CAPSULE

ISRO’S PSLV PUTS 2 UKSATELLITES INTO ORBIT Sriharikota: The Indian SpaceResearch Organisation on Sunday launched theNovaSAR and S1-4 earthobservation satellites of the UKfrom the spaceport here. Boththe satellites were put into theorbit.

PRASHANT KISHORJOINS JD(U)Patna: Poll strategist PrashantKishor joined Bihar ChiefMinister Nitish Kumar’s JanataDal (United) in Patna on Sunday,party sources said. Kishor wasinducted into the party by Nitish,at the organisation’s Stateexecutive meeting which isunderway at the Chief Minister’sofficial residence.

MODI TO REACHVARANASI TODAYNew Delhi: Prime MinisterNarendra Modi will visit hisparliamentary constituencyVaranasi on Monday, accordingto his office. He will reachVaranasi for a two-day visit onMonday afternoon. The primeminister will visit Narur village,where he will interact withchildren of a primary school,aided by non-profit organisation“Room to Read”. Later, he willinteract with students of KashiVidyapeeth and children assistedby them on the premises ofDiesel Locomotive Works(DLW). Page 5

PNS n NEW DELHI

Goa plunged into a majorpolitical uncertainty after

Chief Minister ManoharParrikar was admitted toAIIMS on Saturday night.

The BJP has sent a three-member team of general sec-retary (Organisation) Ram Lal,joint secretary BL Santosh andGoa-incharge Vijay Purnaikto Panjim to take stock of thesituation and deal with demandfrom the allies to resolve theleadership crisis in view ofParrikar’s prolonged illness.Union Minister Nitin Gadkariis expected to join them in Goaon Monday.

The BJP has decided totake pre-emptive measures asthe Congress has swung intoaction to capitalise on the sit-uation saying it is ready toexplore formation of a party-led Government.

Parrikar has been ailing foreight months, but the BJP hasbeen forced to take a look at theleadership issue afterMaharashtrawadi GomantakParty (MGP) chief DeepakDhavalikar said Parrikar canremain the Chief Minister buthe should hand over the chargeof Chief Minister to the senior-most Minister in his Cabinetduring his absence. The senior-most Minister in Parrikar’sCabinet happens to be theMGP chief ’s elder brother andPWD Minister SudinDhavilkar.

On whether his brothershould be Parrikar’s replace-ment as Chief Minister, the

MGP chief said, “I don’tknow...let them tell who is thesenior most. I am just sayingthat whoever is given chargeshould be the senior most.”

The Goa Chief Minister,who has been suffering frompancreatic ailments, has been inthe AIIMS old private wardunder the supervision of DrPramod Garg from theGastroenterology Department.Home Minister Rajnath Singhvisited AIIMS to enquire aboutParrikar’s health on Sunday.

Parrikar, 62, had returnedfrom the US in the first weekof September, days after whichhe was admitted to hospital atCandolim in north Goa. Earlier

this year, he had undergone athree-month-long treatmentin the US.

The BJP team reachedPanjim on Sunday afternoonand held talks with allies as wellindependent MLAs, whosesupport is must to keep theBJP-led Government afloat.

“They will be holding aseries of meetings on Sundayand Monday with BJP leadersand also the alliance partners— the Goa Forward Party, theMaharashtrawadi GomantakParty and Independents,” BJPState chief Vinay Tendulkartold reporters.

The BJP Central observersalso met the party’s legislators

as well as Goa unit chief VinayTendulkar and Member ofParliament (South Goa)Narendra Sawaikar at a cityhotel. Goa Health MinisterVishwajit Rane, after the meet-ing, said that he had given hisviews about the current polit-ical situation and it was now forthe party to take a decision.Rane, however, refused todivulge details of the meeting.

“We have briefed themabout the facts. Each one of ushas our own views and webriefed them about it. It is notright to come out in public withwhat we discussed,” said theGoa Health Minister.

While the BJP has asked

the GFP and MGP to mergetheir parties with the saffronoutfit, both of them haverefused to take the bait. BJPleader Michael Lobo, who is theDeputy Speaker of the GoaAssembly, had said on Saturdaythat the party emissaries willsuggest the allies that theyshould become part of the saf-fron party and only after thatthere would be discussion onthe next Chief Minister.

The BJP currently has 14legislators in the 40-memberAssembly while the GFP andthe MGP have three MLAseach. The national party isalso supported by threeIndependents.

The Opposition Congresshas 16 MLAs while theNationalist Congress Party(NCP) has one legislator.

Meanwhile, the Congresson Sunday said it was watchingthe developments and mayexplore the possibility of form-ing a Government in Goa but“not by compromising theState’s interest.”

“Our stand is very clear.We will definitely explore allpossibilities but that does notmean that we will do it by com-promising the ideology or theinterest of Goans,” All IndiaCongress Committee secre-tary A Chellakumar, who isalso Goa in-charge of the party,said.

“We are not in a hurry tocapture power by compromis-ing the interest of the people ofGoa. The Congress is account-able to the people,”Chellakumar added.

RAKESH K SINGH n NEW DELHI

Acting arbitrarily, a DIG ofthe Central Reserve Police

Force (CRPF) is compellingpersonnel under his commandto pledge organ donation forseeking leave.

CRPF DIG BD Das postedat Silchar (Assam) has formu-lated a long and complex leaveform asking for details like fil-ing of electoral form, bankaccount with Aadhaar, certifi-cate of annual firing practiceand pledging organ donationamong others.

The leave form has a checklist of 20 items, includingdetails of dependent cards,joint salary account with nextof kin, PAN and Aadhaar cardsof the official along with that ofthe next of kin, details of anypending court of enquiry andnomination in bank accountsbesides courses undertakenamong others.

The leave of the CentralCivil Services, including CRPF,is governed by Central CivilService Rules (Leave), 1972,which does not provide formandatory organ donation.

In fact, the Union HomeMinistry has expressly saidthat nobody should be com-pelled to pledge organ donationand the person should beallowed to change decisioneven after committing organ

donation.CRPF DIG (Intelligence)

and chief spokesperson atCRPF headquarters MDinakaran confirmed the pro-visions made by Das, butsought to downplay it.

The CRPF personnel arefaced with serious difficulty inavailing their leaves under thecircumstances. “They arestressed and restive and the sit-uation is becoming explosive,”said a source. According to an

anonymous complaint to theDirector General of CRPF, Dasweighs 120 kg but has been putin Shape I category which is thebest health standard in theForce. The allegations wereenquired into by DIG SS Goharfrom IG Office, NortheastSector of CRPF at Shillong,sources said.

Chief spokesperson atCRPF HQ M Dinakaran saidhe would revert back about theallegations, but did not oblige.

PNS n CHANDIGARH

Embarrassed over police’sfailure to arrest all accused

involved in the alleged gan-grape of a CBSE topper inMahendragarh district onWednesday, the HaryanaGovernment on Sundayordered the transfer of Rewari’sSuperintendent of Police (SP)and replaced him with anoth-er officer.

Meanwhile, the victim’sfamily rejected the compensa-tion cheque for `2 lakh sent bythe Haryana Government tothem. “Is it the price that theHaryana Government has cal-culated for the gruesome crimecommitted against my daugh-ter? We reject the compensa-tion. I want justice for mydaughter,” victim’s mother saidin Rewari.

As pressure built on it toact swiftly, the SpecialInvestigation Team (SIT)arrested one of the three mainaccused in the gangrape of 19-year-old student, while two

other accused were also arrest-ed on Sunday evening.

SIT chief Nazneen Bhasinsaid the main accused namedNishu had been nabbed and isbeing brought here. Raids werebeing conducted to nab theother two main accused —Armyman Pankaj and Manish— Bhasin said in Rewari.

“The other arrestedaccused Deen Dayal is ownerof the tubewell where the inci-dent took place. Sanjeev is adoctor who was found to beinvolved, as per evidence. Themain accused Nishu, had pre-planned this and thencalled the doctor to the spot,”Bhasin said.

Police continued raids inHaryana, Rajasthan, Delhi andsome other States to nab theaccused, a senior official, whois part of the investigation, said.

The college girl studenthailing from Rewari — felici-tated by the State Governmentfor her CBSE feat — wasabducted at a bus stop inKanina town in neighbouringMahendragarh district onWednesday while she was onway to a coaching class.

She was then allegedlydrugged and gangraped at asecluded spot. The woman wasrecovered from a room hous-

ing a tubewell for irrigation.Doctors at a Rewari hospitalsaid the condition of the victimhas improved though she con-tinued to be in shock.

Earlier in the day, ChiefMinister Manohar Lal can-celled his engagements inJalandhar city in neighbouringPunjab and rushed back toChandigarh to take stock of thesituation. Manohar Lalreviewed the progress of inves-tigation with DGP BS Sandhuand shunted out Rewari districtpolice chief.

Rewari SP Rajesh Duggal,who has been accused of fail-ing to take prompt action, hasbeen replaced by the SP ofChief Minister’s security, RahulSharma. Duggal will now leada battalion of Haryana ArmedPolice in Hisar.

Police had earlierannounced a reward of ̀ 1 lakhfor providing information onthe absconding accused, allresidents of Kanina village inRewari.

The gangrape case evokedsharp reaction from oppositionparties who have demandedthe resignation of the ChiefMinister on moral grounds,saying the State had failed toprotect its daughters.

Continued on Page 4

STAFF REPORTER n NEW DELHI

Celebrations broke out afterresults of the Jawaharlal

Nehru University Students’Union (JNUSU) elections wereannounced on Sunday with theLeft Unity winning all four cen-tral panel posts defeating theRSS-affiliated ABVP by con-siderable margins.

Cries of ‘Lal Salaam’ (redsalute) rent the air and sup-porters were dancing to thebeats of drums.

After the results wereannounced, the ABVP and theNSUI claimed their vote sharehas increased over the years inthe election that was marred byallegations of “bias” by thepoll committee, violence andsuspension of counting fornearly 14 hours.

The ABVP said it was thetrust shown by studentstowards the party that forcedthe Left parties to forge analliance. “The ABVP will con-tinue its fight against Left vio-lence.

We are thankful to thestudents for making us the sin-gle largest student organisationon campus. We will continue tobe a constructive opposition onJNU campus, and will keepfighting for students’ rights.”

The Left-backed All IndiaStudents’ Association (AISA),Students’ Federation of India(SFI), Democratic Students’Federation (DSF) and All IndiaStudents’ Federation (AISF)came together to form the‘United Left’ alliance.

According to the universi-ty election committee, the Leftgrouping’s presidential candi-date, N Sai Balaji of the AISA,defeated Lalit Pandey of theABVP by a margin of 1,179votes. Balaji bagged 2,161 voteswhile Lalit Pandey of ABVP

bagged 982 votes. ThallapelliPraveen of Birsa AmbedkarPhule Students Organisation(BAPSA) bagged 675 votes.While Jayant Kumar who con-tested for first time from theChhatra RJD bagged 540 votesmore than that of NSUI’s VikasYadav who got 402.

For the post of vice presi-dent, Sarika Chaudhary of theDSF garnered 2,692 votes anddefeated ABVP candidateGeetasri Boruah by a margin of1,680 votes.

Continued on Page 4

PNS n NEW DELHI

The three-day lecture seriesof the RSS — expected to

be attended by dignitaries rep-resenting political, economic,social, academic, religious,diplomatic sphere and expertsfrom other key areas — willcommence at Vigyan Bhawanin Delhi on Monday.

The conclave seen as anRSS outreach programme willbe addressed by RSS chiefMohan Bhagwat. The lectureseries titled “Future of Bharat:An RSS perspective” will startin the evening. The third-daywould be an interactive ques-tion-answer session.

The event representing “allshades of opinions” would dis-cuss the kind of India the RSSenvisages in the 21st century.

The RSS has understand-ably sent invites to almost allthe senior political leaders.Diplomats of around 60 coun-ties are understood to be in thelist of invitees.

The meeting is taking placeamid the controversial com-ments made by Congress pres-ident Rahul Gandhi duringhis recent foreign tours over therole of Nagpur outfit and itshold over the ruling BJP.

RSS chief Bhagwat isexpected to answer questionsfrom the invitees and clear“misgivings” over the aims andobjectives of the 93-year-oldorganisation.

“The preparations for theevent has been on for last six-months and it has no relationto the recent debates raked uparound the organisation,”sources said denying thatRahul’s comparison of RSSwith Islamic extremist outfit‘Muslim Brotherhood’ isprompting the Nagpur organ-isation to clear the air.

Last month at the“International Institute ofStrategic Studies” in London,Rahul said, “The RSS is tryingto change the nature of India…RSS’s idea is similar to the ideaof Muslim Bortherhood in theArab world.”

Sources in the RSS main-tain Rahul is “only trying to hitthe RSS to eventually take onits political rival the BJP.”

The official view of the RSSis that Rahul who has notunderstood India yet cannotunderstand the RSS.

RAJESH KUMAR n NEW DELHI

In a move to protect privacyof voters, the Election

Commission (EC) has bannedpolitical parties and contestingcandidates from making calls,sending SMSes and messageson social media, includingWhatsApp, between 10 pmand 6 am during campaign.

This is the first time thatthe EC has come out withsuch order. The EC is also plan-ning to ban the use of socialmedia before 48 hours of polls.

In another move to checkmalpractices, the EC plans to

start C-Vigil mobile applicationthat gives the common man anopportunity to click picturesand take videos of violationsand send it to election officersconcerned during upcomingAssembly polls in five States —Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,Rajasthan, Telangana andMizoram.

Further the application canfind out the exact location ofthe complainants using longi-tude and latitude information.As soon as the complaintwould land in the inbox of thereturning officer and deputyelection officer concerned, itwould be verified within min-utes and actions, includinglodging of an FIR, would betaken.

On the C-Vigil mobileapplication, the CEC claimed

that within 100 minutes, thecomplainant will be given feed-back on the action taken.

Though the applicationcan be downloaded fromGoogle Play Store and websites

of the EC and State chief elec-toral officers, it will be opera-tional only in constituenciesand States which are going topolls.

Rawat said the application

has an in-built option whichwill help the people tick a boxto keep their name and cellphone number secret.

In its letter, the EC empha-sised that the suggestions be

made mandatory between10 pm and 6 am every day.

“It is necessary torespect the privacy of thecitizens and reduce dis-turbance to public life ingeneral,” the order said.

The order was issuedby Secretary (EC) NTBhutia to all States andUnion Territories.“Loudspeakers are pro-hibited for election cam-paigns between 10 pmand 6 am,” the order said.There are 200 millionWhatsApp users in India.

The EC is preparing ablueprint to stop the “misuse”of social media during elec-tions. “The ElectionCommission will issue appro-priate directions on the blue-print in the coming days,” said

EC officials. The commission has also

said that there will be a prohi-bition on election campaigningactivities and sending mes-sages on phones through chat-ting or messenger apps duringthese hours.

According to Vijay Dev,Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi,the social media “misuse” is aglobal issue and various coun-tries are trying their best totackle it.

On Saturday, speaking on“Challenges to Indian elec-toral democracy” at a sympo-sium, Chief ElectionCommissioner OP Rawat alsostressed on the fake news andmisuse of social media, sayingthat the main challenges beforethe commission are to makeelection transparent and clean.

Parrikar in AIIMS, Goa in ICU

3-member BJP team in Goa discusses leadership issue with allies

CBSE topper gangrape primeaccused held; Rewari SP out

Bhagwat’s Future

of Bharat lecture

to draw spectrum

of opinions today

Lal Salaam rents JNU air after LeftUnity sweeps students’ union poll

SMS, WhatsApp can’t canvass for votes at night

Staff restive

at conditions

Victim’s mother refuses

`2L damages, urges

Haryana Govt ‘don’t send

cheques, give justice’

JNUSU president N Sai Balaji, vice-president Sarika Choudhary, secretary AejajAhmed, and joint secretary Amutha Jaydeep celebrate after winning the students’union elections on Sunday Ranjan Dimri | Pioneer

p Political parties and contestingcandidates can’t make calls, sendSMSes and messages on socialmedia, including WhatsApp,between 10 pm and 6 am duringcampaign

p The EC also plans to start C-Vigilmobile app that gives the commonman an opportunity to clickpictures and take videos ofviolations and send it to electionofficers concerned duringAssembly polls in five States

Give organs, avail leave, CRPF DIG asks jawans

* Union Minister NitinGadkari is expected tojoin the BJP team inGoa on Monday

* The BJP has decided to take pre-emptivemeasures as theCongress has swunginto action to capitaliseon the situation

* The BJP has beenforced to take a look atthe leadership issueafter MGP chief DeepakDhavalikar said Parrikarshould hand over thecharge to the senior-most Minister in hisCabinet during hisabsence

* Home Minister RajnathSingh visited AIIMS toenquire about Parrikar’shealth on Sunday

EC planning ban on

use of social media

48 hrs before polls

KEY POINTS

* The leave form has a check list of 20 items, including details ofdependent cards, joint salary account with next of kin, PAN andAadhaar cards of a staffer along with that of the next of kin, detailsof any pending court of enquiry and nomination in bank accountsbesides courses undertaken among others

* The leave of the Central Civil Services, including CRPF, is governedby Central Civil Service Rules (Leave), 1972, which does not providefor mandatory organ donation

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PNS n LUCKNOW

Claiming that Ram templeexists at the disputed site

since 1992, Vishwa HinduParishad has urged theNarendra Modi government toadd sheen to the existing tem-ple by paving way for a grandtemple at Ayodhya at the ear-liest by removing all hurdles,including the legal one.

VHP’s international gener-al secretary Milind Parandesaid here on Sunday that ameeting of sadhus and saintsunder the banner of ShreeRam Janmabhoomi would beheld in New Delhi on October5 to decide the strategy for earlyconstruction of Ram temple.

“After that meeting, theVHP will decide its strategy forthe Ram temple movement. Allpreparations for the construc-tion of a grand temple areunderway and the stone carv-ing work is nearing comple-tion,” Parande said, claimingthat Ram temple already existat Ayodhya and there is need tomake it grand.

However, avoiding con-frontation with the Centre overthe Ram temple issue, he saidthat it was the duty of the gov-ernment to clarify when itwould clear all the hurdles inthe way of temple construction.

“For us, it is not a politicalissue as it is for the BharatiyaJanata Party. We want Ramtemple to be constructed at anycost,” he added.

Talking to media personhere on Sunday, Parande saidthat the VHP was committedfor the construction of Ramtemple. He said the DharmaSansad at Prayag Kumbh Mela

on January 31 and February 1would give a final shape to itsstrategy on the Ayodhya issue.

When asked about therecent statement of VHP leaderRamvilas Vedanti that Ramtemple construction wouldcommence before the 2019Lok Sabha polls, Parande said,“I don’t know about his state-ment and will not react on it.”

The VHP leader also raisedthe issue of conversions, gauraksha and love jehad, sayingthat Bajrang Dal would organ-ise a ‘jagran’ programme foryouths from September 25 toOctober 2 in which these issueswould be addressed to makeyouths, particularly girls andwomen, aware of the conspir-acy of Christians and Muslims.

“During the membershipdrive of Bajrang Dal last year,a record number of 32 lakh newmembers were enrolled andthey will be the brand ambas-sadors of the VHP to spread

awareness among Hindus aboutthe conspiracy of the Christiansand Muslims,” he added.

To a question on the recentvisit of Congress presidentRahul Gandhi to differentHindu religious places, Parandesaid: “It is the move of the VHPto make all Indian citizenHindus and if these politicalleaders are going to the Hindureligious places then it is ourvictory.”

He said Mizoram,Nagaland and Manipur hadbecome Christian-dominatedstates while Jammu andKashmir had turned into aMuslim majority state, andthis was an unfortunate trend.

“We have to spread thewings of Hindutava more vig-orously,” he said, while claim-ing that thousands ofChristians and Muslims whohad been converted in the pastwere in touch with the VHP fortheir return to Hinduism.

Lucknow (PNS): Accepting Chief MinisterYogi Adityanath’s appeal to industrialists to usetheir corporate social responsibility (CSR) fundsto keep their cities clean, many industrial hous-es have contributed to the Swachh Bharat cam-paign of the government by building infrastruc-ture like toilets.

Chief Secretary Anup Chandra Pandey saidthat many groups had come up with innovativemethods of utilising the CSR funds to keep citiesand villages clean. “The government does not haveresources to meet the full demand of the people.So, the private sector has taken lead in collabo-rating with the government agencies to give impe-tus to the Swachhata Mission,” Pandey said.

The lead has been taken by Lohia CorpLimited (Lohia Group) which has used its CSRfund for constructing e-toilets in Kanpur. Thoughthe spectrum of CSR works of the companyincludes beautification and sanitation of the citybesides supporting the under-privileged in edu-cation, employability activities and religioussocial activities, the e-toilets have gained popu-larity among the masses, according to spokesper-son of the company, Surendra Tripathi.

Acknowledging that Kanpur Nagar Nigam haslimited resources to meet the sanitation demandof the expanding population of the city, the com-pany has taken up the responsibility of keepingthe city clean and set up 10 e-toilets in Kanpur,Tripathi disclosed.

The e-toilet unit requires a minimum supportin terms of power connection, water supply, sew-erage from the municipal authorities. Its use isauthorised only with a one rupee coin. The moneycollected is used for its upkeep only.Incidentally,on September 11, the Chief Minister had exhort-ed industrialists to use their CSR funds for con-struction of infrastructure like school buildingsand latrines.

PNS n LUCKNOW

The two regional caste-basedpolitical giants of Uttar

Pradesh, the Samajwadi Partyand the Bahujan Samaj Party,have taken a tough posture inthe seat-sharing negotiationswith the Congress for the 2019general election, telling it thatany such arrangement must beat the national level in multiplestates rather than being con-fined to one state — UP.

The SP and the BSP havelinked the proposed alliance forthe 2019 Lok Sabha polls inUttar Pradesh with seat sharingand the performance of theCongress in the three poll-bound states — Rajasthan,

Madhya Pradesh andChhattisgarh. The SP and theBSP chiefs, by their toughstance on Sunday, clearly stat-ed that they were going to playhard ball with the Congress onthe issue of alliance ahead of2019 Lok Sabha election.

Mayawati said that shewould go for alliance only if herparty got a respectable share ofseats while SP chief AkhileshYadav said “the Congressshould be more accommoda-tive and show large-hearted-ness for the alliance as it is anational party”.

“Talks on seat-sharing forthe 2019 general election willtake place only after theassembly elections in Madhya

Pradesh, Rajasthan andChhattisgarh. There will be notalks before the state polls.The Congress has to showsome magnanimity and shareseats in Madhya Pradesh andRajasthan. We want to forman alliance with all like-mind-ed political parties for 2019Lok Sabha election to defeatthe Bharatiya Janata Party,”said a senior leader ofSamajwadi Party. He added:“Any formal discussion onpre-poll alliance in UttarPradesh for the 2019 LokSabha polls will not happenbefore the elections in thesethree states are over.”

The demands of the tworegional parties are significant

as they are testing the ability ofthe Congress to performagainst the ruling BJP govern-ments in the three states. SPleaders are of the view that theperformance of the Congress inthese states will be an impor-tant factor in deciding thenumber of seats the party willget in Uttar Pradesh.

Both the SP and the BSPhave conveyed to the Congressthat it will have to part withsome seats in the upcomingassembly elections in MadhyaPradesh, Rajasthan andChhattisgarh if it wants tohave an alliance with them forthe 2019 Lok Sabha election.

BSP chief Mayawati insiststhat her party should get some

seats in Madhya Pradesh andRajasthan, while the AkhileshYadav-led SP is keen to expandits political and social base inMadhya Pradesh, especially inthe areas neighbouring UttarPradesh.

“The two parties (SP andBSP), the Congress and the BJPare contesting against eachother in all the three states. Soit will be an interesting politi-cal battle and the performanceof the Congress will deter-mine how significant a role itcan play in bringing togetherpolitical parties against theBJP. The elections are crucialfor the Congress in the stateand at the national level,” a SPleader said.

PNS n LUCKNOW

Aday after announcing hiselder brother Mulayam

Singh Yadav as the SamajwadiSecular Front candidate fromMainpuri, Shivpal Singh Yadavdared his nephew, SamajwadiParty president Akhilesh Yadav,to include the SSM in the pro-posed anti-Bharatiya JanataParty secular alliance if he wassincere in his fight against thesaffron party.

“If Akhilesh Yadav is sin-cere and true to his commit-ment to secularism and fightagainst the ‘communal BJP’,the Samajwadi Secular Morchashould be included in the pro-posed alliance between theSamajwadi Party and theBahujan Samaj Party,” Shivpalsaid here on Sunday.

Shivpal, who founded theSamajwadi Secular Morcharecently, said he was ready tocontest the 2019 Lok Sabhapolls on all 80 seats in UttarPradesh, except the Mainpuriseat, if his suggestion was notmet.

“If he (Akhilesh) talks offighting against the communal

BJP, the SSM should be includ-ed in the proposed alliancebetween SP and BSP. Even if Iam not included in the pro-posed alliance, it will be anopportunity for my Morcha aswe will get support on seats leftby the SP for BSP and others.All samajwadis will unite withus and we will win 20-30seats,” he said.

About his relations withSP patriarch Mulayam SinghYadav, Shivpal said, “I have hisblessings. I am offering partypresident’s post to him andalso ticket from Mainpuri.”

On his position in thenewly-formed SSM, Shivpalsaid, “I am its convenor. If‘Netaji’ (Mulayam) does notaccept the presidentship ofthe SSM, we will discuss itlater.”

When asked about hisfuture course of action, Shivpalsaid, “We are strengtheningthe Samajwadi SecularMorcha. Its district and stateunits are to be constituted.People are coming to us ingood numbers. I am lookingfor space for the party, whichis yet to be registered with the

Election Commission. Theparty flag is also to be tofinalised.”

Shivpal, the SP MLA fromJaswantnagar in Etawah,denied that he was resigninghis membership of the VidhanSabha.

“I am not going to resignfrom the Assembly. It is up tothe Samajwadi Party to decide.They are free to initiate actionagainst me,” he said.

Stating that he was openfor alliance with like-minded”

parties, Shivpal said, “I hadtalks with senior leader SharadYadav and others...There is noenemy in politics. I am evenopen for an alliance withCongress and Bahujan SamajParty.”

On Rajya Sabha MP AmarSingh’s statement that he hadfixed Shivpal’s meeting with asenior BJP leader but he didnot turn up, the SSM convenorsaid, “You see...then they (SP)would have charged me withjoining hands with the BJP”.

Asked from where he wasplanning to contest the nextLok Sabha poll, the SSM con-venor said, “I can contest fromanywhere. The party workerswill decide it in future”.

He said he had formed theSSM to protect his “honour”and not seek any post in theSamajwadi Party.

“I never wanted to partways (with the SamajwadiParty). I only wanted honour,which I did not get after thechange of leadership in theparty. I never wanted any post.I took this step (of forming theSSM) out of compulsion toprotect my honour,” he said.

PNS n LUCKNOW

Hitting out at Mayawati,Bharatiya Janata Party

state president Mahendra NathPandey said that her anti-BJPrant reflected her frustration asshe now realised that BahujanSamaj Party was fast losing sup-port of the people becausethey were happy with the pro-people policies of the BJP gov-ernments both at the Centreand in the state.

Reacting to the allegationsof Mayawati, the BJP statepresident said that people hadstopped taking a leader serious-ly who only thought aboutherself and her family.

“She is angry with demon-etisation because (Narendra)Modi’s one decision reducedthe ill-earned money into trash.She says the poor have suffereddue to demonetisation where-as it is a fact that rich (people)like her have suffered and notthe poor,” Pandey said at animpromptu press conferencehere on Sunday.

He said the BJP governmentwas working for the better-ment of the poor. “It is the BJPwhich has built houses for thepoor under the Pradhan MantriAwas Yojana and has providedthem free electricity connec-tions. Under Mudra Yojana,loans have been sanctioned to14 crore people and underUJALA scheme, over 30 croreLED bulbs have been issued,”the BJP state president said.

“These are the schemeswhich have benefited the poorand therefore the peopleignored the BSP in the 2017Vidhan Sabha election, reduc-ing it to just 19 seats,” headded.

Pandey said the BJP wouldsweep the 2019 Lok Sabhaelection in UP because thepeople were with the BJP andnot the BSP.

PNS n LUCKNOW

Two hardened criminals car-rying cash reward of

`50,000, each on their arrestwere killed in an encounterwith Sultanpur police in theearly hours of Sunday.

The police also rescuedthe businessmen who wereabducted by the two criminalsand their gang. Their aideshowever, managed to escape.

As per reports, a joint teamof Sarsawan police station inSultanpur and Crime Branchsleuths was alerted after the gangabducted two businessmen,Umesh and Tulsi, on Saturdaynight and fled towards the for-est in Ibrahimi village.However, the cops succeeded insurrounding the forest areabefore the criminals could crossit. and challenged them.

According to police, thecriminals opened fire on thecops, injuring sub-inspectorDushyant and constableRajnesh. The cops also returnedthe fire in which two criminals,identified as Om Pal Saini andSumit aka Vikky, both of Shamli,were injured. Both were rushedto hospital where they werepronounced dead.

PNS n LUCKNOW

Supporting farmers’ demand,Congress state president Raj

Babbar said that the presentpolitical dispensation wasdoing lip service instead ofactually working for the welfareof farmers as a result of whichthe farm sector was the worsthit by the policies of both thestate and Central governments.

Addressing a farmers’mahapanchayat on the out-skirts of Lucknow on Sunday,Babbar said government claimthat farmers’ arrears had beencleared was a lie. He said thegovernment also said that vil-lages were getting electricity forover 18 hours which is also farfrom truth.

“The fact is that farmers aresuffering because the BharatiyaJanata Party government ispro-capitalist and anti-poor.This is reflected in its policies.The Congress supports thedemands of the farmers and isready to wage a long battleagainst this autocratic govern-ment,” Babbar said.

The farmers are agitatingfor over 25 demands, includingrehabilitation of farmers.

Mayawati: Alliance only if BSP

gets respectable share of seats

PNS n LUCKNOW

Reiterating her stand,Bahujan Samaj Partychief Mayawati has said

that her party will not go foralliance for the 2019 Lok Sabhaelection if it does not get arespectable share of seats.

Addressing a press confer-ence at her new private resi-dence here on Sunday, the BSPchief said, “We will agree toalliance anywhere and in anyelection only when we get arespectable share of seats, oth-erwise the BSP will prefer to goit alone.”

With about seven monthsleft for the 2019 Lok Sabhaelections, the opposition par-ties are planning to form agrand alliance to remove theruling Bharatiya Janata Partyfrom power. In the recentlyheld by-elections in UttarPradesh’s Gorakhpur, Phulpur,Kairana and Noorpur, theunited alliance of SamajwadiParty and Bahujan SamajParty had defeated the rulingBJP.

Earlier on May 27 thisyear, addressing the her party’snational convention inLucknow, Mayawati had saidthat the BSP would tie-up witha party only after getting arespectable number of seats, orelse the party would contest thepolls alone. She had also assert-ed that the BSP was in talkswith several parties for analliance.

Mayawati also spurned theovertures of Bhim Army chiefChandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravana’who had addressed Mayawatias ‘Buaji’, saying some leaderswere trying to take politicalmileage or save themselves bytaking her name.

The BSP supremo also saidthat she had no relation with

Bhim Army chiefChandrashekhar Azad and shewas related to only the com-mon people, Dalits and thepeople from backward castes.

The statement comes daysafter the Bhim Army chiefclaimed that he and his “bua”(aunt) Mayawati had the “sameblood”.

“For the past few days, aman who was recently releasedfrom jail is trying to call me‘bua’. If these people were real-ly interested in the welfare ofDalits, then instead of resur-recting their organisation, theywould have joined the BSP,” shesaid.

