The Hindu

Delhi saturday, november 12, 2016

www.thehindu.in Regd. DL(ND)-11/6110/2006-07-08 RNI No. TNENG/2012/49940 ISSN 0971 - 751X Vol. 6 No. 269 CITY EDITION 24 Pages Rs. 8.00 ●

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Printed at Chennai, Coimbatore, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Madurai, Noida, Visakhapatnam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Vijayawada, Mangaluru, Tiruchirapalli, Kolkata, Hubballi, Mohali, Allahabad, Malappuram and Mumbai

SC issues notice to actor Salman Khan in chinkara killing case

Mainstream parties, separatists should press for talks: Bhat Page 12

Page 9

Leonard Cohen, whose lyrics captivated generations, dead Page 14; Edit: Page 10

Indian-Americans voted for Trump in large numbers Page 14

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BRIEFLY Govt. returns 43 names cleared for HC judges NEW DELHI: The Centre has returned half of the 77 names recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium for appointment of judges in High Courts for “re-consideration”.

NEWS | PAGE 12

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SC pitches for peaceful solution to Naxal issue NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court

on Friday asked the Central and Chhattisgarh governments to find a peaceful solution to the Naxal problem in the State. The State said it would not take coercive action against social activist Nandini Sundar till November 15.

NATION | PAGE 9

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Ratan wants Mistry, Wadia out of 3 firms MUMBAI: The Ratan Tata-led

Tata Sons has asked Tata Motors, Tata Chemicals and Tata Steel to convene extraordinary general meetings to remove Cyrus Mistry and Nusli Wadia as directors.

BUSINESS | PAGE 13

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Plea to drop references to Nadars from books NEW DELHI: Rajya Sabha member

Sasikala Pushpa has urged Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar to remove “derogatory references” to the Nadar community from the Class 9 social science textbook for the CBSE. NATION | PAGE 9

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Vijay, Pujara lead India fightback with tons RAJKOT: Murali Vijay and

Cheteshwar Pujara led India’s determined response to England’s first innings total of 537 as they struck dogged hundreds to guide the hosts to 319/4 on the third day of the first cricket Test here on Friday.

SPORT | PAGE 17

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METROPLUS MELANGE 4 Pages

Long queues, dry ATMs fuel anger and frustration Government extends deadline for payments in old notes

NEW DELHI: India on Friday

NEW DELHI: The nationwide

쐍 ATMS, BANKS RUN OUT

OF CASH; PEOPLE BACKING US, SAYS AMIT SHAH | PAGE 13

HOT POTATO: At Okhla Mandi in Delhi, wholesalers and retailers say their business has been affected by the demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes. — PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA

NEW DELHI: The governments’

move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes is not just a nightmare for blackmoney hoarders, but also the cash logistics industry responsible for transporting cash and refilling the ATMs with the new currency.

“There are a total of 8,800 cash vans at present and about 40,000 manpower. We have a capacity to touch 25,000 ATMs in a day as opposed to the challenge of replenishing currency at over 2 lakh ATMs in the country,” said Rituraj Sinha, president of Cash Logistics Asso-

ciation of India said.

He also pointed out that the manpower employed by the industry is trained and authorised by banks to handle the huge amounts of cash, implying that shortage of cash is likely to continue for some time. “We cannot therefore just hire a number of people to deal with the surge in work.”

The ATMs also need to be re-configured and re-calibrated physically for them to start dispensing the new notes. So, the task at hand is to ensure that all ATMs have at least the Rs 100 note, which significantly reduced the ATM capacity.

STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: Three days since the

government withdrew Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes, Delhiites began to feel the pinch on Friday as many ATMs and banks ran out of cash to exchange the old notes.

People were left with little to no cash as long queues or downed shutters greeted them at banks and ATMs across the city. With pockets empty, frustration began to grow among customers waiting for hours some had even taken an unpaid day of from work for the task.

Jitender, who works as a security guard in West Delhi, said he had borrowed some money from friends, but ex-

hausted it buying essentials for his family.

“Since Thursday, we have had not a single rupee at home.

We have not been buying vegetables so we are making do with our old stock of rice and pulses,” he said.

On Friday, he lined up outside a bank in Janakpuri in hopes of withdrawing some money after having taken leave from work for the second day.

“On Thursday also I stood outside a bank, but failed to get any money. I have asked my wife to stand outside another bank so that we have some chance of getting money,” Jitender said.

Another customer, Kashik-

On an average, ATMs are replenished with Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes with a value of up to Rs 40 lakh per ATM. However, currently they are able to refill only the Rs 100 notes with value of around Rs 10 lakh per ATM due configuration issues.

“The cash filing in the ATM is done route-wise.

There is a set route and all ATMs of the route are refilled in a sequence… But now we are seeing that by the time out vans reach to the fourth or fifth ATM, the first one is out of cash. We are unable to complete the routes,” he said.

Mr Sinha pointed out that

the logistics firms are not just tasked with refilling but also removing the old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes from the ATMs. “Our staf has not gone home for the past three days.

We have cancelled their leaves…,” he said.

Another challenge in this is to ensure the cash movement with scores of people waiting in line. “This poses a security challenge for us,” Mr Sinha said, adding that the Cash Logistics Association of India has set up a control room to monitor all of these vehicles and receive hourly updates on the movement of cash.

ant Jha, said that he had been forced to leave empty-handed a second time. After waiting for three hours, he had to leave his spot in the queue as his employer refused to give him a day of.

“I waited on Thursday as well, but without any luck.

Does the government think the cash in my hand is black money,” he asked angrily.

While most customers complained about the long queues and ATMs not functioning at all, some were more worried about being able to deposit the withdrawn currency into their bank accounts.

쐍 CONTINUED ON | PAGE 12 쐍 SEE ALSO | PAGES 3 & 4

No time to add fresh features VIJAITA SINGH NEW DELHI: The new magenta

Rs. 2,000 notes have all been printed at a facility in India but, barring the design, the security features remain the same as the old Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes, a senior oicial told The Hindu.

“Since the decision to introduce the new notes was taken only six months ago, there was no time to alter the security features.

Only the design has been changed,” said the oicial.

‘PMO PUSHED FOR PRINTING IN INDIA’ | PAGE 13

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Shortage, rumours rub salt into people’s hurt MARIA AKRAM MOHAMMAD ALI NEW DELHI/MEERUT: It started of

as a rumour in Old Delhi but by evening it turned into a harsh reality as salt was not available in most markets in the city.

“I don't know how it started but salt, which is usually sold for 25 per kg, was available for Rs 50 per kg by afternoon. When the rumour spread by evening it was available for Rs 250 per kg and later not available at all,” said Haji Mian Fayyazuddin, a social activist in the Jama Masjid area.

With reports of salt running out, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal appealed to the people not to panic and said it was just a rumour.

“Some people are spreading false rumours that sugar and salt aren’t available. This is wrong. Anyone caught hoarding basic commodities CM YK

People panic-buying salt and other commodities at a store in Delhi on Friday. - PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT will not be spared (sic),” he tweeted.

The Delhi Government’s food and civil supplies department, along with subdivisional commissioners, inspected markets to assure the people. Food Minister Imran Hussain held a meeting with oicials late on Fri-

signed a historic civilian nuclear deal with Japan during the annual bilateral summit held in Tokyo. Sealing of the deal marked the high point of the ongoing visit to Japan by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who issued a media statement describing it as a ‘historic step’.

The nuclear deal which will help India access Japan’s nuclear market, had been under negotiation for six years and was firmed up during the 2015 visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to India when the principles of the agreement were frozen. However, the final seal on the text had to wait legislative clearance from Japan, which has 13 civil nuclear agreements with countries such as France and the U.S. India is the first non-mem-

IN STEP: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewing a guard of honour with Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Friday. — PHOTO: PTI ber of the non-proliferation treaty (NPT) to have signed such a deal with Japan.

Negotiations which began in 2010 during the UPA government were stuck on India’s non-NPT status as Japan sought assurances that the deal would be used for peaceful purposes.

The last stage of negotiations was keenly watched due to a “nullification clause” which seeks automatic can-

cellation of the deal if India resorts to nuclear testing. “If India conducts a nuclear test, Japan shall stop its cooperation,” Yasuhisa Kawamura, press secretary of the Japanese Foreign Ministry. had told The Hindu earlier in written comments explaining the “nullification clause” in the agreement.

쐍 JAPAN HAS OPTION TO

CANCEL THE DEAL | PAGE 12

Delhiites begin to feel pinch Hydel projects: World Bank asks

Cash crunch at ATMs to continue YUTHIKA BHARGAVA

It is the first non-NPT nation to have signed such an agreement KALLOL BHATTACHERJEE

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

scramble to swap Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes for valid money saw the government extend the deadline for accepting payments for select services till November 14 midnight.

Two people died in separate incidents on Friday — a septuagenarian, who collapsed while waiting in queue at a Mumbai suburb, and a Kerala State Electricity Board employee, who fell to his death at a bank branch in Kannur.

While Vishwanath Vartak, 73, died in Mumbai’s Mulund area while waiting at an SBI branch, the state utility employee in Kerala lost his life after he accidentally fell from the second floor of a State Bank of Travancore branch building.

Banks and ATMs, which opened for the first time in three days and quickly ran out of cash, had long queues of anxious customers waiting outside in several cities.

The government swung into damage control mode on Friday evening and announced it would allow the use of the currency that is being withdrawn to pay for select services, including court fees, for another 72 hours.

“There is enough cash with the RBI,” the Finance Ministry said.

India signs landmark civil nuclear deal with Japan

day evening to discuss steps to curb hoarding of salt and sugar.

People claimed that the rumour started after the Income Tax department searches in Delhi’s wholesale markets such as Chandni Chowk, Khari Baoli, Sadar Bazar and

Gandhi Nagar on Thursday.

These markets were closed on Friday.

“By evening, salt was not available even in Okhla. I had sent my son to check but our local grocer told him that salt was not available in the entire area. I went to Greater Kailash and couldn’t get it there as well,” said Jalil Ahmed, an accountant and a resident of Batla House.

Even in markets such as Khan Market, Greater Kailash M-block market and Laxmi Nagar salt wasn’t available. “Messages on social media were making the rounds in the day about shortage of salt. I went to Khan Market to get 5kg salt as a precautionary measure but it wasn’t available,” said Nimesh Kumar, a photographer.

Locals fear that even milk, sugar, oil and other basic commodities will be af-

fected as local grocers don’t have cash to buy new stock.

Rumour of salt shortage also hit parts of Uttar Pradesh, leading people to buy the essential commodity in panic and sending prices to soar to Rs. 200 a kg in Moradabad.

District Magistrate Suhair Bin Sagheer said reports of shortage were not true.

“There were rumours that salt will be sold at higher rates. This led to panic among people today. Salt is not going to be sold for even one rupee more,” Mr Sagheer said.

Meerut District Magistrate B. Chandrakala appealed to the people not go by the rumour.

Taking cognisance of the rumours, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav directed officials to deal strictly with rumour mongers and appealed to the public to not buy salt unnecessarily.

India, Pak. to agree to mediation SUHASINI HAIDAR

NEW DELHI: The World Bank has “urged” India and Pakistan to agree to mediation on how to proceed in their dispute over two hydropower dam projects in Jammu and Kashmir.

Replying to a strong statement from India that the World Bank, a signatory to the Indus Waters Treaty 1960, was favouring Pakistan by going ahead with an arbitration process, the Bank said it had gone ahead with both countries’ requests.

Conceding that a “draw of lots” was held to appoint three neutral umpires despite India’s objections, a senior World Bank oicial explained that the decision was a “procedural one.”

“The World Bank Group has a strictly procedural role under the Indus Waters Treaty and the treaty does not allow it to choose whether one procedure [India’s] should take precedence over the other [Pakistan’s]. This is why we drew the lots and proposed potential candidates

for the Neutral Expert,” said Senior Vice-President and World Bank Group General Counsel Anne-Marie Leroy.

However, Ms. Leroy admitted that two parallel processes were “unworkable” in the long run, and therefore mediation was required.

The dispute is over the Kishenganga (330 MW) and Ratle (850 MW) hydel plants India is constructing on the Kishenganga and Chenab rivers.

쐍 CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Centre slaps levy, airfares to soar SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: The Centre will impose a levy of up to Rs. 8,500 on flights of domestic airlines from December 1 to fund its regional connectivity scheme, making fares costlier.

“We will impose a levy of Rs. 7,500 for flights up to 1,000 km. It will be Rs. 8,000 for flights between 1,000 and 1,500 km and Rs. 8,500 for flights beyond 1,500 km,” Civil

Aviation Secretary R.N. Choubey told reporters after the first pre-bid meeting of the regional connectivity scheme (RCS), organised by the Airports Authority of India.

Mr. Choubey said airfares on domestic routes may rise “by one per cent on an average.” “Even if the entire cost is passed on by the domestic airlines, the price hike should be no more than about one per

cent of the ticket price.” The RCS is aimed at reviving flight operations at 50 regional airports in the next four years.

It will be applicable only on scheduled domestic flights operating on major routes and excludes regional flights, Mr. Choubey said.

However, airlines are expected to pass on the hike to passenger.

쐍 CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

Katju appears in SC, gets charged with contempt KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL NEW DELHI: “Don’t give me

threats, Mr. Gogoi. Don’t try to be funny with me,” former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju shouted on Friday when slapped with a contempt notice in the very courtroom he once held sway as presiding judge.

But Justice Ranjan Gogoi, presiding over a three-judge Bench in Court 6 of the Supreme Court, was unmoved by the outburst.

The court’s unprecedented action against a former judge was triggered by remarks Justice Katju allegedly made in a blog post against the judges and the way they had dealt with the sensational Soumya murder and rape case of Kerala. When Justice Katju continued to protest, Justice Gogoi asked security personnel to escort him out, and lawyers started chanting “wrong, wrong, wrong” in support of the ex-judge.

Justice Katju stood clutching the folded photocopies of his blog posts as Justice Gogoi dictated the short order initiating contempt of court proceedings against him. He had come on an invitation from the Bench, also comprising Justices P.C. Pant and U.U. Lalit, for an opencourt “debate” on his Facebook

post that there were “fundamental flaws” in the Bench’s September 15 judgment sparing the life of the sole condemned man Govindachamy after acquitting him of murder.

In an unprecedented order on October 17, the Bench had put the review petitions of Soumya’s mother and the State of Kerala on hold till it cleared the air with Justice Katju. It had suo motu converted the Facebook post of the former judge into a review petition.

Early in the hearing Justice Gogoi asked Justice Katju to not wander into case evidence, but stick to his Facebook claim that the case was of murder. Justice Gogoi said the Bench may be compelled to take cognisance of his other blog posts if he per-

sisted in dealing with other aspects. Justice Katju had replied: “It is your privilege... you can do anything you want. I am not afraid of anything. You invited me so that I can tell you why this is still murder.”

Meanwhile, the SC on Friday dismissed the review petitions filed against the commutation of death penalty to Govindachamy. “You are not yourself sure of the degree of accuracy of your own evidence and you are asking us to sentence a man to death?” the Bench led by Justice Gogoi asked AttorneyGeneral Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Kerala.

쐍 ‘NOT THE WAY SC JUDGES SHOULD BEHAVE’ | PAGE 12

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THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

FILM REVIEW

No music, no magic A musical without any memorable songs NAMRATA JOSHI

Forget good, there is hardly any music in most of Rock On 2. Save in the many flashbacks and in the needlessly protracted climax.

The songs and melodies, instead of being well knit in the narrative, seem to stand jarringly outside of it.

There is a wisp of a story, narrated in large chunks through that easy, lazy device — a run-of-the-mill voice-over. It’s the tale of the members of the iconic rock group, Magik, going their own separate ways; but of their friendship standing the test of time.

Eight years on Jo (Arjun Rampal) runs a club and is the judge of a reality show, KD (Purab Kohli) is composing music for the ad world and Adi (Farhan Akhtar), is on a major guilt trip to a remote village in Meghalaya where he runs a school and a farmers’ cooperative. There is hint of grey in their hair and in the stubble, a pronounced tan and faint love handles to underline that they have aged, but not necessarily come of age.

Unknown to the band is young Jia (Shraddha Kapoor), the singer-daughter of the purist classical musician Pandit Vibhuti (Kumud Mishra) with whom Adi’s destiny is entwined in ways that audience can fathom right from the min-

Various musical ideas jostle around in the film, butbeg for a better exploration.— PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

★★★★★ Rock On 2 Director: Shujaat Saudagar Starring: Farhan Akhtar, Arjun Rampal, Purab Kohli, Shraddha Kapoor, Shashank Arora, Kumud Mishra, Shahana Goswami Run time: 142 mins ute she makes her entrance on the screen but the hero himself can’t. Like him, she is also trying to cope with the demons from the past.

Then there are a couple of music CDs that beg for a hear. The plot moves ahead precisely because they don’t get listened to. If they were taken note of, there wouldn’t be any sequel.

And no, this ain’t about giving away a vital spoiler; the

film itself is so predictable and packed with easy coincidences that it can’t have any surprises waiting to be unearthed by the viewer.

Various musical ideas jostle around, begging for a better exploration — the music market, the purist versus the experimental/ fusion music debate, for instance. But the filmmaker prefers to just skim the surface than pausing to dwell on the troubled relationship between Jiya and her father. One scene of emotional showdown is enough because there are better things to do, like peddling innumerable brands — from Amul to the State of Meghalaya itself.

The attempt to get Meghalaya on to a mainstream film might seem laudatory on paper but means little more than offering a picturesque “teaestates-hills-lakes” back-

drop for the film to get planted in. In fact, it reduces the localites to typically filmi, clichéd good and bad guys. The endless climax, portraying their misery, is cringingly bad and melodramatic and it is amply evident that the local actors hardly share any connect, communication or chemistry with the lead stars. Shillong’s much celebrated musical culture also hardly gets showcased, save in a token song — ‘Hoi Kiw/Chalo Chalo’ by Usha Uthup and the Summersalt Band.

The film would seem like a vehicle for Akhtar to make his presence felt but it’s Rampal, and more Kohli, who seem to walk away with the film. Kapoor is self-consciously meek and submissive. Mishra’s Pandit remains a half-baked character, as does Shashank Arora’s Uday, thereby reducing the fine young actor to a prop in the group, the one who wields the sarod like the guitar.

There is a hint of the old camaraderie and banter in the interactions of the old band members but not enough to bring back the nostalgia for the original in any big way for the fans.

Nor does the sequel update itself enough to appeal to the millennials. No wonder Rock On 2 feels totally lost in an echo chamber of its predecessor’s popularity.

OFFICE-OF-PROFIT

AAP slams poll panel for ‘wrong’ notices STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi

Party (AAP) lashed out at the Election Commission (EC) on Friday for sending ‘wrong’ notices to nine of its MLAs for holding oice-of-profit as chairpersons in ‘Rogi Kalyan Samitis’ (RKSs).

The AAP leaders said that the EC is now being used by ‘anti-democratic’ forces.

The party also demanded action against the complainant in the case, who had also named Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, in the list of 27 MLAs in this matter. On Wednesday, Mr. Goel had slammed the

Jamia holds annual convocation STAFF REPORTER

Delhi Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel.

EC for wrongly issuing him a notice and “maliciously” publicising it to give the impression that he was wrongfully holding an oice to which he was not entitled to.

“The fact is that I have never been and nor am I at

present either a chairperson or a member of any of the RKSs,” Mr Goel. had said.

The complainant had alleged that the post of chairperson in Rogi Kalyan Samitis in government hospitals was an oice-of-profit and demanded that the MLAs holding these posts be disqualified.

‘Malicious campaign’ “AAP MLAs are not being allowed to work for public welfare and are dragged into controversies to confuse the public through a motivated, false and malicious campaign,” the AAP said in an oicial

statement.

As per the Delhi Members of Legislative Assembly of Delhi (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1997, the post of chairpersons, vice chairpersons and members of RKSs are not oice-of-profit, the party said. The party has demanded exoneration of the rest of 16 MLAs. “It is a sad that the democratic institutions and constitutional oices, which were once highly respected by all and feared by miscreants are allowing themselves to be used by anti-democratic, narrow minded, sectarian elements,” the AAP said.

‘Chalo JNU’ to mark a month since Najeeb’s disappearance Protests to be held today; mass campaign planned Sunday onwards

NEW DELHI: Minister of State

for Human Resource Development Mahendranath Pandey said that the decision to demonetise Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes will help the younger generation in fulfilling their aspirations, such as owning a house, as the move will drive out black money from the market.

Mr. Pandey was speaking at Jamia Millia Islamia’s annual convocation on Friday.

The convocation was held on National Education Day, which is the birth anniversary of India’s first Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, who was also part of the 18-member foundation committee of the university.

Excellence A total of 4,627 degrees and diplomas were awarded to students from diferent Faculties, Departments and Centres who successfully completed M.Phil., Postgraduation, Graduation and Diploma courses in 2015.

Gold medals were presented to 169 toppers and 263 Ph. D. degrees were awarded to those research scholars whose results were notified up to October, 2016.

Vice-chancellor Talat Ahmed, delivering his annual address, enlisted the achievements of the university in the last one year and said that Jamia was “on the threshold of a new innings as it was nearing its centenary year in 2020.” He asked the HRD and the UGC for all help to the university as it completes 100 years.”

CM YK

STAFF REPORTER

The mass campaign is part of a national call for a massive protest on November 15

NEW DELHI: The Jawaharlal

Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) has appealed to all democratic organisations and elected students’ unions to join hands to endorse and observe a solidarity protest in diferent campuses over the weekend and participate in the ‘Chalo JNU’ march in JNU on November 15.

The day will mark a month since Najeeb Ahmed, a student of M.Sc. Biotechnology, JNU went missing from campus. With almost no headway made in the investigation and efort to find him, the JNUSU has called for an appeal for solidarity and united protest across India.

JNUSU had called for protests against what they claim is the vice-chancellor’s “total abdication of institutional responsibility towards Najeeb” and “against continuing political protection to the assaulters of Najeeb”.

More demonstrations On November 12, the students have called for a protest and eigy burning of the JNU V-C and the Home Minister Rajnath Singh followed by a campaign on November 13 and 14, which is part of a national call of ‘Chalo JNU’ that will culminate in a protest meeting.

In their appeal, the JNUSU

said that “the government of the day has waged a war on campuses and on all marginalised sections and dissenting voices in India. Yesterday it was Rohith Vemula pushed to suicide, then it was JNU students charged with sedition and jailed, today it is Najeeb, tomorrow it may be any of us.”

They added that “from HCU, BHU, DU to JNU- everywhere it is the same design unfolding: the RSSABVP, under full patronage of university administrations and the BJP government, get away with vicious attacks across campuses, and Dalits, minorities and dissenting voices are intimidated, harassed and institutionally murdered.”

Devi Chattopadhyaya and Late Raas Dhari Pt. Ladli Saran Sharma (Vrindavan) by Uma Sharma and group. At Meghdoot Theatre, Rabindra Bhavan, Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, 6:30 p.m.

Music: Tribute to Geeta Dutt music director and singer, Runki Goswami will be paying a tribute on her birth anniversary by performing from Geeta Dutt’s rich repertoire at Amaltas Hall, India Habitat Centre (IHC), 7 p.m.

Exhibition: Recent sculptures by Lallan Singh at Sculpture Court, Triveni Kala Sangam, 205, Tansen Marg,

Mandi House, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Exhibition: A solo show of drawings

by Bablu Basak at All India Fine Arts & Craft Society (AIFACS), 1 Rafi Marg, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Culture: Upanyasam on Prahalad Charitra by U.Ve.Akkarakani Srinidhi Swami at Sri Lakshmi Nrisimha Mandir, Guru Ravidas Marg, Karol Bagh, 10 a.m.

Screening: Qissa-E-Parsi (Eng, Hindi/2014/26mins) documentary film screening at Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Centre (IHC), 7 p.m.

(Mail your listings for this column at cityeditordelhi@thehindu.co.in)

Missing JNU student Najeeb Ahmed. FILE PHOTO They have also accused the Delhi Police of being “non-serious” and providing “misleading media feeds” in the search for Najeeb.

DELHI TODAY Talk: Eleventh Annual Discussion on State of Parliamentary Democracy in India. Speakers: Prof. Sudha Pai, former professor at Centre for Political Studies, JNU; Smita Gupta, associate editor at The Hindu; and Prof.

Archana Prasad, professor and chairperson of the Centre for Informal Sector & Labour Studies, JNU. Moderator: Suhas Borker, editor of CFTV NEWS. At Conference Room-I, India International Centre (IIC), 6 p.m.

Dance: Kartikotsav Maha Raas Leela (Dance Ballet). Under the full moon light in Kathak and Brij-Raas Leela style, dedicated to Late Smt. Kamla

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CASH CRUNCH

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THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

Trying times for elderly couple 69-year-old woman battles queues to withdraw cash; husband rues poor planning by government SHIV SUNNY NEW DELHI: Having under-

gone an open-heart surgery only recently, 72-yearold Govind Rajan had given up all hopes of getting any cash in the near future after he witnessed the long queues outside banks during his morning walk on Thursday.

Left without any usable cash, Rajan, a consultant, returned to his Safdarjung Enclave home to search every corner of his house for any money he could use.

“I managed to find fourfive Rs.100 note. I thought I would have to manage with this money for at least a week,” he says.

Preparing for the worst But Rajan’s wife, Nalini, a retired Delhi University professor, knew she would need more than that. Having recovered from an illness only recently, she decided to take it upon herself to do the job.

Nalini, 69, needed the cash to visit Uttarakhand, a trip originally scheduled for Wednesday, but one she was forced to postpone because of the cash crunch in the wake of the demonetisation step.

“I had withdrawn Rs. 30,000 two days before the trip. Now, I had the huge task of depositing all that money in the bank and then withdrawing some of it again. A trip to Uttarakhand will require Rs. 20,000 just for hiring cabs.

In addition to it, the presence of functioning ATMs in that region is an uncertainty. I believe in carrying cash,” she says.

Long wait So, she walked out of her home to the bank on Thursday morning itself.

“It took me more than four hours of wait to deposit my cash and withdraw Rs. 10,000,” she says.

The bank staf was courteous and helpful, but the long wait in the queue – something Ms. Nalini is un-

The government could have allotted separate hours for senior citizens the standing,” says Ms. Nalini.

FACING THE HEAT: Govind Rajan and his wife Nalini Rajan at their residence in Safdarjung Enclave. PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT used to – drained her out.

“Sometimes the bank staf was downing the shutters, at other times those known to them were allowed inside without having to wait in the queue,” she says.

In the queue, she used her time to help the illiterate people fill their forms.

“I finally returned with Rs. 10,000, down from the Rs. 30,000 I originally had. I was so exhausted from all

Senior citizens’ benefit Her husband, who needed to leave home for some work, had to request their driver to stay back and look after her. “The least the government could have done was allot separate hours every day for senior citizens. Even an hour in the evenings would have suiced,” says Rajan.

The situation has not been comforting at their home, either. The couple, whose children live in the United States, are not techsavvy and mostly use cash for transactions.

So, when the loose

change at their home ran dry, they struggled to get even milk, vegetable and fruits. Their financial crisis was also because the couple had chosen to help their driver with some loose cash on the first day itself.

Lessons in technology They appeared excited on being told about mobile payment gateways like PayTM. “I have never come across such a problem in my entire life. Who would have anticipated that I would need to learn about these modes of payment someday?” says Nalini.

Nalini is now worried whether the Rs. 2,000 currency notes will be accepted during her journey.

“While the currency ban is a positive step towards curbing black money in the market, our experience over the last three days has been trying. The government could have planned better,” says Rajan.

No time to go to bank, says working mother SHUBHOMOY SIKDAR NEW DELHI: Cutting down on

supplies she stores at home, using her son’s piggy bank savings for necessary purchases and praying for a solution to the demonetisation problem by the time the next LPG gas cylinder is delivered is how Bhogal resident Vandana Attri is trying to tide over the crisis.

Ms. Attri is a sports teacher at a governmentaided school. Her husband lives in another city, making her practically a single mother raising her two children – Nandeen (6) and Vandeeta (2).

It was a long day like most others for Vandana when she sat down to go through the evening news bulletin on November 8

Vandana Attri and learnt about the demonetisation move of the Prime Minister. The next logical step was to count the cash she had at home. She realised she had enough money, but mostly in a currency that was no longer legal tender.

Unsuccessful attempt “The relief came when I learnt that the new notes will be issued soon.

However, I was left with

only a few hundred rupee notes and the exchange of currency at banks was very diicult for me because of my timings. I leave home around 8 a.m. and return around 4 p.m.

There is no one who can go to the bank and exchange the notes on my behalf. By the time I return, it’s pointless to stand in a queue,” she said even though she made her first unsuccessful attempt on Friday.

And that is what delayed her interview with The Hindu, initially scheduled at 4 p.m., by a couple of hours.

Returning from her school on Lodhi Road, Ms. Attri headed straight to a bank branch in Bhogal, only to return empty-handed like many others. The time she spent in the queue at the

Vegetable vendors find few buyers

Indian Overseas Bank branch did not yield any Rs. 100 note, Expenses slashed “I have cut down on the quantities of everything from vegetable to milk.

