Monday, 14 novemer 2016

facebook.com/easterntoday

@easterntoday

For business, mail at: md.easterntoday@gmail.com

cmyk

cmyk

www.eastern-today.com

ASSENG/2015/64205

PAGE 4

Vol. II

Issue 118

Dibrugarh, Monday, November 14, 2016

RAJNATH, JAITELY REVIEW SITUATION ACROSS COUNTRY

New Doordarshan channel planned for northeast by next month

P10

Price -

5.00

Pages- 12

PAGE 12

ARE WE DOING ENOUGH TO CREATE THE BEST LEARNING

P5

P9

SOME RELIEFS Rs. 500 notes launched, withdrawal limit increased ET Bureau New Delhi, 13 Nov

After Rs 2,000 currency notes, the government has launched a new series of Rs 500 notes, even as people are stand in long serpentine queues awaiting their turn at bank branches across the country.

After demonetising old Rs 500 and RS 1,000 currency notes, the government had first introduced only Rs 2,000 notes. However, ATMs are not able to dispense it, since they will have to be re-calibrated to do so. This might take up to three weeks.

Similarly, ATMs will have to be re-calibrated for a new series of Rs 500 notes as well.

The government also plans to soon reintroduce the Rs 1,000 note back in the market, but with far more evolved security features.

The Currency Note Press (CNP), Nashik, has started dispatching new notes of Rs 500 denomination to the Reserve Bank of India.

The CNP has already sent the first consignment of five million pieces of the new Rs 500 note and another five million pieces are to be dispatched by Wednesday.

ATM withdrawal limit increases to Rs 2,500 per day, weekly limit to Rs 24,000 ET Bureau New Delhi, Nov 13

The Union finance ministry on Sunday advised the banks to increase the ATM withdrawal limit from Rs 2,000 per day to Rs 2,500 per day, and the over-the-counter exchange limit to Rs 4,500 per day.

The government has also asked banks to increase the weekly withdrawal limit from bank accounts to Rs 24,000

from the existing Rs 20,000.

The daily withdrawal limit of Rs 10,000 from banks has been removed.

Banks have also been advised to increase the Business Correspondents limit for withdrawal from bank accounts to Rs 2500.

These decisions were taken in a review meeting held by the finance ministry to take stock of the availability

HIGHLIGHTS Finance ministry has advised the banks to increase the ATM withdrawal limit from Rs 2,000 per day to Rs 2,500 per day The daily withdrawal limit of Rs 10,000 from banks has been removed

Contd. on Page 4

New currency notes of Rs 500 which are ready to float at State Bank of India head office in New Delhi

SBI to calibrate ATMs for Rs 2,000 currency notes by today" ET Bureau Kolkata, Nov 13

State Bank of India (SBI) expects to calibrate 1,000 of its

ATMs for Rs 2,000 currency notes by Monday night, its Chairman Arundhati Bhattacharya said on Sunday.

"We are working hard to

bring back normalcy in banking service. In all India level, Contd. on Page 4

Assam Finance Minister Arunachal press Adi text book to be followed with disburses payment of wages to modified Roman script: AAK fraternity tea garden workers condemns killing of Conference concludes with new executive bodies journalist in Bihar Maksam Tayeng Pasighat, Nov 13

A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Nov 13

Shocked by the gruesome murder of Dainik Bhaskar journalist Dharmendra Kumar Singh by unidentified assailants at Amra in Bihar on Saturday, the state press fraternity condemned the incident in the strongest term and urged the Bihar Government to bring justice to aggrieved family members.

Singh, who was working with a prominent Hindi newspaper, was gunned down by unidentified motorcycleborne assailants on Saturday morning, making it the second murder of a journalist in the state in the past six months.

In a joint statement issued on Sunday, the Arunachal Press Club (APC), the Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) and the Arunachal Electronic Media Association (AEMA) expressed deep shocked at the killing of a fierce journalist who took on powerful local mafias in many occasions through his writings.

The fraternity termed the

incident a cowardice attempt to muzzle down the freedom of speech and urged the Bihar Government to come up with a mechanism to protect scribes in the state so that crusaders of freedom of speech are not cowed down.

“The murder of journalists reflects the law and order situation of a state, when it is the duty of the welfare government of Bihar to protect the press fraternity and ensure safety of all scribes in the state”, the press bodies stated in a condemnation statement.

The XIth General Conference cum selection of office bearers of Adi Agom Kebang (AAK) concluded today with good remark to promote and implement Adi as third language in all schools with modified Roman script as a part to preserve Adi language.

Several new developments were seen being undertaken by the AAK today which included Adi text book to be followed with modified Roman Script., academic board of AAK to head

the text book modification, text book has to be completed by April 2017, training/orientation programme of Adi language teacher to be held while submitting the list of Adi teachers of each school to concern DDSEs, formation of block and district level board to monitor proper implementation of Adi language which has already been accepted by government as 3rd language etc.

While speaking as a chairman of the meeting, Kangir Jamoh, President, ABK urged AAK’s new executive bodies to strengthen the Adi language by

ensuring implementation of Adi language in the schools. While, Osong, a Ering, retired DC urged AAK to maintain proper phonetic while implementing the Adi as 3rd language in the schools. Others like Bani Danggen, Kaling Borang, Girin Tamuli and Bodong Yirang also spoke and read out their poetry etc.

The conference concluded with selection of new executive bodies, Kaling Borang, President, Tajing Taki as General Secretary, Prof. Tamo Mibang, V/C RGU as Chief Patron and Obang Tayeng as Chairman, Academic board etc.

A Staff Reporter Guwahati, Nov 13

Fearing a negative impact in the bypolls in Assam for the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha seat and the Baithalangshu Assembly seat, which will be held this month, due to demonetisation, the BJP led Assam government has swung into action to solve the problem of delayed payment of weekly wages to the tea garden workers. Addressing a press conference today, Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that it had managed to solve the problem of payment of tea garden workers’ weekly

wages, which needs to be disbursed in cash. The state’s Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) in all districts had been asked to provide cash to tea garden owners so they could make the payment. “We have solved the problem of payment of wages to tea garden workers. The planters will give cheques to the DCs. The DCs will then bring the change from banks and hand the money over to the garden owners,” Sarma said. Assam has around 800 tea estates where some seven lakh casual and

permanent workers are employed. Their minimum daily wage is Rs.169. Over the past 175 years, the weekly wages have been paid in cash on Fridays or Saturdays. But demonetisation has affected the workers and the owners are facing severe problems as a result of this. This has however not gone well with the Congress and the other opposition political parties, who have alleged that the BJP led government is taking this step only for the tea garden votes, which is a deciding factor in the Lakhimpur Lok Sabha constituency.

It further added that perpetrators should be brought to justice and awarded with exemplary punishment, so that it sends a message across.

Expressing solidarity with the media fraternity in Bihar as well as with the aggrieved family, the APC, APUWJ and AEMA stated that the courageous and fierce writings of late Dharmendra Kumar Singh will embolden and inspire working journalists across India.

The fraternity further prayed to almighty god for eternal peace of the departed soul.

GSU reiterates “neither Chief Engineer nor Tunkey Contractor are competent authority to issue NOC”

cmyk

Binya Ronya, President of Galo Students’ Union reacting strongly to the news item published in various news dailies dated 13/11/2016 under the heading “ Hydro-power Department clarifies on GSU concern, MLA says politically motivated,” said the Chief Engineer or Tunkey Contractor neither of them are the competent authority to issue NOC regarding any project

rather the NOC has to be issued from Commissioner Level. Moreover, since the said project is under CBI scanner the NOC has to be taken from CBI. Strongly opposing the inauguration of the 2X1MW MHP at Liromoba by the Hon'ble MoS Kiren Rijiju under the initiation of local MLA Shri Nyamar Karbak, the Galo students' Union has reiterated that the mentioned project has never been brought into use since last two and half decade.

Contd. on Page 4

cmyk

ET Bureau, West Siang, 13 Nov

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

P2 CM : Gorkhas are fearless, hard worker and honest Mithun Baruah , Jagun, 13 Nov: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in his speech on the occasion Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha Utsav said that the Gorkhas are fearless, hard worker and honest and they have contributed a lot for the development of Assamese Greater Society.

The three-day Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha 43rd Annual,14th Trienial and Tihar Bidai Utsav entered its second day. The event is organised by Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha Margherita District Committee along with Branch Committee and All Assam Gorkha Student Union Jagun Tirap Regional Committee. The second day witnessed huge turnout of people amidst fun and frolic.

The Second day programme began with Hoisting of Flag

Sharma,Digboi Legislator Suren Phukan,Tinkhang Legislator Chakra Gogoi, BJP state Organising Secretary Phanindra Nath Sharma,BJP State Minority President Syed Mominul Aowal, Miss International 2016 and Brand Ambassador of Japan Rebati Chetry,Prem Tamang President of All Assam Gorkha Students Union Centre Committee,Amit Ghimire Noted Litterateur from Myanmar, Chatrapati Phukal Noted Litterateur from Bhutan.

by Dambar Dahal President of Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha followed by Smriti Tarpan who planted a sapling.

Margherita District Committee. It was followed by inauguration of Book Fair

by Yudhveer Rana Noted Litterateur.

Cultural Exhibition was inaugurated by Bhim Maharaj Ji, President of Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha

The Open Session begin was presided by Dambar Dahal President of Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha and

HOROSCOPE Aries

Taurus

Gemini

Cancer

Leo

Today's arena is one in which you can find a great deal of material, Leo. There will be no shortage of energy to work with or opinions coming from you. Realize that your words have a greater potency about them as people become more intent on uncovering the truth.

Apply yourself to peace and cooperation among groups. Help people work together toward a common goal.

Peace and harmony are in the regularly scheduled program for the day, but there is a good chance that there could be a warring force with strong opinions and vindictive tendencies.

Hold onto your hat, Virgo, and make sure you have your actions well aligned with your soul or else you could be thrown into a battle that has nothing to do with you.

Libra

I told you so might be your motto of the day. Try not to rub this in other people's faces, Libra. Indeed, you have the foresight to witness an action and see the consequences right away. These consequences might rear their ugly heads on a day like this. Use your incredible perception and intuition to hone in on the best solution possible and work toward that goal before things get out of hand.

Scorpio

You may know exactly the right thing to do today, but for some reason, the action required may be a hard thing for you to implement, Scorpio. Take an active role to get involved. Say your peace, but don't get so attached to the results that you get upset and discouraged if things don't exactly work out according to plan. Independence is an important virtue to hold onto today.

Capricorn

Make sure your opinion doesn't get lost in the frenzy of the day, Sagittarius. Your words may not quite fit with the things that people want to hear. Try not to take this personally. Realize that this isn't an indication that your words are any less important. You have an incredible gift of being able to see things that others can't. Cherish and nourish this ability instead of invalidating it.

You have two choices today. Either jump into the thick of the mess with both feet or stay out of it altogether.

There are definitely two distinct camps setting up their arsenals for battle. Realize that there is also a soft, tender, harmonious aspect that just wants peace. It will be hard to ignore the fact that your usual warring nature is ready to do battle.

Aquarius

Pisces

“Today Assam and its North Eastern States are developing faster due to its former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and now Present Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bold initiative shall make Assam and its North Eastern States a developed region.

Many development works have been taken such as Brahmaputra Express Highway which was inaugurated

by Nitin Gadkari Central Minister for highways.” said Sarbananda Sonowal.

A memorandum was given to honourable Child Minister Sarbananda Sonowal by Dambar Dahal and Dr Chinta Moni Sharma President and Secretary of Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha.

EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE YEAR

You may end up being the peaceful savior that calms everyone down today, Aquarius. Use your artistic nature and love of beauty and harmony to inspire others to put away their differences and concentrate on the positive aspects. Generous acceptance of others is the only way to go, especially today, when people are riled up and ready to fight. Do your best to promote peace.

Your unique ability to communicate with many different groups and personalities will be extremely important today to maintaining a bridge between warring camps, Pisces. Keep things moving and try not to let the situation stagnate on any one issue. If the conversation turns to raging and ranting, it's in your best interests to stop it right away. Don't be afraid to step up and take a leadership role.

Nang Sawalet Namchoom (24th October' 1919- 8th November' 2016) Nang Sawalet Namchoom left us for heavenly abode on 8th Nov' 2016 at 11:45 p.m. She is survived by Dr C.K Gohain (Namchoom), Rtd. SMO (Eldest Son), Nang Pingyawati Namchoom (Eldest daughter-Inlaw), Er. C.K Namchoom SE,WRD ( Youngest Son), Mumteng Namchoom (Youngest Daughter-in- law), Nang Upa Longchot ( Eldest Daughter), C.T Longchot, Rtd. Govt Employee ( Eldest Son-in-law), Nang Nanda Mannou (Second Daughter),C.I. Mannou, Rtd. Principal (Second Son-in-law),Nang Dharmawati Mongmaw(Third Daughter), C.M Mongmao, Rtd. Director, A&T(Third Son-in-law), Nang Chantua Namchoom (Youngest Daughter), Shri Manna Chakraborty, Forest Dept. (Youngest Son-inLaw), along with her Grand children & great grand children.

With profound grief in heart the entire family members pay tribute to her departed soul and pray to God for her to attain NIRVANA.

Member of students’ Union arrested for demanding money

You might want to escape the frenzy of the day by going shopping, Gemini. Align yourself with partners and allies who share your views. Try to keep the disagreements to a minimum. There is enough tension and war raging in the world around you today that you don't need to add to the negative force by contributing disputes and ailments to the situation.

Your mood should be quite good today, Cancer, although there may be some strong forces at work trying to subvert this positive attitude. Try not to let other people's disagreements bring you down.

Take the high ground and you will certainly prevail. A peaceful nature is extremely important in order to balance the anger and hostility that's present all around. Be the one to promote this harmony.

In loving Memory

tribes of Assam and the State Government will give full support for their upliftment so that Gorkha Community,” said Sarbananda Sonowal.

You might feel like you're getting worked up from all angles today, Aries. Find comfort in knowing that things will definitely improve by tomorrow. You might get the feeling that somehow you're all alone despite the circle of friends that surrounds and loves you. You may be called to action by a strong force. Try to stay abreast of information and developments around you so you can make the most informed decisions possible.

Try to rise above the potential tension and rough spots of the day, Taurus. Do yourself a favor and don't feel like you have to stoop to another's level. Take pride in your actions and do things with confidence. Work with the negativity. The worst thing to do would be to ignore it. Approach problems squarely as soon as they arise. Don't dredge up the past. It's time to move forward.

Virgo

Sagittarius

inaugurated by D B Chetry, a retired IAS officer.In the attendance at the Open Session were Honourable Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal, Dibrugarh MP Rameswar Teli, Tezpur MP R P Sharma, Margherita Legislstor Bhaskar

Tezpur MP RP Sharma said that Gorkha people are fighter people and they have contributed a lot for our Country Development. RP Sharma acknowledged the immense contributions of Gorkhas in the development of Assam. CM Sonawal was highly appreciative of the Gorkhas. “Gorkha Community people are the original

OBITUARY

Devotes taking out a cultural procession of Mega concluding ceremony of the Extraordinary jubilee year of Mercy of the Catholic Christians at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bishops House Dibrugarh on Sunday. Pic - Manoj Pandey

World War II heroes remembered on remembrance day at Digboi war cemetery ET Correspondent Digboi, 13 Nov: In order to extend homage and solidarity to the martyrs Remembrance Day was venerated by Digboi Army Battalion along with Indian Oil Corporation Limited organized at Digboi War Cemetery on 13 November 2016. Remembrance Day is commemorated in second week of November annually to pay homage to the brave soldiers who laid down their lives during the Second World War.

During the period of the Second World War, the state of Assam; then comprising of various present day states of the NorthEast, was part of the Eastern Command which witnessed some of the fiercest battles during the famous Burma campaign.

Digboi; placed on the North-East corner of the State, had its strategic importance of being located on the lines of communications of the Allied Forces. During these battles those who were martyred were cremated at

the Digboi Cemetery. The War Cemetery has 200 graves. To commemorate the occasion on behalf of Indian Army, Digboi Battalion organized Guard of Honour in which Deputy GOC, Dao Division laid wreath to pay homage to the martyrs.

Mrs Barnali Bhuyan; wife of Major Gen Ananta Bhuyan, GOC, Dao Division also participated in the ceremony and distributed gifts to the school children who participated in the event. Large gath-

Cinema

ering of high ranking military officials and civil dignitaries from Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Oil Indian Duliajan, Coal India Ltd, Assam Branch Indian Tea Association (ABITA), Mcleod Russel Indian Limited and locals witnessed this annual event and paid floral tributes to the martyrs. A number of students from local schools also participated in the event. The gathering profusely appreciated the efforts of Indian Army in organizing the event in most befitting manner.

ET Correspondent Makum, 13 Nov: One Pankaj Chutia, 23 yrs S/O Rajeswar Chutia of Dighalsaku,Barekuri, a member of Moran Student's Union of Makum unit has been arrested today by a Special Team of SP office and Makum Police Station lead by Officer In Charge, SI Bhaskar Saikia.

The arrested student reported have been continuously demanding money from several number of peoples of Tinsukia and Dibrugarh Dist in the

name of Pabitra Asom of ULFA (I).

Two mobile handsets with the SIM cards from where he has made the demands have been recovered from him and he confessed so far that they have demanded from 28 peoples so far. Another two of his associates are yet to be picked up.

There are 6 extortion cases already registered at Makum PS against the recovered SIM and several in other Police Stations also. Operation to nab the rest of his associates is continuing.

Free medical camp held; witness people from far flung areas Mithun Baruah, Margherita, 13 Nov: Yog Vidya Peetham in collaboration with Country's Women Association of India Margherita Unit today organised a free Health Camp programme at 1 No Longtong Hindi L P School 3 No Udaipur under Margherita Sub Division. The Free health camp programme began with inaugural speech by Deep Acharjee Secretary of Yog Vidya Peetham.

Dr Mana Brota Gogoi presi-

dent of Yog Vidya Peetham and Shiv Nath Prasad Headmaster of 1 No Longtong Hindi LP School took the honours of lighting the lamp.

Among the host of doctors present were Dr Mana Brota Gogoi,Dr Swarup Das, Dr Mousami Gogoi and Dr Om Pradhan at Free Health Camp Programme. More than 350 patients from far flung areas came at the free health camp programme and avail the medical services of the camp.

KATHIN CIVAR DHAN IN DUMPANI

Galleria Cinema Dibrugarh Junction Mall

Screen-1 "DR STRANGE 3D " 1ST show at10:00 AM "SHIVAAY" 2ND show at 12:10 PM "AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL " 3RD show at 03:15 PM "DR STRANGE 3D" 4th show at 06:05 PM "SHIVAAY" 5th show at 08:15 PM

Screen-2 "AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL" 1ST show at 09:30 AM "PAGLI" 2ND show at 12:30 PM "GAANE KI ANNE" 3RD show at 03:10 PM "PAGLI" 4TH show at 05:50 PM "AE DIL HAI MUSHKIL" 5TH show at 08:30 PM Tele booking timings: 9:00AM to 8:00 PM Tele booking No.: 8876565001/ 8876565002 (Terms & conditions apply)

Ticket Rates Rs. 100/ Rs. 150/Rs. 200/Rs.250/ Rs.300 MORNING SHOWS: Rs.80/Rs.130/Rs. 150/ Rs.200/Rs.250

Website: www.bookmyshow.com

Women weaving robes for the monks during the first day of the Kathin Civara Dhana festival at Dumpani Buddha Vihar in Diyun Circle. The robes are weaved overnight to donate to the monks which is consider as the highest form of Dhana inn Buddhism!