Chandrashekhar wasrecently released fromSaharanpur jail after 16 monthsas he was detained underNational Security Act followingthe caste violence in the districtin April last year.

Slamming the BharatiyaJanata Party, the BSP chief saidthat the saffron party was hid-ing its failures by diversionarytactics. She said that the BJP istrying to gain political mileageby using the name of formerPrime Minister Atal BihariVajpayee.

“The BJP governments instates and at the Centre are try-ing to hide their failures bydiversionary tactics. They havenot fulfilled their electionpromises. They are trying touse Atalji’s death for politicalgains.”

The BSP chief has madethis allegation exactly onemonth after the death ofVajpayee who passed away onAugust 16, 2018 at a hospital inthe national capital.

BSP president Mayawation Sunday made grih pravesh(house warming ceremony) ather new private bungalow aftervacating her government

accommodation on the ordersof the Supreme Court.

Thanking former PrimeMinister Atal Bihari Vajpayeefor this new bungalow,Mayawati said that the finan-cial contribution given by hersupporters after the BJP gov-ernment implicated herthrough the CBI and other cen-tral agencies in the Taj heritagecorridor cases in 2003 enabledher to build such a magnificentbungalow.

“I am really thankful to theformer PM and the BJP, whosedecision to harass me led toconstruction of this new bun-galow here and another inNew Delhi,” she said, address-ing the media here.

She also clarified that aftervacating her government bun-galow, she was forced to stay inNew Delhi due to renovationand security related work in hernew bungalow.

The former Chief Ministeralso allowed media persons to

go through the entire bungalowand watch the morels and theartefact fixed on the walls.

The bungalow, addressed 9,Mall Avenue, is at a stone’sthrow from the 13-A MallAvenue government bungalowwhich she had occupied in thecapacity of former ChiefMinister of UP. The BSP officeis also situated nearby.

The Rs 15-crore bungalowwas purchased in 2010. Carvedin red sandstone — similar tothe one used in Dalit memori-als and parks constructed dur-ing BSP regime, the massivebungalow, spread over an areaof more than 71,000 squarefeet, was purchased byMayawati barely three yearsafter she stormed to power withfull majority in UP in 2007.With a constructed area ofmore than 53,000 square feet,Mayawati’s private bungalow isalmost twice the size of the government bungalow she vacated.

Snubs Bhim Army chief on ‘bua’, ‘same blood’ remark

BSP chief Mayawati addressing media at her private residence in Mall Avenue inthe state capital on Sunday Pioneer

Maya frustrated as BSP losing ground in UP,says Pandey

SP, BSP take tough stance on tie-up with Cong

Ram temple: VHP urges

PM to remove all hurdles

VHP international general secretary Milind Parande addressing reporters inLucknow on Sunday Pioneer

Industry utilising CSR funds to keep cities, villages clean

‘The private sector hastaken lead in collaboratingwith the governmentagencies to give impetus to the Swachhata Mission.’

— Chief Secretary

Shivpal wants Akhilesh to

include SSM in alliance

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2 abductors shot in encounterwith police

Cong backs

farmers’

demands

LIFE CONVICT DIES IN JAIL Bahraich: A 60-year-old inmate, serving life imprisonment at

a district jail, died under mysterious circumstances during treat-ment at a hospital here, police said Sunday. The actual cause of deathwill be ascertained in the post mortem, they said. “Yusuf, who wasserving life imprisonment, was hospitalised at the district hospi-tal on Friday late night when his condition started deteriorating.“He died during treatment at the hospital on Saturday. The autop-sy will bring out the actual cause of death can be ascertained,” in-charge superintendent of Bahraich District Jail VK Shukla, said.

WOMAN ELECTROCUTED Muzaffarnagar: A 30-year-old married woman was electro-

cuted to death at Jalalabad town in Shamli district, police saidSunday. The incident took place on Saturday when Meraj Begumcame in contact with a live wire while washing clothes in the wash-ing machine. She was rushed to a hospital where she was declaredbrought dead.

MAN KILLS DALIT GIRL FOR REJECTING MARRIAGEPROPOSAL

Kanpur: A Dalit girl was stabbed to death allegedly by a manafter she turned down his marriage proposal in the Kakadev areahere, police said Sunday. The girl, 19, was a third year BA stu-dent, they said. The accused, Ajay, 22, had been following thegirl for the past few days and wanted to make a friendship. OnSaturday he barged into the victim’s house after finding her aloneand proposed her for marriage, officiating in-charge, Kakadev,Qamar Khan said. When she rejected, he tried to strangle herbefore stabbing her multiple times, he added.

COLLEGE TONSURES HEADS OF STUDENTS; PARENTSSEEK ACTION

Muzaffarnagar: Angry parents and their wards took tostreets at Shahpur town after a college here ordered tonsuringthe heads of its students, officials said Sunday. Sub-division-al magistrate Bhupender Kumar said Rashtriya Inter College,Shahpur authorities tonsured the heads of hundreds of its stu-dents recently.

city 03LUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

+PNS n LUCKNOW

An employee of a privatecompany was feared

drowned while his two friends,who are pursuing studies fromBBDU, were rescued. Themishap occurred when thegroup had gone to spent timefor an outing at Dream Valleyin Gosainganj on Sundayevening.

According to media cell ofLucknow police, the youths,identified as Ujjawal, Vaibhavand Ajeet Singh, all of Banda,reached the water park around5 pm on Sunday.

Ujjawal and Vaibhav areBTech students of BBDU whileAjeet was working in a privatecompany.

When they were taking adip in Indira Canal, they begandowning after they lost their

balance. The life guards and coach-

es present there swung intoaction and saved Ujjawal andVaibhav. However, Ajeet couldnot be traced.

The police said the policewere searching for Ajeet anddivers had been pressed intothe job. “The speed of thewater current is very strong andso the operation to search themissing youth faced hin-drance,” the police spokesmansaid.

Some of the staff of thewater park informed the policeabout the incident and a team,led by SHO Balwant Sahi,reached the place.

The cops asked the staff tothrow a net into the canal andthat way two of the youthsUjjawal and Vaibhav werefished out.

PNS n LUCKNOW

Amega event was organisedin the city with the core

objective of developing an eco-system and providing a level-playing field for emerging star-tups. The event was organisedby department of IT andElectronics in collaborationwith IIM-Lucknow andLucknow ManagementAssociation (LMA).

State Minister for IT andElectronics Mohsin Razapresided over the event as thechief guest. Additional ChiefSecretary, department of ITand Electronics, Alok Sinhawas also present at UP StartupConclave.

UP Startup Conclave

brought together manyrenowned speakers on thesame platform. The speakersthrew light on difficulties andchallenges that startups facedand spoke about ways to over-come them.

A Startup Pitch-inChallenge was also organisedduring the conclave in whichstartups presented their ideasthrough Pitch Decks. India’swell-known investors and incu-bators were the members ofjury for the Startup Pitch-inChallenge. The prize money ofaround Rs 7.5 lakh wasannounced for the winners. Anexhibition was also arrangedfor the startups to display theirproducts.

On this occasion, Mohsin

Raza said that small business-es like MSMEs and startupscontributed to employmentgeneration to a much greaterextent than large businesses.“The government, therefore,places great emphasis to star-tups which focus on findingsolutions through innovationsto real life problems facing peo-ple.

He added that the conclavewould significantly contributeto that objective and hopedthat the collaborating agenciesof the conclave would contin-ue their efforts to organisemore such events in the futuretoo.

Alok Sinha said that theUP government was mandatedto develop and implement the

startup policy of the state andthe required ecosystem forgrowth of startups. “The con-clave will generate not only acompetitive spirit among thestartups but will also createmeaningful support in terms ofknowhow of business,” heobserved.

IIM-Lucknow director AjitPrasad proposed a vote ofthanks. More than 500 startups,a large number of investors,incubators community, gov-ernment officials, top bureau-crats, banks and loaning insti-tutions attended the conclave.IT service providers and facil-itators, corporate and regulato-ry bodies, educational institutesand students were also a part ofthe grand startup event.

PNS n LUCKNOW

Aday after a video showingthree policemen riding a

bike without wearing helmetand abusing a man who wasshooting their act, theHazratganj police registered acase under section 504 IPC onSunday.

Giving details, the policesaid ASP, Traffic, was asked toprobe the issue after the videowent viral and it came to thenotice of senior officials. Theerrant cops were identified as

home guards Anurag Singhand Murari Lal while the otheraccused was identified asKunwar Prantiya, a RakshaDal (PRD) jawan.

For the last two days, avideo had been showing thecops doing tripling and abus-ing the man who was shootingtheir act in his mobile phone.The man, who was shootingthe video, was heard criticisingthe government for poor lawand order. The police said aninvestigation into the case wasunderway.

The video had kicked off acontroversy when top cops didnot react to the same and thesocial media activists startedcriticising the police for insen-sitivity and turning a Nelson’seye.

Soon the sites were flood-ed with a barrage of criticismforcing the DGP office to final-ly intervene and direct theTraffic police to act. Later, theSP, Traffic, conducted aninquiry and the errant copswere identified. The Trafficdepartment later lodged a case

in this connection. Now, thepolice are handling the case.Interestingly, the Lucknowpolice did not take an initiativeeven though it was brought totheir notice by some media-men.

FIREA fire broke out in the flat

allotted to an MLA ofRasoolabad, Kanpur Dehat, atVidhayak Niwas on Park roadunder Hazratganj police stationarea on Sunday morning. Asper reports, MLA CL Gautam

stays at the flat with his fami-ly. On Sunday morning, hiswife Nirmala Sankhwarinformed the police about thefire and a team reached theplace.

The police spokesman saidno casualty was reported in themishap while losses were beingestimated.

“At the time of mishap, noone was present in the houseand Sankhwar got the informa-tion by some acquaintance inthe colony,” the policespokesman said.

IISF eyes Guinness recordLucknow (PNS): India International Science Festival-2018,

which kicks off from October 5 in the city, will aim for GuinnessWorld Records. The festival being organised by the Ministry ofEarth Sciences, Ministry of Science and Technology and VigyanBharti will be inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind. IISForganising secretary Shreyansh Mandloi said: “The first 5-minutesession will be an introductory session followed by a lectureexplaining the importance of microbes in our day-to-day life andits commercial importance so that the students can imagine theimportance of microbes. An explanation on the structure of DNAand its various forms will also be held.”

He said Guinness World Records attempts had been a keypart of IISF since 2015 thus encouraging science popularisationthrough public participation. In IISF-2015, students took a suc-cessful shot at the Guinness World Records for the “World’sLargest Science Lesson” at IIT-Delhi. In IISF 2017, a world recordattempt was made for the “Largest Biology Lesson”. Some 1049students from classes IX & X gathered at the venue in Chennaifor the attempt. The Biology lesson was delivered by the instruc-tor followed by a demonstration and made it the new Guinnessrecord. Entries in the Guinness World Records serve as a moti-vational platform and an excellent opportunity for the young stu-dents to be part of the mega event. He pointed out that hecticpreparations were underway for the programme .

“The children will be accommodated at places closer to thevenue including Indira Gandhi Pratishthan, National BotanicalResearch Institute and Gomti Nagar railway station,” he said.

Mandloi said that they would also be holding National Socialorganisations and Institutions Meet (NSoIM) among several otherprogrammes at the IISF. “In order to engage science-orientedorganisations and institutions in nation-building through theintervention of science and technology, a three-day summit willbe conducted. The programme aims to deliberate on technolo-gies, innovation methodologies and products developed by R&Dinstitutions for the masses and also to promote the flagship pro-gramme of the government,” he added. He maintained thatNational Science Teachers’ Congress would bring hundreds ofinnovative, dedicated and passionate teachers from all walks oflife on a single platform to share their experiences and put forththe future roadmap for the country.

PNS nLUCKNOW

Three persons, including afair price shop owner, were

nabbed for breaching the bio-metric public distribution sys-tem protocol using their skill incyber science and availing thefacility for personal gain fromWazirganj in Lucknow onSunday. They were nabbed byan STF team which was work-ing on the case after complaintspoured in about the irregular-ity in the distribution of ration.

Those arrested were iden-tified as Mohammed AmirKhan, his brother Altmas, bothof Babarchi Tola of Wazirganj,and their aide Pushpendra Palof Mainpuri. Amir runs a fairprice shop while Altmas worksas computer operator at the

supply office in Wazirganj.Pushpendra used to help themiscreants in the crime.

According to police, themiscreants used e-passmachine which is mandatori-ly used by different fair priceshop owners to ensure that theration be given to eligible card-holders.

The miscreants used theflaw in the system under whichdigital signature of supplyinspector is not required at thetime of editing of Aadhaarcard number. The digital signa-ture, however, is mandatory atthe time of editing names in aration card.

Amir disclosed that heused to hack the data base ofdifferent price shop ownersand in the crime his brother

Altmas helped him. Altmas,who was employed as a com-puter operator, provided Amirthe login ID and password ofthe supply inspector ofWazirganj locality. Amir alsodisclosed that he had editedseveral hundreds of Aadhaarcard numbers to get benefit ofthe PDS system.

The fraud surfaced afterthe additional commissioner,Food and Civil Supplies, soughtdetails of biometric data, fairprice shops, supply inspectorsand computer operators formonitoring purpose.

It surfaced that there werea number of Aadhaar numberwhich were used more thanone time for withdrawingration and also there weresome Aadhaar numbers which

were updated/edited beforetaking the rations and after theprocess completed.

The police said the miscre-ants used their aides who hadAadhaar card in their nameand posed them as a fake ben-eficiary of the ration scheme.For serving their criminal pur-pose, they edited the Aadhaarnumber with another while thebeneficiary was the same in allthe cases.

A case of fraud, tamperinggovernment website/data baseand gaining benefit in an ille-gal way was registered againstthe miscreants.

The police suspect thatsome supply inspectors andemployees of the Food andCivil Supplies department werealso involved in the crime.

PNS n LUCKNOW

Bollywood actors VarunDhawan and Anushka

Sharma will be in the city onMonday to attendVishwakarma puja and will bemeeting skilled and talentedwork force of a factory.

A member of the Yash Rajproductions said that VarunDhawan and Anushka Sharma,through their promotions for“Sui Dhaaga – Made in India”,have tried to bring a spotlighton skilled artisans and crafts-men of the country.“Worshipping LordVishwakarma unites workersacross the country in a day ofcelebration and of acknowl-edgement of their crafts andtalent. Their tools andmachines form an integral partof the toolkit as crafts-people,artisans and weavers and tailorsworship it. Mauji played byVarun Dhawan makes a livingby using his sewing machineevery day and Mamta played byAnushka Sharma her embroi-dery kit. As this form of wor-ship resonates with workerseverywhere, both superstarswill join artisans in Lucknow atVishwakarma puja,” said themember from the production.

The much-awaited YRFentertainer celebrates the spir-it of craftsmanship and entre-preneurship and features Varunand Anushka as simple yetambitious and extremely inde-pendent-minded Mauji andMamta, seeking self-reliancethrough confidence in theirskills. As workers and artisansacross India worship the Godof their craft, LordVishwakarma, Varun andAnushka too will attend sucha puja in Lucknow and meetscores of workers of UP.

National award-winningdirector Sharat Katariya andproducer Maneesh Sharmahave come together for thishighly-awaited film that is setto release on September 28.

PNS n LUCKNOW

In the alleged mob lynching case ofNigoha, the police arrested five miscre-

ants in the wee hours on Sunday. Policeclaimed that deceased Amrish (27) waskilled as attackers had rivalry with the vic-tim over holding supremacy in the local-ity.

Those arrested were identified asPinku Yadav, his brother Rinku Yadav,Deepu and his brothers Umesh andMahesh, all of Badan Kheda of Nigoha.Police said Pinku had a criminal past andhe was charged for brawl and underSC/ST Act. To downplay the gravity of theincident, the police claimed that the

deceased was charged with rioting whilearmed with weapons, murderous assaultand also under SC/ST Act in the past.

In a press conference held at the SSPcamp office, the police team acted swift-ly on a control room message accordingto which some men had bludgeoned a manand had thrown him on the road.

ASP (Rural) Gaurav Grover said themurder took place as both the parties werevying for setting up their supremacy in thelocality.

He discounted the claim of moblynching saying the man was killed pure-ly due to enmity which cropped when bothPinku and Amrish started intimidatingpeople in the locality to serve their crim-

inal purpose. He said the police had recovered

sticks from the miscreants. “A case for riot-ing while armed with weapons and mur-dering Amrish had been registered againstthose arrested,” he said, adding that all thefive miscreants involved in the crime hadbeen arrested.

Amrish of Kurha village of Nigoha wasworking as a caterer in Nigoha market andwas returning along with his acquaintancewhen he was attacked in Badan Khedalocality on Saturday night. His friendMonu was also attacked when he tried tosave Amrish. Monu had told the police thatthe mob had singled out Amrish after theyspotted him.

PNS n LUCKNOW

Agroup of unidentified miscreants killed agardener outside Anna market in Madiaon

police station area around Saturday midnight.Blood was found spilled all around the crimescene and it seemed that the victim struggledhard to save himself from the assailants. Thepolice suspected the incident was a fallout of adrunken brawl. The body was sent for autopsyand investigations were underway. A case ofmurder has been registered.

As per reports, Jagannath alias Ramu (55)of Tambore locality of Sitapur was living withhis family which included his wife Sushila andfive children at a house on rent in Preeti Nagarlocality of Madiaon.

Around 11 pm, he returned home in adrunken state and there was a verbal spat withhis wife Sushila. In a fit of rage, Jagannath tookout the registration papers of his parental landin Sitapur and left the house threatening hewould sell it to someone.

A little later, his elder son Vidyasagar wentout to search for him and found him sitting atAnna market crossing. He tried to persuadeJagannath but in vain and so he returned home

around midnight. On Sunday morning, the family woke up to

a rude shock when some one from the localityinformed them about the death of Jagannath. “Ireached the spot instantly and found him lyingin a pool of blood and unconscious. With thehelp of local residents, he was rushed toTrauma Centre of KGMU where the doctorsdeclared him “brought dead”.

Sushila later lodged a case alleging the roleof unidentified miscreants in the murder of herhusband citing miscreants’ greed for his prop-erty as a reason.

Police, however, was skeptical about Sushila’sclaim that Jagannath was murdered over prop-erty issue. “Jagnnath had a brawl with some per-sons with whom he had a drink session the pre-vious night and he was attacked by them,” thepolice said.

Contesting police claim, the residents saidJagannath was attacked in the dead of night andso he could not be helped. “This indicated thatthe police was not on patrol. Blood had spilledup to 50 metre-long stretch of the road near themarket where the victim was attacked. It sug-gested that Jagannath fought bravely withattackers,” they opined.

Case lodged against three policemen

Man killed during drunken brawl

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE n LUCKNOW

The Ganesh Mahotsav atPatrakarpuram is based on the

theme ‘Avoid Plastic’ in order toencourage people to conserveand save the environment.Pratibha Jha from thePatrakarpuram Ganesh PujaSamiti said that it was the eighthedition of the Ganapati Puja andthey were encouraging the use ofeco-friendly items.

“We are using ‘daunas’ for thedistribution of ‘prasad’ to high-light the fact that we need to keepaway from polythene which wewere using last year. Also in all thecultural programmes which weorganise in the evening we haveone programme which is based onbeat the plastic campaign,” shesaid. The pandal of this GaneshPuja is based on a Bengali themeand lights have been done by theKolkata artists.

“The Ganesha idol is eco-friendly and is over 16 foot high.One of the important character-istics of this Ganesh Puja is thatwe highlight all the gods in thispandal. We organised aSunderkand Paath on Saturdayand we are organising a Sai palkion Sunday,” she said. Jha said thatover 1500-2000 devotees visit thestall and sometimes their numbergoes up to 4000-5000.

“On Sunday, we prepared onequintal ‘tahri’ and ‘khichdi’ for thedevotees. We serve a specialprasad of ‘kheel’ and dry fruits aswell as bananas. Laddoos andmodaks are also served during thispuja,” she added.

Meanwhile, several GanapatiPuja samitis have started prepara-tions for the ‘visarjan’ of idols.

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE n LUCKNOW

The Central Institute of SubtropicalHorticulture has signed an MOU with

the Indian Oil Corporation for the bestusage of the byproduct which is left afterthe refining of petrol.

CISH director Shailendra Rajan saidthat the byproduct could be successfullyused against pests plaguing crops.

The technology is to be developed forthe control of mango disease and pests byICAR-CISH. The protocol has beenfinalised and signed by the IOC and ICAR-CISH for its testing on mango. Principalinvestigator PK Shukla, and co-PIGundappa will work on insects, pests anddiseases. The product will be experi-mented on mango trees to protect the cropfrom infection of disease-causing agentsas well as insect feeding.

“As expected, the developed technol-ogy will provide relief to farmers, present-ly compelled to use chemical pesticides for

different insects and pests and diseases. Itwill not only reduce cost of production butalso check environmental pollution. Thetrials are planned to be conducted at fivedifferent locations at CISH, Rehmankhera,Saharanpur, Faizabad, Sitapur and Unnao.The selected orchards will be managed bythe CISH scientists and eco-friendly man-agement technology will be developed forefficient pest management with minimumnumber of sprays at most critical stages ofcrops,” added the director.

In the coming mango flowering andfruiting season, the oil will be tested againstmajor pests. “Mango suffers from severaldiseases and insects. Farmers used to sprayseveral pesticides repeatedly for their man-agement which not only reduces netreturns from crop but also causes a lot oftoxicity to human beings and non-targetorganisms. Environment, including soiland underground water, are also being pol-luted. It has also been noticed that despiteall efforts insects and pests are causing

severe losses. Keeping in mind the presentscenario a serious thought has been givento manage the pests by using non-toxicpesticides like neem, oil products and bio-control agents,” said Rajan.

He added that the mango industry inIndia was facing a number of problems inmanagement of insects and pests. “Multiplesprays of the chemicals are also not ableto check this menace and the managementthrough pesticides not only involves agreater cost for the farmers but is also isa major threat to the environment. Theuse of pesticides is directly or indirectlykilling the useful insects as well as the bio-logical control agents prevalent in theorchard ecosystem. Apart from toxic pes-ticides, insect pests can be controlled bymany other ways and there is an urgentneed to search for technology by which theuse of pesticides is minimised and the eco-logical balance is maintained with effec-tive management of economically impor-tant pests of mangoes,” he maintained.

Pvt company staffer

feared drowned

Challenges before startups discussed

5 booked in mob lynching case

Varun, Anushka to attend

Vishwakarma puja today

MoU for using petrol byproduct against pests

Three nabbed for hacking PDS protocol

UPSSC aspirants coming out of Bappa Shri Narain Vocational College after appearing in the examination on Sunday Pioneer

‘Avoid plastic’ was the theme of Ganesh Mahotsav here

city/nation 04LUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

U.P. RAJAY VIDUYTUTPADAN NIGAMLTD. OBRA THER-MAL POWER STA-TION OBRA-

SONEBHADRA CORRIGEN-DUM The opening dates of e-Tender No. 22/0&MMC-V/TMD/BTPS/2018-19 ofOverhauling of C.W pumps,electric & Diesel Fire pump, HPpump, R.W. pump, B.C.W. pumpto be carried out during annualrunningl breakdown mainte-nance of CW pump house of5x200MW, BTPS Obra is here-by extended as below:- LastDate and Time For SubmissionOf e-Bids (Technical andFinancial)at e-procurernent web-site: http://etender.up.nic.in26/09/2018 up to 18:00 hrs. LastDate and Time For Submissionof Hardcopy of: RequisiteDocuments in the Office ofUndersigned : 27/09/2018 up to16:00 hrs. Date And Time ofOpening of e-Bids : 29/09/2018up to 16:00 hrs Other terms &conditions of the tender shallremain the same.Superintending EngineerO&MMC-V, BTPS, OBRA-SONEBHADRACORRIGENDUM The openingdates of e- Tender No.23/0&MMC-V/TMD/BTPS/2018-19 of Round the clock rou-tine/preventive maintenanceworks of Turbine & its auxiliariesof unit no. 12 and CW PumpHouse of 5x200MW BTPS.Obra is hereby extended asbelow:- Last Date and Time ForSubmission Of e-Bids (Technicaland Financial)at e-procurernentwebsite: http://etender.up.nic.in26/09/2018 up to 18:00 hrs. LastDate and Time For Submissionof Hardcopy of: RequisiteDocuments in the Office ofUndersigned : 27/09/2018 up to16:00 hrs. Date And Time ofOpening of e-Bids : 29/09/2018up to 16:00 hrsOther terms &conditions of the tender shallremain the same.Superintending EngineerO&MMC-V, BTPS, OBRA-SONEBHADRA No. 229 Date13.9.2017 "SAVE ELECTRICI-TY IN THE INTREST OFNATION

U.P. RAJYA VIDYUTUTPADAN NIGAMLIMITED- OBRATHERMAL POWERSTATION, OBRA-

SONEBHADRA "TIME EXTEN-SION" This office tender no. T-24/0&MMC-V/BMD/BTPS/2018-19 for the "Work of Radiographyof H.P. Joint of economizercoils during R&M of UnitNo.13th for (2x200M.W.) units,BTPS, Obra" is hereby extend-ed as below:- Last Date andTime for Submission of E-Bids(Technical and Financial) at E-procurement website: http://etender.up.nic.in : 18.09.2018 upto 17:00 hrs. Last Date and Timefor Submission of Hardcopy of:Requisite Documents in theOffice of Undersigned:19.09.2018 up to 17:00 hrs. Dateand Time of Opening of E-Bids(part-I) 20.09.2018 at (16:00hrs.) All other terms & conditionsof the tender shall remainunchanged. SUPERINTEND-ING ENGINEER O&MMC-V,BTPS, OBRA No. 226 Date11.09.2018 SAVE ELECTRICI-TY IN THE INTREST OFNATION

U.P. Rajya VidyutUtpadan Nigam Ltd.Obra Tharmal PowerStation, OBRA-

Sonebhadra, -231219 NOTICESri Ravi Raj, Junior Engineer,CIMD-II, BTPS, Obra,Sonebhadra (U.P.), PermanentAddress- Vill.-Misarauliya, P.O.-Bhore, Distt.- Gopalganj (Bihar)is hereby informed that you arecontinuously absconding fromyour working place w.e.f.20.09.2012 to till date. In thiscontext many letters have beensent to you from this division buttill the date neither you havejoined your duty nor has anyinformation been received fromyour side. As such, vide thispress notice you are herebyonce again directed either toreport your joining in this officewithin 15 (Fifteen) days from thedate of publication of this noticeor as per condition laid down inyour appointment letter arrangeto deposit the bond amount ofRs. 2.00 Lac (Rs. Two Lac) onlyin the form of demand draftmade in favour of Dy. CAO,CFA&BO, BTPS, Obra in thisoffice within 15 (Fifteen) days ofpublication of this notice, failingwhich the necessary recom-mendation will be made toNigam headquarter for termina-tion of you service fromUPRVUNL as well as for recov-ery of bond amount of Rs. 2.00Lac (Rs. Two Lac) only forwhich you will.be.solely respon-sible. (B.D. Sonkar) EXECU-TIVE ENGINEER CIMD-II,BTPS, OBRA- SONEB-HADRA, U.P. (2312l2) No. 231Date 13.09.2018 SAVE ELEC-TRICITY IN THE INTREST OFNATION

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE n LUCKNOW

Exercise Yuddh Abhyas-2018, a joint military exer-

cise of Indian and US armies,commenced on Sunday morn-ing at Chaubattia,Uttarakhand, with a short,yet impressive opening cere-mony which saw the unfurl-ing of the national flags ofboth the countries to thestrains of ‘ Jana Gana Mana...’and ‘The Star SpangledBanner.’ Indian and US sol-diers stood side by side andgave a ceremonial salute to thetwo seniormost officers of theUS and Indian sides reviewingthe ceremony.

The US contingent wasrepresented by the 1st InfantryBattalion, 23 InfantryRegiment, 2 Stryker BrigadeCombat Team, 7 InfantryDivision, US Army while theIndian side was represented byan Infantry Battalion of theCongo Brigade, GarudDivision, Surya Command.

The General OfficerCommanding, GarudDivision, welcomed the USsoldiers and in his inauguralremarks highlighted the com-monly-shared beliefs ofdemocracy, freedom, equalityand justice which are preciousto both nations. Battalionstrength army personnel fromUSA and an equal number ofIndian soldiers from the SuryaCommand are taking part inthe two-week-long eventwhich will see them honetheir tactical and technicalskills in countering insur-gency and terrorism in a UNpeace keeping scenario involv-

ing a combined deployment atbrigade level. State-of-the-artequipment for surveillanceand tracking, specialistweapons for close quartercombat with terrorists, explo-sive and improvised explosivedevice detectors as well as the

latest communication equip-ment are being fielded byboth the sides. Both sides willjointly train, plan and executea series of well-developed tac-tical drills for the neutralisa-tion of likely threats whichmay be encountered in the

UN peacekeeping operationsduring the division-level com-mand post exercise. Theexperts from both the sideswill also hold discussions toshare each others’ experienceon varied topics for mutualbenefit.

Joint exercise by Indian,

US armies commences

TALENT SHOWBhavya and Khayati Saxena

finished first and secondrespectively in a talent show ‘EkShaam Desh ke Naam’ organ-ised by Neeraj Films at RaiUmanath Bali auditorium onSunday.

Neeraj Films managingdirector Neeraj Srivastava gaveaway the prizes.

‘KIDS BONANZA'On the third and final day

of the 'Kids Bonanza' organisedby City Montessori School,Station Road Campus at CMSKanpur Road auditorium, stu-dents of pre-primary andClasses I and II emerged asexcellent performers, amazingdancers and actors makingeveryone believe that they are

small bundles of talents. About41 schools' students exploredtheir latent talents in Twist andTurn, Picture Perfect, RibTickler, Hale and Hearty,Sound of Silence contests.Lighting the lamp ceremonycommenced the programme.

FOUNDATION DAY The 84th Foundation Day

of Bank of Maharashtra wascelebrated as ‘83 years ofCustomers’ Trust andPatronage - The Journey of vir-tuous banking continues with25 million Satisfied Customers'at Hotel Vijay Paradise onSunday. Zonal Manager(Lucknow) RT Parulekarspokeabout the new technology dri-ven bank products such asKlik2 Bank, Maha Mobile App,UPI, Maha Top-Up LoanScheme, Purple SavingAccounts, EMV Cards andSME loans, Stand -Up India,Mudra Yojana , LAP RetailLoan etc. A mahamedhavi cer-tificate has been given to AkashMourya, who is UP Boardstate topper.

CITYBRIEFSIGP to get

a makeover

Lucknow (PNS): Now theprestigious Indira GandhiPratishthan in Gomti Nagar areawill have a new and more attrac-tive looks. It will be designed onthe lines of the Indian HabitatCentre of New Delhi. This wasdisclosed by LucknowDevelopment Authority (LDA)Vice-Chairman PN Singh. Thefresh plan will be executed underthe guidance of deputy director,Garden, SS Sisodia.

There is no place or venueanywhere in the state capitalwhere international conferencesand seminars can be hosted. Suchmeetings cannot be held at theScientific Centre of King George`sMedical University as its infra-structure is not adequate enoughwhile Jai Prakash NarayanInternational Convention Centreis still unfinished.

The main stress will be on thelandscaping. The LDA adminis-tration will seek the help of stu-dents of Chandigarh architecturecollege and local Arts College whoare offering their services free ofcost.

Sisodia said the nursery locat-ed on the compound of theJaneshwar Mishra Park wouldinitially supply saplings for land-scaping. As per plan, an emeraldgreen lawn will be developed tohold the event of more than 2,500people at one time and also havetwo separate parking lots forguests and VVIPs arriving thereto participate in the event.

