23 July, 2016, Saturday

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PAGE 12

Vol. II

Issue 35

Dibrugarh, Saturday, July 23, 2016

Jorhat, July 22: A six member CBI team after receiving complaint filed by contractors caught an assistant garrison engineer red handed while receiving money from a MES contractor at his office of the GE,JORHAT-5(Army) at Lohpohia in Rowriah under Rowriah Police Station here today.

The assistant garrison engineer identified to be one R.N Dutta. The Assistant Garission Engineer who was about to go on transfer as his tenure was already over, he was waiting for the officer to take charge, as he had already completed three years tenure at the GE Jorhat-5(Army).

(Correspondent)

Farmer body recovered Nalbari, July 22 : The body of a farmer Jatin Baishya (43) of Morowa village who was missing since Wednesday after he went out in search of fodder was recovered from a deep grass field of Bhabanipur area on Thursday morning.

The body sustained no mark of injuries. Police suspected that the farmer may die after suffering of acute blood pressure when he was cutting grasses.

The post mortem of the body was carried out at Nalbari Swahid Mukunda Kakati Civil Hospital. (Correspondent)

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Heavy rains trigger landslides, floods across Arunachal Pradesh Most affected are Diyun, Dharmapur, Namsai, Pasighat, Tezu and Seijosa CM Khandu directs legislators to oversee Flood situation A Staff Reporter Itanagar, July 22

Incessant downpour over the past couple of days has triggered landslides and floods in several districts of Arunachal Pradesh throwing normal life out of gear.

Besides damaging culverts and some buildings, the floods and mudslide submerged lowlying areas and a rural link road and disrupted power supply.

In Changlang District, more than 40 families are stranded in an island created by NoaDihing Flood in Dumpani village and several houses were submerged in Jyotipur Village of Diyun Circle and with the overflowing of the Buri Dihing in Dharmapur in Miao Circle, the situation is alarming.

The MLA, Nikh Kamin who is monitoring the situation has requested the police, Army and WRD to visit the flood affected areas in Diyun Circle and rescue the stranded. EAC, Tagam Mibang and ADC, Miji are also been informed about the situation and have guided the headmen to coordinate and report the vulnerable spots.

A report from Tezu, Lohit district headquarters, said many low lying areas in the district were submerged by flood water.

Continuous spell of rains for the last one week has triggered heavy damage of 100 meters blacktopped road to Dhuranalah mini Hydro plant at Changliang village of Tezu.

The Dhura river course which is diverted and flowing towards the Changliang village has posed serious threat to the village. The river has already breached major portion of its bank in the upper reach of the village and damages standing electric pole.

Local Legislator Dr Mohesh Chai, Danish Ashraf (IAS) DC, Damchen Norbu DDMO, AE WRD also visited the site today to assess the damages.

Both MLA and DC directed the official to engaged Folkland machine to divert the course. However official informed about lack of the machine and would be hired from Tinsukia (Assam) is weather improved. They were also suggested to maintain constant vigilance over the water level to contain flood damage.

The Alubari Ferry services get suspended owing to flooded Lohit River and Tezu – Parsuram road snapped its surface communication due to several landslides in between Tezu to Parsuram Kund.

Contd. on Page 3

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, July 22

Chief Minister Pema Khandu has taken serious note of the prevailing flood situation in Tezu, Namsai and Jairampur areas.

The flood water inundates Mahadevpur-I, Mahadevpur-IV and Kakoni villages besides submerging paddy fields in Namsai district. Pic - Mintu Tamuli

3 lakh people affected by flood in Assam IANS Guwahati, July 22

Army has been called in to assist rescue and relief operations as the deluge turns grim with altogether nine districts hit by the flood on Friday. Nearly 3 lakh people have been affected in the ongoing second wave of flood that hit the state last month.

While in past few days situation in Barpeta and Lakhimpur districts improved, though it turned bad on Friday.

Bongaigaon is the latest addition in the deluge district districts so far.

Army personnel were deployed to rescue marooned people in the Chirang district.

Defence PRO Lt Col Suneet Newton said that 30 people who were stranded in their inundated village at Khungring area of Chirang were successfully rescued. Also rescue team of the army has also been assisting rescue and relief exercises in Tezpur area of Sonitpur district.

Bongaigaon is the worst hit

Indian Air Force's AN-32 Plane With 29 12 JMB jehadis at large Missing After 'Rapid Loss of Altitude' since 2014 in Assam PTI Guwahati, 22 July

Assam government today said 12 suspected jehadis belonging to Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) are at large in the state since 2014.

Replying to a question raised by AGP MLA Pabindra Deka in the state Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said security agencies have not been able to arrest 12 JMB members in the state after the Khagragarh blast in Burdwan district of West Bengal.

(File photo) An Indian Air Force AN-32 aircraft went missing on way to Port Blair

News on 6

The state government is taking all necessary measures to deal with the flood situation.

Accordingly CM Khandu has directed respective legislators of Tezu, Namsai and Jairampur, Dr Mohesh Chai, Zingnu Namchoom and Laisam Simai to oversee the situation.

The legislators has been asked to supervise all the relief measures to be taken for which the state government has placed funds for assistance to flood victims and for any restoration activities. The district administration has been directed to carry out relief activities under supervision of local legislators.

The CM has also appealed the people to stay alert and to take preventive and precautionary measures to minimize losses and damages.

It is predicted that the monsoon shower is likely to continue for long.

After 2014 blast by JMB, a

total of 52 members of that module have been arrested from Barpeta, Chirang, Baksa, Nalbari, Bongaigaon and Goalpara districts in Assam, he said.

beefed up," he added.

The local government has also asked both state and central intelligence agencies to work in coordination, Patowary said.

Following the recent terror attack in Dhaka, two "The Unified Command is suspected JMB men were in charge of security of Assam arrested from Lower Assam, and it is fully prepared to he said. handle any situation. On July 28, we have a joint meeting Patowary informed the of all agencies. There we will House that the government discuss all issues again," he has alerted all the SPs of the added. districts and asked to keep a strict vigil on any doubtful Stating that threat person. perception from jehadis are always there in Assam, "Besides, security in all Patowary appealed to the sensitive places like railway people not to panic as the station, airport, Kamakhya administration is fully temple, refineries and capable of handling any shopping malls have been terrorist activity.

with over 80,000 people affected, followed by Jorhat where over 75,000 people are struggling with the deluge.

Also situation in Golaghat district continued to be grim since the past several days with over 74,000 people hit by the flood on Thursday.

At least 27 relief camps have been set up in the affected districts, where over 12,000

people have taken shelter.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said Brahmaputra continued to flow above danger mark at Majuli and Nematighat of Jorhat, Tezpur in Sonitpur district and Dhubri.

Contd. on Page 4

World Bank to fund China visit of Assam experts' team PTI Guwahati, Jul 22

The World Bank will fund the China visit of an Assam government's team of experts for studying flood control measures.

"World Bank will bear the entire expenses for the visit of expert committee to China to study the management of (the) Hwang Ho river," an official release said today.

This was decided at a meeting between a World Bank delegation and Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

The World Bank will extend technical expertise, know-how and funding to the Assam government to control flood and erosion of the Brahmaputra river and turn it into one of

immense resources, it said.

The delegation told Sonowal that taming rivers like the Mekong, the Mississippi and the Brahmaputra pose a great challenge, the statement said.

Sonowal said the state government has accorded priority to solving the problems of flood and erosion. "The state government wants to make the economic edifice strong, vibrant and resilient by controlling the Brahmaputra".

He also told the delegation that many affected people, whose land was gobbled up by the Brahmaputra, see it as a river of sorrow.

Contd. on Page 4

Assam assembly urges Miss Earth India Finalist, Chum Darang CM to avail Z+ security organizes Mission Green Itanagar Expressing concern over the chief minister's security, the ruling and opposition members in the Assam assembly on Friday requested Sarbananda Sonowal to accept Z+ security cover considering the threat perception in the state.

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Sonowal, who has been refusing to avail Z+ security cover, might soon accept it.

BJP legislator from Sootea constituency Padma Hazarika raised the issue of the chief

minister's security in the house on Friday during a discussion on activities of jihadi outfits in the state. Hazarika wanted to know if the existing security cover for Sonowal is adequate.

Replying to Hazarika, Assam Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary informed the house that although the intelligence services had suggested Z+ security for Sonowal, he was reluctant to avail it.

Contd. on Page 4

Spl Correspondent Pasighat, July 22

While continuing her effort to carry out more social related activities which is a part of pageant contest, Miss Earth India top 20 finalists, Chum Darang reached out to capital of the state, Itanagar today and in association with All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union organized a Mission Green Itagangar with the theme: Say no to use plastic.

Having started the social related activities from her home town ‘Pasighat’ from quite some time ago by planting tree saplings, reaching out to schools advocating women empowerment etc, Miss Darang today met students of Gyan Mission Orphanage and Donyi Polo Hearing Impaired School, Itanagar along with the team of AAPSU led by Finance Secretary, Suraj Tayam. Articles like dustbins were installed at Gyan Mission Orphanage with the faculty

Miss Earth India Finalist, Chum Darang.

member Lily R. Jamoh, a water filter was also donated to the Orphanage.

While Miss Darang’s mom promised to donate Rs. 1000 each per month for 3 consecutive years for the welfare of the students as a token of love. At Donyi Polo Hearing Impaired, tree saplings were planted and demerit of use of polythene bags were also discussed at length which was attended by other NGOs too. Along with team Chum’s members like Aini Taloh, a renowned social

worker, JMS Youth President, Tajing Darang, former NESO President, Gumjum Haider also attended the programme, informed the sources.

Meanwhile, overwhelmed and contended by the good work she could do though through her limited capacity, Chum Darang, while returning to Pasighat, she posted on facebook, “Thank you ‘Itanagar’, things were awesomely amazing, the heavy rain couldn’t stop us from carrying out the good work”.

cmyk

IANS Guwahati, July 22

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 23

PAGE 2

ASTRO FOR YOU Aries You will be indecisive today, which is not usually the case with you. This could lead you to indulge in speculation, which is not so bad unless you risk all your money in it. Besides, when it comes to matters of the heart, you must exercise a great deal of caution.

Taurus Impulsive action kicks in as you work and interact today. Do not let the pressure and strain cloud your thoughts, and instead focus on acting on the things at hand. If you find things spiralling out of control, take a break and listen to some music that soothes your heart.

Gemini Today, you will decide to become a bit more conscious about your health. You may or may not join a gym or measure your calories, but you will definitely sit up and take notice of your lifestyle and unhealthy food habits. A new job is also likely, which will open a completely new chapter in your life.

Cancer Today, you will put your heart and soul into whatever task you take up. And, that's a great thing to do. Don't lose heart though, if despite the best efforts, the results of your efforts are not too forthcoming. Feeling dejected is only going to hamper your progress. Remember that you'll receive your due sooner or later. Spend some time with your loved ones to revive yourself. Alternatively, a quiet evening tucked in the bed with a nice book is also a great idea.

Leo If one were to put an earnest spirit and a frank attitude together, the result would be a Leo; it's like your hallmark. And with qualities like these in your kitty, don't be surprised if you happen to reach a milestone or two today. Will it be marital bliss or career success? No matter what the area is, be assured that your societal standing shall get a heady boost today.

Just don't let the success go to your head.

Virgo The booster rockets of your ambitions and spirit to work will kick in at the maximum today. Seek recreation after a hard day's work and look to relax at private parties, socialdos and even weddings.

Libra "Every man has specific natural abilities", said Aristotle. This seems to be true for you today. Your natural talents will be acknowledged and documented at work. This might prompt your equals to hold you up above the rest, and for your seniors to positively encourage you to scale greater heights. But as always, be careful to make sure that success does not make you heady with arrogance. Keep yourself firmly grounded, and remember that, 'pride cometh before the fall'.

Scorpio You will find yourself thinking with your heart rather than your head today. You may not be able to repress your feelings, and you should not even try. But you should be careful about how you express them, particularly in public as people may judge you wrongly on the basis of it.

Sagittarius Today, your superiors at work are going to trust you with many complicated assignments.

But, after exerting yourself, you are sure to come out with flying colors and have your work appreciated. Do not be surprised if cash incentives come your way. Such may indeed be your fortune.

Training on Swachh Four held for killing witch hunter at Sokolating Tea Estate vidyalaya award held Bijoy Handique Jorhat, 22 July: Four persons were held over witch hunting issue at Sokolating Tea Estate on July 13th last, following death of one teenage girl Dipanjali Urang a day earlier at Bashbari line under Pulibor Police Station in Jorhat district near here, informed police sources here.

The arrested were identified to be Tibu Tanti (25), Ashok

Tanti (32),Rajeev Barwari (28) and Mohesh Barwari (36) all hails from Sokolating Tea Estate.

On July 13th a mob, all relatives and neighbours of Dipali Urang who gathered for prayer meeting at Dipali’s house, pointing Dipali’s next door neighbor Lal Bawari responsible for her death as he suspected for being practicing witch hunting. So the mob decided to move out to Lal

Bawari residence called him out started hitting him black and blue, later dragged him over several meters even after he was beaten to death and threw him into the nearby Kakodunga River.

Immediately after the incident two persons was picked up, after more investigation two more was arrested today, said Gunindra Deka, Additional SP (HQ) Jorhat today.

Illegal saw mill seized in Barpeta ET Correspondent Barpeta, July 22: One illegal saw mill was seized at Thekapathar near Bahari by the forest officials of Bahari Sub forest division. It may be mentioned that under the leadership of Munindra Talukdar forester, Barpeta road regional Forest office and Bipul Choudhury, forest beat officer raided Thekapathar, Bherarvitha and seized an illegal mill.

The forest officials seized a generator, plate and the complete mill with wheel and submitted it to the forest department of Barpeta road regional forest office.

The forest beat officer Bipul Choudhury informed the correspondent that during their raid no persons were arrested.

Many illegal saw mills are functioning in the Barpeta district and time to time the forest department seized those saw mills.

Munindra talukdar, Forester at Barpeta road Regional forest office said that since last week they have successfully seized five illegal saw mills. The illegal logs of wood which were seized worth Rs 1.20lakh.

ANCC blockades National Highway for ST

Capricorn You will be a live wire, today. With amazing exuberance you have completed mammoth tasks and have spread the energy around. It will give you tremendous job-satisfaction.

Everything seems well and good the personal front, too. Spending some quality time your spouse will relax your mind and keep you in an upbeat mood.

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 23-7-16 (SATURDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti (Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-30 A.M-Bidyarthir Anusthan 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali (Assamese Modern Songs) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Hindi Film Songs) 12-30 P.M-Hindi Film Songs 1-50 P.M-Adhunik Geet 2-30 P.M-Western Music 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 6-15 P.M-Ganya Raijor Anusthan (Rural Programme) 7-15 P.M-Yuvavani (Youth Programme) 7-45 P.M-Daakpakhili 8-00 P.M-Ekalabya (Sponsored Programme of K.K Handique State Open University) 9-30P.M-Radio Serial in Hindi-"Marudhar Ke Phool" Sd-/H.O.P

Costly Cancer testing moving van of Sivasagar going towards destroy due to negligence of health department. Parash Moni Sarmah

“In rural level 36 schools will be selected while 12 schools from the urban cat-

egory. The Swacch vidyalaya will be rated as green,blue,yellow,orange and red as per the facilities available in the schools. In state level a total of 40 schools 20 from elementary and 20 from secondary levels will be awarded certificate of recognition,’’ he added.

Even the state Government may also provide additional grant to those schools selected for state level award.

It may be mentioned here that in national level a total of 100 schools 70 from rural areas and 30 from urban areas will be awarded from the state level selection. The schools selected in national level will be given a cash prize of Rs 50,000 to each school in addition to the certificate of recognition.

State Council of Educational Research and Training Committee Re-Constituted Dispur, July 22: The Director of SCERT, Assam has partially modified and reconstituted the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) Committee with 6 no. of members to provide information related to policies and programmes implemented by this Directorate including the activities and

events undertaken by this office for submission to Govt. as and when required.

S. Devi Sharma, A.C.S. Director of SCERT will be the Chairman of the new committee and Dr. N. Hazarika, Dy. Director of SCERT will be the Member Secretary of the new committee with other 4 Members.

Awareness and training program on Livelihood Mission at Morigaon

Aquarius For a moment, it seems that you're swamped with problems. But you are brave enough to deal with any ugly issue that crops up suddenly. A romantic evening, which may just be time together in a jacuzzi, or simply preparing a meal together. Pure ecstasy!

Pisces You are fond of traveling and are always looking for an excuse to set off. Hence it comes as no surprise if you pack your bags and decide to embark upon a journey on a whim today.

It is a much needed break too, from the daily stresses of earning a livelihood. While you are seeking solitude, you will take your friends and relatives along with you on the trip.

ET Correspondent Nalbari, July 22: A district level training on Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar, 2016 under Sarva Siksha Abhijan at Nalbari Satra MV School on July 22. Prafulla Kalita, District programme officer of Nalbari SSA said that the Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar would be given in two categories primary and secondary level. He added that the district would select 48 schools from both primary and secondary schools for the award. He directed the junior engineers and Cluster Resource Center Coordinator (CRCC) to submit the name and data of school for the district level selection by July 31.

Adivasi National Convention Committee blockades National Highway along Karigaon in Kokrajhar district today demanded ST status to the Adivasi community

ET Correspondent Kokrajhar, July 22: Adivasi National Convention Committee blockades National Highway along Karigaon in Kokrajhar district today demanded ST status to the Adivasi community, solve the militant issue and problems of the ceasefire groups of militant outfits of the Adivasis through political dialogue as soon as possible.

Hundreds of agitators

with banner, placards blockade the national high way which have been affected road communication along the highways.

The ANCC, an umbrella organization of the ceasefire organization of the community demanded early granting of STstatus to Adivadis, solution of the issue and grievances of the ceasefire of militant outfit organizations of the Adivasi community.

The committee has warned for mass vigorous movement if their demands are not meet.

The government has been tactically delayed the issue of the Adivasis, of which why the ceasefire militant organizations deprived of solution of issues.

'We demand for granting of scheduled status to get uplift of Adivasi community, which is constitutional right', said Ambrit Beck, ANCC leader.

ET Correspondent Morigaon, 22 July: As part of the 100days programme of Assam government, the Municipal Administration Department of Assam organized a training cum awareness camp today at Morigaon district library to know several aspects of National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).

Altogether 800 youths of different parts of Morigaon and Nagaon district took part in this programme. Inaugurating the programme, Archana Bordoloi, Chairperson, Morigaon Municipal Board said that the concept of livelihood has been changed as the global economy changed the inner meaning of the employment. So the youths of

our state must adjust with the environment of livelihood.

Addressing the gatheriing, Jahanur Rahman, Lecturer, Assam Engineering College said that youths having the technical education must come forward to take part in the self employed programme of Government of India.

