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Vol. II

CRYING FOUL, MLA KH JOYKISHAN RESIGNS FROM BJP

Congress free India is a distant dream says Ninong Ering PTI Itanagar, Dec 22 : The BJP's dream of 'Congress Mukt Bharat' is just a distant dream to achieve, Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh Ninong Ering said here today.

While interacting with members of Arunachal Youth Congress (AUC), the Congress MP exhorted all youths to work with dedication, commitment and loyalty, which, according to him, would bring the party back to power.

A party release quoting him said, Congress is the oldest and largest political party in the country and served the people from its core since independence.

Speaking on the issue of demonetisation, the MP said, "Unplanned declaration of demonetisation by the Modi Government was a dictatorial decision and anti-national."

"It is the farmers, working class, middle class and business communities who are suffering the most because of demonetisation. Many have even lost their lives," Ering alleged.

"Demonetisation is nothing but a political decision keeping in mind the approaching Assembly elections in some states next year" Ering said.

Meanwhile, APYC vice president Jikke Tako submitted a two-point memorandum to the MP for maintenance of office of the APYC and to take up with the appropriate authority the case of Haa Tama, who died in Jaipur, Rajasthan, allegedly after being thrown from a 3storied building.

Ering assured to look into the demands at the earliest and also assured to take up Tama's case for speedy delivery of justice, the communique said.

Dibrugarh, Friday, December 23, 2016

A year of living dangerously

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Leisure Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir

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Assam govt releases Rs 600 Prime Minister’s Awas crores for repairing of dykes Yojana extended to all A staff reporter Guwahati, 22 Dec

Taking a serious view on the urgency of starting repairing work of embankments, State Government today released Rs. 600 crore for the revamp and repairing of dykes. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal issuing a direction has asked Water Resources Department to start repairing work by January 2, 2017.

Chief Minister Sonowal said, “This has been a long felt need of the people living in the flood prone areas to repair the

embankments which act as a protection to them against surging flood”, as he called upon people to tag along with the Deputy Commissioners to oversee the repairing works.

This direction came in a meeting held at the conference room of Chief Minister ’s Office in the city today.

Sonowal also directed Water Resources Department to use its technical knowhow to revamp the embankments under Panchayat and Rural Development Department.

Moreover, the repair work of an embankment which is predominantly used as a road in Dibrugarh district should be

FOR FLOOD CONTROL Sonowal also directed Water Resources Department to use its technical knowhow to revamp the embankments under Panchayat and Rural Development Department The meeting also assessed the condition of the five dykes which are in critical condition and decided to earmark Rs. 50 crore for their protection.

completed by January, Sonowal directed. The meeting also assessed the condition of the five dykes which are in critical condition and decided to earmark Rs. 50 crore for their protection.

Chief Minister also directed senior officers to undertake inspection and ensure quality of the repair work.

Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta, Commissioner and Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjay Lohia, senior officers from Water Resources, Finance, Revenue and Disaster Management were also present at the meeting.

CM Khandu requests GOI of a special program of banking for Arunachal ET Bureau New Delhi, 22 Dec

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has assured Government of India that the state Government is fully committed to implement financial inclusion and Direct Benefit Transfer in letter and spirit. He said this during his meeting with the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley here in the national capital today. Khandu while citing that limited banking service in the state is a big challenge, he sought GoI’s support by means of a special program of banking the unbanked in the state.

The CM further assured full support of the State Government in the implementation of GST, which he said is a pathbreaking initiative taken by Govt. of India. He reiterated that the support shown by the Union Govt in building connectivity in the state would go a long way in successful rollout of GST. While appraising Jaitley on State Finances, Khandu said “our Government has inherited a very difficult financial scenario due to host of reasons.

A ballooning past liability has

Vegetables vendor makes satisfactory buck during season that makes their living by selling their agriculture produce.

Tomato, Cauliflower, Cabbage, Gourd, Bean, Lettuce, Radish and so forth are sold like hot cake. “We are getting good return and are sufficient to run a family.

Even education and minor health

HOUSING FOR ALL SCHEME

Launched on June 25, 2015, the primary aim for this Awas Yojana is to ensure that 2 crore houses are built across nation’s length and breadth. The estimated completion year for the scheme is 2022, which means that these 2 crore homes will be constructed over a period of 7 years.

CM Khandu with the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley been drastically reduced by my government by taking many hard measures. You will appreciate that this has however impacted development in important socio and economic sectors”.

He was referring to macro issues pertaining to State Finances, health, education and Infrastructure.

CM revealed that Arunachal Pradesh has suffered the most on account of delinking of certain CSS with an overall liability of Rs 936.66 Crore.

Some very important infrastructural projects like multipurpose Sports stadiums, District Secretariats, Cement

Concrete Roads, and Convention Centre remain incomplete as a consequence.

Even in the Urban Development Ministry, the liabilities of Delinked Schemes have put a very heavy financial burden on the state.

While lauding the Union Govt for planning a whopping Rs 4,387.44 Crore project for upgrading the infrastructural facilities in all the villages situated in the border areas between 0-50 Km from the international border which is in advanced stage of consultation with all the nodal ministries of Govt. of India, Khandu requested Union Minister to

pay special attention towards Arunachal considering its historical & strategic importance..

He also submitted the issue of Hill Transport Subsidy that has been plaguing the State for a long time. The FCI and the GOI has not been reimbursing the subsidy since last many years for something as essential as the PDS supply.

After giving a patient hearing, Jaitley assured all out support to the state.

CM was accompanied by Dy CM Chowna Mein during the call on.

care would be managed out of this wages. We produce it locally without much use of fertilizers as the land is fertile. Sometime we use cow dung to raise the production”, says one of the vendors from Mekeliang village.

cultivation without govt. support.

If we received government incentives and support then literally the production could soar up and cover large area for supply out of the district, the vendor hopes.

Tomato thrives much here as the land is favorable and scanty of rainfall in the form of short shower is boon for the Tomato.

We earned Rs 600 to 800 out of Tomato only in a day. We practiced traditional method of

At the township fresh seasonal vegetables allure shopper especially on Wednesday and Sunday weekly market where cheap vegetables are available to supplement better nutritional values.

Chief Minister Sonowal stressed on uniform structure for the houses to be constructed under the scheme and hoped that successful implementation of the same will usher new life in thousands of families of the State.

Though this scheme was initially planned to be implemented in only 9 towns of the state, same has been presently increased covering all the towns.

In a major boost to the urban housing initiatives in Assam, Government has extended the implementation area of Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana to all the 97 towns of the State. Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today directed the officials of

Sufficient consumption of seasonal vegetables /fruits a panacea for common ailments Bishnu Rana Tezu, 22 Dec

97 towns in Assam

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, 22 Dec

Seasonal vegetables for a self reliant economy

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the Urban Development Department to start implementation of the scheme in all the towns simultaneously from first week of February, 2017.

Chief Minister Sonowal further stressed on uniform structure for the houses to be constructed under the scheme and hoped that successful

implementation of the same will usher new life in thousands of families of the State. Though this scheme was initially planned to be implemented in only 9 towns of the state, same has been presently increased covering all the towns.

Contd. on Page 3

PM Modi to inaugurate the Longest Bridge of India, Dhola -Sadiya Bridge on 1st Jan ET Bureau Dibrugarh, 22 Dec

Referring it to be a Rongali Bihu gift for the state, Transport minister Chandramohan Patowary disclosed that the second bridge over the Brahmaputra in Guwahati would be inaugurated on January 1, 2017. The bridge will be inaugurated by Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari.

On the other hand the longest bridge in India connecting Sadia in Assam and Dhola in Arunachal Pradesh would be inaugurated before

Dhola -Sadiya Bridge next monsoon season. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the bridge, the minister added.

The strategic Dhola-Sadiya

bridge on Brahmaputra, will reduce travel time between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh by four hours. It will be the longest bridge in India and is 9.15 kilometres in length.

Arunachal Pradesh to build 40,000 IHHLs by this fiscal PTI Itanagar, Dec 22

Arunachal Pradesh PHED Minister, Takam Pario, today, urged officers of his department to develop a proper strategy to achieve the target of 40,000 Individual Household Latrines (IHHL) during the current financial year.

The minister said this while attending a departmental review meeting on Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) and on water supply sector here, an official communique said.

Appealing to the officers to involve all local MLAs and Panchayat leaders for implementation and proper monitoring of

the works in view of the magnanimity of the programme, the minister said that a huge additional incentive to the tune of Rs 8000 per IHHL has been extended by the state government above the cost ceiling of Rs 12,000 fixed by the Central government, thus raising the cost of each IHHL to Rs 20,000.

176 rural habitations have been targeted to be covered during the current financial year under National Rural Drinking Water Supply Programme (NRDWP) with support from union Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, besides major water supply projects funded under various sources.

Pario also said that he wanted to personally review the achievements on Panchayat, Zilla and Assembly segments and suggested devoting more time to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Gramin) activities in order to make Arunachal Pradesh open defecation free state by October, 2019.

In view of drastic cut in the overall allocation under Water Supply Sector by the ministry, coverage of habitations have been curtailed so much so that unless new avenues for funding is outsourced the coverage status shall still be very low in view of more than 53 percent of habitations in the state still without proper and adequate water supply, the communique added.

Meanwhile, a total number of

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ET CAPSULES

Issue 154

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23

P2 Aries Today is an excellent day for you, Aries. You will be a welcome addition to any crowd. Your delightful nature is at its most active.

You have the unique capability to be aggressive about getting what you want without disturbing the flow of the energy around you. People respect and honor your sensitive, nurturing qualities. This will win the game for you.

Taurus The world probably isn't going to revolve around you today, Taurus, so get used to it.

Even though this may not be the news you want to hear, it's probably the news you most need to hear. Use your incredible passion to nurture others. Think less about yourself and more about the people around you, especially your family. Stick close to home and take care of chores.

Gemini Initiate a deep, meaningful conversation with someone you've lost touch with, Gemini. It could be that a long and ugly point of contention is on the brink of resolution. All you need to do is make the first move. There's a great deal of heartfelt, loving energy in the air that will help you foster a sensitive, tender approach. Find a connection with someone that you didn't know was there.

Cancer Your transmission may be stuck in reverse today, Cancer. This doesn't mean you can't be productive. You may need to change your approach. Carefully assess a situation before you proceed. Someone may be trying to cross you. Be smart about your rebuttal. Head-on combat isn't the best approach. Try reasoning. You may discover that there are pieces of the puzzle you didn't know about.

Leo Things should go well for you today, Leo. There's an added serenity in the air that will help calm your nerves. There's no need to make things more complicated than necessary. The answers to things are actually quite simple. Everything you want is probably right at your fingertips.

You don't need to go far to find what you seek.

Virgo It might seem like someone has dumped a bucket of water on your head today, Virgo. It seems like your fire is out. Keep in mind that this is only temporary and that your internal flame will be rekindled soon. For now, you may want to take this time to slow down and relax. Use this as an opportunity to reflect and tune in to your sensitive, caring nature. Let someone else take the reins.

Libra Tension may run high today as things come to a great emotional climax. It might seem as if everyone is out to get you, Libra, but more than likely this paranoia is a figment of your imagination. Don't get carried away with crazy scenarios that have no basis in reality. People may be acting irrationally, so don't be surprised if reason and logic are nowhere to be found.

Scorpio More than likely you will be caught up in a wildly intense emotional drama if you aren't careful, Scorpio. Try to stay calm and collected. Find a quiet, solitary place where you can relax. Your energy is there, but it may be more reserved and subtle on a day like this. Be the stable oasis in the raging turmoil. Make peace with the people around you.

Sagittarius You will find strength in your inner reserves today, Sagittarius. Don't hesitate to let your deepest thoughts shine through. Keep your antenna up. You will find that there's an electricity in the air that keeps people's emotions at peak level. Follow your instincts and keep in mind that this is probably your best defense against the challenges of the day. Rational thinking is overrated.

Capricorn You may feel a bit sluggish today, Capricorn. Your warrior spirit would rather stay home on the couch than get up and fight. This is fine. You may simply need a break from your quest for world domination. Remember that a good leader also takes the time to sit back and reflect on recent events in order to make better plans for the future.

Locals resist privatisation of oil fields in Geleki amid fear of losing benefits ET Bureau Sivasagar, 22 Dec: Civil society organisations in Assam have vowed to resist the privatisation of oil fields at Geleki in the Sivasagar district of the state fearing it may have a negative impact on the interests of natives and the development of the region.

Aswini Chetia, advisor to All Assam Tai Ahom Students Union (AATASU), a students body that is a part of a joint committee of the eight groups that are opposing the privatisation, said, "As per existing policy of the Oil and Natural Gas Company (ONGC), Assam is provided with corporate social responsibility fund for socio-economic development of the region. We want the Government of India to make clear its stance on what will happen to those benefits after the new arrangement comes into force."

The resistance has come at a time when the Government of India is envisioning a target of reducing its dependency on oil and gas import by 10 percent by the year 2022.

Chetia also said that the civil society organisations have been repeatedly demanding the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to clarify its stand on the issue, but have not received any reply so far. He also asserted that unless the Central government assures to protect the interests of the natives, the resistance movement will not be lifted.

Anupam Borgohain, president of the Geleki Sangrami Joutha Mancha, a joint committee formed to protest the privatisation of the oil field said, "On 19 December, the committee made a decision to resist the exploration of crude oil from the

government.

"The only benefit of oil extraction that goes directly to the hands of the local people is the corporate social responsibility fund," says Ashwini Chetia.

Apart from spending millions of rupees in education and health care sector in the state, thus leading to the creation of indirect employment, the ONGC's social responsibility fund has created more than 4,000 direct employment in the self-help group sector, says a research conducted by Prof PK Halder and Bidhu Kanti Das.

Geleki oil field. But, on Wednesday, the ONGC invited us for a discussion on the issue. The ONGC officials told us that the company has not signed any agreement with any private party to privatise the Geleki oilfield till now."

However, the ONGC has reportedly entered into a production sharing agreement with Schlumberger, one of the world's biggest suppliers of technology and services in the oil and gas industry to work on an ageing ONGC field in Assam.

Borgohain said that the joint committee has demanded that ONGC should make its stand public on the issue. "We have given ONGC three days time to make its stand clear on the issue of privatisation (of the Geleki oil field) and the rights of the locals, or else we will resist any exploration in the Geleki oilfield,” he added.

Crude oil exploration has long

been an integral part of Assamese identity politics aimed at economic self-determination through exercising the indigenous population's rights over natural resources.

The historic Assam Accord of 1985 that was signed after the Assam agitation is considered a guiding document of Assamese identity politics. It led to the creation of Numaligarh Refinery that manages the state's crude oil resources besides standing as a symbol of Assamese pride.

There is a growing discontent among many in Assam that the crude oil rich state is receiving a raw deal from the two major oil extracting giants Oil India Limited (OIL) and ONGC in terms of royalty to be paid to the state on oil extraction.

It was only recently that the Oil and ONGC paid Rs 1,450 crores to the state as royalty on a prediscounted price and that too after much persuasion by the state

However, in June 2016 Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas declared that privatisation of 12 small oilfields in Assam will add Rs 4,000 crores as revenue to the state coffers.

The oil industry has also contributed in creating downline industries and services in Assam that are contributing to the state's gross domestic product (GDP).

"But this set up tends to get disturbed if the oil fields are privatised, which is why we are against such privatisation. But if the government has to privatise the oil fields then the rights of the locals have to be protected," Chetia said.

Borgohain informed that apart from AATASU, the joint committee protesting the privatisation of the Geleki oil field also includes All Assam Students Union, All Assam Tea Tribes Students Association, Brihottar Asomiya Yuba Mancha, the local committee of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad, Geleki Byabosaee Sanstha and AJYPP.

"Year 2016 has been a good year for tea sector as opposed to 2015," beams TAI Chairman BIJOY SHANKAR HANDIQUE JORHAT, DEC 22: “The year 2016 has been a good year in terms of tea production notwithstanding the challenges posed by changing climatic condition in the Assam valley,” said AK Tiwari, chairman of Tea Association of India (TAI) Assam Branch expressing his satisfaction in the tea production at the 33rd biennial general meeting held at IORA conference hall in Kaziranga here today.

The TAI chairman Tiwari said the year 2015 had been a low profile year for the tea sector with weak production, dwindling export and surprisingly low prices due to unfavorable climatic conditions leading to loss in crop. Over the past decade the industry has witnessed dramatic change in fortune with diminishing yields, increase in pest and diseases which has become increasingly unmanageable. A recent study has also shown that the water table of the districts of Brahmaputra valley would go down to alarming levels in future if no remedial steps are taken. Thus mitigating climatic change in the tea industry of Assam and Brahmaputra valley in particular would be a big challenge in coming years. Agricultural scientists are of the opinion that adopting smart agricultural practices might be an answer to

combat climatic change.

On the other hand, Mudit Kumar, the Vice President of TAI during his speech said that the world tea industry is a 5.3 billion kg basket with India contributing 1.2 billion kg in the year 2015 which is 22.78% of the world’s production.

The combined production of Assam is 586 billion kg in the year 2015 which is also 48% of the country’s production. The bought leave sector is rapidly growing segment of the tea industry with the contribution of over 33% of Assam’s total production. This year export have been steady and the Tea Board figure indicates the exports in 2015-16 have been approximately 233 million kg a figure exceeding the 230 million kg which was last achieved in the year 1980-81. This year figure also indicates that the export till date is marginally more to countries such as USA, Iran, Saudi Arabia and

CIS countries.

Tea cultivation as an activity in predominantly agriculture in nature as the work force employ in the tea industry is over 90% are deployed in agricultural activity besides for the purposes of taxation the tea industry is treated as agriculture. In spite of this the benefits which are available under various schemes of the Ministry of Agriculture, Govt. of India are not available to the tea industry. The present schemes of Government of India such as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Yojana, and Accelerate Irrigation benefit program are not available for tea sector. If agriculture related benefits are made admissible for tea the industry would have the benefit of lower interest rates against loans for these agricultural works, so in view of forgoing, the tea fraternity urge the state government for ad-

vocacy with the Govt. f India for placement tea under Ministry of Agriculture.

