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www.eastern-today.com For your copy of The Eastern Today in Khonsa please contact: Dalam Studio Near parking stand Khonsa Ph. No.-08471896580/ 07085295635
ASSENG/2015/64205
Vol. 1
Issue 258
KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT
Dibrugarh, Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Price -
5.00
Pages- 12
AJMAL IS NOT THE GUARDIAN OF THE ASSAMESE MUSLIM: PHUKON
RECORD-BREAKING SOLAR ECLIPSE DISCOVERED
GOVT. TRYING TO SAFFRONISE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: CONGRESS
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Centre’s alleged move not to grant ST status to six Arunachal Guv's report communities before elections sparks angry protests tabled in Parliament Several organizations fighting for ST status for several years now has expressed anger over the BJP's Dr. Dayananda Buragohain remarks that schedule tribe status to six communities of Assam cannot be given before upcoming assembly elections. Three students’ organization - All Assam Moran Students’ Union, All Assam Tai Ahom students’ Union and All Assam Muttuck Yuba Chatra Sanmilan today burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at Thana Charialia in Tinsukia. In a press statement, the organizations said that Dr. Buragohain statement has forced them to believe that BJP state president and central minister Sarbananda Sonowal has cheated them and played with their sentiment. On yesterday in a press conference in Sivasagar, the BJP leader said that granting ST status to the
ET CAPSULES CRPF constable missing Khonsa, Feb 23: Uttam Biswash, a CRPF constable (No. 015090847), presently posted at 36 Battalion, CRPF, Khonsa, in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh has been missing since Oct. 24, 2014. The authorities have requested to contact office of the Commandant-36 Bn CRPF, Khonsa, DistrictTirap, Pin- 792130. Control Room No. 03786226525 or email at hq36bn@crpf.gov.in if anyone gets any information related to the missing CRPF personnel. (Tirap News)
2 fraud arrested by RPF Rangia Feb. 23: Rangia Railway Protection Force nabbed two cheaters one from office premises of the Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) and the other from Rangia town on Monday night actin of a tip off. A bunch of Railway related forge documents including cheque with forge signature of Divisional Finance Manager. The cheaters are identified as Asiqudddin Ahmed of Rangia Udiana and Satya Narrayan Sarma alies Munimji of Rangia Town. They have been produced before the SDJM court today. They were sent to judicial custoday in Guwahati . A case has been registered in Rangia RPF police station. The operation was lead by Jayanta Das oc Rangia RPF. (Correspondent)
Trucks Loaded in Golaghat
cmyk
Golaghat, Feb 23: Two trucks Regn. No. NL 01N 2376 and NL01L 5327 loaded with thread and blankets were seized by the BJP members of Golaghat District Unit at Sockieting area of Golaghat. The BJP party members alleged that the blankets and thread which they have seized were coming from Panipat and the party in order to lure the voters, have illegally started to distribute yarns and blankets to public. However a complaint has been lodged by the BJP members against Congress party in this regard said BJP member. (Correspondent)
FIERY REACTIONS
Communities of Moran, Muttuck, Tai Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, Chutiya and Adivasis are consistently demanding for ST status BJP's Dr. Dayananda Buragohain said “To grant ST status to the six communities before the Assembly elections is not possible”.
All Assam Moran Students’ Union, All Assam Tai Ahom students’ Union and All Assam Muttuck Yuba Chatra Sanmilan protested today at Thana Charialia in Tinsukia.Pic - Arjun Mishra
six communities of the state, Moran, Muttuck, Tai Ahom, Koch Rajbongshi, Chutiya and Adivasis before the Assembly election is quite unlikely. “To grant ST status to the six communities before the Assembly elections is not possible. There are many modali-
ties still to be taken care of. The Centre has assured us that the process will be completed after the Assembly polls,” Borgohain, Assam Pradesh BJP’s newly-appointed media panelist had said on Monday. The influential Muttuck Sanmelan has threatened to take anti-BJP steps if the cen-
Students’ Unions belong to these communities today burnt effigies of Narendra Modi and Sarbananda Sonowal at Thana Charialia in Tinsukia. tre does include the six communities in the list of schedule tribe before assembly elections in Assam. Arunjyoti Moran, President of All Assam Moran Students’ Union said that demand for ST status is our long pending demand of the community and the political parties have played politics with this
Arunachal Pradesh Governor JP Rajkhowa's Report Tabled In Parliament PTI New Delhi, Feb 23
Arunachal Pradesh has been "suffering badly" in the field of development and maintenance of law and order due to political instability and that there has been a failure of constitutional machinery, Governor JP Rajkhowa had told the Centre days before the state was brought under President's Rule. He also said he and his family members apprehended "grave danger to their lives" due to public criticism against him and frequent gherao of the Raj Bhawan premises and use of "filthy language". A month later, in his "special report", Mr Rajkhowa said 31 legislators out of the present strength of 58 supported Mr Kalikho Pul as their leader and staked their claim to form the government. "Thus, the majority of MLAs
have supported Kalikho Pul as the Leader of the House and the next Chief Minister...In view of the foregoing, the Hon'ble President may consider revoking the proclamation imposing the President's Rule so as to enable formation of a democratically elected government enjoying majority in the House..." he said in his report dated February 16.
of 60 members, the (then) ruling Congress led by (then) Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has support of only 26 legislators including himself and Speaker Nabam Rebia as against the earlier backing of 47 legislators.
In his first letter dated January 15, the Governor said Arunachal Pradesh "has been suffering badly in the field of development, delivery of public services, management of state's resources, maintenance of law and order etc due to political instability, more particularly since September-October, 2015, caused by dissidence in the ruling Congress party and consequent chaotic conditions."
The Union Cabinet had recommended imposition of President's Rule in the state on January 24 which was imposed on January 26.
He said the "Constitutional machinery has already broken down." Mr Rajkhowa said in a House
The report said 21 "dissident" MLAs openly revolted against Mr Tuki.
On February 17, the central rule was revoked and Mr Pul sworn in as the new chief minister. A copy of the proclamation imposing President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh and another revoking it, along with the two reports of the Governor were tabled in both Houses of Parliament today.
Ulfa (Ind) steps up activities in Charaideo district, grenade recovered Lax attitude of security forces in conducting counter insurgency operations reason for growth in militant activities ET Correspondent Sonari, Feb 23
The proscribed Ulfa (Ind) had stepped up its activities in upper Assam’s newly formed Charaideo district. Reports gathered by various intelligence agencies state that there has been a sudden growth in activities by the cadres of the outfit who have started a massive extortion drive, particularly in the interior interstate border areas. Charaideo district shares inter-state boundaries with two neighbouring states – Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Several people including numerous small tea growers have received extortion related threats but they have kept mum out of fear, sources said. “Many of them had already paid as Ulfa cadres are repeatedly frequenting the areas. Security forces hardly operate in these areas”, the sources added. That the Ulfa cadres are frequenting the areas was proved today when a joint police and army team during a search operations conducted at Boroho village under Sapekhati police station recovered a Chinese gre-
vexed issue. “BJP have asked for two months time to grant ST status to the six communities, but we demand that ST status should be accorded to the community before the elections.
If they failed to do so we would intensify our movement against the centre,’’ he said. He said very soon the organization with the help from the people from the community would block trains to press for their genuine demand. Before elections the organizations had geared up its demand for ST tag for their community and it would be a talking point during the election, experts believe. The Coordination Committee of Tribal Organizations of Assam, which represents the state’s ST communities, has been opposing the move saying that it will hamper the weaker and backward Scheduled Tribes of the state. At present 12.42 per cent of the state’s 3.12 crore population belongs to Scheduled Tribes.
PTI New Delhi, Feb 23
Arunachal Pradesh has been "suffering badly" in the field of development and maintenance of law and order due to political instability and that there has been a failure of constitutional machinery, Governor J P Rajkhowa had told the Centre days before the state was brought under President's Rule. He also said he and his family members apprehended "grave danger to their lives" due to public criticism against him and frequent gherao of the Raj Bhawan premises and use of "filthy language". A month later, in his "special report", Rajhkowa said 31 MLAs out of the present strength of 58 supported Kalikho Pul as their leader and staked their claim to form the government.
down." "Thus, the majority of MLAs have supported Kalikho Pul as the Leader of the House and the next Chief Minister...In view of the foregoing, the Hon'ble President may consider revoking the proclamation imposing the President's Rule so as to enable formation of a democratically elected government enjoying majority in the House..." he said in his report dated February 16. In his first letter dated January 15, the Governor said Arunachal Pradesh "has been suffering badly in the field of development, delivery of public services, management of state's resources, maintenance of law and order etc due to political instability, more particularly since September-October, 2015, caused by dissidence in the ruling Congress party and consequent chaotic conditions." He said the "Constitutional machinery has already broken
Rajkhowa said in a House of 60 members, the (then) ruling Congress led by (then) Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has support of only 26 MLAs including himself and Speaker Nabam Rebia as against the earlier backing of 47 MLAs. The report said 21 "dissident" MLAs openly revolted against Tuki. The Union Cabinet had recommended imposition of President's Rule in the state on January 24 which was imposed on January 26. On February 17, the central rule was revoked and Pul sworn in as the new CM. A copy of the proclamation imposing President's Rule in Arunachal Pradesh and another revoking it, along with the two reports of the Governor were tabled in both House of Parliament today.
Centre will construct four new bridges over the Brahmaputra in Assam : Sonowal The Centre will construct four new bridges over the Brahmaputra in Assam with one of them connecting Jorhat with neighbouring Majuli, the world's largest river island.
other proposed bridges would connect Disangmukh in Sivasagar district with Tekeliphuta in Lakhimpur district, another would connect Nagaon with Rangapara near Tezpur in Sonitpur district while the fourth bridge would connect Gohpur with Numaligarh in Golaghat district.
Assam BJP president Sarbananda Sonowal said the
For improving transportation infrastructure on the
A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Feb 23
northern bank of the river benefiting the people of northern districts of Assam, Sonowal said the Dhakuakhana-Lakhimpur road and Lakhimpur Majuli road would be converted to national highways. The ongoing construction work of the road and rail Bogibeel bridge over the Brahmaputra in Dibrugarh district would be completed
next year, he said adding Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari would come to Assam on February 27 to lay the foundation stone of various road projects. Bridges would also be constructed over the state's other major river Barak as Prime Minister Narendra Modi had emphasised on the development of infrastructure in Assam, he said.
Cyclone stole the lives of 1, another injured Laxman Sarma Bordumsa, Feb 23: One identified as BrahiLata Chakma died while Dachin Chakma sustained injure in Chongkham area in Namsai District of Arunachal Pradesh after a monstrous storm accompanied with
thunder hit the entire belt including Mahadevpur on Sunday and Monday last. The entire belt witnessed a trail of destruction and devastation including uprooting numbers of dwelling houses, Govt buildings and
school building too. Many electric poles were uprooted and the power supply broke down hitting the normalcy adversely damaging 33 KV / 11 KV / LT lines. The ferry service at Alubari Ghat was temporarily suspended due to washing out
of connecting roads and bands due to rising of water level in Lohit River. However, restoration works have been undertaken on war footing and teams of officers have been constituted to assess actual incurred loss.
Traffic police of Pasighat delivering yeoman services Spl Correspondent Pasighat, Feb 23
The grenade which was recovered in Sonari. Pic - Mritunjoy Das
nade along with a jacket from the small tea plantation of Bimala Phukon, a small tea grower. Villagers complained that the activities of Ulfa have increased only because the lax attitude of the security forces to conduct operations in the vulnerable areas. A senior police official, however, declined to accept the alle-
gation saying that the forces do conduct operations. “There might be some adjustment during election time, some of the personnel from police and para military forces are deployed for VVIP and VIP movement, rallies etc. However, it does not mean that the security forces have stopped conducting operations”, the official said.
Delivering a sense of traffic to the people of this centurion Town Pasighat gradually, the Traffic Policemen here are doing yeoman services by making every effort with their dedicated duty. These men in uniform are to be co-operated and their instruction need to be followed as obeying traffic guidelines is for our own well being and safety besides making our age old town looks nice. While many willingly follow and obey, there have been some unruly guys and astray people who come grinding & yelling upon them and makes argument. But, it’s to be reminded that, many has already lost their precious lives because of not following traffic rules. Adhering with the traffic guidelines is not only safety for oneself, but it also makes the town and the road looks mannered.
cmyk
ET Bureau Tinsukia/Dibrugarh, Feb 23
DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
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ASTRO FOR YOU Aries Okay, you feel like Midas. But remember, all that glitters is not gold. You must spend some time with your loved ones to make them happy. Also, you need to acknowledge those who contributed to your success. Taurus Family matters might be the blinkers on your eyes today. Your temperament and maturity will help you deal with emotional issues. Your power and panache may partly yield expected results. There is a likelihood of some serious action in the bedroom tonight, mostly verbal though. Gemini You have excellent communication skills. Today, you will be at your communicative best. At work, you will be given added responsibility. You may have to investigate a tricky matter and submit your report. Even in this, you will exhibit tremendous charm and efficiency. There is something magical about you today. Cancer Today, your loved ones will prove again how much they love you. It’s high time you stopped doubting the intentions of your family members. It’s time to start over, start afresh and start giving back the love and trust that your loved ones give you. Leo Walk the talk, buddy! Well, what it actually means is that today, you will be just too good at communicating ideas and expressions. So if you are at work, then look forward to being assigned some investigative job that might just turn out to be quite demanding. Just get through the day, because come evening, the real fun begins for you as you enamour the opposite sex with your incredible charm and appeal. Virgo A day full of sense and sensibilities in love today. Pessimism will knock more than just once throughout the day. But don’t let it affect your work. At work, you will be the most wanted trouble-shooter today. Libra You will be able to get good news from abroad, which will prove beneficial to you after a long time. If you are a businessman do not be in any hurry to fill any tenders or sign any agreements. Always remember – Prevention is better than Cure. Scorpio Like an oracle, you can feel how things might turn out today. Trust only what you say, and hear yourself to avoid any sort of confrontations. Sagittarius Logic and reasoning will shape your day today. You remain confident of better things to come in the future. Your cubicle may offer stress and tension, but all of that will be swept away by the showers of love and affection of your dear ones. Capricorn Your despotic boss will be mighty impressed with your unique talent, and the fact that it contributed to the company earning accolades. Colleagues will also be supportive of your endeavours, and will push you to go ahead with new assignments. But if you are too fried with your present job despite the newly acquired popularity. Aquarius You take inspiration from Hercules today! Your endurance will see you through adversities. Despite this, your playful bantering will cheer your colleagues. You even manage to please your beloved, and that speaks volumes about you! Pisces Beating deadlines, with whatever is handy, is what you will be focusing on today. No post-lunch siesta for you. The later part of the day, relaxing with your sweetheart, ought to make up for all the running around you had to do earlier.
JFA expresses shock over killing of journalist in Uttar Pradesh A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Feb 23: Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) has expressed shock at the recent killing of a journalist in Uttar Pradesh (UP) of north India and reiterated for its old demand for a special protection law for the working journalists across the country. The northeast India based scribe’s body also urged the media persons across the country to rise to the occasion for ensuring justice to all the victim families with distinctive punishment to each & every single perpetrator. The UP journalist named Karun Mishra, who used to work for a Hindi daily (Jan
Sandesh Times), was shot dead on 13 February 2016 at Gosaiganj area for allegedly highlighting the illegal soil mining activities in Sultanpur district. Mishra (34) was targeted by the motorcycle-borne killers, allegedly promoted by the local mining mafia, as he was moving to his residence at Ambedkarnagar. The injured journalist was taken to the hospital, but he succumbed to severe injuries. Mishra is the first journalist killed in India this year, where as the robust media fraternity of the country lost five journalists namely Jagendra Singh (UP), Sandeep Kothari
(Madhya Pradesh), Raghavendra Dube (Maharashtra), Hemant Yadav (UP) and Mithilesh Pandey (Bihar) to assailants last year. The year 2014 reported the murder two scribes (MVN Shankar from Andhra Pradesh and Tarun Kumar Acharya from Odisha) by goons. “It is shocking that while the Indian media as a whole was focusing on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) anti-national episode, the killers targeted Mishra with an aim to avoid media cries,” said a statement issued by JFA president Rupam Barua and secretary Nava Thakuria adding, “We
Phone No.-03732325456 E-mail -dibrugarh@air.org.in Facebook Page-All India Radio Dibrugarh Programme Highlights 24-2-16 (WEDNESDAY) 5-35 A.M-Bhaktigeeti(Devotional Songs) 6-10 A.M-Swasthya Charcha (Health Programme) 6-15 A.M-Hindi Language Lesson 6-30 A.M-Vidyarthir Anusthan 6-50 A.M-Naam 7-15 A.M-Aajir Dinto (Morning Information Service) 7-30 A.M-Geetanjali(Assamese Modern Song) 8-35 A.M-Surar Panchoi(Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 9-05 A.M- Antara (Composite Programme of Assamese Film Songs) 12-05 P.M-Surar Satsori (Request Programme of Assamese Songs) 1-10 P.M-Troops Programme 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 Raaijor Anusthan (Rural Programme) 9-30 P.M-Kramasha (Serial Novel Reading) 10-00 P.M-Question Hour in Parliament Sd-/H.O.P
ET Correspondent Golaghat, Feb 23: Today at the premises of Golaghat Jatiya Vidyalaya, the bank officials of Indian Bank was seen planting trees with a theme of “Go Green, Grow Plant”. The main motive of this initiative is to conserve the nature and to make it free from pollution. Indian Bank officials took this initiative of saving the nature and planted different sapling in various places with great interest. It’s a very unique scene that the bank officials, whom are said as welldressed gentleman, busy handling and dealing with cash and cheques are today seen planting trees for better
A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Feb 23: The foundation stone for the eagerly awaited Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for Guwahati will be laid by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at Khanapara on February 29. The State Cabinet held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Gogoi approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for MRTS on February 20 last. The Cabinet also approved the formation of Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) namely Guwahati Metro Rail Corporation Limited (GMRCL) for implementing the project. The 203 km Metro Corridor to be completed in three phases forecasts traffic demand up to the year 2045.DPR for Phase I has been prepared for a total length 61.4 km. Under
is an unfortunate matter for the democracy. Sarmah also disclosed that a case was registered against him during the post incident period, but no any step was taken by the congress led governments both in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
the inter-state border for six days demanding a legal justice against the gruesome killing and setting up border outposts etc. A CBI inquiry had also been conducted, but no any result is achieved till today.”