Speaking on the occasion, Prasanta Goswami, Faculty, Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship appealed to the youths to utilise their energies to establish themselves as well as to build up a healthy national economy in India. Earlier, Palash Ahom, Executive Officer of Morigaon Municipal Board welcomed the participants for the awareness of the NULM in central Assam.

After Cannes, ‘1962: My Country Land’ to premiere at Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival on Saturday After successful Cannes debut now screening for the first time in India Guwahati, July 22 : Guwahati: After successful screening at the March du Film at Festival de Cannes in May this year, Dibrugarh-based filmmaker Chow Partha Borgohain’s feature film ‘1962 My Country Land’ will be screening at the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival at 6:25 pmon Saturday.

Written, Cinematographed and Directed by Chow Partha Borgohain, ‘1962 My Country Land’ is an English feature film based on the 1962 Indo-Sino war. Talking about the film, Borgohain said, “We are happy to receive some good response on the film at Cannes. Nowscreening the film at the Brahmaputra Valley Film Festival at Guwahatiwould bring us closer to our regional audience.”

The film, shot mostly in

Mai said, “At present we are contemplating on the release dates, as of now our primary focus is to explore more film festival circuits in India and abroad. We are planning to screen the film in various festivals before we move for a commercial release.”

Arunachal Pradesh, is the first home production of Living Dreams Productions, headed by Marbom Mai. She said that, “one of the goal of the company is to promote northeast India

for film tourism locations and introduce filmmakers to great avenues and serenity of northeast India.” After this first feature, Living Dreams is expanding their horizon in to

partnering with international labels as co-producer in productionsin their upcoming projects.

Elaborating on the worldwide release of ‘1962: My Country Land’, Marbom

Starring Aham Sharma, Lhakpa Lepcha, Daniel Shin Han and Ketholeno Kense in lead roles, the film showcases the struggle and life of the main characters during the approaching war and how they were able to believe – and not believe – each other. Produced by Marbom Mai, the film was shot in parts of picturesque Tawang and Mechuka in Arunachal Pradesh. Guru Rewben Mashangva was the music composer of the film where he collaborated with Shankar Shankini.?

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 23

PAGE 3

Development meeting convened by DC held at Aalo ET Bureau Aalo, July 22: A meeting was held with ATPWDS, Public and HODs under the Chairmanship of West Siang Deputy Commissioner Pige Ligu at the Conference Hall of DC Office Aalo on 21st July last, to take the stock of various issues put forth by Aalo Town Public Welfare and Development Society (ATPWDS) and other problems raised by various organizations.

At the very outset Nyiken Lollen, ADC outlined the broad aims and objectives of the meeting and said that the meeting has been convened to discuss various issues placed by the Aalo Town Public Welfare and Development Society pertaining to repairing works of Aalo-Bam road on urgent basis, suitable land for establishment of General Hospital, regulation of vehicle parking places and unhealthy sale of beef meat and other issues concerning welfare of the people. He also elaborated on various meetings taken up by the District Administration from time to time on receipt of various representations from different quarter on14-03-16, 30-4-16 and 30-5-16 on Trans

Arunachal Highway construction and maintenance, EE PHED, Electrical and DLRSO regarding shifting of electrical, water pipe lines and clearance of land.

Presiding over the meeting the Deputy Commissioner Pige Ligu said that such meetings held from time to time gives scope for mutual exchange of fruitful views to sort out burning issues that confront the welfare of people. Since TK Engineering has not be officially handed over the construction works of Trans Arunachal Highway, administration cannot pressurize the company to carry the work immediately but then he requested the company to carry all the work in anticipation of Govt. nod within a week time. He also asked the EE PWD to furnish detail estimate on renovation of hostels at Govt.

Higher Secondary School so that CMO Office can be pursued for placement of fund for renovation works which is being carried out on the strength of assurance given by the earlier government. Such meeting is all about hearing the important issues to place before the Govt. and CMO’s Office in all important meetings at

Itanagar, he said. The NikteNyorak Road is also an important alternative road and second round of social service is being completed soon and coordination meetings of this kind will be conducted after 15th August with Minister/five MLAs of the district on various urgent issues. Speaking on reported collection/extortion by way of donation by some unauthorized organization, the DC assured to look into such menace from his side.

Responding to intimation on alleged indulgence of police personnel in drug abuse, Mari Riba, SP Aalo said that people should report such matter directly to him so that strict action is initiated against such erring officials to bring them back on track. He lamented that that district has limited police personnel and policemen are having hard times as they all are engaged in various nature of duties.

Participating the discussion, Er. Dugjum Lona EE PWD disclosed that Rs. 1 crore placed for repairing of road works is subjudised in court and the renovation of hostels is in the completing state but non-placement of fund by

government is a cause of concern and work could not go to the desired due to continues rain and non availability of construction materials from the river site.

Hali Walley Dy. Director Urban Development and Housing, Takam Titus DLRSO, Liyi Bagra Town Magistrate, Smty Oni Padun CO, Lijum Ete CO (Eln) and Dr. Taken Kamchi I/C DVO spoke in detail about works and problems pertaining to their department and sought cooperation of the people.

Speaking on behalf of the ATPWDS Kento Ete Ex. Minister and President, Shri Doi Ado Ex Minister, Mito Lollen General Secretary, Kirnya Bagra, Minjom Bagra, Doli Lollen and others spoke in detail about series of movements and activities being carried out for the welfare of the people and expressed their deep resentments on deplorable road condition of Aalo Bam road and inaction by T.K Engineering to carry out the renovations works till date despite assurances in all meetings.

Representing T.K. Engineering VPS Negi disclosed that the pace of works in Highway Works

and maintenance works could not be done hurriedly as the contract work has not been officially awarded to the company. Moreover the monsoon too is coming as spoil spirit and most of the electric poles, water pipelines, telephones lines etc are not yet shifted to start the work smoothly. Water pipes are damaged in course of earth cutting and lot of complaints is being made by people.

The representative from Arunachal Pradesh Women Welfare Society Aalo Unit Smty Marbom Bagra also spoke in detail on crimes among under aged boys, Juvenile justice and trials and home. Smti Jumde Gamlin of Mothers’ Vision elaborated on activities carried out by the NGO to contain drug abuse and cleanliness in Aalo township and other parts of the district and appealed District Administration to curve growing nuisances by banning sale of tobacco products and flow of alcohol in hotels, restaurants and ghumtis.

At the end Gijum Tali DIPRO, Aalo extended thanks and gratitude to all for attending the meeting and fruitful deliberations on various issues.

People came out to restore power transmission between Yembung and Pangin ET Bureau Pangin, July 22: Initiated by the Siang Deputy Commissioner Rahul Singh, residents of Pangin registered a new record. They came out voluntarily and restored power transmission line between Yembung and Pangin.

It is worth to mention here that the said power transmission was disrupted for long time. Even after restoration of Yembung Hydel three months ago, power generation was started by the said hydel but the concerned department could not transmit supply to Pangin as two

poles were totally damaged due to road construction Trans Arunachal Highway and landslides etc. Power department failed to restore the system for last three months due to paucity of government funds.

Praying serious attention,

DC Singh had mobilized the people including, officers and staffs of various departments, local leaders and villagers had conducted a joint social service in the area. With the help of power department they erected two new poles without any financial assistance and made

through the transmission line after hours of toiling.

The DC while appreciating the people for their spirit asked them to unite all the time and assured to render all possible help to the power department officials to carry out their duties to mitigate the sufferings of the people.

Why Arunachal now worries Congress Eyebrows raised in Delhi over key decisions taken by new Chief Minister Pema Khandu in Itanagar.

Agencies New Delhi, 22 July: The dramatic success of the Congress in Arunachal Pradesh may have come at a cost — a trust deficit appears to have emerged between its central leadership and Pema Khandu, the former rebel now installed as chief minister.

Khandu’s leadership, and at least three major decisions he has taken since staking claim to power five days ago, are now being viewed with suspicion by many within the party’s central leadership.

Khandu was made chief minister after the Supreme Court on July 13 annulled President’s Rule, which was imposed in the state following a split within the ruling Congress, and restored the government led by Nabam Tuki.

Tuki made way for Khandu, who enjoyed the support of 30 rebel MLAs in a 60-member House, on directions from the party’s leadership.

But Congress leaders in Delhi have since been viewing Khandu’s moves with increasing anxiety, starting with the appointment of another rebel Chowna Mein as deputy chief minister without a green signal from the party high command. Mein is a powerful Buddhist leader backed by at least 12 rebel MLAs.

Khandu also replaced Nabam Rebia, a close associate of Tuki, as speaker with Tsering Norbu Thongdok, previously the deputy speaker.

The party’s central leadership is also upset that Khandu has not included any of Tuki’s loyalists in the new Cabinet.

The worrylines have emerged at a time when the Congress appeared to have played its cards astutely to use the Supreme Court judgment to its advantage, taking two pragmatic decisions in the two days that followed.

To begin with, it persuaded Tuki, who didn’t enjoy the support of the majority of Congress MLAs, to resign before the floor test in the House. It wasn’t an easy task, and not just because Tuki had fought the legal battle at his own expense. He had been backed since the crisis broke out last December

by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

The party was quick to accept Khandu’s offer to bring back the rebels and restore its rule, with or without Kalikho Pul, the rebel chief minister who had ousted Tuki and joined the Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) with support from the BJP-led NDA. In effect, the Congress shut the door on any chance that an “adversarial central gov-

ernment” may have had of any political or Constitutional intervention to fill a possible political vacuum.

The result: A Christian chief minister was replaced by a Buddhist one, which holds much significance in the “sensitive border state”.

The game changer If that was one phase of this great political game in Arunachal Pradesh, the big question that remained largely unanswered was this: what brought Khandu and his group back in the Congress fold on July 15?

Sources from an National level newspaper has informed that this decision was influenced by legal opinion the rebels obtained from senior advocate P P Rao in New Delhi, two days after the Supreme Court judgment.

According to sources, while the judgment did give an ethical edge to the Congress party, the rebels kept their options till at least July 15, the day before Tuki had to prove his majority in the House. By then, the Congress and the BJP had sensed that Pul, the original rebel leader, had lost majority support within the group of 30, and that Khandu and Mein were the men to chase.

Khandu, meanwhile, played his cards well, keeping in touch with BJP and Congress through July 13 to July 15. Up to July 15, sources said, he was in touch with Pul; Himanta Biswa Sarma, the BJP’s northeast in-charge and former Congress leader in Assam; and other top BJP leaders, including Ram Madhav, its general secretary, and even Amit Shah, its president.

It was at this crucial juncture that Rao’s legal opinion came into play.

The question he answered was this: would the Supreme Court hold as valid the move by the 30 rebel Congress MLAs to join the PPA and form a government under Pul? Rao’s opinion, accessed by a National Newspaper and based on Constitutional provisions governing disqualification of elected members on grounds of defection, was clear: when the Supreme Court restored the position of December 15, 2015, it meant that the 30 rebels remained Congress MLAs; if they defect, they may be disqualified under sub paragraph (1) of paragraph 2 of the tenth schedule.

The die was cast, and the Congress moved in swiftly, outsmarting Amit Shah’s team and accepting, even if reluctantly, Khandu’s leadership.

BJP sources claim that Khandu had toyed with

the idea of forming a government with the party’s help. But the party dithered over dumping Pul, and Khandu, who wanted to escape disqualification at any cost, shook hands with the Congress.

Uncertainty remains It’s been nearly 10 days now since the judgment, but the state of play in Arunachal remains open.

Congressmen in Itanagar are yet to get Rahul Gandhi to support Khandu in the same way as he did Tuki. Those who are unhappy with Khandu’s selection as chief minister feel that his nomination has loosened the high command’s grip over the state government.

But another section argues that Tuki could have lost the floor test and embarrassed the party.

“What is the point of winning the legal battle but losing power?” asked a Congress leader.

Then again, waiting and watching on the sidelines is the BJP-led NDA. Speaking to an National newspaper, Himanta Biswa Sarma, now a BJP minister in Assam and chairman of the NDAbacked North East Democratic Alliance, said: “Whatever has happened was due to legal issues. The Arunachal story is not over, yet.”

Arunachal speaker flags off new buses, calls for inculcating discipline and work culture

Speaker TN Thongdok flags off the buses.

ET Bureau Bomdila, July 22: The Speaker Arunachal Pradesh State Legislative Assembly T.N Thongdok this morning flagged-off 02(two) 42seater buses from APSTS Bus station Bomdila for Guwahati via Kalaktang with local MLA Japu Deru, DC Sonal Swaroop, General Manager Abu Tayeng and SP A Koan.

This was his first visit to the district after assuming the charges of the speaker.

Congratulating the people of the 5-Kalaktang assembly segment, Speaker Thongdok said that with the introduction of the buses the long felt demand of the local people has been fulfilled but cautioned that collective efforts from both the public and the department is needed for its upkeepment. ‘’The departmental staffs and officers also need to imbibe discipline and work

culture in order to provide better services to the people’’ he said.

In due course of time, 03 (Three) Tata Sumos would also be provided to the district in order to improve the connectivity, he added.

MLA Japu Deru observed that as the State Transport Services is a revenue generating department, endeavors should be made to strengthen the revenue generating mechanism and most importantly, to plug the revenue leakages. He called upon the people to co-operate with the department simply by adhering to the laid down rules and regulations.

Terming it as a huge sigh of relief, Deputy Commissioner Sonal Swaroop hoped that with the introduction of the buses, the surface communication in the area has taken a great leap forward which not only

would facilitate easy mobility but would also facilitate growth in education, health, business and other sectors which lagged behind so far.

Earlier, General Manager (APSTS) Abu Tayeng said that his earlier stints in the district in various capacities have had helped him to know the ground realities and as such the long felt need and dream to connect the Kalaktang assembly segment with the rest of the world has come true with the introduction of these buses. He appealed the people to avoid ticketless travel and chip in their bit to keep the services afloat and to strengthen the department with their co-operation.

Among others, administrative officers, HoDs, DCC(I) President, public leaders, ZPM Kalaktang and public were present during the flagging-off ceremony.

Pema Khandu first visit to Delhi as CM ET Bureau New Delhi, July 22 : A traditional reception with monks and students wearing local dress awaited the new Chief Minister, Pema Khandu at Arunachal Bhawan in New Delhi. As he walked in the main gate, the otherwise quiet Bhawan lit up with the buzz of people gathered to welcome him.

Khandu was congratulated and welcomed in a befitting manner by the officers and officials of Bhawan led by Geetanjali Gupta, Resident Commissioner, along with the students and community members residing in Delhi when he arrived here this evening.

He was accompanied by the Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Chowna Mein. Member of Parliament, Shri Ninong Ering was also present in the occasion.

The Chief Minister later

HCM Shri Pema Khandu is recieved at Arunachal Bhawan-New Delhi-4

proceeded to his office chamber where monks received him with chants of Manglacharan.

Khandu was sworn in as Chief Minister of Arunachal

Pradesh after Nabam Tuki made way for him following the recent Supreme Court verdict on July 13 that saw Congress regain the power in the state.

Heavy rains trigger landslides, floods across Arunachal Pradesh Contd. from Page 1

The flood situation was grim in Namsai district with Noa Dihing and its tributaries flowing above the danger mark, DC R K Sharma said.

In Lohit district, though all the rivers were flowing turbulently yet they were below the danger level, DC Danish Ashraf said.

In Pasighat, different parts of the townships were submerged despite the administration’s attempt to flush out the excess rainwater.

Main market (Gandhi Chowk), many colonies, link roads are under water.

Deputy Commissioner Isha Khosla accompanied by EE (PWD) and WRD, ATP & councilors (PMC), officers visited all affected locations and took stock of the situation on Friday. Expressing her dismay, DEC Khosla opined that the rainwater created flood

like situation was manmade.

Existing drainage system was damaged and blocked by construction materials, garbage in the uncovered drains has stopped flow of water, she observed.

The DC however directed the engineers to clear water logging on priority. The very upset DC stated that stagnant water not only cripples normal life but may also lead to outbreak of diseases like dengue, malaria etc. She instructed the traders and building owners to clean construction materials from the roadsides immediately, failing which penalty will be imposed, she further cautioned.

Seijosa and its adjoining villages in East Kameng district remained cut off from the rest of the state due to landslides triggered by torrential rain.

The rains also caused landslides at many places at Talom Riktak village under Ta l i h a C i r c l e o f U p p e r

Subansiri district, an o ff i c i a l report from Daporijo said.

Renu Kino, Anchal Samiti chairperson of Seijosa and adjoining villages of East Kameng, said that huge debris deposition caused by the rainfall has damaged many culverts and constructions.

With the PWD having no earth movers and loaders, it was former minister Atum Welly who pushed in two heavy earth movers and loaders (JCB) to clean the blockades from check gate to Goloso, Kino said.

The landslides at Upper Sbansiri district also caused damage to one government building besides a garage, official reports said.

Many domestic animals were also reported to be washed away in the mudslide, the report added.

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 23

PAGE 4

Excise department seals wine shop in Tinsukia Huge anomalies detected in stock, investigation is on Rishu Kalantri.

Tinsukia, July 22 : The excise department on Friday sealed a wine shop, Highway Wine Shop here at Hijuguri in Tinsukia town. The action of the department comes after huge anomalies were detected in the stock during an investigation carried out following a raid few days back.

Speaking to ET correspondent, superintendent of excise

department Sunil Sinha said, following detection of anomalies in the stock of Highway Wine Shop it has been sealed. The matter relates to an investigation pressed after seizure of one full truck of branded liquor due to over-stock and incomplete documents found at the time of unloading few days, he added.

Replying to a question Sinha said, the the role and the documentation part of

the bond is being investigated and will be in a position to issue statement only after the outcome of the investigation.

It is pertinent to mention here that at the time when the officials of the department seized one vehicle fully loaded with liquor few days back and raided Highway Wine Shop, the consignee of the liquor, the officials informed the media that the documents showed to

the media in the name of Mohit bond was not proper as it was not carrying the mandatory seal and signature of bond incharge which raises suspicion on the lot of the liquor.

However, the matter was pending and under investigation since so many days and all sorts of allegations including exchange of money was doing rounds. However, a source in the excise department said the move

by the department comes only after the deputy commissioner of Tinsukia intervened into the matter.

ET has learned the matter was brought to the knowledge of deputy commissioner on Friday.

According to sources, the officials who raided the Highway Wine Shop had submitted report of anomalies to the department several days back but the department sat on the report till yesterday.

239 Rhinos Killed In Assam Since 2001, Most Killed In Kaziranga ET BUREAU Guwahati, July 22: A total of 239 one-horned rhinos have been killed by poachers in Assam from 2001 to 2016, and despite high security, most were from Kaziranga National Park, which accounted for 161, the state assembly was told on Friday.

were killed in 2012. In 2013, 85 people were killed followed by killing of 53 people in 2014 due to conflicts with wild animals.

