Anushka Sharma named PETA’s Person of the Year
28/12/2017, thursday Edition: Ahmedabad
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Alastair smashes century as England savour dominant day in Melbourne page no. 03
ENGLISH DAILY MORNING REPUTED NEWS PAPER, AHMEDABAD Editor : Kapilkumar M. Hirpara
Short News Pak troops fire at forward posts along LoC in J&K’s Noushera sector
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Jadhav is a terrorist, Pak treated him accordingly: MP Naresh Agarwal spurs row
New Delhi: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Agarwal on Wednesday stepped into a controversy by condoning the humiliating way Islamabad treated the wife and mother of former navy official and Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav when they went to meet him in Pakistan on Monday. Naresh Agarwal said Pakistan considers Jadhav a terrorist, so it treated him accordingly. He added that India would, does and should do the same with those it considers terrorists. Jadhav is on death row in Pakistan for alleged espionage.
MoS Hegde’s ‘change constitution’ remark evokes protest in RS
New Delhi: A united Opposition on Wednesday disrupted proceedings in the Rajya Sabha protesting against controversial comments reportedly made by Union Minister Anant Kumar Hegde on changing the Constitution and secularism. Congress, SP and BSP members trooped into the Well of the House shouting slogans seeking removal of Hegde and forcing Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu to adjourn the proceedings till 12 noon. The trouble started during the laying of the official papers on the table of the House as opposition members shouted “shame, shame” when Hegde, who is Minister of State (MoS) for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, rose to lay the papers listed against his name.Leader of the Opposition (LoP) and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad sought a clarification from the Minister as he could leave the House soon after laying papers.
December 28, 2017, thursday
President Kovind irked by distribution of food packets during his speech, stops address midway Amravati : It is not often that he stops midway during a public speech, but that is what President Ram Nath Kovind did on Wednesday to indicate his displeasure over the distribution of food packets among the delegates during his address at an Indian Economic Association conference in Amravati. Briefly interrupting his address to gently prod the organisers for the faux pas, the president asked them to stop distributing the packets till his speech was over. While addressing the centenary conference of the association, Kovind noticed that the food packets were being distributed among the participants. Two minutes into his speech, Kovind paused and
BJP
New Delhi: Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar said on Wednesday that ‘NAMO’ (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) was the “new Santa” for “new India” who brings good news for the people. Talking to media in Delhi, the Union minister said, “NAMO is the new Santa who brings good news for a new India. In the last three and a half years, the prime minister has only worked hard for the nation and its people.” Kumar’s remark came after Congress leader and former Union minister Manish Tewari took a swipe at the Prime Minister on Tuesday by linking him with Santa Claus, who instead of giving gifts has stolen the money of common man.
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“What is happening in the economic world...I see the same picture at this conference also. I think some food packets are being distributed. Of course, it is a must, but it has disturbed the system itself.”
Jammu: Pakistani troops on Wednesday targeted forward posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Noushera sector in Jammu and Kashmir for nearly an hour, police said. The small arms firing from across the border targeting forward posts in Noushera sector started around 9 am. Indian troops retaliated and the exchange of fire between the two sides continued till 10 am, a police official said. There was no report of any casualty in the incident, the official said. The latest ceasefire violation by Pakistan comes five days after Pakistani troops opened fire from across the border, leaving four Army personnel dead and another soldier injured in Keri sector of Rajouri on December 23.
Santa for new India, harbinger of good news: Parliamentary Affairs Minister
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Modi, Amit Shah attend event
looked at the audience as there was a sudden noise. The volunteers had started distributing the food packets among the delegates and mediapersons and a group of students had got up from their seats in their hurry to grab them. “What is happening in the economic world…I see the same picture at this conference also. I think some food packets are being distributed. Of course, it is a must, but it has disturbed the system itself. Therefore, I request the organisers, will you please keep the distribution of food packets in abeyance for a little while,” Kovind said, even as the stunned police personnel and officials intervened to stop the distribution.
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Freed after 105 days, Assam activist Akhil Gogoi says there is no democracy under BJP rule Guwahati : Rights activist and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) president Akhil Gogoi, who was released from prison on Wednesday after 105 days of his arrest under the National Security Act (NSA) and other charges, alleged there was no democracy in the country under BJP rule and Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was a puppet in the hands of Delhi-based leaders. “There is no democracy in this country since the BJP came to power. In Assam, it has been worse than what it used to be when Hiteswar Saikia or Prafulla Kumar Mahanta was in power. The government does not tolerate criticism and democratic protests,” Gogoi told the media immediately after he was released from the Goalpara District Jail on Wednesday.
