English tribune 22 01 2018

13 established in 1881

monday, january 22, 2018

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chandigarh | gurugram | jalandhar | bathinda | jammu | srinagar | www.tribuneindia.com | vol. 138 no. 22 | 26 pages | ~4.50 | regd. no. chd/0006/2018-2020

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Prez disqualifies 20 of AAP’s legislators

Suspended animation

‘Dangerous for democracy,’ reacts Kejriwal’s party

Aerobatic dancers under the direction of theatrical company La Fura dels Baus perform in “The Rise of the Tritons” during the opening of Valletta 2018 in Malta. Valletta’s been crowned the European Capital of Culture.

The Spanish theatre company is all about eccentricity, innovation, adaptation, rhythm, evolution and transgression. The aerobatic show features a human net above the newly restored Triton Fountain. REUTERS

Soldier, civilian die; toll12 Rawat CEC, Lavasa Violating truce, Pak shelling border areas since Jan 18 Jammu, January 21 Signalman Chandan Kumar Rai, who was critically injured during the ceasefire violation in Mendhar sector of the Line of Control (LoC) on Saturday, succumbed to his injuries at the military hospital last night.

One civilian was today killed and another injured when Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling along the International Border (IB) and the LoC in Jammu and Poonch districts.

"Two brothers were injured when shells hit their house in Kanachak-Pragwal sector along the IB in Jammu district tonight. One of them, Gopal, later succumbed to his injuries and the other is in hospital," a senior police official said.

Signalman Chandan Kumar Rai The death toll in the intense shelling by Pakistan troops over the past four days has now risen to 12 — three soldiers, two BSF personnel and seven civilians.

Pakistani troops violated ceasefire for the fourth consecutive day today, resorting to heavy shelling along the LoC in Noushera, Rajouri and Akhnoor sectors of J&K. While Rajouri DC Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said Pak-

istan resumed heavy shelling in Bhawani, Karali, Said, Numb and Sher Makri areas this evening, a BSF spokesman said firing from across the border stopped in Samba and Kathua districts in the afternoon, but intermittently went on in some areas of Jammu district.

In Jammu district, over 1.27 lakh people in 81 villages have been affected by the border shelling and 41,000 moved to safer places.

In the shelling that started on January 18, mostly Arnia, RS Pura and Suchetgarh areas were affected. On January 19, the shelling spread to Samba and Kathua districts.

The following day, Marh area also witnessed heavy shelling, said official sources. — TNS

poll commissioner New Delhi, January 21 Om Prakash Rawat was today appointed the next Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), the Union Law Ministry said, a day before the present incumbent Achal Kumar Joti demits charge.

Former Finance Secretary Ashok Lavasa was also appointed as an election commissioner to fill the vacancy that would have arisen in the three-member Election Commission after Joti’s retirement tomorrow.

Sunil Arora is the other commissioner. Rawat will take over as the CEC on January 23. His tenure will end in December and Arora, the seniormost commissioner after the CEC, is expected to take over as the head of the

Om Prakash Rawat

Ashok Lavasa

poll panel as per convention.

Arora would retire in April 2021 and would oversee the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as the CEC. Lavasa would demit office in October 2022 and would be the CEC after Arora. An EC or CEC has a tenure of six years. But if he turns 65 before that, he demits office.

Born in 1953, Rawat is a former Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS officer, while Lavasa is a retired IAS officer of the Haryana cadre. — PTI

Delhi fire: 14 victims identified, owner held Prateek Chauhan Tribune News Service

Relatives of a victim of Saturday’s fire are inconsolable as they wait outside a hospital in New Delhi on Sunday. REUTERS

New Delhi, January 21 The bodies of 14 out of 17 persons who died in a major fire at a factory in Bawana Industrial Area here on Saturday evening have been identified and the owner arrested.

Manoj Jain, who ran the factory that witnessed the city’s worst fire tragedy since the 1997 Uphaar Cinema inferno, was today produced in a local court, which remanded him in one-day judicial custody.

Commissioner of Delhi Police Amulya Patnaik has transferred the case to the Crime Branch for investigation. Rohini DCP Rajneesh Gupta said the initial probe suggested the factory manufactured “cold firecrackers” used in stage shows and Holi celebrations. Jain had rented the factory from January 1.

Fourteen of those killed have been identified as Baby Devi (40), Afsana (35), Sonam (23), Reeta (18), Madeena (55), Rajjo (65) Dharma Devi (45), Suraj (20), Ravikant (18),

Sukhda (42), Khusna (47), Soni (21), Rohit (19), Sanjeet (19) and Ajeet (22), he said.

The fire started in the storage unit on the ground floor of the two-storey building and ripped through the structure.

Jain has been booked under Sections 285 (negligent conduct), 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 337 (causing hurt) of the IPC and Explosives Act. The Delhi Government has announced Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased and Rs 1 lakh for each of the injured.

Engineers with distance edu degrees face axe Chandigarh, January 21 Hundreds of engineers serving in the Haryana Government may lose jobs or promotions as, acting on a Supreme Court order, Chief Secretary DS Dhesi has written to various departments for action against those possessing degrees of deemed universities under distance mode.

The Supreme Court had on November 3 last year upheld the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling that a BTech

Haryana acts on top court order degree obtained through distance education could not be considered on a par with a regular degree awarded by a university to students attending campus classes.

“Old degrees in engineering granted to students who were enrolled during academic session 2001-2005 shall stand suspended till

they pass such an examination to be held under joint supervision of the All India Council for Technical Education and the University Grants Commission, as the grant of ex post facto approval to the deemed university has been held to be incorrect and illegal,” says the Chief Secretary order.

It adds that the students enrolled during 2001 to 2005 shall be given two chances to clear the examination and in

case they fail to get through, they will be removed from jobs or the benefits of promotion will be withdrawn.

In case of employees who were enrolled in degrees or diplomas after 2001-2005, their services will be terminated with immediate effect and any promotion given on the basis of such degree, it will stand withdrawn.

The order says the apex court has restrained all deemed universities from

Today’s issue is of 26 pages, including six-page Chandigarh Tribune and four-page Life+Style.

offering courses in distance mode from academic session 2018-19 onwards unless and until it is permissible to conduct course under distance mode and specific permission has been granted.

Petitioner Kartar Singh, a Sirsa-based school lecturer, said thousands had got jobs or promotions in the state based on BTech degrees that were being awarded without any classroom studies or practical. — TNS

New Delhi, January 21 In a major setback to AAP, President Ram Nath Kovind has disqualified 20 of its MLAs in Delhi for holding office of profit, a move the party described as “unconstitutional” and “dangerous for democracy”. Kovind gave his assent yesterday to the recommendation by the Election Commission (EC).

Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashutosh said, “The President’s order is unconstitutional and dangerous for democracy.” The EC had on Friday recommended that the 20 MLAs were liable for disqualification for holding office of profit between March 13, 2015, and September 8, 2016.

The AAP MLAs were appointed Parliamentary Secretaries, described by petitioner Prashant Patel as “holding office of profit”.

Giving its opinion to the President, the EC had said the MLAs, by occupying the post of Parliamentary Secretary, had held office of profit and were liable to be disqualified as legislators.

Parliamentary Secretaries assist ministers with their work. AAP insisted that despite holding the office, the MLAs did not take any salary or perks.

“Whether or not the individual Parliamentary Secretaries actually derived the benefits or participated in executive functions of the government is of no relevance,” the EC had said, citing the Supreme Court in the Jaya Bachchan case, laying down that if the post fell under office of profit, disqualification was imminent.

The commission said it had based its opinion on judicial

‘GOT 67 SEATS, AS GOD KNEW OF THIS ’ We will now approach the High Court against this ❝ extremely unconstitutional, unethical and biased decision of the EC. If required, we will go to the Supreme Court. The Constitution is supreme and is the law of the land and has been protected by our judiciary time and again.

AAP got 67 seats in the 70❝ member Delhi Assembly by God’s

grace. He knew that after three years, these people would declare 20 of our MLAs disqualified. That’s why he gave us 67 seats.

Arvind Kejriwal, DELHI CM

‘Tughlaqshahi of worst order’ President’s order is complete ❝ miscarriage of natural justice. No

hearing, no waiting for High Court’s order. It is Tughlaqshahi of the worst order. Yashwant Sinha, VETERAN BJP LEADER

Democratic values protected, says BJP People of Delhi feel that the Aam Aadmi Party ❝ MLAs must now return all financial benefits they were given from the day they were appointed as parliamentary secretaries. With his speedy decision, the President has made a major contribution towards protecting democratic values. Manoj Tiwari, DELHI BJP PRESIDENT

pronouncements of the past, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act and the Constitution.

AAP had approached the Delhi High Court for a stay on the EC’s recommendation.

The court had listed the case for hearing on Monday.

Madan Lal, one of the disqualified MLAs, said they had pinned all hope on the judiciary and the party was expecting some relief tomorrow.

If AAP fails to get a reprieve from courts, Delhi will see byelections for the 20 seats.

The Delhi Assembly Speaker will have to notify the 20 vacancies for the EC to announce the byelections.

Once the vacancies are announced, AAP’s strength would dwindle to 46 from 66 in the 70-member House.

However, it will continue to have a majority. — PTI Edit: Fixing AAP

THE TRIBUNE

PUNJAB

02

CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

Capt: No rethink on Tech recruitments SAD leaders accuse Cong under VB scanner govt of misleading farmers power plant closure Tribune News Service

Says it’s not feasible, reiterates job security promise Tribune News Service Chandigarh, January 21 Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has ruled out reversal of the government’s decision to close down the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant (GNDTP), Bathinda, pointing to non-feasibility of its continued operations.

In a statement issued here today, the Chief Minister explained the circumstances that led to the closure of the Bathinda thermal plant and two units of the Ropar thermal plant, saying the decision had to be taken mainly due to lack of power demand in the state and availability of cheaper power from other alternative sources.

Reiterating that no employee would lose his job because of the closure and all workers would be accommodated within the region, the Chief Minister said after closing down the plant operations completely, the surplus man-

The surplus manpower of ❝ the Bathinda plant shall be utilised on other works where there is staff shortage.❞

Capt Amarinder Singh, CHIEF MINISTER

power of the Bathinda plant shall be utilised on other works where there was staff shortage.

This would increase productivity as it would stop increase of power generation cost over the year, besides resulting in savings to PSPCL, as power from Bathinda GNDTP was being generated at a very high cost as compared to the overall cost of electricity in PSPCL making generation from GNDTP units unviable.

The CM said power demand in Punjab varies very widely during paddy and non-paddy season. This year, the maximum demand had been

recorded at 11,600 MW in summer months and 5,600 MW in winter months. Further, in winters, there is a lot of variation in day and night time demand, with the latter coming down to around 3,000 MW. Though the state has become power surplus, generation capacity is utilised fully only in paddy periods of four months and, for the remaining eight months, the same remains underutilised.

The CM added that the plant was of old design and required more manpower for operation as compared to new power plants, which were fully computerised.

DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYATS DEPARTMENT PANCHAYATI RAJ PUBLIC WORKS, DIVISION REWARI

Short Term Notice for inviting Tenders The Governor of Haryana is inviting the bids from eligible bidders through online bids in the website https://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in for the works detailed in the table.

Sr. No.

Name of Work-Place

Name of Block

Name of Work

Approximate value of works (Rs. in lacs)

E/Money Societies/ Contractor Rs.

Time Limit (In Months)

Cost of Document

1

Civil Hospital Rewari

Rewari

Const. of Ayush Wing (Recall-65463)

19.47

15000 38940

6

1000/-

2

Rao Tula Ram Stadium Rewari

Rewari

Const. of Basket Ball Court & Changing Room

11.17

11170 22340

4

1000/-

3

Rao Tula Ram Stadium Rewari

Rewari

Const. of Hand Ball Ground

6.66

6660 13320

3

1000/-

4

Rao Tula Ram Stadium Rewari

Rewari

Repair of Basket Ball Court

2.59

2590 5180

3

1000/-

5

Rao Tula Ram Stadium Rewari

Rewari

Const. of Stage in Football Ground

4.00

4000 8000

3

1000/-

Date and time for bid preparation & submission

Below as Under

The undersigned has right to accept or reject any or all of the above tender without assigning any reason.

The scope of the work can be increased or decreased depending upon the site condition and availability of funds.

The societies shall produce an attested copy of the resolution of the co-operative society duly attested from the competent authority of co-operative department for issuance/participation in the tenders.

4.

For other terms and conditions please see the tender form.

5.

The work costing up to Rs. 50.00 Lakh is kept reserved for L/C Society Only.

KEY DATES: 1.

Works mentioned at Sr. No. 1 to 5 are open for L&C Societies and Contractor:(i) Start date of tender submission for L&C Societies and Contractors : 19.01.2018 from 3.00 pm (ii) End date for online submission for L&C Societies and Contractors : 29.01.2018 up to 5.00 pm (iii) Opening of tenders only for L&C Societies & Contractors : 30.01.2018 from 9.00 am onwards Note: Rs. 1000/- for e-servicing fees excluding of tender fees will be charged as per Govt Instructions.

Note: Agency/Contractor used ISI Marked interlocking Blocks in Development works.

For further details and e-tendering schedule visit website http://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in (For and on behalf of Governor of Haryana)

Sd/- (Dharamvir Yadav) Executive Engineer, Panchayati Raj, Rewari

EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, PROVINCIAL DIVISION NO. 1, PWD B&R BRANCH, KARNAL The Governor of Haryana Re-invites the bids from eligible bidders through online bids in the website: http://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in for the work detailed in the table.

Time Date and Tender Name of work Approxi- Bid Security Pack (Rs.) Document limit time for bid mate -age preparation Fee & value of No. to Hash eService works Submission Fee (Rs.) (Rs.) Re-invite Repair of 14 Nos. road with WBM+ WMM+BM+PC and new CCB widening 19.01.18 ` 6.46 Lacs 9 and re-laying of CCB in Karnal District ` 323.02 for Contractor ` 15,000/10:01 hrs. to 1.

(Nine) (W.P. for the year 2017-18) Head-5054 12.02.18 & ` 3.23 Lacs ` 1,000/Lacs Months (Road ID-7300, 7310, 7231, 7186, 7183, 17:00 hrs. for Society 7322, 7201, 7204, 7251, 7325, 7216, 7425, 7422 & 7451).

Re-Invite 19.01.18 ` 0.31 Lacs 3 Restoration of road Sector 6 to Khera ` 15.55 for Contractor ` 1,000/10:01 hrs. to 2.

(Three) Dabarki via Subri Sarifabad road Km. 0 ` 1000/12.02.18 & ` 0.16 for Lacs Months to 0.690 (Road ID-7237) in Karnal District.

17:00 hrs.

Society Re-invite 19.01.18 ` 0.39 Lacs Repair of 3 Nos. road with WBM+BM+ 4 10:01 hrs. to ` 19.61 for Contractor ` 5,000/PC in Karnal District (W.P. for the year 3.

(Four) 12.02.18 & ` 0.20 Lacs ` 1,000/Lacs 2017-18) Head-5054 (Road ID-7409, Months 17:00 hrs. for Society 7244 & 7328).

For further details and e-tendering schedule visit website https://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in.

1. Pre-bid meeting will be held on 01.02.2018 at 11.30 Hrs. in the O/o Superintending Engineer, Karnal Circle, PWD B&R Br., Karnal.

2. For further details and e-tendering schedule visit website https://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in.

Sd/- Executive Engineer, Provincial Division No. 1, PWD B&R Br., Karnal.

HARYANA PWD (B&R) NOTICE INVITING E-TENDER S. No.

1

2

Name of work

Estimated Cost (Rs in Lacs)

Special Repair of road from SirsaOttu-Rania-Dabwali Road Km. 4.80 to 34.00 (S.H. No.32) (Road ID 5802,5803,5805,) and Sirsa Ellenabad Hanumangarh Tibbi Road up to Raj Border Km. 31.40 ` 1470.44 to 34.80 ( SH-23) ( Road ID 5797) Lacs in Sirsa Distt. (CM Announcement Code No. 18037 dated 24.12.2016 ( Widening of road from (7 mtr to 10 mtr) from Ram Nagaria to Jiwan Nagar Four Lanning of Sirsa Ellenabad road (SH-23) Km. 68.00 to 69.19 (Tehsil Complex to Amebdkar Chowk i.e. 1.19 km.) (Road ID 5799) and Four Lanning of Ellenabad Nohar road ODR) Km. 0.750 to 3.50 up to Village Kishanpura ( Road ID ` 881.50 Lacs 5903) with Improvement of junction on Ambedkar Chowk on SH-23 at RD.69.50 & Udham Singh Chowk on Ellenabad Bye Pass road at RD 3.00 km. in Sirsa Distt. (under C.M. Announcement Code No. 15131)

Earnest Money (Contr./ Society)

Cost of Bid Document & E- services fee.

Time Limit

Rs. 29.40 Lacs for Contr. & Rs.14.70 Lacs L&C Society.

` 20000/+ ` 1000/-

18 (Eighteen) Months

22.01.18 09:01 hrs. to 05.02.18 17:00 hrs

12 (Twelve) Months

22.01.18 09:01 hrs. to 05.02.18 17:00 hrs

Rs. 17.64 Lacs for Contr. & Rs. 8.82 Lacs L&C Society.

` 20000/+ ` 1000/-

Online Bid preparation & Hash Submission

Pre bid meeting will be held on 29.01.2018 at 11.30 Hrs. in the Office of Superintending Engineer, Hisar Circle, PWD B&R Br., Hisar/Executive Engineer, Provl. Division No. ll, PWD B&R Br., Sirsa.

Bids can be submitted online only at http://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in For other details visit website http://haryanapwd-bandr.org or http://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in / concerned offices.

PRDH-60331

Mohali: Following a positive report of online registration of properties in Mohali district, the state government is set to roll out the facility across the state. Vini Mahajan, Additional Chief Secretary and Financial Commissioner, Revenue, said the district had witnessed online registration of 1,063 properties in a fortnight, including 190 in Mohali, 211 in Dera Bassi, 243 in Zirakpur and 293 in Kharar. She said the system was running at the tehsil level in Moga and the sub-tehsil level in Adampur.

So far, Moga and Adampur have received 970 and 399 online property registrations, respectively, in two months. TNS

Barnala, January 21 The Congress government came under sharp criticism from the Akali leaders over debt waiver and other prepoll promises during the first barsi of former CM Surjit Singh Barnala here today.

“We were sure from the first day that the Congress would not give the required waiver to farmers. Within the first year of their rule, it has become clear that debt waiver is the biggest fraud,” said Parkash Singh Badal, SAD patron and former CM. Badal cautioned state residents against the “false” promises of the Congress.

“Things have turned worse in the state since the formation of the Congress government.

We never said we did not have money because arranging money is the responsibility of the government,” said Badal.

Former state Finance Minister Parminder Dhindsa alleged that within months of formation of the Congress government in the state, party leaders have disappeared

Akali Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal and chief Sukhbir Badal pay tributes to former CM Surjit Singh Barnala to mark the first death anniversary in Barnala on Sunday. TRIBUNE PHOTO from their constituencies.

“We launched many social welfare schemes and even provided free-of-cost pilgrimages to state residents. How-

For & on behalf of Governor of Haryana Sd/- Executive Engineer, Provl. Division No. II, PWD B&R Br., Sirsa.

Ph.: 1666-222959.

ever, the Congress government closed all within months after coming to power,” alleged SAD president Sukhbir Badal.

Waste-to-power project ‘Arbitrary’ postings: in the offing at Nakodar Khaira writes to Guv Tribune News Service

Tribune News Service

1.

2.

3.

PRDH/60362

PROPERTY E-REGISTRATION ACROSS STATE SOON

Tribune News Service

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

CONDITIONS

PRDH-60328

Chandigarh, January 21 Recruitments in the Department of Technical Education and Industrial Training during the 10-year SAD-BJP rule are under the scanner of the Vigilance Bureau (VB).

The probe revolves around recruitments allegedly done on the basis of forged documents and without proper verification of the eligibility papers submitted by the candidates.

Sources in the department said the VB, in a recent communication to the Director, Technical Education, sought details of recruitments, including the officers respon-

sible for selecting candidates for the posts of instructors, service providing trainers and training officers. These also include recruitments done in 2013 against 216 posts in 23 categories.

The VB is also probing whether the qualification criteria prescribed by the National Council for Vocational Training was followed by the department or tweaked to suit certain persons.

It is learnt that the candidates recruited as training officers underwent the National Craft Instructor Training course at the cost of the department, whereas they were supposed to have done it at the time of recruitment.

Chandigarh, January 21 The state is all set to have its first “waste to power” project

by March this year at the Sugarfed plant in Nakodar.

The decision in this regard was taken at a meeting under the Chief Secretary Karan Avtar Singh on the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

Punjab Municipal Infrastructure Development Company (PMIDC) chairman Ajoy Sharma said, “Refuse-derived fuel (RDF) energy plants were under consideration at two more places in the state.”

Pellets for the energy plant will be provided by the A2Z Waste Management (Ludhiana) Limited. The company already has about 12,000 tonnes at its disposal, which was sufficient to commence the production exercise, sources said. The RDF consists of combustible component of the waste, including non-recyclable (not PVC) paper cardboard and labels.

The PMIDC chairman said, “We have categorically communicated to the Sugarfed that the use of the RDF has been allowed, subject to the condition that no smoke is

SOME ISSUES UNRESOLVED ■ The

state produces more than 43,000 tonnes of garbage per day. However, except Bathinda, no other plant makes pellets (fuel for plant)

■ An

official says the quality of pellets in Bathinda is also under question.

■ Major garbage producing places, including Amritsar, get

approximately 450 tonnes per day, Bathinda 120 tonnes, Mohali 450 tonnes and Patiala 220 tonnes per day emitted in the open air. No pollution will be allowed.”

A senior officer said, “The state produces more than 43,000 tonnes of garbage per day. However, except Bathinda, no other plant was making pellets. The quality of pellets at Bathinda was also under question. Major garbage producing places, including Amritsar, get approximately 450 tonnes per day, Bathinda about 120 tonnes, Mohali about 450 tonnes and Patiala about 220 tonnes per day. Garbage collec-

tion and treatment in major corporations, including that of Jalandhar, Amritsar, Pathankot and even Patiala, had not been resolved as yet so there was no chance of a regular supply of pellets from these places.

He said, “The big issue involved in allowing any power projects based on pellets was regular supply of fixed quantity (about 500 tonnes) daily. A majority of the Urban Local Bodies (125 out of the total 167) have a population of less than 25,000.”

Chandigarh, January 21 Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Khaira today appealed to Punjab Governor to restrain the state government from “unilaterally and unconstitutionally” appointing six Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC) members and two RTI commissioners. He alleged that these posts were being filled in violation of the norms.

In a letter to the Governor, he claimed that the procedure for these appointments required consultation/concurrence of the Leader of Opposition. “But the Special Secretary, Personnel, approached me a few days ago to get my signatures on a file contain-

❝

The procedure for appointing PPSC members requires consultation of the Leader of Opposition, but it’s not being done Sukhpal Khaira, LEADER OF OPPOSITION ing the names of six PPSC members and two RTI Commissioners cleared by the CM and the Speaker,” he claimed.

He said he was astonished that the CM wanted him to approve the names by casually circulating a communication on important constitutional appointments without holding a meeting of the selection committee. “This shows the casual and indifferent approach of the CM,” he said.

DEPT MOOTS SALARY HIKE FOR SPECIALIST DOCS Hoshiarpur: Health Minister Brahm Mohindra said here on Sunday that his department proposed to raise the salary of specialist doctors to the tune of Rs 1.75 lakh per month from ~50,000.

Addressing the media after attending the concluding ceremony of the IMA’s statelevel conference, he said the file in this regard had been forwarded to the Finance

Department. He said the objective was to attract specialist doctors to government service so that their acute shortage could be dealt with. Mohindra hailed Finance Minister Manpreet Badal’s announcement regarding giving regular pay scale to newly recruited doctors. Meanwhile, Dr Jatinder Kansal was elected state president of the IMA. OC

Patiala’s ‘Padwoman’ out to bust myths Karam Prakash Tribune News Service

Patiala, January 21 City resident Ruhpreet and her team have taken up the task of creating awareness about menstrual hygiene among women in the slums of Patiala.

Ruhpreet (26), a single mother, returned from the US in May last year with her four-year-old son.

Once here, she wanted to spend her time in social work. She started visiting slums with an aim to help women. As she started talking to them, what hit her the most was that there were many taboos and myths revolving around menstruation.

This prompted her to start educating these slumdwellers about periods and providing them free sanitary napkins. However, after a while, she realised that just distributing free napkins won’t help. Thereby started her initiative of setting up sanitary napkin plants across slums of the district with the help of an NGO named Har Hath

Ruhpreet interacts with children in a slum area in Patiala. TRIBUNE PHOTO: RAJESH SACHAR Kalam India Association.

Ruhpreet said, “The persistent taboos about menstruation are the major factors that stop these women from talking about it. This makes the teenagers unaware of problems related to it. When we spoke to mothers of teenaged girls, we came to know about the lack of awareness among

❝

I think attitudes are surely changing, but it will take some time.

Even today, there are communities that believe menstruation is a sort of curse and refrain from talking about it Ruhpreet, SOCIAL ACTIVIST

people and realised that India needs greater menstruation awareness.”

Inspired by Arunachalam Muruganantham, a social entrepreneur from Coimbatore, Ruhpreet is aiming to make more and more women aware of the issue in the coming years. Till now, Ruhpreet has distributed 5,000 napkins in the city,

Arunachalam is the inventor of the low-cost sanitary pad-making machine and credited for innovating grass-roots mechanisms for generating awareness about traditional unhygienic practices revolving around menstruation in rural India.

Ruhpreet started a fundraiser campaign in order to buy a low-cost sanitary machine to set up a unit in the slums. With this initiative, she will provide sanitary napkins to the slums at a very low cost of Rs 5 and 10. The machine will be brought from Red Cross Kutir Udyog in Vrindavan.

She said, “The unit will provide sanitary napkins at very low rates. Moreover, employment will be generated for slum people. The sanitary machine will cost around 11 lakh.”

She stated, “Women would not only be using them but they’d be the one manufacturing and distributing them across the slums, villages and government schools across the district.”

THE TRIBUNE CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

Sangrur village bids adieu to martyr

03

PUNJAB HC rejects ‘no funds’ plea, directs govt to pay relief Road accident victim’s wife to get ~1 lakh Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service

■ Amid slogans of “Indian Army zindabad,

Pakistan murdabad”, the body of Sepoy Mandeep Singh (23), who was killed in an exchange of fire with Pakistani troops along the Line of Control in J&K on Saturday, was consigned to the flames at his native village, Alampur, in Sangrur district on Sunday.

3 held for fuel station loot Our Correspondent Abohar, January 21 The police today arrested three youths, including two college students, for allegedly looting a fuel station here recently.

Ketan Baliram Patil, SSP, said the trio belonged to Sadulshehar (Rajasthan), about 15 km from the crime scene. He claimed that fuel station employee Praveen Meghwal had connived with Vikram Singh a BA student of GN Khalsa College, Sriganganagar, and Navneet Garg, who is doing BSc (Agriculture) from the local DAV College, to commit the crime.