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

TIRAP DAO HULEM CHIMYANG IS NO MORE

ET Bureau Khonsa, Nov 13 : Khonsa District Agriculture Officer Hulem Chimyang passed away on November 12 last after battling a long-term illness at Aditya Hospital & Diagnostic Centre, Dibrugarh.

A resident of Lapnan village, late Chimyang completed his schooling from Rama Krishna Mission Narottamnagar, Deomali and Agriculture BSC from Nagpur, Maharastra. He later joined as Extension Officer (Agri) in 1987 at Jegging in East Siang district and joined as DAO Khonsa in 2014.

According to sources, late Chimyang was undergoing treatment for his liver problems since the last few years and was recently admitted at the ICU of Aditya Hospital & Diagnostic Centre, Dibrugarh.

He is survived by his wife, and three children.

His body will be brought to his home at Lapnan village, Tirap district after conducting post mortem at the Dibrugarh hospital.

P3

Kathina Civara Dana Ceremony begins at Golden Pagoda of Namsai ET Bureau Namsai, 13 Nov : A two day Kathina Civara Dana ceremony started today at the Golden Pagoda (Kongmu Kham) at Noi Cheynam in Namsai district. The ceremony is held after the conclusion of Varsha Vaas (Rainy Retreat) of Theravada Buddhists when robes are offered to the monks.

The Kathina Civara Dana is being performed by the Thai devotees. The day started with the hoisting of World Buddhist Flag at 6 am by Rev.Saddadhikho from Thailand in presence of other monks and devotees. In the afternoon, the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha which arrived here on 11 November last alongwith with an image of the Buddha known as Por Bpor Ror was taken in a procession around the pagoda premises.

The Pro Bpor Ror image was conceptualised and designed by the King of Thailand Late Bhumibol Adulyadej to commemorate the 2500 birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. It was kept in the Wat Bawon Nivet of Thailand before being

brought here. The Wat Bawon Nivet is where the Supreme Patriarch Monk of Thailand resides.

It was informed that the Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave his consent to gift the image to the Golden Pagoda on the day of his demise. After the religious procession, a dhamma discourse was held by Venerable Dhammadipo. After the dhamma discourse, Mungchalingta Buddha was unveiled by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein. The Mungchalingta Buddha statue was donated by Mrs. La-Ong

Boonprasert from Thailand.

The statue is built resembling the period of Lord Buddha's one week meditation after the enlightenment in the same position.

Later, Rev.Dhammadipo held a brief meditation session with the devotees. The monk is a master in a form of meditation known as Cittanupassana which translates to Mind Power Development. After that there was a presentation ceremony where the reverend monks offered gifts which included photo frame of His Majesty King

Bhumibol Adulyadej to DCM Chowna Mein and Ven.Vimalatissa Bhikkhu the abbot of Golden Pagoda Monastery. In his vote of thanks, DCM Chowna Mein said the permanent installation of the original holy relics of Lord Buddha was a gift of dhamma for everyone in the North East.

He thanked the reverend monks and the Buddha Relics Foundation of Thailand for the precious gift on behalf of all the devotees. He added that there was a believe amongst Thais that the King Rama the Fifth had been to this part of

India though further research was required and there were many research scholars who were enthusiastic about doing research on the same.

Altogether twenty six member Thai delegations had arrived along with the relics on the invitation of DCM Chowna Mein and Venerable Vimalatissa Bhikkhu, Abbot of Kongmu Kham. A lady amongst the delegation Miss Acharapan Phiboonsuvan who owns a yoga studio in Bangkok said that it was like coming back home regarding this visit and informed she would again visit in future. She was all praise for the people and hospitality of the place.

Later in the evening, hundreds of wish balloons (Fung Phai) illuminated the Kongmu Kham and cultural programme organised by the Tai Khampti Heritage & Literature Society (TKHLS) mesmerised the gatherings.

The ceremony concludes on Monday with ritual offering of Kathina Civara (robes), chanting of prayers for world peace.

Mr. Arunachal Mega Model Contest gets a flying start in Itanagar A Staff Reporter Itanagar, Nov 13 : With an endeavor to provide the budding models of state a platform to showcase their capacity, the first audition round of Mr Arunachal Mega Model Contest got off to a flying start here on Sunday evening.

Organized under the aegis of Aries Corps Talent Management (ACTM), the mega model hunt witnessed 18 top models from across the state fight it out to make it to the next round.

The first round saw the contestants walk the ramp and answer some tricky questions

being put in front of them by the jury, which included renowned designer Bonnie Darang, Arunachal News 24x7 CEO Sapna Tayem and organizing committee chief advisor Tadi Dodum.

However, by the end of the day, only 15 made out of the 18 contestants made it past the first round of auditions.

Talking on the sidelines of the contest, Organizing Committee Vice-chairman Lobsang Drodel informed that the selected 15 contenders of the Mr Arunachal 2016 would now go through some rigorous grooming and personality develop-

ment sessions, which would be conducted by Grooming Guru and Mentor Opang Jamir, former Mr Earth India (2011) and Mr International India (2012).

Lobsang also informed that the ultimate winner of the contest is set to walk away with lots of exciting prizes, which include cash awards, a free trip of four days and four nights in Bangkok, shopping allowance, and tour and visit, which is officially sponsored by flyguru.in and DRUKAIR (Royal Bhutan Airlines), including various other sponsors.

“The winner will also be a spokesperson for the youth of today on healthy lifestyles, HIV & AIDS campaign, drugs free campaign etc while the first and second runner up of the contest would also get a paid trip to Bhutan,” he added.

When questioned on the cause behind organizing the event, organizing committee chairman Taniya Budh informed that they are looking forward to provide the gifted model a stage which no other pageant contests in Arunachal has provided so far.

Unlike other talent hunts and events, we will try our best to

promote the winner of this contest at least till the national level (Mr India). We will groom him for a year and provide him all the necessities that are required to make someone an apt model, added Budh highlighting that the entire contest has been funded by the ACTM. The grand finale of Mr Arunachal 2016 is slated to be held on November 19 next at Siddhartha Hall here where India’s Next Top Model second runner-up Gloria Tep would be present as the chief judge.

Assam Rifles apprehends NSCN(R) cadre ET Bureau Khonsa, 13 Nov: Delivering yet another blow to the NSCN(R), the Khonsa Battalion of Assam Rifles conducted a successful operation in Tirap district on November 12 and apprehended a hardcore insurgent, identified as self styled 2nd Lt Chailak Wangsa of NSCN(R).

Wangsa is a senior leader in the outfit and the area commander of the region.

On an intelligence report of presence of an armed cadre in Khonsa town, the Assam Rifles troops swiftly reached the location of the suspect's house, cordoned the house and established surveillance.

The suspect reportedly tried to flee, but was apprehended by the cordoning troops. After thorough search, the insurgent was found with a .22 cal pistol and ammunition in his possession.

This arrest has struck a blow to the extortion activities being carried out by underground cadres of the group in the area. The operation has tightened the noose around the group and has brought relief to the local population.

Rijiju to inaugurate Golden Jubilee Celebration of Nyorak UPS ET Bureau AALO, 13 NOV : Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, Parliamentary Secretary Education Bamang Felix, MLA Aalo West Tumke Bagra and West Siang Deputy Commissioner Gamli Padu will attend the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Nyorak Upper Primary School, slated for November 20 next.

Organizing president of Nyorak Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee, Kenli Nyorak has appealed to the public, intellectuals and officers currently outside the village to make it convenient to attend the auspicious occasion slated to be held from November 19 to 22 next.

SPECIAL COVERAGE OF CHIEF MINISTER PEMA KHANDU'S VISIT TO ZIRO Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurates weavers’ emporium

Chief Minister Pema Khandu Chief Minister Pema Khandu visits inaugurates Zilla Chairperson office Sidheswar Nath Temple in Ziro Bureau Saaya, Raga MLA Tamar July 2014 as mentioned in and lays foundation stone for ITI ET ZIRO, Nov 13 : Chief Min- Murtem, Ziro MLA Tage the Shivapurana, which ister Pema Khandu in his second day here visited the famous Shiva Lingam of Sidheswar Nath temple today.

ET Bureau ZIRO, Nov 13 : Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the office cum emporium of the Arunachal Pradesh State Weavers Co-operative Federation Ltd here today.

over the state, informed the federation officials.

The emporium has collections of textile weaves of all the tribes in Arunachal and provides source of income and employment for the weavers.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by PHED Minister Takam Pario, Transport Parliamentary Secretary Likha Saaya, Raga MLA Tamar Murtem, Ziro MLA Tage Taki, DC Kemo Lollen and SP Ziro Tage Habung.

The Chief Minister appreciated the good work carried on by the weavers’ federation that provides opportunity for self-employment. He also advised them to set a good example for self-sustenance so that people from rest of Arunachal can learn from then on selfemployment.

The Co-operative federation has members from all

He was accompanied by PHED Minister Takam Pario, Hydropower Parliamentary Secretary Phosum Khimhun, Transport Parliamentary Secretary Likha

ET Bureau ZIRO, Nov 13 : Chief Minister Pema Khandu inaugurated the office of the Zilla Chairperson here today in presence of PHED Minister Takam Pario, Transport Parliamentary Secretary Likha Saaya, Raga MLA Tamar Murtem, Ziro MLA Tage Taki, DC Kemo Lollen and SP Ziro Tage

Chief Minister Pema Khandu inspects ongoing work of sports stadium at Ziro

Habung.

Responding to the memorandum submitted by Zilla Chairperson Hage Kobing, the Chief Minister assured to approve funds for the retaining wall for the office.

Further he assured to fulfill rest of demands in phase wise. He also advised the panchayat leaders

PHED Minister Takam Pario, Transport Parliamentary Secretary Likha Saaya, Raga MLA Tamar Murtem, Ziro MLA Tage Taki, DC Kemo Lollen and SP Ziro

The Chief Minister offered his prayers spending almost half and hour. On arrival, he was received by the temple priests who performed rituals and chants.

The Shiva Lingam was discovered miraculously in

says that a tall Shiva Lingam will appear at the place, which will be called Lingalaya, according to the Sidheswar Nath Temple Committe, Ziro.

The Lingam has become a great attraction centre in Ziro attracting devotees and tourists from nearby and far flung places.

to be in touch with the grassroots and to properly implement all the govt. of India programmes and policies.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for establishment of Industrial Training Institute (ITI) at Dilopolyang to be executed by RWD.

Chief Minister Pema Khandu inspects site of Ziro Mini Secretariat ET Bureau ZIRO, Nov 13 : Chief Minister Pema Khandu today inspected the site of proposed mini secretariat complex here accompanied by PHED Minister Takam Pario, Transport Parliamentary Secretary Likha Saaya, Raga MLA Tamar Murtem, Ziro MLA Tage Taki, DC Kemo Lollen and SP Ziro Tage Habung.

ET Bureau ZIRO, Nov 13 : Chief Minister Pema Khandu today inspected the ongoing works of proposed sports stadium here accompanied by

Taki, DC Kemo Lollen and SP Ziro Tage Habung.

Tage Habung.

The Chief Minister instructed PWD, the executing agency to complete the works of mini secretariat within the next 6 months, which is the working season.

The 4000 seating capacity stadium is being constructed by DUDA, Ziro with open parking facilities.

Khandu suggested on incorporating traditional architectural designs in the building similar to Buddhist architect

being currently adopted in Tawang and West Kameng districts in all government buildings.

The CM also inspected the site for the proposed multilevel parking attached to the proposed mini secretariat building. The parking site will have separate parking facilities for government and private vehicles with roof gardening.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by PHED Minister Takam Pario, Hydropower Parliamentary Secretary Phosum Khimhun, Transport Parliamentary Secretary Likha Saaya, Raga MLA Tamar Murtem, Ziro MLA Tage Taki, DC Kemo Lollen and SP Ziro Tage Habung.

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

P4

Teary eyed Modi takes on rivals, reaches out to people on demonetization PTI Panaji/Belagavi/Baramati, Nov 13 : Blending emotion with aggression, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today mounted a counteroffensive against the opposition over demonetisation of highvalue currency notes, promising more anti-graft measures in future "even if I am burned alive".

Taking the opposition, particularly Congress, head on for targeting his government over demonetisation, Modi said those involved in mega scams were now standing in queues to exchange Rs 4000.

"They thought if they pull my hair, I will stop and do nothing. I will not be cowed down. I will not stop doing these things, even if you burn me alive," Modi said addressing a function in Panaji, turning emotional and aggressive in turn.

Making an emotional but combative speech, he said he was ready to face the consequences of his moves as certain forces were "up against me" because their "70 years of loot" was in trouble as a result of demonetisation.

involved in the coal scam, 2G scam and other scams, now have to stand in queues to exchange Rs 4000."

"When Congress banned 25 paise, did we say anything?

You could dare to stop only 25 paise, that's what your power was limited to. But you did not make higher denomination currency notes illegal. ... We did it.

People have chosen a government and they expect so much from it," he said.

"I know that (some) forces are up against me, they may not let me live, they may ruin me because their loot of 70 years is in trouble, but I am prepared," Modi said.

His lips trembled and there were long pauses when, fighting back tears, he said, "My dear countrymen, I gave up everything...my home, my family. I gave up everything I had for this country."

Under unrelenting opposition attack over demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes and the misery it has brought for the common people, Modi said,"This

government does not want to bother honest people but doesn't want to spare the dishonest. Bear with me for 50 days. Has India been looted or not? ..... I am not going to stop at this. I will expose the history of corruption of 70 years since Independence."

The Prime Minister declared the war against corruption will not end with the current demonetisation exercise and that he would now target those owning benami properties.

"This (demonetisation) is not an end. I have more projects in mind to make India corruption-free. ....

We will take action against 'benami' property. This is major step to eradicate corruption and black money ... If any money that was looted in India and has left Indian shores, it is our duty to find out about it," he said addressing functions in Panaji, Belagavi in Karnataka and Baramati in Maharashtra.

Apparently tartgeting Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, one of the most vocal critics of his demonetisation exercise who vented his anger against the government action after exchanging money at a bank recently, Modi said,"Those who were

IANS Guwahati, 13 Nov: In the wake of the prevailing currency crisis, the Assamgovernment is mulling extension of the deadline for making payments in scrapped currency notes to help those undergoing treatment at government hospitals, AssamFinance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday.

Vigilance awareness week related with roads show drama organized by Asssam Pubic School Students in Duliajan today. Pic - Pranjal Gogoi

Jorhat Gandhi Park Lightens Up with Paint and Brush ticipated in the competition and they came up with impressive drawings in different concepts. The competition was judged by noted artists Jabalik Khound and Tapan Changkakati . The assessment was based on overall artistic talent, along with originality. Certificates of participation were also given to the children who participated in the competition to encourage their efforts.

The event was a grassroots

initiative by Jorhat Press Club by giving massage to encourage the young children in art.

"We have organised art competition to encouraged the pursuit of drawing and painting by the young masses that gain more significance these days in view of the greater importance being given to creative abilities of individuals in professions and organisations,” said Diganta Buragohain, president of Jorhat Press Club.

Free Medical check-up camp held at Haflong ET Correspondent Haflong, 13 Nov: To facilitate medical treatment of unprivileged people of Haflong from specialist doctors, the District Administration and the Dima Hasao Health Services in assistance with Satsang Vihar Haflong organised one day Free Medical check-up camp at Satsang Vihar on Sunday. The Medical camp was attended

by Dr Sujit Biswas, Professor of Silchar Medical College Hospital along with Dr Debashis Bhattacharjee, Dr Mousumi Bhattacharjee

and Nandita Gorlosa from Malaria department of Haflong.

Though it was a Sunday, more than hundred patients visited the camp who were provided with free medicines by the Dima Hasao Medical Department. Dr. Biswas who is the Head of the department of Pulmonary diseases while appreciating the organisers for their concern about the wellbeing of the people expressed his great satisfaction over the turn up of the patients and said he felt

Gohaintekela FC wins R G Baruah Football Tournament ET Correspondent Jorhat, Nov 13 : Gohaintekela FC emerged victorious by defeating Sotai FC 4-1 in the final match of R. G. Baruah Jorhat District football tournament held in Jorhat Stadium on Sunday.

The tournament was organized by BJP unit of Jorhat District. The scoreline is a testimony of the complete dominance of Gohaintekela

FC over Sotai FC. Pinku Bhuyan of Gohaintekela FC drew first blood when he found the back of the net in the 7th minute of the match.

Dipu Mirdha scored the second goal of the match in 9th minute. Goal riots soon followed with Abhilash Bora scoring again in 27th minutes, followed by Tarun Payeng in the 41st minute. Partha

Gogoi of Sotai FC drew some pride by scoring in 42nd minute. But the match was over by then as Sotai FC never recovered from the early onslaughts.

Pinku Bhuyan of Gohaintekela FC was adjudged as best player while Papu Regon of Sotai FC was named as best goal scorer and Dipu Mirdha claimed the “highest goal scorer” award.

Badminton coaching starts at Jarbom Gamlin Indoor Stadium, Yomcha

He said the people had voted against corruption in 2014 when they elected him to lead the country.

"I am doing what I was asked to do by the people of this country. This had become clear from the very first meeting of my Cabinet when I formed the SIT (on blackmoney). We never kept the people in dark.

AALO, 13 NOV : The badminton coaching session for all categories of players, sponsored by the NGO, Young Mission Adventure Club (YMAC), Yomcha Administration and senior citizens, concluded on No-

vember 13 last.

Tomar Angu, Coach of the state badminton association and Yomjum Yomgam managing director of the YMAC) informed that it was a maiden effort to give much-needed training to all

budding badminton players from remote areas of the state.

The Yomcha Badminton Club has also been affiliated to the Arunachal State Badminton Association. (DIPRO)

Assam may push ATM withdrawal limit increases to Rs deadline for accepting 2,500 per day, weekly limit to Rs 24,000 old notes in hospitals distribution of small The finance ministry said denomination notes."

ROAD SHOW IN DULIAJAN

ET Correspondent Jorhat, Nov 13: In the run up to Press day which will be celebrated in 16th of November, Jorhat Gandhi Park witnessed thronging of enthusiastic children taking part in the art competition organised

by Jorhat Press Club on Sunday mark of encouragement and motivation to the young minds. Participating children were grouped into different categories. About 200 schoolchildren from different schools and art institutions in the city par-

Reaching out to the harried people, Modi said,"if you find anything wrong with my intentions or my actions, hang me in public. I promise you I will give you the India which you desired. If someone faces problem, I also feel the pain. I understand their problem but this is only for 50 days and after 50 days we succeed in this cleansing."

Sports

honoured to be present in such philanthropic activities of Satsang Vihar and the Medical Department. He further assured to revisit Haflong when he would be called for. Earlier, Samiran Nath of Haflong Satsang Vihar felicitated all the visiting Doctors with beautiful Fulam gamosa. In his thanks giving speech Nath offered his heartfelt thanks to all the guests and also the Executive Member, N C Hills Autonomous Council Sri Samuel Changsan in-charge for his initiative in making this camp a grand success .

Although the central government has extended the deadline to accept the old currency notes in government hospitals to November 14, the state government plans to extend the deadline

further by another week to help those undergoing treatment in government hospitals, Sarma said.

"The Central government's deadline will end tomorrow.

Let's see if the central government extends the deadline further. In case the Centre does not extend this, we might go for extending this by another week," the Minister said.

The Minister, however, said the same cannot be extended to private hospitals, as the central government had not included the private hospitals in its earlier order.