Last year 97 people were killed due to man-animal conflict," she said.

Most of the killings were reported from Sonitpur, Udalguri, Nagaon and Baksa districts, the Minister said.

Replying to a question from the Congress' Ajanta Neog, Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma also said that the forest department had so far arrested 661 poachers since 2001.

Giving the statistics, she said that while 161 rhinos have been killed in Kaziranga, 34 of them have been killed in Orang National Park, 15 one-horned rhinos in Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary and nine in Manas National Park. The remaining 20 rhinos have been killed in different ar-

Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma informed that 161 rhinos have been killed in Kaziranga alone. eas of the state.

and Orang, and one in Sonitpur.

A total of 15 one-horned rhinos have been killed since January this year.

While 12 of them were killed in Kaziranga, one each was killed in Manas

Ms Brahma also told opposition legislator Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha that a total of 386 persons and 43 animals

were killed due to man-animal conflicts in different parts of Assam in last five years.

"While 68 people were killed in 2011 due to mananimal conflict, 83 people

Brahma further informed that ten animals each were killed in humans in different parts of the state in 2011, 1012, and in 2013. Eight animals were killed in 2014 followed by killing of another five in 2015, she said adding that the killed animals includes 11 wild elephants and 32 leopards.

The Minister further said that the government has taken up several steps to stop the man-animal conflicts across the state.

Army conducts rescue ops for flood affected people in Chirang ET Correspondent Rangia, July 22: The Indian Army moved swiftly to the aid of the people of Chirang District amidst a heavy deluge and pouring waters of overflowing rivers. Based on a call for help from the local people, the Army launched four teams on July 22 in the Khungring area of Chirang District in Assam. Altogether, 30 people were trapped in their village due to flood were rescued by the army and taken to relief camps.

The Army deployed its boats to rescue the people from flood. The army personnel made number of trips against the swift current to save the people. The Army is dedicated towards the safety of the people and despite all odds is standing by to save people amidst concerns of rising water

Indefinite strike by Mazdoor Union at HPC, Jagiroad ET Correspondent Guwahati, July 22 : Two labour unions of Jagiroad Paper Mill under Hindustan Paper Corporatio n (HPC) resorted to indefinite strike at main gate of the Mill demnding their three months salaries and reopening of the Mill.

The HPC workers union and HPC Mazdoor sangha resorted to strike in view of the halt of production work of the Mill for last two months, Ananda Bordoloi, Secretary of the HPC Labouir Union said tthat all the three paper Mills of North East namely Nagaland Paper Mill, Cachar Paper Mill(Panchgram,) and Jagiroad Paper Mill under HPC are facing closure due to the apathetic attitude of the authority and thre is no salary for the employyes and workers for months together.

The Union Government has planned to sell those Mills to private parties, the Secretay of the Union Ananda Borddlooi alleged.

Illegal boulder laden truck Leopard caught at Gelaky seized by forest department ET Correspondent, Tezpur, July 22: The forest department’s petrol party under DFO, Sonitpur (West division) this morning seized altogether seven trucks on charges of carrying illegal boulder from nonpermitted quarries of Bhairabkunda area in BTAD. Forest depart-

ment sources said that the seven illegal boulder laden trucks bearing Registration Number respectively AS09-C-9742, AS09-A-4718, AS-02-8741, AS-01F-8795, S-12E2319, AS-01-U-2751 and AMD-731 were intercepted at Thelamara under Thelamara PS in Sonitpur District on NH

15.

Sources further said that a section has been carrying on business of sand and gravel and boulder besides other natural resource despite imposition bane on it which has been strictly monitored by the department as per the direction of the state government.

Kamrup to celebrate Independence Day in a befitting manner IGSSS distributes Water Filter among ET Correspondent Sivasagar, July 22:A Leopard was caught into a cage place by forest department today at Galeky Modi Nahar

ET Correspondent Rangia, July 22 : The 70th Independence Day will be celebrated in Kamrup District with a three day long programme. Already Kamrup District Administration has chalked out a detailed programme to make the celebration colourful with the active support and participation of general people. The District level programme will be held at Numalijalah Parade Ground near Kamrup DC Office, Amingaon. In the meantime, Kamrup DC Vinod Seshan appealed to all sections of the society to come out and participate in the programme to celebrate the Independence Day at Amingaon and to express gratitude to thousands of freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives for the cause of the country.

In this connection, a review

meeting was held at the Conference Hall of Kamrup DC office on July 22 under the chairmanship of Kamrup DC Vinod Seshan. Heads of various departments including Police administration attended the meeting. Reviewing the preparedness, DC Seshan urged all the Departmental heads to take innovative schemes to benefit the general people during the period and make the Independence Day celebration a grand success. He asked all the departments to submit an action plan in this regard.

After detailed discussion, it was decided to observe the Independence Day in a befitting manner in the District.

The District level programme includes organising various competitions like essay, debate, drawing and patriotic song among the students which will be held on 13 and 14 August in all schools of

the District, Cleanliness Drive in all Government offices and institutions on 13 and 14 August, plantation in the national highway divider from Amingaon to Rangia, beautification of the Lake in front of DC office, distribution of saplings, friendly football match, launch of leave application software, patriotic street play, playing of patriotic songs through FLS system, exhibition on development activities from 13 to 15 August, prabhat ferry on the morning of 15 August, march past, distribution of Kishan Credit Card, award to best farmers, distribution of prizes of various competitions and to contingents, felicitation to freedom fighters, publication of health newsletter, illumination of Government buildings, and colourful cultural programme showing the unity in diversity.

tea estate of Sivasagar District. The Leopard was made terror in the tea state since few days by killing cattles of tea garden labours. After

Army conducts rescue ops for flood affected people in Chirang

level in Assam. The Army Flood Control Centre at Tezpur is functioning round the clock to monitor the flood situation and coordinate relief and rescue efforts where

ever required. All units under the Area of Responsibility of the Gajraj Corps are fully alert and geared up to react swiftly to any flood related contingency.

Assam assembly urges CM to avail Z+ security Contd. from Page 1 At this, both the ruling as well as the opposition party MLAs unanimously opined that the chief minister must avail the Z+ security cover.

Patowary informed the house that he would convey to the chief minister the concern of the house.

Meanwhile, the Assam government on Friday said that at least 12 jihadis are still operating in the state and the security agencies have been put on alert due to the jihadi threat.

"The jihadi threat is a fact

as of now but no one should panic as the government has put the security agencies on alert. No one needs to panic as our security forces are able to deal with them," Patowary said.

He said that the security agencies have so far nabbed over 50 jihadi operatives from different areas of the state since October 2014.

"Some of these jihadi operatives had undergone motivational training in West Bengal and police here had recovered 10 handmade bombs from their possession," Patowary said.

World Bank to fund China visit of Assam experts' team Contd. from Page 1

"The state government wants to change the negative perception of scores of affected people towards the Brahmaputra, which constitutes the lifeline of the state and turn it into that of happiness and prosperity by according top priority to the problems of flood and ero-

sion," he added.

The state has submitted a comprehensive Assam Flood Erosion and River M a n a g e m e n t Modernisation Project of Rs 1,500 crore to the Centre, which in turn has made an in-depth evaluation and handed it over to the World Bank for necessary sanction.

3 lakh people affected by flood in Assam Contd. from Page 1

several attempts today forest department able to catch the leopard alive in a cage placed by them at sector five of the tea estate.

flood victims in Nowboicha: No relief from District Administration ET Correspondence Lakhimpur; July 22: Indo-Global Social Service Society (IGSSS), a noted NGO that works for the betterment of the backwards and downtroddens, today distributed water filters among the flood affected people of Nowboicha.

IGSSS, Lakhimpur solemnized this venture among the flood victims residing at three villages, viz.

Gelahati, Goshanibari and Khundu Miri under Madhya Nowboicha Gaon

Panchayat of Nowboicha Revenue Circle.

A total of 128 water filters were distributed among same number of households at the presence of village headmen, beneficiaries and media persons. Rajen Saikia, the project Officer of the NGO inaugurated the program.

The beneficiaries were overwhelmed having received the items and appreciated the solemn venture of the NGO. They expressed that no flood

relief had been supplied to them by any government agencies till the date though flood caused by river Shingara has per- Local Resident of Dakhinpat Kumargaon offering prayers before the mighty Brahmaputra as the waters of the river petually affected the area. rises & massive erosion in Majuli on Friday.

Only the NGO had brought a glimpse of Also Brahmaputra's agriculture field went under hope today among the flood victims during their tributaries--- Dhansiri, Jia water, rendering hundreds Bharali, Beki and Sankosh of farmers helpless. miserable conditions. are also in spate.

It is to be noted that The office staff of IGSSS, Hungma Basumatary, Bikash Surin, Mantu Saikia, Homen Doley and Suren Chelleng were present in the program from the NGO.

According to ASDMA, the extent of cropland damaged by the flood has increased to 24,934.47 hector on Friday from about 19,000 hector on Thursday.

In Golaghat district alone over 9,000 hector

"I don't know how I will feed my family after the flood is over. All my investment and labour has gone under water in this flood. Government should assist us in coping up with post-flood situation," Diganta Saikia, a farmer from Golaghat said.

REGION

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 23

PAGE 5

Tension grips Tripura DSC to speed up result declaration process as woman shot dead

Tension grips Tripura as woman shot dead Agartala, July 22 : Tension prevailed after a 24year-old Muslim woman was found shot dead on Friday in a border village in Sepahijala district of Tripura as BSF troops fired at some cattle smugglers who failed to obey an order to halt, officials said.

"During routine patrolling along the IndiaBangladesh border on early Friday morning, BSF jawans asked a group of cattle thieves to stop proceeding towards Bangladesh.

The jawans opened fire when the smugglers didn't obey the order," a BSF official said.

The official said the

woman's body was later recovered from Tarapukur village along the India-Bangladesh border.

On the other hand, villagers complained to police that some BSF men tried to molest Maya Khatun and later shot her dead.

However, no written complaint has been made so far.

Senior police and BSF officials rushed to the spot, 65 km south from the capital, to pacify a mob agitating after the woman's death.

Tripura has a 856-km long India-Bangladesh border, with a little over 85 per cent of it fenced.(Agencies)

OMTF and JAC resolved to boycott the Congress party in all tribal areas of Manipur

Congress party Logo Imphal, Jul 22 : Holding the Congress party responsible for drafting, introducing and passing the three infamous 'antitribal' Bills in the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31, 2015, the Outer Manipur Tribals' Forum (OMTF) and JAC Against AntiTribal Bills in a joint meeting held at Haokip Veng, Imphal on July 18 have resolved to boycott the Congress party in all tribal areas of Manipur with effect from the day (July 18). According the proceedings of the joint meeting which was made available to the press, the Congress party is not allowed to have any activity in all tribal areas and their office shall be locked with immediate effect. Any political party, whether National or regional which work against the interest of the tribal will meet the same fate as the Congress party.

Urging the Govt of India to resolve the issue regarding two of the three 'infamous anti tribal' Bills and the nine 'tribal martyrs' who await justice and their last rites before August 11, the OMTF and JACAATB said they will be compelled to start democratic form of agitation including boycott of the 69th Indian Independence Day celebration. The joint meeting, chaired by Gaidon Kamei, president, UNC also resolved to reaffirm the boycott of all tribal MLAs and the lone tribal MP of

Manipur who failed to hear the cry of their people (whom they represent) with regard to the infamous "3 anti-tribal Bills" passed by the 'communal' and 'antitribal' Government of Manipur.

The boycott still stands and they are banned from any activities or movement in the tribal areas of Manipur. If they do so the OMTF and JACAATB will not be responsible for any untoward and unwanted incident, it averred. Any individual or organisation who aid/cooperate/stand with them will be branded as 'anti-tribal' and shall be at their own risk.

The meeting also resolved that a delegation of the OMTF and JACAATB will meet the Governor of Manipur at the earliest and submit a memorandum regarding two of the three 'antitribal' Bills which are under examination by experts. It also resolved that a joint delegation of OMTF and JACAATB after meeting with the Governor will go to Delhi to apprise the situation to the Central leaders.

Realising the need for a separate political entity for the tribals of Manipur, the meeting resolved to call a wider consultation and awareness campaign at the earliest, it said. The joint meeting further resolved that August 31 be observed as 'Tribal Unity Day' in Manipur every year.(Agencies)

Shillong, July 22 : The State Cabinet on Friday approved the amendment to ensure prompt declaration of results of interviews conducted by the District Selection Committees (DSCs) besides giving a go ahead to the Draft Meghalaya Water Resources Engineering Services Rules, 2016.

The Cabinet also decided to regularize the post of 16 grade III and IV employees of the PHE department to give effect to the Agreement signed by the Department of Public Health Engineering and Hima Mawphlang in 1978 for implementation of Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS). Reacting to a query after the Cabinet meeting Chief Minister Mukul Sangma blamed the Centre for poor implementation of GSWSS. In a decisive step aimed at achieving increased transparency, the State Cabinet on Thursday approved an amendment to ensure prompt declaration of results of interviews conducted by the DSCs. The approved amendment deals with the composition and functioning besides the procedure for direct recruitment to various categories of posts which come under the purview of the DSCs. Addressing newsmen after the meet-

ing here on Thursday, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said that the Cabinet approved the proposal after taking note of the fact that there was a need for quick declaration of results of interviews conducted by the DSCs for filling up of the various vacancies.

Sangma categorically stated that the DSCs have been directed to accurately verify the number of vacancies before advertising them. This assumes significance considering the fact that many a selected candidate has not been recommended by the Committees in the past for want of vacancies leading to several protests. The chief minister added that the DSCs would now have to make the recommendations immediately after the declaration of results.

Elaborating more on the matter, Sangma pointed out that there has been undue delay in the whole process of conducting recruitment by the DSCs and the declaration of results on many occasions, due to certain guidelines pertaining to the written exams.

The amendment seeks to do away with components like lengthy essays, prĂŠcis writing etc., and replace them with objective type questions to fast track the evaluation pro-

Chief Minister Mukul Sangma chairs the Cabinet meeting on Thursday cess of papers in order to ensure that results are declared without delay.

According to Sangma, as per the amendment, candidates going through the recruitment process under the respective DSCs would have to attempt a total of 300 marks which would include 70 marks for General English in objective format, 130 for Aptitude, 30 for General Knowledge and another 30 marks for the interview.

He added that in certain cases where ad hoc appointments on an urgent basis are a must, prior approval of the government would have to be taken.

On pointing out that the members of DSC are mostly political appointees, Sangma asserted, "Who is not a political appointee‌Our democracy comes at a price.

The purpose and objective is to ensure check

and balance in the true spirit of democracy."

Regularization of posts The State Cabinet also decided to regularize the post of 16 grade III and IV employees of the PHE department to give effect to the Agreement signed by the Department of Public Health Engineering and Hima Mawphlang in 1978 for implementation of Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme (GSWSS).

Speaking to media persons after the Cabinet meeting here on Thursday, Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said that the agreement was signed considering the fact that a huge area of land was acquired for the GSWSS without any compensation and taxes being paid and as per the understanding, local tribal people from the area were to be given jobs in the Government

sector. According to Sangma, the services of the employees were never regularized and after examining the matter, the Cabinet decided to go ahead with the process which was to benefit 17 employees hailing from the jurisdiction of Hima Mawphlang.

However, one of the employees had died in the year 2001 and hence services of 16 employees were regularized.

Reacting to a query about "several appointments being made under the GWSS project", the Chief Minister said that such appointments, if any, will not come under the purview of regularization. "The appointments which are being regularized are an offshoot of the agreement," he clarified.

He further said that the Government has called for 20 per cent cut on the departmental expenditures and added that all project related expenditures will have to be justified from here on.

"There will be no more scope for departments to engage any employee on wages and beyond what is required," Sangma asserted.

Mukul blames Centre When asked about the poor implementation of the different phases of GSWSS, the chief minister said that the project

Multi-crore land scam: PAC pulls up police for tardy investigation Shllong, July 22 : The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the State Assembly has directed the State Police to speed up the investigation into the land acquisition for Mawpalai afforestation area in Ri-Bhoi for which Rs 8 crore was paid to former Congress legislator from Umroi, SW Rymbai, despite the fact that the land was already in the possession of the Soil and Water Conservation department.

Following a review meeting of the PAC with officials of the concerned departments on the alleged land scam here on Thursday, Chairman of

the Committee, Paul Lyngdoh said that the police investigation on the serious issue, which led to a loss of Rs 8 crore to the State exchequer, was tardy as it has been four years since the incident and there has been hardly any progress. The PAC had summoned several officials from the Police Department, Forest and Environment, Soil and Water Conservation, Department of Finance and Cabinet Affairs, Deputy Commissioner of Ri-Bhoi to deliberate on the progress of the investigation process.

Stating that the Police Department should pull

up its socks and speed up the investigation into the alleged scam, Lyngdoh said, "We directed the police officials to expedite the investigation and the DG has assured the PAC that the complete investigation report will be submitted to the Committee within 3-4 months following which the Committee will take its further course of action."

The PAC Chairman added that the Committee has specifically directed the Forest and Environment department to pursue the matter at the High Court since claims and counter claims on the land led to a legal battle.

"We have also given the

instruction to facilitate the annulment of land acquisition proceedings and to recover the Rs 8 crore which has been collected in an illegal manner," Lyngdoh said.

He added said that it was the duty of the State Government to ensure that the amount is recovered.

"All relevant files and documents which are in possession of the Government clearly point to the fact that the land is very much a Government land under the possession of the Social Forestry Department since the 1950s," he said. It may be reminded that as per the CAG report, the Forest and Environment depart-

ment in March 2010 sanctioned Rs 10 crore and placed the funds in October 2010 at the disposal of DC, Ri Bhoi.

Subsequently, the Revenue Department in March 2011 issued notification under Section 428 of the Land Acquisition Act (LA Act), 1894 and also invoked the urgency clause 1729 of the LA Act for speedy acquisition proceedings and accordingly, Rs 8 crore was released in June 2011. The Mawpalai afforestation area spreads over 1.78 sq.km and lies adjacent to NH-40 between Umsaw Khwan and Lad Sumer villages.

(Agencies)

123 non-local labourers were pulled up who did not possess valid identification documents and other necessary documents Imphal, July 22 : Altogether 123 non-local labourers who did not possess valid identification documents and other necessary documents were pulled up by local people of Awang Sekmai Nongthonband. The verification drive was carried out at inter-State buses in solidarity with the mass movement being spearheaded by JCILPS for enactment of a Constitutional safeguard for protection of indigenous people of Manipur.

The verification drive was carried out under the aegis of the Advanced Women Society, Awang Sekmai and the Awang Sekmai Protection Committee. All the non-local labourers were later handed over to Sekmai police station.

Advanced Women Soci-

NIT Langol and power sub-station at Thoubal under M/S Shyama Powers India Private Limited.