Moreover in the 33rd biennial general meeting of Tea Association of India Kamakhya Prasad Tasa attended as the Chief Guest has asked the various Tea associations to look into the conditions of the industry and the small tea growers who is currently a duel economy operating in the Assam tea sector which is in the estate plantation and other is the small tea grower and bought leave factory segment. He said small tea growers are integral part of the industry and major movement that has helped improve the socio-economic situation of Assam.

Mihir Kanti Choudhury, the vice chancellor of Tezpur University who attended as the guest of honour further said that in the tea sector PPP system should be seriously thought of and further suggested for a research (R & D) backed industry, without R&D back up any industry coukd survives. He also suggested to follow triple bottom line approach and further spoke about the Indian tea industry which will flourish far more and more in coming days.

Tea experts from Kolkata PK Bhattacharjee and tea expert from Assam JN Baruah even spoke on the occasion about the future of Assam tea in foreign market.

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Freedom fighter cum play writer Devo Dutta passes away BIJOY SH HANDIQUE JORHAT, DEC 22: Prominent freedom fighter-cumactor, Devo Dutta breathed his last at his Jail Road Kushal Nagar residence here this morning. Besides, Devo Dutta was a critic, play writer cum social worker. He was 83. Devo Dutta who was terminated from the PWD department for his active role in Assam Agitation in the 1970s, stepped into the cultural world in acting and writing plays and dramas.

He was the former president of Jorhat Zila Karmachari Parishad. Later he was elected as the president of Asom Karmachari parishad.

He was the general secretary, working president and president of Mukti Judha Sanmillani between 2002 to 2012 and from 2014 to 2016 he was the president till he felt ill. Over 20 organization including Assam Sahitya Sabha, Mukti Judha Sanmillani, Country

Deva Prosad Dutta Women Association, paid their last respect at the Mukti Judha Bhawan premises where the departed soul and body was kept.

Later his body was taken to Goromur Hindu funeral ground where he was laid to rest. He is survived by his wife Nalinibala Dutta a prominent Sattriya dancer of the state and his three sons.

Overspeeding Scorpio rams into house, one injured ET Correspondent Golaghat, Dec 22 : A woman is seriously injured and her house was badly damaged when a speeding Scorpio bearing registration number NL02/ H -0003 rammed into her house on Wednesday night.

The incident took place at Torfat Tini Ali in Golaghat. According to eye witness report, the driver of the speeding vehicle from Nagaland lost its control and rammed the SUV into the house of Lokheswari Das. In due process, her house was badly damaged, apart from injuring the latter. Post-accident, there was a huge commotion. Local people alleged that

the accident took place due to reckless driving and two persons were under the influence of alcohol consumption. The two persons from Nagaland tried to escape but the local people managed to catch them.

Meanwhile injured Lokheswari Das was rushed to Swahid Kushal Konwar Civil Hospital in Golaghat but later she was referred to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital.

She is reported to be in a critical condition. Today local people staged a protest demanding mechanism to curb overspeeding of vehicles plying on this road especially from Nagaland.

Aquarius Your sensitivity is strong today, Aquarius. You will find that your perception of situations is right on target with the truth of the matter. Keep in mind that in order to be successful, you won't need to strong-arm anyone into doing what you want. More than likely you will be able to accomplish more just by tuning in to your receptive, gentle nature.

Pisces You may feel a bit confused today. It might seem as if the wind has suddenly been taken out of your sails. Don't get discouraged by the slow weightiness of the day.

Take the opportunity to relax and recharge your batteries. Do a bit of inward reflection as opposed to outer-directed movement. The most valuable lesson to learn is patience. Remind yourself of this throughout the day.

Dibrugarh university professor Dr Satyakam Borthakur addressing a rural media workshop organised by Press Information Bureau, Guwahati at the District Training Centre in Dibrugarh on Thursday. Photo by Manoj Pandey

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23

P3

BJYM organises awareness campaign on Digital Paise at Yingkiong

ET Bureau Yingkiong, 22 Dec: The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) ofArunachal Pradesh organised awareness campaign “less cash to Cash less or Digital Paisa” at Yingkiong, Upper Siang District, Arunachal Pradesh. The BJYM team headed by their Vice President Shri Tomi Haider CumSiang Zonal In charge, Shri Ngurang Logi, BJYM

Spokesperson and Shri Tako Towmin, State Executive member cum-Upper Siang In charge attended the programme.

During the programme, Shri Ralki Ratan BJYM President Upper Siang District was warmly wellcome all the listeners meanwhile the keynote speech was delivered

by BJYM Vice President Shri Tomi Haider on every technical point of “Less

cash to Cash less or digital Paisa” .

At the same time BJP District President of Upper Siang Shri Gemin Jiji, Shri Ojing Tasing State secretary Cum-Upper Siang In charge of BJP State andthe branch manager of SBI Yingkiong Shri S. Kalita had attended the programme as special invitees. More than one thousand market traders and general public attended the programme.

‘China emotionally blackmailing Arunachal Pradesh residents’ ET Bureau VADODARA, Dec 22: Chinese are not showing aggression at the bordering state of Arunachal Pradesh (AP) which they are claiming as their own. Instead, they are emotionally blackmailing the residents of the state. This is what Dr Joram Aniya Tana, the first PhD scholar of Hindi of AP said here on Wednesday.

The assistant professor, who works at Deranatung government college in Itanagar, was in the city to deliver a lecture on issues and challenges of the North East at M S University's Institute of Leadership and Governance.

"A salt packet which is available at Rs one in other parts of the country is sold at Rs 300 to Rs 400 in the border areas of Arunachal Pradesh because there are no motorable roads. The Chinese emotionally blackmail those settled in border villages, especially in no man's land by donating ration and clothes to them. It is a dangerous situation," she said.

"Hindi is the only way to differentiate between the Chinese and local residents of Arunachal Pradesh as other physical features are almost similar," she said, adding that it is high time that government creates proper infrastructure so

that the Chinese don't take benefit of the situation.

"India's culture and its ethos need to be proper propagated so that people don't get instigated by outside forces," said Tana, a Christian who is currently as s ociated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad.

She said that the rampant Bangladeshi infiltration in Assam is also posing dangers to Arunachal Pradesh. "If we oppose such infiltration, roads between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam are blocked and transportation not allowed," she added.

AT THE ANNIVERSARY OF SSB

Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu and MoS for Home Kiren Rijiju attended the welcome ceremony on 53rd anniversary of Shastra Sema Bal (SSB) with the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President, Home Minister, Rajnath Singh among several other dignitaries & children from border areas.

Tirap district prepares for District Irrigation Plan under PMKSY ET Bureau Khonsa, 22 Dec: A meeting in connection with discussion on District Irrigation Plan (DIP) under Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojna ( PMKSY ) was held at DC’s Chamber under the Chairmanship of Tirap Deputy Commissioner Ravi Jha, IAS on 22nd December,2016.

The meeting was attended

by Consultants from NABCONS (NABARD Consultancy Services) Ananta Pathak and Prithiviraj Mohan Das, Tirap ZPC, DAO I/c, DFO, DFDO, HDO, Progressive Farmers.

Speaking on the occasion Deputy Commissioner Ravi Jha suggested consultants to visit different blocks of the district to assess the viability of the proposed schemes in the different areas of the district adding that DIP (District Irrigation Plan) is a plan for providing

Krishi Vigyan Kendra’s Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting held ET Bureau Dirang, Dec 22: Krishi Vigyan Kendra West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh organized its 7th Scientific Advisory Committee Meeting on last Tuesday on 20 December at ICAR-NRC on Yak, Dirang under the chairmanship of Dr. S.M. Deb, Director, ICAR-NRC on Yak, Dirang.

dress by highlighting about OFTs, FLDs and their role in improving agriculture scenario in the district.

Chairman, Shri N. Phaichulpa, Horticulturist, RAN, Dirang, Dept. of Horticulture, stressed on importance and role of education in adoption of new technologies by the farming community at the grass root level.

The inaugural session was initiated by welcome address from Dr. N.D. Singh, Senior Scientist and Head, KVK. While welcoming all the dignitaries he gave brief introduction about SAC meeting as well as new scientific technologies to assess and disseminate to the farmers, finally he concluded his welcome ad-

He also emphasized on awareness of organic plant protection measures for eco-friendly and sustainable environment.

Chairman, Dr. S.M. Deb, Director, ICAR - NRC on Yak, Dirang extended his warm regards by acknowledging the various activities of KVK carried out in different regions of the district, while briefly

stating about the Kendra, he also suggest to take up modern know how technologies to boost agricultural products both quantitatively and qualitatively.

He also stressed on organic farming and instructed all agricultural and allied departments to collaborate with each other for efficient assessment, adoption and dissemination of new technologies. Chief Guest Shri Dagbom Riba, I/C Deputy Commissioner, West Kameng praised the role of KVK West Kameng in improving and improvising the traditional farming system of the local area so far.

He gave stress on adopting multiple cropping systems and also instructed

KVK to interact with farmers in every possible manner to update them about the scientific cultivation practices. During the technical session, firstly general review of Annual Report for 201617 and Action Plan for 2017-18 was presented by the Senior Scientist and Head, KVK, which was followed by presentations of SMS (Agronomy), SMS (Plant Protection), SMS (Horticulture), SMS (Home Science), SMS (Fisheries) and SMS (Agri. Extension) on their respective reports and formulated action plan for the coming year 2017-18. Altogether about 20 nos. of SAC members along with the KVK staffs attended the programme.

Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana extended to all 97 towns in Assam Contd. from Page 1

The Chief Minister also reviewed the implementation of Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and directed the Department to immediately convene public meetings in all the four towns where the scheme is to be implemented to ensure

public involvement.

Sonowal also stressed on judicious use of Rs. 655 crores earmarked for augmenting Water Supply and Sanitation facilities in the already listed four towns of the State and generating public awareness.

Chief Minister Sonowal also reviewed the progress of Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM) in urban areas of the State and advised the Department to adopt Gujarat model of toilet

construction. Through implementation of the scheme, 66,624 private houses and 2280 community toilets will be constructed in urban areas of the State.

products, Sonowal asked the Department to prepare a vision plan highlighting the critical areas and urged the officials to vociferously work for heralding ‘White Revolution’ in Assam.

The Chief Minister also took stock of functioning of the State Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Department in a separate review meeting today.

Underling the need for reducing the demand and supply gap of milk

State Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Minister Atul Bora, Additional Chief Secretary MGVK Bhanu and several other senior officers of the State Government were present in the meeting.

assured irrigation to the farmers of the districts so that they can avail the benefits of irrigation.

All the irrigation related department heads suggested

to undertake blockwise visits. While advising the consultants of NABCONS DC emphasized on providing irrigation to different villages of the district as irrigation

is important to the farming community of the district saying that all possible effort must be put to prepare a viable plan for Tirap District.

During the interaction session all irrigation related HoDs and Consultants from NABCONS shared their views and ideas pertaining to DIP.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23

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After Kaziranga, eviction from Delhi Public School to open Assam movement launchpad its sixth branch in Jorhat A section of the encroachers said they were genuine Indian citizens and alleged the BJP-led BIJOY SH HANDIQUE School here today. The “The sixth branch of ment of local educated JORHAT, DEC 22: In a Jorhat branch of Delhi Delhi Public School has youths in their educagovernment was targeted them as Bangladeshi infiltrators because they were Muslims.

ET Bureau Guwahati, Dec 22: Three months after it removed settlers from forest land adjoining Kaziranga, Assam’s new government evicted over 200 families in Sipajhar in Darrang district Wednesday and cleared over 1,000 bighas government land from encroachers who had settled there for over two decades.

Unlike in Kaziranga, the Sipajhar eviction went peacefully. The site, however, is no less symbolic — Sipajhar is part of Mangaldoi Lok Sabha seat, from where the All Assam Students’ Union had launched its anti-infiltration movement of 1979-85. This was following a revision of electoral rolls, which had a large number of new names.

“We had served a notice to

more than 200 families illegally staying in Fuhuratoli village of Sipajhar for many years. Today morning we carried out the eviction and removed 500 illegal structures that also included shops and sheds in a market the encroachers had set up,” Darrang deputy commissioner Ashok Kumar Barman said.

A section of the encroachers said they were genuine Indian citizens and alleged the BJP-led government was targeted them as Bangladeshi infiltrators because they were Muslims.

The DC said the authorities had not looked into the citizenship aspect. “Encroachers are encroachers,” he said.

the indigenous communities of Assam, the party-led government has evicted settlers from five places in the last three months — Kaziranga and Guwahati in September, Bardowa Satra in October, Mayong in November and Sipajhar now.

The Sipajhar DC said the 1,000 bighas cleared were marked in government records as professional grazing reserve. Earlier, residents of neighbouring villages used the land on payment of a nominal fee.

“The encroachers had not only set up dwelling houses, but also a market with shops and sheds, in addition to cultivating the land as if it were their own Barman said.

The BJP having promised to protect jaati, maati, bheti (nation, land, homestead) of

He said there was no resistance in Sipajhar — two protesters had been killed in

Kaziranga. In Sipajhar, many of the encroachers voluntarily dismantled the structures and moved with these to adjoining villages, the DC said.

Three independent groups — Prabajan Birodhi Mancha (PBM), Sangrami Satirtha Sanmilan and Dakshin Paschim Gowal Sanstha — meanwhile staged a dharna in Mangaldoi demanding eviction of encroachers from over 77,000 bighas government land in Sipajhar circle. The PBM is headed by Supreme Court lawyer Upamanyu Hazarika. who was engaged by the Supreme Court last year to carry out a spot investigation of encroachment by alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators in Assam.

Rotary Club, Barooah Associates and Jorhat Christian Medical Centre come together to sign MoU to set up Dialysis Centre BIJOY SH HANDIQUE JORHAT, DEC 22: Rotary Club of Jorhat and Barooah Associate Private Limited and Jorhat Christian Medical Centre signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a Dialysis Centre in the memory of Hemendra Prasad Barooah. The initiative has been taken as a part of golden jubilee year celebration of Rotary Club of

NF Railway DRM Visits Golaghat Station Golaghat, Dec 22: The DRM of NF Railway Prashant Mishra along with several other senior officials visited Golaghat Railway Station on special request of Railway Consultative Committee Member RM Binnani. Binnani reiterated to the senior officials about the prolonged demand of stoppage of Rajdhani Express at Furkating Junction in Golaghat.

He also showed the poor quality of security measures at Golaghat Station. He appealed the officials to take steps to improve security measures at the station. The DRM assured to take steps on the issues raised by RM Binnani.

Jorhat, Barooah Associate Private Limited and Jorhat Christian Medical Centre.

The unit will be named after Hemendra Prasad.

Barooah Associate Private Limited will sponsor two machine dialysis unit and the units will be managed by Jorhat Christian Medical Centre and Rotary Club, Jorhat.“Dr. Senorita Changma Singh (JCMC),

PK Dutta, (Director) head of CSR B&A and Rotarian Surajit Chakraborty signed the MoU to cater to the needs of below poverty level families at concessional rate from the state and region,” informed Rotarian Surajit Chakraborty.“As a part of company’s social responsibility program, the initiative has been taken to help the

poor and needy. Now people need not go to Dibrugarh or Guwahati for performing dialysis tests,” said PK Dutta, Director and the head of CSR of B&A Private Ltd. The multi-crore Hemendra Prasad Dialysis Unit will be completed by April 2017 and it will be handled by experts from Jorhat Christian Medical Centre.

Free coaching concludes at Mahur

ET Correspondent, Haflong Dec 22 : The Kuki Students' Organisation organised and sponsored by Samuel Changsan, Executive Member, N C Hills Autonomous Council twenty days long free coaching for the candidates of High School Leaving Certificate Examination 2017 concluded with a solemn closing ceremony in presence of teachers, parents and students held at J B Hagjer L P School Mahur on Wednesday.

With the aims like to bring out the best from the students so that they would continue to excel in their future endeavour, to give an opportunity to the students in interacting with different well experienced teach-

ers, the Kuki Students' Organisation, Mahur Block has organised the event. Altogether sixty eight students from various communities and from in and around and six renowned teachers from various schools of Mahur took part in the event.

Attending the closing ceremony, Samuel Changsan who is also the CEM in charge of NCHAC as the chief guest expressing his satisfaction appreciated the organiser KSO office bearers for their selfless endeavour for the cause of education in Mahur area which would resulting to excellent results in the coming HSLC examination. He said his team of EMs of NCHAC has been

committed to the development of education and the youths.

Ujjal Das, Head Master of J B Hagjer L P School who have provided accommodation for the coaching said he was privileged to be a part of this noble effort of KSO. He also said the students should also realise the efforts of KSO and do very good in the examination and bring laurel to our district.

Earlier, Zamkholal Khonsai of KSO explained the aims and objective while offering his heartfelt thanks to EM Changsan, teachers, students and their parents who have faith on KSO Mahur branch for the active cooperation to make their efforts a successful one.

demonstration of schooling dominance, Delhi Public School is all set to open its sixth branch in Jorhat after setting up branches in Numaligarh, Digboi, Nazira, Guwahati, Duliajan.

“DPS is expanding in all major cities of Assam; now we are glad to expand our presence in Jorhat. Construction of the Jorhat Branch of DPS is going on at fullfledged manner,” said an official of Delhi Public

Public School will be set up in a sprawling 25 bigha land in Charingiya, Jorhat under the West Revenue Circle. Expressing optimism, authorities of DPS true to its founding principles, said that DPS Jorhat will not only impart academic excellence but also it will impart holistic education integrating and imparting whole gamut of sports, swimming, horse riding, water sports and adventure sports program.

"Victory Tea Estate" brings alive the smell, colours and sounds from these tea gardens along with their complicated rules and taboos.

Judah describes "Victory Tea Estate", published by Palimpsest, as a celebration of life as it really is.

The novel, intricately woven around tea-garden life in the eastern Himalayas in

the 20th century, is about a gutsy young woman, Chanda, who moves into uncertainties and risks obloquy to be with the man she loves.

She suffer, bears a heavy cross for challenging social inhibition, but at the end, earns admiration for being steadfast in her commitment.

Pune-born Judah was 13 years old when she heard about the tea gardens and wanted to write about this particular story.

"However I did not believe I could be a published writer. I did a creative writing course when I was in my 50s. I wrote a short story about this. My professor said that it was material for a novel not a short story.

