16 december 2015, wednesday

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ASSENG/2015/64205

Vol. 1

Issue 191

Total Quality Management in Universities

Dibrugarh, Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Student organizations of the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh have asked the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) to not derail the Assembly Session of Arunachal Pradesh on the pretext of “the sensitive and emotive issue of Chakma-Hajong settlement in Arunachal Pradesh”. In a joint release, the All Idu Mishmi Students’ Union (AIMSU), All Mishmi Students’ Union (AMSU), All Tangsa Students’ Union

ET CAPSULES

IPV Vaccination Dibrugarh, Dec 15: The IPV Vaccination programme for Dibrugarh district will be formally launched at John Berry White Hall in Dibrugarh on December 16, 2015. (Correspondent)

NHRC issues notice to Railways, Delhi Govt over demolition drive

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Ulfa linkman arrested Tinsukia, Dec 15: A joint team of Assam police and 7 Madras Regiment of Indian Army nabbed an Ulfa linkman from Talap area under Doomdooma police station. The accused has been identified as Basanta Borah alias Pol Moran, a resident of Tamuli village. According to allegations he was providing local support to Ulfa cadres and was helping them in extortion. (Correspondent)

Around Rs. 9 lakhs looted Teok, Dec 15: In a sensational case of robbery, at Kakajan Dihapool gaon of Teok under Lahdoigarh Police out post last night, around Rs. 9 lakhs were looted. According to sources, a six member gang of robbers broke into one Mr. Protap Bharali’s house and gagged and bound all the family members. The incident took place at round 2 am last night. The robbers looted a huge amount of cash and jewelry from the house, informed the family.

The concerned police officials taking the matter seriously tried to nab the robber gang using sniper dogs.

(Correspondent)

Rs. 2.4 lakh looted Rangia, Dec 15: A sum of Rs 2.40 lakh was looted from the box of a Vespa Scooter on Monday. According to the owner of the scooter Bikash jain he kept the amount in the box and parked it in front of his shop which is just in front of the Rangia police station. The miscreants looted the money from the box by breaking it. An FIR was lodged in the police station in this context. Police s t a r t e d investigation.(Correspondent)

Congress today disrupted Rajya Sabha proceedings raising questions over Arunachal Pradesh Governor Jyoti Prashad Rajkhowa's role and sought his dismissal alleging that his actions amounted to "murder of democracy and Constitution", inviting sharp

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Tiwa Autonomous Council (TAC) has expressed serious concern over the reported remark of Assam Chief Minister that TAC was formed with the help of terrorist organisations namely Tiwa Liberation Army.

Addressing a press conference, Rama Kanta Deori, Chief Executive Member of TAC challenged the CM's remark adding that the TAC was formed after democratic election and

Haisa further appealed to AAPSU to take steps in the interest of the peace and progress of the denizens of the state.

ANYA expresses strong opposition to AAPSU’s proposed State Assembly rally A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Dec 15

The All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) today expressed strong opposition with regard to the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) organising protest rally on 16th December 2015

at the Arunachal Pradesh State Legislative Secretariat, Naharlagun in connection with the burning Chakma-Hajong settlement issue. “AAPSU should know that the ChakmaHajong refugee issue is an international issue, Contd. on Page 3

reactions from the treasury benches. Raising the issue soon after the House assembled for the day, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad suggested that the Governor was "interfering" with the activities of the state government and the Legislature over Contd. on Page 4

ET Bureau Itanagar, Dec 15

The Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Shri Nabam Tuki accompanied by his cabinet colleagues called on the Governor Shri JP Rajkhowa at Raj Bhavan in the evening about 6.00 pm on 15th December 2015. The Chief Minister requested the Gover-

nor to recall his order of summoning the Assembly on 16th December 2015, terming it unconstitutional. The Governor said that they had legal options to challenge the Order.

The Governor explained that he had issued the Speaking Order dated 9th December 2015 as per laid down provisions of the Contd. on Page 3

Bhupenda is always in Itanagar administration on the heart of the people of their toes implementing DC’s prohibitory order Arunachal: Yese Dorje Shambhu Boro Tezpur, Dec 15

“Legendary bard, great humanitarian figure Dr Bhupen Hazarika was not the son of Assam, he was the son of Arunachal Pradesh, if he has any motherland, then it must be Arunachal Pradesh. He is always in the heart of the people of Arunachal. The lesser known fact is that he was born in a NEFA village, breastfed by Arunachali mothers for days together on being away from home. His hardlearned wisdom later made him a link between the isolated North-East and the mainland India, before he became the east-west cultural bridge.” This was said by prominent litterateur from Arunachal

Pradesh, Yese Dorje Thongshi while taking part in an interaction programme held in connection with pre-inaugural function of Bhupen Hazarika Kalabhumi at Chitralekha Park here this evening. In his speech pointing out the unwanted differences often witnessed among the brothers of the of region further said that it is the call of the time that the brothers of the region have to understand each other rooting out the misunderstanding which was a much cherished dream of the cultural icon. “Dr. Hazarika was lovingly called Bhupenda……one of the greatest cultural icons, the universe gave birth to. He sang the hearts of the masses.

ET Correspondent Lakhimpur, Dec 15

It is common belief that due to lack of proper supervision on the part of the State Health Department, the health sector in Lakhimpur District is currently in a paralysed condition.

It has been alleged that Nazarul Islam, the Health Minister of the Govt of Assam, too has paid no attention towards facilitating quality health care to the people of the district. It is

that non-Congress members formed the TAC. Deori challenged Tarun Gogoi to prove his allegation or face the music in the forthcoming Assembly poll. Addressing the newsmen, Manak Bordoloi, General Secretary, Tiwa Jatiya Oikya Manch said that it is unfortunate that the CM passed the remark that TAC is backed by terrorists and that it will not be tolerated and threatened that Tiwa will go the agitation path if the CM does not withdraw his remark.

ET Correspondent Itanagar, Dec 15

As per the prohibitory order issued by the DC cum DM Itanagar Capital Complex Mr. Mige Kamki on December 10 last banning carrying of fire-

arms, dao and other lethal weapons within the Capital Complex till January 01, 2016, the Executive Magistrates along with the Police are on their toes carrying out the Contd. on Page 3

NSCN(K) militant killed

said that due to such negligence on the part of the minister concern and department, the Boginadi Model Hospital is awaiting inauguration even after the building construction of the hospital was completed two years ago in 2013. In this connection, the people of the locality have expressed grievance for being deprived of the health services from the hospital.

Contd. on Page 3

Arunachal Governor reviews law and order ET Bureau Itanagar, Dec 15

The Governor of Arunachal Pradesh JP Rajkhowa reviewed the law and order situation in the State particularly in the State Capital at Raj Bhavan, Itanagar on 15th December 2015.

Contd. on Page 3

Women who prevented Rahul Gandhi entering Xatra have RSS links: Gogoi A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Dec 15

In view of objecting to and blocking the entrance of Member of the Parliament and Congress Vice-President Ranhul Gandhi to Barpeta Xatra, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that he had personally requested Satradhikar Basistha Dev Sharma to facilitate Rahul Gandhi's entry to the Xatra for offering prayer. In a statement here on Monday Gogoi said,

"Congress MP Rahul Gandhi was to begin his harmony yatra after paying obeisance to Barpeta Xatra on December 12. However, a section of the members of Xatra Parichalana (Management) Committee was opposed to it". Gogoi moreover said that he had intelligence inputs regarding some vested interests' intention not to allow Rahul Gandhi to enter Xatra. In view of this he (Gogoi) requested the Satradhikar personally to facilitate Rahul Gandhi's entry

The arms and ammo recovered from the slain militant ET Bureau Jagun/Margherita, Dec 15

One NSCN(K) militant was killed today in an encounter with 42 Assam Rifles today morning at around 5:30 am in Lonka village under Nampong police station. One AK-56 Se-

ries Rifle, 3 magazines, 105 live rounds of ammunition, hand grenades and a rifle launcher were recovered from the slain militant. According to reports, a group of 10-12 NSCN(K) cadres were taking shelter in the village. The rest of the militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness.

into the Xatra for him to pray for the welfare of the humanity. Gogoi also stated that the Satradhikar had no objection to Rahul Gandhi's entry into the Xatra. Gogoi however admitted that the intelligence report suggested that the women who allegedly prevented Rahul Gandhi from entering into the Xatra had RSS links. Moreover, the women were also instigated by some people having strong RSS links.

Contd. on Page 4

Arvind Kejriwal Says 'CBI Raided My Office', calls PM Narendra Modi 'Psychopath' Agencies New Delhi, Dec 15

A furious Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today alleged that his office had been raided by the CBI and directed an extraordinarily sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a "coward and psychopath". The ruling BJP has said Mr Kejriwal owes the PM an unqualified apology.

Contd. on Page 4

Arvind Kejriwal and Narendra Modi during ‘Happier’ times

CEC to visit Assam next week A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Dec 15

The Chief Election Commissioner is expected to visit Assam next week to review the preparations for Assembly elections scheduled to be held in March-April next year. CEC Nasim Zaidi along with Election Commissioners Achal Kumar Joti and Om Prakash

Rawat are likely to tour the state on December 21-22.

They will meet senior state poll authorities in capital Guwahati and take stock of the electoral rolls preparation, hold review meetings with political parties, senior government and police officials before initiating measures for the state's Assembly election due next year.

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Dec 15

After the ruling Congress claimed the Assam state government had an intelligence report that indicated the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party were looking to create "an untoward situation" during the recent visit of party vice president Rahul Gandhi, the BJP demanded that the re-

Sum Ronghang demands CBI prob into HAD Minister’s alleged illegal activities Sushanta Roy Diphu, Dec 15

port be made public. "The government must make public the intelligence report," BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday. A bitter war of words had broken between the Congress and the BJP after Gandhi claimed the RSS had stopped him from entering the Vaishnavite Satra (monastery) in Barpeta in Assam.

BJP stalwart of Karbi Anglong and former Chief Executive Member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council Sum Ronghang has charged Hill Areas Development Minister of Gogoi Cabinet Khorsing Engti of enormous sleaze in connection with the developmental fund of KAAC and Dima Hasao Autonomous Council during the last 10 years. Addressing a press conference at his Diphu residence, Sum Ronghang told the reporters that Khorsing Engti not only “siphoned off colossal amount of money in the wake of the notorious thousand crore scam of Dima Hasao autonomous district but also he received one luxury car from RH Khan,

Contd. on Page 4

Contd. on Page 4

BJP demands ‘Vaishnavite Satra’ intelligence report be made public

Contd. on Page 3

Lakhimpur’s Boginadi Model Hospital awaits inauguration

Tarun Gogoi’s TAC-terrorist connection remark challenged ET Correspondent Morigaon, Dec 15:

threatened to stall the proceedings of the ensuing Arunachal Pradesh assembly session which gets underway from December 16. AAPSU President Kamta Lapung had said, “We are fully prepared and will go ahead. If we do not act now, it will be too late for us and the refugees will start dominating us” while demanding that the state government must necessarily move and pass a Bill against granting citizenship rights to the Chakma and Hajongs.

Meanwhile, All Changlang District Students’ Union (ACDSU) president Mengpa

Congress seeks Arunachal Governor expresses extreme dissappointment at the Governor's dismissal, stalls behaviour of cabinet ministers Rajya Sabha ET Bureau New Delhi, Dec 15

Pages- 12

Retail inflation at 14-month high of 5.4%

Student organizations ask AAPSU to not derail Assembly Session (ATSU), All Notce Students’ Union (ANSU), All Tutsa Students’ Union (ATSU), All Wangcho Students’ Union (AWSU), All Singpho Students’ Union (ASSU) and other district students’ union hailing from the district of Lower Dibang valley, Dibang Valley, Anjaw, Lohit, Tirap, Changlang and Longding stated that since the current situation in the state is fragile, the AAPSU needs to take a mature stand and help the state construct a peaceful and conducive atmosphere for development. It might be mentioned that AAPSU recently

5.00

Tiger Extinction: Where Have All The Pug Marks Gone?

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ET Bureau Itanagar, Dec 15

Price -

Assam girl brings laurels for the state, bags Gold in 61st National School Games Rupjyoti Mahanta Bokajan, Dec 15

After Proneeta Swargiyary and Nahid Afrin, another 12 year old girl from the Karbi Anglong district of Assam brought glory to the state of Assam as she proved her mettle in the 61st National School Games held at Jabalpur, Maharashtra. A total of 19 states participated in the event and the young talent bagged Gold for the state after a gap of 4 long years. Binita Sharma, the class VIII student of Green Valley High School, Bokajan clinched Gold in the U-12 34 kg Karate Championship event of the 61st National School Games by thrashing her Rajasthan counterpart by 13 points. Prior to this victory, Binita added two Gold medals

to her ever growing kitty at the 8th NSKF India National Karate-Do Championship, Darjeeling in the U-12 individual kumite and U-14 individual kata event for girls held in January 2015. Binita even represented India internationally and clinched two other Gold medals in the U-14 individual kata and U-12 individual kumite event in the 5th NSKF South Asian Karate-Do Championship held at Kathmandu, Nepal. Binita added yet two more Gold to her medal tally in the U-12 individual kata and U-10 individual kumite event at 7th NSKF National Karate Championship, 2012 held in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.

Despite such great performances, the young talent has been battling financial con-

straints due to lack of sponsorship. “Lack of exposure and infrastructural constraints is yet another factor affecting the young sporting talent which exposes the apathy on the part of sports governing authorities.” A relative of hers rued.

Apparently, the claims of the Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mr Sarbananda Sonowal with regard to providing sports facilities and financial assistance to encourage sporting talents in the rural areas have not been translated into reality. “Although, the Sports Ministry has formulated various sports promotional schemes to identify and nurture sporting talents in the age group of 8-12 years, many are yet to see the light of day due to obvious reasons of favoritism, influence, politics

Binita Sharma of Bokajan with her Gold medal. Pic Nakib Ahmed and so on.” An official says on condition of anonymity. Nevertheless, Binita has given her best so far from domestic dominance to victories abroad.

But, her success story rests solely on her feet and it's time the Sports Ministry walks the talk and recognises the potential of such young aspirants.

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Dalam Studio Near parking stand Khonsa

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DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16

Exhibition on Commerce held at Reliance College Jr ET Correspondent Golaghat, Dec 15: Department of Commerce of Golaghat Reliance College Jr organised an exhibition on Commerce today at the College premises in memory of Founder Chairman Late Rupak Gogoi. The lighting of lamp was done by Rector Dr TN Hazarika.

In the inaugural ceremony, Judge Professor Rajesh Jaywalk, Principal Priyanka Saikia Das and Tankeshwar Pathak were present. The wel-

A moment from the exibition at Golaghat Reliance Junior College

come speech was given

by Amit Nagori. Students gave presentations on topics related to Economy and Commerce. Speaking on the occasion, Mr Rajesh Jaiswal said, “It is the first time ever that he has seen a ‘Commercial exhibition’ by students in Golaghat.” He also explained the importance of entrepreneurs and management." In the prize distribution ceremony, Apurba Vallabh Goswami, Rohit Gogoi, Dip Kalita, Siddharth

Handique, Rajeev Karmakar, Suresh Agarwal, Sarang Tamuly among others were present. The first prize was bagged by Rinku Kalita, Prasannajit Kairi and Darpan Jyoti Bhuiya (Farming and Animal Husbandary); second prize by Animesh Borah, Izak Lal Thunei and Ankur Das (Small Tea growers); and 3rd prize by Subham Pal and Subham Paul (Assam Bandh). The best performance award was given to Puja Deb.

RK Jitani Hindi Vidyalaya gears AASU unit formed up for golden jubilee celebration at Demow

A view of the press meet.

ET Correspondent Naharkatia, Dec 15: RK Jitani Hindi Vidyalaya, one of the premier institutes in Naharkatia, is gearing up to celebrate its golden jubilee year with the celebrations commencing on 26th December 2015 till 28th Decem-

ber 2015. RK Jitani Hindi Vidyalaya was established in the year 1965

by Ramchandra Kanhiya Lal Jitani with the aim to provide quality education. Along with great modern infrastructure, highly qualified teaching staff, excellent atmo-

sphere and round the Jaganath Gogoi clock activities, the Demow, Dec 15: An school has proved itself. AASU new unit has A good number of ex-stu- been formed at Demow dents have also excelled Kasumari with the supin various other fields of port from Demow ReCentral Govt, State Gov- gional Students’ Union ernments, Corporate on 12 December 2015. sector as well as entre- On the occasion, a meetpreneurship. The idea is ing was held presided by not only to rejoice the Bitu Gogoi while the impast achievements of portance of the meeting this institution but also was brought home by to create awareness Sintu Das. Among othamong masses of Assam ers, Aditra Sharma advithat such a great institu- sor of Demow regional tion is available for their bright wards, and in view of which the theme of the Golden Jubilee celebration has been set as ‘Culture of India and B.S.Malik Assam’ Sonepat, Dec 15: Despite all precautionary and preventive measures, the number of road accidents has continuously increased in cases in the Lok Adalat the district during last etc. But these remaining three years. According to cases have been referred to police records, the numnext Lok Adalat/regular ber of accidents incourt for necessary steps creased from 682 in as per law. These Lok 2013 to 773 in 2014 and Adalat are held from time 734 in 2015 till Decemto time as per the sched- ber 14. Similarly, there ule of the State Legal Ser- were 302 casualties in vice Authority of the 2013, 307 in 2014 and state.(DIPRO) 347 in 2015 till today.

Road Mishaps on the rise in the state

Lok Adalat disposes off 14 criminal cases Aalo, Dec 15: Altogether 14 criminal compoundable cases out of 58 cases were disposed off in the National Lok Adalat held in the District Court Building, Aalo on 12th December last. Tage Halley, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Civil Judge (Sr. Divn) along

with members of District Legal Service Authority comprising Advocate Minrik Noshi, Advocate Todak Ado, and Advocate Gorik Kamduk disposed off the cases but could not take up other cases due to absence of victim/complainant and unwillingness of the party to settle the

students’ union, general secretary Humen Gogoi, Heman Yane, Suvhasi Borkatoki, Sudripra Gogoi, Sivaprahad Saikia, and Manash Boruah were present.

The new students’ union of Kasumari has Mun Husain and Bitu gogoi as advisors, Ajit Sahu as president, Sintu Das as general secretary, Kumandra Kariya and Prakhanta Tiwari as vice president.

The number of injured in the road accidents this year was 909 against 639 in 2014 and 685 in 2013.

Sunil Kumar, DSP Traffic said that most of the accidents take place due to negligence in driving which include over speeding, not using helmets or safety belts while driving. Around 8000 new vehicles come on the roads in the district every year. “The drivers have to be self disciplined in observing traffic rules,” he opined.

Sports Swahid Piyoli Phukon College, Namti enters next round was bowled out for just ET Correspondent Sonari, Dec 15: Swahid 57 runs in 17 overs.

Piyoli Phukon College, Dipjyoti Gogoi scored 12.

Namti defeated Jhanji Raju Hussain claimed 5 Hemnath Sarmah Col- for 21 while Abu Saleh lege by 9 wickets in the captured 3 for 22 runs for the inauNamti gural DU inter college cricket side. match In reo f Group – C match of the ply, Swahid Piyoli Dibrugarh University In- Phukon College got the ter College Cricket Tour- winning runs in just 9.3 nament which got under- overs losing only 1 way at the Sonari public wicket. Hanseng Konwar playground, here, today. and Mirja Asif were the Piyoli Phukon College two umpires. Tomorrow, won the toss and invited Gargaon College will against their opponent to bat play first. The Jhanji College B.L.Borphukon College.

