Homegrown terror snipes at US

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S Africa vow to
Homegrown terror snipes at US India,
deepen Defence ties
5 cops dead as police killings
of African-Americans lead to
reprisal attacks in Dallas
PTI n HOUSTON
ive police officers were
killed and seven others
F
injured by snipers on Friday in
“ambush-style” firing in the US
city of Dallas during a protest
against the fatal police shootings of black men this week,
making it one of the deadliest
attacks on law enforcers in
America since 9/11.
The main suspect has been
identified as 25-year-old Micah
Johnson, who was later killed
in a blast caused by a robotcontrolled explosive device sent
in by officers. Johnson was
army reservist and Afghan veteran, officials said.
The shooting began near
one of the busiest parts of the
city's downtown, filled with
hotels and restaurants.
Dallas Police Chief David
Brown said two snipers fired
“ambush-style” from an elevated position. The shootings,
which police described as a
“terrorist incident”, sent hundreds of people fleeing through
the streets in panic.
Brown said officers cornered one of the suspects and
tried to negotiate with him for
several hours before talks broke
down. After an exchange of
gunfire, officers attached explosives to a robot and detonated
them near the suspect.
The official said the suspect
told negotiators that he was
upset about recent shootings
involving police officers.
“The suspect said he wanted to kill white people, especially white officers,” he said.
The suspect also told police
that he was working alone.
“We're hurting. Our profession is hurting. Dallas officers are hurting. We are heartbroken. There are no words to
describe the atrocity that
occurred to our city. All I
know is that this must stop this divisiveness between our
police and our citizens,” Brown
said. Dallas Mayor Mike
Rawlings said police have
swept the area where the standoff took place and found no
explosives.
Continued on Page 7
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings (left) and Dallas Police chief David Brown leave a
Press conference on Friday
AP
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CAPSULE
TOP TERRORIST KILLED
IN ENCOUNTER IN J&K
Srinagar: Hizbul Mujahideen’s
poster boy Burhan Wani has
been killed in an encounter with
the security forces in Anantnag,
J&K Police chief K Rajendra
said on Friday. Two more
terrorists were also killed. The
encounter started in Bumdoora
village of Kokernag in the district
after a joint team of police and
Army launched a search
operation on the basis of specific
intelligence inputs about the
presence of militants, a police
official said.
SC REFUSES TO ENTERTAIN
AAP GOVT’S PETITION
New Delhi: The Supreme Court
on Friday refused to entertain a
Delhi Government plea that the
High Court be asked to first
decide the preliminary issue as to
whether it has the jurisdiction
over disputes between the Centre
and the State or is it “exclusively”
triable by the apex court.
‘NEXT SPECTRUM AUCTIONS
TO BE FINALISED BY SEPT’
New Delhi: Minister of State for
Communications Manoj Sinha on
Friday said the next round of
spectrum auctions for telecom
operators will be finalised by
September — and it will be the
largest by far with an overall base
price of $84 billion. “Spectrum
will be auctioned with all
fairness,” said Sinha, who holds
independent charge of the
Ministry.
PTI/IANS n JOHANNESBURG/
PRETORIA
ndian languages like Hindi,
Tamil and Telugu continue to
Ienrich
the fabric of South
Dallas police respond after shots were fired during a protest over the recent fatal shootings by police in Louisiana and
Minnesota on Thursday
AP
Trump, Clinton
Obama condemns
US Congress
cancel campaigns ‘calculated’ attack,
lockdown after
promises justice
security scare lifted after shooting
Washington: Police on Friday
reopened the seat of the US
Congress in Washington after
an emergency lockdown was
imposed due to a security alert.
“The incident requiring
staff to lockdown has concluded,” US Capitol police
announced at about 9:45 a.m.
“Staff may return to normal
operations. Thank you for your
cooperation,” EFE news quoted the police as saying.
Police had previously indicated that agents were searching for a woman, local media
reported.
Republican
Congressman Dennis Ross told
the daily The Hill that an
employee had been seen in the
building wielding a firearm.
IANS
Washington: Presumptive
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his
Democrat rival Hillar y
Clinton on Friday cancelled
their election rallies in the
aftermath of the tragic shooting in Dallas.
Clinton was scheduled to
campaign along with Vice
President Joe Biden in
Pennsylvania.
“Due to the tragic events
in Dallas, the July 8
Hillary for America campaign event with Vice
President Biden will be postponed,” the campaign said in
a statement.
Trump was scheduled to
hold an election rally in
Miami, Florida.
PTI
Warsaw: US President Barack
Obama on Friday condemned
the shooting of five police officials when snipers opened fire
during a protest
over the recent
fatal shootings of
two black men by
white police in
Minnesota and Louisiana
this week.
“This was a vicious, calculated and despicable attack,”
Obama said of the Dallas
shootings at a Press conference
during the North Atlantic
Treaty Organisation Summit in
Warsaw.
Obama vowed that anyone
involved in the senseless murders would be held fully
accountable.
IANS
African society, Prime Ministry
Narendra Modi said on Friday
while addressing the Indian
diaspora in Johannesburg.
"When I see all of you, I am
reminded of your ancestors and
their struggles and bravery,"
Modi said in his trademark
rally at the Ticketpro Dome, the
entertainment hub of
Johannesburg.
"Under decades of
apartheid isolation, they not
only preserved culture, tradition and language, they also
gave them new wings to flourish," he said to the cheers of
over 11,000 people.
"The beauty of Hindi,
Tamil, Gujarati, Urdu and
Telugu continues to enrich the
fabric of South African society."
There are around 1.2 million people of Indian origin in
South Africa, most of whose
ancestors were brought here as
indentured labour. This apart,
there are also estimates of
15,000 to 20,000 Indian nationals and professionals who are
new immigrants.
"The colours of Holi, the
sparkle of Diwali, tastes of
Pongal, and festivities of Eid are
not just the rainbow of Indian
traditional cultural resources,"
Modi said wearing a Madiba
shirt, an Indonesian batik shirt
that was a favourite with late
anti-apartheid icon Nelson
Mandela.
Earlier, ratcheting up their
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Jacob Zuma at the
South Africa-India Business Forum in Pretoria, South Africa on Friday. Indian
co-chair of the Forum Adi Godrej is also seen
PTI
traditional ties, India and South
Africa on Friday agreed to
deepen engagement in key
areas of Defence production,
manufacturing, mining and
minerals while vowing to cooperate "actively" in combating
terrorism and dealing with
issues at multilateral fora.
Top business leaders from
India and South Africa on
Friday signed eight MoUs leading to increased cooperation in
a wide range of areas between
the two nations. The MoUs
were signed at the South
Africa-India CEOs Forum on
the sidelines of Modi's maiden
visit here aimed at further bolstering cooperation on economic, political, social and
international areas.
Earlier, after extensive talks
with South African President
Jacob Zuma, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi projected India
as an attractive destination for
manufacturing of Defence
equipment and platforms and
said both countries can join
hands in not only meeting
needs of each other but also to
respond to regional and global demand.
South Africa is a major
player in Defence production
globally. During the meeting,
Modi thanked President Zuma
for South Africa's support to
India's membership bid to the
Nuclear Suppliers Group.
"We know that we can
count on the active support of
our friends, like South Africa,"
he said.
Holding that ties between
India and South Africa have
been a story of strong advances
and concrete achievements,
Continued on Page 7
Akhilesh expels senior leader Centre tightens noose around Naik
Foreign funding to Zakir’s Islamic Research
after land-grabbing bid
Foundation under scanner, I&B Ministry
PNS n NEW DELHI
WEATHER
Indian languages
continue to enrich
S African society,
Modi tells Indian
diaspora
hief
Minister
and
Samajwadi Party state president Akhilesh Yadav has
expelled senior leader and former Lucknow district panchayat chairman Vijay Bahadur
Yadav from the party for his
involvement in land-grabbing.
Vijay Bahadur Yadav’s wife
Maya Yadav, who is chairperson of Lucknow district panchayat, has also been expelled
from the SP. Vijay Bahadur
Yadav was arrested on Friday
for allegedly trying to grab
gram samaj land in Baghamau
village under Chinhat police
station on Thursday.
SP state spokesman
Rajendra Choudhary said that
Akhilesh Yadav took a serious
note of the incident as it had
tarnished the image of the rul-
C
ing party and ordered Vijay
Bahadur Yadav’s expulsion
from the party.
On Thursday, around a
dozen persons were injured
when Vijay Bahadur Yadav,
his nephew Vivek Yadav, a history-sheeter, Raghunandan
Kalia, and around 100 supporters, attacked the villagers of
Baghamau and while trying to
grab the gram samaj land.
According to reports, Vijay
Bahadur Yadav, Vivek Yadav,
Raghunandan Kalia and supporters armed with sticks, iron
rods and firearms arrived at
Baghamau on Thursday morning and started constructing
boundary wall on the gram
sabha land.
Indra Prasad Lodhi, an
advocate and resident of the village, and some other villagers
tried to stop Vijay Yadav from
constructing the boundary wall
and this led to an altercation
and by clash. Sources said that
Vijay Yadav’s supporter also
fired in the air to terrorise the
villagers, who pelted stones.
On getting information,
Inspector of Chinhat police station rushed to the village with
police force, forcing the landgrabbers to flee.
Those injured included
Baghamau gram sabha member Manoj Yadav and
Raghunandan Kalia.
The injured were rushed to
the KGMU Trauma Centre
where the condition of one of
them was stated to be critical.
The police had to use force
to disperse the villagers who
later blocked the road near
Matiyari crossing on LucknowFaizabad road to air their
protest.
prevents illegal transmission of Peace TV
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE n
NEW DELHI
he Centre on Friday swung
T
into action against the controversial Islamic preacher
Zakir Naik and his organisations, Peace TV and Islamic
Research Foundation (IRF).
Home Minister Rajnath Singh
told the media that the agencies
are checking his controversial
speeches while
Home
Ministry’s FCRA division and
Intelligence Bureau have started probe into the foreign funding to the IRF. The Information
and Broadcasting Ministry has
also sent advisories to all district monitoring committees to
prevent illegal transmission of
Peace TV across cable networks
in the country.
“We have taken cognisance
of Zakir Naik’s speeches and
have given necessary instructions for a probe. A thorough
investigation will be done. CDs
of his speeches are being examined,” Singh told reporters on
the sidelines of a function here.
The Home Minister said
necessary action will be taken
in this regard. “As far as the
Government is concerned, we
will not compromise on terrorism at any cost. Whatever is
justified will be done,” he said.
I&B Minister Venkaiah Naidu
also convened a meeting of top
officials and decided to alert all
district level SP and DMs to
prevent illegal airing of Peace
TV by errant cable operators.
The move by the Centre
came a day after the
Maharashtra Government
ordered a probe into the sermons by the 50-year-old televangelist that has kicked up a
storm. The activities of the IRF
came under the scanner of the
Union Home Ministry amid
allegations that funds from
abroad received by it have
been spent on political activities and inspiring people
towards radical views.
A senior Home Ministry
official said an investigation has
been ordered into the activities
of IRF, which was registered
under
the
Foreign
Contribution Regulation Act
(FCRA). The Home Ministry
probe will cover the allegations
that foreign funding to IRF was
used in political activities and
allegations that the NGO’s
funds were used to induce
people towards Islam and
“attracting” the youth towards
terror, the official said.
The IRF’s source of foreign
funding will also be examined
thoroughly by the Home
Ministry, the official said.
Officials said according to
an intelligence report the content of the “Peace TV”, in
which Naik regularly appears
and gives sermons, is “not
conducive” to the security environment in the country and
poses “security hazard”.
Continued on Page 7
Kerala imposes Fat Tax on junk food Proclaimed Offender Mallya
FinMin Isaac
unfurls pro-green,
crisis-time Budget
VR JAYARAJ n KOCHI
perhaps a first-of its-kind
Ihasnmove
in the country, Kerala
proposed a “Fat Tax” on
fast food items like burgers, pizzas, donuts, sandwiches and
pasta served in branded restaurants in a bid to discourage the
junk food culture.
The first Budget of the
CPI(M)-led LDF Government
presented in the State Assembly
on Friday by economist
Finance Minister TM Thomas
Isaac hoped to add an estimated `10 crore to the State
Exchequer through the 14.5per cent Fat Tax proposed on
junk food items, cheering
health workers involved in
campaigns against the alleged
obesity-inducing food items.
“Leading restaurant
chains may not like the idea
as it is quite possible that they
may face a drop in guests in
the cities of Kerala where the
junk food culture is spreading
fast, but Isaac’s move may act
as a practical step in controlling obesity, especially among
the youngsters of big cities
like Thiruvananthapuram,
Kochi and Kozhikode,” said a
wellness expert based in
Kochi.
However, voluntary health
workers said the junk food culture is not confined to the big
cities where the eminent food
chain outlets operate. “These
items are available on the sides
of all the national highways and
important State highways. But
this is sure to have some
impact,” said Sudha Nair, a
Central Government employee, who is fed up with her son’s
‘burger craze’.
The pro-green Finance
Minister did not stop there. His
(revised) Budget 2016-17 also
proposed 20-per cent tax on
disposable tumblers made of
plastic, which has become a
huge waste management problem. He also proposed 5-per
cent tax for packaged food
products among other proposals aimed at adding a total
of `805 crore to the cashthirsty Treasury.
Thomas Isaac presented
the revised finance document
for the fiscal in the State
Assembly seeking to give a big
push to development of infrastructure with extra-budgetary
resources while trying to take
the crisis-hit State finances to
a safer zone but taking care to
provide succour to the weaker
sections of the society.
Continued on Page 7
still lives life in F1 fast lane
PTI n SILVERSTONE
Life goes on and
loss of Indian
passport is
frustrating but it
is not the end
of the world
mbattled Indian business
E
tycoon Vijay Mallya,
declared a Proclaimed
Offender by a Mumbai court in
a money laundering case, on
Friday said that “life must go
on” as he made a rare public
appearance on the Formula 1
racing track here.
The UB Group chairman,
who has been based in the UK
since early this year and who
co-owns Sahara Force India, is
here for the Formula 1 British
Grand Prix at Silverstone in
Northamptonshire, in the East
Midlands region of England.
“I love racing, I’m a petrolhead, I’m passionate about it,
that’s why I bought this team in
the first place. Monaco I missed
terribly, I missed the bonus of
the podium in Monaco, I
missed Baku, which I believe is
fantastic. To that extent I’d be
lying if I said I missed nothing,”
he said.
“Having said that life must
go on, and being based here
and not travelling I have more
time to devote to what I want
to. Working out six days a week
so I shed a few kilos and I’m
feeling good and fit,” he told
Motorsport.Com.
The flamboyant liquor
baron admitted that the inability to travel due to his passport
being revoked by the Indian
Government is “frustrating”.
“But equally it isn’t the
end of the world. England has
always been a home to me. I’ve
been a resident here with leave
to remain indefinitely since
1992, so I am very familiar with
it. It isn’t as if I am in some sort
of alien land.”
Continued on Page 7
city 02
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
MSY not happy with conduct of some partymen
PNS ■ LUCKNOW
pparently vindicating the
opposition charges of a
‘jungle raj’ in UP,
Samajwadi Party chief
Mulayam Singh Yadav said that
many leaders and workers of
the party were involved in
land-grabbing, extortion, loot,
hooliganism and corrupt activities.
He said the party was losing heavily on account of the
misconduct of some leaders
that was tarnishing to the image
of the Samajwadi Party.
“I am running the party, so
I know about the activities of
each and every leader. I don’t
want to be more explicit; I
express myself through gestures. Many leaders get the
message and mend their ways
but there are many who will not
change and mend their ways
even when elections are round
the corner,” the SP chief said
while addressing party leaders
on the ninth death anniversary
of former Prime Minister
Chandra Shekhar.
The SP chief warned the
errant party leaders and workers to mend their ways and act
in a responsible way or else the
party would get tough with
them. “If you are not willing to
change then the electorate will
reform you and give you a
tough lesson in the next assembly elections,” he added.
Giving a solemn advice to
the partymen, the SP chief
said, “If you want the
Samajwadi Party to be voted
back to power in 2017, improve
your conduct and behaviour
with the common man. If the
SP returns to power in 2017, it
will be a great achievement of
your all.”
Recalling his early days in
politics when Dr Ram Manohar
Lohia was spearheading the
anti- Congressism movement,
Yadav said in the 1970’s, no one
could even think that the
Congress could ever be dislodged from power. “But we did
it as Chaudhary Charan Singh
walked out of the Congress and
headed the first non-Congress
government in the state.”
“For the first time the com-
A
Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav paying floral tributes to late Chandra Shekhar on the death anniversary of the former prime minister
Maurya demands Akhilesh’s resignation
Lucknow (PNS): Bharatiya Janata
Party state president Keshav Prasad
Maurya demanded the resignation of
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav soon after
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh
Yadav criticised some of his party cadres
for their involvement in land-grabbing
and other crimes.
“Mulayam Singh Yadav’s statement
has vindicated the BJP’s stand. It is right
time for Mulayam Singh Yadav to ask his
son Akhilesh to step down from the chief
minister’s post. He should appoint someone else (as chief minister) who can maintain law and order and give good governance in the state,” Maurya said here on
Friday.
“The statement of Mulayam Singh
Yadav is very serious. When he himself
says that the SP leaders are grabbing lands
and are involved in criminal activities, it
shows that the SP national president is not
happy with law and order in the state. The
people should now come forward to
denounce the SP government at all levels,”
Maurya said.
“Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav
should resign on moral ground after his
father raised a big question mark over his
ability to give clean administration,”
Maurya said.
Talking to reporters Maurya, the Lok
Sabha member from Phulpur in
Allahabad said that the condition of
roads in the state had deteriorated after
the first rains and even bridges had started caving in.
“Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav
should take action against his uncle
Shivpal Singh Yadav, who is the PWD
Minister. The way roads and bridges are
caving in shows that poor quality material has been used in their construction,”
he added.
The BJP state president said there was
panic in Bahujan Samaj Party and
Samajwadi Party as several senior leaders
had deserted both parties and joined the
BJP. “Many leaders have joined the BJP
and more are to come into the party fold
in the coming days,” he added.
“A few days back, BJP president Amit
Plan 24-hour power supply: Singhal
PNS ■ LUCKNOW
hief Secretary Deepak
Singhal has directed the
C
Energy department to present
within a week an action plan
for providing 24-hour power
supply from October 2.
Pioneer
Singhal has asked the higher officials to take feedback
from public in addition to
Energy department officials
on actual status of power supply as per the schedule in different areas.
The Chief Secretary has
asked UP Power Corporation
Limited to develop a software
for compiling the feedback
from consumers on power supply and to strengthen its public delivery system.
Singhal asked the officials
to prepare a comprehensive
action plan for next one month
and to implement it for ensuring quality power supply to
each and every power consumer in urban and rural areas
of the state.
He said the works at transmission sub-stations being set
up at a cost of Rs 10,000 core
be completed and they be
commissioned by the end of
March next year.
The transmission sub-stations are being constructed for
evacuation of power generated
at Bara, Meja and Karchhana
thermal power plants.
Singhal also directed the
officials to complete the transmission sub-stations being constructed at a cost of Rs 2,500
crore for wheeling out power
from Lalitpur thermal power
plant, by October 2016.
The Chief Secretary was
reviewing the progress of the
projects under implementation in Energy department
here on Friday.
He also asked the officials
to present an action plan by
August 15 for electrification of
unauthorised colonies in urban
areas, with a target of minimum 25 lakh power connections.
He asked the UP Power
Corporation to provide funds
for this purpose.
He said the proposals for
capacity addition of overloaded
distribution transformers
across the state be presented at
the power distribution company (discom) level within a fortnight.
He asked the authorities to
fix responsibility on power
transmission officials to ensure
power supply from 220/132 kV
power substations as per schedule to various areas.
Shah had predicted that all BSP cadre
would desert Mayawati and she would be
left alone. That prophecy is likely to come
true,” he said.
When asked about the BJP campaign
to identify land-grabbers, Maurya said that
over 2,000 people had lodged complaint
through official email ID.
“The complaints are being scrutinised
and those found genuine would be passed
on to the officials,” he added.
BSP’S EX-MP, SP LEADER JOIN BJP
Meanwhile, BSP’s former Member of
Parliament Devendra Nagpal and SP
leader Buddhasen Verma from Pilibhit
joined the BJP along with former MLA
Pratap Chaudhary.
Another BSP leader, Sangam Lal
Mishra, took the membership of the BJP
along with his supporters here.
“The entry of these leaders in the BJP
will strengthen the party at the ground
level. These leaders will help BJP to complete its ‘265 plus’ mission,” the BJP state
president said.
BJP leaders ignore
party’s protest
against law, order
Lucknow (PNS): The
much-hyped agitation of the
Bharatiya Janata Party to
gherao police stations across
state was reduced to a photo
session with senior leaders giving it a miss and party workers
raising a few slogans and leaving after clicking some photographs.
The agitation aimed to
highlight the poor law and
order in the state and the party
workers were asked to stage
protests outside police stations.
However, senior leaders preferred to stay back, leaving the
floor open for party workers.
In the state capital, the
protests were held at some
places but the enthusiasm was
missing. A small time party
worker said that they were
asked by ‘vidhayakji’ to reach
Ghazipur police station. About
10 party members reached
there but no one was there
except us. We raised slogans
against the government and
came back within 10 minutes,”
he said, smiling ear to ear.
mon man realised that the government can be changed. Now
the times have changed and the
common man knows that the
government of any party can be
dislodged. So improve your
conduct and change your
behaviour as per the aspirations
of the people so that you are not
thrown out of the office,” the SP
chief said.
This is not the first time
that the SP chief has explicitly
expressed his displeasure with
partymen. During the last over
four years, he has done this
umpteen times, but with little or
no impact on the rank and file
of the party.
Paying tributes to former
Prime Minister Chandra
Shekhar, the SP chief said he
was the first socialist prime
minister of the country who
had fought for the poor and the
farmers. He said the Samajwadi
Party cherished the ideals of late
Chandra Shekhar and had promoted his legacy.
Earlier, Chief Minister
Akhilesh Yadav also paid rich
tributes to former Prime
Minister Chandra Shekhar saying that the late leader had
shown the path of socialism.
The Chief Minister also
announced to develop a memorial of late Chandra Shekhar at
his native village in Ballia district.
“Chandra Shekhar was a
visionary who travelled widely
to get a first hand knowledge of
the problems of the masses. I
am fortunate that I had got an
opportunity to work with him
for a brief period,” the Chief
Minister said.
The Chief Minister also
listed the achievements of his
government like appointment
of 40,000 police constables,
Samajwadi pension to 55 lakh
poor families of the state.
“Some people had alleged
irregularities in the recruitment of police constables but
later they accepted that the
recruitments were made in a
transparent way,” he added.
Several senior party leaders,
including Rural Development
Minister Arvind Singh Gope
and MLC Yashwant Singh, participated in the function.
State employees reject
seventh pay panel report
PNS ■ LUCKNOW
P state employees, teachers
and pensioners have
U
rejected the Seventh Pay
Commission report saying it
was not acceptable to them in
its present form.
The state employees staged
a protest meeting here on
Friday and burnt the effigy of
the Seventh Pay Commission.
The Employees, Teachers
Co-ordination Committee, an
organisation of the state
employees and teachers, urged
the state government not to
accept the Seventh Pay
Commission report.
Co-ordinator of the committee, Lallan Pandey, accused
the Union government of
delaying the implementation of
the report under the cover of its
scrutiny.
Pandey said first the report
was referred to the committee
of secretaries for scrutiny and
later to the Cabinet secretary.
He said despite this exercise,
the report was accepted by the
Union government without
any amendment or improvement. The state employees
leader said the report was again
expected to be referred to a
committee. He said the
employees had lost hope of any
improvement in the recommendations of the report.
Pandey said the pay commission report had benefited
only the officers while the
interests of the middle and
lower bureaucracy had been
ignored.
He said that there was
resentment among the state
employees and teachers over
the contributory pension
scheme. He said this pension
scheme had already been abolished in West Bengal, Tripura
and Kerala.
The state employees leader
said the UP government had
not decided over this matter
despite assurance.
IT raids on
premises of
jeweller, real
estate co
Lucknow (PNS): Sleuths
of Income Tax department
raided half-a-dozen premises
of a leading jeweller and a real
estate company on Friday.
The outcome of the search
operation could not be confirmed but sources said that
papers and documents relating
to huge disproportionate
investments had been recovered besides details of some
lockers and bank accounts.
The Income Tax department team reportedly faced
opposition from members of
some traders’ organisations.
Sources said separate
teams of IT department from
Lucknow conducted a surprise raid on the showroom
and two other establishments
of a Hazratganj-based jeweller.
Bodies of two teenaged lovers found
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE ■ LUCKNOW
ension prevailed in Basti after the bodies of
two teenaged lovers belonging to different
T
religions were found lying on railway track on
Friday morning.
The local police claimed it to be a case of
suicide. The cops claimed to have recovered a
note written by the girl in which she stated that
as her family members were against her affair
with a boy of other religion, she was going to
end her life along with her lover.
Further investigations are on. Reports said
the Gaur police in Basti rushed to Chakchal
hamlet on learning that two bodies were lying
on the railway track. With the help of villagers,
the duo were identified as Soni (20) and
Ramjan (22), both of Pinar hamlet of Pakuliya
in Basti. On search, the cops recovered a note
which confirmed that the couple had committed suicide.
Sources said that tension gripped the locality as members of one community celebrating
Eid gathered at the spot and demanded action
against the girl’s family, holding them responsible for the death.
Later, members of the other community also
gathered there but before the situation cold take
an ugly turn, a heavy police force reached the
spot and pacified both the groups.
In Azamgarh, a 30-year-old man was
allegedly killed by his wife and her paramour
at Fariha Bazaar locality in Nizamabad area of
the district in the wee hours of Friday.
Reports said that Haider, of Fariha locali-
ty, was opposing his wife Tammana over her
affair with Abu Lais aka Jumman, of the same
locality. To carry on their affair, Tammana and
Jumman had decided to eliminate Haider and
as per their plan, they gave some sedatives to
him mixed with food on occasion of Eid. Later,
when Haider became unconscious, they strangulated him to death.
When the family members found Haider
lying dead, they informed the police after which
it was found that his wife had killed him with
the help of her lover and both had eloped.
An FIR was registered on the complaint of
the victim’s brother.
Police have launch a manhunt to nab
Tammana and Jumman.
In another murder over extra marital relations, a 32-year-old woman was alleged killed
by her husband as she had left him and married her lover in Ferozabad.
Reports said that 32-year-old Mamata, a resident of Thapapeth locality of Uttar in Ferozabad
who had two children from Ranveer, had fallen in love with Jai Kishen Yadav, who was also
married and had children. The situation took
an ugly turn when Mamata left her husband’s
house and started living with Jai Kishen and the
duo reportedly married.
According to reports, both Mamata and Jai
Kishen were taking morning stroll on Friday
when two persons riding a motorcycle gunned
down Mamata and escaped.
Later Kishen lodged a report in this regard
naming Ranveer as the main conspirator A case
was registered and investigations are on.
S-I suspended for celebratory
firing at tilak ceremony
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE ■ LUCKNOW
police sub-inspector was placed under suspension after a video clip in which he is
A
seen watching girls dance with some men and
indulging in celebratory firing at a function
went viral on the social media on Friday.
“Sub-Inspector Sitaram Swarnkar, posted
at Rampur Kala police station, has been suspended and the organiser of the function has
been arrested while efforts are on to nab the
other culprits,” IG (Law and Order) Hari Ram
Sharma disclosed while briefing media persons
here on Friday.
Sharma said that Ram Naresh Bhargawa, a
resident of Bhagwantpur Rewali village in
Rampur Kala locality of Sitapur, had organised
a function on the tilak ceremony of his son
Pradanyu Bhargawa on Thursday evening.
During the celebrations, some guests and
girls from a dance troupe were dancing when
suddenly some youths started firing to celebrate
the occasion.
In the video clip, Swarnkar, posted at the
local police station, is seen enjoying the dance
in uniform. When the video went viral on
Friday, senior officers took cognisance and
immediately placed the S-I was under suspension and arrested Ram Naresh Bhargawa and
one of his sons Sonu Bhargawa. A licensed .12
bore gun and a country-made weapon were
recovered from them.
The other persons seen firing in the
video clip have been identified as Bholu
Singh, Shankar, Dharmendra Pratap Singh aka
Jeet.
Meanwhile, in another incident reported
from Etah, a 25-year-old woman was injured
in celebratory firing during a wedding in
Chilamapur village late Thursday night.
Reports said that Sarmala, hailing
from Gosalpur village, was injured when
Awadesh and Arjun fired with country-made
pistols during the wedding celebrations of
Dharmendra.
The victim was admitted to a hospital from
where she was referred to Agra.
An FIR has been registered against the
accused but efforts to arrest them have failed
as both are absconding.
Printed and Published by Vijay Prakash Singh for and on behalf of CMYK Printech Ltd., 4th Floor, Sahara Shopping Centre, Faizabad Road, Lucknow-226016 and Printed at Tin Tin Printech Pvt Ltd., C-33 Amausi Industrial Area, Nadarganj, Lucknow. Tel: (0522) 2438656 / 9336266608.
Editor: Chandan Mitra. Resident Editor: Vijay Prakash Singh. RNI No. 2016/57. Lucknow Telephones: EPABX: 4036600 Fax: 2345582. Allahabad Office: (95532) 2420818, 2421018, 3290460. Kanpur Office: (95512) 2304006, 2304416. Varanasi Office: (95542) 2414294, 2414295. Delhi
Office: Link House, II Floor, 3 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110 002. Tel: (011) 23755271-274, 41509074.
city 03
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
Encroachments removed from cycle track Daylight loot in Naka
DM recommends JE’s suspension
Drainage of water
from the cycle
track to adjacent
nullah was not
proper and rain
water had
accumulated on
the cycle track at
many places and
damaged it
PNS ■ LUCKNOW
aking a serious note of complaints about damages to the
T
cycle track at Tedhi Puliya and
encroachments on it, the district
administration recommended
suspension of the PWD junior
engineer concerned on Friday.
In the past few days, the district administration had received
several complaints that the cycle
track from Tedhi Puliya to Kursi
Road was damaged due to poor
quality of construction and it had
been encroached on by street
vendors.
Taking the complaints seriously, District Magistrate Raj
Shekhar inspected the place along
with executive engineer of PWD.
It was found that the concrete
brick work and concrete partition
blocks were of poor quality and
damaged at 15-20 places. Besides,
drainage of water from the cycle
track to adjacent nullah was not
proper and rain water had accumulated on the cycle track at
many places and damaged it.
It was also found that the
PWD was constructing footpath
and a side lane for after the cycle
Water-logged cycle track at Tedhi Puliya
track stretch and all the construction material was dumped
on the cycle track, obstructing
movement of bicycles at many
places. Expressing his annoyance, the district magistrate said
the facts and preliminary findings
indicated irregularities and neg-
Eid celebrated with great
enthusiasm, fervour
PNS ■ LUCKNOW
raying for the peace and
prosperity of the country,
P
the Muslims celebrated Eid-ulFitr with zeal and religious fervour here on Thursday. The
Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav,
and the Governor, Ram Naik,
visited the Aishbagh Eidgah to
wish a happy Eid to the Muslims
on the occasion.
The Chief Minister and the
Governor met clerics and other
members of the Muslim community to greet them on the
occasion. This time Eid was celebrated on two days. While the
Shias celebrated Eid on
Wednesday after a special
announcement came from top
clerics in Iraq and Iran late at
night the Sunnis celebrated it on
Thursday. Addressing the
devouts at the Imam-e-Eidgah,
Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi
Mahali said that the terrorist
attacks which had taken place in
Dhaka and Saudi Arabia should
be vehemently condemned by
one and all. Those who knew
teachings of Islam could not kill
anyone, he said and added that
those who mastermind such
acts were not Muslims. “The
United Nations should declare
ISIS a terrorist organisation and
the conspiracy behind such
attacks should be revealed to the
public,” he said.
Defending the Muslim personal laws, he said they were
derived from the Quran and
Hadith so making changes in
them was strictly prohibited. As
the Constitution of India gives a
right to every citizen to freely
practise the religion of his or her
choice, we follow the Muslim
personal laws. Some fake surveys
were presented in the past which
said that the Muslims wanted
changes in their personal laws
but the fact was that they did not
want any change as 99 per cent
of the Indian Muslims were following them, he added.
Opposing the Uniform Civil
Code, the Maulana said that raising such an issue was just a conspiracy to divert the people’s
attention from the basic ones.