That is when I decided to

research it. I wrote it seven times from seven different points of view and under seven different titles," she says.

"I had named this one 'Chanda'. 'Victory Tea Estate' was a different version but the editors preferred this title. I was not satisfied with my depiction of English men and women's speech. I therefore used an Indian narrator who tells the story in her own words," Judah told PTI. She worked as an airhostess and flew the eastern sector before immigrating to Israel after marrying the man she had first loved as a schoolgirl.

Asked if "Victory Tea Estate" is based on her recollection or some solid research as

she left India about 40 years ago, she says, "This story was inspired by a story my father told me. He was an army officer who was in NEFA during the war we had with China. During this time the tea planters opened their clubs to the officers in the military.

"My dad met an Anglo-Indian school teacher who refused to go into the club with him. She told him her father was there. Then she explained the custom of the English planters keeping an Indian mistress until the time they married. These children could not meet their fathers anymore. If by some mischance they did they had to address him as Mr whatever his name was."

Judah recalls further, "I went to Calcutta and went

tional endeavour.

It may be mentioned that Delhi Public School Society is one of the largest institutions providing education at school level in India and abroad. It has a large number of schools under its control in India and abroad. Its foray into Assam has been a success story producing outstanding students and Jorhat branch of Delhi Public School will be no different.

TATA Sumo mysteriously burnt ET Correspondent TEOK, 21 Dec: A TATA Sumo bearing registration number AS01-L-2725 was burnt down by unknown person at Teok Uttar Dulia

Gaon under Teok police station last night.

The incident took place when the vehicle was parked at the owner’s house

at Uttar Dulia gaon. The alleged incident took place last mid night. “I came to know about the burning when a numbers of local villagers informed me about

the incident,” Paras Moni Das, the owner of the vehicle said. Investigation is on by Teok police and a case has been registered against the act.

Workshop on ‘Road Safety: Time for Action’ held Transport Minister pitches for strict adherence to road safety rules ET Bureau Guwahati, December 22: “Road safety is our Government’s prime agenda and we will not leave any stone unturned to ensure that precious lives are not lost due to road accidents.” This was stated by Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, while attending a workshop on ‘Road Safety: Time for Action’ held at KBR Hall, Cotton College today. The workshop was jointly organized by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India and Transport Department, Government of Assam. ?Attending the programme as Chief Guest, the Transport Minister stated that, “Around seven thousand people die everyyear in Assam due to road accidents which involve factors like road engineering, drunken driving and negligence of traffic rules. As far as road engineering is concerned, PWD (Roads), State Highways (SH), National Highways (NH), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) have identified the ‘black spots’ and efforts are on to rectify and monitor the black spots so that accidents are not repeated in these places.”

?“For drunken driving and violations of traffic rules, strict action will be taken in the form of fines and enforcement of applicable laws. All these are aimed at reducing the current figure of accident fatalities and saving precious lives”, the Minister added. ?Minister Patowary apprised that Trauma Centres wouldbe set up across the state to meet the infrastructural needs in times of emergency situations. One such Trauma Centre would be operational from February next in Nalbari. Till allTrauma Centres are completed, the existing Civil Hospitals would play a dedicated role to meet emergent needs during accidents. He also called upon the people to dissuade from travelling in the rear ladder and carrier of buses and adhere sincerely to all road safety norms. ?The Minister further added that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India has sanctioned rupees 1,26,000 crores for development of roads and infrastructure in Assam. Brahmaputra Express Highway would be soon built on both sides of the river. He also mentioned that new bridges would be constructed over the river Brahmaputra connecting

A tale of tea-garden life of Assam from Jewish land PTI New Delhi Dec 22: Daughter of an army officer who was in NEFA during the war with China and having worked as an airhostess who flew into Assam umpteen times, Israel-based author Sophie Judah is no stranger to what life in tea gardens is and now her new novel has the tea plantations of eastern India as its backdrop.

already got its clearance as well as approval from Assam Government to set up the school under Right to Education Act and State Government Education Policy,” declared Jayanta Goswami, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Jorhat. He added that DPS authority has taken up the responsibility for enrolment of DPS students through their reservation quota and also have ensured for engage-

to the head office of Goodricke Tea. Mr David Kuppa gave me many books to read. Another planter gave me old correspondence between the gardens and the head office in London. I learned a lot from these."

She says her story is supported by the research she did.

"My dad was also posted at Kohima and he brought back a lot of photographs from the military cemetery. I put in the words on the memorial and those around the tennis court of the district commissioner into the computer and got a heap of material.

"Half-remembered stories of the Second World War, read about and heard from my father, came to life

again. I incorporated them into the story," she says.

Asked about the children out of the relationship between the planter and tea picker who carry many races, ethnicities, cultures, bloods in them, she says "The tea gardens imported workers from all over India. I have merely been faithful to the life there."

Judah, who lives in Hod HaSharon city, says she reads all the books by Indian authors that she can find - even those who live abroad.

"I like Vikram Seth, Amitav Ghosh (who I met in Tel Aviv), Arundhati Roy among other writers.

I think Sunil Gangopadhyay was outstanding.

Phulbari–Dhubri, KuruwaGuwahati, Jorhat–Majuli, Majuli–Lakhimpur and Sivasagar–Dhakuakhana. ?The Minister informed that the 2nd bridge over the Brahmaputra at Saraighat would be inaugurated by Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on January 1, 2017 whilethe DhollaSadiya Bridge would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the forthcoming RongaliBihu. ?He added that the Government has undertaken a project for dredging the Brahmaputra at the cost of rupees 30,000 crore as an initiative to develop waterways to Bangladesh and boost industries and commerce in Assam. “We intend to develop air connectivity through the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) which would connect Guwahati to Jorhat, JorhatDibrugarh, Jorhat-Aizwal, Guwahati-Tezpur, TezpurLakhimpur,” said Minister Patowary. ?Speaking on the occasion, Joint Secretary (Transport), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Abhay Damle said that 1,46,000 people died due to road accidents in 2015 and called upon all the stakeholders to work in right earnest in bringing down road fatalities.

?Mukesh Sahay, DGP Assam said, “Accidents are the biggest killer in our country. More than enforcement, safety is about discipline, which should be inculcated rather than forced.” He urged the people to respect road conditions, traffic and pedestrians and follow traffic regulations in true letter and spirit. ?Ashutosh Agnihotri, Commissioner & Secretary (Transport), while delivering the welcome address cited that Government of Assam has taken up the issue of road safety on a mission mode and called upon the people to take a collective and strong resolve so as to protect precious lives from road fatalities. ?Transport Minister Patowary later flagged off a cycle and bike rally to generate mass awareness of road safety from the Cotton College premises. ?Commissioner and Secretary (Health & Family Welfare), Samir Sinha; Commissioner of Police, Hiren Nath; Deputy Commissioner (Metro), Dr M. Angamuthu; Vice Chancellor, Cotton College State University, Dr Dhruba Jyoti Saikia; Chairperson, GMDA, Dhiren Barua; and Mayor, GMC, Mrigen Sarania were also present in the meeting.

BSF apprehends two cattle smugglers and one Bangladehi national on IB ET Correspondent Guwahati, Dec 22: Border Security Force (BSF) troopers apprehended two cattle smugglers and one Bangladeshi national yesterday from the International Boundary under South Salmara district of Assam.The cattle smugglers identified as (i) Firdus Alam, (17 years), S/O Mohidur Islam (ii) Mohidur Islam (40 yearrs), S/O Jubar Ali both R/O VillChoraigram, PO-Diara, PSMankachar, Dist- South Salamara (Assam) were apprehended by the troops of BOP Diara alongwith cattle heads, while they were trying to smuggle them from India to Bangladesh.

Meanwhile

one

Bangladeshi national identified as Basurishi Kalicharan, (32 years), S/O Alishar Bhagwan, R/O VillMaheshpur, PO- Jaynagar, PS- Gopalganj, DistKurigram (BD), was also apprehended by the troops of BOP Kalaicharbari.

Apprehended cattle smugglers and Bangladeshi national along with seized cattle heads and other items were handed over to local police for legal action. Besides, BSF troops of Guwahati frontier seized 123 cattle heads having approximate value of Rs 6,65,340/-, 30 Phensidyl and miscellaneous items worth Rs. 66,305/- on intervening night of 21/22 Dec 2016.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23

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Conspiracy against NEEPCO chief exposed in vigilance report Shillong, Dec 22 : A vigilance report has revealed the alleged role of a top NEEPCO functionary in preventing A.G West Kharkongor from becoming the NEEPCO chief.

The report of the vigilance investigation of the former Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of NEEPCO, Satish Verma, submitted to the Ministry of Power said the current Director (Personnel), S.B Borgohain, has connived with two persons identified as Naba Ram Rabha and Sanjib Kalita to commit a criminal offence of conspiracy and falsely complained to the Centre and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) against Kharkongor, leading to criminal breach of trust.

The report also recommended that Borgohain, Rabha and Kalita may be prosecuted for offences punishable under sections 120-B, 182 and 409 of the Indian Penal Code.

The report highlighted the role of Assam MP Rajen Gohain, who is the current minister of state for railways, for complaining against Kharkongor at the behest of Borgohain. “The role of Rajen Gohain is also questionable in this matter,” the report said.

Both Rabha and Kalita had questioned the tribal status of Kharkongor in their letters to the Union Ministry of Power. The complaints had copies of documents supplied from the official personal file of Kharkongor, which was found to be an inside job.

As per documents available with The Shillong Times, the complaint by Kalita, dated September 16, 2015, apart from questioning the tribal

status of Kharkongor, alleged that he has a PGDM degree from IIM Calcutta and it cannot be treated as MBA with specialisation in Finance, and thus he did not have the qualifications to be appointed as Director (Finance).

Curiously, the complaint dated February 24 this year

by MP Gohain also asserted that the PGDM degree from IIM Calcutta that Kharkongor has is not equivalent to MBA (Finance), which was the necessary qualification for his appointment as Director (Finance) in 2010.

After the complaints reached the Union Ministry of Power, the matter was referred to CVO Verma.

Verma, after proper inquiry, found that the ST status of Kharkongor was in order after due confirmation from the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner and traditional heads. Moreover, the inquiry did not find any anomalies in the degree possessed by Kharkongor.

“Kharkongor was granted his Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) from IIM Calcutta in 1985.

His PGDM certificate does not mention any specialisation in Finance as PGDM certificates issued by the IIM Calcutta do not mention any specialisation.

Kharkongor was appointed as Director (Finance) in 2010 after he was selected by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB). Since MBA with specialisation in Finance was a pre-requisite, the PESB had obviously considered the PGDM of Kharkongor to be an equivalent degree,” the report said. Other series of allegations levelled against

Kharkongor were also proved wrong following the CVO’s inquiry.

As per the inquiry report, the documents with Kalita and Rabha’s complaints were copied from the official personal file of Kharkongor. Moreover, pages 429-439 from the personal file have been extracted and some of them were attached with the complaint of Kalita.

The official personal files of the CMD and directors are kept in the personal custody of the DGM (HR), S.L Dowerah. The only other person who had access to the official personal file of Kharkongor in the period immediately preceding the complaints was Borgohain, the report said.

According to the probe report, the absence of any official reason for Borgohain to keep the official personal files, especially of Kharkongor, and his conduct of taking photos of pages from personal files with his iPad are suggestive and significant.

“Out of these two persons, Dowerah and SB Borgohain, Dowerah had no motive to make unauthorised copies of papers from the personal file of Kharkongor. That leaves Borgohain as the prime suspect, who had a clear motive of somehow obstructing the application or possible selection of Kharkongor for the post of CMD NEEPCO,” the report said.

Both Rabha and Kalita live in Guwahati in a locality called Kahilipara, where Borgohain has a house and frequently stays there.

The interview for the post

of CMD was conducted by PESB on December 28, 2015.

Only two candidates appeared – Borgohain and Kharkongor. PESB selected the latter.

Following the selection of Kharkongor, Kalita sent a reminder to the CVC on December 31, 2015, wherein the matter related to Kharkongor’s selection for the post of CMD, NEEPCO, was also mentioned. A fresh complaint against Kharkongor was made on January 4 this year by Rabha. And finally, Gohain not only sent his complaint to the CVC on February 24 but also followed it up with a personal visit to the CVC on March 8, the report said.

Verma as part of his investigation quizzed both Rabha and Kalita who revealed that they did not know anything about NEEPCO and also about Kharkongor.

However, they refused to divulge as to who instigated them to lodge complaints against Kharkongor.

Verma went further to examine the call records of both Rabha (9864981784) and Kalita (9085849411).

During the inquiry, it was revealed that a third number which was hidden (9707102529) was frequently used to contact Rabha and Kalita. “The scrutiny of the CDR shows that this is a phone (9707102529) registered in the name of none other than Kalita himself and that SB Borgohain was in frequent contact with him,” the report said.

According to the probe report, it is clear that the complaints in the name of Rabha and Kalita “were engineered

by Borgohain by using papers that he had photocop-

ied and/or extracted from the official personal file of Kharkongor”.

The report further said though Verma had requested Borgohain to join the investigation, he had not responded.

As per Verma’s report, Gohain was entertained as a guest of NEEPCO in July 2015 at the behest and initiative of Borgohain.

In this regard, the copy of a confidential note-sheet dated May 17, 2016, of GM (Finance) along with the voucher, approval note, and hotel bill of Rs 25,114 were attached, besides the copy of the statement dated May 17 of Prakash Verma, Senior Manager (HR).

“Thus it is also clear that Borgohain used his acquaintance and relationship with Gohain, MP (Lok Sabha), to make a frivolous/ false complaint against AG West Kharkongor, and even caused him to personally go to meet the CVC,” the report said.

According to the report, Dowerah appeared before Verma on his own volition on May 16 this year and stated that Borgohain had been telephoning him from Delhi and insisting that he gave it to Borgohain in writing something that would suggest that people other than the two of them could have had access to the official personal file of Kharkongor.

“Thus it is further clear that Borgohain deliberately did not appear for giving his response in the matter on May 12, 2016, and has been trying to influence Dowerah to somehow not state the truth in this investigation,” it said.

According to Verma’s report, the complaints against Kharkongor have been engineered by Borgohain in order to obstruct his selection and eventual appointment as CMD NEEPCO. “SB Borgohain has committed grave misconduct by photocopying and taking away from Kharkongor’s official personal file, entrusted to him and under his department in a fiduciary capacity, and using those documents to fabricate baseless and false complaints in the name of two persons named Rabha and Kalita, in order to harm the career and reputation of Kharkongor. Borgohain has used political influence of an MP for furthering his malicious intent. Borgohain has attempted to obstruct the vigilance investigation and has also attempted to influence a witness, SL Dowerah, who is his subordinate,” the report added.

These facts also find place in the application submitted

by Verma before the Central Administrative Tribunal, Guwahati Bench, after the Home Ministry filed charge sheet against him for the alleged unauthorised absence from duty.

However, the Tribunal on November 18 had stayed the charge-sheet filed against him in the absence of any preliminary inquiry.

Verma joined NEEPCO in August 2014 for three years, but his tenure was curtailed by the Power Ministry after certain NEEPCO officials allegedly influenced the Ministry to secure Verma’s transfer as he was probing serious corruption charges against top NEEPCO functionaries.

Inter-ethnic get-together meeting calls for peace in Manipur Imphal, Dec.22 : Peace-lover leaders of various ethnic groups of Manipur have come together to put an end to the communal dissonance in the state.

The Goodwill Mission for Peaceful Co-existence, a conglomerate body of 17 both hill and valley-based civil society organisations organised a get together meeting at Ema Keithel here on Wednesday.

Speakers at the meeting expressed their views to strengthen the bond of fraternity and mend communal enmity among the ethnic groups of Manipur.

Several representatives of all ethnic communities from all the districts attended the meeting and delivered speeches in support of bringing peace in the state and end the present tussle.

The representatives of ethnic groups in Manipur

unanimously called on the state government and the UNC to settle their quarrel at the earliest in view of the sufferings face by the innocent people.

It also called all to join hands in bringing peaceful co-existence among the ethnic communities of Manipur.

The Goodwill Mission also resolved to intensify their peace campaign across the state to bring peace and solution to ethnic conflicts.

After the meeting, Convenor of the Goodwill Mission, Ningthoucha Lancha, said that the opinions shared by the leaders of the ethnic communities would be taken into consideration and acted upon.

It was also decided to push the Centre and the Manipur government to resolve the ongoing issue at the earliest. (ANI)

Manipur BJP delegation to meet Rajnath over UNC blockade ANI Imphal, Dec. 22 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation from Manipur will meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh at his residence on the UNC blockade issue.

Curfew was yesterday relaxed in some portions of Imphal West and Imphal East especially the market areas, but internet services remained suspended for the fourth day.

Earlier, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh convened a series of meetings with ministers, MLAs, security personnel and members of civil society.

Due to the blockade by United Naga Council and bandh by a Naga organisation in Nagaland, all passenger services were stopped and over 1,000 vehicles carrying passengers and goods were stranded on the Assam Nagaland border areas. (ANI)

Assam not opposed to devp Crying foul, MLA Kh Joykishan resigns from BJP in disputed areas: Tynsong Two MLAs leave BJP,

IMPHAL, Dec 22: MLA Khumukcham Joykishan has resigned from the primary membership of BJP and later in the evening joined the Congress.

Notably, Kh Joykishan was elected from Thangmei-band AC in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly election on All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) ticket.

After a complaint was filed against at the Speaker’s Tribunal under 10th Schedule of the Indian Constitution for working against the party, the tribunal disqualified Joy-kishan from being an MLA. Later he joined BJP and he was re-elected from Thang-meiband AC in the by- election.

Joykishan submitted his resignation letter at the BJP Manipur Pradesh office today.

Joykishan told media persons that he had submitted another resignation letter on December 15 to the BJP Manipur

Pradesh president whereby he relinquished all the party’s different posts held by him.

Even though BJP’s fundamental principle says ‘Nation first, party second’, the BJP Government at the Centre has been acting mute and blind to the extreme misery endured by the people of Manipur for the past 40 days on account of the indefinite economic blockade imposed by the UNC, Joykishan decried.