Pathsala set to celebrate 41st Raas Mahatsov ET Correspondent Bajali, 13 Nov: The 41st Raas Mahatsov at Bhagawati Kshetra is all set to begin tomorrow in Pathshala. The 15 day colourful Mahatsov which commences tomorrow on 14th November will be inaugurated by Sri Himanta Bishwa Sarma, Education, Finance and Health Minister, of Assam at 6pm, Monday.

Exhibition of more than three hundred clay arts symbolizing lord Krishna, Rhino killings, Jurassic park, Anocanda, fear of

Ghost, Big cave, Mina Bazaar, Trade fair are some of the attraction of the event. Interestingly mobile selfie competition will be held for the first time at Pathsala Raas Mahatsov and would be special attraction among new generations. Competition of folk song, Jyoti Sangeet, Rabha Sangeet and Bhupen Hazarika Sangeet and many more will be be held on On 15th November. On 21 November, Assamese cinema and Puppet Theatre will be played. The Mahotsov will wind up on 28 November.

Contd. from Page 1

and distribution of all denomination of bank notes.

In the first four days (from November 10 to November 13, up to 5 pm) about Rs 3 lakh crores of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 bank notes have been deposited in the banking system and about Rs 50,000 crore have been dispensed to customers by either withdrawal from their accounts or withdrawal from ATMs or by exchange at the counter, the finance ministry said.

The banking system has handled about 21 crore transactions in this period, it said.

it is in constant touch with RBI, banks and post offices to make all denomination notes available at all locations.

The government has told banks to make arrangements for separate queues for senior citizens and Divyang persons.

Separate queues will also be arranged for exchange of cash to cash and transactions against Bank accounts.

Instructions have been given to the banks and post offices to ensure proper distribution of all denomination notes, the ministry said, adding, "Banks have also been especially advised to ensure the availability and

Chief Secretaries of the States have been requested to identify the rural pockets, if any, where availability of cash has been a problem and provide all support to the banks and post offices in order to ensure the last mile distribution of small denomination of notes is done through mobile banking vans and Banking Correspondents (BCs).

Government has also advised banks to increase the issuance and use of mobile wallets and debit/ credit cards as also to provide them to those customers and establishments not having access to these non-cash means of payment.

SBI to calibrate ATMs for Rs 2,000 currency notes by today" Contd. from Page 1

we expect to calibrate 1000 ATMs with Rs 2,000 notes by tomorrow (Monday) night and many more ATMs will gradually be calibrated for new currency," she said.

ATMs in India have separate cassettes (boxes) to hold different denominations of cash such

as Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. Configurations of cassettes vary as per the currency they hold.

Bhattacharya said the bank has started "reconfiguring ATMs` cassettes for new Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes". New notes of Rs 500 would also be "available for dispensation in ATMs", once they are available with the bank.

Presently, banks have been refilling ATMs with Rs 100 notes. "We are replenishing ATMs with Rs 100 notes. But a ATM carries about 2,500 notes of Rs 100 denomination.

These are going empty quickly after serving 125 persons on average," she said.

The banks are trying level best to provide Rs 100 notes, she added.

GSU reiterates “neither Chief Engineer nor Tunkey Contractor are competent authority to issue NOC” Contd. from Page 1

Threfore, the inauguration of the same will be a big blow to the public of the concern area and state government as well since, the said project is under the CBI scanner and the closure report from Hon'ble court regarding CBI case of mentioned Hydel has not been received so far and the case is still pending at the supreme court of India with M/s SPML. So if the inauguration of the said project is done then the M/s SPML will get advantage to clear their dues from the state government without making functional of the said project as the said project is not generating power since its

completion. “ GSU clarifies that it is not against any project of development but to ensure that the project is related to full public utility without any disputes at the court, adding that in west siang district alone there are (27)Twenty seven Small Hydel Project out of which (7) seven Small Hydel projects are in 27th Liromoba Assembly Constituency like Doko Putu SHP(2X10)KW, Gangkak SHP (2X10)KW, Poyom SHP (2X10) KW, Rimi SHP (2X20)KW, Yomcha SHP (1X50KW) to name a few which are all in defunct condition till date with zero output resulting into complete blackout in the said area in case of any disruption in NEEPCO

power supply line,” the press release adds.

The official press release of GSU further adds, “Therefore, if Liromoba MHP 2X1 MW is inaugurated it will be same as rest of SHPs mentioned above which exist only in the paper works of the department but in defunct mode thus, depriving the public of its benefit and total wastage of Central and State Government fund.”

Earlier, the GSU team had visited the project site recently on 6 November and witnessed that the machineries and other equipment have been renovated by just painting from the outside using the fund given by then

Parliamentary Secretary (HPD) Phurpa Tsering last year which can be seen clearly from the picture attached herewith. GSU taking serious reservation against some of the lapses appealed to the competent authority to initiate necessary step to stop the inauguration of said Hydel for interest of general public of the said area.

Strongly responding to the Local MLA’s comment that the GSU’s opposition to inauguration, Binya Ronya, President of GSU said, “ Hydel as anti-development and politically motivated and as tools of some persons with vested interest the Union clarifies that GSU is an independent and non-

political body and is not against any development activity nor against the visit of MoS Kiren Rijiju at Liromoba rather the Union welcomes and hope that his visit will boost the development of the area in a positive note.” The GSU also had requested MoS(Home) Shri Kiren Rijiju to initiate positive note like sanctioning for (1) Construction of Tai to Liromoba PWD Road (2) Construction of multipurpose cultural hall at Liromoba Town (3) Construction of Girls hostel at various Govt. school under Liromoba from Ministery of Tribal Affairs, which are genuine and long pending demand of the public of Liromoba circle,

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

NORTHEAST

New Doordarshan channel planned for northeast by next month PTI New Delhi, 13 Nov: Aiming to reach out to more viewers in the northeast, public broadcaster Prasar Bharati is planning to launch by Christmas a new Doordarshan channel 'DD Arunprabha' in the region.

Officials told PTI that in a recent meeting, the Prasar Bharati board approved a proposal to launch the channel, which will focus primarily on the viewers of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim but will have content

for other states of the region as well.

It is expected that the channel will come up by December 25.

"The Board has cleared the decision. We expect to launch by December 25," Prasar Bharati Chairperson A Surya Prakash said when contacted.

"We are very happy with this development as we want to pay greater atten-

tion to the northeast," he added.

Doordarshan already runs a channel for the northeast region.

Sources said that a lot of programming content for 'DD Arunprabha' is already being planned by Doordarshan including a special show that focuses on the region's diverse and delectable cuisine.

Another show is based on the monasteries in the re-

gion, while there will also be music and singing based reality shows including one that focuses on bands.

In addition there will be programmes on educational awareness, career counselling. There will be programmes on government's programmes like startup India and Skill India etc.

Sources said a lot of programmes will be Hindi and English apart from the

had announced that account-holders could withdraw a maximum of Rs 10,000 a day through cheques, SBI reduced the amount to Rs 2,000. However, HDFC allowed its customers to withdraw Rs 10,000 a day. Most ATMs remained closed even on Saturday.

"We aim to reach the hearts of the people through vibrant content and a lot of out focus is centred on the youth," DG Doordarshan Supriya Sahu said.

It is learnt that the channel will be uplinked from Itanagar and that a major part of the funding requirement will be met by the Centre.

Thanliana, a shopkeeper, said although he agreed to accept Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, he did not have sufficient change for large transactions. Even banks faced the same problem on Saturday.

Wine shops in Aizawl also bore the brunt of the cash crisis with sales falling sharply. The shop owners said shortage of smaller denominations had hit their business hard as customers brought only Rs 500 or Rs 1,000 notes and didn't have sufficient change.

"Our sales plummeted to almost half," said a liquorseller.

Branches of the State Bank of India (SBI) are suffering because of a serious cash crunch. Though the Centre

World's highest skywalk foundation stone laid in Sikkim ANI Sikkim, 13 Nov: Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling recently laid the foundation stone of a ropeway and support facilities for the Bhaleydhunga Skywalk Project at Dhapper in Yangang, which once completed, will be the world's highest skywalk.

and the proposed skywalk at Bhaleydhunga is very close to my heart as it is being built in my native village."

Conceptualized by Chamling himself, the Bhaleydhunga Skywalk will be built at a height of 10,300 feet with world class infrastructure and will be the second of its kind in Asia and the first in India.

"The skywalk will also help in the economic and livelihood development of the region, creating new business opportunities and services, mostly in the tourism and hospitality sectors," Chamling said.

After offering his prayers during the bhumi puja and laying the foundation stone of the ropeway and support facilities, Chamling said, "Ropeway

The Sikkim chief minister further announced plans for the development of a community play ground and the construction of roads.

He said the skywalk will be a state-of-the-art tourist attraction in the state for both domestic and foreign tourists visiting Sikkim.

ANI Imphal, 13 Nov: The North East Fashion Designers Award 2016 which is powered by North East India Fashion and Design Council and supported by Manipur Tourism Development Society was held at DM College Multi Purpose Hall, Imphal.

ful that such an internationally acclaimed personality of the fashion world as Vazirani had comed down to Manipur," NEFDA event director ,Bhomechand Khaba said.

Organisers of the North East Fashion Design Awards (NEFDA) 2016, BK Events and Entertainment accorded a warm welcome to well known fashion curator at IMG Reliance and organiser of the Lakme Fashion Week, Goutam Vazirani who will be the chief jury of the NEFDA grand finale.

NEFDA is searching for upcoming fashion designers who could make an impact in the field of fashion and garment industry, he said, adding that the competition also seeks to recognise those who excel and promote traditional attires of the region.

The NEFDA aim is to promote fashion designers of the north east so that they can make an impact in global fashion and garment industry.

Rameshwor Thokchom, bagged the Overall Winner of the North East Fashion Designers' Award 2016 with a cash price of Rs. 50,000 and a citation, and designers Karan Thokchom, Md. Alimuddin, and Bijen Elangbam also won the designers awards in different categories.

Altogether eight designers with eight female models took part in the completion, where a fashion parade of

The first runners up and second runners up were awarded Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 7,500 respectively.

"The event is a first of its kind in the North East and the organisers were grate-

The organisers said they are trying to make it an annual event.

Garg stated this while addressing a public meeting organized by ENPO at the Parade Ground in Tuensang town, a DIPR report stated.

The MHA NE joint secre-

tary also stated that the demand of the ENPO for a separate state appear genuine while observing that problem and hardship faced in the Eastern Nagaland is well understood and the backwardness of the region visible even after 60 years have passed after Nagaland statehood.

Garg also acknowledged that the ENPO has been regularly updating the GoI through the MHA NE on their demand for a separate state.

Representative of organizations namely CKS, KTC, STC, YTC, Eastern Nagaland Gaon Butamong Unions in their speeches

Petrol sells for 180 litre in Manipur ET Bureau Imphal, 13 Nov: As the United Naga Council (UNC)'s indefinite economic blockade on national highways in Manipur entered the eleventh day on Friday, petrol sold on the grey market at Rs 180 per litre and forced operators of school vans to cease services.

Prices of essential commodities, including vegetables, also soared in the capital. Many criticized the state government for its failure to take effective measure to combat the commod-

ity crisis.

three rounds was held.

The event was the first of its kind in the North East.

Talks on Frontier Nagaland by Year End: MHA ET Bureau Kohima, 13 Nov: Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs (NE), Government of India, Satyendra Garg on Saturday said the third round of the bilateral talks between the Govt of India and the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organization (ENPO) on the demand for ‘Frontier Nagaland’ is expected to be held before the end of this year.

sold petrol at Rs 180 per litre by the roads, mostly "Vans that would ferry in front of closed fuel my daughter to school outlets. Others sold fuel have stopped plying ow- in small shops in Imphal ing to the scarcity of valley at exorbitant petrol. I had to skip my rates. chores and drive her to school," said NJ Singh, In protest against the an Imphal resident. "The state government's algovernment should at leged move to create least take steps to fight two new districts out of fuel scarcity," he added. Sadar Hills in Senapati and Jiribam in Imphal The All Manipur School East, UNC has imposed Students' Transporters an indefinite economic Association said it would blockade on all national resume services if the highways that pass government made ad- through the 'Naga arequate fuel arrange- eas' of the state from ments.

November 1.

Petty black marketeers The Imphal-Dimapur

and Imphal-Silchar highways - key supply routes of land-locked Manipur - pass through the Naga-dominated areas.

Stating that every indigenous Naga village had its own well-defined boundary and juridical systems, UNC said the chief minister should be prepared for any eventuality if his government gave district status to Sadar Hills and Jiribam.

Sources said the government would soon bring in essential commodities, including fuel, to the state.

Rail Network To Make Northeast India A 'Destination': Suresh Prabhu

local languages, as the aim is to come up with a northeast channel which also has a national connect.

Fashion world comes to Wine sales plummet in Aizawl Manipur through North East Fashion Designers Award

ET Bureau Aizawl, 13 Nov: From vegetable-sellersto shopkeepers, everybody in Aizawl is facing a tough time due to the acute shortage of cash after Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes were declared illegal

by Prime Minister Narendra Modion Tuesday evening.

P5

reaffirmed their stand on the memorandum on ‘Frontier Nagaland’ demand. They also sought answers from the GoI on the process of their demand for statehood.

After the public meeting, Garg held an interaction with the public of the Eastern Nagaland. The meeting was attended by the officials of ENPO, Tribal Hoho leaders, women leaders of apex tribal bodies, student bodies, DBs, GBs and the public of Tuensang. The main objective of the meeting was to discuss on the proposed statehood demand of ‘Frontier Nagaland.’

(Wioth inputs from Nagaland)

Tripura girl part of NASA programme ET Bureau Agartala, 13 Nov: A 24-year-old girl from Tripura, Ekta Deb, has been selected to participate in the 4th International Astronomical Search Collaboration - Target Asteroids (IASC-TA) by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Ekta, a graduate in electronics and communication engineering, is part of a five-member team from India which will participate in a monthlong campaign from November 21.

ET Bureau Aizawl, 13 Nov: The railway network would make northeast India a "destination" instead of being a transit point, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu said in Mizoram.

"The railway network would make resource rich northeast India a "destination" instead of being a transit spot," Mr Prabhu said late Friday while laying the foundation stone of the railway station building at Sairang, 20 km north of Mizoram capital Aizawl.

Underlining the role of railways in economic development of the northeastern region, he said: "Railway would not only be the engine of growth but would also be the catalyst of social transformation."

"Railway network would also bring people of the region more closer and help to overcome various problems in tapping the resources and to supply goods," he added.

Citing examples of rich natural resources found in Mizoram, the minister called for better utilisation of the natural resources like the bamboo.

Mr Prabhu announced that railways would plan to use more bamboo products made in the region in the

Indian railway system to give a boost to the potential industry.

He said that Indian railways would construct all future stations in the country keeping the local ethos as a major part of the design.

Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain, who was also present on the occasion, said that the new broad gauge line from Bairabi to Sairang was part of the Indian railway's vision to connect all the capitals of northeastern states through broad gauge line by 2020.

The 50.38 km new line, being laid by the Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR), originates from Bairabi (under Kolsib district in northern Mizoram) and terminates at Sairang station, which is 20 km from Aizawl.

"Due to the very steep gradient of the mountainous terrain between Sairang and Aizawl, it was not feasible to take the line up to Mizoram capital city," Mr Gohain said, adding that efforts are being made to complete the project in the stipulated time.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said that the extension of broad gauge railway line up to Sairang would be a milestone in the progress of Mizoram.

Speaking at the function, Mizoram Governor Lt Gen (retd.) Nirbhay Sharma emphasised on building railway connectivity with neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar in the near future as it would be vital for the development of Mizoram.

The governor also requested the state government and railway authorities to consider construction of a high quality hospital and a school at Sairang for the benefit of the people.

The 50.38 km BairabiSairang new broad gauge line alignment passes through complicated mountainous terrain covered with dense forest throughout its length.

At least 23 tunnels -- the longest being 1,766 metre - and 38 major bridges and six tall bridges (the tallest being 117 metre high) would be constructed in the railway line, which is scheduled to be completed in 2019-20.

Mizoram Transport Minister John Rotluangliana, state's Lok Sabha member C. L. Ruala, NFR's General Manager Chahatey Ram, General Manager (Construction) H. K. Jaggi among others were also present at the function.

Manipur gets country's longest safety rail tunnel ET Bureau Imphal, 13 Nov: Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu on Saturday laid the foundation of the longest safety rail tunnel in the country on the Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal rail project in land-locked Manipur.

Prabhu also laid the foundation of a station building at Tupul and announced commencement of work on the second portal of tunnel No 12 at an event held on the parade ground of 1 Manipur Rifles in Imphal city.

The safety tunnel of tunnel No 12 will be 11.55 km long, surpassing the famous Pir Panjal tunnel on the Banihal-Qazigund line which is 11.2 km long.

The 111-km-long JiribamTupul-Imphal new broad

gauge railway project was taken up in 2008 and was declared a national project.

Construction of the tallest railway bridge of the world has begun and should be complete by March 2018, Prabhu said.

A 12.5-km section from Jiribam to Dholakhal has been completed and commissioned for freight trains in March 2016. For the 84-km Jiribam-Tupul section, 29 of the 37 tunnels were completed till October this year.

The height of the bridge, being constructed over the Irang river in Tamenglongdistrict with a pier height of 141 metres, is equivalent to two Qutub Minars, railways officials said.

Reiterating the government's commitment to providing rail connectivity to the northeast, Prabhu said more provisions are being made for the creation of infrastructure in the region. The northeast has immense potential for tourism, which can open up greater avenues of employment, he added.

Governor of Manipur Najma Heptulla said the Jiribam-Tupul-Imphal railway project's importance lies in its being an alternative means of transport in the difficult terrain of the state. The ease of connectivity could translate into an improvement in the economic sphere as well, she said.

Workshop on compost in East Khasi Hills ET BUreau Shillong, 13 Nov: The North East Slow Food and Agrobiodiversity Society (NESFAS) organized a workshop on surface compostin Laitsohpliah Village, East Khasi Hills district, on Saturday.

NESFAS resource person Carl O Rangad, who is also

vice-chairman (operations), presided over the session.

Participants from four villages - Laitsohpliah, Laitthemlangsah, Nongtraw and Dewlieh - attended the workshop.

"The workshop was organized to educate farmers about the basic techniques of composting to create and

provide nutrients to the soil," a release issued by NESFAS said.

Quoting Rangad, the release said composting will always be important in the agricultural sector. "The main objective of making compost is to do away with fertilizers," Rangad told farmers.

(With inputs from agencies)

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

Today's quote Loyal and efficient work in a “great cause, even though it may not be immediately recognized, ultimately bears fruit.

Jawaharlal Nehru

Clearing nation's haze

T

he Supreme Court of India has rightly raised the critical issue of environment pollution. In its severest remark till date, the court asked the Government to reduce pollution levels, especially in the national capital. The court asked the Centre to take necessary steps to control pollution and reprimanded the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) after it repeatedly failed to come up with a plan to manage and control pollution. A Bench of Chief Justice of India, TS Thakur, and Justices AK Sikri and SA Bobde asked the Centre and the CPCB, how they intended to control pollution in the national capital region. Pollution, as an environmental problem, is distinctly different and demands strict adherence to regulations.

The regulating bodies must have ample teeth to punish the offenders who repeatedly break the law. It is on the Union Government to create regulatory mechanisms that are efficient and work on the ground. India already has adequate bodies that are responsible to check and control pollution.

Thus, it is essential that the State Governments put in place a legal mechanism. Regulatory monitoring must be maintained to ensure that pollution levels do not rise to the degree as they were permitted to do so in the just-concluded festive season.