“It was on January 29, in 2014, when a group of heavily armed miscreants came and fired on people at Chauldhowa area under Biswanath Chariali Police station killing several people. We noticed that though afterwards various organisations including AASU had called economic blockade against Arunachal Pradesh over killing of 15 people along
He mentioned. Adding Sonitpur the ruling government has failed to construct a full-fledged stadium. “Every burning issue including interstate border dispute and flood and erosion, deplorable road condition in many areas, have remained an unsolved problem even after the ruling of 15 years of congress party in the state.” He further added. Saying about the pitiable condition
in the health sector he pointed out that the most important Civil Hospital in the District Kanaklata Civil Hospital located at the heart of the Tezpur town is running without a medicine specialist. Suvash Dutta another BJP state worker said that the congress party said that a trend of bad governance in the district was started while Ripun Bora was state Education minister. Many Developmental schemes under Chief Minister special package have not been implemented in Sonitpur due to the rampant corruption schemes are being converted to the schemes for the congress mem-
ET Correspondent Kokrajhar, Feb. 23: Witch-hunting again repeat among society. An elderly woman was killed on suspect of witch-craft at Borlaogoan Dahlapara village under Bijni PS in Chirang district late last night. According to source, unidentified miscreants killed the woman with sharp weapons late last night on suspect of witch-craft,who was living lonely at her home,though her three sons engaged in Bangalore and three daughters already married. She was identified as Owaisi Daimary, 65years-old. Hardly decade ago, another Bergaon Mushahary was killed at the same village by miscreants on suspect of witchhunting. A police team from Bijni and Borobazar rushed the spot to take stock of the incident. The Bijini anchalik committee ABSU strongly condemned the incident and demanded culprits be nabbed through instituting inquiry into incident.
New Committee formed in Golaghat
A Photo of planting trees with a theme of “Go Green, Grow Plant” in Golaghat
environment. Today more than 50 plants of different species were planted at
Golaghat Jatiya with other bank offiVidyalaya where the cials, teachers and stubranch manager, Dipak dents planted the trees. Kumar Akela along
Phase I, there will be four corridors namely, Dharapur-Narangi (elevated) with a length 22.6 km, M.G. Road to Khanapara (underground) 10 km, Jalukbari to Khanapara (elevated) 19.4 km and ISBT to Paltanbazar (elevated) covering a stretch of 9.4 km. There will be altogether 54 stations viz., 22 (Corridor-I), 10 (Corridor-II), 14 (CorridorIII) and 8 (Corridor-IV). The train with three car racks will have a carrying capacity up to 975 passengers. The projected cost including land is estimated at Rs 18020 crore. Government of Assam and Government of India will share 20% each of the total cost amounting to Rs. 3,475 crore. Local bodies will contribute Rs 350 crore (2.01%) towards project completion
cost. Remaining project cost of Rs 10074 crore (57.93%) will be funded through soft loans from funding agencies with guarantee from Government of India. GMRCL will be wholly owned company of Government of Assam. The company will be converted into a joint ownership (50:50) SPV of Government of India and Government of Assam. The SPV formed will look after operation and maintenance of the MRTS project. Chief Secretary will be the Chairman of GMRCL and Chief Executive Officer, GMDA will be its Managing Director. The project prepared by RITES Limited, a Government of India Enterprise, will be completed in five years.
Inter-state border dispute flood and erosion and poor road connectivity will be the prime issue in the election manifesto for BJP in Sonitpur District. ET Correspondent Tezpur, February 23 : “Interstate border dispute, flood and erosion and lack of development in all respect will be the prime issue in the election manifesto of BJP in Sonitpur District.” Said Ritu Baran Sarmah, state executive of BJP in a press meet today at the office of the Sonitpur Journalist Union here alleging that the congress government in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh are not interested to solve the interstate border dispute. Addressing a handful of media persons here he also alleged that one of the accused of Chauldhowa massacre became speaker of the Arunachal Assembly which
The UP police lately arrested Sandeep Singh, Rahul Singh, Pawan Singh, Ajay Singh, Haider Abbas, Amand Singh and Kesari Upadhyay suspecting their direct involvement with the murder. The JFA urged the UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav to expedite the investigation process, book the culprits under the law and deliver justice to Mishra’s bereaved family.
Bank Officials Planted Trees
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to lay foundation stone of Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) for Guwahati on Feb. 29
PRASAR BHARATI (India's Public Service Broadcaster) ALL INDIA RADIO : DIBRUGARH (M.W.529.1m/KHz567 F.M. 101.30 MHz)
also call upon the Union government in New Delhi to formulate a national action plan to safeguard the bravehearts who pursue critical journalism at the earliest.”
Women killed for practicing witch craft
bers. Alleged new BJP Padma Hazarikla who was also present in the press meet mentioning that the two major industries of the district, Chariduar Cotton mill and Sugar mill at Kusumtola were closed during the tenure of congress government. He mentioned that the Cotton mill at Chriduar was closed in 2004 and from 2006 and in the Assembly question were raised several times regarding this by him for re-operation of the mill. “Unfortunately the state government did not take any initiatives to reopen the mil.” He said adding the sugar mill
at Kusumtola was totally destroyed by the government. “The card issued to the families at Naduar under Food security act which was totally central sponsored scheme printed with the photograph of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi but later the photo was made black.” He further alleged and said that the beneficiaries were compelled to pay rupees fifty against the card. Hazarika also alleged that Ripun Bora siphoned off several government funds during his period depriving the people. He used his power for his personal benefit only.
ET Correspondent Golaghat, Feb 23: A new Committee was formed in the name of Antarang Sara for the welfare of the greater Asomiya Society in Golahat for the session 2016-17. The committee got Ajit Dutta as President, Golap Saikia as Executive President, Prafulla Chandra Bora as Secretary and Rupli Dutta as Treasurer. Along with this, many other active members were assigned for the rest of the post. The new Committee chief asked all the members to contribute for the welfare of the greater Asomiya Society by putting their all efforts.
Sickening condition of Diphu Civil Hospital ET Correspondent Diphu February 23: The 200 bedded Diphu Civil Hospital; the only major health center of Karbi Anglong district functioning under the administrative control of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council has turned into a hazardous place, where ailing persons are at life rick right now.
dition without food and medicine.
The whole matter came to light when several indoor patents of medicine ward and their guardians protested about the prevailing disorder in the government hospital yesterday. “Since last 2 days no doctor has attended any patent in this ward, condition of serious patents have deteriorated without proper medicine, in the whole hospital severe shortage of drinking has forced the sick persons ether to drink impure water or purchase from outside, no necessary medicine, surgical substance, injections are available in this hospital, one has to purchase everything from outside.
Mention may be made about Topin-500, Servophyline (injection), Ryke’s Tube etc. Along with the unclean kitchen one will have to see the soiled toilets of the hospital “these are the living hell on earth where the unwell persons are forced to go; just see the dilapidated and tattered bed rolls, one just cannot use all these most of the patents have to carry their own bed rolls from house like food and water” grumbled another guardian of an admitted patent.
According to prescribed rule the hospital authority should provide milk, bread, butter, fruit jam, rice, chicken, mutton, egg, rice, soybean, cereals, vegetables to the admitted patents but you can see what they are supplying? In 2 caldrons they are boiling rice, cabbage and pulses in most grubby condition. Never any nutritious food is given to the patents by hospital authority” said one aggrieved relative of an ailing patent who is facing grim con-
When a group of media persons ventured to see the medicine depository of the hospital based on the protest of the patents and their attendants number of date expired medicines were found in the hospital.
In records Diphu Civil Hospital, it has received supply of substantial quantity of medicine, injection, surgical materials, fund for food and other necessity. Laboratory, blood bank and other facility are also functioning but in ground zero the whole paradigm in just differing. The hospital authority till now is maintaining “dumb is the motto mum is the word” status; neither the KAAC authority has made any attempt to clean the mess. One can only expect that the KAAC authority will take some drastic step to check the perilous situation
DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
PAGE 3
Cyclonic wind creates havoc in Changlang District
Arunachal Pradesh after a monstrous storm accompanied with thunder hit the entire belt including Mahadevpur on Sunday. Laxman Sharma Bordumsa, Feb 23: In a rather disastrous cyclonic wind accompanied with heavy rain and hails on Monday evening adversely affected many pockets of Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh. In Bordumsa circle, around 30 villages were severely hit in different forms leading the women, children and older populace homeless and crying for the basic and immediate aid for passing the nights in darkness. According to sources, the momentary cyclonic wind that devastated several pockets of Bordumsa circle and other location of the District has witnessed large scale destruction. These include destroying the houses, schools, standing crops, granary, blowing away the roofs, uprooting the trees, causing injuries to livestock
and the storm that blew in the evening was furious enough to uproot the electric pools leading to the breakdown of transportation and communication in several interior villages including Bordumsa Village, Goju, Wakhetna, Rajanagar , Kherem Bisa –Mura and Kachari, Wagun I ,II, and III,Gidding, Dirok Pather etc. According to Sikhetang Singpho, the head Gaon Burah of Bordumsa Village, took the stock of affected houses of his Bordumsa Village with officially constituted board members this morning. Mr Tang told that the nearby residents of the village have been extending help to the unfortunate victims with foods and clothing till the official aid arrived. Raju Mundu, Lisu Gam Singpho, Thungimla
Singpho, Santi Gam, Jogesar Gogoi and Rita Bagra were among the worst hit families in Dumsa Village while ailing and poverty stricken Insai Nong Singpho of Goju Village was another worth mentioning. Solung Miji, ADC of Bordumsa stated that the board has been constituted to this effect to assess the damage so that the needy and bonafide victims may be provided with the minimum required aids of the government. When asked about the immediate basic necessity if provided to the homeless and hapless victims, he told that no individual victim has sought or claim the administrative services till the filling of this report. He added ‘the needs were being attended and served by the neighbors and well wishers in the concerned villages.
According to sources, most of the victims belonged to economically challenged section of the social strata including the tea-tribe and Singphos with their predominance in the said circle. The local civil administration has prepared the proceedings and it is expected that the district administration would immediately come forward with an effective package at least to ensure basic amenities to tide over the gloomy situations in the affected areas of Bordumsa.
gram of DRDA respectively at Pangin. All the resource persons interacted with the Stakeholders, PRIs of Panign Gram Panchayat, NGOs, CBOs and existing SHGs of Pangin, Moli , Moku Koreng and Yeksi Villages and studied about the economic-social condition of SHGs which will be helpful in proper implementation of NRLM NRLM/ Aajeevika Program at the intensive block.
During the two-days awareness-meeting, the 'Resource Team' made aware the Women SHGs and RGs and highlighted on basic inputs. Special SHG groups in the difficult areas with disabled persons in remote tribal areas could be formed with five members (at least), the team suggested. NRLM/ Aajeevika will promote affinity based on local SHGs comprising persons with disabilities
(men and women) and other special categories like elders and transgender etc. SHG is an informal group and registration under Societies Act, State cooperative Act or a partnership firm was not mandatory, informed the resource team adding that 'Federations of SHGs' formed at village level, cluster level and at higher levels are to be registered under appropriate acts, prevailing in the States. (DIPRO)
Gumin Gamgi inaugurated at Gemo Tali village
Gumin Gamgi inaugurated at Gemo Tali village by Chief Guest Dr. J. M Boje at Aalo Aalo, Feb 23: A Gumin Gamgi was inaugurated at Gemo Tali village by the Chief Guest Dr. J. M Boje, Rtd. Joint Director of Health Service amid applause and cheer on 21st Feb last. Giving detail deliberations on the concept of Donyi Poloism and indigenous faith, Dr. Boje said that all religions have same spiritual essence and in-depth prayer and belief in oneâ•™s own religion will only help our
cause. He appealed the people of the village to visit Gamgi for prayers for peace, prosperity and well being of all. The Guest of Honour, Shri Pakjum Ete President Donyi Polo Dere Trust Committee, Aalo who is spearheading the indigenous faith moment, dwelt elaborately on Donyi Poloism, indigenous faith, culture, belief and worships and prayers in Gamgis at different villages. Shri Domo Ado Secretary
DPDTC Aalo handed over Rs. 10,000 to the Gamgi Committee as token of help. The DPDTC also contributed Rs. 10,000 to Keak Gamgi earlier. The Special Guest, Shri Karmu Jerang Vice President Donyi Polo Yelam Kebang lauded the works of Shrti Talom Rukbo and Tumpak Ete in propagating the indigenous religion and exhorted young generation to take
A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Feb 23: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Kalikho Pul, met the son of the deceased late KB Chetry on Tuesday, who died on December 17 road blockade due to lack of emergency medical care. “On that fateful day, I begged for help but no one came forward,” said Suraj Chetry, 30, son of the deceased during his meeting with the Chief Minister at his office. Sharing his condolence with the bereaved family, the Chief Minister expressed shock at the incident. He said that such deprivation for emergency medical at-
Suraj Chetry during his meeting with the Chief Minister at his office.
tention should never be Assam. meted out to anyone during blockades and As an immediate relief for the victim’s family, bandh. the Chief Minister announced ex-gratia of “We are with you and Rs. 1.5 lakhs from GA/ we will extend all pos- DA while another 2 sible help we can,” the lakhs was announced the Chief Chief Minister told the from Relief son of the deceased, Minister ’s who hails from Kimin, Fund.
Koraliang-Waliang will shine under Jal Kranti Abhiyan - WRD
In Kharsang circle on Monday, heavy hailstorms devastated betel nuts plantations and mustard crops at Nongtham village, a village communiqué stated. The villagers are dependent on cash crops only which are main sources of income; they are requesting the government agencies for com-
Two-days awareness on NRLM concludes at Pangin Pangin, Feb 23: Two days interface meeting with stakeholders and existing Self Help Groups (SHGs) was concluded on Feb-19 last Pangin Block by the Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU) Pangin Block, lead by the Block Nodal Officer (BLNO) Pangin Block, Tamar Baki in presence of Hiken Ete and Gumli Ado, BDO and District Nodal Officer of National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) pro-
pensation. The village leader Mr. N.khillak briefed the circle officer over the matters so that the villagers could be compensated at least.
CM Kalikho Pul met the son of the deceased late KB Chetry
keen interest in it. The other Special Guests Adv. Taji Tajom, Presidents from Donyi Polo Gamgi Kamba, Kerang and Yaki Tato also spoke on the occasion, DF&CSO Siang district Shri Minli Tato, The President Gumin Gamgi Shri Yari Doyom and Gamgi Abo Shri Digru Kamsang, the mithun donor, Shri Ridik Kamsang HGB Gemo Tali and Togi Tali also spoke on the occasion.
Bishnu Rana Tezu, 23 Feb: Under the theme ‘Jal Kranti Abhiyan’ an ambitious project launched by the Union Ministry of Water Resources Govt of India to reduce water crisis in India due to growing population and at the same time conservation and management of water, a District Level Committee (DLC) has been constituted in a meeting convened here at the DC’s conference hall today.
posed as member of the DLC. Tamiyo Tatak DC Lohit as a Chairman suggested in making actual grassroots study to select Jalgram in order to percolate development in right perspective. He also advocates in extending cumulative approach to make the project big success and assured to assist in all front to bring overall development of the backward villages in the mainstream.
Deputy Commissioner as chairman, EE WRD as member secretary and PD DRDA, ADO & DMO pro-
Er C J Mannou EE WRD as Member Secretary said that Jal Kranti Abhiyan has been launched to make water
Intensive ILP checking drive conducted Yupia, Feb 23: An intensive ILP checking drive was conducted under Doimukh-Gumto jurisdiction by Doimukh Administration under the leadership of CO Gumto Marchina Boria. 26 numbers of defaulters were found without valid ILP from Rajiv Gandhi University Campus, Emchi, Mani, Midpu and Doimukh Market. The local guardians on behalf of the defaulters submitted undertaking stating that they will ensure the making of their ILP within 7 days and rest of the defaulters without ILP were extricated out from Arunachal Pradesh through APP Check Gate, Gumto by officer incharge Police Station Doimukh. The Doimukh administration ascertained that such surprise checking will be conducted frequently and requested the public to ensure the persons working under them to obtain ILP before engaging them. The persons were prosecuted U/S 3 of BEFR, 1873.
available at dry areas to irrigate the field for bumper harvest and easily reached potable water in remote villages. Meanwhile, the sitting also selected Koraliang and Waliang village under the project and accordingly forward to the State Level Committee for further submission to Ministry of Water Resources, River Development GoI. Under Jalgram at Koraliang village construction of lift irrigation, 15 (Fifteen) Ring Well, Extension of Hucheliang & Pomeliang MIP toward Koraliang and construction of MIP at Waliang, 10 (ten)
Ring Well and renovation, rejuvenation & restoration of existing water bodies would be taken up under the project, discloses the sources. Sony Mouri Agriculture Development Officer, Er B Langkam AE WRD, Dr Nath DMO in-charge and official from DRDA, PHED also participated in the meeting. Besides, the DLC meeting was also called at Namsai yesterday under the chairmanship of R K Sharma DC Namsai and Er CJ Mannou EE WRD Member Secretary and other officials.
Cultural cum Heritage Centres in every district: Governor says
Cultural Society programme with Governor JP Rajkhowa A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Feb, 23: A delegation of members of Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society of Arunachal Pradesh (IFCSAP), led by its President Dr. Ligu Tacho called on the Governor, Shri JP Rajkhowa here at Raj Bhavan, Itanagar today. They discussed on infrastructure for preservation, promotion and propagation of indigenous faith, culture and traditions in the State. IFCSAP President and Vice President (Hq) Shri Gichik Taaza briefed the Governor
on the aims and objectives of the IFCSAP. Claiming that due to lack of preachers, books and prayer halls, the followers of indigenous faith is diminishing, for which they submitted a memorandum for construction of Cultural Halls in the State. The Governor suggested for ‘Cultural cum Heritage Centres’ in various parts of the State, at least one in every district. He said that these centres should be utilized for documentation, training and promotions of
cultural heritage. He also emphasized on promotion of goodwill and oneness amongst the people of the State. Stating that the State Government will respond positively, the Governor advised the members of IFCSAP to take up the issue with the new democratically elected popular Government. The IFCSAP delegation expressed gratitude to the Governor for exemplary good governance during the President Rule.
DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
PAGE 4
Wheel Chair given Ajmal is not the guardian of the to Handicapped girl Assamese Muslim: Phukon ET Correspondent Sonari, Feb 23: AIUDF Chief Maulana Badruddin Ajmal is not the guardian of the Assamese Muslim. They have never voted following the diktat of Ajmal and will never do it in future. This was stated by Dibrugarh BJP MLA Prasanta Phukan said today, here. Phukan said this while interacting with re-
porters on the sidelines of a meeting of booth committee members of the party which was held, here today. It might be mentioned that while addressing a poll rally in Chenga on Monday, Ajmal had appealed before the Muslims of lower Assam to vote for
the AIUDF and the Muslims of upper Assam to the Congress. “From Ajmal’s lecture, it has once again been proved that the Congress and AIUDF has arrived at an understanding”, Phukan said. Terming Ajmal as a communal leader who only indulges into communal politics, Phukan said that the sole aim of Ajmal is to create
division in Assam on communal lines. On the possibilities of the party in the ensuing elections, Phukan said that the people of Assam are fed up with the 15 year misrule of the Congress which has only yielded in corruption, unemployment and poverty.
“Therefore, the BJP which has partnered with the BPF will fight the elections and form the next government so that the people of the Assam can have good governance and a corruption free society”, he said adding that the chances of having an alliance with the AGP seems bleak.
GU Journalism dept holds series of lecture sessions to mark department's pre-golden jubilee celebration ET Correspondent Golaghat, Feb 23: In a noble gestured a noted Social worker and profound political leader Mrinal Saikia donated a Wheel Chair to physically disabled girl
named Tezimala Duarah of Kothiatli Village and the girl was immensely happy to receive it as it will help her a lot. Mr. Saikia carried such distribution few months back too.
Dead body recovered in Duliajan, accused arrested
Inaugurating the lecture session Dr. S.K.Nath, Registrar of the University formally said these initiatives will lead the department vibrant and will give new vigor to the journalism education in this part
ET Correspondent Duliajan, Feb 23: A dead body, reportedly of Pradip Praja was recovered by the police buried under a katcha well in Bolimara Goan in Duliajan today. Dipak Praja, elder brother of the victim was arrested and allegedly confessed his crime of killing his own brother. The incident as confessed by the accused happened
last Friday when Pradip Praja after drinking alchohol started quarreling at home. Frustrated over his action the elder brother, Dipak Praja killed and buried him in a Katcha well adjacent to his home.
Commenting on social media Professor Chatterjee said that with the use of more social media, people have become unsocial. He then,talked about the new frontiers of journalism and discussed there importance in the coming years. In the latter part,he opined that in the profession of journalism, maintenance of credibility is the only way for its survival.
A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Feb 23: Department of Communication and Journalism, Gauhati University today inaugurated a series of lecture sessions to mark the pre-golden jubilee celebration of the premier department of communication education in the country. Prof. Mrinal Chatterjee, Professor and Head of Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal,Odissa marked as the beginner of this session with focus on “New Frontiers of Journalism.” Prof. Mrinal Chatterjee, Professor and Head of Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Dhenkanal, Odissa with other dignitaries at lecture session to mark the pre-golden jubilee celebration of the premier department of communication education in the country organized by Department of Communication and Journalism, Gauhati University in Guwahati. Pic - UB Photos
of the country. Professor P.J. Das, Director, IDOL appreciated the planning of a yearlong activities.
One factory-made carbine was also seized from the site of the encounter.
He had been involved in various incidents of attacks on police and killing of innocent civilians. This came as a severe setback to the Maoists in Bihar and Jharkhand, where 11 Maoists have been neutralised in less than two months, including their prominent leader Chirag Jodhan, military chief of Jamui and Giridih region.
New Delhi, Feb. 23 (ANI): Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said that the government is monitoring 'Ringing Bells', which has announced introducing the world's cheapest smartphone, and will take action if the company could not deliver with regard to the Rs. 251 handset. He said this was done to ensure that there are no dis-
NOTICE INVITING TENDER
Details tender notice and tender paper against 13th Finance Commission for the year 2013-14 Fund may be obtained from office of the undersigned during the office hours on all working days up to 2:30 pm 23/02/2016 on payment of Rs.200.00 (Rupees two hundred )only in cash which is none refundable The details of works:
A.
B.
Name of Schemes
Estimated amount ( In Rs)
Eamest Money 2%
Construction of R.C.C. Storm Water Drain along with Lanka Rupnagar Path (Right side), Rs. 6,36,000.00 Ward No.2 (Part-II)
Rs. 12,720.00
Construction of Feeder Drain in between Jai Ram Nagar from Durga Mandir to paddy Rs. 6,63,520.00 fild (Left side), Ward No.10
Rs. 13,270.00
crepancies afterwards. A new entrant in the flourishing Indian mobile handset market, ' Ringing Bells' last week unveiled what is being touted as the world's cheapest smartphone. Concerns have been expressed by the industry on feasibility of a 3G smartphone at such a low price. (ANI)
In his customary address to the year's first session of Parliament prepared by the government outlining its agenda for the coming fiscal, he skipped contentious issues like the unrest in the JNU or Hyderabad University or the reservation agitation in Haryana. The President declared that the government will constantly strive for smooth and construction conduct of Parliamentary business "Our Parliament reflects the supreme will of the people. Democratic temper calls for debate and discussion, and not disruption of obstruction.
SPORTS
Sealed tender affixing court fees stamp of Rs.8.25 are invited from registered contractors of class I, & II category under any Govt. Department for the following works and will be received up to 2.30 pm on 0503-2016 at the office of the undersigned. The tender will be open on the same date an place at 3.30 pm presence of the tenderer or their authorized representative, if they wish to be present. Any information in this regard may be obtained from the office on any working days, if the last receiving day falls on holiday bandh etc. The same will be recieved on the next working days. Earnest money as shown below in the form of NSC/KVP/Bank Draft from any Nationalized Bank duly pledge to the Executive Officer, Lanka Municipal Board, Lanka will have to be deposited along with each tender. In case of Bidder belong to SC, ST, OBC or Unemployed Graduate Engineer (proof to be enclosed along with the tender), the Earnest money will be 50% of the value the estimate money to be deposited.
Group No
These smugglers were apprehended,from the riverine border, by troops of BOP Hathichar, while they were illegally trying to cross the International Boundary. During preliminary questioning they confessed to their involvement in the illegal crime and revealed that they were basically couriers while the actual owner of the cattle was Md. ShaidurShaikh of BorokajirGaon under Sukhchar police station in Mankachar, SouthSalmara. The apprehended cattle smugglers are Munur Jamal, Samsul Haque, Rafiqual Rahaman and SaidurRahman. Two mobiles with Indian SIM cards and Rs 120/-were also recovered from them. The apprehended persons along with the seized items have been handed over to concerned agencies for further disposal.
New Delhi, Feb 23 (PTI): As the budget session commenced, President Pranab Mukherjee today hit out at the frequent disruption and obstruction of Parliament and urged MPs to function in a spirit of cooperation, asserting that it reflects the supreme will of the people.
Today's evening, the police recovered the body and arrested the accused who have confessed to this heinous crime.
The slain Maoist belonged to Palamu district of Jharkhand. He has been an active Naxal for the last 10 years and operated in Gumla, Simdega and adjoining regions.
problems of mass communication and new trends in journalism.
A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Feb 23: Border Security Force troops of Guwahati Frontier,today, apprehended four notorious cattle smugglers from the riverine area of Hathicharin Dhubri district, while they were engaged in smuggling activities.
Ringing Bells to face action Prez for debate, discussion; if fails to deliver Rs. 251 not disruption of Parliament phone: Prasad
Wanted Maoist neutralised in Jharkhand Jharkhand, Feb. 23 (ANI): Acting on intelligence inputs about presence of Maoists, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), along with the Jharkhand Police, launched an operation on the intervening night of February 22 and 23 and neutralised wanted Maoist Nitesh, a secretary of Simdega Sub Zone. An exchange of fire ensued in which Nitesh, who was carrying a cash reward of Rs. 10 lakhs was neutralised, whose body was found from the spot.
Prof. Chatterjee in his lecture talked about the present status of mass media,media use in India
Dr.Ankuran Dutta, the head of the department said that activities would be there for the year of celebrating Golden Jubilee in 2017.The session ends up with an interaction by the students, alumni, research scholars and the faculty members of the Department of Communication and Journalism.
4 notorious cattle smugglers arrested by BSF from Dhubri
Time of Completion
30 Days
30 Days
Executive officer Lanka Mincipal Board Lanka
The Prez said the govt will constantly strive for smooth conduct of Parliamentary business. PTI Photo
"My government will constantly strive for smooth and constructive conduct of Parliamentary business. I urge all Members of Parliament to discharge their solemn responsibilities in a spirit of cooperation and mutual accommodation. Let us all collectively endeavour to build a flourishing and prosperous India," he said.
The President remarks assume significance in the context of repeated disruption of business on various issues, loss of time of Parliament and the stalling of legislative business in Rajya Sabha where the government lacks majority. The 75-minute speech was heard in rapt attention by
members in the central hall of Parliament and occasional thumping of desks, especially when he regretted the disruptions and appealed for smooth functioning of Parliament. "Let noble thoughts come from all directions, should be the spirit behind the debate in this temple of democracy.
STREET PLAY
Blitz chess championship held at Naharkatia ET Correspondent Naharkatia, Feb 23: In order to promote chess among the young stars and to give them a platform in Chess game, Naharkatia Chess Association organised a chess championship on 21st Feb at Naharkatia Govt. L.P. School, where more than 50 participants from districts of Sivsagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and others took part. The judged was Mr. Tarun Jyoti Gogoi who is a renowned chess player and a trainer. The open championship winner was Seniram
Pegu, and first and second runner-up were Shantanu Das and Narayan Thapa. On the other hand, winner of the under 15 round was Ritish Mahanta, under 13 round was Avinash Pritam Gogoi and under 11 round category was Mrinmoy Pritam Knowar. The prize was distributed by the President of Naharkatia Chess Association, Mr. Dilip Baruah, General Secretary, Mr. Ananta Chetia and advisor Mr. Panindra Konwar to all the winners of the competition.
A Street play organized by Replica group of Jorhat. Pic - Nekib Ahmed
PAGE 5
REGION
DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
15 endangered Tight security for Tripura village committee polls loggerhead sea turtles seized
15 endangered loggerhead turtles which were being smuggled out to Bangladesh through Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district
Shillong, Feb 23: Fifteen endangered loggerhead turtles which were being smuggled out to Bangladesh through Meghalaya's South Garo Hills district, have been seized by Border Security Force (BSF). The turtles were found on Monday in a bag left by the smugglers at the side of a road at Dumnikora area of the district during a chase by the force personnel, BSF spokesperson said. The BSF personnel, who were deployed in the area, got suspicious and chased two motorcycleborne persons who were carrying the bag this morning and were pro-
ceeding from Baghmara to Gasuapara on NH-62. The spokesperson said when the two were asked by the BSF to stop, they revved up speed and fled dropping the bag containing the turtles, which were being smuggled to Bangladesh. The loggerhead turtles are protected under schedule I and IV of Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and have a huge demand in the international market for their medicinal value. BSF also seized eight cattle worth Rs.3.4 while being smuggled out to Bangladesh through South West Khasi Hills district in the past 36 hours, the spokesperson added. (Agencies)
Allegation of 'Political Pressure' in appointment procedure Shillong, Feb 23: As many as 10 warders at the Shillong jail may face the axe due to the alleged faulty appointment process undertaken by the previous regime. Addl. DGP in charge (Prisons) B.L. Buam told reporters on Monday that some jail staff were appointed when Kulbir Krishan was the DG (Prisons) in 2012-13 without obtaining the approval of the government. According to Buam, though there was a condition in their appointment letters that they can be terminated anytime, this does not absolve the illegality. "The recruitment procedure was irregular and they were appointed y by way of using political
connections," Buam alleged. However, while denying media reports that there was alleged scam in the current recruitment process for the appointment of warders and others, the official claimed that a transparent process was followed in the ongoing recruitment process. "The results of both written tests and personal interview and the final merit list were updated on the Meghalaya police website and this can be verified by the job aspirants," Buam said. The Prisons department will soon appoint 65 warders, 6 assistant jailors, two cooks, one driver, barber and electrician, he said.(Agencies)
SC students to get free education in MP
Agartala, Feb 23: A multi-layered security blanket has been thrown over tribal dominated and interior areas of Tripura for the elections on Wednesday in 528 of the 587 village committees under the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC). The state government has asked the Border Security Force (BSF) to maintain maximum vigil along the IndiaBangladesh border to foil any intrusion attempt from across the border. "Polling was supposed to be held in 587 village committees (VCs) in TTAADC areas. The ruling Left parties have been elected unopposed in 59 VCs; so elections
would be held on Wednesday for 3,695 seats of 528 VCs," State Election Commissioner G. Kameswara Rao told reporters on Tuesday. He said "In all 8,194 candidates of various national and local parties are contesting the elections. Among the aspirants, more than 50 percent are women." The ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist led Left Front has put up 3,697 candidates, followed by the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura, a local party, which has 1734 candidates, the Bharatiya Janata Party has 983, the Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura 782 and the Congress 601 candidates. In all 645,840 people,
Tight security for Tripura village committee polls
mostly tribals, including 318,909 women, are eligible to cast their votes, Rao said. Inspector General of Police (law and order) Anurag said that around 10,600 personnel of state security forces, including counter insurgencytrained Tripura State Rifles, and over 1000 personnel of central para-
military forces would be deployed to ensure security. "Over 200 mobile patrolling parties and several hundred foot watch parties would keep vigil until the polling was over. Multi-layer security arrangements have been made in the poll-bound areas," Anurag told reporters. The village com-
mittees, falling in areas under the politically important TTAADC, are equivalent to Gram Panchayats outside the council areas. "Instead of electronic voting machines, old ballot boxes would be used for the polls. This is being done, according to the election laws of the TTAADC," said Rao, who was earlier the state chief secretary. Tripura's ruling Left Front led by the CPI-M retained the 30-member tribal autonomous body for the
"Instead of electronic voting machines, old ballot boxes would be used for the polls. This is being done, according to the election laws of the TTAADC."
Tripura hopes introduction of super fast trains in upcoming Rail Budget Jirania , Feb. 23: People of Tripura are waiting with great expectation, hoping the introduction of superfast trains from the capital Agartala and fund for Bangladesh project in upcoming Rail Budget. Most of people of landlocked Tripura, who either have to avail expensive air service or go though the lone hilly national highway 44 covering some 600 km in 24 hours to go to Guwahati to get rail service, expressed that in the upcoming Rail Budget 2016 they are very much hopeful that the Union Government will introduce various superfast train from capital Agartala. "There is no end to our expectation and are very hopeful, since already broad gauge rail has reached here, we will get direct rail connectivity
Tripura hopes introduction of superfast trains in upcoming Rail Budget with our national capital, at least two direct trains every week to Kolkata, and if the proposed rail connectivity through Bangladesh happens that it will be great help. We the people of Tripura are very much hopeful that the union government and the rail board will fulfill our expectations," said Uttam Chakraborty, a local.
"As the passenger service (of broad gauge) starts we hope in the rail budget to get direct trains to every part of India. We are expecting that few super fast trains like Rajdhani are introduced from Agartala and runs twice or thrice a week. If the Union Government keeps this in the budget and that will help in the development of Tripura,"
said Pradip Debnath. Tripurites also hopes that there should be mention of fund allocation for the proposed AgartalaAkhaura rail link between India and Bangladesh. "Earlier it was metre gauge which has now been converted into broad gauge and so we are expecting that with this progress we shall be able to go everywhere in India directly from here. Be it for medical purpose or pleasure trip to visit any place we hope to have a rail connectivity... Moreover, there is also a proposal for rail connectivity through Bangladesh capital Dhaka," said Kamani Debbarma, a local. Similar is the expectation of the authorities of the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) and hope that there shall be not
dearth of fund for the ongoing and proposed rail projects in Tripura and introduction of new superfast trains from here. CEO NFR S I Garur said, "Whatever our projects are going on adequate funds will be ensured and new projects will come up. New trains will be there definitely for Agartala will the commissioning of this project. New trains will be introduced from Agartala." At present the conversion work of metre gauge to broad gauge work has been completed upto Agartala from Badarpur in Assam and successful trial run has been completed. Ongoing railway work is on for connecting southern most city Subroom and Akhaura (in Bangladesh), both from Agartala. (ANI)
Abducted trader released by Garo militants Tura, Feb 23: Abducted businessman and trader from Adokgre, Batchu Jain, has been released unharmed by his militant captors in an isolated area of North Garo Hills early Monday morning, a week after he was taken away at gunpoint while travelling to his home in neighbouring Assam's Dhupdhara town. The banned GNLA is the prime suspect in the kidnapping of the trader and following the incident shops and business houses closed down for a day in protest, last week. Police sources reveal that
the trader was released by GNLA militants after his family allegedly paid a ransom of Rs 2.5 lakh on Sunday following which the banned outfit let him off at an isolated spot somewhere along the Assam-North Garo Hills border between 3-4 AM. North Garo Hills police were unable to question him as the family of the victim had quickly taken him away to Guwahati within hours of his release on Monday. It is believed that the militants behind the abduction were compelled to release him early on the directions of the
GNLA high command due to the pressure mounted on them from the ongoing police operations to flush them out. Batchu Jain was returning to his home town in Dhupdhara town of Assam along with some friends in a private Maruti Van when armed Garo militants waylaid them, 30 meters inside Assam territory, and took him away in a Maruti car towards the dense forests of Garo Hills. He is believed to have been served with a demand note by the GNLA sometime ago, but
reportedly did not comply with their demands. Kidnapped victim released in Shallang: Meanwhile, a person who was kidnapped from Shallang area of West Khasi Hills was released unharmed on Sunday by a gang of criminals after police reportedly launched an operation in the area to rescue him. Waldik N Sangma, who hailed from Dymmit village under Shallang PS in West Khasi Hills, had recently been taken captive by a gang of armed criminals posing as Garo militants.
Police operations launched in the vicinity of West and South West Khasi Hills and neighbouring East Garo Hills forced the abductors to flee police retaliation and in the process release their captive unharmed on Sunday night. Police sources reveal that the kidnappers released their victim without receiving any ransom. Police have also identified the group as a bunch of petty criminals who in the guise of militant outfits were spreading terror by indulging in abductions. (Agencies)
Cooch Behar 'rail roko' enters 4th day Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Bhopal, Feb.23: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced free education for Scheduled Caste students in government colleges including, engineering and medical institutions from the next session. "It is our intention that all the children from Madhya Pradesh should study. The BJP-led Centre has announced various schemes for this. Specially the SC students, who are capable but in the lack of funds, they are unable to con-
tinue with their studies," Chouhan told on Tuesday. "That is why we have decided all SC students will get free education in all government schools and colleges and the state government would pay on their behalf," he added. He announced the decision at a function in Maihar town on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Sant Ravidas yesterday. The state government in its endeavor to promote education is also providing new bicycles to SC girl students, who are securing admission in class 11. (ANI)
Cooch Behar , Feb 23: The 'rail roko' agitation led by Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA) demanding Union Territory status or C category statehood for Cooch Behar entered its fourth day on Tuesday, as rail traffic in the northeastern region continued to be disrupted. GCPA held a meeting with Cooch Behar District Magistrate P Ulaganathan Monday night but no breakthrough was achieved. GCPA chief Bangshi Badan Barman said they were not satisfied with the meeting with the DM and would not lift the blockade till a Home
Ministry representative arrives here for talks.
for several hours in Cooch Behar due to the stir. Meanwhile, the NF Railway spokesman said the blockade sponsored by Adivasi National Convention Committee at Kokrajhar railway station in Assam was called off on Monday afternoon. They were demanding ST status for Adivasis of Assam.