“The BJP Government could not feel the people’s suffering and the Prime Minister does nothing even after a memorandum has been submitted. That is why I decided to quit BJP”, he said.

He wished that his resignation may serve as an eye-opener and the BJP Government starts listening to the grievances of the people of Manipur.

Questioning the Central Government’s silence to the

protracted economic blockade, Joykishan remarked that the BJP Government’s antipathy towards the people of Manipur was shown by its inaction even after three policemen were killed by NSCN-IM and service guns were confiscated from IRB personnel.

As the Central leaders have failed to give any response to intervene into the critical situation unfolding in Manipur, there is no point to continue working for BJP, Joykishan stated.

Meanwhile, the Thangmeiband United Club (TUC) has decided to boycott BJP in Thangmeiband AC with effect from December 24 for the BJP Government’s refusal to divulge the details of the Framework Agreement it signed with NSCN-IM. A decision to this effect was adopted at a meeting held today at Kangjabi Leirak Youth Club.

Sexual assault accused cop gets bail Shillong, Dec 22: A local court on Wednesday released the traffic in charge of Sadar police station, P.M Syiem, on bail with strict conditions.

Nitin Khera, Syiem’s lawyer, said they were ready to fight the case till the end and prove his innocence.

However, he refused to di-

vulge the conditions on which he was released.

“All the allegations against my clients are baseless,” he said.

Syiem was arrested last week following a complaint of sexual assault against him.

An FIR accusing the cop of

assaulting a girl was filed at Laban police station on the night of December 13.

Though there was a request for withdrawal of the FIR from the complainant, the accused had to be arrested as it was a cognizable offence. A local court had forwarded him to 14 days’ judicial custody.

SHILLONG, Dec 22 : Prestone Tynsong said on Wednesday the 12 disputed border areas that the State shares with Assam are part of the inter-state border area development programme and that there was no opposition from the neighbouring state in this regard.

The Minister in charge of Border Areas Development was answering to a query on the opposition from Assam to developmental activities.

Tynsong told reporters that there was no objection from Assam and that “if there is any issue in areas of difference with regard to devel-

opment, deputy commissioners of both districts sit and sort out the problem.”

The State Border Areas Development Department has sanctioned Rs 35 crore in the last three years for the development of inter-state border areas.

Speaking to reporters, Tynsong said the department, under the Special programme Inter-state Border Area Development Programme, sanctioned Rs 10 crore each in 2012-13 and 2013-14 followed by Rs 15 crore in 2015-16, besides an amount of Rs 15 crore for the year 2016-17.

Talking about the scheme’s success story, he cited the

examples of several infrastructure and livelihood projects which have been taken up under the programme.

The Department has constituted district-level screening committees with deputy commissioners as chairmen and local MLAs as members. The committees propose projects to the department for border area development.

The area starting from the demarcation point of the interstate border till 5km of the villages is taken up as inter-state areas and the programme is also being implemented in the 12 areas of differences, Tynsong informed.

NCP, join Congress ANI Imphal , Dec.22 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and party national secretary Khumukcham Joykishan and Nationalist Congress Party MLA and national secretary Laisom Ibomcha Singh have resigned from their respective parties and joined the Congress party.

Joykishan Singh was one of the two sitting BJP MLAs in the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly from Thangmeiband Assembly constituency. With his res-

Tripura Gramin Bank’s net profit rises to Rs 7,000 cr Agartala, Dec 22 : The Tripura Gramin Bank (TGB) has posted a net profit of Rs 43.95 crore, the highest among the regional rural banks (RRBs) in eastern and northeastern India, during the last fiscal, the bank’s chairman said here on Wednesday.

Supervised by United Bank of India (UBI), the TGB, one of India’s 82 RRBs, has declared profit for the fourth consecutive years and the bank’s current business volume rose to Rs 7,000 crore.

“The TGB has recorded a net profit of Rs 43.95 crore in 2015-16 fiscal. In the current financial year (2016-17), as on September 30, the bank achieved a profit of Rs 22.84 crore,” TGB chairman Upendra Sabar told reporters.

He said: “The bank (TGB),

with 156 branches including 12 ultra small branches (USB) across Tripura, has targeted a net profit of Rs 45 to 50 crore in the current fiscal (201617).”

The bank, which has over 70 per cent branches in the rural areas, also has Aadhaar enabled 225 micro ATMs and 190 business correspondents to hand out the money and other banking services at the door steps of the customers.

TGB, along with three other RRBs — Assam Gramin Bank, Manipur Gramin Bank and Bangiya Gramin Bank in West Bengal, is sponsored by Kolkata-based UBI. The bank has also registered a record in per branch business and per employee business with Rs 47.42 crore and Rs 8.83 crore, respectively, in

the last financial year (201516).

Sabar accompanied by bank’s general manager Dipankar Ambuly and development officer Bikash Roy Debbarma, said TGB is the first RRB in India to have been accorded permission from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to start treasury function of the Tripura government and open currency chest. The bank celebrating 41st foundation day on Wednesday through various functions including special credit delivery camps across the state.

“All the 144 permanent branches of the TGB have come under the core banking services (CBS) and few more new branches would be opened in rural and remote areas within a year,” the bank chief said. (IANS)

ignation, the BJP now has only one sitting MLA, Thongam Bishwajit of Thongju Assembly constituency.

Laisom Ibomcha Singh was elected from the Keishamthong Assembly Constituency.

The two MLAs said the Centre's inability to resolve the economic blockade and political crisis in Manipur was the main reason behind their resignation.

Water supply scheme loses steam over slow fund flow Shillong, Dec 22 : The third phase of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme is moving sluggishly thanks to slow fund flow.

PHE Minister Prestone Tynsong said on Wednesday the work for the third phase of the scheme has been slowed down as Rs 43 crore meant for the project has just come to the Urban Affairs Department from the Finance Department. The work will gain momentum only after the money is transferred to the PHE Department.

Speaking to media persons here on Wednesday, Tynsong said the department would now put pressure on the contractor to expedite the project. He, however, was hopeful that work would be complete by March next year depending on the availability of funds.

The Minister, while asserting that the progress on the project is around 90 percent, said laying of pipes is remaining and most of the work, including laying of the main feeder, is almost complete.

The Centre recently waived the penalty that was imposed after Meghalaya failed to initiate the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme under JNNURM and also reimbursed Rs 43 crore meant for the project.

The deadline to complete the project, which began in 2010, was set as March 2015. The PHE Department had planned to commission Phase III of the project by March 2017 but unavailability of resources is likely to lead to another round of delay.

EDITORIAL

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23

Today's quote

“

"If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today."

– E. Joseph Cossman

A chance for peace in Syria The coming together of Russia, Turkey and Iran to discuss a diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis is a welcome development. That they decided to go ahead with Tuesday's Moscow summit despite the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov, the previous day, demonstrates their commitment to stay the course, something that was missing in previous efforts. The summit also marks a shift in Russia's approach, which initially involved negotiations with the United States about possible diplomatic options for Syria. Washington has been kept out of both the deliberations on the Aleppo evacuations and the Moscow conference.

The last time Russia and the U.S. reached an agreement, in September 2016, there had been great hope that they could mentor a sustainable ceasefire. But within days of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announcing the deal, the American-led coalition killed dozens of Syrian soldiers. Though the U.S. later "regretted" the strike, the peace process had been hit. The wider bilateral tensions between Moscow and Washington were also an impediment to finding a breakthrough in Syria.

The current initiative appears to be more promising.

Russia and Iran have direct leverage over the regime in Syria, while Turkey still helps several militant groups.

Besides money and arms, the militants need Turkey's help for any communication with the other side. And there is a reason for Turkey coming forward for talks.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appears to have realised that his anti-regime Syria policy has backfired. Turkey faces severe security challenges, from both Islamic State jihadists and Kurdish militants. If Syria remains at war and the instability spawns more radical militia groups, it could worsen Turkey's security problems, while Kurds on the Syrian side could grow in strength. Russia, on the other side, has pursued a 'war and talk' approach since its intervention - it will continue to defend the regime militarily, while looking for avenues to deal with other stakeholders. The recent improvement in relations between Ankara and Moscow, which had hit a low after Turkey shot down a Russian aircraft last year, has also helped get the peace process going. But this convergence of interest for both sides in stabilising Syria doesn't mean that peace is within reach. Turkey is only one of the countries backing the rebels. The others include Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan, all allies of the U.S. The Saudis were instrumental in ending the civil war in Lebanon in 1989. Like Lebanon, Syria too is a regional problem that needs a regional solution. For this, Arab stakeholders may have to give up their 'Assad-must-go' precondition and join the peace process, as Turkey did.

Ending the Manipur blockade The blockade of the national highways leading to the Manipur valley, called by the United Naga Council (UNC), has been in place since November 1. This has severely affected life in the State, with shortages and escalating costs of essential supplies such as fuel and food, even as demonetisation has exacerbated problems.

Blockades like this are not new to Manipur. In 2011, there was initially a hundred-day-plus blockade enforced

by Kuki-led groups, and countered later by Naga groups, which together had a debilitating effect on life in Manipur. This time the blockade is in place to oppose the creation of new districts by the Okram Ibobi Singh government. On December 9 it issued a gazette notification for the creation of seven new districts by bifurcating seven (of a total of nine) districts. This decision had as much to do with long-pending demands - in particular, for a new Kuki-majority district to be carved out of the larger Senapati hill district - as with easing administrative access to far-flung areas from the district headquarters. With State Assembly elections around the corner, the decision by the Congress-led government was also a desperate measure to woo the hill residents.

While residents and groups in the new districts have welcomed the decision, the UNC has protested, alleging that areas with a Naga population have been divided and that the lack of consultation is a violation of commitments made by both the Centre and the State in various memoranda of understanding.

Already, just as in 2011, counter-blockades have been called by other groups, this time in the Meitei-dominated valley, and there has been violence both in the hills and in the valley. The State government last month sought the Centre's assistance to end the blockade, given that New Delhi has been in peace talks with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) group that supports the UNC. While the Centre has sent paramilitary forces to both Nagaland and Manipur, the inaction in clearing the blockade of the national highways is puzzling. Efforts to impose a political solution through blockades that cut arterial routes supplying essential goods to various areas of Manipur are a cynical ploy.

Such action heightens ethnic polarisation and threatens, once again, the fragile peace in the State. Ideally there should be a dialogue that involves all major stakeholders - the State government, groups that support redistricting, the UNC and the Centre. But first, there should be zero tolerance towards all such blockades.

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A year of living dangerously Along with a disturbing rise in attacks on Army camps across Jammu and Kashmir, the Line of Control and the International Boundary in the State are also alarmingly tense today.

Pakistan's decision not to respond to India's surgical strikes after the terrorist attack on the Army base in Uri may have seemed at the time like a major political victory for the Narendra Modi government in New Delhi.

But it is increasingly becoming evident that not only was the political victory short-lived, the country is paying a heavy price for the cross-LoC strike on September 29. While the Pakistan Army refused to admit that the surgical strikes ever took place, it has since been retaliating: unstated, surreptitiously and through proxies. Consider this: with Saturday's attack on an Indian army convoy in Kashmir's Pampore, the armed forces in Kashmir have lost over 60 men this year alone.

Along with this disturbing rise in the attacks on Army camps across Jammu and Kashmir, the LoC and International Boundary (IB) in the State are also alarmingly tense today. Ceasefire violation-related military casualties on the Indian side itself are 12 so far, highest since the ceasefire agreement - which has all but collapsed now - was arrived at in 2003.

Strategic implications of the strikes From a military point of view, the cross-LoC operation was limited and carefully calibrated: there was no targeting of Pakistani military installations as the operation was claimed to be against terror camps and not against the Pakistan Army, and the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) telephoned his Pakistani counterpart after

the operations ended and LoC below the Pakistani conveyed the counter-ter- redline, a proactive military rorist intent behind the strategy based on the asstrike. The DGMO further sumption of Pakistani indulclarified that the "Indian gence is rife with multiple Army conducted surgical challenges. First of all, it strikes at several of these would be rather difficult to launch pads 'along' Line of fix the degree of state comControl." plicity in an attack within a Moreover, the operation severely limited time frame was hardly a surprise to for any retaliatory operaRawalpindi tion. The given the Happymon Jacob PAarkmi syt a' ns high level of polititolerance, cal and military signalling if it indeed exists, and interfrom the Indian side be- national community's actween the Uri attack and the ceptance would be timesurgical strikes. The Paki- sensitive. Second, local stan Army is also said to commanders along the LoC have monitored a great deal on the Pakistani side could of 'operation-related chatter' misread the 'accepted from the Indian side. Indeed, threshold' assumption and New Delhi's post-strike act differently than extriumphalism did have nega- pected when attacked. tive reputational impact on Third, the Indian side the all-powerful General would, as it did post-surgiHeadquarters in Rawalpindi cal strikes, radically exagand for the Nawaz Sharif gerate the success of its regovernment in Islamabad. If taliatory strike in order to so, why did the Pakistan show that the Pakistani tolArmy not resist, or hit back erance level for Indian reafter New Delhi hailed the taliation is high. The Pakimilitary action as a block- stani side would, on the buster victory (even though other hand, as it did postwe now know that such op- surgical strikes, deny the erations were conducted in operation altogether or the past as well)? lower its level and success Does this mean that (i.e. that operation was limRawalpindi displayed a cer- ited to the LoC only) to retain amount of tolerance for duce the perceived level of the Indian military action Pakistani tolerance by Ingiven that it was carried out dia. Finding a via media beafter 19 Indian soldiers were tween these two extreme killed, and national anger positions for operational was mounting in India? I purposes is easier said than recently asked a senior (re- done, and trying to exploit tired) Pakistani General that fine balance may be about the 'level of tolerance' setting out on a dangerous for potential surgical strike- course of action. like action in future by InFinally, that there was no dia. I was told rather bluntly vertical escalation after the that it would depend on the surgical strikes even Pakistan Army's complicity though this was an openly in the attack: the more the declared attack on complicity, the less the re- Pakistan's territory assumes taliation. Or differently put, a great deal of significance. no complicity would mean While this might, at one definite retaliation. level, go to show that the While this might appear Indian and Pakistani sides to provide an operational are able to control the escawindow for future Indian lation dynamics under exmilitary action across the treme stress, it would be

wrong to assume that India's cross-LoC operation has gone not responded to

by Pakistan. Indeed, the response is currently playing out. Consider the following.

The low-cost response Responding to the surgical strikes with matching force would not have been a smart strategy for Pakistan given that it would have been hard for Rawalpindi to pull it off. This, in my reckoning, perhaps explains the Pakistani inaction and the refusal to acknowledge the Indian attack. When you don't acknowledge an action, you don't have to react to it.

However, the story doesn't end there. Pakistan is currently responding to the Indian strikes in a way it is materially able to and 'at a time and place of its choosing': by firing on the border and organising coordinated attacks on Indian Army bases/convoys through its proxies such as the Jaish-eMohammed and Lashkar-eTaiba. These two cheap strategies seem to essentially make up Rawalpindi's response to New Delhi's surgical strikes.

India was highly emboldened by the Pakistan military's non-retaliation after the September strikes but it is today recognising that while it may have pulled off the military action and the subsequent political management of it, the costs are mounting day after day.

The LoC and the IB have become the new battlefield, and we should expect a lot more action along these borderlands in the days ahead. Both India and Pakistan seem to be using these contested borders as an arena for settling scores which they do not want to settle in a conventional pitched battle. In short, lower-level instability seems to be the order of the day in the near future.

While border firing might seem less escalatory than cross-border raids, ceasefire violations are a slow killer: as ceasefire violation-related casualties continue to rise, they could lead to political and diplomatic escalation, and sustained violations together with covert cross-border raids (as it has happened more than once in the past) could potentially lead to vertical military escalation.

The other cheap strategy in response to India's surgical strikes seems to be well-planned low-intensity attacks on Indian forces in J&K. While border firing hurts both parties, low-intensity strikes (for example, Nagrota and Pampore) hurt only India since it loses soldiers in such raids, whereas Pakistan only loses expendable proxies. The argument here is not that such attacks against Army camps did not take place before September this year, but that they are likely to increase with more precision and determination in the days ahead. Moreover, thanks to the standoff, Islamabad and Rawalpindi will continue to fan the Kashmir uprising with even more vigour. Notwithstanding the fact that the recent Kashmir uprising was essentially indigenous in nature, Pakistani grandstanding and renewed domestic political mobilisation within Pakistan over Kashmir, and the military strategising for a sustained Kashmir campaign will keep Kashmir on the boil.

Pakistan's adoption of such low-cost strategies to respond to India's surgical strikes also lands the Modi government in a rather awkward commitment trap.

Though the post-Uri strikes and the political posturing by the Bharatiya Janata Party were supposed to convey to Rawalpindi, and the domestic audience in

India that attacks on Indian forces won't go unpunished anymore, the reality is that both the Nagrota and Pampore attacks have gone unpunished. This leaves the Modi government in a strategic quandary: it has neither been able to live up to its commitment nor has its threats been able to dissuade the Pakistan Army. If anything, the Pakistan Army seems to have called the Modi government's bluff.

National security implications The current stand-off with Pakistan has drastically deteriorated our overall national security environment.

Our soldiers in the northwestern frontier are far more in danger today than they had been in recent years.

The precious lives of soldiers would have been saved had New Delhi avoided an unnecessarily aggressive policy in J&K and towards Pakistan.

There is also growing disquiet within the Indian armed forces about the needless loss of lives because politicians are unwilling to reach a modus vivendi on political issues both within Kashmir and vis-Ă vis Pakistan. Besides the military casualties, there is yet another form of collateral damage: the lives and livelihoods of people living along the border. Despite the recurrent hardship that they have to go through, villagers don't speak out in public thanks to the extreme levels of right-wing political mobilisation in Jammu. Suffering and death are couched in the language of deshbhakti (patriotism). In private, however, they recount the untold miseries due to ceasefire violations. The year-long violations in 2014, for instance, had displaced them for several months. This is a collateral damage that goes unsung and unacknowledged.

A fatwa against Santa's hat!

As Christmas approached, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MU) issued a fatwa (edict) prohibiting Muslims from wearing "non-Muslim religious attributes". Not surprisingly, on the pretext of the "familiarisation" of the fatwa, members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) have conducted raids of attire considered symbols of Christmas, such as Santa hats, in a few cities - one in Surabaya, which was escorted by the police.