The SSP said Rs 14.9 lakh, along with a revolver and 18 cartridges, had been recovered during raids on the houses of the accused. The motorcycle used in the crime had also been impounded.

“We have identified the fourth suspect. He will be nabbed soon,” Patil added.

Three armed youths had looted Rs 17 lakh from the fuel station near Dodewala village on Wednesday.

■ Saluting the martyr, Mandeep’s brother

Jagsir Singh and sister Kuldeep Kaur demanded stern action against Pakistan. Former CM Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, ex-minister and MLA Parminder Dhindsa and sepoys of Mandeep’s regiment (22 Sikh) were among those who attended the cremation.

Chandigarh, January 21 About four years after the Punjab Government came out with a policy for providing emergency medical aid and compensation to the sufferers of motor vehicle and other accidents, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to accept a plea claiming dearth of funds and ordered Rs 1-lakh relief to a victim’s kin.

The order by Justice Rakesh Kumar Jain came on a petition filed by Anju Bala against the Punjab Government and other respondents. The Bench took note of the fact that the Department of Home Affairs & Justice had issued a notification on March 13, 2014, formulating the policy for providing relief.

Justice Jain said the petitioner, whose husband Ramesh Gupta died in a road accident, put up a claim of Rs 1 lakh in terms of the policy. Since the money was not paid, she approached the High Court by way of writ petition seeking directions to the respondents “to at least honour their own words”.

After the issuance of notice, the respondents filed a reply claiming that the petitioner’s case was pending. As the budget/fund had not been received under the scheme from the Department of Home Affairs & Justice, a letter dated August 3,

2015, was sent to the Principal Secretary, Department of Home Affairs and Justice.

Patiala Deputy Commissioner also informed the Principal Secretary that funds had not been received.

Responding to the reply, the petitioner’s counsel submitted that the government, on the one hand, made a tall claim of providing emergency medical aid and compensation to the victims, but on the other, it was showing helplessness in making the payment on the ground of shortage of funds.

Allowing the petition after going through the pleadings and taking into account the facts and circumstances of the case, Justice Jain directed the payment of Rs1 lakh to the petitioner within 30 days of receiving the order’s certified copy.

NRI held with 2-kg heroin, aides escape Tribune News Service Ludhiana, January 21 The police arrested a drug peddler, Amarjit Singh of Mukandpur village near Dehlon, and seized 2 kg of heroin from his possession.

They also impounded the car in which the drug was being smuggled. The contraband was hidden under the driver seat.

Amarjit’s two accomplices managed to escape.

Addressing a press conference in Jagraon today, SSP Surjit Singh said Amarjit was arrested on a tip-off near the drain bridge outside Malak village.

Amarjit told the police that he moved to the US in 1988 with his family. Later, he returned to India and got involved in drug peddling to make a quick buck. He frequently visited India and used to bring heroin from J&K and supply it in Punjab.

PUNJAB

04 COMMENT

All the King’s horses and all the King’s men Kuljit Bains

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he past week was singularly uncomfortable for the Congress government in Punjab, with two major ousters: one minister, and the other a bureaucrat at the very top. The excitement, or anxiety — depending on who is assessing — over the developments led many to speculate variously: credibility on corruption had been built/exposed; the government’s functioning would be shaken; Capt Amarinder Singh stood weakened; fratricidal infighting among coteries would break out.

While some of the speculation may be valid in bits, there is no tangible basis for any of the above. Rana Gurjit Singh’s removal may be a personal setback to Capt Amarinder Singh, but the minister left no gaping hole in the government that cannot be filled. Politically, he is not a man of mass appeal, except for the mass of his cash reserves. What may prima facie have some consequence for the government was the removal of Chief Principal Secretary to the CM, Suresh Kumar, as he was functioning as a de facto chief minister. Yet — despite his universally acknowledged competence and integrity — he was entirely extraneous to the constitutional scheme of things provided for a state government. And every legal element continues to be available to run the government as ever. There should not be occasion for even a hiccup in the state’s governance, with the Chief Minister in charge.

That, however, hinges on the presumption that the Chief Minister will function himself, as well as have everyone else in the government function, only as provided for under law and the Constitution.

Unfortunately, that has not been exactly the case thus far. A culture of coteries — in multiple — has taken firm grip over the 10 months of this government. The AG’s office — lined with a host of friends and family of those near and dear to the Chief Minister — has been the only countervailing force to the powerbrokers based out of the CMO. A new set of courtiers and faithful retainers is also in the process of being

bestowed with constitutional positions, with little consideration for experience, qualification or merit. There is a body called the Information Commission, which has long been handy to accommodate anyone who needs to be rewarded.

Unfortunately, despite its significance in the interest of transparency in governance, the panel has never been taken seriously. But there is another panel, the Punjab Public Service Commission (PPSC), which is held in due awe by one and all. Yet, this too may be in for a surprise selection of members, if not a shock or two. Before the deed is done, it may help Capt Amarinder Singh to recall how seriously he had taken the commission in his previous stint, and sent its chairman (Ravi Sidhu) to jail for giving jobs for money.

Coteries may give a sense of security to the one at the centre, but the comfort could prove treacherous. For one, it limits the variety of inputs and advice the man at the top may receive, which may severely impede judgement. A broad base of channels of information is thus a must. That is precisely what a Cabinet system affords, provided it is encouraged to function in the right spirit. Let all ministers speak their mind, and respect their views. Let all bureaucrats heading various departments think for themselves and function under the guidance of the Chief Secretary. No one in this arrangement will be able to take the government for a ride simply because of the checks and balances the system provides.

Capt Amarinder Singh — politically secure as he is — now has a fresh opportunity to empower the top Congress leadership in the government, and delegate powers to the right quarters of the bureaucracy, while occupying himself with holding them accountable for their actions. It will also help him free his mind and time for higher perspective planning and devote himself to the larger political game.

The recent misfortunes, thus, need not be any more than embarrassment. It is early in the day for the Congress government, and amends can be made. In the end, outcomes are all about the choices we make.

SAD sarpanch arrested for sheltering gangsters Tribune News Service Moga, January 21 The Moga police today claimed to have arrested Jaswinder Singh alias Shinder, the Akali sarpanch of Buttar Kalan village falling under Nihalsinghwala subdivision of Moga, for giving shelter to gangsters.

At least three weapons, including one .32-bore pistol, one .32-bore revolver and one .12-bore gun had been recovered from him.

A case under Sections 212, 216 and 216-A of the IPC and various sections of the Arms Act was registered against him on a tipoff at the Badhni Kalan police station.

A senior police official said a team of the special cell of the police arrested him from the Raju Wala bridge of a local canal in the area.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the weapons recovered from the Akali sarpanch belonged to Surinder Pal Singh, Kala Singh and Bhagwant Singh, all residents of Buttar Kalan village. All these are licensed weapons, but had been recovered from the possession of the sarpanch. The said names of owners of these weapons had also been included in the case, the investigations of which are underway.

However, these associates of the Akali sarpanch are yet to be arrested.

An attempt was made by some gangsters to kill the Akali sarpanch on February 18, 2016. He along with a panchayat member Gurprem Singh escaped unhurt. The gangsters took away arms and several cartridges from the sarpanch’s car before fleeing.

CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

Punjab Diary didn’t find the colour to his liking. After opening the packing box, he asked the employee to get it exchanged. However, the seller refused to oblige. The officer kept pressing the clerk to do the job. Later, colleagues requested him to retain the item, “all praise” for its colour. Finally, he relented.

Suresh Kumar’s parting shot Chandigarh: Shortly after his appointment as Chief Principal Secretary to the CM was set aside by the High Court, Suresh Kumar sent a Whatsapp message to his colleagues in the bureaucracy. The retired IAS officer, known for his no-nonsense approach, wrote: “Surely, I made the mistake of coming back to the government.” Kumar stated that “he trusted the system more than what it ought to be”, apparently referring to the power play within the government that led to his ouster. He announced to return to “barefoot governance”, a task which he had intended to do after retirement in April 2016.

Veiled threat to Manpreet Bathinda: Protesting employees of the Guru Nanak Dev Thermal Plant are leaving no stone unturned to make their voice reach the corridors of power. They have been staging dharnas at various places that Finance Minister Manpreet Badal visits in his constituency. At a dharna outside Guru Harkrishan Public School here, an employee union leader said, “Power Minister Rana Gurjit Singh had decided to shut the plant, but see how the Almighty punished him for his deeds. He lost his Cabinet berth within days of taking the decision.” This was probably a veiled threat to Manpreet, who has been accused of reneging on his prepoll promise that the plant won’t be shut down.

Dhol shor for Mansa DC Mansa: Deputy Commissioner Dharampal Gupta was taken by surprise when residents of Gandua Khurd village in Budhlada subdivision welcomed him with dhol beats. They told him that this was the first visit by a DC to this nondescript village. Ram Singh, a village resident, said successive state governments had ignored them, even as political leaders paid a visit only for seeking votes. Giving them his phone number, Gupta assured the villagers that he would visit every three months to address their problems.

Shopkeeper Baldev Singh on dharna in front of the Barnala police headquarters. TRIBUNE PHOTO

Going shirtless for ‘greater impact’ Sangrur: Egged on by mediapersons, a fasting protester removed his shirt outside the Barnala SSP’s office last week.

Baldev Singh was upset over the police’s failure to act against the persons who had illegally evicted him from his shop.

Journalists told him to go topless in the cold weather for “greater impact”. Within minutes, Baldev started shivering and had to wear his shirt again. “Mediapersons should refrain from exploiting gullible people for the sake of sensationalism,” a relative of Baldev said.

Making a mark on global fora Jalandhar: Congress national media panellist Jaiveer Shergill was the only speaker from Punjab at the Asian Forum on Global Governance & Raisina Dialogue, organised recently by the Observer Research Foundation and the Ministry of External Affairs. The week-long event, held in New Delhi, witnessed discussions on global security and other issues among young leaders from across the world. Shergill, a lawyer hailing from Jalandhar, was earlier invited by the US Government to speak at the NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Much ado about officer’s choice Muktsar: A senior officer in the district administration recently purchased a ~1-lakh Apple MacBook laptop from a Jalandhar-based vendor. A clerk brought the item, but the officer

An Akali hoarding without the picture of ex-CM Parkash Singh Badal, installed outside Muktsar City police station. TRIBUNE PHOTO

SAD hoardings sans Badal’s picture Muktsar: Former Chief Minister and SAD patron Parkash Singh Badal’s picture was missing from many hoardings installed here by the local party leadership in connection with the Maghi Mela political conference. Young Akalis made it clear that there were supporters of party president Sukhbir Badal, not his father. Sukhbir presided over the conference, but Badal didn’t attend it, citing ill health.

CONTRIBUTED BY RAJMEET SINGH, PARVESH SHARMA, VARINDER SINGH, ARCHIT WATTS, PERNEET SINGH AND GAGANDEEP SHARMA

Post bhog row, Dalit family, gurdwara panel strike deal But Sikh organisations cry foul, demand public apology Parvesh Sharma Tribune News Service

Sangrur, January 21 Manwala resident Kaka Singh and his family, who had accused village gurdwara committee of not allowing them to perform the “bhog” of their mother on January 17, today entered into a compromise with the committee members at the Dhuri Sadar police station.

Bhupinder Singh Bhalwan, an SGPC member, said: “The committee members have apologised from Kaka Singh at the police station and both parties have signed a compromise without any pressure on eithery party.”

The Manwala Sangharsh Committee, which includes various Sikh associations, has accused the police of pressuring the Dalit family.

They demanded public apology from the gurdwara management.

Its members said Dalits

Kaka Singh (2nd from right) with members of Sikh associations in Manwala village of Sangrur. TRIBUNE PHOTO should not have been taken to police station in their absence. “Last evening, I got a call from Kaka Singh’s family that influential villagers were pressuring them for a compromise.

It is not acceptable. The gurdwara committee members will have to apologise publicly,” said Harpal Kaur, president, Punjab Majahabi Sikh Balmik Bhalai Front.

Members of the United

Akali Dal, Ragi Granthi Sabha, Sangrur and Panthak Sewa Lehar were also present.

Gurpartap Singh, SHO, said Kaka Singh had compromised with the gurdwara committee without any pressure. Kaka Singh too said: “Nobody forced me for a compromise. I want to close this matter now.”

Some villagers alleged that since 50 per cent votes in their village are of Dalits,

village sarpanch Harpal Singh was provoking Dalits to get their votes in panchayat elections.

Ishar Singh, a member of the gurdwara committee, said: “Since I contested the elections against Harpal, he is instigating Dalits against me to settle political scores.

We never prevented Dalits from using the gurdwara.”

Harpal Singh has denied the allegations.

Canadian gurdwaras stand divided over curb orders Turbaned man heckled in club

Three booked for murder over property Our Correspondent

Varinder Singh Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 21 Fissures have started emerging within Canadian gurdwara managements over the contentious issue of curbs on Indian officials in gurdwaras.

At least 14 gurdwara committees of Ontario Province of Canada and 96 of the US had announced the curbs.

Some Sikh leaders have now started distancing themselves from the decision.

Four members of the Ontario Khalsa Durbar (known as Dixie Road gurdwara) — Parmjit Singh Bolina, Navjit Singh, Gurinder Singh Bhullar and Amrik Singh Deol — have contended that neither the issue was ever brought up any committee meeting, nor any resolution was passed in this context.

“The curb order can be the personal views of gurdrawa president Gurpreet Singh Bal, who had raised the issue during his speech on the New Year’s Eve. Each gurdwara has its doors open for persons of any religion, caste and creed,” said the members in a statement.

Similarly, Sukhwant Singh

Ottawa, January 21 A Sikh man was asked to remove his turban by a woman in a Canadian club, according to a media report.

The woman also allegedly threatened to “rip” the turban off and heckled the man with racist remarks.

Jaswinder Singh Dhaliwal was playing pool with his friends at Royal Canadian Legion, a Canadian ex-service organisation that includes people who have served in military, when the management approached the group and asked him to remove his “patka” as it was its “policy to remove headgear out of

Rai, Sarvan Singh Gill, Sarvan Singh Sandhu, Pushpinder Singh Atwal and Mohinder Singh Grewal, all directors of Brampton-based Guru Nanak Sikh Centre, Glidan Road, and Gurdwara Brampton Sikh Sangat, Regan Road, have distanced

respect for veterans”.

However, religious garments are exempted from this policy. The incident took place on Wednesday at Tignish town in Canada’s Prince Edward Island. A video of the incident shows a woman threatening to “rip” off the head covering in response to being filmed and a patron at the bar making an obscene gesture while saying the garment must be removed because “it is the law”.

Legion president Stephen Gallant later said he would apologise to the aggrieved party as religious garments were exempted from their policy, the report said. — PTI themselves from the January 6 decision taken by a number of Ontario gurdwaras.

“The Sikh principles are based on equality of mankind.

No one can be stopped from partaking of ‘langar’, listening to ‘gurbani’ and paying obeisance,” they said.

Tarn Taran, January 21 Three members of a family of Thathian Khurd village, 30 km from Tarn Taran, have been booked under Sections 302, 452, 323 and 34 of the IPC by the Harike police in connection with the murder of a 25-year -old man. Property dispute is said to be the reason behind the incident.

Sub-Inspector Prabhjit Singh, SHO, said while Kulwant Singh of Dhotian village was killed in the incident, his cousin Jugraj Singh sustained injuries. Buta Singh, his wife Raj Kaur and son Nanak Singh of the same village have been nominated as the accused in the case.

Kulwant and Jugraj had gone to the village in connection with the construction of a bathroom at the former’s sister Manjit Kaur’s house. The duo were in Manjit’s house when the accused attacked them with lathis. Kulwant was hit on his head, which killed him instantly. The accused, Buta Singh is the brother-in-law of Manjit, who is a widow, and there was property dispute in their family which led to the incident.

SGPC aims to baptise 1 lakh ~11 crore for Durgiana Mandir facelift under ‘dharam parchar’ drive Tribune News Service

Amritsar, January 21 The SGPC has come up with a plan to propagate Sikhism across Punjab and Haryana, while dedicating the current year to the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. SGPC additional secretary and spokesperson Diljit Singh Bedi said they were hoping to baptise at least one lakh devotees by the end of this year.

The two states have been

bifurcated into four zones for the purpose. In Punjab, the zones included areas under three takhts — Akal Takht, Damdama Sahib and Sri Kesgarh Sahib – while the only zone that has been demarcated in Haryana is at Kurukshetra.

The campaign “dharam parchar lehar” kickstarted from Takht Damdama Sahib on January 21 will be followed by programmes at Gurdwara Manji

Sahib Diwan Hall in Amritsar on January 28. Another programme is scheduled at Takht Kesgarh Sahib on February 11. All SGPC members have been roped in to make it a success. Each member will visit at least 20 villages to propagate Sikhism. They will be accompanied by jathas comprising raagis, dhadis, granthis, preachers and religious study teachers. — TNS

Amritsar, January 21 The state government today announced to release Rs 11 crore to expedite the beautification project of Durgiana Mandir.

Local Bodies, Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu fixed June 30 as the deadline to complete the project.

In August 2016, the then Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal had laid the foundation stone of Rs 115-crore

beautification project. The work for the first phase of the project worth Rs 25 core was initiated and Rs 6.19 crore was released during the SAD-BJP regime. Later, the project slowed down due to lack of funds.

Reviewing the work done so far, Sidhu sought project status from Amritsar Improvement Trust. “I have announced Rs 9 crore for the first phase on behalf of Capt Amarinder Singh. The improvement trust has been directed to release

another Rs 2 crore for the electrical work lying pending for long,” he said.

Sidhu said an audit would be done for the earlier amount of Rs 6 crore spent so far. “The work was going on at a snail’s pace. I will personally monitor the project. Those who fail to deliver will be made accountable,” he said.

Local Bodies Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu pays obeisance at Durgiana Mandir in Amritsar on Sunday.

TRIBUNE PHOTO: VISHAL KUMAR

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Four youths drown in Yamuna canal Our Correspondent Sonepat, January21 Four youths identified as Laxdeep (24), Hitesh (23), Rohit (22), and Saurabh (22) of Punjabi colony in Sampla of Rohtak drowned in Delhi branch of the West Yamuna Canal near Rohat village on the Sonepat-Rohtak highway late last night.

Body of Laxdeep has been fished out by divers, whereas, despite all efforts of the district administration, and divers from the NDRF team, have failed to trace the bodies of the other three missing youth. After the postmortem, Laxdeep’s body has been handed over to his family members.

According to the police, all four of them along with their friend Chirag were

coming in a car to have dinner at Murthal dhaba late last night. When they reached at a bridge over the canal at 11 pm last night, Saurabh, who was driving the car, took a wrong turn after seeing a truck coming from the opposite direction, and the car fell in the canal.

Chirag managed to come out of the canal and informed about the incident.

On receiving information, the police reached on the spot and started a search operation. Locals also joined them in the search operation.

Congress and BJP leaders and officers of the district administration, including SP Satinder Kumar reached on the spot today. The flow of the water in the canal has been reduced to help the divers search the bodies.

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CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

Principal murder accused in two-day police remand Shiv Kumar Sharma Tribune News Service

Yamunanagar, January 21 The Class XII student of Swami Vivekanand Public School who shot the principal dead was produced before duty magistrate Pratibha Mehla in a Jagadhri court today, who remanded him in two-day police custody.

Om Prakash, SHO of the City Police Station, Yamunanagar, said before producing him in court, the medical examination was conducted at the civil hospital.

“Blood samples have been sent for examination to Madhuban to ascertain whether the accused was taking drugs,” he said.

Accused’s father Ranjit Singh, a resident of Hamida Colony here, was produced before the duty magistrate, who sent him to 14-day judicial custody.

Ranjit Singh, a financier, had an agriculture farm in Gumthala village.

The accused was booked under various sections of the IPC and Arms Act yesterday. His father was booked under the Arms Act. Both were arrested yesterday.

The student shot dead school principal Ritu Chhabra (46) while she was in her office on Saturday morning and tried to flee.

He was overpowered and handed over to the police.

He used his father’s licensed revolver to commit the crime.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Kalia told mediapersons that during preliminary investigation, the accused told the police that he was upset with the principal for reprimanding him a few times in front of his classmates on complaints of teachers.

The accused fired four bullets at the principal. Sources said he had six bullets and the police had to recover the other two bullets.

The sources said the accused came on his motorcycle and parked it near the school. The police were yet to recover it.

Kamal Kamboj, president of Swami Vivekanand Education Society, had said the principal was alone in her office when the student opened fire as the teachers were in their classrooms for the parent-teacher meeting in the school.

He said Chhabra had been working as teacher in the school for about 20 years and was principal for the last between four and five years.

The body of the principal was cremated at Rampura today. The cremation was attended by a large number of people, including Yamunanagar MLA Ghanshyam Das Arora and DSP (HQ) Anil Kumar.

On mission mode, teachers pool funds for Jind village govt school Children from humble background get smart classrooms Vishal Joshi Tribune News Service

Kasuhan (Jind), January 21 Lessons in mathematics, English and brain games adorn the walls of the government primary school at this village in the rural heartland of the state.

Children from financially humble families have free access to smart classrooms and enjoy reading in tiny classroom libraries.

A group of six teachers have been working hard for the last more than a year to bringing academic improvement to this village school, about 20 km from the district headquarters.

Scores of students are able to converse in English and their teachers are using innovative teaching by using Internet on a projector donated by Dharambir Sharma, principal of a private school in the village.

Headteacher Ravinder Kumar said his colleagues were able to rope in the owner of a private school and two principals of private institutes to contribute to improving facilities at this state-run school.

After being transferred to Kasuhan on September 22, 2016, teachers decided to pool in Rs 2,000 per month for several changes. Voluntary funds were being utilised to improve space

CJM Mohit Aggarwal inspects a girls’ toilet at Government Middle School in Dumaiana village of Panipat. TRIBUNE PHOTO

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January21 Eyebrows are being raised over the manner in which the police first moved an application before a Sirsa court for seeking production warrants against Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his “adopted daughter” Honeypreet, but withdrew it on Friday before the court could pronounce its order.

Sources said that the Sirsa police moved the application in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Dr Savita Kumari seeking production warrants for Ram Rahim and Honeypreet for bringing them to Sirsa to question them in connection with a meeting held in the dera on August 17 last year to hatch a conspiracy of violence in case the dera head was convicted on August 25.

In the application, the police said that the role of Ram Rahim, at present lodged in the Sunaria jail of Rohtak for rape of his women disciples, and Honeypreet, an under trial lodged in the Ambala jail for the Panchkula violence,

Nitish Sharma Tribune News Service

Ambala, January 21 The Ambala Municipal Corporation has adopted a strategy to generate revenue from the waste generated in Ambala City and Sadar Zone.

As per the information, the corporation is selling its segregated (wet and dry) waste to two firms, currently on trial basis, which is not only helping in disposing of solid waste scientifically but also generating revenue for the corporation.

Ambala generates over 300 tonne of waste every day.

Satyender Duhan, Commissioner, Ambala Municipal Corporation, said, “It is a scheme for disposal of solid waste and rehabilitation of rag pickers. Every city is struggling in handling the solid waste and its final disposal. A futuristic plan has been chalked out to generate around Rs 8 to 10 lakh per month revenue for the corporation. Waste is not waste now, it is a resource which is earning for the corporation.”

“The MC has signed a pact with a local manure firm, which is purchasing the wet waste for 25 paisa per kg and turns it into manure. The corporation is generating Rs 4 to 5 lakh per month by selling wet waste. If the farmers show interest the corporation could make efforts to provide that manure on subsidised

A plan has been ❝ chalked out to generate Rs 8 to 10 lakh per month for the MC. Waste is not waste now, it is a resource which is earning for the corporation.❞ Satyender Duhan, MC CHIEF rates. Similarly, in order to dispose dry waste, a tie up has been done with a Patialabased firm. Efforts are being made to generate nearly the same amount from the dry waste too. The dry waste is likely to fetch Rs 2 to 5 per kg, as per their category,” he added.

The commissioner said, “Besides, the integration process of ragpickers has been started and the corporation has also identified nearly 250 ragpickers in Ambala.

Identity cards have been issued to them and now the ragpickers are being motivated to pick segregated waste and sell them to specific vendors only so that they could also earn better.”

“So far the MC used to pay to people to dispose of the waste but now the people would pay to purchase the waste as it is in the segregated form. The trial run is on and it would be completed by February 14. Then it will be implemented on a larger scale and bids would be called so that more revenue could be generated,” he added.

Girls’ toilet without door, CJM livid No school boundary to earmark area Tribune News Service

Students at Government Primary School that has been given a facelift by the funds pooled by six teachers at Kasuhan village in Jind district. TRIBUNE PHOTO: SAYEED AHMED used by students and not the staff room.

“After getting choicebased posting at Kasuhan, our aim was to work wholeheartedly for the betterment of villagers. We were able to admit 100 students from private schools in the last session and the school strength reached 225,” he said.

His colleagues Virender Redhu and Tika Ram said they had toiled for laying floor tiles, plumbing and pot decoration. They said they had pooled in funds for stationery and notebooks for the students.

Police withdraw plea for production warrants of Ram Rahim, Honeypreet Sushil Manav

Ambala generates wealth from waste

has come to light in investigations into violence in Sirsa.

Arguments on the application were completed on Thursday and the court had reserved its order for Friday.

However, before the court could pronounce its order yesterday, the police withdrew the application with leave to file another application on the issue in future, if need arises.

On Friday, DGP, Prisons, KP Singh was also quoted in a section of media saying that if the police wanted to take away Ram Rahim on production warrants, they would be responsible for his security.

“It is unfortunate that the police were still helping the dera chief despite his conviction in a heinous offence of rape. The simple fact that the police moved an application makes it clear that they needed Ram Rahim and Honeypreet in connection with violence in Sirsa,” said advocate Lekh Raj Dhot, counsel for slain journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati’s son Anshul in the case of murder in which the dera chief is an accused.

“More than 95 per cent attendance indicates that students enjoy coming to school. Our team hired professionals to decorate the exterior walls with cartoon characters. Every corner of the interior walls is painted and designed as an information tool,” said Redhu.

As mobile phone coverage was good, teachers had been using the Internet for various demonstrative and knowledge assignments.

Villagers had donated 15 ceiling fans and the panchayat had started working on infrastructural develop-

ment. Devender Attri, running a private school, donated a double-battery inverter.

“Convinced with the social initiative undertaken by teachers, I am ready to contribute more to the school.

Since everyone cannot afford private school education, I consider it my social obligation to support such enterprising staff,” he said.

Deputy Commissioner Amit Khatri said the school had set an example with others, including the panchayat, chipping in for improvement at the grassroots.

Panipat, January 21 Chief Judicial Magistratecum-General Secretary, DLSA, Mohit Aggarwal, has raised questions over the security of girl students at Government Middle School (GMS) at Dumiana village in Madlauda of the district.