We all know that in our country
such codes could not be implemented, he added.
Later, a special prayer for the
peace, progress and security of
the nation was organised at
Eidgah.
Earlier on Wednesday the
Shias offered prayers at different
mosques in the city. One of the
biggest congregations was witnessed at the Bada Imambada
where the Eid prayers were led
by the Shia cleric, Maulana
Kalbe Jawwad.
In his address the cleric
condemned terrorism across the
globe and said that the ISIS was
not just a terrorist outfit but it
was a product of false ideology.
To combat it there was a need to
finish this false ideology first
from its roots. Be it Dhaka, Iraq
or Syria, the ISIS was killing
innocent people everywhere but
the international community
was silent, he said. The people all
over the globe should join hands
to eradicate this terrorist outfit
from its very roots, he added.
ligence on the part of the junior
engineer concerned. He said
there was also supervisory negligence on the part of assistant
engineer and executive engineer
concerned.
Besides recommending suspension of the JE, the district
administration recommended
adverse entry to the AE and
warning to the EE. A team of
experts has been asked to get the
quality of construction tested.
The district administration
also recommended that the cost
of repair and restoration of the
damaged cycle track be recovered
either from the engineers concerned or the contractor.
The Gudamba police have
been directed to remove all
encroachments on the cycle track
and take stern legal action against
repeated encroachers. Within an
hour, the local police removed all
encroachments from the cycle
track. The DM said PWD and
Lucknow
Development
Authority were responsible for
construction of cycle tracks and
they had been directed to keep
regular checks on it and also to
depute security guards to keep
street vendors away from these
tracks.
Lucknow (PNS): In broad daylight
loot, four motorcycle-borne miscreants
snatched a bag containing Rs 5 lakh cash on
pistol point near Rajendra nursing home
under Naka police station on Friday.
According to police, around 1 pm
cashier of Deepak Trading Company, Avnish
Pandey, left the company’s office situated
near Dugawan police outpost to deposit the
money in Bank of India’s Aishbagh branch.
When he reached Subhash Marg, the
miscreant hit Pandey’s scooter. When he fell
down, two miscreants started beating him.
One of the miscreants, who had his face covered with cloth, pointed a pistol on Pandey
and asked him to hand over the cash bag.
They took out the bag from scooters’
boot and checked it before escaping.
After that Pandey informed his employer Deepak Singhal about the loot.
Police have detained the cashier for
questioning and investigation is on.
city 04
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
2nd round of counselling for CRIMELINE
UPSEE at AKTU concludes ARRESTED
The police arrested
Lucknow (PNS): The second round of UPSEE (Uttar Pradesh
State Entrance Examination) counselling concluded at the AKTU
(Abdul Kalam Technical University) here on Friday.
The coordinator of the UPSEE Counselling, Kamlesh
Narain, told the mediapersons that nearly 2,416 new candidates
had got themselves registered for the second round and 1,750
candidates had also paid their fees. He said that the last day of
the second round of counselling on July 8 saw nearly 1,450 candidates going in for the verification of their documents.
“The candidates can now login and choose their ‘willing
option,’ the ‘float option’ or the ‘withdrawal option’ regarding their
choice of institutes by midnight till July 12. In case they do not
choose any option it will be considered as auto-withdrawal of
the student and his fees will be reimbursed at the allotted time,”
he added.
Trial of Metro to be held on Nov 1: CS
PNS ■ LUCKNOW
two
drug peddlers of a gang smuggling
‘ganja`from Barabirawa crossing
in Krishna Nagar in the wee
hours of Friday. They were
identified as Brijesh Gupta and
Krishna Rai. The cops recovered 5
kg ‘ganja’ from them. They used
to smuggle ‘ganja’ from Patna
and sell at to ‘pan’ shops in and
around Charbagh railway and bus
stations.
Three auto-lifters were arrested and 10 stolen motorcycles were
recovered from their possession.
They were identified as Munna Lal,
Raja and Mangal Singh. They were
picked up from Malgodown Colony
in Pandariba.
Two persons committed suicides in the city during the past 24
hours. Ashish Shukla (27) of Nayak
Nagar in Madion hanged himself
from the ceiling of his house. No
suicide note was found. Rahul
Verma (21) committed suicide by
hanging himself from the ceiling of
his room in Shekhpur locality of
Ghazipur.
ROAD MISHAP
A 26-year old youth was killed
in a road mishap near Gandhi
Bhawan. He was identified as Noor
Alam. The deceased and his friend
Naimuddin were coming from
Kaiserbagh on a motorcycle on
Thursday evening. The motorcycle
skided when he applied brakes to
save a stray dog. Noor Alam
sustained head injuries and died
n Balrampur Hospital. Howeve
r his friend on the pillon escaped
unhurt.
Singhal directed the
LMRC officials to
convene a meeting
with the head of the
implementing agency,
Larsen and Toubro, to
expedite the
implementation of the
Lucknow Metro Rail
Project while
ensuring the
prescribed quality
and standard
T
AUTO-LIFTERS HELD
SUICIDES
he Chief Secretary of Uttar
Pradesh, Deepak Singhal, has
directed the Lucknow Metro Rail
Corporation officials to advance the
trial of Lucknow Metro to November
1, one month earlier than scheduled.
Reviewing the project on Friday,
he said, that in addition to ensuring
prescribed standards and quality, the
Lucknow Metro rail facility would
have to be provided to the public in
January 2017 instead of March 2017.
During the meeting, the Chief
Secretary spoke to the Secretary of the
Union Government for the quick
release of Rs 410 crore of the Central
share and got an assurance that the
long-pending amount would be
released within the next three days.
The Chief Secretary was reviewing the progress of Lucknow Metro at
a meeting with the Principal Secretary,
Housing, Sadakant, and the Managing
Director of LMRC, Kumar Keshav,
along with other officials. He directed the officials to present a comprehensive action plan within a week to
complete the remaining works of
Lucknow Metro one month earlier
than the scheduled time-frame with no
compromise in its quality or standard.
Singhal directed the LMRC officials to convene a meeting with the
head of the implementing agency,
Larsen and Toubro, to expedite the
implementation of the Lucknow Metro
Rail Project while ensuring the prescribed quality and standard.
Meanwhile the Senior PRO from
the LMRC, Amit Srivastava, said here
on Friday that four companies had
qualified for the opening of their
financial bids for the elevated portion
of the Lucknow Metro from the KD
Singh Babu Stadium to Munshipulia.
Talking to ‘The Pioneer,’ he said that
these companies had been selected
after the evaluation of their technical
bids.
It may be pointed out here that the
LMRC had floated tenders for the construction of eight stations on this route
which included the KD Singh Babu
Stadium Station, the Vishwavidyalaya
Station, the IT College Station, the
Badshahnagar Station, the Lekhraj
Station, the RS Mishra Station, the
Indiranagar Station and the
Munshipulia Station, including the
special spans on the North–South
Corridor on May 19 this year.
Amit Srivastava said, “Based on
technical evaluation of bids submitted
for this tender four bidders have
qualified for opening of their financial
packages in accordance with the provision of tender documents. The
financial tenders will be opened on
July 15 at the LMRC office.”
It may be noted that as per the
Detailed Project Report of the
Lucknow Metro its alignment after the
KD Singh Babu Stadium crosses the
Gomti river and then follows the cen-
tre of the University Road till the
Vishwavidyalaya Station. The alignment thereafter has Isabella Thoburn
College located on the left hand side
and the Reserve Police Line area on the
right hand side. The alignment then
follows the centreline of the Faizabad
Road NH-28 up to 140.17 metres
before the start of the flyover (Indira
Flyover) and then shifts on its left hand
side.
It reaches the next proposed station at Badshahnagar and then goes off
the road on the left hand side to cross
the Kukrail Nala. The next station,
Lekhraj Market, has been proposed
at the centre of the road with the entry
and exit points on its service roads .
After the Lekhraj Market the alignment continues to follow the road centreline and the next station is proposed
at Ram Sagar Mishra Nagar. Further
the alignment continues along the
Faizabad Road and the Indiranagar
Station has been proposed at a distance
of 300 metres from the HAL’s main
entrance.
After the Indiranagar Station the
alignment will take a sharp left turn
towards Munshipulia alongside the
Polytechnic flyover. At this station a
junction arrangement has been suggested for integration with the proposed MRTS link to the Gomtinagar
area. Two cross-overs, one each in the
front and rear, are proposed at this station. Besides, two turnouts for the line
coming from Gomtinagar for connecting with the mainline are also proposed. After this the alignment takes
a left turn towards the last station,
Munshipulia, and passes a few shops
and buildings to move along the centreline of the road to reach it.
Meanwhile Srivastava said that
almost 85 five per cent of the civil construction work had been completed.
Regarding the construction of the
underground section of the Lucknow
Metro, he said that it was likely to
begin by the end of this month. “The
underground construction work from
Charbagh to KD Singh Babu Stadium
will begin by the end of this month
and we have already shared the traffic plans with the Traffic Department,”
he added.
DM inaugurates new Scimax show at RSC
PNS ■ LUCKNOW
he District Magistrate, Raj
Shekhar, inaugurated a
T
new large format film titled
‘Adrenaline Rush-The Science
of Risk’ at the Regional Science
City on Monday. He also
watched the film show along
with several students present
on the occasion.
The DM shared the experience of his first visit to the
Regional Science City when he
was undergoing training of IAS
in UPAM. “It was a wonderful
experience altogether to witness the movie. The people of
Lucknow are lucky to have this
unique facility the like of
which are very few in the
country. Watching a film with
this facility is surely a different
kind of experience altogether.
Students must benefit from
this unique facility in the city”.
On the occasion Dr B N
Dhawan, former Director,
CDRI, and Dr SN Joshi, former
Director, CEERI, Pilani, were
also present along with more
than 200 students and teachers.
The film ‘Adrenaline RushThe Science of Risk’ explores
the world of skydiving and
CITYBRIEFS
base jumping, parachuting
from a building, a bridge or a
cliff. While providing breathtaking views of skydiving, this
giant-screen experience
explores the psychological and
physiological forces behind
risk-taking and the physics
involved in these activities. In
doing so it also shows us how
risk taking is a part of every-
day life. The film explores the
innards of risk taking in a wide
and spectacular way.
Adrenaline Rush even allows
spectators to directly experience a base jump through a
1300-metre jump from a legendary cliff in Norway, the
Katthammaren Wall. The film
also teaches that humanity
can benefit from the unexpected and combined efforts of
two very different risk takers
whose minds meet across half
a millennium and across the
boundaries of the old and new
worlds as has been witnessed
in the experiment of Leonardo
Da Vinci’s notorious parachute imagined in 1485 and
the very first parachute design
ever recorded in the world by
Adrian Nicholas, world’s most
respected skydiver and inventor in his own right.
SCHOOLSCAN
MEETING
The 50th board meeting of the Lucknow City Transport
Service Limited was held under the leadership of its Divisional
Commissioner, T Venkatesh, here on Friday. He directed the
authorities concerned to launch a drive against the buses being
run unauthorisedly in the city.
ORIENTATION PROGRAMME
The orientation programme of the Jaipuria Institute of
Management will conclude with a freshers’ party at its auditorium here on Saturday.
JAYANTI
The Babu Banarasi Das Nagar Nivasi Kalyan Samiti celebrated the 104th birth anniversary of the former Chief
Minister, Babu Banarsi Das at the residence of Dr Akhilesh Das
here on Friday.
PROTEST
A protest will be held by the Shia Vichar Manch against
the controversial Islamic preacher, Zakir Naik, at the GPO Park
at 11 am on Saturday.
STRIKE
CMS DELEGATION TO VISIT MAURITIUS
A 10-member delegation of City Montessori School, Aliganj
(Campus I) will be participating in the International Convention
on Students' Quality Control Circle (ICSQCC-2016) being held
in Mauritius. This international convention has been organised
by the World Council of Total Quality and Excellence in
Education (WCTQEE) in which students' teams and quality
experts from across the globe are participating. Students who will
be visiting Mauritius are Shashwat, Shrutkirti Teerthankar
Shandilya, Shantanu, Naman Gopal, Anushka Patel, Shashank
Mishra, Shruti Mishra and Jaydeep Pathak. The team will be led
by senior teacher Seema Hitkari and Beena Tyagi.
Harshvardhan
to visit Biotech
Park on July 11
PIONEER NEWS SERVICE ■
LUCKNOW
he Union Minister for
Science and Technology,
T
Dr Harshvardhan, will visit
the Biotech Park here on
Monday. The CEO, Biotech
Park, Pramod Tandon, while
talking to ‘The Pioneer’ on
Friday said that the Institute
would be showcasing our
strengths to the Union Minister
and expected continued support from the Central
Government.
“We will be showcasing
our strengths at the Institute
and these include the
Incubation Centre which currently houses over 15 companies. We will also showcase our
Human Resource Development
Project under the Skill
Development Programme
wherein we are training people
through summer training programmes to become entrepreneurs. We will also be highlighting our endeavours
towards setting up of a
Research Wing which can
help the entrepreneurs in a big
way,” he said.
The CEO said that their
main aim was to ensure that the
biotechnological benefits
reached the people of the state.
“Besides this, it is also important to attract the entrepreneurs
to the state of Uttar Pradesh.
There are several other states
which are attracting the entrepreneurs in the area of biotechnology and it needs to be
boosted here. For this it is
important to have good
research and development
activities at the Institute,” he
added.
Demanding hike in wages, over 700 contractual employees of Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences struck
work for two hours on Friday, affecting healthcare services in
the institute. The RMLIMS contractual employees are staging
protest since Tuesday and working with black ribbons tied to
arm.
PARKING FEES
Patients coming to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital will no
longer have to pay parking fees as the hospital administration
has abolished it. the extra fees following directive in this regard
by Minister of State for Family Welfare Ravidas Mehrotra.
Earlier, patients and their attendants coming to RML Hospital
had been shelling out Rs 5 to Rs 20 for availing parking facility. Other government hospitals in the state capital Balrampur,
SPM (Civil) and LBRN hospitals have already abolished parking fees.
PLANTATION
Centre of Environment Education (CEE) in collaboration
with the Uttar Pradesh Forest Corporation and the Forest
Department will participate in the event which is being organised at the Kukrail Forest Reserve on July 11 for the plantation
of five crore saplings. The Senior Project Coordinator, Preeti
Kannaujia, said that more than 200 students from Children’s
Forest Programme schools would actively participate in the
event at Kukrail where they would also plant saplings.
DEMAND
Employees of Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of
Medical Sciences on Friday demanded patient care arrears from
the year 2008. Representatives of SGPGI Karmachari
Mahasangh met Special Secretary (Medical Education) and
Additional Director of SGPGI Arindam Bhattacharya on Friday
demanding amendment to the government order issued in this
regard. The employees are agitating since June 8 for patient care
and other pending arrears.
Lucknoow Zoological Garden witnessed a heavy rush on Eid
Pioneer
nation 05
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
EXTRA JUDICIAL KILLINGS IN MANIPUR
Army can’t use excessive force: SC
PNS n NEW DELHI
he Supreme Court on
Friday held that the Army
cannot be justified to use excessive force in an area declared
“disturbed” under the Armed
Forces Special Powers Act.
Examining a petition by
association of families who had
lost their kin in a spree of extra
judicial killings in Manipur,
the Bench of Justices Madan B
Lokur and UU Lalit set out to
examine the truth behind 1,528
instances of such killings. It
ordered the National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) to
assist the amicus curiae Menaka
Guruswamy in tabulating information about each case.
The compilation will indicate whether in each case a judicial enquiry or an enquiry by
the NHRC or an enquiry under
the Commissions of Inquiry
Act, 1952 has been held and the
result of the enquiry and
whether any First Information
Report or complaint or petition
has been filed by the next of kin
of the deceased. The matter will
be taken up for hearing next
after four weeks. It would only
be then the Court will examine
the prayers of the petitioners to
recommend a probe by either a
special investigation team or
CBI into the alleged killings.
The Court said there was
no justification for the Army to
kill citizens of the country by
treating them as “enemy” of the
State. The Bench said, “If members of our armed forces are
deployed and employed to kill
citizens of our country on the
mere allegation or suspicion
that they are ‘enemy’ not only
the rule of law but our democracy would be in grave danger.”
The Centre had argued
T
INSHORT
ANTI-TROLLING MOVE NOT
OLINE POLICING: MANEKA
New Delhi: Responding to
criticism of its anti-trolling move,
Women and Child Development
Minister Maneka Gandhi on
Friday said that the Ministry's
attempt to check trolling will not
imply online policing or blanket
patrolling of the internet. National
Commission for Women Chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam
had raised strong objections
when the panel was asked to
monitor cases of online abuse.
NAIDU FOR GOVT POLICY
ON INFO, COMMUNICATION
New Delhi: Hitting the ground
running, I&B Minister M
Venkaiah Naidu on Friday
directed officials in his Ministry
to prepare a comprehensive
policy on information and
communication at the earliest.
According to sources, Naidu on
Friday held a 90-minute meeting
with heads of different departments in which he raised a
fundamental issue on whether
there is a Government policy on
information and communication.
“Apparently, there is no such
policy document. So, the Minister
directed I&B officials that a policy
be prepared at the earliest,” a
senior official said.
YADAV TAKES CHARGE AS
RURAL DEVELOPMENT MIN
New Delhi: Newly-appointed
MoS for Rural Development Ram
Kripal Yadav on Friday assumed
the charge, alongwith his other
two colleagues Parshottam
Rupala and Ramesh Chandappa
Jigajinagi, who also took over
their respective portfolios. Yadav,
who held the portfolio of MoS
for Drinking Water and Sanitation
was allocated the RD Ministry in
Tuesday's Cabinet reshuffle, the
other two — Parshottam Rupala
and Ramesh Chandappa
Jigajinagim are new entrants in
the Cabinet.
before the Court that terrorism
had been raising its ugly head
over past five decades for which
reason Manipur has continued
to be declared a “disturbed
area” under AFSPA. Any curb
EXAMINING A
PETITION BY
ASSOCIATION OF
FAMILIES WHO HAD
LOST THEIR KIN IN
A SPREE OF EXTRA
JUDICIAL KILLINGS
IN MANIPUR, THE
BENCH OF
JUSTICES MADAN B
LOKUR AND UU
LALIT SET OUT TO
EXAMINE THE
TRUTH BEHIND
1528 INSTANCES OF
SUCH KILLINGS.
on Army action would be
demoralising to the armed
forces, argued Attorney General
Mukul Rohatgi.
But the Bench examined
from the aspect of victims and
said, “To contend that this
would have a deleterious and
demoralising impact on the
security forces is certainly one
way of looking at it, but from the
point of view of a citizen, living
under the shadow of a gun that
can be wielded with impunity,
outright acceptance of the
proposition advanced is equally unsettling and demoralising,
particularly in a constitutional
democracy like ours.”
Human rights activists
cheer court’s verdict
ANUP SHARMA n GUWAHATI
he Supreme Court’s verdict
on Friday restricting use of
T
‘excessive or retaliatory force’ of
the Army or paramilitary force
even in areas under the infamous Armed Forces Special
Powers’ Act (AFSPA) has elated the human right defenders in
Northeastern State of Manipur.
The apex court’s verdict
will not only affect the immunity enjoyed by the armed
forces while operating in northeastern State but also will give
the much needed boost to the
human rights defenders, who
have been fighting for repealing the draconian Act, which
according to them, has become
a shield for the armed forces for
gross violation of human rights.
The human rights activists
in Manipur further welcomed
the apex court’s agreement to
have an independent inquiry
into Manipur’s 1,528 cases of
extra-judicial killings that took
place between 2000 and 2012.
“I think my sister will be
very happy to know this.
Today is in fact a happy
moment for all of us, who have
been struggling to ensure
human rights for everyone
one the state and trying to get
the AFSPA repealed. Not only
for the people of Manipur, but
the people of entire country
should feel happy and appreciate the Supreme Court’s ruling today,” Irom Singhajit, a
human rights defender and
I think my sister (Irom Sharmila who has been
on indefinite hunger strike for the last 15
years) will be very happy to know this. Today
is in fact a happy moment for all of us, who
have been struggling to ensure human rights
for everyone one the state and trying to get
the AFSPA repealed
— SHARMILA’S BROTHER IROM SINGHAJIT
brother of Manipur’s ‘Iron
Lady’, Irom Sharmila.
He said that he would be
breaking the news to his sister
soon. Sharmila, who has been
on an indefinite fast for last 15
years demanding repeal of the
AFSPA, is kept under judicial
custody at a hospital in
Manipur capital Imphal, which
was turned into a jail for her.
Sharmila, who had started her
fast November 2, 2000 in
protest against killings of 10
civilians allegedly by the Assam
Rifles, is force-fed a diet of liquids through her nose.
Manipur based human
rights activist, Beenalaxmi
Nepram also welcomed the
court's observation. She said this
would send across a message
that no one was above law. “The
ruling will ensure that those
who commit human rights violation or indulge in extra-judicial killings will not be let off.
We’ve suffered for more than
40-50 years but we have faith in
the Indian justice system. We’ll
keep fighting for the repeal of
AFSPA from the entire country.
Putting a blanket AFSPA on the
people of Manipur itself is a violation of the Constitution,”
Beenalaxmi said.
Digvijay hits back, accuses
Rajnath of meeting Pragya
PNS n NEW DELHI
day after Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) targeted him
A
for sharing dias with controversial Islamic preacher Zakir
Naik, senior Congress leader
Digvijay Singh on Friday hit
back by accusing Union Home
Minister Rajnath Singh of
meeting the 2008 Malegaon
blast accused Pragya Thakur.
While defending himself
Singh said sharing dias with
someone does not mean allegiance with him and wondered what the BJP would say
about Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
sharing the stage with Zakir.
“I am being criticised for
sharing stage with Zakir Naik
but what about Rajnath Singh
ji meeting bomb blast accused
Pragya Thakur? Pragya is an
accused in bomb blast. Is there
a case against Zakir Naik as yet?
What about Sri Sri Ravi
Shankar ji sharing stage with
Zakir?” Singh said in Twitter.
Digvijay Singh is being
targeted by the BJP after a 2012
video showed him praising
Zakir. Zakir is currently under
Government scrutiny following
reports that terrorists involved
in Dhaka attack were inspired
by his speeches.
In his defence, Singh said
if there was any evidence
against the preacher, then the
Indian and Bangladeshi
Governments should take
action against him. “I have
appealed for communal harmony and opposed religious
fundamentalism and terrorism by either Hindus or
Muslims,” Singh said.
BJP has termed Zakir a
threat to national security saying his speeches incited people.
“Terrorism is enemy of humanity. Anybody who directly or
indirectly abets it is guilty.
People like him (Zakir) are a
threat to our national security.
Government agencies should
decide on action against him
under the existing legal system.
It is clear that he incited people,” BJP national secretary
Shrikant Sharma said on
Thursday.
“It is in Congress’ character to politicise and glorify
terrorism. Its leaders used
terms like Hafiz saab and
Osama ji for terrorists. They
questioned the sacrifice of
Inspector Mohan Chand
Sharma in Batla House
encounter and claimed their
president Sonia Gandhi cried
whole night over the killings (of
terrorists) in the encounter,” he
said.
Baseless claim: BJP
Party questions
Sonia, Rahul’s
‘silence’ on
controversy
PNS n NEW DELHI
escribing Congress leader
Digvijay Singh’s claim as
D
“baseless”, BJP Friday asserted
that Union Home Minister
Rajnath Singh had never met
Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, the
2008 Malegaon blast accused.
“Rajnath Singh never met
Pragya Thakur. It is a baseless
claim. BJP condemns Digvijay
Singh for his comments,” BJP
national secretary Shrikant
Sharma said.
The Congress general secretary had made the charge
earlier too and Rajnath had
denied it.
Sharma also questioned
the ‘silence” of Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi,
saying they should speak on this
matter of national security.
“One can understand their
silence on corruption involving
its chief ministers in Himachal
Pradesh and Uttarakhand
besides Aircel Maxis and chopper scams as they are themselves charged in National
Herald case. But they should
not be silent on this issue of
national security,” he said.
“If in our country anybody
directly or indirectly supports
ISIS, then it amounts to betraying the country. Investigation
agencies must take stringent
action,” he said charging
Congress with politicising and
glorifying terrorism.
Congress making
empty rhetoric
ARUN JAITLEY
he Congress party has run
out of ideas. It has perT
fected the art of scoring selfgoals. The latest example is the
Press Conference that its
spokesperson held on July 7
2016 alleging a telecom scam
of `46,000 crore.
Under the well established
policy of Government of
India, telecom ser vice
providers pay to the
Government of India licence
fee and spectrum user charges
on a revenue sharing basis. A
CAG report of February 2016
has stated that the six telephone providers, between the
period 2006-07 and 2009-10,
have under-reported their revenues to the extent of `46,000
crores, thereby depleting the
share of the Union
Government in license fee
and spectrum user charges by
about `5,000 crore. The CAG
report was received by the
Telecom Department in
February this year and its
supporting documents were
received in June 2016 and the
same are now being scrutinised so that the Telecom
Department can take further
action in the matter. As per
Parliamentary procedure, the
CAG report is now pending
before the Public Accounts
Committee.
The pertinent question is
how is this a scam of the NDA
Government? The underreporting by the telecom service providers relates to the
period when UPA was in
power. The UPA Government,
under its very nose, allowed
this under-reporting. The
Final CAG report pointed it
out in February 2016 and
only three weeks ago have the
documents been sent by the
CAG to the Telecom
Department. Notwithstanding
the fact that the issue is pending before the PAC, the
Telecom Department, which is
processing these documents,
will take action. What is act of
omission and commission by
the present Government? An
impropriety took place during
the UPA Government for
which
the
present
Government will take action.
The question, however, is
the pathetic plight of the
Congress. Notwithstanding
the fact that this impropriety
took place during the UPA
Government, the Congress
spokesman made an empty
noise about this being an
NDA
Telecom
S cam.
Shrillness, non-application of
mind and a belligerent
rhetoric seem to be the strategy of the Congress party. It is
a pity that the Party has been
pushed to this desperation.
(The writer is Union
Finance Minister)
Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (Retd) VK Singh releasing the book ‘Strategic significance of North-East India' authored by Dr D Bhalla, Secretary, Lok Sabha
Secretariat, in New Delhi on Friday
Pioneer photo
Take steps to recover bad debt: Yechuri to PM Delhi Govt-Centre
PNS n NEW DELHI
PI(M) general secretary
Sitaram Yechury on Friday
urged Prime Minister Narendra
Modi to take steps to recover
the huge bad debt amounting to
more than `8.5 lakh crore by
top corporate houses. In letter,
Yechury asked Prime Minister
to ensure no further public
money is given by public sector banks (PSBs) till all the
assets of the defaulters concerned have been monetised.
He referred to RBI’s
Financial Stability Report and
C
MORE THAN `8.5
LAKH CRORE OF
THE LOANS GIVEN
BY OUR BANKS
HAVE NOT BEEN
RETURNED BY THE BORROWERS
said it highlighted “precarious”
situation of the banking sector.
“More than `8.5 lakh crore
(`8,55,551 crore) of the loans
given by our banks have not
‘Aircel trying to sell off assets
to other telecom operators’
PNS n NEW DELHI
oted lawyer Prashant Bhushan on
Friday wrote to CBI and ED chiefs
N
to immediately attach the properties of
Aircel mobile phone company, alleging
that the company is trying to sell off its
assets to other telecom operators. Bhushan
said the company's Malaysian owners are
evading the probe in Aircel-Maxis scam
and engaging in talks to sell the assets to
Airtel and Reliance Communications.
Bhushan, one of the petitioners in the
case, pointed out that Maxis owner T
Ananda Krishnan and Raplh Marshal are
already chargesheeted by CBI and ED and
both agencies were not acted on attaching the company’s assets in India.
“However, it is strange and disturbing that while properties of former tele-
com minister and Sun Direct Tv are being
attached, the assets of Aircel/Maxis in
India have not been attached. This has
happened despite the fact that Maxis and
its owner have evaded summons issued
by the Special Court and have not
appeared before the Court.
“The main asset of the company
Aircel is the spectrum allotted to it by the
Government. Spectrum, which is a precious natural resource belonging to the
people of India, has been allotted to
Aircel/Maxis by the Government. Today,
the company is attempting to quickly selloff its allotted Spectrum to Bharti Airtel
and Reliance Communications for thousands of crores, and exit the market with
huge sums of money,” said Bhushan.
“If the deal between Aircel & Bharti
Airtel and the deal between Aircel &
been returned by the borrowers. Going by their response
and the action taken by your
Government so far, it is highly unlikely that these monies
will be returned anytime soon,”
Yechury said.
“Needless to add, this is
every single Indian’s money
which has been misappropriated by these borrowers, which
are mainly big corporates,” he
said.
Yechury said, according to
the report, as of end of March
this year, Gross Non-performing Assets (GNPAs) of all
scheduled commercial banks
(SCBs) stood at `5,60,822
crore, 7.71 per cent of their
gross advances of `72,73,927
crore. In addition, the restruc-
tured standard advances are at
`2,94,729 crore, 4.05 per cent
of the gross advances, he said.
The Marxist leader also
quoted Comptroller and
Auditor General of India
(CAG) Shashi Kant Sharma as
saying a few days back that
there is a belief that a large part
of these amounts may have
been transferred abroad and
may never get recovered. “I
urge you as Prime Minister to
put into practice an urgent
action plan to start recovery of
pending loans from the top 100
borrowers,” he said.
Govt to start cleanliness drive at 10 iconic places
PNS n DELHI
oon ten iconic places-internationally known for their heritage,
Sspiritual
and cultural values-in the
country, including Taj Mahal,
Vaishno Devi temple, Golden Temple
and Ajmer Sharif will be spruced up
on par with global standards.
The Modi Government plans to
launch a cleanliness drive at these
iconic places, as part of a pilot project under its flagship scheme,
Swachchh Bharat Mission.
Union Minister for Rural
Development and Water and
Sanitation Minister Narendra Singh
Tomar on Friday said his Ministry is
in the process of selecting 100 iconic places for cleaning under the mission and most will be either tourist
or religious spots, with most of
them witnessing heavy footfalls from
domestic as well as abroad.
“As part of Swachchh Bharat
Mission, the Ministry has identified
10 such iconic places to start cleanliness drive as part of the pilot project under this mission,” h said.
The places which have been
selected are Vaishno Devi temple in
Jammu & Kashmir, Taj Mahal in
Uttar Pradesh, Tirupati temple in
Andhra Pradesh, Golden Temple in
Punjab, Ajmer Sharif in Rajasthan,
Jagannath Temple in Odisha,
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in
Maharashtra, Manikarnika Ghat in
Uttar Pradesh, Meenakshi Temple in
Tamil Nadu and Kamakhya Temple
in Assam.
Once this pilot project, to be
called as phase I, is completed, the
Government will carry out a similar
cleanliness drive at the remaining 90
places, Tomar said.
The aim of this initiative is to
make these 100 places model
'Swachh Tourist Destinations’, that
will enhance the experience for visitors from India and abroad.
Drinking Water and Sanitation
Secretary Parameswaran Iyer said the
ministry is taking help of experts
from World Bank to make this project successful.
“We are evaluating various models and practices which have been followed in various countries for cleaning and sanitising and trying to find
out out which are relevant can be
adapted here,” Iyer said.
The Secretary also said the ministry has approached various corporate groups for financing the drive at
these iconic places.
power tussle: SC
won’t restrain HC
PNS n NEW DELHI
he power tussle between
the Delhi Government and
T
Centre will be decided by the
Delhi High Court. The
Supreme Court on Friday
refused to interfere with the
issue on which the High Court
is expected to pronounce a
decision later this month.
Hearing a petition by the
Kejriwal Government, the
bench of Justices Dipak Misra
and UU Lalit pointed out that
when the Delhi Government
has filed a suit in the SC for
declaring Delhi a State, it was an
“anomaly” to have approached
the Delhi HC simultaneously to
decide on the aspect of jurisdiction of the Centre over Delhi.
The Delhi Government in its
petition had demanded that
till such time the suit is heard by
apex court, the HC must be
restrained from passing any
order. It further had submitted
that if the special status given to
Delhi makes it a ‘State’ any dispute between Centre and Delhi
will be “federal” in nature, thus
falling under the “exclusive”
original jurisdiction of the SC.
Finding it strange how the
Delhi Government had
approached the apex court to
restrain the passing of a judg-
ment by the HC after approaching it in the first place, the Bench
said, “We perceive a sense of
anomaly. If you are convinced
that the suit is maintainable in
the SC, then why do you
approach the HC under Article
226. You (Delhi) should have
withdrawn the writ petition
from the HC.”
