Delhi, tuesday, march 22, 2016

www.thehindu.in Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 RNI No. TNENG/2012/49940 ISSN 0971 - 751X Vol. 6 No. 69 CITY EDITION 20 Pages Rs. 8.00 ●

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Tharoor criticised for likening Kanhaiya to Bhagat Singh

New medicine for drug-resistant TB launched

ED attaches over 290 acres of land owned by Chhagan Bhujbal

Leigh Kasperek stars in New Zealand's third straight win

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FOUNDATION LAID FOR AMBEDKAR MEMORIAL

No move to review policy on quotas, says Prime Minister Opponents are spreading untruths over the issue: Modi NISTULA HEBBAR NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Na-

rendra Modi made it clear on Monday that his government had no plans to revisit the reservation policy for Dalits and other communities, and accused his opponents of spreading “untruths” over the issue, not just during his tenure, but even when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. Mr. Modi was speaking after laying the foundation stone for a memorial for B.R. Ambedkar in New Delhi. Last year, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, in an interview to Organiser, underscored the need to review the reservation policy. Early this month, RSS general secretary Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi said during the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha meet in Nagaur, Rajasthan, that reservation should not be available to affluent sections. Mr. Modi said no one in

REMEMBERING BABASAHEB: Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays

tribute to B.R. Ambedkar after laying the foundation for a memorial in New Delhi on Monday. — PHOTO: R. V. MOORTHY

his government had suggested that such a review would be considered, an enterprise that would be impossible, he said, “even if Ambedkarji were to appear today.” “Nothing has happened to reservation for Dalits, tribals, when we are in power, but still lies are being spread

to mislead people. When Vajpayeeji became PM, a campaign was run, saying reservation would be abolished. He was PM for two terms and nothing of that sort had happened. “The BJP has ruled Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, and Haryana for many years, and the

policy was not altered. Yet, untruths are being spread. People who are only interested in politics fail to come out of it,” he said. “As I said earlier, even if Ambedkarji appears today, he cannot snatch this very right of yours. What are we before Babasaheb?” He compared Ambedkar to American civil rights icon Martin Luther King and said it would be an injustice to keep his personality limited to the cause of Dalits. Pointing out that Indian women got many rights under the Constitution because of Dr. Ambedkar, he criticised the Congress for not honouring his memory or legacy. He said Dr. Ambedkar resigned as Law Minister from Jawaharlal Nehru’s Cabinet owing to the lack of backing on the Hindu Code Bill, which was a progressive move to codify and reform Hindu personal law in India. Without naming the Congress, he accused “opponents” of attacking his government as he sought to overturn the undermining of Dr. Ambedkar’s legacy that had taken place earlier.

쐍 CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Castro renews call to lift U.S. embargo in historic talks U.S. will continue to speak up about democracy: Obama HAVANA: “This is a new day,”

U.S. President Barack Obama said, standing alongside his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro after their meeting at Havana’s Palace of the Revolution. In a history-making meeting here on Monday, Mr. Castro praised Mr. Obama’s recent steps to relax controls on Cuba as “positive,” but deemed them insuicient. He called anew for the U.S. to return its naval base at Guantanamo Bay to Cuba and to lift the U.S. trade embargo. “That is essential, because the blockade remains in place, and it contains discouraging elements,” Mr. Castro said. Mr. Obama came to Cuba pledging to press its leaders on human rights and political freedoms, and vowing that the mere fact of a visit by an American leader would

Mehbooba in Delhi to revive talks with BJP

A FRESH START: U.S. President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro meet in the Palace of the Revolution in Havana on Monday. — PHOTO: REUTERS

promote those values on the island. Mr. Castro worked to turn the tables on Mr. Obama by saying Cuba found it “inconceivable” for a government to fail to ensure health care, education, food and social security for its people — a clear reference to the U.S. “We defend human rights,” Mr. Castro said. “In our view, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights are indivisible, inter-

Nepal seals pact on transit through China

PEERZADA ASHIQ

SUHASINI HAIDAR & KALLOL BHATTACHERJEE

SRINAGAR: Peoples Democratic

NEW DELHI: Underlining the

Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti flew to Delhi on Monday afternoon, a mere 48 hours after her meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on government formation in Jammu and Kashmir had been called of. While senior PDF sources said Ms. Mufti was approached directly on Sunday through emissaries close to the Prime Minister who reportedly expressed “eagerness” to form the government “without any further delay”, the BJP in Delhi appeared tight-lipped and “not very hopeful” of a breakthrough. Jammu and Kashmir is under Governor’s rule ever since the sitting Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed died on January 7.

growing role of China in South Asia, Nepal on Monday secured transit rights through China following an agreement in Beijing between Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang. Earlier, China extended a ceremonial welcome to Mr. Oli who held oicial talks with the Chinese leadership. News reports said Mr. Oli would also conclude agreements on building of multiple train routes connecting Nepal with China’s key production centres. However, playing down the impact of the agreements between Nepal and China, oicial sources told The Hindu that the future of the agreements depended on the issue of “economic viability” of the transit facilities and train connectivity projects. The Ministry of External Affairs, however, refused to issue

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dependent and universal.” Mr. Obama said he had raised “very serious diferences” the U.S. has with Cuba on democracy and human rights, but portrayed those diicult conversations as a prerequisite to closer relations. Crediting Cuba for making progress as a nation, he said part of normalising relations between the two countries means “we discuss these diferences directly.”

an oicial statement immediately, considering that the agreements were between two sovereign countries. However, oicials pointed out that IndiaNepal ties could not be compared or curtailed by Nepal’s agreements with China. “After all, 98 per cent of Nepal’s third country trade goes through India and to the port of Kolkata,” an oicial pointed out. India at present has two rail lines under construction and three more are being planned to increase Nepal’s trade ties. During the February visit of Prime Minister Oli to New Delhi, India agreed on giving dedicated access to Nepal to the port of Vizag. Oicials pointed out that in comparison to the Nepal-China agreement, India and Nepal had 25 crossing points, two integrated checkpoints and 2 more checkpoints were under construction.

쐍 A CHALLENGE FOR SOUTH

ASIA, SAYS EXPERT | PAGE 14

“The future of Cuba will be decided by Cubans not by anybody else,” Mr. Obama said. “At the same time, as we do wherever we go around the world, I made it clear the U.S. will continue to speak up about democracy, including the right of the Cuban people to decide their own future.” As Mr. Castro prepares to step down in 2018, he’s held firm against any changes to Cuba’s one-party political system. Mr. Obama, meeting Mr. Castro for only the third time for formal talks, was the first U.S. President in Cuba since 1928. Earlier, he was greeted by a military band at the Palace of the Revolution, the main government building since the 1959 revolution that turned Cuba into a communist state and Soviet client barely an hour’s flight from Florida. — AFP

쐍 AMERICANS SUPPORT

THAW; A KEY TEST FOR OBAMA’S POLICY | PAGE 14

BJP, Congress urge Pranab to intervene MEHBOOB JEELANI NEW DELHI: BJP and Congress

delegations separately met President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday, seeking his intervention to resolve the political crisis in Uttarakhand. The Congress expelled Saket Bahugana, son of the former Chief Minister, Vijay Bahugana, accusing him of “masterminding” the rebellion of nine party MLAs, including his father. A delegation led by Kailash Vijayvargiya, a prominent BJP leader, requested the President to advance the floor test from March 28 to March 22 and said this would determine whether the government of Chief Minister Harish Rawat had a majority or not. He also asked the President to direct the Governor to dismiss the government immediately.

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BRIEFLY VERIFICATION RELAXED Geelani released from Tihar jail NEW DELHI: Delhi University

lecturer SAR Geelani, who was granted bail by a court in a sedition case, was released from Tihar Central Jail on Monday after the court gave relaxation in police verification of the Kashmir address provided by the individual who stood surety for the accused.

쐍 CITY | PAGE 4 BAN ON 344 DRUGS Court extends relief to pharma companies NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court

on Monday restrained the government from enforcing a ban on 344 fixed-dose combination drugs for another week until it heard petitions from drug-makers challenging the order.

쐍 NEWS | PAGE 12 PATHANKOT ATTACK NIA releases photos of four terror suspects NEW DELHI: Days before an investigation team from Pakistan comes to India to probe the Pathankot attack, the NIA released the photos of four terrorists killed in the encounter.

쐍 NEWS | PAGE 12 CM YK

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THE HINDU

Details of odd-even by April 8, says Rai

Anand Vihar railway station cleanest

Instead of government officials, citizens including ex-servicemen will enforce the next phase of the odd-even scheme, which begins from April 15, Transport Minister Gopal Rai said >> Page 4

It came up less than seven years ago to de-congest the more important railway stations in Delhi, but Anand Vihar railway station has left the much older stations far behind when it comes to cleanliness >> Page 4

CINEMA KAPOOR & SONS (New Release: Rishi Kapoor, Ratna Pathak, Rajat Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra, Fawad Khan, Alia Bhatt): Delite, Golcha, Amba, Liberty, G3S (Rohini), Eros One, Batra Reels, M Cinemas, Cinemax, PVR (Plaza. Rivoli, Priya, Saket, Citywalk, Naraina, Vikaspuri, Prashant Vihar, EDM, Mahagun, Opulent), M2K (Rohini, Pitampura), FUN (Moti Nagar, Pitampura, Laxmi Nagar, Karkardooma), Movie Time (Raja Garden, Pitampura), DT (Saket, Shalimar Bagh, Vasant Kunj), Sa-

tyam (Patel Nagar, Janakpuri, Nehru Place), BIG (Odeon, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Noida), Wave (Raja Garden, Noida, Kaushambi), Star X (Vaishali), SRS Cinemas, Spice (Noida), M4U, JAM Shipra, Galaxie, Movie Palace, Movie Magic, Chaudhary (Ghaziabad), Movie World and Silvercity (Ghaziabad), Inox and Silvercity (Faridabad). MISS TEACHER (New Release) Regal, Aakash, Gagan, Supreme, Delite Diamond, Shiela, Samrat. AWESOME MAUSAM (New Release: Rahul Sharma, Mukesh Tiwari,

Suhasni Muley): PVR (Plaza, Rivoli, Priya, Saket, Citywalk, Naraina, Vikaspuri, Prashant Vihar, EDM), Wave Raja Garden, Noida, Kaushambi), BIG (Odeon, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Noida), Star X (Vaishali), Movie Palace, Movie Magic, Movie World and Silvercity (Ghaziabad). TERAA SURROOR-2 (Himesh Reshammiya, Farah Karimi, Naseeruddin Shah, Shekhar Kapur): G3S (Rohini), Cinemax, PVR (Plaza, Rivoli, Priya, Saket, Citywalk, Naraina, Vikaspuri, Prashant Vihar, EDM), FUN (Moti Na-

gar, Pitampura, Laxmi Nagar, Karkardooma), M2K (Rohini, Pitampura), Movie Time (Raja Garden, Pitampura), DT (Saket, Shalimar Bagh, Vasant Kunj), Satyam (Patel Nagar, Janakpuri, Nehru Place), BIG (Odeon, Vaishali, Kaushambi, Noida), Wave (Raja Garden, Noida, Kaushambi). (BOOKING ENQUIRIES: PVR 51513391; Spice Gold 012043890000; Satyam Cinemas 25797385; Delite 23272903; Wave 51832222)

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

A slice of Parsi culture Event showcasing Parsi heritage is supported by Ministry of Minority Affairs STAFF REPORTER

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howcasing the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the Parsi community and stressing the need to preserve it, the city’s top cultural institutions are hosting a number of cultural event and exhibitions in a three-month long programme titled “The Everlasting Flame International Programme”. The show will encompass all the elements of the contribution of Zoroastrians and Parsis to world culture, philosophy and art. The event will present three main exhibitions, titled “The Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination” at the National Museum, “Threads of Continuity: Zoroastrian Life and Culture” at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and “Painted Encounters: Parsi Traders and the Community” at National Gallery of ModArt (NGMA). MINORITY ernThe cultural event REPORT kicked-of on Monday the IGNCA, with the Cultural treat at exhibition, titled “Threads of Continuity”, focusing on the philosophy and culture of ancient Zoroastrian faith from its origins in Central Asia, tracing a geographical and chronological continuum till the present. Curated by Shernaz Cama, Dadi Pudumjee, Ashdeen Lilaowala and Kritika Mudgal, the exhibition attempts to explain Zoroastrian philosophy, where a sacred thread signifies continuity that links together all creation. There was a dance performance, titled “Elemental, Divine”, at the inauguration by Astad Deboo and Troupe. The performance, choreographed by Deboo, a pioneer of contemporary dance in India, combined Indian classical dance forms — kathak and kathakali — to create a dance form that is truly unique. The event is supported by the Union Ministry of Minority Afairs under their scheme Hamari Dharohar in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Parzor Foundation. The Parzor Project is an initiative by UNESCO, New Delhi,

Astad Deboo and Troupe presented a dance performance, “Elemental, Divine”, at the inauguration of the three-month-long event titled “The Everlasting Flame International Programme”. — PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

formed for preservation and promotion of Parsi and Zoroastrian culture and heritage. Speaking about the initiative, Ms. Cama, the director of Parzor Foundation, said: “Hamari Dharohar brings alive the multicultural heritage of India. The Union Ministry of Minority Afairs has chosen it’s smallest micro-minority to initiate this programme. We are proud to present a bronze age civilization that has survived in an unbroken line of tradition, absorbing the best from East and West, creating a

unique heritage of humanity.” Other events starting this week in the city include the Parzor Film and Photo Festival at the India International Centre. Zoroastrianism in the New Millennium at National Museum that is an endeavour to engage in cross cultural studies between Central Asia and India and “Painted Encounters: Parsi Traders and the Community” at NGMA. The programmes will conclude on May 27 with a valedictory address by author Amitav Ghosh.

Sori’s nephew accuses police of harassment BINDU SHAJAN PERAPPADAN

Kin being pressured to say that Soni Sori orchestrated her recent attack to gain sympathy

NEW DELHI: Adivasi rights activ-

ist Soni Sori’s nephew Lingaram Kodopi has accused the Bastar police of pressuring Sori’s family to say that the attack on her last month was the result of a personal dispute or orchestrated by herself to gain sympathy. Speaking at a press conference at the Indian Women’s Press Corp on Monday, Mr. Kodopi said he had written to the President seeking intervention in the matter. “I seek the urgent intervention of President Pranab Mukherjee to help the small population of eight crore Adivasis in India, who are being harassed and threatened,” he said. Sori (44) was allegedly at-

CM YK

tacked with an acid-like substance by a group of youths. After being treated at a hospital in Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, she was brought to Delhi. She returned to her native place earlier this month. Accusing the state police of “coercion”, Mr. Kodopi said that whatever was happening in the name of investigation was “harassment” and that the

police were trying to frame them. He also said that he feared for his life. Mr. Kodopi added that the police had picked up Soni’s father and two other relatives and harassed them. “After my aunt’s father returned home, he told us that the senior IPS oicer called his daughter a prostitute and claimed that police had sexually assaulted her,” he said. Also present at the conference were Supreme Court lawyer Vrinda Grover, women’s

rights activist Professor Uma Chakravarty, and Kalyani Menon-Sen of Women Against Sexual Violence, among others, to speak on the “deteriorating human rights situation in Bastar and the persecution of Soni’s family members”. Ms. Vrinda Grover, who is counsel to both Sori and Kodopi, said, “It is up to us as a nation to ensure that nothing untoward happens to Kodopi in the next six months when he returns home. Also, the SIT that was set up was not immediately after the attack on her but after she reached Delhi and the matter was taken up by the media and activists here. Even in that the woman driver of the motorcycle was questioned in a manner so as to fix the blame of the attack on personal enmity or on the family,’’ she said.

SDMC fails to get monkey of its back

Cobra rescued

DAMINI NATH

BINDU SHAJAN PERAPPADAN

NEW DELHI: Of the thousands of monkeys that roam South Delhi, only 43 have been caught and relocated since April 2015 as the local civic body struggles to find people willing to do the job. In comparison, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) caught 358 monkeys in financial year 2014-15. In 2013-2014, the SDMC caught 482 simians. The body has increased the amount paid per monkey caught, twice in the past three years. First from Rs.600 to Rs.800 in 2012 and then from Rs.800 to Rs.1,200 last year. Despite the increase and several ads for monkey catchers, the SDMC has been unable to find takers. Public notices were published in newspapers in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Karnataka in March, June, October and December 2015 and March 2016, “but nobody has come forward to take the job”, the oice of the administrative oicer said in a reply to a short-notice query by Leader of Opposition Farhad Suri at a meeting of the House on Monday. “There should be coordination between the SDMC and

NEW DELHI: Wildlife SOS res-

the Delhi government’s Forest Department. People across South Delhi have been complaining of monkey bites, but we are unable to do anything,” said Mr. Suri. While cases of monkey bites are reported from across South Delhi, the frequency of cases is increasing in some areas. Chetan Sharma, the chairperson of the Federation of GK-II RWAs, said: “The cases of monkey bites were quite rare earlier in GK-II. But, the cases have been increasing as monkeys are moving in search of food from Tughlaqabad forest towards residential areas.” The number of monkey and

dog bites reported at the SDMC’s heath centres has, however, decreased from 5,295 cases in 2014 to 3,430 cases in 2015. The ruling-BJP, however, said that the Forest Department will have to take the lead. The then-unified Municipal Corporation of Delhi started catching monkeys in 2007 after an order by the High Court. “As per the Wildlife Protection Act, catching wild animals is not our job; it is the responsibility of the Forest Department. They have the staf trained for this purpose,” said Leader of the House Ashish Sood.

cued a four-foot Indian cobra spotted in a park near a residential area in south Delhi’s Kalkaji recently. The snake, which was unhurt, will be released into its natural habitat shortly. A resident had spotted the cobra on a tree trunk and immediately alerted the police, which in turn called up Wildlife SOS rapid response unit’s 24-hour helpline. By the time the rescue team arrived, a small crowd had gathered at spot. Indian cobra (Naja naja) is one of the four venomous snake species found in the subcontinent. Revered in Indian mythology and culture, it is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Kartick Satyanarayan, cofounder of Wildlife SOS, said: “When dealing with venomous snakes, the rescue operation is naturally trickier. The snake needs to be removed very carefully, without alarming it or cornering it to maintain public and animal safety. Sometimes, these rescue operations can be dangerous, but someone has to do it.” ND-ND

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5 held for kabaddi player’s murder Sukhvinder Singh was on his way home on March 15 when the accused opened fire on him

Two held for fake job ofers STAFF REPORTER

ASHOK KUMAR GURGAON: The Gurgaon Police

on Monday claimed to have solved the murder case of a national-level kabaddi player last week in Rohtak with the arrest of five notorious criminals. One of the accused carries a cash reward of Rs.50,000 on his head, declared by the Haryana Police. Inspector Mahender Singh, Crime Unit-3, Palam Vihar was informed around 10 p.m. on Sunday that a gang of five young men armed with weapons was robbing motorists near under-construction India Bulls flats on the DelhiGurgaon Expressway. Tipped-of, the police team reached the spot and arrested the accused who tried to escape in an SUV. The five were later identified as Rakesh alias Pappu, Anil alias Dhaula, Anil alias Lila, Ankit Khatri and Parminder alias Bhola. While both Parminder and Ankit are from Rohtak, Dhaula hails from Jind. Lila is from Panipat and Rakesh, who carries the cash reward, is from Sonipat. The police claim to have seized a revolver, three country-made pistols and nine cartridges from their possession. The Rohtak police have also arrested two men in connection with the murder of the ka-

The suspects in Gurgaon police custody on Monday. —PHOTO: MANOJ KUMAR

baddi player and said that it could be a case of revenge killing. According to the police, Devender alias kale was murdered in June last by one Kuki, who was Sukhvinder’s cousin. The two people Rohtak police arrested in connection with the case — Somvir and Ankit are kale’s cousins. Kuki has been on the run since last June. According to Balbir Singh, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime), it was revealed during interrogation that Lila along with his accomplice Amarjit alias Jeetu shot kabaddi player Sukhvinder

Singh at the instance of Rakesh and Dhaula due to personal enmity. Sukhvinder was returning home around 7 p.m. on March 15 when Lila along with his accomplice accosted him on a two-wheeler and opened fired on him at pointblank range. The incident was caught on a CCTV camera installed at a nearby house. Rakesh along with Dhaula and Lila also murdered Satender and Dalal in Sihaw village last November. A case under Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against the two in this connection at Chandi

Bagh police station in Panipat. Ankit, along with his three accomplices, had stolen a car from Palam Vihar in December last, Mr. Singh said. Also, Ankit was involved in a murderous attack on four persons in Jaipur along with his six accomplices. The attack was allegedly carried out by Ankit at the instance of Sudir due to personal enmity, the police said. Ankit, Amit, Lalit, and Manish are also accused in the murder of one Rajpal in Sonipat. All the five accused were produced in the district court and taken into police remand for further interrogation.

NEW DELHI: The police have arrested two men who were allegedly cheating job seekers. They promised the victims permanent jobs in the departments of the Indian Navy, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Kisan Call Centre, the call centre of PM’s Jan Dhan Yojna, LIC, Ministry of IT and Prasar Bharati. According to the police, the accused also handed out fake appointment letters with impressions of the national emblem and logos of the concerned departments. Police claimed they have seized several such incriminating materials from the arrested men, identified as Arjun, 28, and Suresh Nagar, 31. Arjun is an attempt-tomurder convict in a 2009 case and was out on bail granted by the High Court. Nagar, meanwhile, was arrested for quarrelling in the past. Ravindra Yadav, Joint CP (Crime), said that the duo would use SIM cards obtained on fake identity proofs to contact the victims whom they lured through advertisements. The oicer said the duo was running this racket for the last one year and that a complaint of being cheated of Rs.65,000 drew their attention.

Police plan to share dog killer’s visuals on social media STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: The Delhi Police

will be seeking help on social media platforms to identify a man who stabbed and injured at least three dogs and killed a puppy near Gate No. 1 of the Green Park metro station a few days ago. The police have obtained another CCTV footage from a shop outside the station. The police said it helped them to have a better look at the man. Experts are working to create clearer visuals of the suspect from

the close-up of the footage they now have. “We are planning to share the clearer visuals of the man on some social media sites because of the reach they have,” said a senior police oicer. Police will also put up posters carrying the clearer pictures of the accused in and around the area where the incident took place. As of Monday evening, the fresh visuals as well as those from the metro station’s cameras were shown to some locals in the area where the incident took

Fake dollar gang busted STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: A gang that cheated

unsuspecting persons on the pretext of selling them U.S. dollars has been busted by the Crime Branch. The police said that the two arrested men, Mohd Siddiqui and Mohd Imran, are members of a notorious gang that has at least five cases registered against it. The gang would primarily target simpletons in East Delhi by first producing some genuine U.S. dollars and claiming that they had found a bag containing

several bundles of the foreign currency. Since the victim would have verified the “sample” notes, a deal would be struck to exchange the ‘dollars’ with Indian currency, but of much lesser worth. Once the deal was sealed, the gang would receive the cash from the victims and then hand over the bag. But, before the victims could check the contents, other gang members would suddenly appear and cause distraction, giving their associates time to escape with the cash.

place, but there was no progress. Two police teams have been formed to identify and nab the man. A case has already been registered at the Hauz Khas police station. The incident happened during the early hours of March 15. Local shopkeepers had seen three dogs and a puppy lying in a pool of blood at the entrance of the metro station and had called the police. While the puppy had died, the other three dogs are undergoing surgeries.

DELHI TODAY Music: Piano recital by Dr. Raul M. Sunico, master pianist and composer from the Philippines at IIC, 6:30 p.m. Exhibition: UN Exhibition: Africans in India – “From Slaves to Generals and Rulers” at the South Asian University Gallery, 11 am-5 pm Exhibition: Sahitya Kala Parishad presents women artists at All India Fine Arts & Craft Society, 11 am-7 p.m. Paintings: By Somnath Adhikary at IHC, 10 am-8 pm Paintings: “Dhristikon-A Perspective” - by Shree Kant Dubey at Art Gallery, 11 am-7 pm Photography: “Flower Men” - by Adil Ali at IHC, 11 am-7 pm General: Screening of “Awake - Life of Parmahansa Yogananda” (10:30 am); spiritual discourse, meditation at Yogoda Satsanga Sakha Ashram, Noida, 5 pm (Mail your listings for this column at [email protected])

Father alleges road rage claimed toddler’s life; police deny during a head-on collision between an auto-rickshaw that NEW DELHI: A father whose one- the father was driving and a and-a-half-year-old son died motorcycle. “Medical tests of both the on Sunday night in NorthWest Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar drivers involved in the accihas alleged that three men on a dent revealed that they were motorcycle flung the child on drunk. The damage to both the the road in a road rage vehicles indicated that it was a head-on collision. The child incident. The police, however, dis- fell of the auto because of the missed the allegations and collision,” said Vijay Singh, claimed that the child fell out DCP (North-West). The DCP STAFF REPORTER

said that the motorcycle rider, identified as a local property dealer Jugal Kishore, was arrested and booked for causing death by negligence. The dead boy has been identified as Manan, the son of Ashok, an auto driver living in Swaroop Nagar. Ashok’s neighbour Rajesh Kumar said that the man and his child were headed to a relative’s home on Sunday night

when the incident happened. The DCP said that the incident happened on an isolated and dark stretch because of which there were no eyewitnesses. The injured child and his father were rushed to Babu Jagjivan Ram Hospital from where they were referred to Lok Nayak Hospital. While Manan succumbed to his injuries, his father is undergoing treatment for injuries.

Published by N. Ram at Kasturi Buildings, 859 & 860, Anna Salai, Chennai-600002 and Printed by S. Ramanujam at HT Media Ltd. Plot No. 8, Udyog Vihar, Greater Noida Distt. Gautam Budh Nagar, U.P. 201306, on behalf of KASTURI & SONS LTD., Chennai-600002. National Editor: Suresh Nambath (Responsible for selection of news under the PRB Act).

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Geelani finally out of jail Court relaxes police verification of surety’s Kashmir address MOHAMMED IQBAL

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elhi University lecturer Syed Abdul Rehman Geelani, who was granted bail by a court in a sedition case, was released from Tihar Central Jail on Monday after the court gave relaxation in police verification of the Kashmir address provided by the individual who stood surety for the accused. Mr. Geelani’s release was earlier held up for want of verification of the surety’s addresses of Srinagar and Lajpat Nagar, Delhi. The police had asked for a few days for completing verification of the Srinagar address after confirmation of the Delhi address, mentioned by Mr. Geelani in the bail bond. While accepting the bail bond, a Metropolitan Magistrate on Monday gave time to the police till April 11 for BATTLE completing physical WON verification of the and issued War goes on address warrant for the release of Mr. Geelani. The sedition case was registered against him in connection with a controversial event organised in the Press Club of India here on February 10, where slogans hailing Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru were allegedly raised. Additional sessions judge Deepak Garg had granted bail to the academician on furnishing of a personal bond of Rs.50,000 with one surety in the like amount. The court had observed that no purpose would be served by keeping him in judicial custody any more pending further investigation.“There is no allegation of the state that there is any apprehension of the accused fleeing from justice,” observed the court while granting bail. Mr. Geelani’s family had alleged that “delaying tactics” were being adopted in his release because of his Kashmiri identity, as he had been wrongly charged with terror links in the past too.

S.A.R. Geelani after his release on Monday. PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Magistrate has given police till April 11 to complete physical verification of the surety's address The property papers of the surety were submitted to the court on time. The Hindu had reported about Mr. Geelani’s family facing anxious moments due to delay in his release as a result of the police verification process taking time. An application was later moved on his behalf in the court seeking his early release. A magisterial court had on February 19 dismissed the bail application of Mr. Geelani, who was arrested on February 16. The Del-

hi police opposed the bail plea in the sessions court, saying that holding of the event amounted to contempt of court. The prosecution said Mr. Geelani and other participants in the event were celebrating Afzal Guru and Maqbool Bhat, who were convicted by the Supreme Court and given death sentence. However, Mr. Geelani’s counsel Satish Tamta pointed out that the first information report registered in connection with the event had stated that the Press Club oice-bearers had asked the people raising slogans to desist from it and leave the venue, which they did. There was nothing on record to prove that Mr. Geelani had raised anti-India slogans or asked others to do so, he said.

Family waits for him with hot Kashmiri food MARIA AKRAM NEW DELHI: The preparations have begun again at the residence of Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani in Zakir Nagar, South-East Delhi. The handi is back on the burner and the Kashmiri fare, which was left almost untouched on Sunday, is being cooked again -- only this time with more palpitation and nervousness. The last three days have been nothing less than a rollercoaster ride for the Geelani family. From excitement to disappointment to sudden joy, the wife and children of Delhi University professor S.A.R. Geelani, who was finally released on bail in a sedition case after 34 days, have experienced everything. And now they are anx-

ious, not ready to talk about their feelings till they see him in front of them at their home. “We have been let down so many times that we will believe it only when he comes home,” Nusrat, Mr. Geelani’s daughter, told The Hindu. “We weren’t so optimistic today (Monday) and had plans to change the surety in his case.” Mr. Geelani was arrested on charges of sedition for organising a controversial event at Press Club of India on February 10. After the session court gave the release orders for Mr. Geelani, the family and relatives are waiting for him to come home. “People are coming and going. We are waiting since afternoon. Hopefully, we all will have dinner together on Monday,”

said 23-year-old Nusrat, a law student. Till Monday morning, the family was disappointed and they had decided to change the surety in Mr Geelani’s case. But in the afternoon, the court asked the police to release the DU Professor and complete the address verification by April 11. “The fact that my father was asked to be released on the basis of the same court order albeit the relaxation in the address verification process goes on to prove that there was bias,” she claimed. “We don’t believe in the system, particularly the police. He was wronged in the past and this time as well his release was delayed on flimsy ground. But now we only want him back home safely.”