Thakur took oath of office and secrecy at a ceremony in presence of Modi, Amit Shah, and a galaxy of senior BJP leaders.
Jai Ram Thakur takes oath as Himachal CM
Shimla: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Jai Ram Thakur took oath as the chief minister of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday. The new government led by Jai Ram Thakur took the oath of office and secrecy at a grand ceremony in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, and a galaxy of senior BJP leaders and chief ministers of NDA-ruled states. Along with Thakur several others were also sworn-in by Governor Acharya Dev Vrat. Mahendra Singh, Kishan Kapoor, Suresh Bhardwaj, Anil Sharma, Sarveen Choudhary, Ram Lal Markanda, Virender Kanwar and Vikram Singh also took oath as cabinet ministers of Himachal Pradesh government. “People have shown faith in us, will try to meet their expectations,” said the newly-elect chief minister of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday morning. The 52-year-old five-time legislator was picked to be the hill state’s 14th chief minister after PK Dhumal, projected by the BJP for the top post, lost his election even as the party swept 44 of the state’s 68 seats. The Ridge Ground turned saffron with BJP flags fluttering all around and cut outs of Prime Minister
Malegaon blast case:
MCOCA charges dropped against Purohit, Sadhvi Mumbai: A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Wednesday discharged Lt Col Shrikant Prasad Purohit, Sadhvi Pragya and two others under MCOCA and 17, 20 and 13 of UAPA and arms act in the Malegaon blast case. Both Sadhvi and Purohit will, however, be tried under sections 120 B, 302, 307, 304, 326, 427, 153 A of Indian Penal Code (IPC), along with section 18 (conspiracy) of UAPA or Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. All the accused are already out on bail and will continue to be on bail. All previous bonds and sureties are to continue according to special NIA court. The court in its order also said that Sadhvi Pragya could not be exonerated of conspiracy charges as she was aware about the motorcycle being used for the conspiracy. The court will next hear the case on January 15. The Supreme Court had, on August 21, granted bail to Malegaon blast accused Lt Colonel Purohit, while the Bombay High Court had granted bail to another accused Sadhvi Pragya in April.
Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha Welcoming the statement by Jaitley, the Congress party has dissociated itself from Mani Shankar Aiyar’s “neech” remark against PM Modi.
PM Modi didn’t question Manmohan Singh, Hamid Ansari’s commitment to nation
New Delhi: After the first week of Parliament winter session was washed out over Opposition protests against PM Modi’s remarks during the Gujarat election campaign, the Congress and BJP ended their feud and reached a truce. Union Minister Arun Jaitley, speaking in the Rajya Sabha, clarified that the prime minister “did not question, nor meant to question” the commitment of former PM Manmohan Singh and former vice president Hamid
Ansari to the nation. “PM in his speeches didn’t question, nor did he mean to question the commitment to this nation of either former PM Manmohan Singh or Former VP Hamid Ansari, any such perception is erroneous, we hold these leaders in high esteem, as well as their commitment to India,” Jaitley said. Welcoming the statement by Jaitley, the Congress party has dissociated itself from Mani Shankar Aiyar’s “neech” remark against PM Modi.
How you feel meeting your ‘qaatil beta’: Pak media asks Jadhav’s mother
New Delhi: Kulbhushan Jadhav’s mother and wife who were in Islamabad on Monday to meet him were heckled, harassed and subjected to outrageous questions by journalists from the Pakistan media after the 40-minute meeting with the former navy officer sentenced to death in Pakistan. “Aapke patidev ne hazaron begunah Pakistaniyo ke khoon se Holi kheli ispar kya kahengi? (your husband killed thousands of innocent Pakistanis, what do you have to say about that?)’” was a question
shouted at Kulbhushan Jadhav’s wife Chetankul Jadhav. “Aapke kya jazbaat hain apne qaatil bete se milne ke baad? (How do you feel after meeting your killer son?)” - a journalist hurled at Jadhav’s mother Avanti Jadhav. The wife and mother of Jadhav, who made innumerous efforts from India, met the former navy officer after over a year. They faced the verbal assault as they were forced to wait for their car after emerging from the Pakistan foreign office after their meeting with Jadhav across a glass screen.
Anant Hegde should apologise or be sacked: opposition parties New Delhi : Opposition parties Wednesday took strong objection to Union minister Anant Kumar Hegde’s remarks on amending the Constitution and said such a person should have no place in the council of ministers. Hegde should either apologise or Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take a call on whether such a person should continue as minister, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters outside Parliament. He said opposition parties had raised the matter before Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu. “Opposition parties are of the opinion that any minister who does not believe in the Constitution should have no place in the council of ministers. It is for the prime minister to take a call on him,” Azad said.