Arguing for Delhi, senior
advocate Indira Jaising submitted that due to this anomaly, the Delhi Government
moved an application in the HC
requesting the judge to first
decide on whether it has jurisdiction to try this matter and
then proceed on merits. But the
bench was not convinced. It
said, “The HC has reserved
judgment. Under the constitutional framework, we must
respect the authority of HC to
determine its jurisdiction. Let
the HC decide on all issues. You
can raise this issue even in the
appeal to the Supreme Court. In
all possibility, it may be heard
along with your pending suit.”
Attorney General Mukul
Rohatgi argued that this petition
was misconceived. He showed an
order passed by the SC on April
12, 2016 asking the HC to decide
on the issue of jurisdiction of
Centre vis-à-vis Delhi under
Article 239AA by July 2016.
nation 06
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
WB Cong MLA accepts PAC
chairmanship, party calls meet
SAUGAR SENGUPTA n KOLKATA
n alleged “masterstroke” by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
has sparked off a major crisis in Bengal Congress with senior
A
MLA and former Pradesh Congress president Manas Bhunia defying the party line and accepting the chairmanship of the prestigious Public Accounts Committee which the Congress had decided to leave to the CPI(M) as a gesture of goodwill.
Earlier, Speaker Biman Banerjee had offered the post to Manas
Bhunia ignoring Opposition Leader Abdul Mannan’s requests of
giving it to the Left Legislature Party Leader and CPI(MP) MLA
Sujan Chakrabarty. The Congress saw in the “whole process of
disregard the Opposition Leader’s request” machinations of the
Chief Minister who they said got the Speaker to ignore
Mannan’s request and offer the prestigious post to Bhunia, who
was apparently disgruntled by not being offered the Opposition
Leader’s post. Bhunia, who on Friday received a letter of appointment from the Speaker promptly accepted it defying the party
directives and said “this is a great challenge and I will try to live
up to the expectations” adding “I will call the first meeting of
the PAC soon in consultation with the Speaker.”
A teeth-gnash PCC immediately called an extended meeting of the Congress Legislature Party which will be attended by
senior leaders —including the MPs — where the party is likely
to take some stern action against Bhunia.
While State Congress president Adhir Chowdhury would not
comment on the issue sources said the party had already decided to “boycott” Bhunia and the meetings called by him. This apart,
he is also likely to be suspended.
No relief to Hardik despite bail in 2 cases
PAAS chief to remain in jail since he
wasn’t given a bail on a rioting case at a
rally that took place in Visnagar on July 6
PNS n GANDHINAGAR
he Gujarat High Court on
Friday granted bail to 23T
year-old Patidar Anamat
Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener Hardik Patel in two different sedition cases on the
condition that he would have to
stay outside Gujarat for next six
months.
The court has directed
Hardik to submit his passport
with the Gujarat Police. Despite
bail in sedition cases, the PAAS
convener will not be able to
come out of jail immediately as
he would have to get bail in
other cases related to pro-quota
agitation which became violent
after Maha Kranti Rally at
Ahmedabad August 25, 2015.
Police had filed a
chargesheet against Hardik and
16 others in a case of rioting
and assault registered at
Visnagar town of North Gujarat
after the first rally by Patels
seeking reservation was held at
Supporters of Hardik
Patel, convenor of Patidar
Anamat Andolan Samiti
(PAAS) celebrate after he
gets bail in Surat on
Friday
PTI
Visnagar on July 6, 2015, for
which he has not got a bail yet.
The jailed Patidar leader
during the previous hearing on
his bail application in connection with the two sedition cases
had given assurance to the court
that he was prepared to stay out
of Gujarat if granted bail.
Patel has been behind the
bars at Lajpore Jail in Surat
since October 2015 for two
sedition cases — one registered
in Surat and another in
Ahmedabad. First sedition case
was registered against him in
Surat last year after his alleged
advice to his supporter to kill
couple of policemen rather
than committing suicide.
Another sedition case was
registered against Hardik and his
five close aides by Ahmedabad
Crime Branch (ACB) for their
alleged involvement to plot violence post Maha Kranti Rally.
ACB registered sedition case on
the basis of interception of more
than 200 calls and lakhs of messages on social media. According
to police the post Maha Kranti
Rally violence claimed over 10
people’s lives in the State.
Hardik and other proquota leaders like Lalji Patel of
Sardar Patel Group (SPG) are
demanding reservation for
Patels in Government jobs and
education institutions under
Other Backward Class (OBC)
category. The pro-quota agitation initiated in July 2015 by
Hardik and his supporters. In
the initial phase of the agitation
many other upper castes including Brahmin and Kshtriya communities extended support.
Hardik’s lawyer Zubin
Bharda said that the PAAS convener was given bail in both the
sedition cases. Hardik will not
be free immediately as the court
mandated hearing in an another case related to pro-quota agitation on Monday, said Bharda,
adding that only after the court’s
order on July 11, his release
from the jail would be decided.
Reacting on the bail to
Hardik in both the sedition
cases, PAAS spokesman Varun
Patel said that even if he would
not be in Gujarat, PAAS supporters would be able to take his
guidance to continue agitation.
According to him, there would
be grand celebration once
Hardik is released from the jail.
‘Man-elephant conflict in alarming stage in WB’
Kolkata: With 108 people
killed by wild elephants in the
State in 2015-16, the West
Bengal Forest Department has
chalked out a two-pronged
approach to deal with the manelephant conflict in the State
which has reached an "alarming" situation.
"In 2015-2016, 108 people
were killed and 95 injured by
wild elephants in the State. Out
of these 108, 71 have been
killed in south Bengal.
A total of 14 elephants
have been killed in these incidents. We have reached an
alarming situation in Bengal,"
Principal Chief Conservator
of Forests Pradeep Vyas said.
He said that the forest
department took a twopronged "holistic approach" to
deal with the human-elephant
conflict in the State.
"We have two parts in deal-
ing with the issue— short term
and long term. In short term,
we are monitoring the movement of the elephants in the
state on a daily basis. All the
human injury or wildlife injury
will be monitored on a daily
basis," Vyas said.
"Secondly, we have also
formed an Elephant Movement
Coordination Committee
(EMCC), which was not there
earlier. It is headed by two chief
conservators."
"This committee monitors
the movement of elephant in
south West Bengal regularly
and ensures that unnecessary
obstructions are not caused in
the smooth movement of elephants. Because if the elephants
are obstructed repeatedly they
might get irritated and conflict
might increase," he said.
Vyas said, "The committee
is functioning in an excellent
manner for the last two months
and has ensured the return of
70-80 elephants to Jharkhand."
"We are making two elephant rescue and rehabilitation
centres, one in north Bengal
and another in south Bengal.
Those elephants which are
very aggressive in nature will be
captured and put in these centres where they will stay in
conditions similar to that in the
wild," he said.
PTI
BIHAR EXAM TOPPERS’ SCAM
Patna: RJD president Lalu Prasad
on Friday alleged that the RSS
wanted to write a new
Constitution based on anti-dalit
‘Manusmriti’. "The intention of
RSS is very dangerous...It wishes to convert the present
Parliament, where BJP has majority, into a 'Samvidhan Sabha'
(Constitution Assembly) to write
a new Constitution which would
be based on Manusmriti," Prasad
told PTI.
All in the family!
With parents in
jail, kin on the run
FAIZAN AHMAD n PATNA
he Bihar high secondary
exam toppers scandal may
T
reveal some big names during the
Women shift to safer places from a flood affected village in Jorhat on Friday
PTI
Telangana's draft
NRI policy ready
Hyderabad: The Telangana
Government said on Friday
that it has prepared draft NRI
policy to address the problems
faced by people who have
migrated to other countries
especially Gulf nations from
the State in search of livelihood.
Minister for Industries and
Information Technology KT
Rama Rao, who also holds the
portfolio of NRI affairs, on
Friday said a meeting would be
called on July 16 for consultation with various stakeholders
over the draft policy.
The Minister said that all
steps are being taken to ensure
gullible youngsters, who wish
to migrate to Gulf countries,
are not cheated by middlemen.
He made it clear that only those
who migrate legally, with
appropriate visas, will get necessary benefits, in case of an
untoward incidents.
The minister gave away
compensation cheque of
`40.15 lakh to the family of
Narsaih, from Nizamabad district, who lost his life in Gulf.
Narsaiah's employer
Jazeera Emirates has provided
this compensation.
Rao was speaking at a special program organised by
TOMCOM (Telangana Overseas Manpower Company Ltd).
He assured all help from
the Government to the Gulf
migrants.
He gave away necessary
documents and visas to 250
youngsters, who were trained
and placed in five organisations
in Dubai by TOMCOM.
This is the first batch of
youngsters, who were recruited from the rural areas of
Telangana. About 500 youngsters would be recruited as part
of second batch soon. IANS
ongoing probe as those arrested
so far have made many startling
revelations. With the arrest of
chairman of Bihar School
Examination Board (BSEB)
Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh and his
wife Usha Sinha, a former MLA
of JD(U), the Special
Investigation Team (SIT) is looking for their sons and son-in-law,
who had their role in the scam
and had made this scandal a family affair.
Lalkeshwar and Usha’s two
sons who are bankers have gone
underground fearing arrest. One
of their sons is in Patna employed
with a commercial bank and
played a key role in depositing
`54 crore while another son is
posted in London with the
branch of an Indian bank. Both
of them are absconding after the
arrest of their parents. SIT chief
and Patna SSP Manu Maharaaj
said the court would be moved
for warrant of arrest for the
younger son posted in Patna. He
said Lalkeshwar had an account
in the bank branch where his
younger son is posted and
deposited `54 crore there. The
bank would also be asked to
explain the deposition of such a
huge amount which helped his
son getting promotion. The
police also tried to contact the
elder son in London but in vein.
The couple’s son-in-law
Vivek Kumar whose proximity
with the scandal is beyond doubt
is also absconding as police are
looking after him with an arrest
warrant. An IAS officer holding
the post of Deputy Development
Commissioner is also under suspicion whose name cropped up
during the probe. There could be
one more name of an IAS officer
having role in the scam. This revelation was made by the district
education officer of Vaishali
Satyanaraian Prasad who has
been arrested. He revealed that
the exam centre for the candidates of the Vishun Rai College
had been changed at the orders
of that IAS officer from original
Gurukul School, Hajipur to GA
Inter School.
The SSP said the SIT was trying to find out at whose order the
exam centre was changed in the
last moment. “It is illegal to
change exam centre without
written order,” said Maharaaj.
It has also been revealed that
last year the education department committee had recommended the derecognition of
Vishun Rai College but the then
BSEN chairman Lakeshwar just
ignored the report. The former
secretary of BSEB Sriniwas
Tiwary, who is in police net, told
the SIT that last year too intermediate exam in that college had
been rigged and about one hundred students of that college had
secured very high marks. But
with college founder Bachcha Rai
extremely close to both
Lalkeshwar and Usha, the report
against the college was put under
the carpet. It is interesting to note
that most of the former employees of the BSEB and others who
are under arrest and being interrogated have put the entire blame
of the running scam on
Lalkeshwar, who the SIT believes,
worked under the influence of his
politician wife.
Salman ignores summons again, this time NCW's
New Delhi: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan on Friday
defied National Commission
for Women's summons and did
not appear before it to clarify
his controversial 'rape' remark,
a day after he missed a date
with the Maharashtra women's
panel.
The NCW said it received
a legal response from Salman's
team and is evaluating the
next step.
"It may be noted that today,
i.E. 08.07.2016, Mr Khan or his
legal team has not appeared
before the Commission.
However, the Commission has
received a response from his
legal team, which is currently
being examined by the
Commission," NCW said in a
statement.
NCW Chairperson Lalitha
Kumaramangalam, however,
refused to spell out on what
possible action could be taken
against the 50-year-old actor.
NCW had written to the
actor to issue a public apology
but later summoned him after
it found his reply "unapologetic
and unsatisfactory".
Salman courted controversy when he compared his
gruelling workout for his movie
"Sultan" left him feeling like a
raped woman.
The commission had also
warned Salman that if he failed
to appear before the panel it
may proceed to take action
against him as it deems fit.
The summons sent to the
actor last week had said,
"Commission finds that you are
not willing to apologise for the
remarks made by you.
The explanation offered
by you, after making such an
irresponsible and callous statement... Doesn't amount to an
apology."
Salman had also failed to
appear before the Maharashtra
State Commission on Thursday
for the second time. The state
commission has now asked
the actor to appear before it on
July 14.
PTI
nation 07
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
Dy SP’s suicide triggers stir,
K’taka CM orders CID probe
KESTUR VASUKI n BENGALURU
he alleged suicide of serving
Mangalore
Deputy
T
Superintendent of Police MK
Ganapathy on Thursday in a
lodge at Madikeri in the hill district of Kodagu has left Chief
Minister Siddaramaiah under
severe pressure. Hours before he
hanged himself, Ganapathy gave
an interview to a private news
channel in which he held two IPS
officers and a State Minister
responsible for harassing and driving him to the edge.
Amidst Statewide protest by
Opposition BJP and other parties,
Siddaramaiah handed over the
case to CID for an investigation.
“I have ordered a CID
enquiry into the death of the DSP
(Ganapathy) after I was briefed
on Thursday night about the
unfortunate incident at Madikeri.
I am saddened by it,”
Siddaramaiah told reporters here.
This is the second suicide by
senior police officials in
Karnataka within days, amid
allegations that officers are
harassed by their seniors and
politicians.
“The enquiry team will study
the suicide note Ganapathy left
behind in the room. Its content
will also be investigated though
I am not aware of what he wrote.
The Government will take action
after getting the CID report
though I too learnt that he had
named two senior police officers
and a Minister,” said
Siddaramaiah.
Ganapathy’s body was shifted to a Government hospital for
autopsy to ascertain the cause of
death. “The enquiry will also
investigate the TV interview
after getting its footage from the
news channel and analysing its
content,” the Chief Minister
asserted. Ganapathy named
Additional Director General of
Police (intelligence) AM Prasad,
Lokayukta Inspector General of
Police Pronab Mohanty and
Bengaluru
Development
Minister and former Home
Minster KJ George, who hails
from Kodagu district, as responsible for harassing him and
putting pressure on him in various criminal and corruption
cases.
According to police,
Ganapathy, who was posted at
the IGP office in Mangaluru on
the west coast, drove to Madikeri
early Thursday and checked into
a lodge near the outstation bus
stand. When local police went to
the lodge to ask Ganapathy about
his controversial interview, its
receptionist found him hanging
in the room.
This is the second such incident this week, three days after
Chikkamagaluru Rural Deputy
Superintendent of Police Kalappa
Handibagh, 34, hanged himself
at Belagavi, bordering
Maharashtra. A 1991-batch officer of the State cadre, Ganapathy
entered the police service under
sports quota. He hailed from a
hamlet at Siddapur near
Madikeri. He leaves behind
widow Pavana and two sons.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru
Development Minister KJ
George denied his involvement
in the suicide and said let the
police investigate the entire matter. The political parties especially
the major Opposition BJP took
to streets across the State against
the suicide of Ganapathy. BJP
leader Jagadish Shettar demanded the resignation of Minister KJ
George and sought a CBI probe
into back-to-back suicides by officers.
Ganapathy’s wife Pavana
said, “We only know that he had
pressure from the department.
He has said whatever he had to.
We don’t know anything, he
used to say same things to us
often”.
Another woman police officer Anupama Shenoy, who has
quit the service, recently alleged
that the state government and
senior police officers harassed
her. She had lodged a complaint
with the Women’s Commission
against the Ballari Superintendent
of Police R Chetan. Siddaramaiah
Government has come under
severe attack for interfering in the
working of the officials like
Anupama Shenoy, K Mathais, D
K Ravi, M K Ganapathy, Mysuru
DC Shikha, IAS Officer Rashmi
Mahesh, and many more.
Maha Govt expands Cabinet,
11 Ministers sworn in
TN RAGHUNATHA n MUMBAI
aharashtra Chief Minister
Devendra Fadnavis on
M
Friday expanded his Cabinet by
inducting 10 more Ministers
and promoting one existing
Minister to Cabinet rank, in an
exercise that disappointed the
ruling Shiv Sena which got only
two Ministers of State posts as
against one Cabinet-ranked
berth and a Minister of State
post.
While the Shiv Sena had
rooted for one Cabinet berth and
a Minister of State post, a firm
Fadnavis vetoed the Sena’s clamour on the ground that there
would not be any sort of dilution
in the Ministerial berth-sharing
understanding it had reached
with its junior ally joined the BJPled saffron alliance Government
in December 2014.
In an apparent indication
that all is not exactly well between
the ruling saffron alliance partners, Shiv Sena president Uddhav
Thackeray stayed away from the
swearing-in ceremony held in the
Central Hall of the Maharashtra
Legislature.
Maharashtra Governor Ch
Vidyasagar Rao administered
Proclaimed Offender Mallya...
From Page 1
In reference to Force India, he said the team was in a healthy
state and will target fourth place this season. “Fourth is the target, we’ll do everything we can to get there. The finances of the
team are vastly improved, and in fact have improved year on year.
It doesn’t cost the shareholders what it did five or six years ago,”
he said. Force India have 59 points while Williams are fourth with
92 points.
Mallya is currently wanted in India over loan default cases
related to the now-defunct Kingfisher Airlines. The Enforcement
Directorate has published a court-issued proclamation for him
to appear before the special PMLA court on July 29.
India’s winged rocket to boost LCA development
Centre...
KUMAR CHELLAPPAN n
CHENNAI
of the Indian Space
Research Organisation (ISRO)
Shascientists
achieved a major breakthrough with the analysis of the
test flight of the Reusable Launch
Ve h i c l e - Te c h n o l o g y
Demonstrator (RLV-TD) held on
May 23 this year proving that all
parameters performed as per
the flight plan, according to
Shyam Mohan, project director,
RLV.
“We analysed the results of
the first flight of the RLV-TD
which took place at Satish
Dhavan Space Centre,
Sriharikotta. The vehicle performed as per the script prepared
by us. All parameters worked
according to the guidance and
commands issued from our control room,” Shyam Mohan told
The Pioneer.
Though it was decided by the
ISRO management to have the
Kerala...
From Page 1
One of the major
announcements in the Budget
was a `12,000-crore stimulus
package to fight the economic slowdown by undertaking
ambitious infrastructure
development projects.
In accordance with the
Government’s declared commitment to protect environment, a Green Tax would be
imposed on vehicles older
than 10 years. Public toilets
would be built at public spaces
across the State, the budget
said. The Minister claimed
that the goal was to declare
Kerala as the cleanest State in
the entire countr y by
November 1, the Kerala State
India...
From Page 1
Modi said there was potential to ramp up cooperation in
trade and investment, especially in areas of minerals and
mining, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, manufacturing
and information technology.
In a joint Press interaction
with Zuma, Modi invoked
Mahatma Gandhi and said he
belongs as much to India as to
South Africa.
"For me personally, this
visit is an opportunity to pay
homage to two of the greatest
human souls to have ever
walked this Earth, Mahatma
Gandhi and Nelson Mandela,"
said Modi.
Talking about combating
terrorism, Modi said it attacks
the very foundations of society
and that both countries agreed
to combat it with active cooperation.
"Terrorism is another
the oath of office and secrecy to
six Cabinet Ministers and five
Ministers of State.
The six Cabinet-ranked
Ministers, who were sworn into
office, were, Pandurang Fundkar,
Prof Ram Shinde, Jaykumar
Rawal, Sambhaji NilangekarPatil, Subhash Deshmukh, all
from BJP, and Mahadev Jankar,
from ally Rashtriya Samaj
Paksha.
Of the six Cabinet ranked
Ministers administered oath of
office and secrecy, Prof Ram
Shinde was earlier in the Fadnavis
Cabinet as a Minister of State. He
has now been promoted to the
Cabinet rank.
The five Ministers of State,
who were administered oath of
office, were, Arjun Khotkar,
Ghulabrao Patil, both from Shiv
Sena, Ravindra Chavan, Madan
Yerawar, both from BJP and
Sadabhau Khot, from ally
Swabhimani
Shetkari
Sanghatana. Friday’s expansion
was necessitated by the recent resignation of senior BJP Minister
Eknath Khadse, who had to quit
over allegations of corruption,
land-grab and links with the
Karachi-based underworld don
Dawood Ibrahim.
second “test flight” after constructing a 3 km long runway at
SDSC for the soft landing of the
RLV, the test results made the scientists and engineers to prepone
the flight. “We may use an existing runway in one of the airports
in the country. The RLV could
land in a 2.5 km long runway,”
said Shyam Mohan.
The success of the RLV-TD
is seen as a game changer for the
ISRO, according to Shyam
Mohan, a M Tech in mechanical
engineering from IIT Madras
and a specialist in aviation vehicle development. “We will get
about 25 spin-off technologies
from the success of the RLV.
These technologies will benefit
the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)
and missiles to be developed by
India. The avionics and computer
guided system we developed for
the RLV has vast applications in
a number of strategic sectors,”
said Shyam Mohan. He prefers to
address the RLV as a winged
rocket which could be used any
number of times.
The PSLV and GSLV, the
conventional launch vehicles
used by ISRO to deploy spacecraft to their predetermined
orbits cost `150 crore and `200
crore respectively. “But these
vehicles could be used only for
the particular mission and they
get burnt after the spacecraft is
deployed into the orbit. Now we
need not assemble launch vehicles for each mission,” Dr R
Purushothaman Nair, lead scientist, ISRO, told The Pioneer.
Shyam Mohan said the second flight would happen in one
year’s time. He said though the
May 23 flight was launched with
a HS-9 booster rocket, the RLV
is capable of flying by itself.
“Next time, we will see the RLV
taking off from the launch pad
like the vertical take-off of a commercial aircraft,” he said. The
RLV-TD which flew on May 23
was the miniscule version.
From Page 1
Naik on Thursday released a statement, saying he “totally disagreed” that he inspired the act of killing innocent people in
Dhaka. “There is not a single talk of mine where I encouraged
one to kill another, whether Muslim or non-Muslim.” Naik’s
speeches are believed to have inspired some of the Bangladeshi
militants, who killed 22 people, mostly foreigners, at an upscale
restaurant in Dhaka last Friday. Meanwhile I&B Ministry issued
advisories to all district monitoring committees headed by District
Magistrates and Superintends of Police to monitor the cable TV
operators and prevent the illegal airing of Peace TV. As per Cable
TV Networks Act, the DMs and SPs are empowered to seizure
of equipment and stoppage of illegal airing of channels including initiating criminal action against the cable TV operators.
The I&B Minister convened a meeting here where issues related to telecast of “umpermitted” TV channels, including ‘Peace
TV’, were discussed. Emerging from the meeting, Minister of State
for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore said
there are reports that channels are being broadcast which are not
licensed.
“I&B Ministry issues licence to some channels, only those
channels are allowed to be broadcast by MSOs and cable operators. We are issuing advisories to district advisory committees
and also to the State monitoring committees that they should
cleanly observe the cable operators what they are broadcasting.
“Any content being broadcast in violation of the guidelines, action
will be taken against them to the extent that confiscation of their
entire broadcasting equipment,” Rahore told reporters.
Formation Day.
On the welfare front, the
Budget proposed hiking of all
pensions to `1,000 starting
this month. Isaac also
announced a pension scheme
for transgenders above the
age of 60 years. There would
be controls on expenses and
appointments for two years
but this would not be applicable in the case of hospitals
and welfare, the Minister said.
Making clear the determination
of
the
LDF
Government headed by
Marxist CM Pinarayi Vijayan,
which assumed office after
the May 16 election, to fulfil
the front’s promises in the
manifesto, Isaac’s Budget
announced that a special
department would be constituted for Women’s Welfare, a
demand that had gone
unheeded so far.
“I also propose to install
solar power panels at houses
across Kerala which would
generate 1,000 MW of power,”
Isaac said adding that solar
panels would be installed at all
Government offices in the
State. There was a plan to produce energy-efficient light
sources like LED bulbs in
public sector and an out-offunction factory in Alappuzha
district was being considered
for this, he said.
The Budget put forward a
plan to make all buses of the
Kerala State Road Transport
Corporation (KSRTC) CNGbased. An allocation of `300
crore would be made for having 1,000 CNG-run KSRTC
buses based in Kochi.
Homegrown terror...
Police said earlier three other suspects were in custody in
connection with the shooting, though Brown said they were still
investigating.
“I'm not going to be satisfied until we turn over every stone,”
he said. “If there's someone out there associated with this, we
will find you.”
According to the police chief, the suspects have threatened
to have placed a bomb in the downtown area and that his department was coordinating with federal agencies.
Meanwhile, a man Virginia man has been charged with
attempting to assist the Islamic State by photographing targets
in the Washington, D.C., area for what he thought would be a
video encouraging lone-wolf terrorist attacks in the nation's capital. Haris Qamar, 25, of Burke was arrested Friday morning,
according to the US Attorney's Office for the Eastern District
of Virginia. He is the second person this week from the northern Virginia suburbs to be charged at the federal courthouse in
Alexandria with attempting to support the ISIS.
shared threat that puts at risk
the safety and security of our
people. It attacks the very foundations of our society. The
President and I agreed that our
two nations need to stay vigilant and cooperate actively to
combat terrorism, both in our
region and in the world," he
said.
Referring to opportunities
in the Defence and security sector, Modi said companies from
both countries can pool their
capacities to jointly develop or
manufacture Defence equipments and platforms.
"Beyond economic ties,
and links of business, trade and
investment, we can also partner in the field of Defence and
security. Both, at the level of
industry and for our strategic
and security needs," he said.
Modi said India and South
Africa were also working
together to shape priorities of
international agenda through
IBSA (India, Brazil and South
Africa) and BRICS. "I look
for ward to welcoming
President Zuma in Goa for the
BRICS Summit later this year,
in October."
Referring to closeness
between India and South
Africa, Modi said though it was
his first visit, "I already feel at
home in this Rainbow Nation."
Talking about strong people-to-people ties, he said "We
stood together in our common
fight against racial subjugation
and colonialism. It was in
South Africa that Gandhi
found his true calling."
In their talks, Modi and
Zuma reviewed the full
spectrum of bilateral engagement.
"We agreed that in the last
two decades, our relationship
has been a story of strong
advances and concrete achievements. Two way trade has
grown by over 300 per cent in
last ten years. Indian companies hold strong business interests in South Africa. About one
fourth of our investments in
Africa are in this country," he
said.
The Prime Minister said he
was convinced that industry to
industry ties can not only bring
rich economic gains to our
societies but can give a new
shape to our partnership and
drive it to new levels.
He said India was ready to
share its expertise and capacities for the development of
small and medium business in
South Africa.
The Prime Minister said he
and Zuma agreed on the need
to work more closely on international issues and emerging
global challenges.
"Climate change, and its
impact on the world, is our
shared concern. We agreed
that a large scale effort and
focus on renewable energy is
needed to address this challenge.
"It was with this in mind
that India had led the efforts to
form an International Solar
Alliance at COP 21 in Paris. I
believe that it can be the most
effective platform for access to
knowledge, technology
From Page 1
and finance for promoting
solar energy," he said.
Modi thanked Zuma for
South Africa's partnership in
the alliance, which already has
the support of over 120 countries.
Talking about maritime
security, Modi said the waters
of the Indian Ocean are common sea frontiers of both the
countries.
"The Indian Ocean Rim
Association has emerged as a
key platform of engagement for
the maritime neighbours connected by the Indian Ocean. I
welcome South Africa's chairmanship of the organisation
for 2017-19," he said.
In his comments, Zuma
welcomed Modi to his "second
home" and said both the leaders held discussion on a range
of bilateral and international
issues including reform of the
UN Security Council.
He said both sides will
work together in multilateral
forums like IBSA, BRICS, G20,
G77 among others.
Hizbul terrorist Burhan, 2
others shot in Kashmir
KHURSHEED WANI n SRINAGAR
he security forces on Friday shot the mostwanted Hizbul Mujahideen commander
T
Burhan Muzzaffar Wani in a brief encounter
in south Kashmir’s Kokernag area along with
his two associates, including a suspected
Pakistani. The 22-year-old Wani, a resident of
south Kashmir’s Tral area, was the most popular face of Kashmir’s insurgency who used
internet and social media to popularise antiIndia insurgency in Kashmir. He was carrying
a cash reward of `10 lakh on his head.
Shortly after the news about Burhan’s
killing spread, thousands of people came out
in various parts of south Kashmir to hold
protests. Senior separatist leader Syed Ali
Geelani called for shutdown on Saturday and
asked people to march towards Tral to participate in the funeral prayers of the slain militant
leader.
Burhan Wani had joined militant ranks in
2010, a few days before he was scheduled to
appear in the matriculation examination. Son
of a secondary school principal, Burhan was
allegedly humiliated by a party of security forces
that led him to join the militants.
Last year, he released a series of videos and
pictures along with his colleagues donning
Army fatigues. The videos and pictures became
an instant hit and several youngsters expressed
desire to join his ranks. The youngsters in
Kashmir were circulating the video clips and
pictures to exhibit their support to Wani.
He released another video on June 7 in
which he welcomed return of Kashmiri Pandits
and vowed not to harm Amarnath pilgrims.
However, he warned against setting up excusive
Pandit colonies and colonies for former soldiers.
There was no word from the officials on the
“encounter” except the confirmation on Burhan’s
killing till late in the evening. Sources said the
General officer Commanding of Victor Force
would brief media about the operation on
Saturday.
Sources said that anti-insurgency wing of
Kashmir police and the Army were carrying a
secret operation in Kokernag area since
Thursday. They said that Burhan and his associates were killed in an encounter that started
around 6 pm and continued for about three
hours.
The other two slain militants have been
identified as Sartaj Ahmad Sheikh, a resident of
Pirtakiya, Kokernag and Waleed, a suspected
Pakistani militant.
opinion 08
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
www.dailypioneer.com
paper with passion
Fadnavis’s new friends
Ignoring Shiv Sena may further cost the BJP
fter 20 months in power, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra
Fadnavis's decision to expand his Council of Ministers on Friday was much
expected after Eknath Khadse, who had 10 portfolios with him, had to resign
on corruption charges in June this year. Allotting only two more junior ministers posts to ally Shiv Sena has definitely irked the party which was demanding
a top Cabinet berth in the Government. To be precise, BJP has clearly indicated the Shiv Sena who is the boss in the State and the latter is supposed to be
happy with whatever is being given to it for now. As Shiv Sena chief Uddhav
Thackeray has skipped the oath taking ceremony, it is for sure, the party's protracted sulk will deepen in the days to come. Ironically, this time the BJP had
even denied a berth to Shiv Sena at the much talked about Cabinet expansion
of Team Modi at the Centre. But sidelining or ignoring Shiv Sena for a longer
time may cost the BJP heavily in a crucial State like Maharashtra if the party
fails to register considerable electoral progress in future. Why has the Shiv Sena
been meted out such a cold treatment by the BJP both at the Centre and in the
State? Is it because of the Shiv Sena's constant salvos to the performance of
the Modi Government or at times, targeted sharp attack on the Fadnavis
Government that has led to such a response? It needs to be seen how the BJP
can afford to ignore an old ally like Shiv Sena just before the Monsoon Session
of Parliament beginning on July 18.
Fadnavis has added 11 new
Ministers to his team. The most significant addition is Mahadev Jankar,
the founder and chief of the Rashtriya
Samaj Paksh, who is considered a
staunch supporter of BJP leader
Gopinath Munde. In fact, Munde, who
had stitched alliances with both the
RSP and Swabhimani Party, had
proved to be a masterstroke for the
BJP in the last Assembly election in
the State. It seems Fadnavis has made
a calculated political move by bringing in both the smaller alliance partners into his Government at a time
when he is gradually cornering the
Shiv Sena. Though the Shiv Sena was
expected to be compensated in the
State as it could not get sufficient representation in the Modi Government, but finally the party had to downplay its
immediate loss for all practical purposes as the most crucial Mumbai Municipal
election is just nearing.
Further, Fadnavis has simply turned down the Shiv Sena's request for promoting one of its Minister of State to the Cabinet rank. The real problem lies
somewhere else — at the moment, the Shiv Sena can’t afford to pull out of the
Government as many of its MLAs are keen to be a part of the Government instead
of sitting in Opposition. In case a decision for withdrawal comes, the Shiv Sena
may get divided soon. Deep inside, many in the State feel that with the death of
the ‘real tiger’ Balasaheb Thackeray, the party has lost its tone and tenor of yesteryears. Under Uddhav Thackeray, team Shiv Sena is not moving faster and further, rather it is slowly losing its steam in the State and it is not been able to
cash on its fire power anymore that it used to be in the past. Beyond this, Uddhav
Thackeray is still not able to digest the fact that the BJP is a bigger party than
the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. Political pundits predict that with Uddhav Thackeray,
Shiv Sena may lose its traditional dominance in the Brihanmumbai Municipal
Corporation, and the BJP may perform much better. Whatsoever it may be, in
the current political dynamics of the State, neither the BJP can ignore the Shiv
Sena nor can the Shiv Sena do the same to the BJP.