Delhi-Kathmandu By-polls: SDMC focuses on vacant wards service: Green D N Monday, the House passed a only use the fund for developresolution empowering May- ment, but also monitor the panel notice on NEW DELHI: With by-polls to 13 or Subhash Arya to carry out progress,” said Mr. Sood. The Opposition Congress, municipal wards development projects in varegistration of bus vacant scheduled in May, the South cant wards by using funds set however, termed the resoluAMINI

BINDU SHAJAN PERAPPADAN NEW DELHI: The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) on Monday moved the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking registration of a bus, which is to ply on the DelhiKathmandu route, prompting the green panel to seek a response from the State Transport Authority on the matter. The bus service was launched by the DTC on November 25, 2014. It covers the 1,250 km journey in 30 hours. Currently three buses are plying on this route wherein two buses are being run by Nepal and one is being run by DTC on behalf of India A bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notice to Delhi State Transport Authority after it refused to register a new Volvo diesel bus. This comes in wake of NGTs December 11, 2015 order which said that new diesel-run vehicles will not be registered in the Capital. The DTC in its plea said: “Since the Delhi-Kathmandu route is very long, a CNG bus was not advisable and moreover CNG would be not available on the route. Although no formal order of refusal has been passed by the transport authority, it was orally informed that it cannot be done in view of the order passed by the Tribunal,” the plea said.

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Delhi Municipal Corporation has allowed the Mayor to use the councillor’s fund to carry out development work in those areas. Seven of the 13 wards that were vacated by councillors who fought the Delhi Assembly elections in 2013 and 2015 are under the SDMC. On

aside for the area councillors. Leader of the House Ashish Sood said the move would benefit residents of Munirka, Matiala, Nanakpura, Bhati Mines, Vikas Nagar, Tekhand and Nawada – as the Mayor would monitor the work. “There will be a focused approach. The Mayor will not

tion opportunistic. “If the BJP was that concerned, why didn’t it pass this resolution two years ago? This is just an attempt to gain votes in the by-polls. We will approach the Election Commission against this corrupt practice,” said Leader of Opposition Farhad Suri.

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Details of odd-even by April 8, says Rai STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: Instead of government oicials, citizens including ex-servicemen will enforce the next phase of the odd-even vehicle-rationing scheme, which begins from April 15. The fines and exemptions related to the anti-pollution measure are likely to remain unchanged, Transport Minister Gopal Rai said on Monday. Scheduled to be implemented between April 15 and April 30, the second instalment of the scheme may see “minor changes” in the list of exemptions. However, the fine of Rs. 2,000 for those violating its provisions and the timings of its enforcement will remain unchanged. The changes this time around include the replacement of specially-procured fleet of buses from city schools with vehicles owned by private operators. Unlike last time, government oicials including Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) will not be a part of the enforcement teams. Around 400 exservicemen and 1,000 more Civil Defence volunteers will help the Delhi Traic Police enforce the scheme this time. “Several aspects of the scheme are being worked out and the final notification in regard to the timings and list of driver categories exempted from the provisions of the scheme will be announced on April 8,” Mr. Rai said. The Transport Minister was speaking after the con-

Transport Minister said there might be minor changes in list of exemptions. FILE PHOTO

Car-free day on Loni Road today STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: The Capital will

observe its sixth car-free day at northeast Delhi’s Loni Road between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Aam Aadmi Party and Civil Defence volunteers will be standing by on the route. A sapling-plantation drive is

clusion of a joint meeting over aspects related to the implementation of the odd-even scheme with several government departments at the Delhi Secretariat here.

scheduled to be conducted on the stretch, which will remain off-limit for cars. This will be the first observance of the antipollution initiative on an interState route, which is being observed in a phase-wise manner across the Capital since October 22 last year.

“While we had procured buses from several city schools to run them under the Paryavaran Bus Seva on the cluster-bus model to augment public transportation last

time, we will only utilise the services of private operators this time around,” he said. Buses operating under the scheme, however, would also include DTC vehicles plying as school buses which would ply on their routes only during the morning and evening hours between which they would ply for daily commuters. The Transport Minister added that mini-buses will also be a part of vehicles procured under the scheme, which would see the mandatory deployment of marshals and the reservation of 50 percent of the total seats for women.

Anand Vihar station among cleanest in country, Ghaziabad station the dirtiest SIDHARTHA ROY NEW DELHI: It came up less than seven years ago to de-congest the more important and busier railway stations in Delhi, but the Anand Vihar railway station has left the much older stations far behind when it comes to cleanliness. The Railway Ministry has announced the results of a cleanliness survey of railway stations it had commissioned and Anand Vihar has come out with flying colours. It is the only railway station in the Delhi-NCR that is among the top 20 in the country among A1 category stations. With a rank of 17, it is far ahead of New Delhi Railway Station (55), Delhi Junction (64) and Hazrat Nizamuddin (72). The survey, conducted by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), divided railway stations across the country into A1 (annual revenue of over Rs. 50 crore) and A (annual revenue between Rs. 6 and 50 crore) categories. While the first category has 75 stations, 323 stations are part of the second category. The survey is based largely on passenger feedback, where they were asked to give rate various parameters of cleanliness. Originally just a small halt station, Anand Vihar became a terminal in December 2009 and over the years many eastbound trains have started operating from here. Spread over 42 acres, the railway station has seven platforms and caters to nearly one lakh passengers daily. The station will go through another

major revamp and modernisation as part of its phase II development. “The comparatively lesser footfall definitely helps but other factors responsible for keeping it clean is the material used to build it. For instance, the granite surface doesn’t retain dirt and is easier to clean,” said a senior Railway oicial. “Also the platforms are much wider as it is a newer station, there were no space constraints that are a problem at the much older stations like Delhi Junction and New Delhi. Since most trains originate here and there are fewer 'through trains', the waiting period of passengers on platforms is less and so is the chances of the station getting

The survey is based on feedback from passengers, who assessed stations on several parametes dirty,” he said. While even the Anand Vihar railway station with Level 2 doesn't match the highest level of cleanliness, New Delhi railway station has Level 3 cleanliness and Delhi Junction and Hazrat Nizamuddin railway stations have achieved Level 4. On the other hand, Delhi's Shahdara railway station (308) and the Ghaziabad railway stations (311) are among the dirtiest in the country, with their ranking scraping

the bottom of the list. “Ghaziabad is one of the oldest stations in Delhi-NCR and sees a lot of freight and passenger train traic. Encroachments outside the station also adds to the lack of cleanliness,” the oicial said. “Anand Vihar is newly constructed and with the arrangements at place, along with cooperation from passengers ensure that it is very clean. The survey takes a comparative position and other stations too have witnessed a lot of improvement,” said Northern Railway CPRO Neeraj Sharma. “We are putting in the best measures to ensure cleanliness at all our stations but we need cooperation from passengers also,” he said.

Mughal-era village set to find its way into future with Rs. 35-crore revamp SWETA GOSWAMI NEW DELHI: Rann Singh Chhikara, the pradhan of North-west Delhi's Jaunti village, is on cloud nine these days. The reason for his happiness is the Union government’s ‘Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojna', under which the area parliamentarian, Udit Raj, has adopt Jaunti and promised to turn it into a model village. On Monday, Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu unveiled the “strategic development plan” for the village, which includes renovation of a 400year-old Shikaargah (hunting lodge) built for Emperor Shahjahan and the pond adjoining it. “Some of the houses in the village still retain the old traditional character with courtyards and entrance arches. The houses also have reoccurring colour schemes with some painted in blue while others in pink and white.

These will be preserved,” said Ramesh Menon, one of the project directors. The project is estimated to cost about Rs. 35 crore and will largely depend on corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities by various companies. The village chowks will be developed into open spaces with performance areas like folk dance, puppet show, sitting space, street art, exhibition space, parking space and directional and information signages. Heritage trails would be created from Jaunti bus stop to the Shikaargah. “The area around the ancient Mughal talaab (pond) forms an ideal spot for tourism development as it has a scenic value and is surrounded by gram sabha land. We have planned an entrance plaza, a ticketing counter, an administrative block, food court, craft bazaar, artist’s residences and dormitory,

multi-purpose pavilion, a sculpture court, open air theatre and a walkway around the talaab,” Mr. Raj said. He “hoped” the project would be complete by December. The village was promised a hospital in 1978, but that has not been fulfilled yet. Mr. Chhikara is certain that the hospital will finally be built now. “The nearest hospital is 22 km away. We do not even have a health centre. MP Udit Raj while showing us the proposal had said that he would build a hospital,” the village pradhan said. Mr. Raj said a hospital would be built, but only if the Delhi government cooperates. “We have received support from individuals in the country and abroad and even from private companies. But no support has come from the Delhi government despite us following up several times. A 200-bed hospital is to be built by them,” he said. ND-ND

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THE HINDU

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

JNUTA to hold ‘public hearing’ on Afzal Guru event probe report ‘What is T wrong with eachers of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will be organising a “public hearing” on Tuesday to reflect upon the investigation process carried out by the university’s high level committee, which was responsible for enquiry into the controversial February 9 pro-Afzal Guru event. A panel including Justice (Retd) AP Shah, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court and Chairman of the Twentieth Law Commission; Warisha Farasat, Delhi-based lawyer previously with the International Center for Transitional Justice, New York, and Centre for Equity Studies, Delhi and Mrinal Satish, Associate Professor at National Law University Delhi, will ponder over the enquiry process and its findings on Tuesday. NEW “The panel will present its views on three LESSONS major questions — can Investigation the ‘high level’ enquiry (HLE) process initiated and conducted by the university administration be considered a proper enquiry with reference to the established norms and procedures of the varsity and the objective of seeking the truth?,” said Bikramaditya Choudhury, General Secretary, JNU Teachers’ Association. The event is being organised at the varsity’s administration block which has been the venue of protest ever since JNU Students' Union President Kanhaiya Kumar was arrested in connection with an event on campus against the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru dur-

burning Manusmriti?’ STAFF REPORTER

CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, D. Raja of the CPI and JNUSU president Kanhaiya Kumar during a Youth Convention in New Delhi on Monday. PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA ing which anti-national slogans were allegedly raised. “Did the conduct of the committee and steps taken during the enquiry and after submission of its report uphold the principle of natural justice? Does the panel provide any legitimate basis for taking disciplinary action against students?,” he added. Bikramaditya further said, “the view of the teachers that this was not a legitimate enquiry process would be placed before the panel. The university administration would also be invited to present its perspective.” After the five-member panel found them guilty of “violating university norms and discipline rules”

show-cause notices were issued to 21 students on March 14 asking them to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them. The report of the five-member panel, which was submitted on March 11 has pointed out lapses on part of the students as well as the administration. Taking into account the role of outsiders in the controversial event, the university panel has found three students “guilty” of arousing communal, caste or regional feeling or creating disharmony on campus. The varsity is yet to take a call on quantum of punishment to be awarded to students in connection with the row.

Tharoor likens Kanhaiya to Bhagat Singh, draws BJP ire NEW DELHI: A controversy erupted

Shashi Tharoor

on Monday over Congress leader Shashi Tharoor comparing JNU students’ union president Kanhaiya Kumar, facing sedition charges, with Bhagat Singh, drawing strong criticism from BJP. Addressing a group of students at the JNU last night, Tharoor had said Bhagat Singh was the Kanhaiya Kumar of his time. “The biggest victims of sedition law under the British rule were Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Annie Besant and Bhagat

Singh,” he said. The BJP took strong exception to Tharoor’s comment saying it was an insult to the “great freedom fighter” as well as all patriots of the country. “Bhagat Singh went to the gallows chanting ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ while fighting for the country’s independence. Comparing Kanhaiya Kumar with Bhagat Singh is an insult to the freedom fighter and all the patriots,” BJP’s Shahnawaz Hussain said. Tharoor on his part clarified that he did not intend to equate

Kanhaiya with Bhagat Singh. “You are finding one marginal thing which was said in response to a comment from the audience. Bhagat Singh was fighting colonial rule and foreign oppression and Kanhaiya is fighting for his beliefs in a very different democracy. “So the situations are different but the comparison (was) — young, Marxist, idealist, passionately committed to their motherland, in their 20s...that’s all,” he said in a clarification today. — PTI

NEW DELHI: Responding to show-cause notices served to them by JNU to “explain their position” on why they burnt the copies of ancient legal text Manusmriti, at least three students of the university have said that there was nothing wrong in their action. Almost a month after a controversial event against Afzal Guru’s hanging was reported from the university, five ABVP rebels joined by Left-backed All India Students’ Association and Congress-ailiated National Students’ Union of India burnt sections of the text at Sabarmati Dhaba on March 8, which was also the venue of the earlier event. “What is wrong in burning copies of Manusmriti? Protesting against anything that we find derogatory is our right. Also, this is not the first time that copies of that book have been burnt by us,” said one of the students. The students have also pointed out that the notices issued to them do not mention the “ofence” for which they have been asked to give an explanation. The JNU administration had reportedly denied them permission for holding the event. Former ABVP oicebearer Pradeep Narwal, who had resigned from the party citing diferences over the current row, was one of the main organisers of the event.

|5 Man thrashed by ‘cop’ at CNG pump STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: A man claiming

to be a Delhi Police inspector allegedly beat up a tennis coach at a CNG pump in South Delhi’s RK Puram. Lakshman Singh, who works at a Noida school, had just refuelled his car at the pump on Thursday when the assailant allegedly started honking from behind. According to Singh, the assailant also threatened to shoot him dead. “The man called Lakshman out and started slapping him without any provocation. He kept threatening to lock up our family and eliminate

us,” Lakshman’s brother Lokesh said. A CCTV footage showed the assailant slapping Lakshman several times, pinning him down on his car’s bonnet, and punching him with his elbow. Even though a PCR call was made, the police allegedly refrained from registering an FIR until Monday. “DCP Prem Nath called up my brother finally, and assured that goons would not have their way in his district,” Lokesh added. The registration number of the suspect’s Wagon R car has been identified as HR26BT1774.

Kumar Vishwas moves HC against FIR MOHAMMED IQBAL NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party leader

Kumar Vishwas has moved the High Court seeking quashing of an FIR registered against him on a complaint of molestation lodged by a woman volunteer of the ruling party in Delhi following the directions of a Metropolitan Magistrate’s court. In his petition, likely to come up for hearing on Tuesday, Mr. Vishwas has questioned the “over-enthusiasm” of the Metropolitan Magistrate in ordering registration of FIR in a bailable ofence despite the police having said earlier there was no evidence to support the allegations. The petition said the complainant’s statements were full of contradictions and exaggerations, as some of the incidents were public events where thousands of volunteers and even electronic media were present.

DUSU joint secretary’s car ‘attacked’ STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: Unidentified per-

sons allegedly opened fire on a car in which DUSU’s joint secretary Chhatrapal Yadav was returning home on Monday. Yadav escaped unhurt in the alleged assault around 10 p.m. near Buddha Garden in Chanakyapuri and told the police that he could not see the assailants. The police said, “Forensic examinations will determine if gun shots were actually fired,” said a senior police oicer. An FIR has been registered .

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STATE EDUCATIONAL

EDUCATIONAL

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THE HINDU

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

PACKERS

Gurgaon schools asked to follow transport safety norms ASHOK KUMAR GURGAON: The district ad-

EDUCATIONAL

SITUATIONS VACANT GENERAL

ministration has directed private schools to adhere to the “Surakshit School Vahan Policy” of the Haryana government and ensure that the Supreme Court guidelines for safer transportation of school-going children are followed in letter and spirit. Deputy Commissioner T. L. Satyaprakash has stated that schools should fulfil the norms by April 1 or face action. Secretary of Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Sushil Sarwan and his team will inspect school buses to ensure that they were complying with the policy. Mr. Sarwan has said that a school bus should be painted in yellow with a strip of dark blue all around.

Schools should fulfil the norms by April 1 or face action. FILE PHOTO

He said that schools using white-coloured buses had been advised to junk them after March 31. According to the policy, a school bus should be fitted with a speed governor, and the words, “School Bus”, must be written on the back and front of the bus. If it is a hired one, then “On School Duty” should be clearly indicated. A bus should have a certificate of fitness and insurance, and should not emanate

smoke beyond permissible limits. Mr. Sarwan has said that the driver of the vehicle should have at least five years of driving experience and should not have been challaned more than three times for traic violations. A driver should wear proper uniform, besides being medically fit. Further, a school bus should have a conductor and a lady attendant. “An institution that has a parking area within its boundary walls should ensure that children are dropped on the premises. If any vehicle is found dropping students outside the boundary, the vehicle will be impounded. Also, the vehicle should not carry children in excess of more than 1.5 times of its registered seating capacity,” said Mr. Sarwan.

Woman beaten up by domestic helps PUBLIC NOTICES

GURGAON: Two domestic helps allegedly beat up their 60-year-old employer, locked her inside the bathroom, and made off with cash and jewellery in the posh DLF Phase-I here on Monday. The victim has been identified as Kamlesh.

After the accused — Sagar (25) and Shankar (26) — escaped, Kamlesh shouted for help from the window of the bathroom. Her daughter-in-law Sanchi heard the screams, and came to her rescue. “The servants weren’t

verified. Their mobile numbers or any other detail wasn’t obtained by the house dwellers. Police parties have been dispatched to nab the duo,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Deepak Saharan. —Staff Reporter

LEGAL NOTICE

TENDERS

PUBLIC NOTICES

LEGAL NOTICE

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THE HINDU TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Amnesty scheme for traders hit by quota stir CHANDIGARH: Haryana govt. refrained from imposing any new taxes in budget 2016-17 and proposed an amnesty scheme for traders afected by Jat quota stir, while announcing taxation relief for several products and hiking allocations to key sectors to boost infrastructure and jobs. While presenting his second Budget, Finance Minister Abhimanyu on Monday swore by “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” to ensure a balanced, equitable and accelerated growth of all sections of State, irrespective of caste, creed or community and geographical locations. The State, which is also celebrating the Golden Jubilee Year of its formation in 1966, saw a budgetary increase of 28.4 per cent to Rs 88,781.96 crore for 2016-17 over a year ago. In order to encourage agro-based industries, tax exemption has been proposed on ‘Khal’, ‘Binola’, ‘Besan’ and cotton yarn manufactured in the State. With a view to promoting clean environment, Mr Abhimanyu has proposed to reduce tax from 12.5 per cent to 5 per cent on the sale of electrical vehicles. Caring for the victims of the recent reservation agitation, the Finance Minister has introduced an amnesty scheme, granting relief in respect of tax, interest, penalty and other dues to the affected registered dealers whose goods were lost or

NORTHERN REGION

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Five killed as van overturns JAIPUR: Five people, including

three women, were on Monday killed and 16 injured when a pick-up van in which they were travelling overturned after a tyre burst in Rajasthan’s Pratapgarh district. The incident occurred in the Chhoti Sadri area when the vic-

tims, all labourers, were on their way to the Gambhiri river dam for their job, SHO Chhoti Sadari police station Kailash Chand said. The injured have been admitted to hospital, the SHO said, adding the condition of six is stated to be ‘critical’. - PTI

Haryana Finance Minister Capt. Abhimanyu arrives to present the budget in the Assembly in Chandigarh on Monday. – PHOTO: PTI destroyed. In order to encourage the customers to obtain bills, invoices for goods purchased, the government proposes to introduce “Submit Bill, Get Prize Scheme”. This will enhance compliance on the part of sellers, dealers and bring more revenue to the state exchequer, he said. Riding the crest of better revenue realisations, Mr Abhimanyu has chosen to tread the path of fiscal prudence. In Budget Estimates 2015-16, fiscal deficit was estimated at 3.1 per cent of GSDP and 2.58 per cent (without UDAY) in Revised Estimates 2015-16. With initiatives taken for fiscal consolidation, fiscal deficit has been pegged at 2.47 per cent of GSDP (without UDAY) in 2016-17. “This is well within the stipulated limit of 3 per cent of GSDP by the 14th Finance Commission,” he said. - PTI

Omar meets Governor, favours mid-term polls JAMMU: In the backdrop of the stalemate in Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday called on Governor N. N. Vohra but ruled out National Conference providing an alternative saying his party would rather prefer midterm elections than indulging in “horse-trading”. He, however, said nobody wants mid-term polls, but if a government is not formed, then election is the only way out. “There is an efort right now to gather support independent of Mehbooba Mufti. I think rushing to Delhi is Mehbooba Mufti’s last ditch efort to save her party because she realises if she does not form the government on the terms and conditions set by BJP, her party will split and if her party splits then she will be in a much weaker position than she is today. So

she is trying to save her party,” Mr Abdullah told reporters after meeting Mr. Vohra at Raj Bhawan. “I hope she meets the Prime Minister and the government is formed so that we can take the role of an effective opposition party. We have prepared ourselves for the role of opposition for six years,” the working president of NC said. Governor’s Rule was imposed in the State on January 8 after the death of chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Mr. Abdullah also said he would never prefer horsetrading to end the stalemate. “Don’t look towards us for an alternative. Jammu and Kashmir has not come out of what happened in 1984. I am not in favour of 20-25 people splitting PDP and forming another party. I am not in favour of that,” he said. -PTI

Srinagar-Jammu highway opens to traic SRINAGAR The SrinagarJammu National Highway was opened to traic on Monday, four days after landslides following heavy rains and snowfall had led to its closure. “The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been thrown open for traffic this morning,” a Traic Department oicial said here. He said the highway was opened for one-way traic from Jammu to Srinagar after the road was cleared of the debris due to landslides following improvement in the weather. The trucks and passengers vehicles that were stranded at diferent places along the highway were first allowed, the oicial said. The 300-km arterial road — the only all-weather road-link connecting Kashmir Valley with the rest of the country — was closed for traic on Thursday following landslides at some places due to heavy rains. Kashmir Valley witnessed intermittent rainfall, and fresh snowfall in higher reaches, since Wednesday leading to drop in temperatures. The higher areas of the Valley, including the famous ski resort of Gulmarg, received fresh snowfall during the night, an oicial of the Meteorological Department said. He said about 11 inches of fresh snowfall had accumulated during the last 24 hours in the resort in north Kashmir — a star attraction for tourists visiting the Valley. - PTI

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NATION

5 persons, tusker killed in Bengal in 2 days had succumbed to the tranquiliser darts by then, adding that it was later buried in a forest in Kaksa. Another herd of elephants killed a farmer, Anil Bagdi (64), in the early hours of Monday in Kashpur area of the district, taking the total toll to five.

SHIV SAHAY SINGH KOLKATA: In yet another in-

stance of man-elephant conflict, five persons and a tusker were killed in the Bardhaman district in south Bengal in the past two days. Senior forest oicers said they were attempting to rescue a male elephant that had strayed into human habitation along with the tusker from the forests of Bankura district. According to latest reports, the male elephant had entered the Nadia district. “We tried to tranquillise the tusker. It had strayed into muddy rice fields. Though we arranged for vehicles to bring the animal to the main road, it died after the tranquilisation,” a senior forest oicial told The Hindu. A herd of elephants had strayed into Bardhaman from

A tusker attacks a person in Baghasole village in Bardhaman district of West Bengal on Sunday. — PHOTO: AFP

adjoining Bankura district on Saturday night. The tusker accompanied by another elephant started moving through the paddy fields of Bardhaman, considered the rice bowl of West Bengal. A 19-year-old boy was the first to be attacked by the pachyderm. He sustained ma-

jor injuries and was being treated at a government hospital. The elephant then attacked and killed two persons, identified as Annakali Roy (62) and Narayan Majhi (69), in Bhatar. From there, the jumbos moved to Manteshwar, killing two more persons, Prakash Goria (45) and

Rajasthan celebrates first IT Day, launches connectivity network STAFF REPORTER JAIPUR: On the occasion of Ra-

jasthan’s first IT Day on Monday, the State government launched RajNET — a wide area network connecting the State capital with all 9,894 gram panchayats and 183 municipal areas — to strengthen connectivity and allow the inclusion of remote areas through Information Technology. “Built as a multimode connectivity network (through VSAT and terrestrial linkage), RajNET facilitates voice, video and data connection, enabling efective delivery of citizen services like Bhamashah, e-Mitra and MNREGA across the State, including its remotest areas,” a press release stated. e-Governance Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said: “Efective governance has to be based on a ro-

CM YK

Suraj Seth (38). At the Denur village, forest oicials attempted to tranquillise the animal. Locals said that after several hours, with the help of chains, vehicles and huge belts, the elephant was driven away from the paddy fields. However, forest oicials said the tusker

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

VS writes to Centre on high-rises near airport SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Leader of the Opposition in Kerala V.S. Achuthanandan has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju urging him to intervene to prevent the regularisation of high-rises on the flight path Major concern to the Thiruvananthapuram Man-elephant conflict has International Airport. In his letter, Mr. Achuthaemerged as a major concern in south Bengal where small nandan pointed out that the patches of forests are sur- State Cabinet had decided to rounded by large farmlands. regularise the construction Elephants from the Dalma of buildings which had been Forest range often migrate to built without obtaining a ‘No south Bengal from Jharkhand Objection Certificate’ from and due to the fragmented na- the Airports Authority of Inture of forests, the pachy- dia (AAI). Giving occupancy certifiderms often stray into human cates to the buildings in habitations. Over the past 10 years, at question would subvert the least 240 persons and more development possibilities of than 50 elephants have died in the Thiruvananthapuram international airport, he said. the forests of south Bengal.

In a statement here on Monday, Mr. Achuthanandan said the Oommen Chandy government had driven a nail on the airport’s development potential by deciding to issue occupancy order to the buildings constructed in breach of AAI norms. The Civil Aviation Ministry had issued a notification on January 14, 2010, stipulating that construction of buildings within 20 km radius of the airport should be subject to the Aircraft Act of 1934. The AAI is authorised to demolish buildings constructed in violation of the provisions of the Act. However, the Cabinet decision to grant occupancy certificate was being made on the ground that the curbs under the Act had come into efect only after January 14, 2010, he pointed out.

Coast Guard patrol vessel Arnvesh commissioned SUMIT BHATTACHARJEE

VISAKHAPATNAM: The fast patrol vessel (FPV) of the Indian Coast Guard, ICGS Arnvesh, was commissioned here on Monday by Flag Oicer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Vice-Admiral H.C.S. Bisht. The 50-metre long, 300tonne vessel is the 16th of the 20 in this category being built by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL). Propelled by triple Rolls Royce Kamewa water jets, it can achieve a maximum speed of 33 knots and carry a crew of five oicers and 34 men. Fitted with the state-of-theart navigational and commuChief Minister Vasundhara Raje during Rajasthan IT Day 2016 at nication equipment, including night vision capabilities, Birla Auditorium in Jaipur on Monday. — PHOTO: PTI its main armament comprises bust IT infrastructure and with the State’s focus on em- 40/60 Bofors guns. Commissioning the vessel, within the framework of powering start-ups. Rajasthan’s first start-up Vice-Admiral Bisht said the comprehensive e-Governance architecture. This is policy was launched last role of the Coast Guard had what we are seeking to pro- October and, on Monday, in- now become 24/7, and it vide in Rajasthan.” vestors and start-up aspi- played a very active role in The first IT Day was rants deliberated on the op- coastal security, especially based on the theme ‘Promo- portunities available in the terror threat from the sea. “Today, the coast is secured tion of IT Start-ups’, in line country.

The 50-metre long vessel is the 16th of the 20 vessels built by Cochin Shipyard Ltd in this category

The Coast Guard ship ICGS Arnvesh after being commissioned at Visakhapatnam on Monday. It is a fast patrol vessel with 40/60 Bofors guns on board. — PHOTO: C.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

by the tri-forces of the Navy, the Coast Guard and the Marine Police,” he said. On the role of ICGS Arnvesh, Inspector General of Coast Guard (Eastern Region) S.P. Sharma said the vessel would primarily focus on surveillance at sea, coastal patrol, anti-smuggling oper-

ations, anti-piracy and search and rescue operations. According to him, the Coast Guard was on an expansion mode, as its role in safeguarding the maritime assets in the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and coastal security had increased. Now, it had 120 ships, 63 air-

craft and 10,000 men, spread across its 42 Coast Guard Stations, five air stations and10 Coast Guard Air Enclaves. Mr. Sharma said 125 ships of diferent types were under construction at diferent shipyards, and the idea was to have at least 150 ships and 100 aircraft under operation, across the length of the Indian coast on any given day, by 2019. Four new ships, he said, would be added to the Eastern Region by next year. As of now, the Eastern Region that covers Odisha to Tamil Nadu, had 33 commissioned ships, 11 non-commissioned craft and 15 aircraft. DIG of Coast Guard (Andhra Pradesh) A.K. Harbola, Commanding Oicer of ICGS Arnvesh Amit Uniyal and other senior oicers were present.