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thursday, 28 December, 2017
Gujarat elections: The Muslim is more alone than ever before
Hollywood - Bollywood
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his victory speech justifiably pronounced that voters in the Gujarat election emphatically rejected the poison of caste. But he studiously skirted mention of the cancer of communal identity politics and religiosity that was masterfully deployed by the BJP and clumsily imitated by the Congress. While the BJP dragged the Muslim community into the electoral arc lights with loaded references to Aurangzeb and “Miyan” Ahmed Patel as a Pakistaninspired Congress CM candidate, the Congress flaunted its “Hinduness” even as it concealed its dubious concern for Muslims. According to the reigning electoral arithmetic, to woo the Muslim is to court disaster. The Muslim is more alone than ever before. The killing of Afrazul for being Muslim and the celebratory messages, donations and marches in support of the killer that followed are testament to a social consciousness that perceives the Muslim as the enemy, not just the “other”. A friend who knows Gujarat well, observed much before the election results that despite the enormous hardships caused by demonetisation, GST and spiralling prices, people still repose faith in the BJP as they believe that it is the only party that can deal effectively with the “Muslim menace”. Hate is the most powerful human emotion and also the most resilient. The spectres of Babri Masjid, 2002 and, dare I say, Muslim historical figures hang heavy over us. In today’s India, you cannot be any leader but only a Hindu leader to be acceptable. A yogi who publicly announced that he will not stop till he turns India into a Hindu rashtra is now the UP chief minister. In his watch, state and religion have congealed into one. He sees no contradiction in using state funds for a Lord Ram statue or sanctioning a Rs one lakh subsidy for every pilgrim on the Kailash Mansarovar yatra even while opposing the Haj subsidy. Despite swearing allegiance to the Constitution, he has recently dismissed secularism as “the biggest lie told since Independence that has damaged the nation”. In his limited understanding, secularism is equated with minority appeasement (a cruel joke considering that, despite all the ministrations of successive governments, Muslims are at par with Dalits in almost every human development index). Our claim to being a society fostering social and cultural heterogeneity is a sham. So is our long-cherished view of ourselves as embodying tolerance. We are in the grip of a predatory nationalism that is majoritarian in its sensibilities and brazenly anti-Muslim. A burgeoning club of anti-minority ultranationalists have become arbiters of what is socially acceptable and for them issues of justice and freedom are of no consequence. The gau rakshaks, the Hindu Yuva Vahini, the love jihad vigilante squads are their malevolent foot soldiers.
- Kapilkumar M. Hirpara
Editor
The zeroes on the boys’ cheques are ridiculous: Priyanka on gender wage gap Actor Priyanka Chopra on Tuesday said her greatest achievement has been her ability to consistently conquer fear, and her biggest dream is to leave behind a legacy. The 35-year-old actor, however, became emotional when she said that her biggest regret would be not being able to spend enough time with her father, Ashok Chopra, who passed away in 2013 after battling cancer. “(My) biggest achievement is the ability to get over my fears. My biggest achievement is to turn my vulnerability into my strength because I’m usually emotional, and I get affected by a lot of things. “I know I come across as tough, sassy and witty. That is a big part of protecting myself. There has not been anyone holding out a safety net for me. So, I trust my instinct, so that even if I fail, it’ll be my failure... My biggest regret is I didn’t spend as much time as I did with my dad,” Priyanka said. The actor, who was in the capital to deliver the Penguin Annual Lecture, was in conversation with NDTV anchor Sonia Singh. She addressed a full-capacity auditorium at Siri Fort here on the theme ‘Breaking The Glass Ceiling:
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Chasing a Dream’ at the 11th edition of the event. Talking about chasing her dreams from Bollywood to Hollywood to doing philanthropy - the National Award-winning actor said her biggest dream is to leave behind a legacy. “I always have the same dream that manifests into different things, and my biggest dream is to leave behind a legacy,” she said. The actor said she represents all the people who have shown faith in her, a simple girl who came out of an Army School from Bareilly. “If I can, every one of them can,” she said. Priyanka, who has made a mark globally and continues to shatter the glass ceiling, said for her, the dream has always been much more than “a car or number of zeroes on my cheque”. “I want my fans and people who have faith in me to one day turn back and say ‘yeah, that was the right reason we loved her’,” she added. Priyanka said although year 2017 was “tumultuous” for her, she was proud of herself for making it to the top 10 - the only female actor - in the 2017 Forbes India Celebrity 100 list.