A
Flying to greater heights
Terror in Bangladesh
by the privileged
Bangladesh has a squally passage ahead; India, which has the friendliest ties with the Government
in Dhaka, must step up its strong support. Fire in a neighbour's house can spread into one's own
large number of people, particularly in
Bangladesh,
are
shocked by the fact
that all except two of
the terrorists perpetrating
unspeakable acts of savagery during their capture of a Dhaka
restaurant on the night of July 1
to July 2 were from affluent families and have been to some of the
best schools in the country. Most
people have in mind the stereotypical image of a terrorist as a
madarssa-educated young man
from a disprivileged background,
brainwashed and trained to
becoming a cruel killing machine.
The fact is that poverty and inadequate education steeped in religious extremism are not the only
causes of terrorism.
This becomes clear on reading
Eric Hoffer’s, The True Believer:
Thoughts on the Nature of Mass
Movements, and Erich Fromm’s,
The Fear of Freedom, both definitive books explaining why people
surrender their judgements and
will to mass movements and leaders preaching doctrines calling
for root-and-branch change. Their
analysis is relevant here. The
Islamic State of Syria or Levant
(ISIL), or Islamic State (IS) as it
calls itself, is a militant mass
movement waging wars as well as
perpetrating terrorist acts.
According to Fromm, the
most powerful factor is the search
for security. An infant’s world is
coterminous with his or her
mother’s which envelops his or
her with a feeling of security. One
becomes aware of the insecurities
and dangers threatening one as
one grows up, develops a sense of
self, and becomes an individual
aware of his aloneness and vulnerabilities. The way to overcoming
this feeling of loneliness and insecurity “is to relate spontaneously
to the world in love and work, in
the genuine expression of one’s
emotional, sensuous and intellectual capacities.” Many, however,
cannot do so and seek security in
sadistic domination or masochistic submission.
Fromm writes, “The annihilation of one’s individual self and the
attempt to overcome thereby the
unbearable feeling of powerlessness
are only one side of the masochistic strivings. The other side is the
attempt to become a part of a bigger and more powerful whole
outside of oneself, to submerge and
participate in it. This power can be
a person, an institution, and God,
the nation, conscience or a psychic
compulsion.” By thus surrendering
one’s self, “one gets a new securi-
A
ty and a new pride in the participation in the power in which one
submerges. One also gains security against the torture of doubt.”
Erich Hoffer shows how insecurity leads one to mass movements when he writes, “A rising
mass movement attracts and holds
a following not by its doctrine and
promises but from the refuge it
provides from the anxieties, barrenness and meaningless of an
individual existence.”
Insecurity is a purely personal feeling in an individual; its
causes vary according to people.
Certain causes, however, are present in societies in general at certain junctures. These range from
the fear of attack by wild animals
or enemy tribes, to warfare, arbitrary arrest and extortion by feudal lords and, from the 16th century, tyranny by kings as well as
republican dictatorships. These
also include fear of banditry, natural calamities like floods and
famines and, during the last century or so, economic phenomena,
particularly recessions.
What kind of insecurity could
haunt the sons of affluent families
who turned into the terrorists
Leverage potential of domestic air travel market
he International Air Transport Association's recent observations on India's
aviation sector indicate both how well the sector is progressing as well as
how far it still has to go before it can emerge at the top of the pack. On the
one hand, the report notes that the Indian domestic travel market grew the fastest
in 2015 — at an impressive 18.8 per cent in a market of 80 million domestic
passengers. This is on expected lines given that Indian civil aviation sector has
been continuously experiencing high passenger growth in recent years. Between
2009 and 2011, for example, the compound annual growth rate of domestic traffic was 17 per cent while experts at FICCI and KPMG believe that India is also
well on its way to become the third largest aviation market by 2020. This past
year's high of 18.8 per cent compares favourably with other major powers —
for instance, Russia grew at 11.9 per cent while China was at 9.7 per cent and
the US at 5.4 per cent. Unsurprisingly,
relatively low fares — about 15 to 20
per cent lower in 2015 on a year-onyear basis — was one of the most
important factors that drove the sector. While the figures are no doubt
impressive, and indicate it is still
important to view the growth within
the context of market size so as to differentiate between a mature market
such as the US which has as many as
708 million domestic passengers
and emerging market like India which
has only 80 million. In between the
two, China has about 394 million
domestic passengers.
This brings us to the next point that while India's growth rates are
impressive no doubt, it is still functioning far below its potential. The fact
that India is the world's second most populous country, and its economy has
been growing at rates that make the developed world envious means that India
already has a large captive market that is ready for take-off. However, for everybody to really get on board, supply side issues have to be fixed to keep up with
the demand. For example, even today there are some State capitals that are not
well-connected to the national capital. Similarly, large parts of the country are
still not effectively covered by the aviation sector. Reaching out to Tier Two and
Tier Three cities is imperative to broaden the domestic flyer base. In addition,
there is the complex matter of further liberalisation of the aviation sector and
introducing policy reforms that will give the sector a boost instead of constraining it. In this context, the BJP-led NDA Government's new aviation policy is a
big step in the right direction, as this paper has argued earlier.
HIRANMAY KARLEKAR
We did not ask for
a Cabinet post.
Whatever was decided then, is happening
now. There is no
question of us
being helpless.
T
Shiv Sena chief
—Uddhav Thackeray
A RISING MASS
MOVEMENT ATTRACTS
AND HOLDS A
FOLLOWING NOT BY
ITS DOCTRINE AND
PROMISES BUT FROM
THE REFUGE IT
PROVIDES FROM THE
ANXIETIES,
BARRENNESS AND
MEANINGLESS OF AN
INDIVIDUAL
EXISTENCE
who killed savagely in Dhaka? It
could not have emerged from a
threat to their lives and limbs; nor
from abject poverty threatening
them with starvation. One cause
could be the fear of being less successful than their fellow students
and others in their social milieus.
The other could be insecurity
resulting from doubts about being
able to achieve the goals they had
set for themselves. The third could
be insecurity about not being able
to sustain emotional relationships
with others — mainly girls in the
case of young men in their late
‘teens and early twenties’.
The wider societal causes
which influence goals and attitudes, relate to the spread of market capitalism, soaring on the
wings of advertising. It has made
the enjoyment of a high level of
consumption the primary goal in
life and has projected success in
one’s chosen field as the principal
means of achieving it.
Competitiveness, the much-proclaimed engine of market capitalism, has become sharply ingrained
in the psyche of people. This, in
turn, has bread selfishness and a
proneness to leave the hindmost to
SOUNDBITE
the devil. Eric Hoffer writes, “The
inordinately selfish are particularly susceptible to frustration. The
more selfish a person, the more
poignant his disappointment.”
It is important to note here
what Seuty Sabur, an Associate
Professor of Anthropology at
Bangladesh’s BRAC university, has
stated in an article in The Wire on
July 5. She has written, “With the
neoliberal turn in the early 1980s,
we saw major shifts in the economy and lifestyle in Bangladesh. It
was not only the MNCs and
NGOs penetrating the economy,
but the corporate education system
as well…. English-medium schools
mushroomed in Dhaka. Many
members of the aspiring cosmopolitan middle class thought
these schools would be the playground for global citizens, and a
gate pass for achieving a higher status. Surely this served as entry to
a lifestyle which was alien to these
parents. These were the generations of children who were literally ‘looking London, talking Tokyo’
in their dreams; a world which was
inaccessible for most of their parents. Many of these children never
managed to get out of the country;
they were the ones who were left
behind, stuck in the private universities as our students. Either their
parents were trying to protect
them from ‘politics’ and archaic
education systems in public universities, or adulthood in a foreign
land — which is perceived to be
decadent. The post 9/11 world
order made their departure for
higher studies even more difficult.”
Hoffer writes, “There is in us
a tendency to locate the shaping
forces of our existence outside
ourselves. Success and failure are
unavoidably related in our minds
with the state of things around us.
Hence it is that people with a
sense of fulfilment think it a good
world and would like to conserve
it as it is, while the frustrated
favour a radical change.” So do
many young people in
Bangladesh and fundamentalist
Islamist organisations like the
Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen
Bangladesh, Ansar al-Islam
Bangladesh, IS and Al Qaeda.
One does not know their
number. But then it does not take
many to spread terror. The attack
in Dhaka on July 1 and
Kishoreganj Eid prayers on July 6,
show that Bangladesh is in for a
tough time. India, which has the
friendliest ties with its
Government, must further step up
the strong support it has been providing Dhaka. Fire in a neighbour’s
house can spread into one’s own.
I think between myself,
Aamir and Salman we
have huge liking towards
each other. I also feel they
are bigger stars than me.
America is horrified by
what appears to be a
planned sniper shooting targeting police
officers in Dallas.
There is no justification
for violence.
Actor
—Shah Rukh Khan
US President
—Barack Obama
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
No breakthrough
Sir — This refers to the editorial,
“Blair, Bush and blunders” (July 8).
War is a serious and dangerous
event against humanity. The future
of humanity and civilians is at stake.
The Iraq war has not solved the
problem. First, casualties are still
taking place as the recent toll of 200
killings in Iraq has shown. Second,
no stablised Government worth the
name has yet come about. Third,
the Shia-Sunni divide is still prevailing with the Islamic State on the
scene. No doubt, the brutal Saddam
Hussein has been eliminated, but no
credible alternative has been provided. The Chilcot report should be
seriously studied to avoid future
blunders on such issues like a fullfledged war.
PN Saxena
Via email
Failed practices
Sir — This refers to the article, “The
Congress needs Priyanka to win in
UP” (July 8) by Kalyani Shankar.
Given past experience, Congress
scion Priyanka Vadra is good only
in the ‘pinch hitter’ type of cameo
innings. She rushes in, addresses a
few gatherings, attacks Prime
Minister Narendra Modi and the
It is time Congress looks
beyond the Gandhi family
T
his refers to the article, “The Congress needs Priyanka to win in UP”
(July 8) by Kalyani Shankar. The grand old party may believe that
Congress scion Priyanka Vadra will turn their fortune in Uttar Pradesh,
but in reality, she is nothing, but the last trump card. Despite her being
the main face for the 2012 Assembly polls, the Congress was routed in
its strongholds in Amethi and Rae Bareli. At best, Priyanka Vadra can
gather crowds because of her charm, but nothing more than that. So,
the Congress should not live in a dillusion.
Further, I do not agree with the writer's view that Priyanka Vadra
can be a game-changer for the Congress and it's political strategist
Prashant Kishor who are counting on her to win the 2017 Uttar Pradesh
election. The party must accept the fact that Congress vice president
Rahul Gandhi is a spent-force and a liability. Therefore, what it needs
is a new face, but not a Gandhi anymore.
Bal Govind
Noida
BJP, and rushes elsewhere to repeat
the same words and charges. So far,
she has not done or said anything
that is either significant or reflects
a mind with a vision. This Modicentered bhashan has become stale.
Worse, it is now boomeranging on
the Congress everywhere.
NS Ranjan
Via web
Actual culprit
Sir — This refers to the article,
“Strife within different streams of
Islam” (July 8) by Makhan Saikia.
Will the mullahs and the clerics
allow the UN to bring peace in
the Muslim world? The culprit is
not Islam, but these mullahs and
clerics who have misinterpreted
their religion according to their
whims and fancies.
Mahendra Patel
Via web
Performance matters
Sir — This refers to the editorial,
“Team Modi’s makeover” (July 7).
In a democracy, should the portfolio of a Minister really matter?
Almost all media reactions to the
ministerial re-shuffle were typically the same: “HRD Minister Smriti
Irani is shunted to textiles Ministry;
Venkaiah Naidu’s wings clipped by
allocating parliamentary affairs to
Ananta Kumar; Sadananda Gowda
is almost shown the door by making him in charge of programme
implementation” and so on.
Is the Finance Ministry more
important than say textiles or programme implementation? What
should matter is how efficiently that
Minister has performed, for the welfare of the people.
Padmini Raghavendra
Secunderabad
Fighting terrorism
Sir — This refers to the editorial,
“Barbarians everywhere” (July 6).
Terrorism is the unlawful act of violence which is used by terrorists to
instill fear in people. It has become
a national and international problem all over the world. Opposing
terrorism has been tried by many
countries, but terrorists are still getting support. In order to stop all
these terrorist activities, we must live
in harmony and be friendly with
our neighboring countries.
Terrorism is nothing but a fight for
something in a cruel way.
Jubel D’Cruz
Mumbai
Send your feedback to:
[email protected]
3rdeye {saturday special} 09
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
ISIS DOWN, NOT OUT: WAYS TO KILL IT
lose on the heels of the Holey
Artisan Bakery attack in Dhaka’s
C
posh Gulshan area on July 1, came
the brutal attack on a multi-storeyed
shopping mall in one of busiest corners of Baghdad on July 3. The former attack, orchestrated by a team of
seven young men of decent pedigree,
claimed 22 lives, most of them foreigners. The latter, caused by a suicide truck bomber, has so far claimed
250 lives, most of them Shias. Days
before the Dhaka incident, three
fidayeen armed with automatic
weapons and explosive vests staged
a simultaneous attack at the international airport in Istanbul on June
28, killing 42 people.
It’s necessary to fight the
ideology of terror that ISIS
has spawned by evolving
a counter-ideological
narrative which would
rescue both Islam and
Muslims from the abyss
that ISIS is seeking to
push them into
ASHOK BEHURIA
Bloody Ramzan
What connects these three
attacks? These attacks came on the
eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, and were claimed
by Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (or
Levant) — call it in its acronymic
form, ISIS or ISIL. A day later than
the Baghdad attack, there were three
separate suicide attacks in Saudi
Arabia — in Jeddah, by a Pakistani
origin driver who blew himself close
to the US consulate; in Medina, by a
suicide bomber who wanted to enter
the Prophet’s mosque where he is
buried; and third, in Qatif, by again
suicide bombers, who attacked a Shia
mosque. All these three attacks,
however, went unclaimed. Only a day
before the Eid-ul-Fitr, the harrowing
tale of 18-year-old Yazidi girl
Lamiya Aji Bashar was splashed
in the international media. She luckily escaped the ISIS torture cell in
northern Iraq, where about
3,000 Yazidi women and girls are
being held captive as sex slaves ever
since ISIS swept the cities of Zumar,
Sinjar, and Wana in northern Iraq,
which had the significant presence of
Yazidis — a Kurdish-speaking minority with a religious outlook that was
a curious amalgam of Zorasrianism,
Islam and Christianity. Institute for
Study of War, a non-partisan, nonprofit, public policy research organisation, based in the US, had predicted quite correctly in its publication in May this year that this year’s
Ramzan, starting on June 6 and ending on July 6, 2016, would witness a
surge of attacks which ISIS would
launch to make up for serious losses it had suffered in the preceding
months. The attacks would aim at
boosting the morale of its followers
on the one hand and catalyse its
recruitment process in the
Western Asian theatre. It had also isolated slow penetration of ISIS into
Saudi Arabia.
Predictable trajectory of ISIS
Was it not so predictable? Aren’t
we seeing all this for quite some
time? Turkish President, right-wing
and known for his sympathies for
Islamic rule, called “Daesh” — as ISIS
is called by its Arab detractors — “a
dagger plunged into the chest of
Muslims”. The ISIS cadre hate their
outfit to be referred to as Daesh, as
it has pejorative meaning in Arabic
language. Call it ISIS or Daesh, the
outfit, known for its brutal tactic and
regressive ideological moorings
based on ultra-orthodox reinterpretation of Islamic history and theology, has spread like wildfire across
the world both in countries where
Muslims are in majority as well as in
those where they are in a minority.
Ever since, the reclusive leader of
ISIS, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi,
announced the arrival of the new
Caliphate on June 29, 2014, the
appeal of ISIS has overtaken the
appeal of all other radical Sunni
Muslim groups in recent history. ISIS
has expanded its network during the
last two years from Africa to the
Philippines with ease, as splinter
groups from local Islamist radical
groups, many of them formerly
pledging notional loyalty to alQaeda, switched their allegiance to
ISIS — starting from Boko Haram to
Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar
(JMA) in Chechnya, from Islamic
Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) to
Jabhat al-Nushra (a known al-Qaeda
affiliate, initially created by Islamic
State of Iraq, the predecessor of ISIS).
Egyptian militant Islamist group,
Ansar Bait al-Maqdis, and Libyan
radical Islamists also announced
their loyalty to ISIS in 2014. Similarly,
there is a steady desertion of cadres
from other sister Salafi-Wahabi outfits, who joined ISIS over the last two
years, as it operated like a defect State
with a well-operated revenue system,
howsoever illegitimate and based on
fear, and also with a well-oiled propaganda machinery which made
good use of modern communication
technology — catering to the new
twitteratti and Facebook generation. Its glossy internet publication
as well as circulation of videos and
audios exhorting the faithful to join
the Caliphate did result in gradual
expansion of its ranks worldwide.
Outflanking al-Qaeda
Although a split-away group
from al-Qaeda, ISIS has managed to
establish itself as non-al-Qaeda
group fighting for the rights of
Muslims the world over. Unlike alQaeda, which sought to use territory held by — like-minded groups —
like Mullah Omar’s Taliban in
Afghanistan, the ISIS first occupied
significant stretches of territory in
Iraq and Syria before it announced
its presence as a force to reckon with.
Unlike many other groups, it tried to
consolidate its financial position
well before it announced its arrival.
It has raised its finances quite skilfully by gradually overrunning oil
fields, engaging in oil and drugs
trade, looting of banks, extortion,
agencies busting ISIS cells in India
have hogged the headlines.
Therefore, there is no room for
complacency when it comes to dealing with a threat as real as that of the
ISIS today.
levying of taxes, in territories held by
it. Unfortunately, ISIS has benefited
from the turmoil set into motion,
first in 2003 with the fall of the
Saddam regime in Iraq, and also in
the wake of the call for regime
change in Syria since 2011. (In my
earlier piece in The Pioneer on July
7, 2014, I had traced the origin of
ISIS). Five years later, today, all the
anti-Asad forces, trained and supported by the Western countries, are
losing their cadre to ISIS as it is
showing its resilience in the face of
concerted attack by powerful countries to weaken and decimate it. As
the age-old dictum has it — nothing
succeeds like success. The consolidation of ISIS in a large geographical area straddling Iraq and Syria has
led to Islamic terror groups affiliating themselves voluntarily to ISIS.
Most of them have expressed their
willingness to operate as ISIS franchisees. The net result has been obvious. It has come up as a new but
powerful group, slowly poaching
on most groups cutting across States
and regions. In the bargain, alQaeda has lost its shine vis-à-vis ISIS,
and there is a competition for influence between these two radical outfits. Sometimes it has resulted in
clashes between the affiliates of
these two outfits. Ideologically speaking, there is not much difference
between al-Qaeda and ISIS.
However, ever since ISIS decided to
operate as a State, especially since
2011, and that too much before
declaring Caliphate, al-Qaeda leadership had cautioned against ISIS
efforts to territorialise Islamic struggle and look for global Islamic rev-
olution. ISIS under the leadership of
al-Baghdadi turned over a new leaf
and decided to first strengthen their
hold over the territory they controlled and look for global jehad at
later date. Al-Qaeda snapped all its
relationship with ISIS in February
2014, and in 2015, top al-Qaeda
leader Ayman al-Zawahiri criticised
al-Baghdadi for engaging himself in
sedition within the fold of Islam. He
has questioned the way al-Baghdadi
was chosen as the Caliph of the entire
Muslim umma and also taken objection to al-Baghdadi’s emphasis on the
apocalypse and the day of final
judgement. In fact, ISIS followers are
made to believe that as per the
prophecy cited in the hadees (compilation of prophet’s sayings and
deeds), the final battle between the
forces of Islam led by it and those of
the West will be fought in a place
called Dabiq, in Syria. Al-Qaeda
leadership is not that certain about
such apocalyptic vision of ISIS.
Moreover, al-Qaeda, known for its
intensely conservative Sunni outlook,
has raised its concerns about the antisectarian, anti-Shia activities of ISIS.
Such differences at the top leadership
level does not foreclose the possibility
of al-Qaeda supporters gradually
shifting their loyalty towards a group
which is showing better promise of
realising its Islamic goals it has set for
itself. In that sense, ISIS has managed
to attract the attention of the Muslim
youth through its unapologetic
endorsement of violence as a tool for
radical change in society, and also its
aggressive zeal to defend Islam
against its enemies. Moreover, lower
rung al-Qaeda sympathisers have
pooled their resources with ISIS in
certain theatres of war against a common enemy.
Southern Asian theatre
In the Pakistan-Afghanistan
region, ISIS is slowly but surely
making its presence felt. The leadership of Taliban and al-Qaeda have
been particularly chary of their affiliates and cadres veering towards ISIS.
There are several reports of ISIS sympathisers being neutralised in
Afghanistan, especially in Faryab and
Nangarhar. Some factions of the
Pakistani Taliban group have also
joined ISIS and registered their deep
aversion for both al-Qaeda and
Taliban. In fact, the central philosophy of Pakistan Taliban is similar
to the worldview of ISIS. Most analysts in South Asia believe that the
penetration of ISIS into the region
has been rather exaggerated by the
regional media. However, as the
recent attack in Bangladesh suggests,
ISIS sympathisers have shown exceptional zeal and enthusiasm to adopt
its brutal methods to propagate
their extremist world view. Moreover,
South Asian countries have a large
labour force in the oil-rich Arab
countries, who run the risk of getting
exposed to the ISIS world view. That
is how, one has witnessed even
Maldivian and Indian Muslims coming under the sway of ISIS and
recruiting gullible Muslims for the
“final battle” to be fought in Syria.
Interestingly, the lure of ISIS continues despite many returnees from
the Syrian theatre sharing their horrible experiences with the ISIS in the
media. Recently, reports of security
Fighting ISIS
After the ISIS-claimed attack on
Russian aircraft and frequent suicide
bombings in Turkey, there is a consensus now emerging among the
wider international community that
there is a need to arrest the growth
of ISIS and its ideology of terror.
After Russian pounding of ISIS
facilities in Syria and recent recapture of the town of Fallujah from
ISIS, it is being hoped that, if this
tempo could be maintained, ISIS can
be neutralised soon. However, the
sectarian animus haunting the region
is likely to interfere with the consensus that was slowly emerging
among the world powers that decimating ISIS ought to be the prime
goal of international intervention in
the region. As it has been noticed,
regional heavy-weights like Saudi
Arabia and Iran are busy working at
cross purposes creating the context
for ISIS and its affiliates to regroup
and reassert. An asymmetric threat
like ISIS can only be countered
through united action, which is
now impossible to find. Ever since
the invasion of Iraq in 2003, there has
been no leader of vision and calibre
in Iraq to hold the country together. The resultant uncertainty in the
country is likely to indirectly
strengthen ISIS further. True ISIS has
suffered some reverses and has also
retaliated very fast in the shape of a
string of attacks in different parts of
the world. But the war is not yet over.
ISIS is down but not out. It is also
necessary to fight the ideology of terror that ISIS has spawned by evolving a counter-ideological narrative
which would rescue both Islam and
Muslims from the abyss that ISIS is
seeking to push them into. As the
Islamic world is passing a serious
churning process, in different countries across the world voices of sanity are slowly coming to the fore.
These voices stress on plurality within Islam; they are ready to reinterpret
Islamic precepts in light of the
requirement of the times. Such voices need to be encouraged to share
their perspectives and devise a
counter-ideology that can fight out
the ISIS effectively. One must
remember that today the appeal of
ISIS is primarily ideological. While
every possible measure needs to be
taken to militarily weaken ISIS, it is
the fight at the ideological plane that
can alone neutralise ISIS. Until then,
ISIS will continue to surprise us with
its terror tactics and lure away people to fill its ranks.
(The writer is Senior Fellow,
South Asia Centre, IDSA, New Delhi)
PERSPECTIVE
What is ailing our public sector banks?
he non-performing assets (NPA)
of public sector banks stands at
T
a staggeringly high level of `4 lakh
crore (constituting nearly 5 per cent
of their total loan portfolio). It is
roughly one-and-half times the total
market cap of these banks. If restructured loans, which have the potential of turning into bad loans, are also
counted, this figure would almost
double. As against this, the private
sector banks have managed a far better performance with a mere `47,000
crore in NPA, being just 7 per cent
of their market cap.
A report in the Indian Express
earlier this year stated that over
`1 lakh crore had been written off by
public sector banks between 2013 and
2015. Even if it were to be a technical provisioning exercise to cleanse
the books, it is by any reckoning a
huge amount and much larger than
the write-offs in the previous years.
What is causing this? The Bank
Employees Federation General
Secretary has alleged nexus between
politicians and big corporate houses.
It is quite natural for the public
to feel greatly concerned at these
reports. After all the Government
remains majority shareholder of the
public sector banks and the funds
handled by them belong to the depositors from the general public.
Perception of fraud which was hinted at even by the Supreme Court in
its preliminary ruling can be very
damaging to public confidence in the
country’s financial management and
it is the responsibility of the
Government to not only clear the air
but institute better and fail-safe mechanism to prevent accumulation of
such bad debts by the PSU banks in
the future.
Kingfisher’s loan default and
subsequent escape of Vijay Mallya
from the country — leaving his creditors, mainly belonging to the pub-
lic sector banks bewildere — have
cast suspicion on the role of banks
in granting loans to big corporate
houses. Bank Board Chairman
Vinod Rai, who as CAG exposed several scams, has noted that not all loan
defaults were wilful since bad business decisions at times could adversely impact the cash flows of a business
leading to difficulties in timely
repayment of a loan. Lenders becoming excessively risk averse surely may
not be in the best interests of the
economy’s health but the problem of
NPA is alarming enough to warrant
a serious introspection.
Kingfisher’s case is truly an eyeopener. This airline, which was once
the toast of our civil aviation field,
owes nearly `9,000 crore to a consortium of Indian banks led by State
Bank of India. IDBI, which was
approached for loan to acquire new
planes in 2006, had initially declined
the request of Kingfisher, but without
much credible explanation it went
ahead to provide a loan of `900 crore
in 2009. Ironically, by that time the airline had accumulated a fairly large debt
because of adverse conditions in the
aviation sector due to abnormally high
fuel costs. Notwithstanding that, the
consortium of banks restructured
the airline’s debt in November 2010.
Ironically, despite known financial difficulties the airline was able to get its
brands pledged to the banks for a
whopping `4,100 crore. The moot
point is whether any consideration was
given to the chances of recovery of the
loan at the time of advancing the loan,
as the basic common sense should
have dictated, and whether the
assessed salvage value of the airline
and its assets in case of failure of business plan were at all realistic.
In fact, KC Chakraborty, former RBI
Deputy Governor, regards the
Kingfisher case as “an example of collective failure” and thinks that it
would be very difficult for the banks
to recover their money.
A report in DNA on February 16,
2015, suggested, on the basis of doc-
uments and forensic reports studied
by it, that the PSU banks might
“never be able to recover the money
loaned to Mallya’s airline.” The public owes an answer from the banks
as to why they did not raise the alarm
then. Why did they not enforce guarantees attaching pledged shares and
properties fast enough? Why did
they wake up one whole year later by
which time Mallya had already
escaped from the country? Does it
point to collusion?
Charges have been traded at the
political level with BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma alleging that
Mallya was a Congress baby and that
when his company was on the verge
of closure, then PM Manmohan
Singh had influenced the banks to
give him a package of `3,100 crore.
The Congress, on the other hand, has
accused the BJP Government of not
having been able to prevent Mallya’s
escape from the country, leaving the
banks with no recourse to recover
their dues.
Mallya’s case is by no means an
exception. Many reputed big business
houses are reportedly on the default
list. Mohan Guruswamy was quoted
in the ANI news as having alleged that
there was severe corruption in the
banking system and that the politicians and Government officials were
involved in granting of loans to business houses. He goes on to accuse the
bankers as being the real offenders
who actually sanction such potential
bad loans. While this may be too
harsh a generalisation, the question of
culpability and collusion of bankers
cannot be dismissed lightly.
Even if one were to accept the
role of politicians in the top appointments at the public sector banks,
those entrusted with the safe-keeping of public funds must act according to their conscience. There are
detailed due diligence requirements
as I discovered when applying for a
modest housing loan and those
must be followed meticulously in
every case. If the CEOs of public sector banks show undue favour to a
client, in circumvention of the laid
down procedures, by way of payback to their political patrons, they
must be held accountable for the
wrongdoing. The argument that
they have to act under political
pressure and that they are really helpless should not in any way diminish
their culpability. The same yardstick
would apply to functioning of judges,
constitutional authorities and senior
Government officials. Just because
someone is appointed by the
Government of the day, he cannot
indulge in a blatant return of favour
at public cost. Certainly he cannot be
exonerated of any wrongdoing.
Individuals holding senior public
positions, including those at the
helm of financial institutions, have
to act with full integrity and sincerity. We should expect nothing less.
In order to restore public confidence, the Government should consider instituting forensic audit of all
major loan default/stress cases with
a view to determining if there had
been any criminal intent in the initial sanctioning of loan. Those found
guilty must be brought to book.
Simultaneously, the regulatory system needs to be strengthened further
as recommended by the current
CAG, Shashi Kant Sharma. While it
is necessary to protect the bankers
from any undue harassment, it is
equally important to hold them
fully accountable for actions committed by them.
(Virendra Gupta, IFS (retd)
served as Indian Ambassador in
several countries, including South
Africa. Before joining the foreign service, he had a brief stint with State
Bank of India.)
If the CEOs of public
sector banks show undue
favour to a client, in
circumvention of the laid
down procedures, by way
of pay-back to their
political patrons, they must
be held accountable for the
wrongdoing
VIRENDRA GUPTA
money 10
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
My talks with him and his visit have
been on informally but pro-actively
engaging on trade related matters
post Brexit and on that, I got the
impression that the UK minister is
very keen that we start the
informal process and we are quite
happy to engage with the UK post
Brexit
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
MINISTER NIRMALA SITHARAMAN
BUZZ
FROM
GOVT & CORP
I want to take the services
business to 15 per cent, from
10 per cent currently, and bring
down the project business to
70 per cent
LARSEN AND TOUBRO’S GROUP
EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
A M NAIK
Oriental Insurance rejigs senior management India, UK evaluating possibility
of a trade pact post Brexit: Sitharaman
positions just two days before CMD’s exit
NEW DELHI: India and the UK are
Around 22 top executives promoted, massive transfers occurred; sources say promotions are ‘undue
& untimely’ and transfers deliberate, while officials claim the move is to consolidate the HR system
MADHUSUDAN SAHOO n
NEW DELHI
n a surprise move, public sector general insurance major
IOriental
Insurance Company
Ltd rejigged its senior management positions, just two
days before the exit of its
Chairman and Managing
Director (CMD) whose term
ended on June 30, 2016.
Around 22 senior management executives across India
were elevated from the rank of
Manager (Scale-IV) to Chief
Manager (Scale-V), while massive transfers of executives also
occurred on the same day of
CMD’s exit. The insurer
claimed that it was a move to
consolidate human resource
(HR) system of the organisation, while sources in the know
said that it was ‘undue and
untimely’ promotions and
transfers which raised many an
eyebrow among the staff of the
organisation.
Oriental
Insurance
Chairman and Managing
Director AK Saxena (now former) of Oriental Insurance
Company, who was entangled
in various controversies including brokerage scam in his
tenure, had to serve his last day
on June 30. But the cheering
news came surprisingly on
June 28 with an order of pan
India promotions for some
select top executives, and similarly an order of transfers was
issued on June 30 for some,
putting a big question mark in
this sudden and hasty move.
According to the sources,
“The promotion exercise of
officers was conducted in haste
in which the deserving candi-
dates were not promoted in the
said exercise. Also, some officers were issued the transfer
order though they have not
completed minimum number
of years in one place.
Surprisingly, Saxena did this
exercise on the date of his
retirement, ie; June 30.”
When contacted to verify
the details of development,
Sexena was not available for
comments but a senior official
in-charge said the allegations
were baseless and framed.