The Government must ensure accountability. The officials ought to be informed that pollution check and control remains the most important objective of their job description. Perhaps it is time the Government begins to appoint pollution managers. This group of personnel should report to the pollution board and the board in-turn must give them power to penalise.

This is not a plea to create another group of Government bureaucrats but a suggestion to put in place a new layer of governance that would protect the citizens lest the level of pollution is carelessly allowed to rise once again. If pollution level reaches what is called ‘severe’ in environmental parameters, the board and the Government will be held in utter contempt. It is one thing to periodically make promises to the gullible citizens on pollution and environment but quite another to act intelligently with the best scientific evidence that is available.

If the Government is serious in controlling pollution, this is an opportune time for it to act. Inaction will only further worsen the situation. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a series of urgent measures. The Government and CPCB must give these measures due attention and act on them. Pollution is a grave environmental problem and significantly so in Indian cities. Shutting down polluting industries and ad hoc penalisation are the most natural command and control methods at disposal. But long-term consequences of such myopic decisions may not be right for a country with a growing economy. To sideline the issue based on the magnanimity of the problem would turn out to be twice the worse as it would effortlessly waste away the opportunity that has risen from a nearly fatal problem. The NGT wants the Government to constitute a centralised monitoring committee that will meet every two months and recommend disciplinary measures if orders are not implemented. Tackling pollution demands governance and governance is what States live by.

Major healthcare crisis The death toll of more than 80 people due to the deadly virus Japanese encephalitis in Odisha’s Malkangiri district is indeed shocking. Since most of the victims are reported to be children, a serious question looming large over the Odisha Government is whether the children received proper vaccination or not.

If only adequate immunisation measures would have been in place, many lost lives would have been saved.

Experts in the field feel that many cases often go unreported and undetected. It has, therefore, been an uphill task for the Government to have accurate statistics of victims. High-level political dignitaries, from both the Centre and the State, have visited the affected areas to take stock of the situation. But, to understand the gravity of the problem, what is required is an immediate action plan to prevent the epidemic. At a time when cases of dengue, chikungunya and H1N1 have seen a rise across the country, the Japanese encephalitis virus is an added pressure on the public healthcare system in poor States like Odisha.

The deadly disease originates from pigs and spreads to humans, mostly children, through mosquitoes. It is a severe disease with case fatalities ranging from 20 per cent to 30 per cent. Although no treatment is available so far, Japanese encephalitis is highly vaccine preventable. Since 2010, cases and deaths due to this disease have more than doubled across the country. Alongwith Odisha, the North-eastern States have also been susceptible to this mosquito-borne disease. Yes, it is a major public health crisis, but one must not panic as the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) is already in place. The programme provides the States enough tools to prevent and control this virus. Under NVBDCP, the State Governments have been advised that in the endemic districts, anticipatory arrangements should be made for medicines, equipment and accessories to handle the crisis. The most important aspect of prevention lies in making trained medical, nursing and paramedics available. Though the Japanese encephalitis vaccine is manufactured in India, but it is in limited quantity. Also, the vaccine can be procured by the State Governments directly. Given this, the Government of Odisha should have made vaccines available before time. It must be noted that the vaccine cannot be used to control any epidemic kind of a situation because it takes at least one month after the second dose to develop antibodies so as to protect a person from the disease. The basic cause of death for most of the victims in Malkangiri was lack of nutrition. Most tribal children, who did not have immunity, fell prey to the virus.

Even doctors and virologists have not been able to tackle the growing menance that has killed more than 57 children so far within a period of just two months. Immediate attention and care must be provided to the patients.

EDITORIAL P6 In Hillary's defeat, three lessons for our politicians Kanchan Gupta The US presidential election has three lessons for India's politicians — conceit can make you feel bigger than life; trust opinion polls only to a point; leaders must desist from talking down to people and labelling them as the ‘other' So the long and tortuous presidential election in the United States of America is at last over. The world’s most powerful country — for all its financial clout, China is yet to make it to the top — has a new President who will take over from Barack Obama in January next year.

The world’s oldest democracy has reaffirmed faith in the process of universal adult franchise, well, almost.

But first the results of what was arguably a very bitterly fought election that saw both the main candidates, Donald Trump, the outsider contesting as the Republican nominee, and Hillary Clinton, representing the Democrats and the Establishment, hurling sufficient mud at each other to keep cartoonists and commentators busy.

Trump emerged the winner, but neither he nor Hillary was smelling of roses on the night of counting.

We in India are familiar to such mud-slinging; accusations are fast turning into slander making the landscape of political discourse, especially during election time, extremely bleak and depressing though the lowest common denominator, as in America, seems to enjoy this spiralling descent into abuse and worse. Scandalous photographs and bedroom videos are already par for the course in this country too.

Most of the world believes that Americans are blessed to directly elect their President — they don’t need to depend on the party or its elected lawmakers and their collective wisdom, or for that matter, the ‘leadership’, the term used for hereditary

party leaders whose divine right it is to either rule or decide who gets to be the ruler but remain at their mercy. But that’s not quite so. The US system is such that more votes do not automatically ensure victory.

The final tally looks something like this. Of the 231,556,622 eligible voters in America, 46.9 per cent did not vote. That’s a huge ‘no show’ on voting day. Of the remaining voters, 25.6 per cent voted for Hillary and 25.5 per cent voted for Trump. Yet it is Trump who gets to be President, not Hillary, because he had more electoral votes than her — nearly 20 more than the 270 needed to bag the presidency.

Now that the Democrats have lost, they have begun raising questions about a system that does not reward the candidate with the most votes. The last time we heard them raising this issue was when George W Bush won the election, defeating Al Gore, in 2000. This is the fourth occasion when the winner has fewer votes than the loser, but there’s no purpose in pointing this out because both candidates played the game knowing well what the rules were.

Whether President Trump will serve his country well and “Make America Great Again” is something that is best commented upon, now and later, by Americans.

From a purely Indian perspective, narrow and selfish, chances are that a Trump presidency will be good for India. Our experience with Republican Presidents has been far better than with Democrats. We need to just recall Bill Clinton’s first term to realise the potential of Hillary doing a repeat show — he had Robin Raphel stomping all over already anaemic India-US relations; she would have had Huma Abedin stomping all over India-US relations that have gathered strength in the years since George W Bush gave a huge boost to them.

Contrary to what Delhi’s lib-

eral opedists and chattering classes, each mirroring the other in their worldview, would want us to believe, just because they have willed themselves into believing it, Hillary would not have been good news for India or the sub-continent. There are far too many reasons to back up this view, not just her past record of seeking to undermine the present Prime Minister, who was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

Which brings us back to the question: Will Trump prove to be good for India-US relations? The jury is still out there but the little we know it’s likely he will. Let’s not forget that in the early days of his campaign, George W Bush didn’t know the name of India’s Prime Minister. Will Trump be better than Obama? Again, it remains to be seen whether he will be more than a ‘good friend’ who is willing to walk the extra mile.

Campaign rhetoric like clamping down on immigration by skilled workers and returning outsourced jobs to Americans is rarely translated into policy. Trump was not the first candidate to indulge in such rhetoric, nor shall he be the last. In brief, those with an H1B visa and those in the queue need not worry, at least in the short term.

That, however, should be the least of India’s concerns.

What would be important is the willingness Trump ex-

presses in his Administration working with the Government of India to take bilateral relations and strategic ties to the next level. Also, the role he plays, like Bush did and Obama didn’t, in pushing the envelope for India’s inclusion in the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

There are other issues too, for instance, determining India’s role in stabilising Afghanistan, the rapidly deteriorating security situation in India’s western neighbourhood, strategic cooperation, trade and transfer of high end technology.

The agility and rapidity with which Trump moves on them will determine the course of India-US relations during the next four years.

No comment on the US election would be complete without mentioning the astonishing failure of the American media and its pundits to get the electoral outcome even remotely right. Everybody was predicting a victory for Hillary, except Trump and his core supporters. The New York Times, the last bastion of glib liberalism, had devised a meter to gauge popular opinion and extrapolate that into winning chances. It indicated a 95 per cent chance that Hillary would win hours before voting began. By the time counting was drawing to a close, the meter showed the reverse.

The New York Times was not alone in getting its sums

awfully wrong. Every pollster got every opinion poll wrong, disproving the claim that America has fine-tuned its polling to a point where predictions can never be wrong. Smug in their belief that Hillary would slay the ‘dragon’ and become the first woman President of the US, they just ignored the possibility of an upset defeat. Newsweek even went ahead and printed a special commemorative edition that had to be trashed.

Facts that have emerged from this American presidential election offer three lessons to India’s politicians and their political parties. First, conceit, or call it hubris if you will, can make you feel bigger than life, a pharaoh who can never be either wrong in gauging popular opinion or defeated in electoral battle. On election day journalist Barkha Dutt, who creditably made no effort to hide her support for Hillary, tweeted from what was to be the venue of the Democrats’ victory celebrations in New York, “And may the best woman win tonight. Like it’s even a choice.”

That sentence, “Like it’s even a choice”, formed the core of the Democrats’s campaign. The liberals in the US and around the world bought into it. Barkha Dutt was merely echoing their sentiment. In the event, it did not prove to be the sentiment of the masses. Trump’s supporters who remained silent all through the campaign (airing their support on Facebook which prompted a sentiment map that fits into the final electoral map) went and voted for their candidate and against Hillary.

It happens. Number crunching to predict electoral outcome often misses the pulse of popular choice. Elections are more than votes; they are an expression of human sentiment. Numbers don’t capture that sentiment.

Which brings us to the second lesson: Trust opinion

polls only to a point? Trusting them beyond that point could recoil horribly.

Linked to that is media reportage, especially by mainstream media. Don’t let headline either deflate your confidence or inflate your hopes. Ignore them if you can, or just do your thing. Social media may not be a perfect barometer, but it’s rapidly turning out to be more reliable than mainstream media. The Facebook sentiment analysis that predicted a Trump victory shows politicians have to be creative to assess their chances.

Third, though not the least, politicians who aspire to win elections should desist from talking down to people and labelling them as the ‘other’, the undesirable, the unwashed, meant to be shamed and not engaged in dialogue.

Hillary and her campaign managers were constantly talking down to people; her liberal supporters were constantly spewing venom, labelling perceived opponents as ‘racist’, ‘bigoted’, ‘misogynist’ and ‘morons’. It is possible some were indeed so, but it is unlikely all were.

An analysis of Trump voters shows that many of them voted for Obama and many more were Democrats in the past. The White working class has drifted away and it is for the Democrats and the liberals to find out why.

All this and more can form a fascinating study for Indian politicians, to understand global trends in voter choices that are increasingly revolving around voting against the Establishment. The rise of the Right is not coincidental — in India and the world. But the Right, such as it is at least in India, cannot take its rise for granted. After all, in power the Right is the Establishment. Can it recast the form and substance of the Establishment to keep its support intact and attract new support?

(The writer is commissioning editor and commentator at ABP News TV)

BJP and BSP keeping close watch on up alliance talks Hari shankar vyas The BJP and BSP are closely following the ongoing talks related to an alliance between the Congress, RLD, and JDU. The BJP leaders are said to be happy about the possibility of this alliance. This was also probably discussed during a BJP meeting held to chalk out the election strategy. A leader says it was being said from the very beginning that the BSP is out of the race, and that the BJP would have a direct fight with the Samajwadi Party. If the alliance is finalised, then the minority votes would go to the Samajwadi Party. In this scenario, the BSP has more to lose if a tie-up is indeed formalised.

That is why the BSP is worried; Mayawati is saying that the alliance will prove beneficial for the BJP. Bihar’s CM Nitish Kumar is well aware of this danger and that was why he had advised bringing the BSP into the alliance as well.

But this is not possible.

On the other hand, the Congress and RLD don’t see this danger because the alliance will prove beneficial for them.

Leaders of both parties want such an alliance. However, amid all these developments, Akhilesh Yadav has a different concern. He is of the view that the alliance will send a message that the Samajwadi Party has become weak.

BSP MULLS ITS STRATEGY If the Samajwadi Party goes into an alliance, what will be

the BSP’s strategy? BSP leader Mayawati thinks that the proposed alliance will not be good for her party, and the BJP will take advantage of it. That is why some say she is seriously thinking about the possibility of a pre-poll alliance. Though this is also true that the BSP has a history of going alone into elections and forging postpoll alliances. But this time the situation is different. There is a three-cornered fight and her party might get a big jolt.

Sources say some Congress leaders are thinking of a separate alliance apart from Prashant Kishor’s plan, and are said to have contacted some BSP leaders. The leaders from Punjab and Uttarakhand have taken the initiative. They are saying that in both States, an alliance with the BSP will prove good for the Congress. They want that the BSP should be taken into confidence in UP as well. These leaders believe that if an alliance is finalised, it will be a game-changer for these three States.

One of the distant possibilities can be that to stop the alliance of the SP, the BSP might go along with the BJP. Though both parties have rejected the idea of a pre-poll alliance, they have kept mum on post-poll possibilities.

SIDHU’S DECREASING MIGHT Former BJP leader and cricketer Navjot Singh Sidhu is himself responsible for his diminishing clout. It is being said that Pargat Singh and Bains brothers, who had come along with

Sidhu, have started looking in separate ways. Bains brothers are worried as Sidhu is only talking about himself and his wife. This is the reason why no alliance is being finalised.

Sources say that Sidhu is not able to decide on his future course of action. So, he is talking to both the Congress and AAP at the same time. Meanwhile, some people are saying that he has started taking to the BJP also. Some say there is apprehension that the BJP and Akali Dal might face some problems over seat distribution. In this scenario, Sidhu might prove useful for the BJP. It is with this thought that Sidhu is in contact with the BJP leaders.

On the other hand, he has demanded 40 seats from the AAP and Congress. It is not a surprise that no party will give him 40 seats out of the total 117. That is why the matter is stuck. His colleagues are worried on another aspect also; Sidhu is not ready to leave the world of television, neither is he ready to devote all his time to politics. This could be why no party is taking him seriously.

CONG’S MULTIPLYING WOES Next year Assembly Elections are scheduled in seven States.

Five States will go to the polls in the beginning of 2017, and two States will face elections towards the end of that year.

Though some experts say that in Gujarat, elections could be held well before schedule.

However, in all these seven

Salesman's Job A keen Indian immigrant applied for a salesman's job at London's premier downtown department store. In fact, it was the biggest store in the world - you could get anything there.

The boss asked him, "Have you ever been a salesman before?"

"Yes sir, I was a salesman in India", replied the lad.

The boss liked the cut of

him and said, "You can start tomorrow and I'll come and see you."

The day was long and arduous for the young man, but he got through it.

And finally 6:00 P.M. came around.

The boss duly fronted up and asked, "How many sales did you make today?"

"Sir, just ONE sale." said the young salesman.

"Only one sale?" blurted

the boss.

"No! No! You see here, most of my staff make 20 or 30 sales a day.

"If you want to keep this job, you'd better be doing better than just one sale.

By the way "How much was the sale worth?"

"It is 93,300,534.00

States, the Congress is facing one or the other problem. In many States, the party is encountering leadership crises, while in others, its leaders are facing legal problems. Though the leaders feel that there is sympathy because of the legal crises, nobody knows if it would really help the party at the time of elections.

Goa will be going to polls at the start of next year, but before that, former CM Digambar Kamat is facing problems. He is facing corruption charges and his problems might increase in the Louis Berger bribery scam.

Also, investigation against Virbhadra Singh is in its final stage and a chargesheet might be filed against him. It is being said that the CBI and ED have evidence against him.

In UP, the Congress is facing the crises of strategy and leadership. The party and its strategists are moving in separate directions. The party’s CM candidate, Sheila Dikshit, is not showing special interest in UP, and Rahul Gandhi will concentrate more on other States.

Now, everybody is keeping their eyes on Priyanka Gandhi’s campaign.

In Uttarakhand, CM Harish Rawat and State president Kishor Upadhyay are at loggerheads. Due to this infighting, preparation for elections has not started yet.

In Punjab, the tussle between Captain Amarinder Singh and Pratap Singh Bajwa is far from over. Bajwa wants Sidhu to be brought into the Congress, while the Captain is of the view

that Manpreet will suffice. In Manipur, Congress MLAs are leaving the party, and in Gujarat, Arvind Kejriwal has increased the worry of the Congress.

KEJRIWAL PLAYS RIOTS CARD The CM of Delhi knows how to play politics over emotional issues. Kejriwal’s politics over the 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case in Delhi had put the Congress on the back foot.

Though this is also true that he has not fulfilled any of the promises made to the people of Delhi at that time. In the same manner, he has started playing the card of 1984 Sikh riots before Punjab elections.

In Delhi, Kejriwal had started raising this issue a long time ago; he constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the 1984 riots and demanded justice for the victims.

He also put forward HS Phoolka, who is fighting for riot victims, in a bid to seek sympathy from Sikhs. Although Phoolka lost the elections, he could well be the main face of the AAP in Punjab.

Earlier, Kejriwal wanted to fight Punjab elections on the issue of Badal and Majithia.

He also raked up the drug menace issue and corruption of Badal’s family. But when he felt that the Akali Dal is out of the race and his main fight is with the Congress, he changed his strategy and was quick to highlight the issue of Sikh riots. Now, the AAP is expected to hang on

to this issue for the upcoming elections in Punjab.

RAHUL’S ROAD POLITICS Leaders of Congress are amazed with Rahul’s style of politics. When the Congress vice-president was stopped at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital when he went to meet the family members of Ram Kishan Grewal, all Congress leaders came onto the road. That day, even the political secretary of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel, sat on a dharna, and Ghulam Nabi Azad went on an agitation too.

The next day, Rahul went to Bhiwani for Grewal’s last rites. When he returned, he went to Jantar Mantar for a candle march. This, however, did not go down well with Congress leaders. A senior party leader said Rahul is neither a leader from the Janata Parivar nor is he a Communist leader, who will go on the road over every petty issue. Leaders of the Congress are of the view that Rahul should behave like a big leader.

The Congress veterans are also not happy with Ajay Maken and Randeep Surjewala. Next year, MCD elections will be held in Delhi, and these will be crucial for Maken. So, he organised a candle march to give a befitting reply to Kejriwal’s politics, and pushed Rahul into it. On the other hand, Surjewala has to prove himself in Haryana against Hooda and Kiran Choudhry.

This was the reason why he included Rahul in the matter.

pounds" said the young man.

"What? How did you manage that?" asked the flabbergasted boss.

"Well", said the salesman, "This man came in and I sold him a small fish hook, then a medium hook and finally a really large hook.

Then I sold him a new fishing rod and some fishing gear.

Then I asked him where he was going fishing and he

said down the coast.

So I told him he'd be needing a boat, so I took him down to the boat department and sold him that twenty-foot schooner with the twin engines.

Then he said his Volkswagen probably wouldn't be able to pull it, so I took him to our automotive department and sold him that new Deluxe 4X4 Blazer.

I then asked him where he'll be staying, and since he had not decided, I took him to camping department and

sold him one of those new igloo 6-sleeper camper tents.

Then the guy said, while we're at it, I should throw in about £100 worth of groceries and two cases of beer.

The boss took two steps back and asked in astonishment, "You sold all that to a guy who came in for a fish hook!"

"No" answered the salesman, "He came in to buy a headache relief tablet and I said to him, "Sir, fishing is the best remedy for headache."

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

OP-ED

P7

JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Life along the Line of Control

I t was August 2015

when I saw two residents along the India-Pakistan border get off a vehicle and rush towards a nearby bridge. When I approached them to talk about tensions along the border, they said, “Our houses in a nearby village, across the bridge, have been destroyed by crossborder shelling.” We began to walk towards the bridge, but were forced to retreat and wait when we heard the sound of shelling.