A number of high profile men of Hollywood have been accused of inappropriate behaviour, including Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Piven, Brett Ratner, Dustin
Diane Kruger on harassment in Hollywood: Seeing change as it is happening Hollywood has seen a string of sexual misconduct charges in the recent past and looks like the issue is there to stay. Many Hollywood actors have voiced their opinions on the issue and the latest to be added to the list, actor Diane Kruger, who has added her voice to the ongoing discussion of harassment in Hollywood. While talking to the Hollywood Reporter, the 41-year-old actor shared that she is actually amazed how many
companies have severed ties with those, who are accused, so immediately. She said, “We’re seeing the change as it’s happening. All these men are gone. I’m actually amazed how many companies have severed ties with those men immediately. They don’t get just a slap on the back and then come back. Actually, you know, it’s happening.” Many Hollywood actors have been vocal in rallying against sexual harassment since the story about allegations against famed producer Harvey Weinstein broke out. Recently, actor Olivia Munn too addressed Hollywood’s sexual harassment and abuse issue in a hard-hitting essay.
Trouble for Shraddha in cheating case: Court orders inquiry against actress
The unconventional dusky beauty Anupriya Goenka was a corporate rat until she realized her passion for acting.
Forget Kat, meet another tigress Anupriya from
Born in Kanpur city, Uttar Pradesh, the unconventional dusky beauty Anupriya Goenka was a corporate rat until she realized her passion for acting. Apart from giving a tough competition to actress like Lisa Haydon with her rangy figure, the actress made headlines for an ad of a clothing web portal where she played a lesbian. Later, she went on to do prominent roles in films like ‘Daddy’, ‘Bobby Jasoos’, ‘Dishoom’ and recently she made people go gaga over her role in Salman-Katrina starrer blockbuster ‘Tiger Zinda Hai’. The actress is also gearing up for her next big release ‘Padmavati’, where she will be seen playing Shahid Kapoor’s first wife Nagmati. In a candid chat with Deccan Chronicle, Anupriya talks about her experience working with Salman Khan in ‘TZH’, her journey from corporate world to silver screen and much more: Excerpts: It happened purely through auditions. I was auditioned for ‘Sultan’ for the lead role in 2015. My auditions were very detailed as it was for the female lead. They took around 10-11 auditions for it in the span of 2 weeks. It was very hectic and tiring for me.
An Andheri metropolitan court has ordered the Amboli police station to conduct an inquiry against actor Shraddha Kapoor and one of the producers of the Bollywood movie Haseena Parkar on allegations related to cheating and criminal breach of trust. The allegations were levelled by a Dadar-based garment manufacturer, who claimed that the film producer did not promote his brand as part of the deal between them. The court asked the cops submit its report before February 15. An Amboli police officer said, “We will have to call the producer and actress Shraddha Kapoor against whom the allegations have been made by the complainants. We will have to investigate with their other colleagues, as well as check documents related to the same issue.
Luann de Lesseps goes on a drunken rampage
Anushka Sharma has been named PETA’s Person of the Year by animal rights organisation People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
Anushka Sharma named PETA’s Person of the Year
Luann de Lesseps, one of the stars of Real Housewives of New York City, was busted for being drunk and disorderly and for attacking a cop. The 52-year-old was in Palm Beach early Sunday morning when she allegedly went ballistic, and told the cops, “I’m going to kill you all.” TMZ.com reports that the charges are way more serious than just being drunk. Luann’s been charged with five crimes, four of which are felonies, including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, and two counts of corruption by threat.
Newlywed actor Anushka Sharma has been named PETA’s Person of the Year by animal rights organisation People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Known for movies like PK, Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Ae Dil Hai Mushkil, Anushka, who is a vegetarian, has nabbed the title for her efforts to help protect dogs from fireworks. She was also against the use of horses to pull carriages in Mumbai. “Anushka Sharma is a proud animal rights proponent whose kindness and initiative know no bounds,” PETA Associate Director Sachin Bangera said in a statement. “PETA is calling on everyone to follow her lead by eating healthy plant-based meals, helping community animals by speaking up when they are suffering, and always keeping an eye out for new ways to help animals,” Bangera added. Some of her recent efforts to protect animals include launching her crueltyfree NUSH clothing line and visiting an animal shelter and promoting its work on her social media platforms.
3 / Dt. 28-12-2017, thursday, Ahmedabad
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Sports Special
Alastair Cook was dropped on 66 runs by Australia captain Steve Smith. Later, he went on to score his 32nd Test hundred.
