Sunday.
A call on his participa-tion in the match will betaken after further assess-ment, the BCCI said in astatement.
Dhawan was taken offthe field after he got inuredin the fifth over of the gameat the M ChinnaswamyStadium.
“Shikhar Dhawan hasgone for an x-ray. A call onhim being available for thegame will be taken once heis back and assessed,” theBCCI said.
The left-handed bats-man had dived to save anAaron Finch shot in the
cover region before hurtinghis shoulder.
He then walked out andwas replaced by leg-spinnerYuzvendra Chahal on thefield.
The 34-year-oldDhawan had not taken thefield for the entire durationof the Australian innings inthe second ODI after a PatCummins bouncer hit himon the rib cage while batting.The series is levelled at 1-1.
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