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Virbhadra targets HPCA again KANWAR YOGENDRA SHIMLA: Not satisfied with the cancellation of the India-Pakistan T-20 World Cup tie in Dharamsala, Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has launched another attack on the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, this time for not following the Lodha Committee recommendations. While talking to the media persons in Palampur, near Dharamsala on Monday he called on the HPCA to follow the Lodha Committee recommendations that clearly say that no politician should head cricket organisations. Mr Singh said it was unfortunate that the BCCI was opposing these recommendations. Mr Singh said the HPCA that had not respected the feelings of martyrs’ families by inviting the Pakistan cricket team to Dharamsala, was just a money-making organisation. Knowing that the government’s move has gone against him politically by using the martyrs’ name, the octogenarian Chief Minister has now come out openly against the cricket association, since it is headed by his arch political rivals, the Dhumal family. Anurag Thakur, Loksabha MP and Arun Dhumal, sons of former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal are the oice bearers of HPCA. Mr. Anurag Thakur is also the BCCI secretary.

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NATION

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

RUN-UP TO WORLD TB DAY

New medicine for drug-resistant TB launched

Nitish squirms as Bihar BJP MLAs return ‘oicial’ gifts

Bedaquiline to be introduced in 104 districts across 5 States, at 6 identified tertiary care centres

AMARNATH TEWARY

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

PATNA: Two Bihar legislators

‘China can show the way’

NEW DELHI: On the eve of World

Tuberculosis Day, Health Minister J.P. Nadda launched Bedaquiline — new drug for Drug Resistant TB — as part of the national programme. The drug will be introduced in 104 districts across five States. Speaking at a press briefing, Mr. Nadda said the “process of fighting TB is continuous. Hence there can be no dilution and no diversion. Our attention needs to be steadfast and aggressive.” The programme would not sufer on account of budgetary allocation. The new class of drug is a diarylquinoline that specifically targets Mycobacterial ATP synthase, an enzyme essential for the supply of energy to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and most other mycobacteria. Bedaquiline is being introduced at six tertiary care centres across India. These sites have advanced facilities for laboratory testing and intensive care for patients. Bedaquiline will be given to multidrug resistant TB patients with resistance to either all fluoroquinolone and/or all second line injectables and extensive drug resistant TB.

ROLI SRIVASTAVA

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J.P. Nadda inaugurating the ‘International Meeting for Ending TB’ in New Delhi on Monday. — PHOTO: PTI

The national programme will also benefit from the introduction of over 500 Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) machines — a revolutionary rapid molecular test which detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis and rifampicin drug resistance, simultaneously. This test is fully automated and provides results within two hours. It is a highly sensitive diagnostic tool and can be used in remote and rural areas without sophisticated infrastructure or specialised training. Emphasising on the need

for collective commitment from all stakeholders, B.P. Sharma, Union Health Secretary, said the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) was one of the most successful programmes. “The programme has made significant impact on prevalence and treatment of TB. The quality of treatment has to be even over the public and private sectors. It has to be well supported by a strong procurement so that it can be sustained till 2030. But we need new tools for diagnostics and new research,” Mr. Sharma said.

MUMBAI: India needs ‘Made in China’ lessons to tackle its tuberculosis burden, which is the highest in the world, says Dr. T. Jacob John, chairman of the New Delhi-based Child Health Foundation. Speaking to The Hindu from Vellore on Monday, Dr. John, who established the pulse polio immunisation three decades ago, said India must declare tuberculosis as a health emergency and tackle the disease on a warfooting. Failure to do so would make it an uncontrollable disease in the next three to five years. Tackling tuberculosis has to go beyond the realm of treatment and move to controlling it, Dr. John added. “Twenty-five years ago, the number of cases in India and China were on a par. But

China has brought down the numbers quite remarkably,” he said. China’s tuberculosis burden has gone down by half – the overall prevalence rate per 100,000 population dropping from 215 in 1990, to 108 in 2010. The rate of decline was 2.2 per cent a year between 1990 and 2000, and 4.7 per cent a year between 2000 and 2010, according to the World Health Organisation. India accounts for an estimated 2.2 million of the 8.6 million new TB cases that occur each year globally, and harbours more than double the cases as any other country, according to WHO. Dr. John stressed that the focus on treating TB alone cannot control the disease. “You need additional intervention, and an eiciently-run primary and secondary healthcare system, which we don’t have in India,” he said.

on Monday returned gifts including microwave ovens, trolley bags and other items given by diferent departments of the State government during the ongoing budget session of the Bihar legislature. The move has sparked a strong reaction from former chief minister and RJD leader Rabri Devi and her son Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, who said the BJP leaders were “playing politics” over the issue and dared them to return all gifts they had received over several years. Earlier, after media reports last week that Bihar’s legislators were being deluged with gifts, senior state BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said he and other party legislators would return the gifts to the government. On Monday, two of them did so. Mr Modi returned all seven gift items, including a microwave oven, at the Legislative Council counter and he also shot of a letter to the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar requesting him to stop this tradition of giving expensive gifts to the members of state legislator every year during the budget session and that “money should be spent on the development of the State”.

Kin of man jailed in BMC says Deonar dump site fire could Saudi Arabia seek be act of sabotage, to impose ban orders government help

BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi on way to return his gifts to the Bihar government in Patna on Monday.-- PHOTO: RANJEET KUMAR

Sources close to the Chief Minister later told The Hindu that he was unhappy over the political controversy on the issue and is said to have decided to do away with this practice. Meanwhile, the RJD

leader and former state chief minister Rabri Devi and her son Deputy CM Tejaswi Yadav have slammed the BJP leaders for “playing politics” over returning their gifts to the government.

Ten more States to come under food security scheme SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai

PETLEE PETER BENGALURU: “Please help bring

him back,” pleads a tearful Noor Jahan, mother of Abdul Sattar Makandar, the man from Dandeli in Karnataka, who was seen weeping in a video from Saudi Arabia. The video went viral on the Internet with more than a million views. He has been imprisoned by the Saudi police following the post, on charges of “spreading misinformation” online, even though the video was posted by social activists from Delhi. His mother added that Abdul’s wife, Rasheeda, and four children, including twins, are awaiting his return. Mr. Abdul left for Saudi Arabia in early 2014 to work as a driver at a construction engineering firm, Al Suroor United Group, in Al Khobar city. On March 12, a video featuring him weeping, alleging illtreatment by his employer, and pleading for help to return to India went viral on the Internet. Posted by social activist Kundan Srivastava from Delhi on Facebook, the video made headlines. Mayur S. Ahuja, a representative of Al Suroor United Group in said in an email to The Hindu that Abdul had been arrested by the Saudi po-

India gets ‘first’ gay marriage bureau AHMEDABAD: An Indian entrepreneur has set up what is claimed to be the country’s first gay marriage bureau, seeking to arrange matches for homosexual couples. Benhur Samson, who previously helped foreign gay couples use surrogacy services, said he founded the agency in response to interest from clients. “I was surprised to see the response from the gay people whom I came in touch with while counselling them on surrogacy,” he said. “This is how I came upon the idea of a marriage bureau for gay men and women who want to settle down with a partner,” he added. Mr. Samson, who lives in the United States, has enlisted the help of Manvendrasingh Gohil, an openly gay Indian prince, to help sort out immigration issues. “Several gay people of Indian origin wanted an arranged marriage and were looking for partners from India,” he said. “We already got over 200 enquiries and nearly two dozen people have enrolled with us,” Mr. Samson said. Enrolment costs $5,000, a high sum for most Indians, although the fee is refundable if no match is found. — AFP

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Abdul Makandar has been charged in Saudi Arabia under the Social Media Criminal Act

lice under the Social Media Criminal Act. “Makandar admitted to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution that he made this video to get an early vacation. He even told police that he is ready to post another video conveying the truth and apologising for the earlier one, but our management rejected it and decided to go as per the law. His custody has been extended in jail,” Mr. Ahuja said. Abdul’s family in Dandeli doesn’t know who to approach for his release, but has requested the Karnataka government and the Ministry of External Afairs to help get him back to India.

Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to impose prohibitory orders in areas around the Deonar dumping ground following fears that the raging fire at the waste site could have been a case of sabotage. Expressing his fear that the fire at Deonar is a result of sabotage, Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta on Monday said the process for initiating prohibitory orders under Section 144 to regulate law and order would be started at the earliest, even if it meant regulating rag-pickers and free movement of residents in and around the waste site. Terming it a “serious” issue, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Monday said that a two-member special team would be sent to investigate the incident. Mr. Javadekar, who held a telephonic conversation with the Commissioner of Mumbai on the issue, blamed the fire on the “callousness” of the contractors in charge of managing the dump yard and said action would be taken against the violators. However, Mr. Mehta said so far there was no concrete case for taking any action against the contractor. “We want to send out a strong message that a waste yard cannot be treated as a free moving thor-

Work in progress to douse the fire at the Deonar landfill area in Mumbai on Monday. — PHOTO: MUKESH TRIVEDI

oughfare by anyone. We fear sabotage and have registered a case with the local police in this regard,” he said. The fire at Deonar started again over the weekend, engulfing the residential areas in the vicinity under a thick cloud of smoke and smog. The corporation said the fire started on Sunday and was doused with the help of water cooling and fire safety measures this morning. The corporation has deployed 70 fire men, four fire engines at the site.

The corporation, Mr. Mehta said, had taken a slew of measures around the dumping ground, where the fire has been intermittently raging for days now. The BMC has also used the services of experts from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), who have suggested in their report to flatter out mountains of garbage at the site. White Paper sought Shiv Sena corporator Avkash Jadhav on Monday wrote to Municipal Commissioner

Ajoy Mehta demanding a White Paper on the dumping grounds in Mumbai. He also wanted a special investigation team to carry out an inquiry to fix accountability for the negligence. In his letter, Mr. Jadhav pointed out that the allocation for solid waste management in the municipal budget has been growing over the years, and Rs. 2,852 crore is the allocation for 2016-17. But, there is no visible development in the process of management.

AHMEDABAD: As many as 10

States are set to implement National Food Security Act (NFSA) from April 1, taking the total number of States covered under the subsidized food scheme to 21. “From April 1, 10 States, including Gujarat, are going to launch the food security programme and all preparations for the smooth launch have been made,” said Union Food and Civil Supply Minister Ram Vilas Paswan in Ahmedabad on Monday. The Minister held a review meeting with the oicials of the Gujarat government and Food Corporation of India (FCI) on how the subsidized food programme was being launched in the State. “When I took over as Minister, only 11 States had implemented the programme and in those States also, there were many issues and challenges. We have worked towards sorting out the issues and now more and more

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said that of the 24.18 crore ration cards in the country, 99 per cent have been digitised.

States are joining,” Mr. Paswan said. In the last two years, the Centre and the States have worked for digitization, linking ration cards with Aadhaar, computerization of PDS shops and supply chain network, which are required to implement the act nationally. “Of the 24.18 crore ration cards in the country, almost 99 per cent have been digitized while 48 per cent have been linked with Aadhaar cards,” the Minister said.

Ex-Minister faces Couple on an outing charges in waylaid by ‘forest oicial’ defamation case S. BHUAVANESHWARI TUMAKURU: In a shocking inci-

dent at Siddarabetta, about 30 km from Tumakuru, a couple was stripped and forced to walk naked on Sunday afternoon by a man wearing khaki pants and claiming to be a ‘forest oicer.’ The victims — an 18-year-old girl and a 23-year-old man — work at a private factory in Tumakuru. Their nightmare started around 1 p.m. on Sunday when the ‘forest oicer’ accosted them while they were sitting on a rock and threatened to have them arrested for indulging in “illegal activities”. After telling them that a police inspector was on his way to arrest them, the man, said to be in his twenties, snatched their wallet and mobile phones before leading them to a secluded area. There, he asked them to strip. While the young man accompanying the girl removed his clothes, the ‘oicer’ took the girl some distance away and asked her to disrobe herself. “He attempted to rape me near a cave,” the girl told The Hindu on Monday after filing a police complaint. She said she kicked him and attempted to escape, but the man grabbed her and pushed her of a rock. “I fell and hid behind a bush till Monday morn-

The man in khaki allegedly forced the woman and her friend to strip near Tumakuru ing,” she said. The girl, separated from her friend, spent the night alone in the forest. In the morning, she covered herself with some branches and leaves, and found her way to Bandehalli village about 4 km away. The villagers gave her a gunny bag and later some clothes. Confirming the case, Additional Superintendent of Police G.B. Manjunath said: “The man in khaki dress threatened the couple and asked them to disrobe with the intention of making sure they don’t get help from the public. The girl and her friend are not sure if he managed to film them using his mobile phone.” However, Deputy Conservator of Forests N.V. Amarnath said he had not been apprised of the matter. “I will check and also ask the forest guards in Siddarabetta to watch the area carefully,” he said. The Koratagere police have registered a case of attempt to rape, and the girl has undergone a medical examination.

against Hazare SHOUMOJIT BANERJEE PUNE: The Pune district and sessions court on Monday directed that charges be framed against the former Maharashtra Minister, Suresh Jain, now in jail in the Rs.169-crore Jalgaon housing scam, in a defamation case he had filed against anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare in 2003. Jain, then an MLA of the Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party and Food and Civil Supplies Minister, took on Mr. Hazare after the activist levelled corruption charges against him. Mr. Jain had filed two complaints against Mr. Hazare — one in Jalgaon and the other in Mumbai — on June 5, 2003 and June 23, 2003. Later, Jain alleged that Mr. Hazare had misappropriated funds from the Sant Yadavbaba Trust Shikshan Prasarak Mandali. Later that year, Mr. Hazare filed a defamation suit against Mr. Jain in a Pune court under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code. In 2011, Mr. Hazare approached the Bombay High Court seeking the quashing of the defamation cases filed against him by Jain, who had joined the Shiv Sena by then. ND-ND

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EDITORIAL

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Honour killings are a separate horror Shankar, the young Dalit engineering student brutally murdered in full public view at Udumalpet in Tirupur district, Tamil Nadu, is a martyr in the BRINDA fight against the caste system. The countless young men, a KARAT large number of them Dalit, and the young women, their chosen partners, most of them caste Hindus, killed or injured like [his wife] Kausalya, whose lives have been destroyed because they dared to love across caste and community, should also be thought of as martyrs, as heroes. B.R. Ambedkar had said in the context of a discussion on inter-caste marriages: “Political tyranny is nothing compared to social tyranny and a reformer, who defies society, is a much more courageous man than a politician who defies government.” Shankar may not have been a conscious reformer, but he and numerous others challenged social tyranny and in doing so lost their lives. They held up the mirror to the real dishonourable face of Indian democracy, tainted, scarred, coloured by the toxins generated by the caste system, often combined with the inequalities created by class exploitation and the deeply embedded patriarchal notions and practices of control over a woman, her mind, her body, her sexuality. Occurring typically at the intersection of the three Cs, caste, class and control over a woman, honour crimes have been described by the Supreme Court as “barbaric, brutal, committed by bigoted persons with feudal minds”.

India needs a strong law that will aford protection to self-choice partnerships and punish those who in the name of honour and tradition seek to obliterate that right. Yet government after government has dithered over it

A sustained state of denial Yet in spite of the increase in the number of crimes in the name of honour, in spite of judgments and expressions of outrage in courts across India, successive governments have displayed criminal negligence in their approach to these crimes. There is no definition of the crime, no legal recognition of the various aspects of the crime, no protections legally aforded to couples in self-choice partnerships, no measures to prevent such crimes, no accountability, no punishment. And additionally, since there is no legal recognition of the crime, there are no statistics available. In the records of the National Crime Records Bureau, such crimes do not exist. During the Vajpayee regime, the state of de-

honour crimes. In July 2009, in a calling attention motion, members across party lines spoke on the issue of honour crimes and supported the demand for a separate law. In response, the then Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, said: “I think the demand for a special law is the one that has been made most eloquently. But I am afraid that it is a very simple demand… the answer is not to make another law. Whatever law we make, honour killing is murder… I would look into this whether we can define honour killing, but prima facie I am not sure whether that will take us very far.” Although words of condemnation were spoken in recognition of the crime, the operational part as far as policy was concerned,

V.

tuesday, march 22, 2016

Back to the Hindutva basics n the opening day of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s two-day national executive meeting on March 19, president Amit Shah set the tone not just for the deliberations but also for the approaching Assembly elections. The battle lines between the nationalist and anti-national forces, according to him, had already been drawn. The theme was picked up by other senior leaders — Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Ravi Shankar Prasad — stressing that while political opposition and dissent were acceptable, neither anti-national activity nor slogans would be permitted in the name of freedom of speech. Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched on the subject only briefly on the second day: while saying that the BJP had always given primacy to nationalism and patriotism, he instead chose to expand on issues of governance, stressing that the party’s mool mantar should be “development, development and development”. The BJP also used the occasion to target the Congress, portraying it as “anti-national”. Mr. Shah took Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi to task for standing in solidarity with those who had shouted allegedly “anti-national slogans” on the Jawaharlal Nehru University campus. He said it was hypocritical of a party that had imposed the Emergency, crushing the freedom of the press and ordinary citizens, to lecture others on freedom of expression. Finally, the political resolution concluded by stressing that “the BJP remains the only political party where a person without any ‘illustrious’ pedigree or connections can rise to the very top of the party” — yet another swipe at the Congress. The BJP may have aggressively trained its guns on the Congress over the weekend at its first national executive meeting after its defeat in Bihar last year, but it is clear that its electoral setbacks and its failure to fix the economy are forcing it back to its basics of divisive communalism. There was a clear tension visible as the BJP sought to balance its development slogan with a return to its time-tested Hindutva line, though now clothed in the national tricolour. The political resolution adopted on the last day of the session described nationalism as an “article of faith”, and claimed that upholding the primacy of the slogan of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” was a “reiteration of our constitutional obligation as citizens”. The gap between pronouncements by Mr. Modi and those around him, as well in the wider Sangh Parivar, would suggest that either he is not in control or he believes that this Janus-faced, seemingly contradictory, approach will help him polarise political discourse to the BJP’s advantage even as he retains plausible deniability by remaining above the fray, ready to battle another day. Indeed, the resolution described Mr. Modi as a “beacon of hope and trust”, while Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu called him a “gift from god” and a “messiah”. So, while Mr. Modi speaks of development, the cry by others of “Bharat Mata ki Jai”, with its dog-whistle invocation of a majoritarian agenda, will be a call to the safron storm troopers.

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nial was public knowledge. Such crimes occurred in Pakistan and other Islamic countries, it was said, not in India. S.S. Ahluwalia, present MP of the Bharatiya Janata Party, was the Indian representative at the UN’s Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee discussing the Special Rapporteur’s report on violence against women. On instructions of the government, he contested the mention of honour killings in India. Women’s organisations strongly protested against this blatant falsehood, but there were no corrections made. It took another five years of struggle to at least get the issue heard in Parliament. For the first time there was a discussion in the Rajya Sabha, initiated by the Left, on the issue of

from the side of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, was only marginally better than that of the Vajpayee government. Mr. Chidambaram, too, in essence continued the regime of legal leniency towards this crime. However, with direct reference to the discussion in the Rajya Sabha and the sustained eforts of the Left parties, the issue was referred to the Law Ministry, which came up with a set of recommendations in 2010 called “The Indian Penal Code and Certain Other Laws Amendment Bill 2010”. In keeping with the flawed understanding expressed by Mr. Chidambaram, the Ministry proposed a piecemeal approach which dealt only with the crime of honour-related murders, not any

If we do not have such a law, it is because vote-bank politics, that requires the appeasement of the most retrograde social forces such as those who lead the orthodox caste panchayats, supersedes the responsibility of those in government to protect the constitutional and democratic rights of citizens. of the other torture faced by young couples. There were other serious infirmities in the draft. As expected, the weakness of the draft gave a reluctant government the further opportunity to shelve the discussion by referring it to a Group of Ministers (GoM), the famous UPA strategy to postpone a decision. In any case, those amendments would have done more harm than good. Long road to legal protection In August 2010, the legal cell of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) headed by Kirti Singh, in consultation with many women’s organisations and individuals, drafted a comprehensive law entitled “The

CARTOONSCAPE

Forging unity by force of crisis here is hardly any element that is not contentious or controversial in the agreement that the European Union (EU) has struck with Turkey to stem the flow of thousands of mostly Syrian migrants and refugees on to its shores. It could not have been otherwise, given the intra-EU divisions on a collective approach to the current refugee crisis and staunch domestic opposition to Ankara’s entry into the EU. Despite Turkey’s long-standing bid for membership in the bloc, bolstered by its strong secular, liberal and democratic credentials and geographic contiguity, ties between Ankara and Brussels have not been the most cordial in recent years. Turkey’s record on human rights under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, exemplified by the systematic suppression of freedom of expression and ill-treatment of the country’s Kurdish minorities, has drawn strong condemnation from EU leaders. Now the bloc has promised once again to revive negotiations on a specific aspect of Ankara’s protracted accession process, in return for the admission of Syrian refugees from Greece. But the motivation to open talks on a relatively minor element of the package, frozen at one point, is itself meant to paper over a more fundamental objection, from Cyprus, to Turkey’s EU membership. Nicosia has vetoed EU-entry talks unless and until Ankara accords formal recognition to the Greek-Cypriot administration. That is seen to be critical for the reunification prospects of the island state, divided during the 1974 war with Turkey. Another curious component of the deal is the EU decision to advance the date for the liberalisation of visas to Turkish nationals. The concession comes at a time when the EU’s Schengen passport-free travel zone, the most visible symbol of the founding principles of the Union, is already under considerable strain as a consequence of the refugee crisis. Notable in this regard are recent unilateral moves by Austria and Hungary to seal borders along the Balkans, not without causing some embarrassment to Berlin, but intended to contain the fallout of Germany’s more accommodative stance on migration. Then there is the decision whereby every new migrant reaching Greece via the Aegean Sea would be turned over to Turkey, in exchange for Ankara transferring one to the EU but with the total subject to a limit. Human rights groups have criticised the move as being both immoral and illegal. Athens has to contend with the fresh logistics and administrative challenges of turning back migrants on top of an already explosive situation. For Ankara, the diiculties centre on its readiness to extend protection for migrants from other nationalities, in addition to Syrians, on the lines of the Geneva Conventions. This is an area where the EU would tread cautiously in view of its strained relations with Turkey in recent years. If the agreement is to be received more favourably than it was when sealed, the parties would have to display sagacity in their diplomatic dealings, and sensitivity on the humanitarian front during its implementation.

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letters emailed to [email protected] must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.

Uttarakhand crisis

Criticism of the nation

First it was nature’s fury that shook Uttarakhand in the form of environmental devastation and a heavy toll of human lives. Now it is muscle and money power that has created a political crisis (“Speaker issues show-cause notice to Uttarakhand’s rebel Cong. MLAs”, March 21). The indecorous move by the ruling party seeking to do away with the Harish Rawat government is perhaps a consequence of the setbacks the BJP faced in Delhi and Bihar. The fate of Uttarakhand is now in the hands of the BJP. The Congress vice-president is right in his assessment of the situation (“Rahul blames BJP for Uttarakhand crisis”, March 21).

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stated that “criticism of the nation is not acceptable” and that “freedom of expression does not cover calls to destroy the country” (March 21), but without being transparent about what has given rise to such remarks. ‘Criticism of the nation’, ‘patriotism’ and ‘nationalism’ are being loosely and vaguely used by the ruling party and its followers in order to target critics. The BJP should realise that the nation and patriotism cannot be linked to supporting its ideologies and viewpoints alone. Trying to mule dissent is unacceptable in a democracy and will gradually lead to an authoritarian state.

N. Visveswaran, Chennai

G. Radhakrishnan, Thiruvananthapuram

Is it a strange coincidence that three Congress-ruled States — Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Uttarakhand — are now facing rebellion in their party units? Is it some kind of planning by the BJP to destabilise the Congress just before the Assembly elections? When will the anti-defection law take efect?

If one criticises the nation and the way it is being run, it is due to bad policies, its economic status and defence preparedness. The way the so-called debate on nationalism is taking shape is already sending out the wrong signals. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right under the Constitution which cannot be tampered with or curtailed. The current leadership of the BJP must note that the strange thoughts it is now espousing never even remotely entered the minds of leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee or L.K. Advani.

Vinay Kumar, Ludhiana

A crisis in Arunachal Pradesh followed by one in Manipur and now Uttarakhand is strange. One sees a sinister pattern emerging. The way the BJP went about wresting power from the Congress in Arunachal Pradesh is a reminder of what is in store for Uttarakhand, an unfortunate scenario given that the Narendra Modi government espouses the ideals of cooperative federalism. It also highlights institutional weaknesses in our anti-defection law. We have to find a way to curb opportunistic tendencies by some politicians who have no respect for democratic principles and the mandate. Amritpal Singh, Amritsar

Prevention of Crimes in the Name of Honour and Tradition Bill” and gave it to the government. The Bill defines honour crimes in relation to a violation of the rights of the couple. It reads, “All persons including young persons and women have the right to control their own lives, a right to liberty and freedom of expression, and a right of association, movement and bodily integrity. Every man and woman has a right to choose her/his own partner in marriage or otherwise and any action listed below to prevent the exercise of this right shall amount to an ofence under the provisions of this Bill.” The Bill goes on to list the various types of crime, in addition to murder; it suggests preventive measures, it provides for punishment of varying degrees, it includes khap panchayats or other bodies acting in the name of caste or community, it ensures accountability of the police and administration. Based on the experiences of women’s organisations actually dealing with the issues, the Bill covers all aspects. The Bill was supported by the National Commission of Women, then headed by Girija Vyas, which gave a similarly named Bill to the government. But in spite of the united efforts of the Commission and women’s organisations, neither the GoM nor Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was approached several times on the issue, cared to take it forward. Two years later, in August 2012, the Law Commission of India, to which a reference had also been made by the government, brought out its own version of the Bill in its 242nd report. Although it stated that its draft was closer to the one submitted by the National Commission of Women, in fact it was extremely narrow and conservative in its approach. Entitled “Prohibition of Unlawful Assembly (Interference with the Freedom of Matrimonial Alliances) Bill, 2011”, the Bill dealt primarily with the “unlawful assemblies” called by caste panchayats to prevent a self-choice marriage. Obviously this was a far cry from the actual realities which needed to be addressed. But it is this Bill which was sent by the government for consultation with the States. A few months after the advent of the Modi government, an AIDWA delegation met Law Minister Sadananda Gowda on the issue. He seemed to be against having any law at all, commenting that it was liable for misuse “just like Section 498A [of the Indian Penal Code, relating to dowry harassment and domestic violence]”. In August 2015, his Ministry sent a letter stating that they were still awaiting the responses of the State governments to the recommendations of the Law Commission. And that is where it stands. One step forward, two steps back. India needs a law, a strong law that will aford protection to selfchoice partnerships and punish those who in the name of honour and tradition seek to obliterate that right. If we do not have such a law, it is because vote-bank politics, that requires the appeasement of the most retrograde social forces such as those who lead the orthodox caste panchayats, supersedes the responsibility of those in government, or for that matter any who aspire to be in government, to protect the constitutional and democratic rights of citizens. Dr. Ambedkar had resigned as Law Minister in protest against the dilution of women’s rights in the Hindu Code Bill. In his 125th birth anniversary year, the tragedy is that the actions of successors to his post mock at his legacy. (Brinda Karat is a member of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau and a former member of the Rajya Sabha.)

G.M. Rama Rao, Visakhapatnam

It comes as no surprise that the BJP national executive meet was on expected lines. While burning issues like the non-performing asset conundrum facing banks, drought in many parts of the country and a discernible slowdown in the economy were conveniently brushed aside, the so-called nationalism debate assumed centre stage. When the BJP considers any criticism of the government as amounting to criticism of the

nation, how can it claim that it is tolerant of political criticism? The ploy of the BJP over the years has been to divert attention by raking up controversy. With the government on course to complete two years in oice, how long will it be content to crow about there being nil corruption? The people are still waiting for ‘achche din’. J. Anantha Padmanabhan, Tiruchi

Venkaiah Naidu’s remark It is unbecoming of the BJP leadership to be spewing venom at the Congress at every opportunity. It is also too early to be calling Narendra Modi “a messiah” before the BJP finds ways and means to win the upcoming Assembly elections, work out a solution to the JNU episode, fulfil its manifesto promise in the general election of bringing back black money stashed abroad, and learn lessons from the party’s humiliating defeat in Bihar (“Modi is God’s gift to India”, March 21). One cannot help but note that other BJP leaders have not followed Mr. M. Venkaiah Naidu’s line of flattery. E.S. Chandrasekaran, Chennai

Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu’s description and coinage of a new acronym, ‘MODI’, reminds one of the slogan “Indira is India and India is Indira” uttered by then Congress President D.K. Barooah during the Emergency. Is too much to expect equanimity, composure, discretion and level-headedness from our leaders? Hero worship, abject loyalty and subservience in political parties have caused irreparable damage to our democracy. Equating the state with any individual is despicable and abhorrent. C.G. Kuriakose, Kothamangalam, Kerala

Mr. Naidu seems to be the new D.K. Barooah. His citing the wax statue of Mr. Modi as a measure of one’s popularity is a childish comparison.