He has written a letter to the district authorities to improve infrastructure facilities at the school to ensure safety of students.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate had inspected the school last week during a legal awareness camp.

In his report, the Chief Judicial Magistratepointed out that the girls’ toilet, built adjacent to that for boys, had no doors. He said that there was no boundary wall outside the toilet area

and the girl students felt unsafe on using the facility.

The work to build new toilets was stopped a year ago.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate clearly stated that the Education Department and the district administration had not shown any interest in ensuring safety of the girl students.

He also pointed out the dilapidated condition of the school building on account on substandard material used in its construction in 2008.

The Chief Judicial Magistrate stated that the students were made to sit on floors in classrooms without broken doors and windows.

The school also faces shortage of teaching staff. Teachers said they had to take joint classes in the absence of staff.

TENDER NOTICE The Office of Director, Meteorological Office, Punjabi University, Patiala.

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Tender form with terms & Conditions are available on our college website i.e. www.mamc.edu.in. Tender documents should reach in the office of undersigned latest by 03.02.2018 up to 02:00 p.m. and technical bids will be opened on 05.02.2018 at 02:00 p.m. and Price bid will be notified on website 05 days in advance. Other terms and conditions can be seen in the tender form.

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LOAN

Required Manager for handling Indian Railway Business good communication & written skills, keen observe will be directly working with senior management. Contact: 93160-63019.

Credit Suisse Corporate immediate finance available private funding property project takeover bad cibil deal agent welcome, good income. 099883A7-68522 13955.

C7-82250

BGSBUS Sr. Secondary School, Khadur Sahib requires Graduate Commerce/ExServiceman Clerk having Computer and Tally knowledge, handsome salary.

Forward bio-data on nsikhi@yahoo.in by 30 Jan. 2018. Contact no. 84277-26246.

A7-73570

YS Group, Barnala (Pb.) (www.ysschool.org) require Lecturer Physics (35000+), Accent Trainer (30000+); Child Psychologist (25000), Communication Trainers (22000+); TGT Science, English (21000+); PRT English, EVS, Kindergarten faculty, storyteller, Content Writer, Graphic Designer (18000+); Receptionist (15000+). Free accommodation for single females.

Apply: ys_schoolbnl@yahoo.co.in or call 98880-23168, 90411-90722, 01679A7-72801 239028.

Apex International Public Sr. Sec. School, Kapurthala Road, Nakodar (CBSE Affiliated) Required: PGT Chemistry, Physics, English. TGT English & S.St., Teachers for Nursery Wing, Female Receptionist, Qualified Male Instructor for NCC. Candidates belonging to Jalandhar & nearby area of Nakodar will be given preference. Transportation free for teachers. Decent salary. Send your resume by post or at Email: apexinternationalpublicschool@gmail.co m Principal (Ph. 84370-20164, 92165C7-82906 83954).

Required regular Principal & Lecturer S.St., Commerce, Physical Education, Mathematics, Punjabi Religion, Librarian one each. English (Three), Computer Science (Four). Qualification & salary as per Punjabi University/Punjab Govt. norms. Apply within fifteen days with complete bio-data to Chairman, Shaheed Udham Singh College of Management, Arts & Computer Science, Mehlan Chowk, Distt. Sangrur & Dean (Colleges), Punjabi University, Patiala.

C7-82914 Ph.: 92170-22501.

Required regular Lecturer in teaching of Commerce, Education, English, Hindi, Political Science and Librarian.

Qualification MA (55%), M.Ed. Salary as per Punjabi University/Punjab Govt. norms. Apply within fifteen days with complete bio-data to Chairman, Shaheed Udham Singh College of Management, Arts & Computer Science, Mehlan Chowk, Distt. Sangrur & Dean (Colleges), Punjabi University, Patiala.

C7-82916 Ph.: 92170-22501.

Applications are invited for following posts:- PGT - English, Chemistry, Maths, Commerce, Geo, TGT - English, Maths, Social Science, PRT - all subject, Hostel Warden male/female, Music, Band, Spoken, Qualifications & pay scale as per CBSE norms. Candidate must be fluent in English & Computer savvy. Free accommodation + food for outstation candidate.

Apply on rirs2009@gmail.com within 15 days along with a recent passport-size photograph. Shortlisted candidates will C7-82956 be called for interview.

Required Vice Principal PGT, TGT Physics, Maths, Biology, English, Social Science, Computer Music, Computer Primary Teachers Receptionist DPE, at Guru Nanak Academy Ratia Haryana. Send resume at Email: gna.ratia@gmail.com and WhatsApp 093153-29274. CBSE Affiliated School, C7-82968 Accommodation free.

DAV Public School, Bankhandi, Dehra requires staff (regular/contractual) Session 2018-19 for the following posts TGT: English, Maths, Science, Hindi, PRT, JBT (D.El.Ed., J.B.T., T.E.T) preferred - All subjects upto 5th.

Computer Teacher, LDC/Steno, Peon, Aaya, Driver, Security Guard for Day & Night, Asstt. Librarian, P.E.T. Trained & experienced candidates, qualified T.E.T. will be preferred. Proficiency in English & Computer knowledge is must. Submit resume or Email application before 1st February. Contact details: Email: davban@rediffmail.com 01970-284251, D7-65 98822-27102, 97360-62488.

Airawat Army Primary School, Nabha Cantt, (1) Qualitative Requirement (a) Educational qualification: Graduate/Post Graduate with NTT/B.Ed. (b) Adequate knowledge of Computers and fluency in English and Hindi. Apply till 05 Feb. 2018 at school address. (2) Salary approx NA7-69158 Rs. 10,000/-.

Maple International School, Jagraon Road, Hathur urgently requires experienced candidates with excellent academic record and communication skills for PRT: (All Subjects) Kindergarten Teachers, Music/Dance Teachers, Language Lab Teachers, Librarian, Clerk Computer Teacher.

Salary no bar for deserving candidates.

Contact:- 92604-00005, Mail us:mapleinternationalschool@gmail.com NA7-69173

S.S.M. College, Dinanagar (Gurdaspur) (Accredited by NAAC with ‘A’ Grade).

Invites applications for two posts of Assistant Professors in Computer Science on contract basis for three years.

Qualifications and grade as per UGC/DPI(C) Pb./GNDU norms.

Reservation policy will be as per Punjab Government rules. Apply within seven days under registered cover/e-mail: ssmdnn@yahoo.com to the undersigned.

(Dr. R.K. Tuli) Principal (98726-60939).

NA7-69244B

Punjab Public School Mansurpur (Mukerian) affiliated to CBSE (New Delhi). Required TGT staff for the post of Hindi & S. St. 98144-78593, 94648NA7-69310 59641.

Walk-in interview for Accountants in Sarvhitkari Educational Society, Vidya Dham, Bye Pass Road, Jalandhar. Email: ses.jld@gmail.com Experts in Tally with minimum 5 years experience. Preferably B.Com. or CA (Inter). Salary - No bar for experts in Accounts. Please come with your resume along with your testimonials and recent photograph on 28.01.2018 at 11 a.m. Ph. No. 0181-2421199.

NA7-69312

MOVERS & PACKERS ABI International Packers/Movers Household, Office, Car shifting.

Domestic/International. Call 093167C7-77456 64321, 093163-64321.

DISCLAIMER “The Tribune Trust does not take responsibility for the contents of the advertisements (Display/ Classified) carried in this newspaper. The paper does not endorse the same. Readers are requested to verify the contents on their own before acting there upon.”

Private Finance for Project Loan, working Capital, Business Development, Funding 10 Cr. & above. Call: 74004A7-73589 46803.

MACHINERY FOR SALE PCB manufacturing machinery almost new, automatic plant for sale. Owner retired. Contact: 92120-79819, 99711C7-82928 13838.

CAR FOR SALE 2014 October Mercedes ML 250 black colour, 78000 kms done, dottless condition.

NA7-69228 Ph. No. 88475-38793.

PROPERTY FOR SALE CHANDIGARH Rock bottom rates, one kanal new floors (Lift) B-Road, Chandigarh, big parking. 96531-77677, 81465-04346.

NA7-68045

PROPERTY WANTED Wanted at Chandigarh: Preferably new 2 or 1 kanal kothi. Sellers Plz call: NA7-69179 96468-09090.

PLOT FOR SALE 231 yards, huge green belt, 60’ road, North East facing, Sector 125, Sunny NA7-69182 Enclave 98141-06044.

TOLET PANCHKULA Panchkula Sector 26, H.No. 1967, 1st Floor, 2 BHK for rent. 094166-87350.

A7-73213

RENT/LEASE Running workshop with modern equipment 800 sqm area at Karnal. Con. C7-82980 94163-24909.

Dreams Restaurant available on rent on Jalandhar-Pathankot G.T. Road, near McDonald, Dasuya. 094640-75751.

NA7-69311

LOST & FOUND It is notified for the information that my original qualifying examination detail marks sheet of Higher Secondary Examination of year 1978 and Roll No. 20141 issued by CBSE has been actually lost. Manjit Kaur D/o Gurmukh Singh H.No. 568 Phase 3B1, Mohali. Phone: A7-73225 98148-60568.

Class-X CBSE certificate of Ms. Simranjeet Kaur d/o Late S. Gurbachan Singh bearing Roll No. 2287665, Year 2014 has been misplaced. Anyone finding it may contact Phone No. 87288-72073.

A7-73593

PUBLIC NOTICES I, Manjot Kaur Dhaliwal w/o Satwinder Singh, VPO Kalhe Majra, Tehsil Nabha, Distt Patiala, have changed C7-82462B my name to Manjot Kaur.

I, Saroj Rani d/o Inderjeet Village Kedupur, Teh. Nabha, Distt. Patiala, have changed my name to Saroj Sharma.

A7-73538B

I, No. 14324292 F, Ex. Hav. Bhagwan Singh s/o Kikar Singh r/o Vill. Bandh, P.O. Bhangwar via Ranital, Tehsil & Distt. Kangra (HP) declare that my minor daughter’s name & DoB in my Army service record may be read as Sapna instead of Soni Randhawa & DoB 04.10.1987 instead of 05.10.1987.

C7-82828 Concerned note.

I, No. 13922974P Rank Ex Nk Suresh Chander s/o Late Chuni Lal r/o Ward No. 16, VPO Sidhpur, Tehsil Dharamsala, District Kangra HP, declare that in my army service record my wife’s name & DOB wrongly entered as Vinod Dogra & 24.04.1956, whereas her correct name & DOB is Vinod Kumari & 04.04.1956. Concerned note.

C7-82924

I, Suman Kapoor w/o Rajiv Chopra r/o H.No. 1648/8, Vishnu Colony, Kurukshetra, have changed my name Suman Kapoor to Sudha Chopra. Noted NA7-69146B all concerned.

I, Munni Devi w/o Roshan Lal Sharma r/o 15, R.K. Puram (Karnal), have changed my name to Munni Devi NA7-69287B Sharma.

I, Sheela Devi w/o Ram Kumar r/o Morbar Bhatoli, Tehsil MehatpurBasdehra, Distt. Una (HP), informed that I have now changed my name Suman Lata. In future all know me named NA7-69314 Suman Lata.

COURT NOTICE In the Court of Sh. Sumit Bhalla Additional Civil Judge (SD) Tarn Taran.

Suit No. 39 of 2017 1. Jaswant Singh 2. Balwant Singh 3. Kulwant Singh all sons of Piara Singh and all residents of village Alladinpur, Tehsil and District Tarn Taran. ...Plaintiffs.

Versus Bhajan Singh Etc. ...Defendants.

Suit for Permanent Injunction Notice to Defendant No. 4 Ministry of Road Transport and Highway through Secretary Transport Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi – 110001.

Whereas, the Plaintiffs have filed the above noted suit against the Defendant. This Court is satisfied that the above named defendant cannot served through ordinary way of process.

Hence, this proclamation is issued as required U/Sec 5 Rule 20 CPC, directing the defendant Ministry of Road Transport through Secretary Transport Bhawan, to appear before this Court on or before 02.02.2018 at 10 a.m., personally or through Counsel or authorised agent, failing which he will be proceeded against exparte.

Given under my hand and seal of this Court on 13th November, 2017.

Sd/- Additional Civil Judge (Sr. Divn.), CN7-3119 Tarn Taran.

COURT NOTICES

COURT NOTICES

Sessions Court Moga In the Court of Sh. Randhir Verma District Judge Family Court, Moga.

Next Date, Purpose of case, Orders and Judgements as well as other case information is available on http://ecourts.gov.in Publication Notice Under Order 5 Rule 20 CPC Sivrandeep Kaur Versus Rajwant Singh CNR No. PBMO01-0072662017 27.11.2017 Suit for Recovery of Rs 120000/Peshi: 22.02.2018 Publication Issued to: Rajwant Singh s/o Kuldip Singh Brar r/o Vill. Chand Nawan, Teh. Baghapurana, Distt. Moga.

Whereas it has been proved to the satisfaction of the court that the defendant(s)/respondent(s) above named cannot be served in the ordinary way of service.

Hence, this proclamation under Order 5 Rule 20 CPC is hereby issued against him/them and should appear personally or through their counsel on 22.02.2018 at 9.30 a.m.

Take notice that, in default of his/their appearance on the day before mentioned, the above said case will be heard and determined in his/their absence.

Given under my hand and the seal of the court this 11.01.2018.

Sd/- Randhir Verma, District Judge Family Court, CN7-3121 Moga.

Civil Courts, Ludhiana In the Court of Ms. Gurpreet Kaur-I Civil Judge (Junior Division) Ludhiana.

Publication Notice Under Order 5 Rule 20 CPC Indu Bala Versus M/s Navyug Land Development Corporation CS/2946/2017 CNR No.:- PBLD02-0052572017 17.07.2017 Suit for grant of decree of Specific Performance Suit for grant of decree of Permanent Injunction.

Peshi: 02.02.2018 Publication Issued to: M/s Navyug Land Development Corporation Bahadur House GPO Road Ldh. through its Director.

Whereas it has been proved to the satisfaction of the Court that the defendant(s)/respondent(s) above named cannot be served in the ordinary way of service.

Hence, this proclamation under order 5 Rule 20 CPC is hereby issued against him/them and should appear personally or through their counsel on 02.02.2018 at 9.30 a.m.

Take notice that, in default of his/their appearance on the day before mentioned, the above said case will be heard and determined in his/their absence.

Given under my hand and the seal of the Court this 20.12.2017.

Sd/- Ms. Gurpreet Kaur-I Civil Judge (Junior Division) CN7-3127 Ludhiana.

Civil Courts, Amritsar In the Court of Sh. Harish Kumar, Civil Judge Junior Division-V, Next Date, Purpose of case, Orders and Judgements as well as other case information is available on http://ecourts.gov.in 1. Harjot Singh, aged 19 years S/o Jhilmal Singh S/o Milkha Singh 2. Jagpreet Singh, aged 20 years S/o Jhilmal Singh S/o Milkha Singh, both R/o Village Dhing Nangal, District Amritsar.

Versus Baljeet Kaur and others CNR No. PBAS02-004397-2016 Publication issued to Def. No.: 3. Paramjit Kaur wife of Dalbir Singh R/o Village Janian, PO Bandala, Tehsil and District Amritsar.

4. Randip Kaur W/o Baljit Singh S/o Gurdip Singh, R/o Nushehra Pannuan, Tehsil and District Tarn Taran.

Whereas, it has been proved to the satisfaction of the Court that the defendant(s)/respondent(s) above named cannot be served in the ordinary way of service.

Hence, this proclamation under Order 5 Rule 20 CPC is hereby issued against them and should appear personally or through their counsel on 03.02.2018 at 10.00 a.m.

Take notice that, in default of their appearance on the day before mentioned, the above said case will be heard and determined in their absence.

Given under my hand and the seal of the court on this 09th day of January, 2018.

Sd/- Harish Kumar, Civil Judge Junior Division-V, CN7-3123 UID No. PB0331.

In the Court of Mrs. Sucheta Ashish Dev, Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, Tarn Taran.

Proclamation requiring the appearance of accused U/S 82 Code of Criminal Procedure Crl. Comp. No. 96, Dated 06.01.2015/16.5.2015 U/S 138 NIACT Next Date: 02.02.2018 Police Station: City Tarn Taran Sh. Keshav Polyvin Sangrur road, Dhuri, Distt. Sangrur, Punjab through its Partner Sidharath Kansal s/o Sh. Tarsem Lal Kansal r/o Dhuri, Tehsil Dhuri, now the said Sidharath Kansal partner has appointed his Attorney Sh. Vibhor s/o Ashok Kumar c/o Madan Lal Bhim Sen, Shop No. 152, near Guru Nanak Girls Sr. Secondary School, Amritsar vide Power of Attorney dated 2.1.2015. ... Complaint Versus Rajesh Prop. Rajesh Trading Corporation, Railway Road, Tarn Taran, District Tarn Taran. ... Accused Whereas present complaint has been made before me that above said accused has committed offence punishable U/S 138 NIACT it has been returned to a warrant of arrest thereupon issued. Above said accused has absconded (or is concealing himself to avoid the service of the said warrant).

Proclamation is hereby made that the above said accused is required to appear before this court on dated 02.02.2018 to appear in present complaint.

Given under my hand and seal of the Court on this 09.01.2018.

Sd/- Mrs. Sucheta Ashish Dev, Judicial Magistrate, 1st Class, CN7-3125 Tarn Taran.

In the Court of Ms. Mamta Kakkar, PCS, Civil Judge (Jr. Divn), Batala.

Case No. 23 Instt: 25.10.2010 CIS No. UCR/02/2016 CNR No. PBGDAI-000679-2010 FIR No. 2/23.01.2008 Under Section 420/465 etc.

IPC P.S. Dera Baba Nanak Title of the case: State through Basant Kaur V/s Varinderpal Singh and others Notice to: 1. Varinderpal Singh s/o Subeg Singh r/o Green Avenue, Amritsar.

2. Mohinder Kaur d/o Santa Singh r/o Mohan Nagar, Amritsar.

The Court opines that the respondent/defendant in the above said case cannot be served through ordinary process. So this publication is issued against the accused/ respondent that they should appear in this court themselves or through their counsel on the dated 29.01.2018 at 9.30 am, otherwise one sided proceeding will be initiated in the above said case.

Notice given today 18.1.2018 under my seal and stamp.

Sd/Ms. Mamta Kakkar, PCS Civil Judge (Jr. Divn.), CN7-3131 Batala.

In the Court of Sh. Chetesh Gupta, Civil Judge, (Jr. Divn.)-cum-JMIC, Yamunanagar at Jagadhri.

CNR No.HRYN03-000056-2015 Next Date: 08.02.2018 at 9:30 am M/s Scan Projects Ltd., having its registered office at Vill. Jorian, Delhi Road, Yamunanagar-135001 (Haryana) through Devender Sehgal S/o Ram Sehgal R/o 62, Model Town, Yamunanagar. ....Plaintiff Versus 1. M/s Well Erectors of New Engineering having its office at 210, Apco Square, Kadalundi, Kozhikode-673302, Kerala through its Prop. A.P. Koya Kutty.

IInd address: M/s Well Erectors of New Engineering Koyas Associated, Khadeeja Square, West Nadakkavu, Kozhikode-673011, Kerala.

2. A.P. Koya Kutty S/o not known Prop. M/s Well Erectors of New Engineering having its office at 210, Apco Square, Kadalundi, Kozhikode-673302, Kerala.

IInd address: M/s Well Erectors of New Engineering Koyas Associated, Khadeeja Square, West Nadakkavu, Kozhikode-673011, Kerala. ....Defendants Complaint U/S 406/420 IPC read with Sec. 120-B IPC, PS Farakpur.

Whereas, in the aforesaid case above said person is accused No. 1 & 2 repectively, who cannot be served by way of simple notice. Hence this notice is hereby issued to accused No. 1 & 2 to be served through this publication. If anybody has any objection in this regard to appear in this court on 08.02.2018 at 09:30 am, through either their authorised person or any counsel to defend the matter, failure which exparte proceedings will be initiated.

Given under my hand and the seal of this court on this 22nd day of December, 2017.

Sd/- Chetesh Gupta, Judicial Magistrate 1st Class, CN7-3133 Yamunanagar at Jagadhri.

CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

New rule: SPs can’t punish juniors Only IG allowed to impose penalty on Inspectors Geetanjali Gayatri Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21 Superintendents of Police (SPs) in districts across the state have been reduced to paper tigers and quietly, at that. They have lost their teeth following a government notification which withdraws their penal powers against their subordinates in their respective districts.

This especially assumes significance in the backdrop of rising instances of crime being reported from the state where the police are in the firing line and under pressure without having much authority on men working under them.

Under the notification, the Inspector General (IG) has been empowered to impose penalty on Inspectors in place of SPs, under whose control they work.

With Inspectors heading police stations across the state, this new notification will no longer give the SPs the authority to punish an errant cop with reduction in rank, stoppage of increment or recovery from salary for any pecuniary loss.

Censure or expressing mere disapproval is the only authority they wield against the Inspectors working under them in their respective districts. Sources maintain that the powers of SPs have been diluted to “accommodate the government” as the revision authority for decision on any punishment after the option of the Director General of Police as the appellate authority has been exhausted.

This “government”, in this case, implies the Home Department, which is headed

I have served in a number of districts as police ❝ chief and no Deputy Commissioner has ever chaired a meeting of the road safety committee. As SP, I have held the meetings in all districts I have been posted to. They are not to blame since they head committees they may not know of.❞ Police officer by an IAS officer, police sources have claimed.

Senior police officers see this as a deliberate attempt at weakening the authority of the police chiefs of districts while making them accountable for rising crime. They allege that it has been done on the sly without any consultation with the police top brass.

Field officers are still unaware of any such notification of the government, which is being seen as a fallout of the long-drawn tussle between IAS and IPS officers over a pending notification of Police Rules.

While IAS officers are allegedly trying to wrest more authority and thwart any attempt of IPS officers to turn Haryana into a “police state”, the Police Department is unwilling to cede its authority in law and order situations.

Despite Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar chairing a few meetings and the Home Department, along with the Police Department, finalising the Rules, the notification of Rules had been hanging fire since finalisation in November 2016.

The SPs have pleaded ignorance of any such notification while mincing no words in stating that IAS officers want all the authority when it comes to police matters while they refuse to shoulder the corresponding responsibility.

Identification of accused enough if encounter not brief, rules court Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21 A Kaithal court has held that identification of an accused by the complainant in the witness box itself is sufficient when the encounter between them is not momentary like two parallel trains crossing each other.

The ruling by Kaithal District and Sessions Judge MM Dhonchak in a snatching case assumes significance as more often than not, the issue of identification of an accused in such cases is of utmost importance, with defence attempting to take advantage of limited contact between them during commission of an offence.

Judge Dhonchak has made it clear in his judgment, delivered after concluding the trial in a short span of a week, that identification of the accused in the court is enough to establish his identity when the accused and complainant have had more than fleeting interaction.

The judgment came in a snatching case where the complainant was sandwiched between two accused after he took hold of his motorcycle and rode away.

The public prosecutor admitted the absence of identification memo in the case, but he argued that identification of the accused was not in doubt as he and the complainant had more than a mere momentary interaction.

“There is a considerable substance in the argument advanced by the public prosecutor as after all, it was not a momentary encounter between the complainant and the offenders or accused like two parallel trains crossing

“I have served in a number of districts as police chief and no Deputy Commissioner has ever chaired a meeting of the road safety committee. As SP, I have held the meetings in all districts I have been posted to.

They are not to blame since they head committees they may not know of,” said a police officer.

Insisting that such a notification would wreak havoc on policing in districts, another SP said if he had no control on the force and men working right under him, they had no reason to pay heed to his orders.

“If the hierarchy is tinkered with and the IG is expected to take action against them, we become redundant as far as they are concerned. An IG has five districts under him and he cannot be expected to keep track of the cops at the police station level,” said another officer.

Principal Secretary to CM Rajesh Khullar refused to respond to messages on the need for such a move. Additional Chief Secretary for Home SS Prasad maintained it was not done after he took charge of the department.

DGP BS Sandhu maintained that the matter had just come to light and the Police Department would file a review petition with the Home Department on the matter. He admitted that this would adversely impact policing in districts.

PADMAAVAT ROW

Youths damage shops at mall Tribune News Service Kurukshetra, January 21 Ahead of the scheduled screening of the controversial film ‘Padmaavat’, a group of unidentified youths today damaged shops in Kessal Mall at Sector 17 here this evening.

According to eyewitnesses, about 12-15 attackers came with covered faces.

They were carrying hammers and sticks. They barged into the complex at 7 pm. They broke the windowpanes and doors of various outlets on the first floor. Due to Sunday, the mall was packed with city residents.

SP Abhishek Garg said no firearm was used by the unsocial elements. “We have started scanning the CCTV cameras in the locality to identify the culprits.

Police security has been beefed up,” he added.

Rajput sena warns Gurugram: The district unit of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena has handed out memorandums to city’s multiplexes asking them not to screen Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming ‘Padmaavat’ movie, which is set to release on January 25.

They have demanded to boycott the movie and threatened the residents and owners of the multiplexes.

“Seeing the current situation, the police needs to ensure safety at all cinema houses,” said a cineplex owner. DGP BS Sandhu said, “No one will be allowed to disrupt peace in the state during the screening of the movie. We are on job and will put entire force to ensure no nonsense over the issue.”

Haryana Diary Handball team welcomed

In such circumstances, ❝ the identification of the accused by the complainant in the witness box itself is sufficient to take this court to the formidable conclusion that the question of identification is no more in doubt.❞ MM Dhonchak, DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE each other and they had sufficient time to know each other.

“In such circumstances, the identification of the accused by the complainant in the witness box itself is sufficient to take this court to the formidable conclusion that the question of identification is no more in doubt,” Judge Dhonchak asserted.

Holding accused Sunil guilty of commission of offence under Section 379-A (2) of the IPC, Judge Dhonchak ordered him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for five years and pay a fine of Rs 25,000. The complainant was granted liberty to approach Kaithal District Legal Services Authority for compensation.

The case has its genesis in a complaint lodged by Pundri resident Pradeep in September 2016. Among other things, he alleged that accused Sunil, along with co-accused Sinder, later declared proclaimed offender, forcibly snatched 10,000 from him.

He alleged that the accused, given lift by him on motorcycle, made him sit between them. One of them started driving the motorcycle while the other sat behind him.

After he raised the alarm, the accused left his motorcycle before fleeing with ATM card, bike keys, mobile phone and Rs 10,000.

Villagers welcome handball players in Panipat on Saturday.

Panipat: Villagers of Ahar village of the district welcomed handball team who won gold medal in the first Indo-Nepal Student Games held at Sidharth Nagar in Nepal from January 15 to 17. The villagers also organised a procession from Israna to Ahar village on tractors. Kartik, a player of the team said, nine players of Ahar village participated in the two teams, including under-14 and under 17 age groups, and both teams won gold medal for the country.