Barman also said that they would hold a central committee meeting of the GCPA later in the day. The agitation began at 6 AM on Saturday when the activists squatted on tracks near New Cooch Behar station on Cooch Behar-New Jalpaiguri section, affecting railway link to the northeast region. All trains from the region except the Dibrugarh- GuwahatiNew Delhi Rajdhani Express were cancelled on Tuesday, a spokesman of the North Eastern Frontier Railway said in
Cooch Behar 'rail roko' enters 4th day Guwahati. The Rajdhani Express is being diverted via Siliguri-New Jalpaiguri section, the spokesman said. Besides inconveniencing
thousands of commuters, the agitation has so far claimed one life. A 29year-old man had died on Sunday after falling ill in the Kanchenjungha Express which was stranded
third consecutive term in last year's elections. After the formation of the TTAADC 34 years ago under the Seventh Schedule of the constitution, its constitutional and legal powers were upgraded in August 1984 to protect and safeguard the political, economic and cultural interests of tribals who constitute one-third of Tripura's 3.7 million population. The TTAADC governs two-thirds of Tripura's 10,492 square km area. (Agencies)
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had on Sunday appealed to the protesters in Cooch Behar and Haryana not to block railway lines or harm railway properties as it caused inconvenience to the common man.(Agencies)
Lalu writes to PM Modi, accuses Centre of pushing Railways to 'serious crisis' Patna, Feb 23: With Railway budget scheduled to be placed on February 25, RJD President and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Monday criticised the BJP government at the Centre for pushing it to "serious crisis". Prasad, who served as Railway minister in the UPA I government, in his letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi noted two "recent flawed policy moves of Railways". "The decision to recklessly increase financial leverage manifold by signing MOUs for borrowing of USD 40 Billion from institutions like LIC and JICA, that too for un-remunerative and cash guzzling projects like Bullet train is likely to prove suicidal, particularly when Railways is not generating enough cash to meet its operating expenses," he said. "Secondly, Railways has set up many committees whose denominator focused prescriptions of cost cutting, unbundling and privatisation is playing havoc with the already low morale of Railways employees. It is fuelling all kinds of scare mongering about job losses and the very future of Railways as a government entity," Prasad said. Such speculation should be nipped in the bud as "Railways is a web of life that weaves people and markets into a diverse yet unified India," Prasad added. Likening Railways to a "Jersey cow", a breed of dairy cattle, he said it was not in good health at present. "Your (Modi's) government has neither milked nor taken good care of it. It has fallen sick. "If your government does course correction by reversing anti-poor and employee unfriendly policies, the Jersey cow (Railways) can be restored to sound health and start giving plentiful milk (returns)," he said. As corrective measures to come out of financial morass, Prasad said it would require unwavering commitment of the top leadership in monitoring of trains, the core operating performance, "rather than monitoring twitter." "Leadership has to act here and now, not in TV studios and seminars, but in FOIS control room and marketing and investment strategy sessions," he said in his letter and added it has to play a catalytic role in galvanising its internal strengths by balancing commercial objectives with its social obligations. (PTI)
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
Govt. trying to saffronise educational institutions: Congress New Delhi, Feb. 23: The Congress Party, which is all geared up to corner the government in the Budget Session of Parliament, on Tuesday alleged that the NDA regime was trying to saffronise the educational institutions of the country. Leader of the Congress Party in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, said that they are going to raise eight to nine important issues, including the controversies surrounding the JNU, Hyderabad University PhD scholar Rohith Vemula's suicide and the FTII. "We have around eightnine important issues, which we have put forward before the BJP and the Speaker, especially the issues related to JNU, Hyderabad University and FTII," Kharge told . "We want to know about the plan of the government where the BJP and the RSS are trying to saffronise the universities through ABVP. We want to tell the people how this government is trying to push its agenda
SC to consider plea for contempt action against three lawyers for allegedly beating Kanhaiya New Delhi, Feb.23: The Supreme Court has reportedly agreed to consider a plea for contempt action against three lawyers who were allegedly caught on camera boasting that they had thrashed JNUSU President Kanhaiya Kumar while he was in police lock-up. In a video broadcast on a news channel, the lawyers can be seen claiming they thrashed Kanhaiya for around three hours while he was in police custody. Police had issued notices to lawyers Vikram Singh Chauhan, Yashpal Singh and Om Sharma to join investigation, in connection with the violence in Patiala House court complex on February 15 and 17 in which JNU students, teachers and journalists were attacked. One of the lawyers, Om Sharma, presented himself before police and was arrested. The other two are yet to appear. The Supreme Court yesterday made it clear that it would confine itself to the violence in Patiala House court complex on February 15 and 17h in which JNU students, teachers and journalists were attacked. (ANI)
JNU row, Rohith Vemula suicide to be discussed in LS on Feb. 25 New Delhi, Feb. 23: The current unrest in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and the furore over Hyderabad University scholar Rohith Vemula's suicide will be discussed in the Lok Sabha on Thursday after the Railway Budget is announced. The decision was made in the Business Advisory Committee. Earlier on Tuesday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi gave a notice in the Lok Sabha on the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) row and the Ishran Jahan case. (ANI)
Leader of the Congress Party in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge and the ways which they are adopting to do so," he added. Kharge also said that they would be eager to see how the government responds to the issues raised by the Opposition. "We will also address the Arunachal Pradesh issue. It will be followed by several other issues such as inflation, unemployment. We want to see how the government responds to these issues," he said. The government has, however, assured the Opposition that it is ready to discuss each and every issue in the Budget Session. "We are ready for discus-
sions and debates on all the issues which the Opposition wants to discuss. Notices have been given from the BJP members as well as the members of the Opposition to the Speaker. We are ready to discuss the JNU issue, Jat reservation issue and others as well," Minister of State (MoS) for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told. "I think this session of Parliament will work in a peaceful manner. There was a unanimous consensus in the all-party meeting that the Budget Ses-
sion should be constructive. We are very hopeful that this session would go without many disruptions," he added. The Budget Session of Parliament will begin from Tuesday with President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. During the session, the Rail Budget will be presented on February 25 and the General Budget on February 29. The first phase of the Budget Session will come to an end on March 16 while the second phase will start from April 25 and conclude on May 13. The government has prioritised 32 items for the session including 11 Bills pending in the Rajya Sabha and one in the Lok Sabha besides transacting financial business related to the budget. (ANI)
"The Budget Session of Parliament begins from Tuesday"
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My government is focused on 'Garibon Ki Unnati': President Mukherjee New Delhi, Feb. 23: The Budget Session began today with President Pranab Mukherjee's address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament. Highlights of the President's address: The government's development philosophy is captured in 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. My government in particular is focussed on 'Garibon Ki Unnati', 'Kisano Ki Samridhi' and 'Yuvaon Ka Rozgar'. My Government has launched three new social security and pension schemes. 4. Government is committed to provide 'Housing for All'. 5. Well being of farmers is vital to the nation's prosperity. 6. Government realises role of animal husbandry, dairy and fisheries sectors. 7. My government's mission of skilling India has gained momentum. 8. Strong focus on holistic healthcare, strengthening Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and, Sowa-Rigpa and Homoeopathy. 9. My Government firmly believes economic
President Mukherjee development and environmental protection can coexist. 10. As part of the Namami Gange Programme, my Government is implementing several projects in all 118 cities and complete sanitation solutions for 1,649 gram panchayats, on the banks of the holy Ganga. 11. Government has been unsparing in punishing those who are found guilty of corruption. 12. Government has envisaged increasing the renewable energy capacity manifold to 175 GW by 2022. Today under my Government, solar power is affordable and accessible to thousands of people. (ANI)
ECI working on E-Governance Vision 2020, says Nasim Zaidi New Delhi, Feb.23 : Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr. Nasim Zaidi on Tuesday said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is currently working on an E-Governance vision 2020 to provide inclusive, integrated single window view of services to all stakeholders in all phases of the electoral cycle using multiple channel of delivery. Delivering the keynote address at a seminar on "Leveraging Technology for Transparent and Credible Elections", Dr. Zaidi said increasing the use of ICT in elections is a priority area for virtually every Election Management Bodies (EMB) around the world. He added that a detailed project report based on service provider concept is ready with five strategic goals and 11 mission mode projects. He said consultations with stakeholders and industry is underway, and added that
under this vision, some of priority areas will be in mobile apps, social media , knowledge and learning management. Commenting on future endeavors of the ECI, Dr. Zaidi informed that the ECI is preparing to work towards mobile and internet services segments of society for flow of election related information and providing services. "This will surely enhance transparency of election processes amongst electorates.We are working on finding and evaluating appropriate ICT in preserving and disseminating right information to right people at right time. The India International Institute for Democracy and Election Management under ECI is setting up an E-learning Centre for creation of live and virtual environment for capacity building," he said. Dr. Zaidi emphasized that the use of technology
Chief Election Commissioner of India Dr. Nasim Zaidi on Tuesday said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) is currently working on an E-Governance vision 2020
has helped in countless ways in simplifying, streamlining and speeding up virtually all aspects of electoral cycles. "Technological use has contributed enormously to transparency and credibility of the electoral processes. From the process of elector registration to polling booth management, voting process management, counting, trends and results dissemination requiring voluminous data crunching and effective process management, ICT has been providing signifi-
cant support in different facets of elections in India," he added. Expressing his security concerns over the use of ICT ,Dr Zaidi said, "The biggest challenge in using ICT by EMBs lies in relation to ICT security, certification and third party auditing. No electoral democracy can afford to have a technology that fails at its simplest and can be manipulated or subjected to malpractices at its worst. This can demolish the credibility of elections." The aim of the seminar
is to share mutual experiences, so that EMBs can learn the information and communications technologies (ICT) tools required to enhance transparency and credibility of their electoral process. Ms Rasario Graciano De Los Santos, Commissioner, Central Electoral Board, Domician Republic also spoke at the occasion. Election Commissioners A.K. Jyoti and O.P Rawat, Participants from Association of World Election Bodies (A-WEB) Executive Board, including Dominican Republic, Romania, Republic of Korea, Kenya, South Africa, India, Burkina Faso, Brazil, Kyrgyz Republic, Albania, El Salvador and Bosania and Herzegovina and senior officers of ECI also attended the seminar, which was organised by Election commission of India on the occasion of Executive Board meeting of A-WEB. (ANI)
India extends USD 1 million as immediate aid to cyclone-hit Fiji New Delhi, Feb.23: Cyclone-hit Fiji will receive one million dollars as immediate assistance from the Indian Government. This was disclosed by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Vikas Swarup on Tuesday on twitter. Fiji has been struck by "Cyclone Winston" which brought with it wind gusts of 325 kilometres per hour and sea and ocean waves up to 12 metres high. The area's crops and several villages have been flattened completely by the natural calamity. So far, 29 people have reportedly died and many others have been shifted to evacuation centres. Considerable damage is
being reported from the main Fijian islands of Viti Levu and Koro after they were hit by strong winds directly. As aid efforts intensified, communications were established with some of the worst-hit remote communities, revealing the scale of the disaster. Officials say the Pacific nation's recovery from the devastating storm could take months. Power is gradually being restored in the main centres and roads cleared of felled trees. The international airport at Nadi also reopened yesterday, allowing international tourists caught up in the disaster to return home. (ANI)
Jat unrest: Haryana CM faces ire in Rohtak
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had to face the wrath of the people affected by the ongoing proreservation protests by the Jat community members
Rohtak, Feb.23: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had to face the wrath of the people affected by the ongoing pro-reservation protests by the Jat community members as his convoy was stopped and he was not allowed to voice his opinion on the matter. Khattar, who was here to take the stock of the present situation, had to face the anger of the people as they raised slogans against him. The Haryana Chief Minister, who was giving assurance that no leniency would be taken in dealing with anti-social elements and proper action would be taken against those responsible for the damages in the state, had to stop midway as the irritant people did not allow him to speak. The people gheraoed Khattar's car near the Canal rest house and
showed black flags to him to vent their ire over the latest protests. They demand the resignation of the erring police officials in Rohtak for failing to maintain the law and order situation in the city. Khattar along with state agriculture minister O.P. Dhankar and state finance minister Captain Abhimanyu was in the city to take the stock of the situation. The Chief Minister has been appealing to the people of the state to maintain law and order and call off the agitation, as the state government was ready to hear their demands. At least 19 people have died and around 200 others injured in the agitation. The members of the Jat community have been protesting for the last 10 days over their demand for reservation in government jobs. (ANI)
Obama acknowledges India's Govt.'s 'limitations' must also be energy needs for growth discussed in Budget Session: PM Modi ment. Stating that 1600 crore citizens have their eyes on the Budget Session, he said India's current economic condition has drawn the world's attention, thereby making this session significant.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi New Delhi, Feb. 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that he was hopeful of a 'fruitful' Budget Session and added that the government's 'limitations' must also be discussed in the Parliament as it was the only way to strengthen the democracy.
"The government should be criticized and our limitations should also be discussed as that's the only way to strengthen a democracy and fulfil the aspirations of the nation," Prime Minister Modi told the media here ahead of the President's address to the joint sitting of both the Houses of Parlia-
"Since the past few days, there have been several discussions with every party which have been beyond formality. Discussions were also held on a one-to-one basis as well. We are sure that the time spent in the Parliament this time will be in a constructive manner," the Prime Minister said. Asserting that all meetings with the Opposition leaders so far have been fruitful, he said that
dreams and aspirations of the citizens will also be discussed in the Parliament, adding the nation will feel the positive developments. Meanwhile, President Pranab Mukherjee said that his government's philosophy is captured in the idea 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' and it is striving hard to eradicate poverty. "My government's philosophy is captured in the idea 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. Mahatma Gandhi said poverty is the worst form of violence. My government is striving hard to eradicate poverty. Well-being of our farmers is vital to nation's prosperity," said President Mukherjee. (ANI)
Washington, Feb 23: Acknowledging India's massive energy needs, US President Barack Obama has underlined the need for passing clean coal technologies to the country to fight climate change while maintaining economic growth. "In order to grow the economy, we have got to have energy. In fact, there are countries like India where it is even more desperate," Obama said in his address to the National Governors Association at the White House on Monday. "They (Indians) do not have electricity," he said. "And if we are not giving them options, if the only message we have for them is, 'stay poor', the we are not going to solve the problem,"
US President Barack Obama
Obama said. "We have got to grow the economy, which means we have got to produce energy and we've got to deal with climate change. "The good news is that technology and research and development are accelerating rapidly, and because of the Paris agreement this would be going to accelerate progress even more," he
said. In his speech, Obama stressed the need of passing on the clean coal technologies to countries like India. "I want India and China to know how to use clean coal, because they're going to be building coal plants anyway. And if we've got technology that can help make sure that it is not emitting huge amounts of carbon, all the better," Obama said. After coming into office, Obama said his administration has invested in technologies to capture carbon from coal-fired plants. "The technologies are there, the problem is that they're just really expensive right now. And so given relative prices to natural gas and other options, they haven't been deployed," he said. (PTI)
DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
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NEIGHBOURS
Nepal plans SEZs, equal scope for Nepalese, Indian investors Nepal, Feb 23: Nepal is to set up Special Economic Zones near the border with India and there would be no discrimination between Nepalese and Indian investors, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has told Indian business leaders. Addressing a business meet, organized by the three business houses FICCI, CII and ASSOCHAM, Oli said: "We have planned to set up Special Economic Zones and Industrial Estates in major business hubs of the country. Most of these will be established in the plain land next to Nepal-India bor-
der. Investing within SEZ has multiple benefits that include flexible and investment friendly labour laws." Oli, who is on a six-day state visit to India, said Nepal provides sectorspecific incentives of various kinds and scope to investors. "Nondiscrimination between Nepalese and Indian investors is our firm policy," Oli said, according to a FICCI statement here. Oli said his government has made easy and liberalized the export and import rules and procedures and also improved trade facilitation measures. Nepal and India have ex-
Singapore deports 4 Indonesians for links to IS
Hawaii is not South China Sea: WH to China
Singapore deports 4 Indonesians for links to IS
Singapore, Feb 23: Singapore said on Tuesday that it had deported four Indonesians it says were on their way to Syria to join the Islamic State group. The Ministry of Home Affairs said the four "were deported to Indonesia after investigations revealed that they had plans to make their way to Syria to fight for ISIS." ISIS is another acronym for the Islamic State group. "Singapore authorities informed their Indonesian counterparts before the deportation," the ministry said. One of the four was a 15year-old boy who was detained Sunday while attempting to enter Singapore from Johor in Malaysia. On Monday, Singapore's government said plans on raising public awareness on how to respond to terror attacks will be released soon. Last month, authorities said they had deported 26 Bangladeshi construction workers for forming a religious study group that was spreading the ideology of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. (Agencies)
Afghanistan tells Pakistan to remove 'alleged' check points in Desho District Afghanistan, Feb.23: Afghanistan and Pakistan are reportedly in talks over the latter having allegedly set up checkpoints in Afghanistan's Desho District. The check posts are said to have come up in the Bahramcha area of the district, which is in southern Helmand province. Members of the Helmand provincial council were quoted by Tolo News, as saying that the check posts have been set up three kilometers inside Afghanistan's border, but Pakistan's security establishment has reportedly rejected this contention. Afghanistan's Deputy Chief of Army Staff, General Murad Ali Murad, as saying that such installations have been built and destroyed several times in the past. He also said that Pakistan has been warned that such actions will undermine the environment of trust between the two countries. Previously, Pakistan had built installations in bordering areas in Paktika and Nangarhar provinces. (ANI with inputs)
China, Feb 23: The US has strongly refuted the Chinese claim that what it is doing in the disputed South China Sea is akin to the US' deploying of defence facilities in Hawaii, saying no other country has a claim on Hawaii. "There is no other country that has a claim on Hawaii. But yet when you consider the land features in the South China Sea, there are a variety of overlapping territorial claims that a variety of countries have
Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli changed four different letters to expand, simplify and streamline transit facilities during this visit. "We must emphasize that commerce and connectivity between our countries must not be affected by considerations
made on those features," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said on Monday. Earnest's remarks came in response to Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying who yesterday said China was doing in the South China Sea what the US does in Hawaii. "China deploying necessary national defence facilities on its own territory is no different from the US deploying defence facilities on Hawaii," Hua said.