It is conceded that the BJP government may be trying to find ways to shed criticism after being embroiled in controversies but such statements show that there is a clear erosion of credibility. P.R.V. Raja, Pandalam, Kerala

I thought the times of extreme sycophancy that was the patented craft of the Congress were thankfully over. But I never knew that the BJP too has its own battery of flatterers. In feudal times, there were professional singers on the state’s payrolls to sing hymns in praise of the kings. In her heyday, Indira Gandhi was likened to “Durga Ma”, “Shakti” and “Kali”. Down south, a party functionary once lamented that while his party supremo deserved to be the “World’s President”, the call of duty to serve the State first had forced his leader to sacrifice the coveted post. Party loyalists going berserk while drawing analogies is not new to Indian politics. Once when my bank’s chairman was to visit my branch, my branch head went to the extent of garlanding the MD’s picture. A surprised chief chided my manager with the words, “Do it after I am gone.” The poor soul did not decipher the import of the comment and instantly removed the garland only to replace it after the chairman had “gone” out of the premises. Sycophancy! Thy name is India. S. Vasudevan, Chennai

Obama in Cuba The initial overtures that U.S. President Barack Obama has made towards Cuba have already become an important part of his presidential record (‘World’ page– “Excitement high ahead of Obama’s visit”, March 21). The fact that his White House legacy is increasingly being defined largely on the foreign, rather than domestic, policy front replicates a relatively common pattern for re-

elected Presidents in recent decades. Since his 2012 re-election, Mr. Obama has achieved very little domestic policy success in the face of Republican resistance. For instance, his gun control bill was defeated and looks exceptionally unlikely to be rejuvenated despite semi-regular mass shootings across the country; comprehensive immigration reform has floundered in the face of concerted opposition; and the prospect of a long-term budgetary ‘grand bargain’ with Congress has all but disappeared. Taken overall, Mr. Obama has, like some other re-elected Presidents in the post-War era, found it diicult to secure major domestic policy momentum. His legacy will therefore rest heavily on foreign afairs, and the controversial Cuba opening will form a key part of this with the Iran nuclear deal and potentially the Trans-Pacific Partnership too. Andrew Hammond, London

Indian working women Women who are ambitious and passionate about their careers have to make many sacrifices as from the time of marriage to childbirth and much later they hardly find relief from responsibilities like childcare and home management (‘Business Bottomline’ page – “‘Daughterly guilt’ haunts Indian working women”, March 21). This is because in a country like India — and despite making noises about gender equality — men are not trained in household duties and a woman is forced to do almost everything. The erosion of the joint family system has also destroyed supportive facilities for a woman. If employers really care about retaining eicient women staf even after childbirth, they should enable the provision of day-care centres on their premises, ‘flexi-time’ opportunities and ‘work from home’ facilities. Rameeza A. Rasheed, Chennai ND-ND

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

DIPLOMATIC LICENCE

Adding gloss to ties with Saudi Arabia SUHASINI HAIDER

Elevating ties In bilateral terms, Mr. Modi’s Riyadh stop has numerous possibilities. The first is the elevation of ties between the two countries that Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir spoke of during his visit to Delhi earlier this month. This involves upgrading three key agreements — the energy security partnership of 2008, the strategic partnership of 2010 (which has included robust anti-terror cooperation), and the defence partnership of 2014, signed just months before the Modi government was sworn in — and melding them to form the basis of a new relationship. The second possibility, which is equally important, is improving the trade and investment relationship. Bilateral trade at about $40 billion (lower this year because of falling oil prices) must be built beyond its current oil dependence, say oicials, and India is keen to see Saudi investments in India on a par with its expectations from the United Arab Emirates. Perhaps this is why Mr. Modi has chosen to stop at Riyadh first, even though he had committed to visiting two of Saudi Arabia’s rivals, Israel and Iran, at the earliest. Finally, there are emerging avenues for partnerships that the two countries want to explore. As oil revenues are lower, Saudi Arabia is keen to project itself as a ‘kingdom of dreams’, a hub for manufacturing and technology. In particular, the Saudi government is pitching its mega project, the King Abdullah Economic City, with a deep-sea port as a connector between the East and the West, and wants India to see it as a gateway to its new forays into Africa. Given that nearly half of India’s seven million-strong Gulf diaspora works in Saudi Arabia, with families back in India dependent on them, India is keen to see new jobs created for them. It is no secret that both countries would like to move away from the conventional image of exploited Indian labourers living in regimented Saudi labour camps. “This is far from the reality of the three million-plus Indians who live and work in Saudi Arabia,” says former Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Talmiz Ahmad. “Many of them are top-end engineers and managers in Saudi projects, and it is unfortunate that a few horrific incidents and criminal acts involving Indians are extrapolated to represent the whole reality.” The truth is that recent negative reports — of a housemaid’s hand being severed in Saudi Arabia allegedly by her employer, or of the Saudi diplomat accused of keeping maids as sexual slaves in Delhi — have cast a shadow on ties, and had forced the Prime Minister to put of his visit to Riyadh more than once. Instead, both governments want to add a more positive and modern gloss to their ties. It is no coincidence that scientific and mathematical collaborations between Indian and Saudi Arabian researchers have seen the sharpest increase in the past few years.

Both governments want to add positivity to their ties even as the Kingdom's relationships with Pakistan and the U.S. are under a strain

Geopolitical signals Mr. Modi’s visit will be watched most closely for its geopolitical signalling. In the subcontinent, it comes a year after ties between Saudi Arabia and its closest ally Pakistan were strained, when the Pakistani Parliament shot down a request to send troops to boost Saudi action in Yemen (which has left more than 3,000 dead). In contrast, during a telephone call to negotiate for Indian ships and planes to evacuate citizens, Prime Minister Modi went as far as to commend Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and hope for a quick resolution of the region’s challenges “under [King Salman’s] leadership”. Since then, Pakistan has made many attempts to make amends, but the refusal to join the Yemen bombing campaign as well as some ambivalence on joining the Saudi-led coalition to fight the Islamic State have afected what was once seen as the most closely woven relationship. In the run-up to Mr. Modi’s visit, Pakistani newspapers have written about the disquiet in Islamabad over closer India-Saudi ties, suggesting that the sudden trip by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief General Raheel Sharif to the Kingdom earlier this month was an attempt at reassurance rather than the military exercises they viewed together there. Ties with the U.S., the Kingdom’s strongest international ally, are under a strain, as the Saudi government battles allegations of funding IS fighters even as it watches its arch-rival Iran bask in new-found international acceptance. Stung by this shifting narrative, the Kingdom’s most prominent diplomat Prince Turki bin Faisal recently wrote an angry article published in Arab papers titled “Mr. Obama, we are not ‘free riders’”. “Is it because you have pivoted to Iran so much that you equate the Kingdom’s 80 years of constant friendship with America to an Iranian leadership that continues to describe America as the biggest enemy,” he asked, listing what he claimed was Iran’s support to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, even as he admitted that Saudi Arabia trains and funds Syrian “freedom fighters”. Saudi Arabia’s other major ally China is attempting a similar shift. To the surprise of many, President Xi Jinping added Iran to his tour of Saudi Arabia and Egypt in January. While oil reserves were the currency of the past, connectivity is seen as the coinage for power in the future, and China’s entire focus at present is on the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative. Iran plays a major part in OBOR as a connector to Central Asia as well as West Asia, not Saudi Arabia. It is against this backdrop that Mr. Modi is trying to shore up ties with Saudi Arabia. It will be a visit high on potential, but in a region that is equally high on tensions, the Prime Minister will have to walk a tightrope. [email protected]

FROM THE ARCHIVES (dated March 22, 1966)

The Home Minister, Mr. G.L. Nanda announced in Parliament to-day [March 21, New Delhi] that “the Government of India has decided to accept in principle that the present State of

Punjab be reorganised on a linguistic basis”. Mr. Nanda said that this decision was taken by the Government after giving “careful thought to the recommendation” of the Committee of Members of Parliament headed by the Speaker, Mr. Hukam Singh.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS >>In “Charges of bias: how the UPA regimes were covered” (From The Readers’ Editor column, March 21, 2016), the opening sentence erroneously gave the date of publication of an earlier column – “Investigating the charges of bias” – as May 7, 2016. It should have been March 7, 2016. >>Two sentences in “PDP accuses BJP of betrayal as mifed Mehbooba returns” (March 20, 2016) read: “However, government formation hit a dead end on Saturday when Ms. Mufti took exception to the preposition of the BJP before her meeting with Mr. Modi. PDP sources revealed that the preposition made by the BJP was “completely unacceptable” to Ms. Mufti.” The appropriate word in both instances is proposal. >>In the chess story, “Karjakin, Aronian stay ahead” (March 20, 2016), the report and results pertained to the seventh round and not eighth as given. It is the policy of The Hindu to correct significant errors as soon as possible. Please specify the edition (place of publication), date and page. The Readers’ Editor’s oice can be contacted by Telephone: +91-44-28418297/28576300 (11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday); E-mail: [email protected] The Terms of Reference for the Readers’ Editor are on www.thehindu.com CM YK

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Why AMU should be an exception There is no reason why the initiative to have AMU campuses in the States should be thwarted because of some legal or technical hurdles. It is now a question of the future of students N.R. MADHAVA MENON

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon visit Brussels, Washington and Riyadh. While the visit to Belgium to attend the European Union-India summit and announce the restart of Free Trade Agreement negotiations is long overdue, and the visit to the U.S. for the Nuclear Security Summit is an old calendar commitment, it is the visit to Saudi Arabia that makes the loudest statement on Mr. Modi’s foreign policy agenda this year.

Centre decides to divide Punjab

PERSPECTIVE

Every institution of higher learning develops its own character and identity based on its history, leadership, scholarship and student body. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), which occupies a unique place among pre-Independence universities in India, carries an identity which depicts the idea of India in its character of pluralism, inclusiveness and unity in diversity. It may or may not be a minority institution in the strict legal sense, but it is an institution for minorities fully financed by the Indian state which showcases how minorities are treated in the Republic even after the forced Partition of the country based on religion. A vehicle for community uplift Like the author of this essay, thousands of non-Muslims who could not have access to higher education in the so-called leading universities in the country were attracted to Aligarh because of its low cost, excellent academic ambience and equal opportunities provided for learning and research. For several decades, AMU continued to be the destination for Muslims from all over India seeking higher education, with the result one finds many of them in leadership positions in nationbuilding activities across the country and beyond. In Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and a few other States, every educated Muslim has some link or the other with AMU which, in turn, helped to fulfil the mission of Sir Syed Ahmad Khan, the founder of AMU, to uplift the community from backwardness and isolation. I would argue that if a large section of Muslims refused to migrate to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and preferred to stay back in secular India, it is partly because of the influence of AMU education on them and their families. Thus perceived, AMU requires special treatment in the Indian scheme of things. The liberal democratic polity India adopted provided abundant space to test its strengths and weaknesses. Despite having paid a heavy price, India stood by its ideals and endeavoured to cultivate an inclusive society based on democratic values, showing to the world that diversity can be a virtue in peaceful development and coexistence. If this analysis still holds good, one need not get upset by occasional manifestations of extremism and distrust raising its ugly head in campuses, including Aligarh. To be fair, AMU has been relatively peaceful and free from extremist activities for several years now though it also had its share of violence in the past. One may recall an ugly incident from the

should be able to get the objectives of the two sides accomplished to each others’ satisfaction. Like every other Aligarian, I was happy when the President, as the Visitor of the university, allowed AMU to set up campuses in West Bengal, Bihar and Kerala where the respective State governments — realising the potential it holds for minorities’ education in their States — liberally made land grants. The brand name has its own value; but the quality of education and character of the institution depend on the local leadership and the relationship it builds with the parent university. The beginning in Malappuram in Kerala, where it got over 300 acres of prime land, was impressive and promising. Students across all communities applied in large numbers for its programmes despite the fact that classes were to be held in rented buildings. Contract teachers assembled hurriedly worked “It is clear that AMU is an institution of national importance and should be treated as under a curriculum set by the Aligarh facsuch by the Central and State governments.” Picture shows women outside the ulty that wasn’t customised to local rewomen’s college in Aligarh Muslim University. — PHOTO: R.V. MOORTHY quirements. Yet learning went on, examinations were held and programmes 1960s to illustrate the point. A distin- plied at heavily subsidised prices by the completed on schedule, giving the messguished diplomat from an aristocratic fam- university and gets equal access to all facil- age that AMU is capable of imparting qualily and a personal friend of the then Prime ities on campus. The teacher-student rela- ity higher education anywhere in the Minister was the Vice Chancellor. The fac- tionship is exemplary. Of course, the stu- country. There is no reason why the initiative ulty and the students broadly belonged to dent body is predominantly Muslim and three segments, one group communally in- that is what it was meant to be; but no meri- should be thwarted because of some legal clined and active, another group Left-ori- torious student is excluded on the ground or technical hurdles. It is now a question of ented and ideologically motivated, and a that she is not a Muslim. Given the fact that the future of thousands of students and the third neutral group devoted mainly to aca- there is inadequate representation of Mus- prestige of a great university which has esdemic pursuits. A rumour floated that the lims in many universities outside, it is not tablished its credentials in higher educanew Vice Chancellor was handpicked by surprising why AMU’s staf and students tion for almost a century. After all, State the Central government to compromise are predominantly Muslims and that too governments have invested in the venture the perceived minority character of the in- from the lower income groups. The uni- and people everywhere have supported it. stitution. Aligarh being a small town and versity is a source of livelihood to thou- Given the fact that the representation of the largest mithe university the only dominant public in- sands of poor Musnority group in stitution in the city, rumours emerging lim groups in the The government can treat higher educafrom the university got quick currency in neighbourhood. It is clear that every home. One day when the Executive AMU differently from others by tion is still very there is no Council was in session, a section of stu- AMU is an instituacknowledging the university's low, reason why the dents led by the union president barged in- tion of national imunique character as part of Central governto the hall, disrupted the meeting, assault- portance and should ment should ed the Vice Chancellor and physically be treated as such by its policy of inclusion not be equally dragged him out, hitting him mercilessly. the Central and State All this happened near one of the hostels of governments. Of course, there is scope for enthusiastic and encourage it as it has done which I was the warden. Subsequent negotiated settlement of friction points before. Of course, the present role of AMU events proved that there was no substance which arise from time to time. The univer- in these campuses is that of an incubator to the rumour and that it had been orches- sity stands to gain monetarily and other- and eventually they must become indetrated by a few extremist elements to ad- wise if it has minority status. Even without pendent universities possibly competing vance their own agenda of having monopo- that, the government can treat it diferently with AMU for quality and excellence in from others acknowledging its unique scholarship. It is also not necessary that all ly control over the institution. character in the government’s policy of in- campuses outside Aligarh should be alike A university that doesn’t discriminate clusion which is manifest in the slogan in structure, programmes and manageSuch instances happen on other cam- “sabka saath, sabka vikas”. The university ment. They can develop through publicpuses as well and things return to normal on its part should recognise its social re- private partnerships as institutions of exwhen facts are brought to light. In my sev- sponsibility under the Constitution by giv- cellence primarily catering to higher eduen years at Aligarh, initially as a postgradu- ing preference in admission to Scheduled cation needs of minorities and backward ate scholar and later as a member of the Caste/Scheduled Tribe groups and back- classes, paving the way for inclusive develfaculty, I never experienced any discrimi- ward sections across communities. A opment of all sections. nation whatsoever and received friendship memorandum of understanding between (N.R. Madhava Menon is a legal and respect from all sections of the AMU the university and the government with an educator, Chancellor of two Central family. Everyone eats the same food sup- oversight body representing the two sides universities, and an alumnus of AMU.)

‘Commonwealth is a great global good’ Outgoing Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma explains why the organisation is more relevant now than ever before

particularly, you can be thrown back, and then the distinction between a low-income and middle-income state becomes very thin. For middle-income states in the Pacific and Caribbean, one typhoon or hurricane puts them back 10 to 15 years.” The Commonwealth set up programmes to cover financial risks faced by small states in trading, like the multilateral debt swap and the Climate Finance Access hub. Meanwhile, digitisation has made the slogan “round the clock and round the world” possible for the Commonwealth through a programme called Commonwealth Connects. Several programmes have grown exponentially. One of them is Common Health, a dedicated Web platform to advance public health and the leading health hub after the World Health Organisation. Mr. Sharma argued that the Commonwealth today leads in citizen and governance initiatives — whether in the fields of climate change, youth development, health, and electoral oversight.

PARVATHI MENON

As he prepares to hand over the leadership of the Commonwealth after eight years in the driver’s seat, Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma is of the view that the Commonwealth is more relevant than ever before, with “its face turned firmly to the future”, despite what doomsters say. With a charter crafted under his guidance and accepted by the 53 members of the Commonwealth in 2012, the organisation has become an incubator for big-ticket ideas such as the Multilateral Debt Swap for Climate Action adopted at the last Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta. “The Commonwealth is not a boutique organisation; it is a great global good. And because of its composition, if the Commonwealth can agree on something important, it is already a prototype of a global idea,” said Mr. Sharma in an interview with The Hindu in his oice in Marlborough House, the grand 300-year-old building that houses the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. The Commonwealth charter The importance of the Commonwealth charter — Mr. Sharma called its adoption a “watershed” that emerged after widespread consultation including with civil society — arises not just for the message and goals it envisions but also because it represents a political carte blanche from 53 member states to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which is tasked with assessing and dealing with serious or persistent violations of the core values represented in the charter. “One thing I have been careful about as Secretary-General is to work after political clearance is available from the heads of government. Otherwise, you will spend a lot of time doing things with very uncertain prospects,” he said. “So, I spent two years in the CMAG getting that clearance and then we spent two years in determining what these goals can be. Member states agreed that these are no longer en-

Kamalesh Sharma at the Commonwealth service in Westminster Abbey in London. — PHOTO: REUTERS

I made five visits to Sri Lanka, but you can’t keep on talking about it in public for the reason that work has to be done below the radar to carry political conviction. The results become visible at the end tirely internal matters to discuss within the Commonwealth as opportunity ofers, but in a very formal way in which we can be held to performance.” The 16-point charter makes it incumbent on member states to hold free, fair and credible elections; ensure the separation of the powers of the executive, legislature and judiciary; ensure the independence of the judiciary; provide space for an opposition and civil society to function freely; and give the media a level playing field to function in. Mr. Sharma agreed that the role of the CMAG has been considerably strengthened during his tenure because of the

charter guidelines. “It is an evolving body,” he said. Many countries have come on the agenda of the CMAG. Most recently, it gave the Maldives government a one-month ultimatum to begin talks with the opposition in the country. “You have to make sure that progress is real. Good oices continue, the Secretary-General will be sending a special envoy to see that progress is maintained. But the fact that these visits have been accepted by the Maldives is a positive sign, and at the spring meeting of the CMAG, the government will submit a report on where they are and what progress has been made,” he said. Mr. Sharma pointed out that other multilateral agencies have adopted some of the ideas developed within the Commonwealth. “Take the concept of resilience and vulnerability of economies, an idea developed after I came,” he said. “We have to go beyond the notion of least developed countries graduating into middle-income countries because that is too static. In an interdependent world, where exogenous shocks can upset you, whether it is fuel prices, or food prices, or financial crises… or even natural disasters for small states

Handling criticism Criticism of the Commonwealth’s role and Mr. Sharma’s leadership peaked in the lead-up to CHOGM 2013 in Sri Lanka. Human rights groups and pro-Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organisations in Britain accused him of soft-pedalling the human rights abuses of the Rajapaksa regime, which in turn led to some heads of government boycotting the meeting. Mr. Sharma dismissed this criticism. “The most important point about the Commonwealth is that it engages with member states to advance the values template,” he said. “I made five visits to Sri Lanka, but you can’t keep on talking about it in public for the reason that work has to be done below the radar to carry political conviction. The results become visible at the end.” He started the practice of issuing departure statements so that citizens were clear about why he had come and what he had achieved. Mr. Sharma pointed to the present Sri Lankan government’s appreciation of the role the Commonwealth played, and the practical steps taken in the form of round tables on reconciliation, and in training observers for the elections: “In the case of appointments to senior judicial oices, I spelt my disappointment very clearly, and we gave a compendium to the Rajapaksa government of best practices in the Commonwealth.” Challenges remain. There is still widespread resistence within several Commonwealth countries to the legalisation of gay rights, and to correcting gender and religious inequalities. “The terrain is very uneven,” Mr. Sharma said. “We can only urge that countries travel in the direction of our values.” [email protected] ND-ND

NEWS

12 | FROM PAGE ONE

Wherever we have got the opportunity to serve, we have taken decisions out of reverence towards Dr. Ambedkar, says Modi.

on Indu Mills [in Mumbai where another memorial to Dr. Ambedkar is to come up]

pending for so long?” he said. “The same was the case for the place where Babasaheb stayed in London. Even after this, we are being blamed and a bad name is given to us. Wherever we have got the opportunity to serve, we have taken decisions out of shradha [reverence] towards Dr. Ambedkar,” he said, with reference to the furore against his government on the suicide of Dalit scholar Rohith Vemula. The memorial will come up at Alipur in New Delhi where Dr. Ambedkar lived towards the end of his life.

Talks for J&K government formation revived PDP MLA and former State Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu, the party interlocutor with the BJP top brass, was asked by Ms. Mufti to leave in the morning flight to the capital to pick up the threads for a final joint statement. He is likely to meet Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Sources in the PDP said a meeting between Ms. Mufti and the Prime Minister is likely to be held soon. Surprisingly, however, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who, along with Mr. Drabu had worked out the nittygritty of the alliance government last year remains in Assam, (where he is party in charge) and is to return to Delhi only on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, he and BJP chief Amit Shah will be travelling to Chennai for the sahasrachandradarshana (viewing of the 1000th full

Ms. Mufti has expressed apprehension over implementation of the ‘Agenda of the Alliance.’

moon) ceremony of the Shankaracharya of the Kanchi Kamakoti Peetha, Swami Jayendra Saraswati It is not clear whether this itinerary is reflective of the chances of government formation in the State. PDP reiterated that the fresh engagement comes in the wake of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s statement at the BJP’s national executive meet on Sunday where he reiterated

his party’s commitment to implement “the agenda of governance in J&K”, one of the demands of the PDP to have assurance from the highest authority in the Centre. Several ongoing measures in the State, including the Rs. 500-crore relief to the 2014 flood victims, final push to the projects like IIT, IIM, and AIIMS and withdrawal of Army personnel from certain urban pockets of the State has also encouraged Ms. Mufti to move ahead and “repose faith in the coalition.” Ms. Mufti had expressed apprehension over implementation of the ‘Agenda of the Alliance.’ The PDP chief has also called a legislature party meet on March 24. “The party legislators will elect their leader too on that day,” PDP leader Nayeem Akhtar confirmed to The Hindu.

BJP and Congress urge President to intervene Then, the Congress delegation, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad met the President with counterclaims. After the meeting, Mr. Azad told reporters that he explained to the President that the BJP government at the Centre had “orchestrated the defection,” and this posed a security threat to the strategically significant State that borders China. “We told him [the President] that last Saturday, they [BJP leaders] took a bunch of Congress MLAs, against their will, to the Governor’s house to claim a majority in the Assembly,” said Mr. Azad. The Congress leadership also requested the President to ensure that the floor test is not rescheduled. About the rebel Congress leaders, Mr. Azad said BJP leaders “enslaved” them and forced them to give “antiparty” statements. “We don’t

Both democracy and secularism are being murdered in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Harish Rawat charged at a press conference in Dehradun on Monday.- PHOTO: VIRENDER SINGH NEGI

know where they have kept them. We are concerned about their security,” he said. Earlier in the day, Mr. Rawat criticised the BJP government for “trying to destabilise an elected government.” “Both democracy and secularism are being murdered in Uttarakhand. The Centre’s extra-powerful government is out to shatter the

dreams of a small State like ours,” he told reporters in Dehradun. “If Chief Ministers are changed like used hankies with the power of money and muscle, it will perpetuate instability,” he said. Last Saturday, nine Congress MLAs rebelled against Mr. Rawat and joined the BJP MLAs to claim a majority in the 70-member Assembly.

NATIONAL BUREAU

After a massive five-day rescue operation, the Army recovered the body of a civilian porter who fell into a crevasse at Siachen.

porter with the Army fell into a deep crevasse in the Siachen glacier and died. “We should be ready for more such tragedies,” a senior Army oicer posted in the re-

This is the first time India has deployed Boeing P 8I for surveillance operation in a foreign country NATIONAL BUREAU NEW DELHI: Signalling India’s deepening naval engagement in the Indian Ocean, the Indian navy has for the first time deployed one of its advanced maritime reconnaissance aircraft to Seychelles for surveillance of the island nation’s Exclusive Economic Zone. It is the first such deployment of the Boeing P 8I to a foreign country. The aircraft has been in Seychelles since March 20, according to the Navy. The move is “in accordance with the MoU between the Governments of India and Seychelles,” it said in a statement. “It is a significant tactical development that India is able to extend this kind of surveillance,” said C. Uday Bhaskar, director, Society for Policy Studies. The deployment was a sign that India was a “credible security provider to the smaller states in a consensus manner,” he said.

Photos of four Pathankot terror suspects released NATIONAL BUREAU NEW DELHI: Days before an investigation team from Pakistan comes to India to probe the Pathankot terror attack, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) released the photographs of four terrorists killed during the encounter, which began on January 2 and lasted for more than 40 hours. The photographs were created by roping in a professional laboratory in Mumbai. The NIA's press release featured the bodies of the four slain terrorists with description of their height. The anti-terror probe agency has said one of the terrorists did not have a toe in both feet. The pictures have been circulated and public asked to share information about the suspects. The agency has already approached the Interpol for issuing a Black Notice for the four. The international notice is issued for identification of unidentified bodies found in a country. “These men don’t belong to India and we have done investigations on that front. We have released the pictures so that people in neighbouring country could also provide us with details and leads. We are still preserving the bodies,” said a senior NIA oicial. About the remaining two, the NIA was planning to approach another forensic laboratory for conducting a fresh test of the samples recovered from the Airmen billet at the Pathankot air base. The identity of the other two would take time, an oicial said. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Pakistan will be arriving here on March 27.

The aircraft deployment, which followed earlier surveillance missions of the Seychellois EEZ by naval ships, reflects India’s increased maritime engagement in the region. India and China are locked in eforts to widen their respective spheres of influence in the strategically vital Indian Ocean. India has been reaching

gion said, pointing out the increasing unpredictability of weather in the higher reaches because of global warming and climate change is something that is “more the norm

than the exception.” After almost two days of a gruelling rescue operation, the Army was able to locate the body of Sepoy Vijay Kumar K in the Kargil heights, buried under 12 feet of snow. Another soldier was rescued a day earlier. The avalanche that buried Vijay Kumar was caused by a mild earthquake. The death of the soldier is the latest in a series of tragedies to strike Army units deployed along forward areas of the India-Pakistan border, especially on the higher reaches. Nowhere is the challenge of freak weather starker than in Siachen. According to a government statement before Parliament, 869 Indian troops

NEW DELHI: In a relief to the pharmaceutical companies, the Delhi High Court on Monday extended the interim stay on the Union government's decision to ban some Fixed Drug Combination (FDC) medicines till the next hearing on March 28. The govern-

CM YK

ment said in an aidavit that lifting the ban would be “against public interest”. The High Court had last week stayed the operation of the Centre's ban on FDC drugs of about 30 pharma companies after initially giving interim relief on March 14 to Pfizer's cough syrup, “Corex”. Companies such as Ci-

pla, Procter & Gamble, Lupin, Piramal and Glenmark have obtained relief from the court. Expert panel findings The Union government had banned the FDCs on March 10 based on the findings of an expert panel that these medicines lacked therapeutic efects and posed

health risks to the patients. The drug companies termed the government's decision arbitrary and moved the court seeking its revocation. The Bench of Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw on Monday listed all the matters challenging the government's ban for hearing on March 28 and said the interim restraint order

out to the smaller Indian Ocean island nations through various Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) exercises that include Search and Rescue (SAR) support, oil pollution response exercises, and assistance in legal matters. Besides supplying naval vessels and aircraft, the Indian navy has supported countries such as Sri Lanka, Mauritius,

Maldives and Seychelles with training, hydrographic surveys, surveillance operations and counter-terror patrols. “What we are seeing is China and India trying to expand their presence in the extended Indian Ocean region. India is of course the natural choice for the smaller nations because of geography and politics,” Mr. Bhaskar said. The Indian Navy has, in the past, undertaken surveillance missions in the Seychellois EEZ twice a year, but by deploying naval ships. The P 8I is a cheaper, economical, faster and more efective option than the naval ships, and sends a signal about navy’s overall ambition and capabilities. The last such surveillance deployment was undertaken by ships of the 1st Training Squadron of the Indian Navy in October last year. Pointing out that P 8I is at the higher end of the spec-

trum in terms of surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities, Mr. Bhaskar said he was intrigued by the “professional compulsion that may have led to the choice of a P 8I over a Dornier.” The navy said in a statement that the aircraft will remain deployed till March 23. “During this period, the aircraft will undertake surveillance of the Seychellois EEZ. The deployment will also facilitate professional interaction between the aircrew and the Seychelles People’s Defence Force (SPDF). “Deployment of Indian Navy’s latest and technologically most advanced maritime reconnaissance aircraft is an indicator of India’s commitment towards ensuring the security of Seychelles EEZ. This deployment would assist in curbing illegal activities and piracy and contribute towards security and stability in the Indian Ocean Region,” the navy said.