College gets Red Cross shield Karnal: Dyal Singh College has bagged the prestigious ‘Youth Red Cross Shield’ for the promotion of Red Cross activities among the youths in college in 2016-17. Governor Kaptan Singh Solnaki handed over the shield to Dr KL Gosain, principal of the college, during an annual general meeting of the Indian Red Cross Society in Haryana Raj Bhawan Auditorium, Chandigarh. Prof Sushil Goel of the college was awarded with the Youth Red Cross Counsellor Award for the promotion of activities in the college.

ISRO organises exhibition at NIT Kurukshetra: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) organised Vikram Sarabhai space exhibition at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Kurukshetra. Part of the four-day ‘Techspardha’, ISRO showcased remarkable technologies. The space agency displayed major technological advancements utilised in Chandrayaan and Mangalyaan projects.

CONTRIBUTED BY MUKESH TANDON, PARVEEN ARORA AND VISHAL JOSHI

THE TRIBUNE

NATION

CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

SC to make work allocation public JUDGES ROW: Clear-cut roster system likely to be followed New Delhi, January 21 Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra has examined suggestions from stakeholders to bring transparency in the allocation of sensitive PILs to judges and is soon likely to bring in public domain the system he is going to adopt for it, sources close to him said today.

They said the listing of two petitions demanding an independent probe into the death of CBI Special Judge BH Loya before a Bench headed by the CJI manifests that all issues, including allocation of cases, raised by the four seniormost judges in their controversial January 12 press conference, were being considered. The Loya case petitions would come up for hearing tomorrow.

Sources said Justice Misra had held deliberations with fellow judges and taken into account the suggestions put forth by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and a clear-cut roster system was likely to be followed in the apex court for allocation of cases.

“The apex court registry is very likely to upload on its website the decision of the CJI on allocation of matters. The system will be brought in public domain as to who will hear what categories of cases,” said a

CJI decisions on Net soon ■ “The apex court registry is

very likely to upload on its website the decision of the CJI on allocation of matters.

The system will be brought in public domain as to who will hear what categories of cases,” a source said ■ A clear-cut roster system

is likely to be followed in the apex court for allocation of cases after CJI Dipak Misra reportedly held deliberations with fellow judges and took into account the suggestions put forth by the Supreme Court Bar Association highly placed source.

When contacted, Supreme Court Bar Association president Vikas Singh said there was a demand from the Bar to follow the roster system of allocation of work prevalent in the Delhi High Court.

“We are quite hopeful that the CJI in all likelihood is going to accept our suggestions and all misunderstanding that has come out in the open after the press conference of the four judges can be resolved,” he said. He said a system for the allocation of cases identical to that in the Delhi High Court was followed in the Bombay High Court.

During the press conference, the four judges—Jus-

tices Jasti Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph—had raised various issues, including the allocation of important and sensitive PILs, and questioned the manner in which the CJI was allocating these to a particular Bench.

The PIL in the Loya case was one of them being heard by a Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra who later recused himself from it.

The list of the top court’s business for January 22 had on January 19 shown that it has been referred to an appropriate Bench and late in the evening the website showed that it would be heard by a Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India.

Sources said some of the judges who were the future CJIs — Justices SA Bobde, NV Ramana, UU Lalit and DY Chandrachud — had been holding parleys with the CJI to resolve the crisis that hit the judiciary after January 12.

They also said the judges who had been having talks with the CJI for bringing the house in order were also not happy that the four senior-most judges went public with their grievances. The CJI and the four judges are likely to meet on Monday before the court commences hearings, sources say. — PTI

07

CISF chief set to be UP DGP

Surgical strike shows grit: HM

Pub fire: Police custody for 3

New Delhi, January 21 The Centre today relieved CISF chief OP Singh for his cadre Uttar Pradesh, where he is expected to take over as the new Director General of Police (DGP).

The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) headed by PM Narendra Modi issued an order allowing a home ministry proposal for "premature repatriation" of Singh, a 1983-batch IPS officer.

Sources said Singh (59) is expected to take over as the Uttar Pradesh DGP on Tuesday. The post has been lying vacant for over a fortnight after Sulkhan Singh retired on December 31. The UP government had earlier said that they had requested the Centre to relieve him from Central deputation so that he can head the state police force. — PTI

Lucknow, January 21 Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said India has shown it can attack its enemies not only on its soil, but also in a foreign territory, if need be.

His remarks come almost a month after a group of five Army commandos crossed the Line of Control in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir and killed three Pakistani soldiers and smashed a post, in a swift and daring operation.

The operation was seen as avenging the killing of four Army personnel by a Border Action Team of the Pakistan Army in Keri sector of Rajouri district. “A few months ago, Pakistan, in an act of cowardice, attacked and martyred 17 of our jawans. Prime Minister Narendra Modi consulted all of us on this serious issue, and the Indian Army entered

Mumbai, January 21 Three persons arrested yesterday in connection with fire at a pub in Kamla Mills Compound that claimed 14 lives have been remanded in police custody till January 25.

The NM Joshi Marg police had last evening arrested Ravi Bhandari, a partner in the Kamla Mills, station fire officer Rajendra Patil, and Utkarsh Pandey, owner of the Nirvana Hookah, in connection with the incident.

The three were produced this afternoon in the Bhoiwada court that remanded them in police custody till January 25, senior police inspector Ahmed Pathan said.

The arrests were made last evening after Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta submitted his report to the CM. — PTI

Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Lucknow on Sunday. PTI the Pakistani area and killed the militants,” Singh said at a meeting of the ‘Bharatiya Railway Maal Godaam Shramik Sangh’ here.

Singh said India wanted to maintain a friendly relationship with Pakistan. “But Pakistan is not mending its ways…

I want to assure you that our

government will not let India to bow its head,” he said.

He said under Modi’s leadership, the economy was moving at a fast pace. “..and now even the global economists and experts accept this,” he said, adding that India’s prestige in the global arena was “rising rapidly”. — PTI

‘Padmaavat’ protests halt buses in parts of Gujarat Ahmedabad, January 21 The Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC) today suspended its bus services in northern part of the state, following violent protests by Rajputs against the release of movie “Padmaavat”— set to release on January 25, an official said.

The bus services have been suspended in Mehsana, Patan, Gandhinagar, Sabarkantha and Banaskantha districts till the situation improves, he said.

According to GSRTC secretary KD Desai, all buses plying between Ahmedabad and the northern region have been cancelled since

Theatres won’t screen it ■ Owners

of multiplexes and single-screen theatres in Gujarat have decided not to screen Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film ‘Padmaavat’, fearing violence

■ The

state government, which was in a dilemma after the SC lifted the ban on the screening, has complimented the theatre owners for the ‘bold decision’

■ Senior minister Bhupendra

A police officer inspects a multiplex ticket counter after it was damaged by a mob in Ahmedabad on Sunday. REUTERS

Chudasma thanked them for not releasing the film

last night amid the fear of miscreants making these vehicles as their soft target.

have temporarily suspended our operations for Gandhinagar, Himmatnagar, Mehsana

“Owing to the attacks on the state buses in some parts of north Gujarat yesterday, we

and Banaskantha. The services for other destinations, such as in central and south Gujarat, are as per schedule,” he said.

Desai said though they tried to resume the service in Gandhinagar this morning, some people targeted a bus at a village in the district. “Thus, we have decided to halt the operations. We are in touch with the police and will resume the service as soon as the situation becomes normal,” he added.

Desai said the decision was taken keeping in mind the passengers’ safety as the miscreants came on bikes and fled after throwing burning objects on buses. — OC/PTI

TAX ADVICE SC VASUDEVA

State of affairs

Dalits still at ‘receiving end’ of caste atrocities Crime against them up by 5.5% in 2016 as govt turns ‘blind eye’

Uttar Pradesh

Fear grips Buxar village as police step up raids Locals, mostly Dalits, charged with attacking CM Nitish Kumar’s convoy on January 12

Bihar

SHAHIRA NAIM

JITENDRA K SHRIVASTAVA

T

HE chilling images of a 27-year-old Dalit youth being brutally thrashed with sticks and kicked around by three men in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district and forced to chant “Jai Mata Di” went viral on the social media, reiterating the rise in crime against Dalits under the BJP regime.

The assault was in “retaliation” to a group of Dalits having gone door-to-door of Dalit houses in villages, asking them to replace the pictures and idols of Hindu gods and goddesses with photographs of Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

The victim, who is recovering in a hospital, was a member of the group. Following the rising caste-based atrocities, the victim along with another 100 Dalits had converted to Buddhism on October 14, 2017.

The police have lodged an FIR at Purkazi police station against the upper caste youth under IPC’s sections 307 (attempt to murder), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), sections of the SC/ST Act, and IT Act. A severe indictment of the state government’s “apathy and atrocities against Dalits” has come from Agra BJP MP and Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Ramashankar Katheria. During a review meeting, he accused the state government of not filing cases and probing cases of crime against Dalits. He alleged that the police were actually registering counter cases against Dalits who were being doubly victimised.

He said the law prescribed a chargesheet within 60 days in the case of murder or rape of a Dalit. “But in UP, there are more than 200 such cases where chargesheets have not been filed,” Katheria alleged.

According to the latest National Crime Record Bureau Report, crime against Dalits has increased nationally by 5.5 per cent during 2016. Of the total 40,801 cases of crime registered against Dalits, UP

A People from Dalit community hold a protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. PTI FILE

AGRA MP’s CRITICISM Agra BJP MP and Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes Ramashankar Katheria says: ■ The

state government is not filing cases and probing cases of crime against Dalits. Police are actually registering counter cases against them

■ Law

prescribes a chargesheet within 60 days in case of murder/rape of a Dalit. But in UP, there are more than 200 such cases where chargesheets have not been filed

■ Dalits

who have died while cleaning sewerage in manholes do not get compensation that has been stipulated in the SC guidelines — job for a member of the family, ~10 lakh in cash, free education for children and a house

accounts for more than a quarter at 25.6 per cent. Katheria pointed out that ~4,732 crore allocated to 10 departments of the state government, especially for the development of Scheduled Castes, has remained unspent.

He said the Dalit-dominated villages faced major power shortage. While many of these villages have not been electrified, another large number have no transformers despite the power department not being able to spend ~337 crore meant for such villages.

“Despite UP recording the maximum number of cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, the state government is not paying any financial relief to the Dalit violence survivors like oth-

er states,” Katheria alleged.

Similarly, Dalits who have died while cleaning sewerage in manholes do not get compensation that has been stipulated in the Supreme Court guidelines — job for a member of the family, ~10 lakh in cash, free education for children and a house.

During the review, a team of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes visited a Dalit slum in Lucknow where it emerged that 10 Dalits from that single basti had died while cleaning manholes and not a single family had received compensation.

While the condition of Dalits in the state remains wretched, Bhim Army, an organisation fighting for their rights in western UP, has been targeted.

Bhim Army founder Chandrashekhar Azad alias Ravan remains behind bars despite the November 2 Allahabad High Court order granting him and his three associates bail. They have been behind bars for their alleged involvement in the Shabbirpur Thakur-Dalit riots in April-May last year.

Dismissing the charges, the single-judge Bench of Justice Mukhtar Ahmad had described the charges against the four Bhim Army members as “politically motivated”. However, instead of releasing them, the Saharanpur district administration imposed NSA against the four a day after the November 2 Allahabad HC order granting Azad and three associates bail.

Being pushed to the wall, Dalit anger is simmering across UP. It remains to be seen if it becomes an electoral issue in next year’s Lok Sabha elections.

FTER the attack on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar’s convoy in Buxar’s Dalit-dominated Nandan village, the fear of arrests has gripped locals with the police stepping up raids and forcing them to flee. A crowd, including women, had attacked the CM’s convoy with bricks and stones on January 12.

The CM was unhurt but many police personnel were injured and their vehicles damaged.

Five cases were registered against 99 known persons and over 500 unknown persons on the statements of officials at the Dumraon police station. As many as 38 accused have been arrested so far.

“Based on the video-footage and statements, we have arrested 38 persons. No innocent will be harassed or arrested,” claimed Additional DGP (Hqs) SK Singhal.

Nitish had during the 2015 Assembly elections promised tap water, drainage, pucca roads, electricity, credit card to students pursuing higher studies and unemployment allowance. The Dalits of Nandan village were angry for having been left out of various government schemes. This may have led to the attack on the CM’s convoy.

“We had heard that development schemes were to be first implemented in Dalit hamlets. In fact, a part of our village with a large number of Dalits did witness some development, but the rest of the parts were left out. We wanted to

tell CM about it. People waiting for the CM were queued up along the road. Some officials misbehaved with women. The restive crowd began throwing stones at the CM’s convoy,” recalled a resident.

Some residents blamed village head Rajiv Kumar Pathak who, they claimed, did not undertake welfare schemes in their areas as they had not voted for him. Pathak has been the village chief since 15 years.

“We tried hard to bring about development in the village with whatever funds we had.There was no bias,” Pathak claimed, rubbishing the allegations against him.

Several parties have lent support to the village Dalits. Former Bihar CM Jitan Ram Manjhi, claimed: “No development has taken place in the village.

The attack was on the local MLA and the village head who did not want the Dalits to ‘expose’ them.” Dadan Pahalwan is the local MLA from Dumraon.The RJD is said to have helped him get the JD-U ticket as both parties had an electoral pact in 2015.

Leader of the Opposition Tejaswi Prasad Yadav (RJD) visited Nandan village on January 20. Addressing an impressive crowd, he said: “Nitishji has given you only pain.

But I am here to share your sorrow.”

JD-U spokesperson Neeraj Kumar called the attack as “unfortunate.” He claimed the Opposition was envious of the CM’s popularity and was hence attacking him. “An administrative probe is already on. Development works are to be first undertaken in Dalit hamlets. It is incumbent upon Ward Vikas Samitis to get these done in the next four years,” he added.

Protesters show black flags as the cavalcade of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar passes by during his Samiksha Yatra in Buxar. PTI FILE

No rebate u/s 87A if income above ~3.5 L Q. I am a pensioner aged about 79 years. I am a disabled person and entitled to a rebate of Rs 75,000 under Section 80U. My gross pension is Rs 4,70,000 for the FY 2017-18. The pension disbursing authority (banker) had started deducting tax from my pension. After contacting my CA, I wrote to the bank that I am entitled to a rebate of Rs 5,000 under Section 87A of the Income Tax Act and requested them not to deduct tax. But they have not acceded to my request.

Please advise if the bank is right in deducting the tax and if I am not entitled to the tax rebate u/s 87A. — Sant Singh A.The rebate under Section 87A of the Act is allowable to an individual assessee who is resident in India and whose total income does not exceed Rs 3,50,000. On the basis of the figures given in the query, your income from pension being Rs 4,70,000, you are not entitled to the rebate under Section 87A of the Act. Q. I am a 74-year-old pensioner. The TDS on pension is deducted and deposited with the I-T Department by the DTO. In this financial year 2017-18, I received an amount of Rs 14 lakh through an RTGS deposit by the land acquisition officer on behalf of the NHAI as compensation for a portion of village baron (grass land) acquired for the four-laning of a road. Please clarify on the following points: (a) Will Rs 14 lakh be part of my gross income? If yes, where should I mention it in the return and in which return form? (b) Whether this is exempt from income tax or not? If not, how to compute it? (c) I have donated Rs 2.25 lakh for the construction of village deity temple through cheque. (d) Spent Rs 3 lakh on foreign travel expenses. (e) Invested Rs 2 lakh in SBI Mutual Fund term deposit for three years.

— BR Sharma A. It has been specified by you in the query that the land acquired by the NHAI was a baron agricultural land and has been acquired for the four-laning of the road. The compensation so received is taxable only if such land was situated within the jurisdiction of a municipality, municipal corporation, notified area committee, town area committee, town committee or by any other name or cantonment board having a population of not less than 10,000 or such land is situated within the distance, measured aerially: I. not being more than 2km from the local limits of any municipality, or cantonment board referred to above and which has a population of more than 10,000 but not exceeding 1 lakh; or II. not being more than 6 km from the local limits of any municipality, or cantonment board referred to above and which has a population of more than 1 lakh but not exceeding 10 lakh; or III. not being more than 8 km from the local limits of any municipality, or cantonment board referred to above and which has a population of more than 10 lakh.

In case it is so situated or is within the areas as specified above the amount of capital gain arising on the acquisition of the land by the NHAI would be taxable. The amount of capital gain will have to be computed with reference to the cost of the land. The original cost incurred on the land will be indexed on the basis of the index notified by the Central Government for the year in which the acquisition by the NHAI has been made. The indexed cost so computed shall be deducted from the amount of compensation received. Presuming that the land has been held by you for more than three years, the amount of capital gain so arrived at will be taxable @20% plus education cess @3% thereon. The amount spent by you for a donation of Rs 2.25 lakh for the construction of village deity temple, Rs 3 lakh on foreign travel and investment of Rs 2 lakh in SBI Mutual Fund term deposits for three years shall not be deductible from the amount of capital gain.

THE TRIBUNE

OPINION

08

CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

THE TRIBUNE

Let ASEAN do the talking

established in 1881

India needs to get closer to its neighbours — the rest of the world can wait MK Bhadrakumar

Fixing AAP Proposed disqualification of 20 MLAs is jarring

T

HE alacrity with which the President of India (read the Modi government) endorsed the Election Commission of India’s opinion that 20 Aam Aadmi Party MLAs stand disqualified for holding “an office of profit” carries with it a distinct odour of political maliciousness.

The Election Commission of India has, once again, left itself open to a charge of unfairness, if not outright partisanship, when it decreed the 20 MLAs as guilty, without giving them a hearing, in total disregard of its own June 23, 2017 speaking order. Norms of natural justice stand flouted.

Underperforming institutions undermine the democratic quotient of our constitutional architecture.

The 20 MLAs are in the soup because they were appointed as parliamentary secretaries, a device used by all political parties to get around the constitutional ceiling on the number of ministers as a percentage of the total strength of the Assembly in a state. The ceiling has been unevenly observed. Parliamentary secretaries’ appointments had been struck down in Himachal Pradesh (2005), Goa (2009), West Bengal and Telengana (2015). In a number of states the laws have been amended to exempt the position of parliamentary secretary from the “office of profit” clause, but this precaution was not operative in Delhi. The AAP leadership was cavalier towards the established procedures. An amendment to the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997, which sought exemption, did not receive presidential assent and thus the 20 MLAs remained vulnerable to disqualification.

The AAP government faces no threat to its parliamentary majority. If the party does not get relief from the higher judiciary, the Kejriwal regime will find itself subjected to a substantive referendum in 20 Assembly constituencies. The massive majority that the AAP carved up in 2015 was widely seen as an expression of the disenchantment with the established political parties, the Congress and the BJP. These two parties have remained relentless in their opposition to the AAP; perhaps the AAP, too, disappointed all those who had high hopes from the new party. But its political stupidities cannot be seen as a licence for misuse of constitutional muscle by its rivals.

In-flight connectivity Move with the times with civility

M

OBILE telephone and Internet use in commercial flights is increasingly allowed by several airlines. AirAsia, Air France, British Airways, Egypt Air, Emirates, Air New Zealand, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic allow mobile phones to be switched on while onboard. Passengers of these airlines are asked to switch off their devices when they enter the Indian airspace. India prohibits in-flight connectivity. This ban could, however, be lifted if the government accepts TRAI’s recommendations to allow Internet and mobile communications while airborne.

The telecom regulator’s recommendations cover all technical issues systematically and comprehensively. It has also addressed the biggest fear of air passengers — the in-flight use of mobile phones could interfere with critical aircraft systems. It has proposed the European Union standards in providing interference-free operations in the Indian airspace and prescribed the minimum 3,000-metre height restrictions to avoid interference with terrestrial mobile networks.

The TRAI’s recommendation is progressive and in tune with the rising aspirations of passengers who want to stay connected with their family members and business associates while airborne. There are many passengers who want to surf the Net or watch YouTube videos instead of viewing pre-recorded news and movies offered through airlines’ in-flight entertainment system. Modern technology has made it possible to have in-flight mobiles and Internet connectivity, which could soon become a major revenue stream for commercial airlines. According to a survey; most of the flyers preferred an airline with in-flight Wi-Fi — a factor that is ranked ahead of meals, loyalty programmes and in-flight entertainment. There are, however, some practical issues involved in permitting the in-flight mobile connectivity. If voice calls are allowed, air travel would no longer remain a quiet affair. Those who travel in Shatabdi trains can very well relate to this chaotic situation. Phone etiquette is seldom observed. That is why the implementation of TRAI’s recommendation should be best left to the commercial wisdom of individual airlines, which may well start with data connectivity before graduating to voice calls.

Thought for the Day We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. — Albert Einstein

T

WO years after the IndiaAfrican Forum Summit in October 2015, India is hosting another comparable summit — the special Commemoration Summit with the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in New Delhi on January 25.

All ASEAN leaders accepted PM Modi’s invitation to then be our chief guests at the Republic Day parade. It promises to be a nationally televised event showcasing PM in an eventful year ahead in Indian politics.

But what does India hope to gain out of this high-profile event? We need to remind ourselves that the 41 leaders of the African Union who took part in the 2015 summit left Delhi insisting that it is enough to hold the next summit with India after five years — not three (which is the Chinese practice).

They knew India needed extra time to fulfil pledges. The danger in excessive focus on ‘event management’ to showcase our PM is that we tend to forget the raison d’etre of such diplomatic events. Since the African summit, India’s exports to Africa registered a significant drop of 15 per cent.

Alas, once again, vainglorious considerations are at work. Be that as it may, the establishment pundits who write ‘curtain raisers’ for such events claim that China’s ‘assertiveness’ in foreign policies is the leitmotif. The diplomatic objective appears to be two-fold — creation of a regional security architecture in the Southeast Asian region with a role for India in it, and, secondly, registering a riposte to China’s expanding and deepening ties in South Asia by displaying that India too is not lacking in friends in China’s neighbourhood. The whole enterprise is predicated on the assumption that the ASEAN countries visualise India to be a ‘balancer’ in their region vis-à-vis China. How valid is this assumption? The strategic layout of China-ASEAN relations has assumed much softer tones in the recent years borne out of a realisation in Beijing, perhaps that it pays to put more efforts into improving the relations. Thus, it was announced last week that the Philippines and China proposed to discuss at a foreign ministry level meeting in February in Manila the implementation of their agreement to

HITTING A BUMP: The main challenge the grouping faces is maintaining unity. conduct joint oil and gas exploration activities in the disputed South China Sea. To quote Philippines foreign minister Alan Peter Cayetano, ‘Conceptually we both want it (joint exploration)… We will never compromise our national territory. But (on) sovereign rights… you can talk. (It means) that area belongs to you but since you do not have the financial or technical capability to develop it, you get a partner. ’ To an Indian, such disarming candour dripping with pragmatism becomes a novel experience to absorb.

Welcome to ASEAN. The point is,

Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train, lest some Chinese company won, causing embarrassment all around.

Suffice to say, it’s unclear what India can do for ASEAN. The grouping’s main challenge today is about maintaining unity and its central role in its region. ASEAN is being swayed in different directions by the big powers.

Quite obviously, some ASEAN countries are closer to China than some others in the grouping might like. Cambodia is apparently China’s closest ally; then comes a host of others such as Myanmar, Laos, Thailand and so on.

India needs to learn from Singapore. Mindful of the differences within the grouping, it proposes to focus on what unites ASEAN — a common vision on trade, climate change and tackling terrorism. .

ASEAN and India inhabit two different planets. The nearest analogy could be that India and China discuss how they could cooperate in the development of the impoverished Northeastern states (although issues of territorial sovereignty are not even involved in this case). Again, looking ahead, 2018 may well witness a Chinese company winning the competitive bidding for the single-biggest project ever that ASEAN region probably undertook — the $17 billion high-speed rail project that will cut travel time between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to about 90 minutes from the current five-hour road journey. To jog memory, India wouldn’t even seek competitive bidding for its

The Philippines under President Roderigo has been steadily getting closer to China. The relations between China and Malaysia have noticeably warmed up in recent years. India will not be helping matters if it were to injecting the ‘Quad’ serum into ASEAN veins. India should not cause polarisation among the ASEAN members, just when a long journey is about to begin in search of the elixir that must go into their so-called code of conduct with China in the South China Sea. Some of the issues are contentious — for instance, the definition of the exact waters in the South China Sea, which the proposed code will cover. But on the bright side, the disputed

Watch what you are getting T Rajan Kapoor

HE rescheduling of timings of

a male contraceptive advertisement recently kicked off a controversy. A school of opinion pooh-poohed the decision while another supported it. The row reminded me of an incident from my college days. Our class was about to commence. A mischievous student brought an empty condom carton in the class, and for fun, kept it on the dais before the teacher’s arrival.

When the teacher arrived, he simply picked up the carton and uttered thoughtfully, ‘Nirodh ka virodh nahin kiya ja sakta, yeh desh hit main nahin’ (opposition to Nirodh is not in the interest of the nation). He then delivered a powerful lecture on

waters of the South China Sea as such are calmer nowadays.

Importantly, India should show humility to learn from the ASEAN experience. It is simply fascinating to watch how Singapore is going about with its new responsibility of rotating chairmanship of ASEAN through 2018. Mindful of the pressures on the grouping’s unity, Singapore proposes to focus on what unites the member countries — a common vision on trade, climate change and terrorism.

PM Lee Hsien Loong bundled together under the tagline ‘Resilient and Innovative’ a plethora of plans that include ASEAN working together to get tough on terrorism and cybercrime, become more resilient in the face of climate change and promote schemes that will help ASEAN’s economies innovate and use technology. Foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan said recently that as chairman, Singapore wanted to connect the region’s people and economies more seamlessly through digital technology, and to deepen the bloc’s ties with outside powers like China and India as well as expedite the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

The logic of economic integration appeals to the ASEAN members.

A Singaporean scholar said recently, ‘Don’t worry too much about disagreement in ASEAN. We have to go at it the ASEAN way: Emphasise the positive, think constructive and try to overcome problems.’ ASEAN’s non-confrontational style provides a beacon light for the Modi government to resuscitate SAARC. The South Block’s efforts to stage the special Commemorative Summit in the weekend will not be in vain if Modi opts to leave it to his peer group from Southeast Asia to do the talking on the real spirit of Vasudhaiva kutumbakam. The Rohingya problem created discords within the ASEAN family; yet, that didn’t put out the crackling fire in the hearth. India has a lot to learn from ASEAN. The irony of India abandoning its immediate neighbourhood where its relations are in hopeless drift, where regional cooperation is moribund, and to jump into the bandwagon of its ‘extended neighbourhood’ cannot be lost on the ASEAN leaderships.

The writer is a former ambassador

the significance of population control. That day, I, along with my classmates, understood the real worth of the ad that used to run twice on the national channel with the tagline — ‘ Bachon mein antar rakne ka saral upae’ (an easy way to space out kids).

The ads of yesteryear were both entertaining and informative. But, the present ads lack both the punch and sensitiveness of commercials of the bygone era. The face of modern ads is smeared with the slush of profit and, often, cross all levels of decency to achieve their target. They do not care a fig about the impact on the audience, assigning moral obligation to the bin. Poor logic is another hallmark. The innerwear of men are marketed by women. And, men feature in ads of kitchen aids and edible oils. The promotion of certain

‘magic’ medicines to increase height, build up a muscular body and rejuvenate hair on a bald head takes medical science for a ride. Some ads display absurdity of the highest level when they offer a cure for a bulging tummy sans exercise and diet management!