Charaideo Kabbadi squad announced ET Correspondent Sonari, Dec 15: The Charaideo Kabbadi squad to feature in the 35th All Assam Inter District Junior (Boy’s and Girl’s) Kabaddi Competition which will be held at Krishnai in Goalpara from 18 to 20 December has been announced. This was stated in a press release issued by Swapon Kar, secretary of the Charaideo District Kabbadi Association.

The players are – Boys: Uttam Mahatu, Surajit Gayan,

Uddipta Baruah, Rupam Phukon, Mahesh Chetia, Khagen Gogoi, Ankur Saikia, Bhaskar Gogoi, Lakhya Barbaruah, Binod Changmai, Bijoy Sonowal, Asraf Ali, Manjit Baruah, Raja Gogoi and Mridul Gogoi. Girls: Janmoni Gogoi, Ditimoni Chetia, Vitali R a j k u m a r i , Trishnamoni Sonowal, Pori Saikia, Pori Gogoi, Elena Murmu, Gayatri Gogoi, Bornali

Handique, Purobi Hatimuria, Promila Murmu, Puja Dey and Binita Murmu. Manager – Swapon Kar; Coaches – Krishna Singh and Abhijit Saikia. The players have been requested to bring adequate age proof documents like birth certificate or HSLC admit card along with 2 copies of passport size photograph. For any further details the players may contact: Swapon Kar at 9954469126.

3rd CM’s trophy starts Jairampur ET Correspondent Jairampur, Dec 15: The constituency level 3rd CM’s trophy football and volleyball tournament kicked off today. In the inaugural ceremony, Nobinkam Tikhak, Chairperson of Anchal Samity, ADC Kento Riba, PRI members were present. The inaugural match was played between Nampong and Manmao blocks. All together 16 teams including both men and womens’ teams are participating in the district level tournament.

Dignitaries pose for a photo during the inaugural ceremony; Players lined up before the start of the inaugural match. ET PHOTO

Indian Idol fame singer Nahid Afreen being felicitated at Jorhat Maloupathar Jatiya Vidyalaya. Pic - Nekib Ahmed

ASTRO FOR YOU Today finds you in a horrible dilemma – caught between your beloved and your boss. You can’t bear to displease either one of them. However, sometimes you have to smilingly tackle such dilemmas. Take heart, life generally doesn’t give you what you can’t control.

This is a day when you will be dying to share your thoughts and feelings with someone near and dear. You will be extremely effective in communicating your ideas and emotions and will thus develop greater closeness and intimacy with your loved one. The time spent with your sweetheart will be full of love and warmth.

Financial matters could become a cause of worry. You need to cut down on unnecessary expenses. You could look at investing in real estate. You will spend the evening blissfully with your spouse or partner.

You will give top priority to love today. It is the best time to talk your mind to the beloved. Being happy with your colleagues, you will give them a treat in the evening. You will make everyone happy.

You will complete your tasks courageously today. You will have the patience to wait for the fruits of your labour to fall into your lap, so as to say.

You will redo those tasks that you are unable to complete to your expectations. Owing to this attitude of yours, you do not need to worry about a thing.

You will feel very agitated about some prickly issues today. There is a likelihood of your joining some sort of a course to improve your personality. There is also a possibility of an intimate conversation leading up to some carnal enjoyment.

You will get fame and prestige in the field of broad casting media and in the world of art. This is the evening where you will have to make a choice and decision regarding higher studies. Luck will be with you.

Keeping your personal and professional life different would prove beneficial to you. Commitment and dedication towards your work will win you accolades. This definitely calls for a celebration in the evening. Raising a toast to your success story followed by candle-lit dinner with your beloved would be just perfect to end the day.

Creative juices are likely to flow freely today. You are all geared up to meet new challenges in life and crack few business deals. Financial gains on the cards. However, make sure your health does not take a back-seat all this while.

Today, you will sit back and think about the mistakes you have made in the past. At work, you perform like a team player and play an important role in the success of your team. But, your efforts may go unnoticed or may not receive deserved appreciation. It will disappoint you, but you know your worth so you’ll not complain about it.

It is time to catch up some friends and have a good time. You discuss a variety of topics with them, ranging from music to spirituality, from social system to human values, and from politics to career prospects. In the evening, you will spend some romantic moments with sweetheart, may go out for dinner or just enjoy each other’s company.

You need to control the vortex of emotions swirling through you. Your savage mood swings could have a bearing on vital decisions you need to take today. You need to guard against being emotional, be more calculative in your dealings, and think lesser about chasing after money.

PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz) Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights

16-12-15 (WEDNESDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-50 A.M-Naam 6-30 A.M-Bidyarthir Anusthan 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali (Assamese Modern Song) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 12-05 P.M-Surar Satsori 2-30 P.M-Western Music Programme 3-45 P.M-Programme in Miju Mishmi 4-05 P.M-Programme in Khamti 4-25 P.M-Programme in Wancho 4-45 P.M-News for Arunachal Pradesh 5-00 P.M-Programme in Idu 5-20 P.M-Programme in Tangsa 5-40 P.M-Programme in Nocte 7-15 P.M-Karpumpuli 7-35 P.M-Ujjwal Bhabishyat 8-15 P.M-Talk in English 8-00 P.M-Parikrama 10-00 P.M-Question Hour in Parliament Sd-/H.O.P

PAGE 3

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16

14 Congress MLAs disqualified from membership for defection A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Dec 15: In a big blow to the anti-Tuki camp, the Arunachal Pradesh assembly through a gazette notification published today disqualified the membership of 14 Congress MLAs for defecting from the party. The notification issued and signed by

M.Lasa, secretary, Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Naharlagun states that the following members of the sixth Arunachal Pradesh legislative assembly elected from the assembly constituencies shown against their name have been disqualified from the

Arunachal Pradesh legislative assembly with effect from Dec. 15, 2015. The MLAs members Pema Khandu (Mukto), Kumar Waii (Bamang), Kameng Dolo (Pakke-Kessang), Markio Tado (Tali), Jarkar Gamlin (Aalo), P.D.Sona (Mechuka), Mutchu Mithi (Roing),

Kamlung Mossang (Miao), Phosum Khimhun (Changlang – South), Wanglin Lowangdong (BorduriaBogapani), T.Wangham (Longding – Pumao), Lombo Tayeng (Mebo), Kalikho Pul (Hayuliang) and T.N.Thongdok (Kalaktang). The order also further stated that

‘consequent upon the disqualification of the membership of the above mentioned MLAs, the seats of the above mentioned assembly constituency have been declared as vacant’. The next session for the assembly is scheduled to begin from Wednesday.

ANYA expresses strong opposition to AAPSU’s proposed State Assembly rally Contd. from Page 1

and in trying to tackle or handle such a complex issue, they should be mature and have the intellectual strength and long term vision for permanent solution to this issue without politicizing it or without making it as money generator or trying to solve it overnight and moreover, every citizen of the state knows

that the state is faced with serious political crisis, and at such a juncture, no Bill can be passed in state assembly peacefully and successfully, therefore, the proposed protest rally announced is a politically motivated one under the dictation of Chief Minister and Speaker with an intent to disrupt the Assembly session scheduled to be held from 16th December to 18th December 2015.” ANYA

said in a release. Meanwhile, ANYA advised that AAPSU should rather cooperate with the govt in order to sort out the political crisis of the state for healthy and rapid development activities in public interest.

On the other hand, ANYA urged upon the All Nyishi Students’ Union (ANSU) not to communalize the “fabricated the viral audio/ voice clipping being circulated against Former

Bhupenda is always in the heart of the people of Arunachal: Yese Dorje Contd. from Page 1

He referred to rivers, hills, cruelty, reflected the naked truth of life, the degeneration of human values and greed destroying the humanity.” He said adding he had disappeared into the sun, leaving behind a legacy that would continue to echo across the length and breadth of the nation, particularly in Arunachal Pradesh hills.

From the non-descriptive Bolung village in the present Lower Dibang valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, his journey across the globe is unique. “We are planning to make a life-size

statue of the cultural legend in Arunachal Pradesh to keep him alive among us thereby reflecting the brotherhood among the people of the seven sisters.” He maintained. The august event conducted by noted journalist Samudra Gupta Kasyap was graced by noted journalist and writer from Nagaland Dr. Ngully Charles Chesi, ex-vice president, Bodo Sahitya Sabha, General Secretary of Tiwa Sahitya Sabha, Bidyut Bikash Senapoti, vice president of the Tiwa Sahitya Sabha, Sarat Chandra Pator, Prominent litterateur Dr. Nityananda Gogoi, noted theatre personality, Sukrasarjya

Itanagar administration on their toes implementing DC’s prohibitory order Contd. from Page 1

drive day and night of seizing weapons as well as ensuring that law and order is maintained in the Capital Complex. The order was issued in view of the festival season and apprehension of breach of peace and tranquillity in the Capital Complex.

Lauding the Magistrates and Police, the DC informed that a large number of daos and other weapons have been seized till now which are kept in the respective Police Stations under the jurisdiction of the sector

magistrates. EAC Tame Yajum informed that a total number of 12 daos have been seized from Pappu Nallah trijunction under her jurisdiction.

Neelam Teji, CO Naharlagun who has been especially deputed for the purpose by DC/DM today has seized more than 70 daos and 3 licensed firearms at Banderdewa checkgate. Further checking has also been intensified at several locations and cases under 188 IPC are being registered. The DC further appealed to all to cooperate with the magistrates and police for effectively carrying out their duties.

Arunachal Governor reviews law and order Contd. from Page 1

The Governor emphasised that State Government should ensure there is no breach of peace and tranquilly and law and order is strengthened in view of prevailing situation in the State.

He advised the State Home Minister and Chief Secretary to take all precautions and necessary actions to contain untoward incidence, if any. Chairing the high level Security Meeting,

the Governor also advised that message should go to the people that any act of violence or law and order situation will be strongly dealt with. State Home Minister Tanga Byaling, Chief Secretary Ramesh Negi, Principal Secretary Home Dharmendra Sharma, Director General of Police S Nithiananda and Superintendent of Police, Capital Devendra Arya attended the meeting along with security officers from other agencies.

Rabha, retired prof. of Rhode island university, USA Dilip Kr Dutta, Dr. Caroline R Marak from Meghalaya HoD, Department of History, Pcchunga University Dr. J V Hluna among others.

Among other dignitaries Toren Boro, Ex-Vice president of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha spoke on the unmatched contribution of Dr. Bhupen Hazarika towards building a classless society and strengthening the bond of brotherhood through music and urged all concerned to come forward to give adequate recognition to the legendary bard by following his ideology so as to save the Assamese nation.

Finance Minister K Pul” adding that Kaliko Pul is a graduate and an intellectual person and experienced politician of the state who is well aware that if he gives such negative statements against any community of the state particularly against we Nyishi at this hour, he can never be the Chief Minister of the state and may have to leave the political arena forever.

Further, ANYA appealed to all the parents and

guardians of the student community and all the denizens of the state not to encourage their students and wards to join in the proposed AAPSU rally as “it is being organised for some political gain and purpose” adding that the parents and guardians of the state must not let their children be misled/misguided by any organisation that is acting in view of their vested interests or for personal benefits.

Governor expresses extreme dissappointment at the behaviour of cabinet ministers Contd. from Page 1

Constitution and the Law and in exercising powers conferred on him under clause (1) of article 174 of the Constitution of India. In addition to it, legal experts were consulted. Not willing to listen to the Governor, questioning his authority and judgement, some of the Ministers got very agitated and led by Shri Tapang Taloh, Education Minister used unparliamentary words and gestured in very animated and threatening manner before leaving Raj Bhavan. They also virtually threatened to disturb the Assembly session

starting from tomorrow.

The Governor expressed extreme disappointment at the behaviour of the Cabinet Ministers, particularly when Chief Minister himself sought the appointment for official deliberations. Shri Tanga Byaling, Minister (Home), Shri Rajesh Tacho, Minister (Health and Family Welfare), Shri Tapang Taloh Minister (Education), Shri Gojen Gadi, Minister (PWD), Shri Jomde Kena, Minister (Transport etc.), Shri Tirong Aboh (Minister (Civil Supplies & DoTCL etc.), Shri Phurpa Tsering, Minister (Power Civil) and Shri Takam Pario, Minister (PHED etc.) accompanied the Chief Minister.

Lakhimpur’s Boginadi Model Hospital awaits inauguration Contd. from Page 1

It is noteworthy that the mentioned hospital was established with an investment of an amount of about Rs 2 crore under National Rural Health Mission while the foundation stone of this 30bedded hospital was laid

by Tarun Gogoi, the Chief Minister of the Assam. It got its construction completed in

2013. Then the process of appointing staff began and almost all categories of the incumbents were appointed. Significantly, one post of Deputy Superin t e n dent, five posts of Speciality Doctor cum S en i o r M ed i cal an d Health Officer have been still lying vacant.

Moreover, the Medical Offi cer (Ay u s h ) and the Assistant Matron are also not filled

up as a result of which, as a whole, it is said to be the root cause of the delay. In this connection, the Chauldhowa-Boginadi Anchalik Students’ Union submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner of the district and demanded necessary steps be taken to make health services available in the hospital without any delay.

Rules regarding quoting PAN amended New Delhi, Dec. 15 (ANI): TheCentral Government has enhanced the monetary limits of certain transactions that require quoting of Permanent Account Number (PAN). The monetary limits have now been raised to Rs. 10 lakh from Rs. 5 lakh for the sale or purchase of im-

movable property; to Rs.50,000 from Rs. 25,000 in the case of hotel or restaurant bills paid at any one time, and to Rs. 1 lakh from Rs. 50,000 for purchase or sale of shares of an unlisted company. In keeping with the Government's thrust on financial inclusion,

opening of a no-frills bank account such as a Jan Dhan Account will not require PAN. Other than that, the requirement of PAN applies to opening of all bank accounts, including in cooperative banks. The changes to the Rules will take effect from January 1.

Man injured in bomb blast in Kolkata IANS Kolkata, Dec 15: A middle-aged man was seriously injured when a crude bomb burst in the city on Tuesday.

Police said the man had

ventured out of his makeshift shop at the crossing of CIT Road and Ramkrishna Samadhi Road at around 2.45 pm. Police had launched investiga-

tion into the blast and how the bomb came to be there. The injured was being treated at Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and hospital, the police added.

Job Mela held at Khonsa Khonsa, Dec 15: Job Mela cum selection rally under CM’s flagship programme for skill development and employment generation was conducted at District Industries Centre Khonsa on 14th December, 2015. A total of seven Vocational Training Providers (VTP), viz., O2 Skill Hyderabad, HP Institute Guwahati, DB Tech Dimapur, DBYC Itanagar, CIPET Guwahati, GPTI North Lakhimpur and Vocational Training School Guwahati have actively participated in the programme. Altogether 280 candidates have registered for vocational training in different trades. Tirap Deputy Commissioner Ravi Jha suggested the VTPs to provide every possible fa-

Youth participants at the Job Mela outside the District Industries Centre held at Khonsa.

cility to the selected candidates during training and provide the jobs to the successful candidates in the reputed companies, so that youth should not face problems and return after a short service in future. P Arangham, DDI asked the VTPs to intimate the Chairman of

Petrol price cut by 50 paise, Diesel by 46 New Delhi, Dec.15 (ANI): Petrol price was on Tuesday cut by 50 paisa a litre and diesel by 46 paisa with effect from midnight tonight.

Petrol will cost Rs 59.98 in Delhi as against Rs 60.48 per litre currently. A litre of diesel will cost Rs 46.09 as compared to Rs 46.55 now,

said the nation's biggest fuel retailer,Indian Oil Corp (IOC). Last month, state fuel retailers had cut the price of petrol by 50 paise a litre but kept that of diesel unchanged following their fortnightly review to align local prices with international ones and adjust for foreign exchange rates.

Eight-year-old becomes police commissioner for a day Hyderabad, Dec. 15 (ANI): An eight-year-old boy, Madipalli Roop Aurouna, who is suffering from Thalassemia and requires blood transfusion after every 20-25days, on Tuesday got the charge of the Hyderabad Police Commissioner for a day. After getting the charge, Roop, a Class 2 student , who requires blood transfusion after every 2025days, signed leave letters of officials of the Hyderabad Police Commissionerate at Basheerbagh. The child, son of Ranjitha and Vikram, who is a school teacher, has expressed his wish to become

the Hyderabad Police Commissioner for a day. Roop's wish was fulfilled by MakeA-Wish Foundation - an organisation that grants wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions to enrich their human experience with hope, strength and joy - coordinator Dr. Pushpa Devi Jain.

Roop said he wants to control law and order to check crimes like chain snatching.

The child needs to take proper medicines, diet and go for regular checkups to see that his blood iron level doesn't go high as it may affect his other vital organs.

District Level Skill Development Committee about the agreement between the VTPs and Job Providers whenever job placement will be done for prospective candidates in future. All the VTPs ensured to send each document of agreement to every District level committee besides submitting to the Directorate of Skill Development and Employment Generation. (DIPRO)

Motor bike stolen Tapas Samaddar Rangia, Dec 15: A blue-coloured Pulsur motor cycle bearing registration No. AS 01 B J 3594 was stolen by some miscreants on Monday. According to the bike owner, Marfat Ali of Dhulabari Rangia, he parked the bike in front of Rangia Sub divisional Judicial Court at about 12 noon and entered into the court. After a few minutes, when he came back his bike was not there. After failing to find it, he rushed to the Rangia police station and filed an FIR. Meanwhile, police started investigation.

Northeast students to be sponsored for training abroad, says Jitendra Singh New Delhi, Dec.15 (ANI): Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) and MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh has said that, beginning from next year, selected students and youth from theNortheast Region will be sponsored for professional training abroad in some of the best institutions outside India. Addressing a seminar on " Empowering Northeast India" organised by "North Eastern Development Foundation", said that, to begin with, eight youths will be sent for training in Fashion Technology and Hospitality or Protocol courses. Jitendra Singh said, his main concern is the mass exodus of youth from Northeast who initially leave the region in search of quality high education and later take a job and settle in other parts of the country. If we have a pro-

vision for a streamlined sponsored training outside, he said, the youth will not only gain access to quality high education but would also have the option to go back to their native place and serve. In the same vein, Jitendra Singh said, he had recently also finalised an arrangement for cost-free training of young doctors from Northeast in some of the best medical institutes outside. To begin with, first group of selected physicians and surgeons will start a 6 month training course in Onco-Surgery and Onco-Medicine in Adyar Cancer Institute, Chennai from January 1, 2016, he added. At the same time, he said, considering high prevalence of cancer in the region, he is also proposing for acceptance of Medical Council of India, exclusive seats in DM and Mch in OncoMedicine and Onco-Surgery respectively at Adyar Cancer Institute. Jitendra

Singh also disclosed that he was persuading the leaders of food industry to invest in Northeast which would not only enable production of original products with market across the borders but would also generate huge employment avenues for the youth. He also informed that, with a view to carry forward "India's Bamboo Mission", an international conference is being planned in the first half of next year, which is expected to give boost to the bamboo industry and bamboo related vocational opportunities in Northeast. Singh appealed to entrepreneurs, business leaders and representatives of consultancy agencies attending the conference to come forward to enter in an arrangement with the DoNER Ministryand thus contribute both professionally and financially to support the efforts to benefit the youth of the region.