Singh held a meeting onSunday to discuss the plan withofficials and engineers to maintainthe Pratishthan complex as it willbe hosting four-day InternationalScience Fest commencing fromOctober 5. The proposed festivalis important for the LDA admin-istration as it will be inauguratedby President Ram Nath Kovind.Prime Minister Narendra Modiwill be chief guest of the valedic-tory session

THE US CONTINGENT WAS REPRESENTED BY THE 1STINFANTRY BATTALION, 23 INFANTRY REGIMENT, 2STRYKER BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM, 7 INFANTRY DIVISION,US ARMY WHILE THE INDIAN SIDE WAS REPRESENTED BYAN INFANTRY BATTALION OF THE CONGO BRIGADE, GARUDDIVISION, SURYA COMMAND.

Shah: Sole agenda ofMahagathbandhanis to defeat Modi PTI n NAGPUR

Nagpur Mayor NandaJichkar has kicked up a

controversy for reportedly tak-ing her son as a “private secre-tary” on an official visit to theUnited States.

Jichkar was invited to theGlobal Climate Action Summitin San Francisco which tookplace between September 12-14.

Slamming the mayor overthe incident, Congress citychief Vikas Thakre said thatJichkar’s son was not a stafferof the Nagpur MunicipalCorporation.

“The mayor has committeda mistake. The post of private

secretary is an official onewhile her son does not work inthe NMC. She has also misledher American hosts with thisact and has brought disreputeto our country,” Thakre alleged.

He said that the oppositionwould not ask for her resigna-tion but she should do so onher own.

The Congress leader inthe NMC, Tanaji Wanve, alsocondemned Jichkar’s act.

“The letter inviting themayor was addressed to herprivate secretary and was senton the official address of theNMC. It was inappropriate onher part to take her son along,”Wanve said.

Cong slams Nagpur BJP mayorfor taking son on official US Trip

PTI n PUNE

Chief of Army Staff GeneralBipin Rawat on Sunday

said countries like Nepal andBhutan “have to be inclinedtowards India because of geog-raphy”.

In his reply to a query onthe growing closeness betweenNepal and China, Rawat saidties between nations changealong with the global scenario.

“Countries like Nepal andBhutan have to be inclinedtowards India because of geog-

raphy,” Rawat said on the side-lines of the closing ceremony ofthe Bay of Bengal initiative forMulti-Sectoral Technical andEconomic Cooperation-FieldTraining Military Exercise(BIMSTEC-MILEX).

“Geography favours inclina-tion towards India and as far asalliance (with China) is con-cerned, it is a temporary thing,”he added. Citing the example ofPakistan and the US, the gener-al claimed that the dynamics ofties between nations keepchanging along with the sce-

nario at the global level.“The best example of this is

the relation between Americaand Pakistan. It is not the sameas what it used to be 70 yearsago. Therefore, we need not bebothered about all these issues.We need to concentrate onhow to keep our countrystrong,” he said.

Rawat said the leadership inIndia believed in developingrelations with its neighbours.

“We are a bigger countryand if we take the lead, every-body will follow suit. That is

why we stepped into this (byorganising the military exer-cise),” he said.

He claimed that Indialooked at China as a competi-tor because of “economics”.

“They (China) are lookingfor a market and so are we.There is competition. Whoeverdoes it better will win the race,”Rawat said.

Another senior army officersaid any country desiring eco-nomic growth was bound toexplore bilateral and multi-lat-eral ways of cooperation espe-

cially with a stronger nation likeChina.

However, the countries thathave taken financial assistancefrom China are realising that“nothing comes for free”.

“There is caution in theminds of those who have takenmoney from them (China) thatnothing comes for free,” he said.

Addressing a press confer-ence on Sunday evening, Rawatsaid terrorism was becoming aglobal phenomenon and India’sneighbourhood was one of themost affected regions.

Nepal, Bhutan have to be inclined towards India: Gen Rawat

From Page 1Aejaj Ahmed of the SFI

polled 2,423 votes and won thepost of general secretary, bydefeating Ganesh Gurjar of theABVP by 1,300 votes. Amuthaof the AISF defeated ABVP’sVenkat Choubey by 800 votes towin the post of joint secretary.Amutha bagged 2,047 votes.

Balaji is a student of JNU’sSchool of International Studieswhile Chaudhary, Ahmed andAmutha belong to the School of

Social Sciences.Besides the Left bloc and

the ABVP, there were candidatesof NSUI and the BAPSA (BirsaAmbedkar Phule StudentsAssociation), a student groupadvocating Dalit causes.

The voter turnout in thekeenly contested JNUSU elec-tion on Friday was 67.8 per cent,believed to be the highest in sixyears. About 5,170 studentscast their votes.

Himanshu Kulshrestha,chairperson, election commit-tee, said, “14 representatives of10 candidates were presentwhen the ballot boxes wereopened. There have also been

allegations of a “biased” electioncommittee and violence duringthe election process. Last yeartoo, the Left student groups hadwon all four central panel posts.”

The EC claimed that thethree announcements weremade over loudspeaker askingall candidates to come or sendtheir representatives as countingagents with third callannounced as the final call.

There was high drama onSaturday as counting was sus-pended for close to 14 hoursafter the ABVP staged protestsclaiming it was not informedabout the start of the countingprocess.

The counting, which wassuspended at 4 am, resumed at6.30 pm after two teachers fromthe Grievance Redressal Cellwere appointed as observers forthe exercise.

The ABVP and the Leftgroups indulged in a blamegame as they accused eachother of roughing up theirmembers on the campus.

President of ABVP-JNUunit Vijay Kumar had allegedthat counting of votes was beingdone without adhering to therules and had said the biasedway of handling elections put aquestion mark on the electioncommittee’s neutrality.

From Page 1Haryana Police has faced

flak for treating the gangrapecasually initially by citing juris-dictional issues, losing crucialtime and evidence to nab theaccused.

The victim, who had iden-tified her attackers, and herparents had said earlier thatpolice were not taking actionand were dealing with the mat-ter casually.

The family alleged that 8-10 men could be involved inthe gangrape.

Lal Salaamrents JNU...

CBSE...

PTI n RAJGARH (MP)

On the eve of Congress chiefRahul Gandhi’s visit to the

State, Madhya Pradesh ChiefMinister Shivraj Singh ChouhanSunday took a swipe at himclaiming the former did notknow how chillies grew in a field.

Chouhan was speaking at apublic rally in Narsinghgarh areanear here. Gandhi will arrive in

Bhopal Monday and embark ona 15-kilometre road show fromLalghati Chowk to the BharatHeavy Electricals Ltd’s DussehraMaidan.

“The leader who does notknow how chillies grow in a field-whether upside down or theother way round is showingconcern about farmers and farm-ing,” Chouhan said Sunday.

“Rahulji, your Government

gave loans to farmers at a highrate of 18 per cent (in MadhyaPradesh). We are disbursingloans to farmers at zero percent,” he added.

The MP CM said that theBJP governments at the Centreand here had vowed to makefarmers prosperous and had, sofar, transferred `32,701 crore tothem through various beneficialschemes.

MP: Chouhan targets RaGa with ‘chilli’ barb

Devotees carry a Lord Ganesha for immersion during ‘Ganesh Utsav’ celebration atthe Bay of Bengal in Chennai on Sunday PTI

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu during the release of water at Kondaveeti Vagu irrigation plant atUndavalli in Guntur on Sunday PTI

PTI n JODHPUR

BJP president Amit Shah onSunday said the

Mahagathbandhan’s only agen-da was to remove PrimeMinister Narendra Modi frompower.

Calling the grand alliancea ‘dhakosla’ (deception), Shahurged the voters to understandthat the parties who were a part

of it were not seriousabout tackling issues likepoverty, unemploymentand corruption.

Shah said the grandalliance’s ideology andobjective was centeredaround ensuring Modi’sdefeat in the 2019 gener-al elections.

“Modi Modi Modi…He is a phobia for them,”the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) chief said in hisaddress in the poll-boundState.

Shah highlighted thatthe leaders of regionalparties who were part ofthe alliance were defeatedin their respective Statesby the BJP who went on toform the Governmentsthere.

The BJP chief alsoaccused the alliance ofraising a hue and cry overthe issue of illegal immi-grants in Assam.

In Assam, 40 lakh ille-gal immigrants were iden-tified and the process todelete their names fromvoters list caused heart-burn to these leaders,Shah said.

He fur ther cal ledupon the youth membersof the party to under-stand their responsibili-ties, work culture of theorganisation and strug-gles of senior leaders. “Itis the responsibility of theyouth to take the partyforward,” he said, addingthat the BJP was thelargest political party inthe world with 11 croremembers and ruling about70 per cent of the country.

Shah said that BJP hadinternal democracy andwas the party of workers.

This is the only partyin the world which nom-inated its member, whowas a tea seller, for thepost of the countr y’sPrime Minister and has anerstwhile booth worker asits president, he said.

On the contrary, onecan become a Congresspresident by the virtue ofbeing born in a particularfamily.

Addressing a gather-ing of intellectuals later,Shah said that he did notwant them to vote for theBJP and instead urgedthem to set a narrative andcreate an atmosphere sothat the masses vote forthe party.

nation 05LUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

PNS n NEW DELHI

Prime Minister NarendraModi will visit his parlia-

mentary constituency Varanasion Monday on his birthday. Hewill reach Varanasi for a two-day visit on Monday after-noon. The Prime Minister willvisit Narur village, where hewill interact with children of aprimary school, aided by non-profit organisation "Room toRead". Later, he will interactwith students of KashiVidyapeeth and children assist-ed by them on the premises of

Diesel Locomotive Works(DLW).

On Tuesday, Modi willinaugurate or lay the founda-tion of various developmentprojects, cumulatively worthmore than `500 crore, accord-ing to a statement by the PrimeMinister's office (PMO). Theevent will be held at theamphitheatre of Banaras HinduUniversity (BHU).

Among the projects to beinaugurated by Modi areIntegrated PowerDevelopment Scheme (IPDS)for Puraani Kashi and an AtalIncubation Centre at BHU.Among the projects for whichthe foundation stones will belaid is the RegionalOphthalmology Centre atBHU. The Prime Minister willalso address a gathering, thestatement said.

RAJESH KUMAR n NEW DELHI

Despite heavy rains afterthe second half of August

and first week of September,which caused floods acrossBihar, Kerala, Assam andGujarat, and also in Bengaluru,as many as 254 districts arefaced with drought like situa-tion this monsoon.

According to IndiaMeteorological Department(IMD), the rain deficiency isrecorded 9 per cent tillSeptember 16. The rain defi-cient is expected to go up in thecoming days when the south-west monsoon will start with-drawing from the next week.The monthly deficit hasincreased from 5 per cent inJune, to 6 per cent in July and7.6 per cent in August.According to agriculture min-istry, if 20-40 per cent of theState receives deficient rainfall,it will be declared as "deficientyear". If it goes beyond 40 percent, it will be declared a "large-ly deficient year".

The States like Jharkhand,Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,Meghalya, Bihar, westRajasthan, Gujarat, North-Eastand parts of Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu and Karnatakahave witnessed below normalrains.

"As against a normal rain-fall of 819.7 mm, the countryhas received 743.8 mm rainfall,thereby registering a rainfalldeparture of minus 9 per centtill September 16," according toIMD officials.

The IMD data showsArunachal Pradesh recordedrain deficiency up to 30 percent; Assam 20 per cent;Meghalaya 38 per cent;Manipur 54 percent; Tripura 20percent; West Bengal 19 per-cent; Jharkhand 24 per cent;Bihar 20 per cent; Haryana 20per cent; Punjab 18 per cent;Gujarat 23 per cent; Saurashtra& Kutch 29 per cent;

Marathwada division 15 percent; Vidarbha 7 per cent;Andhra Pradesh 11 per cent;Rayalseema 45 per cent; TamilNadu 14 per cent; Puducherry20 per cent and NorthKarnataka 26 per cent. Thedata shows more than 40 percent districts in South Indiawitnessed deficient rainfall thismonsoon season. Of the 125districts in the region, 54reported deficient rainfall andanother two were "largely" defi-cient. The worst hit State bydeficient rainfall in South Indiawas Tamil Nadu. Of its 32 dis-tricts, 20 received deficientrainfall while one reported

large deficiency.In West Bengal, rain defi-

ciency is recorded 56 per centin Dakshin Dinajpur;Darjeeling 18 per cent; KoochBihar 41 per cent; Malda 39percent; Murshidabad 51 per-cent; Hugli 27 per cent; Nadia20 per cent; South 24 Parganas15 per cent and Uttar Dinajpur39 per cent.

In Bihar, of the 38 districts,24 witnessed rain deficient thismonsoon. As per data, raindeficiency in Arariya recorded21 per cent; Arwal 30 per cent;Begu Sarai 26 percent; Bhojpur33 per cent; Darbhanga 28 percent; Jehanabad 33 per cent;

Jamui 31 per cent; Katihar 34per cent; Khagria 36 per cent;Muzzaffarpur 41 per cent;Patna 27 per cent and eastChamparan 32 per cent.

The rain deficiency inDevbhoomi Dwarka recorded42 per cent; Jamnagar 29 percent; Kachchh 62 per cent;Morbi 51 per cent; Porbandar28 and Rajkot 30 per cent inSaurashtra and Kutch subdivision. Similarly, rain defi-ciency in Ananthapur,Chittoor, Cuddapah andKurnool in Rayalseemarecorded 33 percent, 41 percent, 60 per cent and 46 percent respectively.

In Assam and Meghalyasub division, districts likeBaksa, Barpeta, Dhubri,Bongaigaon, Goalpare havefaced rain deficiency up to 20to 40 per cent till date.Interestingly, some parts ofthe Assam is faced floodswhich affected 1,42,335 peoplein the State. ArunachalPradesh, which was once tout-ed as India's hydroelectric pow-erhouse, has also been leftwanting more. The State wit-nessed the highest deficit of 34per cent rainfall, recording936.3 mm rainfall (actual)against the normal average of1,423.8 mm. Anjaw (-10 percent), Changlang (-15 per

cent), East Kameng (-50 percent) West Kameng (-44 percent), Tirap (-66 per cent) andlohit (-44 per cent) are amongthose districts which receivedless rain this year.

In Manipur, deficiency ofrain in Churachandpur isrecorded 66 per cent, Chandel( -66) Imphal East (-30 percent), Senapati (-47 per cent),Tamenglong (-74 per cent)and Champhai (-45 per cent).

Out of total 36 sub-divi-sions, as many as 24 have wit-nessed normal rains, while 10continue to remain rain-defi-cient and two sub division hasrecorded excess rains. In otherwords, of the total 681 districts,254 have witnessed less mon-soon or rain deficient while 319have recorded normal rains.There are 76 districts whichrecorded excess rains while 13recorded large excess rains tilldate. July and August, therainiest months of the season,together account for nearly 70per cent of monsoon rainfall,and are crucial to the rain-fedagricultural areas.

IMD officials said that theMet Department mandate is tosay whether the rainfall is nor-mal or deficient. "Interpretationis the job of the StateGovernment," said IMD offi-cials.

DESPITE DEVASTATING FLOODS

Droughts looming as rain deficit hits States

Modi to visitVaranasi today

Will interactwith childrenon his birthday

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons during the inauguration of ‘Paryatan Parv 2018' in New Delhi onSunday PTI

PNS n NEW DELHI

The Congress on Sundayalleged that there are dis-

crepancies in the Telanganavoter list and sought the inter-vention of the ElectionCommission (EC) in the"strongest possible manner".

Addressing the media,Congress spokespersonAbhishek Singhvi said, therewere around 70 lakh discrep-ancies in the voter list inTelangana. "The problem ofduplicates, deleted votes and dis-qualified voters is far moreacute in Telangana than couldhave been imagined, " he said.The party might move court to

ensure that the alleged discrep-ancies and anomalies in theelectoral rolls are correctedbefore any election is held in theState.

The Congress has alreadymoved a petition in theSupreme Court on alleged dis-crepancies in electoral rolls inRajasthan and Madhya Pradesh,where polls are due this year-end. Singhvi alleged that out ofthe total 70 lakh discrepancies,names of over 30 lakh voterswere duplicated and 20 lakhdeleted on the pretext that theyhave left for Andhra Pradesh.The same have not been addedto the voter list of AndhraPradesh, he claimed.

Cong alleges

discrepancies

in T voters list

PTI n NEW DELHI

Days after Congressleader Digvijay Singh

said the party will construct"Ram Path" in MadhyaPradesh if voted to power,the BJP has dared him toannounce support inParliament to the construc-tion of a Ram temple inAyodhya.

BJP national vice-pres-ident Prabhat Jha told PTIBhasha the Congress' lovefor Lord Ram is just for thesake of elections.

"Digvijay Singh is him-self a member of the RajyaSabha and senior leader ofthe Congress. Instead oftalking about non-issues,he should promise support

in Parliament to the con-struction of a Ram temple inAyodhya," he said.

Jha said the Ram templeissue is sub-judice and thecourt will decide on it, butMuslims and Hindus canalso resolve the mattermutually.

He said theGovernment has startedwork on the RamayanCircuit project, estimatedto come up at a cost of ̀ 266crore.

The Government plansto develop Ramayana-basedtourist centres as part of theRamayana Circuit. It is oneof 13 circuits the TourismMinistry is planning todevelop as part of itsSwadesh Darshan Scheme.

BJP dares Cong toannounce supportto Ram temple

PTI n NEW DELHI

Fifteen patients suffering due to"faulty" hip implants of Johnson

and Johnson have approached the cen-tral expert committee, days after it wasformed by the Union Health Ministryto determine the quantum of com-pensation to be provided to them.

Sources in the Union HealthMinistry said the panel has so farreceived representations from 15affected patients from across thecountry and it will have its firstmeeting on September 18 to scrutiniseeach of them.

The Centre constituted the five-member expert committee to deter-mine the quantum of compensationto be given to patients who have"faulty" hip implants, manufactured byDePuy International, a subsidiary ofJohnson and Johnson.

Apart from the central panel, theUnion Health Ministry has also askedstates and union territories to consti-tute separate committees so that they

can receive such complaints fromaffected patients.

"We have received 15 such repre-sentations via mail since the expertcommittee was formed. The centralexpert committee will meet onTuesday to discuss each of the cases,"a Health Ministry source said.

The source said that after pre-liminary scrutiny, it has been foundthat there are one or two cases that arenot related to the matter involvingJohnson and Johnson.

An earlier expert panel, consti-tuted by the Union Health Ministry toinvestigate complaints about faultyarticular surface replacement (ASR)hip implant devices, said in its reportthat the pharma giant "suppressed"facts on the harm of surgeries after-wards which was conducted onpatients in India using the "faulty" sys-tems.

It had also suggested that the com-pany pay compensation of around ̀ 20lakh to the affected patients.

The new five-member central

committee is being chaired by R KArya, director, Sports Injury Centre,Safdurjung Hospital.

Others in the committee includeC S Yadav, department ofOrthopaedics, AIIMS in New Delhi;Vineet Sharma, Head of Departmentof Orthopaedics, King George'sMedical University in Lucknow; BikasMedhi, professor pharmacology,Postgraduate Institute of MedicalEducation and Research (PGIMER),Chandigarh; and Bhushan Tilak Kaul,professor of law in Delhi University.

The sources said the ministry issoon going to make amendments inthe medical devices rules in whichthere will be a provision for payingcompensation to such affected patientsin case it is proven.

Patients and family members ofthose affected by Johnson andJohnson's faulty hip implants hadgathered in Delhi recently, demand-ing they be directly involved in theprocess of ascertaining the compen-sation.

15 patients approach expert committeeFAULTY HIP IMPLANTS CASE

PTI n NEW DELHI

Tribals account for 30 per cent casesof malaria in India and non-com-

municable and lifestyle diseases arenow major health problems facingthem, according to a Governmentstudy.

The comprehensive analysis oftribal health by an expert committeeconstituted by the Ministries of Healthand Tribal Affairs in 2013, also revealedthat an "unacceptably high" number oftribals suffer from malnutrition.

The health status of ScheduledTribes has significantly improved overthe last 25 years, and "yet, it is the worstwhen compared to other socialgroups", it said.

The committee, which submittedthe report to the Government recent-ly, was tasked to review the existinghealth situation in tribal areas, for-mulate strategic guidelines for Statesand make recommendations on therequirement of additional resources.

It said there is a near completeabsence of data on the health situationof different tribal communities. In theabsence of a comprehensive health pic-ture of tribal health in the country, pol-icy measures and Government pro-grammes are often ad-hoc.

The panel relied on data from the2011 Census, National Family HealthSurvey (NFHS), National SampleSurvey Organisation (NSSO), studiesconducted by civil society, and a studyby the National Institute of Researchin Tribal Health.

"Geographical isolation, poorimplementation of policies and lack ofadequate resources have been respon-sible for the poor health status of thetribal population," the 12-memberpanel, headed by Magsaysay awardeeand rural health expert Dr AbhayBang, said.

The committee found that tribalpeople, who constitute 8.6 per cent ofthe country's population, suffer froma triple burden of diseases.

1st ever tribal health report revealsmalnutrition rife among STs

PNS n NEW DELHI

Union Home MinisterRajnath Singh on

Sunday asserted India is fullof cultural diversity and itis unbreakable. It is beingdeveloped as a tourist des-tination.

Singh was speaking onthe inauguration of the sec-ond edition of 'ParyatanParv', being held across thecountry to promote touristsites, especially amongdomestic travellers.

The event is beingorganised by the TourismMinistry with the objectiveof drawing focus on thebenefits of tourism, show-casing the cultural diversi-ty of the country and rein-forcing the principle of"tourism for all".

"Indian culture is veryrich. Its rich civilisation is

discussed across the world.Its the only country wherefollowers of all the impart-ed religions are found.

"There are a great num-ber of languages, dialectsand dresses. Its a countryfull of diversity. Still, it isincredible and unbreak-able," Singh said.

He said that thetourism will help people tounderstand the country.

"The country is full oftraditions and customs. It isbeing developed as a touristdestination. TheGovernment is trying toincrease tourism's contri-bution in the GDP fromseven to 10 per cent," he said.

Speaking at the occa-sion, Union Minister of Statefor Culture and Tourism, KJ Alphons, said that thecountry was largest growingin the tourism industry.

According to theMinistry, 'Paryatan Parv'will have three main com-ponents — 'Dekho ApnaDesh', 'Tourism for All' and'Tourism and Governance'.

The event will focus ondomestic tourists especial-ly to sensitise youth, theMinistry said that Indiahas a huge variety of desti-nations many of which areyet to be promoted.

Thirty-two States andUnion territories, alongwith different departmentsof the Government, are col-laborating with the Ministryto organise 3,150 activitiesacross India as part of theprogramme, it said. Whilecelebrations will be heldacross the country with thehelp of State Governments,at Rajpath in the nationalCapital, activities will con-tinue for 12 days.

India’s cultural diversity a

tourist attraction: Rajnath

PNS n NEW DELHI

Even as India is yet to acquireSpike anti tank guided mis-

siles fired from shoulder fromIsrael, the Defence Researchand DevelopmentOrganisation(DRDO) is con-ducting tests on indigenouslydesigned Man Portable Anti-Tank Guided Missile (MPAT-GM). The second flight test ofthe missile was successfullyconducted on Sunday at theAhmednagar range inMaharashtra.

The missile can be fired byan infantry soldier from hisshoulder to destroy enemytanks at ranges varying fromthree to four km. The Armydesperately needs them toreplace the older Milan andKonkur missiles.

The indigenously devel-oped MPATGM is a third gen-eration system and if it meets allparameters specified by theArmy will be inducted intoinfantry and parachute battal-ions. The DRDO has developedthe system in collaborationwith an Indian private sectordefence unit which is supplyingsub-systems, sources said here.

The official statementissued after the test said all themission objectives were metduring trial and the two mis-sions on Saturday and Sundayhave been successfully flight

tested for different rangesincluding the maximum rangecapability. Defence MinisterNirmala Sitharaman congrat-ulated the DRDO, IndianArmy and associated Industriesfor the twin success of MPAT-GM weapon system.

Equipped with fire and for-get mechanism with lock beforelaunch, the missile has an effec-tive range of more than 2,500metres. The warhead on themissile can penetrate 750mm to850mm and the system is dualmode with the capability of dayand night imaging infra redseeker. The total weight of theportable missile system is about19kg, sources said.

With the Army needingmore than 50,000 such systems,efforts are on to buy a limitednumber of Spike missiles from

Israel through government togovernment route to plug crit-ical gaps as the DRDO missilewill take at least three to fouryears before declared opera-tionally ready, sources said.

As per earlier plans theArmy wanted to buy morethan 8,400 Spike systems in adeal worth over one billion dol-lars. However, the governmentdecided to scrap the plan andopted for the indigenous mis-sile system. Since it will takesome time, the Army has urgedthe government to allow it buyabout 4,500 Spike systemsworth over 500 million dollarsas a stop gap arrangement andthe Government is favourablyinclined, they said. The Spikesystem has longer range thanthe indigenous system and canhit a target beyond five kms.

DRDO successfully tests anti-tank missilePNS n NEW DELHI

The CBI is likely to file anoth-er chargesheet within a

month in the bank fraud per-petrated by liquor baron VijayMallya. Many senior bank offi-cials who had dealt with loansgiven to Mallya's KingfisherAirlines may be named asaccused in the chargesheet.This would be first chargesheetin the case pertaining to loansof over `6,000 crore given toKingfisher by a consortium of17 banks led by State Bank ofIndia (SBI) which alone had anexposure of `1,600 crore.

The agency has alreadyfiled a charge sheet againstMallya last year in connectionwith a separate case related to`900 crore pending loan givenby IDBI Bank in which senior

officials of the bank wereallegedly involved.

The CBI had registered twocases against Mallya related tothe IDBI loans in 2015 and con-sortium loan in 2016.

Refusing to give names ofthe officials, the sources said thefirst phase of probe into loansgiven by a consortium of banksis almost complete and thechargesheet may be filed with-in a month while keeping theinvestigation open.

Both serving and retired

senior officials of the banksincluding the SBI who hadhandled Kingfisher Airlinesloans may be named as accusedin the chargesheet as the agencyhas gathered enough evidenceagainst them on misuse of offi-cial position, they said.

The top brass of erstwhileKingfisher airlines includingMallya, its CFO A Raghunathanand other former senior execu-tives will also be named asaccused in the case, they said.

They said the agency isalso looking into the role ofFinance Ministry officials whocould have influenced the deci-sion of the bankers but their roleis still be evaluated.

During the probe, theagency has gathered enoughevidence to show that Mallyaallegedly diverted the loan funds

from the purpose for which theywere given, they said.

The agency in its FIR hasalleged that State Bank of Indiaand its consortium banks hadadvanced various credit facilitiesto Kingfisher Airlines Limitedduring the period between 2005and 2010, they said.

During 2009-10, the com-pany failed to meet its repay-ment commitments to the bankfrom which it had availed thecredit facilities and KingfisherAirlines did not keep its accountwith the consortium banks reg-ular which became NPA, theFIR states.

The consortium banks,therefore, recalled the creditfacilities and also invoked cor-porate guarantee of UBHL andpersonal guarantee of Mallya, italleged.

CBI to file 2nd chargesheet, bank officials to be named

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 nation 06

PNS n PATNA

After a long wait, finally, theseat sharing between BJP

and JD(U) has been finalisedand this was announced noneother than Chief Minister andJD(U) president Nitish Kumar.On Sunday addressing the Stateexecutive meeting at his officialresidence, Nitish said the for-mal announcement could bemade any day.

But he cautioned the par-tymen particularly all thespokesmen not to discuss thistopic with media. “I am notdisclosing how many andwhich seats JD(U) is gettingbecause I have been advised bythe BJP leadership not to revealit before the formal announce-ment,” he said and added he hasnot informed anybody in hisparty.

The caution and careshowed by Nitish in disclosingthe details indicated that theBJP leadership has possibly

not taken into confidence isother allies LJP and RLSPabout this seat sharing.

The JD(U) leaders includ-ing Nitish had been saying forover a month that all the talkson seat sharing had been madeon highest level and soon itwould be announced.

First it was expected by theend of August but it could notmaterialise due to the demiseof former PM Atal BihariVajpayee.

Then Bihar JD(U) presi-dent Bashistha Narain Singhhad sated that it would beannounced by September 15and accordingly the party had

scheduled its sgae executivemeeting on September 16.

Sources in the NDA saidthat JD(U), which was not anally of NDA in 2014 polls,would get an honourable shareand possibly be given 12 seatswhich included a few seatswhich BJP or its allies had won.In 2014 JD(U) had contested allthe seats and won only two.

Speculations were rife inJD(U) circles that Nitish closeconfident and Minister RajivRanjan Singh Lalan was verykeen to contest from Munger,the seat currently held by LJP’sVeena Devi. She had alreadyexpressed her antipathytowards Nitish and Lalan andhinted to quit LJP and join RJD.Also, the JD(U) is likely to getDarbhanga seat which waswon by Kirti Azad of BJP. ButAzad is no longer in BJP andlikely to join Congress and con-test. JD(U) is likely to fieldSanjay Jha from Darbhangawhich he lost time.

JD(U)-BJP seat sharing

finalised, says Nitish

‘I am not disclosinghow many and whichseats JD(U) is gettingbecause I have beenadvised by the BJP

leadership not to revealit before the formal

announcement’

FAIZAN AHMAD n PATNA

Prashant Kishor, who emergedas a successful poll strategist

in 2014-15 but failed miserablyin 2016-17 while dealing withelection strategy of differentparties, plunged into active pol-itics and joined the JD(U). Hejoined the Nitish Kumar-ledparty on Sunday just before theState executive meeting of theJD(U) at the CM residence.

There was no official wordon what will be the role ofKishor in the party but inpolitical circles there has beenbuzz that he might contestparliamentary election from aconstituency of his choice. The41-year-old Kishor, who hailsfrom Buxar in Bihar, is alsolikely to be remain as party’schief strategist on talks forseat sharing with allies andselection of candidates.

A visibly excited Nitish tolda news channel, “He is thefuture (of politics), I am tellingyou.” All the senior leaders ofJD(U) hailed his decision to jointhe party and said JD(U) wouldimmensely benefit from him.

This is the first timePrashant Kishor, also called

PK, has joined any politicalparty even though he served aspoll strategist of Narendra Modi,then CM of Gujarat, in 2014Lok Sabha polls which elevatedhim to the office of PrimeMinister but parted ways withhim after the formation of NDAgovernment at Centre andinstallation of Amit Shah as BJP

chief. In 2015 Assembly electionin Bihar he became poll strategist of Nitish Kumar, thena bête noire of Modi, who hadstitched alliance with LaluPrasad’s RJD. The victory of thegrand alliance helped Nitishretain his post.

Nitish was so impressedwith Kishor’s modernized elec-

tion campaigning that heappointed him as an adviserwith ministerial status. But in2017 and better part of 2018 heremained off the scene. He alsofailed to make a mark in UP andUttrakhand assembly electionswhen he had ben roped in bythe Congress.

Recently in Hyderabad hesaid he would no longer workas poll strategist for any partyand might enter electoral poli-tics.

Nitish’s right hand andJD(U) general secretary RCPSingh said Kishor was not newto politics but his associationwill definitely help the organi-sation. When reminded that hefailed as poll strategist forCongress, he said, “No pollstrategist can help if the partyhas no support base.”

Kishor’s critics said the vic-tory of BJP in 2014 and that ofgrand alliance in Bihar in 2015had nothing to do with pollstrategy but because of publicmood and support. Reacting onhis decision to join JD(U),senior RJD leader Abdul BariSiddiqui said, “Nitish is boundof lose even if 100 PrashantKishors come to help him.”