Modern ads also promote bias against women. Washing powder and toilet cleaner is specifically reserved for the fair sex. In one ad, a girl with a pimple on her face is so traumatised that she prefers to stay at home, fearing that her ‘ugly’ face may break her relationship with her boyfriend. The ad offers a remedy. The girl is ‘told’ to apply a particular cream to keep her friendship intact.

Cultural sensitivities associated with Karvachauth are derided in another ad.

A husband who gets late on the auspicious day, takes his starving wife on a

long drive in his newly purchased car and makes her see the moon by opening the roof of the car. Both ads demean and lower the status of women.

Social values are often blown to smithereens in many advertisements.

In one, a father, who otherwise gets disturbed by the entry of his daughter’s boyfriend to her room when she is alone at home, forgives the boy for ‘moral trespassing’ when he lures the former with his high-end smartphone! In another, the sacred teachertaught relation takes a hit when the principal of a school eggs on his students to bunk classes to taste a candy of a particular brand!

These ads come wrapped in a golden cover, but are hollow from inside. It is important to see through their motives before embracing them.

Generals have must exercise graceful restraint. It is in our national interest that only the PM and his Cabinet ministers, or the Leader of the Opposition, should speak on behalf of the nation on vital issues of defence, international treaties and foreign affairs. In India, democracy has survived only because our disciplined Generals have never encroached upon the domain of politicians. In Pakistan, it is the army generals who nurse unbridled political ambitions and often bring democracy to peril. They breathe down the neck of their prime minister. We must be cautious enough not to allow such a nightmarish situation to develop in our country.

techniques. On the other hand, our bowlers have displayed commendable temperament. In the current South African tour, our team exhibited a meagre piece of batting as well as fielding. Overall, we cannot blame our players alone, team management should also be accountable for the loss of the series. Instead of playing more on Indian soil, additional foreign series should be planned and there should be some balance, so our players get exposure on diverse pitches. Also, the series schedule should be made flexible so that the players get ample time to relax or prepare for the next series.

note, the middle part of the body — the belly — is to be filled sufficiently to make all systems work. The middle plays a crucial role to make humanity move on.

letters to the editor MLAs’ disqualification The decision of the Election Commission to disqualify 20 AAP MLAs is undemocratic, selective in procedure and substance (‘EC: Disqualify 20 Delhi AAP MLAs; no HC relief’; January 20). It has lowered the credibility of the EC as an autonomous body. The Delhi High Court should give time and hear the grievances of the MLAs. Many states like Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have MLAs holding ‘office of profit’. The cases are in the courts. The former Akali-BJP government in Punjab faced a similar situation and though the Punjab and Haryana High Court had set aside their appointments, it had not disqualified the MLAs. MADAN LAL, BARNALA

Debt repayment?

Although the Election Commission has justified the disqualification of AAP MLA s of Delhi on the grounds of holding ‘office of profit’, but it smacks of politics. Why was this decision not taken earlier as the case is more than a year old and has been decided just three days before the

retirement of the CEC? Kejriwal’s claim of CEC Joti’s ‘debt repayment’ to Modi can’t be ruled out. The President must look into the matter from all legal angles before taking any decision, otherwise it will be a failure of our democratic system. It will also burden the exchequer as 20 Assembly seats will go for a repoll.

Political vendetta must not be allowed in any case.

SANJAY CHOPRA, MOHALI

Padmavaat ban Apropos the editorial ‘SC’s nod to creativity’ (January 19), while staying the ban by BJP-led state governments on the release of Padmavaat, the SC has laid down the law — once a film has been cleared by the Central Board of Film Certification, it has the right to state protection for screening. States cannot suspend the screening citing law and order concerns, rather it is their duty to firmly address the issue. The decision of a statutory body like the CBFC must be respected otherwise it would be rendered irrelevant. The SC has also made it clear that protection of constitutional right to free

expression cannot be undermined.

P LAL SINGH, AMRITSAR

Army Chief’s remarks Refer to Harish Khare’s article ‘A General and his loquaciousness’ (Statecraft, January 19); in this respect, I wish to refer to a Victorian adage that children should be seen but not heard. Generals who talk out of context are ambitious and can capture power. It would be wrong not to keep an eye on the General’s political ambitions. It is a timely warning to the forces of democracy. Doklam remains an unfinished business for India, and General Rawat. Defying Pakistan over its nuclear weapon clout serves no purpose, as it is said defiers are cowards and doers are fools.

NAVDEEP SINGH BAJWA, GURDASPUR

Army and politics This refers to Harish Khare’s timely and thoughtful article ‘A General and his loquaciousness’ (January 19). Indian Army Generals are intelligent and patriotic. But while our Defence Minister or the Prime Minister are expected to go public, the

RAJ BAHADUR YADAV, FATEHABAD

Foreign-pitch syndrome The top ICC-ranking Indian batting unit again collapsed in front of South African pace attack. Except skipper, nobody dared to score in triple figure. The Indian team is full of big names, holding plethora of records, but when they visit foreign soil, they don’t seem confident. It raises questions on their batting

CHETAN SHARMA, CHANDIGARH

Middle path best ‘ Plac’d on this isthmus of a middle state, A being darkly wise, and rudely great’, said Pope. The middle state must be accepted to maintain balance (‘Caught in the middle’, January 19). When reason loses faith, it adopts extremes, which are horrifying. The lurking fear throughout the country is a reflection of this horror.

Fear makes us lose our sense of direction. On a lighter, but significant

Letters to the Editor, typed in double space, should not exceed the 200-word limit. These should be cogently written and can be sent by e-mail to: Letters@tribuneindia.com

MAMTA, KURUKSHETRA

Dissent in SC The four Supreme Court judges’ daring act of disagreement with the CJI is the naked truth of autocratic mechanism of the present BJP government. Further, the judges demanding a probe into the death of CBI judge BH Loya is an indicator of how arrogant and powerful politicians can intimidate judges and ‘command’ SC to dispense justice in their favour. Yesterday, we saw coercion on the freedom of Press; today, we hear of suppression of judiciary; and tomorrow, we may witness the winding up of the Constitution and casualty of Indian democracy. Every time the government’s vicious intentions are exposed, the matter is swept under the carpet by government agencies.

Is this the glorious legacy of the Modi government to new India?

MADAN JIT KAUR, MOHALI

THE TRIBUNE

OPED

CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

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Gandhi had open mind on Manusmriti Like Mahatma Gandhi, an open mind in assessing scriptural injunctions is indispensable for our time when bigotry and fanaticism often define public discourse based on outmoded notions of religions and religious texts.

Satya Narayana Sahu Former OSD and Press Secretary to President late KR Narayanan

M

ANUSMRITI has often been

invoked and condemned as a code of scriptural law perpetuating untouchability and creating an inflexible caste hierarchy, which Dr Ambedkar described with anguish and pain as "graded social inequality", fostering what he called a "descending order of contempt and ascending order of reverence." What we have so far heard and studied is the intensely critical stand taken by Dalit leaders on Manusmriti, beginning with its public burning by Dr Ambedkar on December 25, 1927, and the subsequent denunciation of it by rebellious leaders and young minds who swear by the ideals of liberty, equality and fraternity and the enduring values associated with reclamation of human personality.

So far, the discourse on Manusmriti gets centered around the impactful narrative carefully framed by Dalit leaders who deplore that caste Hindus perpetuated untouchability based on the vicious and obnoxious provisions of that scripture.

Hardly does one hear of other leaders of the freedom struggle whose opinion on Manusmriti preceded Dr Ambedkar's in terms of the intensity of criticism.

While scholars set the discourse on Mahatma Gandhi vis-a-vis Dr Ambedkar in antagonistic terms, completely and deliberately obscuring their commonalities, it is important to explore the convergence of their thoughts and common fund of values which they shared in critically assessing Hinduism. An exploration of Gandhi's 'Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi' reveals that Gandhi had rejected Manusmriti even

as he affirmed his credentials as a Sanatani Hindu based on his adherence to morality and compassion of religion. Around November 5, 1917, while speaking in Godhra on the theme "A Stain on India's Forehead", he referred to untouchability and its persistence as orthodoxy and hypocrisy and said that it was no use quoting verses from Manusmriti and other scriptures in defence of orthodoxy. He then said, "A number of verses in these verses are apocryphal, a number of them are quite meaningless" and those who followed the injunctions in them would get polluted.

Such disapproval of Manusmriti brings out his critical outlook on the scriptural foundation of religion, which we find much later Dr Ambedkar categorically asserting that scripture-based religion should yield place to a religion based on liberty, equality and fraternity. It is rather educative to note that much before Dr Ambedkar, it was Gandhi who while declaring in a letter written to Ranchhodlal Patwardhan on September 9, 1918, from Sabarmati Ashram that he took up the problem of untouchables purely out of considerations of Dharma and not politics. He asserted:"If we were to follow some of the tenets of Manusmriti, there would be moral anarchy" and so he quietly discarded them altogether.

The rejection of Manusmriti by Gandhi on the grounds that it would cause moral anarchy makes him one of the earliest leaders of India who found it unacceptable because of its features which he found repugnant to morality. On December 25, 1920, exactly seven years before Dr Ambedkar burnt Manusmriti, Gandhi while speaking at Antyaj Conference in Nagpur said that it would not be difficult to put an end to Satanism of the British empire because it was worldly in nature whereas

Gandhi collecting money for Harijan welfare while travelling by train. FILE PHOTO the Satanism of untouchability had taken the colour of religion. He asserted that if the practice of untouchability was enjoined in the Vedas or the Manusmriti, they ought to

be replaced. However, he raised a question: "Where are the men who will write new scriptures?" Expressing his inability to lay down any moral and ethical code for the Hindus, he, therefore, exhorted the victims of untouchability to make him worthy of their compassion so that he could fight for them and eradicate untouchability.

It is revealing to note that Gandhi disapproved of Manusmriti on other grounds also. While speaking at Juhu on March 30, 1924, he said that Manusmriti categorically permitted flesh eating and asked, "Will you, therefore, eat meat?" It is such interrogation which distinguished him as a man who applied reason and intellect to evaluate numerous religious propositions. In 1926, he said that all that is written in Sanskrit should not be regarded as holy scripture and everything written in Manusmriti should not be seen to be relevant for the present day. He asserted: "Whether old or new, everything should be tested on the anvil of reason, and anything which does not stand the test should be rejected."

When Dr Ambedkar burnt Manusmriti on December 25, 1927, Gandhi reflected on it in a letter to PT Pillay on May 4, 1928, and never considered it as equivalent to burning of foreign cloth. He observed, "Burning of foreign cloth is like burning a thing that is injurious; but the burning of Manusmriti is at best like the burning of an advertisement for foreign cloth showing nothing but childish rage." The "childish rage" which he referred to was indicative of his partial accord to the burning of Manusmriti which he thought was not on a par with the bonfire of foreign clothes. In that letter to Pillay, he admitted that he did not regard Manusmriti as an evil as it contained much that was admirable even as it contained many things which were bad. He stated that a reformer

would treasure all that is excellent in ancient code and expurgate all that is injurious or of doubtful value.

Gandhi used some aspects of Manusmriti which were morally rich and invigorating while writing a letter to Lord Curzon who while addressing the conovation of Calcutta University in 1905 had said that "the highest ideal of truth is to a large extent western conception" and "undoubtedly truth took a high place in the moral codes of the West before it had been similarly honoured in the East, where craftiness and diplomatic wile have always been held in much repute."

Gandhi refuted and responded to Lord Curzon's speech by quoting several passages from Manusmriti which stressed on lofty moral principles in 1280 BC. While accepting all that was good in Manusmriti, he was categorical in asserting that it contained a lot of injustice to women and lower castes. His acceptance of good aspects of Manusmriti can be juxtaposed with Dr Ambedkar's invocation of it for the cause of women's right to property when he explained the provisions of the Hindu Code Bill and pleaded for its passage.

Gandhi's exposition on Manusmriti brings out his critical faculty and open mind to accept all that is in harmony with reason and morality and reject all that is repugnant to truth and non-violence. He wrote in "My Experiments with Truth" that "Manusmriti at any rate did not teach me ahimsa". However, he valued certain moral principles from that scripture and flagged them as useful for developing self-restraint. Such an open mind in assessing scriptural injunctions is indispensable for our time when bigotry and fanaticism often define public discourse based on outmoded notions of religions and religious texts.

The place of Hindi in the nation Karthik Venkatesh Editor with a publishing house and freelance writer

W Bid for Hindi as UN official language. REUTERS

Singling Hindi out as a ‘representative’ language of the nation is fraught with serious issues. Does Hindi represent the ethos of all of India? Can Hindi claim to be understood in all parts of the country in its entirety?

ITH the Central government

making efforts to get Hindi accepted as one of the official languages in the United Nations, the 'national' language issue has once again reared its ugly head. It behoves the general public, especially those of the non-Hindi speaking states, to remind the government that Hindi is not this nation's 'national' language.

No language can lay claim to that position.

Hindi, along with English, only enjoys the 'official language' status. Close to two dozen other languages enjoy the 'scheduled language' status and are on a par with the official languages. Hindi is as 'national' or in reality, as 'regional' as these other languages. No more, no less.

In such a scenario, singling Hindi out as a 'representative' language of the nation is fraught with serious issues. Does Hindi represent the ethos of all of India in the same way as, say, English in the United Kingdom or Arabic in Egypt? Can Hindi claim to be understood in all parts of the country in its entirety? Has the education system of the country developed to the extent that it is Hindi that is largely in use in school and higher education? Is it likely in future that India's foreign ministers will only speak Hindi and have no knowledge

on this day... 100 years ago

of English? The answer to all of these questions is an unequivocal no. So, why Hindi?

When one language from a linguistic Tower of Babel like our country, is singled out for special treatment internationally, it is important to dwell on the message thast goes across to the world. The message is one of Hindi as a language 'representing' the nation. It suggests its acceptance as the nation's lingua franca and that it is 'preferred' by the people of this nation. These statements are wrong in the extreme and there is no scope for a debate on the rationale behind such blinkered thinking.

The real agenda One suspects that the real reason behind this move is in part to further drive home the 'Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan' message that has been behind many decisions. The multi-hued India is sought to be painted a uniform shade of saffron. A saffron that is preferably to be termed 'bhagwa'! It is purely this consideration that is behind this move. This argument flows from the European ideal of the nation: one language, one nation and one culture. It is this ideal that the right-wing has long sought to implement in the body politic. For all its claims of 'Bharatiyata', a European ideal appears to be the moving spirit behind the party's thinking.

Then there is the centralising tendency of the government to consider: that all power and decision-making rests with the PM.

The PM would prefer that the government flow from the Centre towards the states which would then do the Centre's bidding, specifically the PM's bidding. The federal structure of the country is thus sought to be emasculated. It has been done once before when a strident Indira Gandhi dominated the show in the seventies and eighties.

That ghost has now returned in a more fiery form. By positing one language as the national language, the country's federal structure itself is sought to be challenged.

The 'international' bogey That the government is setting forth on this misguided path only a few months after the Catalonia fiasco that has threatened to tear Spain asunder is doubly puzzling. In a series of assertive moves, the Catalans have all but broken with Spain, all over the issue of language and culture.

Only a very thin line separates the Catalan region from near-certain independence.

Spain's unity hangs in the balance.

So, what is the logic behind taking Hindi international? Among the more fantastic claims proffered is that Hindi is not merely an Indian language. Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Fiji, Surinam and Mauritius are Hindi's overseas homes, it is claimed, and the language becoming official at the UN would help those countries too, the fervent hope. But really, the question is whether these countries prefer Hindi to the exclusion of the other languages that are also spo-

quick crossword

su do ku SATURDAY’S SOLUTION Across 1 Discover, 5 Host, 9 Tract, 10 Defunct, 11 Supernatural, 13 Leeway, 14 Permit, 17 Unexpectedly, 20 Digital, 21 Odium, 22 Rare, 23 Gradient.

LAHORE,TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1918.

Bureaucracy and Democracy.

THERE are those who have been perpetually telling as that we cannot have self-government because we are not a perfect democracy and self-government, if granted, would be the government of a few.

We have resolutely resisted this view, and have shown that self-government in India, even if granted this day and hour, would be on a democratic basis, though the basis might not be as broad in the beginning as we all wish it to be. Mr. Lyon goes further and says that the national feeling must be satisfied even though the satisfaction might at present only mean the substitution of an Indian for an English bureaucracy. They were to aim at getting the best Indian government, he said, whether it were a democracy or a bureaucracy, and even thought it might be a bureaucracy in the first instance.

Our congratulation to this distinguished civilian on the fine adaptability he has shown in moving with the times!

Down 1 Duty, 2 Stature, 3 On the warpath, 4 Ending, 6 Owner, 7 Totality, 8 Off the record, 12 Flounder, 15 Malaise, 16 Ocular, 18 Eager, 19 Omit.

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HAVING disposed of the implication of the remark that the nationalist are a small minority from one point of view, Mr. Lyon proceeded to demonstrate its absurdity from another. He did this by relating a conversation he had had with Lord Morley when Secretary of State. He had said something as to the smallness of the number of educated reformers in comparison with the people. Whereupon Lord Morley said:—“Don’t suppose it was the people of England who wanted to cut off the head of King Charles or the people of France who wanted to behead Louis XVI.” What Lord Morley meant, said Mr. Lyon, was that revolution in any country in the world has been effected by strong, vigorous, energetic advanced parties before they have persuaded the people as a whole to rally to them.

18 A part of speech (4) 21 To regret (3) 22Island of the dodo (9) 24Consumed (5) 25A vivid red (7) DOWN 1 Heathen (5) 2 Nought (3) 3 Manage successfully (4) 4 Silky goat’s wool (6)

5 Refuse to sanction (8) 6 Widespread (9) 7 Tolerate (7) 11 Rigidly enforced (9) 13 Lucky charm (8) 14 Fantastic (7) 16 WW2 French guerillas (6) 19 Hemmed in (5) 20Prima donna (4) 23Scarcely (3)

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Saturday’s solution ACROSS 1 A cure-all (7) 5 Sediment in wine (5) 8 Islands of giant tortoises (9) 9 Excessively (3) 10 Bouquet of wine (4) 12 Island famous for tea (3,5) 14 Government department (6) 15 Refinement (6) 17 Island known for cloves (8)

ken there. Aren't the official UN languages like English or French not of any use to these countries? Given the colonial background of these countries, English and French are well understood there. Hindi does not give them a special leg-up. If international usage is the criterion, then Tamil, Punjabi and Bengali, too, are spoken in countries other than our own. Why not bat for all of them? To prefer Hindi is to disrespect our other vernaculars, all disclaimers by the powers-that-be notwithstanding.

Is the Indian government's move partly prompted by 'neighbour's envy'? Does it rankle that Chinese, the language of our large neighbour to the north, is an official language? Then the smart thing to do would to be seek a restructuring of the Security Council's permanent membership which is really where China's power flows from. That would be a long and weary battle. Propping up Hindi is not bringing India any special powers. But, it will certainly add to costs as India will be required to fund much of the translation and interpreting work that comes with the official status.

Hindi already enjoys wide acceptance within the nation. The 'soft power' of Bollywood and the migration patterns of India's people are doing their bit to give Hindi a non-threatening place in the country. Why then queer the pitch with a move that only smacks of arrogance and insensitivity?

Views are personal

Vikrami Samvat 2074 Shaka Samvat 1939 Magh Shaka 2 Magh Parvishte 9 Hijari 1439 Shukla Paksha Tithi 5 up to 4.25 pm Pari Yog up to 10.51 am Uttrabhadrapad Nakshatra Moon in Pisces sign Vasant Panchami

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THE TRIBUNE

J&K/HP

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CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

Don’t turn J&K into theatre of war: CM

Militants escape, OGW arrested in Appeals to India, Pak to put end to border violence, make state ‘bridge of friendship’ Srinagar Majid Jahangir dozen persons – including Azhar Qadri

Tribune News Service

Tribune News Service

Sheeri (Baramulla), Jan 21 Amid the escalating tension along the borders, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today appealed to both India and Pakistan not to make Jammu and Kashmir a “theatre of war” but a “bridge of friendship” between the two warring neighbours.

Mehbooba said the shelling on borders in J&K was happening at a time when the entire country was witnessing development and progress.

“Our borders are witnessing ‘khoon ki Holi’ (bloodbath).

When the entire country is witnessing development — new hospitals and schools are coming up — we are witnessing the opposite of it. People are seeking bunkers on borders and they are shifting out of their villages. Our schools are shut and children are trapped inside their homes. I once again appeal to our Prime Minister and our neighbour Pakistan to not allow J&K become ‘jung ka akhada’ (theatre of war), instead make it a bridge of friendship,” Mehbooba said at the passing out parade for police consta-

Srinagar, January 21 A group of militants escaped a police checkpoint on Saturday night in the Awantbhawan locality here as security forces increased vigil ahead of Republic Day. Police officials said an attempt was made late last night to intercept a group of militants, who were travelling in a car at Awantbhawan near Soura on the outskirts of the city. The militants fired at the police’s Special Operations Group and managed to escape from the spot.

The police, however, succeeded in seizing the vehicle in which the militants were travelling and also arrested an overground worker (OGW), a civilian who provided logistic help to militants.

“We have seized the car and arrested the OGW,” Additional Director General of Police Munir Khan told The Tribune. Khan said the police acted on information about the movement of militants in the Awantbhawan locality. “We are questioning the arrested OGW and probing the matter,” he said.

An old man looks at what remains of his house in RS Pura after shelling by Pakistan. INDERJEET SINGH

Our borders are witnessing ❝ ‘khoon ki Holi’ (bloodbath).

When the entire country is witnessing development, our schools are shut and children trapped in their homes. People are seeking bunkers on borders and they are shifting out of their villages.❞ Mehbooba Mufti, CM bles at the Subsidiary Training Centre in Sheeri along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road.

“It is our misfortune that our state has become a basis of dispute between our

Security in place for R-Day State police chief SP Vaid on Sunday said the Republic Day security arrangements were discussed at a meeting on Saturday. “All measures have been taken and I am sure the day will pass off peacefully,” he said. country India and Pakistan,” Mehbooba lamented.

Since Thursday nearly a

Army and BSF men – have been killed and several have been injured in the Pakistani shelling in the Jammu region.

The Chief Minister said people of J&K from both sides were getting killed in these border skirmishes. “For the last few days, our borders are witnessing firing in which several of our people, including civilians, children, have got martyred. The same situation will be on the other side (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir). It is the people of J&K who are getting killed on both sides,” she said.

Mehbooba told the new recruits that the J&K Police had the toughest job among all forces in the country.

“The police have many challenges at every step. Your challenge is not just to maintain law and order or uphold the rule of law, but you have to face your own people sometimes while maintaining law and order, small children and that time you will have to exercise restraint,” the Chief Minister said.

She also advised the new recruits to give attention to cases related to drug addiction and crime against women.

Audit reveals shortfall in BRO targets Vijay Mohan Tribune News Service

FINE ART: A craftsman makes clocks of wicker willow on the outskirts of Srinagar. Willow sticks are used to make kangris (firepot) and other decorative items. PTI

Chandigarh, January 21 There have been significant shortfalls in achievement of targets in the execution of various projects during the past two fiscal years by tasks forces of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) deployed in the volatile Kashmir valley.

While allocated funds have been spent by 97.71 per cent and 93.32 per cent during the 2015-16 and 2016-17 fiscals,

respectively, the target achieved was as low as 14.32 per cent in some of the categories of works, an audit report finalised this month has revealed.

“It is quite evident that the targets assigned by the Headquarters Director General, Border Roads, has not been achieved by 760 Task Force, in spite of expenditure to the tune of Rs 10,952.64 lakh against the allotment of Rs 11,208.79 lakh in 2015-16

Declared backward, Chamba to see rapid development Selected by Centre in keeping with its vision of New India by 2022 Lalit Mohan Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, January21 Chamba has been declared as the backward district by Government of India. It is among the 115 districts selected by the Government of India in keeping with its vision of a New India by 2022.

The Chamba district was selected as backward district in November 2017 when the Prime Minister launched a program to development 115 most backward districts of the country under vision 2022 policy. However, it was tomorrow that the scheme was being formally inaugurated by Shanta Kumar and JP Nadda.

Shanta Kumar, former CM and BJP MP from Kangra, and Union Minister for Health JP Nadda would preside over a function in Chamba tomorrow to thank the Government of India for selecting the district of Himachal under the scheme. Shanta Kumar today said that after being declared as backward district Chamba district would witness rapid

EDUCATION, HEALTH, INFRA TO BE IMPROVED ■

Senior government officials have been designated as ‘Prabhari Officers’ or the in-charge to coordinate the efforts of the Centre and the states in addressing development activities.

development. Chamba district is among the most backward areas of Himachal Pradesh. It has a population of 5.20 lakh as per 2011 census. Chamba and Dalhousie are only two towns in the district. Saloni, Tissa, Holi and Pangi are the remotest and the most backward areas of Chamba.

The Government of India

■ The Centre in coordination with the state gov-

ernment will provide funds to improve education, health, nutrition, basic infrastructure like rural road connectivity, rural household electrification, potable water and toilet facility.

had embarked upon a major policy initiative for the rapid transformation of 115 backward districts across the country. Senior government officials in the rank of the rank of Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary have been designated as Prabhari Officers or the in-charge to coordinate the efforts of the Centre and the states in addressing the specif-

ic developmental needs of the districts. Chamba is only district from Himachal selected under the scheme.

The Government of India in coordination with the state government would provide funds to improve education, health, nutrition, basic infrastructure like rural road connectivity and rural household electrification.

and Rs 10,220.20 lakh against the allotment of Rs 10,951.04 lakh in 2016-17,” the report states. The 760 Border Roads Task Force functions under BRO’s Project Beacon in Jammu and Kashmir.

While the Task Force exceeded its bridge construction target in 2016-17, which amounted to 122.80 per cent, it was just 19.85 in the preceding fiscal.

The performance in resurfacing works also flip-flopped from 99.99 per cent in 2015-16

to just 29.43 per cent in 2016-17.

The report also pointed out that in one instance of road formation works, 66.20 per cent of the allocated funds had been spent, but the physical progress had been only 38.53 per cent. The contractor asked for an extension which was more than the original time period.

An infructuous expenditure to the tune of Rs 3,094.98 lakh due to foreclosure of jobs has also been flagged.

Tribune News Service

Mandi, January 21 Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur has set a deadline to provide road connectivity to all panchayats of the state in the next five years as people living in remote areas had to travel long distance to reach any road to avail transportation facility.

The Chief Minister was on a one-day tour in his constituency today to announce development projects for the

residents of Seraj constituency, which is being represented by him since long.

Addressing public meetings at Bhaatloodhar, Thachi, Panjain and Bali Chowki, he said, “Roads are lifeline of the hill people and I am glad that out of 58 panchayats of Seraj constituency 56 have been provided road connectivity during my previous tenure.”