Trying to engage Pak in meaningful dialogue, says PM Modi ANI Kochi (Kerala), Dec. 15: Chairing the Combined Commanders Conferenceon board INS Vikramaditya off Kochi coast on Tuesday, Prime MinisterNarendra Modi said India was trying to engage Pakistan in a meaningful dialogue to build a peaceful relationship with the aim to promote stability and prosperity in the region. "The country will never drop its guard on security and

judge the progress of the dialogue on the neighbouring country's commitment on the terrorism," said Prime Min-

ister Modi. This was for the first time that the Combined Commander's conference was held outside Delhi.

PAGE 4

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16

Maitree Utsav-2015 concludes at Haflong ET Correspondent Haflong, Dec 15: Maitree Utsav-2015, organised by the Maitree Utsav Celebration Committee at Haflong on December 13th and December 14th came to a conclusion with the demand of organising such events in other places of the district and making it a yearly event of the district coming out to the fore. On December 13th the programme started with the hoisting of Maitree Flag by Smt Juri Phukon, DC, Dima Hasao and President of Maitree Utsav in the presence of Dr Ardhendu Dey, Chairman, Linguistic Minority Council, K a m a l a k s h y a Deypurkayastha, Parliamentary Secretary, Govt of Assam, Shiladitya Deb, BJP State spokesperson, Dr Saumen Bharatiya Vice President, Maitree Utsav among a huge gathering of people from all walks of life. This was followed by the inauguration of Book Fair and Ethnic Food court by Dr Ardhendu Dey and followed by the felicitation of the Chief Guest and Guests of Honour with traditional gamosa and mementos. Speaking on

Anamika Chowdhury (centre) of Sa RE Ga Ma’s Little champ fame performing at the Maitree Utsav-2015.

the Deypurkayastha, Deb, Dr Bharatiya while appreciating the tireless efforts of the organisers opined that this type of event can act as a bridge among the people of Brahmaputra Valley and Barak Valley and also as a prime platform for fostering understanding each other. In the evening an interaction on spreading good news about Dima Hasao was held with Samudra Gupta Kasyap, Sr_Journalist, In-

dian Express, Guwahati, acting as the moderator.

Taking part as resource persons Biioy Sankar Bora, Sr. Journalist, Guwahati, Rahul Karmokar, Guwahati, Arijit Aditya, Editor, Dainik Jugasankha, Silchar, Bikash Chakraborty, News Editor, Dainik Samayik Prasanga, Silchar discussed various aspects on spreading good news about Dima Hasao.

The day’s programme was

also augmented with the felicitation of five very special personalities of the Dima Hasao District viz.

Bikash Brahma, IFS, PCCF, Smt Juri Phukan, DC, Dima Hasao, Giridhari Sah, renowned social worker, Umrangsu, Bidhan Dasgupta, renowned social work, Maibang and Sukhendra Phonglo, renowned social work, Haflong who have contributed a lot in their respective fields of service

towards the development of the district. In the evening traditional cultural programme by the local participants and cultural performance by folk band ‘Dolchut’ from Silchar kept the audience spellbound through the night.

On December 14th, in the evening a cultural programme by Anamika Chowdhury of Sa RE Ga Ma’s Little champ fame enthralled the audience of Haflong with her fantastic performance. This was a unique type of function where the culture and traditions of various tribes of people dwelling in the District came to the fore and spread the message of ‘Unity in Diversity’. Seminar, Book Fair, Souvenir Publication, Traditional Food Hut and plenty of Music and Cultural Programmes were the highlights of the two-day celebrations. Meanwhile, Pankaj Deb, Organising Secretary of Maitree Utsav offered his heartfelt thanks to the people of Dima Hasao, various departments and heads of these departments for their active participation for the grand success of the Maitree Utsav-2015.

Rangia National Energy Conservation Week Tapas Samaddar Rangia, Dec 15: The National Energy Conservation Week is being celebrated with a 7-day programme as on Monday last at Rangia Railway division along with the rest of the country. The programme was inaugurated by Radhey Raman, Divisional Railway Manager Rangia Rail Division. A seminar was also organized at the divisional office, Rangia while it was presided by DRM Raman. Meanwhile, Vinod Kr. Agarwalla Adl. Divisional Rly Manager

and Dev Kr. Sonwani Divisional Electrical Engineer were the resource persons at the seminar.

Hundreds of Railway staff from the entire division participated in the seminar. During the seminar, the need of energy conservation in the present scenario was stressed upon by the resource persons. They also described the various methods for implementation of energy conservation in the areas of the Railways. The Railway authority also distributed hundreds of LED bulbs to

Railway staff. A quiz competition for the Rail-

Arvind Kejriwal Says 'CBI Raided My Office', calls PM Narendra Modi 'Psychopath' Contd. from Page 1

The CBI denies raiding or sealing the Chief Minister's office and claims that it was searching the office and home of a senior bureaucrat in the Chief Minister's team, Rajender Kumar, accused of corruption in computer purchases. The agency claims it has found about Rs. 13 lakh cash and foreign currency worth Rs. 3 lakh in raids today on Rajender Kumar and another person. It said Rs. 2.4 lakh was found from Rajender Kumar's home. This morning, the CBI walked into the Delhi Secretariat, the headquarters of the city government, at around 9 am.

Nearly 20 minutes later, the investigators were in the of-

fice of Rajender Kumar, next door to the Chief Minister.

AAP alleged that the CBI sealed the entire floor, not allowing access even to the Chief Minister's office. Mr Kejriwal and senior AAP leaders are in a huddle in the home of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted: "Sealing of a Chief Minister's office is unprecedented. I am shocked."

Mr Kejriwal, retweeting her comment, said it was "undeclared emergency." As political outrage over the raid reached Parliament, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in the Rajya Sabha, "The office of the chief minister of Delhi has not been raided. The raid has nothing to do with Mr Arvind Kejriwal or his tenure as chief minister. The search

is against an officer." Mr Kejriwal accused the finance minister of "lying". The BJP called Mr Kejriwal's words against the PM "abominable" and some opposition parties also felt that he should have been more restrained. Since AAP took power in February after winning a massive mandate in Delhi, it has been locked in a running feud with the central government over the control of important functions in Delhi like law and order, police and land. Days ago, when Mr Kejriwal was asked about vendetta politics in connection with the National Herald case against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, he had said, "There is definitely a vendetta against AAP. Five of our MLAs have been arrested on flimsy grounds."

way staff was also organized today. A field work-

shop will be organised at New Bongaigaon and Rangapara Railway station tomorrow to mark the week. On December 17, a quiz competition will be organised at Kendriya Vidyalaya, Rangia and on December 18, a drawing competition for the school students will be held at Railway Multi Disciplinary Training Center, (MTDC) Rangia and on December 19, a street drama will be held. All the Railway staff and officer have been taking active part in the programme.

BJP demands ‘Vaishnavite Satra’ intelligence report be made public Contd. from Page 1

State chief minister Tarun Gogoi said the intelligence report suggested that the women who allegedly prevented Gandhi from entering the Satra had RSS links.

"The women were also instigated by some people having strong RSS links.

The whole intention of blocking Rahul Gandhi from entering the Satra was done to polarise the political landscape of the state to garner political mileage by a certain political entity," he said. Sarma said the state government must not indulge in "political blackmail" in the name of the intelligence report. He said Satra is a non-political in-

stitution. "Rahul Gandhi is playing a dangerous game.

Rahul does not have respect for temple and Satras. There is an attempt to appease a particular community," Sarma said. In response to Gandhi's claim that the women physically tried to stop him, Sarma said, "Either Rahul should produce a video pertaining to this or he should apologise."

Gogoi said he had personally requested Satradhikar Basistha Dev Sharma to facilitate Gandhi's entry to the Satra to offer prayers.

"Gandhi was to begin his harmony walk after paying obeisance to Barpeta Satra on December 12. However, a section of the members of Satra parichalana (management) committee was opposed to it," Gogoi said.

Congress seeks Arunachal Governor's dismissal, stalls Rajya Sabha Contd. from Page 1

summoning of Winter Session of the assembly and "deciding" its agenda "without the state government requesting for it". "Governor of Arunachal Pradesh is behaving like a dictator," Azad said calling it the "most undemocratic thing that had not happened even during the British period". "Governor summoned assembly session without consulting the state government or the Chief Minister. Governor himself fixed the agenda and decided that the Assembly Speaker will not preside over the proceedings. This is not within the rights of the Governor. "Democracy is being murdered.

The same Constitution which you discussed 15 days ago is being shredded into pieces, being buried. Our party will not allow it to happen. The Opposition will not allow it," he said. As soon as Azad

raised the issue, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley disapproved of Parliament discussing a matter concerning a state assembly. "Can the proceedings of an Assembly be discussed in the House? What is happening in a state Assembly, it has never been discussed in the House and should never happen," he said telling the Chair if this was allowed in Rajya Sabha, the state assemblies will later be discussing parliamentary proceedings in future. Raising a point of order Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the House cannot sit over making judgements on the proceedings of an Assembly and neither can the role of Governor be discussed here.

Azad, however, said the Assembly session was yet to commence there and hence what he was raising is not assembly proceedings. Besides, he argued that since the Rajya Sabha represents the states, "it is our duty to protect the

states. We are not going to budge." Rajkhowa has summoned the Winter Session of the 6th Legislative Assembly from tomorrow till December 18, modifying the November 3 order summoning the assembly from January 14 to 18 next year. Narrating the sequence of events, Azad said on November 6, some Congress MLAs gave a notice to remove Deputy Speaker of Assembly, who belongs to Congress party, saying he was engaging in anti-party activities. Three days later, BJP MLAs sent a notice seeking the removal of the Speaker, he said. Azad also claimed that the Governor has decided that the Speaker would not preside over the session and that the order to advance the assembly session stipulates that the resolution seeking the Speaker's removal would be the first item of business in the session. The Leader of Opposition also accused the Governor of "evil interfer-

ence" in the state government's functioning. He also acknowledged that "Congress has some rebels there, including the Deputy Speaker". As per the Governor's order the Winter Session of Arunachal Assembly begins tomorrow, instead of January. In the 60-member state Assembly, Congress has 47 MLAs and BJP 11. The last session of Arunchal Assembly had come to an end on October 31, which was prorogued on November 3. The session had to be called again from January 14, 2016, which was advanced by the Governor. Citing rules Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said that since the notice given by Azad to take up the matter was " a substantive motion" required to discuss the functioning of people holding posts like that of Governor, a discussion on the matter cannot be allowed.

"Rule 38 is very clear that the conduct of a Governor can be discussed only through a sub-

stantive motion. I have seen the notice given by the LOP. This motion is under Rule 267.

It is not a substantive motion.

It is a motion only for suspension of business. What can I do? You should have given a substantive motion," Kurien said. As Congress refused to budge, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi attacked them saying "they do not faith in the ruling rather in their unruly behaviour. You have once again come out with a new excuse. You say that you do not want the House to run."

Naresh Gujral (SAD) said that Congress members do not want the House to function.

Mayawati (BSP) said also wanted to speak on the matter as she briefly touched on the role of Governors in Uttar Pradesh as well. As the Congress members refused to vacate the Well and kept shouting slogans, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House for 30 minutes.

Migratory birds in a waterbody at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam.

Pic - UB Photos

Narayana Superspeciality Hospital announces launch of ‘Shape Clinic’ A Staff Reporter Guwahati Dec 15: Narayana Superspeciality Hospital in Guwahati today announced the launch of ‘Shape Clinic’. Surgeons specializing in laparoscopic and bariatric surgery from Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS), Kolkata, which is a unit of Narayana Health, were also present on the occasion. ‘SHAPE – The obesity and metabolic clinic’ at Narayana Superspeciality Hospital addresses the facts, causes, health risks and the treatment options for Obesity.

The dedicated clinic for assessment of obese patients opting for weightloss surgery is operational – Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm. Shape Clinic is led by experienced laparoscopic surgeons, supported by a team of doctors from other specialties to ensure multidisciplinary approach and effective treatment outcomes. This implies the services of the bariatric surgeon are clubbed with other multi-disciplinary services such as Psychiatry, General Medicine, Plastic Surgery, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Pulmonology, Diet & Nutrition as well as Physiotherapy. Commenting on the launch of Shape Clinic, Deepak Venugopalan, Zonal Director (East) – Narayana Health said, “Usually people opting for this type of surgery had to travel to other cities outside the state of Assam.

Now, with the services of ‘Shape Clinic’ offered at our hospital in Guwahati, people need not travel long distances and can avail of

counseling, assessment and treatment under specialist doctors including those from our unit in Kolkata”. Narayana Health has launched an awareness

that has been particularly taken to improve the quality of life for those who are affected by the co-morbidities associated with obesity.

Speaking about metabolism, Dr. Pinak Dasgupta,

campaign about obesity, metabolic diseases and weight-loss surgery through the launch of this dedicated clinic. Commenting on this, Deepak Venugopalan said, “We have seen that there is a rise in the number of people showing interest in weight loss surgery as an effective means to a healthier life. Keeping the same in perspective, we are reaching out through our other centers in Eastern India to ensure that this health service is available to those beyond the purview of only this city”. Being overweight or obese greatly raises the risk for other comorbid health problems such as heart ailments, hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis and sleep disorders. An obese person is typically susceptible to cholesterol, liver and gall bladder problems as well bringing down his or her overall quality of life. The Shape Clinic is an initiative

General & Laparoscopic Surgeon, Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, Guwahati said, “Apart from performing bariatric surgeries for weight-loss, we will also treat all kinds of metabolic disorders, inherited or developed, which alter a body’s normal metabolic processes. Shape Obesity & Metabolic Clinic is led by experienced Laparoscopic Surgeons. It has been accepted that one of the most important factors behind leading a healthy life and keeping diseases at check is to maintain the right Body Mass Index”. The weightloss operations are gaining popularity as evidence builds of their usefulness in fighting diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other obesity-related comorbid conditions. Trends reveal a growing number of patients in the country finding this procedure attractive and affordable for combating weight and obesity related issues.

Sum Ronghang demands CBI prob into HAD Minister’s alleged illegal activities Contd. from Page 1

alleged to be the mastermind of the swindle.”

“Khorsing Engti kept the vehicle at his disposal for nearly 12 days but later the vehicle vanished from public eye; a number of his close aides are well aware about the scandal. Not only has this person stopped all development of Karbi Anglong through his dishonest intervention in the affairs of the autonomous councils but also annexed cash assets beyond his known sources of income; he has occupied several government land in his home town Howraghat; in one such attempt to grab one small portion of private land he had meted out inhuman torture upon three women belonging to Hindi speaking community, a proper investigation can only shed light on all these illegalities”. Ronghang said. Brushing aside charges labelled by a section of the media on his son’s involvement in Greater Diphu Water Supply Scheme, Ronghang said that the whole project was

completed by Public Health Department in accordance with norms while 14 contractors were awarded works to complete the scheme. He mentioned that his son was also one of the contractors. He mentioned that contractors were paid after completion of works.

“The minister finding no other pretext to remove me from the position of Executive Member of KAAC set up an inquiry through the Deputy Commissioner of Karbi Anglong; he also passed verbal instruction to accuse me against the fabricated charges; the inquiry was conducted by a non technical person who could not find any fault, I challenge Khorsing Engti to prove his allegation; he is labelling unfounded and fictitious charges against me through a section of media

I vehemently oppose this; the minister is doing all these just to malign my image among the people of Karbi Anglong. I like to call upon the minister to make public where he has hidden the luxury car which was gifted by RH Khan, let CBI constitute inquiry into Khorsing Engti’s torturing of the three women by branding them as witch,” Ronghang said. While answering questions regarding the much publicized Greater Diphu Water Supply scheme, he informed that utilization certificate of the spent money during his tenure was duly submitted to the authority and it is due to the intervention of the minister himself that no further work on that scheme could be done by other Executive Members who held the portfolio of PHE department in the KAAC.

Women who prevented Rahul Gandhi entering Xatra have RSS links: Gogoi Contd. from Page 1

Gogoi said, "The whole intention of blocking

Rahul Gandhi from entering into the Xatra was done to polarize the political landscape of the State to garner political mileage by certain political entity."

Passport office to open in Agartala

Passport office to open in Agartala Agartala, Dec 15: Passport office will open here soon, an external affairs ministry official said today."By this month-end or early January, a mini Passport Seva Kendra would be made operational here," project director A.K. Sobti told reporters .Handwritten passports have become invalid across the world since November 24. Sobti and three other officials arrived here on Monday to oversee the arrangements to set up the passport office in Agartala.Only one passport office in

Guwahati and a Passport Seva Kendra in Manipur cater to the entire northeastern region, comprising eight states.The Kolkata regional passport office issues passports to Tripura residents and applicants.An official circular said the government had been issuing machine readable passport (MRPs) since 2001. Those issued before 2001, particularly in the mid-90s with a validity of 20 years, fall into the nonMRPs category.Passport Seva Kendras are likely to open in Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim soon. (Agencies)

NLA assembly session lasts 30 minutes; adjourned sine- die Dimapur, Dec 15:The 10th session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) took place here today by making obituary references, reporting the assent of Governor to three bills, laying reports/ papers and rules and presentation of assembly committee report.There was no question hour and the session lasted for around 30 minutes.Chief Minister TR Zeliang made obituary references to the passing away of late Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India, Late Lt. Gen (Retd) VK Nayar, former Governor of Nagaland and Late Khekiho Zhimomi, MP (Rajya Sabha) from Nagaland while NLA speaker Chotisuh Sazo made obitu-

tion of Interests of Depositors (in Financial Establishment) Bill 2014, Nagaland State Legislature Members (Removal of Disqualification) First Amendment Bill, 2015 and Nagaland Appropriation (No.8) Bill, 2015.Chief minister TR Zeliang laid a copy of Nagaland Secretariat (Civil) Stenographers Service Rule, 2015, 46th Annual Report of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2012), 47th Annual Report of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2013), 48th Annual Report of the Nagaland Public Service Commission (April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014) and 49th Annual Report of the Nagaland Public Service

Nagaland Assembly Session Lasts 30 Minutes; Adjourned Sine-Die ary reference to the passing away of late Bongnao, former member of NLA, LJ Toshi Sangtam, former member of NLA and Late T. Sentichuba former member of NLA.The House observed two minute silence as a mark of respect to the d e p a r t e d souls.Commissioner & secretary N. Benjamin Newmai reported the assent of Governor of Nagaland to three bills- The Nagaland Protec-

Commission (April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015).MLA Neiphrezo Keditsu member of the Committee on Government Assurances (2015-2016) presented a copy of 89th report of the Committee on Government Assurances (2nd Session of the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly).The speaker adjourned the session sine-die after completing all the business.