Bhujbal case: ED attaches sugar mill, land GAUTAM S MENGLE & DEVESH K PANDEY MUMBAI/DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Monday attached a sugar mill and over 290 acres worth Rs.55 crore in Nashik in connection with a money-laundering case against the former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Chhagan Bhujbal, who was arrested last week. The ED had earlier attached two properties belonging to the Bhujbal family under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. “The Girna Sugar Mill in Nashik, together with its building and structure, has been provisionally attached along with the 298-acre plot where it is situated. While on-paper value of the property is Rs.28 crore, its current market value is about Rs. 55 crore,” said an oicial. Though Mr. Bhujbal was

ED officials said that the mill was among the several properties of the Bhujbal family under the scanner for several months. arrested on March 14, his nephew and co-accused Sameer was arrested on February 2. Both are currently in judicial custody. ED oicials said the mill was among the several properties under the scanner for several months during its probe into the alleged irregularities in the construction of the Maharashtra Sadan guesthouse in New Delhi and the

Kalina land grabbing case. “Mr. Bhujbal’s arrest and subsequent interrogation helped us establish the link of the property to the tainted money. We confirmed the same with Sameer when we brought him for questioning last week. Neither of them was able to provide satisfactory explanations as to how the funds required for the purchase of the mill were raised,” said another oicer. The agency has alleged that the illegal gratification and bribe money collected by the Bhujbal family in kickbacks during the senior NCP leader’s tenure as Public Works Department Minister was used in the form of share application money by two companies, Parvesh Constructions Private Ltd and Armstrong Energy Private Ltd. The funds were subsequently laundered and chan-

Jail NCP Ministers linked to irrigation scam, says rebel MP SHOUMOJIT BANERJEE PUNE: Maverick MP and rebel

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader from Satara, Udayanraje Bhosale, stirred a controversy yet again when he demanded that all tainted ministers involved in the Maharashtra irrigation scam be put behind bars. “If corrupt ministers had not siphoned of funds, all dams would have been completed minus any cost overruns. Today, there would have been plenty of water to meet the irrigation requirements of farmers and the potable water needs of the common man,” said Mr. Bhosale. Mr. Bhosale said the government ought to retrieve the

have died at the glacier between 1984 and December 2015. After this, in 2016, the 10 soldiers were buried under an avalanche, just days after three others were also killed in Siachen. However, freak weather in the higher reaches, not militancy, is the single largest killer of Indian soldiers. According to Army statistics, around 300 soldiers are killed a year in road accidents. About 100 soldiers also commit suicide a year. Since 2010, over 500 soldiers have committed suicide. Last year, a total of 155 security personnel were killed in terrorist operations; of them a significant number were paramilitary and police forces.

Delhi HC extends interim stay on ban of FDC drugs SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Navy’s aircraft on mission in Seychelles

Army now battles a new enemy: freak weather NEW DELHI: Unpredictable and diicult weather is quickly becoming one of the key reasons behind Indian Army’s worrying casualty count, as yet another avalanche claimed a soldier’s life along the treacherous border with Pakistan. The latest tragedy comes just weeks after 10 soldiers were buried under snow after their camp in northern Siachen glacier was hit by a major avalanche in February. While one of them, Lance Naik Hanamanthappa Koppad, was miraculously pulled out alive six days after the tragedy, he died a few days later. On February 27, a civilian

THE HINDU

TACTICAL DEVELOPMENT

No move to review quota policy, says Prime Minister “Some people don’t like us. They don’t even want to see us. They get fever on seeing us and in fever, one loses control of [one’s] mind. That is why they say all kinds of lies and all absurd things. Those who did not work for 60 years have given us a chance to do this and we take pride in doing such works like building a memorial at 26, Alipur Road,” he said. “Everybody knows what injustice was done to Baba Saheb and who did this injustice to him. What was the reason that the previous governments kept the decision

NOIDA/DELHI

would continue till that date, when the drug makers would be heard. In their petitions moved in the court, the companies contended that the Centre's March 10 notification banning over 300 FDC medicines was issued without issuing them a show cause notice or hearing them.

money from the scam-tainted ministers and withdraw their police security immediately . Ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party formed the government after the Maharashtra polls in 2014, a Damocles’ sword has been hanging over the heads of senior NCP leaders Ajit Pawar and Sunil Tatkare for their supposed involvement in the alleged Rs. 70,000-crore irrigation scam. In 2012, Ajit Pawar, nephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, quit as Deputy Chief Minister following allegations of massive irregularities in grant of project approvals totalling Rs. 20,000 crore without the mandatory clearance of the governing council of

the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC), during his stint as Water Resources Minister between 1999 and 2009. ‘Fight is against corruption’ “My fight is against corruption. Corruption recognises no party allegiance,” said Mr. Bhosale, remarking wryly that he could not fathom why senior NCP Chhagan Bhujbal was the first one to be put in jail. Mr. Bhosale became an MP after he won the Satara seat — his fiefdom — by a massive margin of three lakh votes. Prior to this, he served as the Revenue Minister in the BJPShiv Sena government during 1995-99.

nelled to Armstrong Infrastructure and thereafter invested in the Girna Sugar Mill, said sources. The sugar mill, which had been shut since 1995, was acquired by Armstrong Infrastructure through auction proceedings from the Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) for over Rs.27.82 crore in 2013. Farmers and activists in the area had at the time alleged that the mill was undervalued before being sold to the Bhujbals. Apart from a bank loan of Rs.10 crore, the remaining amount was paid allegedly using funds received from Armstrong Energy Private Ltd and Parvesh Construction Private Ltd. “This rendered Girna Sugar Mill a tainted asset. Therefore, the property has been attached, pending confirmation from the adjudicating authority,” the oicial said.

Pak. hands over 86 Indian fishermen LAHORE: Pakistan handed over 86

Indian fishermen at the Wagah Border on Monday, a day after they were released by the authorities upon their completing a one-year sentence for allegedly trespassing into Pakistan’s territorial waters. “We have handed over 86 Indian fishermen to the Indian authorities after verifying their documents,” Pakistani Rangers Maj. Waheed said. They were released on Sunday from Malir Jail in Karachi. It was the second time this month that Pakistan has released Indian fishermen. Some 87 fishermen were released on March 6. Monday’s release brings the total to 173. The fishermen arrived here by the morning by train. The Edhi Foundation had arranged buses to take them to the Wagah Border. — PTI

Harrowing time for passengers as AI flight sufers 13-hour delay STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: The passengers of

an Air India (AI) KolkataDelhi flight (AI 701) had a harrowing time after it was delayed by 13 hours, finally landing at Delhi airport on Monday instead of Sunday. The problem was found to be a technical snag in a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft of the Air India fleet that befuddled its technicians, who took a long time to rectify it. The ordeal began for the 236 passengers on board, which included CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, when the aircraft started taxiing for take-of at the Kolkata airport on Sunday around 5.30 p.m. A technical snag was detected in the aircraft that could not be rectified by airline engineers on Sunday. By the time the aircraft was fit to fly, one of the pilots had exhausted his Flight Time Duty Limitations (FDTL). ‘Took all measures’ While several passengers complained that the airline had kept them in the dark, Air

An AI official claims all passengers were given an option for hotel accommodation India said it had taken all measures to keep the passengers comfortable, despite the technical glitch that held the flight back. “Since the flight was delayed, I de-boarded and left for the party oice in Kolkata. I had dinner there, and after taking some rest came back to airport to catch the morning flight today [Monday],” Mr. Yechury said. An AI spokesperson said the snag was rectified after several attempts to operate the flight, however at 10.10 p.m., the aircraft was grounded and the flight was cancelled. “Arrangements were made to take care of the 236 passengers. Refreshments were served on board,” he said. He said all passengers were given an option for hotel accommodation and food. “While some passengers opted for hotel stay, others espe-

cially from Kolkata, went back home. For them transport reimbursement was made,” he said. The airline said it had made all possible eforts to arrange for an alternate aircraft to fly the remaining 131 passengers who stayed behind, but by the time boarding completed, one of the pilots crossed the FDTL and the aircraft could not be flown. Alternate pilots “Some passengers decided to stay inside the aircraft till it departed at 6.30 a.m. on Monday with an alternate set of pilots. These passengers were also served dinner on board and the AC was kept on for their comfort. Passengers who had stayed in hotel or their home, also boarded the flight in the morning and 182 passengers came by the flight,” he said. “Air India is continuously taking steps to minimise such incidents. However, Air India often face technical glitches in Dreamliner aircraft. The same is being addressed with the manufacturer M/s Boeing on a regular basis,” he said. ND-ND

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ASSEMBLY POLLS

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THE HINDU

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

2016

West Bengal, Kerala and Assam are among the States with the highest concentration of India’s largest minority. This factor reflects in the polity and elections

Co-opt and placate: Trinamool’s Muslim formula SUVOJIT BAGCHI

A

nyone wishing to be a pan-Bengal leader will have to acknowledge that Muslim votes determine — to a large extent — which party leads the State. An extensive study on the Muslims of India by late Prof. Iqbal Ansari, later taken forward in West Bengal by Sabir Ahamed of Pratichi Institute, shows that 46 out of the 294 Assembly constituencies of the State have a Muslim “concentration” of more than 50 per cent. The figure is 40-50 per cent in about 16 seats, and 30-40 per cent in 33 seats. The data underscores that in exactly onethird of the seats, Muslim vote is the key factor to win an election. Moreover, in another 50 seats, the concentration is 20-30 per cent. Overlooking such data was possibly one of the reasons for the defeat of the Left Front in 2011. “Statements against unauthorised madrasas, making a large section of farmers — many of whom are Muslims — feel insecure, and half-baked reports about the recommendations of the Justice Sachar Committee are three reasons why Muslims deserted us,” said Anindya Ghosh

Mamata gave an allowance to Imams and muezzins and inducted men who practise right wing politics in the name of minority rights Dastidar, a popular CPI(M) leader, soon after the 2011 debacle. Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee joined the BJPled National Democratic Alliance in 1999. It adversely afected her party and it took her more than a decade to acquire and consolidate her minority base. Ms. Banerjee started wooing the Muslims in a way Bengal has not witnessed for many decades. She gave an allowance to

BJP Minority Morcha chief quits KOLKATA: In a jolt to the BJP ahead of the

While some Muslim groups feel their ghettoism has reduced under Mamata Banerjee's rule, others blame her for the rise of the Hindu right in West Bengal. — FILE PHOTO: PTI

Imams and muezzins, covered her head and attended prayers, mixed Arabic words with Bengali in public meetings and even inducted men who practise rightwing politics in the name of minority rights. Additionally, she cultivated the relatively small but influential big city-based Urduspeaking Muslims. The 2006 Cabinet of the Left had five Muslim Ministers out of 44. While four were Bengali-speaking, only one was Urdu-speaking. But in the TMC’s Cabinet, three are Urdu-speaking, while two are Bengalis, notes Sabir Ahamed. In 2014, she managed to score handsomely in the Muslim-dominated districts of south Bengal. In Birbhum district which has a 37 per cent Muslim population, the TMC led in nine out of 11 Assembly segments in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. In South 24 Paraganas, with 35.5 per cent Muslim votes, the TMC led in 29 out of 31. The party was ahead of others in 72 of 81 segments in both north and south Bengal’s five districts with

a Muslim population of over 25 per cent. Jama’at e Islami-Hind (JIH), a cadre-based Islamic socio-political organisation in West Bengal, believes that Muslims have benefited during the TMC rule. JIH’s media and public relations chief Masihur Rahman claims that the number of Muslim students clearing West Bengal Civil Services is “much higher than it was in earlier years.” “Secondly, Aaliah University, started during Left’s rule, was given a grant of Rs. 300 crore and many hostels for Muslim girls were constructed in the districts,” said Mr. Rahman. While opposing the monthly allowance given to the Imams or muezzins, Mr. Rahman said ghettoism among Muslims has “marginally reduced” in many parts during TMC’s rule. On the other hand, the recent study by Pratichi Institute of

Amartya Sen and other organisations have also indicated, on basis of a survey done in 2011-12, that the Left Front has failed on many counts to address the basic needs of the Muslims in Bengal. Community’s opposition However, there is a counterview within the Muslim community too. A section of Bengal’s Muslims believe that the Trinamool has facilitated the rise of the Hindu right wing in the State. The Bengal chapter president of the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushrawat, Abdul Aziz, said: “The TMC has no inner party democracy. Ms. Banerjee decides everything. She is a capitalist and history has taught us that the relationship between capitalism and communalism runs deep.” Many among Muslims believe Ms. Banerjee may have unwittingly created space for the rise of the Hindu right, a phenomenon

Assembly elections, its Minority Morcha president Shakil Ansari on Monday left the party citing inadequate number of seats for the Muslim candidates. Mr. Ansari said he was contemplating joining the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). “I am in talks with the TMC leadership. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has done a lot for the development of Muslims,” he told The Hindu, pointing out that the TMC had fielded 57 Muslim candidates of the total 294 seats. “The State BJP president [Dilip Ghosh] told me that he could not field Muslim candidates due to RSS pressure,” he said. The BJP State leadership denied the charges. — Soumya Das

ABDUS SALAM

that has led to a sharp polarisation of votes on communal lines in the Basirhat South by-election in 2014, in which the BJP won its first seat in the Assembly. The Congress has already made this polarisation-driven voting an issue in its stronghold in central Bengal’s two districts — Malda and Murshidabad. Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has accused the TMC of “implicit support” to the RSS. Ms. Banerjee, however, has got many factions of the Muslims, including the most powerful one led by Siddiqullah Chowdhury, the State chief of Jamiat Ulema-IHind, to back her. Similarly, the TMC has closely coordinated with another powerful community leader Pirzada Toha Siddiqui in south Bengal to ensure that the Muslim votes of at least south Bengal, where 75 per cent of the seats are located, remain undivided. The current election will show whether she remains a favourite of the Muslim community.

How the Muslim League is at peace with itself GIRISH MENON THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Indian Union Muslim League, the second largest partner in the ruling United Democratic Front, is perhaps the only political party in Kerala, if not the country, which is currently at peace with itself. While others have been witnessing organisational turmoil, factionalism, and ego clashes among leaders, the IUML has been virtually free of such aberrations. Other UDF constituents have been wrangling for more seats ahead of the election, but the IUML agreed to limit its ambition to the 24 seats it contested last time. There has hardly been a murmur in the IUML over the manner in which the candidates were selected, reflect-

ing the leadership’s confidence about its role in current Muslim politics in the State. Today, the IUML has emerged as an umbrella outfit for various Muslim organisations, some of them rooted in fundamentalism and orthodoxy. It draws its political clout from the 15 plus seats it usually wins in Malabar, particular in Malappuram district. The IUML is the only party which is “perpetually” in power, especially since the advent of the panchayat raj system. Irrespective of the outcome of Assembly and parliamentary elections, the IUML dominates the local bodies in areas of its influence. It got a slot in national politics in 2004, when E. Ahamed was inducted in the Manmohan Singh government. The IUML ministers han-

Another Trinamool MP in Narada sting SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT KOLKATA: Fresh videos of the Narada News sting operation uploaded on the portal’s website on Monday show another Trinamool Congress MP allegedly accepting cash on camera. The youngest MP of the party, Aparupa Poddar, is seen apparently accepting wads of currency from a person who introduced himself as a representative of a fictitious company. She is seen making a phone call to her aide asking him to bring her “the black purse.” Ms. Poddar was elected to Lok Sabha from the Arambagh Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal Bardhaman district. In another video, Sankhudeb Panda, the former head of the party’s student wing, is heard demanding a “stake” in the fictitious company. “I want a stake… I have no profession now. But if I have to be in politics in future, then I must do something,” Mr. Panda is heard saying.

CM YK

Interestingly, Mr. Panda is credited with having carried out a sting on the former Communist Party of India (CPI) MLA from Nandigram, Ilias Mohammed, in 2007. Mr Panda, who was then working for a local television channel, had posed as an NGO worker and handed over cash to the MLA. Reacting to the video, Ms. Poddar said the matter must be probed. If found guilty, she would resign as MP within seven days, she said. The development comes a week after Narada News created a furore in the pollbound State when it caught several senior Trinamool Congress leaders on camera apparently accepting cash. The Trinamool Congress described the development as a “political conspiracy” and “smear campaign.” The State leadership of BJP held a press conference where it played the videos. The party said it would once again approach the Election Commission.

dle portfolios that account for over 65 per cent of the State’s budget allocation. The party used to have only four ministers whenever the UDF comes to power. It wrested one more ministerial berth in the Chandy Cabinet in 2011. When the whole of India swayed under the impact of

Masjid-Mandir issue, the IUML steadfastly tread the middle path, refusing to give space to the forces of fundamentalism. When Muslims elsewhere had doubts about the credentials of the Congress in protecting secularism, the IUML leadership stood by the Congress in Ker-

A kingmaker in the making

ala. Today, its alliance with the Congress is over 40 years old. Its contribution towards providing political stability and ensuring a bipolar coalition system in Kerala in indelible. Its participative governance has helped the Muslims to prosper in Kerala. The IUML had to go through diicult times during the 1990s and 2000s when Abdul Nasir Maudany’s brand of fundamentalism made headway, attracting Muslim youth. At one stage, the Left Democratic Front hobnobbed with Maudany in its bid to break the IUML’s hold on Muslim electoral politics. The party owes a lot to its late leader Panakkad Sayyed Shihab Thangal for its secular

status by providing spiritual and temporal rationale to its agendaThe IUML leadership has succeeded in using the Thangal as a figurehead to mobilise myriad Muslim groups. The current incumbent, Hyderali Thangal, might not enjoy the kind of influence his late brother had, but his word continues to be final. Over the decades, the IUML appears to have lost a bit of its secular sheen. The challenge before it is to prevent communal polarisation by overstretching itself especially at a time when the BJP-RSS combine perceives that it would be able to achieve a breakthrough in Kerala and make its debut in the Assembly.

I

n 2005, a former student union leader-turned-politician became an “Assamese hero” when his dogged campaign to contest the legality of the Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983, finally paid of with the Supreme Act striking down the legislation; Sarbananda Sonowal, the leader in question, was at the time Dibrugarh MP of the Asom Gana Parishad. The setting aside of the Act sparked deep insecurity among the Bengali-speaking Muslim population in the State, overwhelmingly poor, illiterate agriculturalists and itinerant labourers. It was in that climate of fear of persecution that Maulana Badruddin Ajmal floated his United Democratic Front, later renamed the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF). It took just six months for the party to register its presence, winning 10 seats in the 2006 Assembly elections. Another five years and it became the principal Opposition party in the 126-member Assembly in the next round of State elections with 18 seats. As the ‘Modi wave’ swept India — and Assam — in the 2014 general election, the AIUDF stood firm, winning three of the 14 Lok Sabha constituencies. The party went on to ofer unsolicited support of its three MPs to the Narendra Modi government, but this isn’t as perplexing as it seems. The AIUDF’s ideological opponent and rallying point might be the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) but its principal opponent on the ground is the Congress, with which its interests overlap. The AIUDF’s gains over the years have primarily been at the cost of the Congress, which had historically monopolised the Muslim

Arriving in style for the electoral fight

votes, and especially the Bengali Muslim votes, in the State. It secured 39 per cent of the Muslim votes in the 2014 parliamentary polls while the Congress’s share dropped to 40 per cent. An adversarial stance vis-à-vis the BJP is only mutually beneficial, the polarising rhetoric of one feeding into that of the other and shrinking the (Congress) middle ground. Strongholds The AIUDF’s strongholds are Lower Assam, the Barak Valley, and pockets in the Bodoland Territorial Areas Districts — or areas with a heavy minority presence. Since inception, Mr. Ajmal, MP from Dhubri, has tried to enlist the support of other communities, including the tea tribes. His contingent of 10 MLAs in its 2006 electoral debut included a tribal and an SC; Radheshyam Biswas is one of its three current MPs; and its working president is Aditya Langthasa, a Dimasa tribal. The recent efort to prop up a secular “grand alliance” including Janata Dal (United) and the RJD, Bihar-based parties with a negligible presence in Assam, and the plan to get Babulal Marandi of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha to campaign for the party in Upper Assam is an efort to broadbase AIUDF’s supporter profile. Such eforts have, however, delivered limited success for the AIUDF, and it is to its core vote base that the party will look to yet again as it puts up 60 candidates. In an eerie replay of 2005, Mr. Sonowal, now the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, and Mr. Ajmal are yet again principal protagonists tapping into the fear of illegal immigration and state persecution respectively. And if Mr. Sonowal doesn’t emerge as king on results day, May 19, the man all set to play kingmaker is Mr. Ajmal.

PM to address fewer rallies NISTULA HEBBAR

POLL GLITZ: Actor and BJP candidate for the Batadrava seat, Angurlata Deka, arrives with supporters to file nomination papers in Nagaon, Assam, on Monday, while in Guwahati (right), BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sharma, accompanied by his wife Riniki, filed his papers for the Jalikbari seat. — PHOTOS: PTI & RITU RAJ KONWAR

Tie-up with Left successful, but barriers remain: Adhir hury has said. “Though workers of both parties KOLKATA: While the Congress wanted the alliance, we have and the Left parties have to understand that for 34 been able to forge an under- years, we have been diametstanding on 95 per cent of the rically opposed to each othAssembly seats, certain “psy- er. Some psychological barchological barriers” remain, riers still remain which need West Bengal Congress presi- to sorted out,” he told The dent Adhir Ranjan Chowd- Hindu. SHIV SAHAY SINGH

On their diferences on certain seats, the State Congress president said the issue was not with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) but with their allies. “The allies of the CPI(M) think that after the alliance, their very existence will be at stake. For me, the Left

Front is the CPI(M)-led Left Front. We have been able to accommodate our allies, the JD(U) and RJD, and accordingly the CPI(M) will have to accommodate them... it is not our responsibility,” he said. Mr. Chowdhury said the alliance was “not an option

but a necessity” and it was “sheer desperation” that brought both parties together. He said that if the Left Front and the Congress had not come together in the polls, the “opposition would be obliterated from the soil of Bengal lock, stock and barrel.”

NEW DELHI: Entering the poll ring again after the debacle in Bihar, the BJP seems to have learnt its lessons, at least when it comes to deploying its most important campaign asset — Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For Assam, the only State where the BJP fancies its chances among the four States and one Union territory going to the polls, the BJP has scheduled only six public meetings of Mr. Modi till now. This is in stark contrast to his 40 rallies in Bihar. Top sources in the BJP said the PM’s programme would also involve an overnight stay at Jorhat. “On March 26, he will address four rallies — in Tinsukia, Bihpura, Majuli [the party’s chief ministerial candidate Sarbananda Sonowal’s seat] and Borakhat,” said a senior party oice-bearer. In West Bengal too, only six rallies are planned. “We let the Bihar campaign be about everything other than Bihar. We will not make that mistake in Assam,” said the source. ND-ND ND-ND

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Americans support thaw in U.S.-Cuba ties Opinion polls show public support for President Obama’s outreach; some Republican Congressmen also favour it VARGHESE K. GEORGE

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Scholarships for heirs of Bangladesh freedom fighters

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allow Mr. Obama any elbowroom on any policy issue, several Republican lawmakers are in support of the Cuba initiative and at least five of them are part of the delegation accompanying Mr. Obama. Senators Jef Flake and Mark Helle and Representatives Mark Sanford, Tom Emmer and Reid Ribble are travelling with Mr. Obama. “It’s about Americans’ freedom and embracing engagement rather than isolation as a way of changing other governments,” Mr. Sanford said. Richard Feinberg and Ted Piccone, experts on Cuba at Brookings in Washington DC, wrote in a comment article: “[T]the odds of wringing short-term concessions from Cuba’s proud and nationalist leaders are stacked against Obama”, but “this trip should be

Five Republican lawmakers are part of the delegation accompanying President Obama judged by its ability to expand constituencies in both countries who want a more open and prosperous Cuba”. There is a growing constituency in the U.S. for better relations with Cuba, but the conservative pushback is also unrelenting. Conservative magazine National Review wrote in an editorial immediately after Mr. Obama announced his trip last month: “An opening to the Castro dictatorship was neither urgent nor necessary nor in the American interest. Obama simply wanted to do

it. It was on his list. The dictatorship had been dreaming about this kind of rapprochement for well over half a century. So had the American Left.” Equally curious is an allegation that Mr. Cruz and Senator Marco Rubio — who dropped out of the presidential race — have been repeating in this context. They have said several times in recent months that Mr. Obama was planning to “gift Guantanamo Bay to Castro”, referring to the U.S naval base in Cuba, which is held by the U.S., based on a decades old bilateral pact. Mr. Obama had promised to shut down a prison in that base that holds terror suspects. The Republican candidates have sought to conflate two unrelated issues by raising this in the context of relations with Cuba.

or Obama, there’s no better place than Havana to show that engagement can do more than isolation to bring about tangible change on the communist island. Yet for the Cubans, the glaring question is whether their own government is ready to prove the ambitious diplomatic opening is more than just talk. U.S> companies, eager for opportunities in Cuba, were wasting no time. Mr. Obama announced that tech giant Google struck a deal to expand Internet on the island, just 90 miles away from Florida Mr. Obama opened his first full day in Cuba by adjusting a wreath at the memorial to Jose Marti, where a 59-foot statue pays tribute to the Cuban independence hero and writer. Hand on his heart, Mr. Obama stood in Revolution Square as a band played the American national anthem stunning sounds in a country where resistance to the U.S. has been part of the government’s national mission for decades. Since taking power in 2008, Mr. Raul Castro has orchestrated economic and social reforms with lasting and broadbased impact. Yet, Mr. Raul Castro has given little ground when it comes to changing Cuba’s single-party system or easing strict limits on media, assembly and political dissent. His government has also repeatedly chided Mr. Obama for saying he wanted to empower Cubans. Mr. Obama also planned an event with U.S. and Cuban entrepreneurs aimed at championing Cuba’s fledgling private sector. He was to be feted in the evening at a state dinner, an honour illustrating just how far the U.S. and Cuba have come despite their deep ideological differences. In his first few hours on the island, Mr. Obama created indelible images of a new U.S-Cuba relationship as he walked the rain-soaked streets of Havana and dined at a privately-owned restaurant in a bustling, working-class neighbourhood. Jubilant crowds surged toward his heavily fortified motorcade, reminders of the Cuban people’s deep affection for Americans despite decades of enmity between their governments. — AP

ATUL ANEJA

DHAKA: The year when India and Bangladesh jointly fought a war for Bangladesh’s freedom, 1971, was recalled by both the countries when India started distributing this year’s scholarships to the heirs of the Bangladesh’s freedom fighters. Bangladesh Minister for Liberation War Afairs A.K.M. Mozzammel Huq handed over cheques to the recipients of the Dhaka region at a function in Dhaka on Sunday, where Prime Minister’s International Afairs adviser Dr. Gowher Rizvi and leading 1971 war heroes spoke. The Muktijodha Scholarship Scheme’, which the Indian government initiated in 2006 for the descendants of freedom fighters, has so far covered over 9,500 students and more than Tk 130 million has been disbursed, said the Indian High Commission. .

DOHA: More than 100 leading

SOLO-CLIMBING: Alain Robert, the French urban climber dubbed ‘The French Spiderman’, climbs a building hosting the headquarters of French oil giant Total at La Defense, on Sunday in Courbevoie, Paris suburb. Robert is famous for his free solo-climbing, scaling skyscrapers using no climbing equipment except for a small bag of chalk and a pair of climbing shoes. — PHOTO: AFP

Mobile services suspended in Pak. Day. The National Day will be celebrated on Wednesday with a grand parade by the armed forces in Islamabad. Exhibition of major weapons and cultural activities are part of the celebration. As part of the tradition, a full rehearsal is carried out ahead of the parade. Stringent security measures are in place in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to avoid any untoward incident on the National Day. — PTI

Australia likely to see polls in July SYDNEY: Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull set the stage for early elections on July 2, despite signs his personal popularity is sagging, by recalling Parliament in the boldest gamble of his short leadership. Parliament will be recalled from its seven-week recess to sit on April 18, Mr. Turnbull said on Monday, to vote on labour reform bills that are likely to be blocked in the upper house Senate by smaller parties such as the

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influential Greens and the main centre-left opposition Labor Party. A piece of legislation must be defeated twice by the Senate to give Mr. Turnbull the trigger for an early election. — Reuters

Ukrainian military pilot Nadiya Savchenko inside a defendants’ cage in Donetsk on Monday. — PHOTO: AFP DONETSK: A Russian court be-

gan on Monday delivering its verdict in the high-profile murder trial of Ukrainian helicopter pilot Nadiya Savchenko, which Kiev and the West have slammed as a political sham. Prosecutors are demanding a 23-year jail term for Ms. Savchenko’s alleged involvement in the killing of two Russian state TV journalists in war-torn eastern Ukraine in 2014. Few doubt that the 34year-old combat helicopter navigator will be found guilty, and Kiev is already pushing for a prisoner swap. The judge began by reading the prosecution indictment which contained allegations that Ms. Savchenko acted as a “spotter” in the fatal shelling of journalists Igor

global outlets have been brainstorming ways to keep media relevant and profitable in the digital age, where the Internet and social media have disrupted established models of news-gathering and dissemination. “We are 20 years into the digital revolution of the media,” said Gary Pruitt, president of the Associated Press (AP) news agency, during a gathering in Doha, where around 300 journalists from across the globe converged on Sunday at the China-backed World Media Summit (WMS). Focusing on technological solutions to the new challenges, Mr. Pruitt pointed out the AP had experimented with drones for news gathering. Besides it had deployed the tools of Artificial Intelligence in the form of “robot journalism” to produce reports minus hu-

We stand for news media that is free, that has the right to be bold, to explore, to investigate man intervention. While acknowledging the relevance of technology in transforming the media landscape, N. Ram, Chairman and Publisher of The Hindu group of publications, highlighted a modern newspaper’s societal role in “agenda-building”. He pointed out that “a good newspaper is a forum for comment, debate, controversy, reflection — it should be ‘a nation talking to itself’.” “If you do this well, you can do agenda-building, not agenda-setting.” “We stand for news media that is free, that has the right to be bold, to explore, to investi-

BRUSSELS: Police have found the

DNA of a newly-identified suspect on explosives used in last year’s Paris attacks, a French source revealed on Monday, as Belgian and French prosecutors met in Brussels to discuss the probe into the November carnage. The suspected accomplice was named as Najim Laachraoui, who was previously known by the false name Soufiane Kayal which he used to travel to Hungary in September with Salah Abdeslam, the

gate,” Mr. Ram observed. Yet, he warned that that journalism that demands “just rights”, without obligations of professional and social responsibility, would lose equilibrium. “Emphasise one and you get into trouble”. Cai Mingzhao, president of Xinhua, also pointed to media’s role in making a difference in improving people’s lives. For instance, a sixmonth investigation by Xinhua reporters on poverty in remote areas had persuaded changes in oicial policy, he observed. Mr. Cai added that in China, “mobile Internet has become a primary source for people to consume information”. “As executives of media organisations, we all feel the profound changes in the media ecosystem,” he observed. Mr. Cai acknowledged that while revolutionising mass communication, the Internet has also “opened a new door”.