“My priority is to develop good roads for the comfort of people because I have seen people carrying loads on their

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur during a public rally in Mandi on Sunday. PHOTO: JAI KUMAR

ON THE FRONTLINE ARUN JOSHI

W

HEN the devastating floods struck Kashmir in September 2014, past mistakes were recalled. Vows were made to do a course correction. The alarm over the destruction was raised as if that was the end of the world.

The Jhelum river that runs through the Valley was declared the main culprit — it had overflown its banks and its waters had gushed into the fields, homes and left more than half of the capital city of Srinagar submerged.

The river had overthrown all encroachments on its banks and catchment areas overcrowded by the corrupt and the greedy political system over decades. The burden was becoming unbearable and it took revenge when nature helped it to do so in the first week of September 2014.

Today, more than three years after the floods, the government is still looking for ways to start the process of the flood management. It is floating expressions of interest to engage firms to do the job. It is floating EoI for consulting services for “conducting surveys, studies, and formulation of comprehensive flood management plan and preparation of a detailed project report for flood management works on the Jhelum and its tributaries.”

Fine, but what was the government doing all these three years. It engaged a dredging firm to do the dredging of the

river — that is to deepen its base so that the water levels do not cross beyond a particular level and threaten the population and properties.

To the common man, it would seem quite a sound strategy to manage the floods.

Dredging, however, was not the answer to the problem.

The Jhelum from its origin in Verinag in south Kashmir to Baramullah in north Kashmir via Srinagar in central Kashmir flows calmly and slowly. It is only after it crosses Baramullah and rushes towards Uri before falling into Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, its waters pick up speed. The dredging could have worked beyond Baramullah and the silt would have got flushed out with the rapids.

Nature was kind. It was a rain deficient period all these three years (2015-17) and the Valley was saved from floods.

There is absolutely no component of planning, leave alone execution, and that is all because of the politicisation of natural disasters and an endless appetite for making money out of contracts.

The dredging was undertaken in Srinagar. There was no logic in it. Srinagar lies almost in the middle of the route of the river, so any dredging there would be refilled any time.

Two points are clear that the political system in Kashmir raises alarms all the time and the level of alarm is made more alarming to tell the world that Delhi is being indifferent and is not giving funds for urgent works. But when the plans are asked for, it has none. The work or lack of it after the 2014 floods has shown that. In fact encroachments and illegal constructions are back on the riverbanks and its catchment areas. Blame Delhi for it.

Himachal Diary Official residences yet to be vacated

Warm welcome for CM

With defeated ministers and MLAs not vacating houses even after repeated requests, Vidhan Sabha speaker Rajiv Bindal and the Estate Office are under immense pressure from the newly elected MLAs and ministers. MLAs and ministers can stay in official residences only for 15 days after the declaration of results, but most of them have not vacated the houses even after a month. The MLAs are staying in guest houses or with their relatives and friends and even the ministers are not in a position to move to new houses. Residences vacated by former ministers are being renovated. The ministers have chosen bungalows for them and pressing departments to act fast. However, Chief Minister Jai Ram is lucky as his official residence “Oakover” was unoccupied and he was the first one to shift just four days after taking oath.

Meanwhile, some bureaucrats are unhappy with the demands of elected BJP MLAs who have been asking for pilots and other services despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for the end of VIP culture.

In a bid to project his image as the new “messiah of destitute, poor and old people”, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who is yet to complete a month in office, has made a political bid to encircle the Shimal (Rural) constituency, which was earlier represented by former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, and now by his son Vikramaditya Singh. During Thakur’s religious trip to Tattapani, Thakur got a warm reception in Shimla (Rural), a borough of six-time CM Virbhadra Singh. He gave sweets and fruits to inmates of old age home at Basantpur and Balika Ashram and got a rousing reception at Mashobra, Baldeyan, Naldehra and Sunni.

Govt on transfer spree With the BJP government headed by Jai Ram Thakur on a transfer and appointment spree, the offices of ministers are seen packed with employees seeking transfers and adjustments. But being a local minister and looking after the Education Department, Suresh Bhardwaj is under tremendous pressure as employees from the other departments are also approaching him. “When I took over as the Education Minister, I had said I would not be a “transfer minister’, but now I feel that either I will change myself or the system. Let’s see which way the wind blows.

New ministers still in celebratory mode Even after a month of the formation of the new government, ministers and MLAs of the ruling party are in a celebratory mode. They are seen visiting various places and being garlanded. Sometimes, officials are asked to arrange meetings of the new representatives. The problem is that development works in the state are yet to get going. Sources said a veteran leader of the BJP had already expressed his resentment over the way the new government is functioning.

Tought time for mining mafia The mining mafia is going to have a tough time in the industrial belt of Baddi with the return of Gaurav Singh.

While the officer has been raiding illegal mining operators, irrespective of their allegiance to politicians, the fact that cohorts of those close to the ruling party have come under the net is causing them uneasy moments. Caught on a sticky wicket, they can neither expect leniency nor can they criticise the police who are doing an exemplary job.

CONTRIBUTED BY BHANU P LOHUMI, KULDEEP CHAUHAN, LALIT MOHAN AND AMBIKA SHARMA

Thakur: Road connectivity to all panchayats in 5 years Dipender Manta

Post-2014 floods: State clueless about plugging loopholes

backs and walking through tough terrain. I am committed to giving them relief”, he added. “ In the next five years, all panchayats will be provided road connectivity and allvillages of Seraj will be linked by roads. That’s for sure. I am grateful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, who sanctioned as many as 63 National Highways for the state”, he said.

The Chief Minister said that

the works on three roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) had been sanctioned and the metalling would on these would begin soon. The sanctioned roads were Rs 90-lakh Somgaad-Chalol road, Rs 11.50crore Basan-Somgaad road and Rs 2.50-crore NaraingalluKuhan-Diddar road. Besides, under state roads projects the Chief Minister announced a sum of Rs 20 lakhs each for Thachi- Dandeli-Somgaad and Thachi- Bijhar roads.

~4.5-cr aid sought to check forest fires Shimla: In the wake of an increase in the number of forest fires, the state Forest Department has overhauled its fire wing. It has also sought a Central grant of Rs 4.5 crore to tackle such cases. More than 30 incidents of fire are being reported from across the state everyday owing to prolonged dry spell. Principal Chief Conservator, Forests, GS Goraya said in the absence of adequate equipment and sufficient manpower, the department had been facing problems in tacking forest fires. It was forced to shut its fire wing office at Bilaspur recently. Now the department had appointed a nodal officer at its headquarters in the capital state to check such cases through a mobile application, he added. He said the Forest Survey of India was monitoring the situation after every four hours through satellite imagery. “We have launched a mobile application. Top officials and at least 1,750 personnel are on the job,” Goraya said. TNS

THE TRIBUNE

NATION

CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

11

Govt mulls hiring pvt doctors as teachers Staff crunch: Plans ‘equated designations’ in 58 district hospitals set to be upgraded as medical colleges

CPM won’t tie-up with Congress in Tripura

Aditi Tandon

Shubhadeep Choudhury

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 21 The shortage of medical teachers is driving the government to find a solution to the problem of operationalising new medical colleges. The Health Ministry is veering towards the view that practising doctors with some experience should be allowed to teach medicine in government institutions.

So far, only academically qualified medical faculty cadre of assistant professors, associate professors and professors are allowed to teach medicine. Conditions for promotion to each of these ranks are rigorous.

But as demands of the health sector expand and pressure on the system mounts, the government is mulling “equated designa-

tions” which allow practising private doctors and consultants to serve as teachers in government institutions, provided they have a certain set years of medical practice (duration is being mulled).

A similar equation of designations won’t be allowed for private medical colleges though.

The Tribune has learnt that the government is likely to allow practising doctors to be hired as medical faculty under the scheme meant to upgrade 58 government district hospitals into medical colleges.

Progress of the centrally sponsored scheme has been slow due to unavailability of teachers for medical colleges.

A proposal is under way to allow doctors with eight to 10 years of practice to teach in these 58 colleges, all located

Up in arms against dowry

PTI

PRESENT SCENARIO ■ So

far, only academically qualified medical faculty cadre of assistant professors, associate professors and professors are allowed to teach medicine. Conditions for promotion to each of these ranks are rigorous

■ The existing rules on medicine faculty say a postgraduate

with one-year senior residency can be an assistant professor. An assistant professor with four years teaching and two research papers can be an associate professor. An associate professor with four years teaching plus two research papers can be a professor in remote and hitherto underserved areas. The Medical Council of India has been asked to do the needful in this regard. The move would require amendments to the Medical Teachers Eligibility Qualification Regulations.

The government has not responded favourably to demands from corporate hospitals and acclaimed private practitioners such as Devi

Shetty to let them teach medicine. "I may be a good surgeon, but existing rules don't let me teach medicine," Dr Shetty says.

The Health Ministry argues that a famed cardiac surgeon need not essentially be a good teacher. Another concern within the government is — corporate hospitals won't enable a culture needed for teaching. "Clientele in private

SANGH PITCHES FOR SIMULTANEOUS POLLS ■ A think-tank associated with the RSS has kickstarted

moves to build public opinion for simultaneous elections ■ The Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini headed by BJP MP and

Indian Council for Cultural Relations chief Vinay Sahasrabuddhe at a session in Mumbai pitched the idea that was first suggested by PM Narendra Modi last year.

■ The outfit had vice-chairman of Niti Aayog Rajiv Kumar

actively backing the idea. Kumar said the “one nation, one election” policy would result in saving a lot of money that is presently spent on holding elections.

“Accept and respect all diversity to find inner happiness. This is how humanity in this lifetime is accomplished.

We have this uniqueness of diversity gifted to us by our motherland,” Bhagwat said at an RSS rally here today.

“India forgot enmity with

4 die in chemical unit blast

The human chain, over 13,000-km long, was formed in all 38 districts of the state and more than four crore people were expected to have participated in the event.

Drones fitted with cameras were engaged for taking photographs and videos of the event. The event is expected to be registered in the Limca Book of Records. OC

This meant a Medanta or Fortis or Max Hospital could establish medical colleges on their compounds. But that's not happening because corporate hospitals also don't know where to source teachers from. This is why they want teaching regulations relaxed to allow consultants to teach.

The government is so far clear that cannot be done.

Asked why equated designations are then being permitted for 58 government district hospitals to be upgraded as medical colleges, a Health Ministry official said, “These institutions have to serve underserved areas. Getting medical teachers to go to these remote places is a challenge. We need to operationalise the scheme. That's why we are considering equated designations for these 58 institutions only.”

Accept, respect diversity for peace: Bhagwat Guwahati, January 21 RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat today said Hindutva was about embracing the humanity notwithstanding the prevalent diversity in language, culture and food habits.

He gave a clear hint that the Sangh was not harbouring any intention to interfere with the food habits and culture of the people of Northeast and obliquely tried to counter the apprehension aired by political opponents in poll-bound tribal states of Meghalaya and Nagaland that local tribal people’s food habits (read beef consumption) would be severely interfered with if the saffron party was voted to power in those states.

Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and others form a human chain, a drive against child marriage and dowry, in Patna on Sunday.

hospitals won't want to be examined for the purpose of medical teaching," a government official says.

In government teaching institutions such as AIIMS and PGI, junior residents accompany senior doctors on rounds and watch them diagnose the patients. That's how they learn. "Can you imagine a similar scene in Medanta or Fortis?" asks a senior official explaining why allowing private medical consultants to teach medicine may not be a great idea.

Disagreement between the government and private hospitals and consultants on equated designations has led to a lukewarm response to a recent government amendment to the Companies Act which allowed even “for profit entities” to set up medical colleges.

Vadodara, January 21 At least four workers were killed and nine others injured in a blast at a chemical plant on the city’s outskirts today, a senior official said.

The blast occurred around 5.30 am in the filter plant of of the GSP Crop Science Private Limited led to a huge fire on the premises, a police official said.

“Four of the firm’s employees were killed in the mishap,” Vadodara Collector P Bharthi said. The injured

were admitted to hospitals, she said, adding that the condition of two injured was reported to be serious. “We have ordered an inquiry.”

The cause of the blast was not immediately known.

The firefighters took two hours to douse the blaze, a police official said.

The machinery at two plants were damaged. The firm’s units located in the surrounding areas were asked to shut down, a fire brigade official said. — PTI

Pakistan on August 15, 1947, but Pakistan has not done so as yet. To bring our country back on its feet is the goal of RSS. It is not a selfish or parochial motive. Around the world, humanity has for the past 2,000 years tried many things for world peace,

but they have failed. They need a new route and India will provide that new path for the people. India has been doing so since millenniums,” Bhagwat said.

“Our uniqueness lies in diversity of religion and different ways of life... but at the core, our essence is all same.

We need to seek happiness within, even the illiterate people in India are wise enough to know this truth that many in the world fail to understand,” he said. Over 40,000 RSS swayamsevaks from Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland attended the rally named Luitporia Hindu Samabesh. Luitporia here refers to the Brahmaputra. — TNS

SHORT TERM TENDER ENQUIRY (Through E-Tendering) (Bid No. 01/SE/Fbd/NIT-01) E-Tenders are invited from the experienced and well reputed agencies/contractors for providing 22 Nos. Jeep/Bolero (Light vehicle) & 6 Nos. Cars (Tata Indigo/Maruti Swift-Dzire/Ciaz or any other Sedan model) on outsource basis to be attached with the Executive Engineer/(OP) Divn., NIT Faridabad. Old Faridabad Ballabgarh, Greater Faridabad, XEN Works & Enforcement Wing under the jurisdiction of (OP) Circle DHBVN Faridabad.

Date of Starting e-Tender 24.01.2018 (from 11.00 Hrs)

Date of closing online e-Tender 06.02.2018 (Up to 13.00 Hrs)

Opening date of part-1 of proposal on web portal 06.02.2018 (at 15.00 Hrs)

Tribune News Service

Kolkata, January 21 The CPM today ruled out any tie-up with the Congress for next month’s Assembly poll in Tripura but indicated that it was not averse to joining hands with the party for next year’s Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing a press conference here today after the conclusion of the party’s central committee meeting, CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said in Tripura the CPM-led Left Front (CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP are the other constituents) would contest the elections on its own.

Yechury said the Left Frontled Tripura had become the number one state in the country in terms of literacy, beating Kerala (where too a CPMled front is in power) which earlier had this distinction.

“Tripura has been acknowledged by the Centre many times as the best administered state,” Yechury said, adding that the Left Front would like to consolidate the gains it had made in Tripura. He said the strength of the Congress had got heavily depleted in Tripura as a section of Congress leaders had switched over to the TMC and the remaining ones joined the BJP. Expressing confidence about the outcome of the Assembly elections in Tripura, Yechury said Tripura would end the BJP’s election “blitzkrieg” and become the saffron party’s “Waterloo”.

Accusing the BJP of not being true to its ideal, the CPM leader said the BJP, despite its claim of being staunch nationalists, had struck alliance with an organisation like IPFT, which had been borne out of

❝

Tripura will end the BJP’s election ‘blitzkrieg’ and become the saffron party’s ‘Waterloo’ Sitaram Yechury, CPM GEN SECRETARY the demand of separation from India. “The IPFT is claiming that the PM and the BJP chief had promised them a separate tribal state.

This essentially amounts to dismemberment of India,” Yechury said.

On the issue of electoral tieup with the Congress, a subject that was hotly debated in the central committee and necessitated a vote, Yechury said the political resolution adopted at the meet declared that the party as a movement must primarily focus on defeating the BJP government and its policies.

Yechury said economic policies of the BJP, including note ban and GST, and “surrender to US economic interests” and various other steps — the most important one being the “free run given to private armies in the name of ‘gaurakshaks’, moral police, etc” — would form the basis for bringing all secular forces under one umbrella to prevent division of votes. He said while the CPM had consistently opposed the Congress, the situation was different now.

However, the exact nature of the anti-BJP secular front envisaged by the CPM would be “concretised” at the time of the election.

E-Tender Enquiry No. - 30/CWD-2/Vol-VIII/HVPN/2017-18 Dated 17.01.18

HARYANA VIDYUT PRASARAN NIGAM LIMITED Shakti Bhawan, Panchkula CIN: U40101HR1997SGC033683 Online tenders are invited for the Re-construction of New U/C wall against damaged wall at 132 KV Sub-Station Narnaund.

Estimated Cost (in Lacs) /Earnest Money (in Rs) 2.34/4680 Last date of online bid submission

01.02.2018/13.00 hrs.

Detailed NIT and tender document is available at website: https://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in, https//www.hvpn.gov.in

PRDH/60349

Sd/- Executive Engineer, Civil Works Division, HVPNL, Hisar

The already uploaded tender documents having detailed terms & conditions can be seen/downloaded from the website https://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in & http://dhbvn.org.in

Sd/- SE (OP) Circle, DHBVN Faridabad.

PRDH/60327

���������������������������� ����������� ������� (Narwana Water Services Division, Narwana)

Four of cop family members end lives

CPM veteran Khagen Das dead

Dumper-truck hits train, one injured

MUV collides with truck, eight killed

Jaipur: Facing a legal battle with his friend, a police constable allegedly committed suicides along with his wife, daughter and son at Surpulia village of Nagaur district in Rajasthan in the wee hours of Sunday.

The deceased were identified as Gena Ram (38), Santosh (35), Sumitra (22) and Ganpat (20). The constable was posted as a driver with the Additional SP-Deedwana and was on leave, SHO Krishna Chandra said. He had a feud with Radha Krishna in which the latter had filed a theft case against him in 2012. OC

Kolkata/Agartala: CPM central committee member and chief of Tripura’s ruling Left Front Khagen Das died of a heart attack on Sunday in Kolkata, family and party sources said.

He was 79 and is survived by his wife and two daughters.

The former state minister and parliamentarian, who was in Kolkata to attend the party's central committee meeting, died at Tripura Bhavan around 3.30 am. CPM announced the party flag would fly half mast on Sunday and Monday and all party programmes in Tripura were suspended for two days. PTI

Jaipur: A person was injured after a sand-gravel laden truck rammed into a Marudhar passenger train on an unmanned railway crossing at Pilar Balaji section in Jodhpur division on Sunday. The injured truck driver, Khetaram Devasi, has been admitted to MDM Hospital.

“The victim was illegally carrying sand-gravel and met with an accident around 6.15 am,” said senior PRO of NWR Gopal Sharma. As a result of collision, trains movementwasdisrupted for couple of hours and six trains were halted before Jodhpur-Cantt station. OC

Dumka : Eight persons were killed and another was seriously injured when their MUV collided head on with a truck in Dumka district on Sunday. Seven of the deceased were going from Dumka to Deogharin to appear for the Staff Selection Commission exam while the eighth one was the driver of the vehicle, Dumka Sub-divisional Officer Rakesh Kumar said. The accident occurred near Jordaha Pahari under the Jermundi police station of Dumka district. The injured was taken to the Sadar Hospital in a critical condition. PTI

���������������������� Sr. No. 1

Name of work

Estimated Cost Earnest Tender form (Rs. in Lac) money cost (in Rs.) 2 3 4 L.Sum 25000/1000/Carrying out survey, GEO technical investigation and detail designing, working drawings, detailed estimates with BOQ, modifications and site visits including proof checking of the work of construction of RCC Box type V.R.Bridge at RD 305000 Sirsa Branch

The date of opening is 02.02.2018 at 12.00 PM. For more information & corrigendum if any visit to the website-http://etenders.hry.nic.in.

Sd/- Executive Engineer, Narwana W/S Division, Narwana.

PRDH/60340

DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYATS DEPARTMENT PANCHAYATI RAJ PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION JIND TENDER NOTICE The Governor of Haryana is inviting the bids from eligible bidders through online bids in the website https://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in for the works detailed in the table.

T’gana prepares criminals’ database Suresh Dharur Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, January 21 The Telangana Police have begun a comprehensive survey of criminals and repeat offenders across the state to prepare a database that will help identify and track them in future. Called “Sakala Nerasthula Samagra Survey”, the exercise is aimed at geo-tagging the criminals and their addresses so that when any offence is reported, the field police officer can narrow down the suspects using the available database.

All police officers, right from the lowest rank up to the Director General of

❝

This will instill a sense of certainty of getting caught and punished, leading to an environment of deterrence against crime. — MM Reddy, DGP

Police, have fanned out across the state to collect data on offenders with a criminal history in the last 10 years. DGP M Mahender Reddy appealed to the public to assist the police in locating offenders and documenting their details.

Information related to offenders, such as their modus operandi, place of residence, photographs and fingerprints, has already been collated. The details

have been sent to police stations where their addresses are located. All details are to be uploaded to the crime data analytic tools of the recently-launched mobile app, TSCOP. The DGP said the officials would carry out physical verification of the criminals’ addresses and activities, irrespective of the fact whether they had committed crime within their police station limits or elsewhere. Each

police station would constitute teams to go in the field, trace offenders and geo-tag their details. The data collected would include photographs, fingerprints and other details of criminals and their associates, with special focus on repeat offenders.

The exercise would enable police officers keep a continuous surveillance on criminals and monitor their activities by accessing real-time information while on field duty. Technology tools like Big Data Analytics would be used to proactively predict and prevent crime in addition to detection of crimes that had already occurred.

Sr. Name of Block Name of Village No.

Name of Work

Approximate value of works (Rs. in Lacs)

E/Money Societies/ Contractor (in Rs.)

Time Limit (in months)

Cost of document + E-service fee

Construction of Block Office Building i/c Civil works & E.I. Works

148.26

148260 296520

12

15000+1000=16000/-

01

Ujhana

Ujhana

02

Safidon

Bitani

Pavement of phirni with IPB along with Nalla

77.98

77980 155960

7

5000+1000=6000/-

03

Safidon

Malar

Pavement of phirni with IPB along with Nalla

35.31

25000 70620

6

5000+1000=6000/-

04

Julana

Hathwala

Const. of 01 No. Anganwari Centre Near h/o Banarsi (Re-tender)

8.00

8000 16000

4

1000+1000=2000/-

Conditions:1. The undersigned has right to accept or reject any or all of the above tender without assigning any reason.

2. The scope of the work can be increased or decreased depending upon the site condition and availability of funds and any item committed and subsituted in accordance with the requirement of the department and no claim on this amount shall be entertained.

3. The societies shall produce an attested copy of the fresh resolution of the co-operative society duly attested from the competent authority of co-operative department for issuance/participation in the tenders.

4. If site not available due to site dispute, encroachment or any other reason on account of Gram Panchayat, then there will be no claim by agency for any type like compensation, contractor profit, interest etc. for delay in work execution or non execution of work. The site of Anganwari Centre can be changed in any other Villages of Distt. Jind as per requirement of the department.

5. The Performance Security shall be deposited by the agency only in shape of Bank Guarantee/Bank Draft within 7 days after issuing of acceptance letter by the undersigned. Otherwise action will be taken against the agency any time as per clause No. 30.3 of tender document after the expired time of 7 days for depositing the performance security.

6. All material will be arranged by the agency at his own level.

7. The final payment will be made to the agency after taking approval of detailed estimate from the competent authority.

8. For the work of S. No. 01 the Bidder to have a Valid Licence from the Chief Electrical Inspector. However, in case the bidder does not possess such licence, he shall get the electrical work executed by subletting the same to another contractor having a valid licence.

9. The L&C Society has reserved for the works costing up to Rs. 50.00 Lac only for S. No. 03.

10. The agency will use ISI Marka interlocking paver block in the street.

11. The agency will use fly ash brick in above said building works.

12. The bidder will submit the bid capacity document for works of S. No. 01 as per clause No. 4.6 of tender form.

13. For other terms and conditions see in tender form.

1. Start date of tender submission for L&C Society & Contractor (Both) : 29.01.2018 from 3:00 p.m.

2. End date for online submission of tenders for L&C Society & Contractor : 20.02.2018 up to 5:00 p.m.

3. Opening of tenders : 21.02.2018 from 11:00 a.m. onwards Note:- Contractor applicable for the works of S. No. 01, 02 & 04 from the start date of tender 29.01.2018 to 20.02.2018.

If no tender received or single tender found of the work of S. No. 03 then the start date of tender submission for the work of S. No. 03 only is as under:1. Start date of tender submission for L&C Society & Contractor (Both) : 22.02.2018 from 3:00 p.m.

2. End date for online submission of tenders for L&C Society & Contractor : 05.03.2018 up to 5:00 p.m.

3. Opening of tenders : 06.03.2018 from 11:00 a.m. onwards For further details and e-tendering schedule visit website http://haryanaeprocurement.gov.in

PRDH-60358

For and on behalf of Governor of Haryana.

Sd/- Executive Engineer, Panchayati Raj, Jind.

12|

INF CUS BUDGET PRECURSOR

THE TRIBUNE CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

WILL THE BUDGET FIRE UP GROWTH?

Make in India: Rhetoric vs reality

People are waiting anxiously for FM Jaitley to take some bold decisions on February 1 that would boost the economy and salvage them from joblessness and shield them from inflation INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION

Rajeev Jayaswal

ITEMS

GROWTH % (APR-NOV 2017)

IIP (overall) Food products Apparels Leather Electrical equipment Motor vehicles Furniture Other manufacturing

3.2 3.1 -9.8 -0.2 -15.1 8.1 -0.6 -6.5

I

ECONOMIC GROWTH Year

GDP %

2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18*

5.5 6.4 7.5 8.0 7.1 6.5

*ESTIMATE

NATIONAL INCOME GROWTH Agriculture Manufacturing Construction

2017-18

2016-17

2.1 4.6 3.6

4.9 7.9 1.7

ESTIMATED BY CSO, MINISTRY OF STATISTICS & PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION

MAJOR DISINVESTMENTS IN FY-18 PSUs

%

share divested RECEIPT IN RS CRORE

Oil India

5.6

1135.26

NALCO

9.2

1191.73

HUDCO

10.1

1207.35

SUUTI

strategic sale

4153.65

NIA

11.65

7653.32

NTPC

6.63

9117.92

GIC

12.5

9704.16

SOURCE: DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE

GROWTH POTION public spending to stimulate growth ■ Relax the fiscal deficit target of 3% ■ Expedite strategic disinvestment of PSUs to generate resources ■ Monetise idle assets of PSUs to generate more resources ■ Bring down cost of finance for MSMEs ■ Set up a light combat vehicles manufacturing unit in Punjab ■ Extend Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor up to Attari for cross border trade

NDIA' S

trade deficit soared to a three-year high in December. The deficit, a staggering $115 billion in first nine months of the current financial year, is alarming.

Undoubtedly; India is importing more than its exports. The reason is simple — 'Made in India' products are unable to compete in the global market. More worrisome is the fact that these products are losing the domestic market mainly because of Chinese competition. India is the world’s 40th most competitive economy according to the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report, down by a notch compared to the previous year. There are innumerable reasons for the lack of India’s competitiveness, but the top three are — unpredictable policy regime, inspector raj and innovation deficit.