Prashant Kishor joins JD(U), may contest poll

Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal United JD(U) national president Nitish Kumargreets electoral strategist Prashant Kishor after he joined the JD(U) during party’sState executive meeting at Anne Marg in Patna on Sunday PTI

NAYAN DAVE n GANDHINAGAR

During the two-day longMonsoon Session of

Gujarat Assembly starting fromTuesday, the BJP-ruled GujaratGovernent will table a Billwhich would pave a way foreasy redevelopment of old anddilapidated buildings in theurban areas.

Apart from the Bill relatedto redevelopment, four otherBills including the formation ofthe commissioner for munici-palities, the law against chainsnatching cases, revision inGST tax rates, the formation ofBiotechnology Universit wouldbe tabled in the session.

Sources in the state UrbanDevelopment department said

that the idea to amed the Billpertaining to redevelopment –The Gujarat Ownership Flats(Amendement) Bill, 2018 wasaimed at simplifying the processof redevelopment of the delap-idated apartments. The Bill willsuggest amendment in GujaratOwnersip Flat Act, 1973 ane therequire consent from housingunit owners will be made 75 percent instead of 100 per cent.However, buildings to be rede-veloped should be 25 or moreyears or else the tenure of 25 ormore years should have beencompleted after the develop-ment permission given by com-petent authority.

Moreover a certificate fromthe competent regarding thedelapidated condition of the

building would also requiredfrom the competent authority.

Amendment in article 379of IPC through a Bill wouldmake the laws against chainsnatchers more stringent. TheRupani government will alsobring the bill to establish a ded-icated biotechnology universi-ty on the outskirts ofGandhinagar. Another Bill sug-gest amendment in the GSTAct in lines with the change inslabs of the taxes decided by theGST Council recently. TheGujarat Municipalities (Amendement) Bill, 2018 to betalbed by the state govern-ment would replce the systemof directorate of municipalitiesby Commissioner ofMunicipalities.

The Opposition Congress inGujarat Assembly has

demanded 25-day longMonsoon Session instead ofonly 2-day session accusing theruling BJP party of not bring-ing important issues in theHouse for discussion.

Gujarat Congress in-chargeRajiv Satav alleged that Gujaratwas the only State in the coun-try which holds mere 2-dayMonsoon Session of theAssembly.

Satav went on to say that

ruling party doesn’t have faithin democratic processes andonly believe in avoiding healthydiscussions related to people’sissue in the House.

Congress party wanted todiscuss issues of unemploy-ment, farmers and poorpeoople, said the Congressleader, but in couple of days Assembly session itwouldn’t be possible. “Howcan 180 plus MLAs raise issuesof their constituencies in twodays,” he said. PNS

Gujarat Govt to table five Bills in Assembly Cong demands longerMonsoon Session

KESTUR VASUKI n BENGALURU

It’s dramatic political devel-opments which haunt fragile

coalition Government of theJD(S) and the Congress inKarnataka led by Chief MinisterHD Kumaraswamy. Congressis threatened with a majorrevolt by powerful Jarkiholebrothers from Belagavi and theCongress netas were waiting forformer Chief MinisterSiddaramaiah who was awayholidaying in Europe.

After his 12-day sojournended on SundaySiddaramaiah is the crisis man-ager for the Congress to dousethe fire. Many Congress lead-ers which include AICC gen-eral secretary and Karnataka incharge KC Venugopal made abeeline to meet Siddaramaiahwho is behind the crisis to takecontrol over the party.

Apart from Venugopal,KPCC president Dinesh GunduRao, party’s working presidentEshwar Khandre and DeputyChief Minister G

Parameshwara metSiddaramaiah at his officialresidence Cauvery, to take stockof the Belagavi impasse. Theydiscussed many issues includ-ing the revolt which has threat-ened the HDK Government.Jarkihole brothers,Municipalities MinisterRamesh Jarkiholi and formerMinister Satish Jarkiholi, havethreatened to raise a banner ofrevolt following their feud withparty MLA Laxmi Hebbalkarand Water Resource Minister DK Shivakumar.

The party has confided inSiddaramaiah to trouble shootthe problem as Jarkihole broth-ers are close associates of himand who can certainly controlthem against breaking away.

Amidst speculation thatthe Jarkiholi brothers (whohave made several demands)might defect to the BJP with afew MLAs, the duo have main-tained that they would notpose a threat to theGovernment. During the meet-ing, Siddaramaiah is learnt to

have to have taken exception tohis name being dragged in tothis controversy.

Venugopal who was rushedto Bengaluru to meet up withSiddaramaiah to trouble shootthe problem, blamed BJP of try-ing to destabilise coalitionGovernment in Karnataka. Hesaid after the meeting thatthere is no problem and thecoalition Government willcomplete its full term. He said“The Jarkiholi brothers aren’tposing problems. It is a districtissue — the State leaders haveresolved it. There may be somedifferences. But this will notaffect the Government. There isno threat to the Government —it is 100% safe. The BJP is play-ing games. It is trying to toppleGovernment with black money.But we trust our MLAs,” headded.

State Congress chief DineshGundu Rao took exceptiontaking Siddaramaiah’s name inthe crisis. He said not to dragSiddaramaiah who is not tryingto destabilise the Government.

Siddaramaiah back, to defuseCongress crisis in Karnataka

RSS sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi release a collection of 100short films ‘Personalities of India’, based on forgotten personalities in Mumbai on Sunday PTI

KHURSHEED WANI n SRINAGAR

Aday after announcingschedule for the conduct of

Municipal polls in Jammu andKashmir, the State ElectionCommission on Sundaydeclared that Panchayat elec-tions would be held in theembattled region betweenNovember 17 and December11 in 9 phases on non-partybasis.

The announcement wasmade despite two prominentmainstream parties in Kashmir,the National Conference (NC)and Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) decided to stay awayfrom the polls in protest againstlinking their conduct with apending litigation in SupremeCourt regarding the specialstatus of Jammu and Kashmirunder Articles 35A and 370 ofthe Indian Constitution.

Chief Electoral Officer(CEO) Shaleen Kabra toldreporters that the Panchayatelections would be held in 9phases on November 17, 20, 24,27, 29 and December 01, 04, 08and 11. The dates for issuanceof gazette for each phase, mak-ing nominations, scrutiny,

withdrawal, poll and countingdates were issued with relateddetails of panchayat elections.

Kabra said the elections toaround 4500 Panchayat Halqasin over 35000 panchayatConstituencies will have over58 lakh electors in year 2018 asper the draft roll. He said thefinal rolls will be completed bythe end of September.

He said ballot boxes wouldbe used during the forthcom-ing Panchayat polls and postalballot will be provided to theKashmiri migrant voters at allplaces within and outside State.The polling will be held from8 am to 2 pm.

He said district wise phas-ing of Panchayat elections hasbeen done in both Kashmirand Jammu division coveringthe 22 districts of the State. Hesaid in the process of finalizingthe election schedule, all rele-vant aspects have been takeninto consideration that includesholidays, festivals, examina-tion dates and the usual weath-er patterns and migratorymovements during the monthsof October to December.

The CEO said that stateGovernment has planned

secure security environmentfor the forthcoming Municipaland Panchayat elections in theState. With the announcementof this schedule, the ModeCode of Conduct (MCC) hascome into force with immedi-ate effect. All the ongoingdevelopmental works shall con-tinue. However, no new sanc-tion or allotment shall be madeduring MCC period. All theprovisions of MCC will applyto all the Panchayat Halqas(rural areas) and will be applic-able to all the candidates, polit-ical parties and the state andcentral governments.

The last time electionswere for village panchayatswere held in 2011 after a gap of10 years through secret ballot.The panchayats elected in year

2011 completed their tenure inJuly 2016. On Saturday, the SECannounced to hold Municipalbodies’ elections in four phas-es on 08, 10, 13 and 16 Octoberthis year.

The Commissionannounced poll schedulesdespite the decision of twomain political parties NationalConference and People’sDemocratic Party to stay awayfrom municipal and Panchayatpolls. National Conferenceand PDP have alreadyannounced to boycott theupcoming panchayat andmunicipal polls in the State.

This is for the first timethat most influential main-stream political parties are onthe same page with the sepa-ratist groups on the conduct ofelections. The separatist JointResistance Leadership (JRL)has announced complete boy-cott to the polls while as HizbulMujahideen outfit has threat-ened voters and campaignerswith consequences should theycame out to vote. The outfitsaid that the voters and candi-dates would be attacked withsulphuric acid and hydrochlo-ric acid.

Panchayat poll dates announced in J&K

The dates forissuance of gazette

for each phase,making nominations,scrutiny, withdrawal,

poll and countingdates were issuedwith related details

of panchayatelections

PNS n SRINAGAR

Terrorists on Sundayattacked an Army vehicle in

South Kashmir’s Shopian dis-trict triggering a cordon andsearch operation in the volatilearea. Reports said ultrasattacked the Army party andattempted to blow up a bullet-proof Army vehicle byImprovise Explosive Device(IED) followed by firing atHeff village in Shopian districtof south Kashmir.

The security forces cor-doned off the area and manhuntwas launched to nab the attack-ers. This is second such attack inthe area in a month’s time. Lastmonth an armoured vehiclewas attacked in Chitragam vil-lage of the region. In anotherincident, at least nine personssustained burn injuries aftermassive fire engulfed a comme-rcial complex in north Kashmir’sUri tehsil in Baramulla district.Nine shops were also gutted inthe fire incident.

MOHIT KANDHARI n JAMMU

After National Conferenceand Peoples Democratic

Party (PDP) now displacedmigrant community too hasmade up its mind to boycott theupcoming civic and Panchayatpolls in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to prominentKashmiri pandit leaders thedecision was taken after namesof around 1 lakh voters,residingin Jammu, were found missingin the freshly prepared voters listfor municipal polls in the State.

Various Kashmiri panditleaders and organisations havealready labelled this act as noth-ing less than ‘constitutionallynching’.

“We are at the receiving endunder BJP rule in the State. Wehad never expected this scenario.Our names have been deletedfrom the voters list even afterpaying our regular taxes andparticipating in the previousMunicipal polls in 2005”, sever-al kashmiri pandit leaders said

echoing similar sentimentsagainst the lopsided decision.

One of the senior mostleader of Panun Kashmir, aprominent organisation of dis-placed Kashmiri pandits, DrAjay Chrungoo said, “it is a sin-ister plot against the members ofthe displaced community”. Theywant to write off our names evenfrom electoral records. He said,“We are being penalised for crit-icising working of BJP ledGovernment. He said by ‘delist-ing’ around 1 lakh voters with-out their consent theGovernment is committingbiggest human rights violation.

Questioning the logic

behind the decision Kashmiripandits said, “in 2005 when lastMunicipal polls were held in theState we had participated in largenumbers in Jammu region. Evenone of our candidates SheelaHandoo was elected from ward no 64 in Jammu. But this time even her ownname has been deleted from thevoters list”.

Migrant Kashmiri panditsclaimed when we are living inJammu for past 28 years andpaying our regular taxes to dif-ferent State Government depart-ments how can we go toKashmir and participate in thepolls from Kashmir valley.

The kashmiri pandits hadsubmitted their representationsto Chief Electoral Officer of thestate and had even demandedthat the Government must allowthem to cast their votes on thebasis of electoral rolls of 2012 or2016 when their names existedin the list else they would be leftwith no other opportunity but toboycott the polls.

Kashmiri pandit migrantsto boycott civic polls

‘We are at the receiving endunder the BJP rule in the

State. We had never expectedthis scenario. Our names

have been deleted from thevoters list even after paying

our regular taxes andparticipating in the previous

municipal polls in 2005’

PTI n JAMMU

Union Minister JitendraSingh on Sunday hit out at

the National Conference and thePeoples Democratic Party fortheir decision to boycott theupcoming local bodies and pan-chayat polls and accused theirleadership of trying to “shovetheir decisions” on Jammu.

“The leadership of theKashmir-centric parties (NCand PDP) have announced boy-cott of the polls and are tryingto shove their decisions onJammu. If Jammu-based leadersof these parties have slightest ofself-esteem left, then they canapproach the BJP,” Singh, theminister of state in the PrimeMinister’s Office, said.

He was addressing theworking committee meeting ofthe state unit of the BJP here.

Singh said the people, espe-cially the youth, need to decidewhether they are with the“Prime Minister NarendraModi model of development,

the family model of theCongress or the boycott modelof the NC and the PDP”.

State BJP presidentRavinder Raina welcomed thedecision of the government tohold urban local bodies andpanchayat elections and said itwould further strengthen thepower of the common man andhelp in strengthening thedemocracy at the grassrootslevel in the state.

He said the BJP was fol-lowing the policy of develop-ment for all and appeasementto none.

“Whereas the previousgovernments were completelyfilled up with the scams, on theother hand, the Modi govern-ment has given a severe blow toterrorists and their sympathis-ers,” Raina said. Meanwhile,BJP state spokesperson andformer minister Priya Sethisaid municipal and panchayatpolls would deal a “blow to pol-itics of blackmail” by theKashmir-centric parties.

Union Min slams NC, PDPfor their decision to boycottupcoming J&K civic polls

PTI n KOTA

Rajasthan Chief MinisterVasundhara Raje on

Sunday said her Governmentleft “no stone unturned” inserving the people of the Stateand sought from them anoth-er term, during ‘RajasthanGaurav Yatra’ at her home turfin the Hadouti region.

While coming down heav-ily on Congress, Raje, on thethird day of the fourth phase ofher Gaurav Yatra in Hadouti,called upon the people to re-elect her Government in theupcoming Assembly election“to continue the pace of

progress and development.She addressed public meet-

ings at Mangrol town in Barandistrict, and Itawa and Deegodin Kota district and highlight-ed the achievements of her gov-ernment in the last four-and-a-half years.

“At least 175 Gaurav Pathshave been constructed inMangrol,” Raje said at a publicmeeting in Krishi Upaj Mandiground in Mangrol town,claiming with an expenditureof Rs 13 crore, her governmenthas made Baran–Mangroleflood-free. The chief ministerclaimed that her governmentprovided facilities for drinking

and irrigation water round theyear for Jhalawar and Baran.

“We are working our bestto prove the people’s trust inour government,” Raje said inItawa and asserted that 47schools were upgraded in thearea and an ITI college set upby the state government.

“The pace of progress anddevelopment should not bederailed,” the chief ministersaid and called upon the pub-lic to re-elect her government.

Raje addressed her thirdpublic meeting late in theevening in Deegod village ofSangod assembly constituencyin Kota.

Left ‘no stone unturned’ toserve people of Rajasthan: Raje

PTI n AHMEDABAD

Gujarat Chief Minister VijayRupani Sunday picked up

a broom and cleaned a portionof a civic body-run hospitalhere as part of the Centre’s“Swachhata Hi Seva” campaign.

Rupani visited the V SHospital and cleaned a portionof the Ahmedabad MunicipalCorporation (AMC)-run hos-pital with a broom, joining thefortnight-long cleanlinessdrive launched by PrimeMinister Narendra Modilaunched Saturday.

The ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’movement aims at generatinggreater public participationtowards Swachhta (cleanliness).It is being organised in the run-up to the fourth anniversary ofthe Swachh Bharat Mission, onOctober 2 2018, which will alsomark the commencement ofthe 150th birth anniversarycelebrations of MahatmaGandhi.

Rupani joinscleanlinesscampaign atcivic hospital

Terrorists tryto blow upArmy vehicle

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 news 07

SAUGAR SENGUPTA n KOLKATA

The Bengal BJP has strong-ly reacted to Chief Minister

Mamata Banerjee’s commentsthat India was witnessing superemergency under NarendraModi Government.

State party president DilipGhosh said before making suchcomments the Chief Ministershould herself look at how shewas running Bengal where“the ruling party wins 30 per-cent of panchayat seats withoutcontest, where the Oppositionworkers are forced to join theTrinamool Congress either atgunpoint or by power ofmoney, where the Oppositionparty offices are forcefullyoccupied by the ruling party.”

Banerjee had on Saturdaycalled upon the like-mindedparties to unite against thesaffron dictatorship saying“India is going through a superemergency.”

She said on the Twitter:“today is International Day ofDemocracy. (but) It anguishesme that our country is cur-rently going through a Super

Emergency,” and called uponall the anti-BJP forces to joinhands to throw out the “dicta-torial regime.”

She wrote “all the like-minded parties should cometogether in 2019 to restore thedemocratic institutions of thisgreat nation.”

Her statement came hoursafter she said the BJP would failto reach anywhere near its2014 feat when it got 31 percentof votes winning 283 seats inthe Lok Sabha elections thatyear and reminded how the saf-fron outfit had “failed in allrespects.”

Attacking Ghosh for point-ing fingers at TMC’s allegedrigging in this year’s panchay-at elections senior TMC leader

and Minister Sadhan Pandeysaid the BJP leader shouldhave looked at the panchayatelection results of Tripurabefore accusing the TMC as“the BJP has won 96 percentpanchayat seats and all the 18district board seats uncontest-ed in that State.”

Meanwhile, the ChiefMinister on Sunday morningleft for a 12-day trip toGermany and Italy to bringinvestments, sources said. Shewas being accompanied byFinance Minister Amit Mitra,Chief Secretary Malay Deyand Finance Secretary HKDwivedi.

Banerjee who was likely toreturn on September 28 saidshe had been invited by topindustrialists and businessmenfrom those countries.

She was likely to visitFrankfurt and Milan.

“I am going to Frankfurtand Milan to bring more busi-ness and industry to the State.We will be holding two meet-ings (in the two cities),” she saidbefore leaving for Germany viaDubai.

BJP slams Didi for super

emergency remarks

SAUGAR SENGUPTA n KOLKATA

Amajor fire broke out inKolkata’s Burrabazar

area engulfing the multi-storey Bagree Market inthe small hours of Sundaybringing back the horriblememories of the NanadramMarket and Stephen Housefire about a decade ago.

Though there was noreport of any casualty — tillreports last came in — the firethat was threatening to leap onto the adjacent buildings —about 16 hours after it broke out in Asia’s secondlargest whole-sale facility —continued to rage triggering a series of high-intensity blasts perhaps in gas cylindersor air-conditioning machinesto cause numerous cracks onthe walls of the 150 year oldstructure, sources said.

Though 30 fire engines had been pressed intoservice to douse the leaping

inferno that had licked upalmost all of the 400 wholesalemarkets destroying articlesworth crores ahead of the busyDurga Puja season the con-gested road made the task ofthe firefighters all the more dif-ficult.

“We have been trying touse the hydraulic ladder butthere is no way to let them inas this part of the Canning Street is so narrow,” asenior Fire official said informing most of the shopsdealt in medicine and per-fumes.

The fire broke out in theground floor first at about 2.30am on Sunday, before climbingon to the higher storeys sourcessaid.

“Chief Minister MamataBanerjee who went abroad ina business summit this morn-ing was very concerned aboutthe fire and had asked all theofficials and ministers to use allmeans to bring the fire under

control,” senior minister ParthoChatterjee said on Sundayevening.

The Chief Minister said“we have taken complete infor-mation. No one is trappedinside. I have instructed theofficials and ministers to doeverything possible to arrest thefire.”

Kolkata Mayor and StateFire Minister Sovan Chatterjeesaid, “we are trying our best todouse the fire but the area is sonarrow that fire engines cannotbe maneuvered freely,” not rul-ing out a complete collapse ofthe seven-storey building incase the fire lingered for anoth-er few hours.

Experts who had in 2008taken part in fighting theNandram Market fire about 200 metres away fromthe present site said the fire was unlikely to be arrestedbefore 24 another hours as ithad engulfed the back portionsof the gigantic building too.

Large portions of north-western Kolkata includ-ing Strand Road,

Mahatma Gandhi Road andwitnessed hours of traffic jamand the mess was expected to

rise on the first working day of the week on Monday, police said.

Major fire breaks out in Kolkata’s Bagree Market

An injured firefighter is helped by his colleague during a major fire inside a multi-storey wholesale Bagree Market atBurrabazar in Kolkata on Sunday PTI

Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) supremo Ram Vilas Paswan offers prayers at Ashish Shelar Ganpati and BandraRangsharda Hall in Atal Bihari Vajpayee Kavyanjali event in Mumbai on Sunday PTI

PTI n MUMBAI

Under fire for his commentsthat the rise in petrol and

diesel prices doesn’t botherhim as he is a Minister, RamdasAthawale Sunday regretted hisremarks and said he had nointention of hurting the senti-ments of the common man.

In a statement issued inMumbai, Athawale, a BJP allyand the Union Minister of Statefor Social Justice, said that heunderstands people are gettingaffected by the rising fuel prices.

“I do understand the feel-ings of people who are gettingaffected by the rising fuelprices. I had no intention of

hurting the sentiments of thecommon man,” he said.

Athawale, who heads afaction of the Republican Partyof India (RPI), made the con-troversial remarks at a press

conference at Jaipur Saturday.“I am not suffering from

rising fuel prices as I am aMinister,” he had said, referringto the allowances he gets.

“I may suffer if I lose myministerial post,” he had said.

Athawale was asked if hewas personally affected by therising fuel prices.

However, at the same pressmeet, the minister acknowl-edged that others are affectedmore by the rising prices ofpetrol and diesel.

The price of fuel can bereduced if the states cut the taxon it. The Centre is seriouslyworking on the issue, he had saidat the Press conference.

Under fire Athawale regrets ‘notaffected by fuel prices’ remarks

‘I do understandthe feelings ofpeople who aregetting affectedby the rising fuelprices. I had nointention ofhurting thesentiments of thecommon man’

PTI n HYDERABAD

Aspecial drive for voters’enrolment is being held at

all the designated polling sta-tions in the State by theElection Commission.

The Special campaign withBooth Level Officers at pollingstations, began Saturday andcontinued Sunday for voters’enrolment.

Similarly, eligible votersseeking to make corrections inentries in existing rolls or thosewho have shifted to anotherpolling areas can apply formaking required changesthrough forms or by availingonline services, officials said.

Awareness rallies wereorganised in different parts ofthe city and the state for votersenrolment, they said.

A bike rally on voterawareness and enrolment “BeBold-Come out and vote” wasorganised by the GreaterHyderabad MunicipalCorporation (GHMC) here.

The Election Commissionis holding polling booth-wise

revision and verification ofelectoral rolls in 32,574 pollingstations and booth level officerswere made available foraddressing issues related tothe voters’ list (on Saturday andSunday).

Telangana Chief ElectoralOfficer Rajat Kumar saidFriday that preparations forAssembly polls in the Statewere underway, and EVMsand VVPAT machines hadstarted to arrive.

He had said over 52,000ballot units, around 41,000Central Units and 44,000 VoterVerifiable Paper Audit Trailmachines were expected toreach various districts beforeSeptember 20.

The CEO said booth level officials would be available at all polling stationsto take up issues related to thevoters’ list.

A preliminary level inspec-tion of EVMs will be conduct-ed to detect manufacturingdefects in the presence of polit-ical parties to remove doubts ifany, he had said,adding

VVPATS will be used for thefirst time in the ensuingAssembly elections.

Earlier, the ElectionCommission had stopped allactivities relating to Specialsummary revision of photo electoral rolls with reference to January 1, 2019and said the final electoralrolls list will be published onOctober 8.

He decision for a revisedschedule was taken in the wakeof dissolution of the TelanganaAssembly on September 6, offi-cials had said.

As per the revised sched-ule, the integrated draft elec-toral roll was published onSeptember 10.

The period for filing claimsand objections is from Mondayto September 25 while the dis-posal of claims and objectionsis by October 4.

The updating database andprinting of supplement will becompleted before October 7and the final publication ofelectoral roll will be on October8, it said.

Special drive for voters’ enrolmenton at all Telangana polling stations PTI n THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

The baby cradle centres inKerala, aimed at providing

shelter for children abandonedby their parents, are set to beupgraded by using latest tech-nologies to make them moresecure and accountable. The S-tate Government has also pla-nned to more than double thenumber of “Ammathottil’, as thecentres are known in localparlance, from existing 14 to atleast 30.

An initiative under theKerala State Council for ChildWelfare (KSCCW), the cradlecentres provides care and ser-vices for abandoned children.

It has been planned tomake the centres hi-tech byupgrading the existing alarm,which is sounded when a babyis placed in the cradle, and tak-ing a photo of the child andrecording its weight and send-ing the details to officialsthrough mobile phone, a seniorKSCCW official said.

Launched on November14, 2002, ‘Ammathottil’ seeks toprovide better life conditionsfor the destitute, abandoned

and relinquished childrenrather than being abandonedon way sides or other places.

As soon as the babies areleft at the cradle, an automat-ic alarm would be sounded andofficials would come and col-lect the child.

The babies, received at thecradles, would be brought up atthe council’s child care centres.

At present, the state has 14baby cradle centres and theplan was to increase it at leastup to 30 in one year besidesseveral of the existing centreswould be shifted to ideal loca-tions, KSCCW general secre-tary Deepak S P said.

“The Government hasdecided to increase the numberof Ammathottils as part of itschild-friendly policy,” Deepaktold PTI. The existing facilitieswould be upgraded using sen-sor technology and leveragemobile telephony to make thecentres more secure and thewhole process more account-able, he said.

A number of complaintshave cropped up recentlyregarding private child careand adoption centres, he noted.

Baby cradle centres

to go hi-tech in Kerala

PTI n MUMBAI

The MaharashtraGovernment has issued

notices to co-operative sugar mills in the State whichhave defaulted on repaymentof loans worth over `1,200crore taken by them, an offi-cial said.

Some district centralcooperative (DCC) banks inthe state are facing a financialcrisis due to non-repayment ofloans given to cooperativesugar mills controlled by lead-ers from the oppositionCongress and the NCP, hesaid.

State Finance MinisterSudhir Mungantiwar has alsodirected the co-operativedepartment to come up witha ‘white paper’, listing theloans taken by these cooper-ative institutions and theamounts re-paid so far.

A senior official from theco-operative and marketingdepartment told PTI that fiveDCC banks are in a financialcrisis after lending money to11 cooperative sugar millscontrolled by “big” leadersfrom the Congress and theNCP.

These banks are inSolapur, Wardha, Nashik,Buldhana and Osmanabaddistricts.

“Sugar mills have notrepaid loans worth `1,223.93

crore taken from the DCCbanks.

These banks are now hav-ing liquidity issues and evenfaced action from the ReserveBank of India,” the officialsaid.

He said the departmentwill publish a white paper, giv-ing details of how muchmoney these cooperative insti-tutions have taken as loans andshare capital and the totalamount paid back.

“There are several suchcases. When we came to knowabout this tactic, we paid restof the share capital to all co-operative sugar and textilemills. Now we have startedasking them for repayment,”the official added.

“Sugar and textile millshave taken soft loans from theState Government and notpaid them back. The Congressand the NCP ruled the statefor maximum number ofyears. They also controlled thecooperative sector and delayedrepayment of the loan amountand its interest.

People should know thetruth how they have lootedstate funds,” Mungantiwarsaid.

However, Congressspokesperson Sachin Sawantsaid the decision to publish thewhite paper shows desperationof the BJP as its governancehas “failed” on all fronts.

Notices to sugarmills in Maha over`1,200-cr dues

IANS n SRIHARIKOTA

Indian rocket Polar SatelliteLaunch Vehicle (PSLV) lift-

ed off successfully with twoBritish satellites, NovaSAR andS1-4, from the rocket porthere on Sunday night.

The PSLV-CA (CoreAlone) version, standing 44.4metres tall and weighing 230.4tonnes, with thick orange flameat its tail lighting up the nightskies rose up at 10.08 p.m. fromthe first launch pad.

The rocketport here hastwo launch pads.

According to the IndianSpace Research Organisation(ISRO), after 17 minutes, 44seconds following the PSLVlift-off, the two earth observa-tion satellites will be launchedinto a 583 km sun synchronousorbit.

NovaSAR weighing 445 kgis a S-Band Synthetic ApertureRadar satellite intended forforest mapping, land use andice cover monitoring, floodand disaster monitoring.

S1-4 weighing 444 kg is ahigh resolution Optical EarthObservation Satellite, used forsurveying resources, environ-ment monitoring, urban man-agement and for disaster mon-itoring.

Two satellites aboard thePSLV belong to Surrey SatelliteTechnologies Ltd (SSTL), UK,and is carried under commer-cial arrangement with AntrixCorp Ltd — the commercialarm of ISRO.

PTI n BELGRADE

Vice President VenkaiahNaidu invoked India’s first

Prime Minister JawaharlalNehru in his address to theSerbian Parliament as he under-lined the need to strengthendemocratic polities by internil-ising the concepts of freedom,dialogue, inclusion and the ruleof law.

Addressing the special ses-sion of the National Assembly ofSerbia on the International Dayof Democracy on Saturday, thevice president said India andSerbia shared a common per-spective on many issues and havea deeper affinity that brings thetwo countries closer.

Naidu, who arrived here onFriday, said that relationsbetween India and Serbia were

deeply rooted in history.“It was here that the first

Non-Aligned Movement(NAM) Summit took place in1961. Prime Minister of IndiaPandit Nehru and other worldleaders of Non-AlignedMovement addressed the NAMSummit in this hallowed hall,”Naidu said. It was in the samehallowed hall of the NationalAssembly of Serbia that Nehruaddressed the world leaderswhile launching the NAM alongwith the veteran leader ofYugoslavia Marshal Tito. FormerPrime Minister Rajiv Gandhivisited Yugoslavia, now Serbia, asearly as in 1989.

He said it would be good torecall Nehru’s words at the con-ference of NAM nations inBelgrade on September 2, 1961.

“His call which rings so

true and relevant even today wasto build in our own countriessocieties where freedom is real.Freedom is essential, becausefreedom will give us strength andenable us to build prosperoussocieties. “We must strive tostrengthen our democratic poli-ties and internalise the con-cepts of freedom, dialogue, inclu-sion and rule of law in our gov-ernance structures,” Naidu said.

The Vice President said hewas glad that Serbia sharedIndia’s views on the need toreform the UN, particularly theUN Security Council.

“Our two countries alsoagree that terrorism is one of theforemost threats to internation-al peace and security. There is anurgent need to strengthen theglobal counter terrorism legalframework to combat this

scourge by expediting finalisa-tion of a ComprehensiveConvention on InternationalTerrorism (CCIT) under theUN umbrella,” he said in a state-ment.

Naidu hailed the steps thetwo countries have been takingto strengthen the bilateral tiesand emphasised that need to fur-ther boost the trade ties.”Ourannual bilateral trade is currentlyabout `200 million.Undoubtedly, this is much belowthe true potential. Moreexchange of business delegationsis necessary to boost our bilat-eral trade further. While there isa need for boosting our bilater-al trade, investment in eachother’s countries and more inno-vative approaches are necessaryfor strengthening of economicties,” he said.

Naidu invokesNehru, addressesSerbian Parl

PSLV lifts off with

two UK satellites

PTI n GUWAHATI

The Assam police has arrest-ed three persons for their

alleged links with HizbulMujahideen militant Qamar-uz-Zama, who was arrested byUttar Pradesh Anti-TerroristSquad, a senior officer said onSunday.

They are being interro-gated, Director General ofPolice Kuladhar Saikia toldreporters.

The three, identified asShahnawaz Alam, Saidul Alamand Omar Faruk, were arrest-ed from Hojai, Udali andByrnihat, along the Assam-Meghalaya border, respective-ly, on Friday and Saturday, hesaid.

“The three persons hadregular interaction with Zamaand we are investigating theinformation provided by them(to him),” Saikia said.

“We are also investigatingZama’s visit to Assam earlierthis year (including) the placeshe visited, the persons withwhom he stayed, the purposeof his visit, among otheraspects,” he added.