Wealthy GOP donors banding against Trump NICHOLAS CONFESSORE & RACHEL SHOREY

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he prospect of a Donald Trump nomination is accomplishing what a diverse and talented field of Republican presidential contenders could not: uniting the party’s big-money donor establishment. Some of the wealthiest conservative givers in the country are helping pay for a series of last-ditch attacks to wound Mr. Trump, disclosures filed on Sunday night revealed. And oicials involved with the political groups have made clear that they are aggressively raising more money to fight Mr. Trump, hoping to deprive him of enough delegates to win the Republican nomination outright. Our Principles PAC, a group set up to highlight Mr. Trump’s past liberal positions, took in $4.8 million last month, with a roster of donors that shows it has significantly expanded beyond the

Protests in Tucson, Arizona, late last week during a Donald Trump campaign rally. — PHOTO: AP

Ricketts family, which provided the group’s early funding. Beyond the Rickettses, who collectively provided another $2 million to the group, Our Principles raised $500,000 from William E. Oberndorf, a

California investor who had previously backed Jeb Bush, and $100,000 from Harlan Crow, a Texas real estate developer, who had supported Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. The stream of new money

confirms that the Republican Party’s financial elite — who put hundreds of millions of dollars behind more conventional presidential candidates, only to watch almost all of them falter — believes that

Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin in June 2014, just two months after the start of the pro-Kremlin uprising in Ukraine’s industrial east. At the time, she was serving in a volunteer pro-Kiev battalion fighting the insurgents. An AFP correspondent was barred from the courtroom in the southern Russian town of Donetsk and early reports from Russian new agencies wrongly said Ms. Savchenko had been found guilty. The reading of the verdict is set to last through Tuesday. “You heard the first introductory and explanatory parts, some media hurried with the guilty verdict,” Savchenko’s lawyer Mark Feigin told journalists during a break in proceedings. — AFP

Paris attacks suspect’s DNA found: police

Media’s agenda-building role is undiminished: N. Ram

French Spidey’s latest move

HAROON HABIB

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday suspended mobile phone services in the capital Islamabad and adjacent Rawalpindi for security reasons to foil any attempt by terrorists to sabotage dress rehearsal ahead of Pakistan

Russian court may convict Ukraine pilot

A key test for Obama’s policy of engagement

he spectre of Communism may have long ceased to exist in American psyche, but U.S. conservatives have been trying to resurrect that fear this election season citing Democrat Bernie Sanders’s campaign for ‘democratic socialism’. President Barack Obama’s Cuba visit fits well into this narrative, promoted mainly by Senator Ted Cruz, who is considered the alternative to Donald Trump, front runner in the Republican presidential race. The only outcome of this visit, according to Mr. Cruz, is to “legitimise the corrupt and oppressive Castro regime”. “President Barack Obama, a retinue of celebrities in tow, is expected …to hang out with [Cuban President] Raul Castro and his henchmen”, OBAMA Mr. Cruz said in an IN HAVANA op-ed article on Sunday. Optimism This could be an extreme view, of the kind Mr. Cruz is often given to. Opinion polls have consistently shown a majority of people supporting ties with Cuba since December 2014 when Mr. Obama announced a new opening with the U.S.’s Caribbean neighbour. Trump’s support A wide range of expert opinion also supports the Obama initiative. A poll by CBS and The New York Times on Monday found six out of 10 Americans to be in support. Mr. Trump also supports rebooting the U.S.’s relations with Cuba, though he thinks Mr. Obama has not made a “good deal”. Mr. Trump took ofence at the fact that Mr. Raul Castro himself did not receive the President at the airport. “Wow, President Obama just landed in Cuba, a big deal, and Raul Castro wasn’t even there to greet him. He greeted Pope and others. No respect,” Mr. Trump tweeted. The White House said it took no ofence and that Mr. Raul Castro was not expected to receive the President. Though Republican Congressional leaders are not in a mood to

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

a focused and well-financed attack campaign could still halt Mr. Trump in his march toward the party’s nomination. Arkansas investment banker Warren Stephens and his brother gave $2.5 million last month to a super PAC connected to the Club for Growth, a free-market activist group that was one of the first outside organisations to take on Mr. Trump. Richard Uihlein, an Illinois shipping-supplies manufacturer and conservative activist, who backed Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign last year, gave the Club for Growth $500,000. Figures reported on Sunday now suggest that Ted Cruz is the sole remaining Republican candidate with the financial wherewithal to challenge Mr. Trump. Mr. Cruz raised $11.9 million in February and, despite burning through $17.5 million over the course of the month, began March with $8 million in cash on hand. — New York Times News Service

key suspect who was arrested in a dramatic raid on Friday. Traces of the genetic material of 24-year-old Laachraoui, who left for Syria in 2013 and is still on the run, were found on the bombs used in the November 13 attacks, a source close to the French investigation said. Investigators hope Abdeslam’s arrest in Brussels on Friday, in which he was wounded in the leg, will give new leads on the attacks claimed by the Islamic State jihadist group. — AFP

A challenge for South Asia, says expert SUHASINI HAIDAR & KALLOL BHATTACHERJEE NEW DELHI: Even as oicial

sources played down the impact of the transit rights through China, Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli clinched in an agreement with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang in Beijing on Monday and other proposed agreements for rail connectivity, diplomat and academic Dr. S.D. Muni pointed out that the development represented “a challenge not just for India but for entire South Asia.” However, he cautioned, it should not trigger a panic reaction from India. Dr. Muni pointed out that China would have to ponder about how it could implement a rail and transit agreement for Nepal without opening up the Tibet region to the world. “Rail connectivity from Nepal to China will be used by the non-Chinese to travel to China through Tibet. Will China open up Tibet to facilitate connectivity for Nepal?” asked Dr. Muni. The agreements, however, will take some time before being implemented on the ground and political developments may impact the deals concluded. However, Dr. Muni pointed out that the implementation of the deals would depend on how far China was willing to invest in Nepal considering the economic and political risks associated with the deals. However, as of Monday, Nepal could not seal a vital fuel supply agreement with China which Nepali sources said would also come up for detailed discussion during the seven-day visit of Mr. Oli to China. Nepali commentator Kanak Mani Dixit, pointed out that the five month-blockade on the Nepal-India border which ended in February, “pushed Nepal to open its northern borders with China for transit trade.” “Historically, the Himalayas were seen as barrier but now the Himalayas can be a connector between Nepal and China,” said Mr. Dixit, underlining that transit and train agreements will create new dynamics in South Asia. ND-ND

THE HINDU TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

India’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with various countries are not being leveraged fully by Indian exporters

SENSEX 21-03-16 25,285 18-03-16 24,952

RITA TEAOTIA, Commerce Secretary

BRIEFLY P-NOTES Investments slump to 18-month low NEW DELHI: Investments through

participatory notes (P-Notes) into India’s capital markets declined to 18-month low of Rs.2.18 lakh crore at the end of February, amid sluggish equity markets. According to the Securities and Exchange Board of India data, total value of P-Notes investment in Indian markets (equity, debt and derivatives) has been falling since October. It declined to over Rs.2.17 lakh crore at the end of February from over Rs. 2.31 lakh crore in the previous month. —PTI

BRANDING ALLIANCE Reliance Ind. partners Precot Meridian MUMBAI: Reliance Industries, the

world’s second-largest synthetic fibre manufacturer, has entered into a brand alliance with Coimbatore-based sewing threads leader Precot Meridian. Under the non-commercial deal, RIL will allow the Coimbatore firm to use its Recron SHT Brand on its sewing threads brand, RIL said in a statement on Monday. According to an industry estimate, the sewing thread market in the country is around Rs.1,500 crore. — PTI

JEWELLERS’ STRIKE Stocks shine on partial withdrawal MUMBAI: Jewellery stocks rose as

much as 8 per cent after some jewellers called off their strike demanding rollback of proposed excise duty on non-silver jewellery. Shree Ganesh Jewellery jumped by 6.5 per cent, Gitanjali Gems climbed 7.1 per cent and Tribhovandas Bhimji Zaveri rose 10.5 per cent on BSE. Late Saturday, major associations, including All India Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation, called off the strike after an assurance that there would be no ‘Inspector Raj’ —PTI

TOWER SALE Bharti Airtel signs pact with ATC NEW DELHI: Bharti Airtel has

entered into an agreement with American Tower Corporation (ATC) for the sale of about 1,350 mobile towers in Tanzania. Under the agreement, ATC may acquire up to approximately 100 additional sites currently in development for an additional consideration, Airtel said in a BSE filing, without disclosing the financial details. “The transaction is expected to close during the first half of 2016, subject to customary conditions and approvals,” Airtel said. — PTI

IPO Infibeam subscribed 21 per cent on first day NEW DELHI: Infibeam

Incorporation, the first ecommerce firm to tap the IPO route, saw its Rs. 450-crore issue getting subscribed 21 per cent on the opening day on Monday. The issue received bids for 26, 44,792 shares as against the total size of 1,25,00,000 shares, as per NSE’s data. The portion set aside for qualified institutional buyers was subscribed 22 per cent and non-institutional investors received 21 per cent subscription. — PTI

Bullion Rates March 21 rates in rupees with previous rates in brackets

Chennai Bar Silver (1 kg) Retail (1 g) 24 ct gold (10 g) 22 ct gold (1 g)

37,705 (37,865) 40.30 (40.50) 29,140 (29,400) 2,725 (2,749)

Exchange Rates Indicative direct rates in rupees a unit except yen at 4 p.m on March 21

Currencies U.S. Dollar Euro Pound Sterling Jap Yen (100 Units) Chinese Yuan Swiss Franc Singapore Dollar Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Swedish Kroner Danish Kroner New Zealand Dollar Hongkong Dollar Malaysian Ringitt Kuwaiti Dinar UAE Dirham Bahraini Dinar Qatari Riyal Saudi Riyal Omani Riyal

TT TT Buying Selling 66.33 66.65 74.74 75.11 95.47 95.96 59.40 59.69 10.22 10.30 68.48 68.82 48.78 49.03 50.42 50.69 50.84 51.10 8.07 8.11 10.03 10.08 44.92 45.14 8.55 8.59 16.29 16.46 220.03 221.82 18.05 18.15 174.76 178.10 18.25 18.29 17.72 17.76 171.75 173.78

Source: Indian Bank

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333 POINTS

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28,685 28,760

Tax panel wants 6-8% levy on most digital services Experts say govt. must provide greater clarity on implementation SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

high-level government committee has recommended a 6-8 per cent tax on several online services such as online advertising, cloud computing, website-hosting, digital platforms for sale of goods and services or download of software and applications, provided by a company not resident in India. Committee on Taxation of E-Commerce, set up by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), recommended that payments of over Rs.1 lakh made by a resident individual or company to a non-resident enterprise will be covered by this levy. “Such a threshold will keep almost all B2C (business to consumer) transactions as well as a very large number of B2B (business to business) transactions outside the scope of the equalization levy, thereby limiting its impact,” according to the committee’s report. The report was subDIGITAL mitted to Finance MinLEVY ister Arun Jaitley prior to the Budget, based on e-commerce which he proposed a fee of 6 per cent to be levied only on online advertising and restricted to B2B transactions. However, there are other recommendations made in the report that Mr. Jaitley is yet to implement. “The Committee’s recommendation is to impose this levy on sale of digital goods and services, including website hosting, cloud computing etc,” Shefali Goradia, Partner, BMR & Associates said. “Though the Budget proposal is to apply this levy currently only on online advertisements, more categories of digital goods and services may be added later. “It is imperative that the government not only lays down clear guidelines around the transaction covered under the levy but equally, the manner of determination as to

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whether the equalisation levy (EQL) or Income Tax will apply on a transaction,” Rakesh Jariwala, Tax Partner - Media and Entertainment, EY said. “Else, the transaction could lead to double taxation—EQL as well as Income Tax.” The equalisation levy follows the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) report, endorsed by the G20 and OECD, which sought to put forth a global standard for taxing ecommerce. The issue with e-commerce is that the services are often provided by companies that have no oice space in the country where the service is rendered and so are not subject to tax, providing them

an advantage over domestic players. The other issue, that experts feel needs to be addressed, is based on whom the onus of payment of the levy will fall. “One important issue which the committee has taken cognisance of is that putting the onus of payment of the levy on the payment gateways and authorised foreign exchange dealers can reduce the obligation on the service purchaser,” Amit Maheshwari, Managing Partner, Ashok Maheshwary & Associates told The Hindu. The onus of the levy proposed by Mr. Jaitley fell on the service purchaser, which the industry felt was unfair. “The industry has reacted strongly to the equalisation levy as it could significantly drive up the cost of advertising online,”

Chaaya Baradhwaaj, Founder-Managing Director, BC Web Wise said. “However, it’s not enough to prevent platforms like Google and Facebook from hiking their ad rates to ofset the 6 per cent levy or refusing to recognise it altogether,” Ms Baradhwaaj said. Experts feel that the government has to bring in greater clarity on how the levy will be implemented, to whom it will apply and whether it will be distinct from Income Tax. “In their (Committee)

view, since equalisation levy is on gross consideration paid, it is not in the nature of Income Tax and hence should not be covered by tax treaties,” Ms. Goradia said. “The report states that the other countries are free to grant credit for this levy as per their domestic law. In future, if the other countries impose equalisation levy, India may consider granting credit on a reciprocal basis. “This levy is India’s attempt to tax the digital economy in a non-adversarial manner and at the same time demonstrate its commitment to the global BEPS project and of course to raise more revenues for the country,” Amarjeet Singh, Partner – Tax, KPMG in India, said.

75 ₨/10gm

RUPEE 21-03-16 66.53 18-03-16 66.50

0.03 ₨/$

BRENT OIL 21-03-16 41.11 18-03-16 42.12

1.01 $/bbl

Patanjali doubles sales, closes in on FMCG biggies ASHISH RUKHAIYAR MUMBAI: Home-grown Patanja-

li Ayurved Ltd. (PAL) is growing rapidly, giving the mucholder established players in the fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) segment a run for their money. And, if the Haridwar-based company is able to sustain the pace, it would soon overtake other majors such as Dabur India, Emami and Marico in terms of sales and profitability. According to a rating rationale document by Brickwork Ratings, a credit rating agency, Patanjali Ayurved clocked in a provisional turnover of Rs. 3,266.97 crore in the first 10 months of the current financial year. This is more than double of Rs. 1,587.51 crore reported in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. This is the first time that the FY15 and FY16 numbers of the company have been disclosed. Incidentally, Patanajali has not disclosed its FY15 numbers to the Registrar of Companies (RoC) yet. While Patanjali’s turnover and profit is currently less than most of the FMCG majors, it is rising at a much faster pace. According to Bloomberg, Emami reported a turnover of Rs.1,953.02 crore in the first nine months of FY16. Marico clocked in a turnover of Rs.4,819.61 crore between April 1 and December 31,2015. Both, Godrej Consumer Products and Dabur registered turnovers in excess of Rs. 6,000 crore in the first nine months of FY16. On the profitability front, the company, which has yoga guru Baba Ramdev as its brand ambassador, almost doubled its profits in FY15 at Rs. 308.79 crore from Rs.154.70 crore in FY14, according to Brickwork Ratings.

While the low-base efect makes the profit growth look impressive, it comes at a time when most other FMCG majors saw their profit grow in the range of 10-20 per cent. Bloomberg data shows that the profit of Dabur and Emami grew 16.53 per cent and 20.66 per cent, respectively in FY15. Patanjali is clearly targeting much older FMCG majors like Colgate-Palmolive, Nestle, Dabur and HUL. Its wide array of products — including ghee, spices, pulses, chyawanprash, toothpaste, shampoo, toothbrush, instant noodlesand also beauty products — competes directly with products from the heavyweights. “The company is already competing with established FMCG players in all segments. In terms of profitability margin, Patanjali is almost on a par with the bigger companies,” said a source familiar with Patanjali’s latest financials. Going ahead, it plans to establish food processing parks and also increase the share of contract manufacturing, which is currently only around 20 per cent. Contract manufacturing would allow the company to increase capacity without fixed assets. Some of the larger companies had 70-80 per cent share of contract manufacturing, the source said. According to Brickwork

ratings, the company has “expanded its basket of products tremendously over the last year.” Sustaining this with profitable growth requires continous R&D, enlargement of contract manufacturing and quality control. PAL is competing directly with about a dozen well-established FMCG players for its different product range, and the fight for market share could result in pricing pressures. The company intends to have a Rs. 320 crore bank loan facility to fund its expansion plans. The rating agency has assigned ‘BWR AA-’ rating to the company’s long-term working capital credit of Rs.300 crore it plans to avail from Punjab National Bank. The rating reflects a ‘high degree’ of safety with a stable outlook. A further Rs.20 crore short-term bank guarantee has been rated as ‘BWR A1+’ by Brickworks that denotes ‘very strong degree’ of safety. “The rating reflects the wide variety of FMCG products brought out by the company under ‘Patanjali’ brand name, strong growth in terms of sales and profitability registered over the last two years, absence of term debt and low level of working capital facilities, and ambitious plans for future expansion and growth,” according to Brickwork Ratings.

Foreign insurers win nod to raise stakes Current account deficit narrows in third quarter PIYUSH PANDEY MUMBAI: The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approved proposals worth over Rs.7,000 crore, including those of Tata AIA Life Insurance Company Ltd. and Birla Sun Life Insurance Company Ltd., allowing foreign

partners to increase their stakes in the Indian insurance ventures. Japanese insurer Nippon Life Insurance, AIA International, Aviva Life and Sun Life were among the 15 companies whose foreign direct investment (FDI) proposals amounting to Rs. 7,262 crore

were approved by FIPB.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Referred to Cabinet panel The proposal of Yes Bank to hike foreign investment limit to 74 per cent from the existing 41.87 per cent without any sub-limits has been referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Afairs (CCEA).

MUMBAI: The country’s current account deficit (CAD) narrowed to $ 7.1 billion or 1.3 per cent of GDP during the October-December quarter of the financial year, mainly due to lower trade deficit. According to latest data released by the

Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the current account deficit narrowed from $7.7 billion or 1.5 per cent of GDP recorded during the same period of last year and from $8.7 billion or 1.7 per cent of GDP recorded in July-September quarter. “The contraction in CAD was primarily on account of a

lower trade deficit (US$ 34.0 billion) than in Q3 of last year (US$ 38.6 billion) and US$ 37.4 billion in the preceding quarter,” according to the Reserve Bank of India. Private transfer receipts, mainly representing remittances by Indians employed abroad was $ 15.8 billion, a de-

cline from their level in the preceding quarter as well as from a year ago. For the nine month period of April-December, CAD narrowed to 1.4 per cent of GDP from 1.7 per cent in the corresponding period of 2014-15, on the back of the contraction in the trade deficit.

How China central bank sought Fed help WASHINGTON: Confronted with a

plunge in its stock markets last year, China’s central bank swiftly reached out to the U.S. Federal Reserve, asking it to share its play book for dealing with Wall Street’s “Black Monday” crash of 1987. The request came in a July 27 email from a People’s Bank of China oicial with a subject line: “Your urgent assistance is greatly appreciated!” In a message to a senior Fed stafer, the PBOC’s New Yorkbased chief representative for the Americas, Song Xiangyan, pointed to the day’s 8.5 per cent drop in Chinese stocks and said “my Governor would like to draw from your good experience.” It is not known whether the PBOC had contacted the Fed to deal with previous incidents of market turmoil. The

Chinese central bank and the Fed had no comment when reached by Reuters. In a Reuters analysis last year, Fed insiders, former Fed employees and economists said that there was no oicial hotline between the PBOC and the Fed. The Chinese market crash triggered steep declines across global financial markets and within a few hours the Fed sent China’s central bank a trove of publi-

cly-available documents detailing the U.S. central bank’s actions in 1987. Fed policymakers started a two-day policy meeting the next day and took note of China’s stock sell-of, according the meeting’s minutes. Several said a Chinese economic slowdown could weigh on America. Financial market contagion from China was one of the reasons cited by the Fed in September when it put of a rate hike that many analysts had expected, a sign of how important China has become both as an industrial powerhouse and as a financial market. No secrets The messages, which Reuters obtained through a Freedom of Information Act re-

quest, show how alarmed Beijing has become over the deepening financial turmoil and ofer a rare insight into one of the least understood major central banks. “Could you please inform us ASAP about the major measures you took at the time,” Mr. Song asked the director of the Fed’s International Finance Division, Steven Kamin in the July 27 email. The message registered in Mr. Kamin’s account just after 11 a.m. in Washington. Mr. Kamin quickly replied from his Blackberry: “We’ll try to get you something soon.” What followed five hours later was a 259-word summary of how the Fed worked to calm markets and prevent a recession after the S&P 500 stock index tumbled 20 per cent on October 19, 1987. — Reuters

Apple unveils smaller iPhone SE, starting at $399 CUPERTINO (CALIFORNIA): Apple Inc on Monday unveiled a smaller, cheaper iPhone aimed at new buyers, especially in emerging markets and possibly China, the world’s biggest buyer of smartphones, as the technology company looks to reverse a decline in worldwide sales of its most important product. The new device, called the iPhone SE, has a 4-inch (10cm) screen and starts at a price of $399. It represents Apple’s second bid for the crowded mid-tier market after an unsuccessful foray three years ago. That is well below the starting price tag of $649 for the current top iPhone model without a contract, which is beyond the reach of many.

Apple vice-president Greg Joswiak introduces the iPhone SE at the Apple headquarters in California on Monday.— PHOTO: REUTERS

The new phone, with Apple’s vaunted A9 chip, doubles the speed of Apple’s previous attempt at an entry-level phone, the 5s, launched in 2013. It al-

so runs Apple Pay and comes in the wildly popular rose gold colour. Shares of Apple were down about half a per cent at $105.41

in early afternoon trade. The more compact phone design comes after it expanded the size of the screens in its high-end iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus phones in 2014 to as large as 5.5 inches. That was broadly seen as an attempt to match rival Samsung Electronics with its largescreen Galaxy phones. Before the launch at Apple’s leafy Cupertino, California headquarters, Chief Executive Tim Cook defended the company’s refusal to comply with a U.S. court order to unlock an iPhone belonging to one of the shooters in a December attack in San Bernardino, California. Apple has a responsibility to protect customers’ data and privacy, Mr. Cook said to applause. — Reuters ND-ND

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Senior homes advertise healthy living, intellectual pursuits … But there is a stage beyond these facilities

Walk one must for health, did you say?

The looming, inevitable endgame G. PADMANABAN

O

ne of my young friends gave me this book, Being Mortal, by Atul Gawande, a surgeon in Boston and author of three award-winning works. Though it is set in the United States, issues of ageing and management of the elderly are largely the same everywhere. At 78, the book set me thinking in personal and general terms. Dr. Gawande, of Indian origin, mentions in passing the grip and image his grandfather had once commanded in a joint family system even with failing health and faculties. As a patriarch of the family and commanding the traditional reverence that older people have in India, he could get all the attention. Things are changing quickly in India. It is often SENIOR to MOMENT heart-wrenching watch the lives of the poor in destitute sunset homes. Many of them have been disowned by their families. Dr. Gawande describes the nursing homes in the U.S., which, by and large, address the issue of the health and safety of the elderly But often the emotional quotient becomes an issue, since the old still want to live on their own terms, irrespective of the condition of their health and their background. In India, it would seem that there are no human rights of any kind for the elderly who are poor and destitute. The middle class presents an interesting study. I find that the joint family system is still in vogue in the less-affluent families with missing aca-

ILLUSTRATION: DEEPAK HARICHANDAN

demic accomplishments among its members. Families have become unitary and parents tend to live independently. Children are often abroad and the old couple can follow their own passion. The problem arises when things slow down or get derailed by age-related problems, accidents and inability to manage day-to-day chores. There are old-age home advertisements galore, ofering healthy community living, nutritious food, intellectual pursuits and health

The face does not always reveal all VIJAI PANT

“T

hat’s him,” they would exclaim, after just a casual glance, while pointing at me in a group photograph. Now, I do not have a striking personality or a photogenic face that would stand out in a crowd. So what is it that would make people, even nodding acquaintances, readily find me amid hordes of cheerful, smiling faces? Well, I would be the odd one out. Actually, when the photographer would shout “say cheese”, and everyone grins ear to ear, I would continue to have a poker face, looking sternly at the lens, as if daring the lensman to make me fall in line. So, you see, you need not even know me to pick me out, whether in real life or in pictures. My strict demeanour would give me away. During childhood when the first signs of indiscipline appeared in my incisors, my parents took me to a dentist. There, people were half sprawled on the hydraulic dental chairs, mouths wide open and in varying degrees of distress and pain. Of course I was too young then to come to the conclusion that death may be the great leveller, but in life perhaps there can be no better leveller than the orthodontist’s chamber, with the doctor and his team peering into, and working on, their patients’ gaping caverns. The polite and friendly dentist, after impressing my parents with some complex medical terms, suggested a simple brace for me. Cosmetic and aesthetic dentistry were unheard-of then. Having no option I agreed, though unwillingly, as the thought of being ridiculed by my friends came to me. The dental brace was made and worn. But fate had other designs. A month or two later, the wire broke. Consequently, the front elevation stayed merrily where it was. Always open to suggestions on ways to improve my face value, I remember my first lessons in oral hygiene. During my school days a renowned dentist of the area visited our school and addressed the morning assembly. He demonstrated the right manner of brushing teeth, stressing the importance of sparkling teeth for an irresistible smile. I took his lessons to heart, despite being acutely aware of my protruding incisors. The next morning I brushed my teeth both clockwise and anti-clockwise in slow motion, not CM YK

I don’t smile at will. So, many label me a morose, dull, uninteresting, party-pooper paying any heed to the ticking of the clock. I followed it with gargling — umpteen times, exactly as he had wanted. Finally when I emerged from the washroom, I felt momentarily confident to dazzle the world with my “whites”. Unfortunately, the world had moved on, leaving me behind. I had missed my school bus. I have since grown up into a stern-looking man. At best you can get a faint smile from me even when the occasion demands loud, uninhibited laughter. Sometimes a suppressed smile would appear like a smirk, ofending others. Instead of understanding my predicament, people think I give myself the airs. There are others who label me as morose, dull, uninteresting, a party-pooper and what not. On the flip side, my unwillingness to smile has contributed to my being termed a “no-nonsense” teacher by my students, and this image has indeed helped me bring under control even the rowdies among them. However, to be honest, I also want to smile and possess a “pleasing visage”. Of course, I know about the technological advancements now and the smile-enhancing techniques. But then, I’ve just completed explaining to my students Ogden Nash’s poem, “This is going to hurt just a little bit”. Consequently, my childhood fears have again been stirred. So, by the time I gather courage and get a “cultivated” smile, please bear with me, if I do not efortlessly burst into a smile at your jokes. It definitely doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy them. [email protected]

In India, the human rights of destitute, poor senior citizens do not seem to be respected check-ups. But there is a stage beyond these homes. Often, a daughter in the family bears the burden. Thank God for creating the woman of the species! I am a scientist and we are a privileged class. There is no retirement age as such. One can continue to be active in terms of hard-core research, teaching,

writing books and giving lectures, serving on technical committees, mentoring budding scientists, and so on. But, setbacks come all of a sudden. In my own case, it was a dream-come-true that I could continue with research all along and quietly work to build a centre for malaria research brick by brick. My head turned when people underestimated my age by as much as a decade! All this went on merrily till one fine day the entire dream for the centre collapsed like a pack of cards. People left and the infrastructure collapsed. The rea-

sons are not important, but suddenly I did not even have a work bench to do my research. I can still do my research through collaborations elsewhere in these days of the Internet, Skype and emails. But what happens to my ego-driven wish to leave a legacy in a place where I spent 50 years of my research career? It hurts and hurts deeply when the entire community which is supposed to revere and adore me does nothing to stop the collapse. Intellectuals often overestimate their own relative importance, which, in reality, is of no consequence to society or even to colleagues. What will I do when I have to shut shop? I have not been to a shop or bank or movie-house for ages. I cannot imagine how I will get along without my wife, but she can do very well without me, despite the personal loss. We are trying to make all transactions online. Old people are diicult to handle and scientists can be worse even for the best of children. I have not been admitted to hospital as far as I can remember. Dr. Gawande describes vividly the ageing process with unenviable consequences more to the near and dear ones rather than to the ageing person as such. Death itself does not scare me, it is the process! There is only one way, if you are an Abdul Kalam! Anayasena maranam! Professor Padmanaban is a former Director of the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore [email protected]

M. RAMANKUTTY

O

f late I have been under tremendous pressure to take a morning walk for exercise. Family members, friends and the regular consulting doctor have joined the chorus: walk you must. Okay, okay, I’m going to walk every morning. The doctor insisted I take a brisk walk, but I was not taken in by the word “brisk”, because I knew it would be a risk not worth taking. The first thing I did was to prepare for the events. I got a dark-coloured track suit with white canvas shoes and white socks. One secret I have to share with you. While walking, I am not very steady in my steps because of age-related disabilities. When I told the doctor about this, he assured me walking would take care of the problem. The doctor added as a parting shot: “Take a brisk walk and you’ll be okay.” On the appointed day, which I believed to be an auspicious day, I ventured out at 5.30 a.m. and started walking. There were some others on the road, presumably walkers too. I had covered about 100 metres when two men came from behind and overtook me on foot. I had no grouse over their doing so, but a remark one of them made while passing me, albeit at a safe distance, was: “The old guy seems to have swallowed a couple of pegs before starting the walk;

there seems to be a swing in his steps.” I smiled to myself and did not take it seriously. But then there was another episode. There was a temple nearby and devotees, men and women, were going to and returning from the temple. A father and daughter were returning and the father was heard prompting his daughter to cover her neck fully with the end of the sari, remarking a little loudly that there were chain-snatchers around, casting a dark look at me. I froze in my steps and stood still till they passed me. But it had the opposite efect.