One of them was Mohammad Sharif, a porter with the Indian armed forces who was injured during the Meha shelling; the other was Shamasdin, a daily wage labourer from Bandi in the Sabjiyan sector of Jammu’s Poonch district. Sharif and Shamasdin were among the many civilians who bore the brunt of cross-border violence along the LoC and the International Boundary (IB) last year.

The recent tensions between India and Pakistan are reminiscent of 2015, which saw some of the worst incidents of crossborder firings. Following the Uri attack in September 2016, India blamed Pakistan. The latter denied having any role in the incident.

Soon after, India claimed to have conducted ‘surgical strikes’ on suspected militants preparing to infiltrate the country from across the border. Pakistan denied this too. Since then both countries have been blaming each other for violating the 2003 ceasefire agreement.

on agriculture and are only demanding emergency shelter in safer areas since they cannot leave their farms and settle somewhere else permanently. They are demanding underground bunkers which can be used for shelter during cross-border shelling.

Protecting civilians

In February 2015, a proposal was sent by the Jammu and Kashmir government to the Centre for setting up 20,125 community bunkers in 448 villages along the LoC and IB. Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, the then Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, said that the proposal would cover a population of 4,02,455 near border areas in the districts of Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Rajouri and Poonch. However, a number of villages in these areas still lack underground bunkers.

The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and its additional protocols form the cornerstone of international humanitarian law (IHL) which seeks to regulate armed conflict and proDixit tect civilians.

India and Pakistan are both parties to the Geneva Conventions. While Pakistan has signed but not ratified the 1977 Additional Protocol of these conventions, which strengthens the protection of victims of international armed conflict, India has neither signed nor ratified it. However, considering the universality of the Geneva Conventions, their general principles have now become customary law binding on non-parties.

Therefore, according to one of the major principles of customary IHL, parties to an armed conflict must make a distinction between civilians and combatants

and between civilian objects and military objectives.

fering; cause severe or longterm damage to the environment.”

IHL forbids all methods and means of warfare which “fail to discriminate between those taking part in the fighting and those, such as civilians, who are not, the purpose being to protect the civilian population, individual civilians and civilian property; cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suf-

The indiscriminate firing by both Pakistani and Indian security forces poses a huge threat to the lives and properties of civilians on both sides of the border. It frequently causes “superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering” and “severe or long-term damage to the environment”. According to

India, seven civilians were killed on November 1 in shelling by Pakistan along the Samba and Rajouri districts in Jammu. Pakistan on its part claimed on November 1 that at least three of its civilians were killed and five injured by Indian border troops in Nakyal Sardar.

Many border residents are often rendered homeless by such firing. Several get injured and/or lose their

farms and cattle, often their only source of occupation.

There are hardly any adequate medical facilities for these people. In India, the government provides emergency shelters to these civilians during firings, but this is rarely adequate.

Those who do not get such shelter leave for safer areas.

Most border residents I interviewed in August 2015 said that they are dependent

Threat to psychosocial security The uncertainty of border tensions also poses a huge threat to the psychosocial security of these civilians.

According to the 1997 Cape Town Principles, the term “‘psychosocial’ underscores the close relationship between the psychological and social effects of armed con-

flict, the one type of effect continually influencing the other”. The constant fear of losing their lives, cattle and farms is likely to reverberate in the psyche of border residents which may impact their psychosocial well-being. Perhaps the most pitiable impact has been on children as they sometimes don’t attend school for months.

It has been over a year since I spoke to Sharif, Shamasdin and other locals in seven villages in Akhnoor, RS Pura and Suchetgarh along the IB and Balakot and Sabjiyan sectors along the LoC. But issues such as lack of community bunkers in many villages and inadequate temporary shelters in safer areas have still not been resolved.

During my visit to Sidherwan in Akhnoor, Sudesh Sharma told me, “Our relatives from safer areas say that we [Sharmas] are now used to the firing.

In fact, it is just that we do not have any choice”.

Neeru, her daughter-in-law, interjected, “Perhaps our woes will end only if India and Pakistan decide to make peace”.

Meha Dixit has a PhD in International Politics from JNU and has taught at Kashmir University.

Meet Mr. Anil Bokil: The A phone call from Abdul Majeed Man behind Modi's Surgical Strike on Indian Currency!

S. CHATTERJEE

The night of November 8, 2016, will be etched in the Indian History, as a revolutionary decision by Indian PM Narendra Modi. The moment when the riches went sleepless and the poor finally had a smile in their sleep.

By now, I guess his enemies would’ve understood that he’s, “A man of his words”; he pledged to fight against black money and he did it with such brutality that nobody is left with any words.

For all who do not know about this gem of India, let me introduce you to him.

One of the key members of a Pune-based Economic Advisory body, Arthakranti Sansthan, Mr. Anil Bokil, had once asked Indian PM Narendra Modi for just 9minutes from his busy schedule.

What followed was a 2hour discussion between Mr. Anil and PM Modi, who’s after effects we just witnessed last night. Mr. Anil presented a proposal The Advisory body is represented by a group of Chartered Accountants and Engineers. Together they work on the effective and guaranteed solution of Black Money Generation, Price rise and Inflation, Corruption, Fiscal Deficit, Unemployment, Ransom, GDP and industrial growth, terrorism and good governance.

This proposal has five points: (1) Scrap all 56 Taxes including income tax excluding import duty.

Salaried people will bring home more money which will increase purchasing power of the family. All commodities including Petrol, Diesel, FMCG will become cheaper by 35% to 52%. No question of Tax evasion, so no black money generation. Business sector will get boosted. So there

00,000 crores additional fund.

Present Scenario: (1) As on today total banking transaction is more than 2.7 lakh crores per day say more than 800 lakh crores annually.

(2) Less than 20% transaction is made through banking system as on today and more than 80% transaction is made in cash only, which is not traceable.

(3) 78% of Indian population spends less than 20/rupees daily. Why will they need 1000/- rupee note?

Effects if implemented today: will be self employment.

(2) Recall and scrap high denomination currencies of 1000, 500 and 100 rupees.

Corruption through cash will stop 100%. Black money will be either converted to white or will vanish as billions of 1000/500/ 100 currency notes hidden in bags (without use) will become simple pieces of papers. Unaccounted hidden huge cash is skyrocketing the prices of properties, land, houses, jewellery etc and hard earned money is loosing its value; this trend will stop immediately. Kidnapping and ransom will stop. Terrorism supported by cash transaction will stop. Cannot buy high value property in cash showing very less registry prices.

Circulation of “Fake Currency” will stop because fake currency printing for less value notes will not be viable.

(3) All high value transaction to be made only through banking system like cheque, DD, online and electronic.

(4) Fix limit of cash transaction and no taxing on cash transaction.

(5) For Govt. revenue collection introduce single

point tax system through banking system – Banking Transaction Tax (2% to 0.7%) on only Credit Amount.

As on today, if Banking Transaction Tax (BTT) is implemented, Govt. can fetch 800 x 2% = 16 lakh crore whereas current taxing system is generating less than 14 lakh crore revenue.

When 50% of total transaction will be covered by BTT sizing 2000 to 2500 lakh crores, Govt. will need to fix BTT as low as 1% to 0.7% and this will boost again banking transaction many fold. No separate machinery like income tax department will be needed and tax amount will directly deposited in State/Central/ District administration account immediately. As transaction tax amount will be very less, public will prefer it instead paying huge amount against directly/indirectly FIFTY SIX taxes.

There will be no tax evasion and govt will get huge revenue for development and employment generation.

For any special revenue for special projects, govt can slightly raise BTT say from 1% to 1.2% and this 0.2% increase will generate 4,

(1) Prices of all things will come down.

(2) Salaried people will get more cash in hand.

(3) Purchasing power of Society will increase.

(4) Demand will boost, so will production and industrialization and ultimately more employment opportunity for youth.

(5) Surplus revenue to the Govt. for effective health/ education/ infrastructure/ security/ social works (6) Cheaper and easy loans from banks, interest rate will come down (7) Tendency of society will changes from scarcity to quantity.

(8) Spare money for political system for clean politics, (9) Prices of land/ property will come down, (10) No need to export beef to cover up trade deficit.

(11) Sufficient funds for research and development.

(12) Society will be free from “Bad elements”.

Pheww! These guys totally deserve a standing ovation from the nation (especially middle class and the BPL living people.)

Facts and proposal inputs courtesy- Quora

Yesterday, my son celebrated Diwali with his university-mates in Berkeley, California. But he committed an “unpatriotic” act: he did it with his Pakistani friends. They too were unabashedly “unpatriotic”.

They are Pakistani Muslims but joined the celebrations with an Indian! Also, Saima, who calls me “uncle”, sent Diwali greetings from Karachi and she had celebrated Diwali there with her Hindu friends.

Such greetings are nice, but sometimes you hesitate to even greet.

On September 25, 2016, I got a phone call from Abdul Majeed. I had hesitated to call him for two months. I had greeted him on July 7 on the occasion of Eid ul Fitr but had hesitated to call him on Eid uz Zuha as Kashmir was under aerial surveillance.

Could I begin the conversation with “Mubarrak ho.

How are you?” when scores of people were lying dead, pellets had blinded a couple of hundreds, and thousands lay wounded in the Kashmir Valley?

Abdul Majeed called me, and that make things easier.

The curfew was lifted. To be free — this time it was to be freed of the curfew — is a great feeling, and he expressed it by calling a person who lives in Bangalore, so far away from Kashmir and whom he has met only once.

Abdul Majeed is the Principal of the Government Girls’ Model Higher Secondary School in Kulgam.

He is interested in science.

So when he learnt that the Vigyan Prasar (VP), working in collaboration with the Astronomical Society of India (ASI) was to hold a teachers’ workshop in Srinagar, he planned to invite us as resource persons to his institution. I and my

friend Purushottam Tripathi from Nav Nirmiti in Mumbai went there to conduct a workshop on “telescope-making”, “day-time astronomy” and “light-related hands-on experiments”. We made the girl students do the experiments themselves. They made the parts of the telescope with their own hands and aligned them. And when finally they got the image, what a thrill flowed from their eyes! All this happened in May 2016.

Workshop over, Majeedsaab made a request, “Why don’t you stay here for two more days? There are many more children from other schools: they too can learn these things.” But our return flights were booked already, for the next day. We made a promise to come again, soon.

Here I met Khurshid, an experienced science communicator who does handson experiments as part of his lectures. He said, “Come, we’ll set up a telescope on the mountains; no one knows the nook and corner of Kulgam, its valley, the trekking routes and so on better than me. I will choose the spot from where we can get the best view of the stars.”

The curfew having been lifted, Khurshid, Ishtiyaq and Manzoor Javaid saab

have gone to Kargil on skywatch. Their minds are surely not tension-free but that is what they have to live with. A little relaxation is like a breath of air for them!

Would I like to revisit Kashmir? Certainly, to keep my word with my friends there, to respect their warmth, to meet the sparkling young students in Majeed saab’s institution, as fresh as a flower and lively as the brook that flows through the school premises, and to be with Khurshid, Ishtiyaq and Javaid saab, watching the sky from the best spot in Kulgam. But what I dread most is the eight-layer security-check at Srinagar airport: much more than what I have seen at airports in Kuwait and Tehran! Is the State really so insecure, being stalked by “ferocious stone-pelters”?

Kashmir is an integral part of India, but we need 600,000 security personnel to have some 69,00,000 people remain integrated with us. With more soldiers the integration is believed to have become stronger, as we are told by the media.

People whose fingers are on computer keyboards remind us of the sacrifices of our armed forces, telling us about “fitting answers”, “surgical strikes” and so on.

But they would not join the

army themselves, nor would their sons, daughters or sons-in-law, ever. They will congratulate our soldiers for keeping us secure. Fortunately, Majeed-saab’s school is “intact” though the students are afraid to attend the classes.

For me, any death is to be mourned. Of those killed and blinded, some may have ended up as Khurshid’s prospective companion skywatchers. And the soldiers killed in Uri would have been happier returning home with Nav Nirmiti’s portable telescope in hand as a gift from Khurshid, rather than be sent home in a coffin. I wonder if gallantry honours after death are as precious as the fulfilment of a life when you do not have to shoot at stone-pelters or be on perpetual alert against infiltrators and do not have to be ready to return fire.

The soldiers’ families can answer that. Only they can tell us about sacrifices so my son can celebrate in Berkeley, I here, and the “plastic patriots” in the social media. But the last thing a soldier wants is a war.

(The author was a scientist with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, and is now president of the All India People’s Science Network. chatsab99@gmail.com )

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

P8

INTERNATIONAL

NATO chief warns Trump British, French ministers against 'going it alone' snub EU talks on Trump

PTI London, Nov 13 : NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg today warned Donald Trump that "going it alone" is not an option for Europe or America, amid concerns over the president-elect's position on the US-led military alliance.

In article in Britain's Observer newspaper, days after Trump's US election win, Secretary General Stoltenberg said, the West faced its greatest security challenge in a generation.

During his election campaign, Trump described Western military alliance NATO as obsolete.

He suggested that the US would think twice about coming to the aid of any NATO ally under attack if it had not paid its dues.

"We face the greatest challenges to our security in a generation," Stoltenberg wrote while conceding that Trump had a point about the need for some members to make a bigger financial contribution, as the US currently accounted for almost 70 per cent of NATO spending.

But he added that American leaders had always recognised that they had a profound strategic inter-

Donald Trump est in a stable and secure Europe.

"It is all too easy to take the freedoms, security and prosperity we enjoy for granted. In these uncertain times we need strong American leadership, and we need Europeans to shoulder their fair share of the burden," the former Norwegian prime minister wrote.

"Going it alone is not an option, either for Europe or for the United States.

We face the greatest challenges to our security in a generation. This is no time to question the value of the partnership between Europe and the United

States."

The 9/11 attack on the US, Stoltenberg pointed out, was the only time that NATO had invoked its self-defence clause, which requires all members to come to the aid of one that is attacked.

"This was more than just a symbol. NATO went on to take charge of the operation in Afghanistan.

Hundreds of thousands of European soldiers have served in Afghanistan since.

"And more than 1,000 have paid the ultimate price in an operation that is a direct response to an attack against the United States.

Brussels, Nov 13 : The British and French foreign ministers are to miss special talks with their EU counterparts on Sunday to discuss Donald Trump's stunning US election win in a sign of divisions over how to deal with the new president.

European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini summoned the ministers for dinner in Brussels after Republican Trump stormed to victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton on a platform which questioned America's commitment to Europe.

But British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson will not attend the meeting which is seen in some quarters as unnecessarily casting doubt on the result of an election in the country that has been closely allied to Europe for decades.

"We do not see the need for an additional meeting on Sunday because the US election timetable is long established," a British Foreign Office spokesman said, adding that Johnson would attend a scheduled full meeting of ministers on Monday.

"An act of democracy has taken place, there is a transition period and we will work with the current and future administrations to ensure the best outcomes for Britain."

Britain will be seeking the incoming Trump administration's backing as it negotiates its exit from the EU following June's Brexit referendum vote.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault will meanwhile be "absent for agenda reasons", a French source told AFP, although his absence from a crucial meeting called by the EU's own foreign policy chief will also raise questions.

Britain and France will instead be represented by their ambassadors to the EU. Trump's victory has already been greeted coolly by a bloc shaken by Brexit and other crises, with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker warning the billionaire president-elect he must get up to speed quickly on transatlantic ties.

"Mr Trump, during his campaign, said that Bel-

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will miss special talks with EU counterparts to discuss Donald Trump's stunning election win. gium was a village somewhere in Europe," Juncker said Friday. "I believe we'll have two years of wasted time while Mr Trump tours a world he doesn't know."

Juncker also said that Trump had called NATO into question, which could have "harmful consequences" because it is the model of Europe's defence.

Trump's lack of solid foreign policy priorities has however kept everyone guessing.

One European diplomat said: "I have not had anyone teary on my shoulder -- but everyone is saying 'what does it mean' and everyone is trying to interpret it."

- 'Warning sign' Trump has also sought to reach out to US allies since his election win, with phone calls to British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Francois Hollande among others.

But in a sign of the concern that Trump's victory

has caused in Europe, outgoing US President Barack Obama is himself set to meet Merkel, May and Hollande in the wake of Trump's victory.

Trump's coolness on Europe and accusations of sexism and racism during the campaign have caused nervousness throughout a bloc dealing with the migration crisis, a stalled economy and a resurgent Russia on its eastern border.

Donald Tusk, the EU president and former Polish premier, warned this week that the events of 2016 were a "warning sign for all who believe in liberal democracy", and urged Europe to "finally get our act together".

But Trump's win is also being seen by some in the European Union as a chance to push ahead with projects of its own in a bid to build unity in the wake of the shock of Brexit.

On Monday the foreign ministers will discuss plans to boost defence cooperation -- a move that Britain had long blocked - including a controversial proposal for a European military headquarters.

Islamic State group UK Opposition Thousands rally, march in naflourishes and recruits in Pak leader Corbyn tells tionwide anti-Trump protests AP Islamabad, Nov 13 : The Islamic State group is increasing its presence in Pakistan, recruiting Uzbek militants, attracting disgruntled Taliban fighters and partnering with one of Pakistan's most violent sectarian groups, according to police officers, Taliban officials and analysts.

Its latest atrocity was an attack yesterday on a Sufi shrine in southwestern Pakistan that killed at least 50 people and wounded 100 others. The group said in a statement that a suicide bomber attacked the shrine with the intent of killing Shiite Muslims and issued a picture of the attacker.

When IS circulated a photograph of one of the attackers in last month's deadly assault on a police academy in southwestern Baluchistan province, two Taliban officials told The Associated Press that the attacker was an Uzbek, most likely a member of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.

More than 60 people, most of them police recruits, were killed in that October 26 attack when three assailants battled security forces for hours before being killed or detonating their suicide vests.

The Taliban officials, both of whom are familiar with the IMU, spoke on condition of anonymity because their leadership has banned them from talking to the media.

Authorities initially said the police academy attack was orchestrated by militants hiding out in Afghanistan and blamed Pakistan's virulently antiShiite group, Lashkar-eJhangvi.

But IS later claimed responsibility and Lashkare-Jhangvi spokesman Ali Bin Sufyan said they partnered with IS to carry out the assault.

In Afghanistan and Pakistan, the extremist group has adopted the name the Islamic State in Khorasan - a reference to an ancient geographical region that

encompassed a vast swath of territory stretching from Turkmenistan through Iran and Afghanistan.

IS in Khorasan has set up its base in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province, and while it has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq, it remains unclear whether there are direct operational or financial links between the two.

According to police, Afghan officials and IS media outlets, the majority of Islamic State fighters in Afghanistan are Pakistani nationals, mostly from the tribal regions.

Disgruntled Taliban fighters from Pakistan and Afghanistan have joined along with foreign fighters, mainly from central Asia. The group's leader until his death in July in a drone strike was Hafiz Saeed Khan, a former Pakistani Taliban commander. IS has never acknowledged Khan's death, which was confirmed by both the Afghan and US militaries.

John Kerry tells Donald Trump that Americans want climate action Wellington, Nov 13 : US Secretary of State John Kerry made an impassioned plea Sunday for America to maintain action on global warming, despite the election of climate-change denier Donald Trump.

While US President-elect Trump has labelled climate change a hoax and threatened to pull out of the Paris climate deal, Kerry said most Americans wanted the problem addressed.

"We will wait to see how the next administration addresses this but I believe we're on the right track and this is a track that the American people are committed to," Kerry told reporters on a trip to New Zealand.

"The majority of the American people believe that climate change is in fact happening and want to see us address it."