3 held in Assam

for alleged links

with HM terrorist

E

very individual has some defining characteristics which are not necessar-

ily in a hierarchy scale of undesirable to desirable. An example will make

this clear. All species, including Homo sapiens, have certain universal attrib-

utes. All of them are born, they grow through their life-cycle and finally die. These

are universal events of living entities. What is unique to Homo sapiens is the atten-

dant ritual at each of the three universal events of birth, growth and death. The

rituals are a result of a much more evolved brain function of the Homo sapiens

compared to other living species. The rituals require thought, choices, practice

and communication. They are impacted by agro-climatic conditions and anoint-

ed by leaders of the community. Following them is an assumed compliance —

getting out of step can have severe retribution. Often, all this gets captioned as

culture.

Rituals of birth, growth and death in river valley cultures lean heavily on the

use of water. The rituals of Homo sapiens in the desert have a different basis.

People identify with the rituals in which they are born. They have a sense of own-

ership and proprietorship. As part of the cultural paradigm, there are times when

this can overlap with their religious practices.

The purpose is not to explain, explore or discuss cultural paradigms. It is to

demonstrate how the process of learning is

also determined by these attributes.

Illustratively, in the Asian ethos, motherhood

is very often glamourised and often deified with

many socio-religious overtones.

No feminist, however, at loggerheads with males, has in the name of femi-

nine equality, ever advocated the depluming of social idioms which elevate fem-

inism. Few ever advocated putting fatherhood at the same level of deference as

motherhood. These may appear as removed examples so far as learning is con-

cerned but in reality that is not so. A shift in the domain of observation to the

West from the Asian paradigms may be useful. In the Teutonic race, often held

to be synonymous with macho traits and marshal qualities, it is fatherhood that

is celebrated.

In India, it is the motherland. In Germany, it is the fatherland. Accordingly,

transference of learning, say from Germany to India, brings to the fore varying

assumptions. Technology is not ‘technology’ anywhere. It is impacted by machine

acclimatisation factors. When vermilion is applied to a machine, say a turbine,

it is one story. When it is assembled elsewhere, say in a post-industrial country,

the mindset of the worker is different. Learning styles are different. Hence, learn-

ing methodologies call for distinction.

The training and learning world awaits factoring in of these considerations.

Unless they are an artificial implant, it does not integrate itself with the sub-

conscious psyche of the learner. The cultural dominance of the teacher/train-

er/instructor/facilitator is an impediment in the smooth transference of learn-

ing.

Synergistically, learning is always a two-way process. Presumably, the instruc-

tor is knowledgeable in techniques. But the techniques themselves undergo a

metamorphosis when technology is converted into engineering. To give a spe-

cific example, in the West, anti-corrosion coating is not so widely needed as in

South East Asian region. There are serious variances in patterns of automobile

maintenance.

It is about time the nuances of cross-border learning are captured and to

the extent feasible, incorporated not only in the instructional process but the

design process of the products. Technology needs to be resilient enough to

absorb the changes that are needed in the process of technology transfer and

indeed, learning transfer. There are subtle ways of preying on the mind. Whichever

way one wants to play, it becomes easier when the symbols expressing the

psyche of the recipient entity are understood empathetically by the ‘carriers of

learning’ from other lands. Put simply, learning transfer expects a factoring in

of the exchange between the sub-cultures of the engaging institutions.

Practitioners in the field of learning and development have barely begun to

flag these issues. It remains to be pointed out that cross-border learning trans-

fer has in effect issues of learning exchange. The nature of interaction has to do

with product design. Suzuki Motors had at one time collaborated with General

Motors in Canada. Operating from Ingersoll was essentially to help Suzuki per-

meate the American and European Markets. However, the upshot was General

Motors personnel had to adopt and adapt Japanese manufacturing methods. In

this case, the emphasis was on knowledge transfer.

Such processes require strategic thinking. Very few books or publications

or references as of now seem to recognise this need while dealing with training.

This state of affairs is poised for change. The sooner it happens, the better for

everyone. In case of India, sooner the Indian world of profession(s) put its head

together to identify and uphold Indian standards of work and outcomes, the eas-

ier it will be to tackle the issues listed above.

(The writer is a well-known management consultant)

Akabaddi match ordered under the supervision of a High Court-appoint-ed monitor speaks volumes about the inherent corruption and the mazeof nepotism in our sporting federations. Suffice it to say, the nadir is

here and now. Alarmingly, however, the condition has been pretty much thesame over the decades with influential politicians and men of money mak-ing it to top posts in sporting bodies, turning them into a family affair andplayer selections being guided by anything and everything other than acu-men. That's the reason why Indian kabaddi teams — both men and women— who were selected to go to Jakarta for the Asian Games did the unthink-able of losing India's traditional Gold to a measly Bronze in a sport that hasalways been known as Indian domain in international fora. The Asian GamesBronze was an ignominious first after a long, long golden era and just onesilver slip in the past. The High Court case had been going on against the“wrongful” selection of the team for Jakarta but due to paucity of time itruled that proper cognizance would be taken of the entire selection malaiseafter the Asian Games. A High Court-appointed observer, a former judge,monitored the ordered contest against the team that went to Jakarta andthe players selected through a fresh process from all corners of India throughcamps, on Saturday. As expected, the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India'snational team players did not turn up for this one-of-its-kind contest underjudicial supervision but the petitioners were happy to have made their pointthat they failed to do so because they were not the best ones selected forAsian Games and feared a loss. This makes it clear that considerations otherthan playing worth were at play, they say.

Losing Gold in kabaddi is unacceptable and even incredible but it pointsto a much bigger malaise that assails India's sporting federations which havebeen under a comfortable cushion of corruption and nepotism for so longthat they look like a lost case despite the courts stepping in now and then.If it is the Gehlot family ruling the roost in kabaddi, it was Praful Patel in foot-ball and Srinivasan in cricket to name just a few. Needless to say, sports fed-erations need professionals at the helm, much like wonder coach Gopichandwho has shown how the face of a lost sport despite its flailing federation canbe changed completely into a league of sunshine champions. Otherwise, muchlike traffic rules being flouted with elan, everything in sports will carry on —everything other than transparency, honesty and the determination to win.

No amount of monetary compensation is enough for any kind of injusticeand for one that was intentionally meted out to former ISRO scientist SNambi Narayanan, it cannot be a substitute for honour. So though the

Supreme Court awarded `50 lakh as reparation to one of India’s best scien-tific brains for wrongful arrest in 1994 on espionage charges, of which he wasexonerated but was still panned as the police file was kept open, it is not enoughto restore his eroded worth. Remember he was one of the brains behind ourcryogenic engine development programme, one that has made GSLV a reali-ty today and made us a cost-competitive player in the space launch marketfor deploying heavy communication satellites. But a conspiracy theory has itthat the West, led by the US, didn’t want India to profit from a market that itdominated and thereby decelerated our growth for about 20 years by foistinga false case through an IB sleuth, who was later found to be a CIA operativeand expelled. Although the technology transfer for a cryogenic engine was deniedto India by the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), a cartel formedby US-led space-faring nations, Narayanan never gave up. With not much helpcoming from Russia, too, compromised by its post-Glasnost erosion in glob-al polity, he had nevertheless perfected a cryogenic model that would havegiven us a headstart in the space economy and an indigenous muscle.

Whatever the data leak, he was the scapegoat and the decadal retrospec-tive cost of that sabotage amounts to millions of dollars. Other theories as report-ed by this paper alluded personal rivalries in the Kerala police hierarchy to thearrest of Maldivian women, who were allegedly overstaying on their visa, andwere, therefore, framed as being ISI honey traps who had got to the ISRO sci-entist. The good cop vs bad cop debate escalated to their respective patron-age by rival Congress factions in the state and Narayanan became an inno-cent victim of a disgusting cocktail of power and point-scoring where his genius,instead of being a matter of national pride, was reduced to a national shame.He had to retire 10 years earlier, foregoing salary and benefits besides unmen-tionable loss of respect and mental trauma. In one stroke, he became unem-ployable. What compensation could restore his economic plight of years?Compare that to the investigating officers, who have not been booked for theirwrongdoings and instead have gone on to claim higher positions, and the ex-IB official who is now settled in the US. Even if booked in their sunset yearsnow, as the court has asked, they have had 24 years of official grace. Wouldthey be asked to return their pension with retrospective effect? Narayanan wasexonerated in four years by the CBI and courts but still subjected to stigmacourtesy the case files which were never closed. Also, no Government or polit-ical party stood by him as he waged a solo battle to reclaim his credibility.Who would pay for that insult despite his proven innocence? India’s scientif-ic community is a talent pool that can incubate our indigenous worth and defineour global relevance. So we need to protect it with utmost care. Given theircapacity to develop cutting edge technologies, scientists form a human resourcethat deserves the highest national security. We need to curate the most sin-cere and honest among them as modern examples of national will.

Hurt pride

No monetary compensation can dissolve the brutality and

harassment undergone by ISRO scientist Narayanan

Hu Thhu Thhu

India’s failure to clinch a Gold for kabaddi at Asian Games

was shocking. But will a judicial eye cure the real malaise?

Mahathir’s spoke in the Chinese jugularwww.dailypioneer.com

P A P E R W I T H P A S S I O N

In calling the bluff on Chinese investments and recusing his country from earlier deals, the Malaysian Prime Minister may have eased India’s own concerns on Chinese presence around Malacca Straits

At 93, Mahathir Mohamad’s politicalcareer has spanned over 70 years andthe wily nonagenarian has returned asthe Malaysian Prime Minister after anitchy retirement lasting 15 years. The

statesman, credited with transforming Malaysiafrom an agrarian to an industrial powerhouse inhis first term of 22 years, has ostensibly returnedto ‘save’ his country from the wrath of the multi-billion ‘1MDB’ scandal, substantial parts of whichwere linked to the Chinese involvement. Mahathir’ssuccessful electoral campaign, pitched against the‘great-grandmother-of-all-scandals’, was seen as apossible roadblock to the growing portents ofSinosphere under the previous Najib Razakregime, who had started courting mammothChinese investments into Malaysia.

Meanwhile, the Chinese have been on a relent-less prowl to hook cash-strapped countries withits gargantuan Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to cre-

ate uninterrupted routes, connectivity and infra-structure along both land and seaways. TheChinese juggernaut towards this proposed solid-ification of interlinkages has led to infamous bel-ligerence and appropriations in the South ChinaSeas and the ‘String of pearls’ ports that dot alongthe life-sustaining maritime passages. The approachof the Chinese efforts varies from the simple‘cheque-book diplomacy’ of funding investments(eg Philippines), coercion (eg Doklam in Bhutan)to surreptitious ‘debt-traps’ (eg Hambantota portin Sri Lanka).

A lethal and irresistible combination of finan-cial, military and diplomatic muscle is leveragedto ensnare and ensure the requisite Chinese foot-print. Often, this Chinese footprint initially comesunder the guise of civil facilities and infrastructure,which later morphs into the dual-usage (civil andmilitary) platforms, as was done recently at themouth of the strategically placed Djibouti base ofthe Chinese Navy. The sophisticated pattern ofpatiently luring the bait follows the generous dolesof ‘unpayable’ Chinese investments, which are,thereafter, settled with certain compromises in theform of invaluable bases, arrangements and irre-trievable alignments. Recently, this had led the oldwarhorse and one-time critic of the West,Mohamad Mahathir, to presciently forewarn of theChinese tact as a new version of colonialism.

Malaysia and the southern tip of the IndianIslands of Andaman and Nicobar overlook and

physically dominate the most sensitive and vul-nerable chokepoint of Chinese nightmares in theMalacca Straits. This ultra-narrow straits host thebusiest shipping lanes in the world with over100,000 ships plying nearly 30 per cent of the glob-al trade. From a Chinese perspective, it sustains the‘Chinese Dream’ fueled by trade and an unendingappetite for energy sources. A potential doomsdayscenario of a ‘choke’ in the Malacca Straits has ledto two strategic actions: First, to attempt creatingalternate corridors like the China PakistanEconomic Corridor (CPEC) or rail-linkages withthe Eurasian nations, all dovetailed under the BRIinitiative. Second, to invest disproportionately inthe Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) to createadequate energy buffer stocks to withstand anyunforeseen disruption in these regime-sustainingseaways. However, given the best economic via-bility of the seaways as opposed to overland routes,the essential preference remains on ensuring theuninterruptedness of these seaways by way ofestablishing strong Chinese footprints all along theroute.

Given that only India and Malaysia have themaritime real-estate around these vulnerableMalacca Straits (as narrow as 1.5 nautical miles wideat the Philips Channel) both from a sovereign andmilitary perspective, any untoward presence of theChinese could upset the applecart of power bal-ance. Currently, this area is relatively free from overtmilitarisation, given that the traditional Chinese

naval muscularity is restricted further up in theSouth China Seas and the Indian Andaman andNicobar Tri-Services Command has also adopt-ed a defensive posture and build-up. However, thepresence of Chinese warships could undo the equa-tions as they are threatening to do so in theMaldives, or in the Hambantota port in Sri Lanka,where the Chinese have acquired port control fora 99 year lease. Till the recent change in theMalaysian regime, amongst various investmentsthat the Chinese were dangling was to invest $7.2billion in the redevelopment of the MalaysianMalacca Port to a deep sea port (capable of han-dling aircraft carriers), a promise that could rivalSingapore port facilities. This had the signatureChinese debt traps written all over it, which couldultimately lead to Chinese presence in these calmwaters.

The sagacious Mahathir had to walk the tightrope of calling the bluff of Chinese investments,as also recognising the importance of maintain-ing cordial relations with its biggest trading part-ner. His first port of international call after assum-ing prime ministership was Beijing, where he wasfeted and honoured with the disconcerting reali-sation that Mahathir had personified the anti-Chinese sentiment and had to be charmed forfuture acquiescence. However, age hadn’t witheredthe blunt Mahathir who lost none of his chutzpahin declaring on Chinese soil, “We are not againstChinese companies, but we are against borrowing

money from outside and having projects which areunnecessary, and which are very costly”, after hehad announced the cancellation of three majorChinese contracts for an East Coast Rail Link andtwo gas pipelines, arguing the cost was inflated andthe terms weren’t favourable to Malaysia. TheChinese are not known to take sleights of colo-nialism very easily but are cognizant of the fact thatMohamad Mahathir at 93 will be resolute on sov-ereign pride, independence and legacy that couldmilitate against Chinese ambitions and debt-impe-rialism.

With a spiralling debt of $250 billion, declaredconcern on Chinese intent and non-issues with theexisting infrastructure around Malacca Straits,Mohamad Mahathir may have inadvertentlyeased India’s own concerns on Chinese presencearound the Malacca Straits. Even his remark that“free trade should also be fair trade” had unmis-takable pointers of correcting the ‘China-first’approach that dominated the Malaysian narrative.Mahathir will be welcomed into comity of the Sino-wary nations in the Asean region and will findalternate trading partners in the Japanese, Indianand Australian markets, who have their own long-term concerns and apprehensions with the formulaof initial Chinese benevolence and its subsequentaftermath.

(The writer, a military veteran, is a former LtGovernor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands andPuducherry)

UNCIVILISED SOCIETY

Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Nohope, no help” (September 15). It ispathetic and heart-rending to learnthat a 19-year-old Haryana girl, whotopped the CBSE Board examinations,was brutally gang-raped while she wasreturning home from her coachingclass. This incident has, once again,portrayed the dastardly act of cruel-ty and barbarity.

It is an indubitable fact that theincident of sexual assault uponwomen, like rape, molestation andmurder, are increasing unabatedly all

over the country. Views of the civilisedglobal community, that our country isnot safe for women, appear justifiable.

In this case, the Har yanaGovernment must take expeditioussteps to track down the tormentorsinvolved in the savage and barbarousact and arrest them without grantingbail till the disposal of the case. It’shigh time that fast-track courts areconstituted to dispose these rapecases within the shortest possibletime frame to at least satisfy andappease the victims.

Nimai Charan SwainBhubaneswar

LOSING HER AURA

Sir — This refers to the short take,“Avoidable row” (September 10).Serena William’s behaviour at the USOpen at the Flushing Meadows wasthe most unfortunate — not only fortennis but any other sports. At the ageof 18, Serena won her first Grand Slamin the same US Open, to sadly detractfrom her image at the same venue, 19years later.

Let’s say if she had taken umbrageat the umpire, pulling her up for sim-ilar misdemeanours, then her standwould have been not only under-

standable but commendable. But Serena has so grown to be a

tennis diva since her winning of 23Grand Slam titles till date — to standtall at a pedestal so high, tantrumsnotwithstanding — that even hervictorious opponent Naomi Osakacannot cease to worship her.

Champions are defined as muchby their superb skills as by their poiseafter a win and magnanimity after adefeat. Serena, sadly, did not step upto the plate at a time when good gracewould have uplifted the spirit of thegame far more than her personal aura.

Throwing tantrums is a com-

mon phenomenon that comes withfame-dom.

However, a dignified demeanouron and off the field is a must. That thefamed cognoscenti in the stadium wasreduced to roadside spectators has lefta deep scar in the minds of the peo-ple in and around the world. Theentire episode would, perhaps, takesome time to get erased from people’sminds.

R NarayananNavi Mumbai

Send your feedback to: letterstopioneer@gmail.com

Knowledge transfer requires

strategic thinking. Practitioners

in the field of learning and

development have barely

begun to flag these issues

The Congress-led UPA Government had

raised and protected Mallya. He enjoyed

close links with the Gandhi family

—Union Finance Minister

ARUN JAITLEY

BJP is not corruption-free, neither is CBI.

They are probe-free because they want

to be accountability-free.

—Congress spokesperson

RANDEEP SUJREWALA

POINTCOUNTERPOINT

Should I till the land, lease it orleave it barren? Or resort tothe extreme step? These werethe questions that prevailedon the minds of farmers until

the Modi Government took to powerin 2014. Prime Minister NarendraModi addressed the apathy towardsthe agriculture sector by introducinga slew of measures: Schemes like SoilHealth Card, Pradhan Mantri FasalBima; initiatives like production ofneem coated urea, e-Nam; policies likeprice support scheme for pulses andoilseeds; and market interventionscheme for non-MSP crops, amongothers. Announced in the UnionBudget 2018-19, the ModiGovernment’s Minimum SupportPrice (MSP) policy of assured pro-curement or price support for 23 noti-fied crops at cost (A2+FL) plus 50 percent margin is of historic significance.

Out of the 23 MSP notifiedcrops, 59 per cent and 39 per centagricultural households grow justpaddy and wheat respectively in 40per cent of gross cropped area. Whilegreen revolution incentivised only thegrain community, MSP policy willincentivise the agrarian. MSP policyprompts the Government to instan-taneously plunge into procurementoperation; unlike the current systemof delayed approval process with therequest originating from States.Distress sale would have caused dam-age with delayed decision-making.Earlier, MSP was different for everyState. Now, since MSP is same across,States can declare bonus if the cost ofcultivation of the crop is relativelyhigher in a particular State.

MSP policy a practical instru-ment; input support a political one:The Telangana Government this yearannounced an investment supportscheme with great fanfare. The pro-gramme aims to give `8,000 an acreeach year during the kharif and rabiseasons so as to shield the farmersfrom the clutches of private moneylenders and their exorbitant rates. Theintended end use is to purchase agri-inputs and hire labour. But is there afizz in it? The giveaway is neutral tothe landholding of the farmers and,thus, large farmers reaped windfall

gains without even getting onto fieldfor the kharif season.

Also, the scheme does not recog-nise tenancy and sharecroppingarrangements. A fifth of 72 lakh farm-ers in Telangana are tenant farmers.To add to the injury, a report by RythuSwarajya Vedika revealed that, in thelast four years, 75 per cent of farmersuicides were committed by tenantfarmers. Apparently, the State machin-ery from Minister-in-charge to MROand Secretary to Sarpanch have beendeployed to distribute input supportcheques to farmers, but the agendagets hijacked by land owners. Thesame reach out and a tiny fraction ofthis corpus fund suffices to providekisan credit cards and, thus, institu-tional credit to avoid private moneylenders. The other fraction of the fundcould be utilised for interest subven-tion.

MSP policy, unlike investmentsupport, is agnostic to agriculturalproduction arrangements. A mone-tary benefit analysis of MSPannounced for Kharif MarketingSeason (KMS) 2018-19 for Ragi, as anexample, fetches more than `4,000,compared to MSP for KMS 2017-18.A good economic policy or schemeshould be linked to stages of pro-duction and MSP policy is one such.In comparison, investment supportscheme mirrored the design of uni-versal basic income. Agriculture, as astate subject, is classified as econom-ic service; whereas input supportscheme treats the same as a welfareprogramme. The agrarian communityis not seeking alms; rather they areaspiring for an amount commensu-rate to the cost of cultivation, toppedup by a profit margin as with any eco-nomic service.

WTO peace clause, procure-ment strategy and inflation pressure:Since India is a signatory to WorldTrade Organisation (WTO), its pub-lic stockholding of foodgrains fromprocurement operations drew sharpcriticism from WTO members. Theyhave alleged it as trade-distorting.Though India secured adequate pro-tection in the 2013 Bali summit, it wasduring Modi’s regime that the coun-try secured a permanent protectionfrom the penal provisions under thepeace clause. This ensured peacefuland perennial procurement fromthe peasants.

Minimum support price works asa tool to stabilise production and con-trol consumer prices. Accordingly, theprevious regimes notified prices forMSP crops so as to contain the price

rise and, thus, a check on inflation.Even their trade policies and pro-curement operations followed suit. Tofulfill its manifesto promise of a pro-farmer stance, the Modi Governmentannounced the MSP policy, ie, costplus 50 per cent returns in the 2018-19 Union Budget and subsequentlynotified prices for 23 crops. This pol-icy implementation will ensure theinterests of both the farming and con-sumer communities.

Policy implementation will takethe form of either procurement orprice deficiency payment as in the caseof Madhya Pradesh or through mar-keting structures to match supply anddemand. The procurement strategywill follow Reserve Bank of India’s(RBI) open market operations for rais-ing financial resources for theGovernment of India. In the process,RBI ensures interest rates are not arti-ficially elevated. Similarly, theGovernment’s procurement willensure no spillover effect on consumerprices and, thus, inhibit inflation.

Detour in cropping pattern,doubling income and decreasedimports: India is the largest produc-er and consumer of pulses in theworld but 25 per cent of the pulsesconsumed are imported. There havebeen multiple attempts to increasepulse production in the past but none

fructified. Since the ModiGovernment assumed office in 2014,crop diversification programme andtargeting rice fallows have helpedimprove production of pulses andoilseeds considerably but not to thedesired levels, owing to lack of pro-curement and low MSP. A 100-day toilis not aimed at hunting for honorar-ium but a honest and fair price.

With MSP policy, crop diversifi-cation and targeting rice fallows willpick up pace to the extent of consid-erable reduction in import of pulsesand oilseeds, which constitute a sig-nificant share of agri-import basket.Significant economic gains will be wit-nessed — saving FX reserves andhigher agricultural contribution toGDP growth. Not only will there bechange in temporal cropping patternbut also spatially. Intercropping tech-niques, like row, strip, among others,will gain momentum if any of the cul-tivated crops is MSP notified. Netresultant of the changes in temporaland spatial cropping patterns is costreduction, increased yields and high-er incomes aiding the cause of dou-bling farmer’s income.

FPO establishment — a firstorder effect: A majority of potentialentrepreneurs do not move beyondthe idea or conception phase for wantof market assurance or access. As the

income stream starts to flow into thenew enterprise, post the marketentry, enterprises tend to either inno-vate or establish efficient proceduresor expand or a combination thereofsubsequently. A case in point is thatof a turmeric farmer from Nizamabaddistrict who decided to producehigher quality crop as he witnessed ahigher realisation for his produce withthe introduction of E-NAM in theNizamabad APMC. Similar was thedetermination of a cotton farmer atKarimnagar APMC.

With insulation and, thus, assuredincome for their produce under MSPpolicy and different market condi-tions, farmers will explore efficientmethods of production and yieldimprovements. One policy that willattract the attention of farmers is thesetting up of Farmer ProducerOrganisations (FPO), which with aturnover upto ̀ 100 crore, have beenprovided tax exemption for a periodof five years in the Union Budget2018-19. Apart from the extrinsic taxbenefit, innumerable intrinsic bene-fits flow to FPO structure, like avail-ing institutional credit as well asprocuring quality and high yieldingvariety of seeds and fertilisers atwholesale prices.

Other intrinsic benefits includeawareness and, hence, availing

Government schemes, training andexposure visits, technical assistance,sharing and implementing good agri-cultural practices, renting out orsharing machinery across farmingoperations, combined transportationof harvest for transacting at marketsand, not the least, processing andvalue addition of produce. The cumu-lative effect of intrinsic benefits willconsummate as cost reduction, high-er price realisation and, thus, higherincomes mustering the PrimeMinister’s mission of doublingfarmer’s income. Green revolutionwas largely confined to the northernbelt as well as to no more than twocrops. On the other hand, the MSPpolicy will be a pan-India phenom-enon percolating to, not just two, but23 notified crops. If green revolutionachieved the nation’s food security,MSP policy will provide incomesecurity to the farming community.In effect, India will be advancing intoan era of Extended Green Revolutionwith farmer’s welfare ingrained. Asthe farming community realisesincome stream from MSP policy, thenation will witness another MSP —minimal suicides of peasants.

(The author is State Co-Convener,Election Commission Cell, BJPTelangana and Masters in Financefrom Cass Business School, London)

SANDEEPVEMPATI

VINAYSHILGAUTAM

BHOPINDERSINGH

AHaryana girl has once again madenational headlines. Karishma, bornthrough a caesarean section on August

15, 2018, in a Government hospital in Karnal,became the first beneficiary of ‘Modicare’, theworld’s largest Government-funded healthinsurance scheme. The Pradhan Mantri JanArogya Yojana programme had been hailed asthe pièce de résistance of Union FinanceMinister’s 2018-19 Budget speech but manyexpressed apprehensions if the scheme wouldbe off the blocks anytime soon.

Besides the splendid pace, there has beena rich sprinkling of innovation in its imple-mentation. Automatic enrolment, beneficiaryverification in public meetings, IT system-basedmonitoring of progress, creation of silver andgolden records are few of the trailblazing nov-elties adopted so far. Flexibility provided to Statesin co-branding with their existing schemes,deciding implementation model and packagerates, reserving packages for public health facil-ities and continuous consultation with the Stateshave helped in allaying apprehensions about thescheme. Consequently, 29 States and UnionTerritories are already on board and a few moreare likely to join.

National Health Agency and State HealthAgencies have been set up to implement thescheme. Over 12,000 hospitals have beenempanelled for providing cashless treatment.About 1,350 medical packages, covering surgery,medical and day care treatments, have beendefined. An integrated software has beendeveloped for beneficiary identification, hospitalempanelment, transaction management andmerger with State schemes. Issuing e-registra-tion cards after the creation of silver and gold-en records of the beneficiaries has started.Ayushman mitras, volunteers for verification andauthentication of beneficiaries and assistingthem at empanelled hospitals, are being iden-tified and trained. Pilot launch of the schemehas been done by 19 States.

In a nutshell, the Union Health Ministryand State health departments seem to be gearedup for nation-wide rollout of the scheme onSeptember 23, the birth anniversary of Pandit

Deen Dayal Upadhyay. However, the euphoria created, and the

competition generated among the States to beatothers in implementation of the scheme,should not blindside them by frauds and fail-ure to reach intended beneficiaries. Fraudstersare watching this mega scheme with hawk eyes.Their nefarious designs have already started sur-facing. The Maharashtra Government recent-ly filed a police complaint against people solic-iting premium from beneficiaries to get thembenefits of the scheme.

Another challenge will come from hospi-tals empanelled to provide services. Experiencetells us that hospitals adopt malpractices like con-version of an OPD patient into an IPD patient,deliberate blocking of higher priced package,treatment of diseases for which a hospital is notequipped for, doctors performing unnecessaryprocedures and hospitals charging fees eventhough it is a cashless scheme. Impersonationin connivance with card-holders and hospitaltoo have been reported.

Many States have a preferred assurancemodel over insurance for implementing thescheme. In this model, States will bear the finan-cial risk of excessive claims. This is fraught withdanger given that health insurance claim per-centage is increasing, and public sector com-panies are incurring heavy losses.

Just providing health insurance or assur-ance won’t bring succour to the poor, especial-ly for those living in rural and tribal areas. Accessto quality health facilities and availability of man-power will be critical. India is short of three mil-lion hospital beds and is facing over 50 per centshortage of doctors. People in rural areas bearthe brunt of this shortage. This means that noth-

ing much is going to change for them, at leastin the short run. With a wide base of over 50crore insured people, healthcare providers aremore likely to go for a skimming strategy, har-vesting gains from existing facilities thaninvesting in new ones.

Package rates for various procedures fixedunder the scheme are being perceived as too lowby private players. This will deter qualityproviders from participating in the scheme. Lowrates will also impact the much-desired invest-ment in health infrastructure in remote areas.States have reserved several packages for pub-lic health facilities only. This is intended to guardagainst private providers enticing beneficiariesfor routine procedures. However, it would meanthe same level of services for the poor peopleunless public facilities are quickly upgraded.Moreover, there will be a cut from their enti-tled five lakh rupee bounty of health insuranceeven for procedure which should be availablefree in public facilities. The proposal to share apercentage of money earned by Governmenthospitals with the team performing the proce-dure also needs a close watch for potential mal-practices.

The scheme is entitlement based, with eli-gibility dependent on deprivation status of a fam-ily established by Socio-Economic Caste Surveyof 2011. Survey data is not just old but lacks vitalinformation to identify households, especiallythe shifting and migratory population in urbanand semi-urban areas. Thus, several deprivedfamilies could be left out. Additionally, thescheme hedges against in-patient care only. Out-patient healthcare expenses, which are a causeof higher economic burden and financial cat-astrophe for poor families, are out of its ambit.

The health of the populace is not just treat-ment of ailments but also hinges on multipledeterminants as well as preventive and pro-motive strategies. While the national and Statehealth agencies are working on health insuranceand assurance models, the department of healthat the Centre and the State must work onimproving public healthcare infrastructure, avail-ability of health manpower, public health mea-sures and lifestyle changes to reduce morbidi-ty and mortality. The success of Pradhan MantriJan Arogya Yojana is critical to improve accessto quality, affordable healthcare and putting abrake on a vicious cycle of impoverishment. Itwill also be instrumental in achieving univer-sal health coverage, health related sustainabledevelopment goals and in building a new Indiaby 2022.

(The writer is a senior IAS officer)

Half-baked healthcare reform

A LETHAL COMBINATIONOF FINANCIAL, MILITARY

AND DIPLOMATICMUSCLE IS LEVERAGED

TO ENSNARE ANDENSURE THE REQUISITE

CHINESE FOOTPRINT.OFTEN THIS FOOTPRINT

INITIALLY COMES UNDERTHE GUISE OF CIVIL

FACILITIES ANDINFRASTRUCTURE,

WHICH LATER MORPHSINTO THE DUAL-USAGE(CIVIL AND MILITARY)

PLATFORMS

MSP: Minimal Suicide of Peasants

The Modi Government has undertaken deeper structural reforms for the agriculture sector. Its MSP policy promises

remunerative prices to farmers and if implemented rightly, holds the potential to alleviate agrarian distress

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Justice Gogoi must be true to his conscience

The Indian judiciary has once againregained its glory with the appointmentof Justice Ranjan Gogoi as the next

Chief Justice of India. Gogoi was one ofthe four seniormost judges who came outin the open to inform the people that allwas not well in the functioning of theSupreme Court and incumbent ChiefJustice Dipak Misra. This, he did, despitebeing aware of the repercussions such aPress meet could create. His utterancesagainst the functioning of the Chief Justice

might also result in some personal loss-es, as he was next in seniority to succeedthe incumbent CJI. Gogoi proved that forhim, national interest was most supremeand was of utmost priority than personalgains.