other than economic development," he added. Wooing Indian business, Oli said that Nepal's doors are open for investment in almost every sector, including manufacturing, hydropower, tourism, services, IT, mining
Recognising that Chinese government may have disagreement about the claims made by other countries, Earnest said that is precisely the reason the US believes all the parties should resolve their differences about this matter in a way that does not provoke a military confrontation. "That is why we have urged all parties who are claimants to these features - the US is not among them, we've encouraged all of the countries that do have claims
and agro-based industries. "We invite the private sector, domestic and foreign, to invest resources, produce goods and services and create jobs. My government will extend all needful support to facilitate your investments in Nepal," Oli said. Harshavardhan Neotia, president, FICCI and chairman, Ambuja Neotia Group, said that FICCI would be happy to work with the Nepal government as well as through its counterpart chamber - FNCCI and CNI to enlighten Indian investors on the opportunities and incentives in Nepal. (Agencies)
to resolve them in a peaceful, legal manner and to avoid confrontation and to seek to avoid escalating the tensions in that area of the world," Earnest said. Noting that America hoped that tensions in that part of the world would be reduced, Earnest said they can be reduced if all of the claimants to the land features in the South China Sea make the same kind of commitment that was seen from the leaders of ASEAN in California
"We invite the private sector, domestic and foreign, to invest resources, produce goods and services and create jobs. My government will extend all needful support to facilitate your investments in Nepal,"- Says Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli
just last week. "In the context of the summit, the leaders of ASEAN committed to not building up a military presence on those features that are the subject of competing claims," he said. "That is a responsible way to resolve differences of opinion over those features, and we certainly would urge the Chinese and every other country that has a competing claim here to abide by that standard," Earnest said.(PTI)
Masood Azhar in protective custody in Pak: Aziz New Delhi, Feb 23: Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, named by India as the mastermind of the Pathankot attack, has been under "protective custody" since January 14, Pakistan Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz has said. He also said it was for India to decide on dates for Foreign Secretary-level talks, postponed in the wake of the terror strike. Aziz said a Special Investigation Team from Pakistan may visit Pathankot in the first few days of March to probe the attack and that his country was pursuing the investigation seriously. He said one of the mobile phone numbers linked to the attackers was traced to the terror group's head-
quarters in Pakistan's Bahawalpur and called the lodging of the FIR in connection with the Pathankot assault as a "logical and positive step" in bringing the perpetrators to justice. Aziz told Karan that Azhar, along with a few other operatives of the JeM, has been kept under protective custody and that some of the terror outfit's premises have also been sealed. He said action will follow against Azhar and others the moment evidence becomes available. This is for the first time a top functionary of the Pakistan government has confirmed that Azhar is in custody in that country though there were earlier reports to that effect.
Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz Aziz said the FIR filed four days back in the Pathankot attack case has created legal basis for a Special Investigation Team of Pakistan to visit India to collect evidence. He said India has agreed to the SIT visit. Asked about Defence
Minister Manohar Parrikar's comment that SIT will not be allowed to go inside the IAF base in Pathankot, Aziz said access to crime scene always helps the investigators. On holding of the Foreign Secretary-level talks between the two countries,
Aziz said the "ball is in India's court". "The answer to it lies entirely with India," he said, adding he hoped prime ministers Narendra Modi and Nawaz Sharif will meet on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington next month. Pakistani authorities had lodged an FIR in connection with the Pathankot attack on February 18, without naming Azhar. The FIR was filed against "unknown persons" after weeks of probe into the terror assault that had led to the postponement of Foreign Secretary-level talks. It was registered at Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) centre in Gujranwala, Punjab province.(Agencies)
Myanmar bans visit to Bagan ancient pagodas for conservation Myanmar, Feb 23: Myanmar authorities have banned visit to ancient pagodas in Bagan, Ministry of Culture said on Tuesday. Visitors will not be allowed in the vicinity of Bagan's ancient pagodas and stupas as of March 1, Xinhau cited the an-
Myanmar authorities have banned visit to ancient pagodas in Bagan, Ministry of Culture said on Tuesday.
nouncement as saying, adding that the restriction was part of the efforts to conserve Myanmar cultural heritage. The announcement cited the reason that visitors at the pagodas pose a risk to the durability of the edifices in the area where there are more than 3,000 ancient buildings.
Pak probe report says Baldia factory fire was act of sabotage Karachi, Feb.23: The Joint Investigation Team (JIT) has come to conclusion that the fire at a factory in Baldia Town was an act of sabotage. Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) former Karachi Tanzeemi Committee in-charge Hammad Siddiqui has been accused as the prime suspect behind the country's deadliest fire, reports . On 11 September 2012, Ali Enterprises caught fire which claimed the lives of
259 workers and injured around 50 labourers. The alleged terrorist act was carried out 'due to refusal to pay extortion of Rs twenty crores and partnership in factory profits by factory owners to officebearers, namely Rehman Bhola and Hammad Siddiqi of MQM-A. The investigation team headed by Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sultan Khawaja and DIG Munir Shaikh has also recorded the statements of the garment factory owners the
Bhaila brothers Arshad and Shahid in Dubai, who have refused to return to Pakistan. The Bhaila brothers claimed that the fire was not accidental and an extortionist group was behind the incident. JIT members appeared to be highly critical of the role of police investigators of the Baldia fire case. The JIT team has submitted its final report to the Sindh Home Department and has claimed the deadly incident to be a 'planned act'. (ANI)
The announcement said visitors are often found dancing and sleeping in the temples, ignoring the restriction on such behaviour. Meanwhile, Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism, in cooperation with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is drafting plan for sustain-
able development of the ancient city of Bagan. The number of tourists visiting the archaeological site has been on rise with the tourist boom. Bagan is also seeking Unesco's recognition as world heritage site status.(Agencies)
Afghanistan-based militants fire three mortar shells on Pak's Kurram Agency Peshawar, Feb.23 : At least three mortar shells were fired on a security checkpost in Qaimatey, upperKurram Agency in Pakistan, from Afghanistan on Tuesday morning. Security sources said unidentified militants from across the Afghan border fired the shells which landed near a Frontier Corps(FC)security checkpost. The attackers dispersed after security forces responded with retaliatory firing but no casualties or damage was reported. The region was claimed by the military to have been
cleared of insurgents, however, militants still carry out sectarian attacks and also target security forces occasionally. Kurram is one of the most sensitive tribal areas as it borders three Afghan provinces and at one point was one of the key routes for militant movement across the border. The mortar attack on the border comes amid high tensions in the agencies as an indefinite curfew was imposed in parts of Mohmand Agency after various clashes between militants and security forces. (ANI)
Sharif's PML-N least 'democratic' political party of Pak says Pildat report
Sharif's PML-N least 'democratic' political party of Pak says Pildat report
Karachi, Feb.23: The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), a think tank focussed on political and public policy research, has declared the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as the least democratic political party when it comes to handling its internal affairs. The annual report on internal democracy of major political parties was released on Monday, reports . The research focused on eight mainstream political parties, which received an overall score of 40 percent of 100, five of these parties hold the largest number of seats in the National Assembly. The report shows the state of internal democ-
racy of political parties, although not in good shape the previous year, further deteriorated in 2015. The ruling PML-N's irregular or no party meetings, lack of competitive elections and continuation of the same leadership since the founding of the party are factors perceived as the major weaknesses in the democratic character of the party, according to the report. According to the report, the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) stands at the top of the democratic scale with a percentage of 56 percent. The Hasil Bizenjo-led National Party follows with 47 percent and the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf at 44 percent.(ANI)
Pakistan parliament first in world to run entirely on solar power
Pakistan parliament on Tuesday became the first in the world to completely run on solar power Islamabad, Feb 23: Pakistan parliament on Tuesday became the first in the world to completely run on solar power, a venture supported by China with $55 million funding. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a simple ceremony switched on solar-powered building of the parliament in capital Islamabad. First announced in 2014, the venture has been funded by the Chinese government as an act of friendship, with the solar power plant costing around $55 million. "This the first time since independence (1947) that parliament has become selfsufficient in electricity through solar power. Other institutions in private and public sector need to follow it," he said in his brief speech. The projec to run parliament on solar power was
launched last year when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited and addressed the parliament. China provided over $55 million to carry out the project. "This is another example of Pak-China friendship," Sharif said. Chinese ambassador to Pakistan was also present during the ceremony. According to speaker National Assembly, Ayaz Sadiq, the parliament solar panels will generate 80 MW power. He said 62 MW will be sufficient for parliament while 18 MW will be given to national grid. Pakistan's parliament has become the first in the world to run entirely on solar power. Officials said that there are some parliaments like the Israeli Knesset which are partly run on solar power. (PTI)
Afghan Foreign Minister inaugurates fourth round of QCG in Kabul Kabul, Feb.23: Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani officially opened the fourth round of the Quadrilateral Coordination Group (QCG) meeting in Kabul on Tuesday and called on all warring parties to join the peace process. Rabbani said the nation believes in peace and that its Constitution does not stop anyone from joining the peace process. He said Afghanistan would welcome any group joining the process but that the Afghan Government has a strong
message for those who reject peace, reports . 'Security forces will act with full force against those who reject peace,' Rabbani added. He informed that a meeting will be held soon between the Afghan and Pakistan Ulema in order to establish their role in the peace process. QCG meeting, between representatives of Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and US, will hopefully finalize a date for direct negotiations between the Afghan Government and the Taliban. (ANI)
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DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
Knowledge Management Freedom 251 Things are not that simple The smartphone Freedom 251 is 3G-enabled and features a 4-inch WVGA resolution display. It is powered by a 1.3 Ghz quad-core processor coupled with 1GB RAM, 8GB total storage space and sports a 3.2 megapixel camera on the A file photo. (Photo: back. It will have 0.3 valentinesdayidea) megapixel camera on the front and has a 1450 mAh battery. The Freedom 251 may be the world's cheapest smart phone but the device released by Noida-based Ringing Bells is riddled with problems, including a possible copyright infringement of Apple's iconic iPhone. The phone - that buyers can purchase for Rs 251 from the company's website was launched recently. Ringing Bells has called the phone "India's most affordable smartphone" in fullpage newspaper ads, pitching it as a huge push for the government's Make in India and Digital India initiative. Ringing Bells Freedom 251 could be the real democratisation of the smartphone. At this price, there should be no one in India who does not own a smartphone and everyone should be online within a couple of years. That is the kind of effect a Rs 251 smartphone will have on the market, not to speak of the dozens of smartphone companies that will go out of business. However, things are not that simple and many problems have also started to be detected in the Freedom 251. Most built-in app icons on the Freedom 251 are a direct copy of icons on Apple's iPhone. Take a look at the screenshot below for a side-byside comparison of the icons on the Freedom 251 and the iPhone. Even the web browser app is a ripoff of Apple's Safari browser that only exists on iPhones, iPads, and the Mac. Moreover the phone doesn't look anything like Freedom 251's photos on Ringing Bell's website. The front of the Freedom 251 is emblazoned with a shiny brand name that says Adcom. But in the actual phone, this logo is covered up with whitener. A quick Google search revealed Adcom is a New Delhi-based importer of IT products. This particular model is listed on multiple e-commerce websites including Gadgets360,Amazon, Snapdeal and Shopclues for approximately Rs. 4,000. And surprisingly Adcom's marketing head denied any knowledge of Adcom's logo being used on the device. The phone's official website says Freedom 251 will be pre-loaded with the Swachh Bharat app, a women's safety app, and YouTube, WhatsApp, and Facebook, among others. But in reality there is no such app installed in the device. It seems that while the unveiling of this device could revolutionize the smartphone scenario in India and prove to be a worthy competitor to dozens of companies in the market, things are not that simple. Moreover the site of the online booking site of Freedom 251 got crashed down immediately the day itself when the phone was launched. One can only say when the device will be used by many.
Project approval Rs 5,050 crore investment in Tripura The state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has undertaken a Rs.5,050 crore ambitious plan to explore for more gas in northeastern state of Tripura. For this the board of state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has approved an investment of Rs 5,050 crore in Tripura for drilling of wells and creation of surface facilities to produce 5.1 million metric standard cubic metre per day (mmscmd) gas from the state's fields. And under this plan, new wells would be drilled and additional surface facilities would be created to increase gas production from the present 4.1 million standard cubic metres per day (MSCMD) to at least 5.1 MSCMD from Tripura gas fields. So far eleven gas fields were discovered by the corporation in the bordering state and seven of the fields were on production. And Under the investment campaign to produce and supply of 5.1 MSCMD to various consumers, including production of electricity, for another 15 to 20 years, at least 153 wells were to be drilled. Also to enhance the gas production, processing and improve the supply capabilities, the GCS (Gas Collection Centre) in Sonamura, Gojalia and Konaban would be upgraded and around 900 km gas pipelines would be laid. Also the ONGC Tripura asset was carrying out its drilling activities with three owned rigs under operation and well servicing operations through two work-over rigs. Additional four to five rigs would be hired to intensify the exploration activities. Tripura gas fields lie in logistically and environmentally challenged area, where a good number of drill sites, facility, pipeline locations are in forest lands which needs special efforts for forest clearance and timely construction of work. And ONGC has so far drilled around 200 wells in Tripura and more than 50 percent wells are gas-bearing. ONGC has also commissioned its first mega commercial power project in southern Tripura by floating a company - ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC). The Rs.10,000 crore 726 MW capacity gasbased thermal power project (using both water and natural gas) at Palatana, 60 km from here, was ONGC's first commercial power project in India. ONGC, also in association with Rajasthan based Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited and the Tripura government, would also set up a Rs.5,000 crore fertilizer plant in northern Tripura. And the process is on to set up the fertilizer plant.
The twenty first century creasingly discontinuous has unfolded a vital sense environmental changes. of interconnectedness all Essentially it embodies orover the globe emerging ganizational processes the knowledge revolution that seek synergistic comwhich has increased the bination of data and inforextensity, intensity, veloc- mation processing capacity and impact of global ity of information techinteractions, changing the nologies, and the creative configuration of global and innovative capacity of power. Knowledge is human beings. Knowledge power; manageknowl- Prof. Pranjal Bezborah ment inedge volves management helps us to binding an organization's share, nurture and learn internal and external inforfrom others and not to mation and turning it into invent the wheel. Unfor- actionable knowledge tunately, the knowledge through technology. management community Knowledge management is in a paradoxical state in principles recognize that it that we are not learning is important for organizafrom other disciplines. In tions to "know what they information technology know". All organizations with the advancement of inherently state, access, network technologies, we and deliver knowledge in now have connectivity to some manner. The quesbridge across isolated is- tion is what value is added lands of knowledge. Shar- to the products and sering in a collaborative way vices they deliver by the to stimulate new ideas is effective use of that not a new concept, al- knowledge capital. though facilitating this Most traditional organizasharing in an electronic tion policies and controls networking fashion is focus on the tangible assomewhat novel. sets of the organization The International Ency- and leave unmanaged their clopedia of Information important knowledge asand Library Science de- sets. Success in an infines knowledge as creasingly competitive "Knowledge is informa- marketplace depends tion evaluated and orga- critically on the quality of nized in the human mind knowledge, which orgaso that it can be used pur- nizations apply to their key posefully". The knowl- business process. The edge management refers objectives of knowledge to the basic elements that management in terms of include accessing, evalu- the process may include ation, managing, organiz- to ensure an effective and ing, filtering and distrib- efficient development of uting information in a new knowledge and immanner that is useful to provement of existing end users. Today's chal- knowledge with a view to lenge is to capture knowl- the strategy of the orgaedge from what people nization and the individual say and do as part of their objectives of the emday to day work and to ployee; to ensure an efmake it accessible to oth- fective securing of ers. knowledge, which is also Knowledge Management easily accessible to the caters to the critical issues whole organization; to of organizational adapta- ensure a specific distribution, survival, and compe- tion of new knowledge to tence in the face of in- other departments and
transfer of knowledge to new employees through knowledge transfer or relocation of knowledge bearers; to ensure the effective and efficient combination of the best knowledge available within an organization or its network. In the context of knowledge management, the terms data, information, knowledge and wisdom are so related to each other, it is quite difficult to define them separately. The term data refers to an individual fact, statistics or a piece of information or a group or a body of facts, statistics or the like. In its simple meaning data is an event or entity represented in some symbolic form and capable of being processed. Data becomes information when it is organized according to some preferences and when it is placed in context. Thus, information is meaningful contextual data. Knowledge is the organized body of information or the comprehension and understanding, consequent on having acquired an organized body of facts. According to Roger Clarke the term knowledge is often referred to a body of facts and principles accumulated by mankind in the course of time. Knowledge is generated in the human mind. Some are of the view that facts and principles cannot be meaningful outside the human. Application of knowledge to produce the desired results is wisdom. The Dictionary meaning of wisdom is enlightened understanding of what is true or right usually acquired through long experience, as distinguished from partial or specialized knowledge in its true sense. In practice, most organi-
Image for representational purpose. Photo: blog.kana zations initializing knowledge management solution finds it difficult to differentiate "information" from "knowledge". How does an organization delineate 'information requirements' from a knowledge need? It can be enunciated as - information can be person dependent whereas knowledge is highly person specific, and knowledge is always contextual that can never ve interpreted or used without understanding its context. Knowledge revolution is the new revolution in information related areas. Today every organization needs to know what their knowledge assets are, and how to manage and make use of these assets to get maximum returns. It serves the users with ample information through tools, techniques and methods of knowledge management. The practice of knowledge management can create wonderful results in any
organizational context. Customers can be delighted with every transaction, becoming richer and more productive. Knowledge is the key driver for those organizations who are keen to innovate and change the rules of the game. An effective knowledge management programme helps an organization in fostering innovation by encouraging the free flow of ideas, improving customer service by streamlining response time, boosting revenues by getting products and services to the market faster, enhancing employee retention rates by recognizing the value of employees' knowledge and rewarding them for it Streamlining operations and reduce costs by eliminating redundant or unnecessary processes. Thus, knowledge management is an essential tool in today's emerging knowledge economy; and organizations that seek to deploy knowledge man-
agement systems need to understand the human elements of the process first. It is crucial to an organization. It should enhance an organization's ability and capacity in four dimensions, namely mission, competition, performance and change. There is no doubt that knowledge management is driving the organization's strategy so far as competitive advantage is concerned. Further, knowledge management is a never ending process as the categories of required knowledge are always changing. New technologies, management approaches, regulatory issues and customer concerns are always emerging. Finally, information technology is critical to knowledge management in capturing, organizing, sharing, applying and creating knowledge. Pranjal Bezborah is a Professor in the Department of Commerce, Dibrugarh University. Email id: pranjalbezborah@yahoo.com.