He was hopeful Trump would not follow through with his strong campaign rhetoric about ditching Washington's climate policies.

"Everybody knows that there's sometimes a divide between a campaign and the governing and I think the next administration needs to define itself on that subject," he said.

Kerry was speaking after an "awe-inspiring" visit to Antarctica, where he took a heli-

While US President-elect Trump has labelled climate change a hoax and threatened to pull out of the Paris climate deal, Kerry said most Americans wanted the problem addressed.

copter ride to view the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.

"That ice sheet alone, should it break up and melt, as it is showing signs of doing now, would add some 12 feet (3.7 metres) or more to the current sea level," he said.

Washington's top diplomat said scientists in the frozen continent showed him the work they were doing to assess the impact of climate change.

He said it reinforced his conviction that action was needed and he would take that message to UN climate talks in Morocco next week.

"Until January 20, when this administration is over, we in-

tend to do everything possible to meet our responsibility to future generations to be able to address this threat to life itself on the planet," he said.

Kerry said he first became involved in the climate issue in the early 1990s and had seen scientific evidence of change grow to a level that was now overwhelming.

He cited Pacific island nations threatened by rising seas, more intense and damaging storms, as well as greater frequency of wildfires and flooding.

"The evidence is mounting, in ways that people in public life should not dare to avoid accepting as a mandate for action," he said.

Trump to 'grow up'

Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn with supporters during a meeting in London London, Nov 13 : Britain's Opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn today told US President-elect Donald Trump to "grow up" over his controversial stance on immigration and his proposed ban on Muslims entering America.

A visibly angry Corbyn told BBC that his Mexican wife Laura Alvarez and her family felt "absolute anger and outrage" at Trump's proposals to build a wall at the US-Mexican border.

"Donald Trump should grow up and recognise the American economy actually depends on migrant labour. "The treatment of Mexico by the United States,

just as much as his absurd and abusive language towards Muslims is something that has to be challenged," he said.

The Labour leader said "anger and left-behind America" had led to President-elect Trump's surprise victory last week, especially in Ohio and the other deindustrialised states in America's rust belt. "Trump decided to use the populist agenda. He blamed Muslims Mexicans, he blamed Muslims, he blamed women, he blamed anyone he could think of, except the very corporate America that in many ways he actually represents," he said.

'Will strongly oppose Trump's anti-Muslim rhetoric' PTI Washington, Nov 13 : Pramila Jayapal, the first Indian-American woman to be elected to the US House of Representatives, has asserted she would strongly oppose any effort by President-elect Donald Trump to enforce his rhetoric against Muslims and threat to deport 11 million illegal immigrants.

51-year-old Jayapal said she is ready to stand up and fight for the rights of all Americans against attacks from the incoming Republican Congress and President.

"If any part of Trump's Presidency involves some of the things he talked about on his campaign, whether it's punishing women for exercising their right to make their own decisions or subjecting Muslims to additional scrutiny and discrimination, or deporting 11 million immigrants, we are going to have to stand up and defend these rights and values that are so important to this country," she said.

"We cannot step back, and I intend to fight for what I ve been fighting for my

whole life," she told People magazine in an interview.

After her election, Jayapal, who ran her elections on a progressive agenda and was endorsed by Senator Bernie Sanders in the run up to her campaign, described the Trump's victory as shocking.

"We hold out the greatest hope for Donald Trump as the President, but we also prepare for what could well be a tax on some of the things that are so important and so dear to us," Jayapal.

"I do think there are some interesting things that we can work on together that he has said that he's interested in. One of those things is an infrastructure package he said that he's open to that investing in real jobs and real and true economic gains for people working across the country of every colour and race is going to be a place of unity," she said.

Chennai-born Jayapal is the first person of colour elected to the Washington State Democratic Delegation, and the first South Asian woman ever elected to the US House of Representatives.

AP New York, Nov 13 : Tens of thousands of people marched in streets across the United States, staging the fourth day of protests of Donald Trump's surprise victory as president.

The protests held in big cities like New York and Chicago as well as smaller ones, such as Worcester, Massachusetts, and Iowa City, Iowa were largely peaceful yesterday.

Protesters rallied at New York's Union Square before taking their cause up Fifth Avenue toward Trump Tower, where they were held back by police barricades.

The Republican presidentelect was holed up inside his tower apartment, working with aides on the transition to the White House.

Among those railing against him was filmmaker Michael Moore, who tweeted a demand that Trump "step aside." Fashion designer Noemi Abad, 30, agreed.

"I just can't have Donald Trump running this country and teaching our children racism, sexism and bigotry," she said.

"Out of his own mouth he made this division. He needs to go there's no place for racism in society in America."

Trump's comments particularly a 2005 recording of him making lewd comments about women sparked outrage during his campaign.

That spilled over into a

Thousands rally, march in nationwide anti-Trump protests fourth day of demonstrations following an election that ended with half of US voters choosing the other candidate, Democrat Hillary Clinton.

In Los Angeles, several thousand people marched through downtown streets Saturday to condemn what they saw as Trump's hate speech about Muslims, pledge to deport people in the country illegally and crude comments about women.

Jennifer Cruz, 18, of Ventura, California, carried a sign that asked: "Legalize weed but not my Mom?" a reference to Californians' Tuesday passage of a measure legalising recreational marijuana use.

Cruz said her parents have been in the United States illegally for 30 years, although her mother has

spent years seeking citizenship. She called the possibility of their deportation terrifying.

"We talk about it almost every day," she said. "My Mom wants to leave it in the hands of God but I'm not just going to sit back and not do anything. I'm going to fight for my parents, even if it kills me."

"He doesn't realize all the families he's hurting," she said of Trump. Shawn Smith, 41, of Los Angeles, wore an American flag vest and held a glittery sign that said "Love Trumps Hate."

"What he's been able to do is make 50 per cent of the nation look over their shoulder," he said. "If you're gay, if you're LGBT, if you're Muslim, if you're Latin, if you're special needs, if you're female, it's a much unsafer place now.

Pak's strategic Gwadar port opens CPEC PTI Islamabad, Nov 13 : The revamped Gwadar port, a strategic deep seaport in the USD 46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, today became operational in Pakistan's restive Balochistan after a Chinese commercial ship laden with around 250 containers set off for the Middle East and Africa.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the start of operational activities at the coastal town of Gwadar in southwestern Balochistan province, which saw an ISIS suicide bombing claim as many as 52 lives.

With the operationalisation of the revamped Gwadar port, the multibillion dollar ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), linking western China to the Arabian Sea, became a reality.

The USD 46 billion CPEC is being laid through the Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK), sparking concerns from India.

In his address, Sharif called the development as a "watershed" moment in the history of Pakistan and the entire region. He called it a symbol of Pakistan's commitment to China's One Belt-One Road initiative, of which the CPEC is a key port.

"We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the CPEC and all the projects under its umbrella are materialised within the given time," he said.

Sharif also commented on the One Belt-One Road initiative

by China and said that it integrates with Pakistan's Vision 2025 which seeks to transform the country into a hub of trade and commerce.

He said the CPEC would ulti-

mately integrate South Asia, China and Central Asia, and offer opportunities for people in this region besides giving opportunities to investors from across the world.

Officials said a major trade convoy that started from Kashgar in western China on October 30 yesterday reached Gwadar, where Chinese vessels were ready to take the shipment of Chinese goods to Middle East and African countries.

"This is the first time that a trade convoy successfully passed through the western part of Pakistan from the north to the south. It proves the connectivity of the local roads and the realisation of the concept of one corridor with multiple passages," Chinese ambassador Sun Weidong said at the inauguration ceremony. .

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

EDUCATION One-year vs two-year MBA dilemma A

re you pursuing an MBA this 2017 but confused between a one year and a two year program?

One year programs are better for boosting or fasttracking your current career path. Two-year programs are better if you have nontraditional work experience, or are looking to switch roles or industries altogether.

However, it is important to contextualise the following factors and assess how your specific needs/path fit with the one- or two-year program.

goals, you can maximize your engagement with realworld projects and competitions. In the two-year program, you get to do this at a lesser pace. You get an opportunity to network for longer, play along with your interests, study various papers and experiment, and work on your passion, owing to the ample amount of time. You may also get more options for MBA exchange programs with other top schools globally, resulting in access to alumni networks and job prospects.

MBA is definitely cheaper, both in terms of how much it would cost, as well in terms of the amount of time you are spending outside the workforce generating an income.

1.Your Profile: If you have had more than four to five years of experience, stick to your current industry, sponsoring company or family business, and are looking at the MBA to leverage your efficiency and effectiveness with your current assignments, then the one-year program is probably a better option for you.

If you are not sure about what you would move into post your MBA, or if, you are willing to switch industries, the two-year program is obviously a better option.

4. Subject Specializations: You may want to consider subject specializations which many schools offer, from finance and analytics to healthcare and sustainability. If you are interested in a specialization, the two-year program is a better option because you have the time to delve deeper into this subject, engage in research projects or write cases with professors in your second year.

It is important to note here that your recruiting potential as an alumnus – that is, your potential to find not just gainful, but also high-quality, employment within six months of graduation and a subsequently strong career trajectory – matters to a number of top business schools. Research your schools thoroughly to see how much this factor weighs in their application evaluation process.

2. Summer Internship: If you are looking forward to switch careers or looking for a different role within the same industry, the summer internship between the first and second year of a two-year MBA is quite crucial, and can lead to your first full-time job in the industry post-MBA. But

again, if you have already established yourself as a professional in the industry you hope to build a career

VIBHA KAGZI in, the summer internship is not that important as it is while you decide to switch.

For both programs, if you

are willing to go for a preMBA internship then be clear about your plans after the program.

3.Experiences, Extracurriculars and Exchange Programs: Beyond the classroom, both programs offer a wide range of oppor5. Cost, Opportunity Cost tunities to participate. If you are sure about your career and Jobs: The one-year

However, you are saddled with job searching while trying to maximize your MBA experience, which can be overwhelming. So if your fit is better aligned with the two-year program, do not opt for the one-year program solely because of this factor.

(The author is founder and CEO, ReachIvy.)

Making sense of an MBA H

istorically, an MBA was designed for professionals with some industry experience wanting to shift to a managerial role. These were people who had experienced managerial challenges and were looking for ways to counter them.

There was a need for education that could help professionals with experience find solutions to the obstacles they faced and, thus, the MBA came into being in the 1960s. As trends changed, one saw a large number of people with technical skills gravitating towards the MBA degree.

To assume that the degree is meant for those with such skills are incorrect as to do well in an MBA does not require technical skills.

Many have started looking at it as a shortcut to a good paycheque. While it is true that an MBA leads to a better package eventually, if not immediately, a common notion is that the earlier one does an MBA, the sooner one gets a fat paycheque. However, to be able to take maximum advantage of the curriculum, it is advisable to have some work experience, say three

to four years. Fresh graduates without any industrial exposure will not have the opportunities to reflect on the solutions that are being introduced in class as they have possibly not encountered those challenges. For such students, learning is likely to happen when they enter the work sphere and encounter these problems.

An MBA should ideally be face-to-face, at least some components of it should be, so as to facilitate a better interaction between faculty and students.

Several schools provide

online modules but a programme that is fully online will lead to a learning graph that is very different from a programme with face-to-face interactions. A face-to-face interaction helps teachers gauge how much is student learning as well as their ability to process and respond in real-time. Most importantly, one can’t build networks online.

The country in which a B-school is located makes a difference as those with culturally diverse groups not only expose students to

different cultural practices but also provide them with a network that goes beyond geographical borders.

Class size is another important factor as to be able to help students grow; teachers must be able to understand the student and his learning style. This cannot happen in an auditorium full of hundred students where one can barely identify the person in the last row. A school’s history and educational traditions play a key role as they can often provide testimony to their commitment to quality.

Students often make a call based on teaching style.

One can’t say either is better as different students have different preferences and each style has its pros and cons. For instance, while the lecture method is good for sharing organized information, the case study method is better for application-based learning and problem-solving.

The purpose of an MBA programme is to not create experts but a workforce with analytical skills that can help run organizations smoothly.

Groom the new age entrepreneur The year 1973 saw the release of the film Bobby, which saw actor Rishi Kapoor play the role of the quintessential rich young businessman with multiple cars, smart clothes, good looks, many industries and rich relatives.

schools and colleges today talk about wanting to be entrepreneurs. But what is surprising now is parents too are talking about it happily. There was a time when setting up a business was considered risky. The average parent wanted their ward to get a good job. Today, I meet beaming parents excited about their children talking of starting off on their own.

The year 2015 was marked by the film Dil Dhadakne Do, in which actor Priyanka Chopra essayed the role of a successful entrepreneur who pursues her dream I interact with students of setting up an Internet- who are excited by the based travel business idea of setting up their from scratch. own venture. The smell of risk and thrill is heady, Of course, in true as is the smell of money.

Bollywood style, both Stories of successful stories were about love young entrepreneurs are and not business. all over media. And yes, However, if you think you hear of those whose about it, both movies ideas didn’t work but were a clear they got absorbed into commentary on the some other start-up or changing face of job. There is always a entrepreneurship in our way ahead and a way out. country.

It is not really about risking your entire What is this changing career. It is merely about mindset that is taking giving it a shot. over the Indian career landscape? In the However, there is more previous millennium, to entrepreneurship than being a business-owner having an idea. “Often, was something one it’s not your first idea that inherited.

Today, works,” says Anuj youngsters want to set it Kacker, co-founder, up themselves. They aim MoneyTap. “At least, not at making it big while still in its original form. You go young. out into the market, get brushed off, get some An increasing number business, meet some of students in high obstacles, learn and then

get back to the drawing board.”

Encourage your child to speak his or her mind.

N e w - a g e entrepreneurship is often disruptive in nature. But, no child can get up and start spouting disruptive business ideas without first building the confidence to think disruptively.

So, encourage your child’s ideas and listen to what he/she has to say about friends, teachers, school curriculum, sports, careers and movies.

Desist from “correcting” them or sharing your own opinion too quickly.

“Move fast and break

Are we doing enough to create the best learning The other day, I observed a three-year old girl ask her 'teacher', "What is the colour of water?" After thinking for a moment, "Water has no colour." The child immediately asks, why?

The teacher, who (obviously) didn't know the response, asked the child to go get the crayons for art work.

Instead, this could have been an interesting opportunity for the teacher to engage in an activity around water that would have helped the child understand the nature of water.

Across the country, it is becoming common for children above two years of age to spend about 3 to 8 hours in centres that run as preschools, daycares, play-homes or anganwadi centres. This emerging reality of children spending time in 'safe' care-settings other than homes would be true across socioeconomic groups and geographic locations, with both parents having to work for their livelihood.

While care-taking seems like a simple task that involves feeding, keeping children happy, controlling fights and falls, toilet training, engaging children in play, and so on, as any parent will tell you, it is not as simple as it looks.

Mostly, it really comes together when the right partners work with each other. One individual has an idea, a beta website, maybe some intellectual property, and the other has industry connects and business sense. Together, they roll things out and the magic happens.

What can you do about it as a parent? Can you support your school-orcollege-going child who is playing entrepreneur in her or his dreams? There are institutes, hobby classes and certificate courses for almost every other skill. But how do you groom an entrepreneur?

P9

Exploring entrepreneurial depths: Today’s youngsters have the advantage of an early kick-start.

things,” says Mark Zuckerberg. “If you are not breaking stuff, you are not moving fast enough.”

Encourage your child to take things to fruition.

Does your child want to set up an innovative game at the Diwali mela or a city fest rather than the usual Lucky 7? Support him or her to flesh it out, present it to other stakeholders (friends), take charge, make things happen, prepare for failure (what if no-one comes to my stall) and give it a shot! The idea may bomb, but at least children will get to see their ideas in real form.

with a wide set of skills that he or she may not have. That young entrepreneur will need humility, pleasant behaviour and an active interest in other people.

They need to handle the personalities, hopes, fears, and even tantrums of people, friends and family. Teach them from an early age about how to get along with different types of people and help them appreciate their own traits and strong points. Teach them to appreciate more and criticise less and to deal with failure. Teach them how to come up with the next plan and feel just as excited, if a bit wiser, about its possibilities.

Applaud wide-ranging social skills. One day, your Children who are child may become an competing at the stateentrepreneur and will level and building a CV need to recruit people are as young as 10 years

old. The grit and determination they showcase is much needed in an entrepreneur.

As Marcus Persson, the celebrated developer of Minecraft, says, “I don’t see myself as a real game developer. I make games because it’s fun, and because I love games and I love to program...”

Let your children do the stuff they love, break boundaries, spout ideas, try things, fail, succeed and carry on like it is just another day. You cannot prepare a successful entrepreneur, but yes, you can prepare a child who can have fun while doing it.

The writer is CEO and co-founder, Inomi (www.inomi.in)

Managing and engaging a two or three year old, who has begun to express herself, has a zillion questions about the world around her, wants to explore and experiment with objects around, wants to be reassured about every step she takes, can hardly be a simple task.

While love for children is intuitively likely to help teachers, care-givers and anganwadi workers 'know' about children and their characteristics, it is somewhat farfetched to imagine that it will help teachers know 'what to do' with children for the hours that they are together.

Most preschools conduct a few day's inservice induction and refresher programmes to prepare teachers to take care of children. These programmes are essentially designed around activities and curriculum they wish to complete with every agegroup. Today, a common belief driving this business of providing care for young children seems to be that a caring woman can be trained to keep children engaged

for a few hours every day using pre-defined activities such as songs, rhymes, stories, some reading-writing, patterns, drawing and craft work. This is a rather mechanical endeavor which assumes that care-takers and teachers are only 'implementers' of content and activities that someone else has planned.

A young child, whose developing brain is fast making millions of neural connections and is grasping and learning from every experience, requires the best opportunities possible in her environment. In this context, the efforts made in preparing the teachers and caregivers seem rather laisse-faire and inadequate.

As a society interested in caring and nurturing the potential of young children, it will be important to have a teachers and caregivers who know about children and their development, not just through their own personal experiences and naïve understanding, but through more informed theoretical understanding about children's growth and development. They will also need to have a broad knowledge about the world, to help teachers them respond to curious questions and not shoo-away children for lack of answers. A teacher and care-giver who is able to create suitable experiences, along with the ability to cater to every child's unique needs and contexts, is critical to an ideal care-environment for children who spend more active-hours outside home.

All this knowledge about working with children is unlikely to come to a loving and caring woman (caretaker/teacher) from a list of activities to be conducted. It requires time and commitment for investment in learning about children and working with children.

The experience from other countries suggests that it will require a carefully designed teacher-education program that develops aspiring pre-school teachers over a period of 2-3 years before they get professional certification that qualifies them to teach and care for preschool children.

And that is something we hardly demand – perhaps it's time?

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

NATION

P10

Rajnath, Jaitely review situation across country

Indian varsities should aspire to be among top 100: PM Modi

PTI New Delhi, Nov 13 : Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today took stock of the prevailing situation in the country in the wake of demonetisation of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes.

PTI Belagavi, Nov 13: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday made an appeal to universities in the country to aspire to be among the top 100 globally and promised special economic assistance.

There is no Indian university among the world's top 100 universities, Modi said, adding, we feel "ashamed".

"I invite 10 public and 10 private universities to come forward and take a pledge to make a place for themselves in the top 100 universities of the world.

"Those who will come forward will get special economic assistance. They will be given relaxation from seeking various approvals.

There will be an open field for them," he said.

The Prime Minister was speaking at the centenary celebrations of Karnataka Lingayat Education Society (KLES) at Belagavi.