Realising the pulse of the people andrest of the agitated judiciary, Dipak Misraacted with care and followed the set normsof the apex court to recommend the nameof Justice Gogoi as his successor. This alsomade it inevitable for the Bharatiya Janata

Party (BJP) Government at the Centre tosimply forward his name to the Presidentfor appointment as the next Chief Justiceof India without further dilly-dallying. One can expect to witnesssome historic judgements from JusticeGogoi, who is said to be highly knowl-edgeable, pragmatic, strict and more thananything, one with a record of absolutehonesty and impeccable integrity.

Shalini G FernandoChennai

THE PIONEERLUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 20188

Hyderabad’s first-ever exclusive pet park has put anend to the hue and cry about cities not being pet-friendly. A dedicated park having a dog pool, play areaand an amphitheater is soon to be filled with joyousbow-wows in the tech capital. While most parks have a“No pets” signboard, this comes as a respite to petowners and allows our furry friends a day in the sun.

THE PIONEERLUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 9

50WORDEDIT

COMMENT & ANALYSIS

Dog’s day out

DR SAJJANYADAV

Laudable as much as the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan is, several loophooles

remain. It must be supplemented with the goal of equitable healthcare

Crossing the

borders of learning

WITHOUT

PREJUDICE

money 10

“There is a sequence inwhich activity has to go.Sequence is today, youhave 100% system workingon internal combustionengine (ICE)...”

VK Saraswat, Niti Aayog member

“Team in India will play a keyrole — both as a market andsupplier for the new-generationtechnology that promises fasterInternet speeds and betterconnectivity betweendevices...”

Chuck Robbins, CEO, Cisco

GOVT/CORP

FROM

BUZZ

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

ABHISHEK MISHRA n

NEW DELHI

Despite India being majorfood producing countries

in the world, only 10% foodgets processed and there is a lotof wastage, according to UnionMinister of Food ProcessingHarsimrat Kaur Badal.

While inaugurating thefirst SIAL Food India exposi-tion at Pragati Maidan onSunday, she said, “With mod-ern technology in food pro-cessing coming to India foodwastage will reduce substan-tially.”

Participants from 109 coun-tries exhibited thousands ofproducts, showcasing the scopeof food processing industry.

Harsimrat said, “The exposhows that the world hasrealised the opportunities thatIndia presents in food pro-cessing. As the number of foodshows increases, it will result inmore modern technology andtie-ups of companies with ourlocal farmers and producerswhich will result in greateropportunities and moreemployment for the youth asfood processing is an employ-ment generating sector.”

The Minister visited vari-ous stalls and encouragedwoman entrepreneurs to availseveral benefits and subsidiesavailable for women. She alsoencouraged the exhibitors tosource raw materials from ruraland tribal areas.

New tech to cut foodwastage: Harsimrat

Union Minister of Food ProcessingHarsimrat Kaur Badal inauguratesfirst Food-India by SIAL’ at PragatiMaidan on Sunday Pioneer photo

PTI n NEW DELHI

The government has startedthe process of de-activating

the identification numbers ofnearly 21 lakh directors ofcompanies as they failed tocomply with KYC norms,according to a senior official.

The Director IdentificationNumbers (DINs) — a uniquenumber allotted to individualswho are eligible to have direc-torship on the boards of regis-tered companies — are beingde-activated. They will be re-activated after a fee payment of`5,000 along with the requisiteform and the individuals con-cerned might also face action.

The latest move by theCorporate Affairs Ministry alsocomes at a time when the gov-ernment has intensified thecrack down on shell compa-nies, which are suspected to beconduits for illicit fund flows.

In June, the ministry decid-ed to carry out KYC (KnowYour Customer) process for alldirectors, including those whohave been disqualified.

The last date for complyingwith the new norms by way ofsubmitting form ‘DIR-3 KYC’without fee ended onSeptember 15.

The senior ministry officialsaid that out of 33 lakh activedirectors, only around 12.16lakh directors completed theKYC process. The balance ofaround 21 lakh individualsfailed to comply with therequirement.

“The process of deactivat-ing the non-compliant DINs isin progress and is likely to becompleted by September 17,2018,” the Ministry said in acommunication on its website.

After the deadline ofSeptember 15, the MCA 21 sys-tem would mark all approvedDINs — allotted on or beforeMarch 31 this year — againstwhich DIR-3 KYC form hasnot been filed as “de-activated”.The reason for de-activationwould be ‘non-filing of DIR-3KYC’, as per the ministry.

MCA 21 is used by stake-holders to submit requisite fil-ings to the Ministry.

PTI n LONDON

Tata Steel has launched anambitious project to sig-

nificantly extend the opera-tional life of one of the twohuge blast furnaces of its UK’slargest steelworks at Port Talbotin South Wales.

The plant’s giant BlastFurnace 5, which has beenrunning for the past 15 yearsproducing almost 30 milliontonnes of iron, is now beingdrained so vital engineeringwork can be carried out inside,extending its life by five toseven years, Tata Steel saidFriday.

“This is the biggest singleinvestment we have made at thePort Talbot site for more thanfive years and demonstrates ourcommitment to building astronger and more sustainablesteelmaking business in theUK now and in the future,” saidBimlendra Jha, CEO of TataSteel’s UK business.

Once the heart of the fur-nace, which is normally morethan 1,200 degrees Celsius,has cooled, skilled engineerswill begin work to replaceparts of the heat resistant inte-rior and vital structural parts,it said.

The project, costing tens ofmillions of pounds and expect-ed to take several months, willalso see the waste gas and dustextraction system beingreplaced.

Alan Coombs, Chair ofthe Port Talbot multi-unioncommittee, said: “This invest-ment in Port Talbot is a hugevote of confidence in the work-force, and follows some othermajor investments which willhelp sustain the steel industryin the UK.”

Tata Steel said BlastFurnace 5 life extension projectis a critical part of the compa-ny’s long-term strategy tostrengthen its operations inthe UK and will underpinimprovements throughout itsUK supply chain.

Confirmation of the invest-ment came at the same time as

the announcement in June ofdefinitive agreements beingsigned by Thyssenkrupp andTata Steel to form a joint ven-ture of their European steelbusinesses.

On Friday, project engi-neers began what is known asa salamander tap of the fur-nace. This involves a number ofholes being drilled throughthe base of the furnace to fullydrain it of liquid iron. Theoperation is carried outremotely and it is expected itcould take more than a day toremove all the remaining iron,the company said.

Tata Steel is one of Europe’sleading steel producers, withsteelmaking in the Netherlandsand the UK, and manufactur-ing plants across Europe.

The company supplieshigh-quality steel products tothe most demanding markets,including construction andinfrastructure, automotive,packaging and engineering.

In June, it had announceda historic 50-50 joint venturewith German steel giantThyssenkrupp, creatingEurope’s second-largest steel-works after NRI steel magnateLakshmi N Mittal-ledArcelorMittal.

PTI n NEW DELHI

Making a strong case forrevival of the cooperative

sector in the country, ReserveBank of India Director SatishMarathe said that increasingminimum support price ofagriculture produce alone willnot improve the plight of thefarming community.

The cooperative sector, headded, was essential to improvefood processing industry andensure that the farmers get dueprice of their produce.

“We only process 20 percent of the farm produce,while in developed countriesand in South East Asiannations as much as 80 per centof the agriculture produce areprocessed,” he said, addingthat “increasing in MSP alonewill not improve the lot offarmers. We need to encouragecooperative sector..Reactivaterural cooperatives”.

Marathe said this whiledelivering the secondSopanStep DevelopmentLecture on ‘Reforms in coop-eratives, imperative to spreadrural prosperity’ here on

Saturday.Patron of Sahakar Bharathi

was appointed as part-timedirector on the board of theRBI last month along with SGurumurthy, co-convenor ofRSS affiliate Swadeshi JagranManch.

Marathe further said thatefforts were needed to per-suade the Centre as well asstate governments to amend alllaws and rules in line with the97th ConstitutionalAmendment, which, besidesother things, made the right toform cooperative a funda-mental right.

The 97th ConstitutionalAmendment was aimed atfreeing cooperatives frombureaucratic control andensuring democratic andautonomous functioningthrough regular elections.

One of the big problemsbeing faced by the cooperativesector is lack of data, Marathesaid, adding “one does notknow the contribution of thecooperative sector to the GDP.This data is not there withCentral Statistics Office(CSO)”.

PTI n NEW DELHI

Property brokerage firm 360Realtors’ revenue more than

doubled to `104 crore last fis-cal year by facilitating sales ofover 4,000 housing and com-mercial units, its top officialsaid Sunday.

With signs of revival inhousing demand, theGurugram-based firm, havinga sales force of more than 1,000people, has set an aggressive tar-get of facilitating deals of about7,500 units this fiscal year.

360 Realtors competes withthe likes of PropTiger.Com,ANAROCK and Square Yardsin the organised property bro-kerage business, which hasnow come under the ambit ofnew realty law RERA.

“We sold 4,023 units worth`2,682 crore during 2017-18,which was more than doublefrom the previous fiscal,” thecompany’s founder and MDAnkit Kansal told. In the2016-17 fiscal year, he said thecompany had sold 1,732 unitsworth `1,221 crore.

Its brokerage income alsomore than doubled to Rs 104crore from Rs 46 crore during

the review period.Asked about the current

fiscal, Kansal said: “We haveachieved a good number in thefirst quarter and sold morethan 1,300 units valuing `1,100core.”

The target is to sell 7,500units worth ̀ 5,000 crore in theentire current financial year, headded. “We expect our revenueto cross ̀ 200 crore in 2018-19,”Kansal said.

The company has morethan 50 offices across India andoverseas for facilitating prop-erty sales on behalf of real estatedevelopers. It helps buyers tochoose right property in rightlocations.

“We only work with reput-ed developers having goodtrack record of execution. Theleads are generated boththrough online and offlineroutes,” he said, while empha-sising the increasing impor-tance of technology in realestate.

As the name of the com-pany suggests, Kansal said it istrying to provide 360-degreesolution to customers by offer-ing services like home loansassistance, legal and interiors.

PTI n NEW DELHI

Markets watchdog Sebi is“well within its rights” to

regulate auditors with respect toactivities under its regulations, asenior government official saidamid chartered accountants’apex body ICAI raising concernsabout the proposal.

Corporate Affairs SecretaryInjeti Srinivas also said thatthere will be no “cross cuttingregulations”.

His comments come againstthe backdrop of Sebi proposingstricter norms for fiduciaries,including chartered accountants,cost accountants, company sec-retaries and valuers, in the secu-rities market. The proposedchanges to the Sebi Regulationsare likely to be discussed at theregulator’s board meeting onSeptember 18.

“Sebi is well within its rightsto have a regulatory controlover auditors with respect of cer-tifications which are required bySebi under their Act and theirregulations,” Srinivas told in aninterview.

Asserting that there is a“clear demarcating line”, he saidthat in every legislative frame-work, the corresponding regu-lators would regulate. “There will

be no cross cutting regulations,”he noted.

The Corporate AffairsSecretary is also part of the Sebiboard. The Institute of CharteredAccountants of India (ICAI),which comes under theCorporate Affairs Ministry, hasraised strong objections to Sebi’sproposal to consider auditors asfiduciaries.

In its submissions on theconsultative paper on proposedamendments to the norms forfiduciaries, the ICAI had saidthat there is no specific statuto-ry provision under the Sebi Actto act against auditors of listedcompanies, according to asource. Another submissionfrom the ICAI was that takingaction against an individual forthe same offence thrice under theICAI Act, Companies Act andSebi Act, is against the constitu-tional provisions.

However, Sebi has main-tained that it is empowered toexercise jurisdiction over personsassociated with the securitiesmarket, the source said.

The amended norms forfiduciaries would be applicablefor entities that undertake third-party fiduciary duties, assign-ments and engagements underthe securities law.

PTI n NEW DELHI

Aconsortium of handsetmaker Micromax and tele-

com major Reliance Jio hasbagged a `1,500-crore orderfrom the ChhattisgarhGovernment to distribute 50lakh smartphones to womenand students in the state.

Under the project, 45 lakhsmartphones are being given towomen and the remaining willbe distributed to college stu-dents in the state, Micromaxco-founder Vikas Jain told.

“About 10,000 camps arebeing organised under the pro-ject and deliveries have alreadystarted. Every beneficiary, cho-sen by the State Government, ishanded the device personallyafter activating it with RelianceJio connection. The authenti-cation of the beneficiary isdone using Aadhaar,” he said.

Jain said the project cov-ered a large part of the popu-lation and the companyreserved space in 15 ware-houses across the state toensure timely distribution ofthe handsets to people.Chhattisgarh had a population

of over 2.5 crore as per the 2011census.

The deal was signed earli-er this year with distributionstarting end of July. “For car-rying out the project, we hiredabout 2,000-2,500 temporarystaff... We expect to completedeliveries to all beneficiaries inthe next few weeks,” he added.

Jain explained that the pro-ject “doesn’t appear to be polit-ically motivated”, given that ithas taken months of planningand execution for all involvedparties. The project was giventhrough a tender process.

“Micromax has partneredwith Chhattisgarh Governmentin launching the SancharKranti Yojana (SKY)... Theircommitment towards SKY ini-tiative has helped us reach outto women of urban BPL fami-lies, rural house and youth con-sumers by providing them aworthwhile digital experiencethrough their smartphones,”Chhattisgarh InfotechPromotion Society CEO AlexPaul Menon said.

He added that the initiativewill help make Chhattisgarh adigitally empowered State.

New Delhi: Tech Mahindra hassacked the employee, who hadbeen accused by a former employ-ee of harassing and discriminatingagainst him on grounds of sexu-al orientation, according to atweet by the IT major. “@gau-ravpramanik, arising out of aninvestigation carried out in thematter, the concerned employeehas been separated from theemployment of the company withimmediate effect,” Tech Mahindrasaid in a tweet late Saturday.

It further added that thecompany believes in diversityand inclusion, and condemns“discrimination of any kind inthe workplace”. This tweet wasre-tweeted more than 400 timesand liked over 900 times.

Pramanik, in a statement,said: “The path to my vindicationhasn’t been easy over the pastweek. I have been abused, threat-ened, maligned and my charac-ter been questioned. But I knewit would have been this way allthis while, and I was prepared forit to rain on me...However, I had-n’t realised how mentallyexhausting all of this was. Thankyou to all who have supportedme steadfastly”. PTI

PTI n NEW DELHI

Hybrid vehicles should beconsidered as key aspect in

India’s journey to future mobil-ity, Niti Aayog member VKSaraswat said Sunday.

Moving towards electricvehicles directly from internalcombustion engine (ICE) needproper infrastructure, and itwill take time, Saraswat furthersaid.

Introduction of EV tech-nology should begin with two-wheelers and three-wheelersfor short-haul journeys, headded.

“There is a sequence inwhich activity has to go.Sequence is today, you have 100per cent system working oninternal combustion engine(ICE).

“You are introducing a bat-tery technology directly today.It will take time for the batterytechnology because it needssupporting infrastructurecapacity,” Saraswat told.

PTI n LUCKNOW

Allaying fears about thesugar industry, Uttar

Pradesh Cane DevelopmentMinister Suresh Rana said bet-ter management by the YogiAdityanath government hasresulted in the state accountingfor 38 per cent of the entiresugar production in the coun-try.

The state produced 32 mil-lion tonnes of sugar in the2017-18 season (October-September), which comes to 38per cent of the entire sugar pro-duced in the country, the min-ister told PTI Sunday.

“It is a matter of pride forthe state that Uttar Pradeshaccounted for 38 per cent of thetotal sugar produced in thecountry,” he said in an inter-view.

Stressing that the sugarindustry in the state is on theright path with the YogiAdityanath government initi-ating all-round steps for thewelfare of the sugarcane grow-ers, Rana said that crushing bythe mills has gone up consid-erably under the BJP govern-ment.

PTI n NEW DELHI

Stock markets would con-tinue to be guided by move-

ment of the rupee, trade issuesbetween the US and Chinaand oil prices in a holiday-shortened week ahead, sayexperts.

The equity market wouldremain closed Thursday forMuharram.

With the rupee plumbingnew lows against the dollar, thegovernment Friday announcedan array of steps, includingremoval of withholding tax onMasala bonds, relaxation forFPIs, and curbs on non-essen-tial imports, to contain the

widening current accountdeficit and shore up the

domestic currency. “Despite sharp fall in

rupee and consolidation indomestic markets, we are out-performing other emergingmarkets. The reasons for thisare revival in domestic earn-ings growth, better economicdata and softening of CPI.

“However, some risk fac-tor like surge in oil prices,strengthening of dollar andescalation of trade wars arecreating headwinds for themarkets. Considering this,market is expected to bevolatile in the near term,” saidVinod Nair, Head of Research,Geojit Financial Services.

Global developments willkeep the market on edge,experts added.

“All eyes will be on crudeoil movement and INR as thatis a point of concern for bullsgiven a continuous deprecia-tion in INR. Trade tariffs willbe in the front seat and Asianmarkets opening on Mondaywill set the tone,” said MustafaNadeem, CEO, Epic Research.

Over the past week, the30-share BSE Sebsex fell byover 299 points. Markets wereclosed last Thursday forGanesh Chaturthi.

Experts: `, oil, global cues

to determine market trend

PNS n NEW DELHI

As the Country goes into theSwachchhata mode prior

to Gandhi Jayanti with thelaunching of the ‘SwachchhataPakhwara’ on Sunday, theNorthern Railway is observing“Swachchhata Hi Sewa”Pakhwara from 15th Sept-02ndOct, 2018 with unparalleledenthusiasm and gusto. Livingup to its motto of being secondto none, all the NR employeesrose to the call by the PM tomake cleanliness a part of ourdaily routine.

The day started withMinister of Railways, PiyushGoyal setting the tone and thepace of the celebrations. Thepassengers and the staff includ-ing the Sahayaks (Coolies) wereextremely happy to see him atthe station. Goyal came to theDelhi Junction Railway stationearly in the morning and firstsaw the level of cleanliness at thestation and in surroundingareas. As is characteristic of thedynamic Minister, Goyalwatched the entire speech of thePM on giant TV screens whichwere put up at the station. Suchis his charisma that the cooliesspontaneously gathered nearhim to watch the PM’s speech.

To the utter surprise and delightof these Sahayaks, Goyal invit-ed them to sit next to him in thechairs put up for the visitors towatch PM’s speech.

Goyal himself read out andadministered the Pledge ofcleanliness to all the officials andpersons standing on the railwaystation. He then interacted withthe staff, passengers and officersexplaining to them the vision ofthe PM on Swachchhata andexplained the importance of thesame and urged them to makeit an integral part of their dailyroutine. He, along with theVishwesh Chaube, GeneralManager, NR and RN Singh,Divisional Railway Manager,Delhi Division and other offi-cers went around the stationpremises minutely inspecting

every nook and corner. He then went out of the sta-

tion area to drive home the mes-sage of cleanliness to the peopleliving in the surrounding areasof the station. On seeing the dirton the roads just outside the sta-tion, he nonchalantly picked upa broom, donned the gloves andstarted cleaning the road.Looking at his down to earth atti-tude, several officers and near-by people too picked up broomsand started cleaning the dirt onthe road. Not to be left behind,his personal staff and officers fol-lowed their Minister withouthesitation. Chaube GeneralManager, NR and MaheshKumar Member Engineering,Railway Board, were seen deeplyengrossed in furthering the workbeing done by the Minister.

Northern Railway observesSwachchhata Hi Sewa

Sebi has rights to regulateauditors for activities underits regulations: Official

Tata Steel begins work on

blast furnace at UK plant

UP accounts for38% of India’ssugar output in2017-18

Revival of cooperativemust for improving farm sector: RBI director

Hybrid vehiclescrucial forfuture mobility:Niti Aayog

Micromax, Jio bag `1,500 crorder from Chhattisgarh Govt

TechM sacks execfor harassinghomosexual staff

360 Realtors’ brokerage incomedoubles to `104 cr in FY18

KYC non-compliance: Govt startsde-activating identificationnumbers of 21 lakh directors

Blast Furnace 5 life

extension project

is a critical part of

the company’s

long-term strategy

to strengthen its

ops in the UK

“Despite sharp fall

in rupee and

consolidation in

domestic markets,

we are

outperforming other

emerging markets.

The reasons for this

are revival in

domestic earnings

growth, better

economic data and

softening of CPI...”

world 11LUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

TROTTINGTROTTING

2ND NEPAL-CHINA JOINTMILITARY DRILL TODAYKathmandu: The second editionof Nepal-China joint militaryexercise with a special focus oncombating terror would beginfrom Monday in China’ssouthwestern Sichuan province,a senior official here said.

ISTANBUL PROTEST: 160WORKERS FREEDAnkara: Turkey has freed 160workers out of almost 600 whowere arrested following aprotest over work-related deathsand poor conditions at theconstruction site for Istanbul’sthird airport.

ISRAELI LAWMAKER:DISMISS US ENVOY Jerusalem: An OppositionIsraeli lawmaker called on PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu todismiss his ambassador to theUS for failing to report sexualassault allegations against a topNetanyahu aide, ballooning analready embarrassing scandalfor the Israeli leader.

‘HATE SPEECH-DETECTINGAIs FOOLED BY HUMANS’London: Artificial intelligence(AI) systems meant to screenout online hate speech can beeasily duped by humans, astudy has found.

AI TRACKS MYSTERIOUSCOSMIC SIGNALSLos Angeles: An ArtificialIntelligence system has helpeddiscover 72 new fast radiobursts from a mysterioussource about three billion lightyears away from Earth,scientists said.

Boston: Prehistoric humanshad a thirst for craft beer andwere brewing such beverages atleast 5,000 years earlier thanthought, say scientists whohave found evidence of alcoholproduction in the EasternMediterranean.

Archeologists from theStanford University in theUS and University of Haifain Israel analysed threestone mortars from a13,000-year old Natufianburial cave site in Israel.

Their analysis con-firmed that these mortarswere used for brewing ofwheat/barley, as well as forfood storage. The study, pub-lished in the Journal ofArchaeological Science:Reports, suggests that beerbrewing practices existed inthe Eastern Mediterranean

over five millennia before theearliest known evidence, dis-covered in northern China.

“Alcohol making and foodstorage were among the majortechnological innovations thateventually led to the develop-ment of civilisations in theworld, and archaeological sci-

ence is a powerful

means to help reveal their ori-gins and decode their contents,”said Li Liu, from StanfordUniversity.

The earliest archaeologicalevidence for cereal-based beerbrewing even before the adventof agriculture comes from theNatufians, semi-sedentary, for-aging people, living in theEastern Mediterraneanbetween the Paleolithic and the

Neolithic periods, follow-ing the last Ice Age.

The Natufians atRaqefet Cave collectedlocally available plants,stored malted seeds, andmade beer as a part of theirrituals. “The Natufian

remains in Raqefet Cave neverstop surprising us,” said DaniNadel, from the University ofHaifa, who was also an exca-vator of the site. PTI

Wellington: Researchers havedecoded a genetic variant thatenables new understanding ofwhy some people are at risk ofgout, a painful and debilitatingarthritic disease.

Gout is caused by persis-tently elevated levels of urate inthe blood, which causes severejoint pain and swelling, espe-cially in peoples’ toes, knees,elbows, wrists and fingers.

It can be treated usingdrugs that lower urate levels.But if left untreated, it can causeserious damage to joints, kid-neys and quality of life.

A team from the Universityof Otago in New Zealand,characterised the genetic vari-ant that lies not inside, but justnext to a gene called PDZK1 —which helps excrete urate

through the kidney and gut. In this way, PDZK1 con-

trols the amount of serumurate which, when high, formcrystals that cause gout.

“We found that the genet-ic variant doesn’t affect thePDZK1 protein, but causeschange in the amount of thePDZK1 gene produced,” saidJulia Horsfield, AssociateProfessor at the varsity.

“Unexpectedly, the effect ofthe genetic variant in humans is in the gut as well asthe kidney.

“Our results have identifieda new molecular pathway forgout, enabling new under-standing of why there is goutrisk in patients with this par-ticular genetic variant,”Horsfield said. IANS

Washington: Researchers atthe Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology (MIT) are buildinga device that uses machinelearning, and is similar to a Wi-Fi router, to tract breathing,heart rate, sleep, gait, just by sit-ting in one spot.

The device can help peopleliving with conditions likeParkinson’s, Alzheimer’s,depression, and pulmonarydiseases and enable their physi-cians to wirelessly monitortheir health.

According to MIT profes-sor Dina Katabi, the noveldevice will be able to replace

the array of expensive, bulky,uncomfortable gear we cur-rently need to get clinical dataabout the body.

It transmits a low-powerwireless signal throughout aspace the size of a one- or two-bedroom apartment (eventhrough walls), and the signalreflects off people’s bodies.

The device then usesmachine learning to analysethose reflected signals andextract physiological data.

The device takes advantageof the fact that every time wemove — even if it’s just a teeny,tiny bit, such as when we breathe— we change the electromag-netic field surrounding us, Katabisaid, at the recently held MITTechnology Review’s EmTechconference in Cambridge,Massachusetts. IANS

IANS n LONDON

Horror stories of childbirthshared by new mothers on

online forums and social mediaplatforms like Facebook couldbe driving the rise in toko-phobia — a pathological terrorof pregnancy and childbirth —leading to more C-sectionrequests and abortions, a mediareport said.

“You just have to Googlechildbirth and you’re met witha tsunami of horror stories,”BBC Health quoted CatrionaJones, a lecturer at theUniversity of Hull as saying.

If you go to any onlineforums, “there are womentelling their stories of childbirth- ‘Oh, it was terrible’, ‘it was abloodbath’, ‘this and that hap-pened’. I think that can be quitefrightening for women toengage with and read about,”she added.

Tokophobia is a mentalcondition defined as a severefear or dread of childbirth. Itaffects around 14 per cent ofwomen, and can be seriousenough to lead to requests forcaesarean sections, and abor-tions, the Guardian reported.

According to Professor

Louise Kenny of the Universityof Liverpool, that tokophobiawas seriously under-researchedand there was little literature onthe condition.

“(Stories) shared in safeenvironments can be quitehealing and informative butsome women are predisposedto developing a phobia due tostories taken out of context orexperiences that are graphic,”she noted.

Kenny added that the maincauses of the condition varieddepending on whether youwere pregnant with your first orsecond child.

Washington: President DonaldTrump is going ahead withplans to impose new tariffs onabout $200 billion of Chineseimports, The Wall Street Journalreported on Saturday.

Both sides were preparing tohold new talks on their tariff dis-pute. Last week Trump toldreporters such a move couldcome “very soon.” The Journalcited unnamed people familiarwith the matter who said the tar-iff level will likely be set at about10 per cent, below the 25 percent announced earlier this year.

The two Governmentshave already imposed 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion ofeach other’s goods. Beijing hasissued a list of another $60 bil-lion of American products forretaliation if Trump’s next tar-iff hike goes ahead.

White House spokes-woman Lindsay Waltersdeclined comment on the tim-ing of a possible announcement,but said: “The President hasbeen clear that he and hisadministration will continue totake action to address China’s

unfair trade practices. Weencourage China to addressthe long standing concernsraised by the United States.” TheChinese foreign ministry said itwas invited to hold new talks.Envoys from the two countrieslast met Aug. 22 in Washingtonbut reported no progress.

Beijing has rejected pres-sure from the United States toroll back plans for state-leddevelopment of Chinese glob-al champions in robotics, arti-ficial intelligence and otherfields. AP

Islamabad: A London-boundPakistan International Airlines(PIA) flight was delayed forover three hours after a phys-ical brawl between the pilot anda steward.

According to a source,flight PK-757 Lahore-Londonwas ready for departure at 9p.m. on Saturday when sud-denly pilot Anwaar Chaudhryasked the other crew membersto make steward AwaisQureshi, whom he called anotorious smuggler, leave theaircraft, Dawn news reported.

PTI

Officials warndevastationfar from overl The National Hurricane Centre

downgraded Florence to a tropicaldepression on Sunday morning

l Most of the fatalities fromFlorence, which made landfallFriday as a Category 1 hurricane,have occurred in North Carolina,where officials confirmed 14victims

l North Carolina Governor RoyCooper warned against suchbehaviour as roads becameincreasingly dangerous

New Bern: A killer storm that left up to 13 peo-ple dead weakened to a tropical depression onSunday, but US authorities warned the devas-tation it caused — including catastrophicflooding — is far from over.

Most of the fatalities from Florence, whichmade landfall Friday as a Category 1 hurricane,have occurred in North Carolina, where officialsconfirmed 14 victims. They included three whodied “due to flash flooding and swift water onroadways,” the Duplin County Sheriff ’s Officereported. A woman and her baby were amongthe first casualties when a tree fell on their house,contributing to a death toll that US media saidhad reached 13-10 in North Carolina and threein South Carolina, according to CNN.

The National Hurricane Centre (NHC)downgraded Florence to a tropical depression on

Sunday morning, adding that “flash flooding andmajor river flooding will continue over a signif-icant portion of the Carolinas.” As of 5.00 am (localtime) on Sunday, maximum sustained winds hadweakened to near 56 kms per hour, the NHC said.

On Saturday, some residents tried to returnhome, driving through flooded highways andarmed with chainsaws to clear fallen pine treesthat covered the road. North Carolina GovernorRoy Cooper warned against such behaviour asroads became increasingly dangerous.

“All roads in the state right now are at riskof floods,” he said. Hurricane Florence made land-fall Friday in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina,after stalking the coastline for days. Tornadoesremain a threat, with the NHC saying that “a fewtornadoes remain possible across North Carolinaand eastern South Carolina.” AFP

weakens

Killerstorm

A member of the USCoast Guard walksdown Mill Creek Roadchecking houses AP

Hong Kong/Beijing: TyphoonMangkhut barrelled into south-ern China, killing two people,on Sunday after lashing thenorthern Philippines withstrong winds and heavy rainthat left at least 64 people deadand dozens more feared buriedin a landslide.

More than 2.4 million peo-ple had been evacuated insouthern China’s Guangdongprovince by Sunday evening toflee the massive typhoon andnearly 50,000 fishing boatswere called back to port, statemedia reported.

State broadcaster CGTN

reported that two people werekilled in Guangdong provincewhich is located close to HongKong where over 200 peoplewere injured.

Work has been suspendedat more than 29,000 construc-tion sites and 632 tourist spotshave been closed.

Earlier, more than 400flights at two airports in China’ssouthernmost island Provinceof Hainan were cancelled andall coastal resorts and schoolswere closed.

South China regionsincluding Guangdong, Hainanand Guangxi Zhuang

Autonomous Region wereaffected by strong gales andheavy downpours on Sundaymorning.

The gambling enclave ofMacau closed casinos for thefirst time and the Hong KongObservatory warned people tostay away from the VictoriaHarbour landmark, wherestorm surges battered the sand-bag-reinforced waterfront.

Hong Kong’s RTHK broad-caster cited experts as sayingMangkhut was expected to bethe strongest typhoon to hit thecity in decades.

The Hong Kong

Observatory issued its strongeststorm warning for 10 hours onSunday, just slightly shorterthan the record time of 11hours set by Typhoon York in1999, the South China MorningPost reported.

Groceries flew off theshelves of supermarkets in theprovincial capital ofGuangzhou as residentsstocked up in anticipation ofbeing confined at home by thetyphoon, China’s officialXinhua News Agency said.

Hundreds of flights werecancelled. All high-speed andsome normal rail services in

Guangdong and Hainanprovinces were also halted, theChina Railway GuangzhouGroup Co. Said.

In Hong Kong, a videoposted online by residentsshowed the top corner of an oldbuilding break and fall off,while in another video, a tallbuilding swayed as strongwinds blew.