Thankfully, we had stocked groceries earlier and that is helping is cope with the crunch. ,” said Ms. Attri.

Her real worry is the gas cylinder which is going to get empty soon and with the Rs.1,000 and Rs.500 notes she leaves with the children’s caretaker almost certain to be rejected, she fears the worst.

While Ms. Attri welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision, she questioned why only common people like her were bearing the brunt of such moves.

‘Limit size of cash holdings’

STAFF REPORTER

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: Vegetables vendors

in the Capital have reported a drop in their sales due to the withdrawal of Rs.1,000 and Rs.500 notes.

“Business has been afected due to the unavailability of Rs. 100 notes. However, there has been no impact on the prices yet. Onions, potatoes, okra, cauliflower and most other vegetables are being sold at the same prices,” said Mohammad Ashraf, a seller at the Okhla wholesale market.

From the supply side, there has not been a pressing need to increase the prices due to the unavailability of stocks and on the retail side, the already procured and unsold ones need not be desperately sold at slashed prices.

Ram Khilawan, a vegetable seller in Bhogal, said a majority of his customers were coming to him with the banned Rs. 1,000 and Rs.500 notes.

Little hope The Okhla market remained closed on Friday, the

REELING UNDER CRISIS: Business has been affected due to the unavailability of Rs. 100 notes, say vendors. PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA weekly of, even as some trucks which had not unloaded remained there.

Farooq, who had come from Indore to deliver onions, said the Rs. 45, 000 he was

paid by the wholesaler at the market was all in Rs. 1,000 and Rs.500 notes.

“I will need Rs. 30,000 for buying diesel. If I miss tonight’s deadline, there is a

chance they might not accept the defunct currency notes. I haven’t eaten since yesterday as the eateries here won’t accept the notes I am carrying,” he said.

Hit by demonetisation, coin show postponed AKANKSHA JAIN NEW DELHI: Demonetisation of Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 notes has led to the postponement of a coin and note show that was scheduled to begin on Friday.

The show, which was to be held at the All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society, “had to be postponed as the participants — be it exhibitors, dealers buyers or enthusiasts— have no

CM YK

small currency for travel and accommodation”, said organiser Mukesh Verma, a numismatist and dealer himself. The seven-day exhibition will now be held in April 2017. Visitors at the show can buy, sell or exchange old coins, notes and stamps.

Future as collectibles Mr. Verma says due to their large numbers, the future of these notes as collectibles “on their own

is bleak unless they are of some special series, or are error notes or have extra paper, etc”.

“In 1978, when the Rs. 10,000 and Rs.5,000 notes were scrapped, they were collectibles on their own due to their few numbers.

But the Rs .1,000 and Rs.500 notes are in huge numbers; they are not rare,” says Mr. Verma.

Mahesh Kalra, the regional secretary of the South Asian Oriental

Numismatic Society, says, “Demonetised money does not always become collectibles. The Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 notes might be of some interest 10 years from now.”

Manik Jain, the author of Phila India Guide book, says “The collection of these notes will have more sentimental than commercial value. You may collect Rs. 500 notes with your birth date, etc.

But that’s about it.”

NEW DELHI: The Chairman and the Vice-Chairman of the SIT on black money on Friday wrote to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley saying that the benefits of the demonetisation plan announced by the government could be short-lived if it did not limit the permissible size of cash holdings and the value of transactions.

“The recommendation relating to putting a limit on cash holding is specially important in this regard since with the introduction of Rs. 2,000 notes, it shall be easier to store large amounts of money in cash,” the letter read. “If no limit on cash holding is imposed, we may lose the benefits of demonetisation quite soon,” the letter added. Justice M.B. Shah and Justice Arijit Pasayat wrote that the Central Board of Direct Taxes should be informed immediately if large cash deposits were made in any account above a particular threshold.

“The threshold need not be made public, or it shall encourage people who deposit black money to do so below the threshold prescribed,” the letter said.

PATIENCE PAYS: People wait to exchange the discontinued currency notes outside a bank in east Delhi on Friday. PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA

People wait in queues, return empty-handed NEW DELHI: Long queues out-

turned empty-handed after waiting for around two hours.

side ATMs across DelhiNCR marked the third day of the demonetisation of Rs. 1,000 and Rs.500 notes. At many places, people returned empty-handed after ATMs failed to dispense cash.

It was also reported that people hopped from one ATM kiosk to another to find the shortest queue.

Two ATMs at a Noida bank branch ran short of cash by 9 a.m. Recounting his experience there, a 55-yearold businessman said he re-

No alternative A elderly woman waited outside an ATM kiosk for around two hours to get cash.

“I have severe pain in my legs, but I desperately need the money,” she said.

A lawyer told The Hindu over phone that after waiting outside an ATM kiosk in New Delhi area for about half hour, he went to an ATM kiosk in east Delhi’s Patparganj to withdraw cash.

Many people had also deployed two to three mem-

NIRNIMESH KUMAR

bers of their families outside diferent kiosks to make sure that they got cash. It, however, largely looked like a middle-class problem as small business were reported to have made informal arrangements to go about their activities unhindered.

A kiosk operator at Kaushambi in Ghaziabad told this reporter that he had handed over all the old notes of the two denominations to his suppliers in lieu of supply of goods for the next few days.

It was their headache now how he would exchange those notes, he said relaxingly.

Noida, Ghaziabad ATMs run dry PURUSHARTH ARADHAK NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: Chaos prevailed in Noida and Ghaziabad on Friday as ATMs ran dry within few hours after opening. Many were not operational, forcing people to panic or get into arguments with bank staf and police personnel deployed outside ATM kiosks.

In Shalimar Garden, Ghaziabad, locals blocked a road in protest.

“I waited for two hours outside an ATM kiosk only to be told later that the machine had no cash. Today, we are living in a situation where we are finding to diicult to avail our hard-earned money,” said Pradeep Sharma, a resident of Rajender Nagar in Ghaziabad.

“We understand the pain of the common man. Our staf has been instructed to not lose their cool while handling customers,” said Superintendent of Police Dinesh Yadav.

In Vaishali, Indirapuram and Navyug Market, people

OUT OF ORDER: At many places in Delhi-NCR, ATMs were not functioning. PHOTO: V. V. KRISHNAN started queuing up as early as 6 a.m. to get money. By 10 a.m., serpentine queues were visible outside banks and ATMs. To no avail However, many left disappointed after the vending machines were stripped clean of cash.

“Bank guards said cash was yet to be loaded into the vending machines. Many

banks had downed their shutters in the absence of money,” said Aadesh Bhati, a Noida resident.

In the wake of the demonetisation of Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 notes from Tuesday night, the government had announced that people could withdraw the new series of notes from ATMs starting Thursday midnight.

(The writer is a freelance journalist)

Disclaimer: Readers are requested to verify & make appropriate enquiries to satisfy themselves about the veracity of an advertisement before responding to any published in this newspaper. Kasturi & Sons Limited, the Publisher & Owner of this newspaper, does not vouch for the authenticity of any advertisement or advertiser or for any of the advertiser’s products and/or services. In no event can the Owner, Publisher, Printer, Editor, Director/s, Employees of this newspaper/company be held responsible/liable in any manner whatsoever for any claims and/or damages for advertisements in this newspaper.

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CASH CRUNCH

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NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

BRIEFLY Temporary dip in Modi’s Twitter followers NEW DELHI: Prime Minister

Narendra Modi’s Twitter followers dipped temporarily by over three lakh after he announced withdrawal of old Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes.

The official Twitter handle of the Prime Minister subsequently added over four lakh followers, thus making up for the loss.

According to Twitter analytics platform Twitter Counter, Mr. Modi (@narendramodi) is one of the most popular politicians on Twitter. He had 24,120,043 followers on Tuesday, the day he announced that Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes will cease to be legal.

The number of followers decreased by 3,13,312 on Wednesday, reducing his followers to 23,806,731, as per the data available on Twitter Counter.

However, his Twitter handle added 4,30,128 followers on Thursday, taking the follower base to 24,236,859.

The Prime Minister is the most followed Indian on the microblogging site.

Active on Twitter since 2009, Mr. Modi is also the secondmost followed politician in the world, right after United States President Barack Obama (@barackobama), according to Twitter. — PTI

SLEEPY WAIT: A local vendor waits for customers in New Delhi on Friday. — PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

Jewellers asked to give details of gold sales

MONEY MATTERS: Jugal Kishore Sethi, a grocery shop seller in Bhogal market, said that business was hit due to the ban on Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes. At right, a street vendor waits for customer at a local market in New Delhi on Friday. — PHOTOS: SANDEEP SAXENA & SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

80 per cent of city’s registered shops stay shut Cash-strapped shoppers, rumours about possible raids and lack of fresh supplies by wholesale dealers affect markets across the Capital JATIN ANAND NEW DELHI: Customer footfall

and sales figures continued to plummet, with traders based out of a majority of the Capital’s prominent markets downing shutters for the second consecutive day here. Representatives of prominent market associations claimed an estimated 80 per cent of the city’s registered shops were closed for business on Friday.

Possible strike A combination of cashstrapped shoppers, misinformation about possible raids by oicials from an array of enforcement agencies and lack of supplies by wholesale dealers who want the existing backlog of credit cleared before fresh supply, afected markets across Karol Bagh, Kashmere Gate, Amar Colony, Khan Market,

NEW DELHI: In another move to

check illegal sale of gold on demonetised high-value notes, excise officials have summoned details of sale gold and ornaments from over 600 jewellers across 25 cities.

Officials of the Directorate General of Central Excise Intelligence (DGCEI), an intelligence arm under the Union Finance Ministry, sent notices to these jewellers seeking details of gold sales in the past four days, beginning Monday, official sources said on Friday.

They have also been asked to give details like the quantity of stock held by them. Teams of DGCEI officials will also visited major jewellery stores and their manufacturing units to serve notices, the sources said.

Initially, jewellers in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Vijaywada, Nashik and Lucknow will be under the scrutiny.

Sources added that the exercise may be extended to other cities later.

The move comes after the Union Finance Ministry directed jewellers to sell gold and gold ornaments only against a customer’s PAN card details.

— PTI

Police get 3,000 phone calls on Friday NEW DELHI: It was a busy Friday

for the Delhi Police, which attended to around 3,000 calls from anxious people waiting in queues to withdraw money from ATMs or working in banks.

“On Thursday, we received close to 750 calls from anxious people. Most complaints had do with their old notes not getting exchanged or banks running out of cash. On Friday, we attended to nearly 3,000 such phone call,” said Special Commissioner of Police (Operations) Sanjay Beniwal.

“Many complaints were regarding ATMs running out of cash or remaining offline on Friday. There were also calls about long queues or violence.

When we reached the spot, we found the caller or the bank staffer had panicked and made the call. There were no reports of any untoward incident anywhere,” the officer added.

The entire process of exchanging notes turned chaotic and confusing as facilities like banks and post offices wilted under pressure.

Many ATMs ran out of cash within hours of opening due to heavy rush to withdraw lower denomination currency. — PTI CM YK

Business was in bad shape till September-end as it is and just when it had begun to pick up around the marriage season, it slumped further

Connaught Place and Kamla Nagar, among several others.

Brijesh Goyal, the convenor of the Chamber of Trade and Industry, a national body that works for the interests of small businessmen and traders, said with commercial activity expected to remain afected by the cash crunch, an indefinite strike was “more than a possibility” and could be announced early next week.

No fresh supply “Eighty per cent of Kashmere Gate motor spare parts market was shut on Friday. Retailers were not able to go about normal business as neither they nor their customers had cash in small denominations. Also, wholesalers refused fresh supply of good from factories till previous dues are cleared,” said Mr. Goyal.

Sanjay Bhargava, the general secretary of the Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal, said only half the shops in Dariba Kalan, adjacent to the main road running through the middle of the bustling north Delhi market, were open.

“Inside shops, which deal in wholesale goods, were closed because of cash crunch. Those on the main road did negligible business.

For instance, my shop saw only six to eight customers on Friday as opposed to at

least 100 customers usually.

There are less people with plastic money in this part of town and since Tuesday, fewer people with enough cash to go out shopping,” he added.

Central Delhi’s Khan Market, according to Khan Market Association president Sanjiv Mehra, was deserted till noon. He added that cash transactions dipped from 75 per cent on Thursday to 85 per cent on Friday.

No visitors till noon “Khan Market is usually infamous for lack of parking, but lack of liquid cash in the average customer’s hands over the last two days ensured there was plenty of parking here on Friday.

Which also meant no visitors till noon. Business was in bad shape till September-end as it is and just when it had begun to pick up around the marriage season, it slumped further,” he complained.

Atul Bhargava, the president of the New Delhi Traders’ Association, said business was down by nearly 50 per cent. “Only transactions with plastic money are being executed. Everyone — from the average shopper to a trader — have been afected due to lack of liquidity over the last three days. It doesn’t seem as if business will pick up any time soon,” he said.

‘Who has change for Rs.2,000 note?’

ASHOK KUMAR GURUGRAM: Deepak Singla, a

42-year-old who runs a shoe shop at Sadar Bazar in Old Gurgaon here, had pinned all hopes on the wedding season after the sluggish market conditions over the past six months.

However, the sudden withdrawal of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes has hit small shopkeepers like him hard.

“Every shopkeeper looks forward to this season as sales pick up and we make some profit. However, the withdrawal of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 currency notes has hit us hard. Business was slow during Diwali this year as it fell at the end of the month. It began to pick up after Diwali, but then the government withdrew the currency.

With no money to spend, the number of customers has dwindled over the past two days, reducing sales to almost 20 per cent,” said Mr. Singla, whose store mostly caters to people from the lower-middle class .

With over 500 shops ranging from clothes and utensils to shoes, Sadar

TIME IS MONEY: People queue up outside a bank in Gurugram on Friday. — Photo: PTI Bazar is a predominantly cash-driven market.

“Hardly, 10 to 20 customers a month pay by card.”

Even customers coming to the market do not have adequate change, making it diicult for them to shop.

“Either customers have Rs.500 or Rs.1,000, which has been banned, or wave a Rs.2,000 note at us. They shop for few hundreds and expect change for Rs.2,000.

Where should I get change from,” asked Bhupinder, who sells bags and suitcases.

Supporting the demonetisation decision as good move to clean up the

economy, shopkeepers suggested that more counters be opened to allow businessmen to deposit cash and facilitate flow of money.

“We need to wait for hours to just to get the money deposited. We are not able to make payments even through cheque as there is not enough balance in the account. This has stopped the flow of money and brought business to a grinding halt,” said shopkeeper Primanshu.

He expressed fear that the decision would hit small shopkeepers who deal mostly in cash in the

No raids by Delhi VAT department, says Kejriwal

Commuters allege overcharging by auto-rickshaw drivers

STAFF REPORTER

STAFF REPORTER

NEW DELHI: With Income Tax

NEW DELHI: Daily commuters

raids being carried out in markets across the city, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday clarified that the Trade and Taxes Department of the Delhi government was not carrying out any raids on traders.

and those arriving in the Capital at railway stations opting for auto-rickshaws alleged harassment due to the cash crunch, claiming that drivers charged close to double the actual fare.

Appeal He appealed to the city’s shopkeepers to immediately inform the police if anyone claims to be from the Delhi VAT department –“Rumour that Del VAT dept doing raids. Completely false. No raids by VAT. If anyone claims to be from VAT, ask for his ID n report to police [sic],” Mr. Kejriwal tweeted.

Raids The I-T department had on Thursday carried out raids at Chandni Chowk, Karol Bagh and Dariba Kalan in the wake of reports of alleged profiteering and subsequent tax evasion by traders while converting the demonetised currency notes in an illegal manner.

“Modi-ji gets raids carried out on everyone here, but

Hard bargain While daily commuters complained of having to indulge in hard bargains given the paucity of auto-rickshaws actually willing to take customers, passengers arriving at the railway stations felt they were the worst afected.

LONG WAIT: People wait outside an HDFC branch in east Delhi on Friday. — PHOTO: SANDEEP SAXENA does not do so on his friends [sic],” he said in another tweet.

Earlier in the day, a section of city traders, led by the Aam Aadmi Party’s trade wing, met Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia.

Mr. Sisodia informed them that the VAT department was not carrying out raids and that the I-T department

was doing so.

Helpline The government has started two helpline numbers — 155055 and 1800110066 — for traders seeking any clarification in this regard.

Shopkeepers in Chandni Chowk shut shops early following “rumours” of raids by the I-T department.

‘Fleeced’ Subhasish Bhattacharjee, a 47-year-old account manager with a private firm, claimed he was fleeced by an auto-rickshaw driver at the New Delhi Railway Station.

“I had to go to Dilshad Garden, the fare for which is around Rs.150. However, no auto-rickshaw driver was willing to go by meter and all of them asked for Rs.400 because I only had Rs.500 currency notes,” Mr.

long run and promote online trading.

“Online companies are set to benefit the most from the decision. Already a few companies are making several crores at the expense of small shopkeepers. This is the reason why they have already come out with advertisements with big pictures of [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi hailing the decision,” he added.

Stating that the decision was “ill-timed,” 45-year-old Dinesh Gupta who runs a cloth shop said it may take more than a couple of months for the market to recover. The market remained closed for a few hours in the afternoon after reports of raids by Sales and Income Tax teams, causing anger among the shopkeepers.

“Even if a handful of shopkeepers are accepting the banned notes, they will end up paying Sales and Income Tax. It is wrong to harass shopkeepers in this manner and cause more suferings to them,” said Hoshiar Mudgal, who runs a stationery shop in the market.

STUCK: Passengers at New Delhi Railway Station had a tough time commuting due to the cash crunch. — FILE PHOTO: V. SUDERSHAN Bhattacharjee claimed.

“They said they don’t have change for Rs.500 and that Rs. 400 was the least they could charge. Since I was already tired after a long train journey and had luggage, I had no option but to cough up the amount,” he added.

Others like bank executive Shikha Chaturvedi complained that the driver of the auto she had hurriedly boarded to the nearest metro station from her oice in Connaught Place — refused payment via a prominent ecommerce platform. He de-

manded Rs.100 for a ride that usually costs Rs.50.

“I thought I was better placed than other commuters because I could pay the precise fare amount, but the driver demanded payment in cash citing the cash crunch. I had no option except to pay up,” she complained.

Sales executive Vikrant Sharma complained that auto drivers sought to capitalise on the lesser number of vehicles present on the streets and demanded Rs.50 each from commuters sharing their vehicle.

Now recharge Metro smart cards using old notes till November 14 STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: Delhi Metro commuters can now recharge their smart cards using the old Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 currency notes till the midnight of November 14.

Guidelines “Following government guidelines, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has extended the deadline

till the midnight of November 14 for acceptance of old high denomination currency notes,” a DMRC spokesperson said.

Huge crowds Friday saw huge crowds of commuters trying to recharge their smart cards using old currency notes at customer care centres across Delhi Metro stations.

“I had enough balance on

Commuters who tried to use Rs.500 notes to get minimum recharge amount of Rs.200 disappointed my smart card for the next few days. However, I’m not sure when I will be able to withdraw money from the bank due to massive crowds. I recharged my

smart card using my old Rs.1,000 note so that I have no problem commuting for at least the next 15 days,” said Ghaziabad resident Surajit Shome.

Cash shortage While the minimum recharge value for smart cards is Rs.200, commuters who tried to use Rs.500 notes to get the minimum recharge amount were left disap-

pointed as customer care executives refused to recharge below Rs.500 citing cash shortage.

“No change” “I don’t take the metro very often, but keep a smart card anyway to avoid the hassle of queuing up at token counters when I do. I didn’t need a recharge of Rs.500, but the executive at the counter said he did not

have Rs.300 in change. I had no option but to get the smart card recharged for Rs.500,” said Vimla Sharma, a resident of Shahdara.

Record-breaking spike In the last two days, the DMRC has seen a recordbreaking spike in recharge of smart cards for Rs.500 and Rs.1,000, while recharge of Rs. 200 has seen a decline.

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CITY/STATE

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

D E L H I

Nov 12, Sat

Nov 13, Sun

Nov 14, Mon

RISE 06 42 SET 17 30

RISE 06 42 SET 17 29

RISE 06 43 SET 17 29

RISE 16 03 SET 03 51

RISE 16 48 SET 04 57

RISE 17 38 SET 06 05

Ghaziabad factory fire claims 13 lives

High Court allows use of ‘piao’ at Sisganj Gurdwara for Gurpurab

Authorities probing whether garments unit was operating illegally; heavy police deployment in area

STAFF REPORTER

PURUSHARTH ARADHAK GHAZIABAD: Thirteen persons were charred to death after a fire broke out in a garments factory in Shaheed Nagar, Ghaziabad district, on Friday morning. Following the incident, heavy police force has been deployed to maintain law and order in the area.

The factory was reportedly running illegally in G-block of Shaheed Nagar.

There were 16 workers inside at the time of the incident.

Thirteen persons died while three others had a miraculous escape after they jumped from the roof.

The locals allege that the fire tenders reached nearly 90 minutes after the call.

Victims sufocated “The workers lived in the factory. Around 4 a.m. on Friday, they noticed dense smoke. Most of the victims died due to sufocation,” said Azad, a local.

The victims were rushed to GTB hospital, where they were declared brought dead.

Fire was reported around 4 a.m; narrow lanes stopped fire tenders from reaching the spot quickly The deceased have been identified as Allaudeen (23), Salman (24), Aamir (24), Shamoon (24), Naazim (25), Noor Mohammad (30), Chotte (35), Naseem (20), Mobin (23), Asmat (22), Nigehbaan (21), Zakib (26) and Azad (25).

Three others: Shahbuddin, Shahrukh and Furkan, sustained severe injuries.

“We have ordered a probe into the matter. I have asked for a list of illegal units running in the area,” said IG (Meerut range) Ajay Anand, who was at the spot.

Fourteen fire tenders had reached the spot to douse the flames. Fire Station Oicer Abul Abbas Hussain said the fire was reported at 5.20 a.m.

“The main challenge was getting through the narrow lanes that lead to the factory.

We could not get our fire tenders at an advantageous position to tackle the blaze.

However, we managed to bring the fire under control after two hours,” said Mr. Hussain, adding that prima facie the cause of the fire appears to be a case of short circuit, “we are probing”.

There are several illegal dyeing and garments units in Shaheed Nagar. “An investigation has been initiated to ascertain the cause of the fire and check whether there were any security lapses by the owners,” said SP City Ghaziabad Salman Taj Patil.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has announced Rs. 2 lakh compensation to the family of each of the deceased.

(The writer is a freelance journalist)

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has allowed the use of a piao (water kiosk) at Gurdwara Sisganj which was demolished by the municipal corporation because it encroached public passage.

The piao was later rebuilt as a smaller kiosk.

A Bench of Justice B.D. Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar allowed the kiosk to be used on November 12 and November 14 keeping in mind the festival of Gurpurab.

On April 7, the HC had directed the police and the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC)

NEW DELHI: In a relief for

commuters, the Supreme Court upheld an Allahabad High Court verdict to stop the collection of toll on the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) flyway.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India T. S. Thakur further asked the Comptroller and Auditor

General of India (CAG) to inspect the accounts of the Noida Toll Bridge Company Limited (NTBCL) to check whether there was any truth in its claim that it has still not recovered the cost of the flyway project. The CAG was told to file its report in four weeks.

Refusing to stay the High Court decision till

the company's appeal is disposed of, the apex court said that while the company could be compensated later if its appeal succeeds, it would be impossible to provide restitution to the lakhs of commuters if the High Court decision is finally upheld.

The Bench, also comprising Justices D.Y.

to ensure that the reconstructed kiosk is not used. On Thursday, the court said its April order would remain suspended on the two days.

The court's order came on a petition moved by Sardar

Delhi govt may commission new study on sources of pollution DAMINI NATH

Study will include periodic reports so the govt can take prompt action against pollution sources

NEW DELHI: A new study on the

DEADLY: The gutted garments factory at Shahid Nagar in Sahibabad on Friday. PHOTOS: R.V. MOORTHY

Delhi-Noida Direct flyway to remain toll-free: SC LEGAL CORRESPONDENT

Gurdwara Sisganj

Bakshish Singh whose advocate Gurmeet Singh said the kiosk is heritage structure and therefore, it should to be allowed to be used.

The kiosk near the Gurdwara Sisganj Sahib was demolished by the municipal officials following the March 28 order of the High Court in keeping with the drive to remove all encroachments in Chandni Chowk.

The kiosk was, however, reconstructed overnight leading to the High Court expressing its disappointment and directing the police and the committee that the same shall not be used till further orders.

Chandrachud and L. Nageswara Rao, directed the firm to place before the CAG, the entire record pertaining to recovery of the total project cost of the DND flyover project as per the Agreement.

The High Court, on October 26, had brought cheers to millions of commuters by ruling that no toll will be collected

henceforth from those using the 9.2 km-long, eight-lane DND flyway.

The decision was made on the basis of a PIL filed by the Federation of Noida Residents' Welfare Association.

The PIL, filed in 2012, had challenged the "levy and collection of toll in the name of user fee" by the NTBCL.

sources of pollution in the Capital may be commissioned by the Delhi government, which has recently come under criticism from the courts and the National Green Tribunal over the prevailing poor air quality.

According to sources in the Delhi Environment and Forest Department, the government is in talks with the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras to conduct the study.

A senior government oicial said that the study would be diferent from the comprehensive source apportionment study done by IITKanpur as “periodic reports” would be given. The oicial added that with reports on what caused pollution every 15 days, the government

would be able to take quick action against the polluters.

For instance, if another smog episode like the one Delhi saw in the first week of November were to happen again this winter, the study would be able to pinpoint the sources, making it easier for the government to take punitive action, said the oicial.

For short-term measures While the report of the IIT-Kanpur study, which was submitted to the government in January, covers all sources of particulate matter and gives suggestions for longterm action, the new study

will be aimed at guiding short-term measures.

Though the government is yet to allot the project to IITMadras, oicials said on Friday that a decision was expected within two weeks.

The study would carry on for a minimum of six months, according to sources.

This comes at a time when the government has been asked by the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal to improve monitoring of air pollution, come up with an emergency plan and set up monitoring committees.

The report of the IIT-Kanpur study had said that Delhi’s average PM2.5 level was 335 micrograms per cubic metre, or almost six times the standard of 60. As per the study, road dust and vehicles accounted for a total of 58 per cent of PM2.5.

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

CM YK

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THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

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THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

Man dies cleaning drain

TENSE SITUATION: Members of Trust Anjman-e-Haideri and residents of neighbouring B.K. Dutt Colony allegedly hurled stones at each other on Friday evening. PHOTO : R. V. MOORTHY

NEW DELHI: A scavenger died while another was hospitalised on Friday after they inhaled methane gas while cleaning a drain outside south Delhi’s Vasant Square Mall. The police have booked the mall owner for alleged negligence.

The deceased has been identified as Chandan, a native of West Bengal.

Chandan and his colleague Israil, both aged between 25-28, went to clean the choked drain outside the mall. When Chandan went inside, he fainted due to the pungent odour, said a senior police oicer. Israil panicked and jumped inside to rescue

him. However, he also fainted.

A beat constable who saw Israil jumping in the sewer arranged for a rope and sought help from passersbys to pull the duo out. They were rushed to the hospital where Chandan was declared brought dead while Israil is stated to be critical.

A case under IPC sections 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304A (causing death by negligence) has been registered against the mall owner.

Both of them were employees of World Class Services Private Limited. — PTI

Violence in Karbala, police step up deployment STAFF REPORTER NEW DELHI: Violence returned

to Karbala in South Delhi’s Jor Bagh after members of Trust Anjman-e-Haideri and residents of neighbouring B.K. Dutt Colony allegedly hurled stones at each other on Friday night.

Several people were hurt in the clashes which broke out after the members of the Trust, which manages the Karbala land, erected a barrier at the site which is adjacent to the boundary of the colony.

Both sides claimed that their members sufered injuries and blamed the police for not acting quickly and remaining a mute spectator to the violence. Several vehicles were also damaged in the stone-pelting.

Heavy police deployment was put in place soon after

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the violence was reported.

The police could not provide the exact number of persons who were injured.

Throwing stones While the colony residents claimed that the Karbala people started pelting stones after they objected to the barrier, those from the Anjuman said there were few of them present at the site and were attacked by a mob of over 100 people who threw stones at them.

Any stone pelting from their side, they said, was an act of self-defence and retaliation.

“It was around 2 p.m. that we saw the barrier coming up. We objected to it as it was in contravention of court orders, but they did not pay any heed. Around 8 p.m. when we objected again, they started throwing stones at us,”

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said Sudhir Mahajan, RWA vice-president of the colony.

He added that a police post is located close to the spot, but a group of policemen fled as soon as the trouble started.

Bilal from the Anjuman denied the allegations and claimed that the Trust was well within its right to put a barrier as the property belonged to the Dargah and the Trust. He further added that some from the Karbala side were also injured, but the police did not provide the necessary assistance.

Violence returns Karbala is not new to clashes between the members of Dargah committee and the residents. In 2014, clashes were reported on several occasions and the police had to step up their presence in the area to maintain law and order.

Woman raped by hospital guard NEW DELHI: A woman was

allegedly raped by a man on the pretext of marriage in outer Delhi’s Mangolpuri area.