Sports fraternity congratulate newlyweds Virat, Anushka after Mumbai reception
Ashes Alastair smashes century as England 2017 savour dominant day in Melbourne New Delhi: Alastair Cook completed a sparkling century in a stellar return to form as England savoured a rare day of domination in the fourth Ashes test against Australia on Wednesday. Cook raised his 32nd test ton with a pull-shot to the fence in the final over before stumps, and strode off the ground unbeaten on 104, having pushed England to 192 for two on day two at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. His successor as captain, Joe Root, was 49 not out, the pair having reduced Australia’s lead to 135 runs. English cheer has been in short supply this series after Australia took back the urn by winning the first three tests but Wednesday’s fightback thrilled sun-baked Britons in the raucous crowd of 67,882. Stuart Broad, another Englishman under the microscope after playing a negligible part in the first three tests, captured 4-51 as Australia’s day one resistance melted in the morning heat.
Mumbai: After hosting a star-studded reception in Mumbai’s St Regis, warm wishes and congratulatory message poured in for the most loved couples of tinsel town, Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma. In what was one of the most star-studded events of 2017, several popular sports stars and Bollywood stars attended the reception. After the gala event in Mumbai, several members of the sports fraternity passed on their warm wishes to the newlyweds. The much-anticipated event began on Tuesday evening and went on well into the night. The couple along with all the guests were seen enjoying themselves as they grooved to several peppy Bollywood tracks. While Virat and Anushka set the stage on fire with their Bhangra moves, the duo of Hardik and Krunal Pandya also shook their leg on the occasion. Earlier, Virat and Anushka held a dreamy Italian wedding in the picturesque location of Tuscany. From thereon the couple headed to Finland for their honeymoon.
We reserve the right to pull out of Asia Cup: PCB chief Najam Sethi warns BCCI
Karachi: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi has warned the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that his country can exercise their ‘right’ to pull out of the Asia Cup, which India is all set to host in September next year. Expressing his views on their arch-rivals’ objection over Pakistan hosting the 2018 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, Sethi said that the PCB will decide whether the team will travel to India or not for the main event. “I also raised the point that since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is still awaiting an approval from the government to hold the Asia Cup and wants the visa clearance of all the participating teams, the PCB will decide whether to go to India or not because we are also bound by our government’s clearance,” Sethi told Dawn.
Buried the hatchet? Anil Kumble attends Virat Anushka Mumbai reception Mumbai: After a dream wedding in Italy and a grand wedding reception in New Delhi, Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma hosted another wedding reception at the St Regis hotel in Mumbai on Tuesday. While the Bollywood bigwigs and star Indian cricketers graced the occasion, what took everyone by surprise was the presence of former India skipper and head coach Anil Kumble at the reception. While India enjoyed tremendous onfield success under Kumble – the coach, he had to step down from the position just after a year following a fallout with Kohli. Kumble, under whom India won the bilateral series against West Indies, England, Australia, New Zealand, Bangladesh and reached the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 – where they eventually ended runners-up to arch-rivals Pakistan.
New Delhi: Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany has used Manchester United’s late title meltdown during the
2011/12 season as a cautionary example to remind his team mates that there is no room for complacency in the Premier League title race. United held an eightpoint lead atop the table in 2012, before losing two and drawing one of their final
No quota in trains DoT suggests cutting GST on telecom for patients suffering from arthritis: Rajya services to 12 per cent: Manoj Sinha Sabha reply
the minister said. Sinha noted that the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had favoured reduction of licence fee and Universal Service Obligation levy, cut in Spectrum Usage Charges and relaxation in spectrum pay-out terms, in view of the debt burden on telecom companies. TRAI felt that a favourable
consideration of the matter would help reduce financial stress of telecom players and enable them to offer affordable and quality services to consumers. “The issues are under examination,” Sinha said. TRAI also found merit in demand of telcos pertaining to reduction in GST rate as well as treating telecom sector as core
infrastructure. To a separate but related question on the debt of telcos, Sinha said Interministerial Group (tasked to review the financial difficulties of the sector) was of the view that while there were pockets of financial stress, the entire sector could not be described as being in financial difficulty.