The fatwa has gone further on three levels as compared to the 1981 MUI fatwa on Christmas celebrations.

First, it has a much longer list of scriptural arguments backed by opinions of medieval ulema saying that greeting Christians on Christmas is forbidden in Islam. This is not in line with the 1981 fatwa that only prohibited Muslims from participating in the Christian rituals of Christmas and not prohibiting them from saying "Merry Christmas" - in

fact, the MUI leader at that time, Buya Hamka, allowed it; so did the previous MUI chairman, Din Syamsuddin.

Second, the fatwa has a much broader definition of the very object it is against, i.e. "non-Muslim religious attributes". Misunderstandings may arise if this includes the Santa suit.

The Santa outfit has become a tradition over the last century. It became popular only after a portrayal of Santa Claus with a red and white suit was adopted as part of an advertisement for the Coca-Cola company; hence the red and white colours. It has, therefore, much more to do with the marketing industry rather than being a religious symbol.

The red-and-white Santa outfit is thus the westernised, or more precisely Americanized, portrayal of Saint Nicholas. In fact, if it is seen as a commoditization of the sacred embedded in a capitalist system of economy, it may contravene the mean-

Christian religious symbols, is tantamount to confirming a Christian spirituality.

That reasoning cannot hold up because today many people greet Christians on Christmas or wear Third, and most impor- a Santa outfit only for sotantly, it is difficult to make cial purposes, having no sense of the reasoning be- intention of claiming Chrishind the fatwa. The 1981 tianity as their religion. Besides, fatwa is plauAzis Anwar Fachrudin ifp l iaped sible, conas it only deals with ritual partici- sistently to all issues, the pation, and the MUI leader literal reading of the hadith at the time backed up his ar- will bring about the disgument by an analogy that missal of many attributes the Christians, conversely, worn or adopted by Muscannot participate in, for lims yet similar to or origiexample, the Muslim five nated from other religions or cultures. daily prayers.

The current fatwa, on the Ulema, priests and rabbis other hand, has no ground other than a literal adher- wear robes. Rosary or ence to a popular, elusive prayer beads are used in Ishadith saying, "whoever lam, Christianity and Judaimitates any people, s/he is ism; Buddhist monks use one among them". From prayer beads, as well. Do this hadith derives the rea- not forget our national symsoning, as suggested in bol the Garuda bird, which opinions of medieval ulema, is the mount of Vishnu that that celebrating Christmas, originates from Hindu myincluding saying "Merry thology. Adopting a Garuda Christmas" and wearing as a national symbol cerings in being religious, such as charity and altruism, to name a few. In short, the Santa outfit is not a religious attribute; it is a capitalist attribute.

Alexander and Diogenes Nothing is written My all-time favourite film is "Lawrence Of Arabia" and, if I have a favourite scene from the movie, then I guess it is the one of Lawrence's triumphal return from the Nefud desert, having gone back to rescue the Arab Gasim. The crossing of the Nefud desert is considered impossible, even by the local Arabs, but Lawrence persuades them that, in this way, they can take the Turkish port at Aqaba from the rear.

Having carried out the superhuman feat of traversing this furnace, it is discovered that one of the Arabs, Gasim, has fallen off his camel and is no doubt dying somewhere back in the desert. Lawrence is told that any idea

of rescue is futile and, in any event, Gasim's death is "written". When Lawrence achieves the impossible and returns with Gasim still alive, Sherif Ali admits to him: "Truly, for some men nothing is written unless they write it".

As an impressionable teenager when this film was first released, I was stunned by Lawrence's courage and unselfishness in going back into the hell of the Nefud to attempt to find a man he hardly knew among the vast expanse of a fiery terrain and I was so moved by the sense of purpose of a man who is determined to take nothing as "written" but to shape his own destiny. This sense of antideterminism and this belief that anything is possible has stayed with me always and continues to inspire me in small ways and large.

tainly does not mean Indonesian Muslims promote Hinduism.

So, why did the medieval ulema's opinions come up with that reasoning? The instructive part of the December 14 MUI fatwa is that all the ulema cited to back up the arguments were all coming from no earlier than the 12th century CE. This context is important to consider.

There is no explicit statement either in the Quran or hadith, which suggest the reasoning. It is ulema's interpretations of the Quran and commentaries of the hadith that do. Further, a story in the earliest biography of Prophet Muhammad narrated that the Prophet allowed Christians of Najran to conduct their rituals in the Nabawi mosque of Madinah - and this story was assessed as valid in Ahkam Ahl alDhimmah by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah which, ironically, was among the authorities cited in the MUI fatwa.

It was the ulema who lived in that era onward who enhanced the arguments that set a boundary between a Muslim identity and any symbol perceived as relating to non-Muslim traditions - this doctrine is known in Salafi discourse as al-wala' walbara' (loyalty and disavowal).

In today's discourse, with narratives of enemies in Muslim communities, the defense mechanism of preserving an exclusive Muslim identity will take place; and the alwala' wal-bara' doctrine will find momentum.

Regardless of being the majority, if the Muslim masses "feel threatened", Indonesian Muslim popular discourse will remain the same, i.e. preoccupied by somewhat trivial issues, such as wearing Santa hats, greeting non-Muslims on their holidays, opening daytime restaurants during Ramadhan, reciting the Quran using a Javanese melody and so on so forth.

Shifting goalposts Ever since demonetisation took effect, we have witnessed a number of sudden changes in the government's stand. It is obvious that the government did not have a road map to begin with. The burden is now being borne by the poor and downtrodden who find it difficult to keep them informed. Public trust in the government has also been undermined. The problem lies not in demonetisation but in the haphazard, unplanned and skewed way of policy implementation.

Soniya Mukherjee Goalpara, Assam

TRAVEL & TOURISM

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23

Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir is a paradise for tourists. It is situated on the top most part of the country and it is

set like a jewelled crown on the map of India. The majestic Himalayan Mountain Range and the Pir Panjal

Range in Jammu and Kashmir, represent the awe-inspiring supremacy, beauty, and opulence of Nature.

Nature Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir

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Pilgrimage Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir Jammu and Kashmir is a home to several sacred places of worship. There are many lofty temples, which attract a large number of Hindu pilgrims. The sacred cave shrine of Vaishno Devi, in Jammu and Kashmir, is flooded with devotees almost all throughout the year. A pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi mandir is regarded as one of the holiest pilgrimages. In the cave there are images of three deities, Mahakali, Mahasaraswati, and Mahalakshmi.

The Amarnath cave, located on the mount Amarnath, is another holy place for the Hindus. In the month of Shravan, on the full moon in August, thousands of

Hindu religious devotees go on a pilgrimage up to the cave. The Mahakali temple at Jammu, in Jammu and Kashmir, is considered second to the Vaishno Devi in respect to spiritual power.

The Khir Bhawani temple, in Srinagar, is a very important Hindu Shrine. It is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Ragnya Devi. Khir Bhawani temple is visited by Hindus in large numbers to offer prayers to seek the blessings of the deity. Charar-eSharif in Jammu and Kashmir is the mausoleum of Shaikh Noor-ud-Din Noorani, and is a holy place for the Muslim devotees.

This shrine draws people from all division of life to seek his blessings and

favour. The most important Gurudwara in Jammu and Kashmir is Chhatti Padshahi

Gurudwara, situated near the Kathi Darwaza, Srinagar, which is held in

great awe and reverence by devotees of all faiths especially the Sikhs.

For the would-be golfer, there are golf sets on hire, pros to coach one in the game, and provisional

memberships. A range of rafting options is available on the Indus and its major tributaries.

Leisure Tourism in Adventure Jammu and Kashmir Tourism in

The beautiful natural landscape of Jammu and Kashmir makes it one of the most coveted destinations in India. The outstanding beauty of the Himalayan Mountain range attracts tourists from all over the world. The valleys in Jammu and Kashmir are an indispensable part of its tourism.

The natural splendour of the Kashmir valley is bound to mesmerise the visitors.

The Puga valley of Jammu and Kashmir is renowned

for its borax and sulphur deposits and hot water springs. This valley is a major crowd pull. The Suru Valley forms the foundation of the Kargil district in Jammu and Kashmir. It is a fertile valley and a much visited destination of Jammu and Kashmir. The Nubra valley of Jammu and Kashmir, portrays some characteristics which are not seen any where else in the Himalayan valleys. The exquisite water bodies of Jammu

and Kashmir enhance the beauty of the state. These water bodies are of great environmental and socioeconomic implication.

Jammu and Kashmir has a number of monuments which are of prime historical importance. The Hari Parbat fort of Jammu and Kashmir was built in the 18th century and is a much visited site of the state. The Baghe Bahu fort in Jammu is the oldest structure built almost three thousand years ago by Raja Bahulochan but restored by Dogra Kings. Beautiful gar-

The most well-known of these are Dal Lake and Nagin Lake of Srinagarwith their multi-faceted eco system and magnificence. National and international tourists horde to the place fascinated by the awe-inspiring beauty of the places.

Top 5 Places to Visit in Kashmir Gulmarg

Sonamarg Located on the SrinagarLadakh Highway, around two and a half hours drive northeast of Srinagar, scenic Sonamarg ("Meadow of Gold") is famous for its Thajiwas Glacier. What's remarkable about this glacier is how accessible it is. From the highway, you can hike up to the glacier and back in around five hours. If you don't have so much time to spare, it's possible to ride a

Pahalgam Pahalgam, the "Valley of Shepherds", is around three hours drive from Srinagar and is near the departure point for pilgrims going on the Amarnath Yatra (avoid visiting during July as it will be very busy then). Visitors commonly head to Pahalgam's Betaab Valley(the Bollywood movie "Betaab" was shot there), with its fresh flowing Lidder River and surrounding snow-capped hills. How-

pony instead, or take a taxi part of the way there and walk. It is costly though.

Pony owners will charge at least 600 rupees per person for a return trip. Do bargain hard. Scenes of many Bollywood movies have been filmed in the area, and you won't have to try very hard to feel like you're in one!

There are a number of options for eating and staying at Sonamarg. Ahsan Mount Resort has fabulous Swiss tents for glamping. ever, what you need to be aware of, is that you'll only be allowed to take your vehicle up to a certain point to reach the Valley. After that, you'll need to hire a prepaid vehicle provided by the local transport association, or walk. Entrance to the Valley is regulated and costs 10 rupees. Other possible activities around Pahalgam include golfing, trout fishing, and river rafting. It's a popular destination for adventure tourism.

dens and waterfalls enhance the exquisiteness of this fort. Palaces in Jammu and Kashmir also have a great historical significance.

Numerous palaces were built in the land of Jammu and Kashmir, but at present only a few survives. The Amar Mahal Palace in Jammu and Ram Nagar Palace in Udhampur Districtare the most well-known palaces of the state.

Gulmarg ("Meadow of Flowers"), India's version of a ski resort, is situated less than two hours drive east of Srinagar. The season runs from mid December to mid March. If you're not into skiing, you may still want to let the gondola whisk you more than 13,000 feet up Mount Apharwat for outstanding views. Apparently, it's the world's highest cable

car.

And, it's very popular, so you should buy your tickets online to avoid a long queues. Unfortunately, you'll still have to wait to board it though. Ubiquitous pony rides are also available in Gulmarg, and their owners are particularly aggressive in pestering tourists for business. If you feel like splashing some cash, treat yourself to a couple of nights at the Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa.

Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir is an ideal place for adventure and sports tourism.

The most popular tourist activities in Kashmir include camping, surfing, white-water rafting, backpacking, kayaking, bicycling, canoe trips, snow skiing, fishing, skiing, hunting, water skiing, rock climbing, hiking, snowboarding trans-Himalayan jeep safaris and paragliding.

Gulmarg in Jammu and Kashmir has one of the world's highest green golf courses, as well as a clubhouse, which is a historical building in its own right.

6 authentic Kashmiri food you must try The history of Kashmiri cuisine can be traced back several hundred years to the invasion of India by Tumur and the migration of merchants, craftsmen and cooks

from Samarkand to the verdant Kashmir valley.

The descendants of these cooks, the wazas, are now regarded as the master chefs of Kashmiri cuisine, which

Sinthan Top Sinthan Top is becoming a sought after alternative to the other, often crowded, tourist places in Kashmir. Interest in it has grown since construction of the Kokernag-Sinthan Top-Kishtwar Road, connecting Kashmir with Jammu, began. It's yet to be developed though, so there's an absence of facilities for tourists. Hence, it's a good idea to stop in Daksum on the way. The drive from Srinagar to Sinthan Top takes around two and a half hours. It's possible to stay in Daksum, or Kokernag where there are more options. These are excellent places to go trekking and exploring the great outdoors.

which takes hours of preparation and consists of an elaborate multi-course meal.

Here's a list of dishes made by the wazas of Kashmir that you must try

Rogan josh Lamb in Kashmiri maval petals and red onion gravy This dish is a huge hit with people who like their food spicy hot. The combination of hot spices and the red colour derived from maval, the dried flower of the cockscomb plant make it a treat for the eyes and tastebuds. While rogan

stands for fat that the meat is cooked in, josh means hot and passionate.

Tabak Maaz

Charar-i-Sharief and Yousmarg Yousmarg, a sprawling meadow around two hours drive southwest of Srinagar, is refreshingly underdeveloped (only a couple of restaurants are there). The highlight is the Doodh Ganga river, which is reached by a picturesque 30 minute walk along a forested trail down a hill. Alternatively, it's possible to take a pony. The pony owners will insist you do so and they are quite annoying (don't give into them though if you do want to walk). On the way to Yousmarg you'll pass numerous apple trees (if you spot anyone selling apples on the roadside, get some as they're delicious!) as well the town of Charar-i-Sharief. It's worth stopping there as it's home to one of the most holy Sufi Muslim shrines in India and some of the biggest halwa parathas you'll ever see!

is rich and redolent with the distinct flavours of spices such as cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and saffron. A formal banquet in Kashmir is called the royal Wazwan

Lamb ribs with turmeric, cinnamon and saffron The front ribs of a fatty goat poached in moval essence, spices and fennel and then seared in ghee makes tabak maas, the Kashmiri lamb chops worth a try.

Rista Small lamb dumplings in an onion, chilli and saffron gravy This traditional recipe

consists of lamb meatballs made with minced meat and poached in turmeric water to cook in a stock.

Gushtaba Lamb meatballs in a yoghurt gravy The lamb meat is beaten with a walnut hammer to make it gooey after which fat and salt is rubbed in it. The meat balls are then poached to make the texture spongy after which they are cooked in a yogurt-based gravy called yakhni.

Kashmiri haakh A traditional Kashmiri collard green preparation Made with Kashmiri collard green that is grown in lake water and known for its bitter sharp taste, haakh is collard green cooked with fennel.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23

NATION P8 PM ridicules Rahul's remarks, counters Manmohan Delhi LG resigns in surprise move

PTI Varanasi, Dec 22 : Ridiculing Rahul Gandhi's remarks about bringing an "earthquake" with accusations of corruption against him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he is happiest since the Congress leader has "learnt" to speak as he has unwittingly admitted the "failure" of his party's reign.

"They have a young leader who is just learning to give speeches.

Since the time he has learnt to speak, there is no limit to my happiness.

In 2009, you couldn't even tell what is inside this packet and what is not. Now we are finding out," Modi said without naming Gandhi.

"He had been going around threatening that when he will speak, there will be an earthquake. If he hadn't spoken, there could have been an earthquake. It would have been an earthquake that people would have had to

PM ridicules Rahul's remarks, counters Manmohan deal with for 10 years.

"There is no chance of an earthquake now that he has spoken. We can be rest assured that there is no danger of the natural calamity in sight," the PM said, a day after Gandhi's accusation against Modi of taking money from Sahara and Birla groups when he was Gujarat Chief Minister.

BJP had rejected the Congress leader's allegations as "baseless, shameful, and mala fide".

Accusing the Government of not allowing his to speak in Parliament, Gandhi had earlier said that "an earthquake will come" if he speaks and had gone on to claim that he had knowledge of "personal corruption" by Modi.

The Prime Minister, who was on his first tour of his Lok Sabha constituency after Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes were demonetized on November 8, was speaking today at a func-

tion organised inside the Banaras Hindu University campus.

He also took potshots at Gandhi's assertion that payments through cards, online transfers etc. would face hurdles in the country due to low literacy levels, saying, "I hope he does not say that I had indulged in some sort of black magic to make illiterate those who knew how to read and write.

"He never thinks before he speaks and he may not have realized that he has admitted the failure of the long reign of his own party," the PM said adding his detractors have been forced "to admit, even if unwittingly, their failures".

He said a cleanliness campaign has been launched and the "stink" raised during cleaning of garbage which is scattered everywhere is the same that the country is feeling now.

Modi said he is happy

that note ban has "exposed the 'kala dhan' (black money) as well as 'kale mann' (ill-intentions) of many".

Taking a jibe a former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said poverty is his legacy adding Singh's image is clean but a number of major scams had taken place during his tenure.

Reacting to his predecessor's assertion in Parliament that a cashless economy was not feasible for the country where nearly 50 per cent of people were poor, the Prime Minister said, "I wonder whether he (Singh) was giving his own report card by admitting the dismal situation.

"After all, he has not just been the Prime Minister for two terms and a Finance Minister previously.

Since the 1970s he has been holding key positions.

IIT-B working with US scien- J-K govt sacks employee for tists to predict storm surge

IIT-B working with US scientists to predict storm surge PTI Bhubaneswar, Dec 23 : Researchers in climate science at the IIT, Bhubaneswar, are studying coastal inundation for developing a LandOcean-Atmospheric Modelling System to make prediction in case of extreme weather events, Prof U C Mohanty, Professor of Earth, Ocean and Climate Sciences at IIT, Bhubaneswar said.

With climate change and global warming triggering erratic and extreme weather events, the coastal states in India were vulnerable, he said on the sidelines of the four-day National Sym-

posium on Tropical Meteorology (TROPMET2016) which concluded at SOA University yesterday.

"The IIT-Bhubaneswar has been working with a group of US-based scientists to develop such a model. This modelling will help improve the prediction on coastal inundation which is a major cause of loss of life and property in the coastal states," Prof. Mohanty, an acknowledged expert in climate science, said.