The accused, identified as Virendra, works as a security personnel at Sanjay Gandhi hospital. The woman in a complaint alleged that the accused befriended her during the course of her visits to the hospital for treatment. Virendra got intimate with the woman after promising that he would marry her. The woman later found out that he was already married, police said quoting the complaint. A case under Section 376 (rape) of IPC was registered against him. He was arrested on November 8, police said. — PTI

Court denies anticipatory bail to AAP leader NEW DELHI: A local AAP leader, who along with party MLA Rakhi Birla’s father was accused of gangraping a 24year-old woman on the pretext of giving her a ticket for MCD polls, was on Friday denied anticipatory bail by a Delhi court.

The court denied the relief to Ram Pratap Goyal saying his custodial interrogation was required not only for locating the alleged MMS of the married woman but also to identify the places where she was assaulted.

“The probability of investigation getting hampered

and witnesses tampered cannot be ruled out, taking into account the position held by the applicant (Goyal)... this court is not persuaded to accord pre-arrest bail to the applicant. His application, therefore, is dismissed,” Additional Sessions Judge Sunil K Aggarwal said.

Mr. Goyal, the AAP’s block treasurer in Rohini, and Mr. Bhupender, father of Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla, were booked by the Delhi Police under sections 376D (gangrape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. — PTI

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JD(S) members lock up Karnataka Minister’s oice

Karnataka ‘unable’ to give 2,000 cusecs water to T.N. Govt. likely to inform Supreme Court of the decision NAGESH PRABHU BENGALURU: With Karnataka

Tanvir Sait SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT BENGALURU: Building pressure

on Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanvir Sait to quit after he was allegedly caught seeing “objectionable” pictures of women on his cellphone during the Tipu Jayanti celebrations in Raichur, Janata Dal (Secular) legislators on Friday locked his oice at the Vidhana Soudha.

JD (S) MLCs Basavaraj Horatti, Puttanna, Saravana and other leaders later staged a protest demanding his resignation.

Mr. Horatti declared that the JD (S) would stage a Statewide protest if the Minister did not resign immediately.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he would “speak to the Minister” on Saturday and decide on the next course of action.

Air India clarifies A representative of Air India has clarified that in the report headlined “Narrow escape as plane tyre bursts during take-of” (Nov. 8), the statement that passengers had a narrow escape at the Tirupati airport was wrong.

While passengers were still boarding flight AI 541, one of the tyres was found deflated.

So further boarding was stopped and those who boarded were deplaned. The aircraft was neither on the taxi-way nor on the runway.

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staring at 81 per cent deficit rainfall during the northeast monsoon in the Cauvery catchment areas, the government is likely to inform the Supreme Court that it cannot continue to release 2,000 cusecs of water a day to Tamil Nadu.

Sources in the State Secretariat told The Hindu that the Water Resources Department had already held discussions with the legal team in New Delhi, and suggested the need to file a petition in the apex court, expressing the State’s inability to release 2,000 cusecs of water a day to Tamil Nadu following the “almost total failure” of the northeast monsoon.

With depletion of water levels in four reservoirs, residents of urban centres,

The catchment area between Krishnaraja Sagar dam and Biligundlu received only 37 mm against the normal 188 mm. particularly Bengaluru, would face severe drinking water shortage in summer if the State continued to release 2,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.

Sources in the Karnataka Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre said the Cauvery

Firm ordered to stop work at Kudremukh Park resort MOHIT RAO BENGALURU:

The embattled Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Limited (KIOCL) has run into trouble after it was ordered to terminate its plans to convert under-utilised buildings in the Kudremukh National Park (KNP) into a resort.

The step comes as a relief for wildlife activists who questioned the legality of running a commercial resort in the core area of the park, where the government runs rehabilitation programmes for forest dwellers.

Though coming within the National Park limits, the KIOCL had hoped to capitalise on the 281-acre property, unused since the closure of the mines in 2006.

Additional Chief Secretary (ACS-Forest, Ecology and Environment) T.M. Vijay Bhaskar, in his order on October 26, called KIOCL’s plans a violation of numerous Supreme Court judgements, and of the guidelines of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

Eco-sensitive forest The Forest Department on Thursday directed the immediate stop of work at the resort, and that no further resorts would come up in the eco-sensitive forests.

In April 2015, KIOCL had issued a work order to Alvas Kudremukh Nisargadhama for refurbishing the Sahyadri Guest House and 30 ‘D’ group staf quarters as a resort within the township.

catchment area had received 36 mm of rain as against the normal 192 mm, from October 1 to November 11. The catchment area between the Krishnaraja Sagar dam and Biligundlu had received 37 mm against the normal 188 mm.

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

Kovvada: CPI(M) to undertake padayatra from November 13

INS Vikramaditya completes its first dry-dock refit in Kochi

STAFF REPORTER

S. ANANDAN

SRIKAKULAM: The CPI(M) has

KOCHI: The aircraft carrier,

threatened to approach court if the Andhra Pradesh government fails to give prior notification on public hearing on the atomic power plant in Kovvada and surrounding villages.

It has alleged that the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and the government have plans to keep the people in the dark and conduct the ‘hearing’ in the guise of eliciting opinion on the social impact survey, which is mandatory for the establishment of the atomic power plant.

CPI(M) leaders Ch. Narasinga Rao and D. Govinda Rao, addressing the media in Ranasthalam on Friday, said the party would undertake a padayatra against the nuclear power plant from November 13. It would organise public meetings till November 20 in villages that would be afected by the power plant.

INS Vikramaditya, has successfully completed its first routine maintenance, a 43day short refit, at the Cochin Shipyard.

It is at a high level of operational competence and preparedness, according to the ship’s Commanding Oicer Captain Krishna Swaminathan.

The maiden dry-docking of the vessel after its induction into the Navy in November 2013, had put to rest apprehensions about the feasibility of carrying out its first cycle of underwater maintenance within India, he told the media on board INS Vikramaditya.

The ship arrived in Kochi in early September, and was dry-docked at the Cochin Shipyard on September 23.

INS Vikramaditya was docked after the undocking of the soon-to-be-retired aircraft carrier INS Viraat.

“After the first cycle of pre-

NATIONAL ASSET: INS Vikramaditya at the Cochin Shipyard in Ernakulam on Friday. — PHOTO: THULASI KAKKAT ventive maintenance, which involved a thorough inspection of the carrier’s underwater package, was over, the vessel was undocked on November 5. Vikramaditya, a steamship, has a large number of pipes and underwater openings. The hull plates that are in contact with the corrosive medium of seawater – all got inspected,” said Capt. Swaminathan.

The vessel added a great national capability, enhan-

cing the image of the Navy.

Capt. Swaminathan said there were initial apprehensions about dry-docking the vessel in Kochi as there were technical challenges posed by the depth of the channel, which was eventually dredged to a desired level, and the length of the carrier overshot the yard’s dry-dock.

“We had to a do a lot of calculations and the Cochin Shipyard has done a good job.”

Tirumala temple hundi still open for Rs. 1,000, Rs. 500 notes Currency notes no longer legal tender, but donations are not treated as transactions, says TTD S. VIJAY KUMAR CHENNAI: The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) managing the Sri Venkateswara temple in Tirupati has opened its hundi (donation box) for pilgrims to deposit Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 although they are no longer legal tender since November 9.

Recently, it opened a second box to facilitate such donations.

TTD Board member J. Sekhar said there was no bar on pilgrims dropping the old currency. The management had ‘no issues’ in depositing the people’s oferings into the TTD account. “Pilgrims ofer whatever they can and

SAFE DEPOSIT: Last year, the Tirumala temple hundi collection crossed a record Rs. 1,100 crore. — PHOTO: KV. POORNACHANDRA KUMAR want. There is no specific instruction on the demonetised currency,” he said.

Asked if there was an exemption given to TTD or temples in general to accept

demonetised currency, which are no longer legal tender except in specified centres, Mr. Sekhar said “this is not a point of debate since the hundi oferings are voluntary and cannot be

treated as a transaction.”

However, the authorities were accepting only valid currency for other donations and payments for pujas, accommodation and worship.

The Sri Venkateswara temple, one of the richest shrines in the world, grossed a record Rs. 1,000 crore-plus hundi collection last year. After the recent demonetisation, the authorities opened ten currency counters in association with Andhra Bank to provide new currency to pilgrims for expenses relating to accommodation, seva and prasadam.

Mr. Sekhar said thousands of pilgrims,

including some who were financially literate, came to the temple everyday. “Some travel a long distance by road or rail to reach Tirumala and may not be fully aware. We have opened special currency counters to serve pilgrims.”

A second hundi was installed close to the existing one recently. Last year, the temple grossed Rs. 2,400 crore of which about Rs. 1,100 crore came from the hundi. “A sizeable chunk of earnings go for health care, education, charity and pilgrim amenities. Earlier this year, the TTD approved its annual budget for 2016-17 with estimated revenue of Rs. 2,678 crore,” he said.

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THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

New beginning for ‘victims’ of child marriage in Rajasthan

Criminal indiference: Mayawati

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

LUCKNOW: Hitting back at BJP chief Amit Shah for questioning the motive of political parties criticising the Centre’s demonetisation decision, BSP chief Mayawati on Friday accused the BJP-led government of “criminal indiference” to the distress and inconvenience faced by crores of people, especially the poor and middle class.

Ms. Mayawati, who has termed the Narendra Modi government’s decision akin to an “undeclared financial emer-

JAIPUR: In a salutary step, a

mass wedding organised in the Dholpur town of Rajasthan on Thursday helped 11 couples make a new beginning after unhappy experiences with childhood marriages. The weddings were conducted with all traditional rituals and the newly-wed couples were showered with gifts.

The 11 women and men were “victims of circumstances”, as they had been either widowed or were divorced after marriage as children. They had been ostracised by society and could never hope to return to the mainstream, said Minakshi Sharma, president of the Sanatan Dharma Seva Samiti, which organised the event.

The event began with 11 'baraats' (marriage parties) coming to the venue on Thursday morning. Each bridegroom was welcomed with special rituals and escorted to the respective ‘mandap,’ where the bride

STARTING AFRESH: A couple being felicitated during the mass wedding in Dholpur on Friday. — PHOTO: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT joined him and the marriage ceremony was performed.

Helping hand The solemn ceremony was attended by social activists, elderly people, philanthropists and district oicers, who extended a helping hand to the newlywed couples to start their lives afresh.

Ms. Sharma said the Samiti had organised the mass wedding of this kind for the

first time after much deliberation. “Child marriages are unfortunately still rampant in small towns and villages of Rajasthan. The children who become widows, widowers or divorcees are not accepted in society.”

“With this function, we have sent across a message that anyone who wants to get remarried can do so with dignity and respect,” he said.

Find peaceful solution to Maoist problem, SC tells Chhattisgarh KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL NEW DELHI: Observing there is

an aggravation of the Maoist situation and the government should take a “pragmatic view of life” and find a “peaceful solution”, the Supreme Court on Friday drew an assurance from the Bharatiya Janata Pary (BJP)-ruled Chhattisgarh government that it would not arrest Delhi University professor Nandini Sundar in a case related to the murder of a tribal person.

“You are not taking the situation seriously. The whole thing is being aggrav-

ated. You have to find a peaceful solution... you have to take a pragmatic view of life,” a Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and A.K. Goel observed.

‘False’ cases The observation came when former Attorney General of India and senior advocate Ashok Desai, representing Ms. Sundar, said that the implication of academics and social researchers in “false” cases was severely inimical to the peace process.

“Activists have become enemies,” Mr. Desai said.

The court was hearing Ms. Sundar’s application on a First Information Report filed against her and three others, including a Jawaharlal Nehru University professor, for the murder of a tribal person in the insurgency-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh.

The police claim that the FIR was filed on the basis of a complaint allegedly filed by the widow of the victim, Shamnath Baghel.

Mr. Desai called the FIR “astonishing” as his client had visited the area in May and was booked for a crime committed in November.

OMAR RASHID

gency,” said the people would punish the BJP for its “dictatorial and arrogant” attitude.

She said she was moved to raise her voice as she felt the pain of the people, hit by the Centre’s decision.Clarifying her criticism of the government’s step, she said her opposition came only after she considered the public’s sufering over the last two days as her own sufering. “When the ruling party does not understand the pain of the common people the bure din of such a government are not too far, is the common refrain among

people,” the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Shah had taken a dig at parties for opposing the demonetization, saying his rivals had exposed themselves in the fight against black money and fake currency. He had asked them to explain why they were against the Centre’s decision, specifically taking a dig at Ms. Mayawati saying the move would trigger a “financial emergency” for the BSP. Responding to Mr. Shah, Ms. Mayawati said, “Perhaps Amit Shah does not know that, even

in its most diicult days, the BSP workers, big or small, have never let the party face any financial trouble.”

SP chief Mulayam Singh has also heavily criticised the demonetization and demanded a roll back for a few days, besides promising to oppose the decision in Parliament. U.P. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Friday, in letters to Mr. Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, requested that old notes of 500 and 1000 be considered valid at private hospitals, nursing homes and medicine stores till November 30.

SYL heats up political scene in Punjab VIKAS VASUDEVA NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court

decision invalidating the 2004 law passed by Punjab to terminate the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal water-sharing agreement with neighbouring States, has sparked of a blame game among political parties ahead of the Assembly elections in the State.

The Congress Legislative Party (CLP) on Friday held a meeting in Chandigarh on the

Ex-Cong. leader’s kin hacked to death by ‘Naxals’ RAIPUR: A police jawan, who

was also the nephew of a former Congress district president, was hacked to death by suspected Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s insurgencyhit Bijapur district, police said on Friday.

Assistant constable Rahul Raidu (27), posted at the Bhairamgarh police station, was attacked by suspected Naxals late on Thursday, Bijapur Superintendent of Police K. L. Dhruv said. Raidu, who joined the force in 2011, was the nephew of former Congress Bijapur president Ajay Singh, a native of Bhairamgarh, police said. — PTI

SYL issue and decided that Congress leaders and workers would burn eigies of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal across the State on Saturday.

The party would also hold a rally at Abohar on Sunday.

“The ruling Akali government has mishandled the SYL case in the court and has completely failed to save Punjab’s water, causing misery to the people,” said Punjab Congress president Capt. Amarinder Singh. He added that the CLP

also decided to meet the President to apprise him of the problems the people would face as a result of the verdict.

“After the CLP meeting, our party MLAs submitted their resignations to the Secretary, Vidhan Sabha, in absence of the Speaker,” Capt. Amarinder said, adding that while most of the Congress MLAs were personally there to submit their papers in the Assembly, those who could not

do so had sent their letters to him.

Targeting the AAP, Capt.

Amarinder asked the party’s national convener, Arvind Kejriwal, to make his stance clear.

Mr. Badal, meanwhile, launched a direct attack on the State Congress leadership and accused Capt. Amarinder and his colleagues of attempting to become “martyrs” by tendering resignations just before the Assembly polls.

Air pollution: Apex court favours suspension of firecracker licences NEW DELHI: Concerned over the worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR, the Supreme Court on Friday mulled the prospect of directing the Centre to suspend, and not renew, the licence for possessing, stocking and selling firecrackers in the national capital.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice T. S. Thakur said it would go stepby-step on the issue as fireworks had now become a part of life and a reasonable order needed to be passed so that it could be enforced.

“Have some patience. It cannot be done overnight.

We will do whatever is best

Any order passed by us will have to be reasonable so that it can be enforced, says three-judge bench for the country and Delhi.

Any order passed by us will have to be reasonable so that it could be enforced,” the bench, also comprising Justices A. K. Sikri and S. A. Bobde, said while reserving its order in the matter.

“If we ban firecrackers, then every cracker burst would be a breach of our order. We will consider all aspects and pass an interim or-

der for a limited period,” the bench said when it was told that large amounts of firecrackers would be burnt in the coming wedding and festival season.

Impact on lifestyle It said it was considering passing an order that no new licence would be granted and existing licences not renewed, or could direct the Centre to pass an order suspending the existing licences in Delhi-NCR. The bench said it would not pass any final order without going into research and reports on its impact on air quality, health and lifestyle. — PTI

Cut derogatory references to Nadars in textbook: MP VIKAS PATHAK NEW DELHI: Sasikala Pushpa, MP from Tamil Nadu, has urged Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar to remove “derogatory references” to the Nadar community of the State from the Class 9 social science textbook followed by the CBSE. “I would like to bring to your kind notice [that] Standard IX CBSE social science book, page no. 168, clearly brings derogatory remarks about the Nadar community, referred [to] as ‘Shanars’ — which is an abusive word and a socially stigmatised concept,” the letter handed over by the Rajya Sabha MP, who was expelled from the AIADMK some months ago, to the HRD Minister said.

Ms. Pushpa claimed that the Nadars had been rulers.

“The Nadar community is not a lower caste, as mentioned in the CBSE book; rather, they have been rulers of South India at one point of time,” Ms. Pushpa said.

Her letter recalled that the veteran politician Kamaraj, a Nadar, made an “immeasurable” contribution to the Indian leadership.

“Such derogatory remarks on Nadars in a school textbook may create discrimination, stigma, bias and prejudice in budding children, which is against our constitutional rights on equality,” it added.

Rajasthan challenges Salman’s acquittal DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday admitted the Rajasthan government’s appeal, challenging the acquittal of Bollywood actor Salman Khan in a case of Chinkara poaching in Jodhpur.

A Bench comprising Justices A.K. Sikri and R. Banumathi said the matter would be given an expeditious hearing.

The Bench issued notice and sought the response of the actor.

The Rajasthan government had last month moved the plea against Salman’s acquittal by the High Court on the ground that the judgment sufered from “legal infirmities.”

The State government had sought a stay on the Rajasthan HC judgment by which the actor’s conviction NEW

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Salman Khan and jail term of five years was set aside.

“The Rajasthan government has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the apex court saying the High Court has erroneously exercised its revisional powers to set aside concurrent findings of lower court which convicted Salman for 5 years and the judgment sufers from legal infirmities.” — PTI

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EDITORIAL

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THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

The short arc that led to Donald Trump We have lost our ability to understand that politics in the West need not only be about economic issues, it can also be about identity, ethnicity, and race — and it can be ugly S AT U R D AY , N O V E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 6

NEELANJAN SIRCAR

Punjab’s legislative adventurism

T

here was never any doubt that Punjab’s legislative adventurism in enacting a law in 2004 to terminate all previous agreements on sharing the waters of the Ravi and the Beas with its neighbours would not survive judicial scrutiny. Answering a Presidential reference on the validity of Punjab’s action, the Supreme Court has declared the State’s law illegal. It has ruled that Punjab reneged on its solemn promises by terminating its 1981 agreement with Haryana and Rajasthan to discharge itself of the obligation to construct the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal. Its objective was to overcome the 2004 decree passed by the Supreme Court directing it to complete the canal work expeditiously. The court’s reasoning draws from previous verdicts relating to the Cauvery and Mullaperiyar disputes, reiterating the principle that “a State cannot, through legislation, do an act in conflict with the judgment of the highest court which has attained finality.” It is another matter if legislation takes the form of a validating Act to cure specific illegalities or one that removes the basis for a particular verdict. The verdict by a five-member Bench is a timely reminder that it would be destructive of the rule of law and federalism if a State were to be allowed to usurp judicial powers by nullifying a verdict that has rendered findings on both fact and law.

As Punjab heads for the Assembly election, this issue has already led to posturing by all major parties on which among them is the best protector of the State’s interests. This attitude leads to a disturbing tendency among States to be judges in their own cause, especially when it comes to water disputes. Political parties in power increasingly resort to legislation or Assembly resolutions rather than negotiation. The Opposition parties collaborate in this with equal zeal, lest they be seen to be wanting in passion for the cause. Punjab may well have had legitimate grievances, historically, in the sharing of waters. This was, in fact, the reason the Rajiv-Longowal accord of 1985 contained clauses relating to river-water sharing too. Earlier, diferences were first settled by a notification by the Centre in 1976.

When the matter led to litigation, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi brokered an agreement in 1981. In effect, the present arrangements, which Punjab seeks to wriggle out of, are backed by three agreements.

The Supreme Court ruled against Punjab in 2002 as well as in 2004. The State’s obligation to allow the completion of the SYL Link Canal, so that Haryana can utilise the share of water allocated to it, cannot be frustrated any more. If Punjab feels aggrieved, there may be scope for negotiation and conciliation even now, but it cannot take action unilaterally.

My father came to America from India in 1967, and my mother came soon after in 1972.

America was diferent then. These were the early days of American immigration, as President Lyndon B. Johnson had opened the America’s “gates” to foreigners in 1965. Yes, there was discrimination, but there was also a sense of opportunity. Growing up in America, my brother and I were taught to believe that if we studied and worked hard enough, we would do well for ourselves. Unlike India, with its rigid caste system, or Western Europe, with its entrenched bourgeoisie, anyone could make it in America.

Indian-Americans, making full use of these opportunities, soon became the wealthiest and most-educated social group in America. But it wasn’t just economic success for immigrants and for the country as a whole, this period of enhanced American immigration led to a cultural elorescence that would brand American pre-eminence in terms of openness and diversity. Yet, little did we realise there was growing resentment against people like us that, decades later, would culminate in the election of Republican Donald Trump.

Unlike Goldwater This wasn’t the first time America was faced with a Trump-like candidate. In 1964, Barry Goldwater emerged from the multicornered primaries as the Republican nominee, defeating, among others, the more moderate Nelson Rockefeller. Goldwater’s coalition included members from the paranoid, anti-communist organisation John Birch Society that opposed civil rights legislation (for the equal treatment of black Americans) on the grounds that it was aimed at creating a “Soviet Negro Republic” in the American South. Much as in this election, moderate Republican leaders baulked at supporting such an extremist candidate.

A significant share of Republican Party members defected and voted for Goldwater’s opponent, Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson. Goldwater’s electoral coalition crumbled; he garnered just 38 per cent of the vote, compared to Johnson’s 61 per cent, while winning only six out of the 50 states.

Emboldened by a major electoral mandate, President Johnson introduced the “Great So-

Mr. Trump’s mandate is to ‘take back’ American institutions, and, as a populist, he is expected to do it. There is little incentive for him to moderate his position now ciety” civil rights legislation to address racial discrimination, as well the immigration reforms that would allow my parents to come to America.

Faced with a paranoid, racist social force in the 1960s, the American electorate responded to keep the country on the path of liberty and equality. In this election, Donald Trump had open associations with white supremacist groups and wrapped the banks, the President, and the media into one large conspiracy narrative. But this time American democracy failed, and we are left seeking answers as to why. When my parents immigrated, America was building its Great Society; today they face the prospect of seeing it unravel in front of their eyes.

The decisive voter To understand this outcome, one must begin with America’s electoral system, which structures the set of viable political appeals.

In this system, (in all but two states) the candidate who receives the support of a plurality of voters in the state wins all of that state’s “electoral votes.” The candidate who re-

ceives a majority of these electoral votes (270) wins the election. If a voter resides in a state in which one of the candidates will likely receive a plurality, his/her vote is effectively useless.

For instance, in California, where it was certain that Hillary Clinton would win a plurality, an extra vote for either Ms. Clinton or Mr. Trump would have had zero marginal impact on the candidates’ electoral fortunes.

Accordingly, candidates and parties focus on winning the support of voters in a small set of “swing states” that are not committed to either candidate. This further implies that the optimal political appeal to win an election is driven exclusively by the demographics and issues in the swing states, like Michigan and Pennsylvania, as opposed to the preferences of the entire American electorate.

American voters now exhibit severe party polarisation. Even in an election that saw Bernie Sanders split the Democratic Party, and several key Republican leaders abandon Mr. Trump, most members of the Democratic and Republican parties fell into line. The CNN exit poll shows that about 90 per cent of each of Democrats and Republicans voted for their party’s candidate in this election; by contrast, a Gallup exit poll found that 20 per cent of Republicans defected from the party to vote for Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. Furthermore, about 70 per cent of the American electorate is registered with either the Democratic or Republican Party. The decisive voters are thus the small number of uncommitted voters in a few swing states.

Nativism in the swing states Many have termed Donald Trump’s victory as a revenge of the working-class white voter, as the Rust Belt swing states of Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, with large working-class white populations, all swung toward Mr. Trump in this election. The Rust Belt was once the manufacturing hub of the U.S., but these jobs gradually disappeared due to the pressures of globalisation and job automation. Indeed, the proportion of the U.S. workforce in manufacturing had declined from about one in four in 1960 to about one in 10 in 2010. But a simple narrative of those afected by globalisation voting for Trump due to economic grievance does not fit the empirical facts well.

According to CNN’s exit poll, Ms. Clinton posted an 11 percentage point lead for voters with annual salaries less than $50,000, while

CARTOONSCAPE

The Tower of Song

A bleak future It will get worse before it gets better. Mr. Trump’s electoral mandate is to “take back” American institutions, and, as a populist, he is expected to do it. His promises include filing charges and jailing Ms. Clinton, banning Muslim immigration, nominating ultra-conservative Supreme Court judges, and, most of all, imposing nativist control over the country’s institutions. There is little incentive for him to moderate his positions now.

I now live in India. On Wednesday morning, I woke up at 5.30 a.m. to find out about the election results in America. I found out that I am no longer welcome in the country in which I was born and raised because of the colour of my skin.

“I

was born like this, I had no choice. I was born with the gift of a golden voice,” wrote Leonard Cohen in “Tower of Song”, suggesting he was sentenced to a life of imprisonment in music. It was a life in which he fused pain and passion, blended the sacred with the profane. Among the greatest of the singer-songwriters to emerge from the sixties, Cohen spoke of extreme passions in liturgical phrases and with biblical references. The Canadian troubadour, who found inspiration in Greece and fame in the U.S., was a successful novelist and a poet before turning to lyrics “to slash your wrists by”, rendered almost conversationally in a brooding and arrestingly sensual bass. Unlike other musicians, he didn’t fade away as he grew older, or when “he ached in the places where he used to play”. His last two albums were sufused with witty, self-deprecatory humour and intimations of his own mortality. Cohen also remained a spiritual seeker in his verses all his life, his songs often deviating from the narrative to ask questions about the divine, as he wandered from Zen Buddhism to Advaita Vedanta while staying Jewish by faith.

Along with Bob Dylan, who called him “No.1 to his Zero”, Cohen blurred the line between poetry and lyric in the sixties and seventies. They spoke the language of the time using words of rebellion and spirituality. The words of “Suzanne” and “Closing Time” dive into religion and morality, cutting just as deep without the music. “Bird on the Wire” was where he hit peak, the simplicity of the rhyme serving to ram home the complexity of the emotion. He retained his edge even in his last album, speaking with the same voice and shifting only in theme to death and leave-taking. Cohen used chords sparsely, not allowing the music to drown the words. However, his music was no lesser a feat.

The rises and falls of “Hallelujah” draw listeners to emotions of accomplishment and dejection in the gap of a few notes; the soft sensuality of “Dance Me to the End of Love” is rendered with a tinge of sadness that befitted the link in his mind between the song and the Holocaust. “So Long Marianne”, ode to his muse and lover, is an overture that steps beyond the words and the music into a higher emotional realm. Cohen’s death is a loss to all who look for reason in the rhyme and rhythm. Always a perfectionist, he often described his masterpieces as “incomplete”. Cohen may be no more but he will, for many years from now, be speaking to us softly from his window in the tower of song.

CM YK

Mr. Trump led with voters who made more than $50,000 a year. This pattern also holds in the Rust Belt states that Mr. Trump won.

For instance, in the swing state of Pennsylvania, Ms. Clinton held a 12 percentage point lead among voters making less than $50,000 a year, but Mr. Trump held an 11 percentage point lead among voters with annual salaries above $50,000. Furthermore, if this was about economic loss, one would have expected these voters to support higher taxes, more redistributive policy, and stronger social programmes. In fact, Mr. Trump is promising the opposite: severe tax cuts and a repeal of nationalised healthcare.

The economic grievance narrative is appealing to those who have a commitment to class struggle as an organising principle of politics. Much of this is a post-World War II construction that voter preferences are primarily driven by economic instrumentality.

As the World War II generation, and those who fought for civil rights in America, have largely passed on, we have lost our ability to understand that politics in the West need not only be about economic issues, it can also be about identity, ethnicity, and race, and it can be ugly.

In my previous piece (‘Why Donald Trump has already won’, The Hindu, October 29), I explained that the rise of Mr. Trump was directly linked to the rise of “nativism,” an aggressive reaction by white Americans to take back the country’s institutions. This isn’t just conjecture; Nigel Farage, who championed Britain’s exit from the European Union (Brexit), was a guest at the Republican National Convention and hit the campaign trail with Mr. Trump. This was a powerful message in the largely white Rust Belt, where decades of job loss had precipitated a loss of “importance” and “prestige” for those living in these states. Outside of the mainstream, the nativist movement created a world of conspiracy-spouting, fear-mongering talk show hosts and blogs in the “altright” media that none of us took seriously enough. Much like the John Birch Society decades before, this was a paranoid, angry reaction by white Americans fuelled by racial tensions to take back American institutions. Except this time the movement was successful.