Coming to the fourth Test against Australia in Melbourne, a deflated England, which have already lost the Ashes urn to their rivals, needed to make a counterattack. On the second day of the 4th Test at MCG, it was former captain Alastair Cook who provided just what the visitors required. Facing strong criticism over his poor performances in the series so far, Cook turned the heat on against Aussier bowlers who clearly missed out their main striker Mitchell Starc. Cook, who had so far scored just 83 runs in the series so far, leaving many to wonder whether his time in international cricket is coming to a close, went on to score his 32nd Test hundred of his career and silenced his critics. In his innings comprising of 15 boundaries, the left-handed batsman, who was playing his 151st Test, was given a lifeline soon after scoring his 55th fifty in the longest format. The 33-year old was dropped at slips by Australia captain Steve Smith when he was on 66, and the opening-batsman ensured he punishes the Aussies for committing the mistake.
Vincent Kompany reminds leaders Manchester City of 2012 Manchester United meltdown
TRAI had favoured reduction of licence fee, cut in Spectrum Usage Charges and relaxation in spectrum pay-out terms.
New Delhi: The Telecom Department has suggested the Finance Ministry that GST for telecom services be lowered to 12 per cent against the existing 18 per cent, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. The recommendation was made during the process of the Budget exercise, and the matter is with the Department of Revenue under Ministry of Finance for necessary action, Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said in a written reply to Lok Sabha. “...the DoT (Department of Telecom)...dated 01.12.2017 had recommended to the Department of Revenue during the process of the Budget exercise that a standard rate of GST at 12 per cent for telecom service should be fixed in place of existing 18 per cent,”
Alastair Cook silences critics, smashes 32nd Test hundred in Melbourne
Mumbai: The railways said on Wednesday it had no quota for patients suffering from arthritis and no plans of offering any concession in passenger fare for them as it was already losing revenue over the discounts granted in over 50 categories. In a reply to a question from Satyapal Singh, Minister of State for Human Resource Development (Higher Education), Rajan Gohain, MoS, Railways said in Rajya Sabha that patients suffering from arthritis can book a berth of their choice (lower berth in this case) on first-comefirst-served basis. “There is no reservation quota earmarked for patients suffering from arthritis...There is no provision for concession in passenger fare for patients suffering from arthritis”, Gohain said. Singh who is a former police commissioner of Mumbai and a BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat, also asked the minister why such concession was not given to patients suffering from arthritis.
six league games to allow City to get back into the race and eventually, seal the title on the final day of the campaign. Kompany, who was instrumental to City’s dramatic comeback six seasons ago, is wary of a similar collapse from the league leaders this campaign and is eager to keep his team mates grounded despite their 12-point lead atop the table. “I don’t know if everyone will remember but it was six games left and we were eight points behind, so that’s why I am always the first to come in and say, ‘No guys, we can’t really take the foot off the gas’,” Kompany told British media.
business ‘RBI to cut rates 25 bps in April to signal lower lending rates’
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India is expected to go in for a policy rate cut of 25 bps in April next year to signal lower lending rates, which are key to the economic recovery, says a report. According to global financial services major Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML), inflation risks are “overdone” and though CPI inflation is likely to be 5.2 per cent in December 2017, it would cool down to around 4.5 per cent in the first half of 2018. Moreover, the Australian weather bureau is predicting
La Nina -- which gives a boost to the South-West Monsoon -- next year, which in turn would contain inflationary pressures. El Nino is the unusual warming of sea surface in the Pacific waters off the South American coast. La Nina is the positive phase of El Nino and is associated with cooler than average sea surface temperatures. “We continue to expect the RBI MPC (Monetary Policy Committee) to cut policy rates by 25 bps in April to signal a lending rate cut in the ‘slack’ industrial season,” BofAML said in a research note.
4 / Dt. 28-12-2017, thursday, Ahmedabad Asked whether he will accept the offer if the BJP picks him as a Rajya Sabha candidate from Gujarat in future, Vaghela said that is for the BJP to decide.
Came for oath event as I’m not part of either BJP or Congress: Shankersinh
Ahmedabad : WHILE HIS presence at Tuesday’s swearingin ceremony surprised many, Shankersinh Vaghela, who quit the Congress days before Rajya Sabha polls in the state, said after the event that he went there since he is part of “neither the BJP nor the Congress” now, and also because Vijay Rupani, who took
oath as Chief Minister, “personally came” and invited him. Asked about the possibility of his return to the BJP, Vaghela told The Indian Express, “Joining is something technical…. I do not want to join. I went (for oath ceremony) because there was an invitation.” He said, “I am not part of the BJP or Congress (any longer). I did not attend
Congress mocks BJP’s Gujarat win on Twitter, jokes about Modi being an empty-handed Santa Claus VADODARA: Congress has upped its social media game in the past few years. From constant memes to youth-centric content, their social media team focuses on everything that’s viral on the internet. But, along with viral content, they also produce content to provoke their opposition party. Their posts about BJP’s win in Gujarat, which they shared today, show how they are handling their party’s defeat. The official handle of Congress (Twitter/@INCIndia) shared three graphic pictures with a caption, “Meet a few of the ministers in the newly formed government in Gujarat”. The funny thing about the pictures shared by Congress’ official h a n d l e is that they also mentioned about their “wanted” statuses along with their criminal records. The social media team even joked about Prime Minister Narendra Modi being an empty-handed Santa Claus through a cartoon which was shared yesterday. The cartoon showed Narendra Modi dressed up as a Santa Claus with a thought bubble saying “He’s come with empty boxes again”.