Stringent emissions standard for all future aircraft close to adoption Experts from a UN civil aviation agency have unanimously recommended a new CO2 emissions standard for all new and certain inproduction aircraft, taking it one step closer to adoption by the agency's governing council. The proposed standard was recommended by 170 experts on an environmental protection committee of the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Once adopted, the standard will be applicable to all new aircraft type designs as of 2020, as well as to new deliveries of current in-produc-
tion aircraft types from 2023.
sustainably." While the standard will cover all aircraft types, it is particularly directed at larger aircraft. ICAO states that operations of aircraft weighing over 60 tonnes account for more than 90 per cent of emissions from international aviation.
The standard has also recommended a cut-off date of 2028 for production of aircraft that do not comply with the standard. "The goal of this process is ultimately to ensure that when the next generation of aircraft types enter service, there will be guaranteed reductions in international CO2 emissions," Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, president of the ICAO Council, said in a press release. "Our sector presently accounts for under two
The standard takes into account all technological feasibility, emissions reduction potential, and cost considerations, says ICAO (Photo: Thinkstock)
per cent of the world's annual CO2 emissions, but we also recognise that the projected dou-
bling of global passengers and flights by 2030 must be managed responsibly and
The ICAO's new rules come after years of negotiations and are the first time that governments have set emissions standards for the aviation industry," an official statement from his spokesperson said. UN Secretary-General While larger aircraft Ban Ki-moon said the have greater access to new standard would re- emissions reduction inforce action against technologies, ICAO asclimate change follow- sures that the standard ing the Paris agree- takes into account all ment. "Carbon emis- technological feasibility, sions from aviation are emissions reduction growing rapidly, with potential, and cost the number of flights considerations.Courtesy: worldwide expected to DTE
Political Motivation
Image for representational purpose.(Photo: drrichswier)
Sir, Rain of sops, from the Chief-minister, not intermittent but incessant coming one after the other pleases us all. In the last Republic day, the Chief-minister declared opening of new districts. That the opening of all the said new districts is politically motivated, there is no doubt about it. Sivasagar district with its two sub-divisions is enough for smooth administration. Opening of yet another district is redundant. The opening of the rest of the districts which are predominantly inhabitated by the dubious citizens is purely politically motivated. Needless to add, all these acts of magnanimity are nothing but to win over the voters in the next assembly election. On earlier occasions, we once ventilated our grievances, about Dibrugarh district, why the district is yet bereft of one sub-division. One wonders, Titabor despite its proximity with Jorhat had been declared a sub-division, whereas Naharkatia is still deprived of the
double in the next 15 years.
status despite its distance from Dibrugarh. It implies, everything must dance to the tune of the Chief-minister. Above all, we pity the status of Ms Pranati Phukan who is solely responsible for her inability to convince the Chief-minister about the inconveniences faced by the people of Naharkatia and its suburbs in rushing to Dibrugarh for administrative purpose. In our opinion, the Chief minister, Pranati Phukan and other congress stalwarts of the district should have an introspection before going to the people of the district seeking vote. The only fault of Dibrugarh the number of dubious citizens is comparatively less here and that the Dibrugarh constituency has been won by BJP. May good sense prevail on our Chief-minister in his last few days in the office. Yours etc. Ashok Bordoloi Dibrugarh
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Most tax exemptions fixed in 90s, need to raise them Record-breaking solar The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax.” Albert Einstein once said, “The hardest thing in the world to understand is income tax.” And it is true. Often the deductions and allowances doled out in the Budget have no logic or reason. The finance minister Arun Jaitley has a god given opportunity at this time of turmoil to set right a great inconsistency in this Budget. The ones who are the worst hit are the salaried class. The allowances being given today does not reflect reality as they have not been revised for several years and does not take into account the galloping inflation. Medical reimbursement of up to Rs 15,000 per annum has been permitted as a deduction from 1998-99. While at that time it may have been reasonable, given the cost of medicines today and doctor’s charges, this should be atleast Rs 50,000 or actuals. Transport allowance of Rs 800 per month was increased last year to Rs 1600. Even this is very little and considering inflation should be atleast Rs 3,000. Children’s education allowance was set in 1997-
98 at Rs 100 per child and hostel allowance at Rs 300. Education is important and good education today is very expensive. This allowance has to be realistic and city/ school specific. Leave travel allowance is allowable twice in a block of four years. This defies logic. Is the submission being made that one should holiday only once in two years. Considering the pressures of work today, I believe one needs a break more than once every year. The amount is allowable only for travel within India. It is often cheaper to travel abroad on a holiday than travel within India and that option should be given to the salaried employee. Interest on housing loans upto Rs 2 lakh is allowed as a deduction provided the construction is completed within three years. If not the deduction is restricted to Rs 30,000. Considering that builders are often delaying the completion and the handing over of houses, this restriction should be removed. Furthermore, considering that small apartments in distant suburbs are costing nearly Rs 1 crore, the deduction should at least be Rs. 10 lakh.
Image for representational purpose.(Photo: static.dnaindia.)
Investment in Public Provident Fund, equity linked savings schemes (ELSS), life insurance, repayment of housing loan and the likes is allowed a deduction of Rs 150,000. As savings and investments boost the economy and are to be encouraged this deduction (especially investments in ELSS) should be increased to at least Rs 500,000. The exemption for rent paid, if an employee does not receive house rent allowance was fixed in 1996-97 at Rs 2,000. Rented accommodation for a family at Rs 2,000 per month does not exist. This must be raised to at least Rs 10,000 per month. The personal tax exemption at Rs 250,000 is very little. At the very least considering inflation and reality, this should be in-
creased to Rs 500,000. The Budget should aim at bringing others within the tax net. Apart from the common man, there must be focus on the economy especially building the infrastructure. The recent ‘Make in India’ campaign was long overdue. These must now be implemented and to do that, there must be speedy approvals. On a recent trip to Aurangabad to view the glorious Ajanta and Ellora caves, I was told that the Japanese Government had agreed to build a six lane highway from Aurangabad to the Ajanta Caves. It was abandoned by them in frustration after several years because no approvals were forthcoming. I was also disappointed that at the Ajanta and Ellora Caves though world heritage sights,
there was a lack of facilities. There were no hotels. The roads leading to the caves could have been much better. There were very few tourists. I felt ashamed that we rave about foreign sites which are mediocre compared to ours. The Alhambra in Spain attracts over seven million tourists every year but it is not as impressive as Fatehpur Sikri which attracts only around 600,000. There is no point in saying incredible India if we do not do anything about it. As the government may not be able to develop these sites, my suggestion would be to allow companies to adopt these sites and develop them. Let them charge too for the upkeep. There is no reason why, in a few years, we cannot get more tourists than the whole of Asia combined. The Budget should focus on developing the economy as opposed to playing to vote banks. Public sector banks, already reeling under huge losses, should not be forced to give loans that will never be repaid. The emphasis for a change must be on growth and economic sense not on appeasement. Courtesy: dnaindia
This Is How The Chhattisgarh Govt. Is 'Punishing' Tribals For Protesting Against Coal Mining For the first time in 10 Activists have termed this FRA, which requires the years of the Forest Rights move as a violation of the process of recognition of Act (FRA), the Forest Rights Act be- rights to be completed Chhattisgarh government cause cancellation of before granting clearhas cancelled forest rights rights once recognised ance. allotted to tribals of has not been provided for Ghatbarra village in either in this or any other Diversion of forest for Surguja disAct under non-forest purposes like trict. In an the Con- mining requires the conorder issued Shruti Agarwal stitution. sent of the affected Gram on January 8, In fact, Sabhas. No such consent 2016, the state forest de- the Forest Rights Bill of had been obtained. In fact, partment stated that vil- 2005 did have the provi- the Gram Sabhas in lage residents were using sion of cancellation of Surguja, including their rights to oppose min- rights if evidence of their Ghatbarra, had passed ing in coal blocks outside violation was established. formal resolutions in Dethe forest compartments However, the Joint Par- cember 2014 opposing allotted to them. liamentary Committee mining in their region. constituted to review the Surguja was the first district in Chhattisgarh to grant community forest rights under the Act. But the title deeds were riddled with controversy. Ghatbarra village had claimed community rights over eight forest compartments. Of these, the tribals received title deeds for only three compartments. The remaining five compartments were under the Prasa East and Kete Besan coal blocks allocated to Rajasthan Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RVUNL) and operated by Adani Minerals Private Limited. Ghatbarra appealed to the State Level Monitoring Committee (SLMC) against the exclusion of Image for representational purpose.(photo: the five compartments, but the committee took no action on the com- Bill had observed that Forest rights activists say plaint. forest rights were as fun- the illegality of the JanuReview By The Forest damental in nature as ary order is unquestionDepartment those pertaining to the able. They have warned The coal blocks had re- right to life and, hence, they will take the matter ceived clearance in 2012 removed such a provi- to court if the order is not and Ghatbarra received sion. withdrawn immediately. forest rights title deeds in "We are organising a re2013. The state forest de- Chhattisgarh forest de- gional consultation on partment has reasoned partment overlooked two March 1 to review the that since the clearance other concerns while as- recent violations of had come prior to the title sessing the situation: FRA. If needed, we will deeds, the deeds could be Forest clearance for the file a PIL," said Devjit "cancelled". This conclu- two coal blocks had been Nandi from All India Fosion formed the basis for given without the settle- rum of Forest Movethe government order in ment of forest rights. ments (AIFFM). January. This is a violation of
Poor Implementation Of FRA In Chhattisgarh The SLMC's role in facilitating implementation of FRA remains unclear. Besides being unresponsive to the demands of the Gram Sabhas, the SLMC constituted a subcommittee to be chaired by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests to review implementation. The SLMC also asked the forest department in 2009 to immediately issue title deeds in case of undisputed claims, together with the
mately 40 percent of the population is tribal. There have been other instances of violation of the FRA in the state but no action has been taken in either case. The state government has signed MoUs with many mining companies for projects on forest lands which have been interpreted as ineligible under FRA despite several claims on them. Several claims have been rejected on the grounds that they have been made on "disputed" land, popularly called "orange" areas. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Research and Training Institute (SCSTRTI) report of 2013 states, "It must be noted that these orange areas are recorded in records of both forest and revenue department and so long as the land is recorded as forest land, it comes under the ambit of the FRA.
cdn.youthkiawaaz) revenue department. Neither of these departments have the authority to allot title deeds under the Act. The tribal department, which is the nodal agency for the implementation of the Act, found no mention in the SLMC's direction. Since then, the forest department has assumed control of the FRA process on ground and has undermined the role of the tribal department in a state where approxi-
Thus, denying rights over such lands is in violation of the law." A Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India report of the same year confirmed this trend saying that the loss of forest land for industrial development is leaving the forest-dwelling communities in Chhattisgarh with no other option but to migrate to towns and provide cheap labour. Instances such as the one of the Ghatbarra tribals have put a question mark over the future of the Act which intended to undo the "historic injustice" suffered by forest-dwelling communities. Courtesy: Youthkiawaaz
eclipse discovered Scientists have discovered a stellar system about 10,000 light years from Earth where every 69 years the bigger star disappears in a near-total eclipse. Scientists have discovered a stellar system about 10,000 light years from Earth where every 69 years the bigger star disappears in a near-total eclipse for a record three and a half years. The system, known only by its astronomical catalogue number TYC 2505-672-1, sets a new record for both the longest duration stellar eclipse and the longest period between eclipses in a binary system. The next eclipse in the system will occur in the year 2080, researchers said. "It's the longest duration stellar eclipse and the longest orbit for an eclipsing binary ever found, by far," said first author Joey Rodriguez, a doctoral student at Vanderbilt University in the US. The previous record holder is Epsilon Aurigae, a giant star that is eclipsed by its companion every 27 years for periods ranging from 640 to 730 days. "Epsilon Aurigae is much closer--about 2,200 light years from Earth--and brighter, which has allowed astronomers to study it extensively," said Rodriguez. The leading explanation is that Epsilon Aurigae consists of a yellow giant star orbited by a normal star
solar eclipse. (photo: static.dnaindia.) slightly bigger than the sun embedded in a thick disk of dust and gas oriented nearly edge on when viewed from the Earth. "One of the great challenges in astronomy is that some of the most important phenomena occur on astronomical timescales, yet astronomers are generally limited to much shorter human timescales," said co-author Keivan Stassun, professor at Vanderbilt. "Here we have a rare opportunity to study a phenomenon that plays out over many decades and provides a window into the types of environments around stars that could represent planetary building blocks at the very end of a star system's life," said Stassun. The new system is similar to the one at Epsilon Aurigae, with some important differences, researchers said. It appears to consist of a pair of red giant stars, one of which has been stripped down to a relatively small core and sur-
rounded by an extremely large disk of material that produces the extended eclipse. "About the only way to get these really long eclipse times is with an extended disk of opaque material. Nothing else is big enough to block out a star for months at a time," Rodriguez said. TYC-2505-672-1 is so distant that the amount of data the astronomers could extract from the images was limited. However, they were able to estimate the surface temperature of the companion star and found that it is about 2,000 degrees Celsius hotter than the surface of the Sun. In order to produce the 69-year interval between eclipses, the astronomers calculate that they must be orbiting at an extremely large distance, about 20 astronomical units, which is approximately the distance between the Sun and Uranus. The study was published in the Astronomical Journal. Courtesy:dnaindia
Marijuana users five times more likely to become alcoholic
man smoking weed. (Photo: s1.ibtimes) "Marijuana use appears to increase the likelihood that an existing alcohol use disorder will continue over time." Adults who use marijuana are five times more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder (AUD) - alcohol abuse or dependence - compared to those who do not use the drug, a new study has found. Adults who already have an alcohol use disorder and use marijuana are more likely to see the problem persist, researchers said. "Our results suggest that cannabis use appears to be associated with an increased vulnerability to developing an alcohol use disorder, even among those without any history of this," said Renee Goodwin, associate professor at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health.
"Marijuana use also appears to increase the likelihood that an existing alcohol use disorder will continue over time," Goodwin said. The researchers analysed data from 27,461 adults enrolled in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions who first used marijuana at a time when they had no lifetime history of alcohol use disorders. The population was assessed at two time points. Adults who had used marijuana at the first assessment and again over the following three years (23%) were five times more likely to develop an alcohol use problem, compared with those who had not used marijuana (5%). Adult problem drinkers who did not use cannabis were significantly more
likely to be in recovery from alcohol use disorders three years later. "From a public health standpoint we recommend that further research be conducted to understand the pathways underlying these relationships as well as the degree to which various potentially vulnerable population subgroups youth, for example - are at increased risk," noted Goodwin. "If future research confirms these findings, investigating whether preventing or delaying first use of marijuana might reduce the risk of developing alcohol use disorders among some segments of the population may be worthwhile," Goodwin added. The study was published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Courtesy: Dnaindia
BUSINESS 35% shrink in Maggi market share
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DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
brings in happiness for rivals
Pune, Feb 23: The controversy over Maggi noodles, which led to a ban that was overturned, has seen its market share drop by almost half, according to industry executives who drew on Nielsen data. The share of the Nestle's noodles brand in India dropped to 42% in January from a high of 77% in the year-ago month. While Maggi regained the No. 1 slot in instant noodles last month, ITC Foods' Sunfeast Yippee has covered much ground and came a close second with a 33% share. The cat-
Rs 405 drop in gold price as global leads stay weak Chennai, Feb 23: Amid a weakening global trend, gold futures fell sharply by Rs 405 to Rs 29,110 per 10 gm recently as speculators cut down their bets. Gold for delivery in April contracts dropped Rs 405, or 1.37%, to Rs 29,110 per 10 gm in a business turnover of 799 lots at the Multi Commodity Exchange. In a similar fashion, the metal for delivery in far-month June was trading down Rs 390, or 1.31%, to Rs 29,390 in 22 lots. Market analysts said the fall in gold futures is mostly in step with a weak trend overseas as Asian equities resumed their gain and chances of a US rate hike rose after a report on Friday showed a pick-up in inflation. Meanwhile, gold prices slid 0.3% to $1,223.67 an ounce in Singapore today. (Agencies)
Kidskart.com might soon be shut down by DLF brands Bengaluru, Feb 23: DLF Brands may soon shut its kidswear and baby products e-commerce business, Kidskart.com, joining a host of e-commerce portals, including Localbanya.com and Yebhi.com, to have closed shops amid mounting losses. Two senior industry executives, familiar with the development, said the company lost interest in the format due to extreme competition and discounting war from both pure-play online kids stores like Babyoye and Firstcry as well as marketplaces such as Amazon, Flipkart and Snapdeal whereby it meant sustained investment to support the mounting losses for sometimes. "Even though the business was doing couple of crores every month in gross merchandise value, they decided to close it as DLF doesn't have the appetite for it. By appetite I mean neither money to lose nor the will to run it," he added. Timmy Sarna, CEO at DLF Brands, said the company has made Kidskart dormant since it wants to focus on brick and mortar retail which is the key focus area and we will be launching Mothercare. "We felt there was some duplication in doing Kidskart and Mothercare at the same time. Our business is very healthy and want to focus on our core business," Sarna said. (Agencies)
egory, dominated by Maggi until May last year, has become fragmented with others such as Nissin's Top Ramen and Cup Noodles, Ching's Secret, Wai Wai and HUL's Knorr having caught up. Maggi was banned last year in June and returned to stores in early November after a five-month ban and voluntary recall over allegations by food regulator Food Safety & Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) over excessive lead and mislabelling of flavour enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG). "We have reintroduced
SHRINK IN MAGGI'S POPULARITY The controversy over Maggi noodles, which led to a ban that was overturned, has seen its market share drop by almost half.
The category, dominated by Maggi until May last year, has become fragmented with others such as Nissin's Top Ramen and Cup Noodles, Ching's Secret, Wai Wai and HUL's Knorr having caught up.
While Maggi regained the No. 1 slot in instant noodles last month, ITC Foods' Sunfeast Yippee has covered much ground and came a close second with a 33% share.
Image for graphical representation only. (Photo: trvnews)
The share of the Nestle's noodles brand in India dropped to 42% in January from a high of 77% in the year-ago month.