Prof. Mohanty said the endeavour to develop the modelling system with the group of US-based scientists was crucial as climate change had altered

the rainfall pattern.

"We now receive a huge amount of rainfall within a short window of time followed by long dry spells. Besides, the rainfall and storm surge during tropical cyclones seriously affects large shoreline populations causing destruction," he said.

Asked about future projections, he said though the number of tropical cyclones in a season could remain the same, their category or intensity would be higher.

With global warming leading to sea level rise, inundation in a state like Odisha had to be studied, Prof. Mohanty said, adding the storm surge on the southern coastline of the state from Ganjam district upto Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh could be of 2-3 meters while a cyclone of the same intensity could whip up waves of 10-12 meters in the Balasore coast in the north.

"It is because, the sea is very shallow off the Balasore coast while it is deep along the southern coastline," he said.

remaining absen

PTI Jammu, Dec 22 : Jammu and Kashmir government today sacked an employee after he remained absent from duty for nearly nine months, an official said.

"It is hereby ordered, service of Tenzen Chhoyal, Orderly of JK Secretariat service, is terminated and is discharged from the government service with effect from March 30,

2016," Under Secretary to the Government, Iftikhar Rasool Hamdani, said.

Chhoyal, who joined General Administration Department (GAD) on August 24, 2015, was posted in State Home department.

He did not report to duty since March 30, 2016, Hamdani said.

Despite several notices, he remained absent from the duty, he added.

Indian arrested in Nepal with banned currency PTI Kathmandu, Dec 22 : A 44-year-old Indian national has been arrested from the Tribhuvan International Airport here for possessing banned Indian currency worth Rs 363,500.

Police arrested Thupten Gelek when he was about to leave for New Delhi of India from Kathmandu on an Indigo Airlines flight

(6E032). He was carrying 210 notes of Rs 1,000 denominations and 307 notes of Rs 500 denomination.

Police found the notes hidden inside a suitcase during a security check.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 had announced the ban on banknotes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denominations.

Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung PTI New Delhi, Dec 22 : In a sudden move, Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung today resigned amid a protracted bitter confrontation with the AAP government.

Without citing reasons, Jung's office said he has submitted his resignation

to the Centre. 65-yearold Jung, a former IAS officer, had assumed charge of Lt Governor of Delhi on July 9, 2013.

"Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has submitted his resignation to the Government of India. He thanks the Prime Minister for all the help and cooperation

Google makes available info of public toilets in NCR, MP PTI Bhopal, Dec 22 : Feeling like relieving yourself and unable to find a loo, now one can Google to find the same in Madhya Pradesh and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Starting today, Google has made available information about thousands of public toilets in NCR and Madhya Pradesh available on Google Maps.

"Working closely with the Ministry of Urban Development, Google is adding the location, address and opening hours of over 4,000 public restrooms to Maps, to provide information to people and help improve sanitation," a release issued by Google said.

"With over four thousand listings covering Delhi NCR including Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, Bhopal and Indore in Madhya Pradesh - Indians and foreigners will now be able to easily find the nearest public toilet on Google Maps both on the

Google makes available info of public toilets in NCR, MP mobile app as well as on desktop," it said.

This service will be accessible to users both in English and Hindi language.

"When you search for 'public toilet' on Google Maps in an area where the service is available, you ll see a list of restrooms near you, including the respective address and opening hours,"

Rs 2k notes worth Rs 1.34 cr seized from gangsters

City BJP plans events to mark Aleppo evacutions Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birthday continue, 'last conPTI Mumbai, Dec 22 : City BJP unit has planned various events to mark former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 92nd birthday which falls on December 25.

A host of Bollywood personalities and party leaders will be participating in the events to be held at two different venues in city.

"These celebrities will come together for cultural programmes to be held at Kamgar Maidan in Elphinstone Road and at suburban Vile Parle in Mumbai," party leaders of the city unit said today.

Mumbai BJP general secretary Amarjeet Mishra's 'Deep Kamal Foundation' has organised Atal-Geet Ganga programme in which actor-turned-anchor Shekhar Suman, playback singers Anuradha Paudwal and Parvati Khan would be reciting the poems penned by the former Prime Minister. The event would be held at Deenanath Mangeshkar

voys' expected AFP Aleppo, Dec 22 : Evacuations from rebel-held parts of Aleppo continued overnight with dozens of vehicles leaving the city and the operation likely to end today, aid workers said.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Auditorium in suburban Vile-Parle.

"Besides, recitation, recording of his poems will also be played by dignitaries to mark the occasion," said Mishra.

Mishra told PTI, "In this seventh consecutive episode of the Atal GeetGanga, senior BJP leader and protege of former PM, Lalji Tandon will be honoured with Atal Samman."

Party's youth-wing, the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) led by Mohit Kamboj would be holding AtalShubhkamna mela at Kamgar Maidan where music composer duo Sajid Wajid would present scintillating music themes with poetry

by Atal Bihari.

The former Prime Minister was born on December 25,1924 1924.

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which is assisting in the evacuation, said dozens more buses and smaller vehicles were expected to carry rebel fighters and civilians out of the city today.

"We expect today to be the last convoys, the operation will continue all day long and during the night. If it goes smoothly the evacuation will end tonight," said Ingy Sedky, the ICRC's spokeswoman in Syria.

Around 30,000 people have left the one-time opposition stronghold of east Aleppo since Thursday, including all of the wounded and sick

in critical condition, according to the ICRC. Ahmad al-Dbis, who heads a team of doctors and volunteers coordinating evacuations, said some 400 vehicles, including trucks and cars, had arrived overnight in Khan al-Assal, the staging ground where evacuees from Aleppo arrive after leaving the city.

From there, most have headed for territory to the west of the city still under the control of Syrian rebels, who are suffering their biggest defeat in more than five years of civil war after agreeing to withdraw from Aleppo.

President Bashar alAssad's government is waiting for the end of the evacuations so it can declare the completion of the offensive to recapture the one-time rebel stronghold.

he received during his tenure," the LG's office said in a statement.

The reason behind his surprise decision is not immediately known.

"Jung also thanked the people of Delhi for all their support and affection, especially during the one year of President's Rule in Delhi, when he got unstinted support from them and which in turn helped run the administration in Delhi smoothly and effortlessly," the statement said.

Jung also thanked Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for his association in the last two years.

"Jung would be returning back to his first love, which is, academics," said his office.

Rs 2k notes worth Rs 1.34 cr seized from gangsters PTI Chennai, Dec 22 : The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sleuths have seized Rs 1.34 crore in new Rs 2,000 denomination besides foreign currencies from a gang of five persons at the airport here, today.

Acting on specific input that a gang was involved in smuggling of foreign exchange out of India, the DRI Chennai zone officials intercepted five persons outside the Anna International airport here in the wee hours of Thursday, an official release said.

During a search of the baggage carried by the gang, it was found containing Rs 1.34 crore in new currency of Rs 2,000 notes and foreign currencies of over USD 7,000 (equivalent to Rs 4.76 lakh), which were seized, the release said.

"Further investigation is on," it said.

Yesterday, the DRI officials had seized 12 lakh foreign cigarettes, worth Rs 1.63 crore, that arrived at V O Chidambaranar Port in Tuticorin, by a container from United Arab Emirates.

Google Maps, Product Manager, Sanket Gupta said.

"For instance, if you re travelling on the national highway 8 in Gurugram, locating a public toilet can be challenging and most often the only option is going to nearby restaurants and cafes. Having this information handy can make things much easier," he added.

Cold wave continues, Churu records 5.1 deg C Jaipur, Dec 22 : Churu was the coldest place in Rajasthan recording a minimum temperature of 5.1 degrees Celsius followed

by Sriganganagar at 5.3 degrees Celsius today.

The sole hill station of the state, Mount Abu, registered a night temperature of 6 degrees Celsius which was followed by Chittorgarh where the night temperature was 7.3 degrees Celsius.

Pilani, Dabok, Sikar, Ajmer, Jaipur and Barmer recorded a minimum of 7.5, 7.6, 8, 9.6, 11 and 12.8 degrees Celsius respectively, according to Met department here.

Meanwhile, movement of trains were affected due to fog in the northern region of the state.

Two trains- Alwar to Khairthal express and Khairthal to Alwar express were cancelled while time table of two trains Jaipur- Alwar express and JaipurAllahabad superfast express were revised, they said.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23

BUSINESS

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Independent director Nusli Wadia removed from Tata Steel board

RBI governor to brief parliamentary panel on Jan 19

PTI New Delhi, Dec 22 : Tata Steel today said its independent director Nusli Wadia has been removed from the company's board, with 90.8 per cent of shareholders present at yesterday's EGM voting in favour of his ouster.

In a regulatory filing, the company said out of its total shares of 97.12 crore, 62.54 crore votes were polled, which translate into 64.4 per cent.

"Total vote in favour of the resolution was 56.79 crore, i.e. 90.80 per cent, and total vote against the motion was 5.75 crore, i.e. 9.20 per cent," it said.

"The motion (was) carried in favour of the resolution with overwhelming majority way beyond a special resolution hurdle of 75 per cent, even though this motion was an ordinary reso-

Independent Director Nusli Wadia. lution requiring simple majority," the company added.

The promoter and promoter firms held 30.45 crore shares in the company, of which 29.59 crore voted.

It further said the total number of votes polled by nonpromoter shareholders was 32.95 crore, of which 27.20 crore, that is 82.5 per cent,

was in favour of the resolution.

The total number of votes polled against the proposal was 5.75 crore, accounting for 17.5 per cent of non-promoters.

The company claimed that even if the promoter votes were excluded, the voting result showed an overwhelm-

ing majority (3/4th) in favour of the resolution.

Institutional investors held a total of 42.64 crore shares out of which 31.99 crore, which is 75 per cent, were polled.

As much as 26.39 crore of institutional shares, which is 82.5 per cent, voted in favour of Wadia's removal, Tata Steel said. The share of institutional shares which polled against the resolution was 5.60 crore, that is 17.5 per cent.

As for retail shareholders, the company said that out of a total of 24.02 crore shares, 96.14 lakh voted, with 81.21 lakh (84.4 per cent) in favour and 15 lakh (15.6 per cent) against.

"Both institutional and retail voted on a similar pattern with significant majority well beyond the 3/4th majority mark in all categories," the company said.

Wadia had stayed away from yesterday's EGM, saying it was stage-managed.

Last week, he filed a Rs 3,000-crore defamation suit against Ratan Tata, Tata Sons and some of its directors. He flied the case in the Bombay High Court following the move by Tata Sons to remove him from the board of the three companies.

Wadia had denied allegations by Tata Sons that he was acting in concert with ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry. Besides, he has refuted claims that he was "galvanising" independent directors and mobilising opinion, forcing disruptions and issuing statements" which were contrary to the interest of the companies as "totally baseless and completely unsubstantiated".

Gold loses Rs 90 on weak Mistry petition to global cues, muted demand NCLT not main-

Gold loses Rs 90 on weak global cues, muted demand.

PTI New Delhi, Dec 22 : Gold prices drifted lower

by Rs 90 to Rs 27,860 per 10 grams today, tracking a weak trend in global market and a fall in demand from local jewellers due to scarcity of funds.

Silver also cracked below the Rs 39,000-mark by plunging Rs 750 to Rs 38,900 per kg on poor offtake by industrial units and coin makers.

Traders said that apart from a weak trend overseas, considerable drop in demand from jewellers and retailers at domestic spot market, hit by prevailing cash crunch due to demonetisation, weighed on the precious metal prices.

On November 8, the government had announced its decision to demonetise 500 and 1,000 rupee notes in a bid to flush out black money, leading to the cash drought.

Globally, moving in a narrow range ahead of the holidays and US economic data, gold was trading fractionally lower at USD 1,130.50 an ounce in Singapore. Silver was down 0.31 per cent at USD 15.85 an ounce.

In the national capital, 99.9 per cent and 99.5 per cent purity gold fell by Rs 90 each to Rs 27,860 and Rs 27,710 per 10 grams, respectively. The yellow metal had gained Rs 100 in yesterday's trade.

Sovereign, however, continued to be traded at previous level of Rs 24,000 per piece of eight grams in scattered deals.

In tune with gold, silver ready plunged by Rs 750 to Rs 38,900 per kg and weekly-based delivery by Rs 730 to Rs 38,945 per kg.

On the other hand, silver coins remained unaltered at Rs 70,000 for buying and Rs 71,000 for selling of 100 pieces.

'Demonetisation will help eliminate corruption, fight terror PTI Washington, Dec 22 : Commending the demonetisation move by the NDA government, a group of Indian-Americans have said that this would not only help eliminate corruption and fight terrorism, but also fast track digitization of economy.

The Indian-Americans, participating in a panel discussion on demonetisation in Long Island New York, said demonetisation move was step that was "long due" and this would help them realise their dream of a "corruption-free, transparent and developed" India.

"It is a revolutionary step, that will transform India.

It would propel India on the path of becoming a developed country in the years to come," said Jagdish Sewhani, president of the American India Public Affairs Committee, which had organised the seminar on demonetisation.

Not only the decision was daring and required a decisive leadership, but also the implementation in itself was a Himalayan task, he said.

"Think about the scale of operation. 125 billion people and replacing

tainable: Tata Sons

more than 80 per cent of the currency at a notice of just four hours. Indian government has come out with flying colors in the monumental implementation of this decision," Sewhani said, adding no other country would have implemented it better.

Referring to the opposition to demonetisation, Sewhani said surprisingly it is coming from those who earlier wanted the government to fight against corruption.

Ajay Lodha, president of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (APPI), said the Indian-American doctors fully support the move.

"This would help us realise

our dream of a corruption-free India," he said, adding that he would convey the sentiments of Indian-American doctors in Bangalore next month where he would be attending the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

"We are happy that such a step has finally been taken," Lodha said.

Dr Shashi Shah, president of the Association of Indians in America, said there is great enthusiasm among Indian Americans on the latest step being taken by the Prime Minister with regard to fight against corruption, demonetisation and digitisation of economy.

PTI New Delhi, Dec 22 : RBI Governor Urjit Patel will brief a parliamentary panel on January 19 on issues concerning demonetisation and its implications on the economy, sources said.

The Standing Committee on Finance, which met on Thursday under the chairmanship of Congress leader M Veerappa Moily, was briefed about demonetisation by various experts.

Independent experts who offered their view before the panel were noted economists Rajiv Kumar and Mahesh Vyas, former chief statistician Pronab Sen and NIPFP's Kavita Rao. The experts, according

to the sources, were divided on the government's decision of cash recall.

The panel also sought to know from the experts their opinion on the existing cash to GDP and tax to GDP ratios.

The committee, the sources said, has called Patel on January 19 to brief the members about the contours of demonetisation and also the efforts being made by the central bank to ease cash crunch in the economy. The panel will also lend an ear to bankers and Indian Banks' Association.

Before taking on record the view of RBI governor, the 31-member panel will question finance ministry officials and also IT experts on

There has been a slew of changes in the regulations both by RBI and the government in the last six weeks, increasing hardships for both the public and bankers.

RBI on Wednesday rolled back its directive restricting deposits of demonetised notes of more than Rs 5,000 in bank accounts till December 30, the latest in a series of revisions.

Sensex drops 196 points, Nifty below 8k in late morn Ratan Tata and Cyrus P Mistry.

PTI Mumbai Dec 22 : With the National Company Law Tribunal refusing any interim relief to ousted Tata Sons chairman Cyrus P Mistry, the company today said it believes the petition is not maintainable in law.

In a statement, Tata Sons said the quasi-judicial body NCLT did not grant any interim reliefs.

Removed abruptly on October 24 as chairman of the holding firm of over USD 100 billion saltto-software group, Mistry had on Tuesday moved NCLT seeking superseding of the Tata Sons board and appointment of an administrator to manage it.

Mistry's family holds over 18 per cent in Tata Sons

while Tata Trusts headed

by Ratan Tata, the newly appointed interim Chairman, has a 66 per cent stake.

"The parties have been directed to file replies and rejoinders in a fixed time table in January, 2017.

The Court also ordered the petitioner (Mistry family's investment firms) not to seek for any further interim reliefs in the subject matter," said the company statement.

Tata Sons, it said, "believes that the petition is not maintainable in law and the court will hear Tata Sons on this issue at the outset at the next hearing".

It said it would not state any further since the matter is sub-judice.

Rupee gains 7 paise against dollar in early trade 'Demonetisation will help eliminate corruption, fight terror.

RBI Governor Urjit Patel.

demonetisation and steps taken to promote digital economy.

It was pointed out that the digital economy at present is 3 per cent and efforts are on to take it to 90 per cent.

Besides, other experts are likely to give their opinion on demonetisation, which came into effect from November 9.

Following the decision to scrap old high-value notes, people are thronging banks to deposit invalid currency and also get valid ones to meet their requirements.

RBI has set withdrawal limit of Rs 24,000 per week for individuals, but due to the shortage of currency, many bank branches are compelled to ration it further.

Mumbai, Dec 22 : Rupee firmed up by 7 paise to 67.84 against the US dollar in early trade on Thursday at the Interbank Foreign Exchange on increased selling of the American currency by exporters and banks.

Besides, the dollar's weakness against some currencies overseas supported the rupee but a lower opening of the domestic equity market,

capped the gain, forex dealers said.

The rupee had gained 12 paise to close at 67.91 against the US dollar in yesterday's trade on selling of the American currency by banks and exporters.

Meanwhile, the benchmark BSE Sensex climbed 70.93 points, or 0.27 per cent, to 26,170.45 in morning trade.

PTI Mumbai, Dec 22 : The Sensex drifted further from early losses by 196.26 points, while the broader Nifty slid below the crucial 8,000-level in late morning deals in a flurry of stocks sale.

The across-the-spectrum selling was witnessed in metal, financials, banks, capital goods, power, telecom, consumer durables, IT and teck sectors amid weak Asian stocks.

Heavy FII outflows ahead of key US and ECB economic data later today, coupled with mute sentiment ahead of holidays, bumped the trading momentum.

The Sensex was trading at 26,046.12 at 1050 hours, a loss of 196.26 points, or 0.75 per cent.