(Agencies)

PAGE 5

REGION

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16

Mizoram tops tobacco consumption in India Aizawl, Dec 15: The northeastern state of Mizoram leads India in tobacco consumption with 67.2 percent of its population consuming/ smoking various tobacco products, an official said today."A record 67.2 percent of Mizoram's around 11 lakh population uses various types of tobacco products," Mizoram State Tobacco Control Society (MSTCS) nodal officer Jane R. Ralte told reporters here. "The total per-

centage of male tobacco users in Mizoram is 73.6 percent against a national average of 32.1 percent," she said quoting a recent official survey. The percentage of female tobacco users is 16.1 percent.The official said about 62 percent non-smokers in Mizoram were exposed to passive smoking.Ralte said Mizoram also registered the highest percentage of cancer patients in India, with a record 5,888 people currently suffer-

The northeastern state of Mizoram leads India in tobacco consumption

State to give Rs.1000 monthly stipend to 50,000 folk artists: CM Kolkata, Dec 15:Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that the state government will provide a stipend of Rs.1,000 each every month to 50,000 folk artists identified by the government on account of their poor economic plight. Banerjee said this while inaugurating Bangla Sangeet Mela 2015-16 at Nazrul Mancha. "Bengal is a land of immense talent.

But our artistes were ignored in the past," she said. "In the past four years, we have registered 50,000 folk artists who will get Rs.1, 000 as monthly stipend and perform at different government programmes," she added. "We are giving op-

portunities to new talent so that people may know about their art. We have felicitated folk artists across the districts so that their talents are recognised," the chief minister said."My adivasi brothers from Junglemahal are here with dhamsa-madol.We also have our baul brothers and sisters. Artistes are very close to our heart. I always listen to music, especially when I am travelling. Music brings a breath of fresh air in our lives." Bangla Sangeet Mela 2015 will be held for the next 10 days in various venues where 5000 artists will participate.

The chief minister declared that this year a spe-

cial category of awards was created named after the iconic artists who defined the golden era of music Pulak Bandyopadhyay, Hemanta Mukhopdhyay, Salil Chowdhury, Manna Dey, SD Burman, Pratima Bandyopadhyay, RD Burman, Firoza Begum and others. Like every year, many young talents and veteran musicians were honoured at Bangla Sangeet Mela.Apart from this, the chief minister on Monday conferred Life Time achievement awards on renowned music director Bappi Lahiri and renowned playback singer Kumar Sanu. Though Kumar Sanu was not present to

receive his award, Bappi Lahiri received the award from the chief minister and said he is honoured that "didi" has called him.

"Though I moved around the world, but I'm proud to be Bengali and I never forget that I belong to Kolkata," he said. Two tabla maestros - Anindya Chattopadhyay and Kumar Bose - along with music director Santanu Moita, renowned singer Sreeradha Bandopadhyay, Fakir Alamgir of Bangladesh along with others received Sangeet Maha Samman award. Dwijen Mukhopadhyay,Sandhya Mukhopadhyay and Nachiketa Ghosh were also conferred special awards. (Agencies)

after amending the erstwhile Lokayukta Bill which had even allowed an officer of the rank of Secretary to the Government of India or Chief Secretary of a State to become the Chairperson of the Lokayukta. However, under protests from pressure groups, the government had omitted this part but retained that an eminent person who has impeccable integrity and knowledge of anti-corruption policy for at least 25 years can be appointed as

an official release quoted Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla as saying in a meeting.Chief minister's wife Lal Riliani, a social activist and president of Mizoram chapter of the Indian Society of Tobacco Health, said more than 50 percent cancer cases among the Mizos were caused by tobacco.

Mizos - men, women and children - are traditionally heavy smokers of different types of tobacco.

(Agencies)

Morcha tries to steal Harka thunder - Claims Stake to ?Kalimpong?

District Formation Darjeeling, Dec 15: Bimal Gurung today said the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha would hold celebration rallies in Kalimpong when the state cabinet approves the upgrading of the subdivision to a district in a bid to hijack the cause which was recently brought to prominence by Harka Bahadur Chhetri.The Morcha

mand that was originally made by his party but got prominence because of a friend-turned-foe.Earlier this month, Nabanna officials made it clear that even though the Morcha had said the formation of a Kalimpong districtwas the party's demand, the government would make it clear that it was acceding to Chhetri's demand, not that of anyone

Business woman shot dead Dimapur, Dec 15: Festive mood in Dimapur City suffered a rude shock after an unidentified miscreants shot at well known business woman of Dimapur, identified as Ritika Mehta at Apna Hotel, Monday at around 6.30 p.m. The victim later succumbed to fatal injury on the neck.According to eyewitness accounts, the shooting took place at around 6.30 p.m. when two armed miscreants fired at Ritika, while she was at the hotel counter attending to some customers. The bullet entered the lower side of the right jaw and exited through the neck, spilling blood all over the hotel floor.The personal bodyguard of the victim and one visitor present at the hotel during the incident, chased after the two killers but they managed to escape towards New Market under cover of darkness.

Ritika was rushed to Nikos Hospital but was later shifted to Zion hospital.

However, by the time the victim was brought to Zion, she succumbed to injuries. It may be recalled, that Monday's incident was the second attempt on Ritika. In the first recorded incident, on November 13, 2015, a lone armed miscreant attempted to kill late Ritika while she was preparing to close her hotel for the night. When the bullet misfired, Ritika ran even as the armed miscreant fired

Business woman shot dead several shot at her but all the bullets misfired.Meanwhile, according to Addl. DCP & PRO Dimapur Police, informed that a bullet head of a .32 calibre was recovered from the spot.

Dimapur Police disclosed that late Ritika was given an armed bodyguard that owing to late Ritika's instructions the bodyguard had not carried the service weapon with him inside the hotel. Police have also collected crucial evidence from the scene.There is speculations on the motive for the murder that police were also investigating.All shops in Dimapur will shut down from 8 a.m. till 12 noon on Tuesday while Nyamo Lotha Road Business Association and Nagaland Hotels and Restaurants Association will enforce voluntary one day complete closure. The funeral would take place in the hotel premises on Tuesday at 1 p.m. sources said.

A native of Jonowal village in Punjab, Ritika was born and brought up in Dimapur

and was married to one Arun Mehta.Meanwhile, Dimapur Chamber of Commerce and Industries president Hokivi Chishi has strongly condemned the incident.Hokivi informed Nagaland Post that a halfday shutdown of all business establishments in Dimapur will be observed Tuesday, as a sign of mourning and protest against the killing.A case of murder has been registered at East Police Station and investigation was in place, Officer in Charge of the station said. Half-day shutters down As a mark of protest in view of the shooting and brutal murder of Ritika Mehta, proprietor of Apna Hotel, the business community led by DCCI has decided to down shutters in Dimapur district from 8 a.m. to12 noon on December 15.In a press note, DCCI president Hokivi Chishi said this was to express our outrage and condemnation and at the same time as a mark of respect to the departed soul. However, Hokivi said

both Nagaland Hotels and Restaurants Association and Nyamo Lotha Road Business Association would enforce the voluntary bandh for the whole day. He further clarified that DCCI has abstained from downing shutters for the whole day taking into consideration the festive season.Nyamo Lotha Road Business Association (NLBRA) has vehemently condemned the killing of Ritika Mehta, owner of Apna hotel by two unidentified gunmen. In a press note, Nyamo Lotha Road Business Association general secretary Khekishe Aye has appealed the law enforcing agencies to nab the criminals at the earliest and award befitting punishment as per the law. In protest against the killing, NLRBA has called for closure of all business establishments within its jurisdiction for the whole day on December 15. It further appealed to the public to bear with the inconvenience. Nagaland Medicine Dealers Association (NMDA) has vehemently condemned the killing of Ritika Mehta, proprietor of Apna Hotel Dimapur by unidentified miscreants.As a mark of against the killing and to express solidarity with the victim, NMDA president Ato Yepthomi said all pharmacies in Dimapur would remain shut on December 15 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. (Agencies)

HC blow to State Govt Shillong ,Dec 15: In a blow to the State government, the High Court of Meghalaya has struck down a clause framed by the government in the Lokayukta Bill 2014 which allowed a non-judicial member to become the Chairperson of Lokayukta. The Court also issued notice to the State government in this regard and fixed the next date of hearing on December 16.In fact, the new Lokayukta Bill 2014 was passed by State Assembly in March, 2014

ing from the deadly disease. As many as 3,137 people had died of cancer in five years, she said.Since 2009, the Mizoram government has been implementing an anti-tobacco programme in the state.

"No smoking is allowed in public or in open places or in front of nonsmokers. Smoking has been banned in government offices, educational institutions, health centres and crowded places across Mizoram,"

Chairperson.As per the Meghalaya Lokayukta Bill 2014 which received the Governor's assent on March 26, 2014, the Chairperson will be an individual "who is or has been a Chief Justice of the High Court or a Judge of the High Court or an eminent person who fulfils the eligibility of having impeccable integrity and knowledge of anticorruption policy for at least 25 years".The eminent person should have "outstanding ability having special knowledge

and expertise of not less than 25 years in the matters relating to anti-corruption policy, public administration, vigilance, finance including insurance and banking, law a n d management".However, taking a suo moto case, the Division Bench of the High Court of Meghalaya comprising Chief Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice T.N.K. Singh, while expressing reservation on the eligibility criteria of having a non-judicial member for the post of

Chairperson of Lokayukta, said the provision providing such eligibility criterion requires judicial scrutiny for the same eligibility cannot be provided for the Chairperson and for a member other than the Judicial Member of the Lokayukta.The High Court said that the Central Lokpal and Lokayukta Act of 2013 does not prescribe any eligibility criteria for Lokayukta and UpaLokayukta.That apart, other states including

Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, looking to adjudicatory nature of work, has provided the eligibility criteria like a former Judge of Supreme Court; a Chief Justice of High Court or a Judge of High Court, whereas, the eligibility criteria provided in the Meghalaya Lokayukta Act, 2014, inter alia includes a criterion whereby an eligible nonJudicial person can also be appointed as the Chairperson, the Court observed. (Agencies)

Bimal Gurung president, who left for Delhi today to participate in a three-day dharna on Gorkhaland from December 17 said in a written statement: "On December 18, soon after the state cabinet approves the formation of a Kalimpong district, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha will organize celebration rallies throughout Kalimpong."A proposal for the creation of a Kalimpong district is expected to be tabled in the cabinet meeting scheduled for December 18.

There has been no assurance from the state that a decision would be taken that day.Chhetri, the Kalimpong MLA who quit the Morcha over differences with Gurung, had recently taken the district demand to the chief minister.This is perhaps the first time that Gurung has been compelled to play catch-up on a de-

else's.Mamata Banerjee has tried to create several power centres to weaken the Morcha's grip in the Darjeeling hills. The sources said that by consenting to look into Chhetri's demand for the separate district, the chief minister had gone further with this plan.Gurung added that on the day Kalimpong is declared a district after all formalities are completed, "the Morcha will celebrate it as a festival across the hills".The Morcha chief said the district declaration should not make into a "political" issue. "For political gains, this issue should not be confined merely to an announcement. The GTA will extend all support to the state government on this issue," Gurung said.Chhetri could not be contacted for comments.

(Agencies)

Mamata extends support to Kejriwal over CBI raid Kolkata, Dec 15: Calling the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raid and sealing of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office as an unprecedented act, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today extended the support to Kejriwal."Sealing of a Chief Minister's office is unprecedented. I am shocked," Banerjee tweeted. Kejriwal then reacted: "Mamata Di, This is undeclared Emergency."Earlier in the day, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha Member Derek O'Brien also raised the

Mamata Banerjee issue of CBI raids at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's office in Parliament.

TMC members shouted slogans against the Narendra Modi government and trooped near the chairman's seat.

(Agencies)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16

PAGE 6

NHRC issues notice to Railways, Delhi Govt over demolition drive New Delhi, Dec. 15: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the Railway Board and Delhi Government on demolition of slums in Shakur Basti and Belagaon in the national capital. More than 500 slums were demolished in an anti-encroachment drive conducted by the Indian Railways in Shakur Basti on Saturday. "The Commission

NHRC has issued notices to the Railway Board and Delhi Government

has observed that the contents of the news reports, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the right to life, right to shelter and right to dignity of the people, including women and children, who have been rendered homeless due to demolition of their slum dwellings," a NHRC press release stated. The NHRC has further said that several affected people held out Aadhar and Voter

Identity Cards and other documents, indicating old correspondence about land and land holdings in the Belagaon area. The slum residents in Shakur Basti raised an uproar after a child was found dead. They alleged that the child had died in the anti-encroachment drive. The Commission has also decided to send a team of its officers to visit both the places of demo-

lition and conduct an onthe-spot enquiry and submit reports within one week. According to reports, the DDA had demolished several jhuggis to free the Belagaon area in Old Delhi as part of their demolition drive last week. The DDA had reportedly said that they were carrying out the demolition drive on the orders of the National Green Tribunal. (ANI)

AAP's 'hypocrisy' 'Dictator' PM Modi using CBI as has been exposed: 'political instrument': AAP Javadekar

Minister of State for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar

New Delhi, Dec. 15: Justifying the CBI raid on the Delhi Secretariat, Minister of State for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday alleged that the hypocrisy of Aam Aadmi Party, which was formed on the basis of anti-corruption movement, has been exposed. Javadekar dubbed Kejriwal's reaction on the CBI raid as 'atrocious'.

"The CBI (conducts) raids only when they receive a credible complaint and they want to investigate the corruption. Does Arvind Kejriwal want to protect corruption?" asked Javadekar. "Instead of immediately taking action against his own officials, who are found for corruption, he is accusing the Prime Minister.

This is worst kind of politics," he added. Javadekar alleged this is the worst scenario Delhi has ever witnessed as a sitting Chief Minister is protecting corruption. "This is the hypocrisy of politics.

He should act against corruption, but he is accusing the Prime Minister of politics. This is absolutely unacceptable. He is exposed thoroughly," he said. Refuting Kejriwal's allegation on the raid on Chief Minister's office, the CBI has said that the raid was conducted on the Principal Secretary's office following a warrant.

Kejriwal has accused the CBI of 'lying' and asserted that the investigating agency was looking at the files in the Chief Minister's office. (ANI)

Juvenile release will encourage adolescents to commit crime: Nirbhaya's parents New Delhi, Dec.15: The visibly heartbroken and exhausted parents of Nirbhaya on Tuesday said that if the juvenile is released on December 20, it will encourage the heinous crime and tell the adolescents that they can commit any crime and there is no punishment for them.

"No one is thinking as to what message the government is sending to the society by releasing the juvenile. By doing so, they are actually telling the adolescentsthat they can commit any crime and there is no punishment for them. They are encouraging this heinous crime," Nirbhaya's mother told.

Reacting to the reports that Delhi Government would be giving money to the juvenile, she said that it was expected from the state government. "They raise the issue of 'women's safety' only for vote bank politics. They should better admit that they will not

be doing anything on women's safety if they focus on the rehabilitation of the juvenile offenders," she added. It is reported that the Union Home Ministry is contemplating to ask the juvenile convict to sign a legal bond affirming good behaviour after his release from the reformatory home. The bond as per Section 107 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will act as security for keeping the peace after his release from a juvenile remand home. Apprehensions were made by Nirbhaya's parents against the release of the juvenile, who was reportedly the "most brutal" of all the six offenders. The juvenile, who was under 18 when he was arrested for rape and murder of Nirbhaya, was tried under the Juvenile Justice Act and ordered to keep in a remand home for three years. He is set to be released this month. (ANI)

New Delhi, Dec 15: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday alleged that a 'dictator' Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as a 'political instrument' to suppress the opposition. "The CBI is being used as a political instrument by Mr. Modi, who has turned into a dictator after realizing that he has lost popular support in the country. I am amazed that the media of the country believes that Chief Minister's office has not been raided. If the media believes that this is no violation of the federal structure in the country than I am sorry. It is an attack on the democratic fabric of the country," AAP spokesperson Deepak Bajpai told. "A dictator is ruling this country and the people of the country will not take it ly-

ing down they will come out and respond," he added. Bajpai further said the people of the country will stand up and respond to Prime Minister Modiled NDA Government at the Centre. The government, however, justified the CBI raid on the Delhi Secretariat with Minister of State for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar alleging that the hypocrisy of AAP stands exposed.

Javadekar dubbed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's reaction on the CBI raid as 'atrocious'. "The CBI (conducts) raids only when they receive a credible complaint and they want to investigate the corruption. Does Arvind Kejriwal want to protect corruption?" asked Javadekar. "Instead of immediately taking action against his own officials,

to take the case, they chased her away. Then later one lady came and got the woman admitted in the hospital," said Sri Ram, one of the residents of Shakur Basti slums.

"Around 1.30 am, a girl child was born to one of my relatives. First the hospital refused to admit her and then later they admitted her," said another resident, Lakhan.

The residents also said that hospital later admitted the woman after intervention by the media.

"They chased the preg-

AAP on Tuesday alleged that a 'dictator' Prime Minister Narendra Modi was using the CBI as a 'political instrument'

who are found for corruption, he is accusing the Prime Minister. This is worst kind of politics," he added.

Javadekar alleged this is the worst scenario Delhi has ever witnessed as a sitting Chief Minister is protecting corruption.

Refuting Kejriwal's allegation on the

raid on Chief Minister's office, the CBI has said that the raid was conducted on the Principal Secretary's office following a warrant.

Kejriwal has accused the CBI of 'lying' and asserted that the investigating agency was looking at the files in the Chief Minister's office. (ANI)

nant woman away, when we asked them to give medicine they asked us to go to a private hospital.

They came back, and then the ambulance took her away after we complained to media," said Gulab. Last week, around 500 slums were razed by Railway authorities as part of their demolition drive. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi had on Monday visited the razed Shakur Basti slums and promised them that he would extend every help possible to alleviate

them of their problems.

He had accused the Delhi government and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Centre for the razing of the slum and asserted that the law had been clearly broken during the demolition. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi Government had questioned the timing of Railways' action and asked why proper arrangements to rehabilitate the dwellers was not made before their houses were demolished. (ANI)

Obama warns ISIS leaders, says 'you are next'

US President Barack Obama London, Dec. 15: US President Barack Obama confirmed the death of Mohammed Emwazi, a Briton known as "Jihadi John", in an air strike last

month and warned the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) that they were 'next'. Obama made his eight-minute address after having a

New Delhi, Dec. 15: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed support to her Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal, saying she was shocked to hear of the CBI raid on his office. "Sealing of a Chief Minister's office is unprecedented. I am shocked," Banerjee said in a tweet. To this, Kejriwal reacted and said, "Mamata Di. This is undeclared emergency."

"Raid is being conducted on Kejriwal in 2015 in the 2002 corruption case of Sheila Dikshit. Hats off Modi ji," he said.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien also raised the issue of CBI raids on Kejriwal's office in the Parliament. The TMC members raised slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government and trooped near

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed support to her Delhi counterpartArvind Kejriwal

the chairman's seat.

Meanwhile, the CBI has raided 14 locations in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh in connection with probe against Kejriwal's Secretary Rajender Kumar and his aides. According to the CBI, Kumar was not cooperating with it in opening his e-mail accounts.

Papers of three immovable properties along with cash worth Rs. 2.4 lakhs have been recovered from his residence. (ANI)

Mumbai double murder suspects sent to police custody

Pregnant woman in Shakur Basti slum faces hospital's apathy New Delhi, Dec. 15: With residents of Delhi's Shakur basti slums being forced to live on the streets after their shanties were razed to the ground during a demolition drive

by Indian Railways, a woman gave birth to child in the wee hours of Monday, battling freezing cold and apathy by hospital staff. The residents of the slums alleged that the local hospital refused to admit the pregnant lady and even asked her to go to a private hospital. "At first the hospital refused

CBI raid is 'undeclared emergency': Kejriwal tells Mamata

meeting with his national security council. "As we squeeze its heart, we'll make it harder for ISIL to pump its terror and propaganda to the rest of the world. "This continues to be a difficult fight. ISIL is dug in, including in urban areas, and they hide behind civilians, using defenceless men, women and children as human shields. So even as we're relentless, we have to be smart, targeting ISIL surgically, with precision," Obama said flanked by Vice-President Joe Biden, the defence secretary, Ash Carter, and three military generals. Obama listed several prominent ISIS leaders, commanders and killers who have been taken out, including Emwazi, "who brutally murdered Americans and others". He asserted that

the US will go after the ISIS in their stronghold in Raqqa, Iraq and said that the terror group could not hide anymore and that his message was simple: 'You are next'.