Denying such baseless allegations, Sujoy Banerji, General
Manager (Personnel) of
Oriental Insurance who is also
current in-charge of CMD said,
“It is easy to point fingers at any
development in the public sector organisations. As far as
promotions as well as transfers
are concerned, the company
‘India’s domestic air traffic
demand rises 21% in May’
PNS n NEW DELHI
ontinuing its dominant
position in the domestic
travel demand for the 14th
consecutive month, India’s
air passenger traffic surged 21
per cent in May over the corresponding period of last
year.
Demand for domestic
traffic rose 5.1 per cent, outpacing international demand
growth of 4.3 per cent in May
2016 according to the data
released by International Air
Traffic Association (IATA).
As against this India’s
domestic air traffic grew 21
per cent, it said.
The overall traffic growth
(domestic and international),
however, rose 4.6 per cent in
May this year over May 2015
with the demand getting
impacted due to recent terrorist strikes and UK’s decision to opt out of t he
European Union.
“After a very strong start
C
to the year, demand growth is
slipping back toward more
historic levels. A combination
of factors is likely behind this
more moderated pace of
demand g rowt h. Thes e
include continuing terrorist
activity and the fragile state
of t he g lob a l e conomy.
Neither bode well for travel
demand. And the shocks of
Istanbul and the economic
fallout of the Brexit vote
make it difficult to see an
early uptick,” IATA Director
General and Chief Executive
Officer Tony Tyler said.
India, which is the fastest
growing aviation market currently, had logged 21.8 per
cent growth in domestic traffic in April, 2016.
“India’s domestic traffic
soared 21.8 per cent, marking
the 20th month of doubledigit traffic growth and the
13th consecutive month it has
led the domestic markets,”
IATA had said at the time of
releasing traffic data for
April.
For Asia-Pacific carriers,
the large markets in India,
China and Japan mean that
domestic travel accounts for
45 per cent of the region’s
operations, IATA said.
Signif icant ly, India
accounts for only 1.2 per
cent of the total domestic air
traffic.
“The shockwaves of the
Brexit vote have extended
worldwide and the fallout
will affect the air transport
industry, from both economic and regulatory perspectives,” Tyler said.
Aviation plays a vital role
in supporting economic
growth and development, he
said adding as the post-Brexit
regulator y framework is
negotiated between the EU
and the UK it is critical that
there are no steps backward
for aviation connectivity.
IATA represents nearly
265 airlines, comprising 83
per cent of global air traffic.
duly followed its policy and
acted on it accordingly. As the
promotions were pending, the
Chairman cleared it before his
term ended. The move was to
consolidate and strengthen the
HR system of the organisation.”
The sources, however, said,
“Apart from promotions some
deliberate transfers of officers
also occurred in a hurry. Due
to such massive transfers, the
insurer will bear the cost of
around `70-80 lakh from company’s transfer contingency
fund.”
As far as the promotion
exercise is concerned, the order
issued by the insurer, a copy of
which is in possession with The
Pioneer, had two lists of names
selected for promotion - Main
& Reser ved list and
Contingency list. The order
stated that the officers were
selected for the promotion
from the cadre of Scale IV
(Manager) to Scale V (Chief
Manager) subject to the provisions of the ‘Promotion Policy
for Officers-2006’. “Promotion
shall be effective from the date
of officer taking charge of the
promoted post at the place
/office/department where
he/she is posted,” it said.
On contingency list of officers, it added, “The officers
selected in the contingency
list will be offered promotion
in order of their ranking only
against refusal of offer of promotion by any officers selected in main and reserved list.
The unutilised portion of the
contingency list would lapse on
March 31, 2017, without carrying any preferential treatment in any subsequent promotional exercise.”
exploring the possibility of a free
trade agreement following the
Britain’s decision to exit from the
European Union, Commerce
and Industry Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman said on Friday.
“Naturally,” she said when
asked whether India and the UK
are evaluating possibility of a
preferential or a free trade agreement with the UK.
She was speaking to
reporters after her meeting with
UK Secretary of State for
Business, Innovation and Skill
Sajid Javid here.
“Once the process of informal discussions starts then we
get into discussions in detail.
They will all fall into a formal
framework...Whether it is a preferential or a free trade agreement
that will be a mutually discussed matter,” Sitharaman said.
India is already negotiating
a comprehensive free trade
agreement with the EU, and after
the Brexit, it will have to rework
its strategy of negotiations.
Sitharaman said that with
the UK moving out of the EU,
the FTA talks with the European
Union are going to be a fresh
exercise. “With the EU offocurse,
it shall continue but with recalibrated now that UK is out of EU,
so we shall be doing both,” she
said.
After the meeting, visiting
minister Javid said his discussion
with Sitharaman “was very positive and constructive”.
“India and UK already have
a very strong trade and investment relations and we are looking at how we can go further and
look forward to working with
her,” he told reporters.
When asked whether any
discussions happened about Tata
Steel, Sitharaman said, “No. I
have not discussed about Tata
Steel at all with the UK minister”.
She said they discussed
about trade and investment related issues.
“My talks with him and his
visit have been on informally but
pro-actively engaging on trade
related matters post Brexit and on
that, I got the impression that the
UK minister is very keen that we
start the informal process and we
are quite happy to engage with
the UK post Brexit,” she said.
She said the UK is one of the
big components in the EU and
through this, India has trade relations with the EU.
“Trade with UK is substantial. Indian investments in UK are
one of the biggest. A lot of jobs
created in the UK are by Indian
investors,” the Indian minister
said.
“Similarly on services, we
have great potential...We see
immense potential in talking
about goods and services trade.
I have agreed to have our chief
negotiator and invited his chief
negotiator to speak to each
other, so that we informally
know from where we are going
to start,” she added.
Besides this, both the countries are also encouraging business to business contacts.
Sitharaman said industry
bodies CII and Ficci and the
UK CEOs Forum are all active
and they will now be encouraged to have further interactions with one another and give
their views.
PTI
Call drop improvement in 5 mths, spectrum sale by Sep: Sinha
NEW DELHI: As call drop problem persists, the new Telecom
Minister Manoj Sinha on
Friday said resolving the issue
is the “top priority” and hoped
for “qualitative improvement”
in 4-5 months with a megaspectrum auction likely to be
held in September.
“Our top priority is resolving call drop. We expect there
will be qualitative improvement in 4-5 months. We are
also going to auction spectrum soon... Hopefully by the
end of September, which will
help in addressing call drop
problem,” Sinha told reporters.
Call drop menace doubled
by the end of fiscal 2015 with
industry average worsening to
12.5 per cent at the end of
January-March compared
with 6.01 per cent in March
2014 on 2G networks, as per
data of telecom regulator Trai.
Sinha said the framework
for spectrum auction is ready
and it will be conducted by
end of September.
“The total reserve price of
spectrum auction is estimated to be around `5.66 lakh
crore. We will hold it in a
Government will do every bit to
recover dues from telcos: Minister
NEW DELHI: Hitting back at the
Congress, the Government on
Friday said the alleged ‘telecom
scam’ was the UPA regime’s
“sin” that the present dispensation has to clean and it will
do “every bit to recover every
single penny”.
“Who was running the
Government between 2006-10,
everyone know that... Scam is
of their government. It is their
sin, we will do the work of
cleaning it. We will do every bit
to recover every single penny,”
new Telecom Minister Manoj
Sinha said.
The Congress yesterday
alleged a staggering `45,000
crore telecom scam and that
Modi government was “surreptiously taking steps” to
protect the interests of six
leading telecom companies
which owe the money to the
public exchequer.
Ravi Shankar Prasad, who
was earlier handling the telecom portfolio, termed
Congress’ allegation as “motivated and desperate”, and
assured that Government
would recover all dues along
with penalty from telecom
companies, without protecting
anyone. Prasad took charge
as new Law Minister earlier
this week.
“I condemn the charges
made by Congress party...It is
deplorable,
motivated,
malafide, desperate and baseless. I want to make it very
clear that our government will
not protect anyone. Whatever
are the dues...They will be
recovered,” Prasad said.
He said Government was
not in the business of defending anyone. “Congress never
does its homework...,” he
added.
Prasad pointed out that
the figure of `46,000 crore
quoted by the Congress while
levelling charges against the
government was, in fact, the
revenue number that was
under-reported by telecom
companies.
PTI
transparent manner. The
Government received bids of
over `1.1 lakh crore. We will
get to know the amount
Government will get from
this auction only after its
over,” Sinha added.
The auction is biggest
both in terms of amount of
spectrum and monetary value
of the radiowaves being put
for auction. About 2,300
megahertz of frequencies will
be put up for sale.
Spectrum will be sold in
bands -- 700 Mhz, 800 Mhz,
900 Mhz, 1,800 Mhz, 2,100
Mhz, 2,300 Mhz and 2,500
MHz.
The Government had earlier planned to start spectrum auction in mid-July, but
the Cabinet decided to seek
view of Trai on annual fees
levied on telecom operators
called spectrum usage charges
(SUC) before finalising the
rules.
Former Telecom Minister
Ravi Shankar Prasad had also
pushed for resolving call drop
issue with installations of
mobile towers, but Telecom
Regulatory Authority of India
(Trai) in sample test found
most of the operators failing
the service quality benchmark.
The regulator had found
operators using radio-link
time out (RLT), which prevents call from disconnecting
even in poor network area
and consumers are billed for
the same even if they are
unable to hear voice of person
on the other side. Besides,
operators have blamed
authorities and p eople
obstructing installation of
mobile towers and spectrum
scarcity for call drops.
PTI
bets big on IT to expand
Government kickstarts stake sale L&T
services biz revenue share to 15%
process in 51 firms held via SUUTI
NEW DELHI: Government has
invited merchant bankers to
help it sell minority stakes in
51 companies, including RIL,
ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and
L&T, and is looking at exiting
them within three years.
The
Specified
Undertaking of UTI (SUUTI)
has investments in these 51
listed as well as unlisted companies, like Hindustan
Unilever, ITC Ltd, Jaiprakash
Associates and a host of Tata
Group firms.
Government holds minority stake in these companies
through SUUTI, which was
formed in 2003 as an offshoot
of erstwhile UTI, and is looking at selling them either
through an OFS, block deal,
bulk deal or regular sale
through stock exchanges.
As per the Request for
Proposal, SUUTI plans to
appoint up to three merchant
bankers/advisers and selling
brokers for assisting and
advising on the SUUTI
Holdings for a period of three
years.
“ The advice shall be
regarding sale of the shares
held by SUUTI in various
companies either through the
Offer For Sale (OFS), Block
Deal, Bulk Deal, Regular sale
through Stock Exchange or
any such other mechanism
subject,” the RFP said, while
inviting bids from merchant
bankers by August 1.
The bankers would have
to put in a single consolidated bid for the entire SUUTI
Holdings. However, the sale
process of each of the 51
companies would be carried
out individually.
Of the 51 companies in
which SUUTI holds stake, 8
are unlisted entities -- NSDL,
STCI Finance, Over The
Counter Exchange, Stock
Holding Corporation of India,
UTI-IAS Ltd and UTI
Infrastructure Technology
S er vices, North Eastern
Development
Finance
Corporation and NSDL eGovernance Infrastructure.
Sale of SUUTI holdings
would
help
swell
Government’s disinvestment
kitty. It has also kept the
option open for including
those companies in which
SUUTI holds stake in the second CPSE Exchange Traded
Fund, which the Government
plans in the current fiscal.
The Government has set
up an ambitious disinvestment target of `56,500 crore
for 2016-17. Of the budgeted
target, `36,000 crore is to
come from minority stake
sale in PSUs and the remaining `20,500 crore is estimated to come from strategic
sale in both profit and lossmaking companies.
In March 2014, the government had sold 9 per cent
of its stake in Axis Bank held
through SUUTI for over Rs
5,500 crore. As per the RFP,
merchant bankers would be
required toadvise on all statutory or regulatory norms and
assist in securing all approvals
and exemptions from regulatory agencies such as Sebi,
stock exchanges, FIPB, DIPP,
RBI, MCA in respect of the
companies constituting the
SUUTI Holdings.
They will also be required
to hold domestic and international roadshows to generate interest amongst prospective investors and arrange
meetings with the key
investors and facilitate communication.
“All expenses in this
regard will be borne by the
Merchant Bankers except the
tour expenses of SUUTI and
company officials,” the RFP
said.
The merchant bankers
will have to undertake market
research, assist in the pricing
of the issue, allocation of
shares and provide after sale
support in respect of the companies constituting the SUUTI
Holdings.
S elected
merchant
bankers will have to submit to
the SUUTI separate list of
institutional and other major
investors, both, domestic and
international, (indicating
name and address) to be
approached for the sale in
respect of the companies constituting the SUUTI Holdings.
“A detailed strategy for
reaching out to the retail
investors so as to create awareness about retail participation
in the sale in respect of the
companies constituting the
SUUTI Holdings,” the RFP
said.
The selected Merchant
Bankers will be required to
advise SUUTI on the “proper
and optimum timing” and
best floor price for the sale.
The other listed companies in which government
through SUUTI holds stake
include Ambuja Cements,
HERO Motocorp, Tech
Mahindra, Tata Steel, Tata
Power, Tata Motors, BPCL,
Ultratech C ement, Sun
Pharmaceuticals
and
Videocon Industries.
PTI
NEW DELHI: Betting big on IT
and engineering technology
services, diversified conglomerate L&T aims to expand
revenue share of services businesses to 15 per cent, while
bringing down the projects
portfolio to 70 per cent.
This would include 10 per
cent from the IT and technology services alone in the
group’s total turnover, while
their share in the profits could
be even higher at 25 per cent,
Larsen and Toubro’s Group
Executive Chairman A M Naik
said.
Founded in 1938, L&T
has as many as 82 businesses,
many of which have been set
up under Naik’s leadership,
and has emerged as one of the
top conglomerates of the
country with over $15 billion
turnover.
However, engineering,
construction and infrastructure have been among its main
businesses in the past.
The two separate companies for the IT and technology services together are estimated to clock a turnover of
$1.5 billion this year, Naik said.
Naik, who has been with
L&T for nearly 52 years
including 18 years as its chief,
said the group is targetting to
grow faster in the IT and
technology services segments,
with one of the key reasons
being that these businesses can
provide “a huge cushion
against our exposure to the
projects business”.
“I want to take the services
business to 15 per cent, from
10 per cent currently, and
bring down the project business to 70 per cent,” Naik told
the news agency in an interview.
“The most ideal that we
could achieve over the five
years is where the project
business does not go beyond
65 per cent. Manufacturing
and services together between
16-17 per cent each, will make
sure that the balancing of our
portfolio is done well,” he
added.
Asked about the revenue
target of technology and IT
itself, he said it could be
around 10 per cent. “So, let’s
say if we are $30 billion, they
will be $3 billion,”
Naik said, while adding
that their share in profit could
be even higher at 25 per cent.
L&T Infotech, the country’s sixth largest IT services
firm with a revenue of $887
million and staff-count of over
20,000 people, is scheduled to
hit the capital market with an
estimated `1,200 crore IPO on
Monday.
The parent L&T is already
listed with a market cap of
nearly Rs 1.5 trillion, while
L&T Finance Holdings got
listed over five years ago and
commands a market cap of
about `14,000 crore.
At `705-710 per share
price band for L&T Infotech
IPO, it will fetch a market cap
of over `12,000 crore.
Naik said L&T group has
three major sectors, the first
being “very high-tech manufacturing like nuclear reactors, aerospace and defence”
that accounts for 15 per cent
revenue.
However, the business
accounting for 74-75 per cent
is “very highly risky”, he said,
referring to the second major
sector of project business.
Explaining the risk factor, Naik
said the risks can come”even
with one project that can go
bad, or is executed badly or
wrongly estimated”.
“When we went to MiddleEast, we were possibly not
fully knowing the problems in
Middle-East, so we lost nearly `2,000 crore. L&T stock
would have crashed, but for the
technology services, IT, L&T
Finance and L&T Realty, who
between them made `2,600
crore profit,” he said.
Naik said, all these companies, except L&T Finance,
have been set up by him in the
last 10-12 years.
He said it was the events
like these 3-4 years back that
the group decided to go big on
services sector.
Naik said, “People can lose
money in projects all over the
world, without any exception.
Everybody, even the mightiest
of the companies, loses in
some project or other in a foreign land, in an unknown territory, with an unknown politics and everything is not
under your control.”
PTI
money 11
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
Labour Min, unions poles apart in
raising EPFO investments in ETFs
PTI n NEW DELHI
abour Ministry and central
trade unions are at loggerheads over raising the investments of retirement fund body
EPFO in stock markets
through Exchange Traded
Funds (ETFs). At a meeting of
EPFO’s apex decision making
body Central Board of Trustees
(CBT) on Friday, unions
lodged their ‘serious reservations’ over the ministry’s move
to increase investments in
ETFs from the current 5 per
cent.
The Employees’ Provident
Fund Organisation (EPFO)
had started investing in ETFs
in last August. On ETFs,
Labour Minister Bandaru
Dattatreya said, “We have given
a report to the CBT. In this
report, 7.45 per cent (yield) has
come so far. We had invested
`7,000 crore.” He added that he
informed the CBT, which is
L
In the changing scenario, we had
thought that long-term
investment will benefit ETFs.
Fluctuations will be there. They
will come and go but the thing is
whether the percentage of
investment in long-term will be
gainful or not. Unions were
almost unanimous in lodging their serious
reservations over raising the limit on ETFs.
They are protesting, but we are keeping the
interest of the workers in view and we are not
going ahead in hurry. We can go till 15 per cent,
but we went with 5 per cent to test it. Our
investment is long-term and it will appreciate
LABOUR MINISTER BANDARU DATTATREYA
headed by the Labour Minister,
about the global trends regarding ETFs and the trend in
India.
“In India in the changing
scenario, we had thought that
long-term investment will
benefit the ETFs. Fluctuations
will be there... They will come
and go but the thing is
whether the percentage of
investment in long term will
be gainful or not,” he added.
The Minister said a special
meeting of the CBT will be
called between July 18-22 where
the Government will take the
feedback of the unions and then
take a decision. Labour Secretary
Shankar Aggarwal said that till
date on average, EPFO has got a
yield of 7.45 per cent from ETFs
and this is ‘almost equal to the
yield on government securities’.
A union leader present in the
meeting said that they have
protested the Government's
move to raise investment in
ETFs. “Unions were almost unanimous in lodging their serious
reservations over raising the limit
on ETFs,” he added. Indian
National Trade Union Congress
(INTUC) Vice President Ashok
Singh added, “We have strongly
protested raising of EPFO investments in ETF.”
When asked about the protest
by the unions, Dattatreya said:
“They are protesting, but we are
keeping the interest of the workers
in view and we are not going ahead
in hurry. We can go till 15 per
cent, but we went with 5 per cent
to test it. Our investment is long
term and it will appreciate.”
Reliance Nippon
Insurance open to
tie ups with banks
CHENNAI: Reliance Nippon
Life Insurance, the joint venture
between Reliance Capital and
Japan’s Nippon Life Insurance, is
eyeing tie ups with banks as part
of its expansion plans, a top official said on Friday.
“We are open to the idea of
tying up with banks. IRDAI has
granted approval to banks to tieup with insurance companies.
We are also planning to add
30,000 agents,” the company’s
Chief
Agency
Officer
Manoranjan Sahoo told reporters
here. Out of this, 4,000 agents
would be added in Tamil Nadu
in this financial year, he added.
The IRDAI has allowed
banks to tie up with insurance
companies in 3 segments life,
non–life and standalone
health. Stating that the company was witnessing a gradual
increase in persistency ratio
from 53 per cent in FY13 to 60
per cent in FY16, Sahoo said,
“For this (financial) year, we
are looking at a further
increase to 70 per cent.” PTI
Eight MoUs inked at South
Africa-India CEOs Forum
PTI n PRETORIA
Birla Nuvo signed an MoU to
form a Joint Venture in the
health and insurance sector in
India. India’s Ion Exchange
Safic, a leading waste and water
treatment company with a
presence in South Africa, will
collaborate with Stefanutti
Stocks SA in large scale water
and effluent treatment projects in South Africa.
SAAB Grintek Defence
and Tata Power signed an
agreement for production of
land electronic defence systems
in India. A MoU signed
between Pioneer Global
Enterprises of India and
Armscor to produce ultrasonic broken railway detector systems for Indian Railways also
includes an emphasis on technology transfer. Gordon
Institute of Business Science
has signed an MoU with ISB
Hyderabad to collaborate on a
senior executive programme,
student exchange, faculty
exchange and joint research.
op business leaders from
India and South Africa on
T
Friday signed eight MoUs leading to increased cooperation in
a wide range of areas between
the two nations. The MoUs
were signed at the South
Africa-India CEOs Forum on
the sidelines of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s maiden visit
here aimed at further bolstering cooperation on economic,
political, social and international areas.
Hindustan Zinc Limited
signed two MoUs with Minova
Africa for development and
supply of rock support systems
for underground mining in
India; and with Feremel for the
supply and maintenance of
underground mining equipment to improve safety, efficiency and productivity in
modern mechanised underground mines.
MMI Holdings and Aditya
The biggest MoU is signed
between the Dube Trade Port
in Durban and Cipla India,
which will see a Rand 1.3 billion biosimilar plant being set
up in the special export zone to
produce cheaper drugs for
local government and private
sector supply as well as export.
A number of other bilateral agreements and MoUs are
expected to be finalised in the
next few months. The areas of
cooperation in these include
Information Communication
Technology, Tourism, Sport,
Culture, Grassroots Innovation,
Renewable Energy, AudioVisual and Visa Simplification
Procedures.
South African co-chair of
the Forum Vivian Reddy said
he and his Indian counterpart
Adi Godrej were committed to
ensure that the body meet
more regularly to achieve the
objectives of enhancing trade
and investment between the
two countries.
BILT’s $500 mn deal to sell Malaysian arm called off Summit dedicated to start-ups announced by Gujarat Govt
NEW DELHI: Ballarpur Industries’ $500
million deal to sell 98.08 per cent stake in
Malaysia’s Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) to
Pandawa Saktihas has fallen through with
the buyer not meeting conditions after
repeated extensions of closure deadline. The
latest extension of Long Stop Date (LSD)
for the deal was announced on May 25 to
NIFTY 50
SCRIP
OPEN HIGH LOW
LTP CHANGE
TATAMOTORS
464.3 468.2 462.65
466.3 11.15
HEROMOTOCO 3,115.00 3,179.00 3,113.10 3,174.95 72.25
ASIANPAINT
992.9 1,013.90 988.15 1,010.55 22.85
INDUSINDBK 1,110.00 1,130.50 1,106.10 1,126.60
21.2
AUROPHARMA
771 782.4 769.9
777 14.15
TATAMTRDVR
294.8 297.8 292.75
295.8
4.85
CIPLA
518 522.45 513.05 521.05
6.75
DRREDDY
3,537.05 3,572.00 3,495.00 3,562.15 37.35
HCLTECH
715 725.75
715
722.5
5.4
ZEEL
452.65 455.9 448.7 450.55
2.7
AXISBANK
541 548.5
540
545.4
3.15
MARUTI
4,142.00 4,175.65 4,126.00 4,163.90
22.8
YESBANK
1,111.25 1,124.00 1,106.60 1,118.00
5.9
WIPRO
559.6 563.45 555.05
562
2.4
INFY
1,163.00 1,167.00 1,153.50 1,161.95
4.7
AMBUJACEM
257.1
261 256.85
258
1.05
POWERGRID
163.5 165.4 161.6
164
0.65
ULTRACEMCO 3,371.10 3,409.90 3,369.10 3,396.00
13.6
NTPC
152.25 154.45 150.65
153.5
0.6
BPCL
1,121.10 1,123.90 1,104.45 1,118.00
3.9
HINDUNILVR
919 926.3 913.45
920.7
2.4
BOSCHLTD 22,700.0022,850.1522,510.0022,780.00 50.65
TCS
2,435.00 2,442.05 2,403.50 2,430.10
0.3
TATASTEEL
314.95 319.4 312.1
317.7
0
SUNPHARMA 781.95
785 774.45
777
-1.2
M&M
1,455.90 1,465.50 1,447.05 1,454.00
-2.8
HDFC
1,290.00 1,301.70 1,272.70 1,287.95
-2.6
TECHM
501 507.45
499 503.15
-1.4
ACC
1,610.00 1,610.05 1,592.30 1,600.00
-4.7
BAJAJ-AUTO 2,620.00 2,635.00 2,600.00 2,601.00
-9.55
ITC
247.4 247.4 242.5 246.05
-0.95
GRASIM
4,542.00 4,578.30 4,523.75 4,531.55 -18.85
HINDALCO
128.7 128.7 125.5 127.15
-0.55
TATAPOWER
73.55
74.1
72.8
73.2
-0.35
KOTAKBANK
745.1 747.7 737.6
742
-3.9
EICHERMOT 19,600.0019,620.0019,400.0019,460.95 -132.15
SBIN
220.15 220.85 216.5
218.2
-1.85
HDFCBANK 1,185.10 1,185.60 1,171.25 1,175.40 -10.25
RELIANCE
987
989 976.35
977.6
-10.3
ICICIBANK
244.5 244.5 239.55
242.2
-2.65
COALINDIA
313.3 314.95
310
312.1
-3.45
LT
1,554.95 1,556.15 1,522.05 1,537.00
-17.5
ONGC
225 225.3 222.25
224
-2.6
INFRATEL
350 350.8 340.25 346.75
-4.2
LUPIN
1,701.00 1,712.30 1,622.75 1,635.00 -20.75
ADANIPORTS 210.05 211.95 204.6 207.25
-2.8
BHEL
140 141.7 135.65
137.9
-2.05
BANKBARODA 158.15 158.9 153.6
154.6
-3.55
BHARTIARTL
360.75 362.25
353
355
-8.35
GAIL
383.5 384.9 374.55 375.25
-9.55
IDEA
104 104.2 100.5
102
-2.75
NIFTY NEXT 50
SCRIP
OPEN HIGH LOW
LTP CHANGE
CADILAHC
346.9 364.7
346 360.55
17.4
PFC
187.5 196.5 181.5
193.8
6.15
ABB
1,217.10 1,264.90 1,204.00 1,257.00 39.85
LICHSGFIN
498 513.75 496.7
512.4 14.35
GLENMARK
820.8
846 820.05
838 19.05
PIDILITIND
712.95
739 712.85 728.15
15.9
RECLTD
183.85 188.9 180.15 188.05
3.95
IBULHSGFIN
676.7 689.9 672.05
688.9
13.2
TORNTPHARM 1,403.00 1,448.00 1,403.00 1,422.00 23.65
BAJFINANCE 8,100.00 8,238.95 8,068.10 8,203.50 107.85
ASHOKLEY
93.8
94.3
92.2
94.2
1.15
JSWSTEEL
1,468.00 1,481.00 1,460.50 1,479.80 16.55
GODREJCP 1,639.90 1,660.00 1,624.55 1,650.00
18.4
SHREECEM 15,500.0015,800.0015,200.0015,650.00 163.6
PGHH
6,340.00 6,357.00 6,268.00 6,350.00
54.6
APOLLOHOSP 1,367.00 1,389.25 1,363.30 1,369.00 11.75
PNB
117.9 118.7
114
117.8
0.95
MOTHERSUMI
277
281 274.05
279.1
1.8
HINDZINC
186.9 190.4
184
187.4
0.5
EMAMILTD
1,102.00 1,113.50 1,090.00 1,096.00
0.6
NHPC
25.25
25.4
24.8
25.2
0
COLPAL
946.9
949
940
947
-0.1
MCDOWELL-N 2,625.65 2,645.65 2,610.95 2,625.00
-0.65
SRTRANSFIN 1,215.90 1,232.45 1,199.05 1,211.40
-1.6
BRITANNIA 2,809.15 2,836.00 2,792.40 2,805.25
-3.9
VEDL
145 145.65 140.9
143.2
-0.25
SIEMENS
1,276.00 1,294.30 1,272.30 1,273.95
-2.4
TITAN
402.1 405.9 397.75
401.7
-1.15
DLF
159 159.5 152.75 154.55
-0.55
DIVISLAB
1,129.80 1,129.80 1,110.00 1,118.50
-4.5
HINDPETRO 1,040.00 1,041.90 1,024.80 1,028.85
-4.2
DABUR
316.35 316.35 312.15
313
-1.6
BEL
1,272.80 1,272.80 1,250.00 1,263.00
-6.9
CONCOR
1,471.10 1,479.25 1,457.55 1,458.10
-7.85
UBL
790.95 794.95 784.65 786.05
-4.45
BHARATFORG
741.8 747.5 734.1 737.35
-4.55
UPL
556.7 561.2 547.5
550.4
-3.85
OFSS
3,585.70 3,630.00 3,535.00 3,550.00 -24.95
CUMMINSIND
829
829
813
818.9
-5.75
BAJAJFINSV 2,313.85 2,323.20 2,292.05 2,306.05 -17.75
SAIL
46.9
47.1
46.2
46.65
-0.45
GLAXO
3,519.30 3,528.00 3,481.00 3,482.00
-37.3
CAIRN
146.25 147.25 144.25 145.35
-1.6
NMDC
95.8
96.2 94.25
94.6
-1.05
IOC
472.3 478.2 465.15
467.6
-5.75
CASTROLIND
405.9 405.9 398.1 398.55
-6.8
MARICO
269.6
270 262.5 263.95
-4.8
GSKCONS
6,206.00 6,206.00 6,041.00 6,060.00 -144.75
OIL
368
368 358.2 359.55
-8.8
RCOM
52.55
52.8
50.2
50.8
-1.65
June 30, 2016 for completion of the deal on
the request of the Malaysia-based buyer. In
a regulatory filing, BILT said: “Since the
transaction has not been consummated
within the above long stop date, BPH has
terminated the SSA and is invoking the performance guarantees of $50 million furnished by the buyer,” the company informed
Bse 500
Script
Traded
3MINDIA
8KMILES
AARTIIND
ABAN
ABB
ABBOTINDIA
ABFRL
ABIRLANUVO
ACC
ADANIENT
ADANIPORTS
ADANIPOWER
ADANITRANS
ADVANTA
AEGISLOG
AIAENG
AIL
AJANTPHARM
AKZOINDIA
ALBK
ALKEM
ALLCARGO
ALOKTEXT
ALSTOMT&D
AMARAJABAT
AMBUJACEM
AMTEKAUTO
ANDHRABANK
APLAPOLLO
APLLTD
APOLLOHOSP
APOLLOTYRE
ARVIND
ASAHIINDIA
ASHOKA
ASHOKLEY
ASIANPAINT
ASTRAL
ASTRAMICRO
ASTRAZEN
Last
Price
13714.7
1970.1
535.4
225.7
1259.5
4735
144.5
1245.55
1597.25
81.25
207.05
29.25
38.35
576
127
1015
625
1630.2
1580.45
77.45
1355.6
182.85
4.33
360.5
846
257.65
38.2
60.3
966
598.9
1368.5
150.3
331.5
168
163
93.9
1010.9
456
127.95
1060
Abs Change
Change
%
72.8
0.53
193.25 10.88
-0.2 -0.04
-5.2 -2.25
38.8
3.18
-25.2 -0.53
-4.35 -2.92
-17.35 -1.37
-6.15 -0.38
-2.45 -2.93
-3.35 -1.59
-0.7 -2.34
0.9
2.4
-1.95 -0.34
1.7
1.36
-6.05 -0.59
-11.95 -1.88
42.75
2.69
-5.4 -0.34
1.05
1.37
6.5
0.48
2.75
1.53
-0.08 -1.81
1.55
0.43
9.25
1.11
0.65
0.25
-0.4 -1.04
-0.45 -0.74
4.8
0.5
18.8
3.24
11.65
0.86
-0.25 -0.17
-8.7 -2.56
-3.8 -2.21
-5.7 -3.38
0.8
0.86
23.5
2.38
-9.6 -2.06
-5 -3.76
6.1
0.58
BSE: GAINERS
Current (Chng %)
BSE. SFI is controlled by Ballarpur Paper
Holdings BV (BPH), a step down subsidiary
of Ballarpur Industries. As per share sale
agreement (SSA), Pandawa Saktihas had to
pay $50 million as an advance by June 3,
2016 and pay the balance equity consideration to acquire 50 per cent equity of SFI
by June 30, 2016.PTI
CEATLTD
CENTRALBK
CENTURYPLY
CENTURYTEX
CERA
CESC
CHAMBLFERT
CHENNPETRO
CHOLAFIN
CIPLA
CLNINDIA
COALINDIA
COFFEEDAY
COLPAL
CONCOR
COROMANDEL
CORPBANK
COX&KINGS
CRISIL
CROMPGREAV
CUB
CUMMINSIND
CYIENT
DABUR
DALMIABHA
DBCORP
DCBBANK
DCMSHRIRAM
DEEPAKFERT
DELTACORP
DEN
DENABANK
DHANUKA
DHFL
DISHMAN
DISHTV
DIVISLAB
DLF
DRREDDY
DYNAMATECH
ECLERX
EDELWEISS
850.7
104.8
207
673.1
2435
609.7
68.35
198
962.55
519.75
707.55
311.65
251.5
945.5
1462
238.6
43.4
169.95
1999.6
70.9
118.8
821.75
508.7
312.15
1208
384.3
103.15
218.25
165.7
93.9
91.65
41.45
641.25
214.1
136.1
97.15
1121.9
154.6
3555.5
2490
1440
77.15
-3.45
-1
0.9
-4.5
-20.7
-1.35
-0.85
-5.65
0.5
6.5
-10.15
-3.8
-1.2
0.3
-7.05
10.8
-1
-0.3
-3.8
-2.4
-2.65
-4.35
6.15
-2.45
-11.65
1.1
0.05
3.95
0.7
-1.45
-0.45
-1.05
-4.35
1.65
0.85
0.65
0.6
-0.5
30.35
1.75
-10.85
1.65
-0.4
-0.95
0.44
-0.66
-0.84
-0.22
-1.23
-2.77
0.05
1.27
-1.41
-1.2
-0.47
0.03
-0.48
4.74
-2.25
-0.18
-0.19
-3.27
-2.18
-0.53
1.22
-0.78
-0.96
0.29
0.05
1.84
0.42
-1.52
-0.49
-2.47
-0.67
0.78
0.63
0.67
0.05
-0.32
0.86
0.07
-0.75
2.19
NSE: GAINERS
Current (Chng %)
BFUTILITIE
568.80 (6.68)
TATAMOTORS
CADILAHC
359.30 (4.81)
HEROMOTOCO
466.30 (2.45)
3,174.95 (2.33)
85.40 (4.79)
ASIANPAINT
1,010.55 (2.31)
COROMANDEL
238.60 (4.74)
INDUSINDBK
1,126.60 (1.92)
TUBEINVEST
515.70 (4.05)
AUROPHARMA
777.00 (1.85)
9.2
14.3
-6.4
4
-10.1
-0.9
-0.05
-16.25
-0.45
-17.05
80.35
-5
-4.55
-2
-3.25
-1.35
-5.8
-6.8
22.05
-8.75
-15.5
-8.4
9.55
35.6
-6.85
-6.2
-8.3
-2.2
-3.35
-8.65
11
-42.85
-2.45
-0.65
18.45
-1.2
-0.1
16.5
-3.65
13.25
-6.05
4.05
-1.45
-2.4
-4.7
-0.95
EICHERMOT
EIDPARRY
EIHOTEL
ELGIEQUIP
EMAMILTD
ENGINERSIN
ENIL
EROSMEDIA
ESCORTS
ESSELPRO
EVEREADY
EXIDEIND
FAGBEARING
FCEL
FDC
FEDERALBNK
FINCABLES
FINOLEXIND
FORCEMOT
FORTIS
FSL
GAIL
GATI
GAYAPROJ
GDL
GEOMETRIC
GESHIP
GHCL
GICHSGFIN
GILLETTE
GLAXO
GLENMARK
GMDCLTD
GMRINFRA
GNFC
GODFRYPHLP
GODREJCP
GODREJIND
GODREJPROP
GPPL
GRANULES
GRASIM
GREAVESCOT
GREENPLY
GRINDWELL
GRUH
-125.15
0.7
0.15
-3.75
3.75
-1.35
-6.2
-3.15
1.2
0.35
-4.55
-3
-59.4
0.05
-1.25
0.9
2.45
4.25
-32.1
-0.8
-1.2
-9.1
4.45
2.5
-1.15
0.95
-4.35
1.55
19.55
34.1
-12.9
16.8
-0.7
-0.29
-3.25
-6.6
11.9
-4.7
-5.4
5.7
-0.65
-13
-1.1
-4.2
2.55
2.25
IL&FSTRANS
ATUL
AUROPHARMA
AVANTI
AXISBANK
BAJAJ-AUTO
BAJAJCORP
BAJAJELEC
BAJAJFINSV
BAJAJHIND
BAJAJHLDNG
BAJFINANCE
BALKRISIND
BALMLAWRIE
BALRAMCHIN
BANKBARODA
BANKINDIA
BASF
BATAINDIA
BAYERCROP
BBTC
BEL
BEML
BERGEPAINT
BFUTILITIE
BHARATFIN
BHARATFORG
BHARTIARTL
BHEL
BIOCON
BIRLACORPN
BLISSGVS
BLUEDART
BLUESTARCO
BOMDYEING
BOSCHLTD
BPCL
BRITANNIA
CADILAHC
CANBK
CANFINHOME
CAPF
CAPPL
CARBORUNIV
CARERATING
CASTROLIND
CCL
2046.1
777.4
522.85
546.45
2600.3
393.15
247.8
2303.05
21.2
1590
8173
669
602
129.6
154.8
108.05
1136.6
545.35
3990
403.4
1255.9
885.4
296.95
568.8
752.5
736.2
355
137.85
727.6
544
104.95
5984.15
433
47.8
22750
1113.9
2811.95
359.3
226.35
1217.9
603.85
1056.3
234.45
975.3
400.5
247.15
0.45
1.87
-1.21
0.74
-0.39
-0.23
-0.02
-0.7
-2.08
-1.06
0.99
-0.74
-0.75
-1.52
-2.06
-1.23
-0.51
-1.23
0.56
-2.12
-1.22
-0.94
3.32
6.68
-0.9
-0.84
-2.28
-1.57
-0.46
-1.57
11.71
-0.71
-0.56
-1.34
0.08
-0.11
0
4.81
-1.59
1.1
-0.99
0.38
-0.61
-0.25
-1.16
-0.38
19451.8
245.7
109.8
175.25
1097.4
207.8
760.05
216.35
219.4
216.95
270.35
173.25
3981
22.65
192.65
60.95
375.1
441.3
3072.7
158.45
46.9
375.45
175.85
649.45
309.8
218.65
317.6
194.3
323.3
4715.4
3498.95
836.7
76.9
13.46
157.7
916.95
1643.3
403
361.4
175.6
142.45
4535.4
136.95
249
733.85
289.55
-0.64
0.29
0.14
-2.09
0.34
-0.65
-0.81
-1.44
0.55
0.16
-1.66
-1.7
-1.47
0.22
-0.64
1.5
0.66
0.97
-1.03
-0.5
-2.49
-2.37
2.6
0.39
-0.37
0.44
-1.35
0.8
6.44
0.73
-0.37
2.05
-0.9
-2.11
-2.02
-0.71
0.73
-1.15
-1.47
3.35
-0.45
-0.29
-0.8
-1.66
0.35
0.78
NEW DELHI: The Government
of Gujarat on Friday announced
a first of its kind summit dedicated to Start-ups-Vibrant
Gujarat Startup Summit to be
held on 21st and 22nd October,
2016 at Gandhinagar.