The NSE 50-share Nifty also dropped by 62.35 points, or 0.77 per cent, to go below the key 8,000-level at 7,998.95 1050 hours.

Major losers were Tata

Sensex drops 196 points, Nifty below 8k in late morn.

Steel 2.37 per cent, Adani Ports 1.94 per cent, SBIN 1.90 per cent, Axis Bank 1.59 per cent and Bharti Airtel 1.54 per cent.

Foreign funds sold shares worth Rs 1,178.08 crore yesterday, as per provisional data.

Overseas, Asian markets suffered modest losses after an overnight

Modi to inaugurate Vibrant Gujarat summit on Jan 10

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Image for representational purpose.

lacklustre performance on Wall Street, with investors looking at US economic data later in the day for potential catalysts even as markets started winding down ahead of the holidays.

US stocks closed modestly lower yesterday as the market traded in a relatively tight range amid thinning volumes ahead of the December holidays.

PTI Ahmedabad, Dec 22 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the four-day vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in Gandhinagar on January 10, a bi-ennial event to attract investors to the state.

Besides global leaders and businesses, other states, including Arunachal

Pradesh and Sikkim, will also participate in the fourday summit.

The theme this time is 'Connecting India to the world'.

This year, there are 12 partner countries, including the US, the UK, the UAE, Canada, Japan and France.

As part of the summit, several seminars are scheduled, including one on GST,

which will be chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

"This time, we are trying to see more knowledge sharing, B2B (business-to-business) and B2G (businessto-government) meetings," state Additional Chief Secretary (industry and mines) P K Taneja told reporters here.

Close to 50 top CEOs will participate in the global CEO roundtable meeting.

Talking about the four-day summit, which will start from January 10, state Industry Commissioner Mamta Verma said "it is a business summit where business leaders will discuss ideas among other issues".

The state government is focussing on defence and aerospace and will soon come out with a policy for this, Verma said.

DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23

Taliban attack home of Afghan lawmaker, killing 8

Ban asks India, Pak to resolve differences through dialogue PTI United Nations, Dec 22 : Outgoing UN chief Ban Ki-moon has asked India and Pakistan to resolve their differences through dialogue and exercise restraint as he maintained his concern over the increase in tensions between the two neighbours along the Line of Control in recent months.

The Secretary-General, whose 10-year tenure at the world organisation's helm will end this month, has had a "very consistent position" on the situation in Kashmir, his deputy

Taliban attack home of Afghan lawmaker, killing 8

AP Kabul, Dec 22 : Afghan police say gunmen have stormed the home of a lawmaker in the capital, killing eight people and leaving the parliamentarian wounded after he jumped from the roof to escape.

The Taliban claimed the attack, which began late yesterday, saying they targeted a meeting of military officials.

Police officer Sadiq

Muradi says the gunmen attacked the house of Mir Wali, a lawmaker from the restive southern Helmand province. They battled his guards for several hours, eventually killing eight people, including family members, friends and members of his security detail.

Three attackers were killed.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack.

Indian jailed for 3 months for overstaying in Pak

Indian jailed for 3 months for overstaying in Pak

PTI Lahore, Dec 22 : An Indian national has been sentenced to over three months in jail by a local court for overstaying in Pakistan.

Rehanur Rehman was arrested last week from Cantonment area of Lahore and a case was registered against him for staying in the country.

His visa was reportedly expired in December second week.

Rehman was yesterday presented before a Cantonment magistrate who sentenced him to threeand-half-month imprisonment for living in Pakistan without a valid visa.

He will be deported back to India after he serves his sentence.

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INTERNATIONAL

spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters here yesterday in response to a question on tensions between India and Pakistan.

"All I can say is the Secretary-General has had a very consistent position.

One fact we expressed even just last month, which is to say that he is following with concern the increase in tensions along the Line of Control and that he urges the Governments of India and Pakistan to exercise restraint and encourages them to continue their efforts to resolve their differences

Image for representational purpose. peacefully and through dialogue," Haq said.

When asked by a Pakistani reporter that the Secre-

tary- General has been "very reluctant" throughout his term to talk about the Indian-Pakistan con-

flict, Haq said he disagrees with such assessment.

"I would disagree with you on that. We've had statements, including on the situations between India and Pakistan and on specifically on Kashmir.

There have been statements and notes to correspondents. The last one was just a few weeks back, so I would just refer you back to those," Haq said.

In a statement issued last month, Ban had expressed deep concern about the "deterioration" of the situation along the

Line of Control in Kashmir and called on all involved to prioritize the restoration of calm and stability in order to prevent any further escalation and loss of life.

Ban has said that his good offices are available to India and Pakistan if "accepted by both sides".

Throughout the year, Pakistan brought up the Kashmir issue at various UN fora but its attempts to internationalise the Kashmir issue did not find resonance among the rest of the 191 member states of the UN.

Trump meets military brass Japan cabinet approves to talk cutting F-35 costs biggest defence budget

President-elect Donald Trump AFP Washington, Dec 22 : President-elect Donald Trump has met with some of the US military's top brass to discuss ways of reducing costs, particularly for the F-35 stealth fighter program.

Yesterday's meeting at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida came after Trump last week blasted the F-35's costs as "out of control" in a message on Twitter.

Several three- and fourstar generals and admirals attended the meeting, including the F-35 program chief Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan.

"Trying to bring costs down," Trump said when asked what the meeting was about.

"Primarily the F-35, trying to get the costs down. A program that is

very, very expensive."

With a current development and acquisition price tag of USD 379 billion for a total of 2,443 F-35 aircraft -- most of them destined for the Air Force -- the Lockheed Martin-built plane is the most expensive in history, and costs are set to go higher still.

Once servicing, maintenance and other costs for the F-35 are factored in over the aircraft's lifespan through 2070, overall program costs have been projected to rise to as much as USD 1.5 trillion.

Trump has frequently turned to Twitter to vent his outrage across a range of topics.

On December 6, he blasted Boeing over the possible 4 billion price tag for a replacement

Air Force One presidential plane. He also called that project "out of control."

Trump also met with Lockheed CEO Marillyn Hewson and Boeing chief Dennis Muilenburg.

Asked whether he had secured any concessions from Hewson, Trump said: "We're just beginning, it's a dance."

"But we're going to get the costs down and we're going to get it done beautifully."

Boeing's Muilenburg told reporters the meeting with Trump went "great" and said Air Force One would be delivered for less than USD 4 billion.

"We're going to get it done for less than that, and we're committed to working together to make sure that happens," Muilenburg said.

AFP Tokyo, Dec 22 : Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet today approved Japan's biggest annual defence budget in the face of North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and a territorial row with China.

The Cabinet approved 5.13 trillion yen ( 43.6 billion) in defence spending for the fiscal year starting in April, up 1.4 per cent from the initial budget for the current fiscal year.

It marks the fifth straight annual increase and reflects the hawkish Abe's attempt to build up Japan's military, which since World War II has been constitutionally limited to self defence.

Abe, who is pushing revisions to the constitution, strongly backed new security laws that took effect this year making it possible for Japanese troops fight abroad for the first time since the end of the war.

Japan is on constant alert against neighbouring North Korea which has conducted two underground nuclear tests and more than 20 missile launches this year.

Under the new budget, the ministry aims to beef up Japan's ballistic missile defences, allocating funds for a new interceptor missile under joint development with the United States.

Also reflected in the spending is Tokyo's determination to defend uninhabited islets in the East China Sea -- adminis-

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

tered by Japan as the Senkakus but claimed by China as the Diaoyus.

The ministry said it has allocated funds for increased monitoring operations and to maintain mastery of the air and sea to counter attacks against what it euphemistically described as "island areas" - a reference to the disputed territory.

Separately, the Japan Coast Guard will increase security around the islands by allocating a record 210 billion yen, which includes two new patrol ships and the hiring of 200 more personnel.

In August, Tokyo lodged more than two dozen protests through diplomatic channels claiming that Chinese coast guard vessels had repeatedly violated its territorial waters around the disputed islands.

Also in August, Abe appointed Tomomi Inada, a close confidante with staunchly nationalist views, as his new de-

fence minister. She has in the past been a frequent visitor to the controversial Yasukuni war shrine in Tokyo, which South Korea and China criticise as a symbol of Japanese militarism.

Japan has been boosting defence ties with the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations, some of which have their own disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea. The defence budget earmarks funds to dispatch extra personnel to the Philippines and Vietnam to increase gathering and sharing of information.

Beijing asserts sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, dismissing rival partial claims from its Southeast Asian neighbours.

It also opposes any intervention by Japan.

The defence allocation is part of a record 97.5 trillion yen national budget that will be sent to parliament for debate and approval early next year.

'Don't see any diminution US plays down Russian reports of chill in ties in bilateral ties with India' PTI Washington, Dec 22 : Asserting that India is an important partner for the US, the outgoing Obama Administration has said that it does not see any "diminution in the strong bilateral relations" that the two countries have enjoyed till date.

"It goes without saying that because India is such an important partner and such an important power that I see no diminution in the strong US-India bilateral relations that we've enjoyed to date," State Department Spokesman John

Kirby told reporters the context and inforyesterday. mation about that relationship with India "I am not going to use for them to make their the podium to talk own de cisions," he a b o u t a d v i c e t h a t said.

Secretary of State ( J o h n ) K e r r y m a y "I simply wouldn't pregive to his successor," dict or get ahead of K i r b y s a i d w h e n how the next adminisasked about the fu- tration is going to inture of India-US rela- t e r a c t w i t h I n d i a , " tionship under the new Kirby said. administration.

The State Department "We obviously believe also refrained from in the strength of our answering questions bilateral relationship r e l a t e d to with India. It is vital demonetisation drive and important on so by the Indian governmany different levels ment. and we will certainly do all that's required He described this as of us by the transition an internal matter of team to provide them India.

AFP Washington, Dec 22 : The United States has played down Russian reports that already tense ties between the old foes have plunged to chilly new lows.

The State Department denied yesterday a Kremlin claim that communications are frozen, noting that Secretary of State John Kerry had called his Russian counterpart as recently as Tuesday.

The Pentagon also noted that on the same day Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov made the claim, its officers had held a video conference with Russian commanders on

how to stay out of each other's way in Syria.

"Practically all levels of dialogue with the United States are frozen," Peskov told Mir TV, according to state news agency RIA Novosti.

"We don't communicate with one another.

Or we do so minimally," he added, causing surprise in Washington.

Kirby said Kerry had spoken to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday by telephone to hear about talks Russia had hosted with Iran and Turkey to seek a solution to the crisis in Syria.

"Look, there's a lot of issues where dialogue and communications between the United States and Russia remain important, and for our part, we remain "I don't know exactly committed to that diawhat to make of that logue and that commucomment," State De- nication," Kirby said. partment spokesman John Kirby said.

"It doesn't mean that we're always going to "Obviously, we don't agree and it doesn't agree and have issues mean that there's not with Russia on a vari- going to be tensions. ety of issues, but dia- But as far as we're logue has not been bro- concerned, communiken." cations are not frozen

and dialogue is still happening. Differences are still being discussed, debated."

Russia finds itself locked in its worst standoff with the West since the Cold War over its 2014 annexation of Crimea, the conflict in Ukraine and lingering disagreement about the conflict in Syria.

US President Barack Obama's administration on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining sanctions on Moscow over Crimea with new financial restrictions on Russian businessmen and companies.

tions.

The White House this month also pointed to direct involvement by Russian President Vladimir Putin in cyber attacks designed to impact the US election.

The upcoming presidency of Donald Trump raises questions over the future of US policy toward Russia given his apparently softer line on Putin.

Putin himself has reiterated Moscow's readiness to work with the Trump administration once the presidentelect takes office in January, stressing the The Russian foreign importance of normalministry said it "regret- izing the countries' reted" the new sanc- lations.

Underfire Alastair Cook finds much-needed support from Paul Farbrace

Underfire Alastair Cook PTI London, Dec. 22: Underfire Alastair Cook might be pondering about his future as Test captain after the 4-0 series drubbing in India, but England's assistant coach Paul Farbrace said the entire team is behind the lanky opener and wants him to be in charge for next winter's Ashes series.

Farbrace is confident that Cook will make his decision on captaincy keeping the team in mind.

"We've planned, and have been planning, for Cooky to be captain going to the Ashes in Australia next winter," said Farbrace.

"Personally, I hope that continues. We know he still has the support of the team, and he's a very popular bloke and very popular captain," he was quoted as saying by 'The Guardian' newspaper.

"He's got that decision to make - and as he said before the series started, he and

Straussy (Andrew Strauss) will sit down in the new year and have a conversation about the way forward. The most important thing is that Cooky will make the decision based on what's right for England cricket, not what's right for Alastair Cook."

The 4-0 defeat in India means England have lost six of their last eight Tests under Cook.

Cook, who turns 32 on Christmas Day, has requested time to think after the disastrous India tour.

Cook's future was a talking point throughout the tour after he told a magazine during an interview that he was uncertain about his future as England test captain.

But Farbrace has played down the suggestion, saying there is no uncertainty in the team.

"There's no uncertainty within our team. He's captain, everybody knows where they stand with him - so there's absolutely no

u n c e r t a i n t y w h a t s o e v e r.

The uncertainty is outside of our team. When you lose a series 4-0, of course people will talk about the leadership. We all know that.

"We would all, at the end of this series, be having a think about what we can do better, what have we learned from this series and what do we need to do to make this team win.

U l t i m a t e l y, t h a t ' s w h a t we're here for. But there's nobody looking round the dressing room thinking: 'Ooh, I wonder who's in charge?' It's very clear who's in charge, and that hasn't changed," Farbrace said.

"So when Straussy and Cooky sit down and have that chat, if it's decided that Cooky isn't the man to lead the team going forward, then there is still plenty of time before the first series in the summer (against South Africa in July)," he added.

Ex-South Africa batsman Petersen banned for two years

Alviro Petersen

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AFP Johannesburg , Dec. 22: Alviro Petersen, a veteran of 36 Test matches, became the highest-profile South African cricketer to be banned for corruption since former captain Hansie Cronje in 2000.

Former opening batsman Petersen, 36, was banned for two years yesterday after agreeing a plea bargain with Cricket South Africa (CSA).

He is the sixth player to be banned following a corruption scandal which led to former international player Gulam Bodi being banned for 20 years for attempting to fix matches in South Africa's domestic Twenty20 competition during the 2014/15 season.

More players could yet be charged. A statement by CSA announcing Petersen's ban said investigations were continuing.

Petersen admitted several breaches of CSA's anti-corruption code -- four charges of failing to disclose details of an approach to engage in corrupt conduct; four charges of failing to disclose full details of evidence involving another player, four charges of failing to provide accurate and complete information to investigators; and one charge of concealing and destroying information that was relevant to the

investigation.

After considering representations made by Petersen, CSA withdrew other charges, including those relating to fixing or contriving to fix any match and seeking, accepting or offering to accept any bribe or other reward to fix or influence any match.

The two year-ban will be effective from November 12 this year, when Petersen was suspended because charges were laid against him.

Petersen apologised, according to a CSA statement which quoted him as saying: "I would like to apologise to my family, friends, the public who are fans of the game of cricket, my team-mates, Gauteng cricket, Lions cricket and especially to Cricket South Africa for my actions.

"At the time that the meetings with Bodi and the fixers happened, I never had any intention of fixing matches or taking money.

"I now deeply regret having participated in these meetings and not to have immediately reported them to the authorities as I am obliged to do. I understand that I need to take personal responsibility for my actions and I accept the punishment that CSA has imposed on me.

"I hope that other players will

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learn from my experience and be better prepared if they find themselves in the situation that I was in.

- Century on debut Petersen is the fifth player from the Johannesburg-based Lions franchise to be banned.

Bodi was banned in January, while former Test wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile received a 12-year ban in August.

Petersen scored 2093 Test runs at an average of 34.88. He made a century on debut against India in Kolkata in 2009/10 and formed a successful opening partnership with former captain Graeme Smith.

He hit five Test centuries, with a highest score of 182 against England in Leeds in 2012.

After retiring from international cricket in 2015, he continued to play with success for the Lions and for English county Lancashire.

His ban will prevent him from taking part in any activity under the auspices of Cricket South Africa.

Chief Executive Haroon Lorgat said: "Our aim to deal thoroughly with any form of corruption in the game remains steadfast and we will do everything in our power to protect the integrity of the game.

"Alviro has realised his mistakes and has acknowledged contravening the Code. He is obliged under the Code to have disclosed various approaches that were made to him to engage in corrupt activities.

"While having provided certain information to the investigators he had also withheld and concealed certain material information, such as the meetings with Bodi and certain fixers. This was directly relevant to the investigation and hence why we have imposed a twoyear ban which Alviro accepts."

Cronje, who captained South Africa in 53 Tests and 138 oneday internationals, was banned for life in 2000 after admitting to accepting money from bookmakers.

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Air India give measly cash awards to WC-winning coach, Armaan PTI New Delhi, Dec. 22: A struggling Air India today announced cash awards of meagre Rs 25,000 and Rs 10,000 for two of its employees - coach Harendra Singh and striker Armaan Qureshi who were part of the historic Indian hockey team that won the Junior World Cup last week after a gap of 15 years.

Harendra, who is working as a senior manager in Air India, was the head coach of the Indian colts who defeated Belgium 21 in the final to lift the Junior Hockey World Cup in Lucknow last Sunday.

Armaan is a contractual employee and plays for Air India in the domestic circuit.

Announcing the cash awards, Air India Chairman and Managing Director, Ashwani Lohani

Air India give measly cash awards to WC-winning coach, Armaan

said if the national carrier was in a good position financially, he would have rewarded the duo more for their accomplishments.

Promising to get the national carrier out of troubled waters, Lohani

said he wants Air India to promote sports as it used to do in the past.

"I would like to congratulate both Harendra and Armaan for what they have achieved. It is a matter of pride for the Air India family. I would like

to announce a small cash award of Rs 25,000 for Harendra and Rs 10,000 for Armaan from Air India's behalf," Lohani said during a felicitation ceremony here today.

"I would have liked to reward them more if not for

our current position. But we pledge to work as a family and get Air India back on track," he added.

Asked if Air India is planning to regulrise Armaan's job or considering a promotion for Harendra, Lohani gave a diplomatic reply.