Unable to compete, Indian manufacturers are fast becoming traders. They are making easy and quick money by selling imported Chinese goods. This also saves them from the hassles of manufacturing, which is plagued by corruption. Therefore, ‘Make in India’ remains a political slogan of the current disposition. Moreover, inflexible approach and impulsive economic policies have resulted in needless disruptions. Demonetisation and hasty implementation of the GST also slowed the growth momentum. Consequently, economic growth in the current financial year is estimated at 6.5 per cent, a four-year low.

Although, the latest official data has shown that the industry is in the revival mode, there are certain pockets of concerns. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) grew by 8.4 per cent in November, which is a big shot in the arm for Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who can now present the Budget with some positive numbers. A closer look of the same IIP numbers is, however, disturbing.

Cumulatively, the growth is only 3.2 per cent in the first eight months of the current financial year. Certain important industry groups such as jewellery, hand tools, plastic products, electric heaters, electrical apparatus and readymade garments have registered high negative growth. While mostly labour intensive, some of these are crucial for India’s exports. No doubt, the manufacturing sector needs special focus in this Budget.

■ Increase

The booster dose There is an urgent need to infuse private investment in the economy to boost growth. The twin disruptions have, however, made the private investor wary. They will not take risk unless they are convinced about the predictability of the policy regime and robustness of the economy.

Therefore, the government has to take the lead and announce a 'stimulus package' for the economy. It will require additional

resources, which may force the government to borrow more. Possibly, the government may not contain the fiscal deficit within the earmarked 3 per cent for FY-19.

But, the productive use of borrowed money is always prudent, provided the government controls expenditure and desist from announcing largesse in the light of the 2019 General Election.

The infra push The infrastructural development is the safest area for gainful public expenditure.

FM Jaitley has been allocating significant budget for infrastructure development.

The transportation sector — rail, road and shipping — had been allocated a budget of ~2,41,387 crore in the previous Budget.

India has an impressive project portfolio — $100 billion investment in the Delhi-

sible for the effective use of the allocated amount. The Finance Minister must ensure that budgeted amount is spent as per the plan on the proposed projects.

The government alone cannot ensure completion of mega infrastructure projects. It also needs private participation.

Certainly, the government's direct involvement in such projects would boost private investors' confidence, but that alone would not motivate them to commit huge investments. The Rs 5,35,000 crore Bharatmala project would require private partners to invest over Rs 1,00,000 crore.

The success of public-private participation (PPP) in mega projects would depend on greater understanding. The government agencies, executing such projects, must treat private companies as equal partners and not like vendors. A policy framework in this direction has already been suggested by the Kelkar committee on 'Revisiting & Revitalising the PPP model of Infrastructure Development'.

The committee has suggested that PPP projects should focus more on service delivery rather than fiscal benefits.

Good and smart tax

Demonetisation and the hasty implementation of the GST are the chief culprits, but these two disruptions can’'t be blamed for all our economic woes .

Mumbai industrial and freight corridors; over 400 projects under the Sagarmala initiative and the ambitious target to make 100 smart cities. The status of these mega announcements is, however, not very clear. Ideally these infrastructure projects would not have allowed the economy to slow down. The reality is, however, obvious. Demonetisation and the hasty implementation of the GST are the chief culprits. But these two disruptions can’t be blamed for all our economic woes. It is possible that a large part of this budgeted amount is still unused. Traditionally, government departments go on a spending spree only in the fourth quarter of every financial year. This defeats the very purpose of public expenditure. The task of the Finance Minister should not be confined to merely allocating annual budgets to various sectors. He should also be respon-

The Budget is an opportunity for the Central government to lay a comprehensive blueprint of the indirect tax reforms.

There is an urgent need to completely overhaul the newly-introduced Goods & Services Tax to make it uncomplicated and contemporary. The GST rates need recalibration with two or three slabs.

Although, the GST is outside the purview of the Budget, the Finance Minister can always make the government's intent clear on February 1 to uplift the mood of the industry, and later, he can convince the members of the GST Council. Low GST rates will increase the tax base and easier compliance will encourage businessmen to work within the GST system. This will certainly improve the GST collection.

The Budget also provides an opportunity to the Finance Minister to express his intent to remove the GST-related anomalies, which have become impediments in infrastructural growth. For example, in August last year the GST Council had reduced tax on specified works contract for roads, bridges and tunnels from 18 per cent to 12 per cent. The rate for works contract for ports, airports and metros, however, remained at 18 per cent. This is not only confusing, but also discriminatory. The FM must address such anomalies with a promise to rectify them in a time-bound manner.

The industry's exclusive chambers have already started lobbying for their members. They focus more on trimming of taxes and tinkering of policies to maximise benefits for their patrons rather than worrying about the declining competitiveness of the Indian manufacturing sector as a whole.

People in general are waiting for the FM to take some bold decisions this time around.

Growth with a human face Shobana kamineni

W

ITH global growth conditions improving, India has a real chance to accelerate its development agenda and foster inclusive growth. The Budget can be a key instrument for stressing policies in education, healthcare, rural economy and infrastructure.

In education, while enrollment ratios in secondary education have gone up, the poor quality of teaching has left youngsters with inadequate skills. It is imperative for the Budget to accentuate better teaching and technology infusion in schools by ramping up education expenditure. A technology fund should also be set up to prepare our youth for the future. Further, we need to go from skills to apprenticeship, where the right training for industry is provided.

The National Health Policy has stressed on quality and affordable healthcare with a promise to raise spending to 2.5 per cent of the GDP in three years. The private sector is involved in three non-communicable disease treatments in district hospitals and this can be expanded with appropriate policy intervention. Innovative use of digital and mobile technology could lower overall healthcare costs, and the Budget 2018-19 can take a step to strengthen this model with a special technology fund.

Inclusive growth will depend on improving incomes in the rural economy. Irrigation, cold storage and warehousing, rural roads, and other infrastructure facilities deserve high attention in the Budget as they create new opportunities for farmers.

Links to food processing should be strengthened through policies enabling contract farming and land leasing to companies without affecting ownership rights of farmers.

On infrastructure, the power sector emerges as a key bottleneck. There is need for setting up a national power distribution company to develop a single market for power, and also picking up stranded power assets which are not covered by distribution companies. In other sectors, greater clarity is required on public-private partnership models.

Finally, an impetus to industry investment is the need of the hour. Industry feels there is a clear logic to push for a cut in corporate tax rates to 18-24 per cent with minimal exemptions so that Indian industry gains competitiveness in the global market. This will enable much higher job creation. To prepare for the emerging technology shift, it is important to encourage R&D and innovation through a seed fund of Rs 10,000 crores.

— The writer is CII President

THE TRIBUNE

WORLD

CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

13

Women march in US on 1st annivof Trump NATIONWIDE PROTESTS Thousands denounce President’s views on immigration, abortion

A man tries to escape from a balcony at Intercontinental Hotel during an attack by gunmen in Kabul on Sunday. REUTERS

18 dead in Taliban hotel siege at Kabul 14 foreigners among terror victims Kabul, January 21 A Taliban assault on the Intercontinental Hotel in Afghanistan's capital killed at least 18 persons, including 14 foreigners, and pinned security forces down for more than 13 hours before the last attacker was killed today, with the casualty toll expected to rise.

The heavily-guarded luxury hotel is popular among foreigners and Afghan officials.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish said the 18 killed included 14 foreigners and a telecommunications official from the western Farah province who was attending a conference.

“Eleven of the 14 foreigners killed were employees of KamAir, a private Afghan airline,” said Danish. KamAir also put out an announcement say-

ing some of their flights were disrupted because of the attack. Ukraine says one of its citizens was killed in the attack.

Ten other persons, including six from the security forces, were reported wounded and more than 150 persons, including 41 foreigners, were rescued from the hotel, Danish said.

The Taliban claimed the attack, which began around 9 pm yesterday, saying five gunmen armed with suicide vests targeted foreigners and Afghan officials.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the insurgents initially planned to attack the hotel on Thursday night but postponed the assault because there was a wedding underway and they wanted to avoid civilian casualties. — AP

Washington, January 21 Hundreds of thousands of women and their male supporters turned out on Saturday for the second Women’s March, a nationwide series of protests against US President Donald Trump marking the end of his tumultuous first year in office.

People participating in marches walked in support of women empowerment and denounced US President Donald Trump’s views on immigration, abortion, LGBT rights and women’s rights on the anniversary of his inauguration.

The coordinated rallies in Washington, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and about 250 other cities featured speakers who blasted Trump for policies that many said hurt women and urged voters to turn out for congressional elections in November.

Sister rallies were staged in cities overseas.

“Your vote is the most powerful tool at your individual disposal,” actress Eva Longoria told the Los Angeles rally.

“Everybody who has the privilege of voting must do so.”

Trump responded on Twitter by touting what he said were economic gains of the past year that benefited women.

“Beautiful weather all over our great country, a perfect day for all Women to March,” he wrote. “Get out there now to celebrate the historic milestones and unprecedented economic success and wealth creation that has taken place over the last 12 months. Lowest female unemployment in 18 years!”

Many of the protesters wore pink knit “pussy hats,” which were created for last year’s march as a reference to a comment made by Trump

First day of US govt shutdown ends in standoff

Protesters raise their hands during the rally to mark the first anniversary of the Women’s March in Los Angeles on Saturday. AFP

HOLLYWOOD CELEBS GIVE THEIR VOICE ■ One year later and with a

renewed hope for equal rights for women and justice, Women’s March 2018 saw several Hollywood A-listers including Viola Davis, Natalie Portman, Adele and Olivia Munn in participation ■ Last year, women and men

VIOLA DAVIS about female genitalia. The caps quickly became a symbol of women’s empowerment and opposition to the new president in the early days of his administration.

Saturday’s march follows what many see as a pivotal year for women’s rights, with

took to the streets of Washington DC, Los Angeles, New York and other cities, to show solidarity for women’s rights and refusal to attend US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, a day after he was sworn in as the 45th POTUS the rise of the #MeToo and #TimesUp social media campaigns against sexual harassment and misconduct. The movements sprang up after a string of scandals involving powerful men in Hollywood, Washington and elsewhere.

Many of Saturday’s speak-

■ A vocal supporter of equality,

Davis gave a hair-raising speech in the wake of the #MeToo movement, after Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal broke out last year, the Los Angeles Times reported ■ Olivia Wilde, Alyssa Milano,

Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore, Ashton Kutcher, Eva Longoria, Mila Kunis, Amber Tamblyn, Chelsea Kane among others were also present along with the activists who protested against Trump’s policies ers highlighted the theme of sexual assault, urging all Americans to fight back against what they see as a culture that tolerates the mistreatment of women.

Los Angeles Mayor Mayor Eric Garcetti estimated the crowd at 6,00,000, and that it

SCARLETT JOHANSSON was largest march in the country. In Washington, Democratic leaders addressed a gathering that appeared much smaller than the massive crowd that flooded the nation's capital on January 21, 2017, the day after Trump’s inauguration. — Reuters

Washington, January 21 President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers were locked in a standoff with Democrats on Saturday over the US government shutdown, with Republicans saying they would not negotiate on immigration until the government is reopened.

Funding for federal agencies ran out at midnight with no agreement in Congress, meaning the second year of Trump’s presidency began without a fully functioning government.

Democrats stuck to demands that any short-term spending legislation must include protections for young undocumented immigrants known as “Dreamers.”

Republicans in turn said they would not negotiate on immigration until Democrats gave them the votes needed to reopen the government.

US government workers were told to stay home or, in some cases, work without pay until new funding is approved in the first federal government shutdown since a 16-day funding lapse in October 2013.

The Republican-controlled Senate and House of Representatives held rare weekend sessions on Saturday, facing a political crisis that could affect November congressional elections. But both chambers resigned themselves to failure.

Both Republicans and Democrats had dug in during the day, each side blaming the other. — PTI

US must encourage bigger Indian Delhi, Islamabad should resolve role in Afghanistan, says Khalilzad problems on their own: Haqqani

T

HE Trump administration has a much sharper recognition of Pakistan as provider of safe havens of terror, says Zalmay Khalilzad, former US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Iraq and UN. In a hard hitting interview, Khalilzad says unlike other countries that have a military, the Pakistani military has a country and if it does not change its duplicitous behaviour on terror. US has a whole list of options to tighten the screws including listing Pakistan as state sponsor of terror.

In an exclusive conversation with The Tribune, Khalilzad stressed that the US is looking at alternate route options for supplies into Afghanistan to reduce dependency on Pakistan. He added that the US must encourage greater Indian role in Afghanistan despite Pak army’s objections. Smita Sharma spoke to him recently in Delhi.

What is the most significant change in America’s Af-Pak policy?

Sharp focus on Pakistan and its policy of providing sanctuaries and support to terror groups that are fighting Afghan government and US troops and coalition partners is on radar. The administration recognises this as the core problem for Afghanistan and has developed a strategy to change Pakistani behaviour. At present they have cut off financial support to the security sector. If that does not produce results, then the administration will consider additional steps to increase the cost to Pakistan of its current policy.

Are the announcements rooted in ground realism and not just result of Trump’s temperamental sway?

President Trump’s tweet was a reflection of conclusion that the engagement part, discussion diplomacy, giving them list of demands, names, terror groups that they were supporting - all this was not effective. The tweet concluded that phase.

Now we are in a phase of moving on more coercive elements of the strategy.

But soon after aid suspension, statements followed towards Pak appeasement.

What the US is trying to do is to convince Pakistan that look we still want to have normal relations with you. This is suspension so you can recalculate and recalibrate because we don’t want to go to the next step.

mate interests. Afghanistan and India have been neighbours long before Pakistan was created.

What is China’s role in the region today?

Zalmay Khalilzad

Is reliance on Pak still inevitable for supplies to Afghan? Can US look at Chabahar port option?

Chabahar port option is unlikely given nature of our relations with Iran generally. There are other options though.

The US is working hard to develop them. The option from north through Central Asia and Caucasus to either purchase some of things we need like fuel from there rather than bringing them in from Pakistan side. And for some heavy equipment that air transportation may be difficult, some logistical needs for ground transportation remain. It will be little more expensive if you bring them from the north, but look at how much money we are saving if we apply the security assistance to Pak should they decide to stop us. Not using Karachi route will be a loss for Pakistan. They make money from supplies and give them influence over us.

With US push for India’s increased role in Af-Pak, will it cause more friction with Pak army?

When we look at the world, the Asian future balance, China’s rise, we need partners to help and India is a very good partner. Helping India rise at a faster speed than it may is in interest of the US. That is the big picture.

Regarding Afghan situation for last 15-16 years, we have discouraged Indian role in many areas. We have encouraged in some like economic and humanitarian but not in security, training, provision of equipment. But our showing understanding of this so called sensitivity of Pakistan establishment has not produced anything.

This has encouraged more aggressiveness and it is smart to remove that constraint. Besides India has legiti-

China has become more powerful economically, militarily. Its ambitions have grown. It is seeking to play a bigger role in the region from South East Asia to Asia to the Middle East and beyond to Africa. Pakistan has been a strong ally of China for sometime. Gwadar has been sub contracted to them. Some 20,000 Chinese workers are in Pakistan.

Pakistan is so heavily indebted to China because this project of CPEC is not a gift but a loan. How will Pakistan ever pay that? If China is seeking dominations, spheres of influence, precluding others, no rules agreement, that is undesirable and one need to be more cautious and even in some cases push back against that. Why is it that China can have long road from China to Gwadar and there cannot be a road between India and Afghanistan so there can be trade and normal relations. India has other options, going through Chabahar but ideally there should be not only a North-South corridor but an East-West corridor.

Is there any sign to indicate that Pak deep state is willing to change?

Pak military is one that has a country rather than a country that has a military.

But I think we have got their attention.

I see indicators that they think business as usual is unlikely. They face some difficult choices. I do not know which way they will go. But we should know which way we will go. If they do not change we need to escalate pressure. We have the right of self defence. Pakistan is a sovereign country. But so is the United States. They allow terrorists from their territory to come and kill our people, kill coalition forces and civilians in Afghan.

Don’t Afghan and US have same rights of self defence as others? Security assistance suspension could lead to economic pressures, taking them away from list of non-NATO major allies, talk to Saudis and other friends. Then maybe consider process of listing them as state sponsor of terror and sanction individuals who support terrorists so they cannot travel overseas and their foreign bank accounts could be frozen. This will take several stages.

I

Is the US expecting India only to play an increased economic role in the region?

How will this feed into Pak hostility?

NDIA should not pin high hopes on Trump’s statements against Pakistan, says Husain Haqqani, former Pakistani Ambassador to the US. Known for his outspoken criticism of Pakistani deep state policies, Haqqani believes Delhi and Islamabad have to resolve their issues on their own but American can eventually force Pakistan to rethink its policies. Smita Sharma spoke to Haqqani.

Should India be encouraged by Trump’s statements against Pakistan?

Husain Haqqani

The US and Pakistan have real issues that go further back than President Trump’s tweet. I don’t think Indians should raise their expectations on basis of what American policy towards Pakistan might be. India has to deal with Pakistan on its own and recognise and understand Pakistan will always be India’s neighbour. The issue of terrorism has to be dealt by both countries in a realistic manner. Solution to IndiaPak conundrum is not sabre rattling.

Certainly threats of nuclear war do not help. Those in India who think this is some silver bullet that will solve the problems that have inhibited stability in the region are going to be disappointed

national interest very narrowly through the prism of India. That definition of Pak national interest doesn’t coincide with American national interest. Any amount of transactional arrangements between the two countries is not a substitute for a substantial relationship. From India’s point of view Pak’s ability to continue to get assistance from the US has been a major irritant. Pakistani officials are trying to say that aid suspension will not make a difference. We need to let it run its course.

Eventually what is needed is a re-evaluation of Pakistan’s policies within the country. Pakistan has for 70 years had a particular paradigm that India is our enemy, Islam is our national unifier and US provides us the economic and military assistance we need to survive in a hostile environment. Can America’s attitude towards Pak help it think about its own future differently? I think yes. But if anybody is looking for a very quick solution that America will turn off the tap and so Pak will change, that is never going to happen.

Where do US-Pak relations stand today?

The US is disappointed with Pakistan.

Pakistanis have also reached the conclusion that maybe their old policy of having a transactional relationship with the US in which Pak did some favours to the US in return for aid has run its course.What happens on the aid question is not important as it used to be. What is more important is can the US have an honest conversation with Pakistan in which it tells Islamabad that it is not willing to compartmentalise the issue of terrorism.

That acting against terrorist groups that attack inside Pak is not good enough. Pakistan has to act against groups that also operate outside Pakistan. President Trump may be much better positioned to lead that conversation than his predecessors.

Aid suspensions, tough talking by US have happened in past. How is it different this time?

Problem in the US-Pak relationship is that Pakistan’s leadership defines their

Has US dependency on Pak reduced?

Dependency has gone down considerably since when you have a 100,000 troops you need much more supplies for them compared to when you have fewer troops. In worst case scenario you can fly them in. President Trump is less concerned about the nuances.In the big picture he thinks maybe it is time to think of Pak as something other than an ally.

Any signs of change in the Pak military and ISI? People are looking for breaking newsPakistan changes! That is not going to happen. If you are to look at overall equation in the region it is going to take much longer.

Most Indian leaders understand it is not in their interest to increase Pakistan’s insecurities. That is why India has been reluctant to get militarily involved in Afghanistan and I hope they continue that policy. Americans also would not like a further complication in Afghan with any Indian military presence. Trump’s view that he wants to see more Indian involvement in Afghanistan is more in context of reducing America’s economic outlay.

So if India can spend some more money then US can reduce some of its expenditure there. Afghanistan right now needs lots of inflows not only in security realm but also in economic sector. Eventually there has to be a conversation between Afghan-Pak-India.

India has to reassure that Afghan is not being used source of destabilisation for Pak. Pak needs to rethink if it is in its interest to continue to advance hardline Islamist Pashtun groups as the future of Afghanistan. Most Afghans do not want it themselves. People do not change these views unless and until circumstances force them to review that.

Could DC leverage more vis-a-vis Tehran if their ties would improve?

I don’t think DC is rethinking ties with Tehran. You have to take things as they are. You can’t just say change this, change that. It is not on the cards. Accept what people are doing, their views of each other and then formulate policies. This little pipe dream that if America starts rethinking Iran, things will become easy for India ,is not going to happen.

Is China-Pak pivot much stronger today?

Pak and China are as close as two countries can be. They have always thought of each other as partners of last resort in South and Central Asia. From China’s point of view Pak is a secondary deterrent to India and from Pak’s point of view China is a guarantor against India’s overwhelming influence in the region. So few billion dollars here and there is not the question. Pak comes closer to China is a story that keeps getting recycled. I do not see thousands of Chinese troops pouring into Afghan to help the Haqqani Network or the Taliban establish their government.

14 BRIEFLY WIJK AAN ZEE (NETHERLANDS)

Anand suffers shock defeat against Kramnik Viswanathan Anand’s quest for a record sixth title suffered a setback as he slumped to a shock defeat against Vladimir Kramnik in the seventh round of the Tata Steel Masters chess tournament. Anand slipped to the joint sixth spot from his overnight joint second position. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan stretched his lead to a full point after his third straight victory. Magnus Carlsen earned a full point against Yifan Hou of China, the highest-ranked woman player. Mamedyarov has 5.5 points and is followed by Anish Giri, Wesley So, Carlsen and Kramnik, who all have 4.5 points each.

SINGAPORE

Kapur finishes tied 23rd, Garcia claims title

SPORT Tauranga(NewZealand), Jan 21 India went down fighting to Belgium in a thrilling final of the first leg of the fournation invitational hockey tournament at Blake Park here today. Mandeep Singh (19th minute) cancelled out Tom Boon’s 4th-minute opener but Sebastien Dockier’s (36th) goal proved to be the winner in Belgium’s 2-1 victory.

Belgium were quick to get off the blocks as they won a penalty corner in the third minute but Loick Luypaert’s drag-flick was deflected away by India’s first runner Chinglensana Singh.

Almost immediately, India had a great opportunity to score as Dilpreet Singh dodged a Belgian defender on the left and passed the ball across to Lalit Upadhyay, who had positioned himself in front of an empty goal. But Upadhyay failed to connect with the ball. At the other end, Belgium again mounted pressure and created another chance.

Boon made no mistake in deflecting in a cross from the right. With three seconds to go for the first break, India won a penalty corner but Rupinder Pal Singh’s fierce hit towards

Mandeep India’s lone scorer as Belgium win 2-1 in final of first leg We were much better than our previous match ❝ against Belgium. Our young players are making good progress against a world class team like Belgium, which we will benefit from in the future. For now, though, even a draw would have been a better result but the Belgium goalkeeper did some good work and made crucial saves❞ Sjoerd Marijne, INDIA COACH the right bottom corner was saved by a Belgian defender at the goal-line.

India overcame a slow start in the second quarter as they gained momentum, creating dangerous circle entries. In the 19th minute,

Rupinder intercepted a Belgian long pass before finding Manpreet Singh in the midfield.

The skipper passed the ball into the centre of the circle and Mandeep was quick to react as he got India the equaliser.

Australian down under

CORDOBA (ARGENTINA)

Santosh finishes 35th, Mena 7th in Dakar Debutant Oriol Mena finished seventh, while CS Santosh brought up his best ever performance in the Dakar Rally which concluded here. Hero MotoSports’ Mena was adjudged the Best Rookie Rider.

Mena’s teammate Santosh became the first and only Indian rider to have finished the Dakar Rally thrice. More significantly, he achieved his best performance, finishing at 35th position.

KOCHI

FC Goa edge out Kerala Blasters 2-1 in ISL

Grigor Dimitrov celebrates his victory against Nick Kyrgios in Round 4 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on Sunday. AFP

Top seed Rafa Nadal was rattled by a feisty challenge from Diego Schwartzman but held firm to fend off the diminutive Argentine 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3 and reach his 10th Australian Open quarterfinal on Sunday. In an often breathtaking clash laden with sumptuous shotmaking, the Spaniard was rocked by the hard-hitting Schwartzman who broke him three times to claim the second set at Rod Laver Arena. But the 16-time Grand Slam champion responded with typical grit, bolstering his defence to blanket the 24th seed’s firepower and counter-punching brilliantly to book a match with Marin Cilic.

Marathas beat Sultans, inch closer to PWL semis Vasilisa Marzaluik helped Veer Marathas inch closer to a semifinal berth by winning the sixth and final bout of the night to complete a 4-2 victory over Delhi Sultans in the Pro Wrestling League. — Agencies

TODAY ON TV TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN SONY SIX, 5:30AM

CILIC’S CENTURY

PWL PUNJAB VS MUMBAI SONY ESPN, 6PM

STAR SPORTS, 8PM

The next few minutes saw India dominate possession but a structured Belgian defence was tough to break.

Meanwhile, PR Sreejesh made sure India didn’t fall behind again as he saved a Thomas Briels shot in the 21st minute. But Sreejesh couldn’t keep the unrelenting Belgians out for long. At the start of the second half, Sreejesh saved Gauthier Boccard’s powerful reversestick shot from the top of the circle. But Dockier was quick to pick up the rebound as he dived in to sneak the ball past the goalkeeper.

Though Belgium won

Rafa Nadal hits a backhand during his Round 4 match against Diego Schwartzman on Sunday. AFP

100

Grand Slam wins for former US Open champion Marin Cilic, who beat Pablo Carreno Busta 6-7(2) 6-3 7-6(0) 76(3) in an entertaining baseline duel.

three back-to-back penalty corners towards the end of the third quarter, Manpreet was unbeatable as the first runner. India fought back in the final quarter, increasing the intensity of the attacks. They found gaps in the Belgian third but the experienced Vincent Vanasch made some important saves to keep India at bay. With five minutes to go, India pulled out their goalkeeper to add an extra outfield player. India won a penalty corner in the dying minutes but the attempt was defended well by the Belgians.

“We were much better than our previous match against Belgium,” India coach Sjoerd Marijne said. “Our young players are making good progress against a world class team like Belgium, which we will benefit from in the future. For now, though, even a draw would have been a better result but the Belgium goalkeeper did some good work and made crucial saves.”

In the third-place match, New Zealand beat Japan 5-4.

India will take on hosts New Zealand in the first match of the second leg on January 24. — PTI

Dimitrov subdues local favourite Kyrgios in thriller MELBOURNE, January 21 Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov kept cool in the Rod Laver Arena maelstrom to knock home favourite Nick Kyrgios out of the Australian Open in a fourth-round thriller on Sunday. Third seed Dimitrov absorbed 76 winners and struck 64 of his own to edge a scintillating duel 7-6(3) 7-6(4) 4-6 7-6(4).

While Australia’s wait for a men’s champion will now stretch to 43 years, Dimitrov will go into a quarterfinal with unseeded British player Kyle Edmund brimming with belief that a first Grand Slam title is within reach.

The 26-year-old showed enormous resilience and nerve to subdue a ferocious Kyrgios fightback, claiming victory after three hours and 26 minutes with a majestic forehand pass.