This narrative of severe racial polarisation in this election is borne out in the data. The CNN exit poll data show that Mr. Trump had a 21 percentage point lead, 58 per cent to 37 per cent, among white voters, the largest gap seen among white voters in a long time. Even the pollsters failed to pick up the level of racial polarisation in the electorate, which led most of them to wrongly predict Ms. Clinton to win the election. The last CNN/ ORC poll released just before the election had Mr. Trump winning white voters in Pennsylvania by 9 percentage points, 50 per cent to 41 per cent. The CNN exit poll for Pennsylvania showed that Mr. Trump carried white voters by 16 percentage points, 56 to 40 per cent. Given that 80 per cent of Pennsylvania’s voters are white, this diference alone predicted a 5-6 per cent shift in the vote towards Mr. Trump from the preelection poll.

Neelanjan Sircar is a senior fellow at the Centre for Policy Research.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters emailed to letters@thehindu.co.in must carry the full postal address and the full name or the name with initials.

Cleaning up the economy The writer has misread the intention behind demonetisation of Rs.500 and Rs.1,000 notes (“The new colour of money”, Nov. 11). A decision like this is not always taken to spruce up the economy.

Unaccounted wealth is a black mark on our society. If the salaried class pays taxes through its nose, the same is expected of the wealthy. The argument that such a step will not discourage corruption fails to impress the reader. When new currency notes are required for future transactions, it automatically means that there is no free circulation of currency notes for paying bribes. The next argument that nothing will change drastically as demonetised notes will be replaced by fresh ones is fallacious since all the unaccounted cash will never be replaced. There are restrictions in the exchange process entailing huge tax. What is in the account book alone will be exchanged. The whole nation is happy with the move.

V. Lakshmanan, Tirupur, Tamil Nadu

It is too far-fetched to see any cultural angle, as the writer does, in the introduction of Devanagari numerals in the notes. Notes have

‘Reserve Bank of India’ written in Hindi, for instance. Does that also constitute a cultural attack?

Pallav Kumar, New Delhi

The situation is not as smooth as claimed by some people in this space. Many are sufering. Some banks are refusing to exchange money, saying they are short of funds. Common people feel that the economy will no longer be tainted and feel like they are contributing to cleaning up the mess. But the government must explain what it has done to catch the big sharks.

K. Muhammed Ismayil, Kozhikode, Kerala

In Bengaluru where I live, most ATMs and cash deposit machines are out of order. This needs to be sorted out without any delay as this crisis is causing long queues. Also, separate queues for deposits and exchanges would make it easier.

G. Padmanabhan,

make deposits. This move is also compelling people to open accounts to deposit their cash, thus bolstering financial inclusion. This is good for the reeling banking sector and for the economy as deposits help in lending loans. Higher deposits may lead to lowering of interest rates.

However, the logistics make things diicult. When most of the ATMs are dry in cities, including the national capital, one can well imagine the situation in villages.

The banking machinery must deal with this task on a war footing.

Anshu Patel, Dhanbad. Jharkhand

I am an Indian citizen living in the U.S. While demonetisation seems like a welcome measure, we do not know how people abroad, who are not visiting India any time soon and who don’t have non-resident ordinary rupee accounts, will exchange the currency they have.

Venkatesan N., California, U.S.

Bengaluru

This master stroke will eliminate the counterfeit notes in circulation and bring black money-holders under the scanner to a large extent.

It will also help us move towards a cashless economy. People are thronging banks to exchange and

A heartening interview Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena appeared sincere and straightforward in his interview (“Reconciliation can’t be done in a few days”, Nov. 11). His remark that he has an obligation to solve the

problems of the Tamils, as most of them voted for him, is reassuring.

The road to reconciliation, though a daunting task, is possible with a spirit of accommodation, understanding and empathy. The President appears to be well intentioned. If the Tamils are assured of peaceful living conditions and equitable treatment, there should not be any reason for reconciliation talks failing.

C.G. Kuriakose, Kothamangalam, Kerala

severely afect India.

But there are also some silver linings. Mr. Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire for stringent pecuniary and commercial action against China and Pakistan for using the U.S. for decades as a cash cow. If the U.S. imposes heavy tarifs on trade with China, this may open new avenues of trade and commerce between the U.S. and India. Mr. Trump seems against Pakistansponsored terrorism, so this may be good for India too.

Buddhadev Nandi,

A new era in America

Bankura, West Bengal

Going by the history of India-U.S. relations, Republican Presidents have succeeded in strengthening ties with India more than Democratic Presidents (“If Trump shifts Asia policy, China’s power will grow”, Nov. 10). But under the Obama presidency, India-U.S. relations have been stable. Many are apprehensive that Donald Trump’s hawkish policy of ‘America first’ and his plans to renegotiate all foreign trade deals may hit India’s trade treaties with the U.S. Mr. Trump’s election promise of bringing back American jobs is also a matter of grave concern for India’s IT sector.

Besides, his plan to reduce corporate tax rate from 35 to 15 per cent to lure multinationals may

Winston Churchill said something to the afect of democracy being the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. This summarises the post-election commotion in the U.S. Voters must not reject the outcome just because it is contrary to what some of them wanted (“‘Not my President’: Protests erupt in the U.S.”, Nov. 11).

People are taking to the streets even before Mr. Trump sets foot in the Oval Oice. Though their concerns are justifiable, given Mr. Trump’s populist and surreal campaign, they should not assume that his presidency will be apocalyptic.

Dharmpreet Singh Khaira, Patiala, Punjab ND-ND

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

| 11

GROUND ZERO

GIVING PEACE A CHANCE: Former Naxalites Durva Nagubai in Vaipet, Adilabad district, and Pitla Chandram in Medak, Telangana. (Below) Former Naxalite MLC Naradasu Laxman Rao in Karimnagar district.PHOTOS: S. HARPAL SINGH /MOHAMMAD ARIF/ THAKUR AJAY PAL SINGH

In Telangana, a farewell to arms While the Maoist insurgency still rages in parts of the country, there are many in the State who have given up their extremist path and reposed faith in the establishment once more. Ravi Reddy and S. Harpal Singh report on their new lives He could have been dead. His death, an outcome of a violent encounter with the police. After 25 years in the jungles of Dandakaranya, ducking bullets, 48year-old Kumar (name withheld) summons up an explanation for the encounter on October 24 in the heavily forested Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border in which 30 Naxalites (or Maoists, as they are now called) were killed. This was the biggest damage inflicted on the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist), the group described as the “gravest internal threat” to the country, in recent memory. Kumar’s voice drops to a whisper. “The villagers may have poisoned or added sedatives in the food the comrades ate on that fateful day,” he says. Villagers are often deployed to carry ration for the Maoists, specially when large meetings are convened. And the one in which they came under fire was one such meeting.

The dust has not settled on the “encounter” as civil liberties groups echo Kumar’s doubts; a bandh call given by the Maoists on November 3 in five States — Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra — evoked a lukewarm response.

Three years ago, Kumar, identified as a top Maoist leader, parted ways with his comrades-in-arms and traded his SLR for a pen. Well-versed in Telugu, Gondi, English and Hindi, he today works in a leading media organisation.

“With the Maoist movement on the back foot, where was the need for the police to launch such an assault? The movement is at its weakest now,” says the former Naxalite leader whose stints in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra saw him handling key assignments, normally assigned to deputy commanders in the CPI(Maoist). Kumar accuses the mining lobby, which has several politicians on its rolls, of working overtime to ‘crush’ the Naxal movement.

The lapsed Maoist speaks with conviction when he takes stock of the movement in light of the recent ‘encounter’. “I feel that the Maoist leadership has failed to take up the right issues. They have failed to take the common man’s issues to their logical end. The deterioration in their leadership is visible — some of them are bogged down in redressing petty issues.”

From bullet to ballot Like Kumar, 58-year-old Durva Nagubai, an Adivasi Gond, too has sued for peace. The unlettered, gutsy woman hails from remote, impoverished Vaipet village in the farthest corner of Adilabad district — a hotbed of Naxalite activity when it was at its peak. It is a quiet, sleepy village now.

The period between 1985 and 2000 is often regarded a watershed in the history of left-wing extremism in the then undivided Andhra Pradesh, with eight out of 10 districts in the Telangana region under the influence of the People’s War Group (PWG), which merged with the Maoist Communist Centre of India in 2004 to become the CPI(Maoist).

Over 100 armed squads of Naxalites used to move in and out of the forests, targetting the police and civilians who they regarded as ‘enemies’ and leaving a grisly bloody trail: 3,035 naxalites, 599 police oicials and 3,105 village folk CM YK

I decided to give up after realising that development is more just and reasonable through the path of peace than of violence. My aim was to get a proper road and electricity for my village - Nagubai have died to this day.

On June 15, 2001, Nagubai, then 43, quit the violent movement and decided to embrace the ballot. Support from the then Superintendent of Police (SP) Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat saw her winning the local body election as a Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency member — equivalent to gram panchayat elections — soon after her ‘surrender’; she was subsequently elected president of Indervelli Mandal Parishad on July 28 the same year.

Though Nagubai insists she had surrendered, police records mention it as an arrest by the Indervelli police.

There were two cases against her name: aiding extremists with transport arrangements and raising pro-Naxalite slogans at a public meeting. Bhagwat, currently Police Commissioner of Rachakonda, says “she was a sympathiser but her importance in the underground movement could be understood from the fact that we could regain control of the Vaipet forests from the extremists following her arrest”.

Nagubai was 35 years old when she decided to side with the Singapur dalam (later known as Indervelli dalam) of the PWG, and went on to become a key village-level organiser for the group. “I was angry at the way Adivasis were being discriminated against by all concerned, including government oicials,” she says. Vaipet has a large tribal habitation and, till 2002, was associated with an important camp of the PWG. The prevalent socio-economic conditions of the area had given Naxalites the scope to establish their base in the village. Almost all the aboriginal tribal farmers in Vaipet and nearby Bhimpur

are small farmers who depend on rainfed agriculture and often, the main crops of cotton and soya bean failed due to drought or proloned dry spells. “Agriculture was unremunerative and the government was doing little to help the poor farmers,” Nagubai recalls. “Joining forces with the PWG seemed to be an ideal choice under those circumstances.”

Nagubai had worked for the extremist outfit for about eight years and had learnt to fire weapons. Familiar with carbines, she claims to have been in the vicinity when an exchange of fire between Naxalites and police took place at Fakeerpet in Ichoda mandal sometime in 1997. “I decided to give up after realising that development is more just and reasonable through the path of peace than of violence. My aim was to get a proper road and electricity for my village,” she says. One chilly night in the winter of 2001, Naxalites finally landed up to confront her. “I was taken to the village outskirts but returned unscathed, proof that my former comrades were satisfied with my reasoning,” says Nagubai.

Nagubai contested the election from the then ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on the plank of development.

During her three and half years as Mandal Parishad president, she secured approval for constructing homes for 800 extremely backward people; built a gravel road on the 10-km stretch between Sirikonda and Vaipet; and brought electricity to remotely located villages. Today, she lives a quiet life, cultivating cotton and soya bean in her 20acre farm.

scheme of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti government.

Chandram, 45, was attracted to the Naxalite movement in the late 1980s because of the dominance of the Doras, landlords who held sway over agriculture and people’s lives. Starting as a messenger boy, he graduated to becoming a dalam member before severing links after the police ransacked his house in 1991. “When Naxalites failed to respond even after the police attack, I communicated to them about my decision to surrender,” he says, Mahankali, now 43, had a similar courier-dalam member-surrender experience, and a close encounter with death to boot. In 1994, after arresting him, the police took him to the Gundreddipally forest area and asked him to run away saying he was being released.

“I refused, as I knew it was nothing but a trap to bump me of,” he says, his voice choking. Toopran Deputy Superintendent of Police A. Balasubramanyam was instrumental in his eventual release later that year, but back with his comrades, Mahankali and Co. laid an ambush near Pillutla in Shivampet mandal in which six policemen including Balasubrahmanyam were killed. Mahankali used a rifle in that encounter. He surrendered subsequently and spent three years in isolation, surviving horrific beatings at the Musheerabad jail in Hyderabad; five cases were registered against him, all dropped over time.

Decades after leaving the Naxalite ranks, Chandram and Mahankali are now grappling with the challenges thrown by a political system they have chosen to engage with.

New life, new challenges A 15-km drive from Toopran, on NH-44, with agriculture fields on both sides leads to Annala Malkapur (Naxalite Malkapur) in the newly formed Toopran revenue division headquarters. The thick forest and hilly terrain was once perfect shelter for the PWG. Pitla Chandram and Pallapati Mahankali, former PWG cadre, are trying to persuade fellow villagers to participate in the laying of a pipeline — part of the ambitious drinking water

Some prosper, others struggle Unlike others in Jagannapeta village, Danasari Anasuya did not take the exploitation by feudal lords in the area lightly. She joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Janashakti, the armed group that was working in the forest belt of the district, in 1993. Unlike the more aggressive and potent PWG, others working in smaller groups such as CPI(ML) Janashakti were less pursued by the police. After eight years, she rejoined the mainstream. “There

was a leadership crisis in the party and divisions that made us lose morale.

Many left the party and so I also decided to come out,” says Anasuya, also known as Sitakka.

Sitakka, a matriculate, resumed her studies, obtained a law degree and enrolled as an advocate, and went on to work with an NGO. In 2009, she made her electoral debut and became a TDP MLA in the State Assembly.

In a similar vein, from life as a ‘revolutionary’, it’s now life as a public representative for Karimnagar Zilla Parishad Chairperson Tula Uma (46), MLA Bodige Shoba (42) and MLC Naradasu Laxman Rao. Life after surrender, however, hasn’t been as kind for the likes of Kurasam Arun. After nine years in the Dandakaranya forests, Arun, 30, a former deputy commander of the CPI (Maoist) special guerrilla squad, came overground in 2013 and became a farmer. Once carrying a reward of Rs.4 lakh on his head, today Arun and his wife Jyothi cultivate paddy on a fiveacre plot they have taken on lease in his native Bollaram village in the newly carved out Bhoopalapally district of Telangana. The upside is he has no cases pending against him.

But the downside is stark. “We need agricultural land and a tractor to diversify our crops to supplement our income and secure our only son’s future,” says Arun.

On the other hand, Gopi alias Shankar, 39, who quit the PWG in 2000, still believes in the Maoist ideology. The native of Lingapur village, Darpally mandal in Nizamabad district, became mandal parishad president in 2014 but is so vexed at the increasing corruption in public life that he feels history will repeat some day.

The state’s change of tack “Petty village rivalry, lack of political stakes, despondency often led to some youth joining the underground outfits,” says Telangana Inspector General of Police (IGP) R.S. Praveen Kumar, who had worked as SP, Karimnagar during 20012004 and is credited with two mass surrenders — that of 46 Janashakti Naxalites on April 28, 2002, and of 32 Praja Pratighatana [another of the multiple splinter groups in the region back then] cadre on June 5, 2003. “The protracted struggle and subsequent realisation that little can be achieved through revolution often prompts the underground cadre to surrender,” the IGP reasons.

The police’s strategy to counter Naxalites in the 1980s and early 1990s relied heavily on “cordon and search” operations but such methods drew severe

criticism. A “cordon and search” operation meant locals being made to come to the village centre where suspected Naxalite sympathisers would be harassed and warned. In the process, innocents often bore the brunt of the police high-handedness. “We realised that the cordon and search operations during 1985-1996 paid little dividend,” admits Telangana Director General of Police C.V. Anand, who was the Nizamabad SP between August 1996 and December 1999.

Realising its futility, the Andhra Pradesh government adopted a multipronged strategy in the mid-1990s, using a combination of “people-friendly” policing and the elite Greyhounds force on the one hand and putting a rehabilitation package in place to encourage surrenders. This included an instant relief of Rs.5,000, and a promise to cut down repeated police summons and fast-track legal processes. In Karimnagar district alone, on a single day in 2004, as many as 647 records were burnt publicly to ‘free’ surrendering militants.

Many surrendered Naxalites were acquitted for lack of evidence.

On the ground, though, many of the surrendered ultras are still awaiting benefits promised to them — Veko Joga alias Jangu, a member of the CPI (Maoist)’s special guerrilla squad in Cherla mandal of Khammam district, and his wife Nupa Paike, a squad member in Bijapur district of neighbouring Chhattisgarh, parted ways with the banned outfit due to ‘ill-health’ in September this year but are still awaiting sanction of land or any other kind of support from the government.

The Greyhounds’s success The Greyhounds, the elite anti-Naxalite force raised in 1989 by IPS oicer K.S. Vyas, has been instrumental in effecting the might of left-wing extremism in the region. Trained in guerrilla warfare, Greyhounds commandos, mostly in their 20s, act only on specific intelligence inputs.

Each Greyhounds unit, comprising 30 members, plans its operation meticulously, dividing itself into teams of four or five members. Wearing combat uniform and armed with grenade launchers, light machine guns and AK-47 assault weapons, Greyhounds commandos carry out “precision attacks”, preferably in the early hours of the day — as was the case on October 24.

A typical operation sees them making their way into the forest in the middle of the night. The main assault party tries to neutralise the Maoists on sighting them.

The other teams lie in wait at other points to target those fleeing the ofensive.

The strike rate is 99 per cent. The only time Greyhounds personnel sufered heavy losses was eight years ago, when 38 commandos were killed in an ambush by Maoists in the Balimela reservoir in Malkangiri district of Odisha.

October 24, 2016, was payback time.

But reformed Naxalite Kumar’s words serve as a chilling reminder to the never-ending cycle of violence: With the movement on the back foot, where was the need to kill?

With K.M. Dayashankar in Karimnagar, P. Ram Mohan in Nizamabad, R. Avadhani in Sangareddy, P. Sridhar in Khammam and G. Srinivasa Rao in Warangal.

ND-ND

12 |

NEWS

FROM PAGE ONE

Airfares to soar as Centre slaps levy According to the scheme, Centre will provide threeyear subsidy to fund the losses of airlines so that they ofer airfares at Rs. 2,500 for an hour’s flight on half the seats.

The Centre has set up a regional connectivity fund, 80 per cent of which will be financed by levying a cess on other domestic routes, except north-eastern states and regional sectors and the rest will flow from the States.

Mr. Choubey said that the Centre will be able to collect around Rs.400 crore from this levy every year which will be used to promote regional air connectivity.

“Our aim is to increase domestic ticketing four times by 2023 from eight crore at present,” he said.

Opposition from airlines Leading domestic airlines have already opposed the move to impose a levy fund subsidies for regional flights and are likely to

challenge it in the courts.

During the launch of the scheme, SpiceJet chief Ajay Singh had opined that government needs to fund such schemes from its own budget “instead of imposing more tax on consumers.”

HAL aircraft on lease Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, a state-owned aerospace and defence company, may soon lease planes for civilian use on non-metro routes, Mr. Choubey said.

“HAL manufactures 19seater Dornier planes and it is exploring the possibility of leasing these aircraft for civil aviation purposes,” the Civil Aviation Secretary said, “But the proposal is still under examination of its Board,” he added.

Mr. Choubey said that national carrier Air India has plans to lease 10 Dornier planes from HAL to become part of the regional connectivity scheme.

Go for mediation, World Bank tells India, Pakistan On Thursday, the MEA had issued a strong statement threatening to pull out of the World Bank’s arbitration process or even consider more stringent options over the Indus Waters Treaty, that had come under a cloud after the Uri attack in September.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held a meeting a few days after the attack and another one last week to explore ways of “punishing” Pakistan by utilising its share of the Indus rivers more fully.

However, the meeting stopped short of recommending an abrogation of the treaty, which the World Bank statement called “one of the most successful international treaties that has withstood frequent tensions between India and Pakistan, including conflicts.”

With the 2003 ceasefire in a shambles and increasing shelling at the LoC and International Border, many oicials fear the treaty could be the next casualty of India-Pakistan tensions.

Delhiites feel the pinch R.P. Jindal, a wholesaler, said he had issued cheques to his suppliers a few days before the demonetisation was announced. “If I don’t manage to deposit money soon, the cheques I have issued will bounce,” he said.

Markets across the city continued to wear a deserted look on Friday, with many commercial complexes voluntarily shutting down for lack of customers and others failing to attract shoppers.

Sanjay Bhargava, the

general secretary of the Chandni Chowk Sarv Vyapar Mandal, said that business in the usually busy Old Delhi area had fallen to less than 50 per cent of the norm.

“Less than a dozen people came to my shop on Friday. Usually the footfall ranges between 100 and 150. It’s mainly because customers just don’t have any cash in hand and there aren’t many who use plastic money in this part of Delhi,” said Mr. Bhargava.

Train ticket reservation on demand soon NEW DELHI: Soon passengers

will get train ticket reservation on demand for all premier and mail/express trains as the railways has decided to undertake a massive capacity augmentation drive on its major trunk routes.

Besides tickets on demands, plans are afoot to run trains at 160 km per hour

speed in Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah routes and gradual increase of speed of all trains including goods service.

We have decided to run trains at 160 km per hour speed in Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah sector, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said here on Friday. - PTI

Separatist leader calls upon Centre, Pakistan to display political courage

NEW DELHI: The Centre has re-

turned half of the 77 names recommended by the Supreme Court Collegium for appointment of judges in High Courts for “re-consideration”.

Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, for the Centre, submitted before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur on Friday that 43 names have been returned for a re-look.

The appointments of the remaining 34 names have been “done,” the AG said.

“So there is not a single file pending with us,” Mr. Rohatgi concluded. hief Justice Thakur had asked the Centre to send back the names of candidates in case of any diference of opinion, rather than keep the entire process of judicial appointments hanging.

‘No response on MoP’ Mr. Rohatgi put the ball back in the SC’s court saying CM YK

Collegium to meet Chief Justice Thakur responded that the Collegium was meeting on November 15 to discuss the MoP. The court then posted the hearing for November 18.

The government’s submissions came in the background of a tongue-lashing it received from the Chief Justice, who accused the government of trying to choke justice by not appointing judges and locking courtrooms en masse.

Chief Justice Thakur had accused the government of trying to “decimate the judiciary and lock justice out.”

“In Karnataka HC, an entire

Restrictions imposed SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

PEERZADA ASHIQ SRINAGAR: Senior separatist

leader Abdul Ghani Bhat on Friday asked the mainstream parties to join hands and pass a resolution, appealing to the Union government and Pakistan to open a dialogue on the Kashmir issue.

“Against intransigence, warmongering and jingoism, the heads of the political parties in Kashmir, including the National Conference and the People’s Democratic Party, should jointly pass a resolution [in the Assembly]. They should appeal to India and Pakistan to initiate a... result-oriented dialogue...,” said Prof. Bhat, who now heads the Muslim Conference.

Prof. Bhat, a former Hurriyat chairman, said the people of Jammu and Kashmir remembered the promise made by Jawaharlal Nehru on plebiscite. “However, the people have always maintained that if India and Pakistan move towards a meaningful dialogue, taking into account the aspirations of Kashmiris, we [the Kashmiries] would support the process,” he said.

Urging the Union government and Pakistan to display political courage, Prof. Bhat said: “We want a mechanism in which a friendly country can play a role so that the issue is resolved to the satisfaction of all.” “Jammu and Kashmir wants a magnificent tomorrow.”

SRINAGAR: Curfew-like

SEEKING RESULTS: Former Hurriyat Chairman Abdul Gani Bhat speaks after the release of his book, ‘Beyond Me’, in Srinagar on Friday.— PHOTO: NISSAR AHMAD Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the subcontinent can be addressed only through her party’s agenda on dialogue.

Speaking in Jammu, she said the People’s Democratic Party had always stood for dialogue, peace and harmonious relations between India and Pakistan.

Japan has option to scrap N-deal

restrictions were imposed and separatist leaders detained in Kashmir Valley on Friday owing to fears of fresh protests as shutdown continued for the 126th day.

Srinagar city witnessed additional deployment of security forces, with several roads sealed, particularly stretches that lead to the historic Jamia Masjid in the old city.

A police spokesman said: “Restrictions were imposed as a precautionary step in some areas of Srinagar city.”

The police said some minor incidents of stonepelting were reported in Pulwama and Shopian districts. Protests were also

reported from Sopore, Baramulla, Bandipora and Anantnag’s Bijbehara area.

Senior separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik were detained to prevent a scheduled march of separatists towards the Jamia Masjid.

“It greatly pains and hurts us that we are forcefully stopped from ofering prayers and from listening to and delivering Friday sermons, which is a centuries-old tradition,” said Mirwaiz.

Mr. Geelani, who claimed that his house was locked from outside by the security forces, described the arrest of Mirwaiz and Mr. Malik as “interference in the religious rights”.

KALLOL BHATTACHERJEE

Parrikar’s remarks can be mistaken: Experts

NEW DELHI: Foreign Secretary

DINAKAR PERI

S. Jaishankar told the media in Tokyo on Friday that the India-Japan civil nuclear agreement is “broadly in line” with other such deals New Delhi has signed so far.

However, Japan Times has reported that the deal includes the option that Japan can give a year’s notice before terminating it in case India breaks the nuclear testing moratorium that it had extended to the Nuclear Suppliers Group in 2008.

The deal is significant as it will help guarantee Japan’s continued support to India’s civil nuclear programme.

Apart from the Russian reactors, the planned nuclear reactors with France and the U.S. depend on Japanese parts.

That apart, GE, Westinghouse, and Areva, the companies planning reactors in India have important ownership stakes of Japanese companies Hitachi Ltd, Toshiba

and Mitsubishi, that were stopped from doing business with India without a final nuclear deal.

The deal is also likely to revitalise Japanese nuclear majors that are yet to recover from the setback of the

Mallya’s shares worth Rs. 1,620 cr. attached by ED

U.K. regulator slaps penalty on Zakir Naik’s Peace TV

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

ANURADHA RAMAN

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday attached shares worth Rs.1,620 crore belonging to the nowdefunct Kingfisher Airlines promoter Vijay Mallya, after an anti-money laundering court declared him a proclaimed ofender.

The shares include those held in group companies, such as United Breweries Holdings Limited, United Breweries Limited and United Spirits Limited.

Earlier, his properties worth Rs. 8,041 crore were attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in connection with two bank fraud cases registered by the CBI. “He was declared a proclaimed ofender under Section 82 of the Criminal Procedure Code on Thursday.

NEW DELHI: Britain’s regulator,

NEW DELHI: Experts on Friday

JAPANESE TOAST: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his counterpart Shinzo Abe at a banquet hosted by the latter at his official residence in Tokyo on Friday. — PHOTO: REUTERS

floor of courts are locked because there are no judges.

Once we had a situation where we had judges but no court rooms. But now there are courtrooms but no judges,” he had said.

The Chief Justice had criticised the government for inaction in the past nine months since a Constitution Bench scrapped the NJAC law and asked the government to frame a new Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) for Judicial Appointments in a separate judgment on December 18, 2015.

In an August 8 hearing, the Supreme Court had launched its sharpest attack on the NDA government in open court.

Chief Justice Thakur had bluntly asked the government whether it was trying to bring the entire judiciary to a “grinding halt” by sitting on recommendations of the Supreme Court Collegium on appointment and transfer of judges to High Courts.

Fukushima accident.

That apart, the deal will bring Japan into the Indian nuclear market where France and Russia have already have a strong presence.

Both sides also signed nine

Lectures by Israr Ahmed, an Islamic scholar, were found to be offensive to the Jewish people

agreements including one on cooperation between ISRO and JAXA in outer space. Another MoU that was signed covered investment in infrastructure projects in railways and transport terminals.

included numerous examples of overwhelmingly negative and stereotypical references to Jewish people which, in its view, were a form of hate speech.

The order states: Ofcom was concerned that the highly critical and negative statements made about Jewish people , uninterrupted by an individual likely to be held in high status by the viewers of Peace TV Urdu had the clear potential to cause harm by portraying Jewish people in highly negative terms.

In its defence, Club TV expressed its sincere regret and acknowledged that the contents should not have been broadcast. However, it argued that its viewer profile is over 25 years old — i.e. the viewers were not the youngest and most impressionable.

said that Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s remarks on India’s ‘No First Use’ (NFU) policy on nuclear weapons could prove detrimental to India’s interests and that the comments can be interpreted as oicial policy by India’s adversaries.

Speaking at a book release function on Thursday, Mr. Parrikar expressed his “personal opinion” that if a written down strategy exists on a nuclear aspect, “we are actually giving away our strength in nuclear.” “..Why do lot of people say that India has NFU policy? Why should I bind myself,” he had asked.

No first use has been the hallmark of India’s efort to build an international image as a responsible nuclear power, observed Toby Dalton, co-director of the nuclear policy program at the Washington-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

“Unpredictability could in theory strengthen India’s deterrent, but not necessarily at the low end of the spectrum, where the instability is currently located. The question is whether the potential deterrence gains from ditching no first use would outweigh the reputational costs,” he told The Hindu.

Monika Chansoria, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Land

Ofcom, has imposed a penalty of £65,000 on Club TV Limited, the licence holder of Zakir Naik’s Peace TV Urdu in Britain for breach of the content code.

Mr. Naik’s NGOs in India are currently under government scrutiny and the process has been initiated to declare them terrorist entities under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

The Ofcom regulator found the telecast of the public lectures by an Islamic scholar highly critical and potentially ofensive to the Jewish people. This was broadcast on September 12 and 13 on Peace TV Urdu.