"So far ISIL has lost about 40% of the populated areas it once controlled in Iraq, and it will lose more... ISIL's lost thousands of square miles of territory it once controlled in Syria and it will lose more. The special forces that I ordered to Syria have begun supporting local forces as they push south, cut off supply lines and tighten the squeeze on Raqqa," Obama said. Emphasizing that ISIS was losing the 'propaganda' war, the President said that the world had starts to see them as the 'thugs, thieves and killers' they truly were. (ANI)

Mumbai, Dec. 15: A Mumbai Court on Tuesday sent three persons, who have been detained in connection with the murder of artist Hema Upadhyay and her lawyer Harish Bhambani, to police custody till December 19. The Special Task Force (STF) along with Uttar Pradesh (UP) Police had on Monday detained the suspects in connection with the sensational double murder case. The UP Police had earlier today handed over suspects to the

Mumbai Police. According to police, the bodies of Hema (43) and Bhambhani (65), with their hands and feet tied with ropes, were recovered from a drain in suburban Kandivali on Saturday night. Earlier in 2013, Bhambani had represented Hema in a case after she filed harassment complaints against her husband Chintan and alleged that he had painted obscene sketches on the walls of her room.

(ANI)

The UP Police on Tuesday handed over suspects to the Mumbai Police

Trump reaching new heights in White House race New York, Dec. 15: Republican frontrunnerDonald Trump has hit 41 percent support, resulting in the highest lead till now in a new national poll. Trump earned a broad 41 percent support from Republicans and Republican-leaning registered voters in a new national Monmouth University poll. It is the widest lead of any national poll yet this election cycle. In the poll conducted December 10-13, after unveiling his proposed Muslim ban, Trump holds a stun-

ning 27-point lead over Senator Ted Cruz.

Trump climbed 13 percentage points since the last Monmouth University poll in late October.

Ben Carson, on the other hand, continues his downward spiral, dropping into the single digits for the first time in a national poll since mid-August. Two-thirds of Republican voters said they would be "enthusiastic" or "satisfied" if Trump is the nominee. Less than three in 10 said they would be "dissatisfied" or "upset." (ANI)

Trump has hit 41 percent support

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16

PAGE 7

NEIGHBOURS

Typhoon kills 4 in Philippines, cuts power ahead of Christmas Six Indians dead in Manila, Dec 15: Tattered lanterns, festive lights and tin roofs littered towns in the central Philippines today after Typhoon Melor swept through, killing at least four people and leaving millions without power ahead of Christmas.Distraught survivors surveyed their damaged homes on the eve of the traditional nineday Christmas vigil that Filipinos observe with dawn masses and rice cakes.Christmas is the most celebrated holiday in the Philippines, where 80 percent of its 100 million people are Catholic, and decorations such as colourful lights and lan-

Pak, Turkmenistan negotiating second project after TAPI Karachi, Dec. 15 :Pakistan and Turkmenistan are holding negotiation for a second project that would connect with the Gwadar port via Afghanistan-Iran border after the landmark TAPI gas pipeline.According to the Dawn, there can be a massive increase in employment in Balochistan which ha sbeen marred by political unrest and insurgency.The Interstate Gas Systems (ISGS) had submitted a concept paper to Turkmenistan around two months ago, discussing the laying of an additional gas pipeline, an official familiar with the development said.The official said that work on this proposal was under way to implement the project.

(ANI)

Pakistan joins Saudi-led coalition to fight ISIS Karachi, Dec 15 : Saudi Arabia has announced the formation of a 34-state Islamic military coalition to fight terrorism following a US statement that Gulf Arab states should do more to aid the military campaign against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).According to Dawn, other countries mentioned in a joint statement were Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates Turkey, Malaysia and Gulf Arab and African states.The military alliance will have a joint operations center based in Riyadh to coordinate and support military operations.Iran, Saudi Arabia's archrival for influence in the Arab world, was absent from the states named as participants, as proxy conflicts between the two regional powers rage from Syria to Yemen. (ANI)

terns have already been put up in most towns."It will be a very sad Christmas and a dark one because we have no power.

But the important thing is everyone around me is still moving," 54-year-old rice farmer Noemi Pesigan told media.Melor blew out the windows of Pesigan's two-storey brick and wood house in Bulan, a small farming town about 350 kilometres southeast of the capital, Manila, and she survived the storm by sheltering in a nearby shop.The typhoon tore in off the Pacific Ocean on Monday afternoon and hit farming and fishing communities in the eastern

Philippines with winds of up to 185 kilometres (115 miles) an hour .Three people were killed in floods in Northern Samar province, which faces the Pacific, municipal disaster officer Jonathan Baldo told DZMM

radio.Flying debris also killed a man in Northern Samar, national disaster agency spokeswoman Mina Marasigan told media, without being able to confirm the other three fatalities.Melor weakened slightly as it cut

phoon Jangmi hit another part of the eastern Philippines five days after Christmas, catching many people on holidays off guard.The last deadly storm to hit the country this year, Koppu, killed 54 people and forced tens of thousands to flee their homes after it pummelled rice-growing northern provinces in October.In November 2013, one of the strongest typhoons on record, Haiyan, flattened entire communities in the central region with tsunami-like waves, leaving 7,350 people dead or missing.

(Agencies)

Myanmar's high opium output a huge test for Suu Kyi government - U.N. Bangkok, Dec 15: Opium production in Myanmar has stabilized for a third year, the United Nations said today, but remained a daunting challenge for the untested government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi that takes power in February.Myanmar produced an estimated 647 tons of opium in 2015, second only to Afghanistan, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in a new report.That figure was steady from the previous year, as was the total area under opium poppy cultivation, which stood at 55,500 hectares (212 sq miles) in 2015, the UNODC said.Myanmar is a major producer of not only opium and its derivative heroin, but also the highly addictive drug methamphetamine, known across

Asia by its Thai name "ya ba," or crazy medicine.The illicit industry is worth billions of dollars, and is driven by poverty, conflict and Chinese demand.Narcotics pose another headache for Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) party, which will soon govern a large, impoverished and fractious nation after winning a landslide election victory in November."Given the scale of the challenge she has a big task in front of her. It's not something that's going to be fixed in a day," Douglas said.The NLD's election manifesto contained only two fleeting references to narcotics."We do recognize the existence of this problem but we're too preoccupied with preparations for transfer of power and can't find a chance to think of it seri-

ously at the moment," Win Htein, a senior NLD leader, told media.Suu Kyi has often addressed the issue of drugs in her speeches, he said.Even

produced in border areas controlled by ethnic rebel armies or by the Myanmar military and allied militias.Myanmar, Laos and Thailand make

A policeman holds poppy plants after a field was destroyed

under an NLD government, the military will retain formal control over the ministries of defence, border affairs and home affairs - all crucial to counter-narcotics efforts.Most drugs are

up the so-called Golden Triangle, which churns out a quarter of the world's opium.The area under cultivation in Laos also stabilized at 5,700 hectares (22 sq miles) in 2015, while Thailand had

only a few hundred hectares, said the UNODC.Most Golden Triangle opium and heroin goes to China, but they are also widely available in Myanmar, where addiction is common and many injecting drug users are HIV-positive.Experts fear that Myanmar could soon witness an explosion in methamphetamine use, already common in the rest of Asia.The Myanmar police launched an aggressive poppy-eradication campaign in 2012, a year after a semi-civilian government replaced military rule. However, the UNODC's Douglas said its impact had been "minimal". He called for the scaling up UNODC projects in Myanmar to provide opium farmers with alternative sources of income, such as coffee. (Agencies)

One pct of China billionaires jailed for bribery, other crimes-report Beijing, Dec 15 :Just over one percent of Chinese billionaires identified by the Hurun Report as the country's richest over the past 17 years have been jailed, charged or even executed mainly for bribery, embezzlement or economy-related crimes, the publication said.On its website, the Hurun Report said 35 of the more than 3,000 billionaires that have featured on its an-

nual Hurun Rich List, dubbed by local media as a "slaughter list" since it was launched in 1999, have run into trouble with the law.The biggest number - 11 - were real estate tycoons, the report said, followed by nine finance industry executives. Shanghai and Beijing were home to most of the offenders, who on average were sentenced to jail at age

47 for 10 years, the report added. Hurun founder Rupert Hoogewerf told media the number of billionaire offenders was lower than the number of government officials and executives at state-owned enterprises who have been arrested or are under investigation for corruption.President Xi Jinping's widespread crackdown on corruption

has also ensnared several billionaires over the past few years, including Xu Ming, a former business ally of disgraced Chinese politician Bo Xilai and the founder of plastics-to-property conglomerate Dalian Shide Group, who died in prison earlier this month.Last week, the disappearance of Guo Guangchang, one of China's best-known bil-

lionaires and the chairman of Fosun Group, sparked speculation that he was being drawn into the corruption crackdown.Guo, ranked 17 on this year's Hurun rich list, appeared at a company meeting on Monday after the company said he had been assisting the authorities in an investigation.

(Agencies)

The first third gender person to contest polls Dhaka, Dec 15 :By becoming a candidate in the municipality polls, 48year-old Dithi has marked the beginning of a new era in Bangladesh. Dithi, a member of the community of Hijras, a term widely used to mainly re-

Bangladesh Govt unblocks all social media platforms Dhaka, Dec. 15 : A day after the Government of Bangladesh blocked Skype, Twitter and Imo, all social media platforms have been unblocked today.According to The Daily Star, Mobile phone operators and internet service providers in the country resumed the services after getting a letter from the telecom regulator this afternoon .Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Shahjahan Mahmood said that they are only following instructions from the government authorities

Big waves splash onto a coastal road in Albay province, south of Manila,

across the central islands of the archipelago, but on Tuesday afternoon its wind gusts were still reaching 170 kilometres an hour as it passed over the island of Mindoro.It was due to move out into the South China Sea todayafternoon.Authorities had yet to make contact with some of the badly hit areas and it was unclear if or by how much the death toll would climb.The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 typhoons a year, many of them deadly, with the strongest often happening towards the end of the year.Last year, 53 people died in floods and landslides after Ty-

.Facebook, Viber and WhatsApp were blocked on November 18, soon after prominent opposition leaders, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, were executed for war crimes committed during the Liberation War of 1971.Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) earlier asked all mobile phone operators and telecom service providers, in a letter, to suspend the services immediately, said a top official of a mobile phone operator. (ANI)

fer to intersex persons, is running for the post of a reserved female ward councillor in Kolaroa Municipality of the southwestern district of Satkhira. Thus she becomes the first person of such gender identity in Bangladesh to contest an election.There have been similar instances in India and Pakistan in recent years. In January, Madhu Bai Kinnar, a transgender person and a member of the Dalit caste, was elected mayor of Raigarh in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. In 2013, Bindiya Rana, a transgender person, contested in a provincial assembly seat in Pakistan.While talking to the media over phone yesterday, Dithi said by participating in the elections, she wants to remove the social discrimination against her gender, who are still far from being mainstreamed in the

society."You have to keep in mind that no one will give you your rights; you will have to achieve them. I became a candidate in order to ensure our rights. If I win, I will try my best to ensure the rights of transgender people. I will always be by the side of the poor and the deprived," she said.Dithi has three brothers, who now live in Jessore, another southwestern district and do not have regular contact with her. She inherited some property when her father died but gave most of what she had to her brothers.Asked how she is covering her campaign expenditures, Dithi said: "The people of my ward love me and they encouraged me to take part in the election. I am carrying the expenses from the income generated from my business and household earnings."Dithi's candidature affidavit says

Dithi her profession is "homemaker/business" and that she is selfeducated.What usually happens when a person is identified as Hijra in Bangladesh is that they have to leave home because of social taboo.

They have to go and live with the Hijra community.

Asked if that has happened with her, Dithi said: "No. I never left home.

Instead, I built two houses in Kolaroa and my houses are open for all. I provide shelter for the homeless and destitute in

my house."Dithi, who lives in the local Hijra Para, is known as "Guru Ma," the teacher and mother, and involved with Awami League's politics.Election Commission Secretary Sirazul Islam said this is a great news for the cause of a fully inclusive elections."People are becoming conscious about transgender people. They are being mainstreamed.

People talk about inclusive and universal election and this sort of participation is a big achievement for the commission," the secretary said.Official statistics shows that at least 10,000 Hijras live in Bangladesh now, but rights groups claim the number can be up to 10 times higher.

Hijras in Bangladesh have the right to vote since 2009. In November 2013, the government recognized Hijras as a third gender. (Agencies)

Nepal brick kiln blast

At least six Indians and two locals were killed and 24 others injured after a brick kiln chimney collapsed in Nepal after an explosion,

Kathmandu, Dec 15: At least six Indians and two locals were killed and 24 others injured after a brick kiln chimney collapsed in Nepal after an explosion, police said.The incident took place on Monday night at New Jaya Nepal Brick Factory in Itahari in eastern Nepal, police said, adding that the dead Indians were from West Bengal and Bihar.Police have identified the deceased as Saddam Hussain, 14, Salun Miya, 16, and Rahul Miya, 12, from West Bengal and Mithalesh Paswan, 35, and Gariblal Paswan, 25, from Bihar. One Rustfa Miya from Bihar also succumbed to his injuries.Of the 24 injured, 17 are reported to be critical and are being treated in different hospitals.Around one

million raw bricks were being baked when the explosion took place, after smoke could not pass out of the 105-foot chimney, resulting in its collapse.

Tikaram Chaudhary, a local resident, said that the upper part of the chimney was destroyed by the April 25 earthquake and it was repaired recently.He said the incident could have occurred as wood and plastics kept in chimney holes during repair had remained there.The kiln owner had distributed sweets to celebrate the reopening of the kiln on Monday."We heard a loud noise as we were having sweets. There was a stampede," said Jalil Hussain, adding: "The workers sustained injuries in the stampede."

(Agencies)

Pakistan hangs 8 ahead of Peshawar school attack anniversary Islamavad,Dec15:Pakistan today executed eight convicted murderers in different jails of its Punjab province, bringing the total number of executions to 310 since it lifted a moratorium on the death penalty following a terror attack on an army run school in December last year.The hangings were carried out just a day before the first anniversary of the Peshawar school attack that left over 150 people, mostly students, dead and prompted the government to lift the sixyear moratorium on the death penalty.The latest executions were carried out in jails of Multan, Bahawalpur, Gujrat, Attock and Dera Ghazi Khan, according an official of interior ministry.

"Two convicts each were hanged in Multan, Bahawalpur and Gujrat and one each in Dera Ghazi Khan and Attock," said the official. "They

were convicted for separate murders."Today's hangings takes the number of execution to 310 in less than one year, in a shocking development to the local and international human right activists.

Organisations like the UN, the EU, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have demanded Pakistan to stop the hangings. However, Pakistan rejected their demands, saying that it will help to deter militancy in the country.The rights activists reject the argument as more than 90 per cent hanged since restoration of moratorium were those convicted for murder and were not involved in terrorism.Initially executions were resumed for terrorism offences only.

Later, the government lifted moratorium on the death penalty in all capital cases on March 10.

(Agencies)

The hangings were carried out just a day before the first anniversary of the Peshawar school attack that left over 150 people, mostly students, dead and prompted the government to lift the sixyear moratorium on the death penalty.

No one can stop war crime trials, says Bangladesh PM Dhaka, Dec. 15: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said at Martyred Intellectuals' Memorial on Monday that no one in the world could stop the trials of war crimes initiated by her government. According to media, Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators, including Razakars, AlBadr and Al-Shams, killed poets, writers, teachers, journalists, doctors and many other intellectuals from different fields on December 14, 1971 in the then East Pakistan. Criticising Bangladesh Nationalist Party chief Khaleda Zia for 'making those, executed for war crimes,

Sheikh Hasina ministers during her tenure as prime minister', Hasina questioned how pay tribute to the m a r t y r e d intellectuals.Hasina also reiterated her resolve not to bow to anyone and lead Bangladesh into becoming a hunger and poverty-free prosperous country by 2041.

(ANI)

PAGE 8

DIBRUGARH,WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16

Total Quality Management in Universities Tobacco Consumption Highest Rate of Tobacco Consumption in India Mizoram has the highest rate of tobacco consumption in the country with a record of 67.2 per cent of its population using different kinds of tobacco products as per a report of Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS). As about 8 lakh people of the world died every year due to second-hand smoke. And along with that as many as 5,41,000 people in Mizoram used different kinds of tobacco products and the total annual expenditure on tobacco products is estimated at Rs 21,934. While there are 2,01,252 cigarette smokers in Mizoram 33,001 are Zozial (locally made or indigenous cigar) smokers.

National Family Health Survey-3, reports that during 2005-06 the total percentage of male smokers in Mizoram was 73.6 which was much higher than the country average percentage of male smokers (32.1%). The percentage of female smokers was 16.1 per cent. While the percentage of male using any tobacco was 83.4, female using any tobacco products was estimated at 60.8 percent during 20056, reposts National Family Health Survey-3.

Whereas about 100 million people have been killed worldwide in the 20th Century due to consumption of tobacco and if this trend continues, tobacco could kill 1 billion people during the 21st Century. It has been estimated that by 2030, tobacco will kill 8 million people each year unless urgent action is taken.

Also Mizoram registered the highest rate of cancer patients in India with a record of 5,888 people suffering from the deadly disease while about 3137 people had died of cancer in 5 years.

Chewing tobacco accounted for almost all of the smokeless tobacco consumption in India. In the case of India, 23 per cent of men were smokers during 2008-2010. This is comparable with the percentage seen in the U.S. and slightly higher than the U.K figure. Brazil was the only country that had lesser percentage of smokers. With more than 60 per cent, Russia has the highest number of smokers, and is closely followed by China at 53 per cent.

With 6.1 mean cigarettes a day smoked, India has the lowest figure among the 16 countries.

But this is more than compensated by the number of men who chew tobacco. At nearly 33 per cent, India has the highest male smokeless tobacco users, just above Bangladesh (26.4 per cent). India ranks second globally and very close to China (approximately 301 million users). But unlike China, where nearly all are smokers and nearly 95 per cent smoke manufactured cigarettes, India accounts for more of smokeless tobacco users - 206 million,

Dialogue between India and Pakistan New chapter of peace to begin External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj expressed the hope that the renewed dialogue between India and Pakistan will open a new chapter of peace and development in the region. And that a "comprehensive bilateral dialogue" will start and foreign secretaries of the two countries will work out the modalities under the "new dialogue". Sushma Swaraj said India emphasized the need to speed up the judicial process in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack by Pakistani terrorists. The minister meetings with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad were held against the backdrop of positive developments of the talks earlier between the two national security advisers in Bangkok. And for that both sides condemned terrorism and resolved to cooperate to eliminate this menace. And also dwelt on the need for Pakistan to expedite the Mumbai terrorist attack trial. And for that the Indian side was assured of the steps being taken to expedite its early conclusion. The Indian Government also accords the highest priority to the country's security.