oath-taking ceremonies in the past due to norms of the Congress party. As Leader of Opposition, it was not fair to attend. But now, there is no Congress or BJP.” Asked whether he will accept the offer if the BJP picks him as a Rajya Sabha candidate from Gujarat in future, Vaghela said that is for the BJP to decide.
www.sunvillasamachar.com Vijay Rupani’s New Cabinet: All About BJP’s Ministers In Gujarat NEW DELHI: A carefully crafted combination of Paatidars, tribal and OBC faces balanced with veterans and young guns Vijay Rupani took oath as Gujarat’s Chief Minister on Tuesday morning along with 19 other ministers in a grand ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah and other party A-listers. As he landed in state capital Gandhinagar, the Prime Minister held a road show, waving from his car to cheering crowds lined up along the route of his convoy to the secretariat grounds, the venue of the oath ceremony. The big show of strength and the carefully crafted new Gujarat cabinet signaled that, assembly elections over and its 6th successive term won, the BJP is already in prep mode for the 2019 general elections, when PM Modi will seek a second term. The BJP hopes to win all the state’s 26 seats like it did in 2014, re-calibrating its strategy after its winning margin was considerably reduced in this month’s assembly elections. While the party has chosen status quo by retaining Vijay Rupani as Chief Minister and Nitin Patel as his deputy, 11 minister of the previous cabinet also find a place in the new one.
PM must deliver Karnavati promise: Swamy AHMEDABAD: BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy has once again raked up the issue of renaming Ahmedabad as Karnavati. On Tuesday, Swamy tweeted that as the Gujarat chief minister, Narendra Modi had sent a proposal to Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister at the time, to rename Ahmedabad as Karnavati. Swamy tweeted that he urges “PM Modi to restore original name Karnavati for Ahmedabad. Now Namo is PM so he must finalise it.” This is the second time this year that Swamy is raising the issue. In April this year, when Swamy visited Vadodara to attend a function held by Bharat Vikas Parishad, he had brought up the name change. He recalled that his father was the first chief secretary of Gujarat when the state separated in 1960 from Maharashtra. In 2001, the standing committee of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) had first proposed and had even passed a resolution for renaming the city. The resolution was sent by the state government to the then Union home minister for approval. In 2004, the Union home minister at the time, L K Advani, rejected the resolution on the grounds that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had dismissed the claim that Ahmedabad was called Karnavati.
The court ruled that state legislature is competent and has the authority to form laws for state boards, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE).
Private school fee regulation law constitutionally valid: Gujarat HC Ahmedabad : In a relief to parents of children studying in private schools, the Gujarat High Court today said the state government’s law to regulate fees was constitutionally valid. Rejecting around 40 petitions opposing it, a division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi upheld the Gujarat Self Financed Schools (Regulation of Fees) Act, 2017. The court ruled that state legislature is competent and has the authority to form laws for state boards, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE). The HC rejected the contention of the CBSE and minority schools which had said that
the state government cannot regulate them. The Gujarat Self Financed Schools (Regulation of Fees) Act came into force in April this year after Governor O P Kohli gave his assent to the said Bill on April 12. The Bill was introduced by the BJP government in the last budget session with an aim to control the “exorbitant fees” charged by private schools “in the absence of a clear
Gujarat Effect: Angry Young, Rural Voters To Set Economic Tone VADODARA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will probably boost spending to retain young voters and those in India’s hinterland, who are straying away from his party as joblessness grows.The government will target a budget deficit of 3.2 of gross domestic product in the year starting April 1, according to a Bloomberg survey published this month, wider than the previous goal of 3 percent. Higher expenditure will stoke inflation that’s seen accelerating to 4.6 percent from 3.5 percent the previous year and boost GDP growth to 7.5 percent from a projected 6.7 percent. More people aged 18-25 are estimated to have voted for the opposition in an election in Modi’s home state of Gujarat, which ended with the ruling party getting its lowest seat tally in more than two decades. His Bharatiya Janata Party was pushed across the finish line largely because of its urban voters, which is acceptable for this region because of its higher urbanization rate but could backfire in a slew of state elections next year and a national vote in 2019. “The BJP is unlikely to interpret these results as business-as-usual,” Neelkanth Mishra and Deepali Bhargava, analysts at
international The move followed new United Nations sanctions announced last Friday in response to North Korea’s ICBM test.