The order issued on Friday, found a number of dis-

criminatory remarks made on the Jewish people as an ethnic group in the lectures delivered by Islamic scholar Israr Ahmed who died in April 2010. The role and actions of the Jewish people through history from c.1500 to the present day were examined in the lectures that had comments like “this cursed people…this cursed race”, found to be ofensive under the Ofcom code.

Haryana suspends bus services to Punjab

This is not the way SC judges should behave, says Katju

CHANDIGARH: Fearing possible

there had been no word from the Collegium on the draft Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) for judicial appointments the government sent it on August 3.

“The last communication on the MoP was on August 3... since then, there has been no reply from the Collegium,” Mr. Rohatgi submitted.

THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

Bhat wants parties to appeal for dialogue

Govt. returns 43 names cleared for High Court judges LEGAL CORRESPONDENT

NOIDA/DELHI

law and order problems after the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal issue, the Haryana Transport Department on Friday suspended services to several destinations in Punjab as a “precautionary measure”.

Services were suspended after the Haryana Transport Department issued directions to all bus depots in the State to take necessary steps after assessing the situation for safety of their buses.

Bus services remained suspended on several routes, including those to Ludhiana and Katra in Jammu and Kashmir, Transport Department oicials said.

“Bus services to Ludhiana and Katra were suspended this morning,” said Ran Singh Punia, who is posted at the Haryana Roadways Depot in Jind district.

Bus services were suspended from Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Yamuna Nagar, Kaithal and Ambala depots, oicials said. - PTI

Hate speech The regulator observes that the breach of the code was serious as the content

KRISHNADAS RAJAGOPAL NEW DELHI: After former Supreme Court judge, Justice Markandey Katju, finished his hour-long submissions on Friday before the apex court Bench, which had called him for an open court debate on the Soumya murder case, Justice Ranjan Gogoi handed over photocopies of his blog posts to both him and Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the Kerala government, with an instruction to read certain underlined portions.

After Justice Katju took a cursory glance, Justice Gogoi asked him what he had to say.

“This is a free country. I have a right to say what I want,” Justice Katju replied.

Asked for his opinion, Mr. Rohatgi first said the blog posts were “scandalous” but later described them as “intemperate”.

Justice Gogoi said the underlined portions were re-

Markandey Katju marks made against the judges on the Bench and not an opinion on the Soumya case judgment. “Well, we are issuing contempt notice against Justice Katju,” Justice Gogoi said.

At this moment, Justice Katju intervened and addressed Justice Gogoi: “First learn to be modest. This is not the way Supreme Court judges should behave. Don’t provoke me.”

“You are provoking us,” Justice Gogoi replied.

“I came here on your invite and I am sorry it has come to this,” Justice Katju said.

No first use has been the hallmark of India's effort to build an image as a responsible nuclear power Warfare Studies questioned the timing of Mr. Parrikar's comment. “Mr. Parrikar questioning Indian NFU policy at this stage is critical, when India seemingly is exploring newer layers of signalling in deterrence and response options. After all, the surgical strike has managed to introduce an element of surprise, whereby India acted far from the anticipated line of action,” she said.

NSG entry The comments came at a time when India has put in all diplomatic energy to gain entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

India has put in place its nuclear doctrine with NFU and massive retaliation forming its core tenets.

Vipin Narang, Associate Professor of political science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology felt that Mr. Parrikar created “confusion” by voicing a contradictory position. “Mr. Parrikar is the Defence Minister. His personal opinions run the risk of being interpreted as oicial policy on this matter, which I can assure you now China and Pakistan will do,” he added.

Clarify policy on nuclear weapons, says Digvijay SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT PANAJI: The Centre should clarify if the country’s stated policy on use of nuclear weapons has changed in view of the recent comments

by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, said Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh here on Friday.

He was responding to Mr.

“We are sorry too,” Justice Gogoi said, before passing a short order initiating contempt action against him.

Earlier, exhorting the court to use “some common sense,” Justice Katju submitted that Govindachamy’s assault on Soumya was so violent that not only did she fracture her head, but also sustained deep injuries.

“So how does it matter if she jumped out of the moving train or was pushed out?

She was trying to escape a murderous assault. Do you expect the girl to stay on in the train and die?” Justice Katju argued.

Justice Katju submitted that after the assault, the grievously injured and “halfdead” victim may have even staggered out of the compartment.

But the court said this narrative was a mere presumption and there was no evidence to conclusively prove that she either staggered out or was pushed out.

Parrikar’s loud thinking on the merits of being bound by the ‘no-first-use’ doctrine vis-a-vis nuclear weapons.

“The Prime Minister and the government must come clean on this. Have they changed the stated policy of the government of India as far as first use of nuclear weapons is concerned,” Mr. Singh asked on the sidelines of a Congress meeting here.

Pak. complains to P5 nations about Indian ‘aggression’ ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday briefed Heads of Missions of P5 countries on the alleged Indian aggression on the Line of Control (LoC) and Working Boundary, saying the use of “heavy weaponry” by the Indian Army threatens peace and stability and may lead to a “strategic miscalculation.”

Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry provided details to the Ambassadors of China, France, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S., the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, about unprovoked firing and ceasefire violations by the “Indian occupation Forces” in the past two months, the Foreign Oice (FO) said.

Mr. Chaudhry expressed grave concern over the increased frequency and duration of indiscriminate firing from the Indian side, deliberate targeting of villages and civilian populated areas, resulting in the death of 26 civilians. it said. — PTI ND-ND

THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

People backing us, says Amit Shah ‘It is an economic emergency for Mayawati’

The people are with the government on this unprecedented move to fight black money, corruption and terror funding.

It is an economic emergency for Mayawatiji perhaps,” he said, when asked whether the move would be a poll plank in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand.

“In this country there are elections every year and this decision has not been taken keeping politics in mind,” he added.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: BJP national president Amit Shah on Friday dared the opposition to make a political issue of the demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8. In a historic decision of this sort “some pain was inevitable” but the government would protect the interest of the honest tax payers, farmers, housewives, and the poor, Mr. Shah said.

His remarks came in the background of a notice moved by the Trinamool Congress in

Amit Shah the Rajya Sabha questioning the government’s move and statements terming the move as an attempt at imposing an “economic emergency” by BSP chief Mayawati.

“I want the opposition to try and make this a political issue.

Poser to parties “I do want to ask the Congress, the Samajwadi Party, the BSP, the Aam Aadmi Party and the Trinamool Congress as to why they are upset? They should answer whether they

are in support of black money?

Or hawala traders, drug peddlers, or terror funders? Because those are the only people this move hurts,” Mr. Shah said.

He appealed to the people to be patient for the long term betterment of the economy.

He admitted that the BJP’s core voter base of small traders have been in touch with the party leaders.

‘No prior knowledge’ He emphatically denied that the BJP or anyone in its organisation had prior knowledge of the move. “Except the government ministers and oicials and those constitutionally obligated to be informed, no one knew about the move,” he said.

A well-planned move, says Rajnath Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the decision to demonetise high denomination currency notes was a well-planned move and not taken in haste as he maintained it will go a long way in checking corruption in politics.

“Recently a decision to demonetise currency notes in the denomination of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 has been taken...it surprised people not only in the country but the world over ...this will bridge the gulf between the poor and rich,” he said at the 69th annual meeting of Indian Commerce Association here.-PTI

LUCKNOW:

ATMs fail to meet high demand for currency SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: The government’s assurances on Friday on cash availability and extension of deadline for government services to accept old currency notes for payment did little to mitigate the situation on the ground. With cashstrapped citizens making a beeline for banks to exchange old notes, the heavy rush resulted in many banks running out of cash, leaving many disappointed.

“I have been buying supplies in reduced quantity so that I don’t run of Rs. 100 notes. I have no time to go to the bank for I have a job to keep. The government must answer what I stand to gain from all this,” said Vandana Attri, a school teacher, in Delhi.

The disruption was aggravated with most ATMs across the country running out of cash, soon after resuming operations on Friday.

ATM machines are dispensing mostly notes of Rs. 100 denomination while some are also stocked with Rs. 50 notes. According to industry sources, only lower denomination notes are available, resulting in ATMs running out of cash at frequent intervals.

“Right now only Rs. 100 denomination notes are there so you need to put fives times the amount of money.

That much of supply is a challenge but it is increasing,” said Ashok Shankar, head of solutions marketing and deployment, NCR India.

The situation is likely to improve on Saturday and Sunday as more machines will become operational, Mr. Shankar added.

| 13

NEWS

NOIDA/DELHI

Demonetisation could cut inflation, says Panagariya SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: The Centre’s demonetisation drive will help lower inflation, NITI Aayog vice chairman Arvind Panagariya said on Friday.

“All these makes me believe that their could be some moderation in inflation in the short-term,” Mr. Panagariya said at the Economic Editors’ Conference. “Yields on sovereign bonds softened after the government announced that the present Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes will not be a legal tender from November 9.”

He also said that eradication of black money from circulation will have some impact on money supply.

“As the black money goes out of the system, the money supply will shrink to some degree. This will reduce the inflation rate in the absence of any open market operations by the RBI,” Mr. Panagariya said.

Savings growth Banks will see healthy growth in savings account deposits due to this exercise, he said.

“Savings that were kept in diferent forms particularly

Demonetisation afects dead and alive alike

in the form of currency notes, they will now move into bank deposits. So we will see some surge in bank deposits,” Mr. Panagariya added.

Separately, Bibek Debroy, member of NITI Aayog dismissed that the demonetisation will have any impact on economic growth.

“Real estate prices were already impacted due to several measures that government had taken in the past,” Mr. Debroy said.

He said black money was never in the calculation of GDP figures, hence the present demonetisation drive will not impact growth.

STAFF REPORTER MEERUT: A day after the gov-

It’s financial chaos: Congress SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: On Friday, even as Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi stood in solidarity with others in a serpentine queue outside a branch of the State Bank of India on Parliament Street, to exchange his old notes, his colleague and former Union Minister Anand Sharma attacked the government for unleashing “financial chaos” across the country: the Centre, he stressed, had no legal power to limit people’s access to their own money deposited in banks.

Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking an ‘anti-poor’ measure, Mr. Gandhi said ordinary people were waiting for long hours to exchange their demonetised 500 and 1,000 rupee

notes. “There is no crorepati in the queue,” Mr. Gandhi said. “People are facing hardships: that’s why I have come to join them. I am here to exchange my Rs. 4,000 with new notes. ” Taking a swipe at the media, Mr. Gandhi told the gathered reporters, “Neither you [reporters] nor your crorepati owners nor the Prime Minister understand the problems faced by people.”

After reaching the SBI’s Parliament Street branch at around 4.25 p.m., he waited for his turn in the queue, interacting with others, listening to their troubles, and obliging people who wanted to take selfies with him.

Meanwhile, at the AICC headquarters, hours after BJP chief Amit Shah de-

The government has no power to impose withdrawal limits for people’s money in banks: Anand Sharma scribed those criticising the demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes as votaries of black money, Mr. Sharma said, “For the past two days, we have seen financial chaos unfold across the country. The government has no power to impose withdrawal limits for people’s money in banks.”

Accusing Mr. Shah of misleading the country, he said the Modi government had failed to make adequate prior arrangements as banks and ATMs were running out of money.

Stressing that around 60 per cent of the population — small traders, shopkeepers, daily wagers and labourers — were unnecessarily sufering, he said it was the right of the opposition to voice people’s concerns: “We will seek accountability from the government.”

Mr. Sharma said when the previous UPA government had withdrawn a particular series of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes in January 2014, people had been given suicient notice to exchange their money.

“Prime Minister Modi had said that cautioning the people would have alerted terrorists and money launderers. That is a silly argument.

Which terrorist would have gone to the bank to get cash exchanged?” asked Mr. Sharma.

ernment rolled out measures for demonetisation, the dead and alive were afected alike in western Uttar Pradesh.

While the funeral of Bela Devi in Meerut had to be cancelled, a fight over the queue position outside an ATM in Muzafarnagar led to firing and ruckus.

Bela Devi died on Thursday night. Her funeral was scheduled for Friday but her family had to cancel it after realising that they did not have enough cash to perform the rituals.

Instead, the entire family was standing in a queue at the local branch of ICICI Bank to withdraw money.

“We had no option but to postpone her funeral on Friday and go to the bank instead. What to do, it is an emergency,” Bela Devi's son Santosh told the media.

Several children in Agra broke their piggy banks after their parents sought small change from them.

RANCHI: Two helicopters were on

Friday deployed to bring cash from Reserve Bank, Patna currency chest to Ranchi with an aim to minimise difficulties to customers in Jharkhand.

An official release said quoting Development Commissioner Amit Khare that the decision was taken after consultation with the local office of the Central government’s control room at Reserve Bank of India and SLBC. The choppers brought money and currencies were being sent to all banks, he said.

Necessary steps were taken with regard to security, and transport, the release added. PTI

I-T searches on ‘Bahubali’ makers HYDERABAD: Income Tax officials

on Friday conducted searches at offices of the producers of multilingual magnum opus ‘Bahubali’ here.

“The search is a routine procedure the I-T department follows from time to time,” sources said. The raids were conducted at offices located in Banjara Hills and Jubilee Hills.

The Prabhas, Anushka Shetty and Rana Daggubati-starrer blockbuster was released across 4,000 screens worldwide in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and Malayalam languages in August last year. —PTI

Report on real estate sector in the oing DEVESH K. PANDEY

CURRENCY CONUNDRUM: Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi waiting in queue to exchange currency at the SBI branch on Parliament Street in New Delhi on Friday. — PHOTO: SUSHIL KUMAR VERMA

Choppers deployed to bring cash

NEW DELHI: Financial investigating agencies are preparing a comprehensive report on the vulnerabilities in the real estate sector in terms of money laundering operations.

According to government estimates, the real estate sector makes for seven per cent of the country’s GDP. It grew to $120 billion between 2005 and 2016 and is expected to go up to $180 billion by 2020.

Studies by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion show that there was an inflow of $24.19 billion of FDI (foreign direct investment) between 2000 and 2016 in the real estate sector, where cash is understood to play a major role in the transactions.

In the past few years, agencies have reason to believe that the real estate industry

had recorded growth at the rate of over 11 per cent, against the GDP rate of seven per cent.

With the government scrapping Rs. 500 and Rs.1,000 notes, cash hoarders are diverting large sums into acquisition of land in several States by making payments to owners of small parcels of land, particularly agriculturists.

The Centre has already come up with certain regulations and laws to keep a close watch on the sector, particularly in the use of cash.

Experts believe that after the demonetisation of the Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes, investigating agencies would focus on the stringent implementation of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Act, under which ‘benami’ real estate can be confiscated.

CPI(M) questions huge BJP deposit SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT KOLKATA: The West Bengal unit of the BJP deposited Rs.1 crore in denominations of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 currency notes on November 8, the day they were declared not legal tender, Communist Party of India (Marxist) State Secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra alleged here on Friday.

The amount had been deposited by the BJP’s State unit in the central Kolkata

Surjya Kanta Mishra branch, he said.

Giving details of the bank accounts of a public sector

bank located on Central Avenue in Kolkata, he claimed that two deposits in cash of currency notes comprising Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 denominations totalling Rs. one crore were made on November 8. Dr Mishra said the PAN number of the account where deposits were made was that of the BJP. Addressing a press conference at party oice, the CPI (M) State Secretary accused the BJP of “selective leaking” of the information

and demanded an explanation from BJP president Amit Shah.

“Between November 1 and November 8 Rs. three crore were deposited in the account,” Dr. Mishra charged.

“Are we to believe that Rs. three crore was deposited every week in cash in an account of the BJP? If so, hundreds of crores of rupees must be deposited in one account of the BJP every year,” he said.

PMO pushed to print new notes in India, says oicial VIJAITA SINGH NEW DELHI: India imports

bank note papers from European firms like Louisenthal in Germany, De la Rue in United Kingdom, Crane in Sweden and Arjo Wiggins in France and Netherlands.

Currently, 70 per cent of the notes are being produced in India and in the next two years, the target is to achieve 100 per cent self-reliance, a senior government oicial told The Hindu.

But for the Rs. 2,000 notes, it was decided that all raw notes would be produced in India and the Bank Note Paper Mill India Private Limited (BNPMIPL) in Mysuru, which started functioning in 2015, was given the task.

CM YK

For some of the new Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes, however, imported bank note paper has been used.

Another oicial said the production of the notes in India was pushed by the Prime Minister’s Oice (PMO).

“The PMO was of the opinion that all the bank notes are imported from countries, which are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. If tomorrow, there is an embargo on India then the currency manufacturing will be crippled as we rely heavily on imports. With this aim it was decided to push the production in India,” said the oicial.

On being asked whether the new design would minimise the chances of

counterfeiting the new currency notes, the oicial said, “It is not impossible.

Only the design has changed but the security features remain the same.

Pakistan prints fake notes at their government press,” said the oicial.

Mammoth exercise The oicial said the decision to print the Rs. 2,000 notes was taken six months back and the Mysuru facility was asked to produce the raw bank notes. It has a capacity of 12,000 MT per year. He said around 18 billion new notes are to be printed, which includes those of the Rs. 2,000 denomination.The oicials said the last time such an exercise was undertaken was in 2005.

ND-ND

14 |

WORLD

Bernie urges Democrats to change Asks party leaders to pick their side between the Wall Street billionaire class and working people VARGHESE K. GEORGE WASHINGTON: Far from the fire-

works they had planned for Tuesday evening, the Democrats are struggling to find a spark for their future that looks dark now. “…the Democratic Party needs to look itself in the mirror and work tirelessly to become once again the party that working people know will work for their interests,” former presidential aspirant of the party, Bernie Sanders, said in a statement on Thursday, appealing to elect Representative Keith Ellison as the new Democratic National Committee (DNC) chair. Mr. Ellison, a Minnesota Democrat, is an African American and the first Muslim member of the U.S. House.

The party is at its lowest level since 1922 across the U.S., as the Republicans now have 34 Governors, control the White House and both chambers of Congress. Republicans also control twothirds of the State legislative chambers. On Tuesday, the Democratic Party lost its governorship in Missouri, New Hampshire and Vermont. As President, Donald Trump will also nominate a Supreme Court justice.

Until Tuesday evening, American commentators were discussing the dismal future of the Republican

NEED THE BERN: A woman holds up a Bernie Sanders sign while watching thousands protesting against the election of Donald Trump, in Denver, Colorado, on Thursday. — PHOTO: AFP Party that they thought was laid in ruins by Donald Trump’s leadership. But Mr. Trump single-handedly expanded the electoral map of the Republicans, while the Democratic Party that remained in the control of its entrenched establishment lost touch with its own base that was poached on by Mr. Trump.

Mr. Sanders, who led a grassroots movement to claim the party nomination, lost out to Hillary Clinton.

The DNC undermined Mr.

Sanders’s bid and favoured Ms. Clinton, leaked emails of its functionaries indicated later. “I’m sure a lot of you have some feelings about the Democratic National Committee. The truth is that it is an important entity to build, support, and maintain if we are to have the chance to organise and win in the coming elections while Trump is President,” Mr. Sanders said.

The Senator from Vermont, who had criticised Ms. Clinton for her links with the Wall Street during the

primary, had campaigned actively for her in the contest against Mr. Trump. “You cannot be a party which on one hand says we’re in favour of working people, we’re in favour of the needs of young people, but we don’t quite have the courage to take on Wall Street and the billionaire class,” he said on Thursday. “People do not believe that. You’ve got to decide which side you’re on.”

The interim DNC chair Donna Brazile’s term ends in March 2017 and the new

chair will be elected by a vote of State and local party oicials and delegates. If the President is a Democrat, he gets to nominate the DNC chair. The party delegates are mostly Clinton supporters, and Ms. Brazile’s predecessor, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, had to quit under allegations of manipulating the party nomination contest to favour Ms. Clinton. By pushing for Mr. Ellison, Mr. Sanders is challenging Ms. Clinton yet again.

“I don't think the political establishment and the billionaire class would like Keith Ellison as the DNC chair. Good... His experience and perspective would be key to leading the fight against Trump.”

In an interview on Thursday, Mr. Sanders refused to discuss whether he would have beaten Mr. Trump. He said he would have loved to take him on but there was no use discussing his chances now that the election was over. In another statement, Mr. Sanders said,“to the degree that Mr. Trump is serious about pursuing policies that improve the lives of working families in this country, I and other progressives are prepared to work with him...To the degree that he pursues racist, sexist, xenophobic and antienvironment policies, we will vigorously oppose him.”

‘Important first step taken to resolve fisheries conflict’ MEERA SRINIVASAN COLOMBO: Sri Lankan Foreign

Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Friday said India realised the dangers of bottom-trawling, but the two countries should work out a win-win situation for poor fishermen on both sides of the Palk Bay. The Joint Working Group that the neighbours have set up, following the high-level talks in New Delhi last week, will meet in Colombo early January to take discussions forward. “I am sure that we should be able to come to a suitable agreement in the shortest possible time,” said the Minister, who in September called for a ban on bottom-trawling, citing its adverse impact on marine ecosystems.

Terming the New Delhi meeting “a great success,” he told The Hindu in an interview that both sides

demonstrated political will to find a solution and that a “very important first step” has been taken.

On the outcome of the U.S. elections, he said there were certain concerns about some of the policies Donald Trump expounded during the campaign. But “what you say at election time is not always what you do when you are elected”. The American system, he said, would steer the new administration along the same path as far as international relations are concerned.

Asked about the recent controversial remarks of the Chinese envoy in Colombo — criticising at a press conference Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake’s view on “expensive” Chinese loans — Mr. Samaraweera said he advised the envoy that any such issue should be sorted through the Foreign Ministry rather than through

Turkey detains newspaper chairman

the government to repeal the earlier Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and introduce a new Prevention of Terrorism Act in keeping with international best practice is as strong as ever.”

Both sides have demonstrated political will to find a solution, Sri Lankan Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera told The Hindu. — FILE PHOTO: R.V. MOOTHY the media. China is a “good friend” and an important partner in Sri Lanka’s economic development, he said.

Mr. Samaraweera, a top leader in Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s United National Party, which leads Sri Lanka’s unity government along with the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, has been at the helm of initiat-

ISTANBUL: Turkish authorities on Friday detained the chairman of the left-leaning and pro-secular opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet on Friday, a week after several senior staff members were

Taliban storm German consulate MAZAR-I-SHARIF/BERLIN: Taliban

militants stormed the German consulate in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif, ramming its outer wall with a truck bomb before battling security forces in a late-night attack that killed at least four people, officials said.

The explosion, triggered by a suicide bomber, caused CM YK

extensive damage to the building and shattered windows as far as 5 km away, NATO said. A doctor said the blast and subsequent firefight also wounded 120 people. Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germany would review its lead role in the mission in northern Afghanistan. — Reuters

THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

Indian Americans voted for Trump in large numbers VARGHESE K. GEORGE WASHINGTON: Indian Americ-

ans are mostly Democrats in the U.S. according to quantitative analyses, but a large number of them voted for Republican Donald Trump in this election, anecdotal evidence suggests. And one of the main reasons many cite for doing so is Huma Abedin, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton’s close aide, who happens to be a Muslim. Some others voted hoping that Mr. Trump will cut taxes.

Indian American leaders in the Democratic Party — candidates and major donors — have sought to create a larger Asian minority coalition in support for Ms. Clinton with Pakistani activists playing a significant role in the eforts. In Congressional contests of Indian Americans, Pakistani Americans supported them in large numbers. Many prominent Indian Americans with links to the RSS were in the Democratic camp and campaigned for Ms. Clinton. But that was only part of the story.

A visible portion of Indian Americans broke away to vote for Mr. Trump. Almost all of them had voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012. “India and America face the same threat of terrorism from Islamic fundamentalism. And Huma

Trump protests surge across U.S.

An Indian-American supporter of Donald Trump at one of his rallies. — FILE PHOTO Abedin, a Pakistani with links to Islamic countries in the Middle East, controls Hillary Clinton,” Rattan Kumar, a doctor in Tampa, Florida, explained his reason for voting Mr. Trump.

“Trump will take terrorists head on,” he said. Asked whether he knew that Ms. Abedin’s father was an Indian who studied at Aligarh Muslim University, Mr. Kumar said: “That doesn’t matter.” He is a registered Democrat, voted for Mr. Obama twice, fund-raised for Democratic Representative-elect Raja Krishnamoorthi this year and voted for Democrats in all other contests this season.

Good for business Iggy Ignatius grew up Catholic in Coimbatore and is now a follower of the Brah-

makumari order. He owns a successful real estate business in Orlando. Mr. Ignatius also voted for Mr. Trump. “I voted for Obama twice, but I think he is too weak on terrorism. Trump will be stronger and he will be good for businesses.” Ramesh Babu from Chennai gave his first vote as American citizen for Mr. Trump in New Jersey.

“His tax policies will benefit people like me more,” he said.

Best friend of India These were not isolated cases and it was easy to come across numerous supporters for Mr. Trump among Indian Americans – in temples, churches and other gatherings. “Many were circumspect with Hillary Clinton and her stance towards Pakistan with Huma Abedi.

Trump has promised to be the best friend in the White House India ever had,” Sampat Shivangi, a Republican convention delegate from Mississippi, said.

The rich Indian donors to the Democratic Party have limited links to the community. While the Clintons went to fundraising events at many of their homes, Mr. Trump himself and daughter Ivanka and daughter-in-law Laura attended Indian community events.

Speculation rife on who will be in Trump Cabinet

PORTLAND (OREGON): Another

night of nationwide protests against Donald Trump’s election came to a head in Portland, where thousands marched and some smashed store windows, lit firecrackers and sparked a dumpster blaze. Police termed the protest a riot and used “less lethal munitions” help clear the streets.

Some 4,000 protesters surged into the downtown area late Thursday night with chants like “we reject the president-elect!”

Oicers began physically pushing back against the crowd that at times threw objects at them as midnight approached, arresting several people. Around the country from New York to Chicago to California, in red States as well as blue, hundreds of demonstrators marched through streets, many for the third straight night. — AP

President-elect Donald Trump’s administration is being assembled behind the scenes. But like much else in the nation’s capital, little stays secret for long.

The list of names being mentioned as possibilities for key posts in Trump’s Cabinet is growing by the hour, giving oicial Washington what it craves most: a never-ending parlour game as speculation grows about who might actually get the nod.

A big revelation may come soon, according to Trump himself, who took to Twitter on Friday morning with some news.

“Busy day planned in New York,” the President-elect said. “Will soon be making some very important decisions on the people who will be running our govern-

WASHINGTON:

ment!” The latest to be swept into the speculation maelstrom is Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JP Morgan Chase.

He is said to be a candidate for secretary of the Treasury, according to a report by CNBC, although the banker — who was close to President Barack Obama — has repeatedly denied being interested in the job.

Even as Mr. Trump moves to create a new administration, his transition team is being reshaped.

Vice President-elect Mike Pence has taken over from Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, whose standing fell in the bridge scandal. According to two advisers to Mr. Trump, Sen. Jef Sessions of Arizona will also play a prominent role in the transition team. — The New York Times News Service

Leonard Cohen, the troubadour for troubled souls, is dead STEPHANIE CONVERY

arrested for allegedly supporting terrorist organisations. Police detained Akin Atalay when his flight from Berlin arrived at Istanbul’s Ataturk Airport, the Anadolu agency reported.

Editor-in-chief Murat Sabuncu, cartoonist Musa Kart and other staff were detained October 31 and later put under arrest pending trial. — AP

ives aimed at reconciliation.

Asked about concerns voiced by the civil society on the draft of Sri Lanka’s new counter-terrorism law, he said his own Ministry had conveyed to an oversight committee its reservation over some of the recommendations in the draft. The final version, he said, would be in line with global norms.

“But still the commitment of

Gradual process On whether the reported actions of the country’s Terrorism Investigation Divisions and ongoing arrests under the PTA meant that the country’s security apparatus — that drew strong criticism during President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s time — remained as was earlier, Mr. Samaraweera said after 10 years of a “very authoritarian government” it was not easy to change the mindset created by that era. Even if governments change, the officials and bureaucracy remain. “It’s not possible to change them all overnight. It is a gradual process. But that process is taking place.”

NOIDA/DELHI

L

eonard Cohen, the legendary singersongwriter whose work inspired generations, has died at the age of 82.

A post to his oicial Facebook page announced the musician’s passing in Los Angeles on Thursday.

“It is with profound sorrow we report that legendary poet, songwriter and artist, Leonard Cohen has passed away. We have lost one of music’s most revered and prolific visionaries,” the post said. “A memorial will take place in Los Angeles at a later date. The family requests privacy during their time of grief.” According to the Leonard Cohen forum , often well informed on the singer, he died on Monday 7 November and has already been buried in a private ceremony in Montreal.

In a recent interview with the New Yorker , Cohen

spoke about the prospect of death with calmness and clarity: “I am ready to die. I hope it’s not too uncomfortable. That’s about it for me.”

Tributes poured in across social media for the Canadian musician, who had just released his 14th album, You Want It Darker, in October, to great acclaim.

The Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said the “world will miss him” while, actors Rob Lowe and Russell Crowe, musicians Ben Folds, Peter Hook, Slash, Carole King, Lily Allen and Bette Midler all heaped praise on the star.