In order to meet the threats, the government will take all steps, including through diplomatic channels. And at the same time, the government is also committed to building an environment of peaceful and cooperative relations with all our neighbours, including Pakistan, so that the efforts for peace and development in South Asia, initiated by the government on the day of assuming office itself, are taken further forward. Also according to Sushma there were two aims of the dialogue: Addressing the issues of concern through dialogue, and establishing cooperative relations. She said that when Prime Minister Narendra Mosi met Pakistan Premier Sharif during the Conference of Parties (CoP) 21 climate chnge summit meeting in Paris on November 30, "there was a discussion on how the two countries could build an atmosphere conducive for again re-engaging with each other". Following PM's conversation with PM Nawaz Sharif in Paris, the two leaders decided that both sides should hold the NSA-level meeting, Sushma Swaraj said. The national security advisers met in Bangkok on December 6. Where they focused on peace and security, terrorism, tranquillity along the Line of Control, and Jammu and Kashmir, the state which has been most directly impacted by terrorism and violation of LoC. The exchange of dialogues is eagerly for peace lovers from both the nation. Indians are mostly of the opinion that we must maintain a love and friendlier especially with our immediate neighbour and Pakistan can be termed as the next nation to India, so thus bringing in a good relation between the two nations, will bring in a lot of prosperity and development for all.

@-Pranjal Bezborah In the competitive environment, total quality management has gained wide importance in industry and is gradually being introduced and experimented with in higher education institutions. An educational system cannot be treated as industry. However, there are similarities with respect to their sub-components.

Each of these viewed as a system consists of input, processes, management, resources, output, suppliers, customers and feedback. University system is a complex system as it involves human beings as input to and output from the system.

Students are input and customers too.

The opened up and liberalized higher education policies in India and the world has made the environment extremely competitive. It is very difficult for Higher Education delivery systems like Universities with slow, ineffective processes and procedures to survive this vibrant and dynamic new environment. There are a number of management tools like Kaizen, Flexible Organizational Architecture, Business Process Engineering, etc. that are being offered as a plausible answer to the problems of present scenario. They suggest the use of capabilities of modern management technologies to restructure the very process that is, delivering higher education by the universities, so as to enhance its efficiency manifold. They all eventually lead to Total Quality Management (TQM). It is that the Universities must seed their rigid structures and become more adaptive and responsible to the requirements of its internal and external environments, and that they must follow a processoriented approach instead of the traditional specialization oriented

bureaucratic approach.

The traditional model in universities, calls for aligning to the guidelines of the National Policy for Education for the so called Quality Performance. We in turn, somehow manage to cling to the standards to report quality performance on records. Important it is to evaluate that how well we follow the quality precepts in spirit. We need to justify the structure, the process delivering higher education rather than the meager end results. In fact the entire evaluation must be based on process rather than on results window dressed on records. Second, it is interesting to note that these 'gold standards' are not standards in all the situations. Their validity may be questioned with the passing of time - needless to say that we face a very dynamic and vibrant competitive environment.

For instance, say, to achieve quality in teaching, the existing institutional framework provides for some pre-testing tools like the 'National Eligibility Tests' and

do you ensure my quality performance today.

First, there is no perfect correlation between my teaching competence and my knowledge-base.

Second, how relevant is my antiquated knowledge-base today, is to be questioned. Third, there is no appraisal mechanism to appraise my contribution of today - have I grown and developed as a teacher over this period of time. Continuous improvement is the ultimate requirement today in the fast changing world of knowledge and education. We need to keep pace.

Total Quality Management (TQM) is a conceptual approach different from Quality Assurance and Quality Inspection, and runs counter to many underlying assumptions of professional bureaucracies. It calls for continuous and relentless improvement in the total process that provides education, not simply in the improved actions of individual professionals. Improvement is thus based on both outcome and process.

Following is what the university leadership including Vice Chancellor and Executive Council must learn to implement TQM successfully: " Management must learn the meaning of quality including an understanding of the importance of customer and that there are multiple customers in the

It is presumed that TQM shall alter the entire way of working in an organization. This is a misnomer because if the prevalent work processes are conducive to fostering the total quality philosophy, there is no need for change. TQM is not a panacea for today's problems. It is a long-term strategy for survival. TQM, as the name suggests, has to be steered and managed. It calls for a strong leadership at all levels. Our archaic and outdated system of processes in our university must be replaced.

State Level Eligibility Tests. Now if I am a teacher of twelve years standing who qualified these quality tests some 14 or 15 years back, how

university system. " Top administration must sponsor and encourage continuous improvement of quality, including wise use of teams

that can work together effectively to improve systems and other processes, including group processes and organization and system change skills. " Administration must learn the meaning of statistical thinking; how to speak with data and manage with facts; how to take the guesswork out of decision making; how to reduce variation and unnecessary complexity through the use of standard tools of data analysis and display and how to link the results of the use of these tools with appropriate management action.

TQM demands that change be based on the need of the customers, not the values of the provider. It requires meaningful participation of all personnel and a rapid and thoughtful response from top management (Executive Council) to suggestions made by participating personnel down the line. Management is no longer able to stifle the suggestions of personnel by requiring additional study or by requiring that a higher level of management review all decisions.

TQM is more than a change in values and responsiveness by top management. It requires rigorous process flow and statistical analysis, evaluation of all ongoing activities, and the recognition and application of underlying psycho-social

principles affecting individuals and groups within the university. It requires accepting the fundamental assumption that most problems encountered in a university are the result of not errors by administrative staff or teachers, but the inability of the structure within which all personnel function - to perform adequately.

An obvious conflict is between the relentless inquiry of TQM and the established norms of professional autonomy.

This is not merely a conflict between administrators and teachers; it is a fundamental challenge to the way all professionals think about quality, evaluate and regulate themselves, and gain and protect their professional domains and autonomy.

TQM does not respect existing professional standards; it is continually demanding new ones.

TQM places primary emphasis for problem characterization on the system rather than the individual. Deming estimates that 85% of errors introduced into a process are the result of problems with the system rather than the type of random errors and mistakes introduced by individuals. Finally, TQM challenges the prevailing model of who the customer is. The customer in TQM is not only the student, but also the many users of an

institution's output - the industry etc. Here again, the criterion is not whether or not the work meets professional standards, but whether the user is satisfied with its timeliness and utility.

It is presumed that TQM shall alter the entire way of working in an organization. This is a misnomer because if the prevalent work processes are conducive to fostering the total quality philosophy, there is no need for change. TQM is not a panacea for today's problems. It is a long-term strategy for survival. TQM, as the name suggests, has to be steered and managed. It calls for a strong leadership at all levels. Our archaic and outdated system of processes in our university must be replaced. Liberalization has seen modern concepts flowing into our country as a storm. So has TQM. It therefore has created a fear of the unknown. But do we have a choice? (The writer is a Professor in the Department of Commerce, Dibrugarh University.)

References: 1.

D.R. Goel, TQM in EducationReality, Desirability and Feasibility, University News, October 28, 1996.

2.

P.K. Tulsi, Total Quality Management in Education, University News, June 22, 1998.

Pay-Hike And Corruption

Sir, One Debeswar Talukdar, Senior Assistant, DTO office, Beltala has been caught red-handed while accepting a hefty amount by way of bribe. Accepting bribes in District Transport offices and some other

prolific offices under the state government is a common phenomenon. Some are detected, some are not.

Now, state government employees are highly paid and demands for pay-hike, spearheaded by the office-bearers of the Employees Association including Basav Kalita are on. Last time, if we remember right, a particular electronic news channel staged a talk show on the modus operandi of the state government employees. When it comes to the point of accepting bribe and other corrupt practices resorted to by the state government employees, Mr. Kalita not only evaded such questions but also refrained from participating the debate. Perhaps, for leaders like Kalita, mal-practices like gambling, drinking wine and other corruptions like accepting bribe must go on in state government offices uninterrupted. Simultaneously, the demands for pay-hike must be carried out in full-swing taking recourse to arm twisting that the employees would dethrone Tarun Gogo's government if their demands for pay-hike are not accepted. Further, Sri Kalita also demanded the arrears of payment to be made before long. Do the employees know, how resourceful the state is? Some Sizeable amount coming from certain resources are embezzled en route. For example, Sri Rampur Check

Gate, rampant corruption in the forest department to name a few. That apart, the chronic malady of most of the employees of 'coming late, leaving office early' plagues the offices. The bureaucrats, too, cannot escape the ignominy of corruption.

Yours etc.

Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh

Best Letter The best letter of the month in the Letter to the Editor section will be awarded an amount of Rs 200. So please keep writing.

Letters to the editor and articles should be sent to : The Eastern Today Chowkidingee, Near Sankardeva Hospital Mancotta Road, Dibrugarh-786003 (Assam) Ph: 0373-2328944 Web : editor.easterntoday@gmail.com

Op

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16

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Tiger Extinction: Where Have All The Pug Marks Gone?

It is a royal looking animal known for its magnificence, power and its agility.

Our national animal, The Tiger, is one of the most graceful animals. But as time is passing by, we fail to realize that we are neglecting this royal species, and our neglection is thus leading to their extinction.

Year after year, optimistic tiger figures, generated by dubious means are flaunted at us. But the reality is that the Indian tiger is at the verge of extinction.

Neglection by the state government as well as the central government, tigers will soon be history, if we do not act now.

A number of NGO's and other national and international agencies have quoted that tigers will live for about ten more years. But the fact is that Tigers will live for a maximum of 5 years if their rate of extinction is not curtailed.

There are a number of reasons for the deaths of tigers ranging from poisoning

of tigers to poaching. The spurt in tiger deaths near Corbett and the Dudhwa Tiger Reserves have all been attributed to poisoning by villagers who, angry at losing livestock to the great predator, resort to poisoning them.

We certainly cannot look away from the fact that tigers are being poached at a very high rate even today.

An activist of the Tiger Haven Wildlife Trust came up with a photograph that showed a homespun rope made out of moonjh grass, knotted around the foreleg of that tiger carcass in Dudhwa last year.

The authorities have not been able to explain this.

Earlier there were more bizzare explanations, when a spurt of killings saw four tiger carcasses floating in the waterbodies in and around Dudhwa. The reality was that poisoned tigers, whose trachea is choking in spasms, will rush towards water in its death throes, as those tigers did.

An official census puts the number of tigers in the wild at around 3700, but the reality is that there are around 1600 tigers left.

There have been a number of projects like the Project Tiger initiated by the Indira Gandhi Government in 1972, but none have been successful.

At the time of independence in 1947, the estim a t e d number Anshul w a s around 40,000, but now the number has dropped drastically.

Once a tiger death due to poaching is accepted, and the acceptance is backed up by the firm commitment to overcome the lapse, it would become much easier to go all out in evolving and implementing effective damage-control measures.

Otherwise, the forest department's folly will always be evident to others, even though ostrich-like, it may have hidden its head under some convenient, but

unlikely, explanation.

On the other hand, there is the growing tendency of non-official conservationists to lay the entire blame on the forest department officials without taking cognizance of their limitations in terms of staff, equipment and commitment. That is the basic reason why these two protagonists, playing out the drama of the tiger's extinction, are c o n Tewari stantly at loggerheads. And so, while they keep their horns locked in adversarial contest, vital time is going waste, and nothing concrete is being done. Forest criminals and tiger poachers are having a field day. Trees are being felled to fuel illegal activities of the timber mafia, while tigers are being regularly killed for their skins and bones, which pass through greased palms, and find their way into countries like China, to be sold for astonishing sums in the

Ride on Renewable Energy, Not Pollutants Automobile has been perhaps the greatest invention by man in the last century.

It has comforted us to an extent, never imagined before. During the start of the 20th century, automobiles were exclusively an expensive affair, but Henry Ford, the automobile czar, revolutionized this industry.

He exploited the urge of the people for the need of an affordable and luxurious mode of transport. His organization, Ford motors is till date a phenomenal success. Following the same ideology adopted by Ford, many new major players such as General Motors and Volkswagen entered this segment.

The industry boomed to towering heights and the customer base expanded all over the world. However at the dawn of the century, a major environmental issue cropped up. The issue of global warming, mainly pushed forward by the eminent environmentalists of the 1980's and the then prime minister of England, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher.

Their protocol was, that Carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas was evidently responsible for Global warming , and the automobile industry had a direct link with it. It was indeed, a gigantic contributor.

Ever since the direct link-up with environment issues, several players have entered the industry with promising new ideas which benefit the environment. Reva, an Indian start-up of the 21st century is already a major manufacturer of electric cars. Their vehicles are much smaller in size for compactness on the Indian roads and the core idea is for short distance travelling within a city. The car is equipped with rechargeable batteries and the vehicle gives a fairly decent performance overall. It is

black market.

As sad and shocking as the extinction of the Royal Bengal Tiger is, however, what is more shocking is what was learned was causing it. Private individuals, concerned about the fate of this magnificent creature, discovered at great risk to themselves and to their horror that the primary cause of the poaching was the illegal sale of the tiger skins to none other than Tibet, whose male population, awash with cash from the tourist trade now streaming into Tibet as the result of China's wanting to integrate it into the rest of China (there is now a high speed train link to Tibet in China), prize the skins for their ability to attack desirable women. When this was discovered in the last two years, his Holiness the Dalai Lama, scolded the citizens of Tibet and pleaded with them to destroy their illicitly obtain tiger skins. Many did heed his pleas, but many did not. And so the tiger

Scientists in the western nations and Japan have long been proposing the usage of hybrid fuels.

These are mainly water and oxygen based fuels which are highly efficient.

They have mainly been derived from the fuels used in space programmes for space shuttles and rockets. The most important factor for stressing on the global usage of such fuels is that the only residue they leave behind after combustion are merely oxygen gas along with traces of water. Major experiments on vehicles are being carried out in the laboratories of major car makers to test the marketability of these fuels. Another such proposition is solar energy based cars .

These vehicles are equipped with solar cells which can be charged all throughout the day and the vehicle operates entirely on solar energy. The only limitation is that it can only be successfully used in areas which receive sunlight for most parts of the day. With such new ventures coming up and the global bend towards alternate fuels, the industry is poised to become a major contributor for a safer and healthier environment whilst meeting its primary aim for an even more effective transportation with the rapid advancement of technology.

now estimated by some that at the present lower rate of poaching, the Royal Bengal Tiger will be completely extinct in the wild in India within three years. But

equally sad is the extinction of the authentic Buddhist sprit that once thrived in Tibet, where compassion for animals trumped materialism for millennia, but no longer.

A Global Warning for India Anshul Tewari

still on its way to make cities including Delhi a more prominent and Bangalore where mark in the sector. The the constructions are company owners being carried out in agree that it will take full vigour. These t i m e projects for the would Satvik Shrivastava Indian sebuyers verely to be accustomed with emphasize on usage of the idea of electric ve- public transport and hicles. They believe unanimously help tothat with the realiza- wards reducing pollution of the impact of tion. gas and fuel emissions In the recent past, the , the customers can be introduction of Tata more familiar and motors' Nano , termed comfortable with this as the people's car , has concept and automati- been highly debated. cally turn to environ- At a time where there ment friendly vehicles. is a major stress on With increasing usage of public transcompetition from such ports and reduction of new start-ups , the fuel emissions, the dominant players of Nano appears to be the market have also turning the table come up with various around. Priced at just models of their pre-ex- little over Rs. 1lakh, isting cars and other the vehicle is obvinew vehicles which ously affordable to the are farther more fuel major masses of the efficient , with lesser country, something fuel consumption precisely the makers which makes them aim at. Their direct tarhighly cost efficient geting the lower and and easing their im- middle income classes pact on the environ- is set to create havoc. ment . The govern- A Vehicle affordable to ment too is doing its such huge numbers, bit to the cause by hav- would vastly magnify ing initiated CNG ve- our environment ishicular transport sues alongside creatwhich has only rare ing a menace on the traces of carbon diox- roads. The Nano , preide and sulphur emis- dominantly poses an sions .Metro rail inescapable threat to projects have also our already growing been signed for several global concerns.

trade continues, Tibetan men continue to adorn themselves in tiger skins, and the tigers move closer and closer each day to extinction on this earth. It is

There has been a great debate on the international front about Global Warming. A rather clichĂƒÂŠ topic, Global warming has been debated about in the UN General Assembly, international parliaments and by various Government and Non-Government bodies. There are a number of individuals, groups and NGO's working to spread awareness about the issue and also to persuade us to contribute in lessening the crisis (the onset of which is bound to happen).

Experts have estimated that the damage has already been done and after 4 or so decades the epidemic will occur. All that can be done now is lessening of the effect. In an earlier post we had discussed that why concentrating on Global Warming is essential and what are the differences in the thinking of various experts, concentrating basically on what is correct and what must be done. But this post is much about awareness.

Awareness about how our race will end if we don't wake up. Putting it this way, how we will die and our future generations will not be able to look at the morning sun.

Sounds harsh? But this is the truth. In the newspapers as well as the television we see the effects of Global Warming on states like the UK or the USA. This creates our mindset that India will not face much of damage. But the point is that India is not being concentrated on. Lets have a look as to what will India be facing: According to the United Nations Environment Program in 1989, India has a vast coastal line and the rising sea levels caused by global warming will cause an ecological disaster. UN stated "In India, the signs already back up forecasts that as the mercury raise the Indian subcontinent, home to one-sixth of humanity; will be one of the worst-affected regions."

The melting of the Himalayan glaciers has begun and the average rate

of retreat is almost twice (34 meters) per year as compared to the 1971 levels of 19 meters. This will surely cause the temperatures and the sea level to rise and have a cascading effect on the crops and the monsoons.

The islands which are a part of India will vanish.

As a matter of fact two have already vanishes.

Temperatures in the group of islands have already gone up by one degree centigrade.

There is debate between experts in which some say that the sea levels will rise by just 4 to 35 inches while many say that the rise will be from 20 to 55 inches.

Calculations at the Jawaharlal Nehru University held in 1993 have proved that as many as 7 million people would be displaced and 5,764 sq km of land and 4,200 km of roads would be lost!

Orissa is another state which is already being hit hard by global warming.

The villages in the coastal regions are disappearing, Kendra Para district vanishes into the Bay of Bengal, the state's geographical location at the head of the Bay of Bengal, with a landlocked sea and a deltaic plain, makes the state extremely vulnerable to rises in sea level caused by global warming."

In September 2002, scientists at the National Centre for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research conducted a people's perception survey on climate-induced natural disasters in the Kendra Para district of Orissa. The results showed that the frequency and intensity of droughts have increased and so have the incidents of flooding. Also, the intensity of cyclones has increased and people believed that the sea-water had become warmer.

These poor villagers do not know why this is happening but climatologists know why. And the answer is Global Warming.

Ironically these poor villages hardly contribute to global warming; they hardly emit any greenhouse gases. The countries which contribute the maximum to global warming per capita are Australia, Canada and

the United States.

WHAT NOW? The ice is melting, the sea is rising. Gases are being emitted and we are unaware. All we are doing is ignoring this major problem because it has not yet affected our country, but one day it will affect us badly. So badly that we will not be sure as to till when will we live.

Many debate that all this is negligible and people and economies shall not waste their time and resources on this.

But the point to be noted is that all this is just their assumption.

It is true that investing on this epidemic (which about many are uncertain) will certainly be a waste of resources and time. So much so that economies might fall into depression, and if Global Warming has no effects then all the efforts will go waste. Who will repair the economic damage?