law” regarding it. The fee structure prescribed in the Act for primary, secondary and higher secondary school is Rs 15,000, Rs 25,000 and Rs 27,000 per year, respectively. As per the rules of the Bill, all private schools, which want to charge fees more than what has been prescribed, need to submit their proposal with the fee regulatory committee before imposing any hike.
NEW YEAR EVENT AT HARE KRISHNA MANDIR, BHADAJ
Credit Suisse Group AG, wrote in a Dec. 18 report. They predict the budget due February will focus on rising farm distress and unveil cash transfers for fertilizer subsidies, crop insurance and possibly higher guaranteed crop prices. ”However, contrary to widely held beliefs, we do not expect a fiscal slippage,” they said, predicting a 3.1 percent shortfall for next year versus the 3.2 percent current-year target. Bank of America Merrill Lynch sees the government retaining 3.2 percent for next year, as write offs on farm loans will probably double to $40 billion by the time Modi faces re-election early 2019. Its economists Indranil Sen Gupta and Aastha Gudwani said the federal government -- which raised salaries for its employees last year -- could extend this to staff of state-run companies, and provincial administrations will rush to follow its lead.
Bhadaj : Hare Krishna Mandir, Bhadaj will be organizing New Year Celebrations on Sunday, 31st December 2017 at its centre. At the Hare Krishna Mandir, Bhadaj, New Year’s Eve will see an elaborate entertainment program, complete with enlivening music, fun filled & exciting games and dance drama on Krishna Lila& the Food Festival, all customized to offer a spiritual ambience.“While most in Ahmedabad would plan attending night parties,Hare Krishna Mandir, Bhadaj decided to bring in an opportunity to the people of Ahmedabad to welcome New Year amidst spiritual ecstasy- by joining in the New Year celebrations at their temple&start their New Year in an auspicious way”. Said Swamiji, Jaganmohan Krishna Dasa, President, Hare Krishna Mandir, Bhadaj. Various kinds of exciting Games will be organized with theview of not just entertaining the participants, but also impart significant spiritual values which they can adopt in their routine life and benefit from them. Each year, the temple’s Mantra Rock band, rings in the New Year at midnight with bhajans set to rock music.
Why hasty with me? Nawaz blames treason case against Musharraf for ouster
Why fear, when Russia’s here: Kremlin wants to mediate US, N Korea tensions Washington/Moscow: The United States announced sanctions on two of North Korea’s most prominent officials behind its ballistic missile program on Tuesday, while Russia reiterated an offer to mediate to ease tension between Washington and Pyongyang. The new US steps were the latest in a campaign aimed at forcing North Korea which has defied years of multilateral and bilateral sanctions - to abandon a weapons program aimed at developing nuclear-tipped missiles capable of hitting the United States. “Treasury
is targeting leaders of North Korea’s ballistic missile programs, as part of our maximum pressure campaign to isolate (North Korea) and achieve a fully denuclearized Korean Peninsula,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. The
move followed new United Nations sanctions announced last Friday in response to North Korea’s November 29 test of an ICBM that Pyongyang said put all of the US mainland within range of its nuclear weapons. Those sanctions sought to further limit North
Korea’s access to refined petroleum products and crude oil and its earnings from workers abroad. North Korea declared the UN steps to be an act of war and tantamount to a complete economic blockade. The standoff between the United States and North Korea has raised fears of a new conflict on the Korean peninsula, which has remained in a technical state of war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty. The United States has said that all options, including military ones, are on the table in dealing with North Korea.
Lahore: Former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif has said that a treason case against former President Pervez Musharraf by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government was the reason behind his ouster. The Dawn quoted Sharif as saying at the PML-N social media convention in Model Town that, “We got a treason case registered against Musharraf for abrogating the Constitution. But his case is still pending and a verdict came in my case in haste.” On
July 28, the Pakistan Supreme Court had disqualified Sharif from holding the office of prime minister and asked the National Accountability Bureau to file references against the Sharif family in connection with the corruption case against them. The former prime minister also questioned the courts saying, “Will we see any court hold Musharraf accountable for his crimes he asked and responded to his own question, saying: I am hopeful one day this will happen.
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