Cohen, who was born in Montreal, came to prominence in the 1960s as a poet, novelist and singer— songwriter. Originally focusing on literary pursuits, he shifted his attention to music in the late 60s when he moved to New York. His first album, Songs of Leonard Cohen, was released in 1967 and became a cult hit. Cohen’s in-

after he left halfway through a performance. He came out of retirement in his late 70s to embark what would end up being a five—year, worldwide tour, after his former manager, Kelley Lynch, was found guilty of stealing millions of dollars from him.

SO LONG, LEONARD: In a recent interview to the New Yorker, Cohen spoke about the prospect of death with calmness and clarity, saying he was ready to go. — FILE PHOTO: AFP fluence on the music industry has been likened to that of his contemporaries Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell and is perhaps best known for his song Hallelujah. Only a modest hit on its release in 1984, it found a much wider audience after it was covered

by John Cale in 1991 and by Jef Buckley in 1994.

After the song was taken to

No. 1 in the U.K. by X-Factor winner Alexandra Burke in 2008, Cohen said : “I think it’s a good song, but I think too many people sing it.”

Despite his immense popularity, Cohen often appeared to be shy of the stage.

Judy Collins, who had success with his song Suzanne, once described how she had to coax him back on stage

Letter to a muse Cohen recently wrote a letter to his longtime muse, Marianne Ihlen, who was the subject of his songs So Long, Marianne, and Bird on the Wire, saying: “You know that I’ve always loved you for your beauty and your wisdom, but I don’t need to say anything more about that because you know all about that. But now, I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend.

Endless love, see you down the road.”

For much of the 1960s, he lived with Ihlen on the Greek island of Hydra, during which time he wrote numerous books of poetry,

including his experimental novel Beautiful Losers, and his first album. In the 1970s, after his relationship with Ihlen dissolved, Cohen began a relationship with the artist Suzanne Elrod. The couple had two children, Adam and Lorca. You Want It Darker was co-produced by Adam Cohen. In a recent interview, he talked about working with his father on the album that many believed would be his last. “This old man, who was truly in pain and discomfort, would at some intervals get out of his medical chair and dance in front of his speakers. And sometimes, we would put on a song and listen to it on repeat just like teenagers, with the help of medical marijuana. I think in states of pain and discomfort, what do you seek with more energy and more clarity than joy and jubilance?”

Adam described his father as “the last of his kind.” — Guardian News & Media Ltd., 2016 ND-ND

THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

In the next five years, many jobs could get replaced by technology.

Identifying and building skills is important.

Ajay Srinivasan, Chief Executive, Financial Services, Aditya Birla Group

Centre unveils steps to boost cybersecurity

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BUSINESS

NOIDA/DELHI

SENSEX

11-11-2016 10-11-2016

BRENT OIL

RUPEE 26,819 27,518

11-11-2016 10-11-2016

699 points

67.25 66.63

After Mistry, Tata Sons targets Wadia

0.62 ₨/$

11-11-2016 10-11-2016

44.28 45.86

1.58 $/bbl

Tata Chemicals board paid no heed, says Bhat

Parent company wants both directors out of Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals and Tata Motors

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

they lost trust in the independent directors as they were acting against the interests of the company. However, the directors will have a chance to defend their views before the shareholders as per section 169 and sub section 4,” Mr. Gupta said.

PIYUSH PANDEY NEW DELHI: The Centre on Fri-

day announced a slew of measures, including one that requires all organisations having a significant IT infrastructure to appoint cyber security oicers, in an attempt to strengthen cybersecurity in India.

The Minister for Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad, speaking at the Economic Editors’ conference here, also said that efforts are being made to strengthen CERT-In, the governments’ cybersecurity arm.

“CERT-In is being strengthened. The ministry has approved 26 new posts,” he said.

“State Certs are being planned by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Jharkhand. Also, three sectoral Certs in power sector — generation, transmission and distribution, have been set up, in addition to the banking one.”

IMF urges care in currency move

MUMBAI: Ratan Tata-led Tata

Sons has asked its operating firms Tata Motors, Tata Chemicals and Tata Steel to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of respective companies for considering and passing resolutions for the removal of Mr. Cyrus Mistry and Nusli Wadia as directors from these companies under Section 169 of the Companies Act. Significant move This move is significant given that Wadia Group promoter Nusli Wadia, was once a close friend of Tata Sons interim chairman Ratan Tata.

In the past few days, Mr. Wadia has backed Tata Sons ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry to continue as chairman of Tata Chemicals and Tata Steel along with other independent directors of the respective companies.

Tata Sons sacked Mr.

Expiry of investment pacts will hurt FDI: EU ARUN S NEW DELHI: India’s separate Bi-

lateral Investment Treaties (BIT) with 23 European Union (EU) member countries will soon expire one after the other and the absence of an investment protection pact will hurt Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) from EU to India, European Commission Vice President, Jyrki Katainen said.

The European Commission, therefore, wants India to agree to extend the expiry date of these BITs till an India-EU investment treaty is in place.

Pointing out that the expiry of these investment treaties will begin with the one with the Netherlands in a fortnight, Mr. Katainen said such a situation will create a ‘legal vacuum’ — something that is troubling European companies looking to make huge investments in India.

Exchange Rates

PIYUSH PANDEY

TT TT Currencies Buying Selling U.S. Dollar 67.05 67.37 Euro 72.92 73.28 Pound Sterling 84.67 85.08 Jap Yen (100 Units) 63.08 63.38 Chinese Yuan 9.85 9.90 Swiss Franc 68.01 68.34 Singapore Dollar 47.51 47.76 Australian Dollar 50.76 51.01 Canadian Dollar 49.59 49.83 Swedish Kroner 7.37 7.41 Danish Kroner 9.80 9.85 New Zealand Dollar 48.16 48.40 Hongkong Dollar 8.64 8.68 Malaysian Ringgit 15.26 15.35 Kuwaiti Dinar 220.20 222.71 UAE Dirham 18.25 18.34 Bahraini Dinar 177.76 178.70 Qatari Riyal 18.47 18.48 Saudi Riyal 17.93 17.93 Omani Riyal 174.11 175.03 Source:Indian Bank

Bullion Rates November 11 rates in rupees with previous rates in brackets

CM YK

MUMBAI: Wadia Group promoter Nusli Wadia, an independent director on the board of Tata Steel, tried to propose a resolution to back Cyrus Mistry as the chairman of the company but the move was opposed by three directors — former SBI chairman, O. P. Bhatt, Mallika Srinivasan and Andrew Robb.

‘No common view’ “This means that the independent directors couldn’t arrive at a

common view and no resolutions were passed to back Mr. Mistry,” said a source familiar with the development.

Tata Steel did not issue any report on independent directors, was was done in the case of Indian Hotels and Tata Chemicals.

Independent directors did not clarify to shareholders their stand on chairman Mr. Mistry, possibly due to divergent views among themselves.

Mr. Mistry was ousted as the chairman of Tata Sons last month and Rata Tata took over as the interim

(45,105) (48.30) (31,260) (3,023)

well with Tata Sons and so they have sought his removal also,” said Anil Singhvi, chairman of ICan Investment Advisors. “What’s the point of having independent directors on your board when you can’t respect their views,” asked Shingvi.

“The reasons for the re-

moval of independent directors are not clear to the public,” said J.N. Gupta, co-founder and managing director of Stakeholder Empowerment Services. “In their notice to the operating companies, Tata Sons must have cited reasons for the removal. They may say that

Nusli Wadia chief. O. P. Bhatt told The Hindu: “As an independent director, it would be unethical for me to disclose the details of board meeting.”

The opposing independent directors held a view that “whatever happened is in the past, the company should not pass any resolution that jeopardises the company’s and shareholders’ interests,” the source said.

As of now, Mr. Mistry remains the chairman of the company as he has signed the audited results.

Tata Sons, meanwhile, has asked Tata Steel to convene an ExtraOrdinary General Meeting of the company for considering and passing resolutions for the

removal of Mr. Mistry and Mr. Wadia, as directors of the Company under Section 169 of the Companies Act. Reports loss Tata Steel reported a consolidated net loss of Rs.49.38 crore for the September quarter compared to a profit of Rs.5,609.43 crore in the same period a year ago.

Sales were almost flat at Rs.27,392 crore. The second quarter of the last fiscal saw an exceptional gain of Rs.6,515 crore, according to a statement.

EXIT TIME: Bhaskar Bhat said that Cyrus Mistry ought not to continue as Tata Chemicals’ chairman. — FILE PHOTO K.T.JAGANNATHAN CHENNAI: The fissures in the Tata Empire have widened with Bhaskar Bhat abruptly resigning from the board of Tata Chemicals.

Mr. Bhat said he had to quit because the members did not pay heed to his views at the company’s board meeting.

‘Confidence lost’ He said he had argued with the members that the board meeting should not be chaired by Cyrus Mistry, who was earlier ousted as the Chairman of Tata Sons. Since Mr. Mistry had lost the confidence of the Tata Sons’ board, his presiding over the board meeting would create considerable risk to Tata Chemicals, Mr. Bhat said.

“Hence, I had requested him (Mr. Mistry) not to chair the meeting,” he added.

Mr. Bhat said he had also articulated his views on several other risks that the company could face.

“None of the views articulated by me at the board meeting is reflected in the statement released by independent directors to the BSE,” he said.

“Of course, they (independent directors) need not cite all these,” he said. Given this, he felt his continuation

on the board would serve no purpose. “Hence, I have decided to resign,” he added.

Mr. Bhat’s line of argument appeared to be that since Tata Sons, the owner of Tata Chemicals, had lost trust in Mr. Mistry and removed him as chairman, it was incorrect on the latter’s part to continue as the chairman of Tata Chemicals. He had, it is learnt, ‘pleaded’ with Mr. Mistry to step aside at least from chairing that particular board meeting.

Mr. Bhat, a Tata loyalist, was appointed the Chairman of Tata-SIA Airlines Ltd. early this year. As the managing director of Titan since 2002 and a founding member of the company, he has led the company over a period in which it has become the largest watch manufacturer in India and the fifth-largest in the world.

Independent directors of Tata Chemicals on Thursday backed Mr. Mistry’s chairmanship, the second Tata group company to see such action, after Indian Hotels.

Tata Chemicals’ independent directors include Wadia Group chairman Nusli N Wadia, DCB Bank chairman Nasser Munjee, former Chairman of NABARD YSP Thorat and marketing professional Vibha Paul Rishi.

SBI net profit shrinks 35% SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT MUMBAI: State Bank of India’s

(SBI) net profit fell 34.56 per cent for the quarter ended September 30 to Rs.2,538 crore, as a provision for loan loss doubled to Rs.7,670 crore.

The total provision of the country’s largest lender increased 36 per cent to Rs.8,686 crore. While its gross bad loans almost doubled to Rs.1.06 lakh crore in a year, it sequentially rose marginally by about Rs.4,000 crore.

The gross NPA ratio was 7.14 per cent as on end September as compared to 6.94 per cent as on June end and 4.15 per cent a year ago.

“The increase is not that large though the percentage may look so because of the lower growth of the denom-

inator,” said Arundhati Bhattacharya, chairman, SBI at the post-earnings conference.

“We are not resolving as much as it is slipping. When resolution process starts we will see NPA stabilizing.

Slippages have come from the stressed list,” she said.

Operating profit SBI’s operating profit increased by 9.34 per cent to

Rs.11,224 crore in the quarter mainly due to healthy growth of non-interest income which rose 36 per cent to Rs.8,424 crore. Net interest income growth was, however, flat at Rs.14,437 crore.

“We have seen very strong and sustained operating performance,” Ms Bhattacharya said adding that fee income growth was also healthy.

The bank’s fee income increased by 36.91 per cent to Rs. 4,317 crore in during the quarter. While the overall loan growth remained in single digit ( 8.1 per cent, y-oy) but retail loans grew at a healthy pace of 20.42 per cent to Rs.3.5 lakh crore.

SBI’s capital adequacy ratio was at 13.94 per cent in Q2 and the bank expects Rs.7,575 crore capital infusion from the Centre in 2016-17.

Trump tremors rock global equities; Sensex sheds 2.5% SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Indicative direct rates in rupees a unit except yen at 4 p.m on November 11

Chennai Bar Silver (1 kg) 44,830 Retail (1 g) 48.00 24 ct gold (10 g) 30,800 22 ct gold (1 g) 2,960

Mistry as chairman of Tata Sons on October 24 and as chairman of its most profitable firm TCS on Thursday.

It had also asked TCS to convene an EGM to remove Mr. Mistry as director.

“The whole initiative is to remove Cyrus Mistry. Wadia supporting Mistry didn’t go

Wadia fails to get support from independent directors

WASHINGTON: The IMF said it

supports India’s eforts to fight corruption through demonetisation, but noted that the transition needs to be managed “prudently” to minimise any disruption.

“We support the measures to fight corruption and illicit financial flows in India. Of course, given the large role of cash in every day transaction in India’s economy the currency transition would have to be managed prudently to minimise possible disruption,” International Monetary Fund (IMF) spokesman Gerry Rice told correspondents. — PTI

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Tata Sons has frowned upon Nusli Wadia’s support to Cyrus Mistry, given that the latter was removed as the company’s chairman last month. — PHOTO: VIJAY BATE

TCS clarifies Meanwhile, in a BSE filing, TCS said that Article 90 of the Articles of Association (AOA) of the company empowered Tata Sons to nominate the chairman of the board of directors, so long as Tata Sons, with its associates, held at least 26 per cent in the company. It now holds close to 74 per cent.

“In exercise of the powers under Article 90, Tata Sons Limited has nominated Mr. Ishaat Hussain as the chairman of the board of directors of the Company in place of Mr. Mistry. The provisions of the AOA are binding on the company,” it said in a statement.

MUMBAI: Concerns about the

possible impact that Donald Trump’s economic and trade policies may have on U.S. interest rates and the economy sent global markets into a tizzy on Friday with benchmark Indian indices sliding to more than four month lows.

The 30-share Sensex fell 698.86 points, or 2.54 per cent, to 26,818.82.

The broader Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed the day at 8,296.30, down 229.45 points, or 2.69 per cent. This was the lowest close for the indices since June 30.

Indian shares fell across the board and even banking stocks that saw investor interest on the back of the recent demonetisation initiative of the government lost significant ground.

The BSE Bankex dropped 2.51 per cent, or 581 points.

State Bank of India and ICICI Bank fell between 3 and 6 per cent. HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank, PNB, Bank of Baroda and Yes

Thursday’s close was the lowest since June 30.

Bank ended the day in the red.

The overall market breadth was hugely negative with 2,223 stocks losing ground, as against only 460 gainers. All the sectoral indices also ended with significant losses.

Rate fears “After their elections, the possibility of a rate hike in the U.S. resurfaced, which spooked the markets the world over,” said Jayant Manglik, president - retail distribution, Religare Secu-

rities. “Excessive volatility is causing damage to traders and they are finding hard to handle their positions,” he said.

“We do not see any relief from that front amid looming uncertainty on the global front and not-so-encouraging domestic cues. So, we suggest restricting leveraged positions and wait for the markets to stablise first,” he added.

An increase in interest rates in U.S. would make emerging markets less attractive for global investors, who have traditionally been the prime drivers of bull runs in India.

While foreign investors have put in Rs.43,800 crore in the Indian markets this year, October saw such investors pulling out Rs.4,306 crore from equities. In November, foreign investors have net sold Indian shares worth Rs.3,175 crore.

Tremors from these concerns were felt elsewhere in Asia too. The Hang Seng lost more than 300 points, while benchmark indices in Indonesia and Taiwan also fell.

ND-ND

BUSINESS

16 |

NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

IOB Q2 net loss widens due to lower asset size

Wage cap plan to widen PF net

CHENNAI: Indian Overseas Bank’s (IOB) net loss widened by 38.90 per

Employees earning salary of up to Rs.25,000 per month will become eligible

SNIPPETS cent for the second quarter ended September 30, 2016 to Rs.765.13 crore against Rs.550.83 crore for the corresponding year-ago period.

IOB’s gross non-performing assets increased to 21.77 per cent from 11 per cent due to a reduction in asset size, according to a stock exchange filing. Net interest margin stood at 2.02 per cent. During the period under review, the bank reported total business of Rs.3,67,580 crore. The decrease in deposits was on account of reduction in high cost deposits and bulk deposits. Gross advances fell as the bank was in a consolidation mode. IOB issued Tier-II bonds for Rs.800 crore during the first week of November, which will improve the Tier-II capital and thereby capital adequacy ratio to 10.15 per cent. Executive Director R. Subramaniakumar was entrusted with the additional charge of the managing director and CEO. — Special Correspondent

Rane Holdings divests entire stake in SasMos CHENNAI: Rane Holdings, (RHL), the holding company of Rane group, has

divested its entire equity stake of 45.26 per cent in SasMos HET Technologies Ltd (SasMos) for an undisclosed amount. The decision was taken at RHL’s board meeting on Thursday with a view to streamlining and consolidating investments in the automotive, aerospace and defence sectors in alignment with the vision of the Rane group, the company said in a regulatory filing. RHL and the promoters of SasMos are in talks to arrive at the terms of the sale and the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed by December 31, 2016. The move would enable RHL to unlock value in its investment made into SasMos, an unlisted associate company of RHL, according to a company statement. — Special Correspondent

TAFE setting up Centre of Excellence in Rajasthan CHENNAI: TAFE, the world’s third largest tractor maker, in collaboration

with the Rajasthan government, is setting up a Centre of Excellence — ‘JFarm Rajasthan’ — and a Custom Hiring Centre in six zones in Rajasthan at a total outlay of Rs.970 crore. Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman & CEO, TAFE said: “This JFarm centre will showcase the latest and best in agronomy and farm practices, latest trends in production, protection and processing of crops, and also the world’s best in terms of showcasing farm mechanisation trends and their applicability to India.”

The JFarm is an advanced model of TAFE’s adaptive agri-research center in Chennai. It will also host, a farm skills development centre, agricultural extension service, and hi-tech technology demonstration and customer experience centres at Bhawanimandi and Jhalawer.

— Special Correspondent

Dish TV, Videocon d2h merge into Rs,17,000-cr firm MUMBAI: India’s direct-to-home company, Dish TV, and Nasdaq-listed

Videocon d2h will merge to create a leading cable and satellite distribution platform, valued at about Rs.17,000 crore. The merged entity, to be renamed as Dish TV Videocon Limited, would serve 27.6 million subscribers in India, out of a total of 175 million TV households in India, highlighting a significant room for growth. The Board of Directors of Dish TV and Videocon d2h today approved the amalgamation of Videocon d2h into Dish TV, according to a company statement. Dish TV Videocon will issue 857.791 million shares and the Vd2h shareholders will be allotted 2.021 new shares of Dish TV Videocon for every one share held in Vd2h. The all-stock deal will see Videocon d2h shareholders getting 2.021 new shares of Dish TV Videocon for every share they hold in Videocon d2h, resulting in Dish TV shareholders owning 55.4% of Dish TV Videocon and Videocon d2h shareholders the rest. — Special Correspondent

CM YK

Insurance (ESI) from Rs.15,000 to Rs.21,000 per month allowing more workers to get health care benefits.

At present, around 3.7 crore active members are subscribed to EPFO out of which about three crore workers are those in the earning category of Rs 15,000 and below. Both employer and employee contribute 12 per cent each of the latter’s income towards EPF.

SOMESH JHA NEW DELHI: The Employees’

Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has written to the Centre demanding a higher wage ceiling of Rs.25,000 per month for its social security schemes raising the possibility of more workers being added to the provident fund pool.

All employees earning salary of up to Rs.25,000 per month will be eligible to receive provident fund savings.

At present, EPF is optional for workers earning more than Rs.15,000 per month.

“It was (unanimously) decided that a proposal should be sent immediately to the Central Government to increase the wage ceiling under EPF & MP Act, 1952 and Schemes framed thereunder to Rs 25,000 per month,” according to the minutes of the meeting of EPFO’s sub-committee on contract workers, held on November 7.

Trade union leaders, who were a part of the EPF com-

Railways may save Rs.3,000 cr. on its energy bill SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: The Indian Rail-

ways plans to save Rs.3,000 crore every year on its energy bills through open access of electricity.

So far, four BJP-ruled states —Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand —have agreed to allow Indian Railways to procure electricity directly from the generator of its choice, Railway Board Chairman A.K. Mittal said.

He added that Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have given an in-principal nod and it is in talks with other states to tap power directly from generators “at cheaper rates.”

SOCIAL SECURITY: The wage ceiling for the EPFO has to be higher than the minimum wage itself, union leaders said. — FILE PHOTO mittee, argued that “even in the Seventh Pay Commission, the minimum wage was Rs.18,000 per month which might be further increased as the trade unions had been demanding a higher minimum wage of at least Rs.21,000-Rs.22,000.”

“As the minimum wage itself had become more than the existing wage ceiling of Rs.15,000 per month for EPFO, it was high time that

wage ceiling in EPFO be also increased,” Hind Mazdoor Sabha’s A.D. Nagpal said.

Previous revision The previous wage ceiling was revised in September 2014 when the limit was increased from Rs.6,500 to Rs.15,000 per month.

Recently, the Labour Ministry had recently raised the threshold wage limit for coverage of Employees’ State

Railway employees The EPFO has written to the Union labour ministry demanding inclusion of 13 lakh Indian Railways workers under its fold.

In the meeting, EPFO’s Central Provident Fund Commissioner V.P. Joy said “many contract workers are deprived of PF benefits on account of the fact that the Central Department or organisation where they are working does not come under the purview of EPF & MP Act, 1952.”

Mahindra elevated as M&M Chairman SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT MUMBAI: The board of direct-

ors of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M&M) has elevated current chairman & managing director Anand Mahindra as the company’s executive chairman.

Executive director Dr. Pawan Goenka has been elevated to the position of managing director. Dr. Goenka will continue to report to Mr. Mahindra and the Board. “This is in line with the practice followed by companies across the Mahindra Group, where the position of Managing Director or CEO is distinct from that of the Chairman,” M&M said in a statement after its Board met.

As executive chairman, Mr. Mahindra will continue to oversee and be responsible for shaping the growth strategies of the company and its investments portfolio.

The organisation structures and processes in M&M and in the Group have al-

Anand Mahindra ready been aligned with this change over the past one year and there will be no change in the reporting relationships of the Group presidents or presidents who head the other sectors or functions of the Group, M&M said.

Meanwhile, M&M has reported a 29 per cent growth in net profit at Rs.1253 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, 2016 on revenues of Rs.12,049 crore, up 18 per cent as compared to the same period last year. In the quarter the company sold 1.15 lakh vehicles, up 11.6 per cent.

IIP rebounds but demonetisation a dampener SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: Industrial output grew 0.7 per cent in September compared with the same period a year ago, snapping a two-month contraction, government data showed.

The Index of Industrial Production contracted 0.7 per cent in August, and shrank 2.5 per cent in July.

The move back into growth territory was driven mainly by consumer goods, with consumer durables especially seeing a strong turnaround.

Consumer durables A healthy contribution by consumer durables is likely to be short-lived, with experts saying that the government’s demonetisation move

will dampen consumption in the remaining two quarters of the year.

“Growth has come in at 0.7 per cent for the month, which is much lower than our expectation of 3.1 per cent which was based on the better performance of infra industries and retail sales in October which should have been backed up by higher production,” Madan Sabnavis, Chief Economist at Care Ratings said. “The recent demonetization will push back consumption in Q3 and a recovery can be seen with a lag in Q4 at best.”

“Under these circumstances we expect IIP growth for the year to be between 1-2 per cent as against 3-4 per cent posted earlier,” Mr. Sabnavis added.

MARGINAL EXPANSION: Industrial output grew 0.7% in Sept. headed by the consumer durables sector. — FILE PHOTO: REUTERS The consumer durables category in the IIP grew a robust 14 per cent in September, up from the 2.2 per cent seen in August. This pushed the growth of the overall

consumer goods category up to 6 per cent in September from the 0.7 per cent in August.

The capital goods category extended its run of

poor performance with 11 consecutive months of contraction. The category contracted 21.6 per cent in September compared with 22 per cent in August.

The manufacturing sector recovered marginally, growing 0.9 per cent following two consecutive months of contraction. The electricity sector grew 2.4 per cent in September, much faster than the 0.1 per cent growth rate seen in August.

“In terms of industries, twelve out of the 22 industry groups in the manufacturing sector have shown positive growth during the month of September 2016 as compared to the corresponding month of the previous year,” according to a government statement.

ND-ND

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THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

Telecast schedule

Wonderful role model

Sharapova reinstated

Not convinced

Australia vs South Africa: 2nd Test, STAR Sports 2 & HD 2, 5 a.m.; India vs England: 1st Test, STAR Sports 1, 3 & HD 1 & 3, 9.30 a.m.; ISL: 쑺 STAR Sports 1, 2, 3 & HD 1, 2 & 3, 6.50 p.m.; WC Qualifiers: Sony ESPN & Sony ESPN HD, 10 p.m.

His (Virat Kohli) captaincy and style of play is making the next generation of Indians pretty powerful. He is funky, aggressive and a good-looking man with wonderful fitness. I 쑺 think he is a wonderful role model for the Indian youth.

— Stephen Fleming, former New Zealand captain on Kohli

Embattled Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova will once again resume her 쑺 role as a United Nations goodwill ambassador when her doping suspension ends in April, the body has confirmed.

I don’t think so. I know I can beat every player, I need to do it more often in the year if I want to think about that, but so far I’m way off that.

— Wawrinka doubting his World No. 1 credentials

Vijay, Pujara stonewall England; uphill task still ahead Bright chance of winning, says Pujara

CRICKET / The duo’s 209-run association averts follow-on fears G. VISWANATH

G. VISWANATH RAJKOT: India’s riposte in pur-

Century-maker Cheteshwar Pujara stuck his neck out to say India has a bright chance of winning the Test match here. “Obviously we have a bright chance to win the game if we bat well on Saturday. I definitely believe that the ball will start turning from tomorrow [Saturday] and batting on day 5 will be diicult for them. But, at the moment, I don’t want to talk too much about it, we batted well today [Friday].

“In the last session we lost a couple of crucial wickets, but we’re still in a good position. If we continue to bat well, and once we reach the same total or get a lead of 60 or 70 runs, it will help us in the second innings. The plan is really simple — to first reach that mark of 537,” said Pujara.

Pujara said communication

RAJKOT:

suit of England’s substantial first-innings total was magnificent though its plight in the opening Test of the five-match series may not yet be alleviated. There are another six sessions to be played on a declining surface and the probability of chasing a tricky target in the fourth innings lurks.

But the performances of M. Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara hold out hope.

Vijay’s courage — he was afflicted by a stif wrist — and Pujara’s commanding display

IN SUBLIME FORM: Cheteshwar Pujara, while solid in defence, uncorked his entire range of strokes when he chose to attack the English bowlers. — PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK

wiped out the bad memory of left-hander Gautam Gambhir being prised out by seamer Stuart Broad of the seventh ball of the third day’s play.

Both Vijay and Pujara have proved to be tough nuts to crack in the past and, on Friday, England’s seam and spin department failed to break the second-wicket pair’s will for nearly five hours. The duo’s partnership of 209 runs ensured that India would avoid

the follow on, but the fall of Vijay and Amit Mishra in the extended half-hour session before stumps excited England’s spinners.

Vijay dropped anchor for eight hours and five minutes, but it was Pujara’s day out at the Saurashtra Cricket Stadium in the presence of a modest turnout. He faced 206 balls, was solid in defence, and, in attack, brought out his repertoire of strokes against both the seamers and spinners.

He had a slice of luck going his way though. When on 86, Pujara successfully appealed against umpire Chris Gafaney

adjudging him leg-before.

While left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari’s orthodox delivery beat the right-hander’s forward-play and struck the back leg, the Decision Review System (DRS) confirmed that the ball would have gone over the stumps.

But the second new ball, claimed promptly at the conclusion of the 80th over, presented England its second wicket when Pujara directed a wide delivery from Ben Stokes to Alastair Cook at widish slip.

Pujara was understandably disgusted at the shot he had made.

Nothing, not even the exacting exercise of chasing a tall total or the three blows he took on his shoulder and helmet of the bowling of Chris Woakes, flustered the local lad. Pujara, in fact, brought relief to the Indian camp with a flurry of shots soon after Gambhir’s departure.

The probability of Pujara not making some runs at this venue is low and when he converted Broad’s full-pitched delivery into a spanking ofdrive everybody knew he had shown the first sign of striking form. Very soon he gave ofspinner Moeen Ali the rough

treatment, hitting him for three fours on either side of the wicket.

While he appeared clumsy turning his face away against Woakes, he dominated Ben Stokes.

Vijay, always a doughty customer and equipped to deal with diicult situations, showed exemplary restraint.

He cut out all frills, blocked with a straight bat for long and also danced down the pitch to lift three straight sixes that illustrated his control.

The dark patches in close proximity to the batting crease at both ends and the cracks

around the good length areas did not make things easy for the duo against the three spinners — Moeen, Ansari and legspinner Adil Rashid.