There were others from West Bengal, Meghalaya, Bihar and Assam who came on their own to the State in search of works.

123 non-local labourers were pulled up who did not possess valid identification documents and other necessary documents ety secretary Thangjam Amubi said that they checked all passenger buses and Winger vans heading towards Imphal from Dimapur in solidarity with the mass movement being spearheaded by the JCILPS. Pointing out that as many as 123 non-local people who did not possess necessary documents were

detected during the brief verification drive which started at 4 am and concluded at 11 am, Amubi said that the future of the indigenous of people of Manipur is under serious threat.

Most of the non-local labourers pulled up today were engaged in the construction works of St Xavier School, Moirang,

The verification drive was joined by JCILPS co-convenor Arjun Telheiba, assistant convenor (oganisation) Hayatur Rahman Yumkhaibam and volunteers of JCILPS Women Wing. Hayatur Rahman said that around 80 per cent of the labourers pulled up today did not possess any identification documents and almost all of them did not possess documents necessary for working in the State.

JCILPS has already ap-

pealed to all inter-State transport operators not to bring in non-local people who do not possess necessary documents. He then invited all transporters who brought in the non-local labourers to come to the office of JCILPS within the next two days in order to work out a solution.

As for the 47 non-local labourers pulled up on July 17, they have been sent back to their respective native States after they were handed over to the authority concerned.

Most of the non-local labourers pulled up today came in inter-State buses belonging to Shiroy Tourist, ZET Travels and Network Travels while some others came in Winger vans, Hayatur Rahman said.

(Agencies)

is linked to JNNURM and likewise its guidelines came on the way of speedy implementation.

He pointed out that the State Government is engaging with the Centre on the matter. Stating that he is not justifying the delay, Sangma, however, said that the Centre should not apply the same guidelines to the whole country since specific provisions came in the way for Meghalaya creating hurdles in the project. "We have been deprived of what would have come to us," Sangma said.

Draft Meghalaya Water Resources Engineering Services Rules The Draft Meghalaya Water Resources Engineering Services Rules, 2016 was also approved.

Speaking to media persons after the Cabinet meeting here on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Water Resources, Rowell Lyngdoh said that till now the department was following the rules of Agriculture department under Irrigation branch.

"Now the department has framed its own rules for promotion and recruitment in three stages first, a senior officer in the rank of Superintending Engineer, second, the Executive Engineer and thirdly the SDOs," he said.(Agencies )

Flash-flood cripples normal life in Nongstoin Nongstoin, July 22 : Following incessant rains for almost a week, West Khasi Hills district was hit by a flash flood on Thursday, the worst of its kind in a while, with Nongstoin being the most affected. While no casualties have been reported so far, as many as six persons including a one and half year old child were rescued by the Nongstoin Police and the local fire and emergency service team. The family of six resided along the side of the Nondein River which saw a rapid rise in the water levels following rains.

Road connectivity and power services were also hit by the flood which resulted from six days of continuous rain in the area since Saturday last.

Traffic along over NongstoinShillong and NongstoinMawkyrwat roads was affected by the heavy rainfall even as some schools and institutions closed down in the wake of the floods. The office of the Meghalaya Rural Bank, Nondein Branch, Ri Lyngngam Secondary School, New Nongstoin Government L.P School, Mount Harmon L.P School among others situated near the river side remained closed.

Nongstoin market was also affected by the flood with many shops located near the Nondein River getting partially or completely submerged by water even as several houses were also at the receiving end.

Meanwhile, the rescued people have been identified as Spilda Tyrsa, her husband Krosming Nongphud (25), her son Banteilang Tyrsa, sister, Skildaris Tyrsa (18), father Letsing K Bani (48) and a minor.

It was after an hour of struggle that the fire service personnel were able to rescue the people. Station Officer of fire and emergency service, S. Nongrem told The Shillong Times that it was no easy task for the men involved to rescue the victims in the absence of proper tools and equipment needed for the job. "In such situations we have to risk our own lives. We are thankful to God for the fact that we have been able to rescue the people without suffering any injury either to the men at work or the victims," he said.

Nongrem also urged those residing along the river side to be on alert and evacuate as early as possible in case of rise in the water level.(Agencies)

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 23

Ex-BSP Minister's son booked for brawl with police Meerut, Jul 22 : Former Uttar Pradesh Minister and BSP leader Haji Yaqub Qureshi's son and his three friends were booked after they allegedly created ruckus and had a scuffle with policemen who intercepted them when their car hit a motorcycle, police said on Friday.

Police said that a medical examination had confirmed that Feroz Qureshi and his friends-Kamil, Majhar and Arif Sardhana--were in an inebriated state.

They had hit the bike with their car at zero mile last night following which they were stopped and questioned, they said. "When the police started questioning them, Feroz and his friends had a scuffle with them. More policemen from the nearby police station quickly reached the spot and all four were arrested," said a police spokesperson.

The accused were sent for medical examination which verified that they were in an inebriated state at the time of accident, he said. "We have filed a case against Feroz and the other three under relevant sections of the IPC. They have been given bail after they signed personal bonds," police said. Feroz's father, the former MLA Haji Yaqub, refused to comment on the incident.(PTI)

Puri temple servitors held for abusing Collector Bhubaneswar, July 22: Two servitors were on Firday arrested for allegedly abusing Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal during the Niladri Bije ritual of Lord Jagannath on July 17, said SP Sarthak Sarangi. With these arrests, the number of servitors held in connection with irregularities in the annual Ratha Yatra (car festival) has gone up to eight.

Earlier, police had arrested six servitors on charge of physically assaulting journalists covering the Niladri Bije ritual. A total of 15 servitors have so far been identified for their involvement in the journalist attack case, Sarangi said. Those arrested on Friday have been identified as Surya Naryan Pratihari and Raghunath Khuntia, the SP said.

The servitors had allegedly attacked media persons for airing live the family members of certain priests climbing the chariots defying Orissa High Court's ban. On the complaint of Puri Collector Arvind Agarwal two FIRs were lodged against six servitors who had allegedly misbehaved and abused him using foul language and threatened to kill him during the ritual. (Agencies)

PAGE 6

Support politics of development, shun casteism: PM Gorakhpur, Jul 22 : Denouncing politics of casteism and nepotism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday pitched for a BJP government in Uttar Pradesh to promote politics of development but skipped any mention of the raging controversy surrounding Dalits.

"You (people) don't need those who play politics of casteism and nepotism. You have filled everyone's pocket but has your pocket been filled.

"My dear youths, nepotism and poison of casteism will not help in development. Support politics of 'visasvad' (development). I am here to urge you to bless me with your support as you have done earlier (in Lok Sabha polls)," he said at a public meeting in an apparent attack on the

Prime Minister Narendra Modi main opposition parties in the state without naming them.

Exhorting the people of poll-bound UP to shun politics of family, Modi said, "There has been enough of family and caste politics. You supported everybody. But did they

support you as well? Were youths and farmers benefited?".

In a speech delivered after laying foundation stone for an AIIMS and revival of a sick fertiliser plant, Modi skipped any reference to the raging controversy stoked by one of his

party leader's attack on Mayawati or the violence against Dalits in Gujarat.

He focused his speech on his efforts to boost state's development.

The Prime Minister also accused the state's Samajwadi Party government of being unable to spend the central fund for the state's health sector and asked people to choose a government next year which could run for them like him.

"I have given Rs 7000 crores to the state. This is not less for the health sector but the state government has only utilised Rs 2850 crores as there is a provision to show utilisation for taking rest amount. This happened as the state government did not have the strength," Modi said.

"The government which

cannot work for the health doesn't deserve to continue," he added.

The Prime Minister said the revival of the fertiliser plant is going to bring a big change as gas-based economy will start with supply of gas in Gorakhpur through Jagdishpur-Haldia pipeline.

"The gas being brought by the pipeline for the factory will go to every household in Gorakhpur and in a same way water is supplied through pipe. If electricity and gas are provided, then industrialists line up. It is a beginning of an industrial revolution in the eastern UP. "It is not merely inauguration of a factory but the start of a victory march that will defeat poverty, unemployment...," he said.

(PTI)

India ranks 110th on Sustainable Development index United Nations, Jul 22 : India is ranked at a low 110 of 149 nations with regard to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, according to a new index topped by Sweden that shows all countries face major challenges in achieving these ambitious goals.

The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and the Bertelsmann Stiftung launched a new Sustainable Development Goal Index and Dashboard to provide a report card for

tracking Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) progress and ensuring accountability. The index collected available data for 149 countries to assess where each country stands in 2016 with regard to achieving the SDGs. It ranks countries based on their performance across the 17 global goals, a set of ambitious objectives across the three dimensions of sustainable development economic development, social inclusion and environmental sustaina

bility, underpinned by good governance. The index helps countries identify priorities for early actions and shows that every country faces major challenges in achieving the SDGs. "The Sustainable Development Goals are stretch goals, but they are within reach if countries work towards them with clarity and determination.

The SDG Index and Dashboard can help each country to chart out a practical path for achieving the Goals," said

SDSN Director Jeffrey Sachs. The countries which are closest to fulfilling the goals are not the biggest economies but comparably small, developed countries.

Sweden tops the chart and is followed by Denmark and Norway on the top three performing countries. Germany (6) and the UK(10) are the only G7 countries to be found among the top ten performers. The US ranks 25th on the index, while Russia and China rank 47th and 76th re-

spectively.

India ranks 110th on the list followed by Lesotho on 113th position, Pakistan (115), Myanmar (117), Bangladesh (118) and Afghanistan (139).

Poor and developing countries understandably score lowest on the SDG Index as they often have comparably little resources at their disposal.

The Central African Republic and Liberia are at the bottom of the Index and still have the longest way to go in achieving the SDGs.(PTI)

'Privatisation of education biggest danger' New Delhi, July 22: Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi and senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia on Thursday shared a stage with BJP MP Jagadambika Pal and they both spoke against the commercialisation of education. They were joined by eminent educationists at a programme organised by All India Primary Teachers' Federation to discuss a research report, "Profiting from the Poor".

Sisodia asserted that the "biggest danger" to humanity is "commercialisation of education". He added, "The biggest danger that humanity is facing today across the world is privatisation of education."

He said privatisation has created a 'rift' dividing society.

"Nowadays society seems to be divided into two groups on the basis of education. On the one side are those who had private education while on the other are those who had government or public education. This division is lethal for the

world," he stressed.

He said there had been an enormous increase in the education budget by the AAP government. He accused the Central government of 'not spending much' on education.

"There are governments which are not spending too much on education while we doubled the education budget. Ours is no national government but only a provincial one," he said sarcastically. However, he admitted that it's almost impossible to completely stop privatisation of education.Increasing the quality of public education is the only way out, he added. "We cannot stop privatisation of education but we can certainly improve the quality of public education and make it equivalent to that of private education.

Thus private education will be sidelined or automatically come to an end when people will repose faith upon public education system," he said.

Sisodia criticised the existing mindset of people who look down upon

ister Kapil Sibal, Sisodia said, "A former HRD minister who also happens to be an eminent lawyer stands in front of me in court fighting the case on behalf of private schools."

He said he had verbally instructed all teachers and principals to avoid teaching irrelevant and non-rational things in the syllabus.

AAP leader Manish Sisodia public or government schools and consider private education as a status symbol "The government schools should be the first priority of parents seeking admission for their wards. We are working on it but until now we have not achieved this," said the deputy CM. He said merely increasing education budget will not solve all the problems but a proper vision is required.

"Education should be made interesting and more practical. If

a child from a slum doesn't find enough reason to stay at class then fault is with us that we have not made education interesting enough for him to stay. There should be a linkage between the societal background and manner of imparting education," he said. He slammed politicians and bureaucrats who allegedly have stakes in private schools and laid stress upon an impartial enquiry to unmask such elements.

Indirectly attacking former Union HRD Min-

"We have reduced 25 per cent syllabus in Delhi Schools," he said. He objected to the name Human Resource Development for the ministry concerned with education, "When the name itself is Human Resource the commercialisation is bound to come," he added.

Pal also stressed on the need for increasing the education budget "We are investing in roads, highways and infrastructure but you can make a mark in the world only by your achieving excellence in education and not merely by roads and infrastructure," he said.

(Agencies)

Lalu hits out at PM for 'silence' on Dalit atrocities

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Patna, Jul 22 : RJD supremo Lalu Prasad hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for second successive day today on his "continued silence" on atrocities against Dalits and wondered whether "these incidents are taking place at his instigation."

"Auron ki khansi/ jukhaam per chichiyate hain, per gareeb/dalit ko maara peeta ja raha hai us per lambi chuppi! Inhi ki to shah nahin? (He shouts at mere cough and cold of others, but keeps mum for long when the poor and Dalits are beaten up... are the incidents taking place at his instigation)," Lalu said in a tweet.

He was replying to a tweet by his son and deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Prasad Yadav's tweet goading the Prime Minister to speak at his rally in Gorakhpur on atrocities against Dalits.

"Dear @narendramodi Ji, Hope u wil speak tdy in Gorakhpur on #DalitAtrocity takn place aggressively in ur regime. Plz gv hard msg to ur caders," Tejaswi tweeted.

Slamming Modi yesterday for his "silence" on assault of some Dalit men in Gujarat last week, Lalu had tweeted that the "PM who cries at the drop of a hat or tweets on anything happening even saat samundar paar (seven seas away) won't utter even a single word on unfortunate incidents in Gujarat."

The incident at Una in Gujarat, where Dalit youths were paraded and flogged for allegedly killing a cow, caused nationwide outrage after its video went viral. The victims' contention was that they were skinning a dead cow and had not killed it. (PTI)

IAF's transport plane with 29 on board goes missing

IAF's transport plane with 29 on board goes missing New Delhi, Jul 22 : An Indian Air Force's AN 32 transport plane today went missing with 29 people on board, including six crew members, while it was on its way from near Chennai to Port Blair, home to tri-service command.

A massive search and rescue operation has been launched by the IAF, Navy and the Coast Guard, deploying five aircraft and 13 ships for tracking the plane which made the last radio contact at 0846 hours, 16 minutes after take off from Tambaram air base.

The 29 people on board the Air Force's workhorse for a long period included two pilots, a navigator besides personnel from the Navy and the Army.

"The plane, which was on a routine courier service, took off at about 0830 hours from Tambaram and it was sched-

uled to land at Port Blair at 1130 hours but it is overdue," IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Anupam Banerjee said.

Defence sources said the plane was at about 23,000 feet when the last contact was established.

While IAF has pressed into service a C130 plane along with two AN32, the Navy has deployed two P8i maritime surveillance and antisubmarine warfare aircraft from the strategically important Port Blair.

The Navy has pressed into service two Dornier aircraft and 13 ships with the Eastern Fleet Commander on board for the search and rescue operation.

Navy spokesperson Captain D K Sharma said, "Navy has been deployed in full force in the Bay of Bengal for the search and rescue operation".(PTI)

OPCC chief warns state Parliament videography issue: AAP defends Mann govt of farmers' stir Bhubaneswar, July 22: Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Prasad Harichandan on Thursday warned the government of a statewide agitation over crop loan, crop insurance and other farmer's related issues if not fulfilled within a month.

The government should extend the last date for the registration of farmers for crop insurance to 31 August instead of 15 August, ensure payment of insurance money to farmers who were covered under the crop insurance scheme during the last khariff season and to declare village as a unit instead of

panchayat for crop insurance, he said while issuing the ultimatum to the government.

Crop loan to farmers at one per cent interest, timely submission of the crop cutting report and to cover all the eleven crops plus vegetable under the crop insurance scheme were the other demands listed by the OPCC chief. More than 22 lakh farmers had registered under the crop insurance scheme and paid Rs 180 crore towards their premium in the last khariff, he claimed while adding that the drought had destroyed the crop and the farmers are due to get Rs 1,220

crore towards their insurance money.

The state and the central government have failed to ensure this, he alleged. The state government had not yet submitted the crop cutting report on the basis of which the insurance money could be paid, he charged adding that it did not provide funds on time.

He demanded the government to provide Rs 24,350 crore crop loan this year as decided in the state level Bankers Committee.

Groundnut, ginger, cotton, turmeric and other crops should be covered under the crop insurance scheme, he said. (Agencies)

New Delhi, Jul 22 : Amid a raging row over AAP MP Bhagwant Mann filming the high-security Parliament House complex, the party today defended the lawmaker, saying he was only trying to "show" the procedure of asking questions which did not amount to security breach.

"Bhagwant Mann was only trying to show to the people how only 20 names were picked from a draw to ask questions (during the Zero Hour)... since representatives from all areas of the country have

the right to ask questions in Parliament, this lucky draw system leaves many MPs without a chance to put forth their questions," AAP leader Ashutosh said."Parliament cannot be run by just lucky draw," he said.

Another senior AAP leader said, "It was an innocuous video and it was certainly avoidable. He has been told to be careful in future." The party was of the view that the video "doesn't compromise" the security of Parliament, he added.

In the nearly 12-minute video that he shared live on Facebook, Mann filmed his vehicle crossing security barricades and him entering Parliament on Thursday. "I have not played with anything (security). I have never and it has never been my intent to compromise the security of Parliament. For asking questions there during Zero Hour, there is a lucky draw and only 20 questions are selected.

"People in our constituencies have elected us and sometimes they ask us

why we do not raise the issue in Parliament. So, I only wanted to show people the procedure, it was like an educational thing," Mann, MP from Punjab's Sangrur, said today.

Meanwhile, Mann, who appeared before Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan after being summoned, has tendered an unconditional apology for his controversial video, which caused an uproar in both Houses of Parliament on Friday.(PTI)

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 23

Waiting for the day Kashmir becomes Pakistan: Nawaz

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Muzaffarabad, July 22: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, while addressing a public gathering here on Friday after the PML-N's Azad Jammu and Kashmir electoral win, said: "We are waiting for the day Kashmir becomes Pakistan."

In his first public address following his return from London after open-heart surgery in May, Nawaz urged Kashmiris "not to forget those in held Kashmir who are sacrificing their lives to their movement for free-

dom".

"Their movement for freedom cannot be stopped and it will be successful. You are aware of how they are being beaten and killed.

All our prayers are with them and we are waiting for the day Kashmir becomes Pakistan."

PML-N is set to form the next government in AJK as the unofficial results of a general election for 41 direct seats of the AJK Legislative Assembly on Thursday suggested a landslide victory for the party. (Agencies)

Blood samples of Dhaka cafe attackers handed over to FBI

Blood samples of Dhaka cafe attackers handed over to FBI Dhaka, July 22: Bangladesh has handed over blood samples of the Gulshan cafe terror attackers to the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for testing, police here said on Friday. The samples were handed over on Friday morning, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune. The doctors collected hair and blood samples from the bodies of the six men who laid siege to the cafe to ascertain whether they had been under the influence of drugs during the attack on the cafe, the Daily Star reported.