He also urged the students to actively participate in sports and aim for a Gold

In an hour-long meeting, the two Ministers were briefed about the situation in different states where heavy rush were witnessed in banks and ATMs to change old notes and withdraw cash.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and other top officials of the Ministries of Home and Finance attended the meeting, official sources said.

ing regular feedbacks from the Director Generals of Police and the situation in respective states, official sources said.

However, so far no report of any major violence or untoward incident has come from anywhere in the country.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

The Centre has already asked all states to ensure proper security in all banks, ATMs and vehicles transporting cash in the wake of demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes.

The Home Ministry has deputed three too officials to be in touch with state governments to ensure security of banks, ATMs and cash transporting vehicles.

The three officials are tak-

Badal asks Cong MLAs to attend special assembly session PTI Punjab, Nov 13 : Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today said Congress MLAs must attend the special session of state assembly for chalking out a concrete strategy to protect waters of the state, asserting that Sutlej Yamuna Link (SYL) canal is not a political issue but a matter involving the lifeline of Punjab.

Punjab government has convened a special session on November 16 following the Supreme Court verdict on the water issues. After the verdict, all 42 Congress MLAs have tendered their resignations from the state assembly.

Interacting with media persons on the sidelines of a function to mark 20th death anniversary of Subedar Bapu Kartar Singh, father of Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra, here, the Chief Minister said that in larger interests of the state, the Congress MLAs must ensure their presence in the special session.

Badal said it was the need of the hour so that the message was conveyed to the entire country that whole Punjab was united on this emotive issue.

He said this was fight of every Punjabi and a united house must resolve to protect the waters of state at any cost.

Replying to another query, the Chief Minister said that neither NDA government nor Prime Minister Narendra Modi has any role in this matter as the ball is now in the court of President, to whom the Apex court has given advice on SYL issue.

He said that they would soon meet the President and apprise him about the depleting water level in the state.

Badal said that "we are

duty-bound to protect waters of state and every option will be explored to save it".

On queries pertaining to protests by Congress and Aam Aadmi Party, he said that both these parties are indulging in political gimmickry on this issue for their vested political interests.

He said Congress was the perpetrator of this sin against the state and its people.

Badal said that AAP government in Delhi had submitted affidavit against the state in Supreme Court on this issue.

"But now both of them are trying to mislead people through such tantrums", he added.

He assailed the opposition parties for allegedly misleading the people on this sensitive issue.

The UPSC will be conducting the test at 23 centres from December 3 to 9. The Commission has uploaded the e-admit cards on its website.

"The candidates are advised to download their e-admit cards and take a print-out

The Central government is expecting the financial situation to be normal in next few days.

Two separate advisories were sent to all states in this

Badal categorically said that Punjab doesn't have a single drop of spare water for anybody adding that SYL agreement was a grave injustice done by the successive Congress governments with the state.

He said that Akali Dal was opposed to this agreement, which robbed the water of state, from day one, adding that now also they were firm to their stand to not allow the construction of this canal at any cost.

The Chief Minister said that ironically, Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh and other Congress leaders who hailed the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for laying foundation stone for this project in 1980s, were now resorting to tactics like resignations and protests just to mislead the people.

Police reached the spot and found her dead inside the flat.

Rekhan Mohan PTI Thrissur (Ker) , Nov 13 : Film and television actress Rekhan Mohan was found dead in an apartment at the posh Sobha city complex here, police said today.

The 45-year-old actor was staying alone in her flat as

"Darbara Singh, heading the Congress goverment in Punjab had taken back the case filed by him, as Chief Minister of state, in the Supreme Court, challenging this accord.

He said that while signing the agreement of the SYL canal, the then Congress government at the centre completely overlooked the universally accepted Riparian Principle on river water sharing.

"Every Punjabi is duty bound to oppose this move and all of us should pledge to protect the waters of the state at any cost," added Badal.

Speaking on the issue of black money, he said that the central government should also focus on the fake currency being pushed into the country from out-

thereof. The candidates will have to produce the printout of their e-admit cards at the allotted venue for appearing in the examination.

"In case the photograph is not visible or available on the e-admit cards, candidates are advised to carry identical photograph for each session along with proof of identity such as Aadhaar card, voter identity card, driving licence, passport etc. to the venue of the examination. No paper admit card will be issued for this examination by the Commission," the UPSC said in a public notice.

The civil services examination is conducted annually in three stages -- preliminary, main and interview -to select officers of the prestigious Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Foreign Service (IFS) and Indian Police Service (IPS), among others.

Candidates have been asked to bring e-admit card printout in each session to secure admission to examination hall. E-admit card may be preserved till the declaration of written test result, the Commission said.

Only a postmortem will reveal the exact cause of her death, police said.

Rekha was known for her roles in films like 'Udhyanapalakam' 'Ne Varuvolam' and 'Yathramozhi'.

She had acted in several television serials, including 'Mayamma'.

BJP should declare it will contest polls with cheques only

Badal said it was high time that every Punjabi must rise on the occasion to prevent the construction of the canal, which would ruin the state.

Urging the people of Punjab and Haryana to exercise restraint, the Chief Minister said there was no animosity between the common people on this issue.

Long queues were witnessed at bank branches across the country to withdraw money and also to exchange the demonetised Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes.

When Rekha failed to respond to his calls last night, he alerted his friends who informed the police.

government had given its administrative approval, the Congress government headed by the then Chief Minister Darbara Singh had organised a "ground breaking ceremony".

However, he said the wise Punjabis know that those who who ignored the interests of the state for their political future are the real culprits.

Adequate stock of all currency notes has been kept ready at more than 4,000 locations across the country, and bank branches are linked to them for sourcing their requirements, RBI said.

her businessman husband was away in Malaysia.

PTI Zirakpur, Nov 13 : Lashing out at Modi government, Congress leader Salman Khurshid has alleged that anybody who questions it is labelled a traitor, and said BJP should declare it will contest the next elections by only using cheques if it is serious about the fight against blackmoney.

The former external affairs minister also urged all parties to refrain from playing politics over the SYL canal issue, saying, "It would be better if they get together and resolve it or they will have to go by the SC decision".

At a function at a private school here last evening, Khurshid said, "Anyone who questions the government is being labelled a traitor or an irresponsible person".

He said that not even a single inch of land for this canal was acquired during his regime adding this canal was a conspiracy against the state which was planned and executed by the Congress party.

Badal said that while the then Giani Zail Singh

The Reserve Bank of India had yesterday said that currency printing presses are running at "full capacity" to sustain demand for new notes.

Actress found dead in her apartment in Kerala

Earlier, addressing the gathering, the chief minister, while asserting that SYL would never become a reality, exhorted the people to make every sacrifice to protect the river waters of the state.

UPSC won't issue paper admit cards for civil services main exam PTI New Delhi, Nov 13 : No paper admit cards will be issued for this year's civil services main examination, scheduled to begin early December, the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) has said.

"We have conveyed to the states that if they require any assistance, we will provide immediately," an official said.

regard, the official said.

side.

"Modi government should disclose the amount of fake currency seized till now....

If the BJP says that it will contest the next elections only by using a cheque, then I will admit that black money has been wiped away".

On reports of infighting between Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh and Pratap Singh Bajwa, Khurshid said that Congress high command was aware of the situation and will take apt measures when required.

"Captains hardwork and the enthusiasm of the cadres will lead Congress to a thumping victory in Punjab," he added.

Targeting AAP over SYL issue, Khurshid said, "AAP likes to point fingers at others, but it doesn?t want to be questioned".

"Their leaders are used to giving irresponsible statements on serious issues," he said, adding, "This might have helped them in the past, but they stand exposed now".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

"In 2020 during ToKyo Olympics there should be some gold medals from KLES," he said.

chitecture for 10 public and 10 private institutions to help them emerge as worldclass teaching institutions.

"Research and innovation are vital for us. In the 21st century, the youth will take India to new heights. For this, we need skilled youth," he tweeted.

In the Union Budget announced earlier this year, the government had promised enabling regulatory ar-

Rs 1,000 crore was also set aside for higher education financing during the budget.

Congratulating KLES for completing 100 years, the Prime Minister said, "Political organisations do not last for 100 years. Even families do not. Imagine an educational institution which has completed 100 years.

West Bengal CM Mamata speaks to President Mukherjee on demonetisation issue Accusing PM Modi of conducting a "surgical strike on the common people" in the name of unearthing black money, she had said the demonetisation move was taken without proper planning PTI Kolkata, Nov 13 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday spoke to President Pranab Mukherjee over the Centre’s demonetisation move and said representatives of political parties will meet him next week over the issue. “The Hon President was kind enough to take my call. I briefed him about how common people are suffering because of demonetisation,” Banerjee tweeted on Sunday.

“I thank him for agreeing to meet reps of political par-

BJP, Banerjee on Saturday had said she is not averse to working with arch rival CPI(M) and other opposition parties like Congress, SP, BSP to fight against the “anti-people” Modi government which has imposed an “undeclared emergency”.

Mamata Banerjee ties on Nov 16 or 17 where we will brief him in detail on the grim situation,” she wrote in the microblogging site.

Upping the ante against

Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of conducting a “surgical strike on the common people” in the name of unearthing black money, she had said the demonetisation move was taken without proper planning causing immense hardship.

Five Pak nationals detained along Indo-Nepal border PTI Bahraich, Nov 13 : Five Pakistani nationals including three children were detained by SSB officials for illegally entering India via the IndoNepal border at Rupaidiha village in Bahraich district, police said today.

Ashiq Hussain (45), his wife Shakila (45) and their children - Mariyam (11), Ayan (6) and Abdul (5) were detained at the Rupaideeha check post of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) last evening for

entering the Indian territory without valid documents, SP Salikram Verma said.

During interrogation they said that they have a Pakistani passport and they

had reached Kathmandu (Nepal) on a Nepali visa and were on their way to Kashmir, he said.

Investigation in this connection is underway, Verma said.

West Bengal Bypolls to be Held Under Demonetisation Shadow Kolkata, Nov 13 : The upcoming by-elections in West Bengal is all set to witness demonetisation as the main issue in the polls.

Bypolls are slated in two Lok Sabha seats - Cooch Behar constituency in Cooch Behar district and Tamluk in Purba Medinipur district and Monteswar assembly seat on November 19 and results will be announced on November 21.

The Cooch Behar bypoll was necessitated by the death of TMC MP Renuka Sinha. The bypoll to the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat was necessitated by TMC MP

Suvendu Adhikari's resignation as MP to join the state cabinet as transport minister and the bypoll to Monteswar assembly seat was necessitated due to the death of TMC MLA Sajal Panja.

According to leaders of both the ruling TMC and opposition CPI (M), Congress and BJP, demonetisation all of a sudden has come up as major issue as the common man as well as political parties have been impacted by the Centre's decision.

"This anti-people decision of demonetisation has af-

fected every citizen of this country. The common man is suffering.

Demonetisation has also impacted our campaign as we are unable to pay the decorators, sound organisers. In Tamluk, most of the rural areas still don't have proper banking facilities, what will the poor farmers do?" TMC MLA and party candidate from Tamluk seat Dibyendu Adhikari told PTI. According CPI (M) and Congress leaders, demonetization has all of a sudden come up as an issue for the polls as they are receiving

feedback that people are frustrated because of the new decision.

"We have been campaigning on the issue of communal tensions and poor governance of the state government.

But, this demonetisation has become a prominent issue as both political parties and people are opposing it. There are instances that people can't avail healthcare or food because of this decision and the situation is much worse in rural areas," CPI (M) leader Sujan Chakraborty told PTI. The Congress too echoed

the views of CPI (M) and TMC. BJP on the other hand said the elections will be a litmus test as the people will favour the BJP for taking such a bold step in unearthing black money.

"What TMC, Congress and CPI (M) are saying is not right. People of Bengal are happy with these decisions and will give hands down victory to our candidates. It will not only be a message in favour of demonetisation, but also against the anarchy and misrule of TMC," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said.

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 13

BUSINESS

P11

Tata Motors' 2 major unions come out in support of Ratan Tata

Banks disburse Rs 30k cr cash, post demonetization

PTI Mumbai, Nov 13 : Ahead of Tata Motors' crucial board meeting on Monday, two unions of the company representing around 16,000 employees have written to the management expressing their support to Ratan Tata in the ongoing spat with ousted Tata Sons Chairman Cyrus Mistry.

In a letter to Tata Motors CEO and Managing Director Guenter Butschek, Tata Motors Employees Union, Pune expressed "deep concern" over the rift between Tata Sons and the leadership of Tata group companies.

"Moreover, the once cordial relations between Tata Motors Pune plant management and the employees have taken a downward turn since the last 14 months over various negotiable issues," said the

Tata Motors' 2 major unions come out in support of Ratan Tata letter in an indirect dig at the company's leadership under Mistry's chairmanship.

Backing the new leadership of Tata Sons led by interim Chairman Ratan Tata, the letter said: "However, during this time of turmoil we reiterate our complete and dedicated

commitment to the decisions taken by Ratan Tata over the change in leadership of Tata Sons Ltd." Stating that Tata Motors has "grown in leaps and bounds under" Tata's "visionary leadership", the workers union of Pune plant further said: "We wish to commit our

Kerala urges Centre to permit use of old notes till Dec. 30

A non-working ATM is seen in Kochi.

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 13 : With people facing "inexplicable hardships" due to demonetisation of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday hit out at the Centre on the issue and asked the government to permit use of old notes till December 30.

The state's sentiments and anxiety over the postdemonetisation scenario would be conveyed to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters at the airport before leaving for New Delhi.

Criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign trip soon after announcing the demonetisation, he said, "When the country is facing such a stiff challenge and people continue to suffer, the Prime Minister is abroad."

"The demonetisation of notes has caused inexplicable hardships to common people. Nothing has come to an order yet. No government should take

such an indifferent stand," he said.

"People should be permitted to use the old currency for transaction till December 30, the last date to exchange notes, to avoid difficulties faced by them," he said.

Mr. Vijayan also questioned the Centre's claim that demonetisation was to check black money, saying there were reports that black money lobbyists had got prior information about scrapping of the higher denomination notes.

"Those who keep black money have no issues but common people are the worst hit," he said.

The Union government should have made better preparations and put in place a proper system to ensure availability of enough currency for transactions before implementing such a crucial decision, the Chief Minister said.

He also alleged that 'somebody' close to the Union government, had received prior information about banning of the notes and

got opportunity to take precautionary measures.

"Even after demonetisation, there are no issues for the availability of petroleum. Reliance is a major player in petroleum sector. Everybody knows the relation between Reliance and the Union government," Mr. Vijayan said.

The Chief Minister said considering the plight of the people, the state government would extend the due date for payment of all service bills up to November 30.

The bills, including those of electricity, school, and water, can be paid without any fine till November 30, he said.

Meanwhile, state Finance Minister Thomas Issac on Sunday claimed that with the Centre withdrawing Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, an "anarchy" like situation was prevailing in the country.

"There is total chaos in the country. People are unable to pay wages. With construction work coming to a standstill, the workers have no work and wages and their families are starving...," Mr. Issac said in a Facebook post.

"Shops where I normally go for a cup of coffee are closed ... What is the point of opening them, is what traders are asking ... The traders have also decided to down shutters indefinitely from November 15.

Several marriages have been postponed...," the Finance Minister said.

Mr. Issac said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should call for an urgent meeting to find ways to address the situation.

whole-hearted support to Mr Ratan Tata's decisions in future and greatly respect his leadership."

On the other hand, in a letter to the plant head of Tata Motors' Jamshedpur unit, Telco Workers Union termed Ratan Tata as "our another great leader" and invoked his saying "if you want to walk fast walk alone but if you want to walk far walk together" to express their support.

While also recollecting what another "pioneer" JRD Tata said -- "to be a leader you have to lead with human affection" -Telco Workers Union said: "These inspiring sentences (are) always inspirations for us and we always try to follow these footsteps."

Last week, Tata Sons, which holds 26.51 per cent stake in Tata Motors, asked the owner of Jaguar Land Rover to convene an ex-

traordinary general meeting of the company to consider its resolution seeking removal of Chairman Cyrus Mistry and independent director Nusli Wadia.

Besides, Tata Sons also has served notices to IHCL, Tata Steel and Tata Chemicals to convene shareholders meetings to oust Mistry and Wadia from their boards.

The boardroom battle in the Tata group has escalated ever since Mistry was ousted on October 24.

The Ratan Tata camp has been trying to evict Cyrus Mistry from the chairmanship of group companies and has already fired him as chairman of TCS. However, Mistry with the support of independent directors, including Nusli Wadia, has been able to hold on to his position as chairman of Indian Hotels Co Ltd and Tata Chemicals.

Axis Bank sees reduction in lending rates post demonetisation Mumbai, Nov 13 : Private sector Axis Bank expects a dip in lending rates because of the surge in deposits which lenders are experiencing in the aftermath of the government's move to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.

"The deposits are into savings or current accounts which are low cost ones. An increase in them should bring down our cost of funds," Axis Bank's Head of Retail Banking Rajiv Anand told PTI. "The decrease in cost of funds should bring down the lending rates over a period of time," he added.

The comments will come as good news for the millions of harried people who have been queuing up outside banks to either deposit the scrapped notes or withdraw accepted tender for meeting their daily expenses in a predominantly cash economy.

Banks have introduced a slew of relaxations for making it easier for the customers, including extending the banking hours and keeping branches open on the weekend.

According to a report,

Rs 60,000 crore was deposited into accounts till Friday evening, which will only ride up with time.

Domestic ratings agency Icra has said that it expects a 0.030.10 per cent dip in the cost of deposits in the near to medium term because of the surge.

This reduction can be passed on to borrowers through a cut in the marginal cost of funding based lending rate. as much as some parts will be exchanged for new notes and drawn for meeting daily needs from time to time, it said.

Despite this, the rating agency said it sees an increase of 1.3 per cent to 3.5 per cent in the total deposit base of the system.

In a surprise move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi last Tuesday announced that his government has decided to demonetise the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to curb the menace of blackmoney and counterfeiting.

It introduced new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes and has given time till November 14 for usage of the older notes to pay for emergency services like hospitals.

'Demonetisation to impact small firms, rural demand' PTI New Delhi, Nov 13 : Government's move to demonetise currency will impact the secondary steel sector as most of the business conducted by these mini mills and rolling factories is cash-based, which in turn would help the large producers, Tata Steel said.

Counted among the top 10 steel makers globally, the Mumbai-based firm said that demonetising will also temporarily impact steel demand in rural India as the business there is also mostly cash-based.

"We are watching secondary sector very closely because a lot of that business used to happen on cash.

And maybe 60-70 per cent of the long products business is actually driven by the secondary sector.

"So it could have a significant positive impact on the

'Demonetisation to impact small firms, rural demand' long products business for the integrated or bigger players," Tata Steel India and South East Asia Managing Director T V Narendran said in an investor call last week.

Government demonetised

Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes from the midnight of October 8 with the aim to fight black money and corruption.

"But in any case, market was shifting towards integrated sector because between

JSW Steel, Tata Steel, RINL and JSPL and everyone else, lot more long products capacity is being added over last few years, which is encouraging the consumer segments to shift towards formal sector. But, demonetisation move should accelerate that process," Narendran said.

The secondary steel sector, which accounts for almost half the steel produced in India, uses sponge iron and scrap to make steel in small induction furnaces.

These producers generally procure sponge iron feedstock from nearby manufacturers and sell crude steel, mostly pencil billets and ingots, to re-rollers.

India, the world third largest steel maker, produced 89.58 million tonnes of the metal in 2015.

Tata Steel is also witnessing some impact on logis-

tics as some movement of material got disrupted due to "confusion at the toll gates and excise points" which is getting "sorted out", Narendran said.