It will be opened by Chief
SENSEX
GSFC
GSKCONS
GSPL
GUJFLUORO
GUJGAS
GULFOILLUB
GVKPIL
HATHWAY
HATSUN
HAVELLS
HCC
HCL-INSYS
HCLTECH
HDFC
HDFCBANK
HDIL
HEIDELBERG
HEROMOTOCO
HEXAWARE
HFCL
HIMATSEIDE
HINDALCO
HINDCOPPER
HINDPETRO
HINDUNILVR
HINDZINC
HITACHIHOM
HMT
HMVL
HONAUT
HSIL
HTMEDIA
IBREALEST
IBULHSGFIN
ICICIBANK
ICIL
ICRA
IDBI
IDEA
IDFC
IDFCBANK
IFCI
IGL
IIFL
IL&FSTRANS
INDHOTEL
INDIACEM
INDIANB
INDIGO
INDOCO
INDUSINDBK
INFRATEL
INFY
INGERRAND
INOXLEISUR
INOXWIND
INTELLECT
IOB
IOC
IPAPPM
IPCALAB
IRB
ISGEC
ITC
ITDCEM
J&KBANK
JAGRAN
JAICORPLTD
JBCHEPHARM
JBFIND
JETAIRWAYS
JINDALPOLY
JINDALSAW
JINDALSTEL
JISLJALEQS
75.55
6051
133.4
518
558.7
583.75
6.41
33.1
490.55
356.75
22.55
40.2
721.75
1283.9
1172.2
105.05
113.85
3168
223.45
18.55
261.45
126.85
61.85
1027
920.2
186.65
1370
42.2
273
9700
279.9
82.95
91.2
688.1
241.55
968.25
3897
74.65
101.9
51.95
47.4
27.55
596.95
219
85.4
128
117.35
149.85
990.15
282.9
1126.75
345.55
1158.75
715.5
240.55
238.55
213.65
27.75
468.2
304.75
469.85
213.85
5251.45
245.85
148.35
69.7
183.65
76.65
258.1
210.65
570.45
433.35
53.75
69.65
72.9
-1
-112.8
0.25
0.5
16.6
-0.5
-0.16
-0.35
28
0.25
-0.5
-0.6
4.75
-7.05
-11.5
2.8
-1.2
66.7
-1.35
-0.35
7.95
-0.9
0.75
-5.85
2.85
-0.05
24.4
-0.35
0.3
165
-0.05
0.2
-0.85
12.45
-2.9
-1.3
-41.85
-0.3
-3
0.55
0
0.05
-6.65
-4.45
3.9
-0.4
0.55
-1.15
-21.2
-1.75
19.7
-5.25
1.55
-0.15
-1.55
3.75
-4
-0.3
-5
1.15
-3.9
-4.9
468.2
-0.65
-0.5
0.3
0.95
-1.5
3.3
2.85
0.15
-5.75
-0.85
-1.45
-0.7
NIFTY
-1.31
-1.83
0.19
0.1
3.06
-0.09
-2.44
-1.05
6.05
0.07
-2.17
-1.47
0.66
-0.55
-0.97
2.74
-1.04
2.15
-0.6
-1.85
3.14
-0.7
1.23
-0.57
0.31
-0.03
1.81
-0.82
0.11
1.73
-0.02
0.24
-0.92
1.84
-1.19
-0.13
-1.06
-0.4
-2.86
1.07
0
0.18
-1.1
-1.99
4.79
-0.31
0.47
-0.76
-2.1
-0.61
1.78
-1.5
0.13
-0.02
-0.64
1.6
-1.84
-1.07
-1.06
0.38
-0.82
-2.24
9.79
-0.26
-0.34
0.43
0.52
-1.92
1.3
1.37
0.03
-1.31
-1.56
-2.04
-0.95
JKCEMENT
JKIL
JKLAKSHMI
JKTYRE
JMFINANCIL
JPASSOCIAT
JPINFRATEC
JPPOWER
JSWENERGY
JSWSTEEL
JUBILANT
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JUSTDIAL
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KSK
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L&TFH
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LALPATHLAB
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LICHSGFIN
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LT
LUPIN
LYCOS
M&M
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MAGMA
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MAHLIFE
MANAPPURAM
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MCX
MFSL
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MJCO
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MOTILALOFS
MPHASIS
MRF
MRPL
MTNL
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NATCOPHARM
NATIONALUM
NAUKRI
NAVINFLUOR
NAVKARCORP
NAVNETEDUL
NBCC
NCC
BSE: SENSEX
Open
High
27294.82
Low
27034.14
Current value
27126.90
Previous close
27201.49
Change (Pts)
-74.59
Change (%)
-0.27
701.5
231.45
398
91.6
54.95
11.37
10.33
5.84
83.6
1474.15
318
1181.15
593.25
296.45
1225.95
264.5
318.35
144.55
141.85
265
527.65
743.95
148.75
1065.15
284.55
715.1
439.3
30.6
148.85
111.5
76.9
103.5
950.85
560
3815.1
511.35
337.05
1531.75
1637.3
15.9
1451.15
353.2
105
34.25
179.6
462.25
78
263.85
48.5
4155.05
212.55
1063.75
504.5
412.35
1160.1
654.25
523.2
47.6
237.65
2527.7
277.9
379
567.2
35277.75
68.45
22.45
279.35
583.75
43.9
845.2
2000.05
214.65
99.95
219.95
74.7
-10.95
-3.25
-5.3
-1.1
1.45
-0.67
-0.73
-0.22
-0.7
11.15
-0.25
-31.05
-11.8
-4.35
23.2
-3.65
5.05
0.7
1.8
-0.05
-7.55
-0.4
-2
-15.9
-1.9
-25.1
-2.1
-0.05
1.45
0.95
-0.65
-1.6
23.75
7.45
-99.35
13.65
-4.4
-22.3
-20
-0.1
-4.95
3.05
-2.8
-0.75
-1
-4.6
-0.8
-4.85
0.5
14.1
-1.15
22.75
7.05
-2.7
7.05
-5.4
-4.25
-0.4
-0.4
-18.95
0.1
-3.45
2.35
168.55
-1
-0.45
1.4
-8.5
-0.4
-4
13.15
0.7
-0.75
4.65
-1.6
-1.54
-1.38
-1.31
-1.19
2.71
-5.56
-6.6
-3.63
-0.83
0.76
-0.08
-2.56
-1.95
-1.45
1.93
-1.36
1.61
0.49
1.29
-0.02
-1.41
-0.05
-1.33
-1.47
-0.66
-3.39
-0.48
-0.16
0.98
0.86
-0.84
-1.52
2.56
1.35
-2.54
2.74
-1.29
-1.43
-1.21
-0.63
-0.34
0.87
-2.6
-2.14
-0.55
-0.99
-1.02
-1.8
1.04
0.34
-0.54
2.19
1.42
-0.65
0.61
-0.82
-0.81
-0.83
-0.17
-0.74
0.04
-0.9
0.42
0.48
-1.44
-1.97
0.5
-1.44
-0.9
-0.47
0.66
0.33
-0.74
2.16
-2.1
VITAL STATS
27292.20
Mumbai
Delhi
Kolkata
Industry (FICCI) and knowledge
partner is The Entrepreneurship
Development Institute of India
(EDI). The key objective of the
summit is to attract the brightest
entrepreneurial minds from
across the nation to ideate, showcase innovation and help them
Minister, Anandiben Patel and
will be organised by the Industrial
Extension Bureau andGujarat
Industrial
Development
Corporation (GIDC). The
National Partner for the event is
The Federation of Indian
Chambers of Commerce and
GOLD
31020
30000
30780
SILVER
47925
47925
47925
67.46
74.72
87.32
0.67
NESTLEIND
NETWORK18
NEYVELILIG
NH
NHPC
NIITLTD
NIITTECH
NILKAMAL
NIRLON
NMDC
NOVARTIND
NTPC
OBEROIRLTY
OFSS
OIL
OMAXE
ONGC
ONMOBILE
ORIENTBANK
ORIENTCEM
PAGEIND
PCJEWELLER
PEL
PERSISTENT
PETRONET
PFC
PFIZER
PFS
PGHH
PHOENIXLTD
PIDILITIND
PIIND
PNB
PNCINFRA
POLARIS
POWERGRID
PRAJIND
PRESTIGE
PRISMCEM
PTC
PUNJLLOYD
PVR
6420.4
47.3
72.15
306.1
25.1
83.5
502.95
1213.65
225.5
94.65
724.15
153.35
289.9
3539.3
360.7
157.2
223.6
105.9
118.9
179.45
13383
373.35
1492.9
679
292.3
194.15
1925
41.45
6339.3
331.65
729.6
695
117.6
570
199.1
164.2
92.6
186.5
107
79.65
21.7
999.55
-88.25
0.2
-0.45
-3.35
-0.1
-1.05
-6.1
-11.15
-1.05
-1.05
4.65
0.55
-1.5
-36.15
-7.2
-1.9
-3.05
0.45
-2.05
1.1
-108.75
-16.45
-34.95
8.05
-1.85
6.65
-20.65
0.95
40.95
-5.95
17.25
-11.5
0.65
-1
2.45
0.9
-2.65
-0.85
-1.75
-0.85
-0.95
2.85
-1.36
0.42
-0.62
-1.08
-0.4
-1.24
-1.2
-0.91
-0.46
-1.1
0.65
0.36
-0.51
-1.01
-1.96
-1.19
-1.35
0.43
-1.69
0.62
-0.81
-4.22
-2.29
1.2
-0.63
3.55
-1.06
2.35
0.65
-1.76
2.42
-1.63
0.56
-0.18
1.25
0.55
-2.78
-0.45
-1.61
-1.06
-4.19
0.29
shape their ideas for the development of the State & the Nation.
It will also aim to develop a startup ecosystem to compete with
the best in the world and create
a lasting network of relationships for all the stakeholders of
the ecosystem. PNS
SOBHA
SOLARINDS
SONATSOFTW
SOUTHBANK
SPARC
SPICEJET
SREINFRA
SRF
SRTRANSFIN
STAR
SUNDRMFAST
SUNPHARMA
SUNTECK
SUNTV
SUPREMEIND
SUVEN
SUZLON
SWANENERGY
SYMPHONY
SYNDIBANK
SYNGENE
TAKE
TATACHEM
TATACOFFEE
TATACOMM
TATAELXSI
TATAGLOBAL
TATAINVEST
TATAMOTORS
TATAMTRDVR
TATAPOWER
TATASPONGE
TATASTEEL
TCI
TCS
TECHM
TECHNO
TEXRAIL
THERMAX
THOMASCOOK
TIMKEN
TITAN
326.2
3241
171.2
22.6
355.6
65.85
72.45
1310
1217.5
1168.05
191.45
778.55
232.3
378
891.9
203
17.55
66.2
2422.5
77.55
428.9
177.75
433.2
113.35
479.4
1731.95
132.1
515.65
465.2
295.95
73.35
623.95
318.6
333.85
2425.5
502.4
597
94.6
900
218.1
549.15
400.15
1.45
-7.65
-1.65
0.35
-1.55
0.3
0.3
-18.1
5.05
8.65
-1.65
1.1
-4.05
-3.6
2.45
1.95
0.25
-1.35
-19.75
-1.45
2.4
-5.4
-4.3
-2.2
-4
20.1
-2.15
-6.35
9.95
4.2
-0.2
12
0.95
4.1
-3.55
-1.5
-6.15
1
7.1
-0.15
-8.45
-1.3
0.45
-0.24
-0.95
1.57
-0.43
0.46
0.42
-1.36
0.42
0.75
-0.85
0.14
-1.71
-0.94
0.28
0.97
1.45
-2
-0.81
-1.84
0.56
-2.95
-0.98
-1.9
-0.83
1.17
-1.6
-1.22
2.19
1.44
-0.27
1.96
0.3
1.24
-0.15
-0.3
-1.02
1.07
0.8
-0.07
-1.52
-0.32
NSE: LOSERS
BSE: LOSERS
Current (Chng %)
Current (Chng %)
JPINFRATEC
10.33 (6.60)
IDEA
102.00 (2.63)
JPASSOCIAT
11.37 (5.56)
GAIL
375.25 (2.48)
PUNJLLOYD
21.70 (4.19)
BHARTIARTL
355.00 (2.30)
JPPOWER
5.84 (3.63)
BANKBARODA
154.60 (2.24)
UNITECH
6.84 (3.53)
BHEL
137.90 (1.46)
RADICO
RAIN
RAJESHEXPO
RALLIS
RAMCOCEM
RAMCOSYS
RAYMOND
RCF
RCOM
RDEL
RECLTD
REDINGTON
RELAXO
RELCAPITAL
RELIANCE
RELIGARE
RELINFRA
RENUKA
REPCOHOME
RKFORGE
ROLTA
RPOWER
RTNPOWER
SADBHAV
SAIL
SANOFI
SBBJ
SBIN
SBT
SCHNEIDER
SCI
SEQUENT
SFCL
SHARDACROP
SHILPAMED
SHK
SHOPERSTOP
SHREECEM
SHRIRAMCIT
SIEMENS
SIMPLEXINF
SINTEX
SITICABLE
SJVN
SKFINDIA
SMLISUZU
94.7
35.9
454.9
211.05
578.05
694
459.65
52.45
50.8
65.7
188.05
103.5
482.05
403.35
980.1
275
561.75
16.95
764.1
410
65.8
52.1
11.76
294.7
46.55
4593.25
677.8
218.4
513.25
147.2
70.35
142.9
115.4
375.95
560.65
228.6
379.65
15747
1765.5
1272
305.65
78.8
39.4
28.75
1352.5
1126.35
-0.6
-0.35
4.45
-2.95
2.65
-1.1
0.8
-0.3
-1.65
-1.05
4.15
-0.4
4.25
-4.2
-7.8
2.25
-6.2
-0.3
-5.75
-18.55
-1.2
-1.05
-0.25
4.35
-0.55
23.15
23.25
-2.1
21.2
-4
-0.35
0.7
-1.45
-6.3
-1.45
8.3
11.15
205.2
21.45
-5.2
-3.9
-1.2
0.5
-0.2
-17.5
-11.2
-0.63
-0.97
0.99
-1.38
0.46
-0.16
0.17
-0.57
-3.15
-1.57
2.26
-0.38
0.89
-1.03
-0.79
0.82
-1.09
-1.74
-0.75
-4.33
-1.79
-1.98
-2.08
1.5
-1.17
0.51
3.55
-0.95
4.31
-2.65
-0.5
0.49
-1.24
-1.65
-0.26
3.77
3.03
1.32
1.23
-0.41
-1.26
-1.5
1.29
-0.69
-1.28
-0.98
TNPL
TORNTPHARM
TORNTPOWER
TRENT
TRIDENT
TRITURBINE
TTKPRESTIG
TUBEINVEST
TV18BRDCST
TVSMOTOR
TVSSRICHAK
TVTODAY
TWL
UBL
UCOBANK
UFLEX
ULTRACEMCO
UNICHEMLAB
UNIONBANK
UNITDSPR
UNITECH
UPL
VAKRANGEE
VEDL
VGUARD
VIDEOIND
VIJAYABANK
VINATIORGA
VIPIND
VOLTAS
VRLLOG
VSTIND
VTL
WABAG
WABCOINDIA
WELCORP
WELSPUNIND
WESTLIFE
WHIRLPOOL
WIPRO
WOCKPHARMA
WONDERLA
YAMNINV
YESBANK
ZEEL
ZENSARTECH
ZYDUSWELL
271.8
1424
171.65
1772
49.45
120.25
4714
515.7
45.9
297.5
2386
296.1
93.25
787.7
44.05
238.3
3400
273.5
129.65
2627.2
6.84
551.7
206.15
143.05
1400.8
104.1
41.3
526
121.3
314.55
313.7
1740
954.7
589
5740.2
82.15
109.05
244
840
562
950.6
398.9
39.2
1119.1
451.95
1038.2
790.85
-0.15
25.9
-0.75
4.15
-0.6
-0.9
-16.2
20.05
0.55
-2.3
-20.5
-2.05
-1.25
-1.35
-1.05
-2.35
20.65
-0.45
-3.3
2.6
-0.25
-2.8
0.85
-0.2
-8.9
-0.45
-1.45
-17.3
-0.6
-0.5
2.15
0.55
-4.65
-7.75
-99
0.5
-0.1
-5.4
-4.15
3.1
11.4
1.55
-0.5
6.9
4.15
-19.5
0.65
-0.06
1.85
-0.44
0.23
-1.2
-0.74
-0.34
4.05
1.21
-0.77
-0.85
-0.69
-1.32
-0.17
-2.33
-0.98
0.61
-0.16
-2.48
0.1
-3.53
-0.5
0.41
-0.14
-0.63
-0.43
-3.39
-3.18
-0.49
-0.16
0.69
0.03
-0.48
-1.3
-1.7
0.61
-0.09
-2.17
-0.49
0.55
1.21
0.39
-1.26
0.62
0.93
-1.84
0.08
world 12
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
My Govt will complete Philippines willing Attack on Shiite shrine
its term, says Nepal PM to share South
kills 37 in Baghdad
PTI n KATHMANDU
mid political uncertainty
in Nepal, Prime Minister
A
KP Sharma Oli today said that
his government will complete its
term and only the results of the
next elections can determine its
fate.
"We will not remain in the
power forever as the current
Legislature-Parliament will automatically dissolve on January 21,
2018," he said, addressing an
event organised by Ministry of
General Administration and
Nepal Administrative Training
Academy at Dhulikhel a hill
resort, east of Kathmandu.
"This Government will conduct elections and country will
witness Government change
based on the results of election,"
he said, adding that only the
results of the next elections can
determine the fate of the current
government.
He proposed the local body
elections in December under his
premiership.
Oli also said the federalism
has become a heavy burden for
Nepal. He said federalism
should be implemented on the
basis of country's social and geographical peculiarities.
Stating that there was no
point in adopting federalism if
the people failed to get effective
services and facilities, he asked
the bureaucrats to give up old
and narrow mindsets.
Only the federal structure
that can ensure development,
growth of infrastructures, industrialization, modernisation and
good governance will sustain, he
added.
New Zealand denies visas to
thousands of Indian students
PTI N MELBOURNE
ew Zeland has denied visas to thousands of
Indian students after immigration authorities
N
determined that most of the applicants from the
country were not “really coming for studies”, a
media report said today.
According to figures provided under the
Official Information Act, 51 institutions, including half of the country’s polytechnics, have visa
decline rates for Indian students of more than 30
per cent.
At most of the institutions more than half of
applications are being turned down and at one the
decline rate is 86 per cent, Radio New Zealand
reported.
The figures covered the six months from the
start of December 2015 to the end of May 2016
and were only for institutions with at least 10 visa
applications from Indian students. They showed
that Immigration New Zealand turned down 3,864
visa applications for the institutions, and approved
3,176 during that time.
Immigration New Zealand said Insight programme that most of the declined applications in
the first four months of this year were because it
did not believe the applicant was really coming to
study, or because it did not believe they had enough
money to support themselves.
In 2014, Immigration New Zealand warned
New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)
that high refusal rates could indicate problems with
tertiary institutions.
Immigration said it had increased its audits
of providers with high decline rates and was now
assessing information obtained from the 10
establishments it had visited so far.
It also had other tools, such as extra verification of visas applications for providers with high
decline rates. Auckland International Education
Group spokesperson Paul Chalmers said the vast
majority of the declined applications were not cases
of fraud, but were simply not up to Immigration’s
specifications.
Immigration was sometimes turning down
bona fide students, he said.
The international education spokesperson
for the private sector body, Independent
Tertiary Education, Richard Goodall, said
immigration was being tougher on applications from India, but visa decline rates above
50 per cent were questionable.
BBA student identified as one of
the Eid attackers in Bangladesh
Dhaka: A missing university student has been
identified as the suspected terrorist who was
killed during an encounter with police after
an attack on one of Bangladesh’s biggest Eid
gatherings in Sholakia, killing four persons.
Islamist militants carrying bombs and
machetes on Thursday launched the deadly
attack near the Eid prayer gathering in
Sholakia in northern Kishoreganj district
where at least 200,000 people had gathered
to perform prayers.
Several acquaintances said that the young
attacker was Abir Rahman, a North South
University student who had been missing for
the past eight months, Dhaka Tribune
reported.
“These acquaintances identified Abir
from photos and videos released in the
media after the attack that killed two policemen and injured six others,” it said.
Abir, a resident of B oshundhora
Residential area, passed his A’ Levels from
Bangladesh International Tutorial in 2010 and
was pursuing BBA at NSU, the paper said. The
BBA final-year student of the private university Abir hailed from Comilla’s Debidwar.
During the attack, seven or eight young
men, all in their 20s, threw bombs at the
police checkpoint that was searching people
coming into the prayer congregation, and
then immediately hacked at the policemen
with sharp weapons.
A gunbattle ensued in which Abir was
killed and four other attackers were caught.
Police did not reveal the identities of the
arrested attackers.
PTI
China Sea: Govt
AFP n MANILA
he Philippines is willing to
share natural resources with
Beijing in contested South
China Sea areas even if it wins
a legal challenge next week,
Foreign Secretary said on Friday.
Yasay said President
Rodrigo Duterte’s administration hoped to quickly begin
direct talks with China following Tuesday’s verdict, with the
negotiations to cover jointly
exploiting natural gas reserves
and fishing grounds within the
Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. “We can even have the
objective of seeing how we can
jointly explore this territory:
how we can utilise and benefit
mutually from the utilisation of
the resources in this exclusive
economic zone where claims
are overlapping,” Yasay told
AFP in an interview.
The Philippines, under
Benigno Aquino’s previous
administration, filed in 2013 a
legal challenge with a UNbacked tribunal in The Hague
contesting China’s claims to
nearly all of the strategically
vital sea.
T
Obama warns
against ‘adversarial’
Brexit negotiations
Warsaw: US President Barack
Obama today warned it was in
no one’s interest that talks on
Britain leaving the European
Union be drawn out or difficult. “No one has an interest in
protracted, adversarial negotiations,” Obama said after meeting European Council head
Donald Tusk and European
Commission chief Jean-Claude
Juncker at a NATO summit
dominated by Britain’s post-EU
future. The two-day NATO
summit gathering 28 member
state leaders in Warsaw was initially meant to focus on Russia
after the Ukraine crisis but
AFP n RIYADH
ineteen people, including
12 Pakistani nationals,
N
have been arrested in Saudi
Arabia following suicide
attacks on Monday, including
one near Islam’s second-holiest
site in the city of Medina, the
kingdom’s Interior Ministry
said on Friday.Seven people are
believed to have been killed
and two wounded in three
separate attacks — in Medina,
at a Shiite mosque in Qatif, and
in western Jeddah, the economic capital, not far from the
US consulate.
A 26-year-old Saudi man,
Naer Moslem Hammad alBalawi, who had a “history of
drug use” had been identified
as the perpetrator of the
Medina attack, the ministry
said in a statement published
by the official SPA news
Beijing: China on Fiday warned that the plans by the US and
South Korea to deploy a missile defence system on the Korean
Peninsula harms Beijing’s “strategic security interests” and may
destabilise the region, as it summoned the envoys of both countries to register its “firm opposition”.
“Disregarding the clear opposition from relevant countries
including China, the US and Republic of Korea (ROK), decided to go ahead with the deployment of THAAD, (Terminal High
Altitude Area Defence) systems.
PTI
attack, which coincided with
the US July 4 Independence
Day holiday. Saudi Crown
Prince Mohammed bin Nayef,
the interior minister, said while
visiting the wounded policemen in Jeddah that the attacks
would “only increase our solidarity and make us
stronger.”No group has claimed
responsibility for Monday’s
attacks so far.
However, a series of bombings and shootings claimed by
the Islamic State group (IS) in
Saudi Arabia since late 2014
has targeted minority Shiites as
well as the security forces,
killing dozens. Most attacks
have taken place in Eastern
Province, home to the majority of the country’s Shiites.
IS group leader Abu Bakr
al-Baghdadi has called for
attacks against Saudi Arabia,
which is taking part in the USled coalition bombing the
jihadists in Syria and Iraq.
The group also considers
Shiites to be heretics.
Electric bikes provide meaningful exercise
Washington (PTI): Electric
assist bicycle can provide an
effective workout and improve
cardiovascular health, especially for those who previously had been sedentary, new
study has found.
These electrically-powered
bicycle are equipped with a
built-in electric motor that
provides modest assistance
while the rider is actively pedalling, making it easier to cover
greater distances and hilly terrain.
Pedelecs have steadily
grown more popular with consumers over the past decade,
especially in Europe and Asia.
Britain’s shock vote to quit the
EU was on everyone’s mind as
the potential political, security and economic repercussions
become clearer.
Obama said that despite
the problems posed by Brexit,
European integration was crucial and the United States had
a major interest in its continued success. “Even as we face
the difficulties of this moment
we cannot lose sight of the
extraordinary achievement that
European integration continues
to be,” he said, praising the
bloc’s shared values of democracy and peace.
AFP
China summons US, S Korean envoys
19 held over Saudi attacks
agency. The Qatif attack, it
added, was carried out by three
“terrorists,” including one man
named as Abderrahman Saleh
Mohammed al-Amr, 23, who it
said was known to the security services for taking part in
protests. The Jeddah attacker
was a Pakistani man identified
as Abdullah Qalzar Khan, a
driver who had been living in
the city for 12 years, the ministry said earlier. Four people
were killed in the Medina
explosion near the Prophet’s
Mosque, which came as
Muslims prepared for this
week’s Eid al-Fitr festival marking the end of the holy fasting
month of Ramadan.