A forensic team of Dhaka

Medical College Hospital collected the samples on request of the Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police. The move came amid media reports that militants, especially members of the Islamic State, are known to be popping addictive pills which help "fuel their fury" before carrying out terror attacks.

The six terrorists, who were shot dead on July 2 by security forces, include the cafe's pizza chef Saiful Islam, who investigators say was one of the attackers. His family has claimed he was innocent, reported.(Agencies)

Woman held over Dhaka terror attack

PAGE 7

NEIGHBOURS

China can coop with India in nuclear sector: official China, Jul 22 : Describing China as an "important player" in the nuclear sector, a senior Chinese state policy researcher has said it is one of the areas where it can cooperate with India, a remark which comes amidst growing strain between the two countries over the NSG issue.

Speaking here, Chen Wenling, a senior researcher of the Chinese State Council Research Office, also made a strong pitch for longterm visas for Chinese nationals visiting India, which she said would boost bilateral trade and investments.

On areas where the two neighbours can cooperate, she said manufacturing, nuclear energy, bullet trains, tourism, education, agriculture and services industry are among

the areas where they can enhance their cooperation."China is an important player in the nuclear sector.

Chinese energy players are investing in the US market," she remarked during a discussion with a select gathering here in the presence of Minister Counselor Cheng Guangzhong yesterday.

"India is known as the world's back office while China is known for its manufacturing prowess.

China can learn from India in the areas of services, IT and outsourcing.... But for China to invest, a market has to be clear, transparent and secure," she said.

India's Nuclear Suppliers Group membership bid hit a roadblock when the plenary of the 48nation held in South

Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG)," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said in Beijing while reacting to Swaraj's statement.

Wenling also assured India that the Xi Jinping dispensation was focusing on strengthening relationship with its neighbours and was concerned about the "wellbeing" of those countries including India.

Talking about the 'slowdown' in the rate of the growth of the China, she said it is a "normal" phenomenon that any large economy goes through at some point and described it as a major "shifting" period for the country.

Wenling, a leading economist, said the old structure was being replaced by the new in China in the form of de-

velopment of newer Special Economic Zones and "decentralisation" of power.

"As the size of the economy grows, the growth rate will come down, it is normal. It will be around 6.5 per cent this year on the lower side. Chinese government is now pondering upon bringing structural reforms in the economy.

All large economies, including the US, have seen periods of upsurge and fall," Wenling said.

The International Monetary Fund, in its Regional Economic Outlook for Asia and the Pacific, has said that China's economy is expected to slow sharply and is tipped to expand 6.5 per cent this year the lower end of Beijing's target and 6.2 per cent in 2017.(PTI)

Trump's rise baffles Chinese scholars: report

China punishes 26,900 officials for violating austerity rules

Beijing, Jul 22: The rise of Donald Trump as the US Republican Party's presidential candidate has made Chinese experts wonder how a businessman who was often ridiculed could have bested veteran politicians and is now just one step away from the presidency, official media said today.

While Chinese netizens remain skeptical about Trump and the US political system, scholars are surprised with the strength of the anti-establishment sentiment, state-run Global Times reported.

"At the very beginning, we didn't expect American disgust with Washington and WallStreet to have such a powerful

impact on the US general election," said Jin Canrong, deputy director of the Center of American Studies at the Renmin University of China. Jin said he believed the growing wealth gap and the slowing economy in the US has led to Trump's growing support, besides his brashness which separates him from traditional politicians.

Initially the mainstream in China believed that the election would pit members of two of the US' elite political families the Hillary Clinton and Jeff Bush. Even Chinese officials have downplayed Trump's role, though he has re-

Sushma Swaraj Korea last month decided against accepting India's application after China and some other countries opposed entry of a non-NPT signatory into NSG. While External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj made it clear in Parliament on Wednesday that

peatedly made unfriendly remarks about China.

Jin admitted that most scholars, whether from China or the US, were wrong about Trump and they also ignored the strength of populism to some extent. He said that observers thought Trump's base revolved around undereducated, lower-class and radical white people.

"But now we discovered Trump could also attract many voters from the silent majority "who found his outspoken style and negativity make him look very different from traditional politicians," Jin said.

Wang Yiwei, a senior fellow of international relations at the Renmin

India will never sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), an adamant China yesterday said "no country should or can put itself opposite the NPT".

"We have repeatedly stated our position on the accession of nonNPT countries into the

University of China, said experts did not expect globalisation to have an effect on Western countries' middle class political views.

Experts believed that the middle class played a role in stabilising society, but now the middle class prefers change. This could be the reason why experts had not expected Trump to go this far, the report said.

Chinese netizens still consider Trump's rise a comedy show. Chinese website guancha.cn, which focuses on politics, social issues and Trump-related news stories, has feedback of Trump supporters who believe he "will mess up the US and allow China

to overtake the US as soon as possible."

Wang noted that the US people hold a very different view as they created something different in the political system. The "Trump Phenomenon" shows that the US political system is not controlled by traditional elites and a person like Trump, who has no political background, could also have a chance to compete against Hillary Clinton, Wang said. Song Luzheng, a research fellow at the China Institute of Fudan University, said it is the democratic system, not Trump, that should be blamed for the current mess in the election.

(Agencies)

PML-N sweeps PoK assembly polls Lahore, Jul 22 : Pakistan's ruling party PML-N has swept the PoK's legislative assembly elections, bagging 30 of 41 directly elected seats, with a two-thirds majority to form the new government. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) emerged victorious in the assembly elections held yesterday in which a total of 26 political parties and 423 candidates took part.

Pakistan People's Party (PPP), which won the last polls, could only manage to win two seats while cricketer-turnedpolitician Imran Khan's Pakistan Tahreek-i-Insaf (PTI) also got as many

and Muslim Conference bagged three. It was expected that there would be a stiff competition between the three mainstream parties Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN), PPP and PTI but the PML-N routed them, stunning the political pundits.

A total of 2.674 million Kashmiris exercised their right to franchise yesterday to elect members for the PoK Legislative Assembly, which will be the ninth since the parliamentary form of government was introduced in the region in 1975. While the region is spread over 14,245 square kilometres, the polling process is not restricted to this area and

instead stretches to entire Pakistan because members for 12 out of the 41 directly elected seats are elected by 438,884 voters living in various parts of the country.

Some 12 are reserved for refugees from Kashmir in Pakistan. Overall, the election was held in a peaceful manner under the supervision of the army. Clashes between the PML-N and PTI workers were reported at a couple of polling stations. Some five persons suffered injuries.

Sharif congratulated the people and the elected members. "Holding the peaceful election in Kashmir (PoK) is a trust of people in democracy.

Our government will fully help the newly elected government of Kashmir," he said. Sharif said he hoped that the newly-elected members of the Legislative Assembly will "help the freedom struggle of Kashmir".

"Pakistanis are united to help their Kashmiri brethren in their struggle for freedom," he added.

Chief Election Commissioner Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said "no complaint" of mishap or violence was reported during the polling from anywhere in the valley. He thanked the federal government and Pakistan Army for ensuring the transparent con-

duct of polls.

The PPP in PoK was launched by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1973 and until December 2010, it faced Muslim Conference (MC) as its arch-opponent, but the situation changed in 2010 when Sharif launched the PML-N in the region.

The 2011 polls were a neck-and-neck fight between the PPP and the PML-N though the MC was also in the field. As PoK rarely goes against the Centre, the PPP secured smooth victory and formed its government. The PML-N also did well by winning 10 seats. The MC, which had ruled for a long time, was reduced to four seats.(PTI)

IMF head calls for quick end to Brexit uncertainty Woman held over Dhaka terror attack Dhaka, July 22: A woman has been arrested for suspected involvement in the terror attack on a cafe here that killed 22 persons including an Indian, the media said on Friday. Ruma Akhtar, 22, was picked up on Thursday by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police on charges of her involvement

in the attack, media reported. Biju Mia, father of Ruma Akhtar, told the media that detectives took her away from their house saying she was a suspect in the July 1 attack. "We have heard about the detention of one Ruma from (residents)," a local police official said.(Agencies)

Beijing, Jul 22 : The head of the International Monetary Fund called today to end uncertainty over Britain's vote to leave the European Union she says is dampening global economic growth.

The IMF cut this year's global growth forecast by 0.1 percentage points to 3.1 per cent in a report released this week due to the shockwaves of the British vote, said Christine Lagarde.

Lagarde spoke after meeting with the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, and leaders of the World Bank, the World Trade Organi-

zation and other bodies ahead of this weekend's gathering of finance officials of the Group of 20 major economies. "Our first and immediate recommendation is for this uncertainty surrounding the terms of Brexit to be removed as quickly as possible so that we know the terms of trade and the ways in which the United Kingdom will continue to operate in the global economy," said Lagarde at a news conference.

Lagarde said that before the British vote, the IMF had been preparing to raise

its global growth forecast by 0.1 percentage points due to improvement in Japan, China and the 17country euro zone. "Unfortunately, the United Kingdom decided to go for Brexit," said Lagarde, a former French finance minister. "This is disappointing."

Investors are watching the G20 meeting for any sign the United States, Germany, China and other major economies may agree on joint action to accelerate a weak global economic recovery. A similar meeting in Febru-

ary in Shanghai ended with a joint statement that said coordinated action was impossible because major countries were at different points in their economic cycles.

Some investors believe envoys in Shanghai agreed secretly to weaken the dollar to spur trade but there has been no official confirmation of that. The final statement from this weekend's gathering in Chengdu in China's southwest "will be under scanner for any hints of policy coordination monetary or fiscal," Citigroup econo-

mists said in a report.

US Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew, speaking to reporters in Athens before flying to China, downplayed the likelihood of joint action. "I don't think this is a moment that calls for the kind of coordinated action that occurred during the Great Recession in 2008 and 2009," said Lew. "It really is a moment where we each need to do what we can to ensure that where growth is soft it gets stronger and that prospects for the medium- and longterm are improved. (PTI)

Beijing, July 22: The top anti-graft body of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) on Friday said that 26,900 officials have been punished for violating austerity rules in the first half of 2016.

Those punished were involved in 19,160 cases, the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) said.

A w a r d i n g unauthorised bonuses was the most c o m m o n misdemeanour (4,793), while misuse of public vehicles (3,449) and sending or accepting gifts (3,370) were the second- and third- most common, the CCDI figures show.

Violations also included the use of public funds to finance travel and meals, and extravagant weddings and funerals, state-run reported.

The CPC released its eight-point rules on austerity in late 2012 to reduce pomp, ceremony, bureaucracy and other undesirable work practices.

In the first half of the year, four ministeriallevel officials broke the rules, CCDI said.

(Agencies)

22 killed in Afghan clash Kabul, July 22: At least 22 persons were killed in a clash in Afghanistan's Kunduz province on Friday. "Eighteen Taliban rebels were killed as security forces attacked Qalae-Zal district," quoted an army official as saying. The remaining victims were four security personnel, while six others were injured. (Agencies)

PAGE 8

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 23

Globalization With Asian Characteristics Part II Hockey Legend Mohammed Shahid one of the greatest names in Indian hockey When one talks about India hockey greats, it is impossible not to include the name of former captain Mohammad Shahid among those influential figures. Mohammed (Photo: Shahid, one of the greatsportssupercentre) est names in Indian hockey and part of the team that won gold at the 1980 Moscow Olympics, has died at a Gurgaon hospital owing to a severe liver condition and kidney failure.

He was 56. Born on April 14, 1960 in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Shahid+ burst onto the international hockey scene at the age of 19 in 1979 against France at the Junior World Cup. But it was during a four-nation tournament in Malaysia that he won rave reviews from his captain Vasudev Baskaran - who would lead India at the 1980 Olympics - while leaving the opposing Pakistan players stunned by his mastery.

Shahid's style of play was based on speed and an ability to dribble the ball with rare wizardry, and it was this aspect of his game which won him fans across the country during the 1980s and revived Indian hockey when interest had started to wane against cricket's immense popularity following the 1983 World Cup win. Fellow hockey great Zafar Iqbal, with whom Shahid formed a terrific pair on the hockey field during that decade - in particular at the 1982 and 1986 Asian Games - was distraught at the news.

His contributions to the game are immeasurable.

Shahid - who also captained India during the 198586 season - received the Arjuna Award in 1981 and was honoured with the Padma Shri in 1986. Since retiring from hockey, the somewhat reclusive Shahid had worked with the Indian railways and was based in his hometown of Varanasi. Unlike Dhyan Chand or Balbir Singh Senior, Shahid wasn't groomed to score goals. The inside forward's primary role was to create scoring opportunities for his teammates.

The forward line back then comprised Shahid, Zafar Iqbal and Merwyn Fernandes. It was easily one of the best attacking trios India has ever had and Shahid's job was to feed the other two. And he never disappointed in that. Though Shahid's death is painful, he has left every hockey fan with some wonderful memories to cherish forever. The player was known for his dribbling skills, which would bamboozle his opponents.

Digital India Intiative aims to empower society The successful implementation of Digital India would help to transform India into a truly digitally empowered society and knowledge economy in the 21st century. As reported earlier PM Narendra Modi's ambitious Digital India initiatives will reach newer heights in 2016, with Silicon valley tech majors and domestic companies, including a vibrant startup community, expected to provide a major fillip to the project. New initiatives in digital infrastructure, connectivity and on-demand services are fast transforming the government's ambitious program into reality.

Besides, the government expects India Post to become an active player in the e-commerce segment.

India Post will launch its payment bank by March 2017. As many as 40 international financial conglomerates, including World Bank and Barclays, have shown interest to partner with the Postal Department for the payment bank. The government has also partnered with Ricoh India to digitize 130,000 rural Post offices. Electronic transactions related to e-governance projects in the country have almost doubled in 2015, said Prasad, adding that the government website electronic transaction aggregation and analysis layer (eTaal), saw 3.53 billion transactions in 2014, which almost doubled in 2015 to 6.95 billion.

Currently India has 18,000 startups valued at $75 billion, employing 300,000 people. On the back of right policies, the startups could grow over five-fold in number in the next 10 years, and will target a value of over $500 billion. This itself validatres the huge potential of Digital Indian projects as well. On the other hand Huawei Global Connectivity Index 2016 notes that the Indian government's Digital India initiative is driving growth, and improved broadband penetration. The report says the initiative will enable last mile connectivity, bringing many people online for the first time, and enables a whole new opportunity for telecom operators. These numbers come in at a time when India sees expanded 4G rollout, and start of local data centres. As the Internet of Everything is on its way - and promises to further change the way we live and work - the Digital India project is an acknowledgment of the power of the Internet and all its benefits. The Digital India aims to bridge the divide between have's and have not's in India through technology led e-platforms. Even within a short span of its announcement, the Initiative has caught the imagination of not only large enterprises but also the SMEs and individual innovators alike.

The transcending nature of its implantation and impact is already bearing fruits and through key application areas including financial inclusion, healthcare, and education, the Digital India movement has already percolated down to the masses.

A similar outward en- the attractiveness of the gagement has been wit- Indian economy and nessed at the bilateral strengthening regional level. The Japan Bank for connectivity. This has International Cooperation been done in order to sup(JBIC) has relaxed its port his economic devellending requirements to opment goals and facilifacilitate investment in tate Modi's "Make in Inprojects that it may have dia," "Digital India," and otherwise neglected. "Smart City" initiatives.

Through a change to Modi's recent four nation JBIC's optour of e r a t i n g Chietigj Bajpaee East Afcharter, a rica has newly established special been the most recent evifund will invest in higher dence of this. Although risk infrastructure India's $70 billion in trade projects. This is part of a with the African continent broader government plan, pales in comparison to known as the Quality In- China's $200 billion, Infrastructure Initiative, dia has sought to exploit which aims to increase the country's historical reoverseas lending by Japa- lationship with the continese-funded development nent, such as the 1.3 milinstitutions, including lion Indian diaspora JBIC, the ADB, and Japan population in South AfInternational Cooperation rica. Despite the hype asAgency (JICA) to allow sociated with China's Japan to more effectively emergence as Africa's compete with its Chinese leading trade and investcounterparts. This comes ment partner, India has so in the aftermath of Japan's far avoided the allegaloss of a tender to China tions of neocolonialism in 2015 for the Jakarta- that have often been assoBandung high-speed rail ciated with China's interproject after the China actions with the region.

Development Bank While China and India are (CDB) decided to forego both seeking to secure the need for a sovereign markets and commodity guarantee from the Indo- imports from Africa to nesian government, meet their growth and dewhich was required by the velopment needs, India's JBIC-led consortium. model of engagement With respect to China, in addition to the AIIB, China's "Belt and Road Initiative" is further evidence of its growing role in intertwining its growth and development agenda with that of its broader periphery. The country is already leading the way in international development finance, with overseas lending by the China Development Bank (CDB) and Export-Import Bank of China matching that of the six major Western-backed development institutions, with the CDB alone overtaking the World Bank as the world's with Africa has been disleading provider of inter- tinct from China's, with a national development fi- greater emphasis on canance. When combined pacity building, private with the AIIB, BRICS sector interaction, and New Development Bank, maintaining a lighter footand over a dozen regional print. This has served to funds, Chinese develop- deter the level of ment financing far ex- blowback that has been ceeds that of all Western- seen in China's engageled multilateral develop- ment with the continent ment institutions com- where there has been more emphasis on govbined.

Even India has developed ernment-to-government a more proactive, prag- interaction and reliance matic and omni-direc- on imported Chinese lational policy of external bor for local projects. engagement under Indian Challenges and opporPrime Minister Narendra tunities for change Modi, aimed at engaging To be sure, this so-called all major poles of influ- Asian process of globalence in the international ization is still in its nasystem, as well as reach- scent stages. A survey by ing out to Indian diaspora AidData notes, for incommunities. Modi has stance, that despite China visited 32 countries in less providing almost $95 bilthan two years with the lion in aid and other offiobjective of highlighting cial financing to Africa

between 2000 and 2013, traditional providers of aid and development assistance such as the IMF and World Bank ranked higher than Chinese institutions on their "agendasetting influence." Negotiations for the TPP trade agreement (which presently excludes both India and China) also demonstrate the continued ability of the United States to set the standard on global free trade negotiations, as the TPP raises the bar for future multilateral trade agreements.

Similarly, despite the hype associated with the launch of new Asian-led global governance initiatives, Asia remains far from usurping the longstanding U.S. role as provider and protector of global public goods. This alludes to the fact that while mercantilist self-interest has been the driver of Asia's outward engagement, Asian states will have to increasingly consider their role in protecting the global commons, as to date they have largely played the role of a free rider. In other words, while the focus of Asia's outbound engagement is so far concentrated in the economic

Modi has visited 32 countries in less than two years with the objective of highlighting the attractiveness of the Indian economy and strengthening regional connectivity.