The storm also broke win-dows, felled trees, tore bambooscaffolding off buildings underconstruction and flooded areaswith sometimes waist-highwaters, according to the SouthChina Morning Post. Agencies

HURRICANES are tropical storms that form over the North Atlantic Ocean and Northeast PacificCYCLONES are formed over the South Pacific and Indian OceanTYPHOONS are formed over the Northwest Pacific Ocean

Hurricanes, cyclones and typhoons are all tropical storms. They are all the same thing but aregiven different names depending on where they appear. When they reach populated areasthey usually bring very strong winds and rain which can cause a lot of damage

WHY DO STORMS HAVE A NAME?Air rises quickly when it is heated by warm sea water. Asthe air cools down again it is pushed aside by more warmair rising below it. This cycle causes strong winds.Tropical storms have winds faster than 73 miles an hour.

WHAT HAPPENS IN TROPICAL STORM?

Tropical storms last a long time and are given names so they can be identified quickly. In mostplaces, the first storm of a year will have a name beginning with A, such as Hurricane Alice, andthe next one gets a name beginning with B. Weather scientists hold meetings to decide on newnames for the next year. Names of storms which cause a lot of damage are never used again.

GLOBE

Typhoon pounds China

MANGKHUT kills64 in Philippines,2 in China

A baseball field on MillCreek Road is filledwith floodwaters AP

Report: Trump going aheadwith plans for new China tariffs

PIA flight delayed afterpilot-steward row

Is social media driving pregnancy phobia

Novel AI-based device to provide

wireless tracking of health

Humans brewed beer over 13K yrs ago Decoded: Why some

people are at risk of gout

ASTHMA MAY INCREASE OBESITY RISK

A WARMER WORLD MAKES HURRICANES WETTER

According to a recent research, leaders in the US werefinding ways to move climate action forward despitethe best efforts by the Trump administrationwithdrawing from the Paris climate change agreementand the tensions over trade between US and China.

Leaders unveiled arange of bold newcommitments across fivespecific challenge areasaimed at taking theircollective ambition to thenext level. These areaimed at avoiding risksand seizing theopportunities outlined in a suite of reports, includingthe new Unlocking the Inclusive Growth Story of the21st Century by the New Climate Economy. It findsthat a stepped-up transition to a low-carbon economycan result in $26 trillion in economic benefitsworldwide through 2030.

GUT MICROBIOTA DETECTS LIVER CANCER

Chinese researchers have identified gut microbiota as anew biomarker of liver cancer, that can help in earlydiagnosis as well as treatment of the condition.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the mostcommon type of liver cancer and the third leadingcause of cancer-related deathworldwide. Due to theabsence of specific symptomsin early stages and the lack ofdiagnostic markers, mostpatients with HCC are oftendiagnosed in an advancedstage. Researchers from Zhejiang University, found thatthe microbial diversity in patients with cirrhosis wassignificantly lower than that in healthy people, but itincreased when cirrhosis develops into cancer.

Gut microbiota helps to digest foods that stomachand small intestine not able to digest.

A warmer world makes for nastier hurricanes. Scientists saythey are wetter, possess more energy and intensify faster.Their storm surges are more destructive because climatechange has already made the seasrise. And lately, the storms seem tobe stalling more often and thusdumping more rain.

Study after study shows thatclimate change in general makeshurricanes worse. But determiningthe role of global warming in a specific storm such asHurricane Florence or Typhoon Mangkhut is not so simple —at least not without detailed statistical and computer analyses.

A few experts remain cautious about attributing globalwarming to a single event, but most of the scientists clearlysee the hand of humans in Florence. Global warming didn’tcause Florence, they say. But it makes the system a biggerdanger.

Babies born to mothers who got exposed to pollenmay be at increased risk ofdeveloping respiratory diseasessuch as asthma, as per a study.

It showed that those bornduring the peak grass pollenseason had highImmunoglobulin E (IgE) levelsin umbilical cord blood — amarker used to predict the development of allergicdiseases. “Outdoor pollen exposure during the firstcouple of months after birth can lead to allergicrespiratory diseases and we suspected that exposureduring the later stages of pregnancy may also beimportant,” said lead researcher Bircan Erbas,Associate Professor at La Trobe University,Melbourne, Australia. Studies have shown that babieswith high IgE levels in cord blood can developallergies later in childhood, but little is known abouthow they are affected by exposure to pollen in utero.”

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018

The history of modern political systems islargely a global evolution towards democ-

racy. That is why democratic systems are gen-erally regarded as the most legitimate and eth-ically fair form of government. It is easy tounderstand the reason as democracies are onan average richer than non-democracies, lesslikely to go to war and have a better record offighting corruption. More fundamentally,democracy lets people speak their minds andshape their own as well as their children’sfutures.

Commonly, in any two party or multi-party democratic system of government, oneof the political parties, which constitutes themajority, is generally called the ‘Ruling Party’and is the party in power that holds the author-ity, whereas the other major party is known as‘The Opposition’. This nomenclature, it may bepointed out, unnecessarily generates wrongattitudes in the minds of people. The majori-ty party, because of this terminology, becomesconscious, or gets reminded of its being in con-trol of the levers of power and authority where-as the other parties feel that their primary tasknow is to oppose everything that the rulingparty proposes or does. These two conflictingattitudes build up an atmosphere in which onefinds more of confrontation or criticismand lack of co-operation between thetwo sides. In the process, thespirit of brotherhood, loveand the goal of welfareof the whole soci-ety is lostw h i l eh u m a nenergy andendeavour isspent on the fulfilmentof narrower interests.In this atmosphere,each party tries to

prove itself betterand in this attempt,denounces the other.Each makes anendeavour to grabthe credit for theirachievements and forthis, indulges even inpopulist activitiesand overdoes certainthings. It thus createsnarrow kind ofgroup-conscious-ness, leading to divi-sions and lack of loy-alty to wider inter-

ests. This leads also, in many cases, to the ten-dency of non-cooperation in certain areas ofwork.

Even if a better nomenclature was used,things will not improve because in this system,lust and rivalry for office and power will alwaysremain as the main motivating forces. One alsofinds that in countries where a republic has thename of a particular religion included in itsnomenclature, its policies inherently harbourprejudice, partiality and an attitude of unequaltreatment towards those who profess any reli-gion which is different from the state religion.And, where there is military rule or legalisedmilitary dictatorship, there the stress is on therule of the brute force.

To be brief, one finds that, even though theConstitution of many countries speaks of theircommitment to justice, equality, fraternalfeelings, freedom, human rights and public wel-fare, yet many systems have an in-built tenden-cy to incorporate one or the other kind of neg-ative traits which are opposite to what the

declared objectives are. It is, therefore,time that social scientists, constitution-

al experts, political theorists andleaders and experts on values

make an endeavour toarrive at a system that

generates co-oper-ation, good-

will, lovea n d

brother-hood and

caters to thewider interest of

the whole society.

vivacity {mindspace} 12

MOM’S EXPOSURE UPS ASTHMA IN BABIES

While obesity is already known as a risk factorfor developing asthma, a new research showedthat people with the airway disease are also morelikely to become obese.

The study indicates thatthose who develop asthma asadults and those who havenon-allergic asthma are at thegreatest risk of obesity.The relationship betweenasthma and obesity is more complex thanpreviously thought and more research is neededto better understand and tackle these twogrowing health challenges, the researchers said.“We already know that obesity can be a triggerfor asthma, perhaps via a physiological,metabolic or inflammatory change,” saidSubhabrata Moitra, research student at theISGlobal - the Barcelona Institute for GlobalHealth in Spain.

STEPPING UP CLIMATE ACTION BY 2020

Social scientists, constitutionalexperts, political theorists andleaders and experts on valuesshould make an endeavour toarrive at a system that generatescooperation, goodwill, love andbrotherhood. BY RAJYOGIBRAHMAKUMAR NIKUNJ JI

The power of imagination makes us infinite.—John Muir

What’s the truth about thefrozen world of Antarctica?From lost civilisations to

numerous shipwrecks, secret battlesand divine glaciers, extreme weatherconditions and polar habitats, this con-tinent continues to intrigue as it isreplete with a sack of unsolved myster-ies. Even though life on planet’sextreme polar regions could be incred-ibly difficult, these seemingly bizarrebut breathtaking icy landscapes are thehabitat of a range of wildlife species anda world that is incredible. Have youever imagined what life or even trav-elling to such a place would be? Andwhat is the extreme climate like?Would the weather conditions let yous u r v i v eeven for aminute withoutappropriate clothing?

Portraying the great wildernessof the Arctic and the Antarctic, FrozenPlanet is back with its season two onSony BBC Earth. Produced by KathrynJeffs and narrated by naturalist SirDavid Attenborough, the show takes

new technology to the most extremeand remote parts of the Earth toenable the viewers to experience themup close. Different camera teams cap-ture ground-breaking views as theydive deep into the magical world of icygiants, plunge into the erupting polarvolcano and ultimately fly towards theSouth Pole across the Antarctic ice cap.Shares Kathryn, “Our world is a beau-tiful place but sadly people don’t knowthis. The show gives theman insight into howwondrous and breath-taking this planet is.People have diveddeep into the frozenoceans to capturephotographs. Itmakes the audi-ence look

beyond their imagination of how suchextreme places are. It documents thelives of polar species very closely andhow they survive at such high altitudes.Our team has captured detailed pic-tures of polar bears.”

Ask her about her experiences, sherecalls staying at a small island formonths and learning about the ‘HolyGrail’ of shipwreck, the British mysteryof Endurance that lies at the bottom ofan ice shield and remains the biggestunsolved and toughest nut to crack tilldate. They learnt about the giant shipwhich was discovered in the Weddellsea of Antarctica.

“Also, we could actually feel climatechange and shrinking glaciers closely.We could almost feel it taking place,”

she says.However, what should

people expect from such a show? Isthere a message that it gives about thebiodiversity or climate change?Kathryn has an answer. “There is nomessage as such. These are very inex-plicable places and the ones probablyhumans would never discover or trav-el to. Our aim is to show a world thatis close to being bereft of any form ofhuman life. It is a world of the Adeliepenguins, seabirds, polar woolly bears,even caterpillars which becomemoths within months of hatch-ing, giant albatrosses whichonly appeared in stories, killerwhales, Arctic wolves, sealsand so on...”

Highly fascinated bypenguins, she says that it

was an absolutevisual feast to look

at these flightless birdsso closely. Of course,she camped duringthe six-month periodof darkness. Theshow will take youon a journey thatexplores it all —from Greenland

ice caps, to colossal icebergs calving(breaking) into the sea, frozen riversand glaciers, giant sea spiders, penguinsbuilding their nests, mating and hud-dling together in their creches, the sunnever setting during summer, cubs tak-ing their first swimming lessons withtheir polar bear mother, the effect onwildlife and their living patterns whenthe first blizzards strike the area.

One can witness the spectacle of ariver frozen for six months releasingfreshwater in the Arctic Ocean andfuelling the mass migration of fishes,birds and whales. Or hold your breatheas you see storm petrels darting aroundthe waves lapping against the sides ofan iceberg. Or witness the human-likebehaviour of the beluga whale as ituses the gravel on the beach as aloofah.

(Frozen Planet premieresSeptember 24 at 9 PM onSony BBC Earth.)

If recent projections by the BostonConsulting Group are anything to go

by, then half of India’s internet users willbe rural, 40 per cent of which will bewomen, by 2020.

The digital gender divide is a hardreality and bridging the gender gap inmobile ownership and digital literacywill help empower women across thecountry. Interestingly, cheaper and eas-ier availability of mobile handsets, thespread of wireless data networks beyondtowns and cities, and the evolvingconsumer behaviours and preferenceswill all drive rural penetration andusage. They will transform the way ruralconsumers, a sizeable chunk of whichis women, interact with companies.

INCLUSION-CUM-EMPOWERMENTAppreciating the direct link

between telecom penetration and ruraluplift, the Centre has sought to augmentfinancial inclusion, including that ofwomen, via its Digital India mission.Financial inclusion received a big fillipwith the launch of the Pradhan MantriJan Dhan Yojana(PMJDY) in 2014, trig-gering the opening of millions of zero-balance bank accounts in rural areas. Ofthe 310 million-plus PMJDY bankaccounts opened till date, around 53 percent belong to women.

Additionally, in tandem with theCentre's National Rural LivelihoodMission, more than 1,500 BankingCorrespondents (BCs) were enrolled inthe villages of 13 financially-strappedstates, under the World Bank’s NationalRural Livelihood Project. Since less than10 per cent of the nation’s 6,50,000-plusvillages have bank branches, a digital-ly-enabled channel is the best mode ofpromoting greater financial inclusion.Taking all these factors into consider-ation, female BCs in villages need to belauded for overcoming their early,inherent fears of digital technologywhile gaining familiarity with the finan-cial ecosystem. Significantly, female BCsare better placed for acting as role mod-els and encouraging village women toopen bank accounts.

Fortunately, the rise of internet pen-etration in villages has generated greaterawareness about the benefits of mobiletechnology. Rural women owningmobile phones are not only connectingwith relatives in various places but also

using them to undertake financialtransactions and managing bankaccounts. Undoubtedly, the digital rev-olution has fostered a sense of confi-dence among rural women and is play-ing a huge role in empowering them.The number of women with access tothe internet, mobile phones and man-ageable bank accounts has risen over thelast few years, primarily because of theModi government’s initiatives aroundDigital India and WomenEmpowerment. The tone has been setbut there is still a long way to go.

DRIVING DIGITAL INITIATIVESTo facilitate nationwide communi-

cations, the Centre’s Bharat Net projectplans to provide broadband connectiv-ity to all gram panchayats in India. TillFebruary this year, more than 1,10,000gram panchayats were provided opticalfibre connectivity in the first phase. Theremaining 1,50,000 gram panchayatswill receive connectivity in phase twowhich is scheduled for completion by

March 2019. Furthermore, private entities are

also active in advancing digital penetra-tion.

Consider the Internet Saathischeme, meant to empower ruralwomen, including their communities,by enabling them to use the Internet andenjoy its benefits daily. Launched inpartnership, by Google India and TataTrusts, the scheme has covered morethan 1,40,000 villages. A digital litera-cy initiative, it is seeking to plug themale-female, rural-urban divide even asit imparts information on milk process-ing, better farming means, entrepre-neurship and so on. Apart from Internetusage training, the women are trainedin acting as local agents offering servicesvia digital devices. This includes actingas local distributors for selling mobiles,SIMs or data packs; even becomingagents for financial services and help-ing villagers in accessing governmentschemes and benefits through Internet-based devices.

Using the Internet has helped ruralwomen entrepreneurs in eliminatingmiddlemen and reaching customersdirectly. Numerous new and renownede-commerce platforms are helping suchwomen sell high-quality handmadeproducts at robust prices, facilitatingfinancial independence and augment-ing their skills too.

Meanwhile, as broadband penetra-tion grows across India, digital trans-actions are on the rise. But cash still con-tinues to remain the main medium oftransaction in villages. As more womenbecome first-time bread winners inrural families, being part of the formalbanking system is imperative to safe-guard their earnings. During thisprocess, the benefits of digital transac-tions versus cash gradually becomeapparent.

Yet, replacing the centuries-oldtradition of cash dealings with digitaldeals requires the assurance of securedigital transactions. Therefore, ruraldigital infrastructure needs upgradingto support secure cashless transac-tions, thereby encouraging more peo-ple to transact on non-cash online plat-forms. Once these conditions are ful-filled, digital payments will emerge asthe new game-changer in 2018, whereintense competition between nationaland international players may emergeas the new norm.

Digital revolution can empowerwomen and ensure increased financialindependence and respect for womenin the rural areas. A study on mobilephone ownership and usage by womenin India, using 2004-2005 NationalFamily Health Survey cross-sectionaldata, found that households wherewomen had mobile phones reportedlower tolerance for domestic violenceand higher women’s autonomy inmobility and economic independence.It can in turn ensure more women par-ticipation in the workforce, therebymaking a positive impact on the GDPof the country.

Indeed, the steady transition fromfear to familiarity with digital transac-tions is already underway. This willcarve the path for a new India that willemerge as a global superpower.

— The author is co-founder anddirector of a mobile phone-based pay-ment system and digital wallet.

Cloud cover for rural women

THE LAST

FRONTIER

Documentary producer KATHRYN JEFFS takes you into themysterious, frozen world of Antarctica and the Arctic withher new series. By TEAM VIVA

India’s digital drive is gradually boostingfinancial inclusion and empowering womenacross villages, says UPASANA TAKU

In search of value-basedpolitical systems

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018vivacity 13

Actor SHAHID KAPOOR, who isactive on socialmedia, urged peoplenot to make virtualreality their “every-thing” as hefeels there ismore to lifethan that. Hesaid, “Now alot of kids arefocusing onhow they lookand are spend-ing a lot of timeon it. We all arehuman beings,everybody wants toget dressed down.It is okay to wakeup looking groggy.One should under-stand what mattersthe most. There ismore to life than Instagram and selfies. Life is more thanabout looks.”

Actress RADHIKA MADAN pickedan attire from Indian designerKaumesh for her first appearanceat the ongoing TorontoInternational FilmFestival (TIFF). Sheattended the fest withthe cast of her filmMard Ko Dard NahiHota, which has beenselected for the WorldPremiere at the festi-val. She was seen in a custom-made tuxedo at the fest on Friday.“It's a great honour being part ofsuch a celebrated film festival andwalk the prestigious green carpet.Since it's my debut, I alwayswanted to wear an Indian design,"said Radhika.

Singer-actress MEL B agreed tosubmit to random drug testing toprove she is a fit parent, and shehas come back clean.She was tested fordrugs and alcoholthrice on September6, 7 and 10. Theresults were negativefor all of them,according to newdocuments. Theresults show shetested negative foreverything — alcohol,marijuana, cocaine andaddictive painkillers.She agreed to submit tothe testing for a limitedtime as part of herongoing custody battlewith Stephen Belafonte.This came after a member of theirhousehold staff accused her ofbeing an alcoholic and a sexaddict who is unfit to retain cus-tody of their children. Mel Bstrongly denied the accusations,and now has got her test resultsto back her up.

Life is more thanselfies: Shahid

Mel B comesclean in drug test

‘The film (Dhadak)brought a positivechange in my life bybringing me togetherwith some veryspecial people. Asfor my professionallife, more peoplehave seen my workand hopefully thatwill have a positiveeffect on theopportunities Ireceive in thefuture.’ —Ishaan Khatter

Mountains in front of you,a large cup of coffee onthe wooden tray, a slight

nip in the air and laptop on thegrassy knoll — office spaces canlook like this if you want. All thosewho find being forced to head towork for a fixed number of hourseveryday at a specific place incred-ibly stifling, the GIG (GlobalInter Grid) economy holds outhope with flexibility to work outof anywhere provided you are adot on the communication

matrix.In this open-ended online

system, temporary, flexible jobsare commonplace and companieshire independent contractors andfreelancers instead of full-timeemployees. And the trend is pick-ing up as millennials eventuallytake up freelancing jobs throughonline portals or work for theirown start-ups. A paradigm shiftin work culture has already start-ed taking place with even experi-enced senior employees movingtowards the GIG economy. As pera recent report by Ernst & Young(EY), published in collaborationwith FICCI and NASSCOM, titledFuture of Jobs in India: A 2022Perspective, Indian freelancersaccount for a 24 per cent share ofthe global online gig economy.The report also reveals that Indiais the world’s third largest onlinelabour market.

Tapping into the need, portalshave sprung up that connectpotential employees and entrepre-neurs to bring productivity evenoutside office spaces. With prop-er background checks, skill devel-opment training provisions, workalignment and hiring on the basisof project management, theystrike off the restriction of work-ing for fixed hours on employees.

Players like Wishup.co, Jobsforher,Upwork and others have envi-sioned the need to align the sys-tem and connect such individu-als with prospectivecorporates/SMEs in a systematicmanner.

Wishup.co has been a hopefor many flexi operators. Twofriends from IIT Madras, NeeleshRangwani and Vivek Gupta,realised that business ownerscould be connected to smartassistants through online plat-forms for work without thembecoming a liablity. The duoaligned the system to connectsuch individuals with prospectivecorporates in a systematic manner.The two friends are now aimingto expand their venture and tak-ing it to the US and Europe.

Rangwani reveals the originsof the idea, “Vivek and I have beenfriends for the last 12 years sincewe were at IIT Madras. We alwayswanted to start something togeth-er. But at that time we weren’t real-ly clear of what and how. We wentour separate ways where he com-pleted his MBA from IIMAhmedabad and I moved toGermany. But that thought wasstill alive and we zeroed down onsomething related to the internetspace. We thought that this iswhere we will definitely excelbecause we know and under-stand it well.”

He adds, “We chose an ideawhich at that time was known asa ‘chat-based assistant.’ It was aconsumer idea which we scaledup pretty fast. We reached up to20,000-25,000 users within sixmonths but at that point I start-ed questioning whether this wasthe only growth that internetcould offer or if we could gener-ate revenue with a proper business

model? Also, is this what the inter-net is all about? Or it has a sideyet to be explored?”

It was in early 2015 thatRangwani and Gupta started tothink if “with the same set-upcould we generate revenue aswell as add value or make a dif-ference to somebody’s life?”

After talking to a number oftheir regular users, they realisedthat most of them used it for theirprofessional services rather thanpersonal. Also, most of themwere found to be budding entre-preneurs who had given up theirjobs.

Rangwani says, “That iswhere the idea of a ‘virtualemployee’ and a ‘virtual assistant’birthed. They are always requiredas a resource for every start-up.We thought of changing it tech-nically where it would be like amarketplace where people couldfind others to assist them online.”

The Wishup platform receivesthe payment that comes from the

virtual employers and “then thevirtual assistants are paid a full-time salary from our side. In away, rather than the employers, wehire them.”

According to the Ernst &Young report, the future of jobs in2022 in India will be determinedby the country’s response to theinevitable impact created by theinterplay of three primary forces— globalisation, demographicchanges and the adoption of‘Industry 4.0’ exponential tech-nologies by Indian workplaces andexpansion of the gig economy.

So what does the term ‘gig’signify? Rangwani has an answer.“Gig, as a word, originated fromthe creative professionals like acomedian or a musicican. It wastheir way of saying that I have agig here or there. A small projectwas called a gig. It is a slang butthen it probably changed andstarted to be used for the internetspace where creative freelancersoffered their services online. They

offer content, design services andmore. We, however, do not call ita gig economy because eventhough they are virtual assistantsfor others, for us they’re full-timeemployees. We are making theonline employers understand andtrust that these employees are gen-uine and productive since oftenphysical presence is appreciatedand acknowledged more.”

Both individuals and corpo-rates are moving to the gig econ-omy and agreeing that it is as rel-evant as any other type of employ-ment. Now that millennials tendto switch jobs quickly and are pastthe typical 9-5 ‘job’ shifts,Rangwani says that they usuallyhire a person who has five yearsor more of experience.

One such is also JobsForHer,a connecting portal for womenwho wish to restart their careersafter a break, be it after materni-ty leave, marriage or other person-al reasons. Neha Bagaria, CEOand Founder of JobsForHer, says,

“Gig workers can juggle multipleprojects and still have flexibilityand control over their time.There’s less risk of getting stuck inmundane jobs as it affords indi-viduals the opportunity to buildtheir skills through diverse pro-jects across multiple industriesand organisations.”

But what about the freshersthen? They also need to startsomewhere. Rangwani believesthat work comes with a promiseand responsibility. “I was also onthe other side a few years ago. Butnow, being on the employer’sside, I have realised that freshersare full of enthusiasm and ener-gy and are always ready to exploreand shift. They find it challengingto be stable at an early stage. Thisis the reason why youngsters areencouraged to do internships,just like in the US. They expandand gain experience and profes-sional knowledge through intern-ships and then enter a stablework field.”

They say the best things happen to you whenyou are not looking. That certainly holds

true for television actor Kritika Kamra. Herdebut film Mitron happened when she wasnot actively chasing a role. “I have beenauditioning for films for a very long timeas it’s a natural step to diversify from tele-vision. But for a long time things werenot falling into place, sometimes thefilm didn’t take off and at other timesI got roles that I was not convincedabout. So it was difficult to strikethe perfect balance. I didn’t wantto do films just for the heck of itor to be known as one-filmwonder. I don’t want to be awashout, so I was extra carefulbefore choosing my first film andthis one happened by chance.”

As the name suggests, thefilm directed by Nitin Kakkarcelebrates friendship and love.But many would say that in con-temporary times the title takes usback to all the speeches of our PM.Kritika says, “People say love is thebasis for everything but I thinkfriendship is the secret to any longrunning relationship. This is whatthe audience should expect fromthis film. It is a quirky name andwe are very much aware of thefact that our PM also uses it. Also,the film is set in Gujarat, the statewhere he comes from. But that isthe only common ground.Mitron is otherwise a universalword for friends.”

Since Kritika has been apart of TV shows like KitaniMohabbat Hai, Reporters, KuchToh Log Kahenge, one wonderswhat has her journey of tran-sition from the small to thebig screen been like? Whatare the commonalities andthe differences between thetwo that she spotted whileshooting for her first film?She answers, “Films needa lot of detailing as com-pared to television. Serialsinvolve a huge volume ofwork in a day but it is agood learning ground. Ithas taught me a lot ofthings but I felt that ifyou do something for along time, a pointcomes when you burn

out. After acting for so many years in televi-sion, you tend to get a bit mechanical.” Bythis term she implies, “You start using yourhead instead of your heart. A real perfor-mance is when you feel it and then act. Ifeel that acting is also about reacting orat least making it look like you are notacting. If you start playing a sport and

practising it everyday, you will even-tually get better at it after a while butat the same time, it will also feel very

mechanical.”Kritika was, therefore, taken in

when Mitron opened a door of newopportunities for her. “I had neverexperienced this style of workingyet. The director never limitedme from doing something orforced his own opinions on me.It was very real, natural and con-versational.”

Kritika has played a vari-ety of characters during her stint

on TV, being, in her words, “shame-lessly selective.” If you ask about hertake on how tough or easy being ajournalist is as she has been a partof a show named Reporters, shesays, “I tried to choose roles thatwere a little away from the main-stream and Reporters was one ofthose niche shows with a nicheaudience. I started respectingjournalists as I understood howdifficult and competitive thisprofession is. Additionally, youhave to be really passionateabout it and have a great pres-ence of mind. I really enjoyedplaying a journalist and Ihope that I get more chancesto play characters that have aprofessional life. I want toexplore that side of a womanbecause in today’s worldthere’s more to just being achibeti (a good daughter) or aperfect bahu (daughter inlaw). There’s more to women

today.” So what genre of films is she comfortable

in, real world or biopics? Pat comes the reply,“It’s all fiction. Even biopics are all dramatised

and adapted. This holds true for our film toowhich is based on this real couple whom wemet. I’m happy to bid goodbye to the loud

over-the-top kind of cinema because I enjoysubtle realism more. All stories need to be adapt-ed beautifully as at the end of the day, any film ismeant for entertainment only.”

A GIG HERE, A GIG THERE

AND THE FREEDOM WITHIN

Start-up innovators NEELESHRANGWANI and NEHA BAGARIA talkto CHAHAK MITTAL about how ‘virtualemployee' is not just a term anymore

Actress KRITIKA KAMRA tells AYUSHI SHARMA about how she transitioned from TV to making her Bollywood debut in NITIN KAKKAR's Mitron

Actress Radhika Apte is now sitting pretty onthe cushion of her online superstardom. “I

don’t think 2018 was a breakout year or anything.It is just that I love Netflix as a viewer and as anactor. They are just brilliant with their work,concept and also their marketing team. It was

amazing how they churned outthe memes and dealt withtrolls with their great sense of

humour. But I mustsay that they(accusations by trolls)were baseless. As inLust Stories andSacred Games I hadsmall parts to play. Itwas only Ghoul that Iwas part ofcompletely. I enjoyedand laughed at mostof them. Andsomebody had toldme once that if youare part of memes,that means you havearrived,” she told a

youth enclave over the weekend. “Talking about memes, I remember one of themclearly which was in fact creative. It said, ‘It lookslike pani puri is over and I’m waiting for dry puri(on her expressions being the same in all series).’People say I have the same expression in everykind of a role. It doesn’t bother me as I don’t takethe pressure. I want to have the freedom to failand then bounce back. I take compliments andcriticism equally.”

RADHIKAUNFAZED BY TROLLS

After the successful first series,Season 2 of Karenjit Kaur – The

Untold Story of Sunny Leonepremieres tomorrow on ZEE5. Thefirst season drew to a close at thecrucial juncture of Sunny’s love life.

The new season, directed byAditya Datt will reveal more about thisguarded part of her life. Shooting thesecond season has been anemotionally challenging journey forSunny as she will be seen relivingmoments like losing her parents. Itstarts exactly where the previous oneended; the scene where Sunny meetsher future husband. It will take theaudience through her tumultuouspersonal and professional journey.

Talking about the series, Sunny

said, “It was thrilling to see the heart-warming response that the firstseason of my biopic received and I

am hopeful that this season willreceive the same love and support. Iam glad that through this series, myfans know me for the person that Iam and not just the persona that yousee.”

Celebrating the success ofSeason 1 and the season 2 trailergetting five million hits already, thistoo will be available in six languagesincluding Hindi, Marathi, Tamil,Telugu, Malayalam and Bengali for awider reach.

Shot like a movie, the show alsorecreates her wedding with DanielWeber. Recently, their song on whichthe sequence was picturised,Promise, has been getting aphenomenal response.

Luck by chanceW E B B E D

SUNNY'S SECOND SEASON

Kajol was spotted with Neha Dhupia during the recording of the thirdseason of her audio podcast show #NoFilterNeha

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 sport 14

ZLATAN NETS 500TH GOALLos angeles: Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic madehistory, scoring his 500th career goal in stunningfashion but it wasn't enough to lift the Los AngelesGalaxy to a win over Toronto FC. The 36-year-oldIbrahimovic as always had a flair for the dramatic and hedid just that Saturday in becoming the third activefootballer to reach the milestone, joining Lionel Messiand Cristiano Ronaldo. The six-foot-five (1.95 metre)Ibrahimovic released a perfectly-timed roundhouse kickin the 43th minute that fooled goalkeeper Alex Bono forhis 17th goal of the season. The goal cut the deficit to 3-1 and sparked a three-goal Galaxy rally but the defendingMLS champions would go on to win 5-3 in front of acrowd of 30,700 at BMO Field in Toronto. "I am happy forToronto because they will be remembered as my 500thvictim," said Ibrahimovic. Ibrahimovic scored 62 of hisgoals for Sweden with the rest coming while playing forMalmo FF, Ajax, Juventus, Inter Milan, Barcelona, ACMilan, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and nowthe Galaxy.

24 NAMED FOR JUNIOR NATIONAL CAMPnew delhi: Hockey India on Sunday named a 24member core probables for a junior men's nationalcoaching camp, to be held in Bengaluru from September17, ahead of the Sultan of Johor Cup. The players willtrain under coach Jude Felix till October 4, as theyprepare for the upcoming 8th Sultan of Johor Cup,slated to begin from October 6-13 in Johor Bahru,Malaysia. Eight members from the Indian junior men'steam that won the Bronze medal at the last edition of theSultan of Johor Cup including Pankaj Rajak, SumanBeck, Harmanjit Singh, Mandeep Mor have beenselected for the camp. The camp also includes severalnew faces who have received their first call-up to thejunior national camp. Coach Jude Felix has watched allthe 24 players closely before giving them a call-up to thecamp and the former Indian captain believes that it iscrucial to train the upcoming crop of players well. Thecoach also said special emphasis was given onimproving skills, fitness and speed along with mentalconditioning.