This is about the uncertain part. The part where experts say that Global Warming will do nothing. But what if all this turns the other way round and we are not ready?

Lives will be lost, generations would end, and not a single piece of land will be left to live on.

Who will repair the damage then? Even if we stopped emitting greenhouse gases (GHGs) today, the Earth would still warm by another degree Fahrenheit or so. But what we do from today forward makes a big difference. Depending on our choices, scientists predict that the Earth could eventually warm by as little as 2.5 degrees or as much as 10 degrees Fahrenheit.

Read the following solution quoted by National Geographic: A commonly cited goal is to stabilize GHG concentrations around 450550 parts per million (ppm), or about twice pre-industrial levels.

This is the point at which many believe the most damaging impacts of climate change can be avoided. Current concentrations are about 380 ppm, which means there isn't much time to lose. According to the IPCC, we'd have to reduce GHG emis-

sions by 50% to 80% of what they're on track to be in the next century to reach this level.

Is this possible?

Many people and governments are already working hard to cut greenhouse gases, and everyone can help. Researchers Stephen Pacala and Robert Socolow at Princeton University have suggested one approach that they call "stabilization wedges." This means reducing GHG emissions from a variety of sources with technologies available in the next few decades, rather than relying on an enormous change in a single area. They suggest 7 wedges that could each reduce emissions, and all of them together could hold emissions at approximately current levels for the next 50 years, putting us on a potential path to stabilize around 500 ppm.

There are many possible wedges, including improvements to energy efficiency and vehicle fuel economy (so less energy has to be produced), and increases in wind and solar power, hydrogen produced from renewable sources, biofuels (produced from crops), natural gas, and nuclear power. There is also the potential to capture the carbon dioxide emitted from fossil fuels and store it underground-a process called "carbon sequestration."

In addition to reducing the gases we emit to the atmosphere, we can also increase the amount of gases we take out of the atmosphere.

Plants and trees absorb CO2 as they grow, "sequestering" carbon naturally. Increasing forestlands and making changes to the way we farm could increase the amount of carbon we're storing.

Some of these technologies have drawbacks, and different communities will make different decisions about how to power their lives, but the good news is that there are a variety of options to put us on a path toward a stable climate.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16

BUSINESS

PAGE 10

Retail inflation at 14-month high of 5.4% Ex-Amazon fashion New Delhi, Dec 15: Retail inflation touched a 14-month high in November on the back of costlier food items such as pulses, posing some worries for policymakers, who are keeping a close watch on price pressures.

Separate data showed wholesale inflation also gathered pace in November, narrowing the gap from the previous month, although it fell for the 13th consecutive month.

Economists said both sets of data released on Monday remained within expectations but the pressure on some food prices could be a worry and the government would have to keep a close eye on food supply management. Economists said the build-up in retail inflation up to November 2015 was in line with the trends seen in November 2014. "While the CPI in-

flation print for November 2015 is modestly higher than expected, driven upwards by food inflation, it is not a cause for alarm. The expected reversal in prices of some perishables and pulses, the likely softness in global crude oil prices and consequently, domestic fuel prices, as well as the waning of the adverse base effect would contribute to keeping CPI inflation largely steady at current levels during the remainder of FY 201516," said Aditi Nayar, chief economist at ratings agency ICRA. Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed the consumer price index rose 5.4% (year-on-year) in November from the previous month's 5% and the consumer food price index rose 6% in November compared to October's

European hub of Jet may be shifted from Brussels to Amsterdam

Image for representational purposes.

Sydney, Dec 15: Amsterdam will be the new European gateway for Naresh Goyalowned Jet Airways from next March. Jet will discontinue with Brussels as its European hub from March 26, 2015, and shift it to Amsterdam the next day. As per reports, Jet was finding Brussels Airport 'economically unviable' for continuing its flights from there. Jet flies to North America through its European hub as it does not have non-stop India-US flights like Air India.

"With effect from March 27, 2016, Jet Airways will operate two daily non-stop flights to

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, one each from its home hubs in Mumbai and New Delhi. Jet Airways will also operate a daily flight from Toronto to Amsterdam. Schedules of all three flights have been planned to allow quick and convenient connections between India and Toronto over Amsterdam," Jet said in a statement on Monday.

The airline has entered into codeshare partnership with Schipol-based KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. It will offer one stop codeshare access between India and 30 destinations across Europe and 11 destinations in the US and Canada from March 27. (Agencies)

SpiceJet to refurbish fleet, may buy 100-150 planes Pune, Dec 15: Exactly a year after saving it from near-certain closure, SpiceJet chief Ajay Singh is all set to revamp the airline by possibly going in for a complete change of fleet. Singh says he will place a 'large' aircraft order, indicating anywhere from 100 to 150 planes, this fiscal. Both Airbus and Boeing have sent their proposals for the A-320 new engine option or neo and the B-737 Max, respectively. Since Singh co-founded SpiceJet in 2005, the low-cost carrier (LCC) has been operat-

ing with Boeing 737s as the mainstay and years later inducted Bombardier Q-400 as its regional jet. "Today we are a relatively small airline and can therefore have a mixed fleet. (SpiceJet has 41planes - 14 Q-400 and a mix of 25 B-737s and two leased A-320s). When we place a large aircraft order, we will have either an all 320 neo or 737 Max fleet.

If Airbus is able to make a better offer than Boeing, I will change my fleet to all A-320s and if Boeing makes a better deal, I will have all B-737s," said Singh. (Agencies)

Image for representational purposes.

5.3%. Inflation measured by the wholesale price index fell 1.9% in November compared to a decline of 3.8% in October. Food inflation rose 5.2% in November, picking up from 2.4% increase in October. The RBI is expected to keep rates on hold for now.

"The RBI will continue to be watchful and is unlikely to tinker with rates for some time until a clear picture emerges on the US Fed action and inflation trends," said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Care Ratings. "This time, the pick-up in inflation has been driven by a 140 basis points jump in food inflation, specifically pulses where the inflation rate touched 46.1%, vegetables, oils and fats," said ratings agency Crisil. "The rise in food inflation is a

RECORD BREAKING INFLATION

Separate data showed wholesale inflation also gathered pace in November, narrowing the gap from the previous month, although it fell for the 13th consecutive month.

Food inflation rose 5.2% in November, picking up from 2.4% increase in October.

While the CPI inflation print for November 2015 is modestly higher than expected, driven upwards by food inflation, it is not a cause for alarm. The expected reversal in prices of some perishables and pulses, the likely softness in global crude oil prices and consequently, domestic fuel prices, as well as the waning of the adverse base effect would contribute to keeping CPI inflation largely steady at current levels during the remainder of FY 201516.

Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed the consumer price index rose 5.4% (year-on-year) in November from the previous month's 5% and the consumer food price index rose 6% in November compared to October's 5.3% Inflation measured by the wholesale price index fell 1.9% in November compared to a decline of 3.8% in October.

The WPI inflation data showed price of pulses rising 58.1% in November while those of onions shot up 52.7%.

concern and now depends on a healthy rabi output and active foodsupply management by the government. An increase in excise duty for petrol and diesel during the month, also pushed

up inflation in transport and communication segments," said the agency.

The WPI inflation data showed price of pulses rising 58.1% in November while those of onions shot up 52.7%. Potato

prices fell 53.7% during the month. Prices of pulses and onions have been under pressure for some time and the government has taken several measures to tame the prices. (Agencies)

Retail inflation touched a 14-month high in November on the back of costlier food items such as pulses, posing some worries for policymakers, who are keeping a close watch on price pressures.

Support on farm issues seeked by India Nairobi, Dec 15: A day before the ministerial meeting kicks off here, India and developing countries huddled together to press upon the developed world to address their concerns related to agriculture, amid indications that some of the African countries have pledged their support to ensure that the Doha Round stays alive. "We cannot continue with the rhetoric of a development agenda without even a reasonable attempt to address issues which are of primary concern to developing economies. For decades, a handful of farm lobbies of some countries have shaped the discourse and determined the destiny of millions of subsistence farmers of the developing countries.

The reduction in the mas-

Commerce & Industry Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman.Source: img.niticentral.com

sive subsidization of the farm sector in developed countries is now not even a subject matter of discussion today, leave aside serious negotiations," commerce & industry minister Nirmala Sitharaman said at the meeting of G33, a coali-

tion of developing countries. The group has been active in seeking a permanent solution on public stockholding of food in addition to special safeguard measures (SSM) to counter possible impact of import surges and dips. Although it put up a

united front, Brazil is keen that it gets tariff cut on farm goods in return for agreeing to the demand being aggressively pushed. Sources said that like India is keen to protect subsistence farmers, Brazil wants lower import duties to help its "familyrun agriculture". Separately, during a meeting of G20 members, India called for reworking the trade rules to remove the bias in favour of developed countries. "We strongly believe that the time has come to remove the disparity in agricultural trade rules, which are biased in favour of developed countries. The conclusion of the Doha Round would have gone a long way towards correcting distortions in agricultural trade," commerce secretary Rita Teaotia said. (Agencies)

Direct benefit transfer to cotton farmers planned by textile ministry Hyderabad, Dec 15: The Ministry of Textiles plans to implement direct transfer of funds to cotton farmers' accounts, on an experimental basis, if the price of cotton drops below the Minimum Support Price (MSP), says Textile Commissioner, Kavita Gupta. The first stage of the project will be rolled out in Arvi taluk, Wardha district of Maharashtra, said Gupta. The taluk was identified for the project as land documents are digitised and the Agriculture Produce Market Committee has better infrastructure.

"We are evolving a mechanism to make the payment directly to the farmers. We are still working on procedural

Textile Commissioner of India, Kavita Gupta.Source: www.cottonyearbook.com

modalities," she said.

The Ministry of Textiles will make available the funds to the state government to be paid to the farmers. The Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) will get into MSP operations as and when

required in the cottongrowing states. The Southern India Mills' Association (SIMA) has welcomed the Central Government's decision and said it will benefit the textile industry. During the last cotton season, the

industry paid higher prices for cotton, especially textile mills in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh though these are cotton-producing states. China has a system for direct payment of benefits to farmers and the Chinese spinning mills have benefited from it, said the association Chairman, M. Senthil Kumar, in a press statement. The daily arrival of cotton currently is about 1.60 lakh bales as against nearly 1.4 lakh bales during this period last year, said Vice-President of Indian Cotton Federation, K. N. Viswanathan. Presently, the prices are maintained at about the MSP in most places. (Agencies)

Gold prices slided below Rs. 26,000 on global cues Kochi, Dec 15: Gold prices slipped below 26,000 by falling Rs. 150 to Rs. 25,850 per ten gram at the bullion market on Monday, tracking a weak trend overseas amid subdued demand from jewellers. Silver followed suit and eased by Rs. 150 to Rs. 33,700 per kg on reduced offtake by industrial units and coin makers. Traders said besides weak global cues as investors await a decision on U.S. interest rate increase, muted demand from jewellers and retailers at the domestic spot market led to the fall in the prices of precious metals here. Globally, gold fell 0.3 per cent to

DESCENDING PRICE ¨ Gold prices slipped below 26,000 by falling Rs. 150 to Rs. 25,850 per ten gram at the bullion market on Monday, tracking a weak trend overseas amid subdued demand from jewellers. ¨ Silver followed suit and eased by Rs. 150 to Rs. 33,700 per kg on reduced off-take by industrial units and coin makers. ¨ Globally, gold fell 0.3 per cent to $1,071.25 an ounce in Singapore. ¨ In the national capital, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity plunged by Rs. 150 each to Rs. 25,850 and Rs. 25,700 per ten grams, respectively. ¨ Following gold, silver ready declined by Rs. 150 to Rs. 33,700 per kg and weeklybased delivery by Rs. 125 to Rs. 33,855 per kg.

$1,071.25 an ounce in Singapore. In the national capital, gold of 99.9 and 99.5 per cent purity plunged by Rs. 150 each to Rs. 25,850 and Rs. 25,700 per ten grams, respectively. It had

climbed Rs. 290 in Saturday's trade. Sovereign, however, remained flat at Rs. 22,200 per piece of eight grams. Following gold, silver ready declined by Rs. 150 to Rs. 33,700 per kg and

weekly-based delivery by Rs. 125 to Rs. 33,855 per kg. However, silver coins were well maintained at last levels of Rs. 48,000 for buying and Rs. 49,000 for selling of 100 pieces. (Agencies)

head Vikas Purohit joins Paytm

Vikas Purohit, ex-Amazon fashion head who recently joined Paytm. Source: blogs.reuters.com

Bengaluru, Dec 15: Digital payments and commerce player Paytm has appointed Vikas Purohit, who spearheaded fashion at Amazon India, in a leadership role for its yetto-belaunched payments bank business. A retail industry veteran with stints at Tommy Hilfiger and Reliance Brands, among others, Purohit's entry into Paytm's core team is interesting as he has no prior experience in the payments and banking space. Purohit will join Paytm as a senior vicepresident. Purohit's experience of helming the fashion and lifestyle category at Amazon India since its inception two years back could come in handy for Paytm, considering fashion has emerged as a key growth

driver for all e-commerce players. A Banaras Hindu University and IIM-Bangalore alumnus, Purohit steered Amazon's fashion business to a sizeable scale while competing with the Flipkart-Myntra combine. According to sources privy to the development, his appointment is in line with Paytm's plan to give structure to the company's executive committee for its payments bank while it awaits a final nod from the Reserve Bank of India. For its payments bank rollout, the Noida-based Paytm is in the process of recruiting 3,000 people has also got on board E r n s t & Yo u n g a n d Mckinsey to help it in its hiring process.

(Agencies)

Four new indices launched by S&P Dow Jones-BSE JV New Delhi, Dec 15: S&P Dow Jones Indices and BSE recently launched four new indices for the Indian market, under the umbrella of S&P BSE Factor Indices. These indices are designed to include non-market factors such as value, momentum, quality and low volatility using a transparent and rules based methodology while ensuring reasonable liquidity, said a release from Asia Index, the joint venture of the two entities that manages a host of indices including the sensex. Each of the four indices includes top 30 companies which are selected based on their respective factor scores in accordance with the index methodology, it said. The four indices are

Enhanced Value Index, Low Volatility Index, Momentum Index and Quality Index. The Enhanced Value Index is designed to measure the performance of companies with valuations based on three ratios: book value-to-price, earningsto-price and sales-toprice. The Low Volatility Index comprises companies with the least amount of volatility, while the Momentum Index is designed to measure the performance of companies that exhibit persistence in their relative performance and Quality Index tracks high quality stocks calculated based on return-on-equity, accruals ratio and financial leverage ratio, the release said. (Agencies)

1,000cr IPO aimed by Hinduja Fin at 4k cr valuation Jamshedpur, Dec 15: Hinduja Leyland Finance is working on a Rs 1,000crore initial public offer (IPO) filing, which includes an offer for sale by its existing investors, people directly familiar with the matter said. The investment banks mandated by the company ICICI Securities, Axis Bank and SBI Caps, among others - are preparing a draft red herring prospectus. The Chennai based NBFC, owned by India's second largest truck and bus maker Ashok Leyland and its promoter the Hindujas, offers customized loans for utility and commercial vehicles, cars and two wheelers, apart from equipment financing.

Hinduja Leyland Finance expects a market valuation between Rs 3,500 crore and Rs 4,000 crore depending on the investor

response as the process rolls on. Private equity investor Evertsone Capital, which holds a 15% stake in the company, is expected to offload 4-5% in the public offering. The company's assets under management touched almost $1billion, or Rs 6,600 crore, with loan disbursement picking up sharply in FY15. The IPO process is kick-starting at a time when the Early Delinquency Index on commercial and utility vehicle loans has softened with signs of a turnaround in the economy. The economic slowdown and factors like mining ban adversely impacted the quality of loan books of lenders with exposure to commercial vehicle and equipment financing. The company has also forayed into mortgage lending and hopes this will spur personal lines of credit. (Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16

Features

PAGE 11

FLORICULTURE

Source:aliexpress.com Gladiolus is has gained a wide popularity because of its- glamourous beauty.

Gladiolus takes its name from a Latin word gladius meaning a sword because of its sword like foliage. The beauty of gladiolus is that it is available in all colours excepting blue. Besides, it is available in different shapes such as plain petals, ruffled, deeply cut, lacer-

ated, re-curved, pointed wrinkled and shapes like orchids. Gladiolus can easily be cross pollinated to create new hybrids. The Indian Institute of Horticulture Research, Bangalore has developed several hybrids like Sapna, Apsara, Meera, Nazrana, Poonam, Shova etc. Gladiolus has got high commercial value and it is a boon to the florists all over

the world. It can be used singly or in spikes for various kinds of floral arrangements including gorgeous bouquet to be presented to VIPs and leaders. Gladiolus is being grown all over the world on commercial scale to meets its tremendous demand. Gladiolus can be grown in all places having loamy or sandy loam soil and cooler climate.

Cultivation Technique 1. Soil Quality: Loamy to sandy loam soil best suited for gladiolus cultivation.

Water logging with high salinity areas are to avoided. Clay soil is also not suitable for gladiolus cultivation. Adding sand to make it porous can amend light clay soil. It can be grown in all climate, however, cooler climate is always preferable.

2.Planting Materials Corms: Gladiolus is usually grown from its corms which are available with nurserymen and gladiolus growers. 30-40 cm diameter corms are to selected for planting which would start yielding after 90 days of plantation. For commercial cultivation, it is always advisable to propagate through corms.

Seeds or offsets which are called as spawn may be used for propagation of gladiolus when new varieties are to be obtained.

Seeds are sown in well drained seed pans having light and porous soil. Seedlings are hardened and al-

lowed to remain on the same pan for two seasons for corms to develop. Controlled . irrigation is applied till leaves turn yellow and then watering is withdrawn.

At the end of the second year, corms become large enough for plantation. A large and giant corm will have many buds like potato.

Each bud with some portion of corm may be cut out with a sharp knife and planted in the field. One can get good result by dipping corms in a slurry of azospirillum - a bacteria culture which fixes atmospheric nitrogen, before planting in the field.

Spacing: 0.15 m from plant to plant and 0.30 m between rows. One acre of land will accommodate about 89 thousand corms with a density of 22/ m2. In case of high density culture under green house the plant density may be up to 33/m2 .3.Maintenance Care: After 10 to 15 days of planting, the corms strikes out buds or shoots which come above the ground level.

Sword like foliage grow upwardly in one plane. The regular maintenance. for the plants are described below. .(i) Staking: It is highly es-

Source: agrifarming.in the cut given on the rootstock. The scion of 20-25 cm length having 2-3 buds of previous season growth is then fitted lightly with the rootstock and tied with polythene strips. The union completed within 30-45 days and after that polythene strip is also removed to avoid girdling.

Intercropping Additional income can be obtained by growing intercrops such as ginger, chilli, French bean, rice bean, urd bean and vegetable crops in the under storey of peach during pre-bearing stage.

Preparation of land and pits Contour lines are marked and half moon terraces (1m.dia.) are prepared. Pits (size 0.75 x 0.75 x 0.75 m) are dug at 5 x 5 m apart on half moon terraces and refilled about 10 cm above the ground level with upper 30 cm soil along with 15-20 kg FYM, 100g Urea, 100g MOP, 300g SSP and 30g chlorpyriphos.

Planting The best time for peach planting is June to August.