India advanced by 99 runs in the first two hours, but was contained by consistent onesided bowling in the second session. With Broad — re-introduced post lunch to hit the short-of-good-length areas where the cracks had begun to open up — in action, India managed only 66 in 29 overs.

Cook went back to his seamers because of the spinners’ inability to make any impression — he even turned down Rashid’s pleas for a review against Pujara.

There were occasions when the ball jumped and turned.

between him and Murali Vijay has always been the feature of their partnerships. “Both of us have been playing Test cricket for a long time. We spend a lot of time, not just on the field but also talking about the game and about this format.”

Pujara said playing only Test cricket makes it diicult to be in touch with the game all the while. “We have played some domestic matches in the free time after the New Zealand series and we were there at the NCA to practise before the start of this series. So I think it’s the communication which keeps us going.”

Someone accustomed to bat at his home ground here, Pujara was actually aiming to score a double century. “To be very honest, I was hoping to get a double hundred. I told myself that it is not just about one more run, it was about 101 more runs when I was on 99. I

was nervous, but I just wanted to focus on scoring more runs.”

A century at the SCA is something special for him. “It means a lot. I’ve been playing a lot of domestic matches here. I have a triple-hundred in one of the First Class games. So, before I played this game, there were many nervous moments because of expectations from family and friends; even the crowd was expecting me to score big runs.”

On his struggle against short balls, Pujara said, “I got a couple of good bouncers. I did not judge them well. Usually, I am very good at short balls. So, I think there were a couple of occasions where I did not judge properly. I told myself that even if I get hit on the helmet or body, I will take it. I know the conditions very well, couple of short balls don’t disturb me and my game plan.”

And as predicted there will be more purchase for England’s spinners on the fourth day.

Virat Kohli will try and lead the challenge on Saturday

with the likes of Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and hope to get close to England’s 537 or even surpass it.

Two wickets at the end a real bonus: Farbrace

Marathon innings

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT England’s assistant coach Paul Farbrace felt that the fall of M. Vijay and Amit Mishra in the closing hour of the third day’s play has given his team a lift.

“I wouldn’t say it has given us an edge, it has given us a lift in the dressing room. When you go all day with two wickets, to get two in the end is a real bonus.

“We were bowling to two outstanding batsmen in good conditions and on a very good cricket pitch. There’s still an awful long way to go. But it’s nice, when you talk about being patient, sticking to your plans and getting rewards at the end of the day.”

Excerpts The England plan: We talked about making sure they don’t score too easily. Both [Vijay and Pujara] are fantastic of their pads. So our plan was literally to stay outside the of-stump, make it diicult for them to score; make them score on one side of the pitch and set a field for it.

It’s typical in this part of the world, when you get a very good pitch, and then things start to happen around tea on day four, and into day five, things happen quickly. I think RAJKOT:

DOUGHTY CUSTOMER: M. Vijay showed exemplary restraint, dropping anchor for eight hours and five minutes to frustrate England. — PHOTO: K.R. DEEPAK

‘Poppies with pride’ RAJKOT: England’s cricketers

wore their “Poppies with Pride”, the red flower symbol, which honours war dead, on the right collar of their shirts and held a minute’s silence before play in the first Test on Friday.

10-man Goa beats NEUFC Romeo Fernandes struck in injury time as 10-man FC Goa rallied to beat NorthEast United 2-1 in a thrilling Indian Super League football match at the Nehru Stadium here on Friday.

Goa was at the receiving end of a series of NorthEast onslaughts after Sahil Tavora was sent of in the 72nd minute for his second bookable offence and the match locked at 1-1.

But in a dramatic finish, Fernandes scored the matchwinner with just a few seconds left into the four-minute injury time much to the delight of the home fans.

With the win, Goa broke its winless streak at home and notched up its third victory. It now has 10 points, the same as NorthEast and Chennaiyin FC, but still remains at the bottom of the league due to an inferior goal diference.

Despite the loss, NorthEast remained at the sixth spot.

Seityasen Singh put NorthEast United ahead in the 49th minute but Robin Singh cancelled the lead in the 62nd minute. — PTI

MARGAO:

CM YK

November 11 is commemorated as Armistice Day, the anniversary of the end of World War I. “It’s important for the national team to pay their respects,” Cook said.

“We hope that the team

wearing their poppies with pride will help drive even more awareness and help make a real diference to the lives of servicemen and women, veterans and their loved ones,” said the England skipper. — AFP

KOBE (JAPAN): Jeevan

Nedunchezhiyan, in partnership with Christopher Rungkat of Indonesia, made the doubles final of the $50,000 Challenger tennis tournament on Friday.

Fourth seeds Jeevan and Rungkat beat Sergey Betov and Yaraslav Shyla of Belarus 6-3, 6-1, in setting up a title clash against the unseeded pair of Daniel Masur of Germany and Ante Pavic of Croatia.

In the $25,000 ITF men’s Futures in Australia, Sriram Balaji survived a matchpoint and converted his fourth in beating second seed Sumit Nagal 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(8) in the quarterfinals.

In a battle of wits that lasted two hours and 44 minutes, Balaji served 10 aces and converted five of 11 breakpoints that he forced.

Sumit, who started well by racing to a 5-2 lead, before Balaji fought back, was not at his best in the second set.

In the decider, Balaji was unable to close out the match at 5-3 and failed to serve out in

the tenth game. In the tiebreak, he led 6-4 but Sumit won the next three points to hold a matchpoint. Balaji swung it around at the crunch after missing another matchpoint at 8-7.

The results: $50,000 Challenger men, Kobe, Japan: Doubles (semifinals): Christopher Rungkat (Ina) & Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan bt Sergey Betov & Yanaslav Shyla (Blr) 6-3, 6-1. $25,000 ITF men, Wollongong, Australia: Singles (quarterfinals): Sriram Balaji bt Sumit Nagal 5-7, 6-2, 7-6(8).

second set and had no problem in advancing to the next round.

The results (pre-quarterfinals): Vishnu Vardhan bt Saurav Sukul 6-3, 6-2; Niki Kaliyanda Ponacha bt Rohit Rampuria 6-3, 6-1; Suraj Prabodh bt Parikshit Somani 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(2); Nitin Kumar Sinha bt V.M. Ranjeet 7-5, 6-2; Ishaque Eqbal bt Chinmaya Dev Chauhan 6-1, 6-0; Nitten Kirrtane bt Sanil Jagtiani 6-4, 7-6(7); Bhavesh Gour bt Minghi Talom 6-1, 6-4; Jatin Dahiya bt Jagmeet Singh 7-5, 6-7(2), 6-2.

Sinha upsets Ranjeet

PUNE: Ankita Raina met her match in Irina Khromacheva in the singles semifinals, going down in straight sets, at the $25,000 Pune Open ITF women’s championships on Friday. The top-seeded Russian, ranked 92nd, won 6-4, 6-4 against the unseeded Indian.

The results Singles (semifinals): Irina Khromacheva (Rus) bt Ankita Raina 6-4, 6-4; Riko Sawayanagi (Jpn) bt Conny Perrin (Sui) 6-1, 6-3.

Doubles (final): Irina Khromacheva (Rus) & Aleksandrina Naydenova (Bul) bt Sowjanya Bavisetti & Rishika Sunkara 6-2 , 6-1. — Sports Bureau

KOLKATA: Current National under-18 champion Nitin Kumar Sinha upset second seed V.M. Ranjeet 7-5, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals of the eighth leg of Asian Tennis Tour here on Friday.

Sinha broke Ranjeet early on his way to take a 5-3 lead but allowed his experienced rival to level the scores due to a double fault in the ninth game. The local boy, nevertheless, played some good attacking shots to break Ranjeet again and take the first set.

Sinha had full control in the

as well.

When you’re 200 runs in front, you hope that happens.

And that’s why it is important to get your runs in the first innings. Our seamers have done

a fantastic job in tough conditions. We are really pleased with the way our spinners have bowled. “ They took a bit of stick in Bangladesh for perhaps not

HOCKEY

TENNIS ROUND-UP Jeevan makes doubles final

both sides will expect the wicket to turn more.

“The cracks have certainly opened up over the last three days. So you might start to see a little more variable bounce

Irina stops Ankita

Raghunath to lead India in Australia S.V. Sunil, meanwhile, has not completely recovered from the wrist injury he sustained at the Rio Olympics.

He will be absent from the touring party, as will Ramandeep Singh, who filled in for Sunil at the ACT but is now injured.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT BENGALURU: V.R. Raghunath will lead the Indian hockey team in the absence of the injured P.R. Sreejesh during its tour of Australia.

India is set to travel to Australia later this month to play a four-nation tournament, starting November 23, followed by a Test series against the home side.

Sreejesh is yet to recover from the knee injury he sustained during the penalty shoot-out against South Korea in the semifinals of the Asian Champions Trophy. Akash Chikte, who turned in a fine performance in the final of the ACT, will take his place in goal.

Sreejesh will, in the meantime, work with the Indian Junior team’s goalkeepers, as they prepare for next month’s World Cup. “Sreejesh has already starting working with them and will assist Dave Staniforth (goalkeeping coach) who is joining us next week.

“This is great for the young boys and [his] sharing his ex-

V.R. Raghunath.— FILE PHOTO perience with them will be valuable ahead of the Junior World Cup,” said chief coach Roelant Oltmans, who will remain in India to work with the Junior team.

The strategic coach, Roger van Gent, will accompany the senior team to Australia.

Captain confident Raghunath was confident of a good showing in Australia.

“The Asian Champions Trophy win has boosted the morale of the players and the team’s spirit is high. “ However, playing in Australia is a diferent challenge and we are up for it. We have beaten Australia in their home earlier in the 2014 Test series and look to repeat it this time," he said.

The team: V.R. Raghunath

(capt.), Abhinav Kumar Pandey, Akash Chikte, Rupinder Pal Singh, Pardeep Mor, Birendra Lakra, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar, Chinglensana Singh, Manpreet Singh, Sardar Singh, S.K. Uthappa, Talwinder Singh, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Affan Yousuf, Mohammad Amir Khan, Satbir Singh and Akashdeep Singh.

holding their line and length.

Why England was on the defensive in the second session: Not attacking enough? We were never going to be attacking today.

Our plan was to stifle them, stop them from scoring and we did it. I think 66 runs in that middle session, we will take that as an outstanding efort from our boys.

We make no excuse of the fact that we tried to make it diicult for India. And we’re really pleased with the way it has gone. I don’t think we would have looked to be any more attacking today on that surface.

No reverse swing for England seamers: Well it’s not a fantastic ground for reverse. You haven’t got the other pitches on which you can bounce the ball on occasionally. They planned and probably went cross-seam a little bit, hit the deck and that’s something they tend to do.

In this part of the world, as a seamer, you have got to learn to try and get some reverse swing. But one of our things today was ‘if you get reverse, great’, but the temptation was to not to get too close to the pads. I think our boys’ discipline overall was absolutely brilliant.

Sreejesh happy to play mentor BENGALURU: Injury may have kept P.R. Sreejesh out of the Indian senior squad for the Australia tour, but it will not keep him away from the hockey turf.

While he undergoes rehabilitation at the SAI here, Sreejesh will work with goalkeepers from India’s junior team, as they prepare for next month’s World Cup. “Since I am anyway injured and have no assignment, I felt this would be the best thing to do,” he said here on Friday.

“For them, the Junior World Cup is the biggest tournament of them all. By joining them as a mentor, I can share my experiences and secondly, teach them how to control their emotions and handle the on-field pressure.

“I will also be able to give them the correct advice so that they don’t make mistakes.

Lastly, it will be a learning for me as I can analyse my own errors by looking at them. I see it as a give-and-take policy.

“Whatever I am today is because of Adrian D’Souza. I tried to copy him and he told me to carve out my own style.”

— Special Correspondent ND-ND

18 |

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THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

Brazil blanks Argentina

Wade stars in Bulls’ win MIAMI: Dwyane Wade made two clutch free throws in the final seconds to help lift Chicago Bulls to a 98-95 win over his former team in his first game back in Miami.

Wade spent 13 seasons with Heat before joining his hometown Bulls on a two-year deal worth an estimated $47 million.

His return to Miami on Thursday night marked his first visit to American Airlines Arena since his departure.

“What a game,” Wade said. “I am glad it is over, but more important I am glad we got a win.”

The results: New Orleans 112 bt Milwaukee 106, Chicago 98 bt Miami 95, Golden State 125 bt Denver 101, LA Lakers 101 bt Sacramento 91. — Agencies

BOXING

Akhil, Jitender seek Haryana CM’s nod

FOOTBALL / Hard-fought win for Uruguay over Ecuador MONTEVIDEO: Brazil thrashed arch-rival Argentina to tighten its grip on South America’s 2018 World Cup qualification campaign on Thursday as Uruguay maintained its push towards the finals with a hardfought defeat of Ecuador.

Barcelona superstar Neymar outshone club-mate Lionel Messi with his 50th international goal for Brazil in Belo Horizonte as the five-time World Cup winner romped to a 3-0 win in the Estadio Mineirao.

It was a sweet return to the venue for Brazil, which was humiliated 7-1 at the same ground by Germany in the semifinal of the 2014 World Cup. Neymar’s landmark strike was sandwiched by a spectacular efort from Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho and a second-half finish from Chinabased midfielder Paulinho.

The win was a remarkable fifth consecutive qualifying victory under the reign of new coach Tite, who took over following the sacking of Dunga in June following Brazil’s Copa America Centenario debacle, when they failed to advance from the group stage.

Brazil now has 24 points from 11 games, one clear of second-placed Uruguay which has 23 points.

The Brazilians are six points clear of third-placed Colombia and seven points clear of

Zeel Desai in final HONG KONG: Zeel Desai beat

Naho Sato of Japan 4-6, 6-2, 7-5 in the girls’ semifinals of the ITF grade-2 junior tennis tournament here on Friday.

The 17-year-old, ranked a career-best 53 in the world, will be challenged by Thasaporn Naklo of Thailand in the final.

The results: ITF grade-2 juniors, Hong Kong: Boys: Semifinals: Yu Hsiou Hsu (Tpe) bt Adil Kalanpur 6-1, 6-0. Quarterfinals: Adil bt Thomas Bosancic (Aus) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3). Doubles: Quarterfinals: Yu Feng Chen & Tsung-Hao Huang (Tpe) bt Tao Mu (Chn) & Adil Kalyanpur 7-6 (9), 6-3.

Girls: Semifinals: Zeel Desai bt Naho Sato (Jpn) 4-6, 6-2, 7-5; Quarterfinals: Thasaporn Naklo (Tha) bt Mihika Yadav 6-1, 7-5; Zeel bt Anri Nagata (Jpn) 6-2, 6-4. Doubles: Quarterfinals: Shou Na Mu & Keyi Zhou (Chn) bt Lulu Radovcic (Sui) & Zeel Desai 6-0, 6-3.

ITF grade-5 juniors, Dhaka: Semifinals: Boys: Chan Woo Park (Kor) bt Sacchitt Sharma 6-3, 2-6, 6-3; Rishabh Sharda bt Mritunjay Badola 76(3), 6-3. Doubles: Daehan Kim & Joghun Lee (Kor) bt Rohit Krishna Aynampudi & Nikit Reddy 7-6(5), 6-3; Gunjan Jadhav & Sacchitt Sharma bt Ki Bum Kim & Chan Woo Park (Kor) 76(3), 6-4.

Girls: Tanisha Kashyap bt Muskan Gupta 6-2, 6-4. Doubles: Katie Lafrance (USA) & Ji Min Park (Kor) bt Muskan Gupta & Tanisha Kashyap 6-1, 4-6, [10-7]; Yujjao Che & Jing Yang (Chn) bt Sarah Menezes & Malvika Shukla 6-1, 6-2. — Sports Bureau

RUSSIA CALLING: Philippe Coutinho, Neymar and Gabriel Jesus celebrate a goal scored against Argentina in the WC 2018 qualifiers on Thursday. — PHOTO: PEDRO VILELA/ GETTY IMAGES Ecuador and Chile, who are level on 17 points after 11 games.

Argentina meanwhile is languishing outside the qualifying places in sixth with 16 points.

The two-time world champion —which has taken just two points from its past four qualifiers — now faces a crucial game at home to Colombia next Tuesday which it must win to avoid falling further of the pace.

Uruguay meanwhile stayed

firmly on Brazil’s shoulder with a 2-1 defeat of Ecuador at Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario.

The Uruguayans took the lead on 12 minutes when defender Sebastian Coates bundled in a corner from close range for his first international goal.

Felipe Caicedo then rounded of a sweeping Ecuador counter-attack to equalise just before half-time.

But Uruguay responded immediately, Diego Rolan

stabbing home a low finish on the stroke of half-time to restore the home side’s lead.

Bravo injury Elsewhere Copa America Centenario champion Chile had captain and goalkeeper Claudio Bravo to thank for a hard-earned point in a 0-0 draw against Colombia in Barranquilla.

The Chileans, missing injured Alexis Sanchez, needed two superb saves from Bravo to keep Colombia at bay in a

ATK must strengthen its defence, says Belencoso Y.B. SARANGI KOLKATA: Atletico de Kolkata

forward Juan Belencoso is hopeful of his team’s good showing when it meets Delhi Dynamos in its away Indian Super League (ISL) engagement on Sunday.

Analysing his team’s two losses after remaining undefeated for five matches, the Spaniard said ATK, which has 12 points from three wins and as many draws, was good enough to make it to the semifinals.

“Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win. Every match is important. We played well in

Double for Kirshan HYDERABAD: Kirshan Hooda and

Malikaa Marathe won the boys and girls singles titles respectively in the Asian junior (under-14) tennis championship here on Friday.

In the boys final, Kirshan defeated Boopathy Sakthivel 7-6 (5), 7-6(2) while seventhseeded Malikaa got the better of sixth-seeded Yana Dhamija 7-5, 6-2.

Later, Kirshan completed a double by partnering Sakthivel to down Manan Navlani and Arnav Pathange 6-3, 6-4.

Correction: The organisers had erroneously given the result that Boopathy had lost in the semifinals when in fact he had beaten Leston Vaz 6-0, 6-1.

The results (finals): Boys: Singles: Kirshan Hooda bt Boopathy Sakthivel 7-6(5), 7-6(2). Doubles: Kirshan Hooda & Boopathy Sakthivel bt Manan Navlani & Arnav Pathange 6-3, 6-4.

Girls: Singles: Malikaa Marathe bt Yana Dhamija 7-5, 6-2. Doubles: R. Srujana & Mushrath Anjum Shaik bt Smriti Bhasin & Shambhavi Tiwari 6-1, 4-6, [10-6].

Pune (before losing 1-2). The most important thing is we are in top four. Our team is strong and all teams are fighting to win,” said Belencoso during a media interaction here on Friday.

ATK would fly to Delhi on Saturday for its next engagement and Belencoso expected a tough match against Dynamos.

“It is one of the best teams of the ISL. They have very fast players and good technique, but we have confidence to win anywhere. We are focussing on our game.”

Asked about the presence of the iconic Florent Malouda in the Dynamos squad, Belencoso

NEW DELHI ROUND-UP Group D: Govt SSS, Mohali 5

CRZ in semifinals CRZ Senior Secondary School, Sonepat ensured a semifinal spot in the 45th Nehru Junior hockey tournament here on Friday with a 4-0 win against Birsa Munda Vidyapitha, Rourkela in a Group A Super League match.

In Group C, Man-of-theMatch Amardeep Kujur struck a brace in St. Mary’s High School, Simdega’s 4-1 win over Springdales Senior School, Amritsar.

Prateek scored twice for Government Senior Secondary School (Mohali) as his team won 5-0 against BKSP, Bangladesh in Group D. The results: Group A: CRZ, Sonepat 4 (Sahil, Pankaj, Deepak, Mahipal) bt BMV, Rourkela 0.

Group C: St. Mary's HS, Simdega 4 (Amardeep Kujur 2, Alrik Toppo, Salim Dung Dung) bt Springdales, Amritsar 1 (Kamaldeep Singh).

(Prateek 2, Angadvir Singh, Rahul, Manpreet Singh) bt BKSP, Bangladesh 0, SGTB Khalsa, Bakal 3 (Nishan Singh 2, parmeet Singh) bt VSA, Delhi 1 (Rajiv).

All-Jindal final It will be an all-Jindal afair as Jindal Steel and Power set up a title clash with Jindal Panther in the Yes Bank Indian Masters 14-goal polo championship on Friday.

In the last league matches, Jindal Steel and Power beat 61st Cavalry 6-5, while Jindal Panther pipped Sona Polo 4 goals to 3 1/2. The final will be played on Sunday.

The results (league): Jindal Steel and Power 6 (Samir Suhag 3, Angad Singh Sandhu 2, Basheer Ali) bt 61st Cavalry 5 (Dhruvpal Godara 3, Ravi Rathore, Aman Singh).

Jindal Panther 4 (JP Clarkin 2, Raghav Rao, Simran Shergill) bt Sona Polo 3 1/2 (Abhimanyu Pathak 2, Gaurav Sahgal, handicap 1/2).

gritty game played in sweltering conditions.

But Bravo’s display was tempered by an injury which forced the Manchester City goalkeeper of the field midway through the second half.

Bravo had earlier produced two fine blocks to deny Oscar Murillo and Miguel Borja as Colombia struggled to break the deadlock.

In other games, Paraguay sufered a 4-1 mauling against Peru in Asuncion to derail its qualification campaign.

Paraguay took an early lead through Cristian Riveros after nine minutes but Peru hit back with second-half goals from Christian Ramos, Edison Flores, Christian Cueva and an Edgar Benitez own goal to run out convincing winners.

Paraguay, which is two points outside the qualifying positions, faces Bolivia away in its next game.

Venezuela meanwhile scored its first win of the qualifiers with a 5-0 thrashing at home to Bolivia, with Josef Martinez scoring a hat-trick.

The results : Colombia 0 drew with Chile 0; Uruguay 2 (Coates 12, Rolan 45) bt Ecuador 1 (Caicedo 44).

Paraguay 1 (Riveros 9) lost to Peru 4 (Ramos 48, Flores 71, Cueva 78, Benitez 84-og).

Brazil 3 (Coutinho 25, Neymar 45, Paulinho 59) bt Argentina 0; Venezuela 5 (Koufatti 3, Martinez 11, 67, 70, Otero 75) bt Bolivia 0.

—AFP

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT KOLKATA: Boxers Akhil Kumar

and Jitender Kumar, who are employed with the Haryana Police, have sought the permission of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to turn professional.

The two, serving as District Superintendents of Police, met Mr. Khattar in Delhi on Friday and expressed their desire to become pro boxers.

“We have submitted a request to grant permission to us to turn professionals. We are

hopeful that our permission will be granted soon, and we will be able to start our pro boxing training,” said Akhil.

Akhil and Jitender, the quarterfinalists in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, had recently met the Haryana Police Director General of Police K.P. Singh and requested for his permission.

Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Vijender Singh, who is also employed with the Haryana Police, had gone through a similar procedure in order to turn pro.

BASKETBALL

Bandhavya at the helm BENGALURU: H.M. Bandhavya

will lead the Indian team at the 23rd FIBA Asia under-18 championship for women in Bangkok, from November 13 to 20.

India has been grouped alongside China, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand in Elite Level 1, with the top four teams at the end of the league rounds progressing to the semifinals stage.

India will be looking to improve upon its consecutive seventh place finishes in the last two editions of the championship (in 2012 and 2014).

The side will begin its campaign against the host, Thail-

and, on Sunday.

“We will try to improve upon how we performed against Thailand (from their previous encounter in 2014, which India had lost 62-68) and also try to play well against Chinese Taipei,” said head coach Shiba Maggon, a former India international.

“Our motto is to never give up.”

The team: H.M. Bandhavya, P. Priyanka, Riya Verma, M. Nishanti, Aakarshan Sandhu, Sakshi Pandey, Carina Menezes, Sushantika Chakravorty, Nimmi George, I.P. Anusha, Gulabsha Ali, and Srishti Suren. Head coach: Shiba Maggon. — Special Correspondent

CRICKET

Proteas hit back in ball-tampering row

said, “Malouda is a great player, he is strong. But we cannot focus on any one player. It is about making the final.”

ATK had beaten Dynamos by a solitary goal via penalty in their previous meeting here last month.

On his role in the ATK frontline, studded with Helder Postiga and Iain Hume, the 35year-old Spaniard said he was ready to perform any role for the team’s benefit.

Belencoso, however, conceded that the former champion, which has conceded eight goals in as many matches, must strengthen its defence to perform better.

THINK TANK: South Africa’s captain Faf du Plessis with curator Marcus Pamplin (left) and team coach Russell Domingo as they inspect the pitch at Bellerive Oval on Friday. — PHOTO: REUTERS

Ajit Banerjee is BOA chief

HOBART: South Africa insisted a ball-tampering controversy had been “blown out of proportion” on Friday as it kept its focus on a third straight series win in Australia.

Skipper Faf du Plessis was unmoved by accusations of tampering in South Africa’s thumping 177-run first Test win, saying Australia also got the ball to reverse-swing.

Du Plessis was warned by the umpires for deliberately bouncing the ball along the ground, to rough it up, but he said there was no unfair advantage.

“I think it’s been blown out of proportion. We were watching the first innings in Perth and they (Australia) got the ball to reverse in the 25th over,” he said on the eve of the

second Test. “I was quite impressed. I was trying to see how they were doing it because that meant they were doing something right. Twenty-five overs is very early for the ball to reverse.

“We are a bowling attack and we enjoy bowling with a swinging ball. To say it was only for us is not true.

“It was 50-50 the amount of reverse swing throughout that Test. The Aussies did it really well.”

Not much at Hobart “Perth was really dry and extremely hard. It will be different here,” du Plessis said.

“It is lush, it’s green, it’s soft, it’s wet. It will seam and swing, but won’t reverse that much,” he added. — AFP

Azad cries foul over DDCA’s proposed meeting

KOLKATA: Ajit Banerjee was elected unopposed for another term as the president of the Bengal Olympic Association, which elected its oice bearers here on Friday.

Swapan Banerjee became the new general secretary defeating the incumbent Chandan Roy Chowdhury by one vote in the most intense contest of the day. Both Ajit and Swapan are brothers of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The office bearers: President: Ajit Banerjee; General secretary: Swapan Banerjee; Treasurer: Jwahar Das; Vice-presidents (seven posts): Asit Banerjee, Gautam Sinha, Kamal Kumar Moitra, Ramanuj Mukhopadhyay, Bani Ghosh, B.G. Mallick, Krishnendu Banerjee; Joint secretaries: Mohammad Javed Choudhury, Rupesh Kar, Tapan Bakshi, Sambhu Seth. — Special Correspondent

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT NEW DELHI: Former Test all-

rounder and Member of Parliament Kirti Azad has objected to the proposed Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) Executive Committee Meeting scheduled for November 15.

In a letter to the Lodha Committee Panel secretary Gopal Sankarnarayanan, he pointed out, “Please see the notice issued by the President, DDCA, announcing an emergent meeting of the Executive Committee on 15 November, 2016, which amongst other things, shall be finalising the date of the AGM (Annual General Meeting).”

Azad claimed, “Please note that no Balance Sheets for the last three years have been filed

and ROC (Registrar of Companies) too has turned down the application made by DDCA to allow them time till 15 December to hold their AGM.” Expressing his shock at the DDCA notice, Azad added, “It is intriguing to note that no AGM has been held since the last one that was held under the Chairmanship of Arun Jaitley (on 30 December, 2013).

“Since then, the episode of round-tripping of Rs 1.55 crore by the DDCA President S.P. Bansal in January 2014 has been swept under the carpet and attempts have been made to show this amount as investment made by the association into companies of three civil contractors working for DDCA.” Azad asserted, “When no

AGMs have been held for the years 2013-14 and 2014-15, when and how these Balance Sheets have been passed defies any logical explanation.

“Even otherwise, CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) is in the process of filing an FIR against oice-bearers and companies which have been involved in ferreting out money through fake bills and for invisible work that they have claimed to have done in DDCA.” Praise for Justice Mudgal

Hailing the good work done

by High Court-appointed Justice (Retd.) Mukul Mudgal to conduct the afairs at the DDCA, Azad emphasised, “It may be interesting to note that ever since the round tripping

case has come to light, no fake work has been claimed in DDCA, primarily because Justice Mukul Mudgal has been in charge and he has not allowed a penny to be swindled from DDCA’s cofers.”

Azad concluded, “The proposed meeting itself is unauthorised since it will try to set a date for elections and AGM. “Since these very Executive Committee members have been opposing the implementation of the Supreme Court’s judgement, you may kindly declare any such resolution which seeks to hold elections, as unauthorized and illegal.

“You are also requested to call for the two Balance Sheets of 2013-14 and 2104-15 and have them audited by an independent auditor.”