As the combatants embraced, Kyrgios told Dimitrov to “believe” before the defeated 22-year-old left to a standing ovation. A year ago it was jeers after a secondround meltdown. “Playing against Nick is always tricky,” Dimitrov told former champion Jim Courier on court. “He was serving unbelievable.

Playing unbelievable. Competing. He deserves a lot of credit. He fought really hard

Nick Kyrgios speaks with Grigor Dimitrov after the match. AFP

MATCH STATS 3-DIMITROV 17-KYRGIOS ACES 36 16 DOUBLE FAULTS 7 7 2/9 BREAK POINTS WON 3/5 21/31 NET POINTS WON 19/32 WINNERS 76 64 UNFORCED ERRORS 56 27 157 TOTAL POINTS WON 156 MATCH DURATION: 3 hrs, 26 min and it’s one of the matches you have to be locked in.”

Kyrgios did little wrong and said the match had been decided by the odd point here and there. “I lost tonight to one of the best players in the world. Went

down swinging,” he said.

The prime-time clash crackled with intensity from the get-go with Dimitrov’s elegant style contrasting with the explosive shot-making of maverick 17th seed Kyrgios.

“Oh Nicky you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind” chanted the gold and green clad fans in a Davis Cup atmosphere. Even the seagulls perched on the roof appeared transfixed on the drama unfolding below.

While Kyrgios’s histrionics are well chronicled, all the talk this past week has been the fact that he appears ready to fulfil his vast potential, especially after a superb victory over his idol Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Round 3.

Dimitrov, who won the ATP Finals last year, had to play high-octane tennis to edge an intense opener in a tiebreak.

Kyrgios’s only lapse arrived at 3-3 in the second set when he bunted a backhand long to hand Dimitrov a break point and then casually messed up a volley. For a few minutes it seemed Kyrgios might unravel but his growing maturity was evident as he re-grouped and seized on a tight service game by Dimitrov at 5-4, saving a set point, before breaking back to huge roars from the crowd. — Reuters

WOZNIACKI GALLOPS INTO QUARTERS PAES-RAJA CRASH OUT Second seed Caroline BUT BOPS ADVANCES

NADAL DEFUSES POCKET ROCKET SCHWARTZMAN

NEW DELHI

I-LEAGUE CHURCHILL VS INDIAN ARROWS

CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

India lose to Belgium again, but coach sees improvement

Shiv Kapur went through a rough patch on the front nine and carded a disappointing 3over in the fourth round to finish tied-23rd in the $1 million Singapore Open. Kapur was the best-placed Indian at 3-under while compatriots Jyoti Randhawa and Gaganjeet Bhullar shared the 27th spot. Sergio Garcia carded a 3-under 68 to romp to a five-shot victory.

FC Goa put an end to Kerala Blasters’ resurgence as the visitors handed them a 2-1 defeat in the Indian Super League.

Jamshedpur FC staged a remarkable recovery after being two goals down as they upstaged Delhi Dynamos 3-2.

THE TRIBUNE

SVITOLINA RACES PAST ALLERTOVA Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina firmed as a strong contender for the title with a ruthless 6-3 60 demolition of Czech qualifier Denisa Allertova in the early hours of Monday morning. The 23-year-old fourth seed, one of four players who could leave Melbourne Park as world No. 1, needed only 57 minutes to book her place in the quarterfinals.

Now riding a nine-match winning streak, Svitolina will next meet Belgian world No. 37 Elise Mertens for a place in what would be a maiden Grand Slam semifinal.

Wozniacki needed only a shade over an hour to book a quarterfinal spot as she thrashed Slovakia’s Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3 6-0. The Dane dropped a mere six points in the second set as she overwhelmed her 19thCaroline Wozniacki seeded opponent to dropped just six points reach the last eight in the second set. AFP here for the first time since 2012. Rybarikova actually gained the first break of serve in the third game but Wozniacki soon settled into her rhythm and broke back immediately before taking control. Such was Wozniacki’s confidence, she even produced a between-the-legs ‘tweener’ during the first set and although it did not win her the point it summed up her mood.

Leander Paes and Purav Raja crashed out after a 6-1 6-2 defeat against 11th seeds Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah in the men’s doubles pre-quarters. Rohan Bopanna and Timea Babos beat Andrew Whittington and Ellen Perez 6-2 6-4 in the mixed doubles first round.

KEY MATCHES ON MONDAY Madison Keys vs Caroline Garcia; Hsieh Su-wei vs Angelique Kerber; Barbora Strycova vs Karolina Pliskova; Simona Halep vs Naomi Osaka; Marton Fucsovics vs Roger Federer; Novak Djokovic vs Chung Hyeon; Fabio Fognini vs Tomas Berdych; Dominic Thiem vs Tennys Sandgren

JPM lead the way in competitive world of blind kabaddi Vinayak Padmadeo Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 21 After a huddle in the middle and chants of ‘JPM, JPM’, the team stuck together for few ‘selfies’ with the coaches and the support staff.

JPM, short for Jormal Periwal Memorial Senior Secondary School for the Blind, is one of the premier schools in the country for the blind that puts special emphasis on both sports and education. The emphasis showed in the way they outclassed their opposition in the final, beating Vocational Training Centre (VTC) 104-26 to win the Kabaddi Championships title. The kabaddi final was the last act of the six-day Usha Sports Championships for the Blind that saw 540 sportspersons competing in powerlifting, judo and kabaddi.

Both the finalist teams in the men’s kabaddi are housed in the Blind Relief

the business for JPM. Aman, in particular, did the most damage in defence.

But Ravinder Singh of VTC said the team was happy despite finishing second.

“We had no coaches or trainers to support us. We were told about the rules and familiarised with the new surface only days before the tournament. So, to finish second is a big achievement for us,” Ravinder said.

Association campus but the difference was stark.

JPM’s Sharan shared the secret. “We trained on the mat for the last five months and we were more comfortable,” he said.

The VTC men only trained for a week on the surface. “Some of us played on mud courts; this was the first time for us on mats. I think we did okay with this little or no practice,” said Mohammad Shahid, who is taking multi-skill training at the centre.

Asian meet

New surface This was the first time that the event was being held on mats. Tram lines were made of taped rope so that the players could know the boundaries. This was also the first time that the teams were given shoes to play on mat. For some accustomed to playing in the mud, this was a little hard to adjust.

Players were classified according to their level of disability. B-1 classification

Jormal Periwal Memorial Senior Secondary School for the Blind beat Vocational Training Centre 104-26 to win the recentlyconcluded Kabaddi Championships. is for players who have no light perception in either eye or those who have light perception but are unable to recognise the shape of the hand over a distance or in any direction. B-2 consists of players with partial vision.

B-1 players with some light

perception were put in blindfolds. The teams were made up of seven B-1 and five B-2 players. The playing seven had to include four B1 and three B-2.

Too much firepower The three B-2 players did

The players were also hopeful for an Asian kabaddi tournament sometime in the near future.

International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) general secretary A David said that there were plans to hold an Asian event that may see participation from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and other Asian teams. “They also play kabaddi so we may do it.

But I don’t know when this will happen,” he said.

JPM’s star raider Satyam Prakash will be one of the favourites to make the Indian team for the Asian meet.

Prakash, who hails from Patna, joined JPM in 2006 as a five-year-old. He is one of the up-and-coming stars from the school that has produced the likes of Ankur Dhama, who became the first blind Paralympian when he represented India at the Rio Games.

“I hope they finalise the event soon. I’ll do my best to get selected,” Prakash said.

Prakash, whose father runs a small grocery store in Patna, did not take the winter vacation this time as he chose to stay back to train for this championships. “We won because we have been playing together for some time now.

The vocational team has to change every year as they have a one-year course. But we will celebrate with them too. We are from the same centre,” Prakash said.

Indian elite women’s gold winner Sudha Singh (centre), silver winner Jyoti Gawte (left) and bronze winner Parul Chaudhary pose with the medals in Mumbai on Sunday. In the Indian men’s category, Gopi Thonakal won gold, Nitendra Singh Rawat won silver and Srinu Bugatha won bronze. In the elite category, Ethiopa’s Solomon Deksisa and Amane Gobena won the men’s and women’s gold medals, respectively. PTI

Dabbawalas win hearts in Mumbai Marathon Mumbai, January 21 The city’s famed dabbawalas today participated in the Mumbai Marathon to promote their recently launched Roti Bank initiative, which would prevent food wastage.

The dabbawalas have set up a dedicated call centre where people can inform if they have excess food. It would be collected and distributed to the homeless peo-

ple. “We want to sensitise people about this Roti Bank concept,” said Subhash Talekar, spokesperson of the Mumbai Dabbawala Association.

The association, whose members deliver around two lakh dabbas (tiffins) across the metropolis, collected the unused food packets distributed during the marathon to be given to the needy people, he added. — PTI

THE TRIBUNE

SPORT

CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

15

Go-green in Johannesburg! Buttler serves up special win Grassy wicket for 3rd Test; Rahane, Karthik bat long in the nets First to pad up in the nets were Murali Vijay, KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara, and the last to go in were Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Parthiv Patel. In between, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik and Virat Kohli spent a long time out in the middle.

All these batsmen had two separate outings, facing different sets of bowlers.

Ajay Naidu Johannesburg, January 21 Virat Kohli and his team were back to work today morning with a four-hour workout at the Wanderers Stadium. As expected, the curator, Butuel Buthelezi, has rolled out a green wicket to welcome the visitors.

After all the hue and cry over the Centurion pitch resembling an ‘Indian’ pitch, Buthelezi had his task cut out. “This is a fast and bouncy pitch,” he said proudly, looking over the wicket.

Before nets, the Indian team embraced itself in a tight, long huddle near the pitch, which will be the focus of attention for the next week.

Chief coach Ravi Shastri and batting coach Sanjay Bangar first took a look at the green pitch, and it was only when Shastri went in for a second look that Kohli joined him.

Karthik in?

Ajinkya Rahane has the best record among Indian batsmen outside the Subcontinent but he was overlooked for the first two Tests. FILE The Indian captain waged a lone battle in the first innings of the second Test. If the others in the XI can raise their performance, this team can still pull off a surprise.

New faces In practice today, two fresh

arrivals — Shardul Thakur and Navdeep Saini — were given the new ball, and they let it rip as they bowled to the Indian batsmen. These two have been summoned to ensure that the regulars in the side are not overused in the nets.

Super win for Punjab SYED MUSHTAQ ALI Kolkata, January 21 Punjab edged past Karnataka in the Super Over in a Super League tie of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament here today. Put in to bat, Karnataka posted 158/7 in 20 overs, with Punjab also finishing at the same total for the loss of nine wickets.

In the Super Over, Punjab gathered 15 runs with Yuvraj Singh scoring 5* and Mandeep Singh contributing 10*. In reply, Karun Nair (8) and Aniruddha Joshi (2) could manage only 10 runs for Karnataka. The thrilling win gave Harbhajan Singh-led Punjab four points.

Earlier, chasing 159 for

Mandeep Singh scored a quickfire 29-ball 45. FILE victory, Punjab rode on Mandeep Singh's quickfire

29-ball 45 and Harbhajan's 33. The Punjab skipper promoted himself to No. 3 and hit some quick boundaries.

Yuvraj contributed 29 before he was caught behind. In the last over, Punjab needed 12 runs to win. However, the pair of Siddarth Kaul and Sandeep Singh could get just 11, and the match went into the super over. For Punjab, Baltej Singh (3/21) was the pick of the bowlers.

Brief scores: Karnataka 158/7 (Aniduddha Joshi 40, CM Gautam 36; Baltej Singh 3/21, Manpreet Grewal 2/8); Punjab 158/9; 20 overs (Mandeep Singh 45, Harbhajan Singh 33, Yuvraj Singh 29; Sreenath Aravind 4/32). — IANS

From the look of things, Dinesh Karthik is almost certain to replace Parthiv Patel in the XI, which means that three different wicketkeepers would figure in the three Tests of this series, a very rare occurrence. Rahane too seems to be a certainty, as is Hardik Pandya.

Meanwhile, the South African team assembled here today and they will be hitting the ground Monday afternoon.

NZ colts beat South Africa Tauranga , January 21 New Zealand produced a strong all-round performance to defeat South Africa by 71 runs in a Group A match of the ICC U-19 World Cup here today.

Opting to bat, New Zealand posted 279/8 in 50 overs. Opener Rachin Ravindra was the highest scorer with 76 runs off 89 balls. Dale Phillips contributed 43 runs in the middleorder, while Max Chu scored 35 towards the end to help the Kiwis finish on a strong note.

In reply, the South Africans were bowled out for 208 runs in 46.2 overs.

Brief scores: New Zealand: 279/8 in 50 overs (Ravindra 76, Bhula 44, Phillips 43); South Africa: 208 in 46.2 overs (Rolfes 108, du Plessis 54; Ravindra 4/32). — PTI

Minerva on a roll On top at halfway stage; Bali attributes it to good start Aidara. The 30-year-old has been a vital cog in Minerva’s midfield.

Another factor that has made Minerva a competitive side this season is their fitness. Minerva have been one of the most hard-working sides this year, and have scored a major share of their goals in the second half. Bali said that the extra emphasis on fitness during the team’s preseason was reflecting in the results. “We did a lot of fitness work in the long preseason,” he said.

I-LEAGUE Indervir Grewal Tribune News Service

Aguero treble gets City back on track BURNLEY, January 20 A Sergio Aguero hat-trick helped Manchester City get back to winning ways in the Premier League with a 3-1 victory over Newcastle United, as they stayed 12 points ahead of Manchester United who had to dig deep to secure a 1-0 win at Burnley.

Chelsea stayed three points adrift of United as they enjoyed a 4-0 victory at Brighton and Hove Albion, while Arsenal were quick off the mark, scoring four goals inside the first 22 minutes in a 4-1 win over Crystal Palace.

Having suffered their first league defeat of the season at Liverpool last weekend, Pep Guardiola's Manchester City initially struggled to find rhythm at the Etihad Stadium before Aguero glanced in a Kevin De Bruyne cross after 34 minutes. The Argentine doubled their lead from the penalty spot shortly after the hour mark when Raheem Sterling was brought down by Javier Manquillo in the box.

Four minutes later, Jacob Murphy dinked the ball over home goalkeeper Ederson to score his first goal for Newcastle and briefly bring them back into contention.

However, the day belonged to Aguero who scored his 14th goal against the Magpies in the league seven minutes from fulltime to keep City on course for the title. — AFP

Chandigarh, January 21 Minerva Punjab FC find themselves in an unfamiliar position. The Ludhianabased side, only in their second season, are leading the I-League at the moment.

After Minerva’s ninthplace finish last season, not many would have expected them to start the new season in such fashion. Minerva’s 1-1 draw against Mohun Bagan in their opener was considered a one-off.

However, Minerva have won seven matches and lost only one since then. At the halfway stage, they have 22 points and lead Neroca FC by one point, though the Manipur team has played one match extra. Minerva face Neroca in their next match on Saturday.

Minerva striker Gagandeep Bali said that getting home matches at the start of the campaign proved a big factor in the team’s success.

“Last year, the team started with away matches. Playing away at the start of a season is tough as the team takes time to settle,” said Bali. “If you lose the first few matches, the players’ confidence falls,” added the new recruit.

Last season, Minerva’s first four matches were away and they lost three and drew one. This season, four of their first five matches were at home, and their one away match was in New Delhi against debutants Indian Arrows.

“Starting at home was a big advantage. On top of that, we managed to hold former champions Mohun Bagan in a tough opener,” said Bali.

The 27-year-old added that

First goal

Gagandeep Bali scored his maiden I-League goal in their 1-0 win over Gokulam Kerala and was named the Man of the Match. the team carried that confidence into its away matches.

Foreign imports Minerva’s most impressive away win came against Mohun Bagan, with Bhutanese forward Chencho Gyeltshen scoring both their goals in the 2-1 result.

The 21-year-old ‘Bhutanese Ronaldo’ has been in top form, scoring four goals. In fact, the form of Minerva’s foreign recruits has proved to be a major difference in the team’s changed fortunes this year.

Gyeltshen’s striking partner, Ghanian forward William Opoku Asiedu, also has four goals to his name.

Another top performer has been Germany-born Senegalese player Kassim

The striker added that his fitness had also improved significantly.

“This is my first year in ILeague,” said Bali, who joined Minerva a few months before the start of the season. “I was playing in the Chandigarh league and Minerva came with an offer,” he added. Bali, an employee of AG Punjab in Chandigarh, has played for Goan club Salgaoncar earlier. But he said that playing in the top league was a whole new experience.

“The number of matches, the training regimen is completely different. This is the first time I am playing professionally and I get a lot of time to work on my game.

My fitness, my game sense and technical ability have improved a lot,” said Bali, who hails from Mahilpur.

Bali, who started football in school, had a great start to the year. He scored his maiden I-League goal in their 1-0 win over Gokulam Kerala and was also named the Man of the Match.

“It was a great feeling, reading my name in the headlines. I felt famous,” Bali said. “I got calls from home.”

Sydney, January 21 A scintillating century from Jos Buttler gave England a 16run win in the third ODI and a series victory against Australia here today. The hosts, set 303 to win by England, struggled through their chase to 286/6.

The result gave England an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the fivematch ODI series, a remarkable turnaround after Australia had trounced them 4-0 in the Test series.

Australia's hopes largely rested with Steve Smith (45) and Mitchell Marsh (55), but both were dismissed at a crucial stage of the chase, with Smith falling to a contentious catch by Buttler off the bowling of Mark Wood (2/46). Marcus Stoinis made a late attempt to lift Australia with a punishing 56, but England managed to hold on despite losing paceman Liam Plunkett to a leg injury early in the Australian innings.

Buttler, 27, was the only batsman from either team to get to grips with a slightly slow pitch, and his late surge helped England reach a total that had seemed out of their reach until the final few overs. Several English batsmen failed to capitalise on promising starts, but Buttler notched his fifth ODI century from the last ball of the innings as England plundered 38 runs off the final two overs.

Buttler himself took 28 runs from the last 11 balls he faced.

Overall, he faced 83 balls, hitting six fours and four sixes.

Australia recalled pacemen Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood for the match; it was the first time in the series that the trio of Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, who spearheaded the Ashes win, had been reunited. The tactic appeared to be working until Buttler and Woakes came together and turned the match on its head. — AFP Brief scores: England 302 (Buttler 100*, Woakes 53*); Australia: 286/6 (Finch 62, Stoinis 56, Marsh 55)

England claim first ever ODI series win over Australia

England’s Jos Buttler celebrates after making a century against Australia during their third ODI in Sydney on Sunday. England have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. AP/PTI

England rise from Ashes, teach Aussies ODI lessons Sydney, January 21 With today’s win, England have now triumphed in six of their last seven ODIs against Australia. Prior to that, from September 2013 to September 2015, Australia had won 11 of the 12 ODIs played between the two teams.

What has changed for England? Well, it’s the coming together of extremely unEnglish sort of attacking batsmen such as Jason Roy, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Alex Hales, Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes. Joe Root, correct and classical, is the glue that binds them.

England’s ODI batting is so robust, aggressive that Steve Smith, Australia’s captain, says his team needs to learn from England’s approach!

Learning from England “It just looks like the way

It just looks like the ❝ way they play is for everyone to go really hard and Joe Root is a sort of rock in the middle... That works for them and it's something that we might have to think about as well ❞

Steve Smith, ASUTARLA SKIPPER

they play is for everyone to go really hard and Joe Root is a sort of rock in the middle,” Smith said. “He just plays good cricket and guys bat around him. That works for them and it's something that we might have to think about as well.”

Roy smashed a great 180 in the first ODI; Bairstow, Hales, Buttler and Woakes got the quick runs while Root made a steady 46* in the second; in the third ODI today, Buttler made 100*

and Woakes 53*. England beat Australia third time in a row in this series, and fourth time consecutively, counting their win in the Champions Trophy last year.

All-round attack Buttler today said they’ve decided that constant attack is their objective.

“We've championed this way of playing, even if you lose wickets,” he said.

“Chris and I tried to push on, we were looking at 270 but we had a couple of good overs... Against Cummins, Starc, etc it was very special.” The last two matches of the series are in Adelaide and Perth, and Root says they’re going for a 5-0 whitewash. “Hopefully two more wins, we're going to play our strongest possible XI!” — Agencies

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By the way...

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ICSSR to conduct research on NRI brides New Delhi:The Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), a body under the HRD ministry, is planning to conduct research on NRI brides in the country. ICSSR chairman BB Kumar said there has been no research on how many such marriages are performed and what ultimately is their status.

“What happens to the girls who are cheated? Do we need stricter norms? All this needs to be studied,” he added. PTI

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Dutch skater to visit India in search of mother New Delhi: Mumbai-born Dutch speed skater Anice Das, who will be in action during next month’s Winter Olympics, is planning to visit the country of her origin in search of her biological parents after giving her best in South Korea. The resolve to find her mother got stronger after the 32-yearold topped the 500m race at the Olympics qualifying event in The Netherlands. Anice has never been to India ever since she was adopted by a Dutch couple as an eightmonth-old along with her twin sister. PTI

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Daryaganj book market closed for 4th Sunday New Delhi: It was an unprecedented fourth Sunday in a row when Delhi’s famous Daryaganj weekly book market was not allowed to function. Though the East Delhi Municipal Corporation orders the closure of the makeshift market every year on a Sunday before Republic Day, this year the market was closed a month before in the name of preparing for an ASEAN summit to be held from January 23 to 25. IANS

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Published at The Tribune, Sector 29-C, Chandigarh.

RNI No. 15/57.

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CHANDIGARH | MONDAY | 22 JANUARY 2018

Need for National Security Policy: Vohra Tribune News Service

ICY TEMPTATION: A child plays with giant ice cream statues at a trade show in Rimini, Italy, on Sunday. AFP

THE TRIBUNE

New Delhi, January 21 Advocating a new approach in managing the everincreasing challenges to national security, Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra today suggested a threepronged strategy — a National Security Policy, creation of a National Security Administrative Service and a Ministry of National Security Affairs.

“Today, there is no important institution or activity which is not insecure. It has, thus, become extremely essential to safeguard almost every arena and to particularly secure arrangements relating to food, water, energy, nuclear power, science and technology, environment, ecology, finance, business, commerce, banking, cyber space and other impor-

tant quarters,” Governor Vohra said delivering the 12th RN Kao Memorial Lecture instituted by the Research and Analysis Wing, in honour of the founder of the country’s external intelligence agency.

Drawing upon his vast administrative experience, he identified some of the structural deficiencies in the existing national security management systems and offered ways to address some of these, including the UK model of parliamentary oversight that examines the expenditure, administration and policies of intelligence services.

On the Centre-state equation, he said it is not easy to explain the Government of India’s approach, particularly in the context of the constitutional prescription that “it

Today, there is no ❝ important institution or activity which is not insecure. It has, thus, become extremely essential to safeguard almost every arena.

NN Vohra, J&K GOVERNOR

shall be the Union’s duty to protect the states against internal disturbances”.

Over the years, he said, tendency of the Centre was to avoid any confrontation with states, while rarely questioning the states about the root causes of disturbances even after extending assistance in the form of forces to restore normalcy.

Referring to the question on Centre’s constitutional responsibility after warning to the state in the Babri Masjid demolition case or concerns on actual capability of the Centre to deal with events like the Mumbai terror attack, he said it leads to imperative of having a wellconsidered National Security Policy (NSP), that is “founded in unambiguous Union-states understandings to work together for col-

lectively safeguarding the country’s unity and territorial integrity”.

The draft NSP, he said, could be discussed at the Inter-State Council chaired by the Prime Minister and once states accept their responsibility to maintain internal security, there would be no reason why they should not become progressively capable of effectively dealing on their own with any arising internal disturbance.

Barring Jammu and Kashmir, where India is fighting Pakistan’s proxy war, Governor Vohra said the recurring deployment of the Army in other parts for dealing with local insurgencies and internal disturbances in states “has the rather worrying potential of blunting the Army’s operational efficiencies....”

Governor Vohra also said for effective maintenance of internal security, it is also essential to implement reforms and improvements in the entire framework of the criminal justice system, and clean up the system since there is also subsisting question mark on the integrity of the subordinate judicial services.

He also touched upon the need for comprehensive laws with pan-India jurisdictions to deal with terrorism, cyber crimes and economic offences and to tackle growing criminality by organised crime, drug trafficking and mafia groups many of which have close connections with terrorist organisations, both in the light of experience of the National Investigation Agency and the proposed National Counter-Terrorism Centre.

Celebrating epic that binds ASEAN, India Smita Sharma

across Delhi, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Ahmedabad, Kolkata N the runup to the com- and Hyderabad with their memorative ASEAN- interpretation of the India summit 2018, a day Ramayana. Organised in before the Republic Day association with the Indian ceremony where all 10 Council of Cultural Research ASEAN Heads of State will (ICCR) along with respective be chief guests, the Associa- Missions, the Ramayana Festion of the South East Asian tival depicts assimilation and Nations is clearly the talk of indigenisation of one of the the town.The curtains went world’s longest epic. up with the celebration of the Khon, a dance-drama of common heritage of India Thai national epic Ramakein, and Southeast Asia Nations set the ball rolling, depicting — the Ramayana. the chase of the golden sage Ten royal troupes from and abduction of member-states of Nang Seeda (Sita) Indonesia, Singaleading to the pore, the Philipbattle waged pines, Malaysia,

by Phra Ram Brunei, Thailand, (Rama) and TIQUE A M O L DIP Cambodia, Lao Phra Lak PDR, Myanmar (Lakshmana) and Vietnam are with the help of enthralling audiences Hanuman and

I

S P R O C

Artists from Thailand perform Hindu Ramayana at ASEAN-INDIA Commemorative Summit-2018 in New Delhi. MUKESH AGGARWAL monkey-warriors against Thotsakan (Ravana) in Krung Lonka (Srilanka).

Thailand’s Ambassador to

India Chutintorn Gongsakdi says, “Ramayana links all 10 ASEAN member-states with India.

Lessons from

Ramayana have also taken different forms. From Thailand, we are showcasing the most classical dance form that is performed in royal courts. Ramayana also takes the form of comics and games and so on.”

In the Philippines, Maharadia Lawana is a Maranao epic, a version indigenised by local faiths and perspectives while Phra Lak Phra Ram, the national epic of Lao, is considered a kind of a Jataka (Buddhist fable) about Lord Buddha’s earlier life. With 3Cs — commerce, connectivity and culture — important pillars of engagement between India and ASEAN, the Ramayana Festival aims to strengthen the third. “We all know about the very strong civilisational and cultural bonds between India

and ASEAN countries.The Ramayana, in a way, is an expression of that bond and relationship,” says Riva Ganguly Das, DG, ICCR. Another cultural aspect will be an hour-long visit to Akshardhama Temple by spouses of the 10 ASEAN heads. Interestingly, Indian artisans were flown into Thailand to take inspiration for the bronze statues and interior designs that adorn the monument. “We are very excited. All officials concerned are trying their health is tiptop shape and that we can outlast the marathon which is the ASEAN India commemorative summit,” says the Thai envoy. While the officials and envoys slog it out, you can seek inspiration from the Ramayana Festival.