PUJARA, JADEJA IN SAURASHTRA SQUAD rajkot: Team India players Cheteshwar Pujara andRavindra Jadeja have been included in the SaurashtraCricket Association (SCA) team for the upcoming VijayHazare Trophy. The SCA announced their inclusion in theteam on Sunday. The Vijay Hazare Trophy will be playedin New Delhi where last year's runners-up Saurashtrawill play their first match against Uttar Pradesh CricketAssociation (UPCA) on September 19, the SCA said in amedia release. Saurashtra will play eight matches in thetournament. However, Pujara, a Test specialist, andJadeja, an all-rounder, may miss the fifth match, to beplayed on September 30, and the remaining matches, ifthey are selected in the national side for the next month'sTest series at home against the West Indies. "Pujara andJadeja have been included in the squad. The duo willplay first half of the tournament as West Indies will starttheir India tour by playing the first Test at the SCAstadium at Khandheri here on October 4," SCA mediamanager said. Pujara and Jadeja have been the starperformers for Saurashtra in domestic cricket matches.

SINGLES

PTI n DUBAI

Usman Khan took three wicketsbefore opener Imam-ul-Haq hit

an unbeaten fifty as Pakistan notchedup a dominating eight-wicket winover minnows Hong Kong in agroup A match of the Asia Cup ODItournament here on Sunday.

Electing to bat, Hong Kong fold-ed for a paltry 116 in 37.1 overs, cour-tesy Usman's 3 for 19 and two-wick-et hauls by Shadab Khan (2/31) andHasan Ali (2/19).

Pakistan then returned to over-haul the target, scoring 120 for 2 in23.4 overs, built mainly aroundopener Imam's 69-ball unbeaten 50that was laced with three fours and asix.

Chasing 117 to win, Pakistanmade a good start with Imam andFakhar Zaman sharing a 41- run part-nership in 8 overs for the openingwicket. Pakistan lost their first wick-et when Fakhar was caught byMcKechnie off Ehsan Khan'sball in the 9th over. Imam andnew man Babar then added 52runs to take the team close tothe target.

Babar hit three fours and asix in his 36-ball 33 beforebeing caught behind by Mckechnie forEhsan's second wicket. Shoaib Malik(9) hit the winning runs, blastingAizaz for a boundary in the 24th over.

Earlier, Seamer Usman Khanpicked up three wickets in an over asPakistan dismissed minnows HongKong for a paltry 116.

Usman (3/19) was the highestwicket-taker, while Shadab Khan(2/31) and Hasan Ali (2/19) snappedtwo wickets apiece and Faheem Ashrafaccounted for one as Pakistan thor-oughly exposed the weakness of HongKong, who won the 2018 Asia CupQualifier to make it to the tourna-ment.

Kinchit Shah (26) and AizazKhan (27) were the main scorers for

Hong Kong, while skipperAnshuman Rath contributed 19 asthey couldn't negotiate the top qual-ity bowling from Pakistan.

Electing to bat, Hong Kong failedto put up a resistance, losing wicketsin regular intervals to end up with alowly score.

It started with a run-out asNizakat Khan (13) walked back to thepavillion after failing to make groundwith Shadab Khan knocking thestumps off from point in the 5th over.

Skipper Anshuman Rath (19)was the next to go when he was caughtbehind by wicketkeeper SarfrazAhmed off Faheem Ashraf as HongKong slipped to 32 for 2 in the ninthover. Hasan Ali then got into action,removing Christopher Carter (2)

cheaply in the 14th over. Looking tochip it over extra cover, Carter endedup giving an easy catch to Imam-ul-Haq as Hong Kong lost their thirdwicket. Leg-spinner Shadab Khanthen struck twice in three balls -- dis-missing Babar Hayat (7) and EhsanKhan (0) -- as Hong Kong lost halftheir side in 16.3 overs.

Hayat couldn't pick up Shadab'sgoogly and was stumped by a hugemargin by Sarfraz when the batsmandanced down the pitch. One balllater, another googly earned Shadabanother wicket as Ehsan was trappedin front of wicket.

Kinchit and Aizaz then shared acrucial 53-run partnership for the sixthwicket to take Hong Kong closs to the100-mark. In the 31st over, Usman

Khan picked up three wickets in fivedeliveries, removing Aizaz, SSMckechnie (0) and Tanwir Afzal (0) tofurther reduce Hong Kong to 97 for 8.

Last specialist batsman Kinchit toowas back to the hut after he hit a HasanAli ball to Shadab at backward point.

Ehsan Nawaz (9) and NadeemAhmed then took Hong Kong past the100-run mark before the former wasrun out to be bundled out for 116.

DO OR DIE FOR SLAfter losing to Bangladesh by

137 runs in their first game, Sri Lankawill face tough Afghanistani challengeon Monday to remain alive in con-tention for their sixth Asia Cup title.

While Sri Lanka will come intothis game on the back of brutal

thumping by Bangladesh in tourna-ment opener. Their opponentAfghanistan will aim to surprise SriLanka and boost up their chances ofmaking into the next round of the sixnation tournament.

While it’s a must win game for1996 World Champion side too keephopes alive, Afghanistan can stillmake into last four in the last gameagainst Bangladesh on Thursday.

But to avoid if ’s and but’s chances,Asghar Afghani led will look to put upa brilliant performance and come upwith strong message.

For Sri Lanka, the baggage will beon Lasith Malinga, who stars with theball in the first game, while Afghanfans will hope ace spinner RashidKhan to deliver in the big match.

PTI n DUBAI

Tamim Iqbal batted, gotinjured, visited a hospital,

returned with a wrist fractureand batted again - this timewith one hand, his act of brava-do receiving instant applause inthe real and virtual world.

A couple of hours afterbeing told by doctors that hisAsia Cup was over because ofa fractured left wrist, Tamimwalked out to bat with onehand after the fall of ninthwicket.

He hung on with centuri-on Mushfiqur Rahim andhelped add 32 for the finalwicket, lifting his side to 261.The end result was a massivewin for Bangladesh over SriLanka in the tournament open-er.

"There was a lot of pres-sure, losing lost two wicketsearly and Tamim couldn't bat.But decision to bat (again) wasmade by him. If he didn't wantto bat, no one could push him.Credit goes to him for the deci-sion,' Bangladesh skipperMashrafe Mortaza said after thegame on Saturday.

The dashing opener miss-ing out will be a "big blow" forBangladesh, according to thecaptain, who called Mushfiqur'sinnings one of the best by acricketer from his country.

"Mushfiqur played one ofthe best ODI innings by aBangladeshi. The wayMushfiqur finished the inningswas very good.

"The crowd the way theysupported us from the first ballwas really good. Nice way tostart the Asia Cup. I think it wasmore than Mirpur. Big stadium,crowd was full."

Sri Lanka skipper AngeloMathews, too, lauded Tamimwhile lamenting his team'sheavy defeat.

"Batting was the maindownfall today. Lasith wasabsolutely brilliant. Three wick-ets for three runs, and we letthem off the hook. We droppedsome crucial catches.

"Still 260 was a chaseabletarget on this wicket. It playedvery well. We made some baddecisions while batting.

"We are under pressure.We only have one lifeline. Wehave to win it. It's a do or diegame for us. We have to learn

from the mistakes from thisgame."

Mathews said, "Tamimshowed a lot of guts. I thoughMushfiqur batted really well.Mushfiqur was out there and he(Tamim) came in to bat. Andthat 20-30 runs also made thedifference. It was a really badperformance from the battingunit.

They showed a lot of guts.Credits goes to Bangladesh,they outplayed us in all threedepartments of the game."

PTI n KATUNAYAKE

Skipper Mithali Raj's career-best knockof 125 not out went in vain as Sri

Lanka women shocked India women bythree wickets in the inconsequentialthird and final One-day International,here on Sunday.

India had already sealed the seriesby winning the first two ODIs but in the3rd match they could not defend thetotal of 253 for five, built around Raj'sunbeaten 125 and opener SmritiMandhana's 51.

They had shared a 102-run stand forthe second wicket after young JemimahRodrigues (0) made an early exit.Mithali's seventh ODI hundred and firstin 14 months, came off 143 balls with14 fours and a six.

Sri Lanka skipper ChamariAttapattu's century though counted asher 115-run knock and a gutsy 101-runstand with fellow opener Hasini Perera(45) set the tone for the chase.

There were a few hiccups after thetwo batswomen returned to the pavil-lion as Indian bowlers made in roads buttail-ender Kavisha Dilhari held her

nerves to push her side to the finish linewith one ball to spare.

Sri Lanka needed six runs from thefinal over. Coming out to bat at num-ber nine, Kavisha smashed a four in thepenultimate ball of the match off DeeptiSharma to earn a consolatory win for thehosts.

The five-match Twenty20 seriesbetween the two teams will begin onWednesday at the same venue.

PTI n NEW DELHI

India need to sort out theirinadequacies in batting

before standing up to an"extremely strong" bowlingattack later this year DownUnder, feels former Australiacaptain Ian Chappell.

Virat Kohli's India willhope for redemption inAustralia after Test seriesreverses in South Africa andEngland.

"India now have to look onrehabilitating their reputationin the highly anticipated seriesagainst Australia but the bat-ting inadequacies have to beaddressed," Chappell wrote in'ESPNcricinfo.Com'.

"While Australia's battingis questionable, with their twobest players, Steven Smith andDavid Warner, missingthrough suspension, the bowl-ing attack is still extremelystrong."

India are slated to tourAustralia for three T20 inter-nationals, four Test matches

and three ODIs fromNovember 21 to January 18.

"If Mitchell Starc, JoshHazlewood, Patrick Cumminsand Nathan Lyon remain fitthen the Indian batsmen will bein for a challenging time. InEngland it was movementthrough the air and off theseam that created regular prob-lems for them - apart fromVirat Kohli - but it will be the

extra bounce in Australia thatsorts the men from the men."

Chappell further said, "Aconfident and in-form RohitSharma would be an idealplayer to bolster the batting inAustralia. His authoritativehorizontal bat shots are per-fectly designed to cope with thetesting extra bounce, but sadlyRohit has never really come togrips with batting in Test crick-

et. Selecting him for the tourwould be a gamble."

The batting great termedIndia's 4-1 loss to England a"missed opportunity"

"India should view theirdisappointing 4-1 series loss toEngland as a missed opportu-nity. They were highly com-petitive in the series - apartfrom a disastrous loss at Lord's- but the squad had enoughability to do better than justcompete.

"The batting was disap-pointing and especially theway they played spin bowlingin Southampton. A greatopportunity went beggingwhen their failure to be moreproactive against Moeen Alimeant a chance to level theseries was squandered.

Apart from CheteshwarPujara, no player was pre-pared to alter the offspinner'sflight path by leaving his crease.The series loss is even more ofa wasted opportunity when youconsider how well the Indianfast bowlers performed."

PTI n DUBAI

Batsman Ambati Rayudu is looking up to"everybody's go-to man" Mahendra Singh

Dhoni for inspiration and guidance as a ViratKohli-less India gear up for the Asia Cup here.

India reached UAE without Kohli, who hasbeen rested by the selectors owing to excessworkload.

"Obviously he (Virat) is a big miss and lossto the team. However, we still have enoughquality in the team to go out and win. He(Dhoni) has been India's captain and alwaysbeen the go-to man for everybody in the team,"Rayudu said at a media conference on Saturday.

"He (Dhoni) has helped me a lot in termsof how I recovered this season."

With India yet to settle their middle-orderconundrum with less than a year left for theWorld Cup, there is a chance for players suchas Rayudu to cement their places in the team.

"To be very honest, (I) haven't thoughtabout it (middle-order) or looked at it as a com-petition. It's just an opportunity to expressmyself and (I) don't want to put more pressureto my game by thinking about these," he said.

The 32-year-old, returning to the team aftera long injury-induced layoff, added, "I don'tthink anybody is actually thinking about theWorld Cup. We are in for the Asia Cup and Idon't think anybody is thinking about it rightnow."

India's opening match in the tournamentis against Hong Kong on September 18, a daybefore they take on traditional rivals Pakistan.

"I don't think it will be a disadvantage. Itwill be definitely tough and I'm sure we will dobest possible things to recover and go out freshto play the next game."

He said that it was frustrating to miss outon the limited overs leg of the England tourdespite a stellar Indian Premier League season

for Chennai Super Kings. Rayudu failed to themake the Indian team after flunking the yo-yotest in his first attempt.

"Obviously it was frustrating to miss outon the England tour. But I'm happy that I cancome back and give the test and get picked toplay in the Asia Cup.

"This year I played well in the IPL. Themain thing is that I feel age doesn't matter aslong as you are fit."

After clearing the yo-yo tests at the secondattempt, Rayudu played for India A in the Tri-Series involving Australia A and South AfricaA, and tasted success.

His 62 not out against Australia A in a low-scoring affair in Bangalore turned out to be aMan-of-the-Match performance. Against SouthAfrica A at Alur, he made 66.

PTI n NEW DELHI

Rishabh Pant's fearless batting hasimpressed chairman of selectors

MSK Prasad, who now wants theyoungster to complement it withquality glovework at the highestlevel.

The 20 year became the firstIndian wicket-keeper to score a hun-dred in England during the Oval Testbut was shoddy behind the stumps inthe three Tests he played.

''I am really happy the way Rishabbatted in the last Test in England. Infact we never had any doubts abouthis batting skills. My only concern isabout his wicket-keeping,'' Prasadsaid.

However Prasad, a former Indiastumper himself, wants a trainingmodule to be created for Pant, where-in he improves his skills under spe-cialist keeping coach.

''Now that he (Pant) has the expe-rience of three Test matches under hisbelt, he would have understood theareas that he needs to work on.

''We are also trying to put himunder wicket keeping specialist coachfor sometime. Along with Rishabh wehave identified few more upcomingwicket-keepres who need to betrained under a specialist coach. Iexpect Rishabh to serve Indian crick-et for a long time,'' Prasad said, lay-ing out his plans.

The performance of the Indianopeners was disappointing through-out the series save KL Rahul's 149 butPrasad pointed how even the Englandopeners struggled.

''Yes, it is definitely a cause of con-cern. If you look at it whenever wehave got that good start we went onto win the Test match. Having saidthat openers of both the teams strug-gled in this series due to tough con-ditions,'' he said.

''After playing 160 Tests, a play-er of Alastair Cook's calibre hasfailed throughout the series except thelast Test. In his interview, Cookopenly said that this was one of thetoughest conditions he played in hisentire career.

''So we should be a bit more con-siderate about our players,'' he added.

However, he assured that bothPrithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwalwill get their due for stupendous showat the national and A level.

''Yes I do agree that MayankAgarwal & Prithvi Shaw have beenconsistently performing well atdomestic and India A levels. They willget their dues.''

There has been a lot of criticismabout Hardik Pandya's all roundskills and the chairman of selectorsfeels that the flamboyant Barodacricketer needs to be a bit more con-sistent.

''Hardik Pandya is an all rounderin the making. He scored a centuryagainst Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. Hebatted well against South Africa in theCape Town Test and performed wellboth with bat and ball againstEngland in Nottingham. This clear-ly shows that he can perform in allconditions.”

PERFECT START FOR PAKISTAN

...beat Hong Kong by 8 wickets

Tamim applauded forbatting with one hand

RAYUDU LOOKS UP TO

DHONI FOR INSPIRATION

‘PANT NEEDS TO WORKMORE AS KEEPER’

India need to settle batting woes: Chappell Mithali’s ton in vainas SL beat Eves

Mithali Raj, left, congratulates Smriti Mandhanaafter scoring fifty against Sri Lanka AP

KL Rahul walks to pavilion after getting dismissed by Adil Rashid on fifth day AP

Rishabh Pant sticks out his leg to save run as Joe Root hits a shot AP

Ambati Rayudu watches during team’s training session ICC

T Iqbal with his injured left hand coveredin an orthopedic cast leaves field AP

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath meeting silver medalist of AsianGames in 3,000m Steeplechase event Sudha Singh

LUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018 sport 15

AFP n TURIN

Portuguese star CristianoRonaldo scored his firstcompetit ive goals for

Juventus on Sunday, with a sec-ond-half double by the Portuguesestar giving the Italian championsa 2-1 Serie A win over Sassuolo tomake it four victories from asmany games.

The 33-year-old tapped infrom barely a yard out after agoalmouth scramble on 50 min-utes, and added a second 15 min-utes later following a counter-attack orchestrated by Emre Canas the defending seven-time cham-pions moved three points clear ofNapoli.

"I'm happy. I worked hardand I knew that the goals wouldcome," said Ronaldo.

"I thank my teammates whoreally helped me andallowed me to adapt toItalian football."

Ronaldo showed hisfrustration, however, kick-ing the post as he missedtwo more chances.

"This is football. The impor-tant thing is that the team wins. Iwas a little tense with all the talkafter my move from Real Madridand not scoring, so there were a lotof expectations, but I thank myteammates for supporting methroughout."

Senegalese striker KhoumaBabacar pulled a goal back forSassuolo in injury-time as theside from Modena fell to their firstdefeat of the season.

Juventus are the only unbeat-en side this term after Napoliinflicted a first loss on Fiorentinaon Saturday with a 1-0 win aheadof next week's Champions Leaguetrip to Red Star Belgrade.

Sassuolo are now third withseven points.

Juventus winger DouglasCosta was sent off late on afterbeing caught on camera spitting atSassuolo's Federico Di Francesco,and could face a lengthy ban.

Five-time Ballon d'Or winnerRonaldo was the star signing of thesummer transfer period, arrivingamid great pomp and ceremonyfollowing a 100-million-euro($117 million) deal from RealMadrid.

Bolstered by five-time winnerRonaldo, Juventus begin theirquest for a first Champions League

title since 1996 at Valencia onWednesday.

The Turin giants also won theEuropean title in 1985, but fin-ished runners-up twice in 2015and 2017 under current coachAllegri.

"The Champions League ismy favourite tournament," saidRonaldo.

"It's a very difficult group, weknow that we can do well and Juvemust focus on being the best."

CHIEVO STALEMATE Roma threw away a two-goal

lead as tailenders Chievo snatcheda 2-2 draw at the Stadio Olimpicoon Sunday to dent morale before adaunting midweek trip toChampions League holders RealMadrid.

Stephan El Shaarawy andBryan Cristante put Roma, who lostto AC Milan before the interna-tional break, firmly in command bythe half-time interval.

But Chievo, beaten 6-1 byFiorentina last time out anddeducted three points by the Italianfootball federation for falseaccounting, battled back in the sec-ond half.

Valter Birsa pulled a goal backafter 52 minutes with Polish strik-er Mariusz Stepinski sealing apoint for the club from Veronaseven minutes from time.

"This was a game we had undercontrol, we should have closed itdown. This can't happen againstReal," Roma coach Eusebio DiFrancesco told broadcaster DAZN.

"In games like this you have toscore four goals. This didn't hap-pen, and it kept Chievo alive."

The Roma coach added: "We'llbe going out to challenge RealMadrid on Wednesday. We must-n't lose our heads, even if theseresults destabilise us."

PTI n DHAKA

Indian football team lacked con-sistency and disappointed itself by

going down in the SAFF Suzuki Cupfinal against Maldives, said chiefcoach Stephen Constantine.

Seven-times champions Indialost 1-2 to Maldives in the final onSaturday. India comprising under-23players except for one, had been theonly unbeaten side in the tourna-ment. They had got the better of SriLanka, Maldives and Pakistanenroute the final.

"We didn't play the game accord-ing to our potential and that's wherethe lack of experience matters. Weweren't able to replicate our perfor-mance from the semifinal (againstPakistan) and that's what seems tohappen when you play with youngerboys," Constantine said at the post-match press conference in Dhaka onSaturday.

"They don't have the consisten-cy and the experience to play at thesame level every game but they'lllearn from this. I think we didn't dis-appoint anyone else but ourselves. Wedidn't do enough to win the game butwe move on from here," he added.

However, the coach said he wasproud of his team performance in thelast two weeks.

"The way they performed anddelivered in the last 10-12 days, I'mextremely proud of them. They arethe future of India football for thenext six-eight years. I'm extremelyproud of the boys and it's going to bea good learning experience for them."

Asked whether there was a tingeof complacency amongst the boyshaving won over the same opponentsin the group stage, coach brushed itaside.

"I don't think there was a ques-tion of underestimating Maldives atany point of time. Maldives had ourfull respect but we couldn't do whatwe were capable of doing. Maldivesdeserve the credit for sitting back andkeeping on frustrating us in the way

we play.""We were impatient a few times

and lost the balls quite a few timesto lose the control of the game.Moreover, two silly mistakes cost usheavily as they fired two decisivegoals. That's football and we learnfrom this", he added further.

Moreover, the coach said theboys' movements were 'fantastic'against Pakistan in the semifinal butit was unfortunate that they were notable to replicate the same in the sum-mit clash.

"Our movement against Pakistanwas fantastic but not against Maldives(in the final). Although some of theplayers were good, others were not.Had our movement been goodenough, we could have won thegame", the Englishman said.

Lallianzuala Chhangte, whoappeared to have added more flairin the attacking third in the groupstage, as well as semifinals, was sus-pended in the final owing to themarching orders that he receivedagainst Pakistan.

Coach referred to the incident,saying: "After beating Pakistan, wewere not going to change the teamand he would have only started at thebench. But, would he be able to addsomething more? Absolutely. We didmiss him but I would say again, hewas not going to start the game."

Along with congratulatingMaldives for their achievement,Constantine said had India scored 15minutes sooner, the complexion ofthe game might have been different.

"We scored 8 goals in 4 gameswhich I don't feel is bad. Yes, wecouldn't score enough tonight. Hadwe scored 15 minutes sooner, maybe,that could have been a differentgame. Maldives defended well till theend and went on to win the trophy.I would like to congratulate them onachieving this.

"I would like to take this oppor-tunity to thank the BFF and SAFFfor being such a nice host to us,"Indian coach said.

AFP n SINGAPORE

Lewis Hamilton won the Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday in dom-inant fashion to increase his Formula One championship lead over

Sebastian Vettel to 40 points with just six races remaining.The Mercedes driver led from pole to chequered flag, with Red

Bull's Max Verstappen more than eight seconds behind and Ferrari'sVettel a distant third.

"Great job everyone, what a weekend," said Hamilton on team radioimmediately after winning at the Marina Bay Street Circuit for thesecond year running. "Keep pushing — we've got this guys."

A unique set of challenges makes the steamy track in the heat andhumidity of Singapore's tropical climate the toughest physical test ofthe season.

The duration of the race, with each of the 61 laps of the 5.063 kilo-metre track having 23 bends and 80 gear changes — more than anyother on the Formula One calendar — means that drivers and machin-ery are worked to breaking point.

"I'm spent. It felt like the longest race of my life so I'm glad it'sover," said Hamilton when interviewed on track after hugging his crewin celebration. "Max put up a great fight as well — but what a day,what a weekend."

Hamilton got the perfect start from pole position as Verstappenwas slower away from second on the dirty side of the grid and sawhis Red Bull come immediately under pressure from Vettel.

The German four-time world champion used his superior Ferraripower to outdrag Verstappen down Raffles Boulevard and just man-aged to nip past the Dutchman before the safety car brought a tem-porary halt to hostilities on the first lap for the third year in succes-sion in Singapore.

The championship leader had stretched his lead to around threeseconds when, on lap 14, Vettel was first to pit for ultrasoft tyres, butit soon looked an ill-judged move as he rejoined behind the slowerForce India of Perez.

PTI n NEW DELHI

The seasoned M C MaryKom (48kg) collected her

third Gold medal of the yearwith a display of tactical bril-liance while Manisha (54kg) set-tled for a Silver in the 13thSilesian Open BoxingTournament for women inGliwice, Poland.

Five-time world championMary Kom, returning to thering after recovering from someniggles that kept her out of theAsian Games, prevailed 5-0against Kazakhstan's AigerimKassanayeva to pick up India'slone senior category Gold at theevent on Saturday.

Her other two Gold medalsthis year came in the inaugur-al India Open in Delhi and theCommonwealth Games in GoldCoast. She also won a Silver atthe prestigious StrandjaMemorial Tournament inBulgaria.

The 35-year-old formerOlympic Bronze-medallist wasin her elements against a talleropponent, displaying a brilliantcounter-attacking strategy. Thenimble-footed Indian showedsharp reflexes and did not allowa clear shot to Kassanayevathrough the bout.

"Mary was terrific in exe-cuting her strategy, it was a flaw-less performance," India coachRafaelle Bergamasco said fromGliwice.

The Manipuri, a 2014 AsianGames Gold-medallist, took

full advantage of her rival'shesitation and went full throt-tle in the final three minutes tostrike some good body blows.

Her strong right handworked well for her and shenever allowed the southpaw tosettle.

Manisha was next to takethe ring against Ukraine'sIvanna Krupenia. The Indianwent down 2-3 even though shecame across as the more aggres-sive of the two boxers.

"Manisha was very good inthe bout and in my opinion, shedeserved to win," saidBergamasco.

India also won four Bronzemedals in the senior categorythrough former world champi-on L Sarita Devi (60kg), RituGrewal (51kg), LovlinaBorgohain (69kg) and PoojaRani (81kg).

In the youth competition,Jyoti Gulia (51kg), a formerworld champion and India'sonly boxer to have qualified fornext month's Youth OlympicGames in Argentina, was India'slone medallist with a Gold.

In the junior competitionthough, the Indian team pro-duced a terrific performance tosign off with 13 medals — sixGold, six Silver and a Bronze.

PTI n KRALJEVO

Turning out to play the dead fourth rub-ber, N Sriram Balaji lost to Pedja Krstin

in straight sets as India ended the DavisWorld Group Play-off tie against Serbiawithout a single win, losing 0-4, here onSunday.

Since the tie was already decided infavour of the hosts, who had taken an unas-sailable 3-0 lead, India fielded Balaji in placeof Ramkumar Ramanathan.

Serbia also changed the nomination,playing Krstin in place of Dusan Lajovic.

Balaji, who is more focussed on the dou-bles, lost 3-6, 1-6 in 66 minutes on indoorclay courts at the Kraljevo Sports Venue.

The two sides agreed not to play the fifthrubber.

"It was not a bad match for me. In everyservice game I had game points but I wasnot sharp enough to take them. Even most

of the return games were close. The score-line look easy for him but we had longgames," Balaji said.

"Before going into the tie, we thoughtwe had a chance of beating them. But theycame up strong in every match."

Serbia did not have multiple Grand Slamwinner Novak Djokovic and injured FilipKrajinovic in their line-up but still Indiacould not take advantage of it.

India now have lost four out of fivemeetings with Serbia, whom they haddefeated way back in 1927 when the coun-try was Yugoslavia.

Since new Davis Cup reforms have beenintroduced, India will not have to go backto the Asia/Oceania Group immediately.

Instead, India will compete in a 24-teamqualifying event (home and away format)in February next year to qualify for the 18-team Davis Cup Finals. The year-end eventto crown Davis Cup champions will be heldeither in Madrid or Lille from November 18-24, next year.

The 12 winners will qualify while foursemi-finalists from the 2018 season will getdirect entry. The ITF will award two wildcards for the inaugural Davis Cup finals.

AFP n TOKYO

Japan's Kento Momota out-gunned Thai rival Khosit

Phetpradab 21-14, 21-11 ina one-sided final to capturethe Japan Open badmintontitle on Sunday.

The 24-year-old sank tohis knees after a toweringsmash completed a com-fortable win, kissing theJapanese badge on his shirtas he took another steptowards redemption follow-ing a gambling scandal thatthreatened to ruin his career.

"I was just so over-whelmed at winning and thesense of what I achieved,"said Momota after becomingthe first Japanese player towin the men's singles crown.

"I kept telling myself 'acouple more points, a couplemore points' -- and thenfinally it was over. The homesupport was a massive help."

Momota, who was boot-ed off the Japanese team forthe 2016 Rio Olympics andbanned for over a year forvisiting an illegal casino,had been furious with him-self after crashing out of the

Asian Games at the semi-final stage last month.

But having beatenChina's two-time Olympicchampion Lin Dan in theTokyo quarter-finals and topseed Viktor Axelsen in thelast four, Momota's run tothe Japan Open title was fullydeserved as he dominatedhis matches with his attack-ing style.

"I played loose at theworld championships," saidMomota, who became thefirst Japanese man to win theworld title earlier this year.

"But today when I couldsee the finish line my handswere shaking. That's howmuch I wanted it. This vic-tory is for all the people whohave stood by me througheverything." Olympic cham-pion Carolina Marinretained her Japan Openwomen's singles title by beat-ing local favourite NozomiOkuhara 21-19, 17-21, 21-11. The Spanish triple worldchampion broke her oppo-nent's brave resistance witha barrage of smashes thatfinally brought an end to anabsorbing contest.

Ronaldo gets off the markCristiano opens Juventus account by scoring brace against Sassuolo

AP n BILBAO

Real Madrid dropped its first pointsin the Spanish league after being

held at Athletic Bilbao to 1-1 onSaturday.

Madrid needed Francisco "Isco"Alarcon to come off the bench andscore three minutes later in the 64thto salvage a point from the visit to theBasque Country club. Isco slipped intothe area unmarked and headed GarethBale's cross down off the turf and intothe corner of the net.

Bilbao went ahead in the 32ndwhen right back Oscar de Marcosmade a run into the area, and squaredthe ball for Inaki Williams to finish off.Iker Muniain took the goal when hetapped in Williams' shot that was

about to cross the goal-line.Before Isco's equalizer, Madrid

was limited to an excellent chance bySergio Ramos after Bilbao goalkeeperUnai Simon fumbled a free kick byBale into the defender's path, only toalso save Ramos' point-blank attempt.

Muniain had to be substituted

early in the second half for whatappeared to be a non-serious leginjury.

"We knew this was one of thetoughest grounds to visit in theleague," Ramos said. "We needed tocirculate the ball more quickly, butthey defended us very closely andworked well as a group. A draw isnever good."

Madrid won in the first threerounds under new coach JulenLopetegui. It trails defendingchampion Barcelona by two points atthe top of the table.

Madid hosts Roma in theirChampions League opener onWednesday.

REAL MADRID DROP POINTS

‘We didn't disappoint

anyone but ourselves’

Hamilton zooms

to fourth win

Gold for Mary, Manisha wins silver

INDIA END SERBIA TIE WITHOUT A WIN

3 FINISHES TOP INTURKEY BOXING

NEW DELHI: Simranjit Kaur(64kg), Monika (48kg) andBhagyabati Kachari (81kg) claimedGold medals as Indian boxersnotched up an impressive sevenpodium finishes at the AhmetComert Tournament in Istanbul,Turkey.

Simranjit, a former nationalmedallist, defeated Turkey'sSema Caliskan to fetch the tophonours.

Competing in the light flycategory, Monika beat AyseCagirer of Turkey to win the Goldmedal, while Bhagyabati got thebetter of Selma Karakoyun, whois also from the host nation, inthe light heavyweight category.

However, Pinki Jangra(51kg), a former CommonwealthGames Bronze-medallist, had tobe content with a Silver as shelost to another local hopeBusenaz Cakiroglu to sign offsecond in the tournament. WorldChampionship Silver medallistSonia Lather (57kg) too, settledfor a Bronze.

Bhagyabati was declared themost scientific boxer of thetournament, and the Indianwomen's team finished third. PTI

Momota, Marinbag top honours

MC Mary Kom poses with Gold BFI

Indian tennis players Pranjesh Gunneswaran(left) andN Sriram Balaji in a file picture

Pawan Batham won all his games to bag the 6th Shivani Cup Sunday Open title at Shivani Public School on Sunday. Ravi Shankar finished second while Mayank Pandeysettled for third spot. Medhansh Saxena won the Under-16 title while Tejasva Singh and Arko Daw won the under-14 and under-10 titles respectively. LDCSA presidentMayank Pandey gave away the prizes.

16LUCKNOW | MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 17, 2018the pioneer