Do I look like a drunk or a robber? Of a morning walker’s unsavoury experiences The father, taking hold of his daughter’s hand, quickly crossed the road to avoid me, remarking softly, “Let’s be on the safe side. I don’t like the look of him.” They moved on, but not without the careful father throwing a glance back at me. All my energy evaporated and I was not in a mood to walk any further. I slowly turned back and reached home, crestfallen. Do I look like a chainsnatcher or a tipsy guy? I feel it may take some time before I try to obey my doctor and my other benefactors. Till then, please bear with me! [email protected]

Anticipation and arrival, winter’s trills and thrills SEERAT SANDHU GILL

I

t’s time for the stunning Siberian cranes, the exotic greater flamingos, the beautiful harriers and rufs, to return to their native land. These migratory birds arrive in our country at the onset of winter, travelling long distances to escape the still harsher and colder winters of their native land. They come in search of more favourable feeding grounds. The migratory birds usually sufer high mortality risks and face a threat from hunters. They reach their final destinations after battling stormy weather conditions and starvation. The migration of birds never ceases to amaze me. It is no less than a miracle that a pair of wings and sheer grit take them across whole continents. It is also time to bid goodbye to another kind of migratory breed — the non-resident Indians. As soon as the winter in the West becomes severe, the NRIs catch the

to a serious bout of tummy trouble. It’s a win-win scene at wedding parties, where NRIs add a dash of glitz and glamour to the event, while they enjoy finger-licking food, endless rounds of wine and foot-tapping bhangra, all under dollar gets exchanged for the one roof. After hosting the flamingos and humble rupee. No matter how much they com- the foreign families for the winter, plain about lack of proper imple- we gear to bid them a tearful mentation of rules and regula- goodbye. The nip in the air gets replaced tions, pot-holed roads and corrupt policemen, they secretly find it with soft, balmy breeze. Layers of liberating to break a traic signal clothes get shed. There is spring or two, without having to pay a in the air, and the geraniums are in full bloom. hefty ticket later. It’s now time for the northern A passing incident of bribery becomes a worthwhile tale to re- pintails and the non-resident Intell, and future generations are dians to go back to their native cautioned about the finer nuances lands, until next year. Isn’t it truly fascinating how the of fraudulence. For gastronomic delights, the migratory breed of both birds and NRIs play safe by sticking mostly beings have managed to spread to home-cooked food. But a few the fragrance of their presence adventurous ones indulge in sa- and perseverance world over — voury and spicy street food deli- all with a pair of wings and sheer cacies such as golgappas, chaat will? [email protected] and tikki, at the risk of falling prey

The weather brings both flocks to our climes; if for one it’s a refuge, for the other it’s just homecoming

first flight home and begin their annual sojourn in the motherland. They arrive just in time for the much-awaited dose of sarson da saag (mustard leaves) and makki di roti (corn bread). The malaai maarka lassi (cream-laden buttermilk) completes the feast. A group of NRIs can be spotted from a distance, each carrying a water bottle and sporting a pair of trendy eyewear, from sunrise till sunset. In the northern parts of India, if nothing else, their loud and

gregarious babbling in heavily accented Punjabi is a sure giveaway of their NRI status. The highlight of their trip, besides reuniting with long-lost friends and family, is shopping. The NRI plays a major role in contributing to the economy by shopping for everything under the sun. Be it getting a sewing needle or a griddle pan, making rotis or buying branded clothes, traditional wear and even jewellery, it all seems cheaper when the mighty

Sibling symphony and an easy-going music teacher AKSHAY SIMHA

A

s far as I have seen, training children in either classical music or dance is still considered necessary and appropriate, even fashionable, in South Indian Brahmin households (at least in Chennai and Bengaluru). Our family has been no diferent. Almost all my cousins have dabbled in classical music at one point or the other. A couple of my sisters are trained dancers. However, I find the case of one of my cousins interesting. He trained as a percussionist for years. But today, the instrument sits safely in the attic, brought down only during the time of Ayudha Puja, perhaps. The irony is that his wife and her mother are both performing artists. My brother was made to train under a music teacher when he was in Class V, if I remember right. Two years later, someone hit upon this brilliant idea: if the elder can do it, why not the younger? Thus, when I was in Class I, much before I could actually work out what exactly was happening, it was decided that I would join the class with my brother. Maybe, it was because I would hum the songs which my brother was taught. I can actually imagine some elderly person sitting with a thoughtful expression on the face, saying, “He has potential.” (Damn the reality shows for corrupting the imagination!) Now came the diicult bit — of deciding on the tutor. The instructor under whom my brother trained was found “not satisfactory”, or not the one who could unleash my brother’s true potential. One of our uncles suggested

someone he knew personally. That someone had name and fame as an acclaimed artist. It was probably his imposing personality that made us chicken out. Moreover, I do not think anybody in the family thought that either my brother or I had a career in music ahead of us. Hence, there was no reason to train under a performing artist; was there? A family friend then suggested a lady under whom he had been training for several years. The tutor’s house was close to ours. She had a good voice and knowledge and was quite gentle (with due respect, I am not sure if timid is the right word here). That sealed the deal. We did make significant progress. For quite a few years, my brother and I would be the “trophies” at all family gatherings, asked to sing — together — in front of the guests. It was not only chinaware that was displayed when guests came home. However, with hindsight, I believe my brother and I never realised the significance of being classically trained as long as we were under her tutelage. We are guilty of having faked mouth ulcers, sore throats, guests-at-home and a few other excuses. Because that way the class would last just one-fifth of the usual time, sometimes less. For nearly eight years I trained under her, getting the basics right but never fully comprehending the value of what I was learning. My brother changed the tutor midway, quite unceremoniously, and it was left to me to handle the situation. Eventually, she realised that my brother would not come back to her music class again, though she was kind enough not to question me on that count.

When my turn came, it was Class X to the rescue. Since that year was a “gamechanger”, I could not devote time to attend music classes. Thus I quit her class, only to join my brother. It was there that I understood what had gone wrong for the past eight years. I had never been serious but had always been passable. Hence, there was no chance of a reprimand. However, under the instructor I had just joined, merely being passable was not enough. Also, with other students being very competent, you had to be competent too to be in business. Excuses such as ulcers wouldn’t work here! A much-needed jerk now having been provided, I began to look at music classes in a wholly diferent light. Two years later, I quit music classes since they clashed with my tuitions for the second year of the pre-university course. This time, though, I wasn’t lying. I

never got to resume the classes after the course as I had move into a hostel. The instructor ofered to conduct classes on Skype. Not feasible enough, though. I vividly remember one thing the lady teacher said. She never taught anybody compositions in Raga Varali. She believed that if taught, that composition would be the last-ever to be taught and the gurushishya relationship would end. It was a belief she had cultivated under her own teacher. Incidentally, the last-ever composition I learnt completely before I quit the classes during my pre-university course was in Varali! Every time I go home, there is a strange urge to go and check if the teacher is still around. If she is, maybe my brother and I could go, talk to her. Thank her, perhaps. However, I have never gathered the courage to do it. [email protected] ND-ND

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TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

| 17

Bangladesh no match for Australia

I can’t take Gayle’s spot: Fletcher

Khawaja’s solid knock sets up the successful chase, notwithstanding the late stutter

BENGALURU: This is an era of short attention spans.

the 16th over. Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim then gave their team a much-needed push. The final three overs yielded 15, 17 and 12 runs respectively, partially undoing all the hard work done by the Australians up to this point.

ASHWIN ACHAL BENGALURU: On the eve of this

match, Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza proclaimed that his side would respond to the suspension of Taskin Ahmed and Arafat Sunny with an emphatic statement on the field. There would be no such inspiring tale to follow. Yet to adjust to life without Taskin and Sunny, Bangladesh proved to be no match for Australia here on Monday, going down by three wickets. This below-par performance saw Mashrafe’s men succumb to a second-straight loss, while Australia pulled one back after a defeat to New Zealand in its opening fixture. Set a modest target of 157, Australia rode on Usman Khawaja’s 45-ball 58 — his highest T20I score. Khawaja played a calm hand, keeping the unit in sight of the required rate until his dismissal in the 14th over. The southpaw left with Australia needing 42 from 41 balls, and despite throwing away wickets as the contest drew to a close, the favourite went past the finish line.

SCOREBOARD

Late impetus Earlier, Mahmudullah (49 n.o., 29b, 7x4, 1x6) provided the late impetus to propel a stuttering Bangladesh innings. The Australian bowlers kept the batsmen in check for the first 17 FREE FLOWING: Southpaw Usman Khawaja picked his spots well in anchoring Australia's pursuit of a not-so-challengiing target with a solid 58. — PHOTO: K. BHAGYA PRAKASH

overs, keeping a bulk of the deliveries straight and on a good length. Nathan Coulter-Nile took the new ball, and worked up appreciable pace while giving the openers no room to take a swing. A struggling Soumya Sarkar, found wanting by Coulter-Nile, guided a rare wide ball from Shane Watson to point in the next over. Watson scalped another

Kiwis’ spin web consumes Aussies G. VISWANATH NAGPUR: On a winning streak in

recent times, New Zealand cracked the Australia code for a third time in an ICC World Tweny20 competition at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) ground here on Monday and virtually clinched its place in the semifinals. After Australia captain Meg Lanning chose to bat, New Zealand showed its hand in the form of finger spinners and dominated the first session. Scottish by birth, of-spinner Leigh Kasperek struck twice in the second over to put Australia on the back foot. Two on-side catches by Lea Tahuhu sent back the openers Alyssa Healy and Elyse Villani, but it was the run out of Meg that the White Ferns in command. Desperately looking to recover from a dismal four for four by the end of the fourth over and 27 for four at the conclusion of the 10th over, Australia recovered through Ellyse

Perry (42, 48b, 3x4, 1x6) to set a target of 104. The New Zealand captain Suzie Bates’s choice of spin for the first eight overs through left-armer Morna Nielsen and Leigh upset the equanimity of the Australians no end. When the Kiwis began the chase, Suzie and wicket-keeper Rachel Priest blitzed their way to give a 58-run start and by the eighth over they were well on their way to inflict a big defeat on Australia. The Kiwi skipper said, “The match was played on the same wicket as the Black Caps against India. So the plan was to start with the spinners, but Leigh bowled so well that it was stretched to eight overs of spin at the start. We never expected Australia would be four for five.” The scores: Australia 103 for eight in 20 overs (Ellyse Perry 42, Leigh Kasperek three for 13, Erin Bermingham two for 23) lost to New Zealand 104 for four in 16.2 overs (Rachel Priest 34, Suzie Bates 23).

when Sabbir Rahman made awkward contact of a short ball, allowing James Faulkner to take a diving catch at mid-on. The first PowerPlay ended with the side on 33 for two, even as two-drop Shakib Al Hasan was beginning to find his feet. Leggie Adam Zampa was introduced in the tenth over, and he found success immediately. Mohammad Mithun — taking first strike in place of the indis-

posed Tamim Iqbal — pulled a short one to deep mid-wicket, before Shuvagata Hom was caught in front of the stumps of a flipper. A little while later, Zampa —he bowled just the one over in the previous match —sent back Shakib, the set batsman. An attempted cut by Shakib found the hands of short thirdman, and Bangladesh had made an unimpressive 105 or five in

Too many holes For Angelo Mathews however, it seems tough to even assess the number of holes to be plugged. “I thought the middle order let us down today,” he said. “We batted quite well in the last game, we were being positive, but today wasn’t the ideal wicket for batting. We just kept losing wickets.” “We are doing mistakes here and there which actually cost us the game. We were so sloppy on the field again. We have a very good break going into the next games. We’ll work hard on all the departments and try and win.

England ready for Indian challenge VIJAY LOKAPALLY DHARAMSHALA: The backdrop can

be a distraction. The Indian girls took time to settle into the ‘nets’, busy as they were taking selfies with the majestic Dhauladhar range in the background. “The girls have been watching the mountains; they are still not into the nets,” said India skipper Mithali Raj in a lighter vein at the pre-match interac-

LIVE ON STAR SPORTS 2 & HD2, 3.30 P.M. tion ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 fixture here. For England skipper Charlotte Edwards, the feelings were no diferent. “It’s the most beautiful ground I have been to. We played recently at Cape Town and that is a very big compliment. “We are loving it here, probably more like England. The scenery is unbelievable. The pitch looks fantastic. We are hoping it would be a good game of cricket tomorrow and may the best team win,” said the 36-year-old with a 20-year career in international cricket.

Charlotte Edwards. A hard-earned win over Bangladesh gave England an ideal start even as India fumbled against Pakistan. “Really pleased with the way we have started the tournament but we have to be more intent, look to hit more boundaries. We need to improve against India,” said Charlotte. The England skipper analysed the quality of the tournament well. “I have seen the game evolve over the years. It is nice to see so many teams now competing and everyone’s coming closer. To see Pakistan beat India

Kolkata and guard against repeating mistakes in team selection. Monday’s lush green track must have encouraged the Pakistani pacemen, including Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Sami, making them hope the pitch retains its colour for one more day. Pakistan’s batting relies on captain Shahid Afridi, Mohammad Hafeez, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik and Sharjeel Khan. However, it is understood that Hafeez may miss the crucial match due to a knee injury. The duel has the setting for a perfect entertainer. Only, it should rise to the expectations.

Y.B. SARANGI MOHALI: The list of enviers must

be long for New Zealand. The way it has adapted to starkly varied conditions to start its World T20 campaign with a bang deserves the attention it attracts. After getting used to the tropical heat of Nagpur and extended winters of Dharamshala with ease, New Zealand is feeling at home in the pleasant weather of Mohali. Going against the grain, it rode on the fine performances of its spinners to stifle an inform India and a robust Australia, and strengthened its position atop Group 2. With a semifinal berth in sight, New Zealand is now looking to outsmart Pakistan at the I.S. Bindra PCA Stadium here on Tuesday. “We quite like to go under the radar,” said New Zealand coach Mike Hesson on Monday. Apart from adjusting to con-

The teams (from): 앫 New Zealand: Kane

Williamson (capt.), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, Grant Elliott, Colin Munro, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, and Ross Taylor.

STRATEGISING: Tackling Pakistan, which presents an uncommon

blend of unpredictability and skill, may not be child’s play for New Zealand. — PHOTO: AKHILESH KUMAR

If pace aces Tim Southee and Trent Boult were left out to make way for spinners Ish Sodhi and Mitchell Santner, they bent their backs at Monday’s nets with the hope of getting a seamer-friendly track here.

Corey Anderson and Mitchell McClenaghan only add more teeth to the attack. The batting line-up containing captain Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott and Luke Ronchi speaks of eiciency. Tackling Pakistan, which presents an uncommon blend of unpredictability and skill, may not be child’s play though.

앫 Pakistan: Shahid Afridi

Aspiring to win the contest and stay in contention for the semifinals, Pakistan needs to overcome a couple of challenges — withstand the scathing criticism for its loss to India in

(capt.), Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Imad Wasim, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Sami, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Sharjeel Khan, Umar Akmal, and Wahab Riaz.

was a fantastic result for world cricket. This tournament is massive for our game.” Mithali gave England its due. “England is a very good side with some very experienced players. They have a very good batting line-up and the bowling is decent. We really have to work hard. The pitch looks a little slower. Maybe not a T20 wicket but we would adapt. Pressure can work on the mind. You need to go through such experience and I am sure the girls are now better prepared. We won’t want to change too many things.” The teams (from): India: Mithali Raj (capt.), Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Thirush Kamini, Veda Krishnamurthy, Nagarajan Niranjana, Anuja Patil, Deepti Sharma, Sushma Verma, Ekta Bisht, Jhulan Goswami, Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav and Vellaswamy Vanitha England: Charlotte Edwards (capt.), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Georgia Elwiss, Natasha Farrant, Lydia Greenway, Rebecca Grundy, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor and Danielle Wyatt. Play starts at 3.30 p.m.

Bangladesh seeks review of Taskin ban

Taskin Ahmed. — PHOTO: AFP DHAKA: Bangladesh, on Monday,

sought a review of a ban on key paceman Taskin Ahmed from international cricket, said a senior oicial of the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The International Cricket Council last week suspended Taskin and left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny from bowling in international matches after an independent analysis found their bowling actions illegal. The bans came as a blow to Bangladesh’s chances in the World Twenty20 after they lost to Pakistan by 55 runs in their opening match. The decisions also triggered days of protests in the cricket-crazy country with demonstrators calling the moves a conspiracy against Dhaka. “Our Board president has already spoken to the ICC chairman and chief executive oicer over the matter,” Bangladesh Cricket Board chief executive oicer Nizamuddin Chowdhury said. — AFP

I have stayed away from Twitter, Facebook: Afridi ‘Afridi will be replaced after World T20’ SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Shahid Afridi has played enough cricket for Pakistan to know when to expect bouquets or brickbats. Even as the Pakistan team is haunted by the ghost of its loss to India in Kolkata the other night, Afridi said he had shut himself out from all distractions. “People who get angry with us also love us. In the sub-continent, cricket is big. We have to take these things positively and perform, because they love us a lot. We shouldn’t mind if they say something. “Even before the tournament started, people had written us of. I have stayed away from Twitter and Facebook, but I know how people are reacting back home. Whatever happens

MOHALI:

CM YK

Australia won by three wickets with nine balls remaining.

In the cricketing world nobody embodies this as much as the West Indians. In the longer formats they seem as bored as the fans. But in the shortest of formats they are a sprightly bunch capable of beating anybody. The last two years in fact lends credence to this. In the last four World T20 editions they have won the trophy once and finished semifinalists twice while pretty much falling flat outside of it. Going by the side’s form this time around — two wins out of two including one with zero efort from Chris Gayle — a finish high up looks likely again. “We always back ourselves to win the World Cup,” said Andre Fletcher, the player-of-thematch in West Indies’ seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka. “It’s good to see that we have two wins under our belt and once we get into the semifinals, we take it from there. Once we play the cricket we are accustomed to, we will lift the cup a second time.” Fletcher in fact didn’t play the first match

against England and was pushed up to the opening slot only after an injury to Chris Gayle. “I didn’t take his spot,” he stressed. “I can’t take his spot. I don’t think anyone in the world can take his spot, so I am happy that I did the job for the team and I am grateful for that position.” “I cannot say that,” Fletcher said when asked if the opener’s slot was now his. “I cannot say that I would be opening or even playing the next game, so fingers crossed.”

New Zealand looks to outsmart Pakistan

ditions, New Zealand has massively benefited from its accurate reading of pitches and appropriate choices of its playing XI.

DOWN AND OUT: Skipper Meg Lanning's first-ball run out only confounded Australia's troubles against spin at the top of the order. — PHOTO: PTI

Bangladesh: Mohd. Mithun c Watson b Zampa 23 (22b, 1x4, 1x6), Soumya Sarkar c Maxwell b Watson 1 (6b), Sabbir Rahman c Faulkner b Watson 12 (17b, 2x4), Shakib Al Hasan c Coulter-Nile b Zampa 33 (25b, 3x4, 1x6), Shuvagata Hom lbw b Zampa 13 (10b, 1x4, 1x6), Mahmudullah (not out) 49 (29b, 7x4, 1x6), Mushfiqur Rahim (not out) 15 (11b, 2x4); Extras (lb-7, w-3): 10; Total (for five wkts. in 20 overs): 156. Fall of wickets: 1-2 (Sarkar), 2-25 (Sabbir), 3-62 (Mithun), 4-78 (Shuvagata), 5-105 (Shakib). Australia bowling: Nathan Coulter-Nile 4-0-21-0, Shane Watson 4-031-2, John Hastings 3-0-24-0, Mitchell Marsh 1-0-12-0, Glenn Maxwell 1-012-0, Adam Zampa 4-0-23-3, James Faulkner 3-0-26-0. Australia: Usman Khawaja b AlAmin 58 (45b, 7x4, 1x6), Shane Watson run out 21 (15b, 2x4, 1x6), Steven Smith b Mustafizur 14 (13b, 1x6), David Warner c & b Shakib 17 (9b, 1x4, 1x6), Glenn Maxwell st Mushfiqur b Shakib 26 (15b, 2x4, 2x6), Mitchell Marsh c Shakib b Mustafizur 6 (6b, 1x4), James Faulkner (not out) 5 (3b, 1x4), John Hastings c Soumya b Shakib 3 (4b), Peter Nevill (not out) 1 (1b); Extras (lb-2, w-4): 6; Total (for seven wkts in 18.3 overs): 157. Fall of wickets: 1-62 (Watson), 2-95 (Smith), 3-115 (Khawaja), 4-119 (Warner), 5-135 (Marsh), 6-148 (Maxwell), 7-152 (Hastings). Bangladesh bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 1-0-9-0, Mahmudullah 2-022-0, Al-Amin Hossain 2-0-14-1, Mustafizur Rahman 4-0-30-2, Shakib Al Hasan 4-0-27-3, Saqlain Sajib 3.3-040-0, Shuvagata Hom 2-0-13-0. Toss: Australia. Man-of-the-match: Adam Zampa.

N. SUDARSHAN

that is a thing for the future, but right now all we can do is perform well,” said the Pakistan captain on the eve of the crunch match against New Zealand at the PCA Stadium here. “Sometimes, in Pakistan games, they make the pitch differently,” said Afridi while referring to the match against India. He also underlined the importance of moving on from that defeat. “If you create a panic situation in the team, it will be diicult to sort things out. Miracles always don’t work in cricket. We have to stop repeating small mistakes and play good cricket. “New Zealand has been playing well, but the conditions are diferent here. “We have the hunger to win

the match,” added Afridi.

Adapting better New Zealand coach Mike Hesson put things in perspective when asked about his side’s good run. “We picked a squad to suit all conditions. Perhaps, in the past, we have tried to play the New Zealand way in the sub-continent. But, in this tournament, even though we have played just two games, we have adapted a lot better.” Hesson, who felt that the conditions here were almost similar to the ones back home, warned his players that it wouldn’t be easy against the “unpredictable” and “skilful” Pakistanis. “Their bowling attack is very challenging. We have been for-

Shahid Afridi. — PHOTO: AKHILESH KUMAR

tunate enough to have played them recently. As a batting unit, they are relatively predictable and that gives us more opportunity with the ball,” said Hesson.

KARACHI: Shahid Afridi will be replaced as Pakistan’s Twenty20 captain after the World T20 in India, PCB chairman Shahryar Khan announced on Monday, while hinting his days as a player were also numbered. The PCB chairman said in Lahore on his return from Kolkata on Monday that the board and Afridi had an understanding that he will retire after the World Cup. “He is captain till the World Cup, and he has said he will retire after the event. “Even if he changes his mind and wants to carry on we will have to see whether he can be picked as a player or not,” Shahryar Khan said. He, however, made it clear that the board

didn’t err in appointing Afridi as captain of the T20 squad last year. “Afridi is an iconic figure in Pakistan and he has won us matches in the past some on his own. His choice was logical. “It is natural that whenever the team loses a big match there is criticism directed at him. But I think, at this moment, he needs the support of everyone,” said Shahryar. The PCB chief also confirmed that the board was contemplating changing the coach too. “We are looking at it. Waqar (Younis)’s contract is until June. I have already discussed the matter with Wasim Akram and a few other senior players.” — PTI ND-ND

18 |

SPORT

Seema misses knock-out phase NEW DELHI: World Cup silver

medallist Seema Tomar shot 67 and missed the knock-out phase by one point in women’s trap in the shotgun World Cup at Nicosia, Cyprus, on Monday. The 33-year-old shot a series of 22, 23 and 22. The results: Men: Skeet: 1. Mikola Milchev (Ukr) 14(4) 15 (121); 2. Ben William David Llewellin (G.Br.) 14(3) 15 (120); 3. Juan Jose Aramburu (Esp) 15(14) 5(119) 8; 4. Vincent Hancock (USA) 14 (14)4 (121); 19. Mairaj Ahmad Khan 117; 25. Man Singh 115; 35. Sheeraz Sheikh 113.

Divij Sharan loses NEW DELHI: Divij Sharan lost to

Daniel Elahi in straight sets in the second qualifying round of the $75,000 Challenger, San Luis Potosi (Mexico). The results: $75,000 Challenger, San Luis Potosi (Mexico): Qualifying (second round): Daniel Elahi Galan (Col) bt Divij Sharan 7-6 (6), 6-3.

Rahane sweats it out

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

Elated Prannoy aiming for Rio V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM HYDERABAD: H.S. Prannoy believes his Swiss Open triumph has come at the right moment, not only giving him the confidence but also a glimmer of hope to be in contention for the Olympics. The 23-year-old feels that it can be termed a simple instance of ‘better late than never’ — picking a major title after the 2014 Indonesian Open GP. “Honestly, I was not thinking in terms of winning the title. Having lost after the first two rounds in a couple of events before the Swiss Open, I decided to take it match by match and only once I reached the quarterfinals, I set my eyes on the title. I am definitely glad that most of the aspects of my game fell in place,” the young shuttler said in an exclusive chat with The Hindu on Monday “What really pleased me in the Swiss campaign was that I was really patient and not rushing things. Now, I feel that I am playing to my potential which was not the case not long ago,” the World No. 27 said. “The best part is that I played well most of the crucial points

Cash award for Prannoy SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT HYDERABAD: Badminton

WELL DONE! H.S. Prannoy with the spoils after claiming the Swiss Open title on Sunday.

right through the tournament to clinch the title,” added the big fan of Taufik Hidayat and Peter Gade. “The confidence is back even as I need to focus more on speed as I do feel that I am bit a slow right now.” “With three major events lined up in the next three weeks (India, Malaysian and Singapore Opens), I am determined

to improve my ranking and once that happens, it will take care of my bigger goal of qualifying for the Olympics though it is not going to be that easy,” said a practical Prannoy. “I must say that whatever success I have achieved in the circuit is just because of Gopi sir (Pullela Gopi Chand). Only after I joined his academy in

2009 that I got the confidence of being good enough to play in the seniors circuit. “Most of us owe our success to the training pattern at the academy and to the kind of commitment Gopi sir shows in ensuring that we get the best of coaching. He also gets involved in the planning of tournament exposure,” explained Prannoy.

Association of India president Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta announced a cash incentive of Rs. 5 lakh for H.S. Prannoy on winning the Swiss Open Grand Prix Gold on Sunday. In a statement released here on Monday, the BAI chief congratulated Prannoy for “grand performance” and said that his victory was proof of increasing competitiveness among the Indian players and an inheritance of global standards uplifting Indian badminton. “It is yet another feather to the cap of Indian shuttlers who are constantly displaying their command and portraying their authoritative abilities on the game all over the world,” Dr. Akhilesh said.