"We have a policy o promote sports but we have to look at the matter. But definitely the matter will be under our active consideration," said Lohani, who is also the President of Air India Sports Promotion Board.

Air India also felicitated all-rounder Jayant Yadav, who impressed in his debut Test series against England recently.

Jayant is not directly associated with the Air India family but his father is an regular employee of the national carrier.

Virat Kohli captain of Olympics: Tokyo 2020 ICC ODI team of 2016, slashes budget ignored from Test side to $17 billion

PTI Tokyo, Dec. 22: Tokyo Olympics organisers unveiled a smaller budget of up to $17 billion on Wednesday after coming under pressure to cut ballooning costs.

The figure, down from last month's pledge to cap expenditure at $17.78 billion, follows warnings that the bill for the 2020 Games could soar as high as $30 billion.

Organising committee chief executive Toshiro Muto said the entire Games budget will be between 1.6 trillion and 1.8 trillion yen, which he put at $15-16.8 billion.

Under the latest exchange rate, the same yen figure is worth $13.6-15.3 billion. This year's Rio Games cost $12 billion, while London 2012 came in ÂŁ8.77 billion or $13.7 billion under the exchange rate of the time.

Wednesday's figure, the most complete budget yet for Tokyo 2020, comes after officials scrambled to slash the costs of building some Olympic venues.

It was revealed at talks between the Games' organisers, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Tokyo and national governments, who are meeting regularly to try to cut costs.

"This does give the overall picture," IOC vicepresident John Coates said by videolink from Sydney.

"We are pleased with the progress you are con-

tinuing to make," he said, adding: "We think that we can work with you to find... more savings."

Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, who was elected this year vowing to bring down costs, said some 40 billion yen would be saved after a review of the canoeing, volleyball and swimming venues.

Koike said the organising committee and Tokyo and central governments will discuss further specifics early next year, including "cost-sharing".

In the battle to cut costs, she had proposed moving the canoeing 400 kilometres (250 miles) north of Tokyo to Miyagi prefecture, one of the areas hardest hit by Japan's 2011 tsunami disaster. But the idea faced resistance from the organising committee, which argued that changing sites was impractical and could end up costing more.

Koike gave up the plan last month and announced that canoeing will stay in Tokyo as planned, but with the venue built at a sharply reduced cost. In the previous four-way meeting last month, Muto said the organising committee's working budget was capped at less than two trillion yen ($17.78 billion) and officials are committed to pushing it lower.

But Coates refused to accept the figure and said overall costs would have to come down significantly.

PTI Dubai, Dec. 22: He might be on an 18match unbeaten streak as India's Test captain but Virat Kohli was ignored from the ICC Test team of the year even though he was named skipper of the ODI all-star XI which also featured Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja.

Kohli, who is the vice-captain of India's ODI and T20 teams, has been named as leader of the 12-member side which features four South Africans and three Australian cricketers besides one each from England and West Indies.

Explosive batsman AB de Villiers, wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, pacer Kagiso Rabada and leg-spinner Imran Tahir are the South African cricketers, while David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc represent Australia in the ICC ODI team of the year.

Englishman Jos Buttler and wily West Indian spinner Sunil Narine are the other two players in the side.

But despite becoming

man-of-the-series with 655 runs while leading India to the 4-0 drubbing of England recently, Kohli surprisi n g l y missed

a berth i n the ICC Test o f

team the year

2016.

Star offspinn e r Ravichandran Ashwin is the lone Indian i n the Test side, which surprisingly will be led by Alastair Cook, who faces an uncertain future as England's captain.

Warner and Starc are two cricketers who have found out a place in both the teams.

The other selected cricketers in ICC Test team of the Year 2016 are New Zealand's Kane Williamson, England's

Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow (wicket-keeper) and Ben Stokes, Australia's Steven Smith and Adam Voges, South African speedster Dale Steyn, New Zealand's Kane Williamson and Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

Besides, South Africa's Marais Erasmus has been honoured with the David Shepherd Trophy for ICC Umpire of the Year, while Pakistan captain, Misbah-ul-Haq won the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award.

ICC ODI team of the year 2016: Virat Kohli (captain), David Warner, Quinton d e Kock (wk), Rohit Sharma, AB d e Villiers, Jos Buttler, Mitchell Marsh, Ravindra Jadeja, Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, Sunil Narine, Imran Tahir.

ICC Test team of the year 2016: Alastair Cook (captain), David Warner, Kane Williamson, Joe Root, Adam Voges, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Rangana Herath, Mitchell Starc, Dale Steyn, Steve Smith.

Holland appointed England assistant manager

Chelsea coach Steve Holland AFP London, Dec. 22: Chelsea coach Steve Holland has been appointed as the assistant to England manager Gareth Southgate, the Foot-

ball Association has announced.

Holland, 46, will combine his duties as assistant firstteam coach at Chelsea with his England role until the

end of the season, before linking up with the FA on a full-time basis.

"I am delighted to have Steve as my assistant manager," Southgate said in a statement yesterday.

"We have worked very closely for three years and I have the utmost respect for the way he works, his professionalism and the detail of his preparation."

Southgate added Holland to his coaching staff when he was in charge of England's Under-21s in 2013.

He thanked Chelsea for agreeing to let Holland leave.

Currently top of their 2018 World Cup qualifying group, England play Germany in a friendly in their next match on March 22.

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DIBRUGARH, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23

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Bopanna dropped from Indian Davis Cup squad Moran Town Club in Final PTI New Delhi, Dec. 22: Former US Open finalist and two- time Olympian Rohan Bopanna has been dropped from the Indian Davis Cup squad for the tie against New Zealand in Pune from February 35.

Earlier, Indian tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi was named the new nonplaying captain of the Davis Cup team.

The AITA selection committee comprising S P Misra, Rohit Rajpal, Nandan Bal, Zeeshan Ali and secretary Hiranmoy Chatterjee decided that Leander Paes and Saketh Myneni will be the preferred choice for their good show against Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez in the previous Davis Cup tie against Spain.

While Bopanna's world ranking is 28, Paes is currently 59 and Myneni is 210 in the ATP doubles ranking list.

"Picking Rohan blocks a place for a third singles player that we wanted to have in the squad. Also Leander and Saketh were brilliant against Spain. But whenever Leander and Rohan have played together, they

HIGHLIGHTS Leander Paes and Saketh Myneni named in Indian Davis Cup squad for the tie against New Zealand The duo was chosen for their good show against Rafael Nadal and Marc Lopez in the previous Davis Cup tie Mahesh Bhupathi was named the new nonplaying captain of the Davis Cup team

Rohan Bopanna have not done well. Take Czech Republic tie as an example," national selector Misra told reporters here on Thursday.

"The other factor being Rohan being an ad court player. Even Saketh is an ad court player while Leander prefers deuce court (right side of the court). If we pick Rohan and Saketh, then we have two ad court players.

Even Rohan and Saketh have not done well as a pair," Misra said.

He, however, informed that Rohan had informed the committee that he is available for this tie.

"Look we don't know how long Leander (43 years) will be playing.

Rohan (36 years) is much younger and he can always make a comeback."

Asked about Somdev Devvarman, Misra said that he has not been playing any tournament for a long time.

"He has not played any

tournament for a long time. First he has to make a comeback to the competitive tennis and then deliver results," he said.

India's squad for New Zealand tie will witness Yuki Bhambri's comeback with Myneni and Ramkumar Ramanathan being the other two.

Yuki's comeback means that Sumit Nagal has also been axed from the squad. The fifth player in the squad is left handed Prajnesh Gunneswaran,

who comes in very handy during practice with his booming serves.

Two youngsters Adil Kalyanpur and Nitin Kumar Sinha will get valuable exposure practising with the squad.

The selection committee also named a provisional squad for Fed Cup Asia/Oceania group 1 event that will take place in Astana in Kazakhstan from February 6.

Sania Mirza has been kept in the squad as of now. It also comprises Ankita Raina, Snehadevi Reddy, Karman Thandi, Riya Bhatia, Prarthana Thombare.

Desolate Olympics leads to new federation, boxers hope again PTI New Delhi, Dec. 22: Four years of administrative bedlam culminated into a medal-less Olympic campaign before Indian boxing took its first steps towards a possible revival of fortunes in a tempestuous 2016 during which the globally money-spinning professional circuit gained foothold in the country.

To count the biggest positive, a new national federation was finally in place after four years of continued tug of war between administrators, who ought to shoulder the maximum blame for the barren run in Rio. Also not to be missed, was the rapidly-growing circuit of professional boxing in India, the highlight being superstar Vijender Singh winning and successfully defending the WBO Asia Pacific Super Middleweight title in front of delirious fans in Delhi.

But it is still some time before professional boxing catches up on the popularity charts in a country obsessed either with cricket or Olympic medals.

And on the Olympic medal front, it was a disappointing year for India's boxers.

Just three men -- Shiva Thapa, Manoj Kumar and Vikas Krishan -- could make the cut for the quadrennial sporting spectacle, a sharp decline from the seven men and one woman who represented India in the 2012 London Games.

Unlucky with their draws and severely short of international competitive experience, courtesy India's suspension which ended only after the Games, the three could not add to the two bronze medals -Vijender Singh (2008) and M C Mary Kom (2012) -that India had secured in the past two Olympics.

The performance in Rio was perhaps the loudest wake-up call that the administrators got given that their wranglings had mostly been covered up by the boxers' resolute performances in the past four years.

At each of the limited tournaments they competed in before Rio, Indian boxers

13th Jintu Gogoi Football

Desolate Olympics leads to new federation, boxers hope again

did the country proud by fetching medals but at the biggest stage of them all, they needed more than sheer grit to deliver results.

The Rio debacle in August proved to be the proverbial last straw and after several delays, elections were finally held in September to put together a new federation - the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) -- almost unanimously.

The body has been doing its bit to make up for the lost time and conducted the National Championships for both men and women within a month of assuming office.

Away from the boardroom sparring and going solely by the performance inside the ring, the boxers have a lot to be proud of barring the blip in Rio. The year started with the Olympic qualifying tournament for the Asian region in China from where Shiva became the first boxer to qualify for the Rio Games with a silver medal- winning performance.

The ones who came close to a Rio ticket included L Devendro Singh (52kg) and Mary Kom (51kg), both of whom won bronze medals but were unlucky to miss Olympic berths.

In fact, Devendro and Mary Kom can be considered the most unlucky in Indian boxing this year as both failed to make the Olympics despite consistently producing admi-

rable performances.

(REOPENS DEL 16) But what can be considered some consolation for at least Mary Kom, she ended the year by winning the International Boxing Association's (AIBA) Legends' Award for her five world titles among several other accolades.

She also decided to drop a rung to 48kg at the end of the year amid speculation that her favourite weight category could soon be included in the roster for 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The women boxers had one more reason to celebrate in Sonia Lather.

The featherweight (57kg) boxer, who took to the sport for anger management, was the lone Indian to win a medal at the World Championships this year, claiming a silver.

Among the men, Shiva, Manoj and Vikas were without doubt India's top performers with Vikas also trying his hand at the AIBA Pro Boxing (APB).

The former Asian Games gold-medallist, who lost in the quarterfinals in Rio, capped the year by winning the AIBA APB Best Boxer award, a historic first for an Indian boxer.

Shiva and Manoj, on the other hand, decided to go higher after the Olympics and shifted to lightweight (60kg) and welterweight (69kg) divisions respectively. Both of them put behind the heartbreak in Rio by crowning themselves national champions earlier this month.

Even as the boxers in amateur circuit tried to regain lost ground, professional boxing, which took off in a big way after Vijender's entry into the circuit last year, continued to gain momentum.

The lesser-known Neeraj Goyat was the other Indian title-winner in the pro circuit when he successfully defended his WBC Asia Pacific welterweight title.

Closer to Olympics, the professional boxers got a huge fillip when the AIBA decided to let them compete in the Games and conducted a qualifying tournament especially for them.

The world body later relaxed the norms even further to let professionals compete in all national and international events.

With the barrier broken, more boxers were willing to take the professional plunge even though for the creme-de-la-creme in India, amateur circuit continued to be the top priority.

But for those who had been there and done it all in amateur events, it was the opening up of a new challenge. And some established names who went pro this year included former world champion and Asian Games bronze-medallist L Sarita Devi, the first Indian woman boxer to do so, former Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Akhil Kumar and Asian bronze-winner Jitender Kumar among others.

With the BFI declaring that it is open to a harmonious equation with pro-

fessional promoters, the boxers can hope to get the best of both worlds in the times to come.

Not to be forgotten were the country's youth boxers among whom Sachin Siwach became only the third Indian ever to clinch a gold medal at the World Championships in November, holding out hope for the future.

If India jostled with hope and despair in equal measure through the year, the world boxing scene was no different.

In fact, it was nothing short of credibility crisis for international amateur boxing as AIBA faced unprecedented allegations of financial corruption.

Adding to this was the severe criticism AIBA's referees and judges coped at no less than the Olympic Games for what was evidently a poor performance by them.

Irish star Michael Conlan called them "cheats" in a televised rant after he ended up on the losing side despite pummelling his Russian opponent, who was later declared medically unfit for his next fight, in Rio. The bantamweight world champion turned profess i o n a l s o o n a f t e r, b u t such was the impact of his angry tirade that AIBA had to sideline all the RJs used in Rio pending an inquiry.

Besides, the world body also revamped its scoring system to ensure that points given by all five judges, monitoring the fight, are taken into account.

Away from the controversies, the world of boxing - both amateur and professional -- mourned the loss of the great Muhammad Ali, who passed away in June after battling Parkinson's disease for more than two decades.

The death of the 74-yearold superstar, who was revered by boxers and boxing fans all over the world, triggered an outpouring of emotions across the globe with many calling it the end of an era in international boxing.

A friendly match between girls’ Dibrugarh Football Club and Rupjyoti Sangha, Jokai.

Pic - Manuj Panday

Sports Reporter Dibrugarh, Dec 22 : Moran Town Football Club beat defending champion Tinsukia Railway Divisional Sports Club 2-1 in the second semi-final and booked their berth in the final encounter of the 13th Captain Jintu Gogoi, VrC Memorial Football Tournament organised

by Dao Division of the Army in association with Dibrugarh District Sports Associating at Chowkidinghee playground here today. In the final, Moran Town Foot-

ball Club will take on Lengrijan Tea Estate Football Club Naharkatia on Saturday.

Sontosh Chetia of Tinsukia Railway scored the first goal in 16th minute and helped his team kept the lead till the first first half. In the second half, Bhaskaujya Saikia and Jantu Gohain of Moran Town scored second and third goal in 52nd and 65th minute respectively and helped their team register victory over Tinsukia Railway.

To encourage the girls' participation in the sports,

Dibrugarh District Sports Asscociation organized a friendly football match during the tournament on 22 Dec 2016 which was played between girls' team of Dibrugarh Football Club and Rupjyoti Sangha Football Club Jokoi in which Dibrugarh Football Club defeated Rupjyoti Sangha Football Club Jokoi by 1-0.

On Friday 3rd and 4th position match will be played between Dibrugarh Railway Divisional Sports Club and Tinsukia Railway Divisional Sports Club.

Dibrugarh cricket coaching in Final SPORTS REPORTER 31 off 41 balls and 31.4 overs. Dipu Chetri DIBRUGARH, DEC. Satindra Malla chipped in remained unbeaten on 31 22 : Dibrugarh Cricket with 21 off 36 balls. and Debanjan Tin Sina coaching centre regis- Arindam Dev and Gaurav contributed patient 31 off tered victory against 61 deliveries. Arandim Duliajan Cricket Acad- Senior division cricket Baruah scored 22 runs. emy by four wickets in Aditiya Khosla, the second semifinal of Dev Sharma contributed Arandim Dev and Bijay the senior division cricket 24 and 19 runs respec- Rai took two wickets each tournament organised by tively. by giving away 8, 16 and Dibrugarh District Sports Rajat Khan and Gunjan 17 runs respectively. Dipu Association at DDSA sta- Jyoti Deka picked up Chetri was adjudged man three wickets each by giv- of the match. dium here today.

Electing to bat, Duliajan ing away 32 and 35 runs Saturday, Dibrugarh CA scored 132 in 34.1 for DCCC. Cricket Coaching centre overs before being all out. In reply, losing six wick- will take on Jhalukpara Ritupon Phatwali scored ets DCCC scored 133 in Boys' Club in the final.

Bhupathi to be India's next nonplaying Davis Cup Captain PTI New Delhi, Dec. 22: Indian tennis legend Mahesh Bhupathi was today named the new non-playing captain of the Davis Cup team and will take charge after the Asia/Oceania zone group I home tie against New Zealand in Pune from February 3 to 5.

The tie against New Zealand will be Anand Amritraj's last tie as nonplaying captain as AITA wants to give him a "farewell".

Multiple Grand Slam winner Bhupathi was the hot favourite the moment AITA decided to replace Amritraj.

"Everybody should get a chance to be captain. No post stays with one person forever. I personally spoke to Mahesh and asked if he is available, he said 'Yes'.

That was it. Also we wanted Anand to be given a farewell tie," AITA Secretary General Hiranmoy Chatterjee told mediapersons.

Asked if Amritraj is happy with the decision, Chatterjee tersely replied: "No one wants to go. But everyone deserves a chance to be the captain."

Asked if players were taken into confidence since they had rallied around Amritraj,

Mahesh Bhupathi Chatterjee replied: "It's not their prerogative. We don't need to consult the players.

Even Leander Paes was not consulted."

Asked about the history of strained relationship between Leander and Mahesh and whether the latter's elevation would prove to be end of the road for the former, Chatterjee said: "We will cross that bridge when it comes."

On whether Amritraj giving leeway to players as far as discipline is concerned was an issue alongwith his views in media, the AITA top official did not deny.

"When a committee meets,

we discuss a lot of things.

But let me tell you that we did not receive any letter of support from the players," he asserted.

Chatterjee also said that there was no communication with either Somdev Devvarman or Ramesh Krishnan regarding coach and non-playing captain's role.

Chatterjee also said that Bhupathi has not demanded any special favours.

"He has not demanded anything and simply said yes to the job. As far as remuneration is concerned he will be paid as per our Davis Cup payment slab," he said.

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Editor: Prahlad Hammey

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