VARIETY

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1 Branch in all directions or stay put (5,6) 9 Trigger the French alarm (7) 10 Contemporary odd moron frames lyric (6) 11 Swirl around pole will nauseate (5) 12 A langur becomes thin (7)

15 Almost wreck unorthodox company (4) 16 Restorers of Paris oddly shelter book (10) 18 Kidnapped editor beyond Chinese city (10) 20 Steal European cloak (4) 23 Authoritative head of committee

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2 Shred leader tactfully in headline (6) 3 Prompted to finish off dickens on return (4) 4 Bill to delegate control (10) 5 Original group members, past their prime, keep watch (3,5) 6 Hurried back at speed to explain (7) CM YK

7 Banishment of music of movie on discrimination (9) 8 Small but sufficient specimen (6) 13 Co-ordinating instrument when I croon (10) 14 Confirm that I can rest at first at sea (9) 17 Illiterate policeman, on return, to yell (9)

DOWN

19 Enthusiast with friend in Jaguar?

Not odd (7) 21 Mineral almost disappeared from US city (6) 22 Garbage collectors’ clothes include source of oxygen (6) 25 Stupefy good man and peacekeepers (4)

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put setter in charge (7) One domain expert (5) Asian writer returns with a hollow lathi (6) Unacceptable couple of litchis in salad (7) Hero cooks potato rings (11)

Seeking Acharya’s help to attain liberation We are helpless in the matter of resisting the pulls of worldly life and it is not easy for us to take any of the prescribed paths that will eventually lead us to liberation from the cycle of births and deaths, said Kidambi Narayanan in a discourse.

Vedanta Desika, in his Rahasyatraya Sara, says that we are akin to a worm on a hill that wants to cross over to another hill some distance away.

Now to do this, the worm will have to climb down one hill and then slowly make its way to the foot of the other hill and then climb again. Given a worm’s lifespan, it is certainly not going to be able to accomplish this in one birth.

Now imagine a worm in such a predicament. A lion happens to come to the hill, where the worm resides. The worm climbs on to the back of the lion.

The lion then moves to the opposite hill and, once there, it shakes its mane and the worm falls of. Now without any efort on its part, the worm has moved to the hill it wanted to reach.

Likewise is the position of the man who has sought the help of Ramanujacharya to attain moksha. He cannot do it through his own eforts. But once he casts the burden onto the shoulders of the Acharya, he easily attains moksha because it is the Acharya who sees him through.

That is why karpanya, that is one’s complete helplessness in the matter of redemption, is stressed in Visishtadvaita. Keeping in mind our weaknesses, we should seek the help of an Acharya to attain liberation.

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FAITH

(set by Anon)

O S S T A T M R E P A L C R E I S H A M M C A T N E U P R

THE HINDU CROSSWORD 11850

Sudoku is a mind game and a puzzle that you solve with reasoning and logic.

Fill in the grid with digits in such a manner that every row, every column and every 3x3 box accommodates the digits 1 to 9, without repeating any.

ND-ND

THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

Ashish hurls hammer to new high

CHESS

ATHLETICS / Coleshiya, Nisha and Hemamalini make it a golden day for TN

RAKESH RAO

COIMBATORE: Ashish Jakhar of

CM YK

Padmini vanquishes Vijayalakshmi, stays ahead NEW DELHI: In a much-awaited clash, defending champion Padmini Rout produced a strong finish to crush S. Vijayalakshmi’s title-hopes in the National women’s chess championship here on Friday.

Padmini, looking for her third straight title, cleared a major hurdle following the 49move victory over the six-time champion.

In this Ruy Lopez game, where Padmini played white, Vijayalakshmi couldn’t stop her rival from establishing a pawn on the seventh rank of the king-rook file.

Thereafter, after taking care of the knight-pawn weakness on the queenside, Padmini punished Vijayalakshmi with a savage attack.

Down a rook and facing an inevitable checkmate, Vijayalakshmi resigned on the 49th move.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Haryana won the hammer gold in the under-18 boys’ category with a new mark of 75.45m on the second day of the Sri Krishna 32nd National junior athletics championship at the Nehru Stadium here on Friday.

The Asian junior champion and youth silver medallist improved his own mark of 72.04m set last year at the Goa youth Nationals.

Vikranta of Uttar Pradesh was probably inspired by Ashish as he too ended up bettering the record with a throw of 73.34m.

J. Coleshiya, A. Nisha Banu and N. Hemamalini made it a golden day for Tamil Nadu by finishing on top of the podium in the girls’ under-14 triathlon, under-20 pole vault and under-18 javelin respectively.

A student of St. Teresa’s School in Vadakankulam in Tirunelveli, Coleshiya tallied 1577 points for her maiden national gold.

“After I came up with decent performances in both the 100m (13.25s) and long jump (4.95m), I knew the gold would go my way,” said the little girl, who has battled several odds in life.

Nisha won the under-20 pole vault gold, clearing a height of 3.30m. Nisha was not at her best, but still managed to beat the rest with ease.

Hemamalini, who represented the country in the World School Games in Turkey this year, clinched the under-18 javelin gold with a 45.26m efort.

After two days of solid battle under the sun, Haryana was sitting pretty at the top of the combined table with 123 points followed by Uttar Pradesh (100), Kerala (95) and Tamil Nadu (80).

The results: Boys: U-14: 600m: 1. Vinit Yadav (UP) 1:23.49s; 2. Shivam Chaudhary (Bih) 1:24.82, 3. C. Chandra Sekhar (AP) 1:25.88.

Triathlon: 1. Salman Khan (Mah) 1674 pts., 2. Ajay Sharma (Har) 1650, 3. Rout Singh (Odi) 1617.

U-16: 100m hurdles: 1. Punga Soren (Odi) 13.76s; 2. Babu Sona Gain (WB) 13.81, 3. V.K. Muhammed Lazan (Ker) 13.94. Hammer: 1. Nitesh Poonia (Raj) 66.70m; 2. Arnav Yadav (UP) 61.90, 3. Mohit Rana (Del) 59.85.

U-18: 110m hurdles: 1. Alden

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SPORT

NOIDA/DELHI

Implosion Three defeats in the last four games have put Vijayalakshmi out of the contention for a seventh title. At the start of the event, given Vijayalakshmi’s

BIG WIN: Padmini Rout (left) scored a crucial 49-move victory over S. Vijayalakshmi to strengthen her hat-trick bid.

— RAKESH RAO

encouraging form this year and her vast experience, the 37year-old second seed was a serious contender. But none had expected the veteran to implode, the way she did this week.

“Vijayalakshmi is a legend and rarely loses a game,” was how Padmini reflected on the importance of his victory. “She is known to be a fierce competitor and never gives up. So this triumph is very special.”

On a day when all six boards produced outright verdicts, Padmini’s tally stood at 6.5 points as she stayed a point ahead of Soumya Swaminathan and top seed Eesha

Karavade. Vijayalakshmi has slipped to the fourth spot with 4.5 points.

By sheer coincidence, all four Indian Oil players — Padmini, Soumya, Eesha and Mary Ann Gomes — won against their Chennai-based rivals — Vijayalakshmi, R. Vaishali, M. Mahalakshmi and P. Bala Kannamma.

Soumya gained from a simple miscalculation from Vaishali and gained a bishop.

This brought a sudden end to the game that promised an exciting finish.

Eesha won when Mahalakshmi resigned after finding no way to stop her rival from hav-

ing an extra queen on the board.

Swati Ghate improved the prospects of a strong finish by winning her third game in four rounds.

The former champion established an advanced centrepawn and prevailed in an endgame involving rooks and pawns.

For Mary, it was her first victory after six draws and a defeat. After the 72-move triumph over Kannamma, the three-time champion said, “I was determined to be more patient today. And I am glad my approach paid of. Now I wish to make the most of the remaining three rounds.”

The results: Eighth round: Mary Ann Gomes (4) bt P. Bala Kannamma (3.5) in 72 moves; Padmini Rout (6.5) bt S. Vijayalakshmi (4.5) in 49 moves; Eesha Karavade (5.5) bt M. Mahalakshmi (4) in 52 moves; Pratyusha Bodda (2.5) bt Nisha Mohota (3) in 82 moves; R. Vaishali (2.5) lost to Soumya Swaminathan (5.5) in 35 moves; Kiran Manisha Mohanty (3) lost to Swati Ghate (3.5) in 54 moves.

Ninth round pairings: SwatiMary; Soumya-Kiran; Nisha-Vaishali; Mahalakshmi-Pratyusha; Vijayalakshmi-Eesha; Bala-Padmini.

GOLF

Indian Open: four-way tie for top spot UTHRA GANESAN GURGAON: The 10th edition of

SOARING HIGH: A. Nisha Banu of Tamil Nadu, who won the pole vault gold in the girls’ under-20 category. — PHOTO: M. PERIASAMY Noronha (Mah) 14.20s; 2. G. Gopi Chand (AP) 14.40, 3. Kunal Chaudhary (Del) 14.60.

10,000m walk: 1. Amanjot Singh (Pun) 44:57.30s, 2. Naveen (Har) 46:11.50, 3. V.K. Abhijit (Ker) 46:13.70.

Hammer: 1. Ashish Jakhar (Har) 75.45m (NR), 3. Vikranta (UP) 73.34, 3. Damneet Singh (Pun) 70.56. Long jump: 1. M. Sreeshankar (Ker) 7.52m, 2. M. Mahesh (TN) 6.95, 3. Anil Kumar (Har) 6.94.

U-20: 110m hurdles: 1. Paras Patil (Mah) 14.18s; 2. Debarjan Murmu (WB) 14.34; 3. R. Logeshwaran (TN) 14.56.

Girls: U-14: 600m: 1. D. Bhagya

Laxmi (TS) 1:36.57s; 2. U. Athira (Ker) 1:37.74, 3. Pallavi Jagdale (Mah) 1:38.22.

Triathlon: 1. J. Coleshiya (TN) 1577 points, 2. Poorva Sawant (Mah) 1459, Maisuri Timbadia (Guj) 1395.

U-16: 100m hurdles: 1. Aparna Roy (Ker) 14.47s; 2. Gurdeep Kaur (Pun) 14.92, 3. P.M. Thabitha (TN) 15.21.

U-18: 100m hurdles: 1. Ritwika Singh (UP) 14.42s, 2. Sapna Kumari (Jhar) 14.53, 3. Manasi Paravatkar (Mah) 14.80. Javelin: 1. N. Hemamalini (TN) 45.26m; 2. Sanjana Choudha

(Raj) 43.10, 3. Runjun Pegu (Asm) 43.02.

Shot put: 1. Kachnar Chaudhary (Raj) 15.99m, 2. Anamika Das (UP) 15.11; 3. Kiran Baliyan (UP) 14.62.

U-20: 100m hurdles: 1. Anurupa Kumari (Jha) 14.30s, 2. C. Kanimozhi (TN) 14.48,, 3. Ankita Gosavi (Mah) 14.51.

10,000m walk: Ravina (Har) 52:27.33s, 2. Vandna (Kar) 53:17.56, Bandana Patel (UP) 54:26.84. Pole vault: 1. A. Nisha Banu (TN) 3.30m, 2.

P. Anjaly Francis (Ker) 3.05, 3. Mahi Patel (UP) 2.90.

the Women’s Indian Open golf tournament began with a fourway tie for the top spot on day one even as one golfer was yet to finish her round because of fading light at the DLF Golf and Country Club here on Friday.

Austria’s Christine Wolf, Englishwoman Florentyna Parker, Ursula Wikstrom of Finland and Anne-Lise Caudal of France stayed ahead of the pack with a two-under 70 on the course. Swede Pamela Pretswell will complete her round on Saturday morning.

Defending champion Emily Kristine Pedersen was a stroke behind in another four-way tie while India’s Aditi Ashok was tied ninth, along with five others.

Five Indians are currently in line to make the cut, projected to be applied at six over 78, be-

sides amateurs Diksha Dagar and Sifat Sagoo.

Most of the golfers who had played here in 2015 agreed that the course had matured a lot, making strokeplay and driving easier.

“The greens were really firm last year, now they have matured and it has become slightly easier. It’s still a challenge, the greens are undulating. So if you are not on the right part you will have a long putt,” Wolf said after finishing her round.

Aditi agreed. “The 17th green has become much better, much easier, that’s one change (from last year) and in general the greens are holding much better,” she said.

Parker and Wolf had contrasting starts to the round, starting from diferent holes each.

While the former teed of from the 10th and was up three shots after the first four holes,

Christine Wolf.

Wolf began on the first and dropped a shot each on her first four before finding her rhythm.

Aditi scores even par Aditi, meanwhile, was not too happy. “It’s not a great start, but it’s not bad either. I can still make up tomorrow [Saturday] for what I missed today,” she said, after her even-par round that included three straight birdies from the sixth to ninth holes.

“It was quite cold and it took me a while to get warmed up. I

hit it close on the sixth and then again on the next two holes and made the putt. I feel the back nine is tougher than the front so it was tough to start on the back nine,” she added.

Local hope Vani Kapoor was one-over 73 while current Hero Order of Merit leader Amandeep Drall began with a double bogey on the first hole and kept dropping shots to finish with a disappointing seven-over 79.

The leading scores: 70: Christine Wolf (Aut), Florentyna Parker (Eng), Ursula Wikstrom (Fin), Anne-Lise Caudal (Fra); 71: Nuria Iturrios (Esp), Emily Kristine Pedersen (Den), Patricia Sanz Barrio (Esp), Kiran Matharu (Eng); 72: Aditi Ashok, Gwladys Nocera (Fra), Isabelle Boineau (Fra), Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul (Tha), Connie Chen (SA), Malene Jorgensen (Den), Supamas Sangchan (Tha); 73: Belen Mozo (Esp), Vani Kapoor, Laura Jansone (Lat), Mireia Prat (Esp).

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LIFE

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NOIDA/DELHI

THE HINDU SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2016

Ancient animal used teeth to show off

‘Little People’ in Toy Hall of Fame

225-year wait for church is over

Fossil scans of Choerosaurus dejageri, a mammallike reptile, have led scientists to conclude that its teeth and jaws evolved for for courtship display.

Fisher-Price’s ‘Little People’, the game ‘Dungeons and Dragons’ and the swing have made have been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in the U.S.

Worshippers celebrated the consecration of Warsaw’s highest church on Friday, ending a wait of 225 years since its foundation stone was laid.

Dinosaur fossil nicknamed ‘Mud Dragon’

November’s supermoon will be biggest and brightest in 60 years The natural satellite will be at its closest ever since it passed the Earth in 1948 Monday, when it is near the horizon, you will get both the psychological efect of the moon illusion, and the physical efect of the supermoon — so it could look particularly striking.

MICHAEL SLEZAK

Tongtianlong limosus. — ILLUSTRATION: NATURE/AFP

WASHINGTON: In a humid, trop-

ical jungle in southern China eons ago, a remarkably birdlike dinosaur with wing-like arms, a toothless beak and a dome-shaped crest atop its head became trapped in mud, struggled in vain to escape and died.

Workmen blasting bedrock while building a school near the city of Ganzhou unearthed a beautifully preserved fossil of the roughly two-metre-long dinosaur, nicknamed the “Mud Dragon,” still in that contorted position. The Cretaceous Period creature, called Tongtianlong limosus, lived 66 to 72 million years ago, at the twilight of the dinosaurs’ more than 160-million-year reign on Earth. It was a member of a group called oviraptorosaurs, one of the closest relatives to birds, which evolved earlier from small, feathered dinosaurs.

Paleontologist Steve Brusatte of Scotland’s University of Edinburgh, who worked on the study published in the journal Scientific Reports, said the fossil adds to the understanding of dinosaur evolution on the eve of destruction. The fossil preserved a tragic moment for posterity. “Its neck is arched, its head sticking up, its arms out-stretched to the sides. It is a strange posture,” Mr. Brusatte said. — Reuters

O

n Monday, the moon will be the biggest and brightest it has been in more than 60 years.

So long as the sky is clear of clouds, it should be a great time to get outside and gaze at it or take some photos.

It’s what is commonly called a “supermoon”, or technically a “perigee full moon” — a phenomenon that occurs when a full moon coincides with the moon being the closest it gets to the Earth on its orbit.

What makes this one special is that the moon is going to be even closer to the Earth than it normally gets, making it a tiny bit bigger than even your average supermoon.

But, despite a lot of hyperbolic news written about the event in the past few days, don’t be too surprised if it looks much like any other full moon.

How much bigger will it be? At 8:09PM GMT, the moon will pass by the Earth at a distance of 356,511km — the closest it has passed the Earth since 1948. As it does so, it will be a full moon, making it a particularly big supermoon.

Supermooons are roughly 30% larger in area and 30% brighter than the smallest full moons — full moons that happen when the moon is at its furthest distance from Earth: at “apogee”. In terms of diametre — the width of the moon — it will be about 14% wider than the smallest full moons.

The diference between this unusually big super-

New eye test method to prevent vision loss NEW YORK: Researchers from

the University of Missouri School of Medicine have come out with a new test to check eye pressure to prevent possible vision loss.

The most common complication from cataract surgery is high eye pressure, which can cause swelling and other issues that can lead to vision loss or even blindness.

“The current standard of care following cataract surgery is to refill the eye with a saline solution and tap on the eye with a Q-tip to observe if it is too firm, too soft or just right,” said John Jarstad, Associate Professor at the University of Missouri School of Medicine in a statement.

‘Often inaccurate’ “This Goldilocks-style guesstimate is often inaccurate, and patients might actually have higher eye fluid pressure than the surgeon believes. We use a device known as a tonometer to accurately gauge eye pressure,” Mr. Jarstad added.

An electronic eye pressure

MAJESTIC: In this photo dated August 10, 2014, a supermoon rises over the Dolomiti mountains in Italy. — PHOTO: AFP moon and other supermoons is negligible.

While a supermoon is 30% brighter than the smallest full moons, it’s only about 15% brighter than an average full moon. That’s nothing to sneeze at — on a clear night, away from city lights, it will provide more moonlight than you’d usually get from a full moon.

But, anywhere near the city, that diference is likely to be diicult to perceive.

And, of course, clouds or haze could wipe out the difference, or indeed cover the moon completely.

Seven per cent wider When it comes to the size, the diference in width (diameter) between a supermoon and an average moon is about 7%. When the moon is high in the sky, that diference is something you’re unlikely to notice, because the sky is big and there’s nothing to measure it against.

But if you could compare it to a moon at apogee (when

it’s farthest) you would probably be able to see the diference. What’s more, the boost in actual size of the moon’s image from a supermoon is totally swamped by what’s known as the “moon illusion”, which afects your perception of the size of the moon.

When the moon is close to the horizon, it can appear up to 300% the size it does when it is high in the sky — which makes much more of a diference than the actual 7% boost you get from it being a bit closer to the Earth.

That moon illusion (as the name suggests) is a complete illusion — the image of the moon does not change significantly as it moves from the horizon up into the sky. But, when it is close to the horizon, observers think it looks bigger. Exactly what causes the moon illusion is still a matter of debate. But there are lots of possible explanations.

Nevertheless, if you go out and look at the moon on

Cause and efect What causes a supermoon? The moon’s orbit around the Earth is not quite a circle but an ellipse — a kind of squashed circle.

Ellipses are described mathematically with two foci, one at either side of the centre. When an orbit is elliptical, the big body in the middle (the Earth in this case) sits at one of those two foci.

Since the Earth is sitting of to one side of the ellipse, the moon is inevitably closer to the Earth when it passes that side, and further away as it passes the other side.

When it is at the close side (called “perigee”), and it is a full moon, it’s called a supermoon. (That name was actually made up in the pseudoscience field of astrology but it has entered the common lexicon.) Why are supermoons not all the same size?

In short, the reason is that the shape of the ellipse that the moon draws around the Earth is changing all the time as it is pushed and pulled by other gravitational forces.

As a result, how stretchedout the ellipse is changes.

When the supermoon coincides with a very stretched out ellipse, a supermoon is even closer (and bigger).

That’s what happened in 1948 — and what will happen on Monday. — Guardian News and Media

Cinema reflects progress of women in all spheres: Big B KOLKATA: Analysing the space

that women have occupied in Indian cinema, Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan on Friday spoke about how the shifting portrayal of female characters in the movies is related to the rights and social progress of women in the country.

Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of 22 nd Kolkata International Film Festival, Mr. Bachchan said the movement of women from narrow domestic confines to the world at large can be seen via the transformation seen in five diferent images relating to women.

Drawing inferences from decades of Indian cinema, he spoke of the changes in women and their relationship with the home and the world, their status within a relationship, women in education, in politics, and the issue of sexual exploitation.

Tracing the changes About women’s relationship with the home and the world, Mr. Bachchan began by speaking of Satyajit Ray’s adaptation of Rabindranath Tagore’s Ghare Baire and then touched upon women and their roles in films like Achhut Kanya and Sujata.

On the subject of education and of women making a living, Mr. Bachchan recalled Ritwik Ghatak’s classic Meghe Dhaka Tara where Nita, the protagonist who runs the family, screams to her brother, “Dada, ami bachrte chai” (Brother, I want to live).

“She voices the agony of millions of women,” he said.

Not only the role of the heroine or the female lead, Mr. Bachchan said that even the character of mothers has

Acrobatic grace

can remember, Rishi Sharma’s heroes haven’t been sports stars or movie stars or any other kind of stars. They’ve been the U.S. combat veterans who won World War II. Alarmed that even the youngest of them are now in their 90s and dying each day by the hundreds, the Southern California teenager has launched a campaign to try to ensure each one’s legacy.

“I’m on a mission to indepth film interview a World War II combat veteran every single day,” the earnest 19year-old says after a recent afternoon spent in the living room of William R. Hahn of Los Angeles, where Mr. Sharma mined the 93-yearold’s memories for hours.

Asked if he considers himself a hero, Mr. Hahn chuckled. “Not really,” said the retired metal-shop teacher who had a bullet come so close to him that it CM YK

changed over years. He referred to Gazala Meer in Vishal Bharadwaj’s Haider played by Tabu, in which she portrays complex emotions, including dealing with the Oedipus complex.

Ahead of the times According to Mr. Bachchan, the character of Rosy in the Hindi film Guide, based on R.K. Narayan’s novel by the same name, was ahead of the times and a watershed in Indian cinema. In the story, a woman leaves her husband to pursue her passion for dancing and a man who gave her respect.

Mr. Bachchan said that the character of Saba in the recent film Ae Dil Hai Muskil, played by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, turned the tables on men.

On the last issue of sexual

Vehicle of memories Speaking at the same venue, national award winning film director and chairperson of the festival committee Gautam Ghose referred to an essay by D.W. Griith on ‘The Movies 100 years from now’, where the father of modern cinema wrote of a war-free world after a century.

“It has been a failed dream,” he said, referring to the wars that the planet has seen 1924, when the essay was written.

“Cinema could not bring peace and harmony. But what cinema could do is record the collective memory of the people and the times,” Mr. Ghose said.

Actors Kajol, Sanjay Dutt, Shah Rukh Khan and Parineeti Chopra were some of the celebrities present on the first day of the film festival.

L

oss of quality content in films is a loss for the whole nation, poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar said in New Delhi on Thursday.

“Loss of [good quality] films is the loss of the whole country.

Films have a heavy impact on the masses and thus if film songs are inappropriate or vulgar, the whole nation is affected,” Javed said.

“Why don’t audiences reject such songs?

They only protest when their religious sentiments are hurt but there are no protests against vulgarity in the lyrics,” he said. “ “The young generation today doesn’t know poetry, language, literature, folk songs and tradition,” the lyricist said, calling for fluency in Hindi and Urdu. “It is completely understandable that English is crucial in the 21st century but we have to have bilingual kids,” he added. — IANS

My fashion is of the practical kind: Amy Adams

H

FUN AND HOOPLA: Performers in a show called The Three Belles by Strange Fruit Productions of Australia enthrall the audience as they sway back and forth on five-metre high poles at Raffles Place in Singapore on Friday. — PHOTO: AFP

friendly voice on the other end of the phone told Mr. Sharma if he called back at a decent hour, Mr. Bouck would be happy to talk.

That’s when the teen had an epiphany. “It made me realise these guys are really out there! And I could do this for all of them.”

Rishi Sharma is on a mission to conduct daily in-depth film interviews for future citizens to learn from blew the canteen on his belt to smithereens. Other guys, he said, did similar things, and not all came back to talk about it.

Mr. Sharma wants to meet and honour every one who did, and he knows time is not on his side.

Of the approximately 16 million Americans who served in some capacity during WWII, some 620,000 survive, but they are dying at the rate of nearly 400 a day, according to the National Museum of World War II. “I want to create this movement where people, where they just realise that we have such a limited time with these men who saved humanity,” he says.

The actor, who starred in Pink, inaugurated the 22nd Kolkata International Film Festival

Javed Akhtar wants better quality content

Indian-origin teen dedicates life to finding WW II veterans LOS ANGELES: For as long as he

Amitabh Bachhan upon arrival at the airport in Kolkata on Friday. — PHOTO: PTI

STAR TREK

monitoring device known as a tonometer is often used in a clinical setting to determine eye pressure, but the device is rarely used in a surgical setting.

The researchers studied 170 patients who had eye pressure adjusted after cataract surgery with a tonometer and found that patients were 2.5 to 4 times less likely to develop cystoid macular edema — cyst-like pockets of fluid in the macula of the eye.

Normal eye pressure According to the researchers, normal eye pressure should be between 16 and 21 mmHg, or millimeters of mercury.

In most cases, a high eye pressure will resolve itself in a matter of days without issue, but in cases in which the pressure is significantly high, a person can experience symptoms of nausea and pain above the eyebrow.

In these cases, it’s important that the pressure be adjusted to prevent permanent damage to the eye, the study suggested. — IANS

exploitation, the Bollywood superstar mentioned Radha, played by Nargis in Mother India, who does not hesitate to shoot her son down when he tries to forcibly take away a woman.

Other examples he drew was Som Bai from Ketan Mehta’s Mirch Masala and the migrant Bihari girl played by Alia Bhatt in Udta Punjab.

Speaking about his latest film Pink, Mr. Bachchan said that the “film raises unsettling questions largely ignored by the film industry”, adding that the issue of sexual consent has not been addressed in the country.

During his speech, Mr. Bachchan spoke about how the film Chak De, the story of the travails and triumphs of a women’s hockey team, could be seen as an inspired conversion from a film to reality, with the Indian women’s hockey team recently winning the Asia Cup.

SHIV SAHAY SINGH

COMPELLING TALES: Rishi Sharma interviews World War II veteran William Hahn in Los Angeles. — PHOTO: AP Since childhood, Mr. Sharma says, he’s been fascinated by the sacrifices men his age made during WWII, risking their lives for freedom, then returning home to raise families and take everyday jobs as they transitioned back to civilian life.

He came across the name

Lyle Bouck, one of the heroes of Germany’s Battle of the Bulge ofensive in Belgium, as he read historian Stephen Ambrose’s book Citizen Soldiers.

Fascinated, he looked up Mr. Bouck’s phone number and called him, not realizing it was 1 a.m. where the 92year-old war hero lives. A

Cross-country travel Borrowing his parents’ car, he travelled to Oregon over the summer, then back down the California coast, interviewing still more people.

He’s up to about 160, and has plans to expand his travels in the weeks ahead to Arizona and other states and, on next month’s 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbour attack, to Hawaii.

“He’s just totally dedicated and a very decent young fellow,” says Howie Beach of Fullerton, whom Mr. Sharma recently interviewed. What he is doing is important, says Beach, another Silver Star re-

cipient who at 91 sometimes speaks to high school groups. “But a lot of them go on their merry way, just taking their lives and their freedoms and all that for granted,” Mr. Beach says of those students. “So it’s good to see a young man like Rishi with such a convincing way about him.”

Such an efort doesn’t come cheap, however, and Mr. Sharma quickly exhausted his modest life’s savings carrying it out. He raised about $3,300 through a GoFundMe account and has spent most of that.

But Mr. Sharma, who also founded a non-profit called Heroes of the Second World War, has huge dreams for his efort. He’d like to eventually recruit others to help conduct interviews, perhaps get the interviews to museums and allow others to get to know some of the people he says have become his closest friends. — AP

ollywood actor Amy Adams prefers “more practical” fashion because of her petite frame.

The 42-year-old actor said she loves the art of fashion but has hinted that her height inhibits her from wearing certain garments because they are not designed to fit her body shape, which has forced her to opt for practicality, reported Metro.

“I’m not attracted to specific designers, but specific dresses and fabrics. I love the art of fashion but I’m five-foot four, so it’s not designed to be perfect on my body. My fashion is more practical because, alas, I’m not five-foot ten and aged 16,” Adams said. — PTI

Kim Kardashian has daily counselling

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eality TV star Kim Kardashian West has reportedly been seeing a therapist every day since she was gagged and robbed at gunpoint in Paris last month.

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star, who has kept a low profile since the horrific ordeal in France, has been having daily counselling sessions to help her get over the incident because she keeps experiencing flashbacks and nightmares, reported Us Weekly magazine. “She’s [Kim has] been having nightmares and flashbacks.

She’s talking to a therapist every day, usually via Skype, phone or in person,” a source said.

The 36-year-old celebrity is refusing to leave her home in Los Angeles, which she shares with her husband Kanye West and their two children North, three, and Saint, 11 months, and has cancelled all of her public appearances since the robbery. Kim, an avid social media user, has also been inactive on her Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat account over the past four weeks and has asked her friends and family members to take it in turns to manage her website and app.

She made an appearance at her half-sister Kendall Jenner’s 21st birthday party last week but hired three off-duty police officers to keep an eye on her during the bash. — PTI ND-ND