TENNIS

Moore’s controversial comments provoke outrage INDIAN WELLS: BNP Paribas Open

BENGALURU: The Indian team

opted to rest on Monday after arriving in the city on Sunday night. There was one exception, though, as Ajinkya Rahane was present at the KSCA (B) Ground in the morning and trained for an hour. Rahane is yet to figure in the playing eleven as he was overlooked during India’s ICC World Twenty20 games against New Zealand and Pakistan. The squad will now practise on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Wednesday’s match against Bangladesh. — Special Correspondent

chief executive and tournament director Raymond Moore provoked outrage on Sunday with controversial comments he made before the women’s and men’s finals at Indian Wells, and later issued an oicial apology. The 69-year-old South African had earlier told reporters that top-level women’s players rode “on the coattails of the men”, did not make any decisions and were “very, very lucky” to have equal prize money, sparking a firestorm on social media. Moore also singled out Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard and Spaniard Garbine Muguruza as being among the “very attractive prospects” on the WTA circuit tour, before explaining that they were “physically attractive and

competitively attractive”. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic said Moore’s comments were “not politically correct” and that women players had “fought for what they deserve, and they got it”. However, he also suggested the men’s tour should receive more money as it draws more fans. “On the other hand, I think that our men’s tennis world ... should fight for more because the stats are showing that we have much more spectators on the men’s tennis matches. “I think that’s one of the reasons why maybe we should get awarded more.” Moore, in a statement which he issued later in the day, said: “At my morning breakfast with the media, I made comments

about the WTA that were in extremely poor taste and erroneous. “I am truly sorry for those remarks, and apologise to all the players and WTA as a whole. “We had a women’s final today that reflects the strength of the players, especially Serena and Victoria, and the entire WTA. Again, I am truly sorry for my remarks.” Moore apologises Moore, a former ATP Tour player who won eight doubles titles during the 1970s and early 1980s, issued his apology after former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka had beaten an errorprone Serena Williams in the women’s final. Serena, when asked in her post-match news conference

WALKING

Gold for Gurmeet, but Rio still in doubt STAN RAYAN KOCHI: Gurmeet Singh may have

won a historic Asian race walking gold in Japan on Sunday but ironically, he has now dropped to the third spot in the race to the Rio Olympics among Indian walkers. Apart from the 20km Asian championship, the event in Nomi City which was a part of the IAAF World Race Walking Challenge series, had an open event which had six other Indians in the fray and two of them, Devender Singh and Manish Singh Rawat, finished higher than Gurmeet in the overall standings. Interestingly Devender equalled the four-year-old national record of K.T. Irfan while finishing fifth overall in 1:20.21s while Manish was sixth in 1:20.26. National champion Gurmeet, who won the gold which was the first by an Indian at the Asian championship, was eighth overall in 1:20.29. With Sandeep Kumar (1:20.44) finishing just behind Gurmeet in the ninth spot, In-

dia had a very fruitful outing in Nomi taking four of the top 10 positions overall in a field that included Canadian and Australian walkers. Indians better personal bests Stunningly, all the four Indians bettered their personal bests while Japan’s Daisuke Matsunaga won the overall honours in Nomi in 1:18.53 which should put him among the world’s top three this year. “Only one entry is allowed in the Asian championship and that is why Gurmeet, being the national champion was entered, but the others did remarkably well in the open event,” Radhakrishnan Nair, the deputy National coach, told The Hindu on Monday evening. That should augur very well for the country in the IAAF Race Walking world team championship which will be held in Rome on May 7 and 8. “We will be sending five 20km walkers and five 50km walkers and four girls (20km) for the Worlds. And we may get one more qualifier in the 50km from this event,” said Radhak-

rishnan Nair. “But getting a medal is very diicult, it is a team championship.” Nine race walkers have qualified for the Olympics in the men’s 20km but since a country can field only three walkers in an event, Radhakrishnan Nair said that Manish could probably do the 50km. “Manish has qualified for 50km also (along with Sandeep Kumar), so he might opt for that event at the Olympics,” said the deputy National coach. “We will finalise the team after seeing the performance in the Walks Worlds.” Among the other Indians, National runner-up K. Ganapathi finished 16th in 1:22.33 while Neeraj did not finish in Nomi. There was some confusion over National record-holder K.T. Irfan’s performance at Nomi. “While the oicial results said that Irfan did not start (DNS), Radhakrishnan Nair said Irfan did not finish. “Is it mentioned as a DNS? I heard that he had stopped in between owing to an injury,” he said.

CRICKET

Focus is on right things, says Yuvraj NEW DELHI: His small knock of 24

against Pakistan was worth its weight in gold and Yuvraj Singh said that his “focus was on right things” like batting according to the demands of the situation rather than get overwhelmed by the vociferous capacity crowd at the Eden Gardens. “I wanted to bat according to the situation no matter how big the occasion was. It was important to focus on right things. I just wanted to watch the ball and rotate the strike and I was able to do that. Unfortunately, I could not finish the game. Virat is in sublime form and Dhoni came and finished the game,” Yuvraj told bcci.tv on team’s six-wicket win over Pakistan in group league match of World Twenty20. Once a flamboyant batsman, the elder statesman of the team now has a diferent role of playing second fiddle to younger batsmen in the side. He had a match-winning partnership against Pakistan in the Asia Cup and now a 61-run stand that sealed it at the Eden gardens, the other night. “My job is to play a few balls and then play my attacking game. We were under a bit of pressure after losing the first game (against New Zealand).

(In that match) we did not bat the way we wanted to. Here we lost three quick wickets which put us under pressure. We needed to get a partnership and the 50 plus stand with Virat took the pressure of us,” said the veteran left-hander. Confident Yuvraj is happy that the team has got its confidence back which it will carry into the next match against Bangladesh. “I am happy that team won as it was important to get the confidence back. The next match is against Bangladesh and hope that we continue in good form.” The hallmark of the Indian team’s batting in recent times has been its running between the wickets and even the senior player acknowledged the fact. “We understand our batting. The running between the wickets and especially the calling (for singles and twos) was good.” He also praised the bowlers for restricting the opposition to 118 in 18 overs. “We restricted them well. They could never score more than six and half runs per overs. The best part was that they could not score a lot of runs in the final overs.” — PTI

about Moore’s initial comments, replied: “Those remarks are very much mistaken and very, very, very inaccurate.” Moore landed himself in hot water when he said during his annual breakfast with media covering the Indian Wells event: “You know, in my next life when I come back I want to be someone in the WTA, because they ride on the coattails of the men. “They don’t make any decisions and they are lucky. They are very, very lucky. If I was a lady player, I’d go down every night on my knees and thank God that Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal were born, because they have carried this sport.” Moore went on to say that Muguruza and Bouchard were among a “handful of very attractive prospects” who could take

up the mantle in the women’s game. When asked what he meant by attractive, he replied: “They are physically attractive and competitively attractive. They can assume the mantle of leadership once Serena decides to stop.” Billie Jean King, who cofounded the WTA Tour and has long been a pioneer in the women’s game, tweeted: “Disappointed in #RaymondMoore comments. He is wrong on so many levels. Every player, especially the top players, contribute to our success.” Fellow American Chris Evert, an 18-time grand slam champion, tweeted: “Now is the Golden Era 4 men, no doubt, but women have worked, fought harder, and have been bigger draws many times.” — Reuters

Anand is back on top

Bale eclipses Lineker’s record

THE MENTOR: Once a flamboyant batsman, the elder statesman of

the team now has a different role of playing second fiddle to younger batsmen in the side. — PHOTO: AFP

top scoring British player in La Liga. Welshman Bale, who also hit the woodwork against Sevilla and had a goal wrongly, ruled out for ofside in the first half, needed 75 games to eclipse former England striker Lineker, who hit 42 goals in 103 games for Barcelona from 1986

MADRID: Real Madrid’s attacking MOSCOW: He may be the oldest

in the field, but Viswanathan Anand is back on top of the table at the World Chess Candidates tournament after pulling of another splendid victory. In the ninth round on Monday, playing from the white side of an Italian Game, the fivetime World champion from Chennai won a rook-and-pawn end-game against Armenia’s Levon Aronian, one of the strongest candidates who had begun the day in joint lead. It was his third win of the tournament; nobody else has won as many. Anand has taken his tally to 5.5 points, to share the lead with Russian Sergey Karjakin, who drew with Hikaru Nakamura of the United States. Aronian is still very much in the race though, as he is just half-a-point behind the leaders. Five rounds remain. Tuesday is a rest day. The results: Ninth round: Viswanathan Anand (Ind) bt 5.5 Levon Aronian (Arm) 5; Hikaru Nakamura (US) 3.5 drew with Sergey Karjakin (Rus) 5.5; Veselin Topalov (Bul) 3 drew with Peter Svidler (Rus) 4.

Gurmeet Singh. — FILE PHOTO

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

trident of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo were all on target in a 4-0 win over Sevilla that took Zinedine Zidane’s side within a point of second-placed Atletico Madrid. Bale converted from close range for the third and his 43rd league goal for Madrid, surpassing ex-Barca forward Gary Lineker to become the all-time

Higuain stars in win MILAN: Second-placed Napoli

pinned Genoa back into its penalty area and broke through six minutes into the second half when Higuain latched on to Elseid Hysaj’s pass and slotted the ball past Perrin in their Serie A matchon Sunday. Napoli enjoyed letofs as Alessio Cerci twice caught it out on the break before Higuain brought the house down with a superb efort. Marek Hamsik threaded the ball through the packed Genoa midfield and Higuain, despite being marked by three defend-

ers, managed to collect it, turn and curl his shot in of the far post. Substitute Omar El Kaddouri added a third in stoppage time. The results : Napoli 3 (Higuain 51, 81, El Kaddouri 90+1) bt Genoa 1 (Rincon 10); AC Milan 1 (Bacca 15) drew with Lazio 1 (Parolo 9); Frosinone 0 drew with Fiorentina 0; Verona 1 (Ionita 63) lost to Carpi 2 (Di Gaudio 42, Lasagna 67); Sampdoria 0 lost to Chievo 1 (Meggiorini 24); Sassuolo 1 (Politano 64) drew with Udinese 1 (Zapata 8); Torino 1 (Belotti 48-pen) lost to Juventus 4 (Pogba 33, Khedira 42, Morata 63, 77). — AFP

to 1989. Benzema opened the scoring in the sixth minute with a brilliant half-volley while Keylor Navas preserved the lead by saving Kevin Gameiro’s penalty before the break, the third spot kick the Real goalkeeper has stopped this season. The results: Real Madrid 4 (Benzema 6, Ronaldo 64, Bale 66, Jese 86) bt Sevilla 0. — Agencies

Curator arrives in Nagpur SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NAGPUR: British curator Andy

Atkinson arrived here on Sunday evening to oversee the pitch preparation for the ICC World Twenty20 men’s matches featuring the West Indies, South Africa and Afghanistan. The West Indies will face South Africa at the VCA stadium on Friday (March 25) and Afghanistan on Sunday (March 27). Atkinson has been in touch with the local curator Amar Karlekar.

VARIETY THE HINDU CROSSWORD 11656 1

2

3

4

5

9

6

7

8

10

11

13

Buzzer

12

14

15

16

17 18

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21 22

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Down

27

28

29

Across

1 Deputy taking over in speech (5) 4 Tiny portable mosaic tub (9) 9 Laid-back group having second exclusive language (7) 10 Estate agent is utter rubbish on reflection (7) 11 Insufficient message has CM YK

19 Liberal class has a stronghold (6) 22 Tea very revolting in mess (5) 24 High-level art second preference for a tourist (9) 26 Place for hanging perhaps each dress: clothes-line (7) 27 Fear smuggling electronic goods... (7) 28 ... next in line cutting such tax as an alternative (9) 29 Going west, fashionable wearing torn outfit (5)

nothing mostly (3,6) 12 Having a tendency to be lying (5) 13 Rue losing regularly designer sock (6) 15 Standing minister, one in the end government rep at the centre (8) 18 Internal petition to inspect aerosol (5,3)

1 Review and vet a system of philosophy (7) 2 Doing exercise being unfit (5) 3 Essentially pet bird, friend forever (9) 4 Arrange for leave (3,3) 5 It shows a plot by lawyers talking around rule (3,5) 6 Walk wearily through public transport parking (5) 7 Believer is fickle — do test him (9) 8 Get upset in essence

with entourage (7) 14 Old and doddering e.g. 20 (9) 16 Telling statistic setter initially omitted (9) 17 One serving on ship, underweight reportedly (8) 18 Revolts thus succeeded gaining understanding (7) 20 Wandering sewer rat I chased around (7) 21 Bear the cost or suffer consequences (3,3) 23 Range of street deliveries curtailed (5) 25 Block in operation to gain access to a computer (3,2)

Solution to puzzle 11655 B O R A U N C S H E I D MA U B R O C R A

L O W D E A L I N G D N WA RM E D T A I O O T I N G G D O Y L L I C F I S S L E C H A U V S B I D E S F E O T U EWC U T S N D C

H O U N I S N L G OW I E A L L E F L I S S U C I N I S O N N E S T A T D R I V O L

T O N T T H E R Y R E T O R T E D

E S A L

FAITH

SU | DO | KU

Who is a bhakta? Many seek God for wealth or happiness or for relief from distress in life. But in the eyes of the Lord, a true devotee or the jnani seeks God for His sake. When Durvasa seeks the Lord’s protection from the lifethreatening chase of the Sudarshana chakra, the Lord makes this very clear, pointed out Sri B. Damodhara Dikshitar in a discourse. Cannot the Lord restrain the Sudarshana which belongs to Him? Certainly, the Sudarshana is His; but He Himself is subject to His devotees. He is proud to stand by them at all times. “My heart is under their sway. I do not value Myself or even Sri as I do these holy men who have accepted Me as their supreme goal. They are ready to sacrifice wife, child, relatives, wealth, this world and the next if necessary for the sake of God and devotion. How can I abandon these people who show selfless love and devotion to me? They are My heart and soul; and I am the heart of the holy men.” Such sacrifices are possible only with the truly devout who transcend the bounds of worldly conventions. Iyarpagai Nayanar is not deluded by the idea of owning, be it people, places or objects. When a Sivan Adiyar asks for his wife, he readily obliges and is able to deal with the consequences of this act as well. Meiporul Nayanar gives up his life for the sake of truth. In his perception, God and Truth are synonymous. He regards Sivan Adiyars as the Lord. So even if his enemy had come in the guise of a Sivan Adiyar, with hatred to kill him, he is worthy to be honoured. Siruthondar Nayanar ofers his only son as food for the Adiyar, without giving a second thought to the act.

A mind game and a puzzle that you solve with reasoning and logic. Fill in the grid with digits in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box accommodates the digits 1 to 9, without repeating any. The solution to yesterday’s puzzle is at left. ND-ND

SPORT

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU

TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

Thomas Cup: Indians have an easy draw

Seniors rested for Azlan Shah Cup

NEW DELHI: Indian men got an

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

easy draw in Thomas Cup but the women will have to contend with powerhouse Japan in the Uber Cup as the draw for tournament finals, to be held between May 15 and 22, was completed in Kunshan, China on Monday. The groupings: Thomas Cup: A: China, Japan, France, Mexico; B: Indonesia, India, Thailand, Hong Kong China; C: Korea, Malaysia, England, Germany; D: Denmark, Chinese Taipei, New Zealand, South Africa. Uber Cup: A: China, Denmark, Spain, Malaysia; B: Korea, Chinese Taipei, Mauritius, USA; C: Thailand, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Hong Kong China; D: Japan, India, Australia, Germany. — PTI

Vijender’s bout postponed LONDON: Vijender Singh’s next

bout was postponed from April 2 to April 30 due to technical reasons on Monday. The fight will now be held at the Copper Box Arena instead of the Harrow Leisure Centre here. “It had been announced that Singh would feature on April 2 show at the Harrow Leisure Centre in London, but following a reschedule he has been moved, instead, onto the undercard of Billy Joe Saunders’ WBO World Middleweight title defence against Max Bursak,” Vijender’s promoters said. — PTI

Hyderabad reigns NEW DELHI: Three goals, includ-

ing the golden goal, by Raghav Rao helped Hyderabad to a 7-6 victory over Jindal Panther in the final of the Polo Life India Championship at the Jaipur Polo ground here on Sunday. The match had been abandoned 4-3 in favour of Hyderabad on Saturday owing to rain after three chukker. The teams were locked 6-6 at the end of the fourth chukker and Raghav Rao found the match-winner in the “sudden death” chukker. He was adjudged the ‘most valuable player’ of the tournament. The All Stars Challenge ended tied 6-6 between Delhi and Gurgaon while the Patron’s Cup was a 4-4 draw between Mumbai and Bangalore. The results (final): Hyderabad 7 (Basheer Ali 4, Raghav Rao 3) bt Jinal Panther 6 (Siddhant Sharma 4, Naveen Jindal, Naveen Singh).

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HOCKEY / Sardar Singh will continue to lead NEW DELHI: Several senior players

have been rested ahead of the 25th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup hockey tournament as the 18member squad for India’s first international outing in 2016 was announced on Monday. The team management has tried to test as many players as possible in an Olympic year. While Sardar Singh would continue to lead the side, goalkeeper P. R. Sreejesh has been rested along with senior defender V. R. Raghunath. Both Sreejesh and Raghunath have been playing non-stop for almost two years now. Others who were part of India’s bronze-winning efort in the Hockey World league Finals in Raipur last year but have been excluded from the side include strikers Dharamvir Singh, Akashdeep Singh and Mohd. Amir Khan as well as Lalit Upadhyay. Midfielder Devinder Walmiki has also not been included while key defender Birender Lakra is recuperating from surgery in a race to be fit ahead of the Rio Games. Besides India and host Malaysia, defending champion New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Japan and Canada would be part of the tournament. With four of the seven participating teams having qualified for Rio, the Azlan Shah Cup would be an important tournament for India as part of its preparations. The competition would be played in Ipoh, Malay-

sia, from April 6-16. While young goalkeeper Akash Chikte finally gets a chance, two members of the junior side – defender Harmanpreet Singh and junior captain Harjeet Singh – have been included. Defender Surender Kumar, who impressed all by his excellent stickwork during the Hockey India League, has been rewarded while Nikkin Thimmaiah returns after recovering from injury. “Being an Olympic year, this tournament will give us an idea where we stand. Playing against good teams like Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan will give the team critical competition exposure. It will be a good opportunity to try out new things and new combinations,” Sardar said. Coach Roelant Oltmans said the team was concentrating on eliminating key weaknesses. “The boys have been working hard as a unit. In the past we have conceded late goals that have taken away the games from us. We want to eliminate that particular weakness and we are focused on implementing the right strategies.” said Chief Coach Roelant Oltmans. The squad : Goalkeepers : Harjot Singh, Akash Chikte; defenders: Rupinder Pal Singh, Jasjit Singh Kular, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar, Harmanpreet Singh; midfielders: Danish Mujtaba, Chinglensana Singh, Manpreet Singh, Sardar Singh, S. K. Uthappa, Harjeet Singh; forwards: Talwinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, S. V. Sunil, Ramandeep Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah.

prise win and Fernando Alonso’s death-defying escape from a spectacular crash gave the new Formula One season a boost after farcical scenes had threatened to overshadow the Australian Grand Prix. Rosberg’s victory over Lewis Hamilton throws down the gauntlet to his Mercedes teammate, who will play the unfamiliar game of catch-up at the next race in Bahrain after winning the last two world titles. Alonso said he was lucky to be alive after he clipped the back of Esteban Gutierrez’s Haas, ploughed into the barriers and went airborne across a gravel trap, with his McLaren

car disintegrating around him. “I am aware that today I spent some of the luck remaining in life,” the Spaniard wrote on Instagram, after walking away from the horror smash largely unharmed. “Now it’s time to rest and think about Bahrain (the next race), and get back in the car to get the first points of this year!!” he added. The crash turned out to be pivotal as, after the restart, Rosberg capitalised on his race position and Mercedes' choice of tyres for an ultimately comfortable win. The result poses early questions for Hamilton, who has now watched his German teammate win the last four races, including last year's end-of-sea-

Russian athletics hit by first meldonium cases MOSCOW: Russia, on Monday, an-

nounced four doping failures for meldonium in athletics as the country battles to be reinstated in time for the Rio Olympics. These are the first known cases of the banned drug in Russian athletics in a potential blow to eforts to overturn an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) suspension from international competition because of doping scandals. The athletics federation did not name the four athletes who tested positive. It was unclear whether sprinter Nadezhda Kotlyarova, who admitted to taking the banned drug on Sunday, was among them. An unnamed source told TASS news agency however that the four athletes are Kotlyarova, long-distance runners Andrei Minzhulin and Gulshat Fazletdinova, and steeplechaser Olga Vovk. All are said to have tested positive for the drug at the Russian indoor last month. The federation said in a statement it was conducting a “thorough investigation” into the cases and reiterated it had repeatedly warned athletes and trainers that the WADA was banning meldonium from January 1. — AFP

Chetri ruled out of Iran game NEW DELHI: India skipper Sunil

AT THE HELM: India will be hoping to try out new things and new

combinations under Sardar Singh’s captaincy. — FILE PHOTO

Rosberg, death-defying Alonso give F1 a boost MELBOURNE: Nico Rosberg’ sur-

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son hat-trick. But Alonso’s accident will remain the enduring image of a Grand Prix which started embarrassingly for F1 with the failure of a much-debated new qualifying system. F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone lambasted the one-by-one elimination format as “pretty crap” after it emptied the track in the final minutes, with none of the remaining drivers bothering to challenge Hamilton's leading time. The challenge now for Mercedes is to maintain its momentum ahead of Ferrari, whose leading driver Sebastian Vettel was competitive but was hamstrung by a poor choice of tyres. Vettel had to make an extra

stop to change his supersofts and finished third. But he led for 31 of the 57 laps, suggesting the Italian giants could have more of a say in the championship this season. Mercedes boss Toto Wolf also said Hamilton and Rosberg needed to look at their starts after they got away poorly from the front row and were beaten by Vettel into the first corner. “A perfect result to start the year, a great job from the drivers to manage and recover the race, fantastic work on the pit wall to give them the right strategy to do so and an incredible team efort from everybody at the factories to get us here,” Wolf said.— AFP

Chetri has been ruled out of World Cup qualifier (Preliminary joint qualification round two) against Iran owing to a groin injury. A 22-member team left for Tehran on Monday. The squad: Goalkeepers: Subrata Paul, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Karanjit Singh. Defenders: Aiborlang Khongjee, Augistine Fernandes, Arnab Mondal, Pritam Kotal, Sandesh Jhingan, Narayan Das, Lalchhuanmawia. Midfielders: Pronay Halder, Bikash Jairu, Cavin Lobo, Rowlin Borges, Francis Fernandes, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Udanta Singh, Vineet Rai, Seityasen Singh. Forwards: Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sumeet Passi, Halicharan Narzary. — PTI

ATHLETICS

Americans dominate PORTLAND: The United States won five gold medals as the host nation dominated the final day of the World Indoor Athletics Championships on Sunday to complete its best ever showing in the event. American athletes won gold in the men's and women's 4x400m relays, the men's 1,500m, the men's long jump and women's high jump as the first major championships since Russia was banned from track and field came to a close. The four-day event wrapped up before a sellout crowd of 7,191 at the Oregon Convention Centre, with the host nation finishing on top of the medal table with 13 golds, six silver and four bronze. Ethiopia — whose athletics federation was warned earlier this month it could be banned unless it improves its anti-doping regime — finished second winning two golds on the final day. Ethiopian star Genzebe Dibaba successfully defended her 3,000m crown, a third consecutive gold medal at the world indoor championships after her victories in the 1,500m in 2012 and 3,000m two years ago in Sopot, Poland.

Dibaba powered home around 50m clear of her nearest rival, compatriot Meseret Defar, clocking a time of 8min 47.43sec, with Shannon Rowbury of the United States taking bronze. Earlier, Dibaba's compatriot Yomif Kejelcha won the men's 3,000m, coming home in 7:57.21 to deny Ryan Hill of the United States, who took silver. Kenya's Augustine Choge won bronze. Dibaba meanwhile frowned when asked about the drugs scourge swirling around track and field since revelations of systemic doping in Russia which led to the country's suspension. American teenager Vashti Cunningham took the women's high jump gold with a leap of 1.96m ahead of Ruth Beitia of Spain in second place and Poland's Kamila Licwinko in third. Cunningham only competed in Portland after receiving a special invitation from track and field's governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). However the high school student showed no signs of being overawed by the occasion as she comfortably cleared the first four heights with her first attempt on each. — AFP

THE RESULTS Men: 1500m: 1. Matthew Centrowitz (USA) 3:44.22, 2. Jakub Holusa (Cze) 3:44.30, 3. Nicholas Willis (Nzl) 3:44.37; 3000m: 1. Yomif Kejelcha (Eth) 7:57.21, 2. Ryan Hill (USA) 7:57.39, 3. Augustine Kiprono Choge (Ken) 7:57.43; 60m hurdles: 1. Omar McLeod (Jam) 7.41, 2. Pascal Martinot-Lagarde (Fra) 7.46, 3. Dimitri Bascou (Fra) 7.48; 4x400m relay: 1. United States (Clemons, Smith, Giesting, Norwood) 3:02.45, 2. Bahamas 3:04.75, 3. Trinidad and Tobago 3:05.51; Long jump: 1. Marquis Dendy (USA) 8.26m; 2. Fabrice Lapierre (Aus) 8.25, 3. Huang Changzhou (Chn) 8.21. Women: 800m: 1. Francine Niyonsaba (Bdi) 2:00.01, 2. Ajee Wilson (USA) 2:00.27, 3. Margaret Nyairera Wambui (Ken) 2:00.44; 3,000m: 1. Genzebe Dibaba (Eth) 8:47.43, 2. Meseret Defar (Eth) 8:54.26, 3. Shannon Rowbury (USA) 8:55.55. 4x400m relay: 1. United States (Hastings, Hayes, Okolo, Spencer) 3:26.38, 2. Poland 3:31.15, 3. Romania 3:31.51; High jump: 1. Vashti Cunningham (USA) 1.96 m, 2. Ruth Beitia (Esp) 1.96, 3. Kamila Licwinko (Pol) 1.96.

VERY BRIEFLY B.R. Nikshep crushed Kazakhstan’s Arsan Arashov 6-0, 6-0 in the first round of the ITF junior Grade 3 championship at Namangan-Dustlik, Kazakhstan.

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LIFE Disney’s Mickey Mouse ears up for grabs

An umbrella that can tell you if it will rain!

A collection of memorabilia, including Babe Ruth’s baseball glove and Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse ears, that once belonged to radio personality Joe Franklin will be auctioned in the U.S. on April 2.

A company in France has developed a new smart umbrella that when paired with a smartphone app can not only predict when it will rain but also send you a notification if you leave it behind.

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016

BEATING ALL ODDS

Chennai girl wins at Street Child games in Rio The team of five from India interacted with children from Burundi, Pakistan, Egypt, Argentina and U.K. RAMYA KANNAN CHENNAI: When Hepsiba runs, it is as if she can fly with the wind and skip through the air. Some say she picked up the skill on the streets where she lived. But her coach believes she is a natural sprinter. On Sunday, she sprinted to victory in the 100-metres dash at the inauguration of the Street Child Games held in Rio De Janeiro in Brazil. She also won two more medals at the games. Nature or nurture, things worked fine for her. But that was not how it was in the beginning. Hepsiba, now 16, earlier lived with her widowed mother on Sydenhams Road in Chennai. When they were evicted from the street, they were moved to a shelter for the homeless run by the

(Top) Team India at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for the Street Child Games. (Right) Hepsibah is all smiles during her winning moment. — PHOTOS: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Chennai Corporation. . An unexpected opportunity came her way and finally took her to the global competition in Rio. “We had organised a sports contest for street children, and this girl was sheer talent,” explains Paul Sunder Singh, of Karunalaya, an NGO that took a team of five street children

to Rio for the games. “Actually, she just about made it; it was a miracle that her passport came through on time,” he says. After that, with no sponsorship whatsoever, but with the international NGO Street Child United pitching in to some extent, Mr. Singh took a loan for the team to make the trip.

Having trained with coach Prabhakar Suresh for about two weeks, Hepsiba boarded her very first flight, one that would take her across the seas to Rio. The team spent one and a half weeks there, interacting with other street chil-

Spreading the joy

dren from all over the world. Hepsiba says that she now has friends from Burundi, Pakistan, Egypt, Britain, Argentina and Brazil. That seems to her even larger than the win itself, which makes her “very, very, very happy”.

‘Bumblebees don’t share expertise with newcomers’ LONDON: Bumblebees do not

like sharing their pollinating knowledge with less experienced bees, and even attack newcomers in the field, researchers from Queen Mary University of London report. A study looked at whether bees can copy other bees’ flower visitation sequences to improve their foraging. “Like other pollinators, bees face complex routing challenges when collecting nectar and pollen. They have to learn how to link patches of flowers together in the most eicient way to minimise their travel distance and flight costs,” explained lead author Mathieu Lihoreau. But experienced bees tried to evict newcomers. The findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE. — IANS

Widows apply colour powder on each other during Holi celebrations at the Gopinath temple located 180 kilometres from New Delhi. A few years ago this joyful celebration was considered forbidden for Hindu widows. But increasing social awareness has made the celebration more inclusive. — PHOTO: AP

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