The body parts of three
people were found after another suicide bombing in the
Shiite-populated Gulf city of
Qatif, the ministry said earlier.
Two police officers were
wounded the Jeddah attack.
The US embassy in Riyadh
reported no casualties among
consulate staff during the
China’s claims reach almost
to the coasts of the Philippines
and some other Southeast
Asian nations, and it has in
recent years built giant artificial
islands in the disputed areas to
enforce what it says are its
indisputable sovereign rights.
The Philippines’ case
enraged China, which repeatedly vowed to ignore the tribunal’s ruling and is currently
holding military drills in the
northern part of the sea as a
show of force.
China continued to steam
on today, with foreign ministry
spokesman Hong Lei describing the case as “a violation of
international rule of order
under the cloak of championing it”, and state-run media
warning Beijing would not
take a “single step back” in the
dispute.
China has been further
infuriated by the United States
beefing up its military presence
in the waters, with the US
Navy Times newspaper reporting that three American
destroyers had been sent into
the hotspot areas ahead of
Tuesday’s verdict.
Researchers from University of
Colorado Boulder (CU
Boulder) in the US were interested in studying whether or
notpedelecs could help physically inactive non-cyclists
achieve recommended daily
fitness levels.
For the study, they recruited twenty non-exercising volunteers who were sedentary
commuters (car commuters).
The researchers tested various aspects of their health,
including blood glucose regulation and fitness.
The volunteers were then
asked to substitute their sedentary commute.
around 62 people wounded
People light candles at the scene of Sunday's truck bombing in the Karada neighborhood, Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday . Protests
and anger over the security situation in Iraq mounted Thursday at the site of the massive truck bombing by the Islamic State
group earlier this week in Baghdad that killed scores as the death toll continued to rise and a separate attack north of Baghdad
killed dozens more.
AP
AP n BAGHDAD
he death toll from an attack
on a Shiite shrine north of
T
Baghdad has risen to 37, with
62 people wounded, Iraqi officials said on Friday.
The assault on the revered
shrine comes less than a week
after a bombing in central
Baghdad claimed by the
Islamic State group killed at
least 186 people, fuelling anger
at the Iraqi government’s security failings. The attack began
with a volley of mortar fire on
Sayyid Mohammed shrine and
a nearby market in Balad, 80
kilometres north of the Iraqi
capital, late last night. A suicide
bomber first targeted policemen guarding the shrine’s
entrance, allowing a second
bomber to push into the courtyard with nine gunmen, who
targeted security forces and
civilians who had gathered
inside to celebrate Eid al-Fitr,
the holiday marking the end of
the holy month of Ramadan.
A third bomber was killed
before he detonated his explosives, police officials said.
Police and hospital officials
confirmed the death toll,
speaking anonymously as they
were not authorised to release
information to the media.
In Baghdad, anger and
protests were growing outside
the scene of last weekend’s car
bomb attack, which was one of
the deadliest since the 2003
US-led invasion of Iraq. Many
Iraqis blame their political
leadership for security lapses
that allow such large-scale
bombings to happen in territory far from the front-line
fighting against IS.
Small-scale bombings
occur on a near-daily basis
inBaghdad, and in May a string
of larger attacks, many of them
claimed by IS, killed more
than 200 people in a single
week.The Islamic State group
was pushed out of Fallujah last
month after holding the city
just west of Baghdad for more
than two years. Despite a string
of territorial defeats, IS still
holds pockets of territory in
northern and western Iraq,
including the country’s second
largest city of Mosul.
IRAQI PM ABADI SACKS
BAGHDAD SECURITY
CHIEF AFTER BOMBING
Iraqi Prime Minister
Haider al-Abadi sacked th
head of the Baghdad security
command and other officials
after a bombing in the capital
killed 292 people, his office
said on Friday. Abadi issued
“an order to relieve the
Baghdad Operations commander of his position, and
relieving security and intelligence officials in Baghdad of
35 killed in GLOBE
landslide TROTTING
Kylie Jenner defends her lip
in China’s kit company
Xinjiang
Beijing:At least thirty five people were killed after a massive
landslide swept through a village in northwest China’s
Xinjiang region, officials said
on Friday.
The landslide hit the village
located near Kokyar Township
in Yecheng County of Kashga
in
Xinjiang
province
Wednesday and the death toll
was confirmed at 35, state-run
Xinhua news agency reported.
The rescue operation is still
underway, it said.
The mudslide also cut off
electricity and telecommunications in the remote village,
the report said As the village,
deep in the Kunlun Mountains,
has lost contact with the outside, rescuers had to ride donkeys or walk to the site, according to the region’s publicity
office. The rain-triggered landslide struck the village on
Wednesday, burying houses
and their occupants.
The flow of the mud flow
hit nearly 1,500 cubic meters
per second. The village is about
170 km from the county seat.
Kashgar is 1,500 km southwest
of the regional capital of
Urumqi.
PTI
Los Angeles: Reality TV star Kylie Jenner
defends her company
“Kylie
Cosmetics” after
getting ‘F’ ratings
from
Better
Business Bureau
“ K y l i e
Cosmetics”
received an ‘F’
rating due to a
large amount of
customer complaints
over
delivery issues
and problems
with the actual
product. The 18year-old star
shared a message
titled “No Filter,
A Message to My
Loves” on her
website. “You guys are the reason I keep going
and I’m motivated every day to make Kylie
Cosmetics the best it can be. I’m continuing to
learn and I just want to make everyone happy.
Because so many of you spoke out, I’m excited to tell you that the Better Business Bureau
has looked at the facts and changed the rating.”
“I’ve sold millions of lip kits and any complaint
we’ve received to date has been addressed in a
timely manner. I love everything about Kylie
Cosmetics and I will do anything in my power
to protect and improve it every day and make
you guys happy,” she wrote. BBB has changed
Kylie Cosmetics’ rating from “Failing” to “No
Rating”. “Kylie Cosmetics currently has No
Rating,” the organization stated later.
Adele drops hints she wants
to marry Simon Konecki
London: Oscar-winning singer Adele addressed
rumours she secretly tied the knot with her partner of four years by telling fans at her concert
she “might as well be married”. The “Hello” hitmaker opened up to her fans on stage at her
concert at the Xcel Center in Minnesota,
their positions,” a statement
said. The head of the Baghdad
Operations Command was
Lieutenant General Abdulamir
al-Shimmari, but the premier’s
office did not identify the
other officials who were
removed.
A suicide bomber detonated an explosives-laden
minibus in a Baghdad shopping district early on Sunday as
it teemed with people ahead of
the holiday marking the end of
the holy Muslim fasting month
of Ramadan.
The blast, which was
claimed by the Islamic State
jihadist group, killed 292 people, making it one of the deadliest ever bombings by militants in the country. The initial blast killed a limited number of people, but raging
flames spread and trapped
people inside shopping centres
at the site that lacked emergency exits, police Major
General Talib Khalil Rahi said.
Interior Minister Mohammed
Ghabban tendered his resignation following the bombing,
and authorities also announced
the execution of five convicts
and the arrest of 40 jihadists in
an apparent bid to limit the
fallout from the attack.
Ghabban criticised the security system as fundamentally
flawed, saying he could no
longer accept responsibility
for the consequences.
where she dropped
hints to her partner
Simon Konecki with whom she has
three-year-old son
Angelo - that she’d
like the 42-year-old
charity CEO to pop
the question, reported Daily Mirror.
Quashing
the
rumours of her
secret wedding, she
told the crowd, “I
might as well be
married, but I’m not.
I would tell you if I
did.” Meanwhile, the
28-year-old
songstress, who has been with Konecki for four
years, also reminded her fans that she will be
going on hiatus as soon as she finishes her world
tour so she can look after her son, who will start
school soon.
Iggy Azalea buys new
home after split
Los Angeles: Rapper Iggy Azalea has bought a
new home and is
busy decorating it
following her recent
split from her exfiance Nick Young.
The “Fancy” hitmaker, 26, seems
she’s keen to wipe
clear any memories
she has of her former
lover by setting up
home elsewhere and
putting her own
stamp on the interiors,
reported
C on mt a c t mu s i c .
Taking to her Twitter
account, she said, “Can’t wait to get home and
get started on fixing up my new place. I’ve been
annoying Adam and Guy talking about carpet
all week (sic).” The 26-year-old rapper moved
out of the home she shared with Nick in
Tarzana, California.
world 13
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
Clinton leads Donald Trump US to deploy anti-missile system
on Korean peninsula: Pentagon
by nine points: Survey
PTI n WASHINGTON
PTI n WASHINGTON
illary Clinton has a lead of
nine points over her
H
Republican rival Donald
Trump with roughly four-inten voters saying it is difficult
to choose between them
because neither would make a
good US president, according
to a latest survey by a nonpartisan American think tank.
In a two-way contest, 51
per cent of registered voters
support
presumptive
Democratic presidential nominee Clinton, 68, or lean
towards her while 42 per cent
support or lean towards presumptive Republican presi-
dential nominee Trump, 70,
Pew Research Center said in its
latest survey on Thursday.
However, the overall satisfaction with the choice of candidates is at its lowest point in
two decades, it said.
Currently, fewer than half
of registered voters in both parties, 43 per cent of Democrats
and 40 per cent Republicans,
say they are satisfied with their
choices for president, the survey said.
Roughly four-in-ten voters
(41 per cent) say it is difficult
to choose between Donald
Trump and Hillary Clinton
because neither would make a
good president, as high as at
any point since 2000.
Just 11 per cent say the
choice is difficult because either
would make a good chief executive, the lowest percentage
during this period, it said.
The survey was conducted
between June 15-26 among
2,245 adults, including 1,655
registered voters. According
to survey results, just 27 per
cent of Americans say the campaign is “focused on important
policy debates”, which is seven
points lower than in December,
before the primaries began.
Clinton holds a wide 66 per
cent-24 per cent advantage
among Hispanic voters.
This is on par with President
Barack Obama’s lead among
Hispanics at similar points in
the past two campaigns.
When it comes to the
issues at the forefront of voters’
minds, the economy tops the
list, with 84 per cent of voters
– and similar shares across
most demographic and political groups – saying it is very
important to their vote.
About as many (80 per
cent) say the issue of terrorism
will be very important to their
vote, the survey said. Clinton is
widely viewed as more personally qualified and possessing better judgement than
Trump, it said.
“However, neither candidate has an advantage on honesty: 40 per cent say the phrase
“honest and truthful” better
describes Clinton, 37 per
cent say it applies more to
Trump and 20 per cent volunteer that it better describes
neither candidate,” it said.
As per survey results, fully
77 per cent of voters say Trump
would change the way things
work in Washington, compared with just 45 per cent who
say the same about Clinton.
“But more voters say
Trump would change things for
the worse than for the better
(44 per cent vs 33 per cent).
A quarter of voters say
Clinton would change
Washington for the worse while
20 per cent say she would
change things for the better,”
the survey added.
he US and South Korea will deploy the
advanced THAAD missile defence
T
system on the volatile Korean peninsula
as a “defensive measure” to counter the
growing security threat from North Korea’s
weapons of mass destruction, the Pentagon
said.
The deployment of the Terminal High
Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) anti-missile system was taken jointly by the US and
South Korea, the Pentagon said in a late
night statement.
The two countries made an alliance
decision to deploy THAAD to US Forces
Korea (USFK) as a “defensive measure to
ensure the security” of South Korea and
its people, and to protect alliance military
forces from North Korea’s weapons of mass
destruction and ballistic missile threats, it
said.
They began talks in February when
North Korea launched a long-range rocket after a fourth nuclear test in January.
The two allies are working closely to ensure
its swift deployment.
The THAAD deployment will contribute to a layered missile defence that will
enhance the alliance’s existing missile
defence capabilities against the North’s missile threats.
“When the THAAD system is
deployed to the Korean Peninsula, it will
be focused solely on North Korean nuclear
and missile threats and would not be
directed towards any third party nations,”
the Pentagon said.
“North Korea’s nuclear test and
multiple ballistic missile
tests, including the recent intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) launches, highlight the grave threat that North
Korea poses to the security and stability
of the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the
entire Asia-Pacific region, it said.
The Pentagon said that following the
China summons US, S. Korean
envoys; protests missile system
Beijing (PTI): China on
Friday warned that the
plans by the US and South
Korea to deploy a missile
defence system on the
Korean Peninsula harms
Beijing’s “strategic security interests” and may
destabilise the region, as it
summoned the envoys of
both countries to register
its “firm opposition”.
“Disregarding the clear
opposition from relevant
countries including China,
the US and Republic of
Korea (ROK), decided
to go ahead with the
deployment of THAAD,
(Terminal High Altitude
Area Defence) systems.
China has lodged solemn
representations with their
ambassadors,” Chinese
Foreign
Ministr y
spokesman Hong Lei told
a media briefing here.
Reports from Seoul
said both the US and
South Korea have agreed
to deploy a controversial
missile defence system, in
the wake of intensifying
threats emanating from
North Korea. Beijing fears
the system’s radars would
be able to see far into its
territory, a BBC report
said.
THAAD missiles
shoots down short- and
medium-range ballistic
missiles in the terminal
phase of their flight using
hit and kill technology.
They have a range of 200
km and can reach an altitude of 150 km.
“The deployment of
the THAAD in no way
helps to achieve the denuclearisation goal and maintain peace and stability of
the Korean peninsula,”
Hong said. “It goes against
the efforts to resolve the
relevant disputes through
dialogue and will severely
undermine security and
disrupt strategic balance,”
review that began in February, a joint
working group confirmed the military
effectiveness of THAAD on the Korean
peninsula.
The Pentagon did not disclose when
the system would be deployed, saying the
two nations were in the final stage of selecting a potential venue.
But the powerful defence system,
which fires projectiles to destroy enemy
missiles, is likely to be deployed latest by
the end of 2017.
“When the THAAD system is
deployed to the Korean Peninsula, it will
be focused solely on North Korean nuclear
and missile threats and would not be
directed towards any third party nations,”
the Pentagon said.
FIVE SOLDIERS
KILLED IN SOUTH
SUDAN CLASHES
US asks China to follow India
on SCS dispute resolution
PTI n WASHINGTON
he US has asked China to
learn from India’s handling
T
of its maritime disputes with its
neighbours, ahead of a key ruling by an international arbitral
tribunal on rival claims over the
strategic South China Sea.
China has taken a position
of non-acceptance and nonparticipation on the jurisdiction by the International Court
of Arbitration in a case the
Philippines has brought against
China’s claims to nearly all of
the South China Sea (SCS),
Abraham Denmark, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Defence
for East Asia, told lawmakers at
a Congressional hearing.
“In 2014, the Permanent
Court of Arbitration — the
same court that will issue a ruling on the South China Sea
next week — ruled against
India in favour of Bangladesh
in a three-decade-old maritime dispute,” he said yesterday.
“To India’s great credit, it
accepted the decision and has
abided by it, noting at the time
that settlement of the issue
would enhance mutual understanding and goodwill between
the two countries. This is an
example we would encourage
China to follow,” the top
Pentagon official said. The
court, based in The Hague, is
due to give its ruling next
week, raising fears of confrontation in the region. The
Philippines has sought a deci-
sion from the tribunal regarding the validity of China’s ninedash line as a maritime claim
under the Convention, as well
as the clarification of maritime entitlements under the
Convention of South China Sea
islands and other geographic
features.
“The arbitral tribunal’s
upcoming ruling will present
an opportunity for those in the
region to determine whether
the Asia-Pacific’s future will be
defined by adherence to international laws and norms that
have helped keep the peace and
enabled it to prosper, or
whether the region’s future will
be determined by raw calculations of power,” Denmark said.
“China, in particular, will
face an opportunity to stand
within an open and principled
regional architecture,” he said,
adding that the path of pursu-
ing the peaceful resolution of
disputes and the adherence to
international law has been chosen in the past by those in
China’s position.
“For example, India — an
increasingly important partner
to the US in Asia and globally
— is an exemplar of how a
proud and increasingly powerful country can handle such
disputes with its neighbors in
accordance with international
law,” Denmark said.
With the South China Sea
at a crossroads, there is a
degree of uncertainty surrounding how some claimants
will act in the coming months,
he said but assured the lawmakers that the US will play an
active role to shape the region’s
future.
Testifying before the same
committee, Colin Willett
Deputy Assistant Secretary of
State for Multilateral Affairs
Bureau of East Asian and
Pacific Affairs, also praised
India for peacefully resolving
its maritime dispute with
Bangladesh.
“The region abounds with
examples of neighbours finding
peaceful ways to resolve difference over overlapping maritime zones.
Indonesia’s and the
Philippines’ successful conclusion of negotiations to delimit
the boundary between their
respective exclusive economic
zones (EEZs) and India’s and
Bangladesh’s acceptance of
the decision from an arbitral
tribunal with regard to their
overlapping EEZ in the Bay of
Bengal are just a couple that
come to mind,” he said.
Willett accused China of
double standards on the issue
of following international laws.
“China was very much
involved in negotiating the
Law of the Sea Convention and
consented to the dispute settlement procedures set forth in
the Convention when it
became a party to this treaty,”
he said.
“And, as we have seen,
China has not been shy in
invoking its maritime rights
and freedoms under the law of
the sea in areas of the world
where it is not a littoral state,
but where it aspires for a greater
role, such as the Arctic or in the
Indian Ocean. This type of
double standard is not sustainable,” Willett said.
SEATTLE POLICE SHOOTINGS PROTESTS
A Filipino man pushes his pedicab through a flooded road in suburban Mandaluyong, east of Manila, Philippines as monsoon
downpours intensify while Typhoon Nepartak exits the country on Friday. In the Philippine capital of Manila, and outlying
provinces, classes in many schools were suspended and at least six flights, including one scheduled to come from Taiwan, were
canceled because of stormy weather and floods from the typhoon.
AP
Juba (AFP: Five soldiers have
been killed in a shootout in
South Sudan’s capital Juba,
army and former rebel officials
said today, in the latest blow to
a shaky peace deal. “There
were military clashes yesterday
(Thursday) around 8 pm. Five
soldiers have been killed in the
incident,” said Nyarji Roman, a
spokesman for rebel leader
turned vice president Riek
Machar.
The clashes took place two
days before South Sudan marks
the fifth anniversary of its
independence from Sudan.
Army spokesman Lul Ruai
Koang told reporters that five
soldiers loyal to President Salva
Kiir were killed and two
wounded in the shootout at a
checkpoint in the city’s Gudele
neighbourhood.
India extends support to B’desh to fight terrorism
PTI n DHAKA
on Friday said it will
work shoulder - to-shoulder
Iwithndia
Bangladesh to protect
societies from the threat of
“ideologies of hate, violence
and terror” in the aftermath of
a series of Islamist attacks in the
country.
In a letter to her
Bangladesh counterpart A H
Mahmood Ali, External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj
offered India’s support to
Bangladesh in fighting terrorism. She also offered a “comprehensive approach” to fight
the menace.
“India stands firmly with
Bangladesh in this hour of
grief and will work shoulderto-shoulder with government
of Bangladesh against terrorism
and to protect our societies
from the threat of ideologies of
hate, violence and terror.”
“We need to adopt zero
tolerance policy and a comprehensive approach in fighting terrorism at all levels,”
Bdnews quoted Swaraj as saying.
She said it was particularly “unfortunate that such mindless violence should be perpe-
trated during the holy month
of Ramadan when the minds of
true believers would be turned
to spiritual pursuits”.
“This has shown us that
terrorism has no religion and
no faith.”
Referring to a deadly attack
on a cafe in the capital last
Friday in which 22 people,
including an Indian girl, were
killed by suspected Islamic
State terrorists.
Swaraj said she was confident that the government of
Bangladesh “will do its utmost
to bring those responsible for
this cowardly attack tojustice so
that such attacks are not repeated in future”.
Soon after the July 1 attack,
India responded with a call to
stand by Bangladesh.
Both President Pranab
Mukherjee and Prime Minister
Narendra Modi condemned
the attack.
Modi also phoned his
counterpart Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh witnessed a
fresh attack on Eid yesterday
when the country’s largest Eid
congregation at Kishoreganj
district came under attack,
leading to the death of three
people.
Eating similar food helps build
trust and friendship in adults
PTI n WASHINGTON
uilding a rapport with
someone on a first date may
B
be as simple as eating the same
Protesters head towards Interstate 5 onramp, on Thursday in Seattle. Hundreds of people marched through downtown Seattle to protest the police-related shootings of two
black men in Louisiana and Minnesota .
AP
he said. “We strongly
urge the US and South
Korea to halt the deployment process of the
THAAD system and
refrain from taking any
action to escalate regional
tensions and undermine
China’s strategic security
interests,” he said. “The
Chinese side is strongly
dissatisfied with and firmly opposed to this,” China’s
Foreign Ministry said.
China, regarded as
close ally of North Korea,
has supported the most
recent UN sanctions after
North Korean nuclear and
missile tests but yesterday
opposed the imposition
of unilateral sanctions by
US on North Korean
leader Kim Jong-un for the
first time, citing human
rights abuses. “China
maintains that human
rights issues be handled
through constructive dialogue and cooperation .
food as them, suggests a new
study that found that similar
food consumption facilitates a
sense of closeness and trust
between adults. Researchers
from the University of Chicago
in the US launched a series of
experiments.
In their first study, each
participant was partnered with
a stranger when playing an
investment game designed to
measure trust.
The participants received
money that they could give to
the stranger, who would invest
the money - with a guarantee
that the investment would double in value.
The strangers, or “fund
managers,” could decide how
much - if any - of the invested
money to give back to their
partners.
Some pairs were assigned
to eat the same candy before
the exercise, while others ate
different candy.
The researchers discovered that the participants gave
more money to the strangers
when they had eaten the same
type of candy.
The researchers further
tested the influence of food in
a second study in which pairs
were assigned to opposing
sides of a labour negotiation.
Some pairs ate similar foods
during the negotiations while
others ate different foods.
The pairs that had eaten
similar foods reached an
agreement almost twice as
quickly as the groups that ate
dissimilar foods, researchers
said. “People tend to think
that they use logic to make
decisions, and they are largely
unaware that food preferences
can influence their thinking,”
said Ayelet Fishbach, a professor at the University of
Chicago.
“On a very basic level,
food can be used strategically
to help people work together
and build trust,” Fishbach said.
At large group meetings,
for example, organisers could
limit the number of food
options in order to encourage
similar food consumption,
which could lead to increased
trust and collaboration, the
researchers said.
When ordering food during lunch with a colleague or
dinner on a blind date, selecting a similar type of food
could build rapport, they said.
They also discovered that
these findings applied to marketing products.
Participants trusted information from advertisers when
consumers ate the same type of
food as advertisers giving a testimonial about the product.
sport 14
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
FINALLY FRENCH
Double wonder boy Griezmann throws Germany out of Euro, Hosts to meet Portugal in Final
AFP n MARSEILLE
ntoine Griezmann took up the mantle as
challenger-in-chief to Cristiano Ronaldo
with two goals that crushed world champions Germany and saw France into Sunday's Euro
2016 final against Portugal.
A penalty awarded seconds before half-time
caused turmoil in the German camp. Griezmann
took his chance and added a second strike to
extend his lead as the tournament's leading scorer and become France's new football hero.
"He's our little Mr Extra," said fellow striker
Olivier Giroud after the dramatic win before
65,000 spectators on a hot Thursday night in
Marseille.
France's first victory over their rivals in a
major tournament since 1958 came out of a controversial penalty decision at the end of the first
half.
Italian referee Nicola Rizzoli saw that German
captain Bastian Schweinsteiger handled the ball
in an aerial challenge with Patrice Evra. German
players were furious but Griezmann sent goalkeeper Manuel Neuer the wrong way with his spot
kick.
The 2014 World Cup winners had dominated possession and German coach Joachim
Loew said he had to "calm the players down"
in the dressing room at half-time because
of the penalty.
Germany renewed their control of the
ball in the second half but Griezmann rattled them again with a 72nd minute goal.
Paul Pogba's cross from the left was
cleared by Neuer into the Atletico
Madrid star's path to fire home through
the legs of the goalkeeper who had only
conceded one other goal in regulation time
at the tournament.
Germany desperately pushed forward.
Joshua Kimmich hit the crossbar with one shot
and other efforts went narrowly wide. But France
held firm for a famous and thrilling victory.
Sunday's final will pit Griezmann against
Ronaldo and a team from a nation of 11 million people against one of Europe's giants, who
won the World Cup in 1998 at the same venue
and the European title in 1984.
French coach Didier Deschamps hailed
Germany as a "a great team."
"We found it tough but we didn't give up,"
A
he said praising his own players'
determination.
France's recent years have been
clouded by defeats and scandal,
including a player strike at the 2010
World Cup. Now the country appears
to be behind them again.
"I've always believed in my players," said Deschamps. "The ones I
chose to form this squad have
repaid me handsomely. This is their
story, their victory."
Griezmann's goals took him to within
three of the record nine scored in one tournament by French legend Michel Platini in 1984.
He was particularly relieved to have scored the
penalty, having missed one when Atletico
Madrid played in the Champions League final
against Ronaldo's Real Madrid in May.
"I wanted to take a penalty again in an
important moment and I'm happy I did, and
happy I scored," he said.
"For the second goal I was hanging back to
wait for an error from the goalkeeper. I am
Clattenburg for
France-Portugal final
PARIS:UEFA says English referee Mark Clattenburg
will handle the European Championship final
between France and Portugal
on Sunday.
Clattenburg completes a
big match hat trick after
working the UEFA Champions
League final and English FA
Cup final in May.
He follows Pedro Proenca
of Portugal in 2012 in
refereeing UEFA's two highest
profile matches back to back.
Clattenburg has handled three previous
matches at Euro 2016, though none involving the
two teams playing at Stade de France on Sunday.
happy with the goals but I am still a
long way from Platini," said
Griezmann who was rejected as too
small by French clubs and made his
name in Spain.
On top of the joy of reaching the
Euro final, French players were
also elated to have finally
beaten Germany again in
a competitive match.
Evra said the team
had been told so many
stories about the last
time France beat
Germany in a major
tournament, at the
1958 World Cup.
The psychological
barrier was broken
with victory in the November
13 friendly which was soon
forgotten when suicide
bombers detonated explosives outside the Stade de
France at the start of a
series of deadly attacks in
Paris.
"As soon as we beat them
in a friendly, it gave us a lift,"
Evra said.
"Of course they were strong,
of course they were the favourites
and they had good ball possession. But we told each other we
would never give up."
German coach Loew said
his team had been the better of
the two. Goalkeeper Neuer said
the result was undeserved.
"We have played well at
these European Championship
finals, but we're out. That's very
bitter," said Neuer.
"It's a semi-final and there
is not a more stupid moment (to
go out) and it's not a fair
result."
Loew refused to say
whether he would extend his
time as Germany's manager beyond the
campaign for the 2018 World Cup in
Russia.
Griezmann is France's new ‘Mr Extra' Penalty rounds off
AFP n MARSEILLE
e rejected comparisons with Michel
Platini but Antoine Griezmann is
H
fast becoming a France legend after a
two-goal haul against Germany fired the
hosts into Sunday's Euro 2016 final
against Portugal.
Amid the controversial absence of
Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema,
France have found a new hero in the
diminutive striker.
With six goals already in his first
European Championships, Griezmann
is only three short of equalling Platini's
record of nine goals at 1984 tournament.
"He's a great player. He showed what
kind of generous player he is tonight,"
said France coach Didier Deschamps.
"In this Euro, he's been decisive for
us. He can score, and he can help others score."
Benzema, who was sidelined from
the squad before the tournament over
his alleged role in the sextape blackmail
of teammate Mathieu Valbuena, tweeted his congratulations to the team on
Thursday. "Come on, just one match to
go!!!" he said.
But Benzema could not be further
from most fans' thoughts.
Now, Le Bleu is Griezmann — and
in Marseille he was ruthless.
In the Champions League final in
May, Griezmann missed a first-half
penalty for Atletico. City rivals Real
Madrid went on to capitalise, and won
their 11th European title in Milan.
On Thursday, he coolly scored the
penalty after a Bastian Schweinsteiger
handball.
"I wanted to take a penalty again in
an important moment and I'm happy I
did, and happy I scored," he said.
On Sunday, Griezmann has the
chance to take revenge for the
Champions League defeat by beating
Portugal and stopping Real striker
Cristiano Ronaldo from securing one of
the few trophies he still lacks -- a major
finals title with Portugal.
Griezmann was electric from the
outset in Marseille, with his movement,
passing and eye for goal helping create
a great chance when he danced into the
area to force Manuel Neuer down low
to save one-handed.
After France soaked up a heavy spell
of German pressure, the hosts got the
breakthrough in first-half injury time
when Schweinsteiger handled.
Barely six weeks after his Milan
howler, Griezmann stepped up with confidence against arguably the best goalkeeper in the world -- and promptly sent
Neuer the wrong way as he smashed the
ball into the top left-hand corner.
"He took his responsibilities well, to
take the penalty and slam it in the back
of the net," said France striker Olivier
Giroud, who like Benzema has been left
in the shade by the little forward who has
spent his entire professional career in
Spain, initially with Real Sociedad.
"He's lethal when he's in the penalty box, and he got his second goal. He's
our little Mr Extra," Giroud said.
While Griezmann was deadly,
Giroud's lack of pace cost him a clear
chance against Germany. But Griezmann
has more than one string to his bow.
Schweini’s miserable season
AP n MARSEILLE
astian Schweinsteiger barely put a
foot wrong in first half of Germany's
B
European Championship semifinal
against France. It was his hand that got
him and his team into trouble.
Battling for position with Patrice
Evra at a corner in first-half stoppage
time of Thursday's match,
Schweinsteiger's raised arm and hand
made contact with the ball and referee
Nicola Rizzoli pointed to the spot. The
31-year-old Germany captain could
only look on as Antoine Griezmann
calmly converted the spot kick with the
last touch of the first half.
With Griezmann doubling France's
lead in the 72nd minute, pouncing on
sloppy defending and a ham-fisted
clearance by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer,
Schweinsteiger's miserable, injurymarred season finally ended — one
match too early for his liking.
Loew didn't blame his captain for
the penalty, which had echoes of the
quarterfinal against Italy, when defender Jerome Boateng gave away a spot
kick with a handball.
"There's nothing to blame him for,"
Loew said of his captain, who won his
120th cap on the night. "You can say the
hand shouldn't be there, but there are
movements when you jump up, you
can't control them. I can't blame any
player for that."
FRANCE TIMES ITS
RISE TO PERFECTION
AP n MARSEILLE
fter a hellish year, France is just one step away from
football heaven.
AWhat
better way to get there than by downing the
world champions and France'snemesis for over half a century: Germany.
A 2-0 European Championship semifinal victory for
Les Bleus in the city that lent its name to the French
national anthem showed that France is back as a major
footballing force for the first time since Zinedine
Zidane walked off the field in disgrace in the 2006 World
Cup final.
Here are 5 things to know about France's first major
tournament win against Germany since the 1958 WC:
GRIEZMANN'S ON FIRE
Euro 2016 top scorer Antoine Griezmann was like
the toy in the Whac-A-Mole arcade game against
Germany: It was never clear where he would pop up and
do damage next.
His elusive movement and the free rein that France
coach Didier Deschamps gave the Atletico Madrid forward to roam seemingly where the mood took him tied
Germany in knots at times.
France's first goal-scoring chance started with
Griezmann in his own half. After two slick interchanges
of passes with midfielder Blaise Matuidi, Griezmann
popped up on the edge of the German area and got a
shot away, drawing a diving save from Manuel Neuer.
WHAT'S WITH THE HANDS?
Two consecutive matches, two German penalties for
handball. That is careless from a team usually so slick.
After Jerome Boateng gifted a penalty to Italy in the
quarterfinals, Bastian Schweinsteiger was guilty this time.
Jumping for a corner with French left-back Patrice
Evra, the Manchester United midfielder inexplicably
raised both arms above his head, a bizarre mistake from
a player so experienced. The semifinal marked the 31year-old's 120th appearance for Germany.
Schweinsteiger's right arm, the one wearing his bright
yellow captain's armband, connected with the ball. Italian
referee Nicola Rizzoli pointed to the spot.
Arms flung in the air by Boateng against Italy allowed
Bonucci to equalize and quickly made the hulking German
defender the butt of humorous memes on internet.
GERMAN DOMINATION
On paper, Germany coach Joachim Loew reverted
to four defenders at the back, changing from the more
suffocating formation he used to contain Italy in the quarterfinals.
In reality, a German defensive pair of Boateng and
Benedikt Howedes kept watch at the back, with
Schweinsteiger just in front of them in a deep holding midfield role, while the rest of the team poured forward to
heap pressure on France, especially in the furious first half.