Maggi noodles across all geographies except Nagaland and Tripura
where we are engaging with the authorities to commence sale," a Nestle
spokesperson said. "The response has been overwhelming." (Agencies)
Tie-up for funds by NTPC Bangladesh power plant JV to be completed in 6 to 8 months
Dhaka, Feb 23: NTPC's joint venture (JV) project with Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) for setting up a 1,320-megawatts (MW) power plant in the neighbouring country is expected to complete the tie-up for funds in six to eight months. "Financial closure of the (Bangladesh) project is expected to be completed in six to eight months' time," an NTPC executive said while talking to analysts and investors. "For the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Private Ltd (BIFPCL), the price bids for the main plant of 2x660 MW were opened on December 2, 2015. The respective board of joint
To fight NPAs cut govt stake in public sector banks to below 51%: SBI chief
Arundhati Bhattacharya, chairman of SBI. (Photo: ibtimes) New Delhi, Feb 23: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley may be worried about how to manage bank capitalization and fiscal prudence over the next few years. But the State Bank of India chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya has a solution: when the recapital-
ization roadmap is finalized, it could provide for government stake falling below 51%, a plan that Atal Behari Vajpayee government proposed. The plan coming from the chief of the biggest bank in the country reveals how difficult it could be with-
out access to raising funds from the market, which the current laws do not permit since government holding in most banks is already close to 51%."For the banking sector, we should look for a clear roadmap for recapitalisation, with provision for ownership reduction below 51%,'' said Arundhati Bhattacharya, chairman of SBI to Markets Pre-Budget meet on the Union Budget. With the government under pressure to stick to its fiscal deficit target of 3.9% of the gross domestic product this fiscal and 3.5% for next, it may not find enough resources to capitalise the banks adequately. If the government changes laws which permit its holding to go below 51%, banks could raise funds selling shares
to investors. The soaring bad loan problems of banks were not self-inflicted wounds of the industry, but were mostly due to factors that are beyond its control. "Very many things that were promised did not happen," said Bhattacharya. "Gas was supposed to be available abundantly, it did not happen. We are supposed to be getting all approvals within short periods of time, which did not happen. Mining was closed down because the law-enforcement agencies could not ensure it was being done legally. Surely, the banks were not responsible for that. Mines were allocated and cancelled; licences accorded and taken away; rupee as a currency depreciated. The world went into a tail spin
because of quantitative easing being rolled back and interest rates shot up. I don't know how many of these are the making of banks." Indeed, the staterun banks are likely to turn a new leaf with the changes effected, including the splitting of the board and the executive functions. "If you look at the kind of people getting nominated on the board, they are people of eminent capability and they make very good contributions," she said. "In SBI, we have always had the benefit of a good board. Now, even in other PSBs, the current nominations are of very good people with an excellent track record of execution. I am sure that over a period of time this will show up in the working of these banks. (Agencies)
Only 32% of Indians love wearing denim Mumbai, Feb 23: India is one of the largest producers of denim, with manufacturing capacity of 1.2 billion metres, but only 32% of Indians love or enjoy wearing denim, which is the least among the six denim hubs of the world. This was revealed by J Berrye Worsham, president and CEO of US-based Cotton Inc at the two-day global summit on denims and jeans, 'Denims: A Democracy in Fashion' which began at IIM Ahmedabad recently. As many as 71% of people in Europe and Latin America love to wear denim, followed by 70% in the US, 58% in
China and 57% in Japan. Worsham gave these details from the 'Consumer and Retail Insights' study, conducted by Cotton Inc. In his keynote address on 'Markets and Trends in Denims', Worsham said that the growth of denim in US has slowed down but China, India and Latin America are likely to see tremendous growth. He also said that close to 1.9 billion units of denim jeans were sold in the world in 2015 and by 2021 the yearly sales of jeans will cross 2 billion units. S N Modani of Sangam Group said that per capita consumption
J Berrye Worsham, president and CEO of US-based Cotton Inc. (Photo: wordpress)
of denim in India is 0.3 pairs, which is much lower than that of China (2 pairs) and the US (8
pairs). CEO of Arvind Ltd, Aamir Akhtar, however cautioned denim manufacturers saying they cannot get into a comfort zone as the consumer is not going to stay with denims forever. Dr Pankaj Chandra, former director, IIM Bangalore said, "The textile industry structure must be disrupted by new technology and skills. The textile and apparel sector has seen the fewest startups in the last three years among the five major sectors in the country that provide the maximum employment." Chandra further put a question to manufactur-
ers, "Do you think the textile sector can perform without its small players experimenting?" Akhtar further said, "China is losing its sheen and countries including India have got the opportunity to fill that gap in exports. In India, according to present capacity utilization, over 800 million metres per annum (mmpa) of denim is produced. Out of this 550 mmpa goes into domestic consumption while 250 mmpa is exported. The denims industry is growing at a CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) of 13%15%." (Agencies)
TECHNOLOGY Oppo F1 Bengaluru, Feb 23: Oppo phones, such as the R7, have always offered good specifications for a low price. The newest instalment, the F1, is being advertised as a "selfie expert" and houses decent hardware under the hood. The phone has a metal back and a curved-edge front and many might mistake it for an iPhone 6s. The F1 is slimmer than its counterparts in the mid-segment range and also pretty lightweight. Though Oppo was going for the premium look, smartphone enthusiasts will notice the F1 uses plastic instead of glass for its edges and sides. Basically, at Rs 15,990, you can get your hands on a mid-segment smartphone which resembles an iPhone. The phone has soft touch buttons below the screen, a rar-
SELFIE EXPERT The newest instalment, the F1, is being advertised as a "selfie expert" and houses decent hardware under the hood. The phone has a metal back and a curved-edge front and many might mistake it for an iPhone 6s. The F1 is slimmer than its counterparts in the mid-segment range and also pretty lightweight. F1 uses plastic instead of glass for its edges and sides. Basically, at Rs 15,990, you can get your hands on a mid-segment smartphone which resembles an iPhone.
ity these days. These buttons are not backlit, which further adds to the non-premium look. Also, one can't switch to on-screen buttons like in the Moto G. The F1 has a 5-inch 720p screen which is quite decent and also nothing new. But given its price tag, people would rather spend a couple of thousand rupees extra and go in for a 1,080p display instead. The F1 houses a Snapdragon 616 processor and has 3GB of RAM, which is quite sufficient even for a heavy user. RAM-management is pretty effective and even after installing various A surprise apps, t h e phone's performance is satisfactory. It runs Oppo's Color OS, which is based on Android 5.1 Lollipop. The
light to enter, resulting in clear selfies even in low light conditions. The selfies are clear and intricate. Of course, that's bad news for people who want to hide their blemishes.
Image for graphical representation only. (Photo:phonesreview)
show-stealer is the eightmegapixel (MP) front camera, howpackage ever. It has m a y b e raised the bar for front cameras. It has a wide f/2.0 aperture lens and a sensor size of Âź inches, which allows more
But you win some and lose some. The best thing about the output selfies is that they're pretty lifelike, which surprises you given the price tag. On the other hand, the 13MP rear camera falls short because of the lag one can experience while switching to certain modes such as the HDR. However, the output pictures are clear and have sharp colours. At Rs 15,990, the Oppo F1 brings together a great front camera, good hardware and almost-premium looking design to deliver a smartphone, which is sure to attract many. (Agencies)
Image for graphical representation only. (Photo: dozdrapeba)
venture company has consented for the issue of Notice of Award (NOA)," he added. State-run power equipment maker Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has emerged as the lowest bidder for the project worth $1.6 billion (nearly
Rs 10,934.4 crore). It may be awarded the project by the end of this month. The tender for the project was floated by BIFPCL, a 50:50 joint venture between NTPC and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). BHEL has outbid Larsen and Toubro (L&T) and two Chinese companies to emerge as the lowest bidder for the project called 'Maitree' (friendship). The joint venture company was incorporated on October 31, 2012. The proposed project at Khulna in Bangladesh is a coal-based thermal power plant with a rated capacity of 1,320 MW (2x 660 MW). (Agencies)
Amit Mitra will now to take forward the unfinished agenda of Dasgupta
Amit Mitra, finance minister of West Bengal and the new chief of GST. (Photo: cloudfront) Kolkata, Feb 23: Amit Mitra, finance minister of West Bengal and the new chief of GST, will now have to take forward the unfinished agenda of his predecessor and rival, Asim Dasgupta, the former finance minister of the state. But there's more to Mitra's appointment than meets the eye. Political observers say the Modi government has chosen the GST chief from a party which has a good representation in the Upper House, which reduces the chance of a conflict. Interestingly, the same reason was attributed when Dasgupta was made the chief of the panel in 2000, said a senior CPM leader. Even though economists put credibility and efficiency as the main reasons for choosing the chief of the panel, political observers differ. An MIT grad, Dasgupta drafted the
GST Bill during his decade-long - 2000-2011tenure as the panel chief, which introduced VAT. He was tasked with drafting the GST in 2007, and in 2010 most of the work was done. But everything slowed down following Dagupta's resignation in 2011. Ironically, Dasgupta was defeated in the 2011 assembly elections by Mitra, the current GST chairman. Dasgupta stepped down from the panel after the defeat and was successively followed by Sushil Modi, J&K finance minister Abdul Rahim Rather and Kerala FM KM Mani. Now, it is up to Mitra to ensure smooth passage for the Bill that's stuck for way too long. "During my five years in the empowered committee, I have seen there's kind of consensus among all parties and states on the desirability of a single tax such as GST," said Mitra. (Agencies)
Oil prices recover in Asia, US crude back above $30 Singapore, Feb 23: Oil prices recovered in Asia today after a steep fall in the previous session, with US crude back above USD 30 a barrel as traders mulled the impact of a potential freeze by key producers. Oil spiked sharply last week after major exporters held talks on a potential agreement to reduce a global supply glut that has dragged prices to their lowest levels in nearly 13 years this month. Saudi Arabia and Russia, the world's top crude producers, have agreed to limit production if others followed suit. But crude resumed its downtrend Friday as traders fretted the deal would not gain traction, with analysts cautioning Iraq and Iran, which is ramping up output after sanctions were lifted, has shown little support. News commercial oil stockpiles in the US, the world's top oil consumer, continued to build up added to the pressure. At around 0335 GMT (0905 IST) today, US
benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in March was up 50 cents, or 1.69 per cent, at USD 30.14. Global benchmark, Brent, for April advanced 43 cents, or 1.30 percent, to USD 33.44 a barrel. Sanjeev Gupta, who heads the Asia Pacific oil and gas practice at EY, predicted prices would remain under pressure and said he sees "little evidence of any relief from the oversupply". The market will now be "looking for clues on the outlook for crude oil demand from the manufacturing and service sector data from the US and Europe that will be released this week," he added. Still, Capital Economics said even if the producer talks did not lead to an agreement "they may be the first indication of willingness to act to prevent prices falling further". "A sustained recovery may require something more substantial, but for now at least oil prices appear to have found a floor," it said. (Agencies)
DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
Features
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ART AND CULTURE The Contemporary Art Practice Of Tripura: An Overview In the history of art in Indian style of their own Tripura, the first credit in the art practice, which goes to the King has gained a lot of imporBirendra Kishore tance. Manikya (1883-1923 ). Besides them emiHe stands alone in depth nent artist Dhirendra of sensitivity and deli- Krishna Debbarma cacy of style. He was not started his career under only a painter but a sculp- the patronage of the tor too. His artistic es- Royal family. But he sence exemplifies a skil- stayed for a very short ful representation of the period in Agartala. Anacademic technique. His other important artist works are western in R a m e n d r a n a t h style and Chakraborty technique (1902and Indian Pramit parno Paul 55), a stuin subject. dent of He can stand in the same Nandalal Bose had stature like great master started his early career as Raja Ravi Varma. His fa- an artist at Ujjayanta Palmous masterpieces like ace during the time of Sannasi, Jhulan,Banshi Maharaja Bir Birkram. Siksha proved that, how But this talented artist he was a premium artist did not stay long as a in this region. His activ- court painter and had to ity was restricted to the go back to Kolkata where state, but his influence as he joined as a Principal an artist was widespread. of Govt. Art College. He Gradually his art practice invariably preferred orispread throughout the ental to western trends of state. Maharaja's interest art which he improvised was not only in painting and transformed, so his or sculpture but he had a conceptual and visual very good sense on Ar- manifestation was truly chitecture, Music and Indian. During this time Design too. He had great the other important artcollections of books on ists were Shamacharan Art history which in- Chakraborty and cluded both Indian and in Sashikumar Hesh. The western context. death of Maharaja Rabindranath Tagore the BirBikram on 17th May great poet helped him 1947, who was a great art many a times for collect- lover, brought the pracing books. Maharaja tice of art in the state on wrote many letters to stand still. Tagore regarding the culBut the art practice tural context. As an art- which started from Royal ist his style was original family, gradually spread and it has been reflected to the society. Many on his followers. To men- common man showed intion among them were terest in the visual art and Samarendra Kishore went outside for their Debbarma, Mahendra education on art. After Debbarma, Kumar completing their educaNarsingh Chandra, Agni tion, they came back and Kumar Bhattacharya, started practicing art seThakur Anil Krishna riously in their respective Debbarma and streme. One of them was Rajkumari Kamala the great master, Probha Devi. They H r i s h i k e s h propagated and pro- Debbarma(1927-1987). moted a contemporary He was also a part of the
Royal family. He did his art education at santiniketan, during the year 1958. He was the admirer of Abanindranath Tagore, and followed the style and techniques of 'Bengal School'. His painting is a mixture of emotions; attitudes and feelings, which represents a culminating point in his experiments with styles and media. Most of his works correspond with the romantic theme which reflects the daily life activities. Nalinikanta Majumdar (1903-1985) started his drawing and painting from the very early age. Nalinikanta was a great painter. He received formal training from 'Indian Society of oriental Art', Kolkata where; he was influenced by the 'Bengal School' in the style and technique. Thereafter, Nalinikanta attended the studio of Abanindranath and Gaganendranath, was also close to theJorasanko Thakur Bari. Nalini Kanta started working in water colours and Tempera. Significantly, in his work the life and nature of Tripura reflected very much. He did receive a sympathetic response from writers or critics like Suniti Kumar Chattapadhya, O.C.Ganguly and Kalidas Nag. Nalini Kanta exhibited his works in Kolkata & abroad which received National and International acclaims. His works were published in many prestigious magazine or journals like Manchester Gardian, Daily Mail, The Time,Prabashi etc. In the mid fifties another young artist who came on the forefront
A contemporary art form.( Photo: Pramit parno Paul, nezine)
was Sumangal Sen (1932-2005). He did his art education from Kolkata Govt. Art College. He was the student of famous painter like Atul Bose and Basanta Ganguly. Dr. Sen was prolific contemporary artist, an art educationist and a writer. As painter he had significant adaptability. He was the founder member of the Govt. College of Art & Craft, Agartala. At that time of sixties and seventies many young artist namely Salilkrishna Debbarma, Prasanta Sengupta, Sakti Halder, Bijan Bandhu Chakrabarty, Bimal Kar, Bimal Deb, Chinmoy Roy, Parthapratim Deb, Dharmanarayan Das Gupta, Bipul Kanti Saha did a large number of works on different mediums. In this time two major artist groups was formed for a very short period; one is 'All Tripura Fine Arts Society' and another one was 'Vibgiour'. In the years between seventies and eighties many young artist established them-
selves namely Swapan Nandi, Sanghamitra Nandi,Aparesh Pal, Barun Chakraborty, Partha Pratim Ganguly, Tapashree Ganguly, Dilip Dey, Pradip Chakrabarty, Dipika Saha, and later on Harekrishna pal, Jibankrishna shil,Tapasi Debbarma, Debashish Biswas, Mitali Gangopadhya, Kajol Dev etc. They have significantly contributed their innovative ideas in the contemporary art practice in Tripura. The idea of establishing an art Institution in the capital Agartala was a major step which was taken in the year 1975. The development of contemporary or modern art in Tripura has been intimately linked up with the development of art education. Late Sumangal Sen was the founder principal of the institution. But this Institution had a long history of struggle. This Institute had no permanent building for longer period. But at present, the institute has got a permanent
building with all the modern facilities that are required in an art institution with four major streams like Painting, Sculpture, Advertising art and Art History. The institute has a group of young faculties imbibed in fresh exposure and openness to carry forward the mission to establish a serious art practice in the state. Several eminent artist and scholars visit the college frequently from across the country. Lectures, Discussions, Workshop, College annual exhibitions, festivals keep the art atmosphere alive. This art Institute had produced some finest teachers as well as artist like Bimal Kar, Bimal Deb, Chinmoy Roy and Bipul Kanti Saha. Bimal Kar who was a student of Kolkata Government Art College had his training under the famous artist, Satyen Ghosal. As an artist his subject matter concentrated on daily life, religion, landscape and portraiture. His work was traditional but contemporary in style and treatment. In the mid sixties one important artist of the state was Chinmoy Roy. He was a student of Santiniketan. In his earlier work, Roy made his compositions with emotional out bursts. In the later works he has given a new sensibility and expression to his forms. Bipulkanti Saha was the first modern sculptor of Tripura; He had his education from Santiniketan and Baroda. His work includes forms casted in the metal or in the fiber glass. Bipul Kanti's sculpture was very meaningful to the humanists. Bimal Deb was an important artist and a writer. As a painter he had outstand-
ing wits. His ability to handle a large variety of medium was very important features of his works. Another important personality worth mentioning is Rameswar Bhattacharya, ex principal In Charge of this Institute. He is a professor of Sanskrit. This educationist contributed a lot in the development of a serious art practice in this region. 'Ishani Kala Sangam' is a painting/ sculpture workshopseminar which is running for the last Ten years, goes to his credit. In this workshop many artists from north eastern states, West Bengal and Bangladesh are participating. 'Ishani kala sangam' make a major role and a platform for the young artist in this region. Besides the art institute, few organizations have played a major role to develop a serious art practice in this province. 'Rabindra parisad' is such an organization where for last fifty years they are arranging an Annual exhibition. Practicing artists /students from different parts of Tripura are participating there. 'Tripura Fine Arts Academy' is another association, who are organizing their annual show for the last twenty five years. In the last four to five years many younger artists of the recent times are playing a serious role, namely Joydip Bhattacharya, Paltu Barman, Santanu Dhar, Mrinmoy Debbarma, Subrata Dey,Manish Bhattacharya,Kaberi Chowdhuri, Pushpal D e b , S o u r a v Debbarma,Prasanta Sinha, Suman Bhattacharya, Ramayendu Das, Biplab Das, Rajesh Bhowmik,
Sajal Chakrabarty, Abhijit Bhattacharya, Biswaranjan Debnath, S h a m a p r a s a d Bhattacharya, Pramit parno Paul. Most of them had also travelled with their works all over India and abroad also. The new developments were largely individual and significant for their artistic experiments. The works of these artists mentioned above are important for two reasons; first, for their own experimental work and second, as most of them as teachers are able to support and guide many young artists. These promising artists are seriously engaged in their works with a contemporary sensibility. There are artist groups like Kirat,Karukrit, Raft, New Bud, Rider, Dustbin etc. But the problem is that in this particular periphery no art market has grownup. The isolated land surrounded by Bangladesh and lack of communication mess up the potential of serious art practice. In the year 2009 the City Centre Art Gallery was formed by the Government. But no private gallery owner or connoisseur was found. Still a change has been noticed (specifically socio political, economic and cultural) for the last few years and that is very significant for serious art practice in Tripura. (Pramit parno Paul is an assistant professor in the Dept. of Art History at the Govt. College of Art & Crafts, at Agartala, Tripura. With a master degree from Rabindra Bharati University, he is also pursuing his PhD from Assam University.) Courtesy: Nezine.