This has been done in order to support his economic development goals and facilitate Modi's "Make in India," "Digital India," and "Smart City" initiatives. domain, the strategic implications cannot be far behind. There is already evidence of this: Japan's reinterpretation of its pacifist constitution toward facilitating collective self-defense has given the country's SelfDefense Forces the mandate to expand overseas operations. Meanwhile, China's 2015 defense white paper makes reference to the need to protect Chinese "institutions, personnel and assets abroad," which has been operationalized with a counterterrorism law that was passed in December 2015 that lays the groundwork for the PLA to be sent abroad on counterterrorism operations.

Moreover, there are several risks along the way

Image for representational purpose (Photo: cloudfront)

before Asia assumes the reins of globalization.

Foremost among these is the fact that one of the countries that is a key driver of this process China - is still regarded with apprehension by much of the international community. The recent ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague challenging the validity of China's"nine-dash line claim to the South China Sea illustrates China's role as a potential spoiler in enforcing the international rule of law. With Europe and the United States potentially retreating into a shell, emerging powers such as China may be further emboldened to challenge international norms and institutions.

This alludes to the fact that what threatens regional cooperation in Asia is not so much the intrusive bureaucracies of supranational institutions (as seen in Europe) but rather great power rivalries. This is evident by the growing pressures on ASEAN unity amid the rise of China and tensions in the Sino-U.S. relationship.

Nor is there a clear Asian consensus on global norms, values, and institutions. Asian powers such as China, India, and Japan have distinctly different views of global governance rooted in their unique civilizational identities and differing development priorities: Japan is a industrialized country firmly entrenched within the Western neoliberal order trying to escape the shackles of the "lost decades" of stagnant growth; China is a leading global but still emerging economy seeking to export excess industrial capacity as the country adapts to a "new normal" of more consumption and servicedriven growth while rekindling its historical

status as "middle kingdom"; and India is in the position where China was two decades ago with a focus on attracting foreign investment to upgrade the country's infrastructure and manufacturing capacity while maintaining its status as an independent pole of influence in the international system through a policy of non- or omnialignment and strategic autonomy. This has resulted in differing positions on issues as varied as climate change, trade, and development.

Furthermore, a so-called Asian-driven process of globalization would not necessarily repudiate the Western-driven process of globalization that has existed over the last two centuries. In a speech during his visit to China in May 2015, Modi acknowledged this by noting that China and India "have gained a lot from an open, rule-based global trading system" and "equally, we have most to lose if it breaks down." As such, an Asialed process of globalization is likely to entail a reinterpretation rather than complete repudiation of existing norms and values. Certain principles that were seen as increasingly out-dated in the West - such as respect for state sovereignty and territorial inviolability - will be reaffirmed. Others related to human rights may undergo a process of reinterpretation as principles such as the "responsibility to protect" come under growing scrutiny. In this context, countries such as India and Japan are uniquely placed to play the role of potential "bridging powers" in debates on global governance, challenging the simple duality of a socalled "Washington Consensus" (characterized by d e m o c r a c y , neoliberalism, and free market capitalism) and

The Education Department

Assam and Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya (Photo: mages.mid-day)

Sir, Assam and Nagaland Governor P.B. Acharya Ventilated his grave concern about the education sector and wanted to learn from the Chief-minister about the budget allocated to the sector in last 3 years in view of the poor results in (H.S.L.C and H.S.S.L.C) the government schools as compared to the private ones.

What surprised the Governor was that almost all the (barring a handful) rankholders were from the Private schools.

Governor arrived at the figure of the rank-holders after the felicitation ceremony held in the Raj-Bhavan. It is high time, our education minister along with all the bureaucrats of the department should have an introspection to find out where are the vulnerable points. In the previous three terms under the same Chief-minister (Tarun Gogoi) almost all the bureaucrats along with the corrupt officials churned the department and extracted money as much they could. Most of these bureaucrats and officials possess palatial buildings. People of Assam have now changed the government with high

expectation. But this point does not have any bearing on the results. Sincerity of the government school teachers must come from within. Had teachers devoted whole-heartedly towards moulding up students this sorry state of affairs would not have come to fore. During my stint in Dhemaji, while visiting interior areas, I myself saw, how teachers' relatives took the classes regardless of whether they had the required qualification or not.

Sudden visits to all the schools should be conducted by a Task Force. In urban areas, it is not difficult, but in rural areas it would be a difficult exercise. Teachers should be given exemplary punishment.

To appear in the TET specific percentage should be earmarked.

"Beijing Consensus" (characterized by "nostrings attached"/ valueneutral, state capitalism).

At the same time, a common thread can be identified among all Asian countries in their discussions about globalization and global governance.

This is rooted in the need for a more equitable distribution of power and desire to reform existing international institutions and/or create new ones to reflect the growing diffusion and decentralization of global power. Rather than being merely content with a having a seat at the table, Asian powers increasingly want to be able to shape the agenda as well. This entails reforming the balance of power within existing institutions such as expanding the permanent membership of the UN Security Council to include such countries as India and Japan, admitting India to the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and increasing the voting share of emerging economies such as India and China at the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund. However, it also entails creating new institutions such as the AIIB and BRICS New Development Bank.

As such, despite inevitable uncertainties and hiccups along the way, the trajectory seems clear. As in the case of the global powers of y e s t e r y e a r, Asian countries' domestic and foreign policy interests are becoming increasingly intertwined. And as the west turns inward and Asian states increasingly see their national interests overlapping with global norms, values and institutions, Asia is poised to assume the reins of leadership in driving globalization in the 21st c e n t u r y. C o n c l u d e d (Courtesy: The diplomat)

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, Dibrugarh786001 (Assam) Ph: 0373-2328944 Yours etc.

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p O

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 23

Connecting Generations History is an attempt that Singha in the year of demonstrates continu- 1703. The ancient stone ously the contexts of our bridge has a total length past describing the glory, of about 200 ft. and a power, richness held by breadth of about 22 ft. our ancestors. It develops It has been a witness to a comparison between several historic events like the past and present. As Uddipan Sarma B u r m e s e the roots of invasion,World globalization received War II, and the great complete settlement after earthquake of 1950. The the end of erstwhile Namdang river is a tribuUSSR, a world of ad- tary of the Dikhou river vanced technologies which also occupies a came into existence. It special place in the pages perhaps changed all the of Assam history. Such a directions of world af- stone bridge which demfecting the patterns of his- onstrates the unique tory. Thus a gap took mindset of the Ahom birth between tradition Kingdom as well as the and modernity once all great architecture of that these trends started re- time should be known to shaping the globe. It be- all across the country. It came difficult enough to is necessary to mention minimize the gap to bal- that different biotic comance all new shifts. ponents were used to The need of emergence build the stone bridge of a bridge between two without steel and cement generations had been mortar. only an idea until it at- As the absence of approtained a formal structure priate preservation and recognizing the glorious promotion of the historic chapter of Namdang Namdang Stone Bridge Stone Bridge. Reflecting have always been felt, in the past events as well as the year of 2013 this adapting to the new writer decided to launch curves of modernization, a campaign for preservaNamdang Stone Bridge is tion and ensuring national standing as a living wit- heritage status of the gloness for more than three rious Namdang Stone centuries serving the na- Bridge. Initially the camtion on National Highway paign was run among the 37 near Gaurisagar area students and teachers of of the Sivasagar district different corners of the of Assam.It was con- state. It evoked tremenstructed by the Ahom dous response from difking Swargadeo Rudra ferent educational institu-

tions like Cotton College, Assam Jatiya Bidyalay, Sivasagar College, Gohpur Girls' High School. To take the campaign to the next level government departments and other authorities concerned were moved. In the same year this writer, while studying in Higher Secondary First year in Cotton College, wrote a letter to the then speaker of Assam Legislative Assembly Pranab Gogoi to draw his attention. Mr Gogoi stated, in his reply, the national highway 37 would be diverted from the glorious Namdang Stone bridge and would have a separate RCC bridge along the four-lane highway under construction. In the subsequent year, this writer wrote a letter to the Prime Minister informing him about the historical significance of the stone bridge and also requested him to take necessary steps for the preservation of the historic bridge. The PMO forwarded the letter to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and within a period of four months, a letter was received from the ministry statting that a new four lane bridge has been proposed for construction without affecting the glorious Namdang Stone Bridge. Moreover, the ancient bridge may be looked after by the Ar-

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Away From My Lucrative Job, I Found Happiness Teaching In A School In Odisha

Promote the uniqueness of the Namdang Stone Bridge. (Photo: Uddipan Sarma)

chaeological Survey of India once the four lane bridge is constructed. After receiving the reply from the ministry the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India as requested to declare 312year old stone bridge as a centrally protected monument the latter asked the Director ( Monuments) to examine the issue and also to take appropriate action.

Dr. Milan Kumar Chauley, Superintending Archaeologist, Archaeological Survey of India ( Guwahati Circle ), in his letter to this writer on August 6, 2015, stated that the historic Namdang Stone Bridge maitained by the Public Works Department, Assam, cannot be protected and preserved in its present state until the Min-

istry of Road Transport and Highways diverts the traffic from over the stone bridge.

It is, therefore, necessary to complete the construction of the proposed fourlaning of highways from Numaligarh to Dibrugarh at an early period ensuring the preservation of the historic stone bridge for our future generations.

Although the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has indicated the retirement and the preservation of the stone bridge once the four-laning work of NH 37 is completed and traffic is diverted from the historic bridge, the declaration of the bridge as a national heritage site is yet to be ensured.

To garner support for declaration of the historic

bridge as a national heritage site, a campaign was launched in January this year and has been on under the banner of 'PADAKKHEP, a pace of hope' to promote the uniqueness of the Namdang Stone Bridge.

Leaflets have been distributed among students of different colleges, in the last North East Book Fair and also among students of some colleges of University of Delhi to run the campaign for declaration of the historic bridge as a heritage site and for its protection and preservation to remind the future generations about our glorious past.

The campaign needs to be intensified to achieve the desired goal.

Courtesy:Nezine

This Method Of Growing Coffee, Is Proving To Be A Blessing For River Cauvery The Cauvery evokes the river alive. The quesstrong emotions. It tion environmental activbrings angry people to ists are asking is whether the streets; chief minis- this will change as new ters fast demanding its developments creep into water. And why not? this bit of paradise. But This water brings life to the question I am asking millions. From mega cit- is different: what is the ies like Bengaluru to in- development model that dustries and farmers will work in this ecologia c r o s s cal hot spotKarnataka, Sunita Narain a way in Tamil Nadu which we and even Puducherry value the river but can and Kerala, all want a develop and grow to share of its water. meet new aspirations and Where is this water com- challenges? ing from? Kodagu, for- One major change that merly known as Coorg, was pointed out to me is the region in the West- was the switch towards ern Ghats where the "sun coffee". Let me exriver originates. This plain. In this region cofland of forest, coffee, fee is traditionally grown spices and paddy brings in shade. The best coffee some 50 per cent of the plantations are those with river's water. What I 30 to 50 per cent shade. learnt on my recent Trees are grown betravel to Kodagu tells me tween coffee plants to that it is time we thought provide shade. On these long and deep about the trees, spices like pepper origins of our rivers. are grown. This brings Their birth is our life. farmers extra income.

This region provides us But this practice of a mosaic of nature's "shade coffee" cannot best. Here, unlike in compete with "sun cofmany other parts of the fee", where no trees are world, natural land- grown and all the land is scapes are made pro- used for plantation. I ductive by human inter- learnt from coffee plantvention. The extensive ers in Kodagu that while coffee, pepper and "sun coffee" farmers can paddy plantations im- get up to 1.5 tonnes of cofprove recharge and keep fee per acre (0.4 hect-

are), "shade coffee" productivity is lower-some 0.75 to 1 tonne per acre.

The productivity of organic coffee is even less at 0.5 tonne per acre.

The premium paid for or-

not get permission for trimming or felling trees for the next four months of monsoons-a time when they need it most. Why? Because the forest department is short-staffed

Growing coffee, is proving to be a blessing for river Cauvery (Photo: offthegridnews) ganic coffee does not make up for the difference, so farmers are switching to "sun coffee".

The delicate mosaic of coffee and trees is breaking apart.

But "sun coffee" is not the only reason. Our lack of appreciation of this natural-human system also brings disruption. When I was in Kodagu I chanced upon a newspaper article about a strict warning from the forest department to the plantation owners that they would

and will be busy planting trees.

Instead of recognising and rewarding a system that plants trees, this forest-style red tape is clearly the worst disincentive. Then the forest department says the permission can be given if the tree is exoticmainly silver oak-but not if it is indigenous. So, what would you do as a farmer? Another opportunity to build nature's wealth is lost.

This is not all the disruption. Farmers, particularly lowland paddy growers,

are finding it more lucrative to sell their land for housing and tourism projects that are fast taking over in the region. The ideal balance for the Cauvery's birth is to keep the mosaic of forests and coffee at 30 per cent each, and paddy at least 15 per cent. Then there is the matter of other development projects from roads to railways. All disturb this balance. Farmers' troubles are exacerbated by the success of forest and wildlife conservation. All across the region, I also heard of how elephant attacks were making workers flee and lands unproductive.

So, what can work? Environmentalists suggest a payment for ecosystem services Kodagu provides. In other words, farmers would be paid for maintaining the mosaic that keeps the river alive.

This would create the economic incentive for the forest-coffee-paddy mosaic to thrive. I agree.

This clearly is one way ahead. In addition, steps must be taken to improve the productivity of this mosaic itself. This is where tourism can play an important (and not de-

structive) role. If wellmanaged and regulated, tourism can work within this mosaic and add to farmers' income. It means deliberately promoting homestead and nature-friendly tourism, which does not pollute or degrade the environment. Instead it builds on its intrinsic beauty and adds to our knowledge of nature.

This becomes even more important in the age of climate change, which is bringing extreme heat and other weather variations to the region. Coffee is particularly touchy about extreme heat. This year, Vietnam's coffee productivity is down by 30 per cent because of extreme heat and drought.

This is where "shade coffee" will survive.

That's why this biodiversity-rich "shade coffee" should be promoted and indeed celebrated.

So next time you smell your coffee, think of this shade-the trees, the spices, the butterflies, birds, bees, honey and all the other biodiversity. It will keep the Cauvery flowing. Courtesy: Down To Earth.

Forests can help us shift to low-carbon economies Forests increase removal of carbon from the atmosphere while sustainable forest management and forest products contribute to enhanced livelihoods and a lower carbon footprint We all know that forests play a vital role when it comes to tackling climate change by acting as carbon sinks. But little is known that their contribution can be scaled up even after trees have been logged.

A new report, Forestry for a low-carbon future: Integrating forests and wood products in climate change strategies,shows how to catalyse a "virtuous cycle" that exploits the life cycle of wood products to enhance and multiply the well-known ability of forests to remove and store carbon from the atmosphere.

"Forests are at the heart of the transition to low-carbon economies‌," said RenÊ Castro-Salazar, Food

and Agriculture Organization's assistant director-general for forestry."

Forests lock carbon dioxide in leaves, branches and soils while deforestation and forest degradation account for up to 12 per cent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.

Forests increase removal of carbon from the atmosphere while sustainable forest management and forest products contribute to enhanced livelihoods

and a lower carbon footprint, the report adds.

Using trees to shrink carbon footprints Thanks to technological advances and cleaner, greener methods of processing, the industrial use of wood can contribute to shrinking of carbon footprints compared to the use of fossil fuels, the report adds.

Wood is the main solid biofuel, accounting for 69 per cent of the world's renewable energy supply.

It is the main household fuel for around 2.4 billion people around the world.

More efficient cook stoves can lower the almost two billion tonnes of annual global carbon dioxide emissions.

Where forests are sustainably managed and relatively abundant, woody biomass-usually in the form of pellets, often made from recycled or waste products-can serve as large-scale energy source.

When wood is transformed

into furniture, floors, doorways or beams, it does not instantly oxidise, but continues to store carbon. The FAO calculates that carbon storage by wood products in fact offsets nearly all the emissions related to their manufacture.

The net emission footprint of a wooden desk is lower than that of modern office furniture made of steel and plastic derivatives with fewer end-of-life disposal options. Courtesy: Down to earth

When I resigned from I learned of its flaws a lucrative job to join the but soon I realised that SBI Youth For India Fel- I was here to provide lowship, the sole motive with a solution. Critics was to find out the have not made this meaning to my life. The world what it is today job, undoubtedly, was but the doers. providing me sufficient One fine day in the money, yet I wasn't re- school, a man named ceiving the satisfaction Manoj came up to me I was looking for. The and enquired about my graduation wandering soul finally Satwik Mishra s t r e a m .

After comdecided to look out for the happi- ing to know that I ness in the remote cor- graduated in engineerners of India and hence ing, he first got excited I applied for the fellow- and then a dull appearance ran all over his ship in 2016.

After the orientation of face. When I asked for the fellowship program, the reason, all he could we were sent to the al- say was, "I, too, had a located NGO to carry dream to become an our journey forward. As engineer but later I I had requested in my realised that it's not my application, I got as- cup of tea." Later I signed to work for came to know that two subjects - Science and 'Gram Vikas'.

Mathematics - have beAfter settling down at come opportunities for their headquarters in goose bumps for the Mohuda, Odisha, we students of this school. were taken to the different villages for the The school has allotted field visit, in order to get extra classes for these an understanding of subjects however they what 'Gram Vikas' has were not performing at been doing since its es- par with expectations. tablishment. We ex- One clear reason which plored more than fifty I observed was that the villages where 'Gram school had no Science Vikas' has been work- practical labs available, ing and we were where students could amazed at the learn through experisustainability of devel- mentation. Strange to opment in and around. me, was the fact that Some projects, which how any science Gram Vikas has been teacher could teach the working on, were wa- methodologies and ter supply to each and working principles of every house, disaster- scientific instruments resistant house building, efficiently, until and unprimary schools, liveli- less they have the fahood, alternate source cilities to demonstrate of energy, 100 % sani- them? While this school tation facilities etc. tried its best to stick to Simply one can define the quantity of teaching

Satwik Mishra found happiness teaching in a school in odisha (Photo: Satwik Mishra) these villages as 'Smart Villages'.

Out of four schools which have been started and is being operated by 'Gram Vikas', one is Gram Vikas Residential School, Kankia. This school has a strength of 500+ students coming from more than 200 tribal villages of Odisha. Being located in a remote area, 13 km away from the nearest town, this school was a surprise for us.

hours, it missed out the fact that quality matters as well. Quality, when it integrates with quantity, brings out enormous output on an average.

I decided to set up a Science lab in the school. Working for the same, I have already drafted a lab manual while also taking workshops on various softwares. Their eagerness and zeal makes these students learn much faster.

It had a weightlifting center, solar energy supply, solar water filter facility, steam cooking installations, vermicompost units, a library, computer lab and creativity center. Not only education but all other facilities come for free here. I must say a lot of these facilities are not available in even most of the urban schools. This school particularly interested me a lot and I started visiting it very frequently. During my survey, I came to know a little more than the obvious about the school.