FRANCE'S GOOD TIMING
Griezmann isn't the only one getting better the deeper France goes. Pogba's timing is pretty good, too.
After a first standout match in the quarterfinals
against Iceland, where he scored with a powerful header, Pogba was decisive again against Germany,
creatingFrance's second goal.
GERMANY'S BAD TIMING
Germany's mounting problems before and during
this game eventually became overwhelming.
The absence through injury of striker Mario Gomez
proved a big blow, since Thomas Mueller was completely ineffective in front of goal.
Cech retires from Int’l football Germans' football passion German lack of options
❝
AP n PRAGUE
etr Cech retired from
international football on
Friday after a record 124
appearances in the Czech
Republic goal.
The 34-year-old Cech
announced his decision after
he was named the best Czech
footballer of the last season
for the 10th time in a poll of
sports journalists.
"It's final," Cech said. He
added he wants to fully focus
on his Arsenal club.
"I like to do things fully
focused. And a time might
come when I need a rest. It
may not be now, but the World
Cup qualifying takes two years,
and it wouldn't be right to
announce in the middle of it
that I don't feel like playing.
That's the reason for me to
make the decision right now.
A beautiful chapter is over."
From his Czech debut at
age 19 in 2002, a 2-0 victory
over Hungary, Cech became a
mainstay in the team. His last
match was a 2-0 loss to Turkey
in the final group-stage game
at European Championship
in France on June 21.
Cech denied the team's
I like to do things
fully focused.
And a time might come
when I need a rest. It
may not be now, but
the World Cup
qualifying takes two
years, and it wouldn't
be right to announce in
the middle of it that I
don't feel like playing.
That's the reason for
me to make the
decision right now
— Peter Cech
P
poor performance at the tournament influenced his decision to quit.
"I made the decision
before the European
Championship," he said. "Of
course, it would be better to
say goodbye after a victory."
The highlight of Cech's
international career came at
Euro 2004, when the Czechs
reached the semifinals. He
helped the team qualify for
every continental championship since, and played in
the 2006 WC in Germany.
Also, coach Pavel Vrba
terminated his contract with
the national team last week to
manage Anzhi Makhachkala
in Russian Premier League.
Czech
Football
Association head Miroslav
Pelta said on Friday he wanted Karel Jarolim to take over
the national team as coach.
Jarolim still has a contract with
Czech club Mlada Boleslav.
delights refugees
AFP n BERLIN
mong the crowds thronging the
Euro 2016 fanzone at Berlin's
A
Brandenburg Gate are new faces
cheering in beginners' German —
refugees who have discovered their
hosts' unbounded passion for the
beautiful game.
"In Iraq, this would be completely impossible, the danger of a bombing is too great" said Zaid Al-Ahmed,
a 22-year-old Iraqi, as he stood among
the black, red and gold-clad mass —
the colours of the German flag — during Thursday's semi-final against
France that saw the nation's hopes of
a World Cup-Euro championship
double dashed.
"It's not uncommon for there to be
brawls among fans of opposing teams.
In Germany, people are there to celebrate, it isn't violent," the young man
from the city of Al-Hillah adds.
Ahmed followed the first few
games of the tournament on a donated flat-screen TV in the refugee hostel where he lives.
But he could not have imagined the
fervent support for the side — known
universally as "Die Mannschaft", the
team — that he would encounter at the
public screening in the centre of the
German capital.
It's just one more thing to get used
to about the strange country where he
arrived to apply for asylum shortly
before winter, after an arduous trek
across Europe.
The young Iraqi hasn't restricted
himself to cheering for the white-clad
Mannschaft, and now plays himself in
a local club in Berlin.
"I believe football is a pillar of
German culture," explains Ines
Burckhadt, pointing out that the country's stadiums are packed to the last
seat for games even in deepest, chilliest winter.
Since the beginning of Euro 2016,
Burckhardt has been organising
"Soccer Dinners" for refugees to join
Germans at home, sharing a pizza and
a sofa in front of the game and getting
to know their new neighbours.
"This lets refugees hang out with
Germans," she explains, rather than
being hermetically sealed away in
hostels.
"This way, they see that we aren't
just cold people, that we can get
excited," she adds with a chuckle.
And for many of the new arrivals,
German footballing heroes and the
smouldering rivalries of the national
league are nothing new.
exposed in defeat
AP n MARSEILLE
ermany's failure to beat France in the
semifinal of the European
G
Championship exposes its lack of strength
in depth with young players failing to bridge
a generation gap after its World Cup win.
Left back Philipp Lahm, central defender Per Mertesacker and record goal-scorer Miroslav Klose all retired after Germany's
2014 World Cup win in Brazil, leading to
a noticeable drop in the side's quality, evident from the very first qualifying games
forEuro 2016.
A hard-fought win over Scotland was
followed by defeat to Poland and then a
draw at home with Ireland, which also managed to beat Joachim Loew's side in Dublin
a year later. Germany's qualification campaign was a lot tougher than many expected it to be.
The retirements certainly hurt, though
formerly unknown Cologne defender Jonas
Hector has been a reliable replacement for
Lahm, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng
form a solid central partnership, and the
return of Besiktas striker Mario Gomez
coincided with Germany's attack finally
scoring at Euro 2016.
Gomez, who missed the World Cup
win due to injury-induced poor form,
scored on his first start in the tournament
against Northern Ireland, and then again
against Slovakia.
But Gomez was the only one of
Germany's regular starting forwards that
looked capable of scoring, with Thomas
Mueller enduring a puzzling drought,
Mario Goetze dropped after the group
games, and Mesut Ozil constantly running
without reward.
With the forwards all in poor form,
Germany had no replacement for Gomez
when he was ruled out for the rest of the
tournament.
Goetze was overlooked against France
despite his usual role as a "false nine." Andre
Schuerrle wasn't trusted after failing to
impress as substitute in the group stage, and
veteran forward Podolski was only played
with Germany already 3-0 up vs Slovakia.
Loew's failure to trust younger players
like Sane sooner in tournament seemed to
betray a lack of confidence in their ability
to perform at highest level.
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
15
FEDEX HAS MILOS TO GO
Loses 5 set
semifinal to Raonic
amid heartbreak
AP n LONDON
ilos Raonic became the first
Canadian man to reach a Grand
Slam final at Wimbledon here on
Friday when he stunned punch drunk
seven-time champion Roger Federer in a
titanic five-set struggle.
Sixth seed Raonic triumphed 6-3, 67 (3/7), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and goes on to face
second seed Andy Murray, the 2013
champion, or 10th-seeded Czech Tomas
Berdych
It was 25-year-old Raonic's first win on
grass against a top 10 opponent and shattered Federer's hopes of going on to
claim a record eighth All England Club
crown and 18th major.
"There was a little opening and I took
it," said Raonic who looked down and out
in the fourth set.
"It's a big impact for Canada.
Hopefully, it will be even bigger if I win
on Sunday."
After weathering an early storm,
Federer had been in complete control of
the semi-final, his 10th at the tournament,
until the tie turned suddenly and dramatically in the fourth set.
The 34-year-old, bidding to become
the oldest finalist in 42 years, squandered
three break points in the set and slipped
from 40-0 up on serve in the 12th game.
Federer, whose last Grand Slam crown
came at Wimbledon in 2012, had already
required five sets to get past Marin Cilic
in the quarter-finals, saving three match
points in the process.
And the effort took its toll on the 17time major winner in the decider where
he needed treatment on his right thigh and
jarred his left knee and foot in a worrying fall.
Raonic, nine years his junior, pounced
for a 3-1 lead while Federer had to save two
M
It was 25-year-old Raonic's
first win on grass against a
top 10 opponent and
shattered Federer's hopes of
going on to claim a record
eighth All England Club
crown and 18th major
more break points in the sixth game.
The Canadian held hs nerve and
claimed victory when Federer went wide
with a weary forehand which condemned
the Swiss star to his first loss in a
Wimbledon semi-final.
Raonic finished with 23 aces and 75
winners while Federer converted just one
of nine break points.
Raonic, playing in his second
Wimbledon semi-final after losing to
Federer at the same stage two years ago,
came out blasting from the start.
He carved out and converted the
only break point of the first set for a 3-1
lead before unleashing the fastest serve of
the tournament of 144mph (231.7km/h)
in the fifth game.
Federer squandered four set points in
the 10th game of the second set, the last
of which off a sloppy backhand.
INDIAN CHALLENGE ENDS AS PAES-HINGIS OUT
LONDON: India's miserable campaign at the
Wimbledon ended as defending mixed doubles
champions Leander Paes and Martina Hingis
were knocked out in the third round by scratch
pair of Britain's Heather Watson and Finland's
Henri Kontinen, who played their first match
together.
The Brit-Finn pair beat the 16th seeded
Indo-Swiss pair 3-6 6-3 6-2 in a well-contested
three-setter.
What would be embarrassing for the PaesHingis pairing would be the fact that their
opponents were playing the first match of the
tournament having got walkover in the first two
rounds.
Paes and Hingis had completed a mixed
doubles Grand Slam after their French Open
victory having captured the Australian Open,
Wimbledon and US Open titles in 2015.
Watson and Kontinen reached the third
round without getting walk-overs from Louisa
Chirico and Denis Kudla in the first round
followed by Bruno Soares and Elena Vesnina
who also didn't play in the second round
encounter.
"We were warming up and getting ready
each day and we were always put on at the end
of the day, so we've literally just been ready to
play for each match and they've told us last
minute," said Watson.
"I think today in the first set we were finding
our ground, getting comfortable with each
other, and then we kind of took off, especially in
that third set."
PTI
Kerber wall between Williams, 22nd Slam title
AP n LONDON
efore looking ahead to the Wimbledon
final between Serena Williams and
B
Angelique Kerber on Saturday, take a
moment to look back at the American's
second-round match last week.
After dropping the opening set against
Christina McHale in a ragged tiebreaker,
Williams plopped herself in her sideline
chair and proceeded to smack her racket
repeatedly against the grass, before flinging the equipment so far behind her that
it landed in the lap of a TV cameraman.
That display earned six-time
Wimbledon champion Williams a $10,000
fine. And, more importantly, she has won
all 10 sets she's played since.
"Sometimes when I release that energy,
I get kind of calm," Williams said. "I just
sometimes feel like maybe I need to release."
So maybe there was something to the
theory, espoused by some, that Williams
has been having so much trouble winning
her 22nd Grand Slam title because she
cared too much about tying Steffi Graf 's
Open-era record.
Listen to the way Williams described
the state of her game heading into
Saturday's final:
"I feel good. I felt great in other tournaments, as well. But I feel a little different," Williams said. "I just feel more
relaxed and more at peace than I may have
been in the past."
A few minutes later, she was asked to
elaborate on what, exactly, she meant.
"Well, you know, just sometimes,
when you are fighting, sometimes you want
something so bad, it can hinder you a little bit," Williams explained. "Now I'm just
a little bit more calm."
The No. 1 player in the WTA rankings
insisted, meanwhile, that her so-close-yetso-far pursuit of Graf has not been weighing on her.
"My goal has never been 22," Williams
said after her 48-minute workout of a 62, 6-0 semifinal victory over Elena Vesnina
on Thursday. "I don't talk about that anymore."
Since winning Wimbledon a year ago
for her fourth consecutive Grand Slam title
and 21st of her career, Williams' count has
stalled.
She lost to Roberta Vinci in the U.S.
Open semifinals, to Kerber in the
Australian Open final, and to Garbine
Muguruza in the French Open final.
That meeting on a hard court at
Melbourne in January was the first major
title match for Kerber, a 28-year-old from
Germany who considers Graf an idol and
has received advice from her.
Speaking about Kerber's play in the
three-set Australian Open final, Williams
said: "She came out swinging, ready to win.
She was fearless. That's something I
learned. When I go into a final, I, too, need
to be fearless like she was."
The No. 4-seeded Kerber's left-handed, counter-punching game - watch during baseline exchanges as she bends so low
that a knee touches the ground - gave
Williams trouble that day. It's also created problems for every opponent this fortnight: Kerber has won all 12 sets she's
played so far, including during a 6-4, 6-4
victory over Williams' older sister Venus
in the semifinals.
Might Venus offer Serena any advice
about how to beat Kerber?
"I'll give her a few pointers," Venus said.
"For the most part, she's got to go out there
and play the match she wants to play, not
that I want her to play."
Williams-Kerber II represents the first
time in a decade that two women play each
other in a pair of Grand Slam finals in the
same season: Amelie Mauresmo defeated
Justine Henin for the Australian Open and
Wimbledon titles in 2006.
Can Kerber go 2-for-2 against
Williams?
"I will just try to (go) out there like in
Australia," Kerber said, "trying to show her,
'OK, I'm here to win the match, as well.' I
know that I have to play my best tennis to
beat her in the final."
Shami's fitness key issue in 1st warm-up tie Ganguly turns 44
PTI n BASSETERRE (ST KITTS)
new chief coach Anil
Kumble will be keeping a keen
Ieyendia's
on speedster Mohammed
Shami's fitness along with the
form of opener Shikhar Dhawan
when the team begin its tour of
West Indies with a two-day
warm-up game against WICB
President's XI here today.
The two-day match will be an
unofficial game where both teams
will get to bat a day each with all
players being allowed to play.
For Kumble, it will be a new
beginning with his boys ready to
hit the straps in what promises to
be an eventful 49-day tour in the
assortment of islands where
longer version of the game is no
longer a priority.
Yet a team that has six current
Test players including skipper
Leon Johnson, Jermaine
Blackwood, Rajendra Chandrika,
Shane Dowrich, Shai Hope and
Jomel Warrican will mean that
Indians are expected to get quality match practice.
The first warm-up match
will indicate as to how India's
key speedster Mohammed
Shami's body holds to the
rigours of longer version —
when he comes back for his second and third spells.
Skipper Virat Kohli had in
fact complimented Shami
terming him as someone "who
bowls the ideal Test match
length".
Ishant Sharma, who has had
a long lay-off, will also like to get
into the groove along with Umesh
Yadav as the trio will be key to
Kohli's gameplans.
For the coach, it will be an
opportunity to also test his
reserve pacers in Bhuvneshwar
Kumar and Shardul Thakur.
It is expected that the toporder batsmen will be atleast
told to face around 75-80 balls.
When India tours abroad for
Test series, the general norm is for
specialist batsmen to play 75-80
balls (in case they don't get out)
and then retire to allow others to
get some time out there in the
middle.
Since landing here yesterday,
the Indian team has enjoyed an
open yoga session and a game of
beach volleyball.
Shikhar Dhawan, whose
form in the longer version has
been pretty patchy, will look to get
a few runs under his belt as it is
expected that he will be facing the
new ball alongside Murali Vijay,
who is a certainty. Ditto for skipper Virat Kohli and Ajinkya
Rahane, who need to get some
batting time in the middle.
KL Rahul would like to
breath down Dhawan's neck with
a couple of good knocks in the
practice games.
Similarly Rohit Sharma
would aim to give Cheteshwar
Pujara a tough fight for the only
middle-order slot.
Stuart Binny comes into the
equation depending on what the
Kumble-Kohli duo think about
him as the fifth bowler or third
seamer. With the pitches in West
Indies getting slower by the day,
all the three spinners will take
turns to roll their arm over.
Barring fitness issues,
Ravichandran Ashwin will be
the premier spinner and in terms
of pure skills Amit Mishra is certainly ahead of Ravindra Jadeja
with his ability to get sufficient
turn on his leg-breaks and bowl
the odd googly.
Live from 7:30pm
PTI n KOLKATA
ormer Indian captain Sourav
Ganguly turned 44 on Friday and
F
birthday wishes poured in from all
quarters for one of the country's most
celebrated cricketers.
'#HappyBirthdayDada' trended
on Twitter for the former batsman,
who was the most successful Indian
captain before the feat was surpassed
by the present limited-overs skipper
Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Indian head coach Anil Kumble,
a former teammate and captain, was
among the first to wish Ganguly on his
official twitter handle, "'Happy birthday @SGanguly99! May the almighty
shower lots of love and blessings!'"
Former Test opener Virender
Sehwag, who feels Ganguly sacrificed
the opening slot for him, also followed
suit:
'HappyBirthdayDada
@SGanguly99. May you keep on
helping India wave our flag high,just
like u waved ur shirt at Lords.'
Ganguly's another famous teammate Yuvraj Singh also wished "cricket's biggest Dada".
"Sourav Ganguly is the one who
asked Virender Sehwag to open the batting in Test Cricket and rest is history..."
"Here's wishing a very Happy Birthday
to former #TeamIndia captain
@SGanguly99 #HappyBirthdayDada,"
the BCCI wrote in its official Twitter
handle.
West Bengal chief minister
Mamata Banerjee also wished
Ganguly on twitter. "Wish you all the
success and happiness in life."
Credited for changing the image
of Indian cricket — 'being tigers at
home and lambs overseas' — Ganguly
took charge of the Indian team following the match-fixing scandal in 2000
succeeding Mohammad Azharuddin.
Ganguly, who had made a memorable Test debut with a century at
Lord's in 1996, went on to claim 11
wins from 28 away Tests, a record by
any Indian captain. Ganguly amassed
7213 runs in 113 Tests and 11,363
runs from 311 ODIs. Dada’s fans also
celebrated his birthday at Behala residence by cutting cakes.
But the veteran wasn't to be denied
when Raonic left the door open again in
the tiebreaker with his sixth double fault
of the tie.
The Swiss soon went to another three
set points and this time he pounced, levelling the match when a Raonic backhand
stab drifted wide.
Federer broke for the first time in the
semi-final for a 4-3 lead in the third set as
Raonic suffered a sudden loss of momentum, backing it up with a service game to
love.
His seventh ace of the contest sealed
the set in the 10th game.
With his coach John McEnroe commentating for British television, Raonic
had to save two break points in the fifth
game and another in the ninth of the
fourth set.
However, in a remarkable 12th game,
Federer was pegged back from 40-0 after
serving up back-to-back double faults and
Raonic levelled the semi-final on a third
set point when the Swiss meekly teed-up
an opportunity for the Canadian to pass
him.
Federer then required treatment on his
right thigh in the changeover.
A breathtaking close-up rally at the net
went in the Canadian's favour and he broke
for 3-1 in what proved to be the crucial
breakthrough.
Singles
INVESTIGATORS DROP NEYMAR CASE
NEW DELHI: Spanish investigators on Friday
dropped a corruption case against Brazilian
superstar Neymar and his father in relation to
the player's 2013 transfer to Barcelona. The
case had been brought by the Brazilian
investment fund DIS, former owners of the
player's rights. But a judge ruled that the case
"cannot be pursued in the criminal courts",
according to a statement by Spain's HC.
INDIA TO MAKE ITS DEBUT IN FUTSAL WC
NEW DELHI: India will make its maiden
appearance in the under-17 Futsal World
Cup, scheduled in Paraguay from July 11,
after being invited by the sport's governing
body as a wild card entrant. The five-a-side
soccer sport, played on a smaller field and
mainly indoors, is governed by the
Association Mundial de Futsal (AMF). India,
thus, would be one of the 12 countries to
compete for the U-17 World Cup crown
which is slated to close on July 20, a media
release said here on Friday. India, to be led
by Chennai futsal player Bharatraj
Selvakumar, have been drawn in Zone `A'
which also houses Catalonia, Kazakhstan
and the host nation, Paraguay. Colombia,
Belgium, Brazil and Australia make up the
Zone 'B', whereas Argentina, Uruguay,
Morocco and Curazo conclude last Zone ‘C'.
U MUMBA EDGE BULLS 24-23
PATNA: U Mumba erased an eight-point
deficit as they staged a brilliant comeback to
edge out Bengaluru Bulls 24-23 in the Star
Sports Pro Kabaddi here on Friday. Anup
Kumar had a terrific game for U Mumba as he
ended up with 11 points and led his team
from the front in the second half. Bengaluru
Bulls drew first blood both in attack and
defence as Pawan Kadian scored a raid point
and then the defence sent Rishank Devadiga
to the bench to lead 2-0 after three minutes.
Anup Kumar opened U Mumba's account
with a bonus point in the fourth minute. Nine
empty raids in the first eight minutes meant it
was a cagey affair as Bengaluru Bulls led 3-2.
After 10 minutes, it was 4-4 as both teams
adopted a cautious approach. Rakesh Kumar
was shown a green card in the 12th minute of
the game for prompting during a raid.
Bengaluru Bulls forced a super tackle in the
13th minute as both teams were level at six
points apiece.
NEERAJ FAILES TO GET RIO TICKET
NEW DELHI: WBC Asian champion Neeraj
Goyat (69kg) failed to secure an Olympic
ticket as he went down 0-3 in the box-off of
the International Boxing Association's
Olympic Qualifying Tournament for
professional boxers in Vargas, Venezuela on
Friday. The 24-year-old Neeraj, who had lost
0-3 to second-seeded German Arajik
Marutjan in the semifinal yesterday, was
beaten by Spaniard Sissokho Ndiaye Youba
in today's box-off to determine the third
Olympic qualifier in the category as the
finalists have taken the top two slots. He
settled for a bronze medal. Neeraj's loss
ended India's hopes of securing a quota berth
at the final Olympic qualifying tournament for
boxing as Gaurav Bidhuri (52kg) and Dilbag
Singh (81kg) had already bowed out after
first-round losses.
Agencies
vivacity {48 hours} 16
LUCKNOW | SATURDAY | JULY 9, 2016
S H O R T
SHAHRUKH KHAN
C I R C U I T S
JAVED AKHTAR
Let Aamir and Salman handle wrestling.. two of them
are enough to handle
wrestling. Above all I don't
look like a wrestler from
any angle. I am a romantic
hero and I don't know
wrestling. Let these two
superstars wrestle, I will
stick to romance.
RD Burman and Rajendra
Krishan had a great sense of
humour. Dono bohot haste
the, dono ko jokes bade
yaad rahe te the aur dono hi
har baat me ek mazak ka
pehlu dekh sakte the. No
wonder they composed such
gems for the fim Padosan.
SIDHARTH
MALHOTRA
Katrina takes her work very
seriously and is very passionate when it comes to
her characters. We used to
often bump into each other
at the gym. It was great to
have another fitness freak
around. It has been fabulous to have her as my costar.
WRESTLE MANIA ONE HOUR
SULTAN v/s DANGAL
JAGJIT KALIRAMAN, coach of Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma, and KRIPA SHANKAR
PATEL, coach of Aamir Khan and his reel life daughters Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana
Shaikh, spoke to KRITIKA DUA about training stars and how big ticket films can change the way
Indians look at wrestling
learnt a bit of acting from them and they learnt a bit of wrestling from me,” says
Jagjit Kaliraman about training Salman Khan and Anushka Sharma for Sultan.
His sincerity and adeptness won him the role of Salman’s coach in the film. And
he is appreciative of the progress made by his short-term students. “He (Khan) lifted me and Palwinder Cheema on his shoulders during the movie’s wrap-up party
and the image was not doctored,” he certifies, proud of his celebrity protege.
If you thought Bhai relies on his cherubic innocence and largerthan-life persona, Sultan has changed that. “Salman has researched well
to learn the mannerisms of a wrestler like a perfectionist actor. He was
on a non-veg etarian diet for this film. Both he and Anushka have
gained and lost weight as per the requirement of this movie,” says
Jagjit. He praises the director as well for his patience in canning necessary retakes of action sequences to make them look
as authentic and correct as possible and incorporating the
right techniques.
But Jagjit also had to handle the Damocles’ sword over his
head. His brief during the five-month training schedule was
to not let his leads suffer any serious injury. “This was a challenge considering we have used real wrestling techniques. We
have worked really hard to make the fighting sequences authentic and have the raw grit of an akhada. You can get all the behindthe-scenes in a recently released documentary,
World of Sultan, on YouTube.” Jagjit has also taught
real life wrestlers in the movie to put in the right
amount of energy in wrestling and not get conscious while facing the camera for the first time.
The film has everything from mud
wrestling to Olympic-style bouts. Salman
Khan has performed some moves of mixed
martial arts as well. “If more sports-based
films are made in India, they will generate
a healthy interest in our disciplines and
better the lot of sportspersons and
youth. Since films capture the imagination, the gloss of the big screen
will make sport seem like a worthy pursuit,” rounds off Jagjit.
-Three women wrestlers
trained by him will be seen at
this year’s Rio Olympics —
Vinesh Phogat, Sakshi
Malik and Babita Kumari.
So Kripa Shankar Patel was
an obvious choice for training the crew of Dangal. Fifteen
female actors/models were selected
and entrusted to him for fifteen days to find out the ones
having fast catching power and the fitness level required to learn kushti.
He trained and selected three-four girls among them. Finally, the production house chose Sanya Malhotra and Fatima Sana Shaikh to play
Aamir Khan’s daughters. The “rookie” superstar also signed up and
he worked on the team for a year. Hailing from Sonkhedi village
in Madhya Pradesh, Patel believes women can be good wrestlers
if given an equal opportunity and hopes the film will encourage
many women to take it up as a serious skill sport. “It’s the first serious movie on wrestling. Usually the sport is often made fun of in
popular films. With Dangal, Olympic-style wrestling will be shown
with utmost authenticity.” Patel believes injuries are like medallions for the true wrestler. He designed the training programme
for Aamir and the girls to give them explosive strength, including cross-country training, running for 45 minutes and gymming
for one hour with proper rest given to them for recovery. The
training schedule was the same as the senior women wrestling
team of India(of which he is a coach) but with less intensity
which was increased over time. “At the training sessions, Aamir
and the girls followed my instructions to a T and were
keen to learn the nuances of the craft. There is a trueblue feel of mud-wrestling as well as tournament moves.”
As for his impressions of the star brigade from Mumbai, he
tells us, “Aamir is a good listener; I learnt tap dancing from
him.”
I
hoever knew that Sonu Sood, the
bad boy we loved to hate in Dabangg
W
or the goofy-quirky guy in Happy New Year
would be remotely interested in sports?
Turns out, he’s been a kabaddi fanatic his
entire life. And his joys know no bound
now that he has been roped in as the
ambassador of Delhi Dabangs, the Pro
Kabaddi team. He is smitten by the glamorous makeover of the rustic sport.
“The greatest attraction is the participation of players from Iran and Thailand.
It is overwhelming to find the game
crossing international waters,” an elated
Sood said as we caught up with him during the announcement. “When we were
young, we played in the mud, soiled ourselves and had fun. Now kabaddi has
undergone a revolution, if not less. It has
become more presentable in terms of the
context of the battle ground and the players are using advanced techniques including somersaults. All of these have taken
the game to a whole new level,” he added.
Before the big announcement, he
chose to meet with the players and
interact with them in a bid to know them
a bit better. Sood has confidence in his
team and more so in his players. He
likens star performers Kashiling and
Selvamani to Sachin and Virat playing in
the same cricket team. Asked about his
strong attachment to the Delhi team, he
unabashedly answered, “I belong to
CELEB CHAT 45 MINUTES
Bolly-maniac
gaiety
In a candid chat, SONU
SOOD shares with
DIVYANI RAGHAV about his
childhood memories of
playing kabaddi, how the
sport has glamoured
over the years and the
importance of being
disciplined in life
Delhi and started my career from here.
But by and large, I am supporting the
whole game in general.” As of now, he is
focusing all his energy in motivating the
team members by sharing his own experiences from the movies.
He is also delighted with the
increased viewership of the game and
credits the audience for their support.
“But there is a still a long way to go,” he
said and hoped that the popularity will
generate some amount of interest in the
young for the sport. “I hope kids break
free from their video games and play in
the open. I think it is the need of the hour
for parents to encourage participation in
outdoor sports,” he added.
Besides, physical sports are a good
ADELE
I have not tied a knot with
Simon Konecki. I might as
well be married, but I'm not. I
would tell you if I did. My kid
is starting school, you see,
hence why I'm so busy trying
to get all my shows out of
the way. I don't think I'll be
away for as long. I promise it
won't be as long as my fouryear break in 2011.
SCARLETT
JOHANSSON
It is exciting to be named
as the top-earning
actress of all time in
Hollywood. It is also disappointing to be the only
woman in the top-earning
category.
This was a little bit of
surprise to me.
QUICK READ 5 MINUTES
‘Everybody’s
cheating on everyone’
The hypocrisy of the
Bollywood star culture has
even got to filmmaker
KARAN JOHAR. His blog
on dangerous liaisons
coming out of the covers
set discussion boards
buzzing around airwaves.
We extract a part of his
spillling-the-beans story
from a TV portal
to be having the same relationship (and issues therein) with my diet
Ithatseem
most people seem to be having
with their sex lives!
Infidelity is becoming an accepted reality right now. Everyone knows,
no one judges. I suppose few can since
there is just so much of it. Everywhere.
We will be celebrating ten years of
Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna on the 11th of
August, and I remember vividly the
storm it created: there was a
whole Pandora’s box of
how can we talk
about/make a love story
out of infidelity. And
those same people are
now writing to me saying they didn’t get it
then but they’re getting it now. And I’m
wondering are they
getting it now
because they’re getting some now too?
If there is no
one philosophy on
food any more, then
there isn’t on love
either. The conscience police have
been retired and
rendered entirely
unarmed. In the war
between libido and
conscience, there’s a
clear victor: RIP
Conscience. And I’m
not finding it to be a problem
between people any more either.
Sure, there are tears that are
shed, there are meltdowns and
breakdowns, but nothing that
chocolate or, umm, a chocolate
boy can’t help with (sometimes
both together?)
I feel like it’s all become so
ubiquitous, and that’s new.
Infidelity has always existed, but I
feel like it was brushed under the
carpet, behind the scenes. Now
everyone is at it — and they’ve
stopped pretending they’re not.
Industrialists go on “work trips”,
actors go “indoors” on their “outdoors.” And all those stereotypes that
girls are more faithful than the guys
and sit quietly waiting for their
husbands/partners to come
home is no longer true at all. I’ve
been at parties where everyone
has a roving eye and a shaking thigh. It seems
like the women are saying if they’re getting
some, why shouldn’t I too? And that I
applaud, more power to them. They have
their cheat days same as anyone. Why stick
to a la carte, when the buffet offers such
range?
And I am not referring to the film fraternity. Or not just. This feels like the reality everywhere. In fact, the movie industry
might be the most sanctimonious because
everyone is so worried about the paparazzi
police that they behave much better than
they would otherwise. It suits most to think
of them as this philandering community;
they’re not, or no more than any other. My
driver gets more action than I do! The other
day his wife called, complaining that he’s visiting his girlfriend more than her!
There is something very wrong
with my life: he’s rocking it up and
there I am, one seat behind him,
and all I’m missing is a nun’s habit.
I meet men, they talk about
other women (or men). I meet the
women, they talk about other
men (sometimes other women). I
feel sexuality and fidelity lines are
blurring. I guess certain
truths are universal:
when you’re on a
diet, everything
that's not allowed
looks more delicious. So when
you’re on a
relationship
diet, does the
same hold
true? Is an
infidelity
binge followed by
relationship
d e t o x ?
Should it be?
Call me
cynical or call
me pragmatic,
but
I’ve
stopped giving
those envelopes
with money to
people who are getting
married
because I refuse to
contribute to their
alimony! When the
invite says RSVP
Regrets Only, I’ve
started to wonder if
that’s the line they
mean the most.
So am I endorsing infidelity? Of
course not. How
can I endorse
something that’s
already sold out?
I feel at my
age that I am just
too late to the
party. I think I
will settle instead
for snuggles with
my puppy who
will not cheat on
me.
way to stay fit, too, right? Sood’s face lit
up as he nodded in approval. Stories of his
interactions and training with Jackie Chan
have been fairly recent but not many
would know that the actor is a fitness
enthusiast. And considering the celebrity crazy people we are, he believes that
his participation and association with
kabaddi would encourage many to try
and become fit. “People idolise celebrities, so, when the stars get associated with
a cause, people follow. And I think it is
a good way out if it can help to gear up
our future generation,” said the Sylvester
Stallone admirer.
Workout, to him, is mandatory like
brushing teeth. According to him, good
health cannot be achieved in a fraction
of a time. The results only begin to show
when we are disciplined and carry it out
in through our entire lives. “It is not
about making eight abs, but is more like
a relay race. In this case, the baton of
health is to be given through awareness
to the next breeding who do not try to
stay fit.”
He also shared about his experience
with Jackie Chan in their new movie
Kung Fu Yoga and said, “I was the part
of the movie because of my fitness and
in one year that I spent with Jackie Chan
I learnt from him more and changed my
health routines after that.” And added,
“Destiny brings where you belong to.”