If there is no rain after transplanting, light irrigation is given. Peach can also be planted during Dec.-Jan., if irrigation facility is available.

Training and pruning Peaches are usually trained to an open-centre system. Cut back newly planted trees to about 30 inches high, just above a lateral branch; select 3-4 laterals with wide-angle crotches spaced evenly.

Peach require heavy and regular pruning because fruiting occurs laterally only on previous season's growth. During early bearing, 20-30% linear growth of the shoots should be removed. The best time of pruning is last week of October. Water sprouts that come below the graft union is removed periodically.

Diseases and Pests Peach is less affected by diseases and pests. However, sometimes, powdery mildew and shot hole cause damage to the crop.

Powdery mildew disease cause white powdery substances on the leaves, buds and flowers. This disease is controlled by spraying Sulfex @ 2.5g/l of water.

Shot hole diseased is caused by fungus, in which dark brown scattered lesion on leaves appears. This disease is controlled by spraying with Captan @ 2g/l of water.

Peach leaf curling aphid

insecticides like Rogor, Metacid, Malathion etc. along with systemic insecticides like Thimet or Furadan.

B. DISEASES: Gladiolus is highly susceptible to fungal attacks by fungi like Stromatinia, Carvularia, Fusarium etc. these fungi cause consider-

Glamourous Gladiolus

HORTICULTURE Peach: A central fruit crop of Meghalaya Peach (Prunus persica) is an important fruit crop of Meghalaya.

Besides, Meghalaya it is also grown in almost all states of the NEH region because of introduction of the low chilling varieties. Fruits are rich in protein, sugar, minerals and vitamins. It has various uses as fresh fruit as well as processed product.

Soil and climate It is cultivated on varied type of soils but deep sandy loam soil rich in organic matter is best. It is highly susceptible to water logging and prefer perfect drainage. It can be fitted in any type of farming system and can thrive well in high hills, foothills as well as midhills situations.

Varieties Low chilling varieties like TA-170, Flordasun, Shan-ePunjab and Sharbati are suitable for NEH region.

Propagation Raising of root stock: For raising root stock, wild peach is propagated through seeds. Seeds are kept in moist sand for about 10-12 weeks for stratification. The germination and vigour of the seedling can be improved by pre-sowing treatment of seeds with thiourea (5g/l water), GA3 (200mg/l water) or IBA (100 mg/l water). The seeds are sown in beds about 5 cm deep and 15 cm apart at a row to row spacing of 20 cm in the month of OctoberNovember. Beds are mulched with dry grass followed by light irrigation.

Grafting: Tongue grafting in the month of November is commercial method of multiplication. A smooth slanting cut of 4-5 cm is made on the one year old rootstock at about 15-20 cm above the ground level and another downward cut is given starting approximately 2/3rd from the top of the slanting cut and about 2 cm in length. This formed a tongue like structure on the stock. Similar cut is also made on the lower side of the scion exactly matching

sential to stake the plant when they are 15 cm high in order to provide shelter from wind and biomass pressure. Otherwise, the plants as well as heavy spikes will grow crookedly. (ii) Application Of Manures & Fertilisers : The plants are to be top dressed when they attend the height

suck growing buds. Leaf buds become weak and result in poor setting and fruits falls-off prematurely. It can be controlled by spraying with Dimethoate (Rogor) @ 1.5 ml/l of water or Monocrotophos (Nuvacron) @ 2.5 ml/l of water at 7-10 days before flowering.

Stem borer feed below the bark, making minute irregular galleries, resulting the bark split and gum oozes out from the holes. The branches start drying up and do not bear fruits. The affected branches should be cut and destroyed. Nuvan or Monocrotophos @ 2.5ml/l of water or petrol at the rate of 5ml per hole should be injected and close the holes with clay mud thoroughly.

Harvesting and yield For distant market, fruits are harvested when they attain good colour with hard skin, whereas, for local consumption, ripe peaches are harvested by twisting with hand. The peak harvesting period of peach is last week of April to May On an average, 20-30 kg fruit/tree can be harvested from 3 years old tree.

of 15 cm and manures and fertilisers are to applied periodically in the following intervals and .doses. (iii) Stirring Of Soil: Gladiolus requires periodic stirring of soil for more aeration and percolation of soil water to facilitate the growth of the plants as well as the flowers. (iv) Mulching: Mulching with coconut fibre, grass clippings, dust, dried leaves etc. adds to the growth of Gladiolus.

4. Pest & Disease Control: A. PESTS: Pests like Cabbage looper, Corm earworm, Japanese beetles, Aphids, Thrips, usually attacks gladiolus and causes harms to the crop including the damage to buds, flowers and spikes.

These pests can be controlled by spraying contact

able harms to gladiolus. In worm soil, fusarium attacks the corms causing fusarium corm rot. In order to control the disease, it is advisable to destroy the infected

Source: coolgarden.me

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Of all commercially grown cut-flowers, the quantitative demand of marigold is the highest, particularly in North-east and in South India. Moreover, the cultivation of marigold is very easy and less expensive. It gives quick and good income.

Hence, for a beginner and novice in commercial floriculture, marigold cultivation will be good starter.

Step-Wise Cultivation Technique 1. Types Of Soil Required: Loamy to silty loam soil is best suited for marigold cultivation.

2. Soil pH: 5.5 to 7.00 3. Type Of Land: 1. High land not inundated during rainy season.

2. Free from any shades 3. Must be getting minimum eight hours exposure to sun.

4. Land Preparation: * Time of tillage: September to December * Depth of tillage: Minimum 9" tillage followed by 10 days exposure to bright sunshine. * Application of basal dose of fertilizers & manures.

Fertilisers are well mixed with the soil and then the soil mass is well pulverised. Ridges & furrows are made on the soil for plantation of plantlets.

5. Collection Of Seedlings/Saplings/Plantlets: "Seed Propagation: Seedling may be raised out of quality seeds procured from renowned seed producers. * Stem cutting: In commercial floriculture, stem 'cuttings are always preferred to maintain the proper standard and va-

corms from the field and to spray systemic fungicide like Bavistin on the soil as well as on the plants in the affected field. It is also suggested to treat the corms in a solution of Bavistin prior to plantation in the field. In warm and humid weather, oval brown spots appear on the young leaves and later on spreads to stems and spikes which is caused by Carvularia fungus. In cool and humid weather, the plant is attack by Botrytis yet another fungus causing brown patches on upper side of the leaves which turns grey. This can be controlled by Bavistin.

Stromatinia causes neck rot stunting the growth of the plant and forming brown or black spots on the corms.

The same Bavistin can control this disease.

FLORICULTURE

Root-knot Nematodes: gladiolus is also attacked by root-knot nematode causing wilting of the plants.

This nematode can be controlled by spraying Electra manufactured by M/S Ecomax Ltd. 5. Crop Rotation: It is highly desirable to resort to crop rotation which acts as prophylaxis against pests and diseases. After a crop is taken from a particular 'field it is better not to repeat gladiolus in the same field at least for two seasons. Planting of marigold immediately after gladiolus helps in rebuilding the soil and eradication of nematodes.

6. Harvesting: Gladiolus takes 80 to 140 days to produce spikes depending upon the variety. Usually gladiolus is harvested as blooming spikes which sell in the market. The spikes should be cut with 30 inches stalk during evening hours and packed into bundles of 12 or dozen and kept overnight in wet linen.

Bundled spikes are transported to the market in bamboo baskets with wet new papers or linen as lining.

Once the spikes are cut out, the leaves begin to turn yellow. Gradually the water supply is reduced till the leaves get dried naturally.

After 3 - 4 weeks corms are lifted from the ground along with cormels produced by corms and stored in cool and dry place after treatments with mercurous chloride.

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The Deities' Favourite Marigold riety true to the stock.

Stem Cutting Method: About 1000 marigold healthy and disease free marigold plants are regularly maintained for stem cutting. 4" long healthy off-shoots are taken out by slanting cut at an interval of 10 days and planted on a planting bed after dipping the cut end in the rooting hormone like rootex powder. The bed is then covered with transparent polyethylene sheet on a arched bamboo structure. The stem cutting bed is prepared by mixing sieved compost or cow-dung and silty loam or loam soil in the proportion 1:1. Furandan 3G and systemic insecticide, is incorporated at 5 gram per square meter. After planting, the bed is sprayed with systemic fungicide like Bavistin ( at 2g per litre of water). Roots will be formed after a few days. Within 10 days, the cutting will be will be ready for sale or plantation if the field.

6. Plantation: Plantlets are planted along the ridges prepared on the field with a distance of 30 cm between the plants, preferably in the afternoon. The distance between ridges should be 45 cm. An acre of land will accommodate, approximately ,30 thousand plants. Before plantation of seedlings/cuttings, the roots are soaked for, at least, 2/3 hours in a slurry of azospirillum - a nitrogen fixing bacteria culture applied as biofertiliser. It fixes the atmospheric nitrogen in the root zone and make solubl.e nitrogen available to the plants.

7. Maintenance Cares: * Irrigation: Twice a week during October to February and thrice a week from February onwards.

Soil testing for micro nutrient status before planting is always advised. * Pinching Off: After 10 days of plantation, the tips of the shoots should be pinched off to facilitate lateral branching instead of slander growth, because highly branched plants yield more flower.

Pest & Disease Control * Pest Control: As such marigold is a hardy plant and hence pest attack is less frequent. The usual

Dithane M-45 may be sprayed with water. Besides, these fungicides should be used regularly at an interval of 15 days as a prophylactic against fungal diseases.

8. Harvesting: 1. Marigold starts blooming after 30 to 35 days.

The approximate yield would be about 15 tones per acre per season through several plucking.

2. Flowers are to be plucked in the evening and packed in bamboo baskets with wet news paper linings for dispatch to the market next morning.

Source: Wikimedia.org

pest that attacks marigold is red spider mites which suck the cell sap and make the plant seek and ultimately die. In case of red spider mite attack, malathion, Metacid, Rogor etc. may be sprayed with water to control this pest. * Disease Control: for any kind of fungal diseases in marigold systemic fungicides like Bavistin or a contact fungicide such as

3. The maximum yield will be during October to March. The yield will be negligible during the summer though the market price will be very high. Marigold can be forced grown during summer on adoption of appropriate technology.

During rainy season the yield will be about 25 % of the winter and spring season.

DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16

PAGE 12

Dhoni, Ashwin, Steve Smith for Pune; Raina, Jadeja, McCullum for Rajkot Agencies Mumbai: Mahendra Singh Dhoni will play for Pune in the next edition of the Indian Premier League. India's limitedovers' team captain was, as expected, the first player sought at the IPL Players' draft, in Mumbai on Tuesday, and bought

by New Rising. The new franchise doled out Rs 12.5 crore from a full purse of Rs 66 crore to secure his services. The other new franchise, Rajkot, wasted little time in opting for Suresh Raina as their first choice. It is imperative here to mention that Dhoni and Raina had played together for the same team - Chennai Super Kings - since the inception of the Indian Premier League in 2008. It will be interesting to see them face each other in the next edition of the Twenty20 league, which will be held from April 9 to May 29. Dhoni will be joined at Pune by Ajinkya Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin.

The Sanjeev Goenkaowned franchise also secured the services of Australia captain Steve Smith. For starters, Smith played for Pune Warriors before it was disbanded.

South Africa's T20 captain Faf du Plessis was Pune's fifth pick, and will be with with his Chennai captain yet again. Rajkot, as expected, opted for Ravindra Jadeja as their second pick. They had to shell out Rs 9.5 crore for his services, though.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, Australia all-rounder James Faulkner and West Indies utility player Dwayne Bravo were also snapped up by the Rajkot franchise. For those keen on details, both new franchises exhausted the maximum Rs 39 crore they were allowed to from their auction budget of Rs 66 crore. They will head into the February auction in Bangalore with Rs 27 crore in their kitty. Shane Watson remained unsold and will

Co-owner of Rajkot franchise Keshav Bansal (left), IPL chairman Rajeev Shukla (centre) and Pune franchise's spokesperson Subrato Talukdar at the player draft of the Indian Premier League.

now go into the auction in Bangalore with the likes of Chris Morris, Dwayne Smith, Mike Hussey, Sanju Samson and Stuart Binny.

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"We wanted Dhoni as we are a new franchise and want to build our brand and who better than Dhoni. He was an automatic choice. We have got the players we wanted as per our plan.�

Pune spokesperson Subrato Talukdar

The players picked in the draft: Pune: Mahendra Rajkot: Suresh Raina, Jadeja, Singh Dhoni, Ajinkya Ravindra Rahane, Ravichandran Brendon McCullum, Ashwin, Steven Smith James Faulkner and Dwayne Bravo. and Faf du Plessis.

Lingerijan Tea Estate, Tinsukia Railway book place in the Semis scored their solitary goal coaching Avik Chakraborty centre, Dibrugarh, Dec 15: through Dipankar Mech Sivasagar 3-0. Dipak Lingerijan Tea Estate, in the 50th minute. In a Dowerah opened the Naharkatiya today defeated Rupjyoti Sangha, Jokai 6-1 in the second quarter final of the 12th Jintu Gogoi Football Tournament, organized

by Dao Division of the army in association with Dibrugarh District Sports Association at Chowkidinghee ground here today. Lingerijan opened the scoring in the The players of Lingerijan TE (white) and Rupjyoti 9th minute through Sangha (Purple) tussle for the ball during their match midfielder John Ekka. on Tuesday. Pic - ET Photo John found the back of the net after a pass from one sided affair, scoring for his team in the right flank found him Lingerijan dominated the 20th minute. Nobin inside the penalty box. the game from the begin- Chowra scored the secStriker James Topno of ning. James Topno com- ond goal in the 58th Lingerijan fired the sec- pleted his hatrick in the minute. In the 69th 7 2 n d minute Santosh Chetia ond salvo in the 11th Jintu Gogoi Soccer minute. made it 3-0. Tinsukia H e Railway dominated the minute. He made it 3-0 for his team scored his fourth goal of entire game and never let in the 22nd minute scor- the match a minute later. Gorgaon FCC to get a ing his second. In the Lingerijan sealed their grip of the proceedings.

29th minute, Amit Gorh berth in the semifinals Tomorrow, Barekuri scored the fourth goal for after the win. In another Football Coaching Cenhis team. At the lemon match, defending cham- tre will play Dibrugarh break, Lingerijan were in pion Tinsukia Railway Football Coaching Centhe driving seat leading 4- Divisional Sports club tre in the fourth quarter 0. Rupjyoti Sangha beat Gorgaon football final.

CHAMPIONS !!

Sublime Williamson rises to Duliajan Football third in ICC Test rankings Academy Win ANI Dubai: New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson has climbed up to the third spot in the recent ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen after helping his side to a 122-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series in Dunedin. Williamson, who smashed two brilliant knocks of 88 and 71 in the first Test, is now just two steps behind top-ranked South Africa's AB de Villiers. Williamson's team-mate Martin Guptill has jumped up a remarkable 18 places, after scoring 156 and 46. Guptill was rewarded with only his second man of the match award in Tests. New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has also moved up two places to 17th, while his Sri Lanka counterpart Angelo Matthews has marked the visiting

side's presence in the top 10 batsman rankings, down one place to seventh.

Meanwhile, Australia skipper Steven Smith has tumbled three places to fourth and he is now just 11 points ahead of his team-mate David Warner.

Adam Voges' unbeaten knock of 269 in the first Test has vaulted him 19 places to a career-high 15th place in the latest rankings.

Shaun Marsh supported Voges ably, scoring 182, and together the pair added a sixth-highest all time partnership of 449 runs. In the process, Marsh has risen 17 spots to a career best 37th in the batsman rankings. West Indies Darren Bravo has been rewarded for being the lone centurion from his side, moving up two spots to 25th. In the ICC Player Rankings for Test Bowlers, Australia's Josh

Hazlewood has entered the top 10 by rising up four spots after grabbing seven wickets in Australia's win over the West Indies, while off-spinner Nathan Lyon has also gained after the win and moved up two spots into 15th after a three-wicket haul in Hobart. Meanwhile, New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult has retained his sixth place in the ranking after claiming four wickets against Sri Lanka while Dale Steyn maintained pole position. Rangana Herath's two wickets were enough to keep him in 10th position. Nuwan Pradeep's four wickets in the first innings have earned him a sixpoint rise up the rankings to 53rd. On the other hand, the all-rounders remained steady in the top four positions, with Ravindra Jadeja managing to clinch career best fifth place.

Vardy scores again as Leicester outclass Chelsea to top PL table

Jamie Vardy celebrates with his team mates after scoring the first goal for Leicester.

ANI London: Leicester City striker James Vardy's scored his 15th goal of the season as his side reclaimed the top spot in the Premier League with a 2-1 win over beleaguered defending champions Chelsea. The England striker put the hosts ahead in the 34th minute before Riyad Mahrez doubled the

lead by scoring superbly after the break to take his own tally to 12. Although Chelsea pulled one back through Loic Remy in the 77th minute, the hosts held on for a win that put them two points clear of secondplaced Arsenal. Meanwhile, Chelsea miserable season continued as they crashed to their ninth defeat in 16

league games. Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho's problem could only mount as star midfielder Eden Hazard was seen limping down the tunnel with an injury. "We played against the champions but we want to make a fantastic match for our fans because they believe, they are dreaming," said Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri, savouring victory against his former side. "It is good if they (the fans) continue to dream but for us it was important to make a great performance with a fantastic spirit. Also tactically, I am very satisfied.

We concentrated for 95 minutes against the champions.

That is not easy," he added.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho agreed. "They deserved to win because they were better than us during a longer period of time. We were the best team for 20-25 minutes, maybe a maximum of 30 minutes. They were the best team for an hour."

Sports Correspondent ended in a goalless draw Dibrugarh, Dec 15: at the end of regulation Duliajan Football Acad- time. Both the teams emy defeated Gorgaon toiled hard in the field to Football Club 4-2 via tie- break the deadlock but breaker could not in today’s Football Tourney succeed. In match of the penalty the fourth Annual shootout, Bhupen Gogoi, Swargadeo Sarbananda Sagar Limbo, Arun Nath Singh Memorial invitation Mazumdar and Sajal Das prize money football converted for Duliajan championship, 2015 orga- Football Academy while nized All Assam Muttock Simanta Gogoi and Raju Yuba Chatra Sanmilan, Gogoi scored for Gorgaon Central Committee at Football Club. TomorJanamukh Rajiv Gandhi row, Makum United will Sports stadium in lock horns with Moran Tinsukia. The match Town Club.

OIL INDIA FC players with the winners trophy after clinching the 50th Chandrakanta Hazarika Memorial Football tournament at Kachari Pathar, Duliajan on Sunday. Pic - Rafique Uddin Ahmed

Barcelona to face Arsenal, Chelsea to meet PSG in CL last-16 ANI London: European champions Barcelona will face Arsenal while Chelsea have been drawn against Paris St-Germain for the third consecutive season in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Holders Barcelona had earlier knocked Arsenal out of the competition in 2010 and 2011. Manchester City, who finished at the top spot in Group D, will face a testing tie against Dynamo Kyiv while Juventus, who finished just behind City in the group standings, will lock horns with Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, Roma also have to struggle to reach the quarter-finals as they will face Group A leaders Real Madrid in the last 16. PSV Eindhoven are slated to lock horns with Atletico Madrid. Wolfsburg, who bowed Manchester United out of the Champions League, are set to meet Belgian club Gent while Benfica will play against Zenit Saint Petersburg.

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