Now, when I tell them that similar softwares and experimentations are being taught in engineering and other science-related studies as well , unlike those dull faces before, I now see hope on their faces.

Yes, I have now realised that satisfaction doesn't come through getting everything we want from the world but from what we give back to it.

Happiness is something which increases by sharing. The more you share, the more you get. Courtesy: Youthkiawaaz

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 23

BUSINESS

'Rise in food prices remains limited to tomato, potato, onion' Mumbai, Jul 22: Rise in vegetable prices is mainly restricted to increase in tomato, potato and onion rates and this has been occurring with almost alarming regularity, according to a report

by SBI Research. "We find that vegetable price increase is primarily restricted to TOP (tomato, onion and potato) and this has been occurring with almost alarming regularity. This means that vegetable price increase has a high concentration risk," SBI Research said in its Ecowrap report. It said potato price increase is repeated every 2 years,

Image for representational purpose. (Photo: buyise) onion 2.8 years and tomato every 2.4 years.

"We also find that potato and onion crises occur every alternate year. On-

Accident cover unveiled for workers by Tea Board Kolkata, Jul 22: The Tea Board of India has introduced an accident insurance scheme for workers in small tea gardens at an annual premium of Rs.14.

Of this, tea farmers will have to pay only Rs. 3.50 annually. Enrolment of workers has now begun for this scheme, which will provide compensation to small tea farmers between 18 and 70 years for a Rs.2 lakh-cover, a Tea Board of India official said, adding that the master policy would be issued by Oriental Insurance in the Tea Board's name. The share of small growers in total Indian tea production is rising. Of the total Indian tea production of 1,233 million kg in 201516, around 33.8 per cent came from small tea gardens. While the production by tea estates (as in

Sluggish debut witnessed by L&T Infotech, stock falls over 6% Mumbai, Jul 22: Shares of L&T Infotech made a sluggish debut on the bourses today, falling over 6 per cent, against the issue price of Rs 710. The stock listed at Rs 666.60, down 6.11 per cent, as compared to the issue price on BSE. It was later trading with a loss of 2.23 per cent at Rs 694.15. At NSE, the scrip debuted at Rs 667, reflecting a fall of 6 per cent. The company at present commands a market valuation of Rs 11,799 crore. Shares of Larsen & Toubro were trading 0.41 per cent lower at Rs 1,565 on BSE. The firm's IPO which was oversubscribed nearly 12 times had attracted more than one million applications, the highest for any share sale offer in at least five years. From 2011 till date, L&T Infotech is the first to attract nearly a million applications.

L&T Infotech had fixed a price band of Rs 705-710 per share for the offering.

Kotak Mahindra Capital Company, Citigroup Global Markets India and ICICI Securities were the managers of the issue. In the financial year 2015-16, L&T Infotech's revenue from operations and other income stood at Rs 6,143.02 crore, while it clocked a profit after tax of Rs 922.17 crore during the same period. L&T Infotech is the sixth largest Indian IT services player at present with a revenue of USD 887 million and an employee base of over 20,000 people. The company, part of the diversified Larsen & Toubro group, has joined the list of about a dozen other companies that have come out with their IPOs so far this year. (Agencies)

large gardens run by corporates) increased by 1.62 per cent last fiscal, that of the bought leaf factory (BLF) sector increased by 5.81 per cent which indicated an increase in the small growers' share in production.

"This is a welcome scheme for tea workers in the unorganised sector," said Bijoy Chakraborty, President, Confederation of Indian SmalI Tea Growers Association.

Sources said that the initiative would be funded under the 12 Plan scheme.

Recognising the growing importance of this sector, the Centre had made a maiden allocation of Rs.200 crore for it in a plan of Rs.1,425 crore. "A part of this may be used for funding the insurance scheme," the Tea Board official said. (Agencies)

ion prices possibly follow cobweb model, which explains irregular fluctuations in prices and quantities," it said. However,

potato prices do not follow any such model, and there is no explanation for this, which clearly implies there may be a possible cartelisation or conscious decision to grow a particular crop in a year by vested interests, the report pointed out. "If we go by this logic, the next year might see an onion crisis," it added. SBI Research said if investigated a little further, it might be found that episodes of pulse and cereal price increase have been repeated every 2.2 years and thereafter. Further, it said milk and egg, meat and fish, which rarely contributed to food inflation

pre-2010, have been instrumental in food price rise since then almost every year. Pulses and cereals have also mostly appeared in the list in the last decade itself. It has been observed that the average retail price in Mumbai is 2/3 times more than the wholesale rates, which leads to a substantial margin for the traders. "Our results show that even at a disaggregated level in Mumbai city, on an average retail vegetable price margins are as much as 4 times (minimum and maximum price difference) depending on the area. "Interestingly, even for leading online shopping

companies, vegetable prices are higher than the local prices," it added. The report said there is also little relation with rainfall and the increase in food prices. For example, it said even though FY01-FY03 and FY05 received less than adequate rainfall, there were hardly any major episodes of food price increases. "However, in FY10, when rainfall deviation was 22 percent, food prices did increase, but we should remember that the 30 percent procurement price increase in the preceding year was a major reason," it added. (Agencies)

Fresh investments in India stopped by Toyota Pune, Jul 22: With manufacturers bearing the brunt of recently introduced restrictions on the sale of diesel cars, many automakers have been holding back on their investments in India. Toyota has been very vocal about the negative implications of the diesel ban and the Japanese automaker has now halted fresh investments in India. As a brand, Toyota relies heavily on models like the Innova Crysta and Fortuner in India. Both models use diesel engines that displace over 2,000cc, due to which they cannot be sold in Delhi or NCR. The sales slowdown has been compounded by the reducing gap between petrol and diesel prices, along with the National

Shekhar Viswanathan, vice chairman and director of Toyota Kirloskar Motor. (Photo: media2.intoday) Green Tribunal's (NGT) Honda in a soup. Toyota's recent directive to ban all statement comes in just diesel vehicles that are a few weeks after it inover 10 years old in the augurated its new engine capital. The combination plant in Bangalore. The of these factors has facility, built with an indemotivated buyers from vestment of Rs 1,100 opting for diesel models, crore, was developed to which puts manufactur- produce the 2.4-litre and ers like Toyota and 2.8-litre diesel engines

that are used in the Innova Crysta. The plant is capable of producing 1 lakh units annually, but is running at 30% of its capacity. "I do not know what to do with this excess capacity. We cannot live with the betrayal of faith. When I go to the Toyota headquarters in Japan for the next project, it is very hard to explain," said Shekhar Viswanathan, vice chairman and director of Toyota Kirloskar Motor.

In addition to the investment freeze, Toyota will reconsider its plan to introduce new models in India as well. Luxury carmakers like Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW have also been affected, with MercedesBenz already stalling its investments in India.

(Agencies)

Diesel leaked in Volkswagen Ameo ahead of next month launch Nagpur, Jul 22: Weeks after the official launch of its petrol version, the Volkswagen Ameo's diesel trim has been caught testing in Maharashtra.

We reported earlier that a diesel version of the Ameo would be introduced in August and with this sighting, the chances of the same have really gone up. The spotted vehicle had a TDI badge at

its rear. Volkswagen has been tweaking the 1.5-litre diesel mill for its entire range, including the Ameo, the Polo and the Vento. With the sighting of the Ameo diesel, it seems the diesel engine is now being tested in real world conditions after its rigorous tests in VW labs. This motor is expected to develop slightly more power com-

pared to its predecessor.

It would be churning out maximum power of 90PS and peak torque of 230Nm. It is likely to be mated to a five-speed manual transmission and a seven-speed automatic DSG gearbox. At the time of its launch the German carmaker avoided introducing the Ameo in a diesel variant, with the emission scandal doing

the rounds.

The automaker had to recall 1.9 lakh vehicles over the diesel emission issue in the past.

The first made-for-India product from Volkswagen, the Ameo carries many first in class features such as cruise control, Apple CarPlay, cornering lights, rain sensing wipers and antipinch windows both at the

front and the rear. On top these features, the compact sedan is priced almost identical to the segment best-seller, the Maruti Swift DZire. The prices even undercut its hatchback sibling, the Polo. The Ameo diesel is likely to start around Rs 6.5 lakh with the automatic's price falling in the vicinity of Rs 9.5 lakh. (Agencies)

TECHONOLOGY World's first liquid-cooled laptop unveiled by ASUS in India at Rs 4,12,990 FIRST OF ITS SORT Taiwan-based technology major ASUS announced the launch of world`s first liquidcooled laptop `Republic of Gamers` (ROG) GX700 in India, priced at Rs 4,12,990.

The premium flagship machine comes with a detachable ROG-exclusive Hydro Overclocking System cooling module and is powered by the 6th-generation Intel Mobile K-SKU (`Skylake`) processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 graphics card "to give users desktop-grade power at home and ultra-fast performance on the go".

The laptop comes neatly packed in specially-made ROG-themed briefcase. The Hydro Overclocking System not just provides unmatched cooling capabilities to GX700 but also opens up the possibility of superior overclocking.

The CPU can be overclocked up to 48 per cent and the 64GB DDR4 memory can be overclocked by up to 43 per cent.

Image for representational purpose. (Photo: pctablet) Bengaluru, Jul 22: Taiwan-based technology major ASUS announced the launch of world`s first liquidcooled laptop `Republic of Gamers` (ROG) GX700 in India, priced at Rs 412,990. The premium flagship machine comes with a detachable ROG-exclusive Hydro Overclocking System cooling module and is powered by the 6th-generation Intel Mobile K-SKU

(`Skylake`) processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 graphics card "to give users desktopgrade power at home and ultra-fast performance on the go," the company said in a statement. The laptop comes neatly packed in specially-made ROGthemed briefcase. The Hydro Overclocking System not just provides unmatched cooling capabilities to GX700 but also opens up the possi-

The laptop is also the world`s first 17-inch real 4K UHD gaming device to feature NVIDIA G-SYNC for stunning visuals.

The company also unveiled its latest ROG Strix GL502, a compact 15.6-inch gaming laptop with 4K display that delivers breathtaking visuals.

The ROG GL502 starts at Rs 127,990.

With the new line-up for its flagship ROG series in India, ASUS India is eyeing to capture 50 percent share of the gaming laptops market in India by next year.

bility of superior overclocking. The CPU can be overclocked up to 48 per cent and the 64GB DDR4 memory can be overclocked by up to 43 per cent. The laptop is also the world`s first 17-inch real 4K

UHD gaming device to feature NVIDIA GSYNC for stunning visuals. The company also unveiled its latest ROG Strix GL502, a compact 15.6-inch gaming laptop with 4K display that delivers breathtaking visu-

als. The ROG GL502 starts at Rs 127,990. With the new line-up for its flagship ROG series in India, ASUS India is eyeing to capture 50 percent share of the gaming laptops market in India by next year. (Agencies)

PAGE 10

Base rate of Axis Bank cut by 10 bps to 9.35 per cent

Rajiv Anand, executive director, Axis Bank.

(Photo: livemint) New Delhi, Jul 22: Axis Bank, the third largest private sector bank, has reduced its base rate by 10 bps to 9.35 per cent with effect from July 27, 2016 "Accordingly, the effective rate applicable to various fund based credit and credit limits which are linked to the Bank's Base Rate will reduce by 10 basis points," according to a bank statement.

Expecting a healthy increase of Indian travellers to foreign countries, Axis Bank has also unveiled a new package,

called, "Happy Holidays' which will allow its customers to buy foreign currency, insurance and SIM card by using the Axis Bank mobile application.

"Customers go to several places to buy foreign currency, insurance, SIM card, which is a laborious process and sometimes expensive. What the Happy Holidays package does is, to make things simple for customers who want to travel abroad," said Rajiv Anand, executive director, Axis Bank.

(Agencies)

IRCTC signs MoU with SBI to promote rail ticketing

IRCTC CMD, A K Manocha. (Photo: thehindubusinessline) New Delhi, Jul 22: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has joined hands with the State Bank of India to chalk out a detailed plan for promotion of rail ticketing activities, including internet ticketing and unreserved ticketing system. IRCTC, a PSU of Railways which handles catering, tourism and Internet ticketing activities, and the SBI have signed an MoU which will also undertake development of Unreserved Ticketing System and such other services which can be jointly undertaken. We will jointly explore areas of cooperation and draw up a detailed plan for promotion of rail ticketing activities, said a senior

IRCTC official. In addition, both will offer services jointly, subject to financial viability. "Both parties are desirous of working together to provide improved Internet ticketing services to the customers of Indian Railways in the field of Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) and Internetbased e-ticketing system," the MoU said.

The MoU was signed by IRCTC CMD A K Manocha and Arundhati Bhattacharya, CMD, SBI on July 18. The MoU also envisages for undertaking activities which can provide value to customers and bring about synergy in working of both the organisations.

(Agencies)

Import cover increases to 10.9 months Mumbai, Jul 22: The country's foreign exchange reserves, which were at $360 billion in end March, could cover imports for 10.9 months as compared with 9.8 months in September and 8.9 months a year earlier, data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) showed. Foreign exchange reserves increased further to almost $362 billion, as on July 8. The ratio of short-term debt to the foreign exchange reserves, which was 24.2 per cent at end-September 2015, declined to 23.1 per cent by endMarch 2016, RBI said in

its half-yearly report on foreign exchange reserves. The import cover serves as an important indicator of the stability of a currency.

During the currency crisis of 2013, when foreign exchange reserves fell to about $275 billion, import cover declined to about seven months.

Eight to 10 months of import cover is essential for the stability of a currency, according to forex dealers. The net forward liabilities of RBI in the domestic forex market stood at $4.25 billion as at end March 2016.

(Agencies)

DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 23

Features

PAGE 11

WOMEN’S A Few Films Women Should Watch Some movies make you think for a long time. Others, you can just watch once and forget about them straightaway. And then there are films appreciated most of all by the fairer sex.

You might not believe us, but the latter are not always just about love. Like women themselves, they can be multifaceted and unpredictable.

Remember these ones sometimes an idea from a film, discovered at the right time, can change your life.

La Vie en Rose A penetrating and sensitive biopic of the French diva Edith Piaf, who waged one long battle for the right to live, sing and love - something which is significant in itself. It is arguably a masterpiece, depicting the real atmosphere in Paris during Piaf's lifetime like no other film - one which was wild, absurd and enchanting all at the same time. We see how the City of Light is sweet and romantic only for those who are unfamiliar with it.

G.I. Jane A film without any complicated plot twists or flashy battle scenes. Yet it is, perhaps, one of the few movies which truly show us what the strength of the human spirit looks like - and in this case, specifically among women. 'G.I. Jane' contains some unforgettable scenes and the plot works perfectly, making it a classic.

Mona Lisa Smile Cinema doesn't get more profound than 'Mona Lisa Smile'. This movie will teach you about the value of dignity, courage, and firmness of purpose. But that's not the most important thing about it; it truly shows important it is to think for yourself. Thanks to this, and to its well-chosen cast, 'Mona Lisa Smile' turns out to be neither just another chick flick nor only of interest to feminists; instead, it has universal appeal.

Million Dollar Baby 'Million Dollar Baby' is a thoroughly captivating film, mainly on account of its uncompromising depiction of reality. It shows the true severity and cruelty of life as it is. Sometimes the world throws up challenges which only decisive, fearless, driven individuals can deal with. Director Clint Eastwood manages to depict the many interesting subtleties of such situations, whilst the cast truly live and breathe their roles to serve up an emotional performance. Some will say this movie is depressing, but when the story centres on a young woman trying to become a boxing champion, you shouldn't really expect a happy end.

The Devil Wears Prada The world of fashion is indisputably beautiful. But it's also cruel in equal measure.

Even the smallest failing can bring you tumbling

down from its summit. The makers of 'The Devil Wears Prada' never intended to produce a seminal film, of course. It's similar to other comedy-drama movies.

Nevertheless, it's still an excellent production. Lighthearted, fun and with a thoughtful plot brought to life by Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway.

Revolutionary Road You could be forgiven if you thought a movie about a husband and wife with two kids, going through a personal crisis in mid-twentieth century America, was unlikely to prove inspirational to an audience. Yet by the end of 'Revolutionary Road', you'll barely be able to pull yourself out of your seat, from the knowledge that everything you just saw is, in fact, about you. We can all try to run away to Paris to escape a hopeless situation at home, like the protagonists do here. But it's just not that simple. You can change your surroundings, but you can never run away from yourself. And if you feel empty inside, the yearning won't disappear wherever you are.

The Queen 'The Queen', from director Stephen Frears, accurately depicts a difficult period in the life of the British royal family following the death of Princess Diana. How to conduct oneself as a monarch, when no small amount of uncomplimentary words

have been thrown at you?

Do you give in to your emotions or show restraint, as your nation expects of you?

It's not for nothing that the film displays a line from Shakespeare during the prologue. But where the Bard's heroes fought their enemies with a sword, nowadays a battle is conducted with the help of a camera and a microphone. And this requires no less a degree of courage.

Erin Brockovich The story of Erin Brockovich is one of a strong, yet at the same time vulnerable woman. In view of her circumstances, ordinary feminine weaknesses are an impermissible luxury. She may not be a genius, but her persistence and concern for the fate of others allow her to achieve the impossible: win a victory over a major corporation. At those moments when you lose heart, simply watch this movie again - it's fantastic.

Frida A striking film about a memorable woman, the rebelliousness inherent in human nature, irrepressible desire, and excessive energy. Frida was 20 years old when she married the much older, rich and depraved Diego Rivera, Mexico's most famous artist. 'Frida' reveals the story not only of a brilliant artist, but also of a woman for whom love and family came before all. It's soundtrack deserves a spe-

cial mention.

Eat Pray Love There was no way we could exclude this one from the list. Adapted from a memoir, the movie offers a simple method to overcome feelings of depression: choose any three countries beginning with the letter 'I', head for them straightaway, and just discover yourself.

For the main protagonist (played by Julia Roberts), this method proves successful. Once you've seen 'Eat Pray Love', maybe you'll find that it's time for your own version.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age Another fantastic movie about the difficult life of a queen. But this one is less about history or the monarchy so much as it's about the life of an individual. Elizabeth I is a woman with no right to a private life, deprived of even the most simple joys. Tumult, passion, betrayal, adventure, grandeur - all of this is combined in this compelling epic with an unrivalled script, luxurious costumes and a marvellous interplay between characters.

Where the Heart Is One of the most striking movies ever made about love, forgiveness and friendship. On the face of it, it seems like a banal story, one as old as the Earth. A young guy abandons his pregnant girlfriend, whom she depended on as her

From a simple girl to a global sensation tracing the life of Priyanka Chopra Priyanka Chopra may be riding a wave of international success, but she didn't get there overnight. Born to two physicians in the Indian Army, she spent most of her childhood hopping between cities like many army kids. She lived in Lucknow, Delhi, Chandigarh, Bareilly and Pune before leaving for the States as a teenager, where she studied in various public schools. Following this, she decided to return to India and prepare to be-

World pageant, where she was crowned 'Miss World 2000'. It was this event that marked the end of her conventional aspirations in favour of a far more glamorous one.