"Rural demand, which is largely cash-based, will get impacted temporarily. Our dealings with our distributors are largely on RTGS and the dealings of our distributors with their dealers is largely on RTGS. Its only the final consumers who tend to pay cash," Narendran said.

He further said: "So there could be some sort of hiccups there for sometime. But, I don't think, we see it as a big issue over a long period of time. We are interested to see what's happening in the real estate markets and the impact it will have there. But, otherwise, the rural markets, we think, will pick up very quickly.

Image for representational purpose PTI Mumbai, Nov 13 : Post withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, banks have disbursed nearly Rs 30,000 crore cash in bills of lower denominations and the newly-introduced Rs 2,000 currency over the past three days, the apex body for lenders said on Sunday.

The government on November 8 demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in a step to curb black money. Following the move, banks were closed on November 9 to stock

lower value notes and exchange the defunct ones.

"In the last three days of working, nearly Rs 30,000 crore cash has been disbursed in currency notes of lower denominations and newly introduced Rs 2,000 notes. The ATMs are being recalibrated to handle new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes," Indian Banks' Association (IBA) said in a statement.

From November 10, customers are allowed to exchange Rs up to Rs 4,000 in cash at any bank branch with valid identity

proof. They can also withdraw cash against withdrawal slip or cheque, subject to ceiling of Rs 10,000 a day, within an overall limit of Rs 20,000 in a week (including withdrawals from ATMs) up to November 24, after which these limits shall be reviewed.

IBA said the banks are making all-out efforts to ensure currency requirements of customers are met within the limits prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India.

It, however, appealed to the public to use alternative modes of payments like debit and credit cards.

"In addition, payments could be made through electronic channels like RTGS (real-time gross settlement systems), NEFT (national electronic funds transfer), IMPS (immediate payment service), net banking, UPI (unified payments interface).

Electronic wallets provided by banks may also be used extensively for making payments," it suggested.

Exchange of old Rs 500, Rs 1,000 notes worth Rs 4,000 allowed only once till RBI review New Delhi, Nov 13 : The limit to exchange old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 is Rs 4000 till further review by the RBI and NOT per day as has been misunderstood by some people. The Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) on the RBI website and the notification regarding demonetisation mention that old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 can be exchanged at bank or post office branches till December 30, 2016 up to a value of Rs 4000 by filling up a form and providing ID proof. The notification regarding this does not state that this is 'Rs 4000 per day'.

The above is clear from the notification issued on November 8 regarding "Withdrawal of Legal Tender Character of existing Rs 500/- and Rs 1000/Bank Notes". Regarding 'Provision of Exchange Facility', this notification states that the old demonetised notes can be exchanged at any Issue Office of the Reserve Bank or any branch of public sector banks, private sector banks, foreign banks, Regional Rural Banks, Urban Cooperative Banks and State Cooperative Banks for a period up to and including the 30th December, 2016, subject to the following condition: (i) the specified bank notes of aggregate value of Rs 4,000/- or below may be exchanged for any denomination of bank notes having legal tender character, with a requisition slip in the format specified by the Reserve Bank and proof of identity; the limit

Two bank branches that this correspondent visited were also following this principle. Further, RBI has not issued any clarification to the contrary so far. of Rs 4,000/- for exchanging specified bank notes shall be reviewed after fifteen days from the date of commencement of this notification and appropriate orders may be issued, where necessary.

This implies that the limit of Rs 4000 per person is at one time exchange allowed till this decision is reviewed 15 days from November 8 i.e. on November 22nd. Two bank branches that this correspondent visited were also following this principle.

Further, RBI has not issued any clarification to the contrary so far.

However, quite obviously this rule is being currently circumvented by people visiting branches of different banks with the same ID proof or with different ID proofs. It appears unlikely that given the short time at their disposal and the current pressure of work bank officials would be able to cross check with branches of other

banks.

The confusion has arisen because of the RBI instructions regarding cash withdrawals from ATMs, which state: Withdrawal from ATMs shall be restricted to Rs 2,000 per day per card up to 18th November, 2016 and the limit shall be raised to Rs 4,000 per day per card from 19th November, 2016. However, it is to be noted that when a person is withdrawing from the ATM he/she is drawing from his/her own bank account and NOT exchanging notes. Quite obviously, RBI has restricted the exchange of notes to Rs 4000 per person till further review.

Since all the instructions regarding withdrawal from ATM and savings account have been specified for per day, it has been inadvertently assumed that exchange of old notes worth Rs 4,000 limit is also per day.

No need to be anxious, enough cash available, assures RBI PTI Mumbai, Nov 13 : The Reserve Bank on Sunday said enough cash is available at banks and people need not be anxious and make repeated trips to branches and ATMs to hoard money.

"The Reserve Bank assures members of the public that enough cash in small denominations is also available at the Reserve Bank and banks.

"The Reserve Bank urges

that public need not be anxious; need not come over to banks repeatedly to draw and hoard; Cash is available when they need it," the central bank said in a statement.

There was little respite for cash-starved people queuing up outside banks and ATMs on Sunday, with branches witnessing unprecedented rush since early morning.

Due to bank closure on Monday in some parts of

the country, distressed people are thronging branches since most of the ATMs are out of cash.

Much to people's dismay, only 60 per cent of ATMs got valid currency feed five days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced surprise demonetisation of two higher value currency notes. Even these 1.2 lakh ATMs (out of total 2 lakh) are running out of cash in few hours, leaving people frustrated.

cmyk

cmyk

DIBRUGARH, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 14

P12 Assam 224/ 5 against Odisha on day 1 PTI Hyderabad, Nov 13 : Kunal Saikia remained unbeaten on 88 as Assam scored 224/5 in their Ranji Trophy Group B match against Odisha here today.

Giving Saikia company at stumps on day one was Arup Das, who was yet to open his account at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Saikia scored his runs off 217 balls with the help of 11 boundaries, while skipper KB Arun Karthik contributed 62 off 124 balls, striking six fours and a six.

Karthik opted to bat after the coin landed in his team's favour.

Sibshankar Roy chipped in with 37, but it was the 131-run partnership fifth-wicket partnership between Saikia and Karthik, which propped up Assam after they lost four wickets for 93 runs.

Assam had a disastrous start as they lost both their openers with just seven runs on the board in the morning session.

Basant Mohanty and Suryakant Pradhan picked up two wickets apiece for Odisha.

Ten-man Delhi Dynamos eke Cook scores 30th ton as out a 2-2 draw against ATK first Test heads for a draw

Ten-man Delhi Dynamos eke out a 2-2 draw against ATK

New Delhi, Nov 13 : Delhi Dynamos FC kept their unbeaten record at home intact in Hero Indian Super League 2016 after playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw against Atlético de Kolkata in front of almost 20,000 spectators at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday. The visitors took a first-half lead through an Iain Hume goal before Badara Badji saw red on the stroke of half-time. Delhi equalised courtesy of a Milan Singh stunner but Javi Lara produced a bolt from the blue of his own in the 71st minute to restore ATK’s lead. Florent Malouda scored the Lions’ second equaliser as both sides solidified their position in the top 4.

Borja Fernandez had the first shot of the game in the fourth minute but failed to test Antonio Doblas in Delhi’s goal.

Kolkata took the lead 13 min-

utes later with Sameehg Doutie and Hume combining to devastating effect. The South African winger threaded in a brilliant pass to carve open Delhi’s defence as Hume applied the finishing touch by slotting the ball beyond an outrushing Doblas to make it 1-0.

Delhi had an opportunity to equalise in the 24th minute after a Marcelinho corner was headed goal-wards by Ibrahima Niasse. The Senegalese, however, failed to hit the target as the ball went behind for an ATK goalkick.

Helder Postiga had his first attempt of the game shortly after the half hour mark. The Portuguese striker tried to direct a cross from the left on goal but his shot went fractions above the crossbar. He was at it again four minutes

later when a well-worked freekick found its way to him with only Doblas to beat. The Delhi custodian though did just about enough to prevent ATK’s marquee man from getting off a clear shot on goal.

The Dynamos responded and nearly found their equaliser in the 38th minute with Marcelinho cutting in from the right after beating three defenders with a mazy run. However, his shot on goal was well blocked by a sea of ATK players in the box to the disappointment of the home support.

Things took a turn for the worse shortly before half-time for the Lions with Badji receiving his marching orders following a second yellow, making it 10-v-11 with the second half still to go as Delhi went in at the break a man and goal down.

Delhi received a lifeline on the hour mark after Prabir Das was adjudged to have brought down Marcelinho in the box, but they failed to make it count. Florent Malouda stepped up to the spot and fired low to Debjit Majumder’s left but the ATK goalkeeper made the save.

The hosts scored the leveller three minutes later after Milan collected a ball outside the box before unleashing a stunning left-footed shot from 25 yards that gave Majumder no chance of making a save. It was the 24year-old’s second goal of the season.

Lara then produced a peach of his own to help ATK reestablish their lead in the 71st minute. The Spaniard picked up a loose ball before giving the goalkeeper the eyes

Match Awards: Club award: Shared by both clubs

Fittest Player of the Match: Souvik Chakraborty

Winning Pass of the Match: Sameehg Doutie Swift Moment of the Match: Debjit Majumder ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Lalchhawnkima

Hero of the Match: Milan Singh

and sending a curler from outside the box into the back of the net.

The Dynamos refused to give in though and got their second equaliser of the night three minutes later after substitute David Addy found Malouda in the box with a ball from the left. The Frenchman wriggled his way past two ATK defenders before finishing with his right foot to make it 2-2.

The last chance of the game went ATK’s way after a corner found its way to Tiri deep into injury-time. The Spaniard controlled the ball well but sent his effort over the crossbar as it ended all square in the capital city.

Brozovic double gives Croatia 2-0 win over Iceland Zagreb, Nov 13: Croatia stayed on course to reach the 2018 World Cup after two superb strikes by midfielder Marcelo Brozovicgave them a 2-0 home win over Iceland in a Group I qualifier played behind closed doors in Zagreb on Saturday.

The result left the Croatians, who had Ivan Perisic sent off in the 93rd minute, top of the group with 10 points from four games, three more than Iceland who missed several clear-cut chances at the Maksimir stadium.

Serving a crowd ban after their fans committed a

series of racist offences in Euro 2016 qualifying, Croatia were fortunate not to fall behind after Johan Gudmundsson and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson came close in the opening 12 minutes.

With instructions from both benches echoing round the empty ground, Brozovic fired the home side ahead in the 15th minute with a fierce shot with his weaker left foot from 20 metres.

Iceland captain Aron Gunnarsson had a shot blocked after a solo run before visiting keeper Hannes Halldorsson par-

Marcelo Brozovic gave Croatia the lead in the 15th minute with a goal from 20 metres out with his weaker left foot. (Source: Reuters) ried an Ivan Perisic effort shortly before halftime.

Bodvarsson squandered Iceland's best chance on the hour, slicing his shot

wide from five metres after a flowing move down the right carved open the home's team defence.

Croatia playmaker Luka Modric, who came on as a halftime substitute for Real Madrid team mate Mateo Kovacic, saw a longrange effort parried by Halldorsson as the visitors started to run out of steam on a difficult pitch.

Brozovic sealed Croatia's win at the start of stoppage time, hitting the bottom left corner with another fine effort from outside the penalty box which left Halldorsson clutching thin air.

Show resilience, Australian cricket chief tells besieged team AFP Hobart, Nov 13 : Australian cricket chief Pat Howard on Sunday urged the embattled national team and organisation to show resilience in their fight for credibility.

Steve Smith's team, facing a fifth straight Test defeat this year, was rolled for a record-low total of 85 against South Africa in Hobart on Saturday, intensifying pressure on the players, coaching staff and selectors.

It was the fifth time in the past six years Australia had been bowled out for fewer than 100.

The latest debacle also followed the stunning first innings collapse of 10 for 86 in the first Test in Perth, which the Aussies lost by 177 runs.

Under-fire coach Darren Lehmann, whose contract was recently extended until 2019, has admitted Australia's batting was in

Show resilience, Australian cricket chief tells besieged team crisis.

Howard, whose position is also under scrutiny, fielded questions at a news conference at the Bellerive ground during the washed-out second day's play.

"If you are looking for the players to have resilience you want the people around them to have resilience," he told reporters.

"So I expect Darren, me,

(chief selector) Rod Marsh, all of us to show that exact same resilience we're expecting of the players."

-- Follow the leader -Howard said the Australian players should follow the lead of skipper Smith, who resisted the potent Proteas bowling attack for an unbeaten 48 while wickets tumbled around him.

"His resilience out there in

the middle was fantastic and I think some of his players need to have a look at how he did it and take a lead from him," he said.

He added the Australian team's current predicament was also a challenge for Lehmann, amid calls that his coaching reappointment last August was premature.

"I think he's in uncharted territory as well and this is a great chance for him to reinvent," Howard said.

"He's been contracted through past 2019, which is a huge year in the calendar, Ashes away and a World Cup back-to-back.

"We've got a young captain with a coach that's wanted to give the team and squad some stability."

"I make no apologies for that, I made the decision and I take accountability for that."

Howard said he was ultimately accountable as the high performance chief for the current state of Austra-

lian cricket.

"As a team we're under the pump, as a system we're under the pump and I think Australians expect that fight and that's a fair expectation," he said.

Howard said he had not thought about his position, which is up for review.

"I am not even going to contemplate it after the (two home) Test series is done and to be fair I think it would only serve as a distraction to do that over the next couple of months," he said.

He also said he had not considered a replacement for Marsh, who has announced he will not be continuing in the role when his tenure ends next year.

"Every time you say someone is not going to stay and you exit them straight away it doesn't respect the work they are doing at the time," Howard said.

England captain Alastair Cook celebrates his century against India at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot.

Rajkot, Nov 13: England captain Alastair Cook produced yet another masterclass batting show to notch up his 30th hundred as his side set India an improbable victory target on the fifth and final day of the opening cricket Test here today.

Cook, a tormentor of India in the past Test series especially in their last visit four years ago, made amends for his first innings failure to compile a wellcrafted 130 before applying declaration when his side reached 260 for three, leaving the hosts with a target of 310 to get in 49 overs.

This was Cook's sixth Test hundred against India.

Chasing the improbable target, India made 49 for two at tea, needing 261 more runs to get in a minimum 31 overs in the last session of the Test, which was heading towards a tame draw.

At the break, opener Murali

Vijay, unbeaten on 29 after a stay of 75 minutes, and captain Virat Kohli (2) were holding the fort.

India commenced their second innings poorly by losing Gautam Gambhir for a duck with the team score too on nil in the second over bowled by Chris Woakes.

Gambhir, who made 29 in the first innings, fended awkwardly at a short and rising ball from the tall fast bowler and guided it straight to the second slip fielder.

This left first innings centurions Vijay and one-down Cheteshwar Pujara to bat out till the end of the session.They nearly did it, albeit with some luck against the sharply spinning ball, before Pujara fell for 18, leg before to leggie Adil Rashid when playing back, at the stroke of tea.The duo, who put on a double century partnership in the first innings, could add just 47 this time.In the morning, leg-spinner Amit

Mishra struck twice in the space of 11 balls after being brought on late into the attack, but England carried on merrily after this twin strike to reach 211 for 2 at lunch with Cook setting a new benchmark by becoming the first overseas batsman to notch up five hundreds on Indian soil.× Cook, playing in his 136th Test, was level with West Indians Everton Weekes and Clive Lloyd and South African Hashim Amla with four centuries in India when the series commenced and went past the trio today.He and his 19-year-old Indian origin opening partner, Test debutant Haseeb Hameed (82), put on a rollicking partnership of 180 for the first wicket to deny India any whiff of victory.The duo hardly looked in trouble on a fifth day track, after commencing at the overnight 114 for no loss.

Aditi Ashok scripts history, wins Women's Indian Open Gurugram, Nov 13 : Teen golf sensation Aditi Ashok scripted history on Sunday as she became the first Indian woman to win a Ladies European Tour title by clinching the Hero Women's Indian Open.

The 18-year-old shot an even par-72 in the final round to win the title.

Carrying a two-stroke overnight lead, the teenager took her total score to three-under 213, one stroke clear of Brittany Lincicome of the US and Spaniard Belen Mozo who finished tied second.

Aditi's round included birdies on the par-four second and 10th holes and bogeys on the seventh, 13th and 17th. She became richer

by Euro 54,988.20.

The Rio Olympian golfer needed at least a birdie on the final hole to avoid a three-way tie. But she held her nerve to secure her 13th birdie of the tournament on the par-5 18th to make history.The Indian, who

Aditi Ashok had impressed at the Olympics, had carded 3 under 69 on the second day to grab the sole lead at the DLF Golf and Country Club.

Aditi, who started her day on Saturday in tied ninth position, had an indifferent front nine.She carded a birdie on the 2nd hole.

However, a dropped shot on the 6th and miss-hit into the water on the 9th, which resulted in a double bogey, added to her woes.

But the 18-year-old rookie was unfazed by the initial setbacks and fired five birdies in her back nine to finish with a total score of 141 after the second round.

Kohli helps India survive anxious moments as Test ends in draw PTI Rajkot, Nov 13 : India survived a scare before managing to draw the first cricket Test against England, who gained the psychological advantage after enjoying the upper-hand for the better part of the five days here.

Set a near impossible target of 310 in a minimum 49 overs, India managed to reach 172 for six in 52.3 overs and were never really in the hunt.

Skipper Virat Kohli showed patience as he consumed 98 balls for his unbeaten 49 that had six boundaries and Ravindra Jadeja (32 not out) also hit some lusty blows after the sixth wicket had fallen at 132.

Earlier, Alastair Cook scored his 30th Test century with England declaring at 260 for 3 in the second innings.

That India had literally no chance of winning was ensured

by a 180-run opening stand between Cook (130) and young teenager Haseeb Hameed (82) earlier in the day.

On a fifth day pitch that didn't show considerable signs of wear and tear, the Indian spinners barring a brief spell by Amit Mishra (2/60 in 13 overs), were rendered ineffective by Captain Cook, who batted for nearly five hours to hit 13 fours in 243 balls.

The first Test once again raised serious questions about the ability of the Indian spinners to bowl on pitches that aren't exactly rank turners.

Ashwin, India's premier strike bowler, in all bowled 69.3 overs across two innings getting only 3 wickets giving away 230 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja got 3 wickets in 47 overs in the match while Mishra also had 3 scalps to this credit having bowled 36.3 overs but not before giving

away as many as 158 runs.

On the day, Ashwin at one point of time was bowling a negative line to both Cook and Ben Stokes (29 not out) outside the leg-stump in order to stem the flow of runs.

The other worrying aspect will be veteran opener Gautam Gambhir's form and technical deficiencies that were again exposed in front of some quality seam bowling.

After succumbing to an inswinger from Stuart Broad in the first innings, the lefthander awkwardly dabbed at a short ball to be dismissed for zero in the slip cordon.

With Karun Nair waiting in the wings and KL Rahul back with a bang from injury scoring a 75 in today's Ranji Trophy game, the Indian team will need to figure out their winning combination at Visakhapatnam for the second Test, starting November 17.

Printed and Published by NIKH KHOPI and Printed at PEE GEE(India) Ltd., C/O Asomiya Khabar Pulibor, Jorhat-785006 and Published from T.C Borah Building, 1st Floor, Next to Sankardeva Hospital, Mancotta Road, Chowkidingee Dibrugarh-786001, Assam. Email: editor.easterntoday@gmail.com. For advertisement: advt.easterntoday@gmail.com

Editor: Prahlad Hammey

cmyk

cmyk

Tele : 0373-2327517