HORTICULTURE
Changlang The Most Neglected District But Strides In Horticulture Fields In Arunachal Pradesh Changlang District covered Thamphang. They occupy with picturesque hills lies in the southeastern hills of the the southeastern corner of district along IndoArunachal Pradesh, north- Myanmar border and east India. It has an area of Namchik basin.The climatic 4,662 sqr. Km and a popu- conditions in this District lation of 1,48,226 persons as vary from place to place due per 2011 Census. According to mountainous nature of terto legend the name rain. The altitude also varChanglang ies from owes its 2 0 0 Lomhom Tangha meters to origin to the local 4 5 0 0 word CHANGLANGKAN meters over the peaks from which means a hilltop where sea level. Places like Miao, people discovered the poi- Kharsang, Jairampur, sonous herb, which is used Bordumsa and Diyun, which for poisoning fish in the are located in lower elevariver. Changlang district is tions and in the valleys, exhome land of fascinating and perience hot and humid cliinteresting tribes such as mate in summer during Tangsa, Singpho and Tutsa, June-August. In the hill arand also found Nocte, Lisu eas the climate is moderate (Yobin), Deori and few and pleasant. December to Adibasi tribes. The Tangsa February months are very tribe comprises of a number cold. January is the coldest of Sub-Tribes, namely month when the average Lungchang, Muklom, maximum and minimum Tikhak, Jugli, Mossang, temperature is about 22.0 Ronrang, Kimsing, degree Celsius and 13.0 deMungrey, Lungphi, Ponthai, gree Celsius respectively. Havi, Sangkeng, Longri, August is the hottest month Sangwal, Langching, during which temperature Hacheng, Thamkuk and may occasionally exceed
30.2 degree Celsius. The average maximum temperature is about 26.96 degree Celsius and minimum 18.63 degree Celsius. As far as religion is concerned, each tribe has its own traditional religious be-
Christianity and Buddhism. The Singphos are Buddhist by religion but they have not given up their own traditional beliefs of their ancestors as they had adopted the Buddhism as their religion. Moh-Mol: Moh-Mol is ba-
A view of the Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh (Photo: farm6.static) lief and practices. The Tangsas and Tutsas belief in existence of a supreme being called 'Rangfrah'. Besides this they also believe in a number of deities and spirits. However recently many of them have came under the influence of
sically agricultural related festival of Tangsas, which signifies end of an agricultural activity or beginning of crop season. Since life and activity of tribal people revolve around agriculture, they adhere to utmost important to this festival. It is a gala
of pomp and show of traditional colourful costumes, ornaments, art and crafts that enriched the pride of Tangsa's cultural heritage of the past. It therefore inspires younger generation every year to inherit, protect, preserve and continue it to the later generations further. This district is famous for many wrong reasons like encountering of Assam Rifles with Naga militants and Chakma Hajong refugees issues. With the advent of winter season, the denizen lives in sheer panic over the militancy and para military confrontations. Amidst this, the district has excelled in many areas like tea cultivation and large cardamom plantations besides timber and coal businesses. The Changlang district is regarded as one of the main key district to have rated as the highest revenue contributors to the state exchequer. This district is one of the most influence district in the state of Arunachal Pradesh but the state had
neglected this district since its inception, the ratio at which it stands in the representations of government Job is lesser than one percent at par with the other counterparts. The district do not have bureaucrats at the top level who could have otherwise push up the candidates during the interviews. Yet the citizens have out of compulsion made a stride in horticultural areas like tea and cardamom cultivation. The district have recorded 2.7 crores profit in large cardamom business in Khimyang circle of Changlang district during 2013-2014. Namdapha National park, Pangsau pass, Vijaynagar , Traditional salt springs, Oil operation sites in Kharsang and Manabhum, Picnic spots in Noa Dihing, Coal reserves in Kharsang and III World war cemetery etc are the main attractions and are worth visiting. Had there been no Inner Line permit problem these tourist places would have fetch unimaginable revenues to the state exchequer
besides lots of employment to the unemployed youths district though influxes problems pose threats? The government should come up with legalise ideas where such problems befitting Kill the snake as well as saves the stick. The onus lies with the centre and the state government how they can evolve opportunities for the locals in particular and for the state in general. This district has been famous since inception for many wrong reasons like militancy, drugs menaces. The government servants never wants to get posted here but once they get in and once cultivated a good rapport with these peace loving denizens many of them say "we do not want to go back anywhere? The accommodative nature of the denizens is worth appreciating. This district has very less crimes rate as per the data of the police crime departmental records. Even during election there has never been a case of boot capturing especially in Changlang district. The cen-
tre had of course announced huge amount for the construction of 176 span road connecting Miao and Vijoynagar but it is not happening has expected. The reason best known is due to involvement of local firms which the state government had awarded over -looking the reputed firms like Bharat Infra Private Limited and Border Road Organisation. The Vijoynagar to Miao is a life line for three thousands schedule tribes like Lisu and Yobins which had struggle for many decades just for survivals especially to carry everyday use commodities. The denizens of the Vijoynagar have been facing untold suffering especially carrying the household commodities through head load due to lack road. The Government should hand over this road to either BIPL or BRO so that the beauty of Vijoynagar can be tapped to attract tourist and earn revenues. Hope the centre and State government do not turn a deaf year to this ever needed road?
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DIBRUGARH, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
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Asia Cup: Dress rehearsal of T20 WC begins ANI New Delhi, Feb 23: Asia Cup is all set to begin on Wednesday in Bangladesh, with top five teams making to the main draw of the tournament. UAE have qualified as the fifth team which will play alongside India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. India, the hot favourite to win the tournament, will play their first match against Bangladesh at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, on Wednesday. The good news for India is that Virat Kohli has come back to the squad, who may also captain the side in the absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The Indian limited over captain suffered a muscle spasm during the
practice and the team management will not like to take any risk, if he is not 100 per cent fit. India will be up against three strong teams, besides UAE which is a tricky qualifier. Sri Lanka will be back with experienced players like Malinga, Mathews, Herath and Kulasekara returning after injuries. Pakistan too has a good mix of youth and experience and warmed up well with the Pakistan Super League, their domestic T-20 tournament. The fourth team, Bangladesh, is altogether a different side when they play at home. Not to forget India’s previous series here, where India lost an ODI against them. There has been an amazing turnaround in
Shikhar Dhawan, Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja Bangladesh cricket in the last two years and on their day they can cause a major upset. As far as the team composition is concerned, India looks like a formidable side. Ajinkya Rahane, who has been doing well in shorter formats of the game, might have to miss out because of
the return of Virat Kohli. India’s bowling also looks well with the youngsters. In the recently-concluded series against Sri Lanka, Dhoni used R Ashwin with the new ball. If Virat captains, it will be interesting to see his strategy to tackle the opposition. With Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah , Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya , the no.1 team in ICC rankings looks all set to play and rule Asia. Match starts at 19.00 IST. The Indian players likely to play against Bangladesh are Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni/Parthiv Patel, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra.
Hart backs Man City Halep insists `strong` to achieve Champions Serena not invincible League glory ANI Johannesburg, Feb.23 : ANI Johannesburg, Feb.23 : Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart has backed his side to win the Champions League title despite their recent injury woes and poor form. The 28-year-old called on City to believe that they could win the title, insisting that they had to put their best foot forward in the competition, Sport24 reported. Describing Champions League as `amazing`, Hart said that although they were lucky to have involved in lot of leagues, he said that the former tournament was something his side had always look forward as a team. Hart admitted that his side had been fighting most of the
Joe Hart time in Champions League matches, adding that it was a right time for City to fight for the title. Earlier, manager Manuel Pellegrini decided to field a weakened team against Chelsea in the Premier League, that eventually led to their biggest ever defeat 5-1 at Stamford Bridge. City will play their first leg of the pre-quarterfinals against Dynamo Kyiv on February 25.
World number four Simona Halep believes that Serena Williams' dominance of women's tennis can come to an end with every player having an equal chance of winning any tournament. Insisting that every tournament is `open to win`, the 34-year-old said that she could too win a Grand Slam just as Angelique Kerber's Australian Open victory and Flavia Pennetta's US Open triumph. Admitting that Serena is a very strong player, Halep said she has the confidence of defeating her and winning a title, Sport24 reported. The Romanian called on the top 10 players to believe themselves that they could
Simona Halep also beat the world number one. The closest Halep has come to winning a Grand Slam was in Paris in 2014, when she lost to Maria Sharapova in the finals. Halep, will now head into this week's Qatar Open in Doha, where she will play against the world's top five players, including Kerber, Agnieszka Radwanska, Garbine Muguruza.
DCCC win by 90 runs Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Feb. 23: Dibrugarh Cricket Coaching Centre defeated Nabyuk Sangha by 90 runs in the Rajanu Bora second division cricket tournament organized by Dibrugarh District Sports Association at DDSA stadium here today.
Opting to bat, DCCC Khan scalped two wickscored 142 for six in 20 ets for 24 runs. Ramzan overs. Priyanshu Mech Rahman, Samir Hussain remained unbeaten on 66 and Rahul Verma took off 67 o n e b a l l s , Rajanu Bora cricket wickets laced each rewith six fours to the spectively. fence. Tarun Barman In reply, Nabyuk boys’ contributed 17 off 34 balls were bowled out for a with a lone boundary. paltry 52 in 15.3 overs. For Nabyuk Sangha, Nur Sachin Paswan and
Eklaf Manik scored 12 and 12 runs each. For DCCC, Chiranjib Bora claimed three wickets for 11 runs in 3 overs and Mirtinjoy Yadav took two for 9 in 4 overs. Upamaniyue Saikia, Dibakar Saikia, Rashid Afridi and S. Siddharta took one wickets each for DCCC.
Woods' agent lambasts Sharjeel, Sami included `ridiculous` reports on in Pakistan’s Asia Cup, golfer's health World T20 squad ANI Johannesburg, Feb.23 : Tiger Woods' agent Mark Steinberg has described negative reports on the health of the former world number one golfer as ' ridiculous' and ' absolutely false.' Earlier, Twitter posts from two different accounts, including of long time golf writer Robert Lusetich, suggested that the 14-time major champion's health condition had deteriorated and that his rehabilitation was not going well. Denying the accuracy of these reports, Steinberg insisted that Woods was continuing to work on his rehabilitation and that they would have an accurate update at the appropriate time, Sport24 reported. Lusetich posted in a tweet:"I'm told TigerWoods condition worsened. He can't move well; painful to sit. Sits in car with seat fully re-
PTI karachi, Feb 23: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has included opener Sharjeel Khan and fast bowler Muhammad Sami in the squad for the upcoming Asia Cup and World T20 tournaments.
Tiger Woods clined. No foreseeable return. Sad." The 40-year-old American golfer hasn't played competitively since August last year. He underwent a surgery on September to deal with a disk fragment that was pinching a nerve, and six weeks later underwent another procedure to address continuing discomfort. Woods saw his form take a dip after suffering a series of back injuries since 2013.
The expected announcement came late last night through a press release from the PCB, which said that the changes were necessitated due to injuries to batsman Azam and pace bowler Raees. “After having looked at the performance of the players in the PSL, the selection committee along with captain Shahid Afridi and head coach Waqar Younis decided to include Sharjeel Khan and Mohammad Sami as replacements for injured Babar Azam and Ruman Raees respectively for both Asia Cup and World Cup,” Pakistan chief se-
Sharjeel Khan lector Haroon Rasheed said in a statement. Khalid Latif, who hit form recently and piled 190 runs in eight PSL matches so far, has been picked up for World T20 in India. “Khalid Latif could not be made part of the Asia Cup squad due to some technical reasons but would join the squad for the World Cup,” Rasheed said.
ICC penalises Hazlewood for abusing third umpire
Australia in Sight of Victory and Top World Ranking
ANI Dubai, Feb.23 : Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood has been fined 15 per cent of his match fee for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the fourth day's play in the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch on Tuesday. The player was found to have breached Article 2.1.5 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to "showing dissent at an umpire's decision during an international match". The incident happened during the last over before lunch when Hazlewood, after his review was turned down by the TV umpire, used obscene language that was picked up by the stump microphone and subsequently by the broadcast. Following the day's play,
PTI New Zealand, Feb 23 : Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja had Australia in sight of victory after an absorbing fourth day of the second Test Tuesday marked by stubborn resistance from New Zealand and umpire abuse by the tourists. With Burns on 27 and Khawaja 19, Australia were 70 for 1 at stumps requiring a further 131 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch to sweep the series and reclaim the world number one ranking. Jackson Bird, with his first five-wicket Test haul, and James Pattinson combined to end the New Zealand second innings at 335, giving Australia a 201-run target. David Warner, who has struggled on New Zealand surfaces, was the Australian
Josh Hazlewood Hazlewood admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Chris Broad of the Elite Panel of ICC Match Referees. As such, there was no need for a formal hearing. The charge was levelled by on-field umpires Richard Kettleborough and Ranmore Martinesz, third umpire Richard Illingworth and fourth official Derek Walker.
wicket to fall, caught behind for 22. Neil Wagner, using the short ball that provided him with six wickets in the first innings, caught Warner's glove and BJ Watling completed the dismissal down the leg-side. Burns offered chances but luck was on his side. On 19, he pulled Henry through square leg where Wagner was unable to hold a difficult chance. On 23, an inside edge off Matt Henry sailed close to off stump. Khawaja, however, looked untroubled and effortlessly moved to 19 off 23 deliveries.
century partnerships as they battled to save the contest. Kane Williamson made 97 when adding 102 for the fifth wicket with Corey Anderson.
Although Australia have been dominant for much of the Test, New Zealand put up a valiant fight with two
The loss of Anderson for 40 was the start of a Bird strike that claimed three wickets in six balls. Williamson and
David Warner Tim Southee also fell before BJ Watling and Henry mounted rearguard resistance. They added 118 for the eighth wicket to get New Zealand up to 328 for 7 before another batting meltdown saw the final three wickets fall for seven runs. - Williamson defiance -
Anderson, having pocketed his usual attacking instincts, occupied the crease for three hours before shelving caution and driving at a wide delivery which he edged on to the stumps. When Bird took the new ball in his next over he bagged the wicket Australia had fought all morning for bowling Williamson three runs short of what would have been a 14th Test century and two balls later removed Southee for a duck. Williamson had spent 340 minutes in the middle defying the Australians whose frustrations spilled over just before lunch with a Josh Hazlewood shout for lbw when Williamson was on 88. After Australia sought a re-
view of umpire Ranmore Martinesz's not out decision and the third umpire concurred there was bat on ball, the Australians converged on the umpires. The stumps microphone picked up an obscenity from Hazlewood as the players made their feelings known. Where Williamson and Anderson had been the epitome of caution, Watling and Henry took a more aggressive route to try to disrupt the line of the bowlers who were finding some reverse swing. Henry, in his fourth Test, had 12 fours in his 66, easily surpassing his previous best 27. For Australia, Bird took five for 59 and Pattinson four for 77.
Asia Cup is like a whole package before World T20: Kohli PTI Mirpur, Feb 23 : Indian batting mainstay Virat Kohli on Tuesday said the Asia Cup starting on Wednesday is a perfect platform to assess the team's strengths, weaknesses and its current standing on the global stage ahead of the bigticket World Twenty20 next month. India lock horns with Bangladesh in the tournament-opener of the Asia Cup T20 on Wednesday, beginning their final phase of preparations for next month's World T20 to be held in India. "Going into the World Cup as I said, the condi-
tions are going to be similar and we will probably be playing all these oppositions at some stage. So, as many teams as we play before the World Cup, it gives us a great opportunity to assess what the teams are like, what the balance is like, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and where do we stand compared to them. You can see it (Asia Cup) as a whole package before the World Cup," Kohli said at the prematch press conference. India begin the tournament on the back of some very impressive outings in the slam-bang format against Australia and Sri Lanka.
"Asia Cup has always been a challenging tournament, it's like a mini event as far as the subcontinental teams are concerned. It's an opportunity to test yourself as I said against the best teams in the sub-continent. It's a competitive tournament with different opposition with different set of skills testing you all the time." Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's availability in the opening game of the tournament remains doubtful after he suffered a muscle spams injury during a training session. This has prompted the BCCI to rush Parthiv Patel as a
the best possible for the team in terms of the batting order but, as of now, we cannot. Unless we have a decision we cannot sit down and make a concrete plan."
Virat Kholi back-up. Kohli did not clarify on whether Dhoni will sit out of the match. "With Parthiv coming in,
we will have to sit down and see if that situation comes where he has to play. We will then have to sort out a combination,
"Obviously a discussion will take place, it will happen sometime today during the practise session as to what needs to be done if that situation arises. Yeah, obviously, it's going to be different from what we have been playing with till now. We just have to wait and see how the situation pans out," Kohli said. Emboldened by the recent success at home and
away in the T20 format, Dhoni and recently said that the team is in autopilot mode, and Kohli looked at the remark very positively. "MS was spot on because I think it comes from the fact that we play a lot of T20 cricket. In IPL, we get so many games to play and execute our skills, so you keep getting better every season. "If you see the number of games being played by players in the IPL, the numbers are very high, so everyone knows what needs to be done and at what stage of the game in that tournament. I think
even MS is not required to put in so much thought on what needs to be done because the players are experienced. That takes the load off. So that's why he said the team is in auto pilot mode. I think that's what he meant. "That everyone knows what needs to be done at what stage throughout the 20 overs, be it batting, bowling or in the field. I think it's a very good atmosphere the team is in right now. Everyone is very sure what needs to be done." Attachments area Preview attachment Virat Kholi.jpg
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