"I feel that I am destiny's favourite child.

I have made sure that whatever opportunity comes my way, I give my heart and soul to it.

So the credit of my work goes only and solely to me because I am the one who stands in front of the camera between ac-

owned the role of a small-town girl getting caught in the decadence of the fashion industry.

It was the first time the world saw her full potential.

Following Fashion, she unleashed a series of stellar performances in movies likeDostana, 7 Khoon Maaf, Barfi, Mary Kom and Bajirao Mastani. Gearing back on the safety-seat of Bollywood, Priyanka now turned her attention across the oceans. She toed the line of interna-

"I think more public figures should be out there, standing up for causes they believe in." (Photo: yourstory) come a successful engineer or a psychologist.

Even then, she had entertained the thought of becoming a 'performer'.

"I believe destiny and hard work go hand in hand. I was studying to be an engineer when my mom and my brother sent my pictures for the Miss India contest. I didn't even know about it. If that isn't destiny, what is?" she once stated in a press conference.

Priyanka's first array into fame happened when she was selected among the Femina Miss India Contestants to represent India in the Miss

tion and cuts and nobody else does," she said in an interview with The Indian Express.

Although Priyanka's debut in the film industry began with the Tamil film Thamizan, her real break came with Anil Sharma's The Hero in 2003 - her first step into the Bollywood jungle.

Then, in 2004, she began to scratch the surface with two films,Aitraaz and Mujhse Shaadi Karogi. And then, in 2008, she received critical acclaim for her role of Meghna Mathur in Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion. Out of her comfort zone, Priyanka

tional success with her hit-tracks In My City in 2012, with Will.I.Am and Exotic in 2013, with Pitbull. However, her real break came in 2015 with her lead role as Alex Parrish, an FBI agent and terror suspect, in ABC's thriller series Quantico. As the series gained vast viewership, Priyanka was applauded for her fearless play-out of the role and became a popular face among fans outside India. Her next nose-dive into 'Tinseltown' was her role as Victoria Leeds in Seth Gordon'sBaywatch, which is set to release in May, 2017. This will

feature her playing alongside heavy-hitters like Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron.

"What I am enjoying is people discovering me.

They are discovering and saying, 'What is the fuss around this girl, why are people standing outside to see her shooting in Montreal? Let's go and Google her and then they Google me and find out who I am," she said.

While Priyanka is taking the two worlds of Hollywood and Bollywood by storm, she has never wavered from her goals to help change the world for the better. Although she doesn't appreciate much publicity regarding her social work, Priyanka has reportedly been involved in many active campaigns regarding education, health and women empowerment. In 2010, she was appointed a UNICEF National Ambassador, tasked specifically with promoting child rights and adolescence. Among the key UNICEF campaigns that Priyanka has been actively involved in, the one she placed maximum efforts on was 'Deepshikha', which "aims at strengthening adolescent and young women's groups through imparting to members life skills, enterprise skills and networking skill training."

According to the official website of UNICEF, the Deepshikha campaign has helped 65,000 girls and young women in the state of Maharashtra develop entrepreneurial skills and build self-confidence through finan-

cial education and leadership training.

Priyanka has also been involved in campaigns like 'Awaaz Do', which advocates the cause of every child's entitlement to free schooling through the Right to Free and Compulsory Education Act, and 'Dare to Care', which urges supporters to get actively involved and demand the rights for adolescent girls across the country especially those who are excluded and marginalised. She has also pooled in time and resources into 'End Violence against Children', a campaign to raise awareness about the physical and mental abuse being meted out to children, and 'WAVE', a social organisation working against women violence.

Stressing on the importance of education for all individuals and relaying the importance of the girl-child, she says, "Being a known face is, definitely, a plus point.

As actors, we have a fan following and if you can put that to good use to garner support for a cause, then why not? In fact, I think more public figures should be out there, standing up for causes they believe in."

"Being a known face is, definitely, a plus point.

As actors, we have a fan following and if you can put that to good use to garner support for a cause, then why not? In fact, I think more public figures should be out there, standing up for causes they believe in."

Courtesy: yourstory

Amélie, a young French woman with a vivid imagination (Photo: pmd205465tn) soulmate. But life's not quite so terrible as it seems.

You simply can't let yourself fall into despair, turn against the world, or lose heart. You have to keep going forward, forget about your past misfortunes, help others, and enjoy your life.

You've heard this a thousand times before, of course, but it really is the key to a happy existence.

Head in the Clouds 'Head in the Clouds' is not just a randomly chosen name for this movie. It describes the state of mind which the film's characters find themselves in - one of mild insanity and sublime emotional experiences not of this Earth, which can raise you up...but at the same time, unfortunately, separate you from reality.

The film's tragic, doomladen cinematography is never less than perfect right

through to the end, whilst the plot is a serious study of the most mysterious object that we know of - the human heart.

Elegy Some movies manage to shake their audience to the core. 'Elegy' is one of them.

This story of a relationship between a college professor and an inexperienced young student is guaranteed to leave its mark on you. It reminds us that there are some people in this world who are simply close to us...and then there are those with whom we have a deeper, spiritual connection.

Amélie Amélie, a young French woman with a vivid imagination, discovers a cache of old toys in her bathroom. The idea begins to burn in her mind that she must return this 'treasure' to its rightful owner.

This single act of kindness

changes her life, and she begins to intervene in the affairs of others in the most unexpected ways. This movie turned our lives upside down for a whole number of reasons. It's also now impossible to imagine Paris without hearing Yann Tiersen's delightful soundtrack in your head.

My Week with Marilyn Taking on the role of Marilyn Monroe is always going to be a challenge to some degree.

But here Michelle Williams manages to pull it off perfectly, becoming the very reincarnation of the twentiethcentury icon who was both a highly confident and coquettish young woman and a little girl frightened of the world and everyone in it. But it's worth watching this movie for its amazing atmosphere as well - then you too will believe you can reach the stars.

Courtesy: brightside

makeup can be magical The probability of getting that one odd, strategically placed zit on the face just in time for a night out with friends, or a family wedding or absolutely any important occasion, is quite high.

And oh boy, when it does begin to appear nothing can be more stressful! Yes, makeup can be magical - but covering up that swollen, red (with a white tip) pimple can be a monumental task. But fret not ladies, for we present to you some super weird, but highly effective ways to get rid of a pimple overnight.

1. Miraculous Mouthwash Freshening up and cleaning the bacteria from inside your mouth isn't the only job your mouthwash does. Putting some on that flaring zit can help tackle the inflammation and dry it out. Applying a drop before you go to bed should have you waking up to clear skin.

2. Tricky Toothpaste Toothpaste too dries up the pimple and applying it two times in a day to the affected area should do the job for you.

3. Crushed Aspirin This pill ain't just for splitting headaches, ladies. The anti-inflammatory properties can

cure that huge zit too.

Crush some aspirin and add enough water to make it a paste. Topically apply the paste on your pimple and wait for the magic to happen!

4. Get The Garlic On The antibacterial properties of garlic are

you plunged into that water. Try it!

6. Dab On Some Alcohol Apart from being essential to cocktails, this particular liquid has some amazing antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Want to zap a zit urgently? Rub some al-

Representational image (Photo: popxo.) known to all. It tackles many ailments and is good for your immune system too. Cut a clove of garlic into half and rub it on the affected area. This shall speed up the process of clearing up your skin.

5. Go For A Swim A swim can be highly refreshing and is great exercise too. One other thing that a dip in the pool can do is curing that pimple real quick.

The chlorine in the swimming pool dries up the pimple and makes it much smaller than how it was before

cohol onto the inflamed area and get ready to forget about your worries, ladies.

7. Early Morning Saliva It may sound gross, but dabbing on some of that sticky stuff from inside your mouth early morning can zap the pimple in no time. The saliva in our mouth, before we wash our mouth in the morning, has some amazing antibacterial properties and can be your savior in times like these.

Courtesy: popxo.

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DIBRUGARH, SATURDAY, JULY 23

PAGE 12 Barcelona starlet Alen Halilovic leaves club to join Bundesliga side Hamburg

Alen Halilovic IANS Barcelona, July 22 : Barcelona have announced the transfer of Croatian midfielder Alen Halilovic to German football club Hamburg for five million euros ($5.5 million), with an option of buying him back during the first two years for 10 million euros ($11 million).

In a statement on Thurs-

day, Barcelona announced the sale of the 20-year-old Croatian after he arrived in summer 2014 for just 2.2 million euros ($2.4 million) from Dinamo Zagreb, reports Efe. During that season Halilovic played for Barcelona B and was later transferred on a loan deal to Sporting Gijon.

India's tour to West Indies: Shikhar Dhawan hails Virat Kohli's backing, says it feels good to bat with him New Delhi, July 22 : Despite not being in the best of form in Test cricket, Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan silenced critics with a brilliant 84-run knock in first innings of the first Test against West Indies.

Dhawan, who was under scrutiny with the likes of Lokesh Rahul and Rohit Sharma waiting in the wings, has now probably cemented his place in the team for the next few Tests.

Breathing a sigh of relief

after his brilliant knock, Dhawan said that the backing of the skipper is something which gave him a lot of confidence.

"I feel it is important for any player if the captain and the coach are backing you and it gives a lot of confidence. That's what matters and you also need to have self-belief that you can do that and it is a mixture of everything," Dhawan told mediapersons after the first day's play.

Dhawan and Kohli "Opening is the toughest job and you need a big heart for it, when facing

Vijender Singh and Pakistan-origin British boxer Amir Khan

AFP Budapest, July 22 : Championship leader Nico Rosberg on Friday signed a new two year deal with Mercedes, the contract extending his fractious relationship with teammate Lewis Hamilton until 2018.

The Formula One world champions posted a video of Rosberg and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff signing the new contract with the caption "It is done..." on their official Twitter page.

In it, Rosberg clenched his fist and gave a thumbs-up sign.

Another post, a photograph of the contract, was accompanied by the message: "signed, sealed, delivered".

Rosberg leads defending three-time champion Hamilton, who is also under contract with Mercedes until 2018, by

one point ahead of Sunday`s Hungarian Grand Prix.

Rosberg and Mercedes had been in discussions about a new contract for several months and the driver had recruited former Formula One driver Austrian Gerhard Berger to represent him, allowing him to concentrate on his own racing.

"Nico has been a core member of the Silver Arrows since the team returned to the sport in 2010 and has played a crucial role in the team`s success in that time," said a team statement.

Rosberg has won 19 races with the team since he joined in 2010.

Mercedes` confirmation of Rosberg signals that all three leading teams, including Ferrari and Red Bull, have retained their drivers for next year.

New Delhi, July 22 : Days after Vijender Singh expressed his desire to accept Amir Khan's challenge of bout between the two inside the ring, the British boxer said that he will ruin Vijender's career.

Speaking to NDTV, Amir said, "I find Vijender's challenge quite funny, I will ruin his career."

Amir was confident that the India-Pakistan connection in the bout will create a huge hype around it.

"You've got the India-Pakistan

"FC Barcelona and Valencia CF have reached an agreement that will bring André Gomes to the Catalan capital.

Gomes will formalise the deal and be officially presented as a new FC Barcelona player next week," Barcelona said in their website.

Gomes thus becomes the fourth reinforcement for Barcelona ahead of the 2016/ 17 season following the additions of Galician midfielder Denis Suarez and French defenders Samuel Umtiti from Lyon and Lucas Digne from Paris Saint-Germain.

Even though both the parties didn`t give details on the transfer fee, Spanish media reported it to be around 50 million euros ($55 million).

connection & that will make this bout huge. It will be like India-Pakistan in cricket," he said.

Soon after he was crowned the WBO Asia Pacific champion, when asked about Amir's challenge, Vijender said, "Mine and Amir's weight categories are different. So, in case he increases his weight or I decrease mine then we can work it out.

We are thinking about it, so let's see. I hope that when that big fight happens, it happens in India only."

Amir, a former WBA world champion, is primarily a lightweight boxer, who recently tried himself in the middleweight by taking on world champion Saul Canelo Alvarez.

However, it ended in disaster for him when he was knocked out in the sixth round.

Amir had expressed a desire to take on Vijender in India before the showdown with Alvarez but it remains to be seen whether he would give it a shot now after moving back to his original weight category.

PTI Hyderabad, July 22 : Tennis ace Sania Mirza today said she is excited to compete at the upcoming Olympic Games in Brazil and hoped to put up good performance along with other athletes.

"I am leaving for Canada tomorrow and then for Rio Olympics from there. I am looking forward. We are the biggest contigent that's going. We are really excited and hopefully we can put up a good performance," Sania, told reporters on the sidelines of a fashion show event here.

Sania will team up with Prarthana Thombare in the women's doubles and with Rohan Bopanna in mixed doubles in the Games.

Earlier, after inaugurating the fashion show, Sania Mirza said "Comfort for me is the most important.

I always say this. I actually don't know a lot about fashion to be very honest.

Sania Mirza I have great stylists. Actually, my sister also helps me...I have a good team around me."

"For me the most important thing is to be comfortable and to look nice and

presentable. I really don't care about the new trends and that's not my thing. It's about just being cool and comfortable. My style statement is comfortable and easy," Sania added.

Bowlers need to be patient, it's a batting pitch: Bishoo PTI North Sound (Antigua), Jul 22 : West Indies leg spinner Devendra Bishoo has said that the pitch at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium is a batting friendly where the bowlers need to be patient in order to get wickets.

Courtesy Virat Kohli's attacking unbeaten 143, India have reached 302 for 4 with Bishoo emerging as the most successful bowler with figures of 3 for 108.

"I think this is a very good pitch. It's a batting pitch," Bishoo said after the day's play.

"We, as bowlers, have to be patient as much as possible

Barcelona snap-up midfielder Andre Gomes from La Liga rivals Valencia for USD 55 million IANS Barcelona, July 22 : Catalan football giants Barcelona have announced that young Portugal midfielder Andre Gomes will sign for them next week after reaching an agreement with La Liga rivals Valencia for a reported transfer fee of $55 million.The 22year-old starred for his country as they won the Euro 2016 title and has been a mainstay for Valencia for the past two seasons.

The attacking midfielder was wanted by reigning Serie A champions Juventus, Champions League holders Real Madrid and English heavyweights Manchester United and Manchester City and Inter Milan.

double hundred. It feels good to bat with him and we were rotating the strike and scoring runs at a good pace. I feel that made a difference because we made the partnership very quickly. That is a good thing and it is always a pleasure to watch Virat, the way he times the ball," said Dhawan.

Dhawan and Kohli were also involved in a 105-run stand for the third-wicket partnership.

Pakistan-origin British boxer Rio Olympics: Hoping for a fruitful Amir Khan says he will ruin performance from India's biggest Vijender Singh's career... ever contingent - Sania Mirza

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg signs a new two-year deal, extending his stay to 2018

Nico Rosberg

the new ball on a new (fresh) wicket. Bowlers also bowl with full energy

and as opener your technique should also be good because you have to leave a lot of balls and you need patience as well," said Dhawan.

While Dhawan missed out on a ton by 14 runs, Kohli continued his sublime form this year with his 12th Test century, first against the West Indies.

"He (Kohli) played a tremendous knock and continued scoring after his hundred. Hopefully he scores big runs and gets a

He may sign a five-year contract with the Spanish champions.

Born in Grijó, Portugal, Gomes came through the youth academies of both Porto and, later, Benfica. He debuted for Benfica`s first team on July 28, 2012.

Gomes was shipped to Valencia on loan in the 2014/ 15 season. At Valencia, Gomes has played a total of 75 games and has scored eight goals.

Among Gomes`s honours are Portuguese league, Cup and League Cup titles -- all with Benfica -- plus the Euro 2016 title that the Portugal national team conquered with a 1-0 extra time victory over hosts France on July 10.

and take it one ball at a time.

Day one pitches don't turn that much. On days three, four and maybe day five, it's going to turn more," the pint-sized leg-spinner added.

"We could have been in a better position probably. At the end of the day, it's a good pitch and the Indian batsmen kept relishing it.

We just didn't put the ball in the areas as much, but we bowled well in patches.

"We just have to take it one over at a time and take it session by session. Put the ball in the right areas for as long as possible, and make it hard for them. At the end of it, we have to be patient,"

Devendra Bishoo he added.

While he finished with three wickets, it was pacer Shan-

non Gabriel who bowled the best on day one, putting openers Shikhar Dhawan

and Murali Vijay in a spot of bother.

He looked dangerous in every spell.

"I think Shannon bowled really good upfront on Friday and he started off very well. He bowled with great pace. The rest of the bowlers, as I said, bowled well in patches. We need to be a bit more patient because the wicket is good," said Bishoo.

When asked if West Indies missed a trick by picking only four bowlers plus debutant Roston Chase, he replied in negative.

"No. At the end of day, whatever team we have to play with as a team, we have

to play. We support each other and give our 100 percent. I'm not going to put anything on anybody. To play good cricket, bowlers have to do their job and batsmen have to do theirs."

Bishoo didn't speak much about Kohli's hundred, only outlining that the hosts can fight back in the days to come.

"It's not challenging (to bowl at him). At the end of the day, it's cricket. We have to be patient. It's just the start of the series and there is a long way to go. Everybody has good and bad days, we just have to move forward as a team," he signed off.

England vs Pakistan Live Score: 2nd Test, Day 1 – Hales the first one to depart, as England choose to bat first New Delhi, July 22 : Live score and live updates from Day 1 of the second Test match between Pakistan and England being played at Old Trafford, Manchester.

Cook won the toss and opted to bat first.

Scintillating stuff!

Mohammad Amir strikes his first, gets Alex Hales clean bowled with a an absolute peach of a delivery. Alastair Cook, unfazed by the fall of first wicket, continues his confident start with Joe Root joining him on the

pitch.

After a shocking defeat in the opening Test, Alastair Cook and his men would be keen on putting a good show against Misbah & Co. The hosts were overshadowed in all departments of the game at Lord's, where Pakistan looked determined to unsettle their opponent.

After Misbah's brilliant ton, Yasir Shah spun a web around the English batsmen, who were bamboozled by his variation.

The leg-spinner picked

stan from 14 to 12 after dropping Steven Finn and Jake Ball – two pacers who were a part of the squad in the first Test.

Now fit-again paceman James Anderson (shoulder), England`s all-time leading wicket-taker, and all-rounder Ben Stokes (knee), who both didn`t play at Lord`s, are set to make their Test return in England vs Pakistan Test Manchester.

10 wickets in two innings England captain Alastair It remains to be seen and English batsmen Cook announced Thurs- whether the inclusion of would now look for ways day that the hosts had re- these two players can to tackle his quality spin duced their squad for the change England's forbowling. second Test against Paki- tunes.

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